First Round Playoff Games Highlighted by Food Trucks Highlighted by Food Trucks, Craft Beer

The playoff games are here for the Durham Bulls! The International League South Division Champion Durham Bulls have announced the promotional lineup for first round Governors’ Cup Playoff Games at the DBAP, presented by Sport Durst Automotive Group.  The Bulls, who will face the IL West Champion Indianapolis Indians in the best-of-five series, host Game 1 on Wednesday, September 4 and Game 2 on Thursday, September 5. The return of the popular DBAP Food Truck Fest, a Craft Beer Rodeo, and rally towel giveaways highlight the first round event schedule.

On Wednesday, September 4, eight of the Triangle’s most renowned food trucks will once again make their culinary specialties available during the DBAP Food Truck Fest: Playoff Edition. Participants at the DBAP Food Truck Fest: Playoff Edition include Only Burger, Chirba Chirba, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Sweet Stacey Cakes, BaguettAboutIt, Porchetta, The Humble Pig, and American Melt Down.  Fans with tickets to the Game 1 will have access to all of the trucks, which will each have select menu items available for purchase at their locations along the Diamond View I concourse within Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Game 2 of the first round on September 5 will feature the ballpark’s first ever Craft Beer Rodeo, where fans will be able to experience an expansive selection of craft beers along the Diamond View I concourse.  Once inside the ballpark, fans can sample and then purchase $5 tokens to enjoy pints from breweries including Anchor Brewing, Bear Republic, CBC, Cottonwood, Carolina Brewery, Foothills, Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams, Lagunitas, and Innis and Gunn. A portion of the proceeds from token sales will go to the Durham Bulls Youth Athletic League.

The first 1,500 fans at each first round game will receive a complimentary Rally Towel, courtesy of Sport Durst Automotive Group. Both games have a scheduled first pitch of 7:05pm, with gates at the DBAP opening at 6:00pm.

Single game playoff tickets are $10 for all seating bowl locations. Groups of 20 or more can purchase playoff tickets for $8 each. Tickets for the 2013 Governors’ Cup Playoffs can be purchased now at the DBAP box office, by phone at 919.956.BULL or online.

Learn more about Durham with this website.

Sapphire Entertainment to Host Networking Event Sept 12

Today, Durhamand entire Triangle community is full of talented artists, entertainers, writers, musicians, and business owners like never before.

Sapphire Entertainment and Management and the Bounce TV Network will host a series of networking sessions geared to industry education, and relationship building. The kick off event will be held Thursday, September 12, 2013 at Comfort Suites-RTP located at 5219 Page Road in Durham from 6 pm to 8:30 pm.

Sapphire Entertainment’s owner Carol “Coco” Diggs, hopes that this event will bring out North Carolina’s talented pool of industry professionals.  “Sapphire is here to ignite dreams, and fuel passion and creativity among our community and surrounding areas.  There is a lot of talent here in North Carolina and we want to help build connections”, says Diggs.

For ticket information or to register contact Carol Coco Diggs at 919-519-7242 or email.

Learn more about Durham events at the Durham Event Calendar.

Durham Hosts American Tobacco Trail Bridge Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony October 12

The City of Durham Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation Departments with support from the Durham Open Space & Trails Commission, the Durham Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and the East Coast Greenway Alliance will host a American Tobacco Trail Bridge Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Saturday, October 12, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.at the Streets of Southpoint. Parking is available in a lot behind Southpoint Cinemas at 6910 Fayetteville Road Durham, N.C. 27713.

Fast Facts:

• The celebration for the long-awaited American Tobacco Trail bridge over Interstate 40 is now set with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned, which will also include light refreshments and information tables.
• Speakers include City of Durham Mayor William V. “Bill” Bell, U.S. Representative David Price, N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Tony Tata, and East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano.
• The 270-foot-long pedestrian bridge is on schedule for completion in late September or early October 2013. The bridge is located just west of Fayetteville Road and the connection to the trail heading south will be located in the parking lot near Southpoint Cinemas at the Streets at Southpoint. 
• This $11 million project also constructed approximately 4.2 miles of new trail and includes the new bridge over Interstate 40, extending the American Tobacco Trail from its current end point on N.C. Highway 54 at Fayetteville Road to the Chatham County line. 
• Funding for the construction project was provided from a variety of sources, including federal funds from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO, and the City of Durham Sidewalk Bond fund. Funding for the ribbon-cutting ceremony is being provided by the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Performance Bicycle, and BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina.
• A limited number of tables will be provided at no cost to organizations interested in providing information at this free event. Organizations interested in reserving a table should complete the form. 
• To learn more about the construction project click here or contact Contract Management Supervisor Edward Venable with the City’s Public Works Department at (919) 560-4326, ext. 30233 or by email.

Learn more about Durham at online.

Duke Receives $10 Million Gift for Events Pavillion

The newly opened Events Pavilion at Duke University in Durham will now have a name thanks to a large donation by a Duke trustee.

Duke University trustee Bob Penn and his wife, Katherine, have committed $10 million in support of a new 25,000-square-foot events and dining pavilion for students, President Richard H. Brodhead announced Thursday.

The mostly glass structure, which was completed this summer, is located next to the Bryan Center on Duke’s West Campus.

“This wonderful gift from Bob and Katherine Penn is more than a building,” Brodhead said. “It is a gathering place befitting our vibrant student community, making possible all kinds of interactions and connections. We’re tremendously grateful to Bob and Katherine for ensuring that the joyful spirit they found at Duke as students will continue for generations to come.”

Construction of the pavilion was the first step in the renovation of West Union, part of an $80 million enhancement of student life on campus funded by a gift from The Duke Endowment that also includes upgrades to Page Auditorium on West Campus and Baldwin Auditorium on East Campus. Penn Pavilion will serve as a temporary dining space until the West Union renovations are complete. After that, the pavilion will be a venue for student gatherings and university events.

“We think it’s important to foster the same strong sense of community for undergraduates that existed when we were at Duke. Gathering spaces like this pavilion are a key part of that,” said Bob Penn, who, like his wife, graduated from Duke in 1974. He earned a bachelor's degree in Latin American studies while Katherine Penn earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, called Penn Pavilion “a wonderful addition to the Duke landscape.”
“Penn Pavilion will be a fantastic space to host career fairs, performances, banquets and more,” Moneta said.
The commitment by the Penns will help advance the comprehensive Duke Forward fundraising campaign, which has now passed the halfway point toward its $3.25 billion goal. The effort supports priorities across Duke's 10 schools, Duke Medicine and a range of university programs. Enriching the Duke experience is one of the overarching goals of the campaign. Penn serves on Duke Forward’s Leadership Gifts Committee.
"Penn Pavilion will be a hub for connecting co-curricular and academic life and allow us to take the engaged learning that is a signature of the Duke undergraduate experience to a new level,” said Steve Nowicki, dean of undergraduate education.

“This is exactly the space we need to help us connect the learning that goes on outside the classroom with the learning that goes on inside the classroom."

Duke Student Government President Stefani Jones called the pavilion an ideal place for students to “meet up, socialize and enjoy some great food.”

“We can't wait to use the space for events like watch parties during basketball season and midnight breakfasts before finals,” she said.

Penn joined the Duke University Board of Trustees in 2011 and sits on the Audit Committee and the Facilities and Environment Committee.

His volunteer commitment to Duke includes service on the Annual Fund Executive Committee, which he chaired in 2009-10. He also has served on the Duke Club of North Texas, the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Board of Visitors and the Duke Talent Identification Program Advisory Board.

In 2004, Penn received the Charles A. Dukes Award, which is given to volunteers who have served with distinction in leadership roles and gone beyond expectations to help Duke further its mission.

The Penns have also jointly served as national co-chairs of the Braxton Craven Fellows and the James B. Duke Society and several reunion committees. Their three daughters attended Duke.

Discover more about Duke, and the city and county of Durham, NC.

Michael Twitty Presents Living History Dinner at Historic Stagville

At the beginning of September, Durham's Historic Stagville will team up with a world-renowned food expert for a dinner of historic proportions.

Lauded in the culinary world as expert food historian, Michael Twitty is often quoted and referenced in articles about southern food, culture and culinary traditions as he authentically shares the stories of the history of the South. On September 7, Michael Twitty will be creating an historic dinner to celebrate the true roots of Southern Food at Historic Stagville in Durham NC.

Historic Stagville is a major part of Durham and Orange county history. Now a state run historic site, a 501c3 non-profit foundation that oversees educational programs, events for the Triangle and Piedmont community as well as the surrounding communities; many of whom are descendants of the over 900 enslaved people who worked across the plantation's 30,000 acres.

In order to raise donations for the upkeep and uplift of the site and build community connections,  Michael Twitty will be preparing a 19th century meal drawn from the slave narratives of North Carolina. Michael will be joined in the kitchen by Chef Hugh Acheson, most of the cooking will be done on open firewood pits and the highlight will be a sapling barbecue pit where the chefs will slowly cook chicken and pork overnight using several antebellum methods dictated by enslaved people themselves.

Seating for the dinner is for  65 guests.  90% of the food will be  sourced from NC with as much as is possible being provided by NC's farmers of color.  The meal will be presented by seasoned living history interpreters long experienced in interpreting African American foodways creating a long overdue moment in the history of Southern food that will connect the history of Stagville with the stories of those who carry on that legacy today.  

More information about this event is available online. Learn more about Durham here.

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

On this Labor Day weekend, signs of the impending change of season are starting to show up, namely in the form of new vegetables coming to the Market. This week we will see some of the first sweet potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, radishes and turnips of the late summer fall season. But, before we transition into an autumn state of mind, lets take a moment to revel in something that has a short season and won't be around for much longer... FIGS!

This year the local figs season got a late start. Like many crops this summer, the cool, rainy weather has slowed down the growth and ripening of the fig crops. For some farmers, their fig crops are ripening two weeks later than last year. Figs need bright, sunny weather in order to ripen well. So, if the weather cooperates, we will see figs at the market for the next couple of weeks.

Figs have a distinction of being almost exclusively available at farmers' markets. You don't typically see them in grocery stores because they tender skin that bruises easily, so figs can't survive long trips in refrigerated trucks or weeks of storage. Even though, figs are really at their best when eaten straight off the tree, the next best thing is find them at the farmers' market, knowing that they were picked the day before or the same day that you buy them!

On Wednesday during Market, I asked a number of farmers how they like to enjoy figs besides just eating them straight. Judy from Harlands Creek Farm, smiled at the question and said, "That's the only way that I eat them! But, I bet they are also good with cheese."

So, walked over to Portia from Chapel Hill Creamery to recommend a good cheese to eat with figs. She recommended her Farmers Cheese, which she described as having "a tangy, clean, refreshing, milky flavor."

Finally, I talked to Renee from Wild Scallions Farm and she had lots of ideas! Renee told me that she likes to make simple fig compotes. To make her compote, she takes a pint of figs, quarters them, cooks them down in a sauce pan with a splash of red wine until you have a thick jam-like consistency. Another tasty compote that she makes is mixing some honey, lemon and toasted sesame seeds with the quartered figs. Cook this mixture down to a jam like consistency. Renee says these compotes are "good on everything!"

A fig-loving customer of Renee's, says that figs freeze well. To freeze, place figs on a cookie sheet and place in freezer until frozen. Then combine them in a freezer bag. Besides enjoying a yummy frozen fig during the winter months, Renee told me that you could use the frozen figs to make fig ice cream. To make a single serving of instant fig ice cream, take 2 or 3 frozen figs and blend them with some cream and enjoy!

However you enjoy figs, Renee shared some wise words about figs. She said, "Get 'em now! They won't last long!"

See you at the Market,
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Upcoming Events
Saturday August 31st, 10am  CANNING DEMO! Assistant Market Manager will demonstrate how to make and can yummy Tomato SALSA!

Saturday & Sunday September 21& 22, 1-5pm both day - Eastern Triangle Farm Tour! This year's tour includes the following DFM vendors... Meadow Lane Farm, SEEDS, Wild Scallions Farm, Spain Farm, and Vollmer Farm along with 22 other great farms in Durham, Granville, Wake, Franklin and Chatham Counties! More info & tickets: www.carolinafarmstewards.org/etft/

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: SCUPPERNONG GRAPES, Apples, Figs, Pears, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Raspberries, Blueberries, Peaches
VEGETABLES: SWEET POTATOES, SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS, RADISHES, TURNIP, SWISS CHARD,  Amaranth Greens, Arugula, Beans (Green, Yellow and Purple), Beets, Bitter Gourd, Butterbeans, Butternut Squash, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Delicata Squash, Edamame, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Catnip, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sorrel, Parsley), Eggplant, Frisee, Green Onions, Garlic, Gourds, Kale, Lambs Quarter, Lettuce, Long Beans, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Pumpkins, Purple Hull Peas, Salad Mix, Sweet Potato Greens, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini, and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit
Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Bedding, House, and Flower Plants.
FLOWERS: Lisianthus, Tuberose, Black Eyed Susan, Gladiolus, Echinacea, Sunflower, Dahlia, Lily, Zinnia, Mixed Bouquets
SPECIALTY ITEMS: RAW HONEY, 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 

Durham Blues Festival Returns to Durham Sept 7

Don't look so sad, the blues are back in Durham.  The Bull Durham Blues Festival, to be specific.

The 26th Annual Bull Durham Blues Festival will be held at the Hayti Heritage Center on Saturday, September 7 from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. This year's festival features Big Daddy Wilson of Edenton, NC along with other performers including The Rhonda Robichaux Band; Claudette King; The Jimmy Haggard Band; and Jason Damico and the New Blue, a rising star on the local blues scene.

The annual Bull Durham Blues Festival, produced by St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc., has been successfully presented since 1988. It is nationally recognized as one of the premier blues festivals in the country and has been honored with the “Keeping the Blues Alive Award” by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN. The festival has become one of North Carolina’s largest celebrations of the blues, recognizing Durham’s rich musical heritage as an important center of Carolina and Piedmont Blues.

North Carolina’s premier celebration of the blues promises to entertain again this year with a mix of local and renowned international blues artists. Set for Saturday, September 7 from 6:00 pm until midnight, this year’s one-day Festival will be held at the historic Hayti Heritage Center’s Performance Hall. Doors will open at 5pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 day of.  For more information, call (919) 683-1709, email for more information. Ticket information is online.

Learn more about great Durham events with the Durham Event Calendar.

This Week at the South Durham Farmers' Market

Local Baby

Andrea Reusing, in her fantastic (local!) cookbook Cooking in the Moment, aptly described her and her husband’s approach to feeding their daughter her first bites of solid food: 

"When Oona was ready, we dutifully bought a box [of rice cereal], but at the last minute, we roasted her a sweet potato instead.  Before boxed flakes, sweet potatoes must have been the classic first food.  They are earthy, fruity, and gently sweet like milk, but with a novel new texture.  Guaranteed photo op."

We love that, not only did she decide to make her baby’s first bite of food a celebration, but that she decided to opt for a simple local ingredient that is both delicious and highly nutritious.  Lately, we’re also finding that more and more new parents are choosing to make their own baby food using SDFM ingredients in order to feed their children nutritionally supercharged foods that minimize harmful chemicals and additives. 

Tips and Tricks:

• In the beginning, focus on feeding baby a single food at a time to help discern if there are any food allergies.  Many parents use the 4 day wait rule. Be sure to discuss any questions about allergies and other nutritional topics with your pediatrician.  As baby gets older, the types and styles of foods that she can enjoy will grow.
• When preparing baby foods, there is never any need for additional salt or sugar.  If you need to sweeten things up a bit to get baby to try certain foods, sweeten them with a little mashed fruit instead.
• Like the little humans they are, sometimes it takes a few times of trying out a new food for them to like it - and sometimes taste preferences change.  So, if your baby refuses to eat a particular food…try, try again. Some parents also try mixing the less preferred food with something they know that baby loves to get them to be more adventurous.
• When combining ingredients, do not be afraid to combine options that generally make little sense to adults.  We have witnessed babies happily eating a combination of mashed roasted red peppers, bananas, apples, and stewed tomatoes.
• It is relatively easy to prepare baby foods in advance and freeze (or can) them for later use (hint, check out our Pinterest page!).
• Lastly, you don’t have to be a short-order cook to feed your baby.  Incorporate items from YOUR dinner table into their diet – after all, farmers’ market foods are just as good for you as they are for mini-you.

Most of all, have fun trying new foods with the little ones!

Durham Ukulele Orchestra!

Bring your dancing shoes because the Durham Ukulele Orchestra is playing at the market from 9am to 11:30am this Saturday! The band has been delighting audiences since 2007 with a diverse set of songs that pull from jazz standards, classic rock and alternative rock. Nothing goes better with local food than local music! Learn more about the band on their website.

Master Gardeners Come to Market

This Saturday, we are fortunate to once again be visited by Master Gardeners. These generous volunteers come the last Saturday of every month to teach interested market shoppers how to grow a sustainable, healthy garden and to answer all your horticultural questions.

 

Every Master Gardener is extremely knowledgeable, having received 40 hours of training with Extension agents and completed a 40 hour internship. Additionally, they must fulfill 12 hours of continuing education every year. Community involvement is very important to the organization, which requires 20 hours per year of volunteer service from each Master Gardener.

If you are in need of serious backyard help, these volunteers offer plant clinics, workshops, garden tours, and a gardening hotline. We encourage you to visit their stall tomorrow to learn more!

NCCU Will Ring the Shepard Bell to Mark the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

North Carolina Central University in Durham will ring its historic Shepard Bell on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Dr. Debra Saunders-White, NCCU chancellor, will provide opening remarks at 2:55 p.m. Tiffany Adams, a senior, political science major and member of the Student Government Association’s Executive Board, will ring the bell along with North Carolina State Rep. H. M. Michaux Jr. An NCCU alumnus, Michaux took part in the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963, at the personal invitation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Adams attended last Saturday’s celebration in Washington.

The Shepard Bell, bearing the name of NCCU founder Dr. James E. Shepard, has been a campus fixture since the institution’s earliest days, when it rang out to announce class dismissals, mealtime, and game victories. The bell stands in a low tower on Campus Drive in front of the Hubbard-Totton Building and next to the Edmonds Classroom Building. The community is invited to attend. The campus map is here.

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, biosciences, library science, business, nursing, education and liberal arts.

Learn more about African American history in Durham.

Durham Convention Center Recognized as One of 101 Largest Expo Halls in the South

Durham, NC continues to be part of positive conversations about growth, prosperity, and development. This time, the editors of ConventionSouth magazine, a national multimedia resource for planning events that are held within the South, have the Durham Convention Center on their list of the “101 Largest Expo Halls in the South.”

Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Shelly Green remarked, "I can't recall when we made such a list in the past...primarily, because the Durham Convention Center (DCC) was marketed under the name of a hotel, essentially as their ball room. Hotel ball rooms, no matter how great they are, are not thought of in the same vein as standalone convention and meeting facilities by planners.  The City and County made a wise decision to separate the management, and therefore the marketing of this facility, as its own entity."

Green makes reference to the 2008 decision to have the Durham Convention Center be managed by a firm differently than the hotel. Global Spectrum manages more than 100 facilities like the DCC worldwide. "Bringing in a company like Global Spectrum to manage the Convention Center and investing in significant renovations were great moves by City and County Government," said Green who sees the facility and Durham's stake as a competitor on the meetings market rising significantly as additional hotel rooms come on line in 2014 and 2015.

"At more than 40,000 square feet and recently renovated, the Durham Convention Center receives high marks from planners and customers for its level of service," said Green. But facility size is just part of the equation. "We have one full service hotel in Downtown Durham, and that alone cannot provide the number of hotel rooms needed to sustain a facility of this size as a meeting venue.  Durham needs 1,200 rooms to serve the Convention Center and Downtown businesses, and to be competitive with peer cities," she added.

“Meeting Planners and event organizers who plan large conventions, trade shows and exhibitions, rallies, and congregations will find that the facilities that made ConventionSouth’s 2014 list of the ‘101 Largest Expo Halls in the South’ have some of the largest gathering spaces in the U.S. and certainly the South,” said ConventionSouth Editor Marlane Bundock. The September issue of magazine will share this list with meeting planners from across the country who book meeting sites in the South. 

Hosting an event in Durham is convenient, affordable and rewarding to attendees whether at the Durham Convention Center or a dozen other full service hotels and conference centers.  Within an hour's flight or day's drive of more than half the nation's population, Durham is perfectly situated for conventions of up to 1,000 attendees. Learn more online.

Visit Local, Sustainable Farms and See Where Farm-to-Fork Begins

Agritourism is an increasingly big deal in Durham and the Triangle - so much so that five counties just collectively launched the website TriangleGrown. The need for such a site is foretold by events like the 8th annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour which occurs Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22 from 1–5 pm. People around here sure do love their locally grown goodies.

Each day the tour will open the barn doors and farm gates of 27 scenic and sustainable farms in Durham, Wake, Chatham, Franklin, Granville and Person counties. Over 3,000 farm visits were made on the tour last year.

Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, this self-guided driving tour is your chance to see how your food is grown, taste farm-fresh treats, hang out with farm animals, and meet your sustainable farmers. The tour features urban mini-farms, a goat cheese dairy, lots of friendly Animal Welfare Approved livestock and gorgeous late-summer, organic vegetables, plus honeybee hives, a petting zoo, hayrides, chicken tractors, and more! Many farms on the tour have farm-fresh meals and treats, produce, fruits and meats for sale to create your own farm-to-fork feast.

This year’s tour features 6 new farms. Angier Ave. Neighborhood Farm and Sweet Beet City Farm are pioneering urban mini-farms in the heart of Durham. See how they are transforming vacant lots into vibrant, productive spaces! Green Button Farm in Bahama and Cypress Hill Farms in Louisburg showcase sustainably raised livestock and produce at their beautiful farms. Sun Raised Foods is an innovative solar farm that’s also home to grass-fed sheep. And, the young and young-at-heart will not want to miss Wake Forest’s Winterpast Farm where they have a wonderful petting zoo!

“This tour is a great way to learn where your food comes from and support the farmer who grows it. It’s also a whole lot of fun, “said Roland McReynolds, CFSA Executive Director.The tour also features two educational workshops, which are included in the ticket price:

• Raising Chickens in your Backyard at SEEDS Educational Garden in Durham on Saturday at 1:15
• Urban Composting at Raleigh City Farm on Sunday at 1:15 

Tour tickets, good for both days, are $25 per vehicle in advance and $30 on the tour weekend. Or, you can choose to pay $10 per farm (available for purchase at all of the farms during the tour). Cycle groups count as one vehicle. Tickets can be purchased now online or at any Triangle Whole Foods Market.

The tour is self-guided and participants can choose the farms they wish to visit on the interactive map. Don't forget to take along a cooler to bring home some of the farm fresh products for sale. Pets are not allowed, and the tour is rain or shine. Proceeds from the tour support the work of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association.

Discover more about Durham farms online and be sure to share experiences on social media with the hashtag #TriangleGrown.

Destination Marketing Organizations Partner to Launch Agritourism Website Portal

The Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) of Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange, and Wake counties have teamed up to launch TriangleGrown, a website showcasing the area’s agriculturally based features that are visitor friendly – part of the growing national trend known as agritourism.

The site helps make visiting farms and food producers easier. Many of the businesses featured have a strong commitment to using locally produced foods, which is enticing to the region’s growing ‘foodie’ population who seeks to participate and learn more about how food is grown and produced.


“When people visit a farm, there is almost nothing left to the abstract about from where their food comes,” says Dave Artigues, the owner of Elodie Farms in northern Durham County. “That sort of connection to the source makes people more informed and thoughtful consumers, and that’s important for many reasons,” he added. Artigues’ 21-acre farm produces pork, fowl, eggs, produce, and is most noted for its artisan goat cheeses. It is among the most popular destination farms in Durham because it also hosts a series called “Dinner on the Porch” where some of the area’s most noted chefs cook for up to 70 diners.

Promotion and marketing are among the top challenges farms face when starting or extending their agritourism programs, according to a report from NC State University’s Tourism Extension program. By collaborating to launch this site, the DMOs’ goal is to extend the marketing reach of individual agritourism attractions to the entire region, which encourages daytrip visits.

Additional research shows that many visitors to agritourism features also participate in other activities during their visit, indicating the possibility for extending these day trips into longer stays. “This endeavor amplifies our messages about Chatham County’s agritourism offerings from scenic beauty to farm-to-fork eateries,” said Neha Shah, Director of the Pittsboro-Siler City CVB.

The two largest communities involved have perspectives on why their places are great spots of visitors interested in agritourism that are as unique as the destinations themselves.

Shelly Green, who heads Durham’s DMO, sees the county’s culinary wow-factor and its status as 17th smallest in the state as pluses.

“As home of The Tastiest Town in the South, Durham County has bountiful offerings for visitors interested in getting to the source of great food,” Green said. “The urban core and agricultural spaces are close to one another here, which make Durham an easy place for visitors to go from farm to fork in a short time, or repeatedly over several days.”

Raleigh sees a union between that community’s natural space and beauty as being a major draw.

“A common way people describe the Raleigh area is ‘a park with a city in it’ due to the vast number of green spaces within Wake County,” said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Having an abundance of open space has created a wealth of opportunities to introduce visitors to agritourism including world-class gardens, historic sites, some of the largest agricultural special events in the state, the State Farmers Market, as well as craft breweries and restaurants which focus on local and regional sourcing for their offerings.”

The new website features top events and attractions for the five-county region, as well as suggested itineraries for a day trip to each of the five counties. It links to the primary visitor websites for each DMO for information on hundreds of additional events and activities, including:

• restaurants, bakeries and breweries that embody the farm-to-fork principle,
• markets that specialize in locally-produced goods,
• nurseries and public gardens that allow visitors to get back to nature,
• food tours and trails that highlight the farm-to-fork (or grape-to-glass, or plow-to-pint) journey,
• events that celebrate and showcase producers, and
• farms producing things like fruits and vegetables, as well as proteins, dairy and sundries that offer a more enriched experience than just shopping at a local farmers’ market.

Fall is a busy season for agritourism features and events in the Triangle. Visitors and residents alike enjoy numerous you-pick pumpkin patches and corn mazes that crop up annually, and approximately one million people flock to the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh each year. Durham is home to the original World Beer Festival, featuring more than 400 world-class beers from more than 150 different breweries from around the world, and Chapel Hill’s annual Pepper Festival celebrates pepper-related local food and drink. The Benson Mule Days Festival in Johnston County has been a Southern tradition for over 60 years, and Boyette Family Farm in Clayton is one of several “haunted” attractions throughout the region in October. Information about these events and more can be found at www.TriangleGrown.com.

The juxtaposition of urban and rural features and attractions in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina offers a wide range of agritourism experiences. Those can now be easily accessed and explored online with current and accurate information on the TriangleGrown.com website. The tag #TriangleGrown will be used in ongoing promotions for this site and related activities in social media.

The Return of the Legends at DPAC Oct 18-19

Ten hip hop and R&B favorites will perform live in concert in Durham as part of The Return of the Legends, a two-night concert and after-party event October 18-19, 2013 at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now.

Rakim will headline on Friday, October 18 with special guests Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Lords of the Underground, Nice and Smooth, and Camp Lo. Bell Biv Devoe will headline on Saturday, October 19 with special guests EPMD, Brand Nubian, Pharcyde, and DAS EFX. Hosted by Durham’s own 9th Wonder.

The Return of the Legends is an official alumni event of North Carolina Central University’s Homecoming weekend. Both nights are presented in partnership with The DOME Group, Inc. and Major Mint Marketing.

For both nights, the concerts will begin at 8:00 p.m. After-parties will begin at 11:00 p.m. in the DPAC lobbies. Artists will appear at the after-parties on their respective nights. Concert tickets do not allow admission to the after-party; after-party admission can be purchased in addition to the concert ticket. At this time, after-party admission can only be purchased by those who also purchase tickets to the concert.

“We are pleased to bring this classic hip hop and R&B lineup to the DPAC stage," states Sulaiman Mausi of The DOME Group, Inc. and NCCU alumnus. “The Return of the Legends will be the perfect concert and after-party event for fans who were college students in the 80s and 90s.”

Learn more about all the events here with the online Durham Event Calendar.

Ladies' Arm Wrestling Charity Fundrasier Supports Habitat for Humanity of Durham

Some women bake cookies or run in 5Ks to raise money for good causes, but in Durham, some women arm wrestle. 

The League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham (LUEWWD - pronounced “lewd”) is partnering with Habitat forHumanity of Durham on Saturday, September 7^th, to raise funds toward its 2013 Women Build. The Women Build program empowers women to better their community and be leaders on the construction site by building a home in partnership with a hardworking family.

The September 7^th event LUEWWD IX: Nailin’ It!, which will take place at the Casbah at 1007 W Main Street in Durham, will feature eight new wrestlers including Big Mama Mayhem, Guillo Tina, Reba the Wrench, Sabrina Zero, and Work It Out Barbie. The doors will open at 7:30pm for pre-game activities, featuring the LIV’s food truck, cornhole, and Sam Adams products. General admission costs $5 and VIP tickets cost $25. The event is sponsored by The Boston Beer Company, The Casbah, Phunco, and MAYDNEW DJ & Event Planning.

Habitat for Humanity of Durham staff and volunteers, and LUEWWD volunteers will bring both fundraising strength and physical strength to the project. The groundbreaking date will be set soon (likely September), and the home will be built on Lutz Lane in a small Habitat community in east Durham. Lutz Lane was named in honor of the organization’s co-founder Worth Lutz. In June, Habitat for Humanity of Durham was one of 18 residential building companies to be named a National Green Building Standard Green Partner.

Those interested in donating to, volunteering for, or attending, this event, should email for more information. LUEWWD uses theatrical arm wrestling as a means of raising funds for projects and initiatives that benefit women and girls in the Durham community. More details are available at online.

Learn more about great community events in Durham and more with the Durham Event Calendar.

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

It has been an emotionally difficult week at the Durham Farmers' Market. Sadly, we lost two members of the farmers' market community.

I reported in the Wednesday Market newsletter that Gary Murray of Sunset Farms passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.

Then, on Thursday morning, I received the shocking news that Steve Mobley of Meadow Lane Farm died on Wednesday night. Steve was not only a dedicated farmer, but for the past several years, he has been serving on the Market's Board of Directors and was serving as the president this year. I've had the absolute pleasure of working closely with Steve on many projects throughout the past few years. His dedication to the Market, leadership, vision, and sense of humor will be greatly missed. He always said that coming to the Market was the highlight of his week. He loved the atmosphere, the camaraderie, and getting to see and know all of the customers that come to the market.

Steve's wife Martha told me that there will be a memorial service for Steve at their farm this Sunday at 3pm. She would like to extend the invitation to all who knew and loved Steve to come to the farm and share stories to celebrate his life. The address is 571 Leonard Farm Road, Louisburg, 27549.

This week, while keeping their families in our thoughts, we will carry on with the spirit of our two farmer friends and the Market will continue on. Both of these men loved farming, they loved their farmers markets, and like true farmers, they knew that work on the farm continues no matter what else is happening.

Tomorrow at Market ... We are welcoming all Durham's college students back to town for the new school year! The Market has been collaborating with the NCCU Green Team and we have put together a Fall College Day Celebration at the Market. Starting at 10, there will be a number of performances and tables from NCCU student groups on the lawn. We will have a healthy, local, and budget conscious cooking demonstration by Nekeidra Morrison, our local  Durham County Extension Agent. And, to welcome students back to town, many vendors will offer a 10% discount to students with their student IDs.

Oh, and also, Scuppernong Grapes are just starting to come into season. So, if you are looking for those, get to Market early!

See you at the Market,
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram


Upcoming Events

Saturday August 24th Fall College Day! Next Saturday we'll be welcoming all of Durham's college students back to town! Many of our vendors will be offering a 10% discount with a college ID. Several student groups from NCCU will be performing, there will be a healthy cooking demo with Nekeidra Morrison, our local Durham Co. Extension Agent, and the Spiritual Sound Brass band will get it all started at 9am.

Wednesday August 28th, Storytelling by Cynthia Raxter!

Saturday August 31st, 10am  CANNING DEMO! Assistant Market Manager will demonstrate how to make and can yummy Tomato SALSA!

Saturday & Sunday September 21& 22, 1-5pm both day - Eastern Triangle Farm Tour! This year's tour includes the following DFM vendors... Meadow Lane Farm, SEEDS, Wild Scallions Farm, Spain Farm, and Vollmer Farm along with 22 other great farms in Durham, Granville, Wake, Franklin and Chatham Counties! More info & tickets: www.carolinafarmstewards.org/etft/

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: SCUPPERNONG GRAPES, Apples, Figs, Pears, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Raspberries, Blueberries, Peaches
VEGETABLES: MALABAR SPINACH, Amaranth Greens, Arugula, Beans (Green, Yellow and Purple), Beets, Bitter Gourd, Butterbeans, Butternut Squash, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Delicata Squash, Edamame, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Catnip, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sorrel, Parsley), Eggplant, Frisee, Green Onions, Garlic, Gourds, Kale, Lambs Quarter, Lettuce, Long Beans, Okra, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Pumpkins, Purple Hull Peas, Salad Mix, Sweet Potato Greens, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini, and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit
Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Bedding, House, and Flower Plants.
FLOWERS: Lisianthus, Tuberose, Black Eyed Susan, Gladiolus, Echinacea, Sunflower, Dahlia, Lily, Zinnia, Mixed Bouquets
SPECIALTY ITEMS: RAW HONEY, 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 

• 8 AM - Noon at Greenwood Commons, 5410 HWY 55 Durham, NC 27713
• Music: Ninian Beall & Gayle Brown performing traditional bluegrass
• Education: Kids' Craft Station 
• At the Market: Figs, Peppers, Eggplant, apples, beans, corn, okra, tomatoes, squash, melons and more!

Southern Belle of a Veggie

Growing up in Yankee territory didn’t afford me many opportunities (or any) to try okra. And it wasn’t until after living in North Carolina for three years, that I had my first taste. Last summer, around this time, I was at a friend’s house being served a generous feast of summer vegetables, and they broke open a jar of home-pickled okra pods harvested from Four Leaf Farm. My first bite had a cool, firm crunch that unleashed flavors of coriander and garlic and piquant vinegar. I was impressed.

Okra isn’t a common vegetable in the North because the plant generally prefers hot, semi-tropical climates. The pod that we eat is actually the fruit that forms from the okra blossom, which is edible as well. The pods normally grow only 2-3 days before our farmers harvest them for market. Okra is a “cut-and-come-again” vegetable, so you can pick the persistent vegetable several times a season.

The pod is a member of the Mallow family and among its cousins are other heat-lovers like cotton, hibiscus and marshmallow. Members of the Mallow family are typically well-endowed with an unfortunate sounding substance called mucilage. This substance works magic in the marshmallow confection, but can make cooked okra slimy and be a deterrent for some folks; however, the goo is easily reduced by cooking okra with acidic ingredients like vinegar, tomatoes, or citrus fruit.

If only I had known this before the second time I had okra. My husband and I had decided to try cooking a traditional southern dish, so we purchased a bag of frozen okra for an ill-fated pot of gumbo. The roux was bland and unctuous, a feature on which the okra double-downed. Fortunately, this was a mere hiccup in our experiences with okra, and we have had many delightful preparations since.

Once you know how to prepare it, okra is extremely versatile. You can batter and fry it, grill it, pickle it, roast it, add it to soup, sauté it, and stuff it. Plus, just like the rabbit I wrote about last week, it is good for you. This tiny pod has outsized amounts of fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants.

Many of our farmers will be bringing baskets full of bright, tender okra pods to market, including a striking burgundy variety. If you cook it, the burgundy okra will turn to green, but if you pickle it, you will have a lovely pink jar of okra. If you need more ideas for preparing this southern belle of a veggie, check out our recipes on pinterest!

Destination Marketing Organizations Partner to Launch Agritourism Website Portal

The Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) of Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange, and Wake counties have  teamed up to launch TriangleGrown, a website showcasing the area’s agriculturally based features that are visitor friendly – part of the growing national trend known as agritourism.


The site helps make visiting farms and food producers easier. Many of the businesses featured have a strong commitment to using locally produced foods, which is enticing to the region’s growing ‘foodie’ population who seeks to participate and learn more about how food is grown and produced.  

“When people visit a farm, there is almost nothing left to the abstract about from where their food comes,” says Dave Artigues, the owner of Elodie Farms in northern Durham County. “That sort of connection to the source makes people more informed and thoughtful consumers, and that’s important for many reasons,” he added. Artigues’ 21-acre farm produces pork, fowl, eggs, produce, and is most noted for its artisan goat cheeses. It is among the most popular destination farms in Durham because it also hosts a series called “Dinner on the Porch” where some of the area’s most noted chefs cook for up to 70 diners.

Promotion and marketing are among the top challenges farms face when starting or extending their agritourism programs, according to a report from NC State University’s Tourism Extension program. By collaborating to launch this site, the DMOs’ goal is to extend the marketing reach of individual agritourism attractions to the entire region, which encourages daytrip visits. 

Additional research shows that many visitors to agritourism features also participate in other activities during their visit, indicating the possibility for extending these day trips into longer stays. “This endeavor amplifies our messages about Chatham County’s agritourism offerings from scenic beauty to farm-to-fork eateries,” said Neha Shah, Director of the Pittsboro-Siler City CVB.

The two largest communities involved have perspectives on why their places are great spots of visitors interested in agritourism that are as unique as the destinations themselves.


Shelly Green, who heads Durham’s DMO, sees the county’s culinary wow-factor and its status as 17th smallest in the state as pluses.

“As home of The Tastiest Town in the South, Durham County has bountiful offerings for visitors interested in getting to the source of great food,” Green said. “The urban core and agricultural spaces are close to one another here, which make Durham an easy place for visitors to go from farm to fork in a short time, or repeatedly over several days.”

Raleigh sees a union between that community’s natural space and beauty as being a major draw.

“A common way people describe the Raleigh area is ‘a park with a city in it’ due to the vast number of green spaces within Wake County,” said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Having an abundance of open space has created a wealth of opportunities to introduce visitors to agritourism including world-class gardens, historic sites, some of the largest agricultural special events in the state, the State Farmers Market, as well as craft breweries and restaurants which focus on local and regional sourcing for their offerings.”

The new website features top events and attractions for the five-county region, as well as suggested itineraries for a day trip to each of the five counties. It links to the primary visitor websites for each DMO for information on hundreds of additional events and activities, including:

• restaurants, bakeries and breweries that embody the farm-to-fork principle,
• markets that specialize in locally-produced goods,
• nurseries and public gardens that allow visitors to get back to nature,
• food tours and trails that highlight the farm-to-fork (or grape-to-glass, or plow-to-pint) journey,
• events that celebrate and showcase producers, and
• farms producing things like fruits and vegetables, as well as proteins, dairy and sundries that offer a more enriched experience than just shopping at a local farmers’ market.

Fall is a busy season for agritourism features and events in the Triangle. Visitors and residents alike enjoy numerous you-pick pumpkin patches and corn mazes that crop up annually, and approximately one million people flock to the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh each year. Durham is home to the original World Beer Festival, featuring more than 400 world-class beers from more than 150 different breweries from around the world, and Chapel Hill’s annual Pepper Festival celebrates pepper-related local food and drink. The Benson Mule Days Festival in Johnston County has been a Southern tradition for over 60 years, and Boyette Family Farm in Clayton is one of several “haunted” attractions throughout the region in October. Information about these events and more can be found at www.TriangleGrown.com.  

The juxtaposition of urban and rural features and attractions in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina offers a wide range of agritourism experiences. Those can now be easily accessed and explored online with current and accurate information on the TriangleGrown.com website. The tag #TriangleGrown will be used in ongoing promotions for this site and related activities in social media.

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market Wednesday Market

This afternoon, Chef Katie Coleman, the owner on and instructor at Durham Spirits Company will be coming to Market to do a cooking demonstration. Before Katie comes to cook at the Market, we brainstorm together to pick out a vegetable that is heavily in season and then she devotes her cooking demo to feature that vegetable. In the past, she has shown us creative ways to use green beans, radishes, okra, shiitake mushrooms and rhubarb.

Months ago, we decided that for this demonstration, she'd focus on eggplant. But, this summer has been so cool and the weather has been so unusual that the eggplant that usually is coming into Market by the truck load at the end of August is, instead, coming to us in much smaller quantities. So, Katie may cook with some eggplant and she may improvise with what is at Market today! No matter what, Katie's cooking demos are always very informative. She will start chopping veggies around 3:30 and she'll take us step by step through a couple of simple, tasty recipes using vegetables that will be available at market TODAY! Stop by for a little cooking lesson, a taste and take a copy of the recipe home with you.

Also, starting today, we will have a Wednesday Market Farmer Foodshare Donation Station! Every week, at the Saturday Market, the Farmer Foodshare sets up a donation station where you can donate some cash or a fresh food donation. The money that is donated buys fresh food at Market that day. Then the food that has been purchased and donated is then donated to local non-profits in the area that get the fresh food to people in the community who need it. We are excited to have them at the Wednesday Market as well! If you are unfamiliar with the great work that the Farmer Foodshare does, stop by the table to learn more or check out their website: FarmerFoodshare.org

Finally, the summer long National Farmers' Market Celebration is coming to an end soon. The American Farmland Trust is encouraging people to pledge to spend $10 at their favorite farmers' market. So, if you get a chance, hop on over to their website and pledge! You can pledge once a day. Thanks!! Farmers' Market Celebration

IN MEMORY
This week, Gary Murray of Sunset Farms passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Gary only occasionally came to the Durham Farmers' Market, but when he did, it was hard to miss his warm, happy presence. His son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Jamie Murray, along with their crew represent Sunset Farms at the Durham Farmers' Market every Wednesday and many Saturdays. Gary was a farmer all of his life and he will certainly be missed in the farming community. You can read more about Gary here.

See you at the market!
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow the Market on Facebook and Twitter


Upcoming Events 

TODAY! Wednesday August 21st, 3:30-5:30 - Chef in the Market Katie Coleman, Durham Spirits Co. Chef Katie will be demonstrating several ways to cook with Eggplant and Peppers!

Saturday, August 24 COLLEGE DAY! The Durham Farmers' Market, along with NC Central is hosting College Day to welcome all of the students back to Durham! Starting at 9:30, there will be performances by the Spritiual Sound Brass Band and several NCCU Student Organizations. There will be simple and tasty cooking demonstrations from NC Cooperative Extension. And a bunch of vendors will be offering a 10% discount to people with college IDS!

Wednesday, August 28, 3:30-6:30 - Storytelling by Cynthia Raxter!

Saturday, August 31st, 9-11am - CANNING DEMO - Assistant Market Manager, Shanna Bierman will be demonstrating how to make and can tomato salsa! There will be lots of give aways and a raffle for canning items.

Available Wednesday! 
Fruits: Pears, Figs, Summer Apples, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Peaches, Watermelon, Ground Cherries
Vegetables: Arugula, Beans, Beets, Butternut Squash, Butter Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Cucumbers, Delicata Squash, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Onions, Herbs (Cilantro, Basil), Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Okra, Peppers - Sweet and Hot, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Purple Hull Peas, Pumpkins, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Zucchini
Meats: Beef, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon, Pork
Eggs: Chicken and Duck  Eggs
Flowers: Celosia, Gomphrena, Tuberrose, Lisiasnthus, Black Eyed Susan, Dahlia, Statice, Lilly, Sunflower, and mixed Bouquets
Specialty Items:  RAW HONEY!, Mustards, Flour, Yellow & White Cornmeal, Grits,  Goat and Cow Milk Cheeses, Baked Goods - Breads, Pastries, & Pies, Preserves, Gluten Free Baked Goods, Fermented Items, Nut Butters, Pasta, Herbal Teas, Herbal Salves,
Crafts:  Wood Crafts, Pottery, Goats Milk Soaps

Durham Chamber Attempts Guiness Record with The Big

Durham, NC is no stranger to big ideas.  The place is home to companies and thought leaders who have changed the world with things like technology, medicine, and scholarship.

Now, a new effort to make a big mark is taking shape.

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce will attempt to beat the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest networking event during ‘The Big’ on Thursday, September 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. The Big will be held on the plaza of the Durham Centre building in downtown Durham. The entire Durham community is invited to participate.

“It’s not just about setting a new world record,” said Casey Steinbacher, president & CEO of the Durham Chamber. “We wanted to create an environment in which people can make as many connections as possible to help them growth their businesses. We understand the value of referral marketing and feel that it is the Chamber’s role to help facilitate that. Being the world record holder would be an added bonus.”

The current record stands at 357 and is held by KCSourceLink in Kansas City, MO, and was set on November 12, 2012.

In addition to networking, the event will feature an exclusive tabletop expo for Chamber members along with food vendors from throughout Durham. Following the networking, there will be The Big Deck Party with entertainment provided by The Art of Cool Project.

The Big is free and open to all who would like to attend. Registration and additional information about The Big is available online or by calling the Chamber at 919.328.8700.

Learn about all that is happening here with the Durham Event Calendar.

Duke's Class of 2017 Orientation Week Begins Tuesday

More than 1,730 undergraduate students will make the Duke University campus in Durham, NC a home away from home beginning with move-in day on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

The first-year students and their families will get help unloading cars and moving boxes into the East Campus residence halls from advisory counselors, residence assistants, Duke administrators and even President Richard H. Brodhead.

After moving in, they will embark on a week filled with academic and social events designed to introduce them to the Duke and Durham communities.

“Our orientation welcome week enables us to create a sense of connection to the university and the broader community for first-year students,” said Maddie Jothimurugesan, program coordinator for New Student Programs. “Our students arrive on campus from all corners of the world. It is essential to give them time to adjust to their Duke surroundings before they commence their academic endeavors.”

The class of 2017 represents 49 U.S. states and more than 80 countries. As in years past, the most-represented states are North Carolina (199), California (158), New York (136) and Florida (132).
Twenty-seven percent of the entering class is Asian, Asian American or Pacific Islander, 11 percent is African American and 13 percent are foreign citizens. Most come from public high schools.

“Like the classes that preceded them, this group of incoming students is incredibly talented and committed, and bring a wide range of experiences, backgrounds and interests to the Duke community,” said Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions. “Forty-five percent of them applied early decision, so I think we’ll see a particularly strong sense of enthusiasm for the exceptional opportunities Duke will offer them.”
On Wednesday, President Brodhead will join the dean of undergraduate education Steve Nowicki to officially welcome students at an 11 a.m. convocation ceremony in Duke Chapel. The event will be streamed live on YouTube.

Students can tweet about their experiences at Duke during orientation week using the Twitter hashtag #Duke2017.

Later on Wednesday evening, the new students will convene on the East Campus quad for the annual class photo. The students will spell out “2017” for this longstanding tradition. The event can be viewed live on Duke University’s Google Hangout.

On Thursday evening, the students will venture into Durham for “A Night on the Town,” enjoying dinner and music at the American Tobacco Campus followed by a performance at the Durham Performing Arts Center. The John Brown Big Band, led by a Duke jazz professor, and The Beast, a jazz and hip-hop fusion band, will provide entertainment.

On Friday, the students will share their first academic experience together, gathering in two separate sessions to discuss this year’s summer reading selection, “Let The Great World Spin,” a novel by Colum McCann. A week later, on Friday, Aug. 30, McCann will give a talk at 7 p.m. at the newly remodeled Baldwin Auditorium.

Also on Friday the students will have a chance to participate in their first pep rally at Wallace Wade Stadium organized by Duke Athletics.

On Saturday, faculty members will take students on several excursions into Durham, including a visit to the Durham Farmer’s Market, a hike through historic Durham neighborhoods, a canoe trip down the Eno River and a tour of Duke’s Lemur Center. That evening they are invited to dress up to attend “A Night at the Nasher,” where they will view an art exhibit related to the summer reading.

Sunday morning at 11 a.m., the Rev. Luke Powery, dean of Duke Chapel, will preside over the first worship service of the academic year. A 4 p.m. talk at Duke Chapel by author Maya Angelou, another longstanding tradition, will be the highlight of Sunday afternoon. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 26.

Motorists traveling to and around Duke’s East and West campuses should allow for extra travel time due to road construction, street closings and delays. Newcomers are advised not to rely on GPS navigation.

During Tuesday’s move-in all parking areas on East Campus will be cleared of vehicles from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrances to East Campus will be closed to everyone except students and their families.

For a full schedule of orientation week activities for the Class of 2017, go to the Student Affairs website.

Learn more about Durham.

The Ten Tenors Come to DPAC March 20, 2014

The producers of The Ten Tenors have put together a special treat for Broadway fans this season. Fans will get the opportunity to see a wonderful collection of Broadway’s greatest hits sun by Australian’s hottest tenors.  “The Ten Tenors: On Broadway” will be a limited run and will make a stop at DPAC on March 20, 2014.

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m. online and at the DPAC Ticket Center at 123 Vivian Street. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on August 21.

Amidst incredible international success, this Australian troupe has become known as one of the hardest working touring acts, performing an average of 250 shows per year across seven continents.  The group had groundbreaking achievements in 2010, gaining new audiences in South America, Sweden, Japan and the Baltic States. All in all, the Ten Tenors have sold over 3.5 million concert tickets worldwide.

“I’ve seen this group in previous years and have been blown away at the talent level they bring to the stage,” remembers Rachel Gragg, Senior Director of Marketing at DPAC. “Having sold out cities worldwide, DPAC looks forward to presenting a brand new tour that will have audiences hearing all of their favorite Broadway hits.”

With four gold and two platinum albums to their name, the group has also produced two gold and one platinum DVD’s that has forced the Tenors to continually challenge themselves and their audience. The release of their tenth studio album, Double Platinum, saw the Ten Tenors surprising audiences with a new look and new songs. The album debuted at #7 in New Zealand.

Producer D-J Wendt says of Double Platinum, “we like to think audiences come to our show to hear Arias that will give them goose bumps like they have never felt before.” Adding to the feel of their live show, long-serving member Dominic Smith says “so many people, particularly men, turn up to a show having been dragged by their wives… not too far into the show, the realize we are a group of down-to-earth Aussie blokes that have the power and guts in our performance and they leave not only pleasantly surprised, but fans themselves.”

Indeed, it is the Ten Tenors unique approach to opera that has powered their rise to the top.  Bringing rock and classical music together, kicking and screaming, they have created a sound that is uniquely theirs. Expect them to bring the same contrast of raw power and soothing beauty to this special evening of Broadway – only at DPAC.

Discover more great events in Durham at www.durham-nc.com.

Most City of Durham Offices Closed for Labor Day

Most City of Durham offices will be closed Monday, September 2, 2013, in observance of Labor Day. Police, fire, and rescue services for life-threatening or in-progress emergencies may be reached by calling 9-1-1. Non-emergency problems or concerns may be directed to (919) 560-4600.

The City will operate under normal business hours on Tuesday, September 3. The City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 3 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located on the first floor of City Hall at 101 City Hall Plaza. Residents are asked to take note of the following changes in other City services and programs.

Solid Waste, Recycling, Yard Waste, and Bulky Item Curbside Collections
The City’s Solid Waste Management Department will be closed on Monday, September 2. Collection for all services, including solid waste, recycling, yard waste, and bulky items, will be delayed by one business day for the remainder of the week. Collections for yard waste and bulky items on Friday, September 6 will instead occur on Monday, September 9. For more information, click her.

Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
The City's Waste Disposal and Recycling Center (Transfer Station) will be closed on Monday, September 2. It will reopen under its normal schedule on Tuesday, September 3. For more information, click here.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
The City's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is normally closed on Mondays. It will open under its normal schedule on Saturday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 3. For more information, click here.

Durham Parks and Recreation
Durham Parks and Recreation will close its administrative office and all recreation centers on Monday, September 2. However, picnic shelters and sites with confirmed rentals will remain open. Recreation centers will operate under their normal schedules on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1. City lakes will be open regular hours Friday through Monday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The administrative office will reopen under its normal schedule on Tuesday, September 3. For more information, visit click here, “like” on Facebook, or call (919) 560-4355.

Durham Area Transit Authority
On Monday, September 2, Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) and DATA ACCESS will operate on its Sunday/Holiday schedule in which hourly service is provided from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Bull City Connector will operate on its detour Saturday schedule in which service is provided every 25 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to midnight. DATA’s administration office will be closed on Monday, September 2 and will reopen under its normal schedule on Tuesday, September 3. For more information on DATA and DATA ACCESS, visit http://DATA.DurhamNC.gov, “like” on Facebook, or call (919) 485-RIDE. For more information on the Bull City Connector, “like” on Facebook, or “follow” on Twitter.

Durham One Call
Durham One Call will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 30 and be closed on Monday, September 2. However, residents may complete an online service request by visiting the City’s website, or by leaving a message at (919) 560-1200. Durham One Call will forward all requests for City services to the appropriate department the next business day. For information about the City’s holiday schedule and other services that may be affected, residents should contact Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, click here, “like” on Facebook, or “follow” on Twitter.

Learn more about Durham at www.durham-nc.com.

Discover Bull City Secrets

Durham, voted “The South’s Tastiest Town” by Southern Living magazine, is home to both a burgeoning food culture and an exploding start-up scene. These two worlds will collide for the last two weeks in August as part of Bull City Secrets, a digital scavenger hunt hosted by Durham start-up PopUp. From August 16 through August 30, 2013 participants using PopUp’s new mobile app for iPhone can uncover secret menu items, discounts and giveaways at dozens of independent Durham businesses.

PopUp is all about location-specific communication, making it easy to leave a digital note at a physical place for yourself or for others. Arrive where a message has been left, and the note pops up on your phone disclosing some useful information about that specific place. Users can follow people and brands they like to get popup messages from those users, or create notes of their own and leave them for others to find.

Bull City Secrets makes use of this technology, allowing more than 20 local businesses — including Bull City Burger and Brewery, Fullsteam, Monuts and The Parlour — to share secret messages with users of the PopUp app. When participants arrive at any of these businesses, they will receive popup messages alerting them to off-menu items, freebies and promotions that they can then redeem and share with other users. The PopUp team will also leave clues at various locations around town to help aid in the discovery of scavenger hunt locations and attract new users to PopUp.

In addition to giving participants an insider experience at their favorite venues, Bull City Secrets is offering great rewards for participating in the scavenger hunt. The user with the most popups redeemed and the most shared popups will receive a $500 American Express gift card. The business with the most secrets redeemed will win $500 for their favorite charity. For full contest rules, visit BullCitySecrets.com. Winners will be announced in early September.

To get the app, visit the App Store, or call **POPUP (**76787) on your iPhone to receive a text message with a download link.

Businesses interested in joining the promotion and sharing a secret should email bcs@popupapp.co for more information.

Bull City Secrets is sponsored by PopUp, in conjunction with the Durham Chamber of Commerce, Pretty Fab PR and Sustain-a-Bull.

About PopUp
Based in Durham, NC, PopUp is a Fall 2012 graduate of the Triangle Startup Factory. Their flagship app, PopUp for iPhone This summer, PopUp has been in private beta mode with about 1,000 users. Their flagship app, PopUp for iPhone launched as a public beta in June. Bull City Secrets is the first large-scale public launch promotion using PopUp. For more info, visit popupapp.co.

Learn more about Durham, NC.