Category / Events

by Leo Suarez

CityCamp Raleigh Will Be on June 3rd-5th, 2011

City Camp SF 2010-10-1626
CityCamp San Francisco via Steve Rhodes, on Flickr

I’m sure there is a quote out there, somewhere that says any idea that isn’t created is worthless. I actually think that complaints without action are also worthless. Well, it is now time to take those complaints and annoyances about our city and create a way to fix it.

As part of a growing group of organizers for CityCamp Raleigh, I wanted to help spread the press release about this event on June 3rd, 4th and 5th, which by the way I am very excited about. There is a huge potential for some great projects to come out of the collaboration between technology enthusiasts and citizens.

Read the press release below and register for the event to join us.

Citizen-led “unconference” brings innovation and cooperation to the capital city June 3, 4, and 5, 2011.

Raleigh, NC, May 11, 2011: CityCamp Raleigh today announced the first city-focused “unconference” in North Carolina that brings together government, business, neighborhood, non-profit, and academic communities working toward next generation solutions for Raleigh. In a world challenged to do more with less, the City of Raleigh is open to ideas from citizens and technology professionals (web developers, programmers, and app developers) on how to streamline procedures, share information and create innovative solutions using the latest technology. According to Mayor Charles Meeker, “our citizens are ready for Raleigh to move forward and be more open sourced focused. The technology is successful. Raleigh is ready to be the worldwide hub for open source.”

The event is free to the public and will kick off Friday, June 3rd at 12.30pm at Vintage 21 downtown Raleigh, S. West Street, and continues Saturday and Sunday, June 4 – 5, 2011. “The City of Raleigh has a long and successful history of citizen participation and engagement,” said City Manager Russell Allen. “The possibility of using technology and software applications as new methods of achieving transparency and interaction is a very exciting opportunity. Strong cities find ways to connect creativity for the benefit of productive outcomes.” Other confirmed speakers at this time include, Michael Tiemann, VP of Open Source Affairs at Red Hat, Inc., as well as president of the Open Source Initiative, and Jimmy Goodmon, VP/GM, Capital Broadcasting New Media Company.

Read the rest of the press release at the CityCamp Raleigh site.

by Leo Suarez

Raleigh Skyline Hyped Up On Versus For All Star Game

If you didn’t know it yet, the Triangle is hosting the NHL All Star game this weekend. Downtown Raleigh is covered with hockey themed images and banners. Prepare for crowds in downtown this weekend as the convention center plays host to a huge hockey themed carnival and some live music in the downtown amphitheater. Yours truly will be volunteering at the event and cannot be more excited.

The sports channel, Versus, is running an ad for their broadcast of the game and a quick snippet shows this little shot of Raleigh, shown above. Thanks goes out to Joe Ovies for the image.

Does this shot even look real? Even if you’ve never been to Raleigh it is obvious this shot was edited for hyping up an event.

I’ve noticed a lot of chatter about how people think that Versus intentionally made the RBC Center seem as if it was in downtown Raleigh and how they are trying to make Raleigh seem bigger then it is. First off, relax.

The commercial that this shot airs in flashes the picture in front of you for maybe two seconds so trying to fit it all in can only be done by the magic of video editing. Its obvious this shot is fake.

The skyline in the picture above is mirrored if you were looking at the South Saunders Street angle so it looks reversed. The RBC tower was also added two additional times, in the top right corner and in the middle. The tallest building in the middle is the BB&T tower from another angle and that light tower down the center is easily one of the City Plaza light towers.

Its obvious Versus didn’t take the time to take a real shot of Raleigh so they stitched some images together and this is the best they can come up with. But there’s no reason to get upset.

Well, maybe the Wachovia tower feels left out a little and can be upset.

I say go with it and get into the hype because this event is big deal for this area.

by Leo Suarez

International Festival of Raleigh Is This Weekend

The International Festival of Raleigh is an annual celebration that offers 3 days of international performances, food, games, art and cultural exhibits at the Raleigh Convention Center. Over 50 different groups from around the world participate to showcase their cuisine, traditional dance and music; to share traditions and to celebrate the Triangle’s unique diversity. Venues include:

  • Main Stage: traditional ethnic dances on, performed by artists in authentic dress
  • Sidewalk Cafes: culinary offerings from around the globe.
  • Cultural Exhibits: exhibits about the rich history and traditions of many different cultures.
  • International Bazaar: shopping for global arts and crafts.
  • Biergarten Stage: bands and musical performances from around the world.
  • Sophia’s Corner: international games, face-painting, bouncy castle and other fun kids’ stuff.
  • Demonstration Booths: interactive demos and classes on international cooking, dance and crafts.

www.InternationalFestival.org

Friday, Oct. 1, 2010: 4:30pm – 10pm
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010: 10am – 10pm
Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010: 11am – 7pm

Raleigh Convention Center: 500 South Salisbury Street; Raleigh, NC 27601

by Leo Suarez

Were You At Hopscotch This Weekend?

Did you hear about the Hopscotch Music Festival that took place in Raleigh this weekend? I was out each night for lots of club shows and overheard a few people that were out of the loop and could not get into places because they were not part of the event. Woops. Although I’m sure that happens everywhere.

Anyway, I want to thank Jake Seaton at the MyNC Music blog for letting me take photos during the event. See the links below for my photos and I’m sure this week, more and more will pop up on the various blogs and your other sources of triangle coverage.

Oh Snap: Hopscotch Night 1 — dtraleigh.com
Oh Snap: Hopscotch Night 2 — dtraleigh.com
Oh Snap: Hopscotch Night 3 — dtraleigh.com

So now that the fantastic event is over, here’s looking forward to it again next year.

by Leo Suarez

Moore Square Redesign Public Workshop Tomorrow

Tomorrow, September 9th, 2010, the city of Raleigh is hosting two workshops on the Moore Square Redesign. This workshop aims at getting your input for the draft master plan that is currently in the works. There are two sessions that you can attend:

  • Afternoon session from 1-4 pm
  • Night session from 7-10 pm

The workshop will be at Cobblestone Hall, which is located on Wolfe Street, or inside the historic City Market building. Registration is not required so show up to get more details on the project, give your feedback, and gawk at the interior of the City Market building.

You can see some of the winning designs from Chris Counts Studio on Flickr but the current design is slightly different then what you see there. If you take a look at the picture above, that is the model of Moore Square that was shown to us at the Public Leadership Group, which I am a part of.

A new feature for Moore Square will be the large lawn around the center of the square. According to their research, the design firm claims that there is a lot of green space in Moore Square already but with so many paths and mulch, the green space is cut up and divided into small sections. One large, grassy lawn would be more flexible and can allow visitors to take part in more activities.

The design also incorporates some small hills and/or smooth rocks on one side of the lawn. In response to comments about making the square more play-friendly for children, Chris Counts decided to go with a natural playground of hills and, what I’ll call, “natural obstacles” rather then a traditional playground of plastic slides and a jungle gym.

These, as well as more ideas for the square, are still up in the air and public comments are needed to help mold the Moore Square master plan. Tomorrow’s workshop should be a good one.

by Leo Suarez

Raleigh Wide Open 5 Picture Recap

Raleigh Wide Open 5 took place this past Saturday, July 31st, and the free event on Fayetteville Street had shows, live music, and vendors open almost all day. Even with questionable weather, downtown Raleigh was swarming with people. Here are some of my own pictures as well as links to more around the web.

Click on any image for a larger view and gallery.


Crowds pack Fayetteville Street for Raleigh Wide Open in downtown Raleigh on July 31st, 2010.


A parade down Fayetteville Street kicks off Raleigh Wide Open 5.


Contestants shove doughnuts in their mouths during the Krispy Kreme Doughnut eating contest.


A stunt BMX biker flies off a ramp and performs a trick in front of a crowd outside the Raleigh Convention Center.


Crowds moved up to the Alexander Square parking deck to get a better view of the mototrials demo on Fayetteville Street.


A skater performs flat land freestyle tricks on a skateboard in front of a crowd at Raleigh Wide Open 5.


Kids play inside inflatable plastic balls in a pool.


Motorcycle rider Geoff Aaron performs stunts around a course on Fayetteville Street.

More Raleigh Wide Open 5 pictures on the web.

by Leo Suarez

Canes Reveal 2011 All-Star Game Logo – Carolina Hurricanes – News

The 5,000 square-foot, 2011 NHL All-Star Game window treatment will be displayed on the West side of the RBC Plaza, facing Fayetteville St. The graphic includes images of perennial NHL All-Stars Eric Staal, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and Patrick Kane, along with the 2011 All-Star Game logo. The window treatment will be applied throughout this week, and completed during Raleigh Wide Open 5, to be held on Fayetteville St. on Saturday.

via Canes Reveal 2011 All-Star Game Logo – Carolina Hurricanes – News.