Durham Distillery recognized for their delicious liquors

“When you have guests, it’s extra special to feed and water them local,” Rich muses. “Distilleries such as Covington, Durham Distillery, Fair Game Beverage and more are producing delicious liquors, and I’m happy to promote them whenever possible.”

—"Spirit Savvy’s cocktail recipes for New Year’s Eve" Debby Maugans, Citizen-Times

Durham recognized for its food scene

"Over the last decade the state’s small, charismatic cities like Asheville and Durham have soaked up plenty of attention for their budding food scenes." 

—"The big picture in America's food culture" Sonia Chopra, Eater

Durham recognized as great place for boomers to live

"If I were going to move out of my walkable neighborhood, or cash out of my valuable downtown property, I would head for a college town; you can usually find a good cappuccino, a second-run movie house, a decent bookstore and as I found in Durham, North Carolina, food trucks galore. If the university has a medical school, so much the better. It always was a thing but is becoming more popular than ever."

—"Boomeralert: A look back at the trends of 2015" Lloyd Alter, MNN

Chef Ben Adams recognized for use of traditional ingredients

“There has been a renaissance of chefs who use traditional ingredients, says Chef Ben Adams, 33, who worked at Piedmont in Durham, N.C., and is opening his restaurant, Picnic, whose menu is a twist on a modern roadside barbecue joint."

—"Southern Cooks focus on heritage food" Sena Desai Gopal, Boston Globe

21C and Counting House featured for their high quality experience

"A showcase for high-quality seasonal ingredients, Counting House presents a global perspective on regional dishes and celebrates North Carolina’s rich heritage of fresh seafood with menus that feature rotisserie and roasting techniques. The bar and lounge is a welcoming place to taste innovative house-made cocktails, sip aperitifs, sample local craft brews, and explore broad bourbon and wine lists."

—"It's Local: Hotel 21C in Durham, N.C." Libbie Wilkie, Libbie Wilkie Designs

The Durham Hotel recognized for it's mid-century design

"The Durham is housed inside the former Home Savings Bank, which provides the stunning architectural setting for LA-based design studio Commune’s aesthetic vision. The studio effectively turned the iconic building’s six stories — encompassing 53 guest rooms, a penthouse, a rooftop lounge and a restaurant with an outdoor dining terrace — into a modern reinterpretation of the best of mid-century American design, inspired by the likes of Josef and Anni Albers, Charles Eames, and Albert Frey."

—"Commune's The Durham Hotel is a Colorful Tribute to Mid-Century Design"  Gavin Yeung, Hypebeast

RDU recognized for being user friendly

"recently remodeled and upgraded, it is a pleasure to go through or hang about in, and streamlined immigration makes the best place to enter from the UK. Very user-friendly for parking, for drop-off, or pick-up unlike most European airports or other US airports. Patrick O'Callaghan, Bristol, UK"

—"American airports: The good, the bad, and the ugly" Staff, BBC

The Cookery recognized for helping small food startups

"For-profit food incubators like Union Kitchen in Washington, D.C. and The Cookery in Durham, NC have been changing the game when it comes to helping small food startups get on their feet."

-"New Food Incubator to Open in Govans This Spring" Lauren Cohen, Baltimore Magazine

Bull City Burger and Brewery recognized for B Corp certification

"In the Triangle, pasture-raised, fresh ground beef and made-in-house beer has made Bull City Burger and Brewery one of Durham’s most popular restaurants since opening in 2011. It was so successful that the team opened a sister restaurant called Pompieri Pizza in early 2014. In February of the same year, Bull City Burger and Brewery became the first restaurant in the state to become a certified B Corp, and the first brewpub in the US."

-"B Corps Rising in North Carolina" Amy Huffman, Exitevent

DBAP to get two new digital signs

"The common theme for many of today’s sports stadium installations is digital: large scale video boards, digital signage, menu boards, video walls and digital audio. That same focus went into TSE’s designs at stadiums like BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, N.C. and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C."

—"Behind the A/V Revolution at Sports Stadiums" Susan Ashworth, TV Technology

Bull City Burger and Brewery recognized for their mission-driven model

"The mission-driven model is one not just used by ice cream and beauty product companies. B Corp restaurants Bull City Burger and Brewery, in Durham, North Carolina, and Bamboo Sushi in Portland, Oregon, put their principles on the menu too, with pasture-raised beef and partnerships with the Marine Stewardship Council and Monterey Bay Aquarium, respectively."

—"At This New Vegan Restaurant, Your Kale Salad Is Served With Social Justice" Sarah McColl, Takepart

Trivago features Durham's dining and lodging

"Durham isn’t your average city. Thanks to the presence of Duke University, as well as the city’s position in the Research Triangle of North Carolina, Durham has always benefited from a near constant influx of new residents not only from around the country, but from around the world. The result is a diverse, multi-cultural town in the heart of North Carolina with everything from stellar restaurants to an almost inconceivably robust calendar of cultural events throughout the year."

—"24 Hours In Durham, North Carolina" Matt Long, Check In , Trivago

Virgin Atlantic features Gaurav Patel's favorite spots to dine

"When I’m in Durham at the end of the day, I usually end up at Bar Virgile . It’s cozy in there, it has that I-know-a-secret feel, and I’m always amazed at what comes out of that tiny kitchen. The charcuterie is outstanding and their bourbon list is a fun one.”

 

"If it’s lunchtime, G heads to Pizzeria Toro where he’ll indulge in one of their specialty pizza pies and a glass of wine. This is no pepperoni-and-cheese pizza place; it’s a spot where you’ll find a spicy lamb meatball, venison sausage, locally grown squash and mushrooms, and imported Italian cheese on a pie. “It’s a pizza, but it’s unexpected and executed perfectly.”

—"Gaurav Patel's guide to dining in Raleigh-Du​rham" Jason Frye, Virgin Atlantic

RTP recognized for contribution to making the Triangle a known startup hub

"Starting in the 1950s, the park worked closely with Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University to provide low-rent space and training for students. The goal was to keep bright students in North Carolina after they graduated. Many stayed to start and run companies. Eventually the eight-county area between Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill became known as “The Triangle” and lured major employers, such as IBM."

—"Smaller cities vie to be the next silicon valley" Mindy Fetterman, GCN

Durham recognized for hotel growth spurt

"Drive 25 minutes northwest to Durham and you’ll find a downtown area reinventing itself from its tobacco- and textile-industry past to develop a thriving culinary, arts and entertainment scene fueled in part by dozens of local startups."

—"Raleigh-Durham, sharing a hyphen and a hotel growth spurt" Danny King, Travel Weekly

Popsugar features four sisters from Durham who started the Food in the Air Instagram phenomenon

 "Four Durham sisters launched Food in the Air, an Instagram account that combines almost everyone's favorite things: food and travel. A year and a half after launching, Food in the Air had garnered almost 100,000 followers. Now, FITA (an admittedly catchy acronym that the sisters and fans use) works with brands to do promotional posts."

---"Meet the Sisters Behind the Wildly Popular Instagram Food in the Air" Eleanor Sheehan, Popsugar 

NPR's On Point features Sara Foster as guest

“Now 1990 seems like a lifetime ago, when small upscale food markets in New York and Connecticut inspired me to bring the concept to the south. In the unlikely space of a former lawn mower repair shop on a short stretch of highway in Durham, my vision of a charming market quickly took shape. Power washing oil and grease from the basement and replacing old lawn mowers with sugar and flour bins was the beginning of putting Foster’s on the map.”

—"Fresh Ideas For Your Thanksgiving Feast" Tom Ashbrook, On Point, NPR

Scratch Bakery recognized for best pie in the state

"Scratch Bakery in Durham is known for what they call a Shaker Lemon pie, but for Thanksgiving consider a toasted oat and salted honey chess. If you miss the Thanksgiving order cut-off, don’t forget that Christmas is just around the corner."

—"A Slice Above — The Best Pie in Every State" Melinda Crow, Yahoo Travel

The Durham Hotel featured in Wallpaper

"Spread over six floors, the hotel is a sumptuous mélange of colors and materials. Boldly patterned floor tiles and rugs are offset by geometric, mid-century-style furniture, both in the hotel’s shared spaces and in guestrooms."

 

—"The Durham Hotel, Durham, USA" Pei-Ru Keh, Wallpaper

Urban Ministries of Durham featured in Our State

"The crowd forming for UMD’s Community Café, or cafeteria, in no way resembles the way folks in a stereotypical free-meal line are often depicted. There are those who seem clearly gainfully employed, coming off a shift where scrubs are worn, or perhaps heading to a work site where steel-toe boots are required. For every threadbare tee and pair of stained pants, there is an equal number of belted slacks and button-down shirts. Patrons are of every color and every age, each with a unique set of circumstances that brought them to UMD. It makes no difference why they’re here to the staff and volunteers who have put together enough food to feed 250. No one will ask questions or make them justify their place in line."

—"A Daily Slice of Life at Urban Ministries of Durham" Elizabeth Shestak, Our State

Hideaway Woods recognized for nature play concept

"The rise of this tree house playscape is part of national back-to-nature trend that aims to help people recharge through real experiences. Hideaway Woods feeds off the growing idea that nature play builds the whole person."

—"Hideaway Woods: A Treehouse Village Escape in Durham" Odile Fredericks, Where

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics holds record for food drive

"The current record is 559,885 lbs of food collected in 18 hours by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC."

—"DePaul group tries to break record for food drive" The DePaulia

The Brother’s Vilgalys recognized for their Krupnikas

"These gentlemen set up shop in Durham, NC and the spirit has caught on like wildfire. The liquor is made with honey and neutral grain spirits, including a unique blend of spices and herbs that are absolutely delicious in cocktails and heated beverages."

—"5 Must-Try Small Batch Spirits" Hadassah Patterson, Swig

Lem Butler of Counter Culture Coffee is featured in Sprudge Coffee News & Culture

"The “winningest barista in coffee” is also a graceful, ageless father of two (and an accomplished DJ) who’s been working with Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina for more than a decade."

—"The Remarkable Lem Butler, Five-Time Barista" Champion Emily Mcintire, Sprudge Coffee News & Culture

Counter Culture recognized as coffee source for nitro on tap

"Profile sources their coffee from Counter Culture, a company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, mainly using their blends for cold brew coffees such as nitro. They currently offer 46, a dark blend, along with a lighter variety called Fast Forward. Since they've only been pouring nitro now for a little over a month, Levinson says it's easier for nitro novices to have the option of light or dark when they're first introduced to the style."

—"Nitro on tap: Cold brew coffee from keg catching on" Michelle Marino, Fosters.com

Counter Culture Coffee recognized as top artisanal coffee brand

"Industry insiders call the companies, along with Durham, N.C.-based Counter Culture, the big three of the “third-wave” coffee movement, based on an artisanal approach to coffee that doesn't adhere to traditional roasting or sourcing standards."

— "Peet's brews up another deal , takes majority stake in Intelligensia" Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times

Yamazushi featured in Our State

"You'll marvel at such jewels as chestnut rice with Japanese pickles, thinly sliced scallops fried with a crunchy rice cracker coating, or soft shell crab with green tea salt. But you'll get more than a meal."

— "Yamazushi" Debbie Moose, Our State

Lucky's Deli opening highly anticipated

"If you can wait until next spring, Durham, North Carolina, is going to get a very cool-sounding deli. Well-known local chefs Matt Kelly and Drew Brown will open Lucky’s Deli downtown. Lucky’s will be a delicatessen in a broader sense, taking inspiration from Italian and Jewish deli traditions. Pastrami and matzo-ball soup will be homemade."

—"Jewish Delis Everywhere and All the Weekly Dish" Michael Kaminer, Forward

Tobacco Road and Aloft recognized as part of Durham's transformation

"Located between the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Aloft Durham Downtown is at the heart of the American Tobacco Historic District, which launched a massive redevelopment and restoration project in 2004 to transform the iconic American Tobacco Company’s campus into a unique, mixed-use development complex with local and national corporations, restaurants and event venues."
 

—"Starwood Hotels’ leading-edge Aloft brand launches in Durham, North Carolina" Staff, Hotel Design

Durham recognized for its good eats and local style

"The concentration of deliciousness in Durham puts many larger cities to shame. On my first trip to North Carolina, I had a full day to explore Durham and my guide was a former chef — so naturally, we proceeded to dine through the downtown area. I’m still full, but I already know that I’ll be back. If you’re looking for a solid, food-centric weekend getaway, get to Durham."

—"A Day in: Durham, North Carolina" Amber Gibson, Rabbit Hole Magazine

Arrowhead Inn featured as top bed and breakfast at a bargain

"It's only a 15-minute drive to downtown Durham, but the Research Triangle's rustic Arrowhead Inn feels a world away -- with its laid-back garden setting and variety of lodging options. This inn definitely goes the extra mile."

— "10 Inns You Won't Believe Are Under $200" Laura Kinery, Bed and Breakfast

Michael Maller of Vin Rouge and Mateo recognized as Sherry Ambassador

"Upon opening Mateo, his wine list, specifically the Sherry section, caught the attention of Food & Wine magazine and Mateo was recognized as one of the best new places in the US to drink wine in 2012.  Then, in 2013, the extensive Sherry program at Mateo helped encourage Eric Asimov to write an article for The New York Times about the food and wine culture in "The Triangle" of North Carolina."

—"Meet Sherry Week Ambassador Michael Maller"  Staff, Sherry Wines, US

NBC features The Beautiful Project's #DearBlackGirl camapign

 The Beautiful Project, an organization based in Durham, North Carolina that aims to confront and investigate definitions of beauty. . #DearBlackGirl was created in the spirit of this mission to connect young black girls with black women.

----"Beautiful Project' Launches Letters to A #DearBlackGirl Campaign" Candace King, NBC News

Durham restaurants featured for good eats

"Obviously, it wasn’t easy making a short list of places to eat in Durham, but we narrowed it down to a handful of places that won’t disappoint if you happen to be traveling through. We’ve got your food scene covered from breakfast all the way to an after dinner treat."

---"A Day in Durham: The Nosh Files" Lisa Lakey, Porter Briggs

Counter Culture Coffee featured in The Tennessean

"Guidry developed his reputation for rich, smooth espresso-based and cold-brewed drinks from his food-truck days. His specialties begin with Counter Culture beans (from Durham, N.C.)"

—"Steadfast, Slow Hand make city's coffee scene even richer" Nancy Vienneau, The Tennessean

New Times features Mountain Goats

"The band is now based out of Durham, North Carolina, a place that's shaping up to be the new epicenter of all things cool and country."

—"Mountain Goats Made Lo-Fi Bedroom Tracks Before It Was Cool" Jacob Uitti, New Times

Counter Culture Coffee featured in Eater

"Durham, N.C.-based Counter Culture Coffee is growing again: The indie coffee roaster just announced it's building a brand new roastery and company headquarters. The new facilities will still be located in Durham, but a bigger space means the company will be able to produce more coffee to supply wholesale customers and fuel its online store."

—"North Carolina's Counter Culture Coffee Is Building Bigger, Fancier Headquarters" Whitney Filloon, Eater

Sylvan Esso featured in Crave

"The Durham, NC duo’s fusion of electro-pop and indie spirit is infectious, with Amelia Meath’s enchanting vocal shapes syllables with concision over a gorgeous tonality. It's been exhilarating to witness their growth and onstage comfort transform over the last few months, and the charisma and confidence evolution between Sasquatch and ACL is starkly clear."

—"Austin City Limits 2015 | The Strokes, Decemberists, Sylvan Esso Bring Strong Finish to Austin City Limits" Johnny Firecloud, Crave

Hospitality Net features the Durham Aloft Hotel

"The energy of our Aloft brand is a great fit for the American Tobacco Historic District in downtown Durham," said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. "We're seeing phenomenal success of the brand in dynamic markets across the globe, and we look forward to bringing its tech-forward mind-set, leading-edge design and buzzing social scene to the exciting city of Durham."

—"Starwood Hotels’ Leading-Edge Aloft Brand Launches in Durham, North Carolina", Hospitality Net

Garden & Gun features The Durham Hotel

"First off, this place is local and they want you to know it. Your morning cup contains Durham’s own Counter Culture coffee, the blankets come from Raleigh Denim, and the kitchen for the restaurant and sixth-floor rooftop lounge is run by Andrea Reusing, the James Beard Award–winning chef behind Chapel Hill’s Asian-inflected Lantern."

 

—"The South's Most Stylish New Hotels" Mike Grudowski , Garden & Gun

The Durham Hotel featured in Anthology Magazine

"The write-ups in the latest issues of Garden & Gun and The Local Palate—the latter mentions that the on-site restaurant is run by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrea Reusing and the interiors are the work of Commune Design—has moved this North Carolina destination toward the top of my must-visit list."

— "The Durham" Anh Minh,  Anthology Magazine

Durham Public Schools featured for successful school start time transition

"In Durham, NC, one of the few districts to successfully do so, district administrators went through an extensive planning process, conducted parent surveys, held focus groups, and will likely continue to face challenges."

—"Pushing back high school start times proves difficult"  Kim Schimel, Education Dive

Durham barbecue featured in Washington Post

"Picnic, which the partners call “Next Generation ’Cue,” will mix traditional and modern [barbecue] . Heritage hogs will be cooked over an all-wood fire, but probes will help monitor the cooking process. Sides will include the traditional Brunswick stew but also “NC Crab Beignets.”

—"Why North Carolina’s barbecue scene is still smoldering"  Jim Shahin, The Washington Post

Durham among top places to live in U.S.

"Mild climates and golf courses used to be the main attractions in retirement communities, but college cities, with their high-quality athletic programs, their university drama and music departments, and their art galleries and museums, offer a variety of diversions not available in most cities of comparable size."

— "The best places to live in America: How college towns perfected the city" Witold Rybczynski, Salon

Alley Twenty-Six featured in Our State

"Durham is the South in a to-go box. Everything bright and beautiful and dark and dirty about this gritty and glorious ecosystem we call home is right here — our past, present, and future — everything from tobacco to slavery to the Civil War, to the demise of thriving industries, to the growth of our cities and the subsequent flight from them and our eventual return. All of it, everything, is here."

—"The Brightest Alley in Durham" Daniel Wallace,  Our State

MTV features Durham High School acapella group

"An acapella group at North Carolina High School Durham Academy, XIV Hours, created a spectacular video that deals with relationships, sex and gender politics."

—"A Teen Acapella Group Created A Music Video With An Important Message About Sex And It’s Amazing" Joseph Lamour, MTV

Visit South features Durham's food scene

"Sure, good restaurants matter, but a real foodie town is more than just sit-down eateries. You can tell a real road trip-worthy food destination by the grab-a-bite eating establishments where you can always indulge in just one more nibble—and Durham’s snack shacks will blow you away."

—"3 Reasons Durham May be the South’s Tastiest Town" Amy Brayfield, Visit South

Zippia features "10 Lunch Spots In Durham Will Blow The Tastes Buds Out Of Your Mouth"

"For your own good, if you work anywhere close to downtown, grab some chicken and waffles for work this week."

—"These 10 Lunch Spots In Durham Will Blow The Tastes Buds Out Of Your Mouth" Chris Kolmar, Zippia

Visit NC features Cocoa Cinnamon

''Cocoa Cinnamon uses creative spices in its coffees and teas to create unique flavors. Try a Rumi that starts with African or Asian hand-brewed coffee, with added rosewater and cardamom. There’s also the See-Line Woman espresso, with black strap molasses, dark melted chocolate and homemade vanilla latte. For the sweet tooth, sample the single-origin sipping chocolates on the outdoor patio.''

—"15 Coffee Shops and Cafés You’ll Like a Latte" Staff, Visit NC

Regulator Bookshop featured in Publishers Weekly

"The Regulator Bookshop in Durham, N.C. was one of a number of stores that reported selling “amazing” quantities of a book that was published the same day as Watchman (July 14), Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me."

—"How Indie Booksellers Fared This Summer" Judith Rosen, Tiffany Razzano, Claire Kirch, and Anisse Gross, Publishers Weekly

Vacation Idea features "17 Best Things to Do in Durham"

"Durham is a vibrant city with an array of things to see and do for couples and families."

—"17 Best Things to Do in Durham, North Carolina" Staff, Vacation Idea

21C Museum Hotel Durham featured in Forbes

"In March a 21C hotel opened in Durham, N.C., 125 rooms in a 17-story Art Deco tower (designed by the same architects who built the Empire State Building, which the hotel resembles).Currently on display in Durham is a collection of paintings, sculpture and photography exploring how human perception can be swayed."

— "Boutique Hotels For Those Who Want A Luxurious Night At A Museum" Abram Brown, Forbes

Durham County Library event featured on CBS News

"At the Durham County Library in North Carolina recently, there was event celebrating the movies. Not an awards show; it was a screening of home movies which some people might think date to the Stone Age."

—"Bringing the importance of home movies into focus", CBS News

Durham highlighted as exemplory city

"The consultants who drafted Canton's comprehensive plan see Durham as a picture of what Canton could be, based on what Durham was."

— "SPECIAL REPORT: Durham, N.C., could have lessons for Canton" Alison Matas, Canton Rep

King's Daughters Inn and Bullock's BBQ receive high praise

"I have a confession. I loved my time in Durham & my stay at The King’s Daughters Inn so much that I extended my stay an extra night."

---"The King's Daughters Inn", "Bullock's Bar-B-Cue", Displaced Southerner

Food Network features Cocoa Cinnamon

"Great coffee, a super-mellow vibe, and some awesome sweets are on the menu at Cocoa Cinnamon."

—"Coffee Talk: Where to Find Great Cups Across the Country" Andrea Strong, Food Network

Chez Moi Bakery featured on Rick Sebak's new PBS show

"Chez Moi Bakery in Durham, N.C., whose owner, Rhonda Jones, makes seven kinds of rum cakes at home and sells them in her dessert truck"

—" 'A Few Good Pie Places' and 'A Few Great Bakeries,' are good eats" Arthi Subramaniam, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CBS features Durham's Chris Rosati

"Last winter he decided to test the butterfly effect theory at a diner in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina. He saw two girls at the table next to his and gave them each $50 with one very simple instruction -- do something kind. Rosati says he left the diner and forgot all about it until he got an email that included pictures from a village in Africa with people holding thank you signs. It was the butterfly effect."

 

— "Man Inspires Hundreds to do Something Kind" Steve Hartman, CBS News

Endurance Magazine features Durham's Eno River Run

"The Eno River Run promises technical single track on a beautiful trail, not to mention an awesome river crossing!"

—"RUNNING – 3 Great Fall Races" Staff,  Endurance Magazine

Garden & Gun features pies from Phoebe Lawless, of Scratch Bakery

"Given the abundance of crops currently in the field, there’s no better time to bake a pie, says Phoebe Lawless, owner and chef of Scratch Bakery."

—"What's In Season: Three Late-Summer Pies" Jenny Everett, Garden & Gun

Our State features a new spin on traditional apple doughnuts with cider from Bull City Ciderworks

"Put a spin on the traditional apple doughnut by using hard cider from Durham-based Bull City Ciderworks as an ingredient."

—"Apple Cider Doughnuts". Elena Rosemond-Hoerr, Our State

Durham's ELF recieves praise in California

"I went over there and they had one on the floor and I got to sit in it, I thought, 'Oh, gee, this is me."

—"ELF invasion in Pleasanton" Dolores Fox Ciardelli, Pleasanton Weekly         

Piedmont's new chef earns rave reviews

"after three recent meals I’ll venture this: Gettles is among the best chefs de cuisine in the Triangle’s thriving culinary scene, putting him in the same league with James Beard award-winners Scott Howell (Nana’s) and Andrea Reusing (Lantern and her new restaurant at the Durham Hotel)."

— "A new chef takes Piedmont to new heights" Steven Petrow, AFAR

Next Generation 'Que

"Old North Carolina traditions—pastured-raised hogs, cooked whole over wood and pulled at serving time—are meeting up with high-tech cookers and fine dining sensibilities: it’s old-school and very up to date at the same time."

—"Next Generation ‘Cue: The Farmer, the Chef, and the Barbecue Man" Robert Moss, The Daily South

The Charleston City Paper gives "A Brief History of Bombadil"

"Durham, N.C.'s Bombadil specializes in remarkably precise, painstakingly crafted pop songs that still leave breathing room in their arrangements. The seemingly effortless songwriting presents infectious choruses and sing-along verses with lyrics that are somehow playful and somber, direct and obscure."

— "N.C. group's melodic pop hides an occasionally bumpy existence" Vincent Harris, Charleston City Paper

DBAP grew from different ballgame

"We knew it then, and we know it now: This is one of the premier mixed-use developments on the East Coast, they put their heart and soul into this."

—"In Durham, stadium grew from different ballgame" Kate Bramson, Providence Journal

BuzzFeed releases "34 Amazing Things That Will Make You Fall In Love With Durham N.C."

"The Bull City is the southern funk town of your dreams."

— "34 Amazing Things That Will Make You Fall In Love With Durham N.C." Christina Lan, BuzzFeed

Travel & Leisure features Research Triangle Chef's Tour picks

"The fried eggplant pizza at Toro in Durham is one of my favorites. In the spring, they do one with pea shoots, lemon, and guanciale that’s unreal. They’re always switching up the menu."

— "Chef's Tour: North Carolina's Research Triangle in Five Meals" Brooke Porter Katz, Travel & Leisure

CNBC Small Business Cities profile features Durham

"There is tangible energy here in Durham, it is something that you can't quite explain until you are here and see what the companies have going on and see their loyalty and commitment to staying in Durham."

—"CNBC Reporter: There Is Tangible Energy In Durham" Laura Baverman, Exitevent

CNBC features Mati Energy and American Underground

"Just a few years ago, American Underground was an abandoned tobacco warehouse, it's now a thriving startup scene, laying the foundation for entrepreneurs like Birgisson to call Durham home."

— "Durham, NC sparks a Tobacco Road business revival" Kate Rogers, CNBC

Willow Tree CEO Michael Prichard excited to get involved in Durham

"Durham has energy—the right things are happening at the right time. We think Durham is a great place for us to make an impact, where we can really help the community, and where people can know who we are." The new office opens in August.

—"Why WillowTree Chose Durham Over 30 U.S. Cities For Mobile Development Shop" Laura Baverman, Exitevent

Garden & Gun features Saltbox Seafood

"This is minimalist cooking perfected, a melding of art and craft."

—"Southern Food in 50 Dishes", John T. Edge, Garden & Gun

Garden & Gun features Scratch Bakery

"Scratch's Phoebe Lawless wins the prize for chess pie elaboration by tamping down the treacle with earthy dark roasted peanuts, rendering a pie that tastes haute and bass and altogether courant."

—"Southern Food in 50 Dishes", John T. Edge, Garden & Gun

Travel and Leisure is loving The Durham Hotel

"What we love about it: free high-speed Wi-Fi, rooftop yoga classes, and bicycles with which to explore the city. But if there’s one thing that impressed us the most, it’s the hotel’s commitment to all things North Carolina."

—"Eight Reasons We're Loving The Durham Hotel" Broke Porter Katz , Travel and Leisure

Fullsteam Brewery featured in Bon Appétit

“We want people to know that beer can be the beverage of the community and proper for the family table, says Sean Lilly Wilson, founder of Durham, North Carolina’s Fullsteam."

—"Going Out for a Beer? Don't Forget to Bring the Kids" Joshua Bernstein, Bon Appètit

New York Magazine Features Durham's art, design and culinary scene

"Stay in downtown Durham at the new 21c Museum Hotel. It’s located inside the historic Hill Building, which was built in 1937 and, though renovated, maintains its Art Deco details, windows, and terrazzo flooring. The hotel boasts its own on-site museum with rotating exhibits and site-specific installations integrated into the public areas; permanent works include a large-scale mosaic by Duke Riley made of cigarettes and mini-cigars, referencing the role of tobacco farming in the region’s history."

— "Get Creative in Raleigh -Durham" Meredith Bethune,  New York Magazine

 

Fullsteam Brewery Featured in Garden & Gun

“We don’t spice the beer so we can really celebrate the flavor of this unique Southern fruit”

—"Crops Meet Hops" Clay Risen, Garden & Gun 

Billboard approves Moogfests move to Durham

"Moogfest is a platform for conversation and experimentation with innovative programming that perfectly mirrors Durham’s momentum as a capital of technology, culture and entertainment,"

—"Moogfest Announces Move to Durham, Sets Date for 2016 Return,"  Marc Schneider, Billboard

Architectural Record features 21C and The Durham Hotel

“By contrasting the new with the old, you can get the character of history without being beholden to it,” says the architect Deborah Berke of 21C and The Durham Hotel.

—"Artistic License: A hotel in a renovated commercial building draws guests with contemporary art and Southern charm,"Clifford A. Pearson, Architectural Record

NC Triangle Dining features Durham's Saltbox Seafood

"...You'll enjoy your meal. No doubt! So rock on, Saltbox Seafood Joint, you did pretty good on my first visit..."

— "A Simple But Fancier Take on Take-Out Seafood," Ron, NC Triangle Dining 

Takepart Magazine highlights Saltbox Seafood

"Two chalkboard menus listing the day’s catch flank the order window of the itty-bitty Durham, North Carolina, restaurant. The spiny dogfish, caught off the shores of North Carolina, are typically sent overseas, but on this occasion, it was served up spicy with a side of slaw and pile of fried potatoes, a relative seafood bargain at only $12.50."

—"There's a Price to Pay for Not Eating America's Ugly Seafood," Clare Leschin-Hoar, Takepart

CNN Recognizes 21c Museum Hotel Durham Among 'America's artsiest new hotels'

"With 21c's Durham, North Carolina, debut in March, the buzzing Bull City added a high-profile art hotel to its rapidly revitalizing downtown."

— "America's artsiest new hotels," Marnie Hunter, CNN

Our State Recommends Piedmont

"Sustainability is what’s key to Piedmont’s executive chef Greg Gettles. Gettles will certainly have his pick of vegetables to work with this summer. The owners of Piedmont, Richard Holcomb and Jamie DeMent, also own Coon Rock Farm on the Eno River, which has more than 10 acres of gardens, orchards, and ponds."

—"6 Farm-to-Table Restaurants to Try This Summer," Katie Quine, Our State

Our State Features Durham Letterpress Designers

"A trio of Durham printers finds satisfaction in — and a new demand for — the original methods of a 500-year-old craft."

—"The Art of Letterpress Finds a Home in Durham," Iza Wojciechowska, Our State

Our State features the Duke Lemur Center

"In its near 50 years of operation, the Duke Lemur Center has not only become a haven to the world’s most endangered mammal, but it is also a place where the public can learn the importance of an animal they might’ve not known a whole lot about the day before."

—"Duke Lemur Center Educates and Entertains" by Katie Quine, Our State

Star News recognized Durham's Backyard BBQ Pit among best barbecue joints in NC

"Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" loved this place and after one bite of their smoky pulled-pork barbecue, you will too."

—"Tour of the best barbecue joints in North Carolina," Jason Frye, StarNews

Qnotes recognizes Durham as one of America’s secret 2015 foodie destinations

"Served to you in the city’s old tobacco warehouses or on roaming food carts, you’ll find exquisite pies, fresh doughnuts, artisan coffee and elevated casual fare that will make you never want to go back to your old greasy hamburger joint again".

—"Savory summer travel: America’s secret 2015 foodie destinations", Brand Point, Qnotes

Forbes visits 21C Museum Hotel Durham

"The new 21c is set in the historic Hill Building, a 17-story Art Deco structure designed by Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon (architects of the Empire State Building) and reimagined by New York architect Deborah Berke. In addition to 125 rooms and Counting House, a restaurant serving modern North Carolina fare, there is 10,500 square feet of exhibition space. And as with all 21c hotels, Durham has signature penguins—in fuchsia—which mysteriously move around the hotel throughout your stay."

—"21c Museum Hotel Durham: The Art of Travel " Michael Solomon, Forbes

Eater Visits NC and Enjoys Durham Food

"Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, collectively known as the Research Triangle (so nicknamed for the research universities spread among them), unite as one of the South’s most dynamic food scenes. The fertile land and collegiate temperament yield dedicated small-scale farmers and freethinking chefs. They may bleed together in the mind but each of the three cities has their own distinct character...Durham, once a lethargic tobacco town, now serves as a hotbed for up-and-coming food talents."

—"Destination North Carolina: A Southern Food Road Trip Extravaganza," Bill Addison, Eater

AXS Recognizes True Flavors Diner and Cocoa Cinnamon Among Best Places for Hot Cocoa in Durham

"Cocoa Cinnamon gives its customers a choice of chocolate base for any hot chocolate and can even be iced...True Flavors Diner hot cocoa is exquisite. They offer an open kitchen aspect to greet guests in an energetic and comfortable atmosphere."

—"Best places to get hot cocoa in Raleigh-Durham" Maria Davis, AXS

Nation's Restaurant News Interviews Andrea Reusing about New Durham Restaurant

"Andrea Reusing, chef and owner of Lantern in Chapel Hill, N.C., will open her second venture next month, a local, coastal seafood restaurant and rooftop bar inside the forthcoming Durham Hotel in Durham, N.C. The James Beard Award winner shares the inspiration behind her upcoming dining spots; her passion for local, sustainable seafood; and how she plans to sell lesser-known fish to diners accustomed to tuna and salmon."

—"Andrea Reusing to bring local seafood to inland North Carolina," Fern Glazer, Nation's Restaurant News

Travel and Leisure lists Monuts Donuts on the Hole-y Grail : America's Best Donut Shops

 “Although we’ve honed our skills and expanded our equipment [since the tricycle days],” says owner Lindsay Moriarty, we still do everything the same way we always have.”

—"The Hole-y Grail: America's Best Donut Shops," Melanie Lieberman, Travel + Leisure

Old Havana Sandwich Shop Recognized as First of 12 Sandwich Shops in NC

"Get a taste of Cuba in North Carolina with the classic Havana sandwich. Slow roasted pork, house-cured ham, cheese, pickles, and a special mojo sauce. Old Havana also has several other options inspired by the shops eclectic roots."

—"12 Sandwich Shops In North Carolina That Will Have Your Mouth Watering," Only in North Carolina

Huffington Post Visits Durham's 21c Museum Hotel

"It's not enough that the newest 21c museum hotel is located in downtown Durham, home to one of the fastest-growing cultural scenes in the nation. No. The new hotel - the fourth in a rapidly growing 21c collection - has taken over the 17-story Hill Building, built in 1935-37. It has a pedigree."

"With 21c Museum Hotel, Durham's on a Roll," J. Michael Welton, Huffpost Arts & Culture

Elmo's Diner Recognized Among 10 Best Breakfast Restaurants in North Carolina

"Elmos Diner has got everything you need when it comes to all-American breakfast dishes. Whether you're visting for breakfast or brunch, you'll love all the options they have when it comes to breakfast, and you will be especially fascinated with Elmos Diner's catering service too"

—"10 Best Breakfast Restaurants In North Carolina!" TABElog

Carolina Parent Article Features Durham Attractions

"Get a flavor for the Triangle's diversity by visiting some of its unique places, which reflect the residents' tastes and interests — from art to research to conservation."

— "Triangle Treasures: Explore Some of the Region's Unique Places," Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent

NPR Features Durham Guitarist

"Daniel Bachman calls Durham, N.C., home now, but he grew up around the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg."

"History Runs Through Daniel Bachman's Guitar," Lars Gotrich, NPR

NPR Faces Off Against Automated Insights' WordSmith Program

"A company called Automated Insights created a program called WordSmith that generates simple news stories based on things like sporting events and financial news..How would NPR's best stack up against the machine? To answer our question, NPR White House correspondent and former business reporter Scott Horsley agreed to go head to head against WordSmith."

"An NPR Reporter Raced A Machine To Write A News Story. Who Won?" Stacey Vanek Smith, NPR Planet Money

Saltbox and Ricky Moore Featured in The Local Palate

Chef Ricky Moore and his Durham restaurant, Saltbox Seafood Joint were featured in the June/July edition of The Local Palate.

Bull City Ciderworks Featured in '10 Best Craft Ciders You Should Try'

"Taking its cue from the feistiest of the Triangle cities, Durham, Bull City Ciderworks gives you cider with attitude. They know that Durham’s recent foodie renaissance has left locals and visitors alike with tons and choices, so they’ve stepped in with some of the most interesting ciders you can find anywhere on the market."

—"North Carolina’s 10 Best Craft Ciders You Should Try,"Lani Seelinger, The Culture Trip

Huffington Post Gets a Taste of Durham

"Durham proved once again what an amazing food city it is becoming at the recent Taste 2015 events."

- "A Little Taste of the South in Durham," Carolyn Bass, The Huffington Post

Pizzeria Toro Featured at #8 by Only in North Carolina

"Pizzeria Toro is not your run of the mill pizza joint. They challenge the cheesy norm with unique toppings and combinations. This wood-fired restaurant is a popular haven for college students."

—"These 10 Pizza Joints In North Carolina Will Leave You Craving More," Only in North Carolina

Roots Rated Profiles Bull City Burger & Brewery

"Signs of a city-wide renaissance in Durham are everywhere. Hardly a block is untouched by the sights and sounds of demolition and construction... In 2011, during the early days of Durham’s downtown revival, entrepreneur Seth Gross applied this burgeoning philosophy to two quintessentially American staples—a burger and a beer—at his first foray into restaurant ownership, Bull City Burger and Brewery."

-"Bull City Burger and Brewery," Rob Glover, Roots Rated

National Post Comes to Durham

"If you’re the type of traveller who ruminates on every mediocre snack or meal consumed on the road as a regretful missed opportunity, then landing in 
Durham-Chapel Hill, America’s foodiest small town (according to Bon Appétit) two hours delayed and within minutes of a thunderstorm feels like very bad news indeed."

- "A motherly bonding adventure in America’s foodiest small town," Alyssa Schwartz, The National Post

Duke Professor Aids Vets Suffering From PTSD

"Dr. Patricia Resick is a professor of psychology at Duke University... and is also the creator of cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a treatment for trauma that she has used to help veterans suffering from trauma, including those who are struggling to come to terms with their actions in battle that they now believe were wrong, even unforgivable."

- "How this psychologist treats soldiers who can’t let go of what they did at war," Amanda Taub, Vox

Inside Philanthropy Covers Duke's Big Data Fundraising

"The potential for huge amounts of data to accelerate advances across fields has funders giddy. Part of the draw is the diverse array of possible applications, and Duke University's collaborative data science center is a prime example."

- "More Evidence That Big Data Draws Big Dollars. This Time From Duke University," Tate Williams, Inside Philanthropy

Washington Post Covers Rise of the Rest in Durham

"Steve Case...one of the founders of America Online and now one of the country’s most renowned tech investors, [was] on stage in front of a packed house at the historic Carolina Theater in Durham, N.C. It was the second of five such events comprising Case’s latest Rise of the Rest tour, during which his team is traveling across the Southeast to celebrate under-the-radar entrepreneurship hubs by holding pitch contests and awarding $100,000 to one young company in each city."

—"On a day of pitches, Case, Durham and ArchiveSocial throw strikes," J.D. Harrison, The Washington Post

Goulet Communications Admires American Tobacco Revitalization

But now it’s 2015, and I am newly returned from Durham. The Bulls are marking 20 years in their “new” home, Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP), which only a couple of years ago underwent a $20 million renovation and is a centerpiece of the vibrant American Tobacco Historic District.

—"Postcard from North Carolina: bullish on downtown Durham," Neil Goulet, Goulet Communications

Durham Discussed in New York Times Winston-Salem Feature

"The idea that universities and government could jointly build a business park framed around technology was born 55 years ago in North Carolina, on farm and forest land eight miles south of downtown Durham."

— "Technology Overtakes Tobacco in Winston-Salem, N.C." Jeremy M. Lange, The New York Times

Business Insider Profiles "18 incredibly impressive students at Duke"

"...basketball isn't the only area where Duke students excel. From fighting against discrimination to sending time capsules into space to finding a quicker way to detect cancer, Duke students go above and beyond in all they do."

—  "18 incredibly impressive students at Duke," Business Insider, Melissa Stanger and Emmie Martin

Travel + Leisure Recommends Visiting Scratch in Southern Road Trip

"Durham is a great stop on your way out of town for coffee and a pie from Scratch Bakery."

— "Road-tripping Across the American South, One Restaurant at a Time," Amy McKeever, Travel + Leisure

QSR Features Durham's Bull City Burger & Brewery

"Since opening in March 2011, Bull City Burger & Brewery has become a hit in downtown Durham, North Carolina, a line routinely extending out the door for the eatery’s built-to-order burgers crafted from pasture-raised beef and award-winning beers."

— "Standout Store: Bull City Burger & Brewery," QSR, April 2015

Durham's Mati Energy Featured on ABC World News Tonight

Mati Energy, a company that makes tea-based energy drinks has gained national exposure on ABC World News Tonight with David Muir on the April 15th edition.

Wandering Gourmand Discovers Fullsteam Brewery

"... I visited Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, North Carolina, a brewery that truly brews beer the hard way, and I realized that Budweiser has no clue what brewing the hard way means. Here’s a lesson for Budweiser via a real example in Fullsteam."

—"Fullsteam Brewery – Beer Brewed the Hard Way," The Wandering Gourmand

ID8 Nation Features Durham Entrepreneurship

"For two years in a row, Google for Entrepreneurs Demo Day has been won by a startup based in Durham, N.C.. Durham, one point in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, has been drawing a lot of attention lately in entrepreneurial circles."

"Why Durham Excels at Entrepreneurship," ID8 Nation

Mateo, Guglhupf and Dame's Recognized Among Best Restaurants in Durham County

Durham restaurants Mateo bar de Tapas, Guglhupf and Dame's Chicken and Waffles were named the best restaurants in Durham County by Charleston Food Bloggers in "Best Restaurants in Each North Carolina County, 2015".

Rolling Stone Profiles Durham's John Darnielle

"If you stayed here for a week you would think about moving here," Darnielle says as we drive around downtown Durham... Darnielle points out the farmers market, Dame's Chicken and Waffles ("the best restaurant in the South") and the Carolina Theatre, which he talks about like he's gunning for a spot on the Chamber of Commerce. "It's probably my favorite place on the planet," he says. "Built in 1926. They have a monthly horror festival that I'm a big supporter of called Retrofantasma. They also have one of the biggest North American documentary film festivals, Full Frame, and an annual horror festival called Nevermore.""

—"The Slow Climb: How the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Became the Best Storyteller in Rock," Christian Hoard, Rolling Stone

Scoutology Recognizes Saltbox and Fishmongers among Top NC Seafood Spots

Saltbox Seafood Joint and Fishmonger's Restaurant were recognized among the "Top 16 North Carolina Seafood Spots," by Scoutology.

Find Modern Art at the 21c Museum Hotel

"The newest 21C hotel just opened in downtown Durham, North Carolina, showing works from both known and emerging artists."

"Travel Tip: Where You Can Find Modern Art in Hotels," Peter Greenberg

The Parlour Recognized Among 17 NC Must-Try Ice Cream Shops

Durham's The Parlour was recognized on Only in North Carolina's "These 17 Ice Cream Shops and Creameries In North Carolina Are A Must-Try"

Pizzeria Toro Recognized Among 20 Restaurants in NC that "Make Your Mouth Explode"

"Durham is quickly becoming the south's unique food capital. With that being said, Pizzeria Toro is a slice of heaven that puts all other pizza joints to shame."

—"These 20 Restaurants In North Carolina Will Make Your Mouth Explode," Only in North Carolina

The SOMM Journal Profiles Durham's Master Sommelier

"Dexhemier had a chance to be a partner in a new bar in Durham and is currently the only Master Sommelier in the state. "Durham is kind of like Brooklyn ten years ago," he notes. He's thrilled to be in an emerging market and wants to make his bar, RX Wine Lab, a wine destination in the state."

—"An Innovative Sommelier Explores New Territory," Liza B. Zimmerman, The SOMM Journal

Two Durham Restaurants on "Top 17 North Carolina Taco Places"

Nanataco and Chubby's Tacos have both been recognized by Scoutology on the "Top 17 North Carolina Taco Places."

CNN Money Features American Underground Entrepreneurship

""Great business ideas aren't getting the opportunity to come to market because the tech community of startups and investors lacks diversity," said Adam Klein, chief strategist with the Durham, N.C.-based accelerator."

— "Wanted: Female Entrepreneurs," CNN Money

Durham Among Best Small Cities to Eat in America

"You don’t have to travel to New York or San Francisco for first-rate food. Now, cities like Spokane and Omaha, Raleigh and Durham and Columbus are serving up similarly ambitious meals"

"Why Small Cities Are the Best Places to Eat in America," Josh Ozersky, The Wall Street Journal

Durham is The Next Place You Should Eat in America

Durham was recognized among "6 Great Small Cities for Food Lovers," by The Wall Street Journal, mentioning Durham restaurants Piedmont, Vin Rouge, Juju, Nana's, and G2B Gastropub.

NC Triangle Dining Features Bar Virgile

"You'll find Bar Virgile to be a comforting watering hole.  Polished dark wood bar with a tall wall of bottles behind it, Bar Virgile also has a small dining room for a short menu of appetizers, charcuterie, and sandwiches, cool!  The tight kitchen is in the corner next to the bar and you can watch all the action unfold from the end seats. And don't miss the cool stamped metal ceiling in the bar area, very cool."

— "First Take: Bar Virgile, A New Food And Drink Option Near DPAC," NC Triangle Dining

Durham's Taste 2015 Featured on Huffington Post

Durham's Taste 2015 Festival was featured in the Huffington Post's "Kick off Spring at a Southern Food Festival."

Rose's Owner in Raman Feature

Justin Meddis, butcher and owner of Durham's Rose's Meat Market & Sweet Shop was featured in "18 Bucket-List Raman Shops Every Noodle Lover Should Try" on First We Feast.

Durham Franchisee Featured in Entrepreneur

"Born in a small town in South Africa, Shashi Patel knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. After he moved to Durham, N.C., he had the chance to open a business of his own, a Family Fare supermarket. Patel didn't know much about the industry, but by opening a franchise, he was able to tap into the resources of a wider network."

—"I Had More Entrepreneurial Passion Than Experience. So, I Became a Franchisee," Kate Taylor, Entrepreneur

Core 77 Profiles Durham's ShopBot Handibot

"For something that comes in a box, the Handibot is about as outside-of-the-box as you can get in terms of how we think of power tools. ShopBot Tools' ingenious, diminutive invention is the world's first mass-market digital power tool, and since its successful Kickstarter launch in 2013, has swiftly made its way into the hands of a diverse user base."

- "Digital Power Tools That Change the Way We Design & Build: The Handibot," Core77, Rain Noe

Blue Note Grill and Dame's Chicken & Waffles Featured by Movoto

The The Blue Note Grill was recognized at #2 for its barbecue, live music and pulled pork sandwich; and Dame's Chicken & Waffles was recognized at #9 for its chicken & waffles with "delicious flavored shmear"

—"15 Restaurants In North Carolina That Will Blow The Taste Buds Out Of Your Mouth," Movoto

Local Palate Features Dashi

"On perhaps the coldest night Durham, North Carolina, has had in years, there was no meal more fitting than a bowl of steaming noodles in broth."

—"Dashi Does Raman Right in Durham," The Local Palate

Saveur Features Local Chef's Favorite Restaurants

Saveur featured a selection of favorite restaurants from local chef Ashley Christensen in "Tour Guide: Ashley Christensen's Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill." Durham restaurants Vin Rouge, Dashi, and Mami Nora's were featured.

Loaf Bakery Bread Featured in Bon Appetit Bread Primer

Loaf Bakery's Cumin Gruyère bread was featured in Bon Appétit Magazine's Bread Primer feature in the March, 2015 edition.

The Collaboreat Features Monuts Donuts

"For me, breakfast and bagel sandwiches conjure bad memories of generic fast-food English muffins or stale bagels with a thin layer of cooked egg beaters inside, but, luckily, Monuts, a hip restaurant, bakery and bar in Durham, NC, has restored my faith in this the hearty breakfast (or lunch) staple."

"A Hearty Breakfast Staple in Durham, NC," Amber Watson, The Collaboreat

Getaways for Grownups Profiles Fairview Dining Room

"Pull up the winding driveway and as the trees part to reveal the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, it’s hard to not to feel like you’ve arrived. Not only is this the place that houses the Fairview Dining Room—tell anyone in town you’re having dinner there and their eyebrows rise in approval—but it’s grand and swanky in the “Your Rich Great Uncle’s Country Club” sort of way."

— "The Fairview Dining Room," Hope S. Philbrick, Getaways for Grownups

Getaways for Grownups Profiles Morehead Manor

"I like dogs, but love cats. So when I entered this bed and breakfast and was greeted by a cat, I automatically reached out to pet him (or her?). I’d been traveling for nearly three weeks and this cat, as it purred and weaved around my legs, instantly made me feel at ease and at home."

— "Morehead Manor," Hope S. Philbrick, Getaways for Grownups

Cultured Grub Recommends Cocoa Cinnamon

"I did have truly good hot chocolate in a U.S. café last year, however. I was living in Durham, North Carolina and popped into Cocoa Cinnamon, a shoebox of a joint specializing in “drinking chocolate”—their version of Spanish chocolate. I drank a deliriously good (and remarkably tiny) cup of dense single-origin Kallari chocolate from Ecuador. I think I was floating two feet off the ground from the sheer pleasure of it all—not to mention the caffeine—when I left."

"Spicy Hot Chocolate with Orange Zest and Whipped Cream," Cultured Grub

Our State Highlights Durham Sandwiches

Our State Magazine highlighted the Fried Catfish Sandwich from Saltbox Seafood Joint, the Grilled Cheese from American Meltdown in its Southern Sandwich Travel Guide.

Our State Profiles American Tobacco Revitalization

"After falling into a state of disrepair, American Tobacco Factory has been revitalized as American Tobacco Campus, a center of culture in Durham."

—"American Tobacco Factory Revitalized," Susan Stafford Kelly, Our State

Virgin Atlantic Profiles Seth Gross from Bull City Burger and Pompieri

"A new restaurant in Durham, North Carolina, is turning up the heat on pizza pies by taking a fine-dining approach to this oft-believed-to-be-anything-but cuisine. Pompieri Pizza, under the guidance of Chef-Owner Seth Gross, make everything they use on their pizzas in-house, using locally sourced ingredients from farmers, ranchers, food purveyors and mills as close to home as possible."

—"Seth Gross: Durham's Locally Sourced Chef," Jason Frye, Virgin Atlantic Blog

CityLab profiles Durham's Organic Transit

"Rob Cotter sits in his small office on a side street in Durham, North Carolina...Two years ago, Cotter launched Organic Transit, a startup that designs, builds, and sells the ELF, an "electric, light, and fun" vehicle that's essentially an enclosed recumbent tricycle."

— "In-Between a Bike and a Car" Iza Wojciechowska, CityLab

Eater Buzzes About Upcoming Durham Restaurant and Hotel

"Over a year ago, James Beard Award-winning North Carolina chef Andrea Reusing dropped the bombshell news that...she would finally be opening a second restaurant — in downtown Durham, North Carolina...Durham's food scene has been steadily growing. In the city once known for its textile and tobacco mills, a boom of new, locally-focused restaurants have caught the eyes of major publications like the New York Times and Bon Appétit."

— "Lantern's Andrea Reusing Is Creating the 'Community Living Room' Durham, NC Needs," Hillary Dixler, Eater

Business Inside Profiles "Awesome" American Tobacco Campus

"Durham, North Carolina has long been a center for innovation in tech, thanks in part to the universities of the Research Triangle. But now the city of 286,000 is becoming a hub for young companies looking to get their ideas off the ground."

— "Check out the awesome campus that is transforming Durham, North Carolina into a startup hub," Madeline Stone, Business Insider

Durham recognized as one of 7 cities that should be on your 2015 travel list

"Durham is one of the most unique towns, not just in North Carolina but in the South, thanks to incredible food, a relaxed vibe, and cool warehouse buildings (this is an old tobacco city). It’s full of perfect spots to enjoy nature, listen to local bands, and taste finely brewed beer."

— "Why These 7 Cities Should Be On Your 2015 Travel List," Refinery29

New York Times Features Triangle Women in Food

"The North Carolina food sisterhood stretches out beyond restaurants, too, into pig farming, flour milling and pickling. Women run the state’s pre-eminent pasture-raised meat and organic produce distribution businesses and preside over its farmers’ markets. They influence food policy and lead the state’s academic food studies. And each fall, the state hosts the nation’s only retreat for women in the meat business."

— "The North Carolina Way," Kim Severson, New York Times

Curbed Profiles American Tobacco

"In the 20th century, Durham, North Carolina...was once home to the world's largest tobacco company, a conglomerate responsible at the time for producing roughly 90 percent of the nation's cigarettes."

—"Rehabbing an Abandoned, 1M-Square-Foot Tobacco Plant," Curbed

BuzzFeed features Cocoa Cinnamon

BuzzFeed has recognized Cocoa Cinnamon as one of the "24 U.S. Coffee Shops to Visit Before You Die."

Fullsteam Brewery Beer Recognized Among South's Best Winter Beers

"Working Man’s Lunch (Chocolate Ale): An homage to the pairing of RC Cola with a MoonPie, this ale is brewed with Raleigh-made chocolate. Margo Knight Metzger, director of the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, likes to float ice cream in it."

—"The South's Best Winter Beers," Hannah Hayes, Southern Living The Daily South

Stadium Journey Recognizes DBAP On top 100 Stadium Experiences of 2014

"The DBAP was built after Camden Yards in Baltimore started the new "classic" ballpark era, and is similar to many MLB parks of this era. The stadium is built in the city, and recent development has created a scenic skyline all around the park."

—"Top 100 Stadium Experiences of 2014," Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey

Top 10 Brunches in Durham

"A mere decade ago, Durham was known as the awkward and potentially dangerous member of the set of cities that makes up North Carolina’s Triangle region. Now however, its downtown has reversed and its restaurant scene keeps racking up accolades from such notable outlets as The New York Times, Gourmet, Southern Living, and Bon Appetit. Use this guide as a starting point in Durham for everyone’s favourite weekend meal: brunch."

"The Top 10 Brunches in Durham, NC: A Foodie's Guide," Lani Seelinger, The Culture Trip

Durham Art Gallery Owner Profiled by Arts Now

"Artist Bill Koeb likes randomness, the “unintentional and unnecessary in a work.” Elements of his work begin with stories, like the time he saw a hawk fly in front of an 18-wheeler to grab something off the road. “That was the most amazing thing ever,” he says. That random incident inspired him to take photos of the road and produce drawings."

—"An artists' inspiration: Bill Koeb," Alex Thomsen, Arts Now

Nasher Miro Exhibit Included on "Ten Best Exhibitions of 2014"

"The show is any nerdy curator’s wet dream; the paintings are mostly scattered across the country in small museums, so it’s an essential collection of work."

"Ten Best Exhibitions of 2014," Paddy Johnson, ArtFCity