RIP Hibernian Pub

The first place I ever lifted a pint of beer in Raleigh was at the Hibernian Pub on Glenwood South.

It was 9 1/2 years ago on a warm springtime Sunday in April and Glenwood South looked very different then.  There was no Tobacco Road or Amra's.  No Bruegger's Bagels, no pizza joints selling slices late into the night, and certainly no hotel or no giant building of condos overlooking the street.  There was The Hibernian and a few other places.  By the time I raised a glass of Smithwick's there, the Hibernian had already been open three years, an Irish pub well ahead of its time as it relates to the Raleigh renaissance.  And for that, you can thank this guy:

That's Niall Hanley, the owner of the Hibernian.  His devotion and commitment towards Glenwood South as an entertainment district has included some wild successes (Hibernian), discouraging failures (The Diner), and sweeping risks (Solas).  But it's impossible not to love a guy who isn't afraid to take chances on making his town better and more fun.  The timing of the Hibernian's demise by fire yesterday is bittersweet, as Niall is preparing to open a third Hibernian location in North Raleigh in the former Duffy's location within the next few months.

This radio station has spent many glorious days and nights at The Hibernian on Glenwood South, most notably our annual St. Baldrick's event to raise money to fight kid's cancer. Niall was a pioneer in the hosting of this event.

Niall's commitment to the Triangle and to charity should be cheered and anyone that's ever met him shouldn't doubt that The Hibernian will be rebuilt.

Just tell us when, and we'll bring the hardhats and the Guinness.

Foster
Radio 96.1

This Is 40 Review

I went into the screening of Judd Apatow's new movie, This Is 40 with high hopes--after all, I'd just read a great review of it from Entertainment Weekly.

I left disappointed.

This is 40 follows two of the characters from Knocked Up, Pete and Debbie (Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann), as they age into middle age and deal with their bratty daughters. Pete's got a fledgling record label with Hipster employees, Debbie owns a shop where Megan Fox wears very little, sells clothes and makes bank for the store.  They seem the perfect suburban California couple and the movie opens on the day of Debbie's 40th birthday.  What follows is stuff that's sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable, and mostly confusing.

This is 40 has moments of levity, making jokes out of stuff that real-life couples endure, like when Pete farts in bed and gags Debbie, or using mama-bear type humor to smack down a kid who wasn't nice to their older daughter.  Who hasn't been there?

Leslie Mann is good as Debbie--providing that she meant to play Debbie as a shrew who treats her husband like he's an idiot, and who loves to yell and be generally unlikeable. If that's what turning 40 means, I'll stay 39, thanks.

Paul Rudd is the usual version of himself.  Floppy-haired and loveable.  He also plays Pete as a guy who is smart, but can't stand up for himself and who thinks Graham Parker is the next best thing.  In fact, this is one of the sly winks of the movie.  Pete loves Graham Parker and is excited to have him on his little label that is going bankrupt.  But, even Graham Parker knows no one wants to buy his albums.  (I know you need to Google him.  It's ok, go ahead.)

Spoiler alert: Melissa McCarthy shows up in a cameo role as a mom defending her son and steals the show.

Double spoiler alert: only some of the stuff you see in the trailer on TV is actually in the movie. 

The movie itself, though, meanders and never really has a cohesive plot--it plays like a bunch of little vignettes that sometimes make you laugh.  You never figure out exactly WHAT the story is about until nearly 2 hours in--and apparently it's about hating your parents and changing yourself when you shouldn't. I kept looking at my fiance thinking that the movie should be over, and you can tell where they should be going with the plot...but it takes forever and EVER to get there.  Just resolve the movie, already!  My butt is asleep!

Cut it in half, get a plot that is cohesive, and it would be great. But left as it is, just wait for it to come out on DVD.








Alli

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Dave Matthews Band Review

Remember when "special guests" only showed up at concerts in big cities like New York and L.A.?

Last night at PNC Arena when Dave Matthews Band rolled into town for the first time in three years, we were treated to a special guest - jazz legend Branford Marsalis.

Marsalis played hearty solos on "What Would You Say" and "#41" to the obvious glee and delight of the rest of the band, especially the horn section.  What you may not know is that Branford Marsalis, a Louisiana native, has chosen to call Durham home so it wasn't a long drive for him to PNC Arena.  He also teaches Jazz Studies at North Carolina Central University.  How'd you like to take that class?

The show was stellar, and the band was in terrific form for a set that lasted over three hours.  The Triangle clearly was ready for a DMB concert - after gracing the Walnut Creek stage every year until 2009, the band skipped us in 2010, took a year off from touring, and skipped us again this summer - so for a band that is constantly on the road, it seemed like an eternity.  But it was undoubtedly well worth the wait.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Setlist:

1. Eh Hee 
2. Broken Things 
3. Don't Drink the Water 
4. Proudest Monkey 
   (>>>)
5. Satellite 
6. Drive In, Drive Out 
7. Grey Street 
8. The Riff 
9. You & Me 
10. Belly Belly Nice 
11. Mercy 
12. If Only 
13. Seven 
14. What Would You Say 
    (with Branford Marsalis)
15. #41 
    (with Branford Marsalis)
16. Why I Am 
17. Drunken Soldier 
18. Jimi Thing 
19. Encore:
19. Christmas Song 
    (Dave, Carter, Tim)
20. Shake Me Like a Monkey 
    (>>>)
21. Ants Marching 

Foster's Birthday Party

I turned 40 last Friday.

And as Dan Patrick used to say in the glory days of ESPN Sportscenter, "You can't stop it, you can only hope to contain it."

Well...that, or attack it with a battering ram.

I rang in 40 on Saturday night at Deep South: The Bar with some great friends and it was an awesome time.

My thanks to Dave Rose and the staff at Deep South: The Bar for providing such a cool venue; DJ Collin Y for providing the karaoke; and a dynamite party cover band called Catching Fire that let me sit in on vocals for three songs - "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, "Kiss" by Prince, and "867-5309 (Jenny Jenny)" by Tommy Tutone.

Since you can't stop 40, I can't think of a better way to welcome it.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Foster Learns To Fly

On Monday, November 26th at 1pm, I learned how to fly.

The experience was nothing like I expected - what I planned for was the instructor showing me a few things, taking off, letting me take the wheel when we reached cruising altitude for a bit, and then I would be able to say "I flew a plane"....but that's not what happened.

First, my instructor Mike, who just happens to fly 757s and 767s for Delta, showed me the instrument panel and explained how to read altitude, speed, and the like.  He showed me how to start the propeller and feed gas to the engine.  He explained how, on the ground, you actually steer the plane with your feet - not the wheel.  Before I knew it, I was taxiing the plane to the runway (and keeping the plane pretty darn close to the yellow line, I might add).

On the runway, Captain Mike showed me how to get the speed to 55 knots - how could I not imagine Marty McFly getting the Delorean to 88 miles per hour - and then I was pulling back (yes, I was pulling back) on the wheel and taking off!

During the flight, which took us over downtown Raleigh, Jordan Lake, Carter-Finley Stadium and Apex, I climbed, turned, and descended, all while Air Traffic Control was giving instructions in my headset.  In fact, I flew the plane the entire time until Mike landed (which was fine with me!!) and I once again taxied to the terminal.

At the end Mike filled out my new pilot log with 1.1 hours of training - just 39 more to my pilot license!

This was one of the Top 5 experiences of my life - and I strongly recommend Blue Line Aviation.  For only $149 you can purchase their discovery package to get a similar experience to mine, and it makes an incredible holiday gift.  Find them at www.learntoflyraleigh.com and watch the video to see more of my flight!

Foster
Radio 96.1