Thursday Edition — {{current_date_mdy}}
What's Up Durham
Two new spots just opened their doors in Durham this week. The Lenny at 555 is serving up small plates as of today, and Gossip Tea Lounge, a Vietnamese café, soft-opened on Monday. We love a good Durham dining week. (🔗Link Here)
Big news for downtown: the affordable housing project at the old Durham Police Headquarters on W. Chapel Hill Street is officially moving forward. City Council backed an 80-unit, seven-story building for families earning at or below 60% of the area median income. A developer could be selected by July. (🔗Link Here)
Durham's first women-, queer-, and non-binary-led community auto repair shop is almost here. Fluid Community Garage at 103 E. Rockway Street is gearing up for a May 16 grand opening and hosting community build days to get the space ready. (🔗Link Here)
Lutra Bakery is coming to the American Tobacco Campus this spring, adding yet another reason to wander through that stretch of downtown with a coffee in hand. Keep your eyes peeled for opening updates. (🔗Link Here)
🎉Event Spotlight: Spring Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park
The first Food Truck Rodeo of 2026 is rolling into Durham Central Park this Sunday and we are SO ready. If you've never been, imagine 50+ food trucks lining the park, the smell of every cuisine you can think of hitting you from every direction, and the whole neighborhood just vibing on a spring afternoon. It's one of those quintessential Durham things.
This one's extra special — the April rodeo is celebrating the Lao Solar New Year, so expect cultural festivities mixed in with all the food truck goodness. There'll also be flower crown making with the Scrap Exchange, face painting, a muay thai demonstration, inflatable fun for the kids, and a DJ keeping the energy up on the lawn.
If you're bringing the family (or your dog — leashed pups are welcome!), this is a perfect Sunday hangs situation. Pro tip: get there right at noon before the lines build up, and bring cash just in case — some trucks are cash only. Parking can get tight around Foster Street, so consider biking or grabbing a rideshare.
The rodeo also supports Durham Central Park directly, so every taco, bao bun, and empanada you eat helps keep this five-acre gem running. Eat with purpose, people.
📅 Sunday, April 12 — 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
📍 Durham Central Park, 500 Foster Street, Durham
🎟️ Free! Link Here
The Short List
🎤 Nick Offerman: Big Woodchuck — TONIGHT at DPAC, 7:00 PM. The Parks & Rec legend is in Durham with songs, stories, and woodworking wisdom from his newest book. Special guest Lee Buchanan joins him. Tickets still available starting around $15. (🔗Link Here)
😂 Hannah Berner: None of My Business Tour — Saturday, April 11 at DPAC, 7:30 PM. If you know Giggly Squad, you know Hannah. Her Netflix special was huge and her live crowd work is next level. Great girls' night out move. (🔗Link Here)
🎨 New Horizons: NCCU Student Art Exhibition — On view now through April 29 at the NCCU Art Museum (580 E. Lawson St). Free admission. Fashion design, animation, architecture, studio art — these students are doing incredible work. Tuesday–Friday 9am–4:30pm, Sunday 2–4pm. (🔗Link Here)
🖼️ Dis/orient at the Nasher Museum — This exhibition at Duke's Nasher Museum features nine stunning works by artists of the Asian diaspora, challenging old stereotypes and reimagining identity. On view through July 19. Free with museum admission. (🔗Link Here)
🍺 Bull City Strollers Thursday Beer Walk — Every Thursday, meet at the Jug at 5:30 PM for a 30–40 minute stroll through downtown Durham, then grab a beer together. Free, casual, and a great way to meet people. Just show up!
Durham Love Note
Shoutout to Durham Central Park for being the kind of place where you can eat Lao food, make a flower crown, and pet someone's golden retriever all in the same afternoon. This city really said "community" and meant it.