downtown

GC5 Vintage & Gifts is hosting an opening on Sunday, Feb. 21 of art by Son Shine Photography. This is the first time Son Shine has had an exhibit in GC5's building on S. White Street in Downtown Wake Forest.

The opening is 2 to 5 p.m. and there will be a tasting of Wheatstone Homegrown products.

On Thursday, January 28, Ann Ayers was honored as a 2009 Main Street Champion at the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in New Bern, N.C. She was selected for this special recognition by the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation in appreciation of her exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process.

Along with Champions from 33 other communities, Ayers received a certificate commemorating her designation, presented by N.C. Secretary of Commerce J. Keith Crisco, Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll, Assistant Secretary for Community Development Joseph D. Crocker, Division of Community Assistance Director Gloria Nance-Sims and Office of Urban Development Director Liz Parham.

Each of the state’s active Main Street programs is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The dedication and hard work of countless volunteers is required to make a local Main Street program successful, and the Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of those persons who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.

The Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation today announced that two local projects were recognized for their excellence and received top honors in the 2009 N.C. Main Street Awards competition.

In the category of Best Innovation, the South White Street Streetscape Enhancement Project Weekly Update earned an Award of Merit.

In the category of Best Printed Promotional Item: Graphics, Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation’s Shopping Rack Cards also received an Award of Merit.

The N.C. Main Street Program’s annual awards competition recognizes the outstanding achievements of particpating communities in categories reflecting the four areas emphasized by Main Street: organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion. This year’s entries were judged by a panel that included staff from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Division of Community Assistance’s piedmont regional office and the N.C. Main Street program.

Hands for Haiti, a fundraiser for Haitian relief, will be held at Crossroads Entertainment on Friday, February 12 beginning at 4 p.m.

Create your own individual hand casting ($10 donation requested). A live auction at 9 p.m. will feature local artists’ hand castings.

Live music by the benevolent rock band Spot will play throughout the evening. A $5 donation is requested at the door or you may purchase a $5 medallion at downtown merchants to enter the event.

Hands for Haiti is presented by the Creative Arts Network for Community Action (CANCA). All proceeds go to Haiti relief efforts through Hearts with Haiti and the American Red Cross.
For more information about this event visit www.CANCA.org

Fall in Love with Downtown during the weekend of February 12-14.

Friday, February 12—Art After Hours

Take a free horse-and-carriage ride along South White Street between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (weather permitting). Downtown merchants will host live music, wine tastings and artist openings.

Saturday, February 13

Strolling tenor Phillip Ogle and his accompaniment will serenade downtown visitors and will hand out a small treat for the ladies.

His group will perform 3-part harmony at these locations: