A metropolis like New York City or Chicago already has an identity based upon its rich history intermingled with outlets for classic and modern appetites: burlesque shows to tech conventions – and every conceivable thing in between. Burgeoning cities like Raleigh work toward establishing an identity amid rapid growth. Councils, organizations, philanthropists, donors, and volunteers cluster together based upon their predilections and create something.

Raleigh, North Carolina, recently became exceptionally adept at closing the gap between it and other “more cultural” centers around the United States. With hubs like HQ Raleigh that welcome start-up companies to the Visual Art Exchange that foster creative artistry, there’s plenty in the Tar Heel state’s capital to celebrate. Though this is its 9^th annual event, SPARKcon is one of those reasons to take delight for living in The City of Oaks.

Thursday, September 11^th through Sunday, September 14^th, downtown Raleigh will host another SPARKcon, a multifaceted exhibition of creative talents. Attendees can enjoy art, music, film, fashion, dance, comedy, and so much more from dozens of local and regional artists. Across four days and among more than twenty venues, SPARKcon extols the value of local artists and the act of fostering creativity.

You can look at the full schedule of events here. The website offers links to specify activities based upon location and category, as well as provides a detailed description.

We at Leith Acura Cary encourage you to support the local arts, so we hope that you’ll join us in attending at least one day of this four-day extravaganza. You may also find more information on how to donate to the local arts via the United Arts Council.

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Tomorrow – Saturday, September 6^th – Leith Acura in Cary is hosting a launch event, with brunch included, for anyone who would enjoy climbing behind the wheel of the brand’s newest and most exhilarating model. You can be the first to experience the bevy of technology that enhances the driving experience; to realize the potential for fun in gripping sharp curves with Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive; to discover the precision and excellence applies to every fabric, material, and metal that comprises the 2015 TLX.

Our team at Leith Cars recently published a test-drive review of the TLX. Here is an excerpt about that experience:

“Stepping out of the TLX after our test-drive, we were greeted by an absolutely stunning Summer day, complete with the bluest sky and zero humidity. Yet compared to our seat at the helm of the TLX, this was still a return to a much harsher, blander reality. The engineers and designers at Acura have really shown their work with this car.”

Though our appreciation for the 2015 Acura TLX is evident in the review, mere words still cannot capture the thrill of driving a vehicle of such precise and meticulous engineering. That’s why Leith Acura in Cary decided to host this eventful brunch.

You can stop down anytime between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at 900 Autopark Boulevard, Cary, North Carolina 27511.

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Photo: ESPN

The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award has recognized the greatest individual and team achievements throughout the calendar year. Though it began in 1993, the ESPYs only rose to prominence in recent years with a resurgence of unique athletes and newfound popularity in niche events, such as the UFC fights. Though this is a break from automotive news, we figure you wouldn’t mind since these industries maintain the same values: performance, beauty, and power.

ESPY Awards also have a specific connection to North Carolina. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales for the event goes to the V Foundation, a charity established by NC State collegiate basketball coach and television commentator Jim Valvano. The foundation’s inception happened on the night that Valvano accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and delivered a legendary speech during the inaugural ESPY telecast on March 3^rd, 1993. It was fifty-five days before Jim Valvano passed away from metastatic adenocarcinoma.

We honor him with the final words of his ESPY speech:

“Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever. I thank you and God bless you all.”
The 2014 ESPY Awards will be aired tonight at 9:00 PM from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California, on ESPN. It will be hosted by Drake and includes an amazing lineup of presenters such as Jeff Bridges, Taye Diggs, Cameron Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Colin Kaepernick, Jason Segel, Kiefer Sutherland, and Danica Patrick.

ESPY Awards range from Best Championship Performance to Best Game that happened during the year. For a full listing of categories and nominees, you may check out the Bleacher Report article.

You can cast your vote here, but be sure to let us know your predictions. Post them here, or visit us on our Facebook or Twitter accounts and let us know who you think merited the ESPY.

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Two staples of the city’s downtown events will return: food vendors and beer tents. They will complement the many downtown restaurants and bars, providing an opportunity to get a little grease into your system after some fine dining. We do, however, encourage you to drink responsibly and strongly state that under no conditions should you get behind the wheel of your vehicle after any number of libations. With regards to the food: gorge away!

The day’s events begin at noon and end at eleven. Here is a basic schedule of happenings, but you may refer to The Works page on the Raleigh Convention website.

Gouge Wrestling (Martin and Fayetteville)

You can take the kids to a number of family-friendly wrestling matches with G.O.U.G.E. Wrestling at the following times: 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, and 8:30.

Tasty 8’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (Hargett and Fayetteville)

If you can stomach it – get it, huh!? – take your family and friends to watch abdomen athletes display how they are weapons of mass consumption. The contests will take place at 2:00 and 7:00.

Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest (Martin and Fayetteville)

Have you ever wanted to take home the gold in a competition? If you mosey on down to the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, there await two divisions of competitors: 10 and younger; 11 and older. These contests will take place at 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, and 7:30.

Lumpy’s Ice Cream Eating Contest (Davie and Fayetteville)

Should watermelons and hot dogs not suit your fancy, check out these dairy daredevils go spoon-to-spoon in a cool competition of eating ice cream. They might be able to take the heat, but their ice cream will go quickly – enjoy these contests at 2:30 and 5:00.

Raleigh’s ‘Work of Art (Davie and Fayetteville)

Just like there’s always room for Jello, there’s always time for art. If you want to get away from the wresting and eating, there will be a range of artists who put out their work to view and purchase.  This begins with the opening of The Works at noon and lasts the entire day.

If you attend or participate in 4 of the 5 events we’ve listed, The Works will give you VIP Area access. All you need to do is present your four unique stamps at the entrance of the VIP Zone, which opens at 8:00, and view the fireworks from the exclusive VIP area. You may also participate in free raffles.

There are also band stages at Morgan Street, the City Plaza, and the Red Hat Amphitheater with bands performing throughout the day.

We also have to report a change regarding the fireworks show. The city will launch fireworks at two separate times at two distinct locations. This is in response to complaints from last year’s attendees that the show was not visible from Fayetteville Street due to the fireworks not rising above the city’s skyline.

Fireworks will be set off at 9:15 from the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts and will reach 300 hundred feet.

The second set of fireworks will launch at 10:15 from the Red Hat Amphitheater. The shells used during this show are far larger than last year’s and will rise to 600 feet – making them visible from a far greater distance.

No matter what you have planned, we at Leith Acura Cary hope you have a safe and fun Fourth of July in the city of Raleigh. For more information about the day’s events, please check out the Raleigh Convention Center’s website.

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When entrenched in our daily routines, we do not often think about the sacrifices made that afford us the liberties we enjoy. There are holidays that provide time for reflection – a time to honor the men and women of the United States armed forces. It takes more, however, than a pause or a thought to thank our soldiers. That’s why all of Leith’s dealership have joined with the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association to raise funds in a Drive for Troops campaign.

A donation will be made from the proceeds of every single vehicle, new or used, sold between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This is an opportunity to do more than passively thank our military – you can make a difference for them. If you’re not in the market for a vehicle, you can still donate to the cause by following this direct link. In 2004, the NCADA raised more than $250,000 for the program; we can do more.

There are various charitable organizations that will benefit from the proceeds: Patriot Scholarships, Operation Homefront, Marine Corps. Scholarship Foundation, Hiring Our Heroes, and Fisher House. These organizations help veterans and their families in various ways, including educational support, employment support, and much more.

Here are some statistics about North Carolina that make this event so important, and so dear to our hearts:

• There are five military bases, a Coast Guard base, and a military ocean terminal in NC.
• NC has the ninth largest population of military veterans – nearly 800,000.
• More than one-third of NC’s population is either on active duty, is a veteran, or has an immediate family member who is active duty or a veteran.
• Many military personnel and veterans suffer from physical and mental health issues that have compounded financial hardships – and they need our help.

We hope that you’ll join us in actively honoring these selfless, brave members of our fighting forces.

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In 1986, Acura created an iconic sports car that easily rivaled any competitor on the road. A myriad of automotive critics hailed this vehicle as the greatest in its class. It’s been nearly thirty years since the first Acura NSX reached production and a handful of years since the last; however, 2015 marks its return. As part of the effort to revitalize the brand, the automaker decided to update its champion – consider this vehicle Acura’s Bronn to challenge any Ser Vardis.

If you haven’t watched Game of Thrones, you should.

Car enthusiasts who attend this year’s Goodwood Festival in the United Kingdom will be treated to seeing the NSX Concept on display. If a chance to peak under the hood should arise, be ready for assured slack-jaw with a look at the three-motor electric hybrid powertrain that boasts a twin-turbocharged V-6. This engine will be mated to a dual clutch gearbox and delivered to Acura’s Sport Hybrid Super Handling – All Wheel Drive system. If power isn’t appealing, then the curves and coloring of both its exterior and high-tech interior should send a tingle down the spine and out to the fingertips.

Though the NSX will not handily master the famous Goodwood hill climb, attendees can enjoy competing in a remote-controlled race of miniature versions of the car across a specially designed track. To turbocharge this competition, Honda’s festival stand will host a big screen displaying a live leaderboard and race footage. The automaker plans to upload the races to Youtube, as well.

We will be sure to watch for videos and pictures from the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which runs from June 26^th – 29^th.

If you’re interested in the NSX or any of the quality Acura models, including the soon-to-be-released TLX, make sure you stop down at Leith Acura in Cary to speak with one of our knowledgeable brand ambassadors.

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On Thursday, April 24^th, 2014, you can begin a career with Leith Automotive. That’s right – a career. Many of our dealerships, representing 28 of the finest car manufacturers, seek experienced service technicians who desire more than just a job. You’ll enjoy a full range of benefits offered for full-time employees, and, more importantly, a working environment awaits that facilitates and awards personal growth.

Leith Automotive believes that quality work only comes from highly-trained technicians. That is why we provide manufacturer training, so you can confidently perform the needed services in an efficient manner. This not only builds your skill set, it prepares you for advancement. Our organization promotes from within because nobody knows our mission and our standards better than our own people.

From the very first day, you’ll work in state-of-the-art facilities with quality tools, as well as relish the comfort provided by climate-controlled shops. The Leith commitment to excellence applies to far more than our customer service: we ensure it keeps our people happy. Isn’t it time to reward yourself with a company that values you? Satisfies your professional interests? Champions your strengths?

That is why we hope to see you at Leith Porsche in Cary on Thursday, April 24^th. Come join the Leith family and discover just how much potential you have.

For full details, click the following link: Leith Automotive Technician Career Night.

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Photo via Motor Trend

The TLX is the celebrated successor of the TL and TSX. This change will alter the Acura sedan lineup, so it will now include only the ILX, TLX, and RLX.

Acura stated that the TLX, set to go on sale this summer, was “designed to deliver vault-like quietness in all driving conditions, with major improvements in noise reduction through enhancements to body stiffness, body sealing and sound insulation, and the application of electronic active noise control.” Other features in this luxury sports sedan include collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot indicator.

The Japanese automaker will offer the TLX in two- and four-wheel drive, but all versions will have the P-AWS (Precision All-Wheel Steer) system. V-4 engine models will be coupled to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission; V-6 engine models will be paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and will get the SH-AWD (Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive).

For engine power, the TLX will have either a 2.4-liter four cylinder that produces 200 horsepower or a 3.5-liter V-6 that cranks out 310 horsepower. Acura has not revealed any other performance specifications.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks because we will be certain to cover the events and goings-on at the 2014 New York Auto Show.

In the meantime, we encourage you to come down to Leith Acura in Cary to speak with one of our brand ambassadors about all that our brand has to offer. We have an excellent inventory of quality sedans and SUVs.

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