If you teach a kid to build a city ….

Here’s something I never thought I’d be passionate about when I was a kid: Zoning and Development ordinances. But then I started covering city and county government for local newspapers. It was then that I saw and understood the value of density, setbacks, mixed-use, etc.

When I worked for the Island Packet on Hilton Head Island, SC, my favorite government meeting to cover was the Planning Commission. The decisions that were made in those meetings had a direct impact on residents’ constitutional right to own property.

So imagine how excited I was this morning when I found out that Raleigh city officials are trying to teach children about urban planning. The city’s planning officials are hosting “Kids City Planning Day — Raleigh 2030″ on May 3 at Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St.

During the event, children will get to apply for a building permit, learn about geographic information systems, design and create buildings to populate their cityh and find out more about historic preservation, community planning and geography.

Hmmm. Maybe if I had such an opportunity at a young age I would be a city planner instead of a community content manager.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

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Abortion kills babies and Jesus forgives, the flags say

This is why you should seek out different routes to your destination. I was driving home for lunch today and got stuck at a red light, so I decided to take a different path home. It definitely wasn’t any faster, but I got to drive past this display.

 Of course, I had to stop to see what the flags said (I may have new glasses, but I still can’t read small text from that far away). And here’s what I found: The flags are outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Anderson Street in Raleigh, and I never would have seen them had I not taken a different path home.

What’s that on my doorstep?

I stopped by my house for lunch today, and I found this waiting for me:

I approached my doorstep with a little trepidation because I wasn’t expecting any packages, especially any that would come in a plastic bag. Turns out the bag was just filled with two new phone books. I’ve only lived in Raleigh for three months, and I’ve already received two deliveries of phone books. Seems a little excessive to me. Do people really use phone books anymore, what with the Internet and all?

What’s worse, is it turns out I can’t just dump my old phone books in with my weekly recycling. The News & Observer reports that it’s OK to put the old books recycling bins if you live in Durham or Orange counties, but not if you live in Raleigh or Cary:

That’s because taking phone books in the curbside bins usually results in less revenue from a town’s recycling processor, according to Linda Leighton, waste reduction specialist with the City of Raleigh. The books have to be picked out of the bins by hand so they don’t mix with other paper goods. And they’re hardly worth the trouble.

Luckily, if you live in Raleigh or Cary you can still recycle your phone books. You just have to drop them off at one of these approved locations.

So do you ever flip through the phone book anymore? Does it annoy you that they’re automatically dumped at your doorstep?

This is why you should never steal

Because if karma doesn’t get you, something else might ….

As seen on a telephone pole Saturday afternoon in Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood. Is this a good way to make yourself feel better about having something stolen from you? Wonder if the ’schmuck’ saw this flier…

Imagine if you could take a ride a train around the Triangle

There’s proof in Charlotte that light rail can work in North Carolina.

Don’t be fooled by the empty seats around Ginny from the Blog on Charlotte’s Lynx tonight (I’m in the Queen City for more training) , because ridership on this new light rail system is booming:

Ridership on the Lynx Blue Line has so far been better than CATS projected. Average weekday ridership in December was more than 12,000 boardings per day. It estimated first-year average weekday ridership would be 9,100 boardings.

So Triangle residents, I’m curious, would you pay increased sales taxes or increased fees on your vehicle registration if it would help bring the light rail here?

“That’s right, my flag is bigger than yours”

I saw this man riding down Peace Street in Raleigh on Saturday morning. Wish I knew his story. Since I don’t, anyone up for writing a caption for this photo? Better yet, if you know why he cruises around town towing these flags, please fill me in.

Let’s Head to McDonald’s for Some Poetry

Who hangs out at a McDonald’s on a Friday night? Apparently dozens of people interested in poetry readings and live jazz.

I drove by this sign this morning and couldn’t believe my eyes. Poetry and Jazz at a McDonald’s?

So I called the manager of the Wake Forest Road fast food joint, and he told me they’ve been doing it for two years. He estimates that 30 people came last Friday, but said the crowd was even bigger the Friday before, with 75 people turning out. It got started about two years ago, when a local poet asked if he could host the event there. The owner said yes, and ever since the free event has been drawing decent crowds.

I am absolutely going to check this out one of these Fridays just to people watch. Have you ever been to an event like this? Would you feel comfortable reading your work at a mega chain?

Snake in a Window

I have to wait at the same, ridiculously long red light almost every morning I drive to work. This morning I was feeling pretty grumpy as I waited for the light to turn green. I looked over at the restaurant on the corner and noticed this stuffed snake sticking out of the window above Northside Billiards on Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh.

I’ve never noticed it before. It made me smile (on a day when I could really use a smile), and I had to snap a shot. I just called the pool hall to find out if it’s always been there, and the guy who answered the phone just said he puts it up every year around Halloween. He just hasn’t taken it down yet. I’m glad he didn’t, because it made my morning.

Do you drive past anything unusual on your commute to work?

‘Take On Me,’ Mr. Rickshaw Driver

Not quite sure if this qualifies as a random act of kindness, but I got to take my first-ever ride on a rickshaw last night — for free — thanks to a fun-loving Raleigh Rickshaw driver.

As my friends and I began the trek home from downtown Raleigh, we heard A-Ha’s “Take On Me” blasting from some speakers. We turned to look at who was blaring this song, and we saw the rickshaw driver pedaling down West Street. He offered us a ride. We confessed we had no cash. He told us to climb aboard anyway. He was getting ready to cruise down a hill, he said, and it would be so much more fun with a cart full of people.

So we squeezed in, held on tightly and coasted down West Street to his next stop. And now, for the rest of my life, “Take on Me” will remind me of New Year 2008.
Anybody else get any unexpected, free gifts on New Year’s Eve?

What Should Durham’s Resolutions be for 2008?

I headed to Durham today to ask residents what they believe the city should work on in 2008. I was accompanied by fellow NBC17 blogger Wayne Sutton, who held the camera and kept me sane through some computer glitches this afternoon. A lot of residents were hesitant to share their thoughts on camera. But the six folks who agreed to be interviewed offered some insightful suggestions for the Bull City. Take a look and let me know what you think.