You should run for City Council next time with that slogan. Lol!
Before this turns into NextDoor with pics of poop, I just wanted to point out a few things:
Reasonable people pick up after their dog. However, you see all the trash, mattresses, bottles, cigarette butts, etc all over? Many of those same people have dogs. Unless we’re going to become a police state, this isn’t going to to stop.
The people who do this likely don’t read NextDoor or message boards, since conscientious, engaged citizens aren’t usually the culprits.
DNA testing sounds great, but many offenders are not residents of the particular area. If I lived downtown and my place started DNA testing, I’d just walk a block over to another spot and let my dog poop there instead. It also requires someone to walk around and collect a sample from every pile, which is kind of demeaning and gross.
These high end apartments already have some type of groundskeeper staff or contract it out. It’s not that hard to get someone with a pooper scooper and a hose to walk by once a day. It’s probably a few bucks per resident per year, and they all charge pet fees anyways. It seems like a drop in the bucket for keeping the place desirable for prospective and current tenants.
I’m at J Lights now, gonna see how good that waffle is. But I’ll say, so far - no bike racks in Smoky Hollow! I had to lock to a handrail like a jerk. Seems like a huge oversight.
Also this place is deserted at the moment, but I guess that’s not super surprising.
I like to have line of sight on my bike when dining downtown. No need to take risks.
I really enjoyed the waffle. It threaded the needle between malty and fluffy really well. I was the only person there, or seemingly in the entire courtyard, the whole time, so I just sat outside to ease my social anxiety. I mean, the staff seemed friendly, I’m just not ready for that attention.
Edit: and speaking of bike safety, idk if Publix is on topic for this thread, but their copious racks on the side of the building are unfortunately a joke. Only two exposed nuts securing them. Several of them were already loosened. Why even bother?
When J. Lights Raleigh opened a couple months ago, I went and picked up some buffalo wings (extra crispy of course) and fries one night, because that’s my go-to at the Durham location. Unfortunately the wings were mediocre (with barely any sauce on them), and the fries were terrible (they don’t even use the same type of fries as the Durham location).
Overall, I was highly disappointed considering the food at the Raleigh location is even more expensive than the Durham spot (probably due to their construction issues and delayed opening). Also, similarly to @grant, other than the employees and the owner, I was literally like the only one there when I picked my food up. Although it was like their first week being open, I still told myself I’d never come back for lunch/dinner. Breakfast looks decent though.
J Lights is in a tough spot as one of the first tenants to open their doors in SH. I think they’ll start to turn a corner when midwood, madre, new anthem, etc. open up and drive some more foot traffic into the hollow. Give them some grace on activity levels until then, IMO.
I understand that part, was just pointing it out. For clarification, I said I probably wouldn’t come back because of the food. You’d think the food would’ve been better considering they weren’t even busy.
Well personally, I’ll probably be back for another waffle, since a morning Publix bike run is now part of my Thursday routine. Coffee wasn’t so bad either. Maybe breakfast is the niche to go for?
The chicken and waffles actually look pretty good. Atp that’s the only thing I’d go back for. Unfortunately I’m not a morning person, so that probably won’t be any time soon though.
I did breakfast there with a couple of friends in December. It was fine but the atmosphere needs to take it up a notch. It feels a bit sterile. Maybe it just needs to “patina” a bit and feel more lived in?
I’m in Miami now and am reminded of all the small mom and pop restaurants that are open breakfast lunch and dinner. They never seem that busy but I like them. It’s a great asset to have a little place that’s always open and not too expensive. It’s ok not to be the very best five star restaurant all the time. Leave that to the major chefs. But these cafes always seem to have a cozy and welcoming atmosphere that can be accomplished with plants or posters or other personal things that warm it up.
We did and it wasn’t clear at the time. Looked initially like awkward use of space and eliminating the possibility of a garage door type opening but I think I like what they’re doing!
But it is too expensive for the meh quality and sterile atmosphere, that’s what everyone here is saying, unfortunately. And even worse, they probably couldn’t afford to lower prices any due to the (likely) insane rent prices Kane is charging for these spaces.
Yeah now that I think about it, when I went to pick up my order that night I mentioned that I noticed the prices were higher (compared to the Durham location) to the cashier. FWIW, she told me that it was due to the higher rent/construction prices for the Raleigh location.
Looks like J Lights realized their breakfast is the seller as they are now doing all day breakfast. With such a limited menu overall no reason they shouldn’t.
