by Amy Gretenstein
The month of May presents several awesome events: graduations and Mother’s Day (my mother would argue one is more significant that the other). And with these events hovering around the same dates, I wanted to give you a heads up so you can plan accordingly.
Out in Chapel Hill, Mother’s Day and commencement fall on the same day for UNC on May 9. Ceremonies begin at 9:30a.m. at Kenan Stadium. With close to 4,000 students graduating, the area’s traffic could be quite intense.
Next up, NCSU graduates close to 5,500 students on Saturday, May 15 starting at 9 a.m. at the RBC Center near downtown Raleigh. While the venue is used to large crowds, the traffic in and around the university and Hillsborough Street will probably be quite fierce.
Last to make it official is Duke out in Durham, which will graduate close to 1,500 students on Sunday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. in Wallace Wade Stadium.
There are several other colleges in the area holding commencements that could provide hiccups in your schedule along the way, such as Peace College, Meredith College, Shaw University and NC Central University, to name a few. Check their websites for specific dates and times.
by Amy Gretenstein
I know I am always using this site to brag about Raleigh and the Triangle area, but I can’t help it. When you’re awesome, you’re awesome.
And Raleigh is awesome.
Forbes.com just ranked Raleigh as the third “Best Place for Business and Careers.”
Provo, Utah (home of Brigham Young University) came in second and Des Moines, Iowa (which is home of my best friend Diana and several major corporations like Principal Financial Group and Meredith Corporation) came in first.
The cities were ranked according to metro area population size, education attainment, projected job growth and cost of doing business. Raleigh's neighbor Durham did well in this survey under these categories too, finishing at number 23.
Also in the top 100 are fellow North Carolina cities Charlotte (at number 17), Winston-Salem (at 51) and Greensboro (at 90).
In comparison, some of the United States' more iconic “career” cities fared poorly. New York City hit the list at number 99, Los Angeles at number 120 and Miami rounded out the bottom tier at 152.
I know this makes me feel good about my decision to move here and continue to advance my career. What do you think?
by Amy Gretenstein
Recently I was discussing first date ideas with a friend of mine. He is really into this girl who just moved to the Triangle, and we were brainstorming things for them to do other than the typical dinner and a movie (there’s nothing wrong with that, but creativity goes a long way, guys!)
One of our ideas was an active or interactive date. Frankie’s Fun Park encompasses that nicely. Between go-karts, miniature golf and laser tag, you can really have some competitive fun. The only downside would be that Saturdays are typically full of birthday party grade school kids, but their competitive edge may just remind you how to be a kid again yourself.
Since my friend’s date interest is new to the area, we also discussed some touristy type things. Mordecai Historic Park and Raleigh Trolley would make an educational and fun date. The trolley is a modern replica of a historic trolley (but has air conditioning!) which circles the downtown neighborhoods for more than an hour of a guided tour. Not only will he be able to show her around downtown, but they can spend their time discussing where to get lunch after!
And with spring in full bloom, a picnic in the park can make a great afternoon date. If you’re not sure what to pack on your picnic, why not head over to Beasley’s Berries to pick your own strawberry snacks?
What sort of non-traditional dates have you been on? Any tips for my friend?
by Amy Gretenstein
While the President will be hosting the annual Easter Egg Roll this weekend, the Triangle will be doing its own version of Easter and egg celebrating. The Raleigh Easter presented by a local church is promising the area’s largest egg hunt, featuring more than 10,000 eggs!
The event will be held downtown in Moore Square on Saturday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Also celebrating my favorite bunny themed holiday on Saturday, April 3 is North Hills shopping area featuring an egg hunt for the “young and young at heart.” Apparently their eggs will contain not just frothy confections but perhaps some shopping deals too! The Easter Bunny himself will make an appearance.
If you’re not into Easter or perhaps you’re just sick of eating Matzoh, then maybe I’ll catch you at Goodnight’s Comedy Club in downtown Raleigh where Dave Coulier (uh, yeah Uncle Dave from Full House!) will be performing stand-up Thursday through Saturday.
Or, if you’re like me, you’ll grab your Matzoh and snuggie and watch Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (Saturday, April 3 on ABC at 7 p.m).
by Amy Gretenstein
In a fiesty round-off between two of North Carolina's most populous counties, it looks as if Wake County (home to the infamous Raleigh-Cary area) will pass Mecklenburg (Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord area) county within the next few years.
Early census gatherings are showing the tremendous growth of the Triangle area, which is centered around Wake County. The other five counties that encompass the Triangle do not even add up to Wake County's population!
It's a pretty impressive feat considering Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord combined had around 1.3 million residents as of 2000 while Raleigh-Cary only had around 750,000. In the past decade, Raleigh-Cary has grown to an estimated 1.1 million while Mecklenburg barely holds on at around 1.7 million.
Raleigh-Cary was ranked number 59 back in 2000 but is now holding fast at number 49. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord is up to number 33 from 37.
Even Durham-Chapel Hill has shown progress. In 2000, the area housed around 426,000 and in 2009 it had an estimated 501,000. Their ranking moved up three spots from 105 to 102.
Experts (or those who do the counting) say that within the next few years Wake will surpass Mecklenburg due to job growth and continued economic strides. That's a pretty awesome title, since we are home to the capitol here in Wake!
By Preston Kelly
As the warm weather begins to settle in permanently (I hope), it's safe to say that people are itching to spend some time outdoors. Whether it's watching baseball or playing a game of tennis, the sunny weather seems to put pep in everyone's step.
A sure fire way to get into the springtime groove is through a live music experience. Lucky for us, Raleigh is a hot spot for live music venues, from big concerts at the RBC Center to smaller shows from local bands. And it keeps getting better - many of these venues host outdoor shows!
Personally, I am more interested in the smaller shows where I can get a real feel for the music - and maybe even get my groove on! That's why intimate venues like Six String Cafe and Music Hall, Lincoln Theatre and Koka Booth Amphitheatre are perfect for me. With more local artists, I can experience the true North Carolina music, from bluegrass to beach tunes.
Looking for a bigger time? The Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek and the RBC Center bring some of the most well-known musicians to the area. Taylor Swift is even making her way to Raleigh in early May!
The wide variety of unique musical options will certainly fill up my calendar this spring!
Coming in just second place behind Austin, Texas, Raleigh was voted one of the top 10 "Best Markets for Young Adults" by Portfolio.com and Bizjournals.
The study's 10-part formula gave the highest marks to places with strong growth rates, moderate costs of living and substantial pools of young adults who are college-educated and employed.
While Raleigh is down a notch from last year (thanks a lot, Austin!), it remains high up on the rankings, making it still one of the most awesome places to live on the eastern seaboard!
While the official start to spring is not until Monday, I am considering it in full bloom after the recent weeks of wonderfully charming weather. I am especially looking forward to tomorrow’s Triangle high of 78 degrees and sunny.
And to celebrate the warm sunshine’s much needed arrival, I am going hiking.
There are many options for hiking from serious mountain-terrain-type hiking to casual strollers (and those in strollers or other wheeled-type transportation.
For those who are seeking a more casual hiking approach, the Triangle area offers many Greenways for your pleasure. A greenway is a natural corridor that helps protect streams, water and air quality by keeping development away from sensitive natural areas, such as streams. The Triangle Greenway Council has an excellent site for reference to the area greenways.
Anyone looking for a more rugged (loose term) outdoor experience, definitely check out the area's state parks. I have enjoyed hikes at both William B. Umstead State Park(Raleigh) and Eno River State Park(Durham).
In addition to the state parks, definitely check out Falls Lake Trail part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area. It boasts a 23-mile trail which is part of the Mountains To the Sea Trail(a/k/a the ultimate North Carolina hike).
There are so many places to hike around the Triangle so this post is definitely not exhaustive. I'll be heading to Umstead tomorrow for a short hike. Comment below with your favorite hiking destination in the Triangle.