The year 2008 will most likely be best known for its financial crisis and its election, however it was chock full of many other fascinating stories. While the nation was taking a financial and emotional beating, Raleigh remained a buoyant market, full of growth and opportunity. Compiled below are the top 100 stories that shaped 2008 for Raleigh. The list appears in reverse order of importance (”Convention Center Opens” was the most important event of the year…). While each person could create their own permutation of this list, it is still fun to review and remember the busy year that was 2008.

1. Convention Center Opens , Shimmer Wall Wakes
2. RBC Completes/Dedicates Tower
3. Garbage Disposer Ban Overturned
4. RDU Opens Terminal 2
5. Marriott Convention Hotel Opens
6. 2008 Ends Exceptional Drought , Water Restrictions Continue Despite Excess Water
7. Canes Fire Laviolette, Bring Back Maurice
8. U-verse Goes Live in Raleigh , Time Warner Rolls Out HD Channels
9. North Hills East Revised Plans Submitted
10. Soleil Redesigns
11. N&O Reorganizes Local Coverage , Major Changes
12. Josh Hamilton Almost Wins HR Derby , Makes SI Cover
13. Durham Opens Performing Arts Center and Strong Lineup
14. Blount Street Commons Breaks Ground
15. Waverly Sold To Distant Firm
16. Raleigh Unveils New Comprehensive Plan
17. Jones Leaves NCT
18. Reynolds Tower Approved, Gets Financing
19. Tom Suiter Signs Off
20. Yamaguchi Wins “Dancing With The Stars”
21. Holly Park Renovates , Plans Trader Joe’s
22. Chick-Fil-A Files Site Plan for Cameron Village
23. Sheri Leaves WRAL Morning Show
24. City Plaza Begins Construction
25. Raleigh Woman Wins Mrs. America
26. West Tower Opens
27. Raleigh Hosts NCAA Tournament Action, Curry Amazes
28. Van Halen Plays RBC Center (Eddie Amazes)
29. Sitti Now Open
30. New Restaurants Planned for Cameron Village
31. Moshakos To Revive Former Pine State Office
32. Flemings, McCormick & Schmick, and Brio Open at Crabtree
33. GSK Assigns RTP as Sole HQ
34. Broughton Gets (Back) 150+ Parking Spaces
35. Riviera Closed
36. Capital City Grocery Closes
37. Yancy’s Closes , Replaced by The Oxford
38. Annuals Played on Conan , Ryan Adams Played Letterman , Ben Folds Played Conan , Ed Mitchell Appeared on The Today Show , Tift Merritt on Leno
39. Coquette Opens in North Hills
40. Jibarra Moves Downtown
41. Cameron Village Corner to be Redeveloped
42. Solas Opens on Glenwood
43. Powerhouse Plaza Announced
44. Captrust Tower Construction Begins
45. Raleigh Gets Downtown Amphitheater Supplies
46. Chef Rameaux Dies
47. Council Approves Edison Project , ( more )
48. Jimmy V Classic Returning to Cary
49. Mez Opens
50. Raleigh’s Nutty Brainstorm
51. Chuck Berry Plays Raleigh Wide Open , Raleigh Wide Open 3 Celebrates Convention Center During Storm
52. Hall of Fame Concert Comes to Cary
53. Canes Unveil Third Uniforms
54. Beltline to Lose “Inner” and “Outer”
55. Longbranch Closes
56. Raleigh Couple Wins “Biggest Loser”
57. Angus Barn Wins Wine Spectator Grand Award, Again
58. 222 Glenwood Opens
59. Ashley Christensen Featured in Bon Appetit
60. Lafayette Gets Extension
61. Clayton Bypass Opens One Year Early
62. Wake County Unveils Justice Center Plans
63. Bobby Flay Came to the N.C. State Fair
64. Shucker’s Sold, Moving
65. Summerfield Suites Coming to North Hills East
66. Third Train to Charlotte Coming
67. BB&T To Replace North Hills Office
68. Kiplinger Ranks Raleigh #2
69. Jack Boston Dies
70. Webb Simpson Ranked As #1 (golf) Amateur
71. Raleigh Hosts Spy Conference
72. Tookies Closes on Six Forks
73. Cameron Bar & Grill Opens
74. Gianni & Gaitano’s TTC Location Closes, No-Go for Glenwood
75. CAM Has New Design
76. Boylan 615 Redesigned
77. Waraji Downtown Stalls
78. Downtown Segway Tours Begin
79. Smithereens Playing First Night
80. WRAL To Test MPH Mobile DTV Device
81. Ruth’s Chris Opens in North Hills
82. Wiggles Make RBC Center Debut
83. Prime Only Downtown Closes
84. CBS Drops Packer (not local per se, but still great news)
85. 111 Seaboard Canceled
86. Foster’s Reopens in Cameron Village
87. Martin St. Pizza Opens
88. Comboland Radio Up on 365
89. Hook Up Closes
90. Flying Biscuit Coming To Cameron Village
91. Red Palace Closes
92. Cherry Closes
93. Village Tavern Coming to North Hills East
94. Crabtree Place Goes Back to Drawing Board
95. Mixed Use Project for East Downtown Approved
96. Carpenter Ads Showing Up
97. Forbes Names Raleigh Best Place for Business and Careers, Again
98. Harmon’s Floating House Featured in Architectural Record
99. Carvers’ Creek Closes
100. Raleigh Pinata Now On Sale