YES! Weekly - September 27, 2023

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER

The most colorful party of the year is happening now in Greensboro as Alternative Resources of the Triad (ART) produces the 16th annual Greensboro Pride Festival.

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3 RiverRun International Film Festival will present a free, virtual screening of “ ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ ( WE WILL SPEAK)” for North Carolina residents in its Virtual Theater from October 16 through 30.

4 This Halloween, the QUEER FEAR FILM FESTIVAL will be adding to the screams and shudders of the season with its patented blend of feature-length and short-film scare fare with a LGBTQ+ bent.

7 This Saturday and Sunday, 6th District Congresswoman Kathy Manning and United States Senator Ted Budd discuss the merits and status of nearly two dozen pieces of legislation, and how those laws can impact our COLLECTIVE QUALITY OF LIFE

8 It’s not strictly a horror film, but A HAUNTING IN VENICE is easily among the spookiest movies this Halloween

season, as well as a personal triumph for triple-treat Kenneth Branagh (producer/ director/star), reprising his role as Agatha Christie’s eponymous, idiosyncratic sleuth Hercule Poirot.

14 The latest meeting of the Guilford County Board of Education was packed with parents and clergy expressing support for the board and the “LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH” that put its newest member on the board.

16 Pride shines as the 16th annual GREENSBORO PRIDE FESTIVAL returns to downtown Greensboro, taking over South Elm Street, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., on October 1. The 2023 festival features 50 performances, 170 vendors and food trucks, and three stages beaming across four blocks bursting with rainbows, glamour, and love.

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.

RiverRun International Film Festival will present a free, virtual screening of “

ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak)” for North Carolina residents in its Virtual Theater from October 16 through 30.

The Cherokee language is deeply tied to Cherokee identity; yet generations of assimilation e orts by the U.S. government and anti-Indigenous stigmas forced the Tri-Council of Cherokee tribes to declare a State of Emergency for the language in 2019. While there are 430,000 Cherokee citizens, fewer than an estimated 1,500 fluent speakers remain. Through intimate interviews, vérité footage of community gatherings, and extensive archival materials, the film follows various Cherokee community members as they continue the long fight to help save the language.

“This powerful film certainly made its mark during our 2023 Festival, and we are pleased to be able to present this encore presentation virtually to our North

Carolina audience,” said Rob Davis, RiverRun’s executive director. “The Cherokee story is of particular importance in our state, and we hope that viewers will find a time in the two-week screening window to learn more about the fight to save the Cherokee language.” Free tickets for this virtual screening are available at riverrunfilm.com.

“

ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak)” is presented with support of The RiverRun International Film Festival BIPOC Fellow-

ship, which is a sponsored project of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County and funded through ARPA supported by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

SPONSORS

The sponsors of the RiverRun International Film Festival help sustain the organization’s mission to foster a greater appreciation of cinema and a deeper understanding of the many people,

cultures, and perspectives of our world through regular interaction with great films and filmmakers. Festival sponsors include:

Title & Presenting Sponsors — Forsyth County, Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, City of WinstonSalem, Millennium Fund, UNCSA Marquee Sponsors — Kilpatrick Townsend Attorneys at Law, Nelson Mullins, North Carolina Arts Council, PNC The 2024 RiverRun International Film Festival will take place April 18-27, celebrating 26 years. !

THE RIVERRUN International Film Festival is a non-profi t cultural organization dedicated to the role of cinema as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Founded in 1998, RiverRun is a competitive event that annually showcases new fi lms from both established and emerging fi lmmakers around the world. Each spring, RiverRun screens new narrative, documentary, short, student and animated fi lms, o ering both audience and jury prizes in competition categories.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVERRUN

Fear strikes back: Queer Fear Film Festival rises again

This Halloween, the Queer Fear Film Festival will be adding to the screams and shudders of the season with its patented blend of featurelength and shortfilm scare fare with a LGBTQ+ bent.

The festival opens, appropriately enough, Friday, October 13th and concludes Sunday, October 15th, with in-person screenings at a/perture cinema, 311 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, and virtual screenings for those who prefer to be frightened in the comfort of their own home (or screening party). Individual tickets are $12, an all-access pass is $30, and these can be purchased in advance at https://queerfearfilmfestival.com/2023-festival/.

According to Tiffany Albright, the festival founder and director, Queer Fear was spawned during the COVID pandemic. “We started online in 2021 during the lockdowns (and) met some amazing filmmakers and connected to some incredible audience members,” she said.

“It was exciting to be in person in 2022 and to bring some of those filmmakers

and fans together to experience these films in a theater. Horror always works better in a room full of people who all jump and gasp at the same time.”

The third time, it appears, is a charm. “This year is our largest yet,” Albright revealed, “with the most films [28], the most screening blocks [five], and hopefully our largest in-person and online audience. It’s been really gratifying this past year to have people come up to me and say they were at the festival last year, or they saw our booth at WinstonSalem Pride this year, and that they’re excited for the next festival. We hope we’re becoming a part of the Triad film scene that people can look forward to each year for a long time to come.”

Albright’s inspiration for creating Queer Fear was simple.

“I’m a life-long horror fan and a

queer horror filmmaker myself, so I’ve known for a long time that there is a queer undercurrent in a lot of horror,” she explained. “The experience of being ‘othered,’ or labeled as deviant or monstrous, is resonant for a lot of queer people, so we’ve been able to see ourselves for a long time in vampires and werewolves. There’s also an ugly side to the history of queer representation in the mainstream, where characters had to be punished for their deviance (i.e. the “bury your gays” trope). But in the past decade, there’s also been a huge surge in more diverse mainstream representation of queer characters in horror, like Netflix’s Fear Street Trilogy and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies . But most mainstream movements start in independent film first, where exciting and groundbreaking short and feature films are being made and released on the film festival circuit.”

Thus far, the festival has established solid affiliations with independent genre filmmakers. “Making connections with filmmakers and programmers at other film festivals has been such a pleasure, and rarely difficult,” Albright said. “People are excited to share their work with engaged audiences, and our name is a loud and proud signal that we’re here for queer creators and queer stories. Queer people, filmmakers, and horror fans all have such a strong impulse to build community, so it doesn’t

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take much to start bringing people together for an event like ours.”

“This is the second year we have hosted the Queer Fear Festival and they added a few showtimes to what we did last year, so I think that means that they must be doing something right!” said Lawren Desai, curator and executive director of a/perture cinema. “We are so excited for them to come back this year. I think people really took to the festival in 2022 and I’m excited to see what this year has in store as they received so many more submissions from filmmakers.

“We hope the audiences have fun and leave wanting to come back again for more films at a/perture. In October we have our ‘Hey! Ghoul Hey! Series back again this year with screenings of American Psycho, The Slumber Party Massacre, and Pet Sematary . We also have our National Theater Live broadcasts of Frankenstein on Oct. 1st and 5th as well as a/mobile screenings of Harry Potter Oct. 20th at Bailey Park and Casper Oct. 27th at Crossnore.” (For more information, visit https://aperturecinema.com/.)

Not unlike the “OUT at the Movies” film festival, which opens this week and is celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Queer Fear Film Festival is an inclusive event, one designed to celebrate the community at large and offer top-rank entertainment. In other words, to quote

“Queer Fear is proud to be an international film festival with deep Southern roots,” Albright said. “This year we’re screening films from six countries, and we’re bringing filmmakers from across the U.S. to experience the charm of Winston-Salem during the festival.”

In addition, “it’s vital to have spaces that center queer voices and stories, and that celebrate queer creators,” she said. “People outside the South definitely still have a perception of the South as conservative, but the Triad is such a supportive community, and the queer community is so visible here. We love having filmmakers and audiences come to town and see a different side of the South. We’re as proud of being a Southern film festival as we are a queer genre film festival. It’s one more way we can engage audiences and expand the conversation about queer experiences and dark genre.” !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2023, Mark Burger. WANNA know?

For more information, visit the o cial Queer Fear Film Festival: https://queerfearfilmfestival.com/.

Zelda Rubinstein in Poltergeist (1982): “All are welcome.”

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WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP

FIND YOUR WAY TO REYNOLDA THIS FALL

BY BRITTANY NORTON

All trails lead to Reynolda this fall for a season chock full of family-friendly workshops, educational gardening talks, and free community events.

FOR ALL YOU GREEN THUMBS

Reynolda Gardens kicks o the season with its Fall Plant Sale Saturday, Sept. 30 on the front lawn of Reynolda House, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shop 100+ varieties of trees, shrubs, perennials and more.

The highly anticipated Tuesday Gardening Series returns every week this October and November with guest speakers covering a range of topics from urban landscaping and wine grape production to celebrating 2023 as Year of the Trail in North Carolina. In-person and virtual options are available.

TOTS, TWEENS & EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN

Get hands-on with Family First Workshops kicking o Sunday, Oct. 1! Hosted every first Sunday, these workshops are geared towards students in grades first through sixth and include a study of works in the permanent collection, followed by the opportunity for participants to create their own masterpiece to take home.

DID SOMEBODY SAY, FREE?

Bring your little ones (ages 2-5 encouraged) for outdoor story time and sing-along! With dates throughout fall, Reynolda Read-Aloud is o ered free of charge to families and includes suggested at-home activities for continued enrichment.

Discover the newest exhibition, “Smith & Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet” at no cost when you come for Reynolda On the House. Hosted October 15 and November 18, attendees enjoy free admission to the house and exhibition gallery along with family-friendly activities centered around Z. Smith Reynolds’ love for aviation and Libby Holman’s lifetime of music.

FOR THE GROWN AND SAVVY

The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.

Let Reynolda House be your home for the day on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Homeschool Day invites students ages 5-15 and their teachers to Reynolda for engaging lessons in science, art, and history. The historic house is open for tours and guest instructors from Kaleideum will be on-site o ering hands-on experiences in Reynolda’s outdoor spaces.

Mornings at Reynolda returns for its second series on Saturday, Oct. 20. Promoting reading readiness and visual literacy, preschoolers and their caregivers spend the morning exploring the historic house and grounds while engaging in activities that encourage music, movement, nature exploration, and play.

Movie bu s and historians alike will love Reynolda’s newest film series, Sirens of the Silver Screen. Several major Hollywood films were adapted from the story of Smith and Libby, including Reckless (showing October 28) and Sunset Boulevard (showing November 4). After each showing, audiences participate in a discussion with “Smith & Libby” curator, Phil Archer, and special guest speakers.

After the sun sets, Reynolda opens its doors for Drinks @ Dusk, an evening of music, cocktails, and art. See the current exhibition, tour the bedroom galleries and embark on a scavenger hunt through the Historic House for a chance to win a prize. Food trucks and a full bar will be available. For ages 21+.

Find these events and more along with dates, pricing, and registration information at reynolda.org.

“Smith & Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet” exhibit at Reynolda House.

Manning, Budd to Appear on Triad Today

urn on the news and you’ll hear plenty of political infighting, partisan bickering, name-calling, and vitriolic discourse coming from Washington. What you hardly ever hear or read about, however, are details about important legislation that can a ect our daily lives, regardless of whether you are liberal or conservative. That’s why this weekend’s episode of “Triad Today” is giving viewers an opportunity to hear directly from elected o cials and learn about new and proposed laws that they have introduced or supported on our behalf.

This Saturday and Sunday, 6th District Congresswoman Kathy Manning and United States Senator Ted Budd discuss the merits and status of nearly two dozen pieces of legislation, and how those laws can impact our collective quality of life. Here are some highlights from the upcoming broadcast.

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

KM: This brought down the cost of healthcare premiums, capped out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications, and lowered the cost of insulin for seniors. It has also helped to bring down the cost of insulin for everybody.

MIDDLE-CLASS BORROWER PROTECTION ACT

TTB: What the Biden administration wants to do is charge middleclass borrowers with good credit a fee to o set those who have not been as responsible by protecting their credit score, and that’s bad policy. This bill protects those middle-class borrowers.

MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS IN SCHOOLS ACT

KM: We have a mental health crisis in our students, so my bill would integrate mental health education and services into the wellness programs that are already taking place in our schools.

VETERANS PROTECTION FROM FRAUD ACT

TB: Unfortunately, there are some bad actors who want to take advantage of veterans in their time of need, so this will enhance the punishment against those people. That means longer jail time and bigger fines if they target our veterans. We want to protect those who have protected us.

THE PACT ACT

KM: This Act makes sure that veterans can get the healthcare they need for those people who have been exposed to toxins, and it streamlines the process for applying for those benefits.

SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

TB: We want small businesses to be able to use the SBA 7A loan money to re-invest in their company, to put in technology, and put in good systems that can help them compete with bigger companies and grow the local economy.

THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

KM: We have more than 400,000

people in North Carolina who did not have access to the internet during COVID. This program has already helped 60,000 people in the 6th district with a $30 per month credit to help a ord internet service.

This special Voter Education edition of “Triad Today” airs Saturday at 7:30 a.m. on abc45 and Sunday at 11 a.m. on MY48. It will also stream on WFMY+. The program was made possible in part by Truliant Federal Credit Union. For more information on current legislation, visit www.manning.house.gov and www. budd.senate.gov. !

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+.

Mavis Staples donna the buffalo kabaka pyramid

Kathy Manning

Ted Budd

Kenneth Branagh conjures up a winning Halloween whodunit

t’s not strictly a horror film, but A Haunting in Venice is easily among the spookiest movies this Halloween season, as well as a personal triumph for triple-treat Kenneth Branagh (producer/director/ star), reprising his role as Agatha Christie’s eponymous, idiosyncratic sleuth Hercule Poirot.

Based on Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party and set in the titular city, where Poirot has retired, disillusioned by man’s inhumanity to man and his unflagging ability to detect the discern the evil that men — and women — do, whether past or present. He’s content to tend his garden with the same meticulousness he brought to his detective work.

IOn All Hallow’s Eve — or Halloween, if you prefer — Poirot is persuaded by an old acquaintance, mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver (a delightful change of pace for Tina Fey), to attend a séance in a purportedly haunted palazzo. Poirot puts no stock in psychic phenomena or paranormal activity and consents to attend out of boredom as much as anything else.

It is revealing nothing to divulge that the evening does not go quite as planned, that sinister forces (possibly supernatural?) are at work, and that Poirot will once again be pressed into service to solve a brutal murder. There’s an appropriately darker, scarier tone to the proceedings than in Branagh’s earlier Christie adaptations (2017’s Murder on the Orient Express and last year’s Death on the Nile), making A Haunting in Venice a bona fide Halloween treat — replete with a few tricks up its sleeve.

The list of potential suspects and/ or victims includes newly minted Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Mrs. Reynolds, the enigmatic medium conducting the

séance; Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill, who played father and son in Branagh’s Belfast (2021) and do so again here; Kelly Reilly as the palazzo’s owner, a griefstricken diva whose daughter died under mysterious circumstances a year before; Camille Cottin as a nervous servant; Emma Laird and Ali Kahn as the sibling “associates” of Mrs. Reynolds; Kyle Allen as an uninvited American gold-digger; and Riccardo Scamarcio as Poirot’s bodyguard, who’s not above suspicion himself.

The film, which has been gorgeously shot by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (a veteran of Branagh’s earlier Christies), is handsomely mounted, smartly cast, and engaging throughout. As a director, Branagh keeps things moving at a heady, steady clip — the only misstep being that the crime is solved almost too quickly before its implications are fully realized. This is one of those rare instances where a slightly longer running time and more detailed narrative wouldn’t have hurt at all.

Branagh’s fidelity to and respect for Christie is further evidenced in the screenplay by Michael Green (who penned Branagh’s earlier Christies), which features some sparkling banter and repartee. Mrs. Reynolds prefers the term “medium” for the simple reason that she is not small or big; she’s medium. There are also some snappy exchanges between Poirot and Oliver, whose recent mystery novels have met with critical disfavor — likely a self-knowing nod toward Dame Agatha herself.

One of the best things about A Haunting in Venice is that it’s a franchise film, but the franchise shows no signs of growing thin or wearing out. Of course, there’s a wealth of Christie stories to choose from — and this marks the first screen version of this particular story — yet the series still feels fresh and vibrant. !

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+.

Mark Burger

Contributor

ALONERS (Film Movement): Writer/ editor/director Hong Seong-eun’s awardwinning 2021 feature debut (originally titled Honja saneun saramdeul) stars Gong Seung-yeon (in an award-winning feature debut) as a hard-working but isolated customer-service phone operator who re-evaluates her career and life when her neighbor unexpectedly dies. In Korean with English subtitles, the DVD ($29.95 retail) includes the bonus short film The Moths Will Eat Them Up (2021).

THE ANDERSON TAPES (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Sean Connery enjoyed one of his first post-Bond hits by reuniting with director Sidney Lumet for this 1971 adaptation of the best-selling novel by Lawrence Sanders, playing an ex-con who plans to rob the high-rise luxury apartment complex in New York City where his sexy girlfriend (Dyan Cannon) resides — unaware that his every move is being recorded by security cameras. Lumet’s a nity for the Big Apple goes a long way here, as do terrific turns by Alan King (as a mobster), a pre-Saturday Night Live Garrett Morris (as a cop), and Christopher Walken (in a memorable feature debut), although Martin Balsam’s portrayal of Connery’s gay cohort is woefully dated and the combination of ironic humor and slam-bang action is uneasy at times. Such familiar folk as Ralph Meeker, Margaret Hamilton, Dick Anthony Williams, Conrad Bain, Judith Lowry, Val Avery, Paul Benjamin, and Richard B. Shull also appear. The Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes audio commentary, theatrical trailer, and TV spot. Rated PG.

DOUBLE TROUBLE (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The Blu-ray bow ($24.95 retail) of director John Paragon’s 1992 debut feature, a feeble action/comedy teaming twin bodybuilders/wrestlers

The Barbarian Brothers (David Paul and Peter Paul) — here playing a cop and a thief — who join forces to crush an international jewel smuggling operation headed by Roddy McDowall (who manages to keep his dignity intact). Few surprises, even fewer laughs, and a waste of a cult-friendly cast including David Carradine, James Doohan, A.J. Johnson, Troy Donahue, Steve Kanaly, Bill Mumy, Tim Stack, Lewis Arquette, and Tito Larriva. Rated R.

GLORIA (Kino Lorber Studio Classics):

The most conventional big-screen collaboration between writer/director John Cassavetes and actress wife Gena Row-

BY MARK BURGER

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: CARLITO’S WAY (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group)

A decade after Scarface (1983), producer Martin Bregman reteamed with Al Pacino and director Brian De Palma for this slick, stylish 1993 adaptation of the best-selling 1975 novel by Edwin Torres. It was less controversial but no less entertaining, with Pacino in another stellar turn as titular ex-con Carlito Brigante.

The recently paroled Carlito is determined to go straight and romance his dancer girlfriend Gail (Penelope Ann Miller), but soon discovers he can’t outrun his past, which looms large in the menacing form of fast-rising gangster Benny Blanco “from the Bronx” (a memorable John Leguizamo), but the real threat is Carlito’s increasingly fractious relation-

ship with his coke-sni ng, self-destructive attorney David Kleinfeld (a superb Sean Penn), who is recklessly leading them both into trouble.

Pacino and Penn have a crackling chemistry, and the fine cast also includes Viggo Mortensen, Luis Guzman, James Rebhorn, Adrian Pasdar, Richard Foronjy, Jaime Sanchez, and filmmaker Paul Mazursky. With a big assist from cinematographer Stephen H. Burum, De Palma evinces a real feel for the mean streets of New York, culminating in a white-knuckle chase/shootout through Grand Central Station. Despite his dazzling display of his virtuoso filmmaking. It’s almost hard to believe that for so shining a talent as De Palma, it’s been all downhill ever since.

The limited-edition 30th-anniversary 4K Ultra HD combo ($59.95 retail) includes audio commentaries, collectible booklet, mini-poster and postcards, retrospective and vintage featurettes and interviews, theatrical trailer and teaser, deleted scenes, and more. Rated R.

lands, this 1980 melodrama casts the latter in the title role of a tough-talking ex-moll who becomes the protector of a young boy (John Adames) whose family was wiped out by the mob — several members of which she is already wellacquainted with. The delightful chemistry between Rowlands (who earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actress) and Adames (in his only feature film) and great use of gritty New York locations are hindered by an excessive running time and o -kilter detours into sentimentality. The Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes trailers. Rated PG.

LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR (GKIDS/Shout! Factory): The Blu-ray bow ($22.98 retail) of the award-winning 2022 animated feature (originally titled Kagami no kojo) based on Mizuki Tsujimura’s best-selling fantasy novel, co-directed by Keiichi Hara and Takakazu Nagamoto, following a group of children through a magical portal where they must participate in a mysterious game in which they must discover the ties that bind them together in order to make their wishes come true. In Japanese with English subtitles, bonus features include art gallery and trailers.

MATILDA (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): The 4K Ultra HD combo bow ($45.99 retail) of producer/director Danny DeVito’s 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel, detailing the misadventures of the title character (winningly played by Mara Wilson) as she contends with both her self-absorbed parents (DeVito and reallife wife Rhea Perlman) and the hellish headmistress (Pam Ferris) of her school, with Embeth Davidtz, Paul Reubens, Tracey Walter, and an unbilled Jon Lovitz in support. Unsteady at times but engaging, this is among the better screen versions of Dahl’s work. Bonus features include audio commentary, featurettes, and theatrical trailer. Rated PG.

THE MERGER (IndiePix Films): Popular Australian comedian Damian Callinan wrote and stars in this cheeky, overly eager-to-please 2018 farce based on his award-winning play, as a lovably grouchy ex-soccer star who turns the fortunes of his impoverished town around when persuaded to coach the local team by single mother (and love interest) Kate Mulvany and precocious son Ra erty Grierson (in his feature debut). Pleasant but unremarkable, although the message about cultural diversity is nicely

handled, available on DVD ($19.95 retail) and Blu-ray ($24.95 retail), each boasting behind-the-scenes featurette and director’s interview.

WATERWORLD

(Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group): A limited-edition 4K Ultra HD combo ($59.95 retail) of the 1995 sci-fi epic directed by Kevin Reynolds set in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth is mostly covered by water, with producer Kevin Costner starring as the enigmatic nomad “the Mariner” who attempts to protect Jeanne Tripplehorn and Tina Majorino from the clutches of demented, one-eyed despot Dennis Hopper (chewing the scenery with abandon), with Zakes Mokae, R.D. Call, Robert Joy, Michael Jeter, Leonardo Cimino, Jack Black, Neil Giuntoli, Sab Shimono, Jack Kehler, Kim Coates, John Toles-Bay, and Rick Aviles (who died shortly before the film’s release) on hand to keep things afloat -- no pun intended. At the time, this was the most expensive Hollywood movie ever made, sending the rumor mill into overdrive (with some calling it “Kevin’s Gate”) and causing friction between long-time friends Reynolds and Costner. Yet it’s well-mounted, frequently exciting, and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Sound, although it does fade in the stretch … but it did make money. Bonus features include the PG13-rated theatrical cut, the television cut, and the unrated “Ulysses Cut,” collectible booklet, postcards and mini-poster, the vintage featurette Dances With Waves, the retrospective documentary Maelstrom: The Odyssey of “Waterworld,” original trailers and TV spots, and more.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (Shout! Studios/Shout! Factory):

Not to be confused with the 1993 Tina Turner biography, director Shekhar Kapur’s PG-13-rated romantic comedy follows documentary filmmaker Lily James as she chronicles the impending — and arranged — wedding of Pakistani neighbor Shazad Latif, which forces her to confront her own opinions about love and marriage, with Shabana Azmi, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry, Je Mirza, Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (as himself), and Emma Thompson in support, available on DVD ($19.98 retail) and Blu-ray ($22.98 retail), each boasting behindthe-scenes featurette and theatrical trailer. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2023, Mark Burger.

Connecting the Community @

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY

Free Events for Your Family!

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

THE EASILY OFFENDED

A resident of Trail in British Columbia called police on Sept. 8 to complain of a man wearing camouflage pants, which he believed to be a violation of some rule, the Toronto Sun reported. The caller, 27, said he was “o ended on behalf of the military” and requested that an o cer find the man and remove his pants. When the o cer said he could not do that, the caller said he would remove the man’s pants himself “under order of (the) king of England.” The local Royal Canadian Mounted Police did look for the camouflage wearer, presumably to warn him about the caller, but —surprise! — couldn’t find him.

NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE

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

building was infested with the happy little rodents (oh, and also, fleas), the New York Post’s PageSix reported. “Risk management and facilities teams are aware of these issues and working to quickly resolve them,” the email to personnel said. One source said the existing building is set to be demolished and “there’s no incentive for upkeep. At any given time, most of the elevators are broken.” Sounds like a fairy-tale job.

BRIGHT IDEA

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

After the long-awaited capture of escaped fugitive Danelo Cavalcante on Sept. 13, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens held a press conference to share the details of the arrest, Hu Post reported. One attendant, a podcaster named Michael Rainey, gets the prize for the most bizarre question posed to Bivens: “Was there any concern he (Cavalcante) would team up with another small man to step inside of a trench coat, ‘Little Rascals’-style?” What? On X, Rainey said he “knew no one else would ask the questions that needed to be asked. Also, they were very polite in asking me to leave.” Bivens shot a curt “No” back to Rainey’s question before the podcaster was encouraged to hit the exit.

AWESOME!

Pedro Carvalho, CEO of Destilaria Levira, a wine distillery in Levira, Portugal, assured citizens that the 600,000 gallons of red wine that spilled from the facility on Sept. 10 and covered the city’s streets would not leave a lingering smell because it was “good quality wine.” The New York Times reported that one tank collapsed because of a “structural failure,” knocking over another tank. The distillery promised to “take full responsibility for the costs associated with damage cleanup and repair,” which included one basement that was flooded. Firefighters collected some of the wine and removed it to a wastewater treatment plant.

IRONY

Sure, if you work for the Walt Disney Co., you expect to have mice all around you on the daily. But at the company’s headquarters in New York City, advertising sta ers on the fifth floor were advised on Sept. 11 to clear out “immediately” because the

Police in Wiltshire, England, were called out on Sept. 12 when a neighbor spotted a grisly scene by the side of the road — an arm and two bloody feet hanging out of a garbage bin. Wiltshire Live reported that as o cers scoured other nearby trash cans, one resident alerted them that the body parts were fake and he had placed them in a neighbor’s bin as a prank. “It’s just a practical joke that got out of hand,” he said. “I’ve put them in a bag so they can’t be seen now.” Save it for Halloween, chap.

IT’S COME TO THIS

Rock climbers in British Columbia’s Squamish area, north of Vancouver, have a new convenience available to them: Waste Alleviating Gel (WAG) bag stations. Yep, they’re poop bags for humans. The CBC reported that after an “explosion in the usage of our backcountry areas ... increasingly we are finding that there are issues with human waste, particularly in our more remote crags (cli s with climbing routes),” according to Ben Webster, chair of Squamish Access Society. Katy Holm, an owner of a store called Climb On, called the bags “totally robust. You don’t have to fear that it’s going to explode or anything.” Well, that’s a relief!

ATTENTION, TOURISTS!

Looking for something else to do in Washington, D.C., besides endless monuments and galleries? Check out the Museum of Failure, WUSA-TV suggested. The brainchild of Dr. Samuel West, the Museum of Failure is a traveling exhibition that features some of history’s biggest busts, from Crystal Pepsi to Thirsty Cat (fish-flavored water for your cat). “We need to be better at learning from failure,” West said. “I want visitors to recognize that failure is an essential aspect of progress and innovation.” The museum also includes a Failure Confessional, where visitors can leave their own personal flops behind. Don’t fail to check it out: The museum will be open until Dec. 10. !

©2023 Andrews McMeel Universal

Filled with fun, fellowship, faith, festivity, fine art and unforgettable experiences.

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Sweet Sixteen: Greensboro Pride comes out

The most colorful party of the year is happening now in Greensboro as Alternative Resources of the Triad (ART) produces the 16th annual Greensboro Pride Festival.

ART is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on a mission to “improve the emotional and social wellbeing of LGBTQIA2+ individuals in Greensboro by promoting inclusivity and building resources, safe spaces, and social events.” The inaugural Triad Pride Festival was held at Festival Park in 2006. Sixteen years later it has morphed

into one of the city’s biggest festivals.

“It is amazing to be able to celebrate 16 years of LGBTQIA2+ Pride in Greensboro. A supportive city that has always been a part of social change. Also, sad that it’s only been 16 years, so we continue to rally for equality and equity,” said ART Chair Brian Coleman.

A week of activities culminated in to a free, day-long festival (from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on Sunday, October 1 along South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro.

Last year’s event brought an estimated 35,000-40,000 people, according to organizers, with more than 165 vendors and 50 performers, most of them local. This year, organizers are expecting more with 170 vendors and food trucks, more than 50 performers, and three stages across four blocks of downtown Greensboro. The event has family-friendly events like a KidZone Stage and activi-

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ties courtesy of the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum, Reconsidered Goods, and Greensboro History Museum.

The week kicked off with a takeover at SouthEnd Brewing on Monday with a free dinner and a drink to celebrate all things Pride and celebrated Taco Tuesday at Hidden Gate Brewing Company.

Coleman said that despite the state’s current political climate against the LGBTQ+ community, it’s important for people who identify to have the experience of the festival.

“That is the very reason that GSOPride is held later in the year. The number of colleges in Greensboro brings a large population of people to our city. This could be the first time or opportunity that these folks have had to have this experience, especially those that identify LGBTQIA2+!” he said.

Coleman said that people should be proud and have the opportunity to express themselves without judgment, and the festival allows that.

“We have brought together 200+ vendors and trucks combined. Tons of entertainment on two stages and the kid’s concert in the KidZone. Most importantly, people should be proud to have the opportunity to experience and express themselves amongst others like them without prejudice or questioning,” Coleman said.

The 2023 Festival will be headlined by drag superstars Heidi N Closet and LaLa Ri. Heidi N Closet, a Ramseur native, was crowned Greensboro Pride Queen in 2018 and competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2016 and 2020. LaLa Ri was featured on the show in 2016 and 2021.

Both performers will be joined in hosting duties by Lawanda Jackson and Brenda the Drag Queen. Other performers throughout the week include The

Greensboro Ballet, Ed E. Ruger, Dana St. James, Jamie Monroe, Ebony Addams, and Giselle Cassidy Carter (Miss Pride Winston-Salem 2023).

This year’s sponsors helping to host the homegrown festival include Crest, Kontoor Brands, Ralph Lauren, Qorvo, Visit Greensboro, The Moses Cone Foundation, iHeartMedia, Replacements LTD, Toyota of Greensboro, A Great Idea, Otis & Wawa, YES! Weekly and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro.

“Greensboro Pride started as Triad Pride, relationships were built back then that have lasted. Staying locally focused is extremely important. There is a big and sometimes ugly world out there. When you are different it’s harder. So for us staying locally focused means that there is someone “at home” who cares about you. Building off of those relationships that were set before us, sent us on a path of growth. The team of 100% volunteers that organize, promote, and produce GSOPride are amazing. I believe that is the true success and why our sponsorship and participation continues to grow. People see other people giving and asking nothing in return, they want to be a part of that! We welcome all!”

For more information, visit www. GreensboroPride.org . See a list of events for the week below.

Wednesday, September 27: Taco Takeover at Crafted – The Art of the Taco, 220 South Elm Street in Greensboro from 6 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, September 28: The Twisted Lounge will host Twisted Trivia: Pride Edition at 7 p.m. at 435 Dolley Madison Road. Teams can have up to six players.

Chanel Davis

Editor

PHOTOS TAKEN BY NATALIE GARCIA AT THE 2022 GREENSBORO PRIDE

Friday, September 29: The annual Kickoff Party will begin at 8 p.m. at Boxcar Bar + Arcade, 120 West Lewis Street. Brenda the Drag Queen will host the party, which will also feature performances by Greensboro Pride Queen Tia Chanella, Greensboro Pride King Omega St. James, Marceline Mashic, Arianna XLopez, and Miss Cocktail. This event is 21+ and is sponsored by Absolut.

Saturday, September 30: Otis & Wawa’s 2nd Annual GSO Pride Bar Crawl will be held on Saturday, September 30 from 3 to 9 p.m. in downtown Greensboro, hosted by Brenda the Drag Queen. Kick off with a drag show, then stroll through downtown to 10 bars/restaurants celebrating Pride. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Greensboro Pride and other nonprofits. This event is 21+. Visit Otis & Wawa’s ticketing website for all the details and to learn more.

Sunday, October 1: GREENSBORO PRIDE FESTIVAL from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Make

along South Elm Street in Downtown Greensboro. The event kicks off with the National Anthem and a parade of colors. You’ll find food trucks, vendors, performances, and a KidZone at this year’s festival. The 2023 Festival Headliners are Triad native and Drag Superstar Heidi N Closet and RuPaul’s Drag Race star LaLa Ri. They will be joined by the Legends of Drag (Lawanda Jackson, Jamie Monroe, Ebony Addams, and Crystal Frost), local R&B and Hip Hop performer Ed E. Ruger, and dozens of other amazing performers. During the festival, you can meet Heidi N Closet, LaLa Ri, and the Legends of Drag. Tickets to meet all six stars are $20 per person and are available at greensboropride.org/2023-prideweek-events/. Tickets are limited. !

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

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School Board Scu e: Newest member sworn in, process criticized

The latest meeting of the Guilford County Board of Education was packed with parents and clergy expressing support for the board and the “legislative overreach” that put its newest member on the board.

Many were members of Public School Strong, a new statewide organization devoted to supporting public education and opposing book banning, anti-LGBQ+ legislation, and defunding by what they call radical extremists in the state’s Republicancontrolled legislature and the county’s Republican party.

The meeting began with Republican Michael Logan sworn in as District 3 representative after months of legal appeals and legislative interventions. Logan replaced Bill Goebel, also a Republican, whom the majority-Democrat board had appointed to District 3 after Pat Tillman resigned last year to serve on the Guilford County Commission. The state legislature repeatedly clashed with the board over its refusals to approve Logan as Tillman’s successor.

In January, Board Chair Deena HayesGreene said she voted against former teacher Logan for what she called extremist views on vaccination, masking, and the murder of George Floyd. She also cited a voicemail from a former student alleging homophobic and racist comments from Logan.

In response to the Board’s resistance to Logan, the General Assembly passed HB 88 to mandate his appointment. The bill’s unclear wording yielded a di erent interpretation that allowed the board to seat Goebel instead. Republican lawmakers then passed SB 9 to re-clarify the rules and force the ousting of Goebel and the seating of Logan.

On September 19, Logan was sworn in after Goebel tendered a letter of resignation that stated:

“My lawful appointment to the Guilford County school board has been the subject of litigation, dubious legislation, and unprecedented invective directed at me, the board, and its sta and attorneys. I am certain that the legislature has overstepped its legal authority in shortening my term in o ce and I am able and willing to litigate the matter. However, it is apparent to me that choosing further litigation over the seat would further distract the board, the

sta , and the public from the important job of educating our children.”

The public speakers supporting the board and criticizing the forced appointment of Logan included several members of Public School Strong.

“So much energy and focus has been spent by a few of the radical extremists trying to prove that this board has violated the law that valuable time has been taken away from the true mission of this board,” said Bishop Tony Amos, a Jamestown grandfather and senior pastor of Abundant Life Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic in Lexington, who is also a member of Dads Organizing for Public Education.

Isabel Moore, the mother of a fourthgrader at Peck Elementary in Greensboro, condemned “a small group of extremists” for having “tried to distract us from the real issues facing our public schools by stirring up manufactured controversies and cruel attacks.” After describing Public School Strong as “a network of hundreds of parents, grandparents, and community members all over North Carolina who advocate for honest, accurate, safe, equitable and fully-funded public education for all of North Carolina’s children,” Moore thanked the board for “voting not to seat an extremist bigot,” adding “I regret that he has been seated this evening.”

Moore indicated the large number of audience members wearing Public School Strong t-shirts.

“Hundreds of us across North Carolina are surging to our school board meetings. Survey after survey shows that public school parents want to see bus driver and teacher positions filled, not manufactured attacks against honest history and LGBTQ youth.” She then condemned what she called the “real crisis and real threat to all our children.”

“Extremist legislators have passed a bill to give away public funds to private

schools. Guilford County Schools are likely to lose $11,281,812. What will be on the chopping block? Special education services? School nurses? Teacher positions? Sports? Arts?”

Greensboro parent and Public School Strong member Nicole Quick also condemned defunding public schools in favor of private ones.

“Instead of fully funding our public schools, the majority in our state legislature have devoted their time to interfering in the function of our county school board in order to seat an extremist board member who would focus on manufactured culture wars rather than the needs of our schools and students. They delay passage of the state budget to secure approval for casinos while students across the state return to schools short of teachers and bus drivers. They’ve siphoned money from our already underfunded schools and bus drivers to a voucher program for private schools that leaves students from lowincome families behind and doesn’t serve special needs students like my son,” Quick said.

Several clergy members condemned the censoring of textbooks and pulling of books from school libraries.

“I am so saddened and frustrated when I see that book banning is up 40%,” said Episcopal Priest Tricia de Beer. “Asking for books to be banned is unacceptable,” said Reverend Darren Mitchell, pastor of Greensboro’s Trinity AME Zion.

High Point Minister Martin Hopper was the only speaker to directly address the new board member. “I challenge you, Mr. Logan, to tell and prove that these accusations are wrong. Lunch is on me; dinner is on me.” Logan did not respond to this invitation during the public meeting.

Some of the strongest criticisms of the state legislature came from Greensboro NAACP president Kay Brown.

“We will be advocating for the rights of all parents and not just those who are going through a level of white fragility where they do not want students to learn about the true level of diversity that is happening within our community. To have the state legislature say in 2023 that we can’t even discuss the fact that people were enslaved in this country, we can’t even discuss the fact that trans people exist in this country, is absolutely racist, is homophobic, and if you support it, you are supporting racism and homophobia and are the true enemy to the community, not the educators wo are underpaid and have to go in year after year as me; people fight in Guilford County over individual seats versus actually talk-

Ian McDowell Contributor

Board Chair Deena Hayes-Greene

ing to the state legislature about doing their job and passing the full budget.”

Monica Walker, a Greensboro organizer and retired Executive Director of the O ce for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Guilford County Schools, also addressed Logan.

“Do we have to read Mr. Logan’s social media posts, captured before he could take them down, again? They make the point that he is out of touch with the majority of voters in Guilford County. People from his district have written and spoken about their lack of support for him. Polls show 70% of voters reject the things he and his supporters espouse. The GCS Board of Education made the right decision not to seat him and it is unfortunate that he was seated tonight.”

In the meeting’s closing comments, several board members spoke of the process.

District 5’s Deborah Napper said that “a huge swath” of her constituents are “feeling the impact of the overreach of state government” and that “we have overreach right here on the Board of Education. When you have to rewrite a bill three times to get it done the way you want it, then you probably need to proofread for starters.”

District 6’s Khem Irby denounced the state legislature for “passing bills that have nothing to do with where we need to be.”

At-large representative Alan Sherouse

gave his perspective on the controversy.

“We were given a vote by an existing statute and we each voted in an attempt to reflect our values and what we felt most faithfully represented our existing constituents, and then that vote was taken away from us. But here we are and we do absolutely move forward.”

Board Chair Hayes-Greene addressed Logan saying that it is her duty to treat him as a board member.

“I will continue, as is my duty and obligation as the board chair, to treat you as a board member,” said Hayes-Greene to Logan. “You know we have di erences, as I hope we both can acknowledge, and I hope we will continue to do what we need to do. Whether you agree or disagree, the board has followed the law and has made the decisions that we have the duty and obligation to make. And a thank you to Bill Goebel, who served and gave his all for the period of time that he was here.”

In his closing statement, Logan appeared to fault his colleagues for the legislature’s interference in the process, but said he would work with them and thanked the public turning out.

“Where would we be if our school board had been better together? We wouldn’t have had the legislature stepping in. We wouldn’t have had people mad at each

other. We wouldn’t have had the people who reached out and spoke tonight. I would say thank you to everyone who reached out and spoke tonight, because you’re involved in the schools, you’re here. There’s been too many meetings that ended with only a few people sitting in the audience because the public’s not involved. The public should be involved. I’ve always looked forward to being able to work with the school board, and I look forward to the school board being able to work with me.”

After the meeting, Brown said she was not reassured by Logan’s statement.

“If we were ‘better together,’ one man’s

ego would not have been more important to the state legislature than the children of Guilford County and the state legislature would have passed a better budget and wouldn’t be trying hamper our children’s education. It’s clear Logan cares more about his personal political ambition than he does about resources for our kids.” !

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.

Michael Logan Sworn in

Listen up, come out to Greensboro Pride

Pride shines as the 16th annual Greensboro Pride Festival returns to downtown Greensboro, taking over South Elm Street, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., on October 1.

The 2023 festival features 50 performances, 170 vendors and food trucks, and three stages beaming across four blocks bursting with rainbows, glamour, and love. “Join us for a day filled with fun, food, and all the Pride you can imagine!” organizers beckoned.

Celebrating “Legends of Drag” and locals alike, Heidi N Closet and LaLa Ri light up the main Sponsor Stage, with Brenda The Drag Queen and Lawanda Jackson sharing hosting duties wrangling dozens of per-

formers; plus musicians curated by hip-hop artist Ed. E. Ruger.

A fixture of Greensboro Pride Festivals past, as a hetero-cisgendered man, Ruger looks to uplift the artists in his fold and highlight a token of allyship. “I have gotten to bridge a lot of gaps by being a straight, white, male, hip-hop performer,” Ruger told former YES! Weekly editor Katie Murawski, in a 2020 article referencing his work and “The New Normal” EP released with AdotStar.

Murawski herself will ride the performance rainbow: her drag king alter-ego, Roy Fahrenheit, is scheduled to sleaze up the Community Stage with PG-camp and rhinestoned flair. Both the Sponsor and Community stages boast a mix of music, drag, and dance — and perhaps all three at once — plucked from a bill featuring artists from across the state.

Coyote Vs Acme, a Durham-based purveyor of “Queer Country Cabaret,” joins Fahrenheit on the Community Stage schedule. The musical moniker for Marty

Smith (Blotter Magazine co-founder, former WXDU DJ, and novelist), Coyote Vs Acme has been known to jazz up Pride stages around the southeast with his keyboard and all-original material spanning Americana, indie, and “a little bit of show tunes.”

The upcoming festival will be Smith’s first appearance at Greensboro Pride, for which he’s joined by a full bill of entertainers including: LaytoyaShaun Jayde Addams, Syk-i-am, Tempest Boleyn, Bubbles Liqueur, Penelope D Felix, DeAngelo, SHONNA THE SINGER, Liquid Gold, Thigh Fieri, Angel Blacc, A’isis Harajuku Devine, Little Rebel Channel-Iman, Benadryl, Average Mugga The Mfkn Ghost, Purple Krush, Jinxx Van Jester, Stacy Sprinklez, Bayleigh Katch, Vivian Boleyn, DJ Juice, Repetory336, and Samara Hex Di’Angelo. Meanwhile, Ruger and his crew are scheduled for the Sponsor stage along with: Greensboro Ballet, Sylvur — with Greenestreet Bo!z (GGF youth), Giovonni Diamond, Marsha Mellows, Marceline Mashic, Arianna XLopez, Pepper Insult, AJ Fuller, Vandeja Voo, Tia Chanella, Omega St James, Jayla Serena Mitchell, Giselle Cassidy Carter, JLo Jonez Chanel-Iman, Bry-

anna Lefaris, Dallas Cole Contour, My’kel Knight Addams-Iman, Melody Rose, Saniya Chanel Iman, and Jerry Trollinger. Plus a “Legends of Drag” showcase featuring Crystal Frost, Ebony Addams, Jamie Monroe, and Lawanda Jackson. And headliners: LaLa Ri and Heidi N Closet. While drag shines as the main event, area musicians like Emily “EDawg” Labosky are excited to shine on the main stage. “I think dancing with the pride flag will be in order,” said the 31-year-old experimental hip-hop artist. “I came out when I was 14, and playing Pride has always been a dream of mine. I’m honored to be part of the lineup.”

Blending genres through experimentation, Labosky has released 12 albums over the past five years and isn’t looking to stop. “I’m into being prolific,” they said. “And helping people who are still struggling with their sexuality.”

Reflecting on their work and Pride celebrations, “I have a good time every year,” Labosky said. In a world where haters are the loudest, it’s amazing to come to a festival like this and see that most people really do believe love is love.”

Ti any “A’bout Tyme” Zapata (whose Sponsor stage spot marks their first at Greensboro Pride) shares the enthusiasm.

“I’m super excited to be a part of this big festival, and able to show up and celebrate with thousands of other people and the LGBTQIA2+ community,” they said. “I’m definitely nervous, but I just want to have some fun, and enjoy this experience to the fullest.”

A hip-hop artist and rapper, Zapata sees music as a cathartic process. “I love to make music that others can vibe to and relate — just an artist trying to tell and share my story with the world.

Katei Cranford

Emily “EDawg” Labosky Ti any “A’bout Tyme” Zapata

Therapeutic, as you can say.”

The nature of that therapy resonates on their upcoming single, “Sold Myself to the Devil,” intended as a release celebrating National Recovery Month. Looking to “take listeners on a ride,” the track itself explores addiction and abuse. ”For over a decade I struggled with both,” Zapata explained. “Today I’m proud to say I have over six years of clean time. And couldn’t be more grateful for this new life.”

Zapata sees authenticity as the root of that new life — expressing the value of Pride in being true to oneself. “Whatever you do in life,” they said. “Whatever it is you dream or desire to be, first make sure to be your authentic self — before any and everything else.”

An open and authentic life is paramount to the future — and with that notion, organizers reinforce Greensboro Pride’s family-friendliness — which also includes spotlighting “future superstars” with a KidZone Stage and concert featuring: Bailey Armfield, Harper Kaley, Laney Kaley, Lilly Bowman, and Madison Mass. O stage, the KidZone will also host activities courtesy of the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum, Reconsidered Goods, and Greensboro History Museum.

Taken all together, Greensboro Pride showcases the work of the presenting agency: Alternative Resources of the Triad, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on a mission to “improve the emotional and

social wellbeing of LGBTQIA2+ individuals in Greensboro by promoting inclusivity and building resources, safe spaces, and social events.”

Starting in 1988 as a call center for LGBTQIA2+ advocacy and resources, ART established the inaugural “Triad Pride Festival” at Festival Park in 2006. By 2011, the festival formally expanded as “Greensboro Pride,” to the sprawling Elm Street destination it maintains today (while drawing crowds of more than 10,000 people along the way).

Pride is in the air and on the streets at the Greensboro Pride Festival on October 1. !

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

ASHEBORO

Four SaintS BrEwing

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722

www.foursaintsbrewing.com

thursdays: taproom trivia

Fridays: Music Bingo

CARBORRO

Cat’S CradlE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053

www.catscradle.com

Sep 27: Katelyn tarver

Sep 28: Kate Bollinger

Sep 28: Stop light observations

Sep 30: Bandalos Chinos

Sep 30: the national Parks

oct 2: leigh nash & Jeremy lister

oct 3: gregory alan isakov

oct 3: Shovels and rope

oct 5-7: Houndmouth

oct 5: Frenship

oct 6: Field Medic

oct 7: Essenger & Puppet w/ Special guest Young Medicine

oct 8: Holy Fawn

oct 8: wilderado

oct 10: Electric Six

oct 10: Mapache

oct 10: the Midnight

CHARlOttE

BoJanglES ColiSEuM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600

www.boplex.com

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 27: Flogging Molly

Sep 27: Poolside

Sep 28: neon trees

Sep 28: Kany garcia

Sep 29: Eric nam

Sep 30: Blue october

oct 1: tobi lou

oct 1: teddy Swims

oct 3: ashnikko

oct 4: lil Yachty

oct 5: russell Howard live

oct 5: tesseract

oct 6: the aces

oct 6: the taylor Party: taylor Swift night

oct 7: the devil wears Prada & Fit For a King

oct 7: Knock2

PnC MuSiC Pavilion

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Sep 29: lana del rey

Sep 30: Fuerza regida

oct 7: luke Bryan

SPECtruM CEntEr

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Sep 29: old dominion

Sep 30: Jonas Brothers

oct 8: Carin leon

oct 11: travis Scott

oct 12: the reunion tour

ClEmmOnS

villagE SquarE

taP HouSE

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330

www.facebook.com/vstaphouse

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 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

oct 11: St Paul & the Broken Bones

dPaC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787

www.dpacnc.com

Sep 28: Chicago

Sep 29: Patti laBelle

Sep 30: nimesh Patel

ElKIn

rEEvES tHEatEr

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240

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wednesdays: reeves open Mic

Fourth thursdays: old-time Jam

Sep 29: Hannah aldridge

Sep 30: Phatt City

gREEnSBORO

Barn dinnEr tHEatrE

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211

www.barndinner.com

Sep 22-nov 4: ain’t Misbehavin

Carolina tHEatrE

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605

www.carolinatheatre.com

Sep 28: rhiannon giddens

CoMEdY ZonE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034

www.thecomedyzone.com

Sep 29-30: B Simone

GaraGE TavErn

5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020

www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreens-

boro

Oct 19: Tony andrews

HanGar 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480

www.hangar1819.com

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

LITTLE BrOTHEr

BrEWInG

348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678

www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew

Wednesdays: Trivia

Fridays & Saturdays: Free Live Music

Sep 29: Sam robinson Band

Sep 30: Bala roots

STEvEn TanGEr CEnTEr

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500

www.tangercenter.com

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

jamestown

THE DECK

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999

Sep 28: alex Ottaway

Sep 29: Jukebox revolver

Sep 30: Megan Doss and Jon Montgomery

oak Ridge

BISTrO 150

2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359

www.bistro150.com

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

winston-salem

EarL’S

121 West 9th Street | 336.448.0018

www.earlsws.com

Mondays: Open Mic

Thursdays: Will Jones

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 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 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: Jeff 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

Oct 20: Gipsy Danger

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of October 2, 2023

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Although practical situations continue to dominate this week, there’s time for the Lamb to indulge in the fun things in life, like maybe taking a special someone out for a great evening.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This week favors relationships. Take time to renew old ones and make time to go where new friends can be found. On a more practical note, expect news about a business deal.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You should be seeing some progress on that new workplace situation. Meanwhile, family matters might demand more attention, and you’ll want to set aside time to deal with them.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A relationship might suddenly present some challenges you never expected. After talking things out, you might want to consider taking some time to assess what you’ve learned.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) A disappointing response to a request might dampen the Lion’s spirits, but you might want to ask the reasons behind it. What you learn can be of great importance in a future undertaking.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A once-volatile situation should be settled by now, giving you a chance to refocus on a project you’ve been planning for. Look for an interested party to rally for support.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A business matter that unexpectedly turns into a personal situation could

create complications. Best to resolve the matter now before too much harm can be done.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Emotions can run high when they involve personal matters no one really wants to talk about. But this could be a good time to create the means to a workable outcome.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A positive response to a workplace request could lead the way to other long-sought changes. Congratulations. A personal situation also takes a welcome turn.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Patience pays o , as that once-overwhelming work situation continues to become easier to handle on a one-by-one basis. Look for positive news from a colleague.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) It might be a good idea to take more time and reassess your next move in working out a complex situation. You could benefit from a new perspective on the matter.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might want to consider making time to discuss a change of plans with everyone concerned. Be prepared to explain your actions. Also be prepared to listen to alternatives.

[BORN THIS WEEK: You have a strong sense of what is right, and you try to work from that foundation. Friends see you as reliable.

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate

answers

crossword on page 11

sudoku on page 11

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. LITERATURE: What is the name of the clown in Stephen King’s horror novel “It”?

[2. ASTRONOMY: How often does Halley’s Comet appear in the Earth’s sky?

[3. U.S. STATES: Which state has the most electoral votes in 2024?

[4. MOVIES: In Jurassic Park, what kind of container is used to store stolen dinosaur embryos?

[5. ART: Which art movement is Salvador Dali associated with?

[6. AD SLOGANS: Which car manufacturer used the ad slogan “Quality is Job 1”?

[7. TELEVISION: Which TV show spawned the spino comedy/drama “Maude”?

[8. FOOD & DRINK: What is the main ingredient in falafel?

[9. GEOGRAPHY: What is the world’s shortest river?

[10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are a crab’s pincers called?

answer

10. Chelae.

9. Roe River, Montana.

8. Chickpeas.

7. “All in the Family.”

6. Ford Motor Company.

5. Surrealism.

4. A canister that looks like a Barbasol Shaving Cream can.

3. California (54).

2. On average, every 76 years.

1. Pennywise.

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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