Date Day--Chubby's, Nature Research Center, Bowling
We set out on our Date Day and had lunch at Chubby's Tacos in Raleigh. D enjoyed the tilapia taco with chipotle cream and pico de gallo ($3). I was especially hungry and ordered carne asada burrito ($6). If you're looking for a lighter lunch, the barbacoa taco with cilantro and onion ($2) is excellent. For an extra $3 you can upgrade most selections to a meal, and it will include house made tortilla chips, rice and your choice of black or refried beans. (Go with the black beans, BTW. Absolutely delicious!) In addition to the big lineup of tacos and burritos, they also offer quesadillas, tortas, nacho plates and salads. There are selections for seafood lovers and also options for vegetarians. Perfect portions for a quick lunch or light dinner.
Be sure not to miss the fresh salsa bar (back of the restaurant). My favorite, so far, has been the Guacatillo, followed closely by the award winning Bandido. The creamy Chile de árbol also received high marks. The only misstep seemed to be the sharp and smokey Habanero. Desserts include the usual sopapillas, dulce de leche item, American anomoly of 'fried' icecream, and a more traditional fried plantain. While they do have multiple locations in the RTP and surrounding areas, seats at Wycliff Road (off Lake Boone) are limited to eight booths inside and two tables. When the weather warms, there is ample cafe seating on the outdoor patio. Although the restaurant is tucked deep into the corner of a shopping plaza, be prepated to wait several minutes to place your order, as locals come in droves. Lines, especially during peak lunch hours, frequently run to the door and beyond. Otherwise, service is prompt and courteous.
Credit: Raleigh Telegram
Next stop on Date Day was the new wing (globe pictured above) of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Admission is free. The Nature Research Center is 80,000 square foot, comprised of three levels and a yet to be opened green roof with telescopes. The first floor houses an enormous Northern Right whale skeleton. a model submersible seating six that takes you on a virtual deep sea dive, the lower level of a three-story theater (that can accomodate 60), and a 10,000 gallon aquarium that is said to include bonnethead sharks (we didn't see any), stingray and other NC coast fish. There is also a cafe, various interactive displays (including a fun, sculptural light-emitting diode ribbon) and a citizen science center. The citizen science center will eventually allow visitors to become participatants in ongoing research projects and I think I understood that they are going to do a junior sciencentist initiative with students.
Second level houses a weather station, an investigative lab (I don't think we went in that), and an impressive naturalist center. The naturalist center will have 20,000 specimens that include fossils, shells, preserved/taxidermied animals, skulls and animal pelts. It is a hands on area but you must watch a two minute introductory video before being permitted to move around the area. Groups are limited entry to fifteen or so at a time and it closes well in advance of the museum (so get there early for that).
Third level has a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a paleo/geo research lab, a collection of meteorites, a DNA/fingerprint area and Science Visualization Stations that touch on topics of astronomy, biology, climate and pollution. I understand that there was supposed to be an Immersion Theater somewhere that presents imagery from a five-foot diameter suspended globe. According to the site, it broadcasts live, satellite images from NOAA and NASA, with a 360° view of natural science phenomena happening to the Earth. In the throng of people--60,000 are said to have come out for the opening last weekend--I guess we missed out on seeing a few things.
Anyway, an already impressive museum made nicer and more child-friendly. If you are reading and have limited mobility there are regular and service elevators open to the public. After the museum, we played a few quick games at Buffaloe Lanes off High House--D, of course, slayed me--before scooting back home. :)
Be sure not to miss the fresh salsa bar (back of the restaurant). My favorite, so far, has been the Guacatillo, followed closely by the award winning Bandido. The creamy Chile de árbol also received high marks. The only misstep seemed to be the sharp and smokey Habanero. Desserts include the usual sopapillas, dulce de leche item, American anomoly of 'fried' icecream, and a more traditional fried plantain. While they do have multiple locations in the RTP and surrounding areas, seats at Wycliff Road (off Lake Boone) are limited to eight booths inside and two tables. When the weather warms, there is ample cafe seating on the outdoor patio. Although the restaurant is tucked deep into the corner of a shopping plaza, be prepated to wait several minutes to place your order, as locals come in droves. Lines, especially during peak lunch hours, frequently run to the door and beyond. Otherwise, service is prompt and courteous.
Credit: Raleigh Telegram
Next stop on Date Day was the new wing (globe pictured above) of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Admission is free. The Nature Research Center is 80,000 square foot, comprised of three levels and a yet to be opened green roof with telescopes. The first floor houses an enormous Northern Right whale skeleton. a model submersible seating six that takes you on a virtual deep sea dive, the lower level of a three-story theater (that can accomodate 60), and a 10,000 gallon aquarium that is said to include bonnethead sharks (we didn't see any), stingray and other NC coast fish. There is also a cafe, various interactive displays (including a fun, sculptural light-emitting diode ribbon) and a citizen science center. The citizen science center will eventually allow visitors to become participatants in ongoing research projects and I think I understood that they are going to do a junior sciencentist initiative with students.
Second level houses a weather station, an investigative lab (I don't think we went in that), and an impressive naturalist center. The naturalist center will have 20,000 specimens that include fossils, shells, preserved/taxidermied animals, skulls and animal pelts. It is a hands on area but you must watch a two minute introductory video before being permitted to move around the area. Groups are limited entry to fifteen or so at a time and it closes well in advance of the museum (so get there early for that).
Third level has a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a paleo/geo research lab, a collection of meteorites, a DNA/fingerprint area and Science Visualization Stations that touch on topics of astronomy, biology, climate and pollution. I understand that there was supposed to be an Immersion Theater somewhere that presents imagery from a five-foot diameter suspended globe. According to the site, it broadcasts live, satellite images from NOAA and NASA, with a 360° view of natural science phenomena happening to the Earth. In the throng of people--60,000 are said to have come out for the opening last weekend--I guess we missed out on seeing a few things.
Anyway, an already impressive museum made nicer and more child-friendly. If you are reading and have limited mobility there are regular and service elevators open to the public. After the museum, we played a few quick games at Buffaloe Lanes off High House--D, of course, slayed me--before scooting back home. :)