Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Category: Fayetteville Street (Page 4 of 5)

Be a Buddy! Have a ‘Pig Pickin’ Good Time and Feed a Child!

June 5, 2010 /

My husband and I are members of The Triangle Breakfast Club (TBC), a young professionals group that seeks to affect positive change in Wake County.  This year, TBC has decided to support the Interfaith Food Shuttle’s BackPack Buddies program and has a goal to sponsor 30 kids at Brentwood Elementary on this program by raising $9,180 through community events.

Chad (my husband) and I learned about the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle last year, and we both became more excited about their mission when we attended a fundraiser for their organization last fall.  As big fans of local sustainably grown produce and lovingly prepared family meals, we knew it would be a cause we would want to continue to support.  

The BackPack Buddies helps underprivileged students by discreetly providing them a backpack with essential food items to take home each Friday or Holiday Vacation so they can have healthy meals to eat when they don’t have access to the free or discounted lunch program at their school. 

To reach its goal to sponsor 30 kids at Brentwood Elementary, TBC is partnering with Isaac Hunter’s Tavern to sponsor a Cornhole Tournament / Pig Pickin’ at  

Isaac Hunter’s Tavern . . Saturday June 12 from 12 – 4 pm


The City of Raleigh and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance have agreed to shut down the 100 block of Fayetteville Street for the event. There will be an old fashioned Pig Pickin’ with all the fixings courtesy of Carolina BBQ.   As part of the entertainment, Isaac Hunter’s has hired the local band Mystery Sushi to play outside during the event. In addition, there will also be a beverage tent on site providing cold beer, wine, and mixed drinks for the adults.  

The deadline to sign up for the tournament is June 7th, though there may be limited slots available on the day of the event.  Use this link to register for the event.  Additional details about the tournament are also available at the Issac Hunters website.

Come join us for a fun day of games, food, drink, and friends, all to support a great cause!  Even if you are unable to participate in the tournament, I hope that you can make it out for part of the event or consider a donation to the BackPack Buddies Program.

 

This post submitted by Caroline Hope Griffith, A DLA Member.


FACES OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH – Megg Rader of the Mahler and Collectors Galleries

February 19, 2010 /

Megg Rader and Jim BeltWhen my wife and I dropped in to meet Megg this week, conversation sparked from her delight in discovering the UPS store behind the Hudson, to her pleasure in the well-attended reception the Mahler Gallery had hosted for the local lawyer, Wade Smith, whose artwork is currently displayed in the windows of the N.C. State Bar Building (228 Fayetteville St.).  Through her eyes, we were quickly able to see the networking, support and vision that have made Megg and her business partner, Rory Parnell long time Downtown enthusiasts. 

 

Whether it’s lending their space for yoga classes, sharing their art with 18 Seaboard or the American Institute of Healthcare and Fitness, their sense of community expresses itself in ways that make all of Raleigh a more creative, vibrant, engaging place to live.

With conversations fresh in my mind from recent neighborhood meetings focusing on the city’s development codes, I asked Megg the same questions that the DLA presented to the residents.

What do you see as a positive trend in your neighborhood (Downtown)?

  • I’m glad to see more people!  The growth in number of residents, visitors, and people who make Downtown restaurants an evening destination has really increased the foot traffic in Raleigh.
  • The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has done a fabulous job with the R Line, street-scaping and planning.  They’re working hard for the Downtown community.
  • The influence of people like the Mayor Charles Meeker and the developer Greg Hatem, has gone a long way to shape Downtown in a way that preserves its historical buildings and socio-economic diversity, yet invites in new vision, as well.
  • Having parking decks in central locations with development around them works well.

What is needed to improve the Downtown?

  • More services!  We need pharmacies, copy stores, dry cleaning, book stores…
  • Stitch and Collectors Gallery are not enough.  We need other small, unique shopping options that offer a wide range of price points.  It’s critical that we listen to what people want so that everyone can find something to love.
  • My husband and I enjoy coming Downtown to the IMAX and then out to dinner.  We’d like to see another theater so there are more choices of movies.
  • The renovation of Moore Square will also be helpful in drawing in visitors and businesses to Downtown, especially the City Market area.  

What needs to be preserved?

  • The historic buildings Downtown and in the Warehouse District 
  • Parks and green space

My wife and I left our visit with Megg, feeling like we’d met not just a business person, but a neighbor. We’re grateful that visionaries like her and Rory have held out, when it would have been easy for them to move to more lucrative environs like North Hills.  But they’ve stayed, and they’re holding out the welcome lamp for others like us who appreciate a Downtown with history, character and variety that can’t be manufactured in the suburbs.

We thank you, Megg and Rory!


Downtown Raleigh: Friendly for Kids AND Your Wallet!

January 18, 2010 /

Having moved Downtown in August of 2008, my husband and I are still discovering new things to love.   Most recently, though we have no children (being Double Income No Kids – D.I.N.Ks) we had the opportunity to find many amazing things to do with our 3 and 4 year old niece and nephew within Downtown Raleigh.  During their first visit, it was cold and rainy, so we took them to see Under the Sea at the IMAX Theater before heading next door to the Marbles Museum.  (They currently offer Story Time every other Wednesday at 10:30.)  We found this indoor museum for children to be everything a child could hope for – on a rainy day, or any day!  To top off the visit, we took advantage of: Kids Eat Free at Tobacco Road offered on Tuesday nights. 

During their next visit, we took a ride on the R Line. They had never been on a city bus.  My sister and her husband (from the DC area) were surprised to find that the bus was FREE.  We made our way to the Ice Rink on Fayetteville Street.  Although it was too cold and windy that day for them to take a loop around the ice rink, they did  enjoy the Krispy Kreme Kiosk across the street.  We stepped inside out of the cold and picked out 2 Mini doughnuts each.  (I didn’t even know they had mini doughnuts!)  It was 3:30 so we had time to head over the NC Museum of History.   We were all pleasantly surprised over the appeal of this museum.  However, it should be noted, never head to the museum with your 3 and 4 year old niece and nephew on a sugar rush!  I’m glad the Museum closed at 5:00.  It was Monday evening so we headed over to Sauced Pizza for Cheese Pizza by the slice for $1.00.  

The kids had so much fun.  When it was time to load the car and head back to Maryland, they both cried and said, “We don’t want to leave!”  

So next time you’re on kid duty and it’s a rainy or cold day, you’ll know where to head.  Downtown Raleigh.  It’s not just for DINKS!


My First Friday Art Tour

December 2, 2009 /
Glenwood South
Usually on First Fridays I start off gallery hopping on the east side of town, beginning with Artspace.  But this December 4th I’m going to kick off the festivities on the west side of town, at SpiritWorks Studio (608 Glenwood Ave. [behind 610] where my friend Donna is exhibiting her new series “Interfaith Children”.  Next, I’ll peek next door, (behind the carpet store) to check out the studio recently opened by my very talented friend, Jason.
 
Next I’ll go up the street and stop by Lee Hansley’s Gallery at 225 Glenwood to see his Christmas Show of over 200 pieces,  each under $1000.  Then I’ll go across Glenwood to Lee Hansley’s new temporary gallery on the corner of Glenwood and Jones Streets to see a new exhibition of some large contemporary pieces of art.
 
Working a little south, there is always lots of art for me to see at the Carter Building.
 
Warehouse District
Then I’d cross Hillsborough St. and walk down to the Warehouse District to see the very new and exciting Flanders Gallery at the corner of West and Martin.  
 
Just down the street from Flanders is Judy Jones’ print exhibition space at 311 West Martin Street Galleries.
 
Fayetteville Street
From there it’s just a short walk east to the beautiful Mahler Gallery and the new glass enclosed Collectors Gallery, both on Fayetteville St.
 
From there I’ll to stop off at the Sosta Cafe, 130 E. Davie St., to see that new painting show.
Then on to Artspace at Blount and E. Davie Streets.
 
After that, I’ll go around the corner to Blake St. across from Vic’s Restaurant to see the instructors’ show (instructors for RICA, the upcoming Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art).
 
And then I’ll cross over to The Visual Arts Exchange to see what new amazing show Sarah Powers has put together this month.  
 
Then I’ll stop in to the Dechen Gallery of Tibetan art and the craft gallery a few doors down for some Christmas gifts.
 
I’ll top the evening off with a leisure walk back to Glenwood by way of Hargett St. and  stop in at the Adam Cave and the popular cafe galleries.
 
I hope it’s a lovely evening for all that walking.  But with all the inspiration offered by Raleigh artists, the weather won’t make a bit of difference! 
 
Boylan Heights (Dec. 6)
And a reminder, no one should forget the December 6th Sunday afternoon Art Walk, around the Boylan Heights neighborhood to see an exhibition of over 100 artists.  

Are you a Raleigh First Friday Newbie?

November 3, 2009 /

You may have noticed the First Friday flags that go up in front of galleries and shops on the first friday of each month.  These signal that you’re welcome from 6-9PM for good conversation, a wide variety of art, and an opportunity to toast to the growing evening attractions of Downtown.

First Friday started at Artspace many years ago, and until recently most of the action stayed focused there and in the Moore Square Area.  But now First Friday celebrations have spread all over Downtown.  The Raleigh Contemporary Gallery changed its name to The Mahler Gallery and moved to Fayetteville Street, joined recently by the Collectors Gallery, located on City Plaza. From there, the action moves west to the Warehouse District (the “IN” place to be) and on to Glenwood South (the Mecca of dining and late night festivities.) 

A friend of mine suggests, “If you have never been before, my suggestion would be to go to Artspace first.  That place is always jumping and always very friendly on First Fridays.  (And there will be extra celebrations the first Fridays in November and December.)   There might be a problem finding parking near Artspace, though.   But if you don’t mind walking a bit, then it will be easy.”  Another alternative would be to start elsewhere in the city where parking is more plentiful and catch the R Line to the City Market area.

No studios in the Boylan Heights area are open on First Fridays.   However, on Sunday afternoon, December 6th. there will be the annual Boylan Heights Art Walk.  Then, all the studios in the area will be open to the public. 

So go Downtown.  Bring the children.  Have a pizza at Vic’s (go early for that).  Or grab a bite at Glenwood South or the Warehouse District and catch the R Line.  Either way, let me know how you like the excitement.


 

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