My take on the New York Times list of places to visit in the Triangle
12 Jun
The Triangle is receiving a shout out in this weekend’s New York Times. The Travel section features an article outlining 11 things you must do if you’re spending 36 hours in “Research Triangle, NC.”
I’m happy to report that this trusty Triangle blogger has done almost everything on the list. But somehow during my time in the Triangle, I’ve never made it to two of the must-visit places on the NYT list: Mama Dip’s in Chapel Hill and Taqueria La Vaquita in Durham (the place with the plastic cow on its roof).
On the bright side, I’ve driven (or walked) past both of these restaurants many times and have always intended to go, but I’ve yet to make it. I’m sure they’ll get a boost in business in the coming weeks thanks to the article. I can assure you I’ll be one of them.
Here are the 11 places the New York Times say are worth a visit in the Triangle and my 2-cents on what they missed:
1. The N.C. Art Museum (with emphasis on the museum park). If you haven’t been, consider bringing your bike and biking over the pedestrian bridge above I-440 and waving to passers by and then heading over to Meredith College and stopping for ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s. Or pack a picnic and go watch a movie outside. Tonight they’re showing “All the President’s Men.”
2. Father & Son (the awesome vintage/antique shop in downtown Raleigh). I love this place. It’s where I scored my 1960s kitchen table. If you go, be sure to hit the recently reorganized basement (duck your head when you walk down the stairs so you don’t hit your head on the pipes) where last time I checked they still had a New Kids on the Block sleeping bag.
3. Eat at Poole’s Downtown Diner. The NYT forgot to mention the dish that all my friends dish about: The Macaroni and Cheese. OMG! It’s heaven. Seriously, I think when you get to heaven you’re surrounded by tubs of Poole’s Mac & Cheese.
4. Grab a beer at Raleigh Times. I love the Times. Of course the journalist in me loves it for the history and the decor. But in addition to a fabulous (although sometimes overpriced) beer selection, the Times has outstanding deep fried pickles!
5. Get lost in The Scrap Exchange. I’ve blogged about this Durham treasure a few times. The nonprofit is a warehouse stuffed with random scraps that businesses probably would’ve thrown away. If you’re a craft lover, then this is a must visit. But if you’re just amused by randomness, make a Saturday morning day trip out of it. Hit up the Durham Farmer’s Market across the street and then browse the Scrap Exchange.
6. Taqueria La Vaquita in Durham. Like I said, I’ve never been, but now I definitely plan to go.
7. Eno River State Park. The Eno river is one of Durham’s treasures. If you’ve never been, start at West Point on the Eno, a 338-acre Durham city park where an old mill, farmhouse and museum of photography await your exploration. There are also some great swimming holes along the Eno River. And, of course, The Festival for the Eno during the July 4th weekend is packed with music and crafts.
8. Eat BBQ at The Pit. This downtown Raleigh restaurant has received so many rave reviews in national media lately that it’s starting to make me yawn. Yes, the BBQ is good. Yes, you should go there. They used to have tasty green bean cassarole, but they took it off their menu. #fail.
9. Take in a minor league baseball game at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. A Bulls game is a lot of fun, even if you’re not a baseball fan. There’s a lot of amusing entertainment between innings, beer and you can even get seats in the lawn for some games. And, best of all, on Friday nights there is always free fireworks after the game.
10. See a show at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. This music venue draws a lot of hot and up-and-coming indie acts. But if you see an act you love coming to the Cradle, don’t delay in buying tickets. The last thing you want to do is find yourself without Jenny Lewis tickets (not that I’m bitter, Daniel).
11. Eat at Mama Dip’s or Crook’s Corner both in Chapel Hill. I haven’t made it to Mama Dip’s yet, but I was unimpressed with Crook’s when I visited it once last summer. But, a lot of people love it, so don’t judge it based on my experience.
Of course, there are plenty of fun places to visit if you only have 36 hours in the Triangle. Share some of your favorites in the comment section.
Also, let me know what you think of the NYT list. Did they get it right? Are these the top places to visit in the Triangle? What would you remove or add?
Weaver Street Market in Carrboro on Sundays, when the weather is nice and musicians are playing – that it The Center Of The Universe, not just of the Triangle!
And I love Crooks’ Corner and Mama’s Dip.
I have often taken people along with us to the NC Museum of Art who have never been there before, even if they have lived here for decades. It’s a solid collection.
“A Bulls game is a lot of fun, even if you’re not a baseball fan. There’s a lot of amusing entertainment between innings, beer and you can even get seats in the lawn for some games.”
A Bulls game is a must if you’re not a baseball fan. If you are one, though, the “amusing entertainment between innings” is simply annoying. I’m hoping the Bulls will follow up on my suggestion for “Throwback Nights” next year. One game on every other homestand, maybe a Monday or Tuesday night, without the stupid Sumo Wrestling, diaper races, or ridiculously loud music between every batter. Give a the crowd a chance to “whoop-whoo” again when the opposing team brings in a relief pitcher in the middle of the 8th inning. Get to talk to your neighbor between innings again.
How they left out the Beaver Queen Pageant, though, is quite beyond me.
I was patting myself on the back reading the article, having gone to all but three places. I guess I’ll have to add those to my list!
I think Mama Dip’s is overrated. If you are a true connoisseur of southern food you probably won’t be impressed. When I lived in Charleston, a real culinary town, the general rule of thumb was any place that was on the Food Network or NYtimes is probably overrated
On a unrelated note, I tried Glass Half Full in Carrboro for lunch this past weekend and it was one of the best lunches I have had in a while. It is a little pricey, but everything is fresh and local.
Allison: I like your theory about Food Network. It’s still cool to have some local recognition from the NYTimes, particularly for Durham, which definitely deserves it. When I used to visit Charleston, I loved going to 82 Queen and Joseph’s for beignets. Mmmmm.
West Point on the Eno is really a Durham City Park. The boundary between that and the eastern end of Eno River State Park is at Guess Rd.
@JustBeingPicky Thanks for your comment. You’re right, West Point on the Eno is a Durham city park, an important distinction since some Durham tax dollars go toward maintaining it. But I’m confused about your comment because my post clearly says that it is a city park. I headlined the section “Eno River State Park” because that’s how the NYTimes listed it, but I was sure to point out that West Point on the Eno is indeed a city park b/c I know how important that detail is. I hope this clarifies the entry for you.