As it is with every first friday of each month, a group of bikers numbering as few as 15, up to a rumored 50 or more, meet at the belltower at 7pm to ride around downtown to check out the new exhibits at the art galleries. The path is never constant, but there are a few galleries that we’ve always hit: FM Goods, DesignBox, Rebusworks, Lump, Artspace, The Fish Market, and the Morning Times. This month, we checked out some of the usual suspects, as well as a newly opened gallery on Capital Boulevard: Adam Peele Studio and Gallery.

The newest gallery to open downtown, and by far one of the coolest, is Adam Peele Gallery and Studio. It’s located on Capital Boulevard, just north of where McDowell Street turns into Capital. It had to be one of the coolest spaces we’ve visited on a First Friday ride. Connected to the gallery space pictured above is Adam’s studio, where he sells merchandise and does his work. Check it out!
Read more »

A few days ago, I learned of changes in the works for one of my favorite hangout spots, Western Lanes. The News & Observer reported that the bowling alley with the long-unchanged décor recently came into the hands of new owners.

Trying to catch a Miller Lite while holding a camera isn’t as easy as it looks.

I was relieved to learn that the new owners would be keeping most of the interior elements that make this place special, but was concerned after reading this one bit of speculation from the article:

the mainstays — [Theresa] Fenner and Cathy Richards, who has waited tables for more than 40 years, even when the restaurant was segregated and she was barred from eating there — can stay when the place reopens. But whether they will is uncertain.The only certainty is the counter’s fate: Fenner will be taking it home once it is extracted.

If you’ve ever ordered a beer or had lunch here, you know the great service that the place provides. Luckily for patrons of Western Lanes, Theresa confirmed that they will remain on as a part of the staff once the restaurant reopens after rennovations. Whether or not her trademark sliding beer delivery will continue remains uncertain.
Read more »

My vote goes to the United House of Prayer

I don’t attend or belong to a church and I haven’t seen all of the ones in Raleigh–but I’ve admired this structure on more than one occasion and thought it was beautiful. It is home to the United House of Prayer denomination, and is located on 409 East South Street, near Shaw University.

The Pastor, Apostle T. Baptist (above) was kind enough to show me around and give me a history lesson of the church. The United House of Prayer was founded by Charles Manuel Grace in West Wareham, Massachusetts. The first structure was built in 1919 at a cost of 39 dollars. Today, there are 138 congregations in 38 cities.
Read more »