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http://www.gogoraleigh.com The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Thu, 11 Aug 2016 21:26:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.6

http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/08/08/over-50-concerts-remain-for-the-summer/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/08/08/over-50-concerts-remain-for-the-summer/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2016 23:51:56 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7875 It’s early August and Summer is winding down. You’d never know it by looking at the concert listing, though. As of this posting, there are still 54 remaining from a summer concert calendar that has included at least 163 relevant artists. It is, by far, the most active live entertainment summer in the city’s history. 8/7 – Frankie Valli (KB) 8/9 – Joe Walsh (RHA) 8/12 – Dixie Chicks (WCA) 8/12 – Nick Offerman w/ Megan Mullally (DPAC) 8/12 – Piebald (HRB) 8/13 – Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon, Tesla (WCA) 8/13 – Kidz Bop Live (RHA) 8/13 – Lyle Lovett (DPAC) 8/13 – Iron and Wine (NCMA) 8/13 – Jim Gaffigan (WOA-gboro) 8/16 – Newsies opening night (DPAC) 8/17 – Needtobreathe, Mat Kearney (RHA) 8/19 – Brian Wilson (DPAC) 8/19 – Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris (WCA) 8/19 – Fifth Harmony (RHA) 8/19 – D.L. Hughley opens (GC) 8/20 – Jonathan...

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It’s early August and Summer is winding down. You’d never know it by looking at the concert listing, though. As of this posting, there are still 54 remaining from a summer concert calendar that has included at least 163 relevant artists. It is, by far, the most active live entertainment summer in the city’s history.

8/7 – Frankie Valli (KB)
8/9 – Joe Walsh (RHA)
8/12 – Dixie Chicks (WCA)
8/12 – Nick Offerman w/ Megan Mullally (DPAC)
8/12 – Piebald (HRB)
8/13 – Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon, Tesla (WCA)
8/13 – Kidz Bop Live (RHA)
8/13 – Lyle Lovett (DPAC)
8/13 – Iron and Wine (NCMA)
8/13 – Jim Gaffigan (WOA-gboro)
8/16 – Newsies opening night (DPAC)
8/17 – Needtobreathe, Mat Kearney (RHA)
8/19 – Brian Wilson (DPAC)
8/19 – Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris (WCA)
8/19 – Fifth Harmony (RHA)
8/19 – D.L. Hughley opens (GC)
8/20 – Jonathan Byrd (HRB)
8/20 – Gillian Welch (NCMA)
8/21 – O.A.R. (RHA)
8/23 – Butch Walker (LT)
8/24 – Glass Animals (RT)
8/24 – Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ (506)
8/25 – Rick Springfield, Night Ranger, The Romantics (RHA)
8/25 – Local H (CC)
8/27 – Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, Tribe Society (RHA)
9/2, 9/3 – Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch (WCA)
9/1 – The Melvins (CC)
9/4 – Of Montreal (CC)
9/6 – Crystal Castles (CC)
9/8 – Wolf Parade, Wye Oak (CP)
9/9 – Beach House (RHA)
9/9 – Erykah Badu (RHA)
9/9 – Gary Clark, Jr. (RT)
9/9 – Weird Al Yankovic (DPAC)
9/10 – Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Michael Ray (WCA)
9/10 – Chatham County Line (KB)
9/11 – Bull Durham Blues Festival begins
9/13 – Kinky Boots begins (DPAC)
9/13 – Ben Folds (RMA)
9/13 – Titus Andronicus (PIN)
9/14 – Heart, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick (WCA)
9/14 – ZZ Top, Gov’t Mule KB
9/15 – The Lumineers, Borns, Rayland Baxter (KB)
9/16 – Damien Escobar (RHA)
9/17 – The Connells (RLT)
9/18 – Brad Paisley, Tyler Farr, Maddie & Tae (WCA)
9/20 – The Cult (RT)
9/20 – Sevendust (LT)
9/21 – Amos Lee (DPAC)
9/23 – Grace Potter (LT)
9/23 – Hannibal Buress (RMA)
9/23 – Squirrel Nut Zippers (CTD)
9/25 – Il Divo (DPAC)
9/26 – The Sword (LT)
9/28 – Violent Femmes (NCMA)
9/30 – IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass
9/30 – Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett & A Thousand Horses (WCA)

Venue Key:

506 – Local 506 (Chapel Hill)
CC – Cat’s Cradle (Carrboro)
CD-gboro – Cone Denim Entertainment Center (Greensboro, NC)
CFS – Carter-Finley Stadium
CP – City Plaza (Fayetteville, St)
CTD – Carolina Theater (Durham)
DPAC – Durham Performing Arts Center (Durham)
GC – Goodnights Comedy Club
GC-gboro – Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, NC)
HRB – Haw River Ballroom (Haw River, NC)
KB – Koka Booth Amphitheater (Cary)
LT – Lincoln Theatre
MMH – Motorco Music Hall (Durham)
NCMA – NC Museum of Art)
NH – North Hills East Amphitheater
PIN – Pinhook (Durham)
PNC – PNC Arena
RHA – Red Hat Amphitheater
RLT – Raleigh Little Theatre
RMA – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
RPG – RallyPoint Sports Grill (Cary)
RT – Ritz Theater
WCA – Walnut Creek Amphitheater
WOA-gboro – White Oak Amphitheater (Greensboro, NC)

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/08/05/where-to-watch-the-olympics-on-tv/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/08/05/where-to-watch-the-olympics-on-tv/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2016 19:20:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7867 Today marks the beginning of the 2016 Summer Olympic games. Of course many events will be available streaming from the internet, however if you want to watch the Olympics on TV, here is a guide for Raleigh viewers with TWC Channels in Red, UVerse Channels in Blue, DirecTV in Purple NBC - Swimming, Volleyball, Gymnastics – 3, 1005, 5 Bravo – Tennis – 72, 167, 1181, 237 USA Network - Fencing, Equestrian, Field Hockey – 25, 101, 1124, 240 NBC Universo - Soccer, Basketball, Beach Volleyball - 898, 3009, 410 MSNBC - Volleyball, Basketball, Archery – 45, 203, 1215, 356 CNBC - Rugby, Wrestling, Field Hockey – 37, 205, 1216, 355 NBC Sports Network - Soccer, Basketball, Judo - 314, 1640, 220 Golf Channel - Soccer, Basketball, Judo – 51, 405, 1641, 218 Telemundo - Soccer, Basketball, Swimming - 803, 3007, 406 Olympic Soccer – Soccer - 426, 1638, 205-1 Olympic Basketball – Basketball – 425, 1639, 205-2 UVerse customers can create...

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Today marks the beginning of the 2016 Summer Olympic games. Of course many events will be available streaming from the internet, however if you want to watch the Olympics on TV, here is a guide for Raleigh viewers with TWC Channels in Red, UVerse Channels in Blue, DirecTV in Purple

UVerse customers can create an Olympics-only channel guide by hitting the “Menu” button on the remote control, then navigating to Options tab | Channel Options | Edit/Add Favorite Channels | “Add a new Favorites List…”. Type in a blue numbers from above and hit OK to add it to the list. Once you are done, you can rename the favorites list by hitting the “Enter” button (next to “0”).

Once the channels are set up, Hit the “A” button from Live TV or from the Guide to show your setup of Olympic channels.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/07/20/download-the-wake-county-schools-2017-calendars/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/07/20/download-the-wake-county-schools-2017-calendars/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2016 21:34:59 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7860 Wake County School System has compiled their official calendars for the 2016-2017 school year in PDF format. In fine fashion gogoraleigh has converted all of these calendars into numerous downloadable formats. Now readers can easily import their favorite school calendars into iPhones, Android phones, Outlook, and more. The set includes calendars for the Traditional, Track 1, Track 2, Track 3, Track 4, and Modified schools. Even better, if you already subscribe to any of these calendars, then all of the new dates have been automatically added for you. For more information and downloads, see the Calendars tab at...

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Wake County School System has compiled their official calendars for the 2016-2017 school year in PDF format . In fine fashion gogoraleigh has converted all of these calendars into numerous downloadable formats.

Now readers can easily import their favorite school calendars into iPhones, Android phones, Outlook, and more. The set includes calendars for the Traditional, Track 1, Track 2, Track 3, Track 4, and Modified schools. Even better, if you already subscribe to any of these calendars, then all of the new dates have been automatically added for you.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/06/07/hurricanes-tracking-to-another-city/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/06/07/hurricanes-tracking-to-another-city/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2016 00:42:18 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7848 Outside of the Stanley Cup Finals, the big topic in the world of Hockey in the last 24 hours is the future of the Carolina Hurricanes. Recent reports show some very strange business activity with owner Peter Karmanos coinciding with the league’s potential expansion to Las Vegas and Quebec City, Canada. What we know is that the Carolina Hurricanes are a troubled franchise. The Canes are only worth $225 million, third-lowest in the NHL and less than half of the league-average $505 million. Forbes reports that the team is losing $12 million per year. We also know that Karmanos has been trying to find a buyer for the team for a few years. He would take $400 million for the team, and feels the team is worth $420 million. We also know that Karmanos fired one of his three sons, Jason, from his job as Assistant General Manager just before the 2013-2014 season. “This is a family matter”, was the company line. At the end of that season General Manager Jim Rutherford was fired, and...

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Outside of the Stanley Cup Finals, the big topic in the world of Hockey in the last 24 hours is the future of the Carolina Hurricanes. Recent reports show some very strange business activity with owner Peter Karmanos coinciding with the league’s potential expansion to Las Vegas and Quebec City, Canada .

We also know that Karmanos fired one of his three sons, Jason, from his job as Assistant General Manager just before the 2013-2014 season. “ This is a family matter ”, was the company line. At the end of that season General Manager Jim Rutherford was fired, and headed to take the same job with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Soon after he hired Jason Karmanos as Pittsburgh’s V.P. of Hockey Operations. The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently one game away from winning the 2016 Stanley Cup.

The team has missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons. As a result, average attendance this season was a league-worst 12,203; the worst by over 1,000 per game . I conveyed my concern for the talent level on this team on Twitter during the season, but was assured by die-hards that a great foundation is in place. The Hurricanes have 4 draft picks in the first two rounds of the June 24 draft. While the team may get some great seed talent, it is still likely a few seasons away from being a solid playoff team that can rebuild attendance.

It was certainly concerning, with the franchise in poor health, to see last week that Karmanos is being sued by his three sons for failing to meet repayment terms on a loan from their trust accounts. Apparently the elder Karmanos created the fund in 1996 and borrowed $353 million “to support the Hurricanes”. He now owes the sons’ trust accounts $105.7 million.

To further complicate matters, The Sporting News’ Gary Lawless claimed yesterday that Karmanos borrowed $300 million from the NHL’s emergency fund , and it will result in the sale of the team and relocation because “the NHL wants its money back”.

What we also know is that the team is in an extremely tight long term agreement with the Centennial Authority. According to one of the guests on the Hockeybuzz podcast today, the purchase of the Carolina Hurricanes would have to come at a price of about twice its market value to release the team from the building contract. So, the local powers-that-be did their homework when they committed to building the PNC Arena in the 1990s.

Finally, the big matter at the NHL’s table is league expansion. Currently there are 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and 14 teams in the Western Conference. Prevailing thought is that the league will expand by 2 for balance. The top two markets with financing and ownership organizations in place are Las Vegas and Quebec City.

Following the report of the $300 million emergency loan rumors swirled that the Canes would move to Las Vegas and end expansion talks. However late last night one reporter posted on Twitter that his source said this may not happen; it may be more appropriate to move the Hurricanes to Quebec City and offer Las Vegas, the stronger financial package and owner, the expansion team.

What’s going on here? Where there is smoke, there is fire…and there is a lot of smoke. I don’t trust what anyone close to the organization is saying on this matter because they don’t want to lose fans should the deal fall through, and/or they simply have no idea what Peter Karmanos’ actual plans are. The best way to destroy the sale price of a business is have employees jumping ship.

(note: unlike Star Jones, I am not a lawyer). While the law suit by the Karmanos brothers could be based on family-centered acrimony, there is too much going on here to believe it is just a simple squabble. Assuming everything I posted in the first section is, indeed, true, I can imagine a couple of scenarios:

One twist that the Hurricanes’ building lease introduces is the enormously high cost to buy the team and move it. I don’t know the details of the contracts involved, but one scenario being pushed around is for the NHL to buy the team and dissolve it or for the team to declare bankruptcy in order to get out of the Centennial Authority’s lease. To break the lease it appears the team would have to be totally dissolved, and this could end up being cheaper than paying 2X for the team. It also may be the more attractive route for buyers because a team contrived through lottery is likely to not be worse than what the Canes have put on the ice the last 5 years. The role of the Karmanos lawsuit in this scenario isn’t so clear, unless it would put the trust accounts ahead of the NHL in a liquidation setting.

If any of these scenarios that remove the team from Raleigh occur, the important thing to understand is that it is just business and doesn’t reflect on the quality of life for families and normal businesses in Raleigh and North Carolina. We were warned in the ‘90s that Felix Sabates and Peter Karmanos were fairly ruthless businessmen. We went with Karmanos and while I’m sure he would like to be regarded highly in this market, he is likely not emotionally connected.

The move of the team to the Triangle has absolutely been a fun addition to the area, and I hope to see them stay. However it is important to remember that the success of major sports franchises has much more to do with the expense accounts of corporations than it has to do with the regular community. Raleigh residents be fine in the long run either way.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/06/01/rdu-unveils-master-plan-paths/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/06/01/rdu-unveils-master-plan-paths/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2016 02:04:38 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7807 Today the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority unveiled nine possibilities in the formulation of a 2040 master plan. The group wants the facility to be ready for changes in consumer demand, technology, and major facility maintenance over the next two decades. Readers are invited to join the conversation at vision2040.rdu.com and on Twitter using the hashtag #RDU2040. The alternatives introduce a myriad of changes, from replacing each, aging runway to adding gates, to offering easier rental car service access. Personally my favorite is Plan 8. It allows Southwest to keep their own terminal (which could never be altered to be a showcase) while greatly expanding the showcase Terminal 2. Additionally, it uses an elevated people moved to connect passengers with the rental car hub, like Tampa has arranged. some other plans put a parking garage with rentals on the land in front of old Terminal B, but this is precious land and has no place for expansion. One of these plans struck me as a...

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Today the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority unveiled nine possibilities in the formulation of a 2040 master plan. The group wants the facility to be ready for changes in consumer demand, technology, and major facility maintenance over the next two decades. Readers are invited to join the conversation at vision2040.rdu.com and on Twitter using the hashtag #RDU2040 .

The alternatives introduce a myriad of changes, from replacing each, aging runway to adding gates, to offering easier rental car service access. Personally my favorite is Plan 8. It allows Southwest to keep their own terminal (which could never be altered to be a showcase) while greatly expanding the showcase Terminal 2. Additionally, it uses an elevated people moved to connect passengers with the rental car hub, like Tampa has arranged. some other plans put a parking garage with rentals on the land in front of old Terminal B, but this is precious land and has no place for expansion.

One of these plans struck me as a totally new way of looking at the airport; Plan 5. This plan adds a 3rd independent terminal north of Terminal 2, where the runway observation park is. However if one backs away, it seems the entire complex could eventually handle a Terminal 4 where General Aviation currently is. Of course, there are models which show the most efficient mix of gates, runways, and curb length, but the real key here is that the plans do not absolutely have to be constrained to just the south side of the north taxiway connecting the runways.

The flaw with all 9 plans is that they assume that people will behave the same way they do today. We are on the cusp of a major transportation revolution, mainly centered around the driverless car. This will bring drastic changes in the demand for prime real estate parking, queues of public cars awaiting service, and traffic flow. Perhaps building expensive parking structures is not the best plan given what we know in 2016.

http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/22/take-an-amtrak-getaway-todurham/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/22/take-an-amtrak-getaway-todurham/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:26:25 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7746 Looking for an adventurous weekend getaway? One option many haven’t considered is right under our noses: taking Amtrak to Durham. My wife and I did this urban excursion back in the Fall and had a fantastic experience. Not only were we able to take an unfamiliar mode of transportation and avoid heavy traffic, but we were able to explore a culinary playground for what felt like the first time. Our one-night excursion included a night at the incredible 21c Hotel, drinks in the 21c’s bar, dinner at Mateo, and late-night drinks on the roof of The Durham Hotel. So packing your rolling suitcase! Here’s how to do make it fun and easy: Amtrak Taking the train to Durham made the trip really feel like we were getting away from it all. Had we driven, it would have felt like just another trip to Durham. Amtrak is scheduled to leave Raleigh each day at 4:50pm and the fare is $9 per person. Parking is less than ideal at the Raleigh train depot. Though it is free, the lot is very small,...

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Looking for an adventurous weekend getaway? One option many haven’t considered is right under our noses: taking Amtrak to Durham. My wife and I did this urban excursion back in the Fall and had a fantastic experience. Not only were we able to take an unfamiliar mode of transportation and avoid heavy traffic, but we were able to explore a culinary playground for what felt like the first time. Our one-night excursion included a night at the incredible 21c Hotel, drinks in the 21c’s bar, dinner at Mateo, and late-night drinks on the roof of The Durham Hotel.

Amtrak

Taking the train to Durham made the trip really feel like we were getting away from it all. Had we driven, it would have felt like just another trip to Durham. Amtrak is scheduled to leave Raleigh each day at 4:50pm and the fare is $9 per person.

Parking is less than ideal at the Raleigh train depot. Though it is free, the lot is very small, and overflow means parking on the street. The alternative is departing from Cary where the terminal is spotless, parking is outstanding. The train leaves at 5:03pm each day from Cary, and fare is $6.50 per person.

The problem with departing from Cary, though, is that you skip the great experience of leaving from downtown Raleigh. You definitely want to sit on the right side of the train, because the views as you depart downtown Raleigh, passing by the new train depot construction site, through NCSU, by the backs of Hillsborough street businesses, and by the NC State Fairgrounds, is superior to that on the left side of the train.

It should be noted that Amtrak runs late the majority of the time. Thankfully they have an outstanding phone app which accurately reports the train’s status. It is a must when traveling on Amtrak .

Usually this train doesn’t sell out, so you can buy a ticket at the depot upon arriving. Seating on the train is general admission, though, so it does help to be first in line at the designated steps when the train is loading. All seat rows have a standard pair of electrical outlets under the window, and the seating dimensions are similar to those in First Class on a large airplane. Baggage is loosely stored overhead, not checked.

if the train is running late, you can walk across the tracks to visit Videri Chocolate Factory or Boxcar Bar + Arcade. CAM is also an option on some days, as they are open until 6:30pm on Wed-Fri. If you are in Cary and the train is late, consider visiting the shops in the Ashworth Drugs block.

Hotels

Durham has three outstanding hotels: The Aloft, The Durham, and the incredible 21c Hotel. The latter two hotels are just two blocks from the Amtrak station, while the aloft is adjacent to the DPAC, essentially 4 blocks away. The scheduled arrival is 5:24pm, so you should have plenty of time to check in and prepare for dinner.

The Aloft – As with most Aloft hotels, the rooms are modern, certainly adequate, but not high end. This location just opened 6 months ago, and I’ve heard a good first hand report about the couple’s stay. Rooms are usually $160 per night.

The Durham Hotel – Set in an old office building that looks like it came out of 1960s Miami, The Durham delivers a high end experience in incredibly minimalist rooms . Nightly rates begin at $290.

The 21C Museum Hotel – Named as one of the best new hotels in the nation in 2015, the 21c is set in the 1930s era Hill Building, Durham’s tallest. The public areas of the building have been converted to a restaurant, a bar, and several rooms of museum space. The front desk area is tucked away on the second floor, but that only ads to the intrigue of the place. The rooms are large, and terrazzo floors and rugs, modern furniture, and neat lighting. The bathrooms look like something from a Stanley Kubrick movie, glowing fuchsia backlighting around the edges of the mirror. Very sexy. Rooms at the 21C begin at $240. Note: the hotel has a construction site across the street, so request a room on the west side of the building if you can.

Make no mistake, these are three high fashion hotels. The 21C has a spa and workout room. The Aloft is the only one with a pool, but it is very small . The Durham has no similar amenities. This is the area where these three hotels are sorely lacking, honestly.

Dining

There are some outstanding dining options within a four block walk of these hotels. We walked 2 blocks to Mateo , the creation of James Beard award-nominated chef Matt Kelly. The dinner was impressive, which comes as no surprise given the reputation of the restaurant. Last week Alton Brown gave high praise on Facebook, calling Mateo America’s best tapas restaurant. As of now, you can still have a decent choice of times on Open Table one week in advance.

Over at The Durham, James Beard award-winning chef Andrea Reusing’s new lobby-filling The Restaurant has received high praise from the highest of area food snobs.

Bars

Our “pregame” events included cocktails at the excellent bar in the 21c. We were able to peruse the art gallery; a wonderful experience. After the meal at Mateo we made our way two blocks to The Durham’s rooftop bar. Views here are very good, and it gave us a chance to experience the neat, quirky aspects of this hotel project. The atmosphere at the top was certainly the most Glenwood South-like experience of the evening, however.

Some other good bar options inside the Durham Loop are Alley Twenty Six, Bar Virgile, and Arcana Bar and Lounge.

Entertainment

Admittedly, our trip was a food-based one, however there are some great entertainment options in downtown Durham including a DPAC or Carolina Theater event, a Durham Bulls game, or even a public event at the American Tobacco complex. While these are great options, the Amtrak factor must not be forgotten. Many of these events begin before 8pm and given Amtrak’s history, it could put a squeeze on dinner plans or even jeopardize seeing a ticketed event. If you anticipate dinner and one of these events, prepare to compromise by abandoning the Amtrak option in the afternoon and just drive it.

Safety

One of the reasons this getaway is an adventure is that Durham is not the safest place on the planet. In fact Durham County is one of North Carolina’s three counties with a higher violent crime rate than any county in New Jersey. Its rate is 2.5X higher than Wake County’s.

I have had no problems, however my sister and her date did have a scary incident. On a warm night this winter, between the 21c and Mateo, they approached an oncoming group of about 20 young black males who, from across the street, yelled at them, mocking them as racists and making lewd suggestions. There were no other people around to help had the group decided to cross the street and be violent.

The streets are dark in downtown Durham, and sometimes are quiet. In 4 nights of going out inside the Durham Loop, I have never seen a police officer. While the crime rate inside the Loop is probably not nearly as high as the county’s rate, the people creating that rate are not far away. This needs to change, now . Downtown Durham is poised to be the next Big Thing in the nation, as long as people feel safe. The population on the street is changing this spring, however, as the general population walking around patronizing businesses on a given weekend night is steadily increasing during warm weather nights.

Return Trip

There are two options for your return trip on Amtrak; 9:42am and 2:42pm. The early train is good for those who need to get on back to Raleigh, but the afternoon train is the way to go. Regardless, check the Amtrak app upon waking and see how the trains are running. (we made the mistake of hurrying to the station only to learn that the early train was delayed 2 hours).

Lunch

There are some great lunch spots in downtown Durham. The most popular is Dame’s Chicken & Waffles , reported to be “the real deal”. Another great option, however, is Parker & Otis , which is 2 blocks west of the Amtrak station. P&O is a great café and gift shop like none in Raleigh.

Sometimes we all need a getaway. Unfortunately we find ourselves turning to the same old options, many of which involve multiple-night stays and a considerable amount of difficult driving. However random adventures can be just as exhilarating. Consider a great option that is right in our backyard; the Amtrak Getaway to Durham.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/19/summer-promises-huge-concert-season/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/19/summer-promises-huge-concert-season/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2016 22:32:55 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7727 Despite what some might portray, this summer’s concert calendar for the Raleigh area is jam packed with a plethora of incredible concerts, comedy shows, and stage productions. Over 120 concerts by original artists await, with more announcements to come! 4/19 – Puscifer (RMA) 4/20 – Caberet begins (DPAC) 4/21 – Jimmy Buffett, Huey Lewis and The News (WCA) 4/21 – Ciara (RT) 4/21 – Robyn Hitchcock (CC) 4/21 – Jim Breuer opening night (GC) 4/22 – Martin Lawrence (PNC) 4/25 – Joy Formidable, Helio Sequence (CC) 4/26 – Lauryn Hill, Gary Clark Jr. (WOA-gboro) 4/27 – Dave Ramsey (DPAC) 4/28 – Polica (CC) 4/29 – M. Ward (HRB) 4/30 – Cravin’ Melon, Jack the Radio, Noah Guthrie, Katelyn Read (NH) 4/30 – Widespread Panic (WCA) 5/2 – Citizen Cope (CC) 5/3 – Beyonce, DJ Khaled (CFS) 5/3 – Chris Isaak (CTD) 5/3 – Wild Belle (MMH) 5/3 – 42nd Street opening night (DPAC) 5/5 –...

]]> Despite what some might portray, this summer’s concert calendar for the Raleigh area is jam packed with a plethora of incredible concerts, comedy shows, and stage productions. Over 120 concerts by original artists await, with more announcements to come!

Venue Key:

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/18/publix-coming-to-downtown-raleigh/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/18/publix-coming-to-downtown-raleigh/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:32:05 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7724 According to trusted sources it appears that Publix will be the major tenant to the Kane Realty project coming to N. West St. in downtown Raleigh. The site, currently occupied by the ThemeWorks and Southland Ballroom, is zoned for 12 stories. So, perhaps, a mixed use project with a ground or second-level grocery is planned. The site is in an area of NW downtown set to see some major changes. With the NCDOT bridge project set to offload Capital Blvd to eastbound Peace Street traffic via Johnson Street (pdf plan), we are set to see a major amount of redevelopment happen between Capital Blvd and the railroad tracks. Publix will be a perfect fit for this project....

]]> According to trusted sources it appears that Publix will be the major tenant to the Kane Realty project coming to N. West St. in downtown Raleigh. The site, currently occupied by the ThemeWorks and Southland Ballroom, is zoned for 12 stories. So, perhaps, a mixed use project with a ground or second-level grocery is planned.

The site is in an area of NW downtown set to see some major changes. With the NCDOT bridge project set to offload Capital Blvd to eastbound Peace Street traffic via Johnson Street ( pdf plan ), we are set to see a major amount of redevelopment happen between Capital Blvd and the railroad tracks. Publix will be a perfect fit for this project.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/01/daniels-middle-school-to-build-skyboxes-2/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/04/01/daniels-middle-school-to-build-skyboxes-2/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:01:14 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7721 Today the Wake County School System announced that Daniels Middle School will undergo a renovation project that will make it the first school in North Carolina to feature skyboxes in its football and basketball facilities. The project not only offers a luxury suite for fans, but also replaces the outdated, original dressing rooms on the ground floor. The skybox will feature an innovative design, offering prime views of the football field on the east side of the box, as well as a prime view of the basketball gym on the west side, a flexible design to suit all seasons. Food services will be offered on gamedays and for select Blue Jacket events throughout the year by the Angus Barn. “We are excited for this opportunity to modernize our facilities,” school principal Elizabeth Battle said. “The students and coaches will get long-awaited locker room upgrades, while the suites will give parents a chance to bond during events. The project will be financed in a joint partnership of...

]]> Today the Wake County School System announced that Daniels Middle School will undergo a renovation project that will make it the first school in North Carolina to feature skyboxes in its football and basketball facilities. The project not only offers a luxury suite for fans, but also replaces the outdated, original dressing rooms on the ground floor.

The skybox will feature an innovative design, offering prime views of the football field on the east side of the box, as well as a prime view of the basketball gym on the west side, a flexible design to suit all seasons. Food services will be offered on gamedays and for select Blue Jacket events throughout the year by the Angus Barn.

“We are excited for this opportunity to modernize our facilities,” school principal Elizabeth Battle said. “The students and coaches will get long-awaited locker room upgrades, while the suites will give parents a chance to bond during events.

The project will be financed in a joint partnership of the WCPSS as well as the Blue Jacket Club. Construction is scheduled to begin in June of this year.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/02/17/north-carolina-scores-big-in-beard-semifinalist-list/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/02/17/north-carolina-scores-big-in-beard-semifinalist-list/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:03:15 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7711 With Duke/UNC coming up, you know it’s also time for the biggie in food, the James Beard Award Semifinalist announcement (pdf). The biggie for the area is Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen who got one of the 20 nomination for “Best Chef: US”. Christensen’s “Death and Taxes” got one of the 25 national nominations for Best New Restaurant. North Carolina recently been a regular in the nominations list for Best Chef: Southeast, but this year was incredibly strong with NC chefs getting 8 of the 20 nominations for a 6-state region that includes Charleston and Atlanta. (NC, SC, GA, WV, TN, KY) Best Chef: Southeast Nate Allen, Knife and Fork, Spruce Pine, NC Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale, Decatur, GA Jeremiah Bacon, The Macintosh, Charleston, SC Brian Canipelli, Cucina 24, Asheville, NC Kathy Cary, Lilly’s, Louisville, KY Scott Crawford, Standard Foods, Raleigh, NC Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons in the Umstead Hotel, Cary, NC Kevin Gillespie,...

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With Duke/UNC coming up, you know it’s also time for the biggie in food, the James Beard Award Semifinalist announcement (pdf). The biggie for the area is Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen who got one of the 20 nomination for “Best Chef: US”. Christensen’s “Death and Taxes” got one of the 25 national nominations for Best New Restaurant .

North Carolina recently been a regular in the nominations list for Best Chef: Southeast, but this year was incredibly strong with NC chefs getting 8 of the 20 nominations for a 6-state region that includes Charleston and Atlanta. (NC, SC, GA, WV, TN, KY)

Best Chef: Southeast

NC wasn’t empty-handed when it came to specialty awards, either. There were 20 Outstanding Baker nominations and Phoebe Lawless (Scratch Bakery, Durham) and Lionel Vatinet (La Farm, Cary) were nominated. Finally Cynthia Wong (Rhubarb, Asheville) picked up one of the Outstanding Pastry Chef nominations. No NC nominations came for Restaurant, Restaurateur, Service, Bar Program, Wine Program, Wine Sprits or Beer Professional, or Rising Star Chef.

The Talley

The James Beard Foundation will pare down the list and announce their list of Finalists on Tue, March 15.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/12/31/2015-a-year-of-openings-and-closings/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/12/31/2015-a-year-of-openings-and-closings/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2015 17:01:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7692 As with any year, 2015 brought some exciting new restaurants and stores to Raleigh, but painfully took its share, too.Here’s a look at the high-impact openings and closings for the year: Openings Standard foods Death and Taxes Taverna Agora Raleigh Beer Garden Tropical Pickin Chicken Kamado Grill Gonza Tacos (Hillsborough St location) Cantina 18 (renovation) Big Ed's (North Raleigh location) Rise Biscuits Jade Garden (reopen) P.G. Werth's More Carolina Ale House Wicked Taco Chick-Fil-A (Lake Boone location) Closings Crowleys Tir na Nog 518 West Battistella's BigBoom Firewurst Pie Bird Person Street Pharmacy Tyler's Taproom Mantra Natty Greene's Zinda (converted to private dining) Ciago's Brewmasters Filippos the Belgian Swad Colony Theater Marsh Woodwinds North American Video Certainly 2016 will bring its surprises, too. Stay tuned for Gogoraleigh’s predictions for...

]]> As with any year, 2015 brought some exciting new restaurants and stores to Raleigh, but painfully took its share, too.Here’s a look at the high-impact openings and closings for the year:

Openings

Closings

Certainly 2016 will bring its surprises, too. Stay tuned for Gogoraleigh’s predictions for 2016, coming later this week.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/12/31/raleighs-top-30-stories-for-2015/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/12/31/raleighs-top-30-stories-for-2015/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2015 16:56:02 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7690 2015 was another great one for Raleigh. Whether it was much love on cable networks, a slew of new downtown apartments, or great new restaurants, there was a big story almost every week that had an impact on the future of Raleigh. With big changes coming in key decision-making positions, 2016 promises to be a key year for the upcoming decade. Here’s a look back a the 30 stories that shaped us and moved us in 2015, The stories are presented in no particular order. John Kane Teases Duda Paine Tower for Warehouse District Gateway Center Concept Teased for South End of Downtown Sur la Table Opens in North Hills Stuart Scott Dies, Buried in Raleigh Dix Park Deal Finalized Wake County Public Schools screws up social media with late snow announcement, attitude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Comes To Raleigh (Smash Mouth singer yells “COME ON, CHARLOTE!” three times) Ray Price Dies Death and Taxes building opens, gets Architectural Digest feature...

]]> 2015 was another great one for Raleigh. Whether it was much love on cable networks, a slew of new downtown apartments, or great new restaurants, there was a big story almost every week that had an impact on the future of Raleigh. With big changes coming in key decision-making positions, 2016 promises to be a key year for the upcoming decade.

Here’s a look back a the 30 stories that shaped us and moved us in 2015, The stories are presented in no particular order.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/23/16-podcasts-to-save-you-from-sports-radio/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/23/16-podcasts-to-save-you-from-sports-radio/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2015 15:41:41 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7686 If you’ve turned on the radio to listen to local sports talk, you know how frustrating it can be to hear hosts’ inability to stay focused, rude behavior toward callers, poor working knowledge of basic grammar, and scant analysis of the actual play on the field or court. At times it is as if they care more about the feelings of the players and the clothes their coaches wear than what transpires in the game. Suffer no more! With the growing popularity of podcasts, a few minutes of setup can free you from the shackles of local sports talk. iPhone users can use the great Overcast app (with its sound leveling and gap removing features) or just stick with the stock Apple Podcast app. Android users should download the BeyondPod app; all free of charge. Simply add the feeds for the below podcasts and you are finally off to an informative, entertaining, and efficient sports talk experience! UNC Inside Carolina Radio Show UNC Huddlecast N.C. State NC State Huddlecast...

]]> If you’ve turned on the radio to listen to local sports talk, you know how frustrating it can be to hear hosts’ inability to stay focused, rude behavior toward callers, poor working knowledge of basic grammar, and scant analysis of the actual play on the field or court. At times it is as if they care more about the feelings of the players and the clothes their coaches wear than what transpires in the game.

Suffer no more! With the growing popularity of podcasts, a few minutes of setup can free you from the shackles of local sports talk. iPhone users can use the great Overcast app (with its sound leveling and gap removing features) or just stick with the stock Apple Podcast app. Android users should download the BeyondPod app; all free of charge.

Simply add the feeds for the below podcasts and you are finally off to an informative, entertaining, and efficient sports talk experience!

UNC

N.C. State

Duke

ACC

National

Carolina Hurricanes

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/05/public-meeting-on-fairview-fire-station-coming-monday/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/05/public-meeting-on-fairview-fire-station-coming-monday/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2015 12:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7681 On Wednesday, October 7 at 7pm, the City of Raleigh Fire Department will hold a public meeting on the rebuild of Fire Station Six (Fairview and Oberlin Roads). The meeting will take place at the fire...

]]> On Wednesday, October 7 at 7pm, the City of Raleigh Fire Department will hold a public meeting on the rebuild of Fire Station Six (Fairview and Oberlin Roads). The meeting will take place at the fire station.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/02/parade-of-homes-begins-tomorrow/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/02/parade-of-homes-begins-tomorrow/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2015 14:50:55 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7683 For the next three weekends the Triangle Homebuilders Association will be celebrating the Parade of Homes. The county-wide series of nearly 400 new open houses runs through the next three weekends (October 3-4, 9-11, 16-18). The houses will be open from Noon to 5pm each day. There are 3 good sources of information about the tour: In Print – stop by the homebuilder’s association’s office (near Crossroads) at: 5580 Centerview Drive, Suite 115 Raleigh, NC 27606 map Online – The association website, a searchable directory, and an online map are all available on the web. Apps – probably not the best-designed app ever, but the best way to go is to use the Android app and the iOS app . The house listing is scrollable, there is a filter search, a map with pins, and the ability to star your favorites. The most interesting house on the tour is the one at Yadkin and Alleghany, a 5,961 square foot Modern English house by Dixon-Kirby. Their work is always top...

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For the next three weekends the Triangle Homebuilders Association will be celebrating the Parade of Homes. The county-wide series of nearly 400 new open houses runs through the next three weekends (October 3-4, 9-11, 16-18). The houses will be open from Noon to 5pm each day.

The most interesting house on the tour is the one at Yadkin and Alleghany, a 5,961 square foot Modern English house by Dixon-Kirby. Their work is always top notch, but there is always, too, some element of bizarre in their houses.

The largest house on the tour is The Cove, a 7,600 square food house on Brinleys Cove Court (out Six Forks past Durant Rd).

Restrooms are not available in the houses, so please plan accordingly. Also be sure to wear socks and shoes you can easily remove before entering each house. Finally, each house’s parking is curbside in existing neighborhoods, so please be courteous to keep driveways, hydrants, and intersections clear, and be on the lookout for children.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/01/oktoberfest-coming-to-booth-amphitheatre-this-weekend/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/01/oktoberfest-coming-to-booth-amphitheatre-this-weekend/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7679 One of Cameron Village and North Hills’ great traditions from yesterday was Oktoberfest. Hark! the event lives on now at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. The event begins Saturday and will feature entertainment, a variety of German foods, biergarten, football-viewing tent with TVs, sanctioned beer-judging competition and more. The schedule for the two-day event is as follows: Saturday, October 4 Noon – Gates open with Chuck Piercy as emcee; Kinder Platz Kid Zone open 1 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, including keg tapping with Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and other dignitaries Live Music and dancing from the Little German Band throughout the day 1:30 p.m. – Stein Hoist I Contest 2 p.m. – Ladies’ Hammerschlagen (nail-driving competition) I Contest, followed by Men’s Hammerschlagen I Contest 3 p.m. – Stein Hoist II Contest 4 p.m. – Wiener Dog Races, Best Dressed Dog Contest 5 p.m. – Best Dressed of the Day Contest (Ladies, Men and Children); Egg...

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One of Cameron Village and North Hills’ great traditions from yesterday was Oktoberfest. Hark! the event lives on now at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. The event begins Saturday and will feature entertainment, a variety of German foods, biergarten, football-viewing tent with TVs, sanctioned beer-judging competition and more. The schedule for the two-day event is as follows:

Tickets for Saturday are $20 for 16 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 15, free for 5 and under.Sunday tickets are $15 for 16 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 15, free for 5 and under. Two-day tickets for 16 and up are also available for $30. Beer Judge Tickets (including commemorative glass and unlimited beer sampling for the day) available for $45. Discounts available for seniors, as well as active and retired military. To purchase tickets, visit the Booth Amphitheatre Box Office, call 1-800-514-3849 or visit http://triangleoktoberfest.org/buy-tickets/

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/04/28/traffic-circles-removed-from-currituck-design/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/04/28/traffic-circles-removed-from-currituck-design/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2015 18:07:45 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7668 The Raleigh City Council recently approved a traffic calming project slated for Currituck Drive in the North Hills subdivision. The project design, intended to engineer cars into keeping speeds in the 20s, includes curb extensions and medians. The intent is to convey a sense of traffic calming by including an element every 5th house along the street. Original plans called for two neighborhood traffic circles (one oblong and one circular) as well as bumped out corners of an existing 4-way stop intersection. The approved design, however removes all of those options. The oblong circle has been replaced with a median on both sides of the intersection and the true circle will likely be replaced with a 4-way stop. The project is expected to begin this summer in the summer of...

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The Raleigh City Council recently approved a traffic calming project slated for Currituck Drive in the North Hills subdivision. The project design, intended to engineer cars into keeping speeds in the 20s, includes curb extensions and medians. The intent is to convey a sense of traffic calming by including an element every 5th house along the street.

Original plans called for two neighborhood traffic circles (one oblong and one circular) as well as bumped out corners of an existing 4-way stop intersection. The approved design, however removes all of those options. The oblong circle has been replaced with a median on both sides of the intersection and the true circle will likely be replaced with a 4-way stop.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/04/03/125-concerts-to-rock-your-summer/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/04/03/125-concerts-to-rock-your-summer/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:55:21 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7645 Summer always brings great concerts to the Triangle, and 2015 may be the best yet. From April to September there are 125 big acts coming to the area’s venues, with more announcements coming! From 1st-tier comedians to one of only 15 North American dates for the Rolling Stones, there is always something to do here this summer. See venue key at the bottom for info links. Click the “Summer ‘15” tab (at the top) for the updated...

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Summer always brings great concerts to the Triangle, and 2015 may be the best yet. From April to September there are 125 big acts coming to the area’s venues, with more announcements coming! From 1st-tier comedians to one of only 15 North American dates for the Rolling Stones, there is always something to do here this summer. See venue key at the bottom for info links.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/04/01/cameron-village-planning-parking-decks/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/04/01/cameron-village-planning-parking-decks/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7641 Raleigh’s original shopping center, Cameron Village, has seen a renaissance over the past two decades. The renovation began with the removal of several outdated parking structures from the struggling center. A full complex facelift was then completed, and the general public has responded enthusiastically. With not only the replacement of several surrounding outdated office and retail buildings, but also the addition of many new apartments, Cameron Village finds itself one of the most sought after addresses in Raleigh by young professionals. While the changes have made Cameron Village wildly popular, the availability of parking at the center has become a deal-breaker for some. To meet the new demand for parking, Cameron Village management has released new renderings of parking structures that will be completed by this time next year. The first phase, pictured below, will be a one-level deck over the surface parking on Daniels Street, extending from Noodles & Co to the end...

]]> Raleigh’s original shopping center, Cameron Village, has seen a renaissance over the past two decades. The renovation began with the removal of several outdated parking structures from the struggling center. A full complex facelift was then completed, and the general public has responded enthusiastically. With not only the replacement of several surrounding outdated office and retail buildings, but also the addition of many new apartments, Cameron Village finds itself one of the most sought after addresses in Raleigh by young professionals.

While the changes have made Cameron Village wildly popular, the availability of parking at the center has become a deal-breaker for some. To meet the new demand for parking, Cameron Village management has released new renderings of parking structures that will be completed by this time next year.

The first phase, pictured below, will be a one-level deck over the surface parking on Daniels Street, extending from Noodles & Co to the end of the strip where Seagrove Pottery was. The open air parking level will connect to shopping areas with carefully placed staircases. Phase Two continues the parking experience across Daniels Street and will completely wrap the block which houses Outdoor Provision Co., Village Draft House, and the ABC Store.

“We are excited to offer super convenient parking for our customers,” said Wynne Lorth, a vice president of the center. “Not only will be adding quantity of parking, the new structures will convert existing surface parking into a premium experience that is always dry and cool; especially needed on those hot summer days.”

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/03/17/let-the-madness-begin/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/03/17/let-the-madness-begin/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:19:52 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7635 It’s the most wonderful time of the year; tourney time. Time to fill out those brackets, because after all, this is one of the necessary forms for living in Raleigh. The best brackets are CBS’, because they show the times of the games. (pdf). Another format for the games is chronological. While it is too early to post relevant lines, it is time to post the times and networks of the games. The region is denoted with the letter “E”, “W”, etc. Thursday 12:15 - Notre Dame(3) / Northeastern(14) (Pittsburgh, M, CBS) 12:40 - Iowa St.(3) / UAB(14) (Louisville, S, TruTV) 1:40 – Baylor(3) / Georgia St.(14) (Jacksonville, W, TBS) 2:10 - Arizona(2) / Texas Southern(15) (Portland, W, TNT) 2:45 - Butler(6) / Texas(11) (Pittsburgh, M, CBS) 3:10 - SMU(6) / UCLA(11) (Louisville, S, TruTV) 4:10 - Xavier(6) / BYU/Ole Miss(11) (Jacksonville, W, TBS) 4:40 - VCU(7) / Ohio St. (10) (Portland, W, TNT) 6:50 - Villanova(1) / Lafayette(16) (Pittsburgh,E, TBS) 7:10 -...

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year; tourney time. Time to fill out those brackets, because after all, this is one of the necessary forms for living in Raleigh. The best brackets are CBS’, because they show the times of the games. (pdf).

Another format for the games is chronological. While it is too early to post relevant lines, it is time to post the times and networks of the games. The region is denoted with the letter “E”, “W”, etc.

Thursday
12:15 – Notre Dame(3) / Northeastern(14) (Pittsburgh, M, CBS)
12:40 – Iowa St.(3) / UAB(14) (Louisville, S, TruTV)
1:40 – Baylor(3) / Georgia St.(14) (Jacksonville, W, TBS)
2:10 – Arizona(2) / Texas Southern(15) (Portland, W, TNT)
2:45 – Butler(6) / Texas(11) (Pittsburgh, M, CBS)
3:10 – SMU(6) / UCLA(11) (Louisville, S, TruTV)
4:10 – Xavier(6) / BYU/Ole Miss(11) (Jacksonville, W, TBS)
4:40 – VCU(7) / Ohio St. (10) (Portland, W, TNT)
6:50 – Villanova(1) / Lafayette(16) (Pittsburgh,E, TBS)
7:10 – Cincinnati() / Purdue() (Louisville, M, CBS)
7:20 – UNC(4) / Harvard(13) (Jacksonville, W, TNT)
7:27 – Utah(5) / Stephen F. Austin(12) (Portland, S, TruTV)
9:20 – NCSU(8) / LSU(9) (Pittsburgh, E, TBS)
9:40 – Kentucky(1) / Hampton/Manhattan(16) (Louisville, M, CBS)
9:50 – Arkansas(5) / Wofford(12) (Jacksonville, W, TNT)
9:57 – Georgetown(4) / Eastern Washington(13) (Portland, S, TruTV)

Friday
12:15 – Kansas(2) / New Mexico St.(15) (Omaha, M, CBS)
12:40 – Michigan St.(7) / Georgia(10) (Charlotte, E, TruTV)
1:40 – Northern Iowa(5) / Wyoming(12) (Seattle, E, TBS)
2:10 – West Virginia(5) / Buffalo(12) (Columbus, M, TNT)
2:45 – Wichita St.(7) / Indiana(10) (Omaha, M, CBS)
3:10 – Virginia(2) / Belmont(15) (Charlotte, E, TruTV)
4:10 – Louisville(4) / UC Irvine(13) (Seattle, E, TBS)
4:40 – Maryland(4) / Valparaiso(13) (Columbus, M, TNT)
6:50 – Oregon(8) / Oklahoma St.(9) (Omaha, W, TBS)
7:10 – Duke(1) / N. Florida/Robert Morris(16) (Charlotte, S, CBS)
7:20 – Iowa(7) / Davidson(10) (Seattle, S, TNT)
7:27 – Oklahoma(3) / Albany(14) (Columbus, E, TruTV)
9:20 – Wisconsin(1) / Coastal Carolina(16) (Omaha, W, TBS)
9:40 – San Diego St.(8) / St. John’s(9) (Charlotte, S, CBS)
9:50 – Gonzaga(2) / North Dakota St.(15) (Seattle, S, TNT)
9:57 – Providence(6) / Boise St./Dayton winner(11) (Columbus, E, TruTV)

Of local note: Former NCSU guard Archie Miller coaches Dayton. Former NCSU assistant coaches Arizona. Former Duke guard and assistant Tommy Amaker coaches Harvard. Former Duke guard Bobby Hurley coaches Buffalo. Former Duke Assistant Mike Brey coaches Notre Dame. Former UNC assistant Jarod Haase coaches UAB. Raleigh native Dez Wells stars for Maryland.

Former Clemson coach Cliff Ellis coaches Coastal Carolina. Former Clemson coach Larry Shyatt coaches Wyoming.

http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/03/06/fury-325-test-run-pov-hits-internet/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/03/06/fury-325-test-run-pov-hits-internet/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2015 05:31:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7633 Carowinds’ Fury 325 will open this summer as the 5th tallest roller coaster in the world, and will be the most discussed coaster on the continent this year. On Wednesday the track saw its unmanned maiden voyage. A point-of-view camera was mounted and footage is now posted on YouTube. The 325’ high coaster is 20’ taller than the Statue of Liberty, and will be the highest and fastest for Bolliger & Mabillard. The firm known for engineering the smoothest coasters ever built sees itself well into the 300 foot zone with this coaster. It’s a zone that Intamin has dominated over last decade and a half. Hopefully B&M can bring their brand of well-managed lateral Gs to this class of coasters. Looks like some track tuning still remains as well as much landscaping. It appears the coaster has a fantastic fine del capo under the pedestrian plaza followed by a splashdown into a lake. This should be a dynamite addition to the NC side of Carowinds, and will attract visitors from...

]]> Carowinds’ Fury 325 will open this summer as the 5th tallest roller coaster in the world, and will be the most discussed coaster on the continent this year. On Wednesday the track saw its unmanned maiden voyage. A point-of-view camera was mounted and footage is now posted on YouTube.

The 325’ high coaster is 20’ taller than the Statue of Liberty, and will be the highest and fastest for Bolliger & Mabillard. The firm known for engineering the smoothest coasters ever built sees itself well into the 300 foot zone with this coaster. It’s a zone that Intamin has dominated over last decade and a half. Hopefully B&M can bring their brand of well-managed lateral Gs to this class of coasters.

Looks like some track tuning still remains as well as much landscaping. It appears the coaster has a fantastic fine del capo under the pedestrian plaza followed by a splashdown into a lake. This should be a dynamite addition to the NC side of Carowinds, and will attract visitors from around the world to this hidden gem of a park.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/02/09/north-carolina-loses-the-great-teacher/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/02/09/north-carolina-loses-the-great-teacher/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:39:25 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7596 On the evening of Saturday, February 7, UNC lost perhaps its most important family member of the school’s storied history. Coach Dean Smith had suffered from dementia for many years, and his life ended quietly. The irony that such a sharp mind that steered so many storied comebacks would not be able to mount one in his own life is a bitter pill to swallow. That we are not in control of our fates is just one of the lessons Smith taught us. There are hundreds of great stories being passed around these days about great Smith moments. Mine came after reading his book Multiple Offense and Defense. It is a fantastic, concise X’s and O’s manual for running several of the offensive and defensive sets Smith used in the first half of his coaching career. There are also great lessons about team play, running structured practices, acknowledgment of the groundbreakers that came before us, and the beauty of math in the game we love. That final point led me to corral my own stats for the...

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On the evening of Saturday, February 7, UNC lost perhaps its most important family member of the school’s storied history. Coach Dean Smith had suffered from dementia for many years, and his life ended quietly. The irony that such a sharp mind that steered so many storied comebacks would not be able to mount one in his own life is a bitter pill to swallow. That we are not in control of our fates is just one of the lessons Smith taught us.

There are hundreds of great stories being passed around these days about great Smith moments. Mine came after reading his book Multiple Offense and Defense . It is a fantastic, concise X’s and O’s manual for running several of the offensive and defensive sets Smith used in the first half of his coaching career. There are also great lessons about team play, running structured practices, acknowledgment of the groundbreakers that came before us, and the beauty of math in the game we love. That final point led me to corral my own stats for the team, which eventually blossomed into my Tar Heel HOOPla website 20 years ago.

In the book Coach Smith explained his system for evaluating offensive and defensive efficiency, and stated that his team’s goals are to exceed 0.85 points per possession and to keep the opponent below 0.75 points per possession. The book was written before the advent of the 3-point shot, leaving me to wonder about how much that rule changed the stated goals. Woody Durham hosted a weekly call-in show with the coach and I was able to ask him my question on the air. He first stated,”Very good! You’ve done your homework,” then stated his updated goals of 0.95 and 0.85, respectively.

Apparently I’m not alone in being fascinated by the statistics basketball brings us, as evidenced by the popularity of Ken Pomeroy’s work. Pomeroy’s stats differ from Smith’s because Smith considered a possession to end when a field goal is attempted while Pomeroy considers it ending when the other team gets possession of the ball. Pomeroy reaches this figure by subtracting offensive rebounds from field goal attempts, making Total Possessions an irrelevant statistic. Smith’s method, on the other hand, leaves a Total Possessions differential which reflects the true rebounding, making his method much more useful.

When I was in Chapel Hill for college and dental school, I only had a couple of brushes with Dean Smith. One morning my dental class sat in a hallway waiting to take an exam. A hush fell on the group as Dean Smith walked down the hall by us after completing an appointment with one of our professors. It was as if we all wanted to be put into the game. We all got a chuckle at how we responded, but also were impressed that someone like Dean Smith thought that highly of our teacher.

I was lucky enough to get to sit behind the bench in ‘93 to watch the eventual National Champions play Duke on Senior Day. Committed recruits Jerry Stackhouse and Jeff McInnis sat in front of me while uncommitted Rasheed Wallace sat two seats toward midcourt. Wallace, of course, chose UNC over his hometown Temple, and Smith would later proclaim Wallace to be the best player Smith coached. The photo above is from the book Return to the Top , and shows me right behind Stackhouse and McInnis. Jim Valvano sat across the court doing his final full broadcast. Phil Ford, one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time, and Bill Guthridge, one of the best big-man coaches in the history of the game, were 10 feet in front of me. It was an incredible experience to be a spectator around these great masters of their craft. Of course from that angle one gets an appreciation of the vertical elements of basketball, but I was also able to appreciate the level of focus players from each team carried.

We essentially lost Coach Smith several years ago with the onset of dementia. Unlike other coaches, Smith retired and made few public appearances. In one of the many pieces of irony surrounding Smith, he was always proud of his ability to teach, yet could have taught us all so much about the game and life after retiring from coaching. Smith could be ruthless in team practices, slicing giants to pieces with his words. However those were players (and families) into which he had emotionally invested. He would never have felt comfortable criticizing the play of players he didn’t know, so he never pursued the chance to teach us more.

Smith learned basketball from Phog Allen who learned basketball from the game’s inventor, James Naismith. While Smith may be gone and the building bearing his name may not stand for the remainder of our lives, Smith leaves an indelible mark on both the game and the culture of the State of North Carolina through not only his bountiful coaching tree, but also through the many of us whose lives were enriched by his work.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/02/04/city-lays-markings-for-currituck-obstacle-course/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/02/04/city-lays-markings-for-currituck-obstacle-course/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2015 02:56:48 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7592 The City of Raleigh is planning for major traffic changes on Currituck Drive. The residential street is slated for curb bumps, surprise medians, and the city’s first residential mini-roundabouts. The street will also gain a sidewalk on the north curb to match the existing one on the south curb. According to plans, the project’s goal is to slow traffic to around 30mph. This will be accomplished by placing an irregular feature every 5th house in order to establish a culture of “speed calming”, but will contain no vertical elements (speed bumps). Projects such as those on Rainwater Drive and Mourning Dove Road were the first to integrate lateral interruptions to traffic in Raleigh, however the Currituck project will be the first to implement the mini-roundabout. Two such designs will be used at the street’s intersections with Macon Place and Tyrrell Road. The island at Tyrrell, a perpendicular cross intersection will be a pure circle and will not require any additional...

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The City of Raleigh is planning for major traffic changes on Currituck Drive. The residential street is slated for curb bumps, surprise medians, and the city’s first residential mini-roundabouts. The street will also gain a sidewalk on the north curb to match the existing one on the south curb. According to plans, the project’s goal is to slow traffic to around 30mph. This will be accomplished by placing an irregular feature every 5th house in order to establish a culture of “speed calming”, but will contain no vertical elements (speed bumps).

Projects such as those on Rainwater Drive and Mourning Dove Road were the first to integrate lateral interruptions to traffic in Raleigh, however the Currituck project will be the first to implement the mini-roundabout. Two such designs will be used at the street’s intersections with Macon Place and Tyrrell Road. The island at Tyrrell, a perpendicular cross intersection will be a pure circle and will not require any additional streetscape to support the feature.

The feature at Macon, however, is oval, biased against Currituck traffic. This crossing, pictured, occurs during a steep hill, and visibility is not very good (looking uphill). Likely this will be the surprise element that will cause the most accidents (on a street with very few accidents in its 50 year history).

The City Council will review the plan and welcome public comment in their December 3 meeting. If the plan is accepted construction will occur during the coming Summer, if Fall of 2014 leaves are picked up.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/01/14/heels-have-the-tools-need-tune-up/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/01/14/heels-have-the-tools-need-tune-up/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:03:04 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7588 With both NCSU and UNC coming off of thrilling home wins over Top 10 opponents, tonight’s showdown looks to be another great chapter in the rivalry’s rich history. Last year’s epic overtime battle was a modern era classic, and while many of the players return for tonight’s game, the primary factors are completely different. The NCSU team has only recently found its identity. We knew they had a talented backcourt, but the the inconsistent play in the first dozen games really hampered the team. They keys to NCSU tonight are two-fold: While point guard Cat Barber continues to bring outstanding athleticism but sputtering smarts to the game, transfer Trevor Lacey has become an all-conference level performer. Nobody is talking about how Lacey can do everything that T.J. Warren could do, but the truth is, he isn’t far from consistently being that level of player. BJ Anya is a great shotblocker who is foul-prone. If he can stay on the court, NCSU’s frontcourt can match up...

]]> With both NCSU and UNC coming off of thrilling home wins over Top 10 opponents, tonight’s showdown looks to be another great chapter in the rivalry’s rich history. Last year’s epic overtime battle was a modern era classic, and while many of the players return for tonight’s game, the primary factors are completely different.

The NCSU team has only recently found its identity. We knew they had a talented backcourt, but the the inconsistent play in the first dozen games really hampered the team. They keys to NCSU tonight are two-fold:

State’s play is straightforward, but UNC’s is not. The first part of this 2015 season has been a trying one for UNC fans. The team, sporting with 6 McDonald’s All-Americans, has struggled to show any kind of cohesiveness and consistency. However dissecting the Heels reveals some things about this team that the babbling, mantra-driven local sports radio media fails to see.

With UNC’s weakness being outside shooting, one would think UNC would play to its strengths, however they are attempting 24% of their shots from beyond the arc. Usually Roy’s teams can shoot the 3 well, and only take about 22% of their shots from behind the arc.

The keys for UNC moving forward are establishing Joel Berry as the primary PG, moving Marcus Paige to the SG, narrowing the rotation, and running the offense through Kennedy Meeks.

Much attention is on Marcus Paige, however the statistics show that UNC falls apart offensively when Kennedy Meeks leaves the game. For UNC to win tonight, they need an excellent game out of Meeks, and to shut down the Pack offensively.

In the last 20 years NC State is 1-14 after beating Duke or UNC. I expect NCSU to struggle shooting the ball tonight, and for UNC to win this chapter. Revenge for tonight’s loser comes in 5 weeks, though, where NCSU may play their best Dean Dome game in quite some time. We’ll see…

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/01/05/25-predictions-for-2015/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/01/05/25-predictions-for-2015/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7582 It’s that time of year. As a new one rolls around we look forward at the trends and events that will likely impact our lives in Raleigh. In no particular order, here is a glimpse into the crystal ball: 2014 was a banner year for electronic security breaches, and 2015 will continue the pattern. Banks and retailers, now facing higher than ever write-offs due to security breaches, will fully embrace cardless payments, and ApplePay will be huge. ApplePay is so secure and so easy, we will see iOS gain back some noticeable American marketshare from Android. A related technology we will see will be a payment by car; an ApplePay and Google Wallet extension in new cars allowing quick payment in drive-thru windows and turnpike tolling gates. As a result of new, secure payments and the end of predictable market corrections, we will see a solid year for brick and mortar retail. In food trends 2015 will be the Year of Cauliflower, and we will see it everywhere. Wake County will...

]]> It’s that time of year. As a new one rolls around we look forward at the trends and events that will likely impact our lives in Raleigh. In no particular order, here is a glimpse into the crystal ball: