Paint Raleigh/Durham Leopard!!

A little over a year ago, my father was laid off of his job as Chief Compliance Officer at a pharmaceutical sales company outside of Boston. At first, it was scary and totally scorned our family (How would we pay for college? Would we have to sell our home? Will we have a panic attack having Mathew in the house for long periods during the day?). But after being hired again for a similar company in Raleigh, North Carolina, adding North Carolina to my list of homes away from homes has been a huge adventure in and of itself. Sure, I still don't understand the appeal in pick up trucks and get funny looks when people hear my voice, but have really developed an appreciation for the whole ideal of Southern hospitality. Not to mention, Raleigh has a fun down town area with great housing, killer restaurants, and a night life, that in lieu of fist-pumps, has some of the best looking group of people I've ever seen in my life. You may not get Van Buren house beats that you'd get at Lima but Raleigh is definitely worth exploring if you get a chance to venture down South. And, with the easy, four hour drive from the Capital, there's no excuse not to. Here are some of my favorite spots in downtown Raleigh:

• The Foundation: A Gibson-like underground bar with a speakeasy environment that whips up some of the most creative concoctions in the entire downtown. Plus, they even make their own specialty sodas! (Very SEI of them)
• The Pit: You might as well be anorexic for the entire week before you hit this Southern eatery, which is also a favorite of Man vs. Food and Bobby Flay. As one of the most famous BBQ restaurants in the downtown area, you'll need a reservation (and a juice cleanse on order for the week after).
• Sono: A delicious sushi restaurant with a great lounge scene. Plus, I've never been able to get great sushi for as cheap in the District as I've been able to at this place. Be weary of the Sake bombs. 
• The Mint: Want fine dining smack in the middle of downtown? Treat yourself or make someone else treat you to these Southern fare infused with modern day American grille. 
• The Hive: Raleigh's version of a club/lounge. It's that bar where all of the young college girls go to make older guys buy drinks for them, dance, and all around see and be seen. Just be weary of the head bartender who has a type writer tattooed on his chest; I kept calling him "Type A" and he refused to serve me.