Well, I have to admit that it kind of seems like a ghost town around here.  And with so many vacation areas within an easy drive of Raleigh, I don’t blame anyone for heading out on the long 4th of July weekend.

But there are so many things going on in Raleigh this weekend, that it would be quite a feat to be able to go to all of them.  We started out our weekend by FINALLY making it over to the recently renovated North Carolina Museum of Art.  And I swear we were there with at least 95% of the people who remained in town for the weekend!  All of whom were as amazed and impressed as we were.

Today, though, we’re heading out to witness a naturalization ceremony on the steps of the capitol, check out the capitol celebration, tour the Joel Lane Museum House, join in my neighborhood’s parade and potluck, and then making the tough choice between the fireworks display in Cary with the North Carolina Symphony or watching the N.C. State Fairgrounds fireworks from a spot on an overlooking hill with lots of friends.   And there’s tons of stuff we’re not going to make it to.   There’s just not enough time to do it all.

We have spent so many July 4ths laying on the beach that we had no idea so much stuff was going on at home.  I’m glad we’re here this year.  Instead of a lazy Independence Day, ours is going to be action-packed for a change.

That’s Life in Raleigh.

Well, summer’s back already.  Yeah, I know today is only May 2nd.  But today’s forecast is a MUGGY 94 degrees, with the mercury dipping down into the low 70s overnight.  Our house has been cold for months, so we’ve kept our windows closed over the last few days in an attempt to enjoy the chill for a change.  Our efforts were in vain, I’m afraid.  It’s hot in here today. But after experiencing the coldest winter on record around here, I am not complaining…….yet.

That’s Life in Raleigh.

We have an extra season here in Raleigh, N.C., in addition to the standard spring, summer, fall, and winter.  That’s pollen season.  And our pollen season this year is an extreme one, with special thanks to our plentiful pine trees.

All the trees and plants dump yellow and green dust all over our city all at the same time.  The air is thick with it and the ground and cars are covered with it.  Water is swirling with it, from puddles to ponds and lakes.  The only thing you can do is keep your windows closed, cover your mouth when you sneeze, and wait for pollen season to end.

Pollen season is something you have to see to believe.

That’s Life in Raleigh…….in the springtime.

Pollen on my front porch

So we have our own weather forecasting groundhog here in Raleigh, North Carolina.  And on Groundhog Day 2010, we celebrated when our Sir Walter Wally predicted an early spring. But unfortunately for us, Wally got it all wrong this year.  No early spring here.

As a matter of fact, tomorrow is the first official day of spring.  And guess what?  Tomorrow is the first day it will feel finally like spring around here, too.  It’s about time.  So break out the flip-flops, peel back the convertible tops, and enjoy this spring day that’s been a long time coming.

That’s Life in Raleigh.

Happy one-year anniversary to the R-Line!   The R-Line is our free circulator bus that runs seven days a week, most hours of those days, making a loop through Downtown Raleigh.  The stops are plentiful and the bus comes through roughly every 10-12 minutes.

The R-Line has connected all the parts of Downtown Raleigh, making it much easier for residents, workers, and visitors to get around.  Going to see a play at Memorial Auditorium and want to catch dinner first?  Go ahead, park your car and hop on the R-Line.  It hits all the restaurant hot spots.  Bar hopping?  The R-Line is perfect for that, too.  In the evenings the warehouse district with all its popular venues are added to the route.  The R-Line connects everything without ever having to be behind the wheel yourself or walking farther than you feel like.  Drugstores, coffee shops, hardware stores, beauty salons, restaurants, nightclubs…the list is long.

And the R-Line is always interesting.  The riders are friendly and the price is right.

That’s Life in Raleigh.

The R-Line