Big tip of the hat to BCR reader "JDC" for the following discovery on the mysterious Five Points Cafe taking shape in downtown Durham, originally posted in the comments section:
"Some clues regarding the Five Points Cafe at fivepointscafe.blogspot.com. Looks like it's being run by (former?) school board member and editor of the short-lived Durham Community News, Steven Matherly."
Well now. This certainly adds some intrigue to the mix. (And what would Durham be without a little intrigue, hmm?) Steven Matherly is a local political gadfly, having run (unsuccessfully) for the school board in 2006, and having engaged in some dust-ups with the previous board during its, shall we say, raucous tenure. In case you're dying to re-live those glorious moments in Durham political history (and Durham's real estate agents hope you aren't), Matherly's old blog paints what is at least an interesting picture of his side in the debate.
Of more relevant and recent interest are his complaints against the Durham Food Co-Op's leadership, detailed at yet another Matherly blog, CO-OP CONFIDENTIAL. I don't know the full story behind the ongoing turmoil at the Co-Op, but from an outsider's perspective, I gotta say: posting a big ol' picture of a dead Soviet leader on your blog (with the words "Stalin Would Understand"), and describing an Area 51-like air of conspiracy and secrets around the whole business? Interesting.
So: what the heck's this mean for the Five Points Cafe? Is it a competitor to the Co-Op? A different dream to fulfill, or to be deferred? Will they serve Wagstaff Wings, or Denlinger Donuts? (Probably not the latter.) Only time will tell.
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Overheard at Alivia's this morning: The outdoor espresso bar is estimated to open in about two weeks' time, pending the completion of final City inspections.
on their front door this place claims to be opening on June 23. I guess we will see.
Posted by: mike | June 10, 2007 at 11:38 PM