West Village

The West Village apartments are in prime location in respect to Durham’s nightlife. It’s just a couple steps away from Shooters II Saloon and right next to Brightleaf Square. Convenient? Yes. You’ll be able to get your dance on or enjoy a delicious dinner from the array of restaurants nearby. The buildings used to be tobacco warehouses a long time ago. The apartments have high ceilings and wooden columns, which gives them a rustic and hipster feel. West Village offers apartment options ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments. They’re on the slightly pricier side, but it might be worth it to be so close to all the dining and nightlife options. It’s a little further away from Fuqua and West Campus, but only about a 5-10 min drive away. There is also a pool to enjoy on those extra warm sunny days.

The Belmont

The Belmont is definitely where A LOT of Dukies live; both undergrad and grad students. These are more traditional style apartments compared to West Village. It is located within walking distance from Duke, but there are also buses that stop nearby and go to campus. If you want to hit up the grocery store or grab some food on the way back home, Kroger and several dining options are close by. The Belmont has both one-bedroom and two-bedroom options available.

Partner’s Place Condominiums

Partner’s Place is known as a party apartment complex as on most weekends you will find loud music and multiple parties throughout. It is more of an undergrad area, as many juniors and seniors tend to live at Partners. It is about half a mile away from Duke’s medical/research campus. There are 3 bedroom options available. The one downside I have about this housing option is that the parking spaces are incredibly tight.

Lofts at Lakeview Apartments

Plenty of MMS-ers lived at the Lofts this year, which has made it a convenient location to host parties and gatherings. We’ve had pool parties, Victoria’s Secret fashion show viewings, and Chinese New Year celebrations at the Loft. This apartment complex offers both one- and two-bedroom options. It is conveniently located next to Chipotle, TGIF, and many other restaurants so you will never run out of food options if you live here.

Trinity Commons

Trinity Commons is pretty much in the same vicinity as the Lofts, so if you choose to live here, you have the same access to all the dining options. They offer both one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. Trinity Commons prides itself on its commitment to being eco-friendly.

Erwin Terrace

It’s conveniently located right next to LoYo, so if you’re a frozen yogurt fan, you may want to consider living here. Erwin Terrace offers two-bedroom options. It is located within walking distance from campus, but there are also busing options available.

Station 9

Many of Fuqua’s MBA students live at Station 9, but I only know of a couple MMS-ers who lived here this year. It is conveniently located right across from Ninth Street and is a quick drive to campus. Station 9 offers both one- and two-bedroom options.

Erwin Mill

The Erwin Mill apartments have a warehouse feel, similar to that of West Village. These apartments are pretty much in the same area as Station 9, so all of the Ninth Street offerings are just a quick walk away. More undergrads tend to live here, and it has been know to be a party area.

The Parc at University Tower

The Parc has been my own home for this past year. It is conveniently located right across from a Target. It may be a bit more removed than the other apartment options I’ve listed, but it only takes a five minute drive to get to Fuqua. Rent and utilities are affordable compared to some of the other options. With it being a gated community, I feel safe living at the Parc. There are one-, two-, and three-bedroom options available. There is also a nice pool area, so when it gets nice out, I love spending some time by the poolside.

Learn more about this year’s talented student-athletes:

• Dan DiMaria
• Peter Terreza
• Austin Carpenter
• James Kostelnik
• Cydney Ross
• Leslie Morrison
• Megan Deakins

I had some time to catch up with a couple of my fellow track athletes about their schedules and how their seasons went. It seems that everyone got off to a great start …

James Kostelnik:

Last year, James felt that he had unfinished business on the track, so he took advantage of his remaining fifth year of athletic eligibility. “As a student athlete in the MMS program, my schedule has been pretty busy to say the least. During the fall, I was running 90 miles per week, traveling biweekly to races, interviewing for jobs, working as a TA for an undergraduate finance course, and working diligently on my MMS coursework.”

Oh, WOW, sounds impressive! Let’s take a look at a typical day for James:

7:00 am – 8:40 am: Wake up, go for morning run, stretch, shower, eat, drive to Fuqua

9:00 am – 11:15 am: Marketing class

11:15 am – 12:15 pm: Lunch

12:15 pm – 2:30 pm: Economics class

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Practice

6:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Shower, eat dinner, prepare material for class

6:45 pm – 8:15 pm: TA undergraduate finance course

8:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Team meeting at Fuqua

10:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Work on homework

Although it appears that James has been unbelievably busy, he says that “it was manageable and I viewed it as great preparation for the real world.” His cross-country season went well as his team returned to the NCAA Championships after a one-year hiatus. His indoor track was also successful as he ran several personal bests in the 3,000 meters and anchored Duke’s Distance Medley Relay to a third place finish at the ACC Championships.

Cydney Ross:

Cydney’s sentiments about being an athlete in the MMS program are similar to James’. She also had a busy schedule, balancing athletics and school while being an Admissions Ambassador for the program (you may have seen some of her posts on the MMS Facebook page). But she wouldn’t trade the opportunity to compete for one more year for anything else. Cydney had her best indoor track season thus far, contributing to the third place finish at the ACC Indoor Championships and winning her first ever ACC individual title in the 800 meter race.

She claims that, “Duke track has been kicking butt and taking names. With a third place finish, we had the highest finish in school history at the ACC indoor track and field championships and have rewritten the record books across several events.” More recently, Cydney placed sixth in the 800 meters at NCAA indoor nationals garnering her third All-American title. She has also played an integral part of the distance medley relay (DMR) that represented Duke at nationals as well.

Clearly, these student-athletes are looking to finish out their careers with a bang!

Bean Traders

I’m actually writing this blog post from one of my favorite coffee shops on Ninth Street: Bean Traders. I consider myself a coffee enthusiast, and I would say hands down that Bean Traders has the best coffee in Durham. Not only do I come here for coffee, but I’ll often come here to stud. It’s a good option if you ever get tired of going to the Ford Library to stud. If you end up stopping by here, I recommend the mocha — it’s delicious.

Francesca’s Dessert Cafe

Bean Traders is not your only option for coffee on Ninth Street. There’s also Francesca’s, which also has good coffee and offers gelato and fancy desserts. I definitely recommend coming here if you have a sweet tooth craving. They also offer booth seating which lets you get pretty comfortable.

Gelato and other desserts at Francesca's.

The Duck Shop

Duck Shop? Do you mean the Duke Shop? Nope, it’s called the Duck Shop I’m not sure exactly why, but this store is your go-to place, other than the on-campus Duke University Store, if you want to get any type of Duke paraphernalia. They have a wide range of shirts, hats, decorations … you name it, so you can treat yourself, friends or family.

The Regulator Bookshop

If you’re interested in supporting your local bookstore, The Regulator is the spot for you. They have a whole section of books by local authors as well as a variety of books about Duke, Durham, and the surrounding area. It’s a pretty quaint store, but conveniently located on Ninth Street.

The Regulator Bookshop is ideal for bookworms.

Dain’s Place

Dain’s is a local pub, which seems to attract the bikers in the town. But don’t let that intimidate you at all. The people are very friendly and the food is good, too. If you’re down to grab a burger and a microbrew, this is a convenient spot to come to with a couple of friends. It’s even been ranked number 10 on a list of 50 Best College Bars in America.

Vaguely Reminiscent

Vaguely Reminiscent is a very interesting, out-of-the-ordinary, store that sells a variety of things ranging from little trinkets to gag gifts and clothing. You’ll never know what you can find here, but that’s what makes it such a great place to visit. I’ve come here to grab a unique gift for a friend. You’ll have to come here for yourself to experience what I mean when I say out-of-the-ordinary.

Vaguely Reminiscent carries an eclectic assortment of gifts, trinkets, and clothing.

Wavelengths Salon

Wavelengths is a popular local hair salon that offers haircuts and styling. They also carry a variety of products from Aveda, Bumble and Bumble, etc. So, if you had to move away from your trusted hair stylist, and you need a new one in the Durham area, give them a try. Their location is conveniently close to campus.

Metro 8 Steakhouse

Metro 8 is a restaurant that’s also a nice event venue. They serve classic American cuisine and you can come here for a nice steak entrée. At the same time, the establishment allows groups to hold events such as fundraisers, formals, and more. We even held our MMS winter formal at Metro 8.

Ox and Rabbit Soda and Sundries

When first walking into this place, you might take it as an ordinary stationary store, but don’t be fooled. The Ox and Rabbit is not only a stationary store, but an ice cream soda shop as well. You can get all kinds of homemade milkshakes and cream sodas here. Not too many people know about this place, so spread the word!

Blue Corn Cafe

In the mood for some Latin food? Then Blue Corn Cafe is your place. Serving fajitas to enchiladas and anything in between, they have some delicious dishes. Their fusion style is unique. I’ve also heard that the margaritas are pretty good, so you’ll just have to see for yourself.

I enjoyed some Girl Scout Mint ice cream with hot fudge from The Parlour truck.

At last, the weather was beautiful and it finally felt like spring on Sunday. It was the perfect day for the food truck rodeo, and since I was still in town for spring break, I stopped by the rodeo with a couple of friends to check out the scene. I had a great time, enjoying the nice weather, some delicious food, and good company. There was even a live band. It was definitely a popular event as the street was packed with tons of people and pets.

Some of the options that we had to choose from were American Meltdown Gourmet Melts (gourmet grilled cheeses), Parlez-Vous Crepe (French crepes), Daisy Cakes (cupcakes), and much more! Check out the event site to see what other food trucks attended, if you’re interested.

Trucks lined up for the "rodeo."

Personally, I started off with a coffee from bikeCOFFEE. It’s exactly what it sounds like: coffee from a bike. It’s got a sort of rustic vibe, but it was definitely good coffee and the people were really friendly. Every beverage is individually made so you can get a custom drink. I also stopped by The Parlour, which is a specialty ice cream truck. They had some unusual flavors like salted butter caramel and chocolate earl grey. After contemplating which flavor to get, I ultimately went with the Girl Scout Mint with hot fudge. Yum! It tasted just like the thin mint Girl Scout cookies. I definitely recommend it!

Overall, the Food Truck Rodeo was a fantastic event to showcase the fabulous food in the triangle area. I definitely plan on coming back to the next one and recommend anyone around to go as well. If you ever want to dine food truck style in Durham, check out this site for updates on some of the trucks and their locations.

With a couple of my teammates at the national championship.

Some of you may ask, is it possible to go to grad school while being on a division I team, and still do well? The answer: yes! I’ll be honest though, you will be very busy and it takes good time management skills, but it is possible. A majority of my time is spent going to practice and school, and I finish assignments during my breaks. During the week, I always stay on top of my assignments and responsibilities because I know that I may be out of town during the weekend for a meet. Even though my school and athletic obligations take up a good amount of my time, I am still able to find moments to hang out with friends, volunteer at an elementary school, read a good book, etc.

Personally, I really enjoy being an athlete while attending grad school. The Fuqua community is very supportive of Duke athletics. We have several athletes in the MMS program, ranging from the track team to lacrosse and wrestling. We all get support for our athletic accomplishments from our professors, classmates, and the Fuqua community as a whole. My MMS teammates are always willing to schedule meetings around my athletic schedule (thanks team!). Sometimes it can be challenging to accommodate class and practice schedules, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. You can work out a way to attend class and do the necessary workouts.

So for those athletes who have one more year of eligibility, and are considering the MMS program, DO IT! It’s a double win — you get to continue to compete in the sport you love while gaining a master’s degree that opens up more career opportunities.

The Business of Sports panel.

We had the opportunity to hear from people in a variety of sports-related positions at notable companies. The panelists talked about their professional roles and provided industry insight. This event was especially beneficial for me because as a student-athlete, I have a natural interest in sports. Since I am exploring marketing careers, the panel was the perfect combination of my two interest areas, and I was able to learn about the opportunities and inner workings of this intersecting industry of sports marketing. The panelists included:

• Thayer Lavielle, Vice President Consulting, Wasserman Media Group
• Benjamin “BJ” Armstrong, Executive Vice President Basketball Management, Wasserman Media Group
• Adam Harter, Vice President Consumer Engagement, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages
• David Rabin, Executive Director Marketing, Lenovo North America
• Robbie Allen, Founder, CEO, StatSheet
• Michael Wandell, Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships, Bobcats Sports and Entertainment

As a Fuqua Career Ambassador, I had the opportunity to do some of the behind-the-scenes work to put on the event. Detailed planning went into the event. Each panelist was paired with a career ambassador to ensure that they made it to the event smoothly. A couple hours before the event, we set up the panel room and waited for students and panelists to arrive. Once everyone arrived, the event began with a great start.

Thayer Lavielle served as the moderator and asked the panelists many interesting questions. One of the most interesting questions was “what was the most innovative idea you have seen in your career?” The answer to this question that I found most intriguing was from Adam Harter. He talked about the Kyrie Irving Uncle Drew commercial for Pepsi Max. It was the idea of a young marketer on the team, and it began as a YouTube campaign. It was such an innovative idea that caught so much interest that it was turned into a TV commercial. This just goes to show that it doesn’t matter what age you are, if you have a great idea, it can go very far.

The event ended with a question and answer session, and then broke out into a networking event. We had the opportunity to not only talk to the panelists, but also speak to other representatives from the Wasserman Media Group. As a follow-up to the panel event, there will be a Wasserman Case Competition, which will be another exciting opportunity for students to learn and engage with the business of sports.

Part of the reason I chose the MMS program was because it gave me the chance to compete for the Duke Cross Country and Track Team for one more year. This was not the only reason I chose the program, though. I recently had the opportunity to reflect on this further, for one of my Business Communications assignments. I had to write a speech about why I chose the MMS program. While reflecting on the speech and my decision to apply to MMS, I realized that the program is like M&Ms. Yes, the little candy covered chocolates that come in all different colors. Let me explain … the reasons why I chose MMS are the same reasons why I like M&Ms:

Reason #1: The high quality brand. The M&M chocolate brand parallels the Fuqua brand. Both are globally recognized and highly regarded. Employers from all over the world know the Fuqua brand and understand that they are hiring reliable, high quality candidates. Already having gone to Duke for undergrad, I understand that going to a top tier business school would only lay out more opportunities for my future career.

Reason #2: The diversity within the program. M&Ms are comprised of chocolate candies that are all different colors. Just like the colors of M&Ms, the MMS program is truly diverse, bringing people together from all over the world. This diversity sets up a learning environment that continuously pushes us and allows us to learn from one another.

Reason #3: The opportunities available after the program. There are a wide variety of M&Ms, ranging from dark chocolate M&Ms, to peanut M&Ms, to the newer pretzel M&Ms. I see the types of M&Ms as representative of the job opportunities that will be available to me after MMS. Through the program’s coursework, I’ll be prepared to take on a variety of types of roles in marketing (my interest area), or other business functions.

All of these reasons are why I chose the MMS program; the brand, diversity, opportunities, and the chance to compete athletically for one more year. It just so happened that these reasons coincided with why I enjoy M&Ms. So, you know how they say that life is like a box of chocolates? I think I can go ahead and say that the MMS program is like a bag M&Ms!