raleighing archive

1 Eleven Seaboard Plans Released

The Seaboard Station area of downtown continues its recent boom with the release of the floorplans for 1 Eleven Seaboard.  This condo building--which is currently carrying the generic "Condos with urban flair" tagline--will be going in across Seaboard Avenue from 18 Seaboard and Capital City Grocery.  Dates and prices should be made available within a few weeks, but expect the units to start in the low $200s. 

To see the plans, click here (PDF).  Sales will be managed by Susan "Bootsie" Harris who manages York Simpson Underwood's new downtown office.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere are Signs

As a public relations executive in downtown Raleigh, I am fascinated when a marketing campaign takes on a life of its own. You have seen the work of the successful campaigns, like the Lance Armstrong yellow wrist bands or the OBX stickers that are glued to so many cars.

Friends of Dorothea Dix Park, one of the accounts I work on, has achieved this rare cultural phenom. The group wants to save all 306 acres of property at Dorothea Dix in Raleigh for a destination park, like New York City's Central Park.

You have seen their Dix 306 signs. You can't miss them. Some streets have a sign in every single yard. The signs are not only inside the beltline, but there are Dix 306 signs from Asheville to Manteo. They are in such high demand, that it is a challenge to keep up the supply. So you might be thinking, how do I get one of these signs?

You can find the sign pick-up locations at the following URL, or just use the handy-dandy map Raleighing put together below.

http://www.dix306.org

While you are there, feel free to sign the online petition. Get this, Clay Aiken signed the petition. We thought it might be a hoax, but we checked with his publicist and he is a real supporter for preserving all 306 acres as a destination park. Sometimes, marketing campaigns take on a life of their own.

Restaurant Review: Viva Thai

I'm a huge fan of Thai food and when a co-worker suggested we try Viva Thai I didn't need much persuasion.  Viva Thai is in a strip mall shopping center off of Maynard in Cary - an area that has a quite varied array of international offerings.  It's a sort of no frills atmosphere but you're there for the food not the frills.   

We chose our selections from the lunch menu  ($6.50 + tax and beverage).  Pud (Pad) Thai was a favorite with 2 orders going for the regular (no spicy) and 1 (mine) going for the medium spicy.  The fourth in our party got Stir Fried Tahi Meal (Pud Prig).  There is a pepper scale at the bottom of the menu.  1 pepper is denoted as "mild".  Our experience is that a 1 pepper dish is mildly spicy.  My 2 pepper "medium" pad thai was delicious with a sinus-clearing heat that built as I consumed the dish.  For those who crave spicier there is a 3 pepper HOT option and those with asbestos lined mouths can brave the 4 pepper "thai hot" dish.  The faint of heart should stick to the dishes with no pepper rating or specify NO spice. 

Dishes are cooked to order and you can request your preferred spice level for all dishes.  Another dish that has been recommended at Viva Thai is the Spicy Basil Noodle (1 pepper).   I look forward to a return to trip to Viva Thai for dinner -- I've got my eye on the Thai Three Flavor Fish.

Viva Thai 1401-L S.E. Maynard Rd, Cary, NC  (919)388-8338

La Farm Takes La Small Screen

Cary's La Farm Bakery is hitting the big time!  On the Thursday, March 29th episode of The Rachael Ray Show, La Farm's own Oatmeal-Raisin and Chocolate Chip cookies will be featured as the "snack of the day" which Rachael offers to the audience.

In honor of the big occasion, La Farm will be offering complimentary Oatmeal-Raisin and Chocolate Chip cookies at their Cary store throughout the day on the 29th.  Their cookies are also available for purchase at the store, online, and by phone... or you can get them at the Raleigh State Farmer's Market on Saturday and Sunday and the Moore's Square Farmer's Market on Wednesdays starting April 4th.  You can also buy La Farm's artisnal breads at all the area Whole Foods Markets.

I'm getting hungry thinking about those cookies... especially the Oatmeal-Raisins...  I might even have to make the daunting journey deep into the bowels of Cary (i.e. Preston) for the free cookies.  Send out a search party if I'm not back by the 1st of April.  You'll find me wandering aimlessly mumbling something like "How can I possibly be crossing Maynard again?!?!"  ;-)

Ace is the Place

When visiting Seaboard Station (off Peace Street) this weekend on my weekly jaunt to Logan's, Seaboard Wine and CCG, I stopped into the new Ace Hardware to check it out. It was much more than I expected - even my husband, who grew up in the hardware business, was very impressed with the selection (loads of 'total guy' stuff) and customer service. In addition to a great selection of typical hardware store items, they have Benjamin Moore paint, outdoor furniture, kitchen stuff and small appliances. Even the decor was kind of cool emoting an interesting retro feel with modern day amenities.

I honestly believe that this will save OTB trips to Lowes and Home Depot and will serve as a boom to downtown residents to be within a few blocks of hardware (Sorry Briggs, but you moved and have limited weekend hours which tends to hinder weekend warriors).  I also believe that many of the items that are on my Tar-ghay list can now be purchased at Ace - whoda thunk it? I've heard there will be a grand opening towards the end of April and the opening of a garden center for both plants and rentals/equipment. Plus, they have free popcorn and a really cool vintage truck wrapped with a Seaboard Ace advertisement. If you haven't been there yet, I strongly encourage you to stop by.

712 Tucker Revamps Website

712 Tucker, one of more than 10 new developments planned for Downtown has recently revamped their website, which now boasts of units starting at $155,000 and ranging through $400,000.  Located on half of the block bound by St. Mary's St., Tucker St., and Boylan Ave., the development promises four to five stories of 1,2, and 3 bedroom units with flat and town home styles.  Most of floor plans are posted on the website, and recent information from the sales team suggests that the rest will be posted soon.

With two courtyards, underground and garage parking, two workout rooms, and a variety of other things it should be a very interesting project if they can keep to their pricing.  The smallest unit shown on the website is 720 square feet, and the largest sits just under 1600 square feet.  Some of the renderings and floor plans suggest that there might be some Brownstone type units on the Boylan side which would add a nice touch to the ever changing downtown area. 

When this project was first proposed quite some time ago, it was mentioned that the development might be part apartment/part condo but no news has been heard about whether or not that still remains the case or if it will be all individually owned.  The Crosland website (the developer) suggests that there will be a section of units available for rent, but it also quotes the pricing and square footage different than the sales website.  It is shown with an old rendering of the project so it can be assumed that the information has changed.

The sales website says the building will be done in 2008, but given the scope of the project and that the existing buildings have not been removed that seems like a lofty goal. Crosland is also the developer of Oberlin Court on Wade Ave. 

At any rate, the news of affordable condos is a much needed breath for Downtown and it will be exciting to see this project take shape.

A Night at Reynolds Coliseum

So maybe this isn’t the typical post for Raleighing but I thought it was worth a paragraph or two. NC State and its first year head coach Sidney Lowe continued their post season Friday with a NIT match up against Marist. Only a true NC State basketball fan can tell you what a breath of fresh air Lowe has been for a long suffering fan base...  a fan base looking for any reason to be excited about basketball again. The gods were once again smiling on the Wolfpack nation when NIT No. 7 Marist defeated No 2 Oklahoma State to allow NC State (No. 6) to host the match up. With the fans still buzzing about the run State made through the ACC tourney and longing to show their appreciation for Lowe and the team, it was only fitting that the faithful were rewarded by a home court postseason game in Reynolds Coliseum.

For those in the know, Reynolds represents the storied history of NC State and, in some eyes, the true birthplace of the ACC and Tobacco Road basketball. Did you know that some attribute the tradition of cutting down the nets after a big win to Everett Case? After winning the Southeast Conference Championship in 1946 Case cut down nets for the first time. The building, which opened in 1949, was the largest college basketball facility in the southeast (Case insisted that the plans for the coliseum be updated in 1948 for a larger seating capacity than Cameron Indoor Stadium which opened in 1940). Reynolds held the Dixie Classic and ACC men’s basketball tournaments from 1954-1966 (State won the championship in 1955, 56 & 57) and has been the host site of numerous men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament games. For those of you who were unaware of the rich NC State Basketball history prior to the NCAA championship years of 1974 and 1983, please check it out on the web. You might be amazed how deep the roots are.

To further set the tone of the game, all of the tickets for the Marist game were snapped up by the students and Wolfpack Club members in a pre-sale period before they could be made available to the general public. Fans started lining up outside Reynolds for the general admission seats in the cold rain up to 3 hours before tip off and the gym was packed an hour and a half before start time. There was an energy and buzz in the building, which was palpable.

By the time Sidney, in his now famous bright red jacket, and the team took to the floor for introductions, the crowd was ready to explode and everyone showed their appreciation and excitement with a deafening standing ovation. NC State basketball is back with a new charismatic leader and a spirit reminiscent of teams long gone. There was no better place to celebrate the resurgence than Reynolds - an amazing building full of history and pride.

By the night’s end, the Wolfpack held Marist--with the nation’s assist leader for the past two seasons--to 19 points in the first half and over came some second half adversity to win the game 67-62, advancing to the next round of the NIT.

Carlton Place Opens With Fanfare

Over a 100 Raleigh residents gathered to celebrate the dedication of Carlton Place Wednesday morning. Developed by Raleigh-based DHIC, Inc., Carlton Place is an 80 unit mixed income apartment community just a stone’s throw from Moore Square. As the city asks what downtown will become and for whom, Carlton Place represents a good first step in addressing the need for affordability in the city core.

Many dignitaries were on hand for the event. Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, County Commission Chairman Tony Gurly, state Representative Deborah Ross, and North Carolina Housing Finance Chairman Lucius Jones all spoke. The honored guest, John Carlton, for whom the development is named, also received a special presentation. Mr. Carlton is a long time neighborhood activist and affordable housing advocate, as well as a former member of DHIC’s board of directors.

Carlton Place is the result of an effective public-private partnership. How is it affordable? The developer assembled funding from local government loans, state government loans, private loans and grants, and federal and state tax credits awarded by the NC Housing Finance Agency. The loans are below market rate, and the equity from the tax credits reduces the debt service and thus lowers rents.

Carlton Place is the first mixed income, mixed use, Housing Credit funded apartment community in North Carolina. 16 of the units are market rate, and not funded by credits. The remaining 64 units are restricted to households making 60% or less of the county median income. There is also commercial space along Davie Street currently in lease up.

Eight of the units are set aside for, and affordable to, persons with disabilities. Additionally, 4 units are fully accessible to people with mobility impairments, including curbless showers. One resident benefiting from this is Raleigh native and reigning Ms. Wheelchair North Carolina, Ms. Kelly Woodall.

Carlton Place also received a grant from the Home Depot Foundation to incorporate “Green” elements in the design of the development. Carlton Place features Energy Star appliances, low VOC paint and carpet, pervious concrete, low flow plumbing, and solar reflective roof membranes.

According to Gregg Warren, Executive Director of DHIC, the first residents are employees of The City of Raleigh, Wake County Public Schools, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Capital Area Transit, retail businesses, state government, and Wake Med. Many are now able to walk to work. DHIC is also the developer of Murphy School Apartments and the Prairie Building in downtown Raleigh.

Brier Creek Village Center

The Brier Creek Village Center is beginning to take shape with construction on the Village Main Street recently going vertical.  The Main Street is part of a 300 acre plan that includes residential and commercial development as well as Brier Creek Elementary School and a WakeMed medical facility.

The cross-section drawing of the Main Street looks promising with wide sidewalks and landscaped promenades on either side.  The plan encourages multi-storied buildings with the south side of the street being used for high-density residential and the north side for commercial development.  The goal is “a high intensity urban development pattern.”

This is the kind of development that is needed if Brier Creek is to truly be one of three regional centers as city planners have designated it.  But, while Brier Creek has mastered big box retail and chain restaurants, will a manufactured urban design concept be successful there?

The Collards Monologue

Pretty frequently I get a powerful taste for collards.  I love ‘em.  Now my grandma used to make good collards the old fashioned way: slow cooked in a big cast iron skillet with a streak o’lean and a streak o’fat.  I should probably clarify that I assume they were good.  When I was a snot nosed little kid I declared to her that “I didn’t eat grass.”  Well now I do, and I wish I did then.  I’m sure my grandma’s were good.  If she were alive today I’d be all over them greens like a pack of wild dogs on a three legged cat. 

My mama makes collards sometimes too.  She used to cook them like grandma, but now she parboils them and then sautés them in olive oil.  I like “nouveau” collards just fine too.  The last time she made them was New Years day, as is the southern tradition, and they were spot on.  Sometimes I make collards as well.  Ok, sometimes is a stretch.  Rarely.  Rarely I’ll make some collards.  I’m just too dang lazy.  So there’s the rub.  Where can a sluggard get a mess of good collards around here when the craving strikes? 

Every once in a while I get lucky and some nice person at the office will bring me some leftover collards from their Sunday supper.  For some time when the craving was just too great, I’d scratch the itch at Don Murray’s.  I’d ignore the health rating, ignore that my feet stuck to the carpet, let it slide that the collards weren’t that great, and roll the hepatitis dice.  What they lacked in quality they made up for in quantity.  Well, ole Don Murray’s is no longer and option. 

I’ve been to all the other BBQ joints, and I’m sad to say they just didn’t cut the mustard.  I went to the Farmers Market Restaurant and they were salty and tasted a little burnt.  Big Ed’s?  Nope.  The best collards I’ve had in my quest, surprisingly, were at the Underground.  (Which by the way, if you’ve never been to the Underground, get yourself there with all due speed.)  They were amazing!  Tender, sweet, and flavorful with succulent little pieces of pork floating in an ethereal broth.  I’m getting tingly all over just thinking about them.  The only problem was it’s a tapas joint.  It was a tease.  I could have eaten a whole pot, and all I got was a tiny taste.

Other folks have made recommendations in all corners of our great state, but did I mention I’m lazy?  I know there are great greens to be had, but I don’t want to drive to the Virginia line.  I don’t want to go to Lumberton, Elizabethtown, Lexington, or Asheville.  Heck, I don’t even want to drive to Durham or Chapel Hill.  There’s got to be other collard lovers that can’t find a local fix, or some folks in the know.  Where do y’all get great collards in Raleigh?