"The Evolution of Radio" This Saturday!

Third Annual Blues Bash Rocks The Clayton Center Feb. 29

Blues legends Beverly “Guitar” Watkins and Albert White will pick some of the baddest blues around when they present Blues Bash III at The Clayton Center on Friday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m.

Georgia-based guitarist, singer and songwriter Beverly "Guitar" Watkins is one part soul singer, one part rockin' roadhouse mama and one part gifted songwriter. A guitar slinger since birth, Watkins’ searing, ballistic attacks on the guitar have become legendary in the blues community. A pyrotechnic maven, she is one of the few who can play a guitar behind her head like the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

Hailed by Music Maker Relief Foundation founder Timothy Duffy as “…the finest female blues guitarist of her generation,” Watkins has been chronically under-recorded for a woman with her resume. Watkins spent the early 1960's playing rhythm guitar with Piano Red & The Interns. She recorded with Piano Red from 1959 until the mid-1960's, and can be heard on his popular singles, "Doctor Feelgood" and "Right String But the Wrong Yo Yo." Watkins later joined Eddie Tigner and the Ink Spots and continued an extensive touring career performing with such luminary artists as Taj Mahal, James Brown , B.B. King and Ray Charles .

Albert White began playing guitar at an early age. His uncle, Piano Red, noticed that White was actually playing self-made chords on a ukulele at the age of nine. Red sent White to take lessons from his guitarist, Wesley Jackson. In early 1962, Albert became the bandleader for Piano Red’s “Dr. Feelgood and the Interns” where he became a lifelong friend to Watkins. When Red disbanded, White joined the “Tams” from the late 60’s to the early 70’s, and by the mid 70’s, joined Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Albert White is currently touring the globe with the Music Maker Revue.

Beverly “Guitar” Watkins and Albert White are both artists on the Music Maker Relief Foundation roster. The Foundation was created to help the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and meet their day-to-day needs. It is the goal of Music Maker to present musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.

Tickets for Blues Bash II are $15. Individual tickets may be purchased online at www.theclaytoncenter.com, by phone at 919.553.1737 or at The Clayton Center Box Office at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you plan to attend the show, consider dinner out before the auditorium doors open. The Clayton area offers a variety of restaurants for an enjoyable pre-show meal. Consider Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street, 553-2299; Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant. 217 E Main Street or The FlipSide on 408 E Second Street all in the heart of downtown. The FlipSide now offers a wine bar, the "Cork and Plate," after 5:00 p.m., featuring tappas and other light snacks. Also, Chops Steakhouse, http://chopsteakhouse.com/ 10920 Cleveland Road, Garner;

Concessions also will be available at The Clayton Center the night of the show. Cash bars featuring beer and wine, soft drinks and coffee will be open prior to the performance and during intermission. The Box Office also will be open, and tickets will be available to upcoming events.

Tickets for Blues Bash III are $15. Individual tickets may be purchased online at www.theclaytoncenter.com, by phone at 919.553.1737 or at The Clayton Center Box Office at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Blues Bash III is the fifth performance in the 2007-08 Palladian Series. The season will close with former Nickel Creek mandolin player Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers on March 29.

Creation Station offers Tropical Paradise art camp during spring break.

Registration is underway for Creation Station Spring Break Art Camp in Clayton. The fee for the entire week of camp is $100.

Registration includes participation in the awards ceremony at the end of the week. Camp is held March 24-28 for grades K-5 at Eye of the Eagle Art Center located at 131 East First Street in downtown Clayton.

Limited spaces are available; registration deadline is March 21. All art supplies are included, but please provide your child with a snack and drink each day. Camp is held from 10:00am-12:00pm everyday except Wednesday. On that day we meet from 4-6pm so that we can have a pizza party and art exhibit for our family and friends.

Contact Creation Station at 550-8135 to register.

Downtown Clayton: Vision 2012 - Goal Statements

These "Goal Statements" will guide the DDA Action Plan for the next several years. The statements are tied to the specific strategies chosen to realize the goals of the Downtown Vision.

(1)The new streetscape of Main Street thrives amid a profusion of flowers and plantings, decorative street-crossings, walkways, and interesting buildings. Downtown is well-lit and safe. Overall, Clayton has a clean, uncluttered look, especially since the utility lines were put underground.

Now a (2) diverse business center, Clayton (3) retains its small town charm as it (4) steams toward its progressive future. (5) Trendy restaurants offer sidewalk cafes and entertainment for all tastes. (6) Every storefront is occupied and (7) restored to its original architectural glory accented by attractive landscaping. (8) A variety of shops are open evenings to accommodate the needs of residents and visitors alike. (9)The open-air market provides fresh, local produce and crafts.

(10) Clayton’s growing visual and performing arts community is alive with artists and music. Public art throughout downtown provides beauty and interest. The Clayton Center continues to flourish with live professional and community performances.

(11) Attractive and informative signs welcome residents and visitors to downtown shops and parking. They guide the way to downtown from other Clayton communities.

The visitor's center provides us with maps of historic Clayton and a schedule of events, such as the Harvest Festival and Millstock, for the downtown area. The Clayton History Museum offers an interactive map and walking tour of the historical area and other points of interest.

Downtown has truly become the (12) social and cultural hub of Clayton.

For information on being involved in the Downtown Clayton Development Association's revitalization efforts, please contact DDA Chair, Joyce Blackley at bp1@dockpoint.net (919) 553-6813 or Downtown Development Coordinator, Bruce Naegelen at bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org (919) 553-1545

Black History Month Link

First Missionary Baptist Church at 304 N Lombard Street in downtown Clayton has a great summary of Black History Month on the front page of their website as well as a link to the Association for the Study of African American Life & History. They are the organization that started Black History Month.

Silberman Honored for Service to DDA

Clayton resident and former Wall Street Journal journalist Lee Silberman finished his term on the Clayton Downtown Development Association board Monday night at the close of the DDA’s regualr monthly meeting. In appreciation for his service, DDA Chair Joyce Blackley presented a plaque to Mr. Silberman. She praised his dedication and service and acknowledged his service as a volunteer prior to becoming a DDA member. Mr. Silberman was appointed to the DDA in 2004. He lives in downtown with his wife, Ruth, and will continue to volunteer his time to the DDA through its committees.


PHOTO: Lee Silberman (l) receives appreciation plaque from
DDA Chair Joyce Blackley.

MillStock 2007 Poster Recognized for Excellence

Graphic artist Rick Koobs received a certificate of Special Recognition for his design of the 2007 Millstock Music & Arts Faire poster at the 2008 NC Main Street Conference on January 31, 2008 in Rocky Mount. (l-r NC Commerce Deputy Secretary Cleve Simpson; Rick Koob and NC Commerce Secretary Jim Fain.) photography by Garry E. Hodges
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The Clayton Main Street Program today announced that a local project was recognized for its excellence in the 2007 N.C. Main Street Awards competition. Among non-winners, several significant projects were singled out for their importance, including the Millstock Music and Arts Faire poster, created by Richard Koobs, which was awarded a Certificate of Special Recognition in the category of Best Printed Promotional Item: Graphics.

The N.C. Main Street Program’s annual awards competition recognizes the outstanding achievements of particpating communities in categories reflecting the four areas emphasized by Main Street: organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion. Entries are judged by a panel that includes state Main Street program staff and other professionals in downtown development, historic preservation and the arts.

Following the judging of the 62 entries nominated by 21 of the program’s communities, Office of Urban Development Director Rodney Swink remarked, “N.C. Main Street communities continue to exemplify the best in downtown redevelopment as evidenced by this year’s award-winning work. From small projects to large, the quality of investment is outstanding and getting better. Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities are the leaders, and these projects are the models from which others will learn.”

In their comments about the entries, jury members remarked that the Millstock poster captured a nostalgic feeling of the 1960s without the psychedelics of the period. They also said that the poster portrays a sense of music, art and fun. The jury complimented the great use of type face to portray and recall an earlier era.

On January 31, 2007, Swink, N.C. Secretary of Commerce James T. Fain, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Cleve Simpson presented these awards during the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Program at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. Each winner received an Award of Merit, and Certificates of Special Recognition were presented for several outstanding non-winning entries. Projects selected for awards are:

Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
- Morganton – Morganton Trading Company AWARD

Best Fund Raising Effort
- Goldsboro – Sponsor Thank You CD Special Recognition

Best Innovation
- Salisbury – DSI/F&M Bank Revolving Fund AWARD
- Wake Forest – WFDRC Database Special Recognition

Best Economic Development Incentive Plan
- Goldsboro – Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization Plan AWARD
- Smithfield – Smithfield Historic Area Revitalization Plan (“S.H.A.R.P.”) AWARD

Best Adaptive Use Project
- Rocky Mount – Imperial Center AWARD
- Roxboro – Roxboro Community School AWARD

Best New Development / New Construction Project
- Goldsboro – Goldsboro City Hall Annex AWARD
- Salisbury – Firehouse Urban Lofts AWARD
- Smithfield – Neuse Office Complex AWARD

Best Historic Rehabilitation Project
- Rocky Mount – People’s Bank Building AWARD
- Smithfield – Smithfield Historic Masonic Lodge AWARD

Best Façade Rehabilitation Project
- Salisbury – McNeely-Young Building AWARD
- Rocky Mount – Davis Furniture Special Recognition

Best Public Building Improvement
- Salisbury – Salisbury Police Department AWARD

Best Outdoor Space Improvement
- Brevard – Brevard Sculpture Project AWARD
- Fuquay-Varina – Main Street Streetscape Phase 1 Special Recognition
- Lenoir – Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project Special Recognition

Best Downtown Special Event
Lenoir – Light Up Lenoir: Christmas 2006 AWARD
Wilson – Theater of the American South AWARD

Best Printed Promotional Item: Text and Graphics
- Statesville – Historic Downtown Statesville Brochure AWARD
- Salisbury – History & Art Trail Brochure Special Recognition

Best Printed Promotional Item: Graphics
- Goldsboro – Jazz on George T-shirt AWARD
- Clayton – Millstock Music & Arts Faire Poster Special Recognition

Based on economic revitalization within the context of historic preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation created the Main Street program to share an effective downtown revitalization strategy which they had developed for smaller towns. Selected as an original Main Street state in 1980, North Carolina has seen its program grow from five communities to 53. The economic impact of the program has grown as well. Public and private investment in North Carolina Main Street downtowns is totals more than $1 billion dollars.

The North Carolina Main Street Program provides technical assistance, education and networking opportunities to its communities. The program is part of the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.

For video of the certificate presentation, visit www.downtownclayton.blogspot.com

The 2008 Millstock Music & Arts Faire will be held June 7 at Lombard and Second Street in downtown Clayton. For more information on the daylong event, please call Jodi at (919) 550-0174.

Allsbrook to highlight art workshops

Artist to lecture on ‘Christianity and Creativity in Art’

Four other workshops planned through June

Internationally acclaimed artist Luke Allsbrook will highlight an upcoming series of art workshops sponsored by Clayton Visual Arts, including a special free, open-to-the-public lecture by Allsbrook on “Christianity and Creativity in Art.”

The lecture, to be held May 30 at the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church, will offer images of Allsbrook’s paintings while he talks about the making of art as it relates to Christianity. Allsbrook, who lives in Asheville and whose father grew up in Clayton, will discuss how faith has been vital in his creative process, and how it has provided security amid the uncertainties of a career in painting. Much of the content of Allsbrook’s paintings is driven by Christianity
He also will conduct a “plein air” session on painting oil landscapes on May 31.
Four other area artists will teach workshops from February to June. The first will be by Marcelle Hooks of Raleigh, “Vibrant Florals in Oils,” Feb. 29-March 1. She will be followed by Janie Prete of Clayton, “Playing with Creativity,” April 12; Dan Lee of Four Oaks, “Figurative Painting in Charcoal,” May 3; and Annette Libby of Smithfield, “Making Your Own Clay Tiles,” June 14 and 21.

Clayton Visual Arts, which is funded in part by the Town of Clayton Cultural Arts Fund,offers these workshops at greatly reduced rates to encourage participation of area artists who wish to improve their skills and expand their knowledge.

Larry Strevig, chair of CVA, said the workshop fees are about $100 lower than fees for similar workshops in the area. Fees range from $30 to $70 for the CVA workshops, which will be held at The Clayton Center. “We pay the artists and provide the classroom space, so that the cost to students is minimal,” he said. “These are high-quality workshops, with experienced art teachers, offering a great opportunity for local art students – especially the opportunity to study with Luke Allsbrook.”

Allsbrook, whose grandfather was superintendent of the N.C. State University Agricultural Research Farm for years, had an art exhibit at The Clayton Center in 2006.
He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Indiana University (Bloomington) and a Master of Fine Arts (cum laude) from The New York Academy of Art. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. and is included in the Forbes collection, the U.S. State Department collection, and in the collection of His Royal Highness, Charles, the Prince of Wales. Allsbrook served as official tour artist for the Prince on his 2005 state tour of the United States. He has taught drawing and painting at the New York Academy of Art, The Lyme Academy of Art, William Paterson University, UNC-Asheville, and in Italy with the University of Georgia-Cortona Program.
Workshop brochures with registration forms are available at www.johnstoncountyarts.org, from Strevig at 550-8934, from The Coffee Mill on Lombard Street and from artist Gail O’Neil’s Gallery on Main Street.

Deadline for enrolling in the first two workshops – Hooks on Feb. 29-March 1, and Prete on April 12 – is Feb. 25. Deadline for all others is March 30. Class sizes are limited, so register early.

Barry Woodard Honored as 2007 NC Main Street Champion for Clayton

On Thursday, January 31, Barry Woodard was honored as a 2007 Main Street Champion at the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in Rocky Mount. Mr. Woodard was selected for this special recognition by the Clayton Downtown Development Association in appreciation of his exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process.

Along with Champions from 32 other communities, he received a certificate commemorating his designation presented by N.C. Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Cleve Simpson, Main Street Assistant Coordinator Meg Dees and Office of Urban Development Director Rodney L. Swink, FASLA.

“The Downtown Development Association was pleased to recognize Barry Woodard as the first NC Main Street Champion from Clayton,” said DDA Chair Joyce Blackley. “He championed downtown Clayton when there wasn’t much support and got things done.”

Each of the state’s active Main Street programs is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The dedication and hard work of countless volunteers is required to make a local Main Street program successful, and the Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of those persons who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.

“Main Street is a grassroots effort and, in order to be successful, every local program must draw on its community resources—both financial and human,” said Swink. “The human resources come in a number of forms: volunteers, Main Street board members, city staff, city councils and others. There are no greater supporters of Main Street than those people who we honor here tonight, individuals who have taken their dedication to downtown to the next level—our 2007 N.C. Main Street Champions.”

“Whether donating money for a minor league ball park or repairing a broken Christmas tree, Main Street Champions are the people who do what is needed when it is needed, ensuring that the downtowns they love remain vital, vibrant places. Main Street Champions take great pride in their downtowns, and tonight we take great pride in our Main Street Champions,” he said.

In nominating Woodard for this honor, the Clayton Downtown Development Association offered the following:
Barry Woodard has played an important role in helping to revitalize Clayton’s downtown. Along with various partners, he has made major investments in downtown, including construction of the Hometowne Realty building on East Main Street, one of the first new buildings in the downtown in many years. Barry has also made recent investments in several other downtown properties.

Barry has demonstrated a tireless commitment to downtown building improvements and chaired the Clayton Downtown Development Association for a number of years. In that role, he was instrumental in developing an awning assistance program, which has improved the appearance of downtown, and pushed for more town involvement in downtown improvement.

Barry’s involvement in downtown issues and activities is ongoing; he most recently served on the downtown parking needs assessment and inventory committee. And, as he has for many years, continues to help set up the town’s largest annual event, the Harvest Festival, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and held downtown.

In recognition of his hard work and dedication on behalf of our downtown, the Clayton Downtown Development Association is proud to honor Barry Woodard as a Main Street Champion.

“Main Street” is a downtown revitalization program for smaller towns based on economic development within the context of historic preservation. The North Carolina Main Street Program, which provides technical assistance to its communities, is part of the Office of Urban Development in the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.

In 1980, North Carolina was one of six original states, selected from 38 that applied, to launch the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. The North Carolina Main Street Program began working with its five original cities – New Bern, Salisbury, Shelby, Tarboro, and Washington – in September 1980 and has since grown to include 57 communities across the state. Clayton became a Main Street community in 2006.

Video of the presentation

Film Festival Activities Broadcast Live on Web

NBC 17 will be present at the first annual Short Circuit Film Festival presented by The Clayton Center and the Johnston County Arts Council this Thursday, February 7. The festival will be held at The Clayton Center located at 111 East 2nd Street in Clayton. The screening begins at 7p.m. Doors to the building will be open at 6 p.m. NBC 17 will project live video feed of the evening activities, beginning with audience arrival, film introductions, audience reaction to each film, question and answer session with the directors as well as footage of the official festival after party held at The Flipside in Downtown Clayton. Actual film footage will not be captured on the broadcast.

The 1st Annual Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival will present a dozen short films selected for their artistic merit by a panel of media arts professionals. The selections range from fiction and animation to experimental and documentary by filmmakers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Directors from two of the short films featured in the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival will join the festival activities. Keith Hobgood of Out of Our Minds Studio, located in Winston Salem, North Carolina and creator of the animation “Dear Sweet Emma” along with Clay Walker of Plan B Productions located in Atlanta, Georgia and director of the documentary “The Cole Nobody Knows” will attend the festival to introduce their films and respond to questions after the screening.

Johnston County was amongst a limited list of locations including New Orleans, Tampa, Charlotte and Atlanta, selected to host the traveling festival, a project of the Southern Arts Federation. General Admission is $2.50.

The Film Festival is a prelude to The Clayton Center’s February 9 concert featuring Freddy Cole. Admission to the film festival is free to individuals who purchase tickets to Saturday’s concert.

To catch the live footage of festival activities log on to www.nbc17.com. For a list of films and the festival schedule visit the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival at http://www.southarts.org/shortfilms. For tickets to the festival or to Freddy Cole contact The Clayton Center at (919) 553-1737 or online at .

Short Circuit Film Festival Thursday Night

Don't forget about the Short Circuit Film Festival at The Clayton Center tomorrow night! Just $2.50 a ticket for a dozen independent short films, including one about Freddy Cole, who is performing at The Clayton Center Saturday night. Here's a good story about the festival...

For more information call the Johnston County Arts Council at 553-1930.

New Italian Restaurant to Open Thursday!

"Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant and Catering" will open for business tomorrow (Thursday, January 31) beginning at 5:00 pm. "We are very excited," said owners Jerry and Bernadette Gubitosi. The restaurant will be open for dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. For more information call 550-7400 or check out an article from the Clayton News Star at www.downtownclayton.blogspot.com.

Eye of the Eagle Art Events

Eye of the Eagle Arts at 131 E First Street in downtown Clayton is a new center for creative endeavors - with classes for all ages in visual art, music and performance. Owner Bonnie Light says the facility, one of the older homes in Clayton, is open on a limited basis right now, but will grow into an art gallery as well as a place for workshops and lessons.

Here are some upcoming events, but to keep up with the activities, be sure to check out their blog at www.eyeoftheeagleart.com



The following events are at no charge to the public.

February 9th from 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm we will be having a ”Art From the Heart” workshop.

March 15th from 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm we will be having a “Art-A-Hopping” workshop.

* Children 5 - 16 make an item for their favorite Valentine. Using their creativity and supplied or found objects they will make a one-of-a-kind gift. Please bring any objects you would like to add to your creation.

April 19th from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm we will be celebrating “Our Green Earth” with speakers, presentations, plant sales, painted recyle bin auctions and art activities that are all EARTH friendly. Proceeds from the event will go to varies charities. Check the Eye of the Eagle Art calendar for scheduled speakers.

Jazz Royalty Makes Clayton Debut

Jazz royalty Freddy Cole makes his Clayton debut on Saturday, February 9 at 8 p.m. at The Clayton Center. A GRAMMY-nominee and recipient of the 2005 Living Legend Jazz Award, Freddy Cole, younger brother of Nat “King” Cole, is an accomplished pianist and an extraordinary vocalist hailed by The New York Times as “the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.”

Born Lionel Frederick Cole October 15, 1931, Freddy is the youngest of five children. His three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (twelve years Freddy's senior) were all musicians.

Surrounded by music in his youth, visitors to his family’s home in Chicago included Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton. A natural musician, Freddy was also a gifted athlete with professional aspirations. After a high school sports injury put an end to his budding football career, he decided to pursue music, issuing his first recording, "The Joke's On Me," in 1952.

Freddy studied at the Juilliard School of Music and later received a Master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. During his formative years in New York, Freddy studied the way horn players formed phrases in their solos and cultivated a sparse, swinging vocal style that would become his signature.

Freddy has toured extensively for over 40 year, developing a sophistication of his own with vocals among the most respected in jazz. Still, the comparisons to big brother Nat are inevitable. There are certain unmistakable similarities. He plays piano and sings; he performs live using the same band format as his brother (a piano trio featuring guitar and bass). And then there’s the instantly recognizable Cole voice. But Freddy has developed his own distinctive sound. His vocals, suave, elegant and formidable are smokier and jazzier than his late brother. His phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday and his timing swings a little more.

The February 9 concert is presented in connection with the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival which will be held at The Clayton Center on Thursday, February 7. Among other entries, the film festival will feature “The Cole Nobody Knows” a documentary about Freddy, who at age 75 is at last being recognized for his own musical talent. Director Clay Walker will be present at the screening in Clayton to introduce his film and answer questions. Tickets to the film festival are $2.50; however admission is free to patrons who purchase tickets to the Freddy Cole concert.

Freddy Cole’s performance is presented as part of The Clayton Center’s 2007-08 season. Next in the Center’s lineup is Blues Bash III featuring Albert White and Beverly “Guitar” Watkins on February 29.

Tickets for Freddy Cole in concert are $22 plus convenience fees. Individual tickets may be purchased online at www.theclaytoncenter.com, by phone at 919-553-1737 or at The Clayton Center Box Office at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. www.theclaytoncenter.com

Grannises to fire up the grill at new steakhouse

By BRIAN RAPP
News Editor
Clayton News Star
www.claytonnews-star.com


Michael Grannis just can’t seem to stay away from the kitchen.

Not content to handle a share of the breakfast duties at The Morning Glory Inn, which he’s owned with wife Betsy for the past five years, the one-time broiler cook for Sizzlers is returning to his roots next month when he opens the Clayton Steakhouse at 307 E. Main St.

Ironically, the new restaurant opens just a month after the closing of downtown Clayton’s original fine-dinner location, Main Steak Bistro, which closed its doors on Dec. 21 after seven years. “We actually had an opportunity last year to buy [Main Steak], but I felt the price was too high,” Grannis said. But even though he concedes that the final cost of renovating the old Fishman’s Feedery (the most recent in a string of dining-related businesses, including Farmer’s Market Café, El Rancherito and Macon’s Table, to locate in the building in the last 40-plus years) is probably more than the cost of buying Main Steak would have been, the end result will be worth the extra bucks.

“This floor plan is more conducive to what I want to do [than Main Steak’s],” Grannis said. “Plus, the landlord [HTR Investments] is taking care of most of the renovation cost. That’s coming back to me in the lease payments, but it’s still a better situation than we were looking at for some of the other locations we had in mind.”
Main Steak’s closing, which had been rumored to be in the offing for some time, was a factor in the decision to get back into the restaurant business, Grannis said. The couple previously owned restaurants in California for seven years before moving to Clayton, first in 1999 and again in 2003.

“We actually had been looking for two years for a location around town,” he said. “We looked at Main Steak, at Jeme’s [later Good Times Café], the Clayton Mart, even the new strip center they’re building out by Lowe’s Foods. By the beginning of 2006, we were thinking about putting a full-service kitchen in the inn and starting a catering business out of there.”

But when Barry Woodard offered Grannis a deal to rent (with an option to buy) the Main Street location, the opportunity was tempting enough to convince the Clayton town councilman to resign his two-year sales and marketing position with AB Automotive in Smithfield to pursue it.

Slated to open the first or second week of February, the Clayton Steakhouse encompasses 3,000 square feet on the south side of Main Street, almost directly across from Main Steak’s former location.

The main dining area can seat 76 people at 17 tables, seven situated in a private room that is first-come, first-serve. “We won’t accept reservations except for special occasions,” Grannis said.

A small bar up front features two high tables and a lounge area that can seat about 15. The bar will operate only during the restaurant’s hours and will offer top-shelf liquors, wines from California and Italy and a variety of lesser-known label and microbrew beers such as Red Tail Ale, Blue Moon, Sam Adams and Amstel, as well as the more traditional labels such as Bud and Miller Lite, Michelob and Yingling. Foreign brew connoisseurs will have a choice of Bass, Guinness, Corona and Dos Equis.
Dining fare for the Clayton Steakhouse has been kept simple. There are just five main entrees: ribeye steak (starting at eight ounces, increasing in two-ounce increments, with corresponding $2 price increases, up to a 32-ounce platter buster); a 12-ounce pork chop; an eight-ounce breast of chicken; an eight-ounce salmon fillet; and a loaded baked potato. All entries (except the baked potato) come with an unlimited salad bar featuring iceberg and romaine lettuce, 12 additional items and five or six dressings along with a standard baked potato. Drinks – also with free refills – include coffee, tea and Pepsi products.

The 800-square-foot kitchen has been completely remodeled and contains more than 15 pieces of equipment – all except one brand new.

Prices range from $8.95 for the stand-alone loaded baked potato to between $15 and $20 for the non-steak entrees. “The average bill is about $21 plus tax, which I think is a pretty good value,” Grannis said. Initially, the Clayton Steakhouse will be open for dinner only on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Eventually, Grannis hopes to offer a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a weekday lunch at the same hours from Tuesday through Saturday.

“I’d characterize this as a comfortable eating experience,” he said. “It won’t be fine dining; you don’t have to wear a coat and tie, and our staff will be dressed casually.” That staff will include Grannis, who intends to serve as the head cook until he can train a replacement. Betsy Grannis, who does the baking for the Morning Glory Inn, will handle the same chores for the restaurant, and other staff from the inn will be among the original seven-member crew that will work at the steakhouse.
Despite the past history of restaurants that have come – and all too often gone – on Main Street, Grannis believes there’s a place for not only the Clayton Steakhouse but the other new eateries planned for downtown.

“I think that with The Flipside, Mulberry, the new Mexican restaurant, and whoever does eventually replace Main Steak, you have enough diversity to attract people to come downtown to eat,” he said. “And if you produce a good product – not just the food, but your service and prices – and can create a certain ambience, or ‘welcomeness,’ as I call it, people will enjoy the experience.”

But most of all, Grannis feels a successful downtown restaurant will be another way of giving back to a community his family has become devoted to. “Even though Betsy and I weren’t born here, we consider ourselves locals,” he said. “People here have supported me by electing me to the Town Council and supported the inn to the nth degree, and this is our way of giving back and thanking them for that support. We plan to stay here, and this is part of that commitment.”

Clayton to experience a taste of Oaxaca

By RICK MERCIER
Editor
Clayton News Star
www.claytonnews-star.com

Azalea Villalobos doesn’t want people to describe her soon-to-be-open restaurant as “authentic.”

That buzzword’s meaning, she says, has become as diluted as the food served up in most of the Tex-Mex restaurants in the United States. Instead, she promises diners gastronomic pleasures rooted in “traditional” Mexican cuisine – specifically, the cuisine of her native Oaxaca state, located in southern Mexico. “People here need to know what traditional flavor is,” Villalobos said.

She and her husband, Rodolfo San Juan, hope to open their new restaurant, El Sabor de Oaxaca (“The Taste of Oaxaca”), by the end of the month. The eatery will be in the storefront at 226 E. Main St., formerly the location of El Michoacano, also a Mexican restaurant. Villalobos said she expects El Sabor to be open seven days a week from about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but “customers will dictate our hours.”

The couple draws on a family tradition of restaurant ownership. Villalobos and San Juan owned a restaurant in Oaxaca, and San Juan’s mother and grandmother both ran restaurants, as well. “It’s a tradition with his family going back 70 or 80 years,” Villalobos said. One of the traditional tastes El Sabor will serve up is mole, a complex sauce containing chocolate, tomato, chile peppers and a variety of other ingredients, depending on the particular recipe. Oaxaca is famous among Mexicans for its moles. Villalobos said she intends to serve enchiladas with mole sauce and a side of black beans for about $8.

Another traditional Oaxacan food that will be featured at El Sabor will be tlayudas – large, semi-toasted corn tortillas made by hand and topped with a variety of items, such as beans, tomatoes, avacado, meat, cheese and salsa (think Mexican pizza). They are a popular street vendor food in Oaxaca.

The restaurant also will offer set meals in the $8-$9 range. The meals will include a soup or consume, rice or pasta, a main dish with meat and a small dessert.
There also will be the taco and enchilada options with which American diners are more familiar. Red or green sauce will be available with the enchiladas.

El Sabor will be open for breakfast, with breads, tamales (wrapped in banana leaves, Oaxaca style), tacos ($1.50-$1.75) and burritos available. One treat that will be new to some diners will be champurrado, a hot, chocolate-based drink thickened with corn flour. Try it with a couple of tamales for just $4.50.

Takeout will be available, and San Juan said they will try to offer delivery.
Villalobos and San Juan may have a strong background in operating restaurants, but they know more than just restaurant work.

Villalobos earned a degree in business from a prestigious university in Mexico City and managed an information technology firm in Mexico. San Juan received a law degree in Oaxaca and was a practicing lawyer with the Mexican government.But they emigrated to the United States in search of greater opportunity and now live in Angier. They are expecting a child next month.

Villalobos and San Juan speak highly of Clayton and hope eventually to move here. “It’s a traditional town,” San Juan said. “It’s a cute place,” Villalobos added.

New Italian restaurant keeps it in the family

By RICK MERCIER
Editor
Clayton News Star
www.claytonnews-star.com


Gennarino Gubitosi discovered early on that he enjoyed cooking. As a young boy, Gubitosi, who goes by Jerry, found joy in helping his mother in the kitchen. Today, he’s still working with his mother in the kitchen.

The Gubitosi family – mom included – is gearing up to open their new restaurant, Mulberry on Main, at the end of the month. The restaurant, located at 217 E. Main St. (formerly Good Times Café), also will serve as a base of operations for the Gubitosis’ highly successful corporate catering business. The restaurant will be open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. It also can be reserved for private parties Monday through Saturday. Gubitosi will be joined in the kitchen by his wife, Bernadette, and his mother, Antonietta. Three sisters and four of his seven daughters also are expected to pitch in.

An outsider might wonder whether family members can work together in the pressure-filled environment of a restaurant kitchen and still get along at the end of the work day. But Bernadette Gubitosi says it’s no problem with a boss like her husband. “He’s pretty easy to work with,” she said.

Jerry Gubitosi’s family initially came to the United States in the early 1900s, but he was born in Italy, in a town near Naples. His grandfather returned to Italy after serving in Africa in World War I. His father and mother emigrated to the United States with young Jerry in 1966. But after a stint in New York, the family went back to Italy. Then they returned to the Big Apple – this time for good. As Gubitosi jokes on his menu, “I think we were the only family in New York that ‘came off the boat’ twice!”

Gubitosi’s extensive restaurant experience started at age 18, when he took a job at a popular pizzeria in New Jersey. He eventually honed his skills to the point where he could land a job at a four-star Italian restaurant. After Jerry and Bernadette married in 1986, they opened an Italian restaurant, Casa Gennaro, in an up-and-coming small town in New Jersey called Hackettstown. It was town a lot like Clayton, Gubitosi said. “It had that hometown feeling,” he said.Casa Gennaro closed Sept. 10, 2001 – right before the restaurant business in the greater New York area took a hit because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In 2004, the family moved to North Carolina and launched a corporate catering service whose clients are primarily pharmaceutical firms. The business involves preparation of about 700 meals a week and covers a wide swath of central and eastern North Carolina. “[Jerry] doesn’t tell anybody no,” Bernadette Gubitosi said.

Mulberry on Main takes its name from the street in New York’s Little Italy where Gubitosi’s grandfather settled. By coincidence, when Jerry and Bernadette were dating, their favorite restaurant, Angelo’s, happened to be on Mulberry Street, too.
Mulberry on Main will feature, among other items, Antonietta Gubitosi’s handmade manicotti ($9.95). Other familiar baked items will include ziti ($8.95), lasagna ($10.95) and eggplant parmigiana ($12.95). Pastas, including a tortellini alfredo with tossed peas and proscuitto ham, will range from $8.95 to $10.95 in price.

Various meat and seafood entrees will range from chicken parmigiana for $12.95 to zuppa di pesce all vincenzo (mussels, shrimp, calamari, scallops and baby clams in a homemade marinara sauce and served on linguini) for $18.95. House specialties will include “three amici” (three friends) – shrimp, veal and chicken francese sautéed in a lemon-wine sauce and served over linguine – for $17.95. Mulberry on Main also will be able to serve customers a wide variety of gourmet pizzas up to 16 inches in size and $18.45 in price. Takeout orders will be accepted. The restaurant’s main number will be 550-7400. To find out about catering, call 616-8995.

Gubitosi is eager to teach Clayton about great Italian food. “It’s about a lot more than just red sauce,” he said.

NBC-17 At The Coffee Mill on Friday Morning

Your chance of getting on television is better now, at The Coffee Mill, than anywhere else....unless you work for them of course...or are wanted by the FBI, Homeland Security...


NBC 17 will be at The Coffee Mill this Friday morning!!!
Make sure you're there. You don't want to miss out on all the fun.
Between 8:30 and 10:00a.m.

Tonight: Karaoke

Friday night: DL Token
http://www.myspace.com/dltoken


Saturday night: Valentino & The Piedmont Sheiks
http://www.myspace.com/thesheiks


Mardi Gras Party with Zydecopious on Februray 2nd
Superbowl Slam down on February 3rd

Clayton Chamber Citizen & Business of Year and Other Awards...

The Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce held it's 57th Annual Installation and Awards Ceremony tonight at the Sandbar on Hwy 70 Bus (it's the new name - more on that later!) and several people and businesses were honored.

Incoming Chamber President, Keith Branch announced that Jim Lee (left) was named 2007 Outstanding Citizen of the Year.




Ann Austin announced the winner of the 2007 Small Business of the Year: Hometowne Realty. James Lipscomb and Barry Woodard received the Award, and partner Duke Nichols joined them for photos afterward.


Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod awarded the new Wachovia Bank with the Town of Clayton the Landscaping Award and Walthom Group was honored with the Clayton Community Enhancement Award for replacing the old Dairy King building with the sharp-looking Verizon building just before the intersection of Hwy 70 and Main Street.

Clayton Rotary Club President, Allan DeLaine presented Ernest Blackley with the Rotary Community Service Award

And Heather Wallace received the 2007 Civitan Award.

Short Circuit Film Festival ...New Orleans, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa and....Clayton!

A traveling film festival making a stop at The Clayton Center on Thursday, February 7 will spotlight twelve short films created by filmmakers living and working in the Southeast.

The 1st Annual Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival, a project of the Southern Arts Federation, will present a dozen short films selected for their artistic merit by a panel of media arts professionals. After the screening, two filmmakers will be present to answer audience questions about their respective films and the film industry. The selections range from fiction and animation to experimental and documentary by filmmakers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and Tennessee. The Johnston County Arts Council and The Clayton Center are collaborating to present the festival.

The festival, traveling to seventeen different cities around the Southeast including New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa, and Charlotte, will begin at 7:00pm and will last for 2.5 hours. General Admission is $2.50.

Featured in the 2007-2008 Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival is the documentary “The Cole Nobody Knows" about musician Nat King Cole's younger and equally talented brother, who at age 75 is at last being recognized for his own musical talent. Director Clay Walker will be present at the screening in Clayton to introduce his film and answer questions. The Film Festival is a prelude to The Clayton Center’s February 9 concert featuring Freddy Cole. Admission to the film festival is free to individuals who purchase tickets to Saturday’s concert.

Heidi Stump, Executive Director of The Clayton Center says she is excited about hosting Clayton’s first film festival and hopes to build an audience for future film fests. “Johnston County is an area rich in musical, theatrical, literary and visual arts, but film is one area that is only just beginning to reach the community. The Short Circuit Film Festival will be an excellent opportunity to introduce residents to a new and exciting art form,” states Jessica Meadows, Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council.

For a list of films and the festival schedule visit the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival at www.southarts.org/shortfilms.