A photo tour of Hillsborough :) (Durham, Cary: appointed, for sale, chapel)

[Indigoblue]

~ Note this photo tour is in two parts (within this thread) b/c I hit the character limit ~

A few weekends ago MrsSteel showed me around Hillsborough (where she lived prior to her move to Woodcroft in Durham) so I of course had to take lots of photos to post

Orange County's beautiful county seat has over 100 preserved/restored historic homes and buildings, and is 12 miles from Chapel Hill and Durham. It is particularly appealing to creative types, drawing hoards of artists, writers, musicians, and poets. This year the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Hillsborough on it's eighth annual list of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations:
http://www.historichillsborough.org/database/pagemaker.cgi?1173465620

This website is packed with visitor info – in particular check out all the historic tour options (the next guided walking tour is July 14th) and the events calendar (a Harry Potter celebration?!)
http://www.historichillsborough.org/

Lots of neat Hillsborough info here and here:
http://www.northcarolinatravels.com/hillsborough/index.htm
Chapel Hill Orange County Visitor's Bureau

Go here to find out about all the antiquing available (as well as some historical reenactment type stuff) at the Shops at Daniel Boone
http://www.theshopsatdanielboone.com/

Our first stop was to get super yummy pain au chocolat from Valour's Patisserie & Bistro, on 125 W King St - Mon-Sat 7am-5pm. (919) 245-1155 . Pain au chocolat is a chocolate stuffed croissant. It was insanely delicious I got a few photos of the bakery part of it (there's also a sit down bistro), including a fun black and white photo on the wall of the owner/chef Eric Valour.

Here's a neat review of the patisserie:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/345213

It's fabulous to have such a 1st class French patisserie in the Triangle. It is well worth a trip & the French owner/baker as nice and helpful as can be.

Go & be utterly gratified...

Hillsborough Arts Council – open by appointment only, check out these websites to see the events they organize, including Art Walk and Last Fridays

http://www.historichillsborough.org/database/pagemaker.cgi?1037805715
http://www.historichillsborough.org/images/Last_Fridays_Art_Walk_June_2007.pdf (broken link)







The Wooden Nickel - a pub on 105 N. Churton Street - Live music Sat. 8:00 pm-11:00 pm.







A random pretty alley downtown






Callaway Jewelry & Spiral Studios

This place is cooperated by two artists. Go here for a cute photo of the artists (and their webpage):

If you have any questions or comments

I really loved the ironwork on the door so asked about it. They told me the artist was Jim Adams. I found his info here, he's a blacksmith:

http://www.artsorange.org/cgi-bin/db/details.cgi?cgisql_db=artscontacts&cgisql_oid=220

I asked MrsSteel to pretend she was browsing for one of the photos. She actually was browsing the whole time, but browsed very intently in one spot for the photo











We next made a stop at the Hillsborough Farmer's Market, where we sampled and bought super yummy brie and goat cheese from the Hillsborough Cheese Co

Local farmers sell fresh produce and flowers. Central Carolina Bank parking lot, N. Churton Street. April 1-first frost, Sat 7am-1pm. Orange County Sheriff's Dept parking lot, E. Margaret Lane. May 1-first frost, Wed 3-?? (919) 732-8315.

Hillsborough cheese company:

http://www.southerncheese.com/Pages/hillsborough.html







This was a really neat looking place - Vintage Revival Tea Room & Treasures, 125 E. King St. Open Wed.-Sat. 11am-5pm. (919) 644-8000. Cottage style home furnishings and decor. Cream tea and scones.







William Courtney's "Yellow House" circa 1768

A Georgian house that now sits on a hill but was originally at street level. William Courtney bought the lot in 1777 and the term "yellow house" was used when William Courtney, Jr transferred the deed to his brother Joseph. British General Cornwallis is thought to have stayed there.






The Alexander Dickson House – 1790 - is also the Hillsborough and Orange County Visitor's Center & headquarters for The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough

http://www.historichillsborough.org/

There is a video about Hillsborough inside the preserved house, a gift shop with touristy and Hillsborough info goodies, and at times, tours

Alexander Dickson House, 150 E. King Street -

The Orange County Visitors Center operates from this late-18th century Quaker-plan house. It was moved from its original location (1 ? mi. SE of Hillsborough) to its present location in the heart of the historic district. The site also includes an office used by Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in April 1865 and an 18th and 19th century medicinal and herbal garden. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm. Closed major holidays. Free. (919) 732-7741

Helen's Garden, 150 E. King Street Located beside the Alexander Dickson House, Helen's Garden provides a relaxing place to sit among 18th and 19th century medicinal and herbal plants, along with a variety of flowering shrubs, trees, and perennials. Open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. (919) 732-7741.

Blue Bayou Club - http://www.bluebayouclub.com/ - nightly music and dancing - Tuesday is Open Mic night , and Wednesday is Texas Hold 'Em Poker night






Several little places in a row in this photo

Melissa Designer Jewelry
Jewelry By Melissa

Panciuto - a fancy Italian restaurant
www.panciuto.com

Saratoga Grill, 108 S. Churton Street Open for lunch Tue.-Sat. 11:30 am-3 pm. Open for dinner Tue.-Thu. 5:00 pm-9:00 pm; Fri. & Sat. 5:00 pm-10:00 pm. Welcomes groups to 50. Reservations, credit cards, local checks and travelers checks accepted. Take-out available. Full ABC permits. (919) 732-2214.

Court Square Shops – antiques!







Hillsborough Wine Company – beer and over 700 wines
Fetch (vintage treasures for home and garden) - 116 S Churton St






The Orange County Court House – completed in 1954, just south of the Old Court House which is on Churton and King and was built in 1845






We had to check out these dog statues - "Sit" and "Stay" – Mike Roig – Carrboro, NC – Steel – Adopted by Orange County ARts Commission for Orange County Animal Services






I liked the sign in this shop's window








tigerlily posted an excerpt from a ny times article that talks about this independent hardware store. We were tickled by the sign advertising cabbage for sale

Article on Hillsborough






Carolina Game & Fish





Hillsborough Cup A Joe – Espresso Bar & Coffee Beans
120 West King St - Offers a wide selection of coffees, including espresso and cappuccino, coffee milkshakes, Belgian soft drinks and an assortment of pastries. Outdoor seating. There's one in Chapel Hill too. Check out the website it talks about how customers can get involved in the coffee preparation process, and discusses how they strive to buy their beans at fair trade prices as close to the source as possible.

JOE VAN GOGH | artisan coffee roasters (http://www.joevangogh.com/ourstores/index.html - broken link)





CONTINUED...

[Indigoblue]

Ode to Pork – by Mike Troy – Poet Laureate of Hillsborough – Hog Day 2007

Read about the annual Hog Day here and here:
http://www.hogdays.com/index.htm
http://www.historichillsborough.org/database/pagemaker.cgi?1181227183

I think it’s absolutely right that Hillsborough should have a poet laureate, and I think it’s absolutely right that that poet should be Mike Troy because he believes so openly and exuberantly in the power of poetry,” said author Michael Malone, one of five residents appointed by the mayor to select a poet laureate. “He also believes in celebrating the life of a community, and that’s what a poet laureate does.”

This gorgeous place looked abandoned to us and we peered in the windows and didn't see anything going on, but it's listed as a Hillsborough restaurant on many websites so maybe it's only open for dinner?

The Colonial Inn and Restaurant - Originally called the Tavern House, built in 1759, but which partially burned down in 1771, ignited by a spark when the British were burning the homes of leaders - who they also hanged - of the Regulator Movement in Hillsborough.
















A flower on one of the many magnolia trees I saw in Hillsborough






A gorgeous Victorian, can't recall what street it was on though. We hopped out of the car to get a photo of it.








MrsSteel then showed me Ayr Mount on 376 Saint Mary's Road. A very very pretty house with many acres open to the public.
http://www.presnc.org/seerestorations/ayrmount/ayrmount.html (broken link)

An 1815 Federal-era plantation house, restored and furnished with period antiques and fine art. Guided tour. The estate includes the one mile long Poet's Walk -

March 21-December 20, Wed-Sat 11am, Thurs-Sun 2pm. Other times by appointment. Closed major holidays. $10 admission. (919) 732-6886. Poets Walk, 376 St. Mary's Road Situated on the grounds of Ayr Mount, an 1815 plantation estate, Poets Walk is a mile long trail that meanders through the meadows and woodlands of the property. The path follows the Eno River, passes the ruins of an old tavern, and parallels the Old Indian Trading Path. Open daily. Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec 9am-5pm, Mar, Apr, Sept, Oct 9am-6pm, and May-Aug 9am-7pm. Free. (919) 732-6886.

Pretty pretty homes in the Churton Grove subdivision...















And two homes in the Burke's Meadow subdivision...









Finally we went to the Maple View Farm Country Store which is in sight of the farm. There are also locations in downtown Hillsborough and in Carrboro. The view is sooooo nice, and there is a long row of rocking chairs on the front porch to relax on as you eat your icecream. I took a photo of my banana icecream (the best I've EVER had - with actual banana pieces in it) with the farmland in the background. MrsSteel also treated me to some Maple View chocolate milk which was insanely creamy and my little guys were asking about for days after it was gone

Here's their website – warning if you are at WORK – this website MOOS at you!!
www.mapleviewfarm.com










Hope you enjoyed my photo tour of Hillsborough!


A big thank you to MrsSteel for a really fun day and for bearing with me taking so many photos

[Indigoblue]

Phew, I didn't end up needing a part three.

[lovesMountains]

Awesome job!!! LOVE these pics! Rep points coming your way

[Petunia16]

Wow! Quite the report! Now I know where to go on the weekends! Thanks so much And yes, you are getting some rep points

[bluedevilz]

Great pics of my town and neighborhood Indigo!

I was hoping to give you your 100th rep point but I think petunia beat me to it...

[Indigoblue]

Thanks guys it was fun!

I better drag myself off to bed

[alice_61]

Thank you very much!

[MrsSteel]

Wonderful pics, IndigoBlue! Thanks for letting me drag you all over town!

[findingmesomeday]

"You must spread some reputation around before giving it to IndigoBlue again"

The thought was there though!

Thank you, thank you! After looking at Cary and deciding NOT FOR ME, then falling in love with Chapel Hill but worrying about the expense of living there, Hillsborough has become a real possibility for us. Schools are good, COL/housing is lower. The town is about the size of the town I live in now.