Visiting in North Carolina's Piedmont Region

A combination of business and pleasure took us east to North Carolina where we had a chance to visit good friends and explore some of the towns around Durham/Chapel Hill.

It was chilly and rainy when we arrived at Hampton Inn East near Greensboro.

Morning after our arrival

The weather cleared but the chill remained.  Great walking weather.

Still life composition with Sweet Gum pods (lower left)

A nearby field

An abandoned roadhouse next door to the inn

An inquisitve horse

Part of the fun of our stay near Greensboro was sampling food at the places the locals frequent.  We had the House Special pizza at Pascali's.  Great thin crust loaded with everything - including gyros meat. Can you say Greek influence...

Icon wall at Pascali's Pizza Corner

No photos from our dinner at Tides Inn in Greensboro where I had the Special - fried catfish, fried shrimp, hushpuppies (http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bread/Hushpuppies.htm), slaw and a baked potato. Wish I had taken a picture of their big tank with the Lion Fish in it.

I met up with our friends from Durham on Thursday.  We visited the Carr Mill shops in Carr to look around.  I found a great bargain at Sofia's on a dress to wear to a wedding in September.  We stopped at Southern Seasons for a snack - pumpkin creme brule.

Friday we headed to Hillsborough for lunch and a tour of the art galleries and historical museum.  

A perfect day for playing tourist

My guide and her mom - great companions

An example of the town's architecture

Our first stop was Matthew's Chocolates for a pre-lunch dessert.  I've never seen so many unique chocolates all in one place.  Lunch was at the Saratoga Grill where I had the best New England clam chowder I've ever tasted.

I learned a lot about the region at the Hillsborough Museum. The town on the banks of the Eno River was established as the Orange County seat in 1754.

The Occaneechi Souix tribe is native to Hillsborough

Hillsborough was prominent before and during the Revolutionary War

1700's pottery

Collection of dolls

The textile business was important after the Civil War 

During Reconstruction, the tobacco business took off

Antique church organ

Origin of the name Tar Heels

The art galleries, the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts and Eno Gallery were a feast for the eyes. Here are a couple of the many works that caught my eye.  From the Hillsborough Gallery:

Fabric art by Alice Levinson

Multimedia sculpture by Lynn Wartski

Exhibit at the Eno Gallery:

Painting by Jolene Powell

Friday night we went to the Blue Note Grill in Durham to eat a late dinner and listen to the Selwin Birchwood Band (http://www.selwynbirchwood.com/).  I added two more bests to my food list - the BBQ ribs and a bread pudding featuring pecans.

My old iPhone 3G camera doesn't do dim light well, but I managed to get a few decent photos of the band, plus this "accidental iPhone art" piece.

Accidental art at the Blue Note

The band sets up

Sax

Drums

Bass

Selwin Birchwood - guitar and vocals

Saturday - time to visit Fearrington Village for lunch. Another southern class - fried oyster po' boy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po%27_boy) - at the Grainary

Whimsical painted log sculpture

Goats lazing

Enjoying my first look at the "Oreo cows" - real name, Belted Galloways

The calf is classic "Oreo" 

The occasional brown variety

On Sunday afternoon, we went to the West End Wine Bar in Chapel Hill for some jazz by former UNC profs that our friends know.

West End Wine Bar, cener

The band with guest sax player

Enjoying the music

A bit of swing dancing

Sunday wrapped up with a home-cooked Indian dinner - wonderful curried salmon and a great veggie dish.

Monday was a long day in airports and on planes returning to California, remembering the hospitality of our wonderful friends.