Duke Health Performs First Hand Transplant in State

A 54-year-old man, is the recipient of Duke Hospital’s first hand transplant.The 12-hour procedure was performed May 27, 2016, by a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, operating room staff and technicians, and was led by Linda Cendales, M.D., associate professor of surgery at Duke University School of Medicine and director of Duke’s hand transplant program. Duke is one of just 10 hospitals in the United States that has performed a hand transplant.

Duke University unveiled the new name of their updated on-campus accommodations

Duke unveiled the new name of the updated on-campus accommodations, announcing the former R. David Thomas Center will reopen in January 2017 as the JB Duke Hotel.The space has been undergoing renovations since March 2015. Crews are making extensive upgrades to modernize the building, which will feature 198 guestrooms, including 11 unique suites, to be used by visitors to Duke and Durham. Duke’s Science Drive/Cameron Boulevard parking garage is also scheduled to be completed in January next year, and will accommodate 2,320 vehicles.

Mothers and Sons and Lucky's Deli scheduled to open this weekend

Mothers & Sons and Lucky’s Deli are a collaboration between the chef/owners of Mateo, Matt Kelly and Josh DeCarolis , and Drew Brown. Both restaurants, which are right next door to each other on W. Chapel Hill Street, are expected to hold their friends and family openings later this week and plan to be ready to open to the public by the weekend.

Snookball comes to Durham

“Snookball," a hybrid between snooker and soccer, will be coming to North Carolina via Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub.The snookball pool table, which will measure 10 feet by 20 feet in area and stands 26 inches tall, is twice the size of a regular pool table and played with feet rather than pool cues. It will be constructed of painted wood boards and outdoor-grade felt. There will be a fence enclosing the playing area. It will be located on the northwest quadrant of West Main and West Chapel Hill streets.

Four Square restaurant to close its doors on June 25

Four Square restaurant located at 2701 Chapel Hill Rd,will close its doors on June 25.

Piedmont restaurant welcomes chef John May starting August 1

John May, a former sous chef at The Chef & The Farmer in Kinston, will take over the kitchen at Piedmont restaurant in Durham, starting Aug. 1. Piedmont’s current chef, Greg Gettles, is moving to Charleston, S.C. He will finish out Triangle Restaurant Week at Piedmont, which ends June 12.

New burger franchise Built to open at the Streets at Southpoint.

Built Custom Burgers will be opening in early 2017 in the food court area of the Streets at Southpoint mall in south Durham. Built will feature a build-your-own burger line similar to how Chipotle makes burritos, and MOD Pizza assembles individual pizzas.