Reviews & Comments
Raleigh, NC
Not Perfect--But Great--Let's Clarify -
3/1/2010I had posted a couple years ago and still receive numerous inquiries regarding Raleigh when I left my email. In fact, I received three this week.
Look, if you are seeking a perfect city--pass Raleigh by because it is not perfect. I mentioned before that I have traveled 27 countries and have visited 45 of the States and have lived in a variety of cities in a couple other States. I believe I have a good point of reference when I say Raleigh is a wonderful place to live. Does it have flaws--yes, but then so does every city I have visited over the years.
In these postings, I have seen allegations of Confederate flags and people being called Yankee. This is for those folks. Look, if people are calling you a Yankee--stop acting like one. Don't appear aloof, holier than thou and stand-offish. Stop looking down your nose at Southerners. We all are not uneducated rednecks. We all do not drop the last syllable in words. Our universities are noted for their academics just as much as their atheletic programs.
I recently did some work in Nigeria. The Nigerians had major issues with the British and Dutch expats working with them because they said they looked down at them and treated them as second class citizens. This creates a great divide. If someone calls you a Yankee, it may be in fun--just like the Bostonian who wants me to pronounce car, art or Saturday over and over again for their amusement. Maybe you need thicker skin. Suck it up--you don't get a cross burnt on your lawn this weekend---sorry.
The roads in and around the city have not kept pace with the surging growth. That's right--you aren't the first or last person to research great cities to live in who actually moved to one. With 30% growth in the last few years, our infrastructure has been challenged to the max. We have worked hard at adding new roads and widening exisiting ones. We have not done a great job tearing down all those wonderful trees you noticed when you flew in here for the first time and replacing them with concrete and asphalt just so you don't have to sit too long in your air-conditioned car on the way to work. I go to LA every month (have for about 15 years) and every month I sit in a traffic jam and admire how they have paved over a third of their city's real estate to accomodate all the needed roads to mobilize their society. But I don't stress nor do I sit there and cuss at the few inches I have progressed in the last ten minutes. When I look out at the thousands of cars and the heavy smog hovering overhead, entertained by the road rage I see, I am thankful for my return to Raleigh that weekend.
I fear that Raleigh may become an Atlanta someday--its unique charm and coziness lost to millions of impatient commuters shouting obsenities to the person in the car next to them, a city where folks complain about the "good ol' days" and people who have never visited Umstead Park, NC Museum of Natural Science,or Marbles Kid Museum, or the Farmers Market, or attended any of the Broadway series, or NC Museum of History or our local lakes belly-aching about nothing to do in this hick town. Grab a copy of the weekly publication, Independent, which is chocked full of things to do in this area. Then when you have exhasuted the Raleigh options--go visit the universities. If you are bored--it is because you are lazy--sorry-we don't deliver culture to the door.
Look--Raleigh makes the top ten list of great places to live and work but it never made the Top Perfect Cities in the US.
Again, I post my email (p_ingalls@msn.com) if you want to contact me with questions regarding Raleigh and the surrounding area. If you want to contact me to belly ache about my adopted city--send your email to Washington DC because I heard they really care about your input and suggestions and they will work hard to do something with it..
Raleigh, NC
re: the Myth of raleigh - 10/6/2008 -
3/1/2010I agree 100% with what you said. I am a native North Carolinian and have lived here about 16-17 years. With a 30% growth rate we are now getting people in from all over and they bring their attitudes with them. I have always said, if you get bored, you are lazy becuase there are tons of activities at the mudeums, universities and other locales. We have the local paper called Independent which advertises all the local activities each week and it is full. If you feel like Yankee--then stop acting like one. Traffic is a bitch becuase we have a larger population that enjoy being here and that has increased faster than our roadwork.
Raleigh, NC
I love the town -
2/26/2008As a 57 year old, I have lived in five other NC cities, four Virgina cities and three SC cities and I prefer Raleigh. I travel considerably in my profession and have been to 24 countries and 45 states. I can say with reasonable certainty that Raleigh is a wonderful place to live (having resdied there for 13 years). For example, I lived in Charlotte for five years and prefer Raleigh to Charlotte any day of the week. My wife and I are empty nesters but I would agree Raleigh is a little more suitable for the family crowd than singles. I have two single sons (in their 30's) who will agree that the single scene, unless you are college age, can be a bit limiting.
I travel to California every month (and have for about 12 years), spending at least two weeks and sometimes three there and prefer Raleigh and NC to any part of California. I love visiting California--but a visit is temporary fortunately. I always look forward to returning home.
If you can't culture--you aren't looking. We have dance, ballet, museums, plays, etc. I suggest you get a copy of the Independent and find some neat activities. Take it from someone who has traveled all over the world--there is no perfact--only wonderful ones--and Raleigh is my wonderful city.
If you have questions on the city and what it has to offer--email me at p_ingalls@msn.com. But if you just want to slam it--pass me by.