Category / Just For Fun

by Leo Suarez

Murals In Downtown

Do you like murals? Downtown Raleigh has a couple that most visitors overlook. I want to highlight them so that next time you are close, you might remember to walk a block over and take a look at the cool building art. Click on the pics below to get a larger view and go here for a map.

Two Butterflies

You can find the two huge butterflies plastered on a white wall across the street from Café Luna and Marbles Museum. Head toward the intersection of Blount and Hargett St. to see it.

Lincoln in a Lincoln

It is very appropriate for this mural of Abe in a Lincoln car to be on the side of Lincoln Theatre. Drive safe and twist that rubber neck of yours to the right when driving on Wilmington St. before Cabaruss St.

Johnson St. mural

I’m not quite sure how to name this one. I guess it is open for your interpretation. You can find this one on Johnson St, across from Hi 5.

Farmer’s Market

This mural on the edge of City Market looks like a tribute to the farmer’s market. Notice the faces drawn into the fruits and vegetables. Go to the lot at the intersection of Davie and Person St.

Last, I want to show a spot that I think needs a mural. It is the 222 Glenwood parking deck. The blank wall facing Jones St. desperately needs some color.

by Leo Suarez

Where Can I Get A Slice at 2 a.m.?

I know some readers were with me on Saturday night and were able to hear my raw, un-edited, and passionate (not so sober) rant about the need for late night pizza in downtown Raleigh. I wish I had that recorded so I’m now bumping an HD camcorder up on the toys-to-buy list. I’ve mentioned this before but every time the topic comes up I usually start ranting. I believe that pizza is a market that has not been fully tapped.

Moonlight Pizza and Mellow Mushroom are great but the type of place I’m talking about will specialize in staying open all the time and slaps the pizza in front of you the moment you order it. I can imagine this hole in the wall pizzeria, with huge ovens and counters taking up most of the space. The people running it are so busy that they come off as being angry at the world; if you’ve ever ordered a cheese steak in Philly, you know what I mean. There are very few tables, but lots of standing room. The line forms out the door and people wait even in cold weather or rain for a slice. You are not supposed to be comfortable, you just get a slice and find some space on a high table, bench, curb, car, anywhere and enjoy. Walk and eat if in a hurry, the pizza is travel friendly.

The cut and dry version of what I am proposing is a by the slice pizza place, open for lunch, dinner, and especially for late night strugglers trying to close the night out. Right now I’m asking for Friday and Saturday nights but if it was every night, I’d buy stock. A place like this could easily set up shop in City Market. I can just imagine a bunch of people at lunchtime or 3am sitting on the street, benches, standing around with slices in hand.

I am patiently waiting for this to open and of course you’ll see it right here on RalCon. Too bad I do not make pizza and am a horrible cook or I’d open it myself.

by Leo Suarez

Blogging Abroad: Miami

Posting for RalCon will continue next week but I wanted to share this skyline picture I just took today. I’m in Miami for the holidays visiting family. With the picture, I wanted to throw out a discussion question. Could Raleigh ever contain a skyline of this magnitude and if so, when will this happen? Do you want to see this happen?

I believe Raleigh will have something much denser. Thoughts?

by Leo Suarez

RalCon Vacation

It seems news is a little slow and I’ve become a bit lazy. My Miami trip last weekend has thrown off my blogging rotation and I’m busy this week. So I’m taking a short vacation but expect some better stuff next week, including another walking tour update and I’m taking ‘Project Skyline’ in a new direction. I’ll leave just these news shorts for you to investigate on your own.

  • RBC Plaza seems to have slowed down. It looks like they are currently working on the transition floor and condo floors will soon start to take shape.
  • More work continues on the parking deck and the block that will contain the yet unveiled ‘The Edison’ project. Check the webcam.
  • The Mint looks close to completion and according to their website will open next month.
  • The Veteran’s Day Parade is this Saturday.

I was down in Miami last weekend to visit family and I went to the NC State vs. Miami game. It was the second to last game for Miami to play in the legendary Orange Bowl. Having grown up a Miami fan, but now a pack fan, this is my small tribute to a stadium that I have been to since I was a kid. Check out this wide shot from my seat; it probably won’t be there anymore next year.

by Leo Suarez

Updated Astronaut View Includes Raleigh

This may not be news to some but it was to me. Google Earth has updated its images and Raleigh looks very close to its present state. With this update, you can see practically every project that is currently under construction. The parking lot that will be taken over by The Hue still exists so we do know the images are a couple months old.

Of course, I’m only referring to the free version that is available and have no experience with the priced versions. Downtown Raleigh still has no 3D buildings in Google Earth. However, a majority of the buildings on NC State’s campus do. I’m curious to know how that worked out?

by Leo Suarez

Bike trails in and around downtown

Today, I will finally be getting my bike from the shop and am looking forward to doing a little biking around downtown. The City of Raleigh website has lots of information on the greenways that zig zag their way throughout the streets and parks. I posted some links at the bottom for more information on this. They have a really good map showing all the trails and points of interests. I think with gas expected to be at $3.75 a gallon as the national average at the end of the summer, it may not be a bad idea for all of us to have an alternate option of getting around.

Greenway Trail System
Park and Greenway Improvements