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I have been spoiled by living in DC and NYC...places with amazing museums and exhibits. I didn't expect to be impressed by a comparatively small one in North Carolina, but impressed I am. There is...
I have been spoiled by living in DC and NYC...places with amazing museums and exhibits. I didn't expect to be impressed by a comparatively small one in North Carolina, but impressed I am. There is so much here to see and explore. Some areas are specifically geared to kids - a living laboratory, and place to "touch and feel" science.
A wonderful part of the museum is specifically about the NC area and the animals and plants that can only be found here. Most of the museum is free, but there are special entry exhibits that you will need to pay for. Make sure to check out the totally cool dinosaur display...you will feel like you're on the set of Jurassic Park where at any moment the dinosaurs will come to life! This place is a must see if a trip to Raleigh is in your future.
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I enjoyed a great meal and dining experience with a large group at Porters. Despite the size of my party - over 20 - everyone was treated as an individual and the food was delicious. I had a great...
I enjoyed a great meal and dining experience with a large group at Porters. Despite the size of my party - over 20 - everyone was treated as an individual and the food was delicious. I had a great steak salad. Their wine and bar selection is fantastic (definitely check out Mark West's Pinot Noir if you're having steak.) If you can, save room for dessert as there are some great reasons to break your diet. The bathrooms are beautiful and staff exceptionally helpful and friendly - even servers who aren't assigned to your table will stop by and see how you are doing. I really enjoyed Porters, and I think you will too!
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America's Pita and Grill is a nice little place in the business district of Raleigh, NC that you can enjoy a quick - and inexpensive - lunch. I had delicious falafel and my friend had a yummy...
America's Pita and Grill is a nice little place in the business district of Raleigh, NC that you can enjoy a quick - and inexpensive - lunch. I had delicious falafel and my friend had a yummy looking gyro. You can get a pasta side dish or fries. They have a nice seating area that was even large enough to give room for my friend and her baby's stroller! The Grill also has a collection of photos or other art for sale from local artists. The prices for food and the helpful staff make this a great food option - plus it's down the street from the capital and NC State Museums so you can make a stop for a quick meal before you hit the museum circuit.
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I recently went to 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill with a large group from my office. We received great service and everyone enjoyed the delicious food - even the guy allergic to seafood...
I recently went to 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill with a large group from my office. We received great service and everyone enjoyed the delicious food - even the guy allergic to seafood found something he could enjoy! I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the fried food I'd eaten at the NC State Fair, so I opted for a dish of steamed shrimp and a side salad! Yummy! Of course I stuffed myself to the gills with 42nd's amazing hush puppies. They really are the best I've ever had. They have a full bar and an amazing dessert menu. Hey, even the bathrooms are nice. You will feel comfortable here on a fancy date, or if it's just you and the boys wanting to watch the game. If you go, make reservations as this place fills up fast even on a week night.
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The National Museum of the American Indian is a really great museum - and the newest member of the Smithsonian Museum family in Washington DC. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; closed...
The National Museum of the American Indian is a really great museum - and the newest member of the Smithsonian Museum family in Washington DC. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; closed Dec. 25. (Exhibition spaces, café, and stores begin closing at 5:15 p.m.)
The outside of the museum is as beautiful as the inside with waterfalls and native plants. The interior is huge...each floor exploring a different aspect of Indian Culture. But this isn't just a room full of arrowheads and fur jackets - this museum covers all aspects of the Indian experience in America. You will see artifacts from hundreds of years ago but also explanations and stories about what life is like today for the American Indian either living on a reservation or in the cities. I was fascinated and literally lost track of time.
Make sure to check out the museum's research center...a fully functioning library and genealogy center where you can research some aspect of Native American culture. Even if you don't have anything to research, check out the best view of the Capital Building I've ever seen - right from the research room!
The gift stores have some nice gifts for kids and adults, and if you are a Smithsonian member you get a discount. The cafe, Mitsam, is absolutely worth checking out. All the food stations, separated into specific regions of the company, serve an authentic native American Indian meal. Even the beverage station offers different teas and lemonade type beverages you will not find anywhere else. It's expensive - I paid nearly 14 for a meal, but I considered it a special treat so it was worth it.
Both kids and adults will enjoy a visit to the National Museum of the American Indian. Here is the museum's http://www.nmai.si.edu/index.cfm for more information.
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Fire Opal
Category:
Arts & Crafts
7 Pond St
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 02130
(617) 524-0262
I had a great time browsing in Fire Opal, but was disapointed with the high prices. The store has a strong NYC artsy vibe which I loved, and some truly unique items. My favorite was the candle...
I had a great time browsing in Fire Opal, but was disapointed with the high prices. The store has a strong NYC artsy vibe which I loved, and some truly unique items. My favorite was the candle sticks made out of bicycle parts. If you had the cash, this would be a great place to get a one of a kind wedding gift or some eye catching art for your walls. The staff was friendly and lets me browse and handle things for as long as I wanted, unfortunately since most of their items were out of my price range, I didn't really want to browse for very long. Worth the visit, but I'm not sure it's worth the prices they are charging.
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I went to Boomerangs with my cousin last weekend and had a ball browsing their selection of - well - everything. They have new (yes, new) clothing, jewelry, clothes for just about everyone (even...
I went to Boomerangs with my cousin last weekend and had a ball browsing their selection of - well - everything. They have new (yes, new) clothing, jewelry, clothes for just about everyone (even your dog), shoes. You name it, they just may have it somewhere. My cousin is a costume designer for theater, and we found a fantastic vintage jacket that will be perfect for his nex production. I was tempted by some gorgeous engraved silver platters. Boomerang is a great place to browse or shop. You may not find what you're looking for, but you will find something!
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Staghorn is a great little shop that has an incredible selection of unique, funny, beautiful or useful gift items. From books to baby clothes to doormat, they seem to have it all in a very small...
Staghorn is a great little shop that has an incredible selection of unique, funny, beautiful or useful gift items. From books to baby clothes to doormat, they seem to have it all in a very small space. The staff lets you browse to your hearts content. The prices are a bit high but standard for NYC boutique style products. If you're looking for the "ooh cool, where did you get this?" reaction from your gift recipient, or if you have no idea what to give and need some good ideas, this is the place to start your shopping!
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Tosca Ristorante was a absolute treat for me during my recent trip to the Raleigh/Durham area. Even though we didn't have reservations we were made to feel comfortable and seated right away. The...
Tosca Ristorante was a absolute treat for me during my recent trip to the Raleigh/Durham area. Even though we didn't have reservations we were made to feel comfortable and seated right away. The service was attentive and even the manager stopped by the table to ask how the meal was.
The food is fresh and delicious - I felt like I was in Italy or NY. They have a great wine selection and if I'd had room for dessert I would have definitely tried any of their offerings.
The restaurant is built into a converted factory and still has the original brick walls making the entire space warm and inviting. This is definitely a special occasion place, but it's casual enough for every day with their outdoor seating which is also good for lunch.
More information can be found at this http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/11561837/
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I recently visited Raleigh for a business trip. I was really looking forward to staying at a cozy bed and breakfast or a larger hotel in Raleigh, but my company chose the Ramada Inn at Blue Ridge. ...
I recently visited Raleigh for a business trip. I was really looking forward to staying at a cozy bed and breakfast or a larger hotel in Raleigh, but my company chose the Ramada Inn at Blue Ridge. I found the desk staff to be friendly but very slow. The amenities are typical for a low end hotel although I did appreciate the wireless internet access. The bathrooms are very industrial.
The Ramada has a pool and a basic fitness room (one treadmill) I was really disapointed with the breakfast and restaurant. The continental breakfast is basically coffee, juice and some muffins. If you want a sit down meal with your family at breakfast, be prepared to wait a long time for service (there was only one server for the entire place) and the food was absolutely flavorless. Not worth the nearly 10 bucks it cost to get scrambled eggs (runny), sausage (oily) and grits that I didn't order. I never got the fruit plate I'd ordered and at that point I didn't want it anymore.
The Ramada is close to the state fair grounds so if you're going there it's worth it for the closeness, but don't come here with high expectations.
For more information, check out this http://www.blueridge.pmcproperties.com/
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