Raleigh

Community-focused posts

There are 776 posts filed in Raleigh (this is page 61 of 78).

RBC Plaza

Walking around downtown this past Friday I came to a realization about the RBC Plaza. In essence, Raleigh’s tallest building comes up short in a few important ways.

As some have mentioned before, the setback from the street is far too narrow. Pedestrians never get a feel for how tall it is because from the street level it looks like any other dull building in downtown Raleigh. It might look unique from the top but it certainly doesn’t look unique from the bottom. You could walk right by and miss it.

Part of the problem is the lobby of the building. A large, open lobby would’ve conveyed the building’s grand height to those entering it. Instead the building has a modest lobby with modest ceilings. It doesn’t have the lobby of a 33-story building but the lobby of a five-story building.

One day downtown Raleigh will get the flash it needs to get noticed. The RBC Plaza misses the mark.

Power outage

We lost power last night right after my last post. Tree branches wandered into the power lines on Glascock Street near Norris. I used the opportunity to visit neighbors.

Summertime power outages create impromptu block parties. I talked to more neighbors in 30 minutes than I could’ve in a year. They’re great people, too.

The power returned after 90 minutes but the friendships continue.

First Parks and Rec board meeting

This afternoon I attend my first Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Advisory Board (PRGAB) meeting as a board member. I’ve already dug int my agenda packet and am mulling my role. There are a handful of committees that I can choose from to get even more involved, such as the Parks committee, Greenways committee, and the Mordecai House committee, for starters. I don’t know how I want to divide my time but I’ll figure it out.

If any Raleighites want to attend the meeting, you’re welcome to do so as they’re public meetings. You can join me at 5:30 at the Jaycees Park Module Building, 2405 Wade Avenue. Or better yet give me a ride, as I’m otherwise taking the bus.

Hosting multiple networks on a WRT54G

I was looking for some hints on an issue I’m having with the company wireless access point. Googling, as it often does, turned up something else useful: a wireless-savvy geek has figured out how to host multiple wireless networks on his WRT54G.

Why is this useful? Say you’re a giving guy, you know you have more bandwidth than you typically use, and want to make that extra bandwidth available to the public while not exposing your internal network. OpenWRT and a Linksys WRT54G can do this.
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Greg Hatem wide open

I had to come to work this morning to work on the company network. As I walked out of the building to grab some coffee I saw downtown developer Greg Hatem walking south down Fayetteville Street, soaked to the bone. He was wearing his typical white collared shirt and black shorts with sandals, only now his shirt was wind-whipped and completely soaked through.

The remnants of Raleigh Wide Open are scattered around downtown. Vendor tents lie upturned on the sidewalk, partially shredded by the wind. The gusting wind is occasionally punctuated by the metallic bang of another tent pole crashing into the street. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to keep the celebration going after all (though I’m sure the musical acts would’ve been tough to re-book). Its a shame the weather hasn’t cooperated.

Raleigh now Wide Open

Raleigh is officially Wide Open now as the city’s festivities have begun. I couldn’t help but notice as Big Mama E and The Cool took the Cherry Bounce stage, 50 yards from my office window. The music is kicking but quite distracting while we’re working to finish up a big project before the weekend starts. Still, its good to see all the people wandering downtown. I think officials made the right call in deciding the show must go on.

Here’s a map of festivities so you can know where to get down with thy bad self.