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Alex Newell is a Tony Awardwinning actor and singer known for roles in Once on This Island and Shucked on Broadway

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We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. Copyright 2026 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

The 13th annual “OUT AT THE MOVIES” film festival, which runs Sept. 24-27, will kick off with a free reception at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the WFU Byrum Welcome Center, 1580 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem. 4 “THE FIX” has the distinction of being released on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, but unfortunately that’s the only distinction. 5 NBC was founded by the Radio Corporation of America on November 15, 1926, which means that the radio network will soon celebrate its CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY. 7 And I hope I can continue going back to RIVER BIRCH LODGE forever. This kitchen manages something rare — creating deeply flavorful, rich, and richly rewarding dishes that are not too heavy and not overpowering. 8 What a difference a quarter-century makes. Next Thursday, Sept. 24, will mark 25 years and change since the CAROLINA HURRICANES last skated into the Greensboro (now First Horizon) Coliseum. 11 What the folk is up, Greensboro?! It’s time for the North Carolina FOLK FESTIVAL — three days, a handful of stages, a few dozen artists from all around the world (and right here in the Triad), all descending upon downtown Greensboro, Sept. 18-20. 12 CAROLYN ALLEN, who became Greensboro’s first female mayor and helped change the public narrative about the 1979 Greensboro Massacre, died Sept. 1 at the age of 93.

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‘OUT at the Movies’ fired up for annual festival

he 13th annual “OUT at the Movies” film festival, which runs Sept. 24-27, will kick off with a free reception at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, Mark Burger at the WFU Byrum Welcome Center, 1580 Wake Forest Contributor Road, WinstonSalem. There will be four short films screened — “In Kind,” “We Are Not Unicorns,” “Amish Country Queer,” and “Our Space” — followed by a meet-and-greet with the filmmakers in attendance and a complimentary food/beer/wine reception. “OUT at the Movies,” the oldest and longest-running LGBTQ+ arts nonprofit in Western North Carolina, will feature more than 40 films (features and shorts) at this year’s festival, in addition to panel discussions, parties, and other special events. Individual screening tickets are $12 (general admission) and free (students with valid ID). A Flex Pass (five screenings) is $40, and the self-explanatory All Access Pass is $50. For advance tickets or more information, visit https://outatthemovies. org/13th-annual-film-festival/. “We received over 300 submissions this year,” revealed Rex Welton, executive director and founder of the “OUT at the Movies” festival and screening series. “We have 17 features and 27 shorts. I am most excited about the quality and variety of movies in this year’s festival. Due to a limited number of screening slots, we had to bypass a number of really good films, [but] we hope to show some of them as part of our monthly screening series in early 2027.” “We were so impressed by the quality of submissions this year, and it made for a hard deliberation for our selection committee,” said Max Cullen, the festival’s director of operations and marketing (and director of the aforementioned short “Our Space”). “We were looking for stories that carry tones of joy, perseverance, and living WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

authentically. Our line-up this year very much reflects that. “Our feature films showcase a wide range of stories, from a couple rediscovering their love for each other in our opening-night screening of ‘In This Moment,’ to the celebration of longstanding LGBTQ+ traditions in ‘The 50th Invasion of the Pines.’ We also have four exciting short film programs that vary in their themes — a celebration of ‘camp,’ family and relationships, authenticity, and our first time offering a horror/thriller shorts program. Those are four great opportunities for

audiences to come and experience a handful of very different but themed stories.” “Our festival has enjoyed a national and even international reputation for the quality of our programming, hospitality, and parties,” Welton said. “It has also become somewhat like a family reunion. Beginning with our second festival in 2015, we are always excited to welcome returnees and meet new members of the ‘OUT at the Movies’ ‘family.’” “We’re fortunate to have built up a great reputation in the film industry

over the past 12 festivals,” Cullen said. “That certainly helps when it comes to attracting filmmaker participation. We’ve also built up a loyal, local audience over the years, too. We’re proud to see our community strengthened by our events. New friendships formed, connections made.” “We have a stellar reputation for the quality and diversity of our curated programming,” Welton concurred. “As I often tell our board and volunteers, we may be one of the longest-running festivals of the larger cities, but we can do the very best in terms of the quality of our programming and hospitality. The LGBTQ+ filmmaking community is close-knit, and the word is out about our festival and special environment that we create in Winston-Salem.” “Our festival really offers a fun experience for everyone in the Triad — gay, straight — it really doesn’t matter,” Cullen said. “We program our festival with quality and uniqueness in mind. A lot of these films aren’t something you’ll find even at an art-house theater. They’re made by indie filmmakers who put a lot of heart and soul into them, and they push creative boundaries. If you like going to the movies, take a look at our line-up. We’ve got something for everyone this year!” Above all, Cullen said, “We want our audiences to have fun! Our organization’s founding mission was to build community by reflecting stories back to our audiences — a chance for them to see a part of their lived experience on screen, to help them realize that they’re not alone. But creating joy, and celebrating LGBTQ+ joy, has also always been there. Not only will this year’s films be fun for the audience to watch, but seeing them together with others, and then talking about them together at an after-party, is a unique and joyful experience in and of itself.” ! See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2026, Mark Burger.

WANNA go? For more information, call 336-918-0902 or visit the official “OUT at the Movies” website: https:// outatthemovies.org/.

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‘The Fix’ requires fine-tuning

BY MARK BURGER

“

The Fix” has the distinction of being released on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, but unfortunately that’s the only distinction. Despite a premise that puts its principal characters in the heart of Middle Eastern conflict, it’s a routine, needlessly convoluted shoot-‘em-up that takes forever to get where it’s going and ends up really going nowhere. The action (literally) begins in 2021, with a Special Ops team led by hard-bitten Tucker Pierce (Zachary Levi, among the film’s battalion of executive producers) forced to evacuate after a mission gone bad, losing one member along the way. It’s a blow to Tucker and to Larry (Liam Neeson), their disillusioned and ailing CIA handler. This could have turned into a discussion about the PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome) that affects so many combat veterans but instead detours into a melodrama about one last mission, off the record and off the books. Anyone familiar with cinema knows that “one last” anything — be it a heist, a big game, or a military operation — is surely a recipe for disaster, and so it is here, in more ways than one. A few years later, Tucker learns from Larry, now apparently in the throes of dementia, about a $25 million stash he hid in Tehran during the 1979 revolution, so Tucker promptly recruits the old team (including Quincy Isaiah, Augusto Aguilera, and Jake Choi) for a big score. As Tucker notes, it’ll be easier getting into Tehran than getting out, and complicating matters is his vow to aid dozens of refugees desperate to escape Iran. Already, “The Fix” is top-heavy with storyline. Producer/director/co-editor Guy Moshe, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Bacci and Ron Hutchinson (another executive producer), overstuffs the narrative with subplots, most of them unnecessary and some entirely unresolved. This could have been an enjoyably mindless action blow-out but instead becomes a saga that sags — early and often.

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The action scenes are reasonably well done, although the CGI explosions and gunfire are blatantly obvious. The problem is that they don’t generate much suspense or tension, and as the film drags on toward the 140-minute (!) mark, even basic interest in the proceedings evaporates. Never mind the situation depicted onscreen, it’s the actors whose mission is compromised. Levi plays it tough and cool, while Choi (so funny in “Reunion” earlier this year) stands around a lot. Neeson, who remains stateside during the heist, adds what gravitas he can in what is very much a supporting role. Reliable Titus Welliver is wasted as a CIA agent. Navid Negahban plays the principal Iranian antagonist about as well as possible under the circumstances, and Elnaaz Norouzi adds a bit of spice — and a neat twist — to the character of Zara, the Iranian American woman tapped by Tucker to pose as his wife when they travel to Tehran, even if that notion seems rather contrived in the grand (or not-so-grand) scheme of things. ! See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2026, Mark Burger.

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Jim Longworth and Bob Hope

BC was founded by the Radio Corporation of America on November 15, 1926, which means that the radio network will soon celebrate its centenJim Longworth nial birthday. True, NBC didn’t go into the TV business until Longworth 1939, but since one at Large medium begat the other, and since my life and career have mostly been shaped by television, allow me to use this special anniversary of one medium to wax nostalgic about the other. When thinking about NBC’s legacy, two words come to mind: Tradition and Continuity. “Meet the Press” has been on the air since 1947, “The Today Show” since 1952, and “The Tonight Show” since 1954 (the year I was born). I had the pleasure of knowing funny man Steve Allen, who created and hosted “The Tonight Show” for its first three seasons. His intellect and sense of humor set a high bar for all latenight hosts to come, and his footprint is still visible in every interview desk and every comedy sketch. Another late-night entry, “Saturday Night Live,” has been on air since 1975, and “Law and Order SVU” is now the longest-running prime-time live-action series in history. Talk about tradition and continuity. NBC has had other ground-breaking programs in its storied line-up, including “Howdy Doody,” the first coast-tocoast kid’s show. And it was NBC that broadcast the first baseball World Series in 1947. In 1957, Nat King Cole became WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Diahann Carroll, Jim Longworth and Pamela Cook

Jim Longworth and Red Skelton

Happy (100th) Birthday, NBC the first African American to host his own variety show, and in 1968, Diahann Carroll became the first Black woman to headline her own sitcom (“Julia”). Looking for talent shows? “The Original Amateur Hour” was popular five decades before “American Idol.” NBC also pioneered the use of color in prime time, starting with “Bonanza” in 1959. It’s difficult for kids today to imagine the excitement that my generation experienced when we first saw the NBC peacock spread its multi-colored feathers as the announcer said, “The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC.” It still gives me goosebumps when I come across those old network intros on YouTube. In 1951, Red Skelton launched his own variety series on NBC, proving that a successful film star could also host a successful TV series (Though he moved his show to CBS, Red returned to the Peacock network in 1970 to wrap up his 20-year run). Meanwhile, another film comedian, Bob Hope, made his mark with occasional specials such as his annual Christmas time excursions to entertain our troops overseas. In the 1990’s NBC coined the phrase “must see TV” with shows like “Cheers,” “The Golden Girls,” “Designing Women,” “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” and “The Cosby Show.” Along the way, NBC was also known for its over-the-top comedies like “LaughIn” and “Get Smart,” and for providing audiences with reliable nightly news, starting with the nation’s first dual, multi-city anchor team on “The Huntley Brinkley Report.” It’s also the network that gave us light-hearted dramas like “Matlock” and “Rockford,” and for being the first television network to give rise to

a film franchise in “Star Trek.” Today NBC has a dozen owned and operated TV stations, plus 222 affiliate stations, and its current crop of shows includes my friend Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order” duo and his Chicago trio (Fire, Med, and PD). I hope to be around in 13 years to celebrate NBC TV’s 100th birthday, by which time I’ll be watching SNL’s 65th season,

and a 75-year-old Mariska Hargitay putting handcuffs on SVU bad guys. For now, though, I’m just happy to recognize NBC Radio for giving birth to the medium I love — television. ! 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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“May I talk to you briefly?” Placed Motor oil additive TV character whom you “better call” Certain outlet accessory River of Aragon Weeding tool Singer Amos Like a gallery that has five dozen paintings by artist Antoine? Sort of Shar- — (wrinkly dogs) What a hailstorm is doing when composer Jean-Philippe is caught in it? Hawaiian for “appetizer” Little League precursor Calling device in a forest east of Paris? Banquet, e.g. Four eighths Let borrow again Monte — Oil from flower petals Wine enjoyed near a hearth? Aliens, briefly August hrs. Guilty feeling Garage oil Hilo hellos Giving the go-ahead for Atmosphere Raised, flat land that you are visiting today? Rapa — (Easter Island) Bookish sort Giorgio of fashion

Apartment policy about animals 78 Island porch 80 Goat’s cry 82 Application file extension 83 Festive antique hat? 91 Slanting 93 “Nay” sayers 94 Shower sponges 95 100-page story, maybe 97 Portend 98 That powerful essayist Henry David? 101 Sea’s edge 102 Have — (lose it) 103 Flat-bottomed vessel sailing across the River Styx from Hades? 111 Notion, in Paris 115 An hour before midnight 116 Teasing tribute held at the Green Bay Packers’ stadium? 119 Sold out, say 120 “Rock and Roll, Hoochie —” (1973 hit) 121 Leg, e.g. 122 Tom Cruise/Dustin Hoffman film 123 Puts in place 124 Pastor’s talk: Abbr. 125 Legs’ counterparts 126 Iran neighbor

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Riga native, old-style Aid in crime “Dies —” (Latin hymn) Gloomy Tibias Native of Nuku’alofa Eye care chain Fruit discard Top-tier — Major (constellation) In — of Tightly strung Mineo of “Exodus” “— to Be You” (pop standard) Bartlett, e.g. “Friendly skies” carrier, for short Python’s kin — -coated aspirin Large central feature of the Astros’ logo — apso Be mistaken Singer Brenda Chicago Loop trains Luau paste British bud Previous to Taking after Singer Rawls Chevy pony car “Let’s just leave — that” Toy train, when repeated “— Matata” (“The Lion King” song) Part of FDR Car tankful Spreads out, as fingers Meadowland Crew tool Engine noise Org. for cavity fillers It rises daily

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Kicked out of a country Chocolaty spread brand U.S. soldiers — Sea (salt lake in Asia) “Sands of Iwo —” Basic trick for a skateboarder 77 Actor O’Toole 79 Baseless bit of gossip 81 Ditzy relative of Samantha on “Bewitched” 83 Sharp punch 84 Singer Yoko 85 “Inc.” relative 86 Orbiter with a tail 87 — polloi 88 Olympic code for Kabul’s country 89 Oom- — band 90 “C’— la vie” 91 State firmly 92 Fraternity “T” 96 “Well now!” 98 Flat, hollow sounds 99 Crested bird with blackand-white wings 100 Harvard rival 101 Submission encl. 103 Pleads 104 Balm plant 105 Camp shelter 106 Nights before 107 Stewpot 108 Impartial 109 “I wonder ...” 110 Recedes 111 Actress Skye 112 Accurse 113 Morales of film and TV 114 Volcano in Sicily 117 Egypt and Syr., once 118 Crater’s edge

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Chow Down with John Batchelor at River Birch Lodge BY JOHN BATCHELOR

iver Birch Lodge makes one good impression after another. Researching prior to my first visit, I found what turned out to be the most informative, well-designed restaurant website I have seen for an area restaurant. Whatever you want to know, you can find it. Upon arrival, from the outside, the place actually looks kind of like a mountain lodge, although it is situated by itself in the parking lot of a shopping center. Incongruous, but it’s easy to find a parking space. Inside, the lodge theme is well executed. A large chandelier replete with horns casts light from above. The walls are decorated with fishing gear, antique wood skis, a canoe, and woven rugs, hung on a beige wall. The ambience is a bit noisy, but not as bad as most. When the food comes out, a real taste adventure begins, although deliveries tend to be a bit leisurely and not necessarily well-coordinated with the bar. At least among my party, however, all is forgiven with the first taste. Cocktails earn unequivocal praise. Lemon and Ginger Bliss combines Deep Eddy’s lemon vodka, Domaine de Canton sparkling wine, lemon juice, and ginger beer, a wonderful summer concoction. The Nashville Reunion blends Knob Creek bourbon with sweet vermouth, maple syrup, bitters, and an orange peel. Think old fashioned at a higher level. The wine list is a winner, too. Selections tend to be familiar, and even when not easily recognized, still well-chosen. Prices range from solid value to high-end, but consistent with quality. My party began one visit with Chorizo Queso Dip. It’s lush — creamy queso with ground chorizo sausage topped with cilantro and served with hand-cut white corn tortilla chips. I could eat the chips by themselves, but the meaty dip is decadent. Wouldn’t want to pass that up! Another evening, another dip. Bison and Sausage Cream Cheese Dip is served with sliced flatbread. Again, the deep flavor of the meat emerged from within the richness of warm, soft cheese. One section of the menu is devoted to handhelds. French Dip Panini hosts thinly

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Scallops Papperdelle

Goat Cheese Ravioli

Cedar Plank Salmon

sliced prime rib, its naturally deep flavor enhanced with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and a creamy brie cheese spread on a hoagie roll. Warm au jus and creamy horseradish sauce are served on the side for dipping. The Beast Burger is an exotic blend of ground elk, wild boar, bison, and wagyu beef on a brioche bun, enhanced with barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, and arugula. These are seriously good ingredients, justifying a price that is as elevated as the sophistication of the blended meats in the patty. Moving on to the entrée section, unindicated co-conspirator Anna ordered Goat Cheese Ravioli. This consists of roasted butternut squash bechamel on a bed of sautéed spinach, topped with hickory — grilled chicken and a drizzle of aged balsamic glaze. The chicken is moist and tender, marrying well with the flavor of the squash. I was quite taken with seeing game meats on a local menu. (All game meats served in N.C. restaurants are farm-raised specifically for human consumption.) Hickory Grilled Venison is a six-ounce filet in a red wine and juniper berry reduction sauce, served with garlic mashed potatoes and a medley of mushroom varieties. The mushrooms blend beautifully with both the meat and the potatoes. Baby Back Ribs are available in half or full rack sizes. The half rack is plenty for any reasonable appetite. The meat is tender, emitting solid depth of flavor as it literally pulls away from the bone. It is basted with the restaurant’s own chipotle-apple barbecue sauce. Seafoods sustained the positive impressions gleaned from the meats. Appalachian Trout is pan-seared with

sliced almonds, the whole fish served open with all bones removed. Roasted asparagus and a baked sweet potato are the menu-specific vegetables, and they are well chosen to match the flavor of the fish. I have always regarded roasting on a cedar plank kind of hokey, but this kitchen showed that was my mistake. The aroma and flavor of cedar infuses the natural taste of Salmon, and it’s downright delicious. (Hickory Grilled is available, too.) This comes with a choice of sauces. I chose bourbon honey, and found light applications to serve the salmon flavor well. Scallops Papperdelle places tender grilled scallops in pappardelle pasta, bathed in a shrimp and lobster sauce, enriched with portabella mushroom slices, plus asparagus and red peppers, all garnished with crushed red pepper. Another well-balanced conception, the rich flavors of the supporting ingredients never overpowering the main event. From among the sides, brussels sprouts, brown rice, quinoa, and coleslaw all provide healthy as well as flavorful choices. Maybe not as healthy, but well worth the calories and carbs, Lodge fries (which look and taste made in-house) and Lodge chips (thin, crisp, and tasty — which I would also argue are homemade) should be considered as well. We had to skip pizzas, although they looked inviting. We did not skip dessert, however, and I would advise that you should not, either. When I saw two women at a nearby table enjoying Banana Pudding, I knew I had to have some. My wife rated it as good as her mother’s. High praise indeed. Chocolate — Chocolate Cake was listed

as a new item. It ought to stay on the menu forever. And I hope I can continue going back to River Birch Lodge forever. This kitchen manages something rare — creating deeply flavorful, rich, and richly rewarding dishes that are not too heavy and not overpowering. I love this place. I can’t believe it took me this long to get here. Business cards in the lobby name Love Kelly and David McGaffigan, managers; Valentin Bello, executive chef; and Emily Howard, office manager and events coordinator. What a crew! ! 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 go? River Birch Lodge 3324 Robinhood Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27106 336-768-1111 riverbirchlodge.com Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday Appetizers: $9-$18.50 Salads: $8-$22.50 Soups: $8-$10 Sandwiches, Wraps, Burgers: $14.50-$22.95 Pizzas: $13.95-$18.50 Entrees: $21-$39 + market-price steaks Desserts: $9-$14 Most recent visit: Sept. 1 SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAROLINA HURRICANES FACEBOOK

Greensboro welcomes back Stanley Cup champions

BY OGI OVERMAN

hat a difference a quarter-century makes. Next Thursday, Sept. 24, will mark 25 years and change since the Carolina Hurricanes last skated into the Greensboro (now First Horizon) Coliseum. Their swan song was a doubleovertime 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins in game 5 of the first round of the NHL playoff series, won two days later by the Bruins. The date, virtually swallowed by history, was April 30, 1999. There were 11,059 souls on hand to witness the finale. They finished with a 3430-18 record, an improvement over the previous year’s 33-41-8 record. Their departure from Greensboro to their permanent home in Raleigh should have been a happy occasion — at least for Raleigh. But it was tragically marred three days after the season ended when defenseman Steve Chiasson was killed in a truck accident. The ’Canes, as is typically the case, had held a final get-together before heading to their respective homes and golf courses. Chiasson, the toxicology report determined, was far over the legal alcohol limit. His number 3, while not officially retired, has never been issued again.

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The Hurricanes’ two seasons in Greensboro were, at best, bittersweet, even before Chiasson’s heartbreaking death. The league looked down on us, the media mocked us, and the city of Hartford, Connecticut, hated us. Sure, the NHL paid lip service to us for stepping up while the now-Lenovo Center was under construction, but we were still the red-headed stepchild of the league. Sports Illustrated did a hatchet job on us, publishing a story on the poor attendance, illustrated by a full-page photo of a near-empty building. And some of the Hartford die-hards seemed to think we had somehow stolen their beloved Whalers. But for the genuine hockey fans who grew up on the Generals and Monarchs, it was a dream come true. Compared to the ECHL, it was … well, there was no comparison. We had the absolute privilege of watching The Great Gretsky (then with the Rangers), Jaromír Jágr, Raymond Bourque, Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, Keith Tkachuk (whose two sons, Matthew and Brady, are current NHL stars), et. al. But there were two other stars — one in the NHL Hall of Fame and the other unceremoniously (and many say unfairly) still left out — who were nemeses then but are now revered among Caniacs everywhere. The first is Ron Francis, the Penguins star who

abused us even more than Jágr. The first year of the relocated franchise, we were 0-4 against the Pens. Francis became a free agent after that year, and GM Jim Rutherford wisely grabbed him. The move began paying dividends immediately, as “The Franchise” led Carolina to the playoffs, improving their record by 12 points. He played in all 82 games, scoring 21 goals and 31 assists. In 2002, wearing the “C” on his sweater, he took them all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before losing to the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. He joined the ’Canes front office in 2006 and became general manager in 2014. Likewise, as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, Rod Brind’Amour continually punished Carolina. Again, using the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” strategy, the WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Jordan Steal, captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. Hurricanes traded Keith Primeau for him. And, once again, the move paid off in spades, as he and Francis made contenders out of also-rans. After losing to Detroit in 2002, Brind’Amour & Co. reached the Promised Land, hoisting the Cup after the 2006 season. Like Francis, he was the first-line center and captain of that squad. Both his number 17 and Francis’s number 10 now hang from the rafters of the Lenovo Center. After a brilliant 20-year career, Brind’Amour retired in 2010. In another forward-thinking front-office move, he was hired as the ’Canes assistant coach the following year and became the head man in 2018. And thus began what history will record as the “Brind’Amour Era.” The turnaround was immediate and startling — and consistent. In his first season, the team reached the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. And has repeated the process every year since! Always at or near the top of the Eastern Conference standings but falling just short of the pinnacle. It seemed just a matter of time — almost as if it were preordained — that Carolina would eventually grab the Stanley Cup. With the anchors, AKA the “core five,” of Sabastian Aho, Jordan Staal, Jaccob Slavin, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jordan Martinook leading the way, it seemed that all it would take would be to add a couple of pieces for the puzzle to be complete. The first piece arrived in 2021 with Seth Jarvis, and last year’s additions of Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, and goalie Brandon Bussi seemed to be the magical combination. WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

And, indeed, it was. They blew through the first two rounds of the playoffs undefeated, lost only once to Montreal and vanquished Vegas 4-2 in the finals. There was no doubt that the Carolina Hurricanes deserved to be the 2025-’26 National Hockey League champions. So now a new season is upon us, and the ’Canes are set to defend their title, and — believe it! — the Caniacs are out in force, as if they weren’t already. They have turned the state capital into a legitimate Hockey Capital and become a cultural phenomenon not only around Raleigh and the Triangle but Greensboro and the Triad, and points beyond. It took 21 years for hockey to return to Greensboro, but when it did, it was immediately obvious that the sporting culture had changed, buoyed in large part by the success of the Hurricanes. The Gate City embraced the Gargoyles, finishing eighth in attendance in the now-30-team ECHL, despite a dismal record. And the fact that they are the affiliate (along with the Chicago Wolves) of the Hurricanes only adds to the aura. If proof is needed, the exhibition game between the Hurricanes and the Nashville Predators is expected to be a sellout by the time the puck drops at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Gargoyles president Jon Forsberg stated the obvious, saying, “Hockey has experienced tremendous growth throughout the South over the last three decades, and moments like this showcase just how far the game has come,” adding, “Whether you’re

a lifelong Hurricanes supporter who remembers their time in Greensboro, a dedicated Gargoyles fan, or someone attending their very first hockey game, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are incredibly proud to bring a

Stanley Cup Champion NHL team back to Greensboro and give our community the opportunity to be a part of a truly special event.” So, how do you like us now, Sports Illustrated? !

SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

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Opening Night of “Dracula — A Comedy of Terrors” at The Little Theatre Winston-Salem 9.11.26 | Winston-Salem | Photos by Natalie Garcia

Winston-Salem Food Truck Festival 9.13.26 | Winston-Salem | Photos by Natalie Garcia

SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

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tunes

HEAR IT!

Katei Cranford

Contributor

hat the folk is up, Greensboro?! It’s time for the North Carolina Folk Festival — three days, a handful of stages, a few dozen artists from all around the world (and right here in the Triad), all descending upon downtown Greens-

boro, Sept. 18-20. Presented in 2026 by Cone Health, the NCFF continues the “Find Common Sound” direction — with the intention to “create transformative celebrations, where music, art, and food unite communities, inspire creativity, and drive lasting community and economic growth across North Carolina.” “Founded on the belief that music and culture should be accessible to everyone, the festival welcomes more than 135,000 attendees annually for a weekend built on discovery, connection, and celebration,” the 2026 festival features its familiar mix of international artists and a return to the heavy headliners (yes, the Roots are coming!) — while also continuing its relatively recent dig into the Triad music and arts community. Props to them for that. Since its inception, I’ve soapboxed three main points around NCFF: 1. Don’t run the weekend of Hopscotch. 2. Embrace local artists. 3. Highlight local spaces. It’s taken more than a decade to move in that direction — but it appears festival leadership finally started paying attention. Credit where credit’s due. And to their credit, the focus on local talent is stronger than previous years — on-stage and off; in ways even I didn’t expect. For instance, GTCC’s welding students put together a giant “FOLK” letter installation — with each letter standing around six feet tall (and weighing around 600lbs). Students from the entertainment tech program will also be running stages. UNC-Greensboro is also heavily involved — d.a.l.i.a., a project from Dr. Dalia Razo (a two-time alum and current member of the music education faculty), won the 2026 NCFF Not Your Average Folk Contest — and her backing band also WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

I folkin love N.C. Music

features fellow Spartans, music professor Scott Glasser, and alumni Zach Baker, Cameron Rabb, and Jennifer Aikey. Together they’ll headline the N.C. By Train Stage on Sunday, which will kick off with Greensboro’s King M Dot, followed by 2025 NYAF winners Evan Blackerby and Folkknot (who’ll be with Del Ward and the Leftovers at the MOVE’s Friday NCFF afterparty). The Queen Bees, 2023’s NYAF secondplace winners, are also back to open the First Bank Stage on Saturday (followed by Ranford Almond). Once upon a time, the contest was the only real opportunity for local artists to hop on the festival— thrilled to see NCFF finally understand that N.C. has a wealth of talent worth embracing. Sharing that wealth, N.C. artists on the N.C. By Train stage include: Signal Fire, Nikki Morgan, and Rakish; along with Caleb Caudle and Karla Davis (who’ll also appear on the First Bank Stage on Friday), plus Bala Roots, who’ll spend Friday at the N.C. By Train Stage, followed by a set at the DGI Stage (aka the Flat Iron) on Sunday. Ashley Virginia’s “What the Folk Song School” will open up the DGI Stage’s Sunday offerings, which will close with a double-round from Too Phat Brass Band (bandleader Leroy Pridgen IV will also be on Saturday’s T-Fiber Stage bill). In a perplexing programming move, most of the DGI Stage shows are two sets from the same artists: Abigail Dowd will do two back-to-back appearances on Friday, Emerson Bruno opens the Saturday bill, followed by doubles from Matt Laird and Andrew Scotchie (who’ll spend Sunday with Tom Troyer on the First Bank Stage). In the wee hours in between, the Flat

Iron’s afterparties are a distinct highlight — with Fonville x Fribush melting the folkin’ room on Friday in a funk’d-up collab featuring organist Sam Fribush and drummer Corey Fonville (Butcher Brown). On Saturday, Dance From Above will take folk to new heights, with help from the atmospheric dance music maestro Marley Carroll, pulsing into the night. Getting to the festival pulse (and footprint), the action is centered around Church Street — with a few new names and faces; and a mainstage that doubles down on conjuring Greensboro’s cultural cornerstones of yesteryear. …in other words, the GO by Raymond James CityStage is in the same spot as the Wyndham Championship CityStage last year (and I’ll stan a strong preference for the GGO and CityStage proper until I’m deep in the ground). In a sensible move, the N.C. By Train Stage has been moved to the Depot area (known as the “N.C. Railroad Stage” last year), with the T-Fiber Stage taking residence in LeBauer Park. Folklife continues in the Cultural Center; the Revity Jams Stage and family zone maintain their spaces in the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum parking lot; as does the First Bank Stage, wedged in the Summit and Lindsay nook of downtown that I’ve often decried “coulda been a five-points.” And within that not-a-five-points block, the Revity Jams Stage will continue being the festival’s local music heart — starting with the Third Annual Matty Sheets Memorial Open Mic on Friday; followed by the return of Gavin Douglas’s Irish Seisiún sessions; Christen Blanton’s Old-Time jam; Honky Tonky with Mark Dillon; and Katie.Blvd’s Beats Batch — plus a slew of dance and interactive workshops throughout the weekend. New names, similar traditions. On Friday, North Carolina A&T State University’s “Cold Steel” Drumline will open the festival main stage (along with words from N.C. poet laureate Jaki Shelton Green), and will run national artists The Brass Queens, Madison Cunningham, and St. Paul & the Broken Bones. On Saturday, the Roots will take the main stage and what else needs to be said? They’re awesome and folks are stoked. But, y’all, do not sleep on Medicine Singers — a collective of Native American pow wow drummers and sing-

ers; plus Lee Ranaldo (from a little band called Sonic Youth) and Yonatan Gat (from mother-folking Monotonix, who all but ripped the roof off Square One when WUAG brought them to Greensboro — on my birthday — in 2008). It is the most interesting selection in the history of NCFF programming, and I sincerely commend whoever made that call. Medicine Singers play at 5:30 p.m., Victoria Victoria reps the Triad and opens the showcase at 1 p.m. (after appearing on Friday’s T-Fiber Stage with Elora Dash). Generally speaking, the T-Fiber and Folklife stages will hinge heavily on dance — which begs me to wonder if awardwinning Flat Foot dancer (and WUAG DJ) Mason Winfree will make an appearance during Murphy Campbell’s set on Sunday. Speaking of Sunday, Jacob Sharp and SUSTO’s stringband iteration will highlight NC music on the main stage before Molly Tuttle closes it all down. Beyond the official festival channels, Chandler’s is getting into the game with a Saturday showcase curated by Bryan Toney and Michael C. Parris (who deserves all the good vibes while he undergoes cancer treatment). Across Elm Street, Little Brother Brewing will host the Ends as an NCFF afterparty on Friday, and partner with James from Swaghouse to present Butler Knowles’ Country & Western on Saturday. Around the corner, Colin Cutler will do a NCFF Flannery O’Connor deep dive Friday afternoon at Unfettered Books, before heading to the Back Table (joining Billie Feather for a Friday night afterparty). Marz Nation will bring the afrotron, dance hall, and hip-hop to the Back Table on Saturday, and Fauxmance will host a picnic potluck show on Sunday. SunQueen & The Soular Flares will be at the shiny new spot on Elm Street for an NCFF kickoff party on Thursday; meanwhile, Tan & Sober Gentlemen will rock the afterparty on Friday. And speaking of sweet, the SWEAT HAUS folks will hook up with Savor the Moment Bakery on Saturday to present six straight daylight hours of electronic artists in tandem with the Abbey Taphouse and their “Rock the Block” EDM showcase going down all weekend. It’s a folking lot, y’all. Happy Folk Fest! ! KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events. SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

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feature

Leading by example: City’s first female mayor remembered

BY IAN MCDOWELL

arolyn Allen, who became Greensboro’s first female mayor and helped change the public narrative about the 1979 Greensboro Massacre, died Sept. 1 at the age of 93.

12 YES! WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

Introducing Allen at a 2020 event, civil rights leader and educator Joyce Johnson called her longtime friend “my mayor for life.” Speaking at Allen’s funeral last week, Johnson said that Allen “opened up our city to greater participation and leadership from all its people.” “She honored the promises of the

Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Even more fundamentally, she understood and practiced Christian principles of love, joy, and peace.” In 1979, Johnson saw five fellow organizers murdered by white supremacists at a labor march and anti-Klan protest organized by her husband, the future Rev. Nelson Johnson, who was stabbed through the arm by a knife-wielding Nazi. Twenty-five years later, Allen and the Johnsons were among those who worked to establish the Greensboro Truth & Reconciliation Commission, which in 2006 issued a report on that act of domestic terrorism. Their work challenged the claim, made by several of Allen’s predecessors and successors, that the violence was a “shoot-out between extremists,” and produced evidence that police were aware of the impending attack and did nothing to prevent it. In this, they were advised by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose leadership of South Africa’s post-apartheid commission served as the blueprint for the first truth and reconciliation commission in U.S. history. At Allen’s funeral, Johnson shared this memory. “I will never forget her coming over to embrace me after what I considered my failed presentation during the Greensboro TRC hearings. I had spent days carefully crafting my statement but was so overcome by the weight of my first opportunity

Assistant Professor of English (Winston-Salem, NC) - Design & teach 1st-year, upper-level, & graduate courses in rhetoric & writing. Reqs. incl. PhD in Rhetoric & Composition, Writing Studies, or rel.; & demonstrated study, scholarship & teaching expertise in rhetoric & composition studies. Send CV to Wake Forest Univ., 1834 Wake Forest Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27109, Attn: N. Lynch.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM

Mayor Carolyn Allen to speak publicly about the nightmare that the Greensboro Massacre was for my family and my friends, that I literally sobbed through my entire testimony. But my friend Carolyn came over with tears in her eyes and said, Joyce, thank you for helping me and this city to do what we needed to do for over 25 years; to cry, to grieve, to embrace one another, and to commit to one another to build a better city for our children and those yet unborn.” Born in Detroit on Nov. 3, 1932, Allen grew up in Austin, where her father taught at the University of Texas, from which she earned her BA in Sociology in 1953, followed by an MA in that discipline from Florida State in 1958. She met her future husband, Don Allen, in the UT Austin Sociology Department. They married in January 1962 and moved to Greensboro, where Don was hired by UNCG. Their daughter Emily was born in 1965. A decade later, Carolyn joined the N.C. A&T Sociology faculty, where she taught until 1975, and then at UNCG until 1985. She also served as president of the Greensboro Chapter and State Board of the League of Women Voters, as well as the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) and the National League of Cities. Her passion for conservation led to her membership in the Piedmont Land Conservancy, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, and Greensboro WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Beautiful. She was elected as an at-large city council member in 1989 and won her first mayoral election in 1993, serving until 1999. She championed public safety, expanded affordable housing, and strengthened public transit. But according to many who knew her well, including Joyce Johnson and Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen, she was proudest of her work with the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project. According to her friends, this began after Allen attended a 1996 play about the Greensboro Massacre at Princeton University with future Greensboro mayor Yvonne Johnson. “Afterwards, I recall Carolyn pledging to join with others to seek the deeper truths and justice related to Nov. 3, 1979,” said Joyce Johnson. “Carolyn understood that some of Greensboro’s most difficult challenges exist at the crossroads of race and class,” said Thigpen. “She was willing to enter uncomfortable spaces, listen carefully, and, when necessary, be a lone voice because she believed it was the right thing to do.” Johnson agreed. “When making city appointments, Carolyn was not deterred by old customs of separation along age, racial, and economic lines. She reached out to those who needed to be in dialogue with one another, and who were committed to getting the job done.” Yvonne Johnson, who became Greensboro’s first Black mayor in 2007, supported Allen’s work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. So did Nancy Vaughan, the city’s longest-serving mayor. Former mayors Jim Melvin (1971-1981), Keith Holliday (1999-2007), and Robbie Perkins (2011-2013) did not. In 2005, Perkins was one of six council members who voted against participating

in or endorsing the Truth and Reconciliation process. As reported in the national press, the 6-3 vote was on racial lines. Mayor Holliday told the News & Record that he believed the killings “had little to do with race,” but that the Truth and Reconciliation commission “would make it look as though it did.” Council members Tom Phillips, Sandy Carmany, Florence Gatten, and Don Vaughan joined with Holliday and Perkins in voting against the support for the commission expressed by Dianne BellamySmall, Claudette Burroughs-White and Yvonne Johnson. In 2007, council voted 5-4 against a resolution introduced by District 2’s Goldie Wells, which called on them to rescind the 2005 vote opposing the Truth and Reconciliation process. In 2017, Council voted 7-1 for an apology for the Greensboro Massacre, but their resolution made no mention of police or municipal complicity. The single no vote was from Tony Wilkins, who later that year lost his District 5 seat to Tammi Thurm. In 2020, council voted 7-2 for a more extensive apology that acknowledged GPD command staff pulled officers from the scene after informant Edward Dawson alerted them that an armed Klan/Nazi caravan intended to attack the labor march. According to at-large representative Marikay Abuzuaiter and District 4’s Nancy Hoffman, the statement that police failed to protect the victims was why they voted against it. At a Beloved Community Center event thanking council for issuing a stronger apology than they had three years earlier, the former mayor who helped create the Truth and Reconciliation Commission stood between her friends Joyce and Nelson Johnson and expressed gratitude

for the resolution. “I’m not sure why I have lived as long as I have,” said Allen, who would celebrate her 88th birthday a month later. “I’m grateful to the Lord for that, and for knowing that, gathered here with the inspiration of the current city council, this city will move forward. With tremendous efforts at truthtelling and in mending.” At Allen’s Sept. 8 funeral at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Joyce Johnson said this about the woman she called “my mayor.” Her farewell to her friend included a Spanish invocation hon-

oring departed freedom fighters. “As many of us say in the social justice movement, Carolyn Allen, ¡presente! Live like her, dare to struggle, dare to win. Thank you, God, for placing her in this vineyard that we call Greensboro. May we continue to harvest the fruits of her spirit and labor.” ! IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book “I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith” was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

Allen with Rev. G. Headen, Rev. Z. Holler, Rev. Bongani Finca, Congressman Mel Watt, and Judge Lawrence McSwain at 2004 launch of Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission. WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

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last call

[SALOME’S STARS]

[TRIVIA TEST]

Week of September 21, 2026

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. TELEVISION: What is the name of Jon Snow’s dire wolf in “Game of Thrones?”

[6. LITERATURE: What is the length of a traditional sonnet?

[2. HISTORY: Which Civil War general literally used “scorched earth” tactics in his march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia?

[7. GEOLOGY: What is a common name for calcium carbonate?

[3. MOVIES: Which 1960s movie has the tagline, “A man went looking for America, and he couldn’t find it anywhere”?

[8. FOOD & DRINK: Which fast-food chain goes by the name Hungry Jack in Australia? [9. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president

[4. GEOGRAPHY: Which body of water

gave radio addresses that were described as “fireside chats?”

[5. CHEMISTRY: Which element’s symbol

[10. ASTRONOMY: What is the shape of the Milky Way?

includes islands known as the Seychelles? is Sn?

answer 1. Ghost. 2. General William T. Sherman. 3. “Easy Rider.” 4. Indian Ocean. 5. Tin (stannum).

6. 14 lines of poetry. 7. Limestone or chalk. 8. Burger King. 9. Franklin D. Roosevelt. 10. Spiral.

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) With your Arian charm quotient at an almost all-time high this week (plus all the facts to back you up), you just might win over the last doubters of your proposal. [TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might be in line for a job change that you applied for. But be advised that you could be called on to defend your qualifications against supporters of other applicants. [GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Creating a new approach to an old idea is one way to get beyond a workplace impasse. There are no such problems in your personal life, where things continue to flow smoothly. [CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Be more forthcoming about your feelings concerning a proposed change either in your workplace or in your personal life. Your opinions are valuable. Don’t keep them hidden. [LEO (July 23 to August 22) A changing situation in your life needs more patience than you appear to be willing to offer. Allow-

ing it to develop at its own pace is the wisest course you can take at this time.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) With more stability in your life — both on personal and professional levels — this could be a good time to strengthen relationships with both friends and colleagues. [LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) People have always relied on your integrity not only to get the job done, but to get it done right. So, don’t be pressured by anyone into cutting corners to save time. [SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) While others might get rattled over unexpected changes, your ability to adapt calmly and competently helps you make a positive impression during a crucial period. [SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A changing environment might be daunting for some, but the adventurous Sagittarian takes it all in stride. Meanwhile, a friend from the past could awaken some meaningful memories.

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[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) With your self-assurance rising to full strength, the bold Goat should feel confident about opening up to new ventures, as well as new relationships. [AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Reaching out to someone who has been unkind to you might not be easy. But in the long run, it’ll prove to have been the right thing to do. A friend offers moral support. [PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your keen insight once again helps you work through a seemingly insoluble problem in your workplace. The weekend offers a good chance to develop new relationships. [BORN THIS WEEK: You have a penchant for finding details that others would overlook. You would make a fine research scientist, designer, or editor. © 2026 by King Features Syndicate

answers [CROSSWORD] crossword on page 6

[WEEKLY SUDOKU] sudoku on page 6

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