Category Archives: Local Stores

by | June 5, 2012 · 12:30 PM

Triangle Mamas

by Laura

I’ve been lucky enough to have a pretty normal pregnancy and haven’t needed to make many modifications to my routine.  However, there are a number of area resources that have been particularly helpful in getting ready for baby.

I’ve started to go to prenatal yoga classes twice a week at Carrboro Yoga Company (just $10 per session for students).  Paula Huffman is fantastic (thanks for the recommendation, Lara!) and also leads classes and other related services out of her Hillsborough studio.  She’s a great general source of baby knowledge and I can’t wait to try a pregnancy massage from her recommended local expert, Claire Miller.

For water aerobics classes, there are a few decent alternatives – getting a pass for the UNC gym, which includes pool access ($40 for students per summer), trying out one of the local Chapel Hill pools ($5/class at locations like the community center on Estes Drive), or getting a membership at the Wellness Center at Meadowmont ($76/month with no contract obligation for students).  Personally, I wasn’t in love with the Wellness Center – it’s an excellent space for seniors or folks going through rehabilitative experiences,  but it’s not particularly adept at meeting the needs of other demographics.  Plus, their warm water therapy pool was a tad too hot for pregnancy comfort, which limited the classes available to me.  So, in this case, the cheaper options might actually be better!

We’ve also got a whole bunch of classes on the calendar at both UNC Hospital and the Teer House in Durham.  The Teer House has Infant/Child Safety & CPR, along with Baby Care and a host of other educational services.  UNC has a similar array of opportunities like Childbirth Preparation, Daddy Boot Camp, and Maternity Ward tours.  There, students and UNC employees get discounts for some of the more costly seminars.  I think it’s one of those things where there’s no way of truly being prepared for your exact situation, but at least you can gain some sense of what might be ahead.

When it comes to stocking up on baby gear, I’ve found that online retailers usually offer the best prices and selection, but I’ve heard that Once Upon a Child in Cary has a huge inventory of gently used items if you’re looking to save money.  Plus, you can sell your own stuff there when you’re done with it.

I also just booked a newborn photography session with Julie Livingston after seeing some of her pics online.  I had been searching for someone who would take more natural looking, non-studio baby pictures (in other words, with limited amounts of props, which are just not my style), and I like that you get digital copies of all of the images from the shoot.

There’s many more local resources for after the baby’s born, but all of this has helped us get started on this new adventure.  Now there’s just that tiny matter of actually going through labor & delivery!

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by | December 2, 2011 · 12:30 PM

About Town, Holiday Style

Noodle's first Christmas....already getting into trouble, circa 2007.

by Laura

It’s December!  Only 2 weeks until my work for the semester is complete and I get to rub my glorious winter break in all of your faces.  You sure did screw up by going the whole “real job” route.  I mean, is having a normal salary really worth it?  I will choose to think otherwise as I bask in the glory of extended vacation!

Meanwhile, around the Triangle, various festivities are underway.  Forget about Rock Center and the White House – it’s not Christmas until you visit Chapel Hill’s very own sparkly, shiny tree!  Plus, don’t forget to stop by the Carolina Inn to see their 12 Days of Christmas display.

For local shopping, this weekend the Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market is hosting their annual craft fair, and the Southern Village Market is doing the same.  On Saturday, Motorco Music Hall hosts a Downtown Market Holiday Block Party in Durham.

Plus, Southern Season will soon put their gourmet treats on sale in time to purchase gifts that say, “I think you really deserve some overpriced chocolate”.  We also recommend The Meat House if you’re looking for something to bring to a holiday party – their savory mango pecan cheesecakes make for an amazing spread.

And, although we might have to be surrounded by Carolina fans in our day-to-day, Duke just does majestic Christmas better.  Visit the Pitchforks in the Gothic Reading Room for some a capella style caroling, or catch Handel’s Messiah or one of the many other holiday concerts in Duke Chapel.   If you must stay on UNC’s campus, Morehead Planetarium offers seasonal concerts under the “stars” throughout the month.

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget that there are plenty of opportunities to make the holidays a little brighter for those who are down on their luck this season.  I like contributing to Adopt-a-Family efforts for Durham Social Services.  I remember how happy my students were when they received surprise gifts from “Santa”, and this is an easy way to spread some of that magic.

Happy almost holidays to all!

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by | July 15, 2011 · 4:57 PM

Twig

by Laura

Today I had the chance to use a gift certificate for Twig, a little shop next to Whole Foods with a similarly organic bent.  I’d heard that it was the perfect place to get birthday treats for crunchy friends, housewarming presents for couples who prefer all-natural bamboo kitchenware, and baby goods for parents who plan to steer clear of commercialized playthings.

While I tend to get a little eye-rolly around folks who treat packaged plastic as the absolute devil,  I do have to admit that all the toys in there were totally, adorably appealing.  Everything looked like a familiar piece of my own childhood, in the days before everything was made in a sweatshop.   Or as Tina Fey would say, the store was full of, “the kind of beautiful wooden educational toys that kids love (if there are absolutely no other toys around and they have never seen television).”

Thanks to some current sales, my $25 got me a shirt, gardening gloves, fancy notebooks and greeting cards. The shirt & gloves are for my sister who is doing an agricultural project with the Peace Corps in Ethiopia.  The notebooks are for me, because fancy paper & stationary are one of my most obsessive obsessions, and the cards are for a handful of friends who are getting married in the next few months.  So, as you can see, Twig is certainly all-purpose.

In fact, I have a feeling this is exactly the sort of place where I’ll be tempted to make a few purchases sans promotions in the future!  Not sure what this says about me, but it’s definitely not that I’m super trendy and hip.  Or young. Possible topics for my next post include my desire to buy a fanny pack, our adventures in carpet cleaning, and a run-down of the various types of old people living in our complex.

Hope that wherever your weekend takes you, it’s somewhere infinitely more exotic.  I’ll be sitting by the pool with my laptop, browsing the Web for “stylish” & “belt bag”, and shooting the breeze with my new friends, Frank & Myrna.

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by | April 17, 2011 · 5:35 PM

The Cows on the Farm Go Moo, Moo, Moo!

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by Laura

Although I sometimes bemoan the lack of NYC quality eats in NC, there is at least one advantage to living far away from a big city – being near farms!  Manhattan may have a few greenmarkets, but here in Chapel Hill, you can actually visit the places where your local produce is grown and meet the people who work there.  The annual Piedmont Farm Tour benefitted the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and included about 40 stops for $25 a carload.  Realistically, there’s no way to fit in more than 3-4 farms a day and we managed to get to just two – but it was still worth the donation.

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by | December 17, 2010 · 12:08 AM

Done.

It's the face that says, "I'm feeling rather happy, but also slightly delirious."

by Laura

It’s December, and even WordPress is sending fake snowfall across my screen in celebration of the season.  Real snow and ice have gathered outside the window as another rare Carolina storm takes hold.  Luckily, storms in the South only mean a slight dusting of powder and ice, barely enough to justify a purchase of new Uggs. Tonight I’ve finished my final assignment, giving me a day to breathe before I tackle the other tasks that were put off to write papers.  But, soon after, I’ll be the lucky recipient of three sacred weeks that are almost all about me.

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by | December 4, 2010 · 4:08 PM

Daily Triangle Holiday Gift Guide

Our sad Charlie Brown tree desperately needs an upgrade.

by Laura

Although I’m reluctant to admit that it’s December and finals time has arrived, getting into the holiday spirit is providing a welcome distraction. Here’s a few local places I’ll be hitting up to get ready for Chrismukkah:

  • If you’re looking to buy a tree, help support TROSA and the Triangle area residents that they’re helping overcome substance abuse.
  • Check out the new Tanger Outlets in Mebane for fantastic deals – and don’t forget to print out the latest coupons, so you can add to the discounts.
  • Southern Season is the go-to for gourmet North Carolina treats.  They have an annual holiday sale with serious gift-giving bargains.
  • Brightleaf Square has built up a nice concentration of unique gift shops, and Morgan Imports is right next door.  Their “Sustain-a-bull” campaign gets you 10% off Durham-produced trinkets.

Finally, since this is the season for giving, here’s a quick review of some charity options that you can access from the comfort of your computer chair:

Heifer International:

This aid organization enables families to become self-reliant and generate income through a gift of cows, sheep, llamas, or even an entire milk menagerie.

Tip:  Ask your family or friends to go in on one of the more expensive livestock to increase your impact.  If you don’t have any friends, the site will still allow you to purchase a share instead of the whole beast.

Nothing but Nets:

I love this UN-backed charity for proving that the best solutions can be simple. In countries with high rates of malaria, distributing $10 mosquito nets can help communities trying to prevent outbreaks.  Plus, Mandy Moore has inexplicably surfaced as their new spokesperson.  How can we ignore Mandy Moore?

Tip: Don’t ignore Ms. Moore.

TOMS:

They’re like slippers for hipsters – earth-friendly, comfy canvas slip-on shoes from a company that promises to match your purchase with a donation of footwear to a child in need.  The most effective way to help Third World countries?  Probably not. A clever marketing ploy?  Sure!  But, aside from all that feel-good nonsense, they’re just incredibly nice on the feet.

Tip: I am slightly annoyed that my green pair turned out to look a lot more like elf shoes than the kind of shoe befitting an incredibly sophisticated person such as myself.  I would go for a basic black unless one of the super funky special editions has a particular appeal.

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by | September 27, 2010 · 9:48 AM

It’s Friday Night…

by Laura

Last Friday, Harold and I went out on the town and made our first stop at Southern Season.  Every week they have some sort of tasting event between 5-8 p.m., and this time it featured hard ciders.  What we love about this set-up is that you can normally stroll in at any point during those three hours, squeezing in a few drinks before dinner. Plus, the staff takes the time to explain what you’re kicking back while still keeping the vibe casual.

The verdict? European ciders aren’t nearly as tasty as their much sweeter American counterparts, the accompanying Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is my new favorite cheese, there are glasses specifically designed to handle quick-fizzing drinks (that we got to keep!), and it’s not too shabby an evening when your company includes a former White House pastry chef.  Roland must have been there to teach a class and decided to stick around to enjoy the bounty.  This article will give you an idea of his capacity as an entertainer – we found out lots of fun facts, including Bill Clinton’s allergies & dietary restrictions.  No chocolate for Bubba!

Unfortunately, the combination of drinks with the Thai dinner we had next (Hurray! The new place in town is decent!!!)  made staying awake for the Chick Corea concert difficult.  Now I’m beginning to understand why the elderly can barely keep their eyes open, since I’m already struggling at 30.  Major props to the drummer who was touring with him, though – his beats kept us partially in the game!

Some other local favorites I’m looking forward to this fall – along with a few road-trips:

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I suppose I’ll keep going to school, too. ;)

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by | July 25, 2010 · 8:57 AM

Worst Pilates Instructor Ever, or “Why Being a Jerkface Never Pays”

by Laura

Long time fans of The Daily Triangle (and really, who isn’t a long time fan?) will remember my discovery of InsideOut Body Therapies in Durham last fall.  At the time, I was just happy to find a new pilates studio with classes affordable enough to preserve almost all of Noodle’s food budget.

Now that I’m taking classes in Bethesda, I have to give InsideOut some additional props and North Carolina love.  Namely, because their instructors universally avoid being the type of people who manage to both aggressive and passive aggressive in the same sentence.

At first, my classes in Bethesda were just fine, despite the fact that they promote “Power” Pilates.  I hate how type-A cities have to take calm, zen practices meant to focus on things like deep breathing and make them more intense.  Hence, the proliferation of hot yoga in New York, which is a great idea for those of you who find it more pleasant to twist into a pretzel in a room pumped up past 100 degrees.  But, I was tolerating this “powerful” version of pilates until I took a class with a man I can only describe as “bitchy instructor dude”.

Sorry, but I’m not paying you to snap at the poor woman next to me every five minutes for being a step behind, belittle her confusion, or curse when she’s struggling to set up her space.  Luckily I escaped this dude’s wrath by being a newbie, but yeesh – super uncomfortable, not to mention nervewracking.

And now that my rant is over, I can tell you that I can’t wait to go back to InsideOut once I return back to school – you don’t know how good you’ve got it ’til it’s gone! InsideOut has a cheerful staff, experienced instructors, beautiful equipment space, and just the right amount of challenge.  See, I do think North Carolina does some things better!

Side story: on my way back through Bethesda one night, I stopped by the Barnes & Noble and popped into the bathroom.  Parents of suburban teenagers, if your daughter tells you she’s going to hang out at the bookstore, she isn’t lying.  But, part B is that she’s going there to hide in the ladies room with her friends, one of whom will pierce her nose.

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by | July 20, 2010 · 9:53 AM

My Massage Therapist Used to be My Heroine

by Laura

Yesterday I finally used the Massage Envy gift certificate I got for Christmas (thanks, hubby!)  You know my life has become a bit crazy when I don’t have an hour to get a back rub, which I normally try to justify as a medical necessity.   Luckily, although I had originally intended to use my credit at the Massage Envy outpost in Durham, they also have a location down the street from Harold’s parents. 

I do have to say that they tried their best to customize and individualize the experience, and the massage was definitely decent.  Unfortunately, I hadn’t gotten one in quite some time, so I had already started fantasizing about Graceful Services, my favorite NYC spa bargain.  I can’t even really call it a spa, because it was more like a room divided into treatment areas with curtains, above a Chinese restaurant, up a broken set of stairs.  It wasn’t ultra-private – once, the guy next to me had a nervous breakdown and screamed out “I can’t take it anymore!”, which was quite the ambiance-killer.  I would never even have trusted it had my extremely discerning friend Patra scoped it out in advance.  A few months earlier, we had criticized the pampering that New Yorkers seemed to find necessary.  Now, we had soon realized that we had become exactly like those we had scorned.  Our jobs were killing us, so we deserved a monthly treat.

Patra promised that I would feel a million times better, probably even for a whole day.  And let me tell you, these ladies were magic.  My therapist, Nancy, once fixed my back in about five minutes after a nasty fall.  She also seemed genuinely concerned each time she’d inform me that my hip flexibility was on par with an 80-year old, and parts of my shoulder appeared to be fused together.  Nancy would start every treatment by actually walking on my back, and using her knees to get out the biggest kinks.  You can’t get better than that, people.

That being said, $50 per session at Massage Envy is certainly grad student friendly, and I may also be checking out a few other local options: like Chapel Hill Massage or Healing Waters Med Spa (although the latter option seems a little Botox focused).  Apparently, I could even take Noodle to Ooh La La Pet Spa, because if there’s anyone who deserves a break, it’s our spoiled poodle.

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by | April 19, 2010 · 8:00 AM

Durham, Manhattan-style

By Harold

A common New York-style weekend would include a park with live classical music and hamburgers from a celebrated semi-structure, Sunday brunch and a walk through the art gallery district.

In Manhattan, that meant the New York Philharmonic in Central Park, the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, your choice of hundreds of restaurants and a walk through Chelsea. I did my best impersonation of that in Durham this weekend, hitting up Pops in the Park with the Durham Symphony Orchestra at Trinity Park, the OnlyBurger van at Oval Park, brunch at Watts Grocery and then the Durham Art Walk. Continue reading →

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by | February 8, 2010 · 11:47 PM

A wine bar comes to Durham

By Harold

If there’s any last indication that wine bars are sweeping the nation, there’s now one in downtown Durham.

West End Wine Bar, which opened in Chapel Hill in 1997 (which says something about the demographics in Chapel Hill), just opened a second location in Durham’s Warehouse District. In a somewhat ironic change, the abandoned tobacco factory has given way to an even older vice, alcohol. It would be interesting if an old beer manufacturing plant in Milwaukee is replaced by a cigar bar in 100 years, though I somehow doubt it. Continue reading →

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by | January 16, 2010 · 3:30 PM

Destination: Durham

by Laura

Last night, I stumbled across an article that numerous friends had forwarded on just after we decided to move to Chapel Hill – the New York Times take on exploring the Triangle area in 36 hours or less.  Restaurants, shopping, lodging and culture are all covered, but tellingly, the only recommendations that we’ve followed are listed under the “southern breakfast” heading.  (For the record, the shrimp & grits at Crook’s Corner are indeed fantastic.  And, well – you all know how I feel about biscuits.)

Anyone need about 3,000 corks or a barrel of cardboard?

This morning, however, we decided/agreed to rummage through the goods at The Scrap Exchange, which the Times described as a, “bazaar of modestly priced former junk donated by Carolinians and scavenged from local businesses that include a hosiery mill, a zipper factory and a parachute plant”.  In other words, weird junk repurposed in the name of art projects and recycling. Continue reading →

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