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Published: June 6, 2008
Greetings Smittyheads:
Happy about the nice weather we're having. I'm glad the humidity bomb hasn't hit us full force yet. However, I know the day is coming —and soon.
In this edition we have news about the annual Ribfest; some interesting downtown development; a cool scavenger hunt and LinkedIn—Smitty's Notes wants to help you get connected in Winston-Salem.
Also, the Smitty's Notes "Best of Winston-Salem" Contest launched last week, and I am pleased with the response so far. A lot of good input on the categories and. Be sure to share it with our friends and colleagues. Details are below.
Now to the business at hand…
Stratford Place "Music in the Courtyard" Jazz Series returns Thursday, June 5, 2008
Looking for an alternative to live music downtown this summer, but still want to chill after work and listen to some tunes? The merchants at Stratford Place Shopping Center (off Business 40 and Stratford Road) are sponsoring "Music in the Courtyard" jazz series every Thursday from June 5 through September 4 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. This is the ninth year that they have teamed together for this event.
The courtyard provides a great setting where you can sit out with friends and co-workers after work, get some grub, and listen to a little live music. Big Shotz Tavern will set up tables in the courtyard, adding a cool ambience. This is a free event. For more information call 724-5454 or "Music in the Courtyard" web site.
The Annual Smitty's Notes "Best of Winston-Salem" Contest
It's back! Your turn to vote for your Winston-Salem favorites in the Annual Smitty's Notes "Best of Winston-Salem" contest has arrived. You did such a fabulous job in 2007 that we want to take your temperature, if you will, for 2008.
Smitty's Notes has decided to join the ranks in taking a stab at naming some of the "bests" in our fair city. As a Winston-Salem– centric e-newsletter with more than 11,000 subscribers, we're asking YOU to tell us your favorite places to eat, play and hang out. The poll's results may lead you to check out some new things you haven't tried, thanks to the recommendations from fellow Smittyheads. I know last year results made me explore of some of your choices. In this year's survey, followed your suggestions from last year by removing a few categories and adding others. I agree: Many of the new categories deserved a vote.
So, here's the deal: Just click on the link below (cut and paste in your browser, if necessary). Take your time. Fill out the survey. Comments supporting your choices are encouraged. The contest will run until midnight June 30, 2008. Results will be announced after July 2, 2008 in the Smitty's Notes e-newsletter and on SmittysNotes.com which will also feature a special section on all the good things you recommended.
Submissions may be anonymous; however, if you wish to share your contact information, Smitty's Notes will randomly select one person to receive a $50 Visa gift card. I've learned that you folks always need a little incentive!
I need your help to get a good sampling. Forward this e-mail to all of your friends, colleagues and crew. Bombard your address book.
"Best of Winston-Salem" Contest Link - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=LBm9toAdZH_2b6Cc0UvPrJ5A_3d_3d
Everyone's input is important. I look forward to reading and sharing your choices (Enjoyed many a chuckle at last year's results). Thanks again for your interest and support!
Downtown Developments (Courtesy of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership)
THE DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM PARTNERSHIP is holding a Retail Summit on June 10 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the M. C. Benton Convention Center. The purpose of the meeting is to inform downtown property owners and retailers about the DWSP Retail Task Force work plan, which is an implementation item in the revised Downtown Plan that focuses on retail recruitment and retention. We will also be presenting ongoing Partnership initiatives such as parking, form-based code, and the trailblazer signage program. Please RSVP to admin@dwsp.org or 354-1500 by Friday, June 6.
THE DOWNTOWN FARMERS' MARKET is now open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. behind the City Market Building at the corner of Cherry and Sixth streets. Produce, crafts, baked goods and flowers are available from local and regional vendors throughout the spring and summer.
BUSINESS 40 will be the topic of a public meeting on Wednesday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Winston Square Park next to the Sawtooth Building. Food and refreshments will be served as new information, including the results of the Business 40 surveys, improvement scenarios, traffic studies, and project information, is presented. A list of issues raised will be available, as well as an opportunity to identify other areas of concern. In case of inclement weather, the event will move to the Sawtooth Building.
SUBWAY has opened a second location downtown at 616 West Fourth Street. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. but closed on Sunday.
VALET SERVICES announces that it will begin providing downtown with a valet parking service in Downtown Winston Salem this week. Two restaurants, Hutch & Harris and Camel City Café, have already signed Valet Services as their exclusive parking management company. Valet Services was created in response to demand from local restaurant owners and patrons to offer a needed service to the growing downtown clientele. Valet parking will now be offered evenings, Monday through Saturday, and available to anyone who needs parking assistance. The vehicle dropoff area for Valet Services is located at the corner of Fourth and Marshall Streets.
ARTS ON SUNDAY is a sidewalk arts and crafts festival that takes place every Sunday along Trade Street in the Arts District. On average, more than 30 artists exhibit and sell their work each week, along with artists' demonstrations and a Kid's Craft Corner. Arts on Sunday will continue through June 29. Bluesapalooza will coincide with the Arts on Sunday this coming Sunday, June 8. It will feature Big Ron Hunter, Tom Rucker among other musicians.
GHOST WALK, "a haunting tour of the Arts District in Winston-Salem" is now taking place every Friday night. Explore haunts of the Twin City with guides who entertain and educate. Tours depart at 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. from Finnigan's Wake at 620 North Trade Street. The walking tour is approximately 45 minutes long and the cost is $5 (children 12 & under are free). Reservations are required, call 723-0322 for more information. Click on flyer to download.
Find out more about Downtown Happenings @ http://www.dwsp.org
Texas Pete Twin City Ribfest - June 12-14 in Downtown Winston-Salem
The Texas Pete Twin City RibFest, a 3-day food festival event in downtown Winston-Salem will be held Thursday, June 12 through Saturday, June 14. Last year's event attracted approximately 30,000 people. The 2008 Texas Pete Twin City RibFest will once again be held in the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church between Cherry and Marshall Streets. There will be seven nationally known ribbers at the event: Pigfoot (Ohio); Chicago BBQ Company (Illinois); Joey's Texas Thunder (Texas); Sgt. Oink's (also Ohio); Checkered Pig (Virginia); Carolina Rib King (South Carolina;) and Winston-Salem's own Dr. Brownstone's BBQ.
The festival will also include two performance stages with regional and national music acts, including The New Familiars, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, the Key West Band and many others. Additionally, there will be City of the Arts Showcase Stage with the fabulous Foxy Moxy. AKA Entertainment & Media is an event production and publishing firm based in Greensboro owned and managed by Allen McDavid For more information visit http://www.twincityribfest.com .
Opening of Christopher's Beer Garden
On Friday, June 20th, Christopher's will be transforming their patio into a Beer Garden, the first in Winston-Salem. There is already an outdoor bar on the patio and they will be adding outdoor keg refrigerators serving a revolving selection of draft beer from Europe and American microbreweries. They have also doubled the size of their regular beer list. Of course, you will still be able to order other beverages such as wine or our famous martinis. The garden will also still feature wine tastings and other special events (Napa Cellars Wine Tasting on Wednesday, June 25th).
That weekend, Christopher's will also start a new beer garden menu with special items just for the garden. The menu that is still being created by Chris and his chefs will mainly consist of special appetizers, some sandwiches and grilled specialty pizzas. Some items that are being worked on are Barbeque Duck Confit Sliders, Fried Okra stuffed with Chorizo and Spicy Shrimp. You will still be able to order from Christopher's original dinner menu. We hope that you will come and check out the new exciting things at Christopher's. For more information please call Chris at (336) 724-1395 or chris@christophersngc.com visit http://www.christophersngc.com
Part game .Part race. Part city tour . . . and a whole lot of fun!
Discover history and art, and become aware of the community in downtown Winston-Salem. You're invited to take part in the Scene in Winston-Salem Scavenger Hunt to be held Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 2:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Here's the deal: Teams of two will solve clues that will lead them to various downtown destinations where they will perform tasks. The race ends with a party to interact with other Scavenger Hunters, and an awards ceremony. This is a wonderful opportunity for people who are new to the area or for people who have lived in W-S all their lives to discover some of the hidden treasures in downtown. Register your team of two, come up with a creative name, design a costume, and get ready to check out the Scene in Winston-Salem! Registration is open at http://ww.sceneinwinston-salem.com .
Proceeds to benefit the Meade Willis Downtown Redevelopment Loan Fund of the Downtown Winston-Salem Foundation. The Fund was established in 2001 for the purpose of assisting restaurants, clubs and galleries that want to operate downtown. The hunt begins at the Winston-Salem's Visitor's Center located at 200 Brookstown Avenue. Cost: $20.00, which includes an event T-shirt and food at the after party. For more information contact: Susan Morris at 336-407-8742 Email: susan@sceneinwinston-salem.com
Oasis Cafe and Hookah Lounge now open in the South Side
Looks like the hubbly-bubbly has taken off in Winston-Salem. Jamal "Jimmy" Al-Najjar owner of the downtown restaurant. Bon Appétit, a Mediterranean diner opened is second Hubbly-Bubbly Café and Bar. Oasis Cafe and Hookah Lounge opened recently at 1234 Clemmonsville Road along Peters Creek Parkway. Its in a strip mall next to Blockbuster. To refresh your memory of what is a hubbly-bubbly? Well, it's another name for a hookah, a Middle Eastern water pipe through which one smokes flavored tobacco.
Hookah smoking is very communal, because users share the flavored tobacco in the water pipe, which has hoses attached to it. In Mediterranean countries hookah bars are popular places for people to congregate, talk about life and the day's events, family and politics. Oasis Cafe and Hookah Lounge occupies 1,500 square feet and seats 70 patrons. What is different about this location compared to downtown is it's decorated in a Middle Eastern flair including floor pillows and Persian rugs for lounging. It is also a Internet Cafe with 15 computers which a nominal fee is charged to surf the web. The lounge also has Wi-Fi if you choose to bring your laptop at no charge.
There will be a number of hookahs available for use. Cost will be $6.95 and it will include your choice of tobacco that normally lasts around four hours. They plan to be open seven days a week from 5:00 p.m. to Midnight The popular belly dancing exhibitions are planned for Friday and Saturday. The establishment will serve a very limited menu of Mediterranean items along with pastries and cheesecakes. They will be adding teas and coffees from the region as well. Hookah use will be limited to those over 18 years old. No outside tobacco will be allowed to be brought in for hookah use. For more information call 788-5454
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