More summer fun

The bouncy slide was a big hit at a downtown festival. 

 If only it was a water slide...  

 

Summer fun

On a hot day, you can't keep kids out of the fountain.

Why would you want to?

 

World Refugee Day

Last Saturday was World Refugee Day in downtown Raleigh.

It was a celebration of refugees from all over the world who enrich our community.  And also a time for refugees and their families to make connections with others.  

 

Gates

Courtyard gates at Marbles.

 

Happy Valentine's Day

Love is in the air, and on the wall at Marbles children's museum.

 

Marbles

Marbles is a children's museum in downtown Raleigh.  

Great for kids, but difficult to drag them out when it's time to go home.

The pirate ship is a favorite.

 

Skyline

 

The PNC building (left) and Truist building (right) from South street.

Tattoo?

This mural sits on the wall of a tattoo parlor.

If their work is this beautiful, I might be tempted...?

 

World Refugee day

Saturday was World Refugee Day with a celebration in downtown Raleigh.  Refugees and organizations that support refugees in Raleigh celebrated together.

A Ukranian children's dance group was a favorite.

A group from Burma performed as well.

 

On the edge

Downtown Raleigh keeps expanding.  Here on the edge, beyond the railroad tracks, building continues.

 

Sidewalk art

The sidewalks in part of downtown are decorated for walkers.

A hopscotch game.

A view of the Raleigh skyline.

It's part of the "Sip and Stroll" zone.  A large area in which you can buy alcoholic drinks to go and stroll through the area.

But don't leave the zone!

 

Nomo Die and Nommo Titiayn

 

This vinyl mural sits on a wall outside the Contemporary Museum of Art in downtown Raleigh.  Photographer Mikael Owunna created it by painting the models' bodies in ultraviolet paint and then photographing them in darkness with an ultraviolet light.  The artist's goal is to transform the images we see in Black bodies.

Nomo Die and Nommo Titiayn are twin gods in West African cosmology.   (See here)

Indian Summer

The artist, Ouizi, has planted flower murals all over the country. (see here) This one, titled Indian Summer, sits on the side of an auto parts store in downtown Raleigh.

 

Oaks and Spokes

 

This downtown mural is presented by Oaks and Spokes, and advocacy organization dedicated to making Raleigh a bike friendly city.  (see here)

Waiting

This little lady stands near the Contemporary Art Museum.  Who is she waiting for?

 

Rainbow Head

This "rainbow head"  sits at one entrance to Nash square, one of the downtown parks.   It took me a bit to see that it wasn't just a wiggly rainbow, it really is a face looking to the sky.

 

The Mount Rapmore of the 2010s

The mount Rushmore of 2010 rap.

Do you recognize them?  I only recognized a few.  I know, I know, we're showing our age.

They are J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Nikki Minaj.

There is a mural for these four in each of their hometowns.  J. Cole-Raleigh, Kendrick Lamar-Los Angeles, Drake-Toronto, and Nikki Minaj-New York.

Here in Raleigh they watch over a parkinglot in downtown.

 

Fiction Kitchen

Do they cook up novels here?  or is the food not real?

No, it's a vegan restaurant in downtown Raleigh.

 

Eat

This restaurant reminds me of Seinfeld.  It's not the same as the one used in the series, but it's similar.  (see here)

 

Out and About

This little family strolls on the wall of a building downtown.

The mural, called Out and About is by artist Kaylee Calhoun.  See here for more about the art and artist.