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You think Raleigh's core is cooler than Durham's right now?
I think it's neck and neck...and Durham is getting close to surpassing... What do you think makes Raleigh's core cooler? Raleigh is displacing all of its "color" (if you will) and they're throwing up cookie cutter condos. That's not cool at all.
I love Durham (I really do), but let's not come for Raleigh with those same lame DT arguments.
Raleigh has a wonderful DT, and it's still growing. Durham having a better downtown is subjective. Raleigh being the biggest city in the Triangle (and outpacing Durham's growth in raw numbers) isn't.
I'm truly happy Durham is getting the recognition it deserves though.
IMHO, Downtown Raleigh peaked about 5 years ago (perhaps even slightly sooner) in terms of hipness. The positive hip things that have happened since, such as the opening of Garland and Ruby Deluxe, have been outweighed by things like the migration of Glenwood South types to the the bars, jacking up of rents, and more and more generic stuff lacking a local flavor.
Durham's downtown today feels more like the Raleigh of 5-10 years ago. I see some signs (gentrification, overpriced condos, trolley pubs, etc.) that we might be past or near peak Durham.
If I'm going to DTR lately, it is usually to do something specific - dinner at Bida Manda, a band at Kings, etc. Whereas if I want to go out and just have a random night out hitting various bars and a restaurant, I have been choosing downtown Durham.
Exactly! And since there are so many great and unique restaurants in Durham, and really there isnt a restaurant I have found in Raleigh that begs me to drive there to try, Im staying in Durham. There is just way too much to check out in Durham. Everytime we go downtown, we find something else to check out.
Raleigh has a wonderful DT, and it's still growing. Durham having a better downtown is subjective. Raleigh being the biggest city in the Triangle (and outpacing Durham's growth in raw numbers) isn't.
I think the operative word, from the article/thread title, is "hippest". DT Raleigh has become more and more mainstream in recent years, losing a lot of the "hipness" it used to have. There's still pockets of that hipper scene, but crowds and money have changed things drastically. It happened in Brooklyn, it has happened in Raleigh. It'll probably happen in Durham, too, if it isn't already. Mainstream publications writing about a places hipness is a trailing indicator.
I love Durham (I really do), but let's not come for Raleigh with those same lame DT arguments.
See below.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dire Wolf
I think the operative word, from the article/thread title, is "hippest". DT Raleigh has become more and more mainstream in recent years, losing a lot of the "hipness" it used to have. There's still pockets of that hipper scene, but crowds and money have changed things drastically. It happened in Brooklyn, it has happened in Raleigh. It'll probably happen in Durham, too, if it isn't already. Mainstream publications writing about a places hipness is a trailing indicator.
Well said.
Quote:
Originally Posted by freshjiv
Durham's food scene blows Raleigh's out of the water, and there is definitely no debating that.
Durham has more of concentrated scene with a variety of offerings, but overall, Raleigh's isn't tailing Durham by much if at all.
Exactly! And since there are so many great and unique restaurants in Durham, and really there isnt a restaurant I have found in Raleigh that begs me to drive there to try, Im staying in Durham. There is just way too much to check out in Durham. Everytime we go downtown, we find something else to check out.
You do realize Raleigh is 20 minutes away right? It's not exactly 'crossing the Arabian desert'. I know people who live in Raleigh and work at UNC. It's all one metro area. People who are exclusive to one city are missing out. It's their loss... but even sillier than that is the people who have very strong opinions about the city they never visit.
I can fill you in though:
You're missing out on Trophy. Also Chuck's, Garland, and Capital Club... and 20 other things I won't bore you by listing. Also if you like hookah, there's nothing in Durham. Gotto go to Raleigh. Gay? There's a much better scene in Raleigh.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dire Wolf
I think the operative word, from the article/thread title, is "hippest". DT Raleigh has become more and more mainstream in recent years, losing a lot of the "hipness" it used to have. There's still pockets of that hipper scene, but crowds and money have changed things drastically. It happened in Brooklyn, it has happened in Raleigh. It'll probably happen in Durham, too, if it isn't already. Mainstream publications writing about a places hipness is a trailing indicator.
Raleigh was never EVER in its history perceived as 'hip', and as you look back further in time it simply becomes smaller and more country.
It's pretty obvious from where I'm sitting that both cities are nowhere remotely close to their peak. They will both have a lot more cool things 20 years from now than they currently do. It comes in waves and everyone likes to forecast doom and gloom whenever something closes (and admittedly, Mosaic was a huge loss recently, but people said all the same things you're saying several years ago when King's closed... and then it came back).
This is the silliest thing I've read in this thread. You do realize Raleigh is 20 minutes away right? It's not exactly 'crossing the Arabian desert'. I know people who live in Raleigh and work at UNC.
I live in Carrboro and I frequently go to both Durham and Raleigh on weekends, and I've already 'checked out' most of them. It's all one metro area. Nobody's making you choose at gunpoint which city you have to do everything in, from which you must never leave or lightning will strike you down! People who are exclusive to one city are missing out. It's their loss... but even sillier than that is people who have very strong opinions about the city they never visit.
I can fill you in though:
You're missing out on Trophy. Also Chuck's, Garland, and Capital Club... and 20 other things I won't bore you by listing. Also if you like hookah, there's nothing in Durham. Gotto go to Raleigh. Gay? There's a much better scene in Raleigh.
Well gee thanks for the nice comments! So let me explain something to you. I live in Durham. If I am going to be drinking, I want to stay close to home so I dont have a huge Uber charge. DT Raleigh is at least a 30 minute drive, longer with traffic. I can go to DT Durham and find great restaurants on every corner, bars in between.
Oh I have visited DT Raleigh many times. I wont bore you with what I like (and its not hookah). You have your views and I have mine. Lets try and keep the nastiness to a dull roar. Enjoy!
That is very true. Gay guys from all over the triangle largely go to Raleigh because it is the only place with a real gay scene. Durham has a little, but unfortunately it is still lacking there.
As someone embarrassingly yet to visit Durham downtown, only partially due to reading anti-Durham sentiment on this forum, which I take with a grain of salt (about crime there), for a first-time visitor keen to see the nightlife and music scene, are there places to avoid so as to have a positive first experience?
Sorry long sentence.....
Parking, parts of town, etc.
I'm sure it's nowhere near as dodgy as places I've been in Manila, borderline locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, etc.
Downtown Durham is absolutely fine. There's nothing to worry about. I would ignore the racist comments on WRAL articles when forming an opinion about it. Definitely check it out and have fun. Great breweries (Fullsteam, Ponysaurus), restaurants (the Federal, Cuban Revolution), music joints (Pinhook...). East Durham is a bit rough, but that's removed enough from downtown that it's not a problem.
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