Livin La Vida Local

• Median family income: $49,300
• City’s population: 168,086
• Estimated cost to buy a home: $142,260 (prices have increased 135.8%)
• Average cost of a gallon of gasoline in North Carolina: $0.594
• The 1999-2000 Winston-Salem city budget totaled $273.2 million.

In the news

• The Winston-Salem IceHawks finished their second (and final) minor league hockey season at the Fairgrounds Arena.
• The city approved a Downtown Restaurant Recruitment plan to support the creation of businesses.
• Linda Davis was sworn in as the city’s first female police chief on March 23. The Winston-Salem native graduated from RJ Reynolds High School and retired in 2004.
• Commercial flights at Smith Reynolds Airport declined to 7,000. The following year, the last remaining commercial carrier, USAir, ended service.

Sounds of the 90s

• 98° brought their “Heat It Up Tour” + Widespread Panic brought their “Fall Tour 1999" to LJVM Coliseum.
• Performance venue Ziggy’s hosted rapper Vanilla Ice on March 25 and rock band 311 on Nov. 4.

• Ears to the Ground Performs Live | Friday, July 5 | 7-10 p.m. | Joymongers Barrel Hall, 480 W. End Blvd., Winston-Salem | Free entry | Listen to the local band cover decades of your favorite hits.
• Winston-Salem Dash vs. Hickory Crawdads | Friday, July 5 | 7 p.m. | Truist Stadium, 951 Ballpark Way, Winston-Salem | $13-$53 | End your week with a bang stick around after the game for a fireworks show.*

• Secondhand Story Used Book Sale Drop Off Day | Saturday, July 6 | 2-6 p.m. | Bookmarks Warehouse, 1001 Marshall St., Winston-Salem | Free | Drop off new and gently used books to support literacy programs — limit one box of donations.
• Jon Charles Dwyer and Will Easter Perform Live | Saturday, July 6 | 7-10 p.m. | Anchor Coffee Co., 486 Patterson Ave., Ste. 135, Winston-Salem | $10-$14 | Hear singer-songwriters from the NC mountains perform original folk music.
• Winston-Salem Dash vs. Hickory Crawdads | Saturday, July 6 | 7 p.m. | Truist Stadium, 951 Ballpark Way, Winston-Salem | $13-$53 | This season, Saturdays are going to be #AsGoodAsGold. The Dash will sport their new black + gold Golden Age jerseys exclusively on Saturdays when they are at home as part of Golden Age Saturday.*

• Repticon | Sunday, July 7 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Event Center, 421 W. 27th St., Winston-Salem | $6-$15 | Learn about reptiles, amphibians, and small exotic animals + shop for supplies.

• “Merengue Monday” Summer Pop Up | Monday, July 8 | 6 p.m. | Alma, 492 Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem | Free | Bring a date or come solo to meet new people while learning Latin dance steps.

• Mark your calendar for the annual Reynolda Village Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, July 27. Find deals while shopping locally from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — some merchant hours may vary.

• Get ready to bring your appetite to the Foodees Food and Culture Festival Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28. Register for a free ticket to get access to more than 60 food trucks + vendors set up at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds — hours vary by day.

• The Happy Hill community is remembering beloved resident + artist Jerry Hanes Sr., who died June 22 at the age of 77. His work was displayed earlier this year in the “Happy Hill Neighborhood Association Art Anthology” exhibition.

• Hear ye, hear ye. Start planning your costume for the Kernersville Renaissance Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29. The Brewer’s Kettle is hosting the event at 308 E. Mountain St. — more details to come.

• Follow the yellow brick road to Beech Mountain (~2 hours from downtown Winston-Salem) the first three weekends of September. The Land of Oz theme park is reopening during its Autumn at Oz event to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the film. Tickets are on sale for $60. (WFMY News 2)

• Looking to add a new dinner recipe to your rotation? We’re bookmarking these Coca-Cola pulled pork sandwiches for an easy-to-cook meal. Hint: It simmers in the slow cooker all day.*