Coming Soon to Downtown Greensboro
I'm pretty excited about the work in progress that is downtown Greensboro. Here are a few of the things coming to the center city in the near future to which I'm most looking forward:
1. Hemingway's Downtown--a (supposedly) swanky new martini bar opening up on the first floor of the Elm Street Center (the home of the Empire Room and the Idiot Box) in April 2005. Even though downtown is heavy on the drinking establishments currently, we're still missing a jazzy, sophisticated place that doesn't blast its music.
2. First Horizon Stadium--the new baseball stadium also opening in April. It should add some excitement and variety to the mix of entertainment offerings in the center city.
3. Smothers Place Lofts--the first phase is nearing completion, and the development group is making significant headway on the renovation of the old Carolina Hotel on McGee Street into 4 live/work units. The 37+ resident/owners that this will bring downtown is great.
5. Center City Park--construction on the permanent center city park at Friendly and North Elm is scheduled to begin in June 2005. The plans for the new park look awesome--including a cool fountain, many trees and quiet shady spots, a green area for concerts, bathrooms, plantings, paths, etc. It will be cool.
6. 4 Mile Greenway Circling the Center City--although it will not be fully implemented for 10 years, the first stretch (known as the "Miracle Mile") from Spring Garden to somewhere in the Lake Daniel area should be complete in the next year or two. The bike trail/walking path will connect with the adjoining neighborhoods and reflect the area of downtown through which it passes, and it will connect with the greater framework of trails throughout Greensboro ultimately.
7. Large Music Venue--Milton Kern (a major downtown Greensboro developer) is developing a music venue in the South Elm/Lee Street area of downtown that will rival (or at least be similar to) Ziggy's in Winston and Cat's Cradle in Carrboro. It should be open within the year.
8. Extreme Makeover of Downtown Building--Action Greensboro is funding an extreme facade makeover of the building on the corner of South Elm and Washington Street, the home of "Thousands O' Prints." The makeover will take place this spring and will be a high profile three day event (analogous to the TV show's format). A charrette was held this weekend to get an idea of what the community wants to see done. The highly visible structure needs a renovation badly.
9. Minj--A new restaurant opening in the 300 block of South Elm. I have no idea what type of place it will be (the name sounds Asian or Indian), but it should add some needed diversity to the mix of dining options.
10. 2 Way Greene Street--I know it's dorky to get excited about this, but the City is going to implement significant streetscape improvements to Greene Street including making it two way, adding parking in the center of the street and putting in a roundabout at the corner of McGee and Greene. I think this will make Greene more pedestrian friendly and downtown easier to navigate.
10 Comments:
Minj will feature wings, salads and more! It still sounds good!
Hemmingways is definitely going to be an upscale establishment catering to the 30+ crowd. I've recently been privy to the interior which includes a piano, leather furniture, a granite bar and detailed wood appointments.
It will be nice to have a place downtown that you can come to after dinner or a movie and enjoy the company of your friends without having to scream over a band. (Don't get me wrong, I love live loud bands, but we've already got enough of those!)
Should be a great alternative!
Does anyone else know about the slang word minge?
Minj Grille offers the best wings you will ever put in your mouth! Delicious 1/2 pound burgers, Awesome rib eye steak sandwiches, pasta, soups, salads, and more! They have Sunday Ticket and 6 tv's! This is definately the place to be for great food and fun. The owners are in their mid 30's and makin' it happen!
The Minj in Ming Grille stands for their family names. Matt, India, Niki and Jordyn. I don't know about the other spelling you have there.
Minje? don't know, but there is not an "e" on their name.
Hemmingways?! Oh, Please! I'm sorry, but I have to say that my visit to this establishment lasted all of 10 minutes and those ten minutes included walking in only to be signed in on the guest book to this exclusive, "members only" bar (i'm assuming that they didn't want certain people to visit), walk to the bar and order a very overpriced martini ($10) I had the Nightmare on Elm St. (its name says it all-to drink it was a nightmare-it tasted horrible). My friend ordered a chocolate martini for the same price only to find that the only thing chocolate about it was the candy kiss at the bottom of the glass-it was disgusting. Our visit ended rather abruptly-we placed our unfinished glasses on the ledge (nearly 3/4 full) and walked out the door. The people were uptight and snobby-the only way to describe it was like watching a bunch of people who just discovered designer jeans and black leather jackets to only feel very self conscious about doing so~stiff and unapproachable. Folks, the decor is gorgeous, the music okay, but i wouldn't recommend it to anyone-1.5 out of 5 stars. Suggestions: get some bartenders that know how to make a drink, lose the attitude (way to much for podunk G'Boro) and forget the "members only" guestbook.
Our Visit to Much:
Um, can we say~ Way to MUCH attitude! I mean, c'mon. The sexy girls at the door wearing wings and stating: "we'll allow you to enter". The bar is beautiful, if you like Morocco. The atmosphere felt a bit forced. Unless you have reservations and connections, you won't be able to enjoy all this place has to offer. I didn't order a drink so i can't comment on the bartending staff. I attempted to enter the third floor dance floor only to be met by not 1, not 2, but 3 bouncers at the door~who were they expecting? This kind of rodeo roundup put me off instantly. Again, much like the posting made in reference to Hemingway's, the staff is as stiff as an ironing board, the clientel, well, they were wearing designer jeans and black leather jackets. I give it a 2 out of 5 stars.
I've never been a huge plan of either place--both are quite cheesy. Although everyone raves about the interior of Hemmingway's, I think it's way too Pier One. And the piano player isn't really martini-bar-cool. I've never been too let down by their drinks or bartenders, but its way too overpriced for Greensboro. The clientele of Hemmingways are the same clientele of Much, only ten years younger.
Much offers a cool atmosphere, but makes it cheesy instead of cool by trying too hard. I like Heaven, but have the same opinion of it.
WOW--I'm being very critical and maybe a little mean. But I am not the target demographic of either place, so it's fine that neither suits me.
hie i really like ypuir post.its seemm too beree soo gud.
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