YES! Weekly - March 6, 2024

MARCH

A s of March 11, sports betting will be legal in North Carolina, but if you want to do it in the Triad, it must be online. Despite previous media reports to the contrary, there won’t be an in-person betting parlor in Greensboro, at least not in the immediate future.

4 AVA’S CUISINE is a takeout and catering operation. For catering, both full-service (including bar) and drop-off arrangements are available. For takeout, a long bench and a quilted sofa provide seating while you wait for your order.

6 Welcome to the darkest corner of your mind as PARANORMAL CIRQUE III comes to town! This one-of-a-kind production features incredibly talented artists with the sole purpose of taking you in a sensual journey of acrobatics, contortion, aerial acts and more.

7 With March Madness looming for NCAA Basketball fans, the Old Town Film Series offers its own brand of MARCH MAYHEM — a selection of thrillers hand-picked by Michael DiVitto Kelly, the recreation center supervisor. The films will be presented at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Drive, Winston-Salem

8 In our Declaration of Independence, we Americans are guaranteed certain

5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407

O ce 336-316-1231

Fax 336-316-1930

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

4 6 9

PRODUCTION

Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com

Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com

ADVERTISING

rights...However, the Founding Fathers said nothing about OUR RIGHT TO DIE. Loosely interpreted, though, one could assume that “pursuit of happiness” inherently includes the right to end our own suffering.

9 Having parted ways — temporarily, one hopes — with brother and fellow filmmaker Joel Coen, Ethan Coen strikes out on his own with his solo debut as a narrative filmmaker in DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, which he produced and co-wrote with wife and editor Tricia Cooke.

9 Anchored by Aisling Franciosi’s committed and compelling performance, the award-winning STOPMOTION is a stylish psycho-shocker destined for cult status.

14 March is rolling in like a lion, with WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH on its heels; and this nod to the queens in our Triad jungle. Cheers to these “hostesses with the mostesses” making history in Greensboro.

Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com

TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com Promotion

“ROOTED: THE STORY OF DREAMS” COMES TO GREENSBORO TRIAD-BASED COMPANY CIRCUS EVO BRINGS A BRAND NEW SHOW TO GREENSBORO COMBINING CIRCUS, DANCE, AND LIVE MUSIC!

PRESS RELEASE

Circus EVO is excited to announce “ROOTED: the Story of Dreams” coming to Greensboro April 2-3, 2024! The production blends circus, dance, and live music into a storytelling experience inspired by the cultural impact of the U.S. South. Two performances will take place at the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro April 2-3, 2024 at 7 p.m.. The show will also make a stop at the Richmond Cole Auditorium in Hamlet, N.C.

“ROOTED” is 75-minutes long and includes theatrical elements to plunge the audience into a living poem. The show will feature six talented artists, with a mixture of local and national performers including Dom Sebastian, Spencer Androli, Rachel Rees, Toni Cannon, Evelyn Focazio, and Bella Nona.

Circus acts include Chinese pole duo, aerial rope, juggling, dance trapeze, strongman, and more! Spencer Androli was named the World’s Best Juggler in 2023 and has eight world records in juggling. Bella Nona is the show’s composer

and musician, originally from Durham, N.C. All of the music in the show is her original compositions. Dom Sebastian is a Greensboro native, who has been with Circus EVO for almost three years now.

“I’m thrilled to announce ‘ROOTED: the Story of Dreams’ in Greensboro, N.C. This show takes inspiration from some of the most prominent creators of the South including Nina Simone, Maya Angelou, John Coltrane, and more! We want this show to make our audiences feel proud of where they come from, as well as to spark a renewed sense of ‘Home’. This show is not to be missed!” said Houston Odum, Company Founder and Show Director.

“ROOTED” is supported by the NC Arts Council through the Spark the Arts Grant. Tickets start at $19 and are on sale now at CircusEVO.com/Rooted. !

CIRCUS EVO — Formerly known as Activate Entertainment. Circus EVO has a Mission to EVOke Emotions and EVOlve Circus Arts. Founded in the Triad in October of 2020.

Chow Down with John Batchelor at Ava’s Cuisine

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

Ava’s Cuisine owner, Alexis Hefney, has undergraduate and master’s degrees from UNCG. She first experienced the restaurant business as a server in several local restaurants while she was a student. She taught science at Dudley High School for a while after graduating from college. The restaurant website provides additional background information.

But she always liked to cook (she learned from her mother and grandmother), and a return to the hospitality business called. She initially started by operating a food truck, whose services are still available. She utilized kitchen space at The City Kitch, a shared space used along with other chefs, then when the Cridland Road property became available, expanded to her own full operation. The restaurant is named in honor of her daughter, Ava.

Ava’s Cuisine is a takeout and catering

operation. For catering, both full-service (including bar) and drop-off arrangements are available. For takeout, a long bench and a quilted sofa provide seating while you wait for your order. The interior is clad in gray and pink. You are greeted warmly as you enter by genuinely, naturally friendly personnel. You place your order along a warming table.

Comedy with Cathy Ladman

THURSDAY,

The

is

Prices are posted on a screen on the wall, above the open kitchen. The food follows a Southern theme.

Collard Greens Eggrolls are considered a specialty, justly so. A crisp crust surrounds fresh collards, seasoned a little on the sweet side. You get two per order. These come with a commercial Thai chili sauce- pretty spicy-hot. I liked them quite a bit.

Entrées come with two sides.

Seafoods are cooked after you order. Shrimp are large and tender, gaining flavor from a cornmeal crust. Whiting is a freshwater white fish. Our serving tasted pleasantly fresh and clean, again well served by the crust. Salmon is seared, a simple treatment slightly augmented with a slice of cooked lemon and peel, which adds a bit of kick. This was a little dryish, but still OK.

In addition to the regular menu items, there are daily specials: barbecue beef ribs on Monday, oxtails on Thursday, red snapper on Friday, Cajun pasta on Saturday, chitterlings on Sunday.

There are four chicken offerings- fried, baked, barbecued, and Jamaican-jerk. I got fried on my first visit, and received three wings, both sections intact. The crust is flavorful, the meat moist and tender. Whereas just about all the takeout chicken I have tried in Greensboro is so salty I can’t eat it, here it is seasoned just right. Ava’s is now my go-to place for fried chicken.

Pork Chops (two per order) are a little less than a half-inch thick, coated with rather heavy breading, fried crisp. “Just like what I grew up on,” my wife remarked. And since her mother was a great cook, that’s a real compliment. The natural pork flavor comes through clearly. Meat Loaf delivers solid depth of beef flavor, enhanced with a generous coating of catsup.

I made it a point to visit on a Friday. The red snapper is a whole fish, although the kitchen will remove the head if you prefer. A heavy cornmeal crust imparts a lot of flavor and texture. The interior is tender, not overcooked. A quibble — this comes with packaged tartar sauce, and I think there are better choices out there. Actually, I think this kitchen is fully capable of making their own.

Entrées come with a choice of two vegetables.

Pinto beans fall a little on the sweet side. You won’t find this in any wine

Fried Chicken and Collards

Meatloaf, Green Beans and Potatoes

Fried Shrimp and Whiting

Red Snapper

Salmon

guides, but here’s my recommended wine pairing — pinto beans and pinot noir. You saw it in YES! Weekly first, folks.

Green beans are sautéed, softish, a treatment that I think delivers better flavor than the more common boiling. Mashed potatoes exude simple, quality potato flavor. Candied Yams are soft and sweet, seasoned with cinnamon. The mac n’ cheese is redolent of rich cheese flavor- another favorite. Cabbage is fairly soft-cooked, but not overly so, just a simple, Southern-style treatment. I like the collard greens, too, in a similar preparation, although I would be even happier if the stalks were trimmed out, although that may be too much to ask at this price point. Both leafy greens look and taste fresh. The only thing I found that I would not repeat is the French fries — crinkle cut, flavor too akin to paper.

The cornbread muffin is almost cakey in texture, sweetish in flavor.

Serving sizes are substantial. My wife and I had no difficulty spreading each selection over two meals.

A showcase displays slices of cake as well as cookies.

I think this is a welcome concept. I get takeout often, and the food at Ava’s costs less- often quite a bit less- than takeout from full-service restaurants. The tab is higher than a cafeteria, but the food is generally better than any cafeteria in my experience.

Definitely recommended. !

JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/ cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot.com.

Paranormal Cirque III comes to the Triad

Welcome to the darkest corner of your mind as Paranormal Cirque III comes to town! This one-of-a-kind production features incredibly talented artists with the sole purpose of taking you in a sensual journey of acrobatics, contortion, aerial acts and more. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat while you witness death-defying stunts, creepy creatures, and haunting performances.

Horrifying yet seductive, this show comes to life under the mysterious white and black Big Top Tent with hypnotic and sultry acts. Provocative illusionists, freaks and mysterious creatures will make you see that this circus is anything but normal. Our wide range of otherworldly characters will send shivers down your spine. From zombies to erotic witches; sexy vampires to gruesome ghosts, and everything in between, there’s no shortage of terrifying beings in this show.

A brand new production, fresh out of the mind of the talented and successful entrepreneur Manuel Rebecchi; comes to join the other 5 touring shows Cirque Italia has produced since its creation in 2012. A new spectacle combining breathtaking visuals, first-class circus artists from all over the world and the latest technology. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or just looking for a thrilling night out, Paranormal Cirque III is an experience not to be missed.

“We’re excited to bring this unique and thrilling show to Greensboro,” said Luisa Nealon, Cirque Italia’s Marketing Manager. “We’ve assembled an incredible

cast of performers, and we can’t wait to showcase their talents to our audiences. This show is perfect for anyone looking for a night of entertainment and scares.”

Paranormal Cirque III will be performing at Four Season Town Centre from March 7th-10th. Tickets are available now at www.paranormalcirque.com or by calling at 941-704-8572. Get yours and step into a world of delicious scares, sensual horror, alluring acrobatics, and plenty of saucy secrets you’ll get to discover for yourself!

Don’t miss your chance to experience the most spine-tingling show of the year.

Restricted — under 18 requires accompanying parent or guardian. This show has adult language and material. Paranormal Cirque is o ering a special promotion: $5 o any full priced ticket purchased in levels 1, 2, or 3. This o er cannot be combined with any other o ers, discounts or deals. Please call 941704-8572 to get the promo code for your location. !

WANNA go?

For tickets and more information, visit www.paranormalcirque.com or call us at 941-704-8572.

When: March 7 – Thursday: 7:30 p.m.

March 8 – Friday: 7:30 p.m.

March 9 – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

March 10 - Sunday: 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

Where: 410 Four Season Town Centre, Greensboro, NC 27427

At: Four Season Town Centre in the parking lot

— Under the stunning White & Black Top Tent

PRESS RELEASE

PHOTO BY JOSHUA BOHANNON

PHOTO BY KENNETH JAMES

PHOTO BY JOSHUA BOHANNON

PHOTO BY KENDRA EASTERDAY

PHOTO BY KENNETH JAMES

PHOTO BY KENNETH JAMES

Thrills aplenty in March’s Old Town Film Series

BY MARK BURGER

With March Madness looming for NCAA Basketball fans, the Old Town Film Series o ers its own brand of March mayhem — a selection of thrillers hand-picked by Michael DiVitto Kelly, the recreation center supervisor. The films will be presented at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Drive, Winston-Salem. Admission, as always, is free and popcorn and refreshments are available for purchase.

Atlanta, the one thing that stands out is that there’s barely any tra c. For anyone who’s ever driven in Atlanta, that never happens!”

“I was debating what theme I should do for March,” said Kelly, whose surname indicates his heritage. “I usually o er Irish films, but I felt like trying something a bit di erent. While not all the films are murder/mysteries per se, I believe they all hold their own when it comes to intrigue.”

March’s movie mania kicks o Thursday with writer/producer/director Rian Johnson’s 2019 whodunit Knives Out (rated PG-13), starring Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a suave and smooth Southern detective investigating the mysterious death of a wealthy patriarch (Christopher Plummer). The film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay (and launched a franchise, with a third installment in development), boasts a starstudded line-up of suspects including Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, and Ana de Armas.

“I thoroughly enjoyed Knives Out,” Kelly said. “With a hint of Clue, it’s written and directed by Rian Johnson and has a stellar cast including Daniel Craig of James Bond fame.”

As a long-time fan of filmmaker Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), it’s hardly surprising that Kelly would program his slam-bang 2017 crime drama Baby Driver (rated R) for March 14th. The film, which stars Ansel Elgort (as the title character), Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal, Eiza Gonzalez, and Lily James, earned Oscar nominations for Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Recording.

“Baby Driver is yet another terrific film written and directed by Edgar Wright,” Kelly said. “This was the British director’s first American film (Scott Pilgrim having been shot in Toronto), but he doesn’t forgo his signature frenetic pace, killer soundtrack, great cast, and gripping storyline. Shot in

On March 21st, the Old Town Film Series will present the award-winning 2010 drama Mud (rated PG-13), written and directed by Je Nichols, a graduate of the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem. Matthew McConaughey essays the title role of a mysterious drifter attempting to reconcile with his past, with Reese Witherspoon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland (in his feature debut), Joe Don Baker, Sam Shepard, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, and frequent Nichols collaborator Michael Shannon rounding out the cast.

“Mud is another signature from Je Nichols,” Kelly observed. “A great performance from Matthew McConaughey as Mud, a fugitive with a checkered past. Young actor Tye Sheridan’s performance almost steals the film, and the late Sam Shepard lends credibility to an already solid cast. In a sea of two-dimensional characters and flimsy productions, Nichols’s films have gravitas and a good soul.”

The month’s screenings conclude March 28th with director/screenwriter Neil Burger’s The Illusionist (rated PG-13), the 2006 adaptation of Steven Millhauser’s short story “Eisenheim the Magician,” starring Edward Norton as Eisenheim, who uses his sleight-of-hand expertise to woo Jessica Biel, a wealthy woman whose social status is far above his. Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, and Eddie Marsan co-star in the film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.

“The Illusionist is one of my top-10 films of all time,” Kelly declared. “From the opening scene, the viewer is transported to turn-of-the-century Vienna where Edward Norton as the magician Eisenheim performs to amazed audiences. The cinematography is beautiful, along with Philip Glass’s awardwinning score, which captures the feel of this period piece.”

Kelly will introduce each film and there will be an informal discussion after each screening.

For more information, call 336-922-3561 or e-mail michaelke@cityofws.org. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] SEE SOME OF THE GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME WITH THE SIGHT & SOUND FILM SERIES AT A/PERTURE CINEMA

BY LAWREN DESAI

a/perture cinema is in the middle of its second year of programming for its repertory film series — Sight & Sound. Sight & Sound is a regular monthly series that presents films from the 100 Greatest Films of All Time List as surveyed in late 2022.

Sight & Sound is a part of a/perture’s Revivals programming, a sponsored project of the Arts Council of WinstonSalem & Forsyth County and funded through ARPA supported by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

Films and dates announced for 2024 are:

Daughters of the Dust (1991, directed by Julie Dash) — Julie Dash’s directorial debut follows a family in the Gullah community facing a generational split on the coast of South Carolina — March 10 & 13

Vertigo (1958, directed by Alfred Hitchcock) — A Hitchcock masterpiece! That delves into a cycle of madness and lies as a retired detective is forced to confront his past mistakes — April 14 & 17

Some Like It Hot (1959, directed by Billy Wilder) — A star-studded cast with Tony Curtis (Joe), Jack Lemmon (Jerry), and Marilyn Monroe (Sugar). The trio delivers comedic gold with an improvised plan to escape Chicago. — May 5 & 8

Tropical Malady (2004, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul) — A story that dips into surrealism as it follows a soldier searching for a lost boy in the jungle and meeting a vexing spirit. — June 2 & 5

Blade Runner (1982, directed by Ridley Scott) — An action-packed science fiction film led by Deckard (Harrison Ford). One mission that leads to a transcendent romance — July 14 & 17

The Gleaners and I (2000, directed by Agnès Varda) — Agnes Varda takes the viewers to the French countryside highlighting people who scavenge, through her witty narration. — August 18 & 21

Get Out (2017, directed by Jordan Peele) — A modern horror classic from the mind of Jordan Peele. Get Out delves into society’s fear and relationship to race within America — September 15 & 18

A Matter of Life and Death (1946, directed by Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell) — The life and death journey of British Air Force pilot Peter Carter (David Niven) on his way home to England from World War II. — October 6 & 9

Close-Up (1990, directed by Abbas Kiarostami) — A self-reflective film that shows a close-up view of a real life situation. Based on a real event. In actual locations. With the actual people involved. — November 10 & 13

Citizen Kane (1941, directed by Orson Welles) — The life of Charles Forster Kane magazine mogul leading up to the mysterious final word “Rosebud” before his death. — December 8 & 11

a/perture cinema screens over 250 films each year and regularly featuring film festival award winners, world cinema masterpieces, essential documentaries, and groundbreaking films from new voices.

For more information and tickets please visit aperturecinema.com. !

In our Declaration of Independence, we Americans are guaranteed certain rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, the Founding Fathers said nothing about our right to die. Loosely interpreted, though, one could assume that “pursuit of happiness” inherently includes the right to end our own suffering. The problem is that most state legislatures don’t buy that interpretation.

Several weeks ago, the Minnesota legislature held hearings on whether to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The bill, which had been under consideration for nearly 10 years, would allow adults to obtain drugs that would end their own life if they are suffering with a terminal illness and “have less than six months to live.” Minnesota native Nancy Unde, who has terminal brain cancer, supports the bill, telling the Associated Press that she “wants the right to choose a peaceful, painless death on her own terms.”

Currently, 10 states permit physicianassisted suicide (PAS). They are: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. The District of Columbia also allows PAS. Oregon was the first state to legalize physicianassisted suicide back in 1994. That came just four years after Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s first public assisted suicide, for which he was charged with murder. Charges were later dropped by a Michigan judge because Kevorkian had broken no specific law.

The law finally caught up with Kevorkian after 60 Minutes broadcast a videotape of “Dr. Death” administering a lethal injection to a terminally ill man. Even though the patient gave his consent, Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to eight years in prison. Following his death in 2011, public sentiment seemed to soften to the idea of physician-assisted

suicide, still, none of the 40 other states are rushing to legalize this controversial procedure. The question is, why?

According to a Gallup poll, 68% of Americans say doctors should be legally allowed to assist their patients in committing suicide. But as we know, laws don’t always follow public sentiment. In this case, there are a number of powerful factions who oppose legalization. One is the Catholic Church which, according to the Catholic News Agency, says, “Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder.” Others who oppose making physician-assisted suicide legal are members of the medical profession who believe that offering to help a patient die goes against their code of healing and pledge to do no harm.

Beyond that, there are also medical reasons not to support physicianassisted suicide. One is that medications used in the procedure don’t always work. The Oregon Health Authority conducted a study of 1,857 patients who engaged in legal euthanasia and seven of them regained consciousness. Another reason is faulty data given to patients. A study by the University of Chicago, for example, found that only 37% of terminally ill patients receive an accurate diagnosis of their survival time, something that can affect a dying patient’s decision on when (or if) to take his own life.

The fact is that most healthcare providers prefer to let patients spend their last months under hospice care, which is designed to ease suffering through medications and maintain quality of life for as long as possible. This is the route my parents took and, though terminally ill, Mom and Dad cherished the time they had left, and spent it with loved ones. But as much as I support the path that my parents chose, I also believe that every person has the right to take his or her own life in order to ease their pain and suffering from a terminal disease. It is my hope that our state legislature will eventually legalize physician-assisted suicide, and recognize our unalienable right to die. !

Jim Longworth

Drive-Away Dolls: Ethan, without Joel

Having parted ways — temporarily, one hopes — with brother and fellow filmmaker

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen strikes out on his own with his solo debut as a narrative filmmaker in Drive-Away Dolls, which he produced and co-wrote with wife and editor Tricia Cooke. The film, which depicts a lesbian road trip, is an expectedly quirky homage to the drive-in B-movies of yesteryear, liberally sprinkled with that trademark Coen wit. If you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best — even if it’s yourself.

Margaret Qualley and Geraldine

Viswanathan are the girls at the center of everything, and they’re quite likable. Qualley’s Jamie is the loose, impetuous one, and Viswanathan’s Marian the repressed, uptight one. The year is 1999, everyone’s wondering about the possible ramifications of Y2K, and they decide a change of scenery is required, so they hire on to drive away a Dodge Aries from Philadelphia to Tallahassee — but they’re not aware what’s in the trunk.

One is a metallic briefcase and the other is Pedro Pascal’s head (don’t ask). Unlike the mysterious metallic briefcases in Kiss Me Deadly (1955), Repo Man (1984), or Pulp Fiction (1994), we soon learn precisely what’s in this one — but it’s best not divulged here.

Coveting these items are Chief (Colman Domingo) and his henchmen, known as “The Goons”: Arliss (Joey Slotnick) and Flint (C.J. Wilson), who spend much of their time bantering and bickering as they track Jamie and Marian down.

The rather lackadaisical pursuit features random detours into debauchery, raunchy sex scenes, sudden bursts of violence, trippy psychedelic interludes (featuring Miley Cyrus, no less), and references to the works of Henry James. Beanie Feldstein (as Jamie’s cop exgirlfriend) and Matt Damon (as a sleazy senator) drop by, and everyone has a moment or two to shine. There’s some snappy repartee, as one would expect. There’s a lot going on, but not much happens.

The film doesn’t delve into LGBTQ+ issues — not in a serious fashion, anyway. It doesn’t add up to much. And it doesn’t really work. Yet even though it’s a minor Coen work, Drive-Away Dolls is not a bad way to kill 85 minutes. At least it’s lively and at least it’s interesting. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

Imaginative Stopmotion a surefire cult contender

Anchored by Aisling Franciosi’s committed and compelling performance, the award-winning Stopmotion is a stylish psycho-shocker destined for cult status. The narrative won’t be unfamiliar to genre aficionados, but is executed with panache and a sly, self-knowing quality. It knows what buttons to push, and it pushes them.

Franciosi plays Ella Blake, a talented stop-motion animator who lives in the shadow, and under the thumb, of her mother Suzanne (Stella Gonet), who is widely considered one of the pioneers in the stop-motion field, thereby relegating Ella to second-tier status. When the demanding and domineering Suzanne suffers a stroke, the grief-stricken Ella vows to complete their final project in her honor.

Instead, however, she is goaded by a spooky neighbor child (well-played by Caoillinn Springall) to create her own project, one that begins to reflect her crumbling psyche. Ella’s determination soon becomes obsession, and it’s not long before the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur. Things are not going to end well, and indeed they don’t — but that’s hardly a surprise, is it? The methodology by which Stopmotion arrives at its conclusion is among its most distinctive traits.

In addition to being a nifty psychological thriller — occasionally reminiscent of Polanski’s 1965 classic Repulsion — and an auspicious feature debut for director Robert Morgan, who also penned the screenplay with Robin King, Stopmotion is also an interesting look at that

painstaking form of animation and how it is achieved. The grotesque imagery on display throughout is gruesome, unsettling, and not for the squeamish. It’s also extremely e ective. As fairy tales go, this is a grim and grisly one, with strong contributions by cinematographer Léo Hinstin and first-time composer Lola de la Mata, which further enhance the nightmarish ambiance.

In addition to Franciosi, Springall, and Gonet (who makes a vivid impression in only a few scenes), Tom York does well in the relatively thankless role of Ella’s musician boyfriend, whose concern for her doesn’t necessarily bode well for him. There’s a steep price to be paid for the creation of art, and sometimes the price paid is in blood — and it doesn’t necessarily matter whose blood. !

Mark Burger

Contributor

ALLONSANFAN (Radiance Films/MVD Entertainment Group): A limited-edition Blu-ray ($39.95 retail) of writer/director Paolo and Vittorio Taviani’s 1974 political drama starring Marcello Mastroianni as a disillusioned, recently paroled anarchist in 19th-century Italy drawn back into an uprising against the government that he is certain will fail, with Lea Massari, Mimsy Farmer, Laura Betti, and Claudio Cassinelli in support. In Italian with English subtitles, bonus features include audio commentary, collectible booklet, and archival interview.

BURNT OFFERINGS (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Television legend Dan Curtis produced, directed, and co-scripted this award-winning 1976 adaptation of Robert Marasco’s best-selling 1973 novel, starring Oliver Reed and Karen Black as a couple who rent a large mansion for the summer, only to discover that it wields a strange, supernatural power that begins to destroy their relationship while it seemingly begins to repair itself. (Take a guess why.) There are some good scares, Robert Cobert’s creepy score, and a memorable ending, but it falls short of classic status — although a fervent following (including Stephen King) would dispute that. Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith, Eileen Heckart, Lee H. Montgomery, Dub Taylor, and Anthony James round out the tight-knit ensemble. The special-edition Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes audio commentaries, retrospective interviews, theatrical trailer, and more. Rated PG.

A CREATURE WAS STIRRING (Well Go USA Entertainment): Producer/editor/director Damien LeVeck’s R-rated home-invasion shocker stars Chrissy Metz as a single mother whose daughter (Annalise Basso) suffers from a mysterious affliction that is made worse — and beyond — when sibling thieves Scout Taylor-Compton and Connor Paolo infiltrate their home on Christmas Eve in the guise of missionaries, available on DVD ($19.99 retail) and Blu-ray ($29.98 retail).

DRIFTER (Kino Lorber): A specialedition Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) of the low-budget, R-rated 1974 melodrama produced, directed, edited, and shot by LGBTQ+ filmmaking pioneer Pat Rocco, a West Coast variation on the Oscarwinning Midnight Cowboy (1969) starring Joe Adair (billed as “Joed Adair”) in his first and only starring role as the title character, a bisexual hustler attempting

[

VIDEO VAULT

BY MARK BURGER

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER (The Criterion Collection)

A revisionist Western like no other, Robert Altman’s 1971 adaptation of Edmund Naughton’s 1959 novel “McCabe” initially polarized critics but quickly became acknowledged as one of the filmmaker’s crowning achievements. The setting is not the wild West but the grimy Pacific Northwestern mining town called Presbyterian Church, where the mysterious McCabe (a bearded Warren Beatty) materializes, determined to build the best bordello in the territory with the help of doe-eyed, dope-smoking madam Mrs. Miller (Julie Christie). The business is a success but draws the unwanted attention of a mining consortium that has staked its claim there, and when Mc-

Cabe attempts to negotiate with them, he e ectively signs his own death warrant.

The performances are first-rate across the board. Altman and Beatty did not necessarily work in harmony, but it’s still one of Beatty’s best turns, and he is matched by Christie (his o screen love interest at the time), who earned a welldeserved Oscar nomination for Best Actress. In support are several familiar faces from Altman’s uno cial repertory company: Michael Murphy, Shelley Duvall, John Schuck, Bert Remsen, Rene Auberjonois, Corey Fischer, Jack Riley, Hugh Millais (in his feature debut), and Keith Carradine (in his feature debut).

Altman and Brian McKay’s screenplay layers the narrative with an ironic and cynical statement about capitalism, and the film’s melancholy mood is augmented by Altman’s penchant for overlapping dialogue, Vilmos Zsigmond’s superb cinematography, and Leonard Cohen’s evocative songs.

The 4K Ultra HD combo ($49.95 retail) includes multiple audio commentary, behind-the-scenes documentary, vintage featurette and interviews, stills gallery, theatrical trailer, and more. Rated R.

to navigate a series of random sexual relationships with both men and women in Southern California. Barely released to theaters, this has nevertheless gained an underground following — not unlike Rocco himself — and bonus features include audio commentary and a selection of Rocco’s short films.

FOOTLOOSE (Paramount Home Entertainment): A 40th-anniversary 4K Ultra HD combo ($25.99 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo Steelbook ($30.99 retail) of the popular, loosely fact-based 1984 musical melodrama directed by Herbert Ross, starring Kevin Bacon as a big-city teenager who raises the hackles of a conservative Midwestern town when he moves there and questions its ban on dancing — while also wooing the daughter (newcomer Lori Singer) of fire-breathing minister John Lithgow. Engaging, entertaining, and utterly predictable, this gets a boost from the energetic dance numbers and an appealing cast including Dianne Wiest, Sarah Jessica Parker (in her feature debut), Christopher Penn, Jim Youngs, Frances Lee McCain, and John Laughlin. A box-office hit, this later spawned a

tary, collectible booklet, and more.

“MASAAKI YUASA: FIVE FILMS” (GKIDS/Shout! Studios/Shout! Factory):

The title tells all in this five-film Blu-ray selection ($99.98 retail) of acclaimed animated films created by visionary animator/filmmaker: Mind Game (2004), The Night is Short, Walk On Girl (2017), Lu Over the Wall (2017), Ride Your Wave (2019), and Inu-Oh (2021). In Japanese with English subtitles, bonus features include collectible book, audio commentaries, retrospective interviews, Yuasa’s short films Happy Machine (2007) and Kick-Heart (2013), and more.

Broadway musical, a 2011 remake, and earned two Oscar nominations for Best Original Song: The title tune “Footloose” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” — both of which still in regular radio rotation (for better or worse). Bonus features include audio commentaries, the documentary Footloose: A Modern Musical, retrospective interviews, theatrical trailer, and more. Rated PG.

GOODBYE & AMEN (Radiance Films/ MVD Entertainment Group): The limitededition Blu-ray bow ($39.95 retail) of director/screenwriter Damiano Damiani’s 1978 adaptation of Francis Clifford’s novel “The Naked Runner” (“Sulla pelle di lui”) starring Tony Musante as a CIA agent whose planned coup of an African government hits a major snag when a corrupt colleague (Wolfango Soldati) goes on a shooting rampage in a hotel in Rome and begins taking hostages (including American ambassador John Forsythe), with Claudia Cardinale, John Steiner, Renzo Palmer, Mauro Barabani, and Sergio Doria caught in the crossfire. Bonus features include original Italian (with English subtitles) and Englishdubbed audio options, audio commen-

“MONK”: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): In his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning role, Tony Shalhoub portrays Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco police inspector suffering from an extreme case of obsessive compulsive disorder recruited to lend his unorthodox expertise to the toughest cases, in all 16 episodes from the 2005-‘06 season of the light-hearted USA Network mystery series created by writer/producer Andy Breckman, with regular cast members Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford, and Ted Levine joined by guest stars Glenne Headly, Malcolm McDowell, Jason Alexander, Laurie Metcalf, Dana Ivey, Wings Hauser, Richard Libertini, Brooke Langton, DJ Qualls, Daniel Roebuck, Derrick O’Connor, Charles Napier, and others. That season, Monk won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Shalhoub, of course) and an Emmy nomination for Metcalf as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, available on Blu-ray ($49.95 retail), replete with behind-the-scenes featurettes.

THE MOON (Well Go USA Entertainment): Writer/director Kim Yong Hwa’s award-winning science-fiction saga (originally titled Deo mun) details the efforts of the Korean space agency (“SpaceX”) to hastily mount a rescue mission when the nation’s first voyage to the moon goes awry, leaving a single survivor (Hwang Sun-woo) stranded with his oxygen supply rapidly running out. In English and Korean with English subtitles, available on DVD ($19.99 retail) and Blu-ray ($29.98 retail), each boasting bonus features. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

leisure

ACROSS

1 Not suitable

6 “Sorry to intrude ...”

10 Capricious ideas

15 Cartoonist Addams, informally

19 Payments to the IRS

20 Oscar winner Robert De —

21 Capital of Vietnam

22 Sword handle

23 Fifth Avenue skyscraper

26 Other, in Acapulco

27 Identity hider

28 Altitudes: Abbr.

29 — -C (PC copy command)

30 What a groom may toss

32 “Uh-huh”

34 Pioneer Boone, informally

35 Orthodox Jewish movement

37 Rapper — Rida

40 Technique for viewing a slow process quickly

43 Cattle farm

45 Prefix with nourished

46 In a daze

47 First first lady of the U.S.

51 Gets close to

55 Sesame seed paste

56 Pucksters’ org. with the Calder Cup

57 Newspaper think piece

60 Born as

61 Toon sheet

62 Hedy of “Ecstasy”

66 Rome’s — Fountain

67 Dollar bill

68 Advance inquiry into a crime, e.g.

72 Israeli city close to Ben

Gurion Airport

73 Big name in life insurance

74 Decrease

75 Doc for the neck up

76 D-H linkup

77 FDR or HST

78 Former “Idol” judge

79 Bob of play-by-play

82 Wolfed down

84 Launching of people into orbit

88 Insurance payment

92 “The Simpsons” shopkeeper

93 Was overlong

94 Dual-focus course about bodily structures

100 Some kitchen appliances, for short

101 From a northwest Italian port

102 Certain South African

103 Arena level

105 “Hallelujah Chorus” composer

106 Rough- — wood

107 City vehicle

108 Gas brand

112 Water, in Acapulco

113 What love is, per a Four Aces #1 tune, with “a”

118 Crate piece

119 Capital of South Korea

120 Actress Best

121 Really mad

122 The “T” of 66-Down

123 Day divisions

124 Bargain

125 Restaurant notice that’s applicable to this puzzle’s seven longest answers?

DOWN

1 Bit of news

2 Wine valley

3 Allies’ rival

4 Sprightly

5 Mao — -tung

6 Object of hate

7 Thwacks

8 Before

9 Woman’s quaint headpiece

10 Jacuzzi, e.g.

11 Recital venue

12 Not Rep. or Dem.

13 Mimi’s “me”

14 Celebrates with a tune

15 Animal with a backbone

16 Relative of a shout-out

17 Anew

18 Tempestuous

24 Spicy cuisine

25 — Reader (magazine)

31 Carrier based in New Delhi

33 Hawke of film

34 Salvador of surreal art

35 Spicy

36 From — Z

37 Sig Nu, e.g.

38 Video game tomb raider

39 Teetering

41 — -di-dah

42 Attila follower

44 Refrigerate

48 More artful

49 — a soul

50 “— in Manila” (Ali-Frazier fight)

52 Consecrating

53 Nevada airport

54 In view

57 Mining finds

58 Sampras of the court

59 Show plainly

63 Poker cost

64 Supplies with personnel

65 Coach Parseghian

66 LG or RCA products

68 Petition

69 “Thumbs-up!”

70 Gas in signs

71 Gasless car

78 Tipo s in hoops, e.g.

80 Christie’s “A Pocket Full —”

81 Depots: Abbr.

83 Not old-fashioned

84 Cabinet dept. since 1965

85 Twosome

86 Abbr. on military mail

As of March 11, sports betting will be legal in North Carolina, but if you want to do it in the Triad, it must be online.

Despite previous media reports to the contrary, there won’t be an in-person betting parlor in Greensboro, at least not in the immediate future.

Prior to March 11, North Carolinians could only bet on college and professional athletics competitions at one of the state’s three tribal casinos. Online sports betting was illegal statewide.

The new law, which was ratified last year but goes into e ect on Monday, allowed eight venues to apply for in-person sportsbooks, the term for a location where gamblers can legally wager on various sports competitions (the word has come to also mean online apps, but its original definition was a physical betting parlor).

Four of these venues are in Charlotte: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Spectrum Center, and Quail Hollow Country Club. The others are Raleigh’s PNC Arena, Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park, North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Greensboro’s Sedgefield Country Club.

In late January, WFMY reported that “you’ll be able to gamble in person” in Greensboro, due to the recently signed partnership deal between online fantasy sports operator Underdog and McConnell Golf, the owner of Sedgefield Country Club, which will host the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship in August.

But asked when Sedgefield’s in-person sportsbook would be open, Brian Kittler, McConnell’s vice president of golf operations, gave the following statement:

“As it relates to Sedgefield, there will not [underlined boldface in original response] be a sportsbook located on property. Similar to the other operators who received their license yesterday, Underdog’s online gambling platform will be available for subscribers starting on March 1st at 12:00 with online wagering starting on March 11th in accordance to the law.”

Monday

Pick ‘Em: Sports betting starts Monday

“Per that law,” continued Kittler, “there is an opportunity to have a ‘retail store’ within two miles of Sedgefield, but at this time there will not be a sports book or retail store in operation. There is also an opportunity to have temporary kiosks in service during the Wyndham Championship, but there is nothing to report on this at the present time.”

the PGA Tour, or NASCAR. An operator tax revenue from these legal wagers. “Per that law,” continued Kittler, “there

Last June, Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347, which legalized in-person and online sports betting in North Carolina. Calling the ratification a “great day,” Cooper said the new law would help the state “compete, make sure taxpayers receive a share, create many goodpaying jobs, and foster strong economic opportunity.”

HB 347 empowered the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) to regulate sports betting. The NCEL established rules and regulations, while the legislature revised the law as part of the fall budget process. This resulted in the maximum number of online sports betting licenses reduced from 12 to 11, with the two N.C. tribes also eligible to o er online sports betting thanks to their tribal-state compacts.

The revisions required those websites seeking to launch sportsbook apps in N.C. to partner with one of the state’s professional sports franchises, venues,

the PGA Tour, or NASCAR. An operator has to sign with one of these eligible entities in order to receive an online sports betting license. The interactive sports wagering operator license requires a $1 million fee (due when applying), and licenses and must be renewed every five years.

Bill Squadron, assistant professor of sport management at Elon University, told YES! Weekly that he expects the first 30 days after March 11 “to see at least $500 million in money wagered with the new, legal betting operators.”

That expectation, said Squadron, “is based on the amounts recently bet in neighboring states like Virginia and Tennessee, and the excitement around both the launch and the ACC Tournament/ March Madness events.”

“You can do the math. The tax rate in North Carolina is 18% on the gross revenue generated by the betting operators. On $500 million wagered the gross revenue is likely to be between $35 and $50 million.”

Taxes on this revenue will be used to support the state’s General Fund, the new Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund, and athletic departments at 13 public universities.

Once betting begins, those universities will receive 20% of the yearly

tax revenue from these legal wagers. That figure is expected to be at least $300,000 annually per school, but may increase to more than $1.5 million. These funds must go to athletics rather than other departments or programs.

In the Triad, these funds will go to N.C. A&T State University, UNC-Greensboro, and Winston-Salem State University.

The other 10 to receive gambling revenues are Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Central University, UNCAsheville, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Pembroke, UNC-Wilmington, and Western Carolina University.

UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State, where games fund the state university rather than vice-versa, will not receive any of this tax revenue.

As previously reported, faculty and students have accused UNC-Greensboro administrators of spending too much money on athletics at a school where, despite low attendance at games, men’s basketball coach Mike Jones $344,478 annual salary makes him the second highest-paid employee and the university rents Greensboro Coliseum rather than holding men’s basketball in the campus stadium.

UNCG receives 85% of its athletic

Ian McDowell

Contributor

funding from the $405.50 per semester athletic fee that all students pay regardless of whether or not they attend games, use the gym, or participate in sports programs. YES! Weekly asked Kimberly Osborne, UNCG vice chancellor for strategic communications, if the new revenue from sports betting could decrease that fee.

“The UNC System provided a range of $300,000 to $1 million for each of the schools,” wrote Osborne on Feb. 29. “We, and the other institutions, will not know what funds sports wagering will generate until it is in place for a significant amount of time. Thus, at this time UNCG has no plans to reduce fees.”

The law also allocates tax revenue from sports betting to fund the Problem Gambling Program, which is run by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Hannah Jones, press assistant for N.C. DHHS, sent the following statement.

Sports betting usually starts as a form of entertainment but, for some, can become problematic. Gambling can become addictive, just like other behaviors and substances. In preparation for the launch of sports betting, we have refocused our prevention programs and our education program for treatment providers has

focused heavily on sports betting. Our goal remains that anyone who wants or needs help has access to quality and consistent care and services. The law allocates an additional $2 million in the state budget to help prevent, treat, and provide services related to problem gambling.

The rules which the lottery has prescribed provide many safeguards for residents, especially those at risk of problem gambling. There are many partners who are increasingly focused on investing in responsible gambling tools and practices. This includes statewide regulations and in-app safeguards. We have also been focusing on research and data to be able to better understand the impact of this expansion, and to more quickly shift or modify our resources and programs to meet any new or emerging need.

There are options available to those who are concerned and to those who may currently be struggling or experiencing harm. The North Carolina Problem Gambling Program o ers services to help individuals maintain a healthy relationship with gambling or abstain completely. Those services include counseling and peer support. People can call the North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline at 877-718-5543 to learn more. Currently, we are working with our contacts to ensure

our providers and the helpline can handle an increase in calls. We also started a partnership with EPIC Risk Management, an NCAA-funded organization, to provide prevention education on college campuses to athletes and students about the risks associated with sports betting.

As of March 1, eight online sportsbook operators have been licensed and are accepting early registration for those who want to download apps and wager from their phones and tablets. Here are those commercial operators, along with the partnerships that have allowed them legal entry into the N.C. market.

• NC.bet365.com, via Charlotte Hornets

• NC.betMGM.com, via Charlotte Motor Speedway

• Caesars.com (pending regulatory approval), via Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

• sportsbook.DraftKings.com, via NASCAR

• ESPNbet.com (pending regulatory approval), via Quail Hollow Club

• sportsbook.Fanatics.com (pending regulatory approval), via Carolina Hurricanes

• FanDuel.com, via PGA Tour

• UnderdogFantasy.com, via Sedgefield Country Club

Note: the partnerships do not mean that you can only bet on the partnering entity’s games — for example, wagers made via FanDuel are not restricted to just the PGA.

This leaves five more commercial operator licenses available as of March 1. Carolina Panthers football, Charlotte FC men’s soccer, NC Courage women’s soccer, and North Wilkesboro Speedway have not yet partnered with online operators, nor has the Catawba Nation tribe, although all are expected to do so soon.

The sports that can be wagered on include not only baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, MMA, motorsports, soccer, and tennis, but also the Olympics, badminton, cricket, darts, lacrosse, pool, rugby, sailing, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, and water polo. Even bets on Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest are allowed. However, wagers on esports are not, nor is betting on the Oscars.

The legal betting age is 21 and the tax rate on winnings is 5.23%. !

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.

tunes

Greensboro Hostesses with the Mostesses

March is rolling in like a lion, with Women’s History Month on its heels; and this nod to the queens in our Triad jungle. Cheers to these “hostesses with the mostesses” making history in Greensboro.

Catena Bergevin, Executive Director at Reconsidered Goods

Reconsidered Goods has been expanding ideas around art and the lifespan of goods since opening as a creative reuse center in 2020 — and thanks to the work of Education and Community Engagement Manager Shayla Doyal and Executive Director Catena Bergevin — that expansion has continued into events, music, and the launch of their new residency series.

Launched in January, (through the North Carolina Arts Council’s Spark the Arts Grant Program) the residency series made its debut with textile artist Stephanie Trippe’s January workshops. In February, “Certified Songbird” Kay Marion took the reins with musical programming and the Black Artistry Market. For March, Neidy Perdomo will focus on digital illustration and mixed media.

A first-generation Latina graphic artist,

Sr. Software

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Winston-Salem, NC

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Mail resume w/ cover letter to:

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and head of Perdomo Design Company, Perdomo’s residency begins March 8.

“I’m passionate about creating a positive impact through art,” Perdomo said. “My work is a reminder that your life becomes what you make it, shaped by your perspective.”

Shaping its own perspective, leading the charge of creative reuse around the Triad, Bergevin and her team aim to be accessible. “My motto is to say YES!,” Bergevin said, dropping a pun worth appreciating. “We’re inviting artists into our space to create work, question the norm, and be inspired,” she added. “It’s a true honor.“

And that o er extends to both sides of the table, “We aim to be a welcoming community space to discover your creative potential,” Bergevin continued. “We’re planning more artist residencies, music events, and educational programming, and grateful to everyone who helps in our service to the community: sta , board members, volunteers, visitors, nonprofit partners, artists, educators, students, vendors, shoppers, and donors.”

In the music realm Reconsidered Goods will host a Queersboro House Concert in partnership with the Guilford Green Foundation to feature Sorta Spooky, a “queer retro folk-rock band, dedicated to making great music and bringing the community together,” on March 15.

Julya Mirro, GROW Residency, March 4-April 14

An educator, director and actor triple-threat, Julya Mirro owns and manages the Little Independent Artists organization; and is the artistic director

of Little Independent Theatre, both of which serve as a mission to “give voice to under-represented communities and telling known stories in new ways to reflect social themes such as justice and inclusivity.”

Mirro looks to carry that mission directly to the community during her GROW (Greensboro Residency for Original Works) at the Greensboro Cultural Center. The six-week residency is underway; and will feature interactive workshops, discussions, script development, and auditions; all culminating in a series of collaborative performances scheduled for April 11-14.

“We’re super excited,” Mirro said. “The GROW program is vital to the community and to artists alike. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to get to know the community and get their participation and feedback as artists — a win-win!”

Scheduled across the six-week residency, Mirro’s workshops will revolve around stage production, storytelling, acting techniques, and audition prep; along with discussions exploring the role of theater in social justice and the scheme of art as entertainment vs education.

For the performances, “they’ll be developed by the team and supplemented by those who are cast,” she explained. “Audience participation is also involved, and each show has a talk-back session immediately following. We’re really looking forward to getting the audience thinking and anticipating those discussions to motivate people into action in their own lives.”

While Mirro is thrilled to lead the workshops, “I’m grateful for my collaborators

and excited to work with the community,” she insisted, praising her residency troupe: Stage Manager Fia Goudes, Sound Designer Jackson Haas, Movement Coach Miranda Sowers, and playwright Mason DuBose; along with currently casted actors, Jazmin Rawls and Gerardo Martinea. The remaining cast will be assembled during the residency, with auditions scheduled for the evening of March 7 and the morning of March 8.

“We all function together as a team,” she continued. “I’m not much into looking for the spotlight, so while I am happy to have the opportunity to host the residency, for me it’s much more about facilitating opportunity for others, although I am particularly motivated by encouraging the community to be involved in the intersection between thoughts and

Katei Cranford

Contributor

Catena Bergevin

Julya Mirro

creativity. So I’m stoked to curate that, specifically!”

Beyond her GROW Residency, Mirro and the little independent theatre troupe will return to the Cultural Center for a performance residency at the Stephen D. Hyers Theatre in August for a “very exciting production of Michael Jacob’s ‘Impressionism,’” Mirra said. “The most exciting thing is that I’m working on creating a truly arts-integrated production. The idea is to demonstrate the power of collaboration and the way all art can support itself and its creators. We hope to raise questions for the audience, and challenge their expectations of a theatre-going experience!”

Mirro’s GROW Residency runs through April 14. For a full workshop schedule, visit: CreativeGreensboro.com.

Abigail Dowd, Singer/Songwriter Series, Third Tuesdays at the Flat Iron Abigail Dowd holds community in her heart and songs — which she looks forward to sharing every third Tuesday at the Flat Iron.

Musing hostess motivations for the new series, “Laurelyn Dosset comes to mind,” Dowd said. “I’ll always remember how she welcomed me into the Greensboro music scene when she was curating those fabulous evenings at Lucky 32. It was such a warm community space and she has a strong, graceful way of holding space for and with others. You always knew it would be a special evening without having to see who was playing that night.“

Dowd’s series kicked o in February with Dawn Landes and Hannah Kaminer; and she’s looking forward to hosting Drew Foust, Stephen Murray, and Ben Gage on March 19. “These days I’m following the joy!” she said. “It feels most revolutionary and this series comes right out of doing what lights me up. I’m grateful for what Josh and Abbey are doing

with the Flat Iron and love seeing folks gather together in this space. It always sounds so good!“

Making sure the joy follows into the following day, the series is set as an earlyevening a air with a 7 p.m. start. “It’s so nice to see great music and not su er for it the next day.”

“I love seeing folks connecting,” she continued. ”Whether it’s friends catching up after work or watching young musicians soak up the craft of another, or music lovers discovering an artist they didn’t know before. I really love bringing musicians I’ve met and heard elsewhere here to Greensboro knowing that they’ll be blown away by the hospitality and music scene we have.“

Ashley Virginia, Katie.Blvd, The CollectiveGSO, Chris Roulhac, and the rest of you Greensboro Queens Continuing their hostess traditions, Ashley Virginia’s “What the Folk!” series runs select Sundays at Oden Brewing. Schlomo Franklin is scheduled on March 10, and Jack Summers on March 17. Katie. Blvd’s Beats.Batch is back for a new season, with its next round at Oden Brewing on March 9. The B-Side Open Mic, presented by The Collective GSO’s Virginia Holmes and Jha’mai, will blossom into its spring season, with open sign-ups and special headliners, every Wednesday at the Culture Lounge; and every fourth Friday at Gate City Tavern.

Meanwhile, Chris Roulhac continues being a hostess supreme, over the air with “The North Carolina Show” Wednesdays at noon on WQFS 90.9FM and in-person, coordinating performances for Piedmont Blues Preservation Society’s community outreach program at PACE of the Triad and After Gateway. !

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

THE BEACH BOYS RETURN TO TANGER CENTER WITH THEIR “ENDLESS SUMMER GOLD” TOUR ON JUNE 19

PRESS RELEASE

As The Beach Boys mark more than a half-century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequalled in America’s musical history. The Beach Boys — who have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and an American icon to fans around the world — will bring their “Endless Summer Gold” tour to the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro, N.C. on June 19, 2024. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m.

Since the band’s co-founder, leadsinger and chief lyricist Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’” (1961), dozens of the bands chart toppers have become eternal anthems of American youth: “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Kokomo.”

The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have re-

ceived more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. The Rock And Roll Hall of Famers where also honored at the 2001 Grammy Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history.

Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys, Capitol/EMI’s 30-track collection of the band’s biggest hits, has achieved triple-platinum success with sales of more than three million copies in the U.S. since its release.

The Beach Boys are led by lead singer and critically acclaimed chief lyricist Mike Love, who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston, musical director Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer continue the legacy of the iconic band. This concert will not feature Brian Wilson, Al Jardine or David Marks. !

THE ROCKET MAN SHOW AT TANGER CENTER FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY AT 10 A.M.

PRESS RELEASE

“The Rocket Man Show,” a tribute to Elton John, takes the stage at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, August 9, 2024. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. via TangerCenter.com and Ticketmaster. This is Elton! Crash land into your seat with The Rocket Man Show, starring Scotsman Rus Anderson — Elton John’s o cial 70’s body double as featured in the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ world tour. Chosen by the man himself, Rus’ performance pilots a night of greatest

hits, gorgeous costumes and fierce piano playing. Currently featured on E!’s ‘Clash of the Cover Bands’, Rus’ portrayal of Elton has been described as “Amazing” by Jimmy Fallon and “Phenomenal” by Queen’s Adam Lambert. The Rocket Man Show has quickly joined the list of must-see tickets in town and is perhaps summed up best by ‘All About That Bass’ megastar Meghan Trainor who claims, “You IS Elton!”

It’s one small step for man…one giant leap for Elton John fans. !

Ashley Virginia

Katie.Blvd

VOTE NOW!

THE FINAL ROUND OF VOTING IS HAPPENING NOW!

Fi nal Round of voting runs March 6-April 17. Vote once per day to lock in your vote for The Triad’s Best!

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 mu S ic S cene | c ompiled by Shane h art

ARCHDALE FIREHOUSE TAPROOM

10146 N Main St | 336.804.9441 www.facebook.com/firehousetaproom/

Mar 9:Sweet Leaf

Mar 15: Trial By Fire

Mar 16: Blue Monday

Mar 30: High Fidelity

ASHEBORO

FOUR SAInTS BREwIng

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 www.foursaintsbrewing.com

Thursdays: Taproom Trivia

Fridays: Music Bingo

CARBORRO

CAT ’S CRAdLE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053 www.catscradle.com

Mar 6: Video Age

Mar 8: Mitch Rowland

Mar 8: Provoker

Mar 9: Maya de Vitry

Mar 9: MAE

Mar 10: Sub-Radio

Mar 16: Bikini Trill

Mar 17: Kelsy Karter & The Heroines

Mar 19: Jervis Campbell

Mar 19: The Rocket Summer

Mar 20: Charlie Parr

Mar 20: guster

Mar 20: Sleepytime gorilla Museum

Mar 21: bar italia

Mar 22: Unwound

Mar 23: Eliza McLamb

Mar 24: Bendigo Fletcher

Mar 26: Otoboke Beaver

Mar 29: lighthearted

Mar 29: Sarah Shook & the disarmers

Mar 30: Marshall Crenshaw

Mar 30: Sheer Mag

CHARLOttE

BOJAngLES COLISEUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com

Mar 6: 6th Annual Queen City Blues Festival

Mar 12: One Hallelujah

Mar 13: Celtic woman

Mar 21: LEdISI

Mar 22: Aaron Lewis

Mar 23: Tamia & Joe

THE FILLMORE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com

Mar 6: Saint Asonia & Black Stone Cherry

Mar 7-8: Between the Buried and Me

Mar 9: Chelsea wolfe

Mar 12: HEALTH

Mar 13: Jimbo’s drag Circus

Mar 13: Mahalia

Mar 14: Bryce Vine

Mar 14: TiaCorine

Mar 15: Queen of the night

Mar 15: Shrek Rave

Mar 16: Jack & Jack w/ Sammy wilk

Mar 17: Juanes

Mar 17: Hermanos gutierrez

Mar 18: Set It Off

Mar 19: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

Mar 22: Jon Batiste

Mar 23: waterparks

Mar 24: noahfinnce

Mar 24: The Cancelled Podcast Tour

Mar 26: Julian Lage

Mar 27: Otoboke Beaver

Mar 28: Arin Ray

Mar 29: gwAR

Mar 30: wheeler walker Jr.

Mar 30: dirty Loops

PnC MUSIC PAVILIOn

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292

www.livenation.com

SKYLA CREdIT UnIOn AMPHITHEATRE

former Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre

820 Hamilton St | 704.549.5555

www.livenation.com

SPECTRUM CEnTER

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000

www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com

Mar 2: Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Ricky Martin

Mar 8: Olivia Rodrigo

Mar 10: Bryan Adams

Mar 14: The Love Hard Tour

Mar 16: Eagles

Mar 26: nicki Mina

CLEmmOnS

VILLAgE SQUARE TAP HOUSE

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330

www.facebook.com/vstaphouse

Mar 1: VinylTap

Mar 2: Bad Romeo

Mar 8: Sons of Bootleg

DuRHAm

CAROLInA THEATRE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org

Mar 12: Queen od the night

Mar 30: Paul Metheny

Mar 31: The Zombies

dPAC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com

Mar 7: Ron white

Mar 8: godsmack w/ Bastian da Cruz

Mar 9: Celtic woman

Mar 10: JJ grey & Mofro

Mar 12: neil degrasse Tyson

Mar 13: Tesla w/ Kurt deimer

Mar 14: Tedeschi Trucks Band

Mar 16: Fortune Feimster

Mar 17: Ledisi

Mar 19-24: Mrs. doubtfire

Mar 28: John Crist

Mar 29: Chris d’Elia

Mar 30: Joe Satriani & Steve Vai

ELKIn

REEVES THEATER

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com

wednesdays: Reeves Open Mic

Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam

Mar 15: Amythyst Kiah

Mar 30: Motown Classics w/ Silk groove Revue

gREEnSBORO

BARn dInnER THEATRE

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 www.barndinner.com

CAROLInA THEATRE

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 www.carolinatheatre.com

Mar 7: Steven Curtis Chapman

Mar 28: garrison Keillor Tonight

Mar 30: Kieran Kane and Rayna gellert

CHAR BAR nO. 7

3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555

www.charbar7.com

COMEdY ZOnE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034

www.thecomedyzone.com

Mar 7: Shapel Lacy

Mar 8-10: Preacher Lawson

Mar 14: Uncle Lazer

Mar 15-17: Tony Rock

Mar 21: david Lucas

Mar 22-23: JJ williamson

Mar 29-31: Jamie Kennedy

COMMOn gROUndS

602 S Elm Ave | 336.698.388

www.facebook.com/CommonGroundsGreensboro

COnE dEnIM

117 S Elm St | 336.378.9646

www.cdecgreensboro.com

FLAT IROn

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967

www.flatirongso.com

Mar 6: will Hoge w/ Meaghan Farrell

Mar 7: Marvelous Funkshun

Mar 8: Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast w/ dashawn + wen

Mar 10: Bedroom division

Mar 14: Mo Lowda & The Humble

Mar 21: Treehouse! w/ The Hourglass Kids

Mar 23: Florencia & The Feeling w/ Ranford Almond duo

Mar 24: Eiiot Bronson

Mar 27: Streetlight Cadence w/ Tom Troyer of Farewell Friend

gARAgE TAVERn

5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020

www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro

Mar 8: Retro Vinyl

Mar 9: Brother Pearl Band

Mar 15: daniel Love & The Love Rustlers

Mar 16: Stereo doll

Mar 17: Hotwax Splinters

Mar 17: Radio Revolver

Mar 22: Second glance Band

Mar 23: Zack Brock & The good Intentions

Mar 30: Alek Ottaway Band

gRAndOVER RESORT

2275 Vanstory Street Suite 200 | 336.294.1800

www.grandover.com

wednesdays: Live Jazz w/ Steve Haines Trio

GrEEnSboro ColiSEum

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

mar 9: Subtronics

mar 12: Jimbo’s Drag Circus

mar 14-17: Cirque du Soleil: Corteo mar 28: blue october

mar 29: ZZ Top & lynyrd Skynyrd mar 30: We Them one’s Comedy Tour

HanGar 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com

mar 8: Sant asonia w/ any Given Sin, Scars remain

mar 15: Condado w/ Water Culture, Found it, no Scope

mar 16: rage The Stage Fest 2024 w/ Wor, attracting The Fall, inferior Design, nuclear Desolation, Heft, Dark Signs, Fuzzed up mar 23: The broken View mar 29: nascar aloe

liTTlE broTHEr

brEWinG

348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678 www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew

Wednesdays: Trivia

Fridays & Saturdays: Free live music

PiEDmonT Hall

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

roDY’S TaVErn

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

STEVEn TanGEr CEnTEr

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500 www.tangercenter.com

THE iDioT box

ComEDY Club

503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com

Thursdays: open mic

mar 15: Dewayne White

WHiTE oak

amPiTHEaTrE

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

WinESTYlES

3326 W Friendly Ave Suite 141 | 336.299.4505

www.facebook.com/winestylesgreensboro277

high point

1614 Dmb

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113

https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/ mar 15: The unlucky Tour w/ Forever may Fall & lowborn mar 16: novas Fade

mar 22: Cody Parks and The Dirty South mar 23: The breakfast Club mar 29: bunker Hill bloodbath mar 30: black Glass

GooFY FooT TaProom

2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567

www.goofyfoottaproom.com

HiGH PoinT biSTro

3793 Samet Dr. #165 | 336.875.4444

https://www.facebook.com/p/High-PointBistro-61552711048428/ mar 9: Jukebox revolver

HiGH PoinT THEaTrE

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401

www.highpointtheatre.com

Plank STrEET TaVErn

138 Church Ave | 336.991.5016

www.facebook.com/plankstreettavern

SWEET olD bill’S

1232 N Main St | 336.807.1476

www.sweetoldbills.com

jamestown

THE DECk

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999

www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/ mar 7: alek ottaway

mar 8: Carolina ambush

mar 9: alek ottaway

mar 14: kelsey Hurley

mar 15: Hampton Drive

mar 16: bandemic

mar 17: Camel City Yacht Club

mar 21: Ethan Smith

mar 22: Swamproots

mar 23: megan Doss band

mar 28: John mark

mar 29: Second Glance

mar 30: radio revolver

kernersville brEaTHE

CoCkTail lounGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822

www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge

Wednesdays: karaoke

mar 14: resonate live

mar 21: alek ottway & megan Doss

mar 28: Contraband

kErnErSVillE

brEWinG ComPanY

221 N Main St. | 336.816.7283

www.facebook.com/kernersvillebrewing Thursdays: Trivia

liberty

THE libErTY

SHoWCaSE THEaTEr

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844 www.TheLibertyShowcase.com

mar 15: The isaacs

mar 15: Celtic angels

mar 22: russell moore & iiird Thyme out

mar 23: The malpass brothers

oak ridge

biSTro 150

2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359 www.bistro150.com

mar 9: limited Engagement

mar 16: Jordan & madisen

mar 23: kris Ferris

raleigh

CCu muSiC Park

aT WalnuT CrEEk

3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111 www.livenation.com

linColn THEaTrE

126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400 www.lincolntheatre.com

mar 6: Cool Cool Cool w/ Chill Paxton

mar 8: Cosmic Charlie

mar 9: Sleeping booty

mar 10: JJ Grey & mofro

mar 13: The motet w/ isaac Hadden organ Trio

mar 14: Chris knight w/ Chip robinson

mar 15: Crankdat w/ Celo

mar 16: The Petty Thieves

mar 20: Hermanos Gutierrez

mar 22: Sidewinder w/ The Hatch brothers

mar 23: Voivod & Prong w/ lie Heavy

rED HaT amPHiTHEaTEr

500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com

PnC arEna

1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300 www.thepncarena.com

mar 9: Gabriel iglesias

mar 19: Fall out boy

mar 29: avenged Sevenfold

winston-salem Earl’S

121 West 9th Street | 336.448.0018

www.earlsws.com

mondays: open mic

mar 8: Stillwater Junction

mar 9: russ Varnell and His Too Country band

mar 15: Sam robinson

mar 16: Time bandits

mar 22: anna leigh band

FiDDlin’ FiSH

brEWinG ComPanY

772 Trade St | 336.999.8945

www.fiddlinfish.com

Tuesdays: Trivia

FooTHillS brEWinG

638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348

www.foothillsbrewing.com

Sundays: Sunday Jazz

Thursdays: Trivia

mar 9: Dustin York

mar 10: Carolina Clay

mar 15: almost irish

mar 23: megan Doss Duo

miDWaY muSiC Hall

11141 Old US Hwy 52, Suite 10 | 336.793.4218

www.facebook.com/midwaymusichallandeventcenter

mondays: line Dancing

THE ramkaT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714

www.theramkat.com

mar 6: Cashavelly morrison residency

mar 7: Chatham County line, migrant birds

mar 8: kevin Holdson

mar 9: Joe buck Yourself, The Tremors

mar 10: martin Sexton

mar 13: Tori Elliot residency

mar 14: Flatland Cavalry, Colby acuff

mar 16: runaway Gin

mar 20: margo Cliker, my Politic

mar 22: Jazz is led

mar 23: Tyler nail

mar 27: Dave Willis residency

WiSE man brEWinG

826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008

www.wisemanbrewing.com

Thursdays: music bingo

mar 8: megan Doss & Jon montgomery

mar 9: Deb Shebish and michah Spence

mar 15: Jay mcCormick, Jay alexander and ashley Santiago

mar 16: banna

mar 17: The almost irish band

Lust,

The Marriage of Figaro

2.17.24 | Kernersville

NAME:

[

PRESENTS

hot pour

BARTENDER OF THE WEEK COMPILED BY NATALIE GARCIA]

Anna Winstead

BAR:

The Quarter, Greensboro

AGE: 37

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Good ol’ Greensboro.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING?

Six years.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER?

Check out videos on our Facebook!

I was an elementary school teacher for 10 years. I was burnt out and broke so I went to bartending school (controversial I know), lucked out with a job immediately, and here I am.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING?

The money, the rush of serving on a busy night, but most of all I’ve made all my best friends bartending.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BARTENDING?

Being nice to people and smiling through it all.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE?

Any pretty drink with Prosecco.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK?

Prosecco and seltzers.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK?

Espresso Martini. Yes I’m basic.

WHAT’S THE STRANGEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE HAD?

A Buttery Nipple. That’s a big glass of super sweet liquor and milk. Then they chug one after the other. Yuck.

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING?

A man tried to bite another man’s finger o for cheating in a pool game.

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE FOUND IN A BAR BATHROOM?

Lots of puke, everywhere.

WHAT’S THE BEST/BIGGEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN?

$1,100

WANNA BE FEATURED IN HOT POUR?

Email Natalie Garcia at natalie@yesweekly.com and ask about being our Bartender of the Week!

[

TRIVIA TEST]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[

1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Rip City?

[

2. MOVIES: Which movie features the quote, “She doesn’t even go here!”

[

3. GEOGRAPHY: Which national capital city is the northernmost in the world?

[

4. TELEVISION: Which long-running sitcom features a dad named Phil Dunphy?

[

5. GAMES: In chess, how many knights does each player have at the beginning?

[

6. GEOLOGY: What natural phenomenon is associated with igneous rock?

[

7. LANGUAGE: How many o cial languages are in the United Nations?

[

8. MUSIC: David Grohl was a drummer in which band before he became the frontman for the Foo Fighters?

[

9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of alligators called?

[

10. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of meat is used in Hasenpfe er, a traditional German stew?

answer

10. Rabbit.

9. A congregation.

8. Nirvana.

7. Six.

6. Volcanic eruption.

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

5. Two.

4. “Modern Family.”

3. Reykjavik, Iceland.

2. “Mean Girls.”

1. Portland, Oregon.

SALOME’S STARS]

Week of March 11, 2024

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Congratulations, Lamb. The end of the month brings good news in the workplace, thanks to all the e orts you’ve made to get your projects o the ground and running.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Don’t let yourself be cowed into thinking that you’re not up to the challenge you’ve taken on. Keep reinforcing your self-confidence. No one and nothing can stop you.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Positive responses to a recent workplace move should give you the added assurance that you’re on the right track. Celebrate the good news with family and/or friends.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) There’s still a little emotional fuzziness you have to work through before you can feel really certain about your recent decisions. But you’re on the right track. Stay with it!

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) You’re tempted by an o er that seems close to what you’ve been looking for. But before you pounce on it, see if you can coax out

some added perks to sweeten the deal.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your e orts to settle a volatile situation should prove to be successful. Now could be a good time to analyze what might have created the problem in the first place.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A once-close associate reemerges with news that could cause you to reconsider a recent decision. But don’t make a move before consulting a trusted adviser.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You might feel pressured to reveal a colleague’s secret. But you can rely on your strong Scorpion sense of rectitude to help you continue to do the right thing.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A pesky situation is still creating problems. But you are moving ahead with it, and it should soon be successfully resolved in your favor.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A spate of indecision leaves

you susceptible to doubt. But you’ll soon regain your emotional sure-footedness and be back leading the way as usual.

[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) Love rules the week with new romances favored for single Aquarians looking for partners. Cupid also targets renewed commitment for wedded Water Bearers. [

PIsces (February 19 to March 20) A surge of creativity keeps you happily busy through the week. But set aside some quiet time to share with loved ones. Some long-awaited news finally comes through.

[

BorN THIs week: People rely on you whenever they need someone they can trust to be caring, considerate and also discreet.

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate

answers

crossword]

crossword on page 11

weekly sudoku]

sudoku on page 11