Left at the Station: Wake County
Cary, NC — Good news for Durham and Orange Counties this week: the Feds have approved a plan for light rail between Durham and Chapel Hill. Left at the station without a ticket: Wake County. Read more
Editor’s Journal: Winter Storm Pax in the Triangle
Cary, NC — Winter Storm Pax swept through the Triangle last week, briefing spreading a significant measure chaos and fear. By Sunday, all that was left were a few patches of wet white on a sunny, blue Carolina day. Here’s a look back in pictures. Read more
Editor’s Journal: 2014 Technology Wish List for Cary
Cary, NC — What’s on the top of my 2014 Technology Wish List for Cary? Gig U, ultra-high speed broadband for a 7-county area of the Triangle including Cary, is my #1 item. Read more
Report from SPARKcon in Raleigh
Raleigh, NC – This past weekend, we decided to check out SPARKcon in Raleigh. It was a festival of free spirits and creativity on a perfect fall weather day. Read more
Editor’s Journal: Downtown Before the Flood
Cary, NC – I went downtown to see the new movie theater sign and take some pictures. The whole trip had a distinctly antediluvian quality.
Local Media: 5 Triangle Community Newspapers to Close
Cary, NC – In local media news, 5 Triangle community newspaper are set to close in towns including Apex, Garner and Holly Springs. Read more
CaryCitizen Publishes 3,000th Story
Cary, NC – Yesterday, CaryCitizen passed a major milestone: Weekend: A Whole Lotta Music was our 3,000th published story. Read more
Editor’s Journal: A Weekend in Pictures
Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – This past weekend, I managed to get around to three interesting events in the greater Cary region: CenterStage on the front lawn of DPAC in Durham, Wheel on Academy in downtown Cary and Morrisville’s East Meets West festival.
CenterStage
Friday evening was perfect for CenterStage, a collaboration between WUNC’s Back Porch Music and the American Tobacco Historic District in Downtown Durham.
A large and enthusiastic crowd turned out for the first show of the summer. I ran into several friends from Cary and got to take a few shots from the rooftop of Diamond View II, one large office buildings between DPAC and Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Find out about more free CenterStage concerts this summer.
Wheels on Academy
Saturday morning, I swung by Wheels on Academy in Downtown Cary.
Last year’s inaugural event was a little soggy, but Saturday morning was crisp and clear in downtown Cary. More than 100 cars participated.
My favorites were Barney Fife’s vintage Ford police cruiser, a beautiful plum-colored Studebaker, an immaculate California woody and a low slung hot rod Don Frantz identified for me as a class of cars called a “Rat Ride.” All the cars were gorgeous.
East Meets West
Finally, I wound up at Morrisville’s East Meets West Festival. Booths lined Town Hall Drive and two stages showcased Eastern and Western acts.
I was there to perform on the West stage with A Fifth of Blues, but I also had a chance to wander around a little.
Thanks to Brooke Meyer for getting a shot of me in action with my bass guitar.
It was an exciting weekend all around.
Editor’s Journal: Electronic Meetings
Story and picture by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – Kudos to Town staff for bringing up the issue of electronic meetings. Now, Town Council needs to show support for this important initiative. Read more
Editors Journal: Amtrak Dinner at The Matthews House
Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – The air was mild on Wednesday evening, and the sun was slanting through the pear blossoms. It was a perfect night for a cozy dinner at The Matthews House to kick around some ideas for Cary Train Day 2013.
Planning Cary Train Day 2013
The Amtrak dinner, as it was called, brought together representatives from Amtrak, the Town of Cary and members of HoCA, the Heart of Cary Association.
The purpose of the dinner was to follow-up on the success of Cary Train Day 2012. That event, a first in Cary, drew more than 1,000 people, making it one of the largest celebrations of Train Day in the United States.
Amtrak subsequently returned to Cary to shoot a national TV commercial. On Wednesday, the team from 2012 got together again to plan for this year’s celebration on Saturday, May 11, 2013.
Mingling: The Buzz in Downtown
The Matthews House, a beautifully restored Greek Revival mansion on West Chatham, oozed Southern charm and sophistication in the golden light of sunset. I felt like a million bucks, like a character in a movie starring Viv Leigh. The Matthews House does that to you.
Drinking a dry Cabernet, exchanging pleasantries with the other guests, I learned that the roundabout currently under construction on West Chatham could be opened for traffic by the end of this month.
The East Chatham roundabout at East Durham Road will be completed before Lazy Daze in August. I predict these projects will have a transformative effect on the feeling of Downtown Cary and create a much stronger sense of place.
I also learned that construction on the downtown movie theater, which is to be called The Cary, is progressing smartly and may be open by the end of October. Driving past on East Chatham, you can see two steel beams protruding from the brick. The beams will hold up the marquee sign. There was talk of having an event when the marquee is installed.
The Cary will have removable seats in the first few rows, allowing the space to be converted into a nightclub or a dance floor. Programming will likely include movies, live theater, music and comedy.
Talking Train Day
The first course was a Caprese salad of arugula, mozzarella and ripe Roma tomatoes. Talk turned to Train Day.
The celebration kicks off with the arrival of the Amtrak Carolinian at 10:02 AM. There will be food, exhibits, games for kids, the Cary Town Band, remarks from elected officials and perhaps a downtown tram. This year, we may see a train ride at the festivities. The fun continues all morning and into the afternoon.
Also on Train Day, from 12-7 PM, the south end of Academy Street will come alive with the 9th Annual Ritmo Latino festival.
We cut into our dinner of chicken scallopini with baked vegetables, succulent and rich. In a boost to downtown, Amtrak is offering $5 kids’ tickets from anywhere in North Carolina to Cary on Train Day. I was like the dessert on top of an already sumptuous meal.
Then we ate cheesecake and strawberries.
Thanks to Doc Thorne and the Heart of Cary Association for organizing the dinner, the Ogle’s for their hospitality, Amtrak and Town of Cary for all their efforts. It was an honor to be there.
Cary has been a train town since 1856. Be a part of history this year on Train Day in Cary, Saturday, May 11. 2013.
From Cary Train Day 2012.