Volunteer Center of Durham Organizing Make A Difference Day Efforts

To volunteer is to give of one’s self to a cause or an organization in which one believes.  Well, that spirit is going to shine brightly in Durham coming up later this month.

This October 24 and 25th, millions of volunteers in Durham, and across the nation will unite with a common mission – to improve the lives of others. For more than 20 years, USA WEEKEND Magazine, in collaboration with Points of Light, has produced Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service.

In Durham, the efforts are organized by the Volunteer Center of Durham (VCD) and those wishing to participate can do so in two ways:

• Give time and talent by working on a project - 2 people for 2 hours or 40 people for 4 hours - VCD will match volunteers up with a local non-profit that needs help, and/or
• Conduct a supply drive at your office, church or neighborhood. Focus on any area (food, animals, resale thrift, etc) and again VCD will match those efforts up with a local non-profit in desperate need.

Those interested in more information can contact the organization by email.

Living Wage Trend Growing Organically in Durham, NC Restaurants

To talk with Gray Brooks about the subject of staff as family, it’s easy to get confused. Though not blood relatives, his employees are highly valued because they are involved in the common goal of serving customers well with the best product available at Pizzeria Toro in Durham.

In the view of Brooks, and his partners Cara Stacy (also his wife) and Jay Owens, as well as owners at other Durham establishments like Monuts Donuts and Cocoa Cinnamon, staff members deserve to earn a living wage. In a town so focused on doing things locally, welcoming diversity, and removing barriers to entry, this trend isn't a surprise.

"These are just a few examples of the brand values many restaurants in Durham represent,” said Shelly Green, President and CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB). The organization regularly touts the local focus of the community because it rings true in so many measurable ways. “Durham is known for helping businesses grow from concept to completion with the support of the community. That local restaurants value employees by paying them a living wage and offering benefits just furthers the reach of that cycle of support,” Green added referring to the fact that employees fairly compensated can be active consumers in the community they serve.

“We have a living wage guarantee for all tipped bar hours for all crew members,” says Leon Grodski de Barrera who owns Cocoa Cinnamon with his wife, Areli. He added that Cocoa Cinnamon also has a minimum wage of $13 per hour for all non-tipped work, as well. The specialty coffee and chocolate beverage cafe in Durham has had tremendous success in part because its passionate staff cares about the work, their products, and customers at the same time. On this wave of success, a second location for the business is in the works now at the corner of Trent Dr. and Hillsborough Rd.

“We value the full cycle of food from farmers to those preparing it,” said Lindsay Moriarty of Monuts Donuts.  For Moriarty, and her husband and business partner Rob Gillespie, this is not only about fairness, but it’s also good business. The two are moving their business to the location formerly occupied by the Magnolia Grill on Ninth St. – a space more than twice as large as the one they currently occupy.

“It’s great to see local businesses and the community of Durham taking steps to care for their staff appropriately by their own volition, and not in response to outside pressure,” said Green. “It says a lot about our community.”

Brooks is succinct in his position and sums his thoughts up nicely. “Our employees are worth it. They are the reason we are successful,” he said.

Ladies' Arm Wrestling Fundraiser to Support Women and Girls with Disabilities

"Predictable" and "common" are not words one might use to describe social activities available to the public in Durham. See LUEWWD as an example.

On September 20^th, the League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham, or LUEWWD (pronounced “lewd”), will host LUEWWD XI: First in Fight, another in a string of theatrical women’s arm wrestling fundraisers that have raised nearly $60,000 for local organizations including Durham Connects, Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build, and Liberty Arts and the Scrap Exchange.

The event is set for  9:00 pm at Social Games and Brews and the beneficiary is Durham First In Families which offers support to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injuries, and their families. Funds raised through LUEWWD XI will directly help women self-advocates with requests such as medical equipment, accessible technology, developmental toys, car repairs, gas vouchers, guardianship costs, and camp fees. Doors will open at 7:30.

Want to see more funky and cool happenings like this? The Durham Event Calendar has them all.

Praise for Durham's Bull City Burger and Brewery

Authentic. That word carries a lot of weight in Durham, and those that exemplify it get a lot of community support. Seth Gross, and his first restaurant, Bull City Burger and Brewery are featured in an article in the national magazine Quick Service Review that celebrates places like BCBB that focus on quality, and not quantity, and it is through quality that Gross and his team demonstrate authenticity.

Not only does Gross source nearly everything within a tight radius, but the restaurant makes just about everything in house from scratch. Gross, a trained chef and experienced brewer, also makes all the beer they sell in house, too.

The article highlights some of the nation's most revered independent eateries that fall into the quick service concept. These are not fine dining establishments, and BCBB does not offer table service - patrons order at a counter or at the bar - but it is fine eating and drinking.

Read the article here, and about all of Durham's restaurants that have earned high praise like this here.  As always, planning a trip to Durham is easy online.

GQ Magazine Ranks Durham Best

For nine months a year, Durham, NC is a college town tucked into a vibrant southern city in the midst of an epic renaissance. That combination makes it one of the most exciting places in the US right now on many fronts; from food, to music, to entrepreneurship, Durham is hot.

Photo credits as noted. Image via GQ.com.

This month, GQ Magazine published the article, "The Best College Towns in America (When the Students Are Gone." While a bit predictable in its content if you are familiar with Durham, the piece highlights places to eat, drink, and stay that are getting an awful lot of coverage lately. For those considering a visit, the article reads like an itinerary - a tasty, comfortable, enjoyable tour of a place that is welcoming to everyone.

"Articles like this are great for many reasons, in no small part because they present a huge impact," according to Shelly Green, President & CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB).

"With 6.6 million print readers and 6.7 million online readers creating a total of 2.25 billion impressions monthly, Durham just got shown off in a high profile way to a lot of potential visitors. That exposure would have cost over $175,000 to buy - a tariff too high to be approachable as a marketing option for DCVB," Green explained. DCVB is the group charged with drawing visitors to Durham, and who works behind the scenes to attract this kind of exposure for Durham.

Thankfully, the article leaves some of Durham's hidden gems undiscovered...locals have got to have somewhere to go when all those students come back. Learn more about all the ways to enjoy Durham online.

Durhamites Are Pleased With Durham

The City of Durham’s 2013 resident satisfaction survey was just released today. As many might know from the outward show of pride displayed for Durham, the results are very positive.

The survey shows 81 percent of residents feel the city as an “excellent” or “good” place to live and 78 percent feel the city as an “excellent” or “good” place to work. These ratings remain steady from the 2011 survey, which were 82 percent and 77 percent respectively. Areas that influence overall perceptions of Durham also ranked highly, with three-in-four people satisfied with the quality of life in their neighborhood, the quality of services provided by the City, and two-in-three people satisfied with the overall quality of life in the city.

Read the City's complete statement here, and see the full research report online.

Everything Old Is New Again

Stroll the streets of Durham, NC as writer Jason Frey did recently, and it's hard not to be struck by the fact that Durham's renaissance is taking place in many structures that have found new lives. Factories are offices, department stores are homes and restaurants, and banks are becoming hotels.

In a blog for Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Frey details in words and images what makes Durham unique in the way buildings here have staying power.  The piece is a testament to a place loved by those who live there, and that has a lasting effect on those who visit.  Read Frey's post online.

Learn more about planning a trip to Durham here.

DCVB's Bizzell Makes the Cover

A lot goes into the decision of where a group will hold their annual meeting or convention. When a site is picked you can be sure that someone from that community worked hard behind the scenes to make it happen.

Credit: MPI and The Meeting Professional
magazine

Fortunately for Durham, a very experienced professional is at the helm of that process, and he continues to garner attention for his sales skill and success.  In fact, the cover of the December 2013 issue of The Meeting Professional magazine bears a sharply-dressed man; none other than Corey D. Bizzell, the Vice President of Group Sales & Business Development for DCVB.

In a statement, Bizzell addresses the role he plays in creating demand for Durham’s economy, and the role Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has played for him. "I am humbled by this exposure. My 10 years in MPI have afforded opportunities for education, career building, and networking that have been instrumental in my career success thus far. Sharing some of what I have learned in the article on essential job skills by an organization that has helped me evolve as a professional was truly a 360 degree experience. I use these skills to bring people to Durham for business, and I know they come back for leisure visits, too," Bizzell said.

The Meeting Professional, an international publication with a readership of 75,000 recognizes Bizzell’s efforts in helping Durham become the celebrated place it is today. The cover story features tips from Bizzell on the essential skills necessary to thrive in the meeting and convention industry, as well as insights on what drives success in that field. Bizzell will continue to use those skills for Durham’s benefit, filling hotel rooms and meeting space all over Durham.

Learn more about bringing group meetings and conventions to Durham online.

Durham Wayfinders Volunteer More Than $1.1 Million of Time

November 30, 2008 was an important day in Durham.  Not only did DPAC, the Durham Performing Arts Center open, but a robust volunteer program launched, too.  To date, The Durham Wayfinders program has donated time from citizens worth more than $1.000.000 - and that number is growing at a faster rate than ever.

The program began as an effort to offer passionate people a chance to help others enjoy Durham at festivals, events, and at venues, like DPAC.  The world-renowned theater was integral in the program's inception.

"With Wayfinders, we created an outlet for interested people to easily register to help at events to provide visitors with excellent customer service," said Shelly Green, the CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau who administers the program.  "It has taken on a life of its own and continues to amaze us with the level of engagement demonstrated by the volunteers. It has served as a model for other places to initiate similar programs," Green added.

Take Karen Burns as a shining example.  Burns has volunteered more than 1400 hours at more than 500 events in her years as a Wayfinder. "I have met many interesting people and have fun participating at all the events and performances in Durham," she said.  Burns has volunteered more hours than any other participant in the program. A total of 17 participants have each donated over 500 hours of time. Currently there are 2563 active participants in the program.

Through October, 2013 a total of 53,613 hours have been donated.  According to Independent Sector, a leadership network for nonprofit organizations that, among other things, calculates the value of donated time, that time represents a significant value to Durham's stakeholders.  The value of the time is $1,176,027.56. Hours for 2013 were calculated at the 2012 value because Independent Sector has not released its valuation of a volunteer hour for 2013 yet. Their chart is available online.

People can register to be part of the Durham Wayfinders on this website. 

Pizzeria Toro Owners Use Disaster to Feed Hungry Kids

Not even a fire can keep Pizzeria Toro from giving back to the Durham community that helped make it a successful business.

The Toro Dreams Of… series, community dinners hosted by Pizzeria Toro and The Cookery, will debut Monday evening, November 25 at The Cookery.

The dinners, which are slated to continue twice a month until Pizzeria Toro is able to re-open from the fire damage caused to their building in early November, will each showcase a different meal theme, with 100% of the proceeds going to a charitable cause. November 25th’s event is Toro Dreams of Spaghetti, and monies earned from sales of the $25 tickets, as well as bar sales, will be donated to the PORCH-Durham Backpack Buddies Program. Tickets can be purchased at online from Pizzeria Toro and The Cookery websites beginning at 5:00 pm today, and all guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations along with their ticket.

Toro Dreams of Spaghetti will be a traditional family-style three course dinner of handmade spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic bread and dessert. Guests have the opportunity to purchase hand crafted cocktails, wine and craft beer at The Cookery’s Front Room bar (with all bar proceeds being donated to PORCHDurham), and will be welcomed at the end of the meal to enjoy hot cocoa fireside on the outdoor patio.

“For us, our staff and even for many of our customers Pizzeria Toro is a second home. To lose that even temporarily, has left a void,” said Jay Owens, who owns Pizzeria Toro with his partners, Gray Brooks and Cara Stacy. “This is our opportunity to gather great people together for a greater cause and get back to something we love, feeding people.”

For Triangle locals, these events are also an opportunity to enjoy fare from Pizzeria Toro’s talented chefs, in a new setting, while also contributing to locals in need. Backpack Buddies, a hunger relief program sponsored by the Interfaith Food Shuttle and supported by PORCH-Durham, collects food to fill 448 backpacks for each weekend of the school year, allowing children who might not otherwise eat to have a weekend’s supply of nourishment.

“Opening up our doors for fun and casual, yet community-focused dinners with such a talented group is exciting,” said Rochelle Johnson, who owns The Cookery with her husband, Nick Hawthorne-Johnson. “Nick and I jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with the Toro crew – the mission driven series is exactly what The Cookery loves to be a part of.”

When the pizzeria’s owners learned that the fire damage in their restaurant at Downtown Durham’s 105 East Chapel Hill Street building might keep them closed for a couple months, they knew that taking a break was not an option.

“This is an opportunity for us to give back to a community that has given so much to us,” said owner Cara Stacy.

Learn more about great restaurants an food events at www.durham-nc.com.

Durham Secures the Title of Tastiest Town in the South

In January, Durham and its food scene were catapulted again into the national spotlight by inclusion on Southern Living magazine’s list of the Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South.  It shared company with culinary mega-star destinations like New Orleans, Charleston, and Miami.  The publishing of this list initiated the magazine’s annual national voting process to name The Tastiest Town in the South.

That town is Durham, NC.

Toward the end of the six week process, according to the leader-board on the magazine’s website voting page, what emerged was a spirited and friendly bout between Durham and the nearest competitor on the list, Memphis.  At three times the size of Durham, the odds were in Memphis’ favor, but Durham did what Durham does…stayed true to its convictions and reigned victorious.

Durham is no stranger to great accolades, and the community is proud to add this one to the list. “Durham is regularly recognized for its creativity, openness, diversity and quality of life.  We've always had a terrific food scene here, and this is a great honor to have everyone else stand up and agree that we are the Tastiest Town in the South,” said Shelly Green, President of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB), the organization that spearheaded the promotion of this competition. “This is validation of what we've been saying for a long time!”

Visitors to Durham spent a total of more than $780 million last year, and more than $200 million was spent on food and beverages.  Durham’s culinary identity is an important part of the brand that the community has, and is a major component of what Durham promotes to visitors. “Whenever possible, we connect the ideas of ‘visiting Durham,’ and ‘great food,’” said Sam Poley, DCVB’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “This is a message we share as often as possible because Durham’s culinary community is an amazing asset to visitors, and is a major reason to come and explore here.”

Durham has more than seven hundred restaurants, many of which have achieved a status DCVB calls Celebrated Cuisine.  This elite group of restaurants has been regionally or nationally reviewed, not part of a chain, independently-owned, and noted for unique regional cuisine or a custom menu designed by a Durham chef. There are 52 restaurants in Durham that have achieved this status, all of which are listed online. “Being listed as a Celebrated Cuisine restaurant is nice feather in the cap of a chef and restaurateur, and a visitor convenience to help them identify places of interest when planning a trip here," Poley said.

On Tuesday an announcement was made at the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau. Jennifer Cole, Southern Living’s Travel and Features Editor came in for the announcement.  “The South has a new culinary capital—Durham, NC,” said Cole. “With beer and pizzas made from seasonally minded local ingredients, to pies and even coffee elevated to an art form, the city's artisans are taking Southern cooking to new heights." She added, “The South's culinary scene has become richer and more diverse than ever. Whether you’re a native or a tourist, there's an endless variety of dishes, restaurants and local flavors to discover across our region.”

The announcement will be in the May print edition of the magazine which will be on stands on April 19. DCVB plans to incorporate this honor, as it does the many others the community receives, into its marketing messaging throughout the upcoming year.

Learn more about Durham, NC online, and read more from Southern Living about this story on their website.

Wine of the Times?

Durham is no stranger to great media coverage as it quietly becomes the worst-kept-secret for food and wine lovers in the US.  Thanks to publications like the New York Times, readers around the world continue to have their dietary resolve ruined by articles extolling the culinary virtues, and dining options, to be had in this bucolic juxtaposition of city and country scenery and corresponding lifestyles.

In other words, Durham, NC is a great place to eat and drink - even when compared to places around the world - and everyone is starting to become keenly aware of that fact.

Great food and a great food culture are natural pairings for great wine, and that is exactly what  reporter and noted wine book author Eric Asimov found here as he researched an article for The Pour in yesterday's edition of the New York Times.

The article notes many things that folks on the ground already know about Durham.  It's an easy going place with no pretension, and it is one that grants wide latitude to visitors and residents alike to be themselves and do what they like.  In Durham, all who want to be are welcomed - even those who prefer to drink red wine with *gasp* fish!

Read about other recent New York Times coverage of Durham here, and about all of the great dining and drinking options in Durham online.

Durham Furniture Designer Partners with Durham Manufacturer

Durham is known for its creativity and for being a hub of entrepreneurialism. It is also a place filled with people who appreciate authenticity and value integrity.  Those traits tend to foster synergistic relationships between local businesses.  Just such union has recently been formed to bring to market a line of children's furniture both designed and manufactured in Durham.

Durham-based furniture designer Mas Sato Designs has expanded operations of its modern children’s furniture line by partnering with Phillip Fletcher of Durham Bookcases in Downtown Durham. The company has added production capabilities using local craftspeople to build and assemble originally designed furniture pieces.  In the past year, Mas Sato Designs has launched a new website to improve availability and ease of ordering. It has also added a flat-ship option to expand its offerings and lower shipping costs.

Mas Sato Designs began as a small independent craft maker and quickly saw international demand and sales growth for high-quality modern children’s furniture. It provides locally manufactured furniture that is sturdy, modern and elegant for children ages 1-10.

About Mas Sato Designs
Mas Sato Designs’ mission is to create stylish furniture children will love to use and adults will love to display. What started as a project for his own family grew into a business that helps children to create, imagine and be independent. Mas Sato’s designs are elegant, minimal and decidedly modern. Drawing from both traditional Japanese aesthetics and mid-century modern design, the pieces offer a unique twist to standard children’s furniture. Each design is original and is designed and manufactured in Durham, NC. In addition, Mas Sato Designs takes commissions for custom furniture work and works with interior designers, architects, business owners, and homeowners. www.massatodesigns.com, Mas Sato Designs is located at Livingstone Place, Durham, NC.

About Durham Bookcases
Durham Bookcases opened in 1995 building bookcases at competitive prices with high quality workmanship. Today, its 20,000 sq ft retail and manufacturing building creates more than 450 standard sized bookcases in addition to a large variety of furniture pieces in all kinds of woods and finishes including crown mouldings, solid wood doors and stylized drawers and more. In addition to standard built pieces Durham Bookcases builds custom designed pieces. Learn more at www.bookcaseshop.com, Durham Bookcases factory and store are located at: 301 S Duke St. Durham, NC 27701.

Like to stay in touch with things made in Durham, go to the Durham Stuff website!

Vert & Vogue to Donate Proceeds to Urban Ministries March 23

One of Durham, NC's hallmarks is that the people who live there are engaged in their community with an eye toward making it better for everyone. Many of the modern conveniences of big city life are in Durham, but residents and business owners still hold on to small-town values like looking out for their neighbors.

Vert & Vogue boutique in Durham’s Brightleaf Square  is one of those businesses that cares for neighbors in need. For the second year in a row, they’re teaming up  with Urban Ministries of Durham to donate 20% of Its sales to benefit urban Ministries of Durham.

On Saturday, March 23rd, the boutique will unveil its newly renovated showroom, spring collection and Vert & Vogue line of women’s shirting. To celebrate, the business will donate 20% of its sales that day to support the work of Urban Ministries.

Vert & Vogue will also leverage their annual spring client clothing exchange to build the stock of clothing available at Dress for Success. This will help women who are assisted by Urban Ministries improve their self-image and perception in the world.

For more information, email
Ryan Hurley, owner of Vert & Vogue or Bryan Gilmer, director of marketing & development at Urban Ministries of Durham.

For more information about great things happening in Durham, NC click here.

Renew Your Vows at 2nd Anniversary of Marry Durham

Good marriages take work, but that work is so much more worth it when an anniversary is reached. Even when the marriage is between a person - and a place.

The good news is that Durham is a great spouse - A+ material.  It's got a good vibe, solid track record, excels in being engaged and present, dependable, and most of all, loving.

Rattling off a better list of attributes for one's betrothed would be challenging. The work of this marriage is totally worth it for many who live in Durham. "I love Durham, its creativity, open-mindedness and its sense of activism," said Shelly Green who heads Durham's tourism marketing agency.

This crazy idea that people would be willing to marry the place they love caught a lot of attention both locally and around the country.  But that's the thing about Durham, it can always be counted on for being progressive and keeping things interesting.

That welcoming nature in this diverse place is a great reason to come down to the anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 23rd.  Starting at 2 PM on Rigsbee Street, where this whole crazy thing started in 2010, will be a street party worth attending.  Break out the tux, the gown, get a wedding party together and join in the celebration.  There will be food trucks, a raffle, a parade, and more. "This is sure to be another great and unique Durham celebration," Green added.

Read more about the original celebration here and here, and about the first anniversary here, and follow this on Facebook for updates.

The Power of Pride - OP/ED

This is an opinion/editorial from the desk of Shelly Green, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau.

It's been a busy two days. My email and phone lines burned up yesterday and today with people upset about the front page article about Durham in yesterday's The Daily Tarheel.

Indignation, disgust, disappointment, outrage...you name it, I heard it all.

So my first reaction was that I needed to assemble and distribute data and educate the author about the REAL facts about Durham!  Our organization has plenty of data on our website for the media and the public alike. If you want to know how Durham's crime compares to benchmark cities in the state and country, take a look.  But Chapel Hill isn't a peer city. The two are as different as apples and lug nuts.

This story evoked such deep, visceral negative reactions not because it reported on Durham's crime.  Durham isn't perfect and its crime rate is average - in fact, it's currently at a 23-year low.  The reaction came so swiftly and with such vigor because Durhamites felt disrespected and insulted by the tone.  Judging from the comments on the story, many Chapel Hillians did, too.  Many question the quality of the journalism, but that's an assessment and debate I'll leave to the academics.

The thing is, if this happened at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, an uproar like this from residents of nearby Des Moines would be unlikely.  It just wouldn't be on their radar.

But Durham is different.  The level of Durham residents' pride has been measured for nearly 20 years, and although it's always been very high, it's off-the-chart compared to other communities.  Orange County residents, by and large, think highly of Durham, too.  That's also been measured for the same two decades.

Am I upset?  A little, but my emotions are tempered by the fact that so many stepped up to Durham's defense so swiftly.  I did, however, send a letter to the writer, Chelsey Dulaney early this morning.  I haven't heard back yet, but  if you are curious about what I said to her and her editor, read it here.

Urban Ministries of Durham’s 7th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser Takes Place March 7th

A full belly is something many who read this take for granted - if they even think about it at all.  For many, though, the sensation is at best a recent memory.  Durham's Urban Ministries works to fix that problem and others, and raises money and awareness each year with the Empty Bowls event which is an approachable way for people to be part of the solution, and for local restaurants to have a chance to compete and show off a bit.  That's a double bonus for attendees given the quality of Durham's chefs.

The annual battle for the “Best Soup in Durham” will take place Thursday, March 7th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at the Durham Convention Center (301 West Morgan Street).  Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD) will hold its seventh annual Empty Bowls event presented by Olive & Olive, P.A. to raise much-needed funds to help UMD serve over 200,000 meals a year to those in need.

Attendees get to sample soups prepared by more than a dozen local restaurants and can vote for their favorite.  The light dinner of soup is a reminder that many people in Durham do not have enough to eat.  Local artists and artisans have donated their talents to create over 800 hand-crafted bowls for attendees to pick and take home.  There is also a panel of celebrity judges who vote and the evening will be serenaded by Moment’s Notice/St. Ambrose Jazz Mass Quartet.

More than 900 tickets were sold last year raising over $30,000 to benefit the people served by Urban Ministries of Durham’s Community Café.

There are three types of tickets to the event this year. The Hot Ticket includes soup and a bowl for $50.  It’s a hot ticket because you can have first choice of the bowls from 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm. There will only be 200 of these tickets available. The Regular Ticket includes soup and bowl for $35.  Bowls can be picked after 6:00 pm. Then there is the  Soup Only Ticket for $15.00
Children six and under can attend for free, and tickets can be bought online at online.

This year's roster of competing restaurants, and the soups they will be making, certainly makes it easy to justify the purchase price of a ticket.  They are:

• 604 at West Village: Tomato Polenta
• Bleu Olive Mediterranean Bistro: Chicken Avgolemono
• Bull City Burger and Brewery: Vegetarian White Chipotle Chili
• Durham Convention Center: Roasted Butternut Bisque with Pear and Sage
• The Mad Hatter’s Café and Bake Shop: Lime Chick and Roasted Corn
• Mediterranean Deli: Lentil Soup
• Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse: Catfish Stew
• Piedmont:  Cream of Kale Soup with Sourdough Croutons
• Pizzeria Toro: Lettuce Soup with Brown Butter Croutons and Clabber
• Saladelia Café:  Vegan Black Bean Chili
• Six Plates Wine Bar: Sweet Potato Bisque
• The Pit: Brunswick Stew
• Thrills From the Grill: Collard Green Soup
• Toast Paninoteca: Spicy Chickpea Puree with Lemony Swiss Chard
• Urban Ministries of Durham Community Café:  French Onion Soup
• Watts Grocery: White Bean and Pancetta

The soups will be judged by a panel of some of Durham's culinary luminaries, and other prominent members of the community, and attendees can vote, too.  At the end, both a fan favorite and a judge's favorite will be named.  The judges are: 

• Jay O'Berski:  Artistic director of The Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and teaches acting at Duke.
• Sean Lilly Wilson:  Founder and Chief Executive Optimist of Fullsteam Brewery
• Tisha Powell:  Co-anchor for WTVD ABC11 Eyewitness News
• Mike Woodard:  State Senator
• Johanna Kramer:  Food blogger for johannakramer.com

Learn more about all of the great food events happening here all the time on the Durham Event Calendar, and more about dining in Durham online.

The New York Times Spent 36 Hours in Durham

The New York Times regularly runs a piece in their travel section where they write about what a traveler can do with, well, 36 hours in a place.  On Sunday, January 20th, the world will see what they think can happen in Durham in 36 hours.  Heads up, it's a lot!

Like Durham, the article focuses a great deal on great food, music, the arts, and the open and welcoming culture of intellect.  In other words, the article captures Durham right down to the last nuance and lets it shine as the funky, authentic place that it is.

The story is on the paper's website, and will hit the stands on Sunday. There is an accompanying slideshow, as well.

Coverage like this is always appreciated.  Durham is also up for a major accolade from Southern Living Magazine.  Read more about that online and be sure to vote daily for Durham!

The Original Q Shack Donates Thousands

“I feel like I did something today – something meaningful,” an exhausted Dan Ferguson said last night after his last customers were served.  Ferguson gave 100% of the sales from his Durham restaurant, The Original Q Shack, on January 2, 2013 to the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

“I realized that the tragedy in Newtown, CT could happen anywhere, and that part of the problem is access,” he said referring to mental health resources.  Ferguson wanted to do his part by giving a community known for its willingness to step up and contribute a way to do so. “The day of the shooting I just started looking for ways to help.  I found NAMI and realized that they were doing good work that I wanted to support,” Ferguson added.

Durham has a long history of community action, and that spirit mobilized on Wednesday with customers lined up, and other Durham restaurateurs coming in to help and show their support, too. Tommy Bullock, of famed Durham landmark Bullock’s BBQ showed up with his son Ty to offer to help Ferguson and his crew serve customers.  “I think what Dan is doing is terrific, and I wanted to come tell him in person,” Bullock said.  Other restaurants came out to help, too. Employees from Durham Catering Company, Only Burger, and Rise Biscuits and Donuts were on site to help throughout the day, all giving their time to lend a hand.  

Ferguson estimates 750 to 800 people came through the door.  The guests, and the money they spent, stand as a testament to Durham’s character.  The effort resulted in a significant donation to NAMI - $9,528.72 from restaurant sales and direct donations made at the restaurant during the day.  Ferguson made up the difference to bring the number up to $10,000 even, but that number does not reflect the thousands more that Ferguson spent to make the event possible.  Those additional dollars reflect the cost of food, staff, sales tax, and more.  Ferguson is simply covering those expenses himself.  “This was the right thing to do, and I’m so glad I could do it,” he added.

 “As an all-volunteer organization of Durham citizens, we of NAMI Durham are excited by the success of the largest single fundraising and outreach event in our history. We thank Dan Ferguson, owner of The Original Q Shack, for his generosity, which will expand our ability to offer programs of education, support, and advocacy addressing issues of mental illness. This event also raised awareness in our community of the importance of early intervention and treatment in preventing mental health crises," said Dorothy Smith of NAMI's Durham office. NAMI had an information table setup in the restaurant and shared information with patrons throughout the day. For many it was their first exposure to the organization.

In preparation for the event on Wednesday morning, as he was arranging tables and chairs in his restaurant’s dining room, Ferguson said he had prepared enough food for 1,000, “But how much do you make when you are essentially giving it all away? I've never had to try and figure that out before,” he said, smiling and looking forward to a busy day.

***

The Original Q Shack (not to be confused with other similarly named businesses with which Ferguson used to be associated) is located at 2510 University Drive in Durham’s Rockwood District.  Opened in 2003, the restaurant is now a landmark for BBQ in North Carolina.  Ferguson, a Texas native, is the sole proprietor, attended the Culinary Institute of America in NY, and is a veteran of some of Durham’s best known restaurants.

With a local office in Durham, NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need.

Zagat Guide Surveying Durham Restaurants

For many, the Zagat Guide is a trustworthy source of restaurant information culled from the input of those who dine at those properties.  Previously, the guide had been largely for major markets only, but now, the publishers are looking nationwide for commentary.

The guide, purchased by Google in September, 2011, is viewed by the owners as a great tool to generate content for it's social media channel, Google +, as well as a tool to help it compete with websites like OpenTable and Yelp.

Now, Zagat is looking for information about Durham, and the Triangle area overall.  As Durham is widely known for its food scene, and people in Durham are extremely engaged, it's time to put those two things to use.

Zagat has an online survey which includes just about every property in the Triangle listed alphabetically, by cuisine, or by location.  Reviewers rate food, service, and decor, list an approximate price per person, and then can add comments.  The site takes measures to ensure that the reviews are not "ballot stuffing" by those with something to gain by doing so. Diners can feel certain that the information is objective and from other diners like themselves.

So, Durham food fans, now is the time to speak up.  Follow the link and review away.  For those that do, there are even rewards.

This survey closes on November 30, so people are encouraged to contribute now.