Fourth of July Parade in Watts Hillandale

Despite the sweltering heat and unpredictable weather, the city and the neighborhoods adjacent to the Ninth Street Shopping District will be out in force on Wednesday, July 4th to celebrate the annual Independence Day Parade (now in its 63 year!).

Among the highlights: the parade is led by kids and features flags from all  50 states and many countries and lemonade is generously served, compliments of Watts Grocery.

The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Club Boulevard and Oakland Avenue (see map below) and will last for approximately an hour and a half. The route will take the revelers and the onlookers from the Center of Club toward Oval Park on Alabama and Woodrow streets

 
View Larger Map . 

To learn more about  the history of this wonderful neighborhood tradition and much more background, read on after the break. 

Several Ninth Street Restaraunts Featured in the New York Post

A few days ago, the New York Post has published a fairly extensive article  detailing culinary delights of the Triangle, with Durham restaurants getting banner treatment. Two-- or three, if you count the recently closed Magnolia Grill -- of the neighborhood restaurants were featured: Vin Rouge and Watts Grocery. The write commented on both the inventiveness of the food, the high quality of the ingredients, and the atmosphere.


The entire article is reprinted after the break.

New tenants for 721 Broad Street

Anyone driving down Broad Street will be hard-pressed to overlook a massive renovation that is taking place at 721 Broad Street, a former one-story building occupied by Triumph, a mental health counseling agency, that has now morphed into a striking two-story building with the help of BLOK architecture and its principal, Sasha Berghausen.

Well, it looks like the renovations are almost over and several new tenants are moving into the building. First, Sasha reports that a boutique shop will be occupying the front of the building. Next, American Dance Festival will be moving its offices into the building, together with a new bakery concept -- allegedly called Hummingbird -- the brainchild of Army Tornquist of Watts Street Grocery. And, finally, the Outsiders Gallery is growing and will be adding a second location, dubbed "Outsiders Too," projected to open on August 1. (While on the subject of Outsiders, check out their appeal for funds to refurbish the old space and add to the new space here)

Adding to the excitement, the former parking lot between 721 Broad and Nataraja Healing Arts will be turned into an outside patio and exercise deck.  Read more about this project here.

It is amazing how just one building has the potential to transform a formerly hum-drum stretch of Broad street into a vibrant community space!

Triangle Week is Back!

 Next week the Triangle Week returns in full force to Durham the week of June 4-10. A total of 19 Durham restaurants are participating, providing you with the opportunity to try out new food at fixed prices. 

As before, most, although not all, participating restaurantswill have a $15 lunch menu and $20-30 dinner menus, excluding drinks, tax and tips.Among local eateries, be sure to check out:

•  Blue Seafood and Bar
•  Metro 8 Steakhouse 
•  Parizade 
•  Vin Rouge 
• Watts Grocery.

The full list of all participating restaurants is available here.