Jan

Staal An NHL All-Star

Carolina Hurricanes Alternate Captain Eric Staal has, once again, been named to the NHL All-Star Team. This is the third time being named to the team for Stall, last year’s All-Star Game MVP. The game begins at 6pm today on Versus (TWC channel 65 and 271).

Note: Staal scores the game’s 3rd goal at 9:30 in the 1st

Posted by Dana on January 25, 2009 | Tags: Sports , TV . | ( 0 ) Comments

Jan

Kay Yow: 1942-2009

As nearly every national and local media outlet is reporting today, Kay Yow lost her fight to cancer this morning. Ever since her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1987, Yow has been an inspiration to many, including the late Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993.

Yow’s 2007 team made an indelible imprint. With its coach’s health obviously failing, the team was able to string together several memorable wins, coming 6 points short of winning the ACC Championship. The team went on to win two miraculous NCAA tournament before losing to Connecticut.

I watched those ACC Tournament games with my ailing father, figuring it would be the last we would see of Yow. I was wrong. It was the last I would see of him. I wondered in the back of my mind who would make it longer. She did by almost two years.

There will be a public viewing on Friday from 10am to 2pm at Colonial Baptist Church in Cary ( map it ). In the meantime Yow supporters are placing memorials around the NCSU bell tower. Fans will also wear pink on Monday.

Posted by Dana on January 24, 2009 | Tags: Sports . | ( 0 ) Comments

Jan

Umstead Earns Five Stars

The Umstead Hotel (Warning: Music) in Cary has been awarded 5-stars be Mobil Travel Guide . The hotel had previously received the comparable award by AAA. Fewer than 50 hotels nationwide received the honor . This marks the first time that The Umstead has achieved the prestigious status. The spa and restaurant were awarded 4-star ratings.

The only other 5-star award earned in North Carolina was by Pittsboro’s Fearrington House, which has won the award each year since 2000.

Posted by Dana on January 24, 2009 | Tags: Cary/Apex , Honors . | ( 0 ) Comments

Jan

Uncle Fatty’s Drive-In Coming to Cameron Village

The Cameron Village website is showing that "Uncle Fatty’s Drive-In" is coming to Cameron Village in 2009. This is presumably the next project by John White, and the next version of the concept formerly known as " Burger Dawgs ". White is fresh off of opening Raving Brand’s latest Flying Biscuit location, in Cameron Village. UF’s will be located on Woodburn Avenue, next door to Piccola Italia .

Posted by Dana on January 22, 2009 | Tags: Cameron Village , Food . | ( 10 ) Comments

Jan

Fleetwood Mac Coming to Greensboro

Legendary rock bank Fleetwood Mac is going to be in the Greensboro Coliseum on Sunday, April 26. Tickets go on sale to the public on January 26 (10am). However, there is a special presale that runs from tomorrow (Friday) at 10am thru Sunday at 10pm. The password is "HITS"

Posted by Dana on January 22, 2009 | Tags: Music , Road Trip . | ( 0 ) Comments

Jan

Man vs. Food Date Changes

The previously mentioned filming date for the Travel Channel’s "Man vs. Food" show has been changed. The new date is Wednesday, January 28 .

The Pit is taking reservations for spectator seating that night (6-9). They will also be offering some topical specials that night:

Double Combo (Carolina Ribs and Chopped Hog) with two sides for $14.99 (normally $19.99)
All you can eat Chopped Hog and two sides also for $14.99 (not normally available)

Posted by Dana on January 22, 2009 | Tags: Food , TV . | ( 0 ) Comments

Jan

Natty Greene’s Coming to Powerhouse Square

The site at 505 W. Jones St., formerly occupied by Southend Brewery and later Prime Only, will soon be home to Greensboro-based Natty Greene’s Brewing Company . The brewpub specializes in its own beer, and has a menu similar to that at Village Draft House (and its siblings). Full of perfect price point items, the menu is heavy on appetizers and sandwiches. The Greensboro location features a loft area that can be rented. Most likely the back right section of the Raleigh location will fit the bill well.

This sounds like a repeat of the Southend Brewery theme for the space. While Southend’s beer was about the only microbrew I’ve actually liked, their menu was far too ambitious. With much more affordable price points, that Natty Greene’s might just hit the spot for that site.

map it

Posted by Dana on January 22, 2009 | Tags: Downtown , Food , Renovations . | ( 13 ) Comments

Jan

They Call It "The Streak"

The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the ninth-ranked Clemson Tigers tonight in a stunning victory in Chapel Hill, 94-70. It was the 54th time that Clemson has played in Chapel Hill, and the 54th time the Tigers have come away with an "L". The stunning streak of dominance sets an NCAA record for wins of one team over another in a certain site. The Tigers won’t get a chances for revenge until at least March as this is the only regular-season meeting of the two teams.

We’ve had an incredible week of firsts, and it made me think about all of the previously unlikely things that are more common than a Clemson win in Chapel Hill:

A full airplane crashes into icy waters, and everyone survives,
It snows in Wilmington, NC,
Wake Forest’s basketball team is ranked #1 in the national polls,
A partially-black person is inaugurated as President of the United States.

They said it couldn’t happen. People thought they’d never live to see it. "When Hell freezes over!". Still, the Clemson Tigers wait for their date with destiny. It’s a wild world.

Posted by Dana on January 22, 2009 | Tags: Sports . | ( 1 ) Comment

Jan

"Man Vs. Food" Coming to Raleigh

Adam Richman , the host of the Travel Channel’s " Man vs. Food ", will be coming to Raleigh next week. On Tuesday the 27th (6pm-9pm) Ed will be at The Pit learning all he can about barbeque from pitmaster Ed Mitchell . The show will also stop by The Roast Grill for another segment of the program.

Posted by Dana on January 21, 2009 | Tags: Food , TV . | ( 5 ) Comments

Jan

Lynda Loveland To Join WRAL Morning Crew

WRAL FM has found the replacement for the recently departed Sherri Logan on the morning drive-time show. Beginning Monday former morning TV news host Lynda Loveland will join Bill Jordan and the gang on the radio side. Loveland is an extremely nice person with a funny bone, however this move may be a waste of her rare on-camera talents.

News reporter Kelcey Carlson will take Loveland’s seat on the WRAL TV morning news. Valonda Calloway will join Bill Leslie at noon.

Posted by Dana on January 21, 2009 | Tags: Radio , TV . | ( 2 ) Comments

Jan

New NCSU Commercial Hits Speed Bump

The new N.C. State commercial shown during halftime of basketball games features the (previously seen ) Dennis Miller look-alike touting the university’s attributes. Specifically, he talks about ideas moving toward patents. One problem: he says,"so get your cerebellum in gear…".

The cerebellum is the region of the brain which deals with voluntary motor control and coordination. Ooops! I don’t think that’s what he meant.

Posted by Dana on January 20, 2009 | Tags: Sports , TV . | ( 11 ) Comments

Jan

Fox Features Candid Brind’Amour Interview

Hockey fans are sure to enjoy a recent episode of Fox Sports South’s "In My Own Words". The episode features a candid interview with Hurricane Captain Rod Brind’Amour. In the interview some of Rod’s true personality comes out as he discusses his stormy relationship early on with former coach Peter Laviolette, his family, and the grandeur of winning the Stanley Cup.