5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 O ce 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930
Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com
EDITORIAL
Editor CHANEL R. DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com
YES! Writers JOHN BATCHELOR MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD LYNN FELDER JIM LONGWORTH IAN MCDOWELL
PRODUCTION
Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com
Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com
ADVERTISING
Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com
Promotion NATALIE GARCIA
DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK
We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission
3 At PORTERHOUSE BURGER COMPANY, you place your order at the counter. Service is prompt, following cooked-to-order preparations. The appearance resembles fast food, but the food is a lot better.
4 Winston-Salem’s a/perture cinema will be presenting its first summer camp film series for children, titled “ FILM A/ PPRECIATION: an introduction to the art of cinema for Middle Schoolers.”
6 Adapted from R.L. Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen, FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN doesn’t break new ground but it’s a class act in the slasher movie sweepstakes
7 I caught up with the 31-year-old first-term congressman, ADDISON MCDOWELL, when he visited Triad Today while on Easter break. The following are highlights from our conversation.
8 The Triad will have plenty of events that celebrate JUNETEENTH in the next few weeks while highlighting local leaders in our community
11 With a new logo and slogan — and a date that finally doesn’t butt up against the Hopscotch Music Festival — the N.C. FOLK FESTIVAL is ushering in a new era to “Find Common Sound,” and highlighting the “unifying power of music as a universal language that transcends culture, background and genre.”
12 The city just tried to take away a veteran’s house for its receivership program, but they’re letting this dilapidated commercial BUILDING FALL APART,” said Jay Eisenberg, who lives and works on the 500 block of South Mendenhall in Greensboro’s historic College Hill neighborhood.
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
PChow Down with John Batchelor at PorterHouse Burger Company
orterHouse Burger Company has three locations. The Pisgah Church Road/Elm Street (431 Pisgah Church Road) and High Point (Palladium Shopping Center, 5836 Samet Drive, 336804-5810) locations provide seating. New Garden Road (1637 New Garden Road, Greensboro, 336-897-0022) is takeout only. I visited both Greensboro locations.
You place your order at the counter. Service is prompt, following cookedto-order preparations. The appearance resembles fast food, but the food is a lot better.
Although the online menu does not mention it, the Pisgah Church Greensboro and High Point locations serve bottled/canned beer. No other alcohol is available.
We started one meal with an order of Onion Rings, fairly heavily battered, fried crisp. I would get these again anytime. Other menu items that could serve as starters include egg rolls and chicken wings, which could also be smaller mains. For lighter appetites, several salads are o ered as well.
As the nomenclature indicates, however, this is primarily a burger concept. All the burgers are based on a half-pound beef patty, char-grilled, and served on a brioche bun. Multiple augmentations are provided on the menu, but you can also order a customized assembly of your own.
My first venture was a simple construction of lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, mustard, and mayonnaise. The lettuce was dark green and actually produced good flavor, the tomato ripe and red. The beef produced good depth of flavor, cooked just as ordered, a performance from the kitchen that remained consistent throughout all orders. And they use quality cheese.
A menu-specific Twisted Carolina Burger adds Pepper Jack cheese, red onion, jalapeno coleslaw, chili, and mustard to the central ingredient. My wife and I liked the spicy-hot impact of the slaw, and the chili added an additional
dimension to the basic burger flavor.
The All the Way Burger is an assembly of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, red onion, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Conventional cole slaw comes on the side, along with potato chips, fried in-house. The chips are really good — pleasantly crisp, with solid potato flavor.
The Patty Melt tacks away from a bun, instead utilizing grilled sourdough sliced bread as host, with soft-warm Swiss cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing. The grilled onions are especially welcome, the overall impact making this a favorite. Guest Jerry ordered this rare, and the kitchen actually delivered it correctly. I thought the tater tots that came with this were especially tasty — pleasantly crisp, producing solid potato flavor.
Seeking a wider range of experience, on another visit, we tried a Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich. This features slowsmoked pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw on the house brioche bun. It’s a good rendition, competitive with barbecue specialty restaurants around town.
Fish & Chips is based on North Pacific cod filets, hand-battered and fried, plus coleslaw, house-made tartar sauce, and fries. Compliments to the fish — nice and crisp, a pleasant, mild flavor, no fishy aftertaste. I would have enjoyed the fries if they had been cooked more. These are skin-on, sliced moderately thick. But as served, the flavor showed more relation to paper than potato. Desserts (not sampled) are priced at $7 — Apple Pie Egg Rolls or Chocolate Chip Cookie Egg Rolls served with Vanilla Ice Cream.
In addition to an overall endorsement of the food, I would pay a rare compliment to PorterHouse management on one other topic — communications. Unlike the majority of restaurants that I have attempted to contact, someone actually pays attention to the communications link on the restaurant website. I received prompt responses to my queries. Rare indeed!
PorterHouse is descended from a higher-end restaurant of that name which operated on Market Street from 2012-2024. The owners are Eric and Stacye Porter. Their son, Tanner Quinn is General Manager. !
JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot. com.
Pharmacy Business Analyst II
(Winston-Salem, NC): Use data to improve claims reconciliation, billing processes & inventory mgmt. processes for pharmacy services. Position is 100% remote. Reqs. incl. Masters deg. + 2 yrs. exp. Mail CV to: Novant Health, 108 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC 28207, Attn: L. Gaff.
[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] BRIDGING CULTURES, ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
SUBMITTED BY THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER GREENSBORO
The Center for Visual Artists (CVA) and Casa Azul of Greensboro are both organizations dedicated to serving the community. Having partnered to present Casa Azul’s Dia de los Muertos in the CVA Gallery for nearly a decade, the two organizations realized that there were avenues for partnership that had not previously been explored.
“I was in a cohort meeting hosted by The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro when Deb Ru no mentioned Grassroots Grants,” says Debbie Kraszeski of the Center for Visual Artists. “She talked about it needing to be a partnership, and one of CVA’s missions is to bring in communities we haven’t been reaching. So, we started looking at what we do and how we might partner more deeply with Casa Azul.”
Claudia Femenias of Casa Azul was immediately on board. “Casa Azul doesn’t have a permanent space,” she explains. “We rely on strong partnerships, and CVA has always been welcoming. This was an opportunity to expand what we were already doing together and give more visibility to Latino artists in a broader community context.”
What emerged from these conversations is “Bridging Cultures Through Art,” a collaborative program running through May and June that features workshops and a community celebration. The initiative includes four free artist-led workshops, ranging from pottery and paper art to mask-making, featuring local Latino artists such as Jonathan Vizcuña, Daniela Alcivar, Robi Arce, and Aris Wells. “All of the workshops are free, and the artists are paid,” Debbie notes. “It’s a win-win. The community can come in and do things for free, and the artists are compensated.”
One early highlight was a Talavera tile workshop co-led by Wells, a potter originally from Venezuela, and Neha Mahim, a pottery teacher at CVA. “We had 19
participants, and nearly all were Latino adults,” says Debbie. “It was amazing to see people who may have never been in a pottery studio before creating beautiful, meaningful work they could take home.”
According to Claudia, the exposure o ers meaningful opportunities for the artists to connect with new audiences.
“Some of these artists have shown in local spaces, but many haven’t had the opportunity to lead workshops or be presented in a program like this. For Casa Azul, it’s important not only to highlight Latino artists, but to see them fully integrated into the wider arts ecosystem.”
Mark your calendars! The partnership culminates in a free Family Night on Thursday, June 13, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., hosted at the Creative Aging Network campus. The event will feature live Latin music by Oscar Oviedo, art-making stations for children, and interactive opportunities to meet the featured artists. For information on upcoming workshops or to register, visit the CVA website and search “Bridging Cultures.”
Upcoming events include: June 7 –Creating a Paper Mache Mask Workshop with Robi Arce for Adults, 1-5 p.m. Register on the CVA’s website. June 13 – Bridging Culture Through Art Family Night, 5:30-8:30 p.m. !
A new summer program opens at a/perture cinema
BY MARK BURGER
In addition to its patented blend of showing big-budget Hollywood fare alongside independent and foreign films — as well as its various special events — Winston-Salem’s a/ perture cinema will be presenting its first summer camp film series for children, titled “film a/ppreciation: an introduction to the art of cinema for Middle Schoolers.”
The two-week-long summer camps are specifically designed for middle-school students (rising grades 6th-9th) and will be held July 14-18 and Aug. 4-8 at a/perture cinema, 311 W. Fourth St., WinstonSalem. Registration is $300 each week, while a/perture members receive a 10% discount. To register for the July session, visit https://aperturecinema.com/purchase/777538/. To register for the August session, visit https://aperturecinema. com/purchase/781035/.
“We know other venues teach the art and craft of filmmaking in summer camps, but we have a niche with one of the reasons a/perture exists — film appreciation,” explained a/perture Executive Director Leigh Dyer. “We want a younger audience to experience some of the vintage films that formed the roots of moviemaking, along with newer releases that help them learn and understand how cinema can be great art.”
Jake Laystrom, a/perture’s curator, will moderate the sessions during each summer camp. The campers will enjoy an immersive experience in the process of making and appreciating films. To that end, they will watch a more contemporary film and then an older film, examining how film techniques have advanced and evolved over the years. Laystrom and the campers will discuss each selected film in an in-depth fashion. Among the films that may be viewed are such classics — old and new — as Sullivan’s Travels (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and Where the Wild Things Are (2009), to name a few.
“The summer camp idea originally came from Leigh,” Laystrom said. “She had summer camps at previous arts
organizations and always found them to be a successful way to engage with the community and introduce students to the arts. I have had prior experience with summer camps, in addition to instructing a few I attended some sort of film camp or class since I was 13, leading up to my time at UNCSA as a student. I’ve seen many di erent versions of what a film camp can be, and hope to share the passion and love of film that everyone at a/perture has with middle-school students.”
“I’ve had experience at three nonprofits that o ered successful summer camps,” Dyer said, “so I felt it was a great way to leverage our specific expertise — film appreciation and film theory — and o er our community another summer camp option. As the parent of a high-schooler, I remember those middle-school summers when kids are old enough to stay home on their own, but parents want them doing something more enriching or educational, so those ‘tween/early teen years are a great place for us to start.”
“We have had di erent versions of a camp in the past, most recently a ‘Girls + Screen’ program aimed at guiding young women into the film world,” Laystrom said. “It’s always been our hope to have a more regular camp or curriculum that we can engage young people with, and show what film has to o er. We have a promising number of students already signed up and still have space for anyone interested. We’ve been very encouraged by some a/perture regulars and film lovers expressing interest in the camp and wishing they could take part, so we’re definitely open to expanding the range and developing more opportunities for everyone to gather and share their love of film in our theater!”
Should the “film a/ppreciation” summer camp sessions prove successful, they could well become a regular annual component of the many special o erings the theater has to o er. On a personal note, this film critic has to wonder: Where was this kind of thing when I was growing up? For more information, call 336-7220148 Or visit the o cial a/perture website: https://aperturecinema.com/. !
Fear Street : Prom Queen travels
The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.
BY MARK BURGER
In Hollywood, nothing succeeds like excess, and when it comes to sequels, nothing exceeds like success. Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise that, having hit ratings paydirt with its original Fear Street trilogy, broadcast on successive weeks in 2021, Netflix would go the tried-and-true route with a fresh installment.
Adapted from R.L. Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen, Fear Street: Prom Queen doesn’t break new ground but it’s a class act in the slasher movie sweepstakes. Set in 1988, the film is steeped in nostalgia, including a strong selection of the decade’s top tunes on the soundtrack and plenty of references and in-jokes for genre fans. In his second feature, director Matt Palmer (who co-wrote the screenplay with Donald McLeary) keeps things humming along, with noteworthy contributions from cinematographer Mark Gyori and composers The Newton Brothers, whose score (heavy on synthesizers) is very much in keeping with the ‘80s setting.
As the title implies, Prom Queen details the competition for the coveted title of queen of Shadyside High’s upcoming senior prom. Shadyside, described by narrator/protagonist Lori Granger (India Fowler) is “where the future crawls to die,” and has something of a checkered past. So too does Lori, whose mother was vindicated of murdering her father years before. But that doesn’t prevent Lori from being bullied and belittled. Her principal nemesis is Ti any Falconer (Fina Strazza), the uno cial leader of the school’s resident mean-girl clique, the Wolfpack. Ti any has been groomed to win prom queen — even by her parents (Chris Klein and Katherine Waterston) — and isn’t about to let an upstart like Lori snatch the crown she believes herself entitled to.
Come prom night and all parties
assemble at the school gymnasium, including a masked killer in a red rain slicker toting various sharp implements, all the better to lop appendages and limbs o with a single gory blow. As well as delivering the gruesome goods, Prom Queen has a nice sense of the cattiness and pettiness of high-school life, amplified to a satirical degree.
Naturally, characters find excuses — usually involving sex and/or drugs — to leave the gymnasium for a seemingly deserted corner of the school, where they are promptly butchered. Prom Queen embraces the trappings of the genre in fun fashion. There’s also the whodunit element, although as victims pile up and potential suspects diminish, sharp-eyed viewers can ascertain the culprit (or culprits) without too much di culty. The actors work hard to imbue their stock characters with depth and dimension — and often succeed. In her first feature lead, the engaging Fowler holds things together as a heroine with heart and pluck, while Strazza is suitably hissable as the condescending Ti any. Suzanna Son, who broke out in Sean Baker’s Red Rocket (2021), scores again as Lori’s best friend Megan, the prototypical high-school rebel with a vast knowledge of horror films (she even reads Fangoria Magazine!) and steadfastly stands by her friend.
In smaller roles, Ella Rubin plays Ti any’s best friend (and prom-queen competitor) Melissa, who comes to recognize the depths of Ti any’s cruelty, and a funny turn by Tom Keat as the prom’s deejay, who is forcibly railroaded into sticking to the “cool” kids’ playlist. In addition to Klein and Waterston, the “grown-up” contingent also reliable indie favorite Lili Taylor as the uptight viceprincipal. Needless to say, not everyone’s left alive — or intact — by film’s end, but they do good work before exiting the proceedings. !
voices
Catching up with Rep. Addison McDowell
Ifirst met Addison
McDowell in February of 2024 when he was one of six candidates running in the Republican primary to represent the newly drawn 6th Congressional district which includes Southwest Guilford, Southern Forsyth, Northwest Cabarrus, Davie, Davidson, and Rowan counties, as well as Kernersville, High Point and Walkertown. Thanks to gerrymandering, the new district heavily favors Republican candidates, so incumbent Kathy Manning did not seek re-election. McDowell placed first in the primary garnering 26% of the vote with former Congressman Mark Walker coming in a close second. Walker declined to call for a run-o election and opted instead for a job with the Trump campaign. That gave McDowell a clear field with no Democratic opposition. He defeated Constitutional candidate Kevin Hayes in a landslide.
After graduating from UNC Charlotte, Addison cut his teeth in politics by serving in Ted Budd’s district o ce, and later by working as a lobbyist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. I caught up with the 31-year-old first-term congressman when he visited Triad Today while on Easter break. The following are highlights from our conversation.
Jim: Give us some personal background. Where did you grow up, what did your parents do?
Addison: I grew up in Davidson County and went to North Davidson High School. My dad was a pastor by trade, and he left the pulpit to go work at the Baptist Children’s Home. I grew up in a great house with two brothers. I live now in Davie County with my wife and two daughters.
Jim: You’ve been very active in trying to bring jobs back to North Carolina. Bring me up to speed on that.
Addison: We’ve seen a number of announcements already, like Merck is making a massive investment here. So is Scheider Electric. This district was
hammered by NAFTA. You saw manufacturing jobs get up and walk away and they haven’t come back. Thankfully we have a president now who is putting Main Street first, and we want to bring those jobs back, and that’s what we’re seeing as we tour the district. We’re seeing construction sites for companies who will o er high-paying jobs, and I’m so proud of that.
Jim: Earlier this year you introduced a bill that would equip schools with fentanyl overdose prevention resources. What is that all about and what’s the status?
Addison: This is a bill that would train teachers on how to use naloxone and things that will reverse deadly overdoses from drugs like fentanyl. It will also provide education for students and teachers. My thing is any bill that addresses this problem, I don’t care how small it is, we’re going to do it. You think about it like a thousand-piece puzzle. This may be one piece, but I’ll work on all one thousand pieces.
Jim: And this is very personal to you.
Addison: Absolutely. I lost my little brother Luke to fentanyl poisoning in 2017 when he was only 20 years old, so it’s personal for me. But it’s personal for so many people. Jim, everywhere I go, people tell me that the same thing happened to someone they love. Everyone knows someone a ected by this problem, so I’m proud to be fighting for all of those people too.
Jim: You’re also very active in supporting the Coast Guard. In what way?
Addison: The Coast Guard is our next line of defense when you think about securing the border. Drug tra cking is a billion-dollar industry. This problem is not going to stop because if you secure our southern and northern borders, where are they going to come from next? It’s our ports. Our Coast Guard is tremendously underfunded and we’ve got to give them the tools they need to stop this.
Jim: The previous administration allowed over 20 million immigrants to enter our country illegally. What are you doing to abate that situation?
Addison: We’re giving ICE and border patrol the freedom to do their job. Obviously, we want to provide additional funding for the wall, make our borders secure, and also hold the Mexican and Ca-
nadian governments accountable. I think you’ve seen that this administration is doing a great job already and that’s why we’ve seen a massive drop in illegal immigration.
Jim: Older folks are afraid because they keep hearing that Congress is going to cut Social Security.
Addison: That’s a lie that is being told to people to scare them, but it is simply
not true. We have a bill that makes it so we cannot legally touch Social Security. So, one, we don’t want to, and two, we can’t.
Jim: Speaking of older folks, what have you learned from your parents or grandparents that have stood you in good stead as a congressman?
Addison: My grandma is a tough woman. I think she could probably still beat me at arm wrestling [laughs]. She worked at the lawn and garden section of Walmart for almost my whole life. She’s in her 90s now, but that’s the hardestworking woman I know. She’s one of two people that I will leave a meeting for with anyone to take her call.
For more information, visit www. mcdowell.house.gov. !
JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.
Jim Longworth
Longworth at Large
Juneteenth in the Triad
COMPILED BY YES! STAFF
The Triad will have plenty of events that celebrate Juneteenth in the next few weeks while highlighting local leaders in our community. You can find a list of events below:
GREENSBORO
The Architect of Black Space proudly announces the return of the 5th Annual Citywide Juneteenth Black Food Truck Festival, Greensboro’s beloved tradition honoring Black liberation, culture, and entrepreneurship, on Saturday, June 14 from 5 to 11 p.m. We give thanks to the community, our ancestors, donors, orga-
nizers, vendors, and our sponsors Visit Greensboro, Greensboro Parks & Rec, and North Carolina A&T.
What started as a local gathering and celebration of liberation and community has grown into a cornerstone cultural event for the region, attracting over 10,000 attendees annually.
“This is more than a festival — Greensboro is a majority-minority city and our celebrations a rm this reality. Juneteenth Black Food Truck Festival it’s a tradition rooted in joy, political power, legacy, and community,” said April Parker, founding organizer for Architect of Black Space. “We’ve turned a celebration into an economic engine that uplifts and amplifies Black voices.” Each year, the
event proudly supports and showcases over 100 Black-owned businesses, food vendors, artists, and creatives.
“Coordinating the Juneteenth Black Food Truck Festival is more than organizing an event — it’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, it’s a chance to love on our community and to create a space for joy, remembrance, and unity. And YES we welcome everyone to celebrate with us,” said Vendor Coordinator Blair Barnes.
The 2025 Juneteenth Trailblazers Award will be a part of the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. They will be honoring the late Pat Fortune who brought Juneteenth to the city in 1994, her family will receive her recognition and our gratitude on her behalf. The torch was carried by Parker, who started curating Juneteenth celebrations in 2015 and worked in 2020 to make Juneteenth an o cial holiday in our city. Together, as we celebrate the fifth annual Juneteenth tradition, our honors will be awarded by Greensboro’s Mayor Nancy Vaughn. Speakers also include Guilford County’s own Rep. Amos Quick and Mayor of Durham Leonardo Williams as our inaugural speakers and distinguished political orators. There will also be an open mic as part of the Juneteenth Black Food Truck Festival. This gives the audience the ability to become a part of the curation. Grandmothers telling Juneteenth stories, political insights, and performers of all kinds are welcome to sign up at the DJ booths starting at 5 p.m. The open mic is sponsored by Kids Poetry Basketball and
will take place at 8 p.m. in Lebauer Park. The Guilford County Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department (SBED) and N.C. Cooperative ExtensionGuilford County Center is partnering with Triad Black Faith Leaders, Black Farmers Network, and East Greensboro NOW for the Juneteenth Triad Farmers Market at the Hayes-Taylor Memorial YMCA in Greensboro. The farmers market will be held on Thursday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature minority farmers o ering fresh, locally grown produce and meat. The event will also showcase live music and performances, craft vendors, and local food trucks. There is no admission fee to attend. Royal Expressions and Juneteenth GSO will host the Arts Legacy Awards on Friday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Van Dyke Performance Space, located at 200 N. Davie St. in Greensboro.
Young dancers celebrating at Triad Cultural Arts' Juneteenth 2024. Live performances are a pillar of Triad Cultural Arts' Juneteenth Festival.
PHOTOS
The Juneteenth GSO Fest will be held in downtown Greensboro at LeBauer Park, all day on Friday, June 21. This community event will feature incredible artists, diverse music, and unique vendors. The festival will be headlined by The NuBeing Collective, a dynamic hip-hop fusion band from Greensboro.
The Juneteenth Gospel Superfest and Interfaith Celebration will be held on Sunday, June 15 beginning at 2 p.m. at the Barber Park Amphitheater, located at 1500 Barber Park Dr. in Greensboro. Attendees are encouraged to come experience “Concert & Community” as organizers honor freedom, faith, and unity through music, culture, and connection. There will be local vendors and live performances. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/JGSIFC2025
COLFAX
The Juneteenth SOULebration will be held on Thursday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, located at 2914 Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax. This is designed to honor freedom, culture, and community with a day filled with praise, celebration, and fun for the whole family.
There will be live gospel music, family fun, games, bounce houses, food trucks, a DJ, a cash cube, and ra e prizes. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://JuneteenthSOULebration.com.
HIGH POINT
In High Point, the Carl Chavis YMCA will host “Juneteenth Celebration: It’s a Family Reunion” on Sunday, June 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. This event will feature Ricco Barrino, DJ ESudd, and Fat Jeez from 102 Jamz. The event will include community
vendors, food trucks, games, giveaways, line dancing, and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.
WINSTON-SALEM
In commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the original Juneteenth celebration in Texas, Triad Cultural Arts announces its most robust lineup of Juneteenth activities. The 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration has been billed to be one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations across the state and is set to become the largest Black annual event in Winston-Salem.
Last year, Juneteenth festivities brought together over 12,000 people from diverse community groups and backgrounds for arts, entertainment, and education in one of our city’s most acclaimed outdoor venues: Innovation Quarter. TCA’s 2025 festival line-up includes more events, like African dance flash mobs, across Winston-Salem and Forsyth County — including the Town of Kernersville’s Juneteenth celebration featuring a drone show & fireworks finale.
“We’re really leaning to our name and have direct ties with other municipalities — because the spirit of Juneteenth demands that we unify to multiply our impact,” said Executive Director Abrea Armstrong.
Juneteenth 2025 will feature several dynamic events, May 17 - June 21, 2025, throughout our city including:
• Freedom Day Ancestral Tribute — May 17
• County-wide Dance Flash Mobs — June 19
• Town of Kernersville Juneteenth Festival & Fireworks — June 19
• Juneteenth Procession — June 21
• Juneteenth Festival — June 21
Keeping and living Black culture continues to be at the forefront of the Juneteenth celebration. The June 21 festival in Innovation Quarter will include live music & spoken word, Heritage Village, Wellness Village sponsored by Atrium Health, food trucks, vendors, street-style portraits, and for the first time, a soul food culinary contest.
“Juneteenth marks a significant milestone in American history, and we are thrilled to launch the 160th commemoration with Freedom Day at St. Philips Moravian Church. The venue holds deep meaning, as it is the very site where freedom was announced in our region on May 21, 1865. To sit in the original pews where enslaved people first heard they were free is a sacred experience. Through Ritual of Mapping, we lift ancestral
voices in remembrance and renewal — a living tribute to 160 years of liberation,” said Cheryl Harry, TCA founder and programs manager.
The largest 2025 funder is the North Carolina Arts Council who pledged their support for this year’s festival back in 2024. Their music and dance director, Jamie Kotz, said, “The North Carolina Arts Council is proud to support Triad Cultural Arts’ Juneteenth Festival. This is just one example of a project that strengthens our state’s arts community and provides public good to the people of
North Carolina.” Their support demonstrates how Winston-Salem’s Juneteenth festival is one of the premier celebrations in the state. Amid budget cuts across the arts, TCA is grateful for the increased support of corporate & municipal donors. Other major sponsors include the City of Winston-Salem, Innovation Quarter, Novant Health, and Allegacy. All events are free and open to the public. For complete details and more information, visit the website: www. triadculturalarts.org or call 336-7578556. !
N.C. Folks
June is N.C. as folk, y’all.
Starting out the gate: the North Carolina Arts Council, PineCone and the Piedmont Council on Traditional Music are hosting the 2025 North Carolina Heritage Awards on June 7; the N.C. Folk Festival’s submission window for the “Not Your Average Folk” contest is running through June 13; Come Hear N.C. Music Day will elevate artists onto the world’s stage on June 21; the N.C. Music O ce Music survey goes through June 30; and then there’s the smattering of festivals and shows and artists radiating the wonders of N.C. folks finding common sounds amongst a wealth of uncommon talent.
“North Carolina’s traditional arts community embodies the joy and diverse culture of our great state,” said Governor Josh Stein, congratulating the 2025 Heritage Award recipients for their accomplishments and thanking them for “their contributions to North Carolina’s cultural life.”
Two artists from the Triad: Gaurang Doshi (a North Indian classical musician from Winston-Salem) and Chester McMillian (a Round Peak guitarist from Mount Airy), are among the group of artists who, according to N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell, share “the extraordinary story of our state’s rich cultural heritage.”
“This year more than ever, we are reminded of the value of our local traditions and the importance of safeguarding those art forms for future generations,” she said.
Executive Director of the N.C. Arts Council, Je Bell, echoed the sentiment. “Recipients of the North Carolina Heritage Awards represent the abundance of North Carolina’s cultural life,” he said. “We celebrate the exceptional groups and individuals who dedicate their entire lives not only to a practice but also to their communities. Through them, we honor the importance of all North Carolinians.”
Both Doshi and McMillian, who are also both educators of their craft, will perform at the ceremony.
Originally from Gujarat, India, Doshi has lived in the Winston-Salem area since 2006 — becoming a guiding force of instruction for sitar, sarod, and tabla. Blending “ancient traditions with a modern focus on community and connection,” Doshi’s methods are cemented by the bonds of the Guru Shishya Parampara. Imparting lessons beyond the musical realm — according to the N.C. Arts Council, “he teaches purpose, humility, and the importance of sharing your gift with others. Gaurang also leads the only Indian classical music course at UNC-G, the only such class in the state, helping this vibrant tradition thrive in new generations.”
Picking around to Surry County, McMillian follows a distinct, but not entirely di erent, Round Peak path.
An old-time player since childhood, the venerable “Round Peak” style guitarist started on mandolin as a youngster with his brothers. A collaborator with old-time legends like Tommy Jarrell; McMillian (and his Backstep band) have long been fixtures of the fiddlers’ conventions circuit and continue inspiring young players in the old-time ways. Now an old-timer himself, McMillian still o ers free lessons and teaches weekly at Elkin JAM and his Round Peak School of Music.
While the Heritage Awards honor the “most eminent traditional artists and practitioners,” the “Not Your Average Folk” Contest celebrates the “next-gen artistry and boundary-pushing performance,” N.C. Folk Fest organizers said.
“Whether your roots run deep or your sound breaks every mold, this is your moment to shine.”
With a new logo and slogan — and a date that finally doesn’t butt up against the Hopscotch Music Festival — the N.C. Folk Festival is ushering in a new era to “Find Common Sound,” and highlighting the “unifying power of music as a universal language that transcends culture, background and genre.”
As with prior NYAF contest years: the top three winners snag festival performance slots, and the top two get recording studio time at Crimson Moon Studios. Submissions are open now through June 13, to N.C. residents, via an entry form on the N.C. Folk Fest website.
For folk lovers and Greensboro lovers alike, the Folk Fest is part of a group organizing the “Local Folk GSO” summer tour series to celebrate “the musicians who make Greensboro’s sound so distinctive” with a summer of “Emerging Artists” shows at the Flat Iron, pairing locals with national touring acts: Graham Sharp will be with the well-established Abigail Dowd on June 10; Will Hoge and Evan Blackerby on July 11; and Pony Bradshaw and Jesse Fox on Aug 2. And a series of bills featuring Triad artists at spaces around the city: Kay Marion and Bedroom Division on June 20 at SouthEnd Brewing; Tom Troyer and SunQueen Kelcey at Back Table on July 12; and Victoria Victoria and Katie.BLVD at Oden Brewing on August 29.
The folks over at the N.C. Music O ce, meanwhile, are casting an even larger net and hoping to engage N.C. music folk from across the state through the o cial N.C. Music Survey (which runs through June 30.)
“With a mission to support North Carolina’s music scene, we want to hear from you,” they said. “Let your voice help shape the future of music in N.C.! We would love to get to know you. As we work diligently to support music across North Carolina, from artists to educators to fans, venues to agents, labels, and production, we want to begin by gathering information on those we serve.”
It’s all part of the NCMO’s outlook: the “Deep Roots, Wide Reach” philosophy that understands the ”centrality of music to the cultural, economic, and historical life of our state. From mountain ballads to Piedmont blues to coastal hymns, the
music of North Carolina has long captivated the hearts and minds of the world. And today, the state’s treasured music communities advance its legacy. The NCMO exists to sustain and advance the state’s rich, polyphonic musical culture.”
Aimed at amplifying “the living musical culture of our state, strengthening every facet of music-making, appreciation, programming, and education,” the NCMO extends the work of the Come Hear N.C. initiative, via “programming partnerships with PBS-NC, That Station, and a host of festival and music organizations. In tandem with this promotional work, the o ce is expanding Come Hear N.C.’s Music Communities program, which helps musicians identify and secure what’s needed most for the continuing health of their towns and cities.”
While Danbury is one Triad city amongst the latest Music Community cohort, both the NCMO and Come Hear NC work to “highlight what makes the music of North Carolina extraordinary and preserve the state’s unique culture for future generations.” And they’re broadcasting that mission worldwide with “Come Hear N.C. Music Day” on June 21; in tandem with World Music Day: “a global day of music where everyone is encouraged to make music — on the street, in parks, in venues, on porches…wherever you’re moved to do so.”
Personally, this writer is moved (and honored) to continue programming the NCMA Winston-Salem Southern Idiom Concert Series, dedicated to celebrating the diverse musical artistry of WinstonSalem musicians, past and present, with an installment on June 8 highlighting N.C. folk the world over: a Vibraphone Trio that features bassist Paul DeFiglia (the Avett Brothers, Langhorne Slim) and the duo Carpenter / Cohen (RIBS, Floating Action, Schooner).
By the mountains, Piedmont, or sea: N.C. is the folkin’ best. Celebrate with the 2025 North Carolina Heritage Awards Ceremony at the Martin Marietta Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh on June 7; at the Local GSO Summer Series around Greensboro through August; or with the world on June 21 for Come Hear N.C. Music Day. !
KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.
Katei Cranford
Contributor
Local building, landlord investigated by Attorney General
“The city just tried to take away a veteran’s house for its receivership program, but they’re letting this dilapidated commercial building fall apart,” said Jay Eisenberg, who lives and works on the 500 block of South Mendenhall in Greensboro’s historic College Hill neighborhood.
Eisenberg was referring to a white building with peeling paint, visible rot and mold, and buckling exterior planking. Until 2019, it was the site of the People’s Perk, which closed due to electrical issues and a leaking ceiling. The structure has deteriorated considerably since then.
The number 551 is painted to the right of the door, but “551 S. Mendenhall” is not listed on the Geographical Information Systems mapping site used by the city’s Planning Department. That’s because it’s part of a larger and equally dilapidated L-shaped structure with the o cial address of 822 Spring Garden St., which wraps around the corner of that intersection and once housed a mattress shop.
An UNSAFE BUILDING: DO NOT ENTER OR OCCUPY notice from the Greensboro Fire and Life Safety Division is posted to the warped doors, stating ENTRY MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. There is also a Feb. 28 NOTICE OF VIOLATION from the City’s Department of Code Compliance, which lists gra ti. Eisenberg works at Firehouse Grocery next to the empty building he and several of his co-workers consider an eyesore and safety hazard. One of those coworkers is Air Force veteran Ronald Fulp, who lives nearby at 316 Tate St. As previ-
ously reported, Fulp was evicted from his home in July 2024 by the Greensboro Vacant Housing Receivership Program, which allows properties condemned for code violations to be placed under control of a court-appointed receiver, who is instructed to perform any repairs necessary to bring the property up to code, and can recoup those expenses through liens on the homeowner.
In January, the receivership agreement between the City of Greensboro and Metamorph Investments LLC ended with city o cials alleging that Metamorph CEO B. J. Johnson had exceeded his mandate of merely bringing Fulp’s house back up to code, and had begun far more extensive (and expensive) renovations than authorized. In emails to city o cials, Neighborhood Development manager Troy Powell expressed concern that Johnson may have “inflated the cost of repairs.” Through his attorney, Johnson has stated that he unreservedly denies these allegations, and that all his proposed renovations and costs were approved in advance by the city.
On Friday, Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, “Quite frankly, I’m not sure that the receivership program is working the way we hoped.”
“Since January, Fulp’s home has been returned to his control and he is repairing it, but his temporary eviction raised concern among his co-workers and neighbors, who have described multiple buildings in College Hill as being in far greater disrepair than Fulp’s home ever was. One of the most frequently cited is the crumbling commercial building next to Fulp’s workplace.”
“The city tried to take my house away because my health kept me from making repairs fast enough to suit them,” said Fulp, “but my roof wasn’t caving in the way it is with this building, and they’re not making the owner do anything to fix it,”
That owner is Evagelia “Lisa” Eustathiou of Apollon LLC at 2603-C Spring Garden St. N.C. Real Estate Commission records show Eustathiou permanently and voluntarily surrendered her real estate license on Dec. 13, 2023. Upon that surrender, the commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Eustathiou violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules, with Eustathiou neither admitting or denying misconduct.
Eustathiou owns multiple properties in North Carolina, including several apartments on Indian Trail in Raleigh, where in 2023, ABC11 reported allegations that she had charged N.C. State students over $18,000 in fines for leaving behind a homemade drinking game table when they moved out, with other fines raising the amount to over $23,000.
In May 2024, the o ce of then N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein released a statement that the N.C. Department of Justice had secured a consent judgment with Eustathiou and Apollon LLC over violations of state consumer protection and debt laws, and that “the defendants will repay $25,040 in security deposits and establish a 90-day look-back period to review requests for refunds from people who did not file complaints with our o ce but may be entitled to a refund.”
Ian McDowell
Contributor
551 S. Mendenhall St.
This judgment was the culmination of an investigation that began after the N.C. Consumer Protection Division received seven complaints from college students and their families. The statement from Stein’s o ce described Eustathiou as having “operated a residential rental business and rented primarily to college students in the Greensboro and Raleigh areas” and having “improperly assessed months of fines, including interest, and unjustifiably withheld security deposits.”
Reached via a phone call to her Greensboro o ce, Eustathiou asked YES! Weekly “are you an employee of the City of Greensboro?” When told no, she said, “then I have nothing to say to you.”
While the Vacant Housing Receivership Program that resulted in Fulp being locked out of his home for six months was intended, as its name suggests, for residential buildings, the City of Greensboro’s Good Repair Ordinance states that nonresidential buildings within city limits may be closed or demolished if deemed “dangerous and injurious to public health, safety, and welfare,” and that “whenever it appears to the public o cer that any nonresidential building or structure has not been properly maintained so that the safety or health of its occupants or members of the general public or abutting buildings or structures are jeopardized for failure of the property to meet the minimum standards . . . the public o cer shall undertake a preliminary investigation.”
Speaking o the record, a city o cial noted the Good Repair Ordinance is aimed at protecting occupants and surrounding structures, and that code violations alone are generally not considered su cient for an investigation unless the building is deemed a threat to surrounding structures or the public at large or in danger of falling into the public right of way.
In a May 1 email to City of Greensboro Communications Manager Gary Canapinno, District 3 City Council Representative Zack Matheny wrote, “The building certainly appears out of compliance,” and asked, “Would you please have code compliance visit the site.”
On May 6, Canapinno acknowledged that Code Enforcement had recently visited the building, but said that he believed the city was waiting until after that month’s meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) before deciding upon further action, such as issuing an order to repair or demolish the structure.
On the agenda for the May 28 HPC meeting was an item titled “822 Spring Garden Street, College Hill — Alterations to the roof,” with the note that this was continued from the April 30, meeting and that “applicant requests a continuance until June 25.”
While neither the video nor the minutes of the May 28 meeting are online, members of the College Hill Neighborhood Association who attended said Eustathiou got her requested continuance, and on June 25, she will be presenting plans for renovating the structure. !
MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I
Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.
822 Spring Garden St.
Safety Notices on door
Submissions should be sent to artdirector@yesweekly.com by Friday at 5 p.m., prior to the week’s publication. Visit yesweekly.com and click on calendar to list your event online.
HOME GROWN MUSIC SCENE | Compiled by Shane Hart
CARBORRO
CAT’S CRADLE
300 E Main St | 919.967.9053
www.catscradle.com
Jun 5: Six Foot Blonde
Jun 6: Perfume Genius
Jun 6: Soda Water Sea
Jun 7: Daughter of Swords
Jun 7: Reverend Horton Heat
Jun 9: Courting + Slow Fiction
Jun 10: Die Spitz
CHARLOTTE
THE FILLMORE
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com
Jun 4: Eem Triplin
Jun 5: Anees
Jun 9: Dance Gavin Dance
Jun 10: Jack’s Mannequin
CLEMMONS
VILLAGE SQUARE
TAP HOUSE
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330
www.facebook.com/vstaphouse
Jun 5: Michael Chaney
Jun 6: Astrocat
Jun 7: Next O Kin
DURHAM
DPAC
123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787
www.dpacnc.com
Jun 4: Kevin James w/ Gary Valentine
Jun 5: The Beach Boys
Jun 6: Danny Go
Jun 7: Ledsi w/ Marsha Ambrosius
GREENSBORO
CAROLINA THEATRE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605
www.carolinatheatre.com
Jun 7: Ariel Pocock and Chad Eby
CHAR BAR NO. 7
3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555
www.charbar7.com
Jun 5: Darrell Hoots
Jun 12: William Nesmith
COMEDY ZONE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034
www.thecomedyzone.com
Jun 6-8: Tommy Davidson
Jun 13-14: Shaun Jones
GARAGE TAVERN
5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020
www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro
Jun 6: HWY 42
Jun 7: Wristban
HANGAR 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480
www.hangar1819.com
Jun 4: Merkules
PIEDMONT HALL
2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
Jun 6: Green Queen Bingo
Jun 14: Nepathya
STEVEN TANGER CENTER
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500
www.tangercenter.com
Jun 4: The Temptations and The Four Tops
THE IDIOT BOX COMEDY CLUB
503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699
www.idiotboxers.com
Jun 7: Lance Weiss
JAMESTOWN
THE DECK
118 E Main St | 336.207.1999
www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/ Jun 7: Brother Pearl
RALEIGH
CCU MUSIC PARK AT WALNUT CREEK
3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111
www.livenation.com
Jun 7: Luke Bryan
LINCOLN THEATRE
126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400
www.lincolntheatre.com
Jun 5: Jayson Arendt w/ Kaylin Roberson / Clayton Blackman
Jun 6: Made In American w/ Cecil
Jun 7: Barefoot Manner w/ Dr. Bacon & Funkuponya
Jun 10: The Disco Biscuits
RED HAT AMPHITHEATER
500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800
www.redhatamphitheater.com
Jun 4: I want My 80’s Tour starring Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Cheng, and John Ca erty
Jun 7: Dispatch Summer Tour 2025 with John Butler with Band , G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter
638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 www.foothillsbrewing.com
Sundays: Sunday Jazz
Thursdays: Trivia
Jun 4: Michael Chaney
Jun 6: Taylor Mason & Matt Crowder
Jun 8: Anne & the Moonlighters
THE RAMKAT
170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714 www.theramkat.com
Jun 4: Shelby Means
Jun 5: Guilty party
Jun 6: Michael Martin Murphey
Jun 7: Tyler Nail
Jun 8: Tab Benoit, JD Simo
Jun 11: Stillhouse Junkies
Jun 12: Drunken Prayer, Charles Latham and the Borrowed Band
WISE MAN BREWING
826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008
www.wisemanbrewing.com
Thursdays: Music Bingo
Jun 6: Abby Bryant Duo
Jun 7: Gipsy Danger
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of June 9, 2025
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A heads-up to all free-spirited Ewes and Rams: Be wary of a deal that could result in compromising your independence. Check every detail before making a commitment.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) New facts emerge that help put an irksome workplace situation in perspective. Meanwhile, pay more attention to a family member who needs your wisdom and strength.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A slight setback in plans is nothing to worry about. Use this delay to deal with a number of matters you might have ignored for too long. Expect news from someone in your past.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You’re entering a period of stability. Use it to straighten out any outstanding problems related to a very personal situation. Also, pay closer attention to financial matters.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) As much as you love being a social Lion, you might well benefit from staying out of the spotlight for a while. You need time to reflect on some upcoming decisions.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A di cult family situation improves, thanks to your timely intervention. You can now start to focus more of your attention on preparing for a possible career change.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) An on-the-job change works to your benefit by o ering new opportunities, but it’s up to you to check them out. Meanwhile, a stalled romantic situation starts up again.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A flare-up of Scorpian temperament cools down, leaving you more receptive to suggestions about changes that might need to be made in your personal life.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) An unusual period of indecisiveness is a mite frustrating.
But things soon clear up, allowing the sage Sagittarian to make wise pronouncements again.
[cAPrIcorN (December 22 to January 19) You might feel that you know best, but it’s not a good idea at this time to try to force your opinions on others. Best advice: Inspire change by example, not by intimidation.
[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) Some setbacks could affect your plans to fortify your financial situation. But things start moving again by early next week. Meanwhile, enjoy your resurgent social life!
[PIsces (February 19 to March 20) Show that often-hidden steely spine of yours as you once again stand up to an emotional bully. You’ve got the strength to do it, especially as friends rally to your side.
[BorN THIs week: Your ruling planet, Mercury, endows you with a gift for writing. Have you considered penning the world’s greatest novel?
