I called them a few days ago to see if there would be a room available for my grandparents, who are coming into town for Christmas next week. It was a little strange that the lady on the phone couldn’t tell me if the hotel was open or not without me giving her the dates they’d be staying there. She ultimately told me the hotel wouldn’t be open in December, but it would start accepting reservations on the 26th. But she couldn’t tell me when the exact opening would be in January.

Has anyone else heard when the Renaissance Hotel will definitely open? Will you recommend that your friends and family from out of town stay there when it opens?

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Last night I went to Bonefish with my dad and decided to try filet mignon. Steak at a seafood place? Crazy, right? I was craving steak, but wasn’t sure what to expect. Everything I’ve ever had at Bonefish has been good-except the bread which has been a little hard a few times-but I had only ever ordered their seafood or salads.

I ordered my steak medium (actually split it with my dad, because I wasn’t that hungry). I’m happy to report that it was very tasty. I can’t say I’m surprised, since most everything Bonefish Grill has is great, but I was definitely impressed. Of course it wasn’t as good as a steak from The Angus Barn, but there are maybe a handful of restaurants that can compare to that. The filet I got last night was very satisfying.

Have you ever had steak at Bonefish Grill at North Hills? Feel free to share your thoughts about it here or let us know what your favorite Bonefish dish is.

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• carolers
• horse and carriage rides
• rickshaw rides
• trolley rides
• real snow from snow blowers on top of a few buildings

Here are a few pictures I took before the main tree was lit. The sky happened to look really nice in a few of these pictures. Click the thumbnails for larger versions.

I also found a great video on YouTube that shows everything that went on.

If you made it out to the tree lighting, what did you think of the event?

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On Saturday, November 22nd, North Hills will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting event and other festivities. The event’s theme is “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and famed actor/performer Ira David Wood (Theater in the Park) will be the featured act of the evening. The night will be filled with Santa Claus, carolers, songs, and (of course) the lighting of the tree. The events will run from approximately 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

As part of the evening, North Hills shops will be open until 8:00pm and will offer shoppers goodies, complimentary refreshments and previews of holiday items. If you’re the type to get your shopping done early, this Sip n’ Stroll would be a good place to do it.

Come check out the North Hills Christmas Tree Lighting and Sip n’ Stroll this weekend. Also, Santa Claus will be at Midtown/North Hills every Saturday over by the Commons (movie theater area) starting on November 29th until December 20th, from 11:30 am-2:30 pm.

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Starting Saturday at North Hills (and through Tuesday), Soldiers’ Angels will collect gifts to be delivered to U.S. military personnel. Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization with over 20 different teams and programs supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. If you’d like to help you can donate items such as assorted coffees and health snacks, pens and stationary, foot care products, and fun brainteasers and games. Soldiers’ Angels will send the gifts with letters, care packages and comfort items to the deployed. There will be a variety of drop off tents at North Hills from 10:00am to 6:00 pm through Veteran’s Day. Visit any North Hills Raleigh merchant for a soldier “wish list” to help with your shopping (or see the list below).

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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Almost 500 people applied for positions yesterday, but you can still check out the job fair today from 8am - 5pm or Saturday, November 1st from 8am - 12pm. Job opportunities range from front-desk level to management and will pay between $8-to-$10 per hour - with some paying up to $14 an hour. While this is still a tough economy to find work in, it’s nice to know that there are opportunities available in select places.

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1) How about telling our readers a little bit about Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn

We specialize in glazed pecans, almonds, and cashews. Our Honey Cinnamon Pecans are our signature nut. The comments of our customers say it all: “ taste like a tiny pecan pie”, “ reminds me of Christmas”, “ just like a cinnamon bun”ect. People love this nut! Our Vanilla Cinnamon Almonds and Honey Vanilla Cashews are also crowd pleasers. We also have Hot Buffalo Peanuts for the spicier lovers. Rounding out our offering we have roasted salted cashews and pistachios. All of our nuts that we use are top shelf in quality.

Uncle Bob’s Kettle Corn is the best! We get this feedback from many of the people who try it and buy it. I believe in keeping a balance of sweet and salty. People love it this way.

Our nuts & kettle corn are derived from the thought of simple everyday quality ingredients, freshly made in small quantities by hand and have wonderful flavor. Just like I would make for my family. We have eliminated the lengthy chemistry sounding additives, the preservatives and all the colors of the rainbow that end up in so many food products.

In short we make a quality, all natural, fresh and tasty products.

2) When did you get started with this and how did you decide to start?

I began roasting nuts in January of 2006. I was a partner in a Mediterranean grocery and the manager who was trained in nut roasting was released. We had no one to roast the nuts so I said I would do it. I had an adventurous education (ruined a lot of nuts) in nut roasting.

I began seeking out others that had nut businesses in various parts of the United States. They pointed me to high traffic areas like flee markets, farmers markets, festivals, and events. I started going to farmers markets with some success. In the mean time our little Mediterranean grocery was struggling and eventually we sold it but I retained the roasted nuts. So Uncle Bob’s was born last year.

The reason that I continued with it was multifaceted. One reason was that I wanted to recoup the cost of the equipment and another was that I really enjoyed what I did. I saw that it brought joy to people. It also allowed me to be creative and free of the encumbrance that is met in the corporate environment. When I am Uncle Bob there is such an air of happiness and joy out of something so simple.

3) What sets Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn apart from other brands that creat similar food products?

The large snack food producers do not provide what Uncles Bob’s offers in freshness, simple ingredients, highest quality (there is a distinction in nut quality grades). Most other brand with similar food products are about keeping their product as fresh as possible for longer periods of time. This is were the preservatives come into play. Then there are the additives to create fill or the color enhancement which are numerous. The grade of nuts that you find also is never mentioned by these companies. Why? Because what is used mostly is a lower quality nut product, which cost them less to purchase. As I mentioned above we just don’t adhere to this policy. I repeat this is what I believe in: We make a high quality, all natural, fresh and tasty product.

Kettle corn is mostly sold at events/festivals. You will see it on grocery shelves in the autumn and winter months from large snack producers. A good percentage of the local population does not have an understanding of what kettle corn is. We and other kettle corn maker in our area are creating awareness of this product. Our goal is to have Uncle Bob’s Kettle Corn on grocery shelves by 2009. Anyone interested?

4) How did you achieve success with your business?

Five words: Plan, Vision, Commitment, Perseverance, Reward

There are many ups and downs to any business (I have been an entrepreneur for 26 years). Being committed to your vision will see you though. Having a business plan with capital going in will also support you. Persevering the roller coaster (or enjoying the roller coaster if you like coasters) will get you the reward. You have to see it to achieve it!

5) Nuts or Kettle Corn? If you had to choose one to sell, what would it be and why?

I take both. Both are needed to succeed. They enhance each other.

6) I’m assuming you are pretty passionate about nuts and kettle corn. How important do you think it is to work at something that you’re passionate about?

I believe everyone gets to have something in life that they are passionate about. In a career we spent most of our awake quality hours. I prefer to spend these hours in a way that I am juiced about and have passion in. It is very important to me to experience this passion, as I believe it effect how my life is seen from within and lived out. I love to succeed in the business world!

7) Besides your business, what else are you passionate about?

I am passionate that people get to see how great they are and how they can express this in their lives. To see people empower themselves. To see them fly!

8 ) How has the current economic situation affected your business? What changes have you had to make, if any?

My business has been affected, as people are more careful in their spending. I have been creative in trying different approaches in our selling with some things working and some not. I consider what works as my intellectual property as I have paid for the education.

9) What do you think about the North Hills area and the Farmers Market?

North Hills is a great area for people, families, and business. To me it has an eclectic flair and is a desired place to live and shop. Kane Realty and Duke have done a great job with the North Hills Farmers Market. The site selection is wonderful with it being located in the village green area. The music and the selection of vendors work very well. I can only see an upside to this Market going forward.

10) Who is someone that you look up to in the business world?

I look up to my grandfather Napoleon Menard as my business inspiration. He was an uneducated factory worker who became bed ridden for over a two-year period due to illness and having a family to support. In his time of disability he began to consider what he would do once he became well. He decided he wanted to be a salesman.

When he became well enough to work he set out to be that salesman and was rejected numerous times. He finally found someone to give him the opportunity. He became a very successful salesman in the clothing industry. From there he began to buy overstocked and unsellable apparel from various stores. He opened a business in the basement of his home selling the clothing at a discounted price. People told that he was foolish and to stop wasting his time and energy. He had a different vision that they could not see. He became extremely successful at his business. He bought other business that people were failing at and turned them into profitable ventures that he would give to his children.

Napoleon also had a desire to enrich his community. He poured himself out for people of the city of Fall River, Mass. that their lives too would be of quality. He was written of in a book of that city as a man that shaped the community for the better.

11) What keeps you awake at night?

I sleep very well!

12) If you had all the money in the world, what would you be doing right now?

I would be philanthropist. I would also set up experimental self-empowerment workshops to give people the tools for them to see their great gift of who they are.

Thanks to Bob for providing us with some great insight and thoughts. Check out Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn next time you visit the Farmer’s Market here.

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Liquid Pleasure will be back at North Hills Raleigh this Thursday from 6:30 - 9:00pm for the Midtown Music Fall Harvest Concert Series. The band last played here at the end of July, but is back by popular demand. Liquid Pleasure has been entertaining audiences for more than two decades with hits from artists/bands such as The Temptations, James Brown, The Drifters and Chuck Berry.

Check out some pictures of Liquid Pleasure’s last performance here and come out to North Hills Thursday night for music and fun.

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The Midtown Music Fall Harvest Concert Series continues tomorrow night with a performance by Sugar from 6:30pm - 9:00pm over at the Commons at North Hills. Sugar plays cover songs by bands such as Jet, Journey, Bon Jovi, No Doubt, Tom Petty and The Killers–a very cool variety of music. Their shows are always a lot of fun so come check them out Thursday night.

We also wanted to let you know about the Midtown Harvest Run at North Hills on Saturday. This is a 5k fun run and kids dash that benefits the American Diabetes Association. The races starts at 9:00am and the course takes runners through some of the nice neighborhoods that surround North Hills. Click here for more information and registration.

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