SEPTEMBER 20-26, 2023
VOLUME 19, NUMBER 38
12
Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com
EDITORIAL
Editor CHANEL DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com
“Red light, so I have to take over,” said Daniel Tobias, a Master’s Student in the N.C. Agricultural & Technical State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as he stopped at the intersection of Dudley and East Market Streets.
4 6
9
YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL MARK BURGER
KATEI CRANFORD JIM LONGWORTH NAIMA SAID DALIA RAZO LYNN FELDER
4 According to the website, the concept of QUANTO BASTA grows out of the simple Italian culinary definition, “as much as you like; as much as you need.” The food here is indeed hearty and plentiful.
6 When the 2023 “ OUT AT THE MOVIES” festival opens on September 28th in Winston-Salem, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the “OUT at the Movies” screening series and the 10th anniversary since the first festival.
8 I learned from a study by Mars Veterinary Health and other sources that there aren’t enough vets to cover the current demand for pet medical care. One reason is the RISE IN PET ADOPTIONS over the past three years.
9 As unnecessary sequels go, THE EQUALIZER 3 is not as bad as it might have been, at least until the inevitably anti-climactic bloodbath to cap things off.
14 On Thursday, September 28, the Tanger Center’s Stage Door Lounge will host Acme Comics’ GREENSBORO GEEK OUT: Spiderman, a free pre-show event celebrating the cultural significance of Miles Morales, who for many young fans has become the most popular Marvel superhero to fight evil under the name Spider-Man.
16 Winds of autumn shift the seasons into soup modes, jacket weather, and FALL FESTIVALS aplenty. Here’s a look at music festival offerings to warm the oncoming chilly nights.
PRODUCTION
Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com
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
We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. Copyright 2023 Womack Newspapers, Inc.
Winston-Salem - Piedmont Jazz Alliance is excited to announce the upcoming performance of the talented saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet on Saturday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. at SECCA in Winston-Salem.
Prepare to be enchanted by the captivating performance of an acclaimed saxophonist and vocalist as she takes the stage alongside the highly acclaimed Darrell Green Quartet. This highly anticipated performance promises to be a night filled with soulful melodies and virtuosic improvisation, showcasing the extraordinary talents of these world-class musicians. Thurman is a true jazz artist with a warm, beautiful sound that captivates audiences. Even Al Jarreau, a jazz legend himself, has exclaimed, “I’m scared of this lady’s scatting!” Grammy-winning guitarist Russel Malone has noted Thurman is a creative improviser who swings with good timing and plays with taste. Thurman has shared stages with some of the biggest names in jazz and R&B, including George Coleman, Wynton Marsalis, and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JALCO) featuring Wynton Marsalis, Jill Scott, Gladys Knight, and Diana Krall. Her compositions have been featured in showcases and series, and she has appeared on BET’s “Black Girls Rock” as a saxophonist and flutist in the All-Star Band. Her music has earned the praise of renowned media outlets, including Jazz Times, Downbeat, and The New York Times. NPR even
proclaimed that Camille Thurman is a “rare jazz double threat, equally adept as a player and a singer.”
Sharing the stage with Camille Thurman is the esteemed Darrell Green Quartet. Comprised of four of the most talented jazz musicians in the industry, this quartet has earned a reputation for its unparalleled musicianship and electrifying performances. The synergy between Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Quartet is sure to create a night of musical magic that will leave audiences in awe.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the brilliance of Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Quartet as they perform live on Saturday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. at SECCA located at 750 Margurite Dr. in Winston-Salem. General admission tickets are $30, Premium seats are $45, student tickets with ID are $15, and youth tickets are $10. Tickets can be purchased at PiedmontJazzAlliance.com. This unforgettable evening promises to be a celebration of jazz at its finest.
Piedmont Jazz Alliance is a jazz-presenting organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the rich history and culture of jazz in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. Through its efforts, Piedmont Jazz Alliance is committed to celebrating artists like Thurman while inspiring new generations of jazz fans through innovative programming and educational workshops. !
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
According to the website, the concept of Quanto Basta grows out of the simple Italian culinary definition, “as much as you like; as much as you need.” The food here is indeed hearty and plentiful. But this kitchen does not just deal in quantity; you will find quality here too, in the form of fresh, local ingredients as well as skill of execution. The style is casual, family Italian, if your family included some really good cooks.
Chef/Proprietor/Partner Tim Grandinetti spent a dozen years with the Marriott Corporation before opening his own restaurant, the esteemed Spring House (springhousenc.com). He grew
up in Hudson, New York, where his great-grandfather operated an Italian restaurant, after arriving at Ellis Island. At Quanto Basta, he sought a “tribute of deliciousness“ to his heritage and his great-grandfather, Antonio Bucci. Heidi C. Grandinetti is Managing Partner. She also grew up in the hospitality business; her parents and grandparents owned restaurants in Hudson, New York. Chris Fulk is Executive Chef. He has been with Quanto Basta since the day it opened.
(The partners have opened another Quanto Basta in Wilmington.)
Two dining rooms — more casual to the right, more upscale to the left — flank the hostess station. The one I would consider the main room is decorated in hues of taupe. I think I recognize
furniture from a High Point manufacturer that specializes in modern Italian design. Seating is comfortable, the noise level moderate. If you want to opt for a bit of entertainment, try to be seated in one of the four stools at the counter looking into the open kitchen. I love to watch a professional kitchen in operation.
My wife and I skipped over the salads section of the menu, instead heading right into the more robust fare.
Focaccia al Forno takes homemade focaccia and stu s it with pancetta and mozzarella cheese, spread with Sicilianstyle pesto — a mix of peppers and tomatoes along with garlic and basil. I would urge you to order this or come by and pick some up on takeout. The crusty focaccia is really good in its own right,
and baking pancetta — Italian baconand melting the cheese inside just takes a simple idea into a special realm. This is real, down-home Italian.
We were not as happy with Venetian Baked Seafood. It had its merits — the small shrimp and scallops were tender, not overcooked, testimony to skill and care in the kitchen. But the cognac cream sauce host was way too salty. I could discern good flavor lurking in there, but we had to just pick out the seafoods. Better results in Stu ed Peppers. A blend of spinach and Italian sausage joins mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, all bathed in rich tomato sauce decorated with large pieces of shaved Parmesan cheese and clips of parsley. Easy to enjoy. We also enjoyed two selections from the pasta list.
Nonna’s Baked Ziti looks and tastes like a dish your Italian grandmother (“nonna”) would be proud of. The marinara sauce is laced with fresh mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, imparting a lush, rich texture as well as flavor, that is picked up by the cylindrical al dente pasta. We ordered this with Italian sausage, expecting it to be blended in, but it is actually served in a side dish that is as large as the pasta portion. And it’s very good Italian sausage! A wedge of focaccia completes the presentation.
Tagliatelle (the photo is a half portionthe kitchen divided it for us, to serve as a shared first course) combines the Bucci family recipe for ragu Bolognese, based on ground beef simmered in red wine, with wide flat noodles that soak up and convey flavor.
Two entries from the entrée section proved just as enjoyable.
I have often heard that chefs judge each other based on their roasted chicken. If that is the case, Quanto Basta plays in the major leagues. Fire Roasted Chicken gets significant flavor from slightly charred skin — don’t peel it away until you’ve tasted it — then displays juicy, tender meat that is done all the way to the bones. A wedge of focaccia is included on the side. Break o pieces and soak up the chicken juices. This also comes with Utica greens, an ItalianAmerican dish (named after Utica, New York) made of escarole sauteed with garlic and olive oil, simmered in chicken broth. These are very soft, the flavor somewhat akin to spinach. Chunks of sausage lend flavor and texture.
Cliché notwithstanding, I saved the best for last. Beef Short Rib Barbaresco is a knockout, exuding exceptional depth of beef flavor from fork-tender meat, presented in a lush thick red wine demiglace. Charred carrots surround the meat, itself topped with tomato jam. Gnocchi delivers the coup de grace, conveying rich fontina cheese flavor on its own, but equally e ective as conduit for that sauce.
I have not had pizza here, yet, but
these experiences make me want to return and try some.
Quanto Basta is an easy recommendation, scoring solid points for flavor and value. !
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.
Quanto Basta 680 West Fourth Street Winston-Salem 336-893-6144 quantobastanc.com
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday
Appetizers: $5.95-$13.95
Salads: $7-$15.95
Entrées: $9-$23.95
Desserts: $8-$9
Most recent visit: September 2
When the 2023
“OUT at the Movies” festival opens on September 28th in Winston-Salem, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the “OUT at the Movies” screening series and the 10th anniversary since the first festival. Founded by festival director Rex Welton, and Lee Mecum, it is devoted to the thriving LGBTQ+ filmmaking scene and to celebrate the community and cultural diversity. The festival runs through October 1st. Individual tickets are $10, a flex pass (any five movies) is $40, and an all-access festival pass is $75. For a full schedule, visit www.outatthemovies.org.
“Celebrating the 20th year of our series and the 10th year of our festival is a
reminder that time flies by,” Welton said. “It is hard to believe that it was 2004 when we presented what we anticipated to be a ‘one-o ’ screening of Latter Days.
“In many ways, ‘OUT at the Movies’ is more known across the country than in our own community,” Welton observed. “We have earned the reputation of providing one of the very best festival experiences in the country for actors, filmmakers, and documentary subjects.”
Welton admits that overseeing the screenings and annual festival is hard work, but more than pressure it’s a pleasure.
“It has been fun!” he said. “It’s kind of like the Christmas season for me. The anticipation is wonderful and the preparation is di cult, and once it is over I find myself looking ahead to the next year!”
Welton confirms that “OUT at the Movies” is a team e ort. “This is often said, but in our case, it is 100% accurate. We could not have reached this milestone without amazing board members, faithful and generous donors and sponsors, incredible volunteers, and the talented filmmakers
who continue to join us in Winston-Salem from all over the world.”
(Incidentally, if interested in being a festival volunteer, e-mail rex@outatthemovies.org for details.)
Another major component of the festival, and the year-round screenings, is the long-standing relationship with venues throughout the community, and Welton expresses his appreciation for their continued support.
“Our first ‘home’ and our primary one over the last 20 years, UNCSA and its School of Filmmaking has been an incredible partner,” he said. “I need to give a heartfelt ‘shout-out’ to Matt Jones and Eric Self! Dean Deborah LaVine of the UNCSA School of Filmmaking has embraced and supported ‘OUT at the Movies’ since day one of her tenure. This year, we are excited about returning to Wake Forest University for the first time in a while, and we are thrilled to be screening opening night at Reynolds Place in the Milton Rhodes Center! Also, we are looking forward to continuing our new partnership with Camel City Playhouse with several series screenings in 2024.”
Although the festival, as the name implies, is dedicated to LGBTQ+ cinema, it is an inclusive festival in which all are welcome to congregate and celebrate the talent — and tenacity — of independent filmmakers. “Our audiences have always loved our selection of films, engaging Q&As, and fun parties,” said Welton. “We hope to see many new faces, beginning on September 28th!”
As befits a festival commemorating its landmark 10th anniversary, “OUT at the Movies” will be welcoming back some old friends — and some new ones.
Filmmaker Marisa Calin (A Million Happy Nows) is returning as a juror, having also done so in the past.
“What has always made ‘OUT at the Movies’ one of the best festival experiences is the thought given to organizing events to bring the filmmakers together,” Caslin said. “I have made career-long relationships in Winston-Salem thanks to the generosity of the festival in making sure that we can stay long enough to meet fellow creatives, spend time together, and see each other’s films. ‘OUT at the Movies’ is truly focused on the community. It’s the ideal blend of intimate and international with inspiring programming.”
Del Shores (Sordid Lives) scarcely needs an introduction, and Shafted, the short film he co-directed with Emerson Collins, is one
of the festival’s hot tickets. According to Welton, “Del has been to Winston-Salem more times than I can count in many di erent roles. He is hugely popular and beloved in Winston-Salem!”
“The love is very mutual,” Shores said. “’OUT at the Movies’ is my favorite film festival. Why? Because of Rex Welton and the amazing sta and board. They make all artists feel like stars. They have beautiful receptions, after-parties, and events. It’s so important for LGBTQ+ storytellers to have a platform to tell their stories, to launch their films. I would not have had a career without film festivals. A bonus: WinstonSalem is such a beautiful city, with such great people. You always feel welcome.” Shores’s co-director, Emerson Collins, concurred. “I have appeared at 75 or more film festivals around the world as a filmmaker and panelist, and I can say without question that ‘OUT at the Movies’ is one of the most welcoming experiences for filmmakers everywhere,” he said. “As an artist, you feel welcome and respected, and the care they give to each project — from short to feature — along with the incredible experience of Winston-Salem, makes it truly unique. Festivals like ‘OUT at the Movies’ are vital to the existence of independent filmmakers. It’s my joy and pleasure to attend and show our work at festivals like ‘OUT at the Movies,’ which build relationships with filmmakers to continue supporting us as we grow.”
Mohammed Shaik Hussain Ali (Evening Shadows) returns as producer of the 2023 short Brother and has also been a juror. “’Out at the Movies’ is one of my favorite festivals to attend,” Ali asserted. “WinstonSalem has been very kind, welcoming, and warm each time I had the chance to visit. Festivals like these not only celebrate the work we independent filmmakers do but also encourage us. The audiences have always been active, enthusiastic, and engaging. That itself helps filmmakers gain an insight into what the audience wants, likes, and needs.”
Jason Karman and Cardi Wong are newcomers. Karman makes his feature directorial debut with the opening-night film Golden Delicious, which stars Wong. “It is essential to have festivals like ‘OUT at the Movies’ because this is where filmmakers get to learn the impact of what they create,” Karman said. “Independent filmmakers often spend long hours raising funds, securing locations and resources, sourcing crew and cast, and we don’t get to enjoy what we create. I am delighted with
how Golden Delicious turned out. It is the culmination of everything I have learned. I want audiences to come away with a better understanding of what it means to be a teenager today.”
“Jason has a very powerful and masterful vision for storytelling,” said Wong. “I am very happy with our finished product. The message of love and self-acceptance is very important and prominent in our film.” Wong is eager to engage in the festival experience and receive feedback. “Come up and say hi to me and my team! We are as friendly as we are handsome.”
Marc Saltarelli, whose award-winning feature documentary Studio One Forever is the festival’s closing-night film, is also an ‘OUT’ newcomer.
“I’ve heard great things about the festival from my producer Stephen Israel, and my dear friend Barney Cheng screened his film Baby Steps there a few years ago,” he said. “LGBTQ+ festivals are critical for reaching audiences with films that might not otherwise find an audience. It’s really the only time a filmmaker can experience the film with a live audience — and that live experience, feeling the audience react to the film is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. The response to our film has been overwhelmingly positive and I’ve enjoyed meeting people after the film who expressed their appreciation for my making the film. It makes it all worthwhile.”
It’s common knowledge that some conservative political factions have again leveled criticism and put the LGBTQ+ community in the crosshairs. Some of the films being screened address this directly and others obliquely, but the filmmakers address it directly.
“Despite wider industry acceptance, it continues to be a challenge to LGBTQ+ filmmakers to tell stories that reflect the enormous range of our experience,” Collins
said. “In the current climate, where we see particularly trans people targeted and scapegoated, the importance of our stories grows. It can be, and still is, dangerous for many to be out in parts of our country. Art can be activism; our joy can be a fierce tool in the fight. Each of us fight what we can, where we can. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and we stand to lift those after us onto ours.”
“LGBTQ+ filmmakers and the community face an increasingly organized and hostile conservative basis that seeks to slow down, stop, and even reverse hard-fought freedoms won by historically discriminated our oppressed groups,” Karman said. “I think it is essential to push the positive and not succumb to fear and negativity. Festivals like ‘OUT at the Movies’ create space, bringing together independent filmmakers with the community and o ering opportunities for growth through dissemination.”
“Love must conquer all,” Wong said. “There is simply no space or tolerance for hate, bigotry, and oppression. Art must continue to be a safe space, and for the people who are turned o or feel threatened because of their heteronormative lifestyles, they must challenge themselves and experience stories they aren’t familiar with. That’s the only way to change and grow. We can’t go around the problem; we must go through it. Have I said ‘must’ enough in a single thought yet?”
“We must keep telling our stories,” Shores said. “Art changes lives. Art changes hearts. Thank you, ‘OUT at the Movies’ for having given us all the platform to tell our stories.”
For more information, call 336-918-0902 or visit the o cial “OUT at the Movies” website: https://outatthemovies.org/. !
History will be made on Saturday, September 23, and Sunday, September 24, as Michelle Merrill takes the podium in her inaugural concert as the WinstonSalem Symphony Music Director. The “Bernstein & Brahms” program provides audiences with a festive evening of music you won’t miss.
The evening begins with Antonin Dvo ák’s boisterous “Carnival” Overture, which is a work fitting this celebratory occasion. Then, prepare to be blown away by phenomenal guest violinist Kristen Lee, whose technical brilliance will leave audiences in awe as she plays Brahms’ timeless Violin Concerto. The evening reaches its pinnacle as you are swept away by the iconic rhythms and electrifying energy of Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story.” You will recognize melodies like “Maria,” One Hand, One Heart,” “I Feel Pretty,” and more.
So, who is Michelle Merrill, you may ask? She won the position of Music Director of the Winston-Salem Symphony after an extensive 18-month search and an intensive week-long audition. With her impressive background in conducting and a passion for bringing music to life, Merrill is poised to lead the symphony into an exciting new era.
Born and raised in east Texas, Merrill’s childhood was filled with the beauty of nature and the melodies of music. Her musical journey started with the piano, but she switched instruments inspired by her older sister’s saxophone playing. Little did she know that this move would later become a unique aspect of her musical identity as a conductor since the saxophone is not traditionally featured in orchestras.
Driven by her passion for music, Merrill pursued her undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University and later returned to SMU for her graduate studies in conducting. She met her husband Steve, now the principal percussionist in the Jacksonville Symphony in Florida during this time. Together, they have two sons, Davis, who is six years old, and
Emmett, who is almost two.
When asked about her favorite aspects of being a conductor, Merrill’s eyes lit up with excitement. She described the exhilaration of standing in the middle of the orchestra, feeling the music envelop her. For her, conducting is about more than just directing; it is about guiding the interpretation of a musical piece. Countless hours spent studying scores in solitude culminate in the magical moment when she can bring a composer’s vision to life.
Beyond her musical pursuits, Merrill is eager to explore Winston-Salem. She is particularly drawn to the variety of green spaces scattered throughout the city and the surrounding region. As avid runners and hikers, Merrill and her family find peace in nature, making the abundance of parks and trails in WinstonSalem an appealing feature.
Tickets for “Bernstein & Brahms” start at $29 and are available at wssymphony.org or by calling the Box O ce at (336) 464-0145. The concerts occur on Saturday, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 24, at 3 p.m. at Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road. Subscriptions are still available, so you don’t miss out on Merrill’s inaugural season.
ast November I reported on the severe shortage of veterinarians and vet technicians in our area and throughout the nation. I learned from a study by Mars Veterinary Health and other sources that there aren’t enough vets to cover the current demand for pet medical care. One reason is the rise in pet adoptions over the past three years. In fact, Lorie Westhoff of Petfinder.com told CNN that adoptions were up by 70% between March 2020 and March 2021 alone, mainly due to more people wanting companionship during COVID lockdowns. The other more serious reason is that fewer folks are becoming
Lveterinarians while the vets we have are cutting back on their hours and dealing with record turnover among vet techs. Sadly, one-half of all vet techs tend to burn out and quit within their first five years on the job. The result of these disturbing statistics is that pet owners are experiencing excruciatingly long wait times for routine care, even if they have an appointment. Even worse, if your pet needs emergency surgery after hours or on weekends, there’s a good chance he’ll end up dying from not being able to receive timely care.
Lest you think I’m being dramatic, allow me to recount an experience that my wife and I had recently. It was on a Sunday morning and without reason or warning our dog Albert developed severe bloat and was clearly in distress. Unbeknownst to us then, his stomach had become twisted and his life expectancy down to just hours. We took him to Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Greensboro who most area vets refer to for 24-hour emergency care. Upon
arrival, we were told that there was no one on staff who could perform surgery. We were then handed a typed list of other emergency vet hospitals to call that were located within a 50-mile radius of the Triad. I immediately started calling them one by one, and one by one they were either closed or had no surgeon available.
It was becoming clear that Albert was not long for this world when I noticed a phone number scribbled on the side margin of the list. The notation read, “ Reidsville Veterinary Hospital.” I called their number and the receptionist said, “How soon can you be here?” I couldn’t believe my ears. I had located the one vet hospital between here and the hereafter with an honest-to-God surgeon on duty. Upon our arrival, Dr. Joseph Kinnarney took x-rays of Albert, and within minutes we were informed that surgery must be performed immediately in order to untwist Albert’s stomach. Long story short, Dr. Kinnarney saved Albert’s life, but our emotions were torn between relief and anger. Relief because Albert was alive and well, and because we had stumbled onto one of the most respected veterinary surgeons in the country. Anger because all of the other so-called 24/7 emergency care vet hospitals weren’t what they claimed to be.
By all rights, we need a state regulation that would strip any vet hospital of its license if it falsely advertises 24/7 care. Meanwhile, if someone’s pet dies after being turned away by a 24/7 clinic, we should be able to sue that facility for damages. But those remedies would just add to the vet shortage that we already have. And it’s a shortage that’s going to get worse in the coming years. Mars Veterinary Health reports that based on the current demand for pet health care, 41,000 vets will need to
enter practice over the next 10 years. The problem is that only about 2,600 graduates become veterinarians each year, which means that by the year 2030, we’ll have a shortage of 15,000 vets. Banfield Pet Hospital estimates that such a shortage will mean that 75 million pets will go without proper vet care in seven years.
The good news is that some states are taking progressive action to address this crisis. Arizona, for example, recently passed the Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Program which will reimburse student loans up to $100,000 to vets who graduate after January 2023 and agree to work in Arizona for four years, with two of those years spent working in a city, county, or nonprofit shelter. Other states like North Dakota now offer a variation of that program. And while such assistance can abate the vet shortages long term, we still have a crisis that demands some short-term and immediate remedies. Liz Hughston, president of the National Veterinary Professionals Union calls this crisis, “a slow-moving tsunami.” But New York vet Maureen Luschini told Atlantic.com that there’s nothing slow-moving about it. Said Luschini, “Emergency care cannot be guaranteed for your pets right now.”
As with any serious crisis there comes a time when local, state, and federal government agencies need to step up and lend a hand. This is one of those times. According to Forbes, 66% of U.S. households (87 million homes) have a pet, and our dogs and cats deserve access to veterinary care. For one thing, the North Carolina legislature should adopt the Arizona plan which will help us lessen vet shortages down the road. For now, though, our lawmakers need to allocate funds to ease the immediate crisis by helping emergency vet hospitals stay open and adequately staffed 24/7. In the meantime, if your fourlegged friend needs emergency care, you can either rent a private jet and fly to Arizona, or you can call Reidsville Veterinary Hospital at 336-349-3194. We opted for the latter. Thank God for Dr. Kinnarney. !
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+.
s unnecessary sequels go, The Equalizer 3 is not as bad as it might have been, at least until the inevitably anticlimactic bloodbath to cap things o . Producer/director Antoine Fuqua certainly knows his way around an action sequence, and the Italian locations — Sicily, Palermo, Naples, and especially Altomonte — are gorgeous, even when littered with bodies or rocked by explosions.
And, of course, there is the commanding presence of producer/star Denzel Washington, again reprising his role as Robert McCall, the former government operative who metes out justice and retribution in his own inimitable style. He doesn’t so much equalize as exterminate and obliterate, with a cool attitude to spare.
We find McCall in Italy, recovering from his latest bout of righteous mayhem. He is tended by the people of Altomonte, hard-working simple folk who in the parlance of the Old West would be described as “peasants.” But they happen to be under the thumb of the Camorra (read: mafia), and that’s all you really need to know about Equalizer 3
Screenwriter/co-producer Richard Wenk, who has penned all three Equalizer films, leans heavily on the Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven motif: The
Aoutsider hero defends the defenseless against their oppressors. No points for guessing how it all turns out. There is no deviation from the formula. Washington doesn’t quite phone it in but appears to be coasting much of the time. He shares a few smooth exchanges with rookie CIA operative Dakota Fanning, but she doesn’t have much to do so basically, he’s the whole show. Not a single supporting character, good or bad, has any depth or dimension. Nor are there any surprises. The Equalizer 3 is a slick, stylish way to kill a couple of hours, but that’s all it is: A time-killer. !
High Point University welcomes the community to campus for a diverse offering of complimentary cultural events. This fall’s schedule includes opportunities to enjoy a variety of activities. For a complete list of community events and to sign up for email notification of future events, visit www.highpoint.edu/live.
Lone Star / Laundry and Bourbon Play
September 28 - 30
7:30 pm
October 1
2:00 pm
Empty Space Theatre
Tears of Wollega Photographs by Jemal Countess: Artist Talk
October 25
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Sechrest Art Gallery, Hayworth Fine Arts Center
The Addams Family Musical
October 26 - 28, 31
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
October 29
2:00 pm
Pauline Theatre, Hayworth Fine Arts Center
Women’s Basketball vs. Barton
November 3
8:00 pm
Qubein Center
Men’s Basketball vs. Pfeiffer University
November 4
7:00 pm
Qubein Center
“Into the Light” – Wind Ensemble Concert
November 4
3:00 pm
Pauline Theatre, Hayworth Fine Arts Center
Men’s Basketball vs. St. Andrews University
November 6 7:00 pm
Qubein Center
Instrumental Chamber Ensembles Concert
November 9 7:30 pm
Charles E. Hayworth Memorial Chapel
Veterans Day Celebration
November 10 8:00 am
Qubein Center
Women’s Basketball vs. Lees-McRae
November 11
2:00 pm
Qubein Center
Women’s Basketball vs. Stetson
November 14 7:00 pm
Qubein Center
Reflections – Fall Dance Concert
November 16 - 18 7:30 pm
Pauline Theatre, Hayworth Fine Arts Center
Women’s Basketball vs. Wofford
November 17 7:00 pm
Qubein Center
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATIONAs dog-walkers passed the Seascape Cafe in Chapel St. Leonards, England, on Sept. 6, they were startled to see what they thought was a “ritual mass murder” inside, United Press International reported. Police were called to the scene, but it turns out the people lying on their backs were just taking part in a yoga meditation exercise. The class’s teacher, Millie Laws, said class members had dispersed before o cers arrived, and assured the community on her Facebook page that “(w)e are not part of any mad cult or crazy clubs. ... They were all participating in a beautiful deep relaxation, and it could have never run through any of our minds that it could be taken this way.” Namaste.
7:30 pm
Black Box Theatre
Men’s Basketball vs. University of Mount Olive
November 26
2:00 pm
Qubein Center
Men’s Basketball vs. Morgan State University
November 29
7:00 pm
Qubein Center
Women’s Basketball vs. Johnson C. Smith
November 30
7:00 pm
Qubein Center
— Zach Swope, 32, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, had a worthy goal in mind when he set out to capture a Guinness World Record: He wanted to raise awareness for mental health issues. To that end, Regal Cinemas donated $7,777.77 to the American Federation for Suicide Prevention after Swope saw 777 films in 365 days, United Press International reported. He started in July 2022 with “Minions: Rise of Gru” and finished with “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” Swope wisely bought a Regal Unlimited Membership for $22 per month, which allowed him to see as many films as he could. He said he generally saw up to three movies every weekday after work and a few on the weekends, but he was not allowed to take bathroom breaks or have snacks or drinks during the films. What was his favorite? “Across the Spider-Verse.”
— In Brezna, Montenegro, seven individuals are competing for the resort village’s coveted title of “Laziest Citizen,” Reuters reported — and all they have to do is lie down. The contest, which promises a prize of $1,070, is held every year; it started in 2012 to mock a popular stereotype of Montenegrins being lazy. In 2022, a record of 117 hours was set. But after 20+ days and nearly 500 hours, seven of the 2023 lazy competitors — down from the 21 who started — were still at it. (Don’t worry: Each person gets 10 minutes every eight hours to visit the restroom.) Last year’s champion, Dubravka Aksic, 38, said they all “feel good, excellent, there are no health problems, they are pampering us, all we have to do is remain lying down.” “Time goes by quickly,” said Filip Knezevic, 23, who is determined to take the prize.
— A Swiss airlines flight on Sept. 9 from Zurich to Bilbao, Spain, took o without one key element in place: the passengers’ luggage. Yahoo! News reported that although passengers waited for two hours in Spain for their luggage to arrive, it never did. Company spokesperson Kavin Ampalam explained: “There was a shortage of ground sta ,” and after waiting for more than an hour, they decided to take o anyway. The pilot apologized to passengers for the delay but failed to mention the lack of luggage on board. “We understand the situation is not favorable for the people involved, and of course we regret the inconvenience,” Ampalam said. Or worse: “Our vacation is ruined,” said passenger Carsten Redlich.
— Travelers aboard a Delta flight from Ghana to New York on Sept. 8 made an unexpected 12-hour detour to remote Terceira Island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the New York Post reported, and the airline didn’t have much sympathy for them. The plane experienced a “mechanical issue with a backup oxygen system,” a Delta spokesperson said. Nana AsanteSmith, one of the passengers, said people on board were enclosed in a “partitioned section” because of visa regulations and “had no access to food” or water. Finally, the airport provided sandwiches, juice boxes and crackers. Flyers couldn’t get any information from Delta, and one airport sta er told the group they “shouldn’t start a revolution” and should be grateful that their plane didn’t crash into the sea. When a replacement plane arrived, the group’s luggage was not transferred to the new aircraft, and some travelers waited days for their items to be recovered.
Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), exploring the Gulf of Alaska in early September, stumbled upon a “golden orb” on the ocean floor that they can’t identify, Yahoo! News reported. Scientists used a remotely operated vehicle to survey deepwater habitats; the object, which was about 4 inches in diameter and had a tear near its base, was perched on a rock 2 miles deep. “While we were able to collect the ‘golden orb’ and bring it onto the ship, we still are not able to identify it beyond the fact that it is biological in origin,” NOAA said. !
6 Weeps noisily
7 Musician Brian
8 S.Sgt. or M.Sgt. 9 Tyranny 10 Pay-to-stay places
11 Sheep-related 12 High-IQ club
13 Minuscule bit of work
14 Jet engine part that includes the igniter
15 Muscat-eer?
16 Most trifling
17 Guys wearing wedding rings
AND SO MANY MORE!
October 5 - 8, 2023
Red light, so I have to take over,” said Daniel Tobias, a Master’s Student in the N.C. Agricultural & Technical State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as he stopped at the intersection of Dudley and East Market Streets.
Tobias was not just a driver for the city and state o cials, administrators, faculty, and reporters test-riding the four-week pilot program for autonomous shuttle service between A&T and downtown Greensboro. As part of the team of Aggie researchers who developed the vehicles, he engineered the software.
“Y’all are tasting my cooking, so I sure hope you like it,” Tobias quipped when he pulled away from Beech Street on the A&T campus where the ribbon-cutting ceremony had occurred 30 minutes earlier.
The shuttle Tobias was driving, like the
ones that had previously given test rides to Mayor Nancy Vaughan and City Council members Sharon Hightower and Zack Matheny, is mounted with three types of sensors: two front-oriented cameras above the windshield, a radar sensor on the front bumper, and a LiDAR sensor on the roof. LiDAR, an anagram for light detection and ranging, is an eye-safe laser system utilizing accurate high-definition 3D imaging to “see” the world around it.
If you’re wondering why a vehicle capable of stopping, starting, and steering itself had a driver, it’s because state law requires it. This is why Tobias allowed the software to control it through green lights along Market and Church streets, but took over at red ones.
“On public roads, there has to be a backup driver, at least until the state legislature rules otherwise,” explained A&T Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Dr. Ali Karimoddini earlier that afternoon.
Dr. Karimoddini is the director of A&T’s Autonomous Cooperative Control of Emergent Systems of Systems (ACCESS) laboratory that developed the vehicles. The lab’s areas of study and specialization include autonomous vehicles, smart transportation systems, space exploration, flight control systems, and aerial robotics.
He is also director of the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities, funded in 2023 by the Department of Transportation to serve as the University Transportation Center (UTC)
charged with addressing transportation challenges within the southeastern region of the United States. This region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee. As well, he is director of the N.C. Transportation Center of Excellence on Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology (NC-CAV).
“In 2020, we purchased a set of driveby-wire autonomous vehicles,” said Karimoddini in his speech inside the lobby of the Harold L. Martin Sr. Engineering and Research Innovation Complex that preceded the ribbon-cutting and rides. Drive-by-wire is a catch-all term for the now-standard electronics that either augment or replace once-common mechanical controls. Instead of using cables or hydraulic pressure to control a vehicle, DBW technology uses electronic systems to activate brakes, control steering, and fuel the engine.
“Our team then added all required hardware and software to make those vehicles autonomous. In 2022, we made the first autonomous vehicle rural test track. In just two years, we have transitioned the technology from the laboratory to public streets.”
He called this achievement “a sign of excellence in research and education at A&T” while noting that it involved surmounting not just technical challenges, but logistical and community engagement ones.
Having met these challenges, said
“Ian McDowell Contributor Mayor Nancy Vaughan Dr. Ali Karimoddini with the car. Sharon Hightower Zack Matheny PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH CAROLINA A&T
Karimoddini, “we are now ready to provide transportation services to the public using autonomous shuttles. Following today’s kick-o event, the service will be open from September 19th to October 13th.”
Karimoddini then emphasized what he said were “a few aspects of the project that make it unique.” These are that the shuttles were developed in-house, that the pilot program passes through a major downtown area, and that it serves the A&T neighboring area that includes a food desert.
The pilot program involves a fleet of what his presentation called “three selfdriving shuttles” (with, as already noted, “backup” human drivers behind the wheel) that will travel at speeds of up to 24 mph between the Harold L. Martin Sr. Engineering Research and Innovation Complex at 1101 E. Market Street and the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum at 220 N. Church Street. The “fleet” of three shuttles will make this approximately seven-minute circuit between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for the next four weeks.
Karimoddini called this “a step towards multimodal transportation.”
“The stop in front of the Children’s Museum is only seven minutes walking distance from J. Douglas Galyon Depot, which is a hub to 22 buses and a train station. The area is also covered by micro-mobility services, including e-bikes and e-scooters.”
(There are currently no publicly available e-bikes and e-scooters in downtown Greensboro, the city ended its contract with previous provider Blue Duck some months ago, but the Greensboro Depart-
ment of Transportation has published a “Shared Micromobility Service Permit Application” as a call for a new vendor with a contract period of November 1, 2023, through November 1, 2024.)
In a video screened before the opening speech by Stephanie Luster-Teasley, Interim Dean of A&T’s College of Engineering, Karimoddini called the shuttles “excellent cost-e ective solutions for connecting disconnected communities” that can “compliment the existing transportation service and fill the gap on those areas that don’t have so much transportation choices.” The video’s narrator stated that such “an e ective transportation solution” can “have a significant economic impact on N.C. A&T’s neighboring area, which is known to be a food desert, by connecting it to downtown resources.”
The video concluded by thanking sponsors including the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation UTC Program, and the Federal Highway Administration, as well as the City of Greensboro’s Department of Transportation and Downtown Greensboro Inc.
“The project has also benefitted from the support from industry partners, including Google, Verizon, Volvo, Intel and others.”
Along with those of Karimoddini, there were opening remarks from Dean Luster-Teasley, Chancellor Harold Martin, N.C. Secretary of Transportation J. Eric Boyette, Federal Highway Administration Associate Ambassador of Policy Randall Keith Benjamin, and Vaughan.
“The city’s vision to be a community with endless economic opportunities and an exceptional quality of life is once
again being realized today through outstanding announcement,” said Vaughan. “Providing an e cient user-friendly transportation system paves the way to achieve this vision. The Mobility 2045 plan will guide Greensboro’s vision for public mobility and future investments into the transit department to make Greensboro a car-optional city by 2040. Earlier this year, the city council prioritized being the most connected city, not only in our region, but the entire United States. This summer, we added the city’s transit arsenal by launching a fare-free
downtown trolley called the Hopper. That pilot service evidently appeals to our residents and downtown businesses, as ridership has been advertising 1500 passengers each weekend since July.” !
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 will be published in September by Scuppernong Editions.
On Thursday, September 28, the Tanger Center’s Stage Door Lounge will host Acme Comics’ Greensboro Geek Out: Spiderman, a free pre-show event celebrating the cultural significance of Miles Morales, who for many young fans has become the most popular Marvel superhero to fight evil under the name Spider-Man.
It will be followed by a performance of the touring multimedia event SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse Live on the Tanger main stage.
“The Tanger Center is hosting a fabulous screening of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with a live orchestra and DJ providing the score to the film while it is being played,” said Ben Roberts, the Acme Comics minority owner who helped set up the Geek Out event. “As Greensboro’s longest-running comic
book store, we are always looking for new and unique ways to get involved with the Greensboro community and other local entities and businesses.”
As soon as Roberts learned that Into the Spider-Verse Live was on Tanger’s fall schedule, he reached out to the performing arts center’s guest services manager, James Smith.
“He was very excited about combining
meet-up opportunities for the Greensboro ‘geek’ scene. There will be a brief reception and Acme Comics will be handing out free Spider-Man comics to all in attendance. There will be a raffle for such prizes as Miles Morales graphic novels, action figures, and tickets to upcoming Tanger Center events, and we will host a moderated conversation between Acme Comics’ [majority owner] Jermaine Exum, myself, and acclaimed comics writer Brian Michael Bendis, who will be joining us via video from his home in Oregon.
In 2011, Bendis and artist Sarah Pichelli created Miles Morales, the biracial Black and Puerto Rican spider-powered Brooklyn teenager who shares the name Spider-Man with the character’s original incarnation Peter Parker. Miles made his cinematic debut in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Bendis was a consultant on that film and its 2023 sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse .
Roberts described Bendis as a longtime friend of Acme Comics. “We’re excited to talk with him about the major industry shift that followed the introduction of Miles Morales as well as the cultural impact that has been left in his wake over the past 12 years.”
Roberts was born in Greensboro and has lived most of his life here. “Comic Books were how I learned to read and have been a part of my life in some form or fashion ever since. In 2021, my friend and business partner Austin Getzelman and myself became minority owners of the store alongside majority owner, Exum.”
Roberts said that his experience as the contact for the Tanger Center will lead to future downtown collaborations.
“With an all-new, all-different (comic book terminology!) Greensboro, compared to what I grew up in, I’m excited when we are able to work with other businesses and organizations doing what they can to make this city special. Acme is opening a second location at 333 S. Davie Street in downtown Greensboro this October and we want to specifically make an impact in this area of the city. We’ve been working hard to reach across the aisle and partner up with whomever we can when it makes sense. That has included this year, a beer collaboration with Little Brother Brewing, a spinner rack and custom sandwich special at The Bodega, and participating with the Carolina Theater on the Nightmare off Elm Street horror film series this October.”
Like many fans, Roberts had “broken up” with comics as a teenager, “when school and punk rock overtook everything,” only to renew his love for the art form a few years later. Miles Morales had a lot to do with that.
“Having a Spider-Man closer to my actual age dealing with problems that I could wrap my head around was something else. The larger pop-culture world agreed and began to take notice of this character and the announcement of the Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse film exploded the character into an all-new level of popularity and recognition. To young kids that walk through the doors into Acme Comics, Miles is their Spider-Man!”
Ryan Oakley, a Greensboro-based illustrator who is often a guest artist at Acme Comics’ Free Comic Book Day, said this has been the experience in her own family.
“It’s probably been said so many times already but Miles is representa-
tion. I personally don’t have kids but my nieces love Miles. He is a way for Brown and Black kids to see themselves in someone on screen doing positive things. Miles shows that you can be nerdy, smart and have a love for your culture. Miles shows all parts of himself and does it unapologetically. He inspires me to do the same in my own life.”
Acme Comics majority owner Exum first met Bendis at the now-defunct Wizard World comics convention in Chicago in 2004. “I rarely attended panels at conventions, but I checked out his. He was great with the audience, funny, and full of insights into his craft.”
But who, wondered Exum, were the other people up on stage with him?
“Turns out they were members of his Jinxworld website message board. Although I do not usually care for being in front of groups of people, I was determined to be on that stage someday.”
Exum had not previously spent much time on internet message boards, but once back in Greensboro, he became a regular on the Jinxworld one.
“I believe the thing that set me apart though was my insight from 15 years of retail experience at Acme Comics.”
Bendis was impressed, and in 2005, asked if Exum would like to be a character in an issue of “Ultimate SpiderMan.” “Of course, I said yes, and there I was on five pages in that issue.” Exum subsequently interviewed Bendis for the Acme Comics website, met him many more times at conventions, and corresponded with him via countless emails over the years. “In 2012, we had him on our Acmecast podcast to talk about the exciting new character Miles Morales.”
Exum believes that his friendship with one of his favorite comics writers has changed not only the course of his
own life but has helped make Acme one of the popular and respected comic shops in the country. “I don’t say that hyperbolically. Without the events set in motion by his thoughtfulness, approachability, and generosity Acme Comics would not be so well-known outside of North Carolina. I feel like a worthy participant and member of the comic book industry at large, a part of the conversation with a seat somewhere at the table. Bendis knew that I was serious and passionate about the business of comics, about Acme Comics, and over the years he would trust me with information on his storylines that I would use, never to spoil or serve up to rumor websites, but to make good ordering decisions for the business so that we could have the right items at the right times for our clientele.”
“Greensboro Geek Out: Spider-Man” is free to all who RSVP through the Tanger Center website,” said Roberts. “Tickets to the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live screening are not required to attend Greensboro Geek-Out, which begins at 6:30 PM, giving those who join us plenty of time to take in the festivities while still having time to attend the SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse Live screening at 7:30.”
Tickets for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with Live Orchestra and DJ start at $29 and are for sale on the Tanger Center website. !
TUE: 1/2 Price Wine | WED: $3 Draft
Winds of au-
tumn shift the seasons into soup modes, jacket weather, and fall festivals aplenty. Here’s a look at music festival o erings to warm the oncoming chilly nights.
In the spirit of sharing bounties with those in need, Groovejam XII, a fundraiser and food drive, goes down at Doodad Farm on September 23. Led by Rich Lerner and the Groove, the 12th incarnation features: Midnight Sun, Wristband, The Mighty Fairlanes, Braco, Gooseberry Jam, Ladies Auxiliary, Grand Ole Uproar, Blind Dog Gatewood, Cabe Pannell, and Je Wall. Lerner is especially stoked to be joined by Juma Sultan (who performed with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock); and reminds folks that “every dollar contributed and every dollar raised goes to Greensboro Urban Ministry.”
Up in Wilkesboro, Carolina in the Fall is another festival with goodwill behind their groove, with proceeds going to the Wilkes Heritage Museum and the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame; and a trail run in support of the American Cancer Society. Winston-Salem’s His & Hers are on the stacked bill, headed by Balsam Range, Kruger Brothers, Woody Platt, and Shannon Whitworth.
The next weekend, the Carolina Jubilee continues backing the bounty to benefit the Carolina Farm Trust. Running September 29-30 at Van Noy Farms in Harmony, the bill of independent artists spans hip-hop to country and everything in between. Plus, camping and outdoor activities; and leashed dogs are welcome.
Speaking of dogs, MIRA Fest is a festival fundraiser for Mira USA (a non-profit that provides guide dogs for blind children)
happening at Rubicon Farms in West End on September 30; with a lineup featuring Josh Daniel & Friends, Justin Clyde Williams with Matt Parks, The Simpletones, and Whiskey Pines.
Daniel will head down to Concord for the Play Dead! festival on October 7; which brings together music and arts inspired by the Grateful Dead in a benefit for the K9 for Warriors nonprofit, which matches service dogs to veterans su ering from PTSD and other trauma.
While festival fundraisers do good work, there are plenty of fests around the Triad just for fun.
Spirits abound at the Brewer’s Kettle Family Reunion, a beer, wine, and mead tasting festival at COHAB in High Point on September 23, featuring brews and tunes from Abby Brynt and the Echoes with the Kind Thieves, The Roof, and Hot Wax and the Splinters. Meanwhile, the Unwind Music Festival lets loose at the High Point Theatre on September 30 with the Hamiltones leading a bill vibing the collision of EDM, soul, disco jazz, and R&B.
In Greensboro, the inaugural Little Big City festival o ers a showcase to “show o our Little Big City,” on October 8 at Oden Brewing, with a free arts and music festival featuring: Mayia, Deviant Sounds, Jazz Cabbage, Eugenius, His & Hers, Kay Marion, Tyler Nail, Unheard Project, Transcendental Weather, and many more.
A few blocks away, Greensboro’s be-
loved Tate Street Festival makes its return to the heart of College Hill on October 21, to “celebrate the art and music of the Piedmont” with an array of vendors and a lineup this writer is itchin’ to be announced.
Over in the Triangle, celebrations of togetherness root the Soil & Sky Festival, presented by the Collection, at the Benzai Bloomstead near Saxapahaw on September 23. Soil & Sky features Triad artists SunQueen Kelcey, Victoria Victoria, and Maia Kamil; plus an open mic, stargazing, bonfire, wellness workshops, and more.
In Durham, the Bull City Summit festival and conference is already underway, celebrating music, art, and science through September 24. Winston-Salem’s Spirit System is among the showcase artists, performing the closing night party with Death From Above 1979 at Motorco on September 23. Meanwhile, RaleighWRLD rolls into Dorothea Dix Park on September 30 for a day of “entrepreneurs, waymakers, and artists,” with a lineup featuring Greensboro’s own Antion Scales.
Down in Sanford, the fourth annual Carolina Indie Fest takes over their “quaint downtown” for two days of tunes at Hugger Mugger Brewery; with Gooseberry Jam and Farewell Friend among the lineup of 10 original indie bands, September 29-30.
Quaint town celebrations continue in Carrboro that Sunday, with the 26th annual Carrboro Music Festival on October
1 boasting dozens of artists, including Greensboro’s NuBeing Collective, Toothsome, and “Not your Average Folk” winners the Shoaldiggers.
A few Carrboro Fest artists cross over to Shakori Hills, October 5-8, for a couple of days of camping and music on a handful of stages headed by Donna the Buffalo. Mavis Staples, Preston Frank, and the Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. are among the heavy hitters; with Colin Cutler Maia Kamil, Royal Jelly, and Sam Fribush repping the Triad in ‘them Chatham County pines.
Swinging toward a more electrovibe, Slingshot returns October 6-7, bringing international artists across the electronic spectrum to the Fruit in Durham, with Greenboro’s Brennan Fowler in the lineup ranks.
Meanwhile, punks get their way as Sorry State Records celebrates its 10-year milestone over two days and four venues rippin’ through downtown Raleigh, October 20-21. Hopscotch’s de facto “Je Fest” gets a sick sequel with Paranoid Maniac and De_t stacking a bill that includes a handful of former Greensboro freaks in Public Acid, Invertebrates, Vittna, and Mutant Strain.
In a discernibly more low-key vein, Sleepy Cat Records brings its Sleepy Fest to Down Yonder Farm in Hillsborough on October 28; with an all-ages field party featuring nature activities for the youngin’s, firepits, and a roster of artists including Nightblooms (who’ll celebrate their album release with Libby Rodenbough at the Flat Iron on October 7.)
Getting down to the Queen City area, the 30th annual Carolina Renaissance Festival makes its royal return, running weekends from September 30 - November 19.
Moving downtown, the Confluence Music Industry Conference and Festival gets down to business with panels and concerts across a handful of Charlotte venues, with Winston-Salem’s Couldn’t Be Happiers on the showcase bill.
Over at the Milestone, showrunners, Welcome to the Family, are gathering their annual festival celebrating the heavier ends of the rock’n’roll spectrum, with Greensboro’s Harm in the weekend lineup running October 20-22. Meanwhile, Tommy’s Pub is home to the third annual East Side Holiday on October 22, with Winston-Salem’s Water Culture joining the dozen-ish artists in the DIY showcase.
And the sky’s the limit at Hodge’s Family Farm on November 17 for the Stargazer Music Festival, running in tandem with the Leonids meteor shower to combine
music with wonders of the cosmos. Jagaurdini is on the bill, which also features telescope viewings in collaboration with UNC-Charlotte’s Department of Physics and Optical Science and the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute.
Here on earth, Halloween hoopla is already underway with the ninth annual Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival bringing independent and short spooky flicks to Marketplace Cinemas Winston-Salem September 22-23. Winston horror features continue with a/perture cinema’s “Hey! ghoul Hey!” series celebrating women directors: October 9, 16, and 23.
Both the Durham and Greensboro Carolina Theatres will serve a series of scary movies, with Greensboro hosting the “Nightmare O Elm Street” retro series running Tuesdays and Fridays starting October 5, with nightly showings October 25-30. In Durham, the Splatterflix classic horror series rolls October 13-15.
Around the state, Lexington Cinema’s “Spooky Film” series screens free horror flicks Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Halloween night. And in Raleigh, the Rialto revival continues as they kick o their “Grindhouse Club” with a Halloween night showing of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
Down in Wilmington, Devil’s Night comes a bit early at the 3 Chambers Festival, as Shaolin Jazz presents “The Crow” through their “Can I Kick It?” lens (which screens movies accompanied by a live-rescore blending hip-hop, soul, funk and more.) Running October 13-14 at various venues, 3 Chambers brings together hip-hop, martial arts, and anime through concerts, showcases, workshops, and live demonstrations.
Getting to the music, be on the lookout for this goblin-writer’s Halloween suggestions as spooky season sets in, but here are some early frightfest contenders: the Masqued Mayhem covershow at the Ramkat on October 14; the Graveyard Getdown at Guilrock Downs in Summerfield October 20-21; and the Ghoul Moon Festival at the West Salem Art Hotel in Winston-Salem on October 28.
As November rolls along. Winston wizardry continues with WizardFest at the Ramkat on November 19. And wrasslin’ takes over the Benton Convention Center for Wrestlecade Weekend, November 24-26.
Grab a jacket and howl at the moon: Happy fall y’all! !
KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.
Four SaintS BrEwing
218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722
www.foursaintsbrewing.com
thursdays: taproom trivia
Fridays: Music Bingo
Cat’S CradlE
300 E Main St | 919.967.9053
www.catscradle.com
Sep 20: the lemonheads
Sep 20: islands
Sep 20: Joy oladokun
Sep 21: Mipso
Sep 22: of Montreal
Sep 22: whitehall
Sep 23: Julia., late notice
Sep 23: Spafford
Sep 24: Boris and Melvins
Sep 25: Youth lagoon
Sep 25: Katie alice greer
Sep 26: Jordana and dev lemons
Sep 26: osees
Sep 27: Katelyn tarver
Sep 28: Kate Bollinger
Sep 28: Stop light observations
Sep 30: Bandalos Chinos
Sep 30: the national Parks
BoJanglES ColiSEuM
2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600
www.boplex.com
Sep 22: raphael Saadiq
oct 4: diego El Cigala
oct 11: CeCe winans
oct 12: legacy reunion: Earth, wind, and Fire alumni
oct 15: Manuel turizo
thE FillMorE
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970
www.livenation.com
Sep 20: ohgeesy
Sep 21: hatebreed
Sep 22: Joy oladokun
Sep 23: that Mexican Qt
Sep 23: Cannibal Corpse and Mayhem
Sep 24: roy wood Jr.
Sep 25: nothing More
Sep 25: Circle Jerks
Sep 26: ESt gEE
Sep 26: noCap
Sep 27: Flogging Molly
Sep 27: Poolside
Sep 28: neon trees
Sep 28: Kany garcia
Sep 29: Eric nam
Sep 30: Blue october
PnC MuSiC Pavilion
707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292
www.livenation.com
Sep 23-24: Eric Church & whiskey Myers
Sep 29: lana del rey
Sep 30: Fuerza regida
oct 7: luke Bryan
SPECtruM CEntEr
333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000
www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com
Sep 22-23: drake
Sep 29: old dominion
Sep 30: Jonas Brothers
villagE SQuarE
taP houSE
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330
www.facebook.com/vstaphouse
Sep 21: tatum Sheets
Sep 22: Smashat
Sep 23: ryan trotti
Sep 28: Jarrett raymond
Sep 30: Muddy Creek revival
oct 27: Spindle 45
duRHAm
Carolina thEatrE
309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030
www.carolinatheatre.org
Sep 20: Corinne Bailey rae
Sep 21: leela James
Sep 22: Chris Botti
Sep 26: the war and treaty
Sep 28: tEgan and Sara
Sep 29: Jake Shimabukuro
oct 1: alfredo rodriguez
oct 3: Mike Campbell & the dirty Knobs
oct 7: rissi Palmer
oct 8: Brandy Clark & lori McKenna
oct 10: Switchfoot
dPaC
123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787
www.dpacnc.com
Sep 20: Ben Folds
Sep 21: nick Cave
Sep 22: Jo Koy
Sep 24: Chris tucker
Sep 28: Chicago
Sep 29: Patti laBelle
Sep 30: nimesh Patel
ElKIn
rEEvES thEatEr
129 W Main St | 336.258.8240
www.reevestheater.com
wednesdays: reeves open Mic
Fourth thursdays: old-time Jam
Sep 22: John Fullbright
Sep 29: hannah aldridge
Sep 30: Phatt City
Barn dinnEr thEatrE
120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211
www.barndinner.com
Sep 22-nov 4: ain’t Misbehavin
should be sent to artdirector@yesweekly.com by Friday at 5 p.m., prior to the week’s publication. Visit yesweekly.com and click on calendar to list your event online.
grown mu S ic S cene | c ompiled by Shane h art
CAROLINA THEATRE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605
www.carolinatheatre.com
Sep 22: Matt Stell
Sep 23: Frute with Mellow Swells
Sep 28: Rhiannon Giddens
COMEDY ZONE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com
Sep 22-24: Adele Givens
Sep 29-30: B Simone
GARAGE TAVERN
5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020 www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro
Oct 19: Tony Andrews
GREENSBORO COLISEUM
1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com
Sep 22-24: Cowboy Days
HANGAR 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com
Sep 20: Flotsam & Jetsam w/ Generation Kill, Misfire, Wolftooth
Sep 22: Shaggy 2 Dope w/ Lardi B, DJ Clay
Sep 24: Paleface Swiss w/ Eneterprise Earth, VCTMS, Crown Magnetar
Sep 29: Emo Night Karaoke w/ The Second After, Never Home & Palm Dreams
Sep 30: Invent Animate w/ Void Of Vision, Thrown, Aviana
Oct 5: Between The Buried And Me w/ He Is Legend, akissforjersey, Yearling
Oct 6: Stretch Arm Strong w/ Advent, Blankface, Torch Runner
Oct 7: Glass Casket w Knives, Exchanging Hands, Wretched
Oct 8: Tantric & Waking Tera w/ Novas Fade, Strike The Tower, Fox n’ Vead
Oct 10: Unearth & Revocation w/ Entheos & High Command
Oct 11: Kings Kaleidoscope w/ Mike
Mains & The Branches
Oct 12: Wolves In The Room w/ Blackbraid. Gaerea, HOAXED
Oct 14: Ri Ra ft. Dollabillgates
Oct 15: HAARPER w/ Sxmpra, Sinizter
Oct 20: Citizen Soldier
Oct 21: Dying Fetus w/ The Acacia
Strain, Despised Icon, Creeping Death
Oct 24: Carnifex w/ Signs Of The Swarm, To The Grave, The Last Ten Seconds, Heft
Oct 25: Ouija Macc w/ Darby Otrill
BREWING
348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678
www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew
Wednesdays: Trivia
Fridays & Saturdays: Free Live Music
Sep 22: Johnny O and the Jump Out Boys
Sep 23: Royal Jelly
Sep 29: Sam Robinson Band
Sep 30: Bala Roots
PIEDMONT HALL
2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
STEVEN TANGER CENTER
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500
www.tangercenter.com
Sep 19-24: CHICAGO the Musical
Sep 29-30: Golden Girls: The Laughs
Continue
HIGH POINT
1614 DMB
1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113
https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/
Sep 30: EDW Lucha Live
HIGH POINT THEATRE
220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401
www.highpointtheatre.com
Sep 23: The Players
Sep 28: Manhattan Short Film Festival
Sep 30: Unwind Music Festival
THE DECK
118 E Main St | 336.207.1999
Sep 22: Carolina Ambush
Sep 23: Radio Revolver
Sep 28: Alex Ottaway
Sep 29: Jukebox Revolver
Sep 30: Megan Doss and Jon Montgomery
KERNERSVILLE
BREATHE
COCKTAIL LOUNGE
221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822
www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Sep 23: Wild Wild Burlesk
OAK RIDGE
BISTRO 150
2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359
www.bistro150.com
Sep 23: Limited Engagement
Sep 30: Jordan & Emma
RALEIGH
PNC ARENA
1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300
www.thepncarena.com
Sep 28: Jonas Brothers
Sep 30: Old Dominon
Oct 10: Kirk Franklin
Oct 13-14: Travis Scott
Oct 18: Shania Twain
EARL’S
121 West 9th Street | 336.448.0018
www.earlsws.com
Mondays: Open Mic
Thursdays: Will Jones
Sep 22: Kyle Kelly
Sep 23: Flat Back Cadillac
Sep 29: The Mighty Fairlanes
Sep 30: Fox N Vead
Oct 6-7: Zack Brock And Good Intentions
FIDDLIN’ FISH BREWING COMPANY
772 Trade St | 336.999.8945
www.fiddlinfish.com
Tuesdays: Trivia
Sep 22: Swingbillies Of Boonetown
Sep 29: Hotwax and the Splinters
Oct 6: Tyler Dodson
Oct 7: Day of The Dead
Oct 13: Sam Robinson
THE RAMKAT
170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714
www.theramkat.com
Sep 23: Charles Wesley Godwin, Nolan Taylor
Sep 28: Wheeler Walker, Jr., Channing Wilson
Sep 29: Migrant Birds
Sep 30: Futurebirds, Old Heavy Heads
Oct 1: Shovels & Rope
Oct 1: Highland Reverie
Oct 12: Zoso, Icky Thump
Oct 17: Neil Hamburger, Chris Crofton
Oct 19: Pierce Edens, Ryan Johnson
Oct 20: WSSU Young Alumni Day Party 2023
Oct 21: Boy Named Banjo
Oct 24: Church Girls, Dai Cheri
Oct 25: Je Jenkins
Oct 26: Jack Marion & the Pearl Snap Prophets, Chris McGinnis
WISE MAN BREWING
826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008
www.wisemanbrewing.com
Thursdays: Music Bingo
Sep 23: Tyler Dodson Duo
Oct 20: Gipsy Danger
October 21, 2023 Noon - 5 p.m.
CORPENING PLAZA, DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM
Closing the Evening: Lion Tracks Reggae Band
Details at InternationalVillage.ws
Week of September 25, 2023
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) After much traveling this year, you’re due for some settled time with family and friends. Use this period to check out situations that will soon require a lot of serious decision-making.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Keep that keen Bovine mind focused on your financial situation as it begins to undergo some changes. Consider your money moves carefully. Avoid impulsive investments.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’ll need to adjust some of your financial plans now that things are changing more quickly than you expected. All the facts you need haven’t yet emerged, so move cautiously.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Personal and professional relationships dominate this period. Try to keep things uncomplicated to avoid misunderstandings that can cause problems down the line.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) That elusive goal you’d been hoping to claim is still out of reach. But something else has come along that could prove to be just as desirable, if only you would take the time to check it out.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This is a good time to get away for some much needed rest and relaxation. You’ll return refreshed and ready to take on the workplace challenge that awaits you.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Confidence grows as you work your
CROSSWORD
crossword on page 11
way through some knotty situations. Watch out for distractions from wellmeaning supporters who could slow things down.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Consider spending more time contemplating the possibilities of an o er before opting to accept or reject it. But once you make a decision, act on it.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You’re in a very strong position this week to tie up loose ends in as many areas as possible. Someone close to you has advice you might want to heed.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Congratulations! This is the week you’ve been waiting for. After a period of sudden stops and fitful starts, your plans can now move ahead with no significant disruptions.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You’re in an exceptionally strong position this week to make decisions on many unresolved matters, especially those involving close personal relationships.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) This week starts o with some positive movement in several areas. A special person becomes a partner in at least one of the major plans you’ll be working on.
[BORN THIS WEEK: You work hard and get things done. You also inspire others to do their best. You would do well heading up a major corporation.
© 2023 by King Features Syndicate
sudoku on page 11
by Fifi Rodriguez[1. GEOGRAPHY: Which European city has almost 2,500 bridges?
[2. MOVIES: How many infinity stones exist in Avengers: End Game?
[3. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many digits do pandas have on each hand?
[4. AD SLOGANS: Which car manufacturer used the ad slogan, “Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride”?
[5. LITERATURE: What is Hogwarts’ motto in the “Harry Potter” book series?
[6. TELEVISION: Which show spawned the spino TV comedy “Laverne & Shirley”?
[7. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?
[8. MUSIC: What is the name of the band that John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney were in before The Beatles formed?
[9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does the Apgar score measure?
[10. U.S. STATES: Which state has an active volcano named Mount St. Helens?
10. Washington.
9. The health of newborns.
8. The Quarrymen.
7. 1 billion years.
6. “Happy Days.”
5. “Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.”
4. Nissan.
3. Six — vefi ngersfi and an opposable pseudo thumb.
2. Six.
1. Hamburg, Germany.
© 2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
