We used to regularly watch basketball games at the Tavern when it was located on 15-501. It was one of the few places in town that was large enough and off-the-beaten path enough that you didn’t have to fight for a spot to watch a game. When the Tavern moved to its current location on Markham just off 9th street, we had high hopes. We stopped in the first week it was open only to be greeted by oversized bouncers outfitted in mesh shirts …

Golden Belt finally has a permanent spot to grab a light bite to eat. Blend, a coffee/frozen yogurt shop, opened this weekend during Third Friday. From Blend’s facebook page, they will offer “Counter Culture Coffee, light breakfast and lunch fare sourced locally or prepared in house from local ingredients and frozen yogurt.”

We stopped in Friday night during their opening to sample a coffee and try a yogurt. The space is open and airy, filled with furniture made from salvaged wood from …

Restaurants:

BLEND CAFE (807 E MAIN ST SUITE 2-150, DURHAM, NC, 27701)

THE SWEET TEA CAFE (1058 W CLUB BLVD, DURHAM, NC, 27701)

THE HOUSE RESTAURANT & CATERING (4310 S MIAMI BLVD, DURHAM, NC, 27703)

TOP’S CHINA (5324 NEW HOPE COMMONS DR. STE 301, DURHAM, NC, 27707)

CHOP STIX CHINESE RESTAURANT (2000 AVONDALE DR UNIT B, DURHAM, NC, 27704)

PIZZA MIA ITALIAN GRILL (2812 ERWIN RD. SUITE 103, DURHAM, NC, 27705)

BULL CITY STORE AND GRILL (1301 N ALSTON ST, DURHAM, NC, 27707)

BIG DADDY’S GRILL (608 N MANGUM ST, DURHAM, NC, 27701)

THE MAD BURRITO (1058 W CLUB …

This weekend is one of those magical ones where many of us won’t have to set the alarm when we crawl into bed Sunday night. There is no mail on Monday, schools and banks are closed – but what does this mean for you fine Carpe Durham readers? It means you can stay out late on Sunday night celebrating Dr. King in our very own special Durham way with a chocolate-themed dance party.

This Sunday, the Pinhook and King Kenney will once again come together to throw an …

January 21st is a big day for Motorco. During the day, it will play host to the second Luchadoras competition, Durham’s own women’s Mexican wrestling extravaganza. We’ve been told this time there will be even more wrestlers and a tag-team match. The beloved Captain Poncho’s Tacos truck will again be out front (order early) and bikeCOFFEE! will be there with a special Counter Culture Luchadores coffee and a La Luchadora Tabla (a slab of dark Mexican chocolate, cayenne, cacao nibs and Mexican coffee). It’s $5 …

Pop’s is another Durham staple. It’s not a hidden gem or off the beaten path, but it is – simply put – one of the best restaurants in town. And once again in the interest of Carpe Durham becoming a complete dining guide for the Bull City, I wanted to do a quick post.

With both a static entrée list  and seasonal offerings, Pop’s is actually relatively affordable. Only the steak tops $20 and one could make a lovely dinner out of any of Pop’s wood-oven pizzas, all of which are $10. …

The folks over at Triangle Meatless Mondays let us know about a contest they are running that features a few Durham-based goodies as prizes. We blogged about Triangle Meatless Mondays when they started up last year, and now they are seeking pledges to go meatless on Mondays in 2012. Going meatless one day a week is a great way to make a small difference in promoting more sustainable and healthier agricultural and eating practices.

Everyone who enters the Pledge-olution by 1/8/2012 will be entered to …