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

The Augusta Chronicle - DPAC

"Augusta Tomorrow folks have visited Szostak’s work in Durham, N.C., several times and have come away more than impressed. They’ve been wowed. And for good reason: Little Durham has turned itself around, largely through the savvy design and professional operation of its $46 million performing arts center – which is, incredibly, the busiest in America."

- Changing the Skyline, The Augusta Chronicle

Independent Weekly - Kathy Griffin, Durham

"Kathy Griffin: “I thought you were giving me the hot, inside-Durham scoop!”
Craig Lindy:  "Hot, inside-Durham scoop?" First of all, I live in Raleigh!
Kathy Griffin: “Oh, I'm sorry! Big difference, Craig! Big difference!”"



- D-lister Kathy Griffin talks about the wealth of topical material she'll bring to DPAC, Independent Weekly

Meetings Focus - Durham Meetings & Entertainment

"Three quarters of Research Triangle Park is within [Durham's] boundaries, and so is Duke University. This means about 4,000 tech, medical and education meetings find Durham’s side of The Triangle a great destination choice annually. 'Durham has a unique sense of place—not a typical city with a downtown district and lots of big buildings,' says Corey D. Bizzell, director of group sales and services for the Durham CVB. 'We are doing lots of revitalization, particularly of our former industrial areas like the Tobacco District, where groups now find great event spaces, restaurants and entertainment.'"

- The Tried-and-True Triangle, Meetings Focus

Broadway World - West Side Story at DPAC

"Everybody knows West Side Story. Even if you have never seen the show before, even if you haven’t seen the movie, you know West Side Story. The iconic show is so enmeshed in American culture that it is inescapable. For good reason, I might add. West Side Story is landmark theater, marking the genesis of the modern musical. And it’s at the Durham Performing Arts Center now."

- BWW Reviews: West Side Story Heats Up Durham, Broadway World

About That Car - Durham, NC

"Lexus has never dispensed an egg, in my view, and there’s no hen in the DNA of its RX 350... used during a recent excursion around delightfully quirky and creatively cool Durham, N.C. This is a Lexus, for sure... Drive-wise, the sport-ute ably carted friend and me to the sticks to Elodie Farms, where we first-class noshed on — famished? turn away now — three courses including a delicate goat cheese salad and sublime vinaigrette; pan-seared yellowtail snapper with candied yams, brussel sprouts and beets; and braised pork leg with mushroom and corn risotto plus an exquisite flower salad. Awesome... This is a nice in-and-out, easy-parking about-town car, as evinced during a congested run to the popular Durham Performing Arts Center, in a revived downtown, to see the vaunted Rockettes. Later, vehicle agility and a good steering ratio got us easily parked at Duke University, where renown classical pianist Greg McCallum put on a fine — and free! — recital."

Yes! Weekly - DPAC

"Since opening in 2008, the Durham Performing Arts Center, or DPAC, has become the fourth highest grossing performing arts center in the nation, greatly benefiting downtown Durham, said United Arts Council of Greensboro President Tom Philion. When Brown was asked how much money a center could generate, he said it was easier to say how much Greensboro was losing to DPAC.

“DPAC has successfully captured the market,” said Philion, adding that around 6 percent of the Durham audience traveled from Greensboro. “A performing arts center is critical to this city remaining competitive whether you are talking about attracting employers or people looking at Greensboro as a place they want to live.”

In order to remain competitive, Brown said, it is more important to build a performing arts center quickly than where exactly it is constructed. “The longer we wait… we’re going to be embarrassed one day if we don’t have the facility,” he said."

- City exploring options for a performing arts center, Yes! Weekly

Greensboro News & Record - DPAC

"To see what downtown Greensboro boosters have in mind for an entertainment venue, it's only necessary to look about 55 miles east. The Durham Performing Arts Center, or DPAC, has been a hit... DPAC has contributed to a strong revitalization of Durham's downtown, adding a major attraction to its sports and entertainment district. Could a downtown GPAC -- Greensboro Performing Arts Center -- match that success?"

- Editorial: Only Downtown, Greensboro News & Record

Times-News - Rockettes at DPAC

"Seeing The Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular live was one of those “bucket list” items that I never thought I’d check off. But thanks to the touring production, which is performing live at the Durham Performing Arts Center, The American Tobacco District, 123 Vivian St., now through Nov. 27, others can mark it off their to-do lists, too, without having to travel to New York City... From the snow falling in the theater to streamers being shot out into the crowd, there’s enough going on to keep even the most active child (or adult) entertained... The entire time, I couldn’t stop smiling. The Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular just has that sort of effect on audiences across the world. It’s a holiday tradition you don’t want to miss."

-  Rockettes serve up holiday cheer in Durham, Times-News

Consequence of Sound - "Weird Al" at DPAC

"'Weird Al' is notable in the music industry for courteously receiving permission from artists before using their material in a humorous fashion, and even more so for providing a discography of laughs beyond any rational measure…and last night he brought the weirdness to Durham, NC without fail... It even ended shortly after 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night. Those of you in Raleigh who missed it, you have no excuses."

- Live Review: “Weird Al” Yankovic at Durham, NC’s DPAC (10/9), Consequence of Sound

The Salt Lake Tribune - DPAC

"Cavernous performing arts centers — similar to Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker’s proposed 2,500-seat mega-playhouse — buoy business, pose no threat to traditional arts groups and are thriving. So say theater experts from Denver; Durham, N.C.; and Dayton, Ohio... "We have continued to have success and sellouts, even in this economy," said Reginald Johnson, interim director of the Durham Department of Community Development."

- Big theaters are big winners, experts tell Salt Lake leaders, The Salt Lake Tribune