YES! Weekly - November 27, 2019

THE PRESCOTT

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GREENSBORO HOMELESS

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DISTANT FUTURE

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November 27 - Decemer 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2019 VOLUME 15, NUMBER 48

14 5 FUN FACTS FOR THANKSGIVING TABLE TALK Dropping some knowledge can distract you from wanting to punch Uncle Gene.

Everyone meets Uncle Gene at some holiday gathering, even if his name’s not Gene, and he’s not related to anyone there. Any talk of politics, or even the weather, ends with Gene opening his mouth for speech rather than turkey. So, here’s a LISTICLE OF SUBJECTS that may flummox Gene into silence.

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5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 Office 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930 Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com EDITORIAL Editor KATIE MURAWSKI katie@yesweekly.com Contributors IAN MCDOWELL JOHN BATCHELOR TERRY RADER JOHN ADAMIAN MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD JIM LONGWORTH CASSIDY WHITE PRODUCTION Graphic Designers ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com AUSTIN KINDLEY artdirector@yesweekly.com

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THE PRESCOTT occupies a cozy space in downtown Kernersville. The interior feels rather like a home library or den, one of the few restaurants in the Triad where you can actually carry on a conversation.

8 Dairy Deputy’s designer toys are looking for playmates for the holidays. You can find them at the “Island of Misfit Toys: DESIGNER TOY SHOW” going on through Jan. 1, 2020, at Dye Pretty Salon and Art Gallery in Winston-Salem.

9 Zack Fox, who has distinguished himself as the cinematographer of such locally produced shorts as Ghosts of the Carolina and Trouble Will Cause, has completed his first film short as writer/producer/director.

It’s an intimate drama called SEA SALT WIND, and it will be screened Sunday, Dec. 8, at Marketplace Cinemas in Winston-Salem.

10 Thus begins 21 BRIDGES, an atmospheric shoot-’em-up that delivers the action goods but skimps on character and credibility. The film, directed by veteran small-screen helmer Brian Kirk...

15 When I was in high school a hundred years ago, it was not unusual for two guys to get into a FISTFIGHT over one thing YES! WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

or another. I had one of those encounters myself, and afterward, ended up in the principal’s office. The principal, a former coach, read me the riot act, told me, ‘It better not happen again,’...

16 On Thursday, millions of Americans will gorge themselves in ritualized thankfulness, then sleep it off in warm bedrooms they own or rent. Earlier this month, three local academics issued the findings from surveys of over 200 Greensboro residents who LACK EVEN BEDROOMS to be thankful for.

18 If I was a mystery novelist and Polis Books, the publisher of Tori Eldridge’s THE NINJA DAUGHTER, asked me for a blurb, here’s what I’d send them...

20 ...at Thanksgiving, all the old gang is in town, and people are generally ready for a good time. If you find yourself looking to get out of the house, there are a number of solid LIVE-MUSIC EVENTS happening in the region over the weekend.

21 DISTANT FUTURE is a new band of misfits, a postpunk four-piece from Greensboro weirdos with a love for sci-fi, the Cure, and each other.

ADVERTISING Marketing TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com LAUREN BRADY lauren@yesweekly.com HOLLY NASH holly@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 2019 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

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November 27 - Decemer 3, 2019

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

be there

SETH WALKER FRIDAY

JAMESTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE SATURDAY PINBALL STRIKEOUT TOURNAMENT SUNDAY

FRI 29

FRI 29

SETH WALKER WHAT: “Are You Open?” Seth Walker sings on his transfixing new album of the same title. More than just a question, it’s a challenge, an invitation, a dare. “To me, being open means being vulnerable and exposed,” explains Walker, “but that’s where the little nuggets of creative gold come from. I never planned an overall concept for this record, but each of these songs seemed to spin out from asking myself that one simple question.”

WHEN: 8-11 p.m.

WHERE: The Carolina Theatre.

310 S Greene St, Greensboro.

MORE: $19 advance tickets. $23 day of.

SAT 30

SUN 1

SUN 1

THE FINAL CUT: A NIGHT WITH DUSTIN RHODES

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR WITH SANTA

JAMESTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE

PINBALL STRIKEOUT TOURNAMENT

WHAT: Dustin, the son of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, shares real and raw stories from his days of working for WCW, WWF/WWE and TNA during his ONLY WrestleCade Weekend appearance. Hosted

by Kenny McIntosh from Inside The Ropes UK. Part of WrestleCade Weekend.

WHEN: 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.

WHERE: WrestleCade.

301 W 5th St, Winston-Salem.

MORE: Tickets to this and ALL WrestleCade Weekend events can be bought at www. wrestlecade.com/get-tickets

WHAT: Come join us for our fourth annual Christmas Craft Fair with Santa at Hickory Creek Farm. This event is being held on the opening day of our Christmas tree season this year. Come get your Christmas tree, check out the craft vendors, eat some great fair food and visit with the big man himself!

Santa and Mrs Claus will be here from 12PM to 3PM. Free Hayrides will be running all day.

WHEN: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

WHERE: Hickory Creek Farm.

1489 Burnetts Chapel Rd, Greensboro.

MORE: Free admission.

WHAT: We welcome you to enjoy the annual Jamestown Christmas Parade Sunday, December 1st at 3:00 pm! Sponsored By: Jamestown Rotary Club, Jamestown Business Association and Mary Perry Ragsdale Family YMCA. WHEN: 3 p.m.

WHERE: Town of Jamestown, NC. 301 E Main St, Jamestown.

MORE: Free event.

WHAT: Join the us and the Triad Pinball Players for a monthly “Strike-out Pinball tournament” on the 1st Sunday of every month. Register on-site before the event kicks off at 2pm. Registration is free and open to anyone! A $1 donation per player is appreciated, but not mandatory. This is an IFPA sanctioned event, and is endorsed by the Stern Army. Prizes such as collectible pinball back-glass translites and other merch/swag is awarded to the top players.

WHEN: 1-3 p.m.

WHERE: Boxcar Bar + Arcade.

120 W Lewis St, Greensboro.

Wine Dinner at the Prescott

WITH JOHN HARRINGTON, REGIONAL MANAGER FOR TREFETHEN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 | 6:30PM ENJOY FIVE MASTERFUL COURSES, EACH PAIRED WITH A WINE FROM THIS ICONIC NAPA VALLEY WINERY! $85 PER PERSON + TAX AND GRATUITY RESERVE YOUR TREFETHEN WINE DINNER EXPERIENCE VIA FACEBOOK, EVENTBRITE, IN PERSON, BY CALLING (336) 310-4014, OR VISITING WWW.THEPRESCOTTRESTAURANT.COM YES! WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

reclaim your weekend | visitnc.com/parks

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[SPOTLIGHT] MCLAURIN FARMS

BY CASSIDY WHITE

This holiday season will mark the sixth annual winter festivities at McLaurin Farms. Eddie McLaurin, the owner of McLaurin Farms and the popular Halloween attraction Woods of Terror, started things off small only to hit the ground running. And now, there is nothing in Guilford County quite like it.

“We can’t leave the lights out, so we decorate in a different order and with different stuff,” McLaurin said of the holiday light display.

McLaurin said his farm is comprised of 7,000 to 8,000 trees that are decorated with lights and other various holiday decorations. He said many repairs and upkeeping had taken place, and while everything will be in the same format as last year, McLaurin said visitors could expect to be wowed.

“This year we have a bigger, better show than before. We have more lights,” he said.

Last year, the farm had roughly 8,000 visitors, and the year before that (in 2017), the farm had 12,000 visitors. This year, McLaurin expects to have between 16,000 and 20,000 visitors, as more advertisements have been put out this year to help spread the word about the holiday festivities.

Perhaps the biggest attraction at McLaurin Farms is its hayride. Because of its popularity, McLaurin said attendees

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would have to wait their turn, but there are activities around to occupy children while they wait. These activities include decorating ornaments, writing letters to Santa, roasting marshmallows to make s’mores, drinking hot chocolate and apple cider, and more. There is also a pumpkin patch and playground on the land for visitors to explore.

“We provide a good hour to hour and a half of entertainment for families,” McLaurin said.

Unlike Tanglewood, McLaurin said, his farm is not just a drive-through light display. The farm is family-focused, especially for children ages 13 years and younger.

McLaurin said another thing that separates McLaurin Farms from similar events around the Triad is its rural location at 5601 N. Church St. in Greensboro.

The opening night of McLaurin Farms is on Nov. 28, which is Thanksgiving.

McLaurin said the Grinch himself would be in attendance to meet and greet children.

The ticket booth opens at 6 p.m. and closes at 8 p.m., but the farm closes at 9 p.m. McLaurin Farms is open Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 28 until Dec. 29.

To see the full schedule, visit the McLaurin Farms website, mclaurinfarms. com, as well as the McLaurin Farms Facebook page. !

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 NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

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Pork Chop

Venison Meat Loaf

Chow Down with John Batchelor at The Prescott

BY JOHN BATCHELOR | john.e.batchelor@gmail.com Overall: Food: Elegant, using ingredients of exceptional quality, sourced nearby when feasible.

Ambience: Similar to a den or home library, you can actually carry on a conversation here.

Service: Knowledgeable, well-paced, cooperative.

Value: Prices strike me as quite reasonable for this level of dining.

Ratings range from Not Recommended or Acceptable to one (satisfactory), two (good), three (very good), four (excellent) or five (truly exceptional) stars. Most recent visit: Nov. 21

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he Prescott occupies a cozy space in downtown Kernersville. The interior feels rather like a home library or den, one of the few restaurants in the Triad where you can actually carry on a conversation.

Even during Wake Forest homecoming weekend, when the place was packed, we could hear each other without yelling. On balance, this is one of the most civilized dining venues in the Triad.

Executive chef-proprietor Trey Prescott earned a hospitality degree from Appalachian. Previous stints include Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock and The Umstead YES! WEEKLY

Salmon

Truffle Lobster Dip

in Cary. Daniel Dyson is the manager, and he came over from J.Pepper’s in Kernersville, where he worked with Prescott.

Both are Kernersville natives.

Farm to table is a central theme, and sources are identified. Sliced bread from Camino bakery in Winston-Salem is served with kale pesto and olive oil plus sorghum molasses butter.

Most starters look and taste elegant.

In the Truffle Lobster Dip, bright red lobster claw meat contrasts with green spinach leaves, hosted in a blend of goat cheese and white cheddar drizzled with truffle oil. This is best shared, given the level of richness, spread over crisp crostini, drizzled with olive oil and toasted.

Two large, perfectly seared, butterytender Scallops are presented over Corn

Pudding, a naturally sweet concoction that marries well with the flavor of the tender scallops. Bacon-onion jam flanks the main ingredients.

Two others fared less well. Farm Fondue places radishes, broccoli and carrots, along with bread pieces, alongside a bowl of warm white cheddar cheese spread.

The spread is quite tasty, and we liked it with the bread, but the vegetables, still chilled, seemed a mediocre match. Fried Kale suffers from tough stems, and the texture is a little greasy, albeit from olive oil, so the flavor is OK. If I had never had fried kale before (unfortunately in a restaurant that does it exactly right), I might have given this rendition modest praise.

Pamlico Shrimp, on the other hand, represents an original take on a perennial

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favorite. A blend of black walnuts and just enough horseradish to add gentle bite coat the deveined, jumbo shrimp, fried as crisp as a nut crust can be. Everyone gave the nutty flavor high marks.

I liked the food here so much I started inviting friends. Consequently, I have tasted almost all the entrées.

Wild Sockeye Salmon is dusted with smoked paprika and panseared, enhanced with horseradish butter. The salmon itself tastes pleasantly fresh, joined on the plate by puréed Yukon Gold potatoes and bright green spinach. The salmon came from Alaskaobviously, some ingredients don’t exist locally. Quality, cold water farmed North Atlantic salmon, is provided when wild is not available.

Chilean Seabass is very flavorful, a firm, thick white fish, well treated with lobster butter. It is presented over wild rice, flanked by broccolini and carrots, their freshness evident in flavor and texture.

Seafood Risotto is based on flavorful, well-executed risotto prepared with Carolina Gold rice (an heirloom variety), enhanced with dried tomatoes and spinach. Large shrimp are arrayed around the edges, a strip of salmon on top, plus two slices of tender scallop alongside.

The Double Cut Pork Chop is thick and juicy, providing pork flavor that I would rank as high as any I have ever had, swirled with seasoned natural jus, baked apple and plum slices, plus

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NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH

Bread Pudding

I liked the food here so much I started inviting friends. Consequently, I have tasted almost all the entrées. toasted pecans. The sweet potato hash is interspersed with goat cheese, which is a lovely combination. Firm Brussels sprouts round out this stellar conception.

Venison Meatloaf captures the inherent flavor of the meat itself. Incorporating it in meatloaf avoids the tendency of venison to be dryish and overly firm. The preparation utilizes unusually flavorful mushrooms, flanked by collard greens and rosemary-pomegranate bread pudding. Braised Short Rib is thick and moist, fork-tender, exuding excellent depth of flavor, flecked with hazelnuts, presented over puréed butternut squash. Spinach and carrots are the other vegetables.

The plate du jour on Saturday is Fried Chicken and Gravy. The chicken itself is especially fresh tasting, well served with exceptional braised collards. On Thursday, Beef Bourgignon is the special. The beef cuts are tender and deeply flavorful, even though they are virtually devoid of fat. Risotto is ladled with beef gravy.

If you want something more casual, the Burger uses prime beef, deeply flavorful, in a brioche bun with Bibb lettuce. Handcut fries are the real deal.

Most presentations include microgreens and shaved radish, adding nutrition as well as a variety of colors.

The Apple Brandy Bread Pudding incorporates toasted oats and brioche bread, topped with homemade maple-bourbon ice cream, all resting in an orange-caramel drizzle. Excellent as served, it would have been stellar with more sauce. I’m sure more would have been provided if we had requested it, but we ate the entire serving before our waiter had time to check back. Honey Almond Cheesecake was too cold upon arrival- firm in texturebut it didn’t last long enough at our table WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

to bloom properly. The Lemon Mousse, however, needed no accommodation. As served, with brightly colored blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries on top, the flavor of the mousse itself is simply exquisite.

Management tends to make itself known in restaurants more often by omission than commission. Patrons are likely to notice errors, whereas it’s not obvious when things just flow smoothly.

That’s the way it is here. Servers know the menu. Deliveries are accurate and paced appropriately for this level of dining. The wine list is large enough to offer attractive choices, and vintages are included.

Prices are reasonable. You simply can’t go wrong no matter what you decide, and you can find selections that are rarely available in other restaurants, if at all. Of course, if wine isn’t into you, other quality beverages are available, as well.

Open about a year, The Prescott already ranks among the Triad’s elite. !

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

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

DREW HOLCOMBE AND THE NEIGHBORS DEC. 31 • 2019

GREENSBORO COLISEUM

go?

The Prescott, 126 S. Main St., in Kernersville, (336) 310-4014, theprescottrestaurant.com. Hours: 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Appetizers: $9$18, Salads: $5-$14, Soups: $8-$10, Burger: $14, Entrées: $17-$42, Desserts: $6-$8

TICKETS ON SALE NOW TICKETMASTER.COM GREENSBORO COLISEUM BOX OFFICE

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

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The daring designs of Dairy Deputy

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airy Deputy’s designer toys are looking for playmates for the holidays. You can find them at the “Island of Misfit Toys: Designer Toy Show” Terry Rader going on through Jan. 1, 2020, at Dye Pretty Salon and Art Gallery Contributor in Winston-Salem. All designer toys at the show will be available for purchase throughout the holiday season. (There will also be a second meetand-greet with the artists on Dec. 1.)

Dairy Deputy, aka Brandon Owen (who prefers to go by “Dairy”), said he had been focused on the career potential behind his art through stickers, sticker-dispensing vending machines and comics for six years, although he has drawn all of his life. Dairy also sculpts handmade resin designer toys and makes the packaging. He said he loves creating his own world with characters that have satirical commentary of reality.

His designer toys range from $5 to $45, and each one is numbered on the back with a limited print run. “Goomsaga” is one of his best-selling toys in a limited edition of 225 units that costs $45 each. He has made close to 80 Goomsagas, of which 50-60 have sold. In total, Dairy said he has sold between 200 to 300 toys. He said people are shocked to learn that his toys are made by hand when they look like they YES! WEEKLY

were manufactured. This is a comment he considers both an insult and a compliment.

“Designer toys are a contemporary art form, but they are still kind of a misnomer to the general public,” he explained. “It’s a sculpture produced like you would design a toy for a kid, but if a famous artist produces 1,000 toys, then more people can have the design. Art is meant for everyone!”

Born in the states and being Korean, he said he took a “very Japanese thing,” kaiju (monster movies), and riffed on it to make toys like Goomsaga. Another one of his best-selling designer toys is “Greenbird,” which is a tentacle. He said Greenbird’s package is a “very cool looking phony meat tray with a paper towel covered in green liquid wrapped in package-grade plastic wrap so it looks like something you would buy from a meat counter.” The package clearly states, “Squid for Sale,” along with the caught date and a QR code.

(The buyer can scan the code on their phone, which will take them to a “secret document” that explains what Greenbird actually is: a squid that was shot out of an alien spaceship by the government.

The document goes on to explain how the government is trying to cover up Greenbird’s story.)

Dairy designs and draws all of his stickers himself and likes to keep it simple by charging $1 per sticker. He said Sticker App now produces his weatherproof vinyl stickers (for cars), but he still makes some by hand that are great on phones and stuff for his teenager and older clientele.

The first sticker vending machine, “The

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ckaged Goomsaga pa uty. ep D ry

by Dai Sticker Machine,” wasn’t his original idea.

He said it was given to Jeff Beck, artist and owner of the former Urban Grinders (now Café at Revolution) in Greensboro, who then gave it to him. Dairy and Beck filled it with their stickers. Dairy said he then began buying old ‘90s vending machines with busted gears and springs. He would fix it up, paint it and stock it with his original art stickers plus a few stickers by other artists Jane McCormick and Patricia Lauren. He now owns five vending machines and is looking for more machines and more places to put them.

Dairy’s day job is as an artist and graphic designer, as well as a social media manager and event coordination at COHAB Space in High Point. He said he is looking forward to artists living in residence at COHAB because that is his goal one day, along with opening a restaurant per his High Point University Bachelor’s degree in business administration and entrepreneurship.

What more may come from this 23-year-old’s mind? Dairy is working on a comic book that is 100% written and

illustrated by him. He plans to do four new toy releases a year plus custom painted skateboard decks. He also will continue co-designing a new role-playing game with Dan St. Germain. He has started a Kickstarter campaign for a 2020 beta book launch (minus the artwork).He said it will hopefully bring in the proceeds to complete the book being drawn by other artists that began while he was still in school.

“I really just love creating anything, and I always have from a very young age,” Dairy said. “I have drawn my own characters, and it’s wild to grow up and learn you actually have an audience for your art. I have a lot of passion. When I’m driving down the road, and I see one of my stickers on the back of a car, it’s empowering.” !

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

WANNA

go?

Now until Jan. 1, 2020, “Island of Misfit Toys Designer Toy Show.” On Dec. 1, meet the artists at Dye Pretty Salon and Art Gallery, 621 N. Trade St. in Winston-Salem. His work is also at Major Tomms, 608 N. Trade St. in Winston-Salem. Find Dairy every Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Drink & Draw at COHAB Space, 1547 W. English Rd. in High Point, Every Sat. and Sun. through Dec., 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Cohab Space Holiday Market will carry his toys. Almost daily posts: www.instagram.com/ dairy_deputy/

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Sea Salt Wind makes world premiere at Marketplace Cinemas

Mark Burger

Contributor

Zack Fox, who has distinguished himself as the cinematographer of such locally produced shorts as Ghosts of the Carolina and Trouble Will Cause, has completed his first film short as writer/producer/ director. It’s an intimate drama called Sea Salt Wind, and it will be screened Sunday, Dec. 8, at Marketplace Cinemas

in Winston-Salem.

Much of the cast and crew will be in attendance, and this event is free and open to the public. As a bonus, Uncle Otto’s Truck, the short based on Stephen King’s short story (which appeared in his 1985 anthology “Different Seasons”), for which Fox served as cinematographer, will also be screened.

“The film is about mistakes, love, flawed people, and self-penance,” Fox said. “Sea Salt Wind tells the story of a mysterious young lady riding around a land-locked city on a bike with a surfboard. She is serving a self-made penance while working in a food truck with a father figure after her passionate romance went wrong.”

“The inspiration for the film (occurred) four years ago when I was in Honolulu and saw a girl riding a bicycle with a surfboard mounted to it,” he continued. “She was riding in the middle of the city skyscrapers.

It was so interesting because if you didn’t know the ocean was just on the other side of those skyscrapers, it would have been strange and intriguing, to say the least.

That sparked the entire film.”

The film reunited Fox with producers Dan Sellers and Sammie Cassell at Wreak Havoc Productions, the Greensboro-based entity that made Uncle Otto’s Truck and has collaborated with Fox several times over the years.

“I’ve served as the DP (director of photography) on many projects with Wreak Havoc, and we have a great working relationship and trust,” Fox said. “I sent them the first draft hoping for help on the pre-production prep needed. This film is a drama – zero horror – so I wasn’t sure if they would be interested in coming on fully as the production team. They read the first draft and simply said, ‘We’re in.’ I’ve had their full support, and this film wouldn’t WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

have been made if it wasn’t for Sammie and Dan’s producing powers.”

“I’ve known for years what a talented and skilled cinematographer he is, but now he gets to prove his ability as a writer and director, and I’m so excited for people to see what he’s come up with,” Sellers said.

“With Sea Salt Wind, he’s brought more of himself and has really put his heart into his characters. This is certainly his story, and he’s telling it while wearing many hats: He’s the cinematographer, editor, writer, producer and director. My producing partner, Sammie Cassell, and I had the easiest jobs on this movie as producers, which was to believe in Zack and to work at accomplishing his vision.”

As the manager and projectionist at Marketplace Cinemas, Fox has expanded the theater to include special screenings, not just of his own work, but of Wreak Havoc’s premiere Winston-Salem screening of the true-crime documentary Trouble Will Cause in October 2018 and the world premiere of Countdown to Midnight last March, as well as the RiverRun International Film Festival’s upcoming screening of the documentary Hoops Africa on Dec. 5.

“Sea Salt Wind was always intended to be a feature film and still is,” Fox said. “I have an outline for a feature-length script, a lot of the story and background got dropped when writing the short to simplify the script. We’re planning on shopping this short film around as a trailer to help find funding for the full feature, much like Damien Chazelle did with Whiplash. We did no fundraising of any kind for this short film; the entire film was self-funded. As for the final result of the short, I’m extremely

pleased with it,” Fox said. “I’m very proud of this film for my first time out as writer/ director. The film takes place in WinstonSalem and Oak Island. We filmed on the beach of Oak Island. We worked with the town to secure the permits needed for filming, and they were very happy to have us there.”

“I’m thrilled for audiences to see not only the world premiere of Sea Salt Wind but also a special double screening of Uncle Otto’s Truck, for which Zack served as cinematographer,” Sellers said. “Uncle Otto won’t be available anywhere on DVD or streaming, so the only way for audiences to enjoy the film is theatrically at free screenings like this, or at a film festival.

Hopefully, the two films played back to back while complement each other well, and will especially showcase the tremendous talents of Zack Fox.” !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2019, Mark Burger.

WANNA

go?

The world premiere of Sea Salt Wind will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Marketplace Cinemas, 2095 Peters Creek Pkwy. in WinstonSalem. Admission is free. For more information, call (336) 725-4646 or visit the official Wreak Havoc Productions website: www.wreakhavocproductions.com/.

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

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21 Bridges: A bridge too far-fetched

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t’s just another night in New York City – or so it would seem – when a pair of heavilyarmed thieves (Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch) stroll Mark Burger into a Brooklyn restaurant to steal Contributor 30 kilos of uncut cocaine.

Imagine their surprise when they discover 300 kilos instead, followed moments later by the coincidental – or so it would seem – arrival of four officers from the 85th Precinct. What follows, as you might expect, is a violent bloodbath that leaves eight officers shot and the culprits at large, still armed and toting 50 kilos of that cocaine.

Thus begins 21 Bridges, an atmospheric shoot-’em-up that delivers the action goods but skimps on character and credibility. The film, directed by veteran small-screen helmer Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful), bears some thematic resemblance to the recent Black and Blue, but this film has none of that film’s racial subtext or moral irony, blunt as they were. This is a more straightforward and, ultimately, more predictable police procedural.

Chadwick Boseman, bringing gravitas to the proceedings, plays Andre Davis, a hard-boiled detective placed in charge of the case. We know Andre’s a good guy because his cop father was murdered in the line of duty years before, and he lives with his ailing mother (Adriane Lenox).

That Boseman is one of the film’s producers might also have something to do with it because 21 Bridges is a star turn through and through, not that he disappoints in that capacity.

The 85th Precinct’s Captain McKenna (J.K. Simmons) would like nothing more than to close this case as quickly and lethally as possible, all the better to spare the widows and orphans – and the precinct and the city – from further grief. It’s that last part that pretty much tips this narrative’s mitt.

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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

Davis orders a city-wide lockdown, shutting down all access in and out of the city, but his suspicions are soon aroused by how quickly his fellow officers tend to come across the culprits, often with guns blazing, even though he’s supposedly in charge.

Even Frankie Burns (Sienna Miller, sporting an acceptable New York accent), the narcotics detective paired with Davis, has a tendency to take emergency phone calls, ostensibly from her ill daughter. Something’s rotten in the Big Apple – right down to the core.

The bad guys may be bad, but the cops are clearly worse.

The screenplay, by Adam Mervis (who also penned the story) and Matthew Michael Carnahan, is familiar throughout, offering few surprises. It’s nice to have Simmons, Alexander Siddig, and reliable Keith Davis on hand, but that’s all they are – on hand.

One of the more interesting facets about Boseman’s Davis is that he uses his smarts to crack the case – even if the audience is already ahead of him — but in the end falls back on the old stereotypical “supercop” persona, blasting the bad guys away. Everything’s wrapped up neat and tidy and bloody. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2019, Mark Burger.

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theatre

STAGE IT!

The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem to Present An Old Salem Christmas Carol

T

he Little Theatre of WinstonSalem will present An Old Salem Christmas Carol, opening Friday, Dec. 6, at SECCA’s Dunn Auditorium, 750 Marguerite Dr. in Winston-Salem. Additional performances will be held Dec. 7-8, 11-15 and 18-22. Wednesday-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $23 for students; discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available online and the box office is open for phone sales Wednesday through Friday from noon–4 p.m. Call (336) 725-4001 for tickets or purchase them online at www.LTofWS. org.

A passing stranger is welcomed into Salem Tavern by a cheerful group celebrating Christmas Eve. In exchange for their kindness, he tells them a magical story… It’s 1787, and hard times have fallen on the people of Salem and nearby Bethabara. Poverty is striking the town and bad rains have hurt farms. Making things worse is Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly lender who’s foreclosing on mortgages and ruining the holidays for everyone. In the heart of Old Salem, can three spirits teach him the true meaning of Christmas? Based on the classic tale by Charles Dickens, this heartwarming local adaptation was written exclusively for The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem by playwright Stephen P. Scott.

“An Old Salem Christmas Carol seeks to draw the audience into its world by allowing them to experience this classic holiday story infused with the traditions of this wonderful Moravian community and much gentle humor,” states the director, Mark Donnell. “Our story asks, ‘What if Dickens had set his story within the Old Salem so many love and cherish, especially at Christmas time?’ We invite the community to join our outstanding cast as we discover together just such a scenario. We believe audiences will enter in wonder and depart with much joy.”

An Old Salem Christmas Carol will be directed by Mark Donnell. Allen Tyndall will design lighting and Chris Cohen will serve as props master. Cara Christensen will design costumes, assisted by Ashley

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Magoffin. Isaac Hampton will stage manage the production, assisted by Christa Hitengoku.

The cast is as follows: Apolonia Mia Alba –Suzanna Brown Fritz Anderson – Tiny Tim Eden Bailey – Tiny Tim Justin Bailey – Bob Cratchit Roberts Bass – Solicitor/Fezziwig Jonny Boger – William Moody/Peter Cratchit Anmarie Boles - Niece James Davis – Jon Kettle/Fritz Buehl/ Undertaker Ruby Giegengack – Belinda Cratchit Diana Goldstein – Moll/Mrs. Dilber Noah Goldstein – Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be Karin Haski - Verity Laura Hix – Ghost of Christmas Present Julia Holgado – Solicitor’s Assistant Sarah Jedrey – Ghost of Christmas Past Gabriel Jensen – Young Scrooge Isaac Klein – Ben Moody/Jacob Marley Jason Lagesse – Charlie Cale Palmer – Hamilton Moore/Fred Kintzy Caroline Petronzio - Fan Lauren Rahill – Fran/Maid Lilly Rana – Belinda Cratchit Parker Ross – William Moody/Peter Cratchit Meredith Stephens – Scrooge Sarah Stephens – Belle Abby Thomas – Martha Cratchit Stacy Verner – Liz Moody/Mrs. Lillian Brown Evelyn Winslow – Mrs. Cratchit

Nov 28 - Dec 5

[RED]

FORD V FERRARI (PG-13) LUXURY SEATING Fri - Thu: 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 10:15 MIDWAY (PG-13) LUXURY SEATING Fri - Thu: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 JOJO RABBIT (PG-13) LUXURY SEATING Fri - Thu: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:10 KNIVES OUT (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 1:20, 4:30, 7:20, 10:10 QUEEN & SLIM (R) Fri & Sat: 12:00, 2:55, 5:50, 8:45, 11:40 Sun - Thu: 12:00, 2:55, 5:50, 8:45 21 BRIDGES (R) Fri & Sat: 12:10, 2:30, 4:50, 7:10, 9:35, 11:55 Sun - Thu: 12:10, 2:30, 4:50, 7:10, 9:35 A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (PG) Fri - Thu: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 CHARLIE’S ANGELS (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 10:15 PM FORD V FERRARI (PG-13) Fri & Sat: 1:45, 5:20, 8:30, 11:40 Sun - Thu: 1:45, 5:20, 8:30

[A/PERTURE] Nov 28 - Dec 5

THE GOOD LIAR (R) Fri - Thu: 2:40, 5:10, 7:40 THE REPORT (R) Fri - Thu: 12:05, 10:10 DOCTOR SLEEP (R) Fri - Thu: 3:40, 9:50 THE IRISHMAN (R) Fri - Thu: 12:05, 4:15, 8:25 LAST CHRISTMAS (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 10:05 PM PLAYING WITH FIRE (PG) Fri - Thu: 12:25, 2:50, 5:20, 7:35 HARRIET (PG-13) Fri - Thu: 1:10, 4:10, 7:15 THE LIGHTHOUSE (R) Fri - Thu: 12:20, 2:45, 5:05, 7:25, 9:40 JOKER (R) Fri - Thu: 12:50, 7:05

KNIVES OUT (PG-13) Fri: 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 Sat & Sun: 9:45 AM, 12:30, 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 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 IRISHMAN (R) Fri: 7:30 PM, Sat: 2:45 PM Sun - Tue: 7:30 PM, Thu: 7:30 PM FRANKIE (PG-13) Fri: 4:00, 6:45 Sat & Sun: 11:00 AM, 4:00, 6:45 Mon: 6:30 PM, Tue: 4:00, 6:30 Wed: 6:30 PM, Thu: 4:00, 6:30 JOJO RABBIT (PG-13) Fri: 2:30, 5:00 Sat: 9:30 AM, 12:00, 7:15, 9:45 Sun: 9:30 AM, 12:00, 2:30, 5:00 Mon: 5:00 PM, Tue: 2:30, 5:00 Wed: 9:15 PM, Thu: 2:30, 5:00 PARASITE (R) Fri: 3:45, 6:30, 9:00 Sat & Sun: 10:15 AM, 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:00 Mon: 6:00, 8:45, Tue: 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 Wed: 5:45, 8:45, Thu: 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 PAIN AND GLORY (R) Fri: 9:15 PM, Sat: 1:30, 9:30 Sun: 1:30, 9:15 Mon - Thu: 9:00 PM

311 W 4th Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 336.722.8148

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP will sponsor the run of An Old Salem Christmas Carol.

An Opening Night Reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, in the lobby. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served, as well as wine courtesy of Raffaldini Vineyards.

An Old Salem Christmas Carol runs approximately an hour and a half, plus one 15-minute intermission. It is appropriate for ages 3+.

For further information, please visit www.LTofWS.org or call (336) 725-4001. !

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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leisure

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[NEWS OF THE WEIRD] CURIOUS TRADITION

Animal Help Now, a group that assists in “animal emergencies,” has gathered almost 160,000 signatures on a petition to repeal legislation allowing Chuck Shepherd “Possum Drops” in North Carolina. In a number of communities in the state, the custom of putting an opossum in a transparent box, suspending it in the air and then slowly lowering it to the ground is a feature of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Organizers in Brasstown told the Raleigh News & Observer they ended its Possum Drop after the 2018 event because it’s “a hard job to do, and it’s time to move on,” but they maintained that the tradition does “absolutely nothing to harm” the animal. Animal Help Now, however, is continuing its campaign against the state statute that makes it legal for people to treat opossums however they wish between the dates of Dec. 29 and Jan. 2.

BRIGHT IDEAS

— Maybe they’re betting no woman will reveal what she weighs in public, but the Fusion Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is offering women free drink credits based on their weight. For example, a woman who weighs 150 pounds would receive about $18.50 in free cocktails. Anil Kumar, spokesman for the club, told Insider that while they have a scale behind the bar, they will also accept a woman’s word about what she weighs. “They can

just write the weight on a paper and give it to the bartender discreetly,” he said. “Very simple, no strings attached.

We wanted the ladies to surprise their partners and friends that it’s good to gain weight!”

— A 16-year-old boy was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents on Nov. 17 after an agent saw him hiding in brush about a mile north of the Otay Mesa Point of Entry near San Diego. Authorities said the teenager had a remote-control car with him, along with two large duffel bags stuffed with 50 packages of methamphetamines, weighing more than 55 pounds and worth more than $106,000.

Border Patrol spokesman Theron Francisco told The San Diego Union-Tribune that authorities believe the car was used to carry the bundles across the border, making many trips through the bollard-style fence from the south side and driving to the teen on the north side. The boy was charged with drug smuggling and held in Juvenile Hall.

YEAH, NO

If you’re passing through the seaside city of Fukuoka, Japan, here’s a tip for a cheap hotel: A night in room No. 8 at the Asahi Ryokan will cost you just $1.

And your privacy. In return for the low rate, your entire stay in your room will be livestreamed on YouTube. Hotel manager Tetsuya Inoue told CNN on Nov. 20 that while the world can watch the room’s guests, there is no audio, so conversations and phone calls can remain private.

Also, the bathroom is out of camera range. And, of course, guests can turn out the lights. “Our hotel is on the cheaper

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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

Presented by

side,” Inoue said, “so we need some added value, something special that everyone will talk about.”

mothballs in her purse; she was charged with arson, inducing panic and criminal damaging.

AWESOME!

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED

Over the past five years, 12 separate bundles of cash, totaling nearly $45,000, have turned up on sidewalks in the quiet, beachside English village of Blackhall Colliery, posing a mystery for local Detective Constable John Forster. “These bundles are always ... discovered by random members of the public who have handed them in,” Forster told 9News, although he did admit he suspects some bundles have not been turned over to police. Officials have no evidence of a crime committed related to the bundles, usually containing about 2,000 pounds apiece. After a period of time, if no one claims them, the folks who discovered the bundles will get to keep them.

COMPELLING EXPLANATION

Police and firefighters in Liberty, Ohio, were called to the Liberty Walmart on the afternoon of Nov. 16 to find a car on fire in the parking lot, reported WFMJ. Owner Stephanie Carlson, 40, told them there was a can of gas in the trunk and she had lighted a candle to get rid of the smell, but she later admitted she had poured gas on the seats and started the fire with a lighter because the car was dirty and there was a problem with the front wheel. The car belonged to her husband, who said he had been looking for her all day, and also told officers she had allegedly been found huffing mothballs and paint thinner recently. Police took her into custody and found a lighter and

After the death of their uncle, Sifiso Justice Mhlongo, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, Thandaza Mtshali and Thobeka Mhlongo ran into trouble trying to settle a claim on his life insurance. According to The Daily Star, Old Mutual required confirmation the man had passed away and delayed payment because they were waiting for “additional assessments.” So on Nov. 19, the women went to the funeral home, retrieved their uncle’s body and took it to the company’s local office. “They said they had paid the money into our bank account and we wanted to be sure,” Mtshali said, “so we left the body at their office and went to check at the bank.” When they had their money, they returned the body to the funeral home, and Mr. Mhlongo now rests in a family burial plot. Old Mutual pronounced the incident “most unsettling,” and promised a full investigation, but Muzi Hlengwa, spokesman for the National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa, said the matter was far from over: “The rituals that were supposed to be done to move the body from one place to another were not done. The soul of that man is still left at the Old Mutual, so they will have to cover the costs of performing these rituals.” !

© 2019 Chuck Shepherd. Universal Press Syndicate.

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

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[KING CROSSWORD]

[WEEKLY SUDOKU]

WOMEN WITH A CONNECTION

ACROSS 1 6 9 12 15 18 19 21 23 25

26 27 28 29 30 32 34 35 37 38 39 40 41 42 45 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 57 59 61 63 67 70

Emanates (from) Get — on (ace) Diner fave False show Girl coming out in society Plain to see Its capital is Minsk Lion-headed monster ANNE Department in eastern France Munic. statute Juan’s emphatic assent 1,501, to Caesar Grad’s “with honor” Begin a PC session DIANA Monastery garments French fauvist Dufy Favorable vote Vegas stake “Ooh” or “tra” follower Actor MacLeod — -Z (completely) Actress Henner AMY Recycling holder Stimpy’s cartoon pal Exclude — Aviv Small songbird Cordon — (veal dish) Stuck in Ill-bred fellow “Rambo” site, in brief Tiny biting midge EMMA Sun block?

Mel whose “4” was retired

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71 72 76 77 79 81 83 84 85 89 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 102 103 104 105 107 109

Make a face Sternward De-wrinkle Suffix with Motor Huge bird of legend One + two, in German No, in Ayr Amer. soldiers JANE Walk showily Feast on It may be stainless Soothe Tiny charged bit Oktoberfest “Oh!” Driver’s 180 Gillis in an old sitcom KATE Amaze the audience NATO, e.g.

Sleep acronym Bric-a- — Ignited, as a match Would have, given the chance 110 GRACE 113 Stable troughs 114 Sidestepped 115 Information tech mag 116 What “+” may mean 117 Grain staple 118 Rainy 119 Mag workers 120 Pee Wee whose “1” was retired

DOWN 1 2 3

Vocalist Perry Burdened excessively Lea

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 20 22 24 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 54 56 58

Make a goof Balanced condition Simple skills Old brand of grape soda Stein filler Wedding-related Clearheaded Chinese philosopher Lao- — Charge with an offense Munch (on) Area at the top of a PC window Amount the insured must first pay Abrade Less adorned Military division More spiteful — Tin Tin (TV dog) Shout Queen’s onetime rock genre Crime film genre Inauguration Day highlight Actress Bow How an extremist acts Online user’s self-image Emerald, e.g.

Happy as — “So am I” In — of (rather than) “One” on a U.S. penny Ice cream drinks One with a six-year term Color related to emerald or pistachio Telly network, with “the” Oomph Indigo Girls, e.g.

60 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 73 74 75 78 80 82 85 86 87 88 90 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 105 106 108 110 111 112

“So tasty!”

Sluggish type Actress Deschanel Parade walk Soap opera, informally Boars, e.g.

Opera highlight Locale of Mount Erebus Title girl of a Poe poem Exact copies Little laugh Comic actor Don Client Pipe fitter’s elbow City in west California Locale of Waikiki Flabbergast “That hurts!”

Swindling, slangily For neither profit nor loss System of online newsgroups Stevedore “— mia!”

Brand of fat substitute Prefix with cellular Was behind the wheel Female WWII server Needed suturing, say Frees oneself (of) Little fella Mandible or maxilla Honored Fr. woman Female with a fleece

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5 fun facts for Thanksgiving table talk

D

ropping some knowledge can distract you from wanting to punch Uncle Gene. Everyone meets Uncle Gene at some holiday gathering, even if Ian McDowell his name’s not Gene, and he’s not related to anyone there.

Contributor Four years ago, he ranted that the porkeating centrist corporacrat in the White House was a secret Marxist Muslim. Last year, he grumbled about “heritage” being “erased.”

Any talk of politics, or even the weather, ends with Gene opening his mouth for speech rather than turkey. So, here’s a listicle of subjects that may flummox Gene into silence.

Children celebrating “second Halloween” All photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and 800 other Spanish settlers celebrated the first Thanksgiving at St. Augustine in Spanish La Florida YES! WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

Thanksgiving used to be a second Halloween Before you stuffed your real face, you wore a false one. Children wore creepy butcher-paper masks and begged doorto-door for pennies. Adults dressed not as pilgrims and gobblers, but as pirates and goblins.

Origins included Europeans bringing carnival traditions to the New World, children spoofing real beggars (something it would have been in bad taste to do at Christmas), college hepcats wanting to be sexy chorus girls and flappers wanting to be gangsters (there was a lot of crossdressing), and poor immigrants spoofing stuffy formal parades. It died out due to “public moral” crackdowns, the rise of the Macy’s parade and radio popularizing Ivy League football.

The first Thanksgiving wasn’t at Plymouth On Sept. 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and 800 Spanish settlers celebrated the founding of St. Augustine in Spanish La Florida with a Mass of Thanksgiving, followed by a feast to which they invited the local Seloy tribe.

That’s right, the first Thanksgiving in the New World was held by Spanishspeaking immigrants. If Thursday is a potluck or you’re the host, you can make or bring Cocido Madrileño, which is what the Spanish ate. Or, as the Seloy may have done, you can bring venison, eel or mullet.

Neither was the second Thanksgiving In December of 1619, two years before the famous feast at Plymouth, John Woodlief and his crew of 35 settlers

Writer, editor and abolitionist Sarah Josepha Hale popularized the idea of having turkey for Thanksgiving

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landed on the shores of the James River in Virginia, where they held the first English speaking Thanksgiving in the New World. Their feast probably wasn’t much, just their remaining rations, which may have included salt pork, and to which they may have added local oysters. They were wiped out by the Powhatan two years later, just as the Plymouth settlers were having their first skirmish with the Narragansett. The Powhatan knew what was up.

The South considered Thanksgiving “Yankee propaganda” By the Civil War, Thanksgiving celebrations were associated with Massachusetts, the state the South considered the Lair of Abolition. That’s why some in the Richmond government called North Carolina, and particularly its very Unionist Piedmont, “the Massachusetts of the South.” Editor, writer and abolitionist Sarah Josepha Hale, whose bestselling Northwood: Life North and South contrasted regressive plantation society with progressive New England, popularized the idea of the Thanksgiving turkey.

She lobbied the federal government for decades to make the celebration a national holiday. In 1863, Lincoln did just that. But, of course, this made it even less popular with the Dixiecrat aristocracy, who seceded because they believed, with the all the fervor of Uncle Gene calling President Barack Obama a Marxist Muslim, that the new president and his

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party were out to free the slaves.

OK, Uncle Gene will probably have opinions on most of the above topics, after all. But here’s one that should be completely neutral. If Uncle Gene doesn’t like giant monster movies, roast him instead of the turkey.

Thanksgiving is Godzilla and King Kong Day If you were a kid living in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut (which, despite the descriptor, also includes parts of Pennsylvania) between 1976 and 1975, your favorite thing about the holiday might have been WOR-TV Channel 9’s Thanksgiving Day monster movie marathons. These were sponsored by the Crazy Eddie (“His prices are insaaaaane!”) consumer electronics chain and commercial playground equipment manufacturer Playworld. The movie line-up, which would eventually extend through Black Friday, typically included Godzilla, King Kong, King Kong Vs. Godzilla, Son of Kong, Son of Godzilla, King Kong Escapes, and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster.

Here, Uncle Gene, have some kaiju with your turkey. !

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.

School suspension policy needs clarity When I was in high school a hundred years ago, it was not unusual for two guys to get into a fistfight over one thing or another. I had one of those encounters myself, and afterward, ended Jim Longworth up in the principal’s office. The principal, a former coach, Longworth read me the riot act, at Large told me, ‘It better not happen again,’ then sent me back to class. It was the last time I engaged in fisticuffs during my high school career.

I realize that today, too many school fights involve weapons, and when that happens, suspensions and expulsions may be warranted. But my point is that sometimes, student misbehavior should not warrant anything more than a warning, and that brings me to the Guilford School Board, and their recent decision to allow parents to appeal their child’s short-term suspension.

In the past, it has been up to the school principal to sign off on shortterm suspensions, and their word was pretty much final. However, earlier this month, the Board voted 6 to 3 to implement a new, two-step policy for appealing suspensions of 10 days or less.

First, parents can take their case to the principal’s direct supervisor, and if not satisfied, they can then appeal directly to the superintendent. The reaction to the new policy has been mixed. Most educators I have spoken with, including former superintendents, are opposed to adding another layer of red tape to the process. “I am totally against allowing appeals of short term suspensions because it creates way too much due process and is cumbersome,” said one former administrator. Current Guilford School Board members Darlene Garrett and Pat Tillman also have a problem with the new policy. Speaking with the Greensboro News & Record, Tillman said, “This is a solution without a problem,” while Garrett remarked that it would “undermine principals as well as safety in schools.” Parent Steve Mitchell told the Greensboro News & Record that the new appeals process would, “embolden

student misbehavior and bog down schools in paperwork.”

On the flip side, Board chair Deena Hayes-Greene and many other parents welcome any policy that would help further clarify the rationale for a short-term suspension, which, if let stand, would be reflected on the student’s permanent record. I’ve never been a parent, but I’ve been a student, and from that perspective, I support any process that could lessen or avoid a suspension for a minor violation. My problem with this matter, however, lies not so much with the new policy, as it does with how short-term suspensions are identified in the first place.

According to the Guilford County Schools’ Code of Conduct, there are over a dozen categories of violations which could warrant a short-term suspension, among them: using insulting or harassing language; inappropriate or lewd behavior; fighting with another student; cheating; non-compliance with direction of teachers; gambling; use of tobacco products; and, misbehaving on a school bus.

But here’s the fly in the ointment.

After reading through Guilford’s entire Code of Conduct section, I couldn’t find a table or chart that specified the exact number of days suspension that are issued for a specific violation. As one former Superintendent told me, “Some level of discretion is provided to principals for certain acts.” That means if Johnny punches Sam in the stomach, the number of days he will be suspended can vary from school to school, and that’s no way to run a railroad. Public schools need to codify the exact number of days your child will be suspended if they commit a particular offense. Doing so would give parents and students an advance warning about consequences, and perhaps eliminate the need for modified policies regarding an appeals process.

I learned early on that warnings can be an effective method for improving student behavior and preventing suspensions altogether. I just hope our area school boards can learn that same lesson. !

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).

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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More than shelters needed for Greensboro homeless to have ‘safe place to stay’ On Thursday, millions of Americans will gorge themselves in ritualized thankfulness, then sleep it off in warm bedrooms they own or rent. Earlier this month, three local academics issued the Ian McDowell findings from surveys of over 200 GreensContributor boro residents who lack even bedrooms to be thankful for.

A Safe Place to Stay: Combating Homelessness, Police Violence and Jim Crow in Greensboro, is an 85-page report by Guilford College professors Krista Craven,Ph.D., and Sonalini Sapra, Ph.D., and University of North Carolina at Greensboro professor Justin Harmon, Ph.D., researched and presented in collaboration with the Homeless Union of Greensboro. The document argues that affordable permanent housing, rather than shelter beds or other temporary “band-aid” solutions, is what Greensboro’s homeless need most. It also alleges that the city’s homeless are regularly abused by the Greensboro Police Department.

The third and longest of the report’s seven sections, “The Criminalization of

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Homelessness and Legal Representation,” begins by calling the homeless “more likely to be harassed, cited or arrested by the police departments that enforce ordinances targeting those in poverty (e.g., laws the prohibit vagrancy, panhandling, loitering, sleeping in public).” The section ends with five pages on the police homicide of Marcus Deon Smith, the homeless African-American man fatally hogtied by GPD officers during the 2018 North Carolina Folk Festival.

Co-author Harmon, an assistant professor of Community and Therapeutic Recreation in the UNCG School of Health and Human Sciences, wrote in an email that the report was conceived several months before Smith’s death, but includes it “both out of respect for his life and the need to keep the case in the public eye.”

Smith’s death, Harmon stated, “highlights several major problems in Greensboro, including stigma/profiling, the need for mental health resources and training, and government’s unparalleled power in controlling narratives.”

Harmon made those statements in email correspondence with YES! Weekly and Sapra, engaged teaching specialist in the Guilford College Political Science Department. Harmon and Sapra’s coauthor Krista Craven, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Justice and Police Studies at Guilford College, is on parental leave

November 27 - Decemer 3, 2019

through February and was unavailable for an interview.

“I think the Marcus Deon Smith case exemplifies what we are trying to demonstrate in our report around the systematic criminalization of people experiencing homelessness in Greensboro,” Sapra wrote in an email. “His death was completely avoidable had the city taken more effective steps to stop harassing and criminalizing people living on the street.”

Section 3.1 of the report, “Interactions Between Homeless Persons and Law Enforcement Officers in Greensboro,” names 10 GPD officers as having the highest percentage of arrests or citations of homeless African-Americans on “nuisance” offenses. The study’s methodology determined as homeless those whose arrest or citation report listed their permanent address as the Interactive Resource Center (IRC) or Greensboro Urban Ministries (GUM). The officers allegedly targeting black homeless men in the report are Samuel A. Alvarez, William D. Coble, Christopher A. Ferguson, Detraveus K. Forte, Thomas A. Henderson, Matthew L. Hukill, Michael C. Miller, Wayne S. Morrison, Willson J. Moss and Brent R. Sepulveda.

Using the results of public information requests, the report tallied arrests made and citations issued by those 10 officers for violating city statues and ordinances

against the following: Standing, Sitting or Lying Upon Highways or Streets; Failure to Leave Premises; Second Degree Trespass; Blocking or impeding streets or sidewalk access; Urinating or defecating in public; Solicitation and Distribution of items in public parking garages and public parking lots; Harassing in Public Places; and Begging or Soliciting Alms.

According to figure 3.4 on page 24, Percentage of Total of Arrests/Citations by Officer of Individuals who are Black and also listed IRC/GUM as their Address, between January 2017 and May 2019, 100% of all individuals arrested or cited by officers Miller and Forte on these eight counts are black and homeless, as are 94.4% of those arrested or cited by Henderson and 85.2% of those cited or arrested by Alvarez on the same counts during the same timeframe.

“That black/homeless males appear to have been singled out for harassment, citation, and arrest is concerning,” wrote Harmon in an email, but he emphasized that the report’s ultimate objective is more than just fault-finding.

“This is nothing more than a resource to help the city move forward in making sweeping changes to help the community get better.”

To that end, the report concludes with “Policy Proposals by the Homeless Union of Greensboro,” quoted verbatim below:

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1. We have a right to self-determination: We demand a seat at the table and a say in policies that affect our lives. We call on local government to develop a plan to combat homelessness that is accountable to the needs and priorities of people experiencing homelessness by including them in decision-making processes from the start.

2. Everybody’s got a right to live: We demand an immediate end to police harassment, brutality, and the killing of people.

In particular, we call for an immediate end to targeting and violence towards black people, other people of color, LGBTQIA people, people living with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and other marginalized people. We demand accountability and citizen oversight for police and public employees who violate the rights of citizens.

3. Housing is a human right: We demand safe, decent, and affordable housing fit for human beings, not underfunded Band-Aid services.

4. We have a right to living wages and adequate compensation: We demand living wage employment and real opportunities to escape poverty and homelessness.

5. We have a right to due process: We demand fair treatment before the court for low-income people. This means adequate legal representation in both criminal and civil courts – including evictions – and an end to the money bail system.

6. Healthcare is a human right: We demand adequate access to healthcare and services such as emergency shelters, hygiene facilities, and places that serve food. We demand that all service providers respect our rights, involve clients in decision-making, and have a fair grievance process for clients/guests.

7. We have a right to be treated with dignity: We demand access to non-police emergency services. Non-police personnel are best equipped to deal with and de-escalate crisis related to mental health, drug-use, and medical emergencies.

8. Everyone has a right to a safe place to stay. Homelessness is not a crime: We demand safe and legal places for people experiencing homelessness to sleep without the fear of police harassment and violence.

9. We have a right to be secure in our persons and free from unreasonable searches and seizures: We demand local government adopt policies to protect the rights of people experiencing homelessness.

10. We have a right to equal treatment and opportunity: All people addressing issues related to homelessness ought to commit to anti-racism and anti-oppression work and view it as central to that work.

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Homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk in Atlanta Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In an email, Sapra described the report as originating in an April 2018 conversation between Harmon and Marcus Hyde of the Homeless Union of Greensboro.

“They talked about the possibility of doing more systematic research on homelessness in Greensboro. Justin reached out to me and asked if I was interested. He convened a meeting in the early summer of 2018 with faculty from both Guilford College and UNC Greensboro. In the end, students from Guilford and UNCG collected the data, and the report was compiled

by Krista, Justin, myself, with input from the Homeless Union of Greensboro.”

Harmon described Sapra and Craven as using a methodology called Participatory Action Research (PAR).

“That methodology is very time-consuming, but its purpose (and value) is to draw from the expertise and preferences of those whom are the object of investigation (i.e., those experiencing homelessness).”

“We touched base with the Homeless Union and the Greensboro Urban Ministry at several points during the research process and also engaged in collaborative data analysis with the Homeless Union,” Sapra elaborated.

Hyde described the process further.

“We wanted to do an in-depth survey of folks on the streets to learn more about their priorities, so we began doing surveys on our own as a group. Then, I brought up the idea of doing it with academics, and the group got excited. Sonalini, Krista and Justin were the three who were willing and able to put the hard work into doing a community-driven survey.”

Hyde also explained why the report

devotes so much space to police harassment.

“The number of times the same officers were named by participants is shocking.

They are known problems that the police department has covered for over a long period of time, Samuel Alvarez being one.

He was involved in the Jose Charles case, the Zared Jones case, and other cases of police misconduct and people on the streets have named him many times as an especially cruel officer who goes beyond his legal authority to harass and harm black people and people experiencing homelessness.”

Hyde said that while he appreciated the coverage other media outlets have given to the issue of alleged police harassment, he’s been disappointed by the lack of attention to the report’s final recommendations.

“We offered a litany of policies that would both reduce homelessness in Greensboro and improve conditions for people experiencing it. Housing is the only long-term solution to homelessness, and it’s also – as the report indicates – cheaper than keeping people in a cycle of shelters, emergency rooms and jail.”

Hyde also repeated a point brought up

by Beth Mckee-Huger, retired executive director of the Greensboro Housing Coalition, at the Nov. 12 presentation of the report at McGirt-Horton Library.

“Voters in Greensboro passed a $25 million affordable housing bond in 2016, but they haven’t prioritized low-income housing, which is needed the most.

Instead, they dump a lot of money into middle-income housing, which may be $800-$900 per month, and because they

leverage a lot of private capital in the process, the city likes to celebrate those developments, even when they are placed in low-income neighborhoods where the pre-existing housing is cheaper than the new ‘affordable’ housing is being built.

Low-income housing is what’s needed most, but the city isn’t prioritizing it.”

In a text last Thursday, Michelle Kennedy, executive director of the Interactive Resource Center and At-large Representative to the Greensboro City Council, appeared to agree with at least some of the report’s findings.

“Yes, we lack affordable housing options,” Kennedy wrote. “The City is moving forward with partners for a large scale Permanent Supportive Housing development.”

She appeared to agree with the report’s findings on the burden imposed on Greensboro’s homeless population by court costs and the cash bail system, stating those expenses “are especially hard on folks we [the IRC] serve.”

Kennedy also stated that Greensboro lacks adequate shelter beds.

“Our shelter system is a high barrier, which creates difficulties for those with the highest acuity.”

Of the arrest and citation figures, Kenney texted that “our homeless community is disproportionately black and male, so any data around homeless [and] police interactions will show disproportionality.” !

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.

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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The Ninja Daughter: A kickass, feminist action thriller If I was a mystery novelist and Polis Books, the publisher of Tori Eldridge’s The Ninja Daughter, asked me for a blurb, here’s what I’d send them: “Tori Eldridge, in a masterly display of literary osoto-gari, Ian McDowell sweeps you into her narrative and leaves you as breathless as Contributor an expertly-applied shime-waza.”

Those are judo terms for a foot sweep and a chokehold.

Unlike Eldridge, I never studied To-Shin Do Ninjutsu, in which she has a fifth-degree black belt (I only got to a green one in judo). She writes about her art well enough to convince this reader that her heroine Lily Wong could easily kick the ass of someone much bigger, younger and tougher than me.

Here’s Lily dealing with a would-be rapist: “Sonofabitch,” I yelled, and kneed his balls so far into his gut they wouldn’t drop for a week. He howled in pain – not just from his impacted testicles, but from the

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zipper that had ripped his exposed scrotum from stern to stem. Justice was a bitch. And tonight, that bitch was me.

Lily, like her creator, is a Chinese-American woman proficient in Japanese martial art, but Eldridge, whom I recently had dinner with (along with some of her fellow ninjas), stresses that her heroine isn’t autobiographical.

“My first novel is about a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja in Los Angeles with Joy Luck Club family issues,” she told a room full of fans and her former To-Shin Do classmates in Chapel Hill’s Flyleaf Books two weeks ago.

“I happen to be a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja who’s lived in Los Angeles for 35 years, and trust me when I say I have Joy Luck Club family issues. But Lily isn’t me.”

For one thing, unlike her young Angelino heroine, Eldridge was born in Hawaii. And although she looks decades younger, she’s a 50-year-old retired dancer and actress who was a regular on The Love Boat, and who didn’t set foot in a dojo until after her son began studying Tang Soo Do, the Korean variant of karate practiced by Chuck Norris. Eldridge said she was fascinated by cinematic martial arts as a kid.

“A close friend’s mother owned a the-

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

ater in Honolulu’s Chinatown, where we watched kung fu movies and played in the rafters. My friend’s grandfather was the famous Hong Kong movie mogul, Sir Run Run Shaw, AKA Shao Yifu.”

But Eldridge’s mother nixed actually studying martial arts, or any other physical activity but dance.

“I was asked to join the swim team, the soccer team and the gymnastics team, but my mother would always say, ‘You have to choose between the new sport or dance.’

Since I had my sights on Broadway, I always chose dance. It wasn’t until I had retired, had children, and put our eldest son into karate that I finally stepped on the mat.”

On Broadway, she was in The Little Prince and the Aviator with Michael York then toured with Anthony Quinn in Zorba before returning to New York for Marvin Hamlisch’s Smile. Then she was Tantomile in the first national company of Cats. When she moved to Los Angeles, she landed a regular role on The Love Boat as one of the Love Boat Mermaids, recorded an unreleased album with Brian Wilson, and did a half-dozen episodes of a Valley of the Dolls cable series.

“The most fun I had on a job was my motion-capture performances for [heroine] Aki Ross and [supporting character]

Jane in the [CGI] film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.”

I asked her if, like her idol (and mine) Michelle Yeoh, she had to unlearn anything when switching from dance to martial arts.

“When I first studied Tang Soo Do, it took a while to learn to turn in my hips.

Much of what we do in dance, especially ballet, opens the hips rather than closes them. The stances in Tang Soo Do, as with many karate-type arts, are either neutral or closed, meaning pigeon-toed. When I began training in Ninjutsu, the dance background helped tremendously, but I had to break habits learned in karate.”

Library Journal called The Ninja Daughter the “mystery debut of the month” and “an action-packed adventure that doesn’t neglect character development and speaks truth about the human condition,” while Booklist praised its “tough, snarky, and grudgingly vulnerable” heroine.

More about the novel and its author can be found at torieldridge.com. In the Triad, it’s available at Scuppernong Books, Bookmarks, and Barnes and Noble. !

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.

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November 27 - Decemer 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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tunes

HEAR IT!

T

Black Friday weekend rundown

he Thanksgiving weekend has a lot of things.

There’s epic eating, epic shopping, and epic efforts to get out on the town.

Floods of people John Adamian return home for the @adamianjohn weekend, people who have taken jobs in other regions, Contributor gone off to college, relocated, or just haven’t been back in town for ages. Most are eager to reconnect with friends they haven’t seen in a while. Falling as it does on a Thursday, Thanksgiving always means a long weekend for most people.

There’s something, too, about the start of the whole turbo-charged gift-giving season and commerce-on-steroids that can make some of us seek solace or escape in other types of consumption. And it generally means an extended amount of multigenerational face-to-face time, inviting discussions about the state of one’s life, the state of the world, politics and pop culture. Let’s face it, the whole thing can get pretty old fast. Siblings, nieces and nephews, the crush of the extended family — it’s not for everybody.

And after a protracted meal, heroic pie intake, cleaning up and possibly a round of celebratory drinks, one is generally ready to take a break from their kin and reconnect with friends. To recon-

vene with those in less fraught settings where the conversation is necessarily constrained by volume levels that are a little more boisterous. For live music, Thanksgiving is probably one of the best weekends of the whole year. New Year’s Eve has the element of enforced good cheer, which makes some of the more contrary-minded among us decide to do the opposite of what’s expected and just stay home to avoid the crush. But at Thanksgiving, all the old gang is in town, and people are generally ready for a good time. If you find yourself looking to get out of the house, there are a number of solid live-music events happening in the region over the weekend.

Nov. 27: Night Sweats Flat Iron, Greensboro Even before all of the holiday eating kicks into effect, you may find yourself in need of some cathartic punk-rock release. Greensboro hardcore-punks Night Sweats will be on hand to blast away some of your bad feelings, channeling your ill will about, say, the fact that white nationalists seem to hold positions of power in the White House, or about the way that many of us live with crushing debt while the mega-rich seem to have engineered a system that protects their wealth and exploits our labor.

The band just released the EP We Exist To Resist, a title which might suggest a perspective that’s locked into opposition, defined by its antithetical relationship to the dominant paradigm. Sure, there are limits to that approach, but sometimes

Bluegrass Christmas Concert — featuring —

BLUE RIDGE JAMES Thursday, December 5 @ 7pm

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Also hosting Hickory Tree BBQ Food Truck and Uncle Cheesecakes to celebrate the holiday with some good eats.

$10 ADMISSION C E N T E N N I A L S TAT I O N A R T S C E N T E R 121 S. Centennial St, High Point, NC Call (336) 889-2787 ext. 26 to make reservations!

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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

one needs to narrow their options simply to fight the power. Fans of the Canadian band Fucked Up will appreciate what this band is doing, applying plenty of bellowing rage and hurtling menace. “AltRight-Delete,” of the new release, pretty much sounds like a wrecking ball moving to the beat of slow triplets as it rips into the texture of song. If you’re feeling like you want to smash capitalism, this could be your holiday jam.

Nov. 27: Time Sawyer Wise Man Brewing, Winston-Salem The North Carolina-based quintet Time Sawyer play Americana. There’s plenty of folk and roots in there, but also a lot of twang, with occasional jittery Telecaster and pedal steel coloring in between the lines. There are close vocal harmonies with spare lines plucked on a banjo, adding more of a somber atmosphere than any type of driving rhythmic force.

The strings play interesting roles in the songs, sometimes popping up with extra force and zip; other times adding a touch of moodiness to these songs about love, loneliness, damage, hard-luck stories, heartache and nostalgia. One can hear hints of Hiss Golden Messenger and even Fleetwood Mac on the band’s new album, Mountain Howdy.

Nov 27: Billy Creason and the Dam-Fi-No Band Earl’s, Winston-Salem Kernersville’s Billy Creason and his Dam-Fi-No Band play country in the venerable Randy Travis tradition, singing songs about his grandpa, about the lessons learned from an older and seemingly more solid generation. Country is often about figuring out how to be a man, and Creason’s songs touch on those themes.

And, in true country fashion, Creason and his crew know how to shift gears into singing tunes about grabbing a few beers, sliding into Skynyrd-tinged terrain on songs such as “Good Time Weekend.”

Hell-raising, hunting-season, and NASCAR all get celebrated in Creason’s song “Redneck DNA.” Nov. 29: Beau James Gann Fest, Greensboro Greensboro-based singer-songwriter Beau James is a tireless storyteller, grabbing details for songs from his observations in his daily life, and hammering them into narratives about sin, suffering, heartache, small-town romance, and learning how to soldier on in the face

of mighty obstacles. James stays busy writing, whether he’s out playing solo, fronting a more brawny rock band, or collaborating with others on music for T.V. He’s a versatile guy. James can suggest the tender and introspective folk-tinged world of Mumford & Sons, with songs that chug along with just enough oomph for a rock crowd, and enough vulnerable sensitivity to keep you listening.

Nov. 29: Natural Wonder Blind Tiger, Greensboro Natural Wonder, fronted by Gabriel Bello, is a band that pays tribute to the genius of Stevie Wonder, complete with funky keyboards, a sturdy horn section, back-up vocals and rubbery bass lines.

That should be enough to capture your attention. Wonder is a towering figure of American song, having emerged from the Motown machine, he went on to craft some of the most astounding albums of the 1970s. He made innovative use of analog synthesizers in the service of funk and soul, writing songs that paid homage to previous giants of American music (“Sir Duke”), to songs that managed to turn the plight of inner-city poverty (“Living For the City”) into anthems of optimism and inspiration. Like Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, the Beatles or Hank Williams, a listener (or a tribute act) could spend a lifetime delving into Wonder’s catalog. If you’re looking for a way to feel joy and hope in dark times, the music of Stevie Wonder is a reasonable place to turn.

Nov. 29: Seth Walker Carolina Theatre, Greensboro In a way, Seth Walker is just another one of those throngs of people coming home for the holiday this Thanksgiving. The main difference is that he’ll be spending part of his festive weekend on stage, which is his other home. Walker grew up near Greensboro and has family in the area. He’s since left the area, and has lived in New Orleans, Nashville and Austin; cities rich with musical heritage, much of which Walker has soaked up, giving his music a swampy, bluesy, rootsy feel. Earlier this year, Walker released a new record, Are You Open? !

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.

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Distant Future is now Distant Future is a new band of misfits, a post-punk fourpiece of Greensboro weirdos with love for sci-fi, The Cure and each other.

“We very much have become a lil’ band family,” said Katei Cranford guitarist and main brain, Ward Picklesimer, before admitContributor ting the group’s more juvenile antics. “We’re basically a band of 12-year-olds, lots of cutting-up and teasing,” he admitted. “But we also offer each other emotional support for the rougher days.”

The support resonates through the selfprofessed “odd personalities” displayed amongst the members. “All four of us view the band as a source of fun, joy and energetic release currently in our lives,” Picklesimer explained. “We think trying to hang onto that is important. You have to remember to enjoy it. That’s the feeling that keeps you practicing after a long day in your day job.”

Therapeutic qualities carry beyond factors of motivation. “We all have families in various stages of function and dysfunction, so now we all have this new weird little musical family,” Picklesimer praised of their group dynamic. “We all see a little of the outsider in each of us, sometimes that can be as isolating as it is interesting. But we all encourage each of us to bring that sense of unique other-ness into the band in any way they can, as we respect and appreciate it.”

Formation of the Distant Future family has been in the works for a while. Picklesimer had been making online demos and chatting band plans with drummer Joe Garrigan casually over a couple of years.

Bassist Nathan Girven entered the picture through mutual friends. The trio first performed at Still the Days fest in August, but wasn’t fully cemented until vocalist Briana Strickland came on board.

“It’s exciting for this to have evolved it to a full band,” Picklesimer said. “It’s like starting off as a microbe and then evolving into a fully-formed creature that is finally walking onto dry land, and also listens to The Cure, then learns to dance.”

Distant Future was born from Picklesimer’s online demos, the name nodding to his love of retro sci-fi. “A lot of stories start off with the phrase ‘in the distant future,’” he explained. “From there, you can make it what you want.”

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Picklesimer conceded that what folks “probably want” onscreen from sci-fi movies involves jetpacks. What Distant Future brings on-stage is post-punk with “an obsessive, collective love” for David Lynch aesthetics. Their bio lists classics such as New Order and Blondie with current groups such as Idles and Preoccupation. Presently, the only Distant Future recordings are of Picklesimer’s early demos. “They’re basically the core of the first material, like the DNA for what we are doing now,“ he explained. But plans for self-producing a record will follow into the new year.

“We’re excited about realizing and shaping what that will be,” he added. “People need to hear what Distant Future has become!”

The group works collectively around the nucleus of Picklesimer’s track material.

“Everyone works arranging their own part of the whole, and songs start to fully take shape.” he explained, noting that Strickland’s vocals have become the “the big game-changer.”

“Bri brings the heart and soul to the music,” Picklesimer insisted. “Her voice has a personality all on its own that brings so

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R E P A P S W E IN THIS N It’s because of them that we are able to bring you arts and entertainment from around the Triad every week!

much character to the full band sound.”

When asked for what the group is most thankful for during this Thanksgiving season, Strickland’s “sassy hair” came up first, followed by earplugs. “We’re really, really thankful for earplugs,” Picklesimer said.

“Those cymbals will get you every time.”

They also devote thanks to the group dynamic and look to celebrate with food accordingly.

“Regardless of the season, we’ve already been planning cooking a band meal around someone’s house,” Picklesimer said. ”Just to kinda enjoy our company outside of practice and bond.”

As for the menu and Thanksgiving staples, “It’s apparently a head-to-head between mash potatoes and potato salad,” Picklesimer said. “I’ve given up sugar, and Bri is vegan. So the mighty potato is the great leveler there.”

Starch-lovers and band meals aside, “We’re all just navigating these crazy woods together, looking for funky paths,” Picklesimer said. “We’re all thankful for the support we get from a good network of friends.”

With a string of upcoming shows through the new year, Distant Future is now. Catch them with Speak N Eye and Rickolus at Monstercade on Dec. 19; at New York Pizza on Dec. 27 with Young Andrew and Halliday; and in 2020 on Jan. 18 with GSO and Toothsome at the Flat Iron. !

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who hosts the Tuesday Tour Report, a radio show that plays like a mixtape of touring bands. 5-7p.m. on WUAG 103.1fm.

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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

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6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330 Nov 28: Local Music Showcase Nov 29: Gipsy Danger Nov 30: Southern Eyes Dec 20: Red Dirt Revival Dec 21: Down The Mountain Dec 27: DJ Bald-E

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REEVES THEATER

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 reevestheater.com Nov 29: Reeves House Band plays the Rolling Stones Nov 30: The Kruger Brothers Dec 6: Martha Bassett & The Elkin Big Band Dec 13: Songs of the Season Dec 14: Elizabeth Cook w/ Andrew Leahey Dec 19: Chatham County Line Dec 20: Darin & Brooke Aldridge Dec 21: Time Sawyer’s Annual Holiday Show Spectacular Dec 31: Reeves House Band - New Year’s Eve

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ARIzONA PETE’S

2900 Patterson St #A | 336.632.9889 arizonapetes.com Nov 29: 1-2-3 Friday

ARTISTIKA NIGHT CLUB 523 S Elm St | 336.271.2686 artistikanightclub.com Nov 29: DJ Dan the Player Nov 30: DJ Paco and DJ Dan the Player

BARN DINNER THEATRE 120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 Nov 30: Black Nativity Dec 7: A Carolina Christmas Feb 1: Mahalia

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505 N. Greene St Nov 29: Kathy And Jeff Brooks Dec 6: Dave Moran Dec 13: Stewart Coley

THE BLIND TIGER

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.272.9888 theblindtiger.com Nov 28: Carolina Shyt Thanksgiving Concert Nov 29: Natural Wonders: The Ultimate Stevie Wonder Experience

Nov 30: Jay Da Youngan Dec 4: Born of Osiris w/ Oceano, Car Bomb, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Primordial Tides Dec 6: Collie Buddz w/ Keznamdi Dec 7: Obituary w/ False Prophet & Extinction A.D. Dec 12: An Evening w/ The Grass is Dead Dec 13: The Spill Canvas: Decade & A Half Tour w/ The Juliana Theory, Cory Wells, Run Home Jack Dec 14: Jukebox Rehab Dec 15: Tab Benoit Dec 19: Bluegrass Christmas w/ Songs From The Road Band & Turpentine Shine Dec 20: Brother’s Pearl Christmas Vacation Dec 21: A Christmas Celebration w/ The Dickens Dec 26: Brice St Dec 28: Murder By Death Dec 29: 10 Years Dec 30: David Childers & The Serpents w/ Paleface Dec 31: New Years Eve

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CAROLINA THEATRE

Dec 20: The Cool Beans Dec 21: Christian McIvor 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

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 carolinatheatre.com Nov 29: Seth Walker Nov 30: Cory Leutjen & The Traveling Blues Band Nov 30: A Motown Christmas Dec 7: The Gathering Dec 8: 6th Annual PTJO Holiday Concert Dec 8: Albert Cummings Dec 14: The Nutcracker Dec 14: Lowland Hum Dec 15: Matt Nakoa Dec 21: Robin and Linda Williams Dec 27: Friday Reggae Vibes Jan 19: Mipso Jan 19: Pearl & The Charlotte Holding Company

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5105 Michaux Road | 336.282.0950 rodystavern.com

1700 Spring Garden St | 336.272.5559 corner-bar.com Nov 28: Live Thursdays

COMEDY ZONE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 thecomedyzone.com Nov 29: J. Bliss Nov 30: J. Bliss Dec 6: Dean Napolitano Dec 7: Dean Napolitano Dec 8: Holiday Drag Comedy Spectacular Dec 12: D’Lai w/ Darren Fleet Dec 13: Frankie Paul Dec 14: Frankie Paul Dec 19: Shaw Family presents Carl Payne Dec 20: Darren DS Sanders Dec 21: Darren DS Sanders Dec 27: Burpie w/ Travis Howze Dec 28: Burpie w/ Travis Howze Jan 9: WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley

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348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678 Nov 29: Higher Education Dec 13: Threefour Mountain Dec 14: Billingsley Dec 28: Craig Baldwin Jan 11: Jakobs Ferry Stragglers

RODY’S TAVERN THE IDIOT BOX COMEDY CLUB

502 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com Dec 7: Family Friendly Improv Dec 10: Improv Comedy Dec 14: Special Sketch Event: Wikimedians & Mon Frere Dec 20: A Roast of Santa Dec 27: Kenyon Adamcik Jan 3: 40 First Jokes of 2020

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2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567 Nov 30: Steward Coley Dec 7: Jim Mayberry Dec 14: Stewart Coley Dec 21: William Nesmith Jan 4: David Lin Jan 11: Stewart Coley Jan 18: Zac Kellum Jan 25: Tony Andrews Feb 1: Jacob & Forrest Feb 8: Tyler Long

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jamestown

thE dEck

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 thedeckatrivertwist.com Nov 29: hip Pocket Nov 30: the dickens dec 5: Robert Smith dec 6: Jill Goodson Band dec 7: Brothers Pearl dec 12: Shannon carman dec 13: Jukebox Revolver dec 14: Soul central dec 19: cory Luetjen dec 20: Big daddy Mojo dec 21: the Plaids dec 27: Vinyl tap with 52/10 dec 28: heads up Penny dec 31: NYE Bash with Brothers Pearl

kernersville

BREathE cocktaiL LouNGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822 facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge Nov 27: dJ Miles deep Nov 29: 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 Nov 29: Music Bingo/karaoke Nov 30: Gypsy danger dec 6: karaoke dec 7: chasin Flame dec 13: karaoke dec 14: Big daddy Mojo/5th anniversary Party dec 20: karaoke dec 21: disaster Recovery Band dec 27: karaoke dec 31: the offenders, New Year’s Eve Party

liberty

thE LiBERtY ShowcaSE thEatER

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844 TheLibertyShowcase.com dec 7: Jimmy Fortune 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 YES! WEEKLY

November 27 - Decemer 3, 2019

winston-salem

BuLL’S taVERN

408 West 4th St | 336.331.3431 facebook.com/bulls-tavern Nov 27: Smashat Nov 29: Souljam

cB’S taVERN

3870 Bethania Station Rd | 336.815.1664 Nov 30: Line dancing w/ Pat

FiddLiN’ FiSh BREwiNG coMPaNY 772 Trade St | 336.999.8945 fiddlinfish.com dec 6: circus Mutt

FoothiLLS BREwiNG 638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 foothillsbrewing.com Nov 27: Jerry chapman Nov 30: Lisa & the Saints dec 1: Sunday Jazz

Mac & NELLi’S

4926 Country Club Rd | 336.529.6230 macandnellisws.com dec 27: whiskey Mic

MiLNER’S

630 S Stratford Rd | 336.768.2221 milnerfood.com dec 1: Live Jazz

MuddY cREEk caFE & MuSic haLL

5455 Bethania Rd | 336.923.8623 Nov 30: Rain check, walter holton, dan dockery, Big Ron hunter dec 1: wayne henderson and Presley Barker dec 6: the williamson Brothers dec 7: Badcameo dec 8: celtic christmas w/ candelFirth

thE RaMkat

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714 Nov 29: Silent disco Nov 30: country dan collins dec 6: Southern culture on the Skids, Balderdash Ltd. dec 7: a Jazzy christmas w/ chelsey Green & the Green Project dec 8: Michael anderson christmas Show dec 12: Rod abernethy dec 13: the Squirrel Nut Zipper’s holiday caravan Show, Firecracker Jazz Band

wiSE MaN BREwiNG

826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008 dec 4: cBh

www.yesweekly.comw

[CONCERTS] Compiled by Alex Farmer

CARY

BOOTH AMPHITHEATRE 8003 Regency Pkwy | 919.462.2025 www.boothamphitheatre.com

CHARLOTTE

BOJANGLES COLISEUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com Nov 29: Fantasia w/ Robin Thicke, Tank & The Bonfyre Dec 5: Power 98 Winter Block Party

CMCU AMPHITHEATRE former Uptown Amphitheatre 820 Hamilton St | 704.549.5555 www.livenation.com

THE FILLMORE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com Nov 27: Zoso Nov 29: Manchester Orchestra Nov 30: Epmd Dec 2: Festivus w/ Cage The Elephant Dec 3: Festivus w/ Of Monsters & Men Dec 4: Festivus w/ Phantogram Dec 6: Incubus Dec 10: Summer Walker Dec 12: Nghtmre Dec 18: Snoop Dogg Dec 19: Tyler Childers Dec 20: Eli Young Band Dec 28: The Purple Madness - Tribute to Prince Dec 31: Hippie Sabotage Jan 3: Face 2 Face: Elton John & Billy Joel Tribute Jan 4: Ultimate 80’s Party ft. Tiffany

OVENS AUDITORIUM

!

Click on our website, yesweekly.com, for more concerts.

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

WHITE OAK AMPITHEATRE

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

PNC MUSIC PAVILION 707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292 www.livenation.com

HIGH POINT

HIGH POINT THEATRE

SPECTRUM CENTER

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com Dec 7: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

THE UNDERGROUND

820 Hamilton St, Charlotte | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com Nov 30: Xavier Omar Dec 5: Andrew McMahons Dec 7: Puddle of Mudd Dec 8: Drum Appreciation Day Dec 13: Issues Dec 18: Morbid Angel Jan 4: Angry Chair & Third Eye w/ Glycerine Jan 10: Shoot To Thrill Jan 11: Sugar

DURHAM

CAROLINA THEATRE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org Dec 1: A Motown Christmas Dec 4: Robert Earl Keen Dec 5: The Malpass Brothers Dec 6: The Marcus King Band

DPAC CHECK IT OUT!

PIEDMONT HALL

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com Dec 13: Deck The Hall Ball starring Rob Thomas & Ingrid Michaelson Dec 17: Lindsey Stirling Dec 31: Charlie Wilson

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com Nov 27: The Brian Setzer Orchestra Nov 29: II Divo

CHRISTMAS WITH ELVIS

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401 www.highpointtheatre.com

Dec 2: Rodrigo y Gabriela Dec 3: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas Dec 10: Kirk Franklin

RALEIGH

CCU MUSIC PARK AT WALNUT CREEK

GREENSBORO

3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.831.6400 www.livenation.com

CAROLINA THEATRE

310 S Greene St | 336.333.2605 www.carolinatheatre.com Nov 29: Seth Walker Nov 30: Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blues Band Nov 30: A Motown Christmas Dec 6: Cageless Birds Dec 7: The Gathering Dec 8: Albert Cummings Dec 14: Lowland Hum Dec 15: Matt Nakoa Dec 21: Robin & Linda Williams

RED HAT AMPHITHEATER 500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com

PNC ARENA

1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300 www.thepncarena.com Dec 1: Fantasia w/ Robin Thicke, Tank, & the Bonfyre

WINSTON-SALEM

GREENSBORO COLISEUM 1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com Dec 11: Trans-Siberian Orchestra Dec 31: The Avett Brothers

WINSTON-SALEM FAIRGROUND 421 W 27th St | 336.727.2236 www.wsfairgrounds.com

PUT SOME HEAT ON YOUR MEAT! FIND OUR SAUCE AT THESE VENDORS ACROSS THE TRIAD! Kings Hotdogs - Rural Hall Mayberry on Main - Mount Airy John Brown’s Grill - King City Beverage Company - Winston-Salem

STARRING STEPHEN FREEMAN AND THE ECHOES OF A LEGEND SHOW BAND — SPONSORED BY GARY J. YOUNTS MACHINE CO., INC. —

T. Austin Finch Auditorium 406 Unity St., Thomasville, NC TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT WWW.CHRISTMASWITHELVIS.COM WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

S AT URDAY

DEC EM BER 7 @ 6 :3 0 P M

/bhsgourmet

@boner_hot

W W W . B O N E R S H O T S A U C E . C O M NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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[FACES & PLACES]

by Natalie Garcia

AROUND THE TRIAD YES! Weekly’s Photographer

Boxcar Bar + Arcade 11.23.19 | Greensboro

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

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hot pour PRESENTS

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

BARTENDER: Crissen Ritchey BAR: Breathe Cocktail Lounge

Opening Weekend @ Oden Brewery 11.23.19 | Greensboro

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AGE: 35 WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Originally Michigan, but I’ve traveled and bartended all over the U.S. I stayed pretty stationary in Jonesboro, Arkansas, for three years before relocating to Greensboro a few months ago.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING? 16 years HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER? I moved away from home and struggled to get by working a part-time job. Having bartended at a younger age, my mom suggested I start serving because I had the personality for it.

Worked as a cocktail waitress for about six months and saw an opening for a bartender.

That’s where the journey began.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING? I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE? A smoked Old Fashioned. When you bust out the blow torch, people are always amazed.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK? Jameson neat

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK? The Vesper; It’s the martini James Bond orders in Casino Royale. I like the story behind it and how, really, it is a very versatile drink, as it can be taken alone, or any time during a meal. Plus, the drink was created by a guy with a License to Kill, so you know it’s got to be awesome!

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING? We were having an Emo night and knew it was going to be super busy, so we moved all the tables to the back room. During clean up, I noticed one of the tables was missing.

Someone somehow managed to take an entire table and sneak it out the back door of the back room and down a flight of icy stairs.

WHAT’S THE BEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? A guy came into the pub on a busy Friday night and ordered 50 Jager bombs. It shocked me, but he clearly wanted to buy a round for the bar basically. Anyway, he ended up buying 100 overall and tipped $250.

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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Breathe Cocktail Lounge 11.22.19 | Kernersville

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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

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Five Finger Death Punch

11.22.19 | Greensboro PHOTOS BY UNHINGED CREATIVE STUDIO

College Hill Sundries 11.23.19 | Greensboro

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REAL CHAT WITH REAL MEN

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[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Being told that a colleague might have been trying to undercut your effectiveness might or might not be true. Get all the facts before you even think about acting on this socalled information.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Soothing hurt feelings before they can ignite an angry outburst is the wise thing to do. And, of course, when it comes to doing the “wisdom thing,” you do it so well.

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) There could be an unexpected change in plans for your upcoming holiday travels. But keep in mind that a little flexibility goes a long way in resolving any disappointments.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) It’s a good idea to start your holiday preparation plans early in order to avoid a time crunch if an unresolved workplace situation causes a problem. That old friend might have some welcome news.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Budget your time so that you can handle both your workplace duties and your personal holiday planning -- including travel arrangements -- without burning out on either end.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A new relationship might not be responding quite as quickly as you’d hoped. Could you be expecting too much too soon? Try to ease up and let things happen at their own pace.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A family member’s actions continue to surprise you, but this time with positive results. Could be your wise counsel finally got through. It’s like having an early holiday gift, isn’t it?

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might find that you still need to firm up one or two of those still-outstanding decisions so that you finally can move forward as you had planned. Weigh the facts, then act.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) As we approach the frenetic pace of pre-holiday planning, take time out now to reconnect with the wonderful people who share your life, especially the one who also shares your dreams.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your reluctance to act in a current situation could be traced to your inner self advising you to take more time to study its complexities before you attempt to deal with it. Good luck.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You usually don’t carry grudges, but you might feel this is one time when you’re justified in doing so. But aren’t you spending too much energy holding onto it? Let it go and move on.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A misunderstanding should be resolved before you get caught up in the flurry of holiday preparations. Set your pride aside and deal with it, regardless of who might have hurt whom first.

construction8.pdf 1 2/24/2019 01:34:58

YES! WEEKLY

[HOROSCOPES]

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019

© 2019 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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

ONCE UPON A CRIME

I’ve been with my boyfriend for nine years, and I’m still pissed off about stuff from like five years ago. I don’t know how I remember this stuff when Amy Alkon I can’t find my keys half the time. I’d like Advice to get rid of these Goddess resentments and not keep bringing them up. I know it’s not healthy for me or our relationship, but I don’t know how to let them go. — Stuck So, basically, this is you: “I wish they allowed dogs in my building, but no biggie.

I’ll take this thing you did in 2006 and make it my special pet. I’ll feed it raw food and buy it artisanally made toys and take it around in a stroller.”

On the other end of the spectrum from endlessly reprosecuting relationship misdemeanors is forgiveness. Evolutionary psychologist Michael McCullough explains in “Beyond Revenge” that “forgiveness is an internal process of getting over your ill will” for somebody who’s wronged you and then “experiencing a return of goodwill” and “opening yourself up to the possibility of a renewed positive relationship” with the person.

Forgiveness appears to have evolved to preserve valuable relationships we have with others, but it seems contingent on our not being made repeated

patsies, meaning we need to see that the offender won’t just trample our interests again.

In line with this, research by social psychologist Ian Williamson and his colleagues finds that a reluctance to forgive can come out fear, including concerns by the victim “about how offenders will interpret forgiveness.” Basically, there’s a worry that forgiving the perp could send a message that it’s open season for repeat offending.

Consider whether there’s reason to believe your boyfriend doesn’t have your best interests in mind. If you stack up his behavior toward you, does it suggest he doesn’t care about you? If this is old stuff and he isn’t repeating the behavior, maybe it serves you best to decide to let it go. McCullough notes that a “lack of forgiveness for close, valuable relationship partners who harmed us in the past is associated with more anxiety, tension, and physiological arousal.” McCullough goes cute, writing: “Know forgiveness, know peace. No forgiveness, no peace.”

If you feel your boyfriend’s a good guy but needs of yours aren’t being met, bring this out, talk to him about it. That could improve things, or you could decide to leave if things don’t change sufficiently. That said, his changing may take more than one discussion, or at least a few reminders to get the gears of new and improved behavior grinding into action.

If you see he’s making an effort, maybe cut him some slack. Laugh at his human fallibility instead of taking it personally when he again leaves his toenail clippings in a tiny pile on the bathroom floor,

as if they’ll magically float over to the trash can and fling themselves over the rim: “Goodbye cruel world!”

MY FARE LADY

I’ve been dating a guy for just over a month. He’s asked me to go with him to an out-of-state wedding (across the country) several weeks from now, but he didn’t mention buying me a plane ticket. I think he should buy it because he invited me. Am I expecting too much? — Unsure Chances are he doesn’t expect you to mail yourself in a really big crate or saddle up Hortense the limping mule and meet him there — just in time for the divorce party.

Should you pick up the tab for your ticket? I don’t think so — and not just because the guy invited you as his guest.

Destination weddings in exotic places (or simply faraway weddings in dull and unglamorous locales) are not vacations.

They are social obligations, big life events that are reinforced by the presence of witnesses.

Having the community as an “audience” to a marriage ceremony is thought

answers [CROSSWORD] crossword on page 15

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

by Matthijs Kalmijn and other sociologists to help reinforce a couple’s lifelong commitment. The ceremony is typically followed by an open bar, some fancy grub, and a Beyonce cover band so the wedding is attended by more than the bride and groom’s teary-eyed relatives and a homeless guy who snuck in looking for free hooch.

Don’t let this question fester in your mind to the point that you’re tempted to snarl at the guy, “Hey, tightwad, you planning to pay for my ticket or what?!”

Ask right away, something like: “What’s the transportation situation? How are we getting to the wedding?” Assuming he doesn’t generally seem weirdly stingy, there’s a good chance he’s planning to buy your ticket but didn’t think to make it clear. There are a number of reasons a person spends hundreds of dollars on a plane ticket, and it’s generally not so they can eat free cake with a bunch of strangers on the other side of the country. !

GOT A problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com) © 2019 Amy Alkon Distributed by Creators.Com.

VOTED THE TRIAD’S

[WEEKLY SUDOKU] sudoku on page 15

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THANKFUL WE ARE OPEN THANKSGIVING NIGHT! FREE LIMO Pick-Up and Drop Off!

7806 BOEING DRIVE Greensboro (Behind Arby’s) • Exit 210 off I-40 • (336) 664-0965 TREASURECLUBGREENSBORONC • thetreasureclubs.com • TreasureClubNC2 NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMER 3, 2019 YES! WEEKLY

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DECEMBER 11

JAN. 30- FEB. 2

JANUARY 17 WEDNESDAY VS. NC STATE SUNDAY, DEC. 15

Greensboro Swarm vs.

College Park

www.greensborocoliseum.com

- Vegan Wellness Expo > Nov. 30

- Universal Spirit Cheerleading > Dec. 14

- Greensboro Swarm vs. Westchester > Dec. 14

- Greensboro Importers & Wholesalers Jewelry & Accessories Expo > Dec. 6-8

- North Carolina A&T State University Commencement > Dec. 14

- WFMY Holiday Blood Drive > Dec.17

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