Today’s Forecast

48º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:32 a.m. | Sunset: 5:23 p.m.

Innovation Quarter expansion

Phase two improvements will extend outdoor space along Long Branch Trail.
| Renderings provided by Innovation Quarter/Stimmel Associates

Work is underway to create an additional million square feet of clinical, lab, and office space in Innovation Quarter. You’ll soon see additional street lights, new trees, and site grading on either side of Research Parkway. The majority of the 28 acres where improvements will happen is south of Third Street and north of Salem Parkway.

“The improvements we are beginning today will lay the foundation for a whole new era of excitement for downtown Winston-Salem,” said Jason Kaplan, who leads Innovation Quarter’s planning, design, and operations.

This project marks the second phase of major development in Innovation Quarter. It’s not clear when the work is expected to be complete but here’s a breakdown of what contractors will be doing:

Expanding the Long Branch Trail greenway four tenths of a mile
Planting 140 new trees
Installing 131 new street lights
Installing 46,830 feet of new electrical and fiber conduit
Relocating 10,000 dump truck loads of dirt for site grading

Nearly $9 million dollars in funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 will go toward the infrastructure improvements. Some contracts have already been awarded. Total participation from minority and women-owned business enterprises in the construction process is projected to be at 36%, above state and federal thresholds.

WStoday_Innovation Quarter_phase two_renderings — Renderings give an aerial view of the multi-level area.
|
Renderings provided by Innovation Quarter/Stimmel Associates

Innovation Quarter has already earned the distinction from Preservation NC as the largest redevelopment project in the history of NC. The district is currently home to 100+ businesses in different economic sectors. Mark Owens, the president and CEO of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. says phase two creates additional opportunities to draw companies to the area — creating more capital investment and jobs.

“Having this infrastructure in place is critical in giving a green light to companies looking to invest here — we’re ready to welcome them,” said Owens.

Events

Friday, Sept. 29

The Drama Of Fine Dining | Friday, Sept. 29 | 7-10 p.m. | Sir Winston Wine Loft & Restaurant, 104 West 4th St., Winston-Salem | $70 | Drama can start anytime during your four-course meal at this pop-up, immersive dinner theatre.
“Fall into Love with Art” 2023 Charity Sale | Friday, Sept. 29-Saturday, Sept. 30 | Times vary | The Barn at Brookberry Farm, 5548 Brookberry Farm Rd., Winston-Salem | Free entry | The Carolina Painters’ Guild will donate 20% of proceeds from the annual charity sale to Habitat for Humanity.

Saturday, Sept. 30

Oktoberfest at ROAR | Saturday, Sept. 30, Sunday, Oct. 1 | 12-5 p.m. | ROAR, 633 N. Liberty St., Winston-Salem | Free entry | Enjoy live music, an Oktoberfest menu, compete in the pretzel eating contest, and play lawn games like cornhole and life-size Jenga.
Southern Guitar Festival | Saturday, Sept. 30, Sunday, Oct. 1 | Times vary | University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem | $32-$100 | Hear guest artists and festival headliners Diego Figueiredo and Leonela Alejandro perform.
UNCSA Symphony Orchestra in Concert | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Winston-Salem Symphony, 201 N. Broad St., Ste. 200, Winston-Salem | $20 | The UNCSA Symphony Orchestra opens the season with “Under Sea, Above Sky.”

Sunday, Oct. 1

Salem Band Concert: New Century Musicals | Sunday, Oct. 1 | 3-4:30 p.m. | Hanes Auditorium at Salem College, 500 E. Salem Ave., Winston-Salem | Free | This all-ages program includes music from your favorite shows revived this century: “Les Mis,” “Mama Mia,” “Wicked,” “West Side Story;" and for the kids, “Encanto,” “Lion King,” “Frozen” + more.

Plan your weekend

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News Notes

Opening

Cibo Trattoria reopens tonight in its new space at 601 N. Liberty St. The Italian restaurant relocated from its location on North Trade Street to accommodate more guests and offer a private dining room.

Festival

The Apple Family Farm is hosting its second annual Fall Festival this Saturday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be music, kids activities, hay rides, 60 vendors and food trucks, and goods for sale. Admission to the farm at 1765 NC-65 S. in Kernersville is free but bring cash for purchases.

Arts

UNC School of the Arts has launched a recording label to publish music, film, plays, and dances from faculty and alumni. The initiative will give creators the opportunity to distribute their work while maintainig control over their intellectual property. UNCSA Media’s first release, “Windows,” is available today.

Outdoors

Grab the kids for one last day of fun in the water. This Saturday, Sept. 30 is your last chance to visit 10 splash pads in Winston-Salem. The facilities will close for the season until spring 2024.

Health

The Forsyth County Department of Public Health will offer flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at no cost starting Monday, Oct. 2. Show up to the clinic at 799 N. Highland Ave. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. No insurance is needed.

Try This

1703 Restaurant is hosting its final wine dinner of the year on Monday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. The Italian wine pairing event at the restaurant on Robinhood Road costs $150 per person + tax and gratuity. Call 336-725-5767 to reserve your table.

Feel Good

Start your Friday with a smile. A kitten was reunited with its family this week with the help of two Winston-Salem firefighters and an engineer. See the smiles here.

Eat

Have you heard of yogurt clusters? (Think: chocolatey, fruity, delicious.) Here’s how to make them.*

Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Seasonal

Cotton candy dreams

James E. Strates Shows has been providing entertainment at the Carolina Classic Fair since 1964. | Photo by Carolina Classic Fair

This year marks 141 years of carnival rides, competitions, games, and food at the Carolina Classic Fair. Here’s what you should know about the event:

Getting there

The fair runs Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds at 2825 University Pkwy.
Park for $10 in the lots at the LJVM Coliseum + Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Deacon Boulevard.

Getting inside

Gates open at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. Sunday through Friday. The fair runs until 11 p.m.
Admission at the gate is $12 for adults and $7 for children ages 6-11. Children 5 and under and seniors get in free. There are promotional days, discounts, and early bird specials.
You can purchase tickets online in advance.
Ride tickets are 50 cents each.

Let the games and rides begin

More than 75 rides, attractions, and concessions will be set up for fairgoers.
Competitive entries, agricultural exhibits, and goods from vendors will be on display.
A fireworks show will happen nightly at 9:45 p.m.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

I had the opportunity to attend the first Face to Face Speaker Forum at Wake Forest University this week. Presidential historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Michael Beschloss had many wonderful insights on previous leaders and poignant perspectives on America’s past, present, and future. I’m looking forward to hearing what entrepreneur Daymond John has to say on November 1.

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