Bull City

Enough about love lets talk about some gritty shit, the streets that made our hero who he is today. Having moved through many circles and phases in his own life it's hard to pigeonhole our hero's scene; for like a ninja chameleon he slides into any situation, blending in or standing out as need be. At any given moment he could be found in the company of bounty hunters, hustlers, academics, rap moguls and rock gods, pushermen, improvisational masters, con-artists, sages, pirate cooks, reclusive painters and even the occasional corporate stooge. It's this diversity that Durham owes its status as an up and coming cultural center to.  

From his portal into the world at Durham Regional, down the oak lined avenues of Trinity Park to a one story white house on Monmouth, this area and surrounding neighborhoods would become central to an emerging voice and ideology still taking shape. In his travels, rarely has our hero seen the type of hometown pride people from the Durty feel. A common, inherent awareness of being in a special place at a special time.  Part of something big.

It has become all the more obvious in recent years. The downtown revitalization has given the area an upscale cosmopolitan edge without loosing the blue collar, southern worker town feel that the city built around. The reconciliation of the traditional and the modern with regards to the architecture is remarkable; old warehouses and high ceilinged curing houses turned into spacious loft apartments, open air offices and elegant dining spaces. Music venues, art galleries and independent theaters just scratch the surface of the cultural offerings available.  Not to mention the illest summertime ballpark anywhere. 

Perhaps the newest addition is the skate park smack in the middle of downtown, featuring a steady stream of boarders, bladers, bikers and whatever-the-fuck- those wiggly things that kids are riding these days are.  Stroll through adjacent Durham Central Park, past the bronze turtle sculptures made in the local foundry just feet away and cross the street to the Durham Farmer's Market (where the kids would board before construction of the skate park).  At the farmer's market you find locally grown organic everything and on Saturday Mornings, the Only Burger.

One of the biggest draws to the area IS the booming culinary scene.  In many of the top restaurants, the seasonal menus are directly inspired by what's being grown in the regional farms. This model of utilizing local produce and livestock keeps food fresh and works in favor of the local economy. But you can find top of the line independently owned and operated restaurants of any kind, many of which have been around for years and established loyal, cult-like followings. Whatever your globals tastes might crave, the dining scene has you covered.   

The presence of one of the country's top research university ensures an intellectual community coupled with the youthful vibe a college town should have. Shit's poppin' off foreal, and at a rate that must be seen to be believed. Our hero's time home has been a calming reminder that things are moving in the right direction. However at this juncture, it's his global alliances that need forging.