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November 2023 FEATURES 47 After Church Poetry by Debra Kaufman 48 Restaurant in Peace By Billy Ingram A look back at bygone ’Boro eateries 52 The Crying Game By Cynthia Adams My initiation into the Antiques Roadshow 58 Fire in His Eyes By Cassie Bustamante An artist reflects on processing trauma
through his canvas
64 A Tug to the Tar Heel State By Cassie Bustamante
Inside the collected and colorful Casa Carlisle 73 November Almanac By Ashley Walshe
DEPARTMENTS 13 Chaos Theory
By Cassie Bustamante
15 Simple Life
By Jim Dodson
18 Sazerac 21 Tea Leaf Astrologer
By Zora Stellanova
23 Life’s Funny
By Maria Johnson
26 The Omnivorous Reader
By Stephen E. Smith
28 Creators of N.C.
35 The Pleasures of Life Dept.
By David Claude Bailey
39 Home Grown
By Cynthia Adams
43 Birdwatch
By Susan Campbell
44 Wandering Billy
By Billy Ingram
95 Events Calendar 108 GreenScene 112 O.Henry Ending
By Wiley Cash
By Marianne Gingher
32 In Good Taste
Cover Photograph © Carol W. Martin/ Greensboro History Museum Collection
By Jasmine Comer
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M A G A Z I N E
Volume 13, No. 11 “I have a fancy that every city has a voice.”
336.617.0090 111 Bain Street, Suite 324, Greensboro, NC 27406
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David Woronoff david@thepilot.com Andie Rose, Creative Director andiesouthernpines@gmail.com Cassie Bustamante, Editor cassie@ohenrymag.com Jim Dodson, Editor at Large jwdauthor@gmail.com Miranda Glyder, Graphic Designer CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
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chaos theory
Cold Turkey A first-time Thanksgiving cook’s frozen failure By Cassie Bustamante
Growing up, Thanksgiving was always
a big family affair. Dad’s dad had six siblings and they’d all be there with their kids, who also had kids. My older brother, Dana, and I were the eldest of our generation, and we had to sit at the dreaded kids table, where we made sure none of our little cousins shoved peas up their noses. During high school, Dana and I graduated from the kids table, but it was a decade later when I hosted my first Thanksgiving in New Orleans that I finally felt like an adult. Because Chris works in retail management and will be schlepping it to the mall on Black Friday, dreams of the classic Thanksgiving return “home” — to either my or his parents — are dashed. Dana, who lives in Los Angeles, decides to visit our little family so he can spend time with his 1-year-old nephew, Sawyer. While I am sure Mom and Dad will miss seeing their first grandchild, they’re glad we’re spending the holiday together. And I know we will miss them — and Mom’s pecan rolls. One thing I won’t miss? Having to stare at one of Dad’s favorite sides on the table: the jiggling, can-shaped, gelatinous cranberry sauce, ribs still visible. Since I am the chef de cuisine, I delight in crafting my own menu: a cooked-to-nut-brown-perfection turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg, haricot vert spiked with lemon and garlic, glazed maple carrots, a simple salad — always a great palate cleanser between bites — and pillowy, golden rolls. And no canned cranberry sauce. For dessert, rich, silky pumpkin cheesecake. We hit the grocery store the weekend before, like every other bayou shopper and purchase a sensibly small bird in advance, which goes into the freezer for safekeeping. The day before Turkey Day, Chris plays on the floor with Sawyer while I follow the steps of a Food Network pumpkin cheesecake recipe. I pop it in oven to bake and lick the spatula. “Do we even need anything else?” I ask no one in particular. “Can’t we just sit around the table with cheesecake? I mean, that’s what the Golden Girls always do.” Lost in the delight of the batter and the excitement of my big brother arriving that evening, I take my eye off the ball. The ball being the ice-bound Butterball. The morning of Thanksgiving, I wake from a dead sleep at 6 a.m., fully aware of what I’ve done — or, more accurately, not done. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
“Oh, no!” I yell. “We forgot to take the turkey out of the freezer!” I rush to the kitchen in my pajamas as Chris groggily drags behind me. I yank the bird from the freezer, slamming it on the counter with a rock-solid thud and look exasperatedly at him. “Now what? Thanksgiving is ruined!!!” “Let’s just give it a water bath,” Chris answers calmly, adept at handling my (over)reactions. “Fill the sink and we’ll put it in there and just keep changing the water. It will thaw more quickly that way.” Fill, drain, repeat — every 15 minutes. After the first hour, the turkey is frighteningly firm. When the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins to roll, I can just about poke a finger into it. I imagine my parents, the smell of turkey wafting through their home, while, down in New Orleans, their daughter spends the day giving a turkey a bath. But Chris and Dana assure me they’ll be happy to eat whenever the turkey is ready. “I hope you like a big meal for breakfast then, because it’s looking like tomorrow morning,” I lament. To my surprise, our diligence pays off. Hours later, around 4 p.m., our bird is oven-ready and, because it’s small, cooks quickly. The four of us finally gather around the table. I pour us each — except for the baby, of course — a large glass of pinot grigio. “Cheers,” I say. “I’m grateful for so much — your visit, for one, Dana — but mostly that we’re eating at 7:30 p.m., a very respectable mealtime. I look around the table at our little crew. With Dana and Chris across from me, and Sawyer in his high chair beside me, it’s a far cry from those big family gatherings of my youth. But, even with my frozen faux-pas — maybe especially because of it — I know that we’re creating new memories. After putting Sawyer to bed, Dana, Chris and I gather ’round one more time for a 10 p.m. cheesecake session. I don’t care how stuffed I still am. Sweatpants were made for this. “Mmmmm . . . ,” we all groan contentedly. Since then, I’ve not once forgotten to thaw the turkey. Of course, that’s probably because I no longer eat — or cook — it. Too traumatic. But pumpkin cheesecake? There’s always room for that. OH Cassie Bustamante is editor of O.Henry magazine. O.Henry 13
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
simple life
A Cure for the Summer Blues And a homecoming for a flat-coated retriever
By Jim Dodson
As I write
ILLUSTRATION BY GERRY O'NEILL
this, I’ve just returned from East Hampton, New York, where I sat on the porch of a beautiful old house that belongs to my friends, Rees Jones, the famous golf architect, and his wife, Susan. The sun had just come up and the first birds were chirping. Susan’s gardens were lush from recent rains. It was the day after Labor Day and the summer crowds were finally winding their way home. I’d be lying if I said I was sad to see this particular summer go. It was a real doozy back home in Carolina, the hottest and driest summer I can recall, which explains why I spent many days watering my wilted gardens, which seemed prepared to give up the ghost. But I’m already in a November state of mind. November, you see, is one of my two favorite months, when I pause to take inventory of the year, count my blessings and thank the Lord for unexpected gifts. This year I’m starting early with a dog named Blue. He was the one great thing about summer’s end — besides summer’s end. Up till the moment my wife, Wendy, found him, I was feeling intense lingering grief over the loss of my beloved dog Mulligan at the end of August last year. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Mully, as I called her, was 17 and had been my faithful traveling pal since the October day in 2005 when I found her running wild and free on the shoulder of a busy highway near the South Carolina line, a filthy, joyful, black pup that raced into my arms as if she knew I was there to save her — though I’m convinced it was the other way around. Whichever it was, we found each other and shared an uncommonly powerful bond to the very end. One of the saddest moments of my life was watching her soulful brown eyes close for the last time as she lay at my feet in the garden she helped me build. Or it felt like it at the time. Grief is such untidy business. It squeezes your heart at unexpected moments. Every time I saw a dog that looked like Mully — a flat-coated retriever and border collie mix — I found myself almost aching with returning sadness. Even our aging and sweet old pit bull, Gracie, whom I call Piggie for the way she snorts when eating and sleeping, seemed to keenly feel Mully’s absence, despite the fact that pits are not known for displaying much emotion. One day last fall, I happened to open an app to Red Dog Rescue and there was a black-and-white female puppy looking for a forever home. I was sure Mully was sending her to us. So, on a lark, I filled out the paperwork and supplied proper references. A week or so later, we drove to a farm down in Asheboro to pick her up. We named her Winnie — either after Winnie-the-Pooh or my late friend Winnie Palmer, Arnold’s wonderful wife — I’m still not sure which. O.Henry 15
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
simple life It wasn’t long before I started calling her Wild Winnie. She is an exceptionally smart and insanely joyful mix of Labrador retriever, English springer spaniel plus something her DNA results termed as “Super Mutt.” She is every bit that and more. In truth, however, I wasn’t sure life in an old suburban city neighborhood would be sufficient for our beautiful Super Mutt’s needs. But I was wrong. Winnie quickly attached herself to Gracie the Bull and my wife, Wendy, who took her to training classes and soon had her performing an impressive repertoire of obedient commands. Wendy also began taking Winnie to Country Park’s BarkPark, where she fell in with a band of rough-and-tumble regulars named Roger, Jack and Ellie, who run, wrestle and chase each other until they drop from exhaustion. Winnie, in short, has been a joy. Without fail, she jumps into my lap every morning to give me a soppy lick of gratitude for finding her. But she’s clearly one of the girls. Wendy is her sun and moon. I’m just Wild Winnie’s fun playmate. I was OK with that until the end of August, when the first anniversary of losing Mully approached. My intuitive wife seemed to divine that my normal “summer blues” were worse than ever this year. One afternoon as we shared a cool drink beneath the shade trees, she handed me her iPhone and said, smiling, “So what do you think?” It was a photo of a beautiful black flat-coated retriever that
looked exactly like Mully. “He’s over in Tennessee, a rescued young male who belonged to a lady who had to give him up. They say he’s sweet as can be, loves other dogs and even cats. They’re taking a load of rescued dogs to New England and will be passing through western Virginia this Friday evening. If you’re interested. I’ve already cleared our references.” For several seconds I said nothing, just stared at the photo. “You need your dog,” my wise wife quietly said. So we drove to western Virginia and picked him up. On the two-hour drive home, he climbed up front placed his head in my lap and fell asleep. We named him Blue, my forever cure for the summer blues. After a bath, he was so black he was blue. My daughter, Maggie, suggested the name. Blue follows me everywhere, lies at my feet and already answers to his name. Piggie and Winnie adore him. Ditto Boo Radley, the cat. On the evening I arrived home from New York, Blue was the first one to greet me at the door, hopping up to give me a lick on the chin. It was good to be home. For both of us. OH Jim Dodson is the founding editor of O.Henry.
Happy Thanksgiving I am grateful for all my clients that make this community a wonderful place to live. Kathy Haines, REALTOR® Kathy Haines Homes By eXp Realty www.KathyHaines.com | Results@KathyHaines.com
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O.Henry 17
SAZERAC
"A spirited forum of Gate City food, drink, history, art, events, rumors and eccentrics worthy of our famous namesake"
Unsolicited Advice A little something on the side? Don’t mind if we do. But this year as you’re planning the Thanksgiving feast, can we all agree to keep the canned cranberry sauce where it belongs? In the can — or better yet, on the grocery store shelf — where it can stay until we’re hiding from the end of the world, in a bunker, and it’s your absolute last resort. Like, even after you’ve eaten the can of Spam that your cat won’t touch. Leave it on the shelf and try one of these unique dishes found at popsugar.com instead: 1. You can’t spell “sausage stuffing” without “sage,” but you can stuff something other than your turkey. Like your slow cooker. Frankly, it’s a much safer process with a big bonus: The two cups of onion will give your breath a “savory” aroma that will have your relatives happily keeping their distance. 2. Meatlovers, meet your veggies. Think Brussels sprouts are disgusting? Think again. Pan-fry bacon and use its fatty grease in place of olive oil for roasting sprouts, squash and fresh cranberries. Lastly, sprinkle said veggies with bacon bits and walnuts and they becomes a delicious, salty treat. 3. In a world where cauliflower can be anything — we’re talking pizza and even a Chick-Fil-A sandwich — why not make it a Thanksgiving side? Just add white cheddar. And bacon. 4. We saved the best for last. We’ll take a heapin’ helping of sweet potato casserole with butter-pecan crumble topping. Does that mean we can’t have just a sliver of sweet potato pie and a wee bit of pecan pie? Nope, there’s still room for dessert if you skimp on the cranberry sauce. Find more interesting ideas here: popsugar.com/food/ unique-thanksgiving-side-dishes-32388172
18 O.Henry
Just One Thing Lawrence Feir, a Greensboro sculptor and cancer survivor, once sketched trees in Wesley Long’s Healing Garden while waiting for a ride home after chemo and radiation treatment. “Those doodles eventually evolved into the Tree of Hope sculpture,” says the Canadian-born artist, who got his start “painting jean jackets in a Long Island neighborhood, emblazoned with ’60s rock ’n’ roll stars like the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan.” Disillusioned with life in crowded New York, “I moved to North Carolina, went to art school and discovered photography.” Feir, pronounced fayr, says a lucky break at the Greensboro airport landed him a job jetting the world shooting photos for aerospace pub Airways International until September 11, 2001. “Flying and photography would never be the same for me,” he says. After Dr. Bill Bowman, a general surgeon for 30 years and a Cone Health VP, died unexpectedly in 2021, family and friends donated money for a memorial, and Feir, who had reinvented himself as a contemporary artist working in welded steel, kinetic, abstract and figurative sculpture, was tapped to create it. A silver silhouette of a tree came to mind, Feir says, that would reflect the garden’s lush green vegetation with an almost moss-like border in the morning, turn silver as the day progressed and then take on a warm, crepuscular glow as dusk descended. Fabricated from stainless steel with a welding tool “that uses jets of hot plasma to cut through metal like butter,” the 12-foot-high tree sprouted and grew in Feir’s Greensboro studio over several weeks. Feir hopes its wind-swept branches inspire feelings of comfort and serenity in others dealing with cancer while serving as a shimmering tribute to Dr. Bowman and others who “supported me through a very difficult time,” he says. “They saved my life.”
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
sazerac
Sage Gardener For decades, Betty, my sister, and I have scouted out persimmon trees just before Thanksgiving. After carefully removing the fruit’s orangey, pulpy mass from the ground and separating out the leaves, twigs and dirt, we cook up some persimmon pudding for the big holiday feast. I’ve always used my late mother’s recipe, distinguished by sweet potatoes, corn meal, pecans and nutmeg with no other spices. I wondered aloud to Betty whether she uses the same recipe. “Doesn’t matter,” she said. “What?” “I don’t care one way or another about persimmon pudding,” she said. “It’s momma’s hard sauce that I like.” Brandy, sugar and butter. What’s not to like, but Zella Bailey’s son sure does love persimmons and persimmon pudding. A corruption of the Algonquin word “putchamin,” persimmons charmed Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Soto, who liked them better than red plums. English Colonial Governor Captain John Smith declared them “one of the most palatable fruits of this land” — when ripe — observing how they can “draw a man’s mouth awrie with much torment” when eaten too soon. The Oxford Companion to Food observes from an ocean away that it is “a fruit which used to be valued . . . but is now little eaten,” eclipsed, they say, by the big, fat Asian-engineered persimmons ubiquitous in grocery stores nowadays. Right.
let’s hear it for the persimmon tree, which goes out in a blaze of yellow-to-orange-to-purplish-bronze glory. “Nothing evokes the warm, lazy feeling of a fall afternoon in the Southern countryside,” writes an anonymous horticulturist on the J.C. Raulston Arboretum’s website, “like the sight of two or three persimmon trees lounging against a split-rail fence, their devilishly delicious fruit hanging just out of reach.” — David Claude Bailey
Window to the Past
In Seasoned in the South: Recipes from Crook’s Corner and from Home, celebrated Chapel Hill chef Bill Smith says his favorite recipe passed down to him by Bill Neal, Crook’s founder, is persimmon pudding (no sweet taters and no cornmeal, but good nonetheless). Pick your own persimmons, he insists, and sprinkle in some nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. In the plant sex department, persimmon trees are diocesius (from the Greek two [di-] and house [oikos]), meaning it takes two trees, a male and a female, to tango and make persimmons. I have proof of this in my yard, where a lonely female tree flourishes, but longs for a stately male companion. The wood from persimmon trees, by the way, is hard and closely grained and used for golf-club heads, billiard cues and once upon a time for preparatory school paddles. In sweetness, the fruit is only exceeded by the date in sugar content. They are “as eagerly sought out by possums and other wild creatures as human beings,” says The Oxford Companion, showing they do know a little something or another. Finally, as the onset of winter blisters the landscape with dying leaves and sets our roads on fire with a kaleidoscope of colors, The Art & Soul of Greensboro
PHOTOGRAPH © CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
Don't miss this year's Greensboro Honors: Veterans Day Parade, beginning on the corner of Elm and Lindsay, and kicking off at noon on November 11.
O.Henry 19
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
tea leaf astrologer
Scorpio
(October 23 – November 21) Everyone knows that the greatest revenge story never told is currently playing on a loop inside the dark and secretive mind of a Scorpio sun child. Relax. While the mischievous glint in your eyes does raise some suspicion, they’ll never know what you’re really thinking. On Monday, November 13, a new moon in your sign will offer a fresh perspective. Are you ready for a plot twist? You just might surprise yourself.
Tea leaf “fortunes” for the rest of you: Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
You’re going to taste that more than once. Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Splurge on the fancy cheese. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Clear the cobwebs. Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Your eyes give you away. Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Two words: buffet etiquette. Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
You’re clenching your teeth again. Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Leave your shoes by the door. Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Dress for the part you want. Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Try chewing between bites. Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Make space for a new houseplant. Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Ever tried kickboxing? OH
Zora Stellanova has been divining with tea leaves since Game of Thrones’ Starbucks cup mishap of 2019. While she’s not exactly a medium, she’s far from average. She lives in the N.C. foothills with her Sphynx cat, Lyla. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 21
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22 O.Henry
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life's funny
You’re a Green One A visit with a homegrown Grinch By Maria Johnson
In the interest of avocado-
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MCLAURIN FARMS
tinted transparency, I confess that I love everything about the Grinch, especially the 1966 animated version of his redemption story, a masterpiece of visuals, narration and music. I love how the Grinch gets a “wonderful, awful idea” to steal Christmas, causing the tuft of green fur on his head to part and unfurl with his smile. How he saws off a tree branch and ties it to the head of his dog, Max, to make him a reindeer. How he scissor-cuts material for his Santa suit, leaving jagged holes in the shape of a hat and jacket. How he slyly nabs candy canes from the grips of sleeping children. How he deceives little Cindy Lou Who, who is no more than 2, with a promise of taking her Christmas tree back to his workshop to mend a light: “I’ll fix it up there, and I’ll bring it back here.” How his heart grows three sizes that day, breaking the frame around it with a sproing! How, when he returns to Whoville with trumpet blaring, the circle of Whos swings open like a gate. And, naturally, how he — “he himself, the Grinch” — carves the roast beast. So you can imagine the thrill I felt upon learning that McLaurin Farms, on the northern edge of Greensboro, would be offering pics and visits with the Grinch at its Christmas Festival starting later this month. Keep in mind that McLaurin Farms is the same operation that funnels tens of thousands of people through its bloodcurdling Woods of Terror haunted attraction around Halloween. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
But in the last dozen years or so, the farm, which is run by Eddie McLaurin and his wife, Peggy, has grown into a year-round destination. They’ve added warmer-and-fuzzier draws such as a kid-friendly Pumpkin Patch, Trunk-or-Treat, an Easter Egg Hunt, the tulip-centric Blooms & Butterflies, a Summer Fun Festival and a farm market featuring ice cream and milkshakes. So I was a little surprised and a lot delighted to see the farm touting the presence of the Grinch at the yuletide event. Yes, Virginia, the plus-size guy in red fur will be there, too — ho-ho-ho-ing, posing for pics and listening to endless lists — along with the uber-grouch, who will occupy his own little niche complete with a store selling Grinch-obilia. That’s pure green genius in my book — in terms of both fun and finance. Witness the enduring popularity of the character, who first appeared in a written story published by Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, in 1957. The ’66 animated TV classic that won my heart was narrated by Boris Karloff. O.Henry 23
Weymouth Wonderland Holiday Festival November 30 December 3
Four Days of Something Wonderful for Everyone!
Candlelight, Carols & Cocktails is for Grown Ups to Light up the season with a casual and comfortable evening get-together. Thursday Nov. 30, 5:30 pm. $50 per person
Outdoor Wonderfest & Market
is for the Whole Family to go Walkin’ in a Weymouth Wonderland. Our grounds will be a holiday family funderland featuring: local vendors and artisans; Weymouth’s own Holiday Shoppe; crafts and face painting, food from some of our area’s popular food trucks; wandering minstrels and choristers. Wonder (as you wander) at all the magic of the season! Take a tour of our Boyd House decked out in its holiday best; say “Hey!” to the horses in our stable; and sit a spell with Santa in his magical toy shop! Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2, 10-4 pm. Sunday, Dec. 3, Noon-4 pm. Entry fee of any $ donation
For tickets visit: weymouthcenter.org Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, NC A 501(c)(3) organization
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life's funny In 2000, Jim Carrey portrayed him in a live-action movie. In a 2018 animated movie, Benedict Cumberbatch voiced a Grinch with smoother edges, appropriate to his world of Minion-like characters. A touring stage production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2006, will run at Greensboro’s Tanger Center November 21–26. And at McLaurin Farms, our homegrown Grinch, 29-year-old Nate Hudson, says the Green King of Mean outdraws Santa, maybe because Santa is more common at shopping centers, parades and the like.
“They’ll come dressed in their Grinch gear, and they’ll say I’ve been waiting the whole year to meet you.” “You would think it would just be kids,” Hudson says, reflecting on his fans. “But I have adults who come just to meet my Grinch. They’ll come dressed in their Grinch gear, and they’ll say I’ve been waiting the whole year to meet you.” Hudson, who graduated from Southeast Guilford High School and snared a theater degree at Indiana Wesleyan University, gets it. At age 8, he started memorizing dialogue from Jim Carrey’s Grinch, which his mom watched every Christmas season after it was released. About the same time, Hudson joined the family passion for spooky, dressing up as a scary clown for the haunted houses they put on. His dad was an extra in one of the Hellraiser movies. After college, Hudson did a turn with a repertory company in Michigan The Art & Soul of Greensboro
life's funny and spent autumns working at haunted houses, refining his clown character. He brought Rellik, which is “killer” spelled backward, to Woods of Terror about eight years ago. Two years later, the folks at McLaurin Farms asked him to help with the Christmas Festival. “I said, ‘I’m not a fan of kids, and I’m not a fan of Christmas,” says Hudson. “They said, ‘Perfect! You’re the Grinch!’” Hudson loved the idea. Bullied as a child, he identified with Carrey’s version of the Grinch, who is raised in Whoville and teased for being different until he finds love and acceptance one magical Christmas. Likewise, Hudson says, he found a safe harbor among theater people and haunted house actors. He enjoys the same grace inside the McLaurin tribe at Christmastime, when he plays the Grinch with crackly-voiced snark. People who ogle and smile at him are likely to be greeted with a terse, “What?!” Ask him if he’s seen Santa, and he’ll shamelessly hack a line from the movie Elf: “You mean the fat guy dressed in red who smells like beef and cheese?” If Olaf the snowman, a roving character from the movie Frozen wanders by and embraces him, Hudson will probably start singing “Let me go, let me go . . . ” a riff on the hit song “Let It Go” from the same movie. The only time he breaks character — or actually adheres to character — is during the last show before Christmas. At that point, Hudson says, the Grinch becomes his better self, which is what people find irresistible about the character: the hope he offers. “He has a story,” Hudson continues. “He was misunderstood. Everything was not all rainbows and sunshine with the Grinch. I think that’s where people sympathize with him. Toward the end, he grows his heart. He’s more human than Santa.” It’s an evergreen thought. OH
The Art
of Living MEET CARL HEIN AND KARL STAUBER As highly skilled woodworkers, Carl and Karl love making things—furniture, bowls, jewelry, and more. Now, thanks to their efforts to bring a new fully-equipped and stand-alone woodshop to Arbor Acres, the men have a dedicated place to work and share with other residents. “We have a full collection of high-quality tools,” says Karl. “And safety is a key feature,” Carl adds, referring to detailed training sessions. Arbor Acres is happy to continue fulfilling the visions of our residents, who continue to make this place alive with their creative energy.
Discover life in all its shining brilliance at Arbor Acres. Arbor Acres is a Continuing Care Retirement Community affiliated with the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104 arboracres.org • (336) 724-7921
Maria Johnson is a contributing editor of O.Henry. Email her at ohenrymaria@ gmail.com. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 25
omnivorous reader
Portrait of a Genius When art and politics collide
By Stephen E. Smith
At a moment in our
cultural/political history when we disagree about almost everything, you’d expect an ambitious pundit to pen a bestseller titled America vs. America: A Definitive Analysis of Our Cantankerousness. Although books aplenty attempt such revelations, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to articulate the forces at work in the here and now, but literary critic Scott Eyman has given us the next best thing to an explanation: Charlie Chaplin vs. America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided, an exposé/biography of a man who defined, at least in part, the last century, and who suffered the slings and arrows of an America gone wacky.
Eyman’s latest offering — he’s authored six previous books on the film industry and various movie stars — may strike readers as a story told a trifle too late. After all, Charlie Chaplin is ancient history, a wobbly, bowler-topped, black and white stick figure balanced on a rubbery cane who inexplicably entertained our grandparents with the silent knowledge that authentic comedy has its source in the concealment of anguish. The day-to-day details of Chaplin’s life notwithstanding, there’s insight aplenty in this cautionary tale of an artist whose universal popularity among Americans diminished to the point that he was run out of the country and forced to take up residence in Switzerland for the later years of his life. Chaplin was born in England and suffered a childhood of poverty and hardship. His alcoholic father abandoned the family, and he and his brother were sent to a workhouse. His mother was committed to a mental institution when he was 14, and Chaplin was forced to find work touring theaters and music halls as a stage actor and comedian. At 19, he toured with a company that traveled
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the United States, where he eventually signed with Keystone Studios. By the age of 20, he was the best-known man in the world. Chaplin co-founded United Artists and went on to write and produce The Kid, A Woman of Paris, The Gold Rush and The Circus. After the introduction of talkies, he released two silent films, City Lights and Modern Times, both film classics, followed by his first sound film, The Great Dictator, which satirized Adolf Hitler. After abandoning his Tramp persona, his later films included Monsieur Verdoux, Limelight and A King in New York. His credits and awards would fill this page, but lessthan-knowledgeable readers need only grasp this basic fact: Chaplin was a creative genius who had a profound influence on popular culture and the art of filmmaking. The focus of Eyman’s biography is Chaplin’s fall from grace. Early in his career, Chaplin was accused in a paternity suit in which he was found guilty, although blood tests proved conclusively that he was not the father (at the time, the state of California didn’t recognize blood tests as evidence); but the scandal was enough to attract the attention of gossip columnists, Hedda Hopper foremost among them, who were always collecting dirt on celebrity targets that would sell newspapers. More destructive to Chaplin’s reputation was the public curiosity regarding his politics. Although he lived much of his life in the United States — indeed, he made most of his fortune here — he never applied for citizenship, which generated a cloud of suspicion that never quite dissipated. Chaplin claimed to be an anarchist, “not in the bomb-throwing sense,” Eyman writes, “but in his dislike of rules and a preference for as much liberty as the law allowed, and maybe just a bit more.” In truth, he was little interested in politicians and politics, outside the restraints placed on the arts by contemporaries who were politically minded. Having suffered through a childhood of poverty, he harbored a great concern for the underprivileged, which is evident in all his films. But when he released Modern Times, which thematically explored the unending struggle against authoritarianism, and The Great Dictator, which mocked Adolf Hitler, both films, humorous but essentially didactic in intent, further thrust The Art & Soul of Greensboro
omnivorous reader Chaplin into the political arena. Prior to our involvement in World War II, he publicly advocated an alliance with the Soviet Union, and members of the press and the public were scandalized by his marriage when he was 54, to 18-year-old Oona O’Neill, the daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill. Because of his support of Russia, Chaplin was accused of being a communist sympathizer, and the FBI opened an investigation, all of which fed into the Red Scare and McCarthyism of the early 1950s. Chaplin fell into such disfavor with the public that he was denied reentry to the U.S. after leaving for the London premiere of his film Limelight. Eyman’s book is a “social, political and cultural history of the crucial period in the life of a seminal twentieth-century figure — the original independent filmmaker who gradually fell into moral combat with his adopted country precisely because of the beliefs that form the core of his personality and films.” Certainly, the activities of the press — particularly the gossip columnists who fed on Chaplin’s foibles; and the FBI, which launched a long, out-of-control investigation of Chaplin’s life — will give the thoughtful reader pause. FBI files on Chaplin ran to over 1,900 pages, mostly hearsay procured from dubious sources, material that was fed to friendly reporters who used the misinformation to besmirch Chaplin’s character and promote themselves. Are there definitive elements in Chaplin’s life that precisely parallel the political/cultural moment in which we find ourselves? Probably not. As usual, Mark Twain is credited with having said it best: “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes,” and readers, regardless of their politics, are likely to find themselves singing along with whatever sad tune history is humming at the moment. OH Stephen E. Smith is a retired professor and the author of seven books of poetry and prose. He is the recipient of the Poetry Northwest Young Poet’s Prize, the Zoe Kincaid Brockman Prize for poetry and four North Carolina Press Awards. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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O.Henry 27
creators of n.c.
Books and Beans Etaf Rum forges herown path in Rocky Mount By Wiley Cash Photographs By Mallory Cash
Rocky Mount-based writer
Etaf Rum’s new novel, Evil Eye, is the story of a Palestinian American woman named Yara Murad who’s struggling to reconcile her identities of wife, mother, artist, professor, native Brooklynite and transplanted Southerner. From the outside, it looks like Yara has it all: a husband who supports her work at a local university; two sweet young daughters; a career teaching the art she loves. But as the novel opens, the reader watches Yara careen through her days in a silent, stifling panic, something unspoken and unfulfilled bubbling beneath the surface of her life. Yara’s angst finds an outlet when she responds to a colleague’s shocking display of bigotry, but she isn’t prepared for the repercussions that follow. Her mother explains that Yara’s struggles are the result of an old family curse and she dismisses Yara’s frustration by saying that she should be happy that her husband has given Yara more freedoms than Yara’s father gave her. Many writers would lean into the trope of the age-old curse to carry their plots, but Rum never relies on gimmicks or stereotypes, not in her characters, and not in her narrative. Instead, this character-driven novel investigates the ways in which we curse ourselves by settling for jobs and relationships that don’t fulfill us. Evil Eye is a book about the monotony of unfulfilled days (and nights), yet Rum has crafted this finely drawn portrait of domestic life into a page-turner. “Actually, I felt like my first novel was a real page-turner, but one that I intentionally crafted to be so,” she says. “With Evil
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Eye, I did not want to write another page-turner. But as a writer you want to keep the story interesting, and you want the readers turning the pages. And I think for me, I had to challenge myself to write a character portrait.” She is sitting at the counter at Books and Beans, a coffee shop and bookstore she owns with her husband, Brandon, in Rocky Mount. Light streams through the windows, making the white walls appear even brighter, and the terra cotta tile floors richer and more resonant. “I was really interested in exploring the internal life of this character in an authentic way, and I hoped and I prayed that doing so would lend a readability that is relatable, authentic and helps you get into the story. My intention was that it would be her personality and her character and all the things that we don’t know about her past that would motivate the reader to keep going.” This reader kept going. I finished the novel in a couple of days. But reading Evil Eye wasn’t always a comfortable experience. While we are firmly grounded in Yara’s point of view, and privy to her difficult childhood, we also have front row seats to the many anxieties she confronts in her everyday life. These anxieties are manifested in the workplace (in this case, higher education), on The Art & Soul of Greensboro
creators of n.c.
social media, in her role as a mother and wife, and in her struggles to pursue her passion as an artist. “I wanted to write about these issues in the perspective of a character we haven’t seen before, a Palestinian American woman who you don’t really think about, but someone who has these universal anxieties that are so common for everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity,” Rum says. It was her hope that in seeing themselves in Yara’s story readers might see someone like Yara for the first time. “Most readers can’t possibly connect with having an arranged marriage, but maybe they can connect with being a young mother or feeling like their dreams are unfulfilled or feeling like they’re living their lives and doing all the right things, only to wake up one day feeling so unsettled, thinking, Wait, is this actually what I want?” In one particularly affecting scene, Yara opens Instagram, poised to post a photo in the hopes of proving that her life is more fulfilling than it actually is, but then she pauses, pondering the ways in which social media is often an aspirational portrayal of the lives we want instead of representative of the lives we’re willing to pursue. For Yara, the question in Evil Eye is whether or not she will ever reach for what she wants and deserves, or will she spend the rest of her life simmering and settling for the life she has? “Why do we settle for what’s comfortable?” Rum asks. “Because we want to avoid the pain of growth.” For Etaf Rum, Instagram surprisingly became a place for her to manifest her aspirations. Long before The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 29
creators of n.c. her debut novel, A Woman Is No Man, became a New York Times bestseller and a book club selection by the Today show’s Jenna Bush Hager, Rum was teaching English at Nash Community College. Before each class began, she regularly shared two of her greatest loves with her students: coffee and books. “I would bring my students coffee and book recommendations,” she says. “And eventually they would ask, ‘What are you reading now?’ And so I created an Instagram account called Books and Beans, and it was like a joke between all of us. That was the year I started writing A Woman Is No Man.” The Instagram page quickly garnered notice well beyond the walls of the college, and Rum soon found herself as an ambassador of the Book of the Month Club, helping them promote their selections through her Instagram account. Later, when her first novel was published in 2019, it actually included a coffee shop called Books and Beans. Writers call this foreshadowing. This was around the time a development group was renovating Rocky Mount Mills into an 82-acre campus combining retail, dining and residences. There was a particular part of the campus Rum had her eye on. “They had a stand-alone old canteen building they wanted to open up as a coffee shop,” she says. “And so a bunch of people went to them and said, ‘Hey, we can open a coffee shop,’ and I was one of them. My husband, Brandon, worked in restaurants
his whole life, so I said, ‘All right, you can help me with the business side of things.’” They pitched their vision to the developers, and Books and Beans was born. “It was my way of creating space for myself with things that I loved, and it was also my way of saying, ‘Hey, you can do whatever you want to do. There’s nothing out of reach for you. Just believe in it.’ The coffee shop was literally a manifestation of a dream that I’d had on social media, and we turned it into a physical building.” A few years later, the shock still hasn’t worn off. Rum continually finds herself mesmerized by the fact that a Palestinian American woman born and raised in Brooklyn could create a community foothold in a small Southern town like Rocky Mount. “Every time I walk past it I remind myself that there are girls like me who think they have no business running a shop. All it takes is believing that you could become part of something, right? If you don’t see that vision for yourself, if you don’t believe in it, then it will never happen.” Cursed or charmed, coffee or beans, it all comes down to hard work and dreams. OH Wiley Cash is the executive director of Literary Arts at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the founder of This Is Working, an online community for writers.
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O.Henry 31
in good taste
A Bowlful of Comfort Chilly weather calls for chili cooking! Story and Photograph by Jasmine Comer
There’s more than one way to skin a
potato, even a sweet potato — and there are just as many different ways to make chili. No matter the region, I think we can all agree that it’s the perfect cozy meal for those chilly wintry months. Some insist that chili requires specific ingredients like beans, or ground beef, or chicken, but I beg to differ. For me, the only requirement is the right combination of warm spices to exhilarate your palate — and a recipe tested by time (and your family). My sweet potato chili has some of your typical seasonings such
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as chili powder and cumin. But the addition of the fiery cayenne pepper and savory cinnamon along with silky sweet potatoes will make your tastebuds dance the salsa . . . and maybe even sing along. For me a pot of sweet-potato chili on the stove brings me right back to my childhood seat at the family table. I can see my mother stirring the pot at the stove while the rest of us sit around the table listening to my granddad’s jokes followed by his contagious laughter. On these cold evenings, the house is filled with the fragrant scent of exotic spices and boisterous laughter, though I wasn’t always sure of just what was so funny. But it doesn’t even matter. I just enjoyed seeing everyone having a good time while anticipating a sweet-and-sour-and-spicy bowl of momma’s chili, which I have only slightly modified. And the best news about this recipe? You probably have most of the spices in your pantry already. Have a little fun with it — doctor the flavors to your liking or try different combinations. I, for The Art & Soul of Greensboro
in good taste instance, add tamari or soy sauce to my chili instead of salt. It adds depth of flavor and umami to the dish. Not a fan of red meat? Use ground turkey instead of beef. Or omit the meat altogether and add your favorite beans or some Impossible Burger. Go ahead and play with your food. Whatever you do, just don’t forget to cook with love. That’s exactly what my family does and, inevitably, it means no leftovers. A sign of a delicious meal? When everyone wants a bowl to go.
Sweet Potato Chili Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon each: smoked paprika, black pepper, oregano 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons chili powder Pinch of cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 15-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes 15-ounce can corn, drained 1 1/2 cups beef broth
Directions 1. In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat, using a wooden spoon to break into crumbles. Once the ground beef is browned, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. If using a fatty meat, drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pot. 2. Add the onion and peppers. Cook until softened, stirring frequently. Add the chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute or so. 3. Add the remaining spices and stir to combine. Cook for two more minutes, reducing a the heat a little so the spices don’t burn. 4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2–3 more minutes, or until slightly caramelized. 5. Stir in the sweet potatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, beef broth and the cooked ground beef. 6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25–30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Suggested toppings: sour cream, lime juice, corn chips and cilantro OH Jasmine Comer is the creator of Lively Meals, a food blog where she shares delicious, everyday recipes. You can find her on Instagram @livelymeals.
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O.Henry 33
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34 O.Henry
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the pleasures of life dept.
Rockin’ Deals Around the Christmas Tree Find more than you bargain for at Burlington Outlet Village
By David Claude Bailey
“Josh would be
all about this,” I say, digging into the box containing an electronic squirrel-proof bird feeder. It’s August, hot as blazes outside and the spirit of Christmas shopping glows dimly in Anne’s eyes.
“Delivers a mild electric correction,” Anne says, looking it up on her phone. “$148 — half of which is $74. That’s a little steep for a bird feeder.” I agree, putting it back on the shelf at J&R Liquidations in Burlington Outlet Village. I also put the chicken-coop heater back, deciding that it might be like giving your special someone a vacuum cleaner or nose-hair removal kit for Christmas. Still earlier, though, I had scored two boxes of Lindt Gourmet Truffles for $8 each at J&R’s food outlet. Retail price? About $25 each — and, no, they aren’t expired. I resisted the 7-pound can of Italian gourmet Amarena wild-cherry syrup for $20 (retail: $80-plus), but did snag the plant-based “beef” jerky for a friend and thought about buying her some Tree-Free Toilet Paper, “It’s up to us to save our butts!” ($6 for 12 rolls.) I’ve always loved discount shopping and every Christmas I’m on the lookout for over-the-top, gag gifts for friends and relatives. And Burlington Outlet Village (BOV) definitely offers laughs for less. I inherited the discount shopping bug from my dad, who loved nothing more than buying day-old doughnuts and dented cans — in fact, just about anything with a neon “Marked Down” sticker. (He also ordered stuff from those tiny display ads that once crowded the back of magazines. My sister The Art & Soul of Greensboro
and I still howl about a hot dog cooker that electrocuted the wieners with the touch of a switch, completing a circuit from one end of the dog to the other — causing them to sizzle, hiss and moan.) For those of you high rollers, BOV was the site of the Tar Heel State’s very first discount shopping center, founded as Burlington Manufacturers Outlet Center (BMOC) by no less than Stanley Tanger, father of Steven, as in Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts and Greensboro-based Tanger Outlets. But let’s flash back a few decades to my hometown of Reidsville, where Stanley Tanger was CEO of Creighton Shirts, to the day when he got sick and tired of absorbing pricey shirts returned by huge retailers wanting to balance their inventory. So he set up an employees store, where I remember buying, for a song, a fashionably pink, button-down Oxford — and loads of irregular army duds. Soon, Tanger was operating five outlet stores around the Triad, an enterprise he quickly realized “was O.Henry 35
the pleasures of life dept.
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36 O.Henry
more profitable, really, than making shirts and selling them to retailers.” In 1981, he opened BMOC, an almost-instant success, with literally busloads of shoppers showing up to scarf up name-brand bargains. Forty-two years later, the company, with Steven Tanger as CEO, owns and/or manages 37 centers in 20 states and Canada, leasing 2,700 stores. But the years have not been as kind to BMOC, today’s BOV. Many of the name-brand stores moved to the tonier Tanger Outlet in Mebane. Others closed. Nowadays, it does what a lot of other struggling shopping centers do: hosts either specialty stores — Steve’s Leather selling motorcycle-related garb, for instance — or churches, day-care centers, hair dressers, bars, ethnic markets, nail salons, nonprofits, gyms and shops on the margins of mainstream consumerism looking for a safe space with reasonable rent. Five years ago, J&R opened its first storefront. “Now, we’ve got five stores here and 25,000 followers on Facebook,” says Joe Black, the “J” in J&R. Merchandise includes returns and surplus from Lowe’s, Target, Amazon, Walmart. “You name it,” he says, hawking everything from lawn mowers to leaf-blowers, vacuum cleaners to a Pearl drum set! In one of his stores, you pay half of the lowest retail price you can find on the internet. Customers have 30 days to return items, provided they keep the receipt. J&R’s stores are more than a little messy, with piles of products cascading off display tables onto the floor and aisles, which are sometimes blocked with even more goods waiting for a shelf or table to open up. “It’s a jumble,” Black admits, “but people love to hunt around like at a yard sale.” “Beer soap, $4 a bar,” Anne says, “and, yes, it smells just like beer.” “For the same price we can get someone a gallon can of boiled peanuts,” I counter. We’re back in J&R’s food outlet, half of which comprises a dollar store where everything is, in fact, still one dollar. Peeps-flavored Pepsi anyone? Or a
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
the pleasures of life dept. 2-pound box of Kinder eggs? And there are literally hundreds of purple brassieres, $1 each. Anne avoids eye contact with me and slips off to Ann Hope’s Corner by Peter Rabbit Consignment, where she scores • COPIERS/PRINTERS some new baby clothes for our soon• IT SOFTWARE to-be grandchild. A fleet of Grayson strollers sits on the sidewalk with a • DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT half-dozen children’s bikes. Gently used toys, games, books, along with junior • MPS and maternity clothes crowd the aisles, where more heaps of goods await pric• FP MAILING ing and stocking. • PURE ICE WATER Looking for dozens of matching dining chairs or hundreds of identi6 COFFE E cal lamps and lampshades? Stop in OFFICES BEST FRIEND the Hotel Liquidation Store, where we CONTACT KELLY OFFICE SOLUTIONS TODAY! bought a handsome bedstead a few years ago. Across the way, Hollo’s Bargains 4 KELLVOFFICESOLUTIONS.COM U features teaching and instructional AMY PAGANO DEVON CHRISTENSEN apagano@kellyoHicesolutions.com material, along with cake decorating 336-395-5116 dchristensen@kellyoHicesolutions.com 336-601-9292 and baking supplies, party goods and closeouts of every ilk. Sphinx Home Furniture features ornate gold- and silver-inlaid Rococo furnishings handmade in Egypt. Whether you’re looking for handcuffs or a bullet-proof vest, Davis Public Safety’s the place to go. Safa Market offers Armenian string cheese and other Middle Eastern groceries, and Sweet Rice Asian Market sells gallons of Helping Create Enrich CreateFamilies and Enrich theirand Legacy for their Generations to Come boba tea to Elon students. But I thinkHelping Families Legacy for Generations to Come the most unique outlet is What’s All the Rage, an axe-throwing venue where you can “unleash your inner lumberjack” and engage in family-friendly paintsplash and rage-room sessions. Admittedly, shoppers are no longer showing up by the busload, but, as Steve How is my team of trusted advisors coordinated? Tanger once observed, “In good times Have you thought about How do I plan for the passing of my values to the next people like a bargain. In not so good incorporating times, they need a bargain.” As for me? generation? Trust Services within your Thanks to my dad, I enjoy bargains 24/7, How do I plan for post-retirement? Estate Plan? just like those, now, 28,000 shoppers Old North State Trust works closely with your trusted financial partners effective, comprehensive financial plan is implemented and who follow J&R on Facebook. As for myto ensure anOld North State Trust to hasyour the knowledge, resources constantly monitored according goals whileexperience, adjustingand as your life to friends and family, be careful what you evolves. administer trusts objectively while keeping in mind the wishes of the wish for. I just might find it. OH creator of the trust and the needs of the beneficiaries.
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O.Henry 37
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
home grown
Mama’s International Cuisine Taste buds awaken outside of her kitchen
By Cynthia Adams
Ours was an international kitchen . . . if
you accept that the fare at IHOP is international.
Mama made gravy, but not the Italian red sauce certain New York Italians confusingly call gravy. True, she made red-eye gravy, milk gravy and brown sausage gravy, which she spooned over biscuits. As for red sauce, Mama went rogue. If she ran short on Hunt’s tomato sauce, she substituted catsup. She used ground beef in her spaghetti sauce, but to a difficult-to-digest extent. Slicks of oil glazed the surface as she ladled it over the pasta, completely unfazed. Mama’s version of Chow Mein came from a can of Chun King bamboo shoots. As she hotly argued, it had to be authentic or else Chun King would never have put it on the can in the first place. The menfolk loved Mama’s Hungarian goulash, a substantial dish that came from The Progressive Farmer or Betty Crocker’s cookbook. It had little to do with Hungarians or actual goulash, but Mama, a born improviser, was no stickler. The sheer weight of the dish — leaning heavily on a base suspiciously like her brown breakfast gravy — featured ground beef, cooking oil, powdered onion, celery salt, canned mushrooms and a pint of sour cream. So substantial, in fact, it could sustain a famished Hungarian ditch digger. When I experienced authentic foreign food as a student studying abroad, my reality was rattled. Nothing I’d eaten in Hell’s Half Acre, as locals called our community, had prepared me. Italian fare — from a slice on the street to pasta — delighted yet bewildered. The simplicity and lightness of fresh ingredients — and lack of reliance upon Hunt’s tomato products — shocked my system. Once back in Cabarrus County, I never told Mama how unlike Italian gravy it was. Besides, my father and brothers were enthusiastic about Mama’s hearty cooking, leaving no room for self-doubt. He would push back from the table, happily groaning, “Jonni, I’m stuffed!” She was a get-er-done woman, uninterested in the fuss and The Art & Soul of Greensboro
bother of Julia Child. Jonni and Julia? Never. True, Mama was expeditious, but not so much as Mama June of Here Come’s Honey Boo Boo, who prepared on camera a two-ingredient “sketti” with catsup and butter. I figured most home cooks were equally steadfast in their reliance upon recipes found on can labels and cake boxes. That was, until I met Peggy, whose son I later married. As a young woman invited to her table, I fell under her spell, already intoxicated by her fragrant kitchen — where fresh herbs and spices, olive oil, and generously sized Italian meatballs and sausage simmered. I inhaled, and the aromas of Italy filled my senses. Although of Irish stock, Peggy was a native New Yorker steeped in Italian fare. Chianti was on the table — I’d noted Peggy enjoying a glass as she cooked. These were habits I vowed to adopt as soon as I had a kitchen of my own. Only an M.F.K. Fisher or a Ruth Reichl could express Peggy’s carefree alchemy, meshing ordinary ingredients into an exceptional whole as she sometimes sang along to a Frank Sinatra tune. As dishes were passed, I watched, enraptured as Peggy served. The sauce lightly covered slightly toothy pasta. Over that went hand-rolled meatballs, fragrant of fresh parsley, basil and garlic. O.Henry 39
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home grown Then the Italian sausages. Grated parmesan (fresh!) was passed around, along with garlic bread for sopping all that deliciousness. I carefully avoided telling Mama about the ecstasies of authentic home-cooked Italian for obvious reasons. Mama would have been mortally wounded; she fancied herself to be a fine cook. (And I never told Mama how Peggy also created a culinary masterpiece out of a Thanksgiving turkey, too — pushing herbs beneath the skin before dousing it with a good olive oil. And cooking it until done, which Mama seldom bothered with.) When my marriage to Peggy’s son ended, my relationship with her endured. Years later, Peggy and I were having drinks with her daughter, Gale. Peggy was especially fond of a good Manhattan, and, as we sipped, I wistfully reminisced. Did she still make her spaghetti, I ventured, hopeful of wangling an invitation to her table? Peggy giggled her signature, girl-like trill. “Oh, I don’t cook anymore,” she said, waving her hand. “Those days are behind me.” This news was tantamount to learning that Michelangelo retired early and no longer carved marble. “B-but . . . ” I spluttered, at a complete loss. I turned away before she could see my despair. New World Italians have a charming expression for a meat sauce like Peggy’s: Sugo Della Domenica or “Sunday’s sauce.” It is never difficult, they observe, to get people to the table for Sunday’s sauce. Indeed. Sometimes in my dreams, I sip chianti in Peggy’s kitchen. The sauce simmers; bits of fresh basil dance to the surface. The growl of my impatient stomach. And then, sigh: that first al dente bite in the mouth. My sweet Mama, I vowed long ago, could never know. OH
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O.Henry 41
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birdwatch
Flying Under the Radar The rarely noticed double-crested cormorant
By Susan Campbell
Overlooked
by many, the double-crested cormorant is a waterbird found alone or in small groups across our state during the cooler weather. This large, black, gulllike bird has few admirers. It only gets noticed when sitting with wings outstretched, drying in the sun, on an exposed perch such as a low snag or bulkhead. Although cormorants are less waterproof than most, their lack of buoyancy makes it easier to swim after prey in deep water. They can be found in a variety of bodies of water, from retention or farm ponds to larger lakes and reservoirs. However, if you are at the beach during the winter months, you may see them in the open ocean, often foraging together by the thousands. This bird is hardly a striking waterbird. Cormorants actually look odd — somewhat like a cross between a loon and a goose. Although it seems to be a dull black bird with a long neck and pointed wings, should you see it at close range it actually does sport some color. The bright orange-yellow facial skin and shockingly aquamarine eyes of adult birds are apparent. Furthermore, breeding individuals have two black and white tufts as well as a blue mouth from early spring through mid-summer. Double-crested cormorants are widely distributed across North America. They breed on rocky outcroppings off the coast The Art & Soul of Greensboro
of Canada and Alaska as well as on islands in wetter portions of the Upper Midwest. They place bulky nests in stout trees or on the ground in colonies. Flocks migrate inland across the United States to coastal wintering sites. Some cormorants can be found farther away from the coast in wetter habitats of the Southeast. Given that this species primarily feeds on a variety of fish, and can congregate in large numbers, it is sometimes considered a nuisance by fish farmers and fishermen. Double-crested cormorants have strongly hooked bills which, along with their strong, webbed feet, definitely make them good fishers. More often than not, however, their foraging goes unnoticed, especially here in North Carolina. Moving from place to place, like so many species of birds, they form skeins or V-formations. Significant flocks have been known to show up during the fall in the Sandhills. Flying low, they appear in the afternoon to drop in to feed on one of our larger lakes. Just before dark they will fly up into an older pine to roost. It is hard to believe that double-crested cormorant populations were once imperiled. Widespread use of pesticides in the 1960s and ’70s impacted the breeding success of many birds, especially those high up on the food chain. Compounds such as DDT caused eggshell thinning and thus, a precipitous decline in breeding productivity until it was banned in the U.S. in 1969. Recovery was swift, however, and numbers remain high in spite of increased human activity throughout the species’ range. OH Susan Campbell would love to receive your wildlife sightings and photographs at susan@ncaves.com. O.Henry 43
wandering billy
John Hitchcock’s house
Tales of a Fisher Park Paperboy What was once a way of life is now unthinkable By Billy Ingram
“The newspaper carrier hasn’t time to get into trouble. He finds it fun to hold a job, to earn money and learn to meet people. He may not be aware of it, but he is developing individualism and learning to accept responsibility.” – J. Edgar Hoover
Can you imagine allowing — no, encouraging
— your preteen to leave the house unaccompanied during the twilight hours before sunrise, meet up with some random stranger in a pickup truck, then roam the neighborhood going door-to-door before your alarm even goes off in the morning? Inconceivable? Yet, that was a common occurrence in my youth, no less than a Norman Rockwellian cultural touchstone . . . the hometown paperboy. Technically, I suppose Ben Franklin could be considered America’s first newsie as he handed out the Pennsylvania Gazette he published in the 1700s, but in truth that distinction belongs to 10-year-old Barney Flaherty, who was hired in 1833 to deliver The New York Sun. At that time, child labor was an accepted practice in factories and sweatshops around the country. That now unthinkable practice was outlawed a century later, but employing schoolboys to distribute the local news continued unabated by simply labeling these pint sized couriers “independent contractors.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Tom Cruise, our current President? All paperboys at one time, as was a friend I met at Mendenhall Junior High in the late-1960s, John Hitchcock. Being a morning person as a youngster, I would occasionally tag along on weekends, when bundles of newspapers were tossed off a truck at 6 a.m. for 12-year old Hitchcock and another nearby paper carrier, Norfleet Stallings. Pick-up was at what was once a spectacular 1920s-era, California Art Deco-inspired former firehouse once occupied by the City and County Council of Civil Defense. It was not in the best of neighborhoods, located alongside the railroad tracks on Church Street between Hendrix and Bessemer. After rolling the papers, then fastening them with rubber bands, Hitchcock would throw a Greensboro Daily News-
44 O.Henry
branded canvas bag over his shoulder and slide onto his silver Stingray 3-speed bike’s banana seat. Then he’d peddle and fling that morning’s edition onto dewy lawns across a seven-block route bordered by Bessemer Avenue, Church Street, Elm Street and North Park Drive. His take for the week was 5 or 6 bucks, around $50 adjusted for inflation. “I was the richest kid in town,” Hitchcock says, perched behind a crowded counter at his shop, Parts Unknown: The Comic Book Store. “I could buy all the comic books I wanted and, if it was cold, get a bowl of chili, a bag of Fritos and a drink at Woolworth’s for like 35 cents. Then I’d high tail it home.” Hitchcock still lives in the Fisher Park Craftsman-style home on Olive Street his family has owned since the 1930s. One recent evening, the two of us wander the neighborhood while Hitchcock points out houses and mentions some of the customers that lined his route. “Mrs. Coble lived there forever. She was the sweetest old lady,” Hitchcock tells me as we approach 904 Olive. “After her kids were grown, she started renting out rooms.” Behind her house sat a square cinder block hut, no longer there. Word has it that back in the early-’50s, “for about a month, legendary Hall-of-Famer Mickey Mantle and a couple of bonus babies [rookies] lived in that house when they were sent here to get seasoned for playing with the Yankees.” After the games as those ballplayers would hang out drinking beers, Hitchcock’s uncle would join them. “He said they were really down-to-earth guys.” This former paperboy had his share of eccentrics along the route. “My friend, Ken Edwards, came to my house one day and he says, ‘Look what I’ve got,’” showing Hitchcock a stack of early Fantastic Four and Spider-Man comics. Edwards explained that one subscriber on Hendrix was selling 12-cent Marvels for 10 cents apiece. “I slowly ended up buying all of them from him. What was weird about the guy, and I mean really weird,” says Hitchcock, “is he would give you a comic if he could spank you with a paddle. I never did it, but Ken did, and he said the guy didn’t hit worth a damn compared to his dad.” A couple of blocks west at 113 Hendrix sits a large twostory duplex. “Alan McLeod had one of the greatest butterfly The Art & Soul of Greensboro
wandering billy and moth collections anyone ever saw,” Hitchcock recalls. “He would buy cocoons, hatch them and mount them for display.” McLeod’s grandmother resided in the adjoining unit. “There was a welcome mat in front of her door. The paper had to be placed directly on the mat. If it wasn’t there, she would call and tell me to ‘bring my paper in.’ Sometimes it would be just a foot away. And I never got a tip.” On the corner of Hendrix and Church, there’s a house Hitchcock remembers well. “Behind that house was a square metal cage where this guy kept squirrels,” he says. “Don’t ask me why, but he did.” Crossing the bridge over the railroad tracks to the other side of Hendrix was a dwelling with a more exotic habitat. “They had monkeys in a 5-foot by 8-foot pen. We’d bring pecans for the monkeys to eat and the homeowners would yell at us to get the hell out of there.” In a charming bungalow at 1005 Magnolia, “There was a wonderful woman, Mrs. Noah. She lived by herself,” Hitchcock recalls. “She had a framed lithograph of Robert E. Lee, must’ve been passed down through the family. She told me that her daughter was seeing a guy and when the boyfriend walked in, saw the picture of Robert E. Lee, he says, ‘Why, General Grant! I’m glad you have such a nice place in this house.’ Mrs. Noah looked at her daughter and said, ‘He’s got to go.’” In the 1980s, papergirls joined the carrier ranks. During the next decade, falling circulations and rising liability costs spelled the end for an American childhood tradition stretching back to the pioneer days. Perhaps J. Edgar was right. John Hitchcock’s business on Spring Garden will be celebrating its 35th anniversary next year, so that entrepreneurial spirit did indeed start early and stuck. OH When not wandering, Billy Ingram can be found on Tuesday afternoons behind the counter at Parts Unknown, where one of the shop’s best-sellers is Brian K. Vaughan’s acclaimed graphic novel series Papergirls, which he highly recommends. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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November 2023 After Church When the preacher’s son told me my aura was part halo, part rainbow, I saw him see me saintly. God appeared instantly and everywhere that summer: smiling in the pansies, reflecting us in the farm pond, beside us on our bikes, in the barn fragrant with warm cows, glinting from the hay chaff, the slatted light. God touched us as we touched, electricity in our fingers, we were shimmery and dewy, our skin golden, hair sun-bleached. Angels sang in our voices. The moon rose in heaven, love, heaven in the moon.
— Debra Kaufman
Debra Kaufman's newest poerty collection, Outwalking the Shadow, is forthcoming from Redhawk Publications.
The Art & Soul of the Greensboro Sandhills
O.Henry O.Henry PineStraw 47
© GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM
48 O.Henry
© GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM
oin us for a retrospective of Greensboro’s rich culinary legacy. Travel back in time to when just about every place someone dined in was locally owned. Patrons not only became friends with the restaurateurs, they were able to watch their children, who served them and ran the cash register, grow into adulthood. Our journey begins in an era when farm-raised meats and justpicked produce were delivered directly each morning from farms to cafe back doors. Every dish was painstakingly prepared daily from generations-old recipes; adventurous innovators rose up with visions for what an increasingly younger clientele yearned for. Tuck in your bib and dig into the days shortly before the soulless mediocrity of an endless chain of corporate franchises hijacked America’s taste buds.
From the early 1920s to the mid 1950s, Manuel’s was the epitome of fine dining downtown, with fresh flowers and linen tablecloths. Men, of course, wouldn’t think of arriving attired in anything but a suit and white gloves were de rigueur for the ladies, though most folks of a certain class dressed like that when they left the house back then any way. Known for its rich, savory spaghetti and massive Western-style steaks, Manuel’s shared the block with Jefferson Standard’s West Market Street entrance. “We serve the very best!”
Very much like the design and concept of Your House, The Ranch Restaurant was attached to Smith’s Ranch Motel on Randelman Road at what was then the edge of town near Interstates 40 and 85. In 1968, proprietor J. Howard Coble (no relation to U.S. Rep. Howard Coble of Greensboro, whose father was Joe Howard Coble) served up a complete club steak dinner, including salad, french fries and buttered roll for the princely sum of $1.65. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
© GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM
A little further down West Market during the ’30s and ’40s sat “Greensboro’s Most Popular Restaurant,” Cafe Mecca, serving seafood and steaks but pretty much offering the same menu items as every other local hash house. There was very little ethnic food available in town, but one notable exception was The Lotus Restaurant, launched in the 1930s and specializing in Chinese dishes, facing the Carolina Theatre on Greene Street.
Ever notice that streamlined, train car-like building with a stainless steel exterior (recently painted over) attached to the side of La Bamba on Gate City Boulevard? Originally located across the street, this very rare example of a late-1940s Paramount built diner was constructed for Southern Queen Hot Shoppe, a drive-in hangout for post-war hipsters serviced by uniformed “curbers.” The Greensboro Hot Shoppe was one of 70 in seven states at the chain’s height.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Almost every city eatery from the’30s into the ’80s was owned and operated by Greek immigrants, Matthew’s Grill, aka “The Right Place To Eat,” being no exception. Having learned the business at The Princess Cafe, his sister and sonin-law’s downtown mainstay on South Elm, owner-operator Minas Dascalakis bought Matthew’s, sandwiched between the Greensboro and O.Henry Hotels on North Elm, in 1953. For the next 36 years, that luncheonette’s counter served as a go-to spot for business leaders and city officials. Standard Southern fare dominated the menu — the Sunday Special in the ’60s was braised rabbit — but Dascalakis was always eager to whip up any off-menu Greek speciality a customer craved.
© CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
According to my dear friend, Margaret Underwood, it was at this out-of-the-way Italian eatery overlooking the tarmac at PTI that chef Steve Bartis, another Greek expat, served the Gate City’s first pizza pie back in the 1950s. According to Margaret, this joint, with a $2.25 Wednesday night buffet, “had the best tossed salads with Roquefort dressing I’ve ever tasted.”
This always dependable, inexpensive diner began life in Greensboro in the mid-’50s, adjacent to the Journey’s End Motel on Battleground, and survived 55 years, long after that motor lodge gave way to a generic shopping center some four decades ago. In its heyday, the restaurant was part of a 12-unit chain founded by the Callicotts in Burlington in 1962. I was also partial to another house, Jan’s House, in that funky dilapidated strip mall on West Market, where you could imagine the chef was flat-topping hash browns between stints behind bars.
From the 1940s well into the 1970s, supper clubs were all the rage. Communal dining and dancing in grand ballrooms accompanied by live entertainment dished out by B- and C-listers such as Gogi Grant, The Archers, aka “America’s Answer to the Beatles!,” and alleged comedian Joe E. Ross’ wretched stand-up act. In Greensboro alone there were over half-a-dozen supper clubs during the 1960s with names like Queen’s Inn, Canopy, Tropicana (borderline strip joint booking acts such as Ginger “Snapper” Monroe, Exotique), Green’s — famous for its beach-themed oyster bar — and the Plantation on High Point Road (now Gate City Boulevard), where occasional A-listers, including The Ames Brothers and Nat King Cole, performed. O.Henry 49
After Drew and Devore McClure sold the aforementioned drive-in, they opened this upmarket restaurant around 1964 in the Summit Shopping Center. It was considered the height of mid-century elegance, featuring the “Sir Loin Room,” where rare roast beef was carved to order. A lobster tank anchored the front window, while, in the rear, the comfy Lantern Lounge with tufted leather seating showcased local musical acts on weekends. Very Continental.
50 O.Henry
In the 1970s and ’80s, this Tudorinspired house at 314 North Church St. was one of the city’s superlative dining destinations. While Jung’s Chinese & American Restaurant featured beautiful, spacious dining rooms with high ceilings, when I would tag along with my father, he would generally order Chinese spare ribs to-go.
From the corner of Northwood and Huntington, this fine dining establishment seared chops and steaks for the Irving Park set from the 1940s until the mid-’60s when the place, by then renamed Al Bolling’s Charcoal Steak House, was itself reduced to charcoal after an inferno leveled the structure. That location then became home to the greatest multiscreen movie theater this city has ever or will ever know, the Janus. There’s a First Citizen’s Bank there now.
Jordan’s Steak House, established in 1972, featured an intimate, 76-seat isle of gentility on Church Street, masked by a nondescript exterior. The most sought after chophouse in the Triad for visitors during High Point Furniture Market, its limited menu ensured exceptional standards. Diners selected the cut of beef they desired from a rolling table-side cart and, in due time, that steak returned grilled to perfection. By 1999, it was well-done the moment mediocre meat merchants Outback and Longhorn rode into town uninvited.
For teenagers in the 1970s, Darryl’s was the place to congregate with friends over frosty $3 pitchers and cheap wine carafes. Immersed in a playfully garish decor obviously inspired by New Orleans cathouses, the atmosphere was unlike any other, almost every station adorned with its own singular theme. The most requested corner was the caged table resembling a jail cell. Lines were long as eager date-nighters clambered to get inside on weekends. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
© CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
A fine dining establishment named for the neighborhood it bordered, Sunset Hills Restaurant opened its doors in the 1952 at 1618 Friendly Road. Offering live lobsters, thick-cut pork chops and massive steaks served in a refined setting, it closed when the entire block was demolished in the early-1960s to accommodate a modern fire station, where 1618 West is docked currently.
© GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM
© CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION © CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
Just one of many cafeterias downtown, the S&W was said to be the finest in the nation with an operation that took up three floors. Many felt it was a cut above, both culinarily and with its quietly elegant interior. Both S&W and Mayfair closed in the mid-’60s, when customers began fleeing the center of town for neighborhood retail strips, Friendly Center and, soon to follow in the ’70s, the Four Seasons Mall.
© CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
© CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
© CAROL W. MARTIN/GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION
Across Northwood from Bliss, Bill Anton converted a grocery store into a community culinary gathering spot like no other: Irving Park Delicatessen (IPD to regulars). The look, seen here in 1960, changed drastically in later years, but upstairs was the casual cafe where beloved waitress Bertie Johnson warmly welcomed folks, serving up lasagna and beef Leonardo that couldn’t be beat. Downstairs, where maître d’ Fitz Fitzgerald presided, was the more upscale Cellar Anton’s, a cavernous, candlelit old world grotto dominated by a wooden bar for folks “brown bagging.” At the time diners brought their own liquor to be stored behind the bar, then paid a nominal fee for set-ups. When IPD closed a decade ago, an extraordinarily crucial manifestation of what defined Old Greensboro vanished along with it.
Another hip hangout for high schoolers in the 1970s was Tony’s Pizza on Battleground, an avenue nowhere resembling the congested corridor of car lots and fast food chains we’re accustomed to today. Conceived and owned by Aleck Alexiou, son of The Princess Cafe’s owner, Tony’s was known for its incredible submarine and grinder sandwiches, a relatively new concept for this region. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
© GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM
Very popular with the Grimsley High lunch crowd from the ’50s into the ’70s, Casey’s was known for its grab-and-go Whiz Burgers, so named because the patties were slathered in Cheez Whiz. Booths were equipped with tabletop jukeboxes and prominently displayed up front was a check for $5,000 (more than $50,000 adjusted for inflation) signed by Andy Griffith for catering a Los Angeles cast party. He’d wanted his TV co-stars and crew to experience authentic North Carolina barbecue. You may recognize this building — it’s the strip on Friendly where Bandito Bodega is today.
Can one wax nostalgic over a franchise store in a cinderblock hut? In the 1970s, after movies let out at the Janus Theatres, Baskin-Robbins’ parking lot on Battleground behind IPD became packed tighter than a BR pint, brimming with young people. Business was so brisk Janus launched its own ice cream parlor that failed to dampen the throngs amassing nightly in search for affection over confection anyway. After the Janus’ eight screens flickered out in 2000, the crowds melted away at 31 Flavors, resulting in its slow demise.
With car culture in full swing by the 1950s, cruising High Point Road became a requisite teenage pastime. So the idea of downing King Bee burgers with your date sitting close enough to share your shake in an automobile the size of a small living room made perfect sense. Immaculately coiffed car hops attended to mobile meal-goers, while indoor noshers placed orders via closed-circuit telephone. Behind Honey’s (previously McClure’s) was the fabled Sky Castle, where Greensboro’s grooviest rock’n’roll radio jocks broadcasted live over 1320AM WCOG. DJs would even take requests from diners as they tuned in while eating, parked in their beaters and crates. A great deal more exciting than current tenant Olive Garden.
As an amuse bouche, here’s a partial list of restaurants that have been around for 45 years or more, still in their original locations, that remain highly recommended: Cafe Pasta; Bernie’s Bar-B-Q; Brown-Gardiner Drug Store’s lunch counter; Lucky 32; Yum-Yum Better Ice Cream; K&W Cafeteria; Lox, Stock & Bagel; First Carolina Delicatessen; Mayberry Ice Cream; and New York Pizza on Tate. OH
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The Crying Game My initiation into the Antiques Roadshow By Cynthia Adams
PHOTOGRAPH BY BRYAN REGAN
Antiques Roadshow live has been compared to pilgrimages (with churchless faithfuls) — Woodstock (minus music or mud) — and the Kentucky Derby (without horses). So, what’s it like to actually attend?
I
still have an antiques hangover of epic proportions, the aftermath of the PBS Antiques Roadshow event last May at Raleigh’s North Carolina Museum of Art, shot for the program’s 27th season. This was only the second time the show has been filmed in Raleigh — and only the fourth time in its history it has come to North Carolina. In fan parlance, the show is known as AR and first aired in the United States in 1997, now commanding an audience of 6 million viewers.
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A big deal with big drama. It is based upon the original British premise: Folks bring cherished valuables for on-screen appraisals. Locations vary, but are typically museums or historic sites. Appraisers evaluate and explain whether they’re junk, bunk or treasure. My fandom began decades ago, but my saga began early this year. With only five scheduled cities on the 2023 AR tour, I jumped to enter the online ticket lottery. By April, I was notified I had won tickets — a feat compared to getting into Stanford.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
On average, at least 8,000 applicants vie for 3,500 tickets. Those selected are limited to two objects (more allowed if a collection) for appraisal by the on-site volunteer experts. Fans are legion. O.Henry colleague Ross Howell Jr. shares insight into just how far-reaching AR is, describing a scene from the former Foggy Rock Eatery & Pub in Blowing Rock. “There was a row of flat screen TVs along the length of the bar featuring the usual sports options, but, one night, things were fairly rowdy at the head of the bar, where the cash register was located. I thought maybe it was a football game, but instead it was a group watching Antiques Roadshow.” Fans included “preppies and trust fund babies,” but also “strapping mountain boys” in ball caps. “The bartender that night was a bearded, 6-foot-5-inch App State grad who now has his own flower growing business. Somehow, he was keeping a loose record of the valuations proffered by others at the bar as the item was being described by the expert on TV. I never quite gathered what the prize for guessing the valuation closest to the expert's without going over was, but I think it had to do with who would be responsible for buying the next round of drinks.” The experts, who gain national celebrity, come from some of
the nation’s top auction houses. At least 6,000 objects are appraised per event, according to the AR website. Raleigh featured 64 appraisers in 23 areas ranging from Ancient Art to Rugs and Textiles. But, if I’ve learned anything since experiencing AR in person, it’s how I badly want to steal something — nothing I saw hauled in by the show’s many acolytes. Something cerebral, like the sharp and witty descriptions of the participants in Jay Kang’s Liars, Losers and the Lessons of Antiques Roadshow. Now that, I wanted to steal. Because Kang has broken down exactly what it means to, like me, become one with legions of liars and losers. The lesson? I, too, was prepared to fake amazement on live television. As if unsure whether baubles I dragged along truly merited the golden AR spotlight — before summarily learning said baubles were unworthy. That was the lesson. Am I a sore loser? I’m scouring the internet to find fellow liars and losers because . . . well, misery loves company. But I digress. Because the reason you’re here is my liar-to-loser exposé. Learning my ticket admitted two, I gave one to fellow AR fan Larry. [Last name withheld because, well, there’s some shame
PHOTOGRAPH BY BRYAN REGAN
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in our game.] Thereafter, we weighed what items we would take for evaluation. On event day, May 16, we left Greensboro for Raleigh at 11 a.m., although our admission time wasn’t until well after lunch. We amused ourselves on the drive by practicing reactions: “Wow! You’re kidding me, right? I had no idea!” and pulling astonished faces. If you’ve seen the show, you understand. For the rest of you, “Wow” is the conditioned response. It’s Pavlovian. When appraisers tell owners their signed baseball is worth a gazillion, or grandma’s churn is worth thousands, they all mutter the same dazed response: “Wow.” As if they’ve never heard of Google search. Nervously excited, we stop off for a slice of pizza and can barely eat for yakking. We have high hopes our treasures might astonish even the most jaded AR appraiser. Larry brings some prizes from estate sales: most importantly, a French painting along with some decorative objects, including Bactrian, or “mud,” camels. I have some heirlooms from my husband’s family, small enough to tuck into my purse. Pulling into the parking lot, heat radiates on the horizon. Waved through successive lots by the guards, we notice the decidedly older crowd, gesturing and animated. Collapsible wagons, the main accessory of the day, are being popped open and filled. AR flags fly merrily, and navy-blue tents marked the museum grounds — like what exactly? “This looks like a geriatric Taylor Swift concert,” I mumble to Larry, who scored the prize he’s driving at an estate sale. The 2012 350 E Mercedes with only
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81,000 miles is a honey of a find. (A great talisman, we had agreed en route.) “We’ll either come home excited or come home with our tails between our legs,” he predicts. We grow suddenly sober. We had taken time away from work. But clearly, here is a crowd with nothing but time — and suspected valuables — on their hands. Scores lug boxes or tug arcana and indescribable objects. Confusingly, some enter as others exited, given our staggered ticket times. On his way out, a white-haired man drags a darkly stained and shellacked tree stump festooned with carved stallions, legs pawing and tails flailing. “What is that?” yells a hard-of-hearing AR fan. “A table!” chirps the owner. “It weighs 250–300 pounds.” Two people mouthed the requisite “Wow,” at which the stallion table owner glowed. For him, it’s worth it’s weight in AR gold. Rather than exit, he suddenly heads for the AR Feedback Booth. Here one could roll the dice again in a last gambit to get on air with a self-effacing joke about how their treasure was mere trash. We wade through the throngs. A man bearing dodgy looking brass vases howls, “They’re worth $2,000! And I only paid $300 for them!” “Wows” follow. He bears a triumphant grin on the scale of the stallion stump table. We trudge with the treasure-laden to Stage 1, called “triage,” to be assigned categories. The screener in triage, now humorless as it was 1:30 p.m. and she had been on site since 6:30 a.m. — wearily inspects our objects. Her sweat-dampened hair sticks to her forehead. We are separated for the rest of the day, Larry dispatched inside an air-conditioned museum building, first to Asian Arts then Paintings. (Later reporting that there were few in those lines.) I had no such luck, sent first to the popular Jewelry queue, the longest on the premises, before the even longer Decorative Arts and Silver line. Both are outdoors, where I crowd-watch — and bake. Walking canes and wheelchairs are not uncommon. Some stagger past bearing weighty relics, curiosities and sundry collectibles. As of 1:45 p.m., 35 people wait ahead of me. Occasionally, others are escorted by AR crew to the front of the line. Rather than advancing, I steadily lose ground. Standing on tiptoe, I spot natty Doyle Auctions appraiser Kevin Zavian, who wears a suit despite the heat. At the beginning, an electric energy ripples through the line, as we murmur about possibilities. Yet, the reality goes from manic to depressive as we see stranger things by the hour. “Is that man carrying a tapestry on a broom or mop?” a woman asks behind me. Whatever it is, he bears it high like Joan of Arc marching into battle. As my spirits flag, I spot AR Folk Art appraiser Ken Farmer. Which gives me a brief adrenaline blip. Thereafter, I lose track of time. The air grows stiffer, hotter, as we advance by mere inches, the tapestry bobbing ahead. “Where did all these people come from?” I hiss in despair. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
I meet some people who have come all the way from northern Virginia and Charleston, S.C. I despondently imagine somebody driving from Calico Corners, North Dakot, a to break in line with a ukulele. It’s possible. Those of us in the “crowd of liars” are clearly prepared to drag said valuables to hell and back in hopes of newfound wealth, as Kang writes. Cautionary AR emails warned, it will be a long day, one with lots of standing and waiting. But, somehow, being fabulists ourselves, we don’t quite seem to comprehend the truth of this. However, I brought along a folding chair, which I dutifully lug around all day without actually using it. (More liar madness. If I don’t sit down, hopping along with a chair, perhaps the line will go faster.) Let’s face it. The odds are against any of us getting on air. There’s a staggering surfeit of quilts, pottery, china, swords, Bakelite jewelry, violins, signage, antique bellows and baskets. [Fact: Of the most telegenic, rare or intriguing objects appraised at each AR location on the annual tour circuit, only an estimated 90 or so are chosen for recording. Even then, there’s the faintest possibility my precious keepsakes will make the final cut.] Still, appraisers do their valiant best to winnow out rarities. Occasionally, video crews come through filming “B roll” of the lines of waiting hopefuls lugging everything from well buckets to Grandma’s bloomers. Some deemed “good television” are rare, but not Moon Rocks rare. Also curious, even the uber-confident sported shorts, T-shirts, even (gasp!) open-toed shoes. (Expressly forbidden in AR pre-event instructions. And how would that look on TV?) But it grows infrequent for AR crew members to randomly tap attendees for filming on set within the museum. The rest of us are left to languish with our sweaty armpits. Merciful AR volunteers (who also scored admission and appraisals by volunteering) toss out water bottles to the parched crowd. As Larry said in one of our many debriefing conversations the whole day is about as exciting as “watching people bringing junk to a flea market. It wasn’t much better.” As the line crawls along, Larry calls: “Well . . .” He drawls. “I’m going home with my tail between my legs.” The Asian Arts expert (likely Robert Waterhouse) tells him his porcelains are newish or fake. He’s pretty sure he knows who faked them. “The Bactrians were not the early ones, like I hoped, but still worth $3,000–4,000 for the pair.” And Larry’s other porcelains? His prized blanc de chine dogs? “They were old, but not as old as they were made to look. The reason he knew they weren’t was they both had worked for Sotheby’s. A fellow agent there had them painted. If they had been real, they would have been worth $30–40 grand.” And the painting? Appraiser Alan Fausel of Bonhams New York evaluates it matter of factly. Larry is hoping it’s the work of famous French landscape artist Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. If authentic, it’s invaluable. If it was painted by someone “in the school” of the painter — and it seemed many imitations were attempted — the work might be still worth mere thousands. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Not a complete wash out, but a disconsolate Larry laughs bitterly. By this time, I had met many other attendees, including Donna and Mike Moore, Judie Mapomo, and Angela Pozeamb — and heard their items’ backstories. A former Macy’s buyer brought two signed Tiffany candy bowls. Another had costume jewelry. Yet another Raleigh woman hauled a garish silver-plated sculpture. “I don’t even like it,” she confesses, as her exasperated husband is suddenly splattered by bird poop. By the time I reach appraiser Jill Burgum of Heritage Auctions in Dallas she looks beyond exhausted. At her invitation, I produce my treasure: three engraved rose gold studs in an oval antique box. “Well, these are charming,” she says kindly, lifting one stud, which she promptly drops. Burgum drops underneath the table, too, searching the ground. A fellow appraiser is sympathetic. “Things roll, right?” he commiserates as my heart thrums. I join her search. Noticing a glint of gold, I find it. Burgum knows exactly what they are: 18-carat tuxedo studs. We purchased them in a South African antique shop for a pittance — perhaps less than $25. They bore a Birmingham, England, origin mark, dating them precisely to 1899. The original box was called a “coffin” and accounted for a portion of their worth, which was anywhere from $300–500. She wonders if it was emblazoned with the name of the actual maker or simply the reseller, guessing it was the later. Not a humiliating outcome, but what, exactly, had I expected?
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Two grueling hours later, I summit the second antiques Matterhorn: Decorative Arts and Silver, poised before ARTBnk appraiser Kelly Wright. Opening my bag of treasures for the exhausted Wright, I quickly surmise he’s not particularly interested in my husband’s ancestor’s riches-to rags-saga. (A London-made fortune lost to mining in South Africa. Facts in my folder under the heading “Formerly Wealthy But Ruined Ancestors.”) Wright, having logged hours in the stifling heat, understandably appears close to collapse. I share what I can in the two minutes allocated. His eyes flicker to mine as he examines my two engraved silver match safes, an ornate glove stretcher, shoe horn and two pairs of grape shears. He reference-checks the hallmarks. They collectively date to the 1860s, also hallmarked Birmingham, England. “Early Victorian,” Wright determines. The marks concluded they were plated . . . naturally, because the bankrupt ancestor was forced to liquidate the sterling. Only the less valuable silverplate was retained. More bad news: The glove stretchers, etc., belonged to (incomplete) “dresser sets,” Wright explains wearily but patiently. Broken
sets held diminished value. Wright shoots a pitying look. Given their antique value, they would now be worth only about $60 per item. All total, the heirlooms I’d risked heat stroke for were not worth $1,000. I imagine the boys in the bar at Blowing Rock booing me off the stage if I had been filmed. The AR website suggested, “When your appraisals are complete, please spend time to explore our event venue and enjoy the festival atmosphere.” Rejoining Larry, who’s been waiting in the shade, I announce, “I’ve no desire whatsoever to visit that durn Feedback Booth.” “Me neither,” Larry agrees. “The most valuable thing I got out of today was the free bottled water,” I complain. “I liked my stuff better when I thought it was valuable,” Larry grouses, packing the trunk. Then we laugh. Irrationally merry. He carefully threads his real treasure, his Mercedes, through traffic, hitting the Interstate, dissecting every hot minute. “Do you think it’s kind of a racket?” Larry asks. It’s, of course, a purely rhetorical question by that point. OH
PHOTOGRAPH BY BRYAN REGAN
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY BERT VANDERVEEN
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An artist reflects on processing trauma through his canvas
aced with the aftermath of personal trauma, Chase Hanes turned to what helped and healed him in his youth — painting. Asked if he just picked up a brush one day and watched as the paint flowed across the canvas, the self-taught artist lets out a laugh. After a pause, a drawn-out nooooooooo. As a shy and quiet child growing up in Midway, Hanes, now 31, recalls how in elementary school he was encouraged to tap into his creativity by “a very special teacher.” With her guidance, he discovered that it was “a way to really condense feelings and get them to where I am able to process them,” an important lesson for a young introvert. Years later, as a high school student, Hanes says, “I was struggling with a lot of depression and identity issues, and painting and drawing and being creative was so healing, so cathartic.” It was during those four years that he developed his identity as an artist. Through studying art books and lots of practice — “countless drawings of people I admired” — Hanes honed his skills. One individual in particular showed up repeatedly during his early practice: his sister, Amber, who is 11 years older and has always been “very maternal” toward her younger brother. “One of the first paintings that I got really applauded for was a portrait of my sister. My mom still has it hanging on our wall at home.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Chapel Hill, he went on to UNCG and completed a master’s in library and information sciences and another in women’s and gender studies. Following academia, a job that Hanes thought was the right next step on his career journey turned out to be the thing that would once again find him struggling with identity. Working for a “nonprofit where individuals facing severe health issues, food insecurities and/or cyclical poverty could get various resources,” Hanes staffed the day center, “where people would get meals, have recreational activities and participate in support groups.” At the nonprofit, he also guided poetry circles and helped many people who could barely read write poems, describing that process as magical. “In theory,” says Hanes of his work there, “it sounds very beautiful.” While the work he did in the poetry circles was, in fact, rewarding, the overall workplace was far from it. “I saw how people — staff and clients alike — got taken advantage of repeatedly, which was especially severe and inhumane in the early days of COVID,” he says. Hanes says that he found himself in what he viewed as an “emotionally abusive professional environment.” Once again, he felt adrift, struggling with depression and without an avenue to channel his skills and creativity. Wistfully, he adds, “I kind of just left art behind.”
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PHOTOGRAPH BY BERT VANDERVEEN
By Cassie Bustamante • Photograph by Bert vanderVeen
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Taylor. 2019. Oil Paint on Canvas.
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Break Free. 2020. Oil Paint on Canvas. 24 inches x 36 inches. “It was easier — it almost felt like it gave me space,” says Hanes. “It gave me distance from my own experience to tell my story with another character at the very beginning.” A few of the early paintings in this collection feature images of women being saved or uplifted by a group of women. Hanes, who felt he’d lost his community along with his job, reconnected with a group of female childhood friends who always made him feel safe. “There’s a beautiful sense of clarity that comes along with finding your way back to people who really do love you and care about you.” It’s no surprise that this group, his old — and renewed — community traveled with him to Nashville to see Swift’s Eras The Art & Soul of Greensboro
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHASE HANES
In July of 2020, Hanes made the decision to leave his job. “When I got away from that situation, it ripped me apart,” he says, his deep, black-brown eyes focused downward. He looks up. “But after a few months . . . I was able to make something from it.” It’s often been said that great art comes from great pain. And maybe that’s why in the fall of 2020, Hanes found himself reaching once again for his paintbrush. “Prior to October 2020, I had only done one painting,” says Hanes of that life-changing year. “And then, all the sudden, it just came like a storm and I had to keep going. I had to make sense of the trauma that I experienced.” Once again, someone he greatly admired served as his muse: Taylor Swift. What is it about her that inspires him? He laughs and says, “I could write a whole dissertation!” In addition to being close in age, Hanes, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, sees similarities in the way they approach the world. “She understands that people with similar sensitivities have certain obstacles in life that they have to overcome,” he says, alluding to his own sensitivity. He adds, “Her honesty and her willingness to be vulnerable is so special.” While Hanes is inspired by Swift’s songs, often written about her own life experiences, he used her as a vehicle for telling his story in a collection of paintings he calls fragile life, take up space.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHASE HANES
Sister Circle. 2021. Oil Paint on Canvas.
Tour, a concert at which he shed tears of joy. Later in Hanes’ fragile life series, a painting entitled Stolen Lullabies Were/Weren’t Mine to Lose — inspired by the lyrics, “You weren’t mine to lose,” from the song “August” — features a drowning Taylor Swift amidst books and pages bobbing in the ocean around her. Hanes draws another parallel between himself and the singer: “This particular piece deals with Taylor losing the rights to the masters of her precious work, and I had lost a lot of writings and some drawings and some artwork . . .” Yet, the expression on Swift’s face as she’s drowning isn’t one of suffering. “There’s a certain peace in being able to know you’ve lost something and not fight it,” says Hanes. He pauses and offers one word. “Acceptance.” The Art & Soul of Greensboro
After reaching acceptance through his art, Hanes continued to process his feelings on canvas. A later painting in the series, Break Free, draws on Swift’s “Tolerate It” lyrics: . . . what would you do if I Break free and leave us in ruins Took this dagger in me and removed it Gained the weight of you, then lose it In this painting, out of a shattering concrete statue, Hanes’ own figure finally emerges, replacing the character he had assumed and then rejected. “It’s about a ripping the self away from following in someone’s footsteps, someone who nobody should follow in their footsteps,” he says. He notes that in this piece, “I am wearing my Taylor O.Henry 61
swift cardigan and I’m feeling protected and coming into my own person.” The final work in this collection, completed in December 2022, is a pair of paintings titled Get the Light Back in Your Eyes, Kid, and is inspired by the cover to Taylor’s October 2022 album, “Midnights.” In each painting, Hanes appears, holding a lighter. In the first, he’s looking at the flame, and, in the second, he’s looking up, the glow reflected in his eyes. He explains that he’d been talking to a friend who was familiar with the hardship he’d endured — from leaving his job, the repercussions and finding a new role, his current job, as Forsyth Tech’s acquisitions librarian. “She looked at me one day,” he says, “and she said that I had the light back in my eyes.”
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As Hanes reflects on the paintings he’s created from a need to release pain, the light in his eyes sparks from a strengthened sense of self and from friendships he’s rekindled. What’s next for this Swiftie? While his painting has slowed down due to the work-life balance, he’s thrilled to be finding joy on the job. “I get to decide the new materials that come into our collection and I get to really focus on diversifying . . . and bringing in a lot of marginalized voices and filling in collection gaps.” Then he laughs, adding, “Possibly international travel to see The Eras Tour . . . I may find out tomorrow.” A few days later, he confirms that he and his childhood friends are, “Drum roll . . . going to Dublin 2024!” OH
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHASE HANES
Stolen Lullabies Weren't/Were Mine to Lose. 2020. Oil Paint on Canvas. 16 inches x 20 inches.
Get the Light Back in Your Eyes, Kid. 2022.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHASE HANES
Told Me All of My Cages Were Mental. 2020. Colored Pencils on Bristol Paper. 11 inches x 17 inches.
The Lighthouse. 2020. Oil Paint on Canvas. 16 inches x 20 inches.
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A Tug to the Tar Heel State Inside the collected and colorful Casa Carlisle By Cassie Bustamante Photographs by Amy Freeman
“I
f you want to date me, you have to promise we can live in North Carolina one day,” Jason Carlisle recalls his wife, Crystal, saying presciently to him early into their 20-year relationship. “I don’t remember saying it like that!” she counters, but confirms it was part of the deal. North Carolina, Crystal says, “was woven in my heart long before I knew why.” While she felt an inexplicable pull, Jason, who says he’d follow Crystal to China or the moon, had always loved the Tar Heel State. He recalls fond childhood memories of trips from Florida, where his family had a farm, to Maggie Valley and Cherokee in the ’80s, as well as traveling with youth groups to leadership conferences in Appalachia. And so it was that in the summer of 2018, the couple and their three boys — Lucas, now 15, Grayson, 14, and Micah, 9 — took a leap of faith. They sold their farm in Florida — “Cows, chickens, I mean the whole farm!” says Crystal. With no new employment prospects in sight, Jason, a teddy-bear
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type who now works for GFL Environmental in High Point, quit his job and said goodbye to his tractors and truck when the family made the move. Why? Crystal discovered that her little sister, Karissa, who had been adopted as an infant years earlier by a family in California, was now living in North Carolina. It’s a long story that begins with Crystal’s mother: “My mom had my brother and myself and was a single young mom and found herself pregnant again and gave that baby up for adoption.” It turns out that when Karissa was only 2, her adoptive mother died of ovarian cancer. Her adoptive father moved to North Carolina for familial support. So when Karissa, at 18, reached out to her birth family, Crystal finally understood that tug she’d felt to North Carolina So, with as many of their belongings as they could fit in a 26-foot U-Haul, the Carlisle family headed north. Awaiting them was a 1971 home (more than double in size of their farmhouse) abutting Forest Oaks Country Club’s golf course. Just months earlier, Crystal had taken a six-day househunting trip to the Greensboro area — selected for its proximity to Thomasville, where Karissa lives with her two children — looking at over 20 houses. By day five, she recalls resolving to live in a camper for the summer because nothing felt right and she “was not going to settle.” Finally, on day six of her trip, a Friday, her agent brought her to Forest Oaks. “I can live here,” she thought, satisfied that the neighborhood was close enough to town, but with a bit of the rural feel her family was used to. The house itself was structurally sound and the kitchen had been updated a couple years earlier by the previous owner, but Crystal — who calls herself “The Thrifty Designer” on Instagram — was excited to wave her creative wand, especially with so much more space to serve as her canvas. Jason and the kids, of course, didn’t see the new family residence until the day they pulled up in the moving truck, and, as he recalls, he said, “Welcome home, boys. We’re home.” Arriving with limited furnishings and possessions, Crystal quickly got to work slapping a lot of paint on the walls and filling their new abode with vintage treasures found at various secondhand stores. “I try to live sustainably, for sure,” she says. In fact, much of the home’s decor is thrifted. Crystal, who formerly owned a vintage shop in Florida, spent childhood weekends and summers with her great aunt and uncle, Jimmy, a regular flea market vendor. “They called him ‘Bones,’” she says. “Because he sold actual bones. Alligator skulls and you know.” Growing up in that environment, she became accustomed to thrifting and has carried that into adulthood. “I never knew anything different.” In the family’s den, just off the kitchen, Crystal waves an arm around the room and says, “Literally everything in here was thrifted.” Even the leather sectional? Yes, even
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that, which set the family back a whopping $150. And the floral vintage wallpaper? Also thrifted. The only piece in that space that traveled from Florida with her is a Modern painting of a woman in blue holding cut roses in pinks and reds that sits between two windows. It was a gift to Crystal from her mother on her 18th birthday. Though it appears as if the colors in the artwork inspired the palette of the room, Crystal says, “I am just drawn to those colors and when I put it up there, I thought, oh my gosh, she’s perfect.” With bold strokes and an innate sense for seamlessly mixing antiques with Modern vintage, Crystal continues the flowery patterns and color palette throughout the main floor of the home. Blues, teals, pinks and reds harmoniously repeat, masterfully drawing the eye from one treasure-filled room to the next with ease. How does Jason feel about the florals and pastels that flow throughout the home? “I trust her so much,” he says, a glint of pride sparkling in his light blue eyes. Then, those eyes twinkling, he says jokingly, “As you can see, I inspired everything in here.” In the dining room, pink paint blankets the walls, creating a soft and intimate surrounding for a looooong wooden table flanked
68 O.Henry
by a contrasting teal antique church pew and midcentury upholstered dining chairs. On one wall, a pair of long shelves display a rainbow assortment of vintage glassware. “Did she tell you about this table?” Jason asks. “$100!” The blonde wood table, it turns out, was handmade, complete with turned legs, by a neighbor and features several leaves to make it even longer. She purchased it when his estate items went to auction. “When we moved, I was like, I want a dining room table that will fit 12–14 people and everybody was like you’re insane,” says Crystal. But, she adds, “I put it out there and it comes to me!” Dreams come true for Crystal. Now, the dining room hosts regular Sunday family dinners with Karissa, her husband, Travis, her kids and her adoptive father, affectionately known as Uncle Earl to Crystal’s kids. “It’s been so cool to have a family that we never knew we would have,” muses Crystal. “It’s been a really fun surprise.” In a corner of the dining room, a large vintage chalkboard purchased at a church yard sale and previously used in a Sunday school classroom sits on the wall. On the right side in black The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 69
Sharpie, presumably written by a Sunday school student, it reads, “God is cool.” Underneath the chalkboard, clearly not part of her aesthetic, is a box with items spilling out: her donation pile. “I am always gathering and purging, gathering and purging,” she says. While she frequents thrift stores as a shopper, she also replenishes them, happy to keep worthy items out of the landfill. In fact, friends often inform her when they spy potentially good scores curbside, headed for the dump. One of her favorite finds, which came to her via a friend texting about “a pile of stuff at the curb” by their church, hangs on a wall in their guest room. “It’s a Burwood peacock, complete with its original crown,” says Crystal. “Out of the trash.” Jason was flabbergasted to discover similar pieces sell for a couple hundred dollars. “And it was just sitting on the side of the road,” he says, shaking his head. The fireplace in the same room has been painted a soft pink, though Crystal admits trying black first. “I hate black,” she says, adding, “It just doesn’t feel like me.” Above the, wait for it, pink mantel hangs a gilded vintage mirror, a gift from Karissa, who she is now able to spend time with regularly. “She’s a thrifter as well, so we’re always collecting.” On the built-ins next to the guest room fireplace, rainbow-ordered books hand-selected by Crystal for their color line the shelves, purchased from her one of her favorite thrift stores, Blessingdale’s, a Southwest Greensboro gold mine for deal hunters. “They have books at eight-for-a-dollar!” she exclaims. While she has filled her home with found treasures, the real gem of the house, according to Crystal, is the sunroom and the backyard. Outside, several sculptural Moderne Russell Woodard chairs — Crystal’s most prized possessions — surround an aqua outdoor dining table snagged on Facebook marketplace. A pair of match-
70 O.Henry
ing Woodard chaises with a side table sit just off to the side. “We actually unloaded our leather sofa at the farm because everything wasn’t going to fit,” she says. And she was not about to leave Russell Woodard behind. The sunroom — also a shade of pink, Sherwin-Williams’ Malted Milk — serves as the family’s breakfast nook and homework hub. Flanking the room’s many windows are 1960s floral panels in shades of — you guessed it — blues, pinks and reds. “All my curtains came from Blessingdales,” says Crystal, who has hung vintage floral curtains in many-a-room. Jason calls attention to the sturdy, large-scaled vintage classroom chairs, mustard yellow in color and serving as a clean-lined foil to the pastels and florals. “They are perfect for our boys — big boys,” quips Crystal, whose children take after their father. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Adjacent to the sunroom is the space that they’ve made the most changes to, the kitchen. With Jason’s help, Crystal, who has built quite a following on social media because of her keen eye for thrifty and colorful design, participated in a spring 2020 online event entitled “One Room Challenge,” sharing updates each week on her instagram page: @casa_carlisle. The couple removed cabinets from one wall, replacing them with open shelving, painted the lower cabinets and island in a custom shade of teal, painted the uppers white, replaced lighting with more modern fixtures, added wallpaper backsplashes and made it their own with personal details and thrifted touches. But Jason knows his wife well enough to say, “I am pretty sure at this point she wants to paint these cabinets again.” With a coy smile, she responds, “I’ve thought about it.” “There’s nothing off the table,” says Jason, constantly in awe The Art & Soul of Greensboro
of the changes Crystal makes in their home “because it keeps the house fresh, keeps it new, keeps it different.” These days, Crystal works full-time as an account executive for a furniture company in High Point and, while she still loves to fluff her nest, she doesn’t see many drastic changes on the horizon. “There are a couple projects I would like to tackle, but we’re right now at the point in our lives where weekends are for sports or for family stuff,” she says. “We just raised fun kids, so I want to hang out with them. We’ve raised our own little best friends.” Later this month, the Carlisles will gather around their extralong dining table with their boys, Karissa’s family, Uncle Earl and extended family from afar to give thanks for the most treasured North Carolina find: time spent with family and a house that has exceeded Crystal’s dreams — at least for now. OH O.Henry 71
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www.randymcmanusdesigns.com @randymcmanusdesigns @randymcmanusevents 1616 Battleground Avenue, Suite D-1 • Greensboro, NC 27408
72 O.Henry
1738 Battleground Ave • Irving Park Plaza Shopping Center • Greensboro, NC • (336) 273-3566 The Art & Soul of Greensboro
A L M A N A C
November By Ashley Walshe
N
ovember opens our eyes to invisible worlds. On a quiet morning, the soft trill of a single cricket coloring the darkness, you pull the old cookbook from the kitchen cupboard and cradle it by lamplight. Your hands know what to do, turning stained and cockled pages with gentle intention. Running your fingers over the food-smudged recipes, you think of the hands that held this relic before yours; all the homecooked meals; all the gatherings; all the love. Slowing down, you delight in the soft rustling of each page, the fingerprints, the swell of memories. The journey is as sacred as the destination. When you turn to the recipe — the one you’ve nearly memorized but could never forsake — your eyes dance from list to countertop, countertop to list. You tick off each item before dropping into an ancient, ancestral rhythm. Your hands know what to do — measuring, whisking, mashing — and as you study each ingredient, you see them not as what they are, but where they’ve been: Eggs warm from the hen. Sweet potatoes buried in dark earth. Fields of wheat. Cinnamon and nutmeg trees. Sugarcane swaying in a spring breeze. Yes, what you’re baking has a name. But it’s more than what you see. More than warm crust and vibrant orange filling. It’s sweetness harvested from darkness; prayers folded into faithful mixing bowls; the quiet song of summer’s final cricket. Morning breaks slowly. Beyond the kitchen window, eddies of golden leaves gather and disperse, here and gone as quickly as the seasons. An amalgam of spices warms the kitchen. As you place the cookbook on the shelf, your own hands sweeten the harvest — an eddy of unseen gifts folded into a family treasure. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The thinnest yellow light of November is more warming and exhilarating than any wine they tell of. The mite which November contributes becomes equal in value to the bounty of July. — Henry David Thoreau
Days to Remember The first frost is nigh. Daylight saving time ends on Nov. 5. Autumn is edging toward winter. Between Dia de los Muertos (Nov. 1–2) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) are a ton of lesser-known holidays awaiting their time in the sun. Below are a few them. Of course, Veterans Day (Nov. 11) belongs up here. Nov. 5 – Pumpkin Deconstruction Day (yep, exactly what it sounds like) Nov. 6 – Marooned Without a Compass Day Nov. 8 – Dunce Day Nov. 13 – World Kindness Day Nov. 14 – National Pickle Day Nov. 15 – Clean Your Refrigerator Day Nov. 17 – World Peace Day and Homemade Bread Day (more twofers like this, please)
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Turn back the clock; turn the compost; turn your focus inward. As the garden journeys toward dormancy, we, too, slow down. And yet, these darker days awaken the dreamer, guiding us toward unopened books, forgotten crafts, the stovetop, the woodpile and the hearth. From these quiet spaces, potent questions emerge. What are you willing to let go of? How might this foster your growth? As you nurture the roots of your wildest longings, feeding the soil of what’s true, you are minding the very fabric of what’s possible. Such is the magic of this fallow season. OH
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GUIDE TO GIVING O.Henry magazine is pleased to present the 2023 Guide to Giving. As you begin planning for the holidays, please consider how you may be able to help these nonprofit organizations that are working to make our community a better place to live. The O.Henry magazine Guide to Giving is a sampling of charitable organizations in our area that rely heavily on annual fundraising. With your help, whether it be with your time or treasure, we can support their missions and have a hand in bettering our community. We thank the local business leaders and individuals who made our Guide to Giving possible through their sponsorship. To learn about sponsoring a nonprofit organization in 2024’s Guide to Giving, please call 336-617-0090.
1001 Freeman Mill Rd Greensboro, NC 27406 336.273.5572 www.salvationarmyofgreensboro.org Established 1919
MISSION STATEMENT
WHO WE SERVE
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Whether it is through nurtured community partnerships, our Family Stores, or our creative approaches in Social Services - we are meeting physical needs, right here in our community. Families and individuals are being housed and fed through the variety of programs and services we offer. One of the best things we hear from our office is the celebration of a case worker who successfully housed a family. Above all else, each day we strive to show the love of Jesus to all of those we encounter.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER Help those in need in the Greensboro area this year by volunteering to “ring the bell”. Register at: www. registertoring.com
HOW TO DONATE Love Beyond all troubles. To donate go to: https:// www.salvationarmyofgreensboro.org
KEY FACTS: • Shelter Meals Provided: 9,282 • Grocery Assistance Provided: 2,100 • Annual Volunteer Hours: 14,528 • Total Persons Served: 65,848 From The Salvation Army of Greensboro’s 2022 Impact Report
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Thank you, Greensboro, for your support since 1919! We are honored to serve as your local funeral experts for over 100 years. We strive to build long lasting relationships with every family we meet. We welcome your ideas and customize services to honor your traditions. From all of us at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Services, thank you for reaching out to us during your times of need. Helping our community in many ways, this space was donated by Hanes Lineberry Funeral Services. Please support the Salvation Army and other charitable organizations that build better communities.
515 N. Elm St. Greensboro, NC 27401
336.272.5157 | www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com
6000 Gate City Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27407
2110 Golden Gate Drive, Suite B Greensboro, NC 27405 336.429.5600 www.KellinFoundation.org
WHO WE SERVE
MISSION STATEMENT Prevent. Treat. Heal. The Kellin Foundation’s mission is to strengthen resilience among children, families, adults and communities through free trauma-informed behavioral health services focused on prevention, treatment, and healing.
We serve individuals across the lifespan from babies to seniors with top notch mental health and substance use counseling, peer support, and wraparound services We focus on those who otherwise would not have access to care (uninsured and under-insured) and also offer a sliding fee scale. We also help build community through our Resilient Guilford Network and Kellin Kids program.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
• We have an exciting major expansion coming in 2024 with the Kellin Foundation Hope Hub to build co-located prevention and treatment services under one roof. • We are the only nationally recognized child and family trauma center in Guilford. • We are a NC Family Resource Center with Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina. • We serve over 10,000 people annually who otherwise would not have access to care.
www.kellinfoundation.org/volunteer
HOW TO DONATE www.kellinfoundation.org/donate
KEY FACTS
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info@doxiebyproxy.org www.doxiebyproxy.org Established 2019
P.O. Box 769 Snow Camp NC 27349 www.singingdogfarm.org
MISSION STATEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT
We are a foster home based rescue accepting shelter intakes and owner surrenders from NC. We try to counsel and offer advice to owners considering surrendering their dachshund as a way of keeping pets in loving homes to prevent the burden on rescue.
We are a rescue working to help unwanted, abandoned or neglected Siberian Huskies to find new homes.
HOW TO DONATE
Please visit our website and fill out a Singing Dog Farm (SDF) Volunteer Application.
We accept donations in the following ways: Venmo - @DBPRInc • PayPal - info@doxiebyproxy.org Mailing Address: PO Box 9671, Greensboro, NC 27429-9671 Facebook Donations
KEY FACTS • We have rescued and placed 939 dogs since 2019 and paid out over $800,000 in veterinary bills. • 100% of our intake and adoptions are within 3 hours of Central NC.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER HOW TO DONATE Make check payable to “Singing Dog Farm, P.O. Box 769, Snow Camp, NC 27349. PayPal: singingdogfarm@yahoo. com or Venmo: Deborah Timmons@singingdogfarm.
KEY FACTS • We are a non-profit Siberian Husky Rescue. • We pull Huskies in need from local shelters.
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5140 Dunstan Rd, Greensboro, NC 27405 336.621.3381 www.fellowshiphall.com Established 1971
MISSION STATEMENT
WHO WE SERVE
It is the mission of Fellowship Hall to help people who suffer from substance use disorder, and to provide compassionate, cost-effective care while maintaining our commitment to a Twelve-Step philosophy.
Fellowship Hall is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) specialty hospital treating adult women and men suffering from addiction to alcohol and/or drugs.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER Volunteers help us in a variety of ways. If you’re interested in serving as a volunteer, contact our Development Department at 336.553.6625.
HOW TO DONATE To make a donation to our day-to-day operations or to our Partner Scholarship Program which covers the cost for individuals without health insurance or financial resources, visit fellowshiphall.com
KEY FACTS: • We are licensed by the NC Department of Health & Human Services as a specialty hospital and in operation since 1971 • We are accredited by the Joint Commission and have been since 1974 • Our Medical Director is on staff and certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine • Our clinicians are Masters-level and trained in treating substance use disorders. They provide group and individual counseling sessions. • Our nurses are licensed and are on site 24/7/365 • We offer Gender responsive treatment
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515 N. Elm St. Greensboro, NC 27401
336.897.0025
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4517 Jessup Grove Road Greensboro, NC 27410 336-665-5233 www.proehlificpark.com
MISSION STATEMENT The P.O.W.E.R Of Play Foundation is a 501 c (3) organization. We want to provide financial assistance to at-risk children in the Triad and throughout North Carolina. We serve these children through scholarships, programming, sports leagues, after school/summer care, Christmas gifts, etc. We believe every child deserves to grow and develop in a safe and loving environment, whether that means spending time at Proehlific Park or with another non-profit
HOW TO VOLUNTEER To volunteer you can reach out to Natasha Hilburn at foundation@proehlificpark.com.
HOW TO DONATE Please go to our website at www.proehlificpark.com under the Our Foundation tab to donate.
WHO WE SERVE We serve school age children from the ages of kindergarten to middle school for our after school and summer care. We also serve over 300 foster children each Christmas with Christmas gifts.
KEY FACTS: • Our Trunk or Treat will be held on Monday, October 30th from 5-7pm. • The P.O.W.E.R Of Play Foundation supplies Christmas gifts for over 300 children each year in our Santa’s Helpers program. Mentoring, sports programs, and most importantly financial assistance for after school and summer care for youth in our community ranging in age from kindergarten through middle school.
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SANTA’S HELPERS Please consider being a part of something bigger than yourself this Christmas by supporting the P.O.W.E.R. of Play Foundation’s Santa’s Helpers program. Wish lists can be picked up the week of November 6th, and all gifts need to be delivered to Natasha Hilburn no later than November 27th, unwrapped with the wish list attached.
4517 Jessup Grove Road Greensboro, NC 27410 336-665-5233 | www.proehlificpark.com
PO Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415 336.632.1400 www.chsnc.org Established 1902
MISSION STATEMENT To promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER www.chsnc.org/about/volunteer
HOW TO DONATE • 800.632.1400 • www.chsnc.org/donate-today • Contact Caitlin Stay, cstay@chsnc.org, 336-369-3781
WHO WE SERVE Children and families in all 100 North Carolina counties in need of foster care, adoption, family preservation, and education services so that children can thrive. CHS helped more than 22,000 clients last year, with a statewide staff and offices in 9 cities across North Carolina.
KEY FACTS: • Since our founding in 1902, CHS has placed more than 16,000 children with nurturing adoptive families. • We help parents be the best that they can be by providing critical tools and resources for them to build stronger families. Whether that means doing whatever we can to keep families intact and healthy, or finding the right match to create new ones through foster care and adoption.
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Every child deserves a loving home. And lots of hugs. November is National Adoption Month. Please consider fostering, adopting, or just learning more at chsnc.org.
Federally insured by NCUA.
PO Box 13136, Greensboro, NC 27415 336.272.5003 www.PreservationGreensboro.org Established 1966
MISSION STATEMENT We build thriving communities by protecting and renewing our historic and architectural treasures.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER Call our office 336-272-5003 or visit our website https://preservationgreensboro.org
HOW TO DONATE
WHO WE SERVE Guilford County
KEY FACTS: • Since 1966, Preservation Greensboro Incorporated has served to preserve historic sites, neighborhoods, and street scapes that provide the Gate City with a unique sense of history and place. As the city’s only non-governmental membership organization dedicated to this cause, Preservation Greensboro has provided resources to enhance our distinctive sense of heritage and has helped the city maintain a tradition of adaptive reuse, renovation, and recycling.
Visit our website at https://preservationgreensboro.org/ preservation-greensboro-membership
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28 Battleground Ct. Greensboro, NC 27408 www.arcbarks.com
PO Box 866 Jamestown, NC 27282 www.friendsofguilfordcountyanimalshelter.com
MISSION STATEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT
arcBarks Dog Treat Company was created by The Arc of Greensboro in response to an increased need for post-high school options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. arcBarks was envisioned as a self-funding program that would provide enrichment and training in the real world setting of a functioning dog treat bakery.
To provide enrichment and other resources to the homeless animals in the care of Guilford County Animal Shelter.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER www.friendsofguilfordcountyanimalshelter.com/volunteer
HOW TO DONATE
HOW TO DONATE
Visit our website, www.arcbarks.com and click DONATE. If you are sending a donation by mail, you can send it to our Bakery at: 28 Battleground Ct. Greensboro, NC 27408
KEY FACTS
KEY FACTS Major Holiday events arcBARKS will be attending this year: • Made 4 the Holidays - November 12th and December 3rd • Merry Merry Market - November 15th • St. Francis Holiday Market - December 2nd
www.friendsofguilfordcountyanimalshelter.com/donate
• Friends of Guilford County Animal Shelter provides daily enrichment to the animals housed at our county’s animal shelter. Enrichment makes a considerable difference in their quality of life. Noise and stress levels decrease and the animals enjoy natural behaviors, allowing them more peace and quiet during enrichment times.
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3310 Horse Pen Creek Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410 336.282.7044 www.NobleKnights.org Established 1987
WHO WE SERVE
MISSION STATEMENT Noble Academy empowers students with learning differences to pursue their highest potential within a comprehensive, supportive educational environment.
WHY WE MATTER
Students in grades 2-12 diagnosed with ADHD and learning differences or experiences difficulties with attention, processing speed or memory, auditory processing, executive functioning, reading, math, or writing, and academic fluency, who meet our admission criteria.
KEY FACTS:
We develop self-advocacy skills. We develop reading and math confidence. We bring back a student’s love for learning.
• 8:1 student/teacher ratio • 100% graduation rate • 1/3 of families receive tuition assistance or grants/scholarships from NCSEAA. • Accreditations from SAIS, IDA, and a Wilson® Accredited Partner.
HOW TO DONATE Donations are received at our website, www.nobleknights.org or directly at Noble Academy to the attention of Director of Development.
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2207 E. Cone Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27405 336.375.3900 www.pdyandf.org Established 1992
MISSION STATEMENT PDY&F is a nonprofit, public charity that has been in existence since 1992. Our mission is to embrace, empower and equip. PDY&F provides community members with skills, information, and the proper resources to achieve success in every area of life. Our core focus is to systematically eliminate food insecurities in our community, while creating a legacy of health and self-sufficiency.
HOW TO DONATE https://app.easytithe.com/App/Giving/pdyf
WHO WE SERVE The PDY&F Community Garden Project recognizes the access to healthy food, or the lack thereof has a direct correlation with the physical health of a community, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. Consequently, the project initiatives aim to address food insecurity and the subsequent health issues related to food deserts. The targetted audience falls typically within Eastern Greensboro which is a known food desert.
KEY FACTS: It is our immediate goal to cultivate a community garden that will be the spring board to #1, Feed Greensboro. #2, educate the community around sustainable farming practices and #3 launch a new generation of black and brown farmers.
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1451 S Elm-Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 27406 336.379.5001 www.nussbaumcfe.com Established 1987
MISSION STATEMENT
WHO WE SERVE
Turning Entrepreneurs Into Business Owners
Entrepreneurs and small business owners who are looking to grow their business in a safe environment. The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship (NCFE) provides affordable office space and conference rooms in our 65,000 sf incubator. Free business coaching is available through our network of 6 in house partners. NCFE is conveniently located 1 mile from I-40 and downtown Greensboro.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER We utilize SCORE volunteers to assist our Associates and entrepreneurs with their start up needs. To volunteer go to https://www.score.org/volunteer.
HOW TO DONATE Donations can be made through our website. https://nussbaumcfe.com/donate/
KEY FACTS: • NCFE was founded in 1987 and is the 2nd oldest small business incubator in the State of North Carolina. • In 2021, our Associates created or retained 205 full time equivalent jobs with average salaries of $62,000. • In 2022, Guerrilla RF made NCFE history by becoming the first Associate to go from idea to a publicly traded company. • In 2023, NCFE will begin construction on The Steelhouse, an Urban Manufacturing and Innovation Center.
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Headquarters: Greensboro Satellite: 3330 Shorefiar Drive 2517 Phillips Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Greensboro, NC 27405 336.784.5770 www.SecondHarvestNWNC.org Established 1982
HOW TO DONATE
MISSION STATEMENT With our community and partners, we will increase food security and create pathways that build a stronger Northwest North Carolina.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER At Second Harvest Food Bank, we offer options to serve daily, weekly, monthly, or at one (or all!) of our events. Whether you are helping us sort food or build large pallets of dry goods, or helping out in our gardens or offices, your time helps to set the table for local families. Visit SecondHarvestNWNC.org/Volunteer.
With every $10 you give, Second Harvest can provide up to 70 nutritious meals. Make your gift at FeedCommunityNow.org.
WHO WE SERVE We provide healthy food for families through a network of nearly 500 partner food assistance programs; create opportunities through education; and advocate for policies that lift up North Carolina families.
KEY FACTS: • Second Harvest data continues to show a troubling trend: more area residents are seeking food assistance than this time last year. • The rise in costs for housing (rent), along with all the ways that inflation is impacting our lives, is a significant factor driving this need for food assistance. • You can help ensure everyone has the nutritious food they need to thrive through your gifts of time, food, and funds.
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Harvest hope. Nourish families. Help Second Harvest fill plates and hearts this holiday season.
Get Involved at FeedCommunityNOW.org
2300 Scalesville Rd, Summerfield, NC 27358 336.643.6383 www.summerfieldfbc.com Established 1860
MISSION STATEMENT To make disciples who reach UP to God, IN to the church, and OUT to the world.
OUR VALUES Gospel-centered worship • Fervent prayer Multigenerational fellowship Intentional discipleship • Service in ministry Missional Living
WHO WE SERVE By God’s grace we strive to be a multigenerational, gospel-centered, disciple-making church family reaching Summerfield and beyond for the cause of Christ. We actively serve our community through our weekly food pantry and our quarterly feeding of the homeless. Our multigenerational ministries serve all ages including children, youth, adults, and senior adults.
PLEASE JOIN US TO Worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30am. For Sunday evening and Wednesday evening schedules, please visit us online at www.summerfieldfbc.com.
HOW TO DONATE www.summerfieldfbc.com/give
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8653 NC Hwy 65 Stokesdale, NC 27357 336-288-7006 Reddogfarm.com
MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals of all shapes and sizes from horses to hamsters, including dogs and cats by utilizing a network of foster homes!
HOW TO DONATE To donate, foster or volunteer, please visit our website at reddogfarm.com. There you will find foster, volunteer, and adoption applications plus a wishlist of needed items. Monetary donations can be made through our website or by sending a check. Thank you!
1589 Skeet Club Road, Suite 102-111 High Point, NC 336-393-0000 www.LPPNC.org
MISSION STATEMENT LPPNC was formed to rescue and rehabilitate “castaway” dogs and cats and find them loving, forever homes. LPPNC offers spay/neuter financial aid to NC residents who would otherwise not be able to afford to get their pet/s altered. We feel this portion of our mission will provide the biggest impact to the pet overpopulation crisis.
HOW TO DONATE Venmo: @lppnc (0000) Website: lppnc.org Paypal: paypal.me/LPIA
KEY FACTS
KEY FACTS • Being privately funded and foster based, any donation of time or resources helps!
• Since 2010, LPPNC has found homes for 1093 dogs and cats and sponsored the spay or neuter of 12,936 dogs and cats. LPPNC is an all volunteer staffed organization with 98% of donations directly funding the care of dogs and cats.
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Habitat Greensboro 3826 W. Gate City Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27407
ReStore Location 3826 W. Gate City Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27407
336.275.HOME (4663)
HabitatGreensboro.org Established 1987
MISSION STATEMENT
HOW TO DONATE
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Every donation helps build safe, stable, and affordable housing. Donate securely online at: https://habitatgreensboro.org/give. Habitat Greensboro is also grateful to accept donations of gently used home furnishings for our ReStore. To schedule a donation pick-up, please visit our website, or call 336.851.2929.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER Volunteers are at the heart of each Habitat home. Whether at our ReStore or on the build site, every volunteer helps families build a foundation for a brighter future. For more information and to register to volunteer, please visit: https://habitatgreensboro.org/volunteer.
WHO WE SERVE Habitat Greensboro works toward our vision of a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live. Partnering with low-income families who have a demonstrated need, an ability to pay an affordable mortgage, and a willingness to partner, we help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves.
KEY FACTS: • Habitat Greensboro has helped more than 500 families achieve their dream of homeownership. • Habitat Greensboro started construction on 20 new, single-family homes in fiscal year 23. We will start construction on 30 new homes this fiscal year!
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MISSION STATEMENT
WHO WE SERVE
Gate City Rotary, as a part of Rotary International, exists to create lasting change in our city and the world.
Through fundraising efforts and service projects, our club supports various non-profits including Project Rebuild, Salvation Army, Camp Carefree, Bikes for Kids, and more.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER Join us for a meeting to learn more about all of the volunteer/giving opportunities available. Find meeting details at gatecityrotary.com.
KEY FACTS: • Founded in 1981, Gate City Rotary has served and raised funds for countless needs within our community. In 2021, it granted its first 4-year scholarship to a deserving Page High School student who is currently studying at UNC.
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1235 S. Eugene St. Greensboro, NC 27406 336.275.9801 TriadGoodwill.org Established 1963
MISSION STATEMENT
To improve lives and enrich communities through the power of work.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
We have volunteer opportunities available, including individual, group, or corporate options. Complete our volunteer application at volunteer@triadgoodwill.org. Volunteers must be 16 years or older.
HOW TO DONATE
Financial donations can be made securely online at: donorbox.org/triadgoodwill. We also graciously accept donated goods at all 24 of our retail store locations. We accept electronics, clothing, furniture, collectibles, books, housewares, and more! See triadgoodwill.org/donate for more information or to host a donation drive.
WHO WE SERVE
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, also known as Triad Goodwill, is a vital community resource helping individuals overcome barriers that separate them from gainful, long-term employment. We provide training, support, career readiness resources, and employment in our community.
KEY FACTS
• 2,146 job seekers were served between July 2022 - June 2023 • 69% of all participant job placements were permanent, full-time positions • Average job placement entry level pay was $18.34/hour • Skilled training opportunities include Class A CDL, HVAC, and Construction Trade (NCCER) certifications. • Over 15 million pounds of donated product was diverted from landfills, and over 1 million pounds of cardboard, e-waste, and metal were recycled.
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Meaningful investments produce lasting results United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. THANKS TO YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, AND THE LONGSTANDING SUPPORT OF MORRISETTE PACKAGING, A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY BASED IN GREENSBORO, NC...
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Please verify times, costs, status and location before attending an event. Although conscientious efforts are made to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the world is subject to change and errors can occur!
November
2023
To submit an event for consideration, email us at ohenrymagcalendar@gmail.com by 5 p.m. the first of the month one month prior to the event.
Weekly Events SUNDAYS PETTY TALK. 4:30–5:15 p.m. Megan Blake, The Pet Lifestyle Coach, provides great tips and real-time practice as you learn to connect more deeply with your four-legged best friend. Free. LeBauer Park, 208 N. Davie St., Greensboro. Info: greensborodowntownparks.org/calendar. BARRE CLASS. 10 a.m. Strengthen, tone and stretch your way into the week. Tickets: $10. Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: grandoverresort.com.
TUESDAYS PELVIC HEALTH YOGA. 8:30–9:30 a.m. This Vinyasa-style flow class works toward lengthening and strengthening the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles. Free, registration required and donations accepted. Triad Pelvic Health, 5574 Garden Village Way, Greensboro. Info: triadpelvichealth.com/classes.
WEDNESDAYS WINE WEDNESDAY. 5–8 p.m. Sip wine, munch pizza and enjoy the soothing sounds of live jazz. Free. Double Oaks, 204 N. Mendenhall St. Greensboro. Info: double-oaks.com/wine-wednesday. LIVE MUSIC. 6–9 p.m. Evan Olson and Jessica Mashburn of AM rOdeO play covers and original music. Free. Print Works Bistro. 702 Green Valley Road, Greensboro. Info: printworksbistro.com/gallery/music. MUSIC IN THE PARK. 6–8 p.m. Sip and snack at LeBauer Park while grooving to local and regional artists. Free. Lawn Service, 208 N. Davie St, Greensboro. Info: greensborodowntownparks.org/calendar. JAZZ LOUNGE. 6–9 p.m. Enjoy an evening of jazz while sipping cocktails at 1808 Lobby Bar. Free. Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: grandoverresort.com. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Jim & Susie Malcolm 11.03.2023 FAMILY NIGHT. 5–7 p.m. Enjoy an artdriven evening with family and friends in the studios. Free. GreenHill Center for NC Art, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro. Info: greenhillnc.org/events.
THURSDAYS, EXCLUDING THANKSGIVING JAZZ AT THE O.HENRY. 6–9 p.m. Sip vintage craft cocktails and snack on tapas while the O.Henry Trio performs with a different jazz vocalist each week. Free. O.Henry Hotel Social Lobby, 624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro. Info: ohenryhotel.com/o-henry-jazz. EASY RIDERS. 6–8:30 p.m. All levels of cyclists are welcome to ride along on a guided 4-mile cruise around downtown. Free. Lawn Service, 208 N. Davie St, Greensboro. Info: greensborodowntownparks.org/calendar. WALK THIS WAY. 6 p.m. Put on your sneak-
ers for a 2–4 mile social stroll or jog with the Downtown Greenway Run & Walk Club, which is open to all ages and abilities. Free. LoFi Park, 500 N. Eugene St., Greensboro. Info: downtowngreenway.org/events.
THURSDAYS & SATURDAYS KARAOKE & COCKTAILS. 8 p.m. until midnight, Thursdays; 9 p.m. until midnight, Saturdays. Courtney Chandler hosts a night of sipping and singing. Free. 19 & Timber Bar at Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: grandoverresort.com.
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS LIVE MUSIC. 7–10 p.m. Enjoy drinks in the 1808 Lobby Bar while soaking up live music provided by local artists. Free. Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: grandoverresort.com.
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november calendar SATURDAYS
JIM & SUSIE MALCOLM. 7:30 p.m. Fiddle & Bow presents a night of humor, storytelling and fresh takes on traditional folk songs as well as original tunes performed by this dynamic duo. Tickets: $20+. In the Crown at the Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
YOGA. 9:30 a.m. Don’t stay in bed when you could namaste in the spa studio. Tickets: $10. Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: grandoverresort.com. WATER AEROBICS. 10:30 a.m. Make a splash while getting a heart-pumping workout at an indoor pool. Tickets: $10. Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: grandoverresort.com.
SHELBY J. 8 p.m. The Greensboro native who spent a decade touring with Prince’s band and has been described as “a lil’ bit of Mavis Staples with James Brown energy and a lil’ Carole King on the side” hits the stage. Tickets: $30+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
November Events November 01–31 FIELDS & FEATHERS. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Discover photos and artifacts at a new exhibition, Fields & Feathers: Hunting at Deep River Lodge, 1895-1935. Open through January 2024. Free. High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org. MOMENTS SOWN. Peruse the solo exhibition of Crystal Edie Miller, whose collection features soft coastal colors and bold abstract choices on canvas. Free. Revolution Mill’s Central Gallery, 1150 Revolution Mill Drive, Greensboro. Info: crystaleadiemiller.com.
November 01–05 ALADDIN. 7:30 p.m. Discover “A Whole New World” as the Disney classic about a magical genie takes the stage. Tickets: $33+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events.
November 01–04 PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT. From early black-and-white images of New York City to his renowned Hurricane Katrina series and more recent shots in color, John Rosenthal displays his work with that of 10 other North Carolina photographers he’s curated. Free. GreenHill Center for NC Art, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro. Info: greenhillnc.org.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. 6 p.m. Although not quite a biography, this musical revue evokes the delightful humor and infectious energy of renowned American jazz artist Fats Waller. Tickets: $32+. The Barn Dinner Theatre, 120 Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro. Info: barndinner.com/2023.
November 01 READING THE WORLD. 7–8 p.m. Discover contemporary authors’ works in translation, such as this month’s selection,
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Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson 11.16.2023 Grey Bees. Free. Scuppernong Books, 304 S. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: scuppernongbooks.com/event.
November 02–05 THE PRODUCERS. Times vary. The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem brings to life the Mel Brooks comedic musical. Tickets: $13.50+. Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St, Winston-Salem. Info: ltofws.org.
November 03–05 AGGIE HOMECOMING. Times vary. Enjoy three days of concerts and performances to celebrate NC A&T State’s “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.” Tickets: $27+. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. WOODTURNING. Times vary. The North Carolina Woodturning Symposium invites woodturners throughout the Carolinas and nearby states to learn from top-tier presenters, meet fellow woodturners and see the latest wares from leading vendors. Tickets: $75+; students and youth, $20/day. Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: ncwts.com.
November 03 FIRST FRIDAY. 6–9 p.m. Head downtown for a night of live music and happenings stretching all the way from LeBauer Park and the Greensboro Cultural Center to the South End. Free. Downtown Greensboro. Info: downtowngreensboro.org/first-friday.
CHRIS BOTTI. 8 p.m. As part of UNCG’s Concert & Lecture Series, the renowned and Grammy-winning instrumentalist performs an evening of jazz tunes. Tickets: $7.50+. UNCG Auditorium, 408 Tate St., Greensboro. Info: vpa.uncg.edu/home/ucls-23-24.
November 04, 18. 25 BLACKSMITH DEMONSTRATION. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Watch a costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. Free. Historical Park at High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org.
November 04 PIGSTOCK. Noon–5 p.m. Pig out at a family-friendly BBQ competition and bluegrass music event benefiting Children of Vietnam, a nonprofit that provides education, nutritional support and other resources to impoverished children in Vietnam. Tickets: $40+. Shooting Star Horse Farm, 5624 Davis Mill Rd., Greensboro. Info: pigstockbbq.com.
November 07 MAVERICK CITY MUSIC. 8 p.m. Founded by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay in Atlanta, this contemporary worship music collective show features Noah Schnacky, Toddy Galberth, Forward City Music and JLKRS. Tickets: $55.50+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events.
November 08 AUTHOR SHOWCASE. 7 p.m. Learn about the craft of writing and hear readings from four local authors: Maura Way, Kashiana Singh, Kenneth Chamlee and Matthew Jacobsen. Free. Bookmarks, 634 W. 4th St. #110, Winston-Salem. Info: bookmarksnc.org/event/page-author-showcase.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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There are times when it’s smarter to lease than to sell your home. Call me when you think you’re there! I’ll be pleased to discuss how Burkely Rental Homes can help you. “I refer investors and renters to Michelle. I trust they are in good hands with her“. Katie Redhead
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MichelleS@burkelycommunities.com Sterling Kelly - CEO
Join the effort. Visit www.triadlocalfirst.com.
november calendar November 09–11 EDGES. 7:30 p.m. Before they wrote Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman and many other modern musical classics, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote a song cycle about four burgeoning adults asking classic coming-of-age questions about love, commitment, identity and meaning. Free, donations welcome. Gail Brower Huggins Performance Center, 815 W. Market St., Greensboro. Info: greensboro.edu/ academics/arts/performance-calendar.
November 09 LYNSEY ADDARIO. 7:30 p.m. The Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and New York Times-bestselling author of It’s What I Do discusses her expansive career. Tickets: $60+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events. ART OF DISNEY. 5:30 p.m. Margaret and Bill Benjamin Faculty Fellow Heather Holian shares her research into the early history of Disney animation, explaining the process as well as the ways the artwork was used to produce such iconic films as Snow White and Fantasia. Free. The Margaret and Bill
Benjamin Auditorium at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, 500 Tate St., Greensboro. Info: weatherspoonart.org/calendar. UNCG JAZZ. 7:30 p.m. The University’s Ensemble II, directed by Chad Eby, plays an evening of big band jazz created by many of the genre’s most compelling composers. Tickets: $9+. In the Crown at the Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
November 10–12, 17–19 BROADWAY TUNES. Times vary. Triad Pride Performing Arts puts on a show comprised of “Broadway Hits, Proudly Reimagined.” Tickets: $15. Congregational United Church of Christ, 400 W. Radiance Drive, Greensboro. Info: triadprideperformingarts.org.
November 10 SETH WALKER. 8 p.m. The Americana singer-songwriter with a rich, Gospeldrenched, Southern-inflected voice and a talent for the guitar hits the stage. Tickets: $20+. In the Crown at the Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
KOBER CURIOUS. 7:30 p.m. Comedian and actress Jen Kober brings daily life occurrences to the stage with a heap of humor. Tickets: $25+. High Point Theatre, 220 E. Commerce Ave., High Point. Info: highpointtheatre.com/events.
November 11–12, 18–19 THE WIZARD OF OZ. Times vary. The Community Theatre of Greensboro’s annual production of the L. Frank Baum classic tornadoes down the yellow brick road onto stage. Tickets: $10+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: ctgso.org.
November 11 CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE. 8 p.m. A mesmerizing array of aerialists, jugglers, contortionists and strongmen perform while the Greensboro Symphony plays Broadway hits. Tickets: $35+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events. ALABAMA. 7 p.m. The legendary band performs “Song of the South” and many other Southern country hits. Tickets: $39.50+.
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9 Locations Across NC & VA • GreatOutdoorProvision.com
98 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
november calendar Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. GREENSBORO HONORS. Noon. The annual Veterans Day parade rolls through downtown Greensboro, honoring those who have served in the U.S. military. Free. Intersection of Lindsay and Elm Streets, Greensboro. Info: gcdav20.com.
November 12 GIPSY KINGS. 7:30 p.m. The Grammy-winning group of Catalan rumba, flamenco, salsa and pop musicians celebrates its first album in eight years, “Renaissance.” Tickets: $47.99+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events. MADE 4 THE MARKET. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Shop a juried show of art makers and artisans selling handmade wares such as jewelry and pottery. Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, 501 Yanceyville St., Greensboro. Info: facebook.com/ events/999843841439841. CELEBRITY CHEF. 3:45–5:30 p.m. Adeena Sussman, coauthor of 14 cookbooks, including the New York Timesbestselling collaborations with Chrissy Tiegen, dishes about her latest cookbook, food, entertaining and traditions. Stay for a sweet dessert reception. Registration: $36. Beth David Synagogue, 804 Winview Drive, Greensboro. Info: shalomgreensboro.org or call Marsha Cross at 336-852-5433, ext. 233.
November 13 GEOFFREY CANADA. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. The author, innovator in education and leading advocate for children delivers a keynote speech at shift_ed’s 2023 Impact Lunch. Tickets: $50. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: shift-ed.org/acceleratingimpact.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
November 14 FOREIGNER. 8 p.m. The renowned multiplatinum rock band known for hits such as “I Want to Know What Love Is’’ and “Feels Like the First Time” plays for what might be the last time on its Farewell Tour. Tickets: $45.50+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events.
THE WIZ. 7 p.m. Tickets: $20+. With a cast led by none other than Diana Ross, this classic film reimagines The Wizard of Oz with a setting of 1970s Harlem. Tickets: $7+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
November 15 MERRY MERRY MARKET. 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Peruse a bounty of goods created by local artisans and crafters. Tickets: $5; kids under 12, free. The Colonnade at Revolution Mill, 1000 Revolution Mill Drive, Greensboro. Info: merrymerrymarketgso.com.
You’re gonna need a bigger bag
AN ENGINEER’S CALL TO DUTY. 10 a.m. High Point architect Peter Freeman discusses the letters and journal of his grandfather, William Freeman, illustrating his wartime experience as part of the Allied efforts to extract rubber from the Amazon region of Brazil. Free. High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org.
November 16 DR. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON. 7:30 p.m. The NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal-winning astrophysicist discusses the universe from a cosmic perspective, which sees Earth as a planet in a vast, empty expanse. Tickets: $45.50+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events. DANCE PERFORMANCE. 6 p.m. UNCG dance students per-
9 Locations Across NC & VA GreatOutdoorProvision.com
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november calendar form Vestigial, a contemporary dance by MFA student Jonah Carrel. Free. Weatherspoon Art Museum, 500 Tate St., Greensboro. Info: weatherspoonart.org/calendar.
November 21–26 YOU’RE A MEAN ONE. Times vary. It’s likely your own heart will grow three sizes while taking in the dazzling Broadway musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Tickets: $29+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events.
November 17–19 GALATEA, OR WHATEVER YOU BE. Times vary. Loosely based on John Lyly’s 1585 play, two young people escape a virgin sacrifice by dressing up as boys and running away to the woods where they meet and fall in love. Tickets: $5+. Pam and David Sprinkle Theatre, 402 Tate St., Greensboro. Info: vpa.uncg.edu/ theatre/performances-and-events/productions.
November 21 IN THIS MOMENT. 6 p.m. Get ready to rock with In this Moment, an alternative metal band, and Ice Kills, a heavy metal band. Tickets: $38.50+. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events.
November 17 GATE CITY BLUES FESTIVAL. 8 p.m. Enjoy a night of emotional, musical storytelling, featuring artists such as Tucka, King George, Calvin Richardson and Pokey Bear. Tickets: $59+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events. WILLIAM LEE MARTIN. 7:30 p.m. A regular at the Grand Ole Opry, this storytelling comedian from Texas has been garnering laughs for 27 years. Tickets: $25+. High Point Theatre, 220 E. Commerce Ave., High Point. Info: highpointtheatre.com/events. JAZZ TRUMPET. 7:30 p.m. Music for a Great Space presents an evening with Marcus Printup. Tickets: $5+. Reconsidered Goods, 4118 Spring Garden St., Greensboro. Info: musicforagreatspace.org/season. ROYAL BINGO. 7 p.m. Brenda the Drag Queen hosts an evening of Green Queen Bingo for ages 15 and up. Tickets: $15+. Piedmont Hall, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. NEEDTOBREATHE. 7 p.m. The American rock band from South Carolina performs with special guest Judah & the Lion. Tickets: $29.95+. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events.
November 18–30 BLACK NATIVITY. Times vary. Langston Hughes’ heart-felt musical is the most entertaining way to relive the birth of Jesus Christ through the beat of the drum, the feet of high-energy dancers and the souls of passionate storytellers. Tickets: $64+. The Barn Dinner Theatre, 120 Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro. Info: barndinner.com/2023.
100 O.Henry
Cooking Demostration
November 22, 24–26, 29–30
11.18.2023
WINTER WONDERLIGHTS. 5:30–10 p.m. Greensboro Science Center’s holiday light display opens for the season. Tickets: $16+; under 3, free. Greensboro Science Center, 4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro. Info: greensboroscience.org/attractions-andexperiences/winter-wonderlights.
November 18 SYMPHONY DIRECTOR CANDIDATE. 8 p.m. Accompanied by soprano Maria Valdes, the second music director candidate, Donato Cabrera, leads the symphony for what could be the first of many nights. Tickets: $35+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: greensborosymphony.org/events/list. ANITA BAKER. 8 p.m. “The Songstress” with a soulful catalog of songs spanning four decades delivers a night of “Sweet Love” and other iconic hits. Tickets: $58.50+. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. COOKING DEMONSTRATION. 10 a.m. –4:30 p.m. Costumed interpreters cook a traditional fall harvest meal over an open hearth. Free. Hoggatt House at High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org.
November 19 TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. The group performs its quintessential holiday grooves during Ghosts of Christmas Eve. Tickets: $29.95+. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. YOUTH ORCHESTRA. 7–8 p.m. The Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra dazzles with its Fall Concert. Dana Auditorium, 710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro. Info: gsyo.org/events.
November 23 GOBBLER 5K. 8 a.m. Burn some calories before you burn the gravy. Walk or run a 5K or 1-mile distance in the annual Greensboro Gobbler race. Registration: $15+. Center City Park, 200 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: events.racewire.com/greensboro-gobbler.
November 24–26 CRAFTSMEN’S CHRISTMAS CLASSIC. Times vary. Shop handmade goods from makers across the states at the “Granddaddy” of all Craftsmen’s Classic shows. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events.
November 25 JOHN DENVER CHRISTMAS. 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Rocky Mountain High Experience features all the Denver hits you love, plus holiday tunes, in a tribute show starring Rick Schuler. Tickets: $59. Piedmont Hall, 2409 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. BERRY CHRISTMAS. 7 p.m. Legendary country artist John Berry sings the holiday hits. Tickets: $45+. High Point Theatre, 220 E. Commerce Ave., High Point. Info: highpointtheatre.com/events.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
november calendar HUSK DOLL. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Costumed interpreters demonstrate how Native Americans and early Quaker settlers used objects found in the natural environment to make toys. Plus, make a corn husk doll to take home. Free. Historical Park at High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CAROLINE ALMY
November 26 MOTOWN CHRISTMAS. 7:30 p.m. An ensemble featuring members of The Temptations, The Miracles and The Capitols performs classic Motown hits plus holiday tunes. Tickets: $49+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
November 27 SOUNDS OF WATER. 7:30 p.m. The High Point University Community Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Brian Meixner, presents music that explores the properties of water. Free. Pauline Theatre at High Point University, 1 University Parkway, High Point. Info: highpoint.edu/music/concerts.
November 30 FIRST CHOICE. 5:30–7:30 p.m. Enjoy a curated tour and first dibs on the North Carolina-created art featured in the 2023 Winter Show. Registration: $1,000+, includes two tickets plus art credit. GreenHill Center for NC Art, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro. Info: greenhillnc.org.
HIP HOP NUTCRACKER. 7:30 p.m. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a remixed and reimagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance with Tchaikovsky’s timeless musical tale. Tickets: $100+. Steven Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com/events. DISNEY ON ICE. 7 p.m. Glide through a magical journey with Mickie, Minnie and friends through modern and classic tales. Tickets: $20+. Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events. OH
Winter Wonderlights 11.22.2023
The Arts
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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The Arts ARTISTIC
MOTION
S L O A N T H E AT E R , G R E E N S B O R O
December 1& 2 with
TICKETS
“Pure magic for children!” www.artisticmotiondance.com
102 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The Arts
presents
Amahl and the Night Visitors Menotti’s
High Point University December 6th - 7:30pm December 7th - 7:30pm
UNCG Auditorium
For Tickets and Additional Information visit GreensboroOpera.org/tickets
December 14th - 7:30pm December 15th - 7:30pm
Supported in part by the Randall Thomas Johnson Guest Artist Program Endowment
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 103
The Arts
WE ARE THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER GREENSBORO. GREAT COMMUNITIES DESERVE GREAT ART TOGETHER, WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.
VISIT THEACGG.ORG • FIND your next art adventure on our Art Events Calendar • EXLORE local arts organizations in our Arts Across Guilford Guide • LEARN how we invest in artists, arts organizations, and the community • SUPPORT The ACGG in our work
41 Years of Beautiful Singing
Harmonious Holidays Celebrate the Sounds of the Season with Bel Canto Company and Gate City Voices
Friday, Dec 8, 8:00pm | Sunday, Dec 10, 4:00pm Christ United Methodist Church, 410 N Holden Rd, Greensboro Tickets: belcantocompany.com or (336) 887-3001 (High Point Theatre Box Office) $30 • $25 Senior (65+) • $10 College Students $5 H.S. Student and Younger
104 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The Arts
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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The Arts Lust, revenge, deception & a wedding It’s amazing what you can do in a day.
Professional opera Comes to High Point! Piedmont opera invites you to the wedding of the year!
The Marriage of Figaro Mozart's
The High Point Theatre | March 22 and 24, 2024 Piedmontopera.org or 336.725.7101
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106 O.Henry
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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GreenScene See to Believe Gala Greensboro Science Center
Friday, September 22, 2023 Miranda & Caroline Almy, Simon Palmore
Photographs by Bekah Robinson
Beth Hemphill, Ron Settle
Glenn Dobrogosz, Sleeping Booty
Tracy Thornton
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108 O.Henry
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
GreenScene Back-to-School in Guilford County 2023
Libby Womack, 3rd grade
Alejandra Jordan, kindergarten Mackenzie Hizer, sophomore
Phillips kids
xxxx Patrick, freshman Peyton
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Merritt Little, 4th grader
Wyatt & Walker Smith, 1st & 4th grade
Wilder Bustamante, kindergarten
Haynes Little, 8th grader
Peyton Hizer, senior
Ella & Liam Rendleman, 6th & 8th grade
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O.Henry 109
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
GreenScene
O.Henry Author Series: Mary Kay Andrews The Grandover Hotel Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Janice McMann, Susan Phillips, Sharon Reddick
Photographs by Lynn Donovan
Susie Connelly, Laura Springs
Amy Proctor, Peggy Coppel
Derrek Marrow, Christi Mackey
Mary Kay Andrews
Mebane Ham, Tamara Slaughter, Leslie Conway
Tommie Lynn Sullivan
Cristal Snow, Kim Longe, Kay Chesnutt, Andrea Longenecker
Elise Neilson, Hillary Peterson, Lisa Allen, Mary Beth Nelson
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Christina Gulledge, Connie Porter
Page Hoffman, Laura Lomax
Lori Poindexter, Rhonda Hiatt, Melissa Hiatt
Melissa & Ragan Newell
Barbara Walker, Jocelyn Walker
Liz Crandall, Dee Crandall, Shannon Bradford, Sharon McConnell
Nancy Baity, Brenda Jones, Sharon Knox
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o.henry ending
I Watched Aliens from Another Planet Clean My Kitchen A grandmother comes to her sensory senses By Marianne Gingher
Center opened in 1957, I was 10 years old and my favorite store there was Woolworth’s. The heart of the store was the candy counter — a child’s dream — where you could buy orange jelly slices, little boxes of Goobers, Nik-L-Nips, candy corn, licorice whips, Sugar Daddies and chocolate-covered peanuts by the scoop. Brimming with the aromas of sizzling hotdogs twirling on skewers, popcorn, fountains of orange and lemon-flavored drinks bubbling down the sides of their glass containers, the store smelled nearly as delicious as the Greensboro Fairgrounds. There were other enticements: single-play records for 99 cents, gag gifts like Whoopie cushions and, in the back of the store fluttered blue and green parakeets in cages. Near the candy counter, I hovered over copies of The Weekly World News and National Enquirer with such memorable headlines as “Baby Born With Tattoo of Elvis” and “I Watched Aliens from Another Planet Clean My Kitchen.” After a trip to Woolworth’s, my imagination was stoked, my senses on overload. Fast forward six decades. In the interval I became a writer, and I think now, in a weird way, Woolworth’s played a role in that. Remembering that famous five-and-dime’s delights got me thinking a lot about where kids today derive that sort of simple sensory pleasure and inspiration. My grandchildren, two wild boys ages 2 and 5, spent the summer with me while their family transitioned from Arizona back to North Carolina. My ransacked house bore no resemblance to its former self. I stepped on a piece of broccoli
112 O.Henry
in my bathroom one night during their stay. I found the sprayer that attaches to the garden hose in the hall upstairs. They broke one of my kitchen chairs, flooded the upstairs bathroom and turned the AC thermostat to 50 degrees. It felt like I was living on a different planet. But I rose to physical challenges I never thought possible, danced to poopie songs, took them to every park and museum in Guilford County and witnessed delight on their little sunbeam faces as the carousel at Country Park revved up. I was exhausted but determined to hang on to the tilt-a-whirl of them until they headed off to the mothership. Midway through their stay, when the 5 -year-old said he was bored, weary of the usual entertainments, I wished Woolworth’s still existed. But then a brainstorm hit. “How would you like to help me wash the kitchen floor?” I asked. Nobody had ever given him such a fantastic opportunity. His eyes widened. “Oh, yes!” “Me, too!” hollered little brother. Nothing glamorous or high-tech about that job, but both boys were thrilled with the adventure of it (and the spray bottle that came with the assignment). They’d discovered joy in a simple, sensory (and productive!) activity, far from the razzle-dazzle of commercial amusements. I stood on the threshold of the kitchen, watching them beaver away in their goofy way. It was happening before my very eyes: Two aliens from another planet were cleaning my kitchen! OH Marianne Gingher is an Earthbound writer living in Greensboro. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY BLAIR
When Greensboro’s Friendly
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