Check out what's happening in the NewQuestCity Forums for North Carolina .

Gingerbread Displays Create Sweet Feasts for the Eyes
01/25/2012

Forget “Hansel and Gretel.” For sheer enchantment, North Carolina’s gingerbread displays beat anything an old witch could concoct. National Gingerbread Competition Nov. 16-Jan. 1 The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Asheville Now in its 19th year, the competition attracts hundreds of entries and thousands of visitors, who come to the historic Blue Ridge Mountain resort to...

North Carolina Invites Travelers to Explore All Forms of Fall’s Splendor
01/25/2012

Diverse Experiences Create Endless Ways to Color Outside the Lines RALEIGH, N.C. — While North Carolina’s fall color may start with the beautiful foliage found amid the tallest mountains east of the Rockies, natural beauty, special events and seasonal activities stretch across more than 500 miles from the high country to the Piedmont and on to the coast. Autumn’s...

Fall Arrives With a Promise of Spectacular Color
01/25/2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — With a fanfare of positive notes from the experts, travelers can expect a vibrant foliage display across North Carolina this fall enticing visitors to “Color Outside the Lines.” Fall color and fishing reports, as well as seasonal events across the state, can be found at VisitNC.com . Since seeing is believing, photos and videos will be updated daily via...

North Carolina Wine Industry Generates $1.28 Billion in Economic Impact
01/25/2012

  RALEIGH, N.C.  — Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that the North Carolina wine and grape industry generated an impact of $1.28 billion on the state’s economy in 2009, an increase of 58 percent since 2005.  The industry supported 7,600 jobs across the state, adding 1,900 jobs since 2005.   “Our wine industry creates jobs and attracts visitors to our...

North Carolina Tourism Campaign Gains National Recognition
01/25/2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development has received a 2011 Mercury Award from the US Travel Association’s National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) for its cooperative marketing efforts. This marks the Division's 22nd Mercury Award recognition since 1985. The national award recognizes the North Carolina tourism office for...

North Carolina Channels Real Pirate History
01/25/2012

Queen Anne’s Revenge Wreckage Yields a New Display and a Solid Conclusion RALEIGH, N.C.  — Near the haunts and hideouts of Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, North Carolina confronts Hollywood fantasy this summer with heightened action at year-round pirate destinations. A bold new exhibit at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort renders a verdict in the 14½-year...

North Carolina Celebrates Tourism's Impact on the State's Economy With Tourism Day
01/25/2012

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 10, 2011) — Gov. Bev Perdue proclaimed today, May 10, 2011 as Tourism Day, celebrating travel and tourism as a major state industry that is vital to the economic stability and growth of North Carolina. Tourism Day is celebrated as part of National Travel and Tourism Week which is May 7-15.   A full day of events is scheduled in Raleigh on May 10 to celebrate...

North Carolina Tourism Industry Welcomes Award Recipients into Winner’s Circle
01/25/2012

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Three distinguished North Carolinians were honored today at the North Carolina Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism for their significant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina's tourism industry. The 2011 Winner’s Circle Awards were presented to Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler, Director, North Carolina Museum of...

North Carolina Visitor Spending Jumps to Record $17 Billion
01/25/2012

RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that visitors to North Carolina spent a record $17 billion in 2010, an increase of 9 percent from 2009. The number was higher than the previous record of $16.8 billion set in 2008. The sixth most visited state in the nation, North Carolina gained nearly 2,000 tourism jobs in 2010 while state tax revenues from visitor spending increased...

Jump-Start the Holidays in North Carolina
01/25/2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — The list of holiday events in North Carolina is longer than Santa’s naughty and nice roster. Listed with date-specific events at the top, these activities embrace the wonder and magic found here every year and are perfect for an N.C. holiday getaway. And, don’t forget about VisitNC.com: Your personal guide to North Carolina. It features events, offers,...

Fall Leaves On Display In N.C. Mountains
01/25/2012

Experience Gorgeous Fall Color in the High Country, Great Fishing on the Coast It’s the Perfect Time for an NC Getaway   Oct. 7, 2010 (Raleigh, N.C.) –  Our reporters are estimating higher elevations in N.C. (4,000 feet and up) will be at peak in the coming week.  Brilliant color is expected in the mountains throughout October as the color...

Zipline Trend Picks Up Speed
01/25/2012

North Carolina travelers beat the summer heat by creating their own breeze at zipline attractions popping up across the state. With temperatures hovering in the upper 90s around the Carolinas, why wouldn't you want to catch a breeze? If you're looking for a family-friendly way to stay cool, take an aerial view of North Carolina's natural, scenic beauty by zipline. Close to a dozen zipline...

Division of Tourism Hosts Event to Showcase Need for Stewardship During Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary
01/25/2012

RALEIGH, N.C.  – At a media event hosted today by the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, Lynn Minges presented the cover image of the Blue Ridge Parkway on The Official 2010 North Carolina Travel Guide to Phil Francis, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Minges, the Assistant Secretary for Tourism, Marketing and Global Branding for the North...

North Carolina Celebrates Tourism’s Economic Impact with Travel and Tourism Day May 18
01/25/2012

RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed Tuesday, May 18 as“Travel and Tourism Day” to celebrate an industry vital to the economic stability and growth of North Carolina.  North Carolina’s tourism industry is composed of small businesses that make up a vital part of our state’s economy, creating jobs and investment from the mountains to the coast. RALEIGH - Gov. Bev...

NC Fall Events Offer Family Fun, Excitement
01/25/2012

Escape to small towns across North Carolina for the supreme fall color experience. Plan your getaway now at VisitNC.com. Raleigh, N.C. – Fall’s signature events include local color on a national and regional scale—everything from woolly worm races to hot air balloon ascents to NASCAR racing and world-famous barbecue. Whether the foliage is at its peak or just getting...

Casting Call for Osso Restaurant & Lounge this Tuesday and Wednesday!
01/24/2012

Tuesday, November 29 and Wednesday, November 30th at Osso Restaurant & Lounge, NC Music Factory from 2-5pm (next to Butter) A brand new experience is coming to Charlotte December 2011. **NOW HIRING: BARTENDERS, SERVERS, SERVER ATTENDANTS, HOSTESS** SEE, FEEL, TASTE and HEAR Osso Restaurant & Lounge. Like no other venue Charlotte has ever seen. Coming [...]

Check out Charlotte Observer food writer Helen Schwab’s review of VBGB Beer Hall and Garden:
01/24/2012

Sample and sip at beer garden By Helen Schwab The Charlotte Observer 920 Hamilton St.; 704-333-4111; vbgbuptown.com. HITS: Zweigles brats, unusual sides, marvelous beer cheese. MISSES: Overly oiled pretzel. PRICES: About $5-$12. HOURS: 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday (kitchen closes about 2 hours earlier nightly), to 2 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; noon-2 a.m. Saturday; noon-midnight Sunday. “What can I [...]

Honey Island Swamp Band from New Orleans LIVE at The Saloon this Thursday night!
01/24/2012

Great music begins with great songs, and great songs are what the Honey Island Swamp Band is all about. The band came together after Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Chris Mule’ (electric guitar, vocals) were marooned in San Francisco after the levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and had a chance encounter with [...]

Experience Osso. Now open at NC Music Factory
01/24/2012

www.ossocharlotte.com

Osso Restaurant and Lounge Now Open at NC Music Factory
01/24/2012

Special “sneak peek” this Thursday and Friday.  Click on the image below to visit Osso website for more information and reservations.

Raleigh chicken coop tour set for May 16
01/20/2012

The fourth annual Hen-side the Beltline Tour d'Coop is set for Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A benefit for Urban Ministries of Wake County, the event gives folks a chance to visit backyard chicken-keeping operations across inner-city Raleigh. For more information, visit the event's website at www.hensidethebeltline.blogspot.com.

(Photo of previous Tour d'Coop courtesy of Rick Bennett)

SEEDS in Durham. The next meeting is scheduled for April 11, and the topic is composting with worms. For more information, click here.

01/20/2012

Today's News & Observer has an important story by Jim Wise about how the quality of Falls Lake -- Raleigh's main water supply -- is suffering while officials with the power to do something are failing to act:

July 1 was the deadline for the N.C. Division of Water Quality to have a cleanup plan for Falls Lake. They're still working on it.

The Neuse River Foundation is sponsoring an online letter-writing campaign encouraging lawmakers to take action to clean up the lake ASAP. And freshman state Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake) has introduced legislation encouraging local governments to step up efforts to protect the lake.

In the meantime, there's a simple step that people can take to help curb the pollution in Falls Lake as well as other water bodies: Use caution when treating lawns and gardens with fertilizers, which lead to the algae overgrowth that's damaging the lake. For more information on proper application of fertilizers, click here for a guide from N.C. State University.

(Photo of Falls Lake in winter by Sue Sturgis)

Meanwhile, the city recently completed its first outdoor lighting project combining light-emitting diode (LED) technology with solar renewable energy in place of traditional dirty electric sources like nuclear and coal plants. LEDs are electronic lights that consume less energy and last longer than traditional lightbulbs and even compact fluorescents. Progress Solar Solutions of Apex installed the sun-powered lights at the city Parks and Recreation Department's Marsh Creek remote operations facility near New Hope Road and Daly Road in eastern Raleigh.

"Energy costs for municipalities can be significant," said Julian Prosser, assistant city manager. "Our sustainability team is a strong advocate of adopting proven, high-performance technologies that can save local taxpayers on energy costs and at the same time protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions. We are excited about the opportunity to move to a cost-effective, renewable energy alternative. It seems like a win-win for everyone."

(Photo of the new LED lights in the parking lot of the Marsh Creek facility from the city's website.)

"If you’re deciding where to live, consider moving to an urban area," says CNT President Scott Bernstein. "You’ll help fight global warming by emitting less CO2. And you’re likely to drive less, so you’ll spend less on transportation, saving up to $5,000 annually."

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