Think I’ll do a little soul searching and mind melting after work today. Head down to the Warehouse district, Raleigh’s emerging art district, and let it take me away.
It’s First Friday and you can too!
Flanders: 302 S. West Street
Designbox: 323 W Martin Street
311 Galleries and Studios: well…
Contemporary Art Museum: 409 W Martin Street (new!)
Know it?
Goodnight Raleigh does an amazing job – yet again – of giving us the history and current life of Person Street in pictures.
From downtown, it travels one-way into the Mordecai neighborhood. An uneventful trip until you reach Krispy Kreme donuts, where Peace Street dead-ends and a grappling strip of seemingly random businesses and out-of-businesses begins.
That pretty much sums it up from the outside. But looking inside a few of the doors you’ll find businesses, established and new, striving to be less distant relatives to the booming growth of downtown Raleigh, and more a legitimate part of the family.
#549, at the corner of peace and person: Krispy Kreme’s icing on the donut: Cheerwine-cream filled donuts and a run-till-you-puke-donut-glaze annual race that attracted ~7500 people and raised $100,000 for NC Children’s Hospital this year.
#618, at the corner of person and pace: From pizza pie to Piebird, this lunch and dinner biz moved in after Conti’s Italian Market moved out. Tear. A curried chicken “hand-pie” + a side is $6.50. A chicken pot pie entree runs you $11. And a slice a sweet pie is $5.50. The first annual Raleigh Oktoberfest is happening across the street, Sat. Oct 1.
Person Street Pharmacy is next door… and there used to be a bulk order/catering company across the street but I don’t see ANY information online… out of business?
Then there’s a slight scattering of others including Marsh Woodwinds and Nicole’s Art Gallery before you’ve run out of road and residential Mordecai pops up before Capital Blvd.
Marsh Woodwinds Upstairs hosts a literary and performance event this Saturday evening at 8pm. Organized by Scott Huler – the Piedmont Laureate — the One & One Festival will present writers and musicians who read/play an original piece AND then one by someone they admire. Free admission, free food and BYOB.*
*not a Piedmont Laureate program event
Going downtown tonight. Friends here from out of town. There’s really no where else to consider taking them for dinner and a good time.
Depending on how many people we have with us, maybe we’ll try out the new place in City Market at the corner of Blount and Davie – Battistella’s, a New Orleans kitchen. Since it’s open till 1am, if they don’t have room for us I may try to at least stop in for a moment while we’re running around.
I had a very brief moment there yesterday [when I dropped off a copy of the Raleigh Public Record's first print edition, a voter guide] and was immediatly drawn in. The room at the entrance was dark and open, one of my favorite combinations. Through and to the right is a smaller room with exposed brick and old world peeling plaster walls, bright and genuine. Another great combination.
That band…um, Widespread Panic?…is that it?…is playing tonight at the Raleigh Amphitheater and it will be raining. So, let’s hope they got this kink worked out. Ha, whoopsydaisy! [Notting Hill, anyone?]
I don’t have any pics related to all this jibberish, so here are a couple I took recently of some neat graffiti: San Francisco and Raleigh.
As I’m working out of town from a tradeshow for my day job, I constantly find myself thinking of Raleigh, upcoming downtown events and this blog. I want to talk to you! Be heading to Hopscotch with you! And blog about these things from first-hand experience! Alas, I’m simply not there. And truth be told, I’m accepting it quite well. Why? One reason only…I’m in San Francisco.
Ahhhhhhhhh. Yes.
But can you do one thing for me? Get yourself downtown this weekend, tickets or not. Cause when the Downtown Dame can’t party, you party for her.
:)
The update from Goodnight Raleigh! as of last Wednesday (8/24), reports that Sadlack’s is out but maintains a level of doubt, a sliver of hope, that it may remain in.
Rose owns the building, the University Endowment Fund owns the property, and a hotel is going in no matter how this transaction/conversation goes down. To me, it seems we have the opportunity to provide a stellar example of how development projects and the community around the area can find a balance by accepting inevitable growth, while respecting the traditions that have sustained us.
From the horse’s mouth, on who they are:
Sadlacks Heroes is a Raleigh, NC institution. It is located at the corner of Hillsborough and Enterprise Streets, across from NC State University. For over 30 years, Sadlacks has served Raleigh’s best and freshest heroes (including legendary vegetarian selections) while entertaining the populace with the region’s finest live musical entertainment. The food is always fresh, using only the best meats, cheeses and vegetables cut daily. A sandwich shop by day and a bar by night, Sadlacks is a place for all-comers. It has employed many of the areas finest musicians, including members of Whiskeytown, Six String Drag, Patty Hurst Shifter, Corrosion of Conformity and many others. Stop by for a sandwich and a cold beer. Enjoy an afternoon on the porch. Bring your dog or your children. You never know who you may run into at Sadlacks.
The Downtown Dame turns 1 year today ! and I’ve had a blast writing for you and our downtown. Thank you for following and supporting the blog – and in turn, your community. (get posts via email by signing up to your right)
On a serious note – and then we can have fun – making connections in our community to the people, places and things that generate energy and positivity is what keeps us from becoming boring, replaceable and generic. By the same token, we can’t be expected to make connections with things lacking personality, so while growth in Raleigh is happening now and high-rise apartment buildings and hotels (and traffic congestion) are inevitable, it is important that we fight for a balance. I urge you to make connections, talk to the bartender, tip your waitress, go out!, read your sources, find free events, walk around, look up. This is who we are.
Allllright! In the spirit of growth and change, I’d love to hear from you!
Tell me me what you think…even if the only thing you can muster up is “Hi!”…and I will do my best to incorporate it into this next year of Downtown Dame evolution.
Favorite post? Favorite lame post? Ideas on how I can provide you with better information without quitting my day job to become a downtown reporter?
And what birthday would be complete without reminiscing over the best of times?
A Tourist in My Own City: Tir-Na-Nog, The Pit, Epona & Oak, Bu.ku (a four-part series)
SPARKcon: coverage and fashionSPOTLIGHTS on Jaclyn Anthony and DRC ApeParel and Good Girls Studio.
Mix it up: Got a hot date? Wanna show the crew a good time?
Helios: one of the most popular posts, coffee-god
Harvest Time at Big Boss Brewery: this Thursday, the taproom opens at 4p and begins serving THE cool-weather, all things ghoulish beer.
Ak!
Beasley’s Chicken + Honey opens tonight at 6pm. I feel like a kid…so cheesy for this place and AC. Geez. (here’s why)
Woo!
Think you might have some SparkCon to show off? It’s coming up in September so check out the dates for meetings now.
Play on!
This Thursday eve, get started with music hosted by City Market around 7pm, then head over to Amplified Art (in City Market, 224 East Martin) to see local singer/songwriter, Anna Rose Beck.
It’s hot, but I urge you to stay motivated. Good music is coming – get your tickets for Hopscotch now! – and college football begins in September. So, don’t succum to the heat just yet. Think of August as prep… and, of course, another month that you’re alive to Get out there and be somebody! as Dave Chapelle would say.
The Downtown Dame picks and chooses from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance monthly newsletter:
Restaurant Week: August 22-28
Flip-flop shoe drive, Kinder Soles: now-September 1
Slightly Stoopid Rebelution, RAT: August 25
Bud Light’s Cityfest begins: August 27-October
Cantina South opens at 518 Glenwood Ave: Modern Mexican
This is just a smack in the face, guys. More to come. More openings, more events. Stay tuned. And a special shout-out to the Downtown Raleigh Ambassadors – thank you for helping us, watching out for us and your friendly presence, making our downtown more awesomer.
Bele Chere did not disappoint. On the contrary, it seemed to enlighten and educate more than in previous years.
Friday, we enjoyed a leisurely walk before heading to the Bier Garden for food and varieties of better beer. Either we were heat-stroked or the food was out of this world or both (at least the first), but this spot was our oasis in the desert sun. On Saturday, it proved to be in fact the real thing and sheltered us once again, this time via easy escape from the heat, people and cheap beer. Ace Pear Cider at a table for two, to the rescue.
Saturday, we began with a detour. This chicken could not be ignored, homegrown food on his mind…
…the backstreets of downtown Asheville before pouring ourselves into the throngs of non-locals.
Momentary stops to look at the pretty, shiney things, then a stop for a game of darts at Barley’s. A win-cut-short and $50 bet with my sister over what the new structure across the street would eventually be later, we were headed to see Trevor’s band, the If You Wannas.
I’ve realized, behind a large group of dedicated music fans, that a lot of excellent bands choose Asheville to play over any other city in the state. Over any other city in this general area of the south. Little Dragon at Moogfest is an example.
The rest of the trip was hot, saucy and delicious. What you need to know is that Asheville has great food and great local beers. It makes an already worthy destination to the Blue Ridge mountains that much sweeter.
Mela Indian was fresh, filling and fantastic as street food. Looking forward to their sit-down establishment.
Tupelo Honey, both locations, are beautiful inside and out.
Early Girl does down-to-earth, kitchen style, farm-to-table food just right.
Jack of the Wood reminds me of our Welcomer to Bele Chere friend, Stoney, who we missed this year (and his monkey, so I hear). Also serves beers from two of the finest brewing companies, Highland and Pisgah.
Here’s to Bele Chere and beautiful living at it’s best!
The downtown dame and crew are on our way to Bele Chere in Asheville… and man, does it feel good.
Raleigh is much more appreciated when missed and retreated away from occasionally. Or frequently, in my case since April this year.
With Beachwood Sparks and Beyonce 4 to guide us, I look forward to hippy-music-mountain adventure and bringing you the details next week.
Soak it in wherever you are, mon ami!
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