Category Archives: Friend Friday

Friend Friday or: Krank the Wherehouse

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.

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My friend Haydee Thompson owns, operates and curates the artist wonderment that is the Wherehouse Art Hotel. This “hotel” is located in the area above what used to be The Werehouse and then PS 211 (or Project Space 211). It is located at 211 E 3rd Street in downtown Winston-Salem. More on that address in a moment…_where

The “hotel” is an AirBnB that Haydee runs and it’s much more than just a place to lay your head.

According to their Facebook page: “Once an artist collective the Wherehouse has a long history of hosting artists and musicians from around the globe and is continuing in this tradition to include the community here.

“The Wherehouse Art Hotel provides a warm and home-like setting with an artistic touch brought to you by collaborations of designers and artists in which every hand made item has a story and is available for purchase in the spirit of supporting the Arts.”

They do installations of art from around the area and it isn’t only aesthetically pleasing but the art is usually for sale.

Each of the rooms is themed and when you stay in one of them you’re part of the installation. Not that anyone can just come in and look at stuff when you’re renting the room, but you are surrounded by the art. The rooms are Studio Loft, Screening Room, The Green Room, The Gallery Room (where you actually are in the gallery). There are event spaces and a kitchen that are available for parties and gatherings, too. If you’re feeling frisky, you can rent the whole hotel. That’s the event space, the lobby, the kitchen, with four rooms and six beds.

Plus, Haydee is sweet. You’ll love her. Everyone does. For more information or to book a room, go to their website. Go spend the night with some art.

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I said that the WAH was located at 211 E 3rd Street and “used to be called this” and “used to be called that.” What it is currently known as, and has been for the last decade and more is Krankies. Krankies started as just a coffee roaster that still had live music and some craft cocktails. They’ve moved away from the live music (mostly) and still roast their own coffee and have a full-service coffee shop with a full bar, dinner specials, breakfast, lunch and more.

There’s an open-air patio and in the cooler months, it’s enclosed. There is also ample seating in the dining room. It’s a great place for meetings because there are places to sit, the offerings are fantastic and you can have a beer or coffee.

I love their sausage, egg and cheese biscuits, the chicken biscuit with Texas Pete honey, and the biscuits and gravy for breakfast. No… not all at the same time. In fact, I had one, okay, okay, two of the SEC biscuits yesterday before my marathon session with Forsyth Magazines. Other breakfast items include the Huevos Rancheros, Challah French Toast, a Breakfast Burrito, Hoppin’ John (rice, red field peas, house-made chow-chow, and cornbread), and a grit bowl.

_krankThey have burgers and we know I love burgers. I recommend the Cheesy Western with a fried egg and pickle relish. I dig it, but there are other burger options, too. There are salads if that’s your thing. Like I said, they have dinner specials, too. I’d watch their social media for the lowdown on that stuff.

Krankies has what is probably the most distributed local coffee in WSNC. I’d say that around 70-80% of the restaurants in town that serve coffee serve Krankies. It’s easy to get and it’s good.

This is where I held The BCPF’s hand for the first time and it’s where I told her I loved her the first time. We sat one day from just past 2p until 7p gazing at each other. So, it’s special to me.

Give Krankies a try for a good meal and good coffee. Visit their website.

Neither Wherehouse Art Hotel nor Krankies are sponsors of mine so these are honest reviews and I get nothing in return for the unsolicited recommendations.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“We aim to celebrate Southern food traditions with our own modern twist, ideally creating an environment that produces simple, flavorful, well-sourced, and well-prepared food and coffee to help build and sustain the culture and vitality of Winston-Salem.” – Krankies

Friend Friday or: King of the Wind

17 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Friend Friday, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.PWS

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This week, on The Less Desirables, we had Monique Ferrell Smith and Anthony Tang, the Executive Director and board of directors member, respectively, of the Piedmont Wind Symphony on as our guests.

The Piedmont Wind Symphony, now in its 30th season, is led by Musical Director and Conductor, Matthew Troy. Maestro Troy is not only a very talented conductor and musician but he’s just a great dude. His cast of musicians is based on wind instruments and other than a few outliers here and there, the Piedmont Wind Symphony has no stringed instruments.

PWS logoThe PWS started in 1990 when Rob Simon put together a group of musicians, that included educators and students, to perform compositions for wind instruments and ensembles. Simon was the man on the platform for many years. Matthew Troy came along in 2015, after a stint as the Associate Conductor with the Winston-Salem Symphony from 2009-2014.

As I said, this is their 30th season and already this season they have had two fantastic shows. The first was Along the Silk Road in September. It featured music from Pakistan, India, Korea and China as well as some Puccini and one of my favorite classical composers, Camille Saint-Saens. There was also a musical story that was recited, but I can’t remember the narrator’s name.

The next event was this past November when they presented Chaplin Meets Sousa featuring some bombastic selections from the march-master, himself, John Phillip Sousa and Maestro Troy and his cast also provided the music for two Charlie Chaplin shorts, The Immigrant and The Adventurer. 

I call Matthew Troy a friend and I have to say that just watching him conduct this ensemble is as much a spectacle as a rock concert can be. He is always energetic, fun, and brings majesty from those he conducts. They have fun with him and you can tell. As I told Monique, I had the whole seat but I only need the edge of it when watching him. I’ve never been a Sousa fan but the November show changed that. You can feel emotion and dynamics with your ears.

Next Friday, January 24, PWS will hold their annual fundraising gala with the theme of “It Happened One Night” and even though we’re heading into the “roaring 20s,” PWS is bringing the 30s (because of their 30th season, get it?) and the film It Happened One Night is from 1934. This means that 30s-inspired attire is expected as well as other theming. The gala will be held at the Millennium Center in downtown WSNC. Tickets are $125 per person and will include food, fun and frolic. And, there will be beer and wine, as well.

You can purchase your tix by visiting here.

Now, you know I feature my sponsors on here, a good bit. Well, this is different. In this instance, I am the sponsor. I am a media sponsor so it is my job to promote them, but this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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Are you familiar with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King & I? It’s a musical that is based on Margaret Landon’s book Anna and the King of Siam. It’s also the presentation from Piedmont Opera that is coming in March. PO logo

Piedmont Opera has been an advertising client of The Less Desirables for a few years, now. PO has a few years on Piedmont Wind Symphony. Where PWS started in 1990, PO started in the late 1970s by Norman Johnson. It’s in its 41st season now.

According to their website, “Piedmont Opera produces the highest quality opera productions possible by using international, national, regional and local professional singers and technicians.”

I remember the first time I went to the opera. I was a senior in high school and the chorus class went to see The Marriage of Figaro. I drove and took a friend of mine with me. It was one of the first times I ventured downtown, too. I really enjoyed seeing the production. They did it in Italian (I think) and then they did this “rewind” thing and then did it in English. After the show, my friend and I went to my car and because she didn’t know you had to lift the handle to lock the door, it wasn’t locked and someone was able to get into my truck and steal my stereo and cassettes. That sucked but the opera experience was great. The last one I saw, Tosca they actually had subtitles so you could understand what was going on.

PO KingThe Piedmont Opera has now done over 48 different productions to an audience of over 150,000 people. I hope to have someone from PO to talk about The King & I in early March.

If you are thinking that you have to “dress up” for either the PO or PWS, think again. Both are more concerned with your butts in the seats than how fancy you can dress. Not, that you’re discouraged from dressing up. By all means, knock yourself out. It’s just not necessary.

Both PO and PWS, along with about 40 other arts organizations in WSNC/Forsyth County are participating in the year-long event, “Beethoven Rocks Winston-Salem.” You know I’ll be talking more about that over the next year. This is a big deal because this year would have been (in my best Alex de Large voice), Ludwig Van’s 250th birthday. So, you’ll hear Piedmont Opera doing Beethoven’s Fidelio along with the Winston-Salem Symphony and Piedmont Wind Symphony will be doing “Extreme Beethoven” from Johan de Meij in their concert in March.

You can purchase tix to the Piedmont Opera’s The King & I here.

As I mentioned, Piedmont Opera is an advertiser and thus I may get compensation from them, however, this is, again, an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Our Vision is to be the finest opera company of our size in the nation and acknowledged as the best at what we do.” – Piedmont Opera

Friend Friday or: Beans and Beer

10 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Friend Friday, Life as We Know It, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.WashingtonPerk_logo_250px

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If you’re in the Downtown WSNC area and need to get your milk, sugar, peanut butter, beer, wine, soft drinks, napkins, paper towels, fresh fruit, potato chips, toilet paper, coffee, a latte, a good sandwich and many other “provisions,” then there’s really one place you need to know about. That place is Washington Perk and Provision Company.

Washington Perk and Provision Company started in the Washington Park area and expanded into the downtown area when an art gallery became available in the Chatham Building at the corner of Fourth and Cherry. They sold the original location and are focusing on the downtown location.

They buy fresh fruit several times a week. They have a wall of beer and wine, much of it locally brewed and fermented. Ashe County Cheese can be found in the coolers at the Perk. Mexican Coca-Cola is sold at the Perk and that’s made with real sugar, not that nasty high-fructose corn syrup that most of our Cokes have. Le Bleu water in various sizes. Milk, butter, cheese and probably other dairy items from Homeland Creamery.

All the toiletries that you may need are available at the Perk, too. Get toothpicks, napkins, hot sauces and canned goods right there.

They have a full coffee shop for your latte and Americano needs. This includes various teas and drips, too.

There are several varieties of potato chips, cheese puffs and other bagged goodies in the back of the store. They have dried fruits, bread and other various munchies.

One of the best parts is the deli counter in the back that can make you a fantastic sandwich and they’re really affordable. One of my faves is the “Italian Stallion” which is a few Italian-style deli types of meat on a hoagie roll with cheese and whatever fixings you want.

Lastly, but not least(ly?), there’s Wolfie’s Custard. They purchased the company a few years back and they have around 15-20 different flavors. Most of those you can get in cold weather as well as always in the warm weather.

Washington Perk and Provision Company is located at 401 W Fourth Street in Downtown WSNC.

Full disclosure, Washington Perk and Provision Company has the distinction of being the only dual sponsor of both The Less Desirables and The Man Who Ate the Town podcasts. So, I may get compensation from them, however, this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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Around the corner from the Perk, on Fifth Street, is Small Batch Beer Company.

Small Batch BeerSmall Batch started back in 2014 and before they opened, the (then) three partners Ryan, Tim and Cliff contacted The Less Desirables about coming on and talking about their beer and brewery. They were one of the pioneers of the downtown beer scene (after Foothills, of course) and took an old favorite location and turned into a modern place that brings liquid goodness to the masses.

They started a little smaller and have grown to 12 taps of both “favorites” and rotating varieties. They started serving food after a year or so of being open and then expanded to a whole new joint that focused on burgers and fancy milkshakes. They pulled back on that and now have a “ramen” place in the former burger space that is open a few days of the week. But, they still have some burgers on the food menu and you can order from them via Uber Eats, DoorDash and other delivery services.

Tim has bought out Cliff and Ryan and has kept the beer going strong. Their brews are solid and being in the location is pretty cool, too. It’s easily accessible from the Marriott, Embassy Suites, the Benton Convention Center, and everywhere downtown.

Small Batch Beer is located at 241 W Fifth Street and is waiting to serve you a great “cold one” as well as wine and a full ABC selection.

Small Batch was the first presenting sponsor of The Beer Dads podcast. I appreciate them and their support. They are no longer that sponsor so everything I say about them is an honest and unsolicited recommendation. Give them a shot!

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Small Batch Beer Co. is a brewery and handcrafted cocktail bar in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. We screen the beautiful game (soccer/futbol) on our projector every weekend.” – Small Batch Beer

Friend Saturday or: Hey(day), Let’s Get Graphic

04 Saturday Jan 2020

Posted by in Friend Friday, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Note I did this on Saturday this week so I could give a good write up…

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.20200104_123044-01

When I’m in my “The Man Who Ate the Town” persona (which really is all the time, but when I’m out in public with it), I like to wear one of my custom made t-shirts that bear that name and my likeness. Those shirts were made by Machine Gun Graphics. Well, at least the printing on them. Also, the extra-large wall decal that we take pictures in front of after every episode of The Less Desirables was printed by Machine Gun Graphics. I have a banner that bears the logos of TLD, TMWATT, Fan Interference, The Beer Dads, Apartment 5B and Beeswax Vinyl & More that I’ve never gotten to use (and that I need to upgrade) that is quite large and that, too, was made by Machine Gun Graphics.

Kyle and Nikki over at Machine Gun Graphics are awesome to work with. Their product care and quality are unmatched. The shirts that I had made and the ones that bear their name (MGG) are high-quality material, comfortable to wear and fit me great. Having to have 3XL sizes makes getting clothes that fit an ordeal at times, but their sourced shirts are great. They have taken several of my logos and made great things for me.

MGG_LOGO1Do you have a logo that you need to be printed on something? It would look great on shirts but it’s not exclusive to shirts. How about sweatpants? Hoodies? Banners, buttons, caps, koozies, and so on? They do that! How about embroidery? They do that! Get something directly embroidered or make an embroidered patch that you can put on yourself.

Let’s say, though, you don’t really know what you want but you just need some stuff printed up? Well, fantastic. They have a free design studio right on their website. You go on there and mock up some fun stuff and see how you like it. If that’s daunting to some (which I can see where it could be) then start working with it and let Nikki or Kyle help you do the finishing touches!

Machine Gun Graphics is eco-friendly and eco-minded. They try to keep the shop as eco-friendly as possible and use sustainable garments and materials any time they can. They do large-scale printing, discharge printing and basically, if it hits your brain, they can print it on something. Machine Gun Graphics is located at 610 Cotton Street.

And, to any TLD listener (or reader of this blog) if you have some printing that needs to be done, once you’ve made your kick-arsed design, when you checkout on their website use the discount code TLD15. That will get you 15% off your order (before taxes of course).

Full disclosure, Machine Gun Graphics is a sponsor of The Less Desirables so I may get compensation from them, however, this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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This brings me to my full-on “Unsolicited Recommendation.”Heyday Logo

Right up the street from Machine Gun Graphics is my pal, Michael Slawter. Michael owns Heyday Guitars, a neighborhood guitar shop that well, sells, guitars. But, it’s not like some guitar shops that just get new inventory or may have a trade-in or two. Nope, Michael specializes in both electric & acoustic guitars as well as tube amps, be they vintage, new or used. He really focuses on guitars and amps from the 50s through the 70s.

Michael also does guitar setup, specs, modifications and if something’s going wrong, he’ll do some repair/troubleshooting for you. He’s worked on a few of my basses in the past.

Heyday Guitars’ shop is quaint and in the warmer months, he’ll roll up the big garage door and let nature in while folks are strumming along, tinkering with a potential new toy. It’s not unusual to catch live music there, either. The BCPF and I got to check out one of her musical faves, David J from the band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a ton of room in there, so it will be packed, but that’s what we call in the biz, intimacy!

Michael is a musician and has put out some music in the past. I know he has a record at Underdog Records because I’ve seen it! This brings me to the point that he is a vinyl fan, as well and has a turntable in the shop that you can go by and listen to some tunes, talk music (or shop), strum some stringed goodness or just hang out. Michael is cool and will have a grand conversation with you. He has been on The Less Desirables a few times, as well as The Beer Dads. Heyday Guitars is a great shop and is located at 414 Brookstown Avenue. For more info visit their website or heck, even better, just go by there.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays Saturdays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Cool, old and weird is what we like!” – Heyday Guitars

Friend Friday or: Not What You Think It Is

27 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in Friend Friday, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.

This week, I’m going to step away from the sponsors for a second and talk about one of my favorite people’s biz. That’s my co-host on The Less Desirables, Bethany Miller’s Top Leaf Cigar Lounge. Top Leaf Cigar Lounge is located at 1411 W First Street which is right up the street from Quiet Pint and Cin Cin Burger Bar. _topleaf

There are a few “tobacco” stores in town. They have a lot of the Hav-a-Tampa, cigarello-type things and what have you. They also have some big-name cigars that some rep sold them and the employees at most of these places have no clue about the cigar. Plus, you buy it and you have to take it somewhere else to smoke it right? Yeah. I have never really been a fan of those kinds of places.

Bethany and her husband, J.D., are different. They are a cigar store. They carry big name brands, they carry some high-dollar banded cigars, they carry entry-level cigars, and so on. Just like those shopping center places, you’re thinking. Well, the difference is the Millers, especially Bethany, does extensive research on her wares. She can most likely tell you the owner of the company that made the cigars, sometimes even knowing the name of the person who rolled them. She makes trips to Central America to tour the factories and she even had her own branded cigar called the Strychnine (I hope I spelled that right).

So, not only is Bethany selling you high-quality cigars, she knows about the makeup: the filler tobacco, the binder tobacco, the wrapping tobacco. She knows flavor profiles, she knows ring gauge, she knows her cigars. But, wait, that’s not all.

Top Leaf Cigar Lounge is exactly that. A lounge. Remember earlier I said you buy your cigar and you have to go somewhere to smoke them. Well, Top Leaf gives you a space to smoke your recent purchase. Now, that isn’t free, if we’re being honest, but there is a monthly membership and a special daily membership if you just want to sit around and listen to and join in a cigar powwow with other avid cigar puffers and shoot the breeze about life, sports, and other cool things. Have a favorite beer or wine you like to have with your cigars? Well, bring it. They are licensed to have that. As of now, they aren’t able to accommodate liquor consumption because the state is ridiculous and live by antiquated laws, but that may soon be changing. While you’re there, ask Bethany about listening to some cool jazz on vinyl since she just purchased a turntable and some records from our pals over at Underdog Records just a few months back.

As I alluded to, there may be some changes coming in the future. As we talked about on The Less Desirables, Bethany was one of the finalists of the Small Business Center’s Launch Challenge at Forsyth Tech. She has plans to improve her biz whilst relocating to a bigger, more accessible spot. There will be a full bar and a place for low-key live music. A lot of great things coming. To find out more visit their Facebook page, their website and Instagram. And for a special treat, follow Bethany out on Instagram where she’s TobacovilleNista!

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Now, to go along with cigars, a big trend happening right now is CBD. Yeah, that’s marijuana. But, it’s not marijuana. Not exactly. The part of cannabis that gets you high and is the “outlaw” of the plant is the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That’s what you’re tested for with drug tests. However, hemp and its uses are many and vast. There are hemp fiber, hemp seeds and their oils, hemp leaves (which you can eat) and more. The other cannabinoid produced is cannabidiol (CBD).

_salemorganicNow, I may be talking out my backside on all of that as I’m going to admit that I really know nothing about it. And, that’s okay. Do NOT take my words here as gospel. What you should do, however, is talk to some experts. And, I have just the experts for you!

My friend Chris Eastwood is the owner of Salem Organic Supply and he has been a guest on The Less Desirables. You can hear his very informative conversation about the benefits of and dispelling myths about CBD as well as hearing more about Salem Organic Supply by listening to that episode here.

My mother had bariatric bypass surgery this year and she’s had a knee replacement in the past. She’s suffered a lot from chronic (is that pun?) joint pain for many years and when she had the bariatric surgery she could no longer take Aleve which had been her saving grace for years. Her doctor suggested trying CBD and at first, she was apprehensive because well, it’s from the same plant as marijuana and that’s just not her bag, man.

My sister, who is a listener to TLD said I should talk to my mother about the CBD benefits after hearing the show with Chris. This past Saturday I took my mother to Salem Organic Supply as she was really hurting. My friend Tonia (whom I have known since she was like 19 or so) works there and she demonstrated the products to my mother, educating her on what everything is and how it works. She did a great job.

Ma Mère got a salve and a bottle of CBD oil, both made by Chris and his partners and by that evening she was in much better shape. The next day she was in (virtually) no pain at all. I hear a lot of people talking about CBD oil these days. Some say it did absolutely nothing for them and some say it changed their lives.

It may change your life and it may not. I know that Bethany and Danielle both swear by it. It worked for my mother. So, my advice would be to go to Salem Organic Supply and talk with Tonia and Chris. Let them lead you in the right direction. If it isn’t for you, they will tell you that and work with you in finding that direction. Their address is 545 Trade St. (but is located on 6th street in between Trade St. and Liberty St.), Suite 106. It’s where Burke Street Comics used to be. Or you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram or visit their website. 

If trying CBD is something your doctors or loved ones say may be beneficial to you, then I would definitely give Chris & company a try.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A cigar is as good as memories that you have when you smoked it.” – Raul Julia

Friend Friday or: Beers and Pies

20 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in Friend Friday, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood forbulls-1 Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.

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One of the best “waterin‘ holes” in WSNC is Bull’s Tavern. Danielle is a bad-arsed woman and she owns the only female-founded bar in downtown. Bull’s Tavern slings some fantastic bevies and have great drink specials and live music several times a week, usually Thursday through Saturday and the occasional Sunday.

The atmosphere in Bull’s Tavern is welcoming and comfortable. You get over 20 taps for brews and many of them are local- or NC-based. Mondays are half-price whiskey with Court, Tuesdays are half-off Tequila and Wednesdays are karaoke and $5 Titos. This weekend’s entertainment features a Very Hairy Christmas with Fruit Smoothie Trio tonight, Brothers Pearl tomorrow and Sunday is a very special Service Industry Christmas with ThreeFour Mountain. It’s all going to be fun and your drinks are guaranteed to be delicious. They’re located at 408 W Fourth Street and you should get on down there.

Full disclosure, Bull’s Tavern is the “Official Beer Sponsor” of The Less Desirables so I may get compensation from them, however, this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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Dana Moody of West End Coffeehouse with one of her pies! (©W-SJournal)

My “Unsolicited Recommendation” is West End Coffeehouse, which is owned by my friends, Jim and Dana (pronounced Dan-ah) Moody. They started by buying out Cafe Prada and they took over the coffee shop and gelato operation and contrary to the stories of the previous owners, Jim and Dana made the shop a place people wanted to be.

Now, they still do gelato, espresso and coffee, but the (somewhat) new thing for Dana – and she kicks butt at it – is making pies. She calls herself the Feisty Pie Lady! She bakes a lot of pie goodness and the flavors aren’t ordinary. And, it’s not all big, full-sized pies. They have mini pies, they have muffins, they have brownies. They have delicious treats, to eat in or take home!

Unfortunately, I didn’t write this in time for you to get a Christmas pie order, but New Year’s coming and people like sweets for those parties, right? Right. No reason not to go to West End Coffeehouse. They’re located at 390 N Broad St (which is right up the street from Bull’s Tavern).

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“West End Coffeehouse offers a relaxed, cozy environment with a little something for everyone!” – West End Coffeehouse

Friend Friday or: The Known and Unknown

13 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in Friend Friday, Life as We Know It, Records

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.HBUD

So, what I think I’m going to do is on Friday, when I can get to it, I’ll admit upfront, there will be some missed, I’m going to highlight two local businesses or movers and shakers. Many of these may actually be sponsors of mine, be it what I do or one of the podcasts’ and don’t worry, I won’t try to benefit from their name. In following the best practices in social media and blogging, I will always clarify if a business is a sponsor or partner. You can bet at least for the first few weeks, that will be the case, but in addition to sponsors, I will also offer an “unsolicited endorsement” just because I find the place to be fantastic.  Not everything I mention will be a “local business” but everything will have something very relevant to “local” outside of literally being close to us.

So, the first ones I’m going to do are kind of related.

Located in the West End of Downtown WSNC, there lies a gem that I go on about every week, several times a week, usually. One of my absolute favorite small businesses and where I spend a good amount of time is Underdog Records.

To me, Underdog Records isn’t just a record store, a music store, a place to buy back-from-extinction relics called records. Underdog Records is a way of life. Jonathan Hodges is a dear friend and he is the sole man with the record plan and I call him my “Candy Man” because records are basically the closest thing to a drug that I would do. It’s my addiction, my vice, my way of feeling good. So, yeah it’s my drug.

New records, old records, equipment, stereo receivers, turntables, EQs, cassette decks, even 8-track changers (each of those are subject to availability), accessories and much more are available at Underdog Records. You can visit 835 Burke Street Tuesday through Saturday 11a-7p. You can order new records anytime, day or night, by visiting their website.  Underdog Records is the “Official Music Sponsor” of The Less Desirables and whilst Jonathan does “pay” me for sponsorship, this is definitely a place I went before and would still go if Underdog wasn’t a sponsor. Watch them on social media and check out what freshly acquired used and new records are being put out! I always post the “haul” of what we get on the weekends on Sundays on this blog.

My “Unsolicited Endorsement” is Hair Bomb Salon. I have gotten my hair cut there on and off for a few years and have a few friends that have done some follicle facilitating over that time.  One of my friends from TBD Referral Group, Cynthia Pratt-Miller is a stylist there and she gave me my cut the last time it was cut. Friendly folks and was started by Susie Disher-Bennett back in 2005. They are located at 837 Burke Street and for you hawkeyed readers, you will notice that that is right beside Underdog Records.

Which brings me to a point… The two are teaming up to bring you “Vinyl Fridays.”

Vinyl Fridays is a cool way for these local businesses to work together and bring value to your run-of-the-mill Friday. So, if you book a hair appointment at Hair Bomb Salon on Friday (you don’t have to even get it cut on that day, just book it!), then you’ll get 10% off any piece of vinyl goodness at Underdog Records.  Also, if you make a vinyl purchase at Underdog Records, you’ll get 10% off any booked appointment that you (again) book at Hair Bomb Salon.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can look good and have quality music to listen to. Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Let our friendly team of expert stylists help you shine!” – Hair Bomb Salon