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 Rusty Bumper - A Review

The Rusty Bumper is in the perfect location for an ice cream shop, right in the heart of the Arts District, across the corner from the Piedmont Craftsman and near other local galleries, shops and restaurants.

We were there for the ice cream and it was delish!  The cashier was very friendly and the service was good.  I heard her having a knowledgeable conversation about different loft condos in the downtown area.

I love the atmosphere of the Rusty Bumper!  Purposely old fashioned with a checkered floor tin roof, old LP covers and posters from Street Scene, a festival that took place in downtown Winston-Salem in the 80s. Good people watching windows facing both Sixth and Trade.

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

Kabobs on Fourth - A Review

Persion Food is the specialty.  Order and pay at the counter.  Service at Kabobs on Fourth is friendly and welcoming. The food is delicious! I ordered the Veggie Kabob.  It's got zucchini, mushroom, onions, green pepper & tomato, marinated with house seasoning.  I chose rice as my side and salad also came with it.  I assumed the kabob would be skewered, mine was not.  The plate was well presented and the food was good so we were happy.

Kabobs resembles any downtown diner.  It is friendly, comfortable and well located in the center of Downtown Winston-Salem.  Suitable for couples and small groups or families.  There's a big table in the back but most seat four.

Price is reasonable.  My plate was $10 plus $1 for the rice instead of naan.

We were there on a Saturday night at 6:30.  We were able to order immediately and sit, our food took 15-20 minutes.

For menu and directions, click here to visit Kabobs on Fourth website

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.

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.

MLK Commemoration and Presidential Inauguration Viewing: Free in Winston-Salem

Free and Open to the Public

MLK Commemoration and Presidential Inauguration Viewing

Monday, January 21, 2013

11:30am

Benton Convention Center

View Larger Map

Mast General Announces New Store in Downtown Winston-Salem

It's official!  The Mast General Store will open their next store in Downtown Winston-Salem, with it's projected opening in Spring 2015.  This specialty retail store carries both old-fashioned and trendy items.  

The new store will be in the Coe Plaza Building on Trade Street.  Nestled in the heart of the Arts District and only one block from the Convention Center, this location will generate quite a bit of additional shopping traffic to the thriving Downtown area.  Mast General, which first opened it's doors in the mountains of North Carolina in 1883, has become a popular destination for shoppers. 

The Coe Plaza Building, home to the future Mast General Store, is a T-shaped building located between Cherry and Trade Streets in Downtown Winston-Salem.  Map it with google here.

This article from Fox8 says that the Winston-Salem store will be the 10th for Mast General, but according to the Mast General website their existing locations are in Asheville, Boone, Columbia, Greenville, Hendersonville, Knoxville, Valle Crucis, and Waynesville.  

The commercial building now known as Coe Plaza was built in 1928.  It will receive a $6 million renovation by Mast, and the upper floors will receive $4 million worth of renovations from U.S. Development Company of Columbia, S.C.  U.S. Development plans to build forty-five apartments in that space.  

The City of Winston-Salem approved a $1.27 million incentive package for the project in September 2012.

Downtown Winston-Salem: The Big Eat 2013

The Big Eat is back!  

This is a great way to support local businesses, discover a new eatery, explore downtown,

and enjoy an otherwise boring Tuesday evening!

Click the picture to see a list of participating restaurants

and each restaurants signature dish.  

Wait!  Before you click the picture,

 you've got to see this ridiculously funny promo for The Big Eat.

Did you know that there are 62 restaurants in the Downtown Winston-Salem area?  Yes, SIXTY-TWO!  You can easily eat somewhere new every day for two months within a radius of just a few miles.  That is amazing!  In addition to that, there are fourteen clubs and bars in Downtown Winston-Salem.  

Click here to see a map of your dining options

Want to know a little about a restaurant before your first visit?  Click here for a link to reviews of hundreds of Triad restaurants!

Holiday Magic, A Dickens' Christmas on December 14, 2012

The Burlington Recreation and Parks Department, along with the Burlington Downtown Corporation and The Glass Angel, are hoping folks not only remember A Dickens’ Christmas, but will be excited when it returns to downtown Burlington on Dec. 14 from 6:00-9:00pm for this year’s Holiday Magic. This special event offers an evening of live entertainment and fun attractions for the entire community!

Everyone is invited to come downtown dressed in Victorian costume and join in the magic of this event. The streets will be filled with carolers, hand bell ringers, food, fun and entertainment. Stroll the streets of downtown: shop, eat and enjoy children’s activities, don’t miss out on this year’s Holiday Magic, A Dickens’ Christmas.
Several different venues on the edges of our Victorian village will offer a variety of entertainment. Horse drawn carriages pulled by the clopping sounds of horses will travel the lanes. The Manchester Flyer, a children’s train, will circle through our village. You will smell the aroma of roasted chestnuts, which were prevalent at Christmas in Victorian England. Our downtown restaurateurs will take to the streets with roasted corn, turkey legs, cheese steak and Greek pastries. Unique to this event is our downtown shopping passport. Pick up a passport from one our newspaper hawkers, visit the required participating stores and drop your completed passport off at our collection box for a chance to win a downtown shopping experience basket. Our merchants will greet you with holiday cheer and create a pleasurable Christmas shopping experience.

There will be many activities for children, in addition to The Manchester Flyer Train. Santa will take last minute request from his sleigh in the children’s area. There will be a Tiny Tim Look-a-like Contest for boys and a best Victorian Bonnet contest for girls ages 12 and under. Mrs. Claus will be in The May Memorial Library along with crafts for the children and other related activities.
As told by Charles Dickens in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, we should give back to those in our community who are in need. You will have that opportunity to donate can goods now through Dec. 14 at participating downtown locations. Your donation of can goods will help to build our Main Street giving tree. At the conclusion of the event Loaves and Fishes will receive the donated food goods and distribute them to those in need. Help us feed the hungry during the holidays and take can goods now to the downtown participating locations. In addition to our giving tree you can also give back by supporting our non-profit church groups, civic organizations and clubs set up along Cadbury Lane. They will tantalize your taste buds with homemade baked goods, hot chocolate, cider and other delicious treats.

We have given you a sneak peak at our event’s activities, now we need you to mark your calendar and plan to attend this year’s Holiday Magic, A Dickens Christmas. We especially encourage you to dress in Victorian costume getting into the spirit of this wonderful event.

For more information, please call 336.513-5469 or visit www.BurlingtonNC.gov/recreation.

Shop the Downtown Arts District, Winston-Salem

Sixth, Trade and Liberty Streets personify why Winston-Salem is known as the "City of the Arts".  The Arts District is filled with galleries, studios and restaurants in an eclectic mix that encourages browsing and shopping throughout the year.  Regular events include the monthly First Friday Gallery hops and the twice yearly month-long Arts on Sunday Festivals.  The Arts District is a destination shopping district with something for everyone!

Last week we perused the streets of the Downtown Arts District.  In no particular order, these are the shops we visited.  This is not a complete list of shops within the Arts District... take your own trip downtown and explore!  Shop local, stay loyal!

View of 100 North Main from Sixth and Liberty at the Downtown Arts District
in Winston-Salem.  Photograph by Jessica St Lewis ©

Piedmont Craftsmen

Studios at 625 Trade Street

Inter_Section Gallery

earthbound arts

Retro art ware (r.a.w)

The Other Half

The "B" String

Paz Boutique

Willy Nilly

Imagine Flowers

Bubbling Well Bead & Tea Bar

Body and Soul

For more information about the Arts District, follow DADA (Downtown Arts District Association).  

Fall 2012 Arts on Sunday schedule!

This is a FUN event that you AND the kids will LOVE!  

Live Music, Kids Corner! 

Local Artists!

This is on of the BEST ways to appreciate the City of the Arts!

Arts on Sunday-- Spring 2012

The 2012 season will kick off in just a few weeks!  Yay!

Downtown Kernersville, NC

I've been visiting the new Botanical Gardens on Main Street since last year.  They had their grand opening last Saturday, and I'm really excited about what it will bring to Kernersville!  The gardens are divine, and their plans for the future (walking paths, ponds, and of course lots of interesting plants, flowers and trees) really give us something to look forward to. Here are a few photos from their pattern garden a few days before the Grand Opening.  Love it, so beautiful!

If you haven't been to downtown Kernersville lately, you should definitely make the visit!  Especially on a Saturday, when the Kernersville Indie Flea is open for local handmade artisans and vintage sellers to sell their wares.  You can also visit Korner's Folly,  the strangest house in the world!  Kernersville's first train depot is also interesting for a quick stop. 

There's lots of shopping in Downtown Kernersville, independent local shops that usually close up by mid-afternoon on the weekend.

You can also bring the kids to one of several parks close by.  Harmon Park is located downtown, with playground equipment, picnic tables under a shelter, and a big open grassy area.  Drive a mile west down Mountain Street and you can enjoy Fourth of July Park, one of our favorite places to hang out.  You can also drive a few miles east to the Forsyth/Guilford county line and spend hours at Triad Park.

First Friday Indie Market, Downtown Greensboro

Arts on Sunday Schedule!

Yay!

Movie at the Park: Harmon Park in Kernersville NC

Kernersville Parks & Recreation Department, we had a fantastic time at your first Movie in the Park last Friday!  We had been anticipating the day, and we arrived early, allowing plenty of time for some playground play at Harmon Park!  You did a great job of keeping us entertained!  While we waited for the movie to start, we enjoyed an exhibit by Triple Tigers Martial Arts, which is located at 110 North Main Street in Kernersville.  Triple Tigers offer Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, Tai Chi, and Foil Fencing for all ages.

Triple Tigers Martial Arts exhibit

                                                                                        Brenda Villegas with Smell It! was the the lone independent vendor, and she had an array of colorful wooden flowers to which she added the scent of your choice.  You could choose two small roses or one large rose for $1.00, a small bouquet for $5.00, or one dozen large roses for $10.00. 

We sat way too close to the popcorn popper sponsored by The Kiwanis Club of Kernersville !  The delicious smell of fresh popcorn wafted through the air and added to perfect ambiance to Movie Night.

Special Thanks to Chick-fil-A of Kernersville and Arts D'vine for sponsoring this special movie night!  By the way, Chick-fil-A has a family fun night every Tuesday from 5-8... and you can check their event calendar here.

KPRD had a couple of contests for the kids while they waited for the movie.  The first involved a wet sponge race, and my daughter had a blast!  After that was a hula hoop contest... which was over very quickly.  Congratulations to the winners of both contests.

There was also dancing before the movie began, and I cannot for the life of me remember what the name of the dance was... but it brought me back to my old school night skate parties from twenty years ago.  And for those that didn't know the moves, there was a fun video to watch and help you with the steps.

And on to the main attraction, the movie "Up".  This is a story about a man who has dreamed big his whole life... and has his book of adventures to go with it.  He flies to South America in a house suspended by helium balloons, and discovers mid-air that the friendly neighborhood Wilderness Scout Russell has come along for the ride!


We also received a bag full of coupons from Downtown Kernersville business that sponsored the evening.  Please remember to shop local!

Splurges Boutique-- they are celebrating their One Year Celebration at 210 N. Main St. Suite 130 (The Shoppes at the Factory) from September 6-11.
All Thing Yummy-- 108 North Main St.
Wendy H. James of Coltrane, Grubbs & James, PLLC Attorneys at Law-- 109 East Mountain St. Ste D
Ringeman Insurance Agency-- 203 North Main Street
Southwinds Gallery--  132 W. Mountain St. They are having a "Meet the Artists Happy Hour" Saturday, August 28 4-7pm
Inlow's Country Market & Deli-- 234 North Main Street
Muddpies Pottery & Gifts-- 233 North Main St.  They are having their Fall Open House August 27-28.  Friday, 10-6 and Saturday 10-4
Love That Music! Inc.-- 148 North Main St.
Floor Coverings International
Ellington Jewelers-- 123 North Main St.
Fritz on Main-- 109 North Main St.
Evy's Gifts-- 126 South Main Street
Fabulous Find Consignment-- 114 South Main St.
Discover Downtown Kernersville
Kernersville Chamber of Commerce

This was absolutely the perfect movie to enjoy with the kids on the lawn of Harmon Park!  The weather was perfect, the bugs were scarce, and it was really a great way to spend a Friday evening with the family.  We are eagerly looking forward to the next Movie at the Park on September 10th and will feature "Hotel for Dogs".

See you there!