Pop Goes Raleigh: Hooray for Raleighwood

There's a scene in "Nights in Rodanthe" where Richard Gere's character is driving his convertible out of the "big city," on his way to some peace and tranquility along the Outer Banks. As he drives away, you can catch a quick glimpse of the Raleigh skyline (even though IMDB.com doesn't officially list any scenes being shot in Our Fair City).

North Carolina, as a state, does quite well for itself in the movie-making business. But mostly one thinks of Wilmington (the "Hollywood of the East") and the mountains as cinematic scene-stealers. Raleigh rarely comes to mind, which is why "Rodanthe" stood out to me. But the Capital City has had its share of movies made here, according to IMDB.

Among the most famous are bits of "Bull Durham," though the indy music flick "Bandwagon" (written by native John Schultz) honored the city a bit more.





Looking at IMDB's list show some other fairly well-known productions: "The Handmaid's Tale" (starring Bobby Duvall and Faye Dunaway, among others), as well as a visit from Dave Attell for the old Comedy Central show "Insomniac," and Bill Maher's most recent stand-up TV special was filmed at the Progress Energy Center.

Any other movies that aren't on IMDB's list? Any interesting stories involving movies that have been made here?

Superchunk covers The Cure

Over at The A.V. Club's "25 Covers by 25 Bands" is a video of Triangle legends Superchunk covering The Cure's "In-Between Days." (Oddly enough, another Triangle legend, Ben Folds, has also covered the song.)

The legendary Chapel Hill band has played a few gigs in the last decade, but mostly kept quiet, so when a Chicago show was announced, we made a collective little "squee" noise. And since we're obviously big fans ("Detroit Has A Skyline" is on the master Undercover list!), we finagled and asked nicely and begged the quartet to drop by and record a song for us. Superchunk chose "In Between Days" by The Cure, and made it--as you'll see--their own

I've said it before that I'm a big fan of this series. Superchunk does a fantastic job on this song; but my favorite is still probably Ted Leo & the Pharmacists doing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."


Superchunk covers The Cure


And, in case you're interested, here's Folds doing Elliot Smith's "Say Yes."


Ben Folds covers Elliott Smith

'I can't wait to tell people about this place!' - July 2010 edition

Wow. Apparently I do these only once a year now. That stinks.



The missus and I had a rare date night this past Friday, and took advantage of a Groupon to hit a place we had meaning to for some time: The Borough.

We arrived pretty early (6:30-ish) and yet were still lucky to get a table in the small-yet-quaint restaurant. (Thank God, too; it was still about 100 degrees outside at that point.) We started with drinks; I got the very refreshing P(om)BR -- it's exactly what it sounds like. My wife got another drink, but we both enjoyed the P(om)BR so much we ordered another round.

For dinner, I went with the I Put My Hand Up On Your Hip (French Dip), which was very tasty indeed. Charity got the Home on the Range ("Marinated buffalo chicken breast sliced and served pen-faced on a baguette topped with jack cheese, chopped jalapenos and a side of spicy ranch," according to the menu). We both enjoyed the food very much. The atmosphere was lively; it feels as much like a "neighborhood joint" as any in the DTR. We will definitely be back.

Been anywhere new (or new to you) lately?


Support the 3/50 Project
I noticed on The Borough's website a mention about the 3/50 Project: "Saving the Brick and Mortars Our Nation is Built On."

The project is essentially a promotion of America's small businesses. After all, for every $100 spent in a local business, $68 of it goes directly back into the community. By contrast, just $43 of $100 spent at a national chain goes back into the community. Food for thought.

Anyone remember Wolfstock?

I've enjoyed cruising over to The unofficial NC State Tradition Keeper's blog of late. It is just what it sounds like: a chance to reminisce (and often bemoan) the long-lost traditions of "that school" in West Raleigh. Sigh.

The Keeper's latest post involves Wolfstock, that day-long celebration of music, camaraderie and drinking.

"According to my research Wolfstock started in 1986 and it was originally a NC State music festival sponsored by IRC and WKNC," writes the Keeper. "The 1987 Technician talks about the second year by saying 'Once again the partiers came out in full force for the mass music event Wolfstock. Even the short cloud burst could not stop the sonic waves produced by…'

"1987 was The Smithereens and a local band Ground Zero.

"Other bands that I have discovered that played at Wolfstock were The Romantics, Widespread Panic, The Smithereens (again in 1990) and Fishbone (1991). ..."

"What year did Wolfstock end? I’m not sure about this."

The last one I remember was the '91 show with Fishbone, though I wasn't there.

Got any "good" Wolfstock memories? Maybe we'll tackle the Delta Sig Lawn Party days of old here soon ...

NHL All-Star logo is nice, but sorta drops the ball (er, puck)

The Carolina Hurricanes have released the logo for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game. And, to be honest, it is quite snazzy and professional looking.

Too bad it doesn't really convey "Raleigh."

“The primary color of the logo is a tribute to the Hurricanes and their legion of fans, the ‘Caniacs,’ who display their team pride by wearing red during home games at the RBC Center. Also, the shape is consistent with the Hurricanes’ primary logo. With the 2011 NHL All-Star Game being played in the state capital of North Carolina, Raleigh, and the popularity of the Hurricanes stretching well beyond the Triangle, inspiration for the banners along the top and bottom of the logo is derived from the official flag of the state of North Carolina.”

And, again to be honest, I'm not exactly sure how one conveys "Raleigh" in a logo. But I feel like the Canes missed an opportunity to brand or market the are with the logo.

What are your thoughts on the logo itself?

Now THIS is cool:

The team also announced that the tallest building in Raleigh, the RBC Plaza on Fayetteville Street, will display a 5,000-square-foot window treatment promoting All-Star Weekend.

The 5,000-square-foot window treatment will be displayed on the west side of the RBC Plaza, facing Fayetteville Street. The graphic includes images of perennial NHL All-Stars Eric Staal, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and Patrick Kane, along with the 2011 All-Star Game logo. The window treatment will be applied this week, and completed during Raleigh Wide Open 5, to be held on Fayetteville Street on Saturday.

Raleigh to host Plug-In 2011

For the first time ever, Plug-In 2011, an international conference of expert insights on technical advances, market research and policy initiatives shaping the future of plug-in hybrid and electric transportation, will be held outside of Silicon Valley. It will instead be held July 18-21, 2011 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

"The shift in location was envisioned as a way to offer wider access to potential attendees," said a press release. "Next year's conference will be co-organized by EPRI, Progress Energy and Duke Energy."

"We decided to offer a bit of geographical balance to our conference schedule as a way of exposing more people to the significant progress made toward integrating plug-in hybrid and other electric vehicles into the transportation system," said Mark Duvall, director of Electric Transportation at EPRI. "The Research Triangle area is an appropriate location that is well-known as an incubator of entrepreneurship, innovation and thought-leadership."

The Plug-In Conference was launched in San Jose in 2008, moved to Long Beach (Southern California) in 2009 and returned to San Jose this year. It attracts automotive manufacturers, component suppliers, electric utilities, government agencies, the environmental community and academia to exchange ideas and gather information needed to make key decisions related to plug-in hybrid and electric transportation.

"Raleigh is equally delighted and excited to be the site of Plug-In 2011," said Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker. "The cooperation we are experiencing here between the electric utilities, the municipalities and other partners is contributing mightily to the creation of a supportive environment for this innovative transportation technology. We are all committed to making the electric vehicle Raleigh's most popular car – soon!"

Plug-In 2010 includes high-level plenary sessions and 21 breakout sessions and mini-panels focused on driving, connecting and launching technologies required to fully commercialize and integrate electric drive into the marketplace.

The popular exposition floor, which includes vehicles, electric infrastructure and batteries and related components, features more than 40 exhibitors. July 27 is Public Night, an open forum where visitors can see the exposition floor and participate in a panel discussion. For more information about Plug-In 2010, organized by EPRI and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, visit www.plugin2010.com.

Michael C. Hall: happy and healthy

UK paper The Mail has a report on Raleigh native and Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall's apparent victory over Hodgkin's lymphoma.

It's been a gruelling battle against cancer for Michael C Hall but, having been given the all-clear earlier this year, he appeared before fans yesterday in rude health.

The Dexter star was at the Comic Con International in San Diego, California, where he looked relaxed and happy.

...

On April 25 Hall's wife, and Dexter co-star, Jennifer Carpenter announced that the 39-year-old actor had won his battle and was now cancer free.

Yesterday at the Comic Con conference, a gathering of fans of the genre and TV stars, he appeared with his hair grown back and colour in his cheeks.

Hall has returned to work and is currently filming the fifth season of his hit show.

The many wonders of the MinniApple

Every now and then I get the opportunity to go to a conference in a city that I am visiting for the first time. This year's jaunt was to the Twin Cities.

From the wonderful light rail that goes from the airport to the Mall of America and into downtown, to the THREE major sports franchises, to the vibrant downtown retail scene, there is something very urban and happening about Minneapolis.

But here's the thing: These days, Raleigh boasts more people than Minneapolis* -- but it sure as heck doesn't feel like it. This is not as much a slap in the face to what Joe Ovies called Raleigh's "quaintness" as much as it is a celebration for Minneapolis' energy.

The first "edge" that the Twin Cities has over the Triangle is the light rail. For just $1.75 ($2.25 during rush hour), you can take the very smooth, very clean train from MSP into downtown Minneapolis in just about 20 minutes. The trains run about every 10 minutes. And it runs on time. (Mussolini would be proud.)

One of the first things you notice upon your arrival in downtown Minneapolis is the pedestrian activity. Obviously part of this is because the "MinniApple" is a major hub for government and business, but it also has to do with a sizable amount of retail options -- and I'm not even referring to the Mall of America, which is about 40 minutes away on the light rail. There is also a nice farmer's market right in the heart of downtown, along with ample dining options. (Many of Minneapolis' retail stores and restaurants are even somewhat hidden inside skyscrapers, connected by pedestrian skywalks to fend off the bitter winter cold.)

Of course, being in Minneapolis in July means really one thing and one thing only: the Twins. You can't escape images of Joe Maurer & Co.; there is Twins stuff everywhere. And, ironically, this brings us to another "edge" that Minneapolis has over Raleigh: sports franchises located in downtown. (I say ironic because it wasn't that long ago that the Twins franchise came "this close" to moving to N.C. But it's hard to imagine the Twins anywhere else but Minnesota.) To be able to walk a few blocks from your hotel to see the Target Center, the Metrodome and brand-new Target Field (at the top) is impressive. (Target Field even has its own "Shimmer Wall," though I'll give Raleigh's an edge over there's.) Again -- and not to belabor the point -- but it makes one sigh to think that maybe Jimmy V was right and the then-proposed N.C. State arena should've gone downtown. (Of course, one can tailgate at the RBC Center, something that may be tough to do in the DTR.)

A downtown Raleigh sports arena is not out of the question; however, it would be quite difficult to create something as iconic as the Mississippi River. (Edge: Minneapolis.) Cities on water just seem to have an intrinsic advantage, or a head-start, over non-aqua cities. There's just something about moving water that just gets people ... moving. And, yes, I know, there's a move afoot to "build" a riverfront along Capital Boulevard, and I'm all for it. But will it be the same? Somehow I doubt it. The Twin Cities celebrates its water by not crowding the riverfront with industry or tacky condos. Instead, there are walking and bicycle trails all over the place. There is even a wonderful bike rental program (NiceRide) that lets people take advantage of the mild summers and flat terrain. (We rode on and off for about 3 hours in the mid-day sun -- and barely broke a sweat.) And the city quite literally celebrates the water each year with the Aquatennial, a 10-day celebration of the area's water. One of the highlights was a street festival while we were there -- complete with a concert by Night Ranger.


*It should be noted that the metro population of the Triangle has been stated at about 1.6 million; the Twin Cities' metro population is about 3.5 million.

A Capital Conversation ... with Joe Ovies

In this issue, we again go the sports route, this time picking the brain of Triangle sports radio personality Joe Ovies.

Joe is a native of south Florida who has called this area home since 1995. You can listen to Joe and Adam Gold on 99.9 FM The Fan.



Raleigh Philosophical Society: You are originally from Miami , correct? When did you come up here to Raleigh?

Joe Ovies: Well, I grew up in Boca Raton. That's about as different from Miami as it gets, even though it's a 45-minute drive. The rest of my family lived in Miami and surrounding areas. After IBM shut down the Boca campus, we moved to Cary in 1995.


RPS: Was it initially a "culture" shock for you?

JO: What initially struck me was the landscape. South Florida has beautiful locations, mainly around the beach, but everything is built up. It's also boringly flat. It might sound silly, but Raleigh has an intimidating amount of trees. One couple I know from California went to Duke for law school and joked about how they felt claustrophobic with all the trees towering above. The other shock was a pleasant experience since people will actually look up and smile at you on the street.


RPS: What are the differences between the two cities? Any similarities?

JO: Boca Raton and Cary are very similar in their quests for "suburban perfection." However, Raleigh and Miami are completely opposite. Miami is an international city with multiple cultures. They don't always blend, but there is something for everyone in Miami.

Raleigh has come a long way in the 15 years that I've lived here, but it maintains a quaint vibe. It can be frustrating, since I think Raleigh could host more national sporting events had the city been more progressive in planning downtown. I do think the influence of northern transplants and Hispanics has been positive in giving Raleigh some extra character. I'm a foodie, so it warms the heart to see everything from upscale restaurants downtown to taco trucks roaming the streets.


RPS: When you were at N.C. State, did you envision yourself sticking around the area?

JO: I never had the desire to move back to South Florida when I was in college. Considering that my original plans were to get into the tech industry, it made sense to stick around.


RPS: Talk a little about how the sports radio industry has evolved/grown in the area.

JO: My dad brought me up on sports talk, so when I would drive back and forth from Cardinal Gibbons High School I would listen to 850 The Buzz when I wasn't listening to CDs. In 1995, it had not fully transitioned from "hot talk" to sports. I thought it was odd there wasn't a full-time sports station considering all the schools in the area, but what did I know... I was 16. WPTF produced "Sportsline," but that was really before my time. The Buzz finally flipped the switch to all sports and was the only game in town for many years, even when I initially started working there as a part-time employee in 2001.

The arrival of Triangle Sports Talk AM1090 in 2004 was significant in that it gave 850 The Buzz its first direct competition and started a chain reaction of events that would lead to the sports talk landscape you hear today. Candidly speaking, Triangle Sports Talk was never going to overtake The Buzz. The station had radio signal limitations (it had to shut down at night) and weaker programming. However, Buzz ownership used it as a wake-up call of sorts. Just because 1090/1490 wasn't going to knock off The Buzz, that didn't mean another entity with better financial infrastructure wouldn't give it a shot.

Enter 620 The Bull in 2005, the sister station to 850 The Buzz. The concept was simple - keep sports talk listeners on either property by mixing a variety of local and national shows. The lineups reflected the idea, with 850 having a local show on the air while 620 carried syndication and vice versa. Sign ESPN, FOX, Jim Rome and other programs so that another company couldn't snatch them up later. Triangle Sports Talk finally lost the battle in 2007, but 850/620 had not won the war.

In October of 2007, that company with better infrastructure got in the game. Capitol Broadcasting flipped 99.9FM to all sports under the moniker "The Fan". The parent company WRAL-TV went hard for listeners with plenty of signage at the RBC Center, television spots and a partnership with ESPN Radio. 99.9FM eventually started winning ratings books, but 850/620 wasn't going away because the station was still selling strong. Rather than slugging it out for a small piece of the advertising pie, Capitol entered into a complex relationship with Curtis Media. The bottom line was the dismantling of 850 The Buzz and the signal going to Curtis, while 620 The Bull and all "Buzz" properties were purchased by Capitol.

In hindsight, everyone knew three sports talk stations in a market just outside Top 40 made no sense. What nobody could predict was the bizarre hybrid created in the aftermath. Look at the personalities on 99.9FM and you'll see essentially The Buzz 2.0. On the new 620 The Buzz, there are remnants of 1090/1490 with Taylor Zarzour and the syndication of Mark Packer.


RPS: Why are sports so BIG in this area? Are there characteristics about the Triangle that sets it apart from other places?

JO: Having three major universities in close proximity makes the Triangle sports scene unique. The biggest difference between college and pro is the attachment that person has to their school, and it's reflected on the airwaves with the passionate nature of the phone calls.


RPS: Do people know you went to State? Do you get called out on that-- by one set of fans or another (or both)?

JO: They do, but it doesn't matter. A collection of N.C. State fans are convinced I hate the Wolfpack. At the same time, North Carolina fans yell at me for "wearing red-tinted glasses." I know I'm doing my job right if every fan base in the market is certain that I hate their school.


RPS: As a sports "fan," what would you like to see happen with the various teams in the area? (Referring mainly to the biz side of things.)

JO: Sports talk wouldn't be where it is if it was focused on "breaking down" games. With everything on television and scores instantly accessed on portable devices, the average sports fan is a more informed sports fan. So what we need in this business is drama. Duke winning the NCAA Tournament while North Carolina has a miserable year adds drama. N.C. State basketball finally joining the party with Sidney Lowe's stacked recruiting class is good for business because Wolfpack fans will be engaged again. The Carolina Hurricanes are terrible? Well, "Mo Must Go!" These types of things drive sports talk. Apathy is the killer.


RPS: As a sports journalist, what do you think the future holds for the various schools/teams in the area?

JO: North Carolina is in the best position to enjoy revenue sport success like Texas. Basketball is clearly there, but Butch Davis has ushered in a new era of Tar Heel football being important. He still has an uphill battle, but he understands how to build programs.

[Note: This interview was done prior to the NCAA investigation into the UNC-Chapel Hill football program, thus no question about that.]

N.C. State is probably the most curious school to watch now that Debbie Yow has been named the new AD. If I were Sidney Lowe or Tom O'Brien, I would want to start winning now.

It will be fascinating to watch Duke transition from the Coach K era in a couple of years.


RPS: Are there some other markets in which you would like to work as a broadcaster? If so, why?

JO: When I visit other cities, the first thing I do is find the sports talk station. The one that still intrigues me is Miami. It's such a front-runner town, but when things are going well it's a big party.


RPS: Is there an interview you've done that stands out above the rest?

JO: It wasn't really an interview, but my first assignment was to cover Florida State's visit to Duke. I also did stringer work ESPN Radio and they wanted to talk with Bobby Bowden .

The FSU staff let's me go into the visiting locker room to hand my phone to Bowden, but ESPN was in a commercial break. Bowden tells me, "Son, I've got to get showered or the team is going to leave without me. Now I'm gonna get ready here, and if I'm gone ... I'm gone." I tell him that it's completely understandable and that I was sorry for the trouble.

While I've got the phone to my ear, listening to a commercial break, Bowden starts to undress. He wasn't kidding, he was going to hit the showers and he didn't care if some 22-year-old was standing there with a phone. As this legendary coach waddled away, the ESPN producer finally got back to me. "Ah man, he just left." I had zero intentions of chasing down a naked old man.


RPS: What is, let's see, the dumbest thing you've ever said on the radio?

JO: "850 The Balls."


Joe Ovies is the co-host of the afternoon and evening sports talk show on 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio.


(Images from Facebook)

PieBird = YUMMY

We mentioned back in March that PieBird will be filling the old Conti's Italian Market spot on North Person Street. That is still in the works; however, that hasn't stopped people in Raleigh from enjoying Sheila Sabol Duncan's wonderfully tasty pies during the past six months or so.

Unfortunately -- be it because of bad timing, Fate or out-of-town trips, I myself had not had the pleasure of trying PieBird -- until last night.

We ordered a blueberry pie (since blueberries are in season), which was unbelievable. The crust was flaky, and the berries absolutely perfect. I can't wait to try Sheila's other offerings - particularly the savory pies.

Go to PieBird's website and order your pie today. You will not be disappointed.

Some new blog love: The Sound Medium

Special thanks to Taylor for alerting me to this.

A fantastic (fairly) new music-themed blog with a North Carolina focus is The Sound Medium. It is the brainchild of two musicians themselves, one in Charlotte and the other in Raleigh. The guys do album reviews, concert reviews and previews, and even give their insight to national stories (like Pink Floyd's recent brief reunion). Their most recent post reviews the Cat's Cradle Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes show.

The Sound Medium also has an updated schedule of upcoming concerts.

Check it out!

More DTR biz news

'WeCar' coming to Raleigh

"There are many reasons to move to Raleigh, but two stand out for Shannon Sorenson: It's two hours to the beach and three hours to the mountains," according to WRAL.

"Coming from Boulder, Colo., she bought into the buzz about living downtown.

" 'Just looking around, we really wanted to be in downtown,' she said. 'This just seems to be the place where it's all happening.'

"But before she and her boyfriend buy a new car, they are weighing their options for getting around, including a new concept expected to hit the Capital City.

It's called 'WeCar.'

"Downtown resident Brian Reece helped persuade Enterprise Rent-A-Car to bring the idea to Raleigh.

"As more people move downtown and more retail options become available within walking distance, Reece believes some residents will decide to get rid of their vehicles and use the service only when they need one. ..."

Law firm moving into Briggs building

"New law firm Everett Gaskins and Hancock has found a home in downtown Raleigh," according to Chris Baysden.

"The firm, one of several to form out of the recent dissolution of Everett, Gaskins, Hancock & Stevens, will lease 5,600 square feet on the third floor of the old Briggs Hardware Building at 220 Fayetteville Street. 'We are absolutely thrilled with it,' says Ed Gaskins, a name partner and the managing partner of the old firm until the breakup.

"Gaskins expects that Everett Gaskins and Hancock’s five attorneys and six staff members will be in the new space by the end of August. ..."

Finally something going in the old Capital City Grocery space

Sorry I've been AWOL of late. Was in Minneapolis at a conference - more on that to come.


Those of us who live in DTR have anxiously been waiting to see what would become of the old Capital City Grocery space at Seaboard. Some of the rumors over the years have been that it was to become a skate rink. Some said another restaurant. And some even said the best use was another grocery store (but hopefully one that actually carried stuff people want or need).

Now word has trickled out that it is to become Phydeaux, which is Chapel Hill-based pet supply store owned by Frank Papa. The store is slated to open this fall.

The Raleigh store is about 14,000 square feet, plenty of room for all of the items carried in Chapel Hill plus storage, Papa said.

Phydeaux has a long list of loyal fans from all over the Triangle. The company first started in Carrboro eight years ago and then moved to Chapel Hill.

"We have so many Raleigh customers who have been clamoring for this that it's time for me to just suck it up and do it," Papa said.

Raleigh natives Hamilton and Wall are not too shabby

OK, so the real season has not begun yet for Raleigh native John Wall and the rest of the NBA players, but Wall has shown loads of potential so far during the Association's summer league play.

Wall, playing his second NBA Summer League game with the Wizards, had 18 points, 10 assists and five steals in Washington's 89-64 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. In addition, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft made all eight of his free throws to improve to 19 for 19 at the line in two games.

And Major League Baseball may be on its All-Star break, but Raleigh's Josh Hamilton is hitting a major stride. In fact, Hamilton is in the hunt for the elusive Triple Crown, according to Caulton Tudor.

Lots of folks have been pulling for Hamilton to succeed on and off a baseball diamond for many years. At times during that stretch, those fans could only groan as he struck out flamboyantly on both counts. ...

After years of up-and-down battles against alcohol and drug addiction, Hamilton finally began to reach his baseball potential in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds. That was two years after he started winning against drug dependencies.

Now in the middle of his third season with the Rangers, Hamilton's possibilities are almost endless as he starts tonight's All-Star Game in the outfield for the American League.

On a team that leads the AL West Division by 41/2 games, Hamilton is tied for the league lead in batting average (.346), tied for second in home runs (22) and is fourth in runs batted in (64).

While the odds are heavily against it, the opportunity is there for Hamilton become the majors' first triple crown winner since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.

Dating to 1887, there have been only 15 triple crown winners. The list includes Ted Williams, who did it twice, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby (twice).

Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron never did it. Neither did Stan Musial, Ken Griffey Jr., Joe DiMaggio or Mike Schmidt.

Hamilton told reporters recently he's fantasized about the triple crown but only to a certain extent.

"Going to the World Series is a lot more important to me," he said. "But you have to believe someone will win one [triple crown] again somewhere down the line.

Head of U.S. Club Soccer wants MLS franchise in Triangle -- complete with a 'downtown' stadium

For what it's worth, NC State -- the alumni magazine of the school with the same name -- has a profile on Curt Johnson, a former State soccer player and today the senior V.P. of U.S. Club Soccer, a nonprofit that "develops club soccer leagues and teams in the U.S."

Toward the end of the interview is a question regarding the future of soccer. Johnson alludes to the explosion of soccer participation in America while acknowledging that at the same time, the sport "has emerged as a business and professional soccer has taken root as a popular spectator sport."

Major League Soccer is in its 15th season and is doing very well. So well that one of my goals is to assist in bringing a Major League Soccer team to the Triangle and [in] the building of a downtown stadium.

Admittedly, Johnson doesn't specify downtown Raleigh as the location of a potential stadium, but one would have to imagine that's what's on his mind.

Now, I have no idea how much inside info or "pull" someone like Johnson has; however, it's nice to see someone associated with the sport looking long-term at the area. Plus, Johnson understands the business of sport. He was formerly the General Manager of Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards from 1999 to 2006 and also served as the Vice President and General Manager of the A-League's Richmond Kickers. Johnson's tenure in Kansas City included an MLS Cup championship in 2000 as well as a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 2004. Most recently, Johnson was the Director of Marketing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.

Cary among the top 25 places to live (small city category) in America

CNNMoney.com's list of the best places in America in which to live is out, and Cary comes in at No. 23 in the small city category.

Topping the list this year is Eden Prairie, MN -- and somewhere methinks Garrison Keillor is smirking.

Writes CNNMoney.com about Cary:

This town in the heart of North Carolina's Research Triangle boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, AAA bond ratings from Moody's, and an unemployment rate below the country's average.

Cary is even Martha Stewart-approved: The domestic goods tycoon collaborated with developer KB Homes to design and construct her own subdivision within the town.

Sports lovers will rejoice that Cary is hosting finals in college sports ranging from baseball to tennis as part of the NCAA's Championship City pilot program.

One drawback: Fast growth has resulted in school overcrowding.

Also making the list is Chapel Hill at No. 40.

Michael C. Hall nominated for Emmy again

Raleigh native Michael C. Hall received his third consecutive Emmy nomination today for playing serial killer Dexter Morgan on the Showtime series “Dexter.”

Hall received his first Emmy nomination for “Six Feet Under” in 2002.

Also nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series are Kyle Chandler of “Friday Night Lights,” Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad,” Matthew Fox of “Lost,” Jon Hamm of “Mad Men” and Hugh Laurie of “House M.D.” | Emmys.com

“Dexter” was also nominated for outstanding drama series.

Hall graduated from Ravenscroft High School in 1989.

Michael C. Hall: official site | imdb.com

Move along ... nothing to see here

A couple of nights ago, a trio of young men were shot at the corner of Edenton and Idlewild Streets. This event took place just several blocks from my house. The next day, a colleague asked about the incident; her eyes suggested, "aren't you afraid for your safety?"

As we've discussed multiple times here, Raleigh is a safe place in which to live. And the crime stats echo that.

Yet, there is still/there will always be(?) a perception that the southeastern part of the city is crime-ridden. Not so.

"Raleigh police say crime is down across the board in a part of downtown that neighbors believe is a regular trouble spot," said WRAL.

"The latest trouble happened Tuesday evening when three people were shot in the 900 block of Edenton Street – (part of the Raleigh Police Department's Southeast District."

...

"Overall reported crime was down 16 percent from January to June, and violent crime was down 24 percent from the same time last year.

"In the first six months of last year, there were five homicides and 160 robberies. So far this year, the district has had one homicide and 80 robberies."

Our neighborhood listserv is often the site of discussions about minor thefts or "bumps in the night." Inevitably the discussion turns to whether to report these "small" things to the police or not. My contention is nothing is too small to report. Recently, a woman noted that some young men acted like they were going to approach her car to open the door while she turned onto Sasser Street. She stated that she didn't report this to the police. She clearly felt some level of threat; the police can't do anything about threatening gestures if they don't know about it. But I digress ...

As for the sad shooting from a couple of nights ago ...

Police are still searching for suspects in Tuesday night's shooting. Witnesses reported hearing a dozen or more gunshots around 9:30 p.m.

The victims, Lamar Rashad Kinlaw, 19; Mikal Jajuan Jordan, 16; and a 14-year-old boy were taken to WakeMed with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police haven't released a motive for the shooting but are searching a white, four-door 2000 Chevrolet Malibu that might be connected to the case.

Investigators ask that anyone with information that might assist the case contact the Raleigh Police Department's Detective Division at 919-996-3555 or Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-HELP.

CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve case.

How have things changed in the six months since the smoking ban has gone into effect?

In the grand scheme of things, six months is not a long time. But in the time since the statewide smoking ban has been in effect, I can already tell a huge difference -- at least in the way I enjoy bars and restaurants. In fact, just the other night, someone at the table next to us was smoking and it seemed to bother everyone around us and the smoker was getting the stinkeye. And we were sitting OUTSIDE.

But what's been the real effect of the ban? For this, we turn to the Carolina Weekly.

"Ann Staples, director of public information and communication at the Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch of the state health department, said that educating businesses about the law has gone well. 'Most bars and restaurants that are under the law know about the law now and compliance has been excellent,' she said. 'The reported violations have been low and continue to get lower as the year goes on.'

According to Mecklenburg County Health Department records, there have been 178 alleged violations through June 6. Over the same period, there have been 89 complaints filed against 42 different establishments. Six first-violation letters have been sent across the county and only one second-violation letter. What’s more, there haven’t been any violation fines since the smoking ban went into effect.

When the legislation was about to become law, Rich Miller of the Anne Penman Laser Therapy Center at 756 Tyvola Road, which helps people quit smoking, said he received 60 e-mails on Dec. 30-31, 2009, all from people interested in quitting smoking. He still hears the influence of the new law on clients’ decisions to try quitting. “I would say 10 percent of the clients we get six months later are still saying it’s becoming more difficult to smoke. You can’t smoke in the bars; you can’t smoke in the ­restaurants.”

Once a smoker himself, Miller continued, “This is ultimately what the goal is – to make it so inconvenient that people say, ‘Screw it. I’m not going to smoke anymore.’”

Half a year later, people also have figured out what establishments the law applies to and how enforcement is handled. “The smoking law is pretty much complaint-driven,” explained Bill Hardister, the Environmental Division director at the county health department. “We’re not necessarily out there to make inspections to determine compliance, but when a complaint comes in, we follow up on that complaint.”

The ban, the article goes on to say, has put a dent in the business of some establishments.

Zee Ryan is the owner of Zee’s Tavern at 10403-D Park Road near Pineville, a private club that isn’t exempt from the smoking ban. Ryan said the ban actually has hurt her business. In December 2009, Zee’s employed five bartenders. Six months later that number is down to two, with a part-time bartender who sometimes helps.

“It’s very offensive to me for them to say I can’t smoke in my business and I’m losing business because of it,” Ryan, a smoker, said. “It’s pretty sad. I’ve always tried to follow the laws of the land. That’s the way I was raised. But the thing of it is, they keep taking and taking.” Because of the property layout, Zee’s can’t add an outdoor patio area, as some area bars have done, to accommodate smokers.

Ryan is particularly interested in the way violations and complaints are made. “Anyone can call in a violation and say that I’m smoking in my bar,” she said. “They came out the first time (a violation was reported), and the second time I got a letter in the mail. They didn’t show up to verify I – or anyone – was actually smoking in my bar or not.”

Snitching and alleged civil liberties aside, it is nice to be able to go out for a drink or dinner and not come home smelling like a chimney. (Has anyone ever used that complaint before?) But, more importantly, if it keeps people from smoking, then I'm all for this ban.

What's your opinion of the smoking ban? Has it been good or North Carolina? Has it been effective? Has it affected how you go out or IF you go out?

Happy Fourth -- now get out of town!

We're up on the Independence Day holiday weekend, which means Raleigh is about to become a ghost town with families heading to "the beach" ("the beach" could mean Emerald Isle, Wrightsville, Topsail, Sunset, Myrtle, etc.) or "the lake" (White, Gaston, Kerr, etc.).

My wife, whose family comes from the Midwest but has lived in Raleigh for some 25 years, still is amazed at just how many N.C. families seem to have beach houses. Not surprisingly, the percentage of Ralwegians with beach places appears to be astronomically high. But I digress ...

Each year we like to wish all of our readers a Happy Fourth. And, in the spirit of the holiday, we once again leave you with snippets from some of our forefathers' brilliantly-penned masterpieces. (And in honor of a recent trip to Lake Gaston, we've added a snippet from the Halifax Resolves (pictured).

"... That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing Association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor. ..."

-Mecklenburg Declaration of Indpendence, Charlotte, May 20, 1775

"... It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan concerted by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the Persons and Properties of the People unlimited and uncontrouled; and disregarding their humble Petitions for Peace, Liberty and safety, have made divers Legislative Acts, denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity against the Continent in General. ...

"Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be impowered to concur with the delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances, reserving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof) to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out."

-Halifax Resolves, April 12, 1776

"... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ..."

-Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"... The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes. ..."

-President George Washington's Farewell Address, September 17, 1796

(Image courtesy of the Halifax Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution)

Brind'Amour leaving, yet staying

Carolina Hurricanes legend Rod Brind'Amour announced his retirement from playing hockey yesterday. The former Canes captain will stay on with the organIzation in some yet-to-be-determined capacity.

When Brind'Amour was traded to the Hurricanes from the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 23, 2000, he said he was in shock. He had been a hero in Philly, cheered by Flyers fans. Suddenly, that was all gone, and he was alone in Raleigh.

"It was, 'No way I'm staying here,' " Brind'Amour said. "It was, 'The minute this deal is up, I'm out.'

"All of a sudden I started to fall in love with it. The organization treated me just great from day one.

"Obviously, the fan base started going to games, and now you look at it and it's a great place to play."

Brind'Amour's decision to remain here speaks volumes for the growth of the sport and franchise in the state. It also speaks loudly to our quality of life. Brind'Amour brings the number of former Canes who easily could've gone other places but decided instead to stay up to four: Glen Wesley, Ron Francis and Tom Barrasso, being the others. In the cases of Francis & Barrasso, both of those gentlemen could've even gone back to a traditionally more historic hockey hotbed town of Pittsburgh -- where they won Stanley Cups -- but chose, instead, to remain in Raleigh. (Brind'Amour is engaged to marry into an N.C. State-centric family.)

"When Rod Brind'Amour arrived here more than a decade ago, he couldn't wait to leave," writes Luke DeCock. "Now, all he wants to do is stay."

The man who captained the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006 walked away from the game of hockey Wednesday, at least as a player, but he won't be walking away from the Triangle.

Like Ron Francis and Glen Wesley, he will remain here now that his career is over. And like them, he played a key role in making the franchise a Sun Belt success story, one that can endure the ownership uncertainty. ...

And ...

Many believe Brind'Amour's career will land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame. His NHL numbers are impressive by any standard. He played in 1,484 regular-season games, with 452 goals and 732 assists (1,184 points). In 159 playoff games, he had 51 goals and 60 assists.

The image of Brind'Amour hoisting the Cup back in '06 is an iconic one. Aside from Jimmy V looking for someone to hug, the look of pure joy on his face is perhaps the most indelible sports image in this area's history. And in a land of NCAA hoops championships, that says a lot -- not just about Brind'Amour, but about the progress that hockey has made here.

(Images from News & Observer and Getty)

Crate & Barrel leaving CVM, North Face filling some space

There have been a couple of rumors floating around about retail spaces at Crabtree Valley Mall. The first one to be proven true is word that Crate & Barrel will leave CVM soon for a larger, stand-alone store at Southpoint.

Construction has just started on a new 25,000-square- foot building next to Urban Outfitters in the outside portion of the mall.

When it opens, the new store will be a Crate & Barrel Home Store, a larger store that carries a full line of furniture and more home goods.

This is somewhat of a blow to CVM; when C&B opened the store there a decade ago, it was one of those "We've made it!" moments for this area. I guess the fact that the store needs more space still says a lot about the growth of the store and of the area.

The other rumor going around involved the Ruby Tuesday's space at CVM. Word was the restaurant unexpectedly closed, with speculation being that Kanki wanted to transform the space into a second level. There was even talk that CVM "suddenly" ramped up the lease amount on Ruby Tuesday's, causing the restaurant to close almost overnight. (This seemed ludicrous, not to mention illegal.)

Well, the facts are now out; North Face is moving into the Ruby Tuesday's space. No word yet on whether you will be able to get ridiculously large burgers wrapped in fleece.