For the third year in a row, Raleigh’s Mosaic Wine et Lounge will present its ever growing seasonal dance music festival — staying true to form and raising the ambitious bar of innovative, live entertainment in the Triangle.
Over the course of 10 straight nights, this veteran club recognized for its dedication to bringing world-wide flavors of sensational sound to the Triangle dance music and entertainment scene promises a detailed pairing of internationally renowned DJs and producers intermixed with Triangle and North Carolina-based talent.
Keith Ward, resident Mosaic DJ and MFMF Program Director has crafted an experience that he intends to be as intoxicating for the visiting DJs as it will be for the reveling dancers in attendance.
“Since the inception of this festival in 2009, the goal has been to create an environment that not only allows the audience to interact with world-class DJs in an up close and personal way, but to also bring to the Triangle the same energy and cultural movements of sound that are happening all over the globe in major markets. To have a dance experience in such an intimate space like Mosaic with these creative talents just doesn’t happen everyday,” notes Ward. “For local and surrounding area audiences that can’t travel to London’s Fabric or New York’s Cielo or Miami’s Mansion to get into the sound of this caliber, this is for you.”
With up to 75 artists currently programmed, the vibe will range from Deep House to Techno to Down Tempo to various forms of EDM with each thematic evening offering a variation of outdoor patio and indoor house sets grooving simultaneously.
Fresh off tours of duty in L.A., N.Y., D.C., Oslo, Berlin, and Buenos Aires the not-to-be-missed headliners leading this semi-annual festival of infectious grooves include the following:
The state of eating and drinking continues to change and expand here in Downtown Raleigh. New restaurants are opening while others are re-inventing themselves. It’s just part of the always growing revitalization that is happening here and residents are enjoying it in a big way.
A new twist on the food scene for downtown is the food trucks. The City of Raleigh is wrestling with ways to allow them to operate in our city fairly and safely. The debate has continued on for more than a year and the Downtown Living Advocates are making a case for the city to finally amend its zoning permits to allow food trucks to operate in downtown Raleigh with limitations on placement.
Click through the slides for a brief overview of the survey results and ideas.
A recent poll of DLA members shows a mix of responses supporting food trucks with and without certain limitations. The main concerns for DLA members are operating hours and places of operation.
Food truck support comes from well over 95 percent of the DLA responses, but members felt differently on the issue. The first concern about food trucks is where they operate. This is the second largest response (30 percent) after the most popular option of no restrictions. (39 percent) Only a small amount, 5 percent, felt that hours were the only concern about the food trucks in downtown.
Nineteen percent of respondants favored restrictions on both placement and hours of operation. Finally, only about 6 percent of members wanted food trucks only during major events or not at all.
The data speaks for itself: DLA residents of Downtown Raleigh want food trucks operating in our center city.
The DLA Supports The 100-foot Rule.
There are some food business owners within downtown who have expressed concern about the operation of the food trucks here and how it may affect their business. The DLA is in support of the 100-foot rule that has been discussed by city council. This rule limits the operation of a food truck to areas outside of 100 feet away from the front door of a restaurant. We feel this rule would be fair to both our current neighbors and those who wish to operate here soon.
The DLA has created a visual map of downtown Raleigh, showing surface parking lots and an approximate area of where those food truck operation areas would be under the 100-foot rule. Please refer to the map below.
Purple = Downtown Raleigh, Yellow = surface lots, Red = 100 foot area, no truck operation
All distances approximate. Click for a larger view.
The map helps us visualize what the future operation of food trucks could be under the 100-foot rule. It is important to notice that the Glenwood South area and Fayetteville Street are completely covered in red, meaning no food trucks will be allowed in this area. This then creates a fair operating environment to a majority of downtown’s food businesses, which are in these areas.
The surface parking lots, shown in yellow, present an opportunity for food trucks. These lots are typically underutilized for most hours of the day and can then be re-used during off-peak hours. The food trucks can park in those lots, outside of the area created by the 100-foot rule, and bring activity to an area that typically sees little traffic or pedestrian activity. The DLA encourages the city to look into this option so a compromise can be made.
DLA residents are all neighbors with the businesses in downtown Raleigh and support a fair compromise with the 100-foot rule. We encourage everyone, member or not, to write to the Raleigh City Council to voice their opinion on this matter. Please copy and paste the letter below and send it to the entire city council at the below e-mail address to let them know where you stand.
I am writing to you today to urge you to take a closer look at the ongoing food truck debate and to please support the operation of food trucks in Raleigh. Along with the clear support of the Downtown Living Advocates (DLA), a resident-based group in Raleigh, I, too, support the food trucks in my city. I encourage you to visit this link and see the DLA’s results and thoughts on the issue.
I support a compromise between food truck and food businesses with the 100-foot rule so that each can operate fairly in our city. I feel that the surface parking lots all over Raleigh are very underutilized and pairing them with mobile food options makes a lot of sense.
Please come to a conclusion on this issue and support this growing food industry in our city.
When our friend, Angela invited us to join her this week at the newly opened Babylon restaurant (309 N. Dawson St), she described it as “hidden in full sight.” Just a few blocks east of Glenwood South, the building tucked on the west side of Dawson is actually more visible from Lane Street than Dawson. I recognized it immediately as the old mill I had always imagined converted into lofts like Patrick and Demi’s in the movie Ghost. But Samad Hachby’s imagination went a lot further than mine. As in to the other side of the world.
The Greek word Babylon means roughly “Gateway of the God” and that’s what I felt walking through the entranceway into the candle-lit courtyard with stylish wicker tables arranged around a multi-sided reflecting pool, and bar crafted from Moroccan tiles. Borrowing from another movie, Hachby had me at Hello. If I had only enjoyed a glass of wine by the pool, I would have left happy. But that’s not what happened.
Following the tiled path to the front door invited mystery and delight. I noticed that the rough brick walls of the hundred year old mill blended beautifully with the exotic detailing. I couldn’t wait to see what was on the other side of the front door, and I wasn’t disappointed. What was striking to me was the feeling of privacy and intimacy, in spite of the fact that this building could accommodate hundreds of guests. With each room looking out on the courtyard, a group could opt for the opulent Palace Room that manages to be chicly comfortable, while crowned by ornate chandeliers and a colorful Moroccan tile ceiling, or for a smaller garden room, softly lit with natural light from a southern exposure.
Samad Hachby is an artist, whose food matches his imagination for renovation. His menu (using fresh, locally grown produce) transports his guests to ancient cultures where food is prepared in clay pots and savored for its spices. Even the olives were memorable. (Tell me if you can figure out that blend of spices. Angela and I tasted turmeric and cumin, but we weren’t sure what else.) I loved my Fetard salad with peaches, walnuts and feta, complemented by a small plate of Bodega marinated and grilled lamb skewers, and my husband Jim’s Lamb Tagine was falling-from-the-bone tender and delicious in a sauce of apricot prunes.
As we sat over our coffee at the end of the meal, we all agreed that the two block trip to Babylon seemed like it should have required a passport. It was amazing to believe we were still in Raleigh. We’ll be going back for the food, for the decor and because we want to introduce this find to any friend who, like us, loves to be surprised by the unexpectedly fabulous.
Jerome Lauck and his daughterJerome Lauck, now the full owner of Sosta Café, was born in the French Provence region in the South of France to Alsatian parents, who were raised in the wine and cheese region of the North of France. During our conversation, Jerome recalled his childhood, watching as his young mother mastered the allure of Provence style cooking. Jerome explained that in Provence, you rely on what he labels, “a master simplicity” to bring out and highlight the individual tastes of a long list of excellent regional ingredients.
This philosophy continues today at Sosta Cafe where Jerome extends this simple perfection to his sandwiches, coffee, lunch offerings- and even beverages.
I understood Jerome’s comment because I grew up in Geneva, finding Provence with its extended shores on the Mediterranean a lovely and exciting summer destination. It is accurate that this region champions culinary simplicity, especially when it is measured against the neighboring Lyonnais region. The complementary natural ingredients typical of this region make the culinary experience remarkably memorable. I asked Jerome how he managed to find ingredients from a several mile radius of the region where he was born, and he admitted that it is now slightly easier than when he started 6 years ago. He says that boutique suppliers are willing to make a small profit to support a number of culinary establishments in the area.
The name “Sosta” means “a restful break” and that truly captures the cafe’s philosophy. The cafe provides continuous service and a full menu from 8 AM to 4 PM, with an added focus on good art and truly enjoyable, unique music. To me, it’s filled with personality and a feast for the senses. Sosta has also added a very interesting catering menu to further serve its customers.
Sosta Cafe, 130 E Davie Street (Progress Energy Bldg)Jerome’s personal touch, greeting and serving his customers, makes the Cafe Sosta a welcoming oasis in Downtown Raleigh. An advocate of Downtown Living, Jerome lives in Boylan Height and walks to work every day. When I asked him about the Downtown scene he answered, “We have a beautiful Downtown that we need to make into a destination.” He pointed out the paradox of how much effort is vested these days in shopping malls meant to mirror a Downtown feeling. Jerome adds that we should have easy and affordable parking solutions, and looks forward to the regional and light rail development, citing that they will provide even easier and safer access to Downtown.
Drop by and introduce yourself to Jerome. You’ll enjoy the flavor, style and hospitality of Provence in your own neighborhood!
This is our second post on Sosta Cafe. Click here to read our previous post published last year.
Rebus Works is pleased to announce The Saturday Market. The Market will bring together farmers, crafters, food trucks, brewers and more every Saturday from 9am-2pm beginning April 23rd and continuing through November 19th, and will take place in the area surrounding Rebus Works.
So far we have Part and Parcel farms, Double T Farms, Veggie Barn, New Grass Gardens and Terra Soul Farms selling produce. Some of our other vendors include Locals Seafood, Escazu Artisan Chocolates, Nahualli Trading Co, Two Pounds Mustard, and Sweets. Zass Design, Bordeaux Lane Studio and Jm Design are just a few of our crafters. To keep posted on current and future Market happenings, LIKE The Saturday Market on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. They are continuing to accept applications for vendors. Find out more by visiting their website www.rebusworks.us.
Rebus Works is a small gallery located in the Boylan Heights neighborhood in Downtown Raleigh. Established in 2003, the gallery is operated by artists for artists. Map it. http://goo.gl/maps/wKAB.
For the third year in a row, Raleigh’s Mosaic Wine et Lounge will present its ever growing seasonal dance music festival — staying true to form and raising the ambitious bar of innovative, live entertainment in the Triangle. 
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