Bull City

I find myself defending Durham a lot. I am constantly saying, “Durham is not dangerous” or “I promise, it’s very hipster and trendy now” or “I have never seen someone get shot in Durham” and “yes, it’s safe.” I have lived in Durham my entire life and yes, Downtown Durham used to be considered dangerous. However, in the last 10 years, Durham has drastically changed. Most of Durham is peppered with trendy coffee shops, hipster bars, and delicious restaurants (we were voted Tastiest Town of the South).

Most of Downtown Durham is now filled with burgeoning artists, whether that be music, visual, or food art. That is a stark contrast to the Durham I knew 15 years ago. When the film Welcome To Durham came out in 2007, that only intensified the stigma that Durham was riddled with gang violence. Did Durham have gangs? Yes. Do we still have gangs? Yes. Don’t most cities? 

But it seems as if some people still cannot see beyond Durham’s once sordid history. Would it help if I told you that six new apartment complexes are being built in Downtown Durham and the rent for each apartment is what my paycheck is each month? (And yes, that's not a lot, but I promise they are very fancy.)

There is still this stigma about Durham that I hope is beginning to dissipate. Not only is Durham filled with award winning restaurants but the antiquated buildings now house some of the most popular breweries and dessert shops in RDU. All of this is to say that I love Durham. I have four Durham themed shirts. I hate bumper stickers, but I have a “Durham” bumper sticker. There are secret gems and obvious places I love about Durham. I want to share some of those with you.

1. Nanataco is literally my favorite restaurant right now. Not only is it amazing food, but it's a great price. The lunch special is two tacos with whatever meat (their "dirty" meat is wicked awesome), rice, beans, chips, and salsa for $6.50. I want to go there every single day. And their margaritas are the bomb dot com. 

2. Geer Street Garden is my favorite place to grab a drink in Durham. The inside is small (it use to be a gas station), but the whimsical outdoor seating area makes up for what the inside lacks. And if you go there you must order the pile. 

3. My favorite places to take photos are at American Tobacco and this great wall near The Parlour. American Tobacco has all these striking walls and allows for great lighting that makes really captivating, interesting, Durham themed photos. The top of the parking garages also offer a perfect view of the Downtown Durham skyline. 

In addition to American Tobacco, this wall is stellar for photos. 

But really, this wall on Main Street is awesome. Just look. 

4. My favorite concert venue has to be Motorco. It's a great space for a show, it's connected to Parts and Labor (another cool bar), and a former Riverside student's dad co-owns the venue. There are always food trucks around so after whatever show you attend you can grab overpriced dumplings and pizza. 

5. I'm really torn about picking between these two coffee shops. Cocoa Cinnamon is a super hipster, trendy coffee shop that has fancy drinks with lava salt in them. Straw Valley Cafe used to have very cool indoor seating - they've since done away with it and replaced it with a very pretentious restaurant - but the real draw is the outdoor seating. Either place you go, you are guaranteed to have a great cup of coffee, funky outdoor seating, and a quiet place to work or read. 

6. Breakfast is a three way tie: Rise, Guglhupf, and Monuts. Rise and Monuts have out of this world, knock your socks off, make you want to punch someone donuts. Rise's chicken biscuit makes me want to work there. Guglhupf's brunch menu, gigantic cups of coffee, and pastries are three things I want everyone to experience in his or her life. 

There are so many more things I adore about Durham: Ninth Street, Bull McCabes, Duke Gardens, and about 43 others things. But beyond the institutions, Durham is my home. I will forever defend this city. 

I love Durham. You should too. (Or just let me take you to all my favorite places.)