YES! Weekly - September 11, 2024 by YES! Weekly

A DECADE OF STYLE

Winston Salem Fashion Week begins its 10th anniversary Thursday, September 19, and runs Monday to Friday, September 23-29, at various locations throughout the city.

Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

EDITORIAL

Editor CHANEL R. DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com

YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL

MARK BURGER

KATEI CRANFORD

JIM LONGWORTH

DALIA RAZO

LYNN FELDER

JOHN BATCHELOR

PRODUCTION

Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com

Billed as “a romanticized comedy” and filmed entirely in the Piedmont Triad, OUTERBOUND focuses on two young women, played by Melissa Lozada and Kiahni Glasthal, as they navigate the waters of friendships, relationships, and dealing with the world around them in a fashion both humorous and sympathetic.

both humorous and sympathetic.

those who served in the United States

While VETERANS DAY will be observed on November 11, 2024, two events occurring this Friday will assist and honor those who served in the United States military.

Lawmakers refuse to OUTLAW , parents continue to purchase these death traps for their kids, and young people continue to make poor decisions when riding them.

3 6 12

6 HERE AFTER, the feature directorial debut of producer Robert Salerno, is a brooding pre-Halloween chiller that emphasizes mood over gore, which is a nice change of pace, yet it’s that very restraint that hinders the film’s overall impact despite nice touches here and there.

10 The Greensboro edition of The MISSING OUR MOM CIRCLE will be held at Trust GSO, located at 2800 W. Gate City Blvd., on Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m.

12 Happy POST-HOPSCOTCH fellow NC rock’n’rollers–though “happy” isn’t quite the word for this time of year: it’s more of a mixed bag of post-festival buzz and longing for the long nights running around Raleigh streets.

Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com

ADVERTISING

Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com

TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com

Promotion NATALIE GARCIA

DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK

Feature presentation: Greensboro ﬁlmmaker goes Outerbound

In January, Sean Norona enjoyed a showcase at Marketplace Cinemas in WinstonSalem which marked the first public screenings of his short films A Reading, State of Being, and Blackout. When discussing that event, the prolific, Greensboro-based filmmaker briefly touched upon his plan to embark on his biggest, most ambitious project to date — the feature-length film Outerbound

Billed as “a romanticized comedy” and ﬁlmed entirely in the Piedmont Triad, Outerbound focuses on two young women, played by Melissa Lozada and Kiahni Glasthal, as they navigate the waters of friendships, relationships, and dealing with the world around them in a fashion both humorous and sympathetic. Norona calls it “a slice-of-life and a coming-of-age story.” (The promotional video can be watched here: https://vimeo. com/920418947?share=copy.)

Norona assembled his cast and crew earlier this summer to commence production on Outerbound, and although that filming has been completed, Norona hopes to interest potential investors and partners to expand it to feature length. “I want to stress that the project is not finished as we are intending for the full story to be a feature film, which is definitely the most ambitious thing I’ve ever attempted as a director,” he explained. “This summer, we were able to raise some funding through private investors and individuals which gave us enough steam to capture what we need for a ‘proof of concept’ — a short film to tease the feature, if you will.”

Yet the cast and crew proved so encouraged and industrious that they were able to expand upon the concept of a short ﬁlm and, in essence, give Norona more than he needed — and more footage to work with. “Our team was so e cient and great at what they do that we actually captured about 40 minutes’ worth of material, so now I’m in the editing room running around trying to ﬁgure out what stays and what goes in the short version! I’m loving what I’m seeing so far, so it’s hard to decide what to cut. Our main goal

is to look for brand partnerships, sponsors, investors, and even arts grants that want to support local ﬁlmmakers so we can ﬁnish the full-length version of the project.”

Regarding the production, “everything has come together smoothly so far,”

Norona said. “Everyone is vibing with each other, having a good time, and above all having fun. I always forget until I’m on set that part of the ﬁlmmaking experience is the work, but it’s also the friendships and new professional relationships you build with the people you make art with. A lot of the people on this production I’d never worked with before, (but) I sure am going to call on them again in the future. It’s been such a memorable time on set, with lots of smiles and laughs.”

Norona had been considering Outerbound for quite some time, but knew immediately upon reading the script that it had much to say, and in an entertaining, even enlightening way.

“This ﬁlm actually came from a script that my buddy Nathan Rohan wrote while back in college,” Norona said. “It was a funny coming-of-age story centered around two very di erent young women. It seemed like a really fun story to tell, but also a challenge to bring these characters to life o the page.”

That change of pace appealed to Norona. “It’s a very character-driven piece as opposed to what I’m used to doing, which are normally plot-driven ﬁlms. It’s a very exciting challenge for me. I told Nathan I wanted to save this script for when I was ready to make a feature, and that time is now! We’ve revised the script

over the course of the last year to update it to today’s audiences, and of course our continuing growth as storytellers.”

For this production, Norona and his crew didn’t have to worry about COVID protocols, but instead the record-breaking summer temperatures.

“The heat this summer has been unrelenting,” he admitted. “However, my production team only spent about half a day on our ﬁrst day in the summer heat. We were pretty smart how we went about things: We made sure to bring a cooler, plenty of water, portable fans, and scheduled production earlier in the day to keep anyone from getting overheated. It worked out really well, and the last 90 percent of what we shot was indoors. I try to make sure my sets are a safe and comfortable environment for my cast and crew.”

As well as tackling his ﬁrst feature, Norona wanted to go even beyond that. “I tried to do something di erent and not just make it about making a good movie, but to put some real intention and

mission behind the production itself,” he explained. “One of the things I’m trying to do as an artist is to give opportunities to di erent demographics in the ﬁlm industry that don’t always get the opportunities or representation, and that goes for both the cast as well as the crew.

“My cast has two Latina actresses as the leads, and the supporting cast is a melting pot of demographics,” he pointed out. “The crew, including my assistant director Abby Lowry, are made up of filmmakers, first-time filmmakers, and female filmmakers. The industry is saturated with men, and since this story has female main characters, I really wanted to have that strong female voice present throughout the production. I have worked very hard to make this production an inclusive environment as well as a learning opportunity for those who don’t have a lot of experience in this industry yet.”

Norona’s o cial website is https:// www.hogarimages.com/ !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies.

Mark Burger

Contributor

[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

SYMPHONY SEASON KICKS OFF WITH ICONIC “RHAPSODY IN BLUE”

As the Winston-Salem Symphony prepares to launch its 2024-2025 season, anticipation builds for a concert that promises to be both a musical celebration and a historical milestone. The season debut, featuring George Gershwin’s iconic “Rhapsody in Blue,” celebrates the 100th anniversary of this beloved work. It also marks the second season under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Michelle Merrill.

“Rhapsody in Blue,” a piece that blends classical and jazz elements, captures the energy and spirit of the roaring ‘20s, a time of cultural innovation and fusion. Gershwin, just 25 years old when he composed the piece in a matter of weeks, performed as the pianist at its premiere. The piece was an instant success, cementing Gershwin’s reputation as a groundbreaking composer.

Merrill’s choice to begin the season with “Rhapsody in Blue” emphasizes the work’s enduring relevance and vitality. The concert will feature rising star pianist Ray Ushikubo, whose youthful energy and technical skill mirror Gershwin’s age and virtuosity at the time of the premiere. Ushikubo, a double major in piano and violin at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, is known for his dynamic performances and expressive style, making him an ideal interpreter of this vibrant composition. His fresh perspective is sure to resonate with today’s audiences.

Michelle Merrill, entering her second season as music director of the WinstonSalem Symphony, continues to explore

Triad events assist and honor military veterans this Friday

BY IAN MCDOWELL

While Veterans Day will be observed on November 11, 2024, two events occurring this Friday will assist and honor those who served in the United States military.

The Triad Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, an annual event hosted by the Greensboro nonproﬁt The Servant Center, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church at 1106 Tuscaloosa St. on September 13.

That same day, the Greensboro-based organization Combat Female Veterans United will host the 2024 Outstanding Combat Female Veteran of North Carolina Awards from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at High Point Elks Lodge 1155, located at 700 Old Mill Rd.

new artistic heights while honoring the traditions that have shaped the orchestra’s rich history. Throughout the season, Merrill will present engaging and innovative programming that spans multiple genres while embracing timehonored traditions. Highlights of the season include several notable concerts. In October, the Symphony presents “Jurassic Park in Concert,” featuring John Williams’ iconic score played live by the orchestra. Fans can also look forward to “A Carolina Christmas,” where Merrill reunites with her college roommate, vocalist Dee Donasco, for classic carols with the Symphony Chorus. In January, “Beyond the Blue Ridge” will transport listeners to the rugged landscapes of the American West with folk-inspired rhythms performed by Mark & Maggie O’Connor. April brings “Simply the Best: The Music of Tina Turner,” promising pure, energetic fun. Verdi’s Requiem will soar in the same month with dramatic intensity and profound emotional depth. The Family Concert series returns with “Sleepover at the Museum” in October and Peter and the Wolf in May. These concerts and many others are available for the community to enjoy. Tickets start at $29; more information can be found at wssymphony.org or by calling the box o ce at (336) 464-0145. Subscriptions are still available, so don’t miss out on Merrill’s electrifying season. The “Rhapsody in Blue” concerts will occur on Saturday, September 21, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, September 22, at 3:00 pm at the R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road. !

Triad Stand Down provides over 40 di erent services to attendees, including but not limited to SSI/SSDI beneﬁts assistance, employment training opportunities, haircuts, tax return preparation, vision services, fair housing, and suicide prevention along with numerous medical services. The previous Triad Stand Down held in 2023 was funded by private donors, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Bank of America, among many others.

“We believe that every veteran deserves to be treated with respect and provided with the tools to rebuild their lives,” said Servant Center executive director Shanna Reece. “The Triad Stand Down is one of the many ways we fulﬁll this mission. This event is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared goal. The collective e orts of local organizations and volunteers will ensure that our veterans are supported in every possible way.”

The Servant Center began as the faith-based Episcopal Servant Leadership Project, with church volunteers working to help the unhoused apply for disability beneﬁts. From this beginning, it eventually grew into a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt working to meet the numerous gaps in social services, with a primary focus on disabled veterans.

Servant House, which opened in 1999, remains the sole transitional program in the Triad that exclusively serves veterans with disabilities. Since 1997, Servant House has contracted with Cone Health Systems in their continuing aid of under and uninsured patients via the establishment of its Disability Assistance Program. To meet the housing needs of residents

after they leave the Servant Center, two permanent supportive housing complexes, Glenwood House and Haworth House, were established in 2005 and 2012, respectively. Along with supportive services, these complexes o er 17 apartments to individuals exiting homeless, with a focus on former Servant Center House residents. Partnering in 2008 with AmeriCorps, Servant House established AmeriCorps Ending Homelessness, in which members volunteer a year of their lives to serve the at-risk in Guilford and Forsyth counties. More recently, Servant House has established the Fast Track Rapid Rehousing program. Joining temporary ﬁnancial assistance with housing-focused case management, this program works to rapidly re-house individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Also taking place on September 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be the 2024 Outstanding Combat Female Veteran Awards, hosted by High Point Elks Lodge 115. The theme will be Glowing Stars of Service — Illuminating Excellence. The free event is a luncheon.

Speakers include Guilford County Commissioner Carlvena Foster; Keynote Andrea Allard, an Army veteran, and the Director of Transition Services for the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans A airs, as well as the North Carolina Women Veterans Coordinator for the National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators (NASWVC); and Air Force Combat Veteran Alia Schenck will share her compelling story and journey.

This year’s honorees are: Schenck, La’Monica Coleman, Kathleen Pierce Johnson, Jerial Bogan, Teresa Ramey Martin, Carolyn Lattimore, and Brenda Brubaker.

As well as the awards, the ceremony will include storytelling sessions highlighting the journeys of female veterans. Attendees will also be invited to nominate other female veterans residing in North Carolina for next year’s awards ceremony. For more information about Combat Female Veterans United or the 2024 Outstanding Combat Female Veteran of North Carolina Awards, go to www.cfvfunited.com or email info@cfvfunited.com. For more information about Triad Stand Down or the Servant Center, or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, visit www. theservantcenter.org or contact Michael Hill at mhill@theservantcenter.org. !

SUBMITTED BY JOEY BURDETTE

Six years ago, then 13-year old Tyler Hughes of Clemmons, got on his ATV and proceeded to speed along a snowy, curvy road. The ATV flipped over on him and the roll bar severed his left arm. Tyler’s mom quickly applied a tourniquet to her son’s arm and surgeons were able to re-attach the limb. A local newspaper titled its story, “Quick Thinking Mom, Skilled Doctors Made the Difference. ” Obviously, everyone was happy that young Tyler survived the crash, but a more appropriate headline would have been, “Boy Should Have Never Been on ATV in the First Place.” To that end, in July of 2018, I wrote a column calling for

ATV Laws Must Change

ATV laws to be more restrictive, but my words fell on deaf ears.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 4,000 people died in ATV accidents between 2004 and 2021, and 504 of those were in North Carolina, most of who were children and teens. Meanwhile, lucky crash victims like Tyler were among the 517,000 ATV riders who made it out of the emergency department injured, but alive. The problem is that no one seems to care about statistics. Lawmakers refuse to outlaw ATVs, parents continue to purchase these death traps for their kids, and young people continue to make poor decisions when riding them. And that brings me to our most recent ATV-related tragedy.

Late last month Layne Jones and Jayden Reynaldo hopped onto a 4-wheeler and went for a piggyback ride along a local highway in Transylvania County. The boys, both 16 years old and both members of the Eastern Randolph High School football team,

suddenly lost control, ran off the road, and crashed into a tree. They were killed instantly. To compound the tragedy, there’s no indication that their deaths will yield any significant reforms when it comes to the sale and use of ATVs. If that weren’t the case, then legislators would have already paid more attention to the aforementioned statistics and widespread warnings by reputable individuals and organizations.

For example, at a 2010 meeting of the American College of Surgeons, it was reported that when comparing ATV accidents versus motorcycle accidents, the same injury from an ATV crash is 50% more likely to result in severe injury or death. The reason? Motorcycles are mainly operated by adults and ATVs are mainly operated by minors. Shockingly, under North Carolina law, children as young as 8 years old can operate an ATV if the engine is less than 70cc. Hey, while we’re at it, why don’t we just let children operate handguns, so long as it’s a small caliber?

State lawmakers need to get off their collective asses and enact serious ATV reforms, including: no one under 16 can operate any kind of all-terrain vehicle; you must have a valid North Carolina license to operate an ATV; and, anyone between 16 and 18 must be supervised by an adult when operating an ATV.

After Tyler Hughes crashed his 4-wheeler in 2018, I interviewed a pediatric injury prevention specialist for my Triad Today television show. He stated clearly that, “Parents should keep their children away from all ATVs.” Yet what did 13-year-old Tyler tell a Winston-Salem Journal reporter while he was recovering from surgery? He said, “I can’t wait to start riding again.” Tyler could be forgiven for his disregard of the dangers that ATVs present. Lawmakers and parents cannot. !

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) and streaming on WFMY+.

Jim Longworth

Longworth at Large

Here After: Back from the

Here After , the feature directorial debut of producer Robert Salerno, is a brooding pre-Halloween chiller that emphasizes mood over gore, which is a nice change of pace, yet it’s that very restraint that hinders the film’s overall impact despite nice touches here and there.

Connie Britton stars as Claire, a teacher of literature at a Catholic girls’ school where her daughter Robin (Freya Hannan-Mills) is an aspiring piano prodigy. The school looks an awful lot like the nunnery where Sydney Sweeney had such trouble in Immaculate earlier this year, which doesn’t portend well for Claire or Robin.

Indeed, it’s only a matter of time before things take a drastic turn when Robin drowns after a bicycling mishap. Despite being clinically dead for 20 minutes, Robin inexplicably revives, much to Claire’s relief. But it soon becomes apparent to her that Robin is not herself. For one thing, she suddenly begins speaking again, having been mute for years. For another, she begins playing loud music at top volume, thus alienating the neighbors. Finally, she becomes so pale and hollow-eyed that even Claire must admit something is amiss.

This being Rome, there’s plenty of Catholic iconography on display, and for a time it looks like Here After will be going the exorcism route. That it doesn’t, may disappoint some viewers looking for something punchier. But as competently made as the film is, it’s not a particularly urgent one, even given what’s at stake. There is a third-act revelation that rears its end in accordance with executive producer Sarah Conradt’s screenplay, which thereby confines the narrative to the parameters of this gimmick. It’s not a bad gimmick, but it’s not an especially surprising one.

In a performance of unflagging earnestness, Britton suffers nobly as Claire,

although there’s not much beyond suffering nobly required of her. HannanMiles, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the sibling actresses Dakota and Elle Fanning, coolly underplays Robin, thereby making her more enigmatic and menacing. But too often she’s relegated to the sidelines and isn’t given nearly enough to do. Giovanni Cirfieria, as Claire’s ex-husband, and Tommaso Basili as a friendly expert in near-death experiences, are both handsome in roles of little significance.

Among the film’s more notable attributes are Bartosz Nalazek’s elegant cinematography and Fabrizio Mancinelli’s effective score, which is understandably heavy on piano melodies, and the Italian locations are quite picturesque and lovely. As we count down the days and weeks toward Halloween, Here After kills 90 minutes easily enough, but it could have used a little more oomph. — Here After opens Friday in theaters and will be available on Digital. !

Mark Burger Contributor

A Decade of Style: Winston Salem Fashion Week celebrates anniversary

Contributor

Winston Salem Fashion Week begins its 10th anniversary Thursday, September 19, and runs Monday to Friday, September 23-29, at various locations throughout the city. It o ers runway looks from local designers, boutiques, and retail stores. The designer expo and retail brand runway shows will feature established local brands and new design and modeling talent from the Triad. Winston Salem Fashion Week, often referred to as WSFW, was founded in 2015 by Nikita Wallace, who had studied at North Carolina A&T State University and worked in apparel and fashion in New York and Los Angeles before returning to

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the Triad to found Audacity Productions and enroll in Salem College as an adult student.

“It started as a senior project,” said Wallace, describing how WSFW began during her last semester at Salem before she graduated cum laude.

“I needed half a credit to graduate. So, I presented this opportunity, combining art and fashion and having this big event as my senior thesis. My advisor came to me and said, ‘You know you need to have credit to graduate and if you can document the journey, kind of like a workstudy, we’ll give you that credit for it and you can walk.’ I had maybe less than nine weeks to pull it together.”

But she jumped at the opportunity.

“I had a couple of students help me do background on creating a fashion week, so it was a collaborative e ort. I held an interest meeting at one of the libraries and there was a line out of the door of people interested in doing a fashion week here in Winston. When I ﬁrst saw the line, I thought they were just waiting for the library to open! When the director opened the library, she told me they were all there to see me, and asked me what I had going on.”

Wallace said everyone’s enthusiasm was immediately apparent.

“The auditorium was packed with interested people who wanted to see a fashion week, or what a fashion week is about and how you get involved. From that, we were able to create a team to put on the ﬁrst actual fashion week. We did it at Salem College over two days, with

more than 250 people attending each night. We had eight designers, three major retailers, and a slew of 80 volunteers, including models, hair and make-up, and ticket providers.”

And that’s when Wallace realized this didn’t need to be a one-o event, but could become an ongoing exploration and celebration of the city and the Triad’s fashion scene and all the talented people it had nurtured.

“I started getting emails and phone calls asking ‘When was the next fashion week? When can I get involved?’ And here we are, 10 years later.”

This year’s Fashion Week kicks o on Thursday, September 19, with an Art of Fashion Exhibition hosted by the N.C. Museum of Art Winston-Salem (formerly known as SECCA) at 750 Marguerite Drive.

“I’m so excited about that show with my friend and colleague Cheryl Ann Lipstreu, the celebrity body painter and ﬁne art painter here in Winston.”

“I am so excited about being a part of Winston-Salem Fashion Week,” said Lipstreu. “It’s an incredible opportunity for me to collaborate with my community as an artist, and I’m so grateful for that. I’m also so grateful for Nikita, whom I’ve known for over 10 years. In 2015, she and I were talking about how fun it would be to have a body painting exhibition at Fashion Week. Flash forward a decade, and she and I sat down to lunch together and decided we needed to ﬁnally make that happen. We put our heads together and came up with the body painting exhibition for the opening gala. Right now, we

expect to have around 20 models and 10 artists or volunteer painters, along with a couple of assistant artists. There should be a great turnout.”

Wallace said she was also excited about new partnerships.

“One is with the Dash Truist Stadium, with whom we’re going to hold our ﬁrst Urban Street Style event on Friday the 27th. And because we always have amazing designers, there will be two shows on Saturday. One at 1 p.m. at the N.C. Museum of Art Winston-Salem, featuring six designers, and then another show at 7 p.m. in the Innovation Quarter, featuring ﬁve designers along with three other local retail boutiques. Along with all that, we’ve got some great new vendors from Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro. So, I’m excited about that. It’s going to be fantastic.”

She’s also excited about how attendance has been increasing since the pandemic. “We still have to be careful, of course, but it’s not like 2020, when we did a virtual event, or 2021 when we wondered if we could do this, but we’re bouncing back. For the last two years, it’s been good, and we had a sold-out show last year. People are starting to feel comfortable to come back out. We still try to keep the small crowds at the show but with a great impact, which I think helps a lot.”

“I am hopeful that the community comes out and enjoys this event and all these di erent artists,” said Lipstreu. “The North Carolina Museum of Art, WinstonSalem put out a call to painters to submit their canvas work, so there’s going to be

Ian McDowell

Designer Ti any Flower-Scales

Designer Melissa Coleman

a very unique and eclectic art show that’s going to be amazing for both the artists and the community that comes out to meet them and view their creations. The theme is the Art of Fashion, fashion as art. It’s going to be loosely based. The artists can create any design as long as it looks like clothing or some sort of fashion. It’s really up to what their imaginations can bring forth.”

Nine years of doing this hasn’t made Wallace jaded or complacent. She’s as excited as Lipstreu, who is doing this for the first time.

“It’s amazing that this is our 10th year. It’s been a journey, a really good journey, with its ups and downs, but with such great support. I’m really excited that we can present it again in our 10th year, because it’s been 10 years of just making things happen and highlighting talented local designer creatives, right here in the Triad. I look forward to next week and then next year, when we begin our second decade.”

After the Art of Fashion “Beyond the Runway” exhibition on Thursday, September 19, Fashion Week will resume on Monday the 23rd with the Sneaker Ball & Recognition Ceremony, held on Monday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at Robert Hall on the second floor of Capone’s Bar at 874 N. Liberty Street.

On Wednesday, September 25, Food to Fashion, a Sustainable Fashion Show, will be held at 8 p.m. in Southside Food Forest at 1133 W. Arcadia Avenue.

Thursday, September 26, the WSFW Swap & Style event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Delta Fine Arts Center at 2611 Walkertown Road.

Also, on the 26th, the Model Rush Collegiate Runway Show will be held at 7

p.m. at Winston-Salem State University. (check wsfashionweek.com for updates).

Friday, September 27 brings the “Urban Street Style” Designer Runway Shows and Presentation at the Winston-Salem Dash Truist Stadium at 7 p.m., with a VIP After Party from 9 to 11 p.m.

The Youth Runway Show will take place on Friday, September 27 at 4 p.m., at the Innovation Quarter’s Biotech Atrium.

WSFW will close out the week’s festivities with the Designer Runway Show #1 on Saturday, September 28, at the museum on Marquerite Drive at 1 p.m., and Designer Runway Show #2 at 7 p.m. in the Innovation Quarter Atrium at 575 Patterson Avenue.

Winston Salem Fashion Week has partnered with NCMAWS, Goodwill Northwest NC, The Arts Council, and MUSE Winston-Salem. Other sponsors include Champion, Hanesbrands Inc., Innovation Quarter, Dewey’s Bakery, Robert Hall, Triad Cultural Arts, Project Space 411, Atlantic Union Bank, Sugar Mamas, DXL, The City of Winston-Salem Mayor’s Office, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Lamar Advertising, JCPenney, WS Dash, Delta Arts Center, Royalty Marketing, YES! Weekly, and Triad Voice Magazine

“I also want to thank the Ginther Group of Keller Williams Realty Elite and Twin City Catering,” said Lipstreu. “Of course, we are hugely grateful to Forsyth County and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem for all their support.”

For updates, prices, and more information, visit www.fashionweek.com. !

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.

Designer Tamara McKinney

Cheryl Ann Lipstreu Body Paint Art

The MOM Circle comes to the Triad

Dozens of selfproclaimed “siblings” will meet up in Greensboro on Monday evening with one thing in mind. Their moms.

The Greensboro edition of The Missing Our Mom Circle will be held at Trust GSO, located at 2800 W. Gate City Blvd., on Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m.

The MOM Circle is a support group for people who have lost their mothers, no matter how long ago or recent it was. Attendees talk through their journey before and after losing their mom and the feelings they go through.

“When you lose your mom, people want to grieve with you, and they want to give you condolences. But until you lose your mom, you really don’t know what that pain feels like. It’s appreciated when people tell you they’re praying for you,” said Brian McLaughlin. “But when you’re in a room with your siblings, and we all

call ourselves siblings because we all lost our mom, and we all know the weight of not being able to talk to our moms, not being able to send a text, not being able to ever hear from them again. It’s a peace that comes with that, and it’s a calmness that comes with that that we’ve learned.”

The MOM Circle was started shortly after McLaughlin, also known as B Daht, lost his mother, Irene Palm on May 5.

“Even though she was dealing with three terminally ill diseases — congestive heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis, and stage 4 breast cancer — she was really whipping them. They didn’t stand a chance, and she died as a result of sepsis. She had something in her intestines area ruptured, and released toxins into her bloodstream. Because she was on blood thinners, they couldn’t do any surgery. So it eventually shut down her kidneys and all her bodily organs,” he explained.

McLaughlin hosts the circle along with friends and colleagues who also lost their moms, Larry Mims, also known as No Limit Larry, the lead of Power 98’s No Limit Larry & The Morning Maddhouse in Charlotte; and comedian, radio host, and author Tone-X.

“Tone had talked about it and I was like ‘Yo, we really need to do this.’”

McLaughlin said that the trio posted the event on their Instagram with the location that was hosting them, Block Love Charlotte, located at 2738 N Graham St. in Charlotte, and waited for the results.

“We had no clue what we were going to do. Just going to open up a space for dialogue, venting, grieving, and that type of vibe,” he said. “At the first one, there might have been about 15 people there. It was all females. The only three men that were there were me, Tone, and Larry.”

The MOM Circle was officially a hit.

July 8, less than two weeks after a cancer diagnosis. She had just had her annual checkup in April. He describes his mother as “a special lady, a loving grandmother, and someone who had an infectious laugh.

“I was her only child. Talking to people since she passed, I realized more that I was her pride and joy. My mother lived for me. Everything she did was about me. I didn’t realize that until after the fact, but it was. She was a hustler. She never gave up.”

He said that The MOM Circle reminds him that he’s not alone.

“It’s cool because it lets you know you’re not alone. And people who have not lost their mother have no clue of what that feels like,” Clark said. “Losing a family member, which I have, and losing your mother are two completely different situations, two completely different journeys. It’s different. So to have people around or be in a room with people who have experienced it is special. It helped me realize that some of the feelings that I was having were normal. I consider myself strong, but it let me know it’s okay not to be and to take my time navigating through my emotions.”

At the Greensboro MOM Circle, there were 45 people in attendance. Attendees introduced themselves, their moms and then told something about their moms.

“It was nice, man. It was just a space where we introduced ourselves, introduced our moms, their birthday and re-birth date [when she passed or transitioned], and then something you wanted to tell us about your mom. It was just a nice 90 minutes. We had food there, we ate, and fellowshipped.”

Eventually, the guys began hosting The MOM Circle every two weeks, on Monday nights at 7 p.m. encouraging both males and females to attend.

“There were situations where people lost their moms 20 years ago, and this was the first time they ever spoke about it to anyone that they felt could relate. We were allowing people to just process and be as vulnerable and as transparent as they wanted to be in that space. It was therapeutic. It was amazing,” McLaughlin said.

More people would attend, at every session. More men would join the circle.

“As an advocate for mental health, making sure this was a space for Black men to be vulnerable and transparent was very important to me,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin has teamed up with Metis Counseling Group in Greensboro and will bring a few counselors into the session.

The meetings became so successful the trio began giving tasks to participants, whether it was wear your mother’s favorite color next session, bring a picture of your mom, or play your mom’s favorite song. After two months, they were asked to bring The MOM Circle to the Triad. When they did, they would actually have to find another venue because the original building they were to utilize did not have air conditioning.

So they called Mike Clark of Trust GSO, who had just recently lost his mom on

“Not really to guide the session but to listen, and at the end maybe give some coping skills,” he explained. “Someone said something that stuck out and that was they would like to have some tools so they could adapt to this life-changing, new normalcy a little bit better. I want to bring the therapy to the people. Some people don’t even know how to find a therapist or how to reach out. If it’s anybody that would like to use that, that’s cool. Those are ways that we’re just trying to grow The MOM Circle, continue to build, and make sure that it’s being productive.” Clark said the feedback he’s received has been great.

“I haven’t known anything like this to exist, especially within our culture. It’s

Book by George Abbott & DouGlass Wallop

Music and lyrics by Richard Adler & jerry ross

Chanel R. Davis

Editor

cool to be able to be a part of the support piece of it all along with Brian. I’m just providing the space. This is something that they created, but it’s cool to provide a safe space for everybody,” he said. “Trust GSO is really a safe space for women. It was created as such and targeted towards women. It’s cool to provide that as well as a safe space for men who have also lost their mom.”

Clark wants readers to know it is OK to be vulnerable.

“It’s OK to not be OK. You know what I mean? I think, especially us as men, we’re taught, ‘push through, tighten up,’ ‘don’t cry, boy, get it together’ or ‘Be strong for your family, for your people.’ As a man, it’s OK not to be OK. And for women, that they’re not by themselves.”

McLaughlin said while there may be di erent variations of this circle in the future, this one is just for those who have lost their moms.

“If you lost your mom, you’re invited. We understand that there are people who want to come and support, but we ask that if you have not su ered the grief of losing your mom, we appreciate the support, but we ask that you respectfully sit this one out. The only amendment for that is if someone who has lost their mother is coming and somebody is coming with them as a support system, a family member, a spouse, things of that nature,” he explained. “We appreciate it, but we’re not a spectacle. We don’t want to feel like a spectacle. We need the energy to stay as consistent as we’re all on the same page, all dealing with the same source of grief.”

For the attendees, he asked that they be open to being vulnerable.

“It’s whatever type of energy you would like to bring. If you want to cry, you can cry. If you want to scream, that’s ﬁne. If you want to laugh, by all means. If you

don’t want to talk in this session, you don’t have to. If you would like to talk this session, you’re more than welcome to. It’s really just an open space for our siblings to all be together and just share in that same face of grief with the loss of our mothers.”

No stranger to the grieving process, having found out he lost his paternal grandmother two days after losing his mom, McLaughlin has been very transparent about documenting his stages of grief on his social media platforms. He created the hashtag #grieﬁsdumb during his journey.

“Somebody told me that grief is like a shadow that sits in a rocking chair in the corner of your room. Sometimes, when you leave the room, that shadow gets up and it follows you around the entire day. Sometimes that shadow stays right in that chair and waits until we get home, but it’s still going to be right there. The grief never leaves. I went through a real dark summer just trying to process all of it,” McLaughlin said. “There’s an audience that needs this, but there’s an audience that’s grieving to maximum proportions. The MOM Circle is the start. You just deal with the fact that your life, the life you were living before, it’s a totally di erent life than you’re living after your mom has died. You respect the grief because grief just conﬁrms that there was love there. But grief is dumb.” !

WANNA know?

To donate or for more information on The MOM Circle, email team@blockloveclt.org or programs@blockloveclt.org.

CHANEL R. 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. Celebrate the diversity of our community at events across the YMCA of Greensboro association. Learn More: ymcagreensboro.org/welcomingweek

The MOM Circle at Trust

Hopscotch musings, memories, and rambles

Happy postHopscotch

fellow N.C. rock’n’rollers — though “happy” isn’t quite the word for this time of year: it’s more of a mixed bag of post-festival buzz and longing for the long nights running around Raleigh streets.

For this N.C. music nerd, the Hopscotch Festival o ers the most fun weekend in North Carolina — and 2024 was no exception. Having attended each year in some variety, there was a certain reﬂection in the air — memories wafting with lyrics and stage banter — both Snail Mail and Waxahatchee commented on their Hopscotch histories. Watching them hop from club shows to the City Plaza stage is wild to witness. It’s really something to see artists grow from day party openers to rocking the main stage (ala Wednesday); or going from playing an empty noontime Slims to having the longest-line I witnessed (here’s looking at you, Geeked). Geeked ripped, to no one’s surprise and a ton of delight. There’s this real rad sense of pride in the camaraderie of watching bands and friends (and a mix of both) get their ﬂowers with fervor. And it helps to balance the supreme sort of exhaustion in living one’s best professional life. Running hard and rocking out for four solid days — dudes like Paul from the aforementioned Geeked, who also designed and operated the Moore Square Stage light rig. Makin’ folks look good, making folks feel good — it’s real good stu . And, in my case anyway, it’s even better to get the goods and spread the good word. I’m always grateful when Hopscotch hops around. Truly. For folks who gig around N.C., Hopscotch presents that unique opportunity, amongst a slew of others. The festival rules as a means to carve the time for sampling home-state artists that are otherwise scattered on bills from the mountain to the sea: getting to see Boone’s Real Companion and the beach babes in Zulitas are two notable instances. It’s great to catch so many great folks in one fell swoop (with the parties and surprise Hannibal Buress appearances). Case in point: Optic Sink is worth driving to

across the state leading up to the election. The Raleigh session (featuring artists like Janelle Monae, Tierra Whack, Moses Sumney, Lute, Helado Negro, and Elora Dash) goes down at Red Hat Amphitheatre on September 14.

Memphis, but it’s rad I didn’t have to (and I got to see them with D.C.’s Clear Channel and Raleigh’s RIBS. Win-win. Hopping the block from Slims to the Pour House for Ben Katzman’s DeGreaser was also gnarly af. These moments don’t just happen any ol’ day of the year).

Basically, it’s impossible to catch all the N.C. shows worth going to throughout the year; but Hopscotch harnesses a choice selection under a more achievable umbrella — though truth be told, catching all the worthy Hopscotch shows is its own fool’s errand (protip: bring a bike).

Plus there’s the wonder of seeing Triad folk win over new audiences — the delight of catching Nightblooms, Old Heavy Hands, and Flower in Bloom in di erent elements. And the joy of watching regional favorites freak everyone out — I presumed the Thursday punk show with Mutant Strain, Zorn and ISS at Kings would rip, and I was right. But nobody expected the power of Indiana’s Pat & the Pissers — the ﬂoor felt like it was caving in a way I hadn’t experienced since the Oh Sees at the Hopscotch Hangover show in 2015. Lord, that’ll be 10 years by the time the next festival rolls around.

It was actually 10 years ago that St.

Vincent last visited the City Plaza stage — I heard her Saturday show was just as electrifying — but it was no Jesus Lizard. While the sentimental side of me relishes the local loves and regional faves, the legends are undoubtedly legendary. And on that note: the Jesus Lizard ﬂat-out fellated the crowd (ﬁguratively, of course. Though David Yow’s righteous spasms served a certain sorta strip tease). While a bit more reserved, the dB’s are another legendary band enjoying a rockin’ reunion tour. And watching the sun set to Guided By Voices was something akin to a religious experience.

But in this post-Hopscotch buzz, it’s gone from life to memory — thankfully there’s still plenty of festivals and lingering Hopscotchers rolling into September.

First up, the 17th annual Hoppin’ John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention in Silk Hope (September 12-14) and Idlewild South (yes, the Allman Brothers cover band), is hosting its self-titled festival with an array of jams, camping, and a dozen or so bands, September 13-15 in Zebulon. Meanwhile, the grassroots political organization, Common Cause North Carolina, is rocking the vote with the “CarolinaDaze Music & Arts Festival”

The following weekend is all about picking and grinning around Raleigh for the ﬁnal Oak City hosted International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass annual convention (September 23-28). Meanwhile, the Soil & Sky Fest once again meshes music and self-care in Saxapahaw September 21-22 (and will feature Hopscotchers like Tre. Charles and the Pinkerton Raid). The Carolina Indie Festival (September 20-21) in Sanford will blend both Triad favorites and Hopscotch vets with Old Heavy Hands on the bill. In the Triad, Groovejam returns to DooDad Farm to raise funds and food for the Greensboro Urban Ministry on September 21. And in Winston-Salem, the 9th annual Winston-Salem Rap Round Robin throws down at Hoots Roller Bar on September 28.

In the vein of Hopscotchers in the Triad, 2019-vets the Nude Party are playing with Fancy Gap (who opened up the honky tonkin’ Saturday show at Transfer Co. Ballroom) at Cohab.Space in High Point on September 13.

Disco darling, Azul, hopped around her Hopscotch day party sets in a post-surgical boot — but she’s keeping the dance alive and will rock (boot and all) the newlydubbed NCMA Winston-Salem (formerly known as SECCA), on a Southern Idiom bill with Maia Kamil on September 20.

Speaking of Hopscotchers at NCMA W-S, the Messthetics and 1970s Film Stock will ignite the museum’s Lake Stage with jazzed-out pedal fury as part of NCMA W-S’s Lakeside Series on October 11. Last, but not least, the dB’s will run around their old stomping grounds, appearing in the auditorium for a special Southern Idiom spotlight on December 6.

There may be a few hundred days left until the next Hopscotch, but N.C. music keeps hopping. Thanks for the tunes and memories, y’all. Especially to you brave souls — the techs and barfolk that keep everything ﬂowing — it’s a gas because of y’all and I can’t wait to do it again. Cheers to lucky number 15. !

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

Katei Cranford

Contributor

Snail Mail

Waxahatchee

Optic SInk Geeked

PHOTOS BY KATEI CRANFORD

Natalie Garcia

[1. MOVIES: What is the name of the ﬁctional country in The Princess Diaries?

[2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the highest mountain in Africa?

[3. HISTORY: Which ancient civilization built Machu Picchu in Peru?

[4. TELEVISION: Which city is the setting for the TV drama The Wire?

[5. U.S. CITIES: Which city’s nickname is “City of Roses”?

[6. MATH: When is Pi Day celebrated each year?

[7. LITERATURE: During what historical period is the graphic novel “Persepolis” set?

[8. CHEMISTRY: Which element is also known as quicksilver?

[9. SCIENCE: How much of the Earth’s water is held by oceans?

[10. MUSIC: Who performed the hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up” in 1987?

answer

Rick Astley.

Mercury.

7. The 1979 Iranian Revolution.

6. March 14 (3.14).

Baltimore, Maryland.

The Inca civilization.

Mount Kilimanjaro.

Genovia.

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of September 16, 2024

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Careful, Lamb. Taking on too many tasks at one time can cause you to create more snarls each time you try to work your way through the tangled mass. Best to handle one job at a time.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Making bold moves is what Bovines do. But the best moves are made with lots of data to provide backup, just in case you charge into an unexpected complication. Meanwhile, a new relationship shows promise.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Sharing credit for a job well-done is easy for you to do, but this is not necessarily the case for your partner. But fair is fair. Don’t let yourself be denied the right to have your contributions recognized.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Communication is important to help bridge a gap that can lead to problems at home and/or at the workplace. Find a way to get your points across before the breach becomes a chasm.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Relation-

ships, whether business or personal, need to be watched carefully for signs of trouble. Any negative indications should be dealt with before they become too burdensome.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Congratulations! A more positive aspect highlights much of the Virgo’s week. You should ﬁnd others more receptive to your suggestions and more likely to act on them.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) All work and little play could wear down the Libra’s usually positive attitude. Take some much-needed time o . Perhaps a short jaunt with someone special is the way to go.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good time to expand your view from the known to the unfamiliar. Confronting new situations could be challenging, but they could ultimately be extremely satisfying.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Giving advice to those who just want validation for what they’re doing can be unsettling. So, back o and save

your counsel for those who really appreciate it.

[cAPrIcorN (December 22 to January 19) Cultivating a more positive attitude not only makes you feel better about yourself, but it also has an upbeat effect on those around you, especially a certain someone.

[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) Keeping the lines of communication open and accessible is the key to establishing the right foundation to build an important and meaningful relationship. Stay with it.

[PIsces (February 19 to March 20) Before agreeing to act on a request, consider using your perceptive Piscean talents to see what might lie hidden beneath the surface and possibly cause problems later on.

[BorN THIs week: You’re a friend who, if you err at all, does so on the side of concern for those you care about.