Tell North Carolinians you’re heading to the Research Triangle, and they’ll probably ask “Which school are you visiting?” Yet the close-knit cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are marked by more than college bars and hoops fans. Visitors not bound for Duke, the University of North Carolina or North Carolina State come to see buzz-worthy bands, dine on food from farm-worshiping chefs and explore outdoor art. From its biscuits to its boutiques, the Triangle occupies a happy place between slow-paced Southern charm and urban cool.
Friday
3 p.m.
1) ART INSIDE OUT
Anyone who has visited the Met or the Getty might scoff at the relatively succinct collection at the North Carolina Museum of Art (2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh; 919-839-6262; www.ncartmuseum.org). But the lack of tour bus crowds means unfettered access to the Old Masters and contemporary heavyweights like Anselm Kiefer. The real treat is the adjacent Museum Park, more than 164 acres of open fields and woodlands punctuated by environmental art like Cloud Chamber, a stone hut that acts as a camera obscura, with a small hole in the roof projecting inverted, otherworldly images of slowly swaying trees on the floor and walls.
5 p.m.
2) TOWER OF BAUBLE
There’s no pigeonholing the eclectic wares in this four-story indie minimall collectively known as Father & Son Antiques (107 West Hargett Street, Raleigh; 919-832-3030), and including Southern Swank and 2nd Floor Vintage. The organizing principle, if there is one, might be high design meets kitschy Americana, as the intermingling of vintage disco dresses ($18), Mexican wrestling masks ($20) and Eames aluminum group chairs ($250 to $500) attests.
7 p.m.
3) UPSCALE DINER
Memorable meals are easy to come by in the Triangle owing to its high concentration of accomplished, produce-fondling chefs like Ashley Christensen. She left one of the area’s top kitchens to open Poole’s Downtown Diner (426 South McDowell Street, Raleigh; 919-832-4477; www.poolesdowntowndiner.com) in a space that began as a 1940s pie shop. Diners sitting in the bright-red booths dig into Christensen’s low-pretense, high-flavor dishes, like a starter of lovably sloppy fried green tomatoes crowned with local pork smoked over cherry wood ($11), and the Royale ($13), an almost spherical hunk of ground-in-house chuck roll seared in duck fat, topped with cheese and perched on a slice of grilled brioche.
10 p.m.
4) CHEERS TO THE CHIEF
For most bars, a popular politician’s visit would be a game-changing boon. But the Raleigh Times Bar (14 East Hargett Street, Raleigh; 919-833-0999; www.raleightimesbar.com) was packed well before Barack Obama showed up the day of the state’s Democratic primary. The owner, Greg Hatem, painstakingly restored the century-old building that once housed its namesake newspaper and decorated the walls with old newspaper clippings, paperboy bags and other artifacts from the defunct daily. Mr. Obama bought a $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon (and left an $18 tip), but anyone not campaigning might choose one of the more than 100 other beers ($1 to $68), including esoteric Belgians and local brews you won’t find elsewhere.
Saturday
10:30 a.m.
5) ECO JUNK
The Scrap Exchange (548 Foster Street, Durham; 919-688-6960; www.scrapexchange.org) is a “nonprofit creative reuse center” specializing in industrial discards or, for those not versed in eco-jargon, a bazaar of modestly priced former junk donated by Carolinians and scavenged from local businesses that include a hosiery mill, a zipper factory and a parachute plant. Even if you’re not one of the giddy artists, teachers or theater producers who comb for utilitarian treasures, plan to spend at least an hour rummaging in a cool-struck trance through test tubes (20 cents to $1), empty fire extinguishers ($3 to $5) and swaths of double-knit polyester ($1 a yard).
Noon
6) TACO TIME
Anyone not on a hunt for serious Mexican food might drive past Taqueria La Vaquita (2700 Chapel Hill Road, Durham; 919-402-0209; www.lavaquitanc.com), an unassuming freestanding structure with a plastic cow on its roof, just five minutes from Duke’s campus. But if you did, you’d miss tacos ($2.19) made with house-made corn tortillas, uncommonly delicate discs topped with exceptional barbacoa de res (slow-cooked beef) or carnitas (braised-then-fried pork) that you eat at one of the picnic tables out front.
2 p.m.
7) RIVER WALK
One of the Triangle’s charms is that its urban trappings are so easy to escape. A 10-mile drive from downtown Durham brings you to Eno River State Park (6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham; 919-383-1686; www.ncparks.gov). Its trails pass through swaying pines and follow the river past patches of delicate purple-and-yellow wildflowers and turtles sunning themselves on low branches in the water.
5 p.m.
8) GOING WHOLE HOG
Small towns and back roads, not cities, have a monopoly on great barbecue. What makes the Pit (328 West Davie Street, Raleigh; 919-890-4500; www.thepit-raleigh.com) a striking exception is Ed Mitchell, the legendary master of the eastern North Carolina art form of whole hog cooking. Now instead of trekking 100 miles to porcine meccas like Ayden and Lexington, you can dig into pilgrimage-worthy chopped or pulled pork — made from pigs purchased from family farms and cooked for 10 to 14 hours over coals and hickory or oak — just a short stroll from the Capitol Building. A chopped barbecued pork plate with two sides and greaseless hush puppies costs $12.
7 p.m.
9) ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM
The Triangle is college basketball country, home to two of the winningest teams and some of the most rabid fans in N.C.A.A. history. But soon after the madness of March, the more tranquil local baseball fans stream into the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (409 Blackwell Street, Durham; 919-687-6500; www.dbulls.com). The Bulls, founded in 1902 as the Tobacconists, recently became the Tampa Bay Rays’ AAA affiliate. The major league-quality play comes at minor league prices ($7 to $9 a ticket).
10 p.m.
10) BIG BANDS
Nirvana played at the Cat’s Cradle (300 East Main Street, Carrboro; 919-967-9053; www.catscradle.com) for the first time in pre-“Nevermind” 1990 to about 100 people. A year later Pearl Jam played to three times as many, filling just half the standing-room-only space. This summer the Cradle, just a mile from downtown Chapel Hill, hosts acts like Akron/Family and Camera Obscura that probably won’t be playing for such small crowds for long. Ticket prices vary but $15 is about average.
Sunday
10 a.m.
11) DRIVE-THRU BISCUITS
There are several places in Chapel Hill that serve a distinguished Southern breakfast. Diners linger over gravy-smothered pork chops and eggs at Mama Dip’s (408 West Rosemary Street; 919-942-5837; www.mamadips.com) and peerless shrimp and grits at Crook’s Corner (610 West Franklin Street; 919-929-7643; www.crookscorner.com). But for a morning meal on the go that’s equally unforgettable, roll up to the drive-through-only Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen (1305 East Franklin Street; 919-933-1324), where the iced tea is tooth-achingly sweet and the main course is fluffy, buttery and filled with salty country ham ($2.02) or crisp fried chicken ($3.40).
THE BASICS
Several airlines offer flights between the New York area airports and Raleigh-Durham International Airport for as low as $150, according to a recent online search. Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill are 20 to 40 minutes apart from one another and public transportation is infrequent, so if you’re planning to visit at least two points on the Triangle, you should rent a car.
The 150-room Umstead Hotel and Spa (100 Woodland Pond, Cary; 866-877-4141; www.theumstead.com), about 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh, has a pool, an elegant adjoining restaurant called Herons and an on-premises spa that offers massages and facial treatments. Doubles are $249 to $399 (there’s often a two-night minimum).
Whether you stay in one of the seven impeccable rooms, garden cottage (complete with a porch swing) or 1700s-style log cabin at Arrowhead Inn (106 Mason Road; 919-477-8430; www.arrowheadinn.com), 10 miles from downtown Durham, you’ll enjoy imaginative breakfasts made by a co-owner, Phil Teber, and have access to six acres of manicured lawns, gardens and magnolia trees. Weekend rates start at $150 for a room with a fireplace and double bed and reach $325 for the Carolina Log Cabin.
The Carolina Inn (211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill; 800-962-8519; www.carolinainn.com) is not your typical on-campus hotel. In-room massages, dry cleaning service and a lobby whose Southern grandeur extends to the hotel’s 184 rooms make it much more than just convenient lodging for parents visiting the University of North Carolina. Rates start at $168.
Source: New York Times
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Raleigh Ranks #1 for Relocation!
The below is a recent Forbes magazine article and it shares that Raleigh ranks #1 for cities where people are relocating!
Ten Cities Where Americans Are Relocating
Unemployment is on the rise, credit is tight, and consumers aren't spending--which means they aren't picking up and moving much either. Very few places in America saw significant population growth in 2008.
But the buzzing metropolitan area of Denver bucked that trend. Its population increased by 2.17% in 2008. In 2007, it increased by 2.09%. In 2008, Denver was the 10th-fastest growing metro area in the U.S.
What's Denver got that other places don't?
In Depth: 10 Cities Where Americans Are Relocating
For one, according to an October 2008 survey conducted by Pew Research Center, Denver is the most popular city in America. People like it for its skiing, culture and vibrant nightlife, as well as its business opportunities. As of January 2009, the metro area's unemployment rate was 6.5%. That's high, but still two percentage points below the national average of 8.5% for the same month.
Despite the overall economic slowdown, some parts of the country keep on moving ahead, attracting more and more newcomers--even if it's at a slower pace than in more sound economic times. These places still offer a semblance of stability, as well as great weather, cultural life and, in many cases, affordability.
Behind the Numbers
To determine the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, we used 2008 population estimates for metropolitan statistical areas with a population over 1 million, released March 19, 2009, by the U.S. Census Bureau. MSAs are geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics.
We then compared the 2008 population estimates to the previous year's data to see which areas had grown the most, percentage-wise.
Nine places fared even better than Denver, though they share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing. The top three areas according to the data are Raleigh, N.C., ranking first, which jumped 4.29% to nearly 1.9 million; Austin, Texas, which came in second, with a 3.77% increase to almost 1.7 million; and Charlotte, N.C., which moved up 3.36% to 1.7 million.
All these areas' increases were smaller in 2008 than they were in 2007, (Raleigh increased by 4.7% in 2007, Austin by 4.29% and Charlotte by 4.2%), but a slight slowdown is not necessarily a bad thing, according to William Frey, Ph.D., a demographer at the Brookings Institute, an independent research and policy group based in Washington, D.C. "Part of the story here is the rapid rise in growth in the middle of decade," says Frey. "That growth was unnatural."
The in-migration that happened in the middle of this decade certainly had a lot to do with the housing boom. When that went bust, so did those crazy population balloons. But these particular places are still growing because instead of building an economy that relies heavily on one industry (in Las Vegas, it's hospitality; in New York, it's finance), most of the metro areas on our list serve as headquarters for a diverse range of companies.
For example, Austin's biggest employers include University of Texas, Advanced Micro Devices and Dell . That wide range might have something to do with the area's relatively low January 2009 unemployment rate of 6.4%.
This is the opposite of what happened in true housing boom-and-bust towns like Las Vegas. In 2004, Vegas--a foreclosure mecca--saw a population increase of 4.6%, followed by 3.66% in 2005, 3.98% in 2006 and 3.22% in 2007. In 2008, that number fell to 2%.
The Power of Business
When it comes down to it, a buzzing business community is a metro area's most important characteristic, says Sean C. Safford, a professor at the University of Chicago and author of Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt. He studies the social economics of U.S. cities and metro areas.
"Perception is driven by the vibrancy of the companies in an area," he says.
However, that doesn't mean that these metros won't suffer from a slowdown in population when 2009's numbers are released next year. Charlotte, for example, reported a 10.5% unemployment rate for January 2009, likely related to the fact that Bank of America is headquartered there. That high unemployment rate almost guarantees stunted growth in 2009.
"We don't quite yet know what the impact [of the ongoing recession] will be for 2009 populations," says Frey. "But we do know it's not going to get any better."
Indeed, where Americans are relocating today has little to do with where they'll be moving tomorrow.
(Source: Forbes)
Ten Cities Where Americans Are Relocating
Unemployment is on the rise, credit is tight, and consumers aren't spending--which means they aren't picking up and moving much either. Very few places in America saw significant population growth in 2008.
But the buzzing metropolitan area of Denver bucked that trend. Its population increased by 2.17% in 2008. In 2007, it increased by 2.09%. In 2008, Denver was the 10th-fastest growing metro area in the U.S.
What's Denver got that other places don't?
In Depth: 10 Cities Where Americans Are Relocating
For one, according to an October 2008 survey conducted by Pew Research Center, Denver is the most popular city in America. People like it for its skiing, culture and vibrant nightlife, as well as its business opportunities. As of January 2009, the metro area's unemployment rate was 6.5%. That's high, but still two percentage points below the national average of 8.5% for the same month.
Despite the overall economic slowdown, some parts of the country keep on moving ahead, attracting more and more newcomers--even if it's at a slower pace than in more sound economic times. These places still offer a semblance of stability, as well as great weather, cultural life and, in many cases, affordability.
Behind the Numbers
To determine the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, we used 2008 population estimates for metropolitan statistical areas with a population over 1 million, released March 19, 2009, by the U.S. Census Bureau. MSAs are geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics.
We then compared the 2008 population estimates to the previous year's data to see which areas had grown the most, percentage-wise.
Nine places fared even better than Denver, though they share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing. The top three areas according to the data are Raleigh, N.C., ranking first, which jumped 4.29% to nearly 1.9 million; Austin, Texas, which came in second, with a 3.77% increase to almost 1.7 million; and Charlotte, N.C., which moved up 3.36% to 1.7 million.
All these areas' increases were smaller in 2008 than they were in 2007, (Raleigh increased by 4.7% in 2007, Austin by 4.29% and Charlotte by 4.2%), but a slight slowdown is not necessarily a bad thing, according to William Frey, Ph.D., a demographer at the Brookings Institute, an independent research and policy group based in Washington, D.C. "Part of the story here is the rapid rise in growth in the middle of decade," says Frey. "That growth was unnatural."
The in-migration that happened in the middle of this decade certainly had a lot to do with the housing boom. When that went bust, so did those crazy population balloons. But these particular places are still growing because instead of building an economy that relies heavily on one industry (in Las Vegas, it's hospitality; in New York, it's finance), most of the metro areas on our list serve as headquarters for a diverse range of companies.
For example, Austin's biggest employers include University of Texas, Advanced Micro Devices and Dell . That wide range might have something to do with the area's relatively low January 2009 unemployment rate of 6.4%.
This is the opposite of what happened in true housing boom-and-bust towns like Las Vegas. In 2004, Vegas--a foreclosure mecca--saw a population increase of 4.6%, followed by 3.66% in 2005, 3.98% in 2006 and 3.22% in 2007. In 2008, that number fell to 2%.
The Power of Business
When it comes down to it, a buzzing business community is a metro area's most important characteristic, says Sean C. Safford, a professor at the University of Chicago and author of Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt. He studies the social economics of U.S. cities and metro areas.
"Perception is driven by the vibrancy of the companies in an area," he says.
However, that doesn't mean that these metros won't suffer from a slowdown in population when 2009's numbers are released next year. Charlotte, for example, reported a 10.5% unemployment rate for January 2009, likely related to the fact that Bank of America is headquartered there. That high unemployment rate almost guarantees stunted growth in 2009.
"We don't quite yet know what the impact [of the ongoing recession] will be for 2009 populations," says Frey. "But we do know it's not going to get any better."
Indeed, where Americans are relocating today has little to do with where they'll be moving tomorrow.
(Source: Forbes)
For your real estate needs, put your trust in our experience.
Chuck & Cindy
Chuck Hinton (919) 422-4841 - (919) 469-6504
Cindy Leonard (919) 868-4661 - (919) 469-6505
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
It's Time To Buy!
Because of the job growth in our local market, a growing and well-educated population and lots of first-time
homebuyers, Today Show contributor Barbara Corcoran ranks Raleigh among the top five real estate markets on the rebound.
That's great news for the Triangle!
homebuyers, Today Show contributor Barbara Corcoran ranks Raleigh among the top five real estate markets on the rebound.
That's great news for the Triangle!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Cool tips for your home from Chuck & Cindy!
With summer ahead, it is important to be as efficient as possible when it comes to maintaining home appliances.
COOL TIPS FOR THE FRIDGE!
You want to keep your refrigerator running smoothly, so that during the heat of the summer you have plenty of cool drinks ready to enjoy!
- Is your refrigerator door shutting tightly? To test it, close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill at various places along the door, and pull lightly. If you can pull the bill out, you may need to adjust your door or replace the gasket. Doing so will save energy, reduce your utility bill, and lengthen the life of the compressor.
- To keep your refrigerator operating efficiently and cooling properly, it is very important to clean the condenser coils at least twice a year. The purpose of these coils, which are generally located at the bottom of the refrigerator (behind the kick plate), is to disperse heat from inside the refrigerator out into the room with the aid of a fan.
- To clean the coils, first unplug the refrigerator or turn off it's circuit breaker. Next, remove the cover panel beneath the door to reveal the coils. With a long, narrow nozzle on your vacuum, clean out all of the dust and debris. You can also buy a special long-handled brush that looks somewhat like a bottlebrush for this job. The last step is to replace the cover, and restore the electricity. Remember, cleaning the condenser coils at least twice a year is the best way to lengthen the life of your refrigerator.
Stayed tuned for more cool tips!
Chuck & Cindy
Chuck Hinton (919) 469-6504 (919) 422-4841
Cindy Leonard (919) 469-6505 (919) 868-4661
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Protect Your Home This Summer
With summer around the corner, it's a good idea to brainstorm on how to keep your home safe while you are away. Below are some helpful ideas to reduce the liklihood of invasion by an unwelcomed party.
- Inform a trusted neighbor that you are leaving town
- For longer vacations, notify your newspaper and mail carrier that you will be away for an extended period of time
- Make arrangments for someone else to keep up with landscaping so that the physical appearance is not a hint to those eyeing your home
- Inform your alarm company that you are going on vacation.
- Turn the volume of the ringers down on home phones so that if anyone approaches your home, they do not hear unanswered calls. Avoid leaving messages on your answering machine notifying people you are away.
- Enable automatic timers for lights throughout your home.
- Leave a car in the driveway or ask a neighbor to park theirs in your driveway temporarily to give the illusion someone is home.
- Double-check locks on all doors, windows and fences.
- Leave blinds and curtains open as if you were home.
- On the day of departure, try and make this as least noticeable as possible so as to not draw attention.
- Prepare for the worst by taking inventory of valuable possessions.
For more information on our services and how we can help you, please visit ChuckandCindy.com
Chuck Hinton (919) 422-4841
Cindy Leonard (919) 868-4661
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Raleigh Ranks #1 - Forbes' Best Places For Business And Careers
In a recent article, Forbes ranks Raleigh, NC for the third year in a row as the Best Place for Business and Careers. This ranking can be atributed to Raleigh's strong job growth, low business costs and a highly educated workforce.
To see the full article, click here.
For a break down of other rankings regarding Raleigh, click here.
Source: www.Forbes.com
Chuck & Cindy
Chuck Hinton (919) 422-4841
Cindy Leonard (919) 868-4661
http://www.chuckandcindy.com/
To see the full article, click here.
For a break down of other rankings regarding Raleigh, click here.
Source: www.Forbes.com
Chuck & Cindy
Chuck Hinton (919) 422-4841
Cindy Leonard (919) 868-4661
http://www.chuckandcindy.com/
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cary/Raleigh Rank #1 In Growth Nationwide!
The Raleigh-Metro area is the fastest growing city in the US!
This news come straight from Federal statistics and is very encouraging for those living in the area as well as those who are considering moving this way. The growth has been undeniable over the years regarding jobs and new home development.
These new statistics are reassuring in this tough economy.
As stated in the article:
This news come straight from Federal statistics and is very encouraging for those living in the area as well as those who are considering moving this way. The growth has been undeniable over the years regarding jobs and new home development.
These new statistics are reassuring in this tough economy.
As stated in the article:
The combined population of North Carolina's capital city and its family-friendly suburb of Cary increased to 1.1 million people between July 2007 and July 2008, a 4.3 percent jump, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data.
Local government leaders in Raleigh and Cary attribute the growth to top hospitals, universities and Research Triangle Park, a sprawling business complex with more than 170 research and development companies and more than 50,000 employees.
With 11 of the 100 fastest-growing counties nationwide being in North Carolina, it is predicted that Raleigh and Cary will fare better during the downed economy than other parts of the country.
Source: www.Wral.com
For more information or for help with your real estate needs, please feel free to reach out to us.
Chuck Hinton (919) 422-4841
Cindy Leonard (919) 868-4661
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