Coming into the sun.

Dismal weather this week. I didn't go on a walk for three days in a row. ForecastFox, a handy little Firefox plug-in, kept me abreast of the exact conditions with icons for Mist and Haze, as well as the usual Rain. It is currently Partly Sunny (so optimistic that). I love the mini-radar popup.

After much frustration and impatience with my lackluster hair, I got a great haircut mid-week. Cherrybomb Studio is an Aveda salon owned by a woman recommended to me by a friend. I don't know what the "concept" is in the term Concept Salon, but they are sprouting all over the Triangle. Although my cut was wicked expensive, it's so good that I may become addicted.

Last night was First Friday, so I went to dinner and then gallery hopping with some new friends. We ate at Vic's Ristorante Italiano. The eggplant parmesan ($10.95) and the Sangiovese by the glass ($4.50) were good. Artspace, is right next door, so we wandered through for a bit. Then we went to DesignBox which is usually interactive with interesting and varied work exhibited, but they were only showing a movie (featuring my "stylist" as an actress). Lump was the last gallery we visited. The two young architecture professors were exhibiting their recent work. Normally, Lump has disturbing sketches on lined paper or shocking photos displayed.

The evening wound down at The Flying Saucer, the closest thing Raleigh has to a pub, except the waitresses wear extremely short "kilts" and t-shirts that say, "Beer Goddess" and the atmosphere nothing like a pub. What I wouldn't do for a McMenamins to frequent.

Downtown is alive at night once a month. This is why I'm surprised that there's a Downtown Raleigh site. Maybe business can succeed where the city government has failed. I hope so.