The top 10 things to do in Durham this weekend, Oct. 16-18
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Our curated list of the best things to do the weekend of October 16th - October 18th. You've worked hard this week-go have a little fun.
Experience Third Friday in Durham
Even art un-enthusiasts will become fans of all the incredible and unconventional art when Third Friday takes over the Bull City. Durham is an artsy city, but during every Third Friday of the month it gets particularly full of eclectic art and people. Artists and audiences collide in a cultural explosion at Third Friday, a day dedicated to self-guided tours of Durham's artistic hotspots. There are a ton of things to see and visit during Durham's art explosion and locations can change each time, so it's probably best to keep up with their calendar to stay up to date on where to venture and art-hang! Durham Fresh Daily has some useful maps too.
Highlights: Golden Belt-originally a historic textile mill that has now been repurposed into an aggregate of lofts, studios, restaurants and shops-comes alive with music, art exhibits, local talents and more. If you wanna learn up on the local arts scene or just on art in general, this is your go-to spot. Other must-dos include Durham Arts Council, Pleaides Gallery, the Carrack, and the Makery.
Don't know where to begin? Don't worry. We recommend newcomers just mosey around town and follow wherever music and bright colors take you. You're bound to find something amazing! (Photo via @the_carrack)
Fancy yourself a cocktail enthusiast? Then you won't want to miss this. Join Counting House in the underground bank vault for themed pop up cocktail sessions! "The Counting House definitely isn't new to getting fancy, but this takes it to a new level of swank! Starting Friday, September 18, the restaurant and bar inside the 21c Museum Hotel will be hosting underground small batch cocktail sessions and small bites in the vault. Remember how 21c used to be a bank? Yeah, they're making the very best of it! Pop in for a night of delicious, themed sips while feeling like a million bucks... in a room where millions of bucks used to reside. It does't get fancier than this!
This event is first come first serve, so get there early! (Photo via @ericrowell)
Movies and wine go together like Hall & Oates, Burt & Ernie and PB&J. Soak in some summer breezes on the lawn while sipping local wine from Doyle's Vineyard-there's nothing more romantic! The quaint Doyle's Vinyard opens its lush outdoor space to moonlit movie gazing. And did we mention it's free? Roll up at 7:30p (movies start right after sunset, but you'll wanna get there early and claim your space!), bring some lawn chairs, and enjoy blockbuster classics with local vino (or soda and water for purchase if you're packin' some little ones), food truck desserts, and wine slushies! There's no classier way to beat the summer heat than sip sweet vino while frolicking in the grass. (Photo via @doylesvineyard)
Toast to the Triangle at Vintage Home South
Vintage Home South, an adorable home decor boutique, is feelin' frisky and wants to throw a party-for three days straight! Vintage Home South, a new addition to the shops that line Ninth St., is celebrating their three month anniversary! They're setting up a weekend full of fabulousness-a chance to win one of four $250 gift cards, see unique works of art and meet up-and-coming local artists, taste the latest offerings from local artisans, and check the shop's freshest furniture and home dcor finds, and more!
Now, about those gift cards-Vintage Home South will be giving away four $250 gift cards to customers who enter the giveaway while shopping in the store anytime October 16th-18th. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 19th. Pretty sweet, huh?
Local Artists and artisans on-site include Joie De Vegan (vegan pastries you might've tried at Cocoa Cinnamon), Good Heavens Confections (gourmet marshmallows, yum!), Boricua Soul (peruvian-style eats), watercolor painters, ceramicists, sculptures, and more!
Hours: Friday 11a-7p, Saturday 10a-6p, Sunday 10a-5p. RSVP here to make sure you make it on the list! (Photo via @vintagehomesouth)
Pre-Game Your Half-Marathon with a Carb Crawl
Whether you're in for 1, 5 or 13.1 miles, lace up your racin' shoes for gorgeous, autumn race. Oh, and you won't want to miss out on the yummy, downtown carbo-loading either. The Quintiles Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo is back in action for a third year of joyful jogging. Durhamites are hitting the streets for a half-marathon for Habitat for Humanity and soak in some of the finest scenery of the city.
After packet pick-up 11a-6p on Saturday, prep for the next day's race with a downtown Carb Crawl around yummy, local eateries. On Sunday, half-marathoning and five-mile fun kicks off at 7:30a next to American Tobacco Campus. Stick around for fifteen more minutes if you're just interested in the 1-mile fun run, though! Think you might need a little motivation to get you to the finish line? No worries-there will be five bands jamming along the route that goes around downtown, Trinity Park and Duke's campus.
Post-race food truck eats, beer garden goodness, and kids' zone craziness will be all over the DPAC lawn. Check out the race fest map for more info.
Watch out! Online registration closes at noon on October 16. Your last chance to sign up for this Bull City bash is at the expo on Saturday. Park your cars at the American Tobacco Campus North and South decks. (Photo via @liveloveand_run)
Bike for a Cause at Tour de Brew
Combine bikes, brews, giving clean water to those who need it and WHAM-you've got yourself an amazing day! Tour de Brew is making a stop in Durham. This national charity event event is inviting the Bull City to bring together the biking community and the brew community to join forces in supporting Water For Good, an initiative that provides clean water to people in need. Have fun, drink well and do good-what could be better?
They day consists of a ton of biking between local breweries, raising funds (big time donors get big time beer and biking prizes!) and enjoying brews and camaraderie from Fullsteam, Bull City Burger & Brewery, GrowlerGrlz, New Belgium, Bull City Ciderworks, Breprint, Ponysaurus, Triangle Brewing Co. and Bull Durham Beer Company. The events go down like this:
9:00am registration opens-get some coffee and food and get set to ride!
10:30am Peak Ride (55miles)
11:30am Bull Ride 1
12:00pm block party on Rigsbee Ave begins!
12:30pm Bull Ride 2
1:00pm Burgermuda Triangle Ride
1:30pm Run the Bull
5:00pm Raffle / Giveaways
8:00pm Block Party Closes
Find more info on how to register for bike rides, donate to Water for Good or win a dope bike here! (Photo via @masongeigerfilm)
Party Up at the Makery with RUNAWAY
Come to the Makery for a community gathering of pretty cool peeps. RUNAWAY, a local clothing brand (think, the popular DURM t-shirts and snapbacks), is throwing down with a dance party.
We love it when friends help each other out, and we really love this. The Makery is going up this Saturday with snacks, live graffiti, dancing, a DJ and RUNAWAY, a popular, Durham-based clothing brand (these entrepreneurs are responsible for all the DURM swag you've seen around town and all kinds of amazing, mixed media art). RUNAWAY is also running a Kickstarter campaign to open up their first official brick-and-mortar in Downtown in December.
Support local, jam out, and be a part of the vibrant creative community in Durham. (Photo via @runaway_brand)
Movies and wine go together like Hall & Oates, Burt & Ernie and PB&J. Soak in some summer breezes on the lawn while sipping local wine from Doyle's Vineyard-there's nothing more romantic! The quaint Doyle's Vinyard opens its lush outdoor space to moonlit movie gazing. And did we mention it's free? Roll up at 7:30p (movies start right after sunset, but you'll wanna get there early and claim your space!), bring some lawn chairs, and enjoy blockbuster classics with local vino (or soda and water for purchase if you're packin' some little ones), food truck desserts, and wine slushies! There's no classier way to beat the summer heat than sip sweet vino while frolicking in the grass. (Photo via @doylesvineyard)
Go Berzerk at the Carrboro Bazaar
End your weekend on a high note with The Bazaar Arts and Craft Market, an eclectic array of vendors, food trucks, and more. "Mosey down to Carrboro for an artsy, artisan, local-infused spectacle. The Bazaar Arts and Craft Market takes over Carrboro Town Commons for an afternoon of eclectic markets, vendors, music, food trucks, and tons of goodies for you to take home. There's so much to see, buy, eat and sip-you're bound to fall in love with something (if not everything) here!
The Bazaar Arts and Craft Market will be open 1-6p on the third Sunday of the month. (Photo via @sanghateahouse)
Pop Up Pumpkin Dinner with Piedmont
Dine on seasonal, gourd-y deliciousness with the chefs of Piedmont to benefit SEEDS, a local non-profit whose mission is to bring sustainable and urban gardening into the spotlight. Dig into a fall meal prepared by the experts at Piedmont. This pumpkin-infused extravaganza features five "black & orange" courses. Here's what you have to look forward to:
- Butternut squash, black garlic, baby mustards, sunflower, honey
- Garganelli pasta, squid ink, egg yolk, brioche, tobago peppers, pumpkin
- Striped bass, forbidden rice, turmeric, arugula, carrots
- Pork loin & belly, hakurei turnips, vegetable ash, rutabaga, pine jus
- Sweet potato custard, black sesame, coffee, ginger and butternut squash
- Themed cocktails by Durham Distillery
This dinner, provided by the chefs at Piedmont, will be held at SEEDS headquarters. Tickets are $60 (extra donations welcome) and proceeds will benefits SEEDS to support their mission in promoting principles and practice of sustainable agriculture, organic gardening, food security and environmental steward ship (they're responsible for all the adorable urban gardens you see around Downtown, so you better be thankful!). (Photo via @enstijl)
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