Let's Commercialize Raleigh!

So, I recently stumbled upon a blog or two that really got me thinking (and one got me to actually DO something). Wouldn't you just love to see an H&M pop up in downtown Raleigh? Or a Sephora pokes it pretty, little nose in Cameron Village? Or have an American Apparel open up off of Glenwood South (or more preferred, Fayetteville St.)? Well, it could happen.

How? Well, if you click on the first link I provided (Raleigh Philosophical Society), the people at RPS made it a bit easier to DIRECTLY contact some great commercialized stores in hopes of bringing them to Raleigh. Because of that list, it made it VERY easy for me to send off e-mails to H&M, Dean & Deluca, and American Apparel. Out of those three, I have received responses from both H&M and Dean & Deluca within a twelve-hour period.

Hello Myles,

We appreciate your interest in H&M.

Since our launch in the U.S. 9 years ago, we have been focused on a rapid expansion and are currently looking for the perfect location in your area.

Although that seems to be a somewhat computer automated response, it does give a shimmer of hope to those who truly are hopeful. Especially considering of the years-past rumors of a possibility that H&M would come to downtown Raleigh.

Dear Myles,

Thank you for your recent email to Dean & Deluca.

At the present time, we have no plans for a store in Raleigh, North Carolina. However, this area is a great market and we would love to come once we find the right location!

... :'(

Anyway, one can only hope Dean & Deluca can find that "right" location here in Raleigh someday soon!

While at work today (I work in Cameron Village), I couldn't shut up to any of my co-workers about the "what ifs" of the possibility of having some commercialized stores making an appearance in Cameron Village. I mean, think about it, the Village would be an IDEAL location for the not-so-daring corporate honchos to try out one of their stores. Cameron Village already gets plenty of foot traffic, both during the weekdays and weekends, plus everyone who goes there typically has the mindset to at least shop for something. Don't get me wrong, I do understand the appeal Cameron Village has for the fact that they have many independent boutique-style stores, but I could see an even greater improvement in customer and sale counts if they push for more mainstream, commercialized stores like H&M, Urban Outfitters, Armani Exchange (c'mon Raleigh, we need one!), Burberry, Sephora, etc.

Cameron Village is also close enough to downtown to have it be dubbed the "fashion district" of downtown Raleigh, and hopefully bring more of downtown towards that direction as well. With both a rather controversial residential tower and a two-story Chik-Fil-A (the first ever, I believe) slated for construction soon, Cameron Village will be seeing some changes. Now, the question is: Will Cameron Village be able to attract more commercialized businesses (beside Victoria Secret)to make it an even great "downtown" attraction? That may not be something we can make happen, but we can certainly try to!

What I'd love for everyone to do is to go out and contact each business you'd love to see in Cameron Village, on Glenwood South, or throughout the Fayetteville St./ Downtown District and let them know that you WANT them here! The more voices heard, now matter how small they may be, may give us just a bit more hope to have them here! Also, let me know what commercialized businesses you'd love to have here!



Thanks goes out to:

Raleigh Philosophical Society
The Raleigh Connoisseur
gogoraleigh

Each of them for having very comprehensible and helpful blogs!

January's Triangle Theatre Guide

So a new year means a new set of entertaining theatrical plays hitting the theaters all throughout the Triangle! Below you can see a list of what the Triangle has to offer (If I'm missing anything, let me know and I'll add it up):

Broadway Series South @ Progress Eneregy's Center for the Performing Arts

A Chorus Line

National Touring Production! Straight from Broadway.

In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance. This is A Chorus Line, the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line. Winner of nine Tony Awards®, including “Best Musical” and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, this singular sensation is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever. Now A Chorus Line returns. Come meet the new generation of Broadway’s best. “A Chorus Line is back, and it’s thrilling!” - John Lahr, The New Yorker

Show dates: January 6th - January 11th, 2009

Suntrust Broadway Series @ Durham Performing Arts Center

Rent

Starring Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp from the Original Broadway Show and Film Adaptation of Rent.

Set in the East Village of New York City, RENT is about being young and learning to survive in NYC. It's about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award® for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize, RENT has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates. Whether it's your 1st time or your 100th time, the time is now for RENT!

Show dates: January 20th - January 25th, 2009


North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre

Love Letters

Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born to wealth and position, are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of "good schools." While Andy is off at war Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is really too late for both of them.

Show dates: January 30-31, February 1, 6-8, 13-15
Show Times: Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8:00PM, Sunday Matinee at 3:00PM

Carolina Ballet

Balanchine - By George!

George Balanchine's natural curiosity and creativity led him to push boundaries that resulted in timeless classics that were so far ahead of their time, they are still amazing today. He embodied a passionate fervor that kept him working into his eighties, turning out a body of work that made him the Father of American Ballet. This season we present two of his amazing achievements: La Sonnambula and The Four Temperaments.

Show dates: January 29th - February 1st, 2009
Show Times: Thursday - Saturday Evenings at 8:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday Matinee at 2:00 PM

Burning Coal Theatre Company

Way to Heaven

A representative of the Red Cross is sent to investigate alleged atrociities in Germany at the start of World War II. What he finds is a beautiful, serene, model city, peopled with smiling Jewish citizens. Will his report to the Red Cross reflect what his eyes have seen ... or what his heart is telling him?

Show dates: January 22nd - February 8th, 2009
Show Times: Thursdays - Saturdays 7:30 PM, Sundays 2:00 PM

NOTE: The play alternates between being spoken in English and Spanish on various nights. You can view those nights here.

Common Ground Theatre

Souvenir: A Fanatasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins

An incapable coloratura and a down and out musical accompanist team up and achieve cult status fame. Their bizarre partnership yielded hilariously off-key recitals that became the talk of New York and culminated in a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall.

Show dates: January 9th - January 24th, 2009
Show Times: Thursdays - Saturdays Evenings at 8:00 PM, Sundays Matinees at 2:00 PM

Manbites Dog Theater

Hungry Ghost

A haunting winter tale featuring shadow puppetry, masks, bon raku, and marionette puppet styles comes to Manbites Dog this January, when Paperhand Puppet Intervention and Theater of Performing Objects present HUNGRY GHOST. Thematically based in ancient traditional (and contemporary) Asian religious belief and cultural myth, HUNGRY GHOST tells stories of the insatiable human condition. Intended for mature audiences.
Presented as part of Manbites Dog Theater's Other Voices Series

Show dates: January 14th - January 24th, 2009

Playmakers Repertory Company

The Young Ladies Of...

We’re thrilled to present the audaciously talented actor/playwright Taylor Mac in his moving exploration of a son’s desire to know his father. A father who led a very different life than the one the son has made for himself as a New York performance artist, who performs the show in drag, playing a ukulele and singing songs from Carousel. What can we say? It’s brilliant!

Show dates: January 7th - January 11th, 2009
Show Times: Wednesday - Sunday Evenings at 8:00 PM, Sunday Mantinee at 2:00 PM

Well

'Lisa’, the onstage playwright, attempts a memory play about her force-of-nature mother who though constantly ill manages to heal a community. Characters rebel at Lisa’s version of events, upending the story in a howlingly funny and emotionally powerful look at mother/daughter dynamics. This Tony-nominated Broadway sensation comes from the original voice of Lisa Kron, whose OBIE-winning 2.5 Minute Ride was a sold-out hit in last season's PRC2 series.

Show dates: January 24th - March 1st (In Rotation with The Glass Menagerie)

The Glass Menagerie

PlayMakers presents Williams’ masterpiece the way he always intended - as a break from “the exhausted theatre of realistic conventions.” A moving tale of a mother/daughter relationship complicated by the daughter’s disability, with universal themes of family conflict and dreams deferred, its groundbreaking theatrical form helped establish the memory play in the theatrical canon.


Show dates: January 25th - February 28th, 2009 (in Rotation with Well)

New Year's Eve 2009 - Raleigh

The Mint is set to have their first ever New Year's Eve celebration this evening. The Office Nightclub's resident DJs Riot the DJ and DJ Rozeman. The restaurant will transform into a nightclub with both their house bar upstairs and a made-for-New-Year's-Eve bar down in the main dining room. There's no cover charge, either!

Also happening on New Year's Eve is the 18th annual Artsplosure's First Night Raleigh.

Capital City Grocery Closes

Against the small hope that many had for this downtown Raleigh grocery store, as reported by WRAL, signage was posted on the door today stating that today will be its last day open... permanently.

Reason for closing has yet to be identified, but I'm sure with the economic issues that didn't help too much. The fact that many of their shelves are empty also didn't help for business, especially considering a full-fledged grocery store, Harris Teeter, is less than two miles up the street.

As WRAL also reported, downtown Raleigh has acquired two more grocery stores since 2007, of which I haven't seen, however they did state one more is set to open next summer.

I personally would enjoy to see a true downtown grocery store location, right near Fayetteville St.

Raleigh Christmas Parade

Just a friendly reminder to everyone that the 64th annual Raleigh Christmas Parade is happening in downtown Raleigh tomorrow starting at around 10:00 AM. Festivities begin at 9:30 AM, so make sure you bring your gloves and overcoats as to stay warm during the cold day's activities!

To find out more info about the parade, you can go to WRAL for more info.

First Snow of the Season!

If you live in the Triangle (and even further out around), then you may have noticed some on-again off-again snow flurries blowing through the breezy North Carolinian air. For me, the first time I saw the snow today was earlier this morning while I was at work. Many of us got so excited to see the first snow fall of the season that we all bolted out the door and onto the sidewalks of Cameron Village to enjoy the short novelty.

The brief snow didn't accumulate to much in the Triangle with no reports of it actually sticking to the roads (or hardly even to front lawn from what I've seen).

I don't know about any one else, but I surely hope this is setting us up for quite a white Christmas! One can only hope...

NCScoop - Burning Coal Theatre Presents Hysteria

Burning Coal Theatre in downtown Raleigh will be premiering the play "Hysteria" this Thursday evening (November 6th) at 7:30 PM in their fairly new theatre Meymandi Theatre at the Murphy School Auditorium.

Hysteria is a dramatic farce fictionalizing a meeting between Salvador Dali and Sigmund Freud with a few other characters mixed in between. The play is full of great comedic scenes mixed together with some tense dramatic pieces and brought all together by some phenomenal acting talents and direction.

If you want to get tickets to one of the play dates, you can find all of those dates listed here. Don't forget to also check out Burning Coal Theatre's Website for any other information you may want to know.

Raleigh Obama March

After President-elect Barack Obama gave his Victory Speech, hundreds of Obama supporters marched and cheered on the streets of downtown Raleigh. The march started somewhere up in north downtown Raleigh, presumably from a massive watch party, and marched its whole way down Wilmington St. and what seemed to be ending at Shaw University.

The march appeared to be impromptu and was being maintained by local law officials keeping a close proximity of the fairly long march.

Barack Obama Rally, Plus Sarah Palin and Huckabee in Raleigh

Upon entering Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh, the first thing I noticed were the security check-point they had up, which seemed very minimal compared to airport security. Of course, they needed to keep it simple to maintain the crowds. And crowds there were! From the video you can slightly see the crowds, but it felt like thousands upon thousands were in attendance for the Sen. Barack Obama campaign rally.

Also in Raleigh today was former Republican Presidential nominee, Mike Huckabee. He was only here for a brief while at the Raleigh Victory Office, but he's scheduled to make an appearance at 4:00 PM at the Charlotte Victory Office. He's also supposed to pop in for a 4:30 PM appearance at Hef's Bar & Grill Restaurant.

And some new information that was just reported by Charlotte Observer, Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is scheduled to make an appearance at an hour-long event this coming Saturday night, November 1st. Any further details, such as location and whatnot, are not available yet.

Gotta love to have everyone wanting a piece of North Carolina! ;)

Here's more information about Mike Huckabee's locations:

Wednesday October 29th, 2008

Charlotte Victory Office
4:00 PM
1515 Mockingbird Lane Suite 218
Charlotte, NC 28209
(704) 910-0696

Hef's Bar and Grill Restaurant
4:30 PM
1600 E Woodlawn Road
Charlotte, NC 28209
(704) 523-1008

Oh, and sorry for the shaky camera work. Between them not allowing tripods into the rally and the strong winds... it made camera work a nightmare (not to repeatedly mention the fact that there was no way to get a good, clear shot of Sen. Barack Obama).

Brad Cooper's Indictment

I know, I'm a good twelve hours or so late with this news, but chances are... some of you may not have heard of this yet either!

On Monday, October 27th, Brad Cooper was indicted for first-degree murder of his wife, Nancy Cooper. In the early morning on July 12th, Nancy Cooper was said to have gone jogging through the suburbs of Cary. Later in the morning, a man walking his dog discovered her body in a storm pond in the neighborhood. The investigation has been going on for three months with much speculation pointing to husband, Brad Cooper.

You can catch the full story over at WRAL!