The Unofficial and Unessential Guide to Raleigh

A blog that posts lists, articles, and fun facts about Raleigh and the surrounding parts of North Carolina

[ontd-dawnchorusgala]

So are we all just sleeping on how hot Lazarus got after he was Duke’d, or is that just me?

[raleighliving]

high-key glowup fr

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[raleighliving]

The best part about living in Raleigh? How it'll be nice out for one day and then rain that's frigid, but not freezing so you still have to go to work in miserable conditions with people who don't know how to drive.

[raleighliving]

Interview with NCSU Staff Member

This was an interview I conducted April 22nd of 2021. I've tried to eliminate as much personal information as possible (including the initial "about yourself" question) since if any attitudes or opinions have changed I wanted to respect the individual while still showing I did in fact talk to people about this.

RL: How do you feel, personally, about the NCSU physics department and the work you do there?  Do you particularly enjoy it, have things been rough due to the Pandemic, etc.

Staff Member (SM): The department is very collegial and a great place to work.   Our faculty are performing research that will have direct impacts on the future.  We have faculty working to develop transparent plastics for greenhouses that can let appropriate light through for plant growth while using the light that is not needed to generate electricity to power the facilities, faculty using physics techniques to probe  how biological macromolecules self-organize to exert mechanical force and accomplish biological function, information needed to understand cancer, birth defects, and miscarriage, and faculty who initiate discussions with the general public about the end of the universe through popular science books.  On the teaching side, we have many faculty who have received teaching awards such as the Board of Governor's award, the Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award, NC State's Academy of Outstanding Teachers, and even national awards such as the American Physical Society’s Award for Excellence in Physics Education.  We take both teaching, research, and service very seriously.

As with everyone else, we have pivoted with COVID as everything has moved online.  I'll comment more below on specifics.   

RL: on to the fun stuff here, I've talked to a number of your students from a plethora of graduating classes and they all echo this similar belief that "The NCSU physics department operates on a 'fail to pass' mindset where class averages sit at the low sixties until a curve is brought in". 

SM: The first thing needed is to understand what we teach.  You had comments in your thread from both physics majors and non-majors.  

We teach physics to a very large number of students each year; approximately one out of every 10 students at NC State is currently taking a physics class.  The vast majority of these students are not physics majors, with about 60% of them taking the calculus-based classes (205/208) and 40% the algebra-based ones (211/212).  Loosely speaking, PY205/8 are primarily filled with engineering students and PY211/2 are life-science majors.  The total numbers of students taught in 2020 are Fall 211/2/05/08 (2131), Dept. Total (2819), Spring 211/2/05/08 (2416), Dept. Total (3158).   Multiply this by 4 to get a rough number of credit hours.  Note physics majors take PY201/202 which is a similar class, but taught at a higher level than PY205/8.

To summarize more accurately from what I've gathered, many seem to think that the Physics department at NC State operates in a way that is purposefully obfuscated/overly complex and then saves itself by fiddling with homework weights or by curving every assignment.  How would you respond to these statements?

Although I don't know, I would guess that most of your comments arise from students taking PY205/208.  There are multiple sections of each course and they are taught with a common syllabus so that everyone has the same homework, tests, etc. regardless of the section they take.  Exams are common across all sections and are given in the evenings.  We have one one faculty member make the first draft of the test each time, but they are thoroughly vetted by all faculty teaching the course.  Very few of the initial problems remain exactly the same after each problem has been reviewed by multiple faculty members. 

We put out practice tests for the students based on tests from previous years.  We provide the students many ways to test their knowledge, including a set of representative problems with only answers available.  There are an ample number of worked out solutions provided throughout the chapters in the book and other resources and this tool provides a way to test their knowledge prior to the test.  If someone is struggling with the practice test, they will not be able to learn it from there, but need to step back to more structured problems with explanations before revisiting the practice test again.  We do not provide practice tests that completely mirror the actual tests because we are asking the students to learn the material as opposed to memorizing how to work a small subset of problems.

All courses are taught by faculty, with the graduate TAs overseeing the associated one-hour laboratory courses (PY206/9).  During the pandemic, we have had to introduce more technology into the course since everything had to rapidly switch to online, which has caused a few hick-ups, but overall it seems to be going well given the rollout to such large numbers of students with little time to vet the technology.

When it comes to tests, we do evaluate them and in many cases either apply a curve for each test or one for the class as a whole.  Student performance has changed during the pandemic as a result of not being able to discuss problems with their peers, not having group study sessions, no in-person tutoring, etc.  We have tried to account for this by reducing the difficulty of the tests, but that is not always sufficient.  I will note that many students are doing incredibly well and the averages have been running lower recently because the tail of the distribution is much longer now than before.  The median for the tests however is higher than the average.

While not part of your question, over the past few years, the numbers of students cheating has unfortunately significantly increased and we have been forced to put measures in place to help ensure the integrity of the course for the majority of students who are spending many hours preparing.  Pre-COVID, these measures included assigned seats during the tests and randomized numbers/answers across tests.  Post-COVID, early indicators showed significant increases in cheating (~15% of students).  This is a nationwide issue and I have seen multiple discussions by department heads across the country.   We thus needed to put structures in place in this new reality.   

These have evolved over the past two semesters based on both faculty and student feedback.  They include Respondus Monitor, which was chosen by the University/DELTA and they purchased a site license.  Due to the large number of students, other monitoring options are not really viable.  We are also using ~30-minute segments for the tests, which is aimed to allow one to take a short break between parts.  This also helps the student continue should they have temporary connectivity problems or technology failures.  The test uses randomized numbers and numeric questions, which is the same format as their homework.  There is only one chance per question and the questions are presented in a fixed ordering that is unique for each student. This minimizes opportunities for collaborative work during the test. In a test setting, we want students to work on problems individually, not in groups.  We understand that this presentation of questions is not ideal, but this has been implemented for integrity reasons.  Students may bring several pages of your individually prepared notes – on paper.  We would like them to be able to access resources, but we want it to be resources that they created and hope it will help alleviate some of their anxiety.  The test is not open book.  Electronic versions of the textbook are cumbersome during a testing situation, and provide a significant advantage to students fortunate enough to own a second device or a printed copy.   Students must submit their handwritten work for each problem. This is required, as it will help us verify that they did the work themselves.  

RL: Do you feel like the Physics and engineering courses use "weed out" courses? What are your thoughts on weed-out courses in general? 

SM: We teach the material at a level that is consistent with norms across the country and we do not consider our role to be a weed-out course.  We do cover a lot of material in class and it moves quickly.  It requires significant work outside of the classroom and for many, it is the first challenging course (of many) that they take at the University.  Our syllabus is consistent with almost all similar engineering-based courses and we are regularly reviewed as part of the College of Engineering's ABET accreditation process.  I meet regularly with administrators from the College of Engineering to make sure we are covering the appropriate material for their students.  We also have active collaborations with engineering faculty teaching higher-level mechanics and statics courses developing tools that can be used across the two colleges in multiple courses.  In addition to university resources, there are many local opportunities for students to get extra support - either from their professor during office hours or from our graduate students who work in our own tutorial center.  

RL:  Do you have any statistics for your department's graduation rates that you could share? Searching through public information it looks like the average failure rate for physics students teeters between ~22-25%, and according to College Factual [Data May have changed since 2021] NCSU only awarded 29 BA's in the last year, and the school has an overall on-time graduation rate of 44%.  Compared to notoriously difficult Physics and Engineering schools like MIT, which holds an 85% graduation rate comparatively, this is troubling data, to say the least.  If you could provide any statistics or data contrary, however, that'd be greatly appreciated. 

I'm not sure where the numbers they quote come from.  Per the University's Institutional Data Profiles, the current numbers for physics are: 

Retention and Graduation Rates

Data Element 2020-2021

Four Year Graduation Rate 60%

Five Year Graduation Rate 67%

Six Year Graduation Rate 78%

First Year Retention 91%

Note that these numbers only include freshmen who started at NC State.  This excludes all transfer students from the community college route.

We produce about 30 bachelor degrees per year which is par for a department of our size.  You can see national statistics here:  https://www.aps.org/careers/statistics/upload/bachdegree1115.pdf [Numbers may have changed since 2021]. This number is also consistent with the size of our incoming class which also runs about 30.  Note that about 1/2 of our graduates started in physics as a freshman.  The other half of the class (both incoming and outgoing) change their major in the process.  Much of this happens as students see a much broader set of options when entering the university and there are many that move between different areas in sciences and engineering.  Our program as a whole has about 140 physics majors across all years and about 120 graduate students en route generally to a PhD.

Again, a mix of data here in that our majors do not take the engineering sequence where you are quoting the ~22-25% failure rate.  For these classes, I looked at the pre-COVID PY205 DWF (#'s of D's, F's, and Withdrawals) rates and how they compared over eight spring semesters (averaged over all sections of PY205 taught not including honors).  Note that a D is not considered failing the course, however the College of Engineering requires a C or better to move forward with their curriculum so I have included it in this analysis.  Also during COVID, the University introduced additional S/U grading options and allowed withdrawals much later, so it has been almost impossible for me to get meaningful statistics on student success during this time.  Pre-COVID, the DWF rate across all sections over the previous eight years was 22.8% and with a median of 25.1%.   I looked in detail for the spring semester prior to the shutdown where the rate was 24% across all sections.  Here, almost half (11 of the 24%) were either W's or students who did not show up for the final exam.  Of course there will always be variations from year-to-year and also from instructor-to-instructor, but we try to keep these reasonably small.

RL: Overall, what message would you like to send to the students in your department?  What sort of takeaway do you want people who enter these courses and feel they were given a purposefully twisted challenge to have instead?

SM: The physics department takes our teaching responsibilities seriously and works hard to deliver classes aimed to set students up for future success.  We stress building critical thinking skills and understanding of why as opposed to just identifying what formula to use to solve the problem.  

RL: I thank you for your time, and apologize for taking so long to reach out to you.  It has been super hectic with my own personal life and I hope that you have a great afternoon.  

Additionally, if there's anything you'd like to say otherwise feel free to include it outside the interview guidelines.  Or if you have any questions for me, etc. etc.

SM: As a side note, with the very large numbers of students that we teach, there are quite a few that struggle.  Much of this is not the physics itself, but lack of math skills.  We have been creating resources for students to help fill holes in that knowledge, but this is taking time both to identify them and to put them in place.  For example, we found out a year or so ago that matrices were removed from the NC high school curriculum.  We have now shifted gears to include that foundational math knowledge into what we teach.  More and more students are not taking trigonometry in high school which makes solving problems with angles incredibly difficult.  The list goes on.  With the pandemic now, I worry about what additional deficiencies we will be seeing.  We are actively reaching out to high school physics teachers to assess where students will be and will be meeting to determine if we need to make additional adjustments in the course for the fall.  

I'm happy to talk more about any of this in detail if it would help.  We do care and are not out for the students as many would think.  It's generally their first "real" course at the university and it catches many by surprise.

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If the staff member I spoke with is okay with me publishing his name and the first question, I'll be more than happy to. You know who you are, and if you reach out to my email again I'll respond to your wishes within my ability and make edits where needed.

More content™ to come, especially when I can complain about people complaining about the rezoning or whatever else is going on around town.

[raleighliving]

Killing the weed out paper

So, its been awhile. Understatement of the century I know but I wanted to get back into using this blog and I kept running into my own personal roadblock being:

>I promised an interesting read about weed-out courses >I said it would be coming out soon™ >OP never delivers

I really was working on it. I made lots of interesting progress, talked it around IRL/Reddit/Other places and even got to speak with a department head about the topic.

..but then nothing happened. I apologize for living up to the meme but between things going on in my personal life + having to shift some priorities + L + Ratio it just couldn't happen. So instead, here's a list of reasons why it couldn't happen in order of most to least importance (in my view).

Data Collection I posted on Reddit, talked with people, and collected data where I could but in the end, I only ended up getting maybe 15 people as my data points. If you've worked with data before, you'll know that when compared to the size of a college department it's not enough for an accurate sample I got to speak with plenty of lovely people from those 15 and saw some perspectives that disagreed with my thesis, but without a decent enough sample size, I may as well have just interviewed random pedestrians.

Work/Life Balance I started this blog partly as a chill activity for myself. I thought it would be cool if people read it, and if maybe it lead to something greater in the future, but as of now it's a Tumblr blog with zero monetization and I can't afford (literally) to write something so time-consuming or chase down leads if it gets in the way of work I do that DOES cut me a paycheck.

I don't think I should be the one to write this I was motivated by overhearing one too many conversations of people with genuine passion, and real joy in the field, feeling prematurely burnt out by the classes they were in. I wanted to look in, and see if I could verify what people were saying about courses at NCSU in the Physics department because I wanted to help where I could. But I'm not an investigative journalist, I'll probably never be one, and nothing I could write about the subject would do it justice (even if I had enough feedback from my interviews and surveys to write something). In the same way I wouldn't recommend fixing your own car engine without training, I feel that perhaps I shouldn't be writing about such a heavy topic/accusation without better data, understanding, and knowledge about the issue.

I will publish the interview I had with one of the Physics department people about this, but I'll be keeping it anonymous unless otherwise contacted because I don't know if anything has changed in the years since I spoke with them. I'm sorry to promise something big and not deliver, but hopefully I can use this as a learning experience.

learning not to bite off more than I can chew, not to punch above my weight limit, and hope that maybe someone reading this who does have the knowledge and connections can look into things and do a better job than I.

[raleighliving]

Big project coming soon

Writing about NCSU, may have something but need to do more research. Stay tuned

[raleighliving]

[raleighliving]

Raleigh Apartment Culture

So I'm of the mind that Raleigh is a great place to live. It has my favorite things, my favorite people, and I'm too broke to move anywhere else.

Raleigh works for me, but I recognize it doesn't work for everyone. Some people had less than ideal childhoods and wanna escape the state ASAP, some just want to live closer to their dream jobs or have new opportunities. That's all fine, but what if this describes where you are now?

What if, for the sake of argument, you're outside of NC and wanna move in? Moving is expensive, time-consuming, and risky at the best of times; so you wanna make sure that wherever you're landing is at least as good as where you started 90% of the time

"But RL," I hear you say, "you make Raleigh sound like an idyllic dreamscape populated with parks and a diverse kumbayah of peoples living in harmony"

I do talk about Raleigh in a positive light but, like a life saving medicine flavored like ass, sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

So before you spend thousands of dollars on moving vans, boxes, and grits; here's a crash course on what it's like living in a Raleigh apartment, coming from someone whose majority of Raleigh Living (heh) has been in apartments.

First off, location. Any realtor will tell you that location is 80% of the sale to sound profound, and as anyone who has lived in the middle of ass-backward nowhere can tell you: It sucks having to drive 30 minutes to go anywhere.

Good news: With the Raleigh Beltline and connecting roads, there are very few places in Raleigh where your trip will last longer than thirty minutes one-way. Bad News: where you set down still matters because cutting down on travel is important for car and mental health.

North Raleigh is different from south Raleigh is different from northwest Raleigh, and the locals aren't the only difference you'll find between locations. Each segment of Raleigh has something to offer, with easier access to some attractions than others and neighboring cities for when you need something outside the RDU area.

Using downtown as the center of our wheel, people generally divide Raleigh into North and South Raleigh (with distinction given for NW, SE, NE, etc when needed). N.Raleigh is considered generally more upscale, a slice of suburban living interspersed with plenty of shopping centers for families and the moderately wealthy; but it's boring as all hell.

Want some fun? Excitement in the evenings and a more traditional urban experience with bars, night clubs, strip clubs, and more? South Raleigh is your best bet, at the cost of being the "sketchy" side of Raleigh. That kind of place where you'll see a bunch of auto shops that look abandoned but haven't been closed in the past 5 years and there's at least one customer from time to time.

Of course, this is a lot of generalizing but you'll find that it's still mostly accurate. The main exception in this is Capital Blvd, a highway cutting across north and south Raleigh on the eastern half of the city; a high crime corridor that's undergoing some changes in the northern half that have (somewhat) reduced crime but most people will still associate that area with the majority of Raleigh's crime and debauchery.

More importantly, is the distinction Raleigh citizens put on inside the beltline versus outside the beltline. The I-440 and 540 highways that wrap around Downtown form the mythical beltline, and to a degree what you have access to. Inside the beltline is the majority of workplaces, stores, and shopping centers; while outside you'll still have these things just to a more... dispersed extent.

North Raleigh actually kinda exemplifies this perfectly. Living inside the beltline, you have access to places like North Hills, Crabtree Valley mall, and Triangle Town Center. Live outside the beltline, like I currently am, and you're looking at 10 to 15 minutes to the nearest sheetz for that late night double hot dog fix.

So for point one: How important is it that you're near things? The majority of apartments and rental properties are in or around the belt-line, but if you want to save some cash on rent checks the cheaper properties are gonna extend your trips a bit.

Next, what can you expect in terms of neighbors? Does Raleigh have a hip party scene full of teens renting cheap apartments and blasting trap music at 3AM?

Depends on where you live

I swear not every point is going to be this, but there's an important distinction this time that affects the type of people your complex will likely have surrounding you; are you in North or South Raleigh?

North Raleigh has a ton of pre-schools, k-12 public schools (Leesville, Hillburn, Lead Mine, just to name a few), and office complexes that make up the job market. As a result the majority of apartment renters in north Raleigh tend to be families with a few small kids or so.

As a result, living off of Glenwood North and Edwards Mill I never had any noise problems from neighbors, the worst being kids playing outside at 3PM sounding like they were being murdered (which apparently is a common thing and I apologize to any neighbors I frightened with ghastly shrieks).

What I did have a problem with, however, was the typical Karen's you hear people complain about online. Renting a property now, we have access to our neighborhood's NextDoor page and it's hilarious sometimes to go on and read the comments, but living at a certain property we had a sort of mini-Facebook for residents

That thing was always full of either people who were moving out looking to sell their furniture or people passive-aggressively challenging each other/the apartment managers with comments about things happening around the complex.

Once I logged in to see one man accuse another, without ever actually accusing someone specific ("I know who did it and they should be ashamed" type post) of putting glass beer bottles under the tires of his truck to try and puncture them. Everyone acts civil in public, but then online they'll stir the pot harder than a chef with a hand mixer.

South Raleigh, you have the schools like Shaw University, Meredith, and NCSU; so the people renting down there are typically college kids. You'll see more apartments that cater towards them like University Village or University Woods, but sometimes these places will cater to both college kids and working adults

Avoid these places like the plague, because despite sometimes having a lower cost to live there the neighbors and their shenanigans will drive you up the wall (unless you're the type to join in, then go wild).

I've had friends stay at places like University Village and The Proper (formerly The Vie, formerly Wolf Creek) who've shared horror stories. 3AM parties ending in property damage or vomit in inconvenient places, drug deals not even trying to be subtle, and maintenance workers doing nothing because regardless of the apartment conditions; no school's gonna pull their contract with them unless news articles start getting written.

http://www.technicianonline.com/news/article_898ddf34-82f5-11e7-b3d8-07059d248619.html

https://www.wral.com/vie-at-raleigh-residents-finally-able-to-move-into-clean-units/16887833/

http://www.technicianonline.com/news/article_ea8ed7aa-a092-11e8-a2af-e70af36566d0.html

Otherwise, south Raleigh apartments are largely like north Raleigh apartments; except the crime rate tends to be a little higher and you'll run into more singles and people working full time.

Otherwise, Raleigh apartment culture is like apartment culture anywhere else in the country. You have a mix of apartments catering to those just looking to live versus more ostentatious luxury apartments with fancy pools, exercise facilities, and tech packages to draw people in.

If you're renting in Raleigh, however, do try to get a roommate or two if you can manage. Even with a decent job paying 800+ on a one bedroom one bath apartment can be exhausting at best, but with even one other person that can functionally halve your expenses

So if you're a young professional, or a student, or even if you have a small family, I can safely recommend renting in Raleigh. There's plenty of places that'll accommodate you, and cater towards your needs.

But what about everyone else? Are there people who shouldn't rent in Raleigh?

No

But there are groups who I'd seriously ask to consider their other choices before picking Raleigh as a destination for their new home.

For instance, are you a member of the LGBT community? A trans or non-binary individual? Well then, first off, I want you to know that you're loved and valid. I'm accepting of who you are and appreciate everyone's right to identify how they choose, but I'm not everyone.

Raleigh's bluer than other parts of North Carolina, as I've stated in other blog write-ups, but it's still part of North Carolina unfortunately and as a result, you'll face some challenges.

I doubt anyone's gonna burn a cross in your yard or knock over your mailbox, but Raleigh doesn't offer LGBT protections for housing, jobs, or credit/lending discriminations according to the Movement Advancement Project's website.

We have support organizations for LGBT and NB individuals, plenty of high schools and colleges have Gay-Straight Alliance clubs, and there are numerous businesses downtown that cater specifically to those individuals... but we're also the state that got into a lot of hot water because of a stupid bathroom bill, and our politicians are trying to pass anti-trans sports legislation (because they now magically care about the integrity of womens sports).

By that measure, but to a lesser extent, if you fall outside the Liberal/Conservative political spectrum then be prepared to have no one to discuss your politics with outside of a few sparse networks like the DSA.

Additionally, if you don't have someone to room with or a significant other to split costs with; you may want to try searching somewhere a little cheaper.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Raleigh housing prices aren't terrible for a major metropolitan city, but we're not the best prices in the world.

You can get prices on apartments and rentals lower than say, California or New York. However, compared to other parts of NC like Greensboro or Garner; rentals are still a bit much.

On average, a Raleigh apartment can run you about $900 for a single bedroom and a single bathroom. You can find cheaper, but often times there's some risk associated (Crime levels, quality of the room, quality of the property manager, etc.) Looking for a two bedroom? Then your average price is gonna jump up to around $1,200, and this is all before utilities and cable come into play.

It's true a lot of companies around here will pay more than the $7.25 minimum wage, but most low-skilled jobs will pay around 10-11 an hour.

I guess though, that's kind of an obvious statement. "Don't live in Raleigh if you can't afford to live in Raleigh."

I might expand on these thoughts at a later time, but hopefully for now I've given you some food for thought; or at the very least an entertaining read for a few minutes.

I love my city, and I love the friends I've made in it, but the sad truth is that nowhere is perfect for everyone; leastways Raleigh. If Raleigh sounds like the kind of place you'd like to live in, at least take a day trip to come visit and see how things go that way. Visit some stores, meet some locals, and form an opinion off of more than travel blogs and youtube videos.

[raleighliving]

The Weather's Nice, What Now?

I gotta pump this out really quick, I live in one of those parts where today's gonna be a really really SHIT day weather-wise and my internet's probably gonna drop hard once the 60+ mph winds hit.

So (today aside) the weather for the upcoming weeks looks like it's gonna be really nice. Upper 60s, mid 70s weather with sunny and cloudy days that mark the arrival of spring (until we fall back into sub-30 frostbitten cold as punishment for getting comfortable). If you're inclined towards doing things other than writing semi-cynical blog posts all day and taking sub-amateur pictures of parks and buildings, then this means you'll probably want to spend the next week outside!

"But RL," I hear you say between sips of your Bojangles 64oz sweet tea and fistfuls of biscuits, "We're still in a pandemic and I'm afraid of the sight of my own shadow. I've illuminated my house with over 400 lamps."

That first point is true and the second point is terrifying. We're starting vaccine rollouts for more people soon, but that doesn't mean we throw caution to the wind and start licking doorknobs again. That being said, there's still plenty of fun things to do that will let you enjoy the warm breeze and scents of blooming flowers across Raleigh.

So to start with, you know the State Fairgrounds? That place where the State Fair is held each year and the flea market on weekends? Did you know that they have a website, and did you know they list all of their upcoming events on said website?

Super useful too, it's organized month-by-month with an admin that actually updates things fairly reliably (at least in my experiences they've been quick with updating regarding cancellations). Looking for something you and your family can do, you can consult the list and see.

For example, a drive-thru Dino Expedition event just ended but it's going to be replaced soon with a Drive-In Laser Light Show from the 18th through the 21st of March. Gun and Knife shows, a Reptile convention, and more are on the docket for this month so give it a go and see if anything strikes your fancy.

Similarly, you can use the visitraleigh website to find events happening across the city (although it does tend towards downtown). The site's mostly geared towards tourism but if you're the type to not really go out looking for adventure (Like I was), sites like this can be a godsend for getting ideas for things to do.

Don't wanna leave the immediate area of your house? Don't want to deal with Raleigh drivers and their flagrant disregard for traffic rules? Then maybe while the weather's nice, now's the time to consider a DIY project or two to keep yourself busy on your days off.

If you've got any amount of backyard space or a balcony to hang planters off of, many Americans find gardening to be a relaxing and fun hobby. In college, I nurtured a lily to keep myself sane (Until a door opening sucked it out an open window, smashing the flower's plastic container against the building's AC unit) and it worked for the most part.

The act of crafting something or nurturing something is cathartic, and then having a tangible result as proof of your hard labor just intensifies the feeling.

Don't know what to build? Not sure what's good to grow? Well, since you're reading this blog I guess I don't have to tell you what the internet is and how to use it; but I will recommend looking at Big Happy Backyard, a website dedicated to maintaining your yard space with projects and tips most Americans would be able to perform.

"RL!" I hear you scream, upsetting all the dogs for the next 2 city blocks, "I don't want to go outside! I have to be on Zoom calls all day! I hate people and just want to enjoy the weather without having to risk interacting with them in any way, shape, or form!"

That's valid. Sometimes you can't or won't go outside but still get the urge to enjoy the weather, and I have a simple solution for that exact problem!

Open your windows.

That's not sarcasm either, if you're stuck indoors and it's the most glorious day outside there's no reason you shouldn't be able to at least let in some fresh air.

Fresh air can be important too! According to the Long Island Weight Loss Institute, fresh air contains fewer pollutants than indoor air, helps you feel more energetic, and can apparently even improve your digestion.

Essentially, don't let a busy life or a fear of the outdoors deprive you of an easy health benefit! It's super easy and the only thing you have to fear is pollen (which may be a reasonable fear given how much we get around this time).

Today's gonna be shit. We're looking at winds up to 60 mph, it's supposed to rain, hail, AND thunder, and some areas of Raleigh are definitely gonna flood (lookin' at you Crabtree). Once it's over though, the nicer days ahead will be something we can look forward to as flowers start to sprout and things start to stabilize into spring.

[wherethedogwoodblooms]

8 Things You Need To Know About Me - Where The Dogwood Blooms

Welcome to Where the Dogwood Blooms! Let's get to know each other. Here's 8 things you need to know about me.

First post is up! ::happy dance::

[raleighliving]

Welcome to the Tumblr blog-o-sphere. The rules are made up and the points don't matter

[raleighliving]

Update: Slow Times Ahead

So this isn't gonna be about my city or cool things in it (technically I'll talk about Wake Tech but it's not really the focus here), but instead, it's gonna be more personal. I won't reveal anything concrete enough to guess the author here but hopefully, you'll read this anyway.

Posts are gonna slow down a bit (Funny I know, with my multi-month gap in content) because I am going back to college.

Community college specifically, I'll be attending Wake Tech (hopefully) starting this Summer semester. I've applied for FAFSA, some scholarships, and I'm waiting for my good ol' High School to send me a copy of my transcripts from 8+ years ago.

"RL," I hear you ask inquisitively, "You're such a well-spoken alphagigaomega Chad. You never completed uni? Are you just a poseur?"

To that, I have to say thank you and yes. I never completed University because of some poor life choices I'd made surrounding my life. Nothing like drugs or alcohol, but I flunked out of my junior year university and let some friends convince me to join them in an endeavor that both helped and hurt me in the long run.

Now, after a series of half-formed ideas and this blog being the longest one to stick around I got the idea to go back and try again. I'm still working on some of them, and I'll definitely continue writing this blog for fun if nothing else because it's oddly cathartic, but I've reached a point in my life where I definitely need something larger to set me apart from other candidates in the career pool and every inch I get is something I'll need to help.

So why wake tech? Why transfer when I'd completed 3/4ths of a degree already? Why the sudden urge to do this now?

Most of these are related to money. My previous school was too expensive, if I get all the financial aid I applied for my courses will be essentially free, and if I get even an Associates my earning potential becomes much higher than it currently is.

Additionally, this gives me a chance to kinda restart. After speaking with some friends who went to the same degree, their diploma didn't really take them as far as they would've liked. Either working fields totally divorced from their dream job or doing nothing to move them up the corporate ladder.

Wake Tech Community College is a venerated institution that has graduates working in numerous fields, and I did enough generic credits that could transfer to my new degree that getting an Associates hopefully won't take too long. My goal is to finally achieve something, not spend another few dozen years of my life doing nothing and going nowhere.

Lately I've been feeling kind of like a loser, looking back at my past mistakes. I think everyone does that every once in a while but I've been looking to course-correct for a while now and it took a while to get to this point but at least I'm finally taking the first few baby steps.

I don't know what'll happen next, but hopefully, I'll get my associates and pivot into something helpful. Education looks fun but that'd also require some additional certs and time input to become viable.

TL;DR: I'm gonna probably post slower than I already have been because I'm gonna dive headfirst into trying to improve myself and I don't know what's gonna happen but wish me some goddamn luck cause I could really goddamn use some.

[raleighliving]

I post regularly: Silence I take a break: I get follows

.....Okay

[raleighliving]

Raleigh Hangouts: Cameron Village/Village District

So last time I wrote something like this I talked about the upscale, pricey North Hills community and the pros/cons associated with it. I chose North Hills because, while it's not really representative of the Raleigh experience, it seemed like a region that would appeal to out of towners and people looking for a more urban experience.

The culture designed to cater towards executives on business trips and socialites, while appreciable, it isn't wholly representative of the Raleigh experience however. It's a shiny gemstone set against lower-middle class neighborhoods and a highway exit; a glass diamond set on a gold band.

So I wanted to talk about somewhere a bit more representative of Raleigh as an experience. A place with a variety of options for dining, shopping, and relaxing which doesn't put on any airs collectively; but allows individual stores to be as extra and overpriced as capitalist consumerism will allow them to be.

Of course, the obvious answer would be Downtown Raleigh. You don't get much more Raleigh than the heart of the city itself, and it's full of fun and interesting things to look at....but I hate driving around down there and COVID precautions around there have been hit-or-miss depending on where you go.

So today we're looking Downtown adjacent at the Village District (formerly Cameron Village)!

Just outside of Downtown Raleigh and adjacent to NC State University, Village District is a small shopping district that caters to the local population and the nearby college students.

A collection of small stores, restaurants, boutiques, and facilities which is representative of Raleigh in that there's something for everyone to enjoy if you look hard enough or turn the right corner.

Got a hot date? Take em' to one of the many upscale eateries, walk around the block and take in the sights, and finish with some frozen custard at Goodberry's. Need a haircut? A good book to read? How about some Yoga, or an affordable dry cleaners? Village District has it all.

Affordable housing and apartments sit opposite luxury apartments that tower over the district and charge $1200 for a studio apartment. Affordable fast food options are as easy to find here as fine dining that charges $25 a plate; and clean, decorated streets make exploring the area easy and enjoyable.

If you need to reach Downtown Raleigh or NC State University, it's only a few minutes walking to reach either; or you can rent a motorized scooter/bike for a bit if you're not inclined towards physical exercise (like myself).

It doesn't hold everything you could ever want, but it's got enough to satisfy most wants and desires comfortably within a small radius.

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A post shared by The Village District (@shopvillagedistrict)

If you're visiting Raleigh, I'd recommend visiting Tin Roof Teas especially; a small, locally owned tea store that's host to a huge selection of loose leaf teas and tea accessories.

If you or someone that you love enjoys a good cup of tea, but the selection where you're at is whatever's available at the grocery store, then Tin Roof has a grand selection of domestic and foreign tea leaves that can satisfy even the pickiest tea fanatic.

Walking in, you'll be greeted by the mingling scents of dried flowers and it's an experience I'd recommend even if you're not there to explicitly buy anything. Overwhelmed by choice paralysis? They'll brew you a cup of any available tea for a small fee so you can get an idea of what you're looking at.

If you're a Raleigh native, you can also swing by Village District for a selection of boutiques that cater to interior designers and art fans of all sorts. Scrap metal sculptures, paintings, home décor, etc. are all findable.

If you want an eye grabbing piece, you can even check out a gallery like the LaMantia Gallery for high quality pieces from a variety of artists.

I've never shopped with them myself, so I couldn't even comprehend whatever prices they have, but the artwork on display whenever I pass by is always something memorable and eyegrabbing; like this piece of a crowd forming the bust of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

If you need a bite to eat, as previously mentioned, there's no shortage of options there either. Burger joints, fast food, and sandwich shops/delis are seated alongside fine dining and bistros so whatever niche you require, they can cover.

In terms of personal favorites, I'm partial to the Village Draft House. A nice bar with excellent burgers and great fried appetizers that make me wish eating high fat/carb/salt/whatever foods didn't come with inevitable consequences beyond injuring my wallet.

If you want something a little nicer, then a popular choice is The Flying Biscuit; a largely breakfast/brunch joint with some later in the day fare that uses high quality, healthy ingredients to appease patrons appetites.

But the great thing is, both these places are puppy friendly! Allowing you to bring your dog and even providing water dishes so long as your puppy is able to behave with other good boys/girls around them.

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A post shared by Flying Biscuit Cafe (@flyingbiscuitcafe)

Of course, you should also check out the Wake County public library hosted in Village District as well! Even if you've been to other Wake County libraries, this wonderfully maintained 2 story library has a decent variety of books, resources, and rooms for the general public to make use of.

Have small children? They'll love the expansive selection of children's books; and enjoy the numerous events catered towards younger readers. Like the rest of Cameron Village, there's a little something for everyone.

If you do stop by the library though, like many of the other places, be forewarned that they're taking necessary COVID precautions in these troubling times and you will be browsing on an "express schedule" where guests are expected to only remain in the building for a limited amount of time (so you have a reduced risk of spreading/contracting the virus).

Normally, if you're a bibliophile like so many who visit these places are, you'd enjoy nothing more than hours of browsing and considering before finally checking out; but for the safety of everyone involved I'm sure they'd appreciate it if you tried to limit your visits to at most thirty minutes.

All told, Village District isn't perfect by any means; but I feel it's more representative of Raleigh as a hangout spot than North Hills by a good measure. Its more diverse clientele, the blended college and downtown communities, the accessibility and variety are all factors that lend to a more authentic, urban south experience.

It might not be as community focused as Seattle's Pike Place or as glamourous a destination as New York City, but its got its own subtle charm that colors any experience I've had there in a more positive light; which is more than I can say of other similar upscale shopping squares.

If you want to visit, try and do so on a weekend when the weather's nice. That's when everyone's out and about, and you get to really see people come together (when of course, we're out of a pandemic).

[raleighliving]

Budget Living Raleigh

Living in any city you’re gonna look at higher costs of living.  Rent, utilities, and insurance all add up before you even factor in groceries.  But just because you’re living in the city doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have nice things.

If you find all your money is being eaten by rent, and your bed is supported by the ground itself, then this article is for you; cause we’re going to talk today about bargain hunting in Raleigh and what to look for when you want a good deal on good furniture.  Maybe I’ll do this again for groceries or other such things but for now we’re just focused on general niceties.

Best part of this is it’s gonna be fairly general too.  Anything I mention here you could probably find or do in any American city or small town since the institutions are fairly ubiquitous.  

If you find yourself lacking furniture, decorations, or just general quality of life enhancers my answer boils down to two main points:  Thrifting and Resale stores.  At times they can seem similar enough but there are fine differences that separate the two using fairly recognizable criteria.

“RL,” I hear you say between fistfuls of knockoff Cheetos and self-loathing, “Of course if you want bargains  you go thrifting! Did you JUST hear about Goodwill recently?”  

Yes, in terms of hot takes this is especially dull but what I can lend to the conversation isn’t about how prices at thrift organizations are cheaper than retailers, how you should support your local thrift organizations, or even the general good they provide to low-income communities; what I’m looking at is knowing what you have and what you can expect to find when visiting.  

Take Goodwill, for instance, since everyone has seen at least one in their life. Outside of their larger outlets where you’ll find more furniture, walk into any Raleigh Goodwill and you’ll have seen all of them.  90% of the floorspace is dedicated to cheap clothes with a backwall full of knickknacks and a small bookshelf.  If you’re lucky, there may even be a sofa or two and some paintings along the wall but most of what you’ll find is cheap clothes.

Now, if that’s what you’re looking for that’s great! However, I’ve grown to have a deep distaste for the homogeneity of local GCF stores.  Customers can donate their clothes, toys, and other items to GCF at any store locations; but those items are shipped to processing and then distributed to other GCFs across the country based on inventory need and sales patterns.  What you see in one donation center/store you’ll likely see in every other with maybe the odd rare find if you’re lucky. 

GCF aside your options for Raleigh include org thrifts, mom and pop stores, and discount thrifts to provide some much needed variety in your day-to-day shopping. Each with their pros and cons, yet all sharing the glorious benefit of providing furniture and clothing for a fraction of the price of bigger brand stores.

Org thrifts (short for organization thrift stores, creative I know) are exactly what they sound like.  Thrifts run by an organization or charity, similar to Goodwill's, with a stated goal of helping others and supporting the organization financially over seeking a profit margin. 

Cause 4 Paws, Raleigh/Durham Rescue mission, and Dorcas thrift stores all provide a wide variety of products while using the store proceeds to help the less fortunate; but with phenomenal prices.  It’s not uncommon for a thrift store run by one of these organizations to have fifty cent books, clothing sold by the pound, and furniture/power tools under the $40 price tag if you’re lucky.  Plus, not to sound like a broken record but, your proceeds go towards good causes like animal adoption and feeding the homeless.  

Most thrifts of this nature are run by religious organizations, so if you’re at odds with supporting that sort of thing you might be more interested in the other two options; but otherwise this type of thrift store typically comes with very few downsides. 

|Image Credit:  Dorcas Thrift on Nextdoor

Of course, one of those other options is the standard mom and pop operation.  Not linked to any specific organization or franchise, these tend to be small businesses run by local families serving a smaller radius.  

Prices as a result tend to be a little higher than your average thrift store since it’s, y’know, a business; and the selection can be a little below average, usually consisting largely of estate sale leftovers, but this also works to their favor.

There’s no central distribution center for these businesses, so what people sell/donate to these stores comes from nearby communities typically.  So if you find one near an upper class area like Honeycutt Rd or Ebeneezer Church Rd, they’ll typically have nice furniture, art, and electronics for thrift store prices. 

There’s not too many of these, but my personal favorite is Fabulous Affordable Treasures in Southwest Raleigh.  A decent assortment of clothes and decorative pieces (and a very relaxing general environment) makes it a positive visit even when I’m just browsing. 

|Image credit:  Affordable Treasures Facebook

Finally there’s Discount thrifts.  They’re not too common, and are usually supported by an organization additionally although not all are, but if you find one check back with them regularly because it’s almost guaranteed to be worth it.

These thrift stores operate by having a degrading price scale; setting prices when the object comes into inventory, and then lowering them based on how long its been with them or the condition it was received in.  

Stores like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Petersons Consigning Design use this, and typically offer discounts upwards of 60% if you wait long enough.  On top of having equally large selections of product from org thrifts, they offer plenty for the savvy shopper. 

The downside is, the best possible price you can receive for any given product is a gamble.  That sweet leather armchair you have your eye on might be dropped from 40% to 50% in the next two days, but if someone finds the price acceptable where it is then that products gone forever (or at least until something similar winds up in inventory).

|Image Credit:  Petersons Consigning Design website

Regardless of which thrift store you choose though, you’re bound to find a bargain in one eventually if you check back every once in awhile.  I’ve only mentioned a fraction of the stores available in Raleigh, if you find a few favorites of your own and check back regularly, you’re bound to find something you’ll love at a price you couldn’t find anywhere else.

Of course, if you’re looking for more niche deals you could always use programs like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for people just looking to get rid of their junk.  They’re easy to use and both are incredibly active for the Raleigh area; but if you’re looking for something a little more...interesting then I’d recommend checking out liquidation stores.

There’s not many of them in Raleigh, but recently this past week a store by the name of Treasure Hunt Liquidation opened up with an interesting premise.  They buy tons of returned and opened merchandise from places like Amazon and sell them to other people on a degrading price scale similar to the thrift stores we mentioned above. 

Fridays the price-per-item is $10, and then day by day it drops till it hits $1 per item on the following Wednesdays (and they close Thursdays for inventory).  large bins full of boxed or repackaged goods line the floor with everything from car parts to 3D printing filaments depending on when you can get there. 

Additionally, you can purchase pallets of goods as well; with some of the more high ticket items ranging from $300 up to $1500; but generally containing some of the more desirable items like bikes and kitchen equipment.  

Overall, the whole experience is like a giant rotating lootbox; you’re never quite sure what you’re gonna get when you go but you’re likely to find something that at least catches your eye, even if it doesn’t come home with you.

|Image Credit:  Treasure Hunt Liquidation facebook group

You can’t find everything you’ll ever need at stores like these, but you’ll definitely be able to find affordable furniture and clothes even on a college student’s budget. Even a few dollars saved can make a huge difference though, so if you get the chance or see a store on the side of the road that catches your eye, be sure to at least stop in and see what they have for sale. 

Or, if you’ve read this and have some books/clothes/toys to donate please consider donating or selling them to your local thrift location.  These secondhand finds can make all the difference in the world to a kid who wouldn’t be able to get them otherwise.   Regardless, hopefully at the very least this article kept you entertained, and I hope everyone reading has a great day!

[raleighliving]

Raleigh Hangouts: North Hills

If you’re living in suburban Raleigh you might not get out much. Neighborhoods like Longlake, Hedingham, Dominion Park, and many like them can be a chore to get out of, let alone go anywhere further away so urban exploration might not be a top priority for many.

That’s a shame though, there’s so many different things to do and see in Raleigh and letting your apathy get the better of you can really affect your outlook on where you live. To that end, this article (and presumably a few more in the future) will highlight one of the most well-known hangout spots in North Raleigh to encourage people to get up and get out there (in a Pandemic safe manner, of course).

If you’ve lived in Raleigh for any period of time, you’ve probably at least heard of North Hills. A WASP-y upper class shopping district that features a bunch of boutiques and niche eateries. A gathering ground for white collar executives and their mistresses to show off while indulging in fine food and drink. This is (mostly) true, but there’s so much more than that and knowing what to look for when going in will help improve your experience.

At the time of writing this, North Hills is split into three zones separated by Six Forks and adjoining streets. The Lassiter district, Main District, and Park districts each contain a variety of shops and apartments; while usually having a few unique features acting as landmarks.  

The Main District, for instance, is what people normally think of when you say North Hills. A large, open air shopping center that’s frequently compared to malls like Streets of Southpoint or Crabtree Valley mall featuring a Renaissance hotel towering over the stores like a gleaming monolith.

You have your fancy eateries like Ruth Chris’s Steakhouse and La Coquette seated alongside jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, and some rentable office spaces; with all the buildings designs purposefully evoking the feeling of Urban Comfort.  

It’s true, walking through here between the stores themselves and the guests frequently being dressed in exquisite evening wear, you’ll probably feel inadequate or out of place. However, this is a mental gap that you should work on closing so you can enjoy the splendor that is Main.

It’s true, you won’t find a McDonalds or Walmart in this strip mall; but that doesn’t mean everything is outside the common mans price point if you decide to visit here. Affordable options for shopping and food like Chick-Fil-A and Five Guys exist here too, with stores like Target and Ben and Jerry’s to help provide a pleasant evening.

Stores and shopping aside, if you don’t experience North Hills for yourself, you’ll miss out on the area’s beautiful design aesthetics. Aside from landscaping and architecture, North Hills is home to a number of signs and murals painted by Raleigh locals as part of the area’s community initiative.  

There’s some artistic flourish in the Park district as well, but Main district is home to a number of gorgeous art pieces you won’t see anywhere else in the city (to my knowledge at least).  There’s also seasonal decorations, and store signage that really lends to the city part of life in Raleigh.

It’s great, walking down the street marveling at the vibrance this part of town holds and how much these designers and artists must love their city to contribute in such ways.

Across from Main is the Lassiter district, named for the road between them Lassiter Mill Rd. A smaller district, still packed with a number of stores and restaurants but it’s frequently (and unfortunately) overlooked when compared to North Hills’s other districts.

Partly because it’s tucked to the back corner of the road, partly because the main attraction is an upscale apartment community known as “The Alexan,” but regardless it’s a piece of North Hills as nice as the other two if only for it’s used bookstore “Quail Ridge Books.”

|photo credit www.visitnorthhills.com

If you’ve got a bibliophile in your life who hasn’t been here yet; take them and they’ll appreciate it greatly. This cozy small business nestled in one of the Lassiter Districts corners is home to a variety of books and book related events; featuring an extensive library of novels, including a sizeable number of Raleigh-native authors.

Additionally, pre-covid they did a number of events such as book signings, author visits, etc. Presumably, once it’s safe to do so, they’ll likely continue this practice and any would-be author would be encouraged to attend.

Finally, there’s the Park district. The most recent of the three, the past few years North Hills has developed the Park district into a sort of community hub. A towering ring of offices and apartments that feels more akin to New York than even downtown. Here’s where you’ll find a number of bars, trendy restaurants, and hangout spots to enjoy.

Unlike the other two districts, the main appeal to the Park District is its community. Bars dotting the streets are watering holes not just for the overpaid but the overworked as well, with venues like Kings providing not just a place to drown your sorrows, but a place to vent them as well.

Walk from one end of the Park district to the other at night you’ll see numerous young adults enjoying life and socializing; although some could stand to wear a mask given the pandemic.

Not that partying is all there is here. Below the apartments sits a two-story Harris Teeter with a decent selection of products at affordable prices, the streets have a number of statues and art installations on power boxes, and the Coastal Credit Union park is the perfect place to relax on a nice summer’s night.

An AstroTurf field in front of Chuy’s complete with a stage for periodic live performances and plenty of space to stretch out and enjoy a nice breeze or conversation with friends. As with many places like it, come here at the right time with the right friends and you’ll have memories you’ll keep for life.

Yes, North Hills is full of WASP-y adults and spoiled teens. It can be gaudy or snobbish, and all that is probably more than enough in the way of reasons for you to avoid this place.

But if you can get over these factors, and look past the flair to see the appeal to and love of all locals, it can be an enjoyable spot to do nothing in even. Walk around the districts, enjoy the art and the weather (when it’s not raining icy misery), appreciate the touches that appeal to everyone just as much as they appeal to the obscenely wealthy.

I don’t expect to change peoples’ minds, but hopefully you’ll at least consider visiting the next time you pass it on the way to Intrex computers or something else on Six Forks.

[raleighliving]

Snowmageddon: A Defense

If you’ve lived in the south during the winter months at any point you’ve probably heard all the jokes and jabs already about how well we tend to handle snow. At the first flake falling, you’ll hear cries of “Shut down the schools” and “Buy bread and milk NOW!” from everyone; northern transplants especially.

Southerners panic at even the hint of snow, clearing store shelves to hoard a years’ worth of groceries and filling jerry cans with enough fuel to cross the Atlantic because the news predicted a half inch dusting overnight. It’s not as prolific or hurtful as other stereotypes but if you’ve grown up hearing it you’re probably tired of the same five jokes like I am.

Not to say it’s completely unwarranted. I’m sure you’ve gone to the grocery store during a particularly cold night and seen gaps in the inventory of various necessities, and fellow North Carolinians forming lines at the gas station to top off before the snow hits.

Even if you’re not from North Carolina, you’ve probably seen the below image of our very own Glenwood avenue from a few years back. Meme’d to hell and back with various edits including references to Star Wars, Ghostbusters, and various post-apocalyptic scenarios.  

Glenwood Ave, credit WRAL

So of course, a question I’ve been asked rhetorically from friends across the country is “why?” With a recent snow day passed and another possibly on the horizon, I figured now would be as good a time as any to write about what Raleigh’s deal with snow is and why so many of us dread the icy doom it brings.

Not to say this article excuses the Glenwood Incident or any over obsessive individuals you may run into throughout Raleigh; but instead, I hope to at least provide an explanation for why things are like this. Provide insight for school closures and concerns so that my fellow Raleigh citizenry might seem at least a little less crazy the next time the sky goes gray on a cold Winter’s day.

To understand the issues with Raleigh and snow we need to understand two important aspects of the problem: city maintenance and city planning. While there are many small issues that pervade North Carolina, and especially the city of Raleigh, these two form the crux of our problem.

As you can imagine, any city’s road conditions are linked at least partially to their Department of Transportation’s (DOT) budget. Repairs, litter control, and much more are all accounted for in the state DOT budget; and while North Carolina might not be as small as her neighbors like Georgia she still has to budget accordingly.

How much money is spent on inclement weather for a state that might see snow once every two years is weighed against contracts for road repairs, the much more frequent summer/fall tropical storms, and other projects that need it more.  

Of the $5.3 billion 2020 budget, it’s estimated by the NCDOT that we spent 32% of that on road maintenance (and a fraction of that goes towards inclement weather solutions). So a fraction of a fraction of the budget goes towards preparing the roads with brine and equipping plows with a salt/sand traction mix.

Of course, this means we only have so many snow plows and so much brine to spread around the roads.  If you get any pre-snow road treatment, you’re likely in more urban areas like Raleigh or you’re by a military base like Fayetteville. Even in those areas, however, pre-snow road treatment and subsequent plowing are usually only afforded to major roads and high traffic areas.

Live in a subdivision or a back road? Then may fortune be ever in your favor, because there’s a good chance that the most you’ll get is somebody laying out InstaMelt from the HOA (if you even get that much). There’s a chance you could drive on Leesville or Glenwood if you can get to them, but that’s IF you can get to them.

The neighborhood where I grew up you couldn’t get out if there was too much snow/ice because all three exits sat atop fairly steep grade hills. Don’t have a heavy enough vehicle or specialized tires? You’re probably going to slide back down or get stuck in a snow drift.

Of course, that’s just my old stomping grounds. But Raleigh is full of various neighborhoods; ranging from cookie cutter suburbs to nightmare hellscapes crafted with form over function kept firmly in mind.  For every Longlake or Dominion Park, there’s a road like Sendero Road.

Sendero is a back road attached to a back road with narrow, one-way roads twisting around steep gorges filled with trees and water at various points. The upper-middle class neighborhood is cut in half by a river with an old wooden bridge, and the only reliable turn around point is at the very end of this anxiety coaster.

For schools you have the school buses, which break down super frequently already, with no seat belts transporting kids across the city to school and parents trying to get out of their neighborhoods and dealing with other drivers.  

If something gets damaged or someone gets hurt or stranded, all because you had the option to close down but didn’t, then that’s consequences and problems laid at the foot of the school board and superintendent. Parent complaints, insurance rates, and potential lawsuits versus a few days of missed education and a few jokes on twitter; it’s easy to see which bet anyone would take when the sky starts spewing ice crystals.

It’s true, not every neighborhood in Raleigh (and many other southern cities) is a poorly designed nest of streets placed at random using dice; but enough exist throughout that it’s an important consideration for many schools, businesses, and families when they’re preparing for possible winter storms.  

Do we shut down schools, or hope the weatherman is right and that the light dusting clears by midday? Do we go and stock up on supplies in case the freezer goes out, or hope that the 2005 ice storm just doesn’t happen ever again? It’s these questions, and previous experiences like the 2005 ice storm that fuel a lot of the paranoia that happens surrounding snow storms.

I don’t expect to change any minds writing this, but hopefully you’ll at least come away with a better understanding of southern snowphobia when you see schools start closing left and right at the first flake, or when you see someone load their cart up with bread and milk.  

PS:  Apparently, it’s always bread and milk because bread provides energy, nutrition, and doesn’t need to be refrigerated; and milk because you can keep it fresh with snow/outdoor coolers if your fridge dies.

[raleighliving]

Frustration Update

I was going to post an article today about snow days in Raleigh but it turns out writing in-browser is a terrible idea for more than one reason.  The main one being, if you resize your browser apparently Tumblr eats the entire text post.

I’ll write more later, right now that incident kinda destroyed my will to live for a few hours so I’ll take a break and try again later (in a word processor like my lazy ass should’ve been using from the start)