We Love Durham NC

Warm and Yummy

The sister in law was in town from the Big Apple and, when she’s here, she likes to eat Southern. I’m not sure if Foster’s qualifies as strictly Southern, for after all they don’t have sweet tea, but they have biscuits and grits ‘n’ stuff. The Warm and Yummy is for the Greek Grilled Cheese there… nothing like the one of Hector’s late night fame, but a perfectly warm and soft pita around spinach, cheese, tomatoes, artichokes. She dragged me back (kicking and screaming, of course) to Foster’s for 3 meals over 2 days. I don’t blame her. I could make a nice parking spot on that one couch on the porch under the fan.

SAT Scores in Durham Increase

“…students in Durham’s three largest ethnic groups scored higher this year than last on the SAT…” (Herald-Sun, today). Go junior Durhamites!

A Shoe For Your Foot

While we’d love the Justin Roberts-es and Jimmy Magoos of the world to head over to our fair town, sometimes one is forced to leave Durham. Tonight was one of those nights. Paperhand Puppet Intervention gave a spectacular performance at the Forest Theater on the UNC campus. Well, I’ll just let the 2-year-old tell you: “There were some scary ones and some nice ones. And there was a cow, a real cow, and I got to touch his horn but I didn’t because I didn’t want to. And the scary ones had three horns out of the tops of their heads. They picked up a biiiig shoe. They played music and we liked that. I was dancing. And there was a real cow [no, not really]. The ones that had hands [instead of heads] were the nice ones. There were gross ones [kissing] ewww. My favorite was the boxes! He died. And I saw an inch worm!”

And from the not-2-year-old: The puppets were gorgeous. The music and sound effects were amazing. For lack of dialogue, the message was loud & clear.

Something Nice

Waiting at a stoplight in Forest Hills today, I saw a man walk out of his business to the street, where the storm runoff was puddling up, and, while holding his tie to one side with one hand, dig the offending plug of grass out of the pavement with his other, bare hand. I wanted to yell out the window, “Yes! This is what Durham is about! We are not afraid to get our nails dirty to make our town better!”

No more truffulas…

…available at the corner of 54 and 751! Coming down Garrett Road today facing the Burger King, it’s a whole new landscape.

TMBG, Carolina Theatre, 10/26

The Carolina Theatre is so far disavowing any of this, but Durham is on the TMBG Summer ‘07 Tour.

Sky Data for Durham

You can find a lot of information about the sky as seen from Durham NC here. Look out for a spaceship overhead next week around 9pm.

Welcome to Durham…

… to all the incoming undergraduates! I saw you in the Target today and just had to say, even though you are trying to weas’ on my Einstein bagels, welcome!

Where were yard sales?

I was surprised there weren’t more yard sales in Durham today. It was a gorgeous day for it.

Curiosities

Always curious to see what the Anti-Mall is selling on ebay. I’d like to see more of their inventory online. Yeah, I know it’s about the experience, but with two small children who don’t like to shop, mebbe I just want to go straight to the cha ching.

Postcards from Durham

A friend sent this great find! My favorite is the Duke Gardens scene… it looks quite different from today.
NC Postcards, from Durham

How Many Homeschoolers in Durham

I fancied that I knew all the homeschoolers in Durham, or at least could do the “someone-who-knew-someone-I-knew.” Those degrees of separation are going to have to work hard, though, because I just read in a Durham Public Library news release (about new Sunday hours at the library) that there are 1,100 homeschooled kids in Durham. I’m surprised at the number!

We’re having fun at the Y M C A

The boy finally harassed us into joining the Y. First impressions: It is quite a mom-friendly place. The pool probably couldn’t get safer unless they took the water out… zero-grade entry, cushy bottom, lifeguards, max 4 feet in the kid side. Adirondack-style chairs for resting with a good book. Froggie slide if you are under 4 feet tall. My favorite find so far: two family changing rooms (one family per room, just to make that clear) with a hot shower, blow dryer, and little seats bolted to the wall with straps for keeping the girl safe and happy while I’m in the shower (do those come in home-grade?). We’ll try out the childcare next week. Buh-bye post-post-baby weight.

Kiddy events at Southpoint

Oh, this looks fun!

–reprint–

Introducing Lil’ Heels at Play

Beginning Thursday, August 23rd, we invite you to join us for our new kids club, Lil’ Heels at Play!

Come play with us on the fourth Thursday of each month from 10:30-11:15am in the Fork in the Road Cafés. Lil’ Heels at Play is open to children 2-8 and will include educational and interactive sing-alongs, puppet shows and much more!

Each month, the club will spotlight a kid-healthy theme such as nutritional foods, fun exercises, body basics and more. Songwriter and children’s entertainer Trish Miller will lead each club with original songs that offer kids a fun and engaging way to use their hands and minds.

How do I join?
It’s easy! You only need to register your child once and simply sign in at each club. To register, visit the Welcome Center.