Media Coverage, Reach, and Exspansion over the years 

Flip through our new digital publication: Media Coverage Reviews Over the Years.

At testament of the vision in action!  

The Community Chest, Inc. (TCC), is a (501(c) (3) non-profit that supports community interests and enrichments through distinctive festivals and niche programs which include but are not limited to arts and cultural focused programs and niche projects. Taste of Durham® Festival (TOD) is the first large-scale project and created as a destination with quality programming filled with sensory-overload of food, music, arts, and a cultural showcase with an international twist and high-end themes. The festival is the fastest-growing high-profile festival in the Triangle area with five years of consecutive success.

The following excerpts are some features and highlights in various local, regional and national media coverage.
Other media also includes TV coverage and stories, TV and radio show interviews, internet articles and highlights, and other positive showcase of a unique hallmark festival in Durham, NC. Examples: Highlights in Bon Appetit, coverage in Metro Magazine, News and Observer, Herald Sun, and other local and regional magazines; listing in directories as a signature festival; Our State Magazine, etc...

Locals savor food, music at 'Taste'
Duke Chronicle May 28th 2009 By:
Ashley Holmstrom Local and nationally renowned bands-headlined by Latin American rock band Locos Por Juana-entertained the milling crowd with everything from rock, reggae and hip-hop to bluegrass, soul and jazz, while international dance groups performed Irish jigs and taught the crowd to belly dance and swing in time to Salsa tempos. One of her (founder/Ruskan) goals for the festival each year is to provide a wide array of activities for people of all ages, interests and incomes, while also exposing them to many cultures they may not typically encounter.

A Taste of Durham
The Herald-Sun Durham, NC May 24, 2009 Metro Front Page By Monica Chen The sweet perfume of the meats cooking…A long line of eager eaters stretched…at the Taste of Durham Festival's fifth annual event. New “Too Much Fun Zone” and children went sledding in 80 degree heat.

Miami Band Brings The Party & Taste of Durham Entertainment Schedule
The Herald-Sun Durham, NC May 22, 2009 Entertainment Front Page By Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Visitors to the Taste of Durham will have more than just food to spice things up. Locos Por Juana, the Miami band that blends urban and tropical music…nominated for a 2008 American Grammy Award for best Latin Alternative Album.

Taste of Durham: Back to ideals of community festivals
The News & Observer of Raleigh, North The Durham News Guest Column May 16, 2009 By Kimberly Ruskan
Behind the stories of the evolution of major well-known festivals .. are the same ideals as the ones harbored by The Community Chest Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports community enrichment with innovative, project-based initiatives. The mission is to create positive platforms with hopes to invigorate a good vibe, bring people together and celebrate the essence of the good life with an international twist.

Foodie Favorites On The Bill For May
The News & Observer of Raleigh, North The Durham News Apr 29, 2009 by Elizabeth Shestak, The Taste of Durham Festival strives to embody all that Durham has to offer one's tastebuds, and if participating restaurants are anything like they were last year, it will literally be a smorgasbord of fine cuisine. The festival, now located at the Imperial Center.

Bon Appetit: The Eastern Insider: Highlighting Taste of Durham
Bon Appetit: What’s Happening in your area, New York, NY May Issue 2008 by Kat Odell Highlighted one of four festivals listed in the East Coast area. Visit Durham’s Imperial Center for this fourth annual food, wine, and beer tasting. Chow down on fine foods from top local restaurants, then visit the wine pavilion for a selection of domestic and international wines. Check out a performance of more than 30 artists.

Residents rock out at “Taste of Durham
The Chronicle-Duke University, North Carolina May 29th 2008 By Ashley Holmstrom The event was centered around bands representing jazz, Latin, rock, blues, country, folk and Japanese rock musical influences that catered to a range of tastes as wide as those offered by the event's cuisine options. "We strive for regional and national notoriety." The Taste of Durham festival, which gained recognition from Bon Appetit magazine in its May edition, is organized in a way that highlights the arts and cultural experience.

Taste of Durham: In Celebration of Food
The Herald Sun Durham, North Carolina Sunday May 25, 2008 - Metro Front Page By Ray Gronbergt Festival dishes out full-flavor noshing entertainment. Clearing skies and warming temperatures gave thousands of people a chance to enjoy the wares of local restaurants. There was plenty of business too for restaurateurs who were trying to showcase relatively new establishment. “The festival is getting bigger and bigger every year,” Finazzo said as patrons continued to stream in form the parking lot. “And people are really enjoying it.”

Taste of Success: Treats, Tunes and Snowd
The Herald Sun Durham, North Carolina Friday May 23, 2008 Front Page By SUSAN BROILI Lots of flavors in cuisine as well as music will be dished out at the fourth annual Taste of Durham Festival. Each year brings new sensory experiences for the ear and taste buds. High quality entertainment fare will also be on tap. The diverse culinary and entertainment fare reflects the festival’s mission that in turn, takes its cue from Durham.

John Brown Bull City Jazzman’s New Thing at Taste of Durham
Cover Story in Triangle Live | The Herald Sun Sunday, May 23, 2008 By DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN At the Taste of Durham, folks will be able to hear those 15 horns lead the 20-piece band in which Brown plays double bass. This performance marks the band’s festival debut

Rock Picks: Highlighting Entertainment at Taste of Durham
The News & Observer: What’s Up Raleigh, North Carolina May 23th 2008 By David Menconi Rising young bluesman Seth Walker, Walker is one of the country’s best rising bluesmen is a fine platter of swinging soul-blues with Walker’s croon animating characters including the desperate Hurricane Katrina victim in “2 Left to the Ceiling.” Yell for that one Saturday.

Organizer wants Taste of Durham to gain southern appeal with move
The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina Durham News Edition May 19th 2007 By JIM WISE "Exponentially better and bigger" - according to founder Kim Ruskan - the third Taste of Durham Festival happens next Saturday. One reason it's bigger is that it's moved.

Taste of Success: Growing popularity moves annual Durham festival to a new location
The Herald Sun Durham, North Carolina Friday May 25, 2007 Front Page By SUSAN BROILI The taste of success means a new geographical flavor for the annual Taste of Durham Festival. For its first two years, the festival centered around Brightleaf Square downtown. This year, it's moving to a larger location. "We grew out of it the very first year”.…the event has moved to a 6.7-acre site surrounding Winchester Place. The menu reflects Durham's diverse culinary scene from down-home to international. These diverse offerings are just part of the purpose of the event.

Taste of Durham's flavors, sounds please all palettes
The Herald Sun Durham, North Carolina Sunday May 27, 2007 - Metro Front Page By WILLIAM F. WEST A mass of people from all walks of life turned out Saturday for the relocated annual Taste of Durham Festival. The gathering attracted several people from across the line in adjoining Wake County, including Mike Brennan of Cary. He said his girlfriend had heard about the festival. "Oh, it's excellent," Brennan said. "I mean, you've got beer, you've got wine, you've got great food." "I've sampled a little bit of everything," he said. Brennan was surprised -- and impressed -- by the diversity of those in attendance. "You've got everybody from newborns to very elderly people," he said. "It speaks well of the Triangle." "We didn't realize there'd be all the entertainment and it would be as big as it is," said Ron Harman of Durham who, like many, was a Taste of Durham newcomer on Saturday. "It's really been a great experience so far," he said. Families abounded among the crowd, including Brandon Yancey and his wife, Meghan, both of Raleigh. In their baby carriage was 10-month-old son Reid. "I think it's a great atmosphere," Brandon Yancey said.

Taste of Durham Delicious at New Site
The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina Sunday May 27, 2007 By SABINE VOLLMER The Taste of Durham scenery changed from brick tobacco warehouses to brick office buildings Saturday after the festival moved from downtown to a corporate office park near the Wake County line. But few seemed to notice between bites. Thousands turned out to sample food from more than a dozen restaurants and sip wine and beer in special tasting areas. Phil and Trish Petrilli celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary at Taste '07. The Petrillis, who moved to Chapel Hill from Chicago three years ago, immediately picked up on the energy they remembered from the many neighborhood festivals they attended in Chicago. But unlike those festivals, which require street closings, Taste '07 was easy to get to and parking was no problem, they said. "It's great," Mullen said. .."This is perfect," said Emmett Williams, a Greensboro artist who regularly attends festivals to sketch scenes he later turns into paintings in his studio. "You can't get better than this."

Food Fans Pass a Tasty Afternoon
The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina Sunday May 28, 2006By LISA HOPPENJAN At the festival....the aroma of barbecued ribs filled the air as attendees checked out the offerings from some of Durham's best restaurants: bison pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes, shrimp and grits, filet mignon with bacon, chicken wings and key lime tarts. Families clapped to beach music, couples danced to salsa and kids followed 12-foot-high puppets and a jazz quintet leading a Mardi Gras-style procession. The kitchenette at Brightleaf Square where Ray made condiments was designed to mimic those on the Food Network. "It's just like being at the Food Network," said Chris Anton, who was visiting the Triangle for the weekend with his wife, Jenny.

Festival an eclectic taste of Durham: Inaugural festival will mix food, fun of the Bull City
The Herald Sun Sunday May 28, 2006 By GREGORY PHILLIPS The annual Taste of Durham Festival transformed Brightleaf Square into a buffet for the senses Saturday, with music around every corner and food, beer and wine to suit every palette. The festival, in just its second year, has a lot of growing to do before it's as big as the similarly themed Taste of Chicago, but some who have sampled both were already plumping for the Bull City version Saturday.

Second Helping: Thousands expected to show for 2-year-old Taste of Durham festival
The News & Observer Saturday May 27th, 2006 By JIM WISE It is an extravaganza of food, with celebrity chefs' demonstrations, an ice-carving contest and samples from more than 25 Durham eateries...On the side, there will be wine and beer from around the world and five venues with dancers and musicians, magicians...

Durham's best food, music takes center stage
Cover Story in Triangle Live | The Herald Sun Sunday, May 25, 2006 By DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN Durham's flavor will be on display, demonstrated and up for the tasting at the second annual Taste of Durham Festival. There's a focus on food, but the Bull City's music scene will be ready for sampling, too. A veritable cornucopia of sights, sounds and tastes is planned for Saturday. "The bottom line is that we're trying to create a food experience, a high end life experience, without the pretentiousness,"

Come and get a taste of Durham: Inaugural festival will mix food, fun of the Bull City
Cover Story in Triangle Live| The Herald Sun May 27-June, 2005 By CYNTHIA GREENLEE-DONNELL The Taste of Durham Festival is a pastiche of entertainment and food offerings -- from a beer hall and local celebrity chef demonstrations to Polynesian dancers and piñata-making workshops for children…. Taste of Durham is ultimately just that: a sampler of Durham's multicultural present and future. "We can share our music and diversity -- without the politics. We have food festivals and music festivals, and I just combined those concepts.”"A festival supports the community economically. You can mix your business and your humanity."

Flavorful fun for day: Many say festival helps erase images of cross burnings Section
The Herald Sun - May 29, 2005 Front Page By BRIANNE DOPART The exchange was a typical one at Saturday's Taste of Durham festival, which brought crowds to downtown for entertainment and shopping, along with a sampling of fare from several area eateries…"We live in a multicultural society, we need to know about everybody," said Marjorie Freeman. Adults and children alike enjoyed the real centerpiece of the day: food. " Lots of diversity, lots of mixed cultures. Eric Wilson, an artist and collector of African and African-American art, drove up from Charlotte to attend the festival.