More than just a front porch in Bynum

Chatham County is filled with many talented musicians and groups and there are a lot of great venues, stages, and front porches where they play.  One such front porch happens to be in Bynum, off 15-501 in between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.  Every year they host their front porch music series and it’s an excellent place to hear amazing music from talented folks all across NC.  You can check out their calendar online, but I’ve also put the schedule below.  Bynum is closer than you think!  And, it’s a great destination for live music.  Bring friends and family! 

May 4

Mipso Trio

7-9 p.m.

May 11

SquierRed & The Blues Band

7-9 p.m.

May 18

The Zinc Kings

7-9 p.m.

May 25

JuleBrown

7-9 p.m.

June 1

Zambamboogee

7-9 p.m.

June 8

Onward, Soldiers

7-9 p.m.

June 15

Boys From Carolina

7-9 p.m.

June 22

Hot Rooster

7-9 p.m.

June 29

Killer Filler!

7-9 p.m.

July 6

Les Freres Kairaba!

7-9 p.m.

July 13

The Swayback Sisters

7-9 p.m.

July 20

Samantha Casey and The Bluegrass Jam

7-9 p.m.

July 27

Dark Water Rising

7-9 p.m.

August 3

Lizzy Ross Band

7-9 p.m.

August 10

Justin Robinson and the Mary Annettes

7-9 p.m.

August 17

Smith Family Bluegrass

7-9 p.m.

August 24

The Bluegrass Experience

7-9 p.m.

August 31

Chompin’ At The Bit String Band

7-9 p.m.

Beer Garden in Fearrington open

A BEER GARDEN IN FEARRINGTON?
Yup. Roost is Fearrington’s own Beer Garden, set beneath beautiful oak trees near the Village Center. Lots of local, outdoor art, patio seating, and beer to be had. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can usually hear live musicians play on the front porch. It opened on the 13^th and will continue operating through the Fall.

BEERS ON TAP
They feature draft beers from the Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro and Durham newcomer, Fullsteam. You don’t have to get beer. Roost also has wine, water, and ales available. And, if you need a salty snack, sell Virginia peanuts. Delicious!

HOURS
Open Spring, Summer & Fall
Thursday-Saturday, 4pm-8pm
(919) 542-1239

Earth Day Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

Shameless plug: I made 3 Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for the Briar Chapel Earth Day Celebration to benefit The Abundance Foundation and entered them into the Best Buddy contest.  Why am I mentioning PSAs again? Well, I think the only people who have submitted PSAs so far have been Briar Chapel Best Buddy contestants and I think it would be a shame if folks from the community didn't submit one as well.  Briar Chapel is looking for some environmentally-focused PSAs that are :30 and :60 seconds long. Sing, draw, or talk about an environmental issue that is important to you, video tape it, upload it to YouTube, and submit your video link to Briar Chapel's Facebook page. It's easy and fun! PSAs will be shown on 4/21 in the early evening.
And, need something else fun to do that day? Come to Earth Day at Briar Chapel. Food trucks (Chirba Dumplings, The Parlour, Will & Pop's), Fullsteam Brewery, and Carolina Brewery will be on hand in the afternoon with some awesome vittles, snacks, and brew. And, they'll be donating 10% of what they make to go to The Abundance Foundation and the awesome work that they do (Sustainability Summer Camp for kids, anyone?). So, come out on 4/21 and invite friends and family to come with you - buy some delicious food, drink some beer, and support a wonderful local non-profit and a great community.

Two new PSAs:

Why I am Briar Chapel's Best Buddy

There aren’t many places that feel like home as soon as you get there.  When you do find that feeling, you just want to share it with others.  For me, that place is Briar Chapel. 

When I moved to the area, I had never really had neighbors before and the thought of living in a planned community gave me a lot of pause.  To me, planned communities were unoriginal and lackluster, just another means of squishing a lot of people together, but Briar Chapel is different.  They are focused on building a green community.  This focus is important to them and it shows – in the homes, the 24+ miles of bike and hiking trails, the dedicated green spaces and parks.  And, I think, it attracts a different kind of person, too.  I’ve never lived in a place where I’ve felt so connected to the community and the people who live in it.  I love my neighbors!  They are a collection of interesting, passionate, and charming folks you really can’t find anywhere else.  This whole Briar Chapel Best Buddy contest has been great because it’s given me an excuse to go out and better engage with this community and my neighbors. 

I feel like I am a Best Buddy because I’ve lived and become a part of this neighborhood.  I was one of the founding members of the community garden (when it was only a blueprint and an idea), I’m active on the trails and just running through the neighborhood, I’m not afraid to go up to a neighbor and introduce myself or say hello, most of the people I work around are constantly encouraged to come out and visit or take part in one of the many events that go on in Briar Chapel, etc. etc.  Frankly, there are a lot of reasons, but also because I just love this place that has become my home.  I encourage the folks that I work with, and now I’d like to encourage you to check out Briar Chapel.  They just do things differently here and I think it is a welcome addition to Chatham County.  I am a Briar Chapel Best Buddy and I think you should check Briar Chapel out.  Even if you don’t buy a home here, there is so much to do and wonderful folks to meet.  Give it a try on Earth Day (4/21) and see what you think.

PSA Contest

Briar Chapel is holding a Public Service Announcement contest for their Earth Day celebration on the 21st.  They are looking for PSAs that are :30 or :60 seconds long and have an environmentally-focused message.  You can submit yours via Briar Chapel’s Facebook page.  They’ll be showing the PSAs on the lawn of their large park, Briar Chapel Commons, on the evening on the 21^st.  Be sure to submit yours before the 21^st so you can take part! Here's one on composting:
 

Earth Day at Briar Chapel has events going on all day long, including:

-5k at 9 a.m.

-Food truck rodeo!

-Earth Day Fair with local businesses, artists, and organizations from 3-5

-Watching Wall-E outdoors on the Commons in the evening

It's going to be a beautiful day! Hope you can make it.

Pick Your Own: Strawberries

Unseasonably warm weather means it's almost strawberry picking time!  This is one of my favorite parts of spring.  You finally get through the duldrums of winter, scrambling to find one more bag of frozen berries in the back of your freezer, when it happens -- Spring.  Spring = fresh berries.  Finally.  North Carolina is wonderful because the growing season is slightly longer than in some states and there is a big push back into growing and producing food right here. 

Back to the berries!  The NC Strawberry Association puts together an online list of the strawberry farm closest to you with their Strawberry Farm Locator.  Here are a few that I know about:

• Oakley's Farm: 383 Oakley Farm Rd., Chapel Hill, 919-360-2924
• Jean's Berry Patch: 3003 N NC 751, Apex, 919-362-5800
• Buckwheat Farm: 2700 Holland Rd., Apex, 919-303-0339
• DJ's Berry Patch: 1223 Salem Church Rd., Apex, 919-600-4020
• Vollmer Farm (certified organic): 677 NC Hwy 98E, Bunn, 919-496-3076
• Whitted Bowers Farm (certified organic): 8707 Art Rd., Cedar Grove, 919-732-5132

Don't forget that the Piedmont Farm Tour is April 28-29. You can grab a button for this event at your local Weaver Street Co-op.

Happy picking!

Pittsboro

I'm still amazed by the amount of activites and events that go on in a "sleepy" town, not to mention the restaurants, bars, shops, and organizations that are a part of this same community.  Pittsboro has so many wonderful qualities.  Not only do you get the small town feel of knowing many of the residents by name, you also can quickly become an integral part of the community.  I've been trying to explore this area for a while and I've come up with a list of different places to go and things to do.  It is by no means complete -- there is always room to add more.  Below is a video of what I have uncovered so far. 

And, here are some snapshots. Let me know what I've missed!

Italian food with a cause in Pittsboro

I went to Bella Donna in Pittsboro the other night for dinner because I had heard so many good reviews from folks downtown as well as from friends and neighbors.  Their menu is still expanding as they try out new dishes and get feedback from customers.  What they do have, they do really well.  Even just a basic bowl of pasta ribbons with their cherry tomato sauce is excellent.  And, if you can, try their pesto.  Oh, and the bread that you get when you sit down is addictive!  Seriously.  They even had free wine available.  If you don't feel like dining in, you can just order a pizza and pick it up at the take out window outside.  Or, buy your pizza dough from them and make your own pizza at home.  They sell kits that contain the dough, cheese, marinara sauce, as well as any toppings that you'd like to add.  They even offer up private cooking classes.

But, the best part of eating here is that proceeds from the food sales goes toward financial support for tuition scholarships for Our Neighborhood School.  (Here's a video about it.)

It's a great place to go with a date or take your family.  Just be patient if you want to sit down to a dinner there -- it can get busy.  If you do decide to go, not only are you getting a great meal, but you are also supporting a great cause.  Two birds, one stone?  Yup.

Bella Donna is open for lunch and dinner:
11 AM - 8 PM Monday to Thursday
11 AM - 9 PM Friday
4 PM - 9 PM Saturday
Closed Sundays

Public Art

I love public art.  Chatham County’s lucky in that is has a lot of great organizations doing wonderful work in the community to provide art to all.  One such place is Chatham Arts.  They actually have an office located in downtown Pittsboro.  They hold events, films, and many different classes.  Actually, a lot of the classes take place at Briar Chapel.  Briar Chapel residents get 10% off these classes.  Speaking of Briar Chapel, I think they’ve done a good job of teaming up with local NC artists to offer a lot of art, sculpture, and opportunities to the community (not just in Briar Chapel, but also beyond).  I went driving through the neighborhood the other day and came across a lot of beautiful artwork.  Here’s a video of many of the public art that’s displayed.

If you get a chance, you should definitely check out Chatham Arts website to see how you can start getting involved!

Chatham Marketplace

When I moved to the area I was given the perfect gift – a membership to the Chatham Marketplace, a local co-op in Pittsboro. This place is pretty small, but mighty.  They are really good at getting local NC produce and products in the store.  And, it’s also a great place for a quick bite to eat since they have a hot bar, cold case, coffee shop, and even make fresh, hot paninis.  Oh, and you should definitely go by for breakfast in the morning – their biscuits are delicious, filling, and are incredibly affordable.

During April to November, Chatham Marketplace also hosts the weekend Chatham Mills Farmer’s Market.  In fact, the Farmer’s Market is starting back up again on April 14^th!  Hours have been extended from 8-1 every Saturday.  Products include:

§  Bread and Baked Goods
§  Local produce
§  Fruits and nuts
§  Preserved Foods
§  Dairy and cheeses
§  Flowers
§  Farm Crafts
They even have local musicians stop by to play while you shop.  It’s an excellent Farmer’s Market that deserves your visit.

Carolina Brewery

Sometimes you need a nice chill place to relax and drink a craft beer.  Luckily, Pittsboro has one such very sweet spot, Carolina Brewery.  There's a good reason that they won the 2009 Best of the Triangle award for Best Local Brewery -- there are some seriously good beer choices here.  I tend to go for the Sky Blue, but they also offer up seasonal brews.  Good snacking food and appetizers here, too.  You can even purchase a growler (first-time purchase of $12.25, every refill is only $8.25).

Oh, and on Wednesday nights they host trivia night. Bring a group of friends and make an evening of it!

5k on Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day 2012 with a 5k at Briar Chapel.  On Saturday, April 21^st, Briar Chapel will be hosting their 4^th Annual 5k race (starting at 9 a.m.) to benefit The Abundance Foundation.  It’s a brand new certified course this year (a lot less hilly for those who did it last year) and is a great course to run or walk.

Advanced registration is only $20, or $25 on race day, and includes a locally made organic cotton t-shirt from TS Designs, a goodie bag, and a Fullsteam Brewery beer ticket you can redeem after the race (did I mention Fullsteam is going to be there!).

The Earth Day Celebration is an all-day event with hands-on demos and exhibitions from local businesses, organizations, and artists.  And, there will even be Chatham County’s first ever Food Truck Rodeo.  Trucks that are coming include Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Pie Pushers, Parlour, Will & Pop’s, Fullsteam, and Carolina Brewery.

Bring your friends and family! I’ll be there running the course and drinking a mighty fine Carver (hopefully) from Fullsteam.

24+ miles of hiking and biking

This past weekend I took advantage of the 24+ miles of trails that Briar Chapel offers by cycling down to the marsh.  

This is usually a pretty easy 5-10 minute ride from the parking lot just off Great Ridge Parkway.  I condensed the video down to about a minute of footage.  The trails are created and maintained by the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC).  They've done a great job and have made it so that there are trails for every level of rider.

It's worth a trip out to check these trails out.  And, if you're not into cycling, there are also several hiking trails that meander around this green community.

Briar Chapel #bcBestBuddy

Briar Chapel by Newland Communities in Chapel Hill has launched their Best Buddy contest.  It's already at the half-way point, but there is still plenty of time to sign up to take part.  If you love being green and letting other people know about it (plus winning wonderful prizes), this is a great contest to take part in.

Each week they are handing out a prize with the grand prize of a Buddy Scooter (from Combustion Cycles) being given away on Earth Day.

Contest ends on April 15th.  You can visit Briar Chapel's blog for more info.

Chatham beginnings

My first post!  I'm new to all this and I've never really been drawn to writing stuff down.  But, I'm working on creating some roots and I figured this would be the best way to hold myself accountable while finding out what my new home and community has to offer. 

I’ll start off slow.  Here’s a great wiki entry on the county of Chatham: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham_County,_North_Carolina.  And, here’s some info on the man the county was named after: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt,_1st_Earl_of_Chatham.  Any other facts or history I should know about?  I guess I’ll have to find out.

Stay tuned. This blog’ll start filling up soon.