Author Archives: TriangleExplorer

TriangleExplorer's avatar

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.
January 25, 2010 · 6:37 pm

Trader Joe’s Welcomed in Raleigh

With the opening of a new Trader Joe’s on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh earlier this Fall residents of North Raleigh no longer need to travel to Cary to buy their two buck chuck and organic humus. The Triangle’s newest Trader Joe’s opened up in late October in the remodeled Holly Park  Shopping Center located just inside the 440 beltline , a block away from Costco, midway between downtown and the suburbs of North Raleigh.  I love the choive of bread they sell there, and I am a sucker for their Jo Jo cookies! The location of this store is prime because it is along a major commuter route making it easy to stop by to pick something up on the way home from work in the evening.

With this newest Trader Joe’s store the Triangle now has a total of three with two other stores located in Cary and Chapel Hill. If the crowds shopping there during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Holidays are any indication of how busy this store will be I think it will continue to be very successful at this location. Some people, myself included, think downtown is a prime location for a second store in Rlaeigh. It would surely help to encourage more people to visit downtown. However, if the Triangle were to get another store I think Durham or fast growing Wake Forest would be the next likely locations. Either way, having more choices of places to go to purchase organic produce is no doubt a welcome addition for  many area  shoppers.

Leave a comment

Filed under Businesses

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

January 24, 2010 · 8:32 am

2nd Annual Cuegrass Festival Returns to The Pit ~ April 17, 2010

The word on the street is that the second annual ‘Cuegrass Festival will occur on the afternoon of Saturday April 17th on the street outside The Pit at 328 W. Davie Street in downtown Raleigh.

Last year’s  Festival was  comprised of beers from LoneRider and Aviator breweries, three NC bands (Old Habits, Filmore Valley Boys and Town Mountain) as well as The Pit’s famous bbq and the “Pigs on Parade” silent auction (which features piggy banks from local artists sold to raise money for Feed the Farm, a local non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to N.C. farmers in need).

The Cuegrass Festival is a family-friendly event.  People of all ages make up the crowd and many bring lawn chairs and blankets to set up in front of the stage to relax with their kids and listen to an afternoon of great music.  You can heck the event website for more information.

1 Comment

Filed under Events

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 22, 2010 · 10:12 pm

Winterfest Ice Skating Rink in Raleigh’s Downtown City Plaza

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the new outdoor ice skating rink located in downtown Raleigh’s New City Plaza before it closes for the season on February 15th. The rink is situated directly across the street from the new Marriot hotel at the southern end of Fayetteville Street. It opened back on December 4th and will remain open through February 15th due to popular demand.  The rink itself is 45’ x 85’ in size and has maximum capacity of 140 skaters. The cost of admission is $6 and includes the skate rental. I spent some time in City plaza over the Holidays and was happy to see the rink getting a lot of use. It seems to be very popular with families and kids.

You can check out the Winterfest Website for special events. During the holidays they had “skate with Santa” night and also provided live music entertainment and outdoor movies some nights. They also have regular “date night specials” when Couples can show their receipt from local participating restaurants to receive a $4 discount for admission for two to the ice rink.  They also offer free carriage rides e from 6 pm-9 pm on date nights for anyone wearing their ice rink admission wristband.

On Valentine’s Day Sunday, February 14 complimentary rickshaw and carriage rides will be offered from 5 pm-9 pm to anyone who has paid for admission to the rink.  These rickshaw rides will begin in the 400 block of Fayetteville Street and will circle around the Capitol.  According to the Winterfest website, the rickshaws will provide romantic music, a rose, and a blanket to keep you warm.

Leave a comment

Filed under Events

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 22, 2010 · 3:02 pm

The Durham Performing Arts Center DPAC

If you are looking to see a Broadway musical, concert, or comedy act check out the event schedule for the new Durham Performing Arts Center known as “DPAC”. Since opening in November 2008 the art center has presented more than 150 with over 250, 000 guests in attendance. Last year the DPAC sold out over 30 shows including musical acts Leonard Cohen, Steely Dan, and Harry Connick Jr., comedians Bill Cosby and Robin Williams and an entire week of Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple. Their schedule this year includes over 175 events throughout the upcoming year.

The venue is 100,000 square feet and has 2,700 seats. There are currently 10,000 season ticket holders and gets a lot of popular shows. Recently I purchased tickets for my wife and I to see Wicked there later this spring. Although the tickets went fast and it took a lot of tries through Ticketmaster online we were finally able to nab some tickets for the upper balcony. Fortunately the layout of the theater was designed to put you close to the stage, with no seat further than 135 feet away from the action. I am looking forward to both seeing the show and getting a look at the interior design of this modern theater. Some other interesting acts coming to PAC thsi year include Chicago, Paula Deen, The Ringo Star All Star Band, and Harry Connick Jr.

If you are in the Durham area and want to take a free tour of the venue, DPAC offers a public tour the first Monday of the month. The public tour will be given by DPAC staff and begin at 11:00 am. Tours include sights of the theatre from all levels, an extraordinary view from the Mildred & Dillard Teer Stage, and a city skyline panorama from the star terrace lobby. Tours will also get a chance to see where the stars prepare for show time. For more information, check out the DPAC website here: Link

2 Comments

Filed under Events

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

January 20, 2010 · 10:12 pm

Are you up to the Krispy Kreme Challenge?

What’s better than running for a good cause? Well running for a good cause while wolfing down a dozen hot off the line Kreme donuts off course! I first heard about this event a few years back and think it is one of the more original concepts going in terms of local charity events. Known as the “Krispy Kreme Challenge”, it is an annual, student-organized race held in Raleigh to raise funds and awareness for the NC Children’s Hospital. Legend has it the “challenge” was born back 2004 as a result of a bet between a handful of NC State college students. The first challenge had a mere 10 participants but its popularity has caught on like wildfire and the race has grown in size in subsequent years with a massive 5,500 runners in the 2009. The “Challenge” has become one of NC State University’s most well known and beloved traditions.

Here is how the challenge works. Participants start at the NC State Belltower on Hillsborough Street, and run 2 miles to the Krispy Kreme store located on Peace St. in downtown Raleigh. Upon their arrival the runners are greeted by a cheering crowd and promptly handed a box with a dozen tasty Krispy Kreme donuts. After downing a full dozen of the donuts, the runners must then run the two miles back to the NC State Belltower. If that isn’t challenging enough it all has to be done in less than one hour!

The challenge attracts a wide range of runners from beginners to serious competitors hailing from all corners of the country. With an expected participation of 6,000 runners expected at this year’s event, the 2010 race to be the biggest yet! The race is scheduled to take place at 9am on February 6, 2010. For more information and to sign up you can visit the official Krispy Kreme Challenge website here. Oh, in case you were wondering, the donut eating is optional.

Leave a comment

Filed under Events

Tagged as , , , , ,