Flood-prone nuisance elevated to urban Waterfront District
If you’ve lived in Raleigh for any significant length of time, then you know on a rainy day the Crabtree Creek area floods to mind images of news anchors standing in rushing waters, submerged car lots and impassable roads. It’s also likely not lost on you that, shy of a few lakes, we live in a waterless town—dry of the waterfront draws of such cities as Chicago, Austin… even Richmond—and existing as one of the few capitals not built along water or a bay.
Now, making water out of, well, water (or lemonade out of lemons, if you will) is the emerging Midtown Waterfront District—one of seven “Big Moves” (see sidebar) the City of Raleigh is making as part of its Walkable Midtown plan (the name a nod to the huge emphasis on walkability and connectivity).
“The proposed Waterfront Park District is hugely ripe with potential for development.” —Tara Robbins, MRA Executive Director
Ever since the General Assembly swiped right on Raleigh in 1788 as the home of our state government over, say, the bustling little waterfront town of Fayetteville, city planners and citizens alike have dreamed up myriad ways to flow water into DTR—nod to the once in-jest concept of a Capital Boulevard Canal.
“People simply like to be close to water, and active urban waterfronts are beloved places in many cities across the globe,” says City of Raleigh Senior Planner Jason Hardin. And while Downtown water may still be a dried up idea… “what if we can bring an urban place to an existing waterfront?” adds Hardin—“a place that combines an active, lively urban district with an existing waterway that actually has higher flow than many rivers in the state.” Ergo, reconfiguring the northern edge of Crabtree Creek, adjacent to Creekside and Industrial drives just south of Midtown East—Wegmans, Costco, etc.—on Wake Forest Road.
Picture this. Riding your bike on rolling waterside greenways before propping up for a brew with views. Strolling with your partner or pup before popping into a hip retail spot. Perching with a book pre meeting friends for a bite on the banks. All positioned in a reimagined high-density residential area chock-full of 7- to 12-story mixed-use buildings with residential, retail and restaurants.
“Once we started looking at the area alongside the Crabtree, we realized the potential opportunity,” adds Hardin. “For most of the city’s history, it has turned its back on the Crabtree.” Hence, now you see parking, vacant lots, warehouses. Much of the current industrial area is past its usable life cycle—not to mention that floodplain.
Some of the pieces have already begun to fall into place, including a recent city land acquisition of property along the bank of the Crabtree Creek that can form the heart of the future Midtown Waterfront Park.
What’s next? The city is actively seeking private partners to help manifest this vision. “We had conversations with a number of property owners and builders during the planning process,” says Hardin. “There are major plans for two sites north of Six Forks Road along Industrial Drive, and similar projects closer to the waterfront seem likely as well.”
Adds Hardin: “I think people have been captivated by this vision for a Waterfront District.” Captivated, indeed.
ICYMI, National Vodka Day was yesterday (Oct. 4). To extend the good cheer (and the fact that vodka is cool again), we tapped three top local spirits experts on their fave vodka sippers around town—and why these boozy bevs top their list.
Sip on botanical bliss with this wispy, nature-inspired blend of house vodka, house gin, rose cordial, egg white, lemon and a rosebud garnish. “The backbone of the drink is our vodka, important to provide structure for the drink to be built on. We combine that with our gin to provide the botanical notes that remind you of walking through a garden, with rosemary, juniper and pine, and a wisp of rose in the background.” –Chris Powers, Young Hearts Distilling co-owner
Created by Clovis Lecour, this succulent vodka cocktail (including campari, pasubio vino amaro, fresh lime juice and simple syrup) is “crushable but still complex with some earthy, herbal undertones.” –Kevin Barrett, Dram & Draught co-owner
For the vodka cocktail, “I’m actually going to head right toward the 007 martini.” Featured on the fall menu, the Vesper Martini merges Durham Distillery’s cold distilled cucumber vodka, Conniption American Dry gin and dry vermouth. Garnish with an olive (“We like to stuff the olive with a lemon rind.”) –Melissa Katrincic, Durham Distillery co-owner, CEO and president
Here, local Broadway star Lauren Kennedy Brady dishes on top Raleigh spots fellow castmates just have to check out while in town.
If you’ve been around Raleigh or the arts for any length of time, you know the Kennedy family. Local arts legends in their own right (for which Kennedy Theatre in Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown is named), for her part, NC-bred Lauren Kennedy Brady is a seasoned Broadway alum. With such on-Broadway credits as Fantine of Les Misérables under her belt, Kennedy Brady often performs locally in NC Theatre’s Broadway-style productions (most recently as Donna in Mamma Mia!)—on top of running her own company, Theatre Raleigh, where she has garnered acclaimed credits as producing artistic director.
This month, she’s set to take stage in NC Theatre’s highly anticipated 9 to 5 production alongside Broadway stars Sara Jean Ford and Ryah Nixon as leading ladies, and Ben Davis as male lead (boss Franklin Hart)—with a guest appearance from another local theater legend, Ira David Wood III. In front of her debut/six-day run as Violet (aka the role made famous by Lily Tomlin), we asked Kennedy Brady where she says her visiting Broadway castmates absolutely must while away any spare time while in town. See you at these spots around Raleigh—oh, and see you at the show! Oct. 12–17, nctheatre.com
“It is so exciting for me to experience the growth of Raleigh, to watch it become an urban mecca and cultural city while still holding on to its identity! When I came back in 2012 after having lived in NYC for 20-plus years, the boom had already begun, and it has continued to grow and flourish! I feel invigorated to be a part of that!”
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
“Wye Hill has the most beautiful view of Downtown Raleigh with a huge patio that is perfect for a fall night out, where you can be sure to be comfortable in these COVID times. (And, hey, it is also owned and operated by two artists, Sara Abernethy and Chris Borreson.) You have to get the Brewhouse Mussels!” wyehill.com
Jubala
“My favorite coffee shop—and best place to have a meeting or meet a friend for a catch-up! With ample seating inside and out, it is a bustling atmosphere where students are studying, deals are being made, and friends are reconnecting! If you don’t get the sweet biscuit with fried egg, sausage and cheese, you have missed the opportunity to finally understand what heaven is!” jubalacoffee.com
Videri Chocolate Factory
“It is better than a Wonka Bar—no gimmicks, just awesome chocolate in a boutique setting! Take a self-guided tour and watch the chocolate being made in front of you! Oh, and did I mention they also are now offering soft-serve ice cream?!” viderichocolatefactory.com
“NCMA always has rotating art in the gallery, so you will always be delighted with what they curate. And for nature lovers, the paths and trails are absolutely wonderful and shouldn’t be missed! And on a beautiful autumn evening, you might just be able to watch a concert or catch a movie outside in the amphitheater.” ncartmuseum.org
Stroll nature trails or walk along 22 miles of hiking trails meandering through forest.
William B. Umstead State Park
“The foliage may just be starting to turn, so try to catch the beauty of the great outdoors while in Raleigh. Umstead Park boasts over 20 miles of hiking trails and three beautiful lakes! You will see folks biking, riding horseback and boating, but I prefer to just find a nice quiet spot and picnic with my family!”ncparks.gov
Village District
“Home to my favorite boutique—even when I lived in NYC—I always bought my clothes at Uniquities in the Village District! There is a ton of wonderful shopping and restaurants in this four square blocks of retail heaven! A perfect afternoon for me is browsing through Sephora and Uniquities after I have met my mom for lunch at Cantina 18, followed up by a relaxing rest stop and a much-needed treat of a mani/pedi!” shopvillagedistrict.com
Bonus: Durham Field Trip
“Though the Durham Bulls will not be playing any home games during the run of 9 to 5, it is still worth a trip to see the stadium and walk through the American Tobacco Campus. And a stroll through Duke University is an absolute must! One of the most gorgeous campuses in the country, it’s home to Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Duke University Chapel. On your way home, hit the King’s Sandwich Shop for a throwback experience with burgers, hot dogs, fries and a cold milkshake!” milb.com; duke.edu; kingssandwichshop.com
As part of its “Mucha Inspiring Beauty” campaign, the NCMA taps three diverse female artists to join its groundbreaking Mucha exhibit to redefine what beauty means to them.
Czech-born art nouveau legend Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) is billed with transforming the streets of Paris into open-air art exhibits with his sumptuous posters promoting the likes of tea biscuits and cigarette papers—and beautiful women. As one of the most celebrated artists in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, Mucha is arguably best known for his decorative panels of graceful women, and, according to The Mucha Foundation, his “distinctive approach, characterized by harmonious compositions, sinuous forms, organic lines and muted colors, which became synonymous with the decorative style called art nouveau.”
Now, the Mucha Trust Collection’s first major U.S. tour in two decades, Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau Visionary will open Oct. 23 at the North Carolina Museum of Art, featuring myriad Mucha materials en masse—think some 100 posters, illustrations, rarely seen sculptures, self-portraits, photography and ornamental objects.
As part of the exhibit, the NCMA has commissioned three local artists as part of its “Mucha/Inspiring Beauty” campaign to reinterpret the artist’s designs while answering the question “What does beauty mean to you?”
“Mucha’s subjects are undeniably beautiful,” says Kat Harding, NCMA’s assistant director of communications and marketing. “After all, he wanted his advertisements to be works of art available for all citizens to enjoy. But the beauty he displayed portrays a very narrow representation of beauty” (think: Western white woman). She adds, “We wanted our marketing of the exhibition to expand on his definition of beauty and create updated versions of his famous work of art, ‘Reverie,’ done in 1897, as an extension of a portion found in the exhibition that examines this very topic.”
Mucha no doubt pushed the boundaries of what was beautiful and what was considered high art. “But in the 100+ years since then, so much has changed, evolved and expanded about what we as a society consider beautiful,” says Michele Frederick, the show’s curator, “and it was vital that we allowed space in the exhibition for other perspectives.” The Mucha Foundation was thrilled at the possibility of expanding the applications of Mucha’s ideas on beauty, says Frederick: “to argue for the continuing relevance of Mucha’s vision for what a beautiful work of art can do. … Ultimately, Mucha believed that a beautiful work of art would make the world a better, more peaceful place, and part of that is including in this conversation work by artists like these, who expand and even challenge Mucha’s ideas of what is beautiful.”
Beyond being displayed in the NCMA exhibition galleries, the images created for this campaign will also be installed outside in select Raleigh locations in the spirit of Mucha’s work.
Here, Raleigh Magazine gets the exclusive reveal of the three local artists—a purposefully selected group of diverse women—tapped to reinterpret “Reverie”—and chats them up on what it was like to be selected for this project, what beauty means to them, their inspiration and more.
“I didn’t come across Black women artists until I was in college—and that exposure really showed me it was possible. I hope that I’m able to touch someone in the same way.”
ABOUT LAKESHIA REID | @ltreid
Growing up in Raleigh, Reid never dreamed she would be included in an NCMA exhibition. “I feel extremely honored and beyond thankful for the opportunity,” says Reid.
What beauty means to you? Unapologetically being yourself—exuding strength, confidence and vulnerability, self-acceptance, and respect. It’s a celebration of the things that make each person unique. How that’s reflected in your piece? In her demeanor—how she’s looking at the viewer head on. In how the fabric is draped around her body; it’s in the bold reddish highlights in her hair, and the soft pink polish on her nails. Your inspiration? Beyond the aforementioned, my personal struggle with weight and mental health during the pandemic. At 32, I’m at a point where I’m becoming more comfortable with who I am and how I want to see myself reflected in this world. Message you hope it conveys? A balance of strength and vulnerability, highlighting how features like full lips and broad shoulders are beautiful—that people who look like this are beautiful. How did you “reinterpret” Mucha’s vision? I tried to incorporate his simple color palette (though mine may be a little more vibrant) and his use of a variety of lines and simple shapes. I also included wording/typography. It was important for me to include ‘La Representation Compte’ (Representation Matters). The most notable change is in my subject and her dark skin.
TORI “FNoRD” CARPENTER | @apostasy_fnord
For Carpenter, at 54, this achievement is epic. Having “only” started creating at 45, and without classical training, “it’s just amazing to be chosen,” she says. “It’s an honor and a joy to do this work for this special project.”
What beauty means to you? Beauty is poise; it’s confidence. If I see a woman who looks like she’s comfortable with who she is, that’s beautiful. For me, also, a person can become more beautiful as I get to know them and their spirit of ‘self’ shines through. How that’s reflected in your piece? I tried to choose a pose that showed self-confidence, then I gave her the curves and roundness of a fuller-figured woman. I wanted to steer clear of any sort of fetishized version of plus-size though (large breasts and butt, but tiny waist). I gave her a piercing and some tattoos too because I feel like these things are beautiful and speak to the times. Your inspiration? I’m enjoying the inclusionary looks used by many companies—some smaller companies especially that put all sorts of people in their ads. It gives me hope. Message you hope it conveys? A sense of beauty in the everyday average woman. I hope someone sees themselves in that pose, looking confident and gorgeous. How did you “reinterpret” Mucha’s vision? I took his usual lithe and unadorned model and thickened her up and made her more up-to-date.
“The beauty in this is knowing who you are and not apologizing for it. So many times Native people are put in a box, and in Khinsley’s series, the girls are free and really seem to embrace their place in the world today.”
ALISHA LOCKLEAR MONROE
Locklear Monroe, who has worked with the UNC Pembroke Museum of the Southeast American Indian, loves the idea of having artists reinterpret 100-year-old work, and considers her selection an absolute honor. “This is a great way to introduce master artists to contemporary artists of today. In doing so, you influence the art of today,” she says, adding: “It is always important to showcase diverse perspectives when working on a project such as this.”
What beauty means to you? Beauty to me comes from within. There is light that exudes from someone who has a beautiful heart and spirit. Obviously, beauty is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. How that’s reflected in your piece? The young lady I chose for inspiration has one of the purest hearts I know. She is definitely not someone who likes to have a spotlight on her, and that is what drew me to this image even more. The photo was shot in a series of works by a young Lumbee photographer, Teri Khinsley Locklear. Your inspiration? As soon as I was contacted about participating in this project, my first thought was this body of work. Khinsley chose to have the participants wear all white dresses and did a photoshoot with them at the river. The images and concept were breathtaking to me, and I thought using one of these images could help me portray what is beautiful in my eyes. Message you hope it conveys? I hope that my work brings forth an image of a modern Native voice. We don’t have to be photographed in a regalia to be Native, we can simply be who we are. How did you “reinterpret” Mucha’s vision? I interpreted Mucha’s work as being very ethereal looking and all of the women looked graceful. I look at how he married design so well with his realistic illustrations. His work is magnificent.
Six buildings are approved to soar to new heights—contending for title as Raleigh’s next tallest tower.
Walter Tower | 35 Stories 2022
Nary a soul will tell you the pandemic didn’t change the planet. But out of great pain historically rises innovation and growth. And when it comes to real estate—and Raleigh real estate specifically—the pandemic has served as a great accelerator.
Today, the City of Oaks is one of the nation’s top markets for development activity, period. Beyond the burning hot housing market (fueled by droves of new residents relocating from North, West and yonder) and influx of companies set to call our area home (think: Apple, Google and so on), Raleigh is also on the rise—literally.
Daily, Raleighites are inundated with news of the next tall tower proposed, approved or breaking ground. And repeatedly we hear that six-word qualifying phrase: “approved for up to 40 stories.” Why? Raleigh zoning ceilings are capped at heights of either 20 or 40 stories, meaning anything towering above 20 stories requires a 40-story zoning approval.
And developers take that buildup as a huge responsibility. One such tower creating a lot of buzz approved for up to 40 stories is the upcoming Phase 3 of Smoky Hollow, bound by Capital, Johnson, Harrington and Peace streets, by Kane Realty Corporation (alongside partner Williams Realty & Building Company Inc.). “We have zoning for up to 40 stories,” said Kane Realty’s director of design, Josie Reeves, in a sit-down interview with Raleigh Magazine. “And we will be thoughtful and humble about how we choose to use that opportunity that the city unanimously granted us. … And so what a huge opportunity for us to have right at that really high-traffic area … looking onto the future 14-acre Devereux Meadow Park, and really being able to thread it into the rest of Smoky Hollow.”
So as future towers emerge and 40-story zoning requests are approved (from the future Smoky Hollow Phase 3 to others already approved like 506 Capital Blvd., Downtown South, the Convention Development Project and more), we take a look at the projects that will transform Raleigh over the next several years—and which is likely to loom largest.
