Carolina Skies

Just before noon, while walking, the sky caught our attention.
It was the deep "Carolina Blue."
A little later the clouds began to decorate the sky.



North Carolina gives one more reasons to be a sky watcher.
Enjoying a beautiful day.

Chapel Hill/East Lansing

We have found living in Chapel Hill to be very much like living in East Lansing. It has the good walkability, the vibrancy and culture of the university, and Franklin Street is very much like Grand River Ave.. We continue to enjoy the good coffee shops, restaurants, and campus atmosphere.

However, there are some differences:

• Very hilly, when walking it seems everything is uphill

• Leaving home without a jacket

• Pedestrians rule-every car stops for you

• Sidewalks are never slippery

• Columns on all university buildings

• Healthier eating with Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's grocery stores

• You can make outdoor plans, because the sun is always shining, at least there are no all day rains

• There is a great sense of history, exemplified by the many monuments on campus

• Fewer empty commercial buildings

• Commercial entities are hard to find because they have no signs, and are hidden behind trees

• Trees, trees everywhere

• Chapel Hill lacks the quality of entertainment that Wharton provides

• There seeImage via Wikipediams to be murals on every brick wall in town

• The campus has a central area called "the pit," surrounded by the bookstore, union, cafeteria, and two libraries

• It is always good driving weather

• A stronger sense of preservation

• The older and permanent look of more brick buildings
  

• 80 degrees in February

• The greenways make great places to walk and run with trees instead of traffic

Romping With Ryan

The reason we have come to North Carolina is to be with Ann, David, and Ryan. We are walking trails, playing on beaches, visiting museums, and having good family times together.

Here are some pictures of our last couple of outings.

Checking the map at North Carolina Botanical Gardens.

Somewhere along the trail Leslie and I became the "chasers" or "Indians," and Ryan and Ann went sprinting down the trail ahead of us.

Trying to catch up.

He is off again!

South of Chapel Hill is Lake Jordan. We had a fun day there with a picnic, walking along the beach, and playing in the sand.

Ryan with his friend Evelyn on the beach.

A Unique February Day

A day that featured warm temperatures, sunscreen, shorts, and baseball. Something that us Michiganders are not accustomed to in February.

The North Carolina baseball stadium is within walking distance for us, and the Tar Heels are nationally ranked which added to the excitement.

Hey! batta-batta SWING!

No Boxes This Year

A tour of our FURNISHED apartment, as opposed to the apartment full of boxes from last year.

This apartment is not as large and bright as the last, but it has a great location.

Gazing at the computer screen waiting for the baseball season to begin.

Dining space with microwave and clock.

Half the cupboard and counter space of last year.....

.....but better decorated with Ryan's picture of a snow storm. (a click or double click brings the picture full screen)

A great bed, to our surprise.

A vanity/desk, and pictures from home.

Two closets!

The apartment is fine, Chapel Hill is great, and we are enjoying time with Ann, David, and Ryan.

Destination: Carolina Coffee

Come with us on our ten minute walk to downtown Chapel Hill, and our favorite: The Carolina Coffee Shop. First we leave the apartment. That's us on the lower level left.

Looking back at our apartment from across the grass, and past the gazebo, and tennis court.

Down into the ravine. We have been warned to watch out for snakes once the weather warms up.
Up onto the other side of the ravine, and the trail continues.

Like most trails around here, it goes up and up ........

Through the bamboo.

Take a right, and head toward civilization.

We are going to turn left toward town. Notice the gain in altitude continues.

Heading down Henderson Street for two blocks.

McCorkle Place and the University of North Carolina campus is across the street.

We head down Franklin Street, which is the main street in Chapel Hill.

Almost there, it is across the street with the Carolina blue awning. The inside has dark wood, and lots of charm.

Eli Broad Art Museum

In June, 2007, Michigan State University announced that a new world-class art museum will be built on campus. The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum will be a premier venue to attract major exhibitions and collections and serve as a showcase to enrich the educational experience and aesthetic enjoyment of art. The building, designed by world-renowned Zaha Hadid, will enable the museum to increase its visibility, showcase more of the permanent collection, organize and exhibit larger and more significant exhibitions, become more integral to university life and the greater community, and increase in stature—bringing international attention to the museum, MSU, the region and State of Michigan.
An artist's rendering of what the museum will look like when approached on Grand River Avenue.


The museum has been controversial because of its contemporary design on the very traditional campus of MSU. The museum, which broke ground on March 16, is expected to open in the spring of 2012 and is on schedule and within budget. When completed, it will feature more than 70 percent gallery space and room for large art works to be displayed. The primary focus of the museum will be contemporary art.

The construction site of MSU’s Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum is clearly beginning to take on the “Z” shape of the innovative building design by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. Looking at the construction site on Grand River next to Berkey Hall, one can clearly see the foundation and the start of walls for what will be a world-class museum.The museum, which broke ground on March 16, is expected to open in the spring of 2012 and is on schedule and within budget. When completed, it will feature more than 70 percent gallery space and room for large art works to be displayed.

The facility is named in honor of Eli and Edythe Broad, longtime supporters of the university who provided the lead gift for the museum. The Broads’ gift of $28 million, with $21 million designated for construction of the building and $7 Image via Wikipediamillion to be used for acquisitions, exhibitions and operations, was the catalyst for the project. Additional fundraising for construction has raised nearly $34 million of the $40 million goal for the building.


The staff of this blog will follow this story as it progresses.