Yes! Weekly - November 16, 2016

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RAY TRAPP

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FIGHTS

BACK GREENSBORO NATIVE

STANDS TALL FOR A

COMMUNITY IN NEED TWIN ARCHES

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JOSH KING

P. 24

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YES! WEEKLY > NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016 > VOLUME 12, NUMBER 46

5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 Office 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930 Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

RAY TRAPP FIGHTS BACK

EDITORIAL Editor JEFF SYKES jeff@yesweekly.com Contributors KRISTI MAIER JOHN ADAMIAN RICH LEWIS STEVE MITCHELL BILLY INGRAM ALLISON STALBERG IAN MCDOWELL DEONNA KELLI SAYED

As far back as he could remember RAYMOND TRAPP wanted to be a politician. During those early years where little boys want to be police officers and firemen, he had already made up his mind that his purpose was to provide service through the political arena.

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Movies MARK BURGER marksburger@yahoo.com

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Theatre LENISE WILLIS lenise@yesweekly.com PRODUCTION Graphic Designers ALEX ELDRIDGE designer@yesweekly.com AUSTIN KINDLEY artdirector@yesweekly.com ADVERTISING Advertising Manager KATHARINE OSBORNE

kat@yesweekly.com Marketing BRAD MCCAULEY brad@yesweekly.com TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com CLAUDIA BURNETT claudia@yesweekly.com Promotion NATALIE GARCIA

DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT BRANDON COMBS 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 2016 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

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NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

the lead 8

DJ began his custom apparel business, THE GENUINE LEGACY, in May of this year. The purpose of the business was to raise money for DJ’s top surgery as a transgender man. He said the surgery will cost $7-10,000.

10 With a robust supermoon in the sky, over 200 people gathered Monday evening at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro to combat a rising tide of XENOPHOBIA that is present in our nation.

11 The city of Arts and Innovation just got a creative facelift on one of its main highways with the instillation of a UNIQUE PIECE OF SCULPTURE.

voices 12

Are there SILVER LININGS for North Carolina Democrats after Donald Trump’s sweep in our state on his road to victory in the presidential election?

arts, entertainment & dining 24

Twang and harmonies. A subdued rocking drive, and a sense of loss and struggle that’s kept in check by an ‘I’ll-get-throughthis-too’ attitude. Those are some of the qualities that shine through on JOSH KING’s material.

27 In the musical SUNSET BOULEVARD, which Theatre Alliance presents this week, the process of aging (and letting go) is examined by highlighting a silent film star who has been replaced by the new “talkies.”

30 WALTER MOSLEY is the much-loved author of 14 Easy Rawlins mysteries, including Devil in a Blue Dress and, most recently, Charcoal Joe. 31 ...the RiffTrax team is bringing twice the fun and merriment with the “RIFFTRAX HOLIDAY SPECIAL DOUBLE FEATURE,” coming to more than 600 cinema screens nationwide...

32 Greensboro’s newest restaurant, THE TRAVELED FARMER, is taking the leap and has opened its doors ahead of schedule.

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November 18-January 29 VF Seasonal Plaza at LeBauer Park, 208 N. Davie St

Visit: www.piedmontwinterfest.com for Rates and times

Call: 336-399-4710

for private reservations

November 18 Free food, skating fun & prizes

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Sponsored by:

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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BE there

JOHN MCCUTCHEON FRIDAY

EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS | BY AUSTIN KINDLEY ENT MT

ART

MU SIC

FOOD

THE ATRE

FEST

THURSDAY THURSDAY

AMAHL FRIDAY

THURSDAY

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FRIDAY

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7TH ANNUAL TASTE OF THE SOUTH

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REEFER MADNESS

WHAT: Enjoy an evening filled with delicious Southern Cuisine, NC Wines & Brews, Live Jazz Music and Fabulous Raffle Prizes - ALL for a great cause! Join Authoring Action for the 7th Annual Taste of South Fundraiser at Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in Downtown Winston-Salem!

WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Hanesbrands Theatre.

209 N. Spruce Street, Winston-Salem.

MORE: $50 tickets.

FRIDAY

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LOVE MACHINE

WHAT: Reefer Madness is a satirical parody that explores the dangers of the demon weed, marijuana. This musical is a remake of the 1936 exploitation propaganda film of the same name. Stylistically, Reefer Madness is a mash of Rocky Horror Picture Show and Little Shop of Horrors; a cute and campy surface that takes a dark turn.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Lee Street Theatre.

329 N Lee St., Salisbury.

MORE: $20 admission.

FRIDAY

WHAT: A high energy show that celebrates the sounds of Motown & Soul from the 60’s & 70’s! Join ‘Sweet Daddy’ and the cast as they take you on this electrifying musical journey! Packed with your favorite tunes like My Girl, Proud Mary, Brick House and more!

WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Barn Dinner Theatre.

120 Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro.

MORE: $48-$53 tickets.

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AMAHL AND THE JOHN NIGHT VISITORS MCCUTCHEON WHAT: Gian-Carlo Menotti’s classic one act opera (in English) is the touching story of a mother’s love, forgiveness, and the miracle of Christmas. Lavish costumes and beautiful scenery combine with a professional orchestra, wonderful choral singing, and a charming shepherd’s dance to enchant audiences of all ages.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: UNCG Auditorium.

UNCG, Greensboro.

MORE: $16 admission.

WHAT: John McCutcheon is one of the most popular and respected performers on the folk scene. John’s 36 albums have earned 6 Grammy nominations and his song ‘Christmas In the Trenches’ was recently named one of the 100 Essential Folk Songs.

WHEN: 8 p.m.

WHERE: Muddy Creek Music Hall.

5455 Bethania Road, Winston-Salem.

MORE: $20 tickets.

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PIEFEST 2016 SATURDAY SATURDAY

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SATURDAY

SATURDAY

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APPLE PANCAKE PIEFEST 2016 AND CELEBRATION DAY WhAT: The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market will host an Apple Pancake & Celebration Day in honor of this seasonal fall fruit. Admission to the event is free and apple samples will be offered in the Harvest Learning Cafe. Guest chef Alex Amoroso of Cheesecakes by Alex will serve delicious apple pancakes made with Wards Farm Fresh Eggs and a choice of toppings.

When: 8 a.m.

WheRe: Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. 501 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro.

MoRe: Free entry.

www.yEswEEkly.cOM

WhAT: PieFest is one of our Habitat Youth Ambassadors’ largest fundraisers, with proceeds helping to sponsor a Habitat house built by Forsyth County high school students. This year will mark the 14th house sponsored by our youth. PieFest includes all-you-can-eat pizza and pies donated by local restaurants, door prizes, live music and much more!

When: 11 a.m.

WheRe: Double Tree by Hilton.

5790 University Parkway, Winston-Salem.

MoRe: $10 for adults. $5 for students.

Youth under 12 are free.

SATURDAY

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THE TEXAS TENORS SATURDAY SATURDAY

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BEARDS FOR BALLS

THE TEXAS TENORS

WhAT: Food truck, live music, swag,

WhAT: Back by popular demand, the

fantastic beer, a lego table for the kids, and pets welcome!! Sponsored in part by YES! Weekly! The Journey Seeker will be holding their first annual beard and mustache competition, Beards for Balls, at Gibbs Hundred Brewing.

When: 3 p.m.

WheRe: Gibbs Hundred Brewing.

117 W Lewis St., Greensboro MoRe: Free event. Donations welcome.

Texas Tenors return to Greensboro this November for a festive concert that is sure to warm your heart! The number one vocal group in the history of Americas Got Talent brings holiday cheer in a fun-filled performance, featuring favorites from White Christmas to O Holy Night.

When: 8 p.m.

WheRe: Westover Church.

505 Muirs Chapel Road, Greensboro.

MoRe: $12-$46 entry.

SUNDAY

20 HIGH POINT

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

PARADE

WhAT: Usher in the 2016 holiday season at the High Point Holiday Festival Parade.

Featuring local businesses, organizations, high school marching bands, dance groups and, of course, Santa! Produced by the Guilford Merchants Association.

When: 3 p.m.

WheRe: Downtown High Point North Main Street High Point MoRe: Free event.

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DJ-GENUINE LEGACY

BY ALLISON STALBERG

DJ began his custom apparel business, The Genuine Legacy, in May of this year.

The purpose of the business was to raise money for DJ’s top surgery as a transgender man. He said the surgery will cost $7-10,000.

“I always liked clothes and I started looking into it,” said DJ. “I started hitting up YouTube videos, studying everything and thought ‘You know what, I’m just going to give it a try.’ I bought a used screen printing kit off of Craigslist and taught myself how to do it.”

DJ liked the idea of leaving a legacy behind.

“I’m probably not going to be able to have kids so I just wanted to leave something behind to be remembered,” he said. “I didn’t want it to be a gay or lesbian company. I wanted it to be for everybody.”

A lot of DJ’s custom shirts, hoodies and stickers promote social awareness. One of the first t-shirts he made had “Kindness Costs Nothing” on the front.

DJ’s business also helps charities and makes donations to places like the Guilford County Animal Shelter with his business. With his #LillysLoveProject, he sells shirts featuring his pitbull, Lilly, and part of the funds go to the animal shelter.

One of DJ’s favorite parts of the business is getting to do whatever he wants.

“I’m a retired DJ, so music is a huge thing to me,” he said. “I was just sitting there one day and I was like, ‘You know, music makes everything better’ so I made t-shirts that say ‘Music makes everything better.’”

What DJ struggles with is getting his name out there.

“I’m trying to figure out how businesses did it before without social media, unless you have a shop,” he said. “I don’t have a shop, but I cut hair all day and I’m hoping that after my surgery that I’ll have more money to play with and maybe I can rent a shop or something.”

His plan is for The Genuine Legacy to one day be self-sustaining.

“I take out of my paycheck but I love it,” he said. “Right now I’m focusing on my top surgery, I got to get that done before anything really changes cause they could change it where it’s not possible or something. I’m not trying to go overseas.

“I found a surgeon in Charlotte; I’d like to keep it local.”

Check out DJ online at thegenuinelegacy.com. !

THURSDAY

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FRIDAY

$4 FIREBALL / $5 LONG ISLAND ICED TEAS

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NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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WANT TO BE FEATURED AS A LOCAL TALENT? E-mail a photo and a short bio to editor@yesweekly.com

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[SCUTTLEBUTT] Items from across the Triad and beyond

APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR GREENSBORO POLICE CITIZENS’ ACADEMY

The Greensboro Police Department is now accepting applications for its 2017 Police Citizens’ Academy, and is encouraging anyone who wants to make a difference in their community to apply.

Designed to be hands-on and interactive, the Academy’s 14 sessions include demonstrations, practical exercises, and ample time for questions and answers.

Senior GPD employees will cover topics including: Neighborhood-oriented policing, Constitutional law, forensic services, special teams, vice/narcotics, youth outreach programs, and patrol operations. Two of the sessions include real-world experience during Police Week and National Night Out. Participants will also ride along with GPD officers, undergo the challenge of a simulated field encounter using the Firearms Training System, and learn about police defensive tactics.

“The Greensboro Police Citizens’ Academy is just the start of our relationship with the residents who participate in the program,” said Chief of Police Wayne Scott. “We want our graduates to take what they have learned to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

And, we want our alumni to continue a long-term partnership with GPD to share responsibility and resources to make our city safer.”

The Greensboro Police Citizens’ Academy meets every other Thursday beginning Feb. 2, 2017, and concludes with a graduation ceremony on August 24, 2017.

Eligible Greensboro residents over the age of 18 can apply for the Academy at http:// www.greensboro-nc.gov/gpca. Applications will be accepted through December 14, 2016.

“Through our instructors, classmates, and participation in ride-a-longs, I was able to take the opportunity to learn about the role of our police department in our community, and at a much deeper level,” said Peter Romanella, PhD, who graduated from the 2015 Academy.

“Our classes motivated me to do further research and studying, which helped me to look at my own perceptions, often based on limited and sometimes biased information, in a new light. There is so much to learn and experience--I strongly recommend the program.”

The Greensboro Police Citizens’ Academy support’s Scott’s strategy of expanding community outreach efforts to better connect with all of Greensboro’s residents.

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LEGAL GROUP HONORS ELON LAW STUDENTS, ADVISORY BOARD LEADER

Two of Elon Law’s top students received scholarships this month at the inaugural Scholarship and Recognition Gala hosted by the Guilford County Association of Black Lawyers.

The association also honored retired North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye, the first African-American to serve on the state’s highest court and a current member of Elon Law’s Advisory Board, with a lifetime achievement award.

The Nov. 5, 2016, gala took place at Bennett College’s Global Learning Center in Greensboro, where nearly 170 people gathered to celebrate the achievements of regional African-American legal leaders and young professionals known for their potential to make a lasting impact in law.

Vondella Smith is a third-year law student serving as an academic Dean’s Fellow in Elon Law’s academic support office. She participates with the Elder Law Society and Innocence Project. Andreas Mosby, a second-year Elon Law Leadership Fellow pursuing his Juris Doctor and MBA degrees, is involved in organizations and activities that include the Elon Law Review and the Elon Law Moot Court Board.

The scholarships will help both students cover the cost of books in upcoming academic terms.

“We were looking for individuals to honor who we see as rising stars in the legal profession,” said Gerald Walden, assistant general counsel for The Fresh Market and president of the Guilford County Association of Black Lawyers. “The two of them embody what we are looking for and what we hope future attorneys will be.”

Frye was the first African-American elected to the North Carolina legislature in the 20th century and the first AfricanAmerican to serve as an assistant U.S. Attorney in North Carolina. He founded and served as president of the first black-owned bank in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the first African-American named to the North Carolina Supreme Court and to be named chief justice of that court.

Frye, who retired in March 2016 from the practice of law, spent a lifetime fighting for fairness and justice and held many leadership roles in nonprofit, academic, professional and civic organizations.

He graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University and received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina. !

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

YES! WEEKLY

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the lead

POLITICS, UPDATES, TRENDS AND OTHER VITAL INFORMATION

Triad residents show support for immigrants

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BY DEONNA KELLI SAYED

ith a robust supermoon in the sky, over 200 people gathered Monday evening at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro to combat a rising tide of xenophobia that is present in our nation.

People came out for food and fellowship in support of the Triad’s immigrant community at the FaithAction International House’s Annual Multicultural Thanksgiving.

The diverse crowd included community faith leaders, volunteers, immigrants and Triad residents.

The event was a food drive for FaithAction’s food pantry as well as a celebration of diversity.

Attendees enjoyed eight tables of food from around the world.

The fellowship was a symbol of community cooperation.

The night’s theme: instead of building higher walls, let’s build longer tables.

FaithAction International House serves thousands of new immigrants in the area. Programs include legal services, education, food/diaper pantry, access to social services, and safe spaces for domestic violence survivors and resources for the immigrant LGBTQ community.

In 2015, FaithAction efforts propelled Greensboro to become the first city in the south to adopt community ID programs accepted by local law enforcement, health centers, city departments and local businesses.

The program is expanding throughout North Carolina.

On Monday evening, FaithAction’s motto, “Stranger To Neighbor,” carried extra meaning with the new realities of a Trump presidency as backdrop.

Many in the immigrant community are experiencing unprecedented fear.

Abigail Seymour, who is studying immigration law at Elon College, came to the event with her elementary-aged son.

“This year, there was no way I was going to miss it in the climate after Tuesday’s devestating election,” Seymour said. “My son was born in Guatemala. The first thing I said to him on the day after the election was, ‘You are going to be okay. You are a citizen.’”

She suggested “the fact that I have to say that to my

APPLE PANCAKE DAY & CELEBRATION Saturday Nov. 19, 8 – 11:30 am Chef Alex Amoroso will serve apple pancakes. Plates are $5 with proceeds benefiting the Market.

Enjoy music by Kendra Bragg beginning at 7:45am followed by Carrie Pazdziora at 9:45am.

PRE-THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION Wednesday Nov. 23, 8 am– 1 pm Pre-ordered turkeys will be ready for pick-up as well as autumnal flower arrangements, holiday baked specialties, seasonal produce, and more.

Get all your delicious sides!

501 Yanceyville St. • Greensboro, NC WWW.GSOFARMERSMARKET.ORG

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NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

child is scary. My children go to school and their friends are hearing scary things told to them about their immigrant parents. It is just a climate of fear. This is a way for us to come together and try to dispel some of that.”

Reverend David Fraccaro is FaithAction’s executive director. He shared that the goal of the event has always been to “welcome and give thanks for the tremendous diversity of this community.”

He understood that “this year it is hard to talk about diversity and unity because of the very serious fear and concern that we see everyday at FaithAction, about family well-being and survival, in some cases. Tonight is also about committing to serving, protecting, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Not in a kumbaya way, but in a very real strong way.”

Fraccaro said that many families indicated to FaithAction staff that they needed a night “where they can be themselves, feel safe, feel good, know that people have their back.”

The night offered a reprieve, and Fracarro felt that “hearing all the laughter, seeing people meeting each other, it is really healing. It helps people take the next step which is actually significant: protection and real service for the community.”

In 2016, Guilford Country welcomed 1213 refugees and asylees, according to information from the Center for New

North Carolinians. Most of these were provided initial support by resettlement agencies.

The Newcomers School lists that close to 50,000 immigrants live in Guilford County, and many struggle to navigate the complex system of social services and job placement. Some families are undocumented, a status that complicates and limits resources.

FaithAction tries to fill in the gaps and facilitate resources, and does so with the support of many faith leaders and volunteers.

Melanie Rodenbough is a FaithAction board member and chair of the volunteer committee. She felt that the evening’s festivities were “particularly meaningful at this point and time when so many of the immigrant community are afraid. I am just very proud I’ve been involved with FaithAction for almost four years now. I am extremely proud to be part of something that inspires a night like this.”

The challenges for immigrants are real, particularly with Trump declaring a move to start deporting 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants with the first 100 days of his presidency.

The current political climate is galvanizing many citizens and faith leaders to take a stand.

Rabbi Michael Ross from Beth David Synagogue commented on historical parallels between the Jewish community and the current challenges facing America’s immigrants.

“The day after the election was also the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of the Broken Glass, against Jews throughout Nazi Germany,” he said.

He referenced events that occurred on Nov 9-10 in 1938 when thousands of Jewish businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and synagogues were destroyed.

Rabbi Ross commented that “the Jewish community not only was mostly grieving the loss of the death of the dream of different leadership, but we were also aware of the history of what had happened to our own people in Europe when we weren’t paying attention to the political uprising.

When we were the marginalized and ostracized ones.”

He said that “part of what we are doing here tonight is not just standing with marginalized communities, but to say ‘We want to support them on their own individual journey, their own identity, and know that the are here as an ally.’”

“I think one of the things we learned from the election is that we all live in little bubbles,” Abigail Seymour said. “And you can also live in a bubble that is full of immigrants, so it can be hard to realize that people might not know someone who looks different or who has a different background. I think we all need to get out of those bubbles.”

Wasif Qureshi, a Muslim faith leader, reiterated the event’s call for more active listening and cooperation.

“We are water beings, 70 percent of (our body) is water,” he said. “Individually we are droplets. Together we can be a river, an ocean. We can provide each other with the mercy that we receive from the God above.”

FaithAction International House has several programs throughout the year, as well as ongoing services for the immigrant community. To learn more, visit faihouse.org. !

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Twin Arches welcome residents, visitors to Downtown Winston-Salem

BY CHANEL DAVIS The city of Arts and Innovation just got a creative facelift on one of its main highways with the instillation of a unique piece of sculpture.

The Creative Corridors Coalition, a local group focused on making Winston-Salem’s infrastructure aesthetically pleasing, installed the Twin Arches at the intersection of U.S. 52 and Research Parkway on Saturday while roughly 100 people braved the cold wind to see the first piece of a major project come together.

John Rincic said the he came out because he loves his city and wanted to be a part of the growth and change he’d seen in the community, having lived there for 10 years.

“You see this, and after asking how much it costs, you recognize that it shows we are the city of Arts and Innovation and I’m proud of that,” he said.

“It’s great just to know that our city is thriving and growing.”

Rincic said that he hopes the new improvements will attract new businesses and people to the city.

“We were tobacco for years and now you see more of a repurposing in the city. Hopefully it will attract businesses and well-educated people who want to live here,” Rincic said.

“Anytime you help better your transportation services in and out of the city, you’re obviously going to have an impact on the economy.”

Anton Moussaev, local realtor and Rincic’s husband, agrees.

“Watching Winston-Salem grow for the last several years has been an amazing thing. From a real estate, prospective this is what makes our city attractive to those moving to the area.”

In 2014, CCC created a masterplan, through a grant procured from the National Endowments for the Arts and local matching funds, for six main projects that will be used to enhance the city of Winston-Salem: The Twin Arches, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive enhancements, a Strollway Pedestrian Bridge, the Green Street Pedestrian Bridge, the Peter’s Creek Parkway Bridge and various enhancements to the Business 40 corridor.

With the help of Stimmel Associates and feedback from the community, those plans are now coming into place beginning WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Creative Corridors Coalition pulled off its first installation this week in Winston-Salem when crews began putting up the Twin Arches over US 52.

with the installation of the Twin Arches.

“It’s been exciting today to watch this happen. For us it is so important to see a physical manifestation of all the ideas that we’ve had for so long,” said Kristen Haaf, project manager for Creative Corridors. “This is going to be a gateway into downtown and it’s going to represent the connection that we’re trying to create across neighborhoods and our communities. We have people here of all ages, from all different neighborhoods around. I’m so excited about this for all communities. It’s truly amazing to be able to see this come together.”

Acting as a gateway to the southern area of Downtown, the arches will span the interchange where Research Parkway goes under US 52, leading to the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. The non-structural arches, outfitted with lights, were designed by bridge architect Donald MacDonald, known for his work on the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, S.C. MacDonald spent time in the city looking at the architecture and studying the Moravian Arts before coming up with the design.

The area is expected to see a high volume of traffic when Business 40 closes

in the downtown area for construction in 2018.

The project, which is estimated to cost $1.65 million, is funded by an 80/20 match from the state, city and nonprofit.

The state, through the federal government, will pay for 80 percent of the project, while the city and Creative Corridors will each contribute 10 percent. For Creative Corridors that would be $950,000 from its private funds.

South Ward Councilwoman Molly Leight

said that it has been exciting to be a part of the transformation as a member of the Creative Corridors committee.

“This is just the beginning of much more to come. I think it’s wonderful that the people behind Creative Corridors had the vision of making highways something more than just boring highways -adding some art and light to it,” Leight said. “We have art that you can choose to go see but this is right there as a symbol of the city.” !

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

YES! WEEKLY

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voices

WRITE US AT EDITOR@YESWEEKLY.COM

Trump, Helms, and Democratic unity

A

re there silver linings for North Carolina Democrats after Donald Trump’s sweep in our state on his D.G. Martin road to victory in the presidential election?

Contributor The apparent victory of Roy Cooper for governor, of course, if it holds, could provide Cooper the opportunity to serve the state and to keep Democrats involved in state government.

Josh Stein as attorney general and Mike Morgan on the state supreme court are important victories with more than a little silver in the linings.

But these are exceptions in a barrel full of disappointments. Hillary Clinton and Deborah Ross, after well-funded and vigorous campaigns fell well short. Two long serving members of the Council of State, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, lost in close races. No incumbent Republicans lost. Republicans also maintained their solid, veto-proof

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course, but that majorities in the is why he was so General Assembly. valuable. The hatred But Democrats I am not voting for of Helms pulled the should take heart.

Democrats together.

Trump, I am voting The election returns And when the show that North against Hillary. various factions of Carolina remains a the party could not purple state, one agree on anything that is competitive else, there was one for both parties in way to promote unity: start talking about statewide elections if they can nominate Jesse Helms. and finance appealing candidates. And, if Opposition to Helms defined what it they can find something to unify them. meant to be a Democrat more than any The Republicans found that unifying single difference on issues or political something this year. philosophy.

It was not Donald Trump.

Democrats chafed because they could Divided on policy and support for their never defeat Helms. They were frustrated presidential candidate, they united in as they saw him gain support from large their dislike of their opponent, Hillary groups of people who would have benClinton. efited from programs and policies that “I am not voting for Trump,” my RepubDemocrats advocated. lican friends told me over and over, “I am Still, Helms was the gift that kept on voting against Hillary.” giving to Democratic unity.

Not too long ago, North Carolina Who can fill that kind role for today’s Democrats had that kind of opponent, Democrats? one who unified them when nothing else Donald Trump. could.

Even though he will be our president, Senator Jesse Helms. he is a political figure who has shown Until his retirement from the U.S. views and attitudes that stir up opposiSenate in 2003, some people said that tion. It is not unpatriotic to focus on the Helms was North Carolina Democrats’ negative features of a political opponent best asset. They mostly hated him, of

and his views simply because he holds our highest office, In a recent pre-election column, I argued that “if Trump were to win and become president, he would provoke anti-Trump and anti-Republican voters in the 2018 and 2020 elections, which would be monumental, surpassing even the anti-Obama reaction in 2010.”

Something similar happened in 2010.

Two years after Barack Obama won the presidency, Republicans made Obama and his programs their enemy. They ousted Democrats from control of the North Carolina General Assembly, riding a Tea Party and anti-Obama wave. In the same year, Democrats lost 64 seats and control of the U.S. House and lost five seats in the U.S. Senate.

Democrats will have the opportunity to make similar gains in 2018. But success will not be automatic. It will not come without organization, responsive programs, and unity.

To get that unity, Donald Trump is there to help. !

D.G. MARTIN hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which airs Sundays at noon and Thursdays at 5 p.m. on UNC-TV. Preview the upcoming program on UNC-MX digital channel Time Warner #1276) on Fridays at 8 p.m.

This Thursday’s (November 17) guest is Ben Fountain, author of “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.”

Next week’s (November 20, 24) guest is Joseph Bathanti, author of “Half of What I Say Is Meaningless” and “The Life of the World to Come.”

To view prior programs: http://video.unctv.org/program/nc-bookwatch/episodes/ For upcoming programs: www.unctv.org/ncbookwatch — Thursday 5pm November 17 Ben Fountain, author of “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” — Sunday noon November 20 and Thursday 5pm November 24 Joseph Bathanti, author of “Half of What I Say Is Meaningless” and “The Life of the World to Come” — Thursday 5pm November 31 Bridgette Lacy author of “Sunday Dinner” — Thursday 5pm December 8 Scott Ellsworth, author of “The Secret Game” — Thursday 5pm December 15 Robert Morgan , author of “Chasing the North Star” — Sunday noon December 18 and Thursday 5pm December 22 Bryan King & Shane Heavner, authors of “12 Bones Smokehouse: A Mountain BBQ Cookbook” — Thursday 5pm December 29 Bart Ehrman, author of “Jesus Before the Gospels” — Sunday noon January 1 **and Thursday 5pm Janurary 5 Kathy Reichs, author of “Speaking In Bones”

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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[news of the weird] The NaNNy STaTe

BrighT ideaS

New York City officially began licensing professional fire eaters earlier this year, and classes have sprung up to teach the art so that the city’s Chuck Shepherd Fire Department Explosives Unit can test for competence (if not “judgment”) and issue the “E29” certificates. In the “bad old (license-less) days,” a veteran fire eater told The New York Times in October, a “bunch of us” performed regularly for $50 a throw, largely oblivious of the dangers (though some admit that almost everyone eventually gets “badly burned”). For authenticity, the Times writer, a fire eater who dubbed herself Lady Aye, completed the licensing process herself (“as sexy as applying for a mortgage”), but declined to say whether she is awaiting bookings.

— A major streetlight in the town of Pebmarsh Close, England, went out of service when a truck hit it a year ago, and despite pleas to fix it from townspeople — and Essex county councillor Dave Harris — no action has been taken. In October, Harris staged a “birthday party” on the site, formally inviting numerous guests, and furnishing a birthday cake — to “celebrate” the “age” of the broken streetlight. (The shamed county highway office quickly promised action.)

— Prominent British radio host Dame Jenni Murray suggested in October that the U.K. scrap traditional “sex education” courses in school and instead show pornographic videos for classes to “analyze it in exactly the same way as (they analyze Jane Austen)” in order to encourage discussion of the role of sex.

Younger students might explore why a boy should not look up a girl’s skirt, but older students would view hard-core material to confront, for example, whether normal women should “shave” or make the typical screeching moans that porno “actresses” make. Dame Jenni said

simply condemning pornography is naive because too much money is at stake.

— At a World Cup qualifier match in October in Quito, Ecuador, police arrived during the game to question star player Enner Valencia about an unpaid alimony complaint, and he saw them waiting on the sideline. Local media reported that Valencia then faked an on-field injury near the end of the match to “necessitate” being taken away by ambulance, thus outmaneuvering the police. (He settled the complaint in time for the next match.)

are We Safe?

— The security firm Trend Micro disclosed in October its “surprise” to find, in the course of a routine investigation, that firms in several crucial sectors (nuclear power, electric utilities, defense contractors, computer chip makers) send critical alert messages via oldstyle wireless pagers wholly unsecured against hacking. In fact, Trend Micro said the enormously popular WhatsApp message-exchange app has better security than the alert systems of nuclear

power plants. (Infrastructure engineers defended the outdated technology as useful where internet access was unavailable.)

— Life Imitates Art: Security experts hired by the investment firm Muddy Waters (which is being sued for defamation by St. Jude Medical Inc. over claims that St. Jude’s cardiac implant device can be hacked) disclosed in an October court filing that they agree the devices are anonymously and maliciously hackable.

They found that a popular control device (Merlin@Home) could be remotely turned off, or jiggered to carry a dangerous electrical charge from up to 100 feet away. (A similar incident was part of a plot in Season 2 of the “Homeland” TV series, as the means by which the ailing U.S. vice president was assassinated.)

WaiT, WhaT?

New York’s prestigious Bronx High School of Science enrolls some of the “best and brightest” students in the city — some of whom (perhaps rebelling against the “nerd” label) for the last two years have held unauthorized, consensu-

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al fistfights (a “fight club”) in a field near the school, according to an October New York Daily News report. Students at the school (which has produced eight Nobel Prize winners and eight National Medal of Science honorees) then bombarded the Daily News reporter by telephone and Facebook with acrimonious, vulgar messages for placing the school in a bad light.

TOO QUICKLY PROMOTED

Nathan Lawwill, 32, from Lansing, Michigan, was arrested in Tunisia in October after emigrating as a recent Muslim convert, speaking little Arabic — which did not restrain him (a one-time Christian) from now being the Islamic Messiah, the “gift to Muslims,” “Mahdi to Muslims and Messiah to the Jews.” “I am going to be the center of the world very quickly,” he wrote on Facebook. He and his brother Patrick were found by police on Oct. 25 “unwashed,” and were detained on suspicion of terrorism.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS

(1) Ms. Cana Greer, 29, was arrested in Sacramento, California, in October when police responded to a call to help her remove handcuffs she had accidentally

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engaged while fooling around with a friend. Police, routinely checking her ID, discovered an outstanding felony burglary warrant. As per procedure, officers took her to a fire station for removal of the cuffs — to make room on her wrists for their own handcuffs. (2) A woman unnamed (because she has not been charged with a crime) almost produced major havoc at the Shuttle Car Wash in Titusville, Florida, in October when, while cleaning her car, she attempted to vacuum gas out of her trunk, causing the vacuum to explode.

UNDIGNIFIED DEATHS

Mr. Nigel Hobbs, 71, passed away in Dawlish, England, in April, and an October coroner’s inquest heard that his body was found by a neighbor “swaddled” in bed linen and wearing numerous “homemade” dresses and his face covered by stockings pulled tight (but with eye holes). Underneath the coverings, his face was wrapped in polyethylene, including his mouth but not his nose, and cotton or wool was stuffed into his ears and mouth. The coroner assumed the cause of death was accidental asphyxiation.

RECURRING THEMES

Joining some classic cases of sentencing overkill that have populated News of the Weird through the years: In October in San Marcos, Texas, jurors apparently had enough of recidivist drunk driver Jose Marin, 64, who had just racked up conviction No. 8 and so sentenced him to spend the next 99 years in prison and (perhaps more horrifyingly) sober. And in Fresno, California, Rene Lopez, 41, convicted of raping his daughter over a four-year period beginning when she was 16, was sentenced by a Fresno Superior Court judge to prison until the year 3519 (1,503 years from now).

THE PASSING PARADE

(1) The world’s first constantly flowing (and free!) “wine fountain” opened in Abruzzo, Italy, in October, to help draw tourists and pilgrims who make the trek south from the Vatican to view the cathedral where remains of the disciple Thomas are kept. Operators said they hope the fountain will not become a home to “drunkards.” (2) In September, the world’s first (legal) beer pipeline opened, pumping 12,000 bottles’ worth an hour from the Halve Maan brewery in

Bruges, Belgium, to its bottling plant two miles away (and thus sparing visitors to the historic city the sight of tanker trucks cluttering the cobblestone streets). The pipeline was partly funded by private citizens offered “free beer for life” for their donations.

A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (MAY 2012)

Awesome Achievement: William Todd, traveling by bus, faced a nine-hour layover in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 9 (2012) — and with time on his hands, managed to (allegedly) commit at least 11 felonies, one after another, while he waited: shooting up a restaurant, setting it on fire, robbing four people at a bar, carjacking, breaking into a law office and defecating on a desk, trolling hotel rooms seeking theft opportunities, and stealing a taxicab and robbing the driver.

He was finally captured at Opryland, where he had hidden by submerging himself in water up to his nose. !

© 2016 Chuck Shepherd. Universal Press Syndicate.

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RAY TRAPP FIGHTS BACK GREENSBORO NATIVE STANDS TALL FOR A COMMUNITY IN NEED

BY CHANEL DAVIS

A

s far back as he could remember Raymond Trapp wanted to be a politician. During those early years where little boys want to be police officers and firemen, he had already made up his mind that his purpose was to provide service through the political arena.

The Guilford County Commissioner got his first crack at it back in 1991 when he was elected vice-president of the student council at Guilford Middle School. Even then he didn’t know how far he could go within political circles.

The 38-year-old has learned to navigate those circles seamlessly, running unopposed for the second time in a row, while focusing on his family, constituents and the future growth, not only of District 8, but Guilford County as a whole.

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YOUNG AND HUNGRY Trapp, who was first elected in 2012, didn’t really get started in elective politics until he returned to Greensboro from the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area in 2006.

“I started going out to community events and getting involved in community issues,” he said.

He said he saw a need for the younger generation to get involved and stay involved for the long term.

“It was a long-term commitment to follow what all of these trailblazing folks that we’ve had in Greensboro and Guilford County have done. Some major leaders have come from the city of Greensboro and Guilford County as a whole,” he said, referencing the likes of Jesses Jackson and The Greensboro Four. “That’s a huge responsibility and also something to be proud of and I wanted to pick up and carry

on that mantle.”

Trapp said that most people his age and younger are of the integration age, a generation that believes that we live in a post-racial society.

“I think that for my generation it was critical that I had that voice to speak up and say ‘hold on, everything isn’t great.’ We don’t live in a post-racial society. Racism may not be as front and center as it was in the 60s with dogs and water but on the economic side of things, it absolutely is, and in some cases, it’s even worse.”

From there he ended up being appointed to the Minimum Housing Standards Commission by then Greensboro City Councilmember T. Dianne Bellamy-Small in 2009. The commission looked at

substandard and dilapidated housing throughout the city.

“I loved being on the Minimum Housing Standards Board. One, because I’m from Northeast Greensboro and a lot of the cases that we saw were from Northeast Greensboro and were houses that were NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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Ray Trapp represents District 8 on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. abandoned, crack houses or just a blight on the community,” Trapp said about his time on the board.

He stayed there for a year before being appointed, again by Bellamy-Small, to the Zoning Commission. There he was elected chairman, becoming both the first African-American and youngest chair to serve on the committee.

Many young people encounter some doubt when stepping onto the political scene. Trapp said that wasn’t an issue for him because several seasoned politicians served as mentors, including BellamySmall, Skip Alston and Yvonne Johnson just to name a few. He said once they realized that he was there to stay, and his ambition didn’t outweigh commitment, they began showing him the ropes.

“I was able to bounce things off of her (Bellamy-Small) so she was absolutely influential in mentoring me and showing me the ropes,” he said. “I think they’ve seen young people fired up before who come in and in about six months to a year that person disappears. So for them, I think there’s a vetting process of how interested ... and how committed you actually are to making a change.”

While on the Zoning Commission Trapp was approached about taking his service to the next level. He had rebuffed previous opportunities to advance in government until he had a conversation with then

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Commissioner Skip Alston, who informed Trapp he was retiring.

“He said ‘the community needs you to do your thing.’ At that point I was like I can’t continue to say no,” Trapp said.

After getting the go-ahead from his wife, he filed for the seat and ran unopposed for his first election in 2012. Three other Republican commissioners were unopposed for election that year as well.

He describes his experience as coming in “with eyes wide open, nose wide open and thinking that that we’re going to make things work and sing kumbaya.”

“I was thinking that everybody runs for office because they want the best for everybody,” Trapp said. “It took about a year and half to really see maybe that’s not the case.”

The first eye-opener for him was the vote surrounding the Renaissance Community Co-op. Greensboro officials had come to the board to seek funds for a grant to get a grocery store in Northeast Greensboro, which is long considered a food dessert.

“To me it was a no brainer. This is a public health issue and the county oversees public health. People that live in food deserts have chronic diseases because they don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” Trapp said. “It’s $250,000 out of an almost $700 million budget. A drop in the pan.

Trapp said understanding your community is a major part of public service.

“When our board couldn’t see fit to finance that it completely opened my eyes and it changed a lot of things. In my comments I said ‘I’ve learned we’re not up here to be friends. I’m up here to represent the people of District 8.’ That was a hard and fast education. I have two kids and a wife, I don’t need to have friends but I want to make sure I represent my district in the way it needs to be represented.”

The Renaissance Community Co-op eventually raised enough funds through other sources and celebrated its grand opening this fall.

Trapp said that he’s even had some moments where he thought he was done and was ready to walk away. It was at that time he had to try and understand exactly where and what that person was seeing.

“I had a colleague say that food deserts aren’t real and that it’s propaganda promoted by the Obama administration to funnel money into urban communities.

For one that’s an ignorant statement and it lets me know that they didn’t really know what a food desert really was,” he said. “It’s not just about mileage away from a grocery store. It’s also about income and access to transportation. So what I’ve come to see is that what’s my reality is not necessarily everyone else’s reality. If you choose not to take yourself out of the world, and to go see how other people live and other things people go

through then of course that’s your world.

However, I don’t have the luxury of doing that. I represent people that are underserved and economically depressed so it’s not a luxury to not see how everyone lives and not deal with reality.”

He says the first four years were summed up for him by fellow Democrat and Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen.

“He said ‘in the first year, you’re going to get in and it’s going to be like ‘wow, this awesome’ and you’re going to think you know everything. The second year you’re going to think you know even more than you did in the first year and in the third year you’re going to realize you don’t know anything. By the fourth year you’ll know just enough to know what you don’t know.’ That’s absolutely the way that it’s been,” Trapp said.

Trapp said understanding the community you represent is a big part of being an elected official.

“We have a representative democracy which means when I’m speaking I’m not speaking for myself. I’m speaking for the 50,000 people that I represent. Which means you better make sure you know where the community stands on any issue before you go anywhere speaking about it,” he said. “That comes from being grounded in the community.”

Laughing he said “I ain’t fresh out the

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hood, I’m still in the hood,” quoting 50 Cent. “If it was for me to sit up there and go along with everything the majority said you don’t need me sitting up there.

I’m there to be the voice of the minority community.”

Call for ChangE Like many who hold a public office, there are certain subjects that Trapp is passionate about. While he may encounter difficulties in pursing specific change, he’s learned that there is more than one way to get things done.

“I’ve found that you can work with staff without necessarily bringing things to the board to get things done,” he explained.

“You find outside community partners and nonprofits that you can work with to get what you need without approval.”

Trapp said that he’s learned more from Commissioner Carolyn Coleman, who also sits on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, along with serving on the national board and as first vice-president of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“Coleman is a true civil rights fighter.

I’ve learned so much from her in four years. It’s been amazing,” he said.

Coleman also speaks highly of Trapp, calling him a ray of sunlight on the board.

“He’s young, bright and energetic. His focus is always on the community,” Coleman said. “He is a pleasant person to deal with and I’ve enjoyed working with him.”

Trapp is passionate about eliminating food deserts and he feels the county should lead the charge. He said he gets a lot of push back from conservatives.

“I don’t have a problem with people being conservative. Being conservative is a philosophy. But don’t be selectively conservative,” Trapp said. “You want to be conservative when it comes to issues in my community but you’ll back up a Brinks truck if it’s something that has to do with your community.

“The mantra from conservatives has been we want to make sure we are doing mandated programs and what the county is mandated to do. The county is mandated to oversee public health. So if you have statistics, data, numbers in your face that show you that people that live in food deserts suffer from chronic diseases directly related to bad diets because they don’t have access to those things, then as a county official it is your duty, oath and your job to step up and do something about that.”

He has done just that with an initiative called “Food Desert Storm.” Trapp, who works out every morning at Gold’s Gym on Randleman Road, spoke to his trainer Vernon Williams about his idea and asked if he’d be willing to donate his time. www.yEswEEkly.cOM

“He said yes and it would give him an opportunity to promote his non-profit the Healthy American Initiative. I then reached out to the city and asked if we could use the facilities in Warnersville to start,” he said. “The city went above and beyond, not only letting us use the facilities but offering to sit down with me and help plan it out. I gave them my ideas and city staff, the county cooperative extension, officials from United Health Care and public health ran with it.”

They came up with a 12-week program where 43 participants checked in every other Saturday to see how their weight, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol improved through eating right and working out. Out of those 43 participants 19 had improved their body mass index, blood pressure or cholesterol by the end of the program.

“It’s not 100 percent and not where we wanted to be but it was a start. We actually won a National Association of Counties Achievement award for the initiative,” he said.

Another issue that Trapp has dedicated his time to is focusing on the housing of juvenile offenders. Most recently he’s been working with Senator Gladys Robinson on a bill, co-sponsored by Republican Majority Whip Sen. Jerry Tillman, that would change the way the state houses juvenile offenders.

“Currently North Carolina is one of the few, if not the last, state in the nation to house 16-year-olds with adults. So if you have 16-year-olds charged with smoking weed and sentenced as an adult, they’re locked up with adult murderers.

Now that’s criminal,” he said. “These are 16-year-old children that are locked up with adult, hardened criminals.”

Trapp said he’s not trying to change the fact that minors that commit horrific and offensive crimes are charged as adults.

He just wants to be able to make sure teenagers that make poor choices get a chance to be productive members of society.

Unfortunately, the bill didn’t gain traction, dying on the finance committee floor. Trapp said he doesn’t think that the issue is a partisan one, yet one surrounding the cost of the separate housing. He does plan to continue to try until changes are made.

“The push back has been from smaller counties who say they can’t afford to do this. I don’t buy that. We can find money for anything and everything that we want to find money for so why can’t we find money for this?” he said. “At 16, if you put me in jail, the only thing it’s going to do is teach me to be a better criminal and I’m going to make connections so when I get out I can use those connections to NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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Trapp ran unopposed in 2012 and 2016. Moving forward he plans to focus on economic development opportunities and alleviating challenges facing the poor.

increase my life on the criminal side. It’ll never be over.”

Welfare Reform is another issue that Trapp is passionate about. As chair of the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, and as a board member of the Welfare Reform Liaison Project, he sees the need for change first hand.

“We have a welfare system that is absolutely designed for people to fail. It is absolutely designed for people to stay on the system because there’s no gradual approach to getting off. There are hard and fast rules in place,” Trapp explained.

He said that those getting assistance are smart enough to do a cost benefit analysis and see that it is more beneficial to not work than to go to work and struggle to survive on $8 an hour.

“They think about the fact that if they get above that limit they immediately have to pay rent in public housing or lose their Section 8 voucher. Immediately

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after that my food stamps get decreased because now I’m making more income.

People are smart enough to realize that,” Trapp said.

Instead, he feels there needs to be some truthful conversations concerning welfare overhaul and about what needs to be done to make people self-sufficient without having programs for the sake of having programs. He also believes that it needs to be made clear that no one is getting rich off of welfare.

“In Guilford County, Work First is the only program that puts money in the hands of recipients. In the entire county, out of 500,000 people, we have 200 families who receive money from Work First,” he said. “You can’t make policy for poor people or underserved people unless you’ve been in that position. Rich people can’t make policy for poor people and say that it’s going to work because it definitely won’t work.”

FAMILY MAN Trapp fights for his community but that’s second to his family. The Allen Tate Real Estate Broker is also the husband of Josette and father of Alexandria Raye, 4, and a 3-year-old son, Roman Louis.

He said his wife, a navy veteran who is enrolled as a senior full time at N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University and works full-time with the Internal Revenue Service, has always been his biggest cheerleader.

Their daughter, Alexandria, has a rare disease called Myasthenia gravis, which is a neuro-muscular disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy nerve fibers.

Trapp takes his time with his family seriously and considers it sacred.

“In the mornings, that’s our time. Just me and the kids. Everything else can wait until I drop them off at school,” he said.

Following the theme of service to the community that his fraternity Phi Beta Sigma (Gamma Beta Sigma chapter) was

founded on, Trapp said he doesn’t see district lines.

“I represent anyone underserved or someone that feels like they need a voice in the county; that’s who I represent,” he said. “I’m not surprised that I ran unopposed again. I think that from what I’m seeing, if your community sees that you’re trying to do what’s right and trying to represent them the best way you can then they want you to keep representing them.

I love District 8 and I’m appreciative of the community support.”

The Greensboro native was born at the new L. Richardson Memorial Hospital and grew up in a single-family home on Phillips Avenue in what’s now New Garden Place, right down the street from Claremont Homes Public Housing, where he spent most of his childhood playing.

He was bussed to Irving Park Elementary, which was a different make-up than his neighborhood.

“We stayed where my mom could

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afford. I didn’t know I lived in the hood.

Irving Park at the time was one of the most affluent schools in Greensboro and they were taking the kids whose parents were living on Section 8 and in the hood,” Trapp said. “It gave me a totally different prospective. You had maybe three black kids in every class but these were my friends. Their parents would pick me up on Phillips Avenue to go to birthday parties and things like that. It was an awesome experience because it required me to step up my game and become more because my mom always told me that I had to perform two times better.”

During the summers, he stayed with his father in Atlanta, where he would later attend high school. He described himself as an average student who could be a “knucklehead” from time to time. There his dad was considered middle class and worked in insurance so he saw more affluent black people who owned their own businesses.

“It was like going from one extreme to the other. It was totally different. That was my first introduction to the fact that everything isn’t as good as we think it is. In Greensboro I intermingled with everyone,” Trapp said. “That was an adjustment but all of that is why I think I love representing the people that I represent. I know their story. I’ve been through that. We have to have elected officials that have had that experience in order to represent our community.”

After graduating, Trapp enrolled in the Navy. It was there he would meet his wife and they would be transferred to Baltimore and then to Washington, D.C. He would then retire from the Navy while his wife would end up being transferred to the Pentagon. He would take a few jobs, like working at a call center and a 7/11, before he eventually decided to enroll into classes at Anne Arundel Community College, where he would graduate Magna Cum Laude.

When he returned to Greensboro in 2006, he began working at the Triad Apartment Association, now called the Greater Piedmont Triad Apartments, a nonprofit related to real estate. After that he worked in property management at Emerson Company. There he would be named one of the Triad Business Journal’s 40 Business Leaders under 40 in 2011, largely due to his ability to turn around the numbers for the company.

“That was great and goes back to knowing the community and knowing the people that live and worked there,” Trapp said. “One of the things I loved about that was that we made investments back into the community. A lot of our homes were low-income homes in underserved communities in the district that I now repWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

resent. The owner absolutely believed in putting in high quality fixtures and doing things that they needed to do in order to make the place great and I loved that.”

Now he works as a licensed real estate agent with Allen Tate. He said that working in real estate allows him to help people achieve homeownership. He is a board member of the Affordable Housing Management board, the Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro and Citizens for Economic and Environmental Justice, just to name a few.

“If you own your home, no one can put you out and it’s your property,” Trapp said.

“It’s the first step to building wealth and ultimately being self-sufficient.”

His experience in real estate also allowed him to get more involved into politics through lobbying.

“I guess everything was meant to push me back into something that I said I wasn’t going to do.”

A CAMPAIGN FOR THE FUTURE When you ask about his future in politics, Trapp says that he isn’t committed to anything after serving on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

He adds that he was also taught to never say never.

“It’s always good to have someone new come in to put fresh eyes on a situation but I also understand that you need some sort of leadership value there. I love being a county commissioner. I’m perfectly comfortable right where I am and I don’t see myself pushing beyond that.”

He seems to have made quite an impression in that position as well. Commissioner Carlvena Foster said that she finds Trapp to be a compassionate and uncompromising leader. She said that they share the same values, thoughts and ideas.

“He champions causes that affect the general population of citizens in Guilford County, often spearheading initiatives and programs to empower and enhance lives.

He is not afraid to step outside of the box,” Forster said. “He is tactful in speaking his mind and is not easily influenced by other’s opinions of issues or him. He is definitely a protector of his family, always putting them first.”

One thing that Trapp can commit to, at least for the next four years, is efforts to increase economic development opportunities for Greensboro, High Point and the surrounding areas. He’ll also continue to shed light on the issues facing so many impoverished residents.

“I represent the poor people and I do so unapologetically,” Trapp said. !

Trapp campaigned for Democratic candidates along with former Sen. Kay Hagan, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Bruce Davis and Equality NC’s Chris Sgro during the recent election cycle.

Trapp with Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey recently in Greensboro.

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

YES! WEEKLY

21

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

Visit yesweekly.com and click on calendar to list your event online. home grown muSic Scene | compiled by Austin Kindley

ASHEBORO

FOUR SAINTS BREWING

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 foursaintsbrewing.com Nov 16: Traditional Irish/Celtic Music Session Nov 18: Shiloh Hill Nov 19: Emma Lee Nov 23: Corey Hunt Band Nov 25: Bjorn and Francois Nov 26: Tyler Milliard Dec 2: Open Mic w/ Wolfie Calhoun Dec 3: Momma Molasses

clEmmOnS

RIvER RIDGE TApHOUSE 1480 River Ridge Dr | 336.712.1883 riverridgetaphouse.com Nov 17: Jake Dean Nov 18: pop Guns!

Nov 19: Mezza voce Nov 25: Big Daddy Mojo Nov 26: Nine Lives!

dAnBuRy

GREEN HERON ALE HOUSE

1110 Flinchum Rd | 336.593.4733 greenheronclub.com Nov 19: Lizzy Ross & Omar Ruiz Lopez Nov 26: Mystery Hillbillies Dec 3:Wyndy Trail Travelers Dec 10: Another Roadside Attraction Dec 17: David Childers Dec 23: Local Music Christmas Celebration

gREEnSBORO

ARIzONA pETE’S

2900 Patterson St #A | 336.632.9889 arizonapetes.com Nov 18: 1-2-3 Friday Nov 25: 1-2-3 Friday

ARTISTIkA NIGHT CLUB 523 S Elm St | 336.271.2686 artistikanightclub.com Nov 18: DJ Dan the player Nov 19: DJ paco and DJ Dan the player

BIG pURpLE

812 Olive St. | 336.302.3728

THE BLIND TIGER

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.272.9888 theblindtiger.com Nov 18: Cosmic Charlie Nov 19: Larry keel & The Smoking J’s Nov 23: Coddle Creek Nov 30: Travers Brothership Dec 2: Holy Ghost Tent Revival Dec 3: Bear With Me Dec 4: Gate City Divas

BUCkHEAD SALOON

1720 Battleground Ave | 336.272.9884 buckheadsaloongreensboro.com Nov 18: vintage & Lace Nov 19: Bad Romeo Nov 25: Face First Nov 26: Jukebox Revolver

CHURCHILL’S ON ELM

213 S Elm St | 336.275.6367 churchillscigarlounge.com Nov 18: Evin Gibson Band Nov 19: Jack Long Old School Jam

COMEDY zONE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 thecomedyzone.com Nov 18: valarie Storm Nov 19: valarie Storm Nov 25: J. Bliss Nov 26: J. Bliss Dec 2: Tennessee Tramp Dec 3: Tennessee Tramp

We have a variety of fresh baked goodies daily along with locally roasted coffee and espresso.

COMMON GROUNDS 11602 S Elm Ave | 336.698.3888 Nov 10: Open Mic

CUSTOM CAKES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ANY OCCASION!

CONE DENIM Mixing paint and cocktails for a picture perfect nite on the town, & inspiring individuals to

#DrinkCreatively Use code YesWeekly at check out for $20 off every ticket!

CAKES BY B - Blue House Bakery 113 EAST MAIN ST · JAMESTOWN, NC 27282 facebook.com/cakesbyb · (336) 307-4653 HOURS: Mon-Wed 6:30am-6:00pm Thurs-Fri 6:30am-9:00pm · Sat 9am-9pm

22 YES! WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

www.paintnite.com

117 S Elm St | 336.378.9646 cdecgreensboro.com Nov 18: Brothers Osborne Nov 19: Jonny Lang Nov 26: Who’s Bad - Michael Jackson Tribute Band Dec 10: pop Evil Dec 15: Lil’ Durk

HAM’S GATE CITY

3017 Gate City Blvd | 336.851.4800 hamsrestaurants.com Nov 18: Joe Belle Nov 25: Evin Gibson

HAM’S NEW GARDEN

1635 New Garden Rd | 336.288.4544 hamsrestaurants.com Nov 18: Exit 180 Nov 25: Jukebox Revolver

MCpHERSON’S BAR & GRILL

5710 W Gate City Blvd | 336.292.6496 mcphersonsgreensboro.com Nov 18: Stereo Doll Nov 19: Shmack Daniels

pRINT WORkS BISTRO

702 Green Valley Rd | 336.379.0699 printworksbistro.com Nov 18: Evan Olsen & Jessica Mashburn

SOMEWHERE ELSE TAvERN

5713 W Friendly Ave | 336.292.5464 facebook.com/thesomewhereelsetavern Dec 2: The Norm, zestrah, Deutronomy Anno Domini

THE IDIOT BOx COMEDY CLUB

2134 Lawndale Dr | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com Nov 25: Eddie Ifft

vILLAGE TAvERN

1903 Westridge Rd | 336.282.3063 villagetavern.com

WORLD OF BEER

1210 Westover Terrace | 336.897.0031 worldofbeer.com/Locations/Greensboro

HigH pOint

AFTER HOURS TAvERN

THE GREEN BEAN

341 S. Elm St | 336.691.9990 thegreenbeancoffeehouse.blogspot.com

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113 afterhourstavern.net Nov 18: New Soul Revival Dec 2: Chasin’ Skirt Band Dec 3: Rock Machine

GREENE STREET CLUB

BLUE BOURBON JACk’S

113 N Greene St | 336.273.4111 greenestreetclub.com Nov 26: Crown The Empire

1310 N Main St | 336.882.2583 reverbnation.com/venue/bluebourbonjacks Nov 24: Heads Up penny

www.yEswEEkly.cOMw

claddagh REStauRant & Pub

130 E Parris Ave | 336.841.0521 thecladdaghrestaurantandpub.com

ham’S Palladium 5840 Samet Dr | 336.887.2434 hamsrestaurants.com

libERtY bREwERY

914 Mall Loop Rd | 336.882.4677 hghosp.com nov 17: matt walsh dec 1: davis tucker dec 8: gerry Stanek dec 15: Emma lee dec 22: tyler millard dec 29: matt walsh

jamestown

thE dEck

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 thedeckatrivertwist.com nov 17: go go bang nov 18: men in black nov 19: brothers Pearl nov 25: the dickens nov 26: Soul central

kernersville

dancE hall dazE

612 Edgewood St | 336.558.7204 dancehalldaze.com nov 18: Silverhawk nov 19: the delmonicos nov 23: colours nov 25: cheyenne nov 26: Skyryder

EclEction

221 N Main St | 336.497.4822 eclectionnc.com

thE EmPouRium

734 E. Mountain St. | 336.671.9159 nov 17: travis griggs and Friends

lewisville

old nick’S Pub

191 Lowes Foods Dr | 336.747.3059 OldNicksPubNC.com nov 18: karaoke w/ dJ tyler Perkins nov 26: Evan & dana dec 3: karaoke w/ dJ tyler Perkins dec 10: 2nd anniversary Party w/ big daddy mojo

oakridge

JP loonEY’S

2213 E Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.1570 facebook.com/JPLooneys nov 17: trivia

randleman

RidER’S in thE countRY 5701 Randleman Rd | 336.674.5111 ridersinthecountry.net

winston-salem

6th & vinE

209 W 6th St | 336.725.5577 6thandvine.com nov 18: Suitcase nov 19: dJSk nov 25: Eddie & will nov 26: Suitcase

bull’S tavERn

408 West 4th St | 336.331.3431 facebook.com/bulls-tavern nov 18: Soul Jam nov 19: Stereo doll

Finnigan’S wakE

620 Trade St | 336.723.0322 facebook.com/FinnigansWake nov 19: cc3 nov 26: hazy Ridge bluegrass band 638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 foothillsbrewing.com nov 16: hazy Ridge bluegrass band nov 19: woodie and the String Pullers

5455 Bethania Rd | 336.923.8623 nov 17: malcolm holcombe nov 18: John mccutcheon nov 19: carolina crossing nov 23: big Ron hunter, harvey dalton arnold, hRb nov 25: dark water Rising with carson mac nov 26: time Sawyer nov 27: Rain check

thE gaRagE

PinE tREE baR & gRill

FoothillS bREwing

110 W 7th St | 336.777.1127 the-garage.ws nov 17: the genuine, tyler nail, dogwood tales nov 18: house Party 4 nov 25: Possum Jenkins

3880 Bethania Station Rd | 336.922.5220

thE quiEt Pint

1420 W 1st St | 336.893.6881 thequietpint.com

tEE timE SPoRtS & SPiRitS

JohnnY & JunE’S Saloon

2105 Peters Creek Pkwy | 336.724.0546 johnnynjunes.com

3040 Healy Dr | 336.760.4010 nov 19: dirt Road Revival nov 26: chasin’ Skirts

mac & nElli’S

villagE tavERn

4926 Country Club Rd | 336.529.6230 macandnellisws.com

2000 Griffith Rd | 336.760.8686

waYwaRd bREwS

milnER’S

5078 Peters Creek Pkwy | 336.652.2739 waywardbrews.com

630 S Stratford Rd | 336.768.2221 milnerfood.com nov 20: live Jazz

wEREhouSE/kRankiE’S coFFEE

muddY cREEk caFE

211 E 3rd St | 336.722.3016 krankiescoffee.com

5455 Bethania Rd | 336.923.8623 nov 17: open mic nov 18: clay howard nov 19: Randy carter nov 20: Rob Price nov 25: Russell lapinski

Saint Wenceslaus Saint Nicholas Saint Luke Saint Augustine of Hippo

a one of a kind bar experience come see for yourself!

Over 165 different beers Over 45 whiskeys Daily Specials

muddY cREEk muSic hall

OMIE BLONDE ALE

GERMAN HEFEWEIZEN

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UPPER ROAD IRISH RED

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STOUT ONE STOUT

Free Live MuSic every WeD & Thu 734 E Mountain St, KErnErSvillE | 336.671.9159 opEn EvEry night ‘til 2 | liKE uS on FacEbooK! www.yEswEEkly.cOM

218 South Fayetteville Street | Asheboro, NC 27203 | (336) 610-FSBC (3722) | foursaintsbrewing.com NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016 YES! WEEKLY

23

tunes

HEAR IT!

Getting it all out in a song: Josh King, from House of Fools and The Ends, puts the finishing touches on a solo record

BY JOHN ADAMIAN | @johnradamian

T

wang and harmonies. A subdued rocking drive, and a sense of loss and struggle that’s kept in check by an ‘I’ll-get-throughthis-too’ attitude. Those are some of the qualities that shine through on Josh King’s material. The Greensboro-based singer and songwriter who’s been a part of local favorites Roseland, House of Fools and the Ends is at work on a solo record, an album’s worth of tunes that he wrote in a blur.

King is 34, and he’s been playing in bands since he was 15 or 16, for more than half of his life. He followed that semifamiliar trajectory of getting into skating and punk and then working his way back toward a different sound.

“I was all into the punk stuff, and then I picked up an acoustic guitar and wrote the songs that that acoustic guitar al-

24 YES! WEEKLY

GIVE the gift of work this holiday season.

Your donations help people in the Triad get jobs.

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lowed me to write,” says King about his first stabs at songwriting. It’s less that his sensibilities changed and more that something different was drawn from him by the instrument he was working on.

Changing gears might be part of the process for King. House of Fools was a steady-going band for about 10 years, but that started winding down in 2014.

(House of Fools never actually broke up, the members just drifted to different places. And the band still periodically plays special shows -- benefits or holiday events. They have one scheduled for December. “As long as everybody’s around and still likes playing their instruments and singing, I don’t see any reason we shouldn’t get together every once in a while,” says King.) After playing in a band that toured 10 months out of the year and then in a band that gigged as many nights as possible, playing three-hour sets, King was ready to spend a little less time on stage and more time with a guitar, a pad and a pen kicking around song ideas.

Spending years with House of Fools playing those long sets meant that King was performing most of the time.

“For most of the past four years I was doing nothing but music,” says King. “But six months ago I started working a fulltime job as a carpenter.”

A few months before that King and his fiancée had moved into a new house,

and he devoted some time to working on songs.

“I took a life change,” he says. “Now I spend more time writing than playing, I guess. I ended up writing about 30 songs in a couple months. That was the beginning of a new life for me -- a new house and focusing on writing.”

King, who had helped produce a recording by his friends in the band Old Heavy Hands, was already thinking about how his own songs might sound beyond their basic parts. House of Fools bassist Jordan Powers was involved with the Old Heavy Hands album, and he’s been working on King’s solo recordings as well. Part of the work has involved zeroing in on vocals.

Kings was raised listening to church hymns in a family of singers.

“We’d get together as a family and we’d sing, and my mom would give me a harmony part that I had to sing,” says King.

“That’s why I love it. I grew up with it.”

The experience gave him a taste for the sound of multiple voices working together.

“I love doing harmonies,” says King. “If I could, I’d put harmonies on every word on a song.”

His fondness for layered voices sometimes even affects how he crafts the contours of a song’s main tune, before the recording process begins.

“There are certain parts of a song where

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THE TRIAD’S PREMIER LIVE MUSIC VENUE

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FOR 28 YEARS, BRINGING THE TRIAD SUCH ACTS AS JASON ISBELL, BEN FOLDS FIVE, RUSTED ROOT, LITTLE FEAT, AND MANY MORE!

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UPCOMING SHOWS

I’ll write the melody to fit a three-part harmony,” he says.

King has been working on finishing up the tracks at home, sometimes doing vocal takes when he gets home from work in the evening. The result is a batch of 16 songs that -- though not finished -- have a lot in common with some of King’s musical inspirations over the years, artists like Elliott Smith and Tom Petty, both of whom point back to Beatles-y songcraft but with a hint of either deeper sadness in the one or jittery energy in the other. The Jayhawks might come to mind as well.

But the tunes and the harmonies, the shiny tremolo on the guitars, or the glimmering 12-string -- none of it masks the fact that King is singing about a sense of deep strain, about a fatigue over where things stand.

“It’s a selfish album,” says King. “Every song is me trying to forget about what I was feeling or get out what I was feeling.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Getting it out and leaving it out.”

On a song like “Follow Through,” that means singing about feeling like he’s crawling out of his own skin. “I hit a wall/I think I’m done,” goes one line on the song.

Pain, loss, decline and endurance are part of the title track for the proposed record, “Into the Blue.”

King says he hopes to finish the record and do something significant with it, more than just pressing copies and playing a local release party.

“I would love to get back on the road again,” he says.

In the meantime, he’s still writing more songs, chipping away at lyrics and melodies in the hours when he’s not working his day job. And he’s test-driving some of the songs that come out of this new phase of his life, showing up for open mics or other informal events.

“When you write a new song,” says King, “you can’t help but want to try it out.” !

FRI.NOV.18

COSMIC CHARLIE

SAT.NOV.19

LARRY KEEL & THE SMOKING J’S

WED.NOV.23

CODDLE CREEK

SAT.NOV.26

SWIM IN THE WILD W/ OLD HEAVY HANDS & HEADS UP PENNY

WED.NOV.30

TRAVERS BROTHERSHIP

FRI.DEC.2

HOLY GHOST TENT REVIVAL

SAT.DEC.3

BEAR WITH ME W/ EVEN CHAINS

SUN.DEC.4

GATE CITY DIVAS

1819 SPRING GARDEN STREET, GSO, NC | 336-272-9888

—THEBLINDTIGER.COM— /theblindtiger @blindtigergso @blindtigergso NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016 YES! WEEKLY

25

Thu Nov 17

[CHOICE BEATS]

[CONCERTS]

Upcoming shows you should check out

www.lincolntheatre.com

Stick Figure

NOVEMBER

Th 17 STICK FIGURE

7p

w/ The Movement / Oogee Waves Fr 18 THE BREAKFAST CLUB (80’s) 8p w/Dirty White Girls (Foreigner) Sa 19 THE MANTRAS w/Urban Soil ELM / Psylo Joe

Sa 20 JON BELLION (SOLD OUT) We 23 SEVEN LIONS Fr 25 CAPITAL CITY REGGAE FEST!

w/Ras Medy/Crucial Fiya/Africa King Sa 26 PULSE: Electronic Dance Party 9p

Su 27 AFTON MUSIC SHOWCASE DECEMBER

T h 1 JGBCB (Jerry Garcia Band Tribute) F r 2 THE BLACK LILLIES 8p w/Elise Davis

Sa 3 DOPAPOD

w/Pigeons Playing Pingpong

F r 9 THE SHAKEDOWN (Van Morrison) Sa 10 SHOOT TO THRILL w/ Dixie Dust (Female AC/DC) / Mirror 7

Su 11 AFTON MUSIC SHOWCASE Tu 13 JASON BOLAN & SHOOTER JENNINGS We 14 THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS & TURKUAZ Fr 16 GFW Presents: BARELY ALIVE Sa 17 YARN & DUNE DOGS Su 18 DELTA RAE w/Penny & Sparrow Sa 31 BIG SOMETHING JANUARY

NANTUCKET 7p WINTER METAL FEST LETTUCE 7p THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS Fr 13 ZOSO Led Zeppelin Experience Sa 14 ZOSO Led Zeppelin Experience Th 19 DWEEZIL ZAPPA: Fr 6 Sa 7 We 11 Th 12

Fr 20 Sa 21 2-3&4 2-14 2-23 3 - 3 3 - 4 3-24 4-22

“50 Years of Frank” + Masterclass

THE BAND OF HEATHENS DAVID ALLAN COE AMERICAN AQUARIUM THE WERKS LOUIS THE CHILD WHO’S BAD Michael Jackson Trib LOS LONELY BOYS REVEREND HORTON HEAT Y&T

Adv. Tickets @Lincolntheatre.com & Schoolkids Records All Shows All Ages

126 E. Cabarrus 919-821-4111

26 YES! WEEKLY

St.

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

Compiled by Alex Eldridge

CHARLOTTE BOJANGLES COLISEUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.bojanglescoliseum.com Dec 3: Jingle Jam ft. Rick Ross, Lil Boosie, & Young Dolph Dec 31: The Avett Brothers

THE FILLMORE

Fri Nov 18

UNCG PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Breakfast Club

College of Visual and Performing Arts (100 McIver St. UNCG) Thursday Nov. 17 7:30 p.m.

“The UNCG Undergraduate Percussion Ensembles will present their Fall 2016 Concert. The concert will feature the award-winning UNCG Classical Percussion Ensemble and the UNCG Steel Band. The ensemble is directed by Mr. Korry Friend and Mr. Erik Schmidt, and Dr. Eric Willie will guest conduct. The program is as follows: “Blue Burn” by Joseph Tompkins “Omphalo Centric Lecture” by Nigel Westlake “Quartet” by John Cage “The Day After” by David Crowell “Stained Glass” by David Gillingham

Sat Nov 19

The Mantras

Plus selections from the UNCG Steel Band.

Wed Nov 23

The concert is free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. The concert will begin at 7:30p.m. in the Recital Hall of the UNCG School of Music. For more information, contact Dr. Eric Willie at ejwillie@uncg.edu.” - via Facebook

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.fillmorecharlottenc.com Nov 16: Kat Country Jam Nov 16: Russ Nov 17: Yellowcard Nov 18: Good Charlotte Nov 19: The Hunna, Night Riots, & The Hunna Nov 21: A$ap Ferg w/ Playboi Carti Nov 25: Against The Current Nov 25: Seven Lions Nov 26: A Tribute To Eagles Nov 26: A Tribute to Zac Brown Band Nov 30: Niykee Heaton

OVENS AUDITORIUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.ovensauditorium.com Nov 18: Straight No Chaser Nov 19: Armaan Malik Nov 28: The Astonishing

TWC ARENA

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.timewarnercablearena.com Nov 19: Dolly Parton Nov 22: Maxwell & Mary J. Blige

Seven Lions

Fri Dec 2

DURHAM CAROLINA THEATRE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org Nov 21: Steve Vai

The Black Lillies

DPAC STEREO DOLL

Bull’s Tavern (408 W. 4th St. Winston-Salem) Saturday Nov. 19 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

“Stereo Doll is a new version of an old classic. A group of highly talented musicians brought together for the purpose of creating high-energy music that will keep the party going all night. The group has played together for years in various other projects, but have formed this outfit to take it to another level. The mixture of rock, funk, hip hop, and soul is a pure blend of music that has a little something for everyone. You are guaranteed to not be disappointed if you come out to witness the live shows that this band puts on. From melodic vocal harmonies to blazing guitars and powerful drums, this band is sure to deliver. Whether it’s a club, corporate party, or a wedding, this band has all of your needs covered and then some. Come check out a show soon and see for yourself!” - via Facebook !

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com Nov 18: The Temptations & The Four Tops Nov 20: Straight No Chaser Nov 25: Joe Bonamassa

GREENSBORO GREENSBORO COLISEUM 1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com Nov 26: Maxwell & Mary J. Blige

!

CHECK IT OUT!

Click on our website, yesweekly.com, for more concerts.

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

drama

[PLAYBILL]

STAGE IT!

Theatre Alliance looks back with Sunset Boulevard

G

rowing old is a difficult truth that we all face.

With a negative attitude, aging is coupled with the observation that our better days are Lenise Willis behind us, and that the youth of today Contributing are rendering us obsolete. Times change columnist fast and keeping up can be exhausting.

But we can still reminisce and dream, can’t we?

In the musical Sunset Boulevard, which Theatre Alliance presents this week, the process of aging (and letting go) is examined by highlighting a silent film star who has been replaced by the new “talkies.”

Her glory has all but faded (except in her mind) and she soon meets a struggling screenwriter who allows her to dream.

“For anyone who doesn’t know this musical, I think they will be taken aback by the gorgeous music and the level of emotion portrayed,” said Craig Faircloth, who plays as a down-on-his-luck writer.

“Not many shows have multiple show-

stopper songs; this one has at least four.

I look forward to being able to help bring this experience to the Theatre Alliance.”

Faircloth, who barely gets to leave the stage in his demanding role, added that this play has been on his bucket list because of its complexity and relatable nature.

“The show highlights the challenge that we all face dealing with growing older,” he said. “The ‘loss’ of our youth is

very compelling, especially in this day of trying to achieve perpetual youth. I think the show has a great lesson about embracing each era of your life and making the best of it.”

Starring as the fading silent film star herself is Charlene Cole. “Playing Norma Desmond is a dream role for most any actor,” Cole said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would ever have this opportunity, and I am more than honored to take on the challenge.”

The 1995 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical is based on the classic 1950 American film noir. Overall, director Jamie Lawson said the production is well written and beautifully complemented with a musical score that makes for an inspiring evening.

“Andrew Lloyd Weber’s gorgeous score matches this unique story magnificently and, together, they create a perfect theatrical storm,” Lawson said. !

WANNA

go?

Sunset Boulevard runs Thursday through Sunday at Theatre Alliance, 1047 Northwest Blvd, Winston-Salem. Tickets are $18; $16 for students. For tickets and more information call Brown Paper Tickets at (800) 838-3006 or visit wstheatrealliance.org.

Celebrating musical history at Grimsley High For Grimsley High School, this is also the time to reminisce as they plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their Madrigal Singers.

This Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 25-26, the group, which collective includes more than 1,500 auditioned singers, will have a reunion, including a traditional caroling at Friendly Shopping Center, a picnic for all madrigals and their families, and a gathering close to campus.

The group has sung in tights, medieval dress and other costumes, and have performed in several impressive concerts, including two Carnegie Hall performances as featured choir, two performances at the White House, six appearances at the Washington National Cathedral; in bi-annual European tours, the Grimsley Madrigals have performed in York Minster Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral in England, Church of Maria Plain in Austria and Eglise Holy Trinity on the French Riviera to name a few. !

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by Lenise Willis New this week, Thursday through Sunday, is a very timely piece, especially considering today’s political climate.

Bennett College’s Little Theatre’s production of WHAT examines the personal side of the Black Lives Matter movement. Written by Kamilah Bush, a local UNC Greensboro graduate (who also participated in the Ruby Slipper Fringe Festival in February), the play offers a unique view of current events in the hopes to spark thoughtful discussion.

“I think the play is just spectacular in its delicateness and boldness of an important topic,” said director Beth Ritson.

Bush wrote the play after the death of Walter Scott in South Carolina as a response to what she believes is a climate of injustice in this country. In her drama, Bush contemplates what Walter Scott was doing, and where was he going, before being stopped for a busted taillight.

Friday through Sunday, Community Theatre of Greensboro presents its 22nd annual tradition of The Wizard of Oz at the Carolina Theatre.

This week through Sunday is the final run of The Drama Center of City Arts’ I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, a musical comedy about the hassles and joys of dating, falling in love, getting married, having children and growing old together. The production takes place in the Stephen D. Hyers Theater in the Greensboro Cultural Center.

Theatre Alliance continues its production of Sunset Boulevard this week, Thursday through Sunday. The drama focuses on an intense relationship between a struggling screen writer and a former silent movie star whose glory has faded with the introduction of “talkies.”

Also this week through Sunday, Studio 1 in Burlington performs a unique production that weaves in interpreters for the deaf, so that they, too, can experience the action on stage to the fullest. The Miracle Worker, in partnership with UNCG’s Professions in Deafness Program and members of the Deaf Community, is a drama based on Helen Keller’s autobiography.

Still ongoing, this week through Tuesday, is Barn Dinner Theatre’s highenergy musical revue: Love Machine The Musical, which includes Motown hits of the 60s and 70s. !

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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MOVIE TIMES

(LUX) FANTASTIC BEASTS (PG-13) 11:30A, 2:30P, 11:30P

ALMOST CHRISTMAS (PG-13) 11:45A, 2:10P, 4:35P, 7:00P, 9:25P, 11:50P ARRIVAL (PG-13) 11:35A, 2:10P, 4:40P, 7:05P, 9:35P, 11:55P BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIM (R) 12:05P, 2:25P, 4:55P, 7:35P, 10:10P BLEED FOR THIS (R) 11:30A, 2:00P, 4:45P, 7:15P, 9:55P BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN (PG-13) 2:40P, 5:15P, 7:45P** CHRISTINE (R) 12:10P, 2:35P, 5:00P, 7:20P, 9:40P, 11:55P DOCTOR STRANGE (PG-13) 2:15P, 7:25P, 10:00P DOCTOR STRANGE 3D (PG-13) 11:40A, 4:50P FANTASTIC BEASTS AND W 3D (PG-13) 1:30P, 4:30P, 7:20P, 10:15P FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHER (PG-13) 1:00P, 4:00P, 5:30P, 7:00P, 8:30P, 10:00P GIRL ON THE TRAIN (R) 12:00P, 2:30P, 5:00P, 7:30P, 10:00P HACKSAW RIDGE (R) 11:30A, 2:20P, 5:10P, 8:00P, 10:50P HANDMAIDEN (NR) 12:15P, 9:05P, 11:50P HARRY & SNOWMAN (NR) 3:10P, 5:20P, 7:15P JACK REACHER NEVER GO BAC (PG-13) 11:50A, 10:05P** ROCKY HORROR (FRI/SAT ONLY) (R) 11:55P SHUT IN (R) 11:55A, 2:05P, 4:25P, 7:10P**, 9:20P**

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Christine: The final days

Christine Chubbuck’s place in history was assured July 15, 1974 when she announced on the air of Sarasota’s Channel 40 WXLT-TV that viewers would see a first on live television – attempted suicide Mark Burger – at which point she shot herself in the Contributing head.

It is giving nothing columnist away to reveal that director Antonio Campos’ biographical drama Christine does not have a happy ending, although in the long run Christine could prove beneficial in highlighting the issue of suicidal depression. If Rain Man (1988) could raise awareness of autism, Philadelphia (1993) of AIDS and Still Alice (2014) of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, then Christine is important in that it can enlighten.

And, due entirely to Rebecca Hall’s deeply felt, acutely sensitive portrayal of Chubbuck, Christine is an unforgettable, often harrowing, experience. The screenplay, the first by producer Craig Shilowich, avoids sensationalism and exploitation while also avoiding maudlin sentiment.

It’s a tragic tale told with tact and taste, offering a glimpse not only into Chubbuck’s tormented soul but also TV news of the 1970s, when sensationalism began creeping into the mix. (Indeed, Chubbuck’s suicide was an inspiration for Paddy Chayefsky’s subsequent Network, released two years later.)

The lovelorn Chubbuck, at 29 still a virgin and nursing an unrequited crush on anchorman George Peter Ryan (Michael C. Hall), was an intelligent and tenacious

reporter, sometimes at odds with her boss (Tracy Letts), yet still finding time to present puppet shows for hospitalized children and contending with a mother (J. Smith-Cameron) who is sympathetic but sometimes irresponsible. She had also been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst that could prevent her from having children.

Ultimately for Chubbuck, she had nothing left to give, no hope left.

Even when those around her offered help, she was reluctant to let her guard down or to show vulnerability – and it ultimately destroyed her.

The scariest, and most ironic, part of the story is that once she decided to take her own life, she became more coherent and conciliatory. She had at last found a purpose.

Knowing what is to come does not diminish the film’s tension or the overwhelming sympathy for its title character.

The original score, by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, initially seems too upbeat, almost inappropriately so, yet eventually it becomes a major ingredient of the story’s tragic irony, conveying the hollowness that festers within Chubbuck.

Even when the momentum is a little show or scenes play a bit long, Rebecca Hall completely compensates. This is a performance that may very well be remem-

bered come awards time – and deservedly so. The supporting cast, which also includes Maria Dizzia, Timothy Simons, Kim Shaw and veteran John Cullum, does fine work – but Christine simply wouldn’t be what it is without Hall.

Christine opens Friday !

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Home for the holidays Come the holidays, each year brings with it another dysfunctionalfamily comedy, and this year’s example is Almost Christmas, the latest star-studded ensemble from writer/director David E. Talbert.

Set in Birmingham, AL, the story focuses on the annual family get-together of the Meyers clan, with patriarch Walter (Danny Glover) presiding over the return of daughters Kimberly Elise and Gabrielle Union (also an executive producer) and sons Romany Malco and Jessie Usher. This is the first year since Walter’s wife Grace (Rachel Kylian) died, and her memory looms large.

Like his previous film, Baggage Claim (2013), Talbert has assembled a friendly ensemble cast that adds considerable sparkle to the formulaic proceedings.

It’s especially nice to see Glover in a leading role, one that allows him to flex his comedic muscles (yes, he throws in his signature Lethal Weapon line). Nicole Ari Parker, JB Smoove, Omar Epps, John Michael Higgins, Keri Hilson, Gladys Knight, and the ever-brassy Mo’Nique – tearing into everything and everyone with abandon – are good company, and Talbert has

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coaxed appealing performances from youngsters Nadej Bailey, Alkoya Brunson and Marley Taylor, playing the obligatory wise-beyond-their-years children.

As ingratiating as the players are, Almost Christmas is contrived, corny and hokey. There’s a touch of Garry Marshall here, a bit of John Hughes there, and a smattering of Neil Simon among Talbert’s influences – but too often the film telegraphs its punches far in advance. The film is loaded with yuletide trimmings yet never strays from predictability and lacks any surprise. Rest assured that whatever family grudges and rifts that are revealed will inevitably be healed by the fade-out. !

Nov 18-24

ALMOST CHRISTMAS (PG-13) – (11:45 FRI-SUN) 12:45, 2:20, 3:30, 4:55, 6:15, 7:30, 9:00, 10:05 BLEED FOR THIS (R) – (11:45 FRI-SUN) 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10:05 DOCTOR STRANGE 2D (PG-13) – (12:00 FRI-SUN) 3:00, 4:50, 6:00, 7:25, 9:00 DOCTOR STRANGE 3D (PG-13) – 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45 EDGE OF 17 (R) – 12:45, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 10:05 FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM 2D (PG-13) – 1:00, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 10:00 FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM 3D (PG-13) – 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 HACKSAW RIDGE (R) – 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 JACK REACH: NEVER GO BACK – 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 SHUT IN (PG-13) – 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 STORKS (PG) – 12:30, 2:40, 10:00 THE ACCOUNTANT (R) – 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 TROLLS 2D (PG) – (11:45 FRI-SUN) 12:45, 2:05, 3:05, 4:25, 5:25, 6:45, 7:45, 9:05, 10:05 TROLLS 3D (PG) – (12:15 FRI-SUN) 2:35, 4:55, 7:15, 9:35 TYLER PERRY’S: BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN – (12:00 FRI-SUN) 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00

The UNCG Opera Theatre

Loving (PG-13) Wed: 3:30, 6:00, 8:30; Thu: 6:00, 8:30 Christine (R) Fri: 4:15, 6:45, 9:15; Sat: 11:15 AM, 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15 Sun: 11:15 AM, 1:45, 4:15, 6:45; Mon: 6:45, 9:15 Tue: 4:15, 6:45, 9:15; Wed & Thu: 9:15 PM Branagh Theatre Live: The Entertainer (NR) Sun: 7:00 PM The Handmaiden (Agassi) (NR) Fri: 2:45, 5:45, 8:45; Sat: 11:45 AM, 2:45, 5:45, 8:45 Sun: 11:45 AM, 2:45, 5:45; Mon: 5:45, 8:45 Tue: 2:45, 5:45, 8:45; Wed: 2:45, 5:45; Thu: 5:45 PM Moonlight (R) Fri: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00 Sat & Sun: 10:00 AM, 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00 Mon: 5:30, 8:00; Tue & Wed: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00 Thu: 5:30, 8:00 A Man Called Ove (En Man Som Heter Ove) (PG-13) Fri: 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 Sat: 10:30 AM, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 Sun: 11:30 AM, 2:00, 4:30; Mon: 6:00, 8:30 Tue: 3:30, 6:00, 8:30; Wed: 4:00, 6:30, 9:00 Thu: 6:30, 9:00 311 W 4th St Winston-Salem, NC 336.722.8148 311 W 4th Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 336.722.8148

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The Pure Products of Political Theory Are Crazy

BY BRIAN LAMPLIN A Review of: Folding the Red Into the Black: Developing a Viable Utopia for Human Survival in the 21st Century

by Walter Mosley O/R Books, 2016. $14.95 Walter Mosley is the much-loved author of 14 Easy Rawlins mysteries, including Devil in a Blue Dress and, most recently, Charcoal Joe. His novels, generally set in and around Los Angeles, use the realities of race and racism as understood components of everyday life. They’re very effective works of political art disguised as crime fiction.

So it’s not really a surprise to find that Mosley’s new book is a political treatise.

Folding the Red Into the Black is a slim manifesto on the dangers of purity.

Roughly speaking, the “untopia” Mosley advocates acknowledges that humans are never going to be perfected creatures, and should thus never embrace a political system that rests on any kind of utopian

or “pure” principle: And so I propose the untopia...that has as its goal the dismantling of expectations of perfection when it comes to the working of the quasi-philosophical systems of government.

The untopia announces that we are unruly beings that need time to play and room to move.

Mosley was a Ph.D. candidate in political theory at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst before leaving the program to eventually become the famous detective writer. He uses his “pop” writing skills to create a very readable tract. Political theory has rarely sounded this good: “I am simply interested in how, in purifying our desires, we create poisonous concoctions.”

He limits his concerns in this book to the two dominant strains of American poison: capitalism and socialism. But first Mosley expresses his admiration for the bees, ants, and termites of the world. They live in perfected social communities. “Ants don’t need democracy,” Mosley writes,

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“their little hearts sing with the nationalism of their colony.” They exist solely for the well-being of the community, and Mosley warns that “when human organization approximates the level of a beehive in social structure it will be indistinguishable from pure fascism,” because it will take absolute authoritarian power to control the wildly divergent whims and desires of individuals.

Mosley also warns us of those who argue for the pristine forms of capitalism or socialism, as if either structure were somehow able to exist in a world free of the chaotic interventions of humans.

Mosley argues for a “shotgun wedding” between capitalism and socialism, and even acknowledges that if he were sure that a revolution would guarantee a better future then he would participate in the violence a revolution demands. If a revolution were to guarantee “health care and healthy lifestyles, freedom from rape and murder and a chance at becoming equal members of an obscenely wealthy uber-class that floats on the labor of its citizenry like shit on top of drinking water,” then Mosley would harden his heart “to the faraway screams of the victims of true progress.”

But Mosley is no true believer; he knows that “revolutions and socialist ideals cannot transform us into superior beings.”

Still, Mosley seems to believe that a tolerable world is possible, “a world with enough food and warmth and pleasant distractions; a world where love and belief are okay, even primary.”

This tolerable world comes about with some simple solutions, according to Mosley, and much of his vision rests on the idea of public housing that is capped at 10 percent of a person’s income. If they make nothing, it’s free. If they make $1.5 million, it’s $150,000 a year. No one is required to use this public housing but it is available to whoever wants it. He balances this with a flat tax at 21 percent of a person’s income with no room for deductions or clever accounting. Furthermore, eight basic foods would always be subsidized to the point where even the poorest among us would have food security.

There are other specifics offered (and let’s give Mosley some credit for actually offering specifics), but these are the least convincing aspects of his argument and are better thought of as guides to thinking about a possible future than as rules to live by.

Mosley is tough on both the free-market idealist and the socialist truebeliever, and sums up the need for both by saying, It is human nature to want and want more. It is human necessity to share. And that common sense wisdom is what makes his “untopian” manifesto a pleasure to read, if at times a little trite.

His observations on the imperfect nature of humans are undeniably true and his lacerations of the fundamentalist free market capitalist and the overreaching social engineering of the socialist are welcome, but it all remains too anecdotal and home-spun.

But really who’s to argue with a man who saves this bit of yawn-inducing obviousness: There is no system of government that rises above the rights of individuals, with this gem of true-hearted observation: There is no economic system that can replicate the genetic makeup of love. Walter Mosley for President! !

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RiffTrax give the riff gift team that brought to life the For the last few years, cult series “Mystery Science “RiffTrax Live” has been giving Theatre 3000,” in which the the gift of laughter during the crew of the Satellite of Love – holiday season, presenting stranded in outer space – was its big-screen “riffs” on such forced to watch transmissions yuletide non-classics as the of the worst movies ever made Mexican-made Santa Claus on Earth, which they com(1959) and the immortal Santa mented upon with ribald wit and the Ice Cream Bunny (1972). and addle-brained insight.

This year, however, the Mark Burger Not only did “MST3K” amass RiffTrax team is bringing twice a sizable worldwide following, the fun and merriment with the “RiffTrax Holiday Special Contributing but it also drew attention to scores of movies best forgotDouble Feature,” coming to columnist ten and in some cases revived more than 600 cinema screens interest in them as potential nationwide on Thursday, Dec. cult classics. During its lengthy run, the 1 – including the Cinemark Brassfield series earned two Emmy nominations Cinema 10 (2101 New Garden Road) and (both times for Outstanding Individual Regal Greensboro Grande Stadium 16 Achievement in Writing for a Variety or (3205 Northline Ave.) in Greensboro.

Music Program), and in 1993 received Reteaming once more with Fathom the prestigious Peabody Award.

Events, the RiffTrax Holiday Special With the cancellation of “MST3K” Double Feature is an almost four-hour in 1999, after 197 episodes and even a comedy extravaganza boasting two feature film released in 1995, the series of the most popular RiffTrax holiday continues to live on in syndication and events of seasons past: The unforgettaon home-video – as well as in the hearts ble 1964 sci-fi Christmas comedy Santa and minds of its fervent fans worldwide.

Claus Conquers the Martians (originally But 10 years ago, Nelson reunited with screened in 2013), plus RiffTrax Live: Murphy and Corbett to continue the traChristmas Shorts-stravaganza (originally dition with “RiffTrax,” a series of downscreened in 2009), in which the RiffTrax loads presented in the same style as the trio (Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy earlier series, with running commentary. and Bill Corbett) were joined by special These were followed by a series of live guest, Grammy Award-winning “Weird events that proved so popular that the Al” Yankovic.

“RiffTrax” screenings were born. Previous That’s not all. As a special gift to offerings have included Ed Wood’s infaRiffTrax fans, audiences will be treated mous Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), to the most-requested bonus short, the indescribable Manos: The Hands of Parade of Aquatic Champions, as well Fate (1966), George A. Romero’s Night of as Michael, Kevin and Bill offering their the Living Dead (1968), the Syfy Sharkirreverent commentary on holiday family nado extravaganzas, and many more. photos submitted by fans.

Since 2009, there have been almost two In an official statement, Nelson dozen “RiffTrax Live” screenings – and said: “Come on, we know you don’t so long as there are bad movies to be like roasted chestnuts – nobody does, ridiculed and mocked, there’s no end in they’re gross – so why not make our Riffsight! !

Trax Special Holiday Double Feature your new Christmas tradition? Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and a Christmas MARK BURGER can be heard Friday mornings on the Shorts-stravaganza, plus all-new riffing “Two Guys Named Chris” radio show on Rock-92. on yours and our Christmas photos is just © 2016, Mark Burger. what the Santa ordered.”

Added John Rubey, CEO of Fathom Events: “The RiffTrax crew always delivWANNA ers literal laugh-out-loud content that has audiences coming back event after The RiffTrax Holiday Special Double Feature will event, and their Holiday Special Double be screened 7 pm Thursday, Dec. 1. Tickets at Feature is certain to make this the funniBrassfield Cinema 10 are $14 (general admission), est time of year.” $13 (senior citizens) and $12 (children under 12).

This event marks the latest reunion Tickets at Greensboro Grande Stadium 16 are of Nelson, Murphy and Corbett, as they $13.34. For advance tickets or more information, provide outrageous, ongoing commenyou can visit the official Fathom Events website: tary these holiday monstrosities. For 11 www.FathomEvents.com. The official RiffTrax years, the three were part of the core website is http://www.rifftrax.com/.

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The Traveled Farmer gets settled in Midtown

BY KRISTI MAIER | @triadfoodies

G

reensboro’s newest restaurant, The Traveled Farmer, is taking the leap and has opened its doors ahead of schedule. As its name implies, Traveled Farmer is a farm-to-table restaurant that celebrates local ingredients with a global twist. At its heart, it will revere the farmer and allow diners to create connections to the food around us.

In what used to be the Marshall Free House, a British gastropub, the theme made a “brexit” and has been revamped with a farmers market within. You’ll be able to sit down and have lunch or dinner, grab a drink, or if you are running short on time, you’ll be able to grab items for dinner whether it’s farmer’s market veggies, meats, dairy or eggs. Specialty items are available as well in addition to some prepared items from Chef Jay Pierce’s kitchen.

The Traveled Farmer owner, Marty Kotis, and Chef Pierce wanted to create a triple threat. One part market where you can

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shop with local produce, meats and eggs; a restaurant that makes its dishes from the market that you just shopped but also sells grab and go items like egg salad, sandwiches or hot soup; and meal kits featuring components like local pasta, sauce and meatballs for a restaurant experience that customers can prepare at home after a busy day.

“The idea in its simplest form is that, typically, farmers come in the back door and the produce they bring goes into dry storage or in the cooler and they wait to be chopped up and cooked beyond recognition before you ever get to see them,” Pierce said. “So why not turn that on its head? As the farmers walk through the front door and we store their produce and they bring some extra and keep it here where you can buy it.”

It’s basically a more accessible version of a weekend farmers market with all of its integrity, which some might not be able to get to because of their weekend schedule.

Pierce says they wanted to bring to the home cook a taste of what chefs and cooks

1

experience when that farmer walks into their kitchen. “The farmers trust us already.

Let’s have them walk through the front door and grab a bite to eat or grab a beer so they can talk to their customers about what to do with their products,” Pierce added. “You’d be amazed at the conversations that come through the back door when the farmers are dropping off. And our cooks’ eyes light up because they’ve never seen carrot tops so beautiful.”

The Traveled Farmer will also be a dropoff point for local farmer’s CSA’s.

We’ve been checking out Traveled Farmer for you. First at a private tasting with Chef Jay Pierce that featured various courses, cocktails and dessert. And this past weekend, the final days of the soft opening. It was a “practice dinner” to raise money for No Kid Hungry and Dustin’s GreenHouse, a local, service-based leadership program that serves underprivileged high school students in Guilford County.

Guests were invited to attend and try several small plates and entrees as well as a dessert tasting. There was no charge for the food but all guests donated $10 to the charities for their meals and drinks. $7,500 was raised for the two charities.

The new menu says this: An ingredientdriven restaurant featuring global flavors to satisfy your everyday cravings. On it, you’ll find sweet potato chips, loaded grits, flash fried cauliflower, and chicken and rice soup but also some more “traveled” flavors like rare tuna tostadas (a big

2

favorite), fried shrimp hand salad with salsa Valentina, white sauce, feta in gem lettuce (also amazing) and by demand, the popular Scotch Eggs. Traveled Farmer owner Marty Kotis said it was too popular at the former Marshall Free House to not keep it. Also not to be missed, the “Not” Pimento Cheese which features white cheddar cheese and chilies (rather than pimento) and artisan crackers. If you can help it, do not miss the broccoli pasta. It’s quite simply, broccoli and Drake’s pasta (from High Point). It’s light and simple and incredibly pleasing.

As for bigger plates, you’ll find a burger, fried chicken with collards and mac and cheese and this amazing blackened catfish with Hoppin’ John and collard greens.

Additionally, some of the more traveled flavors include spaghetti and meatballs,

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7 and the incredible Korean Rice Bowl with charred pork shoulder, pickled vegetables and soft egg over rice. It’s outstanding.

Pierce explained the concept at a recent tasting. “Whenever you say ingredientdriven or local food, people assume it’s a Southern restaurant,” he said. “So we wanted to explode that box a little bit, yet we didn’t want to avoid it because that would be to deny a very rich heritage.” It might not be the way you’ve eaten chicken, collard greens and sweet potatoes but Pierce says flavors on the menu should be very relatable.

Sweeter plates feature a take on banana pudding, sweet potato pie, chocolate s’mores, apple cobbler and key lime pie.

The bar is still run by the award-winning Mark Weddle and features a few new drinks including a very fun one called the WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

8 “Cereal Killer.” It features local spirits and some cordials infused with Cocoa Puffs Cereal to create a kicked up adult cereal milk. A few puffs of cereal get dropped in for fun and it’s served in a bowl.

Pierce says he’s looking forward to bringing the new dynamic to Greensboro’s midtown.

“I just think that breaking down walls and connecting local farmers and artisans with passionate local food people is key and that’s what we’re hoping to bring here.” !

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by Natalie Garcia

AROUND THE TRIAD YES! Weekly’s Photographer

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BARTENDERS OF THE WEEK | BY NATALIE GARCIA Check out videos on our Facebook!

Q:What’s your favorite drink to drink?

A: Angry Balls, Angry Orchard with Fireball

BARTENDER: Burgandy Newell BAR: Hooters AGE: 24 HOMETOWN: Originally from Alabama Q: How did you become a bartender?

A: I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 18. I love it. I told them when I turned 21 I was interested and I got trained. I love talking to people and making new friends. I’ve made some of the best friends from working at a bar.

Q:What’s your favorite drink to make?

A: Baby Guinness

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Q:What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while bartending?

A: I saw this guy pull a bottle of Burnett’s vodka out of his pants and pour it in his beer.

Q:Who has it harder behind the bar?

Guys or girls?

A: I think girls have it harder.

Guys are always trying to make sexual jokes and stuff. Luckily, I have awesome regulars who take care of me and will put people in their place.

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

Q: How do you deal with difficult customers?

A: I always just smile and try to fix the problem by remaking the drink or getting a manager to talk to them. I try not to get too mad because that only makes the situation worse, plus you don’t know what that person’s been through that day to make them be that way.

Q: Single?

A: Taken

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[HOROSCOPES]

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Early in the week you are completing one or more projects related to family and home.

Later your attention shifts to the areas of romance and personal creativity. An idea original to you alone may drop onto your radar. It will require skills that many others do not have. It may seem to them as if you are a magician.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You may feel angry about finances, whether that be your own or things you share with another. At this point you can do nothing about it, so don’t let the anger make you ill. Take another look at this later, when you have more clarity and are not caught by the adrenaline fear. You will find a solution.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) You are one who might slip down the drain. This is because you are so prone to worry, often over things that never happen. When you are tired, this old habit is more problematic. Dealing with others is a challenge right now. Try to follow your own path until this is over.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Please read the leading paragraph. Neptune (Poseidon) is in your sign. You may be more reactive than others to the drain on your energy at this time. Be good to yourself and avoid wallowing in old issues or hurt feelings. If you can do nothing else, watch good movies and read inspiring articles/books.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Events of this week trigger your sense of compassion and draw you into the need to assist in the healing of another. As you live into this experience, you will discover that having compassion also heals you.

Your spirit is lifted. Don’t ignore the call.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your sign is endowed with especially deep feelings. Your empathy for others is greater than most. See the lead paragraph and be especially cautious about absorbing the pain of the world around you at this time. It could affect you on a physical level.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You may have discovered that the foundation of your current project has some flaws. Don’t let that throw you off track. Take a deep breath.

You can repair or redesign around it if you so wish. It is possible that family attitudes are undermining you. Listen with discernment for the truth and throw away the rest.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Activities involving the law, publishing, travel, education or the church are favored during this season. A person or persons who enter your life may bring you inspiration to proceed with your plans.

This contact may be instrumental in opening doors that will be helpful to you in the future.

TIRED OF THE SAME OLD DATING SITES?

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) News from distant sources, educators, publishers, church, or legal interests may be startling this week. A friend or acquaintance may trigger an old emotional injury. See the lead paragraph for help. Give yourself time to heal, but don’t allow it to carry you down that drain.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Encounters with people at a distance flow especially well at this time. Love life and romance are improving. Those who are into online dating may find a positive candidate this week. Activities involving the arts and things of beauty are inspiring and bring pleasure.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You are probably much more sensitive to what others think right now. Don’t ask anyone else to evaluate you or critique your work.

Wait until you are finished with your creative efforts. On this same theme, avoid critiquing others. You do not have all the facts and your rationale may be flawed.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your romantic side is cooperating well with your nurturing side at this time. This is especially good for female friendships.

Make a date for lunch and reconnect with people you like. Work, health, or matters of life routine may seem to be in your way at this time. This is short-lived.

Are you interested in a personal horoscope?

Vivian Carol may be reached at (704) 366-3777 for private psychotherapy or astrology appointments.

There is a fee for services.

Website: http//www.horoscopesbyvivian.com

Meet real people in your area & make a new connection on your terms!

Call Vibeline 1-800-920-1195 18+

NOVEMBER 16-22, 2016

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[THE ADVICE GODDESS] love • sex • dating • marriage • questions

THE SHRINING Six months after meeting this amazing woman — I’ll call her Ms. Perfect — I asked her to marry me. A year later, she broke off the engagement, saying, Amy Alkon “I shouldn’t be wearing your engagement ring and noticing Advice other men.” That Goddess was two years ago.

Since then, I’ve dated three women.

None came close to the high bar set by Ms. Perfect. Do I lower my standards or live the rest of my life alone? — Don’t Want To Hurt Someone Else As I Was Hurt Endlessly replaying the memories of how perfect your ex was is a great idea — if you’re looking to grow old with a tube sock and a vat of lotion.

Like most of us, you probably have the adorable idea of memory as some faithful servant, dutifully reporting what actually happened — rather than as the sneaky, ego-serving distorter it is. If memory were faithful to reality — like a videotape — we could just pull out, oh, “The night of January 12, 2015, with Ms. Perfect” and we’d have an accurate replay of the evening’s events, with maybe a few fuzzy bits where somebody spilled a little sangria on the tape.

However, fascinating research on learning and memory by cognitive psychologist Robert Bjork finds that “using one’s

memory shapes one’s memory.” Bjork explains that the more you “retrieve” something from your mind — that is, bring up the memory to replay — the bigger and stronger it grows in your memory. In other words, retrieval is the neon-pink highlighting marker of your mind.

So, you retrieve and retrieve — and remember — your ex’s heart-shaped fried eggs and that sweet thing she said while unloading the dishwasher and not being exiled to the couch or her circus-style knife throwing. Not surprisingly, no real woman can compare. And sure, maybe these women you dated weren’t right for you. But the question — with any woman — is whether she meets enough of your standards. You can’t have it all — but do you have enough of it all?

You figure that out by coming up with a shortlist of minimums — standards for the stuff you absolutely can’t live without in a partner, in looks, demeanor (especially kindness), intelligence, rationality, and anything else that matters to you.

Once you find someone who meets your minimums, remind yourself of the distorto job done on memory by the viewing preferences of your ego and emotions.

This should help keep you from damaging your future with this new woman: “Oh... table for three?” she says. “Is somebody joining us?” You: “Just the eternal spectre of my ex.” (Uh, not the sort of threesome anyone is looking for.)

THE EAGER HAS LANDED I’m a 26-year-old guy. In four years, I’ve taken three dozen women on one or two

dates each. Without fail, I get rejected. I’ve tried changing things up — shameless flirting instead of casual small talk, etc. — but the result is always the same. I’m not some loser. I have a cool job and an active social life. But I’m the common denominator in things not working out. What am I doing wrong that I can’t even swing a third date?

— Bummed Consider the fine-French-restaurant approach. Before the first course is served, the chef will sometimes send you out a tiny, delectable palate teaser, called an “amuse-bouche” (mouth amuser) — as opposed to sending out two burly waiters to hold you down and force-feed you a vat of stew. (What’s French for “fatten you up for the kill”?)

In other words, chances are, your problem is one of presentation — and yours is probably dragging you across the loserhood equator from nice to needy.

Granted, you won’t be every woman’s cauldron of bouillabaisse, and maybe some of your prospects were out of your league. But 36 different women? That’s three egg cartons of ladies all saying nuh-uh to a second or third date with you.

And if there’s one thing that women have in common, it’s the ability to sniff out Eau Pleeeeeease, Pick Meeee! on a guy.

Consider “the scarcity principle,” which, as social psychologist Robert Cialdini explains, describes how we tend to long for what’s out of reach. Try a little test: Make an effort to make much less effort.

Ask women about themselves instead of trying to hard-sell them on you (either by singing your own praises or complimenting them senseless). As I often advise, keep your dates cheap, short, and local.

Especially short. (Leave them wanting more instead of less.) And sure, text a woman — once, the afternoon after, not 26 times in the 20 seconds after you drop her off. If you and a woman get into a long-distance thing, it shouldn’t be because you’ll go to jail if you violate the 100-yard rule mandated by the judge. !

GOT A problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com) © 2016 Amy Alkon Distributed by Creators.Com.

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