Planning My Gadabout Weekend

On this rainy Friday morning I perused the News and Observers' Weekend Section to see what's going on in Raleigh.  There are always many events to choose from reminding me how lucky I am to be living here.  This weekend is no exception.  I'm recovering from skin cancer surgery on my nose, so I'm planning on treating myself to several events.  But which do I choose?

Going to a movie is always fun either by myself or with friends.  That's just one of the many things I miss about not having Dan here.  He was my favorite going-to-a movie-partner.

There are two movies I would like to see this weekend, and I might manage to see both.  Kedi is a documentary that by popular demand is enjoying a second run at the Rialto.  It's for cat lovers, so count me in.

Another movie is The Zookeepers Wife based on Diane Ackerman's book by the same name which I enjoyed.

A movie would fit right in for this rainy day.

Saturday morning I've signed up for the Young Life 5K in which I am sponsoring my 15 year old granddaughter, Grace, who will be running.  I on the other hand will do a 1.5 mile walk (probably with my walker in tow).

If I were young as I once was I would definitely be taking in the Rock n Roll Marathon's after party that will be filled with numerous musicians at the Red Hat Amphitheater.  But alas!

Today, Saturday and Sunday the Art In Bloom exhibit at the NC Art Museum will feature 50 floral masterpieces based on work of art in the museum's permanent collection.  I could do that today to perk up a dreary, rainy day.

Forecasts for Saturday and Sunday are calling for beautiful days, perfect for taking in the Raulston Blooms Festival at the Raulston Arborteum.

I will surely have to get over on Saturday for the grand opening of Fresh Local Ice Cream that is opening its second store in Cary.  I have patronized the one on Glenwood Avenue for the last few years, and now I will have a second store from which to choose.  I love their ice cream.  The best I have ever eaten anywhere.

Of course the big event of the weekend will be the NCAA ballgames on Saturday night.  Dare I head out to a sports bar to watch Carolina play Oregon???? Probably not.

I'll post about my gadabouts when the weekend is over.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

Fresh Local Ice Cream on Glenwood Avenue.

Now that the weather is warming and it's almost summer, my attention turns to ice cream.  Oh who am I kidding, I love ice cream all season long.  There's no better place in Raleigh, NC to get ice cream than the Fresh Local Ice Cream Shop over on Glenwood Avenue.

Many different flavors.

They use local fresh dairy products.

This must be one of Raleigh's best kept secrets.  The Shop is in a little building that was formerly a bank in the Oak Park Shopping Center, and it is easily missed when cruising down Glenwood.  If you know where Taverna Agora, the Greek restaurant, is, Fresh Local is next door to the east.

Maple-walnut ice cream.

To my knowledge, this is the only place in Raleigh, that one can find maple-walnut ice cream.  I discovered this flavor many years ago in Nova Scotia.  There the flavor is readily available in cartons in Sobey's, but my favorite is down in Halifax at Cow's Ice Cream.  But in Raleigh, Fresh Local Ice Cream is my favorite place for any kind of ice cream, but especially maple-walnut.

They make ice cream cakes for special occasions.

They have fresh lemonade and strawberry lemonade too.

My friend, Marcia, and I have made a pact to limit the amount of sweets we eat in June---trying to lose a bit of weight---and ice cream is considered "a sweet".  Once a week, however, we have agreed that when we get together we will allow ourselves a trip over to Fresh Local Ice Cream, where I will surely have a maple-walnut ice cream milkshake.

Maple-walnut milkshake.

If you haven't discovered this little shop over on Glenwood, and if you like ice cream, you should hurry on over to Fresh Local Ice Cream.   You won't be disappointed.