The Case of the Mysterious Snow Shovel

I love you, Triangle.  I really, really do.  That being said, you're not so great when it comes to a snowstorm.  Don't be offended, we can't be great at everything.  I mean, we're already on every "Best Place to Live" list there is.  I'm not great at math.  See?  I just admitted I am bad at something, too.  Now we're even, right?

I moved here six years ago, and before I came, I sold my snow shovel at a yard sale.  Yes, it has snowed a significant amount since I moved down, but at the times it snowed, I lived somewhere that someone would take care of the plowing, shoveling and digging out for me.  Like, an apartment, and then a townhouse.  We moved to our house over two years ago now, but it hasn't snowed.  It only just occurred to me yesterday that this time, after many times of crying wolf, the prognosticators could be correct:  it's gonna snow.  And, I don't have a shovel. 

I left work yesterday in search of one.  Hit up the Walmart on New Bern.  Nope, all out.  Drove by the grocery store, just in case.  Nah, no shovels there.  Surely, Home Depot would have what I was looking for.  Here's how that went down:

Me:  "Hey, uh, do you have any snow shovels?"

Young girl at HD  "Um, like, uh, we got garden shovels in the garden department?" 

I get that it doesn't snow here a lot.  But dude, you work in a store where you're supposed to know the difference.  I gave up for the night and went home to search every store, seemingly everyWHERE, to see who had what in stock.  At ten last night, I finally found a store with them--the Walmart, of all places, by my old apartment.  The one on Glenwood Avenue. 

I got up early, and went on up there.  Man!  Did the ol' Walmart come through.  Not only were there shovels right by the front, but there was something else I haven't seen in a super long time:  Prestone de-icer.  I almost never see it here.  When I lived up north, it was a staple in my car, no matter the time of year.  I mean, why take it out?  I can still hear the cans clattering around in the trunk as a I take a sharp turn. 

So Walmart ended up saving my butt in the end.  Although, it hasn't snowed yet.  Maybe actually being prepared for something this time will pay off.  Even if I did procrastinate for six years before buying a shovel. 


Alli

Porsche By Design Review

You may know that Porsche By Design is the exhibit featuring 22 of the rarest Porsches in the world, now at the NC Museum of Art and extended through February 2nd.

You may not have known that 6 of the 22 cars on display are on loan from the Ingram Collection, which is a stash of about 35 Porsche models located in Durham.  Turns out Bob Ingram, who retired in 2002 as President and CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, likes buying Porsches.

That first photo is the first car you see in the exhibit - a 1938 Berlin rom racer.  Dr. Porsche was responsible for the Volkswagen Beetle, hence the engine in the back of the Porsche...and imagine how futuristic this car looked in 1938.

This silver beauty was the 8th Albarth Carerra GTL ever produced, purchased by Swedish radio personality Carl-Gunnar Hammarlund.  Apparently Swedes pay their DJs quite well.

The one and only Steve McQueen owned the 1958 356 Speedster above.

The museum has been kind enough to put the exhibit's crowning jewel in a wing where you don't need a ticket (it's pretty savvy marketing, actually - a nice teaser for the rest of the cars) - Janis Joplin's 1965 356c Cabriolet.

Janis bought that car for $3,500.  "How much is it worth now?", asked my 8 year old son Teddy.  "It's priceless", I said.  "C'mon, dad.", he replied.  "Everything has its price".  

Maybe so, but I sure can't afford it.  I don't do radio in Sweden.

Foster

Radio 96.1

Chubby's Tacos Is No More

That's not entirely true, but it does point out the power of a headline.  More on that in a moment.

Chubby's Tacos is like Mexican food nirvana for this gringo.

The tortillas are made in house and traditionally double wrapped.

The meats are marinated to a juicy tenderness that's barely legal.  The salsa bar (again, freshly made in house) features heats and flavors for all taste buds with huge chunks of tomato.

Chubby's used to be open only in Durham.  Then word got out and they successfully expanded to Raleigh. Next stop Cary, and then who knows?

Houston, we have a problem.

Seems there are some trademark issues with that Chubby's name.  So much so, in fact, that Chubby's will soon be changing its name.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/01/06/3507978/dont-skimp-on-the-name-game.html

!!!!Eso Es Terrible!!!!




(sung to Billy Joel)

She can make a taco, whether sauteed or fried
She can burn off your mouth with some salsa you tried
But the name is no good, yes its taken you see
You can change all you want, but you'll always be Chubby's to me

Foster
Radio 96.1

**pics property of Carpe Durham and Chubby's Tacos**

Raleigh's First Night

I should have finished the title of this blog, "...is just like every other street fair you've been to in Raleigh." 

But this time, going to a street fair in Raleigh was different.  At least, it was for me.

I know Raleigh like the back of my hand; I have made it my mission to call this place home and know all the places to go, where to park during a festival (usually the deck across from the Lincoln--I live off New Bern Avenue and so it's easy to get out of the city over that way;) I try to learn of or at least get to visit the city's hidden gem restaurants.  I am particularly fond of the mom-and-pop places, the ones that haven't changed in years.  That's why I loved the old Clyde Cooper's so much.  But usually, I go see these things with my fiance--I show him the city and why I love the cool places I do. This time, though, it was different, because we got to show his kids how great a city Raleigh really can be.

I've learned over the years here that some people don't like to leave their little areas.  Apexers, for example, often like to hang in Apex.  Garner and Fuquay, same thing. Those cities all have wonderful attributes, so I can see why they'd want just hang out there.  Obviously, this is just my opinion based on folks I've met over the years.   But big events bring them to the city, like July 4th.  Or, First Night. Then, they get to experience the awesomeness of Raleigh.  Only, they don't.  Many hang out on Fayetteville Street and don't think to explore.  Again, this is based on my observations and from years of working at these festivals and talking to people.

On New Year's Eve, we parked at Seaboard Station and took the R Line.  It was the best use of the free downtown circulator bus, ever. Because, afterward, while people sat in traffic in parking garages and on Wilmington street, we rode the bus and were back to our car pretty quickly.  Don't worry, Seaboard Station peeps, we parked there but completely patronized one of your restaurants afterward, so it all works out. Our extensive time trying to figure out Raleigh over the years worked in our favor.

What I love, though, is that yes, we went to a street fair.  But I think the most awesome part of the night was not dropping the acorn from a crane or seeing fireworks (they have those July 4th downtown, too) it was taking my fiance's kids to Mecca, a place that he and I love and frequent.

 You may have been by it a zillion times.  You may not have been in.  You SHOULD go in.  Mecca looks exactly as it did in the 30s when it opened as a luncheonette.  They have down-home food that is great and pretty cheap, plus they serve beer.  The people that work there are fun and nice and generally awesome.  Why would you eat street meat when you can go inside and get warm at Mecca?  We had just wanted to pop in and get the kids a snack, a drink, and a beer each for ourselves.  Mecca was the perfect place and for so many reasons other than snacks.

The kids were amazed at the place; my fiance's son was obsessed with "what's upstairs?!?"  (Answer: more seating and the bathroom.) I was really glad we took them in there, because they got to experience one of the great places we go regularly that isn't a bar, and they could see how awesome our little city could be.  We split fries, had something to drink, then went outside in time to see the acorn drop.

The best part of the night, hands down, was not New Year's Eve.  It was seeing someone else enjoy Raleigh the way we enjoy Raleigh.  Not for street fairs, or popcorn, or deep fried whatever plus fireworks and cover bands.  It was heading into mom-and-pop places, having conversations, and teaching them there's more to Raleigh than a street fair, which is what they usually come to Fayetteville Street for.  They loved it, and I'm so glad.  Best last night of 2013/First Night 2014 ever.   


Alli


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