Category / Events

by Leo Suarez

CityCamp Raleigh Sets Up For Year 2 This Weekend, $5000 Prize

Last year, CityCamp Raleigh raised the bar on the city’s adoption of open-sourced solutions and helped bring citizens to the problem solving table. This weekend, the gang behind the event are hosting it again with the same $5000 prize for the best idea and solution.

Within a year, CityCamp has been at the root of a few accomplishments in the city as the website states:

Here are some of the ways the first CityCamp Raleigh was an inspiration or catalyst in helping to advance open government and create next-generation solutions locally:

  • The Raleigh City Council unanimously approved a resolution stating its intent to foster “open” government by encouraging the use of open-source systems and open access to data.
  • City Councilors agreed to provide $50,000 annually to fund an open data catalog. Raleigh city data will be digitally published and made ready for use by city residents, software developers or news outlets.
  • City of Raleigh website visitors can now sign up for a free service called MyRaleigh Subscriptions that delivers email and text alerts about topics such as street closings, public meetings, city projects, and events.
  • Help spur the TriangleWiki project – a free, openly-editable, community-owned website that gathers first-hand information on local history, events, greenways, parks and everything interesting related to the Triangle region.

CityCamp now sets up Raleigh for even more throughout the next year and everyone is invited to the free event this weekend.

Register for all or just parts of the CityCamp weekend.

Friday, June 1
Where: Vintage 21 (117 S. West Street)
Time: Doors at 12pm, Panel discussion and lightning talk at 1pm.

Saturday/Sunday June 2 and 3
Where: AIA NC (14 E. Peace Street)
Time: Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-3 with group presentations to follow.

See and hear more about CityCamp.

by Leo Suarez

The Raleigh Forum Hosts Cocktail Shindig, Shows Off Coworking Goods

The Raleigh Forum in Downtown Raleigh
Photo credit: Tyler Helikson

Coworking is a concept that I’ve mentioned before on the blog and downtown Raleigh’s coworking space, The Raleigh Forum, brings it right onto Wilmington Street. With Red Hat moving its world headquarters to Davie Street, coworking is important for the small startup community and open source environment that the grand fedora feeds off of.

From my inbox to your screen, here’s an upcoming event that will allow you to see the coworking setup and mingle with the community.

A Night in Raleighwood

The Raleigh Forum and iContact to host an Academy Award-themed party

WHAT: The Raleigh Forum- a downtown coworking space- and iContact- will host an Oscars-themed cocktail attire party on January 26. Attendees are invited to walk the red carpet, pose in front of the step-and-repeat, vote for the winner of awards categories, and bump elbows with locals during this music-infused awards party.

Beer and wine will be provided at the open bar by The Wine Feed. Appetizers are provided by Gravy, courtesy of Empire Eats. Local singer-songwriter Erik Smallwood will be playing acoustic music throughout the event. 50% of entrance fee proceeds will be donated to Change the Triangle, the Triangle’s young professional volunteer organization.

WHO: The event is open to the public but you must have a ticket to enter. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased theraleighforum.eventbrite.com.

WHERE: 133 1/2 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601

WHEN: Thursday, January 26 from 7:30-10:30pm

WHY: This party will showcase The Raleigh Forum’s temporary office space, as well as honor loyal supporters of The Raleigh Forum and advocates for the Raleigh community.

CONTACT: Cristina Roman
PHONE NUMBER: 919-452-6381
EMAIL: cristina@theraleighforum.com
WEBSITE: theraleighforum.com

by Leo Suarez

NCSU Landscape Architects Show Off Vision For Capital Blvd on First Friday

First Friday is filled with tons of great events and things to see. Since we’ve been following the Capital Boulevard corridor study, there’s one event I wanted to highlight. Landscape architecture students from NC State will be showing off some of their designs for the Capital Blvd corridor at the Urban Design Center tomorrow starting at 6pm.

Currently, the corridor study is pretty wide open so new ideas are welcome. I’m hoping to see designs for the corridor that balances the people aspects, sidewalks, parks, with the need for transit, mainly cars, which is what currently dominates there.

Urban Design Center
133 Fayetteville Street
6pm

by Leo Suarez

Public Screening of Urbanized, November 7 at The Rialto

Here’s an event that any fans of urban design and cities should enjoy. Director Gary Hustwit brings the documentary Urbanized here to Raleigh for a special screening. Hustwit is behind the documentaries Helvetica and Objectified and wraps up his design trilogy with Urbanized.

The screening will be at the Rialto on Monday, November 7 starting at 7:00 pm. You can view the trailer above and buy tickets here.

Some more information for you:

The film tackles issues of urban development around the world and asks who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it? How does the design of our cities affect our lives? Traveling to over 40 cities and exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, from massive infrastructure initiatives to temporary interventions, URBANIZED frames a global discussion on the future of cities.

The film features some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, and thinkers, including Sir Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas, Jan Gehl, Oscar Niemeyer, Amanda Burden, Enrique Peñalosa, Alejandro Aravena, Eduardo Paes, Ricky Burdett, Michael Sorkin, Bruce Katz, Candy Chang, and many more, including extraordinary citizens who have affected change in their cities.

by Leo Suarez

Capital Boulevard Corridor Study Open House On September 29, 2011

From my e-mail directly to you, take note of this upcoming meeting on the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study.

Where: Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in the Meymandi Concert Hall and Lobby
When: September 29, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Related link:
Capital Blvd Corridor Study via RaleighNC.gov

Raleigh residents are encouraged to attend the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study open house and public comment opportunity on September 29 at Meymandi Concert Hall. The open house is a chance for residents to hear plans and options for one of Raleigh’s main thoroughfares.

The corridor study will look at options regarding the roadway, transit and high speed rail, bicycle and pedestrian needs, greenways, stream restoration, and economic development along Capital Boulevard. Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation will be on hand to discuss the replacements of the Peace Street and Wade Avenue bridges. Residents are invited to make comments and ask questions about the corridor plan.

The meeting will be an open house format held in collaboration with NCDOT. Displays will include:

  • The City: vision options for the corridor including roadways; transit and high-speed rail; bicycle/pedestrian; greenway and stream restoration; and economic development
  • NCDOT: bridge replacement plans at Peace Street and Wade Avenue for public comment
  • Triangle Transit: rail alternatives under recent discussion
  • Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) plans under development
by Leo Suarez

Get Fed, Talk Infrastructure at the Raleigh Public Record Fundraiser Tuesday June 28th

I recently read, “On The Grid” by Scott Huler, a local Raleigh Author who wanted to investigate the infrastructure that powered his home, ran it water and connected it to all the roads around the city. Any RalCon readers who may be infrastructure geeks will enjoy this book as Huler traces the infrastructure in Raleigh from source to destination. About a month ago, Huler was on WUNC’s The State of Things so give it a listen if you are at all interested.

[Update: WUNC has taken down the link to the episode]

On Tuesday June 28th, Huler will be speaking at the Raleigh Public Record’s fundraiser about the topic, “Infrastructure: You Get What You Pay For”. Come out for what should be a very interesting discussion about the wires, pipes and roads that connect our society.

Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Location: Dos TaQuitos Centro
106 S. Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC

Facebook Event: A Fundraiser for Raleigh Public Record

Support Local Journalism

Enjoy Dinner as Piedmont Laureate & Author Scott Huler discusses:

“Infrastructure: You Get What You Pay For”

Our systems of infrastructure are not only shrouded in mystery, many are woefully out of date. In his latest book, On the Grid, Scott Huler takes the time to understand the systems that sustain our way of life, starting from his own quarter of an acre in North Carolina and traveling as far as Ancient Rome.

Join Huler as he discusses what happens when we neglect infrastructure, drawing parallels to the role free online news is playing in journalism.

CASH BAR
$20 PER PERSON
Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres

By the way, I’ll be there so if you are a regular reader, make sure and say hi!

by Leo Suarez

Your Comments Needed on CAT Buses

No, the Hurricanes aren’t in the Stanley Cup. But when they do go back, if you would like to see more CAT buses decked out in red and white, you need to comment on the Short Range Transit Plan being carried out by the City of Raleigh and a few other organizations. Comments about your current use and how you feel about investing in more buses would be helpful too. You can find a survey on the city’s website here. From the site:

Project Scope
The purpose of the plan is to identify ways to increase mobility in the Capital Area. The plan will be based on input Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the City of Raleigh, the Town of Cary, Wake County, the North Carolina State Wolfline and other Wake County municipalities, agencies, businesses, community leaders, residents and other interested parties. The Bus Transit Development Plan will look at the transit needs for all of Wake County and will be designed to integrate with regional transit routes.

I feel bad talking about this a bit late as two of the four public meetings have already occurred but here are the dates for two more meetings to discuss this plan.

Tuesday, June 7 5-7 PM
Triangle Town Center 2nd Floor, near Belk
5959 Triangle Town Blvd
CAT routes:
1 – Capital
25c – Triangle Town Center
WFX

Thursday, June 9 5-7 PM
NCSU McKimmon Center – Room 3
1101 Gorman St
CAT Routes:
12 – Method

by Leo Suarez

CityCamp Raleigh Announces $5000 Prize For Best Idea of The Weekend

Have you registered yet for CityCamp Raleigh? It’s already been mentioned once on the blog so take another look now that the free event happening this weekend may point some cash your way.

The organizers have announced a $5000 prize to the team or individual with the best idea at the event.

CityCamp Raleigh announces a $5000 prize to be awarded to the top group or individual with a technology solution. The prize will be awarded on creativity, execution, and feasibility. Details will be provided at the event.

Technology and government may not seem like a great team but when the two are combined, great solutions to everyday problems can be created. That is what this event is about. There is a growing list of ideas out there already. Dive in and take a look to get the creative juices flowing.

As a reminder, the agenda for the weekend is as follows.

Friday, June 3, 2011 12:00 – 5pm
Vintage 21, 117 S. West Street, Downtown Raleigh

Friday, June 3, 2011 5.30 – 8pm **GovUp MeetUp Event**
Flying Saucer, 328 West Morgan Street, Downtown Raleigh

Saturday, June 4, 2011 9am – 5pm
Vintage 21, 117 S. West Street, Downtown Raleigh

Sunday, June 5, 2011 10am – 4pm
The Stockroom, 230 Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh