Getting Your Shrimp and Grits (and more!) at The Big Eat 2019

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

We're about halfway through The Big Eat in Winston-Salem, with three more weeks to enjoy signature dishes from local restaurants at up to 50% off.   This year's Big Eat is running Tuesday evenings from January 8 - February 12.  Greensboro has their own Big Eat event that runs February 5 - February 26.

An annual event, The Big Eat helps local restaurants get through the slower winter months.  Between the two cities, there are nearly two dozen restaurants participating, representing a wide variety of flavors and styles.  These restaurants do tend to attract a lot of business on their Big Eat day!  Reservations are recommended at most locations. Dine in is required, and restaurants may run out of their signature dish, so get there early.

Shrimp and Grits at 6th and Vine, from their Facebook Page

Shrimp and Grits is a common theme at this year's The Big Eat.  Several of the restaurants have Shrimp and Grits on the menu, each prepared a little differently. At 6th and Vine, the Shrimp and Grits are served with Chorizo sausage, onions, peppers, cheddar, and shrimp in a creamy Cajun sauce.  At Bleu Restaurant & Bar, the Shrimp & Grits are served with Andouille Sauce, Creamy Grits, Spinach & Cherry Tomatoes.  The Old Fourth Street Filling Station's Carolina Shrimp N' Grits includes shrimp, andouille sausage, tomato, baby spinach, chipotle cream sauce, and a fried grit cake. You're only going to have one more opportunity this year to have some during The Big Eat; 6th and Vine is offering them on February 5 for only $7.

There are many seafood dishes offered this year, such as Seared Ahi Tuna Rare, Sauteed Black Pepper Crusted Jumbo Shrimp, and Pan Roasted Diver Sea Scallops at Bernardin's, Mussel's at Hutch & Harris, and PBR Mussels with country ham and charred bread at Krankies.

If you prefer steak or chicken, Jeffrey Adams is offering a 12 oz NY Strip and a 14oz Ribeye, the Chicken or Steak Fajita Plate at Señor Bravo, or Pho Chicken at Thai Harmony.

So many choices and there are many other signature dishes to choose from!

All of the featured entrees are listed on the Big Eat NC website here.   Try a new restaurant this Tuesday!

Joy Tuba World - A Tuba Christmas in Winston-Salem

Joy Tuba World - A Tuba Christmas was a well-attended introduction to the Christmas Season in Downtown Winston-Salem on Friday night. 

Tuba Christmas began in 1974, and the first Tuba Christmas was performed in Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink. Since then, events have popped up across the world as Tuba and Euphonium players unite to perform familiar Christmas tunes. The free show included about fifty musicians, ranging in age from 10-77.  Some musicians travelled more than two hours to perform in Tuba Christmas.

This is the 4th year Tuba Christmas has performed in Winston-Salem.  The concert was in the Contemporary Center of First Presbyterian Church on Cherry Street downtown.

Photo and Story by Jessica Thomas Lewis

Free Family Events in the Piedmont Triad

Today is the start of the Arts on Sunday Festival in downtown Winston-Salem.  Every Sunday in September, enjoy arts, crafts, and music on N Liberty St in downtown Winston-Salem.

Later this evening, you can enjoy concert band music by the Winston-Salem Community Band Concert or jazz at LeBauer Park.

Next Saturday, September 8, there are twelve free family events listed on our calendar!  NC Folkfest is a weekend of fun in Greensboro, the 14th Festival of Books & Authors takes place throughout downtown Winston-Salem, the 3rd Annual Hi-Fest will be at the Mendenhall Transportation Terminal in High Point, and Kernersville is celebrating the Annual End of Summer Fest.

These events and many others for you to enjoy with your family without spending a penny.  Of course, most of these events will have food and other items for sale, but you can have a lot of fun for free!

 

The Piedmont Triad in the News!

 








Support a New Local Business!

Demolition to Begin This Saturday at Merschel Plaza in Downtown Winston-Salem

August 15, 2018. More change coming! Demolition of the pedestrian bridge at Merschel Plaza will start this Saturday, August 18 at 8:00am. The open green space, between the Pepper Building and XCaret (red awning), sits at the intersection of Trade, 4th, and 3rd Streets in downtown Winston-Salem. This block of downtown will house a new park with public restrooms. Kaledeium will become a bigger part of downtown; Imagine a year from now, busloads of school kids coming to Winston-Salem on a field trip. They'll explore Old Salem and come down the street to see the Children's Museum or Kaledium, our Science Center. The Pepper Building and surrounding structures will soon provide a much different view!

This pedestrian bridge in Merschel Plaza will be demolished on Saturday.

The grassy lawn between 3rd and 4th at Trade, which will become a public park. Kaleidium is in the background.

Side view of the pedestrian bridge, which currently has parking below

Current work on the Pepper Building.

Ground level photos added on August 16, 2018.

More Information:

In February 2018, the City of Winston-Salem shared the concept plan for Merschel Plaza.  This was provided by Mayfair Development and is not the final design plan.  You can see the video concept on YouTube here. 

Merschel Plaza Vision Concept shared today at the DWSP Annual Meeting Today
     Downtown Winston-Salem Blog, February 28, 2018

Central park in downtown Winston-Salem? City panel endorses paying partnership $4.6 million to finish Merschel Plaza with sidewalks, public restrooms
      Winston-Salem Journal, August 14, 2018

#dtws #ncblogger #myviewfromwork #mywinstonsalem #livelaughloveplayshoplocal

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

The Big Chill 2018

On a hot summer Sunday afternoon in Winston-Salem, a crowd came together to chill out, listen to live music, and enjoy many different homemade ice creams!  Entry was free, donations were appreciated.

Held on National Ice Cream Day, The Big Chill Ice Cream Festival and FUNdraiser was held at Bailey Park.  Local churches and organizations passed out little cup samples of homemade ice cream.  Adults and children wandered from tent to tent tasting many different flavor, while live music played on the stage.  Food Lion was there with a big freezer chest of complimentary ice cream sandwiches and fudge bars!  Each table sported a cup for donations, which were to benefit The Shalom Project in Winston-Salem.  The Shalom Project provides a Medical Clinic & Pharmacy, Food Pantry, Clothing Closet and Welcome Table programs.

Bailey Park is a unique urban green space in downtown Winston-Salem.  Bailey Park has a large grassy lawn, covered stage, restroom facilities and a food truck court.  Bailey Park hosts many free community events including music series and special events, outdoor movies, and yoga on the grass.

National Ice Cream Day in the Piedmont Triad!

Today is National Ice Cream Day!

We've scoped out all the best events and narrowed it down to the ones that are FREE and FAMILY ORIENTED. The Piedmont Triad has lots of uniqueness and we celebrate with DIVERSE community events that make our area a FUN place to live. Live Laugh Love Play Shop Local with Piedmont Triad Living.  Go to our calendar!

 

Items Needed for Kids in Need at Forsyth County, NC Schools

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

The Forsyth County United Way is asking for donations in honor of MLK Virtual Day of Service. 

Local Title I schools in our area need items for our kids in need. 

-New Socks all sizes 
-New underwear sizes (3T-16 years for boys and girls)
-Uniform attire: collared red/white/blue shirts, black/navy/khaki pants
-Gloves, all sizes 
-Hats, lightly used / washed
-Scarfs, lightly used / washed

You can bring donations to Maple Springs UMC (Craven Hall lobby) at 2569 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC from December 31, 2017-January 7, 2018 or bring donations to the United Way of Forsyth County at 301 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC  Suite 1700.  Collection dates are January 3, 2018-January 14, 2018 at the United Way. 

Looking for other ways to volunteer locally?  Check out volunteermatch.com (No affiliate, we just think it's a great resource!)

Quarry Park in Winston-Salem, NC

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

Hidden off Reynolds Park Road in Winston-Salem, Quarry Park offers a nice place for passive activities and relaxation.  The access road is next to the William Roscoe Anderson Jr. Recreation Center.   Just minutes from downtown,  this 228-acre park includes a 12-acre quarry with 130-foot bluffs that overlook waters that are so clear you can see dozens of feet below the surface.

The park includes open green space with walking/biking trails, overlooks and an observation platform over the quarry.  Quarry Park also has an event lawn and lawn amphitheater. Winston-Salem's downtown skyline and the Sauratown mountains can be seen in the distance.

The park includes the Waughtown Greenway Connector, providing access from Reynolds Park and the Salem Creek Greenway.  There is a greenway rest area with bike parking and several bike racks throughout the park.

Cool sculptures made for sitting adorn the walking trails and there are lots of metal benches for quiet moments and spectacular views.  The metal benches were designed to resemble the screens once used to sort gravel in the old quarry.  Water fountains and trash receptacles are placed along the trails and there are picnic tables.

There is a public restroom tucked under the observation platform. The walls to the restroom are made of large gravel, such as the gravel that was produced by the old quarry for use in the construction of Business 40 and US 52.  The park is handicap accessible and is stroller and dog friendly.

Entry is free and there is plenty of parking.  Quarry Park is perfect for a quiet afternoon outside.

Downtown Jazz Season Begins in Winston-Salem

FREE Live music is abundant in downtown Winston-Salem!
The season has begun for the Downtown Jazz series!

Downtown Jazz concerts begin at 6pm Saturday nights and last until 9pm.  


Brian Simpson & Elan Trotman headlined last night's show with opening performer Reggie Buie.

Bring a lawnchair.  There are food trucks on site!

June 10:   Brian Simpson & Elan Trotman
Opening performer – Reggie Buie


June 24:  Matt Marshak
Opening performer – Titus Gant


July 8: Eric Darius
Opening performer – Saundra Crenshaw

July 22: Urban Jazz Coalition & Will Donoto
Opening performer – Will Donato


August 12:  Dee Lucas
Opening performer – Vince Crenshaw


August 26:  Joey Sommerville
Opening performer – Galvin Crisp

Details of this and other FREE family events are on our calendar.  If you have questions about an event, please contact the sponsor directly.  All information is accurate at the time of it's posting.

Visit DowntownWS here

Photo Credit: Dave Hampton

Camel City BBQ Factory: A Review

This was our first visit to Camel City BBQ Factory, we will be back.

The atmosphere at Camel City BBQ is welcoming for all ages. There were lots of families and adult groups, there is a bar, lots of TVs, and a great game room. This place is just plain fun for both kids and adults... and the food is great. There are big windows in the dining area and because the restaurant sits on the second floor there are good views of downtown.

We were there at 6:30 on a Friday night and our party of five was immediately seated. The dining area is upstairs, and there is outside seating available. It was rather loud, but the place was full and it was bearable. There were games to play, both video and game boards, available while you waited at your table.

The food was very good and the service was good. I had the pulled pork plate. Cole slaw (red or white) and hush puppies are included and I selected sweet potato fries as my side. The white cole slaw tasted just like my mom's, which is rare to find. The pork was delicious. The hush puppies and sweet potato fries were good but average. Meals are served on a recyclable plate with plastic utensils. We got forks and spoons but could have used a knife, especially for the child's chicken tender.

After dinner we went into the game room. There is an arcade with Donkey Kong and other 80s games. Pin ball, skee ball, pool tables, darts. It was fun and we spent another half hour or so playing after dinner.

It did feel like the place could a bit of touching up. The space is nice but it is an old building and the ladies restroom in the arcade could use patching and repair. The toilet was broken when I used it. The restaurant has concrete floors and they were "sticky" in the dining area. None of this detracted from the food or the atmosphere; all in all Camel City BBQ is a great place for a date, family dining, meeting friends, there's even space for private parties.

A huge plus for me is it's location downtown. One block over from the Arts District, Camel City is also diagonal from Artivity on the Green, one of our favorite places to go downtown. (Prime time to visit Artivity is sunset; stay until it's dark for the best experience.) There is shopping on Sixth Street and beyond, easy to walk.

Parking is easy. They have their own parking lot and parking is free on the street in the evening. Camel City BBQ is a good addition to Winston-Salem's downtown.


First Published on tripadvisor
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g49680-d8645849-r377661183-Camel_City_BBQ_Factory-Winston_Salem_North_Carolina.html#

Bailey Park in Downtown Winston-Salem

Downtown Winston-Salem has another great place to hang out. Bailey Park, located on Patterson Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Street is located in the Innovation Quarter. We found this park to have soft, luscious green grass in an urban green space oasis. 

Bailey Park is 1.6 acres of publicly available space. There is a large grassy area with fun mural on the wall that acts as the base to the stage and patio area. 

Bailey Park has a covered stage, restroom facilities, and food truck court, in addition to the big grassy area. There are brightly colored tables and chairs in the stage area. A few tables have large umbrellas. There is a comfortable decline on the lawn and the kids rolled down a few times. There is also flat area.

Parking seems easy, with lots of spots directly in front. There is additional street parking and there are parking decks close by. There is a bike rack. 

There is still a lot of renovation taking place around Bailey Park. It is within walking distance of the Arts District with retail and restaurants very close by. The park is 5 minutes from both Business 40 and 52.

This park is great to bring a blanket and a book, a soccer ball or frisbee, or a picnic lunch. This is a wonderful space in our up and coming downtown.

You can view the calendar of events for Bailey Park here.

We love the 525@Vine building (our family just calls it the "at" building.)  Our home is 10 minutes from downtown, and the "at" building is a cool thing to pass as we head home, especially at night.   

 View directly across the street from Bailey Park

There is still lots of renovation taking place, as you can see in the gutted buildings behind the park.

There is a sign stating that this building, located between the two smokestacks, is soon going to house restaurant and retail. 

What's your favorite "new" place in Downtown Winston-Salem.  Please leave a comment!



All photos by Jessica st Lewis. Do not reproduce.

Free Tax Prep in Winston-Salem and Surrounding 2015

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

I use this service myself.  Once again  this year United Way will be supporting the VITA ( Volunteer Income Tax Assistance ) program. The VITA program, through Forsyth Working Families Partnership,  is designed to help low income families save on tax preparation fees as well as to maximize their refund particularly by utilizing the Earned Income Tax Credit where possible. This program is open to families with incomes of $53000 or less ( $60000 if filing single).

There will be a Launch Party on Thursday, January 22 at The Old Winston Social Club on Burke Street in Winston-Salem to kickoff this year’s program and answer any  questions you might have.  

To see a full listing of sites/times where tax assistance can be secured for free, go here.  This is a program in Forsyth County, NC. 

To see more locations for free tax preparations in the Piedmont Triad, see this blog post from 2013.  The information on that post was accurate as of date written.  There are phone numbers included for most locations; please verify current times and locations on your own.   

You can file your taxes at these locations beginning February 2nd.

HanesTowne Village Announcement with Links

Here's a line-up of the establishments announced to open at HanesTowne Village, located on Stratford Road in Winston-Salem where the old Hanes Mill Outlet used to sit.  Click on any business name to visit their website.

Athena Greek Taverna (existing)

Bank of North Carolina

Fleet Feet Sports

Hickory Tavern

LA Fitness

Lyndhurst OB/GYN

Muscle Maker's Grill

PDQ

Tijuana Fats

Walmart Neighborhood Market (already open)

There is also proposed Coffee Shop,  Office Building and Retail space.  The map includes a walking path and what appears to be a small pond.

To see a map of the HanesTowne Village shopping center, please click here to see it on journalnow.com

To see our first article about Hanes Mill Outlet and HanesTowne Village, go here.

The old Hanes Mill Outlet at Stratford Road and Ricks Drive in Winston-Salem, NC.
HanesTowne Village is now occupying the land where Hanes Mill Outlet stood.
Photograph by Jessica st Lewis

The Big Eat 2015: Week 1

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

This is the second week for The BIG Eat, an annual downtown event that showcases local restaurants with signature dishes at 50% off.


The BIG Eat is held each Tuesday in January. Click on the picture to the right to see each week's participating establishments.

West End Coffee House at 390 N. Broad Street in Winston-Salem

Last week, the girls and I enjoyed the brownie sundae at West End Coffee House.  We got to choose the gelato flavor.   (The gelato is made in-house.  Yum.)  I chose vanilla bean, my younger chose sugar cookie and my older chose chocolate with a fancy name.  The brownie for our sundae was as big as the plate; it was huge!  Topped with whipped cream and drizzled with our choice of chocolate, caramel or hazelnut sauce.  We each ended up taking half of our brownie home.  Well worth it, especially at The BIG Eat price of $3.12.

You have to eat this Sundae with a fork!  My girls, of course, were joking in these photos.  Look how big it is!

This week, we've decided to try Sweet Potatoes for the first time.  I know, I know.  I can't believe we haven't been there yet, either.  Can't wait to tell y'all all about our first visit.  The signature dish for The BIG Eat this week at Sweet Pototoes is Mommas Meatloaf: smothered with mushroom-onion gravy topped with crispy tobacco onions served with the vegetable of the day and garlic smashed potatoes.  Priced at $7.00 during The Big Eat.

This was the beautiful sunset as we left downtown Winston-Salem after last week's The Big Eat.

Angelina's Teas

By Denton Gerow

Are you looking for something different?   Tired of meeting for coffee?  Need a great gift for someone?   This is a place you have to check out.

This is not your grandmother's tea shop.  With hundreds of teas, tea sets from delicate to manly and a wide range of gifts, this shop stands out.

Nothing commercial like that place in the mall.  True loose teas in so many flavors.  From classic black to chocolate strawberry saffron and everything in the middle.  Enjoy a cup as you browse the myriad of books that range from coffee table photo books to old leather bound tomes.  Play an a old board game as you sip a mellow blend or talk with your dear ones while drinking a supercharged Go Juice. (More on that in a moment).

Don't know much about loose teas and how to select and brew?  No problem.  Wade will gladly coach you and assist you.  They have everything you need to get started in this fine tradition of teas.

Gifts galore are available.  Some of my favorites are the elegant cup, saucer and spoon sets to light up the imagination of any special lady of any age.  Loking for that Japanese tea set?  They have them all shapes and colors.  Something for your office?  They have tea and coffee presses travel mugs and more.

A varied selection of gourmet chocolate bars, with and without liquor, including locally made bars make great gifts to accompany the teas. 

One very unique offering is the line of Salt Of The Earth.   These are packs of sea salt with rare spices infused like saffron, truffle and more.  A line of salt sprays with flavors infused is also available for those times you just want a dash of flavor.

Usually, there is a special baked good available also to accompany your beverage.  Today it was bourbon pecan cake.  Be sure to ask what the day's treat is. 

Now about that Go Juice, which is my favorite drink.   This drink is better than almost any mocha, latte or coffee concoction you have ever had.  You pick the chocolate infused tea of your choice.   Wade, the owner, mixes it with a blend of tea that has more caffeine than a cup of coffee.  He adds cream and sweetener (sugar free is available). This drink rocks!   Only two per visit allowed.  It's just that strong.  As a caffeine fiend I can tell you, this one packs it in.


I strongly suggest a visit here.  

Find Angelina's Teas on Facebook and visit their website.

About Denton Gerow:  Denton was born in Charlotte, but has lived all over the eastern seaboard and in California.  An avid Foodie, he prefers to eat at local joints, hole in the walls and the oft missed.  Denton loves to cook and share his passions for food, cigars, beer and more.

Feed the City; An Annual Thanksgiving Outreach in Winston-Salem

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

So grateful for this opportunity. 

By 11:30am, we had packed more than 800 meals for shut-ins, the indigent and homeless. 

These were hot meals; turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and a roll.  Packed by volunteers in hopes of touching the lives of those who wouldn't otherwise have a Thanksgiving meal.

All told, we fed 1,400 people through Feed the City, an annual Thanksgiving outreach.

Organized by Flow Automotive and St. Paul UMC, this initiative brings Flow employees, church members and others together to quickly prepare and deliver the meals to such places as Crystal Towers and Healy Towers on Thanksgiving Day.  The group of volunteers included young men from Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy.  I was there with my daughters, ages 6 and 10.  Everyone had a specific duty.  I carried two trays at a time down the line and each food item was ladled in as I went.  My daughters were at the end of the line with another young girl, placing a sheet of parchment across the food, and added a roll and packaged utensils.   A piece of pie went out with each meal.  

It does this Mama's heart proud that my children thanked me for bringing them today to pack those meals.  

From there, we went to my sister's house, where she hosted her first Thanksgiving and we found out that they're expecting their second child!  So excited for this new niece or nephew; we'll have a full baseball team of cousins and we're blessed to be close.   

 Be grateful, give back and be blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.