Impending Hurricane Causes Closings

The impending hurricane is causing a disruption of services and events all over the area, including here in Clayton.


The Saturday downtown Farmers Market has been called off for this weekend, and the Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library will be closed.

In addition, the Clayton Community Center will be closed, as well, though it may reopen in the afternoon Saturday once the storm passes.

Police and Fire officials have set up a temporary control center at Fire Station No. 1 downtown in the event that emergency services are needed when Hurricane Irene hits the area on Saturday.

Electric service interruptions are also a concern in extreme weather. If the storm hits the Clayton area harder than expected and customers of Clayton Public Power experience a service interruption, they can report the problem by calling 919-553-1530.

Hurricane Irene, a large, powerful hurricane, is continuing on a collision-course with the NC coast.

DPM Studios Open House TONIGHT!

Clayton Farm & Community Market CLOSED Tomorrow Due To Hurricane Irene

Message from the CFCM Board of Directors: "Due to the impeding weather, The Clayton Farm & Community Market will be CLOSED THIS SATURDAY!! The Market will resume regular hours on Labor Day Saturday, September 3, 2011. Please take preventive measures to keep your families safe!"

In the meantime, visit Lee's Produce at 401 W Main Street - they may be closed Saturday, also, but will be Sunday and all week long!

Extension of Front Street "Moving Forward"

Town officials are moving ahead with plans to extend Front Street from Mills Street all the way to NC 42.

The design phase of the project, which includes an environmental study, is expected to take a few months, with construction beginning sometime next year.

"We are very pleased to be funded and moving forward. This is an important and beneficial project," Town Manager Steve Biggs said.

The nearly mile-long stretch of street will have curbs and gutters with a five-foot sidewalk on one side and a 10-foot multi-use asphalt path on the other that will be part of the effort to provide walking trails through town.

Town officials say the extension is badly needed to provide an alternate east-west route into downtown. Along with easing traffic congestion, it would also allow emergency vehicles from Fire Station No. 2 an easier path to downtown and the north part of town, as well as access from the northeast area to the Post Office without having to cross railroad tracks.

The extension will also open the area up for development, as well as improving access to the Clayton Spinning Mill property, which would better facilitate redevelopment.

Most of the estimated $1.6 million cost will be paid by the state, with much of the town's part paid by a local developer whose land will be opened up by the work.

Specials from the Flipside & Special Luau!

Saturday 8/20 we are having a special Luau event. From 3:30 - 7:30 pm, DJ Ray will be playing music and Karaoke



From 8:30 PM Until Johnny Orr and Band will be performing. There will be drink and food specials. Prizes for the best Luau outfit. It will be fun.



FlipSide Specials for the week of 8/15 – 8/20/11

Lunch

$5 Burger-1/4 lb. Angus with L.T.O. and choice of cheese. Served with Steak fries
$6 Soup and grill cheese-Corn Chowder
$6 Hawaiian Dog-Nathan's foot long with peach salsa and Pepper jack cheese with Steak Fries
$7 Blackened Scallop cake with sliced tomato and slaw on Kaiser served with Steak Fries.

Available at Lunch or Dinner-

$8 Burger of the Week-Aloha Burger 1/4 lb. Angus burger with Teriyaki, grilled pineapple, grilled onion and ham with choice of cheese and L.T.O. with choice of side.

$10 Appetizer Seafood Sliders one each Scallop cake and Crab cake on a petite roll with lettuce and tomato served with steak fries.

Dinner

$11 Catch of the Day-2 Fish Tacos-Grilled Swai fillet on a flour tortilla with lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, mixed fruit and veggie salsa, and Hawaiian sauce. Served with choice of side.

$13 Pasta of the Day-Hawaiian style sweet marinara with pineapple, cherry tomatoes, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, and shrimp tossed with shell pasta. Served with side salad and bread.

$14 Tuna Carpaccio 8 oz. Tuna steak with capers, tri colored peppers, red onion, with a blended Balsamic sauce over a small bed of greens with fresh lemon wedges.

$16 Sweet, Smokey ,Spicy Rubbed Beef Tenderloin with Grilled Pineapple salsa and Coconut rice.

***Weekly Specialty Cheese Cakes by Sherry ask your server for this week’s flavor***

Fun Times at Downtown Dance Party Last Night

Around 50 folks attended last night's "Downtown Clayton Dance Party" on Horne Square at Main & Lombard streets. It was the second event of its type sponsored by the Clayton Downtown Development Association Inc. in conjunction with DPM Studios.

This event's theme was swing dancing, and about 20 dancers participated in the lessons taught by DPM Studio owner Raquel Williams. The other's all watched!

Here's a link to one of the earlier lessons and here's one to a line dance Raquel taught the group later in the evening.

For more photos click here.

Central Park Band Performs at Next Town Square Concert on August 18

The next Clayton Town Square Concert will feature The Central Park Band Thursday, August 18 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Clayton Town Square, 100 W Main Street in downtown.

This will be The Central Park Band’s second appearance at the Clayton Town Square Concert Series. The band is based in Clayton and feature Casey Coats and Marty Gilbert as lead singers, Tom Bagley on guitar, Craig Pulley on bass, George Coghill on drums and John Fichera on keybords. Their vast repertoire includes playing music from the Beatles to the Black Eyed Pea’s. CPB specializes in audience participation, encouraging people to dance!

Sponsors of the 2011 Clayton Town Square Concert Series are the Town of Clayton, Grifols, Clayton Steakhouse, Hometowne Realty, The Flipside Restaurant, Clayton News-Star and Joe Mama’s Mobile Stages and KB Homes.

Several downtown restaurants offer pre-concert dinner specials, including The Flipside at 408 E Second Street, Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street, Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant, 217 E Main Street as well as Festejos Mexican Grill, 905 E Main Street, Primo Pizza, 226 E Main and Lucky Chicken Peruvian Restaurant, 312 E Main Street.

Residents of Clayton are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for this “free” public concert. There are several local vendors to provide light refreshments and food. The Clayton Downtown Development Association, Inc. will once again serve beer and wine. Coolers and alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought in to the Town Square.

All concert dates are the third Thursday of the month from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Town Square at 100 W Main Street in downtown Clayton

May 19 Hip Pocket Band

June 2 Nantucket

June 16 Johnny Orr Band

July 21 Craig Woolard Band

August 18 Central Park Band

Sept 15 The Castaways

The Clayton Downtown Development Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to coordinate revitalization work in the historic downtown district. The Clayton DDA advocates and provides business improvement services in the downtown district, administers incentives for downtown improvements, and organizes several special events, including the Town Square Concert Series, and the Christmas Village & Tree Lighting.

For more information on the series contact DowntownClayton@gmail.com.

“Downtown Clayton Dance Party” Set to Swing Tomorrow at Horne Square

The second “Downtown Clayton Dance Party” will be held Thursday August 11 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm with a Swing theme.

The Clayton Downtown Development Association, Inc. (CDDA) has partnered with DPM Studios owner Raquel Williams to provide some swing dance lessons and then a dance party under the stars at Horne Square at Main & Lombard streets.

“The first ‘Dance Party’ attracted about 50 people which was great for lessons,” said CDDA Promotion Committee Chair, Debbie Romano. “Everyone who attended said they really enjoyed it and wanted us to continue the event.”

The $5 per person dance lesson, taught by Ms. Williams, will be held from 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm and then she will play swing music from various eras until 9:00 pm for people to enjoy. Refreshments will include Pelican Sno-balls, DD&J’s Kettle Corn and the CDDA will provide beer, wine and soft drinks.

"Swing dance" is a group of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s, although the earliest of these dances predate swing jazz music. The best known of these dances is Lindy Hop, a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today. While the majority of swing dances began in African American communities as vernacular African American dances, some swing dances, developed in ethnic communities.

Today there are swing dance scenes in many countries. Each local swing dance community has a distinct local culture and defines "swing dance", and the "appropriate" music to accompany it, in different ways.

DPM Studios, located at 468 E Second Street, offers instruction for various types of dance, including salsa, Latin, ballroom, east and west coast swing, country western, and even line dancing. They are available for onsite instruction at parties, reunions and wedding receptions.

The Clayton Downtown Development Association’s mission is to lead the redevelopment of Clayton’s historic downtown as a primary art, cultural and social center.

For more information call Clayton Downtown Development at 553-1545 or DPM Studios at 655-5346 or send an email to claytondowntown@gmail.com. Updates can be found at www.downtownclayton.org.

FlipSide Specials for the week of 8/1 – 8/6/11

From the Flipside - 408 E Second Street

Lunch

$5 Burger-1/4 lb. Angus burger with choice of cheese and L.T.O. with steak fries.

$6 Nacho Chili Dog-1/3 lb. Nathan's Foot long hotdog with Jalapeños, Grilled onion, meat chili sauce and Nacho cheese topped with green onion and served with Steak fries.

$6 Soup and Grill cheese-Buffalo Chicken Soup

$7 Fish Soft Taco-Tempura fried Swai fillet with Cheddar cheese, Lettuce, and Watermelon/Mango Salsa. Served with steak fries.

$8 Bruchetta Chicken wrap with sautéed spinach and onions, fresh mozzarella, tomato bruchetta and grilled chicken on choice of wrap and choice of side

$8 Burger of the Week-Philly style burger with sautéed peppers, onions, and mushrooms with provolone cheese, and lettuce and tomato. Served with choice of side.



Dinner

$8 Appetizer-Crab Stuffed Baked Mushrooms

$10 Blackened Shrimp and Blue cheese salad-Mixed salad with Blue cheese crumbles and Blackened Shrimp served with choice of dressing.

Catch of the Day

$12 Firecracker Swai-Sweet and spicy balsamic chili sauce with ginger. Served with side of Mac and cheese and coleslaw.

Pasta of the Day

$13 Shrimp and Scallop Scampi served with side salad and bread.

$16 Balsamic glazed mushroom and feta steak with Basmati veggie rice and veg. Served with bread

Featuring fresh homemade local cheese cakes for dessert.

Ask your server for today's flavor.