I have never once visited Charlotte and thought “this city needs more trees” 
3 Likes
I’ll take quality over quantity every time
Sorry, Cary downtown has Pullen Park beat
Pullen looks like vegas alright, if that’s your thing. I like the classy illuminated immersion over in the 'burbs better though. Add to that the Japanese lantern festival. It’s amazing there.
agreed
Lafayette Village is cringe. Who thought that would fit in…anywhere?
Thankfully I don’t have to drive anywhere near it more than once every few years but it’s just so cheesy. Right up there with a Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, only “French.”
1 Like
Yes, that was sarcasm…
1 Like
THANK GOD lololololol extra chars
In an “on the other side” part of the discussion. While I agree that Lafayette Village isn’t an authentic European experience, I also don’t hate it. I would rank it as one of the better looking shopping centers around. Is it fake European… sure, but I like there was at least an attempt to make it look nice. I wish it was bigger. The location isn’t that great and I hate Falls of Neuse Rd. I was there a few days ago (Click here).
3 Likes
My mother lives near Lafayette Village. I’ve personally never been there. It’s certainly in an odd location for something that bills itself as a village.
It’s odd and in a weird location. But it’s definitely better than 95% of all generic strip malls around. At least they tried something different. I’ll take it, but I think I’ve only been there once in over 10 years of living in Raleigh.
8 Likes
I work around the corner from it and visit the Jubala for coffee frequently! They also have a DAMN GOOD sandwich shop https://southerncraftsandwiches.com/
4 Likes
The scale of it would suggest that this sort of development could live in the middle of some neighborhoods, not on a busy artery that is funneling folks to an Interstate. Think the Town Center at Wendell Falls as an example of a place where this could be.
2 Likes
I’ve been there maybe 4 or 5 times since they opened, but it’s a hike from where I live now. I virtually never go to that area of Raleigh. I’ve been to a couple of like holiday or Oktoberfest type festival things that were okay, and I took my mom there once. It’s definitely creative compared to most suburban strip malls, but it’s also kind of tacky/silly. I don’t mind it existing though.
4 Likes
You can’t beat the quality of shopping malls in Europe. One of the reasons Triangle Town Mall failed is its cheap quality construction that isn’t pleasant to be inside.
7 Likes
If you love Europe so much, why don’t you move there?
Oh…
1 Like
How about the Halifax Mall for the Raleigh Christmas Village? Plenty of space, easier to secure, parking is ample.
Karla and I are sitting at a bar in Key West trying to figure out where to host the German-style Christmas Village in Raleigh. 
Edit: The Depot parking lot? Amtrak access, RUS BUS access.
6 Likes
When South St. is bisected by the new RedHat, possibly closing that first block east of it for a month-long market could work? Close it for most of the block between the two entrances to the parking garage. That location is walkable to RedHat for the skating, the performing arts center for patrons to the holiday shows, and is immediately adjacent to a garage for those who want to drive there.
2 Likes
As long as it can be protected from cars. I feel like this kind of thing happens with some regularity, intentionally or not.
1 Like
I’ll tell Karla you don’t like her ideas.
1 Like
Its the wild west over here in Leipzig. Cars and trams are allowed to go through the busy Christmas markets simply because entire city center becomes a mega Christmas market. So many people ive seen almost run over by street trams.
2 Likes
We’ll just keep the parade away from it. FWIW, and ever since that car plowed through that pedestrian street in France several years ago, Miami Beach put up these huge concrete planters to prevent cars from “accidentally” entering the pedestrian mall.
And with that, I’ve brought the conversation back on topic!
4 Likes
Ha! Resembles the Boltman household. St. Nick must have a magnetic personality or other attributes….
2 Likes
i thought there had been irishy-themed pubs nearby for many years.