Sparians Now Open
![sparians[1]](https://www.gogoraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sparians1.jpg "sparians[1]")
Sparians
, North Hills’ boutique bowling operation, opened its doors today. The facility features 18 bowling lanes with some contained in private lounges. In addition to the bowling action, there is a full-service restaurant serving
lanes and lounge
(pdf),
Bistro
(dinner, pdf), and the very-much-needed
late-night
(pdf) fares. The menus looks like what we see in today’s upscale sports bars (like that of Tobacco Road on Glenwood).
The bowling is said to be expensive, ranging from $8-$14 depending on the time , compared to other bowling allies in Raleigh. However it should be noted that this price does include shoe rental.
Sparians will be closed this coming Thursday afternoon, but has normal operating hours of:
- Mon-Sat: 10am – 2am
- Sunday: 11am – 2am
Outdoor Ice Skating to Return
Raleigh’s love of ice skating grows each winter, and this year will be no exception with the return of popular outdoor skating rinks.
Raleigh on Ice will offer families and visitors the opportunity to skate at chopping centers:
- November 20 through January 2 at North Hills Commons. The event opens during North Hills’ annual Christmas tree lighting event.
- November 14 thru December 10 at Brier Creek Commons
- December 13 thru December 26 at Triangle Town Center
Winterfest returns to downtown Raleigh
- Real ice rink
- Opening at Winterfest’s grand opening, Saturday, December 4
- Dates, hours, prices, and policies are still unannounced
Total Wine Moving to The Lassiter?
Ever since Harris Teeter’s disastrous move across the Mississippi (Six Forks) to North Hills East, there has been a lot of talk about what would fill the old North Hills Plaza grocery store space. Many have lobbied for a specialty foods vendor or a bookstore. However word from a viable source is that Total Wine will move from its space tucked away in North Hills to the large, empty space in The Lassiter. While it is a huge step up from the little wine shop that once sat on the back side of the plaza, the news comes as a disappointment to people hoping the space would add a new opportunity for shoppers.
Upscale Bowling Coming to North Hills East
In December North Hills East will bet a bowling ally. However forget those images of The Dude knocking them down with Walter and Donny. This will be a high-end bowling ally.
Sparians Bowling Boutique
will take undeveloped space across from Bruegger’s in North Hills East. The facility will have 18 lanes featuring sofas, suites, and giant TVs to go with lighting and sound effects. While the place will be family-friendly, my first impression is that it will be to bowling what SportClips is to barbershops, and will be a great addition to the North Hills area.
Raleigh Accepting Appearance Award Nominations
The City of Raleigh is accepting nominations for the 2010 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance. The annual awards recognize outstanding new development, building rehabilitation efforts, and natural resource conservation within the Capital City. The awards program was established in 1983 to commemorate exemplary achievement in enhancing the city’s appearance. More than 200 projects, sites, and individuals have been honored.
Awards are offered in 11 different award categories, including new residential, commercial, or institutional construction, plus historic preservation, sustainable design, and tree and landscape conservation. The award for “Maintained Outstanding Appearance” honors appearance contributions by projects 5 years old or older. The “Individual” award is presented to a citizen who has consistently worked to preserve or improve city appearance.
The deadline for entries for the 2010 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards is Friday, July 9. Nominations for the can be made online at or by completing a printed form available at City government offices. In addition to project information, six or more digital photos of each nominated project or individual, submitted on CD or flash drive, are also required.
An independent jury will meet in July to review the nominations. Award winners will be selected based on specific criteria, including exhibition of a new standard of excellence, awareness of land stewardship, innovation, conservation of natural and/ or historic resources, and exceeding applicable ordinances. The Raleigh City Council will confirm the jury’s selections in August. Awards will be presented in October.
Spring Rolls Opens at North Hills
Spring Rolls
, a Chinese/Thai combo restaurant is now open in North Hills. The restaurant is the third Asian restaurant to occupy the space across from Moe’s, but perhaps the third time is the charm. Part of
the menu
(.pdf) features a wide range of Chinese favorites, as well as sizzling hot platters, chow mein, and “ho fun” selections. The other part of the menu features 19 Thai favorites, excluding curries. The average dinner menu entree price is $11.76.
Piola Opens Today
The
North Hills East location of Piola
will open for dinner today. The pizzeria will open a Chapel Hill location in the new
East 54
complex later this year.
Harris Teeter at North Hills Making Changes
The new Harris Teeter at North Hills East opened a month ago and the customers’ responses to the 2-story fiasco have been extremely negative. According to Sue Stock , Harris Teeter is responding by moving some stock around. Soon, the store will swap the Floor 2 locations for cereal, juice, and baking with the Floor 1 locations for wine and flowers.
Unfortunately there is no word on changes to the parking garage, parking surface lot, lack of an escalator, small elevator, and placement of cafe tables adjacent to feminine hygiene. Howevver this is a start.
Piola Opening Next Thursday
![piola[1]](https://www.gogoraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/piola1.jpg "piola[1]")
International pizza chain
Piola
is slated to open in North Hills East on Thursday, April 8. The fast-casual restaurant features “rigorous Italian” fare.
Zoës Kitchen Opening Thursday at North Hills East
![zoe1[1]](https://www.gogoraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/zoe11.jpg "zoe1[1]")
The second area
Zoës Kitchen
opens Thursday at North Hills East. The restaurant features “a Southern take on Greek”, and
has been a big hit
with their Oberlin Road location. Zoës is located to the left of the upper level parking entrance, facing Six Forks Road.
Bruegger’s Now Open in North Hills East
![brueggers[1]](https://www.gogoraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/brueggers1.jpg "brueggers[1]")
The wait for
Bruegger’s
return to North Hills is over. The bagel chain opened last week in the North Hills East development, in the free-standing building next to the CapTrust Tower. The store has the chain’s usual selection of bagels and sandwiches. This site, unfortunately, sports just two soups, but has a fantastic patio seating area. The store is also touting its coffee, but I was not able to discern any differences in that department versus the selection at other Bruegger’s sites.
St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint Honors Ham
Raleigh recently lost a gem. Lisa Permar Ham, a 1988 Broughton graduate, died of cancer. She was widely loved, as more than 1,500 people crammed into every corner of the 1st Presbyterian Church complex a couple of Sunday’s ago to pay their respects.
Lisa was instrumental in starting the St. Timothy’s School Spring Sprint, and rightfully, the school is dedicating the Sprint in honor of her. The event will take place April 17. Here is the press release about the event:
The St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint is an annual 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run and NEW this year, a 50 Yard Dash. Adults and children from the school and the community participate in this event. The race course winds through the North Hills neighborhood (NEW FLATTER COURSE this year), beginning and ending at the school.
Registration information:
**Complete registration by April 1, 2010 to guarantee a Spring Sprint t-shirt.
**T-shirts are available in the St. Timothy’s School front office to try on for sizes.
- Log onto www.sportoften.com to register online and pay by credit card, or
- Complete an entry form and return it with payment to St. Timothy’s School
Click here for a full Brochure or Click here for an Entry Form only
Register early to enter for two drawings:
- 1st Drawing will be on Wednesday, March 17: All St. Timothy’s students, faculty and staff who register before 9am on Wednesday, March 17 will be entered into a drawing. Click here for the list of prizes
- 2nd Drawing will be on Tuesday, March 23: All St. Timothy’s students, faculty and staff who register before 9am on Tuesday, March 23 will be entered into a drawing. Click here for the list of prizes
Yoho at North Hills Closes, Spring Rolls Replacement Coming
Yoho Asian Bistro’s now-shuttered North Hills location has a notice on the door. Printed on North Hills’ stationary, the note announces that “Spring Rolls”, an Asian Fusion restaurant, will be replacing Yoho this spring. Given the source of the notice, it isn’t likely that these will be the same owners.
Recent Stories
- North Carolina Loses The Great Teacher February 9, 2015
- City Lays Markings for Currituck Obstacle Course February 4, 2015
- History Making Heels and Wolfpack Prepare for Battle January 14, 2015
- 25 Predictions for 2015 January 5, 2015
- Raleigh’s 10 Biggest Stories of 2014 January 2, 2015
- 2014: The Rain Year January 2, 2015
- Tupelo Honey Sets New Casual Standard December 1, 2014
- 2013 Predictions. A Look Back November 18, 2014
- Wicked Taco Bringing Fresh-Mex to Western Blvd November 17, 2014
- DOT Unveils I-440 Widening Plans November 12, 2014
- County Power Shift Brings Major Changes to Raleigh’s Future November 5, 2014
- Jarrett Bay Store Coming to Crabtree September 25, 2014
- FirstWatch Coming to Glenwood Avenue September 9, 2014
- Big Shindig Releases Set Times September 5, 2014
- Appearance Commission to Review Residence Inn September 3, 2014
