We Love Durham NC

Hearts for Major

On a whim, based on a Seth Godin alert, I commissioned the Will Draw Anything guy to draw this a few months back. It came in today; I think he did a really great job! Awwww.

CenterFest for Kids

CenterFest returns this fall with lots of new activities for the little ones.

The 35 year old street festival will be held the weekend of September 20-21 near the Downtown Durham YMCA. Kids’ activities led by the Durham Arts Council include Paint Like Picasso, Magical Music, and Jazzy Jewelry Kids. James Lim, of Immense Events and CenterFest Event Coordinator, confirms that these activities are free for festival visitors.

Other activities, such as Paint Savvy face painting, train rides, and a moon bounce, have a small fee.

Performers your kids won’t want to miss:
Bull City Gymnastics
Bouncing Bulldogs
Sandbox
Encore Dance
Barriskill Dance

Several local nonprofit groups will have exhibits, including the Girl Scouts, the Fire Department, Durham’s Partnership for Children, churches, and political parties. Most of these will have stickers, magnets, and other giveaways in addition to information on programs for kids.

A $4 donation per person is suggested at the gate.

Remembering from last year, if the weather is warm, it gets hot on the asphalt and there’s little shade and seating. Bring a water bottle and strollers for the little ones, too.

Children’s Theater in Downtown Durham

Starting Friday, August 22nd, through September 14th, Find the Light Community Theatre in Downtown Durham will present Marmalade Gumdrops by Carol Lauck for ages “5 to 15 and parents of all ages.”

Shows are Fridays at 6:30pm, Saturdays 2:30pm, and Sundays 2:30pm. Tickets are $7.

Location: 124 W. Parrish Street, around the corner from the Bull.

Marmalade Gumdrops is about an imaginative 10 year old boy in his room. Characters include the boy, his bed, a chair, a bookcase, and a “not too bright” floor lamp.

See the Marmalade Gumdrops flyer here.

The director is Gennaro D’Onofrio. Yes, you’ve heard that last name before if you’re a Law & Order fan. Yes, that’s his dad.

Daisy Cakes Cupcakes Day Two

I asked Ms. Daisy Cakes what time the pop’t arts sold out. She said last Saturday they sold out at 10:30. For today, they had made a double-batch, and they sold out at 10:30. So next week, perhaps a triple batch. Or perhaps we’ll roll ourselves out of bed a little earlier.

I did try a little sample of the pop’t art trimmings (no filling). It tasted like a crispy butter cookie. Yeah, next week earlier for sure.

We’ve tasted all the cupcakes now except the banana. The best is the Pink Lemonade.

A friend had the special of the day (pictured below), a cupcake with maple/brown sugar crumble topping.

Two other additions this week: a pop-up tent for shade and a seating area (2 tables with chairs). People were grabbing all other shady areas to be found, on the stairs near Central Park School, beside nearby buildings, and on the Old North Durham playground.

New Durham Central Market

Here’s your chance to become a founding member of Durham’s new cooperative grocery store. All the cool kids are doing it.

Bellylicious

That was the title of the album used in today’s Belly Dance class at the Y. To the question: What do you wear to belly dance class? The answer is: anything really, probably a long loose skirt and tank top works best. They give you a “coin” scarf belt to wear during class so when you shimmy you can hear it jangle.

New at Locopops

The downtown Durham location of Locopops has reopened as of this week. There is only one size now, medium, and it is $2. I have a chocolate Earl Grey waiting for me in my freezer.

We visited Major the bull and saw some city workers setting up for Earth Day tomorrow.

Downtown Dinos

The “Parents Night Out” feature at the downtown YMCA is changing formats. It will no longer be merely babysitting, but rather a theme-based program. The cost will increase from $7 to $12 per child, and I believe the hours are expanding–they will be 5:30 to 8:45pm. The next theme is Dinos, and will be held on April 11th. Open to Y member children from 3 months to 10 years of age, preregistration required (cannot register the day of the program). Rawr!

Grab your wii-mote!

Starting at the end of the month: Wii tournaments at Bull McCabe’s. No prisoners!

Notes from the Inaugural Walkabout

We parked at the bottom of the hill and walked/scootered to the center of downtown. The goal was to have a little walk, absorb a little Durham, and grab a Locopop. The walk up was not bad. There are a lot of driveways to have to stop and wait for everyone to catch up. Saw one of the Zombie Lurch cars. The planned bathroom stop at the Marriott wasn’t comfortable–I don’t think the bathrooms are actually public, and dragging kids in beside a bar full of people networking during a conference not such a good idea. The fountain outside was off. Locopops was closed (in that location only; Hillsborough is open) for the winter. Okay, so far, so not good. Quick save by stepping over to Blue Coffee Cafe to try some of their 24-flavors of soft serve. Blueberry and blackberry, getting better. Blue Coffee is the little living room of the downtown–comfy couches, reading material, toys. After a short break to dig through the toy box and then a quick hug to Major outside, we zoomed back down the hill to play on the turtle at Central Park and then back to the car. Took about an hour, learned a lot for next time.

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.

Friendly Downtown

Standing in the CCB Plaza today eating my horchata locopop, a van slowed to a stop and the driver said something out the window. I figured she was asking for directions, but she instead wanted to tell me that if I was walking around and wanted something fun for the kids, that there is a turtle in Central Park. Durham folks are so friendly!

Durham Rising

We made it out to the Durham Rising celebration. Saw the red tarp come off the bull and snapped a pic of the kids with that bull (nameless yet?) and Wool E. Bull. Ate Locopops (mojito, chocolate, and chocolate, respectively)–like new tagline “Think Global Act Loco.” Sandbox was cute. Whacked a puck at the Hurricane’s setup and scored some cool posters. Scrap Exchange closed shop before could finish, but we threw together a “hat” for the girl to put on marching in the people’s processional. We were behind a fantabulous improvisational marching band called the Scene of the Crime Rovers. Saw family, friends. Met the Durham Skywriter who is really nice! The kid stuff got picked up around 8 so we headed out before seeing the light show.

Everyone we met was so happy and friendly. I think everyone was sharing the buzz of this great thing Durham’s done.

Brightleaf Music

Last night we saw Will McFarlane and band at Brightleaf Square. That guy does a dead-on Eric Clapton cover.
The kids enjoyed running around the brickyard, eating sweets at Amelia’s, and peering in at the vintage goodies in Dolly’s. I noticed that some people brought folding chairs, and that was a good idea.

Water Callers

Just saw that Water Callers will be playing at the Durham Rising party in Downtown Durham this Saturday. We’ll go to hear the Durhamite song, if nothing else! (There’s plenty else.)