The Top 3 Affordable Cities for Millennial Entrepreneurs

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(The American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC.)

It’s never been easier to start a business and become an entrepreneur. For millennials, access to technology and multiple social media platforms have made launching and growing your business more cost-effective than ever before.

Whether you are just launching your business or are a seasoned entrepreneur, cutting expenses will always be an important ingredient to your business’s longevity. One of the biggest costs in any budget is your living expenses. As an entrepreneur, being savvy about where you choose to live can not only help your business thrive but also give your wallet a bit of a reprieve.

Below are the top three affordable cities for millennial entrepreneurs to live and work.

Raleigh-Durham, NC

Not only is Raleigh–Durham a great college town, but it is also becoming a formidable force to be reckoned with for millennial entrepreneurs. Raleigh-Durham is home to an innovative tech hub, American Underground, which is one of just nine Google Tech Hubs in North America.

The American Underground has four locations around Raleigh-Durham and is jammed packed with all the goodies millennial entrepreneurs could ask for: co-working spaces, community events, flexible lease terms, conference rooms, and, of course, a complimentary coffee bar. Located in the Research Triangle, American Underground is helping to put Raleigh-Durham on the map for entrepreneurs

Coupled with the low cost of living that North Carolina offers, many millennial entrepreneurs are fleeing more expensive states like New York and California to have a chance to focus on the growth of their business and not the growth of their living expenses.

The median earnings in Raleigh/Durham are $47,618 and the city also enjoys a low unemployment rate of 4.6%, ranking it 16th in Best Cities for Young Entrepreneurs, according to NerdWallet.

Read the entire story HERE.

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‘Bull Durham’ headed for Broadway

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“The world I know, Minor League Baseball, there is a certain feel that I think you have to get right,” said former Baltimore Orioles farmhand Ron Shelton.

Of course, a career .253 hitter over five seasons at all levels of the minors, Shelton is familiar with the minor leagues – definitely more so than most of his Hollywood colleagues.

The 70-year-old writer and director has long traded the name on the back of a jersey for one on the back of a chair. Shelton’s Tin Cup, White Men Can’t Jump, Blue Chips and Cobb stand out for sports movie aficionados of the early and mid-1990s. But it is Bull Durham that takes the stage alone for many sports movie cultists.

And wouldn’t you know it, the stage is exactly where Bull Durham is headed – presumably.

“I think (the labs) went extremely well and we’re getting indication that it’s moving forward,” Shelton said.

Bull Durham the musical appears to be headed for Broadway after going through a series of test runs in New York and a developmental production set in Atlanta.

STAYING TRUE TO THE GAME

“There was a look we were going for to capture the minors and say ‘this is not the major leagues,’” Shelton said of the film. “Structurally, a Broadway musical is different than a movie. It is kind of a high-count; scenes have to play out quicker and in shorter version.”

Yes, that means the rustically romantic film framed around a baseball diamond will now feature singing and dancing.

So how does one recreate the low-lit, ragged look of 1980s minor league baseball while positioning oneself under the bright lights of Broadway – and staying true to the classic story that is, of course? It’s a bit of a juggling act.

“We are trying to balance a lot of things,” Shelton said. “Romance, earthiness, bodyness, sexiness, silliness. That’s a lot of plates to keep in the air.”

But make no mistake, even with the song and dance that define a musical, Crash Davis will still be Crash Davis, Ebby Calvin LaLoosh will still be “Nuke” and Annie Savoy will still be true to her character. And yes, the famed bull in the “D” logo will remain.

“We have worked hard so the woman’s voice is strong and the men are men – it’s like the movie,” Shelton said. “There is certainly testosterone in the air, but the women are powerful too.”


Read more at WRAL Sports Fan.

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NanaSteak preps for Durham opening

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Husband and wife, Scott Howell and Aubrey Zinaich Howell own the popular upscale Durham restaurant Nana’s on University Ave. as well as the neighboring Mexican joint NanaTaco and the French-inspired downtown Bar Virgile. This culinary power couple is about to embark on yet another style of food in the Bull City–the first of its kind in the area–a steakhouse, appropriately named NanaSteak, adjacent to The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC). 

NanaSteak Durham

The whole concept came about when Scott and Aubrey were at a DPAC show a few years ago and ran into someone who works at American Tobacco where DPAC is located. This friend put the bug in Scott’s ear that there was going to be a prime space available for a restaurant near DPAC and a burning desire was lit in Scott.

Dining near DPAC

Graham and Brad Weddington, longtime bartenders at Nana’s, had been talking to Scott for a while about doing a restaurant together, and opening NanaSteak seemed like the perfect opportunity. Tyler Vanderzee, the sous-chef at Nana’s, expressed interested in participating and it felt right to have him join the couple as a partner at NanaSteak as well. As for Aubrey’s role, well, they’re a package deal: “He’s the brain’s, and I’m the brawn,” shares Aubrey. “He’s the creative, and I execute.”

Check out Durham food blog Bites of Bull City, where you can view some cool interior photos and read more about the opening.

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Become the Ultimate Durhamite With This Impressive Checklist

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1 Walk or bike the American Tobacco Trail.

2 Have breakfast at Elmo’s Diner and/or Rick’s Diner.

3 Buy a bottle of wine from Wine Authorities, Hope Valley Bottle Shop, Total Wineand/or Cave Taureau.

4 Go to a Broadway show at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

5 See a concert, stand-up comedy or even just a movie at The Carolina Theatre.

6 Meet local artisans and find beautifully crafted pottery, jewelry, illustrations, woodwork and more at the weekly Durham Craft Market and monthly Durham Patchwork Market.

7 Take your rambunctious youngsters to Durham’s most central playground: Mount Merrill.

MtMerrill_small

Photo by Emily Toth.

8 Spend a morning volunteering with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

9 Have lunch and a pastry at Mad Hatter’s Cafe and Bakeshop.

10 Go on a shopping spree to Fifi’s, Magpie, Jo’s Boutique, Exotique, Jack, Smitten,Bano, Indio, Cotton Creek and Vert & Vogue.

11 See a play at Manbites Dog Theater.

12 Purchase fine art and crafts during one of the two Durham Art Walks held each year.

13 Tour the early home, factories and farm where Washington Duke first grew and processed tobacco at Duke Homestead.

14 Go on a gourmet culinary tour led by Taste Carolina.

15 Rock out at The Pinhook and/or Motorco Music Hall.

16 Visit the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.

17 Head to one of two Durham Farmers’ Markets on a Saturday morning.

18 Sample more than 250 beers from closte to 100 different breweries at the World Beer Festival.

19 Meet a favorite author at The Regulator Bookshop.

20 Check out the art museum at N.C. Central University.

CLICK HERE to see the remaining list.

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10 Facts You Never Knew About Durham

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1. In 2014, more than 9.5 million passengers traveled through Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

2. Research Triangle Park is the largest research park in the country, home to more than 200companies and 50,000+ employees.

3. The Carolina Theatre will observe its 90th anniversary in 2016 with a yearlong celebration.

4. The historic home of Bennett Place became the site of the largest troop surrender of the Civil War.

5. 112 performances sold out at the Durham Performing Arts Center this past year.

CLICK HERE for the rest of the list.

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17 Signs You’re From Durham, North Carolina

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Durham, North Carolina is unlike any other southern small town. A town of over 200,000 thousand somehow has a small town feel. From its little, crunchy downtown area full of independently owned restaurants and shops to its vast beautiful woodlands and fields, Durham, North Carolina is the place to live. Here are some signs that you’re from the Durham a.k.a the Bull City. 

1. You only wear one shade of blue; “Duke” blue or “UNC” blue.

2. You know all about the legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium and Cameron Crazies.

There are no “nose bleed” seats in Cameron and every seat is a great seat. And, you can always count on the Cameron Crazies, who are seated right up against the court, to keep the stadium very rowdy. 

CLICK HERE to see the remaining signs…

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The best weekend getaways for Valentine’s Day romance, or family time

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Next weekend packs a punch with two holidays in one – Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. To help you make the most of your three days off, Jacqui Gifford from Travel and Leisure magazine shares some of the best destinations, from a chic hotel in Durham, North Carolina, to a family-friendly resort in the Wisconsin Dells.

Watch the entire VIDEO SEGMENT from the TODAY show.

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2016 ACC Baseball Championship Ticket Packages on Sale

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Full tournament passes and weekend packages for the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship, scheduled for May 24-29 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, are now on sale.

Full tournament passes are available for $150. The pass includes tickets to all 15 tournament games, including the championship on Sunday. Group and corporate tickets are also available. A weekend package, which includes Friday night’s game, all three games on Saturday, and Sunday’s championship, is available for $50.

Call 919-956-BULL, click HERE or visit the DBAP’s Frontier Communications Ticket Office to secure your seats today.

Read more about the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship

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5 Under-the-Radar Vacation Alternatives to Tourist Favorites

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If you’re looking for Southern charm, forget Charleston; try Durham instead.

That’s the message of Chicago lifestyle website Make It Better in its feature, “5 Under-the-Radar Vacation Alternatives to Tourist Favorites.”

These alternatives to tourist favorites offer experiences that are more affordable, less crowded, more intimate or less stressful,” writes the blog.

Durham’s food scene is particularly highlighted. Hotels and restaurants mentioned include the 21c Museum Hotel and its Counting House restaurant, The Durham hotel’s rooftop bar, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Piedmont, Pizzeria Toro, Pompieri Pizza, The Parlour, Durham Distillery and Alley Twenty Six.

“This rapidly growing city seems to be in a perpetual state of construction but now is the time to visit for a taste of small town charm before it gets any bigger,” says the blog about Durham.

Read the full article here.

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Valentine’s Day – The Durham Way

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Show yourself (or your special someone) a little love this Valentine’s Day with these thoughtful Durham gift ideas and holiday outings.

  1. Treat yourself to a facial or massage at The Retreat at Brightleaf. Soothe your muscles with a warm stone massage, or say goodbye to winter skin with an hour-long facial.
  2. Grab a friend and head to Beyu Caffe on February 14 to hear Gino Speight of The S.O.S. Band, the iconic 1980s R&B and electro-funk group. Tickets cost $25 and a special Valentine’s Day dinner menu will be available.
  3. Enjoy self-care on Valentine’s Day morning with an invigorating yoga class at Fullsteam Brewery. The class is suitable for both new and advanced yogis, plus you can stick around for beer and live music later in the day.
  4. Give a gift card to a cooking or mixology class at Durham Spirits Co. Learn how to prepare a traditional Korean meal, become your own personal bartender, or discover French comfort food. Nothing says “I love you” quite like a carefully prepared meal.
  5. Chocolate is always an appropriate V-day staple. Order locally made, artisan chocolates fromMiel Bon Bons – and maybe throw in a couple of macarons, too.
  6. Valentine’s Day is your excuse to splurge on new bling. Head to Hamilton Hill Jewelry or Jewelsmith for your perfect find. 

See more at Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau 

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