Just spent the better part of Sunday at Centerfest 2019 and kudos to the committee who choose the…read moreincredible artists that were there. Every booth had something different and unique. It was SO well done. Parking was easy. I only have raves for those incredible artists who work so hard to bring us part of their heart in their artistry. The bonus, there were stores and art galleries open as well. Thank you Centerfest, for a wonderful day!

This is my 3rd or 4th year visiting Durham's Centerfest Arts Festival. It's always been a nice…read moreannual diversion. There are up and coming musicians and street performers as well as very talented artists selling their works. This year's crowd seemed somewhat smaller than prior years, and although there were many vendors, an unusually large number of jewelry booths were present. Still worth the time to stroll around and take in the sights and sounds on a beautiful day.

Wow! What a sh*t show! 2019 was my 8th and LAST WBF here in Durham. It has admittedly been 3-4…read moreyears since I last came to this one. My memories were awesome from past ones - there was fellowship and a bit of a party. I always go to the early sessions to enjoy the sunshine and hangout with the more serious beer drinkers/aficionados. There are so many good festivals out there - avoid this one - you have been warned. Now - if you're curious why, keep reading. 1) I got Early Admission tickets for 1 hours earlier entrance. It was until about 15-20 minutes after we were supposed to be let in that someone finally came to set up entry. What??? Completely unprofessional!! And they charged extra!! You should have someone ready to scan/take tickets long before you open. The guy who finally was setting things up was a real horse's patoot and was yelling rude things back at the irritated crowd. Then a blond woman, who I'm assuming he called on his cell phone, showed up all frenzied and tried to get things under control. 2) There were only 35 stations set up - only 29 of those were for beer. If my memory serves me correctly there were at least twice as many beer stations years ago. Participation has certainly dwindled and I'm sure will fall off a cliff this coming year. 3) The beer stations were mostly in the internal outside perimeter of the stadium where the concession stands are. Lame! The last ones I went to were either down on the field, the inside perimeter of the stadium, or both. There was no rain forecast. People want fresh air and sunshine not feeling sealed up in concrete! And if the answer/excuse is the Bulls don't want people on the field, please find another venue. 4) There were a lot of stands who were manned by people who had no clue about the beer they were serving. At one station I asked for the Wit - a snaggle toothed man said "The one in the orange can or the green can?" - the beer was also warm - yuck. There were at least two other stands that were completely unstaffed and had stacks of warm beer just sitting there (one of which was Greenman from Asheville). Other stations had one person running 2 tables and 4-5 taps. I pointed out to one guy (Elysium Brewing) that he had a bunch of product he was supposed to serving that was sitting on a wall behind another table. He seemed unconcerned and didn't even recognize his own clearly labeled product. He also made no efforts to retrieve it. Yikes! 5) The beer they did have was very generic. Really?! Was that an Anheuser Busch station I just avoided? Seriously, there were maybe 4-5 really good breweries there (e.g. Birdsong and River Rat) otherwise it was like walking through the beer section at Food Lion.... I really have no idea what happened to this festival - it used to be so awesome but now just plain...well you get the point. Jeez! Yelp didn't even want to participate - now that's saying something....

Of the two WBFs -- Durham & Raleigh -- the Durham one is unequivocally my favorite. The ballpark is…read morethe perfect set-up (and doesn't have the scent of public urination that Moore Square does). October has the perfect weather... and so many great seasonal beers! It also seems less crowded than Raleigh's. Tents shield you from the sun (or rain), and keep things navigable... like all the NC Beer together in one happy place. The best part about WBF compared to other beer fests I've attended is the detailed program which can help you locate a brewery and see exactly what they have on tap. The second best part of WBF is just the sheer variety. You cannot drink your way through the entire thing -- but you'll have fun trying! Disclaimer: Yelp has been a proud media sponsor of WBF-D in 2011 & 2012.

The grand taste this year was fantastic. The only reason why I give it 4/5 stars is that the price…read morewill keep some people away. Personally I think the venue, setup, and live music was better this year than last. The armory was so scenic and the stranded lights were fantastic. The food was laid out around the rectangular perimeter while the spirits and wine was on the inside of the room giving it a better flow as opposed to the "every other" station like it was last year. Also, the live jazz band was a nice touch and was set up far away enough to not cause a loud ambiance. Some other patrons we ran into also said the food was running out about halfway through. While I can understand some of the dishes take days to prepare, there should be an understanding that you need to make enough for everyone to get some (my wife and I did so we were pleased). Great event and I highly recommend it to anyone who takes their food scene seriously. We had multiple highly rated restaurants from the triangle in a single location doing their best work. Can't wait for next year's event!

I went to see Muscadine Bloodline at the Carolina Theatre and honestly, I can't recommend this…read morevenue enough! If you love live music but aren't a fan of huge crowds and overpriced everything, this theater is a total gem. First off, the vibe here is just cool and intimate. It's one of those places where, even if you're sitting a bit farther back, you still feel close to the action. The acoustics were great, every note and every lyric was super clear, which really made the performance feel special. Muscadine Bloodline killed it, by the way! One thing I really appreciated: the whole experience felt easy and relaxed. Getting there was a breeze and there's a parking garage directly across the street, so no crazy searches for a spot or long walks in the cold/rain/heat. You can literally be inside the theater within minutes of parking. Inside, the concessions were surprisingly reasonable. I was bracing myself to pay $20 for a beer like most venues, but nope, drinks and snacks were actually affordable. It's a little thing, but it made the night even better. Being able to sit for the show was also huge for me. The seats were comfortable, with a good view from just about anywhere. I loved not having to stand the whole time or jockey for space. It's honestly the perfect size, big enough for a killer crowd atmosphere, but small enough that it's not overwhelming. All in all, the Carolina Theatre just nails it for live shows. Great music, chill atmosphere, reasonable prices, and zero hassle. Can't wait to catch another concert here!

First time going to Carolina Theatre to see EarHustle (IYKYK). The theater is lovely, nice…read moreintimate setting. We sat in the 4th row and gelt immersed in the performance but there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Parking was right across the street and reasonably priced. My only complaint was their concessions didn't have much variety. I should have done my research because I went to the event without eating dinner and popcorn just didn't do it for me. I'm looking forward to seeing more shows here.

The hub & I ventured out to the Third Friday Art Walk in Downtown Durham and loved the energy of…read morethe event. We strolled from hotels to galleries to art stores and boutiques. It is time well spent. There are great restaurants and bars in that area as well.

Raleigh's First Friday Yelp page in addition to encouragement from Rod O. led me to represent…read moreDurham and create our own THIRD Friday page! Not that I'm contributor to Durham's art walk, which takes place from about 6-9pm every third Friday, but I'm definitely a beneficiary. I will admit, after living in Durham for three years now, I've only just started to attend these open gallery nights, but I'm loving them! I've discovered so many hidden gems and realized that Durham's legacy is so much more then the "dirty" (hipster) vibe. We have some truly talented people that you might not hear about unless you go searching, so do me a favor and search (or rather just use my search efforts to make it easier for you!) I recommend either starting downtown at the Durham Arts Council OR on the East side of downtown at Golden Belt. You need to start your walk knowing that you just can't see it all in one night! So if you're a tourist, make your list of the places you MUST hit, if you're a local, just go back! Also, every Friday is different, some studios might be open one week and closed the next, so make sure you check the website before planning your trip. Bull City Arts Collaborative / Horse & Buggy Press: Very small photography gallery north of downtown. I personally would skip over this one; lack of beverages and with one person manning the studio, just lacked pazaz. Mercury Studio: Great stop to purchase anything local! Another co-working space for artists with a shop inside. Located in the DIY district, so you've got lots of food/drink choices. Plus, hit Nomadic Trading Company while you're over there for more art! Through This Lens: Another photography studio closer to 21C Hotel (which includes a small 24 hour museum). Durham Arts Council & Guild: Large combined artist gallery. The Carolina Theatre of Durham: If there's a snow going on, this is a place to stop. Beautiful restored theater! Trust Building (aka 21C Hotel): Grab a drink next door at The Counting House next door and see the 24 hour museum! Golden Belt: In my opinion, a MUST! A huge co-working space for artists of all different medias! Dogstar Tattoo Company: Not often do I venture into tattoo parlors, but I love that Dogstar participates during Third Friday. Visit when at the Golden Belt! SPECTAR Arts: Awesome small gallery next to the Golden Belt. Museum of Durham History | History Hub: Not necessarily a must during the art walk, I would recommend a visit during the day if you're in Durham though. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University: Again, not a must during the art walk, but definitely a gem in Durham and so convenient to Duke Gardens! Vega Metals Gallery: gorgeous metal work, although rarely open during the art walk. The Carrack Modern Art: Mixed feelings. Worth a visit but go early. I tried to go again at 8:45p this past week (after visiting at 10:00pm last month) and they were already closed! Make sure you know what the exhibit is beforehand. Pleiades Gallery: Beautiful gallery! Small but still bigger then some. Definitely worth a visit. Full Frame Theater at the Power Plant: Try to catch a show, it's an awesome theater and takes you into American Tobacco Campus which is lovely at night! Alizarin Gallery: Love the space, gallery AND the artist. This is on my must list of Third Friday! There are SO, so, So many more galleries that I haven't visited yet (or places that also offer special exhibits during Third Friday). Hopefully one day I'll visit them all. But for now, here's my opinion on a few. Definitely take some time for a visit & view my "Third Friday List" for details on each gallery!

Wow. As if the available traditional-medium art in the Triangle is not enough, there's also a…read moregallery dedicated to electronic-medium art of the camera. I thought having books of pictures would be a reasonable facsimile of the seeing the actual photograph. It's like any art form really, I thought. Through This Lens proved me wrong. Where a book can group places and concepts, a gallery has to be a bit more selective, I think. It has limited space and time to capture and keep your interest as it competes with other medium and distractions. And in downtown Durham, during a weekend festival no less, TTL managed to do it. TTL has photos from all over the world. All are visually stunning in their own way. Each with a message, sometimes subtle, sometimes not so much. One can see snippets of objects, colors, movement -- all moments in time captured by the photographer-artist. In this one small gallery you can travel the world from the reservations in Arizona to the deserts in Africa. It's a mini-vacation. The owner, Roylee was very helpful in answering my questions and explaining the technique used by a photographer of one particular picture that captured my attention. There was a color photo of a dried well, the tan walls a sharp contrast to the two women in bright saris, there at the bottom of the drying well. The description by the photographer added another layer of awesome. Another photograph, a black and white photo taken at an abandoned church in Georgia, was stunning. I probably spent fifteen minutes staring at it from every angle. It hadn't yet been hung on the wall so I was able to look at it from all angles as I walked around the table. The lines and shadows just drew me in. There was such an unexpected symmetry in that picture, it was hard to believe it wasn't computer-drawn. And so it went for my entire visit. .

Lovely but small photography art gallery and framing shop. I've only visited the shop for the…read moregallery portion and have yet get to get something framed, but it's a nice stop during any of Durham's Spring/Winter Art Walks or on Third Friday. They usually have several bottles of red and wine wines along with a complimentary cheese/bread plate for gallery guests during their special events, which is quite nice. The photography is from all over the world, many prints I'd recognize as South East Asia but there are also some lovely local Triangle photos and those for the nature enthusiast. I'd recommend putting Through This Lens on your gallery hopping list if it's convenient, but it isn't large enough and, after a handful of visits, I've never received a personal greeting to draw me back if it's out of the way. Through This Lens rents their space from Durham Arts Place, around to the right if you're facing the entrance and up the stairs.

Lovely farmers market that's also huge. Coming from Los Angeles, the Durham Farmers Market is the…read morebiggest I've been seen. There were so many stands, including: produce, bread, juices, seafood, lamb, knife sharpening, honey, candles, pottery, flowers, and a ton more. I ate Pastels de Yuca at a stand called Soul Cocina. It was roasted yuca stuffed with lentils, brown rice, and spinach. It came with a very flavorful red salsa. I loved it. The yucav was tender and the filling was delicious. I loved the salsa because it was refreshing with a slight kick of spice. I also enjoyed sitting under a tree at the park while watching the Bee Day Parade. That's definitely my tip because there's not a lot is seating to eat at the market. So go across the street to Durham Central Park for plenty of shaded seating.

Quintessential Saturday morning activity for Durham folks! Big Durham Farmers' Market fan; love to…read moregrab coffee & a pastry and just stroll around, looking at the art, smelling candles, trying on handmade jewelry. My favorite stall to grab a pastry at is definitely Loaf Bakery. Service is always so nice; the Central Park ambiance (usually with live music) is perfect. Parking available in the lot on Morris St. 10/10 would recommend!

Woo hoo, I did it! Post-race day (by one day) and I'm feeling mentally rejuvenated although…read morephysically sore [my legs deserve some TLC!] I signed up for the Bull City Race Fest, my first official half marathon, in April for $54.26 (using a promotional code). The event offers a 1 mile, 5 mile and 13.1 mile race option. You receive plenty of e-mail correspondence up until the day of the race, and about a month in advance you're invited to participate in several 'fun runs' sponsored by breweries, beer shots, etc. around the area [I wish these events had been sent out ahead of time and prompted more, possibly even having MORE of these events to really grow the race community]. I trained for this race using the Hal Higdon half marathon training plan, training outdoors and in on the: Ellerbe Creek South Trail, American Tobacco Trail, Third Fork Creek Trail, Duke East Campus and at the YMCA. My training started at least three months in advance and I did use the Eno Quarry/Eno Park as training near the end. I highly recommend training on more hillier trails! I wish I had used Al Buehler Cross Country Trail or even Duke Forest because people, this race has HILLS! I had heard rumors about the hills, but I'd also heard that the course was changing. Even though the hills aren't extreme per say (it's no Tar Heel Laurel Hill experience!) There are many, many slow inclines (especially after three four while you're crossing back and forth Broad Street) and a couple steeper inclines at mile ten around Cranford Road and Perkins Road). There are six aid stations along the course (although one is used twice) with water and sports drinks, although mile 8 (running into Duke East Campus) also had Accel Energy Gels. Once we split off from the five-mile runners, it seemed like the half-marathoners did spread out and the aid stations weren't too full. I like the cheering crowds, although these definitely dissipated towards the final three miles. They do have a costume contest (cash prize) but hardly anyone dressed up, as well as a bag check pre-race. The 2015 race was COLD! Luckily we could wait in American Tobacco Campus before the start of the race, but I ran comfortably in a long sleeve and shorts the entire race. As far as parking, I arrived about 6:45a for the race and found parking easily (but you have to know WHERE to park!) I highly recommend the parking deck off Jackson St. and W. Pettigrew St., easily reachable if you're getting off I-40 onto Duke Street. DON'T turn right on Yancy St., take the next right onto Jackson Street, through the stop sign and the parking garage is on your left! As far as packet pick-up and post race festivities, they were good, but not great. I recommend coming FIRST THING when packet pick-up opens at 11am. It was understaffed but at least the lines weren't long. All you're given is your bib and t-shirt, no bag of goodies, but there are some tables you can visit. Post-race you're given coupons for two free beers (first time I've ever been able to drink before noon on a Sunday in NC!) but honestly, I think the 1 and 5 mile runners took advantage of this more then the half-marathon runners [I was pooped!] Plenty of food trucks, this would be a good stop for a non-runner just to check out a bunch of trucks. Variety of tents and athletic promoters, but not an overload. OVERALL, I'm really glad I ran the Bull City Race Fest half-marathon, but I don't think I'd sign-up for it again unless I was running with a group, I honestly will look for a flatter race in the future!