Triangulator

Triangle’s Google infatuation continues to grow

Samiha Khanna · 15 Mar 2010, 10:49 AM · Comment

In a follow-up to our cover March 10 cover story, “Gaga for Google’s fiber,” we’d like to update metrics of the involvement of the Triangle’s top three participants.

Durham’s still ahead in Facebook presence, with 2,180 fans on its “Bring Google Fiber to Durham N.C.,” page, while 935 people have signed up for “Bring Google Fiber to Raleigh!”. The western part of the Triangle is not far behind: the Facebook group “Bring Google Fiber to Chapel Hill & Carrboro N.C.” boasts 906 members.

The towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and UNC-Chapel Hill, will hold a public forum at 7 p.m. today at Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., to receive public comment regarding community interest in the fiber optic trial and how residents would use an ultra-high speed Internet network.

On Thursday, Durhamites hope to make a splash by corralling thousands of locals into the Durham Bulls Athletic Park at 11 a.m. Thursday to spell out “We want Google” on the field, to pose for an aerial photograph. More here >>

Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, Raleigh, Wake County, business, media, national, news Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Google, Google Fiber, Internet, Raleigh, Triangle

Raleigh restaurant Evoo possibly tied to food-borne illness

Jennifer Strom · 21 Apr 2009, 4:48 PM · 1 Comment

Wake County health officials are trying to trace the source of more than eight possible cases of food-borne illness reported April 17, which may be connected to Evoo, a Mediterranean restaurant in Raleigh’s Five Points.

“We are currently investigating some reports of sickness,” said André Pierce, director of the environmental health and safety division of the county’s environmental services department. “The investigation is ongoing and we don’t have any results yet.”

Because epidemiologists had not yet identified the bacteria, virus or other agent that may have caused the illness, Pierce declined to speculate on any commonalities between the victims, including a restaurant where they may all have eaten.

“Typically we don’t implicate a facility until we have confirmation of lab results,” Pierce said.

However, shortly before 10 p.m., the Raleigh-Wake 911 Center received an emergency call reporting that someone was ill at Evoo at 2519 Fairview Road, said Walt Fuller, the center’s deputy director in charge of operations.

One paramedic unit was dispatched at 9:50 p.m. and called for backup upon arriving at the scene, Fuller said. A second paramedic unit, a quick responder vehicle and a fire engine all responded. In all, nine rescuers attended victims at the restaurant.

The paramedic units transported an unknown number of victims to Duke Health Raleigh, Fuller said.

In a possibly related incident, a second 911 call about sick persons, which came in at about 10:15 p.m., summoned two more ambulances and a district supervisor to the 1000 block of Vance Street nearby. Two people were taken to Wake Medical Center from that address, Fuller said.

Pierce, whose department is responsible for inspecting the 1,800 licensed restaurants in Wake County, said as far as he knew Evoo remained open Monday. However, no one was answering the restaurant’s phone Monday afternoon.

Past inspection reports on file with the county show that the restaurant, owned by chef Jean Paul Fontaine, has struggled with cleanliness issues in the last two years.

The most recent report, dated March 20, noted two “critical violation risk factors”: unsanitary food contact surfaces, including dirty utensils, and improper holding temperatures for cold foods.

Statewide health regulations list 18 factors that are given highest priority in inspections, Pierce said.

“These are those items we know are more likely to contribute to food-borne illnesses,” he said.

Evoo received a score of 92.5 out of 100 possible points in last month’s inspection, despite the deductions for the two critical violations.

On Nov. 20, 2008, inspectors cited one critical violation pertaining to food storage; raw oysters were being kept over ready-to-eat items in the walk-in cooler.

Two months earlier, on Sept. 4, 2008, the restaurant was cited for the same two categories of critical violations as the March 2009 report.

Evoo received a 94.5 score in both September and November inspections.

Raleigh, Wake County, food Raleigh

Sign of the times: Hereghty’s locked out

Jennifer Strom · 2 Mar 2009, 8:22 AM · 1 Comment

An official-sounding notice from the landlord tells bakery customers to find their goodies elsewhere.

Handcrafted pastries sit moldering in the display case as disappointed would-be customers stop at the door to Hereghty’s patisserie and cafe in Raleigh’s Glenwood Village Shopping Center. The owners defaulted on their rent, and the landlord changed the locks, according to a letter posted on the glass door, dated Feb. 25.

Raleigh, economy, food Raleigh

What killed the Soleil project: Was it 1) bad timing? or 2) bad idea?

Bob Geary · 12 Dec 2008, 10:45 AM · Comment

On Urban Planet’s TriangleNC forum, the post-mortems are coming in for the Soleil Center, the 42-story glass tower o’ condos atop a hotel at Crabtree Valley that some said would be the greatest thing to happen in Raleigh since Crabtree Valley itself was built in the middle of a flood plain, though others had their doubts.

Now, some say it’s the credit crunch that killed the Soleil (nee: Glen Tree). Others, however, note that this thing was approved three years ago, when life was good and credit easy — yet the condos couldn’t be sold. Must be the unwalkable suburban location, they say. Well then, comes the rejoinder, what about all the condos proposed to be built in and around the downtown — also in good times — that never happened either?

Just a thought, but what if Raleigh didn’t approve every high-rise condo proposal that the developers pitch, regardless where it is? What if, instead, the city insisted that high-rise buildings be located in close (i.e., within 1/4 mile) proximity to a future commuter-rail transit station?

Continue reading »

Raleigh, business, politics Raleigh, Soleil Center

Ferris wheel in Raleigh, yes …. Location in Pullen Park, no

Bob Geary · 20 Nov 2008, 10:51 AM · Comment

I’m with Dana at gogoraleigh.com — buy the Ferris Wheel. (N&O story conveys Mr. Garrabrant’s vision.)

But Pullen Park is small and already bursting with folks on a nice summer weekend. Why not put it in Chavis Park, a beautiful site with a great view of downtown, easy access from Western Boulevard and not a lot of activitity nowadays. Or patch it into those Capital Boulevard transit/redevelopoment plans. If Dix 306 ever happens, and the city acquires some or all of the Dorothea Dix land for a park, put it up there. (h/t: Charles Meeker, 01/07.)

Or it could go in Glenwood South somewhere, if equipped with a breathalyzer.

Raleigh, business Chavis Park, Dix 306, Pullen Park, Raleigh

Kaye Gibbons, “Ellen Foster” author, in trouble with pills

Bob Geary · 4 Nov 2008, 10:44 AM · 1 Comment

Raleigh novelist Kaye Gibbons is fighting her old ghosts again, the N&O’s Peder Zane reports.

Raleigh, arts J. Peder Zane, Kaye Gibbons, Raleigh

Attention: Raleigh tall-building fans

Bob Geary · 31 Oct 2008, 11:30 AM · Comment

"The Edison"

Some folks care about elections.

Some folks care about whether Raleigh ever gets more phallic buildings.

“The Edison” — if built: Four more giant, uh, buildings.

[This view's from the "front" along Wilmington Street. "Behind" these stalactites are Moore Square and City Market, where the little people will still be welcome, we trust.]

Raleigh, business Raleigh, The Edison

AP: Palin in Raleigh on Saturday

Bob Geary · 29 Oct 2008, 5:42 PM · 1 Comment

At the State Fairgrounds. Dress is consignment shop.

(Update: NewRaleigh.com, the first to Palinize this yesterday as far as I know, now has the ticket details.

Raleigh, national, politics Raleigh, Sarah Palin

Quick: What line in Obama’s speech in Raleigh tickled the blogs?

Bob Geary · 29 Oct 2008, 3:37 PM · Comment

Barack Obama’s “closing argument,” as delivered today in Raleigh, covered all the bases: Unity & Change; McCain’s so Bush-like; no more “trickle-down”; it won’t be easy; and on policies: tax cuts for 95%-jobs-health care-renewable energy-education-end Iraq war/put Al-Qaeda out of business. Oh, and Hope.

So what single line is making headlines? If you were there, you know this –

Continue reading »

Raleigh, national, politics Barack Obama, Raleigh

Going to see Obama? Where will u park?

Bob Geary · 28 Oct 2008, 3:22 PM · 1 Comment

City of Raleigh is closing streets at 9:30 am in preparation for the noontime rally (”pre-program” set to start at 11:15) and parking-deck space nearby is limited. The city’s forewarning is copied below. Our thought: Take a bus to the Moore Square transfer station downton and walk over to the mall. Continue reading »

Raleigh, national, politics Barack Obama, Raleigh