In late June, Photographer Beth Mann and I did something together that has never been done before for Durham Magazine: We set out on a trip to write about and photograph someplace other than Durham.That’s right. We drove five-and-a-half hours west to Cashiers, N.C., to see what we could discover in a new part of the state (more on what we found on page 29). But at the same time, we saw traces of Durham – a concert series decidedly similar to Music in the Gardens, a lunch stop comparable to Parker & Otis, meandering rivers alongside two-lane highways that reminded us of the Eno – we even ran across two families from the Triangle (we discovered the connection because of the Bull City Running Co. shirt that one of the women was wearing) who were with their kids at a freshly opened brewery in Cashiers that reminded us of our own new parent-and-kid choice hangout, County Fare. They “come to get away from I-40,” one of the parents joked.
As we made our way back to Durham along that familiar freeway, I could hardly wait to get back – yes, Jackson County was breathtakingly beautiful, but I was craving a return to my routine: I wanted my usual vanilla latte with skim milk from Cocoa Cinnamon (where you can find paintings by Candy Carver – who we profile on page 54 alongside two other innovative artists). I wanted to coordinate an outing to a Durham Central Park PLAYlist concert with friends (see Beth’s capture of Kamara Thomas opening the show for series headliner Valerie June – part of our photo essay on some of Durham’s key musicians – on page 44). And, ever the Type A personality, I wanted to get a jump on organizing and making plans for the next two months (you can, too, with “Gear Up for Your Best Fall Yet!” on page 58.)
After a quick nap, unpacking and some good ol’ porch sitting just as the summer frogs started singing, I sat down to write from the comfort of my sunroom with a Fullsteam Foxfire beside me. It was good to be home.
FEATURES
44 TAKE THE STAGE
A few of the key players and venues in Durham’s music scene
52 CREATIVE VISIONARIES
A closer look at three innovative artists and their impact on the city
58 GEAR UP FOR YOUR BEST FALL YET!
Ease back into the school year with this handy guide
75 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
A Q&A with Duke University President Vincent E. Price
DEPARTMENTS AND COLUMNS
8 The Scene
PictureDURM helps us showcase images curated by locals
10 Go.See.Do.
August’s hottest events, plus a fall arts preview
26 Noted
What we’ve heard around town …
29 I Wanna Get Away
A Durhamite in Jackson County, N.C.
34 The Incomparables
These six spots make Durham an unparalleled place
36 The Running Kind
Dr. David S. Pisetsky competes in the Durham Senior Games
38 All About the Jazz, Man
Author Carl W. Kenney II on the development of the Art of Cool Festival
40 Palate Pleasers
Bites of Bull City’s Amber Watson shares spots where you can please the palates of foodies and picky eaters alike
42 Adopt a Pet
Help these three fluffy felines at The Animal Protection Society of Durham find a home
64 What We Love About Living in Parkwood
Initially constructed to house employees at Research Triangle Park, today’s neighborhood fosters a profound sense of community for families of all sizes
77 Taste
Discover our city’s best restaurants
87 Engagement & Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style
