Capitol Broadcasting pulled out all the stops on Tuesday when it unveiled its plan to convert the basements in two American Tobacco buildings into an office complex for startups.

The announcement, held at Bay 7 on the American Tobacco Campus, included an elevated stage made to look like the set of a talk show. Acting as host during the event was Michael Goodmon, Capitol's vice president of real estate and the son of CEO Jim Goodmon.

Michael Goodmon interviewed his father about the new space, which has been dubbed American Underground, as well as a panel of guests that included Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Rick Weddle, CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation.

He also gave introductions to a number of prepared videos that were shown on a large video screen.

One of those videos included a cartoon version of Jim Goodmon from the future. Asked in the video what the future was like, Goodmon said there were Plensa installments in every home.

The Plensa line could be viewed as a not so subtle dig at Raleigh officials.
 

Although bluesman B.B. King plays the inaugural gig at Durham's $44 million, 2,800-seat Performing Arts Center a week from Sunday, the official Community Open House and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony doesn't happen until the next day.

In Durham, there is always a difference of opinion.

Last Thursday, the City Council voted to accept a donated light sculpture for the new Performing Arts Center. By Monday, a group was out to stop it, complete with Web site, www.stopthelightsculpture.com, and email list, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopthelight.