Check out BMX racing in the Triangle

So I was dog sitting a couple of weeks ago and I took the pooches for a walk at Raleigh’s Lions Park. It’s there that I happened upon a BMX track. I thought it was strange that a track would be allowed at a city park in these litigious times. But there it was. For the next few days I walked the dogs past the track, and finally managed to catch some BMX racers.

Pardon the shaky camera, but I was holding onto the leashes for two dogs who weren’t as interested in the race as I was.

So it turns out the track is run by Capital City BMX Association, a volunteer organization made up of the parents of local riders and adults who race at Lion’s Park. It looks like this may be the only BMX track in the Triangle (correct me if you know of others).

Coincidentally, I’ve received several e-mails in the past couple weeks from the Amerian Bicycle Association saying BMX racing made its Olympic debut this year. I watched some of it on TV last week and it was a little exciting, especially when riders fell. I couldn’t help but think how disappointing it would be to make it all the way to the Olympics and then fall of your bike. Or worse, have the rider next to you knock you over on their way down.

If you want to check it out for yourself there are races scheduled for Sept. 7 and Sept. 14.

So anyone want to give BMX racing a try? I’m not sure my beach cruiser would do so well on the track.

I learned to play Guitar Hero and I liked it

I used to think Guitar Hero was stupid. I tried it a couple of times and it was too hard. The notes were falling so fast. I felt like I was going cross-eyed. So I wrote it off as a silly fad and forgot about it.

But then I went to visit my family in southern Illinois, where an actual source of entertainment for local teens is going to Super Wal-Mart. Luckily for this city mouse, my 13-year-old sister just got Guitar Hero. She kindly showed me how to play it, and with a little practice, I was on the medium level in no time. It was addicting.

Check out one of my first attempts at the game (includes some creative camera work from my sister):

After my trip, I spotted an article in the N&O about a North Raleigh teen who dropped out of school so he could devote more time to perfecting Guitar Hero. I read that Fox & Hound in North Hills offered free Guitar Heron on Sunday nights, so I went to check it out. I was hoping to spot Blake Peebles, the local Guitar Hero whiz. Instead, a friend signed me up to play.

Before I knew it, I was standing on a small platform in front of a restaurant full of people playing Guitar Hero on a projector screen. I played “Ruby” by the Kaiser Chiefs on medium and lost (though I contend the green button wasn’t working properly).

Fox & Hound offers free Guitar Hero from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Sunday nights. They have two guitars, so you can square off against strangers. It’s fun. And if you’re not into Guitar Hero, it’s completely amusing to just sit there and watch (especially when the bracket pairs up a tween with an adult).

Guess who’s not having any fun …

The adult who visits this park:

I saw this sign at a Wake County park in Morrisville yesterday. I know alcohol isn’t typically allowed at public parks. And it makes sense that they wouldn’t want to pick up a bunch of golf balls off the soccer fields or worry about a wayward shot hitting someone for insurance reasons. But no pets?

Paddling away on a sunny day

I think I have more paddle boating experience than most people my age. Growing up, my best friend Kelly and I would paddle around her parent’s small pond in their yellow paddle boat. My dorm at Southern Illinois University was just a few feet away from the campus lake, where paddle boats and kayaks provided ample distractions on warm days.

So I was thrilled when one of my friends suggested we spend Memorial Day on a paddle boat. We rented one from Lake Johnson in Raleigh for $7 an hour then pedaled the next three hours away. We saw a giant snake, a heron and many young couples snuggling along the shore (*gag*).

There are several public lakes in Raleigh and Durham where you can rent boats. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially since these lakes are likely subsidized by local taxes.

I’m also big on swimming holes. I’ve heard there are some good ones around here, especially along the Eno River. If you know of any that are worth checking out, please fill me in. Also, let me know if there are other cool local spots where you can rent boats.

Happening upon a local arboretum

I like to explore on the weekends. On a rain Saturday last month, I was driving around trying to learn my way around Raleigh a little better, when I happened upon the JC Raulston Arboretum.

It was chilly and rainy, but I went inside the visitor’s center to see what it was all about. I was greeted by a sweet woman who briefly explained the whole layout of the gardens, the mission, etc. She handed me a map and I was on my way.

The Arboretum is part of the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University and is used by students and staff for research and teaching, according to the Arboretum Web site. It’s a neat spot to wander around. Supposedly it’s open 365 days a year (from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during April through October and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during November through March).

I need to stop back by on a sunny day and see what’s blooming. I also need to make a trip to Duke Gardens sometime soon for a picnic. Last week I told you about the hidden urban garden in Durham that I love. Are there any other cool, local gardens I need to check out?

My favorite hideout is Durham’s abandoned urban garden

I found this secret garden hidden in downtown Durham a few years ago. It’s on the roof of the Durham Centre parking garage across from the Carolina Theatre. Head to the top of the parking deck and you’ll see a warped boardwalk winding in a labyrinth-like pattern covered in overgrown brush.

It’s a cool spot to eat your lunch, have some coffee or watch theater-goers file in and out of the Carolina Theatre. The garden is on the spot where developer Franklin Wittenberg once envisioned building another glass tower filled with luxury condominiums. I’ve been out of the Durham development loop for some time, so I’m not sure where that project stands, but my guess is it was abandoned long ago.

Anyone know more about what’s going on with Durham Centre? Are there any hidden gardens or spots you take a timeout in?

The set of awesome baseball flick “Bull Durham” gets makeover

The crumbling Durham Athletic Park will get some needed attention tomorrow, when Durham city officials break ground on a $5 million restoration project. In addition to providing a home to the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team from 1926 to 1994, the ballpark was also the set for Bull Durham. Yes, Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon all spent time at this historical ballpark.

The long needed renovations will “upgrade the infrastructure, restrooms, concessions and seating bowl, while at the same time create picnic areas and concourses that reflect the historic quality of the ballpark,” according to a city news release, as well as the installation of a new state-of-the-art playing field. The work is scheduled to be complete in December 2008.

After that, the ballpark will play host to all of NCCU’s home games, as well as serve as home field for the School of the Arts and for local softball and baseball leagues. It also will also continue serve as a venue for the Bull Durham Blues Festival and the World Beer Festival.

The 9 a.m. ceremony is open to the public. For directions, click here.

I got dirty this weekend

I love planting flowers in the spring. I’ve planted a small flower garden outside at least four of my apartments since college. There’s something soothing about getting your hands dirty, planting small flowers and watching them grow and bloom.

Below is a pic of the area I had to work with. As you can see, I had to clear a lot of pine straw and random debris from the area.

And here’s a quick recording of the work I did Sunday. I still have a long ways to go, but it’s a start.

OK. I guess I have a really long way to turn it into my own little sanctuary. Maybe my landlord should give me a break on the rent for beautifying the place. Hmmm. Now that’s an idea.

Buying gourmet goodies may help save some land

I haven’t been to A Southern Season in Chapel Hill since I moved back to the Triangle. For those of you who have never been, it’s a gourmet market that you can easily spend hours in if you’re hungry and love to shop (it’s so fabulous that I have a girlfriend who actually shrieks every time you say you went without her). You can take cooking classes there, sample wines on the weekends, dine in its restaurant (the Weathervane) and shop for delicious candies, coffees, housewares and oh so much more. OK, I’ll stop now, I’m starting to sound like a commerical.

I bring this up because I found out today that A Southern Season is teaming up with the Triangle Land Conservancy for a day-long fundraiser next month. On Tuesday, March 17, the market is giving the conservancy 5 percent of all retail sales. The conservancy works to protect open space and other natural areas in Durham, Wake, Orange, Chatham, Johnston and Lee counties. The nonprofit is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, according to a news release I read today.

Anyway, if you haven’t been to the market in a while or *gasp* not at all, this might be a good excuse to check it out.

Hike Off Your Hangover

It’s pretty easy to guess where I’ll be on New Year’s Day — on the couch recovering from the night before. And while I expect many other Triangle residents will be doing something similar, apparently some will be doing something a little more productive — running five miles while playing trivia.

That’s right, a little brain exercise to go along with the run. The Carolina Godiva Track Club is sponsoring the run through Duke Forest, which will feature trivia questions hollered out by host Owen Astrachan. The runner who gets the most right answers will win something, the News and Observer reports today.

And if thinking while running is more than you had in mind for your New Year’s Day, the N&O highlights some of the other active events going on in the Triangle:

• The 5K annual Resolution Run through N.C. State’s Centennial Campus sponsored by the N.C. Roadrunners Club
• The 38-mile bike ride around Jordan Lake sponsored by The Spin Cycle
• A hike around the Eno River State Park, an annual event put on by the Eno River Association

Do you have any New Year’s Day traditions? Or are you like me and usually spend it relaxing on the couch?