the what to do in Raleigh thread

This is a directory of sorts for those new to the area. This city is a sprawl, as you may be finding out, and it doesn’t really have an “identity” to it like a lot of bigger cities do. Nor is there any good Reggae in town at all, which I really, really miss from when I was in D.C.

Please feel free to contribute places/things of interest, as I know I’m forgetting/leaving out an awful lot. If anyone has questions or is looking for something in particular, ask.

Bars Music Dancing:
http://www.the-pour-house.com/ (bar, great funk/folk/jam bands on weekends usually)
http://www.lincolntheatre.com/ (music venue)
http://www.catscradle.com/ (the best music venue in the area, imo… in Chapel Hill, which sucks, but hey)
http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/40869358/raleigh_nc/damon_s_grill.html (best place to watch the Hurricanes play)
http://www.raleighmusichall.com/ (good shows every so often)
http://www.aries-lounge.com/index.htm (good place to go “clubbing” as they say… nice bartenders and great selection)
http://www.berkeleycafe.com (best bartenders in Raleigh, hands down. Fantastic open mic on Wednesday nights, free drum and bass event every Tuesday, big “parties” or metal shows on weekends.)
http://www.touch-ultralounge.com/ (in Morrisville, very plush place, good place to go dancing)
http://www.ringsideclub.com/ (four story “alice in wonderland” venue. awesome)
http://www.myspace.com/thejackpot (Jackpot = dive bar. will cost $1 to become a member. Artsy crowd. Punk/nu-wave/indie music)
http://www.kingsbarcade.com/ (run down place, but they have cult classic movie nights during the week and a weird crowd)
http://www.beerknurd.com/ (The Flying Saucer… straight up bar… 150+ beers on tap… several of which are high gravity)
http://sixstringcafe.com/ (a secret little place in Cary)
http://www.marrakeshookah.com/ (got hookah?)
http://www.zspotlight.com/establishment.asp?EstID=9955&EstSub=profile (Pi Bar and Lounge. Cool spot gainin momentum. Straight up bar w/ live dj's)

Dining:
http://www.angusbarn.com/ (The giant red barn on Hwy 70 is probably the most famous place to eat in Raleigh, and the best. It is very expensive though, so be prepared. Highly recommend their themed events in the wine cellar when they have them, went to one that was the styled as the Titanic’s last night. Awesome)
http://www.chargrillusa.com/ (burgers so good Hardee’s admits they’re the best in their own commercials)
http://www.cspot.com/ (Cup A Joe’s. The one and only. Local coffee store good enough to drive a Starbucks out of business. Oh, and if you're an artist, this is about the best place in Raleigh to advertise your work.)
http://www.stellamareristoranteandpizzeria.com/ (Italian family owns this place, wicked good)
http://www.cafeluna.com/ (Italian, very nice)
http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/6183121/ (not pretty, but awesome Italian… damn guess I like Italian a lot)
http://www.lillyspizza.com/ (more pizza. Organic ingredients. Kick ass coffee place next door.)
http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/32271257/raleigh_nc/big_easy_cajun_crabtree_rest.html (Cajun! What a freakin menu)
http://www.jimmyvssteakhouse.com/ (good steakhouse)
http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/6153309/cary_nc/kabuki.html (Japanese... if Joanne is your waitress, tip her well)
http://www.shabashabu.net/ (Sushi Thai! Great atmosphere, specially on weekends... live dj's playing downtempo stuff. mature crowd)
http://sushithairal.citysearch.com/page/oa17/Home_Page.html (SushiThai... good good good)
http://www.lostresmagueyes.com/ (Mexican... my favorite. mmmm sangria)
http://www.torerosmexicanfood.com/ (Mexican. All my friends favorite)
http://www.casacarbone.com/main.html (Mexican)
http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/6186492 (Courtney’s... locations all over, best breakfast in town, but service is SLOW)

Parks:
http://www.visitraleigh.com/pullen_park.html (best place to get a game of basketball, picnic, and take kids, imo… the “central park” of Raleigh)
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_209_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Leisure/Parks_and_Facilities/Lakes_and_Nature/Cat-1C-20041118-080503-Lake_Johnson.html (good place to jog, and if you’re bad and have to do community service, try real hard to get it here)
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_209_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Leisure/Parks_and_Facilities/Lakes_and_Nature/Cat-1C-20041117-160203-Durant_Nature_Park_and_C.html (Durant Nature Park)
http://www.northcarolinaoutdoors.com/places/piedmont/ravenrock.html (Raven Rock Nature Park... Bit of a drive but good way to spend a nice Saturday afternoon)
http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/wium/home.html (UmsteadNaturePark)
http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/6191332/ (basketball courts / baseball / community center… best of all, there’s this monstrous jungle gym / playground I can’t begin to describe, it’s like a small city. Locals call this place CastlePark)
http://www.ncartmuseum.org/ (awesome place, highly recommend the outdoor trail, huge Monet exhibit going on thru Jan 2007… saw it last weekend: going again)
http://www.radl.biz/Courses/CEDARHILLS/main.htm (best frisby golf park in Raleigh, with Basketball, Tennis, and small playground)
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-3683242-shelley_lake_park_raleigh-i (ShellyLakePark)

Miscellaneous:
http://www.charliegoodnights.com/ (Stand Up Comic’s)
www.carolinarollergirls.com (yes, we have a rollerderby team)
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-3683171-state_fairgrounds_flea_market_raleigh-i (flea market weekends only at the fairgrounds)
http://www.exploris.org/ (Exploris rules)
http://www.harrysguitarshop.com/ (store for musicians, owned by good peoples)
http://www.therialto.com/main.php?theater=Rialto (everyone must see a movie at the rialto. It’s like totally required. They serve alcohol. They show Independent movies only. Whatever the restaurant is next door kicks ass too)
http://www.raleighlist.org/movies/Mission-Valley-Cinema.htm (on same note, this theater shows "regular" movies. they serve alcohol too. newcastle on draft )
http://www.judysbook.com/members/4852/posts/2005/7/32872/ (Curious Goods. A head shop, but keep it hush hush okay)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=74416562 (Buddha’s Belly. Clothing/headshop/overall cool place)
http://www.kevinstattoozoo.com/ (the fulmah approved place to get tattoed and/or pierced. Check out his gallery.)

 

Thanks Fulmah... You rock once again! We are going to try to check out as many of these as we can this year. Already been to flying saucer, it is great for summer, but now that it is cold, we are going to be heading elsewhere. Hopefully we will run into you sometime out and about.

Peas

 

Hey, where would be good to take my parents and sister when they come down this weekend for Thanksgiving? They are on thier own for shopping on Friday because I will be working, but not sure what we can do Friday night and Saturday. We were thinking about the Farmers Market (or the flea market too) but besides that I kinda wanted to show them around a little. Any suggestions?

 

Places to show parents on the worst shopping weekend of the year... oh my... you could try and get tickets to Exploris downtown, or visit some of the museums. Right next to Exploris is the Natural Sciences museum. It's free and there's lots of cool things to check out. The art museum's got that Monet exhibit which is awesome if you haven't checked it out yet, and the outdoor trail has that skybridge going over 440 and into Umstead park. A cool place to walk with some surprises along the way (interactive sculptures).

If you do the farmers market on Saturday morning, hit up the resteraunt there. Good stuff! The flea market is always good fun, and there's a few conventions going on this weekend.... http://www.ncstatefair.org/events/11_06.htm

The booth ampitheatre in Cary is doing some crazy winter wonderland thing.... http://www.boothamphitheatre.com/schedule.html

Make sure you tell the parents to avoid Triangle Towne Center at all costs on Friday. Send them to the Streets of Southpoint if they want a mall... it and Cary Towne are the easiest to get in and out of this time of year. Triangle Towne's parking lot is absolute hell on earth.

 

Thanks, we are going to do the Farmers market Sat. morn for breakfast so I don't have to cook, since I'm doing the whole turkey thing. I'm thinkin the ice skating sounds like fun... cept it is going to be like 60 degrees on saturday. Oh well, we'll play it by ear. Plus we might be hung over from the night before.

 

Digital photography around here is awesome ....

All the photo's in my album were taken by me since August ...

Also; Bass Lake Park is sweet .... (and in January there will be a first meeting to start a Nature photo club)

it's at 900 Bass Lake Road in Holly Springs, NC 27540 and has a walking trail that is about 2 mile round trip and lots of fishing and nature to enjoy also

 

kudos on your list of things to do. i was living in d.c. for a couple of years and i miss it as well....but your list really gave me some ideas of things to do in raleigh. do you know of any vintage stores?