What's the most N.C. movie?

Actress Amy Adams recently celebrated her birthday. I only know this because my good friend Kevin Brewer (@RealKevinBrewer) mentioned it on Twitter by referencing three of her best roles, which included her stint on TV's "The Office."

No. 1 on Kevin's list was "Junebug." My response was "Junebug is the most authentically North Carolina film. Not even close."

If you are not familiar with it, "Junebug" involves a HIGHLY dysfunctional family in central N.C. (it was actually filmed in and around Winston-Salem). The older, more urbane brother in the family has moved to Chicago, met an English art expert and essentially turned his back on his family and his old life in Cackalacky. But -- TWIST! -- his art aficionado girlfriend wants to check out the bizarre and intriguing art of a mentally challenged man -- in N.C.! So they must come home to visit the brother's family, which includes Adams in the role of the younger brother's wife. Oh, and they live with his parents. Adams' character Ashley is ENAMORED with the big city Madeleine - and it's painful, charming and funny. To wit: here is Ashley thinking about her brother-in-law's girlfriend, whom she is about to meet:

I wonder what she looks like. I bet she's skinny. She probably is. She's skinnier'n me and prettier too. Now I'll hate her. Oh, I can't wait! 

Kevin Brewer is right: Adams is SO GOOD in this role. Here's more.



The authentic parts of the movie show up in ways that normally are butchered in film: the setting and accents. "Junebug" nails both, right down to the small details inside the homes, the church reception hall... everywhere. Heck, there are even scenes filmed at Greensboro's Replacements -- where employees discuss the Carolina Panthers!

The only thing that comes as close to "nailing" N.C. is perhaps Danny McBride's "Eastbound and Down" or his earlier "The Fist Foot Way." "Talladega Nights" has some spot-on moments, too, for sure. But even all of those are more caricature in nature.



North Carolina has a legacy with film-making, no doubt about it. Oodles of movies have been made here. But what other films are spot-on with capturing the state? It's hard to top "Junebug." Go watch it.

You don't stand a chance against The Fighting ... Pickles?

Some friends and I were recently discussing some of the best mascots. Yes, I'm biased to the Wolfpack, and we have some great ones here in N.C., but I also admit that the UC Santa Cruz  Banana Slugs are pretty tough to beat. But in that discussion someone mentioned the Fighting Pickles from the UNC School of the Arts.

This got my attention for three reasons:

1. First, well, Pickles. Duh. 
2. Secondly, this mascot has been around SINCE 1972?!!! 
3. Third, I didn't know UNCSA even had athletics. Welp, it turns out you don't necessarily have to have sports to have a mascot. So kudos to UNCSA for doing just that.

"The landscape of this country is littered with meaningless and – worse – unimaginative team names reflecting who knows what about their schools," says the official history of the mascot, courtesy of Francis Perry. "But…..Pickles….A name to be proud of – a name born of an existential psychodrama worthy of what each of us knows as 'The NCSA Experience.' "

And, oh, yes: it's not just a name. There is an actual mascot. Don't believe me?

The school is, rightfully, proud of their unique mascot. It is, in fact, a big "dill." You can even take a quiz to see what kind of pickle you are. (Full disclosure: I'm apparently a Film-making Pickle!)

If you want to show your support, you can even purchase a t-shirt.

Image courtesy of the UNC School of the Arts website.

Raleigh passes Cleveland, Durham passes W-S in population estimates

Raleigh is now the 43rd largest city in America, bumping Cleveland from that spot, based on population estimates, according to Buffalo Business First.

Projected populations are generated by a computer formula that Business First developed in 2000 and recalibrates annually. The formula uses a decade of U.S. Census Bureau data to extrapolate growth trends.

In addition, Durham is now the fourth largest city in the state, bypassing Winston-Salem. The Bull City had 237,214 residents as of Nov. 22, while Winston-Salem boats an estimated population of 234,268. A year ago, Winston-Salem had 229,828 residents, compared to 229,171 in Durham.

Raleigh remains firmly entrenched as the second biggest city in North Carolina. With a population of 426,708, Raleigh ranks comfortably ahead of Greensboro (260,927) but well behind Charlotte (729,781).

The Queen City boasts a No. 18 ranking nationally. Raleigh is 43rd, Greensboro 72nd, Durham 84th and Winston Salem 85th.

Six to receive top N.C. award

Six North Carolinians will be honored with the highest civilian award the state bestows in a ceremony at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh Thursday, says the AP.

Among those receiving the North Carolina Award are Winston-Salem attorney Mike Leonard, High Point poet and author Carole Boston Weatherford, Greenville artist and teacher Robert Ebendorf, and Asheville painter and sculptor Donald Sultan.

Also being recognized are Margaret S. Newman of Winston-Salem, chairman of the board of directors of the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, and F. Ivy Carroll, a scientist in the field of medicinal chemistry.

The North Carolina Awards were created by the General Assembly in 1961 and have been presented annually since 1964. It recognizes contributions to the state and nation in fine arts, literature, public service and science.

Quick hits: 49ers football close to happening, and Daughtry gives some love to a W-S theater

49ers football program needs one more signature

"UNC Charlotte’s first on-campus football stadium is now just a governor’s signature away from becoming a reality," according to reports.

"The N.C. General Assembly passed a bill last week that allows the school to borrow $40 million for the construction of a new 15,000-seat football stadium, field house and practice fields to house the Charlotte 49ers’ new football program, scheduled to start play in fall 2013.

"Gov. Beverly Perdue is expected to sign the bill as early as next week. The school plans to mark the event with a celebration among supporters sometime after Perdue gives final approval. ..."

New Daughtry music video highlights theater

"A refurbished former silent movie theater in North Carolina has a starring role in the newest music video from Daughtry," according to the AP.

"The video for the song 'September' was shot earlier this month at the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The center in Winston-Salem dates to 1929, when it was a silent movie theater. It's now the primary performance venue for the arts school.

"The video premiered online Friday on the music network VEVO. The song is from Daughtry's platinum-selling album, 'Leave This Town.' ..."

Our state's food: The Tar Heel 25

The Raleigh News & Observer has put together a list (and multimedia slideshow) of the "Tar Heel 25," the 25 foods that define our state. You can read about them here.

Here are some of the highlights.

1. Banana pudding at Savor Cafe in Charlotte

2. Picking apples at Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock. "Follow the picking with the essence of apple: a cold cider slushy and a hot cider doughnut."

3. Grits souffle at Magnolia Grill in Durham.

4. North Carolina barbecue (depending on your taste -- smart move, N&O!).

5. Seafood at Catch in Wilmington

6. Beer at Barley's Taproom in Asheville

7. Pork chop sandwich at Snappy Lunch, Mount Airy

8. A high-caffeine soda. "North Carolina has a history of inventing high-caffeine sodas, including Sundrop. From there it was a simple step to the Cherry Lemon Sundrop. It originated at R.O.'s Barbecue in Gastonia (Sundrop, Cheerwine and a slice of lemon), then branched out to What-A-Burger in Mooresville (Sundrop, Fanta cherry soda and a lemon slice). Either way, it's sweet, tart and refreshing on a hot afternoon."

9. R.O.'s slaw/sauce/dip in Gastonia

10. The "little loaves of warm cornbread with honey butter" from Mert's Heart & Soul in Charlotte.

11. Honeysuckle sorbet, Crook's Corner, Chapel Hill

12. Fried chicken from Keaton's Barbecue, Statesville

13. Fried herring from the Cypress Grill, Jamesville

14. Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church barbecue, Charlotte

15. Gaynelle Tillett's fig cake from the Ocracoke Seafood Company, Ocracoke

16. A BLT from the Merritt's Store & Grill in Chapel Hill

17. Price's Chicken Coop, Charlotte

18. The 12-layer cake from Robeson County, with "thin layers of yellow cake separated by a rich chocolate frosting. Before we dig in to the country buffet at Fuller's Old Fashion Bar-B-Q in Lumberton, we always check the dessert table - just to make sure we need to save room."

19. Uncle Scott's Root Beer, Davidson

20. N.C. State University ice cream, Raleigh (on campus or at the N.C. State Fair)

21. Chili Dog from the Roast Grill, Raleigh; Ward's Grill in Whiteville; J.S. Pulliam Barbeque in Winston-Salem

22. Mama Dip's pecan pie, Chapel Hill

23. Warm Moravian sugar cake, Winston-Salem

24. Varnamtown Oyster Roast. "The congregation of the Dixon Chapel United Methodist Church has hosted the event for more than 50 years. The line of people waiting to eat their fill of roasted oysters, hushpuppies and sweet pickles is a testament to the eating experience. To look like a pro, bring your own homemade sauce and roll of paper towels."

25. Salt-and-pepper catfish from Twin Tops Fish Camp in Belmont

Any obvious omissions? Any problems with these on the list?

KK poised for a profit

After weathering first the Atkins Diet Craze and then a vast economic recession, Winston-Salem-based Krispy Kreme is on the brink of a profit, according to its chairman.

The company just barely missed posting its first profitable year since 2004 despite having a fourth-quarter profit of $520,000, says MCT.

Jim Morgan, the company's chairman, president and chief executive, cautioned at the 2008 shareholders meeting that there likely will be some "unevenness" in quarterly performance for up to two years.

''During fiscal 2010, we made substantial progress in building a stronger foundation for our company and improving our business model," Morgan said in a statement. "We generated positive company same-store sales in all four quarters despite the difficult economy, while also delivering substantially higher operating income."

He said that the company expects to show a profit in fiscal 2011.

''We are working vigorously to continue implementation of our strategic plans and, in doing so, we believe we are setting the stage for additional and more robust growth in revenues and earnings in fiscal 2012 and beyond," Morgan said.

The company reported Thursday that its loss for fiscal 2010, which ended Jan. 31, was $157,000, compared with a loss of about $4 million in fiscal 2009. ...

Krispy's share price slipped 8 cents to close at $4.96 yesterday -- 19 cents below its 52-week high of $5.15 set on Tuesday. Because of the company's financial difficulties in recent years, coverage of its stock has been dropped by most analysts.

"KK" plans to add seven to 10 company stores, along with 35 to 45 domestic and international franchise shops.

Asheville, Hickory & Wilmington: Overvalued cities?

A new study that lists the most overvalued and undervalued places to live in America places Asheville, Hickory and Wilmington in the "bad" column.

"A CNN website rating 330 cities across the country shows Wilmington is a bad deal for real estate, ranked 15th on the list," says WECT.

[Click here to see America's most overvalued cities]

While the study may or may not be accurate, experts agree that when you look into the details of how the research was compiled, you can see why Wilmington is near the top of the list.

Economist Dr. William Hall says bad loans are to blame, but also believes things are improving.

"Things are not declining as much as they have in the past," said Hall. "In fact, sales have may in fact stabilize, or beginning to increase. I'm not so sure prices have reached their low point but they are close to it."

The good news -- from the state's standpoint -- is a number of N.C. cities are on the undervalued list. Among those are Burlington, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Winston-Salem.

Krispy Kreme about to go crazy in Asia

Winston-Salem-based doughnut (some call them little bits of Heaven) maker Krispy Kreme said that one of its franchisees has opened the doughnut maker's first store in Shanghai, China.

"KKD Lotte Holdings Company Ltd. operates the new shop at the In-Point Shopping Mall on the Wu-Jiang pedestrian walkway. KKD Lotte also is Krispy Kreme's franchisee in the Republic of Korea and Japan, according to a news release [via the News & Record].

"This is the first of 35 Krispy Kreme shops the franchisee plans to open during the next five years [emphasis mine]."

An N.C. present for the Italian prez

Personally, I think this says a lot about how far North Carolina wines have come ...

President Barack Obama presented Italian President Giorgio Napolitano this morning with a gift from North Carolina [according to the N&O's Under the Dome].

Obama, meeting with Napolitano prior to the G-8 Summit, presented the Italian president with a variety of American wines. Included in the package was a 2008 Raffaldini Vineyards Vermentino.

Raffaldini Vineyards is in Ronda, between Winston-Salem and Wilkesboro, and the vinyard's owners were thrilled to have their wine included in the gift.

“Raffaldini Vineyards is honored to have been selected to represent the U.S. and is proud that our preservation and promotion of our Italian heritage and culture have been recognized,” co-owner Barbara Raffaldini said in a release.

A release from the vineyard notes that the Vermentino grape is "most famously cultivated in Sardinia," and that Raffaldini Vineyards was among the first to plant the grape in the U.S.

The vineyard says the 2008 vintage "is characterized by its lively green apple and lime flavors and refreshing acidity."

'Peak of Good Living' .... 'City of Oaks' ... 'Clogging Capital of the World' and other N.C. nicknames

You gotta love Wikipedia. Wanna know the GPS coordinates of Schuyler, Nebraska? No problem. Ever wondered who was the first person to swim the English Channel? Bingo. Wanna know how fireflies produce light? You got it.

And if you want to know what are the nicknames of North Carolina places, then you can (kinda-sorta) find that too. Of course, it being Wikipedia and all, some of the ones listed are possibly incorrect or just plain not something the local Chamber of Commerce is likely to promote. (Ex: "Torture City" or "Fayettenam" for Fayetteville.)

But it's still neat to see a repository of some of these nicknames. For instance, most people know that North Carolina has two places known as the "Paris of ..." Asheville is the "Paris of the South" (not listed by Wikipedia, by the way), while Carrboro is the "Paris of the Piedmont."

Speaking of fireflies, I had no idea that Boone was the "Firefly Capital of the World." Other "Capitals" include Calabash ("Seafood Capital of the World"), Chadbourn ("Strawberry Capital of the World"), Erwin ("Denim Capital of the World"), High Point ("Furniture Capital of the World"), Maggie Valley ("Clogging Capital of the World") and Pinehurst ("Golf Capital of the World").

Of course flora and fauna play into some of the nicknames as well: Brevard ("Home of the white squirrels"), Fayetteville ("City of Dogwoods") and Raleigh ("City of Oaks").

As with the aforementioned "Fayettenam," there are several "unofficial" nicknames out there: Cary ("Conentrated Area of Relocated Yankees") and Greenville ("G-Vegas" -- or the cynical "G-Wilson" and "The Emerald City") come to mind.

Other place nicknames include:

Apex - Peak of Good Living
Brevard - Land of Waterfalls
Chapel Hill - The Southern Part of Heaven
Charlotte - the Queen City
Durham - City of Medicine
Fayetteville - All-America City; Tar Heel Town
Greensboro - The Gate City
Hendersonville - City of Four Seasons
Kannapolis - City of Looms
Raleigh - Raleighwood
Thomasville - Chair City
Winston-Salem - Twin City
Wilmington - The Hollywood of the East

What are some other place nicknames that we've left off?

(Image from drivehq.com)

Krispy Kreme may yet survive the kollapsing ekonomy

Krispy Kreme is a North Carolina institution: over the years, thousands of N.C. children have raised funds for their schools and youth groups by peddling boxes of hot glazed doughnuts, and the company is as interwoven to state culture as NASCAR, college basketball and barbecue. North Carolinians are about as provincial and stubborn in the great doughnut battle (Krispy Kreme vs. that sorry upstart Dunkin' Dougnuts) as they are about Eastern-style Barbecue vs. Lexington.

But that doesn't mean the Winston-Salem doughnut maker will survive the global economic recession.

Oddly enough, it may just be the global marketplace that saves the company, says the Winston-Salem Journal.

Krispy Kreme's "growing international sales could be the key ingredient in keeping Krispy Kreme independent and out of bankruptcy -- a fate that some analysts have predicted for this year."

All of which means that the jobs of 3,829 employees, including 414 in Winston-Salem and another 76 in the Triad, are riding on Krispy Kreme's ability to make its doughnuts a lifestyle choice rather than an occasional treat in markets as diverse as China, Kuwait and Turkey.

More than 80 percent of Krispy Kreme's stores are operated by franchisees, and 57 percent of its 526 stores are based outside the United States, as of Jan. 31.

Kristin Graham, a senior analyst for The Motley Fool, a financial-services company, said she questions whether Krispy Kreme will be able to survive because of the level of debt it took on during its ill-fated domestic expansion strategy under a previous top executive, Scott Livengood.

"But if there is a life preserver for Krispy Kreme, it would be its international sales," Graham said. "If they can expand and establish the brand correctly overseas, it could be enough to carry them through 2009."

The company plans to open at least 75 stores in just China, Malaysia and Turkey by 2013. ...

Here's to hoping "KK" (as it's called in our household) survives and flourishes. There's just not really anything quite like a hot glazed doughnut, straight off the glazing journey.

Economy effecting Harrah's, Old Salem

Not that this should surprise anyone, but one of the state's oldest tourist attractions and one of its newest are being severely impacted by the national economic crisis.

The Citizen-Times reports that Harrah's Casino in the mountains is "facing job cuts for the first time in its 11-year history."

The casino will reduce its work force this year by 5 percent, or about 100 jobs. The company is making the cuts voluntary at first, with offers of severance to workers based on years of service.Harrah's managers told employees about the plan in a meeting Monday.

General manager Darold Londo said in a statement the casino would turn to layoffs if the reduction isn't achieved voluntarily. He said the weak economy has meant fewer customers.

The casino has enjoyed steady growth since it opened in the fall of 1997, becoming one of the region's largest private employers, with about 1,800 workers. ...

In addition, the payments to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which owns the casino, were also down for the first time.

"The tribe's 13,500 members receive a check twice a year from casino profits. The last check of the year, issued Dec. 1, was $4,473 for each member, an 11 percent drop from June."

A little further east and north, Old Salem announced it will lay off workers and "change the way it tells its story to tourists," according to the News & Record of Greensboro.

The museum will trim its staff from 120 to 95 full-time workers and from 103 to 79 part-time workers through voluntary retirements and layoffs, said Lee French, the president of Old Salem Inc. ...

Some of the positions have been vacant for some time and will not be filled. A few full-time positions will be converted to part time. ...

Old Salem's management and its board of directors have worked on the plan for about six months, French said. ...

But laying people off and cutting costs can't be the end of the story, he said. Old Salem needs new ideas and new energy to attract visitors.

''I don't think you can just lay off and expect the world to get better," French said. ...

The museum is changing the way it does its tours, starting next Tuesday. Currently, people pay $21 for a one-day ticket that gives them admission to buildings in the village and a history of life there.

Under the reorganization, visitors would pay $21 for a two-day ticket. The history of the village in the 18th and 19th century would be presented on alternate days.

Winston and Salem's baseball team no longer the Warthogs

Winston-Salem still has a minor league baseball team, but they are no longer the Warthogs.

Instead, the team will be known as the "Dash," a "nod to the hyphen between 'Winston' and 'Salem' and the city's history," says the Journal.

"The team unveiled the new name -- and the new logo, uniforms, colors and mascot -- at a midday party yesterday at the Millennium Center downtown."

(Warning: This part coming up does not sound promising. ...)

"The team's mascot is a yet-to-be-named red furry animal, a cartoonish cross between a bear and a dog with a mohawk and lightning bolts over its ears."

The team's owners and managers collected more than 3,000 submissions for the new team nickname, then narrowed those to five. The team eliminated the four others -- Rhinos, Aviators, Wallbangers and Racers -- after talking with corporate sponsors and season-ticket holders, Kevin Terry, the team's president, said.

"A lot of people leaned toward the Dash," Terry said. "You can't have Winston-Salem without the dash, and then it ties into baseball because you can dash around the bases and an outfielder can dash after a ball."

A little N.C. flavor in Copenhagen

"There is a distinctively North Carolina flavor at the American ambassador's home in the Danish capital," writes the Winston-Salem Journal.

"Paintings by artists from the state adorn the walls of 'Rydhave,' a house noted for its beauty and history. And business leaders from North Carolina who recently visited found the state flag flying outside and a meal of barbecue, biscuits and pecan pie imported from the Tarheel state.

"The decor and dishes reflect the heritage of Jim Cain, who grew up in Winston-Salem and uses his home-state's heritage to put the best face on American foreign diplomacy."

Read on for more about Cain, who has worked in Raleigh as an attorney, businessman and even president of the Carolina Hurricanes. (Cain even once used the same Raleigh barber as one certain blogger. Ahem.)

"Public attitudes toward the U.S. have worsened throughout Western Europe since the onset of the Iraq War," said Pete Furia, a professor of political science at Wake Forest University.

"However, official relations between the U.S. and Denmark over the same period have been warmer than those between the U.S. and larger European countries like Germany and France."

Cain has "encouraged Danes to visit his home state," says the paper.

"He helped Danish students spend time in both North Carolina and Winston-Salem through various exchange programs during the past three years. He also came to Winston-Salem with the Danish ambassador to the United States, Friis Petersen, in 2006 to speak to law students at Wake Forest."

Quick hits: Two Winston-Salem legends in the news

Maya Angelou celebrates her 80 years of joy and pain
"In the dining room of her elegantly restored Harlem town house, beneath painted clouds on a light blue ceiling, Maya Angelou is asked how it feels to be turning 80.

" 'Exciting! she says with a broad smile, then adds: 'The body knows. The bones don't let you forget.'

"The woman who defies a simple label — Angelou has been a memoirist, poet, civil rights activist, actress, director, professor, singer and dancer — is getting an early birthday gift," says USA Today.

"Two longtime friends and her niece, who is Angelou's archivist, have collaborated on an illustrated book, Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration (Doubleday, $30), a tribute and scrapbook, that will be published Tuesday. ...

"What she does like is to be called Dr. Angelou. Although she never went to college, she has been awarded more than 30 honorary degrees. Since 1981, she has been a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. ..."

Grier to be honored in her hometown
"Actress Pam Grier will be honored next month during an N.C. film festival.

"The Winston-Salem Journal reports Grier will receive a master of cinema award during the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem. The festival runs April 23-28," says the Associated Press.

"Grier appears in the Showtime series 'The L Word.' She's best known for starring in movies in the 1970s.

"Grier was born in Winston-Salem in 1949. Her family later settled in Colorado, where she graduated high school. ..."