I love ghosts. I know they don’t exist, but I also know they are everywhere, especially in a city as old and interesting as Durham. The holidays are the perfect time to seek them out, to commune and celebrate them. After all, what is New Year’s Eve if not a celebration of both what’s gone and what’s yet to be.
Durham has its share of merciless ghosts, of course, but most of those we conjure during the holidays are warm. Our better angels, if you prefer a different metaphor.
Our city’s spirit of kindness is clear and forever in front of us. See page 17 for the Exchange Family Center, which helps families take care of their children and, in 2019, celebrated its 50th charity golf tournament.
See page 18 for the 25th anniversary celebration of TROSA, which helps recovering addicts rejoin their lives. (You can meet some TROSA residents at one of nine Christmas tree lots they operate around the area. They’ll trim, bag and load your tree on your car, or even fit your tree to your tree stand.)
The holidays are about the person next to you. But, to me, the New Year has always been about courage. It takes courage to start again, to face a new day. But, we do. We stand with our feet firm on the floor, reach in good faith toward one another and seek shelter in the crowded spaces between generosity and grace. We face our ghosts and embrace them.
In 2019, Durham celebrated its 150th year. We all start the 151st together. – Michael McElroy
THE HOLIDAY ISSUE
40 Surviving the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
How to throw a perfect and easy holiday party
47 Markets & More
A few extra seasonal events, plus local shopping opportunities to help you check off everyone on your list!
50 Cheers to 2020!
Welcome the new year with a few special cocktails
56 Feeding a Crowd
The holidays mean lots of group gatherings and more mouths to feed
60 Wrap It Up
Several ideas for preventing cabin fever
FEATURES
66 Meaningful Meals
A local dinner party raises a glass while raising funds to honor Pauli Murray’s legacy
104 To Have and to Hold
We went back to six of our featured newlywed couples to get their tips for tying the knot
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
4 Letter from the Editor
8 Go. See. Do.
Our top 10 winter events
22 Noted
What we’ve heard around town …
26 Faraway Memories
Iconic holiday occasions and why Durham’s Holiday Parade and Fun Fest stands out
28 The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Remember to also celebrate and give back to our city this holiday season
96 Taste
Discover our city’s best restaurants
111 Engagement & Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style
DURHAM INC.
86 Networking
Black Wall Street: Homecoming, KONTEK’s 30th Anniversary and Downtown Durham Inc. Speaker Series
88 The Future of Transit
After the collapse of the light rail project, Durham takes its time with Plan B
92 Biz Briefs
SPONSORED CONTENT
31 The Big Give
Our local nonprofits: How they support the community and how you can get involved
64 Holiday Gift Guide
78 New Trends in Home Design
Popular styles during the 2019 Parade of Homes
80 Adopt A Pet
Meet a pup and two cats waiting on their forever homes at the Animal Protection Society of Durham
PEOPLE & PLACES
12 45th annual CenterFest Arts Festival
14 Southern Documentary Fund’s sixth annual Artists Convening
15 Art of Cool Festival
16 Pride: Durham, NC
17 Exchange Family Center’s 50th annual golf tournament
18 TROSA’s 25th anniversary celebration
19 Durham Convention Center’s rededication reception
20 Children’s Pop-Up Market at The Studio School of Durham