BOOKMARKS MOVABLE FEAST
Authors and readers will head to downtown Winston-Salem in the upcoming week to enjoy Bookmarks 14th annual Movable Feast Weekend, taking place March 14-15 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, located at 251 N. Spruce St.
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3 I hadn’t heard from Michael Huie in some time when he e-mailed me to invite me on his new podcast, “ FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS,” which is devoted to fantasy, horror, and science-fiction cinema.
4 This year’s BAFTA event made global news for something controversial, which the Academy knew was going to happen, could have prevented, and ended up apologizing for in advance.
5 All three actors (Stephen Lang, Dolph Lundgren, and Harvey Keitel) are adding star power and, to an extent, classing up a predictable B-movie called “ HELLFIRE,” the latest outing for veteran action director Isaac Florentine, an old hat at this sort of thing. It’s good guys versus bad guys, and although set in 1988, Western trappings abound.
7 NORTH ITALIA is a few months old, situated behind its parent, The Cheesecake Factory, in Friendly Shopping Center. The interior looks urbane-upscale, open and airy, with a high energy level that usually manages not to be unnerving. A covered, heated patio provides outdoor seating.
12 Walk into POTENT POTABLES, a bar at 115 E. Main St. in Jamestown, and everyone might not know your name. But linger a while and you may be surprised at old friends you may see and new friendships you may form. For over 13 years, that is the feel owners Steve and Abby Kim worked to create and what its new owners want to continue.
Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com
EDITORIAL
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YES! Writers JOHN BATCHELOR
BURGER KATEI CRANFORD LYNN FELDER JIM LONGWORTH IAN MCDOWELL
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Local podcast revisits film fear from yesteryear
Ihadn’t heard from Michael Huie in some time when he e-mailed me to invite me on his new podcast, “Friday Night Frights,” which is devoted to fantasy, horror, and science-fiction cinema. Having never participated in a podcast, I was intrigued by the idea and flattered to be considered an authority on all things cinematic — although I suppose it’s an accurate description.
Huie is an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University’s Department of Theatre and Dance and has taught there since 2015. He also graduated from Wake Forest with a bachelor’s degree in 1984 and a master’s degree 10 years later. He teaches an introductory theater course and a course in acting and continues to act and direct in various local productions when time permits.
It must be noted that Huie and yours truly worked at the Winston-Salem Journal at the same time — in di erent departments — but I was more familiar with him and his wife, fellow Wake Forest University faculty member Brook Davis, because I covered local theater for the Journal and therefore previewed and/ or reviewed numerous productions they worked on. Early on, however, he and I discovered we had a shared admiration for Hammer Films, the British study that specialized in genre fare from the 1950s to the ‘70s and made stars out of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, who would become international icons.
Thus, last month I twice trekked to the Wake Forest campus in Winston-Salem to debate and discuss Hammer Films, Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee. Our con-
versations took place in episode 9 and episode 11, and can be accessed here: https://fridaynightfrights.buzzsprout. com/2535791/episodes.
Huie’s inspiration for creating “Friday Night Frights” had been percolating in recent years.
“I got back into movies in a major way during the COVID pandemic thanks to a podcast, so it’s been in the back of my mind to try and do one,” he explained.
“I think the inspiration was Eddie Muller on TCM [Turner Classic Movies], who has successfully gotten people into film noir I wanted to try something similar with classic horror, albeit on a smaller scale.”
Huie recorded the first installment, “Pass the Marmalade: An Abridged Guide to Hammer Horror,” in September. “I grew up watching these movies,” he said. “I think one of the reasons I gravitate to Hammer and British films in particular is [because] they were a form of exotic escape from growing up in suburban North Carolina.
“My first horror film in a theater was ‘Dracula A.D. 1972’ in the old Carolina Theatre, now the Stevens Center, (but) I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite,” he noted bemusedly. “I do love the Dracula story, so I’d say my favorite is Christopher Lee’s first ‘Dracula’ — I hate the U.S. title (‘Horror of Dracula’). I also love the 1977 BBC version with Louis Jourdan.”
Huie’s parents were not horror fans (nor were mine, for that matter), but he’s doing his level best to impart a love for the genre to his own family. “My daughter Lucy and my son Ian have both been guests,” he said. “I wouldn’t call them horror fans, but hey — they’re still young, so I have time. Brook is definitely a horror
fan, having grown up with slasher films, and the podcast was really her idea. They’ve all been super supportive.”
In terms of the podcast’s scope, “I try to keep it to classic horror, which I define as any horror film from the silents up to ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’” Huie said. “However, we also talk about modern films that I feel are influenced by classic horror. ‘Stranger Things’ has so many influences from the past. We’ve also previewed Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners,’ which are both period horror films.”
Both “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” have earned critical acclaim across the board, and both are in the running for the Oscar for Best Picture. “Sinners” set an Academy record by receiving an unprecedented 16 nominations, while “Frankenstein” earned nine. For many years, horror films were completely overlooked at the Academy Awards, as if the genre was somehow not as reputable as others.
Fredric March won the Best Actor Oscar for “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1931), but it
wasn’t until Ruth Gordon’s win for Best Supporting Actress in “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) that the Academy next rewarded an actor for a horror film. In recent years, “The Shape of Water” (2017) and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022) won Oscars for Best Picture — and both are unmistakably fantasy films.
“The needle has shifted some, but it still has a ways to go,” Huie observed. “I think a lot of people still discount a film if it has horror elements, and they definitely discount older movies as campy and dated. In some cases, they are. However, a film shouldn’t be dismissed just because it’s taking its subject matter seriously. Terence Fisher, the director of many of the best Hammer films, described them as fairy tales for adults. I quite like that.”
After six months and 11 episodes, what’s the progress report on “Friday Night Frights?” “So far so good, I think,” Huie said. “It takes time to get a podcast o the ground and find an audience. We’ve had downloads in 12 countries, so that’s cool and kind of shocking!” !
See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2026, Mark Burger.
WANNA know?
For more information, visit https://fridaynightfrights.buzzsprout.com/.
Mark Burger
Contributor
Michael Huie
Tourette’s no excuse for racism
If you are easily triggered and o ended, or if you believe that there’s no such thing as being too politically correct, then please do not read any further. That’s because this column is about political correctness turned upside down and gone amok. Late last month, the annual British Academy of Film & Television Arts ceremony was broadcast by the BBC. BAFTA is similar to our Academy Awards, and often foreshadows who and what will win Oscars. Like most award shows, someone inevitably says something controversial during his or her acceptance speech, and then those remarks go viral.
But this year’s BAFTA event made global news for something controversial, which the Academy knew was going to happen, could have prevented, and ended up apologizing for in advance.
The hoopla was begat by the film “I Swear,” a story about John Davidson and his struggles with Tourette’s syndrome. Davidson also produced the film and was up for an award, so naturally, he was expected to attend the ceremony. However, Davidson is a man on a mission and his reason for attending was the same as the mission of the film itself, which is to raise public awareness for Tourette’s.
The Centers for Disease Control defines Tourette’s as a condition of the nervous system that causes people to make sudden and repeated twitches, movements, or sounds, called “tics.” Mayoclinic.org adds that such tics cannot be easily controlled. The disorder is also known for how it allegedly causes some people to blurt out o ensive words, and that’s
exactly what Mr. Davidson did several times during the BAFTA broadcast. His disruptive outbursts included racial slurs directed at African American cast and crew members of the highly acclaimed film “Sinners.” Afterwards, Davidson and BAFTA were excoriated by the NAACP and by Black celebrities such as actor Jamie Foxx and journalist Jemele Hill. Foxx later posted, “He [Davidson] meant that shit…f*ck that. He knew what he was doing.” Hill was particularly critical of the idiots at BAFTA who tried to cover their asses in advance by making an announcement to the audience just prior to the start of the broadcast, saying “John is in the room and you may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony…such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional.”
thing you say and do fit a pattern consistent with your self-concept.” Simply put, there is no evidence that any disorder or medication forces someone to use language that is not in their vocabulary. (That was Foxx’s point). Davidson didn’t repeatedly shout foul curse words that could be written o as part of a common lexicon. He blurted out specific racial slurs at Black people. Davidson is a smart guy and a self-promoter, so don’t tell me that his selective blurts weren’t deliberate in an e ort to get more attention for his film. Let’s be clear, hate speech is not a clinical tic.
Said Hill, “Black people are just supposed to be OK with being disrespected and dehumanized so that other people don’t feel bad.”
I agree with Ms. Hill for three reasons. First, BAFTA and the BBC thought they could get away with what amounted to selective political correctness, i.e., allowing one group to be o ended while defending the actions of the o ending party.
This was supposed to be “Sinners” big night. It was supposed to be a historic recognition for a film made by and starring people of color. Instead, their celebration was marred by Davidson’s hurtful words and by BAFTA’s cowardly fence-sitting. So how should BAFTA and the BBC have handled the situation? Knowing the potential for a disaster to happen, they should have arranged for a VIP area where Davidson and his party could have viewed the proceedings in private. Problem averted.
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Second, no one at BAFTA is qualified to claim that Davidson’s outbursts were “not intentional.” And that brings me to the third reason. I have a problem with the popular belief that Tourette’s “causes” someone to blurt out o ensive language. Author Brian Tracy writes, “Your subconscious mind makes every-
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If my questioning of Davidson’s motives proves to be unfounded, and if one day science proves that Tourette’s made him call Black people the “N” word, then I apologize in advance.
Hey, it worked for BAFTA. !
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+.
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Longworth at Large
Stephen Lang all fired up in ‘Hellfire’
What, you may wonder, are Stephen Lang, Dolph Lundgren, and Harvey Keitel doing in what is essentially a low-budget DTV (“direct-tovideo”) action opus that freely borrows elements from two of Clint Eastwood’s better Westerns, “High Plains Drifter” (1973) and “Pale Rider” (1985)?
Despite having been seen to better advantage elsewhere, the answer is simple: All three actors are adding star power and, to an extent, classing up a predictable B-movie called “Hellfire,” the latest outing for veteran action director Isaac Florentine, an old hat at this sort of thing. It’s good guys versus bad guys, and although set in 1988, Western trappings abound.
The setting is Rondo, Texas, which could be described as a “one-horse town,” into which strolls an unnamed stranger (Lang). He’s just passing through — sound familiar? — but soon finds himself enmeshed in the town’s dirty doings. The local brewery is actually a front for a cocaine tra cking ring lorded over by town bigwig Jeremiah Whitfield (Keitel), who’s so cool he wears sunglasses indoors when playing classical piano — at night, no less. Lundgren, hardly anyone’s idea of a taciturn Texas lawman, plays Sheri Wiley, who’s in on the illicit action.
Calling himself “Nomada,” Lang’s character turns out to be a combat veteran and ex-Green Beret, and he quickly runs afoul of Jeremiah’s sleazy son Clyde (Michael Sirow), who lusts after widowed barmaid Lena (Scottie Thompson), the daughter of kindly, wheelchair-bound tavern owner Owen (Chris Mullinax). Despite being harassed, threatened, and beaten within an inch of his life (more than once), Nomada is not a man to be trifled with. He’s going to right some
wrongs and clean up the town, whose population diminishes rapidly in the process.
It’s nice to see Lang (also an executive producer) play one of his few feature leads, which he carries o with steely aplomb. Thompson and Mullinax imbue their stock characters with some distinctive touches, including the incessant squeaking of Owen’s wheelchair. Lundgren hasn’t much to do but does cut an imposing figure and incorporates a bit of shading to his corrupt cop before his inevitable exit. Keitel sails through the proceedings in an undemanding role but appears to be enjoying himself.
“Hellfire” is easy to take on its own terms. It kills time, but it doesn’t waste time, as Florentine keeps things moving at a steady clip, employing the requisite car chases, shootouts, and fisticu s — the latter aspect overseen by fight coordinator Johnny Yong Bosch, who also plays cold-blooded baddie Zeke. His climactic bout with Lang is the film’s most memorable sequence, although it’s hardly a surprise who emerges victorious.
(“Hellfire” is available On Demand and on digital) !
[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] THE ACGG ARTSFUND 2026
BY LINDSAY EMERY
The Pyrle marquee was lit as the sun began its descent. Large glass doors with polished brass handles, cool against the February air, opened into a lobby already warm with energy. Light washed over exposed brick and original Triad Stage seating, a quiet reminder of the building’s past. Old met new in a space reborn.
By the time the program began, The Pyrle was filled with neighbors, artists, community leaders, and longtime supporters. Hugs and handshakes gave way to conversation. The atmosphere was both celebratory and purposeful. It was here that The ACGG’s ArtsFund program launched its 2026 campaign, already 49 percent of the way toward its $550,000 goal.
As emcee Je ery Carlson, Director of The Choral Arts Collective, reminded the room, “Art is not extra. It is essential.”
Creativity carried the evening. The Greensboro Opera performed selections from The Pirates of Penzance. A moving video featured Artist Support Grantees and local arts organizations strengthened through ArtsFund, underscored by original music from Artist Support Grantees Elena Martín and Jose Melitón. The night concluded with Artist Support Grantee Daniel Quisol and his wife, Paulina, performing in a space designed for sound to soar.
Throughout the evening, artists of every discipline engaged supporters and community leaders in conversation about their work and the role ArtsFund plays in sustaining it. New introductions were made and future collaborations began to take shape.
The focus extended beyond a single project to an interconnected ecosystem of large and small organizations, emerging and established artists, festivals, educators, and public art shaping daily life across Guilford County.
Since 1960, The ACGG has built a rich
legacy of advocates and investors who understand that the arts are essential to Greater Greensboro’s vitality. As our creative sector evolves, a new generation of leaders is stepping forward to help shape the city’s future through the arts. Today, as the largest public and private alliance dedicated to sustaining our local arts economy, we remain a trusted partner in cultivating a vibrant community where art thrives.
ArtsFund 2026 Co-Chairs Cli ord and Martha Thompson spoke passionately about the arts as public access, public beauty, and a powerful economic driver. The arts are why people and businesses choose a community. By the end of the evening, ArtsFund had raised $32,000 more, strengthening that early momentum. Together, we continue this work.
We invite you to join us in shaping our region’s future through the arts. ArtsFund sustains our entire creative ecosystem throughout the year. Please consider making your ArtsFund gift today. With your support, creativity will continue to shape Greensboro for generations to come. !
MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2026, Mark Burger.
Mark Burger
Contributor
The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro
Photo by Lynn Donovan Photography ArtsFund 2026 CoChairs Cli ord and Martha Thompson.
NChow Down with John Batchelor at North Italia
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
orth Italia is a few months old, situated behind its parent, The Cheesecake Factory, in Friendly Shopping Center. The interior looks urbane-upscale, open and airy, with a high energy level that usually manages not to be unnerving. A covered, heated patio provides outdoor seating. The cocktail list and beer selections (mostly local) are impressive (although they were out of the ingredients for two cocktail orders on one visit). The wine list (mostly Italian) provides over two dozen pours by the glass, in 6 or 8 ounces, in addition to a killer bottles list. I enjoyed the food. Quite a lot, actually. Servings from the Small Plates section of the menu are large enough to share.
Italian Meatballs exude solid beef flavor, enhanced with a rich marinara sauce, surrounded by creamy polenta and grated Grana Padano cheese — similar to Parmesano-Reggiano, but a little sweeter and less salty.
Three crisp fried risotto cakes make up a serving of Cacio e Pepe Arancini, dusted with finely grated Pecorino-Romano cheese and crushed pepper, flanked by pesto aioli. The red pepper blend generates a bit of heat, just enough to perk things up, while the aioli softens things. Scampi places four jumbo shrimp, deveined, tail on, in a lush bath of herb butter studded with garlic confit, decorated with grated grana Padano cheese. Bits of blistered tomato add a mild acidic edge. Slices of grilled bread allow you to soak up that sauce, a most enjoyable experience.
In Prosciutto Bruschetta, really good prosciutto is folded over focaccia, spread with stracciatella — a rich, soft cheese, sections of grilled asparagus in between, sprinkled with grana Padano cheese. Calamari is noteworthy for exceptionally crisp texture, a fairly light flavor, extended with crushed tomato marinara sauce.
Pizzas benefit from a tough, chewy, flavorful crust, baked to a dark brown. Margherita combines mozzarella cheese with fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil, bathed in a rich tomato sauce. Funghi luxuriates in the aroma and flavor of cooked fresh mushrooms and cippolini onions, resting in mozzarella cheese. Salads are likewise large enough to share. Arugula and Avocado dress the named ingredients in a light lemon vinaigrette, decorated with shaved fennel. Seasonal Vegetable joins butternut squash, sliced Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and radicchio with Pecorino cheese, fregola (little pasta balls), pistachio nuts, and dates, with white balsamic dressing. This virtually explodes with flavor. Tuscan Kale is elaborate — to the greens, crisp pancetta, charred grapes, apple slices, pistachios, and herbed breadcrumbs are added, tossed in Parmesan vinaigrette.
Pastas, made in-house, are deeply flavorful. Bolognese is considered a house specialty, justifiably so. The meat sauce is classic, coating pappardelle
pasta sprinkled with grated grana Padano cheese, all enhanced with oregano and extra virgin olive oil. Strozzapreti roughly translates to “priest strangler.” Popular legends hold that this tastes so good, otherwise ascetic priests would eat so much they stu ed themselves. Tender herb-roasted chicken is the primary ingredient here, joined by roasted mushroom, spinach, Parmesan cream sauce, and toasted pine nuts. Lasagne uses both braised short ribs and Italian sausage, each imparting its own distinctive flavor. “Rustic” marinara sauce — menu term, and it fits, plus ricotta and provolone cheeses, blend beautifully. Fresh basil leaves float on top.
We tried several seafoods from the entrée menu. Branzino is grilled, its tender, mild white flesh enhanced with abundant capers and lemon caper butter, flanked by roasted fennel, Brussels sprouts, broccolini, fingerling potatoes, and soft-cooked cipollini onions. This is exceptional, both for the flavor of the fish itself as well as the accompanying vegetables. Scallops are panseared to a light brown — pleasantly tender — joined on the plate by pieces of butternut squash. This struck me as a novel combination, which nevertheless married well. These ingredients are plated over risotto, plus a few Brussels sprout leaves, the overall flavor intensified with Calabrian agrodolce — a red wine vinegar and honey reduction with bits of red chili peppers. Crisp fried shallot strings complete the presentation. Salmon comes in a fairly simple preparation, elevated to a higher level of complexity through the presentation. It rests on caramelized Romanesco broccoli, plus broccolini, fregola, basil pesto, lemon gremolata, dashed with a nato — aged balsamic vinegar.
Meats proved highly satisfying as well. Braised Short Rib Marsala is tender enough to pull apart without a knife, the already deep beef flavor enriched with beech mushrooms and a nato, over black tru e risotto, surrounded by Brussels sprouts and heirloom carrots. A pasta variation, Braised Short Rib Lumache, places the meat in grana padano crema, intensified with horseradish gremolata, decorated with herb breadcrumbs and arugula.
Desserts here should be considered mandatory. The mellifluous custard in Tiramisu is capped with espressosoaked ladyfingers, topped with a layer of mascarpone mousse, sprinkled with little chocolate balls. Gelato is
made in-house. Get the Brookie Sundae to sample all the flavors in a single serving, then waddle out the door. Or remain somewhat restrained with Budino, a mellow blend of espresso fudge, banana slices, chantilly crème, and toasted pecan to ee.
Servers are well informed, deliveries usually appropriately paced. We experienced one glitch — appetizer and salads arrived at the same time, but a polite complaint produced a prompt manager visit with a compensatory serving of toasted focaccia, which was delicious.
The website provides menus with prices, as well as information about Happy Hour specials. The “About Us” section is promotional copy. I was unable to acquire local information in spite of multiple e orts.
That quibble aside, I rate the food at North Italia in the top echelon in every category.
Leftovers:
Giovanni’s (giovannisnc.com) has been undergoing remodeling recently, with completion necessitating temporary closing part of this week. The grand reopening, with a new, more casual concept, is this Friday, March 6. !
JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/cookbooks: “Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast,” and “Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina.” Contact him at john.e.batchelor@ gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot.com.
WANNA know?
North Italia
610 Pembroke Road
Greensboro 27408 336-791-8614
northitalia.com/locations/north-italia-greensboro-nc/ Hours: Lunch — 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; Dinner — 4-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday & Saturday; Brunch — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday
Appetizers: $12-$18.50
Salads: $11.50-$17.50
Soups: $10
Entrees: $23-$44
Desserts: $7.50-$13
Most recent visit: Feb. 25
Scampi
Calamari
Literary Fun: Bookmarks hosts 14th Annual Movable Feast Weekend
Authors and readers will head to downtown Winston-Salem in the upcoming week to enjoy Bookmarks 14th annual Movable Feast Weekend, taking place March 14-15 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, located at 251 N. Spruce St.
Rescheduled due to one of several snowstorms in the Triad, the annual event features the traditional movable feast format, giving a speed dating take to new authors and books.
Event Coordinator Becca Naylor said that the movable feast is not original to Bookmarks, but it has become a hit for the organization.
“Like most good ideas, we took this from the Bibliofeast, the WNBA [Women’s National Book Association] hosted in Charlotte. They were kind to o er advice in the early planning years! We quickly expanded to more authors, and it’s been a hit ever since,” she said. “Each year’s Movable Feast lineup is di erent from the previous year. Some authors may be returning as reader favorites, but many are new or unfamiliar in our community. Unlike a standard author talk where attendees are silent observers, at Movable Feast, readers get to be active participants in the experience.”
Each author will visit all of the tables for a limited time. Attendees can purchase an appetizer charcuterie board crafted by State of Graze, or enjoy the mini bundt cakes, wine, and punch provided for all attendees. The non-profit, independent bookstore routinely hosts author events, book discussions, and partners with schools and community groups to “promote connection, curiosity, critical thinking, equity, and action” throughout the state.
Naylor said the event allows readers to
come into contact with multiple authors are one time.
“You can somewhat sample several di erent books from genres you maybe aren’t familiar with and perhaps be introduced to new authors, books, and genres in a very fun, relaxed environment,” she said. “You can meet other readers in the community, talk about shared interests and favorite books, and maybe meet new friends. The event highlights many authors who are unknown or debut to our community, giving them a chance to meet new readers.”
Authors that will be in attendance this year include:
• Brittney Arena — “A Dance of Lies”
• Caroline Bonin — “A Barista’s Guide to Love & Larceny”
• Radha Lin Chaddah — “And the Ancestors Sing”
• Jennifer Dasal — “The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris”
• Katrina Denza — “Burner: And Other Stories”
• Mazey Eddings — “Well, Actually”
• Marianne Jay Erhardt — “Lucky Bodies: Essays”
• Tochi Eze — “This Kind of Trouble”
• Diamond Forde — “The Book of Alice: Poems”
• Sharon Kurtzman — “The Lost Baker of Vienna”
• Jared Lemus — “Guatemalan Rhapsody”
• Michelle Maryk — “The Found Object Society”
• Kristina McMorris — “The Girls of Good Fortune”
• Alison Lyn Miller — “Rough House: A Father, a Son, and the Pursuit of Pro Wrestling Glory”
• Delaney Nolan — “Happy Bad”
• Stacia Pelletier — “The Deliverance of Barker McRae”
• Princess Joy L. Perry — “This Here Is Love”
• Melissa Rivero — “Flores and Miss Paula”
Chanel Davis
Editor
• Brendan Slocumb — “The Dark Maestro”
• Ashley Winstead — “The Future Saints.”
“Regular attendees of Bookmarks events will recognize some familiar faces! This year we’ve brought back Mazey Eddings, Jared Lemus, Brendan Slocumb, and Ashley Winstead — all authors who have featured at previous events and are back to dazzle readers once more,” said Naylor.
Attendees will also be able to have their books signed and personalized following the event. Books may be
purchased or pre-ordered in advance on the organization’s website or at the event.
Naylor said that feedback from the event has been great.
“Attendees love getting the chance to learn about books from a variety of genres and having face time with multiple authors. Authors get to pitch their books directly to readers, building an audience and forming connections that last long after everyone has left the table,” she said. “Attendees can expect lively and
insightful conversations with authors who were intentionally and carefully chosen for this experience.’
For more information, tickets, and preorders, visit bookmarksnc.org or follow @BookmarksNC on social media. !
CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.
High Point Community Theatre
PRESENTS
NAME:
hot pour
[BARTENDER OF THE WEEK COMPILED BY NATALIE GARCIA]
Sarah Turbeville
BAR:
Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing Company, located in beautiful downtown Winston-Salem, and Easy Tiger Beer Garden in Washington Park! Range, baby. RANGE!
AGE:
28 years old
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Check out videos on our Facebook!
Florence, S.C. Shout-out to the 843 — y’all keep holdin’ it down at Apple Annie’s.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING?
I’m coming up on eight years … crazy!
HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER?
I had just moved to Asheville, N.C., when a friend of mine messaged me about a local spot needing a barback; the rest is history. I fell in love not only with the craft but also with learning all over again. I wouldn’t be the bartender I am today without the guidance of my “bar moms” along the way. Ediana, that means you!
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING?
The connections I’ve made with regulars, the forever friendships formed with my coworkers, and the community that only folks who work in the service industry understand. Nothing beats getting o work and grabbing a drink to debrief the shift with industry friends.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BARTENDING?
Someone explaining how to do my job. Do you wanna clock in or what?
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE?
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK?
The melon Jell-O shots at Hels on Trade Street. Ursula kills it every single time. Period.
WHAT’S THE STRANGEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE HAD?
I don’t even believe myself after typing this out …
A shot and a beer.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK?
A shot and a beer.
This poor kid walked in and asked for a “tequila” old fashioned with a shot of Texas Pete and a Tajín rim. Huh? Talk about a fever dream. I wonder what that dude is up to now.
WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING?
I was bartending at Retrocade in west Asheville when a guy in a fur suit was playing “Dance Dance Revolution” with headphones on and didn’t spill a single drop of his beer. Pretty impressive, but the dude could’ve used a shower three years ago.
WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE FOUND IN A BAR BATHROOM?
A positive pregnancy test in the toilet … I hope she’s doing OK.
WHAT’S THE BEST/BIGGEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? $900. Gotta love Blackout Wednesday, baby!
The Pyrle
Downtown Greensboro | Photos by Chanel Davis
CARBORRO
Cat’S CradlE
300 E Main St | 919.967.9053
www.catscradle.com
Mar 3: al Olender, abigail dempsey
Mar 3: Goldie Boutilier, Syd taylor
Mar 4: Coma Cinema
Mar 5: rivalry Night
Mar 5: Nothing, Full Body 2, Cryogeysey, VMO a.k.a. Violent Magic Orchestra
Mar 6: Immortal technique, Poison Pen, dJ Static
Mar 6: the Nude Party, Six Foot Blonde
Mar 7: dirtwire, Max lane
Mar 7: Slow teeth, Scrape, Minor Stars
Mar 8: the Nine lives Flea Market
Mar 8: rachel Bochner
Mar 10: aterciopelados
Mar 10: Bedroom division & William Hinson
Mar 11: los Straitjackets & deke dickerson
ChARlOtte
tHE FIllMOrE
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd |
704.916.8970
www.livenation.com
Mar 6: Machine Girl
Mar 7: the Wonder Years
Mar 7:Katatonia Walking State of North america 2026
Mar 8: I See Stars
Mar 8: BBNO$
Mar 9: Khamari
Mar 10: the Summer Set
Mar 11: Jordan Ward
Mar 12: Jordan Jensen
Mar 12: Santiago Cruz
Mar 13: Gary Numan
Mar 14: Pandora’s Box
Mar 14: Sticky Fingers
Mar 15: Xaviersobased
SPECtruM CENtEr
333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000
www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com
Mar 7: the Millennium tour: the Boyz 4 life tour ft. B2K & Bow Wow
Mar 22: We them One’s Comedy tour
Mar 31: tWICE
ClemmOns
VIllaGE SquarE
taP HOuSE
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330
www.facebook.com/vstaphouse
Mar 5: anna Mertson
Mar 6: Kings of Noise
Mar 7: Megan doss Band
duRhAm
CarOlINa tHEatrE
309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030
www.carolinatheatre.org
Mar 3: Cirque Kalabante
Mar 5: tab Benoit + Paul thorn
Mar 7: Omar ruiz-lopez
Mar 7: the Wood Brothers
Mar 10: Buffalo Nichols
Mar 11: leela James
dPaC
123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787
www.dpacnc.com
Mar 3: dirty dancing in Concert
Mar 4: “attack on titan” Beyond the Walls World tour
Mar 13: Joe Bonamassa
elKIn
rEEVES tHEatEr
129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com
Wednesdays: reeves Open Mic
Fourth thursdays: Old-time Jam
Mar 5: abigail dowd, Blue Cactus, Jeff Miller
gReensBORO
CarOlINa tHEatrE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605
www.carolinatheatre.com
Mar 11: Cochren & Co
Mar 11: Marty O’reilly
COMEdY ZONE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034
www.thecomedyzone.com
Mar 5: Karen Morgan
Mar 6-8: tony Baker
Mar 12: lachlan Patterson
Mar 13-14: Ms. Pat
Mar 20-21: Jess Hillarious
Flat IrON
221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967
www.flatirongso.com
Mar 4: laurelyn dossett
Mar 5: admiral radio + a different thread
Mar 6: Blue Cactus w/ Molly & Kate
Mar 7: upstream rebellion w/ Sky Blue Bells
Mar 8: lIMN w/ Being Followed + Wrist
Mar 9: Bedroom division & William Hinson
Mar 11: laurelyn dossett
Mar 12: Jamie Mclean
GaraGE taVErN
5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020 www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro
Mar 7: Carolina rust Band
Mar 14: Pushing Georgia Band
GrEENSBOrO COlISEuM
1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com
Mar 12: MercyMe
HaNGar 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com
Mar 7: as daylight dies, absent Colors, distant Fires, Parallel lives
Mar 11: Filth, Blackwater drowning, Internal Shadow, until they Bleed, Screwed Ends, linechaulk
Mar 13: Paddy’s rave
StEVEN taNGEr CENtEr
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500
www.tangercenter.com
Mar 4: Shen Yun
Mar 6-8: Blue Man Group
Mar 10-15: the Sound of Music
tHE IdIOt BOX COMEdY CluB
503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com
Mar 13: Mt Bottles
Mar 14: Chris Plumer
hIgh pOInt
GOOFY FOOt taPrOOM
2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567
www.goofyfoottaproom.com
Mar 28: anna Mertson
HIGH POINt tHEatrE
220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401
www.highpointtheatre.com
Mar 5: Solded Barrio & Noche Flamenca
Mar 13-15: Joseph & the amazing technicolor dreamcoat
Mar 6: NSa
Mar 7: Brother Pearl
Mar 13: Black light Idols
Mar 14: Chandler Carpenter & the rockless Souls
trivia
Mar 6: Sam robinson & Bingo
Mar 13: Evan Blackerby
Mar 5: drat the luck, dead rat disco, dIt
Mar 6: Eric Gales, robert Jon & the Wreck
Mar 7: aly & aJ
Mar 12: Kyle Caudle & timberlane, Kai Crowe-Getty
Mar 13: Jeffrey dean Foster
216 E 9th St | 336-999-8090 www.radarbrewingcompany.com
Mar 7: tyler Millard duo
Mar 8: James Vincent Carroll
Mar 12: red umber Band
Mar 14: William Kiley Smith
826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008 www.wisemanbrewing.com
thursdays: Music Bingo
Mar 6: Barefoot Modern
Mar 8: Big daddy love
Mar 13: Gipsy danger
Business changes owners but not direction
BY NORMA B. DENNIS | ndworddesign@gmail.com
Walk into Potent Potables, a bar at 115 E. Main St. in Jamestown, and everyone might not know your name. But linger a while and you may be surprised at old friends you may see and new friendships you may form. For over 13 years, that is the feel owners Steve and Abby Kim worked to create and what its new owners want to continue.
The transfer of ownership for Potent Potables was seamless. The Kims closed their business on Jan. 31 and Melody Lowman opened it the following day. Snow fell continuously on the 31th and by the next day there was approximately 12 inches covering the ground.
“We were fortunate to have a packed house on both days despite the weather, so that is a testament to our wonderful Jamestown Community,” Lowman said.
Lowman does not remember the first time she went to Potent Potables, but says she has been a patron there for about a decade and has worked behind the bar since September 2021. A former fourth grade teacher she left the classroom in 2024 and followed her interest of working in the beer industry.
“I ultimately wanted to have a place of my own to run and manage, and Potent Potables was the perfect candidate, because it’s so close to home for me,” Lowman said.
Lowman’s older sister Heather McKenzie and her husband Murphy provided financial help in the purchase of the
McKenzie, left,
business and Heather joined Lowman as a 50/50 partner in it.
“Potent Potables is now a femaleowned small business, which is incredible,” Lowman said. “My husband, AJ, has been instrumental with beer ordering, and he’s been working behind the bar with me each night. For now, he and I are the only employees.”
When Potent Potables first opened it soon became more than a place to buy a drink or a bottle of wine. It became a place to gather following events along Main Street, a venue for talented musicians, a food truck location, themed party nights, food cook-o s, trivia contests and private party celebrations. Book clubs and running groups frequented the business and, of course, the nature of the establishment saw it host its share of wine tastings.
Plans are to keep Potent Potable as a family-friendly establishment and continue to host food trucks in its parking lot. There is a possibility of bringing back the Jamestown Food Truck Festival.
“Before taking over, I partnered with Bridgid Murphy from Cakes by B’s Blue House Bakery beside us to host two local vendor events: Makersgiving Market and Jingle & Mingle Market,” Lowman said. “Our next vendor market is on the calendar for April 18. I’ve also been hosting a Pints & Plants Swap with my friend Mandy Shephard once a month since March of 2024, and that will continue.
“Some aesthetic changes are on the way, but we want to keep the vibe the same. The Kims did an incredible job creating a safe space for all patrons to imbibe and we don’t want that to change one bit. Most of our patrons are just looking for a comfy spot to relax and unwind after a long day at work or on the weekend.”
Lowman noted that Potent Potable is special to di erent people for di erent reasons. To some, Potent Potables is where they had their first date or where their kids took their first steps. For Lowman, PoPo, as the business is a ectionately called, is special because it was the first place she felt like a “regular.”
When she and her husband first started coming, she was not a huge craft beer drinker and did not know much about it. The name GoseMosa written with a chalk marker on the draft list caught her eye and she learned it was a Westbrook Gose with orange juice. Is soon became her drink of choice and she eventually ordered one without the juice.
“After that my tastebuds developed a love for sour beers and my palette evolved into drinking mead, stouts, and more,” she said.
Many customers were surprised to learn Potent Potables had been sold, not knowing what to expect. But Lowman has been pleased with the positive feedback she has received with patrons greeting her with congratulations. Since she had been a past patron herself and had worked the bar on Fridays for two years, Lowman knew many of the regulars.
“We are grateful for the turnout we’ve had since we opened,” Lowman said.
“Our goal is to continue to provide a safe and inviting place for everyone to come and enjoy a delicious craft beverage. I hope to make a positive impact in the community of Jamestown and promote other small businesses in the area.
“I am grateful to my husband, my sister, my brother-in-law, friends and customers who have made this dream of mine a reality.”
Potent Potables is open TuesdayThursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.
Hours will be posted on social media so patrons will know if the business is opening early for special occasions or di erent times of year.
Heather
joins her sister Melody as a 50-50 owner of Potent Potables.
] by Fifi Rodriguez
[1. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Acadia National Park?
[2. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was an avid dog breeder who gave his hunting hounds funny names like “Sweet Lips” and “Madam Moose”?
[3. MOVIES: Who is the antagonist of “Shrek” in the first animated movie?
[4. LITERATURE: What is the pseudonym of the 20th-century author who was born Adeline Virginia Stephen?
[5. TELEVISION: What’s the family’s last name in the TV sitcom “The Middle”?
[6. HISTORY: Which famous nurse was known as the Lady with the Lamp?
[7. GEOGRAPHY: Ringgit is the common currency in which Southeast Asian country?
[8. ANATOMY: Which human organ stores bile?
[9. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin phrase “Cogito, ergo sum” mean in English?
[10. MATH: What is the next prime number after 7?
answer
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of March 9, 2026
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Keep an open mind about a suggestion that you see as unworkable. Give it a chance to prove itself one way or another. The results could surprise both supporters and detractors.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) News about an upcoming venture causes you to make some last-minute adjustments in your plans. But the extra work will pay o as you come to learn more about the potential benefits of opening up.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A more positive aspect grows out of your determination to reach your immediate goals. Continue to keep your focus sharp and on target by steering clear of petty quarrels and other pesky problems.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Avoid adding to an already turbulent situation by acting as a voice of reason. You might have to shout over the tumult, but your words will ultimately be heard and heeded.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) The pos-
sibility of a new acquisition always makes LEOnine eyes light up. But be careful that what you see is what you want. Appearances can often be deceiving.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) No matter how much you might feel that you’re in the right, resist saying anything that could reignite a still-unresolved situation. Let the matter drop and move on.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Help with a personal problem comes from an unexpected source. You might also find that workplace pressures easing. Use this period of calm to restore your spent energies.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You might have to share the credit for a project that you’re working on. But there’ll be enough credit to go around, and your efforts will be recognized and rewarded.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Details need to be dealt with before you can move on to another area.
1. Maine.
2. George Washington.
3. Lord Maximus Farquaad.
4. Virginia Woolf.
5. Heck.
6. Florence Nightingale.
7. Malaysia
8. The gallbladder.
9. “I think, therefore I am.”
10. Eleven (11). © 2026 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Make sure you don’t leave any loose ends that could later cause everything to unravel.
[cAPrIcorN (December 22 to January 19) News about a change in the workplace carries with it a challenge you could find difficult to resist. Check it out. It could be what you’ve been waiting for.
[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) Allowing your artistic nature to fully express itself will help restore your spirits and put you in the mood to take on a new career challenge. Meanwhile, a LIBRA creates excitement.
[PIsces (February 19 to March 20) Expect to happily plunge right into a hectic social whirl starting at the week’s end. Your aspects favor new friendships, as well as the strengthening of old relationships.
[BorN THIs week: Your spiritual strength is an inspiration to others. You give people around you the faith to go after what they want.
answers
[crossword]
crossword on page 6
[weekly sudoku]
sudoku on page 6
© 2026 by King Features Syndicate
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