RDU implements new parking operations effective April 4

RDU will now have three parking options to choose from; ParkRDU Premier includes 1,000 spaces on the ground level of the main parking garage between terminals one and two, ParkRDU Central offers 10,000 spots within walking distance to both terminals, and ParkRDU Economy which offers a park and ride service. ParkRDU Premier will cost you $3/hour and $18/day. ParkRDU Central runs $2/hour and $14/day and  ParkRDU Economy, the former Park and Ride, is $1/hour and $6-$7/day. Starting May 1st you can save on all of those prices by booking online, saving anywhere from 2 to 7 dollars. The new operations go into effect April 4.

New downtown retail shop opens

Everyday Magic, a new retail shop owned by Bakara Wintner has opened. Located at 125 E. Parrish St. downtown, the shop focuses on a variety of items including home goods, jewelry, clothes and body products. 

The Durham Craft Market reopens

 The Durham Craft Market will reopen on Saturday, April 2 for its 11th season. Located on the grassy side of the Durham Farmers’ Market, the DCM is an open-air market displaying one-of-a-kind, handmade, local arts and crafts. The Durham Craft Market is open every Saturday, April through November, from 8 a.m.-noon at 502 Foster St.

Smashing Boxes app enables audio track mixing on the Moogfest website

Durham-based Smashing Boxes is helping turn the Moogfest website into a real mixer.Dubbed "_substrate," allowing the site to really become an instrument. The responsive, interactive application allows users to control audio tracks by swiping and tapping on mobile devices or utilizing the arrow keys+mouse on a desktop device.There is also aYouTube tutorial on how to use "_substrate.." 

Hope Valley Brewing Company opens

Hope Valley Brewing Company opened March 17^th. Located at 4810 Hope Valley Road, they are a kid friendly, pet-friendly, and fun friendly establishment with a low-key environment.

Bull City Craft opens new location

Bull City Craft has opened their new location in the Homestead Market Shopping Center in South Durham. Services include play craft ​art and exploration play for young children, drop-in craft-based activities for children and adults, birthday parties, painting and craft parties for all ages, summer camps for children and Paint and Pour canvas painting workshops for adults. The shop will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. to ­6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to ­5 p.m.

The Boot welcomes new executive chef Jon May

Chef Jon May, who worked at The Chef and The Farmer in Kinston, is now the executive chef at The Boot, an Italian-American restaurant with a focus less on American and more on Italian. May is using a lot of local artisan products with a more seasonal menu. Despite the changes, May said the prices will stay the same. The Boot is located at 2501 University Dr., Durham; Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Saturday.

Durham-based Sports Media Technology goes global

Durham-based Sports Media Technology (SMT) was founded nearly 30 years ago. The real-time sports stats we see on TV come from SMT. Employees are on site at each tournament game and provide real-time statistics. From there the stats go to Durham and then on to the networks in New York and Atlanta and then promptly on to the air. SMT works for several different sports, most notably helping with graphics for NFL games and NASCAR races. The company has recently gone global providing live updates on every single cricket game going on in India.

New Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau unveiled

The new Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau is having a press day today, March 16, where media gets a look at the new state of the art center on West Main Street located in the former Trust Building. Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Shelly Green will be on hand to discuss what the new space and location represent for the organization. DCVB will also host an open house, which will include tours of the facility. The public is encouraged to stop by anytime between 4-6 pm Tuesday, March 22.

Durham approves animal waste ordinance

Durham officials have approved a new ordinance that makes it an offense to leave dog waste on public property, public park property, public right-of-way or any private property without permission from the property owner. Dog owners must remove all of the waste immediately after it has been dropped, and it must then be thrown away. If a resident is found in violation of the ordinance, he or she will be fined $50 for the first offense and $100 for the second offense. Habitual offenders could be fined up to $150 for each subsequent offense.

MoDH installs new exhibit at Trust Building Gallery

The Trust Building became home to the Museum of Durham History’s newest “Museum Without Walls” exhibit, which consists of two sections: Anonymous Ancestors and Bull City Soundscape. The Gallery is located on the first floor of the Trust Building, 212 W. Main Street. and is available to experience Monday-Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 10am-6pm.

Carolinas PGA Inducts Ed Ibarguen into 2015 Hall of Fame

The Carolinas PGA (CPGA) Section of The PGA of America inducted Ed Ibarguen, PGA of Duke University Golf Club into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame. The CPGA Section Awards and Honors are distributed annually by the Carolinas PGA Section, as selected by the Special Awards Committee.

Burt's Bees launches new social media campaign

Burt’s Bees has launched a social media campaign that encourages women to “Lose the Bs” in their social media post, then use a #BringBackTheBees hashtag. For every post, the brand will plant 1,000 wild flowers so the bees will have more places to get busy and pollinate. The goal is to plant 1 billion flowers as a result of the effort.

Duke DivinitySchool names new dean

Elaine A. Heath, a theologian, preacher, teacher, writer, and current McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, will be the next dean of the Duke Divinity School.

Bulldega market to open spring 2016

Bulldega market will open later this spring in downtown Durham’s City Hall Plaza. They will focus on sourcing as many local and regional products as possible but also plan on carrying staples like toilet paper, cleaning products, bread, and milk. 

Duke University launches new website to introduce potential newcomers to Durham

Duke University launched a new website in February called Duke in Durham. The website was developed by the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations to introduce Durham to people who are considering coming to work or study at Duke. It provides information about housing, schools, safety, health care and transportation. In addition, it lists attractions and places worth visiting in the city.

Transloc launches app to connect ridesharing, public transit

Local transportation technology company Transloc has launched its Uber-integrated app, called Transloc Rider, which incorporates multiple modes of transportation in a user’s commute. The App integrates Uber ride sharing, public transit and walking to offer several options with both prices and travel times.

Delta to renovate RDU Sky Club

The Delta Sky Club at RDU, will unveil their upgraded space and amenities around September, four months after the Paris flights begin. Upgrades include a new full bar and two new food service stands.

Mama's Hot Chicken food truck to hit streets April 15

Longtime Durham restaurateur Fergus Bradley and several partners are planning to launch the Mama’s Hot Chicken food truck, which will serve Nashville-style hot chicken, on April 15. 

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/mouthful-blog/article63368022.html#storylink=cpy

Duke University names West Campus quad in honor of Julian Abele

Duke University has recently named the main quad on West Campus for the black architect Julian Abele, who designed most of the university’s most iconic buildings such as Duke Chapel, Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Allen Building.

Rent will return to DPAC

The 20th anniversary tour of the Broadway show “Rent” will make a stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center this fall. 

Hope Valley Bewing Company to open in the former City Beverage spot

Andrew Christenbury, former head brewer at Durham’s G2B, has partnered with Peter Michaels and Brad Strode to overhaul the City Beverage space and open Hope Valley Brewing Co. by St. Patrick’s Day. The pub will feature a range of their own craft beers and carry a wide selection of craft beers from across North Carolina and the world.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/mouthful-blog/article63169667.html#storylink=cpy