Raleigh Wide Open Review
While wandering around downtown Raleigh during this weekend’s Raleigh Wide Open celebration, I couldn’t help but think that the Capital City has arrived. With the opening of the city’s new $221 million convention center (sorry, I can’t stop dropping that dollar figure) the celebration felt like a debutante ball for Raleigh.
Can you believe that since the beginning of 2006, 53 bars, restaurants and nightclubs have opened in downtown Raleigh? That’s according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, which tracks that sort of thing.
Here are the highlights from Raleigh Wide Open:
*Convention Center Opening.
The public got to see what its tax dollars went toward. Residents and out-of-towners alike wandered around the massive exhibition hall and roamed the other rooms and halls. The International Festival shared the hall with local businesses, providing an eclectic mashup that featured everything from Henna tattoos to free Segway demos.
*Street Festival
Fayetteville Street and several of her arteries were lined with vendors selling everything from deep-fried corn to wooden lawn ornaments. Parents pushed kids in strollers, a small circus train pulled families around and a mime entertained passers-by.
*Live Music
Ok, I admit I barely caught any of the bands, so I can’t offer any solid reviews. But Foreigner’s Lou Gramm seemed a hit with the crowd he drew Saturday night. And Chuck Berry’s almost rained-out performance received a favorable review.
*Parade
I’m a sucker for a cliche parade, and Saturday’s march down Fayetteville Street didn’t disappoint. The parade was incredibly short, featuring all the local news stations, a couple politicians, one band and a few businesses and nonprofits.
*The Beer Tent
I can’t believe the beer tasting wasn’t better advertised. Tucked beside the Wachovia building on Hargett Street was a tent filled with more than a dozen brewers from around the country. Ten dollars bought you a sample glass and a hole-punch card that allowed you eight samples. But most pourers weren’t stamping the cards, so the samples flowed.
Check out more of my pics.
I must complain about one small, petty thing. On Saturday afternoon I tried to go into the Marriott to show my friend the fancy lobby. But we were stopped by two bodyguards who looked like they should be looking out for Brittney Spears and not us Raleigh lovers. They told us only guests were allowed (even though I clearly wasn’t a guest when I toured the hotel a couple weeks ago).
Now I completely understand that they probably didn’t want a bunch of drunk people wandering around their halls, dirtying up their bathrooms and the like. But the city contributed $20 million in taxes to help foster the construction of the hotel. So I think that’s enough of a taxpayer contribution to allow the public inside for a quick tour. I’m only slightly bitter though.
What was your favorite part of Raleigh Wide Open (or any complaints that can be used for improvement next year)?
I love that picture with the confetti. It was a really fun time this weekend. I’m pretty happy with the convention center, although don’t tell my other King’s Barcade fans. The place has still not resurrected itself – what a shame.
Still, the few blocks around the convention center looks great! There are streets that are open that I’ve never seen open since moving here at the end of November in 2006.
And just think, I took this picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbyladybug/451325886/
How many of those 53 bars, restaurants and nightclubs feature live original music, to take the place of Kings, which died in part in order to enable this “arrival”? Or do Raleighites just have to wait for the handful of times that the City puts up some outdoor stages in order to see music downtown?
No disrespect to Slim’s, and props to Tir Na nOg for its Thursday-night shows, but neither of them has the capacity or the ability to put on the shows that Kings used to.
And as a side note, if the mark of Raleigh’s arrival is shows headlined by Lou Gramm and Chuck Berry, then are we to assume that Raleigh has arrived in, um, 1979? 1959?
@Ross I wasn’t here to see the goodness that was apparently King’s. I don’t even know where it was in relation to where the Convention Center now sits. So pardon my lack of history in this important music regard. That said, it seems that if it was such a successful live music venue that another one will pop up in its place to make up for its loss. Not that anything new can take the place of something that apparently has some history. If anything, the new ampitheater the city is building across from the civic center should help Deep South attract some decent acts to Raleigh.
I didn’t get a chance to check out the convention center but RWO was a blast. The only band I saw was Islands. It was a pretty entertaining show! Prachi has some great photos of these characters up on flickr
Nothing can take the place of Kings, but I do have high hopes for the local music scene. As Ginny said, another establishment will pop up to fill this niche. Until then, I suppose we must be satisfied with what we’ve got…