YES! Weekly - August 16, 2023

MOJITO LATIN SOUL FOOD P. 4

ELEMENTAL P. 9

THE GHOSTS OF LIBERTY P. 16

East Greensboro residents who travel miles for groceries and a downtown developer who shops in Adams Farm want di erent things for a gravel parking lot at South Elm Street and East Gate City Boulevard.

9 16

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

6 A pair of independent short films are coming your way soon. Both were filmed ON LOCATION IN GREENSBORO and both boast a wealth of local talent in front of and behind the cameras.

8 As Labor Day approaches, I thought this might be a good time to examine the origins of STATE AND FEDERAL HOLIDAYS, and why we observe them.

9 Initially, Pixar’s animated feature ELEMENTAL stumbled out of the gate at the summer box office, overwhelmed at the time by bigger, louder blockbusters. But the Disney devotees eventually came out, if not necessarily in droves, and have made it a financial success, if not a blockbuster.

14 The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Art Commission recently announced an open call for new PUBLIC ART PROPOSALS by artists local to the city of Arts and Innovation.

15 There are advantages to having a restaurant with a food truck near Sedgefield Country Club during the Wyndham Championship. For GHASSAN’S FRESH MEDITERRANEAN EATS it meant providing a limited menu via the food truck for the golfers at hole No. 12 during the Pro-Am on Aug. 2. Ghassan’s opened at 6027-J W. Gate City Blvd. in Grandover Village April 4.

16 THE GHOSTS OF LIBERTY bring their blend of life, love, and music to the Friday Flavors Concert at Stonefield Cellars Winery in Stokesdale on August 25.

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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.

4 ...He bought the location, opening MOJITO LATIN SOUL FOOD. The ambience is very casual. A big metal chicken greets you at the door. Tile floors support walls decorated with original art, following a Latin theme.

Chow Down with John Batchelor at Mojito Latin Soul Food

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

Let’s start with an unequivocal endorsement of this place. Although the menu is not wideranging, this kitchen produces some of the most enjoyable flavors I have had in recent memory, at very appealing prices. The style is Latin (not Mexican), with a strong nod toward Cuba.

Michael Millan and his wife, Michelle, are co-owners. He is originally from Miami, but his family came to the U.S. from Havana. He grew up cooking at home. Whenever the family went out to eat, it was a big deal, and he was fascinated by how restaurants were organized, how things operated. This was a time of superstar chefs on TV. So he enrolled at Johnson and Wales in Miami straight out of high school.

After culinary school, he went to work at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, eventually gaining experience in fine dining in several Miami area restaurants. He was working at the Falcon House in Del Ray Beach when a friend in Winston-Salem called and asked for some help getting a new restaurant started. That was Rana

Loca on Fourth Street. He found that he loved the city and North Carolina, and it seemed a much better place to start raising a family. So he and his wife relocated about three months later. He worked at the Piedmont Club downtown, then bought a food truck after that restaurant closed. The truck became Mojito Mobile Kitchen.

About a year and a half later, he met Mary Haglund, who owned Mary’s Gourmet Diner. He admired her, especially based on what she was doing for Sunday Brunch. They partnered from 2018-2020, but after COVID hit, she started thinking about retiring. He bought the location, opening Mojito Latin Soul Food.

The ambience is very casual. A big metal chicken greets you at the door. Tile floors support walls decorated with original art, following a Latin theme. Fabric-covered panels soften what could have been harsh reflective surfaces, making conversation easy, the noise level moderate. A large patio provides outdoor seating, mostly covered.

You would not expect a place like this to have an extensive wine list, and they

don’t, but what they have is well chosen to match the food. Most of the food pairs well with tea or beer, though, and those beverages are well-represented as well. Dos Equis on tap is an especially good choice.

Given the name of the restaurant, they had better have a good Mojito, and they do. Their version is light and refreshing, on the sweetish side, perfect for summer. Several variations on the traditional recipe are o ered as well.

Smaller, lighter food items appear on the “Little Things” section of the menu.

Street Corn consists of a single cob, cut in half and grilled, topped with cotija cheese, Tajín aioli, and Tajín seasoning. (Tajín is a spice blend of ground-dried chile peppers, dehydrated lime, and sea salt.)

Empanadas are available with chicken or beef. We ordered chicken, and really enjoyed the crusty texture and flavor of this fried hand pie. The pulled chicken is tender and moist, enhanced with “mojito sauce”. That sauce appears in several other dishes as well. It is a basic Cuban sauce of parsley, cilantro, garlic, and citrus juices.

Tamales can be ordered with pork or

chicken. Cornmeal dough is wrapped around the protein, then steamed, served with black beans, fried onion straws, mojito sauce, cilantro lime cream and cotija cheese. A dried corn husk hosts the striking presentation. These are assembled to order and can be adapted for vegetarians or vegans.

The Mojito Burger is based on a halfand-half blend of ground beef and chorizo sausage. I really like the sausage predominant flavor of the patty. This is garnished with shredded lettuce, potato straws and fried onion straws, served on a grilled bun. The menu promises “secret sauce” (a blend of chow chow, spices, plus mayonnaise and catsup) but as served, this fell a little on the dry side. We asked for some of that mojito sauce, and we loved it. On another visit, I will just request extra secret sauce on the side.

Several “Bowls” provide complete meals, in half or whole portions.

A half-size Shredded Pork Bowl turned out to be plenty for us. The tender meat is placed over white rice, joined by black beans, marinated onion, mojito sauce and cilantro lime cream sauce, plus two

Street Corn

Empanada

Shredded Pork Bowl

Fried Chicken Mojito

sweet plantains. Plantains look and taste kind of like sweet potatoes. Anybody who likes sweet potatoes (and who doesn’t?) should like them.

“Big Things” constitute the rest of the menu.

The Fried Chicken is killer, one of the best renditions I have encountered, o ered in quarter, half, or whole portions. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk, then tossed in house-seasoned flour and deepfried to a crisp, almost hard crust. A side of mojito sauce enhances flavor. This comes with one side for a quarter portion, two with a half, or three with a whole chicken. By the time you get to that size, you’re feeding the entire family.

We also tried one o -menu special. Mofongo con Camarones consists of medium-sized shrimp, deveined and tender, covered with creole-style tomato sauce over mashed plantain simmered in chicken stock, studded with chunks of pork belly. This concoction yields an abundance of flavor, primarily from the tomato sauce, followed by shrimp and pork. This was available each time we visited, so it seems to be a pretty steady o ering.

From the optional sides, we tried two. The flavor and texture of Yucca Fries is somewhat akin to potato, but I like this better than most fried potatoes that I have had. They are tossed in house seasoning and served with mojito aioli. Yellow Rice is cooked in chicken stock, with added peas, onions, and peppers.

After summer is over and I return to

loose clothing, I’ll come back and sample the dessert list. It provides several Latin classics, including Flan, Churros (fried pastry dough tossed in cinnamon and sugar, topped with chocolate and caramel), and Tres Leches (yellow cake soaked in vanilla cream, sweet and condensed milk, and whole milk, topped with meringue and cherries).

But I won’t wait until fall to go back. I have already invited friends! !

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?

Mojito Latin Soul Food 723 North Trade St NW Winston-Salem 27101 (336) 723-7239 mojitolatinsoulfood.com

Hours: Monday 12-8 p.m., Tuesday & Wednesday closed, Thursdays 12-9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 12-10 p.m., Sunday 12-6 p.m.

Appetizers: $1.50-$12

Sandwiches and Burgers: $11-$18

Entrees: $8-$22

Desserts: $4.50-$7

Most recent visit: July 30

Band Schedule

Burger

Tamale

Mofongo con Camarones

The art and soul of independent filmmaking

Apair of independent short films are coming your way soon. Both were filmed on location in Greensboro and both boast a wealth of local talent in front of and behind the cameras. That, however, is where the similarities tend to end.

Sean Corona’s Blackout is an action film and psychological thriller with a whi of black comedy, Jaysen Buterin’s The Blue-Eyed

Boy and Mister Death is of a more personal nature — a meditation on mortality with ethereal overtones. For both filmmakers, making these films represented hard work, on-the-spot ingenuity, and the inevitable unforeseen hurdles — and both loved every minute of it.

Blackout focuses on Lara Sholtz, a hard-bitten killer-for-hire who su ers from dissociative amnesia. Killing is easy when you can’t remember pulling the trigger, but after accepting an assignment from a mystery man (wearing a bunny mask), Lara suddenly finds herself the intended target. She is forced to choose between truth or deception, reality or oblivion, life or death — if she can survive that long.

The Blue-Eyed Boy and Mister Death fo-

cuses on Will Cummings (played by award-winning actor Adam Hampton), who is consumed by grief over the death of his father but gets a second chance — of sorts — to have one last conversation with him. The film also features cult icon Vernon Wells, fondly remembered for his ferocious turns in The Road Warrior (1982) and Commando (1985), although he’s not quite as nasty here.

“The pages of the script are plucked straight from my life and losing one of the most important people in it,” Buterin said. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt, The Blue-Eyed Boy and Mister Death is one of the most personal things I have ever written, and certainly the most autobiographically intimate stories I’ve written for a world stage. As a writer it’s hard not to write what you know, but there are scenes, conversations, and actions from this film that are copied verbatim from my life, some from conversations that I was lucky enough to have with my father before he passed away from cancer, and others from talks that I never got the chance to have with him.”

“I don’t think people are going to see this one coming from me and Mad Ones Films and that’s part of what really excites me as well,” he said. “Not only is the screenplay the most personal thing I’ve ever written, but I wanted to remember why I fell in love with filmmaking in the first place. This is also the first project I’ve written and directed that steps far outside the horror/thriller/grindhouse comfort zone that I’ve been in my whole filmmaking career. So trying something new was important, plus the title is from an e.e. cummings poem that I read when I was way too young and has been stuck

in my skull for 37 years just waiting for a creative excuse to get out.”

Of Blackout, “this particular project I came up with nine years ago, right as I was graduating with a media studies degree from UNC Greensboro,” Norona said. “I tried making it back then, but I was inexperienced and didn’t have any real connections. Now, almost a decade of experience later, I have traveled the world, worked for creative agencies, and built my skills up. I’m taking my experience, and the resources I’ve accumulated, to go back and tell the story the right way — the way it was meant to be told. I have a filmmaker voice that has been waiting years to speak, and I’m taking this as my opportunity to let that voice be heard and share it with the world.”

The independent filmmaking community in the Piedmont Triad is a close-knit one. Everyone, it seems, either knows everyone and/or worked with them at one time or another. If there’s any sense of competition, it’s of the friendliest nature. The spirit of collaboration and cooperation is evident even to the most casual observer.

Indeed, when Buterin sought a cinematographer for The Blue-Eyed Boy and Mister Death, he turned to Norona.

“We had collaborated on a few things in other professional capacities, but this was our first time working together on a film set and it went better than I could have ever planned,” Buterin said. “Working with Sean was absolutely amazing. He has an amazing eye — even if it’s not blue — and an innate talent to be able to pick up a camera and capture a moment, a mood, a memory. Anyone can take a picture but to be able to take a photo-

Mark Burger

Contributor

graph, to be able to shoot a film requires a creative skillset that Sean exudes with just the right balance of professionalism, confidence, and conviviality. It’s exciting to watch as he starts to tell more of his own cinematic stories, and I can’t wait to see where Blackout takes him.”

“Jaysen is a great guy and a unique talent,” Norona said. “Thankfully our paths happened to cross by chance. The thing I admire about him is that he always pushes not only the boundaries of storytelling but also pushes himself outside of his own comfort zone. I enjoyed very much working with him.”

Both filmmakers are eager to continue making movies right here in the Piedmont Triad.

“I’ve known a lot of people who have moved to big cities like New York and L.A. and saw how all they did was struggle,” said Norona. “Maybe you’ll work hard, and maybe you’ll get your foot in the door, but my philosophy has always been, I wanted to build myself up here, in Greensboro, my home. I wanted to hone my abilities, create a portfolio of great work, and that way when I walk into Hollywood or somewhere, I’m not just a nobody; I’d actually be a proven filmmaker walking in the door.”

“I don’t think I could have — perhaps even would have — become the storyteller and filmmaker I am today if it weren’t for moving to North Carolina 23 years ago,” Buterin said. “The Greensboro 48 Hour Film Project was my trial-by-fire admission into the realm of independent filmmaking — and my world, my life, and the lives of my loved ones have never been the same since! There is such an exorbitant wealth of cinematic resources right here in our own Piedmont backyard, and across the state.”

When asked about the sheer tenacity of local filmmakers, Buterin concurred.

“It’s funny you mention the tenacity of the local filmmaking continent because when the tax incentives went away due to geopolitical shenanigans, so many folks lamented that it was the end because the film industry left North Carolina, but the film community was never — and still to this day — has never been stronger, and I think that is the greatest example of the independent filmmaking contingent. We never had enough money to qualify for all the tax breaks and incentives anyway, so we had to learn how to make movie magic on an aglet of a shoestring of a budget.

“There is an amazing sense of creation and collaboration going all around the Triad and beyond in every single genre of film and some that probably haven’t been defined yet,” he said. “Folks helping out other filmmakers because they need the help, no matter what side of the camera it’s on, or how glamorous/arduous the task at hand may be. You never quite know who you’re going to run into on a film set sometimes — an old friend or a brand-new one — but that’s part of the beauty of filmmaking: Adventures.” !

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

WANNA know?

Each film has its own Indiegogo crowdfunding website page. Blackout’s is https://www. indiegogo.com/projects/blackout—29?fbcli

d=IwAR0XexUi62Hyz9VPL7t5ARR4c9f1KA

Ex-fdtQRF2yxmxfm5GNq0Gb7ZkyrI#/ and The Blue-Eyed Boy and Mister Death’s is https://www. indiegogo.com/projects/the-blue-eyed-boymister-death#/.

Buterin’s o cial website is http://madonesfilms. com/ and Norona’s is https://www.hogarimages. com/.

WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

ACTIVATE ENTERTAINMENT PROJECT ANNOUNCES “ROOTED”

BY HOUSTON ODUM

The Activate Entertainment Project is excited to announce that a new piece titled “ROOTED” will be performed in Newfoundland, Canada as a part of the St. John’s International Circus Festival this September. “ROOTED” will blend dance, circus, and music into a cohesive story representing North Carolina and the American South in a way which promotes the diversity and creative community in our region. Activate will be working with a mixture of local and national artists to bring this piece to life.

This piece was invited to be performed at the 6th Edition of the St. John’s International Circus Festival. The show will feature two talented artists with a local creative team. Artists include Dom Sebastian (Greensboro) and Nick Hodge (Las Vegas). The creative team consists of Houston Odum, Amanda Fisk, and Alex Joye Warren. Activate Entertainment has received support from Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and Arts Council of Greater Greensboro in order to make the trip happen.

“We’re so excited to represent North Carolina, and the Triad internationally.”

said Houston Odum, founder of Activate Entertainment. “This Festival is the first of many big steps for us to be recognized around the world and for our artists to be seen by influential industry leaders. More importantly, the piece we are creating will craft a new image of the Triad and the American South which breaks down the stereotypes of our communities. ”

“ROOTED” will be coming to Greensboro in the Spring of 2024 along with a brand-new Circus Training Program that will be free for participants. This will follow the company’s first statewide tour of their hit show “SOLSTICE” which was seen by 1,000 people this past February and will perform in Durham, Hamlet, and Winston-Salem, N.C.

To stay up to date with our work, follow us on Instagram @activateentertainment and subscribe to our mailing list by visiting our website: www.ActivateNC. com

The mission of the ACTIVATE ENTERTAINMENT PROJECT is to provide a meaningful, live experience that is accessible to the public. Our unique creative process empowers and brings together artists of all backgrounds and disciplines.

s Labor Day approaches, I thought this might be a good time to examine the origins of state and federal holidays, and why we observe them. Before you read any further, though, here’s a trivia quiz: “Which two federal holidays does North Carolina not o cially recognize?” I’ll get to the answer in a moment. First, let’s review the 11 federal paid holidays.

New Year’s Day …although we don’t normally think of January 1 as a religious holiday, some Christians celebrate it as the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus. Ouch!, not exactly my idea of the most relaxing way to spend a holiday. This year, federal workers got a paid day o on Monday, January 2nd because New Year’s

A Look at Paid Holidays

ADay fell on Sunday.

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. … not surprisingly this holiday was once a lightning rod of political controversy. Four days after Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, Rep. John Conyers floated the idea of a federal holiday in honor of the slain civil rights leader, but the bill faced opposition mainly from White legislators in the South. In 1983 Congress finally authorized MLK Day despite the e orts of NC Senator Jesse Helms who filibustered to smear King’s character. The holiday wasn’t observed until 1986, and though Dr. King’s birthday is January 15, the holiday is celebrated every third Monday in January.

Washington’s Birthday …though designated in the United States Code as “Washington’s Birthday” dating back to the 1880s, we now refer to this federal holiday as President’s Day so that it can honor Washington as well as Abe Lincoln, both of whom were born in the month of February. Today we celebrate these men on the third Monday of February.

Memorial Day … was first designated as Decoration Day in 1868, and became a

federal holiday in 1971. Today it is observed on the last Monday in May to honor men and women who died while serving in the military.

Juneteenth National Independence Day …became a federal holiday in 2021 to commemorate the date (June 19, 1865) when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to notify slaves there that they had been emancipated. My friend, former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder noted that Juneteenth is, “an opportunity for people of all races, creeds, and colors to gain education and understanding of the issues many still strive to overcome.”

Independence Day … commemorates the date that the Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence to signify our break from British rule. Initially our ancestors celebrated by lighting bonfires and giving speeches. Today we shoot o deafening fireworks, which cause pets to shake with fear. Independence Day became a federal holiday in 1941. My dogs wish we had lost to the British.

Labor Day … first celebrated in 1882 at a labor assembly in New York City, it became a national holiday in 1894 to recognize the economic achievements and contributions of American workers. There is some dispute about who actually proposed the first Labor Day holiday. According to the US Labor Department, some records show that Peter McGuire came up with the idea. McGuire was general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Other research indicates that machinist Matthew McGuire (no relation) was the founder. Either way, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September.

Columbus Day … only in America could we designate a national holiday to honor a racist who enslaved and tortured natives and people of color. As a kid, I didn’t know about the dark side of Christopher Columbus. I just thought he was a brave explorer about who we were taught to say, “in fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937 and is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Several states have opted to celebrate “Indigenous Peoples Day” in lieu of Columbus Day for obvious reasons.

Veterans Day … was established as a national holiday in 1938 to honor veterans of all wars. In 1975 President Gerald Ford designated November 11 as the o cial date of Veterans Day and if it falls on a weekend, then the government can move the holiday to the previous Friday or the following Monday.

Thanksgiving Day … most of us were taught that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. However, thanks to the tireless e orts of my late friend Mac Jamieson who owned Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, President Kennedy was compelled to o cially recognize both states for the historic first. (for the record, Berkeley’s feast pre-dated Plymouth by over a year). Thanksgiving as a federal holiday always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. It became a national holiday in 1863.

Christmas Day … is the only religious holiday recognized by the federal government. It was designated as a national holiday in 1870. That begs the question, “Why aren’t there federal holidays for other religions?” According to the North Carolina Department of Human Resources, state agencies “shall make e orts to accommodate an employee’s request to be away from work for certain religious holiday observances, however, nothing shall obligate the agency to make accommodations if, in accommodating the request, it would result in undue hardship on the agency or its employees.”

Speaking of North Carolina, that brings me to the trivia question that I posed earlier. In this state, agencies are not obligated to give a paid holiday for either Juneteenth or Columbus Day. Moreover, the North Carolina Human Resources Act establishes, “a holiday schedule that will not exceed 12 paid holidays per year, and will include Martin Luther King’s birthday, Veterans Day, and three days for Christmas.” To date, 28 states now make Juneteenth a paid holiday, and until the HRA is revised, most of our state agencies are allowing employees to take June 19 as a floating holiday. There has been some debate over the years about the cost of paid holidays to businesses and industries that pay for work that they aren’t getting. In that regard, if ever there was a serious movement to reduce the number of paid holidays, I would be OK with getting rid of Columbus Day and Presidents Day, and I would combine Veterans Day and Memorial Day into one holiday that honors all Vets. For now, though, I’m OK with the holidays we have, just so long as we don’t add another one that celebrates circumcision. !

JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.

Jim Longworth

Longworth at Large

Dazzling e ects make Elemental essential viewing

Initially, Pixar’s animated feature Elemental stumbled out of the gate at the summer box office, overwhelmed at the time by bigger, louder blockbusters. But the Disney devotees eventually came out, if not necessarily in droves, and have made it a financial success, if not a blockbuster. It’s not a classic, but it’s a sweet, upbeat, “feel-good” movie — and there’s always room for one of those.

The self-explanatory setting is Element City, where the elements — earth, air, fire, and water — co-exist in reasonable harmony, although there is some tension, simply because some elements aren’t supposed to mix.

Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis), whose name clearly indicates which element she is, works at the shop owned by her immigrant parents. She’s in line to take the business over, but her (appropriately) fiery temper complicates those plans — as does an unexpected basement flood that unleashes Wade Ripple (voiced by Mamoudou Athie), a bumbling safety inspector with a tendency to burst into tears at a moment’s notice. Needless to say, Wade is water — and

fire and water don’t mix. Or do they?

The burgeoning relationship between Ember and Wade may be predictable, but director Peter Sohn keeps things moving along at a buoyant pace, and Lewis and Athie voice their respective characters with a light-hearted conviction. Elemental is certainly sentimental but it’s never cloying. It doesn’t talk down to its audience. That it embraces and celebrates cultural diversity, assimilation, and tradition offers a nice message — although there are undoubtedly those so-called “observers” who will perceive it as having some sort of underlying agenda. (These are the same “observers” who complained likewise about Barbie and The Little Mermaid .)

The film’s sensibilities are predicated more on charm than irreverence. One would almost expect that a film about

the elements would find room for a song by Earth, Wind & Fire, but that’s not where Elemental’s head or heart is at — although it might have been fun to hear EW&F. It’s a happy tale, with gentle humor and a terrific score by Thomas Newman, who has yet to win an Academy Award despite 15 nominations. (Don’t be surprised if Elemental is the sixteenth.)

Above all else, this is one of the best-looking animated films in recent memory. The imagery is consistently inventive and ingeniously rendered. It’s a feast for the eyes, and it tugs at the emotions in persuasive yet laid-back fashion. Elemental is a very nice way to spend two hours in a theater.

Preceding the feature is the animated short Carl’s Date , which revisits the characters Carl Frederickson (voiced by Ed Asner) and his faithful canine companion Dug (voiced by writer/director Bob Peterson) from Pixar’s Oscar-winning Up (2009). Although it can’t hope to compare with Up — one of Pixar’s uncontested masterpieces — it’s awfully nice to spend eight minutes with these delightful characters again, particularly since Asner recorded his voiceover shortly before his death in 2021. !

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

Mark Burger

Contributor

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NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE

The infamous “Lake Tahoe Foot Fondler” couldn’t outrun authorities forever, the New York Post reported. On Aug. 1, Mark Anthony Gonzales, 26, was arrested in Atwater, California, and charged with burglary and battery after two early July incidents at the Club Wyndham South Shore hotel in Nevada. According to police, Gonzales “entered two ... condominiums by opening unlocked screen doors. Once inside, he positioned himself at the foot of the bed and rubbed the feet of two separate adult females” in two di erent units. Gonzales fled when his victims woke up and confronted him. He is also suspected of trespassing and stealing women’s shoes for sexual pleasure. He was being held for extradition back to Nevada.

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT

Pinellas County (Florida) deputies are pleading with the public to stop calling them about manatees in canals and shorelines along the Gulf Coast, Fox13TV reported on Aug. 1. People think the manatees are in distress because they’re swimming in herds and thrashing about, but o cials stress that the sea cows are only mating. “IF YOU SEE THIS ... DON’T CALL US,” the sheri ’s o ce warned via Facebook post. “We can assure you they are more than fine. Manatees actually mate in herds like these and often they are near the shore. ... There’s no need to call, they are a-okay!”

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

In a stunning stroke of genius, the Alpha and Omega Funeral Home in Ahuachapan, El Salvador, started o ering Barbiethemed co ns last year, the New York Post reported. With the movie’s summer success, undertaker Isaac Villegas said they’ve been swamped with orders and have sold out of the hot pink caskets. “We wanted to promote the pink co n as it has become a trend,” Villegas said. “Of the 40 people who inquired about it, we have already closed a contract with at least 10 new clients.” Similarly, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, funeral home Funeraria Olivares is o ering a “Barbie House” co n, “so you can rest like a Barbie.” One manufacturer gushed about their product: “This co n, with its striking bright pink color, represents the spark and energy of those unforgettable moments they lived.” One El Salvadoran commenter conceded, “Eternal rest doesn’t look so bad anymore.”

NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP

Early on July 28, Thornton, Colorado, police were called out about a stolen car, KKTV reported. As the o cers gathered information, the suspect, 36-year-old Julian Fernandez, returned to the scene, but “quickly ran on foot from the area and out of sight,” police said. While they watched, the man jumped over a security fence and started climbing a 320-foot radio tower. He eventually reached the top, where he stayed for 12 hours as crisis negotiators tried to reason with him. In the end, firefighters climbed the tower and brought Fernandez down.

NATURE GONE WILD

Peggy Jones, 64, of Silsbee, Texas, got a little too close to nature for comfort on July 25 as she and her husband did yard work on their property. The New York Times reported that out of the blue, a snake fell from the sky, wrapped itself around Jones’ forearm and started to squeeze. “I immediately screamed and started swinging my arm to shake the snake o ,” she said. “I was screaming, ‘Jesus, help me, please, Jesus, help me!’” But the snake hissed and struck at her face, sometimes hitting her glasses. Then, as Jones struggled, a hawk swooped down and tried to grab the snake, which it had dropped from on high, from her arm. As it wrestled with the snake, its talons slashed into Jones’ arm. Finally, the hawk got hold of the snake and flew o . She said the whole incident probably took only 15 or 20 seconds, but afterward, “I looked down at my arm and it was totally covered in blood.” Jones’ husband, Wendell, saw his wife screaming and running in a zigzag pattern: “By the time I got to her, she was pretty hysterical,” he said. Doctors said most of her wounds were caused by the hawk rather than the snake. Jones says that she is healing physically but is still having nightmares about the incident.

IRONY

An instructor at a driving school in Lakewood, Colorado, won’t be getting a passing grade after crashing a car into the school’s front window on Aug. 8 — just under a sign that says “Learn To Drive.” KDFW-TV reported that the driver, who was trying to park a Hyundai Tucson in front of the Community Driving School, was cited for a tra c violation. Police said there was only one minor injury. !

©2023 Andrews McMeel Universal

72 Iraq’s locale 73 Group of two

Certain injury from an arachnid 78 Gives 10% to the church

Dragster fuel 82 Guesses at JFK or SFO 84 Iowa city 86 Printed notice with no pictures

Newly capped tire

DOWN

1 Rocket part

2 Flynn of old Hollywood

3 Boxer Ali

4 Iraq’s locale

5 Sheltered from the wind

6 “Have — trip”

7 How faint memories are recalled

8 “Zip- — -Doo-Dah”

9 Father, in French

10 Chinese calisthenics system

11 Thespian great Hagen

12 Popular Nissans

13 Certain guitar player

14 Miracle- —

15 Corporate shake-up, for short

16 Invite on a date

17 Scarab, e.g.

18 Leisurely walk

25 2.0 grade

26 French edict city of old

28 Granola bits

34 “Help Me, —” (1965 hit)

35 Fancy party

37 Boise-to-Spokane dir.

38 Lerner’s collaborator in musicals

39 Wanted-poster abbr.

42 Grafton’s “— for Quarry”

122 Borden’s “spokescow”

123 Actor Romero

124 Common

A Lidl Disagreement about A Lot

East Greensboro residents who travel miles for groceries and a downtown developer who shops in Adams Farm want di erent things for a gravel parking lot at South Elm Street and East Gate City Boulevard.

On July 20, Lidl USA terminated its contract to purchase that lot from the City of Greensboro. City o cials say this only means Lidl no longer agrees to buy the lot by November 20, but the company is still interested in building a grocery store there.

According to City Planning Director Sue Schwartz, tests by Lidl’s engineers found the site contaminated in excess of state regulations. In 2013, said Schwartz, the site was in compliance with North Carolina’s former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), but standards are stricter under the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as it was renamed in 2016.

On July 23, developer Andy Zimmerman sent Schwartz, City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba, and Mayor Nancy Vaughan a proposal to buy the property for $1.4 million.

Zimmerman o ered to “build a project that meets the requirements of the redevelopment commission and the Greensboro Planning Department,” with “apartments, mixed-use retail and parking for the development and the South End needs.” He wrote that he is willing “to partner with Lidl (or any other grocer) for a small format grocery store and create a dynamic development for the neighborhood.”

Later that afternoon, Zimmerman forwarded that email to city council members Zack Matheny (D3), Nancy Ho man (D4), Tammi Thurm (D5), and Marikay Abuzuaiter (at-large), none of whom represent districts in the area, which is classified by the Department of Agriculture as a food desert. Then, in a separate forward, he sent it to Goldie Wells, who represents District 2 where the property is located.

Zimmerman did not forward that email to council members, District 1’s Sharon Hightower, Mayor pro tem Yvonne Johnson and at-large representative Hugh Holston.

(All of Zimmerman’s emails to council members have been obtained via public info requests. As of August 13, none were

posted to data.Greensboro-nc.gov, the public archive for emails to council members.)

“I hope to have all of your support,” wrote Zimmerman of the proposal he alleged would generate more taxes than a stand-alone grocery store could.

On July 24, City Manager Jaiyeoba responded to Zimmerman that all proposals for that property must go through the South Elm Development Group, which controls it until June 2025.

At an August 7 Zoom meeting attended by over 35 residents of 11 neighborhoods in majority-Black East Greensboro, council members Hightower and Holston said they knew nothing about Zimmerman’s o er. Along with Abuzuaiter, the third council member at the online community meeting, they emphasized their commitment to a full-size grocery store rather than a mixed-use development or a parking lot and said that the city was still in negotiations with Lidl.

“Maybe someone thought that Lidl was pulling out and remediation or mitigation would be too costly,” said Holston.

“They’re not pulling out,” said Hightower.

Also attending was District 8 County Commissioner Skip Alston, who said he’d heard about Zimmerman’s o er. Alston referred to Zimmerman as being on “the other side” of the issue from those at the meeting.

“Mr. Zimmerman is the one saying he wants to buy it now because his tenants in the building across the street need that parking,” said Alston. “The real reason

we’re having this meeting is because we heard the other side had five votes.”

“I’ve not heard that,” said Hightower. “What was your source?”

“I’m just saying what I got on a text,” replied Alston. “We heard the other side has five votes, and that’s what we need.” Five votes is the number necessary for Council to pass a motion.

Alston asked Hightower and Holston if they knew three other council members who would vote with them to ensure the property is used for a grocery store rather than parking.

“We’ve got three council members right here,” said Abuzuaiter. “Yes, that site is currently being used as a parking lot, but I do not know of any agreement saying it’s going to move forward as that. The conversation I know about is Mr. Zimmerman has sent information that he would like it to continue it as a parking lot because he doesn’t know where to put all of those employees, but City Sta is saying there are plenty of spaces at that end of Greensboro.”

According to a statement sent by Zimmerman to YES! Weekly, the parking lot on the property he wants to purchase was created in 2019 by former City Manager David Parrish in collaboration with Zimmerman’s company AZ Development, Downtown Greensboro Inc., and the Chamber of Commerce, in order “to accommodate 215 employees that are spending their time and money in downtown.”

Zimmerman denied that he wants to keep the property as a parking lot for

his tenants. “What I do want to do, and always have wanted to do, is develop that piece of property according to the strict guidelines that were asked of a developer to develop that site.”

Zimmerman alleged that discussions between the City and Lidl “have been going on for years, and with the recent environmental concerns, the city is saying it could take years more to clean up the site.”

“With this time frame, it is possible Lidl would never follow through in building a store there. I am willing to tackle the environmental issues on that property and work to partner with Lidl to have a grocery store included in a mixed-use development.”

In response to those who say the area needs more than a “small format grocery store,” Zimmerman wrote:

“Lidl is much more than a grocery store. I like Lidl. They have a store in Adams Farm where I shop and it is comprised of much more than groceries. They o er pillows, leaf blowers, toolboxes, baskets, dollies, and many other random items. This works in certain locations but does it work in an urban setting when what we need is groceries?”

Zimmerman concluded by stating: “It is time that we all put our personal agendas aside and come together as one to successfully achieve our goals. The old Asheboro Community, Downtown Greensboro, City Planning, and other stakeholders can make this happen! And of course, I will do whatever I can to bring a grocery store to downtown and the food desert. But also, I want to focus on my work with a neighborhood in mind to bring good economical development to downtown and our neighborhood.”

Zimmerman is the chair-elect of Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI), the booster organization Council funds to run the Business Improvement District (BID). Those funds pay what Triad City Beat has reported as Zack Matheny’s $172,058 salary as President and CEO of DGI. Matheny

Ian McDowell

Contributor

Andy Zimmerman

The gravel parking lot in the center of this screenshot is the proposed grounds for Lidl. Develper Andy Zimmerman has sent a propsal to buy this same lot.

SCREENSHOT FROM GOOGLE MAPS

is also the District 3 representative on city council.

NAACP Greensboro president Kay Brown has a problem with that. Brown gave YES! Weekly the following condensed and edited version of her closing remarks at the August 7 Zoom meeting.

“What I’m hearing from my neighbors and colleagues is a concern that, as unexpected costs have been encountered, some council members who voted for the Lidl sale may be having second thoughts about the city’s responsibility to clean up that site. Many of us fear this may open the door for other deals to be made, including one keeping that space as a parking lot for the developer who is councilmember Matheny’s board chair at DGI.”

Brown called this “an unacceptable conflict of interest” and said that Matheny “should not be taking part in conversations about what will happen with that site.” She closed with a call for action:

“I’ve watched council meetings where we’ve dropped millions on projects in West Greensboro that have gone over budget, where we’ve found money for trolleys and everything else. So here we have an East Greensboro community demanding that the city clean up this site so that the community can get the grocery store it wants, which is Lidl. The demographics of Greensboro have changed, what is acceptable in Greensboro has changed, and we’re saying as a community that either Council is going to get with it or get gone.”

The same evening as the August 7 meeting, City Manager Jaiyeoba sent the following update to Greensboro’s mayor and city council:

“As of today, Sta has spoken with Lidl representatives and asked them directly if they are still interested in the site at W. Gate City and South Elm. They confirmed their interest. Similarly, City sta has been in communication with NC Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and have learned that the environmental situation at the ‘Lidl site’ is not as dire as the devel-

oper had assumed. We now understand that our Brownfields Agreement recorded at the Guilford County Register of Deeds is still in e ect and remains in e ect in perpetuity unless canceled by DEQ. However, we also understand that it can be modified by DEQ based on actual construction plans. We have also confirmed that the DEQ regulations under which the Agreement was executed have not changed.”

Jaiyeoba’s claim that those regulations “have not changed” appears to contradict multiple statements Schwartz made to the News & Record, Triad Business Journal, The Rhino Times, WXII, and WFMY since July 20, all of which reported her having said that NC DEQ standards have changed in the last decade.

The redevelopment property is the former site of several industrial businesses, including a coal gasification plant and a body shop, that leaked petroleum products into the soil. In 2002, the city moved the planned baseball stadium due to contamination at that site. In 2015, the city received more than $6 million in Federal Grant money for environmental cleanup on that block.

In her August 8 response to a FOIA request for records of federal funding to the City of Greensboro for that cleanup, EPA Information Specialist Gwendolyn Woodard-Burrell wrote “We have not been able to physically access the records due to an unforeseen building maintenance issue.”

“We’re certainly concerned about the contamination,” said Hightower to YES! Weekly on August 4, “and I think we need to find the fastest but safest way to remediate it and get a grocery store in there. We’ve been patient, but we’re getting tired after these years of empty promises. We’ve gotten weary, but we don’t give up.” !

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

Napoleon Dynamite

A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramierz, & Jon Gries

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2023

DOORS @ 6PM | SHOW @ 7PM

The beloved indie classic Napoleon Dynamite was made almost almost 20 years ago. Since then much has changed; but the characters, as enduring as they are endearing, stay in our hearts. Appealing to the inner-teenager in each of us, the story, and more importantly the dialogue, makes Napoleon Dynamite one of the most quoted movies of our time. Napoleon Dynamite makes us laugh — and laugh hard — over and over again. This unique evening includes a full screening of Napoleon Dynamite followed by a lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion with fan-favorite cast members; Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico).

There will be a Pre-Show VIP Meet & Greet with the stars at 5pm. It will show up as an option after you put your tickets in your shopping cart. Tickets for the VIP Experience are $50 per person.

2022-23 Season

SEPTEMBER

23 The Players: The Music of Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire

OCTOBER

26 Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration

28 Will Downing in Concert

NOVEMBER

10 An Evening with Jen Kober

17 William Lee Martin: Comedy Stampede Tour

25 John Berry’s 27th Annual Christmas Tour 2023

DECEMBER

11 High Point Gospel Holiday Fest (feat. Ernie Haase & Signature Sounds and The Hoppers; special guest: Mickey Bell)

VISIT: HighPointTheatre.com

15-17 High Point Ballet: The Nutcracker & Land of the Sweets

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 up to date news, visit our website.

336-887-3001

The gravel parking lot at South Elm Street and East Gate City Boulevard.

The City of Arts and Innovation Announces Open Call for Public Art

The WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Public Art Commission recently announced an open call for new public art proposals by artists local to the city of Arts and Innovation. An area often overseen in combination with other areas of the city’s development, public art has also recently acquired its own terrain within the city’s public and development services. This past June, Erica Palmiter was brought on board as Winston-Salem’s Public Art Project Manager, a position strictly geared towards the development of public art in the city. An artist and educator with experience in community development work, Palmiter was the perfect candidate.

A native of Winston-Salem, Palmiter spent many years on and o away from North Carolina until she circled back home during the pandemic. Thanks to COVID-19, she was able to execute her job at the time with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. remotely, allowing her to return to the Piedmont Triad and continue to work from home. This worked out as she had always wanted to come home and be close to her family. Eventually, she had the opportunity to work locally as Assistant Director of Wake Forest University’s Hanes Art Gallery until she came across the open position for Public Art Project Manager.

“What’s really exciting about this position is the commitment from the city to make the development of public art projects into a full-time position,” said Palmiter. “It shows a full-time commitment to the work.” In the past, WinstonSalem has been known for announcing a variety of open calls for public art proposals anywhere from local, to regional, to even national artists. When Palmiter stepped into her new role, this particular open call was already in the works and she was able to contribute to its completion. Now that it’s finally public, she is eager for it to reach as many local artists as possible and establish it as an ongoing city project.

Palmiter finds the open call will give

opportunities not only to already established public art artists, but also to those emerging, and even to local citizens who may simply be curious about the possibility of creating something in the city. Additionally, the city is providing a total of three artist workshops through which those interested in the open call can learn more about it and what it entails. These workshops will provide details on parameters, what the application process looks like, brainstorming sessions, and even opportunities for conversation with commission members and city sta , including Palmiter, on behalf of artists’ ideas.

While providing these types of workshops to interested artists is not new for these kinds of city projects, Palmiter gave serious thought to the community partners that would be potentially hosting the workshops for this open call. Intent on uniting people from all across the community by promoting diversity within the call itself and the places the workshops could be held at, the selected organizations to host two of the workshops came down to the longstanding Delta Arts Center and the more recently established INBTWN-DOSE Artist Collective. The third and final workshop will be held virtually via a Zoom session.

A non-profit organization, the Delta Arts Center is an art gallery, cultural center, and the heart of the AfricanAmerican community in Winston-Salem. Located at 2611 Walkertown Road, it will host the first in-person artist workshop this Wednesday, August 16th at 7 p.m. Also a non-profit organization, the INBTWN-DOSE Artist Collective is a newer community art center providing opportunities in a safe space for all creatives to work, collaborate, experiment,

and connect with the Triad creative community. Located at 606 Trade Street NW, it will host the second in-person artist workshop on Thursday, September 7 at 7 p.m.

The last workshop is scheduled for Monday, September 18 at 4 p.m. via the Zoom link found on the following website: https://www.cityofws.org/1267/ Public-Art-Commission. While the open call is only providing these three workshops, Palmiter is looking to o er o ce hours closer to the September 25 deadline to make the process as less intimidating as possible and make herself available to anyone who may have lastminute questions. “I feel like the best service I can do to my fellow artists is to help them navigate the process,” said Palmiter. “Help them understand where things are really important and where they are not as much.”

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Art Commission has set aside $40,000 to fund up to four public art projects. Artists are encouraged to propose a concept of their choice that can be either temporary or permanent at a Winston-Salem location also of their choice. The longevity of projects can range anywhere from a few weeks, to a few months, all the way up to a year. Aware that public art is often thought of as generally murals and sculptures, Palmiter is excited to push for the pos-

sibilities of temporary art beyond the scope of those two. As we know, even murals are never truly permanent as both time and weather eventually begin to fade them.

Proud of her city, Palmiter couldn’t be more excited to bring public art forth to the local conversation, while continuing to enrich the community we live in.

“Public art is an opportunity to bring art to the forefront and introduce it to people who may have less exposure to it or interest in it,” said Palmiter. “It’s the opportunity to make art more a part of everyone’s life.” In a town full of talent, artists beyond the visual arts are encouraged to consider applying for the open call. This is the opportunity for any type of performing artist to propose anything they can imagine and innovate on what that could look like in our Winston-Salem public realm. !

WANNA go?

The deadline for the open call is Monday, September 25 at 11:59 p.m.

For additional questions please visit: https://www.cityofws.org/1267/Public-ArtCommission.

Palmiter can be reached at ericap@cityofws.org or (336) 727-2421.

DALIA RAZO is a bilingual journalist, fi ne arts educator, and doctoral student at UNCG.

Dalia Razo

Contributor

Erica Palmiter

Ghassan’s joins dining opportunities at Grandover Village

BY CAROL BROOKS

There are advantages to having a restaurant with a food truck near Sedgefield Country Club during the Wyndham Championship. For Ghassan’s Fresh Mediterranean Eats it meant providing a limited menu via the food truck for the golfers at hole No. 12 during the Pro-Am on Aug. 2. Ghassan’s opened at 6027-J W. Gate City Blvd. in Grandover Village April 4. The restaurant has been busy attracting customers from their former location on West Gate City Boulevard near the Coliseum, which closed in 2020, as well as from residents of Grandover, Adams Farm, Jamestown and other nearby locales. Many can walk from the nearby apartments.

The restaurant features authentic Mediterranean food. It opened in 1975 on High Point Road (now West Gate City Boulevard) in Greensboro by Khaled and Ghassan Fleihan. The brothers had come to the United States due to civil unrest in Lebanon around 1974. Their only experience in the restaurant business was working in their father’s rotisserie chicken business. In 1996 Ghassan sold his share to Khaled and went back to Lebanon. Since the name was already established, Khaled kept it.

Like many businesses, Covid-19 took its toll on Ghassan’s. Not only did the West Gate City Boulevard location close but also one at LaBauer Park in downtown Greensboro. A food court location at UNCG has also closed.

“We decided we needed to close a couple of places, to refocus and decide where we needed to be,” said Lina Fliehan, marketing manager. “We had been looking for about a year and this [Grandover location] came up and we jumped on it. It made sense to us.

“The area is growing. It is exciting to see the potential that is coming.”

It was the first restaurant in Greensboro to o er an ethnic menu featuring items such as kabobs, Lebanese salads and falafel. The homemade spice mixes provide a unique flavor to its famous steak and cheese, kabobs and salad dressing. The menu has evolved over the years to include more authentic homemade Lebanese items such as hummus and tabouli, Mediterranean pasta salad and glutenfree items. They also cater to vegetarian, vegan and keto diets.

The Mediterranean diet includes healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, beans, olive oil and nuts. It is considered one of the most popular diets to follow.

“We make everything fresh,” Fleihan said. “I felt it was important to embrace our culture. Some of our new items like our Harissa Chicken Bowl is a top favorite, for sure.

“We make so many amazing new dips now. I don’t know who to compare us with.”

Her favorite dish is the new Shawarma Rice Bowl, which consists of rice, Shawarma-spiced chicken, fried cauliflower, radish salad, pickled cabbage, topped with tahini, garlic sauce and Lebanese pickles. She recommends the Chicken Bowl for those new to Mediterranean food.

Khaled and May Fleihan had five children. The parents are no longer involved day-to-day with the restaurants but still visit the locations and help make decisions. Three of the children work with the company. Daughters Dunia Hilliard is the restaurant manager and Lina is the marketing manager. Son Ziad is the CEO/ CFO. There are several in the next genera-

tion who will be working summer jobs at Ghassan’s.

“We are so thankful to our community for their loyalty and support over all these years,” said Ziad on the occasion of the restaurant’s 40th anniversary. “We promise to continue bringing you the finest quality food and customer service for many years to come.”

“This community has always been extremely welcoming and we always felt that we were part of a bigger community,”

Fleihan added. “We appreciate the warm welcome we’ve received at this location and hope we continue to see all the new and familiar faces. We’re really happy to be here.”

Ghassan’s also has locations at 400 E. Cornwallis Dr. and 1605 Battleground Ave. in Greensboro. All locations are open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Catering is available as is limited delivery. !

Harissa Chicken Bowl

Steak and Cheese

Ghassan’s Fresh Mediterranean Eats at Grandover Village.

The Ghosts of Liberty to appear at Stonefield Cellars Winery

The Ghosts of Liberty bring their blend of life, love, and music to the Friday Flavors Concert at Stonefield Cellars Winery in Stokesdale on August 25.

Based around married couple Tyler and Emma Millard, the Ghosts of Liberty run various incarnations, from duo to full band to a blend of Tyler’s solo work with dashes of covers in between.

Taking influences from the bones of history and lives today, the couple built a sound and a band while building a life of matrimony — now with their beloved toddler, Clara, in tow. ”She turns two in October and she’s the light of both of our lives,” said the couple. “She’s truly everything to us!”

As they look forward to birthdays and milestones, looking back, it was family from the beginning. “We started playing music together because Tyler’s brother, Mark suggested it,” they explained, referencing Mark and Emma having met back in high school. “We started dating at the end of 2014 and got married in 2018, which is the same year the band was born.”

For Emma, it’s a path embarked on from an early age — with classical training and an upbringing in musical theater. “I even sang with the Baltimore Opera Company as a child,” she said. By high school, she was fronting an alt/ pop band — taking a brief stint from performing while focusing on college. As an adult, “the music came calling again,” she added. “I’ve always loved show tunes and country, but I found myself drawn into the earnestness of the modern folk movement.”

A lifelong lover of music, Tyler’s path was a bit less straightforward. “I didn’t even pick up a guitar until I was 21 years old,” he explained. “I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative retinal disease; and I figured I should have another hobby since I probably wouldn’t be able to play sports as much going forward.”

Flash-forward five years (and a Master’s degree in Mathematics) Tyler’s infatuation with music flourished into a career pursuit. “And that pretty much set the stage for these two love birds to meet,” they said.

Together, their sound is nested between Tyler’s classic rock-leaning — his first bar group, The Tyler Millard Band, infused rock and classic blues — and the earnesty Emma emphasizes in her songwriting.

“Our current influences are the kind of music that isn’t modern country but sounds like it comes from people who live in the woods,” they explained, pointing to artists like Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlisle, and Tyler Childers.

“Some people say it’s kind of modern outlaw country. Others might just say it’s Americana.”

“But we also love pop acts like Fletcher and Sia,” they continued.

“And so we try to incorporate a pop mentality into our melodies and chord choices as long as they don’t make the songs sound too predictable.”

Production-wise, the couple turned to Doug Davis when releasing one of their first songs: “Prologue,” which Tyler wrote as a proposal to Emma. “I sang it to her for the first time on Christmas Eve 2017,” Tyler said. “We worked with Doug to have it produced by the following September, so that we could use it as our first dance song at our wedding.”

“Doug Davis is a great musician and an even better man,” he continued. “We laugh now about how self-involved it is to dance to a song that you are singing and is about yourself, but it was sweet at the time.”

As the time shifts in tune with their relationship and musical career, “being in a band with your spouse definitely has its challenges,” they explained. “Most people can leave work at work and complain to their spouse about their coworkers. But we have to find a way to put a nice bow on any loose ends or disagreements be-

fore we finish working. You really don’t want those types of things bleeding into family time.” Those challenges (and rewards) often work themselves into songs like “Sundown to Sunrise.”

“This one is the most true to us,” they noted. “The song is a reminder to ourselves of how much love we have for each other, even if it takes from sundown to sunrise to work through something.”

“We just really try to make sure we’ve gotten to the bottom of a disagreement before we move to the next thing,” they added. “And sometimes the next thing is bedtime.” It’s a pragmatic approach often employed in what they consider their “pen-pal” songwriting process. “Emma is the more passionate one and Tyler is more of the workhorse,” they said. “And when things are really cooking, we share voice memos back and forth all day.”

As their kitchen of songs started to simmer, Tyler started taking music production courses to better facilitate their recordings and his solo work. His debut album, “UnderBite” is due in October.

“I actually produced this first record in Boston at Plaid Dog Studios,” he

explained. “The studio helped me run a crowd-funding campaign to cover the cost of the production. And I leaned on family and friends to help choose which songs would make the album and which should be singles.” Emma’s voice naturally makes an appearance on several tracks — o ering a familiar flavor in a slightly di erent sonic pursuit, all of which blend into their live sets through a mix of originals and cover songs.

Choosing a mix that’s sure to give his wife “that moment.” “Like the kind moment they talk about on American Idol,” Tyler said, pointing to crowd favorites like Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” or Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

“You only get so much time with a crowd to make an impression,” he explained. “And they probably don’t know much of your original material, so you better take advantage of the covers.”

The Ghosts of Liberty brings those flavors together for the “Friday Flavors Concert” at Stonefield Cellars Winery in Stokesdale on August 25. “We love playing up there,” the couple said. “Stonefield always gets a great crowd of folks that are a listening crowd — and as the saying goes, the crowd makes the show.” !

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

Katei Cranford Contributor

ASHEBORO

Four SaintS BrEwing

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722

www.foursaintsbrewing.com

thursdays: taproom trivia

Fridays: Music Bingo

aug 19: william nesmith

Sep 2: 80s unplugged

CARBORRO

Cat’S CradlE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053

www.catscradle.com

aug 16: Molly Parden

aug 17: Hotel Fiction, trash Panda

aug 17: the Beths

aug 18: arcy drive

aug 18: Steep Canyon rangers

aug 19: ruen Brothers

aug 19: Slow teeth & Friends

aug 20: Jill andrews

aug 22: the anchor

aug 23: with love

aug 23: aJJ

aug 25: Briscoe

CHARlOttE

BoJanglES ColiSEuM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600

www.boplex.com

aug 20: Matute

aug 27: Bronco

Sep 2: intocable Evolucion 2023

Sep 8: ivan Cornejo

Sep 19: Becky g

Sep 22: raphael Saadiq

tHE FillMorE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970

www.livenation.com

aug 17: tom Keifer

aug 18: ocean alley

aug 22: JVKE

aug 26: Becky robinson

aug 27: Clutch

Sep 1: Pour Minds

Sep 5: danna Paola

Sep 6: Coheed and Cambria

Sep 6: ayra Starr

Sep 7: Chloe

Sep 7: Soulja Boy

Sep 9: thursday

PnC MuSiC PaVilion

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292

www.livenation.com

aug 16: 50 Cent, Busta rhymes & Jeremih

aug 18: the offspring, Simple Plan & Sum 41

aug 22: Smashing Pumpkins, interpol & rival Sons

Sep 1: lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ top, & uncle Kracker

Sep 6: tenacious d

SPECtruM CEntEr

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000

www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com

aug 29: guns n’ roses

Sep 5: $uicideboy$

Sep 9: ll Cool J

Sep 12: lil Baby

ClEmmOnS

VillagE SquarE

taP HouSE

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330

www.facebook.com/vstaphouse

aug 17: anna Mertson

duRHAm

Carolina tHEatrE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030

www.carolinatheatre.org

Sep 5: the tallest Man on Earth

Sep 7: the Mavericks

Sep 15: Stayin’ alive: one night of the Bee gees

dPaC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787

www.dpacnc.com

aug 17-18: leanne Morgan

aug 19: arrival From Sweden

aug 23-Sep 17: wiCKEd

Sep 19: Squeeze and the Psychedelic Furs

ElKIn

rEEVES tHEatEr

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240

www.reevestheater.com

wednesdays: reeves open Mic

Fourth thursdays: old-time Jam

aug 19: abigail dowd and Bill west

Sep 8: liam Purcell and Cane Mill

road

Sep 9: Mary gauthier

Sep 22: John Fullbright

gREEnSBORO

Barn dinnEr tHEatrE

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211

www.barndinner.com

Jul 29- Sep 9: Peace like a river

Carolina tHEatrE

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605

www.carolinatheatre.com

aug 19: Elijah rosario

Sep 6: Songs of Hope and Justice

Sep 8: nC Comedy Fest

CHar Bar no. 7

3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555

www.charbar7.com

aug 17: david Mclaughlin

aug 24: wishful thinking

aug 31: Kelsey Hurley

CoMEdY ZonE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034

www.thecomedyzone.com

aug 18-20: gary owen

aug 25-26: dyon “Mojo” Brooks

aug 27: the Magic of Eric Eaton

AUG 19: William Hinson

GaraGE TavErn

5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020

www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreens-

boro

aug 18: Huckleberry Shyne

aug 25: The Billy Creason Band

GrEEnSBoro ColiSEum

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

aug 19: Gerardo ortiz + El Yaki

Sep 1: Peso Pluma

Sep 2: nC late night music Fest

Sep 3: rBD: Soy rebelde Tour

HanGar 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480

www.hangar1819.com

aug 17: a light Divided

aug 19: The Breakfast Club

aug 22: Distant & left To Suffer

aug 23: Shallow Side & any Given

Sin

aug 26: The Word alive w/ Dark

Divine, nerv

aug 31: Cro-mags

PiEDmonT Hall

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

aug 24: Chris Young w/ Thompson Square

STEvEn TanGEr CEnTEr

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500

www.tangercenter.com

aug 18: arrival from Sweden

Sep 16: Daniel Tosh

Sep 19-24: CHiCaGo the musical

Sep 29-30: Golden Girls: The laughs

THE iDioT Box

ComEDY CluB

503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699

www.idiotboxers.com

Thursdays: open mic

aug 18: ali Clayton

WHiTE oak

amPiTHEaTrE

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

Sep 7: The Doobie Brothers

high point

1614 DmB

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113

https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/

aug 26: novas Fade w/ Copper Wine

Sep 3: Taylor Swift laser Dance Party

HiGH PoinT THEaTrE

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401

www.highpointtheatre.com

Sep 3: napoleon Dynamite: Jon Heder, Efren ramirez, & Jon Gries

Sep 23: The Players

Sep 28: manhattan Short Film Festival

jamestown

THE DECk

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999

aug 17: Bradley Steele

aug 18: Stephen legree

aug 19: muddy Creek revival

aug 24: Dan miller

aug 25: The Plaids

aug 26: radio revolver

aug 27: Camel City Yacht Club

aug 31: The aquarius

kernersville

BrEaTHE

CoCkTail lounGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822

www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktail-

Lounge

Wednesdays: karaoke

aug 18: Stereo Doll

Sep 23: Wild Wild Burlesk

liberty

THE liBErTY

SHoWCaSE THEaTEr

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844

www.TheLibertyShowcase.com

aug 18-19: Gene Watson

oak ridge

BiSTro 150

2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359

www.bistro150.com

aug 19: limited Engagement

winston-salem

FooTHillS BrEWinG

638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348

www.foothillsbrewing.com

Sundays: Sunday Jazz

Thursdays: Trivia

aug 18: Camel City Blues

aug 23: Grizzly Panda

THE ramkaT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714

aug 17: The Watson Twins, Couldn’t Be Happiers

aug 18: ace Frehley

aug 20: The Heavy Heavy, Joelton mayfield

PRESENTS

hot pour

[

BARTENDER OF THE WEEK BY NATALIE GARCIA] Check out

BARTENDER: Quentin Robert

BAR: The Continental Club in Greensboro, NC

AGE: 33

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Greensboro, NC

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING? A little over a year.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER?

It’s a family lounge, so it just worked out that way.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING? Meeting a lot of new people and learning a lot of new drinks to make.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BARTENDING?

The pressure from a big rush of people.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE?

“Breath Of The Wild.” It consists of Malibu, half Blue Curacao, lime juice and pineapple juice. A perfect tropical taste.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK?

Disaronno

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK?

I personally prefer a glass of Disaronno or Liquor 43. Either one on the rocks.

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

An Old Fashioned, but using Mezcal tequila.

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

A guy threw his keys through his trucks back windshield because he didn’t want to get a ride home.

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE FOUND IN A BAR BATHROOM? A hot wheels car.

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. GEOGRAPHY: What South American country lies between Colombia and Peru?

[2. MEDICAL TERMS: What is the more common name for a contusion?

[3. CHEMISTRY: What is the chemical element symbol for tungsten?

4. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman numerals DXC?

5. U.S. STATES: What is the state capital of Michigan?

[6. LANGUAGE: What does the Greek su x “gamy” mean in English?

[7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of domesticated turkeys called?

[8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first president to fly in an airplane (while in o ce)? [9. TELEVISION: What is the name of the dog on “Family Guy” animated series?

[10. AD SLOGANS: “The dogs kids love to bite” are made by which company?

answer

SALOME’S STARS]

Week of August 21, 2023

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This is a good time for the usually outspoken Lamb to be a bit more discreet. You can still get your point across, but do it in a way that is less likely to turn o a potential supporter.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Good news: All that hard work you put in is beginning to pay o . But you need to watch that tendency to insist on doing things your way or no way. Be a bit more flexible.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might want to delay making a decision on the future of a long-standing relationship until you check out some heretofore hidden details that are just now beginning to emerge.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your reluctance to compromise on an important issue could backfire without more facts to support your position. Weigh your options carefully before making your next move.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) This is a good time for ambitious Leos or Leonas to

shift from planning their next move to actually doing it. Your communication skills can help persuade others to join you.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Relationships — personal or professional — present new challenges. Be careful not to let a sudden surge of stubbornness influence how you choose to deal with them.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might need more facts before you decide on a possible career change. On the other hand, you should have no problem making a decision about an important personal matter.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You’re respected by most people for your direct, no-nonsense approach to issues. But be careful you don’t replace honest skepticism with stinging sarcasm.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A newly emerging situation could require a good deal of attention and some di cult decision-making. However, close friends will help you see it through.

1. Ecuador. 2. A bruise. 3. W. 4. 590.

5. Lansing. 6. Marriage. 7. A rafter. 8. Franklin D. Roosevelt. 9. Brian. 10. Armour.

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

[cAPrIcorN (December 22 to January 19) Ignoring changes in a relationship could create problems later on. Get involved now while there’s still time to work things out and reach an understanding.

[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) Of course you deserve to indulge yourself in something special. But for now, tuck that bit of mad money away. You’ll need it to help with a looming cash crunch.

[PIsces (February 19 to March 20) A temporary setback in your financial situation is eased by changing some of your plans. You’ll be able to ride it out quite well until the tide turns back in your favor.

[BorN THIs week: You have a gift for understanding people’s needs. You have a low tolerance for those who act without concern for others.

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate

answers

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