Category / Events

by Leo Suarez

Citycamp NC 2016 is on September 22-24

Registration for this year’s Citycamp NC is open to the public and once again, I’m helping spread the word about this fantastic unconference. In its sixth year, Citycamp NC continues to get bigger and this time will be in downtown Raleigh at Nash Hall.

CityCamp NC is a three day unconference event focused on innovation and collaboration for municipal governments, community organizations and citizens.The event includes open sourced talks, workshops, and hands-on problem solving to re-imagine the way the web, applications, technology, and participation will shape the future of NC cities.

The final list of speakers is still being finalized but to give you a hint of what to expect, the event will include:

  • Public CIO Panel who will include representatives from Wake County, Raleigh, Greensboro
  • Amy Gaskins, Panopticon Global, formerly of MetLife and NOAA
  • J Erik Garr, Google Fiber

From the inspiring lightning talks during the first night all the way to through the weekend sprints, it’s always been an active and energetic event. Let me know if I can answer any questions that you may have.

2016 Citycamp NC

Date/Time: Thurs., Sept. 22 to Sat. Sept. 24
Nash Hall
108 S Blount Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Register here

by Leo Suarez

Artsplosure Starts on May 20

This year, Artsplosure is taking place May 20-22 in downtown Raleigh. The 37-year-old “art for all” festival will, as always, be free and aims to have something for everyone. Between the Fayetteville Street Art Market and the Moore Square festival area, there will be plenty taking place that weekend.

The stage on Fayetteville Street will feature performances each night including Futurebirds, Zack Mexico, Doyle Bramhall II, and Sonny Landreth. There will be plenty of other performances throughout the day on both stages on Fayetteville Street and Moore Square.

As you wander around the event, be on the look out for the artlets. These pop-up artistic experiences will be seen around each cross street along Fayetteville Street and should get you stopping to watch.

Moore Square will have Art Putt open all weekend. Each hole was creatively designed by local artists and you can experience them by putting through all nine holes.

Does anyone know all of Raleigh’s sister cities? At Artsplosure, you can see art inspired by the cultures from each of those cities. They are:

  • Xiangyang, China
  • Compiegne, France
  • Rostock, Germany
  • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Hull, UK

Kidsplosure will be just as great as always this year. It includes a variety of activities and crafts for children to play and learn from. It all starts on Saturday May 21 with performances by Meredith College’s Suzuki Violin group, One Tribe Drum Circle and lots of other talent from around the Triangle.

For me, there will be the hundreds of stalls showcasing local art and crafts to walk around and look at. There are always the nicest artists from around North Carolina with their crafts. With great May weather, it’s a great time to be in downtown Raleigh and “window” shop.

For all the details, check out the event at raleighartsfestival.com

Artsplosure 2016

Fayetteville St. Art Market and City Plaza Stage:

  • Friday, May 20: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 21: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Sunday: May 22: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Moore Square and Park Stage:

  • Saturday, May 21: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Sunday: May 22: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

by Leo Suarez

Brewgaloo and Time Warp Take Over Downtown Raleigh This Saturday

Time Warp 2016

As an effort to go back to my roots and promote more quality events in downtown Raleigh, I wanted to make sure readers were aware of two big ones this weekend.

First, the City of Raleigh Museum’s annual event, Time Warp, is taking place this Saturday night. Yours truly will be there working the event a bit and if you have not yet bought a ticket, you can now take a look at the final plans and auction items.

The museum will be taken over by supporters enjoying live music as well as food and drink from local businesses. The past events have really been a good time so I hope you will consider it. As a member of this year’s board, we’re hoping to meet our fundraising goal to support the opening of new exhibits.

Next, an event that’s glazed in local is Shop Local Raleigh’s Brewgaloo, the beer festival that is taking over Fayetteville Street this Friday and Saturday. It’s become the largest North Carolina Beer festival and is the perfect opportunity to try all things NC craft beer.

Brewgaloo

Lots of Raleigh cred is gained from going to both events. Cheers!

by Leo Suarez

Glenwood Faire Starts on Sunday, April 17

The Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative is inviting everyone to their first of an ongoing event called Glenwood Faire. The neighborhood event combines food from Glenwood South restaurants as well as volunteer and activity groups all around a fantastic social setting.

The event takes place at Babylon and tickets get you food from 10 restaurants. Buying your ticket in advance is the best option as it is only $10, while door tickets cost $15.

Glenwood Faire

Date/Time: Sun., April 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
309 North Dawson Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
919.838.8595
Buy Tickets Here

More than simply a “taste of” event, Glenwood Faire aims to create collisions between people in order to build stronger ties in and around the neighborhood. The GSNC has a proven track record of doing such things around creative projects so extending it to food is a great project.

These regular opportunities to join each other at quarterly parties are sure to promote the kind of relationships that make this neighborhood a unique model for downtown life.

Read more about the event on the Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates.

by Leo Suarez

Time Warp 2016 Rolls Back to the 1950s at the COR Museum

Time Warp 2016

The City of Raleigh (COR) Museum’s biggest party of the year, Time Warp, is coming up and I want to invite all readers to save the date for April 23. This past year, I have joined the Friends of the COR Museum and am helping with raising awareness of the museum and working towards enhancing the membership experience.

I’m having a great time working with passionate folks on the board and I think the best way you can support our city’s museum is to come to Time Warp. There will be food, drinks, music, and an auction, all around a 1950s theme.

You can find out more information as the event team releases it at this page: Time Warp 2016.

Let me know if you’re coming. The toughest decision for Time Warp? Letterman or leather jacket, fellas?

2016 Time Warp

Date/Time: Sat., April 23 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
COR Museum
220 Fayetteville Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

by Leo Suarez

First Night Raleigh 2016 Celebrates North Carolina Firsts

title

First Night Raleigh

The Raleigh Connoisseur is a media sponsor for First Night Raleigh 2016

This year’s First Night Raleigh is set up to be a good one. The theme is “Celebrating North Carolina Firsts” which will include popular and lesser known facts about our state.

Organized by Artsplosure all throughout the year, the event will have something for everyone. Typically drawing over 40,000 people, with a record of 80,000 in 2012, First Night is built on a foundation of Celebration, Community, the New Year, and the Arts.

Everything starts at 2pm at the N.C. Museum of History, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and on the Bicentennial Plaza with the Children’s Celebration. Things really get going with the main stage performances at 5pm and tons of other activities all over downtown Raleigh up until the countdown to midnight.

As always, you can’t miss out on seeing the giant acorn get dropped. It’s kind of our city’s thing, along with a spectacular fireworks display. There will be a drop at both 7pm, to accommodate families with young children, and then the finale at midnight.

What isn’t different about First Night Raleigh year-to-year is that we always make sure that everything that we do is something that our whole community can have access to and enjoy. That’s our mission each year and our ultimate goal is that this event is as inclusive of all members of our community as possible.

Raleigh’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration will bring back some favorites as well as mix in some new experiences. The 90-foot Ferris wheel is always a big draw as well as ballroom dancing in the Sir Walter Ballroom and the People’s Procession. If you want more of a thrill, The Sizzler may be more your speed.

I’m looking forward to Art Putt, a nine-hole miniature golf course created by local artists in the City Market Building. Appropriate as North Carolina is the home to the first putt-putt course. Each course will also highlight another North Carolina first including our #1 in the world salamander diversity and the state’s first gold rush.

Performances during the evening portion of the night include:

  • Scythian at City Plaza
  • TOW3RS and See Gulls at Vintage Church
  • Josh Dumbleton at Edenton Street United Methodist Church
  • John Dee Holeman at CAM

Click here to see the entire list of performances planned for First Night 2016.

If you have a smartphone, you can get the free First Night Raleigh app for iOS and Android. It’s a great way to plan your night, showing you a list of events and an interactive map that you can add to an itinerary so you won’t miss anything.

Tickets are $10 in advance and you can purchase them now. VIP passes are also available.

When planning your trip into downtown Raleigh, make sure to consider the free park-and-ride locations. One at the NCSU Park and Ride Lot and another at the Wake County Government Office Park, GoRaleigh will be running buses back and forth between 6pm and 1am during First Night. Parking in downtown Raleigh will cost $5 in most parking decks, hourly rates in others.

First Night Raleigh 2016

Date/Time: Thurs., Dec. 31 from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Downtown Raleigh
www.FirstNightRaleigh.com

by Leo Suarez

Winterfest Celebration on Saturday, December 5

Winterfest 1

Planning is fun but so is getting out in our downtown. This year’s Winterfest will be on Saturday December 5 and it will include a whole list of activities.

There will of course be the ice rink, Raleigh’s only natural ice rink which runs up through the end of January. The December event will include a tree lighting, live music by Raleigh’s own American Aquarium, food trucks, and more.

The center of it all takes place in City Plaza. Thank you to the City of Raleigh and Downtown Raleigh Alliance for putting it all together.

2015 Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest

Date/Time: Sat., Dec. 5 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
City Plaza and 300-400 Block of Fayetteville Street
Event website

by Leo Suarez

CityCamp NC is June 11-13

CityCamp presentations during the 2014 event.

CityCamp presentations during the 2014 event.

An event that I’m passionate about, CityCamp NC, is coming up soon and I want to encourage readers to consider attending. The annual unconference focuses on conversations around how government, businesses, and citizens can use technology to create solutions. Come listen to talks and even participate in a team that could walk away with a cash prize.

At different parts of the event, you can hear talks about what is going on around us such as government/citizen collaboration, how open data can help teams find solutions, or what problems civic hackers are working on. During the kickoff on Thursday, June 11, we’re taking over HQ Raleigh for networking, lightning talks, and inspiration.

On Friday and Saturday, we’re moving over to the Wake County Commons where we’ll be hearing ideas from participants, start the conversations around those ideas, and teams will start forming. Working demos and pitches on these ideas will be done by the end of the event and judges will help determine the winners.

This is what I love about the event. Inspiration leads to ideas leads to action in such a short amount of time.

For more information check out the official press release and make sure to register soon.

Let me know if anyone has any questions about it as I am a core volunteer for the event this year.