When you're musing over the menu at your favorite spot this weekend, take a moment to reflect on the luxury of living in a “foodie” city.

Livability.com named Chapel Hill seventh among the nation’s Top 10 Foodie Cities and third in the South. You can read more about it at: http://bit.ly/153qlBl.

“Chapel Hill's culinary scene combines the staples of great Southern cuisine, the intricacy of Asian fusion and the simplicity of a sandwich,” Livability.com’s writers said.
“Residents strongly support local restaurants in Chapel Hill, where foodies don't just have favorite chefs but favorite farmers. A bounty of local farms – more than 100 within a 50-mile radius of Chapel Hill – supply restaurants with fresh ingredients from pork shanks and short ribs to lamb and cheese,” they said.

The rankings, released Thursday, were based on a high ratio of top-rated restaurants and chefs to the number of residents in cities with populations under 250,000. The rankings also looked at “signature indigenous foods that help define the culinary scene and the availability of fresh, quality ingredients.”

The top three cities: Decatur, Ga., Hoboken, N.J., and Bloomington, Ind.

The Triangle has garnered more than its share of national accolades in the quality-of-life and business-climate categories over the years.

Now Businessweek.com has dubbed Raleigh as simply "the best American city."

Of course you already knew that if you live here, but it's been a tough slog proving Raleigh's merits to your hip friends in Boston, Seattle, San Francisco and Durham.

Now we have Businessweek.com to back us up. Based on a slew of standards that matter to real people, Raleigh edged out Arlington, Va., and Scottsdale, Ariz., for the top ranking.

Some members of the Triangle’s very active martial arts community will
put their many hours of studies and practice to the test today.

The youths and adults are going to be tested for black belt ranking
during an open house and black belt promotion ceremony being held 10
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Karate International of Durham.

Visitors are welcome to watch and can register to win door prizes or to
take a free introductory karate class. Parents’ bank accounts can get a
break, too.