Downtown Winston-Salem’s beloved cinema art house a/perture cinema has recently celebrated 13 years of showcasing the most diverse and inclusive films available to the Piedmont Triad.
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Those voted in the Top five during the nomination period in each category will move on to Final Round of voting March 8-April 19.
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4 KAU is a play on words. Pronounced phonetically, it’s “cow,” which reflects the meat section of a large menu. This is the restaurant in the renovated and repurposed Revolution Mill. Old brick walls and wood and concrete floors sustain the property’s history.
6 TRAUMA, an independent drama that marks the debut release of the Greensboro-based CMB Studios, will enjoy its world premiere Friday at The Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene Street, Greensboro.
8 In honor of Black History Month, the OLD TOWN FILM SERIES kicks off Tuesday (February 7) with the Oscarwinning Green Book (2018), followed by director/star Denzel Washington’s awardwinning The Great Debaters (2007).
8 North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Theatre Arts Program tackles one of Shakespeare’s most intimate family tragedies beginning Feb. 23.The full title of the play is “THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE,” written by William Shakespeare in 1603.
10 If you were a kid growing up in Winston-Salem during the late 1950s and early 1960s, you knew who BILLY PACKER was.
18 NOVELIST VALERIE NIEMAN, a retired A&T professor and former News & Record reporter now living in Rockingham County, was overjoyed to win the 2022 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction, given each December by the N.C. Literary and Historical Association to significant new novels by North Carolina Writers.
19 An old African proverb reads, “When an old person dies, a library burns to the ground.” That is what happened Jan. 18 when the wealth of Jamestown knowledge that was MARY BROWNING PASSED AWAY.
20 Guitarist and songwriter, TAYLOR AARON PARKER WILLIAMS is cresting a new wave with an upcoming show at the Flat Iron, a monthly residency at WineStyle, and his latest single “East Coast” out now.
5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 O ce 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930
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Charlotte – The public is invited to a meeting with the N.C. Department of Transportation this month to discuss the proposed extension of Clanton Road from Donald Ross Road to Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte.
The proposed project, State Transportation Improvement Program Project No. P-5730, would construct a grade separation over the Norfolk Southern rail line, and close the existing at-grade crossing on Donald Ross Road. It’s intended to address traffic and safety concerns and improve road and multimodal connections throughout the area.
Project details, including maps of the proposal, can be found on the NCDOT project web page at https://publicinput.com/clantonrd-ext.
The meeting will be held 5-7 p.m. February 16th at the American Legion at 1940 Donald Ross Road, Charlotte, NC 28208. Interested residents can drop in any time to learn more about the proposal, have questions answered and talk with NCDOT representatives. There will not be a formal presentation.
People may also submit comments by phone, email or mail by March 3rd.
For more information, contact NCDOT Rail Division Project Engineer Greg Blakeney at 919-707-4717; gmblakeney@ncdot.gov; or 1553 Mail Service Center in Raleigh.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Simone Robinson, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center in Raleigh; 919-707-6062; or strobinson1@ncdot. gov as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.
Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior by calling 1-800-481-6494.
Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan llamando al 1-800-481-6494.
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
Kau is a play on words. Pronounced phonetically, it’s “cow,” which reflects the meat section of a large menu. This is the restaurant in the renovated and repurposed Revolution Mill.
Old brick walls and wood and concrete floors sustain the property’s history.
The menu is wide-ranging and smartly constructed — comfort food, essentially, professionally executed. Proteins often appear in several different constructions — a starter, a sandwich, a casual bowl, or an entrée with vegetables, for example. This kind of ingredient utilization contributes to kitchen efficiency as well as customer flexibility.
Pulled Pork is available in Nachos (starter), Tacos, or sandwich. My party enjoyed the very tender texture and sweet barbecue sauce in an order of Tacos, further augmented by red onion slices and grain mustard. We weren’t as pleased with Brisket Tacos, due to fat and gristle, but a larger portion in a sandwich or entrée would probably ameliorate that issue.
Two starters earned particular praise. The Soul Roll is hearty, with fried chicken, bacon, and rice wrapped in fresh collard greens, then enclosed in a wonton and fried crisp. Spicy-sweet barbecue sauce lends accent, the overall flavor profile mellowed by pimiento cheese.
Sausage Dip bakes a blend of ground sausage, plus white cheddar, Parmesan and cream cheeses along with diced
red and green peppers, presented with tortilla chips, for a hearty result. A restaurant in this concept range has to provide a good hamburger, and Kau’s Bacon and ‘Shroom version certainly delivers the goods. The menu promises prime steak, ground in-house, and the depth of flavor revealed in the patty validates the pledge. Greater complexity is delivered through the addition of thick, crisp bacon slices and cooked mushrooms, plus Swiss cheese and Dijonnaise.
Beef Shortribs come in two variations, in a bowl or full entrée with two vegetable choices. We ordered the bowl, which came with collards (fresh) and mashed potatoes. The meat is fork-tender and moist, deeply flavored. Grilled Steak comes in a salad, tacos, sandwich, or a bowl. The bowl version is mostly a salad, with the steak cut up and chilled. Good quality meat, solid flavor, hosted by arugula, red and green onions, plus avocado slices, carrots, and tomatoes. We also ordered Meatloaf in a bowl, with mashed potatoes and green beans. Another solid production, also available in other configurations.
Grilled Shrimp appear on the menu as an entrée, but the kitchen will also pare down the serving and let you order this as an appetizer. The shrimp are jumbos, deveined, cooked just right tender, seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and parsley. Blackened Tuna is a standout, one of the best renditions of this perennially popular dish I have encountered. The fish bears no gristle, is delightfully fresh
tasting, its natural flavor enhanced but not overpowered by blackening spices. I ordered this as a full entrée, with two sides.
Vegetables tend to be a weak spot in a lot of Triad restaurants. But at Kau, all the ones I tried were commendable. French fries are crisp, bear no grease, and actually taste like real potatoes. Green beans are thin — haricot vertscooked al dente, with just a little garlic accent. Brussels sprouts are dabbed with balsamic syrup.
Since this is loose sweater-jacket weather, I could afford to share a dessert. Brownie a la Mode is made with Ghirardelli chocolate, topped with whipped cream and ice cream, laced with chocolate sauce. Can’t go wrong with that.
Kayne Fisher, one of the founders of Natty Greene’s, owns Kau. He wanted a more upscale place, based on a steak/ chop house concept, so when the Revolution Mill property became available, he took it, eventually separating from the highly successful downtown pub. An upscale butcher shop next door completes the Kau concept.
The Executive Chef is Doug Boxley. He has cooked professionally for about 30 years. The Manager is Zackary Odom, a UNC-G graduate with a degree in political science. He started at Kau as a
waiter after serving in the Marine Corps. I like everything about this place — the look, the food, the people. I’ll be going back! If you have not made Valentine’s reservations yet, give them a call. !
JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@ gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot.com.
Kau is located at 2003 Yanceyville Street in Greensboro, NC.
Phone: (336) 656-2410
Website: kaugreensboro.com
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Appetizers: $9-$28
Salads: $7-$23
Sandwiches and Burgers: $11-$17
Entrees: $12-$99
Desserts: $10
Most recent visit: January 12
rauma, an independent drama that marks the debut release of the Greensboro-based CMB Studios, will enjoy its world premiere Friday at The Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene Street, Greensboro. Tickets are $25 (general admission) and $100 (Trauma VIP Premiere Experience). Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and advance tickets are available here: https://carolinatheatre.com/ event/96201avhbrlkvrbqdmrmkrtnnbp dvnjlh/.
This gritty independent drama focuses on Travis (Christopher Bray), a tormented U.S. Army combat veteran unable to readjust to civilian life after his military
Tservice. His marriage falls apart, he becomes addicted to drugs, and his very sanity hangs in the balance. He attempts to turn his life around with the help of some of his fellow veterans, but many — like him — have descended into addiction and despair. Travis desperately seeks redemption, but the considerable emotional and physical obstacles he faces — some of his own doing — threaten to destroy him.
Trauma was written, produced, directed, and edited by Bray, himself an Army veteran and the founder of CMB Studios in Greensboro. A life-long devotee of cinema, he found his inspiration in such filmmakers as Quentin Tarantino and M. Night Shyamalan, who have always operated as independents even when working within the studio system. Having previously made three short films — Unrest, Russian Roulette, and Knock Knock — Bray and CMB Studios were recognized last August as Newcomer Business of the Year by the Triad Minority Business Network.
“My inspiration for this film was to bring the authentic truth about a very common epidemic in our Veterans community (regarding) mental health,” Bray explained. “I am pleased with the film, but the end result is what change can this film make with igniting a real change in how veterans are seen and treated in the country they served.”
As CMB Studios is headquartered here, “Trauma was shot in Greensboro but mostly shot in Axton, VA, where my family allowed me to use numerous properties for the artistic visual texture of a gritty rural town,” Bray said. “The cast is all local talent from Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham. There is potential and talent in the region, of course, but my goal is to bring film machines to the Triad. This is where acting studios train and develop great talent at the industry standard. This was my cast’s first time onscreen also, but as a director, I knew I had to challenge and develop rapidly.”
“There were a lot of unforeseen hurdles during production,” he admitted. “We had a tornado on our second day of production. There was no air-conditioning or WiFi in the location we all stayed at. I wanted to distress the cast before they hit set and it worked out perfectly!”
The “Trauma VIP Experience” at the Carolina Theatre includes a “meet-andgreet” in the Renaissance Room with members of the cast and crew. It is a catered event with step and repeat photo backdrops, cast and crew, a Q&A session with cast and crew members (including Bray), along with an autographed Trauma movie poster, and prime seating.
For more information, call (336) 3332605 or visit the o cial Carolina Theatre website at www.carolinatheatre.com/.
The o cial CMB Studios Instagram page is @cmbstudios.. !
See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2022, Mark Burger.
In honor of Black History Month, the Old Town Film Series kicks o Tuesday (February 7) with the Oscar-winning Green Book (2018), followed by director/ star Denzel Washington’s awardwinning The Great Debaters (2007) on February 21, both of which will be screened at 6 p.m. in the Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Drive, Winston-Salem. Both films are rated PG-13. Admission to all screenings is free, and refreshments will be available for purchase at the screenings.
The Old Town Film Series is the brainchild of Michael DeVitto Kelly, the recreation center supervisor of the Old Town Neighborhood Center. Originally from Cincinnati, Kelly began hosting film programs when he worked for the Broward County
Library System in South Florida.
“I’ve been doing film programs since about 2009,” he said. “I’ve always liked movies and I’m a big horror film fan, so one Mischief Night I showed Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein, and it was a big success. Since it was Florida, I programmed a month of killer-alligator movies and called it ‘Gator Nation.’ That also went over well.
“Wherever I’ve gone, I’ve done a film program, and when I started here, I asked (the city’s Recreation and Parks Department) about doing one. They said, ‘We’ve never done something like that before,’ and were all for it. If we get good (audience) numbers, we’ll expand to every week.”
In fact, Kelly’s already got two films lined up for March. “Since I’m part-Irish, we’ll be showing Waking Ned Devine, which is a delightful film, and Grabbers – which is essentially an Irish version of Tremors and a very funny comedy.”
Each screening will be preceded by Kelly’s introduction, which he insisted will be brief. “I don’t want to bore people,” he
joked. “After the film, we will have a discussion and talk about trivia. We’re going to mix it up. It should be a lot of fun.”
Despite winning Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), Green Book “surprisingly isn’t really all that well-known,” said Kelly, “and neither is The Great Debaters – which is a great movie. These days, a lot of good films are drowned out by superhero movies. I mean, how much depth is there to a comic-book character? I’m not saying we can’t have fun, but I wanted to program movies that will spur discussion.”
As well as his duties with the City of Winston-Salem’s Recreation and Parks Department, Kelly is also a papermaché artist and instructor, as well as a published author (his o cial website is https://www.divittowrites.com/), and he’s also a budding screenwriter, having adapted two of his novels into script form. With the Old Town Screening Series, he wants his audiences to simply enjoy themselves and the magic of movies. “Absolutely,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
For more information, call (336) 9223561 or e-mail michaelke@cityofws.org. !
See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2022, Mark Burger.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Theatre Arts Program tackles one of Shakespeare’s most intimate family tragedies beginning Feb. 23.
The full title of the play is “The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice,” written by William Shakespeare in 1603. The production is a rare example of a dramatic work by Shakespeare that remained popular in performance during the latter half of the 17th and 18th century and remains relevant today.
North Carolina A&T’s theatre is named for Paul Robeson, an American actor (1898–1976) who famously played the role of Othello in the Theatre Guild production in New York in 1943-44. It became the longest running Shakespeare play in the history of Broadway. But there were mixed reactions to Robeson as Othello in London and New York.
The son of an escaped slave, Robeson made his name as a singer and athlete before developing his acting career. Having faced racism at home, he first played the role, alongside Peggy Ashcroft’s Desdemona, Othello’s white wife, in London in 1930.
Robeson told the press in 1930: “They certainly wouldn’t stand in America for the kissing and for the scene in which I use Miss [Peggy] Ashcroft, roughly. The audience would get very rough: in fact, might become very dangerous.”
His Othello of 1930 was a West End success, but racist
prejudices lived on in many reviews, while o stage, Peggy Ashcroft received threatening letters.
Robeson used the new mass media to insist the play was a challenge to the modern world. “It is a tragedy of racial conflict,” he told transatlantic radio audiences. “Othello in the Venice of that time was in practically the same position as a coloured man in America today.”
Continuing the legacy of Robeson, this 2023 Othello production is skillfully directed by Xulee Vanecia J. Under her guidance, the searing social commentary of prejudice, betrayal, abuse, and jealousy masterfully unfolds. Othello, a Black Moor and military commander serving as a general of the Venetian army, seems to have everything
— power, position, and passion. He soon finds his world decimated by the intense mind games played upon him by someone he trusts the most – his closest confidante, Iago.
As the love of Othello and Desdemona is destroyed by envy and fact is twisted by innuendo, someone will pay the ultimate price. Shakespeare’s thunderous drama explores who we trust and the price we pay for choosing poorly. !
NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY is the nation’s largest historically Black university, as well as its top ranked (Money magazine, Best Colleges). It is a land-grant, doctoral university, classified as “high research” by the Carnegie Foundation and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System. A&T is known for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Production Dates and Times: Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25 at 3 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.
Performance Location: Paul Robeson Theatre on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University
Cost: adults $17, senior citizens & non-A&T students $11, children 12 and younger $6, A&T students free with Aggie One Card. For tickets, call 336-334-7749 or visit www.ncataggies.com
FEB 4 | 7:30 PM
Reynolds Auditorium
BY JILL STRICKLINCamel City Jazz Orchestra will host “Big Band Brunch,” a jazz brunch celebrating Valentine’s Day, on Sunday, February 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Millennium Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Attendees will enjoy a full brunch bu et with omelet and carving stations and wa es made to order, while listening to classic big band favorites played by CCJO. Mimosas, Bloody Mary cocktails, specialty co ee drinks and other non-alcoholic options will be available for purchase at a cash bar.
“In years past, CCJO has held a popular nighttime gala for Valentine’s Day,” said Jill Stricklin, president and co-founder of the jazz orchestra. “Since Valentine’s Day will fall on a Tuesday this year, we thought it was a good time to try out an idea we’ve had for a while – a big band jazz brunch on a Sunday. Everyone loves brunch, and the Millennium Center knows how to do it right. We thought Big Band Brunch would be a perfect way to celebrate the holiday with a date, family, or friends. Options are available to reserve romantic two-top tables, book larger tables for four or eight, or sit at a community table.”
“Classic big band music is nearly synonymous with romance,” said Cameron MacManus, trombonist and the band’s co-music director. “Those old-school ballads like ‘Stardust’ and ‘Prelude to a Kiss’ are perfect for slow-dancing, and the historical ambience of the Millennium Center really complements that aesthetic and transports you to another time.”
The Valentine’s Day performance has become an annual tradition for CCJO, a professional big band and nonprofit that celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022.
The organization’s mission is to provide live performances, learning experiences, and a supportive and rewarding environment to celebrate and perpetuate the uniquely American art form of jazz. This year, CCJO will partner with T.U.R.N., a United Way-funded nonprofit, to enable a group of ten students from Mineral Springs Middle School to attend the Valentine’s Day event, each with a guest. The students participate in one of T.U.R.N.’s community and educational outreach programs aimed at developing academic, social and emotional skills through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and other enrichment activities. The involvement with T.U.R.N. is made possible through a special collaboration with Innovation Sponsor Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton. The law firm of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete also is an event sponsor.
Tickets, at $50 per person, are available at CamelCityJazzOrchestra.org/ tickets, and must be purchased by February 7th.
ARTS COUNCIL is the chief advocate of the arts and cultural sector in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Our goal is to serve as a leader in lifting up, creating awareness and providing support to grow and sustain artistic, cultural and creative o erings throughout our region. We acknowledge that it takes every voice, every talent, and every story to make our community a great place to live, work, and play. Arts Council is committed to serving as a facilitator, organizer, and promoter of conversations that are authentic, inclusive, and forward-thinking. There are over 800,000 art experiences taking place in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County annually. To learn more about upcoming arts and culture events happening in our community please visit www.cityofthearts.com.
Door Sales at 6:30 PM
f you were a kid growing up in WinstonSalem during the late 1950s and early 1960s, you knew who Billy Packer was. At first, he was the fearless guard who, in 1962, led Wake Forest to its only Final Four appearance. The team was ranked as high as #3 in the nation that season, and Billy ended his stint with the Demon Deacons scoring over 1,300 points and averaging 82% at the free throw line. Billy also initiated the first o cial scrimmages between Wake and Winston-Salem State at a time when Black players and White players weren’t allowed to compete against each other.
Later, after his playing days were over, Billy served as an assistant coach for the
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IDeacs. Then, in 1972 he was asked by C.D. Chesley to fill in as an analyst on an ACC game being broadcast from Raleigh. The next year he was hired as the main analyst for ACC broadcasts and remained in that position until 2008. Billy knew the game of basketball inside and out and he was the best analyst in the business, so it’s not surprising that NBC came calling in 1974, and asked Packer to work their Final Four broadcast. He stayed with the Peacock network until CBS lured him away in 1981, and he continued to call Final Fours until 2008. In all, he worked 34 straight NCAA Final Four tournaments. Although Billy was born in New York and later made his home in Charlotte, generations of Winston-Salem natives considered Billy as one of our own. That’s because even prior to his achieving national prominence, Billy was always active in the area. He even showed up one evening at my nephew’s recreation league banquet to hand out trophies, and he was a fixture at the new Stratford Road Putt-Putt course in Winston, where he
served as play-by-play man for televised matches. Only Billy Packer could make Putt-Putt sound exciting.
I only worked with Billy briefly in 1974. I had just been hired by WFMY-TV, and he was contracted to produce and host a series of segments about ACC basketball. I ran studio camera for Billy and came to know him as a super nice guy, and the most prepared and knowledgeable basketball analyst in the history of television.
Several years ago, I called Billy and invited him to be a guest on my “Triad Today” TV show, but he declined. “Thanks, Jim, but I just don’t get up to Winston that often anymore,” he said. I was disappointed, and I regret not having the opportunity to interview him, but I understood. Billy Packer passed away last week at the age of 82. He was an original. He was the best at what he did. He was a legend. He was one of us. !
JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15).
Dear Editor,
I am writing to thank Greensboro area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.
Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is now sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.
Through shoeboxes — packed with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items — Greensboro area volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each giftfilled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Samaritan’s Purse delivered its milestone 200 millionth shoebox, which was packed on a country-wide tour and then hand-delivered to a young girl in Ukraine.
Across NC, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 704-583-1463.
Although local drop-off locations for gifts are closed until
Nov. 13-20, 2023, anyone can still be a part of this lifechanging project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/ buildonline.
These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.
Sincerely,
Casey GoodwinSamaritan’s Purse
Good morning!
Family Room is a foster care resource center in Greensboro who serves any child in foster care. We are an on call resource center that provides items, free of charge to children in foster care and the fostering families. Beds, furniture, clothes, shoes, toys, diaper and more. We received a grant from the Mary Lynn Richardson Fund in Dec for $16,613.53 to help fund the hiring of a new staff member to run our Provisions Program. Please consider running a story on Family Room and the support given through this grant. The more people who know about us, the more children in foster care we can help. You can check us out at www.familyroomtriad. com and on social media https://www.facebook.com/Familyroomtriad and https://www.instagram.com/familyroomtriad
Together,
Carrie Thompson Family Room Founder and Executive DirectorSTAY INFORMED AND CONNECTED TO THE ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY
YOUR LOCAL ARTS COUNCIL serving our Arts Community for over 60 years
uring the 21st century, as she wound down her acting career, Sarah Polley emerged as a strong, assured filmmaker. Her 2006 narrative debut, Away from Her, earned Polley an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and Julie Christie a nomination for Best Actress. She followed with Take This Waltz (2011), the autobiographical documentary feature Stories We Tell (2012), and episodes of the awardwinning TV series Hey, Lady! The only drawback is that Polley, a superb actress, hasn’t acted since 2010, electing instead to concentrate on writing and directing.
With Women Talking, Polley continues on her course by making a relevant drama that is both challenging and timely. Based on the best-selling 2018 novel by Miriam Toews and inspired by actual events, the film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture and another for Polley’s adapted screenplay.
The action is confined to the grounds of a Mennonite colony that is both insu-
Dlated and isolated. The actual story took place in Manitoba County, Bolivia, but here it has been transplanted to Ontario, Canada, including Toronto (where Polley was born). For years, the female members of the colony have been systematically drugged and raped by the men. Some have even had children, but at long last, the situation has spiraled out of control and several of the men have been jailed.
The women congregate in a barn to weigh their options. They can leave the colony, remain and fight, or do nothing. The latter option is quickly discarded, and thus commences an often-heated debate about the course of action they should take. Time is short, as the imprisoned men will shortly be released on bail.
Enriched by Luc Montpellier’s stark cinematography, which strongly evokes the mood of German Expressionism, Women Talking is occasionally long-winded but mostly on-target. It’s impossible not to sympathize with the women’s plight. The colony has always been dominated by males, to such an extent that most of the women are illiterate. They are not wise to — or even aware — of the ways of the modern world. Essentially, they’re on their own. There are moments of greatness here, even if the film isn’t always great.
One thing that cannot be faulted is the stellar ensemble cast. Like the majority of actors-turned-directors — whether it’s
Clint Eastwood or Kenneth Branagh or Ben A eck — Polley allows her actors to carry the narrative, and the cast of Women Talking is more than up to the task. Claire Foy’s Salome and Jessie Buckley’s Mariche are the most vocal of the group, seething with betrayal and outrage. Theirs are unquestionably the juiciest roles.
Hats o to Polley for giving Judith Ivey (as Agata) and Sheila McCarthy (as Greta) their biggest screen roles in a long while. As the “elders,” they cannot help but acknowledge their own complicity in what has transpired over the years but have finally reached their breaking point as well. All they’ve known is the colony, and for them, the looming possibility of departure forces them to re-examine their priorities, to say nothing of their faith.
In contrast is Rooney Mara’s Ona, who almost seems an objective, even serene, observer of these goings-on, despite having been impregnated herself. It’s a good performance but not a particularly dynamic character, and Mara is often overshadowed by her more energetic co-stars. Ben Whishaw, one of the very few males of significance in the cast, plays August, whose own family was banished from the colony years before but is still trusted as a teacher. He also carries an
impossible torch for Ona, and she for him — a subplot that never quite reaches its full potential for drama. Whishaw occasionally overdoes the character’s gawky awkwardness but is nevertheless sincere in the role. Alas, the wonderful Frances McDormand (doubling as a producer) is essentially relegated to a cameo role, although few convey wounded dignity better than she.
The overall mood of the film is, naturally, quite somber, but it’s not without moments of levity and even joy. There’s also a palpable sense of triumph in what the women are doing. There’s no question they’ve been wronged, or that it’s been going on for years. Now, at long last, they’re doing something about it. As the title implies, they’re talking — and whatever decision they make things will not be the same. They will take action. They may not necessarily be better o but are devout enough in their faith to take that chance. Women Talking is not just about female empowerment, but simple human dignity. For that alone, its worth cannot be disputed. !
APOSTLES (Breaking Glass Pictures): Writer/producer/director Scud’s stylish drama stars Jach Chow as a filmmaker and philosopher who invites a dozen men to a weekend retreat where they explore their sexuality (sometimes in very graphic terms) and debate about death (frequently in very pretentious terms). Rambling and self-indulgent in the extreme, with an eye-rolling finale — although the filmmaker includes a devastating, self-parodying scene that ranks as the film’s high point. In English, Cantonese, Japanese and Portuguese with English subtitles, available on DVD ($24.99 retail).
BEING THUNDER (Film Movement): Writer/cinematographer/director Stephanie Lamorré’s feature documentary profiles Sherente Mishitahin Harris, a genderqueer teenager of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island, whose participation in Native American dancing events is celebrated by more open-minded observers but frowned upon by others who adhere to the absolute letter of tradition, available on DVD ($29.95 retail).
BLOOD-RED OX (Breaking Glass Pictures): Writer/producer/director Rodrigo Bellott’s evocative chiller stars Mazin Akar and producer Kaolin Bass as a gay couple whose trip to the Bolivian rainforest descends into suspicion and madness. Sergio Bastani’s cinematography (appropriately blood-red in certain sequences), Chase Deso’s nerve-jangling score, and beautiful locations are a major asset, as is the chemistry between Akar and Bass (both making their feature debuts), but after a genuinely enticing and surreal build-up this goes completely o the rails and never recovers. A nice try gone awry. In English and Spanish with English subtitles, available on DVD ($24.99 retail).
BRAINWASHED: SEX — CAMERAPOWER (Kino Lorber): Filmmaker Nina Menkes wrote, produced, and directed this award-winning documentary feature based on her lecture “Sex & Power: The Visual Language of Cinema,” in which she examines how females have been objectified in the medium, featuring interviews with historians, psychologists, and celebrities (including Rosanna Arquette and Charlyne Yi). This potentially interesting treatise is undermined by high-handed self-importance, repetition, and a meandering focus that attempts — with middling results — to tie the subject into the larger aeras of gender disparity and sexual
BY MARK BURGER
Paramount Pictures had no idea how to market this 1969 caper comedy to American audiences, but in its native Britain it’s one of the best-loved films of all time. It was Noel Coward’s last film, director Peter Collinson’s best film, and cemented Michael Caine’s star status.
He plays Charlie Croker, a recently paroled ex-con who masterminds a daring $4 million robbery of gold bullion in Turin during a World Cup soccer match. To this end, he enlists the help of eccentric Prof. Simon Peach (the inimitable Benny Hill) to sabotage the tra c system during the heist, and the assistance of imprisoned crime boss Mr. Bridger (Coward) to bankroll the job. Complicating things is the Italian mafia, represented by Raf Vallone’s ruthless Mr. Altabani, which doesn’t take kindly to outside agitators causing trouble on their turf.
Some of the humor has dated, but The Italian Job remains a bouncy, bubbly confection with a great Quincy Jones score, great locations, great cars (and crashes), eye-popping stunt work, an unforgettable ending, and a theme song (“The Self-Preservation Society”) that will rattle around in your head long after the end credits.
And remember: “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors o !”
Both the special-edition Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo ($39.95 retail) include audio commentaries, retrospective documentaries and featurettes and interviews, theatrical trailers, and more. Rated PG.
harassment in the workplace, available on DVD ($19.95 retail) and Blu-ray ($34.95 retail).
DETECTIVE KNIGHT: REDEMPTION (LionsGate): Director/screenwriter
Edward Drake’s follow-up to last year’s Detective Knight: Rogue again stars Bruce Willis in the title role, a disgraced cop sprung from prison to track down Paul Johansson’s demented prison chaplain (!) known as “The Christmas Bomber,” who leads a fanatical band of Santa-clad baddies on a series of violent bank robberies. Corey Large (who also produced and co-wrote the story with Drake), Lochlyn Munro, Beau Mircho , Michael Eklund, John Cassini, and Jimmy Jean-Louis also encore from the earlier film, and Detective Knight: Independence is next on the horizon. The Die Hard analogy is all too obvious, and despite playing the main character Willis appears only intermittently. Frankly, it’s depressing to know that these will likely be his last movies. Both the DVD ($19.98 retail) and Blu-ray ($21.99 retail) include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Rated R.
MEN AT WORK (MVD Entertainment Group): Emilio Estevez wrote, directed, and co-stars with brother Charlie Sheen in
this flimsy, knockabout 1990 farce about a pair of fun-loving garbagemen who stumble across an illegal scheme to dump toxic waste. Despite the siblings’ e ortless chemistry, this doesn’t add up to much, although the supporting cast is solid: Leslie Hope, John Getz, Dean Cameron, Darrell Larson, Cameron Dye, John Putch, Sy Richardson (who appeared with Estevez in 1984’s superior Repo Man), and reliable Keith David (very funny as a paranoid Vietnam veteran). The “MVD Rewind Collection” Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes collectible mini-poster and original trailer. Rated PG-13.
MY IMAGINARY COUNTRY (Icarus Films Home Video): Patricio Guzman, the acclaimed Chilean documentary filmmaker, once turns his cameras on his beloved nation in this absorbing, award-winning chronicle (originally titled Mi pais imaginario) detailing the protests that rocked Chile in 2019, featuring interviews with activists who discuss their reasons — many first-hand — for standing against the economic, political and social injustices that continued to flourish 50 years after the Pinochet regime, during which Guzman himself was imprisoned). In addition to the filmmaker’s breathtaking footage of the movement’s scope, his steady and
concise narration — combined with the palpable hope he has for Chile’s future — make this a timely, even inspirational look at global politics, the power of the people, and indeed the power of cinema. In Spanish with English subtitles, available on DVD ($29.98 retail).
“MY LIFE IS MURDER”: SERIES 2 (Acorn): Executive producer Lucy Lawless is back on the case as ex-cop-turnedprivate investigator Alexa Crowe, who returns to her hometown of Auckland where she balances her personal and private lives, in all 10 episodes from the 2022 season of the popular mystery series, with series regulars Ebony Vagulans, Rawiri Jobe, and Joseph Naufahu joined by guest stars Temuera Morrison, Craig Hall, and Roy Billing, available on DVD ($59.99 retail).
MYSTERY MEN (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The 4K Ultra HD combo bow ($39.95 retail) of Kinka Usher’s only feature directorial e ort to date, an overblown 1999 adaptation of Bob Burden’s comic-book series depicting the misadventures of misfit superheroes. There are some inspired moments of lunacy, but overall this is an ambitious misfire that squanders a golden opportunity and a top-flight cast: Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, Janeane Garofalo, Geo rey Rush, Lena Olin, Wes Studi, Kel Mitchell, Paul Reubens, Luis Guzman, Eddie Izzard, Claire Forlani, Tom Waits, and Ricky Jay. Bonus features include audio commentary, retrospective featurettes, vintage behindthe-scenes featurette, theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, and more. Rated PG-13.
NO MERCY (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Richard Gere headlines this noir-ish 1986 thriller as a Chicago cop who travels to New Orleans to track down his partner’s killer (Jeroen Krabbé) and abducts the killer’s girlfriend (Kim Basinger). Guess what happens next? Director Richard Pearce maintains a steady pace, the New Orleans locations add great atmosphere, and a solid cast includes George Dzundza, William Atherton, Ray Sharkey, Gary Basaraba, George Dickerson, Charles S. Dutton, and reliable Bruce McGill. The special-edition Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes retrospective interview with Krabbé and theatrical trailer. Rated R. !
See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2020, Mark Burger.
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FEBRUARY 2
MARK HARRISON & THE FAIRLANES TRIO
FEBRUARY 9
METRO JETHRO’S VOTED
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
Sure, your fancy SUV may have ventilated seats and Wi-Fi, but does it have electrified door handles? The Guardian reported on Jan. 25 that a new vehicle has hit the market targeted at the particularly fearful driver — the Rezvani Vengeance. Costing up to $499,000, the Vengeance has bulletproof glass, strobe lights, wing mirrors that emit pepper spray and no back windshield — instead, the driver can monitor a live video stream of what’s going on behind the car. Sure to win you a popularity contest in the pickup lane at your kid’s school, the Vengeance also has a loudspeaker so you can call to little Timmy without leaving the safety of your seat. Extras include bulletproof vests, helmets and gas masks. The Irvine, California, company teases potential buyers on the website: “Vengeance is yours.” Wow.
Five lucky participants will clear a cool $1,000 to do what they wanted to do anyway: Eat cheese before bedtime. Fox5-TV reported that Sleep Junkie, a mattress review website, hopes to test the legend that eating cheese before bed causes nightmares, so they’re asking “dairy dreamers” to consume a wide variety of cheeses, log their sleep and provide feedback about sleep quality, energy levels and bad dreams. The best part? Participants will be reimbursed for the cheese! The catch: You have to sleep
A 31-year-old woman was charged with two counts of robbery and possession of a weapon (ahem) on Jan. 22 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, after a puzzling attempt to steal a pizza, the CBC reported. Around 3 a.m., she allegedly entered a crowded restaurant and demanded a pizza, brandishing a firecracker as a threat. She was denied the pie, so she lit the firework and ran o with a pizza. Outside the restaurant, she got into a cab, but the driver asked her to get out because she was being belligerent. When the driver stepped out of the car, she jumped into his seat and took o , dragging the 54-year-old several meters down the street. O cers caught up with the stolen cab and caught the pizza thief when she became stuck in a snowbank.
A dump truck driver in Contra Costa County, California, either couldn’t read or didn’t care when he barreled through a road closure barricade on Jan. 23, KTVU-TV reported, and ended up with his front left wheel in a sinkhole. The “road closed” sign was found beneath his vehicle, and the driver escaped without injury. Excessive rains have caused “flooding, mudslides, sinkholes and other issues” in the area, county o cials noted.
If you’re looking for a crafty project for 2023, the online shop Savor has you covered, Slate reported. For the low, low price of $46.95, you can put together your own “In Case I Go Missing” binder, which Savor says “makes it super easy for the true-crime obsessed to record their key stats for their loved ones.” Those facts include medical and financial information, fingerprints and lists of “hangout spots.” One woman said she added “a hair sample just in case they need it for DNA testing.” Elizabeth Jeglic, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, soothingly says, “The majority of adults will not go missing or be kidnapped.” Her colleague Patrick McLaughlin o ers some ideas for the kit, though: recent photos, the unlock code for your phone, pics of tattoos, scars or birthmarks, handwriting samples — but he warns that such binders might not be admissible as evidence.
Vanyar, one of the equine competitors in the Tokay Stakes race on Jan. 22 in Nagoya, Japan, crossed the finish line first. However, Oddity Central reported, Vanyar was missing one thing, which led to his being disqualified: a rider. Vanyar’s jockey fell o as soon as they left the gate, and the second-place horse’s jockey couldn’t catch up to the riderless horse (although they were the technical winners). After crossing the finish line, Vanyar coolly slowed down and sauntered o toward the exit.
KFC Thailand has partnered with perfume experts during the Lunar New Year to create what every finger-lickin’ good fan wants: fried chicken incense. Oddity Central reported that the incense sticks look good enough to eat and smell even better. Alas, you can’t buy them: The incense will be awarded through a ra e on KFC Thailand’s Facebook page. !
©2022 Andrews McMeel Universal
11 Lead-in to thermal
12 Sophia of “Firepower”
13 Doctors in training
14 “Boyfriend” singer Simpson
15 “You — have worried”
16 According to
17 Enthusiasm
18 Markswoman Oakley
19 Surgical beam source
24 Encircle with a belt
29 Sue Grafton’s “— for Evidence”
33 Papas’ other halves 34 Central German river
Deputy: Abbr.
Oct. clock setting
Plan detail 42 Choose (to)
Fishing pole 46 Asmara native
Midday snooze
Salon supply 49 “Understood, dude” 50 Farm tower
72 Singer Redbone
Downtown Winston-Salem’s beloved cinema art house a/perture cinema has recently celebrated 13 years of showcasing the most diverse and inclusive films available to the Piedmont Triad. Like so many local businesses, it continues to navigate its way out of COVID-19’s aftermath, but not without bringing back the much anticipated 5th season of Black Cinema this February. The upcoming series of four films have been specially curated by local actor Donald Elise Watkins, a native of Greensboro and graduate of both Greensboro College and Louisiana State University.
During last year’s Sundance Film Festival Satellite Screen, a/perture cinema was one of the seven selected independent art house cinemas throughout the country to show a specially curated selection of films. One of these films was Emergencystarring Watkins. The actor attended the screening without letting anyone know and aperture/cinema founder, executive director and curator, Lawren Desai recognized him upon his arrival. After the film, Desai and Watkins were able to connect and keep in touch, leading Desai to invite the actor to guest-curate the film selection for this year’s Black Cinema.
The first four seasons of the event have showcased a range of films from a series featuring and honoring the late Lena Horne to a film selection based on a Kwame Brathwaite exhibit in conjunction with an exhibit at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. All of the film selections are always directed by Black filmmakers, and this year’s event will be celebrating Black Fatherhood, a theme chosen by Watkins. A father himself, the actor finds himself regularly gravitating towards the strong, male figures that surround him in everyday life, who mirror parts of himself, his father, or his grandfather in film. Watkins had many films to work with however the four in the final selection scheduled for the season are by far the most special to him.
While a/perture cinema is without a doubt true to its mission of celebrating and representing all filmmakers working in the film industry beyond specific times of the year, it is no secret that people tend to be more in tune with Black cinema during the month of February.
“We do this all year,” said Desai. “But this is when everybody pays attention, so we especially want to focus on Black filmmakers in February.
when everybody pays attention, so we especially want to focus on Black filmmakers in February. It’s just natural that we want to not just do a series, but have it curated by members and artists of the Black community.”
Desai hopes the upcoming showings of Boyz N the Hood, Daddy’s Little Girls, Fruitvale Station, and Black Box will sell out.
The cinema recently updated its website and one of its new features allows the theater the ability to o er an event pass online to all four films for $35. This cost includes sales tax and booking fees and will allow the audience to enjoy four films for the price of two. Desai, who is very aware of the behavioral changes in audiences following the pandemic, hopes to encourage attendance through this new approach.
“We see people don’t plan to come to see films in advance anymore,” she said. “People don’t buy online tickets the way they used to, it’s more of a last-minute thing, so I’m hopeful this will help people commit to seeing these films.”
Additionally, Desai hopes to encourage white audiences to consider coming to see the series and the other way around when it comes to other a/perture cinema events.
“I think for things to change in the industry, people need to be open to seeing all types of films made by all types of filmmakers,” she said. “And as a cinema, we have to be part of that, too, by giving filmmakers opportunities on our screens.” The mother of a fifteen-year-old, a/ perture cinema is Desai’s second baby, and now second teenager, which she confesses she secretly opened partly so she could also have the opportunity to enjoy these unique films.
Reflecting back to when a/perture cinema first opened
on January 8th of 2010, it’s impossible to ignore the continuous and very rapid changes in the film industry. The streaming availability through platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime has inevitably impacted movie theaters, which only worsened with the arrival of the pandemic. Continuing to run in what’s a very di erent world, a/perture cinema finds itself in a “recovery” mode pre-pandemic, a reality for many small businesses and nowhere near where it was in 2019. However, it’s standing strong and eager to continue getting to know its audience today while remaining creative, adaptable, and committed to the change it wants to see in the world.
The upcoming year seems to be promising with the release of many more films than in the last couple of years, which Desai hopes will also drive audiences back to the theater. While there are many who may prefer to watch a movie from the comfort of their couch, there is no replica of the movie magic that happens while in a movie theater.
“I think it’s really important that we continue to remind people of the magic of going to see a movie in a cinema,” said Desai. “And I’m not just talking about a/perture. I’m talking about movie theaters in general. We can’t take it for granted, because even if film has been around for over a hundred years, things go away.” !
For details on aperture/ cinema’s Black Cinema 2023, visit https:// aperturecinema.com/programs/black-cinema/.
Novelist Valerie Nieman, a retired A&T professor and former News & Record reporter now living in Rockingham County, was overjoyed to win the 2022 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction, given each December by the N.C. Literary and Historical Association to significant new novels by North Carolina Writers.
“Just look at the list of people who’ve received this award over the past 70 years,” said Neiman. “So many are my heroes!” Since 1952, winners have included Hillsboro’s Lee Smith, WinstonSalem’s John Ehle, and Greensboro’s Fred Chappell.
Nieman said she never expected In the Lonely Backwater to win the most prestigious award for books by North Carolina writers. Set in a fictional version of the rural environs of Kerr Lake, it crosses genre and marketing boundaries.
“It is from a small press and kind of an unusual book on these borderlands between adult and young adult fiction. And it’s also a murder mystery. So, I was overjoyed to receive this award. They give you a little bronze statue of Sir Walter Raleigh, so you feel like you’re getting an Oscar. There’s something about a physical token of the intangible thing we writers do by ourselves, laboring away over keyboards.”
Reviewing In the Lonely Backwater for StorySouth, acclaimed former NC Poet Laureate and UNCG Professor Emeritus Fred Chappell began by asking “can Valerie Nieman surprise us literarily while following closely the rules of the whodunnit?” The answer, according to Chappell, is yes.
“This novel is an intricate and intriguing work of art. Its intricacies are not mere twists of plotline; they are necessary and inevitable. They define, redefine, in a serious manner, the term, mystery.”
There have been many previous novels, films, and TV shows in which a teenager attempts to solve the murder of a classmate, but Nieman’s protagonist and unreliable narrator, Maggie Warshauser, is an unusual (and flawed) amateur
detective. Studious and lonely, Maggie is obsessed with nature, science, taxonomy, and sailing. Her heroes include two very di erent 17th-century notables, the pioneering botanist/taxonomist Carl Linnaeus and the fierce Caribbean pirate Anne Bonny.
I talked to Nieman about the challenges that older authors face when writing from the perspective of a 16-year-old.
“She’s clearly a bit of an oddball, so she’s not part of the mainstream of her school. And this is set in a rural area and a small school, so we’re not dealing with all of the things that would be part of an urban environment. I grew up out in the country near a small town so that part of it is very very familiar and I don’t really need to think about that.”
Nieman’s experience with teaching young people helped.
“I taught undergrads at A&T, spending a lot of time with people who are 18, 19, 20, and that’s very healthy. It gets you out of being locked in your generation.”
Having been a journalist also helped.
“I drew on my years as a cops and courts reporter, where the great stories were and people did dramatic things compared to covering the zoning commission.”
She said she had no choice but to write from the viewpoint of a 21st-century teenager once Maggie materialized in her head.
“As with all of my books, the voice just kind of took me. I’d been noodling around about some kind of novel about sailing or a young woman out in the woods. I had these mental notes gathered, but nothing was clicking together, and then I found my high school yearbook, and there was a photo of one of my classmates in there, on it, she had written something like ‘I hope we can get together and talk this thing out sometime.’ And she signed it ‘Love’.”
Neiman has no memory of what that was about.
“Not a clue, but it made me think about those passionate arguments and problems that occur when you’re 16 and they’re just crucially important. That sort of gathered together all of the other loose threads and it coalesced. When Maggie started talking, it was just hang on and follow her.”
She said she never expected sheri ’s detective Drexel Vann to be a major character.
“I had ideas of the directions it might go, and I thought it was going to be primarily Maggie, Matt, and her father. But when the detective walked in, it was like, oh Hell, this guy is going to be important. There was this immediate push-pull between him and Maggie that drives the book: attraction and repulsion, fear and longing, a very complex relationship between those two characters that I didn’t envision. That drew on my experience of being around detectives. He’s partly modeled on one that I worked with for many years, and really respected, because he was very low-key, diligent, quiet, not flashy, a good person to work with.”
I asked her how the novel crosses genre and gender boundaries.
“On one level, it is about a crime and the pursuit of truth — you know, a traditional mystery in one respect. It’s also very much about coming of age, it’s about how you become yourself, often in the absence of models or encouragement, and even in the face of outright hostility. Maggie is someone who is not quite sure, as we often are not, who she is. She’s insecure about her gender expression because she’s a big, sturdy girl who likes sailing, working around the marina, and being in the woods by herself. Yet, her closest models are her mother and [the murder victim] Charisse, who are very traditional, prettypretty, girly-girly. So, she’s caught in this bind between how she feels herself to be and what she sees as her options in the world, and that’s part of the struggle to define herself throughout the book.”
I asked Nieman about her fictional setting of Filliyaw Creek, North Carolina.
“It’s based on Kerr Lake, which is northeast of Raleigh and hardly anybody seems to know it, even though it’s a huge lake that extends North of Henderson up into Virginia and back, so there’s like two big arms of this lake. It’s above Lake Gaston, and acts as a kind of bu er, as they let it rise and fall to keep Lake Gaston level.”
She said that rural Rockingham County, where she’s lived since moving out of Greensboro, is like where she grew up in the Appalachian part of New York state. “There are two counties in Western New York that are considered Appalachia. Very rural farming area on the Allegheny Plateau.”
Neiman was hired by the News and Record in 1997 to be the newspaper’s bureau chief in Rockingham County.
“In 2000, I moved to Greensboro because I wanted to move up in the paper and not be a bureau chief forever. But I quickly saw it wasn’t going to happen, and I went back to school and got my MFA at Queens University in Charlotte in 2004 and was willing to go either way, newspaper or teaching, and then the teaching path opened for me. I spent from 2004 to 2021 at A&T and retired as a full professor. That’s something I was very proud of, and which is now hard to do. Tenure tracks are another thing that’s going away.”
In the Lonely Backwater, which was published by the Raleigh-based Fitzroy Books last May, can be purchased at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, Sunrise Books in High Point, and Pig City Books in Lexington. It’s also available in paperback and as an e-book from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, but Nieman had special praise for the Triad’s indy bookstores.
“It’s a wonder that North Carolina has had such a renaissance in those, with Steve and Brian at Scuppernong leading the way. There were so many years when it was the corporate chain or nothing.” !
An old African proverb reads, “When an old person dies, a library burns to the ground.” That is what happened Jan. 18 when the wealth of Jamestown knowledge that was Mary Browning passed away.
Browning, 93, was the go-to person for information not only of Jamestown buildings and history but genealogy as well. Her knowledge is evident in her five published books. She even acted as a movie producer when she interviewed former Oakdale Cotton Mill workers and village residents for a short film.
In 2013 the Historic Jamestown Society, of which she was an early member, honored Browning during Mary Browning Appreciation Day and began a yearly tradition of awarding the Mary A. Browning Historic Preservation Award to honor and encourage preservation e orts in the area. The award was part of the 40th anniversary recognition of HJS. Browning, as expected, was the first recipient.
“Mary Browning lived with a purpose, aware of the need to preserve our history and our rich heritage,” said HJS President Julia Ebel. “Known for her research and her books on our local history, she has broadened awareness for many of us and left us a treasure trove of facts and insight.”
Ebel added that Mary was a steady guide, giver, and supporter of Historic Jamestown Society and of the community.
“With their insight and foresight, that group put their vision and dreams to work to recover a beautiful centerpiece in our community and countless stories of the mark our community has made on history, not just history here, but far beyond as well. Mary Browning’s research and involvement played a critical role in putting Jamestown on the map.”
“That process of preserving our history, learning from it, and sharing is a continuing process. Historic Jamestown Society continues to learn, to grow, and also to share. As we grow, Mary’s example and her contributions will continue to inform and inspire us. We are both grateful and indebted to her.”
Browning used census records and the National Archives as well as research in the Friends Historical Collection (now the Quaker Archives) at Guilford College, local libraries and newspaper archives to compile her ever-expanding notes on the area.
“Mary Browning was a favorite re-
searcher and also a longtime volunteer in the Quaker Archives,” remembers Gwen Gosney Erickson, Quaker Archivist & Special Collections Librarian. “Her passion for Jamestown history connected with the Quaker families with deep Guilford College connections.
“In addition to helping others and conducting her own local history research, she also shared her expertise as a writer and editor. She served as editor of The Southern Friend: The Journal of the North Carolina Friends Historical Society in the early 2000s and also received a writing award from that same organization in 2014 for her essay ‘The Slaves of George C. Mendenhall of Jamestown, North Carolina.’”
Browning also did a lot of research in the Heritage Research Center at the High Point Public Library.
“She was a lady of great dignity, dedicated to high research standards and always generous with her time and knowledge,” said Larry Cates, librarian at the HRC. “Her familiarity with Guilford County records and Jamestown history was unparalleled and she dedicated herself unfailingly to historic preservation in Jamestown.”
Browning almost single-handedly undertook the responsibility of documenting Jamestown’s history in her books, multiple newspaper articles in the Greensboro News and Record and a video.
The deep interest in all things James-
town is a little strange when one realizes Browning was from Iowa and spent several years in the Marshall Islands when her husband was transferred there for his work. Her research and writing interest began there. When the couple and their two sons moved to Jamestown in 1969, she immediately got to work learning about her new home, working with the Guilford County Bicentennial Commission, which was headquartered in the old Potter House. She learned much about Jamestown by volunteering at the new High Point Museum.
“I won’t even try to explain why I am always so curious about the history of the many places I’ve lived, why I want so much to know what really happened here. It is just something I have always done,” Browning said in the preface to Historical Places in Jamestown
“Mary Browning was a gracious and generous mentor and a dear friend who will be greatly missed,” reads a post by Shawn Rogers, director of Mendenhall Homeplace, on that website. “Over the last 50 years, she made significant and far-reaching contributions to the research, interpretation and publication of local history and genealogy in Guilford County. It’s not much of a stretch to say that Mary likely transcribed and compiled linear miles of historic documents and records that now serve as accessible resources for those who endeavor to learn more about the history of Jamestown
and the surrounding communities.
“Her legacy also lives on in the many contributions she made to Historic Jamestown Society and its primary holding, Mendenhall Homeplace. She labored diligently and faithfully to fulfill the mission of Historic Jamestown Society to preserve and interpret the rich history of Jamestown, North Carolina — while exhibiting the sharp wit, keen sense of humor,and kind, generous spirit that endeared her to so many of us who were lucky enough to have known her.”
“When I came to work as a writer for the Jamestown News in 2007, I began researching and writing about the town’s history,” said Carol Brooks. “It was my goal not to receive a phone call from Mary when the paper came out telling me what I got wrong. I soon achieved that goal and we became good friends.”
As a professional genealogist, she also used her knowledge to help families research their roots and edited The Guilford Genealogist, the quarterly journal of the Guilford County Genealogical Society, for 12 years.
“For years, anyone contacting Guilford College to request genealogical research for hire relating to Guilford County Quakers was referred to Mary,” Erickson said. “She was knowledgeable and a joy to be around. Personally, I valued our thoughtful conversations and her sense of humor.”
“Mary Browning was a multi-talented woman who lived life authentically — no flash and dash, just straightforward in her relationships and in her chosen endeavors,” said Shirley Haworth, recent past-president of the Historic Jamestown Society. “Her knowledge of local history and genealogical connections was awe-inspiring. As I became president of HJS, Mary was my mentor and encourager, a rming my leadership e orts when appropriate and suggesting new challenges for me and for the Society. What a privilege it was to know her and to learn from her. She cannot be replaced; she will be missed.” !
Guitarist and songwriter, Taylor Aaron Parker Williams is cresting a new wave with an upcoming show at the Flat Iron, a monthly residency at WineStyle, and his latest single “East Coast” out now.
A Greensboro native (and selfdescribed purveyor of “sad boy songs”), Williams is part of the garage-funk Afropunk band Black Haüs and regular fixture among the jazzheads and R&B artists at the Flat Iron — he’s been known to pop a falsetto at College Hill’s karaoke nights — and is relishing the enrichment of growing a catalog of his own material, nurtured by the endearment of his friends.
“The love I got for the ‘Val’ EP gave
me so much confidence,” Williams said, reflecting on his 2021 solo debut. “It made me want to create more and be ok with taking risks like that.”
“I always wanted to make a persona for myself,” he continued. “So that gave me an outlet to make whatever I wanted.”
The follow-up, “Black Summer,” was released towards the end of 2022 — turning the confidence instilled by Williams’ friends into a collaborative opportunity. Where “Val” featured only Eli Fribush on a single track, “Black Summer” hosted a handful of Triad artists. “It was another experiment, but one where I just wanted to collaborate with as many people as possible,” he explained. “I’d write a hook and they’d hop on with their own style.”
Those styles blended to the tune of “Have You Ever Been in Love?,” both a track and overarching theme across the record. “I wanted to do a collaborative project and get someone di erent on every track like the Gorillaz. It was really fun to make,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful for all the contributions. They did wonderful.”
Pulling from the jamband and hip-hop communities, Nash Devereaux appears on the title track, Jessica Schneider and Dope Sutton are on “Tell Me When You Wanna Run,” Og Spli , ROYAL MARQUÍS, Lovey
The Don shines on “Diamonds,” and Nick VanBuskirk (who’ll play in Williams’ live band with Del Ward and Pete Ross at the Flat) is featured in the album’s closer.
“I’m surrounded by insanely talented people which pushes me to do a lot more,” Williams admitted — acknowledging the competitive nature of growing up in a “sports” family. “I wanted to be di erent and play music instead,” he noted. “It all started as a sibling rivalry with my brother — then I took it and ran with it.”
While Williams enjoys the competition, in practice, his work resonates with a collaborative passion — beyond Black Haüs, he’s a popular sit-in musician — regularly performing in the “friends” realm of backup additions for artists like the Super Yamba Band. “I love playing with people,” he said. “I’m usually in the background whenever I play and I like it that way.”
Praising the independence he sees in influences like Blood Orange, Mac Demarco, Prince, Blood Orange, and Pharrell Williams’ has been readying himself to step forward on occasion — -booking solo shows and exploring a variety of sounds across his catalog. “Every release has a
di erent vibe and I want to keep it that way,” he said. “I don’t want to be an artist that does the same thing every project. I want to have fun with it and try new things, and I hope that shows in my work.”
Fun remains paramount — despite Williams’ penchant for songs exploring the “sad boy” sort of life. “I don’t know why, but relationships are easy wells to draw from for me,” he explained. “I’m just a very moody person when it comes to writing songs — I love when I find a really good melody and everything revolves around that idea.” Going with the flow of music and words, “I love dancing to and showing all my friends. Even if it’s a bad idea three days later, it’s fun to look back on and see the growth.”
Looking ahead, Williams hopes to grow with the help of producer Daron Whitmore and a new retro soul EP in the works. “I really wanted to make a ‘70s-inspired project with horns and strings like Isaac Hayes and Minnie Riperton,” Williams explained. “And I think we came pretty close.”
“It all came together very fast,” he continued. “Daron would give me drum loops and I’d add some instrumentation and lyrics to it.” The result can be heard on the first single, “East Coast,” put out as something of a teaser to usher William’s monthly wave of track releases and an upcoming “first Saturday” monthly residency at WineStyles in Friendly Center starting in March.
“I know I’m background for the most part, but it will still be fun,” he said, mus-
ing the balance of mental and musical space occupied in di erent conditions. “I may start implementing looping pedals in the set to make it a bit more engaging,” he noted. “Whenever I’m with my band I don’t have to think of any of that. Bands are cool on their own so I can just be at ease and spend more time playing with the crowd.”
His next full band show shares a bill with the neo-soul stylings Elora Dash at the Flat Iron on February 3. “She’s extremely talented,” he said of the Chapel Hill-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, with whom he’s currently collaborating on a song. “Hopefully more,” he said. “We like a lot of the same music, so I really enjoy writing stu with her.”
Turning to the Flat, “I’m grateful every time I get called back,” he said — hinting at hopes to record at the venue. Riding the recording vibe, Williams enjoys the cooperative nature of studio life. “I love collaboration and being in rooms with insanely talented people,” he said, reminiscing about a session (with Fantasia) at Soul Lab Studios. While solo touring remains on the horizon, “right now, I’m just writing a lot hoping to catch someone’s ear.”
Fans can catch Williams with a full band and Elora Dash at the Flat Iron on February 3. He’ll also be at WineStyles every first Saturday of the month starting March 4. !
FIREHOUSE TAPROOM
10146 N Main St | 336.804.9441 www.facebook.com/firehousetaproom/
Feb 18: Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball
FOUR SAInTS BREwInG
218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 www.foursaintsbrewing.com
Thursdays: Taproom Trivia
Fridays: Music Bingo
Feb 4: Jamie Trout
Feb 19: Honky Tonk Jam w/ Mark Dillion & Friends
Feb 25: wayward Blues Band
Mar: Samuel Stowe
Mar 11: 80’s Unplugged
CARBORRO CAT ’S CRADlE
300 E Main St | 919.967.9053 www.catscradle.com
Feb 1: Suki waterhouse
Feb 2: MJ lenderman
Feb 3: flipturn
Feb 3: Jon Shain & FJ Ventre
Feb 4: Bob Marley Birthday Bash
Feb 4: Colby Acuff
Feb 6: Patty Griffin
Feb 7: Durry
Feb 9: warren Zeiders
Feb 10: G. love & Special Sauce and Donavon Frankenreiter
Feb 10: Kathleen Edwards
Feb 11: Angel Olsen
Feb 11: Kimbra
Feb 11: Speed Stick
Feb 13: STRFKR
Feb 17: The Criticals
Feb 17: Amy Ray Band
Feb 17: Adam Melchor
Feb 18: Ella Jane
Feb 24: Futurebirds
Feb 25: weyes Blood
Feb 25: lemon Sparks, Brett Harris
Feb 27: Junior Boys
Mar 3: Chatham County line
Mar 3: Bailen
Mar 8: They Might Be Giants
Mar 9-10: Yo la Tengo
Mar 10: Bilmuri
Mar 11: Curtis waters
Mar 13: Runnner
Mar 14: Emily Scott Robinson + Alisa
Amador + Violet Bell
Mar 16: Duck w/ Florencia & the Feeling, Elora Dash
Mar 20: The lemon Twigs
Mar 20: new Found Glory
Mar 21: Cheekface
Mar 21: Souldside
Mar 22: white Reaper
Mar 24: Medium Build
Mar 25: Jervis Campbell w/ Thomas
Austin
Mar 25-26: Archers of loaf
Mar 27: Tennis
Mar 27: Magic Giant
Mar 28: Phoneboy
Mar 27: Avey Tare
Mar 28: Ibeyi
Mar 29: Shawn Mullis + lacy Campbell & Teresa wIlliams
BOJAnGlES COlISEUM
2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600
www.boplex.com
Feb 3: Fantasia w/ special guest Joe
Feb 4: Vive Chuhuahua
Feb 8: John Mellencamp
Feb 15: Dancing with the Stars: live!
Feb 17: Katt williams
Feb 25: 2023 Blues Alright Tour
Mar 3: Joe Bonamassa
Mar 22: BUDDY GUY
former Uptown Amphitheatre
820 Hamilton St | 704.549.5555
www.livenation.com
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970
www.livenation.com
Feb 1: Token
Feb 5: Big Gigantic
Feb 28: DVSn
Mar 1: Dropkick Murphys
Mar 3: Muscadine Bloodline
Mar 9: Keshi
Mar 10: Key Glock
Mar 14: Knuckle Puck & Real Friends
Mar 14: August Burns Red
Mar 15: Yeat 2023
Mar 16: Static-X
Mar 16: nick Cannon w/ special guests
Mar 17: Sebastian Mickael
Mar 20: Jordy Searcy
Mar 22: Gracie Abrams
Mar 23: Big wild
Mar 24: Vance Joy
Mar 29: Joshua Bassett
Mar 29: lucki
Mar 31: Eluveitie
Mar 31: lettuce
PnC MUSIC PAVIlIOn
707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292
www.livenation.com
SPECTRUM CEnTER
333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000
www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com
Feb 8: Carrie Underwood
Feb 17: Impractical Jokers
Feb 18: Adam Sandler
Feb 26: winter Jam 2023
Mar 10: new Edition: legacy Tour 2023
Mar 18: Rauw Alejandro
TAP HOUSE
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330
www.facebook.com/vstaphouse
Feb 2: James Vincent Carroll
Feb 3: Hampton Drive
Feb 4: Black Glass
Feb 9: Soundkraft
The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.
Feb 11: Jim Messina
Feb 13: lil Darkie
Feb 14: STRFKR
Feb 15: Parkway Drive
Feb 16: Russel Dickerson
Feb 18: Adam Melchor
Feb 19: Danny Ocean
Feb 21: Colony House
Feb 24: J.I.D & Smino
Feb 24: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Feb 25: Subtronics
Feb 25: Eric Bellinger
Feb 26: K. Michelle
Feb 27: Ari lennox
Feb 10: Hawthorne Curve
Feb 11: Jill Goodson Band
Feb 16: Shoulder 2 Shoulder
Feb 17: Decades
Feb 18: Vinyl Tap
Feb 23: Joey whitaker
Feb 24: Motorvader
Feb
Feb
Cello & Songs
Feb 23: Tower of Power
Mar 10: Jerry Cantrell
Mar 14: Lizz Wright
Mar 21: Tye Tribbett
Mar 23: HITS! The Musical
Mar 25: Orpheus and Eurydice
DPAC
123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787
www.dpacnc.com
Jan 31- Feb 5: Cats
Feb 8: Dancing with the Stars: Live!
Feb 22: Brandi Carlile
Feb 24-26: Riverdance
Feb 28-Mar 5: Jagged Little Pill
Mar 8: Trixie and Katya Live
Mar 14: IL Divo
Mar 24-27: Trevor Noah
Mar 28: Tedeschi Trucks Band
Apr 1: Taylor Tomlinson
Apr 4-9: Les Miserables
Apr 11-16: Bettlejuice
Apr 20: David Spade
Apr 21: The Old Friends Acoustic Tour
w/ Ben Rector
Apr 22: Druski
Apr 23: Bill Maher
Apr 27: Travis Tritt
Apr 28-30: Chicago
ELKIN
REEVES THEATER
129 W Main St | 336.258.8240
www.reevestheater.com
Wednesdays: Reeves Open Mic
Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam
Feb 3: Silk Groove Revue
Feb 4: Big Daddy Love
Feb 11: Presley Barker
Feb 17: Blue Dogs
Feb 24: Tommy Prine
Mar 4: Je Little Trio
Mar 10: Scythian
Mar 11: The Reeves House Band plays
The Allman Brothers Band
Mar 30: Elkin Big Band: Love & Romance
GREENSBORO
BARN DINNER THEATRE
120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211
www.barndinner.com
Feb 4-25: Murdered to Death
Feb 10: Soul & Inspiration: A Tribute to The Righteous Brothers
Feb 24: Encounter
Mar 4- Apr 15: Church Basement
Ladies: The Last Potluck Supper
CAROLINA THEATRE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605
www.carolinatheatre.com
Feb 11: Rouge: A Cirque & Dance Cabaret
Feb 17: Jo Dee Messina
Feb 18: The Mavericks
CHAR BAR NO. 7
3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555
www.charbar7.com
COMEDY ZONE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034
www.thecomedyzone.com
Feb 3-4: Michael Palascak
Feb 14: Chris Wiles
Feb 17-18: T.K. Kirkland
Feb 22: Casey Frey
Feb 24-25: Cocoa Brown
Mar 2: Christian Johnson
Mar 3-5: Ali Siddiq
Mar 10-11: J.J. Williamson
Mar 17-18: Josh Adam Meyers
Mar 21- Apr 1: Hypontist Leon
Sankofa
COMMON GROUNDS
602 S Elm Ave | 336.698.388
www.facebook.com/CommonGroundsGreensboro
Mar 18: Sleepless Denver
Mar 29: June Star
CONE DENIM
117 S Elm St | 336.378.9646
www.cdecgreensboro.com
Feb 1: 3rd Annual Dilladoomsday:
Tribute to J Dilla & MF Doom
Feb 2: Wine & Design
Feb 3: Elora Dash w/ Taylor Parker Williams
Feb 4: The Fundamentals w/ Mellow Swells
Feb 7: John Tomasevich, Ari
Pappalardo, + Laura Jane Vincent
Feb 8: Dinosaur Church
Feb 10: Wyatt Easterling w/ Chris Myers
HOURS: Tues-Fri: 3pm-unTil saT & sun 12pm-unTil
221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967
www.flatirongso.com
GARAGE TAVERN
5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020
www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro
Feb 4: Jimmy Shirley Jr. & The Footlights
Feb 10: RetroVinyl
Feb 17: Brother Pearl Trio
Feb 18: Stereo Doll
Feb 24: Second Glacne Band
GREENSBORO COLISEUM
1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
Feb 3: Jurassic World Live Tour
Feb 10: The Legendz of the Streetz
Feb 11: Journey w/ TOTO
Feb 23: Blake Shelton
Feb 25: Winter Jam 2023
Mar 25: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band
HANGAR 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480
www.hangar1819.com
Feb 8: Limbs
Feb 12: Gideon w/ For The Fallen Dreams
Feb 16: The Cadillac Three
Feb 18: Creed Fisher
Feb 25: Norma Jean
Mar 1: D.R.U.G.S.
Mar 4: Bodysnatcher
Mar 5: Nonpoint
Mar 7: Fleshgod Apocalypse
Mar 11: Kings Of Thrash
Mar 12: Rotting Christ
Mar 13: Adelitas Way
Mar 18: Maiden Voyage- The Ultimate Iron Maiden Tribute
Mar 21: Death To All
Mar 22: Jonny Craig
Mar 30: Until I Wake
LITTLE BROTHER BREWING
348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678
www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew
Wednesdays: Trivia
Fridays & Saturdays: Free Live Music
PIEDMONT HALL
2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
Feb 24: Green Queen Bingo
Feb 26: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Mar 12: Key Glock
Mar 25: Skid Row & Buckcherry
Mar 31: Judah & The Lion
RODY’S TAVERN
5105 Michaux Rd | 336.282.0950
www.facebook.com/rodystavern
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500
www.tangercenter.com
Feb 1: Jason Isbell + The 400 Unit
Feb 7-9: RIverdance
Feb 10: Royal Comedy Tour
Feb 11: John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell
Feb 18: A German Requiem
Mar 4: Kountry Wayne
Mar 5: Nikki Glaser
Mar 14-19: Ain’t Too Proud
Mar 23: Buddy Guy
THE IDIOT BOX
COMEDY CLUB
503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699
www.idiotboxers.com
Thursdays: Open Mic
Feb 3-4: Robert Baril
Feb 17: AJ Schraeder
Mar 10: Nik Cartwright
Mar 24: Andy Forrester
WINESTYLES
3326 W Friendly Ave Suite 141 | 336.299.4505
www.facebook.com/winestylesgreens-
boro277
Feb 11: Taylor Williams
HIGH POINT
1614 DMB
1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113
https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/
Feb 4: Slightly Emotional
Feb 10: Latin Night
GOOFY FOOT TAPROOM
2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567
www.goofyfoottaproom.com
HIGH POINT THEATRE
220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401
www.highpointtheatre.com
Feb 18: Triad Has Talent Showcase
Mar 25: The Funny Godmothers
PLANK STREET TAVERN
138 Church Ave | 336.991.5016
www.facebook.com/plankstreettavern
SWEET OLD BILL’S
1232 N Main St | 336.807.1476
www.sweetoldbills.com
Feb 9: Metro Jethro’s
Feb 16: Turpentine Shine
Feb 23: Tin Can Alley
THE DECK
118 E Main St | 336.207.1999
www.thedeckatrivertwist.com
Feb 2: Dan Miller
Feb 3: Retro Vinyl
Feb 4: Brother Pearl
Feb 9: Renae Paige
Feb 10: Vinyl Tap
Feb 11: Soul Central
Feb 16: Ethan Smith
Feb 17: Hampton Drive
Feb 18: TJ The DJ
Feb 23: Bradley Steele
Feb 24: TJ The DJ
Feb 25: Radio Revolver
KERNERSVILLE
BREATHE
COCKTAIL LOUNGE
221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822
www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Feb 24: SMASHAT
Mar 11: Vinyl Tap
KERNERSVILLE BREWING COMPANY
221 N Main St. | 336.816.7283
www.facebook.com/kernersvillebrewing
Thursdays: Trivia
LIBERTY THE LIBERTY SHOWCASE THEATER
101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844
www.TheLibertyShowcase.com
Feb 3: Twitty & Lynn: A Tribute to Conway & Loretta
Feb 4: Lonesome River Band
Feb 11: Wonderwall: A Beatles Tribute
Feb 18: Russell Moore & lllrd Tyme Out
Feb 25: Wade Hayes w/ Dewey Brown
Mar 4: The Malpass Brothers
Mar 10: Country Gentlemen Tribute Band
Mar 11: Lee Roy Parnell
Mar 16: Chapel Hart
Mar 17: Dailey & Vincent
Mar 18: Aaron Tippin
Mar 25: Dewey & Leslie Brown
OAK RIDGE
BISTRO 150
2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359
www.bistro150.com
Feb 4: Barefoot Modern Acoustic
Feb 11: Two for the Road
Feb 18: Limited Engagement
Feb 25: Jordan & Madisen
CREEK
3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111
www.livenation.com
126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400
www.lincolntheatre.com
Feb 1: Neal Francis w/ Danielle
Ponder
Feb 9: Big Gigantic
Feb 9: The Stews w/ Easy Honey
Feb 10: Far too Jones w/ Lauren Nicole
Feb 15: The Great Mountain Groove
Ft. Sicard Hollow, The Sweet Lillies and Pixie & The Partygrass Boys
Feb 19: Cory Wong ft. Victor Wooten & Special Guests Trousdale
Feb 19: Blanke w/ Crystal Skies, Vndetta
Feb 22: Lotus
Feb 24: Boogie T w/ THe Widdler, Khiva, Notixx, Skelltyn
Mar 2: Muscadine Bloodline
Mar 4: Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Band w/ Christ Trapper
Mar 10: Sidewinder
Mar 12: Popa Chubby
Mar 14: Marc Broussard
Mar 16: Boombox
Mar 17: Adam Doleac
Mar 18: Shoot to Thrills w/ Stone
Whiskey/ Automag
Mar 19: Will Hoge & The Wild Feathers
Mar 21: Moe.
Mar 22: The Movement w/ Kyle Smith
Mar 28: Guster
Mar 31: Eric Gales w/ King Solomon Hicks
500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com
1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300 www.thepncarena.com
Feb 17: Hootie & the Blowfish w/ SUSTO
Mar 13: Greta Van Fleet
KAMIKAZE’S TAVERN
5701 Randleman Rd | 336.908.6144
www.facebook.com/kamikazestavern
Karaoke Every Tuesday & Thursday
Feb 4: Alex Key w/ Dylan Jackson Band
Feb 5: Carolina Ambush
Feb 10-11: Billy Creason Band
Feb 18: Black Glass
Feb 25: Matt Dylan & The Honky
Tonk Outlaws
Mar 3: Drag in the Country: Paisley Parque
Mar 4: Fair Warning
Mar 11: Brother Pearl
Mar 18: Bad Romeo
EARL’S
121 West 9th Street | 336.448.0018
www.earlsws.com
Mondays: Open Mic
Thursdays: Will Jones
Feb 3: Drew Foust
Feb 10: Matt Dylan
Feb 11: Mike Cosner and the Fugatives
FIDDLIN’ FISH
BREWING COMPANY
772 Trade St | 336.999.8945
www.fiddlinfish.com
Tuesdays: Trivia
Feb 3: Grizzly Panda
Feb 10: None of the Above
Feb 17: Camel City Blues
Feb 24: Down the Mountain
FOOTHILLS BREWING
638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348
www.foothillsbrewing.com
Sundays: Sunday Jazz
Thursdays: Trivia
Feb 5: Heather Rogers
Feb 5: Megan Doss
Feb 10: iNCogNiTo
Feb 17: Anne & the Moonlighters
Feb 19: Michael Hodgdon
Feb 24: Whiskey Mic
Feb 26: Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs
Mar 3: James Vincent Carroll
Mar 12: David Childers
Mar 17: The Almost Irish Band
Mar 19: Patrick Rock w/ Special Guest
Mar 24: John Montgomery w/ Special Guest
MIDWAY MUSIC HALL
11141 Old US Hwy 52, Suite 10 | 336.793.4218
www.facebook.com/midwaymusichallandeventcenter
Mondays: Line Dancing
Feb 4: Silverhawk Kickin’ Country
Feb 11: Jimmy Shirley Jr. and the Footlights
Feb 18: Granite City Rollers
Feb 25: The Classics with Joe Alexander
MUDDY
& MUSIC HALL
137 West St | 336.201.5182
www.facebook.com/MuddyCreekCafe
THE RAMKAT
170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714
www.theramkat.com
Feb 2: Mike and the Moonpies
Feb 3: The Steeldrivers
Feb 4: Squirrel Nut Zippers
Feb 8: The Mountain Goats Duo
Feb 19: SUSTO
Feb 23: Catz in Pajamas
ROAR
633 North Liberty Street | 336-917-3008
www.roarws.com | www.roarbrandstheater. com
Feb 3: Camel City Blues, DJ Karolina, DJ Professor
Feb 4: Tupelo Crush
February 3 - The Ramkat
Feb 4: Red Umber, DJ FISH, DJ Professor
Feb 5: The Rockers
Feb 8: Divine Poetry
Feb 10: Darrell Hoots
Feb 10: Ready Set Radio
Feb 10: DJ Fish
Feb 11: Rewind
Feb 11: Tony Chambers, DJ Chubbs, DJ Professor
Feb 12: Camel City Revelators
Feb 17: Corky, DJ Fish, DJ Professor
Feb 18: The Blue Genes, DJ Chubbs, DJ Karolina
Feb 19: Travis Williams Group
Feb 22: Divine Poetry
WISE MAN BREWING
826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008
www.wisemanbrewing.com
Thursdays: Music Bingo
Feb 3: Jessie Dunks Duo
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Guess what, Lamb? You’re about to experience a new perspective on a situation you long regarded quite di erently. What you learn could open up more opportunities later.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The Bold Bovine is tempted to charge into a new venture. But it might be best to take things one step at a time so that you know just where you are at any given point.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It’s a good time to go on that fun getaway you’ve been planning. You’ll return refreshed, ready, and, yes, even eager to tackle the new challenge that awaits you.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The Moon Child loves to fantasize about magical happenings in the early part of the week. But the sensible Crab gets down to serious business by week’s end.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) What goes around comes around for those lucky Leos and Leonas whose acts of generosity could be repaid with opportunities to expand into new and exciting areas of interest.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your concern about your job responsibilities is commendable. But it’s time for you to take some quiet moments to share with someone who has really missed being with you.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Aspects favor getting out and meeting new people. And, as a bonus, you
might find that some of your newly made friends could o er important business contacts.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You might take pride in wanting to do everything yourself. But now’s a good time to ask family members to help with a demanding personal situation.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Pay more attention to the possibilities that could come with a workplace change. It could show you the way to make that long-sought turn on your career path.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your need to succeed might overwhelm obligations to your loved ones. Ease up on that workload and into some well-deserved time with family and friends.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Love rules for amorous Aquarians who can make good use of their ability to communicate feelings. Don’t be surprised if they’re reciprocated in kind.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Fishing for compliments? No doubt, you probably earned them. But it’s best to let others believe they were the ones who uncovered the treasure you really are.
[BORN THIS WEEK: Your good work flows from an open, generous heart. Nothing makes you happier than to see others happy as well.
© 2022 by King Features Syndicate
crossword on page 15
sudoku on page 15
by Fifi Rodriguez[1. GEOGRAPHY: Where is Mount Fuji located?
[2. MOVIES: What is the material used in Captain America’s shield?
[3. MUSIC: Who wrote the lyrics to the 1961 “West Side Story” movie?
[4. SCIENCE: Which color has the longest wavelength?
[5. HISTORY: When did the United States outlaw child labor?
[6. TELEVISION: Who played the leading role in the legal series “Ally McBeal”?
[7. AD SLOGANS: Which fast-food chain tells customers that “We have the meats”?
[8. LITERATURE: What is the setting for the “Divergent” novel series?
[9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which animal represents the 2023 Chinese zodiac year?
[10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of butterflies called?
10. A kaleidoscope.
8. Chicago. 9. The rabbit.
© 2022 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
