Smitty's Notes

Greetings Smittyheads,

As we close out 2008, it has been an interesting, odd, eventful, historic and challenging year on many fronts to say the least. This year I shared and experienced a little of each in my own life.

The loss of my Mama had an effect on me in ways I never expected. All positive in the sense I did not share this alone. Many a friend, co worker, community partner and people I have known causally have had such experience this year. So, I have learned the true meaning of "life changes." That is exactly what it is and you roll with whatever it throws your way. I look forward to great 2009. 

Also, details about New Year's events are still trickling out. To find up-to-the-minute info about festivities in the Triad, keep checking these sites over the next two weeks: http://www.smittysnotes.com, and http://www.relishnow.com

Finally, I'd like to wish you guys and dolls a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year!

Now to the business at hand...

Charlotte's Vinnie Sardines Raw Oyster Bar coming to former Frankie Rowland Steakhouse

It was reported in the Business Journal of the Triad this week the former Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse located on Reynolda Road across from Reynolda House Museum has a new tenant.  Frankie Rowland's closed after a fire in 2006 and had been in limbo of reopening due to an insurance claim related to the fire and sudden death of one of the partners in the chain restaurant months later.

Vinnie Sardines Grill and Raw Oyster Bar will take over the 7,200 square foot space signing a 15 year lease.    Two partners, John Kelley and Neil Clark have committed to $500,000 in extensive renovations of the building. Once the upfit is completed they will also include a 1,400 patio. Plans are to be open by late winter or early spring 2009. Vinnie Sardines is a popular Charlotte restaurant chain with two locations in the city, Lake Norman and also Matthews, North Carolina. It should be a great addition to the Reynolda Road corridor. Chris Ramm with Ramm Commercial Properties brokered the deal. 

Club Oasis Bar and Caribbean Cuisine opening at former Metal Rebel location.

Just announced is the opening of Club Oasis Bar and Caribbean Cuisine in former Metal Rebel location at 2105 Peter Creek Parkway @ MarketPlace Mall.  Paul D. Hawkins is the proprietor and plans to open a full service Caribbean cuisine. Many West Indian favorites are on the menu such as beef patties, curried chicken, goat and shrimp; jerk chicken, oxtails and vegetarian dishes.

As a side, they will be a live music venue on the weekends offering a mix genre of bands from reggae, 80's music and some good ole rock and roll. Grand Opening is Saturday, December 20 with a Ska/Reggae  Spectacular.

Club Oasis Bar and Caribbean Cuisine will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. during the week. Late night on the weekends with a band. For more information call 724-0546 or visit http://www.nccluboasis.com and http://www.myspace.com/1cluboasis

Flash Mob erupts @ UNC –Chapel Hill Undergraduate Library

For those of you who have been on the Internet for a while, you have probably seen fads and trends come and go. I know I have since starting Smitty's Notes in 1997. During this period watched the rise, fall and morphing of the Internet bubble. However, one thing which still amazes me is the power of the web that helps people conspire to plan some old fashion fun.

On December 9, 2008 some exam weary students at UNC- Chapel Hill wanted to break the tension of studying for "Finals Week" and cooked up this fabulous idea to have a "Flash Mob Rave" in the Carpenter Undergraduate Library on campus ( Flash Mobs are a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse) . Several hundred students from around campus, all at once, descended to the library lobby for a 3 minute impromptu rave. I suspect it was all coordinated using cell phone text messaging and Twitter-ing. What you have is a well executed plan, a few video and cell phone cameras to catch the moment and little satisfaction of pulling off a orderly and well behaved prank that made the rounds on YouTube and the local media. Priceless. To check it out visit this YouTube link.

Smitty's Notes has had an idea of doing a Flash Mob for the past six years. One thought was to have a mob show up at the Krispy Kreme shop on Stratford Rd. That "Hot Doughnut Now" idea cooled quickly with the drop of KK's stock and the rapid fade of the glazed doughnuts national luster. However, the UNC students may have inspired hope a "Fresh" idea could happen in 2009. Maybe it will. Maybe not. We shall see.

Smitty's Notes on Facebook a hit!

In the last edition I mentioned the creation of a Smitty's Notes group on the popular Facebook social networking site. In the past two weeks, over 400 people have joined the group. Pretty remarkable I must say. After the holidays we are going to start having some real fun with the group. If you are a Facebook member or looking to sign up as a newbie, you can click on the Smitty's Notes  E-Community of Winston-Salem page on Facebook.com and join the crowd.

Evening with Eight on hiatus to retool. Return in late winter/early spring 2009

Normally this time of year the Evening with Eight – Plus Smitty! Winter Session would be announced. Unfortunately, this month is not the case. The program will go on a short hiatus possibly returning with an abridged schedule in late winter or early spring. In 2009, it's also the year of the biennial reunion of past guest and speakers to come and network with each other. That will occur in April or May at the Piedmont Club.

Like a lot of events and programs in Winston-Salem, Evening with Eight has suffered from what many call "wait until the last minute" syndrome. Which is, people committing to attend an event, however, change plans at the last minute when a better opportunity arrives for the evening? There has been a high trend of no show or cancellations at the last minute the past 18 months. Guest are confirmed by phone and e-mail a week before the event. Even with those confirmations, cancellation are unusually high the day of (sometimes up to an hour before) the event.  This does affect the purpose of the program as a community learning and networking event.

So, in early 2009, a survey will be going out to the Smitty's Notes listserv and former program guest seeking feedback on suggested changes. One option will be to pay in advance to attend, like most dinner programs of this type, with a reasonable cancellation policy. Another is maybe the program has run its course and time to end it on a good note. The survey should be out in late January.

Next year will be the 9 th anniversary of Evening with Eight – Plus Smitty! I hope it continues considering so much good has come from a simple idea of people meeting for dinner and has grown to be a fabulous networking program for the community.  We'll keep you posted as this develops over the coming months.

Downtown Developments (Courtesy of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership)

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ON FIFTH STREET has purchased the former Employment Security Building on West Sixth Street.  The church is soliciting input from the community for possible uses of the building.  Annese Public Relations is assisting the church in gathering information by December 5.  Call 722-1921.

PATINA AND VERDIGRIS at 217 West Sixth Street have new hours.  The coffee shop/gift shop/gallery is now open Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  "A fun, funky place to sip, sit and shop."

A NEW MAYBERRY RESTAURANT has a historic new address, right atop Winkler Bakery at 529 South Main Street in Old Salem.  The restaurant, which opened November 15, is the first Mayberry to be located in a historic building.  The restaurant has counter service as well as seating for 22 in two cozy, rustic dining areas.  The menu follows that of other Mayberry restaurants, featuring the signature bean and bacon soup, chicken salad sandwiches, several flavors of ice cream, and other sandwich and ice-cream items.

SANDS COFFEE SHOP , formerly known as Moby's Coffee Shop, is under new management in the lower level of the Liberty Plaza Building at Third and Liberty streets.  Open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, the coffee shop has a casual theme with background music from Jimmy Buffet and other beach favorites.  The shop can be reserved for special meetings at night and on Saturdays by calling 293-6521. 

For more information visit http://www.dwsp.org