Capitol Broadcasting CEO jokes that Raleigh is “stupid” for not accepting downtown light art

A thin, blue light will regularly be jutting into the downtown Durham skyline. The light sculpture by renowned Spanish artist Jaume Plensa is the newest piece of public art in the Triangle, making its home outside the Durham Performing Arts Center. It was unveiled Monday during the ribbon cutting for the new theatre.

The beam of light is not without its critics, including astronomers and other pro-environment types who see it as light pollution. Capitol Broadcasting Co. (which seems to own everything in Durham’s tobacco district) agreed to pay for the sculpture if the city of Durham agreed to maintain it for 25 years. The News & Observer reported that the annual utility bill for the light will cost an estimated $3,350, along with an additional $4,415 being spent on annual maintenance.

Those of you who pay attention to the local art/development scene may remember that this isn’t Capitol Broadcasting’s first attempt to bring a lighted Plensa piece to the Triangle. The Independent’s David Fellerath explained the failure of that effort in this article:

In 2006, Raleigh City Manager Russell Allen, after civic debate and feasibility studies, recommended the city reject an ambitious Plensa project that would have brought a dizzying matrix of overhead water and lights to the re-opened Fayetteville Street. The rejection came in spite of $2.5 million proffered by Goodmon that would have covered a quarter of the initial cost.

So now that you have context for the Raleigh v. Durham Plensa debate, watch this video from the Plensa unveiling.

If you’ve had a chance to see the new blue light beam in downtown Durham, tell me what you think about it.

The view of the downtown Durham skyline is changing

I was cruising down the Durham Freeway this morning when I spotted some sort of green mural on the side of the new parking deck that adjoins the Durham Performing Arts Center. At first I thought the Chapel Hill mural bug must have bit the Bull City, but I as I got closer, I saw that they were mesh panels hanging from the top of the deck.

I was so glad to see these panels camoflaging the concrete deck.

In July, I wrote a spokeswoman for the city of Durham and asked whether there were plans to conceal some of the concrete. Here’s what the parking deck looked like then:

She responded saying the banners were forthcoming. Eventually, there will be a building adjacent to this parking deck, which will block the deck’s view from the road. In the meantime, I applaud the city for taking steps to spruce up a generic parking deck. I hope the folks building the parking deck for the new Hue development in downtown Raleigh take a similar approach.

Don’t forget, tonight is the official ribbon-cutting for the Durham Performing Arts Center. The public event starts at 5:30 and includes the lighting of the light sculpture “Sleep No More,” by artist Jaume Plensa.

I’ll (probably) never be a vegetarian

I’ve thought about becoming a vegetarian, but the idea wafts away whenever the I encounter vinegary, spicy buffalo wings (the kind that make your eyes water when they’re delivered to your table).

I lived with a vegetarian for a little over a year. He boycotted meat for moral reasons (he’s the guy on the left with the salad). When we moved into our house, my meat-free roomie plastered my leather boots and some meat I placed in the fridge with stickers saying something about saving a cow. I respected his vegetarianism (I like how that sounds like a disease). When we fired up the grill, I didn’t flip his veggie burgers with the same spatula I used for my beefy burger. I also always tried to suggest restaurants that offered meatless options beyond the standard salad and cheese sticks.

I doubt I could ever eliminate meat from my life because of buffalo chicken and pork BBQ. Even after reading the graphic description of how pigs appear on my plate in this N&O series, I still can’t help but crave pulled pork ALL THE TIME.

But I do not have any major issues with your personal choice to be a vegetarian. So if you’re planning to chow down on tofurkey instead of turkey Thursday, I’m not going to judge. In fact, I want to help maximize your sans turkey celebration.

Turns out the country’s largest vegetarian Thanksgiving Day feast is right here in the Triangle. The meat-free meal is hosted by the Triangle Vegetarian Society and sounds pretty tantalizing, even to this meateater. The gourmet menu includes oyster mushroom croquettes, roasted garlic olive oil mashed potatoes with chives, mushroom gravy, apple-pecan stuffing, and fresh raspberry-cranberry relish.

The only catch is the meal is so popular it’s already sold out. But you may still be able to snag a plate. The society is taking names and will contact fellow vegetarians if anyone cancels their reservation.

Whether you’re a meat eater or not, I hope your Thanksgiving is truly special. I know the holiday is a favorite for many because it’s a chance for family and friends to come together and unite around food. You don’t have to buy presents, flowers or cards. Just eat and be happy. Now that’s something I can appreciate.

Blow bubbles or march to protest Prop 8 in downtown Raleigh this weekend

Whether you’re in the mood for whimsy or revolt, there are a two different but interesting events happening in downtown Raleigh this weekend that you might want to check out.

If you want to have plain, good ol’ fashioned fun, then you should head to the Bubble Blast that I’m organizing with Brandy. We’re going to stand in front of the Brewery on Hillsborough Street and blow bubbles at passers-by. It’s that simple, and you can help. Meet us out there at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, grab a bottle of bubbles and start blowing. You can RSVP here (if you’re on facebook). Bonus points for anyone who brings big bubble wands, bubble guns or other bubble blowing accessories.

I love blowing bubbles. I bought some for my birthday party this spring, but no one blew any with me. Not to be let down, I tossed them in my bag and carried them around with me, periodically spreading bubble love to strangers.

Turns out Brandy loves blowing bubbles too. She suggested we get a bunch of peeps together so we could shower bubbles on the city. I thought it was a great idea. So, if you are reading my blog and you can make it to Raleigh at 4 p.m. Friday, bring your lungs and be prepared to blow (yeah, I said that). The Bubble Blast is not sponsored by anyone. It’s just me and Brandy trying to have some fun on a Friday afternoon.

OK. Time to put your serious face on.

Local organizers have announced plans for a downtown rally to join the national protest against Proposition 8.

The protest starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh, the spot where president-elect wooed thousands of supporters just before the election. Speakers include former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal; Jimmy Creech, the former pastor who lost his post in a church after performingd a civil union, and “One Tree Hill” star Sophia Bush.

The facebook invite has more than 500 RSVPs already. Check it out for more information.

I know the differences in these events are stark, but I want to make sure you have plenty to do this weekend. Let me know if there are other Triangle events we should be checking out this weekend.

Duke women’s rugby team wrestles in chocolate pudding

I was having a beer at the James Joyce in Durham a couple weeks ago and I noticed a stream of Dukies filing into the bar, yet the bar wasn’t getting more crowded. I didn’t realize there was a patio out back, where the Dukies were lining up to see the Duke women’s rugby team wrestle inside a baby pool filled with chocolate pudding. It was a chilly night and these young, strong women were in T-shirts and shorts, coated in chocolatey mess.

I have never participated in any type of wrestling match, but if I did I would definitely prefer chocolate pudding to jello. What would you be willing to wrestle in?

Watch local election coverage online at 7 p.m. Tuesday

In the true spirit of MyNC.com, we’re trying something new on Election Night. I’ll be co-hosting an online video show with Page Crawford that will feature interviews with reporters who are stationed throughout the Triangle, witty banter, your election day photos, videos and even some comic relief from local improv comedians.

The show runs from 7 to 11 p.m. on MyNC.com keyword election. I hope you’ll tune in, log into the chat room, and check out our first efforts to cover Election Night in a new way.

Five reasons why you must go to the N.C. State Fair

I’m a sucker for a fair. The farm animals remind me of my days growing up in rural southern Illinois, where I literally rode pigs with my friends and jumped off hay bales for fun. The people watching alone is worth the $7 admission price.

But this week, I’ve heard quite a few people say the N.C. State Fair isn’t worth the trip. I COMPLETLY diagree. It’s an incredible value (as long as you don’t ride the rides). Once you’re inside the gates, you can roam among hundreds of exhibits.

In one evening I saw: How a horseshoe is made, fun student art, a several-hundred pound pumpkin, chicks (baby chickens, not my girlfriends) under a heat lamp, a robot, tons of McCain/Palin stickers (I knew they had to be somewhere), a man cluck at a turkey to make it gobble back at him, composting worms, mock dream gardens and oh so much more.

Here are five reasons why you should go to the N.C State Fair:

1. Farm Animals

How often do you get to see goats play King of the Mountain or watch piglets suckle on their mom’s teat? Head over to the Jim Graham and Kelly Building to see this and more (for free).

2. The Food

OK, it’s not super cheap to eat at the fair, but it’s worth it for the novelty. I tried a deep-fried Twinkie, chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick, a bucket o’ cheese fries and some pizza. So tasty. There’s also deep fried pecan pie and deep fried mac and cheese. Check out my review of both here.

3. Games

Be careful which games you pick, because some are just aren’t winnable unless you have crazy-weird skills. But there are games that allow everyone to be a winner. I won a glass pane with a white horse in a field of yellow flowers etched on it by throwing a few darts at some balloons.

4. The Rides

OK, I didn’t actually ride any rides. And I know that some people worry that they’re not safe because they’re assembled so quickly. But life is about taking risks. And if the Zipper is a little too risky for you, then you can always stick with the classics like the super slide. If there’s a child in your life, it’s imperative for their development that you expose them to carnival rides.

5. People watching

This is by far the best reason to go to the fair. Just buy some cotton candy, plop yourself down on a bench and watch the passers by. You’ll see children beaming with pride as their parents tote around the biggest stuffed animal they’ll ever own. And there’s nothing like watching a city kid see farm animals for the first time. Even the travelling fair workers are interesting to watch. You can ponder what their transient lives must be like when the lights are shut off for the night.

And finally, if you’re completely broke, then Thursday, Oct. 24 is definitely the day to go. Thursday is Hunger Relief Day at the fair. Four cans of food waives your admission, with all the food going to Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

For more on what there is to do at the fair, check out Brandy’s blog. The Raleigh blogger has been documenting it in photo and video.

What’s your favorite part about the fair?

There’s nothing like some free James Taylor for lunch

I think there’s a law that says if you live in North Carolina, you must be a James Taylor fan. So the folks pulling the strings behind the Barack Obama campaign were pretty smart to snag the Carolina Crooner for five free concerts throughout the Tar Heel state given how much of a battleground state it has become.

He performed for free Tuesday in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square during a lunchtime political rally. It may have been the first time a concert in Moore Square featured political paraphernalia instead of Bud Light.

Here’s a video I made for 30THREADS that includes some of Taylor’s Obama freestyling. I was able to record a few of his songs from the media risers as well. I posted those on 30THREADS.

And, for the record, if John McCain’s campaign organizes any free concerts in downtown Raleigh, you better believe I will totally be there with my camera in hand.

If you were at the concert and posted any pictures or video online, feel free to share links to in in the comments section.

My lunchtime adventure in downtown Raleigh

Oh how I wish I worked in downtown Raleigh. Weekdays (and first Fridays) are the only time you can consistently count on seeing people out and about downtown. It makes for fun people watching.

I was catching up on my blog reading this morning and (in true North Carolina blogger style) someone had posted a picture of some BBQ. This of course made me hungry, so I send a direct message on Twitter to one of my friends to see if he would be down with meeting me at Cooper’s for some cheap, mouth-watering, vinegar-soaked BBQ. He agreed and two hours later, I was steering down Fayetteville Street looking for a parking spot.

As we walked down Fayetteville Street, we spotted a guy holding a sign outside the courthouse saying: “Reality: Heaven or Hell It’s your choice.” I took a picture of it and promptly e-mailed it to the Raleigh Connoisseur with no explanation. I’m all about freedom of speech and the right to assembly, so rock on guy with the strange sign.

Then I needed to swing by the Bank of America ATM in City Plaza because Cooper’s is a cash only type of place.

As we approached the square, we saw herds of local media and lots of white men in suits. This can only mean one thing: It’s time for either another ground breaking or ribbon cutting. Turns out it was the ground breaking for the city’s $14.8 million project to transform the empty City Plaza into a more friendly venue for concerts, parades and markets.

Here’s more on the project from the N&O.

City Manager Russell Allen said all but $1 million of the project has been funded. He said the project is not in danger of being delayed by the wider financial crisis.Construction is expected to be completed by next October.

When it opens to the public, the plaza will include 45-foot-tall light towers, a motion-sensitive water fountain and four retail pavilions. Power lines, phone lines and water pipes will run under the plaza floor so merchants can set up shop temporarily.

Then it was time for the BBQ. I ordered the BBQ plate, which included the sweetest hush puppies a gal could ever want. I also had the Brunswick Stew (which I burned my tongue on, my bad) and potato salad. Total price with tax? Six dollars. Yes, $6.

So much more fun than eating lunch in north Raleigh.

Triangle bloggers know how to enjoy a bash

I’m still buzzing from last night’s 30THREADS blogger bash and it has nothing to do with the beer that was flowing.

I’m finding that when Triangle bloggers and Tweeple get together, there’s a certain energy that envelops the room. Faces light up with recognition when bloggers or Tweeple are recognized from their avatars. Bloggers connect with their readers, stories and ideas are exchanged, occasionally interrupted by a handshake or a hug from someone who feels like they already know you.

I connected with some bloggers I already knew, but I also met some whose words and photos I’ve been admiring for months. A brief recap, with apologies for the many moments I can’t squeeze in.

* Met Jeni, the Durham blogger behind I found happy. Turns out we both used to work at The Herald-Sun, so we briefly shared our war stories.

* Noshed on some tasty wings with @RobertFischer, a Durham blogger who reminded me of some funny advice I offered during one of our live Threadcasts. Apparently, I had declared my love for buffalo chicken wings, but warned that if you want to impress someone during a lunch meeting it’s better to order the buffalo chicken salad because it’s easier to eat. Haha. That so sounds like something I would say. (Robert is the one talking in the photo on the left).

* Reminicsed with Lenore about the days when Broad Street Cafe (the venue for our bash) was the funky Ooh La Latte.

* Met some of the anonymous folks behind one of the best Durham food blogs, Carpe Durham.

* Finally had a chance to congratulate Kevin Davis in real life on the recent redesign of his popular Bull City Rising blog. Also caught up with Valerie and found out some of her exciting future plans for We Love Durham.

* Immediately recognized Leandra and Eric, a Durham wine-loving couple I feel like I already know because of their well-written blog.

* Shook hands with a recently-blogged about High School Musical Build-a-Bear and met Jeff Cohen’s two precocious children. Check out this photo that Grace took with her dad’s Nikon D40X.

Other people I met/reconnected with included:

* Paul from That’s No Bull.

* Kate, Jill and Jake, who are among the folks building Raleigh Public Relations.

* Ellen from CoookingEatingDurham.

* Local comedian Larry Weaver.

* Barry Ragin from Dependable Erection (probably not what you think, get your mind out of the gutter).

* Rachel Nabors, a local cartoonist, web designer and overall stylish chick.

And many more.

It was a fabulous evening, filled with new connections and lots of smiles. I think Anora McGaha summed it up well when she wrote this on my facebook wall today:

The bash was amazing. The buzz in the Broad Street Cafe side area was intense, could have lit up half a city.

Thanks to everyone who came out. Hopefully we’ll have another chance to reconnect soon. If you were there and I didn’t list your blog above, please give yourself a shout out in the comments section.

The Triangle is definitely an outstanding hub for social media.