Washed-up Morrisville outlet mall to get Chinese makeover (via WRAL)

(maybe this time The Veldt will actually SHOW for a gig they $%^&ing BOOKED…but I’m not one to hold a grudge…for decades…)

The first jazz composer to win the Pulitzer Prize in music, New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis also was the first artist to win jazz and classical Grammy Awards in the same year. His Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) features 15 of jazz music’s leading soloists, drawing from an extensive repertoire including the masterworks of Ellington, Mingus, Coltrane and other great jazz composers, and original compositions by Mr. Marsalis, Benny Carter, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Joe Lovano, Marcus Roberts, Geri Allen, Christian McBride and others. “Extraordinarily versatile…”

– Los Angeles Times

It appears that general public tickets are not available yet. Information should appear on the CPA page as they are made available.

It is disappointing to see the project being scaled down, but frankly, with the bath that Sandreuter ended up taking on the oversized West at North Project, it is obvious that banks are putting pressure on Sandreuter to do something with the land. The truth is that the economy is worse than the media is portraying, and a project like the one originally proposed for The Edison is now probably more than 20 years away for Raleigh. In fact it will be at least 12 years before anything changes the Raleigh skyline.

With conditions as they are, we are lucky to see something proposed for this land. As it stands now, the block stands as a blank and a few run-down old buildings in the middle of a downtown that has much organic energy. We are now at the 3-year mark of a development drought in downtown Raleigh, and if we get too arrogant, we will lose all of the roaring momentum that Raleigh had six years ago. In other words we cannot afford to be too choosy now about downtown projects. Given the number of empty lots in downtown, we can afford to put up some bad projects because the momentum is what will eventually bring good projects, not our own stubbornness. Too much of that will make us a has-been. We need energy on the street, and this project does that.

Much hand-wringing has been going on over the last two days regarding the design of the project. I will caution readers, though, that the proposal looks more like a massing portrayal than a specific design, so even with this sized project, it can be something appealing. That said, the images look waaaaay too much like the horribly bland project on Glenwood where Tobacco Road is.

Hopefully the mass of building can be broken up with varied materials, colors, window frames, and window heights. Designers at North Hills East attempted this kind of breakup with windows and color on an EFIS-faced building, but forgot that relief also has to be in the design. Some sections should set back, others protrude. Another facet ignored is massive projects is the window height. North Hills is a godo project, but could have been great if the windows for each section were at differing heights. IT would have added some authenticity badly needed over there.

Nevertheless, I’m glad to see something going forward. I just hope that developers will still have some sense of pride in their developments while they try to please banks. Perhaps the name of the project should be renamed The Gillette, as the focus has clearly gone from being a brilliant idea to being something serviceable that we will one day throw away.

The controversial proposed school reassignment plan (.pdf) is intended to keep students closer to home and minimize long-distance student commutes. The plan looks logical for nearly every school in the system, however it certainly breaks down for Joyner. Under the proposed plan Daniels would be fed by Root, Stough, York, and Jeffrey’s Grove. Martin would be fed by Lacy and Olds. I don’t have access to the number of seats in those eight schools, but it seems strange that Daniels would be fed by four schools and Martin would be fed by only two. Perhaps Martin is smaller than Daniels, but from what I have heard they are roughly equivalent in size.

If the plan aims to keep students in the same part of the county as their residents, then sending people in the Five Points area to the shadows of Triangle Town Center, just inside of I-540, seems completely counterproductive. If the plan moves forward, the property values of houses along Anderson Drive will plummet while houses along Ridge Road in Raleigh will skyrocket. This is why there ought to be a very strong showing at this meeting tonight. There is much on the line for people who live in the Northeast quadrant inside of I-440.

There will also be meetings at Sanderson (Wed, 9/14), East Wake (Thu, 9/15), and Millbrook (Mon, 9/19). For more information see the WCPSS website.

Durham and Bill Cosby have always had a special relationship. Readers may recall that Russell and Anna Huxtable, Cosby’s fictional parents on the show “Cosby”, met in Durham before moving to Philadelphia and then New Jersey. Cosby last performed in Durham during March of 2009.

It is hard to imagine that the Fosters space will be kept in its same configuration. Whatever is next is likely to be quite different, and an end to many memories. Along with the Brewery (which has already been torn down), the ITB crowd lost a a pair of fun spots this week.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (8/5) at 10am at Ticketmaster outlets.

map it

Can we just decline the month of August? This fall is shaping up to be an incredible buffet of live music in the area. If you’re on the fence about this one, go. Evan Dando seems laid back, but is actually a fantastic live performer.

Friday

• BJ Barham (tir na nog)
• J Timber (tir na nog)
• Cowtown String Band (Pour House)
• Nests (Pour House)
• Old Bricks (Pour House)
• The Larchmont Trash (Slim’s)
• The Hell No (Slim’s)
• Static Minds (Slim’s)
• Hooray for Earth (Kings)
• Double Dare feat. Apple Juice Kid (Kings)
• Nick Catchdubs (Neptunes)

Saturday

Lincoln Theatre Outdoor Stage Street Party

• Jack the Radio
• Lord Walrus
• Urban Sophisticates
• Thien
• Patty Hurst Shifter
• DJ Forge
• Free Energy
• Lord Walrus
• Wye Oak
• DJ Spclgst
• Active Child
• Chocolate Rice
• Surfer Blood

Lincoln Theatre Inside Stage Dance Party

• F#@% The Biters
• Nixxed
• Thien & Lord Walrus
• AC Slater

…Since 1985, Gallery C has been instrumental in North Carolina’s art scene featuring contemporary artists as well as historically important North Carolina art, Haitian art, folk art, animation art and antique prints.

The new gallery will be located at the corner of Blount and Peace streets in the
Historic Russ-Edwards House c. 1901. The property has served as the development and
sales office of Blount Street Commons Redevelopment project which is creating a rebirth of
one of Raleigh’s most prestigious historic streets and neighborhoods. Located just blocks
from the Governor’s Mansion, the Capital, and the museums, the neighborhood vision is
focused around integrating 25 historic homes, dating from the late 1800s, with newer urban
living concepts. The new space will allow owner Charlene Ferrell Newsom to expand the
gallery’s services and to feature outdoor art while providing an aesthetically prominent
anchor to the Blount Street Commons project.