Relocate Triangle - An Insider's Guide About Moving To The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Get Your Boots On - We're Going Hiking!

While the official start to spring is not until Monday, I am considering it in full bloom after the recent weeks of wonderfully charming weather. I am especially looking forward to tomorrow’s Triangle high of 78 degrees and sunny.

And to celebrate the warm sunshine’s much needed arrival, I am going hiking.

There are many options for hiking from serious mountain-terrain-type hiking to casual strollers (and those in strollers or other wheeled-type transportation. 

For those who are seeking a more casual hiking approach, the Triangle area offers many Greenways for your pleasure. A greenway is a natural corridor that helps protect streams, water and air quality by keeping development away from sensitive natural areas, such as streams. The Triangle Greenway Council has an excellent site for reference to the area greenways. 

Anyone looking for a more rugged (loose term) outdoor experience, definitely check out the area's state parks. I have enjoyed hikes at both William B. Umstead State Park(Raleigh) and Eno River State Park(Durham). 

In addition to the state parks, definitely check out Falls Lake Trail part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area. It boasts a 23-mile trail which is part of the Mountains To the Sea Trail(a/k/a the ultimate North Carolina hike).

There are so many places to hike around the Triangle so this post is definitely not exhaustive. I'll be heading to Umstead tomorrow for a short hike. Comment below with your favorite hiking destination in the Triangle.

It’s time again for one of my favorite holidays: St. Patrick’s Day. While I am not necessarily all about the religious aspect (sorry, St. Patrick!), I am about the parades, wearing green and being overly enthusiastic about green foods and beverages.

 

And celebrating my first St. Patrick’s Day here in the Triangle, I am excited to see how it matches up to other St. Patty’s celebrations I have attended around the U.S.

 

This Saturday, March 13 at noon is the Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Wearin’ O’ the Green Festival. The parade will wander the downtown streets of Raleigh, finishing at Moore Square, where vendors and booths will feature Irish goods and treats. (I can already taste the green beer!)

 

Meterologist Bill Reh of NBC17 fame will act as grand marshal for the parade, which will be followed by a performance from Homeland (an Irish band), a Patriotic Parachute Team landing on Martin Street, and six different Irish and Scottish dance groups performing on stage. It should be a good time for all of the family.

 

The parade’s twitter says the parade and festival will be held rain or shine, so hopefully this wet weather will hold off.

 

Also downtown, Tir Na Nog Irish Pub will be celebrating the parade with an Irish breakfast in the morning and live music from a variety of Irish bands throughout the day into the evening. Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub (also downtown) is claiming that the “Guinness will flow like water” as they plan on shutting down West Street for the “largest St. Patty’s Day party in the Triangle.” (Both bars will feature bands and traditional Irish food on Wednesday March 17)

 

In Cary, Connolly’s Irish Pub and Restaurant will be celebrating both Saturday March 13 and Wednesday March 17, as well, featuring drink and food specials along with live music.

 

I am looking forward to all the green goodness, a jig and maybe even a Guinness. I hope to see you there!

 

Harlem Globetrotters Come To Raleigh!

By Preston Kelly

 

Although I’m not a local myself, I know a good bit about Raleigh from living so close (Chapel Hill is only 25 minutes away!).  And with so many friends at N.C. State, I can’t help but come over when I hear about what’s going on during the weekends.

 

A Tar Heel myself, I am an avid basketball fan, despite our losing streak this season (hey, I don’t want to be fair-weather).  I even dressed up as a Harlem Globetrotter for Halloween this year.  So you can imagine my excitement when I found out that the Harlem Globetrotters are making their way to the RBC Center in Raleigh on Friday night!

 

Known for their amazing tricks and stunts on the basketball court, the Harlem Globetrotters have been wowing people for 84 seasons.  Players on the team are known around the world for their ball-handling skills, dribbling abilities and dunking talent.  Two of them, Big Easy Lofton and Flight Time Lang, have even been on the hit CBS reality show “The Amazing Race.”  Who wouldn’t want to check this out?

 

Friday is the start of my spring break, and this is the perfect chance for me to start having some fun.  The RBC Center is offering ticket prices ranging from $20 to $130, with great deals in between.  The show begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 5 and tickets can be purchased on the RBC website.

 

If I can’t see the Tar Heels play like champions then sign me up for the globe trotting tricks!

New Clayton Neighborhood Attracts Horse Lovers (and my BFF!)

by Amy Gretenstein

My best friend, Kate, from college (go

Canes!), called me last week to tell me that her and her boyfriend are looking to relocate to Raleigh this year. This is clearly her best decision ever (for purely selfish reasons). The two of them visited me here last summer and apparently it made a lasting impression. 

Currently, Kate lives in southern Illinois, where she is working at a sleepaway camp (props to Camp Ondessonk). There, she runs their outdoor adventure program and heads up their barn program. What’s crazy is that my skirt-and-sandals-loving BFF is in charge of 80-plus horses, a few barns, hundreds of feet of property fences and all sorts of John Deere machinery, and she has spent the past year raising funds for an indoor riding arena. When she told me about the move, we started talking about opportunities for her here in North Carolina. That’s when I remembered Portofino, a client I work with at MMI Public Relations. 

Portofino is an upscale equestrian community featuring an executive lifestyle. There are several types of lots and plans to choose from, along with several amenities. These amenities include a pool, high quality clubhouse, banquet room, and gaming house just to name a few. There is also a 22-stall barn which is professionally staffed, open to the public and features indoor and outdoor riding areas.

I was super excited to tell Kate about Portofino, because I think she could transition all the wonderful skills she’s learned at Ondessonk to something as nifty as Portofino. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that she’d only be 15 minutes away in Clayton!

Portofino barn manager, feel free to leave your contact info in the comments!

Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary - Triangle Tops Lists!

by Amy Gretenstein

Still unsure that Raleigh and the Triangle area are right for you? How about these nifty accolades?

• Raleigh was voted

“#3 Best Place to Launch a Business” by Portfolio.com/bizjournals, January 2010.

NCSU was ranked #10 and UNC #1 as “Best Value in Public Colleges and 
Universities” by Kiplinger.com, January 2010.

Raleigh-Durham was ranked “#5 Metro for Best Quality of Life” by Business 
Facilities, August 2009.

Raleigh was ranked “#1 Top City for Small Business” by Bizjournals, February 2009

North Carolina was voted “Favorite Destination for Retirees” by Kiplinger.com,   August 2009

Raleigh-Durham was ranked “#8 Next Hot Youth-Magnet Cities” by The Wall Street Journal, September 2009.

Raleigh was ranked “#1 City Where Americans Are Relocating” by Forbes.com, April 2009.

Non-Traditional Valentine's Day

by Amy Gretenstein

With the Valentine’s Day holiday this weekend, I am reminded how Valentine’s Day is supposed to be celebrated: With a small black velvet box from Kay’s Jewelers and a big romantic gesture with cheesy lines from a Meg Ryan movie, right?

Actually, I believe most people will be hitting up local restaurants for a romantic meal for two, maybe a movie (Valentine’s Day the movie opens this weekend) or maybe getting away to a romantic bed and breakfast.

For those of us looking to celebrate the holiday of love in a less “traditional” way, never fear. The Triangle has many options that are fun, affordable (comparably to diamonds any way) and fun for the singles, the coupled and the whole family.

Segway of Love

Starting this weekend, Triangle Segway is offering a guided tour on a Segway (!!) highlighting the romantic history and great love stories of downtown Raleigh’s past. The 1.5 hour long rides are $50 per person and reservations are required. Riders must be at least 14 years old and accompanied by an adult.

Speaking of…

Known as VDay, NCSU partnering with women from the Triangle community will be performing Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues. The production is a benefit which brazenly explores women’s sexual experiences while working to end sexual violence against women. All proceeds will benefit The Women and Girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to the nature of the material, this performance may not be suitable for children.

Ice Cold

If sports are more your thing the Carolina Hurricanes will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Saturday Feb. 13 with a game against the New Jersey Devils and Mystery T-Shirt Fundraiser night. The first 300 fans to purchase a t-shirt, whose proceeds go to the Kids ‘N Community Foundation, will receive a gift bag with their t-shirt which has been autographed by a Carolina Hurricanes player. The mystery is that you won’t know which player signed your shirt until you already own it. Each bag will also contain a certificate of authentication so you know your signature is real.

Since I’m low on funds and the weather is supposed to be decent on Sunday, I’m attempting to organize a touch football game at the local park. Nothing says “I love you!” like “give me back that football.” How will you be celebrating Valentine’s Day?

Super Kripsy Weekend!

by Amy Gretenstein

 

While there is more snow being predicted this weekend (bleh!) there are still fun happenings around the Triangle.

 

First up, the sixth annual Krispy Kreme Challenge will hit the roads Sat. Feb 6 with more than 6000 racers. The K2C, as it’s lovingly called, started as a dare by some NCSU students back in 2004. The challenge: run from the NCSU Bell Tower to the Krispy Kreme donut shop located at Peace St. and Person St., consume a dozen fresh donuts and then run back to the bell tower. Honestly, I believe the true challenge is not puking your guts up along this four mile trek, but hey, I guess that’s why they called it a dare.

 

By year two, the student coordinators made this college silliness into a good cause taking on the North Carolina Children’s Hospital as a charitable benefactor. Sports Illustrated named it number 85 on "102 More Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate." This year’s K2C is expected to raise more than $40,000.

If your stomach can handle any more junk food, the biggest day of snacks, aka Super Bowl Sunday is Sun. Feb 7.

 

Raleighwood Cinema Grill, an all inclusive food and beverage movie going experience, is throwing it’s “famous six hour unlimited all you can eat Super Bowl Party Buffet” along with a 35 foot screening of the game itself.

 

If you prefer a more bar-like atmosphere, Carolina Ale House, Downtown Sports Bar and Grill and Woody’s at City Market are all hosting their own variety of get-togethers.

 

While I won’t be running the K2C this year, my co-worker Jen here at MMI will. I’ll be out bright and early looking for her to rally to the finish line. And as the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts, I’ll be munching on some of my favorite grub (and brews).

 

What are your plans this weekend?

Title and Registration, Please!

by Amy Gretenstein

 

As a recent transplant to Raleigh myself, I know what a headache it can be to move to a new state. However, this is my sixth state in 26 years (Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York and North Carolina), so I am getting used to navigating the complexities of moving.

 

So far, North Carolina and the city of Raleigh have been very welcoming. I recently purchased a car (previously I was living in New York City and did not need one to get around) and found the registration process not too difficult. I did learn a few things along the way that I would like to share to make your life a little simpler:

 

• First, you will need to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to change your driver’s license to a North Carolina license. You will be taking a 20-question refresher test, so be prepared. (Do you know the percentage of deaths caused by drunken driving?) You will also take a quick eye exam, so make sure to wear your contacts or bring your glasses. Once you pass and pay the proper fees in cash, the DMV will issue you a 20-day temporary paper license. Important: They will mail you the card license within a few weeks. I received mine in about five days. 
• While you are waiting for your driver’s license, you can take your car to get it inspected. There are hundreds of locations, and the inspection usually only takes about 30 minutes and costs about $30.
• Once you receive your driver’s license in the mail, you can head to the Vehicle and License Plate Renewal Office (not the DMV) to register your car. There is an extensive list of documents and identification that is needed to register, which include two forms of government issued identification, a proof of residency and proof of insurance. Make sure to read the NCDOT’s Division of Motor Vehicles’ How Do I Title and Register My Car page very carefully so that you will have all the necessary documents.
• Important: Bring cash for your title and registration fees. There is an ATM on site at most locations, but who wants to pay those extra bank fees when you are already forking over for registration and title fees?
• Lastly, be prepared to stand in line. The Vehicle and License Plate Renewal Office was jam packed the day I went, and I ended up in line for a little more than an hour.

 

I hope this helps you a bit in your moving process. Once it was all said and done, I didn’t think it was that bad. Plus, I treated myself to an ice cream cone!

Welcome to the ACC – An Introduction to North Carolina ACC Basketball

by Amy Gretenstein

 

Just because you’re new to the area doesn’t mean you’re new to NCAA sports. But just incase you are wondering why the Triangle lacks a major professional sports team (minus the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team), I’ve got three words for you: Atlantic Coast Conference.

The ACC, as it is better known, is the regional division of sports for the NCAA and often cited as the nation’s best basketball conference for more than 56 years.  Within the Triangle (and just adjacent to it) are four of the ACC’s most athletically competitive schools: Duke (Durham), the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), N.C. State University (Raleigh) and Wake Forest (Winston-Salem).

While Winston-Salem is not really that close to the Triangle, I include it because it offers a very nice statewide rivalry with the other schools. It is hard to be a fan of one without really understanding the others.

ACC

The ACC started in 1953, and all four teams are original charter members which also included Clemson University, University of Maryland and University of South Carolina. Today, Georgia Tech, Florida State, University of Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College round out the full conference. (The University of South Carolina dropped out of the ACC more than 40 years ago.) Since the league’s inception, ACC schools have captured 114 national championships, including 60 in women’s competition and 54 in men’s. In addition, NCAA individual titles have gone to ACC student-athletes 154 times in men’s competition and 100 times in women’s action.

Duke – Durham – Blue Devils 

The Blue Devils, both men’s and women’s team, are extremely competitive on the national scene. You might have even heard of the men’s über famous leader Coach K. The men’s team has earned themselves three national championships, and the women’s team has pulled off four Final Four appearances and one championship appearance.

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill – Tarheels

For those who don’t know, a Tarheel is a resident of North Carolina. UNC, as they are better known, and Duke make up the “Eight-Mile Rivalry,” seeing as the two schools are barely that far apart from each other. Also etching into the competition is the fact that UNC’s men’s team has five national championships and the women have one of their own.

North Carolina State University – Raleigh – Wolfpack 

With two men’s national championship titles and several NCAA tournament appearances by the women, the Wolfpack may seem like underdogs, but they hold their own. The Pack provide plenty of season changing entertainment like their more recent win over Florida State.

Wake Forest – Winston-Salem – Demon Deacons

The Demon Deacons’ men have made appearances in the post season the last 17 out of 19 years. The women Demon Deacons are traditionally a powerhouse as well and most recently upset No. 25 Miami.

Now that you have a little background on the teams, which one will you root for come March Madness?

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations

by Amy Gretenstein

This weekend celebrates the 81^st anniversary of Martin Luther King Junior’s (MLK) birthday. While he his untimely death has marked many generations, his legacy continues to live on.

Throughout the Triangle this weekend and continuing into next week, there will be celebrations and memorials in MLK’s honor. Below are just a few examples, but I would love to hear how you are commemorating the revolutionary social activist.

2010 Triangle MLK Day of Service

Participants can observe MLK’s birthday through community service. In its fifth year hosted by the United Way, more than 50 projects and 1,700 volunteers participate.

8th Annual Durham Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade

The 8^th Annual Durham Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Paradekicks off Saturday, Jan. 16 at noon. With marching bands, floats, school and church groups, step and dance teams, horses, cars, motorcycles, unique vehicles, clowns and more with make Fayetteville Street a festive place to celebrate. This year’s theme is “Yesterday’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality,” and NCCU Chancellor Dr. Charlie Nelms will be the Grand Marshal of the parade.

30^th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial March

Hosted by the Raleigh/Wake Martin Luther King Celebration Committee, the 30^th annual marchwill take place Monday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. Assembly starts at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol Building in downtown Raleigh.

As a reminder, federal, state, county and city offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of the holiday, as will some businesses.