Team Wet Dog

exploring carrboro.

I am trying to get back into the habit of posting weekly updates — originally I had wanted to return to posting more often, but I feel like things fall off the front page too quickly. And on top of that, well, it takes me a while to get thoughts in order sometimes.

I had wanted, really, to write about the great food we've eaten since arriving in Carrboro. But the truth is, we've eaten a fair number of mediocre meals at restaurants that are fun and interesting but just aren't putting out great food.

The most interesting food we've eaten, actually, comes from these little trailers that pull up in parking lots on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. They have signs that say either "Mexican Food" or "Latin Food," and they sell tacos for $1.50.

I've probably eaten ten of these things in the past two weeks: they come in about eight different styles, from roast pork to chicken to bbq beef to lengua, and so on ... Double wrapped in a corn tortilla and with salsas that pack a lot of punch and are really refreshing and tart.

No, it's not amazing food — but it's very honest, simple food. Unpretentious and cheap. And it's easily the best thing I've eaten since arriving here.

Beyond that, I've got a list of four restaurants that come very highly recommended — the same restaurants mentioned by everyone I ask, over and over: Magnolia Grill, Crooks Corner, Lantern and Nanas.
 

As for photographs: looking at what I've shot so far, I realized that I'm making Carrboro seem like some sort of ghost town. It absolutely is not, but I've always loved graffiti, abandoned buildings and images that just seem quiet. Especially when these things exist in the middle of something that is not abandoned or quiet.

So as I post these images, just know that about 100 feet from the abandoned building in the picture there is a very lively scene, a town that is energetic and many people on the move.

Otherwise, it's just the usual process of getting to know a new place. Finding out what they have (many friendly people, cheap beer, great coffee selections, too much humidity and a slower pace), and realizing what they don't have (a local pool hall, a good wine store, a (not-used) book store).

And space. I want to end on this note — I was talking with a bartender yesterday at Orange County Social Club about Carrboro, and about the things that make living here enjoyable. She said "space," which I think is something I had really been looking forward to.  It's not necessarily Carrboro so much as it is just not being a big city: there is more space here. Physical space, between buildings and people. And a sort of emotional space, a wider margin to life.

"I like a wide margin to my life." — Thoreau

— Robert

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