About
I’m Leo Suarez and I’m passionate about downtown Raleigh. The purpose of this blog is to promote interest and start conversations about Raleigh’s urban center.
In the last decade, downtown Raleigh has woken up from a sleepy employment center to a neighborhood with attitude. The Monday to Friday working crowd are not the only ones walking the streets anymore. The area was a ghost town when five o’ clock hit and there was little interest by the city to encourage people to visit at night or on weekends. Only a few established businesses were keeping downtown breathing. Today, the story is different and the downtown pulse rate is rising. Glenwood South and Fayetteville Street are the centers of downtown’s activity. More people are moving here and more businesses are catering to visitors and residents.
As a growing city, Raleigh and her downtown are facing challenges. Transit, urban planning, and land use are new problems that we will face as the city grows. Downtown’s role will be pivotal in helping to balance out the unsustainable sprawl development patterns that dominated the 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s. The trends these days point to walkable neighborhoods and only downtown has this now in Raleigh.
Along with discussion topics, I’ll highlight major events, new business openings, and big announcements that are downtown Raleigh related. The blog is also a way for me to practice my amateur hobby of photography and some photos will be showcased.
The blog is always changing. I have lots of ideas for what I want on this website and just like downtown, it is a work in progress. Please e-mail me with questions and feedback on absolutely anything. “RalCon” is my main project but you can get more content from me through my other social media channels listed below. Click on all the links and support all the local Raleigh websites.
Subscribe to The Raleigh Connoisseur through email.
Other ongoing projects outside of the blog include..
Follow me on Twitter as well as one list that I curate; DT Raleigh Eats. This is a great way to get restaurant suggestions besides the long list on the website sidebar and find some specials for the day or upcoming events.
Photography
I like to call myself an amateur photographer and the bulk of my work is on Flickr. You can see my work, as well as lots of Raleigh photos at my Raleigh set on Flickr.
LeoSuarez.com
For even more Raleigh musings and general snark, follow my personal blog, the_side_project. The blog posts are short and straight to the point with videos, ideas, anything.
