YES! Weekly - December 6, 2023

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PANGAEA

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 49

12 5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 Office 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

IT’S TIME!

NOMINATIONS OPEN JAUNARY 7

We hope you are loving this festive holiday season and once again, our team is bringing you the best of Triadfoodies’ Favorite Things and Holiday Gift Guide of Glorious Deliciousness.

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Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com EDITORIAL Editor CHANEL DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD JIM LONGWORTH NAIMA SAID DALIA RAZO LYNN FELDER PRODUCTION Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com

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North Carolina HOUSE BILL 125 subjects some bars to the same inspections as restaurants. This was a last-minute revision not in House or Senate versions but added to a negotiated final draft ratified in September.

4 PANGAEA opened in early August.

In this historic (1938), repurposed space, walls- hunter green on one side, brick on the other — rise above hardwood floors.

My wife and I are especially enamored with the lighting — swirls overhead, colored vertical sconces on the walls.

6 The RiverRun International Film Festival and Marketplace Cinemas will celebrate the second annual “HOLIDAY CAN FILM FESTIVAL” with a screening of the award-winning yuletide perennial The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) at 3 p.m.

Saturday, December 16th at Marketplace Cinemas.

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Endalyn Taylor Outlaw saw her first “NUTCRACKER” ballet performance in Chicago when she was 7 years old. She was so captivated by the classical music and movement, which were all new to her, that the next year she auditioned for “The

Nutcracker,” got a part, and enrolled in the dance school.

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It’s taken a while, but filmmaker Eli Roth has finally made good on THANKSGIVING, based on the faux trailer he fashioned for the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez mash-up Grindhouse (2007).

14 “One thing we accomplished is some

highly-paid administrators had to try to SERVE STUDENTS THEMSELVES,” said Eastern Guilford High School Cafeteria Manager Kelly Shepherd about last week’s walkout by nutrition workers for Guilford County Schools (GCS), of which he was an organizer.

16 It’s Christmas time, pretty babies.

While it’s unlikely snow will fall around the Triad, the HOLLIROCKETS are forecasted to bring their eighth annual “Hunka Hunka Holiday Spectacular” to Eastern Standard in Winston-Salem on December 16.

ADVERTISING Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com Promotion NATALIE GARCIA

DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. Copyright 2023 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

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[SPOTLIGHT]

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1965

NEW N.C. LAW REQUIRES BARS TO GET HEALTH INSPECTIONS

BY IAN MCDOWELL

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

8900 Ellisboro Road Stokesdale, NC 27357 HOURS Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm Sunday 10am-7pm (336) 643-5249 | www.stokesdalebirite.com

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that are outspoken around regulations are probably on this list. If you have a specific place in mind, please let me know.”

The form letter attached to Cox’s email explained the new definitions and rules and stated: “If you own or operate a facility that was previously exempt from regulation by the Health Department but offer any food other than drink garnishes (i.e., lemon wedges), bar snacks (i.e., pretzels, peanuts, popcorn), and ice; as of October 2, 2023, you are no longer exempt. This means you will be required to apply for a permit by submitting a menu and application for plan review. If your business has never obtained a permit to sell food from the Guilford County Environmental Health Department, you will be contacted and instructed to submit additional documents for review.”

It also stated that the “first quarter of implementation shall be considered an educational period with no enforcement action taken on impacted establishments,” but that “Enforcement of regulated activities in impacted establishments will begin January 1, 2024.”

On Nov. 28, Cox sent Wilson an email naming “places that had been exempt from our health dept regulations as a private club but due to legislation changes might be required to obtain a HD permit depending on their menu.”

Here are the venues listed by Cox (minus ones that no longer exist): 240 Bar, American Legion, Artist Bloc, Artistika Nightclub, Bar Latino, Barking Deck, Bearded Goat, Bessemer Billiards, Boo Radley’s, Borough Market, Boston’s House of Jazz, Boxcar Greensboro, Chopper Bar N Lounge, Club Orion, Continental Club, Corner Bar, Craft City Sip In, Elm Street Lounge, Flat Iron, Golden Suns Tavern, Greene Street Nightlife, Greensboro Elks Lodge, Greensboro Moose Lodge, Hangar 1819, House Divided Bottles & Taps, HP Cigars & Spirits, Jackalope Too, Jake’s Pub & Billiards, Joymongers, Lawndale Drive-In, Longshanks Billiards, Lucky’s, McAlisterLeftwich House, Mint, Neighbors, One 17 Sofa Bar & Lounge, Saints and Sinners Tavern, Sedgefield Country Club, Shooters Sports Bar, Springers, Treasure Club, Triad Golf & Travel Club, Twist Lounge, Wahoo’s Tavern, Walker’s Bar, and Westerwood Tavern. !

YES!

North Carolina House Bill 125 subjects some bars to the same inspections as restaurants.

This was a last-minute revision not in House or Senate versions but added to a negotiated final draft ratified in September.

The new law applies to venues that derive most of their income from alcohol, but also serve TCS food items, meaning meals or snacks requiring temperature control, such as pizza, hot dogs, nachos, chicken wings, various dips, and salads. Packaged snacks like nuts, pretzels, and chips will not require permits.

Until 2020, there was no state definition of a “bar” and many drinking establishments were classified as “private clubs.”

That year, HB 536 changed the definition of a “private club” to mean a tax-exempt venue operating for a minimum of 12 months prior to application for an ABC permit. The bill also created a new definition of “private bar.”

Both private clubs and private bars required membership lists and at least nominal fees, but remained exempt from health department regulations required of restaurants.

In 2022, HB 768 effectively removed the membership fee previously required of venues that made less than 30% of their revenues from food. It also replaced the definition “private bar” with the single word “bar,” with establishments classified as bars no longer needing to be private.

This meant that establishments that derived 70% or more of their revenue from alcoholic beverages but also sold or gave away temperature-controlled food did not receive county health department inspections and were not issued sanitation scores.

Starting next year, that’s no longer true.

Every drinking establishment that also sells or gives away even a small amount of TCS food will either have to stop doing so and be classified as a bar, or be classified as a restaurant and require certification.

The only remaining “private clubs” must be certified as tax-exempt by the Federal government.

On Nov. 21, Guilford County Environmental Health Division Director Paula Cox sent Greensboro Deputy City Manager Chris Wilson an email with the subject line “Guilford Co Bar Letter,” in which she wrote: “I wanted to send you the letter that went out to bars in the county that have a private club ABC permit that come Jan 1, 2024 will need to either get an ABC bar permit (remove the food) or get a food service permit. . . . Know that some of places

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Old Havana

Scallops Rockefeller

Ahi Tuna Hauevo Rato

Mozzarella Foam Salad

Chow down with John Batchelor at Pangaea

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

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angaea opened in early August. In this historic (1938), repurposed space, wallshunter green on one side, brick on the other — rise above hardwood floors.

My wife and I are especially enamored with the lighting — swirls overhead, colored vertical sconces on the walls. The ambiance is casual but sophisticated and urbane.

“Pangaea” was the name of the supercontinent that joined what is now the Americas, Africa, and Europe. The name reflects the owners’ international culinary experiences — no boundaries to this cuisine, although Latin American influences are often evident.

Floor manager/partner Juan Cirino studied culinary arts in high school in Puerto Rico. He was lead bartender at the Condado Plaza by Hilton before he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There, he joined the team at Walk-Ons, one of the country’s largest sports bars. After relocation to Greensboro, he was general manager at the well regarded White and Wood for six years.

Chef/partner Carlos Roman studied culinary arts at Santana International School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Puerto Rico. In 2010, he became a chef at the Ritz Carlton in San Juan, subsequently moving to other Marriott properties worldwide, including Ritz Carltons in Aruba, Atlanta-Buckhead, Santa Bar-

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bara, and Thailand, as well as the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort. He reunited in Greensboro with his lifelong friend when they opened Pangaea.

Jason Wilson, a real-estate developer based in Danville, who was a regular customer at White and Wood, is also a partner.

I see things here that rarely happen in this mid-price range. Flatware, for example, is reset after every course. Wine glasses are sized and shaped to allow flavor to bloom. Bartenders Josh Kinney and Alexis Rosas visit tables to check on the enjoyment of their creations (I would especially recommend the Old Havana) and to support the wait staff. There is a sense of camaraderie here.

The wine list shows evidence of coordination with the chef. In many restaurants, I see lists that are well-balanced, as far as varietals and regions are concerned, but with little evidence of conscious pairing with menu selections. Here, it is obvious.

Suggestions appear on the menu with each food item, and every one we tried proved a good match.

Of most importance, service personnel are well acquainted with the food.

Interesting and informative descriptions are provided upon delivery, but they never seem pretentious. There are things going on here you won’t find anywhere else. The food isn’t weird. It’s just different. And good. Really good.

A lot of the menu is devoted to starters and small plates, as well as salads. Consider several courses, for the adventure.

A starter of Scallops Rockefeller is an interesting twist on a classic. You get three or six smallish scallops still at-

tached to their shells, surrounded by a well-balanced mix of creamy spinach with parmesan cheese and crispy garlic.

Grilled Cabbage is a novel idea, but it works. Slightly charred around the edges, it’s a little crunchy, the natural cabbage flavor enhanced with olive oil and dabs of bright red tomato gelee. Vichyssoise, usually a soup made from potatoes and leeks, in this case is reimagined as a sauce. I don’t think the use of black garlic crumbles contributes positively, thoughtough and sticky.

Every dimension of Ahi Tuna Huevo Roto (ahi tuna broken egg), on the other hand, should be savored. The kitchen dices deep red tuna, then forms it into a cylinder studded with crisp prosciutto.

This is presented over wakame (seaweed) salad and scattered with fried potato crumbles. A poached egg perches on top, scattered with micro greens. It’s a brilliant idea, the flavors well matched.

Croqueta de Jamon, a ham croquette, uses serrano ham — from Spain, dry cured.

The ham is diced and blended into a mix of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. A bechamel sauce hosts the presentation.

Choripan turned out to be a favorite.

The name is a blend of chorizo- from sausage, made in-house from lamb, chicken, and pork — and bread. It looks kind of like an exotic hot dog. Toppings are chimichurri, aioli, and tomato.

Sweet Plantain and Potato Gnocchi is a knockout. Robust chorizo sausage ragu is covered with grated Manchego cheese “snow” plus a light application of serrano peppers.

Smoke Grilled Bacon is crisp, plated with dabs of blue cheese, all dressed in

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High Point Ballet presents

The Nutcracker

DECEMBER 15 & 16, 2023 // DOORS @ 6:30PM // SHOW @ 7:30PM DECEMBER 17, 2023 // DOORS @ 1PM // SHOW @ 2PM High Point Ballet celebrates over 30 seasons of The Nutcracker. With the magic of Drosselmeyer, Clara’s dream comes to life in the holiday tradition of the story of The Nutcracker. Swirling with heroic toy soldiers, sword-fighting mice, and the glittering Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the classic ballet is beautifully presented through the choreography.

Lamb & Chorizo Paella

Seared Tune

maple vinaigrette, a little chimichurri placed on the ends. The flavors marry beautifully. Alone, there’s a lot of cheese and a lot of bacon. But if two people order this, and each one takes half, it’s an excellent culinary marriage, especially if joined by a salad.

The Mozzarella Foam salad, in particular, goes well with the bacon flavors. The dish is well-named. Whipped cheese holds tomatoes, marinated in garlic and thyme, and charred onions, with a basil oil swirl.

This is one of the most sophisticated salads I have encountered in the Triad.

At least that’s what I thought until I tasted Cantaloupe Tartare. A slice of melon is pressed in ponzu. The resulting texture is close to ceviche (hence the name “tartare”), its flavor enhanced with coconut mojito and basil oil. It is plated over mango mustard and covered with a blend of finely diced herbs and scallions. Raving over a salad is unusual. At Pangaea, it’s unavoidable.

I hate to slight the Beet Carpaccio salad.

Anywhere else, it probably would have been the best on the menu. Here, it’s merely excellent, in comparison. Beets, sliced radishes, and orange wedges are arrayed over arugula, joined by crumbled goat cheese and candied almonds, all dressed in citrus vinaigrette.

I guess nothing should surprise me here, but when we ventured into the entrée section of the menu, Lamb and Chorizo Paella exceeded expectations. You get three really good lamb chops stacked over the paella, itself studded with that homemade chorizo sausage and green peas, dabs of tomato aioli and garlic aioli alongside. In the paella itself, the rice is flavored with salmorreta, a Spanish sauce of Mediterranean red peppers, garlic, tomato, parsley, and olive oil.

Seared Tuna is striking on the plate,

rectangles of the main ingredient treated with a dry spice rub, lightly seared and stacked, surrounded by morsels of firm mint-braised carrot. Swirls of carrot-ginger puree lend color as well as a well-conceived flavor extension. I liked the tuna appetizer better than this entrée, though, due to the dryish texture of the fish.

With the onset of cold weather and the adoption of loose sweaters, my wife and I elected to try one dessert. Rhyme and Reason is an indulgence of peanut butter and chocolate mousse, ladled with intense dark chocolate sauce blended with spicy Hungarian paprika. It’s easily worth the calories.

Pangaea thus makes its debut in the top rank of area restaurants. This place is special. !

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

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

WANNA go?

Pangaea 230 South Elm Street Greensboro 27401 336-579-9962 pangaeabistro.com Hours: 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-midnight Friday & Saturday Starters: $15-$26 Small Plates: $11-$25 Salads: $12-$14 Entrees: $26-$38 Desserts: $15 Most recent visit: November 25

The Nutcracker Land of the Sweets

DECEMBER 16, 2023 DOORS @ 1PM // SHOW @ 2PM The High Point Ballet Land of the Sweets Nutcracker performance is designed especially for children. The show length of approximately one hour and content is tailored for young people’s attention. To add to the experience, everyone is invited to come one hour prior to the performance to meet the Nutcracker characters and have pictures taken with them.

2023-24 Season JANUARY

13 Emma Langford in Concert

FEBRUARY

17 Take 6 in Concert

MARCH

07 The Tartan Terrors 14 Comedy with Cathy Ladman 25 BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Acts and dates subject to change.

For a full line up of events, and up to date news, visit our website.

VISIT: HighPointTheatre.com for more information | FOR TICKETS CALL: 336-887-3001

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RiverRun and Marketplace Cinemas raise Caine in special Muppet Christmas Carol screening

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he RiverRun International Film Festival and Marketplace Cinemas will celebrate the second annual “Holiday Can Film Festival” with a screening of the Mark Burger award-winning yuletide perennial The Muppet Christmas Contributor Carol (1992) at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 16th at Marketplace Cinemas, 2095 Peters Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem. The requested admission is two cans of food to be donated to Samaritan Ministries. To register for tickets, visit https://riverrunfilm.com/.

This holiday event was established last year by RiverRun and Marketplace Cinemas and proved an immediate success.

“Partnering with RiverRun for the annual Holiday Can Festival has been a joy,” said Zack Fox, general manager of Marketplace Cinemas and an award-winning filmmaker himself. “After last year’s wonderful success with the Elf screening, where we collected over 400 cans of food — along with winter hats, gloves, and so much more — everyone involved wanted to make sure we did it again this year. I am so happy RiverRun was able to secure the license to show the theatrical cut of The Muppet Christmas Carol, an absolute favorite of mine. Whether you’ve seen The Muppet Christmas Carol countless times like I have or it’s your first time, this is a wonderful holiday event for a

great cause not to be missed.”

“RiverRun is thrilled to again partner with Samaritan Ministries for our second Holiday Can Film Festival,” said Rob Davis, RiverRun executive director. “We’re delighted to be able to help stock their food pantry while offering a rare opportunity to see the holiday classic The Muppet Christmas Carol on the big screen. Everyone loves the Muppets, and we look forward to this chance to bring out the whole family and enjoy such a fun film and do a great thing for Samaritan Ministries at the same time.”

Prior to the screening, Summit Strings will provide an instrumental duet Christmas concert in the theater lobby beginning at 2 p.m. to further enhance the celebratory spirit.

The Muppet Christmas Carol was the first Muppet film made following the untimely death of Muppets creator Jim Henson in 1990 and marked the feature directorial debut of Henson’s son Brian, who won the Fantafestival award for Best Director. It was also the first Muppet movie to be produced by Disney, which a decade later would acquire the rights to the entire franchise.

Based, obviously, on the immortal Charles Dickens classic, the film reunited such beloved Muppet characters as Kermit the Frog (“Bob Cratchit”), Miss Piggy (“Mrs. Cratchit”), Fozzie Bear (“Fozziwig”), The Great Gonzo (“Charles Dickens”), and Rizzo the Rat (“Himself”). The miserly, mean-spirited, but ultimately redeemed Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed by Michael

Caine, joining the pantheon of such illustrious earlier Scrooges as Reginald Owen, Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, and George C. Scott.

“Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of those universal tales and one of my favorite holiday stories,” Davis said. “I have seen many film adaptations — from the first one done by the Edison Company in 1910 to the traditional adaptations in 1938 and 1951 along with my other versions set in various locales and time periods. However, I think The Muppet Christmas Carol holds the distinction of being one of the most unique adaptations of the story ever done. The film takes Dickens’ book and combines it with a group of some of the most recognizable characters ever created — the Muppets — and the result is pure joy and entertainment!”

The Holiday Can Film Festival is a celebration of both the season and the

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

community, providing great entertainment for the whole family for a great and important cause. This time of year, Samaritan Ministries is particularly in need of coffee, canned chicken or tuna, sugar, marinara sauce, and spices and seasonings.

“All of us at RiverRun think of our organization as a community partner and we’re proud of our broad and diverse partnerships with other community organizations,” Davis said. “Last year we held our first ‘Can’ film festival and it was a huge success. We collected over 400 cans of food along with a bag of lip balm and bag of winter hats for Samaritan Ministries. We are delighted to be able to use film to help raise awareness and support for the good work of the Soup Kitchen and Samaritan Ministries.”

He’s equally delighted by the ongoing relationship the festival has established with Marketplace Cinemas.

“We are delighted to count Marketplace Cinemas as one of our valued RiverRun screening venues for both the festival and our year-round programs,” he said. “We have been partnering with Marketplace since 2020 and our work has definitely broadened the festival’s appeal and helped us reach a new audience. A number of our regular patrons and supporters have expressed gratitude for us being there as they like the spacious auditoriums, ample free parking, and the quality of the picture and sound.”

“As we come to the end of 2023, we have offered more than a dozen events outside of the regular annual film festival,” Fox said. “Working with Rob Davis and the entire team at RiverRun is also a rewarding experience for everyone inside and outside of the auditorium.”

The 26th annual RiverRun International Film Festival is scheduled for April 18th27th, 2024.

The official Marketplace Cinemas website is https://www.mpcws.com/.

The official RiverRun website is https:// riverrunfilm.com/. The official Samaritan Ministries website is https://www.samaritanforsyth.org/. !

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

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[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

MOTOWN CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT DELTA ARTS CENTER AT UR COLISEUM

BY WHITNEY HARNESS The Delta Arts Center is pleased to announce its upcoming Motown Christmas fundraising event, set to take place on December 15th from 7-11 p.m. at the UR Coliseum. This highly anticipated event will feature live music, special guests, a delicious dinner, refreshing drinks, a cash bar, a silent auction, and a 50/50 draw. All proceeds will benefit the Delta Arts Center’s mission to enrich the lives of neighborhood and area residents by promoting American Arts and Humanities with an emphasis on the contributions of African Americans.

The Motown Christmas fundraiser will be a night to remember, with a soulful lineup of live Motown music that will transport guests back to the golden era

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of soul and R&B. Special guest performers will also take the stage, adding an extra touch of star power to the evening’s festivities. In addition to the incredible musical performances, attendees will be treated to a delectable dinner featuring a variety of mouthwatering dishes. A cash bar will also be available throughout the evening, featuring a selection of refreshing drinks.

Motown Christmas presents an excellent opportunity for guests to participate in a thrilling silent auction. Bid on exclusive items and experiences generously donated by local businesses and individuals, with all proceeds going towards the Delta Arts Center’s mission. It’s the perfect chance to find unique gifts for loved ones while supporting a worthy organization.

To add an extra element of excitement,

Motown Christmas will feature a 50/50 draw. Guests can purchase tickets for a chance to win half of the total amount collected, while the remaining proceeds will be donated to the Delta Arts Center. It’s an exhilarating opportunity to potentially walk away with a substantial cash prize while making a difference in the community.

Tickets for the Motown Christmas event are available for purchase through our official website, https://www.eventbrite. com/e/motown-christmas-tickets753972139967?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

Early booking is highly recommended as this event is expected to sell out quickly due to its popularity.

The Delta Arts Center is committed to enriching the lives of neighborhood and area residents by promoting American

Arts and Humanities with an emphasis on the contributions of African Americans. By attending the Motown Christmas fundraiser, guests will not only enjoy a magical night of entertainment but also contribute to a worthy cause that positively impacts the community.

For more information about the Motown Christmas fundraising event, including ticket purchases and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Whitney Harness at 336-722-2625 or email whitneyharness@deltaartscenter.org. !

Handel’s Messiah Michelle Merrill leads the Symphony, Chorus, and soloists in Handel’s masterwork, perfect for the Christmas season.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 Wait Chapel, Wake Forest University 7:30 PM Tickets, soloist biographies, videos, Second Harvest food drive info, and more

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The Nutcracker returns

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THE NUTCRACKER AT UNCSA 2022 | PHOTO BY PETER MUELLER

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Endalyn Taylor Outlaw saw her first “Nutcracker” ballet performance in Chicago when she was 7 years old. She was so captivated by the classical music and movement, which were all new to her, Lynn Felder that the next year she auditioned for “The Nutcracker,” got Special and enrolled Correspondent ainpart, the dance school.

“I carry the memory of the excitement and the desire to be on that stage,” Outlaw said. “I loved sharing it with my mom. She always nurtured my love of the arts.

“It was a large production with guest artists from the American Ballet and New York City Ballet, and one year, Dance Theatre of Harlem participated. I later came back with Dance Theatre of Harlem and performed the lead roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the American Beauty Rose in the ‘Waltz of the Flowers’.”

After a career at Dance Theatre of Harlem, on Broadway, and with many other prestigious companies, Outlaw came to UNC School of the Arts to be the Dean of Dance in 2021.

Now, presiding over UNCSA’s “The Nutcracker” as its executive director, Outlaw will oversee the school’s coming performances at the Tanger Center for Performing Arts in Greensboro, opening Dec. 7. It’s a first for Outlaw and the school, necessitated by the recent (Nov. 15) closing of the Stevens Center for extensive renovations.

“The Nutcracker’s” artistic director, Ilya Kozadayev, joined the School of Dance faculty in 2017. In 2020, Kozadayev wrote, re-choreographed, and co-directed the ballet making it into a 30-minute film with the wonderful Rosemary Harris narrating, so that students did not miss out on the experience of being in “The Nutcracker” in the thick of the COVID pandemic. It aired on UNC-TV that year and can still be seen on UNCSA.edu, PBS. org, and YouTube.

Born in Russia, Kozadayev saw his first “Nutcracker” at the historic Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg when he was 5 or 6. “I watched from the wings. Both of my parents were dancing. I loved it,” Kozadayev said. “I felt like it was a really magical experience. I was around ballet a lot, but I really loved ‘The Nutcracker’.”

This year’s UNCSA “Nutcracker,” which Kozadayev calls “a completely different

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version from what it was when I arrived at UNCSA. … Last year was the first year that I choreographed the rest of the ballet. It had a different path than most ballets take.”

Kozadayev received his dance training from Vaganova Ballet Academy; School of American Ballet; Academy of Colorado Ballet; and John Cranko Ballet Academy in Stuttgart, Germany. He danced professionally, performing an array of international repertoire, as a soloist with Colorado Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, the Houston Ballet, and as a dancer with Boston Ballet.

UNCSA’s “The Nutcracker” started life in Reynolds Auditorium in 1966 and has been presented in Winston-Salem almost every year since then. It moved to the Stevens Center in 1983, after that venue’s conversion from the Carolina (movie) Theatre.

This year, for the first time, it will be performed at the Steven Tanger Center in Greensboro. Sets and costumes were loaded in last weekend. Dancers were practicing in studios on campus until

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Monday when they began daily bus rides to Greensboro for rehearsals in the Tanger.

“We have to bus everybody there and bus everybody back, and feed them all,” Kozadayev said. “It almost feels like a touring show. We get on the bus first thing in the morning, and get back at 11 at night.”

Under Outlaw’s direction, every ballet student in the UNCSA School of Dance has a role in “The Nutcracker.” In previous productions, some ballet dancers were not included, and Outlaw feels that exclusion fell short of the school’s mission.

“This seemed like a moment to embrace inclusion and belonging, where they all have a role and will be part of the narrative,” Outlaw said. “Making ‘The Nutcracker’ is something that all of our dancers can experience together and have a sense of community.”

Brian Cole, who came to the school in 2016 to be the Dean of Music, was appointed Chancellor of UNCSA in 2020.

He is conducting the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra for “The Nutcracker” performances.

“We are so excited to bring the special UNCSA tradition of ‘The Nutcracker’ to the Tanger Center this year,” Cole said.

“While this temporary move was born out of necessity, it is our great privilege to be able to provide our students with the experience of creating and performing in this fantastic venue, and to reach new audiences in Greensboro and beyond.”

“We are really excited to have our chancellor conducting again,” Outlaw said. “For our students to make the connection that our administrators are artists is especially important. We were all students once, then professional artists, and now administrators creating these opportunities for them.”

Tickets are selling well in the 3,000seat Tanger Center, which holds almost twice that of the 1,380-seat Stevens Center, and UNCSA dancers will be performing on the same stage where professional Broadway touring companies play.

“People need to know how professional and high-caliber UNCSA’s ‘Nutcracker’ is,” Kozadayev said. “The fact that there are so many people involved — from the student dancers, to the student orchestra, to the set and costume people.”

This year’s ballet includes 109 highschool and college dancers, eight UNCSA Preparatory dancers, 22 Design and Production students, and 56 music students.

“We are looking forward to a very student-centric production,” Outlaw said.

“The Greensboro Children’s Choir is joining us this year, instead of the Winston-Salem Children’s Choir.”

There’s a lot that’s new this year: new choreography, new venue, but all the old favorites are back too. Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, Drosselmeyer and the Mouse King, Mother Ginger and the Bon Bons all bring the promise of a very merry Christmas and festive memories for the whole family to cherish for years to come. !

LYNN FELDER is a freelance writer, poet, memoirist, and playwright, living in Winston-Salem. She is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association.

WANNA go?

What: UNC School of the Arts’ “The Nutcracker” When: Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 9, noon and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 10, 2 p.m.

Where: Tanger Performing Arts Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27401 Cost: $31 and up Info: 336-721-1945, https://www.uncsa.edu/ performances/nutcracker/index.aspx

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flicks

SCREEN IT!

Eli Roth serves up a grisly feast of fun in Thanksgiving

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t’s taken a while, but filmmaker Eli Roth has finally made good on Thanksgiving, based on the faux trailer he fashioned for the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez mash-up Grindhouse (2007). And, happily, the wait has been worth it, as Roth — like his mentor and Mark Burger sometime collaborator Tarantino — brings a snappy ‘80s-style retro vibe to the gory goings-on, which Contributor gets plenty gory indeed.

The turkey celebration of the title has lost its luster in the bucolic Massachusetts burg of Plymouth. The year before, the local superstore (“RightMart”) kicked off its Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving, and the crazed customers — some desperate for the free waffle iron — stampeded the store, resulting in a bloody melee with numerous fatalities. Roth’s riff on contemporary consumerism enhances Thanksgiving’s black-comedy quotient. That

said, the squeamish are hereby forewarned, because things only get gorier from there, including a pair of decapitations, one buzzsaw disembowelment, and the obligatory scene where a victim is glazed and browned — and much worse — in a large oven. A cult classic is born.

That the film is a legitimate whodunit adds another element of fun. Except for resident “final girl” Jessica (Nell Verlaque), everyone is both fair game and a potential suspect. The screenplay, by Jeff Rendell and based on his and Roth’s story, is hardly groundbreaking but works on its own terms. That the killer adopts the guise of 17th-century Plymouth Colony governor John Carver is a fun touch, and the actors are enthusiastic.

Patrick Dempsey smoothly adopts a New England drawl as the affable sheriff, and the filmmakers pay homage to “holiday horror” by casting Lynne Griffin (from the original 1974 Black Christmas) in a small role.

As befits the genre, the door is left open enough to potentially justify a sequel and, indeed, it was reported in the trade papers last week that Roth would be serving up a second helping of Thanksgiving, due for release in 2025. What a surprise! !

Nicolas Cage: The man of your dreams Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage), the protagonist of Dream Scenario, is a bald, flabby, middle-aged professor at Osler University who unexpectedly, becomes a cause celebre and a phenomenon, then finds himself living an existential, Kafkaesque nightmare through absolutely no fault of his own.

People have been dreaming about Paul and not just people he knows. Good dreams or bad, he suddenly shows up.

Initially, he doesn’t do anything in their dreams; he’s just … there. Later, however, the dreams become more intense, in some cases more sexual and/or violent in nature. Paul has no explanation, and neither does anyone else. But his life, which was till now average, if not dull, is coming apart at the seams. And nothing, not even a potential endorsement deal with Sprite, can stop it.

With its head-spinning combination of satire, fantasy, farce, and an anythinggoes attitude, Dream Scenario echoes the work of Charlie Kaufman, particularly Being John Malkovich (1999) and Adaptation (2002), the latter a previous triumph for Cage. This has a similar imaginative spirit but stands tall on its own quirky merits.

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The film marks the English-language debut of award-winning Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, who brings an unconventional outsider’s perception of contemporary American culture. In addition to directing, he wrote the (highly) original script and edited the film, which

is smartly paced without diluting or diminishing the ideas swirling around in its head. At its best, which is much of the time, Dream Scenario is thoughtprovoking and transcendent entertainment, conveyed with a droll assurance, and played to the hilt by Cage.

There aren’t many of those gonzo moments the actor is famous — or infamous — for, but they’re simmering just beneath the surface. It’s a comparatively restrained, even delicate turn. Cage (also one of the film’s producers) is enormously empathetic here, and Paul Matthews marks one of his best performances in a career that can certainly be described as “eclectic.”

The supporting cast is fine: Julianne Nicholson as Paul’s wife, Lily Bird and Jessica Clement (both delightfully deadpan) as their daughters, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Baker, Kate Berlant, Cage’s brother Marc Coppola (fondly remembered as a long-time New York deejay), and especially Dylan Gelula, as a public-relations flack with something of a crush on Paul. Everyone’s in good form, but Cage is undoubtedly the standout — and a likely award contender as the end of year approaches.

Besides, any film that concludes with

Talking Heads’ “City of Dreams” over the end credits has got something going for it. !

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

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AWESOME!

Get those pens and pencils — OK, Google forms — ready! The Tampa Bay Times is inviting readers and anyone else around the world to submit their grievances, the best of which the Times will publish to celebrate Festivus on Dec. 23. United Press International reported that this will be the eighth year for the Times’ Airing of Grievances. The custom is one feature of the holiday, which was introduced on a Seinfeld episode in 1997. (You might also remember the unadorned metal pole and feats of strength.) Happy Festivus, everyone!

PRECOCIOUS

Ann Arbor, Michigan, police chased a stolen 17-ton forklift through city streets for an hour on Nov. 25, NBC News reported, in what they called “a very dangerous situation” — especially so, since the driver was a 12-year-old boy. The boy allegedly found the construction vehicle outside Forsythe Middle School with the keys inside. While no one was injured, the forklift struck 10 cars as it crawled through neighbor-

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[NEWS OF THE WEIRD] hoods with law enforcement in pursuit; at one point, officers warned other cars that he was “lowering the hooks — don’t go in front” of it. The boy was taken into custody and moved to a juvenile detention center.

THE PASSING PARADE

“I’m having it my way!” appeared to be the message from a large inflatable Burger King Whopper that came loose outside a restaurant in Newberg, Oregon, and took off through the windy streets. KOIN-TV reported that the sandwich began its journey around 7 a.m. on Nov. 11 and crashed into a smoke shop before hitting an American flag and another business. Amy Kepler of the Newberg Police Department said that strangely, they didn’t receive any 911 calls about the burger, and no injuries or damage were reported to police. “It happened very quickly and did not affect traffic,” she said.

UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONRY

Sandra Jimenez, 44, is cooling her heels at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, Florida, after she attacked her boyfriend of eight years on Nov. 25 at their home, Fox35-TV reported. According

to the victim, as the couple argued about him “looking at other women,” Jimenez allegedly jumped on him as he lay on the couch and stabbed him in the right eye with one of her dog’s rabies shot needles.

She then left the house, and he called police, who took him to the hospital. Officers later found her asleep in a vehicle outside the home and arrested her for aggravated battery. Jimenez told them her boyfriend’s injuries were “self-inflicted.”

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION

— Iris Logan, 70, converted her front yard in St. Paul, Minnesota, into an expression of her individuality more than 30 years ago, the Associated Press reported. But the city inspector is fed up with her stones, statues and decorative art and has given her until Dec. 22 to clear it out. “I’m a rock lover,” Logan said. “If I see a rock I like, I try and roll it in my car on a 2-by-4.” A petition supporting Logan gained 150 signatures.

“It’s not just about aesthetics,” said Justin Lewandowski, a community organizer.

“It’s about our identity and how we, as residents, engage with each other and with city policy.”

— Kansans, emboldened by their vote to keep abortion legal in 2022, have spoken

again: On Nov. 28, Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the state will halt production on the “ugly as sin” new license plates that were supposed to roll out in 2024. Fox News reported that some drivers balked at the design because it too closely resembled the University of Missouri’s colors; others thought the gold-and-black plate was Kelly’s nod to New York, her home state. Others called it “slapdash and dull.”

The governor promised a future public vote on possible new designs.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF AIR TRAVEL

A woman flying from Orlando to Philadelphia on Nov. 20 on Frontier Airlines apparently couldn’t hold it another second, WKRC-TV reported. “Sorry, everybody,” she said in a video captured by traveler Julie Hartman, before pulling her pants down and squatting in the aisle to urinate. According to the woman, she had been told by a flight attendant that she couldn’t use the restroom; one woman on the video can be heard saying, “That poor little boy” about a child sitting next to the spot where the woman squatted. !

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TRIMMING UP

ACROSS

Sports events played by visiting teams 10 Obeys reluctantly 16 Boho-chic Aussie boots 20 Arched shoe part 21 Part of U.K. 22 She talks on iPhones 23 Parasites plaguing the Cheshire cat?

25 A party to 26 Everlasting, poetically 27 Above ground 28 Bedazzled 29 Worked to get a different reward?

35 Pizza base 38 Tic-tac-toe win 39 Geometry assignments 40 “Dr.” who raps 41 Above, poetically 42 Yard separators 45 Prefix with cyclist 46 Combat vet’s affliction, for short 47 One giving technical advice to wizards?

52 Bull in a ring 54 Structure near a tonsil 55 “Othello” adversary 56 Relatives of alpacas 59 Adversary 60 City area where lots of radiators are produced?

63 Sword variety 66 Medic 67 Hiking aid 68 Disgusting 69 Untwisting threads overseas?

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Mobile’s state Smell horrible Big ape Hoofbeat Math student doing sums correctly?

87 Moetley — 89 — hub (tech device) 91 Widely known 92 “Nope” 93 Narrow estuary 94 Guinea pig’s cousin 97 Ring legend Muhammad 98 Speechify 100 Clock setting at the rear of a ship?

105 Makes grimy 106 Eye color, e.g.

107 Non-Spanish spelling of an Arizona tribe’s name 111 Pack neatly 112 Trim request ... or what this puzzle takes, based on what its missing letters spell?

117 Sicilian peak 118 Use a hammer to fix, perhaps 119 Angry cry to a captor 120 Promising 121 Lacey’s partner on TV 122 Hugh Jackman film about robot boxing 77 78 79 83 84

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Vex Doing the job Suffix with clear or vigil Certain plows and tractors Give a smile

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 24 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 42 43 44 46 48 49 50 51 53 56 57 58 60 61 62 63

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Well-muscled Affront, in rap GEICO’s bus.

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Chum Pre-hurricane orders Stuff in the gene pool Thai language Oppose as false Snoozing site Atoll feature Sticky pod in Cajun cuisine 75 Entre — (between us) 76 Tolkien beast 79 Astronaut’s wear 80 “Girls” creator Dunham 81 Legal exam, for short 82 Former court king Arthur 84 Lying adjacent to 85 Epps of “Scream 2” 86 Give up a poker hand 87 More boorish 88 Trattoria rice dish 90 Distress call 94 — Antiqua 95 Plaid design 96 Even-scored 98 Nebraskan Native Americans 99 Reinstate in an office 101 1999 Super Bowl MVP John 102 Humdinger 103 Wolfed down 104 Spying info 108 To — (perfectly) 109 Living space 110 German car company 112 Circle part 113 Rural stretch 114 Rink legend Bobby 115 Stipend or toll 116 St. Pete loc.

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Triadfoodies’ Holiday Gift Guide of Glorious Deliciousness

in a stocking “just so.” As usual, we will be appy giving the entire guide away so pay attenHolition to our social media for your chance to days, win! A winner will be drawn at random and foodies announced on social media with instrucand local lovers. We tions on how to collect this awesome prize. hope you are loving Here are our favorites of 2023: this festive holiday season and once 1 FOGWOOD FOOD MUSHROOM TRIO again, our team is bringing you the If you or someone you know is a mushKristi Maier best of Triadfoodies’ room lover, do we have a trio that will @triadfoodies Favorite Things and make you the “fun guy” at the holiday Holiday Gift Guide of parties. Level up your ‘shrooms or give Contributor Glorious Deliciousveggies, potatoes, or proteins a dusting ness. We’ve endeavof umami-forward Shiitake Mushroom ored to bring you Powder, the Shiitake Super Sauce will add as much hyper-local as possible this year. oomph to recipes and you can never go Everything on our delicious list can be found wrong Dehydrated Shiitake Mushrooms for right here in the Piedmont Triad and will fit whenever the mood strikes. Fogwood Food

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grows a variety of superfood crops like said mushrooms, berries, ginger, and turmeric.

Discover why they are a favorite of local chefs, stores, and markets in the area. fogwoodfood.com

2 ANTONIO CARLO SAUCES

Located in Wilmington, but carefully crafted from Antonio Carlo’s Nona from Genoa, these small-batch sauces are truly honed from love from three generations.

They are spectacular on your pasta for an easy meal, or as your “cheat” for homemade lasagna (no one has to know). I especially love the Garlic flavor and this basket has that and a jar of Original. You’ll find Antonio Carlo sauces at antoniocarlo. com and at local stores like Lowes Foods, Earth Fare, Fresh Market, and Harris Teeter.

3 KLIM’S CARAMELS

One of the Triad’s newest confections, Klim’s Small Batch Caramels is gaining popularity across the region. Spelled “milk” backwards, which I think is cute, but it’s really Lynne Sciole’s maiden name. Lynne wants you to “enjoy the moment” by embracing the sweetness of her creative chewy caramels or vanilla extract all made with the highest quality ingredients. Our basket includes the super popular whisky caramels made with Broad Branch Distillery’s whiskey. Find Klim’s at klimscaramels.com.

4 LOUIE & HONEY’S KITCHEN

Let me just say that if you haven’t had Louie & Honey’s cinnamon rolls, you haven’t lived. And if you haven’t had their

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VOTED BEST CHICKEN WINGS IN GUILFORD COUNTY

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summer seasonal Atlantic Beach Pie, you haven’t lived, and if you haven’t had their brown butter vanilla bean Rice Krispy Treat that’s as big as your face, you definitely have not lived. L & H’s little bakery cafe is just absolutely the sweetest place in town with so many incredible delights made from the finest ingredients and N.C.-milled flour. I definitely have never seen anyone in a bad mood there. Get a latte, grab a treat, and take some items home. You’ll be so happy you did. The winner gets a $20 gift card to pick out whatever lusciousness you desire. They’re located at 401 West End Blvd, WinstonSalem.

Winston-Salem’s own Sutler’s has been going strong for years now, finding its place at local bars far and wide. Sutler’s Gin is carefully and mindfully crafted from the distilling process all the way to that gorgeous bottle. I mean, I hate to throw this bottle away, that’s how pretty it is.

You’ll find Sutler’s at our local ABC stores and Dangerously Good Tonic at Bitters Social House, located at 307 State St. in Greensboro. We’ve provided a recipe here from Bitters to maximize this wonderful pairing for your holiday and any day’s enjoyment.

5 DANGEROUSLY GOOD TONIC (CITRUS & SPICE)

At Bitters Social House in Greensboro, you’ll find a plethora of mixers for your libations and while you shop, you can enjoy a beer, cocktail, or mocktail. What could be better? Everything a home bartender needs can be found at Bitters. Bring the pup and enjoy the neighborhood. For the holidays you can’t go wrong with Dangerously Good Citrus and Spice Tonic Syrup over the plain old clear stuff. Pair it with….

6 SUTLER’S SPIRITS GIN

Tonic’s best friend is Gin, of course.

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Weekly Specials

MON: $2.50 Domestic Bottles & All Burgers $10.99 TUE: 1/2 Price Wine | WED: $4 Draft THU: $8 Bud Light Pitchers & $3 Fireball

Bitters Citrus G&T 1.5 oz Sutlers Gin 1 oz Citrus & Spice Tonic Syrup 4 dashes of Grapefruit bitters (such as Fee Brothers) Fill with tonic water.

VOTED BEST BURGER IN HIGH POINT DURING EAT AND DRINK BURGER WEEK

We hope you and your loved ones have a happy and safe holiday season and that you make every intention to support our local makers, stores, and restaurants.

Happy Holidays! !

1232 NORTH MAIN STREET, HIGH POINT, NC 27262 WWW.SWEETOLDBILLS.COM | (336) 807-1476

KRISTI MAIER is a food writer, blogger and cheerleader for all things local who even enjoys cooking in her kitchen, though her kidlets seldom appreciate her efforts.

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Organizer talks aftermath of school cafeteria walkout “One thing we accomplished is some highly-paid administrators had to try to serve students themselves,” said Eastern Guilford High School Cafeteria Manager Kelly Shepherd about last week’s Ian McDowell walkout by nutrition workers for Guilford County Schools Contributor (GCS), of which he was an organizer.

“We hope they have a new appreciation of what some of the lowest-paid people in the county actually do.”

That protest, which began the morning of November 27 and ended the following evening, resulted in over 200 of those “lowest-paid” workers standing in freezing temperatures outside of Guilford County Schools central offices on Eugene Street, where they spoke to parents and press while carrying signs declaring “We deserve more!” and “My job is to feed the kids of GCS, but GCS doesn’t pay me enough of feed my own kids!”

On Friday, three days after the protest ended, Shepherd described what he felt he and his colleagues had accomplished, and what they still want.

“We were so sad that those folks who make so much more than us had to get up off their comfortable office chairs and go do something. I may not be able to do Dr. Oakley’s job, but she can’t come in here and do mine, either. Neither can the rest of those administrators, because they didn’t have a clue about what we do.”

Shepherd was speaking of Dr. Whitney Oakley, towards whom, he made clear, he has great respect and appreciation. In August 2022, Oakley was officially named superintendent, following a short stint as

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acting superintendent. This August, Guilford County Board of Education unanimously extended her contract through June 2027.

“This week was the first time I’d actually met her, so we had no idea, going in that room for negotiations that day, what we were going to be up against. She was very receptive, and there were situations and conditions she did not know about, which I can understand because there are 126 schools in Guilford County and she’s one person and can’t know everything that goes on at all of them.”

On November 28, Oakley told the press and public “We are really grateful to our hardworking employees for their decision to return,” adding “we know that they share our commitment to doing what’s best for kids and students’ well-being, and we do look forward to continuing to serve our students together.”

She said she was “really clear and honest” with organizers and “that we would do everything that we could.”

Shepherd appreciates that.

“By four o’clock on Monday afternoon, we had a proposal sent back to us. She met with the county commissioners on Tuesday to try to find us even more money. She did her due diligence and needs to be applauded for that. She didn’t have to do anything for us in the middle of a budget cycle. For that, I give

her props. Then they had the town hall for everybody to ask more questions, and I give her more props for doing that, too, because she knew it was going to be a bitch session.”

He said while he and his colleagues did not initially accept the offer Oakley made Monday, “the four of us who kind of put all of this together met before lunch on Tuesday, and decided to go ahead and accept it and let Tuesday be the last day of the walkout.”

So, what did they gain?

“Our assistants got a 4% raise, of which they had already received 2.3% of, so now they’re getting the other 1.7% they had been promised but not previously received.”

He explained that by “assistants,” he meant not just assistant managers, but cooks, cashiers, and servers.

“Managers came out with a little bit more, anywhere from 4% to 7%, and a new bonus program. We hadn’t asked for that bonus program, we asked for a flat amount per hour, but that’s not what they chose to do. Everybody ended up with a little something, and it was better than what we’d have if we hadn’t walked out.

It was mid-year of a budget cycle, so we knew going in that we wouldn’t get everything we asked for, but it’s like selling a used car, you ask for it and you might get it, but then you might not.”

He said his colleagues also agreed that they had made their point.

“We wanted to be able to frame the narrative ourselves and end it on a high note. We actually had more people out there the second day, with about 250 people standing in the cold, but we knew that couldn’t last, and if we kept going, the numbers would dwindle. A lot of our people were ready to go back to work, now that we’d made some of those sixfigure folks come out of their offices and try to do it for us, and see how much we did for such little money.”

Shepherd emphasized how committed school nutrition workers are to the students they feed.

“We love our kids, and aren’t doing this for the money, but that money was so low some workers could barely afford to work. When other industries have moved so far past our minimum wage, that’s a problem. I have a nephew who graduated from Southeast this year. He went to work with no experience and is making $21 an hour. I love him, but he’s 18 years old and makes more money than I make after 42 years of food service.”

Shepherd is optimistic about what will happen in 2024.

“I think we’ve set the stage for future budget negotiations. We’d like to see manager pay increase to $20 an hour and bring back the Steps Program, giving raises to staff members who have served the school district longer.”

He’s also happy with the money that GCS has found for them.

“The bigger win is that the money we got this go-around had to come out of Eugene Street, where they found it in somebody’s budget to pay us. I don’t know who got cut and don’t care, because they waste money left and right, and then want to nickel and dime the little people out here. This was about my staff, and others like them, getting the money they deserve.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith will be published in September by Scuppernong Editions.

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tunes

HEAR IT!

Hail to the ‘We Three Kings’: It’s time for the Hollirockets’ “Hunka Hunka Holiday Spectacular!”

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t’s Christmas time, pretty babies.

While it’s unlikely snow will fall around the Triad, the Hollirockets are forecasted to bring their eighth annual “Hunka Hunka Katei Cranford Holiday Spectacular” to Eastern Standard in Winston-Salem on Contributor December 16.

Coming down the lane as a three-piece, the Hollirockets have made their own tradition to deck the halls with holiday tunes, mashups and an overload of Elvis covers to celebrate the season. “It’s going to be such a fun event,” said guitarist Kris Kriofske. “Eastern Standard is going to be decked out and we’ll be playing right by the front door, so it‘ll be very festive.”

Festive has been the name of the game for Kriofske, who started the Hunka holiday shows as a guitar duo with Matt Kirk at the longgone (but not forgotten) Winston watering hole, Elliot’s Review.

“We did two Hunka shows and after the second one were asked to do a charity gig at Wiseman,” Kriofske explained, with a stroll down memory lane. ”That’s when we officially became The Hollirockets; and added Dan Barrett on Cajon. He went to a full drum kit about six months later, without ever having played in a band. Or drums. The dude taught himself, which still blows me away.”

Bearing their own sorts of gifts, the band has become a year-round institution: “creating happiness” at parties and festivals all year long — they’re familiar amongst the lineup of Deactown Fan Zone parties and closed out the 2023 Gears & Guitars Festival — despite Kriofske being only member with a musical background.

“Matt had actually also never played in a band,” Kriofske said. “And he didn’t know any Elvis, so it was a real experience getting ready for that first show.“ Drawing out their inner kings, Kriofske’s experience revolved around his days as part of a Grateful Dead cover band in Dallas. “I stopped playing when I moved and had a family and dug into my career

16 YES! WEEKLY

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

and all that,” he explained. “I wanted to get back on stage in some way, and Matt and I had a good musical rapport from our annual golf trips that are as much about bourbon, music, and March Madness as they are golf.”

“I asked him if he’d be interested in doing an Elvis Christmas show, and he was like, ‘um, OK,’” Kriofske continued, noting the Elvis and Grateful Dead elements of their set stem from his taste. “That’s all me, but the guys have grown to like both,” he said. “I’ve been an Elvis fan since I was a kid. My dad played Elvis and 50s-60s music — the stuff he grew up with — when we were growing up and it’s always resonated with me.”

As Kriofske grew up, his tastes expanded toward the heavier ends of rock-n-roll. “Dion led to Zeppelin, that led to AC/DC, to Judas Priest, to Maiden, to Metallica, to punk,” he explained. “And then I got turned on to the Dead and it was like BAM. Here’s a band with brilliant guitar work, super funky grooves, and total rebellion, but balanced with depth and honesty and just the right amount of country.”

“Obviously, I’ve got a thing for Jerry Garcia and Elvis, plus Phish and The Cure,” he continued. “I don’t want to speak for the other guys about their influences, but we all enjoy big-time rock n roll, bluegrass, and rap.” Piping up from behind the drums, Barrett listed “Van Halen, The Who, the Doors, U2, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam,” amongst his influences that span across rap artists from the 1980s and 90s, and basically “an eclectic mix of most genres,” he said.

Balancing their own depth, Kriofske credits the “fourth member,” Tim Clark, for helping accent the “Hollirockets experience” with sound and lights. “We’re pretty over the top for a three-piece acoustic band,” Kriofske said, emphasizing the pageantry that sets them apart from the traditional cover band. “The right lights and fog can really take ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ to a whole new level,” he noted.

“We get a heck of a lot out of three instruments,” Kriofske continued. “Matt has a vocal effect that turns him into a chorus of backup singers. It’s so amazing to watch eyes light up when the smoke starts to fill the stage and the strobe kicks in.”

But while showmanship is central to the Hollirockets, a sense of craft is cemented in the everyman party vibes. Taking an “imperfect, but interesting” approach to their set, Kriofske strives to create a sense of originality — for the band and the audience — by developing the Hollirockets into more of a collage band than a cover band through curation and choice mashup arrangements.

“It’s a constant struggle for me, and for us as a band,” Kriofske explained, wrestling the challenge to engage art and performance through a framework of popular songs. “I’m not a songwriter, and without originals you’re cast as a cover band — and it kind of puts you in a box,” he said. ”So what you do with covers is important, and when you make them your own, it feels original. Or at least different.

I think when people see us, yes, they hear songs they’re familiar with, but they have a different experience than just going out to see a local bar band.”

“I mean who’s going to attempt Phish’s version of ‘2001 Space Odyssey’ and then jump into ‘Santa Claus Is Back in Town’?,” Kriofske added, with a Hunka Hunka setlist tease. “I know Dan is keen on ‘Little Drummer Boy’ every year; and Matt always brings down the house with ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.’”

Kriofske’s selections lean toward “Blue Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,”

and their rockabilly rendition of “Silver Bells.” “And then there’s the always classic ‘Brick in the Wall/We Three Kings’ mashup,” he said. “That’s my wife’s favorite.”

Putting it all together, “every year we add some new holiday songs to keep it fresh,” Kriofske explained, ”and the audience keeps getting bigger, despite competing holiday events that we face every year. We have friends and family come to town now just for this. I love that.

We’ve created a unique holiday event that people start asking about in the fall so they can plan accordingly.”

As they start tinkering with songs for the 2023 spectacular, “we’re working on a couple new gospel numbers for balance,” Kriofske noted, “and if I can remember all the lyrics and chord changes for more than five minutes, we might add ‘Frosty the Snowman’.”

While the Hollirockets don’t need a lot of presents — or a cover charge — they will be accepting donations for the free show.

Eastern Standard is also offering table reservations in advance.

The time draws near, and it sure seems like Christmas as the Hollirockets’ “Hunka Hunka Holiday Spectacular” comes to Eastern Standard on December 16. !

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

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Submissions should be sent to artdirector@yesweekly.com by Friday at 5 p.m., prior to the week’s publication.

Visit yesweekly.com and click on calendar to list your event online. home grown music scene | Compiled by Shane Hart

ASHEBORO

Four Saints Brewing

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 www.foursaintsbrewing.com Thursdays: Taproom Trivia Fridays: Music Bingo Dec 16: Evan Blackerby

CARBORRO

Cat’s Cradle

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053 www.catscradle.com Dec 6: The Moss Dec 6: Keep Flying Dec 7: We Are Scientists Dec 8: H.C. McEntire Dec 9: Angel Olsen Dec 9: Southern Culture on the Skids Dec 11: Lynn Blakey Christmas Show ft. Dave Hartman, FJ Ventre, Ecki Heins, Danny Gotham Dec 14: Setting Dec 15: The Gone Ghosts & Old Heavy Hands Dec 15: Dexter and the Moonrocks Dec 16: He Is Legend’s First Annual Holiday Honkey Tonk

Charlotte

The Fillmore

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com Dec 6: Carla’s Dreams Dec 9: The Bouncing Souls Dec 10: Hunter Hayes Dec 15: Ashley McBryde

Dec 17: Buff Faye’s Ho Ho Ho Holiday Drag Show Dec 17: Stephen Sanchez Dec 18: Dogstar Dec 29: The Stews

Spectrum Center

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com Dec 9: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

clemmons

Village Square Tap House

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330 www.facebook.com/vstaphouse Dec 7: James Vincent Carroll Dec 8: Jack of Diamonds Dec 9: Hedtrip Dec 14: Anna Mertson Dec 15: SmasHat Dec 16: Muddy Creek Revival Dec 21: Pushin’ Georgia

durham

Carolina Theatre

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org Dec 16: The Glenn Miller Orchestra

DPAC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com Dec 5-10: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

GET YOUR GIFTS HERE! Unique, locally made gifts for the cocktail/beer lover in your life! We also have gift certificates available!

307 STATE STREET, GREENSBORO, NC | WWW.BITTERSSOCIAL.COM Tuesday & Wednesday: 4PM-9PM | Thursday 4PM- 10PM Friday: 2PM- 11PM | Saturday: 12PM-11PM | Sunday: 1PM-7PM

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

ELKIN

Reeves Theater

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com Wednesdays: Reeves Open Mic Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam Dec 9: Dom Flemons Dec 14: Luke Mears & Friends Dec 16: Holiday Magic with Tonya Smith & The EHS Chorus Dec 23: Time Sawyer Dec 29: Tistwig: Unplugged

greensboro

Barn Dinner Theatre

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 www.barndinner.com Dec 16-23: Away in the Basement A CBL Christmas

Carolina Theatre

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 www.carolinatheatre.com Dec 17: Chad Eby & Ariel Pocock

Comedy Zone

Dec 22: Wristband Dec 23: Ragtop Betty Dec 29: Gipsy Danger Dec 30: Camel City Blues Dec 31: NYE Masquerade Party

Greensboro Coliseum 1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com Dec 6: Billy Strings Dec 7: Lauren Daigle Dec 16: Kevin Gates

Hangar 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com Dec 8: Take On Me: Dance Party Dec 10: Any Given Sin

Piedmont Hall

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com Dec 9: Chris Young & Conner Smith

Rody’s Tavern

5105 Michaux Rd | 336.282.0950 www.facebook.com/rodystavern

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com Dec 8-9: Chris Wiles Dec 15-16: Hypnotist Rich Guzzzi Dec 29-31: Mutzie

Steven Tanger Center

FLAT IRON

The Idiot Box Comedy Club

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967 www.flatirongso.com Dec 6: Into the Fog Dec 7: Maia Kamila and Posture Dec 9: Chuck Mountain, Jesse Dunks, Turkey Boy Dec 12: Abigail Dowd, Jason Adamo & Daniel Neihoff Dec 16: Patrick Rock Band Dec 20: Josh Morningstar Dec 21-22: Hobex + The Finns Holiday Jam Dec 23: Sam Fribush Organ Trio Dec 27: Yamba & Friends Dec 28: Crawford & Power Dec 29: The Sam Robinson Band Dec 31: NC’s Talking Heads Tribute

Garage Tavern

5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020 www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro Dec 8: Alek Ottaway Band Dec 9: RetroVinyl Dec 15: Stereo Doll Dec 16: The Stephen Legree Band

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500 www.tangercenter.com Dec 15: Elf in Concert Dec 29: Drag Queen Christmas

503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com Thursdays: Open Mic Dec 8-9: Lisa Curry

high point

1614 DMB

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113 https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/ Dec 9: The Hurt Line Dec 16: House of Hair Dec 22: Goryango, Magnolia Green, Penny Candy Dec 30: Kwik Fixx Dec 31: NYE2024 w/ The Resistance

jamestown

The Deck

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/ Dec 7: Kelsey Hurley Dec 8: Stone Parker Band Dec 9: Stephen Legree

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Dec 14: Renae Paige Cooke Dec 15: No Strings Attached Dec 16: Carolina Ambush Dec 21: Ethan Smith Dec 28: Kevin Goodwin Dec 31: NYE w/ Brother Pearl

KERNERSVILLE

BREATHE COCKTAIL LOUNGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822 www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge Wednesdays: Karaoke Dec 7: Killer Wabbits

LIBERTY

THE LIBERTY SHOWCASE THEATER

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844 www.TheLibertyShowcase.com Dec 9: Jimmy Fortune Dec 30: Tuesday’s Gone

OAK RIDGE

BISTRO 150

2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359 www.bistro150.com Dec 9: Limited Engagement Dec 16: Two for the Road Dec 30: Jordan & Madisen

RALEIGH

LINCOLN THEATRE

126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400 www.lincolntheatre.com Dec 7: Samantha Fish ft. Jesse Dayton w/ Jon Spencer & Eric Johanson Dec 8: Sunsquabi w/ Jason Leech Dec 9: Stephen Sanchez w/ Stephen Day Dec 10: The Origin’s TSO Tribute & Zach’s Toy Chest Benefit Show Dec 15: The Connells w/ Jeffrey Dean Foster and The Arrows Dec 16: Yarn w/ The Dune Dogs Dec 21: Winter in the Carolina’s Dec 22: Smell The Glove & Midnight Snack Dec 23: Bring Out Yer Dead Dec 29-31: Big Something w/ Little Stranger

PNC ARENA

1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300 www.thepncarena.com Dec 13: Trans-Siberian Orchestra Dec 31: The Avett Brothers w/ Marcus King

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WINSTON-SALEM

EARL’S

121 West 9th Street | 336.448.0018 www.earlsws.com Mondays: Open Mic Thursdays: Will Jones Dec 8: Time Bandits Dec 9: Aaron Hamm Dec 15: Zack Brock Good Intentions Dec 16: Billy Creason Dec 22: Carolina Crossing Christmas Jam Dec 29: Carolina Ambush

FIDDLIN’ FISH BREWING COMPANY 772 Trade St | 336.999.8945 www.fiddlinfish.com Tuesdays: Trivia Dec 8: Sam Robinson Dec 22: Relay Relay

FOOTHILLS BREWING 638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 www.foothillsbrewing.com Sundays: Sunday Jazz Thursdays: Trivia Dec 8: Megan Doss Dec 9: Michael Chaney Dec 10: Colin Cutler Trio Dec 15: Coia Dec 16: Drew Holgate Dec 17: Taylor Mason Dec 22: Carolina Clay

MUDDY CREEK CAFE & MUSIC HALL

137 West St | 336.201.5182 www.facebook.com/MuddyCreekCafe Dec 9: Kick Back Trio Dec 10: Sunday Beach Blast w/ DJ David Wade Dec 16: The Night Move Band

THE RAMKAT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714 www.theramkat.com Dec 7: Sister Hazel Dec 8: Whitey Morgan and The 78’s, Sam Morrow Dec 12: Hillbilly Casino, Jared Petteys & The Headliners Dec 14: Dirty Logic: A Steely Dan Tribute Dec 15: Codeseven, Hopesfall, Spirit System Dec 16: Frosty Frolic Dec 30: Beggars Banquet, Ledneck

WISE MAN BREWING

826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008 www.wisemanbrewing.com Thursdays: Music Bingo Dec 8: Evan Blackerby Band Dec 9: Red Umber Band

DECEMBER 18 – 27 5pm – 8pm HPU Campus • Enter at University Parkway Welcome Center

High Point’s Largest Christmas Celebration!

HPU’s Christmas Drive offers 10 nights of festive family fun.

This free event will get you and your family in the holiday spirit with 100,000-plus Christmas lights, the state’s tallest Christmas tree at 70 feet, a life-size Nativity, numerous light displays, giant wreaths and garland, and much more!

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 YES! WEEKLY

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photos

[FACES & PLACES]

VISIT YESWEEKLY.COM/GALLERIES TO SEE MORE PHOTOS!

Natalie Garcia

YES! Weekly Photographer

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Pop-Up Christmas Bar 12.2.23 | Downtown Winston-Salem

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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Festival of Lights 12.2.23 | Downtown Greensboro

Santa comes to The VIllage!

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12.2.23 | Village Beverage Co. | Summerfield

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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21

hot pour PRESENTS

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

NAME: “Queen” Josh Gore BAR: The O (Formerly Club Orion), Greensboro AGE: 33 WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Greensboro, North Carolina HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING? 8 years HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER? It just kind of happened; I had made a name for myself locally, booking and promoting local metal shows and events, which eventually led me to guest bartending from time to time. What really got me into it for good was when I moved up to Philadelphia and experienced nightlife there. Then, when I moved back to Greensboro, it was on from there.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING? The old saying that “a bartender is a therapist, too” really sums this up for me. I love being able to be the voice of reason, the spark of encouragement, and the shoulder to lean on for my customers. We have a remarkably diverse dynamic at The O; it’s like a giant family that continues to grow every single day, and I am very grateful that I can lead that family.

Bartenders have the power to shape someone’s entire day; use that power wisely and empathetically.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BARTENDING? The most challenging part about bartending — for me, anyways — isn’t much of a challenge so much as it is a blessing. When I first started working for the owner of The O (which at the time was Club Orion), Stevie J, he was hard on me because he knew I could be better than what I was; and he was right. Thanks to his shared wisdom, and the time he took to make me challenge myself — to better myself — I was able to grow into the person I am now, and I am honored to be able to call him my mentor. I absolutely love what I do, which is something that a lot of people strive to have in life. My work isn’t just work to me; it’s life.

22 YES! WEEKLY

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE? Astro Pop! Come see me and let me make you one!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK? My custom shot. I call it “Regal shot.” That’s raspberry vodka half shot, poured over ice mix a little sour mix in it, shake it, strain it, pour a little grenadine so I can layer at the bottom, and bam!

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK? The Royal Purple (my custom drink) which consists of Sky strawberry and Sky peach, half shot of each, Sprite, grenadine, Blue Curacao, a touch of sour mix, tumble it and voila!

WHAT’S THE STRANGEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE HAD? A boiled egg still whole, two olives, two cubes of ice, a slice of cucumber, and a shot of vodka. This was literally a drink request that I got a few weeks ago.

My reaction was the same exact reaction that you’re having at this very moment. “Wtf, seriously?”

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING? Oh, that’s a loaded question…Let’s just say I’ve seen way too much crazy things for there to be a definitive “craziest” of all. However, I did witness a woman put breast milk in a man’s drink (with his consent) from her own breast. Yeah…let that one sink in for a minute.

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE FOUND IN A BAR BATHROOM? The answer to this one may not be appropriate for the general public, so we’ll just say that people should wait until they get home to do certain things!

WHAT’S THE BEST/BIGGEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? $1,200 — now, if someone wants to beat that record, I wouldn’t be upset!

WANNA BE FEATURED IN HOT POUR? Email Natalie Garcia at natalie@yesweekly.com and ask about being our Bartender of the Week!

Greensboro Holiday Parade 12.2.23 | Greensboro | Photos by QL Richardson

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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last call [SALOME’S STARS]

[TRIVIA TEST]

Week of December 11, 2023

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A new

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to

offer is tempting, but don’t be bullied into a quick decision. Rely on your keen Bovine business sense to alert you to anything that might be questionable.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your

“Gemini Twin” nature rallies to help you deal with this week’s hectic schedule, both in your personal and professional lives. One caution: Watch your diet.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Avoid rushing to make up for lost time on a stalled workplace operation. It’s best to set up a schedule and pace yourself.

Welcome the help of your colleagues.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Despite those glittering holiday distractions that you love so well, be sure to keep your feline senses set on high to alert you to anything that might require fast action.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Making an effort to restore fraying relationships proves to be more successful than you dared hope. The holidays also bring new friends into your life.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Private and professional matters compete for your attention. Be honest in your assessment of which should get more of it — and for how long.

December 21) A vexing relationship seems destined to deteriorate no matter what each side tries to do. A third party’s advice just might prove to be helpful.

[CAPRICORN (December 22

to January 19) Reach out and ease any tensions caused by home or workplace pressures before they threaten the relationship-building progress that you’ve made.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February

18) You often go out of your way to show kindness to others, so don’t be surprised if other people want to do something nice for you this week.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) People in your life respect your Piscean wisdom, so don’t hesitate to speak up about a matter that you feel isn’t being handled quite the way it should.

[1. MOVIES: Which Disney animated

[6. ASTRONOMY: Earth’s place in the

[2. GEOGRAPHY: Which two oceans are

[7. LANGUAGE: What is the only country

movie features the song “Whistle While You Work”? on Russia’s shores?

[3. PSYCHOLOGY: What is the fear

solar system is how many planets from the Sun? in South America whose official language is Dutch?

represented in the condition called euphobia?

[8. FOOD & DRINK: What is a sweet-

[4. TELEVISION: What is The Simpsons

[9. LITERATURE: In which century was

[5. GAMES: How many dimples are on a

[10. SCIENCE: Who is considered the

home address? golf ball?

bread?

“The Canterbury Tales” written? father of modern astronomy?

answer 6. Third.

7. Suriname.

8. Internal organs of a young animal.

9. Late 14th century.

10. Copernicus.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A seemingly endless list of mustdo tasks is best handled by tackling them one by one. Don’t forget to take energyrestoring timeouts between each job.

1. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

2. Arctic and Pacific.

3. Fear of good news.

4. 742 Evergreen Terrace.

5. Generally between 300-500.

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Although taking advice isn’t always easy for the headstrong Sheep, you might want to consider what someone you respect will have to say about an upcoming decision.

by Fifi Rodriguez

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

[BORN THIS WEEK: Your personal warmth helps you make friendships, and your sense of fair play helps you keep them. © 2023 by King Features Syndicate

answers [CROSSWORD] crossword on page 11

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[WEEKLY SUDOKU] sudoku on page 11

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 YES! WEEKLY

23

Do your Christmas shopping in our fully stocked pro shop!

Gift certificates available for those hard to shop for!

2310 BATTLEGROUND AVE, GREENSBORO, NC HOURS: MONDAY-THURSDAY 9am-8pm • FRIDAY & SATURDAY 9am-10pm • SUNDAY Noon-8pm

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