Author Archives: TriangleExplorer

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About TriangleExplorer

I moved to Raleigh fourteen years ago and enjoy exploring all that the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) has to offer. I like to carry a camera with me wherever we go and take photographs of different locations and events. I decided to start this blog to share my pictures and provide a forum for discussing things to do, places to eat, and events going on in the Triangle.
February 1, 2010 · 8:29 am

Where To Find Gluten Free Pizza In Raleigh

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. With that, things like regular pizza are usually off the menu for those with Celiac but fortunately there are “gluten free” pizza options in the Triangle. 

So far I am only aware of places in Raleigh that sell gluten free pizzas, but I will update this post in the future if I discover any others. The three pizza establishments that currently sell gluten free pizza in Raleigh are Lily’s Pizza, Zpizza, and Bella Monica. I have tried the pizza from the first two and they are quite good (gluten free Zpizza pictured above).  I have not yet had the Bella Monica GF pizza but I hear it is quite good. 

You can check out  local blog Gluten Free Raleigh for more information about living gluten free in the Triangle.

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January 30, 2010 · 4:43 pm

The Triangle sees its first snow of 2010!

Today the residents of the Triangle woke up to a rare wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.  Some places like North Raleigh only received 3-4″ of snow while parts of Northern Durham and Orange County were blanketed with 6-10″. With all the coverage leading up to the storm, snow shovels and sleds were flying off the shelves at local hardware stores with parents waiting in line for over an hour to purchase them in some cases.  During a quick stroll through the Bedford this morning I saw lots of kids putting those new sleds to good use!

Along with the snow, we seem to have gotten a fair amount of sleet and freezing rain which has managed to pack down into a nice thick sheet of ice on most secondary roads. Given that the temps will remain below freezing for the next couple of days the road conditions will likely not be very good over the remainder of the weekend and may even affect the Monday morning commute. All the more reason to make it a three day weekend in my opinion!

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January 28, 2010 · 5:21 pm

Take A Free Ride On The Downtown Raleigh R-Line Circulator Bus!

If you are headed to downtown Raleigh  be sure to check out the free R-Line Circulator Bus. This free bus service loops around downtown connecting the central business district and its ample parking with the restaurants, bars, and venues along Glenwood Avenue South and the lower portion of downtown by the new Convention Center and Moore Square.

The two bus system runs loops every 15 minutes with multiple stops at points of interest along the way (map). Hours of operation for the service are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. While the stops aren’t very far apart, make sure you know which one is closest to you final destination. The bus will not just stop just anywhere for you (I’ve seen people ask and get denied).

My wife and I took the bus a few times this past summer when we were visiting downtown to attend concerts in Moore Square. It was really easy finding a place to park in the big vacant government building lots along Peace Street and take the quick bus ride down to Moore square were parking can be tight and cost you a few dollars. It is also kind of fun to ride because you essentially are getting a mini-tour of downtown Raleigh and meet other folks who are out for a night on the town.

According to a recent news and observer article the R-line carried over 150,000 passengers between its inception last February 13, 2009 and December 5, 2009.  While it may not be used as often as it could, I think this is a step in the right direction for downtown Raleigh and a sign of more good things to come. I’ll see you on the bus!

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January 26, 2010 · 11:00 pm

Celebrate The “Beer Olympics” at Wine 101

This past weekend I stopped by to see my friend Joe, the wine aficionado and owner of Wine 101. Don’t let the name fool you, while grapes may be his first love, he also has a wide variety of specialty microbrews in the wine shop. I have even spotted a few growlers of local Lonerider brew in the cooler on occasion. In fact, Wine 101 is having a beer tasting event Friday February 12th called the “Beer Olympics”. For $10 you get to celebrate the opening ceremony and the lighting of the Olympic flame in Vancouver by sampling over 25 beers from around the world at Wine 101. (No, you don’t have to try all 25!). After an evening of beer swirling guests will vote on their favorites and in Olympic fashion award gold, silver, and bronze medals to the beer champions. (I’m pulling for the Belgians!). So if you like beer and are looking for a fun way to kick off the 2010 Olympics check out the wine 101 website for more information.

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January 25, 2010 · 8:20 pm

The International Auto Expo Returns to Raleigh in February!

Just in time to pick out a new Aston Martin for your Valentine! The 2010 North Carolina International Auto Expo returns to the the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds located at 1025 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh Thursday Feb. 11th through Sunday February 14th. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for kids. Future drivers under the age of 6 get in for free. According to the event website, the auto show will offer you a glimpse of fuel-efficient hybrids, nods to the past with classics and highlights like the 2011 Chevy Camaro.

For more information check out the Event Website:  Here

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