Lisa Jeffries Nobling – Raleigh, NC

Category: Recommendations

  • Neighborhood Drinks at Sidebar in Cary Downtown

    Downtown Cary, formally known as “Cary Downtown”, is starting to grow up beyond banks and longtime storefronts and is now attracting a variety of tenants including the newest: Sidebar Drinks + Company.

    Proprietor Matthew Bettinger, who you might recognize as the general manager from Downtown Raleigh’s C. Grace and Empress Room, has paired his cocktail savvy with his wife’s talented eye for aesthetics and put together a beautiful 21+ gathering space with an experienced cocktail menu and bountiful behind-the-bar selections.

    Located at 215 East Chatham Street, Sidebar is open Wednesday-Friday at 4 p.m. (closing at midnight Wednesday-Thursday, 2 a.m. Friday) and opens at noon on Saturday and Sunday (closing at 2 a.m. and midnight, respectively).

    We visited on a brisk Sunday afternoon and since we had Delta Dog along for the visit (our consistent Sunday companion), enjoyed a few rounds on the patio.

    Sidebar is a pretty little corner bar that neighbors Pro’s Epicurean Market & Cafe as well as Bond Brothers Beer Company. Since we visited on a Sunday afternoon, the other neighboring businesses (brewery excluded) were closed, so there was ample parking in the surrounding business center lots.

    Be sure to plan a visit on an evening when Pro’s is open and grab an incredible charcuterie plate to enjoy with your cocktails, but a word of note, the brewery was hoppin’ while we were there, which means lots of unattended minis making the business center sidewalks their personal playspaces and they were not using their “inside voices”. Buyer beware. 😉

    While there, I selected two of the “House Cocktails” to enjoy and both were downright delightful:

    Seven Amazing Benefits – $10
    Vodka, Lemon Syrup, Tamarind, Cucumber

    Bruleed Greyhound – $10
    Gin, Grapefruit, Burned Sugar, Lime, Salt

    I’m definitely a garnish girl as it is, but that “Burned Sugar” on the Bruleed Greyhound was stupid good. I’d come back again for that itself. Cocktail on the side, please.

    snoop dogg that's delicious

    Final Take: Do check out Sidebar in Cary when you get the chance. It makes for a nice afternoon stop. Tell Matt that Lisa sent you!

    PS: Yes, I found a way to work TWO Snoop Dogg gifs into one blog post. Perfection!

  • Summer Favorites: Sun Bum Sunscreen

    I first found this line of sun protection products at Topsail Beach a few years ago in a surf shop and am so glad it’s widely available now!

    Sun Bum sunscreen
    The Sun Bum sunscreen lotion I use is SPF 30 which helps protect you from the nasty stuff (sunburn, skin cancer) and smells amazing. Very beachy. Goes on smooth and rubs in easily.

    What really makes the Sun Bum collection tops on my list is that the products won’t clog your pores and most importantly – are not tested on animals!

    You can find the sunscreens in lotion and sprays for about $16.00 – I recommend stocking up toward the end of the summer retail season (now-August) when major retailers discount. Especially if you’re in NC like me and it’ll be sunshiny hot through the first few weeks of October.

    http://shop.trustthebum.com/original/

    PS: This is a non-solicited, non-compensated blog post. But if the fine folks at the Bum wanted to send me some more Sun Bum, I wouldn’t refuse the delivery. ?

  • Raleigh Kid Post

    I want to go here soon!

    The details:

    Raleigh City Museum

    Address: Located in the historic Briggs Building at 220 Fayetteville Street in Raleigh, N.C. 27601

    Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm | Saturday 1pm to 4pm | Open First Fridays 6pm-9pm | Closed Sunday & Monday

    Darn, I feel like Sunday afternoons would be the PERFECT time to spend an hour (or more) catching up on my Raleigh history.

    The best part?

    Admission is free and no tickets are required for entrance to the museum. For information, please call 919-832-3775.Yay for fun (and free) stuff to do!

  • eCycling

    Electronics are probably some of the nastiest things that could end up in a landfill, so if you need to get rid of anything, here’s a great *free* opportunity from Fox 50 and Creative Recycling to do so!

    Our landfills are filling up with things that won’t ever go away. Specifically, old, outdated electronic equipment which take up space and pose a hazard to our environments.

    That’s why FOX50 created “E-Cycling” Day:
    Saturday, June 27th from 10am – 2pm at all 3 locations.

    Come out and see us – rain or shine – in the parking lots of three Best Buy locations:

    * Durham – Renaissance Center
    (7001 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27713)

    * North Raleigh – Capital Blvd.
    (6101 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27616)

    * Cary – Crossroads Plaza
    (237 Crossroads Blvd, Cary, NC 27518)

    It’s so convenient. You won’t even have to get out of your car! Volunteers will unload your electronic items

    And there’s countless number of electronic items you can drop off.

    Equipment Accepted    : All electronic equipment is acceptable with the exception of manifested hazardous waste, radioactive waste and/or biohazardous waste.


    Read the full info and see the list of what’s ok and not ok to bring here!

    Please pass this along or encourage your local media and Best Buy to model something in your area after this program!

  • I Shouldn’t Tell You This…

    …because I’d like to keep my odds of winning high, but… 518 West has a Facebook Page and they’re giving away a $25 gift certificate.

    I know right – awesome!

    I have been there at least once a month for the last six months: it’s where all but the most recent skirt! After Work events have been, Amber and Daniel had their rehearsal dinner there in September ’08, and E. Riley just hosted our bridal luncheon there two weeks ago.

    If you haven’t been, you’ve missed out.

    For lunch, get the Grilled Pear Insalate – I swear by it.

    Grilled Pear Insalate

    Grilled Bosc pear with field greens, walnuts, gorgonzola and a honey-walnut vinaigrette…

    small… $5.50
    large… $8.75

    I’m hungry just thinking about it! And such a good deal for only $8.75 for the largest portion.

    PS: They have a blog, too.

    PS #2: If you win, you have to take me to lunch. Sound fair?

    PS #3: The boys who valet are the nicest ever. (It’s complimentary and you should tip them. They do an excellent job.) Note: I valet when it’s cold and when I’m running late. Duh.

    (Images: 518 West’s website.)

  • Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me About This Before??

    During one of my previous posts directed at XM Radio (and my current lack of satisfaction with the constantly increasing rates handed down to loyal customers), Gracie left me a comment encouraging me to check out Pandora.

    I’m. In. Love.

    Why didn’t any of y’all ever tell me about this before?????

    It is the definition of amazing.


    (Click to enlarge.)    All I did was create a nice little account, start with my first “station” by typing in the country band “Lady Antebellum”, and it keeps building songs from there. The navigation and tips it gives you along the way are SO polite with a little snarky worked in – just the way I like it.

    So far, I’ve only “X”ed one song (Carrie Underwood’s “Just a Dream” – I don’t do songs about soldiers who don’t make it home) and it promised it’d “never play it again”. I’ve even discovered some great country songs I’ve never heard before – songs that haven’t been released as singles!

    I can’t wait to create a station based on the following two artists: Jason Michael Carroll and Flo-Rida. I think it’ll be very interesting to see where that one leads.

    For those of you who are in my Gmail contacts, who I didn’t think would mind the invite, you got an invite from me yesterday. (Sorry – I forgot to include the personal message.) Another sweet feature is that it shows your friends who are members and you can share you favorites, etc.

    Long story short: Goodbye XM!

    The only thing I need to figure out now is how exactly to hook it up so that I can do Pandora in the car and on the boat 🙂

    Feel free to add me if you’re on Pandora – I’m ncsulilwolf by way of ncsulilwolf@gmail.com.

  • Local Rave: Alter Ego Salon

    I’m in love.

    A second story Downtown location (with a view that many would kill for) and prices that make it possible to keep you looking good without having to take out a loan.

    Alter Ego Salon – Mary-Taylor did my recent cut and rocked it out.

    Video courtesy of the Triangle Blvd boys:

    Sign up for their email newsletter (just create an account on their site), that’s how I found out about their January special which snagged me a free manicure with my haircut.

    One of my favorite things about this salon may not have been the cut at all but the fact that they emailed me an appointment reminder that also included my upcoming scheduled events, including bridal updos for a friends wedding. Apparently, they speak my language (email-based and organized) 🙂

  • {Double Post} The Shop with a Conscience

    I can’t believe this is another thing I’ve never remember to blog about, because it’s one of my Cameron Village favorites – Beleza: A Fair Trade Boutique.

    Described on their website as a place where:…you will find unique and extraordinary textiles and hats, jewelry and art that catch your eye and touch your heart.

    Beyond offering beautiful things, Beleza exists to provide hard working people from countries around the world – and here in the US – essential support to provide daily necessities for their families.

    While the store is fair trade, the major emphasis of Beleza is to treat people as they should be treated, and assist in global economic development.

    Beleza is owned and operated by two of the most wonderful people I know: P. Dail and his wife Sara.

    I received the following email today from Sara about a new addition coming to their store that I am really excited about:

    Recently we met Audias from Honduras. Born without arms, he paints with his feet. We will have his work in the store very soon and encourage you to come see this work. Audias has no other means of support. We plan to host a special event for you to meet him.I’ll be sure to update when I hear more details!

    In the mean time, go check out Beleza and become an addict of their amazing selection of goods with a heart, too.

  • Starting the Year Off Right

    I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions… trust me, I can find a million ways to improve myself and life around me any darn day of the week.

    In that spirit, I’m still going to share some good vibes to start 2009 with… might as well set the bar high for a good year ahead with some good news, events, and buys from all over place (no rhyme or reason to the following list):

    Heart-warming Headline: Highwoods Properties Donates $10,000 to Homes for Our Troops

    Style Report    : Green koozies that won’t break the bank

    Green Reads    : for parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, nannies, etc. – Green Babies, Sage Moms

    Less is More    : Cleaning out? Here’s a few uses for household items that help our furry friends you might not have thought of otherwise.

    This Might Hurt a Little    : Spend Saturday mornings with Paragon Crossfit for free bootcamp workout sessions when you need a swift kick in the butt to get going.    There you go. A green, simple, healthy, and karma-positive start to 2009.

    Note: Adrianne and I (and possibly some other Raleigh girls) will be going to bootcamp tomorrow morning… it’s gonna be interesting for sure.

  • Keep Your Eyes Open!

    I know there are a lot of moms (and dads!) who read this blog (including my own – Hi Mom! Hi Dad!), so I was really excited to see that our friends in law enforcement have harnessed the power of technology when it comes to Amber Alerts.

    Many thanks to Lisa S. for sharing!

    Amber Alert Text Site

    “Statistics show that the first 3 hours after an abduction are the most critical in recovery efforts. By signing up for free wireless Amber Alerts you could play an integral role in the recovery of an abducted child.” -From Website

    Be sure to read her post as she gives you a good run-down of the features of the program!