Those who say their gnomes were, um, lifted for the project may feel otherwise (rightly so), but it’s still hard not to smile at a little surprise, a hint of magic and fun in an ordinary day. We can use more spritely types (although perhaps they should be less comfortable with misdemeanor theft?), so it was good fun to read Monica Chen’s story about Durham’s mysterious crop of do-it-yourself public art this week.
Less fun: The news that the gnomes had been taken down — and probably not by miffed gnome owners reclaiming their property, nor by overzealous city staffers, but by grabby, fun-hoarding killjoys.
Maybe this little moment of whimsy is over — but we can’t wait for the next one.
n Foodies might as well camp out at the Durham Farmers Market this weekend.
Today, artistes from Toast, Four Square and Guglhupf will compete in the second annual Chef Challenge. (Think “Iron Chef,” where viewers get to eat, not just ogle, the nom-nom-nomables.) Frank Stasio, the host of the marvelous radio show “The State of Things,” will reveal the mystery ingredient at 8:30 a.m. and chefs will cook until 10:30 a.m.
Wear steel-toed boots and elbow pads; there’s sure to be a scrum for the tasting.
Speaking of stampedes, the second Durham food vendor rodeo will be at the market pavilion on Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come early, bring cash and support one (or several) of Durham’s rolling restaurants.
Saddlin’ up: Only Burger, Indian Food on Wheels, Bulkogi, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Mom’s Delicious Dishes, Kona Chameleon and Locopops. New to the food rodeo herd: the hot dog cart that Joe Bushfan used before he set up Joe’s Diner, and perhaps Fired Flour, a wood-fired pizza oven mobile.
n Woohoo and go, Durham: The Bull City has landed the 2011 ArtsMarket.
The national conference is a three-day performing arts schmoozathon (closed to the public, but open to representatives from nonprofits, educators, venue owners and producers) that jams 40 showcase performances into 10 hours at the Carolina Theatre.
“It’s a coup,” according to Shelly Green, president of the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Here’s hoping the venue and the thriving arts scene and nightlife can persuade ArtsMarket to stay.
n Scott Holmes is a Quaker. Scott Holmes is a criminal defense attorney, representing people accused of violence, drug dealing and other behavior that undermines the culture of peace that Holmes believes the world needs.
It’s a wrestling match that demands Holmes stretch his faith every day to fix what he sees as the great problems of the world. Drugs, violence, crime are symptoms of a problem that needs more than his courtroom work.
“Things arise to fill the gap — symptoms of an unhealthy community,” he said. “Addiction is a medical problem, not a criminal problem. A way to cope is to get drunk or high.”
And when people in the community reach out to help each other find options, it “is like kudzu, the vine that grows and takes over,” Holmes told a gathering of faith leaders this week. “Growing means to put yourself last.”
Because he puts his effort where his beliefs are, Scott Holmes is this week’s Durham Grit Award winner, too.
