Disqus - Latest Comments for QSMama

Re: Raleigh Chipotle Location Determined

QSMama — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:14:47 -0000

Chipotle is yummy! I'm thrilled it's coming here, even though it's a hike from downtown Raleigh. (And Chapel Hill? Like we ever drive there?) We'll likely get more b/c Chipotle likes to build out a market soon after it goes in. It hit D.C. and then New York City hard.
I appreciate that Chipotle pays attention to details in its ingredient sourcing and food prep. The company uses Niman Ranch naturally raised pork in its carne asada. And 15 percent of its black beans are organic. The company will increase that percentage as soon as organic bean farmers are able to keep up with the demand.
Yeah, the portions are big, Mr. 10 Steps quoter, but no one says you have to eat the whole thing. :)
BTW, McDonald's shed its interest and Chipotle IPO'd in January. The stock's been a star so far.
- LDR

Re: Raleigh Chipotle Location Determined

QSMama — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:17:49 -0000

Oh, and I agree: Moe's SUCKS. My husband and I make far better mexi-food at home. I cringe at being accosted with "Welcome to Moe's!" when I walk through the door. Makes me want to smack someone...not the poor people behind the counter, who must hate that part of the job, but the silly marketing person who thinks it's a great idea.
- LDR

Re: Bloomsbury Estates Grows

QSMama — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 00:46:19 -0000

As a Boylan Heights homeowner, I'm glad to see so much interest in our quiet, next-to-downtown area. I do hope the design and quality of construction remain true to the plans and the BE website.
Now maybe that Sidetrack Pub (bad name, great concept!) across the street will take off. We'd love to have another walkable option.
We will definitely need more traffic-calming measures on Boylan Ave.
Overall, I'm happy to see BE coming. I wish construction would get underway so we'll be that much closer to having it finished...those trucks and cranes are going to stink for us!
- L

Re: Mosaic Offers Warm Glenwood Hideaway

QSMama — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:53:07 -0000

Glad you visited and reviewed Mosaic! We LOVE it.
Beautiful atmosphere, great music, yummy wines. We've been three times already--does that make us regulars? :)
- LDR

Re: RBC Gets Planning Commission Approval

QSMama — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 16:00:51 -0000

> "... debris off the side of the balcony and it hits a pedistrian
> below in the head. Those balconies are also perfect for
> suicide."
Kidding, right? In any case, other cities seem to handle these issues okay. I'm sure Raleigh can, too.
It's amazing the changes the skyline will undergo in the next five years. Love it. I'm ready for Raleigh to move forward quickly--and so glad to live close enough to downtown to appreciate the changes.
- L

Re: Lone Star Steakhouse Closes on Wake Forest Road

QSMama — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:34:50 -0000

Yeah, that is one of the weirdest strips in Raleigh. There is no central location--you don't go through unless you're on your way somewhere else. And the driving can be hair-raising.
Which doesn't speak well for the restaurants there. We've gone a few times to eat at or get takeout from Taste of Thai...yummy place. I was surprised to see Pei Wei put one of its first NC locations there.

Re: Boylanheights.org Helps Define Community

QSMama — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:45:53 -0000

Boylan Heights rocks!
True, but embarrassing story, which I'll share nevertheless:
My husband and I were dying to leave Durham (natch) and buy a house near downtown Raleigh. Because we already loved Third Place, we kept looking around Five Points/Hayes Barton. Weekend after weekend, we were dismayed to see little besides 1,200-sf houses for more than a quarrter million dollars. All we wanted was a charming front-porch bungalow with downtown living. And this was our first house, so we didn't have any equity working for us.
I kept telling my husband, "I had a Connells CD in college called 'Boylan Heights.' That neighborhood is around here somewhere. We've gotta find it."
It took about two dozen wrong turns--into Dix, onto South Saunders--but we finally found Boylan Heights. That very evening, we saw our bungalow. We called our agent, made an offer the next afternoon (for asking price!), and two days later it was ours.
We've been in BHts for nearly five years now. You can't beat it.

Re: Angus Barn’s Royal To Appear on “Iron Chef”

QSMama — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 21:45:53 -0000

Wayyy back in the day, I waited tables at Claire's in Durham (anyone remember that place?) when Walter was head chef there. He was the chef for my wedding dinner at The Inn at Bonnie Brae—another long-lost Durham place.
He's a wonderful chef who maintains a calm, professional kitchen. I hope he kicks butt on Iron Chef!
Going to add the date on my iCal now....
- L

Re: Raleighing Rules

QSMama — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 21:50:20 -0000

Yes, congratulations! Those kinds of indexing can mean huge traffic. I hope that's the case for you. Love the site.
- L

Re: Crabtree Welcomes Janie and Jack

QSMama — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:52:08 -0000

Yay! yay! yay! I'm taking on more freelance work in anticipation of the hit to my wallet...!
- L

Re: Chick-Fil-A Coming to Cameron Village

QSMama — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:13:18 -0000

Won't my two-year-old be thrilled! Okay, so will I. Yes, traffic will be awful as a result, at least for a few months while everyone revels in the novelty. Maybe we can convince everyone in the area to walk there.
So a friend told me the CV HT tired of its nightmare parking lot and is moving back down to the Eckerd's site. I suppose they'd scrape and rebuild. Has anyone else heard that? If so, what's the timetable?
(P.S.--What a sad notion--the Person St KK getting torn down. Banish the thought.)
- L

Re: Big Easy Has Big Tastes

QSMama — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 21:19:28 -0000

The Comet? Really? If only they had the air hockey table! My now-husband and I played that game at The Comet on our first date. sniff.
It certainly is a great time to live in Raleigh, particularly near downtown. (Boylan Heights, yeah!) I'm glad to hear The Big Easy is open. We couldn't figure out why the hell those places couldn't be open in time for the big parade, when 21,000 potential customers could've been enticed.
Ah, well, their loss, and we'll go check it out soon.

Re: Dolly Saves Zippin Pippin

QSMama — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:37:58 -0000

Oooooh, fun! The Pippin reminds me of the Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia. The back car of that ride is amazing.
I grew up in Atlanta, and Six Flags was a summer tradition--truly one of the highlights of being a kid for me. I really do wish we had some parks closer to us.
Wonder if Philadelphia Toboggan made the Scream Machine, too? Hmmm, off to "The Google" (a la Bush) now to find out....

Re: Campbell School of Law Contemplates Downtown Move

QSMama — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 09:10:08 -0000

Sounds like I'm preaching to the choir here, but this sounds like a great idea. Here's hoping it comes to fruition. I can't think of much better for the shops, restaurants, bars, and condos downtown.
- Lea

Re: Fresh Off the Mill

QSMama — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 20:17:46 -0000

Just took a glance at that current readership on Alexa...wow, you guys! Good for you, good for Raleigh!
When I go visit my parents in the Atlanta area, I sometimes accompany my mom to their Swoozie's location. It's your run-of-the-mill gift shop--current and interesting enough, but not so different from a Charlotte's (Triangle Town Center, others?). So it's not the most exciting addition to Cameron Village, but probably a good fit for the kind of shopping most people seem to do there.
When you get a chance, I'd love an update on the new Chick-fil-A at CV and any news about the HTeeter/Eckerd's switcheroo...and what might become of the old HT site.
Oh, and also...any word on a Trader Joe's closer than Cary? That one's for sure, then I heard Brier Creek was in the running for the second of three locations. Will it be Raleigh or Chapel Hill for the third?

Re: Are We A Real City Yet?

QSMama — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:50:46 -0000

I'll feel like this is a "real city" if next spring most of the cafe seating on Fayetteville Street is occupied from, oh, 4:30 PM until midinght or one most nights.
That feels like a city--Paris, San Francisco, London. I guess I'm picturing much the same thing as Matt K. The best thing, though, will be when we can quit asking and just know. Personally, I'm getting close to there.

Re: Are We A Real City Yet?

QSMama — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:08:07 -0000

YES on the rail system! Good point.

Re: Poole’s Diner Up For Sale, But Still Serving Good Food

QSMama — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:10:51 -0000

My husband and I have always had a soft spot for Vertigo/Poole's. We ate at the Vertigo the night we drove into town, found Boylan Heights, spotted the adorable bungalow that the very next afternoon would become our first and present home. Not only that, but as we sat down at the bar to order, our favorite Whiskeytown song came over the sound system.
We were in love--with each other, the place, and our new city and home. We've been back eight or so times since then.
So it's a big deal when I say we won't be back to Poole's until many things change. The past few experiences hadn't been all that great. We left with the feeling we'd paid way too much money for mediocre food. (The red pepper soup is good, but not as good as it used to be.)
Then, several weeks ago, we went there with friends after one of them exhibited at the Rock n Shop. She had a three-week-old baby who was deeply asleep most of the time, and we had our well-behaved two-year-old. It was abundantly clear the waitress HATED our very presence at her table. (Strange, since it seemed we would be her only source of tip money for the night. It was deserted.) She gave us hateful looks and surly service throughout.
And then the food was mediocre, and the bill was high.
We hope things will turn around soon, and are excited to see what the convention center does for that area. It is practically our neighborhood, after all. But for now Poole's is off our list. That waitress sealed it.

Re: Poole’s Diner Up For Sale, But Still Serving Good Food

QSMama — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:14:35 -0000

Holy cow. If the waitress hadn't sealed it, then the health department inspection notes do.
Ugh! Please, someone put some love back into that place. And don't lose the great bar.

Re: Music Discovery The Way I Love It

QSMama — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:20:10 -0000

Wow, this is really good stuff. Yum.
But, Bruce, Milagro Saints? This is nothing like them.
- L

Re: Poole’s Diner Up For Sale, But Still Serving Good Food

QSMama — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:24:50 -0000

It was closed this past Friday night.
Even though our last several experiences there weren't good, I still hated to see it all dark. Sad. Here's hoping for a resurgence.
- L

Re: South Opens Today

QSMama — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:49:52 -0000

Sounds amazing. I hope they get the she-crab soup right, 'cause I'd sure love to have some without driving for five hours.
Great to see a fresh post in the same old vein here at Raleighing!
- L

Re: Baja Fresh Surrenders

QSMama — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 21:44:53 -0000

Actually, McDonald's gave Chipotle a lot of money several years ago, but was extremely hands-off when it came to management and operations. McD's just wanted to jump on the Fresh Mex train, but didn't want to, and could not, run another company. Today they have no relationship.
Chipotle got to take advantage of McDonald's unsurpassed food distribution network--not the foods themselves, 'cause they don't share any, but the logistics. That has allowed Chipotle to expand more rapidly than it would've been able to without that advantage.
Chipotle actually cans or freezes nothing. The kitchens make rice and beans multiple times each day, chops and blends salsas, marinates and cooks all the meats--all on site. The food is really quite good, and we are super-picky about Mexican.
And the company's use of organic and naturally raised ingredients--not exclusively, but they're adding products methodically--is something you'll see few other chains doing. In fact, Chipotle gets its pork from the Niman Ranch Cooperative, which has a farm or two in Eastern NC. Chipotle is actually showing other fast-food chains that YES, you can serve healthy, freshly made foods made from high quality, sustainable ingredients. I'm all about that. Naturally raised pork? Organic black beans? rGBH-free sour cream? In a meal that costs $6? Hallelujah.
The way I see it, the more fresh Mexican and Southwestern choices around here, the better. Mmmmmmmmmm.
And, yes, Baja Fresh is Wendy's, but not for long (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/06/ap340...).
Okay, taking off my Chipotle cheerleader uniform now...I just wanted to say they're not the typical fast-food chain, though not perfect, and that some of their policies are commendable.
- L

Re: State of the Website Address

QSMama — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:14:19 -0000

Great news. Thanks, again, for all the work you're putting into this site.
We've been in Raleigh only a little over five years, but lovelovelove it here. It's good to hear Raleighing is back.
- L

Re: The Return of Captial City Grocery

QSMama — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:04:03 -0000

Yes, Trader Joe's made a huge mistake by not going in that space. If I were the new funders, I'd have found a way to sell to TJ's, recover the old debt, and stand back and watch the crowds roll in.
Frankly, what that site needs is a known name like Trader Joe's. If I, as a downtown resident, will seek out a strip-mall location deep in Cary just to get to a TJ's, then that hidden-away CCG location can do great with a big name.
- L

Re: Crib Tents: Cruel or Practical?

QSMama — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:26:24 -0000

it\'s good to hear that crib tents work for some parents, but I think that, as with so many other things, you have to consider the kid.

At about 21 months, Baby A started telling me there was an elevator in her crib (as well as kangaroos, but that\'s a different post). She\'d swing a leg over the side, shout to me in the next room, \"I in deee elevator, Mommy!,\" and jump down. Her landing was usually followed by many tears, hers and mine.

We considered the tent option, but besides the publicized safety concerns, we knew Baby A was a little Houdini. She\'d get so busy figuring out the velcro and the zipper that she\'d (a) never go to sleep and (b) possibly get into even more danger than she did jumping out.

So several weeks ago, at the urging of her pediatrician, we finally converted her crib into the daybed function. That has brought a whole other slew of problems...but it\'s getting better.

We\'re fortunate in that we live in a small bungalow with no stairs. And because she still nurses a little first thing in the morning, she runs to get in bed with me.

All of these questions and worries are just part of the bigger picutre--our kids are going to keep stretching their abilities, doing stuff that scares us...and we just have to do our best to anticipate and mitigate the consequences.

None of which is very reassuring. :)

- L

Re: noodad » There Ain’t Nothing Wrong With Breasts

QSMama — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:50:04 -0000

LOL at the KFC comment! :)

MY RESPONSE after 26 straight months as a nursing mom: We just don\'t see enough breastfeeding in our culture. That\'s why it looks weird. I thought it was totally weird until I became a nursing mother myself...because I\'d never seen a mom nursing.

Before I breastfed, I probably would have noticed the boob first in that picture. Now, though, I see the look of love and adoration and happiness in that baby\'s eyes. It is a beautiful picture. Makes me teary, actually.

MY SOMEWHAT MORE RADICAL RESPONSE:
If our society can just freakin\' relax enough to see the big picture, then breasts can be ALL of these things: sexy, nurturing, attractive, practical.

Sex, procreation, and nurturing offspring are all part of the sexual life of adults. It\'s all a big circle of life that we\'re privileged to participate in.

I\'m not saying it\'s exactly sexy to breastfeed a baby or child. Really, it\'s anything but. And, honestly, the first few months of breastfeeding can interfere with sex. Mom gets very possessive of those things because, during that time, they are serving a higher purpose. (And if you can find the energy for sex during those sleepless times, then I admire you. We didn\'t.)

I can tell you the hormones involved are all the same. And the rush of relaxation and nurturing love that come with the milk letdown is caused by the same hormonal release that happens with orgasm.

No, you DON\'T get orgasms from breastfeeding. You do get a similar feeling of warmth, love, and relaxation afterwards, though. It\'s a great stress reliever.

That\'s nature rewarding the mom for taking good care of the offspring. Baby\'s happy and fed and (often) asleep now. Mom\'s happy, more relaxed, and feeling more loving towards what can be a demanding, trying little person. And dads? You life is easier when your mom-baby pair are happy.

All because of those thingies that make our dresses and bikinis and shirts fit great, too. Cool, huh? I think so.

Sorry to wax on and on. Guess I\'m feeling philosophical about it this morning. But it would be great if people realized it\'s not a madonna-whore, nurturing OR sexy thing. It\'s the whole spectrum. And that\'s amazing.

Re: noodad » The Dreaded Kids’ Menu: Eating Healthy on Vacation

QSMama — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 07:12:18 -0000

Great post! We\'ve done all of these things, too, with the exception of sharing between kidswe\'ve got only one. But we often feed her from our plate. She\'s still little enough.

A dad of a three-year-old gave me this insight: Occasionally, if you know you\'re going to give them some dessert anyway, it\'s okay to go ahead, even during the meal. He was like, Why fight it if you already know you\'re eventually going to say okay?

We\'ve done that with Baby A at those big salad-bar places or Jason\'s Deli, where the frozen yogurt machine totally tips kids off that, Hey! There\'s dessert here!

So if she\'s too distracted by the machine, I go ahead and put a little bowl of ice cream in front of her, alongside the rest of a good lunch or dinner. I\'ve actually watched her finish the ice cream and go on to eat plenty of the more nutritious stuff.

Not something you\'d want to allow every day, of course, but if helps get a well-rounded meal in them....

Re: noodad » Super Blockmasta Kidestructo: The Game

QSMama — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 08:04:26 -0000

*awesome* game and name: Super Blockmasta Kidestructo. Love it!

Our little tower-shredder is called Ava Monster. \"OH, NO! NOT AVAMONSTER! Don\'t come and destroy my tower!\"

Should we upload some Supadestructa shorts to YouTube and have a contest? Seriously?

- L over at Quick Serve Kids

Re: noodad » 10 Reasons Why The Wiggles Are Better Than Sesame Street

QSMama — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:29:44 -0000

Baby A (almost 2.5) looooooves the Little Einsteins, and her Disney-hating mom (me) is fine with that. I\'ve been suprised at just how great a show it is. She pretends \"Rocket\" all the time, sings the theme song at least ten times a day, wants to play the violin like Leo, and ballet-dances around the house pretending to be June.

She also watched a little Sesame Street and SS videos, and learned to count to twenty, could nail the ABCs at...I don\'t even remember...19 months?...and knows every color, shape, and so on, thanks partly to the show. Yes, her dad and I have influenced her, too, but it doesn\'t hurt to have an entertaining backup when there are, you know, meals to cook, clothes to fold, and blog posts to write.

I\'m afraid I\'ll hate the Wiggles, but I hated the Teletubbies, too, before I saw her reaction to them. You\'re on to something when you say it\'s not the characters you hated, rather, it was too early for your child to enjoy them. (Except Barney. Barney deserves hate.)

She is allowed to watch maybe 1.5 hours a week, and it\'s the first privilege we take away when she\'s naughty.

- L

Re: noodad » What Not to Say During Labor: A Cheatsheet

QSMama — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:43:35 -0000

Laughing so hard I think I need to sit down for a few minutes. Boy, that brings back memories! I heard a few of the don\'ts.

When my serious, serious labor kicked in suddenly, I told my husband, \"ohjhhUHHHGGH this is really different I NEED YOU NOW nggghhh!\"

His response? \"It couldn\'t have gotten that much worse so suddenly. Tell you what, I have just a few more e-mails to finish up. I\'ll join you on the sofa in a few.\" (Never looking away from his laptop, mind you.)

See? Noodad is right: We do remember every word.

Turns out I was in transition. We got to the hospital with minutes to spare. Wish I\'d stayed home, but that\'s a different post.

Having weathered an intense (which aren\'t?), no-meds labor, I agree: The best things the dad can say are \"You\'re amazing,\" \"You\'re going great!,\" \"Very soon you\'ll get to hold your new baby,\" and \"I love you so much,\" liberally punctuated with sincere, eye-gazing *silence.*

IOW, to end on a more serious note: Your constant presence is what we need most. Worry more about providing that than saying exactly the right thing. :)

- L

Re: noodad » Is getting your baby’s ears pierced an act of child abuse?

QSMama — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:52:29 -0000

I had to stop Baby A from yanking out my own earrings. Can\'t imagine how quickly she would have ripped out her own...then swallowed or choked on the earrings...then needed plastic surgery to repair her earlobes....

Shoot, it\'s a good day when she doesn\'t (a) move a chair to the counter and eat of out of the sugar bowl, (2) remove the pins from the bottom door hinges, setting 100-year-old, 50-pound doors askew over her head, (3) tear the air-conditioning vents out of the floor and stick arms or toys in the vents. Why would I give her one more hazard? I already need five eyes and eight arms.

- L

Re: noodad » Tips to Avoid Over-Grazing On Kids Meals

QSMama — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 07:55:04 -0000

We often avoid the kid\'s menumostly because the choices are so uninspiring and so different from the rest of the menu, or from the cuisine the restaurant serves.

Why would we go to a great, say, Mexican restaurant and feed our kid chicken fingers or a grilled cheese and fries? My husband and I just make her a plate from ours, and if the restaurant wants to charge a sharing fee, that\'s okay.

And, yeah, one chicken finger (okay, we do order them sometimes) is an awesome leftover. That and a bit of pasta and some fruit is a whole meal for a little kid!

- QS Mama

Re: noodad » Noodad Product Test Drive: Table Toppers Disposable Placemats

QSMama — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:34:19 -0000

Chick-fil-A is handing out disposable placemats. The company\'s intentions are admirable, but I agree with you--these things are not bound to work for any kid with a shred of curiosity.
See http://www.quickservekids.com/2007/01/the_pursu...

We never tried the disposable placemats with Baby A (now three and way too cool for such things, if you ask her). I can guarantee she\'d have loosened it and thrown the whole deal on the ceiling in seconds.

We did buy one of those rubbery ones with the suction cups all around and the crumb-catcher tray that hangs off of the side of the table. The result? See above. It lasted about twelve seconds. It was like a direct invitation: Hey! Kid! Mess with me!

Soooo, back came the Purell and the wipes. And just as you guys believe in Immodium, I decided to believe in the native strength of a kid\'s immune system--with good luck so far.

- Lea

Re: noodad » Orgasmic Childbirth Debunked

QSMama — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:50:55 -0000

LOL, Screwdad!

I'm not going for this booshiznit, either. I'm a big fan of unmedicated childbirth, but I can tell you, after having done one myself, helped my sister-in-law through one last Wednesday, and staring down a second experience in five months: orgasm it is not. Not by a long shot.

If orgasm felt like childbirth, we'd have none of the latter.

Re: noodad » Subway: A Healthier Option for Kids…Also a Dangerous One

QSMama — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:27:50 -0000

You know, my daughter's three and a half and I still couldn't trust her not to put those discs in her mouth (and choke...yikes). That's just not good design.

A bike tool would have been so much cooler, or some little basket or bag to attach to a bike. Those things make little kids so proud. Makes me think whoever approved this campaign does not have kids.

- Lea at Quick Serve Kids

Re: noodad » It Came in The Middle of the Night

QSMama — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:15:21 -0000

I'm just happy someone else uses the phrase "butt-crack of dawn." Can't wait to tell my husband I'm not the only one.

Aside from that--this is good advice. We have been through the wringer with middle-of-the night sleep horrificness. Gahh.

- Lea at Quick Serve Kids