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🌳 Nanny Goat Expands to Downtown Durham
Plus: Pride Durham 2025
Jordan Parker
September 25, 2025
Welcome to this week’s issue!
September is bringing fresh openings, new festivals, and sharp debates in Durham. Chefs are expanding downtown, music is returning to East Main, and local politics are heating up ahead of fall elections.
In this edition: a new Nanny Goat market, Missy Lane’s Block Party, Durham County’s Pride decision, a breakdown of City Council’s voting record, job openings at UNC, and a full lineup of events for the week.
-Jordan
Nanny Goat Expands to Downtown Durham
The team behind Cheeni, one of Durham’s most celebrated Indian restaurants, is bringing its grab-and-go concept Nanny Goat to the new GeerHouse development near Durham Food Hall. Co-owners Preeti Waas, a two-time James Beard semifinalist, and her daughter Amy Waas opened the first Nanny Goat in RTP this summer and plan to open the downtown spot in October.
Locally made goods: The boutique bodega will feature pastries, breads, and sweets from Triangle chefs and bakers, including Triangle favorites like Buttermilk Boutique and Breadwaala
Neighborhood growth: Nanny Goat joins other GeerHouse tenants like Oscar Diaz’s Tataco and Nectar Café.
Award-winning roots: Waas’s Cheeni and sister cocktail bar The Bar Beej have both been James Beard Award semifinalists.
Missy Lane’s Jazz Festival Debuts Downtown
Cicely Mitchell, co-founder of the former Art of Cool Festival and owner of Missy Lane’s Assembly Room, is launching a new one-day jazz festival called Missy Lane’s Block Party. The event will take over East Main Street on Oct. 4 and aims to revive the spirit of Durham’s pre-pandemic jazz and hip-hop scene.
Star lineup: Chief Adjuah, Bilal, Revive Big Band, and Kiefer are among the performers across two stages.
Festival roots: Mitchell says the goal is to grow the festival slowly, learning from how Art of Cool expanded too quickly.
Cultural impact: Organizers hope the block party strengthens downtown’s east side as a live music destination.
Durham County Withdraws as Pride Sponsor
Durham County will not be a lead sponsor of this year’s Pride: Durham, NC events, citing concerns that federal executive orders from the Trump administration targeting DEI programs could jeopardize millions in federal funding. The annual celebration runs Sept. 26–28.
Funding at risk: The county manages nearly $200 million a year in federal money for schools, health, and public safety, and officials fear losing as much as $100 million.
City steps up: The City of Durham remains a sponsor, while the county will provide logistical support and a mobile health unit with free STI testing.
Community response: Pride organizers say they understand the county’s position but stress the need for visible public support of LGBTQ communities.
Durham Council Voting Record Shows Sharp Divides
As election season ramps up, a new analysis by Bull City Public Investigators reviewed every City Council vote since December 2023. Nearly 99% of measures passed, with 96% passing unanimously, but development and rezoning exposed the council’s biggest fault lines.
Development splits: Of 37 split votes, 28 were tied to rezonings or annexations. The council approved annexing 1,194 acres into city limits from 2024–2025.
Public safety battles: The only contract rejections involved ShotSpotter gunshot detection, which failed twice on 2–4 votes.
Predictions: Council member Caballero voted with the majority 97% of the time, making her record the strongest predictor of policy direction.
Director of Engagement — Carolina Performing Arts
UNC-Chapel Hill is hiring a Director of Engagement to lead community partnerships, artist residencies, and public programming at Carolina Performing Arts. The role is part of the leadership team within the Executive Director for the Arts office and focuses on integrating the arts across campus and the wider community.
Pride: Durham, NC 2025
Multiple Venues (CCB Plaza, Duke East Campus, Durham Central Park)
Sept. 26–28
A weekend-long celebration of LGBTQ+ community, activism, and culture featuring a Justice Concert & Rally, a parade led by activist Mandy Carter, a Health & Wellness Kickback with local artists and groups, and a vendor and food truck market.
Details >>
Pride: Durham, NC — Justice Concert & Rally
CCB Plaza, 201 Corcoran St., Durham
Friday, Sept. 26 | 5–9 PM
Kick off Pride weekend with live performances, speeches, and community celebration at this free outdoor concert and rally in the heart of downtown.
Details >>
Oktoberfest at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Ponysaurus Brewing Co., 219 Hood St., Durham
Sept. 20–Oct. 5 | Times vary
Durham’s biggest Oktoberfest yet with triple the beer, German-style brews, festive flights, and a themed food menu featuring goulash pizza, Bavarian pretzels, and more.
Details >>
Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton
DPAC, 123 Vivian St., Durham
Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 8–10 PM
Legendary singer-songwriter Elvis Costello brings his catalog of classics and collaborations to DPAC for one night only, joined by The Imposters and guitarist Charlie Sexton.
Details >>
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