Podcast appearances and mentions of morgan square

With a redesign plan for Morgan Square poised to be taken up by City Council in the coming months, one question many may have is how the space can attract more visitors on a regular basis. Long a focal point for some of Downtown Spartanburg's most successful large events, the City's focus now turns to ways to increase Morgan Square's use as a daily communal gathering spot for less structured, smaller scale activity. In other words, what can the City do to ensure that the new Morgan Square is more than just a pretty space? Today on the podcast, we're talking with Dan Biederman of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV) about exactly that. Working concurrently with the process that created Morgan Square's new design, the team at BRV recently completed a programing plan for the space focused on establishing a daily hum of activity and ensuring that Spartanburg's most prominent public space can reach its full potential, connecting residents and visitors with the square more routinely and boosting foot traffic for the entire downtown footprint. A renowned expert on programming public spaces, Dan Biederman's work includes the dramatic turnaround of Bryant Park in New York, which in the 70s and 80s was the city's most dangerous park. Today, Bryant Park is an international model of urban revitalization and is among the most actively used parks in the world. Thanks to the work of BRV, the model pioneered there has since become a template for creating successful programming models for public spaces throughout the country. 

On the heels of the recent Council update on the City's plan to enhance Morgan Square, we recently sat down with representatives from the design firm responsible for creating the square's new design, Brenda Diaz-Flores and Darren Meyer with MKSK, to discuss how the design was created and what residents can expect before construction on the new square begins next year. Development of the Morgan Square plan was guided by a select steering committee of local leaders, downtown stakeholders, and area residents, representing the culmination of nine months of sustained public outreach and engagement. Enhancements envisioned by the plan include permanently pedestrianizing the sections of W Main and Dunbar streets along the square, creating festival streets that will both increase the functional size of Morgan Square and create a cohesive feel across the entire space. Additionally, an enlarged performance lawn at the square's eastern end would have adjacent public restrooms and a staffed visitor center, and a new stage orientation would allow upwards of 800 audience members to enjoy performances.  Other highlights include lounging terraces, bench swings, an outdoor dining zone for adjacent restaurants, a 70 percent increase in Morgan Square's total green space, and potentially a programmable water feature. 

It took a series of sad losses to turn banker Channon Kennedy into an entrepreneur. If a friend hadn't lost his son and if Channon's mother and sister hadn't been diagnosed with cancer, she never would have designed, prototyped, manufactured, and started selling the Morgan Square, a tool that can save carpenters time while framing a project. Shannon is just getting started, but we'll keep in touch as her journey continues.

If you've had the opportunity to view the , you've likely noticed that all of the proposals include an abundant amount of tree canopy. Owing to feedback from residents and stakeholders throughout the process so far, it's clear that the importance of natural shade and the welcoming feel provided by mature trees will certainly be a major factor in whatever shape the final enhancement design takes. While placing trees in many parks can be as simple as selecting the right tree and the right location to plant it, the challenge is much greater in a bustling city center where the regular thumping of tens of thousands of footsteps compresses soil, where surrounding hardscape limits the amount of rain reaching tree roots, and where well over a century of underground infrastructure creates a tangle of sometimes unknown obstacles and complications.  What does a sustainable canopy for Morgan Square look like when the lifespan of urban trees is often 10-20 years? What do we know about the conditions of the trees currently on and around Morgan Square, and what remains hidden underground? What strategies and new technologies can help extend the lifespan of new trees, and what can be done to improve conditions for existing trees that remain after the redesign? Today on the podcast, we're talking with ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and consultant for Morgan Square enhancement process, Jonathan Simmons about his assessment of the square's trees and what our city can do to create a sustainable canopy for its future.

Morgan Square has been the most important public gathering space in Spartanburg almost since its beginnings in 1787. Arguably the birthplace of Spartanburg County after having been selected by four state-commissioned judges as the county seat and site of the the area's first courthouse, the area that would eventually be named for the Revolutionary War general whose statue it houses today formed the core of a new frontier town, stimulating the first wave of Spartanburg's development as taverns, hotels, and general stores filled in the areas nearby. As that frontier town grew and changed, Morgan Square changed as well, with each generation putting its own stamp on the space as the community's needs evolved over time. Even as the square has changed shape and configuration over the years, its position as a focal point for Spartanburg's people has remained constant. For well over two centuries now, Morgan Square has been the most iconic and important piece of public land in Spartanburg County. Today, Morgan Square appears ready for its next generational change, one that will build on its current success and ensure that Spartanburg's public square continues to serve the people who call it home. The  held its first meeting earlier month, beginning its work charting a course for Morgan Square's next act by getting a crash course in the history of the space from Spartanburg County Public Libraries Assistant Director of Local History, Brad Steinecke and Wofford Archivist, Phillip Stone. In a fascinating presentation, the pair led the committee through each of the square's various iterations and shared context around the decisions that led to each change. Today on the podcast, we're bringing that same history to you. So join us as we take you on a journey from Spartanburg's beginnings to its present day, and be sure to to follow along and see how Morgan Square has changed over the years.

Today we are talking with Samantha Swann. Samantha is a food writer for the Herald-Journal and the USA Today media network. She also helps manage the Spartanburg Eats facebook group, which has over 30,000 members. Samantha is going to tell us all about what is new in the Spartanburg restaurant scene, and we are going to take a short walking tour of Morgan Square to learn about all the great places to eat in downtown Spartanburg.The music on this show is written by Wofford professor Tom Wright and performed by the Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble.  https://www.facebook.com/sjebandPlease follow our Facebook page and join our group for more information about upcoming episodes.https://www.facebook.com/gospartanburgpodhttps://www.facebook.com/gospartanburgpod/groupsWe would love to hear from you. Our email address is gospartanburg@gmail.com.

Whether you're getting in some steps at the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail or strolling through Morgan Square after dinner, it's fair to say there are more pedestrians moving in and around Downtown Spartanburg than at any point in living memory, and with historic levels of private development and accompanying new infrastructure showing no signs of abating in Spartanburg's urban core, the pedestrian experience in our city is changing rapidly. So how did we get here? What was downtown like back before concepts like "walkability" dominated the urbanist landscape? How did the national trend towards car-centered suburban development in the mid-20th century affect Downtown Spartanburg and what did leaders then try to do about it? And why were those efforts less successful than everyone in Spartanburg had hoped they would be? On today's podcast, we're sharing a conversation about those questions held during our first-ever live podcast recording, held on August 18 at Fretwell. Joining us for the discussion are Brad Steineke, Assistant Director of Local History with Spartanburg County Public Libraries and Grayson Johnson with Fretwell. 

At their last two meetings, Spartanburg City Council took a pair of actions to move discussions of Morgan Square's future forward, and then voting to continue to keep W Main Street along the square closed to traffic for the next 24 months while the committee undertakes its work.  The committee comprises a diverse selection of city residents and stakeholders including downtown restaurant and retail business owners, City planning board members, experts in local development and architecture, and community activists. In presenting the recommended list of committee members to Council, City Manager Chris Story said that in addition to a diversity of experience and background, the committee also includes a diversity of opinions about what should come next for Spartanburg's most prominent piece of public land.  The decision to close W Main Street to traffic was first made in spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically curtailed shopping and dining in Downtown Spartanburg, in an effort to encourage visitors to return and enjoy safer outdoor dining options. The pedestrian-only space proved popular, with pedestrian counter data showing an increase in the number of visitors after most pandemic restrictions were lifted, with 13.1 percent more visits to Downtown Spartanburg coming during May and June of 2021 than during the same time period in 2019. A also showed that of 3,444 respondents, 55.24% favor keeping W Main Street closed to vehicle traffic indefinitely for expanded pedestrian use, 24.28% favor keeping W Main Street closed to vehicle traffic in front of the square on weekends (Friday-Sunday) for expanded pedestrian use and open to vehicle traffic on weekdays (Monday-Thursday), and 18.25% favor opening W Main Street in front of the square to vehicle traffic. After receiving data and feedback demonstrating the fully pedestrianized space's positive effect on downtown visits, Council voted to keep the area closed to vehicles while staff crafted a process to examine potential permanent changes to Morgan Square to make the space more pedestrian-friendly. Now the Morgan Square Redevelopment Committee will work with design professionals and the public to make recommendations to City Council regarding those changes.

In April, both Spartanburg County Council and Spartanburg City Council approved the site of the current City Hall on W Broad Street for construction of a new joint city-county local government complex. Expected to be around 180,000 square-feet and to stand 4-6 stories, the building will serve as a replacement for both City Hall and the Spartanburg County Adminstration Building on N Church St. that also funds construction of the new Spartanburg County Judicial Center, the new facility will also feature an adjacent parking deck with around 500-600 spaces. Located one block from Morgan Square, the W Broad Street site beat out nine other sites in the downtown area and met County and City criteria for the new facility including size (greater than 2 acres), walkability to Morgan Square, and the ability for public use of parking infrastructure during non-operating hours. The current City Hall site was the least expensive of all nine options as well, with a net cost of $600,000-$700,000 to prepare the site for construction, which includes demolition of the current City Hall and a deeper, more secure foundation than would often be required due to poor soil conditions on the site. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story and Spartanburg County Administrator Cole Alverson about the new facility and what it will mean for Spartanburg. Listen below for more.

We've been recording podcasts previewing the year ahead for the City and for the Spartanburg community for a long time now, but even a short glance at that list for 2022 would make it clear that this year will be filled with more significant decisions that will have more generational impact than any in recent memory. Whether it's welcoming a new Mayor for the first time in 12 years, a redistricting process that will set local representation for the next decade, decisions around millions of dollars in one-time state and federal funding allocations, finalizing the citywide comprehensive plan, or determining what possible changes Morgan Square could see, the 11 months ahead of us in Spartanburg will be anything but boring. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about some of the issues ahead for leadership and City Council in 2022.

Interview: Glen MorganIn this special episode of The X-Cast to conclude X-Files coverage in 2021, Tony Black, Carl Sweeney & Kurt North present their interview with legendary X-Files writer Glen Morgan at the Square Eyes TV Festival in Birmingham, UK, from early November 2021.The discussion focuses on 'Home' and the Millennium episode 'The Curse of Frank Black', but Glen provides an array of insights from working on both shows and far more beyond...Happy New Year!Host / Editor / Executive ProducerTony BlackCo-HostsCarl Sweeney / Kurt NorthSpecial GuestGlen MorganSupport the We Made This podcast network on Patreon:www.patreon.com/wemadethisTwitter: @thetimeisnowpodWe Made This on Twitter: @wemadethispod

Interview: Glen Morgan In this special episode of The X-Cast to conclude X-Files coverage in 2021, Tony Black, Carl Sweeney & Kurt North present their interview with legendary X-Files writer Glen Morgan at the Square Eyes TV Festival in Birmingham, UK, from early November 2021. The discussion focuses on 'Home' and the Millennium episode 'The Curse of Frank Black', but Glen provides an array of insights from working on both shows and far more beyond... Happy New Year! Host / Editor / Executive Producer Tony Black Co-Hosts Carl Sweeney / Kurt North Special Guest Glen Morgan Support the We Made This podcast network on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wemadethis Twitter: @thetimeisnowpod We Made This on Twitter: @wemadethispod

Interview: Glen Morgan In this special episode to conclude X-Files coverage in 2021, Tony Black, Carl Sweeney & Kurt North present their interview with legendary X-Files writer Glen Morgan at the Square Eyes TV Festival in Birmingham, UK, from early November 2021. The discussion focuses on 'Home' and the Millennium episode 'The Curse of Frank Black', but Glen provides an array of insights from working on both shows and far more beyond. Plus! Tony & Carl discuss The X-Cast in 2021 and what listeners can expect in 2022... Happy New Year! Host / Editor / Executive Producer Tony Black Co-Hosts Carl Sweeney / Kurt North Special Guest Glen Morgan Show Producers Carl Sweeney / Sarah Blair / Kurt North Support The X-Cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thexcast Follow X-Cast on social media: Twitter: @TheX_Cast Facebook/Instagram: The X-Cast Support the We Made This podcast network on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wemadethis Twitter: @wmt_network Facebook/Instagram: We Made This wemadethisnetwork.com With thanks to our Patrons: Adam Chamberlain, Michelle Milbauer, Tenko, Calla Dreams, Cathy Glinski, Jenn Ferguson, Adam Silva, Marlene Stemme, Deana Ferreri, Katie Doe, Simon Hodgson, Cortlan Waters Bartley, Martha Payne, Delta 51, Clarissa de Becker, Sarah Devicomte, Caredwen Foley, Daniela Marlitsis, Justin Bernstein, Karen McKenna, Luke Winch, Caleb Burnett, Annie Flowers, Kathryn Shellman, Gillian Collins, Wayne Arndt, Pekka Tukiainen, Elinor Butler, Jessica Miskelly, Christopher Pilbeam, Kathy Wait, Nikole Wilson-Ripsom, Jonas Wilstrup, Catherine Toussaint, Jamie Russell, Becky Santoyo, Michael Little, Russell Hugo, Kelsey L Mayer, Sarah Ford, Isabelle Dubois, Charnette Soto, Nina.

Interview: Glen MorganIn this special episode to conclude X-Files coverage in 2021, Tony Black, Carl Sweeney & Kurt North present their interview with legendary X-Files writer Glen Morgan at the Square Eyes TV Festival in Birmingham, UK, from early November 2021.The discussion focuses on 'Home' and the Millennium episode 'The Curse of Frank Black', but Glen provides an array of insights from working on both shows and far more beyond.Plus! Tony & Carl discuss The X-Cast in 2021 and what listeners can expect in 2022...Happy New Year!Host / Editor / Executive ProducerTony BlackCo-HostsCarl Sweeney / Kurt NorthSpecial GuestGlen MorganShow ProducersCarl Sweeney / Sarah Blair / Kurt NorthSupport The X-Cast on Patreon:www.patreon.com/thexcastFollow X-Cast on social media:Twitter: @TheX_CastFacebook/Instagram: The X-CastSupport the We Made This podcast network on Patreon:www.patreon.com/wemadethisTwitter: @wmt_networkFacebook/Instagram: We Made Thiswemadethisnetwork.comWith thanks to our Patrons:Adam Chamberlain, Michelle Milbauer, Tenko, Calla Dreams, Cathy Glinski, Jenn Ferguson, Adam Silva, Marlene Stemme, Deana Ferreri, Katie Doe, Simon Hodgson, Cortlan Waters Bartley, Martha Payne, Delta 51, Clarissa de Becker, Sarah Devicomte, Caredwen Foley, Daniela Marlitsis, Justin Bernstein, Karen McKenna, Luke Winch, Caleb Burnett, Annie Flowers, Kathryn Shellman, Gillian Collins, Wayne Arndt, Pekka Tukiainen, Elinor Butler, Jessica Miskelly, Christopher Pilbeam, Kathy Wait, Nikole Wilson-Ripsom, Jonas Wilstrup, Catherine Toussaint, Jamie Russell, Becky Santoyo, Michael Little, Russell Hugo, Kelsey L Mayer, Sarah Ford, Isabelle Dubois, Charnette Soto, Nina.

At their meeting on August 23, , during which time the City will engage in a community-led planning process to consider more permanent physical changes to the space. The move came after Council heard an overview of downtown data collected by city staff, including an increase in City Hospitality Tax revenue, increased pedestrian activity, and cell phone carrier data showing increased downtown visits this spring and summer over the same time period in 2019, signs which point to a Downtown Spartanburg economy resurgent after weathering worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. With the decision being made to continue Morgan Square's expanded outdoor dining and pedestrian space for another year, and with staff tasked with beginning a process to consider a rethinking of the space, today we're talking with City Manager Chris Story to get his perspective on Morgan Square as it fits currently in the Downtown Spartanburg landscape and how residents and stakeholders from all across our community will come together to decide its future.

It started with a simple question posed in the Spartanburg Herald back in 1919: "Do you suppose it is possible for the world to be different a hundred years from now as our world of today is different from that of a hundred years ago?" A new library exhibit puts context around that question, with panels covering such diverse topics as race relations, downtown and neighborhood development, and how the closing of a World War I training camp on the the city's current westside led to a bear calling Morgan Square home for a time. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Brad Steinecke, Assistant Director of Local History with Spartanburg County Public Libraries about the new exhibit and about how the Spartanburg of 1919 informs the Spartanburg of today.

Rob Black talks about Barron's, J.P. Morgan, Square, CAL FIRE, electric scooters, and potential hot cities to move to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After five years on the scene, it's managed to become one of the most anticipated annual events in downtown Spartanburg with the move to Morgan Square in 2015 further raising the bar, folks throughout Spartanburg are gearing up for the return of Hub City Hog Fest, April 6–7. With dozens of teams competing in three categories, opportunities to sample some of the smokey goodness will abound, and the event will feature plenty of delicious food vendors.   The festival also features great live music on both Friday and Saturday, with Big Daddy Love featuring Shane Pruitt and The Trongone Band headlining respectively. For more on this year's Hub City Hog Fest, check out the  and .

It was over 20 years ago when RJ Rockers first opened its doors in Downtown Spartanburg as a brewpub on Morgan Square, and while the journey for Spartanburg's signature craft brewer has taken them to heights far beyond those relatively modest beginnings, in the years since their return to downtown in 2009, folks have been wondering if the food would ever make a return. Thanks to  and a partnership with a local newcomer intent on bringing his unique culinary spin to some of the brewery's ingredients, nobody has to wonder if the food will come back to Rockers. It's here, it's in a space within the brewery called The Silo, and it opens today, Wednesday, Feb. 7. Today on the podcast, we're talking with the restaurant's Food Guy, Clay McDonough and its interior designer, Sandra Cannon about this fantastic new addition to Downtown Spartanburg's food scene.

After just four years on the scene, it's managed to become one of the most anticipated annual events in downtown Spartanburg with last year's move to Morgan Square further raising the bar, folks throughout Spartanburg are gearing up for the return of Hub City Hog Fest, April 7 & 8.. With 45 teams competing in three categories, opportunities to sample some of the smokey goodness will abound, and the event will feature plenty of delicious food vendors. The festival also features great live music on both Friday and Saturday, with Acoustic Syndicate and Big Daddy Love headlining respectively. For more on this year's Hub City Hog Fest, listen to our podcast below and check out the  and .

Do you know that show where musicians perform in front of a relatively intimate live audience and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories? Wouldn't it be cool to see a version of that in Spartanburg, something that gives songwriters a chance to illuminate a little of their genius for the music nerds who love that sort of thing? Come out to the , Saturday, March 18 from 4–6 p.m. and you'll see exactly that.  The culmination of a Songwriters in the Round series that recently wrapped up at , Songwriter Showcase is a partnership between the coffee bar and , featuring three musicians from the previous series, , , and . Today on the podcast, we're talking with Janeen Scott, organizer of the event about what we can expect to hear and a bit about the local music scene here in Spartanburg. 

Some of the most revered Southern works of art hang near those created by a deep well of talented local artists. Live music from one or more of two dozen outdoor and indoor stages can be heard nearly every night of the week. A ballet company, a philharmonic, and a theatre company provide big-city productions year-round. Another organization's artist-in-residence program brings artists live and make art for months at a time.Murals and sculptures dot the streets and make postcard-ready backdrops. Downtown Spartanburg is a vibrant, dynamic home for the arts, boasting the $45 million Chapman Cultural Center, some of the best art galleries in the South, and an independent press and bookshop respected throughout the literary community. Indeed, surprises are seemingly around every corner, including every step of the 2-mile Hub City Music Trail that chronicles Spartanburg’s significant musical heritage. That’s why basically all of Downtown Spartanburg —every street and every block — has been designated a cultural district by the South Carolina Arts Commission. Today on the podcast, we're talking about a great public art installation that will help us kick off the official opening of Spartanburg's newly designated Downtown Cultural District, taking place November 17, 4:30–8 p.m. on Morgan Square. Artist Ashleigh Shuler has planned a series of "yarn bombs" for locations around downtown, and also a community build for those who'd like to get involved, scheduled for Sunday, November 13, 1–4 p.m. at the Chapman Cultural Center. 

It's our city's both literal and figurative centerpiece, a space with which practically everyone who lives in Spartanburg County is familiar. Serving as the home for recurring events like Jazz on the Square and Music on Main, Morgan Square has long been an ideal (and iconic) place for the community to come together to celebrate.  Now, thanks to local arts organization Hub-Bub and their partners throughout Spartanburg, those opportunities are more abundant than ever. As part of their mission to "reimagine place," the group has launched a new initiative that will bring dozens of events of all types to the square, in the hopes of injecting a near-constant buzz of community activity into Spartanburg's most well-known public space.  For a taste of what they've got planned for the square, check out , September 28, 5– 8p.m. Morgan Square and the surrounding area will be turned into a mini art fair featuring live music, painting, poetry, and interactive stations. 

In just three years it's managed to become one of the most anticipated annual events in downtown Spartanburg and for year four, a move to Morgan Square promises to up the ante even more as Hub City Hog Fest gears up to bathe downtown in the mouth-watering smell of delicious barbecue, April 15 and 16. With 48 teams competing in three categories, opportunities to sample some of the smokey goodness will abound, and the event will feature plenty of delicious food vendors. The festival also features great live music on both Friday and Saturday, with Big Daddy Love and Chatham County Line headlining respectively. For more on this year's Hub City Hog Fest, check out the f and .

Thanksgiving week is here and the holiday decorations are up in Downtown Spartanburg, and that means it's time for two local yuletide favorites to make their annual return. returns to Morgan Square on Wednesday, November 25, with scheduled to take over downtown on Tuesday, December 1, 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Special Events Manager, Mandy Merck about what visitors can expect this year.

The smell of delicious barbecue will be wafting through the air of Downtown Spartanburg again this weekend as  returns for its third year. Featuring live music on Friday and Saturday, culminating with a performance from Grammy nominated bluegrass greats,  headlining the show on Saturday night, the Hog Fest will also have food trucks on hand Friday, starting at 12 p.m. RJ Rockers will be there to ensure that plenty of local craft beer is available, and with food vendors, a chicken wing contest, and a homebrew contest to go along with the "main event" ribs and pulled pork contests, you can bet there will be no shortage of great opportunities to satiate your appetite and your thirst.  The event will culminate a fantastic week of local events with bluegrass duo  performing a free show on Morgan Square on Wednesday, followed by Music on Main on Thursday and Jazz on the Square on Friday. This is one weekend in Downtown Spartanburg that you definitely don't want to miss!

It's one of Spartanburg's most beautiful neighborhoods, a place where Victorian two-story homes mingle with Arts and Crafts bungalows under a canopy of mature trees. Head south for a couple of blocks from Morgan Square for a walk down the wide sidewalks of Spartanburg's first local historic district and it becomes immediately apparent why the people who live in are so passionate about their neighborhood. This weekend, the rest of us get a chance to share a little of that passion as Hampton Heights hosts its "Spirit of Christmas Past" home tour on Saturday, December 6, 5—9 p.m. and Sunday, December 7, 2—5 p.m. Five Hampton Heights homes will be open for tours and the neighborhood will also have horse and buggy rides and beautiful Christmas music to set the mood. Tickets for the tour are $15 before December 6 and can be purchased at , , and . Tickets on the day of the event are $20 and can be purchased at .

This Saturday, September 20 in Downtown Spartanburg promises to be one for the books with two fantastic events,  and , featuring Bruce Hornsby, scheduled to dovetail nicely together. First, sample food from 10 local restaurants and hear live music from five local bands at Downtown Bites, satarting at 12 p.m. on Morgan Square. After you've eaten your way around the square and gotten an afternoon sampler platter of live music to go with it, head on over to Barnet Park for Live on the Green, featuring renowned singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby. Downtown Bites is free, and tickets for Live on the Green are $20 in advance (). Great food from local restaurants and a little  for a nightcap? Sounds like an awesome Saturday in Downtown Spartanburg to us.

  So far on in our series exploring the economic power of Downtown Spartanburg, we've talked about the economic importance of the area around Morgan Square, and spent some time discussing the large investments that have transformed one section of our city's downtown. But what about the walk between those sections of Downtown? Isn't there something the City can do to make that experience simpler and more pleasant? What about the family enjoying a walk down the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail only to get to the corner of Henry and Union streets and find the trail ending, and a daunting crossing and an unpleasant walk standing between them and all that Downtown Spartanburg has to offer? How might improving the walkability along Church Street encourage visitors to the Marriott to take a stroll down to Morgan Square. As it happens, we think about those questions all the time, and rather than just pondering the possibilities, last year City Council voted to do something about it.  That plan promises to touch nearly every part of Downtown Spartanburg. Projects include: extending the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail into Downtown and through to Barnet Park (building South Carolina's first curb-protected bike lane in the process), straightening the chicanes along E. Main Street, and improvements to the sidewalks on Magnolia Street between St. John and W. Main streets and Church Street from the Marriott into the heart of Downtown. Make no mistake, this isn't just a beautification project. These infrastructure improvements are meant encourage development and growth by connecting people with the businesses and amenities that make Downtown Spartanburg great. In other words, it's all about increasing the economic power of Downtown Spartanburg, and today on the podcast, we sit down with Partners for Active Living Trails Coordinator, Ned Barrett to talk about some of the ways these projects are going to improve both the quality of life for our residents and the bottom line for our businesses. 

It was easily one of the most popular attractions in town last year, and on November 15 Skating on the Square returns to Morgan Square in Downtown Spartanburg. Today on the podcast, we sit down with City Special Events Manager Mandy Merck to get details about what to expect this year when you head downtown to hit the ice.

 If you've lived in Spartanburg for anything longer than a few years, you don't need anyone to tell you how different our city's downtown looks now compared with its not-so-distant past. Decisions made years ago, from the renovation of Morgan Square, to the construction of new parking garages to accommodate new class A office space downtown, have influenced the shape of everything that has come since, and with announcements of , , and  coming at an impressive pace, it's tough not to like the shape our city center is taking.   This week on the podcast, we're talking about that downtown momentum, how we got to where we are today, and how we can keep it going into the future. Listen and enjoy.

It might just be the coolest thing to ever come completely out of left field in Downtown Spartanburg's history. Yes, the rumors (and the slightly incorrect piece in the local newspaper) are true. Thanks to the generosity of a private donor, for 12 days starting August 14, a 90 ft. ferris wheel named WOLI (Wheel of Lights and Illuminations) will dominate the Morgan Square skyline from its position along Spring Street in front of the clock tower ().   Standing 20 feet taller than the clock tower, and festooned with enough lights to throw off an owl's circadian rhythm, WOLI spends most of the year at some of the nation's biggest outdoor festivals, including a stint at Bonnaroo earlier this summer. In our humble opinion, there's no better way to bring a little of that festival spirit to Spartanburg as summer winds down. Want the full details? Listen to the podcast below, and get ready to be taken to new heights in Downtown Spartanburg!

On this special episode of our City podcast, Special Events Manager Mandy Merck sits down with us for a conversation about Spartanburg's newest event, Skating on the Square. Get the lowdown on how this great addition to Spartanburg's holiday experience came together, and learn about the special promotions and programs being held throughout the next eight weeks, including movie nights, turkey bowling, and special performances on the ice.    Once you've got your information fix — so much so that any thinking person would have to consider you an expert on all things related to frozen water on Morgan Square — come on out to our grand opening celebration tomorrow, and try the ice out for free between 3 and 5 p.m. Just remember to cue the  to set the mood.

Time to Paint The Town Pink in Spartanburg Friday night October 5th! The fun begins at 5:30 at Morgan Square in Spartanburg. Lori Axelrod - an organizer and breast cancer survivor - joins me!