There were several residents from the Morris Farm neighborhood in group one, and they had concerns about increased noise and traffic.  Morris Farm includes Kelly's Trail, Katie's Trail, and Michael's Trail, which abut the property in discussion.  In addition to noise buffers, their ideas included a retirement community on the side closest to their neighborhood, medical offices, and mixed use town homes.  They would also like to see low signage for businesses.  

Group two suggested free standing, sit down restaurants and small retail, such as shoe and clothing stores.  The group suggested that it would be nice to have the same type of feel as downtown Kernersville.  They also suggested medical offices, such as urgent care and a dental office, and recreation such as a YMCA or an outdoor pool.  This group did not want high density housing.  

Both groups suggested some type of park, greenway, or trail.

The next community meeting will be April 9, 2019.  More detailed development , concepts, and layouts will be discussed. 

You can learn more about Legacy 2030 on the City of Winston-Salem website here. 

​By Jessica Thomas Lewis

Charm Thai is an Asian Fusion restaurant on Fourth St and is known to have the best sesame chicken.  For many, Charm Thai is their go-to Thai place. Charm Thai has a wonderful atmosphere, with excellent service and a very diverse, well priced menu.  You will enjoy a great dining experience at Charm Thai. 
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Another great place for Thai is Downtown Thai & Pho Restaurant & Bar.  Just a couple of storefronts down from Charm Thai, Downtown Thai has excellent Pho and sushi. 
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The two restaurants are a one minute walk from each other, both on 4th Street in downtown Winston-Salem.  Charm Thai sits at 259 W 4th St, and Downtown Thai & Pho Restaurant & Bar is is at 271 W 4th St.  Whichever place  you choose to eat the service will be excellent and food will be delicious.
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​These young people were taking a lunch break from the Triad Anime Con for some lunch at Charm Thai.  Pictured from left to right, Virginia Schnorenberg (Genny from Fire Emblem), @ualawan5 (Merle Highchurch) and SAM (jazz hands Sirius).  The Triad Anime Convention is being held this weekend, March 15-17, 2019.  Friday's hours are 4pm-1am, Saturday 10am-1am and Sunday 10am-4pm.  There is an admission fee, Cash only.  Check their website for full details.

"You use a glass mirror to see your face: you use works of art to see your soul."
–George Bernard Shaw, Back to Methuselah 

This weekend:

Looking for your own locally hand made work of art?  This Sunday, March 17, the HAND -to-HAND Market celebrates it's 8th year with more than 30 Makers from the NC area.  FREE hands on DIY Workshops and Talks, Creative space for the public to make something at the Make Something Awesome Table.  Sunday from 11am-5pm.   Details for this event here. 

You will find more unique items at the Winter Market at Raylen Vineyards, featuring over 50 local vendors.  Admission is complementary and open to the public.  The market will be open on Sunday from 12pm-5pm.

It is St. Patrick's weekend, and there are several local places to celebrate the day!  On Saturday, March 16, Foothills Brewing Tasting Room celebrates with Irish food, Irish music, and Irish dancing! 12pm-midnight.   No cover charge, check out their event page for schedule and more details. 

Asheboro is celebrating St Patrick's Day at Bicentennial Park during the 4th Annual Downtown Asheboro St. Patrick's Day Celebration with Food Trucks, Music, Vendors, and a Beer Garden.  Kid Friendly with free admission.  Details on their event page here. 

Greensboro is celebrating on Sunday, with St Patrick's Day in the Park, a family friendly event at LeBauer Park.  Food, vendors, children's activities, live music, and dance performances.  Schedule and links here. 

Enjoy history?  The Battle of Guilford Courthouse has a weekend full of events to commemorate the 238th Anniversary.  Live demonstrations, musket firings, colonial dancing, guided battlefield tours, living history encampments. 

Look to the skies at the Guilford College Cline Observatory during their public open house on Saturday, from 7:30-9:30pm.  If weather allows, visitors will be able to view luminous matter through he telescopes. 

Later on This Week:

The Triad Community Band Concert performs at Rural Hall Moravian Church on Thursday at 7pm. 

Find all of these events and more on the calendar at www.piedmonttriadliving.com 

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

April is North Carolina Beer Month!

The Piedmont Triad is home to fourteen Craft Breweries.  Find them all listed on our recently updated listing of Craft Breweries in the Piedmont Triad.   You can also download the Beer NC App here. 

Enjoy Hops & Shop at Foothill Brewing on Kimwell Drive in Winston-Salem on April 23.  Socializing, shopping, (more than 100 vendors), kids activities... fun for the family!  More information on the facebook page here.  
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On April 29 Wise Man Brewing will host Angelo's Artisan Market, with vendors, food trucks, live music and beer!  Kid friendly and dog friendly.  More information here. 

Greensboro will host the Tater Tots and Beer Festival on April 30, 2017.   No tickets will be sold at the gate.  21 and older event.  More detail on the Tater Tots and Beer Festival website. 

 
Hello Friends, 

For those that are new to Piedmont Triad Living, let me reintroduce myself. 

I'm Jessica, and I'm the mom of two girls, ages 12 and 8.    We live in Winston-Salem, and I myself have lived here since I was 8.  I graduated high school here, attended NC School of the Arts for a bit, lived in Kernersville for about 4 years and I've worked in both Winston-Salem and Greensboro.  The Piedmont Triad is home.

I love this area for many reasons.  Weather, culture, diversity.  The abundance of family friendly places and events.  The ease of travel to the beach and the mountains. We love to "get out of town" and short day/weekend trips are a breeze from the Triad.  This region is a great place to live, laugh, love, play, shop, work, and raise a family.   

About 7 years ago, I started the Piedmont Triad Living facebook page.  I was always looking for free things to do with the kids, and I used the page more as a "hey, you wanna go?" for my friends.  

Several years ago, I expanded PTL into a blog (check out the blog archives), and then to this website. You'll find information about all 12 counties that make up the Piedmont Triad, including links to community newspapers, arts councils, chambers of commerce, visitors bureaus and cooperative extensions.  I've also included local shopping information, including details about every craft brewery, vineyard and winery in the area.  Also on the website are listings for parks, recreation, and public gardens, and links to NC Historic Sites in the Piedmont Triad. 

My goal for Piedmont Triad Living has always been to provide great information for families, with a focus on sharing FREE family events within an easy drive.  Nearly every event on the calendar is free or less than $20 for a family of four.  

If you've noticed a bit of silence over the last couple of months, my apologies.  Our little family of three has become a family of seven!  A wonderful man and his three boys have come into our life and time seems to have escaped me for a bit. We've taken time to combine our households and adjust to this new fun way of BIG family life.

It's time to refocus on PTL.  The days are getting warmer and longer, and that means more opportunity for family bonding and fun.   Now that our household has more than doubled, finding free family fun is even more important!

I am constantly on the look out for free or very inexpensive events in our region.   Make sure to follow us on facebook and sign up to receive a weekly email of free events in the Piedmont Triad.  If your business or organization is having an event you would like added to our calendar, please send me an email!  

If making memories with your kids, stretching your dollar, and supporting your local community are important to you,  stay connected with  Piedmont Triad Living.  Live Laugh Love Play Shop Local!

Kindest Regards, 

Jessica

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Support Local Businesses!  Discover New Eateries!  Explore Downtown!
 Enjoy an Otherwise Boring Tuesday Evening!

The Big Eat is one of our favorite times of year to get out and try a new restaurant!  With signature dishes up to 50% off (dine in only) it's a great opportunity to experience some of the Triad's finest. 

There is a specific signature dish offered with discount for The Big Eat.  See each restaurant's signature dish on Triad Local here.  Take it from our experience, reservations are recommended.

The Big Eat begins this week!  Winston-Salem dates are January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7. Greensboro dates are February 21, 28, March 7, 14 and 21. 

Winston-Salem
Week 1, Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Week 2, Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Week 3, Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Week 4, Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Week 5, Tuesday, February 7, 2017

6th and Vine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bernardin's Restaurant at Zevely House 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bibs Downtown 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bleu Restaurant and Bar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Camino Bakery 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Hutch and Harris 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Jeffrey Adams on Fourth 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Local 27101 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Mellow Mushroom 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Quanto Basta Italian Eatery & Wine Bar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Senor Bravo 1, 2
Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Thai Harmony 1, 2, 3
The Old Fourth Street Filling Station 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Tre Nonne 1, 2
Twin City Slice 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Vin 205 at Wine Merchants 1, 2
Mooney's Mediterranean Cafe 2

Greensboro
Week 7, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Week 8, Tuesday March 7, 2017
Week 9, Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Week 10, Tuesday, Mach 21, 2017

Mellow Mushroom, Greensboro 7, 8, 9, 10

By Jessica Thomas Lewis

What is a White Flag Warming Center?

In Greensboro, that is an additional emergency center that allows people to get in out of the cold.  A large heated space with chairs rather than bed, these centers are opened when the temperature drops to a wind chill of 25 degrees or colder for two hours or more. 

The YWCA at 1807 E. Wendover Ave in Greensboro will be open overnight as a warming center.  That center is currently asking for donations of coffee and coffee condiments, cocoa and other beverages.  It is also asking for snacks and playing cards. 

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In Greensboro, there are shelter beds at the Greensboro Urban Ministry, Weaver Extension Shelters and the Greensboro YWCA.    There are White Flag Warming Centers at the YWCA, Greensboro Urban Ministry and the Interactive Resource Center.  

Learn more about the Greensboro centers here.  

In Winston-Salem there are several shelters for the homeless including the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, Bethesda Center for the Homelss, Salvation Army Family Shelter and the Samaritan Inn.  For more details about these and other shelters in Winston-Salem go here. 

Winston-Salem has many emergency shelters hosted by citywithdwellings.  Learn more here. 

In High Point there are resources such as Pathways and Partnership Village Transitional Housing and the Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network for homeless families.  For information about these shelters for families go here. 

In Alamance County, Allied Churches of Alamance County work together to house the homeless and feed the hungry.  The ACAC emergency shelter is open 24/7 and has dorm style lodging for single guests and more private spaces for families.   ACAC has long list of needs.  To learn how you can help go here. 

In Asheboro the Shelter of Hope is safe shelter, food and support service for homeless men.  For information about how to assist or receive assistance with the Shelter of Hope, message them here.

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By Jessica Thomas Lewis

Celebrating it's 50th and final season, you do not want to miss Pilot Mountain Christmas.  Spanning four acres, park your car and walk the trails of lights and figures through Santa's Enchanted Forest.   

Admission is free but donations are accepted.   Canned food donations are also accepted for a local food pantry. 

This was the third visit for the Stansberry family of Winston-Salem.  Their favorite part is seeing all of the really old decorations.    Over the decades, owners Larry and Rachel Charpiat have added such attractions as animated windows, Santa's workshop, and an animated Disney-themed "Mickey's Playhouse".    

"Our favorite part is seeing all of the really old decorations. The ones you know have to have come from the 60s and 70s. Especially all of the old Disney decorations. The Disney displays inside the cases are by far our favorite. We love looking at them as a family and trying to find all of the different Disney characters that we know and love." Amelia Stansberry

Pilot Mountain Christmas is open 6-10pm every night until January 1, 2017.  Parking is also free.  Although there is room for 200 cars, carpooling is recommended, especially on the weekends.

Walk through the trails at your pace.  To take it all in, expect it to take 30-45 minutes.  There is free hot chocolate; Amelia recommends getting it at the end so that your hands are free to take pictures!

Santa visits Pilot Mountain this Friday, December 16 from 6-9pm, Saturday December 17 from 6-9pm and Friday December 23 from 6-9pm,

The address is 4236 NC 268 Hwy E. Pilot Mountain NC 27041. 

For further information about Pilot Mountain Christmas go to their website here.  

To see our full list of holiday events, go to our Holiday Event Guide here.