As I’ve chronicled before, I’m a (not terribly talented) Wednesday Bull City Run Club participant alongside my Chapel Hill Magazine counterpart, Jessica Stringer, who graciously slows her pace so we can jog and catch up on non-work-related life.
We nearly always make a beverage and food stop afterward, rotating among the varied options near Bull City Running Co.’s shop in City Place. Parts & Labor is a fave, as is The Glass Jug Beer Lab, where we’re treated to Batalá Durham’s drum practices at Durham Central Park. But we’ve been known to hit up Boxcar for pizza and games, Corpse Reviver for a masterful cocktail special, Liberty & Plenty Distillery for $7 Wine & Whiskey Wednesday (and some complimentary Sour Patch Kids and Goldfish), Surf Club, Hutchins Garage, Dssolvr, Durham Food Hall, Atomic Clock, Flying Bull … trust me, we make the rounds!
We venture farther into downtown, too – Queeny’s, Alley Twenty Six and Thai at Main Street are all regular haunts that don’t mind (much, I hope) to receive post-run club members – and on a recent Wednesday night, I was invited to the Duke Arts Presents series at American Tobacco Campus. It was a perfect evening to see live music underneath the Lucky Strike Tower. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and the Grammy Award-winning Ils Sont Partis Band were winding down their set, but the atmosphere was electric. Folks were dancing with their spouses, their friends, their babies – everyone was clapping along from lawn chairs and picnic blankets. The performance ended to much fanfare, and I headed on my way, still buzzing from the energy.
I passed The Waiting Room, realizing it’d been awhile since I’d visited. I felt underdressed, but after editing our story on The Bullpen social district (page 32) and the lingering feel-good vibes, I figured this was the perfect opportunity to grab one of their excellent cocktails to-go. Unbeknownst to me, I’d walked into a jazz night with Candice Smith – better known as Miss Candice, who was, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, phenomenal. I ordered a Oaxaca Mule and had the pleasure of catching up with Waiting Room owner Nick Singh and Brad Weddington of NanaSteak and Seraphine while my drink was prepared.
It’s these nights that inspire stories like our downtown staycation piece (page 38). They remind me that Durham, as ever, is full of new and exciting surprises that make you love living here – Executive Editor Amanda MacLaren
DOWNTOWN
28 Growth Mindset
Mayor Leonardo Williams discusses his strategies for managing progress while preserving our cityʼs unique character
32 Sip & Stroll
It’s all good vibes while you imbibe in downtown’s social district
34 Raise the Bar
Enjoy a front-row seat to flavor at these top dinner spots
36 Park It
A brief how-to on navigating parking options
38 Staycation, All I Ever Wanted
Your ultimate guide to a downtown getaway
46 Here We Grow Again
The latest downtown development news
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
64 Charting a New Course
New Durham Public Schools Superintendent Anthony S. Lewis is on a mission to build trust and break barriers as he guides DPS toward success, one student at a time
66 Leading by Example
Three class acts share their education journey
74 Directory of Independent, Regional Boarding, Charter and Application Program Schools
FEATURES
52 Right From the Start
The Schroder family fills their historic residence with charm, warmth and timeless style
90 Have a Ball
Sports clubs create community and strengthen bonds through action-packed fun
DURHAM INC.
96 Hot Shot
We chat with Natasha Ainsley-Thomas of GolfHer, a community-building organization designed to empower women through golf
98 Access for All
A closer look into how Durham companies create inclusive workplaces
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
10 Go.See.Do.
Chill out with these fun fall events
22 Noted.
What we’ve heard around our city …
104 Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style
PEOPLE & PLACES
14 Durham Magazine’s Best of Durham Party
18 Duke Energy’s Day of Champions
SPONSORED CONTENT
42 Downtown Durham
Explore retail, dining, arts and more …
86 Health Care
Meet local dentists and providers
