Road trip nervous-ness has me long winded
-Hi all, Im planning for a solo longer road trip down from NYC to the mountains of NC. taking the long way, about 2k miles is my estimate. I have TWO recommendation requests of all of you lovely folks:-
What essentials would you pack which are moto specific? I have a first aid kit I can mount to a bar, Im laminating my emergency contact people's info into a card to stash in my jacket, usb connected to moto battery, a battery tender, a very light and compact cover for storing when I go sleep overnight, a disc lock + Xena, rain coat to get me to the closest overpass and waterproof socks, a tire repair kit - metric allen keys ( I should bring more repair tools???) and like a couple spare sets of clothes mebbbe an extra set of gloves?
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My second recommendation request is - I think i need to assess my luggage options.In any case, I am trying to pack MEGA lean, and only take the essentials. I have the Kriega US-30 Drypack - Im looking for some additional storage but dont want anything toooooo onerous - I dont want a backpack, I do have some waist bags to choose from, but for say a tank bag or a saddle bag or???? I can go super light in my personal needs... I dont want the bike laden with luggage. Are there luggage options anyone here really is in love with for their MT? Why?
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Im okay going without something I might need, but def dont wanna get stranded in the middle of the mountains with no way to get to a proper city to get help... and/or something i might need to pack to wear to ride through weather or other circumstances for malaffecting my ability to ride properly???I know this is a longer query and will likely have diverse responses I appreciate all of them. I am nervous about not having what I need but also about carrying stuff I dont...

My nFriend (dubbing them N), who has harassed me on-and-off for over 2 years now, had finally left me alone about 3 months ago. Today, out of nowhere, one of his closest friends sent a message, just saying hi. The last time I spoke to this guy he tried to guilt me into breaking NC because N was "so sad". He's done that multiple times, and I know that N has used him to keep tabs on me before, multiple times.
So this times, I blocked the guy, not even a hello, not an explanation, nothing. Just a block. I already tried talking to him about my side of the story before, but he shot me a "well I want everyone to be friends" and proceeded to relay the painstaking saga of N supposedly going AWOL to off himself (which turns out to be a story with so many facts that change with every time N brings up the story to smear me that I'm half-convinced it never actually happened). And at every issue I brought up, this guy ALWAYS had excuses for N, and just a "well that sucks, but N is sad" for me, and then relayed everything I'd say to N.
I didn't say anything. I'm sick of trying to explain myself to people who obviously don't have my best interests at heart, so I blocked.
I think I made the right decision, but my face is burning hot and I want to cry and I feel sick; I'm scared N is going to try to Hoover again. That particular "friend" ALWAYS showed up right before N tried something to get under my skin.
I'm so sick of this. I just want them all to leave me alone.
Anyone's gone through something similar? Do you know what to expect, or what got you to weather out such a situation?

Last time I posted I mentioned constant contact from SIL that was upsetting. She was told I’d reach out when ready and ignored that. She then asked my husband if I’d blocked her and he confirmed I hadn’t blocked her anywhere. Anywhere was mentioned as I knew I’d been restricted from seeing her instagram stories. Anyhoo, she decided to message me on Friday morning to tell me how out of order I was for not messaging her or brother who isn’t talking to me to wish my nephew a happy 1st birthday. I usually wait and either don’t reply or send a measured response. However, my son was badly mauled by a dog on Monday so no f*cks were given. I told her I had a gift organised for nephew, I wouldn’t be messaging either of them, nephew doesn’t have spatial awareness never mind be able to read a text so WTF, it wasn’t about him and I was fed up of her using her kids as tools. I then told her I’d be blocking her now as she couldn’t respect the boundary I’d set of contact when I was ready.
I got the following essay back from my brother. I’ve added any additional info from my side in parentheses at the end of each sentence paragraph:
Out of all the people you lash out at, you lash out at SIL. The one person that has stuck up for you on numerous occasions, tried to see it from yours and mums point of view and done her best to fix things between the family. (I believe she lashed out at me, she’s shown virtually zero attempt at seeing things from my side except some lip service on one occasion last year. Voice notes have been repeatedly about how upset my mum is. She was also horrible to me around the time of my wedding, there’ll be more on that another day)
Instead you accuse SIL of “breaking boundaries” and all that pish. It’s so incredibly boring all of that shite. You speak to people like they are two years old and wonder why they are annoyed at your tone? It’s pathetic. (IDGAF if she’s annoyed at my tone. Also, bro shows here how little he cares for boundaries. He’s yet to tell me 8 months on what word he’d prefer I use)
People do stuff that not everyone agrees with, it happens. Get over it. As soon as anyone even whimpers a subject you don’t like, you run away from it, block your family from speaking to you and act like a spoiled brat. You’ve caused so much hurt to everyone in the family and you don’t give a shit. I believe that you think you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong at all and that really scares me. (I wouldn’t describe hurt, toxic behaviour, behaviours that threaten my livelihood and emotional / mental abuse as just being ‘subjects I don’t like’, especially when it’s my kids being hurt too)
If I fell out with everyone for something that I didn’t agree with, I’d live a very sheltered and lonely life. You are heading that way with the way you are going about your business. (My apparently sheltered and lonely life is the happiest I’ve ever been!)
God knows what this is doing to DD and DS. DD already feels “uncomfortable” if I was around and you have created that. You have sculpted her into the same outlook you have in life in that, god forbid anyone ever says anything wrong or that you don’t agree with. It’s absolutely pathetic. God knows what she’s going to do when she has her first job or goes to uni. (She knows he’s called her a disappointment and has made up her own mind on him and his behaviour. She’s almost a legal adult and is old enough to know if someone talks shit about her behind her back. Her crime was not lighting herself on fire to prioritise grandmother’s feelings. She’s been thriving since going NC and it shows in her demeanour, mood, grades and she’s even started dating.)
As for DS, I’ll still try my best to have a relationship with him before you ruin everything for him too. I’ll go through DH for those plans. His cousins miss him but you’ll not be too concerned about that as you’d rather just punish everyone in the entire family. (This from the person who won’t meet up for the kids to visit if he can’t discuss family conflict in front of them. And yes, my whole aim was to ‘punish’ everyone. He must have forgot I said last year and have repeatedly said I didn’t want anyone else involved / affected. Not one mention of ‘how is DS who was mauled days ago?’)
In the meantime - I’m not even near interested in anything you’ve got to say at the minute. Until you grow up, take responsibility and are willing to sit down like an adult and talk things through with your family then it’s a lost cause. You’ve fucked off absolutely every single person in the family and there hasn’t even been a flutter of an apology. Not turning up to even see your cousin going into the chapel? Absolutely stinking. (That was the wedding me and cousin agreed I wouldn’t be at. His now wife is also NC with some of her family and he told me she’d already be worried about them showing up. I’m not going to add to that. Silly me for not apologising for asking someone to stop hurting me and my family then putting measures in place to stop it when they wouldn’t after 2 years of chances)
I’ve got far too many other things in my life to be worrying about.
You let me know when you are ready to try and fix things, in the meantime - don’t talk to me or SIL because I couldn’t be less interested in hearing all the old, regurgitated pish you have to say. Move on and try acting like family actually means something to you. (I think he thinks this is succession. No spoilers please)
And I’ll tell you what, since you usually get your way and block everyone out…. (Yes, having to block after repeated requests for time was all part of my master plan. All the upset and stress I’ve experienced is me getting my way /a)
I’ve said my bit, so don’t even bother with a reply. Go through DH for that. I’ll save you the trouble and I’ll block you because I’m not having this ruin another weekend for me. (Is he now getting his way? Good for him! DH has no interest in talking to him never mind sending a reply)
END
I had a lovely weekend away with my family looking at potential new homes and enjoying the lovely weather. It’s completely solidified my resolve to move away, there’s clearly nothing here for me now. Thankfully DS is healing well from everything and he remembers little of the actual bite. The police are bringing charges and we’ll be seeking damages should DS need scar revision and / or therapy sessions.

• a) Offense defined.–A person who removes a child from the child’s known place of residence with the intent to conceal the child’s whereabouts from the child’s parent or guardian, unless concealment is authorized by court order or is a reasonable response to domestic violence or child abuse, commits a felony of the third degree. For purposes of this subsection, the term “removes” includes personally removing the child from the child’s known place of residence, causing the child to be removed from the child’s known place of residence, preventing the child from returning or being returned to the child’s known place of residence and, when the child’s parent or guardian has a reasonable expectation that the person will return the child, failing to return the child to the child’s known place of residence.*

I learned of the above statute after reading about another missing child case, siblings, Ivon and Inisha Fowler. They have been missing now for over 16 years and their mother was charged for concealing their whereabouts. I’m not sure if there is a similar statute in North Carolina (NC residents please feel free to chime in here if you are familiar with the law). The reason why this statute is of interest to me is due to the circumstances of Asha’s disappearance.
Asha was not a teenager, nor a pre-teen, and was likely pre-pubescent. She did not have the right to “runaway” or disappear, even briefly. As a 9 year old, she was under the care, protection and guidance of her parents. She was allegedly last seen in her own home, in her bed. Not on her way to school, to the store, or outside playing with friends. Her parents were present the night she went missing, not away at work, or out visiting friends. Even if she was out walking on NC 18, her parents should have been responsible for ensuring that she wasn’t out there in such poor weather conditions, in the pre-dawn hours, unsupervised. Being steadfast asleep is not the strongest alibi or defense. There home showed no signs of a forced entry, and their front door was locked. It was also initially believed that Asha was a runaway. Her case was never classified as an abduction.
Today, if Asha were still alive she would be 32 years old. Now, as an adult, she would have the right to remain a missing person, thus this case can remain unresolved for good, and no crime was ever committed.
Asha Degree allegedly went missing right from under her parents watch, and they have no earthly idea, how or why. There has to be more that the parents know that they are not sharing.

I’m hoping someone has some good advice for me. I recently pleaded guilty and started my probation and registry due to a few third degree charges of exploitation of minors. This case was completely a none contact offense. I’m sure you all know that means possession of material. That being said, I do have two wonderful children who I love to death and haven’t seen physically since this nightmare started almost two years back. Now that this case is over and I’m paying the consequences, my ex wife, mother of my children, wants me to give up my parental rights completely. I love my children more than life it self, and I have been ignoring her request of giving up my parental rights and turning her down. I have told her countless times I will not give up my parental rights. So today, she took it to another level. I got served with papers. SUMMONS IN PROCEEDING FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS. I live in MD but this case is happening in NC. Now when this possession charges when down almost two years ago I was still paying child support, soon after it happened I lost my job and was unable to keep the child support payments. I took her to court to modify the child support payments and alimony at the time and we settled in court that I would give up my share of the family home to make up for terminating alimony and my lawyer found out that I was never court mandated to pay child support. So ever since this court appearance I haven’t been paying child support. Also in part because she has kept the kids away from me. No contact, not even a phone call. Now back to the question at hand, she is taking me back to court to try to take my parental rights away from me. Can someone please shed some light on weather she has a case? How can a court take the parental rights away from a father that made a big mistake but loves his kids insanely? Is the system that fucked up? where I might loose my rights as a father just because of my current status and situation? Please someone help me with some information on my current status. I apologize for the long read, I tried to give up as much of the pertinent information as I can recall.

So I'm a paranoid person so bare with me.. but a month ago we got an above ground saltwater pool and it's our first pool so we're all noobs at it. The last time the pool was shocked was like 2 or 3 weeks ago and since then we've barely used it because of coldish/rainy weather here in NC. My dad hasnt tested the pool at all since the initial shock and the only maintenance has been the pump filter and clearing off debris (bugs/leaves) every day or other day. Yesterday, we swam in it for the 2nd time ever and the water felt clean and was crystal clear blue.
Long story short, i accidentally dunked my head under the water for a few seconds and water went in my nose and ears. Will I get sick since we havent maintained our water as well as we could have + didnt add any chemicals after heavy rainfall? What are the actual chances of getting sick from a pool that isnt maintained well? Am I just crazy paranoid? I read all this stuff about pools needing constant maintenance and testing and it's gotten me a bit scared.

I want to have land for my own garden/farm with chickens and fruit trees and vegetables so I’m thinking I need to be somewhere more southern because of the warmer weather. I want to grow citrus and berries and all kinds of stuff. But I also want to live in a more left-winged area and be near farmers markets and gyms and shopping areas. I am thinking about Durham suburbs of NC, Austin TX, florida (maybe), but I don’t want somewhere super expensive.
Any recommendations for where I should live? I do not plan on having kids, love the ocean and love the mountains and hiking!

	#	Rider	Bike		Gap
1	1	🇪🇸 A. BAUTISTA	🇮🇹 Ducati
2	54	🇹🇷 T. RAZGATLIOGLU	🇯🇵 Yamaha		0.101
3	21	🇮🇹 M. RINALDI	🇮🇹 Ducati		0.738
4	47	🇮🇹 A. BASSANI	🇮🇹 Ducati	IND	2.239
5	65	🇬🇧 J. REA	🇯🇵 Kawasaki		2.490
6	22	🇬🇧 A. LOWES	🇯🇵 Kawasaki		3.955
7	55	🇮🇹 A. LOCATELLI	🇯🇵 Yamaha		1 Lap
8	97	🇪🇸 X. VIERGE	🇯🇵 Honda		1 Lap
9	31	🇺🇸 G. GERLOFF	🇩🇪 BMW	IND	1 Lap
10	5	🇩🇪 P. OETTL	🇮🇹 Ducati	IND	1 Lap
11	45	🇬🇧 S. REDDING	🇩🇪 BMW		1 Lap
12	34	🇮🇹 L. BALDASSARRI R	🇯🇵 Yamaha	IND	1 Lap
13	76	🇫🇷 L. BAZ	🇩🇪 BMW	IND	1 Lap
14	28	🇬🇧 B. RAY R	🇯🇵 Yamaha	IND	1 Lap
15	35	🇲🇾 H. SYAHRIN	🇯🇵 Honda	IND	1 Lap
16	53	🇪🇸 T. RABAT	🇯🇵 Kawasaki	IND	1 Lap
17	32	🇪🇸 I. VINALES	🇯🇵 Kawasaki	IND	1 Lap
18	70	🇮🇹 L. VITALI R	🇯🇵 Kawasaki	IND	1 Lap
19	88	🇯🇵 R. MIZUNO R	🇯🇵 Honda	IND	1 Lap
20	66	🇬🇧 T. SYKES	🇩🇪 BMW		1 Lap
21	77	🇨🇭 D. AEGERTER R	🇯🇵 Yamaha	IND	1 Lap
NC	7	🇪🇸 I. LECUONA	🇯🇵 Honda
NC	9	🇮🇹 D. PETRUCCI R	🇮🇹 Ducati	IND
RET	16	🇮🇹 G. RUIU	🇩🇪 BMW	IND
RET	87	🇦🇺 R. GARDNER R	🇯🇵 Yamaha	IND

IND = independent (non-factory) rider ^R = SBK class rookie
Fastest Lap

• T. RAZGATLIOGLU - Lap 4 - 1'33.174 (avg. 163.2 kph / 101.4 mph) (new record)

Top speed

• A. BAUTISTA - 279.8 kph / 173.9 mph

Weather

• Air temperature: 23°C / 73°F
• Track temperature: 37°C / 98°F
• Track condition: Dry

Championship standings after this race

	Rider	Pts	Gap
1	🇪🇸 A. BAUTISTA	273
2	🇹🇷 T. RAZGATLIOGLU	192	81
3	🇮🇹 A. LOCATELLI	140	133
4	🇬🇧 J. REA	116	157
5	🇮🇹 A. BASSANI	110	163
6	🇮🇹 M. RINALDI	99	174
7	🇨🇭 D. AEGERTER R	83	190
8	🇪🇸 X. VIERGE	76	197
9	🇬🇧 A. LOWES	75	198
10	🇪🇸 I. LECUONA	64	209
11	🇮🇹 D. PETRUCCI R	55	218
12	🇦🇺 R. GARDNER R	53	220
13	🇺🇸 G. GERLOFF	43	230
14	🇩🇪 P. OETTL	39	234
15	🇬🇧 S. REDDING	39	234
16	🇳🇱 M. VAN DER MARK	19	254
17	🇫🇷 L. BAZ	9	264
18	🇮🇹 L. BALDASSARRI R	7	266
19	🇲🇾 H. SYAHRIN	6	267
20	🇬🇧 B. RAY R	5	268
21	🇵🇹 I. LOPES R	1	272
22	🇬🇧 T. SYKES	1	272

Source: https://resources.worldsbk.com/files/results/2023/ITA/SBK/002/ALL/AllPdfs.pdf

So this post is going to be a little bit cathartic and a little bit looking for advice...
Had an AP a few years ago. Started out pre-pandemic with that awesome NRE. Lots of chatting, flirting, and because she lived nearby, a healthy amount of in person meets. Those were augmented with a few day trips and happy hours. All was well and I felt happy and fulfilled.
Then pandemic. We both locked down with our families. Maintained communication, but cut off meets. Seemed to be weathering the storm fairly well. As things slowly opened up, we didn't really return to normal. She was reluctant, communications became a little strained, she switched jobs and the term "insanely busy" entered our lexicon. A term that, even now, drives me nuts... Eventually she broke it off. Claimed that she felt like she couldn't give me what I was looking for anymore and that, in fact, things were very good at home and she no longer really needed an affair. That last part stung, but I accepted it. I'm not one to keep doors open. Went full NC and tried to start the healing process.
Fast forward a few years and I've tried to find a new AP. Haven't really had much success. I catch myself thinking of her too much and feeling like I never really got closure. After a recent pAP fell apart, I - in a moment of weakness - messaged her...not at all expecting to hear from her. I wanted to believe that things really were good for her at home and she wasn't using that account. However, a week later, I got a very surprised response. She had wanted to surprise her son with an anonymous message and opened that account for the first time in a long while - and saw my message. We caught up, reminisced, and cleared a little of the air. She claims, in fact, that things were mostly the same at home as ever, and that she had broken up with me due to just feeling overwhelmed, "insanely busy", and unable to really juggle it all. We actually found time to meet in person and chat more. Not quite old times but nice.
Later that evening we messaged more and decided to proceed with caution. She told me she is more "insanely busy" than ever, but if I could manage expectations a bit, she would like to keep seeing where this is headed. She was concerned though about disappointing me if she could not be as engaged as I would like.
So here we are, not a week later, and I fear her reservations were correct. The first week has been a few sporadic messages (almost all starting with "I'm sorry, been insanely busy") and a few days of NC. I know she warned of this, but it hurts to accept that this probably won't work...again.
What I'm wondering is do I take the opportunity to express some things I never had the chance to do before, get a little closure, and end it? I've always felt the "insanely busy" bit was a little exaggerated and was more reflective of some narcissistic tendencies she's had towards me in the past. Do I go full NC again? Or should I try to be the bigger person, acknowledge this isn't what I want, but try to remain friends?
Help with what I probably already know what I should do....
EDIT: Ended it, graciously, and actually feel pretty good. Thanks to those who helped me see reason.

It’s been exactly ONE year from today that I’ve been in NC.
There was no noise or sound at all. It was an immediate breakup. I was blocked on all socials and had my number blocked instantly. There was no breadcrumbing, no seeing each other in public, no reaching out on a burner account or number, no asking mutuals about one another. Literally 365 days ago was the very and only last day we was both in contact.
It’s crazy, right? How instantaneous the bond had faded away after I remember a month prior we were both so happy and craving every part of each other. We swore we would never leave and would always stick by one another. How foolish were we?!
NC is never easy, even after an entire year. There’s so many ups and downs, wave of emotions, off days, cloudy and rain like the weather. Sure the days get better, there’s less emotional begging and chasing. A lot of clarity in NC whilst the heart heals very slowly in many different ways. The memories never go but making new ones gives for a better purpose and being. Meeting new people, accomplishing new goals, touring new places… the things that make life worthwhile!
I never thought I would say this but I’m glad we didn’t work out. You’ve taught me so many things and I’ve learned from every experience. I’m proud I can say that I’m no longer in NC. I’ve accepted how me and you have become.

I (m/50's) was dating a woman for 3 years (F/50's), semi LDR, she lived an hour away and we saw each other on weekends. The first year was awesome, no problems whatsoever, then last year she started to go distant, I asked what was up and she said that there was nothing wrong, by the end of the summer she wouldn't sleep with me as often and wasn't so concerned about sitting beside me in group settings around a campfire for example. Then she dropped the bomb, or the talk as it were. She asked me what are we doing here? I said nothing, dating one another, why what's up? She mentioned a few things she apparently had gripes with and they weren't that big honestly IMHO, I reasoned them out with her, then she says we don't do anything together aside from cottaging, I explained to her that we're coming out of a Pandemic lockdown what did she expect to do? We couldn't go to restaurants, a trip was out of the question due to her shiftwork (she would have to take a week's pay hit even if I paid for the trip) among other things. We almost broke up during that conversation in September, It really pissed me off because she wasn't letting me know along the way like couples do for relationship course corrections. She just saved it all up and let me have it. We eventually finished the discussion and she apologized and said she just needed some time, I said ok if you need space you call me when you want and have time. We then hugged, kissed and had make up sex. This was not a break, we kept on like usual just not in touch every night as before. Then she mentioned that she had 3 events during the winter that I would not be part of, one was a wedding for her close friends that she would be attending with her ex ( they were friends with the married couple before I came along so it would have been awkward, she gets along with her ex but there's nothing there romatically, he also had a girlfriend that didn't attend), and then 2 other week long events concerning one of her hobbies and the second a conference for her career that she was a keynote speaker. She kept in touch the whole time sending me pictures and texting me pretty well every night. After the conferences and the new job that she declined a month in, her schedule became less hectic and I was looking forward to seeing her on a more regular basis but it was not to be, she found all kinds of reasons in the last 3 months to NOT be around, I saw her a total of 10 times on weekends during the whole winter, including christmas and new years together but there was very little sex and she seemed distant. Fast forward to the May long weekend, I haven't seen her for a month, work etc. and was looking forward to seeing her, at the last minute she says she has no room at the trailer because her kids were coming up. This was never an issue for the past 2 years, I asked why is it different now? She said she was taking a break. I said ok enough! I spent the last month waiting to see you and now at the last minute you're taking a break from me? No advance notice when we discussed this a few times, We're done. So I end up doing my own thing for the long weekend and she texts me Sunday night that she misses me and will miss me... I didn't reply, I mean WTF? You tell me 2 days ago that you don't want to see me after being apart for a month and now you miss me? Weird. I go into full NC, a week later she texts me again and says what great weather it is and hoping I'm up at the cottage etc. and at the end of the message she says she misses her friend. ?? Friend? since when? The following day she sends another text saying she's surprised that I wouldn't talk and started to discuss getting her stuff (snowmobile, bed she donated to the cottage etc.) and left it up to me to reach out when I'm ready. Then on monday she calls, rings twice and hangs up, 2 seconds later she texts me sorry my arm hit the phone. Yes I'm the dumper when it's all said and done but it seems she wanted me to do it, in retrospect all winter wanted me to do it. WTF is going on here? Why was she so quick to text that she misses me when it's basically what she wanted? I know that it's probably too far gone to fix and honestly aside from abruptly ripping the band aid off by breaking up why would someone string me along for 8 months and then suddenly be all offended and missing me when she made it impossible for a normal person to stay involved?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welp, I guess I really wanted to emphasis the first. Apologies, folks. It's meant to be Glad to see ya! It's meant to be: [SETLIST THREAD] Dead & Company, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC 06/01/23
Weather : Smiling on a Cloudy Day
Temperature : 77 °F (good omen)
Bobby Shorts : Past the knees
John's Pants: Visible even if you were standing on the moon
Days Since Last El Paso : 324
Days Since Mickey Last Licked the Beam : 353
SET 1 [7:12pm - 8:29pm]
New Speedway Boogie They Love Each Other Mama Tried* Easy Wind Ramble on Rose Dear Mr. Fantasy (with Hey Jude tease) > Bird Song
("We'll be back in just a short bit," says Bobby)
SET 2 [9:06pm - 10:45pm]
Sugaree St. Stephen (snack-time for Mickey) > William Tell Bridge > The Eleven > Aiko Aiko > Drums Xylophones > Drums > Space > I Need a Miracle > Warf Rat Casy Jones
ENCORE [10:46 -10:53] Black Muddy River
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes
*Merle Haggard cover
Links
Video Stream
Set 1 Preview
Dead AiSet 2 Preview
Poster
Pre-Show Tunes to Check Out
I'm gonna throw it to the crowd! Anything you recommend, I'll put here.
Recommended by davidobr: Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytales
Recommended by HamrickZach: Green River cover by Goose
I got a few rules in this here setlist thread:

1. Be Kind. You don’t have to agree with everybody, but there’s no reason to be rude.
   
2. Please don’t skunk up the thread by asking for or sharing miracles. If you choose to share links, keep them in the DMs/PMs. You just gotta poke around.
   
3. Please don’t award this post. While I appreciate the thought, your money is better spent on a good cause. A cause near and dear to my heart is Rainbow Railroad.
   
4. ​​No spoilers! If you caught soundcheck or a flash of the setlist, please spoiler tag it or do not mention songs by name!
   
5. If someone says the word "tempo" we all have to take a shot (or hit, or drink of your choosing (alcoholic or non))
   

Check out our full Durham events calendar.
If you'd like to add an event to our calendar, submit an event here. Please check with the event organizers to see if events change due to weather. Have a great weekend!

June Featured Events

53rd Annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival at Rock Quarry Park

• This family-oriented event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts, and traditions.
• Headlined by Intro, Mr. Cheeks, Petey Pablo, and KRS-One
• Free admission

1776 at DPAC

• The show is based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, telling a story of the efforts of John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and to sign the document.
• This Tony Award-winning Best Musical is tuneful, witty, and constantly surprising, especially in this revolutionary new production from directors Jeffrey L. Page (Violet) and Diane Paulus (Waitress) with a cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity.
• Jun 1-4
• $15+

PLAYlist Concert Series: Raíces, Rutas, y Ritmos at Durham Central Park

• Raíces, Rutas, y Ritmos highlights the importance of music-making among Latin American migrants in North Carolina, as well as the prominence of Latin American-derived music in the Triangle area.
• 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• Free admission

Venue Weekend Schedules

Events at The Carolina Theatre

• Fri, Jun 2 at 7:00 p.m. - Leslie Jones: Live
• Sun, Jun 4 at at 4:15 p.m. - The Empower Experience 2023

Events at The Pinhook

• Thu, Jun 1 at 8:00 p.m. - Dead Fox No Groove / Julia. / Dylan Innes
• Fri, Jun 2 at 7:00 p.m. - OCRCC’s 12th Annual Punk Cuts To End Rape
• Fri, Jun 2 at 9:00 p.m. - Yolo Karaoke!
• Sat, Jun 3 at 6:00 p.m. - Teia Elaine Presents: What Would Eve Do?
• Sat, Jun 3 at 10:00 p.m. - House Of Coxx Drag Show!
• Sat, Jun 3 at 11:55 p.m. - Rent Due Dance Party!!!
• Sun, Jun 4 at 4:00 p.m. - (Early Show) The Lover Boyz W/ Phil Cook + Kym Register And Friends
• Sun, Jun 4 at 8:00 p.m. - (Late Show) The Lover Boyz W/ Phil Cook + Kym Register And Friends

Events at Motorco Music hall

• Fri, Jun 2 at 8:00 p.m. - Halocene With Lauren Babic / Alphamega
• Sat, Jun 3 at 9:00 p.m. - Gimme Gimme Disco
• Sun, Jun 4 at 7:00 p.m. - Mike’s Dead with The Haunt

Events at The Fruit

• Fri, Jun 2 at 11:00 p.m. - Job Fruit Residency: IN2IT
• Sat, Jun 3 at 10:00 p.m. - Paradox: A 90s Rave Experience
• Sun, Jun 4 at 12:00 p.m. - The Fruit Flea: Monthly Flea Market

Live Music at Blue Note Grill

• Thu, Jun 1 at 7:30 p.m. - Curtis Salgado Band
• Fri, Jun 2 at 6:00 p.m. - The Duke Street Dogs
• Fri, Jun 2 at 9:15 p.m. - Adam Ezra Group
• Sat, Jun 3 at 7:30 p.m. - JIVES

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

• Thursdays - Free Board Games
• Thu, Jun 1 at 7:00 p.m. - Trivia
• Fri, Jun 2 at 8:00 p.m. - First Friday Swing Dance Night with Nitelife Boogie!
  • Free dance lesson at 7:30 p.m.
• Sun, Jun 4 at 6:30 p.m. - Moon Dog Open Mic

Live Music at Sharp 9 Gallery

• Sat, Jun 3 at 8:00 p.m. - Eric Williams Quintet

Events at Arcana

• Thu, Jun 1 - Jay Hammond & Andy Stack with Joe Westerlund and Tarot with Virginia
• Fri, Jun 2 - Russell Favret and Tarot with Heiltje
• Sat, Jun 3 - Bardo Bloom and Tarot with Rene
• Sun, Jun 4 - Matty Famartino and Tarot with Joy

Events at Rubies on Five Points

• Thu, Jun 1 at 10:00 p.m. - Miss B Haven Presents: Midnight Remedies
• Fri, Jun 2 at 10:00 p.m. - Mamis & The Papis And Party Illegal Present: Moodboard
• Sat, Jun 3 at 9:00 p.m. - Star People Gang Presents: Freaks And Beats

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Company

• Thu, Jun 1
  • 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Food Truck: Safari Eatz
  • 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Thursday Trivia with Nick
• Fri, Jun 2
  • 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Food Truck: Tacos Paradise
  • 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. - Open Mic Stand-up Comedy
• Sat, Jun 3
  • 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Food Truck: Chop House BBQ
  • 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - DJ Jack Bonney
  • 4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m. - Taxicab Preacher
• Sun, Jun 4
  • 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Food Truck: Charlie C's Hotdogs On Wheels
  • 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Hammered Trivia with Thor

Live Comedy at Mettlesome

• Fri, Jun 2 at 8:00 p.m. - The Racket
• Fri, Jun 2 26 at 9:00 p.m. - Hush Hush
• Sat, Jun 3 at 8:00 p.m. - Bull City Press Presents…
• Sat, Jun 3 at 9:00 p.m. - House Party

Events at Boxyard RTP

• Thu, Jun 1 at 5:30 p.m. - Songstories Live at Boxyard RTP
• Fri, Jun 2 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Boxyard Bucks
  • First 100 people on site receive $10 to spend at any vendor
• Fri, Jun 2 at 5:30 p.m. - LOJO: Log Off, Jam On
• Sat, Jun 3 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Turns 2 Family Friendly Celebration
• Sat, Jun 3 from 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. - Saturdaze: Uno Dose
• Sat, Jun 3 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Wonderbop

Events at Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP

• Thu, Jun 1 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Beer Garden Jam Sessions
• Fr, Jun 2 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - RTP Food Truck Fridays
• Sat, Jun 3 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Beer Garden Jam Sessions

Events at Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham

• Thu, Jun 1 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Live Music in the Taproom
• Jun 1-4 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Weekend Food Trucks

Local Sports

Durham Bulls Home Stand at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• vs Jacksonville
• Thu, Jun 1 - Pride Night
• Fri, Jun 2 - Friday Night Fireworks
• Sat, Jun 3 - Saturday Night Fireworks
• Sun, Jun 4 - Kids Run the Bases
• $10+

Running of the Bulls 8K at Historic Durham Athletic Park

• The 15th running of Durham’s premiere community road race! This scenic course will wind through the historic and revitalized neighborhoods of downtown Durham, American Tobacco Campus, Trinity Park and Old North Durham neighborhoods, and finish with a lap of the warning track inside the historic Old Durham Athletic Park!
• Sat, Jun 3 at 7:00 a.m.
• $10-45

Thursday, Jun 1

Thirsty Thursdays at Dashi

• Each month Dashi's Thirsty Thursday drink specials revolve around a monthly theme – spirits, cocktails, special ingredients, brand, location, etc. – with new sips every Thursday. Learn more about upcoming themes on their website or visit them in person – there's always something new to try from their expansive bar!
• 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

• Enjoy fresh vibes on the patio with DJ Deckades. Bring your own vinyl to share or just listen to what the DJ is spinning.
• 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Free admission

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

• Show up and climb at TRC Durham, then head over to Hi-Wire for some brews. Don't worry if it's your first time or haven't bouldered before; everyone's welcome.
• Your first visit to the gym with the Meetup includes free admission and gear rental, and subsequent visits with the meetup are $15 and include harness rental (outside of meetups, day pass rates of $19 apply and do not include rentals).
• 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Trivia Night w/Big Slow Tom at Clouds Brewing Brightleaf Square

• Join Clouds Durham for Big Slow Tom's Trivia Night, every Thursday. Win some prizes, drink some beer, and show your smarts.
• Enjoy $4 select draft and $5 rotating bartender's choice all night.
• 7:30 p.m.
• Free admission

Friday, Jun 2

Tasting at Ten at Counter Culture Coffee

• Every Friday morning at 10 am, Counter Culture Coffee opens their Training Centers to coffee lovers who want to learn more about Counter Culture Coffee’s high-quality, sustainably sourced menu.
• 10:00 a.m.
• Free, but donations accepted

Garden Printing: Cyanotypes and Hammered Flower Prints on Fabric at Duke Campus Farm

• Visitors to Duke Campus Farm can come take a tour of the space, learn more about what is grown and why, and choose from a number of plants from the garden to experiment with two printing techniques that highlight the shape and color of fresh produce and flowers. With cyanotype printing, we will use either the plant as a silhouette to make sun prints using UV light, or make use of parts of the plants to create a composition on the blue-tinted paper.
• 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Free admission (registration encouraged)

Saturday, Jun 3

Durham Farmers’ Market at Durham Central Park

• The Durham Farmers’ Market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, cut flowers, artisanal cheeses and breads, home-baked pies, honey, handmade chocolates, preserves, local wines, handmade soaps, fresh pasta, and artwork of all sorts!
• 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Free admission

South Durham Farmers' Market at Greenwood Commons Shopping Center

• The market strives to support new and growing farms and vendors in the greater Durham area, and they are also home to some of the most iconic Durham brands around.
• 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Free admission

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

• A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate. It's up to you!
• 8:00 a.m.
• Free admission

Hayti Walking History Tour at Hayti Heritage Center

• So, how do you pronounce H-A-Y-T-I ? What are the Hayti Neighborhood's connections to the island of Haiti? ...to Black Wall St.? ...to the city of Durham at large? These questions are answered while many more are raised in this 75-minute tour of Fayetteville St., the commercial center of Durham’s largest African American residential neighborhood. Stops include the neighborhood’s founding institutions: St. Joseph’s AME church, The Carolina Times, Stanford L. Warren Library and more!
• Stories include: Women of Hayti, Power of Black Churches and Urban Renewal. The tour begins and ends at the Hayti Heritage Center.
• 10:00 a.m.
• $20+

Nasher Community Celebration at the Nasher Museum of Art

• An outdoor party featuring GRAMMY Award-winning producer 9th Wonder and friends. Celebrate Spirit in the Land with pop-up children’s book readings in the galleries. At 2 p.m., Alberto Barrantes, an author visiting from Costa Rica, will give a reading from his new bilingual book Arts for Diversity. Art activities will be inspired by artists María Berrío and Andrea Chung.
• The Museum of Life and Science will join us with StarLab to view the night sky—and insects to study up close. Piedmont Wildlife Center will also bring several animals. Everyone can sample free cotton candy by Wonderpuff. Also fun to try: temporary tattoos inspired by the natural world. Assorted sandwiches and beverages from the Nasher Museum Cafe will be available for purchase. Cash bar.
• 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Free admission

MAKRS Pop-up at Durham Central Park

• Shop from 55+ local artists and makers, plus food trucks and coffee.
• 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Free admission

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

• Free pint with purchase of craft box. Choose from a variety of craft packages available for all ages.
• 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Beaver Queen Pageant — Once Upon a Wetland... at Duke Park

• The Beaver Queen Pageant is the Triangle’s own special mix of folly, pageantry, and humor. Contestants take on beaver personalities and compete for the title of Beaver Queen with their fashion, talent, and personality. There will be music, a kid's art activity station, food trucks, and much more!
• Enjoy the fun at this family-friendly and free event which raises funds for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association. Vote for your favorite contestants - or bribe a judge - at www.beaverqueen.org. You are not going to want to miss this truly weird and delightful Durham experience.
• 4:00 p.m.
• Free admission

Sunday, Jun 4

Al Strong Presents Jazz Brunch at Alley Twenty Six

• Al Strong, the Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter, composer and recording artist, will bring a rotating lineup of musicians to perform during Sunday brunch at Durham's Alley Twenty Six. Weather permitting the band will perform in the bar’s namesake alley.
• Brunch from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Music 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Art-n-Soul Market at Mystic Farm & Distillery

• Shop handmade in this special setting. Mystic Farm & Distillery in Durham offers a unique place to gather and enjoy local spirits. The Art-n-Soul Market brings the best local artisans, food trucks and live music out to the farm for bourbon tastings, craft cocktails, food trucks and distinctive gifts you won't find anywhere else. Bring your friends and meet us at the bourbon farm! Dogs welcome.
• 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Free admission

Public Tour at Duke Chapel

• Learn about the history, architecture, and life of Duke Chapel in this tour, which is free and open to the public. The tour begins at 12:15 p.m., or immediately following the conclusion of the Sunday morning service, and lasts approximately forty-five minutes.
• No reservation is required but if you plan to bring a large group please notify us in advance. Meet the docent on the front steps of the Chapel.
• Paid parking is available on a first come, first served basis in the Bryan Center Parking Lot at 125 Science Drive. ADA parking is available in the Bryan Center Surface Lot at the same address.
• 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Trivia at Navigator Beverage Co.

• Hosted by the Triangle’s Trivia team, Hammered Trivia, gather your team and post up to compete for prizes and enjoy an afternoon of great drinks, great friends, and great games.
• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Free admission

Running Art Exhibits

upstART Gallery: A Jim Lee Project at Pop Box Gallery

• upstART Gallery will host its first group show at Pop Box Gallery & The Art Chose Me’s residency in Old East Durham. The show features 27 artists who were selected through an open call review process. Artists were challenged to create work especially for this unique space, scaled 1:12 (one inch = one foot).
• Wed-Sat from 12:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m.
• Runs through Jul 1

Exhibit at 21c Museum Hotel

• Truth or Dare: A Reality Show
  • Runs through March 2024
• Open 24 hours
• Free admission

“Extra-Spectral” at the Durham Art Guild Truist Gallery

• This exhibit highlights several NC-based artists that, on the surface, use colors that are “extra” (which is where their commonality ends) to evoke their intent through a combination of this color with forms and imagery as well as the concepts embedded in color’s many identities. Artists Jane Cheek, Jerstin Crosby, Zach Storm, Tonya Solley Thornton and Leif Zikade all require color to play a primary role in their work and their relationship to an audience.
• Mon–Sat from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. and Sun from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Runs through June 4
• Free admission

Donna Stubbs, Featured Artist at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery in downtown Durham introduces a new exhibit featuring the work of our member artist, Donna Stubbs. Donna uses an archaeological approach to painting, as she lovingly photographs her surroundings and unearths discarded items in thrift stores to create abstract mixed media works.
• Free admission

Chieko Murasugi & Renzo Ortega at Craven Allen Gallery

• An exhibition featuring both abstract and figurative works by two artists with international backgrounds. The SEQUENTIAL exhibition invites the observer on a visual journey, generating an organic relationship between the artworks and the gallery's visitors. Through the dynamics of color, form, ideas, and narratives, Chieko Murasugi and Renzo Ortega seek to generate a dialogue and the experience of art appreciation with the audience.
• Sat, May 20 at 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - opening reception
• Runs through July 8

Spirit in the Land at the Nasher

• Spirit in the Land is a contemporary art exhibition that examines today’s urgent ecological concerns from a cultural perspective, demonstrating how intricately our identities and natural environments are intertwined. Through their artwork, 30 artists show us how rooted in the earth our most cherished cultural traditions are, how our relationship to land and water shapes us as individuals and communities
• Tue-Fri from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Runs through Jul 9
• Free admission

Andy Warhol: You Look Good in Pictures at the Nasher

• Andy Warhol: You Look Good in Pictures explores the breadth of the artist’s relationship with photography through several distinct bodies of work including screenprints of celebrities, all of which were taken from photographs, a group of Polaroids and black and white snapshots illustrating his social circles, and an early silent film of the curator Henry Geldzahler from 1964.
• Tue-Fri from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Runs through Aug 27
• Free admission

Art of Peru at the Nasher

• This gallery features ceramics, textiles, metalwork and carvings produced by ancient cultures across what is known as present-day Peru.
• Tue-Fri from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Runs through Dec 2
• Free admission

Im recently homeless and I’m still trying to figure some things out. Im homeless with 2 dogs and living out of my car which just makes everything that much harder. I’ve lost everything in the last 3 years. My two dogs mean everything to me and have really been there for me in the last 8 years that I’ve owned my oldest and the last 3 years that I’ve owned my 2nd. They also are very attached to me and get separation anxiety. They are my actual children. No, I don’t have human children of my own. But I don’t want to lose them too. And imagining them wondering why their mom left them and never came back hurts my heart so bad. So giving them away is the last thing I want to do.
I’ve only been homeless for a few weeks now but I hate it for them every minute we’re in this situation. They do get lots of walks now and we spend a lot of time outside. They’re huskies so I know their loving that at least. But there’s no many reasons why this is not a suitable living situation for them and it’d be nice if there was some place for me to leave them until i was no longer homeless. The weather only getting hotter day by day is one of the biggest reasons. I’m located in Charlotte NC. Also I can’t get a job and get us out of the situation because it’s not like I can leave them in the car while I work and boarding or doggy day care is expensive.
So after my long story, I’m asking Reddit if anyone could think of something that might help. I tried doing Uber eats delivery to make money but it scared me leaving them in the car every time I had to go in to pick up or drop off an order. Someone could steal them, I always hear of huskies getting stolen. I could also just be a little paranoid. They’re my babies! Plus I was worried a customer or restaurant employee would see the dogs in the car and complain because food and dogs are gross to have together obviously. Even if I kept it separated well.
I’m now looking for a remote job and I can get a portable wifi thing and make money that way but it really would just be easiest if there was a place or someone that could take my babies for a bit. I’m only surviving off of the money my mom gives me which isn’t much so I can’t afford much. She does everything she can to help but unfortunately she’s in a bad situation herself. if I don’t come up with at least a plan here soon I will have to think of finding them a new home :(
Edit: Also to add: I’ve been thinking about going up north in a cooler climate but then I’m away from my mom who helps me out a lot. Also my car is older and I’m scared if something goes wrong with it I’m stuck somewhere with nobody to help