I was wandering around downtown this afternoon, on a mission to update the Wikipedia photos for Raleigh and also Memorial Auditorium. As I snapped pictures of Memorial Auditorium a man walked up to me and asked for things to do around town. He was a bit shorter than me with curly shoulder-length hair and wore a tam-o-shanter cap and dark sunglasses. I imagined that he had just gotten off a plane from New York City.
“Isn’t there a museum nearby?” he asked.
“Yes, there are a few. Perhaps you’d like to go to the North Carolina Museum of Art?”
He thought that was worth a look so I proceeded to give him directions to the art museum.
“Uh oh,” I stopped in mid-sentence. “It’s Columbus Day, so the art museum is probably closed.” It turns out that it’s closed on Mondays anyway, but I didn’t know that at the time.
“Well, are there other places to go?”
“Sure. There’s the North Carolina Museum of Natural History which is right over there,” I told him. “But, uh, it’s also probably closed.”
Then he asked for a local place to get breakfast.
“Ah! I know just the place. Head down two blocks and turn right for the Mecca restaurant.” At least I got this one right!
With that he went back to his car and proceeded to his breakfast.
Helping people find their way has always been one of my favorite things about being downtown. Sometimes what they’re looking for isn’t nearby, but at least I try. The chance to make new friends is always present when I’m walking around downtown. The happy accidents. It’s just a great energy. I love the chance to be an ambassador for this city.