Before the holidays, Lena Geller revisited celebrity chef Rachael Ray’s day eating out in Durham on $40. Geller put her own spin on the 2004 feature but duly stuck to the $40 budget—turns out, it’s still possible. Readers enjoyed the piece.
From Natalie Minott, via email:
I just wanted to say that I was completely captivated by Lena’s journey from start to finish. I loved how the narrative not only took us on a fun Rachel Ray–inspired adventure but also supported and highlighted local businesses along the way!
Shout out to Lena for her incredible writing—her vivid descriptions, like “with broccoli florets threatening to tumble onto the counter,” gave me warm fuzzies.
Please, more adventures like this one!
From reader David Stein:
Not only is the writing great but it made me really hungry and willing to follow in your footsteps. But I can’t believe you didn’t squeeze Banh’s in there somehow!
From reader Anna Walker:
Quick note to say I loved your $40/day article and its takeaways. Great idea and execution, right down to the side part. So cool you were able to find the archival IndyWeek issue, too. Thanks for keeping local journalism fun & educational!
From reader Blair Pollock:
Nice job — I wish I were more partial to food trucks and eating on the car trunk table.
Also you found food truck & window food more affordable than I have generally in our area / I’ve found both quality & quantity lacking at most food trucks and prices not much below sit down places.
Nicely written & I enjoyed the trip w you & Angelica.
Ps : there’s a new little hole in the wall food hut at the corner of Mt Moriah & Erwin that a guy’s been trying to make happen.
Also before the holidays, Chloe Courtney-Bohl reported on Raleigh’s new Union Station bus depot and broke news that Greyhound is no longer part of the plans for the station when it opens in 2025. Readers had thoughts.
From reader Jacob Morse:
Nobody can argue with the fact that it would be more convenient as a connection hub to have the Greyhound center at RUS. That is evident and worth noting.
However, characterizing the area surrounding the current Greyhound Center as “inhospitable” is out of touch and wrong. Some of Raleigh’s finest homegrown retail spots are right there (union special and miso Ramen to name a couple) and that location is far easier to access for folks coming in off 64 or coming from North Raleigh who need to catch the bus and who would spend more time, energy, and money having to traverse Downtown.
From reader Michael Schaul:
You described Greyhound as being in “an inhospitable landscape of strip malls, concrete, and highway.” You also emphasized the poverty of the people using the Greyhound. You left out what is near the terminal. It is adjacent to the Food Bank and across the street from the Salvation Army. These seem more likely to be able to provide needed services to such people than the “new creative class vision”, whatever that is.
PS I’ve seen that area actually improve since the Food Bank was an IBM office building where I worked when I arrived in Raleigh.
From reader Helen Tart:
One thing your article about the Greyhound station failed to include is that the current Greyhound station is on the #1 Capital Blvd frequent bus route. Thus making that location more convenient for the Greyhound bus riders than downtown. With a short walk they can board a bus that arrives every 15 minutes, taking them to several cheap motels around the 440 interchange. They can get to downtown Raleigh on the same route, however they do have to cross Capital Blvd to do so, never an easy task. Still from a practical point of view, the current Greyhound location makes more sense for both bus and private vehicle riders.
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