As another year draws to a close, it is always nice to reflect upon what changes Raleigh saw and consider their long term impact. It was another slow year, coupled with another business project for me (that gobbled about 90% of my free time since summer started). Hopefully we’ll see more fun stuff in 2012. Here are the Top 40 stories of 2011:

1. RDU Terminal 2 Phase II Opens
2. Scotty McCreery Wins American Idol
3. Raleigh Hosts NHL All-Star Game
4. Business and Building Losses – This is the first year in the blogging era when significant losses impacted Raleigh, losing several people, buildings, businesses, and identities: Lorenzo Charles , John Baker, Bart Ritner, Jolly’s Jewelers (130 years old), Tyler House , Fosters/Nelsons, “Hudson” Belk, Wachovia, Restoration Hardware , Blockbuster Video (most stores), Amedeo’s North, Borders , Cold Krispy Kreme in City Plaza, Chockey’s, Duck & Dumpling, The Diner; The Brewery, The Ballantines building in Cameron Village, 1720 Canterbury Drive, The Green House and Jackpot Bar;
5. Tornado Rips Through Downtown Raleigh
6. Local Election Yields Landslide Wins for Non-Conservatives
7. Triangle Expressway Opens as NC’s First Toll Road
8. Rembrandt Exhibit Opens at NCMA
9. Food Truck Rules Change for Downtown Raleigh
10. Webb Simpson Finishes Second in PGA Earnings
11. Jeff Skinner Wins Calder Trophy
12. Duke’s Kyrie Irving Selected #1 in NBA Draft
13. WRAL Dismisses Pam Saulsby, Hires Jackie Hyland
14. NCSU Fires Lowe, Hires Gottfried
15. Coach K Sets NCAA Men’s Basketball Division I Wins Record
16. Canes Fire Paul Maurice , Hire Kirk Muller
17. Mayor Charles Meeker Retires
18. Cameron Village Chick-Fil-A Breaks Ground
19. Stall, Ward , Skinner Named to NHL All-Star Team
20. GoLive Attempts To Unite Triangle Transit
21. Glenwood South Hampton Inn Breaks Ground
22. Edison Complex Redesigned
23. Bobcats/Canes Swap Exhibition Games , Bobcats Cancel Game
24. RBC Center Gets New, Red Lower Level Seats
25. The Umstead Wins AAA Five Diamond Award
26. Ed Mitchell Leaves The Pit
27. ACC Expands to Include Syracuse and Pittsburgh
28. Verizon LTE Service Launches in Triangle
29. Rocky Top Hospitality Closes Red Room, Bogart’s, Michael Dean’s, opens Cantina South, Tribeca Tavern
30. Tommy Bahama Store Opens in Crabtree
31. Gonza Tacos y Taquila Opens
32. City Council Endorses Light Rail Plan
33. Meat House Opens in Quail Corners
34. Renaissance North Hills Wins AAA Four Diamond, Best Marriott Award
35. Mandolin Opens to Rave Reviews
36. Green Square Complex Opens
37. Fai Thai Opens, Abruptly Closes
38. First Night Brings Ferris Wheel to Fayetteville Street
39. Raleigh Restaurants Featured on LudoBites TV Show
40. 96 Rock Changes Format