I was at the Bulls game tonight actually. Downtown Durham is a much better visitor experience than DTR. Raleigh’s more liveable, but downtown is quieter and more spread out.
Howling Cow kicks Parlor’s butt though 
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For a sense of walkable scale the enclosed area within the Durham downtown one-way street loop is similar in area and number of blocks to one of Raleigh’s many downtown districts.
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That’s a good perspective. All of Raleigh’s DT districts are growing, but the spread growth makes it difficult for us to sometimes wrap our heads around how much change is happening. One day soon it will all start coming together and we’ll be really proud of what has been created.
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Parlour is downtown though and Howling Cow is not. And as an NCSU alum and Durham resident I can say with no biases that there’s no asskicking. They’re both good.
I think DTR has more if you know where to look, but there are more gaps in the pedestrian experience. Demand is not being met in either downtown since fridays are impossible waits usually.
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There was an article in the local news about a month ago about one of the more successful business people in the Triangle (cannot remember his name!) who was selling his house in Cary for a lot of $$ to downsize and move to downtown Durham - he was giving all the reasons why he was going to Durham. The article was basically a very good advertisement for Durham. I made a post last week about the uniqueness of the American Tobacco Campus - just nothing like it in Raleigh. I think a lot of the good stuff happening in Durham is also because of DPAC and there seems to be an identity for that city that Raleigh does not have. It’s a bit more edgy, independent and seems like a place where more odd-ball shops can survive.
Never thought I’d say so many nice things about Durham but they’re doing a good job at least in some parts.
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David Gardner? His Cary mansion is for sale ($8M plus) but investor David Gardner isn’t leaving Triangle | WRAL TechWire.
I suspect part of Raleigh’s “issue” is as the state capital, its downtown has always had employees and visitors, even before it was revitalized, while Durham’s downtown has really drastically changed. I grew up going to Durham as my go-to city, and my family only went to the malls and ninth street by Duke, never downtown, so its identity is completely new.
Raleigh has also changed significantly, but it’s less obvious and there are a lot of preconceived notions of Raleigh’s identity - just like Durham is dealing with a lot of preconceived notions about safety. Curious if those who lived in Raleigh before and after revitalization agree with this though.
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I can only dream of this ever happening…
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I want to say that Market and Exchange Plazas used to be streets. They are great today but man are they missing some plaza-facing retail/restaurant spaces. If there’s any narrow streets in DTR, this could work. I choose the streets in City Market! 
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I’m very grateful to have both cities easily accessible (let’s go intercity rail!!!)
I was playing a jazz/funk jam in ATC yesterday during and after the game, if you heard music
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Spent last weekend in Richmond and walked the James River Pipeline. Can we get a river with some small rapids running along the edge of downtown, please?
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The Rivah is a big part of what makes the city so interesting.
Sometimes I really miss living in RVA. Then other times, not so much. lol
No matter what, I still have my 804 phone number to carry with me forever. 
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I’m heading through Richmond (on the way to Charlottesville) for a day this week. Never been. Any must hit spots? Planning on walking the river, Maymont, VMFA, and probably just leisurely strolling the other time.
Hah, I’m going up for a long weekend on Friday. Who knew everyone would think RVA in late July?
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My wife really enjoyed spending half a day shopping in Carytown.
The downtown riverfront (Brown’s Island/Belle Isle) is a must. Maymont is pretty cool, but the gardens (Japanese garden especially) is my favorite part. The Fan and Church Hill are really cool old neighborhoods, as well as Shockoe Slip/Bottom. As a pseudo engineer, I think the old locks and canals along the river are pretty interesting too.
You can also walk the flood wall along the southern side of the river. Old Manchester has changed a LOT since I left in 2008, there are a lot of new things popping up all over the place. It used to be a bit scary, but the last time I was up there (2020 to watch the Dominion Building implosion), Manchester was almost unrecognizable.
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Go get you a MEAT SANDWICH at GWAR BAR!!!
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Used to go tubing down the James river right through downtown when I lived there years ago.
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Appreciate the tips! Will definitely be checking a lot of the river out.
All of their design students study abroad in Prague. It’s an awesome program - noticeably improves the program and their exposure and skills.
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