Sazerac November 2026

Sazerac

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Sazerac November 2026

INDIE SCENE

Since its founding, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts has been a launching pad for remarkable creative talent including seven-time Primetime Emmy-nominated cinematographer Chris Ellison. Ellison’s career in film was hardly a straight line. It had a few detours, a few odd jobs, then, eventually, a whole lot of jungle. Born and raised in North Carolina, Ellison moved from Raleigh to Rocky Mount after graduating from Rocky Mount Senior High School, eventually landing in Winston-Salem in 2006. His reason for moving? Music. Ellison was playing in a band, Sunset Greets the Moon, and soon found himself immersed in Winston-Salem’s arts scene. Apparently, one creative pursuit was not enough.

A few years after settling in Winston-Salem, Ellison toyed with graphic design. “I never really decided to do that. It was something that just happened to me,” he says. Eventually, all those creative side quests pointed him toward filmmaking. In 2015, Ellison enrolled at UNCSA, earning a dual degree in cinematography and creative producing. It was a major change, but one that arrived at exactly the right time. “I was at a point where I wanted to make some changes about my future and it all just lined up.”

After graduating, Ellison did what countless aspiring filmmakers have done before him: He headed west. “I packed up my station wagon and drove to Los Angeles,” he says — with his heading into the setting sun, a fitting and dramatic cinematic gesture. From there, Ellison worked his way up from assistant camera operator on sets to cinematographer on some of television’s most recognizable adventure programs, including The Amazing Race and Survivor. His work has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, including two for outstanding cinematography for a reality program. He has also survived 12 seasons of Survivor, which means he has arguably spent enough time in the jungle to qualify as local wildlife. “I never really traveled much growing up, so this side of the industry has opened up another world that I never really got to see,” Ellison says. His filmmaking career expands beyond television screens. He directed and shot his own short film, Peach Bottom, proving that even after working on massive productions, there is still something satisfying about making personal projects. “It was a fun little exercise to just make something for myself,” he says.

From band practice in Winston-Salem to Emmy-nominated cinematography, Ellison’s story is a reminder that creative careers do not always follow a map. Sometimes, you just go in different directions and see where the road takes you.

 — Joi Floyd

JOI DE VIVRE

Chef Joi-yardee: Dad is a man of many hats: a barber, Bigfoot conspiracy theorist and father to amazing children (myself included, obviously). But it’s his chef’s hat that stands proudest. Known for his delicious recipes, he honed his skills through family recipes and good old-fashioned trial and error. I know what you’re thinking: Joi, you must be an amazing cook as well. Well, I’d be a liar if I let you believe that — and my mother taught me better than to fib. I have been known to burn hot dogs, for goodness’ sake — you can’t be great at everything. That isn’t to say my dad didn’t try to teach me the brass tacks of cooking. He did, but it must have gone in one ear and out the other because, unfortunately, I retained very little of that information. I remember the many hours I would spend in the kitchen with my dad, whipping up dinner while my siblings sat at the kitchen table, praying for an edible meal. I even went as far as saying I wanted to be a chef in my younger years — let’s just say that dream is on the back burner, never to be revived. At the beginning of 2026, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to finally put my apartment kitchen to work. So, unfortunately for my roommates, I stuck to my goal this year. Starting from the bottom with different ramen recipes, I proudly report that I am able to make a full-blown spaghetti-and-garlic-bread dinner — a win in my cookbook. I’m far from the best, but I’m getting better, dish by dish. Could I be the next Gordon Ramsay? The haters, and maybe my roommates, will say no, but my stomach is satisfied. Though I’ve made good progress so far, I think I’ll  refrain from troubling my family with any more experimental recipes — at least for this year. So as Thanksgiving marches in and the rest of the family prepares the feast, I’ll be sure to take my table-setting duty very seriously.

— Joi Floyd

ART TO HEART

“We as humans heal better when we’re in sacred spaces,” says Felicia Reed, a recognized fiber artist who travels the globe with a mission to bring people together through art and shared experiences. For Reed, art has the power to do more than simply inspire — it can help us heal and understand one another. She believes creative expression can create space for connection, conversation and transformation.

Her latest exhibition, PEACE, aims to create a sanctuary for community and unity. Through a thoughtfully curated collection of her own pieces plus juried artwork, Reed hopes to amplify a diverse range of voices while creating a sense of belonging for artists ranging from emerging to established. “I try to create exhibits that remove barriers, break glass ceilings and provide a place where everyone can be included and recognized,” Reed says.

“Art mediums can bring people together,” she says, “where biases can be removed, expressions can be provided, dialogue can be opened, inspiration can be received and understanding can come visually.” Through this kind of artistic transformation, Reed hopes to move humanity one step closer to unity, gathering people together in the sacred space she’s created with PEACE. Art invites us to pause, see the world through another person’s eyes, and discover something new in the process. As French artist Edgar Degas famously said, “Art is not what you see but what you make others see.”

Reed’s PEACE exhibit will be on view in the Central Gallery of Revolution Mill through Jan. 2, 2027. Come expecting meaningful dialogue and leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of art. Info: eventbrite.com/e/peace-art-exhibit-opening-reception-and-networking-tickets-1992674068781.

UNSOLICITED ADVICE

Change is inevitable, everyone and everything must evolve — except when it comes to Thanksgiving favorites. Altering the mashed potatoes or watergate salad is fine, but when it comes to the classics, let’s refrain from any modifications. There is no greater horror for us than sitting down to a plate of creamed-spinach casserole — don’t mess with Great-Grandma’s classic green bean casserole. But gone are the days where turkey shines brightest. Side dishes and desserts are the real stars, so we need to make sure they are decadent and exact each time. We’ve arranged a list of Thanksgiving eats that will definitely cause some family discourse if you happen to meddle with its secret formula.

You can experiment with a lot of different foods, but macaroni and cheese ain’t one of them. Health-conscious troopers look forward to reveling in its richness just this once, so, no, Aunt Sally, we don’t want to try your new veggie-style, dairy-free, gluten-free mac and cheese. Gooey and creamy is the only way to whip it up.

Chopped, glazed then baked, candied yams are an underrated sweet staple to our annual savory feast. There’s nothing like the sugary, sticky syrup from the yams inching its way into the aforementioned macaroni piled on your plate. We couldn’t imagine a feast without them.

A pumpkin pie slice and everything nice is a great way to end the seemingly endless feast. Passed down from generation to generation, it’s a dish not to be tampered with — Great-Great-Great-Grandmother says so.

P.S. Take all of this advice lightly. We just want you to make the best of this day full of gratitude and rejoicing without unnecessary food drama. As always, remember, Thanksgiving isn’t about what you take but about what you give. Spending time with friends and family? That’s the real main dish.

Window on the Past

Photograph Courtesy of Irving Park Art & Frame

Curated by Phillip Humphrey Musselwhite, this shadowbox is more than a collection of keepsakes — it’s a life story, carefully laid out and framed by Irving Park Art & Frame. Honoring his late father, James Earl Musselwhite, the piece brings together handwritten letters, military medals, rank patches and memorabilia from his formative years during World War II. Each artifact offers a glimpse into the man behind the memories, preserving not only where he served, but the lasting impression he left on the people around him.

Sazerac October 2026

Sazerac

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Sazerac October 2026

History 101

From October 25 to November 1, Greensboro streets will turn blue and gold as North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University celebrates its 100th homecoming, popularly known as GHOE, the Greatest Homecoming on Earth.

Founded in 1891 and recently ranked by Forbes as the No. 1 public HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in the United States, A&T is one of the country’s top producers of STEM graduates and is marching steadily toward the prestigious Research-1 status, the highest and most coveted classification for doctoral universities in the U.S. So it’s no surprise that the nation’s largest HBCU is planning a centennial celebration like no other.

“This year is truly historic,” says Crystal Boyce, vice chancellor for alumni relations (class of ’07 and ’15), “and reaching this milestone is a testament to the generations of Aggies who built and sustained this tradition over a century.”

Boyce maintains that homecoming is “more than just a celebration,” noting her first homecoming felt like “a family reunion multiplied because it celebrates legacy. It celebrates history. It celebrates excellence, innovation and leadership.”

And A&T’s preparing for a legendary bash. In August, A&T hosted Aggies in the Ballpark at the Grasshoppers’ stadium. A month later, A&T headed south for an Aggies in Atlanta brunch, teaming up with one of its 41 alumni chapters to spread the word. Alumni have heard — and 200,000 Aggies are expected to answer — the call to come home. That’s almost two-thirds of the city’s population!

So, as the city welcomes record-breaking crowds, Boyce advises, “Pack your Aggie Pride and patience. Plan ahead and plan to arrive early. Wear comfortable shoes. Most importantly, come ready to celebrate.”

The week-long commemoration kicks off with a coronation. Attendees can dance to the beat of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine at the homecoming parade or wax nostalgic with traditions like the football game (this year versus Elon University), tailgating, the homecoming concert, and donor receptions. There’s something for every Aggie.

Folks who didn’t snag a ticket to the sold-out game can watch it at Aggies on Elm, catch the parade, host their own homecoming parties or pull up at GHOE events around “da ’Boro.” Want to join the festivities? Just look for the streets of blue and gold.

Follow the Centennial Homecoming website for info: www.ncat.edu/homecoming/100/index.php.

  — Gale Greenlee

1927 CIAA Football Championship Team Photo. Football Photos Collections. University Archives and Special Collections, F.D. Bluford Library, NC A&T State University

Photographs courtesy of North Carolina A&T State University

JOI DE VIVRE

Ratphobia: Amidst the Halloween preparations and spooky costumes that will soon be roaming the streets, I can’t help but think about the one fear I have yet to overcome: my fear of mascots. Specifically, rat mascots. It all started on my sixth birthday, when my mama decided to throw my party at Chuck E. Cheese. If you’ve been under a rodent-free rock for the last five decades — was your childhood even fun? — let me set the scene. Imagine a rat-themed play place for kids complete with pizza, games, a jungle gym and, of course, a person in a giant rat costume who comes out every hour to dance with the birthday kid. This giant rat, who was at least three times my size and wore a devious smile that never moved, shook its rat-tailed booty my way — did I mention this was supposed to be a kids’ play place? For 6-year-old Joi, there was nothing scarier. So, for the next few years, whenever I was faced with Chuck, whether at a pal’s party or when he made a surprise elementary school appearance, I would immediately find the nearest table and curl up into a ball. Now, at 23 years old, I still haven’t outgrown my fear of rat costumes. In fact, I’ve somehow managed to develop a second fear: real rats. Let’s just say it’s probably best to keep me far away from all play places, sewers and anywhere else that might contain a surprise visit from a long-tailed rodent.

— Joi Floyd

Window on the Past

Image courtesy of the Blandwood Museum Collection

The Blandwood Mansion is a true staple of Greensboro’s architectural scene, known for its striking Italianate Tuscan Villa design and, of course, its historic windows. Tucked away in the east parlor, this window is one of many that need restoration to make the place really shine. You can help Preservation Greensboro do a little window shopping by sponsoring the museum’s window restoration, giving others a chance to look through history instead of looking past it. Info: preservationgreensboro.org/general-6.

Capturing the Spirit

The Emerald Isle has no shortage of spooky stories and Greensboro artist Paul Nixon is bringing some of them home. Born in Ireland and now a Greensboro resident, Nixon is showcasing Within the Realm of Shadows: Whispers from the White Mountain, a high-contrast, monochrome photographic investigation of the rugged landscapes of County Sligo, Ireland.

The exhibit is a journey through the folklore Nixon grew up hearing from his grandmother, Margaret, whose stories helped shape his fascination with Éire’s mysterious landscapes. “There’s a little bit of magic to Ireland and these photographs take them closer to that magic,” he says. That magic is deeply connected to his homeland’s history and folklore. Halloween itself, notes Nixon, traces back to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the transition into fall. “It goes back to the early Celts. Each and every time that I would travel back to Ireland, I would seek out places that had that essence to it,” says Nixon, who’s been building this collection for over 20 years. “I found my purpose in life through the arts and how I can inspire people.”

And through this exhibit, he hopes to inspire visitors to see Ireland as well as its ghosts, fairies and stories in a new light. Visit his exhibit all month long at The Marshall Muse Gallery. Info: themarshallmusegallery.com

Unsolicited Advice

All Hallow’s Eve is creepin’ around the corner and we have a feeling you’ve yet to pick a costume. Though it may be too late to find a good ’fit at your local Halloween store, we’ve got some ideas up our batwings that you can make in your own home. After all, there’s nothing scarier than being costume-less on Oct. 31. So don’t fret, just pull out your trusty scissors and duct tape and craft away.

Sometimes, you just can’t beat a classic. A ghost is the ultimate last-minute costume and the perfect way to satisfy your boo bug. All you need is an old, white sheet and a pair of scissors to cut out two eye holes. Throw it over your head and, voilà — you’ll feel like the most beautiful ghoul in the world. Bonus, there’s lots of room under that sheet for stashin’ treats.

You may not know your way around the kitchen but with an apron and a chef’s hat, who’s going to know what’s not cooking? A chef costume is quick, easy and convincing enough to make everyone believe you can actually whip up a five-course meal. Add a wooden spoon or spatula for the finishing touch. Just try not to get caught when someone asks you to make dinner. Yes, chef!

If you’re looking for something with a little more fright, then spin yourself into a mummy with materials you probably already have at home. Grab some old white sheets, toilet paper or gauze and start wrapping. Leave a little room to see and walk — and maybe go to the bathroom — because stumbling blindly around the party may be scary but explaining the hospital bill afterward is even more frightening. For an extra creepy touch, add some smudged makeup or fake dirt to give your costume that freshly escaped-from-the-tomb look.

Sazerac September 2026

Sazerac September 2026

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Sazerac September 2026

En garde!

Photography courtesy of Serge Timacheff/USA Fencing

It’s easy to underestimate 17-year-old athlete Abe Kaplan. He’s not a big kid. Cerebral palsy limits the use of his right hand and leg. By the age of 13, he’d tried karate, soccer, flag football and horseback riding. Then his parents, Eric and Karen, encouraged him to try a class at the Greensboro Fencing Academy — and something clicked.

“Abe’s mom took him to an introductory class on Saturday morning and he asked her to take him back for another that afternoon,” Eric says with a laugh. Within months of taking up the sport, Abe was winning tournaments against competitors who had no disabilities. While he understood that his disability would hold him back in able-bodied competition, he was reluctant to transition to para fencing, an adaptive form of fencing for athletes with physical impairments.

In 2023, Abe and his dad were visiting Washington, D.C., when they had the opportunity to attend a para fencing tournament. It was not what they’d expected. “If you haven’t seen it, you think, ‘Oh, it’s just disabled fencing,’” Abe says.

“But these people were athletes — strong, fast,” Eric comments.

A month later, the Kaplans were invited to Florida for a weekend training camp led by a para fencing coach for the U.S. team. After more months of training with national coaches in Atlanta, Abe flew with his father to his first competition in Warsaw, Poland.

The learning curve was steep. “Especially when you’re 14 years old and fencing grown men,” Eric explains.

Now, after three more years of training and international competition, Abe has advanced his world ranking. He could earn a spot on the team that will compete in the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in 2028.

He fences three hours a day, six days a week. He’s lithe as a panther and just as quick. I wouldn’t underestimate Abe Kaplan.

— Ross Howell Jr.

Window to the Past

Photography Courtesy of High Point Historical Society, High Point, N.C.

Thomas Built school buses are an iconic part of the American school experience. Built and manufactured in High Point since 1936, when Perley A. Thomas swapped cars for buses, these unmistakable vehicles have carried generations of students. Painted an iconic golden-yellow — now named National School Bus Glossy Yellow, according to Canada and the U.S. — they’re easy to spot but much harder to catch once they’re on the move, especially if you’re a sleepyhead running a minute or two late. After all, those wheels were made for rolling, so that’s just what they’ll do.

Indie Scene

Ingram, Brett. Digital-to-Analog Converter. 2019–26. Mixed Media, 19″ x 14″ x 8″.

From junk to treasure: Brett Ingram — UNCG graduate, director of two documentary features (Monster Road and Rocaterrania) and author of novel The Secret World of Renaldo Kuhler — has recently added tactile artist to his growing list of accomplishments, giving life to objects that would otherwise be tossed. And, what better way to showcase his love for salvaged parts than through assemblage art, a 3D medium that blends disparate parts, obsolete everyday objects and scraps into sculptural works. Ingram sources his materials almost exclusively from the world around him. “Largely, I get stuff off of the street when people put it out there to be picked up by the city,” he says. His pieces often feature analog items including microphones, cameras, gears, lenses and other mechanical components. If it once had a motor or moving parts, chances are Ingram can breathe new creative life into it.

While analog technology has experienced a resurgence in recent years, Ingram never abandoned his appreciation for it. In fact, the shift toward digital equipment became an unexpected advantage. “I could find lenses that are obsolete and could take them apart and use them in my art,” he says. What many considered outdated became the building blocks of his artistic vision.

From Kernersville news reporter to high school physics teacher to author, he has made use of his many skills throughout the years. So, how did he discover assemblage art? For Ingram, 2020’s COVID-19 isolation wasn’t just a boredom fest, it sparked some newfound creativity. “At one point, I had done stop-motion animation. I made the puppets out of found objects and that got me into that aesthetic.” He stopped making films, but kept on amassing parts and soon his art form was born.

Ingram doesn’t see assemblage art as making do with less, he sees it as making possibilities where others see waste. His approach shows that limitations inspire innovation and creativity can grow when resources are scarce. “I used to teach my students that a lot of the time what you end up doing is driven by the obstacles that you have to overcome.”

Though Ingram’s first ever solo exhibition at The Center for Visual Arts passed by earlier this year, you can still find pieces of his 3D art, his short documentaries and keep up with his works through his website, brettingram.org.

Unsolicited Advice

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we’d like to think our morning drink plays a major role in that as well. Your choice of morning bevvy has just as much significance as your stack of pancakes. Some reach for caffeine  while others prefer something milder. Either way, we bet your sip choice says a lot about who you are as a person.  

If a piping hot mug of salubrious tea is what shakes the slumber out of your eyes, then we’re going to guess your yoga set matches. While you probably flaunt a healthy heart, we can’t help but think that your daily tea craving is just for show. Though, with a gut as clean as yours, who cares what others think? You’re healthy and you know it, so toot that health horn as loud as you want.

For those addicted to the bitter taste of coffee, we’re almost certain you’re the backbone of our society. From unexpected deadlines to awkward conversations, there’s nothing they can throw at you that you can’t handle after you’ve indulged in your morning cup of joe. We bet your planner is packed to the brim and we know that you will check off every last one of those tasks — but first, coffee. 

Energy drinks? More like pure rocket fuel. Whatever problems our carbonated connoisseurs are faced with in the morning, we know it won’t stand a chance against them and their can of spark. With an overly fizzy flavor and enough sugar to match a jumbo bag of Skittles, only the ones committed to utilizing every second of the day are among this group. Tea drinkers fear you and coffee lovers commend you — but you’re probably too jumpy on your jitter juice to notice.

JOI DE VIVRE

The other day I decided to take a walk. After spending the day comparing my life to that of other people my age — those who had moved out of state, started new chapters or seemed to have everything figured out — I know it’s time to shut off my overthinking brain and get some fresh air at Country Park. As soon as I step foot on the path, that familiar Carolina breeze runs through my hair and the barks of excited pups greeting each other in the dog park can be heard from a mile away — as if a simple butt sniff greeting isn’t enough. A little girl, so captivated by the pedal boats that she isn’t watching where she was going, wanders right into my path. We bump into each other. “Oh, excuse me. Sorry ma’am,” she says as she picks up speed. A man and his dog lie in the dirt near the lake, guarded by a family of ducks. The ducks take turns splashing in the lake but ultimately return back to their post, protecting the man and his dog from the dangers of the lily pads. That’s when it hits me: I wouldn’t have my life any other way. I have a Tar Heel soul in need of that refreshing North Carolina air — even if it is hot and humid. Just then, that curious little girl and her parents make their way back from the pedal boat station. They’re soaking wet from head to toe, but the little girl flashes a toothy grin. Her mother playfully scolds her father for agreeing to let her in the driver’s seat. As they walk by, I catch a glimpse of the words on the mother’s shirt, “North Freaking Carolina.” I can’t help but smile. Yes ma’am, indeed it is. 

—  Joi Floyd

Sazerac August 2026

Sazerac August 2026

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August 2026

JOI DE VIVRE

Summer, not-so-bummer reading: Growing up, reading was always a requirement in our household. “You need to have a summer book,” my mom would say, immediately followed by a groan from both my sister and me. We didn’t hate reading. We actually loved it, but we loved running outside and jumping on our trampoline more — typical kid behavior. After a trip to the library and a few pages into our choice of book, the complaining ceased. My sister’s readings were always young adult and my brother’s, car related, but dark academia and historical fiction always took my heart and still do. I remember one summer choosing The Secret History by Donna Tartt and The Women by Kristin Hannah and being completely bedridden with book fever for a few weeks. The words completely engulfed me. One page led to another and, before July heat even hit, I had finished both books and completed my summer reading. Being the young, energetic kid I was, I was eager to be back outside, but I never forgot how calm and relaxed a good book kept me. Now, as a 23-year-old, whenever I need to calm my mind, I just find a new book and dive in. Between you and me, I guess you could say my mother was right — just don’t let her know that I said that.   

        – Joi Floyd

 

 

 

Window on the Past

Photograph courtesy of the High Point Historical Society

This year, the High Point Library, seen here in 1954, turns the page on a new century. Celebrating 100 years since its 1926 founding, which was greatly supported by the Woman’s Club of High Point, the library invites you and your book-loving fam to several free, fun-filled events. Info: highpointnc.gov/3196/High-Point-Public-Library-at-100-Years

Indie Scene

Photograph courtesy of Damola Akintunde

Staying focused on film: “It was kind of senseless, but it was something I felt compelled to do,” says Angus MacLachlan, indie filmmaker, North Carolina native and University of North Carolina School of the Arts alum. MacLachlan’s latest, A Little Prayer, isn’t just a movie made in North Carolina, it represents the state. It explores the unlikely bond between a young woman, Tammy, and her father-in-law, Bill, determined to protect her from the hard truth of his son David’s affair. After its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film festival, A Little Prayer made all the buzz and was soon picked up by a distributor to be released publicly in August 2025. Filming in his hometown, Winston-Salem, MacLachlan decided the best neighborhood to use was Konnoak Hills, where a few of his childhood friends grew up. “When I imagined the film, I just somehow imagined it being there,” he says. Other hotspots shown in the film include both Reynolda House and Old Salem Museums & Gardens, two Winston-Salem landmarks.

“I believed in it. Then once we really started going and I got actors at the caliber of David Strathairn and Celia Weston saying, ‘Yes, we’d like to be involved,’ it gave me courage to keep going.” Yes, you read it right, the cast includes both David Strathairn and fellow UNCSA alum Celia Weston along with Anna Camp, Will Pullen and Jane Levy, who received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tammy. “If you’re from or spent time in the South then you know these characters and these types of people,” says MacLachlan. From quietly snoopy David to untamed Patti, you’ll likely find these personalities wandering around town.

Though the Tar Heel State embraced A Little Prayer, it also received national praise including from IndieWire and USA Today. But it was a hard road to get there. From raising the film’s funding to MacLachlan’s unexpected diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer to the COVID-19 pandemic, he could’ve dropped A Little Prayer, but he didn’t. Instead, with a wing and a prayer, he prevailed. With an eight-week run, the movie turned out to become one of the most played films in 2025 at a/perture cinema, Winston-Salem’s locally owned art house theatre.

Like most people, you’re probably wondering where the title came from. Well, that’s just another Southern touch as well. “I had a lot of different titles but when I’m worried I say ‘Oh well, say a little prayer,” explains MacLachlan. Turns out, he need not worry. Some projects just take gumption, grit, time — and maybe a little prayer.

For those eager to feast your eyes on A Little Prayer, it’s streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV or Fandango at Home.

Unsolicited Advice

Lately, avid readers have been ditching big-box book retailers and instead hitting up independent bookstores, and — luckily for us — Greensboro has volumes of them. With collections curated for the community, these bookstores are writing their own stories. This month, we dare you to support locally owned bookstores by gobbling up novels, nonfiction or even children’s literature handpicked specifically for Greensboro, by Greensboro, and see what stories speak to you.

Newly opened in June, Unfettered Books is breaking the bindings of big businesses one book at a time. With new and used books to choose from, and a variety of different genres compiled for the people of the city, there’s no better feeling than being a supporting character to their main-character energy.

Reading doesn’t always have to be a solo activity, sometimes it takes a village. Scuppernong Books is an independent bookstore that’s been making waves in Greensboro for 12 years. Bringing together residents with events ranging from book clubs — even hosting a monthly silent book club — to poetry open-mic nights, they’ve shown time and again that community is what keeps the bookworms biting.

Good things come in small packages and the shelves of Modern Monk Books are stuffed to the binds with tomes perfect for those with a soul-searching side quest. Created in September 2025 and located inside Awoo Coffee, they specialize in classical theology, philosophy, culture and history, and is spot-on for inquisitive thinkers — and coffee drinkers. So next time you decide to wander, take a look, it’s in a bookstore.

If you’re itching to venture beyond Greensboro in search of your next great read, we’ve got a couple of indie gems worth the trip. Main & Mountain Bookstore in Kernersville is packed with stories from indie and local authors — proof that a good story can be close to home. And the shelves of Book LOVE in Jamestown are brimming with every genre imaginable, all with a cozy and loving atmosphere — it’s all in the name. And, if you head to the Sandhills, pop into an O.Henry favorite, The Country Bookshop.

2026 Essay Contest

Time’s a-ticking on your PTO — and our annual essay contest! Remember the elementary school assignment about how you spent your summer vacation? Well, we’re reviving it — vacay or staycay? Tell us about a true tale as remembered by you about a trip to the beach or about the time you took a week off to meditate for hours a day wearing nothing but your socks and a bedsheet. As always, there are ground rules:

  • Submit no more than 600 words in conventional form — a PDF, Google document, or a word or pages file works well. Please no secret code that requires a decoder ring. We’ve misplaced said ring. Email entries to cassie@ohenrymag.com.
  • One entry per writer.
  • Deadline to enter is September 30, 2026.

Top three winners will be contacted via email, awarded a monetary prize and their essay printed in a forthcoming issue of O.Henry.

Sazerac July 2026

Sazerac July 2026

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Sazerac July 2026

Unsolicited Advice

If you have never owned a pooch, then visiting a dog owner’s home may seem a little strange to you. They don’t operate like houses without wagging-tail greetings. You’ll hear phrases or words yelled over and over again. And, if you neglect to use them while visiting, you might be met with fluffy ears cocked in confusion. Take it from us, you don’t want to be caught without the proper puppy parlance. Don’t fret, we’ve compiled a list of useful common phrases to know before you hit the homes of these happy hounds.

About twice a day you’ll hear “Walk?” Say this and watch every flappy ear in sight shoot up and you’d better get ready for the barrage of wagging tails running straight toward you. Just be cautious: If you accidentally drop it into conversation, you may find yourself guilt-tripped into a late-night stroll, holding the leash of a cheerful canine.

“Who’s a good boy/girl?” you’ll hear a dog owner say as they scrunch, ruffle and scratch behind their pups ears. Don’t be tricked. “Good” probably refers to the dog having decided to chew on their bone instead of the living room furniture. So what if they respond to the question by masticating a choice Birkenstock? It’s all relative.

“Treat,” anyone? The easiest way to a dog’s heart is through the stomach — that’s just the way the bone-shaped biscuit crumbles. Whether they’ve eaten an hour ago or five minutes ago, a treat will always be happily wolfed down. Who doesn’t love a mid-day Scooby snack? It’s guaranteed to sweeten the bond between the two of you.

Window on the Past

Photograph courtesy of the Greensboro History Museum

A pet sheep may not sound ideal, but, in the early 1900s, you never knew what might wander onto the lawn around Ceasar and Jeanette Cone’s first Greensboro mansion. Still, we’d bet counting sheep there contributed to some much needed slumber — and honestly, that doesn’t sound too baaaaaad.

Art to Heart

UNCG biology student Kayden Friddle knows that there’s an art to blazing a path forward. Born and raised in Summerfield, Friddle is an artist whose pyrographic work consists of burning wood and leather with sketches of bears, dogs, birds, cats and just about anything you can find in the wild — or at home with a wagging tail. “I use a really hot tool that burns the wood to make patterns,” says Friddle, “the same way you would draw with a pen.” While it may sound simple enough, woodburning requires precision and patience — oh, and, at the very least, an artistic hand. As a child, Friddle says all the content she consumed — documentaries and TV shows — and the toys she played with were, you guessed it, animal related. Inspired by traditional pyrography artists, she began experimenting beyond wood. With a steaming-hot pencil in hand, Friddle crafted her own method, discovering new techniques. “I had seen where people have done pyrography and wood burning but, at the time, I hadn’t seen anyone do it on leather.” So, she adds, “I crafted a method to do it.” Her love for animals extends far beyond her medium. Merging her creativity with compassion, she has auctioned her work and donated from 50%  to, sometimes, all proceeds to Red Dog Farms Animal Rescue Network and World Wildlife Fund, both nonprofit organizations dedicated to rescuing animals. Turns out, Friddle’s work makes a mark on more than just leather and wood. Info:
kaydenfriddleart.com.  OH

Sketch Artist

This rising artist —  the 11-year-old winner of our Dolley Madison sketch contest — Josephine (Jo) Reese clearly has a knack for drawing picture-perfect first ladies. With creativity and skill already peeking through, she is well on her way to painting her own path — quite literally!

Just One Thing

If you haven’t yet wandered through The Marshall Muse Gallery’s newest exhibit, “Nature’s Kingdom,” take a cue from a curious deer and stop in to discover what animal-inspired artworks are waiting around the bend. For instance, Linda Reville’s Strength & Courage watercolor features three bucks and a bald eagle, and dips deeply into Mother Nature’s palette, from earth tones to indigo blues. Other works, says gallery owner Tracey Marshall-Becker, are “very diverse from pottery, wood, sculpture, fiber art, paintings, acrylic oil and watercolor,” July 1–25. Info: themarshallmusegallery.com.

Animal Tale

Sun’s out, scales out: The days are getting hotter, but we’re not the only ones with an affinity for soaking up vitamin D. Olivander, Forrest Pfaff’s cold-blooded bearded dragon, naturally loves the sunlight, so, when the temperatures started rising in late March, he decided to take his little legs for a three-day solo journey off the beaten path. “He doesn’t really escape a lot,” says Pfaff. Although he’s apt to run and hide, “he’s never flown the coop before. I guess he decided this was his Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Like most bearded dragons, Olivander refuses to stay in his cage. Instead, he roams around the house and front lawn as he pleases. But on this particular day, Olivander hit the road to warmer pastures. Usually, he hides himself during the day, always returning for his evening feast. So, when he didn’t, Pfaff and his 13-year-old daughter knew something was wrong. Instead of panicking, they did what any modern pet owner does — they ran to Facebook. “We typed in ‘missing bearded dragon’ and the first thing to pop up was Olivander,” says Pfaff. His merry jaunt had taken him all the way to the parking lot between the Downtown Greenway and the Greensboro College campus, where Tom Saitta, senior director of marketing and communication at the college, spotted him. How did Saitta know Pfaff was in fact the rightful lizard owner? When the two spoke on the phone, Olivander recognized Pfaff’s voice and ran toward the sound, head-bumping Saitta — his signature move. Safely back at home, Olivander’s owners keep a more watchful eye on him, but, as free-spirited as he is, it’s doubtful we’ve seen the last of this rambling reptile.

   – Joi Floyd

JOI DE VIVRE

A nosy Nelly knocks at our door: In my second year of college at UNCG, I went back home to Goldsboro during fall break, where I met our family’s newest addition, Nelly — or what I like to call her, Nosy Nelly. There she lay, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, pulling the threads from the comforter on my bed. A bit shy and reserved — and occasionally snoopy — our white-furred cat with blue eyes isn’t the sweetest kitty on the block, but somehow she found a soft spot for my sister, Bre, and me. Our soon-to-be-Nelly was first found in a loved one’s garden, digging up more than just weeds, and had to be moved to a home that would accept her, claws and all. And if anyone will take in a stray, misbehaving cat who doesn’t listen, it’s my sister. We’d fostered many cats since moving to our latest house and, like the rest of them, our mother let us keep Nelly until we could find her a forever home — which turned out to be closer than we thought. A few months passed and my mother finally gave up the pretense. Nelly had settled in our house with no intention of leaving. When guests visit, she’ll peek out curiously from underneath our beds, ultimately deciding it’s not worth her time, and slide back into hiding. Sometimes considered rude or aloof, she just might surprise you. In fact, if you’re lucky enough — or shake a treat in your hand — she may find her merry way to your lap for an evening nap. A year ago, I asked my sister why she chose the name Nelly, half expecting it to have originated from the phrase “nosy Nelly,” fitting for a curious cat who’s torn up our blinds to sneak a peek outside, but that seems not to be the case. To this day, my question remains unanswered. All we know is that the name fits her all too well.

    – Joi Floyd

Paw Patrol

Pictured in this mutt-shot, alongside esteemed Guilford County Sheriff Danny H. Rogers (left) is Master Corporal C. Young and his patrol K-9 partner, Rook. Rook is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix from Hungary who was deputized by the sheriff’s office just last year — a K-9 with canines for takin’ a bite outta crime.

In his dogged pursuit of two-legged desperados, Rook is trained in narcotics detection, suspect tracking, evidence recovery and missing-person searches. Already, he’s assisted in seizing pounds of illegal snout candy, and a doggy bowl’s fill of fentanyl, plus he recently collared a criminal suspect currently cooling his heels in the county kennel. That’s a good boy!

Corporal Young admits one of the most rewarding aspects of his job is observing these K-9 crime-fighters as they grow into reliable, indispensable deputies trailing errant assailants. Fun fact: Young and Rook even share the same birthday and will one day be the same age — in doggie years, natch.

— Billy Ingram

Sazerac June 2026

Sazerac June 2026

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JOI DE VIVRE

Woven friendship bracelets. Dear Diego: Elementary school plays a key role in a child’s development, but for shy and reserved Joi, who found it hard to make genuine friends, she spent most of it by herself. That was until I met Diego. “Joi, could you please stop that!” yells Mrs. Perkins, my fourth-grade teacher, during our class walk to the playground. I’m near the back of the line and have, unknowingly, slipped into a daydream, humming a tune the entire walk back — loud enough for her to hear me from the front of the line. A little embarrassed now that my classmates are staring at me, I walk the rest of the way back with my head down. “I thought it sounded good,” says a voice behind me. Diego. He has a Go, Diego, Go! backpack — fitting, isn’t it? — and light-up Skechers he wears everyday. From that moment on, Diego and I are two peas in a pod, never leaving the other’s side. He becomes my first best friend and later evolves into a crush. I am fascinated by his ability to climb the monkey bars just as he is fascinated by my swift running skills — so much so that he brags to all his male friends that I could beat them in a one-on-one race if they dared to challenge me. Sadly, a year later, his father, who is in the military, is stationed overseas, which means Diego has to leave. Now as an adult, I appreciate the love Diego showed little Joi when she needed it the most. I hope he has grown up to impact other people as much as he impacted me. And who knows? Maybe we’ll meet again one day. Until then, I’ll keep an eye out for light-up Skechers.       – Joi Floyd

Window on the Past

Photograph courtesy of UNCG’s Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives

Captured here are the 1974 founding members of the United Afro-American Society for Greensboro College’s yearbook, The Echo. Bell-bottoms, bold patterns and enough polyester to make a disco ball nervous, this lineup is as rich in personality as it is in ’70s fashion. Membership may not have come with a written dress code, but a keen eye for the style was clearly part of the deal.

Behind the Scene

Photograph by Curtis & Cort Photography 

“Once I started doing film acting at the studio, I just fell in love with it,” exclaims Emi Curia — a Winston-Salem native and actress. A year after graduating from UNCG, Emi’s career continues to rise. At 22, she’s already a veteran of the hit TV series Echoes (Netflix) and Murdaugh: Death in the Family (Hulu). But before she was in front of the camera, she was on stage. “I did dance as a kid, and that evolved into community theater,” she says. After coming to Greensboro for college in 2021, she found in-STUDIO, a nontraditional, Greensboro-based actor training facility that quickly became central to her journey. “That studio is like my home,” she says.

Not only has she made friends who have become family at the studio, but Emi’s instructors have steered her in the right direction: “Having a good teacher who sees you is so important, and I admire teachers for being able to do what they do.” Her favorite teacher there, Lee Spencer, put her at ease, giving her the confidence to pursue her dream. “When it comes to acting, you’re working with someone who’s really bringing themselves and their vulnerability to you.” Isn’t that a little scary? Sure, she says, “It feels like you’re exposing yourself, but when teachers can foster a safe environment for you, it makes you feel like you can do anything.”

Beyond the screen, Emi is a multi-talented performer — skilled in tap dancing, ASL, kickboxing, piano, mezzo-soprano and fluent in Japanese, just to name a few. She has leveraged these abilities to secure leading roles in four plays and 15 films, with her most notable performance as Miley Altman in last fall’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family. Though an exciting milestone, she describes the audition process as tense. “It was really stressful, to be honest with you. I had that audition when I was on vacation.” Just before her senior year spring semester began, Emi recorded her audition from a hotel room. She didn’t think much about it afterward, so she was surprised to see she was pinned for the role. With exams, finals and now a role in a TV show all at once, she felt the pressure. Balancing frequent drives to Atlanta for filming with the demands of her final semester at UNCG meant occasionally missing class. “I had to bargain with my professors for excused absences,” she says. Still, by embracing the meaning of her name — “by the grace of God” — in her daily life, she persevered through the demanding schedule and graduated with two degrees: psychology, and women’s, gender and sexuality studies. “I will always be grateful for that experience,” Emi says.

Ask Emi how post-grad life is and, like many recent college graduates, she might roll her eyes. “Sometimes I get that question, and it just makes me laugh because I really understand now how much it sucks.” As a psychology major, she put value in relationships with friends, coworkers and passing strangers. “I miss my friends. I miss my acquaintances. I miss all of it,” she says, though she quickly adds that she doesn’t miss the pile of assignments. Emi encourages her peers pursuing an artistic career to create a path for themselves and to stay persistent. Work hard and respond to the calling you feel. “You just have to see it through. The tunnel is long, and you’re not going to be able to see the light at the end of it, but you have to be the light to guide yourself.”
        — Joi Floyd

Unsolicited Advice

Father’s Day is right around the corner and we’re bracing ourselves for a day where we hold back the eye rolling as the corniest puns ever, aka dad jokes, exit the mouths of our fathers. They’re a comical and fun play on words, but, if your father is like most, he probably feels unashamed when blurting out the same joke over again and again — on repeat forever and ever. And, if you’re not careful  —  or if the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree — you may find yourself in a witty banter battle. This year, we’d like to defeat our funny fathers, so here are some dad jokes to keep in your arsenal, just in case you riff-off against the wizard of wordplay.

Sometimes, it’s better to start slow and simple. Pull out a classic and consider quacking this joke; What did the duck say to the waiter? Put it on my bill.

As descendants of fathers who somehow forget to flush every time, this one always gets us rolling: What did one toilet say to the other? You appear a bit flushed. And, maybe, just maybe, it will remind them to erase the evidence.

Finally, it’s time to pull out the big puns. Though, to be honest, we’re not sure if this joke is entirely accurate — especially since our dads can’t remember the names of our best friends from elementary school. What’s the best way to save your dad jokes? In a dad-a-base.

Sazerac May 2026

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JOI DE VIVRE

What would Mama do?: The other day, I stood next to my mom and realized we’re the same height. Five feet and four inches. Mama, who once towered over little Joi, now struggles to meet me eye to eye while scolding me about getting my car tags renewed. We’re a lot alike these days — but not when it comes to boring obligations such as car maintenance. If you asked her about me, she’d say, “she’s my mini me,” even though we’re the same height, weight, width and shoe size — there’s not much “mini” left in me. Growing up, I would follow her everywhere, like a duckling to a duck. To the bathroom so she could braid my hair, the kitchen for some seasoned pretzels and even to the front porch to water her half-dead flowers — my grandma’s green thumb skipped a generation. Nowadays, since we don’t live under the same roof, instead of following her around the house, I try to follow her thought process. “What would Mama do?” enters my head any time I’m stuck in a sticky situation. No, Mama wouldn’t scream in a fit of rage because Nelly, my greedy cat, scarfed down my hamburger when I wasn’t looking — yet again. She would simply make another one — I may have inherited my mother’s looks but I did not gain her patience. One day when I’m older, I hope to be half as wise as her so that I don’t have to search my brain and wonder “what would Mama do?” I can simply just do it.

Window on the Past

An extravagant pageant, lively games and a crown fit for a queen. In 1912, being May Day queen at State Normal and Industrial College (now UNCG) was the highest honor and typically bestowed upon a senior elected by her peers. Only the noblest, bravest warriors were tasked with protecting her court train from the dangers of the freshly cut grass blades.

Unsolicited Advice

When it comes to wordplay, we love figures of speech as much as the next person. “Shoot for the stars” and “go the extra mile” are a couple we keep in our arsenal anytime we need to spice up a conversation. They can be motivational and used to cheer one up when down in the dumps. While some bring good intentions, others can be misunderstood because of their fragmentation. No one likes a half-baked quote shoved down their throat — but we will gladly scarf down a gooey, half-baked cookie. Whether it’s to inspire or just for some good, playful writing, we’d bet our bottom dollar you don’t know the whole shebang. So, if you know someone in a blue funk and they’re in need of some encouraging words, here are some apt idioms you can roll out to bring their spirits up.

Some say “the early bird catches the worm,” which implies that the sooner you chase the opportunity, the better advantage you will have over others. While agreeable, it could be argued that waiting could also be a better bet. The full phrase “the early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese,” implies that an opportunity could be disguised as bait. Granted, worms and cheese may not be your snack of choice, it’s still a good reminder that the first opportunities could come with higher risks and sometimes second place can put you ahead of the game. So before you chase, stop and assess whether you’re about to be rewarded or about to bite the bait.

If starting a new hobby consists of finding something you’re interested in, getting really engaged in it and then letting it go then don’t worry about being called a quitter. It takes a lot of courage to start something new, but it takes a lot more courage to quit when something isn’t working out for you. Our bag of idioms tells us that a Jack of all trades is a master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one. Being a master of none isn’t always bad. It means you possess knowledge across multiple fields. For example, a hotdog expert couldn’t tell you squat about how to make a good burger but, with the extra knowledge you have, you’ll be able to whip up — or better yet, flip up — something juicy and savory.

As a child you were probably taught to suppress your curiosity and to keep your questions at bay. But, in a world of “follow the leader,” we could use more curious thinkers. Innovators and their inventions all started with a thirst for knowledge. Sure, people say “Curiosity killed the cat,” but the full, often overlooked version of the idiom is “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” Follow your nose, ask questions and impress your inner child with your inquisitiveness — but use caution, you don’t have eight more lives to spare.   

Our 2026 Essay Contest

Sun’s out, pen’s out. It’s time for our annual writing contest and this time we want you to think back on all those “How I spent my summer vacation” assignments of your elementary school youth. Whether it’s about a vacay or a staycay, we want an essay. Tell us about a true tale as remembered by you about a trip to the beach or about the time you took a week off to meditate for hours a day wearing nothing but your socks and a bedsheet. As always, there are ground rules:

Submit no more than 600 words in conventional form — a PDF, Google document, or a word or pages file works well. Please no secret code that requires a decoder ring. We’ve misplaced said ring. Email entries to cassie@ohenrymag.com.

One entry per writer.

Deadline to enter is September 30, 2026.

Top three winners will be contacted via email, awarded a monetary prize and their essay printed in a forthcoming issue of O.Henry.

Art to Heart

For some, disorder and mayhem may stifle their artistic abilities, but, for art historian and artist Will South, chaos serves as a muse for his paintings. “So, it all started with the pandemic,” says South. “Then, next thing you know, the pieces became directly inspired by a lot of the troubles in the world.” After his 2020 retirement from serving as chief curator for the Dayton Art Institute in Ohio, he moved to Greensboro. South saw the pandemonium that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and, like many creatives at the time, decided to dust his palette off and paint, which led him to fill canvas after canvas, until he created the collection for his present exhibit, Catastrophic Times: Paintings by Will South. South uses his art to speak for the people who can’t speak for themselves and says that making images is his way of engaging with the world. “Now, we have these other conflicts going around, so I started painting things that were directly related to them.” What started out as a reaction to a tumultuous time evolved into a response to the larger issues that arose after — like, he says, the murder of innocent African Americans through police brutality. Though South most recently uses his art to reflect on current events, he has also been known to dig into the past. He is the author of many books, including Henry Ossawa Tanner: Artist in the Lion’s Den, which explains and seeks to correct the myths surrounding 19th-century artist Henry Ossawa Tanner, who was the first African American artist to reach international acclaim. He hopes that by sharing his own art with the world, it will gently move the needle toward global equality and encourage kindness toward those going through troubled times. “When you see something in life, you cannot unsee it,” South says.

You can find Catastrophic Times: Paintings by Will South in Gallery 1250 at Revolution Mill, on display through June 26, and hear directly from South a 2 p.m., Saturday, May 16. Info: revolutionmillgreensboro.com.

Sazerac April 2026

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Art to Heart

“What I’ve realized, regarding how long I’ve been doing it, is that you don’t get better, you just change,” says artist Matthew Micca, whose work will be featured at GreenHill Center for NC Art beginning April 10. Micca, an Asheville resident and contemporary abstract artist who breaks the mold, strives to always produce art that he’s proud of — even if it’s something that has completely strayed away from his norm. From drawing illustrations in his earlier years to falling in love with abstract art, Micca has decided to set aside his panel paintings and, instead, try out three-dimensional cubes that encapsulate his contemporary artist mind. “About a year and a half ago, I figured out how to merge my paintings and bring it to the 3D realm in a way,” he says. He found the switch from 2D to 3D to be easier than expected. His technique involves painting his design on one flat surface of the cube while the excess paint drips down its sides. Asked what he thinks about his previous work, he says: “I recognize that it’s good, but I can’t do that now because I’m past that.” Art, Micca says, is ever changing and constantly moving. He wishes more artists would take risks and evolve their art, which, if you can pluck up the courage to do so, can pull you out of your comfort zone and into daring and bold expression. “I think I’ve gotten braver through the years,” he muses. While his work has changed over time, one thing has remained the same: “My work has always been a mix of geometric and organic forms.” While his shapes, patterns and evolving mediums allow him to express himself, he’s fascinated by viewer interpretations as well. “I love to hear what people see in my work,” he says. So when you catch Micca’s solo exhibition of his 3D-cube work at GreenHill Center for NC Art through June 20, be sure to let him know what you see. Info: greenhillnc.org/exhibitions.

Just One Thing

Art is many things to Greensboro artist Jonathan Vizcuña, but quiet isn’t one of them. Vizcuña believes art should speak for itself — and loudly, at that. With its shiny, eye-catching embellishments, his art illustrates his feelings. “As an artist, that’s one of your goals. I want to have the opportunity to, through my art, fill with joy, touch with emotion and communicate many things to many people,” he says. Years ago, while working as a web designer, he started expressing himself through a hobby he didn’t expect to take off the way it did. “I’ve gone through every single title in web design. That has always been my world. Now, sculpting has become a more personal expression, much slower,” Vizcuña explains. For him, sculpting is a much more intentional process than working on paper. He describes himself as having quiet confidence, unassuming and never boasting but, instead, letting his art toot its own horn. He’s been often told by others that he “should be proud” of his art. “I’m not saying I’m not proud of it, but I never thought I would get so much exposure with my sculptures,” he says. From getting his first exhibition in Deep Roots to now exhibiting at The Center for Visual Artists, Vizcuña has put hours upon hours into sculpting because he believes in the power of his art. If you’re a sucker for art that speaks to — or, in this case, roars at — you, check out Vizcuña’s Apex Noir, seen here, at The Center of Visual Artists exhibit, We Art GSO, through April 18. Info: mycvagreensboro.org/WE-ART-GSO.

Window on the Past

For National Poetry Month, we wanted to highlight the work of a not-so-ancient poet — and no, we’re not talking about Shakespeare. Douglas Cartland, a Gate City resident in the early 1900s, wrote a poem about renowned Greensboro-born writer William Sidney Porter, better known as O. Henry. Cartland calls him “Greensboro’s hero, Greensboro’s star, Greensboro’s outstanding light, Greensboro’s sun in the darkest night.” With words like these, Cartland may have just fancied himself the ‘Boro Bard.

Welcome to the Wordshop

Wanna shake up your reading and writing? Greensboro Bound Book Festival returns April 9–11, celebrating diverse voices and stories with American Kaleidoscope as its theme. Three days of literary activities culminating in one full day of downtown events include perspective-shifting author chats, a palette of poetry, a collage of kiddo content and, of course, reflective — and perhaps refractive — writing workshops. That’s where O.Henry comes in to play.

We’ve teamed up with the festival to lead a few of Saturday’s workshops at the Greensboro Public Library’s Central Library. First, from 10–11:15 a.m., O.Henry editors Cassie Bustamante and David Claude Bailey will reflect on their own path of bringing back to life their personal experience. In a session entitled “That’s My Story,” they’ll offer tips and caveats about coaxing memory into words. Got a memoir ’bout to bust out of your brain? Chapter one starts here.

Then, from 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., O.Henry contributor, author and TVparty! creator Billy Ingram takes you on a journey to your next career with “Writing as a Second or Third Act.” Billy’s worked in big-time advertising as well as entertainment. These days, he spends his time unearthing Greensboro gems in his monthly “Wandering Billy” column and writing gritty features for O.Henry. An actor at heart, he knows something about entering the scene stage, whoops, write after a completely different career

Do you panic when you have to interview a subject? Book your sesh from 1:30–2:45 p.m. with O.Henry founding editor and New York Times-bestselling author Jim Dodson, who leads “The Art of the Research Interview.” After spending years traveling, researching and interviewing along the the Great Wagon Road for his 2025 release, The Road That Made America, Jim’s more than got the chops to teach you how to ask the right questions that allow the conversation to flow freely from your interviewee. We’ve always found that free-flowing whiskey helps, but we’re sure Jim’s got better methods.

Putting a cap on the workshops, Erica Miriam Fabri, author of the 2025 Jack McCarthy Book Prize winner, Morphology, leads “Making the Public Personal: Writing Autobiographical Poetry Inspired by Current Events” from 3–4:15 p.m. Curious how you can use your own autobiography to provide future generations with the true — and poetic — story of the cultural movements or social and political conditions shaping your life? Learn to use your voice as a measure for the times.

No matter what skill it is you’re shooting to sharpen, we’re here to help you find and cultivate your story. After all, we’re writing prose.

And don’t miss out on a full line-up of talented authors, beginning on April 9 with No. 1 New York Times-bestselling author Casey McQuiston, whose book, Red, White & Royal Blue, was made into a 2023 film. Find the schedule of events here: greensborobound.com/2026-festival.

Unsolicited Advice

For the lot of us, 2016 was an era in itself. Groovy, new music albums and the upsurge of pop-culture references, thanks to rising social media, made the year nostalgic. And though it’s worth a scroll through our camera rolls, there is one part of 2016 we keep coming back to — the fashion trends. Some were iconic and some were not so much, but, you’ve got to admit it, no one was rocking ripped, high-rise jeans better than us. It was an experimental year to say the least and we’ve grown through our choices in clothing since then, but it’s hard to focus on current ‘fit picks when we’re mentally stuck a decade before. So we’ve provided a list of trends we advise you to stay away from this time around.

Skinny jeans? More like leg traps — bonus points if they looked like they’d been run over by a lawnmower. Hard to get into and even harder to get out of, these infamously tight jeans have burned a hole — bigger than the purposefully placed one on their knees — in our memory forever. Luckily, we’ve evolved to clothing with a little flare. Never again will we let skinny jeans reemerge from our bin in the attic and never again will we let our legs suffer in a vacuum-seal fit.

Fried, dyed and laid to the side, our hair was nothing more than a rainbow experiment. Arguably one of the most tedious trends — thanks to grown-out roots — ombré hair was a trend of self-expression and individuality. It’s not ridiculous to say that every once in a while we have the urge to grab some hair dye and bring the hot-and-hued hairdo back, but lest we forget the clumps of hair and the big chop that followed.

Paired with a denim jacket and a snapback, thigh-high boots were a sign of the times. Leather, suede or pointed, these boots were versatile and everywhere. We saw them on celebrities, family and even friends. What’s the downside, you say? These boots, turns out, were not made for walking — sure to bring blisters and callouses, but, luckily for us, this 2016 trend didn’t stick to us as tightly as these boots did.

Sazerac March 2026

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Sazerac March 2026

GROCERY STORE TOURISM: UNSOLICITED ADVICE

Greensboro natives know that our grocery stores are the heart of our city. Locally grown and made to fit our authentic, cultivated palate, there’s no better place to feel like a true urbanite than amongst rows of colorful produce. As Condé Nast Traveler names grocery shop tourism a trend, we thought it’d be fitting to showcase our city’s hotspots. Whether you’re just visiting or a ‘Boro buff, take a tour of our markets, where you’ll find the cream of the crop.

The Fresh Market: It’s only natural that you’ll find your way to The Fresh Market. Founded in Greensboro, The Fresh Market brought European-style, intimate and personalized grocery shopping back and created a store meant for comfortability. We’re all for a cozy and homey grocery market and, as some would say, “Home is where the heart is — and where the freshly-baked pastries are.”

Bestway: Craft beer-and-wine tasting is what makes a grocery trip worth the while — oh, and groceries, too. China may have the Great Wall, but here, along with all your cooking needs, you’ll find the Wall o’ Beer. We won’t judge you if you beeline it for the brews before browsing apples and oranges — it’s called balance.

Indu Cafe: If you’re a fan of samosas, Indu Cafe is the perfect place to visit. If you’re unseasoned to the crispy vegetable and spice filled snacks, don’t knock ’em until you try ’em. This shop full of authentic Indian seasoning, flavors and ingredients satiates the city’s craving for crispy, cultural cuisine. You just may give up window shopping and find yourself caught —  mid-bite — in a crunch.

Deep Roots Market: Deep Roots Market makes it their mission to feed the needs of Greensboro and to do that you have to know Greensboro. Dating back to 1976, it began as, and still is today, a nutrition and health-conscious co-op that has fed the community by listening to it. So, you could say Deep Roots Market is rooted deep in Greensboro.

Indie Scene

“When I was coming along, record stores were a place of community. Everyone hung out there,” Mike Moore, owner of Buffalo Boogie Records, recalls. “That’s what I wanted to bring here in Greensboro, that community feeling.”

If you’re a bit out of tune with the times, 2026 is “the year of analog.” Despite the rise of digital dominance, individuals are no longer depending on online streaming for music, instead swapping digital for tangible media. Thanks to a vinyl renaissance, a nearly lost space that fosters connection between music mavens alike has reemerged — record stores. In 2018, Moore opened Buffalo Boogie Records, aiming to share his love of records with anyone who had an ear for music. He hoped to create an environment that stirred conversation and eventually invited friendship. “Music is a way of life for a lot of people. It certainly has been for me since I was a child,” he says. “It’s a celebration of life.”

“I had no intention of opening up a record store back in the ’80s and so forth — I just loved records,” says Moore. Throughout the decline of record purchasing and the rise of CDs in the mid-1980s, Moore garnered discounted or discarded albums and, over the years, acquired a buzz-worthy collection. “So at times I feel sort of like an archivist as well. I’m preserving something that’ll be passed on from generations to generations and on and on,” he says.

From seeing The Monkees in concert to making friends at his local record store, Moore, who primarily grew up in High Point, has always revolved around the music scene and is eager to see the younger generation becoming more and more interested in vinyl. “It seemed like 12–15 years ago, people started looking more towards vinyl as opposed to digital media. It looks like it’s going back to analog. Vinyl started getting popular again,” he says. Exhausted by the hustle and bustle that comes with browsing the internet, individuals are removing themselves from digital overload, embracing a sense of personal connection. “It kind of blows my mind that the younger generations are much enjoying the music mediums that I did when I was a child in the 1960s and as a teenager,” muses Moore.

Though much of the younger generation up-and-comers grew up with digital media platforms and will most likely continue to use it, it is encouraging to see an increase in the demand for physical media. Moore assures us that “the year of analog” will topple the digital media dominance and bring back the classics: “2026 is going to be more of a confirmation that vinyl is back.”
        — Joi Floyd

JOI DE VIVRE

A peek into a superhero’s dream: A new suit, helmet of gold and shield of armor can only save so much, little hero — even superheroes have to dream eventually. The world will wait for you. Life will not, so live it to the fullest. Dance in the crowded streets full of dreamers and non-believers. Swing your partner ’round and ’round and swoop into a kiss. Take a long, deep breath of your sweet, beautiful life made up of a jumble of moments. Those tiny, little moments are special and unique but can only follow time. And yes, time is a thief, but keep him by your side because even thieves can be good guys. For better or worse, that big, bad world will have to save itself for now, little hero. There’s so much to do, but it can wait another day —  another time. So, hang that suit up and save yourself instead because even superheroes have to dream eventually.

    – Joi Floyd

Louise B. Alexander, Historical Print Photograph Collection, UA 0104, Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Window on the Past

An all-male judicial system was a sign of the times in the late 1800s, and, since Women’s History Month is upon us, we thought we’d share a little about local women’s activist and change maker Louise Brevard Alexander. In 1920, Alexander became Guilford County’s first female lawyer. After serving as a juvenile detention judge until 1935, she taught political science at Woman’s College (now UNCG) and was the first to receive the O. Max Gardner Award, considered the UNC System’s highest faculty honor. Alexander pushed the boundaries of women’s rights and the rest was, well, history.

Sazerac February 2026

SAZERAC

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February 2026

Window on the Past

Guilford County has many ties to historical figures, but one of the most significant is the upbringing of former First Lady Dolley Madison. She was renowned for her social grace and writing, which is evident in this poem written to her friend, Madeleine Dahlgren, on Valentine’s Day, 1849.

For Miss Dahlgren

Deliberate on all things, with thy friend,

But since friends grow not thick on every bough,

First, on thy friend deliberate with thyself,

Then, ponder self, not eager in the choice,

Nor jealous of the chosen fixing, fix

Judge before friendship, then confide till death.

Sage Gardener

An earwig can be as irritating as it is haunting, especially at 3 a.m., when you can’t quite remember the correct lyrics to the song: “She once was a true love of mine” swirl around with “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,” which triggers a mental inventory of the state of my herb garden. Rosemary? Check, big bush of it near the goldfish pond. Thyme? Got it in spades. Parsley? It’s struggling but will rebound. Sage? I’ll need to order seeds or find some plants.

Now can I go back to sleep?

Not until I get up and listen to “Scarborough Fair” — and learn (just in time for Valentine’s Day) that the four herbs combined constitute a love potion, parsley for comfort, sage for strength, rosemary for love and thyme for courage. And also that Paul Simon once sang the song on The Muppet Show in duet with Miss Piggy, both dressed as Renaissance minstrels.

That’s the sort of thing you discover when, in the middle of the night, you go down the gopher-tortoise hole (because gopher tortoise burrows contain the likes of coral snakes, beetles, skunks, gopher frogs and other critters you’d never find going down a rabbit hole).

Parsley, Petroselinum (from the Greek “rock celery”) crispum: While Greeks fed parsley to their race horses, the Romans spread parsley throughout their empire, convinced it warded off infection and masked the smell of garlic. (Do not try this at home.) In medieval times, it was thought to provoke lust and love. So, who wouldn’t want this excellent companion plant in their garden, warding off asparagus beetles and attracting bees and hoverflies, which everybody knows feast on aphids and thrips? Any chef realizes that it brightens even the most complex dish when sprinkled just before serving and anything grilled benefits from the addition of parsley, butter and lemon.

Sage, Salvia (from the Latin “salvere,” meaning “to be saved”) officinalis: Sage is native to the Mediterranean region, but naturalized throughout the world, including here in North America, where some Indian tribes consider it a sacred herb. In fact, many have adopted the Native American tradition of burning sage for spiritual purification. It thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil and needs lots of sun to create maximum flavor. Avoid overwatering or too much fertilizer. Its earthy flavor blends with almost anything and is such an essential Southern spice in pork that the Neese’s sausage people offer an “extra sage” variety. Green cheese? English Derby with sage added.

Rosemary, Rosmarinus (Latin for dew of the sea) officinalis: Just so you know, Napoleon’s eau de cologne was based on rosemary. Greeks thought that wearing a garland of it improved memory and there’s some current scientific evidence supporting that. In medieval times, rosemary was used in both funeral and weddings as a symbol of happiness, loyalty and love, but was also thought to attract elves. Rosemary does not grow well in containers, needing light, well-drained soil. Harvest rosemary just before it flowers for maximum flavor.

Thyme, Thymus vulgaris (although there are hundreds of varieties): Among other mythical and historical applications,  thyme was burned to rid homes and temples of insects and snakes; carried by Roman soldiers into battle for courage and strength; used in charms to enable one to see fairies; and seen as an antidote to snake and spider bites. Thyme is hardy, loves sunlight and can spread like a miniature form of kudzu once established. Besides being an excellent food preservative, thyme oil is antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial.

The song itself? The melody is centuries old and was collected from a retired lead miner by Ewan MacColl, a British folklorist, singer and songwriter. Simon & Garfunkel, in turn, collected and recorded the melody. The lyrics about unrequited love became famous after its inclusion in a movie about the very same thing: The Graduate. Except for the presumed availability of the four herbs in medieval Scarborough in Yorkshire, England, the lyrics contain a lot more advice for the lovelorn than for gardeners, true of most rock’n’roll. But my lady did indeed find me an acre of land, and that’s true love.
                                  — David Claude Bailey

Unsolicited Advice

As soon as the last of the leftover Super Bowl chicken wings are finished, we’ll finally be done with football season and we can then focus on what’s more important: crafting! Galentine’s Day is right around the corner and — we don’t know about you, but after all the touchdown talk — we’re in desperate need of a girls’ night. So while the boys sulk about their team not making it to the playoffs — yet, again — we cooked up some fun activities for you to do with your gal pals.

When was the last time you put your creative skills to the test? Watercolor paint, a couple of canvases and a bottle of wine is all that is needed to uncork a proper sip-and-paint night for the gals. And as the cups fill and the paint strokes the canvas, your abstract art will look a lot like Picasso’s, especially through wine goggles. 

Even with the simplest of instructions, baking can be difficult. But as bad at baking as we are, two is often better than one in the kitchen, especially if your friend is a little more skillful with a whisk. As long as you fake it until you bake it, the toughest of recipes can become smooth as batter and you can show that pound cake who’s boss. So grab a friend and make that pie recipe — it’s as easy as, well, pie.

There’s something so freeing about making a mess, especially when it allows for a perfect display of memories. Scrapbooking lets you fly your freak flag without any judgement. It’s all for you, the girls and no one else. We are a patchwork of pieces, so our scrapbooks should be too. Now, pull out the scissors, paper and your hot glue gun and make a mess — a hot mess.

Just One Thing

Renowned artist Joyce J. Scott, nicknamed the “Queen of Beads,” has stitched a path of her own through the quilting world, which obviously includes beadwork. But mothers are often the first to guide us through our crafting journeys, and, with the quilt Monsters, Dragons and Flies, it’s no different. Joyce and her mother, Elizabeth T. Scott, pieced together retrospective work that expands upon the traditional ideas of quiltmaking. With its appliquéd patterns and series of hand-embroidered images, the quilt the mother-daughter duo collaborated on found its way across the country. Catch this piece and many more by other African American quilters at the Weatherspoon Art Museum’s Of Salt and Spirit: Black Quilters in the American South exhibit, on view from Feb. 7–Aug. 1 — an exhibit fit for a queen.