Durham Magazine

06/05/2026

🍩✨ 𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙳𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚗𝚞𝚝 𝙳𝚊𝚢 ✨🍩

Sprinkles, chocolate frosted, powdered sugar or filled with something sweet – today is the perfect excuse to grab your favorite doughnut (as if you needed one 😉).

Whether you're loyal to a classic glazed, can't resist a maple-bacon creation or always order whatever's newest in the case, we want to know:

👇 Where are you treating yourself today? 👇

Tag your favorite local doughnut shop, and tell us your go-to order. 📲

📸 by John Michael Simpson at Monuts

06/03/2026

🏃‍♀️❤️ A SWEET GLOBAL RUNNING DAY SUCCESS STORY ❤️🏃‍♂️

Making friends as an adult isn't always easy. That's exactly why Josh Otten joined Bull City Running Co.'s Run Club in 2018 and why Michelle Roth showed up for her first run in 2021.

What they found was more than a weekly workout: a group of people who cheered one another on, welcomed newcomers and made Durham feel a little smaller. The friendships kept them coming back. Eventually, those Wednesday-night jogs led them to each other.

One chilly night after a run, Josh asked Michelle if she wanted to grab a beer at Fullsteam. Three hours of musical bingo later, they exchanged numbers. Last June, they exchanged vows. 💍✨

"Michelle and I each found run club on our own – we found friends and community, and then we found each other," Josh says.

Their story is a reminder that running is about so much more than miles. It's about friendships, connection, belonging and sometimes even finding your person. ❤️ No wonder our readers voted Bull City Run Club among Durham's best sports clubs. 🏆

🎉 Want to experience the energy for yourself? Celebrate with the club 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧: Demo shoes from 👟; enjoy free Locopops popsicles 🍧 plus physical therapy assessments/post-run recovery with Bull City Physical Therapy 💪; get a custom poem by the Poetry Fox 📝🦊; meet adorable, adoptable The Animal Protection Society of Durham 🐶; and participate in a bunch of raffles and giveaways! 🎁

Whether you're chasing a PR, looking for new friends or just getting started, there's a place for you in the pack. Tag your favorite running buddy below and come meet us at run club!👇🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

06/01/2026

Wishing Jean Bradley Anderson a very happy 102nd birthday today! 🎂🎉

The Durham historian still approaches each day with the same curiosity that inspired her to pen “Durham County: A History of Durham County, North Carolina.” 📖

Jean has spent a lifetime uncovering and sharing the stories that shaped our community, from researching local cemeteries and land deeds to playing a role in the founding of the Eno River Association. 📝🛶💦 Today, she continues to feed her love of learning from her apartment at The Forest at Duke Continuing Care Retirement Community, reading widely; following local, global and national issues; and keeping up with the adventures of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 📚❤️

When asked what contributes to a long and full life, Jean credits good luck, good genes and one simple philosophy: everything in moderation.🤞✨

Read more of Jean’s reflections in our conversation linked below, and join us in wishing her a very happy birthday by leaving a comment! 🎈🥳

Historian Jean Bradley Anderson reflects on life, learning and the evolution of the city she helped chronicle

06/01/2026

You voted. We counted. 𝗖𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶 🎉, because we're ready to reveal the official 2026 Best of Durham results! ✨

Our 16th annual Best of Durham issue celebrates more than 430 reader-selected winners – from beloved restaurants and independent retailers to trusted services, entertainment destinations and longtime cultural institutions that make the Bull City one-of-a-kind. 🐂💛

Inside, you’ll find:

🍽️ 27 best bars, restaurants and cafes, from Michelin-recommended dining destinations and global flavors to neighborhood staples (and for dessert, a few can't-miss sweet treats!);

✨ Four best new businesses making a stellar first impression in our local hospitality, retail and personal care industries;

🐾 The furry "empawlees" adding personality, comfort and plenty of charm to some of Durham’s favorite workplaces;

🛍️ Vintage treasures, modern accents and distinctive finds from the shops readers love most;

💙 Inspiring testimonials from clients whose lives have been transformed by their trusted health and wellness providers;

🏆 Milestone celebrations honoring the organizations, creative spaces and local businesses that have shaped Durham for years;

🏡 A stunning backyard makeover built for family fun, thoughtful kitchen renovations, and reflections on Durham’s past, present and future from historian Jean Bradley Anderson.

➕ And, of course, the complete list of our 2026 Best of Durham winners!

👀 Read the issue online now, or pick up a copy on stands later this week!

Our 15th annual Best of Durham issue highlights more than 400 readers' favorites across dozens of categories!

05/29/2026

As winds down, we’re spotlighting RTI International developmental psychopathology fellow Lissette Saavedra, whose work continues to shape conversations around youth mental health, burnout prevention and resilience. 🧠💚

After moving from Florida to the Triangle more than two decades ago, Lissette built a career at RTI International focused on improving lives through research — while also mentoring students across the region and supporting organizations like El Futuroc and JusticeMatters. 🤝💡

Learn more about this researcher, mentor and Durham leader helping create a healthier future for the next generation:

The longtime RTI International research psychologist studies resilience, burnout and su***de prevention while helping shape the next generation of researchers in the Triangle

05/28/2026

American Dance Festival premieres, a No Quarter Brass Band & Boom Unit Brass Band blowout, drag performances at The Durham Hotel, The Fruit - Durham Fruit & Produce Co and The Pinhook, plus plenty of festivals and outdoor events at Bull City Yoga Festival, Mystic Farm and Distillery and Durham Central Park pack this weekend in the Bull City with energy and creativity. Catch live music and jazz tributes, celebrate wellness and community, support local causes at The Animal Protection Society of Durham's Walk for the Animals and Meals on Wheels Durham's Feed the Need Gala, explore hands-on environmental events, or dance the night away at everything from Broadway-themed parties to circus-inspired raves – plus so much more!

From annual festivals to fundraisers and more, read on for everything fun you can eat, drink and do in Durham this weekend.