I found my new favorite restaurant last night. It's an Irish pub located in the Brier Creek Shopping area in Raleigh! The name? It's Tra'Li Irish Pub. The minute you walk in the door of the incredible establishment you are taken to an Irish pub from the Victorian Era. The walls are wood tone, the lighting is warm and welcoming, and the food is incredible! They have a very relaxing atmosphere and there are HDTV's scattered throughout the pub so you don't miss a minute of your favorite rugby team or even a little ACC basketball action!
As I mentioned before, the food was phenominal! I had the Shepherds Pie and it was out of this world. Not the typical "mush" you will find at other inferior establishments but this was a great balance of mashed potatoes and meat and vegies with just the right amount of gravy! My fiance and daughter had the fish and chips and, aside from not being served in the daily newsprint, was really good as well. If you like roasted meats check out their daily carvery!
Did I mention the perfect pints?!? This is the first place I found my favorite stout on drought. Until now I have only been able to get it in cans or go to Ireland to get it out of a keg. What is this incredible stout? Why none other than Murphy's Stout. Brewed in Cork Ireland, this stout rivals Guinness in my opinion! Not quite as "nutty" in flavor as Guinness, it has sort of a coffee character to it. Very smooth and great after a long day's work.
The only complaint I had with this place is there was no live trad session going on. It was piped in through the radio speakers. They do advertise live music but I have not experienced this as of yet to i can't make an educated comment on this. Rest assured though that I will be back for the food or just a good pint. Hopefully I can catch a trad session while there. If not, I might have to break out the uilleann pipes and start one up. If you're even in the Raleigh area look it up. It's about 5 minutes tops from the Raleigh/Durham airport. If you work in the RTP it's only a short drive so come on over and have a pint! I'll save you a seat!
Have a home to sell? I'll sell it quickly!! Want to buy a home? I'll help you find the perfect one!! Come join me in the great city of Raleigh!!
After graduating from Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem I left for Winchester, VA to pursue a music degree at Shenandoah University and Conservatory. After 2 years I found my way back to North Carolina when I transferred to Appalachian State University to complete my degree in saxophone performance and music composition.
I spent several years in the retail field. My experience in customer service includes working at a Christian bookstore in Winston-Salem, Lowes Foods, and as a department manager for Lowe's Home Improvement.
In my spare time I enjoy maintaining 3 saltwater reef tanks and taking my 4 year old daughter and American Eskimo puppy to the park. I am also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America and am active in a local church.
I look forward to helping you buy or sell your next home! You can reach me directly at (919) 610-4850.
I will give you the full extent of my knowledge both in real estate and in life in general. I will always return all phone calls and e-mails within 1 hour (usually within minutes). I will help you buy or sell your home with as little stress as possible and as little inconvenience to you as possible. If you list your home with me I will do everything in my power to sell it quickly. If you have any questions please call me!
I answer my phone at any time of day on any day of the week with few exceptions. These are: I'm already on the phone with a Client or meeting with a Client (I'll give you the same respect when I'm with you), I'm in an area without cell service, or I'm in another room and can't get to my phone fast enough to answer right away (this is definitely the immediate call back scenario.)
Although I do answer the phone at all hours, the best way to reach me is by email at mike@michael-swanson.com. Leave a phone number, and if your question demands more than an email, I'll be happy to call you, on my dime.
Apex
With commercial buildings and homes dating from 1870 to 1940, and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, Apex is restoring its turn-of-the-century railroad heritage. Downtown Apex features antique and specialty gift shops, as well as restaurants that include an old-fashioned soda shop. Tour historic Hughes and Salem Streets. Visit the circa-1914 Apex Union Depot. Dine at Peak City Grill and Bar, or experience Apex's monthly First Fridays downtown . Shop at Beaver Creek Commons, or drive on over to the famous annual Peak Week Festival held in early May . New Hope Valley Railway offers rides on restored trains. Play roller hockey or indoor soccer at Dream Sports Center. Discover a town as in touch with its past as it is poised for the future.
Where it is: Located approximately 25 minutes southwest of downtown Raleigh.
Cary
Once a sleepy little crossroads, Cary offers all the entertainment options of a growing city but still can call itself a town. An attractive spot influenced by the development of Research Triangle Park, Cary is now North Carolina's sixth largest city and voted the Best Place to Live in the Southeast by Money Magazine. And here's yet another feather in Cary's entertainment cap: Cary is the summer home of the North Carolina Symphony at Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park and hosts the state's only professional soccer team, the Carolina RailHawks.. An outdoor adventurer's dream, Cary has 25 parks, a greenway system of six park trails and 10 greenway trails and is one of the first towns to open a dog park.
Where it is: Located approximately 20 minutes west of downtown Raleigh.
Downtown Cary
A nice mix of restaurants and specialty shops awaits you in Downtown Cary. Here, you'll also find the Page-Walker Arts & History Center (in a previous life, a hotel built to serve rail passengers) still standing in the heart of downtown. While the architecture and lunch counters (Ashworth's is a must) recall the past, Downtown Cary's shops and restaurants cater to virtually any craving and underscore a very happening place. Downtown is also the site of the annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival -- named a "Top 100" festival -- held every August.
Where it is: Located approximately 20 minutes west of downtown Raleigh.
Fuquay-Varina 
Fuquay-Varina started out as a resort that attracted folks from near and far who sought cures from the water at Fuquay Springs. Today, it's an endearing town where you can shop for antiques, enjoy a good meal or relax at a coffeehouse. These modern-day luxuries, according to residents and visitors alike, have certain curative powers of their own. The town itself boasts pedestrian-friendly streets, downtown festivals and vintage appeal providing the feeling of a small town while still offering an old-fashioned soda fountain at Elliotts Pharmacy on Main Street.
Where it is: Located approximately 30 minutes south of downtown Raleigh.
Garner
The locals still gather at the Toot-N-Tell Family Restaurant, as much for gossip as for the traditional Southern fare. Recent revitalization efforts, aimed at restoring the old downtown, feature one of only a few Wake County railroad stations still standing in its original location. Have some oysters and cold beer at Sunny Side Too Oyster Bar. See one of the region's finest community theatres. Shop at White Oak Crossing. Golf at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. And for some serious adult fun, zip up your driving suit and go, go, go at RushHour Karting. Whether you qualify as a local or not, more than likely, you'll fit right in. That is because here, in one of the most promising corners of the Greater Raleigh area, they host the annual Triangle Beach Music Festival every spring-- and who doesn't like beach music?
Where it is: Located approximately 15 minutes south of downtown Raleigh.
Holly Springs
Holly Springs got its beginnings as a crossroads near springs of fresh water at a spot where holly trees were numerous. Travelers stopped by the springs to quench their thirst. Now the town is home to one of the area's most successful microbreweries (tours on Saturdays) and a championship golf course that occupies more acreage than the entire downtown area. The Holly Springs Library & Cultural Center includes a glass façade lobby with a library on one side and a multi-purpose cultural center on the other.
Where it is: Located approximately 30 minutes southwest of downtown Raleigh.
Knightdale
There's more than one reason to head to Knightdale, but not a better tasting one than Knightdale Seafood & Barbeque featuring Larry's Oyster Bar. Where else can you dine on buffalo, frog legs, alligator, elk, ostrich and kangaroo? And by the way, how do you like your rattlesnake? The town is also home to the Knightdale Environmental Park, which has been certified as a Backyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, as well as the Shoppes at Midway Plantation, a shopping destination that offers more than 425,000 square feet of retail space with several major chains.
Where it is: Located approximately 20 minutes east of downtown Raleigh
Morrisville
Near the airport and Research Triangle Park is Morrisville. Shop one of the area's hottest outlet malls or visit The Orchid Trail where they not only grow and sell orchids, they also have classes. The town is also home to Lake Crabtree County Park and the first winery in the Triangle. Chatham Hill Winery offers guided tours and a café complete with wine tastings. From wine lovers to sports lovers, anyone who loves to compete can take on a game of soccer, hockey, volleyball or dodgeball at the Carolina Sportsplex.
Where it is: Located approximately 25 minutes west of downtown Raleigh.
Raleigh
Greater Raleigh has just gotten a whole lot...greater. See for yourself. Take a stroll through one of our museums or galleries, or wake up your wild side at one of our eclectic eateries, late-night clubs or high-octane sports match. It's a place built to be open, engaging and unique. So whether you're planning your next meeting, event or a family getaway, let us help.
Rolesville
While Rolesville's three stoplights attract lots of attention. Fantasy Lake Scuba Park attracts more than its share of scuba divers for training and certification. This is where divers from all over the area come to practice in the 50-acre crystal lake dedicated solely to the sport.
Where it is: Located approximately 25 minutes northeast of downtown Raleigh.
Wake Forest
A hot dog at Shorty's and a visit to the Olde English Tea Room and Gift Shoppe are absolute musts. Shop at the Cotton Company and Bimulous Beads and Dancing Trees where you make your own jewelry. Stroll through other shops and art galleries dotting the historic downtown commercial district. Visit the Wake Forest College Birthplace Museum and the campus of Southeastern Baptist Seminary (which was the Wake Forest College campus before the school moved to Winston-Salem in the fifties). For the sports enthusiast, The Factory offers ice rinks, indoor batting cages, an arcade, a skate park, indoor soccer and go-carts - while three top rated golf clubs offer the best in play any time of the year.
Where it is: Located approximately 30 minutes north of downtown Raleigh.
Wendell
A shopping trip to Kannon's (the locals tell us it's where all the big muckety-mucks from the Capital City shop for clothes), or to the Mortex Factory Outlet where you can get a sale on second-hand college sports clothing is a must on the to-do list. Zepp Country Music features local "pickers" who play live music on Thursday evenings, and Todd's Train Depot appeals to both children and adults with a model train museum and store.
Where it is: Located approximately 30 minutes east of downtown Raleigh.
Zebulon 
Zebulon's core business district is surrounded by older residential neighborhoods that consist of Victorian, Craftsman and Colonial Revival style homes. The AA Carolina Mudcats (whom we affectionately refer to as the "dirt fish") play ball throughout the spring and summer at Five County Stadium. And be sure to check out Cattails at the stadium for a delicious dinner after the game. Adding to their roster of Carolina landmarks, Zebulon is home to Whitley Furniture Galleries, a massive furniture store that draws loyal customers from all over the state.
Where it is: Located approximately 35 minutes east of downtown Raleigh.
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