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 …

Somewhat shockingly Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. In honor of the quickly approaching big feasting, this is a quick guide to special events and places in Durham from which you can order eats for the big day. This is by no means a complete list and I’ll continue to add to it. Feel free to leave comments with any events or specials around town that I’ve missed.

Durham Farmer’s Market
There is a pre-Thanksgiving Farmer’s Market on November 22
2:00-5:00 pm
http://www.durhamfarmersmarket.com/

Places to Eat:
Four Square
Thanksgiving day dinner
3pm-7:30pm
Three course …

It couldn’t be a more perfect time to hop in the car and take a trip to Ganyard Hill Farm’s pumpkin patch here in Durham. Not too far out of town, you can escape from the malls and city grit and have some fun on the farm!

There are plenty of activities to entertain the kids, but even the most sophisticated of adults will find something to appreciate. Vintage barns, rusty farm equipment, and stacks of gourds will bring you a …

Halloween falls on a Monday this year, which in my opinion justifies a full weekend (and then some) of revelry. Durham – great city that it is – loves to celebrate, loves to participate and loves to dress up in costume! This makes Durham a great place to be during the Halloween festivities.

Let’s leave Chapel Hill to the kids – with concerts, balls, lurches, rodeos and more – the hardest part of Halloween this year isn’t going to be choosing a costume but choosing …

After a recent trip to Portland, where we spent those magical hours from 4-7 pm rushing around town trying to take advantage of as many happy hour drink and food specials as possible, I was inspired to try to find similar deals in Durham.

Unfortunately, due to NC ABC laws, alcohol cannot be offered on special in NC for limited hours  – which translates into no happy hour drink specials in Durham.

On the upside, however, restaurants and bars in Durham can and do have happy hour food specials. We regularly …

The first time I experienced Chirba Chirba was outside of Fullsteam during one of their pre-open-for-business dumpling raids. It was kind of the dream – to be sitting outside, sipping a beer when a yellow truck pulls up and a tray of free dumplings is tossed in front of you. That day, I was lucky enough to get to try the soup dumplings and a basket of edamame. Both were excellent and left me wanting more.

Now fully operational and on …

The Mad Hatter Bakeshop and Cafe serves breakfast all day, has a case full of freshly baked cookies, bars, pastries, brownies, cakes, muffins, and cupcakes, and offers free refills on soda and coffee when you dine in. These perks, along with some of the friendliest employees in Durham, are the reasons why I go to the Mad Hatter at least twice a week. When thinking about potential places to write about next, I was shocked to see that the Mad Hatter had never been reviewed. Perhaps it’s …

One of the reasons we love Durham is its unabashed enthusiasm for itself! And this Saturday’s Marry Durham is sure to take the cake.

This Saturday March 19 is Marry Durham Day. Sure to be quite the spectacle, events include an official ceremony, a parade, food trucks, music and more.  Some of Durham’s finest will be out to show their support including WUNC’s Frank Stasio, Mayor Bill Bell and Wool E. Bull.

Of note for Carpe Durham readers – the following food trucks will attend:

Bulkogi

Daisy Cakes

Farmhand Foods Sausage Wagon

Klausie’s …

Looking for a special dinner for Valentine’s Day? The (sometimes-dreaded) day of all things love is quickly approaching and now is the time to secure a reservation. We thought it might be helpful to make a list of Durham restaurants’ offerings for Monday February 14. (This list is in no way complete and we will continue to add to it as we hear back from restaurants.)

Blu
Open Monday (Closed Sunday)
Four course, $50 per person
Menu here.
Reservations required: (919) 286-9777

Dos Perros
Special Menu. Looks really …

Restaurants

TAQUERIA & PIZZERIA PLAZA GARIBALDI (315 FOUSHEE ST, DURHAM, NC, 27704)

Mobile

CAPITAL CITY SEAFOOD MFU (DWAYNE GREENE, DURHAM, NC, 27707)

TASTY HAVEN BUD FOOD TRUCK (518 E TRINITY AVE # B, DURHAM, NC, 27701)

*Presence on this list indicates that a restaurant has been inspected, not that it is necessarily open for business today (although it often is).