WEB EXCLUSIVE After eight years of serving the community flavorful frothy lattes, healthy salads and sandwiches, and those to-die-for hot mini donuts, Sola Coffee Cafe needs your help.
In 2018, co-owner Jeanne Luther—who opened Sola with her husband, John, in 2012—was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive degenerative disease that destorys the neurons controlling voluntary muscle in the body. Jeanne is now confined to a wheelchair and, eventually, will not be able to breathe and swallow on her own.
In an effort to raise money towards a cure for the devastating disease, Sola will host its 7th annual Hot Mini 5K virtually this Saturday, September 19. (Due to COVID, the original event that was planned for March had to be rescheduled and can’t be held in person.) This marks the second year that Sola has raised money towards curing ALS; in the first five years, the 5K benefited Wounded Warriors, as Jeanne’s dad was shot and injured while fighting in the Korean War.
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Because the event is virtual, participants have been able to join in on the 5K from wherever they have been, starting on September 14 and running through September 21, while performing whatever form of exercise they’d like. John says some people have opted to swim or even paddle board their three miles while others are running or walking. As of September 17, 894 runners from all over the country have signed up. John hopes to raise over $50,000.
Participants must enter their race times on Sola’s FS series site by Monday, after which Sola will randomly give out prizes to participants, including the signature “I believe in Jeanne” T-shirts and gift cards donated by fellow local businesses. All the money raised from the event will be sent to the NC ALS Association, Duke ALS (where Jeanne goes for treatment), ALS TDI and Project ALS.
After opening Sola’s patio in early June, John says many customers who come in ask about how Jeanne is doing and if she’s there to say hi. Although Sola is promoting everything for the Sola Hot Mini 5K through social media, John says the community has continued to be supportive; though the 5K organizers won’t be able to get together with the race participants in person, there’s a different type of meaningful connection they’ve been able to make online. “We’ve always loved everyone that’s come in here and we have a great relationship with the community,” John says. “[This year’s Hot Mini 5K] will be a different experience, but still an important and intimate one.”
Sign-up for the Sola Hot Mini 5K at solahotmini5k.com, buy an “I Believe in Jeanne” tee at the shop, and/or donate to their End ALS fundraiser at give.classy.org/Sola.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Despite many Raleigh industries being on pause during the pandemic, the city continues to build up, with developments moving right along in an effort to keep the economy thriving. Smoky Hollow’s Publix at Peace opened earlier this month, construction on Tower Two, which will accompany the existing One Glenwood tower to form the Bloc[83] district project, is on the cusp of being finished and John Chavis Memorial Park is undergoing major improvements.
Most recently, Preferred Office Properties released final renderings and a 3D video tour of 121 Fayetteville Street, a 30-plus story tower that will include office spaces, outdoor terraces, a conference facility, street-level retail, a fitness center and more. Construction is expected to begin next year.
Designed by Duda|Paine Architects, the tower will certainly transform Raleigh’s skyline with its modern reflective exterior. It will also likely transform the way we think about office space, as offices will fuse effortlessly with upscale dining, a state-of-the art fitness facility and vibrant communal space.
“The building will also make a significant economic impact by providing a transformative location for companies looking to move their business to downtown Raleigh,” said Jason Frost, the executive vice president of development at Preferred Office Properties. That’s not to mention the amazing views from the top floors, which will encompass all of downtown Raleigh and beyond.
On the bottom floor, a variety of enhanced retail options for both office goers and passersby will bring the 100 block of Fayetteville Street to life.
Additionally, 121 Fayetteville Street’s pedestrian landscape will feature upgraded lighting and art installations for the Fayetteville Street parking garage and the corner of Wilmington and Hargett Streets. Preferred says that the transformation will “reinvigorate the area that touts our state’s historic Capitol, governor’s office and Supreme Court.”
121 Fayetteville Street is steps from some of the city’s best food and drinks spots, the recently renovated Moore Square and the retailers, museums, nightlife, events and other attractions that bring people to downtown Raleigh in the first place.
WEB EXCLUSIVE With Gov. Roy Cooper’s announcement of a Safer At Home phase 2.5 last week comes the long-awaited reopening of museums—albeit at limited capacities, with increased cleaning measures and face mask requirements. Several Raleigh museums have reopened already and are eager to welcome back visitors after six months of being closed; more are gearing up to open in the very near future. Here, we break down what you need to know about each local museum’s COVID-19 safety measures before planning a visit.
To visit the newly reopened art museum, visitors must reserve a free, timed ticket either online or in-person for both musuem buildings—cash is not accepted. Tickets are available in half-hour increments in order to limit the number of visitors in each gallery and maintain social distancing practices within the entire museum. There will be a designated door for both entering and exiting in each building and, throughout the galleries, a one-way path will be noted by signs.
Additionally, the art museum requires all visitors and staff to wear face masks. Museum staff will frequently deep clean high-touch areas, including doors and restrooms, and plexiglass shields have been installed at check-in desks and the Museum Store. The Iris restaurant and Sip coffee kiosk will remain closed for now, along with the Museum library and the interacitve exhibitions. For more COVID updates, visit ncartmuseum.org/visit/plan_your_visit.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Tuesday – Saturday for immune-compromised and senior citizens; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday for the general public; 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday for the general public
Gov. Cooper’s 50 percent capacity rule limits up to 250 people in the history museum at a time, though the museum will not require tickets to enter; admission is free. Visitors are expected to follow the “Three W’s” (Wear a mask, Wait in line at least six feet apart from others, and Wash your hands).
The museum is also installing protective barriers at sales counters and information desks, as well as placing hand sanitizing stations around the building and increasing the frequency of cleaning public areas and restrooms. The Museum Shop is still open, as are all exhibits except for the Tar Heel Junior Historian Discovery Gallery and any interactive exhibit features. Visitors can grab a map with highlighted sanitizer stations and paused visitor experiences, or scan a QR code for a touchless experience. Visit ncmuseumofhistory.org/about/plan-your-visit to learn more.
COR Museum is reopening its doors with a special surprise exhibit featuring “Joseph Winters: The Music Maker” and Raleigh Home Movie Day in partnership with A/V Geeks. “Joseph Winters: The Music Maker” explores the life of Joseph Winters, one of Raleigh’s earliest African American policemen, who also brought musical legends including James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles to perform in the City of Oaks. The exhibit will run through February 2021; COR’s permanent exhibits are also reopening.
Opening date: September 11-13 for members; September 16 for the general public
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday
Marbles is adapting two new prominent policies upon reopening: all members and guests must reserve a timed entry ticket online for $9 a person and everyone age 5 and older must wear a CDC-approved face covering. Marbles asks that guests also adhere to social distancing guidelines and wash/sanitize their hands frequently. The museum will temporarily close exhibits throughout the day for thorough cleaning and sanitizing as well.
Additionally, Marbles has created one-way paths for guests to follow in order to assist with traffic flow and reduce contact with other visitors. Capacity limitations will be posted at each exhibit. You can find more FAQs about Marbles’ reopening policies at marbleskidsmuseum.org/reopening-faqs.
The Museum of Natural Sciences will also require free, timed-entry ticketsin order to maintain a limited capacity under Gov. Cooper’s phase 2.5 guidelines. These are available to reserve online only—choose a 15-minute time of entry window, then stay in the museum for as long as you’d like. A face covering for those ages 5 and older is also required for all who enter the building and are available to buy at the Museum Store.
The museum will take extra precautions to enhance cleaning of facilities multiple times throughout the day. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the museum and water fountains will not be in use. During the first phase of reopening, certain areas, incuding the WRAL 3D theater, the butterfly room and The Naturalist Center will remain closed. Before planning your trip, visit naturalsciences.org/open for more updates.
The Gregg announced it will reopen on Wednesday, September 23 on Instagram but has yet to release many details on any COVID-related procedures the museum plans to follow. The post states that “there will be precautions in place to ensure the safest and best possible experience” and that registration will be required.
Keep an eye out on the Gregg’s website and social media for reopening details.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement to move into phase 2.5 starting September 4 opened museums, playgrounds and gyms, but left out one industry that’s economically impactful to Raleigh and North Carolina: bars.
Ever since restaurants were allowed to open in phase 2 in early May, bar owners have been pushing for their establishments to be permitted to open as well. But complicated rules from the ABC commission and mandates from state officials have prohibited this from happening and bar owners are still waiting for the go-ahead from the governor, unable to do much besides sell cocktail mixes, gift cards and merch to make money.
On Thursday, September 3, bar owners and their employees from across the state took to the streets of Raleigh to make their frustrations heard. A large group gathered outside of the Governor’s Mansion with signs, chanting “save our bars,” in the hope that Cooper would take notice and allow them to open, too, in phase 2.5. The legislature has tried to pass measures to allow bars to reopen three times; all were vetoed and Cooper prevailed in a lawsuit challenging his authority to close bars during the pandemic.
Here are some images from the rally in downtown Raleigh last week; another demonstration is planned for Thursday.
WEB EXCLUSIVE An old wedding video, your child’s first steps caught on camera, a clip from a family reunion—these are all just some examples of sweet memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Unfortunately, these important moments from the past could live on film or VHS tapes you may not have the means to view anymore.
That’s where the A/V Geeks come in. A two-man operation with more than 30 years of experience in media digitization, the A/V Geeks have digitized tons of film and video for people and families, universities, government agencies, documentary filmmakers and others. Self-described A/V Geek Skip Elsheimer started the services in an effort to rescue old films and share them with the world. “Home movies are precious artifacts of our cultural past—not only for the family but ultimately for our culture,” he says.
About 18 years ago, a group of archivists realized families were throwing away their films (including 8mm and 16mm) after transferring them to VHS, as they didn’t know VHS tapes were of poorer quality than the films and that one day, of course, VCRs would be scarce. So they created Home Movie Day as a way to “celebrate home movies, educate the public about the films’ value to themselves and society and to have some fun,” Elsheimer explains.
In non-pandemic times, A/V Geeks hosts Home Movie Day in an auditorium and invites audiences to come with their films to inspect and project them on the big screen for all to watch. They’ll interview whoever brought a film in about what it depicts and any stories behind it, which helps the audience experience it as a family history, and often a regional history, too.
“[Home Movie Day] helps show that we have more in common with people than we realize,” says Elsheimer. “We all have joy, hope, sadness and fear. Home movies capture that and remind us, if we really watch them, that the past wasn’t some idyllic golden era. Every event has reinforced a sense of community.”
This year, A/V Geeks’ Home Movie Day will take place virtually via Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Twitch on Saturday, September 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. The A/V Geeks are asking folks to dig through their attics or call their relatives for any home movies they’d like to be shared during the event. A/V Geeks will digitize up to 10 minutes of footage or video for free, and after the event, you’ll get a digital transfer file emailed to you.
“We are all so disconnected from our normal lives and activities right now that I think virtual Home Movie Day offers an amazing opportunity for people to connect with images of the past in a communal viewing experience,” says Marsha Gordon, a Home Movies Day co-organizer and professor of film studies at NC State. “It is fun and interesting to see glimpses of the past—how people dressed, what kinds of cars they drove, where they took vacations. Maybe it can provide some feelings of comfort to see the way things were in anticipation of the way things will be after this pandemic is behind us!”
A/V Geeks ask that all who want to have their home videos shared on Virtual Home Movie Day bring their film or video tapes (8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Video8, or VHS) to the archive building at 714 Tyler Road anytime between 1 and 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, by September 5. If you don’t have a home movie to share, you can always join in and look out for any people or places you recognize from other participants’ memories. The event will also feature a bingo game in which you can have fun looking for things like a mustache, Christmas tree or a parade.
To coordinate a drop-off time, contact A/V Geeks at [email protected] or 919-247-7752.
