Tomorrow (First Friday) marks the grand opening for the Studio @ Hargett and Revive Massage, both located in the Heilig Levine complex.  This is a great addition to downtown, as it adds even more retail, not to mention 2^nd and 3^rd story retail, to Hargett Street.  Revive is on the 2^nd floor, also home to Adam Cave Fine Art Gallery (whose current show was featured in yesterday’s print of The Independent), and Rebecca Nemetz’s yoga and Pilates studio, The Studio @ Hargett will take the entire 3^rd floor.  The address, 115.5 E Hargett, is tucked above Landmark Tavern and Capitol Barber, and is part of the complex soon to feature Siti.  I hear there will be plenty of free wine and massage samples tomorrow for the grand opening.  Revive’s premise is to have a walk-in massage for the downtown crowd, which will be a tremendous addition to downtown.

The Russ Parr Bus Tour, featuring host Lil JJ, will be coming to Dorton Arena on Monday, August 11. The tour also features Ace Hood,  Day 26,  Hot Styles,  Jazmine Sullivan,  Jim Jones,  Karina Pasian,  Keri Hilson,  Khaled,  Maino,  Mishon ,  Pleasure P ,  Pretty Ricky ,  Ray Lavender ,  Sean Garrett ,  Slim ,  Young Steff ,  Yung Berg.

While the official grand opening isn’t until August 27, the Convention Center Marriott is having its soft opening today.

I’ve been out of town a lot recently so I haven’t been able to find out for myself, but reports are that work on the new downtown location of Waraji have stalled. Even worse, there is now a sign on the door explaining that the doors have been padlocked by the sheriff’s department. Has anyone heard anything further?

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In 2003 a roundabout was placed at the Pullen Road/Stinson Drive intersection. Since that point Stinson traffic has had a much easier time moving onto Pullen with only a minor inconvenience to Pullen’s thru-traffic. Today’s article in the News & Observer explains many of the intersection’s successes. Safety has drastically improved, with a three-year tally of crashes falling from twelve before the roundabout implementation to three afterward. These crashes, too, were at slow speeds. With traffic flow being relatively unmarred, the successes of these 1-lane roundabouts will be the seed for many more such intersections to come.

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The City of Raleigh will hold a public forum tonight from 7pm to 9pm. regarding downtown parking and transportation issues. The meeting will be administered by the Downtown Parking Task Force in the city council chamber on the second floor of the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, 222 W. Hargett St.

For the past several months a consulting team has been working with City staff and the Downtown Parking Task Force (whose members are appointed by the mayor) to examine parking and transportation issues in downtown Raleigh.  The study aims to develop a plan for improving downtown access, including access to parking.  At the public forum, the consulting team will present an overview of the study findings and provide an opportunity for input from the community before completing the report.

The City of Raleigh is fabricating a bicycle plan, and citizens are invited to participate. The workshop will take place at Sertoma Arts Center from 4pm - 7pm on August 26.

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On September 21 Mary J. Blige will return to the area. Blige, known for her adorable smile, played in Greensboro in April with Jay-Z, but this time she’ll have Robin Thicke opening. Tickets for the show at Time Warner Cable Pavilion go on sale Saturday at 10am.

Local band Crave recently announced the return of Charlie Kennedy to the band. They will be back at the Pour House on August 8, hitting the stage around 9:45. They will be joined by Joe Lies and Zegg.

The Scottish-born bassist and lead singer of Cream, Jack Bruce, has agreed to join the growing list of legends playing the Hall of Fame Concert. The two-day classic rock festival opens the evening of September 19, 2008 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C. with the visitRaleigh.com national band search winner. Following that performance, the White Sox All-Star Band, made up of artists currently or formerly with several well-known bands, will come together to stage what is sure to be a much talked about and memorable ensemble performance. Closing the evening will be 2004 Rock Hall inductee Dave Mason, co-founder of the legendary band Traffic.

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The Raleigh Wide Open schedule is now posted at the convention center.

• Friday, Sept. 5, 2008

  Noon: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

  1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Naturalization Ceremony (Cabarrus St. Lobby of Convention Center)

  11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Raleigh Wide Open III (Fayetteville St. and downtown)

  11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Music and Entertainment — Three stages, more than 30 local and national acts.

  Noon – 10:00 p.m.: International Festival and Raleigh World Wide Expo (Convention Center)

  5:00 – 9:00 p.m.: Kids’ Zone and Carnival (Wilmington St. and Lenoir St.)

  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.: Arrested Development on Fireworks Stage, Alternative music on Cherry Bounce Stage

  8:30 – 10:00 p.m.: Chuck Berry on Fireworks Stage, Annuals on Cherry Bounce Stage

  8:30 – 10:00 p.m.: Movie in Moore Square: Shrek the Third

  10:00 p.m.: Fireworks

• Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008

  11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Raleigh Wide Open III (Fayetteville St. and downtown)

  11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Music and Entertainment — Three stages, more than 30 local and national acts

  11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: International Festival and Raleigh World Wide Expo (Convention Center)

  11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Kids’ Zone and Carnival

  6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Parade (Starts on Hillsborough St. near the Capitol and travels down Fayetteville St. to the new Convention Center.)

  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.: Soul Asylum on Fireworks Stage, Alternative music on Cherry Bounce Stage

  8:30 – 10:00 p.m.: Lou Gramm on Fireworks Stage, Islands on Cherry Bounce Stage

  8:30 – 10:00 p.m.: Movie in Moore Square: Transformers

  10:00 p.m. Fireworks

  *Some items listed are subject to change.

Triangle Segway is now in City Market, and is offering downtown Raleigh tours. There are currently two tours, which are led by former Ravenscroft teacher and administrator, Bruce Miller:

• Segway Experiece (45 min, $30) - Fayetteville Street, NC State Capitol, Governor’s Mansion, Moore Square, City Market.
• Capital City Glide (120min , $55) - The Segway Experience plus Oakwood Historic District, Oakwood Cemetary, Mordecai Park.

Tours require an advance purchase, and are offered for people at least 16 years old weighing between 100 pounds and 260 pounds.

On Friday, September 26, O.A.R. will return to Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale today at 10am.

The Diet Pepsi “Got (sic) To Be NC AG Jam” featuring Blake Shelton is coming to Walnut Creek on September 13. Also performing will be Tracy Byrd, Jake Owen, Eric Church, Heartland, Jamey Johnson, and Blackberry Smoke.

The three night run for Gallagher begins tonight at Charlie Goodnights. The late shows Friday and Saturday will feature the sledge-o-matic, so bring your tarps. Tickets are available through ticketbiscuit.com