When I talk to people at Elon University about the intersection of business, science, engineering and the arts the expression I hear most is cross-disciplinary. It's about meeting the growing demand by students for multiple fields of study often in wide-ranging disciplines. By extension there is also a demand by employers for students with a … Continue reading Making things happen at Elon
Downtown Burlington
Making the most of . . . making
To say that Ben Harris is interested in creating things would be a massive understatement, like saying the Grand Canyon is just a hole in the ground or that "Game of Thrones" developed something of a following. He's truly passionate about creating, innovating, tinkering, educating and, well, making. It's his life's work. It led him … Continue reading Making the most of . . . making
Bringing downtown together for coffee and community
Several weeks ago I was part of a discussion about how to raise the profile of downtown Burlington. We talked about spreading word around the Triad region. We talked about getting the message outside the city limits into neighboring cities and towns a well as Alamance County. But we kept coming back to one nagging … Continue reading Bringing downtown together for coffee and community
Building a new downtown for Burlington a block at a time
In March of 2013, which now seems like eons ago but in fact is only a fraction of time when the universe is considered, a consultant was hired to take a look at Burlington's downtown, make a few notes and then come back with a report about how to, you know, make it decent. In … Continue reading Building a new downtown for Burlington a block at a time
Updated: What’s on tap at Burlington Beer Works
UPDATE ON APRIL 4, 2019: Burlington Beer Works will begin offering sampling flights today. Four 5.5-ounce pours for $7. Yay! Time to get some samples! About a week and a half ago, on March 16, Burlington's much-anticipated downtown brewpub took part in a street festival held to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, or rather St. Patrick's … Continue reading Updated: What’s on tap at Burlington Beer Works
Let it flow at Burlington Beer Works
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
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
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
Keeping a successful used bookstore in downtown Burlington
I got a message last week from Bennett Harris, the owner of Steam Junction, downtown Burlington's maker space. He was letting me know that Shawna Gentert, our colleague on the Burlington Downtown Corporation Board of Directors and owner with her husband Herb of Persnickety Books, would be leaving the area soon. The family is returning … Continue reading Keeping a successful used bookstore in downtown Burlington
Good homes for Don Bolden’s images of Alamance County
My one-time newspaper editor and longtime friend Don Bolden had by his own estimation more than 2,000 photos in his possession at the time of his death. They are images of Burlington, Graham, Elon and other points in Alamance County dating to his start in media as a photographer for his high school newspaper just … Continue reading Good homes for Don Bolden’s images of Alamance County
Madison's Avenue 