Oooh, Scary! Haunted Raleigh Is So Much Fun

'Tis the season...to be scared!

One of the great things about living in an older city is that there's so much rich history.  And, if you're a sucker for fun ghost tours (and beer!) like I am, then the Raleigh Pub Crawl and Haunted Adventure Tour is for you.  It certainly was for me!

I've made no secret of the fact that I love Raleigh, but I've lived here for what feels like forever now and don't really know anything about any of the buildings in the city, or any of the haunted legends they say exist here.  So, this past Saturday night, my fiance and I headed out to downtown.  I was excited!  I was also pretty excited that we got to stop at bars along the way.  Hey, cut me a break--it was Saturday night and it was a little chilly!  You've gotta warm up at some point, right?


The Crawl started at The Mecca, this awesome little restaurant on Martin street that's been owned by one family since the Great Depression.  After a drink or two there, we set off with our tour guide, Michael.

I made Michael pose with me.  He looked imposing for posterity, I guess.  He's actually very nice.

The tour stops in front of the Wake County Courthouse, so that you can hear about the building that used to be across the street.  You know:  the one where ABC11 is now.  It used to be a hotel.  A haunted hotel.  Oooh, scary, right?  Michael tells you the stories there, and then you trek to your first bar, Isaac Hunter's Tavern on Fayetteville Street.  You stop, hang out, have some drinks, have a good time.  Then, it's off to the Capitol building to hear more scary stuff!  They also took a group photo.  Some people dressed up.  You know, because it was the last weekend before Halloween:

I'm sure Tobacco Road Tours doesn't mind me stealing this from their Facebook Page.

Michael was great, recounting the stories of ghosts appearing in windows, telling you stuff you had no idea that was even a part of our city.  For example, did you know that the Capitol building was the last building built before the mechanization era?  Meaning, that thing was put together by hand.  Piece by piece.  What a pain the neck that must have been, but I digress. 

From there, you head to a house on New Bern Place.  Again, scary stories of peg-leg ghosts coming up the servant's steps.  I also learned that that house is one of the oldest in Raleigh.  See?  I've lived here forever now and I had no idea.  I felt like I was getting an education as well as having a night out.  Plus, the tour apparently stops at my regular bar:  Landmark.

Yep, that's the back of my head as I patiently wait for Michael to tell me about faces appearing in lights at the bar I regularly patronize.  Now, I really need a beer, because that is scary, man!

The Haunted Pub Crawl isn't just a Halloween thing:  Tobacco Road Tours runs them year round.  It's only $20 and you get to learn all about your city--Durham has one, too.  Did you know Moore Square in Raleigh used to be the site for public executions?  Fun stuff--and I learned that fact on a pub crawl!

I highly recommend taking one of these silly, fun tours.  Whether you hit the pub crawl, or just the regular Haunted Adventure, it's fun getting out and getting to know your city.  Check Tobacco Road Tours out here; they don't just do haunted stuff, but other cool tours including a Tobacco Empire tour in Durham.  For the money, it's a great night out: educational, but really fun.  Plus, if you're us, you get to end up at your regular bar, too.

Alli


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An Awesome Find in Wilson, NC

"How did you find this place?", was the question I got over and over from the parents of Cub Scout Pack 390 in Raleigh.

First, I knew boys love trains, so I looked for a destination not that far away that we could visit from Raleigh. Once I spotted Wilson an hour away, I googled "Things to do with kids in Wilson, NC" and that is how I found Imagination Station.

Located in an old courthouse in downtown Wilson, Imagination Station is a hands-on science museum and the kids absolutely loved it.  The day started with a ride on Amtrak's Carolinian - and for most of the kids (and grown-ups) it was their first big train ride.

The knock on Imagination Station in online reviews is that there isn't enough to do - and it is true that the museum is quite small.  There is a nifty reptile area on the second floor that includes an awesome giant python, and the first floor is filled with hands-on activities including a track where you can virtually race other animals (the kids loved that one), play an invisible piano, and spin on a gyro.

But my strongest recommendation for this museum is to book one of their group presentations.  For just $7 a person (which includes admission and the presentation), you can choose from a myriad of options.  I asked Laura, the group coordinator, her favorite and went with that - "Animal Encounter".

The kids were locked in and engaged as our entertaining presenter brought out animal after animal, including a bearded dragon, hissing cockroach, and a tortoise that unities shoelaces.

You can tell Imagination Station is in need of some funding - many parts of the building are in rough shape and it needs some love.  Bring your group to Imagination Station for a couple hours of fun and you won't regret it.

Foster
Radio 96.1

Oakwood Cemetery - A Great Night Out!

Touring a cemetery at night may not be everyone's idea of a great time - but it is for my family.

Taking advantage of the last Friday night opening of the season, we booked our spots for the "Facts and Fables Flashlight Tour" at historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.  This tour focused on the magnificent and unique monuments that dot the grounds, which is like watching a thrilling movie in real life.

There are great mysteries, like the story of the gentleman who bought a massive monument and gravesite for him and his female companion (complete with names on the stone), yet for some reason was never buried next to her.  We learned about symbolism, including what a half tree monument represents (a life cut short). There was the heartbreaking story of Elizabeth Edwards, who is buried next to her son Wade.  After 16 year old Wade died in a tragic Jeep accident, Elizabeth would come to his graveside and read his required high school assignments to him.

On the way from story to story, we happened upon other notables, like the grave of Jim Valvano, which of course has an NC State logo and a V Foundation hat.

Two days after our tour, the News and Observer did a "Tar Heel of the Week" story on Robin Simonton, Oakwood's director who led our tour.  She has done an extraordinary job of sharing the stories of beautiful Oakwood Cemetery to ensure they are remembered long after they are gone.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/19/3296142/she-strives-to-bring-oakwood-cemetery.html

When the tours start up again next spring, I highly recommend you look into reserving your spot.

Foster
Radio 96.1

**Simonton Photo is the property of the News and Observer**

"Captain Phillips" Review

When it was time for the Radio 96.1 screening of "Captain Phillips" at Regal North Hills to begin, something was amiss.  We heard the film, but all we could see in front of us was a black screen. Maybe this was how the movie begins?  After a few minutes, everyone realized there was a technical glitch and the film was restarted, this time with pictures.  In those first minutes though, as I paid close attention to the dialogue, I had a sinking feeling.  "Captain Phillips" opens with a conversation between Captain Rich Phillips (Tom Hanks) with a weak attempt at a New England accent and his wife (Catherine Keener) on their way to the Burlington, VT airport, having a very banal conversation about how the world has changed.  I was actually saying to myself, "This movie isn't going to be very good."

How wrong I was.

The first five minutes of "Captain Phillips", in fact, are the only five minutes that didn't have me completely engaged in the action.  Though it is based on the true story of the Somali Pirate hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, I was most pleased that I didn't research the story further before going to see the movie.  All I remembered from the events of April 8-12, 2009 was how it ended (and if you don't know how it ends, I won't ruin it for you here).

Even knowing how the story ends didn't prepare me for what lead up to the final event.  "Captain Phillips" takes you through the process of Somalian tribal members being selected for hijackings; shows you how stupidly easy it really is to hijack a cargo ship; lets you in on a remarkable series of impromptu decisions made by the Captain and his crew throughout the hijacking that you'll wonder if you could have possibly made yourself; and, like "Zero Dark Thirty", reminds you why the Navy Seals are the baddest dudes on Planet Earth.

Hanks plays the lead role in excellent fashion and "Captain Phillips" is high drama at its best.  It will undoubtedly be nominated for multiple Oscars and Hanks (based on the final 20 minutes alone) is deserving of consideration for a Best Actor nod.

Don't be surprised when you find yourself googling to find out all about the real Captain Richard Phillips when you get home.

"Captain Phillips" is a must-see.

Foster
Radio 96.1

The Dad Blog #3

"THE DAD BLOG" IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY "DADS", TUESDAY NIGHTS AT 8 ON FOX50

My 7-year son told me last night that, before I die, he's going to build a flying car and I'm going to help him do it.

I took my son to the golf range for the first time and he expressed his desire to get his own set of clubs. "Maybe you should ask Santa", I said.  The kid ran into the kitchen, found a pencil and paper, and wrote that letter to Santa Claus.  Asked for a skateboard while he was at it.  Then he put a stamp on it, put it in the mailbox, and popped the flag up.

When it comes to taking a shower, cleaning his room, feeding the dogs, or doing homework....it's like trying to get an Eskimo to walk around in 90 degree heat.  But for the chance at free golf clubs?  The boy moves pretty fast.

Foster
Radio 96.1