Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1029086
SEPTEMBER 19-25, 2018 UCW 7 Best of Fayetteville Thing to Hide from Out-of-Town Visitors Bragg Boulevard Another year, another win for Bragg Boulevard, if it can be called a win. We can't help but wonder when this mainstay for the worst category in Best of Fayetteville will finally get the help it needs to turn the corner. After all, the six-ish-mile stretch isn't all bad. Yes, it has bars and strip clubs that draw partiers, mischief and testosterone-filled hijinks – but it's also home to many of Fayetteville's favorite restaurants, muse- ums, bars and high-end spas. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum, Saigon Bistro, Mary Bills, Thai Pepper and Renaissance European Day Spa are all on Bragg Boulevard and have all been voted Best of Fayetteville winners at least once if not multiple times. Take into consideration the Villagio apartment complex, the 2.5 miles of newly paved road and the many respectable family-run businesses, and one could argue that change is afoot. Once the gateway to Fort Bragg, seeing tens of thousands of cars each day, the boulevard is no longer an entrance to the post – but perhaps it can regain its status as an important part of our city rather than a blight we want to hide from out-of-towners. What Downtown Fayetteville Needs Most Family entertainment What? Really? Wow. Now this is really puzzling, but in a good way. Maybe Up & Coming Weekly readers are trying to avoid the hustle, hassle and congestion of the Skibo Road Mall area and would like to enjoy the peace, tranquility and hometown feeling that being downtown can bring. Well, we must agree that, with the exception of Fascinate-U Children's Museum and The Climbing Place, there are not that many things for families to engage in when there is not a community event being staged like the Dogwood Festival, Taste of Fayetteville, Fayetteville After Five, 4th Friday and the upcom- ing International Folk Festival. However, things are kinda changing down there with the addition of our new baseball stadium and the other more than $60 million of development. As more and more families occupy downtown properties, we will see more and more family-related activities. It would be nice to find an appropriate place downtown for the newly pro- posed $1 million skateboard park – somewhere it gets high visibility and expo- sure. The popular Rowan Street Park is a beautiful location but will do little to showcase the amenities of our community. Families love amenities! Patience for downtown. Now, when you look at what we have to offer countywide, it's a different story. Anyone who thinks family entertainment is lacking in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community only need to flip through this or any issue of Up & Coming Weekly to see what they are missing. Be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone and visit these great events, venues, organizations and busi- nesses. You will have a tough time getting around to all the family-related hap- penings. Enjoy them!