This is Raleigh

It's a Lawn Darts Christmas! Jacob, Benny Mac, and our neighbor of the week Mike Cooper talk all things Christmas and play the best selection of Christmas music in the creekside studio of Little Raleigh Radio.

A look at the acts that have graced Raleigh Memorial Auditorium during Hopscotch Music Festival, and an appreciation for Greg Lowenhagen for his vision and work. Music "Younger Days" by Mount Moriah "1922" by Phil Cook "Mr. Met" by Lambchop "The Longest Day" by Megafaun "Got to Go" by Boulevards "Carolina" by Eric Bachmann, performed at The Pinhook, Durham, NC "Existential Mothersnakes" by Grandma Sparrow "My Baby Don't Understand Me" by Natalie Prass "Roller" By Quiet

The Civil War ended 150 years ago, and yet, we are still fascinated by the great American tragedy. We talk with Ernie Dollar, director of the City of Raleigh Museum, about how the Oak City survived the war, and the lingering legacy we still feel today. The City of Raleigh Museum has exhibits commemorating the end of the Civil War and Raleigh in the Civil Rights Movement. Find out more at cityofraleighmuseum.org. Image: State Capitol, circa 1861, State Archives of North Carolina

It’s Craft Beer Month here in North Carolina, and I’m talking with Sean McKinney. He’s a recently-certified craft beer expert, and bartender at State of Beer, Trophy Brewing Company, and the Busy Bee Cafe. Sean tells the history of beer and we take a take a look at the craft beer scene here in Raleigh.

We talk with Hugh Hollowell, a Mennonite minister and founder of Love Wins Ministries -- a group that creates relationships with those who are experiencing homelessness and actively work to help them feel whole. Hugh and Love Wins fight against what they call "hobophobia," literally, the fear of poor people. Find out more at http://www.lovewinsministries.org/.

Richie Reno and I remember Leonard Nimoy, who passed away on Feb. 27, 2015. We also look back at the influence of Star Trek on our live. It's probably the nerdiest broadcast either of us has ever done.

I take a look back at my favorite moments of 2014. It was a good year, and we met a lot of really interesting people. We hear from Cecilia Illesiu of Carolina Ballet, Leo Suarez of The Raleigh Connoisseur, Hopscotch festival co-founder Greg Lowenhagen and design guru Matt Munoz, former Raleigh design officer Mitchell Silver, poet Dorianne Laux, novelist Kim Church, Oakwood Cemetery exec. director Robin Simonton, my friend and colleague Josh Kleinstreuer, filmmaker Neal Hutcheson, and my radio buddy Richie Reno.

It’s our Christmas program — an audio service of lessons and carols of sorts — it’s a little quirky, but full of heart. Music "Watching NASA Channel At Your Apartment At Christmastime" by Bob Fields "All Out of Darkness" by Uncle Owen Aunt Beru "December 26th" by Foxchase Excerpts from "A Christmas Carol" by 20th Century Fox "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by The Canadian Brass "Fairytale of New York" by Paleface "Mele Kalikimaka" by Albert Adams Excerpts from "Seinfeld" by Sony Home Entertainment "The Christmas Guest" by Johnny Cash "Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi "I'll Be Home For Christmas (But Only In My Dreams)" by Bing Crosby "Because the Night Is Long" from Music From The Gathering Church "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" by Vince Guaraldi "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" from Music From The Gathering Church "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" by Gladys Knight and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir "Apollo 8 Christmas Message" courtesy of NASA "To Build a Home" by the Cinematic Orchestra "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon

Neal Hutcheson is a documentary filmmaker with an ear for language and a knack for letting his subjects tell their own story. His day job is making films for the North Carolina Language and Life Project at N.C. State University. Neal has made films documenting the strange and wonderful dialects in North Carolina — from the rugged mountaineers to the Hoi Toiders on Okracoke Island and fishermen down east in Carteret County. For the past decade, though, Neal had an interesting friendship with Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton — the famous, or infamous — moonshiner from Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Neal’s latest documentary — “A Hell Of A Life” — shows a true and unvarnished picture of Popcorn Sutton, outside the glossy, popular myth that Popcorn — and popular culture — created about him in the last years of his life. Learn more about the film at Neal's website: http://www.suckerpunchpictures.com Audio excerpts from "A Hell Of A Life" and "An Unclouded Day" both produced by Neal Hutcheson.

We explore tintype photography with photographers Jeff Howlett and Chris Morgan. They set up a makeshift studio at the Raleigh Convention Center during Hopscotch Music Festival. Chris and Jeff talk about how tintype photography is more about creating an experience than just pressing a button to make an image. Music from Zack Mexico, T0W3RS, and Moog Synthesizers.

Mitchell Silver, parks commissioner for New York City, returns to Raleigh to present at Hopscotch Design Festival. He was planning director and chief planning officer for 9 years. He talks about how Raleigh is growing in a smart way, and about his new role in the Big Apple. Music - "Esse Quam Videri" by The Rosebuds - "Calm Down" by The Love Language - "eee!" by T0W3RS - "Japanese Vacation" by Spider Bags - "Real Slow" by Megafaun

It's part two of my conversation with Hopscotch Design Festival co-founders Greg Lowenhagen and Matt Munoz. We talk about the origins of Hopscotch and its future as a music and design festival in downtown Raleigh. Music "I Am" By Bombadil "In These Woven Streets Your Face Became The Fabric Of This City" By Jenny Besetzt

Part one of my conversation with Hopscotch Design Festival co-founders Greg Lowenhagen and Matt Munoz. We talk about how Design Festival fits in with the Hopscotch model and what to expect from the inaugural event. Learn more at http://hopscotchdesignfest.com/ Music "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb [Alternate Version]" by Spoon "Moonshine" from 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' soundtrack

Our first-ever "Lost Books" episode. Rare book enthusiast April Stroth explores the works of poet and novelist Richard Brautigan. We also find healthy remedies for news poisoning.

Richie Reno returns to the program with his take on seven subjects you shouldn't bring up in conversation, and, we squeeze your mind grapes with "Would you rather" scenarios.

Ryan Hill's debut novel, The Book of Bart, sets a demon in downtown Raleigh on an adventure for immortality. We talk about the challenges to getting his book published and finding and audience. The Book of Bart is available at So-And-So Books and on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Bart-Ryan-Hill-ebook/dp/B00KH7ZUD8 Music heard in this edition: - "MeMori" by Leah Gibson, Cheetie Kumar, and Missy Thangs; from the Pet-Tich-Eye album - "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "So Many Ways to Die" by Bombadil - "Love Like the Movies" by The Avett Brothers - "Seven Tunes Heard in China - IV" by Yo-Yo Ma

We talk with Raleigh attorney Kim Church, whose debut novel Byrd, explores the choice of a young woman who gave her child up for adoption after a love affair with an old flame. We talk about how Church began fiction writing later in her career. Read more of Kim's work at her website: http://kimchurch.com Music by Megafaun

We talk with Charles Phaneuf, executive director of Raleigh Little Theatre, about the group's history, productions, and running an arts organization in the new economy. Learn more about Raleigh Little Theatre here: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/index.html

We talk with Robin Simonton, the executive director of Historic Oakwood Cemetery about how her training as a historian helps her keep the 150-year-old cemetery a thriving part of the community. Learn more at http://historicoakwoodcemetery.org/

We talk with Sarah Collins and Sarah Ferguson about The Beehive Collective, its mission of supporting causes that empower women, and its famous annual fundraiser, the Bee Ball. Learn more about The Beehive Collective here: http://www.thebeehivecollective.org/ Music by Boneslinger: http://boneslinger.com/

We talk with Josh Kleinstreuer about his book "Waiting for the Last One." It's about living with epilepsy and the unorthodox treatment he went through to control it. Josh's book is available at So and So Books: https://www.facebook.com/soandsobooks Music "Patience is Expensive" by Bombadil "Summertime in New Jersey in 1998" by Iggy Cosky "Memories (Those Days are Over)" by Iggy Cosky

Our first-ever Show About Nothing. Richie Reno and I talk about ice cream, barbecue, a little bit of history, and if the new Star Wars movies are going to be good.

In this extended edition of 'This is Raleigh,' we talk with poet Dorianne Laux about her writing, life, death, sex, and everything in between. Laux will be reading at the NC Literary Festival at NC State University, April 3-6, 2014. Find out more about the literary festival here: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/literaryfestival/ Read more about Dorianne here: http://doriannelaux.com/index.html

We listen to stories from the second annual Oak City Bard Brawl. Storytellers include Billy Warden, Joel Frady, Will Huntsberry, and last year's winner Peggy Beach. The third annual Bard Brawl is hosted by Raleigh Public Record and Little Raleigh Radio. It will be April 8 at Kings Barcade. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information: http://raleighpublicrecord.org/events/bard-brawl-2014-call-for-storytellers/

Leo Suarez is the brains behind the blog "The Raleigh Connoisseur." We talk about how the blog got started, urban planning in Raleigh, and what the city should do about downtown parking. Visit the blog, and get the walking tour of downtown Raleigh, at http://dtraleigh.com/

We talk with Cecilia Iliesiu, a soloist with Carolina Ballet, about her life and career as a ballet dancer. Follow her adventures at her blog "Twirling Terpsichorean:" http://exploretheballet.wordpress.com/ Photo by Tim Lytvinenko

We talk with Little Raleigh Radio co-founder Jacob Downey about the station's mission, the low-power FM movement, and what community means to him.

In the pilot program, we talk with Raleigh photographer Tim Lytvinenko about how his first photographs and his work with Carolina Ballet. We also explore the story behind a famous Raleigh landmark that sparked a lifelong romance. View Tim's work at http://newtim.com/ Read my column about the waterfall at the N.C. State Fairgrounds: http://raleighpublicrecord.org/opinion/2012/10/15/a-monument-to-love-state-fair-waterfall-tells-a-long-time-love-story-of-jim-and-helen-graham/ (Originally published by Raleigh Public Record on Oct. 15, 2012. Read the Record here: http://raleighpublicrecord.org/)