YES! Weekly - January 1, 2020

The Triad’s alTernaTive voice since 2005 FREE

VISION

YESWEEKLY.COM

2020 LocaL astroLogers taLk about what’s in the stars for this year OSTERIA www.yesweekly.com

P. 8

STAR WARS

P. 12

SHAY MARTIN LOVETTE

P. 21

January 1-7, 2020 YES! WEEKLY

1

2

GreensboroColiseum gbocoliseum @gbocoliseum

JAN. 30- FEB. 2

JANUARY 17

WEDNESDAY VS. THE CITADEL

Greensboro Swarm vs.

Fort Wayne

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5

www.greensborocoliseum.com

- NC RV & Camping Show > Jan. 3-5

- Greensboro Gun & Knife Show > Jan. 11-12

- UNCG Men's Basketball vs. UTC > Jan. 18

- Greensboro Swarm vs. Long Island > Jan. 11

- Robert Dubac's The Book of Moron > Jan. 17-18

- Green & Growin' Marketplace Tradeshow > Jan. 30-31

1-800-745-3000

Event Hotline: (336) 373-7474 / Group Sales: (336) 373-2632

Safe. Legitimate. Coliseum-Approved. greensborocoliseum/ticketexchange

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

www.yesweekly.com

January 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

3

4

GET

inside

w w w.y e s w e e k l y. c o m

JANUARY 1-7, 2020 VOLUME 16, NUMBER 1

16 5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 Office 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930

2020 VISION

Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

If you are reading this—congrats, old sport, you’ve made it to the roaring 2020s! As this year starts a new decade, it is a time for resolutions and looking ahead to blue skies and greener pastures. To BETTER PREPARE OURSELVES for what the rest of the year brings, I spoke to two Triad astrologers, who both have lectures concerning the new year coming up this week.

8

12

21

EDITORIAL Editor KATIE MURAWSKI katie@yesweekly.com Contributors IAN MCDOWELL JOHN BATCHELOR JOHN ADAMIAN MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD TERRY RADER JIM LONGWORTH PRODUCTION Graphic Designers ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com AUSTIN KINDLEY artdirector@yesweekly.com

8

I confess a conceptual error regarding OSTERIA. I have tended to think of it as a destination restaurant, a place to go for serious fine dining. With some entrées topping out at $42, that can indeed be the case. But during these most recent visits, I realized that many entrées and its pasta are downright bargains.

10 RECONSIDERED GOODS is kicking off the New Year with a “First Fridays Fun Vision Board Calendar” event on Jan. 3 in its new event space.

11 The RiverRun International Film Festival’s ongoing “RiverRun Retro” program scares up SOMETHING SPECIAL for the new year...

12 STAR WARS: The Return of Skywalker – or “Episode IX,” for those keeping score at home (and many are) – marks the wellpublicized return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian...

13 New Year’s resolutions are usually about self-improvement. Some folks resolve to lose weight, others vow to stop smoking.

I hope for everyone’s sake that college and professional ATHLETES resolve to stop behaving badly in 2020.

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

18

TEMPERS FLARED during the discussion of one agenda item at the Dec. 17 meeting of the Greensboro City Council.

At-Large Representative Michelle Kennedy accused District 3’s Justin Outling of bullying city staff and implied that Outling had not done his due diligence.

19 On Dec. 17, the Greensboro City Council unanimously passed a resolution enabling it to apply for a $250,000 Department of Justice grant to the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department and Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. But to get those funds, the cities and county may have to cooperate with IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. 20 The nomadic MEGAN JEAN AND THE KFB are making their Triad rounds for a show at Monstercade with Andy Freakin’ Mabe and Emily Stewart on Jan. 4.

21 There are a lot of different stories one can tell about the music of SHAY MARTIN LOVETTE. There’s the one about a guy who quit his day job to pursue a career as a songwriting troubadour. Which is true.

ADVERTISING Marketing TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com LAUREN BRADY lauren@yesweekly.com MAXI BENBASSAT maxi@yesweekly.com Promotion NATALIE GARCIA

DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT KARRIGAN MUNRO 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 2020 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

THE 336 ART HAPPENINGS JAN. 3 | PAINT NITE: A NEW YEAR IN THE CITY

JAN. 3 | HOKUM POKUM

JAN. 10 | TINY EXHIBITION: CHARLES SPIVEY

JAN. 11 | EDUCATION OPEN HOUSE AT CVA

JAN. 11 | POETRY CAFÉ

JAN. 15 | JUDY LOMAX: OIL PAINTINGS

JAN. 16 | GATE CITY LIVE Ν STUDIO 615

JAN. 3 | FIRST FRIDAY

Downtown Greensboro rsƞridaygreensboro.org

artsgreensboro.org

artstocktour.com

stumblesƟlskins.com

greenhillnc.org

triadstage.org

greensboroart.org

facebook.com/studio615.gso

JAN. 16 | GORDON TURK, ORGAN musicforagreatspace.org

JAN. 6 | FIRST MONDAY JAZZ: A WINTRY MIX library.greensboro-nc.gov/ locaƟons/benjamin

JAN. 12 | CRAFTERNOONS: DIY CORKBOARDS reconsideredgoods.org

JAN. 17 | BOB MARGOLIN WITH TAD WALTERS ddleandbow.org

! r a e wY

e

N y p p Ha JAN. 19 | PEARL & THE CHARLOTTE HOLDING COMPANY carolinatheatre.com

JAN. 21 | LITTLE FOXES STORYTIME scuppernongbooks.com

JAN. 25 | OPEN STAGE AT ELSEWHERE

ELEVATE | AMPLIFY | SUPPORT

goelsewhere.org

For more informaƟon on Greensboro’s thriving arts scene, or to make an ArtsFund donaƟon, visit artsgreensboro.org. www.yesweekly.com

January 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

5

EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS | BY AUSTIN KINDLEY

be there

6

SATURDAY

SATURDAY WED 1

THUR 2

NEW YEARS DAY AT ODEN BREWING

FUNDRAISER DINNER AT JOYMONGERS

WHAT: Whether you stayed up too late last night or fell asleep before the ball even dropped... it’s January 1st 2020 and we are throwing down at OBC! We are opening earlier than ever (11am) and bringing you all the brunch specials! Five dollar mimosas, beermosas, micheladas and Scurvy Emergen-C. Or try all four in a Brunch Flight for $10!

WHEN: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

WHERE: Oden Brewing Company.

804 W Gate City Blvd., Greensboro.

MORE: Free entry.

WHAT: Our friend, Jackson, was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. He has completed his LAST round of chemo, and this calls for tacos! With that said, his family has accumulated lots of medical bills, and we’d like to help them out! This is a total win! You can eat, drink, AND support this really cool kid! Jackson is planning to join the rest of his 7th grade class back at school in 2020!

WHEN: 5:30-9 p.m.

WHERE: Joymongers Brewing Co. 576 N. Eugene St., Greensboro.

MORE: Free entry.

FRI 3-4 JACOB WILLIAMS & RONNIE JORDAN AT THE COMEDY ZONE WHAT: Wild ‘N Out Comedian Mr Jacob Williams & Tru TV/BET Comic View Ronnie Jordan are LIVE this Friday and Saturday right here in Greensboro. Hosted by: 102 Jamz’s BDaht.

WHEN: 7 p.m. | Friday & Saturday.

WHERE: The Comedy Zone.

1126 S Holden Rd, Greensboro.

MORE: $15-35 tickets.

SAT 4 TRIAL BY FIRE: A TRIBUTE TO JOURNEY WHAT: Trial By Fire is born out of the hearts of five seasoned Charlotte NC - based musicians. It is their vision to bring Journey to fans across the country... to embrace the sound and visuals of the Steve Perry era of Journey. Let Trial By Fire take you back to an earlier day when lighters were held high, and you couldn’t help but sing along to such powerful choruses as “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Wheel in the Sky”, and “Lights”.

WHEN: 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Blind Tiger, Greensboro.

MORE: $7 tickets.

SAT 4 THE GATSBY AFFAIR WHAT: Join us for a party unlike any other as we celebrate the new decade! This iconic 21+ event is sure to bring out the Triad’s finest. Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, music, drinks (full bar operated by 98 Asian Bistro), and more! Semi-formal dress required; 1920s attire preferred. A portion of proceeds will benefit the High Point Downtown Arts District.

WHEN: 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

WHERE: 98 Events Center.

1800 N Main ST, High Point.

MORE: $35 advance tickets. $40 at door.

Estate Sale Benefiting the SPCA of the Triad

4025 Yarbrough Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

January 9th, 10th and 11th 9th from 1-6 / 10th & 11th 9-4 Pottery, Antiques, China, Old Dolls, Ceramics, Furniture, Housewares, Rugs, Clothing, Jewelry, and Much More!

All proceeds go to the SPCA of the Triad’s Capital Campaign to build a new facility.

SPCA OF THE TRIAD / P.O. Box 4461, Greensboro, NC 27404 www.triadspca.org / 336-375-3222 YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

[SPOTLIGHT]

THE SCIENCE OF RICK AND MORTY: THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO EARTH’S STUPIDEST SHOW

BY KATIE MURAWSKI

Matt Brady, a Clemmons-based author and high school chemistry teacher, published his book “The Science of Rick and Morty” in October 2019. But before he was a teacher and author, he said he co-founded and ran a website called Newsarama.com, which is a sci-fi comic book culture website.

He said he started teaching at a Title I school, which is marked by a high rate of poverty and minority population.

“When I did that, I needed some way to communicate with my students,” he said.

“Some way to kind of bridge this gap of being a middle-aged white guy in a highminority population. And pop culture was the way.”

He started incorporating pop culture references into his curriculum. Then, Brady said he and his wife (who also teaches science) started the website TheScienceOf.org.

“We use it to talk to other teachers that are interested in using this strategy to reach students,” he explained. “I write articles there that look at science in pop culture, and I wrote a few articles about Rick and Morty on the site.”

Brady didn’t think too much of it, as it

was just a hobby of his. Then an editor of a book publisher in the United Kingdom emailed asking if he’d like to turn those articles about Rick and Morty into a book.

“A month later, I turned everything in, and I had a book,” he said.

Since the publisher of the book was based in the UK, “The Science of Rick and Morty” debuted in spring 2019. Brady said Simon and Shuster then bought the rights to the book and started distributing it in the United States on Oct. 1, 2019.

“I was just doing my thing on the internet, and somebody found me,” he said. “I am like the Justin Bieber of science communication.”

The book is a little over 300 pages and is comprised of two of Brady’s articles (“Dwarf Terrace-9” and “Cockroach Brains”) broken up into chapters. One of Brady’s favorite episodes of Rick and Morty was “Auto Erotic Assimilation,” which introduces Rick’s hive-mind “girlfriend” Unity into the show.

“The idea of Unity is pretty common in sci-fi,” he explained. “It is the Borg, or Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Children

of the Damned-type thing. But I was able to pose it to an evolutionary biologist. And I was like— ‘This isn’t really real, is it? And he said, ‘There are parallels to our world to a hive mind-type thing.’ That was really, really interesting to figure out and see that there are parallels to our universe to these fiction things.”

Brady said even though he doesn’t incorporate his book into his teaching, he did incorporate his teaching-style in the book.

“If you can give students something that they are interested in and then say, ‘well, let’s talk about the science behind it.’

They are already in my camp, and they feel comfortable,” he said. “They like Rick and Morty, and they know what this property is, or they like The Flash, Black Panther, Back to the Future, and it helps them understand the science and be more open to the science. Being a science teacher, communicator, advocate, holy cow, that is what I live for.”

“The Science of Rick and Morty” is now available online or locally at Greensboro’s Scuppernong Books or at Winston-Salem’s Bookmarks. !

WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Coast at the Palladium / A Southern Kitchen 5820 Samet Drive, High Point,NC / 336-884-0526 / CoastHighPoint.com Mon - Fri 11am - 10 pm / Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm / Sun 10:30 - 3 Champagne Brunch / 3 - 9 pm Dinner WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

7

8

chow

EAT IT!

Chow down with John Batchelor at Osteria

BY JOHN BATCHELOR | john.e.batchelor@gmail.com

I Chef’s Choice Salad with Shrimp

Crêpes

confess a conceptual error regarding Greensboro’s Osteria. I have thought of it as a destination restaurant, a place to go for serious fine dining. With some entrées topping out at $42, that can indeed be the case.

But during these most recent visits, I realized that many entrées and its pasta are downright bargains. Osteria’s look blends casual with upscale, as the floor is polished concrete, but most tables bear white cloths. Red upholstered banquettes line one wall. The main dining area is fairly small, seating about 65; a separate room accommodates overflow and large parties.

The website promises the widest range of Italian wine selections in our area, and it is no doubt a valid claim. I, and many other patrons, however, feel uneasy about ordering wines we don’t know. Here, that is not a problem. Choose your food and ask the waiter to recommend wine to match.

Over several years, my wife and I have enjoyed everything we tried. Moreover, the wines here match the food exceptionally well- often not the case among Triad restaurants. Ample libations in other forms are available, too, of course. Servers are also well-versed regarding food preparation, and deliveries are well-paced.

Flavorful, crusty, warm rolls arrive promptly, along with a saucer of white beans, carrots, onions, celery, red bell peppers, parsley, basil and olive oil. The bread itself ranks among the best.

Among the first courses, two scallops are exquisitely tender, baked with herb garlic butter sprinkled with Parmesan cheese- a lush, rich treatment. Crêpes, another starter of particular interest, are filled with artichokes and spinach, blend-

ed with ricotta and Parmesan cheeses. A roasted red pepper and tarragon sauce lends bright color as well as flavor.

Two salads earn particular praise.

Chef’s Choice combines ripe avocado chunks over spring mix lettuces, plus corn and grape tomatoes, all dressed in lemon vinaigrette, topped with tender, deveined grilled shrimp. Endive is the host in another, stacked with tart green apple slices, walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese.

For this column, my wife and I had three kinds of pasta, all priced between $14 and $18. Prepared from scratch in-house, they occupy a league by themselves in the Triad restaurant market. Maltagliati- wide pasta strips, appropriately firm in texture- are coated with pork ragu and porcini mushrooms.

Strozzapreti is rolled and cut, blended with a rich sauce of ground beef, pork and cream, and its flavor is absorbed into the pasta. Pappardelle is wide and flat, scattered with strips of salmon, along with spinach, portabella mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, tossed in olive oil with a little garlic. This choice was lighter than the others, but certainly not lacking in flavor. My wife and I found portions large enough to share.

The menu offers several other kinds of pasta, a few priced higher, based on the meats or seafood that are incorporated. I have had them all over the years and look forward to continuing to enjoy them in the future. The meat-based selections, in particular, travel well if you want takeout.

The flavor actually gets better over a little time.

The entrée list is especially strong on seafood. Bronzino, for example, is a flavorful Mediterranean white fish, presented in two filets, pan-seared and Pork Chop

Osso Buco

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

Bronzino flavored with parsley, oregano and a little garlic, flanked by a lightly dressed arugula and citrus salad scattered with slivers of squash. Salmon, halibut, black sea bass, flounder, and red snapper make appearances as well. I have had most of them in the past and will again in the future.

For this column, I sought to cover a wider range of proteins.

My wife’s choice of Chicken Francese proved astute, as the tender breast meat yielded exceptional flavor, enhanced by a green pepper cream sauce. Intertwined asparagus and spinach provided a wellconceived flavor match as well as visual attractiveness.

My Pork Chop that evening- about an inch thick- was perfectly seared, its flavor enhanced with a flamed cognac and peppercorn demiglace, blended with cream.

It was outstanding. Fingerling potatoes, sliced and browned, soaked up the sauce, and was joined on the plate by shredded broccoli and carrots.

I cannot pass up Osso Bucco, a meaty veal shank, braised in red wine. The bone transmits rich flavor to the broth, while the liquid renders the meat literally fork-tender. Gnocchi- potato dumplingsabsorbs some of the broth conveying an additional flavor of their own while diced vegetables are cooked in with the broth.

For dessert one night, my wife and I shared Tiramisu- a rich concoction sprinkled with lots of chocolate powder.

Chef-Proprietor Coco Tamburi grew up in Northern Italy, where his family owned

an osteria, which is a small neighborhood café. He trained professionally at the Culinary Institute in Rimini, then cooked in Paris, Frankfurt and London, developing fluency in five languages along the way. He moved to Greensboro from Miami, where he was the chef-manager of a gastropub. Relocation to Greensboro, coinciding with his wife’s job transfer in medical research, created an opportunity to open his own restaurant.

Osteria occupies a solid position on my shortlist of best restaurants in the Triad, winning points not only for food, in an absolute sense, but for value and flexibility as well. I have been a fairly frequent visitor, and I will probably be dining here even more often in the future! !

Chicken Francese

JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina.

Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot.com.

WANNA

Pappardelle Salmon

go?

Osteria, 1310 Westover Terrace, #101-A, Greensboro (336) 275-2550, osteriagso.com Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Dinner: 4:30-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday Appetizers: $7-$10, Salads: $6-$11, Soups: $5, Entrées: $14-$42 , Desserts: $5-$7 Most recent visit: Dec. 16, 2019

Endive Salad

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Strozzapreti

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

9

SEE IT!

visions

10

R

Making 2020 crystal clear with Reconsidered Goods

econsidered Goods is kicking off the New Year with a “First Fridays Fun Vision Board Calendar” event on Jan. 3 in its new event space at 2803 Patterson St. in Greensboro.

The space opened October 2019 next door to the retail store. Anyone may drop in between 5-8 p.m. with an admission fee of $10 per maker Terry Rader to “ignite creativity and set new intentions for the New Year.” Bring friends, snacks and drinks (alcohol is Contributor allowed) for an evening of crafty fun.

Laura Maruzzella, education director of Reconsidered Goods, facilitates most of the self-guided classes. She invites guests to come this Friday to either work solo or with a buddy and create a collage vision board calendar.

Photos and words used in the calendar are selected and cut out from old magazines, book pages and vintage materials that will be included. There are no rules, and everyone is welcome to bring some special items to personalize their calendars even more. “Once you speak your goal into existence, your support circle could help you stay accountable,” Maruzzella said of vision boards.

She said instructions, an 11-inch by 17-inch (and bigger) calendar templates and art supplies would be provided for each maker. She added that makers could bring their New Year resolutions and other things that would keep them inspired throughout the year.

Maruzzella said the top of the thick board would be collaged with the calendar below. From those who prefer a structured format with suggested directions to those who just want to do their own thing, Maruzzella said Reconsidered Goods like to keep things “loosey-goosey.” That way, all attendees feel welcome.

“Making a 2020 vision board calendar shows the results of taking a little time to set aside to look at your future,” Maruzzella said. “Asking questions helps makers visualize what this calendar means to them. Ask yourself, ‘What do you want more of in your life?’ ‘Do you want to eat more good foods or travel?’ Start with asking questions and see what comes.”

Maruzzella said the vision board calendars are a “fun, YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

therapeutic way” for art to express goals for 2020.

“Participants from last year’s class said they had arrived stressed out, but had so much fun being creative, that they left feeling relaxed,” Maruzzella said. “If you don’t want to use photos and words from magazines, you can use colored pencils and markers or material. Then when you get it home, you can hang it up somewhere and every time you see it, think, ‘Wow, those are my goals!’”

Maruzzella was hired to start Reconsidered Goods’ education platform after going from shopper to volunteer in the last two and a half years. She said she has always been involved with the arts from attending the Department of Art + Design at North Carolina State University to working and teaching art at The Boys and Girls Club in Raleigh. She said she also studied art therapy at The Art Institute and moved back home to work at The Montessori School of Winston-Salem in Clemmons. She also worked at GreenHill in Greensboro, teaching art to kids and families.

Reconsidered Goods’ make and take labs moved next door to the event space to have more room for the retail store and to not be so cramped in the classes, Maruzzella said. The First Fridays Fun-themed classes just

started fall 2019 “in hopes that people would come on their way downtown to do a little art or pop in after they leave downtown before heading home.” The new Second Sunday Crafter Noon four-hour classes begin on Jan. 12.

She said the cool thing about Reconsidered Goods’ philosophy is that “it is never intimidating regardless of your artistic level; you can come here and make things to take home and be proud of.”

Reconsidered Goods is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creative supply and resource store open to the public.

Maruzzella said that Reconsidered Goods offer art education classes and fun through outreach, festivals, community programs, creative events, all-ages birthday parties and field trips. She added that Reconsidered Goods also offers summer camps and $6 “make and take labs” to schools and other locations.

Maruzzella said that Reconsidered Goods accepts donations during business hours and is proudly continuing to keep about 9 tons of materials that are donated per month from ending up in the dump. People who would like to donate materials can review the list of accepted items on the Reconsidered Goods website. Maruzzella encourages folks to call if they have things that aren’t listed and to “keep them out of our landfill by putting them into the hands of artists, makers, teachers and kids to create something new.” !

TERRY RADER is a freelance writer/editorial/content/copy, creative consultant/branding strategist, communications outreach messenger, poet and emerging singer/songwriter.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

[PLAYBILL]

by Katie Murawski WINSTON-SALEM THEATRE ALLIANCE 1047 North West Blvd., Winston-Salem “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” Tickets: FREE, donations accepted Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

According to WSTA’s website, “One actor portrays every character in a small Jersey Shore town as he unravels the story of Leonard Pelkey, a tenaciously optimistic and flamboyant 14-year-old boy who goes missing.”

“Disaster! A Musical” Tickets: $16-$18 Jan. 17-19 & Jan. 23-26, 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays According to WSTA’s website, “Audiences and critics are wild for this hilarious homage to the era of bell-bottoms, platform shoes and ‘The Hustle.’ With larger-than-life characters, snappy dialogue and some of the most recognizable songs of the ’70s, ‘Disaster!’ will have you dancing in your seats and rolling in the aisles.”

LITTLE THEATRE OF WINSTON-SALEM “Science Fiction Double Feature: Two Plays by Ray Bradbury” Tickets: $15 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 17-19 & Jan. 23-26, Mountcastle Forum, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts Third Floor, 251 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem According to the website, “The evening will include performances of two of Bradbury’s one-act plays: Kaleidoscope, a space adventure featuring a crew of six dealing with their own mortality, and The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, a comedy that begs the question, “Do clothes really make the man?”

COMMUNITY THEATRE OF GREENSBORO Starr Theatre, 520 S. Elm St., Greensboro “Steel Magnolias” By: Robert Harling Tickets: $15-$30 According to the website, set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, “the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon.”

Other characters include “her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), Ouiser, (‘I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for 40 years’); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a ‘good ole boy.’” !

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

RiverRun Retro welcomes Veronica Cartwright and Body Snatchers The RiverRun International Film Festival’s ongoing “RiverRun Retro” program scares up something special for the new year, with screenings of the award-winning 1978 version of Mark Burger Invasion of the Body Snatchers on Friday, Jan. 10 at the HanesContributor brands Theatre in Winston-Salem and Saturday, Jan. 11 at RED Cinemas in Greensboro, with star Veronica Cartwright in attendance at both.

The original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), based on Jack Finney’s acclaimed novel and directed by Don Siegel, is considered one of the classic science-fiction films, and the later version, in which Cartwright starred with Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy under the direction of Philip Kaufman, was hailed as one of the best remakes ever. Some even consider it superior to the original, but Cartwright doesn’t necessarily consider it a remake.

“It’s not really a remake, it’s a continuation,” she observed. “We had Don Siegel in the film; we had Kevin McCarthy (the original film’s star) running around saying ‘You’re next!’ like he did at the end of the first film, so it didn’t feel like we were remaking it. I think it works super-well.”

Unlike the first film, which was set in a small California town, the 1978 version is set in the bustling environs of San Francisco, which is suddenly showered with strange spores that grow into pods.

Shortly thereafter, people begin acting differently: Icy, cold, emotionless. Something has come to San Francisco, and it threatens humanity’s very existence.

The onscreen chemistry between Cartwright and her co-stars was genuine, she said.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “To work with, Jeff was absolutely hysterical.

Before we started, he and I went to an actual mud bath, like the one our characters have in the film, so we’d know what we were talking about. He’d never done it, and I’d never done it, and afterward, he said ‘I’m not sure how hygienic that was’ – and I just went to pieces.”

“Donald was a hoot and a half,” she added with a laugh. “We’d be rehearsing,

and he had his hair in pink rollers because he didn’t want to get a perm. Then, about three weeks before we finished, he decided to get a perm, and we said ‘What ... now?!’ He’s such a nutcase, a wonderful nutcase, and I loved Brooke, too. I just had a great time.”

And then there’s Nimoy as a trendy psychiatrist, who’s skeptical about the invasion—for reasons of his own.

“Yes, he is great,” she said. “You’re not sure who he is, and then it’s too late.”

A pivotal sequence is when the characters realize what’s really happening, that people are being duplicated, and their hysteria mounts.

“It was a really tough scene, and I thought it would work better if people started jumping in, talking over each other, and God bless Phil, he just said ‘Let’s give it a bash’ – and that’s what you see.”

The British-born Cartwright, older sister of actress Angela Cartwright (Lost in Space), began her career shortly after the family emigrated to the United States.

As a child, she appeared in such classics as William Wyler’s The Children’s Hour (1961), opposite Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara in Spencer’s Mountain (1962),

and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963).

Her television career is no less extensive, appearing as a regular or semi-regular in In Love and War with Robert Wagner, Leave It to Beaver (in which she holds the distinction of giving Beaver his first kiss), Daniel Boone, and the classic Twilight Zone episode “I Sing the Body Electric.”

Later she appeared in L.A. Law, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Bosch, and Will & Grace. She earned three Emmy nominations as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, once for ER and twice for The X-Files. She received a Saturn Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and won the award for Alien (1979).

Given her extensive genre credits, Cartwright doesn’t mind the “scream queen” appellation. “I guess I’m a great screamer,” she quipped.

One of the most famous scenes of her career is the last one in Body Snatchers.

Sutherland and Kaufman knew what was coming, but she didn’t. “I did not expect that at all,” she said. (And we’ll leave it at that, for those who haven’t seen it.)

The film deftly balances humor with horror. When Cartwright and Goldblum discover a duplicate body in the mud bath, her first reaction is to tell him, “Don’t touch it, you don’t know where it’s been!”

“That was something my mother always used to say to us kids,” Cartwright said, “and it always gets a laugh.”

After each screening, Cartwright will participate in a Q&A session with UNCSA School of Filmmaking faculty member and former dean Dale Pollock and will be presented with a Master of Cinema award from RiverRun following the Hanesbrands Theatre screening.

The 22nd annual RiverRun International Film Festival will take place March 26-April 5. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2020, Mark Burger.

WANNA

go?

The RiverRun Retro presentation of Invasion of the Body Snatchers will be screened at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at the Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem, and 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at RED Cinemas, 1305 Battleground Ave., Greensboro.

Tickets are $12. For more information or advance tickets, call (336)724-1502 or visit the official RiverRun website: www.riverrunfilm.com/.

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

11

SCREEN IT!

flicks

12

Once more in a galaxy far, far away ...

S

tar Wars: The Return of Skywalker – or “Episode IX,” for those keeping score at home (and many are) – marks the well-publicized Mark Burger return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Contributor Calrissian and the almost as wellpublicized return of Ian McDiarmid as the nefarious Emperor Palpatine, whose seeming demise at the end of Return of the Jedi (1983) was evidently premature.

Besides, in a film such as this, death is not necessarily the end of a character.

More importantly, the film marks the conclusion of the epic franchise begun 42 years ago with Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (1977), certainly one of the most seminal American films ever made – for better and for worse. The baton has passed from George Lucas to co-writer/ producer/director J.J. Abrams, who helmed Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and was also responsible for resurrecting Star Trek as a big-screen franchise.

There are, of course, those zealous fans

(or “geeks,” if you will) who will debate and scrutinize every single frame with the sort of assiduousness usually afforded to Scripture. That’s all well and good – for them – but for those simply willing to sit back and enjoy the ride, The Rise of Skywalker ranks with the very best of the series, bringing closure to the mythos in a satisfying, often spectacular, fashion. It’s stuffed but not overstuffed, long but not overlong, and delivers great and grand entertainment for all ages.

Although the late Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) are afforded top billing, theirs are relatively small roles, with the main action shouldered by the next generation of heroes. By now, Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Daisy Ridley (Rey), and John Boyega (Finn) have established a comfortable, appealing chemistry that goes a long, long way – in a galaxy far, far away, no less – in the success of this trilogy. They play their roles with a charismatic, earnest assurance, although not without moments of humor. On that count, top marks to series

veteran Anthony Daniels, whose C-3P0 is in rare form here, stealing scenes aplenty. Adam Driver, who’s had quite a year (following The Report and Marriage Story), provides the perfect counter-balance as the tormented antagonist Kylo Ren, enlisted

by Emperor Palpatine to lead the First Order in its efforts to vanquish the Resistance forever. Yet, he has his own agenda, as well as his own demons.

As befits the Star Wars tradition, this is a tale of loyalty, courage, self-discovery and— in some cases— self-sacrifice. There are the requisite gadgets and gizmos, a menagerie of creatures both familiar and fresh, and a dazzling array of special effects.

The Rise of Skywalker is everything a fan could want – and perhaps a bit more. It’s also far superior to Lucas’s middle trilogy, which seemed to lack heart if not visual virtuosity.

Discounting the inevitable prequels or spin-offs (including the much-praised series The Mandalorian, which was recently renewed for a second season), if this is how Star Wars ends, it ends up on top. !

[MOVIE TIMES] RED CINEMAS Jan 1-7

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (PG-13) LUXURY SEATING Fri - Thu: 1:00, 4:05, 7:10, 10:15 CATS (PG) LUXURY SEATING Fri - Thu: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 KNIVES OUT (PG-13) LUXURY SEATING Fri - Thu: 1:20, 4:30, 7:20, 10:10 THE GRUDGE (R) Fri & Sat: 12:30, 2:50, 5:05, 7:25, 9:40, 11:55 Sun - Thu: 12:30, 2:50, 5:05, 7:25, 9:40 GOOD NEWWZ (HINDI) (NR) Fri & Sat: 12:00, 3:00, 9:00, 11:45 Sun - Wed: 12:00, 3:00, 6:05, 9:00 Thu: 12:00, 3:00 STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (PG-13) Fri & Sat: 12:00, 2:00, 3:05, 5:05, 8:10, 9:15, 11:15 Sun - Thu: 12:00, 2:00, 3:05, 5:05, 8:10, 9:15

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER 3D (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 6:10 PM JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG-13) Fri & Sat: 12:20, 1:45, 3:05, 4:30, 5:50, 7:15, 8:35, 10:00, 11:20 Sun - Thu: 12:20, 1:45, 3:05, 4:30, 5:50, 7:15, 8:35, 10:00 LITTLE WOMEN (PG) Fri - Thu: 12:40, 3:45, 7:10, 10:05 UNCUT GEMS (R) Fri - Thu: 1:10, 4:05, 7:00, 9:55 RICHARD JEWELL (R) Fri & Sat: 12:00, 2:50, 5:40, 8:30, 11:20 Sun - Thu: 12:00, 2:50, 5:40, 8:30 DARK WATERS (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 12:00 PM QUEEN & SLIM (R) Fri & Sat: 2:55, 5:50, 8:45, 11:40 Sun - Thu: 2:55, 5:50, 8:45 A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (PG) Fri - Thu: 3:05, 5:25, 7:45 FORD V FERRARI (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 12:00, 10:10 PARASITE (R) Fri & Sat: 12:25, 3:10, 5:55, 8:40, 11:30 Sun - Thu: 12:25, 3:10, 5:55, 8:40

The lives and loves of the March sisters Having made a successful transition from actress to filmmaker with the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated Lady Bird (2017), Greta Gerwig now tackles the latest screen version of Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1868 novel Little Women.

As a filmmaker, not unlike Jordan Peele with Us, Gerwig has parlayed her earlier screen success to enjoy her biggest-budgeted and most elaborate film to date, with the added and not inconsiderable bonus of adapting an acknowledged classic as both screenwriter and director, with a star-studded cast, to boot – some of whom (including Gerwig herself) may well find themselves in the running for awards consideration.

The titular “little women” are the March sisters: Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh), and Beth (Eliza Scanlan). While their father (Bob Odenkirk) is away fighting the Civil YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

War, they’ve become quite self-sufficient, thanks in large part to their mother, the tirelessly benevolent Marmie (Laura Dern), whose wisdom and compassion they’ve clearly inherited.

Gerwig clearly revels in the period trappings of the film, which boasts first-rate production design, lush cinematography

by Yorick Le Saux, gorgeous costumes by Oscar winner Jacqueline Durran (2013’s Anna Karenina), and an appropriately rich score by two-time Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat (2015’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and 2017’s The Shape of Water). This is truly an example where the money’s where it belongs – on the screen.

Timothee Chalamet is particularly good as Laurie, the handsome young neighbor who simply can’t resist the March sisters, Meryl Streep dithers delightfully as the bossy and eccentric Aunt March, and Chris Cooper is noteworthy as Laurie’s father, a character sometimes overlooked in earlier

versions of this oft-told tale. The leading ladies have a relaxed and appropriate sisterly chemistry. It’s important to note that, although earlier adaptations veered into soap-opera territory, this one admirably refrains from that.

In an effort to perhaps put a fresh spin on the familiar narrative, Gerwig adopts a non-linear approach that shifts back and forth chronologically, often making an already episodic storyline even more so and occasionally hampering the cumulative impact. Gerwig’s attempt to “mix things up,” as it were, aren’t always successful, but it’s easy to applaud the attempt, which is undoubtedly sincere, and in the end, she has made quite a respectable, and quite respectful, version of Little Women. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. ©2020, Mark Burger.

A/PERTURE CINEMAS Jan 3-9

LITTLE WOMEN (PG) Fri: 2:45, 5:30, 8:15 Sat & Sun: 9:15 AM, 12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15 Mon: 5:30, 8:15 Tue: 2:45, 5:30, 8:15 Wed: 5:30, 8:15 Thu: 2:45, 5:30, 8:15 THE KINGMAKER (R) Fri: 9:00 PM Sat: 2:00, 9:30 Sun: 2:00 PM Mon - Thu: 9:00 PM WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS Fri - Sun: 3:45 PM Mon - Thu: 9:15 PM

UNCUT GEMS (R) Fri: 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 Sat & Sun: 9:45 AM, 12:30, 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 Mon: 6:00, 8:45 Tue: 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 Wed: 6:00, 8:45 Thu: 3:00, 9:30 PARASITE (R) Fri: 6:30, 9:15 Sat: 10:15 AM, 1:00, 6:30, 9:15 Sun: 10:15 AM, 1:00, 6:30 Mon: 6:30 PM Tue: 3:45, 6:30 Wed: 6:30 PM Thu: 3:45, 6:30

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

voices

Athletes behaving badly

N

ew Year’s resolutions are usually about self-improvement.

Some folks resolve to lose weight; others vow to stop smoking.

I hope for everyone’s Jim Longworth sake that college and professional athletes Longworth resolve to stop behaving badly in at Large 2020. Here are just a few recent examples of bad jock behavior: Ole Miss lost a big game because of a penalty given to their wide receiver, who celebrated in the endzone by pretending to be a urinating dog.

The Washington Redskins’ quarterback failed to show up for a crucial play because he was in the stands taking selfies with fans. A Cleveland Browns player got mad at the Steelers’ quarterback, and instead of yelling, he took off the quarterback’s helmet and hit him in the head with it. Meanwhile, Indianapolis quarterback Chad Kelly got drunk at a bar and assaulted a patron.

Three Georgetown basketball players were arrested for alleged burglary, and for allegedly threatening physical violence against the women they were robbing.

And two weeks ago, Carolina Panthers defensive end Vernon Butler was ejected for punching another player, then flipping his middle finger to fans as he left the field. I could keep listing other examples of bad behavior, but there’s not enough space in this entire newspaper to fit them in.

Like so many problems in this country, I wondered if bad behavior by athletes has just become an accepted norm that cannot be remedied. Then I heard about a winning football team that has never had any discipline problems, so I reached out to their head coach, Bryan Davis, to find out about his success with players, both on and off the field.

Jim: How many of your players have ever been in trouble with the law?

Coach: None.

Jim: How many of your players regularly attend late-night parties or frequent nightclubs?

Coach: None.

Jim: Have any of your players ever assaulted a woman?

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Coach: No. Jim: How many of your players have made obscene or pornographic gestures in the end zone?

Coach: None.

Jim: Have any of your players ever hit an opposing player in the head with a helmet?

Coach: No. Jim: How many of your players have ever taken cash bribes from boosters?

Coach: None.

Jim: Do your players ever use foul language?

Coach: Never.

Jim: Do your players make gay slurs or racists comments?

Coach: No. Jim: How many of your players have been goofing around taking selfies while they were supposed to be on the field?

Coach: None.

Jim: Have you ever had to suspend a player?

Coach: No, never.

Jim: Coach, what is your philosophy and technique for keeping your players focused and out of trouble?

Coach: My coaching philosophy is just to keep them focused on the task at hand, and nothing else matters. They buy into that philosophy because they all want to learn and be better players.

Jim: What is the name of your team?

Coach: The Lewisville Titans.

Jim: And what league do you compete in?

Coach: The Piedmont Youth Football & Cheer League.

Jim: How old are your players?

Coach: We have 40 kids who are age 10 and under.

Jim: Do you think that college and pro athletes could learn something from your players? And if so, what?

Coach: Adult athletes could learn a lot from our players. Our kids are humble and are eager to learn. They don’t focus on “Me, me, me.” Instead, they focus on being the ultimate teammate, and that helps them now as well as later in life.

Well, there you have it, folks. Proof positive that athletes can be well-behaved.

So next time you hear someone say that college and pro jocks are role models to kids, you might remind them that it should actually be the other way around. !

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).

Tru

By Jay Presson Allen Directed By Wm. Perry Morgan Hall

Answered Prayers?

Jan. 10-11 at 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11-12 at 2 p.m.

Call 336-217-7220 for tickets or purchase upon arrival.

www.greensboro.edu

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING!

There’s so much more online.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

13

leisure

14

[NEWS OF THE WEIRD] PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US

Asparagus is healthy and delicious.

But for 63-year-old Jemima Packington of Bath, England, the columnar vegetable is much Chuck Shepherd more: Packington is an asparamancer, a person who can foretell the future by tossing the spears into the air and seeing how they land. “When I cast the asparagus, it creates patterns, and it is the patterns I interpret,” Packington said. “I am usually about 75 to 90 percent accurate.” In fact, out of 13 predictions she made for 2018, 10 of them came true. What’s in store for 2019? Packington tells Metro News that England’s women’s soccer team will win the World Cup; “A Star Is Born” will win an Oscar; and fears over Brexit will be largely unfounded. Oh, and asparagus will see an all-time high in sales.

PEOPLE WITH ISSUES

KION TV reported on Jan. 7 that a Salinas, California, family’s Ring doorbell

1642 Spring Garden St., GSO (corner of Warren St.)

Phone: 336.274.1000 Hours: Mon-Sat 11 am-2am / Sun noon-2 am

Open grill till 2am every night!

Best Daily Drink Specials Greensboro’s home for the Washington Redskins!

MON: $4 Jose Silver & $1 off all draft TUES: $4 Vodka Red Bull & $1 off all craft beer FRI: $3 all craft cans

Great Food Prices! come in and check out our new menu YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

camera captured video of a man licking the doorbell for more than three hours. The homeowners were out of town during the encounter, which took place around 5 a.m., but their children were inside. Sylvia Dungan, who was alerted to the activity at her front door on her phone, said, “I thought, boy there’s a lot of traffic. ... Who the heck is that?” Salinas police identified the man as Roberto Daniel Arroyo, 33. Arroyo also relieved himself in the front yard and visited a neighbor’s house. “You kind of laugh about it afterwards because technically he didn’t do anything,” Dungan said, although police later charged him with petty theft and prowling.

ing since he was 14 years old. Instead, he makes and wears clothes that were popular in the 1800s. “At 14, I made the symbolic decision to burn my only pair of jeans in a bonfire. It was a real turning point,” Pinsent told Metro News. On a typical day, Pinsent wears a floral waistcoat and knee-high leather riding boots, along with a jacket with tails and a top hat. He explains that his obsession started when his family found a box of his great-grandfather’s suits. He now researches, designs and sews clothing for himself and other history buffs, to great response: “I’ve been all over the world and people are inquisitive and appreciative,” he said.

BLAME IT ON THE METH

EWWWWW!

Debra Lynn Johnson, 69, of Searles, Minnesota, suffered from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and mental illnesses, according to the Mankato Free Press, and was a patient at a transitional care center before her husband took her home to have a “death party,” he later told authorities. Brown County sheriff’s officers responding to a 911 call from Duane Arden Johnson, 58, on Jan. 24 found the words “Death Parde God Hell” spray-painted on the front door. Duane came out of the house naked, yelled that his wife was dead and ran back inside, where officers found him in the bathtub picking “things” from his skin. Debra’s body, still warm, was wrapped in a sheet. Duane told police his wife had begged him to take her home to die, so they had staged the party, “rocking out” to Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health” and taking methamphetamines. After her death, Duane said he washed and wrapped her “like the Bible told me to do.” Police found stolen guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the home, and Duane was charged with felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property.

INEXPLICABLE

— Sharisha Morrison of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and her neighbors have been the recipients since Jan. 1 of an odd gift: plastic grocery bags with slices of bread and bologna inside, delivered by an unknown man. At first, Morrison told KOB TV, she thought the food deliveries were acts of kindness, until she opened the bag and smelled the contents. “It smelled like urine,” she said. Morrison said she can watch the man on her surveillance camera.

“He’ll just walk up and drop it on the little doorknob and walk away,” she said. “I just want it to stop.” Police have told her they can’t do anything unless they catch him in the act.

— Zack Pinsent, 25, from Brighton, England, hasn’t dressed in modern cloth-

Silence of the Lambs, indeed. A Manchester, England, woman named Joan has a unique project in mind for a custom clothing designer. Joan, 55, is anticipating having her leg amputated because of peripheral arterial disease, reported the Daily Mail, so she posted on Sewport. com, requesting help to “create something beautiful and useful” — a handbag, using her own skin. She has budgeted about $3,900 for the project, which she envisions as a “medium-sized handbag with a short strap and a section down the middle that will be made from my skin,” she explained in the post. “I know it’s a bit odd and gross ... but it’s my leg, and I can’t bear the thought of it being left to rot somewhere.”

There are no laws against her keeping the limb, although there is paperwork to fill out. Boris Hodakel, the founder of Sewport. com, reports that no designers have come forward yet to help with Joan’s request.

DUMB AND DUMBER

Rogers, Arkansas, neighbors Charles Eugene Ferris, 50, and Christopher Hicks, 36, were hanging out on Ferris’ back porch on March 31, drinking and enjoying the spring air. Ferris was wearing his bulletproof vest — because why not? — and invited Hicks to shoot him with a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle. KFSM reported the vest blocked the bullet from striking Ferris, but it still hurt and left a red mark on his upper chest.

Next, Hicks donned the vest and Ferris “unloaded the clip into Christopher’s back,” according to the police report, also leaving bruises. That’s where it all would have ended had Ferris not gone to the hospital, where staff alerted the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Ferris initially told officers an elaborate story about being shot while protecting “an asset” in a dramatic gunfight, but Ferris’ wife spilled the beans about the back-porch challenge. Both men were arrested for suspicion of aggravated assault.

THE HIGH PRICE OF VANITY

A “vampire facial” is a procedure during which blood is drawn with a needle and then “spun” to separate the plasma, which is then injected into the face. For customers of a spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, though, the most lasting effects may come after a blood test. The state’s Department of Health is urging customers of VIP Spa, which closed in September 2018, to undergo HIV testing after two people were infected following treatment there. Dr. Dean Bair of the Bair Medical Spa said people should always make sure they’re going to a licensed facility for such procedures. “This is just the worst example of what can go wrong,” he told KOAT. The spa closed after inspectors found its practices could potentially spread bloodborne infections, including hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

FREE SPEECH

TSA agents at Juneau International Airport logged unexpected cargo on April 15 when a “large organic mass” was spotted in a traveler’s carry-on bag. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein explained to KTOO that such a flag can indicate the presence of explosives. However, when agents opened the bag, they found a plastic grocery bag full of moose “nuggets.” “The passenger told the TSA officers that he collects this and likes to present it ‘for politicians and their (bleep) policies,’” Farbstein explained. The passenger was not detained and was allowed to continue on with his bag of moose poop. Later that day, the Anchorage Daily News reported that a man was seen at the state capitol, handing out baggies of moose nuggets in protest of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget.

IT’S COME TO THIS

The Pokemon Co. has made Japanese brides’ dreams come true with its announcement that it is collaborating with a wedding planner to offer sanctioned ceremonies with its characters in attendance, dressed as a bride and groom. Yes, Pikachu will stand up with you and your betrothed (as long as you go to Japan to tie the knot), and the icing on the cake is Pokemon-themed food items and a Pikachu cake topper. Finally, United Press International reports, for your scrapbook, you’ll have a marriage certificate decorated with Pokemon imagery — surely an item you’ll want to preserve in a licensed Pokemon photo frame. !

© 2020 Chuck Shepherd. Universal Press Syndicate.

Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

[KING Crossword]

[weeKly sudoKu]

COUNTING DOWN

ACROSS 1 4 12

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 37 38 40 42 46 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 58 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

Nothin’ at all Got on board — Hill (Theodore

Roosevelt’s home) Altar promise Quiche — Zealous campaigner With 39-Down, business for attorneys Dreams up Enrobing Thorax Cloister resident Native Americans of Oklahoma See 69-Across Lena of “The Wiz” Gal at a ball Big fashion inits.

Blue shade Haul to court “Time — the essence!”

Wagged part Closest to nil Verizon competitor Artificial hair Skier Tommy Ali or Frazier Klutzy type Radon, e.g.

Indian “Mr.” Dangerous way to skate Haglike Darkened Uprightness Like radon Actress Courteney Alluring West Kanga’s son Pitched shelter “— knew?!”

www.yesweekly.com

69

70 71

75 76 77 78 79 83 85 86 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 99 101 102 104 106 107 110 113 115 116 117 119 122 123 124 125 126

127 128

With 31-Across, start to enjoy Snooze site Like sexist jokes and such, for short Mai — Ring official “Piggy” River of Grenoble Like much hemp fashion Actress Cuthbert Was deeply agitated Air impurity Battle (for) Favorite “— -haw!” (“Whee!”)

Bicolor snacks Slender fish Polar laborer Hit into from behind 1988 Olympics city Is in a hole Film scorer Schifrin Sportage or Soul maker Clairol products Gibbon, e.g.

— -relief White wader Enthusiasm Soup legume Dandy fellow Full of cheek Rift-causing Least near Sci-fi gift Hand-thrown weapons Scottish beef animal Scrabble 4-pointer Right to use another’s land Opera text Scrabble 1-pointers

DOWN

1 2 3

4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19 27 30 36 39 41 43 44 45 46 47 48 50

57 59 60 61

Nothin’ at all Gem State * A thousand and a googol, e.g. * March Madness quarterfinal teams Family member Slivovitz and kirsch Has a debate * 1998 Tom Clancy novel Family members Adversary Cease’s partner Flimflam * Part of the Constitution establishing the judiciary Very nervy “... so far — know” * Helicopter of the U.S. president Major Norse god Sublet, say Therefore Ignore rudely Trendy Typical lab rat, e.g.

See 23-Across It has a charge Pivotal line Split-off group Deuce follower Specifically Neighbor of Quebec Place (down) * Request for a hand slap Engine cover LCD alternative Ski- — Consume

64

68 69 70 71 72

73 74 75 76 77

78 79 80 81 82 84 85 87 89 95 98 100 103 105 108 109 110 111 112 114 118 120 121

* Group of defendants that included Abbie Hoffman “Hold on!”

Styling stuff Furry scarf Consume Occasion to shout out the ends of the answers to this puzzle’s starred clues (from left to right) Dress fussily Handed over In this way, informally Withdrawal * “She Loves You” band’s nickname * Tangoing truism Lofty poetry Heart Toast topper * A state of bliss Window area View Rustic denial View Capital of Latvia Helical form Taoism founder Omit in speech Nicholas Gage memoir City in Germany Styles Knife feature Old Italian currency Bird class Bird hangout Snead of golf Classic British sports car Hard drinker

the good guys

Playing the Greatest Music of All Time Local News, Weather, Traffic & Sports

stream us at wtob980.com

PROUD SPONSOR OF Your Local Music Checkup with Dr. Jon Epstein | Every Monday @ 7pm Chuck Dale’s Combo Corner | Every Other Wednesday @ 6pm George Hamilton V Piedmont Opry Time | Monthly Show January 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

15

feature

16

2020 vision: Local astrologers talk about what’s in the stars for this year

A

s this year starts a new decade, it is a time for resolutions and looking ahead hopefully to blue skies and greener pastures.

This year brings more Katie Murawski excitement and even more uncertainty, especially for Editor the United States, because of the national election in November. To better prepare ourselves for what the rest of the year brings, I spoke to two Triad astrologers, who both have lectures concerning the new year coming up this week.

(Please note, YES! Weekly is aware that astrology cannot be presented as scientific fact, and we are not promoting it as such.)

Cindi McNulty’s sun sign is in Leo, and she is a Winston-Salem astrologer, who runs her own practice called Essential Zodiac, located at 632 Holly Ave. McNulty’s upcoming lecture “Astrology of 2020” will be held at Fearless (1002 Brookstown Ave.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

“I have studied the universe, and I interpret what the planets and the zodiac signs mean and how they affect your life,” McNulty explained of her profession. “All my life, I have dabbled. But 15 years ago, I really studied in earnest. Now, I do astrology, for the past six years, as my full-time job.”

McNulty said she first took an interest in astrology from her aunt, who she used to spend the summers with.

“Every morning, my aunt would open the newspaper and read her horoscope,” she recalled. “She and I were the same sun sign, so she would say— ‘Oh, we are going to have a good day, Cindi.’ I can still see her sitting there, smoking her Lucky Strikes and drinking her black coffee.”

As she got older, McNulty said she kept reading her horoscope and got deeper and deeper into the study of astrology.

“When the internet came along,” she said, “I found the online college of astrology—it is called something else now—I was able to take online classes, which was great because I was working full time as a paralegal and raising kids.”

After her kids left the nest, she started dedicating more of her time to studying YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

I

Cindi McNulty, astrologer and owner of Essential Zodiac astrology. McNulty said being inducted into a coven also helped perfect her craft.

“I was quite a lapsed catholic by the ‘90s,” McNulty admitted. “I had a spiritual hole, so I was trying to fill that, and I was looking around at different belief systems.

I settled on Wiccan because that really spoke to me—the duality, nature—it really tied in with my pursuit of astrology. Everything started making sense.”

Each year, McNulty presents an overview of what the upcoming year would be like for other members of her coven. So, her upcoming lecture at Fearless won’t be the first time she has forecast the new year. As a treat to YES! Weekly readers, McNulty said she could give a taste of what her lecture would consist of and what to expect in 2020.

“2020 is going to be not only the beginning of a new decade, but there is also going to be a lot of planetary upheavals,” she said, attributing it to the “rare configuration” of the planets this year. “In January, we are going to have a Saturn/Pluto conjunction, and this is very significant. This configuration only happens every 34 years. No one on the planet

alive right now has experienced it in Capricorn. As the planets orbit around the sun, they stop into every zodiac sign.”

She said knowing that some planets move faster than others, this Saturn and Pluto configuration is rare because of how slowly both planets move.

“Capricorn is an earth sign, and you can almost define it as a ‘workhorse.’ Capricorn is a sign that likes to work, follow the rules; it has structure,” she said. “Saturn and Pluto together are looking at limits and wanting to move past them; they are catalysts. When this conjunction occurred in 1914, this is when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, and it was a key reason for World War I.” With the 2020 Saturn/Pluto conjunction, McNulty said people could expect turbulence in their daily lives, “which sounds scary, but eventually, it will all make sense. We will probably look at different ways of not only the United States but globally changes in government, big business and the stock market. I always

tell my clients during this time to get yourselves a financial advisor and listen to them.”

She said this conjunction would start another 20-year cycle that will “bring significant changes.” She said there would be another “big game-changer” at the end of the year, with the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

“The interesting thing about this is, the last time it happened was in 1980 when the personal computer started to be something the consumer could purchase.”

McNulty said this conjunction is also related to the upcoming election season, which she said would figuratively “be a bloodbath.”

“I think it is going to test us all,” she said. “I think when it is all over and done with, and we’ve gotten to the other side of 2020, I see it as very hopeful.

Sometimes you need to shake everything up, break the mold, to start again. I am very hopeful that these changes are going to be good and help us navigate the future.”

McNulty said change could be scary, but it is necessary. Her favorite part about being an astrologer is by helping her clients adapt to change.

“My philosophy is, we can’t change the dynamics of the universe—they are there and are going to happen whether we like it or not —so, how can we best use the energy that is out there? How can we make lemonade out of lemons,” she explained.

“Like, when people come to me with a romantic partner, I never discourage people from being together. What I encourage is how to work through your differences.”

Luke Baker is a Taurus and an astrologer in Greensboro, who also has his own practice called Baker Astrology. His two-day lecture called “2020: Year of the Shaman,” takes place at Terra Blue, located at 518 S. Elm St., in Greensboro on Jan. 4 and 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. each day. Both presentations will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

Baker said he named the lecture “Year of the Shaman” because “like a Shaman, this year will guide us to be our own source for answers about this world, about what we are living for and about our own stories.”

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

Baker said he has always been interested in astrology, and when he was a boy, he would read books about it, and about how astrology was used in ancient cultures and societies. Baker said he was interested in astrology because it is the oldest practice on Earth, and has been used to explain patterns. Baker is from Raleigh originally, and he said he did his astrology apprenticeship with Debra Silverman. In 2019, he launched his own practice, Baker Astrology.

“Astrology is essentially the patterns and cycles that govern time,” Baker said.

“Astrology is a marriage of the left brain and right brain.”

Baker said he offers a variety of services, including natal chart readings, which “go over the patterns and placements that occur within your personality and identity.” He does forecasting, which “takes your personal chart and looks at what has been going on and what you are moving into.” He also does chemistry readings, which “takes your chart and anyone else’s chart and looks at the interplay.” Baker Astrology also offers classes for anyone that wants to learn the language of astrology. He said students would get an overview of natal charts and would eventually be able to start reading charts themselves.

“We all have free will, so we get to choose how to respond to the times that we are in,” he said. “In astrology, you can absolutely see the pattern that is ongoing.”

Baker said 2020 would be a time where everyone is going to have to be more self-reliant. He said the year 2020 would be a year of independence and a “time of great change,” with “enormous potential for manifestation, for really making and covering a lot of ground in a relatively short amount of time.”

“I try to steer away from doom and gloom,” Baker said. “We can say it is a very serious time, where we are asked to take full responsibility. We need to be our own source for what we have going on.

We need to make serious considerations about our attachments. I am not going to say that banking systems are going to crash or that we are going to absolutely see a recession. But I will go as far as to say, we do need to think about what we are getting out of all of the attachments that we are sustaining.”

Baker said during his two-day visit to Terra Blue, he will go through the 2020 calendar and do a play-by-play of each month. There would be a powerpoint presentation followed by questions the audience can ask him. He also encourages folks to bring a pen and paper to take notes.

Baker said the planet Saturn is associWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Luke Baker, astrologer and owner of Baker Astrology ated with karma, authority and constriction. Its transit into Capricorn will set the tone for all of 2020.

“Lessons and opportunities associated with Capricorn are really hitting us, and are a common thread through this time,” he said. “We have a Chiron, [which is the symbol that represents Baker Astrology] an asteroid that, in Greek, means ‘wounded healer.’ In somebody’s personal chart, it shows me wound, a psychological wound. Where Chiron currently is for this year, it is going to be in Aries and will be in Aries for about seven years. It just shifted. This is taking the psychological wounds at the max level, the global-conscious level, right out into the open. Aries is the first sign; it is cardinal fire—extroversion, blunt—that is where the wounds are going.”

He said in sum, the opportunity for “mass hysteria is going to hit an all-time high.” However, he does not say 2020 would be the year of mass hysteria.

“Just because it is raining, doesn’t mean we have to get wet,” Baker explained. “Polar opposites are going to push past the breaking points. It might

be a time to pull back to an individual level, which is simple with all of that Capricorn/earth energy. Earth is very stable, it wants things that are consistent, reliable, and Capricorn is about achievement with consistency little by little.”

In other words, in 2020, he said he encourages consistency in self-care and getting back to the basics with clear intentions—disregard the drama and focus within.

“We want to be clear, I think the more everybody is clear about what you are available for, what you are not available for, in our own personal world—individual story—that only has to consist of what you want it to,” he said. “The first half of the year is going to be a lot of earth energy in the heavens. We are a little bit asleep at the wheel, so it is easy to be exhausted and run ourselves into the ground...There is going to be an enormous push, and the uptake will give us the opportunity to accomplish a lot.

2020 is asking us to become independent to be our source, so nothing can rise higher than its source. Nothing is

involved unless it is evolved, and nothing manifests in effect unless it is in the cause.”

Dates that people should be aware of, Baker said, would be the periods of retrogrades as well as Jan. 12, which is when Saturn and Pluto in transit with Capricorn will reach its apex. Baker and McNulty both said there would be several periods of retrograde in 2020 that happen within the element of water (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio).

McNulty said that Mercury, Venus and Mars would all go retrograde this year.

Venus will retrograde into Gemini from May 13 until June 25. “So, not a good time for a wedding,” she said. “You don’t want the planet of love in cock-eyed motion when you want to get married.” Mars will retrograde in Aries from Sept. 9 to Nov. 13, “it rights itself before Thanksgiving, so that is good,” she said.

“This is always interesting,” she said.

“When Mars goes retrograde in Aries— it rules Aries, and the Aries people get like lambs. They go from the big ram to the little lamb because their ruling planet is debilitated, and the rest of us have attitudes.”

Baker said retrogrades are a period of review, and a time to adjust and reevaluate.

McNulty said Mercury [the planet that rules communication and logic] would be in retrograde in Pisces from Feb. 16 until March 9. Baker said that retrograde would partner logic with intuition. His directive for that period asks, “What do we purposefully choose to do, and are we just going through the motions?”

McNulty said Mercury would retrograde in Cancer from June 18 until July 12, and Baker said it partners logic with honest emotions. His directive for this period asks, “Where is self-confidence and self-value, how do we really feel about ourselves?”

Mercury will retrograde in Scorpio from Oct. 13 until Nov. 3, and Baker’s directive asks, “Are my thoughts centered around my ambitions or unresolved traumas?” !

KATIE MURAWSKI is the editor-in-chief of YES! Weekly. Her alter egos include The Grimberlyn Reaper, skater/public relations board chair for Greensboro Roller Derby, and Roy Fahrenheit, drag entertainer and self-proclaimed King of Glamp.

WANNA

go?

To learn more about Baker Astrology, visit his Facebook page and website, bakerastrology.com/ for a full list of services. Contact @bakerastrology. com to book a session or ask questions. For more information about Cindi McNulty, visit Essential Zodiac’s Facebook page and website, essentialzodiac.com/.

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

17

18

Greensboro City Council clashes over proposed mental health response program Tempers flared during the discussion of one agenda item at the Dec. 17 meeting of the Greensboro City Council. At-Large Representative Michelle Kennedy accused District 3’s Ian McDowell Justin Outling of bullying city staff and implied that Outling Contributor had not done his due diligence. District 1’s Sharon Hightower exchanged sharp words with District 2’s Goldie Wells.

All of these interactions can be viewed by clicking item No. 51 under the video of the meeting at the City of Greensboro website.

After over an hour of often-heated debate, Outling brought up the 2018 death that inspired the resolution the city council was debating. That incident was the fatal hogtying of Marcus Deon Smith by Greensboro Police Department officers that Smith asked to take him to the hospital.

Without actually using Smith’s name, Outling raised the question of whether the city’s proposed mental health crisis response program could have prevented his death. “What would actually be done that would change that outcome?” asked Outling of City Manager David Parrish and Assistant City Managers Trey Davis and Kimberly Sowell.

“The continuation of deescalating the situation,” Davis said, “as well as seeking the right type of care for a person experiencing that issue.”

“So, is it your contention,” Outling replied, “that, on that particular occasion, the police department did not appropriately deescalate the situation or seek the appropriate care? Had they done so, would that have resulted in a different outcome?”

“I don’t think it would be wise to answer that question,” interjected Parrish, but Outling pressed the point, eventually eliciting the following response from Davis: “No, I’m not making that contention.

What I’m saying is that, as we move forward in the future, we want to make sure that our staff, especially the police who YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

Greensboro City Council encounter these situations, have all the tools that they can, so that situations have the best resolution to them.”

They were discussing agenda item No. 51, “Resolution Authorizing Award of Contract to The S.E.L. Group for Behavioral Health Response Program in the Amount of $500,000.”

The Social and Emotional Learning (S.E.L.) Group is a Greensboro-based organization founded by Dr. Nanette Funderburk and Minister Keith Funderburk, which, according to its website, includes a staff of six mental health professionals. The purpose of the proposed contract, according to the agenda item, is to create “a Behavioral Health Response Program (BHRP)” providing city employees with a “real-time response from a mental health professional during crisis interactions with customers/residents.”

As part of its contract, S.E.L. Group will also “equip city staff with the knowledge of how to handle crisis situations with clients in the absence of a mental health professional” and “de-escalate crisis situations, minimize crisis situations that lead to arrests, and more effectively connect citizens who experience crises to the appropriate services in a timely manner.”

According to city documents, the S.E.L. Group’s clinicians will provide real-time response 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through Dec. 31, 2020, with the option of two one-year renewals.

“I have a number of questions,” Outling said. After 20 minutes of “grilling” (a word used by Wells) Parrish, Sowell, and Davis— Outling suggested scheduling a work session rather than voting on the resolution.

This raised the ire of Kennedy, who said: “We can talk about how we need to have a work session, but we’ve had a year, and frankly, if this is the first time you’re hearing about it, then maybe it’s time to show up and do the work.”

Although Hightower has clashed with Outling, this time, she defended him.

“We have not had a whole year, Michelle. We talked about it when Marcus Smith died, and you came up and said we need to get social workers in the police department. The scope has changed since you made that suggestion.”

Wells expressed surprise that Hightower wasn’t supporting the city signing a contract with the S.E.L group, as that organization was 100% compliant with MWBE, the city’s Minority/Womenowned Business Enterprise policy. “That don’t have nothing to do with it!” said Hightower, who sarcastically added that she was glad Wells was finally paying attention to issues of MWBE compliance.

District 5’s Tammi Thurm had two final questions. “The first is whether other staff members, such as from Parks and Rec and the library, will be certified in Crisis Intervention Training along with the police, and will that be part of their professional development?”

Sowell said that some city employees other than the police would receive Crisis Intervention Training, including ones in those departments.

“The other question is more of a clarification,” Thurm said. “You kind of indicated to me that a 911-operator will make, based on certain criteria, a determination whether to call the S.E.L group or the police department and the mayor

indicated in her comments that the 911 operator is not going to do that, they’re going to wait for the police to make that call. Can you just clarify that for me?”

Davis answered Thurm’s question. “If 911 receives a call identified as a mental health-related call, then there are state mandates they have to follow. But the program we’re constructing here is a resource for staff.”

Thurm pressed further. “Then, in all instances, if somebody was to call 911, then the 911-operator would dispatch police first? And when the police got there, they would then make the determination of whether they needed additional support?”

“That’s correct,” Davis said. The council then voted 8-1 in favor of accepting the contract, with Outling voting against.

“Ms. Thurm, in reference to what you talked about,” said Mayor Vaughan after the vote, “if we want to expand the program, and I do think that’s worthy, it would be more money, and I do think that’s something we do need to talk to the county about.”

Vaughan and Thurm agreed that such a discussion should be held within 90 days of beginning the program. Parrish said the city would set that as a goal by “sometime in March.”

After the meeting, YES! Weekly reached out to Mary Smith, mother of Marcus Smith. Mary said she was troubled by how, if a member of the public called 911 to report a mental health crisis situation, the police would be dispatched to the scene first, and only then make the decision of whether to call a mental health professional. Addressing the question raised by Outling (and not answered the assistant city manager), Mary said the proposed program would not have saved her son’s life if it existed in 2018.

“The new mental health team isn’t going to stop the police from being the first responders, so even though it sounds good on the surface, it’s not going to stop the police from breaking their own rules and killing people like Marcus.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which he’s proud of and none of which he’s ashamed of.]

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

Did Greensboro City Council vote to consider cooperating with ICE? *Editor’s note: This story was originally published online on Dec. 19, 2019.

Did the Greensboro City Council do so without a public hearing?

On Dec. 17, the Greensboro City Ian McDowell Council unanimously passed a resolution enabling it to apply Contributor for a $250,000 Department of Justice grant to the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department and Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. But to get those funds, the cities and county may have to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The resolution passed without any mention of those issues, and without anything resembling the public hearing required of municipalities applying for the grant.

This title of Item No. 46 on the meeting’s agenda was “Resolution to Conduct a Public Hearing on December 17, 2019, to Receive Public Comments on an Application for the 2019 Justice Assistance Grant in the Amount Of $250,102.” As At-large Representative Michelle Kennedy acknowledged on Wednesday morning, this wording makes it unclear as to whether the council was voting to hold a public hearing at some point in the future, or if the vote taken on Tuesday night was supposed to be the hearing itself. If it was a hearing, it was one without council discussion or public comment.

On the morning of Dec. 19, YES! Weekly sent Mayor Nancy Vaughan a request for clarification. When asked what passing the resolution achieved, the mayor responded: “It gives us the ability to apply for the grant.” She also texted that it “was a public hearing,” but that “no speakers were signed up.”

The grant in question is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program award and is described as such at the ID 19-0772 file linked to the online agenda. The JAG Program Fiscal Year 2019 Local Solicitation found online at the Bureau of Justice Assistance website (BJA. gov) is a 38-page PDF document. On page 27, section (b) of Appendix B states: Notwithstanding any other provision of WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict a Federal, State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with respect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual: (1) Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving such information from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

(2) Maintaining such information.

(3) Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, or local government entity.

This suggests that, if the City of Greensboro receives this grant, it must comply with ICE, and not adopt “sanctuary city” policies designed to protect immigrants not charged with violent crimes from deportation.

In 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Session announced that the Justice Department “will only provide Byrne JAG grants to cities and states that comply with federal law, allow federal immigration access to detention facilities, and provide 48 hours’ notice before they release an illegal alien wanted by federal authorities.”

Attached to Agenda Item No. 46 is a DOJ document dated Sept. 20, 2019, informing city manager David Parrish that Greensboro is approved for the funding amount as long as it abides by the stipulations of the contract.

Clicking on ID 19-0772 of the online agenda opens not only a link to that document (JAG Application.pdf) but one containing the following “Legislation Text” originating from the Greensboro Police Department and listing Chief Wayne Scott as “Contact 1.” The text’s headers also list an “advertising date” of “By December 5, 2019.”

PURPOSE: A public hearing has been advertised for December 17, 2019, for City Council to receive public comments on an application for the 2019 Justice Assistance Grant.

BACKGROUND: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program awards are formula-based, non-competitive federal criminal justice funds which do not require a match. JAG funding allocations are based on violent crime statistics and population. The local unit of government award allocations are based on their proportion of the state’s 3-year violent crime average. The Greensboro Police

Department will serve as the lead/fiscal agency for the FY 19 JAG for the award period of October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2022.

This grant is a disparate allocation between the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, and Guilford County Sherriff’s Department. A disparate allocation occurs when a city or municipality is allocated more funds than the county, while the county bears more than 50 percent of the costs associated with prosecution or incarceration of the municipality’s Part 1 violent crimes. These agencies have agreed to reallocate $250,102 in JAG funds to the City of High Point for $50,992; to Guilford County for $61,034.80 and to the City of Greensboro for $138,075.20.

BUDGET IMPACT: This is a reimbursable grant, and no match is required. Any expenses exceeding the JAG funding will be absorbed by each agency’s budget. If approved and awarded as proposed, the Greensboro Police Department will leverage $138,075.20 in federal funds.

RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED: City Council is being requested to hold a public hearing to receive public comments on an application for the 2019 Justice Assistance Grant.

Here’s what the city council can be seen and heard doing on the video of Dec. 17’s meeting: At 01:47:50, Mayor Vaughan reads aloud the description of the agenda item, and asks, “Do we have any speakers on Item No. 46?” Receiving no answer, the mayor asks, “Do we need to make a motion or anything on that or are we just accepting public comment?” She then asks, “Is there action required?” The motion then passes 9-0 with no further

comment or discussion from the council.

Googling “Greensboro” and “2019 Justice Assistance Grant” produces only two hits, both on the Greensboro.legistar.com site. One is ID 19-0772, quoted in bold above, the file for which was created on Nov. 7 and placed on the agenda of the Dec. 17 meeting. The other is ID 19-0690, a file created on Sept. 24 and placed on the agenda of the Nov. 19 meeting. These are near-identical drafts of the same resolution and link to each other.

These online files, and Agenda Item No. 23 at the Nov. 19 city council meeting, appear to be the only “advertising” this resolution has received.

As the video of the Nov. 19 meeting shows, at 00:08:06, Mayor Vaughan says, “We have a consent agenda for items 1-29, which are a grouping of agenda items that are voted on with one simple vote to expedite what are believed to be routine and non-controversial items.”

The consent agenda then passed unanimously with no discussion of Item No. 23, “Resolution Calling a Public Hearing for December 17, 2019, to Receive Public Comments for the 2019 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Application in the Amount of $250,102.” There was no further mention of it at public city council meetings until the Dec. 17 vote that, despite the absence of council discussion or public comment, was allegedly the required “public hearing.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which he’s proud of and none of which he’s ashamed of.]

YOUR DELICIOUS ALTERNATIVE SOURCE

YOUR ENTERTAINMENT SOURCE

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

19

tunes

20

PHOTO COURTESY OF MJ KFB

On the road with Megan Jean and the KFB

T

he nomadic Megan Jean and the KFB are making their Triad rounds for a show at Monstercade with Andy Freakin’ Mabe and Emily Stewart on Jan. 4.

Katei Cranford “We do it all to keep our chihuahua Arriba McEntire (aka Contributor Weebis) in kibble,” jested Megan Jean, the more vocal of the Klay Family Band duo. “She’s been an absolute blessing, and makes everywhere feel like home.”

The last time Megan Jean and her cohort, Byrne Klay, had an address, they were a Charleston act. But that was 10 years and many miles ago. In the decade since, the married couple of classicallytrained rovers have racked-up experiences, recorded albums, and made a big old van their home—with a hefty amount of time spent in the Triad.

“The Triad has been one of the most influential artist communities in which we’ve had the privilege of being welcomed into,” Jean said. “I can’t think of a more loving community of artists than the one YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

we’ve experienced there. Golden humans, everywhere.”

Huddled amongst the folkster musical circles, their last official Greensboro visit saw them as the focus for Matty Sheets’ weekly live music drink and draw series.

For the upcoming show, they’ll share the bill with songstress Emily Stewart. “She’s one of my favorite people and songwriters,” Jean said of her bill mate. “Her voice is completely unique. Our friendship has always been so easy and supportive; it feels like it’s been around always.”

Jean’s adoration extends to the venue itself. “What in the world would weirdos like us be without places like Monstercade,” Jean said about the Winston weirdo den. “I love that everyone is welcome there, that you can let your freak flag fly and be in good company,” she added, praising the efforts of the Monstercade crew.

“We need counter-culture more than ever now,” Jean continued, “and a place like Monstercade fosters a whole lot more than just shows you know? I think of all the young weirdos and misfits, and how much it means to have a place to go where you’re accepted, welcome, and encouraged to express yourself. I think every town needs a place like Monstercade.”

For someone who’s lived on the road,

Jean understands the value of space.

Though it’s the connection with the audience that remains salient. “We love to play anywhere people want to hear us,” she insisted. “I’d rather play a house show than be furniture at a bar where no one is listening. I just want to make music for people who want to listen; it doesn’t really matter where.“ With that outlook, they’ve spent the 2010s on the road, calling the Triad their own sort of home for spurts of time.

The experience brought opportunities and broadened horizons. “You get to see America from a unique angle,” Jean said of constant touring. “You’re not a tourist, but you’re not exactly on a business trip either.

We are cultural explorers, and it’s been a wild thing to see how our country has changed in the past 10 years on the road.”

Staying abreast of our cultural landscape has been key to their artistic development. “It helped me to stop writing solely about my sad sack past, to start writing more about society and my place in it, rather than my old hurts,” Jean said.

“Pain is a fine muse for a time, but after a while, it just feels like deliberately opening old wounds just to salt them.”

The result has been three albums of original material, a live album, and more releases on the way. “It feels like we are a

different band,” Jean said of their record progression. “We want to continually evolve our sound, so we can really see what we are capable of. It’s easy to do so when the industry leaves you alone.

We don’t have to be one-trick ponies, so instead, we get to be the whole circus.”

When they first hit the road, Jean was racking a washboard for percussion that ultimately wrecked her fingers and shoulders. Her powerhouse voice remains central, supported by Byrne on strings and the beat. In 2018, they developed a dedicated show, Lounge Act: The Songs of Nirvana as Jazz, recordings of which are scheduled to be released in the spring.

Looking into the New Year, Jean holds a few resolutions around kindness and keeping healthy. There are plans for a fulllength in the works. But she mostly looks to live in the now.

“This might be our last year on the road full-time,” she said. “It’ll wrap up a full decade of traveling. I plan to savor every moment.”

Savor and sing along as Megan Jean and the KFB makes the rounds at Monstercade with Andy Freakin’ Mabe and Emily Stewart on Jan. 4. !

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who hosts the Tuesday Tour Report on WUAG 103.1 FM.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

Boone-based singer-songwriter plays Winston-Salem, prepares new record There are a lot of different stories one can tell about the music of Shay Martin Lovette. There’s the one about a guy who quit his day job to pursue a career as a songwriting troubadour, which John Adamian is true. (He was a @adamianjohn business student at Appalachian State and had thoughts of Contributor going to law school.)

And there’s the version of the narrative about a talented young singer-songwriter whose sibling, friend and musical collaborator passed away, inspiring the surviving brother to devote himself to making music with renewed focus. Also true. Or there’s the variant involving Lovette’s childhood in Wilkesboro, hearing his father’s original songs, growing up in a part of the state known for its deep roots in the bluegrass, old-time, country, folk, and string-band worlds, learning to love the challenge of writing his own songs. That one’s true, too. Or you could tell the story about the relatively unknown songwriter who gained attention at MerleFest, getting a chance to play in front of a large audience. True as well. It all depends on which angle you want to approach it from.

Now, based out of Boone, in 2018, Shay Martin Lovette released his solo debut, Swift Drifter, which was recorded in Winston-Salem. It was a remarkably mature batch of material. Lovette had fronted the Lovette Brothers with his brother Chad, who died from brain cancer in 2016. The solo album is dedicated to his brother, and there’s a throughline from some of the songs and imagery from the Lovette Brothers release to Lovette’s solo album. Shay recorded one of Chad’s songs, the lovely “Heat Lightning,” on Swift Drifter.

“He was my favorite person in the world,” Shay said of his brother. “It was so cool for me to be able to include that tune on the album.”

Lovette spoke with me by phone last week. He plays a show at the Ramkat in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the Gibson Brothers.

Lovette’s voice is pretty and pure, and he uses it in creative ways, tapering off the ends of a note as if he were dialing WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

back a volume pedal, pulling his voice away from any hint of hurry, strain, or excess force. The yawning sound of the pedal steel guitar on Swift Drifter pairs nicely with his singing. At times Lovette brings to mind singers like Dylan LeBlanc, Kevin Morby, on Ryan Adams, indierock-leaning singers who all conjure the heartache of country music without quite being traditional country singers. To my ears, Lovette can also prompt comparisons to older singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne and Gerry Rafferty.

Many of Lovette’s songs seem to be about a kind of rootlessness and impermanence, but not in an overly romanticized road-weary rambler kind of way. Lovette has a hint of the Buddhist cowboy about him, expounding on how letting go is the key to connecting with the essence of life.

“Petals In the Falling Snow” has these lines: What tears us up might help us see/ [We] have to relinquish the world to be free.” It’s not a cold, isolated detachment he’s talking about, but something that allows for a deeper bond.

On other songs, Lovette aims for a slightly more enigmatic storyteller’s approach, sketching in details and characters that leave just enough interpretive wiggle room for the listener. The song “Promenade” contains these tantalizing lines: I never knew that I’d been bleeding until you stitched me up in the back of a stranger’s truck.” I think there are a lot of songwriters who’d gladly give up a meal or three to be able to write lyrics like that, with all the fruitful double meanings and ambiguities.

It makes logical sense that Lovette is into literature, particularly Southern fiction, given his taste for narrative compression, the telling detail, and a sense of place. He said he’s particularly fond of Flannery O’Connor.

“I’m really into short stories,” he said.

“Having that burst and arc of story is great for me.”

Another entertaining early song, from the Lovette Brothers’ EP, demonstrates that sense of geography and drama. The song, “Bermuda Run,” is a made-up tale about some romantic trouble in that evocatively named little town that anyone who’s driven much on I-40 in North Carolina has probably taken note of. (Exit 182, you know the one.)

“I play a lot North Carolina shows, burning up the roads back and forth, and I

Shay Martin Lovette, photo by Willa Stein would always see that sign,” Lovette said.

“It was almost one of those things that I kind of thought of as a joke,” he said of the idea of writing the song with a refrain about “never going back to Bermuda Run.” That was the song that won Lovette the MerleFest band competition in 2019, giving him and his band the chance to perform in front of thousands of festivalgoers, an opportunity that almost certainly exposed the singer to new fans.

(Lovette will be performing in a duo configuration, with upright bass and harmony vocals, at his Winston-Salem show.)

Lovette spent much of 2019 working on a new record, set for release in 2020. He’s been working with members of North Carolina Americana innovators Mandolin Orange and Mipso on the project.

On Swift Drifter Lovette managed to pay tribute to his brother, to express his own loss, and yet to do it in a way that wasn’t bogged down by sadness. In its way, it was uplifting and optimistic in a manner that was true to Chad’s spirit.

Attentive listeners and observers will

notice a few subtle recurring references to, and images of, redwing blackbirds (and other birds), which Lovette said was a tribute to his brother Chad, who found comfort in the movement of the birds while he was going through chemotherapy.

“He was such an inspiring guy, my brother was, in the way he lived,” Lovette said. “He had this eternal optimism about him. I could have written an album with just 100% grief, and it would have been really depressing. I wanted to be able to celebrate his life, and that’s the way he would have wanted it, for sure.” !

JOHN ADAMIAN lives in Winston-Salem, and his writing has appeared in Wired, The Believer, Relix, Arthur, Modern Farmer, the Hartford Courant and numerous other publications.

WANNA

go?

See Shay Martin Lovette at the Ramkat, 170 W. 9th St., Winston-Salem, on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. theramkat.com JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

21

22

Submissions 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.

HOME GROWN MUSIC SCENE | Compiled by Austin Kindley

ASHEBORO

[TRIAL BY FIRE] JANUARY 4 - THE BLIND TIGER

FOUR SAINTS BREWING

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 foursaintsbrewing.com Jan 3: Ziggy Pockets Jan 4: Tyler Millard Jan 10: The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers Jan 18: Matt Walsh Jan 19: The Randolph Jazz Band Jan 25: Brother Oliver Jan 31: William Nesmith Feb 1: Tyler Millard

CHARLOTTE

BOJANGLES COLISEUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com Feb 14: 3rd Annual Queen City Blues Festival Feb 22: ABBA Feb 22: Lauren Daigle Feb 28: Josh Gates Feb 29: Dancing with the Stars: Live!

2020 Tour Mar 6: The Steeldrivers Mar 21: Winter Jam

CMCU AMPHITHEATRE

former Uptown Amphitheatre 820 Hamilton St | 704.549.5555 www.livenation.com May 8: AJR May 24: Russ Jun 24: Good Vibes Summer Tour 2020 Aug 13: David Gray

THE FILLMORE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com Jan 3: Face 2 Face: Elton John & Billy Joel Tribute Jan 4: Ultimate 80’s Party ft. Tiffany Jan 16: The Disco Biscuits Jan 17: Grace Potter Jan 18: Badfish - A Tribute to Sublime Jan 24: The Devil Makes Three Jan 25: Matoma & Two Friends Feb 1: Who’s Bad Feb 5: Raphael Saadiq Feb 6: Greensky Bluegrass

OVENS AUDITORIUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com Dec 31: Charlie Wilson Mar 6: The Steeldrivers Mar 7: Celtic Woman

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

PNC MUSIC PAVILION

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292 www.livenation.com May 29: The Lumineers Jun 2: Ozzy Osbourne Aug 8: Journey w/ Pretenders

SPECTRUM CENTER

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com Jan 21: Celine Dion Jan 30: Chance The Rapper Feb 1: Toby Mac Feb 7: Andrea Bocelli Feb 21: Marc Anthony

THE UNDERGROUND

820 Hamilton St, Charlotte | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com Jan 4: Angry Chair & Third Eye w/ Glycerine Jan 10: Shoot To Thrill Jan 11: Sugar Jan 17: Case Jan 18: The Dead South Jan 19: American Authors & Magic Giant Jan 24: Ripe National Jan 30: Mt. Joy Feb 4: The Adicts Feb 5: Peekaboo Feb 10: Poppy Feb 16: EarthGang

Feb 21: Wallows Feb 22: Queensryche Feb 24: Allen Stone

CLEMMONS

VILLAGE SQUARE TAP HOUSE

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330 Jan 3: DJ Bald-E Jan 4: Dam-Fi-No Band Jan 10: Whiskey Mic Jan 11: Jukebox Rehab Jan 25: Stereo Doll Jan 31: Dueling Pianos

DANBURY

GREEN HERON ALE HOUSE 1110 Flinchum Rd | 336.593.4733 greenheronclub.com

DURHAM

CAROLINA THEATRE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org Jan 17: Travis Tritt Jan 18: Motown Throwdown Tribute Jan 21: Three Dog Night Jan 23: Jake Shimabukuro

Feb 6: The Fab Four - The Ultimate Tribute Feb 13: Tao Feb 14: Arlo Guthrie Feb 25: Drew & Ellie Holcomb

DPAC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com Jan 26: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Feb 6: The Black Jacket Symphony presents Journey’s Escape Plus Greatest Hits Feb 7: Nashville Songwriters

ELKIN

REEVES THEATER

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 reevestheater.com Jan 10: Travis Meadows Jan 11: Wayne Henderson + Presley Barker Jan 17: Ward Davis Jan 25: The Travelin’ McCourys

GREENSBORO

ARIZONA PETE’S

2900 Patterson St #A | 336.632.9889 arizonapetes.com Jan 3: 1-2-3 Friday

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

artiStika night club

523 S Elm St | 336.271.2686 artistikanightclub.com Jan 3: DJ Dan the Player Jan 4: DJ Paco and DJ Dan the Player

barn DinnEr thEatrE 120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 Feb 1: Mahalia Mar 7: 9 to 5 apr 4: beehive: the 60’s Musical May 1: Motherhood the Musical

bEErthirtY

505 N. Greene St Jan 3: craig baldwin Jan 10: Poundcake Jan 17: William nesmith Jan 24: Dave Moran Jan 31: the hedrick’s Feb 7: Jeff and kathy brooks Feb 14: craig baldwin Feb 21: bruce Drake

thE blinD tigEr

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.272.9888 theblindtiger.com Jan 3: american hair band Jan 4: trial by Fire - a tribute to Journey Jan 8: the almost - if i believed You tour Jan 11: Shun the raven Jan 16: allen Mack Myers Moore feat.

Zach Myers Shinedown Jan 17: Smashat Jan 18: cosmic charlie Jan 19: too Many Zooz w/ birocratic Jan 20: Who got Da Streetz Mgt, DSa Entertainment, & Maejor Media presents new Music Monday Jan 23: the cavali group presents blac Youngsta feat. lil Migo Jan 24: Shadow of intent, Signs Of the Swarm, inferi, brand of Sacrifice Jan 25: nascar aloe w/ bob Vylan, kidsnextdoor Jan 25: rich Dunk Jan 27: black Flag w/ linecutters Jan 31: Off With Your radiohead: a radiohead tribute Feb 3: Spafford with cbDb Feb 7: the cadillac three Feb 8: Perpetual groove Feb 14: Morgan heritage Feb 15: Moon hooch Feb 16: lucero w/ Jade Jackson Feb 18: Pepper

carOlina thEatrE

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 carolinatheatre.com Dec 27: Friday reggae Vibes Jan 19: Mipso Jan 19: Pearl & the charlotte holding company www.yesweekly.com

thE cOrnEr bar

1700 Spring Garden St | 336.272.5559 corner-bar.com Jan 2: live thursdays

cOMEDY ZOnE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 thecomedyzone.com Jan 3: Jacob Williams & ronnie Jordan Jan 4: Jacob Williams & ronnie Jordan Jan 9: WWE hall of Famer Mick Foley Jan 10: Mark gregory Jan 11: Mark gregory Jan 16: Four corners of comedy Jan 17: the tennessee tramp Jan 18: the tennessee tramp Jan 24: tony tone Jan 25: tony tone Jan 31: Will Jacobs Feb 1: Will Jacobs

cOMMOn grOunDS

11602 S Elm Ave | 336.698.388 Jan 1: Matty Sheets & ben Singer Jan 4: the Skipping Stones Wintertour

cOnE DEniM

117 S Elm St | 336.378.9646 cdecgreensboro.com Jan 23: blac Youngsta Feb 11: the Wailers Feb 18: british lion Feb 29: Jim breuer Mar 4: Southside Johnny and the asbury Jukes Mar 8: Puddle of Mudd May 7: Mascadine bloodline

Flat irOn

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967 Jan 4: the hypnotic conquest Jan 10: no One Mind w. Jenny besetzt, humanize Jan 11: the Sun god w. lofield, tide Eyes Jan 17: bob Fleming & the cambria iron co.

Jan 18: Distant Future w. gSO, toothsome Jan 24: totally Slow Jan 25: the Shoaldiggers w. Emily Stewart, chuck Mountain Feb 1: J. timber (Full band) Feb 8: Sam Frazier & the Side Effects Feb: Viva la Muerte Feb: run home Jack w. Janet Flights, Dead casual, Windley, condado Feb: Shiloh hill

grEEnE StrEEt club 113 N Greene St | 336.273.4111

OUTDOOR ICE RINK

NOVEMBER 15 thru JANUARY 26 VF Seasonal Plaza at LeBauer Park, 208 N. Davie St VISIT:

WWW.PIEDMONTWINTERFEST.COM FOR RATES AND TIMES

CONTACT:

PIEDMONTWINTERFEST@GMAIL.COM FOR PRIVATE RESERVATIONS January 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

23

GREENSBORO COLISEUM 1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com Feb 8: KISS Feb 12: Fitz and the Tantrums Feb 13: Brantley Gilbert Feb 15: Space Jesus Feb 15: Winter Jam Feb 29: Lauren Daigle

HAM’S NEW GARDEN

1635 New Garden Rd | 336.288.4544 hamsrestaurants.com

LEVENELEVEN BREWING 1111 Coliseum Blvd | 336.265.8600 Dec 26: Zac Messick and Claire Dec 27: Andy Brower and Matty Sheets Jan 3: Chris McIvor Jan 4: Dusty Cagle Jan 11: Josh Watson

LITTLE BROTHER BREWING

348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678 Jan 9: Songs From the Road Band Jan 10: Wyatt Edmondson Jan 11: Jakobs Ferry Stragglers Jan 25: Viva La Muerte May 8: The Allen Boys May 30: Jesse Black

PIEDMONT HALL

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com Feb 12: Fitz & The Tantrums Feb 15: Space Jesus Feb 29: Young Dolph & Key Glock Mar 5: Skillet Mar 21: Cody Johnson

RODY’S TAVERN

5105 Michaux Road | 336.282.0950 rodystavern.com

THE IDIOT BOX COMEDY CLUB

502 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com Dec 27: Kenyon Adamcik Jan 3: 40 First Jokes of 2020

THE W BISTRO & BAR 324 Elm St | 336.763.4091 @thewdowntown Jan 3: Karaoke Jan 4: Live DJ Jan 5: Live DJ

WHITE OAK AMPITHEATRE

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

[NATURAL WONDER] JANUARY 3 - THE RAMKAT

HIGH POINT

AFTER HOURS TAVERN

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113 afterhourstavern.net Jan 4: Rockit Science Band Feb 15: Admiral Ackbar & The Galactic Experience

GOOFY FOOT TAPROOM 2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567 Jan 4: David Lin Jan 11: Stewart Coley Jan 18: Zac Kellum Jan 25: Tony Andrews Feb 1: Jacob & Forrest Feb 8: Tyler Long Feb 22: Banjo Earth Band

HAM’S PALLADIUM 5840 Samet Dr | 336.887.2434 hamsrestaurants.com

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.

3811 Samet Dr • HigH Point, nC 27265 • 336.841.0100 FITNESS ROOM • INDOOR TRACK • INDOOR AQUATICS CENTER • OUTDOOR AQUATICS CENTER • RACQUETBALL BASKETBALL • CYCLING • OUTDOOR SAND VOLLEYBALL • INDOOR VOLLEYBALL • AEROBICS • MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM WHIRLPOOL • MASSAGE THERAPY • PROGRAMS & LEAGUES • SWIM TEAMS • WELLNESS PROGRAMS PERSONAL TRAINING • TENNIS COURTS • SAUNA • STEAM ROOM • YOGA • PILATES • FREE FITNESS ASSESSMENTS F R EE EQUI PM E N T O R I E N TAT I O N • N U R S ERY • TEN N IS LES S O N S • W IRELESS I NTERNET LOUNGE

24

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

HIGH POINT THEATRE

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401 www.highpointtheatre.com Feb 15: Barbra Lica Quintet Feb 20: NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players Feb 21: The Brubeck Brothers Quartet Mar 12: Georgia On My Mind - Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles Mar 20: Sons of Mystro Mar 21: Croce Plays Croce Apr 4: Jump, Jive, & Wail! ft. the Jive Aces May 3: Raleigh Ringers

JAMESTOWN

THE DECK

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 thedeckatrivertwist.com Jan 9: Craig Baldwin Jan 10: Jaxon Jill Jan 11: Soul Central Jan 16: Cory Leutjen Jan 17: Rockit Science Jan 18: Whiskey Foxtrot Jan 23: Jacon Vaughn Jan 24: Spare Change Jan 25: Jill Goodson Jan 30: Kelsey Hartley

KERNERSVILLE

BREATHE COCKTAIL LOUNGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822 facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge Jan 10: Gipsy Danger Jan 24: Brothers Pearl

J.PEPPERS SOUTHERN GRILLE

841 Old Winston Rd | 336.497.4727 jpeppers.com May 14: James Vincent Carroll

LEWISVILLE

OLD NICK’S PUB

191 Lowes Foods Dr | 336.747.3059 OldNicksPubNC.com Jan 3: Karaoke Jan 4: Dante’s Roadhouse Jan 10: Karaoke

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

Jan 11: Cumberland Drive Jan 17: Karaoke Jan 18: Stoned Rangers Jan 24: Karaoke Jan 25: Casino Night for AFSP Feb 7: Karaoke Feb 8: Exit 180 Feb 14: Karaoke Feb 15: Juke Box Revolver

lIberty

ThE LiBERTY ShowCASE ThEATER

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844 TheLibertyShowcase.com Jan 11: The Legacy Motown Revue Jan 18: Ronnie McDowell Jan 25: Confederate Railroad Feb 8: Little Texas Feb 22: Dailey & Vincent Feb 29: Stephen Freeman

raleIgh

CCu MuSiC PARK AT wALNuT CREEK

3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.831.6400 www.livenation.com Jun 2: The Lumineers

RED hAT AMPhiThEATER 500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com May 9: AJR Jun 2: Local Natives and Foals w/ Cherry Glazerr Aug 14: David Gray

PNC ARENA

1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300 www.thepncarena.com Feb 11: Celine Dion Mar 4: Zac Brown band w/ Amos Lee & Poo Bear Mar 12: Billie Eilish Mar 13: The Millennium Tour: omarion, Bow wow, Ying Yang Twins, Lloyd, Sammie, Pretty Ricky, Soulja Boy, and Ashanti Mar 20: Michael Bublé Mar 22: winter Jam 2020 May 19: JoJo Siwa Aug 1: harry Styles

wInston-salem

BuLL’S TAVERN

408 West 4th St | 336.331.3431 facebook.com/bulls-tavern Jan 11: Barefoot Modern Jan 17: Easy honey Jan 18: My Brother Skyler Jan 24: Doctor ocular Jan 31: The Lilly Brothers Feb 1: The Dirty Grass Players Feb 8: underground Springhouse www.yesweekly.com

BuRKE STREET PuB 1110 Burke St | 336.750.0097 burkestreetpub.com

CB’S TAVERN

3870 Bethania Station Rd | 336.815.1664 Jan 4: Line Dancing w/ Pat

FiDDLiN’ FiSh BREwiNG CoMPANY 772 Trade St | 336.999.8945 fiddlinfish.com Jan 6: old Time Jam Jan 13: old Time Jam Jan 16: Souljam Jan 20: old Time Jam

Jan 14: Branford Marsalis Quartet Jan 18: The Three’s Company Tour Jan 24: Runaway Gin: A Tribute To Phish Jan 25: who’s Bad 20/20: The Evolution of Pop Jan 28: uNCSA Jazz Ensemble: Latin Jazz Night Jan 31: Lindsay Lou Feb 1: whiskey Foxtrot, Crenshaw Pentecostal, Jive Mother Mary Feb 6: Colin Allured Feb 10: Martha Bassett Feb 11: Flower in Bloom, Paragon Don, hollow Creeper

SECoND & GREEN

207 N Green St | 336.631.3143 2ngtavern.com

wiNSToN-SALEM FAiRGRouND 421 W 27th St | 336.727.2236 www.wsfairgrounds.com

wiSE MAN BREwiNG

826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008 Jan 4: Barefoot Modern Jan 24: Anniversary Party w/ The Get Right Band and The Genuine

FooThiLLS BREwiNG 638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 foothillsbrewing.com Jan 5: Sunday Jazz Jan 8: hazy Ridge Jan 12: Sunday Jazz Jan 15: The Local Boys Jan 18: Souljam Jan 19: Sunday Jazz

MAC & NELLi’S

4926 Country Club Rd | 336.529.6230 macandnellisws.com

MiLLENNiuM CENTER 101 West 5th Street | 336.723.3700 MCenterevents.com

MiLNER’S

630 S Stratford Rd | 336.768.2221 milnerfood.com Jan 5: Live Jazz

MuDDY CREEK CAFE & MuSiC hALL

5455 Bethania Rd | 336.923.8623 Jan 2: Country Dan Collins Jan 4: Rob Price and Jack Breyer Jan 9: Country Dan Collins Jan 11: Phillip Craft Jan 12: Rob Price and Jack Breyer Jan 14: Albert Lee Jan 16: Country Dan Collins Jan 18: Phillip Craft Jan 19: Rob Price and Jack Breyer Jan 23: open Mic w/ Country Dan Collins

ThE RAMKAT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714 Jan 3: Natural wonder - The ultimate Stevie wonder Experience Jan 4: The Gibson Brothers Jan 8: issa winsday The Poet Jan 9: The Steel wheels Jan 11: American Bowie Experience: A Tribute To David Bowie Jan 13: Moodswing Monday w/ Martha Bassett January 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

25

photos

26

VISIT YESWEEKLY.COM/GALLERIES TO SEE MORE PHOTOS!

[FACES & PLACES]

by Natalie Garcia

AROUND THE TRIAD YES! Weekly’s Photographer

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

Leveneleven Brewing Greensboro | 12.28.19

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

hot pour PRESENTS

[BARTENDERS OF THE WEEK | BY NATALIE GARCIA] Check out videos on our Facebook!

BARTENDER: Dan Morgan BAR: Leveneleven Brewing AGE: 51

The second Annual Jager Bois Christmas takeover at Dram & Draught - Featuring Max Barwick and Mark Weddle Greensboro | 12.22.19 | Photos by John Cockerham

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Asheboro, N.C. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING? Nine months HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER? Business necessity, as we’re a two-employee operation.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING? Helping people discover different beer styles, evangelizing about beer, and getting to see our customers love our beers as much as we do.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BEER TO MAKE? Kölsch. It’s such a precise, challenging style that, if you miss the mark on anything, it’s no longer Kölsch.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BEER TO DRINK? There’s such a broad spectrum of styles that there truly is a beer for any occasion.

But, if I can only have one, it’s gotta be a well made Kölsch. Strong emphasis on well made.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK? Dark, rich, and high ABV is the obvious answer so, Imperial anything: barleywine, quads, stouts/porters. However, the bold choice, since you’re done using your taste buds for a while, is old school, palate wrecking IPA. They’ll sit lighter on your stomach, and all those hops act as a digestif.

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING? What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while bartending? A well dressed older guy comes in, obviously in a rush. He scans the tap list and asks for a sample. Then, a sample of another beer. I ask if he’d like a pint of either. He says “no” but asks for a sample of two other beers.

While he tastes those, I mention that we have Crowlers to go of anything on tap. He says no, says all the beers were great, and I’ll be back soon, then hustles out of the bar. I haven’t seen him since...

WHAT’S THE BEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? Biggest: $20. Best: “Don’t open a brewery.”

We’ll see which one was worth more.

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

27

28

Jake HaldenVang @Flat Iron Greensboro | 12.28.19

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

T ES

TH E

D’S A I R B T

2020 W

K LY

CH

OIC

E

YES!

EE

S R E ’S READ

it’s coming!

No m iNatioNs & w ri t e- iN s w i l l b egiN soo N ! www.yesweekly.com

January 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

29

last call HALF HOUR FREE Real Singles, Real Fun...

1-704-943-0050 More Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Livelinks.com, 18+

REAL CHAT WITH REAL MEN

30

1-704-943-0051 ONE HOUR FREE

MORE NUMBERS:1-800-777-8000 construction8.pdf 1 2/24/2019 01:34:58 GUYSPYVOICE.COM

YES! WEEKLY

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

[HOROSCOPES]

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Catnaps are definitely recommended for Leos and Leonas who had been going at a hectic pace over the holidays. Adding relaxation time to your schedule helps restore your overdrawn energy reserves.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is a good time to reassess the earlier plan you made for the New Year. Some elements you felt you could depend on to make it work might no longer carry that assurance.

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Events could inspire adventurous Lambs looking to make a major career or personal move.

But as always, get all the facts before rushing into any sort of deal or commitment.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Sure, some of the new friends you made over the holidays might move out of your life at some point. But at least one might show significant “staying power” with some encouragement.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Forming a renewed connection with a former associate is only the first step toward working out your new plans.

Be prepared for problems, and deal with them as soon as they arise.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) What seems to be a great opportunity could cause even usually practical Taureans to ignore their inner caution cues. Best to move carefully to avoid falling into unseen traps.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Encourage family members to join you in supporting a relative who could be facing a difficult emotional challenge in the New Year. Showing your love and concern helps keep his or her hopes up.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A romantic situation that was going smoothly not too long ago might take a new turn. Be honest about your feelings before you decide whether to follow it or take another path.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Need a holiday now that the seasonal festivities are behind you? Good idea. Plan to go someplace wonderful. You’ll return refreshed and more than ready for a new challenge.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) While a long-deferred decision suddenly might take on some urgency after news on a related matter, you still need to weigh all factors carefully before deciding one way or the other.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The wise Pisces (that’s you, of course) will make sure everyone knows your plan to keep your options open and listen to all sides of the situation before making any decisions.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Progress continues to be made on that pesky workplace problem. Meanwhile, don’t assume a personal situation will work itself out.

Best to get more involved earlier than later. © 2020 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COMW

[THE ADVICE GODDESS] love • sex • dating • marriage • questions

THE NOBEL SAVAGES

My husband’s parents interact with our 3-year-old in upsetting ways.

They overfocus on her appearance, asking whether she’s Amy Alkon washed her hair or where her comb is.

(She has naturally Advice stringy hair.) They Goddess constantly quiz her, making her name colors, numbers, etc.

They once spent an entire dinner trying to train her to use a napkin. My husband finally exclaimed, “She’s not a performing seal!”

After their last visit, she started showing anxiety that her hair doesn’t look nice. How can I keep my daughter’s spirit from being squelched by her grandparents? —Worried It’s cute to see your kid playing doctor on her stuffed animal — until you find out she’s gotten a head start on a residency in plastic surgery: “Teddy felt bad about his big furry stomach, Mommy, so I’m giving him a tummy tuck and then we’ll talk about laser hair removal.”

Assuming Grandpa and Grandma aren’t sadists with a thing for toddler torture, they’ve probably just succumbed to the widely believed myth that little Aristophanes or Clove will have an edge over all the other diapered Harvard hopefuls by being drilled in academics from the binky years on.

Their premature focus on your daugh-

ter’s appearance probably comes from a similar place: “Can’t start too early on thinking about how you present yourself!” Um, actually, you can. Research by experimental psychologist Rick M. Gardner found that girls as young as 6 had negative thoughts and feelings about their appearance. Because men evolved to prioritize physical attractiveness in a partner, women evolved to be sensitive about their looks and their placement on the prettiness totem pole. This can lead to crippling insecurity and body dysmorphia — unfortunate at any age, but especially at age 4.

Rushing what researchers call “direct instruction” on toddlers — expecting them to memorize and recite colors, numbers, and facts — actually seems to set them back, harming them socially and emotionally, as well as ... get this: academically!

Psychologist Gabrielle Principe explains in “Your Brain on Childhood” that neuroscience research suggests it’s play, not academics, that’s vital to young children’s brain development. For example, when children use their imagination — by improvising with props, creating their own games, developing storylines — they stimulate the growth of brain cells in the frontal cortex. This area is involved in “selfregulation — a critical skill for controlling emotions, resisting impulses, and exerting self-control and discipline.”

Principe traces the myth driving today’s joyless, test-prep-filled childhoods to 1960s research by UC Berkeley’s Mark Rosenzweig comparing rats with superstimulating stuff in their cages — wheels, slides, tunnels, etc. — with rats raised in the equivalent of empty closets. Rat Disney-

answers [CROSSWORD] crossword on page 15

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

[WEEKLY SUDOKU] sudoku on page 15

land occupants did better on intelligence tests than those raised in Rat Closetland, and that’s what the media reported. What the media did not report was that the rats that did best of all were the ones raised in nature, dealing with spiders, snakes, cats, fleas, and boxing matches with their rat buddies. Unfortunately, this “let the natural environment do its job” finding doesn’t sell learning toys or suggest to parents that they can give their kid a leg up by treating him or her like a jar to cram with information.

Though your daughter is only 3, even slightly older children seem to be harmed by being hammered with early academics. Psychologist Peter Gray writes: “The research is clear. Academic training in kindergarten has no long-term benefit. ... It slightly increases academic test-scores in first grade, but by third grade the benefit is lost and, according to some of the best studies, by fourth grade those subjected to academic kindergartens are doing worse” academically “than those who were in play-based kindergartens.”

Ultimately, it’s particularly unhelpful to treat child development as a sort of race.

Take the age that children start walking.

Psychologist and pediatrician Arnold Gesell noted that some children walk as early as 9 months, while others start as late as 15 months. Ultimately, the early walker is no better a walker than the later one.

As for getting the grandparents to stand down, start positive: Tell them you know they love their granddaughter and want the best for her. Next, explain the research findings on both learning and appearance.

Then explain that for you, what matters is that your daughter has a happy, meaningful, productive life, and this starts with her not being pushed to do things she isn’t developmentally ready for.

Be prepared to remind them a few times when they forget or, um, “forget.” (Wellmeaning grandparents can have something in common with stubborn toddlers.)

On a positive note, they did wait till after the kid was born to go all psycho “Harvard or bust!” instead of getting down by your big pregnant belly and yelling calculus theorems into your uterus. !

GOT A problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com) © 2020 Amy Alkon Distributed by Creators.Com.

The

TR ASURE CLUB

VOTED THE TRIAD’S

BEST

GENTLEMEN’S CLUB

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS BAR & CLUB

BRING IN

2020 PERFECTLY

HOME OF THE EXOTIC LIMO RIDE! 7806 BOEING DRIVE Greensboro (Behind Arby’s) Exit 210 off I-40 • (336) 664-0965

THE TRE A S URE CLUBS .C O M TREASURECLUBGREENSBORONC TreasureClubNC2

JANUARY 1-7, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

31