Pompieri Pizza to host Lambrusco Fest 2015

If pizza, wine, Italian food, music and fun for the whole family sounds like a perfect combination, make plans to attend the first annual LambruscoFest. That it's being held in Durham, the Tastiest Town in the South, well, just take that as insurance that it will be awesome.

Durham's Pompieri Pizza will host a family-friendly food and Lambrusco wine festival on Durham’s City Hall Plaza June 20, 2015 from 2 until 7 PM. The street will be closed for this outdoor event celebrating the “breadbasket” region of Italy called Emilia-Romagna.

Festival goers can purchase a tasting punch card and then go around the festival tasting and trying authentic foods such as Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, real gelato (Italian ice-cream), Balsamic vinegar from Modena, various salumi (cured meats), olive oils and of course Pompieri’s Neapolitan-style pizza to name a few items. Adults can purchase a wine punch card to sample Lambrusco wines of all sorts. Food and wine will also be available to purchase as a meal during the festival.

The music at LambruscoFest will feature A Cappella singers. A Cappella comes from the Italian “in the manner of the chapel” performed by a group of voices without instruments. The festival will have a stage with sound system to allow the various vocal groups to perform that afternoon. The music is free for everyone to enjoy.

There will be a children’s play area staffed by the Schoolhouse of Wonder. Everyone of all ages is welcome to enjoy the food, beverages and music. The event will benefit Schoolhouse of Wonder and will donate a portion of the event’s proceeds to this nonprofit that develops kind, curious, and confident kids through nature-based outdoor adventures.

Like many of Durham's other culinary festivals like The World Beer Festival, The Doughman, and Bull City Food and Beer Experience, LambruscoFest is listed on the Durham Event Calendar.

Historic Russell School Plans Events in June

The history of public education in America is intricate with details, some of which are not that well known. For instance, it is unlikely that many readers know the history of Rosenwald Schools, or what they have to do with Durham.

Rosenwald Schools provided education for African-Americans in the rural South during segregation. Durham's Historic Russell School  is the last surviving Rosenwald School in Durham County and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming up in June is a chance to learn more about Durham's Historic Russell School at a Durham History Hub exhibition and Summer Starlight Jazz Soiree.

The exhibition coincides with the National Rosenwald Schools Conference being held in Durham June 17-19 and tells the story of the Rosenwald schools, with particular focus on Historic Russell School.

The Historic Russell School will also host a relaxing, starlight evening of jazz. This fundraising event will be held on June 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There will be music by the Stanley Baird Group, dinner, and a silent auction. Tours of the Historic Russell School will be given throughout the evening. The price for the event is $50.00 per person before June 5. Funds raised from the Jazz Soiree will benefit program development, restoration, and operations at the Historic Russell School. Tickets may be purchased online here, or by calling (631) 800-3487.

Learn more about Durham's African-American history with the African-American Heritage Guide or through the Black History portal. 

DCVB Recognized with Multiple Awards

When more than 9 million visitors come to a destination, it's nice to be recognized for the hard work that went into getting them there!

The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau has recently been formally recognized for its marketing efforts with industry awards from several prestigious organizations. 

DCVB was recognized by the Hermes Creative Awards with a Gold Award for its publication of the Downtown Map and Guide in the category of Brochure. The new guide was redesigned with more photos and it was formatted so that it would be easier to use. The award recognition can be seen here.

DCVB also recieved recognition from the 21st Annual Communicator Awards with a Communicator Award of Distinction for a complete website redesign of www.durham-nc.com in the category of Websites: Travel/Tourism. A list of winners can be viewed here.

Additionally, DCVB has been named a finalist for recognition from the PR Daily Awards in the category of Best Website Launch  for the website redesign of www.durham-nc.com. DCVB is among 7 category finalists who are vying for the top spot. The winner will be announced in June.  See the award categories here.

The Durham Convention & Visitor's Bureau has been recognized with more than 168 industry awards in its more than 25 year history. The organization is responsible for all visitor marketing in Durham, North Carolina.

Blues on the Plaza Returns to Northgate Mall Friday Nights in May

The blues is back in Durham at Northgate Mall! After a successful inaugural season to its Annual Music Series, Northgate is kicking off the second season every Friday in May from 6:30-9:00pm with Northgate Blues on the Plaza.

This free live music event features local Durham and surrounding area Blues bands and is the perfect blend of family fun including live music, food, dancing, and local craft beer.

The schedule includes:

    May 8 – Jimi King Trio

    May 15 – Blues Rockets

    May 22 – E-train and The Rusted Rails

    May 29 – Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos with John Dee Holeman

Listen to the great sounds of local blues bands brought to you in partnership with the Triangle Blues Society, drink local craft beer from Bull City Burger and Brewery and a enjoy wide variety of local food trucks. Admission is free. Seating is limited and visitors are encouraged to bring a chair.

Keep up with all the great music in the Bull City by keeping any eye on the Durham Event Calendar, and reading about it online.

2015 DOUGHMAN: Double DOUGH 7, Diet Another Day

If you like team exercise and eating for a good cause in Durham, the DOUGHMAN is the race for you!

The DOUGHMAN is Durham's quirky quadrathalon, and the event is back for its seventh year of running, biking, swimming and - most importantly - eating its way through the Bull City.

The race begins at Motorco on Saturday, May 23, 2015. Participants can register online while spaces are still available. Registration for the DOUGHMAN is limited and costs $200 for a four-person team.

The event is designed to celebrate the community and give local charities a platform on which to raise money (dough) and to tell their stories. In 2015, The DOUGHMAN dough-nation will support SEEDS.

Combining the elements of a triathlon with competitive eating, each team member with down a delicious treat from a Durham culinary gem, followed with a bike, run or "water activity" challenge of varying distances.

The DOUGHMAN is raced with a 4-person team in a relay format with each team member performing an individual eating+athletic leg culminating in a final team eating+sprint leg to the finish line. The race comprises 1 bike leg, 1 aquatic activity leg (requires some running), and 2 run legs.

The two running legs are normally 1.75 to 2.5 miles, the "swim" leg is a run followed by an activity in the water (not a lap swim), and the bike route is less than 10 miles. Here's the breakdown by food type: Running: meat; Running: vegetarian; Bike: meat; Swim: vegan.

Learn more about this event, and all the others that occur here each year with the Durham Event Calendar.