DaleCooper
NEVER 4GET
This thread is intended to be a guide to Raleigh and the Triangle region based on the input of the users here. As I no longer live in Raleigh, I am very much relying on contributions from others now to keep it up to date.
The Triangle
The Hurricanes play in Raleigh, which is one city in the Triangle area of North Carolina, named for the shape formed when drawing straight lines between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and the 7,000 acre Research Triangle Park (the largest research park in the United States) which sits in between the three cities. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the second largest city in the state.
There are around 1.8 million people living in the Triangle. The Raleigh-Cary metro area was named in 2009 by the Census Bureau as the fastest growing area in the United States.
Populations:
Raleigh - 416,468 (City), 1,163,515 (Raleigh-Cary MSA)
Durham - 233,252
Cary - 139,633
Chapel Hill - 57,233
A 2007 Census study ranked Raleigh as the second most educated city in America with 50.1% of the population having college degrees or higher, tied with San Francisco and behind Seattle. This can be attributed to the Research Triangle Park and the 14 colleges and universities in the region, including the well known North Carolina State, University of North Carolina, and Duke.
Raleigh regularly appears on "best of" lists for the United States, such as:
Southern Living - Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South, 2012
Women's Health - #1 Among Healthiest Cities for Women, 2012
The Daily Beast - #18 Among America's Most Tolerant Cities, 2012
EcoSalon - 10 Best Cities in America for Health and Happiness, 2012
CNNMoney - #2 Among 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities, 2012
RealAge - #6 Among Top Cities for Staying Young, 2012
New York Times - #7 Among Cities with the Most College-Educated Residents, 2012
ID Cocktails - 10 Best Beer Cities, 2012
Kiplinger - #8 Among 10 Cheapest U.S. Cities You'll Want to Visit, 2012
Forbes - #2 Among Best Places for Business and Careers, 2012
Business Facilities Magazine - #1 Best Quality of Life, 2012
Forbes - Best Cities for Job Growth - #14, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Top Metros for Small Businesses - #7, 2011
Forbes - Biggest Brain Magnets in the Nation - #2, 2011
Forbes - Cleanest Cities - #3, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Quality of Life - #1, 2010
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Cities for Young Americans - #3, 2010
The Daily Beast - America's Smartest Cities - #1, 2009
Wall Street Journal - 10 Post-Recession Meccas - 2009
Wall Street Journal - The Next Youth-Magnet Cities - #7, 2009
Forbes - Best Area for Business and Careers - #1, 2009
BizJournals - Best Place to Launch A New Business - #1, 2009
Forbes - Most 'Wired' Cities - #3, 2009
Newgeography.com - Best Place to Do Business - #1, 2008
Men's Health - Most Politically Engaged Cities - #1, 2008
Milken Institute - Best Performing Cities - #2, 2008
MSNBC - America's Best Cities - #1, 2008
Forbes - Recession-Proof Local Economies - #5, 2008
American City Business Journals - Best Places for Young Adults - #1, 2008
Every Day with Rachel Ray - Best Cities for Singles - #1, 2008
Sports
While the Hurricanes are the only major league sports team in the region, and the first in the state to win their league's championship, there are several other notable sports teams in the Triangle. College basketball and football are widely popular with NC State, UNC, and Duke in the area. North Carolina is also one of the biggest minor league baseball states in the country. The Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate of "Bull Durham" fame) of the AAA International League and the Carolina Mudcats (Cleveland Indians affiliate) of the A-Advanced Carolina League represent the Triangle. Also, the Carolina Railhawks of the North American Soccer League play at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary.
Transportation
The main interstates are I-40, I-85, and I-95, and there are two beltlines around Raleigh: I-440 and the partially completed I-540. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the area with 3 runways and 36 destinations, and opened a new terminal in 2008. Amtrak stops at train stations in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. Current Amtrak service in Raleigh is the Carolinian (Charlotte to New York), Silver Star (Miami to New York), and Piedmont (Charlotte to Raleigh). Raleigh is currently in the planning stages for a new downtown intermodal transit center called Union Station that would be a hub for buses, light rail, regional rail and intercity rail.
If you are visiting, you may want want to rent a car. While plans continue to evolve for light rail lines and expanded bus systems, the current infrastructure is lacking, particularly with regards to PNC Arena. This is partly due to the disconnect and sprawl of the area with several urban centers and key places such as the PNC Arena not being in city cores. Each city has its own transit system, and a regional system, Triangle Transit, links them together.
http://www.caniaccoach.com/
PNC Arena Game Day Experience
PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center and the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena) is located outside the Raleigh downtown area, which has advantages, such as tailgating, and disadvantages, such as transportation options and a lack of things to do and places to stay within walking distance of the arena. The building is located adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State football team, and the State Fairgrounds. The Hurricanes share the building with the NC State men's basketball team.
Within Walking Distance of PNC Arena:
- Backyard Bistro - A sports themed restaurant and bar directly across the street from the sports complex. http://www.backyardbistro.com/
- Wendy's - Fast food chain restaurant across the street from the sports complex.
Hotels Near PNC Arena:
- Comfort Suites Arena - Directly across the street and beside Backyard Bistro
- Ramada Inn Blue Ridge - A slightly further distance but still walkable
Tickets:
The Hurricanes sell tickets at the PNC Arena box office and on Ticketmaster. StubHub, Ebay, and Craigslist are your best bets for secondary market. There is also a ticket resell area for scalpers outside the arena prior to games near the South entrance.
Parking:
Parking is $10 and there is ample parking in the arena and football stadium lots. Free parking can sometimes be found on Trinity Road at the Fairgrounds lot, the Hunt Horse Complex, and at the corner of Trinity and Edwards Mill Road in the grass beside the curb. The fairgrounds and horse complex lots are sometimes closed when events are taking place at those venues. Additionally, in recent years these lots have started being staffed more frequently to charge to park (but usually cheaper than the PNC lots).
Tailgating:
Since PNC Arena is not located downtown, rather than gather at bars and restaurants before games (other than Backyard Bistro), fans pack the parking lots on days with nice weather to tailgate. It is a tradition carried over from college sports that confused many players when it first became prevalent during the 2002 playoff run. Ron Francis in particular noted his surprise when he showed up 4 hours before game time to find the parking lots already brimming with people. Beer is allowed in the parking lots (but technically not liquor; not really a problem though as long as you use discretion), and some people will have some fairly elaborate grill setups. If you can't cook your own food, Bojangles, a local fast food chicken and biscuits restaurant, is a favorite to bring along (check out the Tailgate Special).
Raleigh (Downtown):
http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/
Over the last decade or so, downtown Raleigh has undergone a complete transformation, changing from more of a work and lunchtime crowd to an all-day city. An explosion of business development has been accompanied more recently by a growth in the downtown residential population. It is very walkable, safe and vibrant, filled with unique local restaurants, bars and retail. Downtown is divided into several districts:
-Glenwood South, a mid-rise entertainment district with many restaurants and bars
-Warehouse District, a series of older buildings renovated into restaurants, bars, galleries, and workplaces
-Fayetteville Street, the main street of Raleigh, bookended by the State Capitol and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, where the tallest buildings are
-Moore Square, a small park bordered by restaurants, bars, and a museum
-Capitol District, where most of the government buildings and the museums are located
Getting Around:
Downtown Raleigh is very walkable, and generally very safe. Rickshaw drivers work off tips only, and the R-Line is a free circulator bus service which loops through downtown 7 days a week and stops near all attractions, restaurants, bars, and parking areas.
Things to Do:
- Duke Energy Center - Hosts Broadway plays and concerts. http://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - The largest natural sciences museum southeast of Washington, DC. An 80,000 square foot expansion called the Nature Research Center opened in 2011. http://www.naturalsciences.org/
- North Carolina Museum of History - http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/
- NC State Capitol - Open to the public. http://www.ncstatecapitol.org/
- Raleigh City Museum - http://www.raleighcitymuseum.org/
- Marbles Kids Museum / IMAX Theater - http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/
- Goodnights - One of the most respected comedy clubs in the country among comedians. http://www.goodnightscomedy.com/
- Raleigh Convention Center - Typically reserved for private events, but sometimes there are festivals and shows. http://www.raleighconvention.com/
- Mordecai Historic Park - Historic homes and structures, including the birthplace of Andrew Johnson. http://www.raleighnc.gov/mordecai
- Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) - New downtown art museum in collaboration with the NC State College of Design. http://www.cam.ncsu.edu/
Restaurants and Bars:
Again, not a comprehensive list; these are my favorites plus those anyone else wants to add. As of 2010, all bars and restaurants in North Carolina are non-smoking.
Also see the first part of this thread for some good discussion on local food: http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=864470
- 42nd St. Oyster Bar - One of the oldest current Raleigh restaurants, named after the famous Grand Central Terminal restaurant. http://www.42ndstoysterbar.com/
- Finch's - Cheap, hole-in-the-wall breakfast and southern diner. http://www.finchrestaurant.com/
- Hibernian - Irish pub and restaurant. http://www.hibernianpub.com (temporarily closed due to fire)
- Irregardless Cafe - A Raleigh institution; creative and fresh food with lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes. http://www.irregardless.com
- The Rockford - A local favorite with some of the best sandwiches in the city. http://therockfordrestaurant.com
- J. Betski's - German food and bar. http://www.jbetskis.com/
- Moonlight Pizza - http://moonlightpizza.com
- Oakwood Cafe - Argentinian and Cuban. http://oakwoodcaferaleigh.com/
- Poole's Downtown Diner - Changing daily menu; brunch on weekends. One of Raleigh's most highly acclaimed restaurants nationally. http://www.poolesdowntowndiner.com/
- Sitti - Lebanese. http://www.sitti-raleigh.com/
- Thaiphoon Bistro - Very good thai. http://www.thaiphoonbistro.com/
- The Pit - Some of the best barbecue in the area, but a more upscale environment which is a bit weird for cue. http://www.thepit-raleigh.com/
- Clyde Cooper's - Your more traditional cheap hole-in-the-wall barbecue, around since 1938. Possibly the best cue in Raleigh http://www.clydecoopersbbq.com/
- The Raleigh Times - Simple yet creative food and a great bar with a focus on Belgian beers. http://www.raleightimesbar.com/
- The Roast Grill - A 70+ year Raleigh lunchtime institution. An extremely tiny hole-in-the-wall joint with a small counter where you can get a hot dog (burned or not burned). There's no ketchup here so don't ask. As seen on Man vs. Food. Look for the "Hot Weiners" sign. http://roastgrill.com/
- Tir Na Nog - Irish restaurant and pub. http://www.tirnanogirishpub.com/
- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe - Great sports restaurant with better food than your typical sports bar; good place to watch Canes games. http://tobaccoroadsportscafe.com/about/index.html
- The Oxford - English gastro-pub. http://www.oxfordraleigh.com/
- The Busy Bee - Restaurant, bar, and coffee shop with a rooftop deck. http://busybeeraleigh.com/
- The Remedy Diner - Traditional American with full bar and a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. http://theremedydiner.com/
- Sullivan's Steakhouse - http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/
- Mellow Mushroom - Pizza chain. http://mellowmushroom.com/
- Big Ed's City Market - Classic breakfast and southern.
- Jibarra - Upscale Mexican. http://www.jibarra.net/
- Centro - Upscale Mexican. http://www.centroraleigh.com/
- Gravy - Upscale but moderately priced Italian. http://gravyraleigh.com/
- Dos Taquitos Xoco - Mexican http://www.dostaquitosnc.com/
- bu•ku - Full service restaurant serving food inspired by street foods around the world. http://bukuraleigh.com/
- Capital Club 16 - "Traditional American cuisine". http://www.capitalclub16.com/
- Beasley's Chicken and Honey - Chicken joint from Poole's Ashley Christensen. http://www.ac-restaurants.com/
- Chuck's - Burger restaurant from Poole's Ashley Christensen. http://www.ac-restaurants.com/
- Tyler's Taproom - Restaurant with a significant beer selection. http://www.tylerstaproom.com/
- Bida Manda - The area's first Laotian restaurant. http://bidamanda.com/
- Battistella's - "classic New Orleans and upscale southern". http://www.battistellas.com/
- PieBird - Pies for meals and dessert - http://piebirdraleigh.com/
- Benelux Cafe - Cycling-themed coffee shop with Belgian waffles, sandwiches and beer - http://www.beneluxcafe.com/
- Flying Saucer - Over 300 beers, most on tap. http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/raleigh
- Foundation - Underground bar serving only local beers and incredible cocktails with a local focus. Makes their own cola, tonic, and ginger ale. http://foundationnc.com/
- Boylan Bridge Brewpub - Microbrewery with a patio overlooking the skyline. http://boylanbridge.com/
- Landmark Tavern - Small laid back bar. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=76909533
- Slim's - Dive bar and concert venue. http://www.myspace.com/slimsdowntownraleigh
- Isaac Hunter's Oak City Tavern - Casual bar in the center of the city. http://www.huntersoakcity.com/
- Neptune's - Basement bar at the reborn Kings Barcade music hall. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/Neptunes/
- Fox Liquor Bar - Upscale specialty cocktail bar. http://www.ac-restaurants.com/
- Natty Greene's - Local brewpub and restaurant. http://www.nattygreenes.com/content/natty-greenes-raleigh
- London Bridge Pub - http://thelondonbridgepub.com/
- Trophy Brewing - Local brewpub, http://trophybrewing.com/
- C. Grace - Cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150523333651168.394857.159069881167&type=3
Raleigh (Outside Downtown)
I generally stick to the downtown area, and recommend that to visitors, but there are a number of things that should be mentioned outside of it.
Things to Do:
- NC State and Hillsborough St. - Campus of the state's largest school and adjacent street with bars and restaurants.
- JC Raulston Arboretum - http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/index.php
- North Carolina Museum of Art - Contains the largest art museum park in the US; recently opened a state of the art new building http://www.ncartmuseum.org/
- Chatham Hill Winery - http://www.chathamhillwine.com/ - while it's only a winery (no vineyard of their own) and it's located in an office park near the airport, Chatham Hill puts out some excellent vinafera varietals and some good fruit/vinafera blends. The raspberry wine is amazing! Tastings are $5.00 a person and includes a tour of the winery facilities, your tasting glass, and allows a tasting of most of their wines.
William Umstead State Park - 5,579 acre park. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/wium/main.php
Lake Johnson Park
Pullen Park - Recently underwent a major renovation. http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html
Restaurants and Bars:
- Mitch's Tavern - NC State hangout. This was the bar in "Bull Durham" http://mitchstavern.com/
- Player's Retreat - Largest malt scotch selection in the state. Hamburgers made with beef ground in-house (can be ordered rare) http://www.playersretreat.net/
- Bali Hai - Cheap Mongolian restaurant. http://balihainc.com/
- Big Boss Brewery - Local brewery with a tavern attached. http://www.bigbossbrewing.com
- Carolina Ale House - Chain of sports bars in the Triangle area. Host of Canes Cool Bars events. http://www.carolinaalehouse.com/
- Buffalo Brothers - Another good restaurant to watch hockey. http://www.buffbrothers.com/
- Dalat - Great Vietnamese. http://dalatrestaurant.com/
- Draft Houses - A local chain with excellent food and fantastic beer selections. Another good place to watch hockey. http://mydrafthouse.com/
- Lilly's Pizza - Arguably Raleigh's best pizza. In Five Points neighborhoodhttp://www.lillyspizza.com/
- Neomonde - Very authentic Lebanse cafe and bakery. http://www.neomonde.com
- Ole Time BBQ - Roadside barbecue joint. http://www.oletimebarbecue.com
- State Farmer's Market Restaurant - Breakfast and southern food. http://www.ncsfmr.com/
- The BrickHouse - Sports bar with a lot of big screens not too far from RBC Center. http://brickhouse-nc.com/
- Margaux's - http://www.margauxsrestaurant.com
- Locopop's - Delicious gourmet popsicles - http://ilovelocopops.com/
- Abyssinia - Ethiopian. http://abyssiniarestaurant.net/
- Hot Point Deli - (Located in Cary). http://hotpointdeli.com/
- Bavarian Brathaus - (Located in Cary) Fantastic and authentic Bavarian restaurant.
- Ruckus - Pizza, sandwiches, and drinks; a popular local hangout. Located in Raleigh near NC State and a new location in Cary. http://www.ruckuspizza.com/
- Chubby's Tacos - Authentic and delicious tacos and Mexican food with several area locations. http://www.chubbystacos.com/
- Aviator Brewing - This is actually located in Fuquay-Varina; a good local microbrewery tap room. http://www.aviatorbrew.com/
- LoneRider Brewing - Another local microbrewery with a tap room. http://www.loneriderbeer.com/
- Adams Vineyards - Muscadine vineyards and winery with tasting room in Fuquay-Varina. http://www.adamsvineyards.com/
- Gizmo Brew Works - Microbrewery. http://gizmobrewworks.com/
- David's Dumpling and Noodle Bar - Asian restaurant on Hillsborough St with an emphasis on noodles and dumplings - http://www.ddandnb.com/
- NOFO @ The Pig - Highly regarded restaurant in an old Piggly Wiggly grocery store building in Five Points - http://www.nofo.com/
- Hayes Barton Cafe - Cafe and dessert bakery in Five Points neighborhood - http://www.hayesbartoncafe.com/
- Ashworth Drugs - Cary drug store with a classic soda fountain and lunch counter - http://www.ashworthdrugs.com/
- Gonza Tacos y Tequila - Self explanatory http://gonzatacosytequila.com/
- Raleigh Brewing - Local microbrewery with taproom http://raleighbrewingcompany.com/
Durham
As I mentioned above, I don't have the wealth of knowledge on Durham and Chapel Hill that I do on Raleigh, so I'll just offer up a few places I like or know of. Others can feel free to contribute.
- Durham Bulls - AAA baseball team. Downtown stadium. hhttp://www.dbulls.com
- Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) - http://www.dpacnc.com/
- Full Frame Film Festival - Occurs in early April every year. The premier documentary film festival in North America. http://fullframefest.org/
- American Tobacco - An old factory complex brilliantly renovated into a mixed use development. Tyler's Tap Room is my favorite restaurant and bar there. http://www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com/
- Brightleaf Square - Warehouses renovated into a shopping and dining district. http://www.historicbrightleaf.com/
- Duke University - beautiful campus including the Duke Gardens and Chapel. http://www.duke.edu
- Nasher Museum of Art at Duke - http://www.nasher.duke.edu/
- NC Central University Art Museum - http://ariel.acc.nccu.edu/artmuseum
- Museum of Life and Science - http://www.ncmls.org/
- Carolina Theatre - Classic remodeled theater showing mainly independent movies and concerts. http://www.carolinatheatre.org
- Papa Mojo's Roadhouse - http://www.papamojosroadhouse.com/ - A Cajun restaurant owned by chef/musician Roy 'Mel' Melton who spent years in Louisiana Cajun country fine-tuning and learning his recipes and his music. The place plays host to red hot Louisiana cuisine and some red hot bands too, including Melton's own band, Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos.
- Fullsteam Brewery - Microbrewery. - http://www.fullsteam.ag/
- Geer Street Garden - Restaurant and bar. - http://geerstreetgarden.com/
- Bull City Burger and Brewery - Restaurant and brewpub. - http://bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Chapel Hill
Some of these are technically in Carrboro, which is adjacent to Chapel Hill and can be walked to down Franklin Street.
- Franklin Street - the main street of Chapel Hill that runs through the UNC campus. A huge collection of shops, restaurants, and bars
- University of North Carolina - oldest public university in America. http://www.unc.edu/
- Carolina Basketball Museum - http://www.carolinabasketballmuseum.com/
- Kidzu Children's Museum - http://www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org/
- Morehead Planetarium - http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/
- North Carolina Botanical Garden - largest natural botanical garden in the southeast. http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/
- Cat's Cradle - hottest spot for touring indie music acts in North Carolina. http://catscradle.com/
- Memorial Hall - performing arts center. http://www.carolinaperformingarts.org/
- Carolina Brewery - restaurant and brewpub on Franklin St. http://www.carolinabrewery.com
- Tyler's Tap Room - http://www.tylerstaproom.com
- The Spotted Dog - Fantastic restaurant with a vegetarian focus. http://www.spotteddog.biz
- Time Out - 24 hour comfort food; a Chapel Hill institution. http://www.time-outrestaurants.com/
- Talullas - http://www.talullas.com/ - A Turkish restaurant that also hosts a great dance club scene later at night.
- Milltown - http://dininganddrinking.com - Gastropub with a good beer selection (not to mention poutine).
- Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - http://www.curryblossom.com/ - great Indian food prepared fresh, good bottled beer selection, gluten-free and vegan options, and nice seating out in their open-air courtyard.
- Bandidos - Mexican http://bandidoscafe.com/
Links
PNC Arena - http://thepncarena.com
Triangle Transit - http://triangletransit.com
Downtown Raleigh Alliance - http://godowntownraleigh.com
City of Raleigh - http://raleigh-nc.org
The Raleigh Connoisseur - http://dtraleigh.com/
News & Observer - http://newsobserver.com
Independent Weekly - http://indyweek.com/
WRAL - http://wral.com
Finally, the ultimate guide to Triangle area breweries:
Raleigh (10 breweries)
Big Boss Brewing
Boylan Bridge Brewpub
Crank Arm Brewing
Gizmo Brew Works
Lonerider Beer
The Lynnwood Grill
Natty Greene's Pub & Brewing
Raleigh Brewing Company
Sub Noir Brewing
Trophy Brewing
Durham (3 breweries)
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Fullsteam Brewery
Triangle Brewing Company
Holly Springs (3 breweries)
Bombshell Beer Company
Carolina Brewing Company
Holly Springs Nano Brewing
Carrboro (2 breweries)
Starpoint Brewing
Steel String Brewing
Chapel Hill (2 breweries)
Carolina Brewery
Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery
Fuquay-Varina (2 breweries)
Aviator Brewing Company
Hosanna Brewing
Angier (1 brewery)
White Rabbit Brewing Company
Cary (1 brewery)
Fortnight Brewing Company
Clayton (1 brewery)
Deep River Brewing Company
Hillsborough (1 brewery)
Mystery Brewing Company
Saxapahaw (1 brewery)
Haw River Farmhouse Ales
Wake Forest (1 brewery)
White Street Brewing Company
And of course let's not forget our beloved bottle shops and higher end beer purveyors:
BottleMixx
Bottle Revolution
Sam's Quik Shop
Southern Season
Tasty Beverage Company
Total Wine & More
The Triangle
The Hurricanes play in Raleigh, which is one city in the Triangle area of North Carolina, named for the shape formed when drawing straight lines between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and the 7,000 acre Research Triangle Park (the largest research park in the United States) which sits in between the three cities. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the second largest city in the state.
There are around 1.8 million people living in the Triangle. The Raleigh-Cary metro area was named in 2009 by the Census Bureau as the fastest growing area in the United States.
Populations:
Raleigh - 416,468 (City), 1,163,515 (Raleigh-Cary MSA)
Durham - 233,252
Cary - 139,633
Chapel Hill - 57,233
A 2007 Census study ranked Raleigh as the second most educated city in America with 50.1% of the population having college degrees or higher, tied with San Francisco and behind Seattle. This can be attributed to the Research Triangle Park and the 14 colleges and universities in the region, including the well known North Carolina State, University of North Carolina, and Duke.
Raleigh regularly appears on "best of" lists for the United States, such as:
Southern Living - Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South, 2012
Women's Health - #1 Among Healthiest Cities for Women, 2012
The Daily Beast - #18 Among America's Most Tolerant Cities, 2012
EcoSalon - 10 Best Cities in America for Health and Happiness, 2012
CNNMoney - #2 Among 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities, 2012
RealAge - #6 Among Top Cities for Staying Young, 2012
New York Times - #7 Among Cities with the Most College-Educated Residents, 2012
ID Cocktails - 10 Best Beer Cities, 2012
Kiplinger - #8 Among 10 Cheapest U.S. Cities You'll Want to Visit, 2012
Forbes - #2 Among Best Places for Business and Careers, 2012
Business Facilities Magazine - #1 Best Quality of Life, 2012
Forbes - Best Cities for Job Growth - #14, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Top Metros for Small Businesses - #7, 2011
Forbes - Biggest Brain Magnets in the Nation - #2, 2011
Forbes - Cleanest Cities - #3, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Quality of Life - #1, 2010
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Cities for Young Americans - #3, 2010
The Daily Beast - America's Smartest Cities - #1, 2009
Wall Street Journal - 10 Post-Recession Meccas - 2009
Wall Street Journal - The Next Youth-Magnet Cities - #7, 2009
Forbes - Best Area for Business and Careers - #1, 2009
BizJournals - Best Place to Launch A New Business - #1, 2009
Forbes - Most 'Wired' Cities - #3, 2009
Newgeography.com - Best Place to Do Business - #1, 2008
Men's Health - Most Politically Engaged Cities - #1, 2008
Milken Institute - Best Performing Cities - #2, 2008
MSNBC - America's Best Cities - #1, 2008
Forbes - Recession-Proof Local Economies - #5, 2008
American City Business Journals - Best Places for Young Adults - #1, 2008
Every Day with Rachel Ray - Best Cities for Singles - #1, 2008
Sports
While the Hurricanes are the only major league sports team in the region, and the first in the state to win their league's championship, there are several other notable sports teams in the Triangle. College basketball and football are widely popular with NC State, UNC, and Duke in the area. North Carolina is also one of the biggest minor league baseball states in the country. The Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate of "Bull Durham" fame) of the AAA International League and the Carolina Mudcats (Cleveland Indians affiliate) of the A-Advanced Carolina League represent the Triangle. Also, the Carolina Railhawks of the North American Soccer League play at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary.
Transportation
The main interstates are I-40, I-85, and I-95, and there are two beltlines around Raleigh: I-440 and the partially completed I-540. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the area with 3 runways and 36 destinations, and opened a new terminal in 2008. Amtrak stops at train stations in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. Current Amtrak service in Raleigh is the Carolinian (Charlotte to New York), Silver Star (Miami to New York), and Piedmont (Charlotte to Raleigh). Raleigh is currently in the planning stages for a new downtown intermodal transit center called Union Station that would be a hub for buses, light rail, regional rail and intercity rail.
If you are visiting, you may want want to rent a car. While plans continue to evolve for light rail lines and expanded bus systems, the current infrastructure is lacking, particularly with regards to PNC Arena. This is partly due to the disconnect and sprawl of the area with several urban centers and key places such as the PNC Arena not being in city cores. Each city has its own transit system, and a regional system, Triangle Transit, links them together.
http://www.caniaccoach.com/
PNC Arena Game Day Experience
PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center and the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena) is located outside the Raleigh downtown area, which has advantages, such as tailgating, and disadvantages, such as transportation options and a lack of things to do and places to stay within walking distance of the arena. The building is located adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State football team, and the State Fairgrounds. The Hurricanes share the building with the NC State men's basketball team.
Within Walking Distance of PNC Arena:
- Backyard Bistro - A sports themed restaurant and bar directly across the street from the sports complex. http://www.backyardbistro.com/
- Wendy's - Fast food chain restaurant across the street from the sports complex.
Hotels Near PNC Arena:
- Comfort Suites Arena - Directly across the street and beside Backyard Bistro
- Ramada Inn Blue Ridge - A slightly further distance but still walkable
Tickets:
The Hurricanes sell tickets at the PNC Arena box office and on Ticketmaster. StubHub, Ebay, and Craigslist are your best bets for secondary market. There is also a ticket resell area for scalpers outside the arena prior to games near the South entrance.
Parking:
Parking is $10 and there is ample parking in the arena and football stadium lots. Free parking can sometimes be found on Trinity Road at the Fairgrounds lot, the Hunt Horse Complex, and at the corner of Trinity and Edwards Mill Road in the grass beside the curb. The fairgrounds and horse complex lots are sometimes closed when events are taking place at those venues. Additionally, in recent years these lots have started being staffed more frequently to charge to park (but usually cheaper than the PNC lots).
Tailgating:
Since PNC Arena is not located downtown, rather than gather at bars and restaurants before games (other than Backyard Bistro), fans pack the parking lots on days with nice weather to tailgate. It is a tradition carried over from college sports that confused many players when it first became prevalent during the 2002 playoff run. Ron Francis in particular noted his surprise when he showed up 4 hours before game time to find the parking lots already brimming with people. Beer is allowed in the parking lots (but technically not liquor; not really a problem though as long as you use discretion), and some people will have some fairly elaborate grill setups. If you can't cook your own food, Bojangles, a local fast food chicken and biscuits restaurant, is a favorite to bring along (check out the Tailgate Special).
Raleigh (Downtown):
http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/
Over the last decade or so, downtown Raleigh has undergone a complete transformation, changing from more of a work and lunchtime crowd to an all-day city. An explosion of business development has been accompanied more recently by a growth in the downtown residential population. It is very walkable, safe and vibrant, filled with unique local restaurants, bars and retail. Downtown is divided into several districts:
-Glenwood South, a mid-rise entertainment district with many restaurants and bars
-Warehouse District, a series of older buildings renovated into restaurants, bars, galleries, and workplaces
-Fayetteville Street, the main street of Raleigh, bookended by the State Capitol and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, where the tallest buildings are
-Moore Square, a small park bordered by restaurants, bars, and a museum
-Capitol District, where most of the government buildings and the museums are located
Getting Around:
Downtown Raleigh is very walkable, and generally very safe. Rickshaw drivers work off tips only, and the R-Line is a free circulator bus service which loops through downtown 7 days a week and stops near all attractions, restaurants, bars, and parking areas.
Things to Do:
- Duke Energy Center - Hosts Broadway plays and concerts. http://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - The largest natural sciences museum southeast of Washington, DC. An 80,000 square foot expansion called the Nature Research Center opened in 2011. http://www.naturalsciences.org/
- North Carolina Museum of History - http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/
- NC State Capitol - Open to the public. http://www.ncstatecapitol.org/
- Raleigh City Museum - http://www.raleighcitymuseum.org/
- Marbles Kids Museum / IMAX Theater - http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/
- Goodnights - One of the most respected comedy clubs in the country among comedians. http://www.goodnightscomedy.com/
- Raleigh Convention Center - Typically reserved for private events, but sometimes there are festivals and shows. http://www.raleighconvention.com/
- Mordecai Historic Park - Historic homes and structures, including the birthplace of Andrew Johnson. http://www.raleighnc.gov/mordecai
- Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) - New downtown art museum in collaboration with the NC State College of Design. http://www.cam.ncsu.edu/
Restaurants and Bars:
Again, not a comprehensive list; these are my favorites plus those anyone else wants to add. As of 2010, all bars and restaurants in North Carolina are non-smoking.
Also see the first part of this thread for some good discussion on local food: http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=864470
- 42nd St. Oyster Bar - One of the oldest current Raleigh restaurants, named after the famous Grand Central Terminal restaurant. http://www.42ndstoysterbar.com/
- Finch's - Cheap, hole-in-the-wall breakfast and southern diner. http://www.finchrestaurant.com/
- Hibernian - Irish pub and restaurant. http://www.hibernianpub.com (temporarily closed due to fire)
- Irregardless Cafe - A Raleigh institution; creative and fresh food with lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes. http://www.irregardless.com
- The Rockford - A local favorite with some of the best sandwiches in the city. http://therockfordrestaurant.com
- J. Betski's - German food and bar. http://www.jbetskis.com/
- Moonlight Pizza - http://moonlightpizza.com
- Oakwood Cafe - Argentinian and Cuban. http://oakwoodcaferaleigh.com/
- Poole's Downtown Diner - Changing daily menu; brunch on weekends. One of Raleigh's most highly acclaimed restaurants nationally. http://www.poolesdowntowndiner.com/
- Sitti - Lebanese. http://www.sitti-raleigh.com/
- Thaiphoon Bistro - Very good thai. http://www.thaiphoonbistro.com/
- The Pit - Some of the best barbecue in the area, but a more upscale environment which is a bit weird for cue. http://www.thepit-raleigh.com/
- Clyde Cooper's - Your more traditional cheap hole-in-the-wall barbecue, around since 1938. Possibly the best cue in Raleigh http://www.clydecoopersbbq.com/
- The Raleigh Times - Simple yet creative food and a great bar with a focus on Belgian beers. http://www.raleightimesbar.com/
- The Roast Grill - A 70+ year Raleigh lunchtime institution. An extremely tiny hole-in-the-wall joint with a small counter where you can get a hot dog (burned or not burned). There's no ketchup here so don't ask. As seen on Man vs. Food. Look for the "Hot Weiners" sign. http://roastgrill.com/
- Tir Na Nog - Irish restaurant and pub. http://www.tirnanogirishpub.com/
- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe - Great sports restaurant with better food than your typical sports bar; good place to watch Canes games. http://tobaccoroadsportscafe.com/about/index.html
- The Oxford - English gastro-pub. http://www.oxfordraleigh.com/
- The Busy Bee - Restaurant, bar, and coffee shop with a rooftop deck. http://busybeeraleigh.com/
- The Remedy Diner - Traditional American with full bar and a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. http://theremedydiner.com/
- Sullivan's Steakhouse - http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/
- Mellow Mushroom - Pizza chain. http://mellowmushroom.com/
- Big Ed's City Market - Classic breakfast and southern.
- Jibarra - Upscale Mexican. http://www.jibarra.net/
- Centro - Upscale Mexican. http://www.centroraleigh.com/
- Gravy - Upscale but moderately priced Italian. http://gravyraleigh.com/
- Dos Taquitos Xoco - Mexican http://www.dostaquitosnc.com/
- bu•ku - Full service restaurant serving food inspired by street foods around the world. http://bukuraleigh.com/
- Capital Club 16 - "Traditional American cuisine". http://www.capitalclub16.com/
- Beasley's Chicken and Honey - Chicken joint from Poole's Ashley Christensen. http://www.ac-restaurants.com/
- Chuck's - Burger restaurant from Poole's Ashley Christensen. http://www.ac-restaurants.com/
- Tyler's Taproom - Restaurant with a significant beer selection. http://www.tylerstaproom.com/
- Bida Manda - The area's first Laotian restaurant. http://bidamanda.com/
- Battistella's - "classic New Orleans and upscale southern". http://www.battistellas.com/
- PieBird - Pies for meals and dessert - http://piebirdraleigh.com/
- Benelux Cafe - Cycling-themed coffee shop with Belgian waffles, sandwiches and beer - http://www.beneluxcafe.com/
- Flying Saucer - Over 300 beers, most on tap. http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/raleigh
- Foundation - Underground bar serving only local beers and incredible cocktails with a local focus. Makes their own cola, tonic, and ginger ale. http://foundationnc.com/
- Boylan Bridge Brewpub - Microbrewery with a patio overlooking the skyline. http://boylanbridge.com/
- Landmark Tavern - Small laid back bar. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=76909533
- Slim's - Dive bar and concert venue. http://www.myspace.com/slimsdowntownraleigh
- Isaac Hunter's Oak City Tavern - Casual bar in the center of the city. http://www.huntersoakcity.com/
- Neptune's - Basement bar at the reborn Kings Barcade music hall. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/Neptunes/
- Fox Liquor Bar - Upscale specialty cocktail bar. http://www.ac-restaurants.com/
- Natty Greene's - Local brewpub and restaurant. http://www.nattygreenes.com/content/natty-greenes-raleigh
- London Bridge Pub - http://thelondonbridgepub.com/
- Trophy Brewing - Local brewpub, http://trophybrewing.com/
- C. Grace - Cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150523333651168.394857.159069881167&type=3
Raleigh (Outside Downtown)
I generally stick to the downtown area, and recommend that to visitors, but there are a number of things that should be mentioned outside of it.
Things to Do:
- NC State and Hillsborough St. - Campus of the state's largest school and adjacent street with bars and restaurants.
- JC Raulston Arboretum - http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/index.php
- North Carolina Museum of Art - Contains the largest art museum park in the US; recently opened a state of the art new building http://www.ncartmuseum.org/
- Chatham Hill Winery - http://www.chathamhillwine.com/ - while it's only a winery (no vineyard of their own) and it's located in an office park near the airport, Chatham Hill puts out some excellent vinafera varietals and some good fruit/vinafera blends. The raspberry wine is amazing! Tastings are $5.00 a person and includes a tour of the winery facilities, your tasting glass, and allows a tasting of most of their wines.
William Umstead State Park - 5,579 acre park. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/wium/main.php
Lake Johnson Park
Pullen Park - Recently underwent a major renovation. http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html
Restaurants and Bars:
- Mitch's Tavern - NC State hangout. This was the bar in "Bull Durham" http://mitchstavern.com/
- Player's Retreat - Largest malt scotch selection in the state. Hamburgers made with beef ground in-house (can be ordered rare) http://www.playersretreat.net/
- Bali Hai - Cheap Mongolian restaurant. http://balihainc.com/
- Big Boss Brewery - Local brewery with a tavern attached. http://www.bigbossbrewing.com
- Carolina Ale House - Chain of sports bars in the Triangle area. Host of Canes Cool Bars events. http://www.carolinaalehouse.com/
- Buffalo Brothers - Another good restaurant to watch hockey. http://www.buffbrothers.com/
- Dalat - Great Vietnamese. http://dalatrestaurant.com/
- Draft Houses - A local chain with excellent food and fantastic beer selections. Another good place to watch hockey. http://mydrafthouse.com/
- Lilly's Pizza - Arguably Raleigh's best pizza. In Five Points neighborhoodhttp://www.lillyspizza.com/
- Neomonde - Very authentic Lebanse cafe and bakery. http://www.neomonde.com
- Ole Time BBQ - Roadside barbecue joint. http://www.oletimebarbecue.com
- State Farmer's Market Restaurant - Breakfast and southern food. http://www.ncsfmr.com/
- The BrickHouse - Sports bar with a lot of big screens not too far from RBC Center. http://brickhouse-nc.com/
- Margaux's - http://www.margauxsrestaurant.com
- Locopop's - Delicious gourmet popsicles - http://ilovelocopops.com/
- Abyssinia - Ethiopian. http://abyssiniarestaurant.net/
- Hot Point Deli - (Located in Cary). http://hotpointdeli.com/
- Bavarian Brathaus - (Located in Cary) Fantastic and authentic Bavarian restaurant.
- Ruckus - Pizza, sandwiches, and drinks; a popular local hangout. Located in Raleigh near NC State and a new location in Cary. http://www.ruckuspizza.com/
- Chubby's Tacos - Authentic and delicious tacos and Mexican food with several area locations. http://www.chubbystacos.com/
- Aviator Brewing - This is actually located in Fuquay-Varina; a good local microbrewery tap room. http://www.aviatorbrew.com/
- LoneRider Brewing - Another local microbrewery with a tap room. http://www.loneriderbeer.com/
- Adams Vineyards - Muscadine vineyards and winery with tasting room in Fuquay-Varina. http://www.adamsvineyards.com/
- Gizmo Brew Works - Microbrewery. http://gizmobrewworks.com/
- David's Dumpling and Noodle Bar - Asian restaurant on Hillsborough St with an emphasis on noodles and dumplings - http://www.ddandnb.com/
- NOFO @ The Pig - Highly regarded restaurant in an old Piggly Wiggly grocery store building in Five Points - http://www.nofo.com/
- Hayes Barton Cafe - Cafe and dessert bakery in Five Points neighborhood - http://www.hayesbartoncafe.com/
- Ashworth Drugs - Cary drug store with a classic soda fountain and lunch counter - http://www.ashworthdrugs.com/
- Gonza Tacos y Tequila - Self explanatory http://gonzatacosytequila.com/
- Raleigh Brewing - Local microbrewery with taproom http://raleighbrewingcompany.com/
Durham
As I mentioned above, I don't have the wealth of knowledge on Durham and Chapel Hill that I do on Raleigh, so I'll just offer up a few places I like or know of. Others can feel free to contribute.
- Durham Bulls - AAA baseball team. Downtown stadium. hhttp://www.dbulls.com
- Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) - http://www.dpacnc.com/
- Full Frame Film Festival - Occurs in early April every year. The premier documentary film festival in North America. http://fullframefest.org/
- American Tobacco - An old factory complex brilliantly renovated into a mixed use development. Tyler's Tap Room is my favorite restaurant and bar there. http://www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com/
- Brightleaf Square - Warehouses renovated into a shopping and dining district. http://www.historicbrightleaf.com/
- Duke University - beautiful campus including the Duke Gardens and Chapel. http://www.duke.edu
- Nasher Museum of Art at Duke - http://www.nasher.duke.edu/
- NC Central University Art Museum - http://ariel.acc.nccu.edu/artmuseum
- Museum of Life and Science - http://www.ncmls.org/
- Carolina Theatre - Classic remodeled theater showing mainly independent movies and concerts. http://www.carolinatheatre.org
- Papa Mojo's Roadhouse - http://www.papamojosroadhouse.com/ - A Cajun restaurant owned by chef/musician Roy 'Mel' Melton who spent years in Louisiana Cajun country fine-tuning and learning his recipes and his music. The place plays host to red hot Louisiana cuisine and some red hot bands too, including Melton's own band, Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos.
- Fullsteam Brewery - Microbrewery. - http://www.fullsteam.ag/
- Geer Street Garden - Restaurant and bar. - http://geerstreetgarden.com/
- Bull City Burger and Brewery - Restaurant and brewpub. - http://bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Chapel Hill
Some of these are technically in Carrboro, which is adjacent to Chapel Hill and can be walked to down Franklin Street.
- Franklin Street - the main street of Chapel Hill that runs through the UNC campus. A huge collection of shops, restaurants, and bars
- University of North Carolina - oldest public university in America. http://www.unc.edu/
- Carolina Basketball Museum - http://www.carolinabasketballmuseum.com/
- Kidzu Children's Museum - http://www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org/
- Morehead Planetarium - http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/
- North Carolina Botanical Garden - largest natural botanical garden in the southeast. http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/
- Cat's Cradle - hottest spot for touring indie music acts in North Carolina. http://catscradle.com/
- Memorial Hall - performing arts center. http://www.carolinaperformingarts.org/
- Carolina Brewery - restaurant and brewpub on Franklin St. http://www.carolinabrewery.com
- Tyler's Tap Room - http://www.tylerstaproom.com
- The Spotted Dog - Fantastic restaurant with a vegetarian focus. http://www.spotteddog.biz
- Time Out - 24 hour comfort food; a Chapel Hill institution. http://www.time-outrestaurants.com/
- Talullas - http://www.talullas.com/ - A Turkish restaurant that also hosts a great dance club scene later at night.
- Milltown - http://dininganddrinking.com - Gastropub with a good beer selection (not to mention poutine).
- Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - http://www.curryblossom.com/ - great Indian food prepared fresh, good bottled beer selection, gluten-free and vegan options, and nice seating out in their open-air courtyard.
- Bandidos - Mexican http://bandidoscafe.com/
Links
PNC Arena - http://thepncarena.com
Triangle Transit - http://triangletransit.com
Downtown Raleigh Alliance - http://godowntownraleigh.com
City of Raleigh - http://raleigh-nc.org
The Raleigh Connoisseur - http://dtraleigh.com/
News & Observer - http://newsobserver.com
Independent Weekly - http://indyweek.com/
WRAL - http://wral.com
Finally, the ultimate guide to Triangle area breweries:
Raleigh (10 breweries)
Big Boss Brewing
Boylan Bridge Brewpub
Crank Arm Brewing
Gizmo Brew Works
Lonerider Beer
The Lynnwood Grill
Natty Greene's Pub & Brewing
Raleigh Brewing Company
Sub Noir Brewing
Trophy Brewing
Durham (3 breweries)
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Fullsteam Brewery
Triangle Brewing Company
Holly Springs (3 breweries)
Bombshell Beer Company
Carolina Brewing Company
Holly Springs Nano Brewing
Carrboro (2 breweries)
Starpoint Brewing
Steel String Brewing
Chapel Hill (2 breweries)
Carolina Brewery
Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery
Fuquay-Varina (2 breweries)
Aviator Brewing Company
Hosanna Brewing
Angier (1 brewery)
White Rabbit Brewing Company
Cary (1 brewery)
Fortnight Brewing Company
Clayton (1 brewery)
Deep River Brewing Company
Hillsborough (1 brewery)
Mystery Brewing Company
Saxapahaw (1 brewery)
Haw River Farmhouse Ales
Wake Forest (1 brewery)
White Street Brewing Company
And of course let's not forget our beloved bottle shops and higher end beer purveyors:
BottleMixx
Bottle Revolution
Sam's Quik Shop
Southern Season
Tasty Beverage Company
Total Wine & More
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sure as hell wont see that anywhere within 2 hours of boston haha. see you guys next friday for game 4
