Chamber of Commerce

} } Cape Fear Botanical Garden A Fayetteville find is about to get even better: The Cape Fear Botanical Garden is building a new visitors pavilion that will feature a beautiful orangery, plus a children’s garden, classroom space and a garden store. But don’t wait until early 2011 to visit all 79 acres with more than 2,000 varieties of plants including special camellia, daylilly and hosta gardens. The gardens offer tours and year-round events including children’s camps in August, fall and spring plant sales, Heritage Festival in October and May Day in the spring. - Allison Williams There’s a fresh new sound coming from the tunes of the 1950s and ’60s, days when soldiers and civilians swung to the beat at Fort Bragg. Swing is back and so is one of the All thatJazz bands behind the music: the Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra has been revived. Thanks to the interpretations of Dr. Neal Finn, the orchestra’s musical director and arranger, the beat is back and with a twist. He just hopes that the community catches on to the sound, drawing in younger fans. The orchestra offers what all music lovers appreciate: an invigorating energy that resonates through its songs. So for those who like listening to good local music or want to dance to it, or both, the Fayetteville Jazz Band is hip to it. Big band music is back, said Geron Gambill, band manager and lead trumpeter. “Not a dance band or an electronic band, but a true swing band.” - Nathan Walls Even on the steamiest summer day, the ice is always cold at Cleland Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on Fort Bragg. The indoor ice-skating rink is open year-round and to the public, offering open skate sessions, pick-up hockey games and lessons for all ages. You might even catch a glimpse of the FireAntz – Fayetteville’s hockey team practices there when the Crown Coliseum is unavailable. It’s enough to give some Northerners a feeling of home while living in the South. “So many of us from the north are born with skates on our feet,” says Liz Egetoe, a Michigan native and the rink’s skating director. On a typical Saturday, girls cluster together on the ice, whispering and giggling while boys zip around, racing each other and hoping to impress the girls. Private and group lessons are held most weekday afternoons and evenings. Families come during public skate sessions to spend time together, and couples travel to Cleland for dates on the ice. - Rebekah Sanderlin www.FayettevilleNCChamber.org | 27 C Funooland Want to know more? The rink is open for public skating seven days a week. Children five and under skate for $1, except on Tuesdays. For more information, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com or call 910.396.5127.

• Cover