Eat or drink at any of the six Empire Eats restaurants in downtown Rlaeigh(Raleigh Times, Morning Times, The Pit, Duck & Dumpling, Gravy and Sitti) today (Monday, July 19) and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to N.C. Theater.

The theater company is the region's non-profit producer of Broadway musicals.

Oh my, a vegan girl's dreams come true.  Something beyond hummus! The curried mock chicken wrap at Morning Times in downtown Raleigh is absolutely delightful with its curried spice and sweet cranberries.  I've even been able to convert several carnivores from the office to opt for the mock rather than the true.

I exist in a sleep-deprived stupor, and I usually need a mid-afternoon caffeine injection to get through the day. So I was standing at the counter of Morning Times a few minutes ago, waiting on my java, when I spotted the back of a slightly built man with gray hair going up the stairs.

Hmm, I thought, that looks like David Byrne.

Then he turned the corner and I saw from his profile that it was indeed the Talking Heads great (who is in town to play Meymandi Hall tonight). And I about lost it.

"Dude," I whisphered to my man Tim behind the counter, "do you know who that was?" He shook his head no.

"David Byrne is upstairs!"

"No way," Tim said.

"Way," I said, just as Byrne walked back down.

"Excuse me," Byrne said, "I'm looking for the Raleigh Times?"

"Next door," I said, pointing to the restaurant. Byrne nodded thanks and took his leave. Tim and I exchanged a fist-bump.

Any day when you can give David Byrne directions, no matter how minor, is a good day. And I can't wait for tonight's show.

UPDATE: For those who care, here's what he ordered at Raleigh Times. As for that night's show, it was totally boss.