The Astrological Scuttlebutt
for Ragged Claws
Dip a toe in the water, grab the Old Bay Seasoning and dance by the light of the silvery moon now that it’s Joo-ly and reign of the crab is in full swing. Those born under the sign of home and hearth exude Mama energy . . . and as we all know, if Mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy. (Think: Princess Diana.) Ruled by la Luna, shifting moods from laughter to tears and back again are part and parcel of Cancerians’ makeup, even more so thanks to Mercury retrograde and a series of recent eclipses. June 5’s whammy at the full moon in Sadge hit your sign in the sixth house of work and health; as July kicks off, you might be out of a job like so many in the age of ’rona, or trying to reschedule doctor visits. But the seesaw tipped in your favor on June 21 at the solar eclipse in your very own sign, sending good vibes to help you grab the brass ring. Maybe a new dream job is on the horizon? This month you’ll have to work hard to make it happen, but not before some 4th of July fireworks from yet another eclipse in your opposite sign, Capricorn, which presides over career and public prestige. Additionally all partnerships — bedroom and boardroom — are emphasized. Maybe you’ll say “Buh-bye” to a toxic vampire or dare to pair with someone new. You’ll be glad you did, Little Crab, especially when Venus sashays into your sign next month . . . about the time summer goes from steamy to sizzlin’.
Once Upon a Time
If we’ve learned anything from this era of isolation, it’s the human imagination not merely thrives but soars. Case in point: the Children’s Summer Reading Program at High Point Library. No, groups of kiddoes can’t gather, but they can still learn about cooking, gardening, origami, and creepy crawly things, perform concerts — all virtually — and of course, read. They can register in the library’s parking lot (901 North Main Street), where a mobile will be ready to hand out reading logs and prizes. Those who reach their reading goals will be eligible for a drawing on August 3 for top prizes of two bikes and a laptop. For more info, call (336) 883-3668 or highpointnc.gov.
Barre None
Should you stay or should you go? Well, if you want to learn some dance steps, you can have it either way: By learning them virtually, and presuming the planets align, in a real, live, bricks-and-mortar dance studio! (After months of virtual reality, we don’t blame you for asking, “Whazzat?”) Greensboro Ballet is, for the time being, offering dance camps for little ones in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, as well as hourly adult classes online and — fingers crossed — in its studio (200 North Davie Street). Hard to gauge at press time, but call the ballet company at (336) 333-7480 or go to greensboroballet.org for more information and registration.
Wedge Issue
Before the world was stricken with corona craziness, American artisanal cheese was having a moment. Consider: Last October, Oregon’s Rogue Creamery was named champion of the World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy, for its blue cheese made with cow’s milk — one of 3,000-some entries from 42 countries. But the age of lockdowns and shuttered restaurants has been tough on artisanal cheesemakers. We’re fortunate enough here in the Triad that Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, Piedmont Triad Farmers Market and Salem Cobblestone Market satisfy our cravings for Goat Lady Dairy chèvres and hard cheeses from Germanton’s Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery, among vendors. Please, be a gouda citizen and continue to patronize them — but what about small cheesemaking outfits farther afield? Answer: Victory Cheese! Yes, just as average folks are reviving victory gardens, a grassroots group of fromage-friendly enthusiasts is selling Victory Cheese Boxes. Most of the cheeses come from farms in California, Colorado, Illinois and the Northeast, but hey! What better way to see the USA than in a . . . chèvre-let? Make it a feta-ccompli by ordering a box at victorycheese.com.
Ogi Sez
Finally, there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. So here’s hoping that July marks the beginning of the beginning. This month we may actually be able to experience live music in front of a live audience. Barring a spike in new cases, let’s hope July is the month they — and we — get the go-ahead. Hold your breath and bring your mask.
We had an initial burst of jubilation when the news hit that Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP) would indeed return for its 41st season — virtually. Kay and Adriel will open for the Philharmonia of Greensboro on July 19, and Sweet Dreams will open for the Knights of Soul on July 26. Both concerts will be streamed on facebook.com/CreativeGreensboro. The actual lawn-chair-in-the-open-air shows will kick off August 2 at Gateway gardens with West End Mambo and SunQueen Kelcey & the Soular Flares. More on the MUSEP series next month.
Further cause for optimism: Grove Winery in Gibsonville is scheduling shows (Bruce Piephoff September 6, for one), and I suspect others will follow suit.
Another venue that took the plunge is Bistro 150 in Oak Ridge. My gut tells me that restaurants and bars that feature open-air and/or patio stages, such as the Village Tavern and Summerfield Farms, as well as the big one, White Oak Amphitheatre, are chomping at the bit. And so are we.
Piedmont Blues Preservation Society folded its annual multi-act show in May into the N.C. Folk Fest September 11–13. If the huge, wildly successful festival goes off as planned, that will be the signal that the Zombie Apocalypse is nearing its end.
In the meantime, let’s all heed Jackson Browne’s sage advice to “let the music keep our spirits high,” whether live, recorded or virtual.
Ogi Overman
