09.25.2024

Today’s Forecast

80º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. | Sunset 7:12 p.m.

🎵 Don’t miss a beat

Give these Winston-Salem live music venues a listen

WStoday_Coal Pit Live photo of the Year contest

“Coal Pit Live” | Photo by Shannon B. (submitted for our 2023 Picture of the Year contest)

Hear that? It’s the scintillating sound of Winston-Salem’s live music venues beckoning you to a performance you’ll never forget.

The concert scene is truly unmatched in our area — from The Ramkat to Reynolds Auditorium, there’s a stage for any type of tune. To get to know them all, you must do three things: put your hands in the air, wave ‘em like you just don’t care, then lay your eyes (and ears) on our guide.

Arenas/Stadiums

Fairgrounds Arena, 414 Deacon Blvd.
Capacity: 4,000
You might still hear locals refer to this multipurpose venue as “the Annex.” It hosts intimate events like the Indoor Concert Series and is where the Carolina Thunderbirds take the ice. Bob Dylan performed in the arena twice.

Person standing on stage in blue light looking out toward a crowd. — More than 500,000 people visit the Fairgrounds Arena and Event Center combined each year.
|
Photo courtesy of Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 2825 University Pkwy.
Capacity: 14,665
Owned by Wake Forest University, the coliseum is frequently referred to as “LJVM” or “The Joel.” Big-name performers like George Jones, The Beach Boys, Cyndi Lauper, and Winston-Salem native Ben Folds have performed here.

Concert halls

Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Rd.
Capacity: 1,900
A century after its construction, the venue on the campus of RJ Reynolds High School continues to hosts musical performances for the public. Katharine Smith Reynolds, who championed art, music, and culture, donated the land for the auditorium.

Rows of seating with balcony in a concert hall. — There’s a lot more happening at Reynolds Auditorium than just student performances.
|
Photo via Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Watson Hall, 200 Waughtown St. (within the UNCSA School of Music)
Capacity: 300
The space on the campus of UNC School of the Arts is where you can see students, faculty, and guest artists perform. Two Hamburg Steinway grand pianos and a D. Jacque Way French double manual harpsichord are permanent fixtures.

The show must go on

Asked

How frequently do you attend live music events?

A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. Occasionally
D. Rarely

Get rock and rollin'

Events

Wednesday, Sept. 25

Wine Wednesday Tasting | Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 5-7 p.m. | Acadia Foods | Free entry | Enjoy complimentary samples and discover new seasonal favorites.

Thursday, Sept. 26

Opening Keynote: TJ Klune | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | First Baptist Church | $38 | Kick off the 19th annual Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors with a discussion on the book “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.”

Friday, Sept. 27

An Organ Concert Tribute to Margaret V. Sandresky | Friday, Sept. 27 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Home Moravian Church | Donations encouraged | Area organists perform sacred and secular music of the local composer.

Saturday, Sept. 28

Fizz & Beats Zero Proof Fest | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 12-6 p.m. | Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, Kernersville | $10 entry fee | Bring a lawn chair and enjoy live music, mocktails, yard games, and more to support teens and adults seeking help for addiction.
Philoptochos Shred Event | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church | Donations encouraged | Bring your box of documents to shred and support 15+ local nonprofits.
Southern Charm at the Farm Fall 2024 | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Tanglewood Park, Clemmons | $5 cash entry fee | Shop from 300+ vendors while enjoying live music and food trucks.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Try This

🖼️ Your family, forever: Fine portraits that last

Portraits from Oh, Goodness, including families posing and artwork hanging in homes.

Pro tip: Appointments fill up quickly around the holidays. | Photos provided by Oh, Goodness Fine Portraits

Winston-Salem’s own Oh, Goodness Fine Portraits has been crafting museum-quality family portraits for 18+ years.

Blending artistry and photography — with an emphasis on posing, lighting, and composition — these personalized, meticulously designed canvas works last up to 200 years and are meant to be cherished for generations.

Here’s how they come to life:

A portrait partnership

As a studio dedicated solely to the art of fine art portraiture, Oh, Goodness works closely with each client to capture the essence of their family relationships in a warm, authentic way.

This involves creating comfortable and flattering poses to help each member look + feel their best, alongside styling guidance and other arrangement elements.

White glove service

Oh, Goodness promises an elevated experience from the moment you step into the 4,200 sqft studio. They’re experts in working with children as young as nine months, and even allow dogs to participate.

Plus, for a limited time, WStoday readers can receive a family portrait session and 11x14 canvas for $149.

Start your timeless portrait

News Notes

Traffic

If your travels take you on the Northern Beltway near US 52, be prepared for a traffic shift starting today, Sept. 25. Crews started moving eastbound traffic on the beltway early this morning, meaning you could encounter detours or delays in the area through Friday, Sept. 27. (Winston-Salem Journal)

Eat

Tofu anyone? Winston-Salem ranked no. 76 on WalletHub’s list of “Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians” based on metrics like cost of vegetarian groceries + number of salad shops. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has used our guide to vegetarian and vegan fare.

Ranked

Wake Forest University just made US News and World Report’s “Best National University Rankings.” Wake Forest nabbed the 46th spot based on metrics like classroom resources + graduates’ starting salaries. Educate yourself on other great colleges in the area.

Closing

Twin City Sweets is closing up shop earlier than expected. Owners say recent crowds have depleted supplies so today, Sept. 25 is your last chance this season to indulge in a sweet treat. The spot on West Clemmonsville Road is open 5-9 p.m.

Shop

The Fairgrounds Farmers Market is relocating starting Saturday, Sept. 28 because of the Carolina Classic Fair. You can find goods from vendors set up on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Leaf Lot on Shorefair Drive — next to Pine Hall Brick — through Saturday, Oct. 12.

Talk

Register to hear from women in health leadership roles around the US at Salem Academy and College’s fourth annual Health Leadership Forum on Friday, Oct. 18. The event on campus is free and open to the public — check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and activities will last until 1:30 p.m.

Plan Ahead

Get updates on projects planned for downtown at Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The event starts at 8 a.m. at Benton Convention Center and will include a complimentary breakfast — no registration is required.

Edu

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is tweaking its schedule for high school graduation ceremonies for 2025. All events will be held the same week starting Tuesday, May 20 through Friday, May 23. All dates, times, and locations are posted on the district’s website.

Finance

Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (Yes, it sounds pumpkin-spice bananas. But it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. Here are hands down some of the best.*

Number

$480. That’s a real flight deal from PTI to Venice this year. Sign up for Going’s Premium plan + never miss a great deal again.*

Drink

☕️ Hit the trail

Sip free coffee for a good cause on the inaugural Winston-Salem Coffee Trail

Two coffee mugs with two hearts with messages and a bag on a countertop.

Share the love at Bitty and Beau’s, one of the participating coffee shops. | Photo by WStoday

What’s better than a cup of coffee from one of our local shops? A free cup of coffee from some of them.

You can stay caffeinated through the end of the year when you hit the inaugural Winston-Salem Coffee Trail beginning Monday, Sept. 30. The event is a fundraiser for Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, a nonprofit that feeds, clothes, and provides health care to vulnerable neighbors.

To get involved, visit wscoffeetrail.com starting Monday, Sept. 30. Make a $30 donation to receive a trail map. Once you pick up the map at Winston-Salem Rescue Mission or get it in mail, you can start sipping. Visit all 10 participating coffee shops around Winston-Salem through Dec. 31 to get free coffee and be entered to win a grand prize.

To keep up with coffee shop hours, parking, and specialty drinks, follow the Winston-Salem Coffee Trail on Facebook.

The Buy

Shop the best shoes to pair with your fall wedding guest look, from Nordstrom’s “Wedding Guest” selection:

🥿 Save your ankles with sparkly Betsey Johnson flats.
👡 Choose champagne or silver for this five-star rated sandal.
💎 Add a touch of sparkle to your outfit with jeweled slingbacks.
👠 Go for style + function with a kitten heel on pointy-toe pumps.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

My husband and I recently tried Curry and Noodle for the first time. It was delicious and the service was excellent. Give it a try if you’re looking for another restaurant with great Indian and Thai cuisine.

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