Exciting soccer game draws thunderous cheers from NCFC fans
With so many high quality local clubs and college programs producing world-class players, Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are hotspots for soccer, and now the arena of men's professional soccer in the Triangle is evolving by way of North Carolina Football Club (NCFC). Currently ranked fourth in the NASL league, NCFC is battling for a spot in the playoffs, and this was the first time I'd been to a game since the rebranding, so I was excited to see the "New State of Soccer" for myself.
Local race offers novelty and competitive mile match-ups
It's not often you see a world record broken. On Friday night the world record for the fastest denim mile run by a woman was smashed on the track of Meredith College as part of the Sir Walter Miler races. With an exciting line-up of denim runners, local running teams tackling the 4x400 relay, and a talented line-up of men's and women's elites, it was a great stage for world records and chasing the sub-4:00 mile time.
New shop in Hillsborough provides a place for local artists and artisans
Eno River Marketplace opened on June 30 in the midst of the Hillsborough Arts Council Last Friday Art Walk. Tucked into a historic downtown building the new shop features vintage and repurposed goods, handmade quilts, paintings, coloring books, custom coasters, terrariums, cards, and many more unique gifts.
Sunflower field along Neuse River Greenway is popular spot with locals
Summer always looks tired to me. By July all the leaves look spent and dry. The oak leaves droop depressedly and the canopy takes on a tinge of golden-orange as if it had been singed. Yellow. So much yellow. I heard about this sunflower field through a couple sources, so one afternoon after work Emily and I headed out to find that sunflower field. I picked up Ryder and we headed east, towards the Neuse River Greenway heading to Johnston County.
Workout group for Cary moms offers fitness, camaraderie, and no need for babysitter
Dilemma: you want to work out, but you've got an itty bitty human with you. What do you do?
A) Once again leave the kid with dad/grandma/nanny/the neighbor's kid who isn't really old enough to watch kids on their own but they're cheap labor/the dog
B) Don't work out, because it's too much of a hassle
C) Take the kid to the park and do a Stroller Strides workout!
Oh yeah, I'd say C) is a clear winner in my book too!
I first got connected with the Fit4Mom Cary/Durham Stroller Strides group at the stand-up paddleboarding event at Lake Crabtree, and when Devon from the group found out I was taking photos for Wake County parks we chatted about which parks were included. It turns out a group of moms regularly do a workout at Crowder district park, so I headed over Monday morning to meet up with them and take some photos.
10 Wake County parks. Lots of fun photos!
It's Friday, Fri-yay! Who's got a long weekend ahead for July 4th? I'm taking off Monday to do some exploring, and yes I'll have my camera with me!
I've talked a bit about the Wake County parks project, but here's the run-down:
10 parks in Wake County. New websites and brochures. Lots of photos by yours truly. Yep, you've got the picture, and here are a few of my favorites so far!
Trying Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Lake Crabtree and Harris Lake
I have been having a blast taking photos of Wake County parks! Most recently I met up with a group of stand-up paddleboarders at Lake Crabtree. The week before at Harris Lake I'd met Laura Prudhomme, the organizer of the Meetup "What SUP Triangle?" through a meetup with Life Is A Hike. Laura and her husband Mark own Earth Creature which rents SUP gear and organizes events like the SUP meetup at Harris and the meetup at Crabtree. I found them through a mutual friend and after I took photos at the Harris Lake event Laura invited me to take photos at a Lake Crabtree event and try out paddling for myself.
Local mountain biking group offers events for riders with wide variety of experience
I don't have a mountain bike. It's probably a good thing seeing as 1) I regularly wreck my road bike on straight, paved, and unobstructed trails; 2) I already don't have time for the bajillion activities I already do; and 3) they're expensive and do I really need another expensive hobby? But McCrae mountain bikes and I'm always jealous and slightly terrified of the bent wheels he brings home from rides or the insane Rampage videos he likes to show me to simultaneously make my skin crawl with fear and my eyes go wide with excitement. So recently when I got the chance to take photos of mountain biking at Lake Crabtree that anticipation and excitement welled up.
