It was just after 2 p.m. on Friday (March 15, 2019) and Tracy Schmidt is in the middle of a conversation with Sharon Dent. They are on the second floor in the new Burlington Beer Works microbrewery and restaurant overlooking Front and Main Streets in downtown Burlington. Schmidt, the general manager, and Dent, president of … Continue reading Let it flow at Burlington Beer Works
Author: madisontdawg
Saving and expanding Burlington’s downtown bookstore
Burlington will keep its downtown bookstore after all. Let me be the first to say, "Yay!" Some might remember that back in December I wrote about the looming departure of Persnickety Books, a used bookstore on Davis Street. The closing, set for this winter, was a shame because the enterprise is a successful one. And, … Continue reading Saving and expanding Burlington’s downtown bookstore
Book review: ‘Football for a Buck”; or, how Donald Trump killed the USFL
'Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL'; by Jeff Pearlman; 2018; Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Publishing Co.; 366 pages. Near the end of "Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL," author Jeff Pearlman's 366-page lament about the brief three-season life of a professional football … Continue reading Book review: ‘Football for a Buck”; or, how Donald Trump killed the USFL
Burlington: Where the sidewalks end and development begins
Two items on today's (Feb. 7) Region section page of the Burlington Times-News got my attention. One was the print headline: "Council tables townhouse decision." Online the headline on the same story is: "Again, Burlington Council holds off on Garden Road development." Under either headline I'm bitterly opposed to this project and I'm glad the … Continue reading Burlington: Where the sidewalks end and development begins
Getting reoriented in downtown Burlington
One of the things I miss about working in downtown Burlington is actually being a part of the fabric of what's there. When I worked at the newspaper office on South Main Street I would take daily walks stretching from City Park to the depot. Starting when I returned to Burlington from 15 years on … Continue reading Getting reoriented in downtown Burlington
Picking Cotton: A story that endures
I saw the news yesterday when my wife sent over a link via email to the website Deadline Hollywood. The headline was very specific, unlike those wedged into small newspaper spaces: "Sidney Kimmel to finance & produce Jessica-Sanders-directed 'Picking Cotton.'" The names of the people involved didn't immediately mean much to me. But the title, … Continue reading Picking Cotton: A story that endures
UPDATE: Congressman Walter Jones: Humility in a town of arrogance
UPDATE: I first posted this on Jan. 28 after learning that U.S. Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina was placed in Hospice care. Today he passed away, his family announced. Rest in peace Walter. My condolences to the family and friends of Rep. Jones. Peace to you all. ------------------------- I saw over the weekend that … Continue reading UPDATE: Congressman Walter Jones: Humility in a town of arrogance
When it comes to blown calls fans have long and bitter memories
New Orleans Saints football coach Sean Payton declared on Sunday that his team will never get over what happened in the Superdome earlier that day when a missed call by game officials opened the door for the opposing Los Angeles Rams just enough to force overtime and ultimately defeat the Saints in the NFC championship … Continue reading When it comes to blown calls fans have long and bitter memories
A few of my favorite things . . .
I can pretty much condense my general interests into four basic categories: Writing, movies, books and sports. I like food and drink, too so throw that in there. But outside of those things, I'm not much for hobbies. I don't build stuff or tinker around on computers. I'm not in to gardening or keeping a … Continue reading A few of my favorite things . . .
The worst crime in Stokes County history remains a source of fascination
The first thing you notice is how small the headline is. The publication date was New Year's Day 1930 in the primary weekly newspaper covering Stokes County in that particular time. It's from the now former Danbury Reporter, founded by the Pepper family in Danbury. Today it's known as the Stokes News. It's how things … Continue reading The worst crime in Stokes County history remains a source of fascination
