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.

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.

Time: Friday Night.

Our first lead came on Ramseur Street right on the corner of Durham Bottling Co. at Nerra restaurant. Nerra is a new seafood spot and the executive chef, Chef Lex, has gained a following through years of work in kitchens across Durham. Chef Lex is known for her ability to offer a diverse array of dishes so delivering a new menu of seasonal seafood 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.

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.

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’.”

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.