The Weekend Has Landed - April 30th

Welcome to the last weekend in March! After spending all day today at an instructional technology conference, I'm left with precious little time to compile today's Weekend Has Landed. So instead of the full menu, here are a few selections:

Chatham County Line @ Ambacco -These guys are a Triangle based bluegrass band that have become quite popular over in Europe. Fresh off their international tour, they'll be playing a free outdoors concert at the picturesque Tobacco Campus. Better head out now, they are starting up their set at 6pm. That's where I'll be headed as soon as I hit "publish post."

Preservation Durham’s 14th Annual Old Durham Home Tour - Hope Valley is the neighborhood destination for this year's tour, the first year with their recently approved historical district designation. Saturday from 10am-5pm.

7th Annual Strawberry Festival @ Old North Durham Park - A fundraiser that benefits Old North Durham Park. Families can enjoy face painting, balloon tricks, live performances by the TROSA Band, Jaafar, Highway 54 and a variety of other entertainers. Guglhupf Bakery will have shortcake that you can top with the locally grown strawberries. Saturday from 11am-5pm.

At Tobacco Road, Watch the Bulls from the Bar instead of the Bleachers

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe has opened their doors today, in a location that will instantly challenge the incumbents for "best outdoor dining." The patio is right above the scoreboard of the DBAP, with plenty of tables and a soon to be added outdoor bar. And while the baseball game may be delayed by rain, your dinner will not, as most of the tables are shaded under an overhang.

We had the opportunity to attend the pre-opening dinner last night, which for the sake of full-disclosure included complementary food. They were very open toward receiving feedback, both positive and negative, and have been genuinely interested in being involved in the community.

While we will leave the professional food reviews to the good folks at Carpe Durham, all four of us in attendance were quite pleased with our meal. I now understand why their name contains "Sports Cafe" as opposed to "Sports Bar," as the extensive menu offerings, heavy with locally sourced ingredients, appeals to a broad spectrum of patrons. The beer list looks promising, and they also have a fully stocked bar.

If you'd like to give Tobacco Road a try and contribute to a good cause at the same time, they are hosting an After Work Social this Thursday, from 7-10pm. Band Together, an organization that raises funds for various charities through musical events, will be there spreading awareness and selling tickets for their next main event. There will be free appateasers, drink specials, and live entertainment from the Transit Vocal Band.

Earth Day Weekend Has Landed - April 23rd

Theatrical Triumvirate! The following shows will be running through the weekend:

Boston Marriage @ Common Ground Theatre - This brilliantly clever and rhythmic play, by multi-award winning playwright David Mamet, leads us into the world of two surly old friends living on society's fringe. Fri & Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm. $16.

Oldest Living Confederate Widow: Her Confession @ Manbites Dog Theatre - A remarkable woman recounts her life story in this harrowing and hilarious comedy about wars, both Civil and domestic. Based on Allan Gurganus' classic best-selling novel. Fri & Sat at 8:15pm, Sun at 3:15pm. $17.

WICKED: The Untold Story of the Witches Of Oz @ The DPAC - A Broadway and West End musical, with songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. The story is based on the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, a parallel novel of the 1939 film of L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz.

*Friday*

Live Music @ Broad Street Cafe - Griffanzo at 8pm, Decoration Ghost at 10pm, Simeon at 11pm.

Jews and Catholics CD Release Party @ Duke Coffeehouse - Featuring sets by Gray Young and Mount Moriah. 9pm.

Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos @ Papa Mojo's - Mel Melton is one classic blues harmonica musician who is known for his rare & impeccable Zydeco & Cajun song writing. 9:30pm/$10.

Live Music @ The Pinhook - Double Negative at midnight, Easy Action at 11pm, Grids at 10pm.

*Saturday*

Old North Durham Yard Sale - The Old North Durham Neighborhood Association is hosting a massive multi-family yardsale from 8am-noon.

Hats, Cars & Blues @ Northgate Mall - The Hat Lounge is hosting an event that will be showcasing vintage cars from the Triangle Thunder Cruisers all day from 10am to 9pm, and John Dee Holeman will perform from 2pm to 4pm.

Durham Earth Day Festival 2010 @ CCB Plaza - Celebrate our sense of community, raise awareness of current local and global environmental issues, actively engage in hands-on learning activities, and celebrate our environmental success. Festival goers will participate in "green" activities and demos; learn about many green practices and products at the Sustainability Expo and Earth Art Market; and enjoy great music, food and much more! Noon-5pm.


Live Music @ Broad Street Cafe - Paul Daniel at 8pm, Paul Edelman at 10pm.

Live Music @ Duke Coffeehouse - Featuring Red Collar, Lonnie Walker, and Bellafea. 9pm/$5.

Bobby Hinton @ Papa Mojo's - A regional icon, this legendary bluesman has delighted audiences around the globe for years, playing both originals and standards with heart and finesse. 9:30pm/$8.

Live Music @ The Pinhook - lil yit at 12:15pm, D.U.N. at 11:30pm, Alexi at 10:45pm, Thomahawk at 10pm.

*Sunday*

Science of Coffee @ Museum of Life + Science - Join local coffee baristas and Museum staff for a delightful morning of coffee, live music, hors d'oeuvres and conversation. Try your hand at our coffee experiments and activities and speak with local coffee experts about the history of coffee, farming and roasting methods, ecological issues, medicinal properties and brewing methods. 10am-11:30am/$15/Pre-reg. req.

Randy McAllister @ Papa Mojo's - This Grammy-nominated Texas singer, harmonica player and drummer excels at delivering his well-crafted lyrics with a Lone Star attitude. Special Sunday appearance. 6pm/$15.

Durham Art Walk!

Venues across our fine city will be bustling today and tomorrow with in support of the Durham Art Walk. Over 200 artists will be featured on the tour, displayed at over 50 different places.



Here's the performance schedule:

Saturday, April 17, 2010

10:00am – 10:30am Lowes Grove Middle School Drumline
10:30am – 11:30am Soulles Dogs (Blues)
11:30am - 11:45am Break
11:45am – 12:30pm Al Strong Duo (Jazz)
12:30pm – 1:15pm Braima Moiwai (African Drumming)
1:15pm – 1:30pm Break
1:30pm – 1:45pm ROSE Dancers
1:45pm - 2:00pm Break
2:00pm – 2:30pm The Ladies of Black Poetry Theatre
2:30pm – 2:45pm Break
2:45pm – 3:15pm Tyrand (R&B)
3:15pm – 3:30pm Break
3:30pm – 4:00pm Hannan Sultan (Middle Eastern Dance)
4:00pm – 5:00pm Luego (Latin)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

1:00pm – 2:00pm Ron Baxter (Jazz)
2:00pm – 2:15pm Break
2:15pm – 3:00pm Ed Stevenson & The Paco Band (Latin)
3:00pm – 3:15pm Break
3:15pm – 3:30pm Triangle Twirlers (Baton)
3:30pm – 3:50pm Break
3:50pm – 4:00pm Patricia Taborn’s Modeling Agency
4:00pm – 5:00pm Lady Jaisun (Jazz)

Third Friday Weekend Has Landed - April 16th

Third Friday is here, and the weather forecast for this weekend is "WHY ARE YOU STILL INDOORS??"

There is a full line-up of events and open studios, including photography, screen prints, and live jazz. Kung-Fu Tattoo will have an encore art hanging featuring the works of Jason Strutz and Franco.

Looking for some theatre? Check out Oldest Living Confederate Widow: Her Confession @ Manbites Dog Theatre, Boston Marriage @ Common Ground Theatre.


Like dance? Ballet Hispanico will be at the historic Carolina Theatre.



If live music is your thing, Free Electric State will be having their CD Release Party @ The Pinhook, along with local stalwarts A Rooster For The Masses, and Beloved Binge.


If you're feeling charitable, head on over to The Broad Street Cafe and attend the Benefit for Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County.

It's time for me to enjoy the weather and weekend, I hope y'all do to!

The Weekend Has Landed - April 9, 2010

Well, DBL left town again, saddling me with the weekend has landed duties. This week I'm even doing it on time!

The most notable thing going on this weekend is the Full Frame Documentary Festival (which has actually been going on since yesterday). Some "Durham Socialite picks" (meaning ones that I'm interested in seeing) are Shouting Fire: Stories From the Edge of Free Speech, Live Nude Girls UNITE!, 12th & Delaware, and Videocracy. This event is one of one of Durham's best annual events, and you should check it out. There are films all weekend, surely something interests you. The full schedule is here.

As always, there is a wide selection of events happening this weekend, check out the Socialite Calendar for the full list.

Other notable things this weekend are...

Durham band All Your Science will be playing at the Pinhook on Saturday night at 9pm. They seem very excited about it over at Pinhook, and with good reason, they are a good band.

Saturday night there is a "Training Session" for the Triangle Brewing Co. pub crawl. You need to RSVP, see Rick's message on their blog. That starts at 6pm and has live music and BBQ.

For more drinking fun, stop by Wine Authorities between 12 and 3 in the afternoon on Saturday for some free wine tasting (and education). They included the following poem in their latest newsletter, I thought it was worth sharing:

Springtiiiiime… in North Carolinaaaaa.

Pollen and flowerrrrs... hot, cold and showerrrs...

Perfect in betweeeeen, the people are not mean,

It's great to reside in ole Cackalacky!

On Friday you could head on over to Common Ground Theatre for some improv. Or head down to Broad Street Cafe for some more live music.

Sunday, head back to Common Ground to see "Black Poetry Theatre Presents: Confessions of a Lounge Singer." More mellow music on Sunday evening too, with soul at MarVell and jazz at Broad Street Cafe.

And if that weren't enough, it's going to be beautiful this weekend. Hopefully the pollen has peaked and will not be bad. Enjoy everyone!

Amanda's Last Weekend Has Landed - April 2, 2010

Well, DBL is out of town again, so once again it falls on me, shaunj, to do our weekly feature, The Weekend Has Landed. Once again I am doing it in not only an unconventional way, but late. The lateness is to be expected. This weekend is the last weekend for Amanda, the wonderful bartender at Whiskey, and I was obligated to stop by and see her this evening. You should stop by tonight or tomorrow to bid her a fond farewell. We wish her the best on her future endeavors and hope to see her from time to time on the other side of the bar at Whiskey.

Well, as usual, there is a plethora of live music this weekend. Check out the Durham Social Calendar for a full list. Highlights include Amelia's Mechanics, Spider Bags 7", Pistil, Scientific Superstar, Anna Rose Beck, and The Whispers and Stephanie Mills.

There is some great theatre happening this weekend. Transactors Improv is back at Common Ground Theatre as wel as Fatmouth Improv.

Of course, most of you will likely be interested in the NCAA Basketball tournament. We here at Durhamsocialite aren't basketball fans, but Duke University is in the Final Four for the first time since 2004 (I think) so that is big news. Where to watch? Well, Dain's Place on 9th street is always a good option, as is Tyler's Taproom and Doyle's Sports Bar (a durhamsocialite favorite, with great bartenders like Chris and Adam).

For more (and different) sports action, the Durham Bulls are starting their pre-season. This Saturday they face off against the MLB team the Tampa Bay Rays... details.

If it's movies you're into, the Carolina Theater is having a fundraiser this weekend. Their Retrofantasma Fundraiser is this weekend, and it looks mighty interesting.

As always, the Durham Bike Co-Op is having open shop hours this Sunday. Stop by and volunteer for one of Durham's great non-profits.

Well, that's all I've got for this weekend. Check out the calendar for more. Try to keep those allergies under control and we'll see you next week. Cheers!