Press Release
What's New InRaleigh Summer 2005
Media Contact: Jim Lee, DCI ( 312) 202-0507;
jim.lee@dc-intl
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 2005) --"What's New" 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 Summer 2005" can be found at www.VisitRaleigh.com.
New Honors & Awards
Second Empire Wins DiRona Award
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern joins the ranks of celebrated restaurants in the United States by earning the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award. This award is one of the most prestigious awards in the fine dining industry. Second Empire, a fine dining staple in Raleigh, is located in downtown's historic Dodds-Hinsdale House (circa 1879); Second Empire features Executive Chef Daniel Schurr's Contemporary American Cuisine in two dining atmospheres. Upstairs enjoy the ultimate dining experience in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere of charm and grace.
Forbes Magazine Honors Raleigh
Forbes Magazine named the Raleigh area the 'Second Best Place for Business and Careers' among Metro Areas. The annual list is comprised of the following factors: Cost of Doing Business, Job Growth, Educational Attainment, Business Costs, Living Costs, Crime Rate, Employment Rates and Population.
Top Museums
A ranking of the state's museums and historic sites was conducted by Carolina Publishing Associates of Matthews, publishers of the annual Carolina Heritage Guide and Carolina and Virginia Field Trips Magazines. Raleigh can now boast four of North Carolina's Top Ten Museums and Historic Sites in terms of annual attendance. The North Carolina Museum of Art, The North Carolina State Capital Building, The North Carolina Museum of History and The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences were all recognized among the most popular in the state.
Southern Favorites
Big Ed's City Market Restaurant, where traditional southern food made with ingredients picked the same day from the State Farmers Market, and The Duck and Dumpling, named Raleigh's Ethnic Standout, were both recently named Best Regional Cuisine in the 2005 Favorites issue of Southern Living magazine. The Angus Barn, known as a "Beefeater's Haven", was rated the Best Splurge Restaurant by readers of Southern Living.
New Festivals & Exhibits
CSI: Crime Scene Insects
Learn the secrets of crime-solving bugs. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh offers visitors a rare opportunity to learn more about the mysterious world of crime scene investigation with its new exhibit, CSI: Crime Scene Insects. The exhibit dives into forensic entomology -- the use of insects such as flies, maggots and beetles to reveal critical details of a crime scene, a fascinating practice that plays a vital role in solving a variety of crimes. CSI: Crime Scene Insects opens June 25 and runs through September 18, 2005.
BugFest!
Open your mind, eyes, and mouth to the curious world of bugs. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' ninth annual BugFest! creeps into downtown Raleigh. As the nation's largest single-day bug event, BugFest! offers quirky bug-filled fun for adventurous people of all ages. BugFest! 2005 celebrates swarming insects, in honor of the "Brood X" cicada, billions of which swarm sections of the Eastern United States throughout the month of June. In addition to learning about insects, arachnids, and crustaceans from around the world, BugFest! visitors can even taste them as the main ingredients of the delectable gourmet dishes at Cafe Insecta and the BugFest! critter cook-off.
7th Annual Street Painting Festival
The 7th Annual Raleigh Street Painting Festival, taking place September 17– 18, will attempt to create the theme of Coastal Carolina at Lichtin Plaza in front of the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.This family friendly event is hands-on and brings out the artist in all of us!
Amistad Saga: Reflections
Seasonally, an outdoor Drama is presented to tell the story of the Amistad, and for tourists to view the mutiny scene of Cinque and the African Hostages. The Amistad, presented by the African American Cultural Complex, can claim this annual production is the only outdoor drama written, produced, and directed by and about African Americans in the United States. Dates for the production are July 21 – 24 & July 28 – 31, 2005.
A Call To Arms
The North Carolina Museum of History commemorates the services and sacrifices of the soldiers of the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The exhibit presents artifacts that represents various aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Items include: objects from Sadaam Hussein's Army such as Iraqi Army uniforms and helmets, items removed from insurgent forces including ammunition pouches and license plates as well as gear used by the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade. Among the gear is a hydration system, a Military Visual Language Guide as well as "booby traps" and weapons. A Call To Arms runs through July 10, 2006.
New on the Outdoors Scene
Neuse River Quick Trips
Get Outdoors, a local outdoor shop specializing in outdoor gear and trips, announces Neuse River Quick Trips. The Quick Trip (1.5 hours on the water), is designed for families or individuals who want to get out and enjoy themselves on the river but don't have a lot of time. Highlights can include the shy, Great Blue Herons visiting overhead, and sunbathing turtles dropping off logs as you pass them by.
New Renovations
Westin at Crabtree Valley
Only the second Westin Hotel in North Carolina, the Westin at Crabtree Valley will be a 260-room hotel with a heated outdoor pool and fitness spa. Rooms will have 42-inch plasma TVs, goose-down "Heavenly" bedding and oversized baths. Proposed 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a 40,000 square foot wellness spa, retail shops, and two restaurants. The entire project will be 41 stories, including 19 stories of luxury condominiums and class A office space. Opening late 2007.
Green Square Project
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has announced a $100 million project that will feature a four-story research arm of the museum. The project will be designed to educate the public on the latest work in genetics, dinosaurs and natural sciences. The new venture will be connected to the existing museum by a glassed-in skyway and will have multimedia displays, digital theaters and labs where scientists can work side by side with visitors. Projected opening date 2008.
Summer Packages & Tours
American Express Offers Cardmembers Discounts in Raleigh
The Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau has partnered with American Express to offer special rates on dining, lodging and events for American Express cardholders. These great offers were developed just for American Express Cardmembers visiting or residing in North Carolina's Capital City area. Take advantage of these offers from Wake County merchants to enjoy the best of City Life, served Carolina Style. To find out more about these special offers visit www.visitraleigh.com.
New National Register Online Travel Itinerary
The National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places has added Raleigh as its 39th online travel itinerary. Raleigh: A Capital City is online and highlights the rich diversity of the city, including the houses of the earliest settlers, Modernist residences of architecture educators, picturesque Victorian neighborhoods, booming suburbs and early skyscrapers. For each historic place there is a description of its historic significance.
Trolley Stop
Trolley through the heart of the Capital City on a narrated tour with six stops. Visit historic sites, art galleries, museums, shops and restaurants. Board at any stop including Mordecai Historic Park and City Market. Unlimited re-boarding with all-day pass. Tour time is 45 minutes. Last tour begins at 2pm.
ExScrapaganza Package
The Oakwood Inn offers an exciting weekend highlighted by a full day of scrapbooking with an area scrapbooking artist. Guests receive a packet full of goodies to use in their work-in-progress or new scrapbook and access to hundreds of rubber stamps, inks, cutting tools and many other supplies to make your work of heart. There will be demonstrations and opportunities to make a mini scrapbook to keep or give as an extra special gift! Everyone from beginners to established scrapbookers will enjoy this day of hands-on fun! $50 per person plus room rate and applicable taxes. August 26-27, 2005.
New on the Arts Circuit!
Wildlife Photography at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the largest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world. This summer, see a selection of the top photos from 2004, including those of Greensboro native Gabby Salazar, last year's Youth Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The contest is a collaborative effort of BBC Wildlife Magazine and the Natural History Museum in London.
First Friday
Start your weekend by strolling through the galleries of downtown Raleigh's City Market. The galleries have receptions for opening works by various artists who, on occasion, are available to meet and discuss their works. Weather permitting a band will play outside on Wolfe Street in front of Big Ed's. In the event of bad weather the band will play inside of Jayzz Jazz club.
North Carolina Symphony Announces Assistant Conductor
Carolyn Kuan has been named assistant conductor for The North Carolina Symphony. Kuan served as assistant conductor for the Baltimore Opera Company from 2001-2003 and as cover conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. The North Carolina Symphony is an integral part of the arts landscape in Raleigh with performances such as the annual Summerfest and Pops series.
Dining News
Second Empire Offers Theatre Packages
Raleigh offers a myriad of summer theater performances from the Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Symphony to Hot Summer nights at the Kennedy. Make your evening special by a Pre-Performance Three Course Dinner Menu at Second Empire. This Theater package is available Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm for $38.00 per person. Following dinner, enjoy a shuttle ride directly to the BTI Performing Arts Center. After the performance, the shuttle offers pick-up at the front of the center and return to the restaurant. To top off the evening, there is dessert, a nightcap, or one of Second Empire's popular coffee drinks in the Tavern.
Cattails Restaurant at Five County Stadium
Cattails, located on the upper level of Five County Stadium, is the newest dining venture in Wake County. This fine dining restaurant, with specials such as Five County Paella, Carolina Crabcakes and Beef Tenderloin, provides a unique dining experience while affording a breathtaking view of the playing field. Home to the Carolina Mudcats, Raleigh's AA Southern League baseball team, Five County Stadium is also host to a variety of sporting events, concerts and community activities.
Irregardless Café – Last Tuesday
Envelop yourself in a unique experience. While having dinner, you can eavesdrop on live actors reading new works by local play writes on the Irregardless stage. From the "Burning Coal Theater", these performances will be experimental and spontaneous. On the last Tuesdays of each month, Irregardless offers live theater in place of live music at one of Raleigh's most notable restaurants.
Hi5 Reopens
Hi5, downtown Raleigh's largest sports pub, recently completed an entire renovation transforming the Glenwood South hotspot into a "sports restaurant/multimedia gaming lounge" with 30 TVs, including 10 plasma screens, and a huge projection screen. Hi5's menu has also been transformed from once standard bar fare to an extensive tapas heavy menu. The list of spirits has also grown to more than 200 selections.
Travel News
Delta Air Service Expands West
Delta Airlines recently began direct service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to New Orleans, Boston and Tampa and added a daily non-stop to Salt Lake City on June 1. Today, nine major airlines offer 500 daily flights to and from 40 cities, up from 414 daily flights in December 2003. Included are low-fare carriers AirTran, America West, Independence Air and Southwest.
The Greater Raleigh CVB is a non-profit agency to enhance the economic growth and development of Raleigh and Wake County 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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