Donate to Taylor's Dream: Duck's Bar and Bowl!

When I was fourteen, I asked my mother for designer jeans. She responded she would purchase them for me as a Christmas gift. Instead of waiting, I got a job. I was hired as a dishwasher at a small local restaurant, Harrison's. It was there I fell in love with the industry. It was the camaraderie, community, and the feeling of family that took hold of me. I worked in restaurants and bars through high school. The industry then carried me through college where I studied Comparative Literature and the French Language. Post-college, I worked in several James Beard Award-winning and nominated establishments, including the Lantern in Chapel Hill and Mateo Tapas in Durham. For the last three years, I have worked as the head bartender at Durham Distillery’s Corpse Reviver Bar. While running the bar program, my cocktails have been featured in local and national publications, including The New York Times. At Corpse Reviver, I have honed my cocktail-creating skills. In addition, I have spearheaded several charity events for local community programs such as the LGBTQ Center of Durham and Planned Parenthood. The events raised thousands of dollars through donations by local businesses, musicians, and others invested in building a community that cares. The success of the events was rooted in the many robust relationships I have developed from working in the industry over the last twenty-six years. My general modus operandi as a lead bartender and active community member is to exhaust all resources when seeking to achieve a goal. I purchased those designer jeans, and with the same dedication and moxie, I will do everything in my power to make this business a success and a meaningful part of our community.

Now it's time for me to open my own bar. Inspired in most every way by my grandmother, whom we called Duck. At Duck’s we will serve thoughtful, elevated cocktails with a creative and fun presentation. We will employ the latest techniques and keep up with trends while adding our own special stamp of unique and playful aesthetic. the food will be classic diner style food but with many vegan options and the same playful and fun presentation as the cocktail program. Imagine a giant beyond burger garnished with an oversized onion ring, a huge banana split with the works. The most unique part of the Duck’s experience will be the activities. The three lanes of duck pin bowling. The photo-booth. The private karaoke room. Skeeball, corn hole and outdoor bowling. Dj’s will be employed on the weekends and tables will be moved to make room for dancing! This will feel like a larger city destination bar but with a nostalgic, familiar elements that fit right in with the community feel so that we ensure return guests and regulars. It will absolutely be the type of space you'll want to bring out of town guests, host private events or professional team building outings.

My grandmother Duck was pure magic. She could play the ukelele, fly an airplane and most impressive to me, take her teeth out. She lived a block from an old drug store called Asher Mcadams, which was a staple in my childhood. My brother and I would sit at the old timey soda fountain and drink orangeades on hot summer’s days. Duck would also take us to the vintage duck pin bowling alley hidden in the basement of the local YMCA. Duck was magic. Every aspect of this concept is inspired by her. I want people to rediscover their childlike wonder. To find their joy. We lose a lot of those things as adults and I want for people to leave not with just lighter wallets and fuller bellies, but with a renewed sense of joy and wonder with memories and photos from the photo-booth to have and keep forever.

I would be so incredibly honored and grateful for any donation to help me make this dream a reality! Thank you so much for your time!

Taylor