Category Archives: Music & Events

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 | November 4, 2011 · 7:50 AM

Franklin Street Halloween

by Laura

One of the things that Harold most looks forward to each year is checking out the Halloween costumes on Franklin Street.  As it turns out, I have married someone who is hugely into parades and festivals and greatly misses attending all of the NYC events held on 5th Avenue (Israeli Day parade?  Go Israel!  German Day parade? What adorable dachshunds!  Puerto Rican Day parade?  Mi esposa es una cuarta parte de Puerto Rico!)  So, there was no way we were going to miss this year’s costume event even though it was cold and rainy, and it appeared that our usual parking lots had jacked up their prices to $20 a spot.

Instead, we forged ahead and scored a free parking spot after doing some maneuvering around security (which was kind of ridiculous – did we really need a SWAT team looking down on us and roads blocked at every corner?).   And – into the night we went, one “Miss Diagnosed” beauty queen and one pumpkin.  Harold has worn the same pumpkin costume almost every year since 2001.  It’s kind of his signature.  In fact, we discovered that being a pumpkin is so unoriginal and passe, that it’s almost cool again.

Other revelers included Rizzo the Rat (one of my favorite and most under appreciated Muppets), a very tipsy group of friends from Pooh’s Corner, The Lost Island Boys, The 1% (and the 1% milk), a couple of Katy Perry’s and Natalie Portman’s, groups dressed as Scrabble tiles spelling out words, lots of Mario Brothers…more or less the usual.

See below for a few snapshots from Halloween on Franklin Street – one of Carolina’s most characteristic traditions:

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by | November 1, 2011 · 11:55 AM

Food Truck Mania

by Laura

I just love how the food truck craze has exploded in the Triangle! Although Raleigh & Chapel Hill have been hesitant to fully embrace these culinary entrepreneurs on wheels, Durham and Carrboro have welcomed them with open arms – as evidenced by the 25 truck fiesta held this past Sunday.

Italian beef brisket and meatball subs...yum!

We wanted to try something new so Harold went for the Korean grub at Bulkogi and I tried the meatball sub at Valentino’s, which was excellent. But the real winner was the hot chocolate from the Parlour – Harold liked it so much he bought a second cup after drinking most of mine, which I had topped off with toffee sauce. And my Mom enjoyed her cider, which she adorned with a scoop of apple pie ice cream. Good work by the Parlour making their frozen treats a bit more fall friendly!

Check out their website & social media updates for listings of their latest flavor experiments and seasonal specialities!

Here’s the list of all the participants, and Carpe Durham’s live map of current food truck locations, along with their Twitter feeds.

Neopolitan cupcake from Honey of a Handcake Bakery.

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by | October 27, 2011 · 2:03 PM

Just When I Thought…

Dessert at Jean-Georges...and after we finished this, they brought us out homemade marshmallows, macarons, and chocolates.

by Laura

…I was over leaving NYC, our 2012 Zagat’s came in the mail.  Did you know you can get a free copy for being a reviewer?

Just to torture myself, I went through and checked off all the stupendously delicious places that we enjoyed during our seven years in NYC and on subsequent gut-busting visits:

Alta, Amy Ruth’s (insane chicken & waffles), Angelica’s Kitchen, Apizz, Aquivit, Artichoke Basille (strangely, there is also a branch in Chapel Hill), Artisanal (the fromagerie is killer), Atlantic Grill, Balthazar (check out their attached bakery for some yum donuts), Baluchi’s, Blockheads, Blossom, Blue Smoke, Blue Water Grill, The Boathouse, Bouchon Bakery, Brasserie (and 8 1/2), Brgr, Brother Jimmy’s (b-ball watching), Bryant Park Grill, Bubby’s, Buddakan, Burger Joint (hidden inside Le Parker Meridien), Cacio e Pepe, Cafeteria, Cafe Boulud, Cafe Centro, Cafe d’Alsace, Cafe Fiorello, Calle Ocho (love the coconut mojitos), CamaJe, Canaletto, Candle Cafe, Candle 79, Canyon Road, Capsouto Freres, Caravan of Dreams, Carmine’s, Casellula, Chef Ho’s, ChikaLicious (a prix fixe dessert experience), China Grill, The Chocolate Room, Cibo, Cilantro, Citrus, City Bakery (hot cocoa & cookies), Coffee Shop, Corner Bistro, Cuba (love the ropa vieja), Dafni, Dallas BBQ, David Burke’s at Bloomie’s, Dawat, Del Posto (can’t afford it now that they got rid of the taverna!), Di Fara (my pizza fav), Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Dock’s, Donavan’s (best Irish pub & burgers), Dos Caminos, E.A.T., Eataly, Eatery, EJ’s Luncheonette, Eleven Madison Park (probably one of the best meals I’ve ever had), El Rio Grande (home of many a post-work margarita), Five Points, Friend of a Farmer, Garbriela’s, Good Burger, Good Enough to Eat, Gray’s Papaya, Grimaldi’s, Hale & Hearty, HanGawi (so serene), Haru, Heartland Brewery, Hill Country, ‘Ino, ‘Inoteca, Jackson Diner (best Indian buffet in the world), Jackson Hole, Jane, Japonica, Jean Georges (lunch is an incredible deal), J.G. Melon, Joe’s Shanghai (soup dumpling king), John’s Pizzeria, Josie’s, Joya, Junior’s, Katz’s Deli, Kittichai, La Flor, La Giocanda, Land, Le Monde, Lemongrass Grill, Le Pain Quotidien, Lombardi’s, Lupa (pasta!), Mama Mexico, Mary Ann’s, Max Brenner, Maz Mezcal, Mercer Kitchen, Mexicana Mama, The Modern, Miss Mamie’s, Morimoto, Mughlai, Nick’s, Norma’s (fancy brunch on crack), Once Upon a Tart, One if by Land Two if By Sea, Orsay, Osteria Laguna, Otto, Oyster Bar, Pampano, Papaya King, Patsy’s Pizzeria, Pigalle, Pio Pio, Po (the original Batali spot), Poke, Pongsri Thai (if you’re in a rush pre-theatre), Popover Cafe, Pret, Quattro Gatti, Rare, Remi, Republic, Rice, River Cafe (pre-proposal!), Rosa Mexicana (Harold’s fav), Saigon Grill, Sala Thai, Sapori D’Ischia, Sarabeth’s, Scaletta, Sea, Serafina, Serendipity 3, Shake Shack, Sinigual, S’mac, Spice, Spice Market, Spicy & Tasty, Sripraphai, Stage Deli, Stanton Social, SushiSamba, Sushi Yasuda, Sylvia’s, Tamarind, Tea & Sympathy (in Little Britain), Tony’s Di Napoli, Trattoria Dell’Arte, Tribeca Grill, Turkish Grill (best spot in Sunnyside), Two Boots, Union Square Cafe, Vatan, Veniero’s, Viand (our spot for 1 a.m. breakfasts), The View, ‘Whichcraft (perfect for outdoor midtown lunch) Yerba Buena, York Grill, Yura, Zabar’s, Zebu Grill, & Zen Palate.

Ack!  There is nothing like NYC dining!  Upsettingly enough, some of my favorite spots aren’t even open anymore – goodbye, Tabla, Peyard, Son Cubano, Asia de Cuba, the Tea Box, & Jasmine’s…sniff, sniff….but thank you, Mumtaz, for reopening (phew!) …and thank you, Noodles 28, for your satisfying Chinese food (and being open on Christmas Eve), and Ottomanelli’s, for making a grilled chicken salad into something divine, and Jolie, for your croque madames, and La Paella, for your sangria and tapas, and Franchia for your tea and bibimbap, and Ess-a-bagel, for having, well, awesome bagels….

See?  This list doesn’t even begin to encompass all the goodness.  Lucky thing I’m visiting again in three weeks. =)

And, all is not lost in the world of Triangle foodies.  This Sunday there’s a food truck rodeo in Durham that’s supposed to feature about 25 or so trucks gathering in our local version of Central Park!

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by | October 24, 2011 · 9:38 AM

State Fair Plan

Kick things off with an apple cider “freezie” and a free hushpuppy or two.

Admire the work of the local gourd association.

Do a couple of laps around the midway in anticipation of eating some more crazy good/crazy bad food.

Be sure not to miss the pig races.

Go on a few scarily squeaky rides.

Check out the animal exhibits and some folks who are very serious about goats.

Grab an apple fritter on the way out – probably one of the healthiest fried options at the fair, due to the presence of actual fruit.  Dream of that fritter all year long, until fair time rolls around again.

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by | September 29, 2011 · 9:32 AM

About Town (Almost Fall Edition)

  •  Tracked down the Chirba Chirba truck.  So happy that people in the South know what soup dumplings are now!  This is major progress.  Also glad to see them hanging ’round these parts at the Carrboro Music Festival.  Got to love a full day of free music and outdoor strolling.  Harold’s local band recs to follow.
  • Also tried KoKyu at long last.  The duck fat tater tots were fairly delicious as promised, although I’m guessing not so much the healthiest (unless frying things in duck fat is the new “good cholesterol” treat for foodies).  It’s hard to describe what they sell (short rib quesadilla with sesame sauce or a sweet potato tako, anyone?) but I did find their food to be unique and flavorful, if not 100% swoon worthy.
  • Hope Boykin is one of my favorite performers of all time – just so darn joyful!  I was really happy to see her up close and personal during a pre-performance talk about her newly choreographed piece for Phildanco.  If you are a UNC student who doesn’t take advantage of the $10 tix to some pretty impressive events, you qualify as a cultural failure and we will subsequently shame you.
  • Behind the scenes tour of the Nasher Museum reveals that….they store a lot of paintings and such in their basement.  Also, it is hysterically funny to see tour guides contend with bold elderly people (Oh!  No!  We don’t touch the art!!!).  Related: Has anyone gone to one of their Thursday night Scrabble events?  Fun times, nerdily speaking?
  • There are only 2 weeks until the State Fair!  And we will see prize winning gourds and goats, and become horrified by fried things and exhilarated by pig races.  And I will ride on only the safest looking attractions.  (Emily, do you remember that ride we went on where you were slipping from under the safety bar and NO ONE would listen to our screams?  Thanks, unconcerned parents and dumb 15 year old operating a death trap.)
  • This Friday, Duke hosts one of their midnight musical movie sing alongs to Grease.  Harold doesn’t know that he’s going to this yet, but I’m sure he’ll be excited.
  • Upcoming local travel for the next few months includes OBX & Asheville.  Whoot!

Happy fall, y’all!

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by | September 5, 2011 · 1:57 PM

About Town

Goodbye, pool time - hello, fall festivals! (Pic circa 2009)

by Laura

A few random ramblings about Triangle happenings:

  1. Cat’s Cradle celebrated their recent renovations with a free concert by The Old Ceremony & the Tomahawks last week.  Now, I appreciate that there’s more open space for folks to rock out, but when you get to be almost 31 years old, seeing nearly all of their seating (uncomfortable as it was) disappear is a little heartbreaking.  Seriously, sometimes it’s fun to stand up & dance, and sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy a drink in the background.  So, I am not quite understanding how this new space is better for tired oldies like me. I guess it wouldn’t be the Cradle if there were sleek barstools and couches without holes, though.  Upside – I did think that the music that night was decent!
  2. I want, want, want to be part of a Chirba Chirba dumpling raid.  Will have to track down their truck and try them for lunch one day!  Perfect-sounding menu that fills a gap within the local mobile food options.  And they even have soup dumplings.  Win!  Check out their Twitter feed for event locations.
  3. Hoping a few food trucks show up at the (free) Bull Durham Blue Festival this Saturday.
  4. Longing to re-live the ’90′s?  Better than Ezra returns to the City of Oaks later this month, with local favorites the Gravy Boys as part of their opening act.  We do heart the Gravy Boys and their Americana schtick.  This is all part of a $5 concert series that features Rusted Root in October.
  5. Intrigued by The Firm, a new jazz club that just opened in Durham.  Don’t be put off by the private membership thing – it only costs $1, and it’s only due to some weird law regulating places that sell mixed drinks and aren’t part of a restaurant.  For free jazz, we recommend going over to the Mary Lou Williams Center on Duke’s West Campus.  Music starts at 9:30 p.m. almost every Wednesday night; light apps & desserts are provided, and additional food/drinks are available for purchase.
As you can see, we’re rolling right along into fall and the start of the semester.  Off to grill and soak up a few last bits of heat and sunshine!

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by | August 22, 2011 · 7:00 PM

Fall Fest

by Laura

Many of you know that Harold desperately longs to be in college again.  This means that attending Fall Fest is always on our calendar, despite being mostly designed to get (actual) new students to sign up for various clubs and activities.  Unfortunately for him, the Fest always turns me into a bit of a Debbie Downer.  Pushing through crowds of over-excited freshmen?  Too tired, too old to do that anymore.  Grubbing for food samples?  I don’t really need to eat a corn dog.  However, as it turns out, there were still a few valuable lessons to be learned by attending:

1.  Hushpuppies are the best thing the South ever created.  (Sorry, biscuits.)

2.  Yet, when the BBQ guy and your husband greet each other like old friends, it might be time for a dietary intervention.

3.  Harold will do absolutely anything for free food, including sending us out in a major lightning storm.  I assure you that he would have no regrets if we both ended up getting struck down from the heavens.

4.  Speaking of heaven…when passing through the section with all the religious groups aggressively recruiting members, remember to walk briskly with eyes towards the ground whenever possible.  Although those Young Life kids are just so darn enthusiastic!

5.  There are only three possible topics of conversation:

  • “Hiiiiiii!!!!!! How was your summer??????”
  • ” You look so cute!!!!!  Where are we going later?????????” (As a side note – parents, don’t ever frequent a place called Players if you want to believe that your daughter still maintains her dignity)
  •  ”I lost my group for the 15th time.  Please befriend me.”

6.  There are some things I really like about UNC, including the fact that most of their undergraduates seem like real, laid-back, fun-loving kids.  There’s no pretension or snobbery – just a sea of light blue pride and spirit.  Sadly, I must give them credit for this despite our prior affiliations!

According to Harold’s assessment of the event, we should not dwell on the fact that we missed out on Jimmy John’s and Krispy Kreme samples.  Instead, we should celebrate the Alpine Bagels, Sitar Indian, Med Deli, Cosmic, Q Shack, sushi, and Papa John’s that we got to enjoy in various weird combinations that gave us both terrible stomachaches.  Always looking on the bright side, that one!  And who am I to stand between a man and his free pizza?

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by | June 25, 2011 · 4:13 PM

If the New York Times Says So…

Marinated beef tenderloin tips from The Meat House in Chapel Hill - delish on the grill!

by Laura

Although we are happily entrenched in the Triangle, there are certain things we miss that remain unique to NYC.  Durham’s gourmet ice cream truck suddenly seems less exciting when your copy of New York magazine (which we still subscribe to, because apparently we like feeling nostalgic and sad) includes a pictorial spread of no less than a dozen delicious sounding ice cream trucks and stores, and you know that they’ve had to narrow it to just that dozen that are especially unique and spectacular, but there are probably many more.  So, NYC is still the place where the streets are paved with gold and ginger-infused hibiscus gelato.

However, in recent years, The City’s most venerable news institution (the Times, which, yes, we also still subscribe to, because, duh, it’s the best paper in the world), has taken quite a shine to this part of North Carolina.  There have been articles highlighting weekend itineraries, farming, hipsters, local food, Jewish delis, and its status as a top global destination.  And, every single one basically says the same thing, which is something like, “Wow, when I first visited this place ten years ago it was kind of…not so developed.  And now there are fancy sandwiches and artisan beer!”  This is really a nice way of saying some of the less sparkling parts of Durham have since been adopted by people with a fondness for farmer’s markets and ironic glasses.  Which is still a nice way of saying, “Wow, this place had a certain gritty charm that gentrification has been able to capitalize on.”  Which is still a nice way of – well, let’s stop here and admit that we think that this is mostly a good thing.  After all, we certainly wouldn’t have wanted to return to the Triangle and discover that it had gone into decline.

The latest Times article was written by someone with a similar history with Durham, who pointed out a few great culinary attractions that we’ve been meaning to try.  Here’s some suggestions for places to check out that have been generating a good amount of buzz:

  • Scratch: A new bakery focused on local ingredients. Nom, nom, nom.
  • Toast: Want the ricotta & honey crostini right now.  The only problem is that they close after lunch Saturday night and don’t open again until Monday, which limits our ability to go over the weekend.
  • KoKyu BBQ Truck:  The pork “takos” sound fairly delectable.  I’ve also heard raves about the tater tots.  Although you can follow them on Twitter to find their location, they are outside Motorco Music Hall in Durham most Sundays.
  • Reliable Cheese Company:  Yep.  It’s official.  Gentrification is here in full force.  From a former staff at Murray’s, a beloved NYC institution!
  • The Meat House – A new Chapel Hill butcher shop that provides a pipeline to local farms.  We tried out their marinated steak tips on the grill today.  See the results in the photo above!
  • Streets Deli – This place opened up within the new retail development on East 54 – and some investigation on Facebook reveals that after a bunch of cranky old ladies complained that the rye bread wasn’t authentic enough, they decided to import it from New York – of course!
  • Drag Bingo:  And, for something non-food oriented – this monthly event has actually been going on for quite a while, held as a major fundraiser for the local Alliance of AIDS Services.  The concept is pretty simple – bingo games and prizes interspersed with performances.  It’s seemed like a good time ever since I saw some pics from a documentary project.  I’m pretty disappointed that we just missed their Gaga-themed night.
Harold wanted to add a bunch of mediocre-looking buffet restaurants that have been catching his eye, driven by the same misguided desires that have, at several points in his shameful past, led him to 35 Chinese.  That place should be called, “It’ll be about 35 minutes after you finish eating until you really start feeling horribly sick.” However, those establishments remain firmly on my do-not-go list so he’s been thwarted…for now.  I hope.

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by | May 27, 2011 · 6:21 PM

Three Days in the Triangle

by Laura

We’ve been lucky enough to have a bunch of visitors come down to enjoy the Triangle with us over the past couple of years.  When we’ve got just a weekend to take them around, here’s what we hit up:

In Durham:

Stop by Duke University’s campus to sneak a peek into Cameron Indoor Stadium and showcase its old-school field house appeal.  Visit the adjacent Hall of Fame museum and point out the K-ville lawn, where we used to camp out for entry to the Duke-Carolina game.  Stroll through the main residential quads to get to the Chapel, which is worth a quick lap around the stained glass windows, and then continue on to the library & the Gothic Reading Room (Fun fact – that’s where Katie Holmes “attended class” on Dawson’s Creek). If you have some extra time, make a pit stop at the Bryan Center Plaza to treat yourself to a Locopop as you rock on one of the porch swings lining the walkway, or duck into the campus store to buy yourself some gear. Stroll down towards Duke Gardens, which includes beautiful terraced blooms, a Japanese tearoom, and some friendly ducks by the pond.  The Nasher Museum of Art is also architecturally impressive.

For college-student style eats, head to 9th Street for some classic Cosmic burritos, spicy Chubby’s tacos, Jimmy John’s subs, Blue Corn quesadillas, International Delights gyros (although the cheese steak is actually Harold’s favorite), or Francesca’s tiramisu.  A bit further down the road, Magnolia Grill makes for finer dining.

Downtown, the American Tobacco Campus sports innovative post-factory design, outdoor music & movie events, impressive water features, and a handful of restaurants.  Tyler’s Taproom is the perfect place to grab a drink before heading to a Durham Bulls game, and their apps are pretty killer.

For brunch, we like Rue Cler, Guglhopf Bakery, Watts Grocery, or Foster’s Market.  The Q Shack is a safe bet for quick, tasty BBQ and hushpuppies.

In Chapel Hill:

After we force our guests to grab breakfast at Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen, we’ll probably make them stuff some more Southern grub down their throats at Mama Dip’s – and order the pecan pie.  The drive out to Maple View Farm provides views of the countryside and homemade ice cream, and for BBQ in this neck of the woods, Allen & Son is king.  For gourmet foodies, Southern Season is the place to get souvenirs like Tarheel-shaped cookies.

Franklin Street is adjacent to UNC’s campus and also has a few good dining spots.  Top of the Hill is the classic place to get a microbrew or eat overlooking the local scene below.  Lantern is our upscale favorite (but if you can’t get a reservation, Jujube is on East 54, but decent – and cheaper), while Mediterranean Deli is a welcome break from fried greasy grub (Fun fact #2 – they sponsor Harold’s soccer team, Baklava).  Nearby Carrboro is a little funkier (check out the farmer’s market), and there might even be someone you’ve heard of playing at Cat’s Cradle.

At the Carolina Inn, Fridays on the Front Porch is a good happy hour option after a stroll through campus to see the Old Well, Davie Poplar, Wilson Library, the Pit, and the Belltower.  We suppose there’s another basketball museum somewhere in the vicinity, but we haven’t yet mustered up the strength to go inside. Memorial Hall has an outstanding rotation of cultural performances and well-known acts.

In Raleigh:

Speaking of The Pit – on this side of town, that means more delicious BBQ in a slightly refined setting. There’s no way we’d allow fall visitors to miss the State Fair, but the North Carolina Museum of Art and Museum Park might be a good off-season road trip.  Moore Square hosts a series of concerts and festivals, and Caffe Luna is right on the corner if you’re looking for pleasant Italian food.

Just off the beaten path, Jordan Lake is the easiest place to enjoy nature, with trails, boating, camping, and sandy shores.  Closer spots include the North Carolina Botanical Gardens.

Still not convinced?  Well – there’s also us, which we’d like to think of as the biggest attraction of all ;)  Either that, or the pulled pork, biscuits, sweet tea and pie.

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by | May 10, 2011 · 3:06 PM

This Summer

Q-Shack for Harold's birthday lunch.

by Laura

This summer will have a bit of research and transcriptions and data and meetings and teaching and planning and proposals and manuscripts and grad student grunt work.

But!  But!  This summer will also have beaches and hiking…and road trips and celebrations…and my husband and friends…and travel to places both new & beloved…and pilates and yoga and dancing…and writing and blogging…and photographing and cooking…and BBQ and outdoor movies and twangy music.

Sweet potato tots - best idea ever!

It will have all the satisfaction of cleaning out that closet and hanging up some curtains and cataloging a semester of paper and finally organizing those pics. It guarantees lots of pool time and grilling and sleeping in and tank tops and just-for-fun books and neighborhood walks with the pooch. This summer will require stocking up on sunscreen. (Yippee!)

It will be blissfully lacking in hair dryers and closed-toe shoes and fussiness.  Any heat or stickiness or responsibility or reality will be no match for the good, full life ahead.

This summer will be a lucky gift.

On the agenda:  Learning to make Indian food; hoping that Lan finds a new place for her Chinese cooking class, figuring out how to use my digital camera, tasting wine at Fridays Uncorked (or grabbing drinks with a side of music at Fridays on the Front Porch), sitting in the sand in Wrightsville, renewing my pass at InsideOut, taking hip-hop at 9th Street Dance (and wishing my dear friend J was in NC to do this with me again!), checking out the Eno River trails, baking bread, making the pilgrimage to Allen & Son, stopping by Maple View to pick up some Carolina Crunch, finding time for a museum visit & some pie, hanging out on the lawn at the American Tobacco Campus, and tracking down food trucks.

Day trips: More beach time, Hanging Rock, the Whitewater Center.

Weekend trips: The usual suspects – DC, Philly, NYC.

Lengthier jaunts:  Hot Springs, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, and back. Seattle & Portland.  Where else? Where to?  =)

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by | April 7, 2011 · 3:20 PM

Spring Days Are For…

…lying down in the grass outside of Wilson Library and pretending that I don’t have anything better to do than bask here in the warm, bright weather.

Spring is also for sneezy faces and puffed-up pollen eyes and our blue car turning yellow, and the inchworms that live on the trees above the parking lot falling on the Honda’s roof and then into my lap through the windows just as I open them and begin driving and then try to decide what would be more horrible – getting into an accident as I twist and turn and flick them away or having to continue on with a lap full of squiggly green things.

Perhaps I’ll just concentrate on enjoying the sun!

However, if you should care to venture inside and get out of the yellow, Harold recommends the almost-weekly events at Wilson that involve some sort of educational lecture, but most importantly, yummy pre-talk reception eclairs and punch.  Today, the Lorelais will also perform some a capella.  Delightful!

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