Planting Day and Plant Sale at Duke Homestead

Spring is in the air, and a special opportunity to celebrate it is coming up this weekend. The public is invited to join costumed staff-members of Durham's Duke Homestead for an old-timey style celebration.

Join Duke Homestead on Saturday, May 4th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a Planting Day and Plant Sale.  Take part in a piece of North Carolina’s culture by assisting interpreters as they transplant tobacco seedlings into the field.  Help bring history to life by helping start the yearly kitchen garden at the Dukes’ historic home. There will be a plant sale, and baked goods available for purchase, too.

Duke Homestead is the site of the Duke family’s nineteenth-century farm, where Washington Duke started a tobacco business that later became the largest in the world.  With the money generated by this venture, the Dukes endowed Duke University, began what later grew into Duke Energy, and founded an endowment that continues to contribute to charitable causes today.

Duke Homestead is located at 2828 Duke Homestead Road, just off I-85 at the Guess Road exit. For more information, call 919-477-5498, email, or visit the website.

For more information about historic sites in Durham, click here.

Audition to Win Chance to Perform at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Durham May 10

Ready for a chance to perform before thousands of fans and maybe even a live television audience? Start practicing the national anthem or “God Bless America” because the Charlotte Motor Speedway “Speedway Superstar Tour” is coming to Durham Friday, May 10 looking for performers to headline at the 10 Greatest Days in Racing in May.

Auditions will take place in Durham on May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Best Buy located at 7001 Fayetteville Rd. Contestants should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the auditions start.

The Speedway Superstar Tour contest is open for talented performers to audition at the mobile audition studio, presented by Coca-Cola, as it visits 10 cities throughout North and South Carolina.  For the audition, contestants (ages 18 or older) will be allowed to perform an a cappella rendition (without music or instrumental accompaniment) of either the national anthem of the United States or “God Bless America.” The performance is limited to 60 seconds and will be videotaped for use on the contest voting website. Fans will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite performances from May 1 through May 22. See the official rules online.

Five lucky winners will be selected to perform at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the 10 Greatest Days of Racing, including “God Bless America” at the N.C. Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race; “God Bless America” at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race; the national anthem at the History 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race; “God Bless America” at the History 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race; or “God Bless America” at the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.  All winners will also receive two tickets to the race at which they perform. Click here for details on the prize packages.

For more information about performances in Durham, visit the Durham Event Calendar.

Trumpeter Tom Browne at Hayti Heritage Center

The smooth sounds of the trumpet will soon echo through St. Joseph's in Durham not once, but twice in one evening.

The Heritage Music Series will present trumpeter great Tom “Funkin’ for Jamaica” Browne! Friday, May 10 at 7pm and 9pm. Tickets are $15.

Throughout Browne’s career, he has hit the highs that many in the music industry only aim for. If his chords have yet to find a place in your heart then you must not be listening to Tom Browne.

At a young age, Browne attended the High School of Music and Art/Performing Arts in New York and studied under Murray Karpilovsky, principal trumpeter with the NBC Orchestra directed by Arturo Toscanini. While building a name for himself on the New York jazz scene, Browne honed his talents through the teachings of Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams, Woody Shaw and Freddie Hubbard. He played alongside Weldon Irvine and Sonny Fortune in his first ever pro level performance. Browne’s talent and charisma attracted support from many jazz greats.

Browne has had a number of hit releases including “Browne Sugar” (1979), “Love Approach” (1980), and “Magic” (1981). In 1980 and 1981 Browne’s hit “Funkin’ for Jamaica” landed #1 as the US Billboard R&B single and his “Thighs High” at #4.

During his career Browne has received many Billboard honors including Best Instrumentalist, Best Jazz Cross-Over, Best Jazz Artist-Trumpet and Best Jazz Solo Album. His CD “S’Up” was released in August 2010 and features Fred Wesley and the Groove Collection.

Tom Browne’s stellar career speaks for itself, and he remains one of the finest jazz trumpeters and performers in the industry.

For more information on events in Durham, visit the Durham Event Calendar.

Txakolifest Coming Up on June 1st, Tickets Go On Sale Tomorrow

It's a tongue-twister of a name for many, but saying it five times fast does not net one a prize.  Going to the event is a prize enough.

Pronounced Chok-Oh-Lee-Fest, TxakoliFest is a celebration of wine and food from the Basque region of North-Central Spain and Southwest France.  Durham wine bar Six Plates is gearing up for their annual celebration of the wine and food from this region.  Hosted in two sessions, the event is a quick sell out. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, May 1st, at Six Plates and Durham wine retailer Wine Authorities.  The event is on June 1st and will be hosted in two distinct sessions.

From 1 to 4 PM is a fundraiser for Housing for New Hope or the general admission session. Housing for New Hope prevents and ends homelessness by providing increased access to health care, integrated services, and housing. There are 150 tickets for $75 in advance for this portion of the festival. An additional 50 tickets may available the week of the event due to weather and space constraints. Involved in this fundraiser will be the food and tasting portions of TxakoliFest, as well as entertainment, with all of the proceeds going to Housing for New Hope.  Six Plates’ John Eisensmith will be joined by Billy Cotter of Toast, Charlie Deal of Dos Perros, Tim Lyons of Blu Seafood, Matt Kelly of Bar Mateo, Chris Stinnett of Pop’s, Amy Tournquist of Watts Grocery, and Todd Whitney of Vin Rouge. There will be at least seven different txakolis poured to taste by the glass, and a souvenir glass for each guest.

There will be 125 tickets for the 4 PM to midnight session which guarantees admission and a souvenir glass. These tickets are $15. There will be live music, as well as food and wine for sale (there is no food or drink included in the general admission price).

The wines are white or slightly pink, a little tart, and commonly a little effervescent.  The cuisine of this region tends to seafood and seasonal produce - two things with which the wine pairs perfectly. The menu created to go with them is typically a study in classic dishes that showcase the wines.

The scene is always convivial and celebratory.  There are typically some porons being passed about for those experienced in drinking from this traditional vessel.

Keep up to date on all the exciting events in Durham with the Durham Event Calendar.

David Rubenstein Commits $10 Million to Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy

More students will soon be able to participate in graduate fellowships and undergraduate internships in Durham thanks to a generous gift to Duke University.

Duke University trustee David M. Rubenstein is giving $10 million to the Sanford School of Public Policy to endow graduate fellowships and undergraduate internships, and to create a fund that will enhance the school’s engagement with the policy world, President Richard H. Brodhead announced Tuesday.

It is the largest single gift to Sanford and supports priorities of Duke Forward, the $3.25 billion fundraising campaign across Duke's 10 schools, Duke Medicine and a range of university programs.
"We are profoundly grateful to David Rubenstein for his continued generosity to Duke,” Brodhead said. "This gift reflects Duke’s highest priorities: It helps talented students afford a Duke education, it expands opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in service to society and it ensures that the Sanford School of Public Policy continues to contribute policy expertise toward addressing the world’s complex problems."

Of the gift, $6 million will be used to fund David M. Rubenstein Fellowships for Master of Public Policy (MPP) candidates at Sanford who have already demonstrated a commitment to public service through programs such as Teach for America, AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. As part of their fellowships, graduate students through their teaching assistant commitments will mentor public policy undergraduates and spur their interest in public service.

Another $2 million will be used to fund internships for undergraduate public policy students who are required to complete a policy-related internship.

“Because many of our 575 majors cannot afford the costs of an internship,” said Sanford Dean Bruce Kuniholm, “they often do their internships in their home states, which doesn’t give them the opportunity to network in D.C., engage with the excitement of policymaking on a national level or go abroad. Paid internships also will open the way to exciting possibilities in public service they could not otherwise afford, before they make job decisions in their senior year.”

The final $2 million will create the David M. Rubenstein Dean’s Engagement and Impact Fund, which can be directed by the dean toward projects that will increase the impact and visibility of the work done by Sanford faculty and students.
Kelly Brownell, currently the James Rowland Angell Professor of Psychology at Yale University, will become Sanford’s next dean on July 1. His priorities for the fund will include enhancing the Duke in D.C. program and building programming that can help make the school’s resources and expertise more directly available to legislators and other policymakers.

“This major gift will be of enormous benefit to our students and the school,” said Kuniholm, who headed Sanford’s transition from institute to school over the last eight years, including the last four as dean. “It will make it possible for the best students to enroll in Sanford's MPP program and for undergraduates to have an internship experience that some could not otherwise afford.
“It also will help faculty and students realize Terry Sanford's dream of bridging the divide between academia and the policy world, enabling them to have greater visibility in, and impact on, ongoing policy debates,” Kuniholm said.

Named for Terry Sanford, the former Duke president and North Carolina governor and senator, the Sanford School offers wide-ranging programs on child and family policy, national security, international development and other issues facing society. The public policy major is one of the most popular among Duke undergraduates. Sanford’s master’s degree program in public policy is ranked among the country’s top 10 policy analysis programs.

Rubenstein donated $5.75 million in 2009 to Sanford to support environment and energy policy, internships and a distinguished speakers series. The gift helped Sanford meet a $40 million fundraising target for its transition from an institute to Duke's 10th school. In 2002, he contributed $5 million toward the completion of Sanford's Rubenstein Hall.

“I am excited and honored to support Sanford’s goal of producing scholars who will shape global public policy,” said Rubenstein, who graduated from Duke in 1970 and serves as vice chair of Duke’s Board of Trustees and as one of Duke Forward’s co-chairs. “I am eager to see the impact faculty and students will continue to make in this world under the leadership of the new dean.”

In the past year, Rubenstein has also committed $10 million to the Duke Athletics Department -- matching its largest gift -- and $15 million to serve as a catalyst for the university's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative. In 2011, he gave $13.6 million to the Duke University Libraries in support of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, which now bears his name. Altogether, Rubenstein has committed more than $50 million to Duke University.

A Baltimore native, Rubenstein is co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager. He is also an active civic leader and serves on numerous boards, including those of the Smithsonian Institution, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Chicago, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Rubenstein and his wife, Alice Rogoff Rubenstein, have three children.

For more information about Durham's educational institutions, visit online.

Farmhand Foods Announces Name Change to Firsthand Foods

That Durham was recently honored with the title of Tastiest Town in the South is no surprise to those who live there - and businesses like Farmhand Foods are partially responsible.  The company exemplifies much of what Durham food fans seek including local product: authenticity, integrity, and responsibility. The brand is undergoing a name change due to a legal battle, but while the name will be different, the product and commitment to quality will remain the same.

Beginning May 1, Durham-based Farmhand Foods will officially change its name to Firsthand Foods.  Farmhand Foods launched its business in 2010 with a food truck, known around town as the Sausage Wagon.  Since then, the company has grown into a sizable wholesale distributor of high-quality, local, pasture-raised meats.

In late 2011, Farmhand Foods received a “cease and desist” letter from S.F. Investments, Inc., owner of “Farmland Foods,” a branded line of Smithfield Foods’ pork products worth $3 billion in sales annually.  While Farmhand Foods received federal trademark protection for the right to use its award-winning mark, indicating that the US Patent and Trademark Office had no concern for consumer confusion, SF Investments was not satisfied.

“After a year of trying to protect the rights to use our name, we decided to embrace Firsthand Foods as our new name and focus on growing our markets, supporting the farmers in our network, and continuing to help build a robust local food system here in North Carolina,” says Tina Prevatte, Co-CEO.

Firsthand Foods now has well over 60 customers, including fine dining establishments, specialty retailers, natural foods grocery stores, mobile markets, food trucks, and institutional food service providers such as Carolina Dining Services at UNC-Chapel Hill.  The company sources its meats from a network of close to 40 small-scale beef and pork producers from over 15 counties in the state.  These remarkable farmers, most of whom are in rural areas and do not otherwise have access to larger-scale markets, raise their animals humanely, on pasture, without using added hormones or growth-promoting antibiotics.

Notes Jennifer Curtis, Co-CEO, “We’re excited to re-brand as Firsthand Foods, a name we believe speaks to our core mission to create a direct and transparent connection between our customers and the farmers in our network.”  Firsthand Foods traces every piece of meat it sells back to the farm of origin so its customers know exactly where and how it was raised.

The company has changed their name on Facebook, but have not updated their Twitter account to reflect the new name. For more information about great eating in Durham, visit online.

Michael McDonald: This Christmas, An Evening of Holiday & Hits

Five-time Grammy® winner Michael McDonald will perform This Christmas, An Evening of Holiday and Hits at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on December 1, 2013. Michael McDonald will sing his hits from his vast catalog, plus classic holiday tunes.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 3 at 10am online and at the DPAC Ticket Center on Vivian Street.
Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on May 1.

"Several times a year there is a cheer that goes up around the office when we receive confirmation of a new booking,” said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC. “That was the case when we heard Michael McDonald was coming to DPAC. We've known forever that we're the perfect venue for his show and many on staff are big fans. This night will provide Triangle music fans with a rare chance to see one of rock’s best voices, up close and with the near perfect acoustics that have helped make DPAC concerts famous.”

Two notes. That’s all it takes to recognize the voice of Michael McDonald. Distinctive and soulful, it is one of the most emotive instruments of our times. To this add formidable songwriting and keyboard skills, and you have an artist who has been a singular musical presence for four decades. From ‘70s-era Doobie Brothers classics such as “What A Fool Believes” and solo hits like “I Keep Forgettin’” through two highly-acclaimed Motown covers albums and recent genre-busting guest spots with alternative buzz bands Grizzly Bear and Holy Ghost, the five-time Grammy®-winning McDonald is that rare thing in contemporary pop – an artist whose work is both timeless and ever-evolving.

Along with his musical contributions, McDonald has long been an active humanitarian. Over the years, he has lent his talents and energies to many causes and benefits, including MusiCares, the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the 7UP Grammy® Signature Schools Program. Most recently, in April 2011, he was part of a star-studded lineup at Kokua For Japan, a concert that raised $1.6 million for tsunami relief.

Continuing to explore new vistas, in 2003 and 2004, McDonald released his Grammy®-nominated, platinum-selling pair of Motown albums. Then in 2005, he partnered with Hallmark for a special Christmas album, Through The Many Winters, which sold 500,000 copies in its first two weeks.

On the heels of 2008’s acclaimed crossover album Soul Speak (which hit three different charts simultaneously) and multiple appearances on PBS’s Soundstage, McDonald continues to tour the world, from Europe to Asia to Australia, while moonlighting alongside cohorts Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs with The Dukes Of September, an 11-piece soul supergroup. And as one more feather in his cap, in May 2011, McDonald received an honorary doctorate from Berklee School of Music.

With a career that encompasses five Grammy® Awards, numerous chart successes, personal and professional accolades, as well as collaborations with some of the world’s most prominent artists, Michael McDonald remains an enduring force in popular music.

For more information on Durham, NC, click here.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Coming to DPAC April 30- May 5

The first national tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is coming to Durham at DPAC, from April 30 to May 5.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical will star Wade McCollum (“Tick/Mitzi”), Scott Willis (“Bernadette”) and Bryan West (“Adam/Felicia”) as the trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed.  Joe Hart stars as “Bob.”

With over 500 dazzling 2011 Tony® Award-winning costumes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical features a hit parade of over 20 dance-floor favorites including “It's Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.”

The new musical opened on Broadway to critical acclaim on March 20, 2011 at the Palace Theatre. The Hollywood Reporter called Priscilla “funny and fabulous! Joyous entertainment with eye-popping visuals and unexpected heart!”  NY-1 News raved “Beneath all that glitz beats a great big sequined heart!” WOR Radio sang “All the songs you’ve loved for years will blow you out of your seat!”

Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical won a 2011 Tony Award® for Best Costume Design for Academy Award® winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s designs. The new hit musical received three Best Musical award nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award organizations. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner were also honored with 2011 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Costume Design.

Tickets start at $35 and are available now online.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, the most successful Australian musical of all time, had its world premiere in Sydney in 2006.  Adapted from the 1994 Academy Award® winning film
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott.  Direction: Simon Phillips, choreography: Ross Coleman, musical supervision and arrangements: Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy, set design: Brian Thomson, costume design: Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner, lighting design: Nick Schlieper, sound design: Jonathan Deans & Peter Fitzgerald, make up design: Cassie Hanlon.

For more information, visit the show's website; devoted fans can follow Priscilla on Twitter.

For more great things to do in Durham, visit this link.

Durham County Library Hosts Discussion on Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is more than just an excuse to visit your favorite Mexican restaurant in Durham.

Durham County Library will host Dr. Altha Cravey as she leads a discussion on the significance of Cinco de Mayo and why it is celebrated in the United States. The program will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 at the Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street. Light refreshments will be served.

The American Cinco de Mayo celebration originated in the Mexican-American communities of the American West in the 1860s. It grew in popularity and evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, first in areas with large Mexican-American populations, like Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. Eventually it expanded across the United States. In 2005, the President of the United States issued a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities. It is celebrated regionally in México primarily in the state of Puebla where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla). In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces in 1862.

Cravey is an associate professor of geography at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where much of her research and teaching is focused on Latin America and Latinos in the southern United States.

For more information, contact Judith Quijano, at 919-560-0157. Durham County Library encourages Discovery, connects the Community and leads in Literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit durhamcountylibrary.org.

For more events in Durham, visit the Durham Event Calendar.

This Week at the South Durham Farmers' Market

This Week at the South Durham Farmers' Market

• Music by Kristine Welsh-Loveman from 10am - 12pm   
• Education: Ali & Elizabeth of Starting Fresh Cookbook will be sampling a green garlic dish, and talking about the importance of seasonality!
• The Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your spring planting questions!
• In Season: STRAWBERRIES, ASPARAGUS, TOMATOES, and MUCH MORE!
• Market is open 8am-Noon Greenwood Commons, 5410 HWY 55 Durham, NC 27713  

Flowers...

Flowers are, of course, beautiful. They display the vigor of spring and summer, the importance of color, sunshine, and warmth. But why is it important to buy local, sustainably-grown flowers at SDFM? First and foremost, you know that  your flowers are being grown nearby, and not jetting from another continent, sparing the earth those nasty carbon emissions. You also get to enjoy the heart and passion of the farmer who grows them and you see yourself; many of them, like Sassafras Fork Farm, McAdams Farm, and LadyBug Farm, grow heirloom varietals, with stunning and moving color schemes never found in those "factory" flowers wrapped in cellophane. Finally, the scent, aroma, perfume, one of the most important features, is largely lost due to sprays and pesticides; these precious features are kept intact with the use of sustainable growing practices and wild/heirloom types. Celebrate anything this Saturday with some of our vendors beautiful arrangements, and be sure to wow someone with the true color and scent of local flowers.

Garlic!

You've seen green garlic at the market, but what exactly is it and what do you do with it? Green garlic is young garlic, pulled early. In the culinary world, people use it in the same way you might use green onions. The difference being that green garlic is has a stronger and garlicky taste (though not as pungent as garlic itself). You can use it to make pesto with pizazz, in an omelette, or you can even pickle it! (click here)

Vendors like Fickle Creek Farm & Sassafras Fork Farm carry green garlic in the spring, and you'll see it at the market over the next month or so, until the full-grown version becomes available!

This weekend, in honor of National Garlic Day, Elizabeth Turnbull & Ali Rudel, authors of an upcoming Durham-based farmers market cookbook, will be at market demonstrating how to make a simple crostini using bread and green garlic from the market. They'll be handing out recipe cards for the demo as well, or you can find the recipe on their website (Click here!).

***Call for volunteers at the Farmer Foodshare donation station for the summer!*** Please email Katy Phillips lindleyklp@gmail.com 

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

Sugar Snap Peas are back!
That's right, another spring crop is starting to trickle back into season!! There won't be many at Market tomorrow, so if you want to pick some up, I'd suggest that you get to Market on the early side.

Along with the arrival of sugar snap peas, this weekend is another spring benchmark: The 18th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour! We are so lucky to live in a place where there are lots of opportunities through the year to visit the local farms that sell at our farmers' markets! Farm tours are a great opportunity to see your food growing, ask your farmers questions about how they produce and animals, and build a very close connection to your food. That is something that you can't get at a grocery store!

The Piedmont Farm Tour covers Person, Orange, Alamance and Chatham counties. The farms will be open to tour on Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm. To tour the farms, you can purchase a farm tour button and that gives one carload of people the ability to tour as many farms as possible! This year 14 DFM farms will be open on the tour and one of our bakers will be baking!

Call for Volunteers! The Farmer Foodshare Donation Station is looking for volunteers this summer. If you are interested, contact Katy Phillips, the Donation Station Coordinator for Farmer Foodshare.
You can contact her at volunteer@farmerfoodshare.org For more information about Farmer Foodshare, check out  www.farmerfoodshare.org

See you at the Market, bright and early!!
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook and Twitter


Upcoming Events and Spring Schedule

Saturday, April 27: Durham County Beekeepers, 8am-Noon
Want to learn about beekeeping and honey production? The Durham County Beekeeper Association will be at market with their display hive and lots of beekeeping information!
ALSO TOMORROW: Kids Music by Loony Toonz on the Market lawn.

Wednesday May 1: Quick Dinners from the Market Cooking Demo starting at 3:30pm. Local cooking instructor, Anne Everitt will be leading the first Wednesday Market cooking demo of the season! She'll demonstrate a quick meal that you can make using Market ingredients. Stop by for a taste and a recipe!

Saturday May 4: Spiritual Sound Brass Band is BACK! They will be playing on the Market lawn starting at 11am!

Saturday May 11: Kids Tomato Seedling Day! Every year, the farmers set aside some tomato seedlings for kids to take home and learn about growing a garden. On Saturday May 11, kids can pick up a tomato seedling and get growing instructions from the Master Gardener Volunteers and then hear stories about growing and eating tomatoes from local storyteller Cynthia Raxter!

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: A few more STRAWBERRIES!
VEGETABLES:  SUGAR SNAP PEAS!, SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS, Asparagus, Asian Greens (Bok Choi, Mizuna, Tat Soi), Arugula, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Collards, Greenhouse Grown Cucumbers, Dandelion Greens, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Cilantro, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley), Green Onions, Green Garlic, Gourds, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Pumpkins, Radishes,  Salad Mix, Shiitake Mushrooms (dried), Rhubarb,  Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes, Turnips, Turnip Greens and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal
Guinea Eggs, Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged cow and goats milk cheeses.
FLOWERS & PLANTS: VEGETABLE and HERB SEEDLINGS including tomatoes, Ranunculus, Tulips, Icelandic Poppies, Anemones, Landscaping Plants, House Plants
SPECIALTY ITEMS: Creamed Honey, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Pastas, Perogies, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Handmade Baskets, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...

Produce availability depends on weather conditions 

Online Food Delivery Service Awarded Spot in Durham Startup Incubator

Known as a foodie and tech haven, Durham seems the perfect place for a new restaurant delivery business start.  Given that one is getting going here, that assessment might be right on target.

Tech-based company BringMeThat has been accepted into the Triangle Startup Factory for a three-month spring session and is currently launching its service in North Carolina. As of mid-April, BringMeThat offers delivery from more than 1,200 restaurants across the state, with hundreds more set to be added.

Started at the beginning of the year, BringMeThat has created a system for customers to place delivery orders online without ever needing to use the phone. The site features comprehensive lists of restaurants that offer delivery, searchable by address. BringMeThat began in Ohio, where it features more than 1,400 restaurant listings across 300 cities.

Located in downtown Durham, on the historic American Tobacco Campus, the Triangle Startup Factory is "the most highly-capitalized technology accelerator in the southeast," created to launch early-stage tech companies. BringMeThat received $50,000 in upfront funding and is eligible for up to $150,000 in additional funding. As one of only six businesses in the program, the company will be immersed in a network of technology experts and entrepreneurial mentors.

BringMeThat was created by friends Michael LaMarca and Jason Liang. Coming from New York City, an area saturated with food services, the co-founders wanted to bring an online ordering system to North Carolina. Cities like Durham, where the food culture is burgeoning thanks to the national media spotlight, would gain access to aggregated digital menus. While specialized delivery services already exist in some NC cities, BringMeThat will provide exhaustive lists that also cover the state's underserved rural areas.

For more information about all the great food in Durham, grab a napkin and visit this site.

DCVB Celebrates National Volunteer Week With Durham Wayfinders Recognition

The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) is celebrating National Volunteer Week  with quarterly recognition of some of its greatest volunteers. National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change – discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation. DCVB does this with the assistance of the Durham Wayfinders program.

Launched in 2008 along with the opening of the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), DCVB administers the online scheduling system that allows volunteers to easily register and search for opportunities to volunteer at Durham’s cultural facilities, events, festivals, convention information desks and visitor center.

The objective of the Durham Wayfinders is to offer excellent guest services by greeting visitors and assisting with directions and information about area hotels, restaurants and things to see and do while in Durham. There’s only one chance at a great first impression and volunteers with the program want each visitor to have the ultimate experience from start to finish.

About National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. Sponsored by Points of Light—National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each subsequent year, with literally thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. With the fourth year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund and the resonant call to serve from the President, this year will be even more energizing and inspiring. For more information regarding National Volunteer Week activities, please visit them online.

For more information about volunteering with the Durham Wayfinders, click here.

The Smoffice Is Earns Top Spot...In The World

Updated: 9:13, 10:14, 4/25

A walk down Main Street in Durham, NC will take one past many great restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as office and residential space.  One such place is Beyu Caffe, and there, in the window on the right, if one looks closely, is The Smoffice.

Durham Wins! Casey Steinbacher, Matthew Coppedge and
Adam Klein with $3,000 check and plaque.
Photo from Downtown Durham, Inc.

Such a cool idea this was, that it got national media attention, and applicants to occupy the space came from around the world.  The idea had undeniable panache, and people loved it.

The tenants of The Smoffice have since moved out, but the idea was entered into a contest to determine The World's Most Unconventional Economic Development Project.

Guess what.  It won.  At 25 square feet, The Smoffice bested contenders from around the globe at The World Chambers Competition at which chambers of commerce competed with their economic development projects.  Some of these were executed at the national level with massive budgets.  Despite the long odds and imposing competition, Durham did what Durham does...it roared. Again.

The competition was held in Doha, Qatar where Casey Steinbacher, Matthew Coppedge, and Adam Klein represented Durham.  Steinbacher is President of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Coppedge is Chief Operating Officer for Downtown Durham, Inc, and Klein, formerly with the Chamber, is now with American Underground.

This is the first time the US has ever won this competition.

More details will be shared as they are available.  Some back story on the project is at the links below.

Really Small News
Smoffice Chosen As Finalist

2013 Annual Tribute Luncheon "The Gospel of Durham"

The 2013 Annual Tribute Luncheon, held today at the Durham Convention Center, welcomed more than 300 attendees according to Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Shelly Green. DCVB produces the event each year to celebrate an aspect of Durham's unique sense of place, and the people, places, events, and things that make Durham distinct.

From left to right, DCVB President & CEO Shelly Green,
Annual Tribute Luncheon Honoree Shirley Caesar and
Co-host, Minnie Forte-Brown, Vice Chair,
Durham Public Schools Board of Education

Durham native and eleven-time Grammy winner Pastor Shirley Caesar was this year's honoree, with the theme, "The Gospel of Durham."  According to Green, "We are extremely excited to share the good news about Pastor Caesar, and Durham, today. We don't hold a traditional annual meeting. Rather, we use this event as a showcase to help people understand Durham, and all its facets," she added.

A short documentary video about Pastor Caesar debuted at the event. Local weekly newspaper, The Indy Week, featured Caesar as their cover story this week, and a very special greeting was read to Pastor Caesar, from former president, Bill Clinton. President and Secretary Clinton are close personal friends of Pastor Caesar, and they sent their congratulations in a personal note read aloud as a special surprise during the event. Pastor Caesar was excited to hear their kind words. "I am so glad I had the privilege to be a part of the Durham City Council. I always come back home. I love Durham."

Caesar's contributions to Durham are numerous and far-reaching. Pastor Caesar was elected to the Durham City Council and served from 1987 to 1991. She is also a cheerleader for Durham wherever she goes, and as an international Gospel star, that's a lot of places. Pastor Caesar also personally funds the Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries in Durham to help the less fortunate. The Pastor has also acted in Hollywood films, and performed on Broadway. While Pastor Caesar has won Grammy Awards and dozens of other music awards, this award from her local Durham community holds special meaning.

Upon accepting the award, Caesar expressed appreciation for the recognition from the community, “This is a privilege. It's an honor. Even when I left the clay hills of North Carolina, I always came home. You can always come home when you can't go anyplace else. Thank God for home."

This event is produced annually and in the past has recognized the culinary arts, architecture, authors, events, and civic organizations. To see an image of the 2013 Annual Tribute Luncheon honorees click here.

The event is always a "who's who" of Durham and of the respective community being celebrated with today's event being no exception. "Events like this help to remind us all how special Durham is, and why we are all so proud to be here," Green said.

Durham Installs New American Tobacco Trail Bridge April 28

Those who love Durham's outdoor offerings are about to have a new way to enjoy more of the American Tobacco Trail. The long-awaited installation of the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 40 will begin overnight this weekend and motorists are asked to take note of planned traffic detours.

On Sunday, April 28 between midnight and 7 a.m., the City of Durham’s contractor, Blythe Construction, Inc., will close Interstate 40 between N.C. Highway 751 and Fayetteville Road to set the new bridge in place on its foundations by crane. In the following weeks the City’s contractor will begin installing the bridge deck, fencing, lighting, and other elements. Four partially pre-assembled sections of the 270 foot long bridge arrived last week and are now being assembled on the northern shoulder of Interstate 40 in preparation for the April 28 set date.

Local traffic will exit Interstate 40 and return at the next exit using Renaissance Parkway heading east and N.C. Highway 54 heading west. Major through-traffic will be informed via message boards to use N.C. Highway 147 to avoid the local traffic detour.

The bridge is still on schedule for completion in July 2013, despite the recent foundation difficulties. The City’s contractor discovered that their surveyor made an error in the layout of the foundation, and four of the eight bridge piers were 2.5 feet too high. The resolution of the problem required a quick engineered solution by the City’s consultant engineering firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff. The correction used a shallow cut into to the concrete with a saw at the proper elevation and jackhammers to remove concrete above the cut, being careful not to disturb the steel rebar cage. All repairs have been completed and the cost of the repair was borne by the City’s contractor.

Once completed later this summer, this $9 million construction project will extend the American Tobacco Trail from its current end point on N.C. Highway 54 at Fayetteville Street to the Chatham County line. The length of trail to be constructed by this project is approximately 4.2 miles and includes the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 40. The pedestrian bridge is located just west of Fayetteville Street and the connection to the trail heading south will be located near the Streets at Southpoint Mall. Funding for the project is being provided from a variety of sources including federal funds from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Durham Sidewalk Bond fund.

To learn more about this project or to view conceptual images of the new bridge click here or contact Contract Management Supervisor Edward Venable, PE, with the City’s Public Works Department at (919) 560-4326, ext. 30233 or by email.

About the Public Works Department
The City of Durham Public Works Department provides a wide range of services, including street maintenance, engineering design, development review and stormwater quality and infrastructure maintenance. The department also oversees street resurfacing and sidewalk projects. The department plans and executes the City’s winter weather and natural disaster plans. Public Works serves as a steward of the City’s physical assets and ensures that residents live in a safe, secure, and thriving community. For more information, visit the department online.

For more information on trails and parks in Durham, visit this website.

Bulls Announce Plans to Celebrate 25 Years of Bull Durham

When it comes to baseball, Durham is a pretty important spot. Made here, the movie Bull Durham is widely considered to be the most popular sports movie of all time, just as the subject of it, the Durham Bulls are widely considered to be the most popular AAA Baseball team in the world. Sure, it's not Cooperstown, but its role in baseball's story cannot be downplayed.

The Bulls have announced their plans to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the release of the 1988 movie that made the team internationally famous. Themed in-game entertainment, Bull Durham-era throwback jerseys, and giveaway items are among the activities on tap in 2013.

At every home game during the 2013 season, fans will be welcomed by the familiar “Rules of the Game” video voiced by a very Susan Sarandon-sounding announcer.  Then during each game, Bulls fans will be treated to at least one Bull Durham themed in-game entertainment feature.  Sure to be the most popular of those features are the Bull Durham Racers.

Unveiled on Opening Day, the racers have already created quite the buzz on the Internet with blog features on Baseball America, MLB Fan Cave, and Yahoo’s Big League Stew.  Serving as fan-friendly caricatures of Bull Durham’s most beloved stars, Racer Crash, Racer Nuke and Racer Annie will appear at big home games, racing along the warning track before exiting into the crowd for up-close photo opportunities.  Watch video of the Bull Durham Racers here.  Other in-game features will include trivia contests and videos of former and current Bulls reenacting famous scenes from the movie are here.

During Saturday home games, the Bulls will sport Bull Durham-era throwback jerseys. These late ‘80s/early ‘90s styled pullover tops will be auctioned off during the final Saturday home game of the season on August 24, with proceeds going to local non-profit groups.  The jerseys will also be worn on Sunday, June 16 when the Bulls host the Bull Durham 25th Anniversary Celebration, a game-long tribute to the film coinciding with the exact weekend it was released a quarter century ago.

Durham Bulls Mini Plan holders and Diamond Club members will have exclusive access to several Bull Durham themed giveaway items in 2013, including a Crash Davis catcher’s style backpack, and Nuke LaLoosh and Annie Savoy jersey t-shirts.

At concession stands, the spicy “Nuke Dog” makes its menu debut. Named for the fireball throwing Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, it’s a classic Carolina Packers red hot dog with crushed red pepper as an added ingredient. The “Nuke Dog” is also topped with the award-winning “Get Me a Switch” spicy relish from locally based Cottage Lane Kitchen.

More Bull Durham themed features and events will be announced throughout the season. The Durham Bulls resume their current homestand on Tuesday, April 23 with the first of four games against the Toledo Mud Hens. Tickets for all home games are available the DBAP box office, by calling 919.956.BULL or online.

Click here for more ways to enjoy Durham, NC.

GlaxoSmithKline, Triangle Community Foundation Issue Call for Applications Totaling $400,000 in GSK IMPACT Awards

Local Nonprofits Improving Community Health Encouraged to Apply for Ten $40,000 Awards
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Triangle Community Foundation today issued the 2013 GSK IMPACT Awards Call for Applications. This annual awards program will honor up to ten local nonprofits in Research Triangle Park, NC and the surrounding region with $40,000 each in recognition of their achievements and innovations in improving community health.

“At a time when so many families and communities are facing increasing health challenges, local nonprofits – particularly smaller organizations – continue to play a vital role in improving the health of our state,” said Katie Loovis, Director, U.S. Community Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, GlaxoSmithKline. “We are seeking to honor ten unique and exemplary local programs for their commitment to our region and positive influence on the communities they serve.”

The GSK IMPACT Awards honor innovative, collaborative, and evidence-based programs that are helping people – especially underserved populations – live healthier lives, and contributing to the health of the Triangle Region.

To qualify for a GSK IMPACT Award applicants must be physically located in Chatham, Durham, Granville, Person, Orange, and/or Wake Counties and have annual total operating expenses between $160,000 and $5 million.  To view the additional criteria and to apply, visit this site.  The application deadline is Friday, May 31, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. EDT. For questions, contact GlaxoSmithKline Community Partnerships at (919) 483-2669 or email.

“Improving the health of a community is as difficult as it is important,” said Triangle Community Foundation President Lori O’Keefe. “The GSKIMPACT Awards provide not only a generous financial reward to deserving nonprofits, but the awards also show the nation that some of the most promising social innovations in community health are happening right here in North Carolina.”

The scope of this year’s GSK IMPACT Awards has expanded to focus on improving access to health.  Eligible programs now include ones that promote healthy lifestyles, advance educational outcomes, and address other determinants of our health. The expanded focus aligns with GSK’s efforts to explore what it means, and what it takes to be a healthy community. In 2012, GSK kicked off an initiative to better understand how it can more effectively partner to build healthy communities, and this work continues in 2013.

A panel comprised of local and national health experts and representatives from GSK will evaluate the applications. Finalists will be notified in the summer, and winners will be notified in the fall following site visits to observe the submitted projects. The GSK IMPACT Awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Research Triangle Park in late 2013.
The History of GSK IMPACT Awards:

• For 17 years, GSK has honored outstanding nonprofit programs that are improving access to health in and around our U.S. corporate campuses in Durham, North Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with GSK IMPACT Awards.
• To date, 157 exemplary U.S.-based nonprofits have been honored with $6,214,000 in GSK IMPACT Awards. And more than one million dollars has been awarded to 28 local nonprofit organizations in the Research Triangle Park and surrounding region since 2009.
• The name ‘IMPACT’ derives from the focus that winners must have demonstrated in their application submissions: Innovation, Management,Partnership, Achievement, Community Focus, and Targeting Need.

About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information go to this site, follow the on Twitter or visit their blog.

About Triangle Community Foundation
Triangle Community Foundation is a nonprofit that manages $145 million in funds established by families, businesses, individuals, and organizations. From these funds, it makes grants to nonprofit organizations and administers a variety of programs for the community’s benefit. The Foundation manages over 750 funds, ranging in size from $10,000 to $7 million, mainly for the benefit of Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties. During the 2011-12 fiscal year, the Foundation granted more than $13 million to nonprofits, schools and community efforts. For more information, visit online.

Bill Maher, “Politically Incorrect” Comedian to Perform at DPAC August 10

For the last eighteen years, Bill Maher has expanded the boundaries of where funny political talk can go on American television. Fans will be able to see first-hand when Maher takes the stage at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on August 10, 2013 as part of Cool Summer Nights at DPAC. This show is presented in partnership with AC Entertainment.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 26 at 10am online,  at the box office, and by phone. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on April 24.

"More and more we're seeing entertainers that used to play other venues in the region make the move to DPAC. Clear sound, great views of the stage and the best audiences in the Triangle...nothing beats a show at DPAC. We've wanted to host Bill Maher on our stage for some time and it will be great to have him in Durham," said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC.

First on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last seven years on HBO’s “Real Time”, Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him twenty-one Emmy® nominations. In October of 2008, this same combination was on display in Maher’s uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, “Religulous”, directed by Larry Charles (Borat). The documentary has gone on to become the 7th highest grossing documentary ever.

In addition to “Real Time” – which has featured such regular visitors as Robin Williams, Arianna Huffington, Alec Baldwin and Michael Moore – Maher has written five bestselling books: “True Story: A Novel”; “Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect’s Greatest Hits”; “When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden”; “New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer” and most recently “The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody but Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass”.

Maher started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979, and still performs at least fifty dates a year in Las Vegas and in sold-out theaters all across the country. Two of his nine stand-up specials for HBO – 2007’s “The Decider” and 2005’s “I’m Swiss” – have been nominated for Emmy® awards. Bill’s most recent stand-up special for HBO was the hilarious, “Bill Maher But I’m Not Wrong”; and February 2012 “CrazyStupidPolitics LIVE! from Silicon Valley” on Yahoo.com.

Maher was born in New York City, raised in River Vale, N.J. and went to Cornell University.  He now resides in Los Angeles.

Find more creative ways to enjoy Durham, NC online.

$3.3 Million and Counting

Being named the Tastiest Town in the South has some serious economic power.  In the content marketing world, a big objective is to get recognition by others of the things that a product or brand has to offer.  That happened in spades with the announcement that Durham had earned this distinction.

What does it mean, in dollars and cents?  "Aside from all the potential visitor traffic that will come as a result of being exposed to Durham as a food destination, we have to look at what it would have cost us to buy this amount of exposure," said Shelly Green, President and CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau.  DCVB is Durham's official marketing agency and was the driving force behind winning the title. "It would have cost us $3.3 million," she added.

And counting, apparently.

"Every time we talk about this, that number grows," said Sam Poley who handles marketing for DCVB. "That's why we worked so hard to get people aware that winning this was important.  Titles are great, but value like this is simply undeniable, and we need to capture opportunities like this whenever they arise.  We hope that this kind of statistic will help engender support for such efforts in the future among our fans, residents, and business owners," he added.

At last count, more than 41 million impressions had been made by the more than 50 television broadcasts, well over 100 printed and web posted articles about the accolade.

DCVB's use of social media was key in winning, according to representatives from Southern Living Magazine.  To that end, DCVB has begun to use the hashtag #DurhamIsTastiest! and encourages everyone to tag images on Instagram and Tweets to help others know in real time what is happening on Durham's highly-acclaimed food landscape.

It's Easy Being Tasty

Hungry?  Like most people that depends on how good the food is.  Sure, we all need to eat, but we get hungry when we know the kitchen is cranking out tasty goods.

Turns out, Durham has more good stuff coming out of the kitchen than anyplace else in the South...and that's saying something!

For those who do not know, Durham, NC was named to Southern Living Magazine's list of The Top Ten Tastiest Towns in the South in January.  It made the grade over places like New Orleans, Charleston, and Miami. Durham earned the top spot being named The Tastiest Town in the South by the magazine at an April 9th press conference. The story appears in the magazine that hits newsstands today, April 19th.

So then how is this information useful to the consumer, the diner, the resident, and the visitor?  Well, it means they should go to Durham because apparently that's where this is where the good food is. But how does one find all that local goodness that issues forth from the kitchens of the South's Tastiest Town? There are three easy ways.

First, there is a list on the official Durham, NC Facebook page that can be followed.  The list is shared on a post on the page that has been set to stay at the top of the feed, so it's easy to find. This list of all the locally owned restaurants in Durham that have pages on the social networking site.  Many use their pages to share special dishes, special events, and special offers, as well as to make announcements.

Second is also in the social media realm.  Twitter users, as well as those on image sharing platform Instagram are encouraged to be using the hashtag #DurhamIsTastiest! when sharing.  Following those tags will be an easy way for users, both residents and visitors alike, to see what others are finding tasty in Durham in real time.

Third is to stay on top of what happens on the dining page on the Official Durham Visitors Website. Set a shortcut to this page on mobile devices, and just remember the convenient sub-domain eat.durham-nc.com as a way to go right to this page.  There are links to important resources for diners there including the list of Celebrated Cuisine restaurants that have gotten significant regional or national media attention.

Durham is home to 700 restaurants, many of which are locally-owned.  Learn more about them online, and be sure to share when visiting some by tagging experiences in social media.

New 20-year Agreement Lets Durham Bulls Continue to Call DBAP Home

It looks like the summertime refrain "Play Balll" will be heard for another couple of decades as the Durham Bulls renewed their agreement to use the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for another 20 years.

City Manager Tom Bonfield recommended yesterday that the City of Durham continue its long-term relationship with the Durham Bulls by extending the team’s lease of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP), which also restructures each party’s financial obligations. The new agreement, good until 2033, with two additional five-year options for renewal, is projected to save the City about $7.4 million over the life of the lease.

“This new proposed lease agreement is a win-win for the City, the Durham Bulls and most of all, the fans,” Bonfield said. “The DBAP and the Bulls Baseball Club have become synonymous with the success and resurgence of downtown Durham. During the season, the team attracts approximately 500,000 people to downtown with a vibrancy that extends well beyond the boundaries of the ballpark itself.”

“The Durham Bulls Baseball Club and Capitol Broadcasting Company are proud to build on the public-private partnership with the City of Durham that has led to one of the country’s most successful downtown renewals,” said George Habel, Durham Bull’s vice president. “In addition, improvements will help the ballpark remain a premier attraction in a highly competitive market. And the City will no longer bear the responsibility of day-to-day maintenance, moving those chores instead to the Bulls.”

Under the new proposed agreement, operating costs and expenses, which cost the city yearly over $200,000 more than revenues, now becomes the responsibility of the Bulls Club. Additionally, the Bulls will be responsible for maintenance and repair costs up to $200,000 as well as all utility costs.

About $6 million worth of deferred maintenance remains to be done by the City, in addition to nearly $8 million worth of improvements requested by the Bulls. The Bulls will contribute $2 million to the improvements and will be responsible for any cost overruns.

“This new financial model will help pay for debt service and other capital improvements, eliminate the need to use general funds to support the ballparks’ day-to-day operations, and reduce the City’s obligation for future capital repairs and upgrades,” Bonfield said. The current lease agreement was scheduled to end in 2015.

City Council will vote on the proposed agreement, along with a professional services agreement for preconstruction and construction services for DBAP repairs and renovations, at its May 6 meeting at 7 p.m.

For more information about places to visit in Durham, click here.

Psychologist Robert Sellers Leads Off NCCU Lecture Series

North Carolina Central University in Durham is raising the bar.

Noted psychologist Robert Sellers will be the inaugural speaker in a lecture series focused on innovations in behavioral and social sciences research, presented by North Carolina Central University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Sellers is the Charles D. Moody Collegiate Professor of Psychology and chair of the psychology department at the University of Michigan. He will speak on April 23 at 11:35 a.m. in the auditorium of the H.M. Michaux Jr. School of Education Building. His address it titled “Inspiring the Minds of African-American Researchers: Yes I Can!”

A native of Cincinnati, Sellers attended Howard University, where he earned All-American honors in football as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in personality psychology from the University of Michigan in 1990. He taught at the University of Virginia before returning to Michigan as a professor in 1997. His research interests include ethnicity, racial and ethnic identity, personality and health, athletic participation and personality.

NCCU’s Department of Psychology is sponsoring the lecture. Dr. Pamela Martin, associate professor and department chair, said she thinks Sellers is an ideal speaker to initiate the lecture series, which is aimed at engaging students, junior faculty and others in the research process.

“Dr. Sellers is a scholar-athlete who chose to pursue academics instead of athletics for a career,” Martin said. “He not only has a distinguished research record, he is also an exemplary mentor. His research labs are often large and consist of trainees at various stages in their career, but he takes the time to foster relationships with each member and attends to their specific developmental needs. His enthusiasm and passion for creating scholarship that accurately represents and empowers communities of color is transferred to his students and fellows.”  

The lecture is free and open to the public. 

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

Every year, for a few weeks in the spring, we enter "Salad Season". Ever since the weather warmed up a couple of weeks ago, the lettuce plants that one farmer told me were "hugging the ground" for weeks have started growing in earnest! A quick look around the market tomorrow and you will see mounds of head lettuce, piles of arugula, spinach, tat soi, mizuna and other greens. Radishes, beets and carrots are starting to come back from a brief lull as well.

So, what's a local, seasonal eater to do? Eat lots of salads and get creative! Roast a chicken, pick up your favorite cheese, candy some pecans, chop up some strawberries or tomatoes, spice it up with some kim chi, whip up a dressing using your favorite jam or mustard. Gather whatever it is you like and eat it on top of some fresh, sweet salad greens. Throw in a piece of good bread and you've got a healthy, local, seasonal (and filling) meal!

TOMMORROW (and Wednesday!) at Market:
Local Storyteller Cynthia Raxter will be telling stories for kids (and adults) during the Market! Cynthia lives in Bynum and grew up on a farm in the mountains of North Carolina with 6 brothers and sisters and a big extended family. "Storytelling gives importance to our everyday lives." Cynthia says. "There is a place for stories about dragons and wizards, but there is a place for the everyday also. My stories reinforces to children that their day-to-day life is special."

Tomorrow, Cynthia will be telling stories from 9am-Noon on the Central Lawn under a big blue tent. She'll be telling stories about corn planting on the farm. Kids will have the opportunity to plant a corn seed and take it home with them.

On Wednesday, Cynthia will be telling stories under the Pavilion from 3:30 to 6:30. I'll let you know in the Wednesday newsletter what she'll be telling stories about! Learn more about Cynthia on Facebook or from this article in Chapel Hill Magazine.

See you at the Market, bright and early!!
Erin Kauffman, Market Manager


Upcoming Events and Spring Schedule
Saturday, April 20: Durham County Master Gardeners! Every month, the Master Gardeners will be available at the Market on the third Saturday of the month to answer all of your gardening questions.

Wednesday, April 24: Cynthia Raxter, Storyteller. Cynthia will return and tell stories from 3:30 to 6:30pm!

Saturday, April 27: Durham County Beekeepers, 8am-Noon
Want to learn about beekeeping and honey production? The Durham County Beekeeper Association will be at market with their display hive and lots of beekeeping information!

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: A *few* STRAWBERRIES!
VEGETABLES:  ASPARAGUS, GREENHOUSE GROWN CUCUMBERS, Asian Greens (Bok Choi, Mizuna, Tat Soi), Arugula, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Collards, Creasy Greens, Dandelion Greens, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Cilantro, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley), Green Onions, Green Garlic, Gourds, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Pumpkins, Radishes,  Salad Mix, Shiitake Mushrooms (dried), Rhubarb,  Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes, Turnips, Turnip Greens and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal
Guinea Eggs, Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged cow and goats milk cheeses.
FLOWERS & PLANTS: VEGETABLE and HERB SEEDLINGS including tomatoes, Ranunculus, Tulips, Icelandic Poppies, Anemones, Landscaping Plants, House Plants
SPECIALTY ITEMS: Creamed Honey, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Pastas, Perogies, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Handmade Baskets, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...

Produce availability depends on weather conditions 

This Week at the South Durham Farmers' Market

This Week at the South Durham Farmers' Market:

• Music by Tyler K. Jenkins 9:30-10:30
• Open Arts will be at the market this week with some great kids activities! Plus, free chair massages from Health Source of CH
• In Season: STRAWBERRIES & ASPARAGUS are back this week!
• Market is open 8am-Noon Greenwood Commons, 5410 HWY 55 Durham, NC 27713  

Oh, Pollen!
Spring is officially here, as I am certain you can all tell. What does that mean exactly? Is it just warmer weather, pollen cleanup, the winding down of the schoolyear, and carwashes? No, for food and agriculture, spring means so much more than the sum of its parts.

Spring means planting transplants, often with great failures and struggles, turning over winter beds as the last of winter crops wither away in the sunlight. Spring means listening to the birds and bees, and gazing in wonder as they work to create the lush landscape before you, and the bounty of foods in your basket (even if a few of the birds try and snatch away the fruits of your labor). Spring at SDFM means happy children drawing, dancing to music, and chatting with your favorite farmers in the sublime glow of their robust harvests. Oh, and that pesky seeming pollen. That is the most important thing of all.

Spring Harvest Dinner...Success!
THANK YOU for making our first big event a major success. Judy Thomson, Chef Jefe of Pop's Backdoor and his staff worked incredibly hard to make this all come together; along with all of our farmers and vendors that graciously donated delicious product, volunteered to cook, serve, cleanup, and spread the word.  And of course, each and every one of you that attended, we SOLD OUT! We are very pleased to have raised funds to help promote the market this coming season and work on educational programming and community engagement projects to make The South Farmers' Market, YOUR market, more robust than ever.
 
Planting Time!
Time to plant, plant, plant!!! For a whole host of reasons, including, but not limited to: pollination season, soil temperatures, rainfall, insects, growth rates, germination, and more, it is time to plant your garden. (read more...)

Bennett Place State Historic Site Examines Photography, Art and Journalism in the Civil War

Artists and journalists used their skills to bring the Civil War to life in the 1860s, along with practitioners of the emerging medium of photography. Today, we can see their work displayed in Durham.

Bennett Place State Historic Site will present Civil War artist Jeff Trexler, wetplate photographer Chris Morgan, and author Jim Wise in a program that examines the craft and practice of these arts on Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21. 

The 148^th anniversary commemorative program of the Civil War’s largest surrender at Bennett Place, “War and Surrender Through Photography, Art and Journalism” also will feature re-enactor Jeff Toalson portraying Capt. Richard Watkins of the Virginia Cavalry in a one-act performance based on Toalson’s letters. The Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is free but donations are appreciated to assist with the event costs.

Living historians portraying Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians will encamp at the site and perform demonstrations of farm life and military drill. They will share first-hand accounts of the lives of those involved in the war and the surrender at Bennett farm. The Sons and Daughters of Union and Confederate Veterans will share displays of original Civil War artifacts and post war memorabilia from the veterans. The annual memorial ceremony will take place at the Unity Monument Sunday afternoon.

Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman met on April 17, 1865 at the farm of James and Nancy Bennett to negotiate peace terms. The negotiations ended fighting in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and surrendered 89,270 Confederate soldiers. Three major surrenders followed in Alabama, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

The mission of Bennett Place State Historic Site is to preserve and interpret the history of the largest surrender of the American Civil War and the lives of yeomen farmers such as the Bennetts. Bennett Place is in west Durham and can be reached from I-40 West to the Durham Freeway (Highway 147) exiting onto Hillsborough Road, then following the brown historic site signs to 4409 Bennett Memorial Road.  From Greensboro take I-85 east to exit 170 onto Hillsborough Road, and follow the brown signs to 4409 Bennett Memorial Road.

For further information call (919) 383-4345, email bennettt@ncdcr.gov, visit online at either website or follow us on Facebook. Also learn more about N.C. State Historic Sites and the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Bennett Place is within the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.  

For more information about Durham, NC, click here.

NCCU and Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Dedicate Nursing Classroom

Durham, NC is home to a very supportive and engaged community, both from private citizens and from the businesses located here. That support will be showcased in ceremony next week at North Carolina Central University (NCCU).

A laboratory-classroom in NCCU’s new Nursing Building will be formally dedicated as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Health Assessment Room in a ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, at 11:45 a.m.

The naming recognizes BCBSNC’s gift of $100,000 last year, a grant intended to help fund new technology to train nursing students and to underwrite research that will prepare them to address the state’s health care needs.

The dedication will include brief remarks from Charles L. Becton, NCCU’s interim chancellor; Dr. Brian Caveney, vice president and medical director of BCBSNC; Dr. Dwight Perry, chair of the NCCU Board of Trustees; and Dr. Betty Dennis, chair of the NCCU Department of Nursing.

The Health Assessment Room is contained within a facility called Eagle General Hospital, a comprehensive training center that provides nursing students with a wide range of realistic practical experiences. Angeline Baker, director of Eagle General, said the Health Assessment Room (Room 2123), is one of the largest training rooms. It is used primarily as a lab and classroom for students, usually sophomores, who are preparing to enter the nursing major.

“It’s where students are introduced to nursing,” Baker said. “They begin to learn how to make health assessments. Practicing on each other, they take temperatures and blood pressure. They learn how to assist patients — and they learn how to listen.”

The room contains six patient care units that include exam tables and related equipment, and four units with hospital beds. It also houses conference tables and seating for 16 people. Cameras and microphones are located above the patient care areas to allow recording of the students as they learn basic nursing skills.  

BCBSNC’s gift to the NCCU nursing program is part of a broad effort by the insurer to support the development and training of North Carolina’s healthcare workforce. The company has awarded similar grants to academic institutions working to fill shortages of nurses and other healthcare workers in the state, programs that encourage graduates to remain in North Carolina and those with an emphasis on serving rural communities. Similar funding has been awarded to Appalachian State, Campbell and Elon universities.

NCCU opened the new Nursing Building in 2011 to support the university’s 64-year old nursing program. The program received full accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission in 1970, a status it has maintained ever since.

About NCCU
Founded in 1910, North Carolina Central University was the first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans.  Today, this dynamic campus has a diverse student body of 8,300 enrolled in academic programs including law, biotechnology, library science, business, nursing, education and the arts.

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