Photograph by Bryan Regan

In light of NC State’s Sweet 16 appearance tonight, Sir Walter Raleigh is showing his loyalty by wearing a jersey.

The back side of the Masonic Temple Building has seen a variety of projected images over the years, the most recent being an homage to Rembrandt. Now Tuffy looks out across the skyline.

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Corner of West St. and Morgan St.

Seemed appropriate to find a basketball goal this AM. I think there was a NCAA Championship game the other night if you call it a game and NC State has found a new coach. I grew up in Raleigh during the Norman Sloan era, some of my best childhood memories were watching the Wolfpack play with my dad at Reynolds Coliseum.

David Thompson, Monte Towe and Tommy Burleson were the stars back in the day. You could stand by the locker room at halftime and high-five the players as they left the floor. We would crawl under the bleachers for paper cups and stomp/pop them. Times have changed with the RBC Center. Lets just say I wish Mark Gottfried and the NCSU basketball program all the luck in the world, no where to go but up. For some history on the old warehouse district see John’s post below Ghost of the Warehouse District.

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Morning View 032811

Driving up Wilmington St. you’ll find an old Hardees that’s been turned into a Chinese restaurant. I’ve traveled to a lot of small towns across NC and this is the 4th Hardees I’ve seen turned into a Chinese restaurant. Not sure what the connection is … this is the only one I’ve seen with a gift shop “Dragon Gift Store”.

I think Wilmington St. has been overlooked with the revitalization of downtown Raleigh. It’s lined with an odd assortment of visually interesting businesses. You have Kings Motel next to a church and the burned out Snap Shot Video with a backdrop of the Cargil/Purina plant. Across the street you have the Bain Water Plant and the Hallelujah Soup Kitchen painted yellow and purple. Up the road is American Pawn and the Chinese-Hardees and an assortment of check cashing places, car lots and cheap motels. If you get a chance take a drive down Wilmington St.

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Saw this on the corner of Hillsborough St. and Morgan St. the other morning. “Forgive..” ? This is where I try to insert a witty comment, like did someone do something so bad they are asking for forgiveness … or is this a message to everyone who drives by. Kinda makes you think.

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Taken during a stroll after the latest snowfall around the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

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If you peer in to a small hidden window on the News & Observer building on Salisbury Street, you can see giant spindles of paper before being printed and cut.

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One of my favorite spots to view the city skyline: the intersection of Davie and McDowell Streets.

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The spot on the corner of Person and Edenton Streets was once home to Biscuit Station, a mom and pop greasy spoon restaurant that had been around for about 20 years. It closed last October, and the former service station has sat vacant since.

A tiny sign in the window says Coming Soon: Ruben’s Downtown. Despite occupying a rather quiet area despite the high traffic of Edenton Street, a lunch spot has the potential to do well, with hundreds of state employees within a few mile radius.

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Downtown Raleigh, almost a year ago, from a parking deck on McDowell Street. The weather then was almost as nice as what we are having today!

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The early commute down Hillsborough Street can be a bumpy ride.

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