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.
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its arches. It has served as a seat of government, with its second fl oor housing the town hall. It has educated our community, when it served as a library; and brought culture to it when it served as an art museum. Bands have played on its steps. Fireworks have illuminated the sky above it, protesters have exercised their freedom under it, and tragically, slaves were sold there. Just as a community has its shining moments in history and its tainted ones, the buildings that stand the test of time do as well. The Market House has risen above its less than savory times, and has come a beloved and cherished symbol of the spirit of our community. Best Things to Hide from Out of Towners Bragg Boulevard Okay, it’s been a long time since Bragg Boulevard got any love. But there’s good news! With the creation of the N.C. State Veterans Park and the infusion of some $14 million dollars into the land designated for the park, Bragg Boulevard — or at least part of Bragg Boulevard — is getting a facelift. The section of Bragg Boulevard adjacent to downtown will defi nitely become rejuvenated thanks to the new park. It’s already started. Take a look at the construction, and then project out another year or so. That end of the boulevard will knock your socks off. City offi cials hope that the beautifi cation of one part of the dreaded road, will slowly take root and move up the strip, much like it did downtown. We can only hope they are right! What Fayetteville Needs Most Parking Downtown For Fayetteville citizens visiting the city center and fi nding a parking place may just remind them of the sad scene in Oliver! where Oliver approaches the master of the orphanage to ask for more food. But instead of going bowl-in-hand to ask for food, Fayetteville residents are going keys-in-hand and asking quite forlornly for more parking: “Please Mr. Mayor, May I park without getting a ticket or having to run out every hour on the hour to move my car?” Paid parking is going to become a staple in our city, and a parking garage is going to become a reality. Fayetteville readers have spoken. The Fayetteville City Council has heard you. Can we get any love from the county on this issue? Worst Change to Fayetteville in 2010 The Closing of the Fayetteville Museum of Art Up & Coming Weekly has been a strong advocate of the arts in our community since the paper was started more than 15 years ago. As such, we have had a love (sometimes didn’t understand) affair with the Fayetteville Museum of Art. So it was with great sadness that we read the press release announcing the closing of the Fayetteville Museum of Art. You, our readers, who are also culturally savvy and understand the importance of the arts to a growing community shared our sadness, and showed it by voting the closing of the museum as the Worst Thing to Happen In Fayetteville in 2009. We think you hit the mark with this vote. Thank you for voting us Best Place To Buy Local Art 433-2986 • 148-1 Maxwell St. (Adjacent to the Transportation Museum) WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2010 BEST OF FAYETTEVILLE 19