Category Archives: Durham

2013 Durham Mardi Gras Celebration February 9th & 12th!

Durham Mardi Gras

Poster Art by Jamie B. Wolcott

Looking to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Triangle this year? Then check out some of the great local costume making and music events going on in Durham starting this Saturday followed by even more revelry with a local Mardi Gras Parade (with a second line band and all) on “Fat Tuesday” February 12th.

The fun kicks off this weekend on Saturday at Motorco with live music and costume making (materials provided by The Scrap Exchange). Then the good times continue on Fat Tuesday with a local parade and more music. On Tuesday musicians, dancers, and the public meet will meet at the CCB Plaza (the one with the big bull statue) in downtown Durham around 6:30pm. The group will then parade on down to Rigsbee Avenue near Motorco & Fullsteam at about 7pm where you can enjoy another great night of live music and dancing. Full details of the bands scheduled to perform are provided below. I’ll be joining the good times playing my trombone and the fabulous Bulltown Strutters. Hope to see you there! Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Saturday February 9th
(All events in Motorco Garage)

Kidz, Bands,Costumes

4 –6pm  kids & adults – Mardi Gras costume making party (material supplied free by the Scrap Exchange)
Music
4:00 Blue Tailed Skinks
5:00 Lester Fricks

Mardi Gras Extravaganza
8-10pm Adult Mardi Gras costume making party (material supplied free by the Scrap Exchange)
Music
8:00 Beauty Operators
9:00 The Bulltown Strutters
10:00 Tom Merrigan
11: 00 SWAG

Fat Tuesday February 12th

Durham Mardi Gras Parade:
6:30 Meet at the bull, CCB plaza, downtown Durham
7:00 Parade to Motorco

Motorco Main Stage:
7:45 Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos
9:15 The Bulltown Strutters
10:30 Atiba Rorie and Africa Unplugged

Motorco Garage Stage:
8:45 Rhonda Robichaux
10:00 Phatlynx

Fullsteam:
8:30 Haw River Rounders
10:15 The George Tisdale Band

For a glimpse at some photos taken during last year’s Durham Mardi Gras Parade visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolepphoto/sets/72157629076073508/

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Filed under Durham, Events, Music

Rise in Durham – A Donut & Biscuit Lover’s Paradise!

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Rise

For the past few months now I’ve been eagerly following the progress of a new donut and biscuit shop that just recently opened in Durham. It is called “Rise” and is located in the Renaissance Village shopping center just behind Southpoint Mall. The guys behind Rise are the masterminds who introduced the Triangle to the insanely popular OnlyBurger food truck, so expectations have been high. Rise has only been open a few weeks now, but already seems to be off to a great start and regulalryl draws large crowds each morning. I stopped by during their first week open and immediately realized that I was not the only one eagerly awaiting their arrival!

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The menu & ordering at the counter

Rise features a host of both donut and biscuit options that changes almost daily. You can keep up with the daily menu by following their facebook page where they post a picture of the menu each morning. The biscuit sandwich menu the day I visited included old favorites like a biscuit with eggs, bacon, and locally made peanut butter and jellies. I noted they get their peanut butter from Big Spoon Roasters peanut butter (out of Durham) which is a favorite of mine. They also had some more involved biscuits with things like southern chicken salad, country ham, creamy mac & cheese, and pork chop.

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Bacon Biscuit

I opted for one of their more basic biscuits that simply had two nice crispy bacon strips. I also made a quick decision and bought a raspberry jelly donut and a big apple fritter. The biscuit was nice and buttery and just flaky enough without being to hard or too soft and doughy. I was thrilled to see the bacon was nice and cooked as I prefer my bacon to be on the well done side. I enjoyed my biscuit with a nice cup of locally roasted coffee. I was happy to see that Rise is using coffee from locally owned Bean Traders Coffee which operates just down the road from their location.

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Saturday morning crowd

Of course, I couldn’t make a trip to Rise and leave without first trying a few of their awesome looking donuts. Like their biscuits the donut menu is constantly changing so they post an update each day on their facebook page. I am a little old school when it comes to donuts. I grew up eating my way through the offerings at dunkin donuts and kripsy kreme. I’ve also been to gourmet shops like Vodoo donut out in Portland so I’ve had my share of creaive donuts. I tend to shy away from donuts that are just glammed up with sugary toppings like cocoa puffs or fruit loops abd instead gravitate towards the basics like an old fashioned plain and jelly donuts. I am also a sucker for anything with apple or cinnamon so I opted for Rise’s raspberry filled donut and their honey crisp apple fritter.

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Raspberry Jelly Donut

I found the raspberry jelly doughnut to be extremely fresh and tastys. It perhaps could have done with a little less powdered sugar on top but it was easy enough to brush off. The raspberry jelly filling was spot on. I’m not sure if they make the jelly in house or get it locally made, but it tasted great. I also like that the donut wasn’t over stuffed with jelly which can sometimes overpower the flavor of the dough in a lesser donut. It had just the right amount of filling making it enjoyable but not messy.

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Honey Crisp Apple Fritter

I was won over by the Honey Crisp Apple Fritter as well. I enjoyed the light sugary honey glaze and how I discovered actual chunks of real apples as I pulled  apart the fritter.  Like the jelly donut the fact that it was soft and fresh made the fritter stand out among others I have had elsewhere in the past. I look forward to getting back to Rise soon to try some of their other donut offerings. I would very much like to try their maple bacon bar and chocoloate cake donuts! I read that they have also slowly begun to introduce some gluten free or “nearly” gluten free donut options. Check out their facebook page for more information as their menu evolves.

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Take a number!

The crowd at Rise can grow pretty large fairly quickly in the morning rush so I think it is wise that they have employed a “take a number” system. When you first enter you grab a number and wait to be called on to place your order. When I was there the ticket dispenser was up by the counter and donut display case but I hear they have moved it next to the front door so you see it right away and know what to do as you first enter. Either way, they tend to have a lot of people working the kitchen and the counter so even with a crowd things moved along fairly quickly on my visit.

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Seating options

The interior is not too big and given the large crowds they regularly draw it isn’t they type of place I would plan on sitting down inside to eat. There is some limited seating along one of the walls inside and several tables outside that can be enjoyed during warmer months. In general it is more of a pick up and go type operation but perhaps the crowds will slim down in the coming months making it possible to sit down and relax inside to eat in the future.

For more information about Rise and to keep updated on their daily menu I suggest you follow them on facebook. Rise is definitely a place worth checking out. If you have been there already please let me know what you think and of course I am open to suggestions about what donut to get from them next!

Rise
8200 Renaissance Parkway Suite 1003, Durham, NC (Map)
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/risebiscuitsdonuts
Twitter: @risedurham

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Fullsteam Brewery Launches New Year-Round Beer: Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale

Page Skelton (left) and Sean Lilly Wilson (right)

Page Skelton of Cackalacky (left) and Sean Lilly Wilson of Fullsteam (right) –
Photo courtesy of Susan Dosier

One of the main goals of this blog is to get the word out and help support local businesses here in the Triangle. I also love to share news about local businesses working together. Especially when they are working together to create a new beer!

Fullsteam Brewery is one of my favorite breweries in the Triangle. Their dedication to quality craft brewing and commitment to community has had a huge impact on the revitalization of the Rigsbee Avenue area of Durham over the past two years. I  was only recently introduced to Cackalacky, but upon first trying the locally made sweet potato based  spice sauce at the TerraVITA Food & Wine event back in November I became a fan instantly.  So I am happy to share the news about the collaboration of these two great local operations to introduce a new beer for us all to enjoy!

Fullsteam Brewery and Cackalacky invite the public to attend the Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale Launch Party on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 3 to 5 pm at Fullsteam Brewery. See the official press release below for additional details.

Press Release – January 3, 2013

When Fullsteam’s new Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale (GPA) splashes into the NC beer scene later this month, Sean Lilly Wilson and collaborator Page Skelton are determined to pour up some fun.

It’s a beer to drink with friends, made by friends. Skelton and Wilson met each other through the Southeast Microbrewers Association more than ten years ago. The organization is now defunct, but the passion for beer and entrepreneurial bravado still burns brightly in both parties. This January, the Triangle will have the first chance to taste the lively new pale ale, spiked with ginger rather than spice sauce.

“This is a wonderful pale ale,” explains Skelton, the founder of Chapel Hill’s Cackalacky, Inc, known for it’s zesty sauce. “It’s nicely hopped—but not too hoppy. The beer has pluck and is incredibly drinkable. Our collaboration is about much more than the name. We brainstormed ideas for almost two years. We can’t wait to launch this great brew at Fullsteam and see where it goes.”

“Many of our beers have embraced our ‘plow to pint’ Southern agricultural mission,” Fullsteam’s Wilson explains. “The Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale is more light-hearted. We think it’ll bring North Carolinians together no matter where you went to school or which political party you support.”

WHEN CAN YOU DRINK IT? WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT?

Fullsteam is currently brewing its first commercial batch of Cacklacky and plans to offer the beer in cans sometime this year. Fullsteam Brewery and Cackalacky invite the public to attend the Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale Launch Party on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 3 to 5 pm at Fullsteam Brewery. The launch is perfectly timed on National Kazoo Day Eve. Kazoo playing skills are not required for admission but you may be required to play one in order to leave. Fullsteam will donate half of all profits made from Cackalakcy Ginger Pale Ales sold that afternoon to Funds To Farms.

The first batch of Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale is fermenting away under the watchful eye of Fullsteam’s head brewer, Chris Davis. Visitors can see the brewing in action at Fullsteam Brewery, 726 Rigsbee Avenue in the D.I.Y. District in Durham. Beginning Jan. 27, the beer will be available only on draft at the brewery, but look for expansion later in the year through distribution channels in the Triangle, Charlotte, Washington D.C., and and Charleston, S.C.

ABOUT CACKALACKY AND FULLSTEAM

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Cackalacky Spice Sauce
Photo courtesy of Susan Dosier

Page Skelton left his day job in corporate America to create Cackalacky, Inc. approximately 12 years ago. Today, his original Cackalacky® Spice Sauce is sold in all Fresh Market locations in the U.S. as well as hundreds of independent natural and specialty stores throughout the Southeast, including Costco, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, and A Southern Season. Cackalacky Spice Sauce has been featured by Our State, Southern Living, NPR and The Food Network. Last January, Bon Appetit selected Cackalacky Sauce as a favorite Southern food product for the Dixie Pantry. www.cackalacky.com 

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Fullsteam Brewery
Photo by TriangleExplorer

Fullsteam Brewery was founded in Durham, N.C. by Sean Lilly Wilson in 2010. The plow-to-pint brewery has drawn national attention for its passionate mission of creating distinctly Southern beers that celebrate the culinary and agricultural heritage of the South. Fullsteam has been covered by Southern Living, Garden & Gun, Our State, SeriousEats.com, BeerAdvocate, DRAFT, and GQ.com. Founder Sean Lilly Wilson was a 2012 James Beard Award nominee in the Wine & Spirits category, and the brewery’s persimmon beer, First Frost, is a finalist in the upcoming 2013 Good Food Awards. www.fullsteam.ag

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Koinonia Coffee House In Durham Brings Coffee To The Community

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Koinonia Coffee House

You will find Koinonia Coffee House tucked away in a strip mall just off South Miami Boulevard in the RTP area of Durham. Koinonia is one of the latest additions to the growing Triangle coffee scene having only opened its doors a little less than a year ago (December 2012). I stopped by a few weeks ago before the morning rush and found it to be a great place to relax with some great coffee and get some work done.

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Looking at the Coffee Bar

I like local businesses that use local products, so I was pleased to learn they use locally roasted Joe Van Gogh coffee beans at Koinonia. They make a variety of coffee and espresso signature drinks (I love lattes made with Joe Van Gogh espresso beans). They also have a nice glass case filled with locally made baked goods and pastries like Cakes by Faith and Sweet Jane’s.

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Booth Seating with Nice Lighting

In Greek Koinonia means “community” or “fellowship” and that is what this coffee house strives to provide. It is a great space for meeting people and can accommodate larger groups or meetups. It occupies a relatively large space with ample seating options ranging from tables for two, comfy chairs, and booths for larger groups.

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Seating & Stage In Back

There is a blossoming music scene developing at Koinonia. Every Wednesday they hold an Open-Mic night from 8 – 10 PM. There is a small   10′ x 8′ stage set up in the back of the shop along with a sound system that can easily accommodate a solo artist or small group setups. They also regularly feature live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Check out their facebook page for updates on the music schedule.

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Bulk Joe Van Gogh Coffee Beans For Sale

There is a nice display that the owners built that features ten different types of Joe Van Gogh coffee beans that you can weigh out and purchase. They even have a grinder you can use if you don’t have one at home. I love that you can buy loose coffee beans since it allows you to buy in any portion size you want allowing for easy experimentation without committing to buying a full pound of coffee beans.

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Great Seating Area

In addition to all their coffee offerings the shop also makes a full line of fruit smoothies made with fruit mixes from Sweet Bird Smoothie mix. All of the Sweetbird Smoothies are free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives and genetically modified ingredients. I didn’t have a chance to try a smoothie during my visit, but I hope to get one when I go back.

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The Coffee Bar

On December 14th the shop will host a special Christmas Program with live music from the Bethesda Bluegrass Band and McLamb, Mullen & Preddy. Tickets are FREE but need to be picked up prior to the event.

For more information about the upcoming Christmas Program or other events going on at Koinonia Coffee follow their updates on the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/koinoniacoffee

Koinonian Coffee House
2945 Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC  27703 (Map)
Hours: Mon-Tues (6:30am-6pm), Wed (6:30am-10pm), Closed Sat/Sun

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Hurricane Sandy Benefit Bake Sale at Fullsteam Brewery Sunday Nov. 11th

Sweet Relief

I grew up at the Jersey Shore and most of my family still lives there. I am touched to learn that local Triangle businesses and residents are working together to help raise funds to help those at the Jersey shore impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

This Sunday, November 11th be sure to visit Fullsteam Brewery in Durham from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. for Sweet Relief: A Benefit Bake Sale for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief. This benefit is being organized Rose’s Meats & Sweet and hosted by the great folks at Fullsteam. Over a dozen local bakers, chefs, and vendors will be donating their goodies to raise relief funds.

In addition to the local vendors listed in the flyer above many well known local foodies and culinary talents will be contributing treats for sale as well up treats as well. There will be an entire assortment of sweet and savory items and of course plenty of beer. 100% of the proceeds from the sale will go to the Foodbank in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey, which were some of the regions hardest hit by the storm.

For more information and to help spread the word, check out the benefits facebook event page and share it with your friends. Hope to see you there!

Sweet Relief: Bake Sale to benefit Hurricane Sandy Victims
When: Sunday, November 11th (12:30-4:30pm)
Where: Fullsteam Brewery – Durham, NC
Info: http://www.facebook.com/events/478474022175823/

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