Maybe the Foxes Are Sending “Triangle” a Message
For five decades now the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area has been termed “The Triangle”, and for good reason. As three cities/towns hosted the most important academic, medical and business centers, it was only natural to focus on the three entities. While we expected infill in The Triangle, we perhaps didn’t see our grown concentrations morph the area into a different shape; .
The area’s satellite imagery reveals much growth from Chapel Hill and Carrboro toward Raleigh, but Raleigh’s growth has been along outward spokes to the northeast, southeast, and southwest. According to the figure, Umstead park appears like a saddle on the little fox, and Jordan Lake looks like a long line of droll from Carrboro/Chapel Hill, the mouth of the dog.
While I’m not assigning any character traits to communities based on this morphology, the shape does spur some interesting questions such as:
- Why hasn’t Creedmoor Road/hwy 50 seen any retail development?
- Why has the Apex/Garner axis been kept so rural?
- Why has the Durham/Wake Forest axis been kept so rural?
Maybe these little red foxes that are invading our cities are simply a calling; the new mascots for the area. Instead of “The Triangle”, we could be called “The Fox”. The airport code could be changed to “FOX”. The 10 o’clock news could be the Fox News Hour….oh wait.
Food Porn visits: Bella Mia
Tucked in a shopping center across Harrison Avenue from SAS in Cary is the Triangle’s best pizza. Bella Mia has a refreshing pizza menu, complete with items like broccoli, fresh basil, and excellent prosciutto. The high-quality ingredients hit a delicious dough, and go into Bella Mia’s coal-fired oven to make a delicious final product.
Pictured is the Sausage, Broccoli, and Smoked Mozzarella Pizza.
Wild Wing Café Coming to Crossroads Area
Good news for wing lovers in West Raleigh and Cary. , the 34-store wing chain out of Atlanta, will open “late spring” in the former Jack Astor’s location on Walnut Street (in the BJ’s shopping center). This will be the restaurant’s second area location, as the first is at Brier Creek.
Personally, this is my favorite of the wing outlets. The has much variety, but “Island Jerk” still stands as my favorite (even if it does make me think of van-der-sloot).
Jack Astor’s, Foster’s/Nelson’s/Felson’s/Noster’s Close
Restaurant closings are hitting the mid-priced restaurants at these times. Jack Astor’s was simply an easy meal in Cary. Foster’s on the other hand, was an important ITB social spot over the last couple of decades. The brick arches inside were reminiscent of the old Darryl’s on Hillsborough St. Wood from barns out in Wake County was used to fabricate the large doors inside. There were Clarence Foster’s locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Wrightsville Beach, but the Raleigh store was bought by the local owners when the chain went down. Later on Ralph Nelson converted the space into an upscale oyster bar and restaurant. The space underwent a massively expensive, and poorly designed renovation. Nelson’s didn’t make it and the space was converted back to Foster’s. Foster’s…man….Faaaahhster’s.
It is hard to imagine that the Fosters space will be kept in its same configuration. Whatever is next is likely to be quite different, and an end to many memories. Along with the Brewery (which has already been torn down), the ITB crowd lost a a pair of fun spots this week.
Chick-Fil-A Crossroads Closing for Remodel
One of the area’s most popular Chick-Fil-A locations, the Crossroads Plaza store, will close temporarily “from July 9 thru early August” for remodeling. Alternative sites are: Cary Town Center, Waverly Place, North Hills, Crabtree Valley Mall, and Glenwood Avenue (Townridge Square). Check for updates on the opening date.
Anna’s Linens Coming to Crossroads
National bedding retailer is coming to Crossroads Plaza. It will occupy the space in the center building that was once occupied by several CD and video stores, and Space Savers. It will be the state’s second Anna’s.
Huey Lewis Coming to Cary
On Sunday, July 24, Cary will go back in time as plays Koka Booth Amphitheatre. start at $43 and go on sale to the public tomorrow (5/13).
Ray LaMontagne Returning to Cary
On Monday, September 19, will return to Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Brandi Carlile opens. Tickets go on sale this Friday morning (5/20).
Here’s a little something for the sneering hipsters to ponder: when I was at Macaroni Grill, they were playing Ray LaMontagne. (commence writhing)
Death Cab for Cary
On Monday, August 8, will be returning to the area. This time the concert is at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. The band will be supporting their new CD, “Codes and Keys”, which hits stores on May 31. opens.
Lady Antebellum Coming to Cary
On Thursday, September 23, Lady Antebellum will return to the area. This time it is a headlining date at Cary’s Booth Amphitheater. are on sale now.
Cary, Chapel Hill Make Small Town List
Money Magazine has released its list, and two triangle towns are in the Top 40. Chapel Hill comes in at 40, and Cary ranks #23.
The results are interesting. Living in Chapel Hill is a distinct experience. All residents definitely feel the center of the town, the Franklin Street/Carr Mill axis. However Cary feels more like a series of subdivisions and strip shopping centers. Cary certainly feels different than Chapel Hill and North Raleigh, but does Cary really have a distinct vibe, or is it just a coincidental collection of new developments in Triangle, USA?
Counting Crows, Augustana Coming to Cary
On Thursday, July 15, will return to the area; this time to Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. This year’s band that will upstage the Crows (it’s become an annual event)? . We got a chance to see Augustana at the Cat’s Cradle last fall and they were sensational. Hopefully Augustana singer Dan Layus will feel comfortable bantering between songs in this venue, because he is a hoot. Tickets are just under $40 for lawn and just under $60 for reserved.
Crow/Caillat Coming to Cary
On Sunday, August 15, and will be playing at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. are on sale now.
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