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!

More Free Family Events Added to the Calendar for December!

Just added to our calendar!

Many events added to our calendar of free, family events!  There is always something fun to do!

Details for all these events on our calendar!

One of our favorite holiday traditions is my mother's Christmas Village

December 6

WS Candle Tea - Free Family Activity, Craft and Bake Sale

December 7 

Downtown Mayodan Christmas Stroll & Tree Lighting
LEX 2018 Annual Festival of Lights
WS Fire Department Holiday Open House

Kernersville Parade 2012

December 8

KVILLE Third Annual Re3 Holiday Bazaar
GSO Holiday Market Cafe at Revolution
RH Santa at the Caboose

December 9 

WS Christmas Cantata and Love Feast
LVILLE The Winter Rose - A Cantata
WS UNCSA Cantata Singers, James Allbritten, Conductor

December 13

GSO Christmas in the Park

December 14

WS Holiday Hymn Festival/Sing Along
GSO I'll Be Home For Christmas Musical Drama at Hickory Grove UMC

December 15

WS Krankies Craft Fair 2018

December 16

LVILLE Moravian Christmas Open House

December 18

WS Salem Band Holiday Concert

December 20

WS Christmas for the City
WS Salem Band Holiday Concert

May 11, 2019

LVILLE Trial by Fire, Journey Tribute Band

Sneak Peak to This Weekend

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 Upcoming Events in the Piedmont Triad Sept 9-16, 2018

Free Family Events This Week September 9-16, 2018

Details for all events on our calendar at piedmonttriadliving.com

Clemmons

Sat Sep 15, 2018

Clemmons Village Farmers Market

Wonder: Movie Night in the Village

Greensboro

Sun Sep 9, 2018

NC Folkfest
GSO Chess in the Park
Yappy Hour Weekly Meetup for Four Legged Friends
Sunday Jazz Picnic

Mon Sep 10, 2018

NC Folkfest

Wed Sep 12, 2018

Tunes at Noon presented by Revolution Mill

Sun Sep 16, 2018

Chess in the Park
Yappy Hour Weekly Meetup for Four Legged Friends
Jazz Picnic

High Point

Sat Sep 15, 2018

Blacksmith Demonstration
African American Historical Tour
48th Annual Day in the Park Festival

Jamestown

Fri Sep 14, 2018

Movies in the Park

Lewisville

Fri Sep 14

Star Wars - The Last Jedi - Starlight Movie Night

Winston-Salem

Sun Sep 9, 2018

Arts On Sunday Festival Series - September!
Second Sundays on 4th

 

Wed Sep 12, 2018

Sunset Salutations: Yoga in Bailey Park

Thu Sep 13, 2018

Summer Nights Concert Series

Fri Sep 14, 2018

Innovation & Cinema: Zootopia

Sat Sep 15, 2018

Cobblestone Farmers Market
Apple Festival
2018 International Village Food and Music Festival
Saturday ART Jam
Films on a/ Farm at Crossnore

Sun Sep 16, 2018

Arts On Sunday Festival Series - September!
Salem Band "Bernstein Birthday Concert"

Just Added! Mark Your Calendar!

Clemmons 
September 15  Wonder: Movie Night in the Village

Greensboro
December 1  Free Event! Christmas at the Carolina with The Polar Express

Kernersville
September 21  Movie in the Park: Finding Dory

Winston-Salem
September 16  Salem Band "Bernstein Birthday Concert"
September 23 Concert Across America



 

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.