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03/08/2012 - Eight Annual Twin City RibFest -June 7-10, 2012

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The eighth annual Texas Pete Twin City RibFest will return to its downtown roots in 2012. The event originated in downtown Winston- Salem in 2005 and moved to the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds in 2009 where it was held for three years. The Texas Pete Twin City RibFest is partnering with the Winston-Salem Journal to relocate the event to the Winston-Salem Journal’s corporate parking lots on the corner of West Fifth Street and North Marshall Street.

The Texas Pete Twin City RibFest will take place June 7-10, 2012.

03/08/2012 - River Run Film Festival

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The RiverRun International Film Festival is a regional event based in Winston-Salem, NC and is one of the premier film festivals in the southeastern United States. The 14th annual RiverRun will be held April 13–22, 2012. Founded in 1998, RiverRun was inspired by the French Broad River near Brevard, North Carolina, where the festival was originally held. Each year since its inception, RiverRun has grown substantially. For the 2010 Festival, more than 13,500 tickets were issued to the 51 features and 71 shorts from 34 countries that were shown. Increasingly, RiverRun has been able to present high-profile, critically-acclaimed films to its passionate audiences. Some of the Festival’s landmark films from the past few years include: Win Win, Meek's Cutoff, Mao’s Last Dancer, 500 Days of Summer, Paris, je T'aime and The Notebook. The Festival has also showcased an eclectic mix of substantial Documentary Features over the years, including Food, Inc., Up the Yangtze, Manufactured Landscapes and Last Train Home. In addition, the Festival regularly presents filmmakers or performers with special awards for overall artistic achievement. Recent recipients of RiverRun’s Master of Cinema Award, a career award recognizing an outstanding body of work, include Peter Bogdanovich (2010), Bill Pullman (2008), Pam Grier (2008), Ned Beatty (2006) and Cliff Robertson (2005). Recent recipients of RiverRun's Emerging Master Award, recognizing exciting and visionary new talents in cinema, include Michael Shannon (2011), David Gordon Green (2010), and Ramin Bahrani (2009). Other notable special guests have also included Andie MacDowell, Sissy Spacek, Will Patton, Colin Hanks and Rosemary Harris. During the run of the 10 day Festival, RiverRun creates an inspired environment in downtown Winston-Salem featuring a dynamic combination of talent, film-loving audiences and industry heavyweights. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, this cultural event offers screenings of yet-to-be released films, opportunities to interact with artists and immersion into the art and business of the independent film world. RiverRun is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to the role of cinema as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Our mission is to foster a greater appreciation of cinema and a deeper understanding of the many people, cultures and perspectives of our world through regular interaction with great films and filmmakers. In addition to the Festival’s annual line-up of 120+ films, RiverRun also presents a broad range of special events, celebrity tributes, family programs, panel discussions and parties.
For more information visit, www.riverrunfilm.com.

02/16/2012 - Foothills Brewery

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Foothills Brewing Co.'s annual release of its Sexual Chocolate imperial stout was, predictably, a shoulder-to-shoulder party at the pub. Less predictable, though, was the national attention the beer and company got the next day. CNN broadcast a segment that showed beer-lovers lined up down Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, waiting to purchase limited-supply bottles of the chocolate stout. Joel McHale -- the comedian who stars in "Community" and hosts "Talk Soup" -- posted a Tweet about it. The flash of publicity, though, is but a tiny piece of the story at Winston-Salem's only brewery. Sexual Chocolate, it's just a small part of what we do," said Jamie Bartholomaus, brewmaster and co-owner of Foothills. The company has been growing steadily for the last two years and is starting to explode in popularity across North Carolina. Foothills beer is now on tap in bars and pubs from Asheville to Raleigh to Greenville, and the owners have approval to sell it in 45 stores across the state. About six weeks ago, Foothills started brewing in a new facility in southern Winston-Salem, off Stratford Road. The new place has bigger tanks and a bottling line, meaning Foothills beer could be coming soon in six packs to a grocer near you.

02/16/2012 - Westbend Winery and Brewhouse?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

A Lewisville winery is adding to its beverage choices by adding a brewery. The Westbend Vineyard has changed its name to Westbend Vineyard and Brewhouse after adding four craft beers to its product line. The brewery is the second in Forsyth County. Mark Terry, winemaker and brewer, said adding the brewery took quite an investment. Owner Lillian Kroustalis said the vineyard is currently applying for brewing permits through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The permits would allow Westbend to start making beer in a renovated brewery. The business would reopen as Westbend Vineyards and Brew House. Kroustalis is hoping to have the brewery running by next spring, the paper reported. She said they plan on making three different beers plus a seasonal or special beer. Kroustalis said Westbend’s winemaker, Mark Terry, would make the beer. She said the brewery is an attempt to draw a more diverse crowd. The Old North State Winery in Mount Airy is the only other winery in the area that also makes beer.

12/09/2011 - Official History of Red Hot and Blue

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Barbeque is said to be one of the only “truly American” foods and its history is firmly rooted in “the South.” Red Hot & Blue is honored to be one of the truly great barbeque companies in America delivering tradition and value each and every day. In the late 1980’s three Southerners and a transplanted Yankee longed for authentic southern barbeque and the great blues music they all loved. Unable to find that winning combination anywhere in the Washington, DC area they decided the only way to get it done was to open a restaurant of their own. That first Red Hot & Blue restaurant was conceived and opened its doors to rave reviews in Arlington, VA just a few short miles from our nations capital where three of the founders worked on Capital Hill. One of the original investor/founders was then-U.S. Rep. Don Sundquist of Memphis, who served 12 years in the House of Representatives and eight years as governor of Tennessee. Another original investor was the late Lee Atwater, a blues musician and legendary political figure who managed George H.W. Bush’s successful race for the presidency and served as chairman of the Republican National Committee. It was just a group of friends who wanted to eat good barbeque, listen to some good rhythm and blue tunes and make new friends in the process; they were successful beyond their wildest imagination. From the beginning the mission was clear: “serve only the best quality barbeque available anywhere in a fun casual atmosphere surrounded by authentic blues music and memorabilia.” The name Red Hot & Blue is taken from the title of DJ Dewey Phillip’s radio show that aired on WHBQ-AM in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950’s. This radio show introduced the world to Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash and broadened the audience for artists like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Robert Cray, and Rufus Thomas. The atmosphere at Red Hot & Blue captures the essence of this timeless era with its hand picked blues memorabilia and the classic rhythm and blue tunes playing in the foreground. From the beginning, the barbecue had to be authentic, using hickory logs, low temperature and long cooking times with only top quality meats and ingredients. Many other companies have tried to copy this winning formula, but Red Hot & Blue’s commitment to the highest quality ingredients has kept us at the top of the barbeque heap. In the beginning, celebrities and politicians gathered at the Arlington restaurant where they ate, played the blues, and enjoyed each others friendship. Now with over 20 years of history the hits keep coming; Red Hot & Blue has been: * -Recognized as the top barbeque chain in the country by a major national consumer magazine -Named best barbeque in the Washington Post Reader’s Poll -Named best barbeque in Northern Virginia in the Washingtonian Magazine -Named “Best Barbeque” in Dallas by AOL City Search There may be some barbeque players who are bigger, but there is still none better! Our aim is to provide the absolute best barbeque and southern cuisine at a reasonable price. We will never try to be the quickest or cheapest food available. Quality takes time and the freshest ingredients don’t come cheap; but we think our customers are worth it. Don’t you! As proud as we are of our barbeque accolades, we are equally proud of the value we provide to our friends (a.k.a. customers). In 2006 we were selected as one of seven quick picks for “good food at a good price” by a major national consumer magazine. This selection process was not limited to barbeque chains, but included all sit down restaurants from steak to Italian to Mexican. Red Hot & Blue was the smallest chain (by number of units) to garner this recognition. Barbeque in the south is part of the culture – inseparably linked to gatherings from friends to family, to church, civic groups, sporting occasions, and business functions. At Red Hot & Blue southern hospitality is not an option. It’s an injunction. Everybody is family, and every gathering is a special occasion.

12/09/2011 - Why Advertise Your Business With Us?

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Why not? WinstonSalemNightOut is the #1 entertainment & night out guide, featuring daily events, dining specials and drink specials, plus a complete directory of bars, restaurants, bands and entertainment venues.

WinstonSalemNightOut.com The Place to Go for The Place to Go

Visitors do not come to WinstonSalemNightOut to read the news or check the stock market. Everyone who comes to WinstonSalemNightOut is looking for a place to eat, a place to drink or something to do. And if your business is not listed on WinstonSalemNightOut, it is not an option for them. By having a Premier Profile on WinstonSalemNightOut, our visitors can be customers in your store. The WinstonSalemNightOut brand delivers a robust "Totally Integrated Marketing Solution" to our valued clients and it serves the general public as the single source for planning their night out.

The WinstonSalemNightOut solution empowers a complete social networking and digital marketing experience which includes: our website - WinstonSalemNightOut.com FREE Smartphone App (Droid & iPhone) - MyNightOut Facebook - WinstonSalemNightOut.com Twitter - WS_NightOut Newsletter Blog / Hot Topics Special/Event Calendars - Dining, Drinks, Entertainment , Bands, Accommodations Text Marketing and Keyword Promotion/Management Coupon Promotions Contest Engine, and it just keeps getting better!! Our benefit to the general public and to our valued clients is unparalleled in the Winston Salem market and across the industry. View our WinstonSalemNightOut Media Kit for more details on the WinstonSalemNightOut experience. Contact us today to take advantage of this powerful totally integrated marketing solution.

11/27/2011 - Old Salem: A delight for the senses

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

More than a destination, Old Salem Museums & Gardens is a feeling—and an experience. The living, breathing history museum, with sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the 18th and 19th centuries, invites us to become participants of past rituals while making our own traditions. “Salem might be a Moravian town, but it’s truly a place for everyone,” says Brian Coe, Old Salem’s director of interpretation. “It tends to become a part of you when you go there, whether you’re Moravian or not…and that’s especially true around the holidays.” Join us as we discover the joy and fun that is Old Salem. Tradition meets enchantment on the Old Salem Christmas Candlelight Tours. Guided by the soft glow of flickering lights, guests experience how the holidays looked, smelled, and felt for the early Moravians. Tour-goers have two options: The 18th-century tours (Nov. 18, 19, 25, 26) are more spiritual and simpler in nature. You first travel to the Saal of the Single Brothers’ House, where you’ll hear period Christmas music played on a Tannenberg organ. It ends at the old Tavern, where you’ll experience a lively “outsiders” Christmas, complete with games, music, and holiday treats. The 19th-century tours start in December (and take place on Dec. 2, 3, 9, 16, 17, 22, 23). The first stop is the home of Dr. Vierling, where guests are introduced to the Christmas pyramid, a decorative Salem tradition. The tour ends at the Vogler House, where popular holiday tunes, period decorations, and a sampling of Moravian cakes and cider are enjoyed. Both tours depart from the Herbst House (511 S. Main St.) and last about an hour, running at 6:30, 7, 7:30, and 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended, as tours are capped at 15 and often sell out. The candlelight tours aren’t the only way to experience the holidays in Old Salem. Come out December 10 for “Salem Christmas,” an all-day event with crafts, carols, puppet shows, wagon rides, and tasty treats. The celebration culminates at 5:15 p.m. in Salem Square with the lighting of the 16-foot Christmas Pyramid. The Women’s Fellowship of Home Moravian Church will hold its annual Candle Tea the first two weekends in December inside the Single Brothers’ House. The event is hallmarked by an elaborate “Putz” (decorative miniature village) and nativity display. You can also embark on your own self-guided tour of Old Salem buildings by purchasing an “All-in-One” ticket or walk along the cobblestone and brick sidewalks freely. For more on all the events and tours, call 721-7300 or visit www.oldsalem.org. And for something truly unique, book a room at the historic Zevely Inn in Old Salem to experience how it feels to stay overnight within a historic village.

11/27/2011 - River Respect

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

There’s a lot to be thankful for in Winston-Salem these days: crisp air, fall foliage, Moravian cookies. But one thing that’s often overlooked is the river that flows silently on our outskirts—the mighty, modest Yadkin. Not only does it give our area a stalwart source for drinking water, it gives all of us an easy, leisurely escape. It’s a river that flows more than 200 miles, creating a basin that’s the second largest in the entire state. It’s also the site of some incredible bouts of history—from the place Daniel Boone honed his hunting skills to the site of the first documented gold discovery in America. More than anything, though, it’s a river that deserves a second look (and we don’t mean from a bridge on I-40). Take a stroll down the Yadkin River Greenway in Wilkesboro; cast a line out from the bluffs at Boone’s Cave; take a paddling trip through Surry County, where you’ll wind through islands, rapids, and rocky outcrops. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can outrun all traces of civilization…and you might think twice before applying the “muddy Yadkin” adage. “This river is truly amazing, and it’s so convenient for us in Winston-Salem,” says Dean Naujoks, head of the Yadkin Riverkeeper. “It’s easy to forget just how beautiful a resource it is.” Since coming on board three years ago, Naujoks has been hard at work to better the life and water quality along the Yadkin. He says the river is currently looking at some of the most critical legislation it will ever face, from the licensing battle with Alcoa Inc. to war against the House Bill 655, which endangers the Federal Clean Water Act. (Read more about these issues at YadkinRiverkeeper.org.) We’ll take a closer look at the legislation next spring, but for now, this is a reminder to us of how lucky we are to have the river on our side. When you’re busy counting blessings this Thanksgiving, make sure you give thanks for the Yadkin—a river that flows hundreds of miles yet remains a hidden treasure. Writer: Michal Breedlove (Twin City Talk)

11/25/2011 - National NightOut Radio

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

IT'S HERE!!! Today we will be adding a link on WinstonSalemNightOut to National NightOut Radio. The link will be directly below the Search Box on the upper right side of your page. This will open the player in a new window so you can listen as you browse WinstonSalemNightOut.com. You can choose Rock, Country, Christian or more raw music in the 18+ tab simply by clicking on the tab of your choice. Local bands will be able to upload their own music and once it is reviewed for content and quality it will be played on over 250 Night Out stations across North America. National exposure for your local band!

11/21/2011 - Two local women win appearances on national commercial spots

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Irma Jackson and Carol Eickmeyer are headed for prime time. The Mutual of Omaha "Aha Moment Tour" made stops in 26 cities over the past six months, recording more than 1,000 personal stories, including those of Jackson and Eickmeyer. And, according to nationwide polling, the two Winston-Salem women's stories were among the best. Jackson and Eickmeyer recorded videos in June in a mobile television studio that made a stop in Old Salem. Last month, tour organizers announced that they were among finalists in the contest, the winners of which would have their videos run as part of Mutual of Omaha's national television advertising campaign. The contest ended this month, and both Jackson's and Eikmeyer's videos were winners. So this spring, edited versions of the videos they recorded at Old Salem will be broadcast during commercial breaks of such shows as "The Biggest Loser" and "60 Minutes." Jackson, a retired teacher, said she was excited to win. Her video talks about retirement being a chance to "recycle" herself. She's been busy since leaving the classroom, doing such things as starting her own massage therapy business. She said she hopes her video will offer people some perspective about retirement. "I hope it changes the way people think about something everybody does," she said. Eickmeyer said she was amused by the thought of being in a nationally broadcast commercial. "I wonder if I'll ever catch myself on TV," she said. "It will be sort of like a talking mirror, I guess." In her video, she talks about how her father's death changed the course of her life. The contest winners were determined by how many views their videos got online. According to the number of views recorded on YouTube, Jackson's video was watched more than 1,900 times, and Eickmeyer's more than 1,800. Jackson said she sent a link to her video to everyone in her email address book, asking people to watch it and pass the link onto others. She also asked her West Salem neighborhood association to watch the video. "It kind of went places," she said. Lauren Locher, a spokeswoman for the advertising campaign, said the contest is now in its third year, and it's unusual for one city to have more than one winner.