TCB Nov. 21, 2019 — From Hamilton to Harriet by Triad City Beat

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point Nov. 21-26, 2019 triad-city-beat.com

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From Hamilton to Harriet Costume designer Paul Tazewellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creations come to the Triad PAGE 12

New congressional maps PAGE 9

Drowning out Westboro PAGE 8

Thanksgiving tips for hosts and guests PAGE 11

Nov. 21-26, 2019

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That green NewsGuard checkmark It took me a few months, forced me through a few hoops and to flex a little bit of shameless self-promotion, but I was finally by Brian Clarey able to get one of those little green NewsGuard checkmarks at triad-city-beat.com, and on all our Facebook posts. Maybe it’s a small thing, of the type you rarely even notice, until you do. And then it’s everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. NewsGuard arose out of a need to verify sources of accurate information in the era of fake news. It had been going on for years, since the dawn of social media, but the 2016 election showed us all the power wielded by the forces of a lie that can now be disseminated to millions — even billions, theoretically — before the truth can put its boots on. We’re in a dangerous time when it comes to freedom of speech. And I predict that in the coming years, the First Amendment will come under the same sort of scrutiny as the Second Amendment, and undergo the same sort of tests as the Fourteenth — that’s equal protection under the law, the basis for all civil rights movements. Lies are coming at us from every screen, shaded by confirmation bias, honed by

spin, scoured by policing of the subtext. NewsGuard is an attempt at calibrating a compass in this wilderness, and we’re honored to align ourselves with true north. It wasn’t the qualification that was so daunting — Triad City Beat has always adhered to guidelines set forth by reputable news organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists. NewsGuard takes it one step further. We always correct or clarify the record when we make mistakes. We never conflate news and opinion, which run in different sections of the paper. We don’t run press releases, write deceptive headlines or attempt to obscure ownership. It just took some effort to get NewsGuard to notice our ethos. There was some paperwork involved, and an interview process with the actual, experienced reporters who are charged with holding the line between fake news and the soft science of journalism. Now that they have, we’ll get that spiffy green checkmark next to the articles we post to Facebook, which means, among other things, that we have a long history of printing the truth, that we have demonstrated skill at it, and that we are ultimately accountable to the truth. In other words, it’s just business as usual. But now with an important-looking green checkmark next to it.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK I don’t understand why grown adults would come out and protest against kids. — Jalyn Townsend pg.8

BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

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

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ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sayaka Matsuoka SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

STAFF WRITER Lauren Barber lauren@triad-city-beat.com

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336-256-9320 UNCSA grad Paul Tazewell STAFF WRITER Savi Ettinger designed costumes for Hamilton, savi@triad-city-beat.com The Wiz Live! and other major EDITORIAL INTERN Cason Ragland Broadway productions. He’s ART exhibiting in High Point with his mother and nephew. ART DIRECTOR Robert Paquette KEY ACCOUNTS Gayla Price CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn de Berry, Matt Jones

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Nov. 21-26, 2019

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The Idiot Box Presents: Special event on Saturday Nov.23

Judah Friedlander OTHER EVENT:

Ultimate Comic Challenge Semifinals stand up comedy competition 8:30 p.m. Friday, November 22nd

503 N Greene St, Greensboro

ibxcomedy.com

(336) 456-4743

3723 West Market Street, Unit–B, Greensboro, NC 27403 jillclarey3@gmail.com www.thenaturalpathwithjillclarey.com

Nov. 21-26, 2019

CITY LIFE Nov 21-24, 2019 by Savi Ettinger

THURSDAY Nov. 21

Opinion

News

Up Front

Chairs of Celebrity Status @ SECCA (W-S), 6 p.m.

Couldn’t Be Happiers @ Gas Hill Drinking Room (W-S), 7 p.m.

Take a seat for this art talk, all about chairs. Dr. Rosa Otero, head of the Design Department at Salem College, leads this discussion surrounding the iconography of chairs. Find the event on Facebook. Twelfth Night @ Greensboro Cultural Center, 6:30 p.m. Teens from the Drama Center perform Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. The story of twins, shipwrecks, and genderbending runs through the weekend in the Hyers Theatre. Buy tickets and learn more at thedramacenter.com.

Culture

FRIDAY Nov. 22

Dark Money @ Gibb’s Hundred Brewing Company (GSO), 6:30 p.m.

The Couldn’t Be Happiers fill the Gas Hill Drinking Room with folksy alt-country. The duo takes the stage beside Magnolia Green, a five-piece Winston-Salem band that blends rock with Americana. Find the event on Facebook. Story Slam @ Scuppernong Books (GSO), 7 p.m. Come equipped with your favorite story from a Thanksgiving past for this story slam. The competition judges the best storyteller, who unfolds the best tale about the monthly topic. Find the event on Facebook. Dance BFA Thesis Concert @ UNCG School of Dance (GSO), 8 p.m. This concert lines up ballet beside tap and modern dance in an evening of original choreography. The senior students of UNCG’s dance program showcase their thesis work, with three shows spanning Friday and Saturday. Learn more on Facebook.

SATURDAY Nov. 23

Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

Handcrafted Holiday Showcase @ Winston-Salem Fairground Farmers Market 8 a.m. Shop around this seasonal showcase of art, home decor, pottery and more. Dozens of craftspeople offer up their specialties for a chance to gather gifts before Black Friday hits. Find the event on Facebook.

Gibb’s Hundred screens this documentary about the role of money in our elections and the Citizens United case. Karen Skelton leads a discussion afterwards, in conjunction with Indivisible Guilford County. Find the event on Facebook.

Whimsical Women @ Crossnore School (W-S), 10 a.m. This art show brings together the members of Whimsical Women, an art collective of women from all different backgrounds and age groups in the Southeast. This exhibit showcases their work for one day a year. Find the event on Facebook.

GSOng Fest @ Leveneleven Brewing (GSO), 1 p.m. This all-day celebration of songwriting features more than 20 singers performing their own songs. The day aims to raise money for the Out of the Garden Project, which fights hunger in the Triad. Find the event on Facebook. Estate-wide Holiday Stroll @ Reynolda House of American Art (W-S), 2 p.m. Enjoy the best of the holidays, all in the Reynolda Gardens and Museum. Carolers, carriage rides and card crafting turn the area into a winter wonderland. Grab some hot chocolate or take photos to finish up the day. Learn more on Facebook. The Difficulties @ Greensboro Project Space, 7:30 p.m.

The Difficulties bring their eclectic, electronic sound to the Greensboro Project Space, performing poetry, digital music and saxophone. Alongside the group, Jonathan Wall displays his projection art. Learn more on Facebook.

SUNDAY Nov. 24

Farm Animal Refuge Tour @ Dharma Farm Animal Refuge (HP), 11:30 a.m. Finish off the weekend with a plant-based brunch to illustrate a wide variety of vegan dishes. Then, tour the Dharma Farm Animal Refuge, and meet donkeys, alpacas, goats and the other residents of the refuge. Find the event on Facebook. Nonbinary 101 @ North Star LGBTQ Center (W-S), 3 p.m.

As part of Transgender Awareness Week, North Star LGBTQ Center holds a panel about nonbinary identities. Learn more about the ways people relate to gender that don’t fall into strictly “man” or “woman.” Find the event on Facebook.

Nov. 21-26, 2019

5by Brian questions for Judah Friedlander Clarey Judah Friedlander is best known for his character Frank Rossitano on the NBC series “30 Rock,” marked by his trucker hats, oversize glasses and unkempt appearance. But he got his first big role in a Dave Matthews video (the hugs guy) and played a huge role in American Splendor, bringing real-life character Toby Radloff to the big screen. He’s currently touring the country with his stand-up act that relies heavily on satire and political material. He’s got a special on Netflix, America is the Greatest Country in the United States, and he’ll be at the Idiot Box on Saturday.

Judah Friedlander performs at the Idiot Box in Greensboro this Saturday.

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4. Will it make any difference? You may feel that your recycling efforts are just a drop in the ocean and what you do as an individual won’t make a difference. But if we all make small changes, those individual drops can make huge waves of change by sharing knowledge, encouraging others to recycle, and recycling every day of the year. Happy America Recycles Day!

Puzzles

Wondering if something is recyclable or not? Download the GSO Collects app and use the Waste Wizard to find out what goes where.

Shot in the Triad

3. Why should I recycle? Recycling conserves resources, reduces waste to landfills, and creates jobs in the Carolinas. Greensboro is committed to making our community a great place to live, work, eat, play, and shop. Recycling is just one of the great ways that we can all work together to make our home a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful place.

Culture

2. Doesn’t recycling just go to the landfill anyway? I’ve heard you sort through the trash for recyclables, so why should I make the effort to separate recycling? All materials you put in the recycling cart are taken directly to the recycling facility. And all materials you put in the trash cart are taken directly to the transfer station, where they are loaded onto tractor-trailers and taken to a landfill for disposal. Staff at the transfer station can’t spend their time or the city’s money hand-sorting recyclables out of the garbage. So please help us use taxpayer dollars wisely and separate your recycling at home.

Opinion

Some material that would have worked even a few years ago now can offend people. Is comedy getting tougher? It’s tough from a few different angles. But it’s more nuanced than people are thinking or saying. Most people aren’t honest in how they discuss it. The PC movement is often correct. However, sometimes they do overreach and are not correct. For example, [they say,] “You shouldn’t be making fun of this group.” But sometimes there might be a serious subject, mass incarceration. Some people might get upset by you saying the words “mass incarceration.” “You’re not allowed to joke about that.” But I have a joke Judah Friedlander performs at about mass incarceration that’s in How is acting different from support of the people who are incarstandup? the Idiot Box in Greensboro on cerated. I can’t do a joke about the I like stand-up better. I’ve been doSaturday, with shows at 7:30 people who are oppressed. ing it over 30 years. In New York City, Other comics complain, but some and 9:35 p.m. Find tickets at most of the sets are 15 minutes, but of them are being dishonest. I think I usually do around four a night. I do idiotboxers.com. they really don’t give a shit about free about 20 sets a week. speech; they just want to do bigoted If you’re a true stand-up, you’re stuff, they just want to do racist matethe writer, performer, director — everything. You’re a onerial. They don’t want any criticism. And some are using free person show. With film, you have an idea, you write it, you speech as a mask to spew bigotry. find the cast, film it, edit it. Six months later you show it to In some ways, comedy is no longer at the forefront of people and find out if it’s any good. Stand-up, you know free speech. The comedy business has grown so much in right away. That’s the immediacy of stand-up. the last 30 years, has become much more corporate, more And as far as being an auteur, it’s all my work. of a business, and I think the majority want to be famous more than they want to be a great comic. If you’re someone Do you script your performances or mostly improvise? who fits into that category, you’re gonna toe the corporate Most comics probably do script; I don’t. My Netflix line and do whatever you think they want. I don’t think there special, I made that myself, not through Netflix. I filmed it, is a lot of rebellion in stand-up these days. Certainly not in wrote it, edited it, directed it, did the photography — it’s what you see in the mainstream media. in black-and-white, with a handheld camera. It’s got an I think most comics don’t talk about the news, they don’t indie-jazz, punk-rock kind of feel to it. My act is a mix of know that much about it, even on TV. It goes back to the crowd work and material. It’s satire on the political and social corporate structure. Late-night hosts goofing on Trump. structure of the United States. American exceptionalism. There’s a reason he got elected. And they don’t want to My new stuff is similar to that. challenge the status quo because they are the status quo. They think that before Trump got elected, the country was perfect.

News

Your role in American Splendor, playing autistic real-life character Toby Radloff, was more of an acting gig. Was that a challenging transformation? That was a hell of a lot of work. The set was fine and everything, but it was difficult, mentally draining work. But it turned out well. There was so much pressure — I’m playing someone who is a real person, and the real person is also in the movie. In one scene the person I’m playing was in the scene with me. It was a lot of stress to get it as right as you can. I remember before we filmed that scene, me and [Paul] Giamatti were sitting around saying, “I don’t know if this is gonna work, man.” I don’t know if that’s happened before: a biopic with the actors and real characters in the film together. It’s one of the strongest points of the whole movie, certainly a gamble and that’s what I liked about it.

1. Why do I see recycling trucks picking up my trash? All of our trucks are designated to collect either recycling or trash. But because recycling is so important, we have recycling graphics on the sides of all the collection vehicles. So while you may see a recycling sticker on the truck that collects your trash, rest assured that your trash -and your recycling - are collected separately and taken to the appropriate facility.

Up Front

Frank Rossitano in “30 Rock” looks like you, as opposed to some of your other roles. Are you like Frank? Well, most of my roles are a variation of myself. Frank looks like me, but doesn’t really act like me. It looks like me, but people think it’s how I am. But no, that was acting. Even right now, I look quite a bit different than I did on “30 Rock.” My beard is quite long, grayed. A lot of people, if they haven’t seen my Netflix special, they might not recognize me.

You may not realize it, but November 15th is America Recycles Day! Throughout the country, thousands of events and activities will take place that promote and celebrate recycling. If you’ve ever wondered if recycling is really worth the effort, then read on for why it’s so important to recycle...

Recycle On!

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New courthouse, a plea for more cops and a challenge to tackle poverty by Jordan Green

Opinion

News

Up Front

Nov. 21-26, 2019

NEWS

Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

Culture

The new courthouse will be located adjacent to the Forsyth County Government Center.

Downtown Winston-Salem: A new courthouse that will be “daylit at both ends,” a challenge to “attack intergenerational poverty, and a request for more downtown cops. Winston-Salem auto dealer and developer Don Flow issued a challenge to business and government leaders to imagine a city where “arts and innovation” meets “hope and opportunity” during Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership’s annual fall meeting on Thursday. Flow shared news about progress on the 500 West 5th project, an 18-story building redeveloped from the old GMAC building. Along with partnership President Jason Thiel, Flow extolled a vision of a vibrant city in the midst of a 20-year growth spurt that echoes the robust development and wealth creation fueled by the tobacco industry beginning in the 1890s. With $2 billion invested in downtown over the past 20 years, Thiel noted that one project on the horizon — construction of a new courthouse through more than $100 million in pub-

lic funds — will account for 5 percent of that investment. Flow touted the renovated 500 West 5th building as “an entrepreneurial center that’s a physical expression of innovation,” describing a first floor with an airy lobby and fitness center, apartments and retail managed by Rudd Properties on the second floor, a Wake Forest University-supported center to support private business on the third floor, the Flywheel co-working space on the eighth floor, Teall Capital offices on the 12th floor, and his own business holdings on the 14th and 18th floors. Flow also said he will soon make an “announcement about a company that will take several other floors.” When the unnamed tenant moves in, a total of 850 people will be working in the building, he said. Part of his goal is to retain young talent, Flow said. “We were Silicon Valley for manufacturing,” Flow said of Winston-Salem’s heyday in the first four decades of the tobacco industry. “We were the place

MODEL COURTESY OF CJMW ARCHITECTURE

where people came and took risks. We were the place that created jobs and the place that created wealth all over the South. We were the first city that people migrated to.” But Flow warned his fellow business leaders that the city can’t have robust growth if it leaves part of the population behind. “Imagine the City of Arts and Innovation meets the city of hope and opportunity,” he said. “Why is that important? Because for us to become the city we want to be, we have to attack intergenerational poverty in this city,” he continued, prompting a wave of applause. Flow said the fact that only half of third graders in Forsyth County are reading at grade level is unacceptable, and he set a goal that 80 percent of third graders in every school will be reading at grade level. “Every single child in this city deserves a chance in third grade to be on a level playing field and to have a chance to win and compete in the world, and reach

their God-given potential,” he said. “And the people in this room are the folks that come together and say, ‘Do we have the resolve to make that happen?’” Flow also set a goal that 65 percent of all high school graduates from the county will attain either a two-year or four-year degree, while applauding a recent announcement by BB&T. “Because of BB&T’s gift to Forsyth Tech, we now have the ability for 2,550 rising seniors to go to Forsyth Tech for free. That’s 2,550 kids that’ll get middleclass jobs the day they walk out at 20 years old. And I’ll hire a bunch of ’em.” Declaring that he wants to make Winston-Salem the “strongest, best middle-sized city in the country,” Thiel noted a number of projects underway in downtown, including the Link Apartments (“the largest project in downtown’s history in housing units near the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter”), Merschel Plaza and the new facility for the children’s museum known as the Kaleidium. With a growing base of employees,

Nov. 21-26, 2019

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residents and visitors in downtown, the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership is seeking additional public investment in police officers. “We’re trying to make a case for more bike patrol officers,” Thiel said. “We’ll be talking about that in January, when we start talking about the [city] budget.” One project represents both a significant investment and a transformation of the urban landscape. Thiel indicated he won’t mourn the passing of the current courthouse, a brutalist block of concrete and steel built in the early 1970s. “I don’t think our architects in America hit the mark in the 1970s,” Thiel said. “I think we lost our way in designing buildings.” Tom Calloway, a principal at WinstonSalem-based CJMW Architecture, set a lofty goal for the new courthouse, which will occupy space adjacent to the Forsyth County Government Center on Chestnut Street. “It will be the finest new courthouse in North Carolina and one of the finest in the country,” Calloway said. “Believe that. This is the most expensive building that’s ever been built by Forsyth County.” The new courthouse will accommodate 18 courtrooms, compared to 14 in the current facility. Douglas Kleppin, a managing director at CBRE Heery, said the new courthouse will be “daylit at both ends” and “easy to navigate in terms of wayfinding” with “open spaces connected by stairs and escalators.” He said, “It’s just a beautiful kind of procession into the court, I think that takes you to these entrances.” Adhering to modern standards, the new courthouse will feature a secure circulation system for inmates to keep prisoners separate from the public so “they really never see each other or come together except within the crucible of the courtroom well itself.” Without elaborating except to mention the presence of natural light, Kleppin said the designers wanted to honor the volunteer service of jurors by “giving them a respectful place that gives them a variety of ways they can wait their turn to participate.” Closing the program, Calloway made a nod to Don Flow’s vision of a city energized by entrepreneurial dynamism and economic inclusion. “We’d like to think the design of this courthouse is in the spirit of Mr. Flow’s vision,” he said. “This is gonna be a major addition to downtown.”

Nov. 21-26, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

Hundreds of counter-protesters drown out anti-LGBTQ+ hate group by Sayaka Matsuoka Hundreds of counter-protesters met just three Westboro Baptist Church members at different locations in Greensboro and High Point on Monday. Hundreds of counter protesters came out in full force at different locations around Greensboro and High Point on Monday to protest members of a homophobic hate group. The Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas-based primitive Baptist church that is known for its hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people, stopped at a local high school, a college and a university on Monday morning as part of its national public preaching tour. And despite drawing large numbers of counter protesters at each location, only three members of the church were represented. The first event at High Point Central High School drew what looked to be the most visitors. As students walked across the school’s front lawn on their way to class early in the morning, hundreds of counter protesters, clad in colorful attire and holding umbrellas, lined the edge of campus. About 45 police officers patrolled the area close to where the three members stood in a fenced-off area on a median. Each held signs that read “God is your enemy” and “Mourn for your sins.” Leading the brigade of umbrellawielding advocates was Pasha Eve, co-founder of the Parasol Patrol, based in Denver. Eve and co-founder Eli Bazan flew to Greensboro on Sunday in preparation for Monday’s events. The two attended all three protests. According to Eve, the organization which operates under another nonprofit was started after Bazan took it upon himself to shield kids from protesters at a drag storytime event that took place in Denver in March. To drown out the noise and visibility of those holding hateful signs and spewing vicious comments, Bazan, who identifies as queer, bought large umbrellas and ear protection to help kids get from the parking lot to the bookstore safely, with as little interaction with the protesters as possible. Since then, the group has attended multiple events to help shield children and young adults from anti-LGBTQ+ protesters. This is the fourth time the organization has attended an event to counter protest Westboro. “The community here is so positive and so strong and so proactive about supporting the youth,” Pasha said in a

phone interview a few days before the protest. “It’s been an outpouring from the LGBTQ+ community and allies.” While many adults held umbrellas to shield the three individuals from Westboro out of sight from the school, a group of students gathered on the lawn and chanted their school slogan. “We are the bison!” shouted the students. “The mighty, mighty bison!” Senior Jalyn Townsend said he was compelled to counter-protest to show the strength of younger generations. “I don’t understand why grown adults would come out and protest against kids,” he said. “I think everybody has the right to love who they love.” In addition to students and allies, teachers, school administrators and Super- Counter protesters use umbrellas to shield students at High Point Central High SAYAKA MATSUOKA intendent Sharon Contre- School from three Westboro Baptist Church members. ras attended the protest. “Even though they are bers held their signs and played popular helped organize some of the activity at being exposed to this hate early in the songs like Macklemore’s “Same Love” the final stop. Gore said in an interview morning, we wanted to let the students and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” with that while it’s important to show up for know that the school district, adminischanged lyrics. The counter-protesters LGBTQ+ rights, his main goal on Montration and the school board support attempted to drown out the music by day was to make sure that none of the them,” Contreras said at an on-site press singing “Amazing Grace.” counter-protesters engaged with those conference. Laura Maisel, who followed the group from the church. After protesting at the high school for to all three locations, said she decided to “The way that Westboro funds their about 45 minutes, the three individucounter protest to show support for her travels is by lawsuits from people,” Gore als — a younger man, younger woman friends who identify as LGBTQ+. explained. “A lot of them are lawyers. and older woman — traveled by van to “The idea of the vitriol being spewed They thrive off of these lawsuits.” Guilford College, where they were met at students makes my blood boil,” Maisel Instead, he hoped to lead a vibrant with more counter-protesters. said as she crossed the street towards party that made the group seem insigBetsy Seaton and Katie Leonard, two UNCG, the final stop on Westboro’s tour nificant. Guilford College employees, bundled in the Triad. “The biggest focus that I’ve had up and stood at the corner of Friendly Again, hundreds of students, faculty personally is that they’re irrelevant,” he Avenue and New Garden Road, where and activists gathered at the entrance said. about 200 additional counter-protesters to the university’s campus on Spring And it seemed to have worked. awaited the Westboro members’ arrival. Garden Street and held umbrellas, signs Even as the three members left after “It goes against all seven pillars that and passed out snacks as they protested protesting for about half an hour and Guilford stands for,” Leonard said. the group. rain started to sprinkle, the counter-proCarrying a large rainbow flag tied to a The UNCG event proved to be the testers remained in high spirits, chanting wooden staff, Guilford College sophomost vibrant, with students leading goodbyes at the members while the band more Cierra Blowe walked up and down chant after chant while a small band played notes from “Baby Shark.” the line of counter-protesters to show blared notes from brass instruments. As police announced that the hate support. “Hey hey, ho, ho, Westboro church group had packed up and left to get to “I’m a lesbian and I won’t let anybody has got to go,” chanted students at the their next stop at Duke University, the discriminate against us,” Blowe said. “I members across the street. group broke out into a single message. love my people.” Josh Gore, a local bartender and “We’re here, we’re queer, we won’t Across the street, the Westboro memfounder of an inclusive art collective, disappear.”

We may get the representatives we deserve, but at a cost to our political clout

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

As an illustration of how North Carolina Republicans have cynically manipulated race to maintain political power, it’s hard to imagine a starker example than the line drawn right down the center of NC A&T University, splitting the largest HBCU in the country in two while ensuring that Republicans would hold two congressional districts carved out of Guilford County. The split was the subject of a short documentary produced by Now This News, released on the eve of the 2018 midterm elecby Jordan Green tions, with 314,700 views to date. Common Cause NC fielded an organizer to mobilize students around the issue. NBC News, Vox and the Grio all published stories, and former Attorney General Eric Holder visited the university to highlight the split. Under a court order finding the congressional district maps to be an impermissible partisan gerrymander, Republican lawmakers in Raleigh approved a remedial plan last week that does indeed remedy this particular grievance. The new map — a one-off for the 2020 election before the next round of mapmaking in 2021 based on the next US Census — consolidates Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point into a new, compact 6th District and likewise puts most of Wake County into a new, urban 2nd District. Merging the Triad cities into one congressional district makes sense on a lot of levels. Only two weeks ago, I used this space to note the absurdity that the two ultra-conservative lawmakers who represent Guilford County are attacking the impeachment process, which is presumably supported by a majority of their constituents in this Democratic-leaning county. So, all good, right? The short answer is no. The new map passed on strict party-line vote with no support from Democratic state lawmakers. A lawsuit filed on the same day the bill was ratified The remedial congressional map enacted by the NC General Assembly last week COURTESY NC creates compact urban districts around Greensboro and Winston-Salem and GENERAL ASSEMBLY describes the remedial plan as “another extreme and obvious partisan gerrymander that around a large portion of Wake County. violates the constitutional rights of North Carolina voters.” The bitter pill for Democrats in evenly divided states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania The new map amounts to an 8-5 partisan gerrymander, allowing Democrats to pick up and Wisconsin is that their voters are clustered in urban areas while Republican voters are two seats in addition to the three that they currently hold. “We need a 6-7 map, or a 7-6 more spread out. map, or a 6-6-1 map,” Rep. GK Butterfield (D-NC) told Politico. “Those would be fair “The fact that in North Carolina, as in most states, people who choose to live in urban maps.” areas are more likely to lean toward progressive policies and therefore in today’s environThe mixed review of the remedial plan reveals the tension between two districting critement support Democrats than the sort of more deeply rural areas does make it more chalria — preservation of communities of interest and proportionality. Preserving a community lenging to draw districts that are both compact and competitive,” Besse said. “If you put a of interest — for example, placing two cities that share an airport, a major road system and heavy premium on compactness over competitiveness, then you do kind of exaggerate a potentially a future commuter rail link — in the same district is a Republican lean.” traditional districting principle, although in practice it’s often been Besse is a student of politics who can appreciate the structural sacrificed for the sake of preserving political divisions like counties The bitter pill for Democrats underpinnings of the system, but he’s also a politician who is optiand protecting incumbents. Proportionality — drawing districts so mistic by nature. that the partisan balance reflects recent statewide election results in evenly divided states like “It ought to be possible to draw a number of competitive dis— is actually not a principle in current use, although Ohio has North Carolina, Pennsylvania tricts that are reasonably compact and have a party balance more adopted it beginning in 2021, according to the National Conferopen to the voters in the general election than you find under ence of State Legislatures. and Wisconsin is that their either the existing map or the one being redrawn,” he insisted. I spoke with two local Democratic politicians, both of whom voters are clustered in urban Michael Bitzer, a political science and history professor at Caacknowledged a benefit to consolidating urban voters in the Triad tawba College, expressed skepticism. and Wake County, while still contending that the maps need to be areas while Republican voters “How are you defining competitive?” he asked. “Six districts fairer. Democratic and six districts Republican, and one competitive? Are are more spread out. “I think it’s super important that Greensboro, Winston-Salem you talking about all 13? If that’s the case, you’re fighting against and much of Wake County will have Democratic representation,” what you call political geography. Some counties will vote for one said Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Guilford County Democrat who voted party 60 percent or greater. There are just some practical realities of voter behavior that against the map. “That’s an improvement you can’t discount. [But] it could have been a you can’t go around.” fairer map.” So, are urban, progressive voters doomed to perpetual under-representation? Dan Besse, a Winston-Salem City Council member who is running for state House in “By concentrating themselves into very compact areas, Democrats have done it to Forsyth County, said Winston-Salem and Greensboro are better off being represented by a themselves, for lack of a better term,” Bitzer said. “It’s nobody’s fault other than where Democrat in Congress, particularly when Democrats hold control of the chamber. people choose to live. People are sorting themselves into likeminded communities, and “In terms of transportation interests, certainly I am going to feel like I have a better those communities are going to vote in very sorted ways, and that’s just the nature of how chance to get the attention we need for public transit, and other non-highway interests Americans are choosing to politically isolate themselves. Some would describe it as political included in our mix with any mainstream Democrat as opposed to the current Republican segregation.” representatives,” he said.

Nov. 21-26, 2019

CITIZEN GREEN

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by Clay Jones

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Nov. 21-26, 2019

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Too late for Chik-fil-A, new chicken champ emerges There’s not much to editorialize about when it comes to the Popeyes chicken sandwich. On this issue, we as a nation seem finally able to speak with one voice: We love it. This is the sandwich the country needed as its institutions crumble, its government fails and the people seem more disparate and out of touch with each other than ever. It shows us that American innovation is as irrepressible as ever, that the status quo can still be disrupted, that there can and will be a better way. This is a sandwich of freedom. We downed a sack full in the office a couple weeks ago, on production day, and it was widely acknowledged that the Popeyes sandwich is far superior to the Chikfil-A product, although admittedly none of us would eat their sandwich regardless because of their support of anti-LGBTQ+ religious groups. The Popeyes sandwich is bigger overall, with a larger piece of chicken, fluffier brioche bun and thicker pickle slices. The spicy version makes the Chik-fil-A seem like a glass of milk. But for decades, nobody could touch Chik-fil-A’s product, not even when it was the exact same thing — McDonalds ran a clone called the Southern Style Chicken Sandwich until 2015, and it never even made a dent. But Popeyes took over in a single weekend, using a lot of the same tactics that were used to influence the 2016 election:

clever social media posts, amplified and developed through sock-puppet accounts until enough people internalized the message to hit the tipping point. Now, Chik-fil-A is trying some of the same medicine on its newest PR push: a declaration to cease financial contributions to those aforementioned problematic churches. People have been boycotting Chikfil-A since 2012, when its chief operating officer made a bunch of public comments opposing same-sex marriage in Arkansas. But the company had been donating millions of dollars a year to religious organizations hostile to the LGBTQ+ community going back to 2003. Its first store in the United Kingdom, opened this year, closed after just six months. But in the US, the chain grew throughout the first two decades of the century. And not only did Chik-fil-A never waver; they doubled down on it. “Guilty as charged,” Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy told a reporter who had asked about the company position against same-sex marriage. As such, Chik-filA became the official sandwich of the Republican Party, members of which sometimes tout their go-cups like badges. They believe it trolls the libs. But this week, Chik-fil-A blinked. And it wasn’t because of consumer boycotts. It’s because someone finally brought the heat.

Nov. 21-26, 2019

Nik Snacks Thanksgiving beyond the bird: 10 tips for guests and hosts

Up Front

ver Deep River and through British Woods/ To Grandmother’s house we go/ The Tesla knows the way/ To the seasonal buffet/ Through every Triad ZIP code

by Nikki Miller-Ka

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This is a busy time of year, from start to finish. While Thanksgiving 2019 falls on the latest possible calendar date, that doesn’t mean we can slack off with the planning or shopping. With a little info and a few tips, that big, delicious feast will feel effortless and, dare I say, fun? If it’s your first or fiftieth time hosting the biggest meal of the year, here are some practical tips.

Tips for hosts:

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There’s more to Thanksgiving than just the turkey.

Tips for guests:

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lost it. Kicking someone out of your house and telling them never to come back is unpleasant for both parties. Please do your best to mind your manners and when in doubt, follow the host’s lead on when to eat, drink and be merry. 4. Bring wine, flowers or both for the host Don’t show up empty-handed. Yes, even if your host insists that you do (it’s a trap). Flowers should come trimmed and arranged in a vase; Don’t send your already frazzled host rummaging through cabinets with yet another thing to find. Wine (or sparkling juice or soft beverages) is always welcome. Call ahead to ask what your host would prefer, and if need be bring (beer or some wines), and be sure it arrives chilled. 5. Offer to help and do what you’re told. An offer to help is always welcome and unwelcomed at the same time. Thanksgiving dinner is an orchestrated event and upgrading your status from guest to sous chef or head dishwasher might make you more of a hindrance than help. If the host refuses assistance, stay out of the kitchen, out of the way, and do exactly as you’re told.

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1. Don’t arrive early. There’s nothing more annoying than a guest who has decided to ring the doorbell while the host is still in stocking feet. Your only job is to show up and eat. Don’t make more work for the host by having to deal with you while running around making sure the baseboards have been scrubbed to completion. 2. Don’t bring a surprise dish that no one asked for. The only thing you should consider bringing to the table is a pleasant disposition and maybe a few points for small talk. If there is a dish or side that you feel compelled to bring, not only should you ask the host ahead of time if it’s okay, it should not be overly complicated. Don’t bring a salad that needs to be assembled in the kitchen or potatoes with a special crystal ritual that needs to be performed over it. 3. Be a gracious guest. Once I had a Thanksgiving guest bypass the linen napkin I lovingly placed on the table to repeatedly wipe his gravy-covered, cranberry-stained fingers on the pillows of my couch. After I called him out on it, he apologized for upsetting me but acted as if he’d done nothing wrong. Two moments later, I spied him scraping his dirty fingers on my couch pillows again and I completely

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1. Plan your menu first. Once the menu is set, you are free to start getting yourself organized. Pull out all your recipes and write your grocery lists. It’s never too early to get a jump start and purchase non-perishable items. 2. Match up each recipe to a serving dish and a serving utensil. Label each with a Post-it note. Double-check that you have enough baking pans and casserole dishes for everything on your menu. Take the extra step to make sure you have enough plates, glassware, cutlery and napkins. Not everything needs to match or be in the same type serving dish. Relax. It will taste great, no matter what! 3. Plan for leftovers. Invest in some one-use foil containers for guests to take home leftovers. This way you don’t have to worry about finding matching lids or getting your Tupperware back. 4. Make sure you cover the traditional basics of the meal. You know, the stuff people expect to see: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing/dressing, cranberry sauce and pie. And then, if you like to be a little more creative, you can concentrate on spicing up the sides. Here are a few ideas: Instead of green bean casserole, think about grilled green beans with crispy shallots. Instead of corn pudding, try corn custard pie. 5. Don’t be afraid to delegate and outsource. The last few days leading up to the feast are often chaotic. There’s family in town, holiday traffic and plenty of last-minute tasks to complete the menu. Let others help. It enhances the holiday cheer. We all have gifts and talents so delegate accordingly. Ask your “chef” friends to bring dishes. Someone who doesn’t like to cook can be in charge of bringing ice or picking up wine. Order side dishes, bread, desserts or even the turkey and ham. Let the pros handle the bulk of the work and free up your oven. Place that order and move on down the to-do list. Lastly, plan to pick up on Tuesday to avoid the Wednesday crowds.

Nov. 21-26, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

CULTURE From Hamilton to Harriet: Paul Tazewell’s creations come to HP by Sayaka Matsuoka

he sheen of the green satin detail of these costumes ensemble reflects light under the and how durable they gallery’s bulbs, quietly drawhave to be for eight shows ing attention to itself. To the a week.” layperson, the getup looks like nothing Paul Tazewell, who will more than a simple, albeit, meticulously be joined by his mother crafted, Colonial Era outfit. But those and nephew for the openwith a discerning eye and love of theater ing night of the exhibit on would instantly recognize the multiThursday, says in a phone piece suit as the costume worn by Lin interview that when he Manuel-Miranda from the original run of was younger, he initially the hit Broadway show, Hamilton. wanted to be an actor. “Really what I had anticipated was “I wanted to be a leadsome original renderings and maybe two ing man and as a black kid or three costumes,” says Jeff Horney, the in America at the time, executive director of Theater Art Galit didn’t seem as feasible leries in High Point. “But the next thing to have a regular role in I know, we’ve got 15 costumes being that,” says Tazewell, who flown in from New York and Chicago.” was born in the 1960s. “I About a week before the opening, didn’t see a lot of AfricanHorney and Ben Klemes, an installaAmerican protagonists tion assistant and costume designer, and heroes.” are busy putting together a new show Creativity filled Tazethat opens at the Theater Art Gallerwell’s childhood home in ies on Thursday. The exhibit, entitled, Akron, Ohio. His mother, COURTESY PHOTO Paul Tazewell won a Tony award in 2016 for his costume designs for Hamilton Tazewell: Three Generations/Three Voices, who continues to create and an Emmy the same year for his work in The Wiz Live! showcases three artists across three art, often worked with her generations and includes Paul Tazewell, hands, making vibrant, “I would go to the library and immerse myself in an area the renowned costume designer whose mixed-media collages or imaginative watercolor paintings. In and just respond to the imagery,” Tazewell says. “A large part portfolio includes designs for Hamilton, the upper gallery, many of Barbara’s creations line the walls, of the research happens online through Pinterest, Google ImThe Wiz Live, Jesus Christ Superstar Live, awaiting installation. Fantastical images depicting religious ages, and archives.” Showboat and The Miracle Worker, to tales or children’s stories make up self-published books while For Harriet, Tazewell looked to old daguerreotypes from the name a few. All five productions are whimsical marionettes lay delicately on the floor. One of the 1800s to see what kinds of attire people wore. For Hamilton, represented in the new show. The other puppets, created in tandem with her son, shows a Scroogehe studied old paintings of our forefathers. Still, other pieces two exhibits showcase work by Tazemeets-Benjamin Franklin-esque man in luxurious velvet attire appear to come straight from the artist’s imagination. well’s mother, Barbara Tazewell, and his — a possible forerunner to the designs that Tazewell would In the back-right corner of the gallery, large, stunning outnephew, Nate Tazewell, an up-and-comone day create for his most successful show. fits — arguably the most embellished ones in the show — lure ing illustrator. “She was definitely a huge influence visitors in. Inside the on my creative mind,” Tazewell says Worn by Queen Latifah for the 2015 television special The 3,000 squareabout his mother. “I learned to draw Wiz Live!, a sparkling, green gown, complete with individually Tazewell: Three Generations/ foot main gallery from her as I was growing up and that sewn pieces of tiny emeralds, looks like a wearable manifesThree Voices opens Thursday space, housed evolved into developing an interest in tation of Frank L. Baum’s Emerald City. Next to it stands an at the Theater Art Galleries in within the High sewing and clothing.” equally captivating costume for the good witch Glinda, worn Point Theatre, Tazewell learned to create costumes by Uzo Aduba. Waves of gold circle the skirt of the dress, remiHigh Point. The exhibit runs Tazewell’s dazfor shows during his time as an actor niscent of Belle’s gown from Beauty and the Beast but more through Jan. 3 and is free to zling ensembles in school productions. Once he began extravagant. Thin silver tendrils snake across the garment, view. Learn more at tagart.org. fit on manneattending undergrad at the UNC School adding a wispiness overall. In the production, the threads ilquins that have of the Arts in Winston-Salem, Tazewell luminated, Horney explains. been personsays he switched his primary career Nearby, a large photo of The Wiz Live! cast members in their ally sculpted by path to costume design. respective costumes displays how the final product looked on Klemes for proper display. “I thought, Well, if I pursue designing, then I won’t be typeeach of the actors. “When we knew the costumes were cast,” he says. The exhibit also includes several original sketches and rencoming, we figured, Well, we’ll just open Since his time at the School of the Arts and then New York derings by Tazewell. the box and put them on a mannequin University, Tazewell has created works for dozens of producIt seems that now, the successful designer has no regrets and you’re good to go,” says Horney. tions. In 2016, he won a Tony Award — his seventh nomination about choosing this line of work over acting. “I mean it is so involved. This is really overall — for costume design for Hamilton and also won an “I am be able to live vicariously through all different types of museum-quality presentation…The Emmy for his work on The Wiz Live! Some of his recent work characters regardless of age, race, gender,” he says. “That was amazing thing about these costumes is can be seen in the recently released Harriet and Steven Spielthe best decision.” the amount of detail you would never berg’s West Side Story, which will be released next December. see from your seat in the theater, but He says he almost always starts his creative process with you get to see up close the quality of the research.

by Savi Ettinger

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

he fiddle and violin live as twins. They match down to the bow and strings — two different names for the same instrument. Aside from a few minor variations sometimes found in some newer versions, the separation comes down to style. One gets played in a symphony set by composers, the other on back porches and in bluegrass festivals. Laurelyn Dossett now tries to bridge that gap, performing a preview of The Gathering on a cold Friday night at the Gas Hill Drinking Room in Winston-Salem. Dossett performs the six-song long cycle, taking listeners through a story of a daughter in her debate to return home from her travels for the holiday season. The work, which is out as an album and as a live show, merges classical music with Appalachian roots, and acts as half of the Winston-Salem Symphony’s upcoming Carolina Christmas concert. “I think of it more like a short folk opera,” Dossett said. Dossett sits in front of a small crowd, pausing in between songs to speak about the music. Thanks to a grant from the NC Arts Council, as part of the Year of NC Music, the Symphony and Dossett trace the two genres back to a time where they more commonly intertwined. Many of the instruments used in bluegrass, folk and other roots music historically find themselves in classical contexts, while some now only differ in technique with their modern orchestral equivalents. “The musics aren’t different,” Dossett said. “Everything about the categories SAVI ETTINGER Laurelyn Dossett plays tracks from The Gathering at the Gas Hill Drinking Room in Winston-Salem. they get put into are completely false and manmade.” The Gathering acts as part of an effort inclusion of a symphony in mind. The piece, originally commis“There are lights in the lowlands tonight,” she sings. from the Winston-Salem Symphony to sioned by the NC Symphony, leaves room for a string band, a “They’re a promise you’re never alone.” spotlight more local music. Travis Creed, full chorus and a symphony by allowing the music to guide the Among the large chorus and symphony, four key instrumengeneral manager of the symphony story rather than lyrics alone. Dossett also held tight to a few talists keep the core of the show firmly in roots music. Mike believes the purpose of the organizakey themes she considers touchstones to creating a Southern Compton on the mandolin, Joe Newburry on the banjo and tion stretches holiday scene. April Verch on the fiddle combine with Dossett’s guitar, makpast performing “The broader backdrop for all that ing for a sound that, aside from the banjo, could be found on a classical pieces family and connection,” Dossett said, classical stage. A Carolina Christmas is on Nov. from famous “is, to me, the pull of the moon in the In the height of The Gathering, Dossett attempts to hop 30 and Dec. 1. Buy tickets and composers or winter night sky.” from line to line in a song titled “Red bird.” The song takes the playing hourlearn more at wssymphony.org/ Dossett strums her guitar, ringing audience through the hustle of a large family celebration, uslong orchestral event/christmas/ out a melody titled “Lights in the ing four different main singers and lyrics laid on top of one anworks. Lowlands” that begins the song cycle. other. From the names used, to the images of children causing “I think an The lyrics act as a dialogue between havoc and lengthy pre-dinner prayers from grandparents, Dosorchestra is here a set of parents and the prodigal sett pulled the scene from her own family. Audience members to serve the community,” Creed said. daughter that Dossett sees as a motif of Southern Appalaclap and stomp in bluegrass tradition, causing a slight echo for “We want to serve the community and chian stories. Images of a night sky and flickering town lights a moment in the cozy venue. show our community.” seen from atop a mountain range appear as she works her way “Red bird sing and call the gathering day,” she belts. Dossett built the song cycle with the through the first song.

Nov. 21-26, 2019

CULTURE When classical meets roots: Laurelyn Dossett plays the folk opera

Nov. 21-26, 2019

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A “barrier of love” was created to protect students from hateful rhetoric and inflammatory signs when protesters from Westboro Baptist Church came to Guilford College.

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1 Sporty British car, for short 4 Pharmacy bottle 8 Military helicopter 14 Prosecutor’s need 16 Yokels 17 Drawn-out lyric in “The 12 Days of Christmas” 19 Fairly matched 20 Bathroom floor furnishings 21 Rockstar Games title, to fans 22 Chinese general on menus 24 Gp. that’s supposed to be green 26 Monarch who gives an annual Christmas speech, briefly 27 “Captain Underpants” creator Pilkey ©2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 30 Drag 32 Shakes awake 34 Panel game show dating back to the 1950s 38 “The Jeffersons” actress Gibbs 39 It’s multifaceted 40 German camera company 43 Activity involving a few windmills, maybe 46 Brent who played Data 48 Vast expanse 49 Badminton divider Answers from last issue 50 Mediation asset 51 “You’ve got mail” ISP 18 Clairvoyant’s claim 54 Strands in a crime lab 23 “Miss ___” (2016 Jessica Chastain political thriller) 56 Rice-Eccles Stadium footballer 25 Multi-episode story 57 Pointed file 26 Bogart’s role in “The Caine Mutiny” 59 Online post caption with someone 27 Low-lit pointing upward 28 “Selma” director DuVernay 63 Come through 29 Very thin pasta 68 Embedded, as tiles 31 “Alejandro” singer, casually 69 Diner sandwich 33 “The Orchid Thief” author Susan 70 Ear affliction 35 Brief flash 71 Crafter’s website 36 Game with 81 different cards 72 Part of GPS 37 Grounded birds 41 The Cavs, on scoreboards 42 Naval direction Down 44 Retirement nest egg 1 Boss, in Barcelona 45 “See me after class” writers? 2 Tel ___, Israel 46 Artist’s workroom 3 Yield 47 Inventor’s acquisition 4 Relax, with “out” 52 Rinkmaster Bobby 5 Question for an indecisive housecat 53 The L in PSL 6 “Defending our rights” org. 55 “___ Heart Mother” (Pink Floyd album) 7 Pigeon’s perching place 58 Securely closed 8 “Atlas Shrugged” writer Rand 60 Works the garden 9 Average score 61 Casually 10 Fish on a sushi menu 62 They flew at Mach 2 11 Cold medicine target 64 “Can ___ least think it over?” 12 Thwart completely 65 Edward ___ (Victoria’s successor) 13 Classic French work by Montaigne 66 Mag wheels? (which inspired a literary form) 67 Part of LGBTQIA+ 15 Body shop challenge

EVENTS

Nov. 21-26, 2019

CROSSWORD ‘I Strain’— each has three in a row. SUDOKU