Sadlack's Heroes, Part II

The congo line

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The front of Sadlack's

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Kaci and my dog, Elsi

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Kaci and a friend

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I happened to walk by Sadlack's last Saturday when walking my dog and a friend, Kaci, called my name and I decided to hang out and have a beer. She is on a frisbee team (disc golf?) and the team was celebrating at Sadlack's. I happened to have my camera with me (I almost always do) so I hung out and took some pics.

According to their blog,

For over 30 years, Sadlacks has served Raleigh's best and freshest heroes (including legendary vegetarian selections) while entertaining the populace with the region's finest live musical entertainment.

Best sandwiches. Dog-friendly. Relaxed casual atmosphere. Prime real estate. What else do you need?

Sadlack's Heroes
2116 Hillsborough St
919-828-9190

Sadlack's Heroes, Part I

Rose (owner) and Mary (bartender)

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Steve and Stacy

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This post is going to be a bit lengthier than usual. Sadlack's Heroes is a bar/venue/sandwich joint on Hillsborough Street. Several months ago they did a complete renovation which was pretty much knocking down the previous building and rebuilding it in a similar fashion. It has plenty of outdoor seating. Normally I don't do sandwiches for dinner, but this place wins an exception every time. In my opinion, they have hands down THE BEST sandwich in Raleigh. I also don't do fried foods, but their homemade chips (or fries) are so tasty that they are worth the unhealthiness that goes with fried items.

The location is a favorite for me personally, as it's about a 2 minute walk from my house. Additionally, the location provides a great bird's eye view of the Bell Tower intersection of Hillsborough St. Perhaps the biggest reason I am such a fan of this place is that it is a dog-friendly establishment (outside, anyhow). I generally pass by this place when walking the pup, and it's neat that often there will be a dog or two hanging out on the patio for mine to play with.

Sadlack's Heroes
2116 Hillsborough St
919-828-9190

Last of the Rain Series

This is the last post in the series of rainfall in Raleigh. These images were taken under a walkway by the House of Style on Wilmington St.

More of Fayetteville St.

One more of Fayetteville St. in the rain.

The Emerging RBC Plaza (In the Rain)

The quality of this pic is pretty low because the rain was shifting in all directions (including on my lens!) so I didn't want to stick around for a long exposure.

According to godowntownraleigh.com,

In addition to bringing RBC Centura’s corporate headquarters to downtown Raleigh, the tower will offer additional office space for lease, as well as retail space and for-sale residential condominiums. It is expected to be completed in late 2008.

and ...

Standing 540 feet tall, RBC Plaza will be the tallest building in downtown Raleigh and will encompass more than 730,000 gross square feet of space, including office and retail space, parking and 11 stories of residential condominiums.

Soggy Construction Site

Looking down on East Martin Street.

Rain on Fayetteville St.

Pictured above is the area around Fayetteville St. near the Wachovia Building during a rare rainstorm. The building in the center is home to Fayetteville Street Tavern.

More of the City Market/Blount St. Area

Same perspective as the last post, just a wider viewing area. Expect several more rain photos over the coming days!

Rain Has Arrived!

The area above is the City Market area, near Moore Square.

Walking by the Progress Energy Building

Working Late Night at The Sheraton

Beau catching a quick cigarette break while working the late shift at The Sheraton.

Four Ladies at The Sheraton

From left to right: Lisa, Amy, Becky, and Sharon.

Norman the Bus Driver

Norman taking a quick break on Friday in between taking folks back and forth from downtown to the fair. He's been working for CAT for 5 years.
More information on catching a bus to the fair can be found here.

Abandoned Fashion Center

I have no information on this place. The "Fashion Center" is just a shell of a building facade. It appears that something will be put in its place once the front end is destroyed. See my earlier post on the Raleigh Sandwich Shop to see another business nearby in the same condition.

Located at South Wilmington St.

Blalock's Barber & Beauty Salon

Blalock's Barber & Beauty Salon
217 S. Wilmington St.
919-832-6153

The Fair, part IV

Two T's Part II

The Two T's entrance on Hargett St.

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One of the bouncers, Bone'z. I wouldn't recommend trying to get rowdy in this club! ;)

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The dance floor

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Two T's Rack & Tavern
108 E. Hargett St
(919) 836-9922

Two T's Part I

Rayshawn and DJ Ski Daddy in the DJ booth.

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Jessica and Jodie

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a.k.a. JoJo, pulling in the tips on Friday night.

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Two T's is a great bar. Relaxing environment, friendly people, and great bartenders. No attitudes here, just folks groovin' to R&B and other beats as spun by DJ Ski Daddy. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a place to get your groove on. Why not try a place a bit different than what you're used to?

Two T's Rack & Tavern
108 E. Hargett St
(919) 836-9922

Wilmington St. / Progress Energy Building

Looking down on the street below Saturday night.

Another visit by Officer Keen

Back in the early part of September I made a blog post about Officer Keen. At that time he was on bicycle patrol. Last Saturday night I bumped into him again in Nash Square while he was on equestrian patrol.

Reliable Loan Co. & Isaac's Menswear

I've never been in Reliable Loans, but I have shopped for menswear as Isaac's before. They have a great selection of clothes unavailable anywhere else in Raleigh.

Reliable Loan Co.
307 S Wilmington St
(919) 832-3461

Isaac's Menswear
309 S Wilmington St/
(919) 834-4978

Say leaving The Shins concert

Say lives in Greensboro and was visiting Raleigh for The Shins concert at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

The Fair, part III

The Fair, part II

The North Carolina State Fair

What kind of photo blog about Raleigh would be complete without pictures from The North Carolina State Fair?

It was thoroughly what I expected it to be, and quite larger than the type of fair I have become accustomed to growing up. Just like I'd expected to, I got sick from the awful combination of funnel cake and the various stomach-loosening rides.

The next few days will have at least one post per day of photos from the fair.

North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial

The North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Nash Square, made by artist Carl Regutti.

Personally, I like the statue. I may piss off some in the art community, by saying so, but that's all right. It's a generic statue honoring the men and women who risk their lives to save ours and preserve the structures we built and the valuable things within them.

The art gallery owners who were opposed to placing it there stated things like "I am not against the firemen". Of course you're not. That's like saying "I'm against the troops". No one is that dumb. They stated that their opposition was to the location. Why not Nash Square?

I'm guessing if it were a wiggly and curvy statue resembling a rubber band with some rings around it, it would have received less complaints.

West Side Stories

I've never been in West Side Stories, but I'm planning to go very soon. I'll be sure to give an updated post with photos and information.

200 S West St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 834-1300

UPDATE: Please visit here and here for updated posts with pictures from inside.

The Hurricane at The Raleigh Depot

Gina, Jenny, and Lindsay

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In the area surrounding the Raleigh Depot is The Hurricane. I'll be honest in that I've never actually had a drink here, but it looked like a fine enough establishment.

The Hurricane Sports Bar
327 W. Davie Street

Rick of the Last Dance

Rick enjoying a break at the hotel before his band, The Last Dance go onstage at the Lincoln Theatre as a part of The Eccentrik Music Festival.

According to The Eccentrik Music Festival web site,

Eccentrik Festival is an annual Gothic and Industrial music held in Raleigh, NC in the fall. It features bands and DJs from around the world. The event also encompasses an art show, vendors, we also hope to add variety acts and a fashion show.

If you are interested in going, it has unfortunately already concluded. It was completed with a Post Mortem Brunch on Sunday at the top of the Clarion Tower last Sunday morning.

Travis of SkateNC.com

The gentleman pictured above (Travis) is the proprietor of skatenc.com, a website about skateboarding in North Carolina.
What makes this random street encounter more interesting than the subject of skateboarding itself is the fact that we share a few mutual friends, from the area I grew up in, Hendersonville, NC.
At that time (mid 90's) skateboarders were very few and far between in that quiet little town. I still keep in contact with a few of my friends from back then. They are always mentioning how I should meet up with this guy named Travis that runs skatenc.com because he lives in Raleigh. While walking in the warehouse district on Saturday night, we were both admiring a desk with a note stating "take me home please". It was then the conversation started and we realized we had the same friends. I finally bumped into this person that I had heard about.
In this photo he is showing off an origami book he found near a bridge.

Club Mosquito, Part II

Lori and Lissy getting ready hit the dancefloor

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DJ Moonie spinning the beats

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If I were a single gentleman looking for a regular hangout spot on the weekends, this place would surely be it. The DJ was playing good tracks and talented at scratching, the ladies plentiful, the bartenders fast and responsive. The interior design was amazing.

Club Mosquito
311 S. Harrington Street
919.829.3676
http://clubmosquito.com

Club Mosquito, Part I

It was too busy for me to get this lovely bartender's name.

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Mike the bouncer around back.

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This was my first visit to this very hip club downtown. Club staff around the back of the building were nice, but understandably apprehensive about letting some stranger in the club wanting to take pictures. I talked with the manager who was gracious enough to allow me inside and take a few shots despite the fact I was dressed like a slob.

Another Horse-Drawn Carriage

I had made a post back in September about a horse-drawn carriage downtown, but the picture didn't turn out so well. Luckily for me, I got a second chance. I would really like to go out on the town in one of these.

This was taken in front of Second Empire on Saturday evening.

J & L Carriage
919.936.2586
http://www.jlcarriage.com

Glancing down West Morgan St.

Looking towards the area around The Flying Saucer.

Heck-Andrews House

Located on Blount St., this was among the first grand houses to be built in the area after the Civil War.

According to the National Park Service,

With the purchase of the one-acre lot in Raleigh, the capital city became the Hecks' permanent home. On July 22, 1869, Raleigh builders Wilson and Waddell were contracted to erect "a three story house, with tower, slate and french roof, all materials to be of the very best, and to be put up in the very best manner." The building's architect was G. S. H. Appleget, who also designed the Andrews-Duncan house just across North Street, and Shaw University's Estey Hall.

The house is also marked by a historic sign which marks the life of one of the residents, Fannie E.S. Heck. According to it, she was a social activist, writer, and led the Baptist Woman's Missionary Union after 1892. She was also a benefactor of Meredith College.

Construction on S. McDowell St.

I don't know offhand what is being built here. It is almost on the corner of S. McDowell St and W. Cabarrus St.

Fairmont Methodist Church

According to the the Official Church Website,

The name, "Fairmont," came about because the North Carolina State Fair was located here from 1873 until 1922. It was the fair's second location, near (then) State College, when both were well away from the city of Raleigh. With the college's growth, the need for a Methodist "presence" became apparent. Between June and December of 1937, the dream of a Methodist Church in (then) West Raleigh began to take shape. The first service was held on campus in the old Pullen Hall, December 5, 1937. It was then that 135 members chartered the new congregation.

Late night at the sandwich shop

Making sandwiches late on Friday night. He can also be heard as host of the hippie hour on WKNC on Saturdays from 4-6.

City Council Yard Sign

After a neutral position on the upcoming elections, the writer of this blog has decided to second The Indy's endorsement of Helen Tart for Raleigh City Council At-Large. I bumped in to her at the Oakwood Dog Park handing out fliers for her campaign.
Two of the recurring themes from this blog are historic preservation and dog-friendly businesses and places. She led the creation of the Oakwood Dog Park (unknown to me until I read the flyer) and she has a position against teardowns except for circumstances in which the neighborhood has a plan to preserve the character.

To learn more, visit Helen Tart's blog.

The Big Easy, part II

The Big Easy
222 Fayetteville St, Raleigh - (919) 832-6082

The Big Easy, part I

Last weekend after First Friday I went out with a friend to The Big Easy. I had never been there up until that point. Was a nice enough place. The building design was beautiful, the environment was very calm and relaxing.



Jen and Seanette in on a joke I missed.

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I've spent enough of my youth in pool halls and bars to know the rules of bar-owned pool tables. These unsavory folks pictured above were uninterested in playing until I was, for a reason that became apparent later--they were out of quarters. They demanded that I play their team, and I pay. I passed on the offer.
Just say no to coin-operated pool table sharks.

N&O Press Operators

John, Chris, and Anthony are third shift press operators at the News & Observer. They initially didn't want me to take their picture--in fact, 3 other employees opted out and were in the shadows. They didn't want to be perceived as being slack or not working hard, even though they were on their cigarette break.

You can tell from their uniforms that they work hard.

View from Moore Square Station

Looking down on the Blount St./City Market area from a high perch at Moore Square Station.

Compiegne Park

A small green area on the corner of Logan and Chamberlain. As noted in the sign, Compiègne, France is a sister city of Raleigh.

Cameron Village Post Office

John and Patricia taking their baby for a stroll in Cameron Village


A shot of the post office in which my dog walked in front of the camera.

Peace Camera

It's about time I did a piece on Peace Camera. A staple of the downtown area for much longer than I've been living here, it is the best friend of a photographer of any variety. Lest you think I'm plugging the place because it's a locally-owned operation, ponder this: When was the last time you visited a local shop that had prices lower than national chain stores? Not only that, but actually compare with an online buying experience?
It's certainly possible to buy cheaper new gear online (especially when much of the time the items are of a gray-market nature), but the difference isn't that much, especially when you factor in the cost of shipping. The ability to hold the item in your hand and try it out in the parking lot before you buy it is an experience that you just can't match online. This is especially true for used photography gear. Defects and abuse are easily hidden--even with good quality pictures. For me, this fact alone makes it all worthwhile. I'll be honest in that I'll scan craigslist.org first for used equipment, but I always go to Peace Camera for new stuff.
The staff is incredibly knowledgable and helpful. I almost always learn something new whenever I go there. They'll also clean your camera sensor for free, which is a must for folks like me with an older digital camera and that frequently change lenses. There really just aren't enough good things to say about Peace Camera. If you are looking to buy anything dealing with cameras, go their first. You'll find it's well worth it.

G. Milton Small Building

According to the National Park Service, the dean of the College of Design at North Carolina State College was instrumental in recruiting several Modernist architects to the area. One of these modernist architects was G. Milton Small, who arrived in the area around the same time as the founding of the School of Design at North Carolina State College in 1948.

From the NPS web site:

Small's own office building, completed in 1966, summarizes key elements of his work over the previous 20 years. To make the best use of a tiny site, the occupied space of the building is raised a story on steel columns, allowing for parking and a fountain-lined entrance walkway underneath.

The G. Milton Small Building is designated as a Raleigh Historic Landmark.