Her name was Bimini and her skin was as smooth as fresh hot dog out of water. She was a mammal alright, but not like you and I…she was a dolphin!

I always love visiting

I definitely recommend the experience, but if you are looking to swim with dolphins in NC you are sadly out of luck. The closest encounters that you may have in our great state will be by way of a boat tour or dolphin watch cruise in the Outer Banks (Roanoke Island/Nags Head region).

This week, I found a bright red ALERT on my doorstep warning me that CASA with funding from the City of Raleigh and Wake County is attempting to purchase George’s Mews Apartments (corner of Washington St. and Glenwood Avenue) to convert it into subsidized housing. It’s in the heart of Glenwood’s Brooklyn neighborhood, 5 blocks from Hayes Barton, 1 block from Bishops Park and across from Fletcher Park. This is my neighborhood. This was the first time I had heard of the project.

I haven’t been the most “engaged” homeowner. In fact, I didn’t even attend last Wednesday’s community meeting with city leaders because I was working. But I am a concerned resident. I am surprised to learn that this project has been kept under wraps and that most of my neighbors, many of which are engaged HOA members, had not heard anything of these plans before now. The anonymous flyer urged residents to come to write and call all members of the Wake County City Council, County Commissioners and CASA to speak out against the development.

The CASA Website states that, “CASA is an independent non-profit housing development corporation which develops, owns and manages decent, safe and affordable housing for special populations in Wake County. Working through credible referral channels, CASA has housed over 700 people who face the daily challenge of living with a mental, developmental, or substance abuse related disorder.”

$926,164 in funds will be used for the acquisition and rehabilitation of a 26-unit development at 615 and 625 Washington Street, known as the George’s Mews Apartments. Funding for the project is close to being approved but has not been finalized by the City Council or the County Commissioners.

What are the consequences if the project’s approval is finalized?

This is what I do know:

Few communities welcome subsidized housing, with one of the most commonly voiced fears being reductions in property values.

The folks that left the ALERT on my doorstep claim that the project with negatively impact adjacent property values, does not support the city’s goal of downtown growth and revitalization and could increase chances of crime in the area.

The probability of these things worry me. I am very proud to be a homeowner. I live in a walkable neighborhood with pretty homes, a nearby park and pools. I am proud to say that property value in my neighborhood has gone up significantly since I purchased 4 years ago. I truly do love my neighborhood and feel safe when I walk down the sidewalk at night. I am walking distance from Cameron Village and Glenwood South. So many pluses here…I don’t want to risk losing that.

So my questions are…Why the short notice? How is it that I only learned of this new project from my neighbors and why only during the last week? What can I do about this? How can I find out more?

In a last ditch effort to learn more and try to make a difference, I have written emails to our county and city leaders and plan to direct them to my blog to see if any of them are moved to answer any of my questions.

A co-worker asked me what I am doing this weekend. I said that I would be celebrating my birthday along with my mom’s (our birthdays are one day apart). No big deal, just dinner and a night out at a relaxed rock n’ roll bar in downtown Raleigh with my family and close friends. “No big deal?” He asked…and then proceeded to remind me of the significance behind this particular birthday. I was reminded, “It’s the last birthday in your 20’s!” For once, I was speechless. I hadn’t stopped to think of this particular birthday this way. Besides, where had my 20’s gone anyway? Is this really it?

After years of thinking I was the younger one at work, in leadership positions within Boards and civic service organizations, or in some social settings, I realize that will no longer be true, soon enough.I’m still single, never engaged, no kids, i’m still learning something new about myself every single day, and my family thinks that i’m on my way to become a bonafide “cat lady,” (Which will never happen because I am not a fan of felines), but i’m content with where I am at almost-30.

A few year’s ago Kiplinger released a report on the “8 things to do before turning 30″ at that time I was 25 and was proud to have already knocked over half of the those tasks off of my list. I am proud of my professional accomplishments. I have a great network of friends and a loving family. I have the coolest dog around. I still get ID’d on a night out at the bar. And most importantly, I can eat ice cream every night without feeling guilty.It saddens me when people don’t want to celebrate their birthday. Why the heck not? I always say that birthdays are about celebrating life with others who are just as happy as you that you were born to enrich their lives in some way.

There is a saying that life is too short to eat bad food or drink bad wine. Now that I have been reminded of the apparent milestone that is my 29th birthday. I will be sure to raise a glass — and a fork — to that this weekend and celebrate milestones accomplished, great memories, wonderful friends and family.

I learned about an interesting new trend in fuel efficiency as I was chatting with my friend, Jim Grosslight, today. Jim is a partner of Peak Automotive Restoration. They are experts in the preservation and restoration of classic autos and they customize new cars. One of the many perks of being friends with Jim is that, apart from knowing the answer to just about any car-related question I may ask, I get to ride in his beautifully restored antique cars regularly. Thanks, Jim!

We were discussing the differences in gas savings between antique and current cars, when he asked me if I had heard of the term “hypermiling.” Shocked, that I hadn’t heard of this smart new expression, I said “no” and inquired further…”Hypermilers,” are drivers who will do almost anything in their power to boost their gas mileage by changing their driving habits. It’s apparently a popular new trend that when done the “Smart in the City” way can save you some money at the pump.

Want to know where to sign?

Here are some tips that you can use toward becoming a “hypermiler.” Hypermilers break down their vehicles performance, highlighting every misstep: stop-and-go driving, too much braking, etc. Hypermilers say that some simple ways to improve fuel economy are by optimizing the design of your car, pumping up your tires and turning off your air conditioning — which can be hard during Raleigh’s hot days of summer.

Hypermilers have also taken steps to adjust their lifestyles to reflect the challenges of the new economy. Many are carpooling, using alternative transportation options, or driving less.
Some more extreme maneuvers are not so smart, and can get you in trouble — like coasting at 7 miles per hour through a stop sign. I don’t recommend that, unless you want to talk yourself out of ticket by explaining how breaking the law is “in style.”

With gas prices relentlessly soaring, we are all being forced to rethink our driving habits in one way or another. While it seems logical, Hypermiling seems like it requires a lot of extra thought and planning that I don’t think I could fully dedicate my remaining energies to. The concept may or may not be for you, but some of the methods used can be implemented easily enough to save you at least a bit of stress — and money next time you visit the pump.
 

I decided that since she had expressed an interest I would take her to Duke University for a visit while she was in town. We visited Duke’s public gardens with a friend who is much more familiar with the campus that I. I had never been, so I would have been totally lost without our personal tour guide. It was a tranquil, pretty place that’s good for out-of-towners. There are miles of walking paths and themed gardens, birds, and turtles. It’s the kind of place where people have their wedding pictures taken. I think we spotted one.There was a young woman in a pale orange dress with an asian influenced umbrella taking photos with a large group of suited men. It was absolutely beautiful. and the newly constructed Doris Duke Center is popular for wedding receptions (as well as educational programs). We then moved on to the beautiful English Gothic style Duke University Chapel. It was closed because a wedding was taking place. I have always wanted to visit the chapel, so i’ll have to go back at another time. After walking through the campus, we had worked up an appetite so I decided that we should go to one of my favorite lunch spots in Durham, Mad Hatters Cafe & Bake Shop. The food is fantastic, but the true lure to this downtown Durham lunch and brunch staple is what sits within the glass enclosed cases surrounding the cash register…rows and rows of tasty brownies, cookies, cakes, muffins, etc. We were full after lunch, but each had one of their enormous buttery cookies afterward. A tip: Their buttercream frosting is the best! I couldn’t take my sister to Duke without taking her to UNC. We visited Mama Dip’s for Sunday brunch. I hadn’t been in ages and it was just as good as I remembered it. Southern cuisine at it’s best. We feasted on corn bread, biscuits and veggie plates – only in the south are macaroni and cheese and french fries considered vegetables.

We then walked down Franklin Street and stopped in a couple of shops. It was a bit of a ghostown, this time of year, without the college students roaming around so i’m not sure how exciting it was for my little sister. In the end, I think the weekend was a success. I got to show off my stomping grounds and spend quality time with family. I was nervous that I wouldn’t have the youthful energy necessary to keep my sister entertained all weekend, but my dad confirmed that upon her return she crashed and slept for hours, so I actually think I wore her out.

I’ve just returned from New York City, where I haven’t been since I was a teenager. Each time I’ve gone it has been to visit with family, so this experience (visiting the city as a tourist) was quite different. I didn’t know I could pack so much of a big city in during the course of a weekend, but if you plan ahead and keep an open mind you can experience so much. I thoroughly enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city, the people watching, the countless multicultural businesses and restaurants, rumblings of different languages around me. I stumbled about the city all weekend looking like a small town tourist in the big city. We stayed at the Marriot directly in front of a small black hole where the massive WorldTrade Center used to tower over the city. In 48 hours I admired the fashionable windows of Fifth Avenue, spotted the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge and all 4 of the New York City Waterfalls, ran through Rockafeller Center in the rain, walked down Wall Street and through Grand Central Station, shot pictures of the Naked Coyboy in Times Square, took a carriage ride through Central Park, visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Bryant Park, took the subway to the Mets/Yankees game at Shea Stadium and even ran smack dab into New York’s annual Heritage of Pride Parade. Among all of the sightseeing there were several stops that I have to mention and recommend to anyone traveling to New York. After settling into our hotel room the first afternoon we walked from our hotel over to Battery Park. The public park faces theNew York Harbor with a distant view of the Statue of Liberty. The 25 acre space includes several war memorials as well as Hope Garden, a memorial to AIDS victims. We visited the park at sunset and even though the area was busy with activity and saturated with tourists, an inexplicable serenity still existed on the grounds. We were on a time constraint because it was late in the afternoon and we had dinner reservations, but I would love to return to this part of the city with more time to explore the grounds. Another place that would be a sin to miss while visiting New York is a somewhat new restaurant on the Lower East Side of the city called Allen & Delancey. It’s a small, dark, candlelit space that feels more like walking into a restaurant in old England. The food was simple but sophisticated and begins with soft, warm rolls that melt in your mouth and ends with a list of desserts that are hard to dismiss…so instead I indulged in a sweet cream french toast with oatmeal ice cream and carmelized banana. It was just enough to leave you craving more. Another place that would be a sin to miss while in New York is Pinkberry’s. Being the ice cream lover that I am, I was happy to have the opportunity to try Pinkberry’s famous frozen yogurt. Pinkberry can only be found in California and New York. The tart, almost sour, natural taste of its three flavors (Green Tea, Coffee, and Original) and the wide array of fresh fruit toppings could lead you to believe that you’re actually eating something truly healthy. Of course you have a choice of other toppings like candy, chocolate chips, coco puffs and fruity pebbles to indulge in too. Lastly, you can’t leave the city without dropping by New Amsterdam Market. Dozens of local vendors join restaurant chefs, wineries, pastry chefs, and bakers to sell and offer tastings of their goodies in the weekly outdoor event in the old Fulton Fish Market space at the South Street Seaport. So much to do, so little time. But i’m confident that we made the most of our weekend in the city. Can’t wait to return take another bite out of the Big Apple soon.

Prices begin at around $300 to $800 per person. Getting out of

Tookie’s Grill originated from a restaurant at a gas station in North Raleigh. Don’t let the gas station fool you! They have items that you would typically find at a grill like hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese, etc… but they they are famous for their chicken salad.

I rushed over, stomach growing, to learn that the deli is closed for renovations. I was in so much shock that I didn’t even think to ask how long…I just stood there in shock. Pouting (out loud) and sulked out the door. I won’t bore you with the details of what I found to fend my hunger off with, but it burned the roof of my mouth because I ate it so quickly.

Luckily last year, Tookie’s opened a full restaurant at Seaboard Station off of Peace Street in Raleigh. They have live music, beer and wine and homemade desserts. When Village Deli in Cameron Village was being renovated, last summer, I got my fix at Tookie’s II once a week. I can tell you that I will be visiting Tookie’s II or Village Deli tonight.

For those Tookie’s fans reading this you may not want to waste your precious gas money driving to Tookie’s I without calling to see if they are reopened first. If you have yet to try Tookie’s or Village Deli’s chicken salad, shame on you! You have an assignment…