Welcome to our Bl'g!

Greetings and welcome to our blog!

A couple of years ago, a friend and I came across a novelty postcard in a local art gallery/frame shop. It said, "Durham: We're working on it." That postcard now hangs on my refrigerator and continues to give me a chuckle whenever I need one.

See, Durham, North Carolina is a work in progress. The city has already gone through a number of major transformations from being a tobacco town to a place that nurtured early African-American entrepreneurship to being the home of one of the South's most prestigious universities to being the place where that movie about the baseball team was made.

These days, I would say Durham is actively working to redefine its image as one of the acute angles of the Triangle (with its flashy big sister Raleigh on one side and its fancy little brother Chapel Hill on the other). Depending on who you ask, the city is either infested with poverty, drugs, and rampant gang violence or it's a close-knit, diverse community brimming over with creative and cultural opportunities.

We're not here to debate Durham's reputation. What this blog is about is the undeniable fact that Durham is home to some amazing people, places and events and we'd like to introduce you to as many as possible. We'll also tell you where not to venture, hopefully saving you a bit of frustration and disappointment along the way. "Welcome to Dur'm" is part welcome wagon, part cautionary tale. We're two Durham residents writing this blog to unearth some of the city's gems while separating unfounded bashing from fair-enough complaints. You'll want to check back here frequently for restaurant and bar reviews, annual event information, entertainment suggestions and the best local businesses. So whether you're a native, a long-time resident, or just passing through, we welcome you to the "City of Medicine" and all it has to offer.

Go ahead, turn that Carolina accent on. You're in Dur'm now.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS
"wesduke" is graduate student who has lived in Durham since 2004.
"The Blahgger" is a journalist who has lived in Durham since 2006.