Media requests can be directed to:
Martin Armes, (919) 645-2654 or marmes@visitraleigh.com
Ryan Smith, (919) 645-2676 or rsmith@visitraleigh.com
WHAT'S NEW IN RALEIGH
Winter 2007
RALEIGH, N.C. (January 2007) --"What's New in Raleigh" is a quarterly release listing new venues, activities, exhibits and much more compiled by the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau. More information on all of the listings found in "What's New Winter 2007" can be found at www.VisitRaleigh.com
OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Greater Raleigh's first luxury hotel, The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, officially opens on January 15, 2007. Residing on 12 acres and nestled against a beautiful 3-acre lake, The Umstead Hotel & Spa, with its impressive art collection, innovative 14,000-square-foot full-service spa facility, and culinary experiences, is shooting for five stars, the highest rating from Mobil Travel Guide. The six-story luxury hotel will feature 150 oversized lavish guestrooms including 27 suites, 16,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space, sculpture garden, first class restaurant, concierge service and 24-hour room service. Its signature restaurant, Herons, is named for the native bird which graces the wetlands behind the hotel and will dish up stylish contemporary Southern cuisine. www.theumstead.com
Art Museum Expansion
The N.C. Museum of Art recently broke ground on a massive new 127,000 facility that will house permanent collections of art and is scheduled to open in Spring 2009. The $138 million new facility will be located adjacent to the wooded art park area of the 164-acre art museum complex and will be designed to blend in with the surrounding natural areas. According to the N.C. Museum of Art, the new facilities will house some well-known wor ks of art that will be on display permanently including sculptures by Auguste Rodin. The new facility will include 65,000 square feet of exhibit space, a central gallery of around 11,500 square feet, amenities such as a gallery shop and cafe with 9,242 square feet of space, and an entry courtyard with 5,650 square feet of space. www.ncartmuseum.org
Opera Company of North Carolina
The Opera Company of North Carolina has moved its store to the pedestrian friendly Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. The new home will introduce the opera to pedestrians, who can watch rehearsals or street performances, and buy tickets to performances at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, which is a few bloc ks to the south. The company also plans to perform at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel next door.
The Opera Company of North Carolina has also expanded its calendar of events with performances for the state government, at shopping centers and even college soccer games all with the goal of allowing people to see the opera without having to pay for a night on the town. www.ncopera.com
WINTER EXPERIENCES AND OFFERS
Monet in Normandy French Experience
Currently, Raleigh is one of only three U.S. cities to host the blockbuster Monet in Normandy. Featuring 50 paintings from around the world, the North Carolina Museum of Art offers for an once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Raleigh is celebrating with a French getaway experience to match.
Taste the culture that inspired Monet with special dinners, wine tastings, cooking classes and other French experiences all over the city – and see Raleigh in a whole new light. Buy tickets, find special hotel offers and plan your French getaway now at www.VisitRaleigh.com/monet.
New Weekend Experiences
Who will you be this weekend? No matter who you choose to be, Raleigh is the place to find a weekend experience just your style. Our big city shopping, dining, nightlife, and events make it easy and we've designed exactly the weekend you're looking for. Bring the girls, the sisters, the husband, or the supper club. And be yourself or someone else entirely. And whether you're feeling crazy, clubby, arty, funky, romantic, or just in need of a little retail therapy, start your planning with a weekend menu of experiences and best available hotel rates coordinated by the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau. Debuts in February 2007. www.VisitRaleigh.com/weekends
CULINARY NEWS
Angus Barn Chef Wins Food Network's IRON CHEF Competition
Southern cuisine and ostrich. For most this combination seems offbeat, but Angus Barn Executive Chef Walter Royal won over the judges and proved the two were a winning combination in his recent appearance on "Iron Chef America." He created traditional Southern dishes using ostrich – ostrich burgers, ostrich pot pie and even chocolate soufflé using ostrich eggs. In honor of his participation on the show, Chef Royal will host "Iron Chef America"-themed dinners at the Angus Barn in March 2007 complete with live video of Royal creating the meal just as he did for the taping last January. www.angusbarn.com
Herons
Named for the bird that graces the wetlands behind The Umstead Hotel & Spa, Herons will present a modern regional American restaurant, ideal for neighborhood diners and visitors alike than ks to the casually elegant atmosphere, lively setting, weekly food and wine events.
As a nod to their tranquil setting near the William B. Umstead State Park, The Umstead Hotel & Spa celebrates the harmonious marriage of nature and fine living. In keeping with this theme, Herons will pay tribute to the most beloved North Carolina farmers, artisans and traditions through its ingredient-driven cuisine, regional influences and variations on time-honored Southern dishes. To complement, the carefully selected 2500-bottle wine cellar has been designed with both the wine connoisseur and the young enthusiast in mind.
This well appointed 98-seat restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner, will feature an open kitchen offset by cozy banquettes and a semi-private room for 8; a private Chef's Table for 12 provides the stage for extensive food and wine-paired tasting menus. Diners may choose from the à la carte menu which will feature exquisitely prepared spa-inspired dishes in addition to Herons interpretation of Southern classics, as well as the seasonal Chef's Tasting Menu. Outdoors, the 46-seat terrace with fireplaces will offer breathtaking panoramic views of the 3-acre lake surrounded by butterfly gardens; the lawn and terrace will also be the stage for frequent evening events geared toward the whole family. www.theumstead.com
Yancy's
Good Music, Great Food and Large Times is the mantra for this downtown restaurant that recently relocated from City Market to Downtown Raleigh's Fayetteville Street. Serving Cajun, Creole and Southern Fare, Yancy's offers live jazz during lunch, dinner and late night. www.yancysjazz.com
JBetskis
The newly developed Seaboard Station is home to the area's only German fine dining restaurant. Paying homage to owner John F. Korzekwinski's German and Polish heritage, J. Betski's offers a sampling of Central and Eastern European cuisine. Signature dishes include Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs with Spiced Mushrooms, Root Vegetables and Spaetzle and Natural Pork Schnitzel, Austrian Potato and Dill Salad and Ligonberry Compote. www.jbetskis.com
Trader Joe's
The West Coast institution known as Trader Joe's has finally arrived in North Carolina. Cary is the location for the first of multiple North Carolina locations planned in the next few years. Trader Joe's focuses on more exotic fare like imported cheeses, organic produce and hand-tossed pizza from Italy. Popular low-cost items include Charles Shaw Wine lovingly referred to as Two Buck Chuck, pre-made lunch and dinner items and specialty coffees as well as Trader Joe's products. Currently, Trader Joe's has over 250 stores in more than 20 states. www.traderjoes.com
Carafe Wine Makers
A new trend of do-it-yourself micro-wineries has made its way into Raleigh. Carafe Wine Makers gives patrons the chance to make their own wine including primary fermentation, racking, stabilization and filtering. After waiting a few wee ks the wine is ready to bottle, label and drink. www.caraferdu.com
V's Teas and Treasures
Located in a 100-year old Victorian Home in the heart of Downtown Raleigh's Glenwood South, V's Teas and Treasures is the perfect setting to enjoy fresh brewed tea and homemade pastries but to also explore the historic home decorated with wor ks from local artisans. V's Teas and Treasures hosts any special event and evening events with live entertainment. www.vsteasandtreasures.com
MUSEUM COUNTDOWN
Monet in Normandy
This is the last chance to see the blockbuster Monet in Normandy at the N.C. Museum of Art. Featuring 50 paintings from around the world, it's a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Raleigh is the only East Coast venue for this blockbuster show dedicated to Normandy, the French province that inspired many of Monet's best-known masterpieces. The exhibition spans Monet's career, beginning with his paintings of the Normandy coast and progressing to his famed water lilies, a project that consumed the artist for the last 30 years of his life. Monet's iconic "impressions" of Normandy -- the haystac ks, countryside, coastline and gardens -- take center stage for the first time in this exhibition. Don't miss this incredible artistic opportunity at the N.C. Museum of Art through January 14, 2007. www.VisitRaleigh.com/monet
Astronomy Days
The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences presents the annual Astronomy Days featuring out of this world presentations, a cosmic array of exhibits and displays, and a universe of activities that will send you into orbit! Held Saturday, January 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, January 28, from noon to 5 p.m. This free, two-day event offers dozens of exhibits, along with entertaining and educational hands-on activities and live presentations guaranteed to delight everyone from star-struck kids to novice astronomers to expert stargazers. www.naturalsciences.org
"Space: A Journey to Our Future"
"SPACE: A Journey to Our Future" brings visitors face to face with amazing discoveries and explorations from the past, and introduces them to today's explorers who are shaping our future destiny in the universe. "SPACE" reintroduces audiences to generations of dreamers and thinkers, demonstrating how they have at times risked their lives to give the world a better understanding of who we are and how we fit into the universe around us. Most importantly, visitors will meet today's explorers, and learn how these people are working to understand more about the planet, how to protect it, and how to increase our understanding of the beginning of the universe and what life exists beyond Earth. While totally immersing visitors in the exciting scenic elements, the exhibit features live performances, child-friendly interactives, and state-of-the-art projection and audio technology to bring this epic story to life. Explore this breathtaking new exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences through February 11, 2007. www.naturalsciences.org
TRAVEL BUZZ
RDU Update
Southwest, which currently offers 30 daily departures to eight cities, began one additional flight each to Orlando and Tampa-St. Petersburg in November. Southwest also offers daily nonstop service from RDU to Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Nashville, Philadelphia and Phoenix. JetBlue Airlines began nonstop service to Boston in October. The airline announced the addition of service to Boston when it launched daily service from RDU to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport in July. Also this fall, American Eagle began nonstop service to Columbus. In all, RDU offers more than 18,500 daily seats on almost 450 flights to 38 destinations on the likes of low-fare carriers Air Tran, America West, JetBlue and Southwest. www.rdu.com
SPORTING NEWS
More MEAC Madness
The MEAC is back! That's the MEAC Basketball Tournament, returning to Raleigh for its second consecutive year in 2007. Dates are March 6-10 at the RBC Center. This year's theme is "United We Jam." Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the RBC Center box office or www.meachoops.com with prices ranging from $50 to $100. The tournament consists of 22 exciting games packed into a five-day span. Since this is an NCAA Division I conference, both the men's and women's champs will advance to the NCAA Tournament the following week. The MEAC Tournament marks the beginning of March Madness in the hoops-crazed Triangle with first- and second-round action for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on tap at the RBC Center on March 18 and 20.
Carolina RailHaw ks
Area soccer fanatics got their first long-awaited glimpse of the new Cary USL Expansion Team's identity – Carolina RailHaw ks.The name RailHaw ks combines the ideas of a railroad – the first mass transportation that helped expand America ; and the Hawk – a cunning and masterful bird of prey. Triangle Professional Soccer operates the Carolina RailHaw ks, an expansion of the USL First Division for the season starting April 2007. The squad will play 14 regular season games and four additional playoff and exhibition games each year, with all home games played at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The stadium previously was home to the Carolina Courage of the Women's United Soccer Association and has hosted NCAA Soccer College Cups the past four years. www.carolinarailhawks.com
The Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau, as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable economic growth and development by increasing visitor and convention business. For a free visitors guide or more promotional information, call toll-free (800) 849-8499 visit www.visitraleigh.com, or e-mail visit@visitraleigh.com. That's "City Life, Carolina Style."
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