Empanada Grill, which recently had its soft opening at 5705 Inman Road in Greensboro, may be the first local restaurant to specialize so heavily in the Latin American pastries it’s named after.
3 From the outside, this painted cinder block building looks kind of funky. The inside, with rough-surfaced wood walls and concrete floors, looks that way, too. So the name, 1913 WHISKEY BAR, seems appropriate.
4 It was inevitable that the day would come, and the day was Feb. 27 when news of actor GENE HACKMAN’s death was announced. He and wife Betsy Arakawa were discovered dead, along with one of their dogs, at their home in Santa Fe, N.M.
6 RIFF RAFF takes place over the compressed course of a few days, during which Vincent (Ed Harris), his wife Sandy (Gabrielle Union), and her son DJ (Miles J. Harvey) intend to enjoy a restful New Year’s Eve at their remote home in the sleepy New Jersey town of Yarmouth.
9 It’s March, which means spring is around the corner and WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH is now. Time to shower flowers and shoutouts to thank the hostesses with the mostesses around the Triad!
12 Triad residents and agencies will honor those who’ve lost their lives to drug overdose this week. The City of Greensboro’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion team and the Guilford County Division of Public Health will host a BLACK BALLOON DAY event on Thursday, March 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at LeBauer Park in Downtown Greensboro, located at 208 N. Davie St.
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EDITORIAL
Editor CHANEL R. DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com
Writers JOHN BATCHELOR MARK BURGER
KATEI CRANFORD
LYNN FELDER
JIM LONGWORTH IAN MCDOWELL
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DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK
We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we
Chow Down with John Batchelor at 913 Whiskey
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
From the outside, this painted cinder block building looks kind of funky. The inside, with rough-surfaced wood walls and concrete floors, looks that way, too. So the name, whiskey bar, seems appropriate. Bar o erings reinforce that nomenclature, with a huge range of bourbons and scotches, along with a large number of creative cocktails. My wife ordered the Honey Sucker, she was well pleased with it, and so was everyone else who ordered a mixed drink. This place won “Best Bar” in Guilford County and “Best Drink Menu” in YES! Weekly’s 2024 awards issue. Once again, YES! readers have been proven wise, indeed. The extremely casual appearance notwithstanding, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the restaurant takes reservations.
The menu grows out of Southern-style cooking. Sausage-Collard Dip yields a rich flavor from sausage, bacon, onions, and blended cheese sauce, baked crispy and served in a cast iron skillet, naan toast points alongside. I would have preferred more collards, but the flavor was quite enjoyable as served.
Okra is battered and fried crisp, served with jalapeño ranch or chipotle ranch dressings. The vegetable is large and fresh, the portion abundant. We asked for both dressings, and I would be hardpressed to designate one over the other. A real winner.
Our first encounter with the main courses produced mixed results. Smoky Brisket is topped with whiskey bacon onion jam, served with garlic sautéed green beans and cornbread wa es. An enticing description. But our portion, as served, contained quite a bit of fat and gristle, and the meat, overall, was tough. Not what I expect from brisket. We traded it in for an alternative. The kitchen, in what I think was a particularly accommodating gesture, sent another brisket portion out along with the new entrée. This time, the meat met expectations. So, on balance, kudos to the kitchen!
Chicken and Wa es have become a popular combination of otherwise seemingly incongruent ingredients. In this case, chicken is marinated in buttermilk and fried crisp — very good in its own right, served on a vanilla cinnamon wa e with bourbon maple syrup. If a sweet supplement with chicken appeals
to you, by all means try this dish here. It is well executed, served with fresh collard greens, a classic combination with chicken.
Catfish bears a light crust of cornmeal, fried crisp. The fish is pleasantly clean tasting, well served by the flavor and texture of the crust. This large portion is plated over jalapeño cheddar cornbread with chipotle ranch dressing, also served with collard greens. Shrimp and Grits uses large North Carolina shrimp, joined by sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions. The grits are rich and creamy, the concoction accented with Cajun cream sauce. This is one of the better renditions of this perennial favorite I have had.
Honey Garlic Salmon is roasted, pleasantly moist and tender, enhanced with a honey and garlic glaze. The sweetish accent goes surprisingly well with the flavor of the fish. This is usually served with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, but my wife asked for and received green beans, enhanced with garlic. Initially, the potatoes were barely above room temperature, actually cool in places. Our cooperative server brought a replacement, which were warm enough. They could not just heat the ones that were initially served, because this kitchen does not have a microwave, and that’s actually a good sign. The green beans are fresh, cooked softish, Southern style.
The Pork Chop is about ¾ inch thick, bone-in. It bears a dry rub seasoning, grilled to a light brown exterior, ladled with Southern-style gravy. Green beans enhanced with garlic and mashed potatoes are the menu-designated vegetables, but I asked for and received Brussels sprouts. I really like the way they fix Brussels sprouts here — sliced in half and fried, yielding crisp leaves and a browned flat side.
A restaurant of this concept must have a good Burger in order to have credibility, and this one certainly does. The 913
Whiskey Burger centers on a handmade patty, with real bacon, fried onions, leaf lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese, drizzled with homemade whiskey sauce, served on a brioche bun. There’s a lot going on here. The thick fried onion made the assembly almost too thick to bite, so I ate it separately. It’s great. I would urge the kitchen to make fried onion rings a menu starter. The rest of the ingredients come together in traditional style, and the flavorful bun provides a good host. And they could bottle that sauce and sell it on the side!
French fries deserve special mention. They are cut rather thin, a little over ¼ inch, and they actually taste like potato (as opposed to the much more common frozen products that come closer to paper in taste). I ordered these as a separate side and found an unusually large portion. You might even consider ordering them as a starter.
The management team here has a combined 18 years of tenure at 913, rare indeed! Walter Hairston, Executive Chef, aspires to a Michelin star. He can often be found in the kitchen experimenting and testing. “Come here and taste this,” can be heard multiple times a day. Anthony Castillero, Bar Manager, has been at 913 almost since it opened 10 years ago. He got his start in the industry in 2009. Customers come to 913 just to sit at the bar and watch him work. Jessica Morris manages the front of the house. She started as a hostess at 913 and worked her way up to the top.
Dan Gatto is the owner. He is a UNC-G graduate of the Bryan School of Business for Entrepreneurship. He cooked his way through school and for a time afterward, at places like 1618 West and Scrambled before diving into his own venture with 913. He says he is still happiest when he suits up in the kitchen.
I like the ambiance, the people, and the food here. Definitely recommended! !
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 go?
913 Whiskey Bar & Southern Kitchen 913 South Chapman Street Greensboro 27403 336-617-4291 913whiskeybar.com
Gene Hackman: An appreciation, with gratitude and respect
It was inevitable that the day would come, and the day was Feb. 27 when news of actor Gene Hackman’s death was announced. He and wife Betsy Arakawa were discovered dead, along with one of their dogs, at their home in Santa Fe, N .M. The actor was 95, Arakawa 65, and the couple had lived in Santa Fe for more than 20 years.
It’s the end of an era because I will never admire, respect, or revere an actor as much as Gene Hackman. For almost 45 years, I’ve preached the Gospel of Hackman, and there’s no reason I should stop now. When his death was announced, more people reached out to me, some after 30 years or more, than
did after my mother died in 2018.
It’s not surprising, because I’m sure I talked more about Gene Hackman than about my mother. In fact, I’ve probably talked more about Gene Hackman than Gene Hackman. When news of his death broke, countless friends said the first person they thought of was me. Is it any wonder that one of my college nicknames was “Hackman?”
The obituaries and tributes emphasized Hackman’s durability and versatility, how he brought authority, gravitas, and presence to every role, how his heroes were flawed and his villains vulnerable, how he made bad films bearable and good films better, and noting the many classics he appeared in: Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), The French Connection (1971), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Scarecrow (1973), The Conversation (1974), Night Moves (1975), Young Frankenstein (1975), Superman (1978), Hoosiers (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988), Unforgiven (1992), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
won.” (And he should have!)
obviously been tricked into doing this program.” When reviewing The Package (1989) on Siskel & Ebert , Roger Ebert said: “You get a free ride when you hire Gene Hackman.” The opening line of Drew Weisholtz’s tribute on msn.com perhaps said it best: “Gene Hackman leaves behind a body of work that is second to none.” I couldn’t have said it better myself, although I’m sure I’ve said variations of it to various people over the years!
I only got to interview Hackman once, on the telephone upon the publication of Wake of the Perdido Star , the first novel he co-wrote with Daniel Lenihan, in 1999, and in closing I couldn’t resist telling him he was my “God of Cinema.” His response? “Uhhh … thank you.”
But, as many told me, they’d heard it all before, year after year. From yours truly. Gene Hackman made it look easy. He was The Man Himself. Nobody did it better.
Born in San Bernadino, Calif. on Jan. 30, 1930, Hackman was raised in Danville, Ill., and endured a troubled, impoverished childhood. After a stint in the Marine Corps, Hackman headed west to California, determined to make it as an actor. And make it he did, a classic case of triumph over adversity. He won the Oscar for Best Actor in The French Connection and another for Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven , with nominations for Bonnie and Clyde and I Never Sang for My Father (Best Supporting Actor) and Mississippi Burning (Best Actor).
My favorite film is The French Connection and my favorite sequel is French Connection II (1975), which in some ways is the better film. I can recite entire passages of dialogue from both, as well as The Poseidon Adventure , Mississippi Burning , Unforgiven , and practically every line he spoke as Lex Luthor in the Superman films. (“There’s a strong streak of good in you, Superman, but then nobody’s perfect … almost nobody.”)
Of course, not all of Hackman’s films were winners. There are those one is hard-pressed to defend: Marooned (1969), Zandy’s Bride (1974), Lucky Lady (1975), March or Die (1977), All Night Long (1981), Misunderstood (1983), Target (1985), Loose Cannons (1990). Then there are those I defend, in some cases more than the filmmakers themselves (including Hackman): The Hunting Party (1971), Prime Cut (1972), The Domino Principle (1977), Full Moon in Blue Water (1988), Split Decisions (1988), Narrow Margin (1990), Company Business (1991), The Replacements (2000). And there are a few that took time to be properly reappraised or still await reappraisal: French Connection II , Bite the Bullet (1975), Under Fire (1983), Twice in a Lifetime (1985), The Quick and the Dead (1995).
There was satisfaction in the hits: Uncommon Valor (1983), No Way Out (1987), The Firm (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), Get Shorty (1995), The Birdcage (1996) — and in the fact that Hackman still commanded multi-million-dollar paydays right till the very end. His final feature, Welcome to Mooseport (2004), may not have been a career-crowning turn but it was hardly the worst film he ever made. Besides, he got top billing. To quote a line from Superman : “What more could anyone ask?”
I always made it a point to ask people who worked with him about the experience, and not surprisingly they praised his acting abilities. Jon Cryer ( Superman IV ) adored him. Roddy McDowall ( The Poseidon Adventure ) told me: “He’s my favorite actor.” But it was also not surprising that Hackman could sometimes be difficult to work with. He had a temper, which he himself acknowledged in interviews, and could be particularly hard on directors.
Yet, as the late Ronald Roose, who edited Company Business and taught at the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, told me: “As difficult as he was, as temperamental as he could be, he was one of the most brilliant actors I’ve ever had the good fortune to work with. He could find moments. He could make moments. I wished I could have cut a hundred movies with Gene Hackman, because every scene cut like butter. A pure actor.”
Although the exact circumstances of Hackman’s tragic death are unknown at this time (and may never be known), it was great to see him celebrated in his lifetime. When he stepped back from the limelight to concentrate on writing, painting, and sculpting, I can’t say I was entirely surprised. Hackman had nothing else to prove, either to himself or the industry. He had accomplished everything he set out to do — and more — and much more than this fan could ever have hoped.
That Hackman didn’t win the Oscar for Mississippi Burning was something of an affront to me, and at the time my oftrepeated mantra was “He should have
When Hackman appeared on Late Night With David Letterman to promote Power (1986), the host stated: “My next guest is a very classy actor who has
Thank you, Gene Hackman. For everything. You made the world — and my world — a better place. !
[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] SPRING FORWARD WITH ARTS IN GREATER GREENSBORO
As spring blooms in Greater Greensboro, the region comes alive with festivals. Mark your calendars and immerse yourself in the music, literature, visual arts, and performing arts that help define our community!
FROM SPORTS TO THE STAGE: A.C.E. SPIRIT WEEK FESTIVAL
April 25 – May 3, 2025, Various Locations
A Collective of Excellence, Inc. (A.C.E.) presents the Spirit Week Festival, a weeklong celebration of music, dance, and community engagement. Events include the Unity Mixer (April 25, 7-10 p.m.), Conference Day (April 26, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), CHROMATICA Colours Festival (April 27, 12-6 p.m., Center City Park), and the ACEx Awards (May 3, 3-6 p.m.) recognizing achievements in arts and culture.
CELEBRATING STRONG ROOTS: STRANGE FRUIT FESTIVAL
April 19, 2025, LeBauer Park Strange Fruit Festival celebrates Black cultural music, highlighting jazz, blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, and R&B. The festival features live performances, vendors, and a community gathering at LeBauer Park (2-9 p.m.), along with a bar crawl at multiple venues (12-6 p.m.) and night shows at various locations (9-11 p.m.) in Downtown Greensboro.
A MASTERPIECE AT ANY AGE: CREATIVE AGING NETWORK-N.C.’S ARTS UNBOUND
May 3, 2025, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., CAN Campus (2400 Summit Ave.) Now in its third year, Arts Unbound celebrates aging artists and intergenerational collaboration. Highlights include an exhibition featuring artists aged 50+, a Native American land blessing, multicultural performances, and handson workshops. Guided campus tours will showcase student-created outdoor sculptures, gardens, and nature trails,
reinforcing the festival’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
TURN THE PAGE TO SOMETHING BOUNDLESS: GREENSBORO BOUND LITERARY FESTIVAL
May 17, 2025, Greensboro Cultural Center & Greensboro Public Library
Greensboro Bound brings authors, readers, and students together for a literary experience. In collaboration with UNC Greensboro, North Carolina A&T, and the Greensboro Public Library, the festival connects the community with renowned authors, including this year’s lead presenters, Percival Everett and Cristina Henriquez. Attendees can enjoy discussions, book signings, and interactive sessions during daytime events (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and evening programming (7-9 p.m.).
FREEDOM RINGS, CULTURE SINGS: JUNETEENTH GSO FEST
June 15-21, 2025, Various Locations
Greensboro’s Juneteenth celebration highlights Black culture and history through music, art, and education. Events will take place across the city, including LeBauer Park, Van Dyke Performance Space, and Barber Park, with performances, discussions, and community gatherings that honor the legacy of freedom and resilience. This festival fosters unity and pride within Greensboro’s Black community.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the best of our local arts scene —come out, get inspired, and celebrate creativity! !
Daily Happy Hour Specials MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 3-6PM
SUBMITTED BY CHARLOTTE MARCELLUS
Marketing Manager of The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro
Strange Fruit Festival | LeBauer Park
Ri Ra : Spending New Year’s with family and foes
Billed as “A Dito Montiel Movie,”
Ri Ra is the latest film from the director who made a splash with the semi-autobiographical A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006), which he adapted from his own novel, but whose subsequent output — including The Son of No One (2011), Empire State (2013), and Man Down (2015) — didn’t quite fulfill his earlier promise.
Ri Ra takes place over the compressed course of a few days, during which Vincent (Ed Harris), his wife Sandy (Gabrielle Union), and her son DJ (Miles J. Harvey) intend to enjoy a restful New Year’s Eve at their remote home in the sleepy New Jersey town of Yarmouth. Their plans
are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Vincent’s son Rocco (Lewis Pullman), his pregnant Italian girlfriend Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), and his boorish, booze-soaked mother Ruth (Jennifer Coolidge).
This awkward reunion is not without its humorous moments, especially when Ruth opens her mouth and invariably makes an insulting and/or offensive observation or statement, whether it’s comparing Sandy to Clair Huxtable (from The Cosby Show) or airing her resentments toward ex-hubby Vincent. There’s also the consensus among everyone that Rocco’s appearance must mean he’s in some kind of trouble. He resents the accusations until he admits that, yes, he’s in trouble —
deep, deep trouble.
The film brings together two generations of Saturday Night Live in the person Bill Murray and Pete Davidson as Lefty and Lonnie, a laconic pair of killers bringing up the rear. Lefty and Vincent have a history, which doesn’t become clear until late in the game, and he has a score to settle with Rocco. The narrative is laden with flashbacks, which initially tend to confuse rather than clarify and, worse, often stop the momentum cold.
Despite its undeniably talented ensemble cast, nothing in Ri Ra seems to be on the same wavelength, and it appears the film is spiraling into nothingness. But then a remarkable thing happens: The scattered script by executive John Pollono
begins to coalesce in a more convincing fashion and tighten its grip. It takes a while to get there, but the film’s third act is its best.
The film’s comic highpoint occurs when Lefty and Lonnie arrive at the wrong house for their clandestine rendezvous with Vincent and instead encounter his obsequious neighbors (hilariously overplayed by P.J. Byrne and Brooke Dillman). The inevitable confrontation at the correct destination is not only humorous but palpably intense, with Murray bringing real menace to his role as the wronged, vengeful Lefty. Ri Ra also boasts one of the best death scenes in recent memory (no fair revealing who buys it), and the fade-out of a principal character (again, no fair revealing who) smiling at the camera is the perfect capper to the proceedings. It may be a bumpy ride at times, but thanks to its cast and some nifty plot twists, it’s a ride worth taking. !
THE CONQUEROR (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): In one of the classic cases of Hollywood miscasting, John Wayne portrays the indomitable Mongol warlord Genghis Khan (!) in this big-budget 1956 Howard Hughes production produced and directed by Dick Powell, in which his lust for Tartar princess Susan Hayward (equally miscast) in 12th-century China sparks a war between the clans and betrayal for Khan. A box-o ce hit but a critical fiasco, this has earned enduring infamy for being filmed on Nevada locations downwind of atomic testing and possibly the cause for many of its principals — including Wayne, Hayward, and Powell — being diagnosed with cancer. A curio at best, with considerable camp appeal and a stolid cast includes Pedro Armendariz Jr., Agnes Moorehead, Thomas Gomez, William Conrad, John Hoyt, Lee Van Cleef, Ted de Corsia, Leo Gordon, and Richard Loo. The Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) includes audio commentary and theatrical trailer.
GLADIATOR II (Paramount Home Entertainment): After nearly a quarter century, producer/director Ridley Scott returns to Rome for this award-winning, R-rated follow-up to his 2000 blockbuster, this time focusing on the escapades of Paul Pascal, a fearless gladiator who is actually the son of Russell Crowe’s character from the original film, as he wages war against the Roman general (Pedro Pascal) who ordered his wife’s death and had him sold into slavery, with Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Matt Lucas, Rory McCann, and Gladiator alumni Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, reprising their earlier roles, in support. The film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design, is available on DVD ($25.99 retail), 4K Ultra HD combo ($29.95 retail), and 4K Ultra HD combo Steelbook ($39.95 retail), each replete with bonus features including behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Hot o the surprise success of Pet Sematery (1989), Paramount Pictures raided the Stephen King vault for this grimy, grisly, grungy 1990 adaptation of the best-selling author’s 1970 short story (first published in Cavalier Magazine and included in his 1978 collection Night Shift), which marked the first (and to date only) feature directorial stint for veteran assistant director/production manager Ralph S. Singleton, detailing a series of strange occurrences in the
[VIDEO VAULT]
BY MARK BURGER
DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: LIFEGUARD (Fun City Editions)
The long-awaited Blu-ray bow ($29.95 retail) of director Daniel Petrie’s 1976 drama, which o ered a stellar showcase for leading man Sam Elliott as the title character. That the film was not a box-o ce success cannot be attributed to Elliott, who gives what remains one of his best performances here.
Rick Carlson is a 32-year-old lifeguard at a crossroads in his life. The popular, well-liked Rick enjoys a carefree lifestyle, replete with casual relationships and respect from his peers, but there are those in his life — including his own father (George D. Wallace) — that Rick needs to “grow up” and become a more responsible adult. It’s a
quintessential existential dilemma that Rick wrestles with, and he simply can’t find any easy answers, and he sometimes lashes out at those around him, much to his shame.
Rick receives an invitation for his 15-year high-school reunion, where he is reunited with his old flame Cathy (Anne Archer), a recent divorcee who still carries a torch for him, and old chum Larry (Stephen Young), who o ers him a job at his Porsche dealership. Yet Rick can’t quite resist the allure of his current lifestyle, and his budding relationship with adoring teenager Wendy (a superb Kathleen Quinlan) further complicates his intentions. The cast also includes Parker Stevenson as the college student and rookie lifeguard whom Rick mentors, a full decade before Stevenson starred opposite David Hasselho on TV’s Baywatch. Elliott gives a sensitive, soulful performance, and the film has its share of sweet moments, sexy moments, and a few soapy moments, too. But Lifeguard never falls into the trap of becoming a conventional melodrama. Although the actors are extremely attractive, the film isn’t about babes in bikinis or hunks in trunks but a contemplative character study, although you wouldn’t know it given Paramount Pictures’ incongruous advertising campaign, which made it look like a teenybopper Beach Party comedy.
Bonus features include audio commentary, collectible booklet, and image gallery. Rated PG.
ruins of a ramshackle Maine mill infested with rats … including an extremely large and extremely hungry example of the species. The talented but wasted cast includes David Andrews, Kelly Wolf, Stephen Macht (whose sadistic villain chews as much scenery as the rats), Vic Polizos, Andrew Divo and newcomer Raissa Danilova (who later married), and Brad Dourif, who earns a few laughs (and an undeserved early exit) as an eccentric exterminator possibly patterned after John Goodman’s character in the same year’s Arachnophobia. The special e ects, some of which had to be trimmed to avoid an X rating, are up to par, but even King himself dismissed the film as one of the worst adaptations of his work. Despite a following culled from its endless cable TV broadcasts, he’s not mistaken. Both the special-edition Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo ($44.95 retail) include audio commentary, retrospective interviews, and theatrical trailer. Rated R.
adaptation of a Masayuki Toyama novel (originally titled Denki kurage and also released as Electric Jellyfish) starring Mari Atsumi as a comely fashion student forced by circumstance to take a job at a seamy nightclub where she must fend o various potential suitors until she encounters mysterious attorney Yusuke Kawazu, who seemingly o ers her the opportunity to escape her dead-end lifestyle — but at a price. In Japanese with English subtitles, bonus features include audio commentary, collectible booklet, image gallery, theatrical trailer, and more.
SHELF LIFE (Liberation
Hall/MVD
Entertainment Group): The Blu-ray bow ($26.95 retail) of director Paul Bartel’s final feature, an o -kilter black comedy focusing on three siblings (screenwriters O-Lan Jones, Jim Turner, and Andrea Stein) who were locked in a nuclear fallout shelter by their paranoid parents following the assassination of John F. Kennedy and have created their own warped world of domesticity in the intervening years. Based on the stage production presented at Hollywood’s Lex Theater, this was filmed on a low budget and so sparsely released that it was considered a lost film. Due to that and Bartel’s reputation, cult status was inevitable. Strangely compelling and frequently self-indulgent, this is very much an acquired taste but worth a look — at least once. Bonus features include audio commentary, Q&A sessions, teaser and trailer, and more.
HUSSY (Kino Cult #17): Director/ screenwriter Matthew Chapman’s 1980 feature debut details the relationship that develops between hard-bitten London hooker Helen Mirren and American expatriate John Shea (in his feature debut), as they seek a way to leave their past lives behind, which becomes more di cult with the unexpected reappearance of Mirren’s abusive, drug-dealing ex-boyfriend (Paul Angelis). Not unlike Lifeguard, this was erroneously promoted as some kind of “sexploitation” film rather than a serious character study, with the three leads (particularly Mirren) giving strong performances despite an occasionally spotty storyline, available on Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) replete with audio commentary and theatrical trailer. Rated R.
PLAY IT COOL (Arrow Vjdeo/MVD Entertainment Group): A limited-edition Blu-ray ($39.95 retail) of screenwriter/ director Yasuzo Masumura’s 1970
“THE WORLD IS STILL BEAUTIFUL”: COMPLETE COLLECTION (Sentai Entertainment): A self-explanatory two-disc Blu-ray collection ($59.98 retail) of all 12 episodes from the 2014 fantasy miniseries (originally titled Soredemo sekai wa utsukushii) based on writer/illustrator Dai Shiina’s popular manga following the adventures of Nike Lemercier (voiced by Rena Maeda), the youngest princess of the mystical Rain Dukedom who has the power to call forth rain by singing, as she is forced into an arranged marriage to ensure her country can remain autonomous — unaware that her betrothed Livius (voiced by Haruko Kudo and Nobonaga Shimazaki), the Sun King, is only a child! In Japanese with English subtitles. !
It’s March, which means spring is around the corner and Women’s History Month is now. Time to shower flowers and shoutouts to thank the hostesses with the mostesses around the Triad!
Chris Roulhac still rules’ the radio, with “The North Carolina Show” (airing Wednesdays at noon on WQFS 90.9FM), entering its 26th year of broadcasting over the air. In person, she recently served as a judge for the 2025 Winston-Salem Dash National Anthem Auditions; and continues coordinating performances for Piedmont Blues Preservation Society’s community outreach program at PACE of the Triad and After Gateway.
Shiela Klinefelter is another blues queen who helps bring the jam to music lovers around the Triad. Fans can keep up-to-date over the “Shiela’s Jam News” Facebook group; but she’s often doing the good work (and helping lay the groove) at the Ritchy’s Wednesday night Blues Jams, as well as the Thursday night Blues Jam at Sawmill II. She can also be found among the venerable Ladies Auxiliary; as music master of Shiela’s Traveling Circus; and on bass in The Chris O’Leary Band.
Abigail Dowd, the Sandhills hostess, songstress, and rhetorical explorer of the Longleaf Pine has settled nicely into her Flat Iron Songwriter Series, heading into its third year, running every third Tuesday. Mark Kano and John Gillespie are slated for the March 18th round. Dowd will join recent guests, Drew Foust and Maia Kamil, for “Song & Supper: A Wheelhouse Fundraiser,” at the Flat Iron on March 9. Part potluck, part in-theround song circle, part concert; the event brings together a heavy helping of area artists (think Josh King, J Timber, William Hinson, and more), to celebrate (and generate) funds for Foust’s new album “First Generation Free Thinker.” Molly McGinn, former host of the Woodshed Experience at Brewer’s Kettle Kernersville and the Represent N.C. showcase at Joymongers, buzzes as part of the Queen Bees these days — and she’s excited to celebrate with her hive
by “Calling All Ye Outs” for two album release parties: the first at the Reynolds Place Theatre (in partnership with the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County) on March 21; followed by a round at the Flat Iron in Greensboro on March 22. Special guests (including Katie.Blvd) are expected to sweeten the electrified trio’s pot.
Katie.Blvd’s buzz continues with the 2025 return of her Beats.Batch “beat show for peace” series, going down at Oden Brewing on March 14. She’ll also join Emily Stewart, Emory Hush, Viva La Muerte, and Agis Shaw as part of the First Friday installment of the Silo Series at the Back Table on March 7.
Stewart, along with Laura Jane Vincent and Ashley Virginia, also compose part of the founding team of the Greensboro Sound Artist Co-op, who recently organized the Daydream Room showcase at the Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal (where they met up with Quilla, the synth-wizard Queen Bee who recently buzzed back o to her Canadian hometown). Now that they’re back in town, they’re back to work, showcasing Triad talent.
Vincent is also part of the First Friday concert cadre at the Continental Club (running in tandem with Silo Series at the neighboring Back Table), and featuring Liana Gabel on March 7. Vincent hops next door as the occasional host at the Back Table’s Monday night open mic. Erin Hayes likewise hops between the two adjacent venues — taking up the hostess reins like a champ (including at the helm of the mighty Matty Sheets Open Mic on Wednesdays and the Last Friday Artist Showcase at the Continental Club).
Laurelyn Dossett, “A Beautiful Star” composer, purveyor of “Songs of Hope
& Justice,” and host of the new “Come Hear Stokes Thursday Songwriter Series,” every second Thursday through June at the Arts Place of Stokes in Danbury. She’ll be joined by Caleb Caudle for the debut session March 13. Anna Mertson and Josh Shelton are the featured guests in April, a full-band show from Alicia Bullard is scheduled for May 8; and Sarah Sophia and Jacob Harbour will appear for the series finale June 12.
Kara Leinfelder isn’t only the director of business development for the North Carolina Music O ce (a new department within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that operates the Come Hear N.C. initiative and its “Music Friendly Communities” like Danbury). She’s also a driving force behind the Moonshine and Motorsports concert series that celebrates N.C.’s unique story of bootleggin’ and banjo pickin’ with performances in historical stops along the o cial Moonshine and Motorsports Trail. The upcoming finale concert features Jim Lauderdale, the Kruger Brothers with special guest Jonah Horton, and the Nest of Singing Birds at the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City on March 29.
Rhiannon Giddens, the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning Greensboro native is adding festival curation into her expansive fold: launching the Biscuits & Banjos festival, April 25-27, dedicated to the “reclamation and exploration of Black music, art, and culture” in her old home state. Presented in part through Come Hear N.C. and the DNCR, the festival also aims to honor the 20th Anniversary of the Black Banjo Gathering that became the impetus behind the creation of Grammy-winning black string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops; who’ll perform at the festival as part of a highly-anticipated reunion event. While the festival
goes down in Durham, fans can catch Chocolate Drop founder, Dom Flemons, at NCMA Winston-Salem on April 19.
Monica Melton, Artistic Director of the Piedmont JAZZ Alliance, is excited to kick o her spring series — a celebration of jazz, creativity, and community — to NCMA W-S. Running in collaboration with the Future of Jazz Coalition; the series will feature trumpeter Akili Bradley (March 8), saxophonist Stacy Dillard (April 12), and trombonist Mariel Bildsten (May 10).
Martha Bassett is all over the place: stages, broadcasts, podcasts, and most often: live from The Reeves Theatre in Elkin (where she’ll kick o the eighth season of the Martha Bassett Show, featuring Shanna In A Dress, Sam Robbins, and Housewife on March 6). She’s also taking the show on the road: with special “roadshow” segments appearing as part of WFDD’s Spring Fling at Camp Weaver on May 10 and at the Appalachian Theatre in Boone on Aug. 28.
Gather some bouquets and celebrate your ladies, y’all. Happy Women’s History Month! !
KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.
Katei Cranford
Contributor
Ashley Virginia
Katie.blvd
Laura Jane Vincent
PHOTOS BY KATEI CRANFORD
Empanada Extravaganza:
Local eatery brings a variety of empanadas to the Triad
Empanada Grill, which recently had its soft opening at 5705 Inman Road in Greensboro, may be the first local restaurant to specialize so heavily in the Latin American pastries it’s named after, with fillings ranging from traditional chicken, beef, cheese, or vegetables, to cheeseburger, pizza, barbecue, and oxtails.
While empanadas have equivalents in many cuisines, from Indian samosas to British meat pies, they originated in Spain and Portugal and spread to Latin America, the Caribbean and the Philippines, where they acquired a variety of indigenous ingredients and spices. From the Galician verb empanar (to coat with bread), the flaky pastries typically wrap a savory meat, cheese, or vegetable filling in a handheld crescent-shaped crust, making them an ideal street food.
But they’re also great as a sit-down meal, and Empanada Grill, which began as a food truck before cutting the ribbon on its spacious and well-decorated brickand-mortar location in February, serves a wider variety than any other restaurant in the Triad, with more than 20 di erent fillings, including dessert empanadas made with berries, apples, guava or cheesecake.
A single empanada from the everyday menu, larger than many found elsewhere, is a hearty $10 lunch in itself, made with chicken, spicy chicken, beef, cheese, or
veggies (tricolor peppers, baby spinach, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms), and served with house-made potato chips.
There are also sides of rice, beans, or plantains; special weekly empanadas with di erent ingredients; grilled pork chop and baked chicken platters; and an empanada combo platter. Daily breakfast options include egg and cheese empanadas with either bacon, sausage, or ham; and mini frittatas with feta, spinach, and tomato, or bacon or ham. And then there’s the week’s dessert, which on YES! Weekly’s visit was a plate of small sweet empanadas containing guava and cream cheese, dusted with powdered sugar.
“We make everything fresh daily,” said co-founder Rosie Melendez, “from the dough to all the prepped fillings.”
“We exclusively use Summerfield Farms for our meat,” said partner Laurie Conrad. “One hundred percent grass-fed, 100% grass-finished. We just got oxtails in yesterday. She’ll marinate them for two days because oxtails are tough if you don’t
Loves RG!
cook them down. We cook it extremely slow. By the time we finish, the bones are lying on the bottom of the pan. We locally source as much as we can, including our fruits.”
Melendez and Conrad recently added a third partner, Jessica Harris, who has created Mexican, Cuban, Spanish, Caribbean, and Argentinian co ee drinks, and will be in charge of the upcoming beer and wine selection.
“We worked with Jessica on several events and we’ve had about a four-year relationship with her,” said Conrad. “She approached us about being interested in joining us, and her vision was that co ee bar. So, that has been her addition to us and it’s been working out extremely well. At first, when she told us ‘co ee bar,’ I was like ‘Oh my goodness I don’t know anything about it.’ The names and flavor profiles, she came up with on her own. There’s one that I’m addicted to, and
“My favorite is the Chocolate y Café,” said Melendez. “Hot co ee, blended with dark chocolate and cinnamon.”
The business was inspired by Melendez’s childhood in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, just outside San Juan. “There was an old shack near my school that made the best empanadas. My favorite had pizza filling, but all were great.”
Ian McDowell
Contributor
Rosie Melendez
Guava Sweet Cream Dessert Empanada
know you’re sad that the oxtail is not finished marinating yet, but come back for it this week. And when it’s the special, try the pizza empanada! I know that doesn’t sound traditional, but it’s what I loved as a kid in Puerto Rico.”
She came to North Carolina by way of Brooklyn and Florida, and managed restaurants in Asheville before moving to Greensboro. “To bring something unique and share the love of food I learned from my mother, was where the idea was born.”
An idea Conrad loved. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Conrad was born in Greensboro and grew up in Florida, where empanadas have been a popular street food for decades, but her culinary background began here.
“My grandmother, Anne Strickland, ran the lunch counter at First Federal Bank downtown, where I worked when I was 10, right before the move to Florida. Child labor laws were not a thing back then.”
Her grandmother also worked for Casey’s Barbecue, which had four Triad locations. “Mr. Casey was a very good friend of the family, and when he died, he left my grandmother the location she’d been managing, while his family got the other three.”
At 20, Conrad enlisted in the Marines and served in Desert Storm. “I’ve also been a police o cer and corrections ocer but kept coming back to food. I always had part-time jobs, such as bartending, serving, managing, and I was always in a restaurant from the age of 23 to now. Rosie and I owned a couple of Firehouse Subs in Asheville and Hendersonville.”
“We are minority, veteran, and womenowned,” said Melendez. “To represent women in business is just fantastic. The community reception has been amazing. We decided to do this soft opening so we could get our processes in order and iron out all the wrinkles. It’s given us a chance to make changes and improve our service. We’re very excited and are having a grand opening in March. No date has been nailed down, but it should be sometime around the 19. We want to wait for the temperatures to warm up.” !
IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.
WANNA know?
For more info, check out empanadagrill.com.
MARCH
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025
DOORS @ 6PM // SHOW @ 7PM
Get off the beaten path and explore the edge of believable with captivating stories and breathtaking cinematography from the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Films selected for the 2024/2025 World Tour feature adrenaline-fueled action sports in remote landscapes that are sure to captivate and amaze you.
Rosie Melendez and her sta
Ken Ludwig’s
Black Balloon: Local agencies hope to bring awareness surrounding the opioid epidemic
Triad residents and agencies will honor those who’ve lost their lives to drug overdose this week.
The City of Greensboro’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion team and the Guilford County Division of Public Health will host a Black Balloon Day event on Thursday, March 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at LeBauer Park in Downtown Greensboro, located at 208 N. Davie St.
“We want to get rid of the stigma. I hear a lot of ‘Oh, well, nobody in my family…’ or ‘My kids don’t do drugs,’” said Mary Houser, LEAD case coordinator. “You might be right, but I guarantee you they know someone that does. It can happen to anyone. I want the community to know that they are responsible for helping with this just as much as the next person. I want them to be aware of how to recognize an overdose, be prepared, and know how to use Narcan. That’s the only way we are going to get through this epidemic.”
Black Balloon Day began to honor the life of Greg Temblay, who died in 2015 from an overdose. Now communities across the country observe the event to help draw awareness to the nationwide opioid epidemic.
“This is to show awareness for overdose. It historically was just about a balloon on a mailbox, and over the past decade, it has grown and become a national event,” said Houser. “The opioid epidemic is a huge problem and it’s a community problem. I want to bring awareness to it in Greensboro so we can help eliminate overdoses. It’s about being aware and knowing how to use Narcan and using harm reduction. I think we can all come together on this.”
No, you won’t.”
Houser said it is extremely important for people to know how to use naloxone (generic name for Narcan) to help prevent an overdose.
son where they are, that’s where I will start. We will build from there. We will work together and get this done,” she said. She also emphasized the importance of the harm reduction community working with local law enforcement o cers.
“In my program, o cers dictate who and how people come in, and usually it is through some type of previous or current charge, with addiction involved. Since I began two years ago, I’ve had 50 referrals. I have people everywhere in di erent stages, and I stick with them,” she said. “I think it’s important for the community to know that this is a GPD model. They accepted this model and wanted this as an option for o cers because they do see that addiction is a problem, and not all people dealing with addiction need to go to court. They just need help and resources. O cers really do see the struggles and just want to help, and that’s why they call me.”
For Houser, it is about harm reduction and relationships.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States. Greensboro Police Department responded to 110 calls last year, with 23 of those ending in death. So far this year, GPD has responded to 59 calls, with nine deaths.
“Harm reduction works for people, and that’s fine. I’m all about success long term. Down the road, I would love for them to achieve abstinence, but it does not come with telling someone you cannot use drugs. Or if you do, you go to jail. That’s doesn’t work. People may stop, but they’re never going to remain clean because they did for a reason and it wasn’t because they wanted to.”
Houser explained that those who call 911 to help someone having an overdose will not be arrested.
“People think ‘I’ll be arrested if I call.’
“There are trainings on how to use it all the time around the city,” she said. Attendees will have an opportunity to write the names of loved ones lost to overdose on black balloons to honor their memory, though those balloons will not be released. The LEAD team, in conjunction with the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services, will be on hand to provide community resources and naloxone. There will be door prizes, informational tables, guest speakers, music, and refreshments. This event is open to the public, whether they have been touched by addiction or not.
Houser said she’s received positive feedback about the upcoming event and is excited to host the city’s first one.
Houser has been helping those battling addiction for some time now, especially having worked in drug courts, but she said the best way to help anyone is to meet them where they are. She said the issue of being an addict is not talked about enough.
“It saves lives. That could look like keeping them alive and out of infectious disease. Everyone may not understand that but as long as I’m meeting the per-
“It makes me excited. I’m a very excited, giddy person because I love what I do. And when I hear someone else’s enthusiasm because they think this is an important event, it makes me even happier,” she explained. “This is needed and I’m hoping that this will be a tradition every year.
For more information, visit https:// www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/ community-safety/lead. !
CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.
Chanel Davis
Editor
Mary Houser, LEAD case coordinator
[TRIVIA TEST]
by Fifi Rodriguez
[1. LITERATURE: Who lives at 4 Privet Drive?
[2. TELEVISION: Which 1980s sitcom featured the Keaton family?
[3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first American-born president?
[4. COMICS: What is Deadpool’s profession?
[5. AD SLOGANS: Which makeup company’s slogan is “Maybe she’s born with it”?
[6. HISTORY: Which battles marked the beginning of the American Revolution?
[7. INVENTIONS: The 1904 World’s Fair introduced which flu y confection?
[8. MOVIES: In which year were the first Oscars awarded?
[9. MEASUREMENTS: What does 1 gallon of water weigh?
[10. GEOGRAPHY: What are the colors of the Italian flag?
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of March 10, 2025
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) It’s a good time to reassess important relationships, both personal and professional, to see where problems might exist and how they can be overcome. Keep the lines of communication open.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s not easy to bring order to a chaotic situation, whether it’s in the workplace or at home. But if anyone can do it, you can! A pleasant surprise awaits you by week’s end.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be careful that you don’t make an upcoming decision solely on the word of those who might have their own reasons for wanting you to act as they suggest. Check things out for yourself.
Martin Van Buren, born after the Revolutionary War.
Family Ties.
Harry Potter and the Dursley family.
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[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A personal relationship that seems to be going nowhere could be restarted once you know why it stalled. An honest discussion could result in some surprising revelations.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) An unexpected attack of self-doubt could be a way of warning yourself to go slow
before making a career-changing decision. Take more time to do a closer study of the facts.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A workplace problem needs your attention now before it deteriorates to a point beyond repair. A trusted third party could be helpful in closing the gaps that have opened.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A recent family situation could give rise to a new problem. Keep an open mind and avoid making judgments about anyone’s motives until all the facts are in.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Rely on your always-sharp intuition to alert you to potential problems regarding someone’s attempt to explain away the circumstances behind a puzzling incident.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Although you still need to do some snipping o of those lingering loose ends from a past project, you can begin moving on to something else.
[cAPrIcorN (December 22 to January 19) With your self-confidence levels rising, you should feel quite comfortable with taking on a possibly troublesome but potentially well-rewarded situation.
[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) Travel is favored, both for business and for fun. The end of the week brings news about an upcoming project that could lead toward a promised career change.
[PIsces (February 19 to March 20) You might feel suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of responsibilities. But if you deal with each one in its turn, you’ll soon be able to hold your head above water and move on.
[BorN THIs week: You have a wonderful way of offering comfort as well as guidance. You would do well in the healing arts.
