TCB Sept. 16, 2015 — Life is a sandwich

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point triad-city-beat.com September 16 – 22, 2015

FREE

Life is a sandwich on the corner with Donnie Suggs PAGE 16

The isolation effect PAGE 8

Weekend with Bernie PAGE 14

Dumplings, at last PAGE 20

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015

The

Best Car

Care Center in the Triad

“Always Thorou g SAVES me abo h and With Utmost Integrity. ut SERVICE on m 35% from using the DEALER y LEXUS”

(Verified Custom

er)

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Webster’s can service any type of automobile, but specializes in import car repair and import auto servicing Lexus, Nissan, Honda, Acura, Hyandai, Audi, Infiniti, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Mazda, BMW, Mercedes, and Volvo.

2

306 Grumman Road, Greensboro

• State of the art computer diagnostics • Free shuttle • 2-year/24,000 mile warranty • Full service center

•

393-0023 • Webstersimportservice.com

Folking in Greensboro

by Brian Clarey

24 UP FRONT

13

Citizen Green: Berned or

GOOD SPORT

3 Editor’s Notebook 4 City Life 6 Commentariat 6 The List 7 Unsolicited Endorsement

14

It Just Might Work: A creative

26 Dashing fellows

14

Fresh Eyes: Bearing witness

COVER

NEWS

16 Life is a sandwich

8 Hecklers confronted 10 East Winston pathways 12 HPJ: City eases off housing complaints

CULTURE

OPINION 13

Trumped? corridor

GAMES 29 Jonesin’ Crossword

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

20 Food: My little dumpling 21 Barstool: The wine expert 22 Music: Folk fest dazzles 24 Art: Back to the streets

30 East Market Street, Greensboro

ALL SHE WROTE 31 Pageantry

Editorial: Finally, a budget

QUOTE OF THE WEEK It’s amazing what the Lord can do when you do your part. My thing is, I do what I can, God will do what I can’t. God bless Dee’s Juke Joint, we grill while you chill, and I’ll see you at the top.

— Donnie Suggs, who owns Dee’s Juke Joint, in the Cover, page 16

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27406 • Office: 336-256-9320 BUSINESS PUBLISHER Allen Broach

ART ART DIRECTOR Jorge Maturino

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Brian Clarey

SALES DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING & SALES Dick Gray

allen@triad-city-beat.com

brian@triad-city-beat.com

SENIOR EDITOR Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Eric Ginsburg eric@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL INTERNS Daniel Wirtheim intern@triad-city-beat.com

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING INTERN Nicole Zelniker

jorge@triad-city-beat.com

dick@triad-city-beat.com

SALES EXECUTIVE Alex Klein alex@triad-city-beat.com

SALES EXECUTIVE Lamar Gibson lamar@triad-city-beat.com

SALES EXECUTIVE Cheryl Green cheryl@triad-city-beat.com

NEST Advertise in NEST, our monthly real estate insert, the final week of every month! nest@triad-city-beat.com

CONTRIBUTORS Carolyn de Berry Nicole Crews Anthony Harrison Matt Jones Amanda Salter Caleb Smallwood

Cover photo by Eric Ginsburg of Donnie Suggs, owner of Dee’s Juke Joint and the subject of this week’s cover story.

TCB IN A FLASH DAILY @ triad-city-beat.com First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. ©2015 Beat Media Inc.

Hometown girl Rhiannon Giddens took to the Lawn Stage early Saturday afternoon at the National Folk Festival in Greensboro to pay homage to the old-time music that lured her away from opera and inspired her to form the Carolina Chocolate Drops with her friends.

Surrounding her was a throng of her friends and neighbors, some of whom had watched Giddens rise through the ranks from as far back as her days with the Greensboro Youth Chorus and others who just caught on after her stunning performance of “Water Boy” on “Late Night with David Letterman” in its last days on the air just a couple months ago.

I put the crowd at about 4,000 — huge for this little corner of downtown — that included a crew of folks situated on a nearby rooftop to catch the set.

Man, that’s cool, I thought. Like a Beatles concert.

Within about 20 minutes, uniformed police broke up the roofGreensboro hasn’t had top party and sent a moment like this in everybody back years, if ever. down to Earth. #SoGSO. But that momentary flash of annoyance was the only stain, minor as it was, on my weekend at the National Folk Festival.

Parking was plentiful, food was copious, the acts — one after the other, staggered so that we had a chance to see everything we wanted to — were amazing.

But more than that, I saw a city coming into its own.

More people walked the downtown streets than I have ever seen before. Music filled the air, as well as a vibe of good fellowship that still permeates. We celebrated our own history, our own culture and our own cuisine even as we integrated the tastes and sounds of the entire country into this new thing we have that will run every year until 2017 and perhaps even longer.

There was a moment like this in New Orleans in 1984, when the World’s Fair galvanized a generation to appreciate the charms of their city. There have been moments like this scattered throughout the last couple years in Winston-Salem, where the people began to realize the charms of home.

Greensboro hasn’t had a moment like this in years, if ever.

My own highlight came on the first night, when piano professor Henry Butler took the Belk Stage for a twilight performance. Though thousands had come out to see, my wife and I marched right up to the front of the stage to watch the man’s hands up close. By the end of the set, there were dozens of us dancing in the pit as Butler’s piano sent peals ringing through the streets.

That, too, was #SoGSO.

triad-city-beat.com

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

CONTENTS

3

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015

WEEKEND

CITY LIFE September 16 – 22

Fashion Week @ Downtown (GSO) The week of fashionable dress, flashy cameras and hosting runway shows for a good cause is here. Greensboro Fashion Week is holding a series of fashion showsfeaturing local and national designers. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Emily’s Plea, a local charity aimed at preventing drunk driving. Go to greensborofashionweek.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY Astronaut Mark Kelly with Gabby Giffords @ Old Salem Museums & Gardens (W-S) Don’t write this off as another dry inspirational speech. Gabrielle Giffords is a former US Congresswoman who lived through an assassination attempt that sent a bullet through her head. Her husband Mark Kelly is an astronaut, author and all-around high-achieving guy.

They’ll be talking about finding inspiration through tragedy, and about other values that are necessary after extreme life changes. All proceeds benefit Old Salem. Visit oldsalem. org for more information.

Greek Festival @ Dormitio of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church (GSO) We’re not referring to college fraternities or the indebted nation itself but to the Greek community right here in the Triad. They’re hosting a festival for all things Greek — cuisine, music and dance and a Greek market. You can find more information on their website at dormition.nc.goarch.org.

Texas Pete Culinary Arts Fest @ Downtown (W-S) Here’s something “saucy” for your weekend. The Texas Pete Culinary Arts Fest is going to host a weekend of music and restaurants throughout downtown Winston-Salem. They’re having some real local sponsors like Meridian Restaurant and Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro. Get the full schedule at texaspetefest.com.

THURSDAY

City Market @ The Railyard (GSO) City Market returns with the very relevant theme of “folk.” Dress like whatever you think that means and check out music by Glass Kit while you navigate around the many booths and food vendors that City Market brings. You can find more information at gsocitymarket.com.

Harvest Moon festival @ Reynolda House Lawn (W-S) Rain or shine, dogs or no dogs, the Harvest Moon Festival is going to happen. It’s Reynolda House’s annual festival that’s all about food, music, art and games. This year, rising folk stars the Genuine will be performing while food and craft beer vendors do what they do best. You can get a more in-depth look at who will be there at reynoldahouse.org.

TCB reader meetup @ Liberty Brewery (HP) Meet the guys responsible for the paper you’re holding at Liberty Brewery. Drink beer and find out what it’s like to write about the city you live in. The event is aimed at High Point readership, but obviously anyone is welcome. The event starts at 6 p.m.

4

Four season vegetable workshop @ Reynolda Manor Branch Library (W-S) The helpful folks at Reynolda Manor Branch Library want to help you with your veggies. The workshop is going to demonstrate strategies for early spring planting, for making fall crops survive through the frost and proper soil preparation techniques. Before you can harness the veg-power you should search for the Reynolda Manor Branch on forsyth.cc for RSVP details.

by Daniel Wirtheim

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day Festival @ Manchester Plaza (W-S) Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for intellectually disabled children in 1962. Shortly thereafter it became the Special Olympics. To honor Shriver’s legacy Wake Forest University’s chapter of Best Buddies — a program aimed at creating leadership opportunities for the mentally disabled — is a hosting a festival with dancing, deejays, a capella groups and food. Check the events calendar at wfu.edu for more information.

Almost, Maine @ Brown Building Theatre (GSO), starts Thursday Almost, Maine is comprised of almost a dozen vignettes that take place in the mythical, faraway place of Almost, Maine. The play has a history of controversy in North Carolina after a high school canceled a production citing the inclusion of a same-sex couple.

You can visit performingarts.uncg.edu/theatre for more information.

FRIDAY

Racquets for the Cure @ Pinetop Sports Club (GSO) Before cancer is fought in the lab, it’s fought on the tennis court. The Racquets for the Cure tournament is returning to raise money for researching the cure to breast cancer. Join the tournament by going to komennorthwestnc.org.

Sunset Thursday @ Bailey Park (W-S) Flow Honda partners with Phuzz Phest to put on a big show with Asheville’s baroque folk band River Whyless and Heather McEntire of Mount Moriah. There will be alcoholic beverages and dogs on leashes, so it’s a pretty sweet package. Find the Sunset Thursdays Facebook page for details.

The 7th Annual World Cultural Festival @ Wake Forest University (W-S) Sometimes the most effective way to understand a different culture is by tasting its food and dancing its dance, at least that’s the philosophy of this festival. It’s a free-to-the-public globally inclusive party. You can visit the event page at wfu.edu for more details.

triad-city-beat.com

Super Massive Black Holes and Galaxy Formation @ Greensboro Science Center (GSO) Join the Greensboro Astronomy Club to discuss the essence of nature’s most perplexing phenomena: black holes. It’s a humbling discussion on the mysterious forces at work in the world beyond the Triad. Go to greensboroastronomyclub.org for more information.

Drag Bingo Night @ Elm Street Center (GSO) The Guilford Green Foundation hosts a superhero-themed bingo night to support the LGBT community in Guilford County. Visit ggfnc.org for more information.

SATURDAY

Opening @ Carmine’s 901 Grill (W-S) Carmine Farina is a native of Naples, Italy and the owner of Carmine’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. Now he’s also the owner of Carmine’s 901 Grill, which opens Saturday. To celebrate the opening Farina is selling nine appetizers, nine pizzas, nine pastas, nine salads and one creation of the day, each for $9.01. You can find Farina at his grill on 901 Reynolda Road.

Apple Fest @ Historic Bethabara Park (W-S) Apples go way back in Bethabara history. When the Moravians arrived in 1753, one of their first matters of business was planting apple seeds they carried from Europe. The Apple Fest is a way to commemorate those apple-loving Moravians with apples, music, tons of vendors and the Hogway Speedway, which is like motor racing but with pigs. To find more information about this family-friendly festival visit cityofws.org.

Tailgate potluck party @ Camel City Yoga (W-S) With a slip and slide, pickup truck swimming pool, cornhole and old-time band, Camel City Yoga is far from your mother’s yoga studio. You’re going to want to bring a good dish and follow them on Facebook for more updates.

An evening with Ira Glass @ Carolina theatre (GSO) There are not a lot of people that can spin a good yarn like Ira Glass. This guy has been telling stories as the host of WBEZ’s now famous radio program “This American Life” since 1995. He’s going to demonstrate how he does it on stage, and then play back some of the most memorable clips from the show’s 20-year running. It’s like seeing the man behind the curtain. You can find your tickets by visiting carolinatheatre.com.

Farmer Appreciation Day @ Greensboro Curb Market (GSO) You’re going to need one of these guys three times a day as the old saying goes, and the folks at the Greensboro Curb Market know it. They’re inviting local chef Alex Amoroso to prepare breakfast — a heavy, Southern breakfast. Neese’s sausage, eggs from Massey Creek Farm, Old Mill of Guilford grits, Biscuitville biscuits and Sweet Morning Farms jam is all on the menu. You can find more information by going to gsofarmersmarket.org.

Come Celebrate Mountain Music SATURDAY CONCERTS, THROUGH OCTOBER 10

De Temps Antan

Saturday, September 19th @ 4 pm, $15 Mini Mountain Music Festival Alice Gerrard & Kay Justice Paul Brown & Terri McMurray

De Temps Antan

Saturday, September 26th @ 4 pm, Rebecca Frazier

$15 Mountain Bluegrass

Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run The Buckstankle Boys

BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org or (866) 308-2773 x 245 Milepost 213, Blue Ridge Parkway Galax,Virginia

Groove Jam @ Doodad Farm (GSO) What is a “groove jam?” I don’t know, but you’ll know it when you feel it. But know that this jam is held on Doodad Farm and proceeds are going to benefit Greensboro Urban Ministry. You can see who’s playing at groovejamgreensboro.com.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS >>>

BRMC is a partner venue of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail & Blue Ridge Music Trails of NC

5

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture

Zack flack

Zack is great for downtown [“Dramatic changes underway for Downtown Greensboro Inc.”; by Eric Ginsburg; Sept. 9, 2015]. His boundless energy, intelligence, enthusiasm and creative ideas will be perfect for cementing Greensboro as one of the best destination downtowns in the state.

I worked with this young man years ago and will continue to respect him as he leads the heart of our city into the future.

Kit Rodenbough, Greensboro “Matheny always said his predecessor needed to be out walking the streets of Greensboro’s downtown more, constantly engaging with residents, business owners and visitors and implementing improvements.” I find this interesting. I’ve been a downtown resident and owner for over five years (Spring Street and now South Elm Street). Matheny has never stepped foot into my business, even though he stood right outside the door last week using his phone.

Right outside the door! His unnamed predecessor was partially responsible for me being downtown, invited me to join the DGI board, and was a patron of my business. Even the mayor has managed to make it to my shop… and make a purchase. Oh, he stood right outside a Downtown Resident Association meeting location with my husband and I, and never bothered to introduce himself or even speak. Wow! I’m really feeling his passion, and the love!

Teresa Crawford, Greensboro I will gladly stop by Crawford Creations this afternoon.

Zack Matheny, Greensboro

All She Wrote

Shot in the Triad

Games

Good Sport

Pre-season blues

6

I read your article on Big Al Ray and his idea. [“It Just Might Work: A cure for pre-season NFL”; by Brian Clarey; Sept. 9, 2015] Well I am The Catman! I have season tickets to Panthers games.

Over the years I sometimes have difficulty selling my pre-season ticket. I’m at every game and will take one of my boys or a friend with money! But it’s hard trying to get somebody to purchase a full-price, pre-season ticket. They are the same price as regular season! You know the starters go to the bench, and I’m forced to buy them and I hate to miss a game but as players get raises, we foot the bill. My idea is this: Extend the roster numbers after training camp and how many players a team can keep by the mid point of the season then make cuts. That way there are no pre-season games, the starters don’t miss time and free agents and rookies have until Week 6 or 8 to make the full time roster of say 60 players instead of 53. I know it’s advertising money they are making and anticipatory buildup of preseason teases to the opening day. But the price gouging of season ticket holders may force me out because of the high cost. There is no other way, the Europe league didn’t work and when players play in any development league; they get hurt and have monster medical bills. Just put them on the roster and let them prove themselves on the roster in practice and a game here or there as needed. I’ve posted similar on Twitter.

Greg Good, via email

7 things to remember about Donald Trump

by Brian Clarey 1. He’s rich Donald Trump, who it seems is making a real run for president in 2016 (though we’re still not totally buying it), is a billionaire — like he would ever let you forget it. He made his money the old-fashioned way: by inheriting a bunch of cash and property in New York City from his father that he turned into a gaudy, gold-plated empire. Though four of his businesses have gone bankrupt — beginning in 1991 with his Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, NJ and ending with Trump Entertainment Resorts in 2014 — Trump himself remains flush.

2. He’s a second-generation American Though Trump has strong words for immigrants and our nation’s policy on them — enunciated on the Statue of Liberty, right near where he grew up in Queens, NY, his mother was born in Scotland and his father’s parents were both born in Germany before crossing over. His first wife, Ivana, is Czechoslovakian, and his current wife, Melania, was born in Slovenia. His second wife, Marla Maples, is from Georgia.

3. That’s his real hair Trump has been accused of wearing a toupee since he came to prominence in the 1980s, but that overcombed, pale mess atop his head is actually his real hair, grown long and swirled around his head like soft-serve ice cream.

4. He gets sued a lot By his own admission he has been sued “hundreds” of times in his career, notably by the US Justice Department in 1973, the Securities & Exchange Commission in 2002, investors in a failed Mexican resort in 2009, the attorney general of the state of New York in 2013 and model Alexia Palmer in 2014. He has also sued lots of people, including Deutsche Bank, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. and comedian Bill Maher, who insisted that Trump show his birth certificate to prove that his mother wasn’t an orangutan.

5. He once owned a professional football team Anyone else remember the New Jersey Generals of the AFL? No? They drafted Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker in 1982 before the league went bust in 1985.

6. He doesn’t like losers Among the people Trump has called “loser” over the years are Mitt Romney, Rosie O’Donnell, Graydon Carter, Seth Meyers, Frank Luntz, John McCain, Charles Krauthammer, Chuck Todd, Richard Belzer, Mark Cuban and George Will, along with thousands of others.

7. He’s dead serious He clearly does not consider himself a punchline, even though most of the rest of us do.

triad-city-beat.com

Wayfaring strangers and rainbow signs at the folk festival

Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture

JORDAN GREEN

Good Sport

Folk song interpreter Rhiannon Giddens sings “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” on Sunday at the National Folk Festival. (See related story on page 22.)

Games

Steven Universe

by Daniel Wirtheim

I think it’s the pioneering mentality that makes “Steven Universe” exciting and refreshing. I think it’s something about enjoying a cartoon with humor that reaches such a broad range of ages and backgrounds that makes it entertaining. I love the social dynamics and the impact the stories might have on a younger audience. But as a staunch critic of cartoons, I think the most important message here is for the cartoon-hating adults — that it’s never too late to have a happy childhood.

All She Wrote

planet has ever seen — and he therefore holds some super powers. But he’s not completely Gem-like, since his father is only a washed-up musician.

In every episode, which last about 10 minutes apiece, there’s some kind of inexplicable and often ridiculous evil.

But we know, since it’s stated in the show’s glorious theme song, that the gang “will always save the day.”

Some feminists have championed “Steven Universe” as a cartoon with a male lead that respects, admires and takes leads from powerful women. Rebecca Sugar, the first female animator, composer and director for Cartoon Network, created the show. She’s also the creator of “Adventure Time,” another hit show on Cartoon Network.

Shot in the Triad

Beyond 12-years-old I was never a huge fan of cartoons.

I liked Hayao Miyazaki movies and a handful of graphic novels but I never thought I would feel so passionately about a cartoon as I do with Cartoon Network’s “Steven Universe.”

A friend of mine introduced me to show about a month ago. He wouldn’t shut up about how it was such “a ball of light and joy,” queer-friendly and maybe the best show ever made. At his request, I gave it a try and since then my girlfriend and I have watched nearly half of the first season of “Steven Universe.”

It’s about Steven, a young boy whose mother was a Gem — the most badass group of superhero alien girls the

7

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

8

NEWS

Slow progress from planning to implementation in East Winston

by Jordan Green

There are a lot of plans for improving East Winston, but so far not much to show for it.

Marquita Wisley, a resident of the Cleveland Avenue Homes public housing community, is cautiously hopeful that the development of the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter just across US Highway 52 will have a positive impact on her neighborhood.

The Innovation Quarter, a major center for biomedical research, is developing a greenway that will be open to residents of East Winston. And city leaders hope the blossoming research park will create a demand for housing and businesses that provide services to employees.

“I wish we would have been offered some of the jobs,” Wisley said. “I think it has made a positive effect. It’s brought attention to the area. The beautification of the area stimulates an interest in our area. When they say they want to diversify the neighborhood, with the Innovation Quarter the people need a place to live.”

Wisley is a member of the Cleveland Avenue Transformation Team, part of an initiative coordinated by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem to diversify incomes in the area and build sufficient consumer demand to support retail development. The housing authority is submitting a grant application, developed with input from the residents, to the federal government in December.

“The community understands that without higher-income families coming in, it’s going to be hard to bring in retail,” said Larry Woods, CEO of the housing authority. “Our goal is not to promote gentrification. We plan to keep the rental units at affordable rates.

There could be some subsidy involved.

The subsidy would be for working families.”

Poverty and infrastructure — specifically Highway 52, which runs to the west and diminishes connectivity with downtown — isolate East Winston from the rest of the city.

“If you mention East Winston to people, they don’t want to come here,” Wisley said. “They don’t see the value.

When we’re mentioned on the news it’s not something good. It’s usually a shooting or something like that.”

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Planning Board recently recommended approval of a planning document called the East-Northeast Area Plan, which goes before Winston-Salem City Council for consideration next month. The Cleveland Avenue corridor in the heart of East Winston is part of the largely urban planning area, which stretches from Smith Reynolds Airport in the north down to Business 40 in the south, and from Highway 52 in the west to Reidsville Road in the east. Along with the Cleveland Avenue project, several initiatives have been undertaken to revitalize the area. In many cases, progress has been halting and plans have yet to yield results.

The Winston-Salem City Council endorsed the Cleveland Avenue initiative in 2011. At the request of the SG Atkins Community Development Corp., the council approved an overlay zoning district for the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridor the same year.

The East-Northeast Area Plan proposes to expand the new design guidelines to sections of Liberty Street and New Walkertown Road to create an urban feel, with new buildings located near the street, entrances facing the street and off-street parking to the side or to the rear of the buildings.

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive has also received attention from the Creative Corridors Coalition, a nonprofit funded by the National Endowment for the Arts that is taking advantage of the renovation of Business 40 to improve the aesthetics of bridges and roadways around downtown. The nonprofit facilitated a public workshop in 2013 to solicit input from residents and business owners in 2013. Todd Lewis, a senior civil engineer with the city, said the funding is in place for the project, but it will require approval from the state Transportation Department in Raleigh. The project is scheduled to go out to bid in October 2016.

The enhancements on Martin Luther

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is a busy thoroughfare that runs through the heart of East Winston.

King Jr. Drive include trees and shrubbery, along with three-foot ornamental fencing to separate the roadway from the sidewalk. Lewis said the city is working with Creative Corridors on a plan to install new crosswalks with red-stamped asphalt that mimics brickwork, similar to the design in the Innovation Quarter.

The master plan also calls for public art. Some ideas that have been discussed in the past include way-finding signage, banners and an illuminated light tower at the intersection of Fourth Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Kristen Haaf, project manager for Creative Corridors, said the nonprofit has not yet determined which public art projects will go forward.

“We are in a holding pattern on MLK waiting for the city to do some of the engineering work to establish what the base infrastructure is going to be,” Haaf said.

Lewis acknowledged that the project has undergone delays.

“The funding had not been in place, and the agreement needed to be in place between the city and the state,” he said. “The funding is in place now, so it’s starting to move.”

The East-Northeast Area Plan cites the importance of Third, Fourth and Fifth streets in linking the Innovation Quarter to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and proposes redeveloping land on the streets to house the workers at the research park. The plan recommends taking “advantage of the proposal by

JORDAN GREEN

Creative Corridors to have a signature bridge over US 52 at Fourth Street with enhanced features to make Fourth Street the main connector” between the Innovation Quarter and East Winston.

Haaf said the Fourth Street corridor is not currently a priority project for Creative Corridors fundraising. “That is a concept that is totally consistent with our vision,” she said, “and that is an idea that has been discussed in our master plan.”

The city has recently taken possession of historic Union Station through eminent domain. Although the facility is just to the south of the East-Northeast planning area, it has the potential to significantly affect the area as a transit hub.

With the lack of state and federal funds making the restoration of commuter rail a distant prospect, the city plans to relocate its transportation department to the building to fulfill the public purpose requirement of its acquisition. Plans also call for some of the space to be used by nonprofits and staff at Winston-Salem State University. The city has allocated $18.3 million in bond funds to renovate Union Station.

Wisley said she feels gratified that city leaders have consulted residents about plans for improving East Winston, but progress comes at a slow pace.

“They’re more apt to help us now and to sit down and ask us what we need instead of dumping things on us because it assuages their feelings of guilt,” she said.

triad-city-beat.com Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport All She Wrote

Contact Andy Zimmerman at (336) 255-4813

Shot in the Triad

DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES ENRICHING GREENSBORO

Games

Available: • 120 West Lewis St. • 532 S Elm St.

9

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

10

College reacts quickly to harassment at play about sexual assault

by Eric Ginsburg

Greensboro College responds to sexual harassment that happened when first-years attended a student play about sexual violence, and the playwright hopes it is an opportunity for change.

It’s “almost ironic,” playwright Michaela Richards said, that this sort of sexual harassment and “completely inappropriate” behavior would happen at the first performance — a practice run, really — of her play.

The Greensboro College senior wrote It Stops Here, a play designed to take a hard look at sexual violence and harassment that incorporates firsthand experiences of people she interviewed.

The small, historically Methodist Greensboro College embraced the piece, making it required viewing for different populations on campus.

Athletic teams came together to witness it, and were “absolutely fantastic audience members,” Richards said, particularly the baseball team: Several players approached her afterwards to thank her for the eye-opening piece.

But it was the first run of the play, a condensed version before the costumes and lights were officially set in a performance that occurred during the first-year seminar class for new students, where the trouble happened.

Rude, sexual remarks. Catcalls.

Phrases and gestures during a scene about rape. Sexual comments directed at specific members of the cast.

In some ways, this is exactly why Richards wrote the play. It isn’t that Greensboro College in particular has a pervasive climate of sexual harassment or assault; it’s college campuses in general that need to be much more proactive in addressing it, she said.

“This is the first year that our school has really talked about sexual violence,” she said. “This really could’ve happened anywhere, and how many schools would’ve said yes to doing this play in general?”

Richards, who added that she wishes the school did something like the play every year, is proud to be affiliated with the school. That isn’t just because Greensboro College agreed to make the play mandatory for incoming students and embraced it more broadly, but be-

“We’re talking about freshman college students who had been here all of three weeks,” Greensboro College spokesperson Lex Alexander said.

cause of the swift response to the play’s hecklers.

Spokesperson Lex Alexander said that the school opened a Title IX investigation immediately after the loud comments that were “sexual and abusive in nature.”

Alexander and Richards declined to list specific comments that were made, with Alexander emphasizing that he wasn’t present, but he added, “I understand that one or more participants were making masturbation sounds at one point.”

The comments and actions of some audience members were considered “sufficiently abusive and directed at individual performers on stage, and that’s key; they were not just booing the performance generally,” Alexander said.

Robin Daniel, the college’s executive vice president and chief operating officer who is also a licensed professional

counselor, is handling the investigation, Alexander said. If he finds anyone responsible “for having created a hostile environment,” Alexander said, they will be “subject to some form of discipline,” though he said he is unsure of the range of possible consequences.

“We’re talking about freshman college students who had been here all of three weeks,” he said. “We’re not looking to chop anybody’s heads off in this case, we’re trying to make it a learning experience for all involved.”

Alexander couldn’t offer an expected timeline but said he anticipates that it will be “fairly quick” and that the college president expects to make an announcement once it is complete, though the outcome may not be public.

Richards characterized the school’s response as “awesome,” and said the school has been given the opportunity to be a leader on addressing sexual

JORDAN GREEN

harassment and assault.

“This has kind of forced our school to look at our policy and figure out what’s wrong with it and change it, which is exactly what I wanted [the play] to do,” she said. “As long as something happens to deal with this situation, I’m very happy with how the situation is being handled so far.”

Greensboro College’s board of trustees actually adopted a revised sexual harassment and assault policy earlier this year, Alexander said, though there is still more the school can do. “[This] is an indicator of why the play is important and how much education remains to be done,” he said. “We have a policy, but we also have a ways to go in learning and teaching each other about what that means in the real world.”

triad-city-beat.com

Greensboro feels the Bern

ary’s

(336) 723-7239

breakfastofcourse.com

altervapes.com (336) 938-0070

Up Front

Gourmet Diner

602-A S Elm St • Greensboro News Opinion

CALEB SMALLWOOD

Cover Story

Bernie Sanders, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, greets ecstatic supporters at the special events center at the Greensboro Coliseum complex on Sunday. (See related coverage on page 14.)

Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

11

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

12

HIGH POINT JOURNAL

Council to dial back city’s involvement in fair housing complaints

by Jordan Green

High Point City Council looks to revamp the city’s fair housing program as the human relations director fights for her job.

The High Point City Council is looking to revamp its ordinance governing fair housing complaints as Al Heggins, the department head previously responsible for that process, faces an ever more tenuous employment situation.

The city council held a special meeting on Sept. 11 and voted unanimously to direct the city manager to develop a system of intake facilitation for fair housing complaints to bring back to council for approval. Council members indicated they are interested in a system by which city staff would receive complaints and then forward them to the state Human Relations Commission in Raleigh for investigation.

Council members acknowledged at the outset of the meeting to being confused about the city’s fair housing program. City Attorney JoAnne Carlyle, Community Development & Housing Director Mike McNair and Communications & Public Engagement Director JORDAN GREEN Council members Jay Wagner, Jason Ewing, Latimer Alexander and Alyce Hill (l-r) discussed the future of High Jeron Hollis were on hand to answer Point’s fair housing program last week. questions. The one knowledgeable person who wasn’t present was Human “Do we have anyone from the human own ordinance?” Bencini rejoined. property.”

Relations Director Al Heggins. relations department to give us that “Exactly,” Carlyle said.

Alston added that he is eager for Heggins, who has filed a discriminainformation?”

Heggins’ lawyer said any suggestion the city to respond to Heggins’ Equal tion complaint against the city with the Hollis, who has been handling comthat city ordinances weren’t followed Employment Opportunity Commission federal Equal Employment Opportunity plaint intake in Heggins’ absence, said under Heggins’ administration amount complaint, which was filed in May, so he Commission, was not in the office on the state Human Relations Commission to retaliation, alluding to complaints can see them in court. the day of the special council meeting. quantifies the number of complaints by from the police department about a “Her position is she’s on suspension, The city confirmed on Monday that county and was unable to provide data sensitivity training she helped put on. and they’re just looking for a reason to Heggins had been placed on suspension specific to the city.

“She does a job for the city, and fire her right now,” he said. without pay from Mayor Bill Bencishe’s been reviewed; she’s never had a The question about how many fair Sept. 4 through ni pointed out that negative review,” Alston said. “For them housing complaints have been han‘She has no commentary today, for a total of under the ordito say that she’s doing something she dled by the city eventually received six work days. for people who bar her nance, all valid fair shouldn’t be doing, how come it took so a response from McNair. He said Program Coordihousing complaints long for someone to address it?”

Heggins’ department reported to him from opening her mouth.’ nator Tony Lowe, should eventualReferencing his client’s suspension, that there had been 25 investigations – Reginald Alston who is the only ly reach the city Alston continued, “She isn’t even and 324 inquiries in the 2014-15 fiscal other employee in manager and city allowed to be on city property. They’ve year for the city’s annual report to the the human relations attorney for review. effectively banned her from being a US Department of Housing & Urban department, said staff has been instruct“Obviously, that process has not been citizen. Why can’t she even go to a park Development. ed to refer all questions to Hollis. followed,” Carlyle said. “That’s why — why can’t she go to a concert?

McNair’s report elicited a chorus When Carlyle was unable to tell we’re not able to provide you any other “She has no commentary for people of comments from council members council members how many fair housinformation. That is the appropriate who bar her from opening her mouth,” and senior administrators to the effect ing complaints the city had processed, way and the legal way for it to be done.”

Alston said. “She can’t even file a that many tenants are confused about Councilman Chris Williams asked, “So we really haven’t followed our grievance because she can’t be on city the difference between fair housing —

triad-city-beat.com Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

which relates to discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status — and minimal housing standards, which have to do with the quality or condition of rental housing.

Council members wrestled with the distinction themselves, alluding to the potential overlap between the two types of cases if a landlord were to refuse to make repairs as a weapon to target certain types of tenants.

City council adopted a local fair housing ordinance in 2007, giving the Human Relations Commission the power to receive complaints, investigate and hold hearings. Under the ordinance, the commission could require answers to interrogatories and take testimony under oath, but only with the approval of the city manager and city attorney.

As city attorney, Carlyle said she was only aware of one complaint rising to the level of review by herself and former City Manager Strib Boynton. “I got the impression that the reason we got involved was because it was someone who knew Strib personally in the community,” she said, “and they had reached out directly to him.”

Cam Cridlebaugh, a former co-chair of the human relations commission who is currently the president of the High Point Regional Association of Realtors, said notwithstanding the language of the local ordinance, commissioners rarely received information from staff.

“Often I would ask staff about the fair housing complaints and the numbers and how that was progressing,” he told council. Almost always, he said, their response was, “Well, we’ll get back to you on that.”

Despite the language in the ordinance empowering the human relations commission to investigate complaints, High Point is not among the five local governments certified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as being “substantially equivalent” to the federal government in terms of procedures, remedies and judicial review. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte/Mecklenburg County and Orange County hold the certification.

McNair said that in 2006 and 2007 Heggins and other city leaders were interested in seeking “substantial equivalency.”

“There was an argument that fair housing cases were sort of being swept under the rug or not being dealt with because the process was far too onerous or complex for the typical citizen to go forward and have it adjudicated,” said Bencini, who was serving on council at the time.

Echoing other members, Councilman Jason Ewing said the city should have a fair housing liaison to receive complaints, but leave the heavy lifting to investigators in Raleigh.

“I’ve heard in the past that people were asked — it was a minimum housing issue, but then they were led — ‘Are you sure it wasn’t because you were this, you were that?’” he said. “And then turned it into a fair housing issue.”

13

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

14

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Finally, a budget It says something that the North Carolina General Assembly wasn’t able to deliver a budget to the public until Monday night at 11:30 p.m.

The two-year budget cycle ended in June — since then we have been operating on a provisional budget that freezes everything in place from the previous two-year cycle. The Senate has 24 hours to digest the 500-page document before voting on it, which should take place in the editorial dead zone, after we finish the paper but before it hits the streets.

The House has a rule stipulating a 72-hour window between the moment the document becomes public and the vote, so they’ll weigh in as early as Thursday, and that more deliberative body just may vote it down. And Gov. Pat McCrory has threatened a veto over new taxes on services that he says should be considered separately.

Amazing that these conservatives who have taken our state government in the name of fiscal responsibility have been unable to figure out how to spend our money for so long.

But let’s say this sucker passes — which it likely will. We’re in for some changes. Some education spending is back in: Starting teachers get a bump in pay from $33,000 to $35,000, class sizes are reduced to a 16:1 ratio, teachers’ assistants are back in and all state employees get a $750 bonus, which beats a sharp stick in the eye but won’t do much to build morale.

The historic tax credit is back, ending its usefulness as a bargaining chip but restoring incentives to invest in old buildings. The film credit is back, too, up to $30 million, which could entice some production that virtually disappeared in the state after the credit was removed in 2013.. That whole deal where rural counties get a share of sales taxes collected in the cities is a go, though it has been altered somewhat: An $84.8 million fund collected from some sales taxes will be redistributed among rural counties, even though the redistribution of wealth is something that cuts against the principles of almost every Republican lawmaker.

The most egregious blow to progressives comes in the elimination of renewable energy tax credits — wind, solar and the like — which now have no incentives other than to keep our air, soil and water clean.

That and the fact that this budget is regressive in its premise. More than $400 million in tax cuts have been introduced, mostly in personal income tax, which has been cut down to a flat 5.499 percent but was once as high as 7 percent, and a lower corporate income tax, which was dropped to 5 percent back in 2013. The deficits will be covered in those taxes for services that McCrory has such a problem with, which will disproportionately affect low-income households.

In broad strokes, the budget is not as bad as it could have been — evidence of the political process working as it should.

But the best thing about it is that it actually exists, even though it is three months late.

CITIZEN GREEN

Will we feel the Bern, or get Trumped?

Both inside the special events center and outside in the overflow hall, people were taking a good, hard look at the faces in the crowd at Bernie Sanders’ Sunday evening rally.

Predominantly white?

by Jordan Green No doubt. Diverse? Certainly, if you considered the heavy showing of college students to complement the cohort of seniors and aging boomers. In a state where blacks make up the committed base of the Democratic Party, African-American representation at the rally fell significantly short of their portion of the party rank-and-file. Based on a scan of the crowd in Greensboro, it appeared there were more Asian than black attendees. Regardless of race, many of the people at the rally were faculty and grad students who walked from UNCG’s park-and-ride lot, so the academic skew of the crowd makes it difficult to predict how Sanders’ plainspoken New England economic populism will translate with North Carolina’s greater Democratic electorate.

The campaign is conscientious about the optics of diversity, with two black women, his press secretary Symone Sanders and Communications Workers of America organizer Angie Wells, warming up the crowd for the candidate, along with Nida Allam, a student at NC State University who described herself as a Muslim American.

The Sanders campaign is a genuine phenomenon, no doubt, but what part of the presidential campaign in this cycle isn’t off script? The energized crowd in the special events center was populated by stalwart progressive activists, but their ranks were replenished by new, previously apolitical converts. Christopher Gagnon of Charlotte posted on Instagram: “My first political rally was a great one.” Winston-Salem musician and Phuzz Phest organizer Philip Pledger tweeted a selfie with his crew at the rally.

Sanders has Hillary Clinton running scared in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire, and now she has to be worried too about the South, which until recently was considered her firewall. The atmosphere feels like the Ralph Nader campaign in 2000 or the Deaniacs in 2004, although the narrative likely preferred by Sanders supporters is a comparison with Barack Obama in 2008.

Having covered four presidential campaigns — and countless local and state races — I can appreciate why Sanders’ candidacy resonates so strongly. Other candidates, including both Clintons, elevate political speeches to a spurious art, striking a populist note here, getting off a zinger against an opponent there.

But when it comes to the payoff, instead they spin off to an arcane policy point, an anecdote about a challenging upbringing or a platitude about American resiliency. The reporter taking notes in the audience is lucky to salvage one out of five quotes.

You might expect that a candidate who reels off one policy prescription after another would put people to sleep. But Sanders’ fiery delivery, which builds to a roar with each point, does exactly the opposite. And, fortunately for the scrambling reporter, each pithy policy line is followed by a sustained round of applause, providing ample time to catch up.

“We have got to end this disgrace and embarrassment,” Sanders said. “Instead of having more people in jail than any other country, how about having the best educated population in the world?”

The content and the surface appearance of the statement are one and the same; there’s no spring-loaded IED in the rhetoric. That one was followed by, “Wages in America are just too damn low.”

The only place in Sanders’ standard speech where he slowed down and started qualifying himself is the piece added to address racial injustice. After mentioning “unarmed African Americans who died at the hands of the police or in police custody” — and naming a handful of them — he went on say that “the vast majority of police officers are honest, work hard and do a good job.” He finally concluded, “Any officer that breaks the law must be held accountable.”

In her introductory remarks, Symone Sanders seemed to be compensating for her boss, making a full-throated both-and argument. “Economic inequality and racial inequality are parallel issues that must be addressed simultaneously,” she said.

In this very strange election season, it appears that an avowed socialist might just lock down the Democratic nomination, while a self-aggrandizing, xenophobic second coming of the Fuhrer seems to be cruising towards the top of the Republican ticket. Past can be prologue, and it’s worth noting that the socialists were at the height of their influence in Germany in the polarized atmosphere that gave rise to fascism. And in Spain around the same time, a coalition of anarchists, socialists and republicans lost a civil war to the fascists.

It’s at least plausible, if not certain, that in the current political moment we’re headed for trouble.

Imagine a Sanders-Trump contest in November 2016. White conservatives scared half to death by Sanders’ economic policies turn out in droves to vote for Trump in politically divided states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio, while turnout is depressed among black Democrats who feel like Sanders doesn’t get their issues.

Do political progressives have a backup plan?

A ‘creative corridor’ linking the Innovation Quarter to East Winston

by Jordan Green

Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

Lynn Crothers is a writer living in Winston-Salem.

Opinion

already be a generous, solid conversationalist. Despite being simple in theory, mindful listening proved to be more difficult than I had imagined. I discovered I cut people off when I got excited, interrupted their train of thought with my own, and sought always to offer an answer, even when one seemed not to exist. Thinking myself to be a master, I found I was just a beginner.

This is bearing witness: Mindful, compassionate listening and seeing, inhabiting moments fully, with no agenda. In Buddhism, Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva endowed with the art of listening, his name translated literally as “the one who listens to the pain of the world.”

A day after the event at the day center, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, WFDD public radio and Wake Forest University’s Pro Humanitate Institute hosted Feeding Change: An Interactive Community Conversation on Hunger. More than 160 people attended, propelled by a desire to alleviate hunger in the Triad.

To bear witness could also be defined as “the starting point of change.”

There is much in our community that demands witness — poverty, illness, isolation, injustice. If you’re not sure where to start, start here: Get quiet for a moment, sit still.

How do you feel? How does it feel to be you?

Know thyself, as Socrates instructed. Bear witness to your own struggles and you’ll find that bearing witness to the struggles of others is a much less frightening thing. Step into the realm of another and sit there with an open heart.

“Each of us has an Avalokiteshvara bodhisattva inside waiting to grow,” Hanh told his audience. And each day, we can choose to move closer to this collective destiny — by paying attention, by caring.

Locking eyes with her husband across the room, the woman continued. He loves the Drifters, Four Tops and Neil Diamond, she said, grinning.

You know, he stopped talking — until he started listening. Now he sings.

News

In one room of Winston-Salem’s Williams Adult Day Center, people relaxed into comfortable chairs with their headphones

by Lynn Crothers on, eyes closed peacefully or opened in delight. In another, they crowded around a piano to sing. One woman told me her husband, diagnosed with an uncommon form of Alzheimer’s, had simply stopped talking. Nearby, another woman guided her husband gently to the middle of the room to dance.

Dedicated to providing a caring, safe environment for adults with memory loss, the day center welcomed outsiders last week to bear witness to its successful music therapy program, Music and Memory, in action.

To bear witness is defined as “to be evidence of.” I had never considered this phrase until a good friend thanked me for bearing witness to his life. Until that moment, I had failed to find a way to describe the gift those closest to me had given, the fortifying power of it: Their presence. They had moved through life with me, watching how I moved through it as well.

In a world filled with distraction, bearing witness is no easy task. In moments flooded with real and necessary suffering, it can feel like a punch in the gut, an unbearable weight. Watching these two women in the midst of a situation that demanded unthinkable change, I considered how many times life had necessitated my full and honest presence, and how often I had run in the opposite direction.

“Listening is an art, and many people do not have the capacity for it, especially in the case of listening to the suffering of others,” Buddhist monk and author Thich Nhat Hanh said in a 1991 talk. “One reason for that is that in the listeners themselves, there is also much pain.”

Earlier this year, my sister took a beginner’s improv class in Chapel Hill. One week, her teacher assigned “mindful listening” as homework: each time someone spoke to you, you were to pause and silently repeat what had been said back to yourself before responding.

Intrigued, I practiced this on the sly with friends and strangers, believing myself to

Up Front

The distance between the booming hub of tech and culture around Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and the eastern leg of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is a mere six blocks, but US Highway 52 and the stark gap in wealth between the two poles make it feel like a gaping chasm.

MLK Drive is the major thoroughfare of the city’s historically African-American section, connecting Winston-Salem State University to the south with the Sunrise Towers public housing community. A public school serving grades 6-12, two county agencies, a library branch and a Food Lion are all part of East Winston, an area that is all but invisible to many Winston-Salem residents.

A divided city desperately needs to be reunited. It’s almost intuitive that the solution for a city that prides itself on embracing “arts and innovation” would be a creative corridor. The Creative Corridors Coalition has been working on a project to enhance Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The project has been on the backburner for a while, but an announcement about public art components is expected soon. Meanwhile, improvements to the Fourth Street corridor, including enhancements to the bridge over Highway 52, have been discussed in Creative Corridors’ master plan, but the nonprofit is not actively raising money for it at this time. (See story on page 8.)

With the launch of a “community innovation lab” in Winston-Salem to address inequities in employment, income and wealth, now is the perfect time to breathe new life into the creative corridor concept as it pertains to Fourth Street. Jim Sparrow, the president and CEO of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, has even mentioned Highway 52 as physical and psychological barrier that the initiative might potentially tackle.

It shouldn’t be hard to find partners on either side of the chasm. On the east side, Councilman Derwin Montgomery is the pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church at the corner of Woodland and Fourth streets. Nakida McDaniel is a longtime community organizer with ties to many of the residents. For that matter, the Cleveland Avenue Transformation Team, a group of public housing residents, could be tapped directly.

On the other side of the highway, the network of artists and scene-makers at Reanimator Records, Krankies Coffee and the Black Lodge would be great candidates. Donell Williams, an artist with strong ties in both East Winston and the Trade Street arts scene, also seems like a natural recruit.

Whether the community innovation lab takes this on or not, the project needs to be inclusive with strong partners at both ends rather than imposed from one side. Also, the creative corridor should take shape through a series of tactical actions to make an immediate impression rather than a strategic process bogged down by years of planning and fundraising. The corridor needs infrastructure — things like iconic bridge enhancements, streetscaping and permanent public art — but that’s more of a long-term prospect.

The content of a creative corridor should be determined by the participants to be culturally relevant to the communities it links. The project could certainly incorporate chalkings and yarn-bombing. I’m also envisioning parading along the corridor to sites at either end. Imagine a high school marching band leading a crowd from the intersection of MLK and Fourth Street to an electronic dance music party at Bailey Park. Or a radical drum corps departing from Reanimator Records and delivering a crowd to a midnight poetry jam at a church in East Winston.

The possibilities are limited only by the bounds of our imaginations.

The difficulty and joy of bearing witness

triad-city-beat.com

IT JUST MIGHT WORK

FRESH EYES

15

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Cover Story

16

Life is a sandwich On the corner with Donnie Suggs story and photos by Eric Ginsburg

The name, Dee’s Juke Joint, is more aspirational than trucks to the front of his tent, ordering as if it were a descriptive. drive-thru, while others park and walk over to the side.

The small operation at the corner of the Mobil gas When traffic slows, Suggs will invite people to step into station parking lot looks more like an elaborate tailgating the tent’s shade or pull up one of his folding Panthers’ setup or backyard cookout than a juke joint. For starters, chairs while they wait.

Donnie Suggs is working under a Carolina Panthers tent Lamont Corbett, who says he was headed to Taco Bell rather than a roof. Part of the agreement allowing him to on his lunch break, saw Suggs’ sign and is curious about grill and sell on the lot prohibits him from selling beveragthe sausage dog, but Suggs upsells him on the chopped es. And today, Thursday, in the early-afternoon sun, the turkey sandwich. It’s hot, a little spicy, and overflowing boombox tuned to NC A&T University’s radio station has onto the tin foil wrap, and Suggs wants to know if the man run out of batteries, so there’s no music, either. would like a little “liquid love sauce” on the meat before he Suggs, 56, is unaffected. There’s a line of people, adds slaw. most of them black men like him, waiting to eat his food.

“Liquid love gets me sprung every time,” Suggs says. “It Handwritten signs on two posterboards list the daily menu, will make you come back.” served several days a week at this gas station near InterAnd he’s right. state 40 in south Greensboro: beef hotdogs with home*** made chili and slaw for $2, barbecue-smoked chopped Dee’s Juke Joint may be an ambitious name for the turkey sandwiches for $4 and hot month-old business, but it indicates Italian sausages for $2.75. On where Suggs wants to take things Saturdays, unless Suggs is cooking while paying homage to where it all at a special event, the menu here started.

Find Dee’s Juke Joint at the expands to include fish and ribs Suggs, who has lived in Greenscorner of South Elm-Eugene boro both with the bone in. for 37 years, grew up in the and Florida streets in south speck of a town known as Snow Hill Suggs, whose hat says, “We grill while you chill,” has one woman between Greenville, Kinston and Greensboro, in the Mobil helping him today and most days Goldsboro not far from the North gas station parking lot, from Carolina coast. He remembers to keep up with the orders. When she makes an offhand comment Tuesday through Friday, and being tossed from juke joints as a about leaving, Suggs replies in his kid, though he kept trying to sneak occasionally on Saturdays, typical, good-natured tone: “You in, drawn by the music and food. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ain’t gon’ quit or I’m-a call your The two would prove to be his twin grandmother.” passions.

Saturdays require more help — When he was still in high school, usually Suggs plus three others — Suggs began playing trumpet and for festivals like an upcoming beer fest in Charlotte, professionally. In 1977, he moved to the Gate City to even more hands are needed. It can be an arduous process attend Greensboro College, where he studied music trying to make fresh chili each morning, brining turkey and performance and business management. Suggs eventually cooking it over coals or wood and starting Saturdays at 4 turned his music into a full-time gig, sharing a stage with a.m. to make sure everything is ready to serve about six groups like Atlantic Starr and Cameo. hours later.

“I played professionally for 10 years, that’s what’s wrong Suggs would be doing this in some form whether or not with me,” Suggs jokes. “I don’t believe I’ve been traditional he was attempting to make it a full-time gig; in some ways my whole life.” it’s an outgrowth of the season-ticketholder’s tailgating at Suggs “calmed down” after getting married. As he Panthers’ games. would several times later in life, he figured out how to “This is where my heart is,” Suggs says as he adds slaw pivot. to a chopped turkey sandwich. And he has the library to In the early 1990s, he was one of two street vendors prove it at home, a collection dedicated to cooking and set up in downtown Greensboro, long before food trucks grilling techniques in particular, with the Bible as the lone came into vogue. Under the banner of Hot Diggity Dog, exception, he says.

Suggs sold hot dogs in front of First Citizens Bank on Some of Suggs’ customers pull their pickups or work South Elm Street. But with the birth of his son, Suggs

Donnie Suggs (center) talks with Lamont Corbett, who decided to s

triad-city-beat.com

stop at Dee’s Juke Joint instead of heading to Taco Bell as planned.

17

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Cover Story The barbecue-smoked chopped turkey sandwich with “liquid love sauce” and slaw is only $4. Visit triad-city-beat. com to see more photos of Dee’s Juke Joint.

18

decided he needed to hold down a more reliable, full-time job.

Initially he tried to join the Greensboro Fire Department. Pulling up the bottom of his shorts to expose scar tissue on both knees, Suggs says that burns he suffered during training proved too painful to continue that career path. He made the jump to selling cars.

For the following 15 years, Suggs labored in the industry off and on, beginning at North State Chevrolet. The dealership on the north side of downtown Greensboro later closed and has since become an apartment complex in the regenerated area of the city’s core. More recently, Suggs sold cars for Rice Toyota.

For the final six years before developer Roy Carroll tore it down to make way for high-end apartments and a boutique hotel last summer, Suggs lived in the Dixie apartment building by the Greensboro Grasshoppers’ stadium.

The Dixie, a historic structure a block from Suggs’ former employers at North State Chevy, was one of the few affordable housing options in downtown. With about a month’s notice, Suggs and other residents were involuntarily forced to leave, he says. Now Suggs lives in the Stonesthrow Apartment Homes across from Smith High School off South Holden Road, in an lower-middle class area in the southwestern part of the city. There is frustration and a little longing in his voice when he laments the

convenience of living in a walkable neighborhood with an enjoyable nightlife.

He still cooked for tailgates and private events intermittently, and recently decided to take another stab at it as an occupation.

This August, Suggs took his last $100 to start Dee’s Juke Joint. Laying the five $20 bills out on top of a shirt emblazoned with the new business’ logo, Suggs took a quick personal video, which he narrated.

“It’s amazing what the Lord can do when you do your part,” he says in the clip. “My thing is, I do what I can, God will do what I can’t. God bless Dee’s Juke Joint — we grill while you chill, and I’ll see you at the top.” *** A week after Suggs converted Lamont Corbett the former Taco Bell customer is back for another sandwich and sausage. The stereo is working this time, and 102 JAMZ plays loudly from under a side table piled with hamburger buns.

Suggs is working alone this time — his help is sick — and when Corbett walks up during a lull, Suggs is taking the opportunity to cook a full turkey on one of his three grills just outside the tent.

“It’s nice to stay busy, but when you’re by yourself, it’s nice to catch your breath,” Suggs says.

It can be hard to find a full turkey; sometimes Suggs can only get his hands on a breast. He brines the meat the

Suggs adds sausages to one of his grills as an 18-wheeler pulls into the gas station.

night before with honey, kosher salt, thyme and peppercorn in a multi-step process that varies in length depending on the bird’s size. With today’s meat almost ready to come off the grill, Suggs trades out his clear latex gloves for heavy-duty black [rubber?] ones that protect half of his forearms in order to handle and chop the hot turkey.

“Yeah man, when you put these gloves on, you feel like something’s about to happen,” he says. “It is.”

The turkey skin is part of the appeal and enhances the taste, Suggs says as he chops it into small bits with his butcher knife. Next he starts pulling out bones before breaking apart the turkey.

“It comes right out,” he says of a bone. “I slide it off like we playing games.”

Suggs chops quickly, clears the cutting board and breaks off more of the bird. He loves turkey. Not just the taste, he says, but also the way it looks cooked; the screensaver on his cell phone is an image of two grilled turkeys.

Barbecued turkey is a healthier alternative to pork, he says, but he’ll happily talk about how back home in eastern North Carolina people cook the whole hog and not just pork shoulder. Suggs’ cooking has evolved since his high school days in his kitchen in Snow Hill, but even in his less traditional dishes — maybe a chicken wing served like a frog leg on a bamboo skewer — Suggs’ roots are apparent.

when the rapper performed at A&T’s homecoming concert in 2007, switching out the dirtied shirt for a white one promoting Dee’s Juke Joint, featuring crossed butchers knives and blue type.

Suggs takes advantage of the short break to prepare a chopped turkey sandwich for himself, adding the liquid love to give it a mild spice and then slaw before slapping on the top of the bun.

“I’ve got to learn how to make smaller sandwiches, man,” he says, looking down at the overflowing meal that will probably force him to pick up turkey spilled on the tin foil with his fingers.

The slaw is designed to add a much-needed crunch to the mix, Suggs says, but it’s his wood and coal-fired cooking method, use of turkey and the addition of some skin and sauce that make the sandwich memorable and enticing.

Taking a seat in one of his Panthers chairs in the shade, Suggs leans over his lap and takes a large bite. He’s shaking his head and repeatedly moaning with pleasure.

“Damn, I made this?” he says incredulously. “It makes such a difference when it’s fresh.”

He’s almost perpetually joking and upbeat, and true to form he adds, “Where’s my Heineken?”

The way Suggs, who is actually drinking pink lemonade, reacts makes it sound like it’s his first time sampling his own craftsmanship.

Actually, he eats one of these sandwiches every day.

triad-city-beat.com

There’s a steady flow of people to eat his cheap, flavorful street food, including a black woman with hair dyed bright red who works at a neighboring salon, a young Latino man and a retired white man wearing a golf shirt who orders two hot dogs, all the way, for himself and his wife.

Several of Suggs’ customers are laborers, some of whom are wearing work uniforms, and at one point he jokes with an Atlanta Falcons fan about football allegiances after she says she can’t be seen under his Panthers canopy. A car with “Spazzy Jazz” written above a rear wheel pulls up and Suggs quickly walks over, explaining later that the man came by earlier and wanted to pay with a $100 bill but had come back with change.

And in a massive white Dodge Ram truck, Rex Durrett is waiting for an order to be ready.

Durrett operates Crazy Ribman, a similar style of street food inspired by his Memphis roots. He sets up at a gas station as well — in his case, across from A&T’s campus on East Market Street — and does special events like Suggs.

Rather than competing, the two men frequent each other’s businesses, and are talking about teaming up soon for an out-of-town festival.

Durrett hasn’t tried Suggs’ ribs yet — they aren’t on the regular menu, and Durrett is usually operating his own stand on Fridays and Saturdays. He’s curious.

“Saturday’s coming up,” he says. *** By 2 p.m., the lunch rush has calmed, allowing Suggs a chance to regroup. He takes off his Lil Wayne T-shirt, from

19

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

20

CULTURE Family appeal at a new Chinese dumpling restaurant

by Eric Ginsburg

nexperience and the presence of small children coincidentally helped us discover the prime way to experience May Way, the new dumpling shop that opened a week ago in Winston-Salem’s Reynolda Village.

The menu at the small restaurant mainly consists of three main categories — dumplings, buns and noodles — and in order to create a full meal, it makes most sense to pick from at least two of the three (if not all).

When I joined my friend Pablo’s household for an early evening dinner at May Way Dumplings last week, we took it a step further.

The new joint across from Silo Bistro & Bar lacks much seating: a pair of two-tops inside, two more on the sidewalk and a row of low stools that are best suited to children. We quickly took up residency at the kids’ bar, occupying the six seats and ordering round after round as if it were a tapas bar. The quick orders of dumplings, a variety of sauces, pork and veggie buns and noodle trays were handed over the counter as we tried to find what the tots would like best and reupped on our own favorites.

“Why are you and my dad friends?” Pablo’s 5-yearold son, who I was meeting for the first time, asked.

When we had him guess he adeptly suggested that we forged a connection over a shared love of food and because we both sport beards.

Pretty much, I said, adding that our relationship is mostly based on a shared willingness to try just about any dish.

Pablo’s son proved less articulate when asked about which of the snack-sized yet affordable portions he preferred. But on the second round of shao mai — small Chinese pork dumplings often associated with ERIC GINSBURG Kid tested, father approved: The shao mai dumplings were a family favorite during our sprawling dinner at May Way Dumplings. dim sum with a great umami flavor— he tried one, and quickly began downing the rest. concerned. or steamed pork dumplings as a quick snack for one, or Pablo and I likewise favored the shao mai, also Pablo’s wife loved the mala cold noodle dish, which follow our lead and treat the counter almost like your known as shumai at places in town like Mizu, and the comes with mala sauce (think spicy and somewhat own dim sum cart. adults killed several rounds of the more common fried oily), green bean, carrots, cucumber strips and crushed By the time we left, our party had placed at least pork dumplings as well. peanut. At $4.50, it’s the most expensive thing on the four distinct orders, each with multiple menu items We tried the pearl chicken, a sticky rice dish with menu. involved. At the long, low table, we passed trays back mushroom and chicken — probaThe mala cold noodles sound and forth as we compared notes and sampled sauce bly puréed — and wrapped in a lolike a dressed-up version of the pairings, letting our stomachs guide follow-up rounds. tus leaf kind of like a tamale. And Try the fast Chinese food sesame cold noodles — the only At most places such an approach could become stressthe hot-and-sour soup with tofu, of May Way Dumplings at food item that we didn’t order — ful, but even with picky kids in tow the fast turnaround dropped egg, seaweed and sesame Reynolda Village, located at so we skipped it in favor of the on orders and rock-bottom price-point made the oil. We sampled the peach bun sweet & sour spicy cold noodles whole thing easy. dessert, which is steamed bread 2201 Reynolda Road (W-S). with chunks of apple, green onion, that looks like a white peach with cilantro, a mild hot sauce and soy Pick of the Week a sweet red bean filling, and we’re sauce.

Both noodles were tasty, though I preferred pretty sure we tried the chicken dumplings, though Readers unite the latter, but neither would be enough to count as a they reminded all of us of pork.

TCB reader meetup @ Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery (HP), whole meal.

We liked the steamed pork buns — like the steamed Thursday Which is why, especially with limited seating, that There’s not much we at Triad City Beat enjoy more than buns at Da Sa Rang Korean restaurant in Greensboro there are three ways to go at May Way Dumplings; orfood, brews and serving our community with good jourbut with the pork cooked inside — but the hot veggie der the pork dumplings, shao mai and a noodle dish to nalism. So we’re inviting our readers to meet up at Liberty steamed bun with Chinese cabbage, carrots and string go and split between two people, order the fried pork Steakhouse & Brewery for good conversation and food. beans surpassed it in taste, at least as far as I was

I

ATTORNEY

C r im in a l • Tra f f ic • DW I

3 3 6 . 501 . 2 0 01 P.O. Box 10602 Greensboro, NC 27404

Up Front

ghol tpl l c@gmai l .c o m

gre e n s b o roat t o rn e ygrah amhol t .com

triad-city-beat.com

by Eric Ginsburg

The wine expert

G r a ha m H o lt

News

ERIC GINSBURG

3 Bedroom/2 Full Baths $214,900

Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad

Frank Slate Brooks

All She Wrote

When Julia Hunt is off the clock, she regularly opts for Austrian wines because of their acidity, minerality and a wide range of possible food pairings.

906 Pamlico

Culture

Since passing the test in 2006, she kept pushing herself, sitting for the master sommelier exam a few times but only passing a portion of the test. In 2009, she joined locally based American Premium Beverage — owned by distributor RH Barringer — after a decade with Quaintance-Weaver. She’s still there as the fine wine specialist, assisting on the company’s Top 50 accounts in a territory stretching from Winston-Salem to Burlington.

Her job, she said, is “ultimately about being a detective,” and allows her to turn people on to something they like but might not have discovered otherwise. Right now, she’s hunting for premium Hungarian wines. She also takes care of the “orphans,” she said — the wines that are misunderstood and usually expensive.

“I’m the one that gets called with the weird questions,” Hunt said.

Hunt frequently facilitates wine pairing and dinner events, helps to build new wine menus and arranges trips for winemakers and restaurateurs.

“I’m kind of a part-time travel agent,” she joked.

Headhunters often call on Hunt, but she is happy where she is, though a part of her would like to try her hand at winemaking some day.

Cover Story

The elevator-pitch version of how Julia Hunt became a wine expert glosses over a telling story that helps illuminate how she would later become the Triad’s only advanced sommelier.

As a student at the College of Charleston, Hunt stumbled into a gig at one of the city’s premier restaurants.

The owners allowed her to sit in on any wine tastings or trainings with the career servers. After work, on a pretty regular basis, Hunt and her coworkers would split an expensive bottle of wine that the owners sold them at wholesale price. Those casual wine nights with well-versed friends and fine wines laid the groundwork for her eventual career.

Alone the formal tastings and informal conversations after hours don’t explain how Hunt would wind up as the Triad’s foremost wine connoisseur. After school, while working as a bartender, she considered herself a wine enthusiast. But as a future employer would tell her: “Normal people don’t memorize the 1855 classification of Bordeaux for fun.”

Hunt would eventually land a gig as the wine director for Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels in Greensboro, where she would help build the wine list at Green Valley Grill to about 500 — the largest in the Triad — among an assortment of other responsibilities and accomplishments.

Becoming an advanced sommelier wasn’t a career requirement, but rather something Hunt aspired to.

Opinion

Julia Hunt, seen here at Mark’s Restaurant in Greensboro, is the only advanced sommelier in the Triad.

336.708.0479 frankslate.brooks@trm.info

21

Presented by

Broker/Realtor®

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

22

CULTURE Folk festival concludes with dazzling array of regional music

by Jordan Green

he inaugural run of the National Folk Festival’s three-year residency in downtown Greensboro over this past weekend displayed a dazzling mosaic of regional music from across the United States.

Reinforcing longstanding mainstays like bluegrass, Cajun and the blues, tributaries from immigrant traditions like West African highlife music and klezmer also made the National Folk Festival a showcase for international music.

The festival exploded the stereotype of folk music as strictly protest songs or sensitive singer-songwriter fare, instead presenting a crazy quilt of regional traditions that represent a consensus about what various cultures consider worth preserving. Between the close bluegrass harmonies of the Buckstankle Boys from Mount Airy and the infectious go-go music of Washington DC’s Trouble Funk, you could likely find a place that culturally felt like home, whatever your background.

With multiple stages distributed across a transformed urban landscape of closed streets, parks and repurposed parking lots, the festival presented an impossible array of enticing choices. In that sense, it was difficult to pin down. Even if you found time to attend about 80 percent of the festival, which ran from 5:45 p.m. on Friday through 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, you could still come away harboring serious regrets about missing stellar acts like the Dardanelles, Lutchinha, the Pine Leaf Boys and the aforementioned Trouble Funk.

The festival’s inclusive spirit meant that members of ethnic communities with a relatively small presence in North Carolina’s Piedmont could find cultural validation from visiting performers, while wider audiences were exposed to fantastic music they might never have heard before. The audience for Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka & the San Francisco Taiko Dojo’s Japanese drumming skewed more Asian than most of the sets, but the sense of awe at the sheer intensity and physical discipline displayed by the young percussionists was shared across lines of race and nationality.

Likewise, a beaming young father wore a Belizean flag on his shoulder for guitarist Aurelio Martinez and his band’s buoyant outpouring of syncopated dance music. Considered a musical ambassador of the Garifuna, an African-Amerindian ethnic group based on the Caribbean coast of Central America, Martinez proved to be a gracious host. It wasn’t long before a diverse audience was dancing, and joining the music with rhythmic handclaps and humming.

If one artist could possibly embody the spirit of the festival as an expression of Greensboro’s particular place in America, it would undoubtedly be Mavis Staples, who filled the parking lot across from the News & Record building for her sole performance at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

With her able band providing a restrained funk back-

T

Mavis Staples drew from the Staple Singers’ repertoire of civil rights anthems and uplifting soul from the 1960s and ’70s, along with more recent solo work at the Belk Stage on Saturday.

ing, the ebullient Staples energized and uplifted her diverse audience with Staple Singers material, ranging from civil rights anthems of the ’60s to positive soul from the early ’70s, continuing through to majestic representations of her recent solo work.

The subtext of “Freedom Highway,” a song originally released in the same year that the Voting Rights Act was passed, being performed in the city that had given birth to the sit-in movement didn’t need to be explained. Building from the original song’s searing north Mississippi hill country stomp, Staples vamped, “I won’t turn around,” giving the song an immediacy in the current historical moment.

By the time she got to the Staples Singers’ early ’70s anthem, “I’ll Take You There,” the audience was in the palm of her hand. When Staples sang, “I know a place/ ain’t nobody crying,” the crowd chanted back, “Ain’t nobody worried.”

Aside from Staples, the artist who came closest to embodying the festival was Rhiannon Giddens, a Guilford County native whose burgeoning solo career has built from national renown as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She reunited with Justin Robinson, a former Chocolate Drops member, for a set to honor their late mentor Joe Thompson, an African-American fiddler from Mebane. The capacity crowd at the Lawn Stage early Saturday afternoon attested to the respect and love the local audience holds for Giddens.

Her fans’ devotion was proven again by the rapt

JORDAN GREEN

attention paid by the audience to the Sunday Gospel & Traditional Music showcase co-hosted by Giddens the next day. It would be hard for most artists to match power of the Welch Family Singers’ Cherokee-language rendition of “I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger” in honor of the victims of the Trail of Tears.

But the clarity of Giddens voice, an instrument of uncommon precision that reaches deep into an emotional core, caused the audience to fall silent as she sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” without instrumental accompaniment.

“Yes, Rhiannon,” a woman murmured from the crowd. “Beautiful.”

Pick of the Week Laissez les bon temps roulez Buckwheat Zydeco @ the Blind Tiger (GSO), Sept. 22 When I was growing up in Kentucky in the mid-’80s, my uncle John brought the vinyl single of Buckwheat Zydeco’s “Don’t Mess With My Toot Toot” to our house. The music of south Louisiana travels far. Am I overstepping my bounds by saying that Louisiana and New Orleans exports the best music in the world? I feel like I’m on pretty safe ground here.

Buckwheat raised the profile of zydeco, a rural, accordion-based style of music that blends Cajun, R&B and country, in the ’80s, as the first performer to land a major-label deal and then the first to start his own label. He’s still the king.

This show is part of the 17 Days festival. The party gets going at 8 p.m.

triad-city-beat.com Up Front

News

Opinion

Cover Story Culture

Good Sport

Games

Shot in the Triad

All She Wrote

23

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

24

CULTURE Back to the streets with new intentions

by Daniel Wirtheim

hen Donnell Williams walked into Studios@625 five years ago, he was at a low point in his artistic career. The 17-year-old street artist was fed up with getting his tags sandblasted off walls and tired of his name only being remembered by police.

His father had been a graffiti artist in Brooklyn, where Williams learned to appreciate a well-made tag, and ever since grade school Williams wanted to master the art form.

He started out small, making illustrations that classmates would sometimes buy from him. He impressed his teachers and one substitute in particular, Marianne DiNapoli Mylet, invited him to help her paint a mural.

And at 17, when he ducked into Studios@625, the studio that Mylet co-founded and manages in Winston-Salem, he found a mentor.

He learned the ropes mixing paint and working as an assistant for her. He was able to join a community of critics who helped him refine his craft while retaining the passion that he once executed under bridges and on stray walls. It was a challenge, because before becoming a part of the larger art community, the idea of holding exhibits was appealing, but Williams felt it was inaccessible.

“I just felt like I would go out and I would steal glimpses of this art world sometimes,” said Williams, “and then go back into my world and, you know, give glimpses.”

Through an organization that Mylet directed, !POWAR!, Williams was able to teach a class in splatter paint to kids who were in a similar position as he was in grade school.

“This one kid came into the program and he was into trouble and stuff and he was tagging,” Williams said.

“And the more I investigated his tags and who he was tagging with, I realized he was tagging with the same exact group of people I was tagging with as a little kid — same people.”

Taggers carry a book around, Williams said, so they don’t lose ideas for a good tag they might come up with on the fly. Williams loaned the boy his own black book and when it was returned the pages were filled with impressive artwork.

“What I basically told him was that I used to do the same thing as him,” Williams said. “All I can say is that if you want to make a career out of this you don’t have to dedicate all of your time to being anonymous. You can land a wall that you can do in broad daylight with the police’s help.”

Williams is now a resident artist at Studio 7, a gallery ran by Marsha McNeely Hierl, who Williams met through Mylet. He’s currently working on projects with a local mural group called East Winston Art Up. Although the studio is large, it’s not large enough to stop the space from being littered with canvases and sketches. It looks unorganized, but it’s where Williams

W

Donnell Williams’ panel memorializes the days when African-American women opened hair salons in their own homes.

goes to focus.

In one corner of his studio, a large, rectangular panel is painted with the outline of women sitting in a hair salon. It’s a work in progress but when he’s done the panel will be placed as a mural on the door of an old hair salon in East Winston. He hopes that the finished project will be used to commemorate what he considers as an important era of the community’s history.

“Women didn’t really have the option to get their own salon, especially black women,” Williams said, describing the 1940s. “So they were just doing it out of their kitchen.”

Along with East Winston Art Up, Williams has been collecting interviews with residents of the area so that they can use oral history as a guide for mural painting.

Williams plans on doing an image of Councilman Derwin Montgomery who represents Winston-Salem’s East Ward. The historic Safe Bus Company, brick maker

DANIEL WIRTHEIM

George Black and the “5” Royales are other inspirations for planned murals. Williams believes the murals will inspire a younger generation to do more for the community.

“They were people that were born in a time when the world really wasn’t their oyster but they made it their oyster,” Williams said. “You have no obstacles compared to your grandparents and they really shook the town up.”

Pick of the Week Embracing fashion Fashion Week @ downtown Greensboro, Thursday-Saturday This almost seems out of place in the Triad and that’s why it’s going to be great. Getting the Triad’s fledging designers engaged in the larger fashion industry is one of the main points of Fashion Week. I should also mention that our own Brian Clarey is the emcee.

triad-city-beat.com Up Front

News

Opinion

Cover Story Culture

Good Sport

Games

Shot in the Triad

All She Wrote

25

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

GOOD SPORT Dashing fellows inston-Salem Dash wski and Barnum’s batting averages, though. third baseman Trey As of this playoff opener, the Dash pitching staff Michalczewski’s first recorded an impressive 3.13 ERA, the best produced swing of his first at bat in the

by Winston-Salem minor leaguers since the 1957 Red first game of the Carolina Birds.

League South playoffs sent Perhaps its brightest star: Carson Fulmer. the ball soaring towards the The White Sox picked up the right-hander from right-field corner of BB&T Vanderbilt University, where he’d been named Naby Anthony Harrison Park. Second baseman Jake Petional Pitcher of the Year. He’s proven his worth as a ter, already on first, sprinted first-round draft pick thus far; over 23 innings with the to second as the crowd shouted, “Go! Get outta here!”

Dash, he booked a 1.96 ERA and 26 strikeouts. and, as if heeding the fans’ demands, the ball bounced Based on those numbers, Fulmer holds the position off the top of the fence and out of the park. of the White Sox’s second-ranked prospect and looks The crowd erupted as Peter and Michalczewski trito ascend steadily through the affiliate ranks. umphantly rounded the bases.

On Sept. 9, the Winston-Salem faithful cheered him But the Dash’s first-inning blast against the Myrtle on like he was their son at a Little League game, but Beach Pelicans wasn’t finished yet. after the Pelicans got on the scoreboard First baseman Keon Barnum stepped in the top of the second inning, lefty up after Michalczewski and, not to be Brian Clark took over duties on the But the Dash’s outdone, whacked a homer of his own mound. first-inning blast into the grassy berm behind the leftClark silenced the Myrtle Beach bats field wall, also on his first swing. immediately. He struck out his first two against the Myrtle It seemed impossible that the Dash batters and continued to shut down the Beach Pelicans fans could have voiced their appreciaPelicans in the fourth, fifth, sixth and tion more than they had just moments wasn’t finished yet. seventh innings. It wasn’t until Gleyber before, but the stands exploded.

Torres drilled a line-drive solo homer Baseball fans love home runs, and for Myrtle Beach in the eighth that the Dash’s heavy hitters connected well, inspiring conClark’s stellar ERA took a hit, and it was only the third fidence both in themselves and the crowd. hit he’d allowed over those six innings.

But things hadn’t always looked so sunny for them.

Of course, he was backed up by tremendous fielding.

The Dash tallied 40 losses in the first half of the The Dash recorded four double plays over the course season. They finished not only in the bottom of their of the game, two during Clark’s tenure and two in the division, but also the bottom of the Carolina League. first two innings.

In the second half, a switch flipped, and the Dash Considering their explosive first inning and anothturned the league upside down in their favor. er run in the fifth — catcher Omar Narvaez slid into For the first time in the Carolina League’s 70-year home thanks to a single from right fielder Nolan Earley existence, a team went from losing 40 games in the — the Dash basically had the game in the bag before first half of the season to winning more than 40 games right-handed reliever Brad Goldberg stepped up to following the All-Star break. clinch the save.

Specifically, the Dash won 45 out of 68 contests, a Goldberg was a hell of a reliever for the Dash to have crusade marking the best finish for a Winston-Salem in their arsenal. On his first pitch, he blazed a 93-mileteam in 28 years. per-hour fastball past Pelican right fielder Mark ZaguThey didn’t get there just on the backs of Michalczenis, and while he didn’t strike anyone out, he certainly

W

struck a chord with the audience.

I noticed the speed of Goldberg’s fastball on the orange screen of a fan’s Stalker radar gun. There were quite a few peppered in the area behind the mound where I sat.

At first, I thought innocently, “Dang, these are some serious fans.”

Then, mentally smacking myself in the face, I put it together and realized the obvious — these guys are scouts, scribbling stats in red pen on tablet-sized notebooks.

With their second-half performance, the Dash must have raised some eyebrows across not only the Carolina League but the entirety of the minor leagues.

This playoff opener featured five Top 30 prospects in the White Sox’s affiliate roster: Fulmer, Michalczewski, Peter, Barnum and outfielder Adam Engel. All of them played pretty spectacularly.

Unfortunately, the Dash’s championship hopes were, well, dashed in two nail biters down on the Pelicans’ home turf later in the week.

Sept. 9 might well have proved to be the last chance for Winston-Salem to see these rising stars in action.

Fulmer could very well start in Chicago in the near future. Michalczewski’s consistent switch hitting and strong arm couldn’t hurt the Windy City, either.

That’s the nature of the minors, though. We hate to see the greats go, but we love to watch them leave, because they fight every game for their chance to show their stuff and rise in the ranks.

Needless to say, this historic season’s been one hell of a showcase.

Pick of the Week Ta tas and soccer Celebrate the Ta Tas @ Bryan Park Sports Center (GSO), Saturday and Sunday A weekend of competition, sportsmanship and food with a focus on women’s health takes over the soccer fields at Bryan Park, with proceeds going to help fund breast cancer research.

Fresh food & natural ingredients from Margarita’s garden Breakfast Lunch • Dessert • Juice bar

Wine Packaged goods • Catering services

•

•

•

•

Patio area available for gatherings & meetings

mannysuniversalcafe.com

321 Martin Luther King Jr Dr. • Greensboro

26

(336) 638-7788

On iTunes, Stitcher, and at BradandBritt.com

Realtor/Broker, GRI, CRS Chairman’s Circle Diamond Award 2014 Chairman’s Circle Platinum Award 2013 Chairman’s Circle Gold Award 2011 & 2012

melissagreer.com

Up Front

(336) 337-5233

triad-city-beat.com

Melissa Greer

Melissa.Greer@bhhsyostandlittle.com

120 S Tate Street – College Hill

News

710 Wicker Street – Lindley Park

Opinion Cover Story

112,900

$

• 3 Bedroom/1 Bath Charming Bungalow • Beautiful Hardwood Floors • Great for 1st time homebuyer or investor

• 4 Bedroom/2 Bath steps from UNCG • Main level renovated • Currently functions as a duplex but easily works as a single family home as well

1800 Rolling Road – Sunset Hills

Good Sport

4019 Stone Bluff Court – Stonehaven

MLS 757308 $185,000

Culture

MLS 769174

Games Shot in the Triad

• Beautiful 3 Bedroom/2.5 Bath home on quiet cul-de-sac • Awesome kitchen with granite opens to breakfast area • Pretty wooded backyard with upper deck and custom brick patio

MLS 733510 $189,900 • 3 Bedroom/2 Bath in the heart of Sunset Hills • Large LR/DR combination with fireplace and built-ins • Walking distance to fun local restaurants

All She Wrote

MLS 761936 $262,900

27

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015 Up Front News Opinion Cover Story Culture Good Sport

Dean Michaux.

He’s

Dean, a non-traditional student who came to Greensboro College to pursue a new career path, graduated in Spring 2015 with a double major in political science and history and a minor in legal administration. Now, he’s headed to law school.

For years, Dean served the U.S. Marine Corps as an air traffic controller and served the City of Greensboro as a firefighter. Then he served his family as a stay-at-home dad.

With his children growing up, Dean wanted to find other ways to serve, and new career options. His education counselor at the Veterans Administration (VA) recommended Greensboro College as an environment where adult learners like him can thrive.

Greensboro

enrolled at Greensboro College in 2012. He was older than the typical college student with a very different life experience and additional responsibilities, but he quickly gained the confidence to envision himself as an attorney.

He enjoyed the small campus setting and access to professors that Greensboro College offers.

And, he says, the faculty and staff are second to none, going the extra mile to help students succeed.

Dean’s passion is helping veterans navigate the VA system and the hurdles they face in getting benefits and compensation. He says the legal research and administration courses and the writing-intensive and historical research required for his degree at Greensboro College have prepared him well for law school.

Dean Michaux. Uniquely Greensboro. Uniquely Prepared to serve.

Dean, who already held an A.A.S. in Fire Protection Technology,

Greensboro.edu

All She Wrote

Shot in the Triad

Games

Meet

28

Uniquely Located, Uniquely Greensboro, Uniquely You!

triad-city-beat.com

GAMES

‘Eat the Beatles’ get back...to the buffet.

by Matt Jones Across

Check us out on Facebook or give us a call to find out more about us.

Mary Lacklen Allen Broach Bob Weston (336)210–5094 catering@capers.biz 5000 Heathridge Terrace Greensboro, NC 27410-8419

Cover Story Culture

1 Hairdo that may be restyled into liberty spikes 2 Oregon’s fourth-largest city 3 Greet informally 4 Doctor Frankenstein’s helper 5 Quaint store 6 Kept under wraps

Three friends passionate about exceptional food and entertainment.

Opinion

Down

7 Football Hall-of-Famer Lynn 8 Sense 9 “Fresh Off the Boat” airer 10 Something to “blame it on,” per Milli Vanilli 11 Cooperate secretly 12 So far 18 Pasta ___ (dish mentioned in “That’s Amore”) 22 Breach of privacy, perhaps 23 Airport code for O’Hare 26 Tank marking 27 Revolutionary place-finder?

32 “Hop aboard!”

34 Of base eight 37 “Nope, pick another one ...”

38 Chocolate-frosted item 39 Word stated in a Thomas Dolby song 40 Unfair treatment 41 In a calm manner 44 Pay, slangily 45 Seasoned vet 47 Demolition site letters 49 Contemptible 51 Chemical indicator 53 Hit the trail 58 Mixed breed 60 “Go, goalie!”

61 ___ Kippur

News

48 Maui tourist attraction ___ Valley (hidden in CIA OPERATIVE) 50 Act like a couch potato 52 With 61-Across, Beatles song about a sandwich bread’s wish?

54 German car company 55 Drop some details, perhaps 56 Fallen Angel ingredient 57 “It’s a possibility” 59 Marge and Homer’s neighbor 60 “Charter” tree 61 See 52-Across 62 Ripken of the Orioles 63 Distort data 64 Uncloseted 65 Burma’s first prime minister 66 “Tarzan” star Ron 67 Final stages 68 AZ’s setting 69 They have their own precincts, for short

Up Front

1 Booker T.’s backers 4 “More or less” suffix 7 Place to unwind 10 2011 Rose Bowl winner, for short 13 “___ pro nobis” 14 4 letters?

15 Spider’s digs 16 Move like a kangaroo 17 Beatles song about a smorgasbord?

19 Path across the sky 20 Dr. who treats sinus issues 21 B flat’s equivalent 22 “Funkytown” group Lipps, ___ 23 “It’s a yes-___ answer ...”

24 Know-it-all 25 Beatles song about making noodles?

28 Kaelin of the O.J. trial 29 Rescue squad member 30 Classical crossover quartet formed by Simon Cowell 31 “Switched-On Bach” synthesizer 33 BYU location 35 Just-released 36 Beatles song identifying leafy veggies?

39 Certain upperclassmen, briefly 42 Ashley Madison-enabled event, perhaps 43 ___ Domani (wine brand) 46 Rubber mouse, e.g.

Board Game Fridays 7pm — 2am

Good Sport

Night

Answers from previous publication.

Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

©2015 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

2134 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro geeksboro.com •

336-355-7180

29

East Market Street, Greensboro

Good Sport

Culture

Cover Story

Opinion

News

Up Front

Sept. 16 — 22, 2015

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

Thanks for the joy, National Folk Festival.

Shot in the Triad

Games

PHOTO BY CAROLYN DE BERRY

All She Wrote

Selling Lake Daniel

30

Frank Slate Brooks Broker/Realtor®

336.708.0479 cell 336.274.1717 office frankslate.brooks@trm.info 1401 Sunset Dr., Suite 100 Greensboro, NC 27408 trm.info

Pageantry

paninis salads small plates craft beer & wine patio daily specials Golden Gate Shopping Center

2270 Golden Gate Dr. Greensboro, NC

Cover Story

meltkitchenandbar.com

Opinion Culture Good Sport Games Shot in the Triad All She Wrote

North Carolina: We don’t pay our teachas, but I’d sure like to meet cha!

South Carolina: We lost the rebel flag,

there is nothing else to do!

Indiana: We’re pretty good at sports and stuff!

Illinois: We built a city in the plains but we’re still midwestern Janes!

Minnesota: We have a lotta lakes, and Swedes and flakes!

North Dakota: We like the Vikings — or the Packers — but never both, we might have to smack ya!

South Dakota: The men here are made of rock, ya know!

Wyoming: We’re home to Yellowstone, but the wifi sucks so you can’t phone home!

Washington: We gave you Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. You’re welcome and sorry.

Oregon: We’ve become a TV show where hipsters go!

Nevada: Whatever happens here, never fear, just pay your tab and prebook rehab!

California: We drink vino in Encino, ’cause there’s no agua north of Tijuana!

New Mexico: Georgia O’Keefe and killer spleef!

Arizona: It’s hotter than Hades for gents and ladies!

Hawaii: We’re an archipelago in the Pacific, we grow a lot of weed that’s really terrific!

Alaska: In the land of Sarah Palin, you might cruise by, but no one’s stayin’!

Michigan: We screwed up Detroit!

Mississippi: We may talk funny, and we may talk slow, but when we say, “Crooked letter, crooked letter I” don’t you kind of want to know what the hell we are talking about?

Louisiana: Let the good times roll! If you are rich, that is!

Utah: We’ve got Mormons and good skiing plus there’s a lot of wholesome inbreeding!

Massachusetts: From where the Kennedys hail, we have Cape Cod and chowdah to sell!

New Hampshire: Hard New Englanders to the core, will eat a fluffernutter tho, that’s for sure!

Puerto Rico: Stop trying to deport us — we are still a territory!

News

he Miss America Pageant never disappoints and the 2016 Atlantic City extravaganza was no exception. From an interpretive dance to “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to a dramatic monologue about “Alzheimer Joe” all the way to a Matrix mambo — the talent portion of the evening was a study in camp. But the highlight of the pageant was the opening segment of the show when contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were given the chance to sum up their home turf in a short sentence. Miss Wisconsin, Rosalie Smith, stole the show with her quip, “Representing the Dairy State, come smell our dairy air — I’m Miss Wisconsin!” I only wish the other 51 contestants had been so bold.

T

but we can still make you gag!

Georgia: We invented Southern sprawl, come see us y’all!

Alabama: Civil Rights — it tweren’t our fight — but don’t raise your noses, just cuz we used hoses!

Colorado: We have weed!

Kentucky: We’ve got more barrels than Christmas got carols so raise a glass on our bluegrass!

Tennessee: We ruined country music!

Virginia: Jefferson set the precedent for all our philandering presidents!

West Virginia: We’ve got mountainous desire and set our couches on fire!

District of Columbia: Not really a state, but our museums are great!

Delaware: We’re so tiny, how’d they even find me?

Maryland: Our founding father shoulda been John Waters!

Pennsylvania: We’ve steel got it!

New York: Sex and the City was never that pretty, but you can still find a hooker, you just have to lookah!

New Jersey: Land of Chris Christie and the turnpike, we’re the Garden State but you might have to hike!

Connecticut: Commuters love us for our land but when it comes to property taxes, we don’t take a stand!

Vermont: Where cold hippies go to seed!

Maine: Home to lobster and LL Bean, you might see a Bush or maybe Stephen King.

Montana: ’Scuse me while I kiss Big Sky! Ohio: Buckeye born and buckeye bred, it tastes gross but we’re all well fed!

Florida: We invented Hooters!

Texas: It’s like Germany next to Mexico!

Oklahoma: Tornados don’t skeer us, Arkansans fear us!

Arkansas: We gave you Bill and Hillary. S’all we got!

Kansas: I’m not in Kansas anymore, thank god!

Nebraska: Warren Buffet sits on our tuffet!

Missouri: We’re the Show Me state!

Bet yer 12-year-old can’t Show Me on a map!

Idaho: We ski and stuff! Also, potatoes!

Iowa: Writers come here because

Up Front

Me (calling my mother’s sister in Duluth, Minn.): Hello?

Aunt Helen: This better be good, “Beachby Nicole Crews es” is on.

Me: Helen, it’s Nicole. I just wanted to let you know that mother passed.

Helen: Oooh Nicole. She was a tough cookie, that gal.

Me: I know and she was ready to go, it’s just that everything is so foreign without her. I can’t cook, or watch a movie or put on a dress without thinking about her opinion.

Helen: She shoulda had more than one. You two were too close.

Me: It’s gonna be weird to celebrate her birthday and watch the Miss America pageant without her.

Aunt Helen (in Minnesota): Oooh Nicole. Yah know one of her best friends was Miss Minnesota.

Me: I know. The one who married the fried chicken magnate.

Aunt Helen: They married each other for breasts and legs.

Me: Ha. Now they’re all bones.

triad-city-beat.com

ALL SHE WROTE

31

triad-city-beat.com

Illustration by Jorge Maturino