The Nasher Museum - An Artful Deal

Durham is lucky to be home of The Nasher Museum, a pillar for arts in Durham, the Triangle, the State of North Carolina and the entire Southeast. The Nasher's doors first opened in October 2005, and since then it has celebrated international acclaim with exhibits featuring contemporary and post modern artists from around the globe.

Artist from Barkley Hendricks and Andy Warhol to Picasso flank the space of this 65,000 square feet museum, featuring three large gallery spaces, a museum store and the Nasher Museum Cafe.

Best of all, The Nasher Museum is family friendly, date friendly and all around affordable. Join the Nasher for $50 and have unlimited access and membership privileges. General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for non-Duke students, free for Duke students, faculty, employees and children under 16. Visit the museum on Thursday and there is no admission and the hours are extended until 9:00 PM.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Sunday mornings for me are always about ease and comfort. It is the day when breakfast turns into brunch and brunch centers around a warm cup of fresh roasted coffee. More often than not, I enjoy this coveted meal at home, but with a special family friend visiting from Australia, I decided to show off the culinary delights of Durham.

Guglhupf Bakery, Patisserie and Cafe was my choice and as usual the meal started with comfort and ended with smiles. Guglhupf specializes in artisan bake goods, but their culinary repertoire is far reaching. Best described as upscale comfort food, Guglhupf starts with the freshest of local ingredients. The restaurant features eclectic architecture and an atmosphere that inspires creativity and cravings.

I opted for elephant vanilla chai this morning instead of coffee. Spiced with just the perfect balance of vanilla and cream and served in an over-sized mug, this set the tone for an easy Sunday morning. The farmers omelet, pancakes with caramelized apples and maple syrup were the stars of the brunch show today, but let's not forget their lunch and dinner options for later meals. I highly recommend the Reuben for lunch and the decadent cream puff when nothing else will do.

Downtown Groovy

Two years ago, finding something happening to do in Downtown Durham required a stretch of the imagination. A few restaurants here and there dared naysayers to come and partake of what we in Durham know as the restaurant elite. Downtown Durham in 2010 will tell a different story. Restaurants and nightspots sprinkle the streets and the scene is downright groovy. New Year's celebrating gave me the excuse to go restaurant/bar hopping and the results are delightful.

All The Best Of Durham gives The Republic, two thumbs up. Upscale urban is the best description for this new night spot. Original hardwood floors, black damask wall covering, exposed brick, black leather furniture, low candle lighting and a house DJ that understands music must not overshadow conversation. Private party or intimate conversation? The Republic layout offers quiet nooks with optional privacy curtains and a second floor loft. Top shelf libations with modest prices and a cool vibe will keep me coming back.