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/726972
4 SEPTEMBER 14-20, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Best Place to Commune With Nature Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N. Eastern Boulevard 910.486.0221 or www.capefearbg.org Cape Fear Botanical Garden is a natural beauty situated on an impressive 80-acres nestled between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek, jus two miles from downtown Fayetteville. Flourishing with beautiful specialty gardens and blooming ornamental plants, the Garden's mission is to transform people's relationship with plants wand the natural world. Visitors of all ages are welcome to expand their horizons through engag- ing educational and cultural programs, explore and refresh while strolling along scenic trails, be inspired while taking a guided tour or visiting a farmstead. They can energize themselves by viewing an art exhibit or Holiday Lights, enjoy shopping in the destina- tion Gift Shop and so much more. The lovely Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex is the per- fect complement to the natural beauty, making it a premier venue for weddings, military functions, proms, business meetings and celebrations — small and large, intimate and grand. Visit Cape Fear Botanical Garden and you'll see firsthand why it is naturally the "Best Place to Commune With Nature! Best Local Festival Dogwood Festival 145 Person St. 910.323.1934 or www.faydogwoodfestival.com When the Dogwood festival first started, it was a celebration that spanned a couple of weeks and had more activities and events than any one person could pos- sibly take in over the course of the two weeks. The festival was also spread all along Hay Street. Over time, the festival moved to Festival Park and cut down to one whole weekend packed with events, music, food and fun. It is still more than most people can take in, but you can pace yourself. Go to the carnival on Friday night, Take in great live music and watch the fireworks that night as well. On Saturday, the festival is in full swing with vendor booths, food, activities, live shows and so much more. Sunday the pace is a little slower, but it is still worth the drive downtown. Of course, not content to rest on their laurels, the organizers of the festival have expanded again, offering great fall events (particularly Halloween) and in the sum- mer bringing great music to Festival Park for Fayetteville After 5. And, you can't forget the Food Truck Festival, which brings some of the best eats in the state to the community for a weekend full of fun and music.. The Dogwood Festival has long been a great spring Fayetteville tradition, but now it has become a force for fun all year long. There is no doubt why our readers voted the Dogwood Festival the Best Local Festival - The Dogwood Festival is all Fayetteville, all fun, all year long!!! Best Change in Fayetteville New Businesses For many years, the lament was that nothing new ever came to Fayetteville and that we couldn't attract new business. That sentiment has changed greatly over the past couple of years, as new retail store and restaurants have popped up throughout the city. Take a drive down Skibo Road if you want to see signs of progress. The old Marketfaire Mall has had a face lift and has opened up outdoor shopping. Further down the road, a line of new restaurants dot the land- scape: Mission BBQ, World of Beer, Mod Pizza, McCalister's Deli are just a few of the restaurants that have recently added their flavor to Fayetteville's landscape. Further down, Academy Sports and its neighbor, Burlington Coat Factory, are garnering a lot of attention. The mall has also continued to grow with talk about future expansion floating through the air. While national chains have finally understood the Fayetteville market is one in which their companies will not only survive, but thrive, the county is still stumped at breaking the code of bringing bigger business, with higher wages to our community. But our readers cel- ebrate the progress to date and look forward to more to come. New busi- nesses are definitely something to brag about. Worst Change/Worst use of Local Tax Dollars Medians and Traffic With more people heading into Fayetteville to shop and dine — thanks to the new busi- nesses mentioned above — traffic has really take a turn for the worse. All American fre- quently resembles a parking lot and since con- struction on the median project began, Owen Drive has definitely been a cluster. Focus down- town and more medians are popping up. Have you seen the mess in front of Up &Coming's Corporate Office? The new median installed makes it impossible to turn left into the office. You either have to go to the light and make a U-turn or go around the block and come in through the back of the parking lot. We are sure there is some rhyme or reason to the onslaught of medians that are attacking our city, but it seems that our readers find them more of hindrance than a help, and they certainly have been creating traffic snarls over the past year. Best Local Landmark Market House The Market House sits senti- nel over downtown. Its broad columns and artistic arches are part of the fabric of downtown. It has stood watch over the city and its changing nature for more than 200 years. Some love it, some see it as a sign of oppres- sion because slaves were sold in the street in front of it. Those of us who frequent downtown know it is a welcoming place to rest. It's a place to talk and just soak in the beauty of downtown. At Thanksgiving, we march to it with candlelight filled with goodwill. During the Annual Prayer Walk, we gather under its arches to pray for unity. The Market House is a landmark that has stood the test of time, and one many are happy to celebrate. CITY LIFE CITY LIFE