The Bookhouse hosts open mic nights once a month. | Photo by WStoday
Welcome to your next favorite chapter, the one where we celebrate your favorite local bookstores. In honor of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26, we’re highlighting four local bookstores in Winston-Salem. Without any further ado, we won’t bury the lede.
Bookmarks, 634 W. 4th St., Ste. 110
The independent bookstore opened in 2017 as a place to celebrate authors and provide literary resources in the community. Attend the community meetup to commemorate the day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. this Saturday.
More than a bookstore, this spot hosts live music, author events, open mic poetry, and children’s story hour weekly. The store is owned by two sisters with a passion for books and creating a space for book lovers to relax and enjoy a beverage. Pro tip: Get a blind date with a book and enjoy a $5 glass of wine on Wednesdays.
Front Porch Conversations | 12 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Guest speakers will explore and discuss various topics associated with faith and housing in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
Native Root Pop-Up | 6 p.m. | The Remedy Cafe and Bar | $20+ | Get a taste of chicken flavored Spiedini with citrus orzo and sorrel pesto, bruschetta, and little oranges on the menu.
Friday, April 25
Shred Day | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Allegacy Federal Credit Union | Free | Drop off your materials to be securely shredded on site — your donation will support Forsyth Backpack Program.
Souljam | 8 p.m. | Wise Man Brewing | Free | Groove to your favorite 1990s and 2000s hits with the popular local band — get there early for a good spot.
Parent’s Night Out | 5:30-8 p.m. | Miller Park Community Center | $10 | Drop the kids off and enjoy a well-earned night to yourself — children aged 7-12 will partake in games, crafts, dinner, and a movie.
Saturday, April 26
Silent Disco Dance Party: Studio 54! | 8 p.m. | The Ramkat | $19+ | Whether you’re a disco inferno lover, a top 40 hits fan, or crave the underground house feel, dust off your sequins and get ready to shine under the mirrored ball.
Better Cities Film Festival | 12 p.m. | a/perture Cinema | Free, RSVP | Watch the 90-minute screening featuring documentary short films about urban stories from around the world — stay for a roundtable discussion.
Sunday, April 27
NC Bridal and Wedding Expo | 1:30-5 p.m. | Benton Convention Center | $10 | Meet experts who are ready to offer tips when it comes to creating timeless memories for your perfect day.
Our bundles secure your business more advertising space for less. | Graphic by 6AM City
The newest addition to our self-service ad portal — our advertising marketplace with no long-term contracts — is bundles. We’ve put some of our most popular products into two different offerings — each with a savings of 20%. Here’s the rundown:
Branded Content Bundle: Three placements in our newsletter, including a 75-word article and two text ads in the News Notes section.
70. That’s how many new jobs are projected to be created after City Council approved $444,318 in incentives for two potential economic development projects, including a $15 million investment into an existing local building for GMAX Industries + construction of a new building for textile mill company, Polyvlies USA. (Winston-Salem Journal)
Community
Let’s tear it up — we’re talking about those confidential papers you no longer need. The 2025 Community Shred Event will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 4035 University Pkwy. Bring $5 for each bag of papers — donations will go towards students and teachers’ resources within Forsyth County.
Pets
Strut your stuff during Forsyth Humane Society’s 9th Annual Mutt Strut on Saturday, April 26. Bring your pet for a 5K race or a 1-mile fun walk to support shelter pets. Register to attend the event at Marketplace Mall at 9 a.m. — a virtual option is also available.
Drink
Need an excuse to flaunt your best hat? Pencil this in your calendar — Gather your friends and attend Dram and Draught’s Annual Kentucky Derby Watch Party from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Enjoy live music while sipping on themed cocktails.
Edu
WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus announced that she will retire in June during Tuesday’s school board meeting. The Board of Education is scheduled to meet on Monday, April 28 to discuss hiring plans for an interim superintendent. (WXII 12 News)
Number
$5,000. That’s how much your dog’s ACL surgery could cost if you don’t have pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that could be reimbursed.*
Read
Looking for an informative, faith-based newsletter? The Pour Over delivers current events with a Christian perspective, perfect for staying informed. Subscribe to the newsletter to join the community.*
Unlimited. As in, the limit does not exist when it comes to how many job listings you can post on the WStoday Job Board. Get started today + watch the applications roll in. Psst — upgrade your job posting and it will be featured right here in the newsletter.
The Buy
A smart bird feeder that auto-captures and identifies 10,000+ bird species. It features an HD camera with a wide angle lens and full color night vision, Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to receive real-time messages when a bird is detected, and a sturdy, waterproof fabrication for long-term use.
If you need book recs, here are 13 reads by local authors to check out at one of the bookstores. Fun story: I ran into Sylvia Leontaritis, author of “Stealing Freedom.” She told me she started The Hive Greek Donuts to teach her kids the power of entrepreneurship and to spend more time with them.
I highly recommend you check out the local food truck for some sweet treats like these freshly made loukoumades topped with honey and cinnamon.
Hey [First Name], I wanted to personally send you this quick note. I hope you're doing well! Let me know if you have any thoughts on this. Feel free to reply, and we can chat more. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
}})
