YES! Weekly - June 5, 2024

Who’s

The upcoming week and weekend is full of plenty of events throughout the Triad celebrating Juneteenth.

4 There is a simple, easy reason to recommend LEMON INDIAN CUISINE: it’s because the food tastes so good. There are other reasons, too: the staff is pleasant, prices are moderate, and the place bears an airy, open look. It’s casual, just easy to enjoy.

6 It has been a long, laborious trek down the Yellow Brick Road bringing the smash Broadway musical “ WICKED” to the big screen. The play, which opened in 2003 and last October surpassed “Cats” as the fourth longest-running show in the history of the Great White Way...

7 In her most recent mystery romance “ THE SEAFARER’S SECRET,” Collins draws the reader in immediately with an assumed drowning, a mysterious gold coin, and more questions than answers for the local police chief and lead character.

8 About 60 seconds into In a VIOLENT NATURE, a new horror film written and

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Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

EDITORIAL

Editor CHANEL DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL MARK BURGER

KATEI CRANFORD

4 8 14

Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com

directed by Chris Nash, an off screen character makes a remark about “the White Pine Slaughter,” in which a handicapped man named Johnny returned from the grave to exact revenge upon those who had done him wrong

12 Morgan Carter is excited about the Reproductive Care Fair organized by the N.C. REPRODUCTIVE CARE COALITION at Greensboro’s Oden Brewing Company on Wednesday, June 5...attendees can learn about reproductive, sexual health, and justice initiatives in the area.

14 Dance From Above continues shuffling the decks across the expanse of dance and party with panache, genuinely good vibes, and a sense of curation unmatched by few others — except, perhaps, the headliner for their upcoming session: R.A.P. FERREIRA, coming to the Flat Iron on June 21.

angela@yesweekly.com

travis@yesweekly.com

[SPOTLIGHT]

A MARVETASTIC TIME: TRIAD PREPARES FOR IBTF

BY CHANEL DAVIS

Everything is coming up purple in Winston-Salem as the city prepares for the International Black Theatre Festival.

“Art in the form of theater is our humanity,” Mayor Pro Tem Denise “DD Adams told a crowd of media, o cials, community leaders, and volunteers on Monday afternoon at the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem. “You get all of your emotions, feelings, and all of your thoughts from social justice to religion, to family, to community, to history. Theater brings it all. I am excited.”

The 18th biennial International Black Theatre Festival, formally known as the National Black Theater Festival, rolls out its signature purple carpet from July 29-August 3, 2024. The festival brings more than 130 performances to WinstonSalem’s venues and more than 65,000 theater fans to town for a “Marvetastic” time. The festival includes a star-studded celebrity gala, a fashion show, theater workshops, film festivals, a midnight poetry slam, and an international vendors market.

Eric Sadler, board chairman of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company said he would “gladly accept the responsibility of carrying on the legacy of our late founders, Larry Leon Hamlin and Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin.”

“They saw the power in the arts and more specifically the power of Black theater. I can report to you today that our organization is energized as ever to bring you all the best Black theater festival that has ever come.”

This year the theater will focus heavily on the community with numerous free and family-friendly events throughout the city. There will be free shows focusing on social issues, stage readings, a voter registration drive, historical exhibits, a youth talent showcase, a block party, and more.

“Winston-Salem truly is the city of arts and innovation, not to mention one of the best places to live on the face of the planet,” said Jackie Alexander, artistic director and producer of the IBTF.

“As we planned this first International Black Theater Festival, we actually wanted to turn the focus on community. We partnered with Wake Forest School of Divinity and the Wake The Arts Initiative with generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation to create the Finding Holy Ground Project. We commissioned two shows that examine race, religion, and justice in America — Heritage, and I Am… a Shepherdess. But we also have a week of special events.”

Grant Minnix, director of operations at

the Benton Convention Center, said that it is exciting to see the community come together.

“The festival may have a new name, may have a new logo, but it’s all about bringing Black theater to everyone. In 56 days, the Benton will host the starstudded opening night gala that kicks o a very busy week of activity here at the Benton,” he told the room. “We all come together on Black Holy Ground. We all are all surrounded by others, attendees all wearing purple and black, whose eyes are all lit with excitement and anticipation for the week ahead.”

Howard Upchurch, interim president and CEO of the Arts Council of WinstonSalem, said they are excited to welcome International Black Theater Festival performances back to their venues.

“The festival is a crown jewel of the arts in Winston-Salem that just keeps shining more brightly each year,” he said.

Stephanie Pace-Brown, president of Visit Winston Salem, shares his enthusiasm for the festival’s return as an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people are expected to come to the city for the event.

“We’re so fortunate that this celebration of art and creativity and community takes place here in Winston Salem. Visitors will enjoy the festival. They’ll stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and visit our attractions. When the festival concludes, they will have left millions of dollars behind in our local businesses,” she said. “In addition to the dollars that are pumped into our community by visitors, this festival puts us on the national stage and increases our reputation as a destination for the arts. It’s 56 days until show time. We can’t wait to see the curtain rise again.”

WANNA know?

For more information on shows, schedules, or tickets, visit https://ncblackrep.org/internationalblack-theatre-festival.com.

Chow Down at Lemon Indian Cuisine

TBY JOHN BATCHELOR

here is a simple, easy reason to recommend Lemon Indian Cuisine: it’s because the food tastes so good. There are other reasons, too: the sta is pleasant, prices are moderate, and the place bears an airy, open look. It’s casual, just easy to enjoy. They do an especially good job with takeout, too.

Teas, soft drinks, beers, and wine are available. No full bar. The limited wine selections are good and reasonably priced. I am a big fan of Indian breads. Garlic Naan is pu y-steamy in texture, spotted light brown from the oven’s heat, with mild impact from fresh garlic. GarlicCheese Naan adds bits of mozzarella. These are quite tasty in their own right, but torn pieces lend themselves to dipping in the two chutneys, mint and tamarind, that are provided.

Two appetizer platters provide broad introduction to the food here.

Mixed Appetizers consists of Samosa (fried pastry filled with potato and peas), Chicken Pakora (coated with chickpea flour and fried), Chicken Tikka (marinated in yogurt and Indian spices), and Lamb

Seekh Kabab (sausage flavored with onions, garlic, ginger, green chili peppers, herbs, and spices). These are all good, but the sausage turned out to be my favorite. In each case, we noted something unusual, at least relative to most other Indian restaurants in this area. This kitchen does not overcook meats. Very often, even though I enjoy the flavors, meats in Indian restaurants tend to be dryish and firm. Here, they are tender and moist.

The menu description for MixedVegetable Pakora lists potato, spinach, onion, and cauliflower. The serving I received contained cauliflower, and my wife thought she got the only onion piece. These are fried in chickpea batter, seasoned with turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chili. We liked the flavor and fairly crisp texture.

Lentil Soup here is made from yellow lentils. The e ect is rather light, but still flavorful. I would have no misgiving about ordering it again.

When we ordered entrées, servers on each visit asked how hot we wanted the food to be seasoned. My wife and I both like fairly intense treatments, so, when given a scale of 1-10, I picked a 6 and she chose 5. The next time, we chose 5 and 4.

That’s probably where we will stay in the future.

In addition to flavor, one of the primary attractions of Indian restaurants is the number of vegetarian dishes usually o ered. Here, the menu lists 18 choices, an unusually large number in comparison to other Triad venues. Guest Anna tried Paneer Tikka Masala, an Indian cheese roasted in a clay oven. Chunks are simmered and served in a rich, creamy tomato and onion sauce. You do not give up flavor when you give up meat, at least not in this rendition.

Chicken Korma is cooked in a cream sauce with almonds and dried nuts, lightly spiced with garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, garam masala, and turmeric. The result is complex and aromatic. Mango Chicken is cooked in a sauce of mango, onions, ginger, and tomatoes. Once again, we noted tender texture, not overcooked, not dry.

We tried two seafoods. In Shrimp Vindaloo, a spicy concoction of red chilies, aromatic spices and vinegar hosts large, tender shrimp. Salmon Tikka Masala is simmered in a creamy sauce of tomato, onion, ginger, and garlic. The salmon consists of bite-sized pieces, no bones, tender and moist.

A significant section of the entrée menu is devoted to lamb (seven choices) and goat (four choices), another range of choices seldom seen.

Lamb Saag is cooked with spinach, mustard, ginger, and garlic in a creamed spinach sauce. Goat Korma is slow-cooked in a stew of onion, ginger, garlic, almonds, raisins, and creamy sauce with spices and herbs. In both cases, the kitchen repeated its now customary performance with regard to tender texture and moist interior. Winners, both.

Entrées come with white rice — distinctive, the grains separate, not gummyclingy — which soaks up these rich sauces. The resulting combinations are very filling.

No one will leave here hungry, and my wife and I found that leftovers tended to taste even better the second night.

Desserts in Indian restaurants are usually very sweet. Gulab Jamun consists of balls of milk powder, fried, and served in sugar syrup, which fits this characterization.

One misgiving — in a restaurant with so many vegetarian entrées, I would like to see vegetables as part of entrée presentations. That is an American wish, however, not in fitting with Indian styles. Still, adding some a la carte vegetable sides would round out the menu, I think. And one other thing — the online menu does not always match what is being served in the restaurant. They are close, but not identical.

On balance, our meals here were quite enjoyable. We shall return. !

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.

WANNA go?

Lemon Indian Cuisine 1568 Highwoods Blvd Greensboro 27410 336-617-5171

lemonindiancuisine.com

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday & Saturday

Appetizers: $5-$11

Salads: $5-$6

Soups: $5-$6

Entrees: $15-$30

Desserts: $5-$7

Most recent visit: May 26

Shrimp Vindaloo Chicken Korma

Vegetarian Tikka Masala Lamb Saag

[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

JUNETEENTH: MORE THAN JUST A FESTIVAL TAKE PART IN THE TRIAD’S LARGEST JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION FROM JUNE 13-16

If you asked any African American what their favorite day of the year is (especially if you use me as a sample size of one), Juneteenth is a frontrunner. My recent trips back and forth to West Africa —toggling between Black majority and Black minority societies — make salient the importance of liberation. There, the freedoms of movement, expression, love, and joy all are truly unbridled as my Blackness is not the headliner in my identity — because everyone is Black. 200 years ago in my native land of Winston-Salem, this wasn’t possible for a Black girl like me. We were excluded from this dream within a country that prides itself on the aforementioned liberties. Today, many of those freedoms seem to be on the cusp of retraction as rhetoric becomes paramount over justice and truth. Luckily, Juneteenth provides a 24-hour reprieve from the emotional burden of being Black in the South where Blackness is a demerit — turning our identity into a strength that is to be celebrated. From tens of Instagram pages devoted to the joy and value of the Black American experience, from @ becauseofthem to J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, a new generation of Black folks are finding ways to experience and express their lived experience — by creating everything from content to programming to sacred spaces. As the new executive director of Triad Cultural Arts, I saw the opportunity to take the Juneteenth Festival, a 25-year-old institution and the second largest Black annual event in Winston-Salem, and integrate some aspects that Black millennials and zoomers love to experience. How do we create video promo content for social media? How do create commemorative merchandise? Can we have brunch with a DJ — and Afro beats? But also, how do we honor those who blazed the trail?

Because we can’t forget the elements that have allowed the festival to exist

for decades longer than Juneteenth has been a federal holiday, we will always pour libations at the opening ceremony, have the African drummers and dancers out in Bailey Park, provide tribal dot face painting for the kids, house 10’s of Black vendors selling their self-expressions, and welcome community groups o ering resources for those in need. This year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts — and we are expecting over 10,000 visitors. Attendees will witness the inaugural Black Arts Impact Awards which honors the achievements of six individuals and organizations in the Winston-Salem community in the categories of Performing, Visual, and Literary Arts. As a writer, I’m excited about the culturally a rming Arts and Literacy Village which will include creative activities like Black author read-a-louds, games, and crafts.

So, if you’re looking for food, culture, live entertainment, artisans, history, and fellowship, join us for the 2024 celebration at any of the Juneteenth events:

Juneteenth Art Exhibition Reception at the Enterprise Center — June 13

Juneteenth Festival at Innovation Quarter — June 15

Juneteenth Gospel Brunch at Sweet Potatoes — June 16

For full details on the schedule of festival events, how to be a volunteer, or brunch tickets, please visit: triadculturalarts.org !

SUBMITTED BY ABREA ARMSTRONG

Executive Director of Triad Cultural Arts

Mango Chicken

Goat Korma

Salmon Tikka Masala

Lentil Soup

Vegetable Pakora

visions For Domenick Amendum, a Wicked wish comes

It has been a long, laborious trek down the Yellow Brick Road bringing the smash Broadway musical “Wicked” to the big screen. The play, which opened in 2003 and last October surpassed “Cats” as the fourth longest-running show in the history of the Great White Way is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s best-selling 1995 novel, which was itself inspired by L. Frank Baum’s immortal 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Unlike the 1939 film classic The Wizard of Oz, Wicked shifts its focus to the pivotal witches: Elphaba, who will later become the “Wicked Witch of the West,” and Galinda, later “Glinda to Good,” detailing their friendship and rivalry in the magical land of Oz. The Broadway production,

directed by two-time Tony winner and UNCSA School of Drama alum Joe Mantello, starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda. Nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, “Wicked” won three: Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel, besting co-star Chenoweth), Best Costume Design, and Best Scenic Design.

Universal Pictures acquired the property in 2012 with show producer Marc Platt on board reprising his duties alongside lyricist Stephen Schwartz and screenwriter Winnie Holzman. Another pivotal member of the “Wicked” team also re-joined the fold: Dominick Amendum, musical director of the stage production and production music supervisor for the motion picture.

Amendum, the Smart-Tilman Artistin-Residence at the University of North Carolina — Greensboro (UNCG), is also the artistic director of the UNCG Concert & Lecture Series and coordinator of the UNCG Musical Theatre Program — as well as a UNCG graduate himself.

“My work on the Wicked films comes after a long, long relationship with the stage version of the show,” Amendum said. “I served as music director of the first national tour, Los Angeles, and Broadway companies for a combined 10+ years, then also served as associate music supervisor for all the U.S. companies of the show for even longer. I also have a long working relationship with Stephen Schwartz, having worked with him on other projects — most recently The Prince of Egypt’s stage adaptation in London’s West End.”

Despite the ongoing success of the Broadway and touring companies of “Wicked,” the film version has taken over a decade to come to fruition. The names of such high-profile directors as J.J. Abrams, James Mangold, and Rob Marshall were either attached to the project or touted to be at one time or another, before Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) won the assignment. A number of high-profile actors were also mentioned in connection with the production, before a cast was finally assembled: Ariana Grande (as Galinda), Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Jonathan Bailey, Bronwyn James, Peter Dinklage, newcomer Marissa Bode, Je Goldblum (as “The Wizard”), and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh.

That wasn’t the end of the hurdles, however. The production was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic — which also forced the Broadway production to shutter temporarily — and then by the doublewhammy of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)/Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes, during which film production essentially ground to a halt. Through all this, however, Universal Pictures stayed the course. The film version of Wicked, which is reportedly the most expensive movie musical in history (estimated at $145 million), will be given a full-throttle promotional push by Universal, replete with merchandising and collectibles. The trailer was shown on television during this year’s Super Bowl and the April issue of Vanity Fair ran an exclusive preview of the film, and that’s just the beginning.

Wicked is sure to be one of the most talked-about films of the year, and also the year after, as the decision was made to release the film in two parts. Wicked: Part One is scheduled for release Nov. 24, right in the thick of the holiday/awards movie season, and Wicked: Part Two is currently scheduled for release Nov. 25, 2025.

Teaching at UNCG brings Amendum full

circle. “My family moved to Charlotte in the summer of 1997 from upstate New York as I began high school,” he recalled. “I attended Myers Park High School in High School before coming to UNCG. I graduated from UNCG in May of 2001 and immediately moved to New York City to begin my professional career.”

Even in the midst of a thriving career in New York, Amendum stayed close in touch with his UNCG roots, back in the classroom but this time as the teacher. “I came to UNCG full-time in the fall of 2018, after a number of years serving as a visiting professor and ‘commuting’ from New York City monthly for intensive work with students in the School of Theatre. The BFA in musical theatre was launched in the fall of 2019.”

Even during the film’s lengthy production in London, Amendum was able to teach online classes and advise students at UNCSA. Only time will tell if Wicked wows film audiences as much as it does theater audiences, but given the talent involved — including its core of creators — it may well be a Wicked holiday season after all. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

Mark Burger

Contributor

Domenick Amendum

“The Seafarer’s Secret” is a well-written mystery

Admittedly there are times when things hit my desk and die. Luckily, this was not one of those times.

As I was preparing for my annual vacation, I grabbed a book that had adorned my desk for the past few months to keep myself busy and out of my o ce emails. It was a pretty good decision.

While I cannot tell you that beyond the usual North Carolina fourth-grade curriculum, that I knew much about Blackbeard or his legacy in the state, I can tell you that thanks to the well-written novel by Carol Ann Collins I know much more than I did before.

In her most recent mystery romance “The Seafarer’s Secret,” Collins draws the reader in immediately with an assumed drowning, a mysterious gold coin, and more questions than answers for the local police chief and lead character. Filled with twists and turns, small-town gossip and fueled by budding romance, Collins has both Police Chief William Templeton and local historian and Blackbeard expert Eva Knightly, looking for lost treasure and lost love in her novel. The pair must examine the past, and themselves, in order to make sure another resident of Eden doesn’t die with long-lost treasure in their possession.

In my personal opinion, Collins has done a remarkable job hooking readers, especially those who have no previous interest in Blackbeard, pirates, or the history of North Carolina’s Coastal Region.

She’s done an even better job keeping them hooked throughout the book. I don’t

think I figured out who the killer actually was until closer to the end of the book, and as to the twist that comes a bit later I didn’t see that coming at all.

Collins, a North Carolina local and New York Times bestseller under another name, gets to combine two of her favorite things, history and romance. The book is published under Beaufort Books, an independent publisher based in New York City, and distributed by Independent Publishers Group.

I would not only recommend this book to avid readers looking for a good mystery romance but I also recommend that they put some time aside to enjoy the mystery peacefully. !

CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.

WANT TO BE REVIEWED?

YES! Reviews is a biweekly column to place a spotlight on di erent books, goods, and items that are from around the Triad and the state. You can mail items to YES! Reviews, 5500 Adams Farm Lane, Suite 204, Greensboro, NC 27407.

Chanel Davis

Editor

In a Violent Nature yet another stalk-and-slash shocker

About 60 seconds into In a Violent Nature, a new horror film written and directed by Chris Nash, an o screen character makes a remark about “the White Pine Slaughter,” in which a handicapped man named Johnny returned from the grave to exact revenge upon those who had done him wrong. Surprise, surprise — a few minutes later the mud-encrusted figure of Johnny (Ry Barrett) emerges from a makeshift grave to resume his rampage anew. We then meet the requisite group of beer-drinking, pot-smoking kids, who conveniently discuss the White Pine Slaughter around the requisite campfire, evidently in case we missed it the first time around. Then, at roughly the half-hour mark, the bloodletting begins — and mighty bloody it is. There’s not much good to say about In a Violent Nature, but the gruesome special e ects are truly stomach-churning. Need it be said that the squeamish are forewarned? Comparisons to the Friday the 13th franchise are inevitable, but this film most resembles The Burning (1981),

an early Friday the 13th knock-o best remembered today for being the screen debuts of Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens, and Holly Hunter, as well the first film produced by Harvey and Bob Weinstein. If In a Violent Nature is meant to be an homage, it’s a gloomy and pointless one.

The film attempts a slow-burning approach before slathering on the gore, and there is a novel touch in having the camera follow Johnny as he stomps through the woods, which essentially makes him the main character. But he’s hardly an expressive or interesting character, and as a result, there is no emotional investment in his victims. One simply doesn’t care about them. They’re unimportant. They’re there for no other reason than to be slaughtered in the nastiest ways imaginable. In many ways, the film seems an unholy amalgam of such recent shockers as Sasquatch Sunset, Tarot, and even The Strangers: Chapter 1, but these are hardly films to emulate. It’s just as bad as those films were, and deserves to be forgotten. There are a few suspenseful moments, particularly toward the end, but not nearly enough to justify even a single viewing. Worst of all, In a Violent Nature commits the most unpardonable cinematic sin of all: It’s boring. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

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A beautiful 4,800 sq ft 7 bedrooms and 7.5 baths house in Danville, VA. Only two owners. Attached green house, detached brick storage building with built in grill, irrigation system, security system, 2 car garage, 2nd kitchen in basement, new copper gutters, slate roof, includes a 2nd lot, tall ceilings, large kitchen & kitchenette, formal dining room, living room and den, natural well water on the property. Bomb shelter, custom moldings. Upgraded pool!

Mark Burger

Contributor

The upcoming week and weekend is full of plenty of events throughout the Triad celebrating Juneteenth. The federal holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and honors the contributions of African Americans to America’s society.

GREENSBORO

4th Annual Arts Legacy Awards

Greensboro will gear up for its city-wide event starting with its Juneteenth GSO Fest: 4th Annual Arts Legacy Awards on Friday, June 14 at the Van Dyke Performance Space, located at 200 N. Davie St. at 7:30 p.m. This event will celebrate Black artists who have created legacies in Greensboro and beyond. This event is semi-formal/formal with Afro-centric inspired dress code. The Arts Legacy Awards takes place during the Juneteenth GSO Fest. It started in 2021, as a way to acknowledge and celebrate the legacy Black artists have made in Greensboro. This formal ceremony will include an awards ceremony dinner with honorees and their guests as well as a tribute show designed to honor their service to our community. Greensboro has a rich arts history, but unfortunately, we don’t hear much about the contributions of Black arts institutions, artists, and arts administrators and we want to take time during

Juneteenth in the Triad 2024

Juneteenth to acknowledge and thank them for their contributions.

Our 2024 honorees include the following person(s)/organizations:

Dance Artist: Wesley Williams

Music: Fred Mills

Photography: Toni Shaw

Poetry: Clement Mallory

Singer: Sybil

Uptown Juneteenth Arts and Crafts Festival

On Saturday, June 15, the Uptown Juneteenth Arts and Crafts Festival will be held at the Sternberger Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a free cultural festival of arts, crafts, music, food, vendors and more hosted by Uptown GSO, Inc. The celebration will include live music throughout the day, children’s activities, and will include a number of speakers. The Juneteenth Black Food Truck Festival will also be held on Saturday, June 15. This event will be held in downtown Greensboro and will feature music by the SiStars. On Sunday, June 16, the third Juneteenth Gospel Superfest: Interfaith Celebration will be held at Barber Park Amphitheater, located at 1500 Barber Park Dr., from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Vendors open at 2 p.m. This event is designed to bring religion and spirituality together in unity and community through traditional, contemporary, and urban music, song and dance. This is a family friendly event and attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket and/or chair. Enjoy

the concert, shop with vendors, and get some good food from the Food Trucks.

For the full lineup of events, visit www. juneteenthgso.com.

SOULebration

On Wednesday, June 19, the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market will host Juneteenth SOULebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This free, outdoor event will be held at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market with non-stop fun and excitement for the whole family.

There will be live gospel music from local artists, bounce house and game areas for the kids, and delicious food from local food trucks. There will be vendors featuring local businesses, groove to an incredible DJ, and try your luck in the cash cube for a chance to win big.

HIGH POINT

R&B Soul Picnic

On Saturday, the R&b Soul Picnic will be held on Saturday, June 15 at Oak Hollow Park, located at 1841 Eastchester Drive in High Point, from 2 to 11 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blanket, picnic basket, coolers, lawn chairs and listen to live music from some of the nation’s biggest DJs.

For more information, visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/north-carolinarb-soul-picnic-tickets-907675099657

4th Annual Father’s Day Walk

The High Point Community Men’s Huddle, in collaboration with its various community partners is proud to announce the 4th Annual Father’s Day Walk in Solidarity. This year, they are calling on 5,000 men to join in a march that celebrates strength, unity, and the pivotal roles of men in the community. The event will take place on Sunday June 16, 2024, with the starting location yet to be determined and concluding at this year’s High Point Juneteenth Festival at the High Point Rockers and Carolina Core home stadium, Truist Point. Line up begins at 12:30 p.m. and the walk begins at 1:15 p.m. This year’s festival boasts renowned singer, actress and High Point native, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, who is scheduled to be in attendance. For more information, contact Tony Graham at beaconpulse@gmail.com or Greg Commander at greg.commander@yahoo.com.

The

Juneteenth Celebration

The Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Carl Chavis YMCA will welcome and honor Fantasia Barrino-Taylor at Truist Point in downtown High Point from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. Attendees can enjoy music by DJ Tito, local talent, a live band, food trucks, vendors, and more. There will be an appearance by awardwinning musician, actress, entrepreneur, and High Point’s native Fantasia BarrinoTaylor, as we honor her accomplishments!

WINSTON-SALEM

Juneteenth Weekend Celebration

One of the Triad’s oldest cities also has one of the oldest Juneteenth celebrations around. Triad Cultural Arts will present a Juneteenth weekend celebration throughout Winston-Salem from June 13 through June 16, including its 25th annual all-day festival in Biotech Place and Bailey Park on Saturday, June 15.

The theme for this year’s celebration is African Americans and the Arts. The 25th anniversary of the local Juneteenth Festival will be commemorated by honoring storyteller, Patricia “Mardia” Stepney for her visionary role in initiating the idea of holding a local Juneteenth Celebration. Presenting partners for the June 15 celebration are Food Lion, the City of Winston-Salem, Arts Council of WinstonSalem and Forsyth County, Truist and the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Triad Cultural Arts Juneteenth

The Juneteenth Festival on June 15 at Innovation Quarter will take place inside Biotech Place at 575 Patterson Avenue and outside in Bailey Park at 445 Patterson Avenue. Biotech Place will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. and will include gospel music, merchandise vendors, community displays, health discussions and a sponsor meet and greet. Additionally, a culturally a rming Arts and Literacy Village will include creative activities Black author read-alouds, games and crafts. Roughly 10,000 attendees are expected to be downtown.

Bailey Park events will run from 1 to 8 p.m. and will include R&B and jazz music, African dance, youth performances, merchandise vendors, a Food Lion local produce stand and more. Kid’s Kingdom will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. and will include games, tribal dot face painting, crafts, make-n-takes and more.

This year’s festival will feature a wide array of activities for all ages and interests. Attendees can look forward to:

• Main Stage Performances: Enjoy live music and captivating dance performances, which will showcase the richness and diversity of Black artistic expression. Featured will be a tribute show to legendary recording artist, Rick James.

• Black Arts Impact Awards: Honor the remarkable achievements of six individuals and organizations in the Winston-Salem community. Awards will be presented in three categories: Performing, Visual and Literary Arts. Triad Cultural Arts will also have a commemorative poster for sale designed by honoree Leo Rucker.

• Special Exhibits: Learn about

the Shotgun House Revitalization Project which will document significant narratives concerning Black life in Winston-Salem throughout the Jim Crow and Civil Rights periods and discover the impact of school desegregation on the African American community in Winston-Salem with the Rooted in Race: A Community’s Journey to School Integration exhibit.

• Food and Refreshments: Experience a wide variety of culinary delights, including traditional soul food and fusion cuisine representing the flavors of the African diaspora.

• Artistry: Celebrate artistry with an assortment of original art and art prints, each showcasing unique expressions of creativity and original artwork that captures the essence of African culture.

• Apparel and Accessories: Explore a vibrant array of Afrocentric fashion and cultural treasures, including jewelry, t-shirts, hats and scarves that reflect the beauty of African traditions and commemorate Black heritage.

The reception for the annual Juneteenth art exhibition will be held on

Thursday, June 13, 6 p.m. at The Enterprise Center. “Healers in Focus: Twin City Doctors Through the Lens of Owens Daniels,” will feature artistic photographs of some of our local healthcare professionals.

New to the Juneteenth celebration this year is Freedom’s Melody: A Juneteenth Brunch. The brunch will be held at Sweet Potatoes on Sunday, June 16, with R&B, soul and jazz music at 12:30 p.m. and Afro-beats at 3 p.m. The brunch will celebrate the culinary arts and African American foodways, showcasing the flavors, techniques and cultural influences that have evolved over centuries and embody the resilience and creativity of African American communities throughout history. As a native of Winston-Salem, Executive Director Abrea Armstrong is thrilled to present her first Juneteenth. She says, “As the new leader of Triad Cultural Arts, I’m excited to host

the inaugural Juneteenth Brunch featuring di ering music genres to celebrate the intergenerationally of our organization—and our community.”

For more information visit https:// triadculturalarts.org/index.php/juneteenth-2/ !

Reproductive Care Fair o ers services for residents

Ian McDowell

Morgan Carter is excited about the Reproductive Care Fair organized by the N.C. Reproductive Care Coalition at Greensboro’s Oden Brewing Company on Wednesday, June 5. At the free event, which lasts from 4 until 8 p.m. at the popular pub located at 807 E. Gate City Blvd, attendees can learn about reproductive, sexual health, and justice initiatives in the area.

“The Carolina Abortion Fund will be in attendance, and we’ll have some goodies from the Guilford Green Foundation and Triad Health Project,” said Carter, a UNCG doctoral student and organizer.

“Channeling energy in a productive direction for the people with the most at stake is kind of my thing as an educator and community organizer. This grew out of an event at Westerwood Tavern in May of 2023, which I created as a tangible and practical entry into reproductive justice activism beyond just protests and marches. It showed what people can do directly for those who need it the most right now.”

Carter had originally intended that as a one-time-only event, but there was enough interest to sustain a monthly one. “So, we started doing abortion aftercare events the third Wednesday of every month, where anybody could come in and get supplies to make abortion aftercare kits. The kits included heavy flow pads, disposable heating pads, peppermint tea and ginger chews for nausea, raspberry leaf tea for cramps and discomfort, a snack, and a handwritten note.”

Interest in the recurring event inspired Carter to found the N.C. Reproductive Care Coalition, for which contact information can be found on Instagram and Facebook.

Carter has volunteered at Guilford County’s only remaining abortion provider, A Woman’s Choice of Greensboro, where they have witnessed anti-choice protesters growing in numbers since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , the 2022 SCOTUS decision overruling Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).

“One occasion, the protesters set up in the parking lot of the restaurant that overlooks the clinic and had a celebra-

tory concert, booming music down at the patients along with the usual speeches. I wish they put as much effort into helping pregnant people and children after they’re born.”

Carter said those attending the event at Oden will be provided with information on how to volunteer as patient escorts at abortion providers, as well as other ways to help those seeking a variety of reproductive health care services.

“Of course, we have wonderful clinic escorts that are there to get people safely in and out of the clinics, but you also have folks signing up to drive people to their appointments, or offering childcare to patients.”

Carter said that childcare is one of the most needed services volunteers can provide.

“There’s this false image of those who have abortions as being childless or even opposed to the idea of having children. In reality, mothers get abortions, too. Many of those who have abortions are already parents of one or more children, something very likely true of the moms of some people reading this.”

Carter called abortion “a much more complicated and nuanced experience” than its opponents acknowledge.

“I know people in this work who’ve told me they never would have been born if their mother hadn’t had an abortion before conceiving them. I’ve had a chemical abortion at the clinic that I drop off packages to, and will always remember sitting there in the room of people getting procedures. We were of different ages and races, but all stressed and scared, and as an escort, I’ve been able to make the person walking out with me laugh as protesters yelled at us, and tell them how I’d been through all that before.”

Carter also expressed gratitude to the organization Every Baby Guilford for

agreeing to appear at the event.

“They’ll be handing out information on how to train as a doula if anybody wants to support people through birth, pregnancy, or abortion. Doulas are an incredible and really necessary component of the reproductive justice movement, and one that’s been largely pioneered by Black women and women of color. They offer guidance in terms of emotional as well as physical well-being. They don’t just facilitate outside of the hospital, but often work in tandem with doctors and nurses to make sure the birth plan meets the well-being and safety needs of the pregnant person. The most important thing to know about doulas is that they give the pregnant person their autonomy.”

Carter said the N.C. Reproductive Care Coalition is pleased to be partnering with Oden on this event.

“They have been so supportive, and are generously donating a $1 for each Deliberate Disregard Blonde, their most popular ale, sold that day, to the Carolina Abortion Fund.”

When asked if there’s been an increase in pro-choice energy and engagement as the 2024 elections draw closer, Carter said “Absolutely.”

“I see a lot of good initiatives happening in a lot of different areas, and I’m hoping we can work across our organizations to achieve the work we need to do. I’m hoping that people focus more on local and statewide elections than federal, especially with Dobbs overturning. I don’t think people really understand that Dobbs was not an abortion ban, but the overturning of it as a federally protected right, and how important it is that we concentrate on state and local government. Healthcare, pregnancy care, reproductive rights, it all starts locally, and we need to be paying more attention to our governor, senators,

and representatives. I’m tired of people talking about the presidential race as if it’s the only election. Let’s focus on who we can influence. As a rhetorician, I think it’s no accident that so much political rhetoric focuses on national politics at the expense of the local. I think it’s a deliberate rhetorical move, in both politics and pop culture, to think about government in only a larger kind of way.”

As an example of a locally centered approach to organizing and activism, Carter cited the recently founded Rustin’s Reunion, named after Bayard Rustin, architect of the 1963 March on Washington, and posthumous winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. While the organization was formed to address LGBT concerns, Carter called it a model for local engagement on other issues, including reproductive justice.

“Rustin’s Reunion is a queer and Black-led organization that’s doing a lot of work to bridge the gap between the generations of queer and Black people and talk about what we need now. I work with them as a mentor for the Middle College at UNCG. They’ve been very active in keeping the community face-to-face with the school board. One of the great and necessary things about keeping your politics local is holding your representatives accountable and showing them your lived reality.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

Contributor

Morgan Carter

N.C. Reproductive Care Coalition

READY TO GROOVE? SPECIAL ISSUE

JUNE 12!

Who’s ready for The Triad’s Best? Make sure to follow us on our socials for updates on delivery to find out who was voted THE BEST!

Dance From Above gets down with R.A.P. Ferreira

Dance From Above continues shu ing the decks across the expanse of dance and party with panache, genuinely good vibes, and a sense of curation unmatched by few others — except, perhaps, the headliner for their upcoming session: R.A.P. Ferreira, coming to the Flat Iron on June 21.

Nomadic in both sense of place and name, R.A.P Ferreira, aka Scallops Hotel, aka Crown Billiken (formerly known as Milo), has held bases in Chicago, Kenosha, Milwaukee (where he founded his Ruby Yacht label), and coastal quarters in Los Angeles, California and Biddeford, Maine.

Ferreira’s work — rooted by unmistakable wordplay — has been regularly featured in major outlets: Spin, L.A. Weekly, The Boston Globe, Vulture, even freaking Forbes. His third studio album, “Who Told You to Think??!!?!?!”, landed amongst Rolling Stone’s most anticipated releases of 2017; and ended up on Pitchfork’s “20 Best Rap Albums” for the year.

Continuing to dazzle on the casual these days, now in Nashville, Ferreira’s ascent is grounded in senses of purpose, funneled and fueled through community and curation; brought into tangible fruition across steady streams of releases (not just via streaming) and into his brick-and-mortar Soulfolks east Nashville record store.

Ferreira’s Greensboro appearance is a long time coming for Dance From Above’s John Carey (aka Fifty Foot Shadows aka 50ft), “it’s unlike anything we have done in years so we’re excited to be changing it up this month, and bringing such a unique and distinct voice to one of our events.”

With that voice, “Ferreira continues to e ortlessly bring life to his poetry with an unmistakable cadence and sense of rhythm that’s brought to life through unpredictable yet immediately distinct productions across every one of his albums. Each of which breathes a life of their own and begs for repeat listens to peel back layers of rhyme, rhythm, and lyricism that weave together as one.”

Weaving together their own blend of the unpredictable, yet immediately distinct, “the show will be a bit down tempo from our usual output, but we think it fits right in with the spirit of sharing the best of the underground with the community here.”

In that spirit, DFA Resident DJs will naturally be on deck. “The first half of the night Niervash and 50ft will be doing a special down tempo back-to-back set before R.A.P. Ferreira takes the stage, then afterward Alvin and Rahl will kick up the BPM and close the night out with a dance party.”

A fan of Ferreira’s since the “milo” era, Carey has been pushing the rapper’s praises for almost as long as DFA’s been putting on parties — generating a fanbase within the collective and its extended family. The result has a group of seasoned Greensboro partymakers geeking out like grade schoolers over the show — namely DFA’s tastemaker and appreciator of all things underground, Danny Olsen, and multimedia Triad music curator, Yanni Xoinis.

Xoinis’ excitement is palpable. “It’s been a dream for me, Danny and John for so long, it’s hard to believe,” he said. “If any of us are having a rough day, we just remind ourselves we booked this show and high-five like little kids.”

“His music has been a connective tissue between us for years,” Xoinis continued. “We’ve connected so much over this man’s art, it feels extra special to have someone like that come play our show.”

And of that art, “it’s hard to pick out favorites because every time there is a new release we all geek out together. But I would say his 2015 album ‘so the flies don’t come’ got me through the second half of my 20s.”

They’ve been geeking out quite a bit lately with Ferriera’s two new drops over the past few months: “WHAT THEM DOGS DON’T KNOW THEY KNOW” as half of the duo, G’s U’s, with AJ Suede; and “the First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap” album with Japanese beatsmith Fumitake Tamura.

“There’s also a couple secret releases that don’t exist on streaming platforms, just very limited amounts of vinyl,” Xoinis noted. “All of them have been put out with such love and care it’s hard to describe them but they all have a hue of texture that’s unique and consistent to his work.”

When it comes to bringing that texture

to the state, “I can’t wait to see the mix of DFA fans and R.A.P. Ferreira fans come together for this event,” Xoinis said. “The blend of DFA’s signature electronic music sound and his one-of-a-kind hip-hop set will be something unique for a DFA night.”

Carey agrees, praising the nature of variety in the set and across Ferreira’s catalog. “His willingness to work tightly with a variety of di erent producers and explore the relationship between lyricism and beat production with such creativity is inspiring,” he said. “As is hearing his evolution as an artist. He’s slowly deepened his lyrical connections to philosophy and sharpened his vision further and further.”

Mirrored in their vision, Dance From Above prides themselves as “purveyors of the unexpected.” “It’s a tag to distill what we’ve long tried to accomplish here in Greensboro; building a trusted series of events that anyone could come to at any time and enjoy themselves no matter the featured artist or genre,” Carey said.

“DFA has always been a labor of love, and a group e ort among those of us on the team and your observation on this being from building on connections is indeed vital,” he continued. “For 10 years we’ve been hosting events in an e ort to bring attention to the diverse sub-culture of dance music and its many variations.”

The concept is cemented in their “diverse yet complimentary” range of resident DJs, along with a commitment to feature local and regional artists on the same scale as those on the national and international circuits.

“It’s very much a family a air,” Carey noted. “And we’re incredibly lucky. All of us found each other through our collective love for the scene. We gravitate toward DJs and collaborators who are humble and aren’t driven by ego. We seek out genuine personalities that have a true love for the scene.”

“Our founding member, Danny Olson is still the key tastemaker of the series and started with the goal of bringing music to Greensboro that felt important to share,” he continued. “Danny’s been the low-key guiding voice behind the whole series and was the biggest reason for its founding. It’s amazing to see really, he never asks for attention and has been part of like-minded events in the area since well before the series started.”

Looking back over the decade since those early days, “part of the goal has

always been to choose artists that we feel bring people together no matter what their personal tastes may be,” Carey explained.

“We don’t see ourselves as gatekeepers to the underground, our goal is the opposite. We do all we can to avoid being too cliquish — so no matter who you are, when you come to a DFA party: you feel at home.”

“Community is everything to us. We invite any and all to our events. We take a lot of pride in creating inclusive and welcoming spaces where anyone can feel at home and hopefully have a good time whether on the dance floor or hanging in the back nodding your head taking it all in.”

Praising the openness they’ve seen reciprocated by the Triad community, “thankfully attendees are willing to explore and appreciate styles beyond their favorites,” Carey said. “That’s what breeds innovation and growth in the greater community for the love for music in general — not simply dance music. It all bleeds together to create an infinite set of possibilities and that’s just amazing.”

With that, the DFA crew is also busy plotting possibilities for their o cial 10th anniversary party in September. “We’re working on making the back half of this year just as exciting and varied as what we’ve done up to now,” Carey said. “Stay tuned.”

But first, Dance From Above gets down with R.A.P Ferreira at the Flat Iron on June 21. !

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.

Katei Cranford

Contributor

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of June 10, 2024

[ ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Home conditions still demand attention. Also, keep an open mind about a sudden question of trust involving a close friend. All the facts are not yet in.

[ TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Travel begins to dominate your sign as spring gives way to summer. Make plans carefully to avoid potential problems during the first half of June.

[ GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A romantic Libra sets a challenge that your “sensible” side might question, but your idealistic self finds the prospect too intriguing to resist. The choice is yours.

[ CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Those tense times in your personal life are just about over. Concentrate on reaffirming relationships. Your love for travel opens up a surprising new opportunity.

[ LEO (July 23 to August 22) The Big Cat usually loves to be in the center of things. But this week, it might be wiser to watch and learn from the sidelines. A Pisces wants to make you purr.

[ VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) “New” is your watchword this week. Be open to new ideas, both on the job and in your personal life. A romantic Aries or Sagittarian beckons.

[ LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Some difficult family decisions have to be faced, but be sure to get more facts before you act. Also, be careful not to neglect your health during this trying time.

CROSSWORD] crossword on page 11

[ SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You still need to support a loved one through a difficult time. Meanwhile, things continue to work out to your benefit in the workplace.

[ SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Aspects continue to favor expanding social opportunities. A Gemini reaches out to offer a chance for reestablishing a once-close relationship.

[ CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) There’s a potential for misunderstandings in both your job and your personal life. A full explanation of your intentions helps smooth things over.

[ AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might be feeling restless on the job, but delay making any major moves until all the facts are in. Meanwhile, a Scorpio has a surprising revelation.

[ PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your business sense works to your advantage as you sort through the possibilities that are opening up. A Libra is Cupid’s best bet for your romantic prospects.

[ BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for being open-minded about people. This helps you make friends easily. You do very well in public service.

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate

sudoku on page 11

[TRIVIA TEST]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. TELEVISION: What subject does Walter White teach at the beginning of Breaking Bad?

[2. GEOGRAPHY: Which three countries make up the Baltic states in Europe?

[3. MUSIC: What is the title of The Beatles’ first album?

[4. LITERATURE: Prince Edward Island is the inspiration for which novel series?

[5. HISTORY: Which Roman emperor built a wall across northern England to deter invaders?

[6. MOVIES: Which movie first featured the character Lisbeth Salander?

[7. ASTRONOMY: The asteroid belt lies between which two planets in our solar system?

[8. U.S. STATES: Which state’s coast was dubbed the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” because so many ships wrecked there?

[9. FOOD & DRINK: What does the term “a la carte” mean?

[10. SCIENCE: What is the process called when a gas changes into a liquid?

answer

10. Condensation.

9. According to the menu.

8. North Carolina.

7. Jupiter and Mars.

6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

1. Chemistry.

2. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 3. “Please Please Me.” 4. “Anne of Green Gables.” 5. Hadrian.