Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Category: Glenwood South (Page 12 of 14)

Now, One More Way to ‘Buy Local’ in Downtown Raleigh

March 8, 2010 /

When St. Saviour’s Center, a community outreach ministry in Glenwood South, asked me (as a volunteer) to help them strengthen their connections with the surrounding community, I immediately thought of Britt Farms and their fresh produce delivery service. What better way to bring people together than through food, which nourishes bodies and relationships? 

Saint Saviour’s, 616 Tucker Street, RaleighTogether, we decided that a local produce delivery service could be just the right solution.  Fresh fruit and vegetables delivered weekly would support local business, promote healthy eating, and build the relationship between the Center and its neighbors. 

Last spring, I got to know Britt Farms, a family-owned business from Mount Olive, when my husband and I decided to purchase a share of fresh, locally grown produce through the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.  

Every Tuesday from April to September, my husband and I couldn’t wait to pick up our box full of delicious seasonal local produce. Over the course of the season, I was introduced to many new foods and was exposed to new ways of cooking.

 

 

The food was much more flavorful and nutritious than store-bought food. There was no wasteful packaging (the boxes are reused each week), no unnecessary chemicals in the food to prevent spoiling, and the produce did not have to travel great distances to reach us, keeping pollution from transport vehicles to a minimum.

We enjoyed getting to know Jennifer and Vernon Britt and learning more about their farm, which has been in their family for generations. We learned that by supporting Britt Farms, we were helping farmers to plan their crop yield and grow more sustainably. We were also supporting local business and putting money back into the North Carolina economy. 

After several visits from Jennifer and Vernon Britt to St. Saviour’s, a partnership was created, and this April, Britt Farms will begin to deliver fresh, locally grown produce to neighbors and friends of Saint Saviour’s Center.

Article contributed by Caroline Hope Griffith, a DLA member.


Ordering from Britt Farms
Each week between April 15 and Sept. 30 Britt Farms will deliver fresh, locally grown produce (pre-ordered) for neighbors and friends of Saint Saviour’s Center.  The produce will be available for pick-up on Thursdays between 3pm-6pm.     
 
Orders are placed directly through Britt Farms.  Use this link to download an order form.  The deadline for ordering is April 3rd.

 

Please direct any questions to Jennifer Britt (jbritt82@bellsouth.net), or visit their website at www.brittfarms.net.  

Advocates for Health in Action provides information about Community Gardens, Farmers’ Markets, CSAs, and “Pick-Your-Own” farms in Wake County:

 

Other ways to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables in Downtown Raleigh

City Market Produce, 333 Blake Street at City Market.  Open Thursday through Saturday, (7am-6pm)

Outdoor farmer’s markets every Wednesday in the City Plaza (relocated from Moore Square this year).  Open from April 28th through October, weather permitting.


What do you get when you mix national and international talent with wine??? Mosaic’s Spring Music Fest

February 15, 2010 /

Mosaic Wine Lounge offers a sexy, sophisticated and romantic atmosphere with their Moroccan inspired décor with numerous couches, hanging lamps and candles.  The owner reports the clientele to be 75% professional women, with the crowd generally over 25 years of age.

Established in 2006 in Raleigh’s Glenwood South entertainment district (517 W. Jones Street), Mosaic attracts an array of national and international DJ talent, with live Salsa and Samba Bands after 10:00pm.  You will not find any Televisions or Hip Hop music in this joint.

Each night of the week Mosaic features a different theme and speciality drink.  Wednesday nights they host a free wine tasting at 7:30pm.  And, if you do not wish to sample the wine Mosaic offers, all other wine on Wednesdays (by the bottle or the glass) are available at half price.  

Mosaic recently added an outdoor lounge which is quite beautiful.  At night a DJ plays inside and outside (weather permitting).  

Mosaic will be hosting the Spring Music Fest, offering eleven days of music from close to fifty local national and internationals DJ’s and artists representing a broad range of musical styles.  The event runs from May 28th through June 7th, 2010, so be sure to mark your calendars.  

You can visit the Mosaic Wine Lounge on the web at www.mosaicwinelounge.com. or join the Mosaic Facebook Group.


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.


 

“Cars Are Here, but Parking is Not” on Glenwood South

August 27, 2009 /
Last week the N&O ran an article about the excess of parking available downtown, “Parking is here, but cars are not”.  The point is that many people, particularly those who work downtown, take up the free on-street parking and avoid the parking decks.  Given the number of new parking decks recently added or planned, most decks are under utilized.  
But no new parking decks are planned for the city’s premier entertainment district of Glenwood South, where finding a place to park has never been easy.  And the parking problem will likely get much worse with the planned hotel to be built on the northeast corner of Glenwood Avenue and West Johnson Street.  The owners of the planned 160 room hotel are expected to take up to a third of the currently available spaces at the only large public deck in the area.  
A solution is needed before the problem gets much worse, as five more restaurants are coming to the area, including the recently announced Diner, another pizza restaurant called Bada Bing, and a collection of three restaurants at 500 Glenwood Avenue.  
And, we can expect the pressure on available parking to continue increasing as the economy and consumer confidence improves for the existing 35 establishments and as tenants are found for the available retail space in the 222 Glenwood and West buildings.  
 
New parking standards, championed by local restaurant owners, severely reduces the number of parking spaces that future restaurant and retail developers will need to include in their site plans.  In most cases, not requiring these establishments to provide any parking at all for patrons.  The city’s intent to encourage people to use mass transit or simply leave their cars at home is simply not realistic when these options remain out of reach to the vast majority of people who frequent the retail establishments in Glenwood South.
What do you think about the parking situation in Glenwood South?  We welcome your comments.
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