They're serving cold beer and hot barbeque in Durham this afternoon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development.
The Research Triangle Park nonprofit was established in 1984 and has expanded to become one of the country's largest support groups for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. CED now has 5,500 members.
The silver anniversary festivities will include CED president Joan Siefert Rose discussing CED's new logo and marketing strategy as the recession drags on. She joined CED in 2008 as its second president, replacing Monica Doss, who ran the group since 1986.
The food and drinks will come from Red Hot & Blue of North Raleigh, and LoneRider Brewing Co. of Raleigh will serve its Shotgun Betty and DeadEye Jack beers.
The Dune Dogs and JazzTones, bands that include CED members, will provide the music.
Tickets are $25 and include one guest. The festivities run from 3 to 7 p.m. at the American Tobacco District's Bay 7 in downtown Durham.
For more details, visit CED's Web site here.
Assistant Business Editor Alan M. Wolf joined the N&O in 1999 covering the business of health care. He became an editor in 2001, and helps oversee the paper's daily business coverage and Sunday Work&Money section. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Reach him at 919-829-4572 or 
