By Barbara Petty
February 2005

Too Cold to Travel? Forget About It! Durham Offers Many “Inside” Attractions

February is typically one of the coldest months in North Carolina. We experience this incredibly mild fall and get lulled into unreasonable expectations about our winter weather. Now that ice, wind, and snow are upon us, we tend to hibernate in our cozy abodes.

But take heart. Discovering North Carolina has some great suggestions for you to get out of the house and still stay warm. And these sites are right here in the Triangle – Durham and Chapel Hill -- so you don’t have far to travel. This month we will feature Durham, and in March we will take you on a tour of Chapel Hill.

Durham
One of the warmest places to visit is the Magic Wings Butterfly House at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science. Located at 433 Murray Avenue, just off Duke Street north of Interstate 85, this lush, tropical environment is kept at a nice, toasty 80 degrees. The butterflies fly freely throughout the conservatory, and on any given day, one can see 50 different exotic species of butterflies and moths. The chrysalises are imported from tropical countries around the world, and are then incubated under controlled conditions until they emerge. Visitors can watch this process at the Mary Martha Uzzle Emerging Wonders Room, a glass-encased cubicle that hangs the chrysalises in tidy rows with their places of origins labeled. The newly formed winged insects are released into the garden daily at 11am and 3pm, and Sundays at 3pm only.

Magic Wings also houses nearly 250 varieties of tropical plants that bloom year-round: Papaya from Colombia; Red Frangipani “Passion” from Central America and the Caribbean, and Coffee from Brazil, among others. The plants have been selected specifically to support and sustain the butterfly and moth population with a minimum amount of upkeep. If you look carefully you may be able to see some of the creepy-crawlies that the tropical environment also nurtures.

Brush up on your entomology further at the Bayer CropScience Insectarium, just outside the Butterfly House. The displays present a rare assortment of exotic insects from around the world. There is something strangely wonderful about looking at a Goliath Birdeater tarantula, the Giant Black Rhino beetle, or the African Giant millipede from a safe distance, an experience that would normally send me into orbit if they were in my house or yard!

The main building of the museum features many permanent and traveling exhibits that have become mainstays for middle-school field trips, but are also entertaining for adults. The newest temporary exhibit, scheduled to open February 7, is called Memory. The display explores the intriguing process of how humans store, retrieve and forget memories. Perhaps I can discover how come I forget what I went down the stairs to get, but can remember the lyrics to hit songs that were popular when I was five!

Nightlife is abundant in Durham; restaurants, pubs and nightclubs, and some of the best performing venues in the Triangle. The historic Carolina Theatre is a rich part of Durham’s history. The 1926 building, richly restored in a neo-classical and Beaux-arts style, boasts two state-of-the-art cinemas along with Fletcher Hall, the performance theatre. Fletcher Hall is the only live performance space of its beauty and intimacy in the Triangle. The Hall seats over 1,000 attendees, yet the acoustics are so good that a person speaking in a moderate tone can be heard on the last row of the second balcony. Some of the performances on tap for February include: February 12 – The Second Valentine Jazz Festival, presented by Capital Music, and February 20 – Durham Symphony. For more information, the Carolina Theatre’s web site is www.carolinatheatre.org or you can call 919.560.3040.

Another choice for entertainment is Duke Performances, the umbrella name for the musical and theatrical shows offered at Duke University. In fact, the Theater Studies Department at Duke brings in world-class actors and writers to participate in their local productions. In February, Theater Previews, the professional producing arm of the Department, will premiere two plays by literary powerhouses Gore Vidal and Ariel Dorman. Purgatorio by Ariel Dorfman explores the dilemma of whether we can experience forgiveness and reconciliation after committing monstrous deeds. This workshop production is scheduled for February 4-6. Vidal’s On the March to the Sea is a play where universal themes of betrayal, honor, and integrity are played out during the Civil War when Sherman roars through the South. This production, featuring stars Chris Noth and Michael Learned, will show February 22-March 6. Both Dorfman and Vidal will be active on campus during these productions, which will be shown at Reynolds Theater in the Bryan Center on Duke’s West Campus.

Other performances happening in February include: The Duke Players Lab Theater features You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, February 2-5 at the Branson Theater on East Campus; The Jack Dejohnette Latin Project performs at Page Auditorium, Duke Campus on February 4; and on February 7 you can experience three sensual stories about love told entirely though dance with Contact, at Page Auditorium. Also on the schedule for February are Joshua Bell, the Choral Society of Durham, the Alban Elved Dance Company and Sarah Jones. You can find a complete listing of all performances and purchase tickets at tickets.duke.edu or call 919.684.4444.

To make your visit to Durham a weekend experience, cap off your day with a great place to sleep. The Arrowhead Inn Bed and Breakfast is the only AAA Four Diamond and Select Registry Bed and Breakfast in the Triangle area. Resting on six acres of gardens and trees, the Inn was built circa 1775 as a plantation home and has been carefully renovated to retain many of the original details including the molding, wainscoting, mantelpieces, and heart-of-pine floors. Each room has its own fireplace and most have a whirlpool tub. For an extra-special romantic weekend, ask about the Carolina Log Cabin or The Garden Cottage, individual private suites apart from the main building. The décor throughout the facility is 18th Century plantation charm, but the real amenities are your host and hostess Phil and Gloria Teber. The couple is attentive, charming, intelligent, and respectful of your privacy.

Breakfast is a full-blown affair, served on a table of linen and china. Afternoon refreshments are served daily from 4-6pm with all the amenities – classical music, a fireplace, and elegant table settings. A gourmet 5-course dinner for a minimum of three couples is available with advance notice. To make your reservations or for a personal tour, call 919.477.8430, 800.528.2207. The Web site is www.arrowheadinn.com

Another Durham favorite is the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club. The “Inn” is known for providing supreme service and Southern hospitality. Duke family heirlooms decorate the lobby and halls and create the feeling of a gracious residence. Other amenities include the golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, and a 3-mile jogging path. Tennis is available on nearby courts. Dining is available onsite in the Fairview Restaurant and offers innovative and international fare.

Currently the Washington Duke is in the process of renovation. They are adding 100 guest rooms and suites, and the entire facility is being expanded and remodeled. On the planning boards are an indoor swimming pool, expanded fitness facilities, and outdoor dining. Because of the work in progress, room space is limited so reservations are essential. Call 800.443.3853 or 919.490.0999. The Web site is www.washingtondukeinn.com

Wake up the next morning refreshed and ready to enjoy a few more hours in Durham before heading home. The Sarah P. Duke Gardens, even in wintertime, can provide a wonderful experience for a morning stroll. The “Crown Jewel of Duke University”, occupies 55 acres in the heart of the University’s West Campus, adjacent to Duke University Medical Center.

Duke Gardens are divided into four areas: the Doris Duke Center Gardens, The Terrace Gardens, The Blomquest Garden of Native Plants (representative of the Southeast), and the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum (plants of eastern Asia). www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/index.html

If you can drag yourself away in time, you can attend 11:00 service at the Duke Chapel. Built in 1930-1935, Duke University Chapel is one of the largest Gothic-style churches ever built. The Chapel seats about 1,600 people, and has 77 stained-glass windows, three world-class pipe organs, and a 50-bell carillon. The services are ecumenical in nature and features sermons by the Dean of the Chapel as well as visiting preachers. The musical experience alone is worth the visit -- the Duke Chapel Choir and the pipe organs create a truly spiritual experience.

There are many more sites to see in Durham than mentioned here. A visit to the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau can provide you with additional suggestions for sightseeing, dining, shopping, and lodging. They are located at 101 E. Morgan Street; the phone number is 919.687.0288 or online at www.durham-cvb.com

Stay warm and I’ll see you next month in Chapel Hill.