A Weekend in Durham with Dasan Ahanu Part 3

A great place to live is a wonderful place to visit, and there are no better ambassadors for Durham than our most engaged and prominent residents. We've worked with Piedmont Poet Laureate and community organizer Dasan Ahanu to reveal the places he likes to go and the things he likes to do with his friends and loved ones when they visit The Bull City. Lucky for us, he has great taste and is willing to share his secrets. For more of Dasan's favorite Durham spots, check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 of this series.

Hey… I’m over here. Anybody follow you? Nevermind. Look, my name is Dasan Ahanu. I am a Durham based poet, performing artist, playwright and cultural organizer who also helps organizations and institutions strategize and develop creative approaches to realizing goals internally and externally. Yep, that’s kinda cool right? Being based in Bull City is an honor. Durham is so full of life, love, and brilliance. I love it when I get to show people more about this city and what it offers.

That’s why you are here. I need your help with a real special investigation. We have been given a weekend assignment to uncover the best things to do and events going on in this city. One thing I know for sure is that the clues lay in its flavors, its sounds, its shadows—and in the whispers of its streets. Are you ready? Good! We got a lot of work ahead so let’s get to it.

A Durham Love - Book Three

Durham is a hot case full of intrigue and excitement. It is a city full of flavor, characters, plot twists and lessons learned. This place, affectionately known as the Bull City, is a pick your own adventure where each decision impacts your next step and your choices determine the impact of the final outcome. There is no end to what you can gain, what you can explore, or what you can come to understand. All you have to do is be open to the possibilities. Soon, you will realize that Durham is your favorite novel. Not one that you can sit with at home under a blanket, sipping a drink, glasses on, with text in hand. No, never that. It is one that requires curious exploration. You have to get out and feel Durham. I promise you, it’s more than worth it.

That’s right. I was supposed to be telling you about the case. I apologize. I get caught up talking about how wonderful Durham is. Let’s get back to the task at hand.

Prelude: A Case Opens at Krill

Time: Friday Night.

Our first lead came on Ramseur Street right on the corner of Durham Bottling Co. at Krill Restaurant. Krill has a new executive chef, Chef Lex, who has crafted a wonderful summer menu. Chef Lex is known for her ability to offer a diverse array of dishes so delivering a new menu of Asian dishes with a Southern flair is right up her alley. This new menu is full of flavor and has so many great items to choose from. In addition, the bartenders and servers there are amazing. There is such great energy in that space. You can sit inside or out on the covered patio. They make sure that you leave full and happy. A great meal in a great location is the perfect opener to this case.

Chapter One: Scoping the Scene at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Time: Saturday Morning.

After dawn drew us awake, it was time to continue the case. Up next were the paths at Sarah P. Duke Gardens on Duke University’s West Campus. There are five miles of hidden trails, fountains and year-round blossoms there, making it easy to lose time, worry or heaviness and possible to find a new idea or perspective. The beauty present there can really be inspiring. It’s a moment with nature that offers a rich unspoken exchange. This adventure was a way of gathering needed insights.

Chapter Two: Gathering Intel at the North Durham Farmers’ Market

Time: Midday.

Next stop, the North Durham Farmer’s Market. The market is held the first and third Saturdays at Soul Sanctuary, a 12-acre farm in historic Bragtown. The market is a vibrant and diverse community space where you'll find fresh, locally grown produce and handmade goods from area artisans.

We pulled into the farm eager to explore what it had to provide. The first place to take a deeper look at are the vendor tents. You can get fresh produce, organic products and more! You might even find poet Endless Will doing typewriter poems on the spot. I have to also say that getting tacos from Taqueria Emmanuel is a special treat. The market’s mission is to support local farmers, businesses and artisans while providing the community with access to high-quality, locally sourced goods. It’s a magnificent array of goodness that draws folks from all over Durham. The buzz of those folks mingling, laughing and shopping masked whispered conversations. We made sure to pay attention to the chatter about favorite places and activities. One overheard name: The Can Opener. Noted.

Chapter Three: Drama at Carolina Theatre

Time: Saturday Night.

Downtown, neon signs glowed outside Carolina Theatre, a staple in Durham. There, you can find indie films in the cinema and live concerts, theatrical productions and more in Fletcher Hall. Velvet seats. Stage lights. Secrets played out in the balconies. W. Kamau Bell: Who’s With Me? was our target. This talented comedian is known for his thought-provoking stand-up. Who knows what will be brought to light during his performance? This gathering was a special opportunity for information, and we needed to be completely dialed in. We also needed to be alert and aware of our surroundings. There is history in the theatre. It’s as if there are stories hidden in its shadows.

For the full case file on The Carolina Theatre, check out Discover Durham's guide.

Chapter Four: Culinary Confessions

Time: Sunday (ehhh) Mid-morning.

The morning sun extended another invitation. This time the response came back at about 11am (don’t judge). By then, it felt like time to investigate a space mentioned amongst the joy present at the North Durham Farmers’ Market. The destination was The Can Opener, a food truck park next to Durham’s iconic “can opener” bridge. There are a variety of options available there. Not to mention plenty of covered patio space and picnic tables plus outdoor games. Chick-N-Que is a favorite of mine. Sitting outside eating an Alarm Cluck sandwich with fries allows you to take in all kinds of sights and sounds. This is what detectives around here call “people watchin’.”

Chapter Five: A Convenient Walk

Time: Sunday Afternoon.

Sometimes the best thing to do after a good meal is to embark on a nice stroll. Putting foot to the ground can guide you to the answers you need. The path was simple: take a right out of The Can Opener, take a left on West Main Street, and then see where that takes you. If that happens to be half a block on the right, then so be it. Ok…ok…ok… this was all just a ruse to get to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (I said don’t judge). The Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns ice cream or the Middle West Whiskey and Pecans ice cream… come on now! I say that is worth a little bit of pounding the pavement. The ice cream will help all the information process better. It just requires a little bit of space and time afterwards. That means back to headquarters for a moment of reflection and debriefing on the couch in the living room.

Epilogue: Case Closed—For Now

Durham’s story isn’t one singular flash—it’s a layered mystery of food, gardens, culture, people, history and art. In one weekend, the city had surrendered its secrets, but that was the tip of the iceberg. It was clear how dynamic Bull City is. There is so much to engage with, so much to explore and take in. If you ask whodunit, you will find that the culprits are plenty. Creatives, dreamers, culture makers, organizers, leaders, visionaries who call Durham home and work to give back to the city all it gives them.

But mind you, this was only one weekend. There is more. That means that the true revelation is that you have to keep coming back to Durham, over and over again. Be warned: once Durham latches on, it never lets go.