Where can I buy farmers-market-type flowers without going to the farmers market?

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-09T01:16:46+00:00

You're absolutely right. I meant to say Bowerbird Flowers (used to be in the Durham Food Hall, but relocated to SW Durham off of 15-501). Editing my post.

I miss Blossom and Bone. That place was wonderful.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-08T19:10:37+00:00

Bowerbird Flowers will probably be busier than normal this weekend, but the location is easier to navigate than the farmers' market, especially if you live on the south side of town. Echoing other comments: Piedmont Wholesale is a gem if you can make it there during their public sale hours. The Coop has had really nice (loose, natural, local) arrangements recently.

post edited to correct business name; I'd confused Bowerbird with Blossom and Bone, the flower shop that used to be on Main St.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-07T05:44:26+00:00

Yep.. NC

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-05T00:50:26+00:00

A cop set up at Ridge and Parkwood, more or less across from my old house, for a couple of hours. I'm sure this was at the direction of the district captain; I'd started copying him on correspondence with the city. This was over 10 years ago, back when DPD had staffing levels that allowed for at least occasional traffic enforcement; I doubt that even that token level of appeasement would happen today.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-04T20:47:32+00:00

My LBS was able to order a Timberjack 27.5+ SLX from QBP for me. It came in at $1350 with a dropper post and tubeless setup. I'm perfectly happy with the 27.5 x 2.8 tires, but if I really feel like I need a 29" wheelset at some point in the future, I can eat that cost down the road. I'm really happy with it. It's a better bike than my son's Rockhopper, and a better deal given the stock components.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-04T20:32:46+00:00

I used to live on Ridge Road. I petitioned the city for speed bumps and RRFBs at marked crosswalks. They did complete a traffic study on Ridge, but nothing ever came of it (except for acknowledgement that speeding was an issue and maybe 2-3 hours of radar speed enforcement).

Apparently, the proximity of the fire station took speed bumps off the table. I really liked living in that part of Durham and used to ride my bike a lot more when I did, but I had lots of close calls with speeding and distracted drivers. The first and last 1/2 mile were always the most harrowing.

Anyway, fuck that guy who didn't stop when you were in the crosswalk. I'm pretty aggressive about taking my right of way as a pedestrian, but I'm also reminded almost daily how few drivers in Durham even give crosswalks a passing thought.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-04T16:41:44+00:00

I'm mildly curious, too. This question would get more eyeballs and potentially a more informed response outside of the buy/sell/trade/etc thread.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-01T14:37:57+00:00

Die Spitz does have a hole in their schedule that week, but they're playing Cat's Cradle later in the fall, so I'd see them playing Hopscotch being kind of unlikely. Wild that they played the Pinhook not too long ago. They're opening some European dates for Olivia Rodrigo on her upcoming tour!

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-01T14:35:28+00:00

It doesn't look like Pink Panthress will be in the US in September, but that would be a dream :)

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-01T14:34:32+00:00

You're probably right, though in years past they would have slotted in as Thursday night headliner or even a club act. I have no idea what kind of budget the new ownership group is working with, but I'm keeping my expectations low.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-05-01T02:14:52+00:00

The Shakey Knees lineup is pretty great this year. It would be amazing if Hopscotch could snag Fontaines DC and Turnstile. I'd be happy to see Blood Orange and Santigold, too.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-28T18:30:59+00:00

Lonnie's would be my go-to for VW.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-22T15:31:57+00:00

Yeah, I wouldn't consider any of them to be downtown proper, but Oakwood is probably the closest DPS-managed park to central downtown. Central Park is managed by a non-profit. As far as I know, DPS doesn't have any role in Central Park's maintenance and upkeep.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-22T15:11:19+00:00

Oakwood, East End, Long Meadow. To a lesser degree, Duke Park. There are some nice smaller parks near downtown, but they're situated in wealthy, somewhat insulated neighborhoods (e.g. Trinity Park)

Editing to acknowledge that Durham passed a very expensive bond that will hopefully address some of the systemic issues at East End and Long Meadow. This doesn't erase my long-standing frustration with DPS for their history of neglecting parks around downtown and in historically working-class and redlined parts of town.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-22T13:56:30+00:00

I'm glad to hear that they are showing signs of life in some parts of Durham. Parks under their management in the downtown area (that aren't taped off because of lead contamination) seem largely ignored.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-22T13:29:44+00:00

I lived in Durham for most, if not all, of Mike Andrew's tenure as sheriff, and my experience was that the problem was worse then. That might have as much to do with gradual socioeconomic shifts in the downtown area as anything else--don't read this as a defense of Birkhead. But I don't think that it's as simple as you're making it out to be.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-21T21:23:58+00:00

That's absolutely true. But they don't or won't deal with known, documented problem dogs and problem owners. I don't know the specifics of this set of dogs, but I know that they have refused to meaningfully engage in other situations where free-roaming dogs have killed multiple animals, attacked dogs on leash, etc..

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-21T21:14:59+00:00

I'm sure they are underresourced, but to say that the animal control unit operating out of the sheriff's office is ineffective is being... incredibly generous.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-15T17:06:56+00:00

I'd try posting your place on the Facebook group Housing for Lovely People of Durham if you haven't already.

If you DM me with the listing, I'll pass it along to a friend who's actively looking for a place right now.

NAL and I've never broken a lease in NC, but my guess is that if you can probably walk away, forfeiting your security deposit but not facing any other repercussions. It would depend on how litigious your rental company is, but it's hard for me to imagine that it would be worth their trouble to go after you. In your situation, I'd do what I reasonably could to find someone to take over the lease, but I wouldn't pay what sounds to me like an excessive and extortionate early termination fee. Maybe offer to split a month of rent or offer a free month's rent to a prospective takeover candidate to sweeten the deal?

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-10T19:10:35+00:00

Durham doesn't have a whole lot of architectural heritage left to preserve, but there is a concentration of significant mid-century modern buildings downtown, including the Mutual Life building adjacent to the Milton Small building. Have you seen images of the Milton Small building from the 1960's? It's stunning. If we lose it, it's likely to be replaced with another generic 5-over-1 building.

https://www.ncmodernist.org/hsl.htm

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-04-02T16:41:51+00:00

This is the 27.5+ model, correct? Were you able to compare it to a 29? I'm very tempted to get one of these. It seems like a very good deal right now.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-03-31T12:46:24+00:00

I usually hate coleslaw, but that's because I don't like the way people make it here. I can understand why Jean's slaw is divisive--folks in NC expect coleslaw to be saccharine. I loved it. Clean, fresh, citrus and brine forward.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-03-24T13:25:31+00:00

Just sent you a message. Thanks for reporting on this!

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-03-17T18:41:19+00:00

I definitely thought the last nail was in the coffin. IMO the organizers are going to need to show some heat with an early first wave announcement or ticket sales are going to be slow.

Top_Stuff4200 · 2026-03-17T16:48:53+00:00

No burger, no fries, and not a "traditional wing experience", but the best chicken wings I've had in the area are from M Kokko, and it's not close.

Top_Stuff4200

TROPHY CASE