Do you love pop-up shops, locally made products, once-a-month special events, WOMEN,…read moreboutique-thrift items, recyclable goods, sustainable cleaning supplies, jewelry, BEER, letter-press cards and oh so much more?! Then let me know you, the Durham Patchwork mini-market is about to be your new best friend! I "secretly" took my boyfriend to Fullsteam on the first Saturday of the month so we could "grab a beer." Little did he know that there was a full-blow POP-UP shop within! My eyes got wide and he realized he'd been tricked, but man oh man was it worth it [and he got a beer out of it!]. This little market is any girls dream! While you sip on a brew you can wonder between vendors [the majority female entrepreneurs and artisans] and have conversations while they tell you about their products, which they are all very passionate about. The vendors change from month to month, but the covered [non air conditioned] space in Fullsteam is filled to the tippy top. This is a perfect spot to pick up presents for friends, yourself or stock up on Christmas supplies! You can support many local business in one stop AND in a chill but popping environment. Check out their facebook page [www.facebook.com/TheDurhamPatchworkMiniMarket] for the latest vendor news and updates. And now you know where to find me every FIRST Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm.

I found out about this pop up market just the day before, lucky me! Unlike other pop up shops,…read morethis one was free admission. The event went from 12-5. There were a variety of craft vendors that were local artists. I would rather buy a local artist print, mug, ring, etc than go to a mall. I wish there was more 'walking' room though, it was very packed (which is a good thing).

Beautiful gallery! We loved wandering through the multiple rooms taking in the paintings,…read moreglasswork, pottery, etc. Look forward to returning when we visit Hillsborough.

We stopped in on a Wednesday late afternoon just to browse. This is the type of artsy store that we…read morelike but we weren't looking for anything particular. There were plenty of paintings, wood pieces, sculptures, glass objects, and more. They even had cheaper options like postcards if you just want a little item. All of the work seems to be from local artists, so that is always a plus with us. We'd stop in again the next time we're in town.

The ChathamArts Gallery features works by local and nationally recognized regional artists and…read moresells pottery, baskets, fiber art, jewelry, metal and wood sculpture, mixed media, photography, paper art and more. Exhibits change every eight weeks and are launched with a gallery reception on the first Thursday of the month, which is open to the public. Wed.-Sat. 11-5 , Sun. Noon-4

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!

Brightleaf Square is a quaint retail development located in the center of the Brightleaf…read moreneighborhood in downtown Durham. I'd call it a "shopping center," but it's not like a typical suburban shopping center. The development consists of two repurposed brick warehouses, originally built in 1904, that used to store bright leaf tobacco (that's where the name comes from). So, Brightleaf Square looks and feels historic, and that's what makes it charming. That said, the development is kind of small and there's not that much here. If you want to walk across the street to, say, Rose's or Jeni's, then yes, the neighborhood (also known as the Brightleaf District) has more to offer. I highly recommend Rose's, by the way, for their ramen and ice cream sandwiches. Strictly speaking, within the square, Emmy Squared Pizza is terrific for their Detroit-style pizza. It's among the best deep-dish pizza anywhere, in my opinion. There's also Clouds Brewing, which is a craft brewery and restaurant. Other businesses are local/boutique shops, such as Bull City Art & Frame Company and Mill & Meadow Stationery Shop, and private offices. The brick/stone walkway, old-fashioned lamp posts, string lights, trees, benches, and early-1900s buildings can make for a fun, whimsical stroll with friends and family before or after lunch or dinner. It's also a good date spot, especially if you incorporate the larger neighborhood (e.g., pizza at Emmy Squared followed by ice cream sandwiches at Rose's). For parking, I suggest parking in the surface lot at the corner of W Main St and S Gregson St. You can enter the lot from either of those streets. Pay attention to signs as you may have to pay during certain days and times. Fun fact: Durham's infamous "Can Opener Bridge" is located on the south end of Brightleaf Square. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the bridge's Wikipedia page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Southern%E2%80%93Gregson_Street_Overpass Also, watch some of the videos on this YouTube channel to see the Can Opener in action: https://www.youtube.com/@11foot8plus8 The camera that captures those videos is mounted on one of the buildings at Brightleaf Square.

Brightleaf Square looks like it'd be cute and fun to walk around in, but that's really all it is…read more Pretty market lights and small shops but nothing actually to do..? Hopefully they add better restaurants and more variety of boutiques here because the square is not living up to its potential. Basically, I'd skip this and head over to ATC.

Beautiful space with awesome and unique art from local and perhaps some guest artists. The gallery…read moremanager Natalie is a lovely and knowledgeable person. Well worth a visit!

We were in Carrboro and had kind of forgotten that FRANK Gallery had moved into a space near the…read moreHampton Inn where the cool Cameron's gift store used to be. The staff said they rotate the art frequently, though most of the offerings appear to be more modern. We saw some cool little items but the large paintings on display didn't really do it for us on this visit. Still a cool place to look around in, though.

Great store nice helpful staff. Quality products . With lots to choose from. Loved the Christmas…read moreselection.

Great little shop on the main drag offering local flavor type gifts and other gorgeous things--lots…read moreof swag repping PBO/NC for all y'all. Everything seems very thoughtfully curated, from the clothing/accessories to the personal care products and bar/pantry supplies. Though I only bought a bag of Old School grits and these sweet little candy cane hot chocolate stir sticks (as a gift; I popped in prior to Christmas), browsing everything was very enjoyable. I look forward to checking this spot out anytime I'm in town.

good restaurants all in one village square (Merlion has wonderful variety of Asian/Singapore,…read morenoodles, seafood, - I'm really picky about Asian food & don't like regular Chinese restaurants)- & I wish I could eat here every week. Pazzo's is actually quiet enough to have a conversation even when the restaurant is full! I'm hooked on their Rainbow Trout stuffed with olives and artichokes...we take company here & have never had a disappointing meal. Very nice bar, too Lumina Theatre is so nice and this Village has music on lawn all summer (Sundays) & movies outside on Fri & Sat. Some nice stores (Bloom & Cottage Shop) so you can skip the shopping center.

This is just another dime-a-dozen preplanned village in the Triangle. Now, I love a lot of the…read moreshops in here--don't get me wrong. But the village itself lacks personality based on my few visits. It's out in the country--far away from downtown Chapel Hill. There are some office spaces, but mostly the village has restaurants and other businesses. Behind it is a neighborhood. Parking is plentiful, and it's decently designed so that it doesn't feel like the handful of shops/restaurants are swallowed up by the giant parking lot. However, the whole area seems to lack personality or anything to give it character.