 FIRST
FRIDAY—WHAT'S NEW IN 2008?
When: Friday, January 4 (6 pm-9 pm)
Where: Downtown Raleigh
Friday, January 4, 2008 kicks off the New Year with a re-invigorated
First Friday Gallery Walk. First Friday is a free event that is
open to the public and attracts hundreds of people to downtown
the first Friday of every month. The First Friday Gallery Walk
offers the public an opportunity to enjoy the openings of new gallery
exhibitions, eat downtown and explore the art community. Come join
the hundreds of people who already enjoy this very popular self-guided
gallery walk and see how it has changed.
What's new about First Friday this year? Now, the event offers
a First Friday Trolley. The trolley connects the
five downtown districts so it's faster and easier to get around
downtown and visit a wide range of different galleries and restaurants
in one night. The trolley is FREE and runs from
6 pm-9 pm with seven different stops throughout downtown.
For the January 4 kick-off, a new 2008 map/guide will
be available listing all of the 45 participating galleries, restaurants
and retail outlets. The map/guide also highlights the First Friday
Specials offered by the restaurants and bars. Additionally, it
features the First Friday Trolley Route and Stops. All participating
establishments will have the map/guides available as well as an
official First Friday flag displayed outside their building. The
displayed flag enables patrons to walk down the street and visually
identify event participants.
Also new in 2008 is the updated First Friday web-site (GoDowntownRaleigh.com/FirstFriday).
It serves as the main source of information for the event. It is
hoped that this enhancement program helps create a sense of cohesiveness
among participating businesses and increases public awareness of
the event in downtown.
First Friday is generously supported by the City of Raleigh Arts
Commission, Downtown Raleigh Alliance and Ms. Jessie Cannon.
For more information, click here.
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 NC
THEATRE PRESENTS DREAMGIRLS
When: Friday, January 11: (7 pm-Student Preview
Night: ALL TICKETS are $10 for students & educators with a
valid I.D.);
Saturday, January 12 (8 pm);
Sunday, January 13 (2 pm);
Tuesday, January 15-Friday, January 18 (8 pm);
Saturday, January 19 (2 pm, 8 pm);
Sunday, January 20 (2 pm, 7 pm)
Where: Memorial
Auditorium at Progress Energy Center
NC Theatre kicks off its 25th anniversary season with the spirit
of Motown in Dreamgirls, the latest stage-to-screen
phenomenon that swept the Academy and Golden Globes in 2007!
The "Dreamettes," a hopeful singing trio from Detroit, desire
to break into show business and quickly realize that with big
dreams come the realties of heartache, triumphs, breakups and
even love.
Quiana Parler will star as "Effie White" in the production and
will make her debut on the NC Theatre stage in January! Quiana
has spent the last four years touring with Clay Aiken and has
also performed with artists such as Kelly Clarkson and Keith
Sweat. She has performed on Saturday Night Live, The
View, NBC's Today Show, The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Tyra and
numerous other national television programs.
"Quiana is one of THE most amazing vocalists and performers
I know. During the last four years of singing on stage with her
every night, I've discovered she really brings out the best in
everyone!" -Clay Aiken
For more information, click here.
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 LUCIA
DI LAMMERMOOR
When: Thursday, January 17 & Saturday, January
19 (7:30 pm);
Sunday, January 20 (3 pm)
Where: A.J.
Fletcher Opera Theater at Progress Energy Center
A doomed romance unfolds in the Lammermoor District of Scotland,
where arranged marriages and secret lovers ring around each other in
fury, loss, and madness. The intertwining fates of many
collide with emotion and ultimately, despair.
Lucia di Lammermoris Donizetti’s crowning achievement and
epitome of the Bel Canto (Beautiful Singing) style.
The Opera Company of North Carolina and the Asheville Lyric Opera
will co-produce this powerful opera drama in the intimate confines
of the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater.
For more information, click here.
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 NEUSE
RIVERKEEPER FILM FESTIVAL
When: Saturday, January 19 (7 pm-11 pm)
Where: North Carolina Museum
of History and North
Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Enjoy the 3rd Annual Neuse Riverkeeper Film
Festival. Independent
films captivate the senses in this diverse collection, ranging
from fiction to award winning documentaries. A mix of short and
feature length films.
$10 festival pass for the evening lets you view your choice
of films.
Proceeds benefit the Neuse River Foundation.
For more information, click here.
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 27TH ANNUAL MARTIN
LUTHER KING MEMORIAL MARCH
When: Monday, January 21 (Assembly-10 am;
Memorial March-11 am)
Where: Downtown Raleigh
For the 27th consecutive year, The Raleigh/Wake Martin Luther
King Celebration Committee is pleased to sponsor a flagship King
Holiday presentation of wholesome, family-oriented, multi-racial
events.
To view all events sponsored by the Raleigh/Wake Martin Luther
King Celebration Committee, click here.
Assembly for the Martin Luther King Memorial March will begin
at 10 am at the State Capitol Building.
For more information, click here.
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CATS
When:
Tuesday, January 22-Friday, January 25 (8 pm); Saturday,
January 26 (2 pm, 8 pm); Sunday, January 27 (2 pm, 7 pm)
Where: Memorial
Auditorium at Progress Energy Center
There's no better way to introduce your family to the wonders
of live theater than with the magic, the mystery, the memory of
CATS. What began as a musical about cats after Andrew Lloyd Webber
picked up a book of poems in an airport bookshop has become one
of the longest running shows in Broadway's history. Winner of seven
Tony Awards including Best Musical, CATS features 20 of Andrew
Lloyd Webber's timeless melodies, including the hit song, "Memory."
For more information, click here.
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 ASTRONOMY DAYS
When: Saturday, January 26 (9 am-5 pm);
Sunday, January 27 (12 noon-5 pm)
Where: NC
Museum of Natural Sciences
A day of astronomical proportions featuring out-of-this-world
presentations, a cosmic array of exhibits and a universe of activities
that will send you into orbit! From lens-grinding tips for dedicated
stargazers to launching homemade rockets on the plaza, there’ll
be fun for everyone.
For more information, click here.
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COUPONS AND
HALF-OFF GIFT CERTIFICATES
Coupons:
 To
access the coupon for Iatria, click here.
Half off gift certificates. Purchase
a gift certificate for half the price of its value. (For example,
buy a $50 gift certificate for only $25.) Limited supply available.
 To
access the certificate available for purchase, click here.
 To access the certificate for purchase, click here.
 To access the certificate for purchase, click here.
 To access the certificate for purchase, click here.
 To access the certificate for purchase, click here.
 To access the certificate for purchase, click here.
 To
access the certificate for purchase, click here.
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THE
LATEST EDITION OF THE RALEIGH DOWNTOWNER
The Raleigh Downtowner offers monthly news on downtown
Raleigh: entertainment, dining, arts & culture, fashion,
history, wine, and much more.
To view the latest edition and/or to view archived issues, click
here.
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NEW HEADQUARTERS MOVING TO DOWNTOWN
Calgary, Alberta-based Optimal
Technologies Inc. announced that it will
move its headquarters from Canada to Downtown Raleigh. The
relocation is expected to create 325 jobs including
positions in management, marketing, software programming,
engineering and design over the next three years.
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