Spring has fully landed, the patios are full, and the weekend ahead might be the most stacked one we've had all year — Broadway closing, Bulls homestand wrapping, and Mom's day on Sunday. Here's everything worth your time between now and next Wednesday.

The Tony-winning Broadway musical based on Fitzgerald's classic is in the home stretch of its DPAC run, and if you've been waffling, this is your nudge. The production is what people mean when they say "Broadway extravaganza" — Roaring Twenties art deco sets that genuinely stop the show, costumes that won the Tony, and a jazz-and-pop score that's been on a few of our running playlists since previews.

Why go: it's Gatsby with the volume turned up. Director Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) leans into spectacle without losing the hollow ache of the book — Daisy's still doomed, the green light still flickers, but the dance numbers slap. It's also the rare Broadway tour that lands in Durham before New York's closing date, so you're not getting a watered-down version. The American dream, but make it sequins.

Pro tips: the closing weekend always has the biggest energy, but tickets are also moving fast — Saturday's matinee is the easiest grab if you've got a tween (note: not recommended under 10). Park in the ATC deck and walk over; the Mangum lots get squirrely on Broadway nights. Pre-show drink: pop into Counting House at the 21c for an Old Fashioned that fits the era. Show runs about 2 hours 35 minutes with intermission.

Friday May 8 (7:30 PM) · Saturday May 9 (2:00 & 7:30 PM) · Sunday May 10 (1:00 & 6:30 PM)
DPAC, 123 Vivian St
Tickets from $41.50 + tax
dpacnc.com

Aaktun is making a quiet case for "best new patio." The new coffee-shop-meets-restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating that's been earning legitimate buzz — perfect call now that 80-degree afternoons are the default. (Bites of Bull City)

The Durham Hotel's Mother's Day brunch is back, and it's a stunner. Family-style spread at the Coffee Bar — NC crab cakes with béarnaise, slow-roasted beef tenderloin with grilled ramps, rhubarb-ricotta pancakes — for $45 a head. Reserve now or expect to be sad on Sunday. (thedurham.com)

Hand Picked Nursery is throwing a Mother's Day Market on Saturday. Pick-your-own flowers, local food, artisan vendors — a softer-energy alternative to the brunch line on Sunday. (Discover Durham)

Photo hint: Aaktun patio at golden hour, or a Durham Hotel brunch plate.

Skizzy Mars + Marc E. Bassy at Motorco— Thursday May 7, 8 PM. Brooklyn rapper, Bay Area soul-singer, one tour. Doors at 7. Ticketshere— last we checked, sub-10 left.

Bulls vs. Round Rock — AAPI Heritage / Bull Dragons Night + Friday Fireworks— Friday May 8, 6:45 PM at the DBAP. The Bulls become the Bull Dragons for a night, plus postgame fireworks (because of course).milb.com/durham

Hand Picked Nursery Mother's Day Market— Saturday May 9. Pick-your-own flowers, food vendors, local artisans. Free to browse, dangerous to your wallet. (details)

Durham Farmers' Market— Saturday May 9, 8 AM–noon at the Pavilion at Durham Central Park. May is when the strawberries start showing up, and SNAP Double Bucks are still going. (durhamfarmersmarket.com)

Durham Geek & Grub Market: Book Nerd Edition— Sunday May 10, noon at the Durham Armory. Indie booksellers, food trucks, and exactly the right amount of nerdery. Solid Mother's Day plan if your mom prefers Brontë to brunch. (allevents.in)

Bulls vs. Round Rock — Mother's Day Game— Sunday May 10, 1:05 PM. Day baseball, decent weather odds, kid-friendly closer to the season.milb.com/durham

The Bulls are deep into a six-game homestand against the Round Rock Express that closes Sunday. Friday is AAPI Heritage Night, which means full Bull Dragons regalia — the alternate jerseys are some of the best in MiLB and inevitably show up on the secondary market. Sunday is the Mother's Day matinee at 1:05, which is also the back-end of the homestand before they hit the road. As always, the Blue Monster is hitting his cues and Wool E. Bull is fully committed to the bit. Schedule and tickets: milb.com/durham.

Heads up: Wednesday night through Thursday looks like classic spring sequencing — highs in the low 80s, then a band of showers and possible thunderstorms moving through late Thursday into Friday morning. Friday clears, Saturday looks gorgeous (mid-70s, sun), and Mother's Day looks made-for-brunch. Translation: bring a light layer to Skizzy on Thursday, and the Bulls' Mother's Day game is your safest outdoor bet. (NWS Durham forecast)

WUNC's Due South did a quiet, beautiful episode pairing the history of the Durham Colored Library with poet Diamond Forde's new collection The Book of Alice — Forde grew up in the South and writes about her late grandmother in a way that hits different if you're new to Durham trying to figure out whose ground you're standing on. Worth the listen on a Saturday morning porch. (WUNC)

To every Durham mom getting up on Sunday morning to a slightly burnt pancake and a card with too much glitter: we see you. To every grown kid driving in from Raleigh with flowers from Trader Joe's: also we see you. And to anyone whose mom isn't around this year — we're holding a little extra space for you this weekend. Either way, hug somebody. Maybe two somebodies.

Much love,
Michael & Anne

Made with 💙 in Durham, NC