Clayton Chamber Names Small Business & Citizen of Year

Congratulations to the Clayton Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet last night.

Winner of the Small Business of the Year, Morning Glory Inn, owner Betsy Grannis

and Citizen of the Year, Michael Sims for his work with the Kids Cafe.

Among their other volunteer work, Mike & Betsy are also on the Clayton Downtown Development Association! Congratulations to both!

Etta May's One-Woman Show Tonight!

The reigning Queen of Southern Sass – Etta May – returns to Clayton TONIGHT (Friday, Jan. 22) with her new one-woman, two-act show, Dr. Etta (Family Specialist).

If you’ve ever seen Etta May before, you haven’t seen her like this. Dr. Etta is a unique, original, one-woman show that everyone – parents, grandparents and teenagers alike – can relate to on many levels.

Staged as a seminar, the performance takes a hilarious and heartfelt look at the breakdown of the American Family, in a style that is uniquely and unequivocally Etta May. Part stand-up comedy, part theatre, Dr. Etta (Family Specialist) will have you laughing one minute and crying the next.

Star of the wildly popular tour “Southern Fried Chicks,” Etta May is a favorite of The Clayton Center audience. The “Chicks” sold out the Center last year and performed before a Standing Room Only crowd.

“Etta May is always a hit when she performs here,” Heidi Stump, executive director of The Clayton Center, said. “Her comedy resonates with a wide audience. This particular show blends her distinct style of stand-up comedy with a new take on theatre.”

A seasoned performer with a huge fan base, Etta May is among the winners of the prestigious American Comedy Awards title “Stand-Up Comic of the Year.” A favorite of XM & Sirius radio’s comedy channels plus the syndicated Bob & Tom show, Etta May is a regular on Country Music Television and has appeared on Oprah, Comic Strip Live and MTV and as a guest commentator on CBS Sunday Morning.

Tickets to Dr. Etta (Family Specialist) are $20 plus service fees. A group rate for purchases of 10 or more tickets is available. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 919-553-1737, at The Clayton Center Box Office, 111 E. Second Street in downtown Clayton, from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.theclaytoncenter.com.

Other popular artists presented in past seasons at The Clayton Center include Kathy Mattea, Johnny Winter, Jesse Cook, Jim Brickman, Doc Watson, Eileen Ivers, Riders In the Sky, the Harlem Gospel Choir and David Sedaris.

New Downtown Clayton Gateway Sign Under Construction

A long-anticipated gateway sign welcoming people to downtown Clayton has begun to take shape. The new sign, located at E Main Street and US 70 Business, is expected to be completed in early February.

From The Flipside!

 Tonight

Open Mic: Tracy Wiebeck hosting. Everyone is welcome!

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Early Bird Specials - 5:00 to 6:30 15% off all dinner entrees (including nightly features) Dine in only.

Wednesdays

1/2 price wine by the glass

Thursday

Karaoke

Friday

BOTH

Saturday

MikeMickXer


http://www.myspace.com/theflipside1

Community Mobilizing to Help Haiti Survivors

Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod put out an urgent call Wednesday for donations of money and supplies for the survivors of Tuesday's massive earthquake in Haiti, including four Clayton residents who are there on a medical mission. The Mayor said community leaders worked through the day to secure a plane that he hopes will be given permission to fly directly to the devastated area to deliver as much as it can carry."Fly the plane in, and fly the plane out, that's what we want to do," McLeod said. "We're looking at a 48-hour deadline."  (read more)

2010 Johnston FRESH: A Local Food Fair, February 27th

The Clayton Farm & Community Market, also known as the Clayton Farmers Market, is sponsoring Johnston FRESH: A Local Food Fair on February 27 at The Clayton Center in downtown Clayton. This is an opportunity for Clayton residents and others to learn more about locally grown food and meet local farmers.

At Johnston FRESH: A Local Food Fair, you will have a chance to talk to local gardening experts about simple ways to grow food in your own yard and community. Local farmers will have booths at which you can ask questions about local farming and get information about local products and farming practices, and even buy a subscription to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which provides you a weekly box of fresh local produce, eggs, and meats.

A screening of “FRESH: the Movie" will be a highlight of the event. It is about the modern food production system, but it is also about farmers who are doing things differently by growing food and raising livestock sustainably, humanely and profitably. Fresh focuses on alternatives to the industrial food model that offer people more choices & better food and farmers more freedom & greater return on their blood, sweat & tears. It will be shown at 6:00 pm.

Make an evening of it. Come downtown and have an early dinner at one of our great restaurants, then walk over to The Clayton Center.

2010 Johnston FRESH: A Local Fresh Food Fair 5pm - 9pm, Saturday, February 27th.

Admission to The Clayton Center Lobby to talk to farmers and ranchers is free.

Movie tickets for FRESH: the Movie are $5 plus service charge, and are available online at http://www.theclaytoncenter.com/ or by calling the box office at (919) 553-1737.

For more information contact claytonmarket@earthlink.net. You can also become a fan of the Clayton Farm & Community Market on their Facebook Page.

From The Flipside...

Lunch Specials


$5.00 Burger $6.00 Grilled Cheese & Soup $7.50 Cuban Sandwich

Dinner Features

Teriyaki Sirloin - center cut sirloin with a delicious teriyaki marinade with red onions and portobella mushrooms, angel hair pasta with a Pink Vodka cream , bread and salad

Appetizer Feature - Seasame seared tuna with tempura green beans and a mango salsa.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

5:00 to 6:30
Early Bird Special - 15% off any dinner, or feature, entree.  (dine in only)

Wednesdays - 1/2 price wine by the glass
________________________________________

Entertainment

Tonight - Open Mic with Tracy Wiebeck hosting. Come one come all....

Wednesday - Trivia Night

Saturday - the return of our favorite zydeco dance band - ZYDECOPIOUS

http://www.myspace.com/theflipside1

Clayton Foodtown Cooler Sale!

Clayton Food Town (421 E Second Street) begins their "Cooler Sale" tomorrow through January 16!

From The Flipside...

Weekend Dinner Features

James Bond Sirloin - Our house Sirloin lightly seasoned with roasted garlic pepper and topped with bleu cheese crumbles. Served with hierloom potatoes and veggie

Angel Hair pasta with butter, garlic, shallots, white wine, capers and lemon with brocolli. Served with bread and a side salad

Madiera Salmon - a salmon fillet dredged in seasoned flour and sauteed in olive oil with butter, shallots, mushrooms, chicken stock, madiera wine and finished with lemon . Served with wasbi mashed potatoes and grilled veggies

Tuna Boat - a Hamachi tuna steak rolled in olive oil and coated with a blend of spices, seared, then sliced and fanned over a leaf of Romaine and topped with a mango salsa
________________________________________

Tonight
Valentino Trio with Special Guest - Blues Legend, Tad Walters.

Saturday
D. Martini and The Highballs, rock-a-billy at it's BEST!!!!

Mark your calendars...Zydecopius January 16th

Need an event cartered? Give us a call 553-0123 - 408 E Second Street, downtown Clayton

Fundraising Lunch for Partnership for Children of Johnston County Jan 25

Don't miss this benefit luncheon for the Partnership for Children of Johnston County offered by Clayton Steakhouse and Parrish, Pulleyn and Young Wealth Management on Monday, January 25th. Clayton Steakhouse is offering an exclusive menu and seating times of 11am or 12:45 pm. Tickets are $12 and are in limited quantity and need to be pre-purchased. A snow date has been set for February 8th. Call 202-0002.

How About Some Italian For Lunch?

Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant, 217 E Main Street in downtown Clayton, is now open for LUNCH! Monday-Friday, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Here's the lunch menu.

Buon appetito!!

New Year Greetings from Purna Yoga East

As you approach the new year take time to reflect on the year past. Remember the moments when you felt aligned with your true purpose. Those moments may be simple times such as holding your grandchild or reading with your children before bed, enjoying a walk with your dog on a brisk morning, resting in Shavasana or feeling gratitude as you sip a warm cup of tea. Those moments may also have been major life changing events such as changing jobs, shifting relationships or committing to a new resolve. Whether the moments were grandiose or modest they represent times when you were most connected with and listening to your soul. It might have been a joyful experience or an uncomfortable one as you grew closer to living your true purpose.

As you approach 2010 ask yourself what vision do you wish to hold for the new year. Take the lessons learned from 2009 and apply them to your dreams for 2010. Commit to what is really important in your life and know that you can create a life that is both fulfilling and joyful by being conscious of your choices. What one focuses upon expands, so be aware and deliberate with your focus.

At Purna Yoga East we invite you to join us in 2010 to explore ways in which to maintain your focus and create health, well-being and joy in your life.

By investing in classes at Purna Yoga East you are giving yourself not only the time to support your physical health and well being, but time to soothe your nervous system and calm your mind from outer distractions so that you can hear the soft whispers of your hearts calling and stay focused on your new years dreams.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Warmly,

Catharine

NEW CLASS OFFERINGS, CLASS TIMES and INSTRUCTORS!

Check out the new schedule and enroll in a class at http://www.purnayogaeast.com/. Classes begin the week of January 4th! Weve added eight new classes and four new instructors to our fabulous teaching staff. Give a call if you are not sure which class is right for you! 919-270-4892.

New Year's Eve at the Flipside

New Year's Eve


Appetizers

Angus Beef Sliders with BBQ grilled onions and cheddar cheese

Clam Chowder soup

Shrimp Cocktail puffs - shrimp wrapped in a pastry dough and deep fried.

Hamachi (sushi grade tuna) Napoleon with a sesame wasabi drizzle.


Featured Entree's

Copacabana Salmon - Atlantic salmon fillet spriced with a tequila lime pepper and served over a bed of greens and topped with a house made black bean salsa

Bacon wrapped center cut sirloin served with an hierloom potato medly and a baked apple

Spinach portobello linguini with shallots, roasted garlic, tomatoes, pine nuts and fresh spinach tossed in a white wine broth.

(our regular menu will also be available)

Johnny Orr and Southstation will be taking us into the New Year...2010

No Reservations Required. We will be seating upstairs and down)

Redevelopment Plan for Town Lot Revised - Project Should be Complete by June

RICK MERCIER 23.DEC.09
Clayton News Star


The town is moving forward with a revised redevelopment plan for the municipal parking lot at the corner of Lombard and Main streets and hopes to complete the $400,000 project by the end of June, Town Manager Steve Biggs said.

Ashley Grady with Raleigh-based G2 Design recently finished an update of the design concept for the lot, which includes a parking loop with 30 angled spaces, a plaza with landscaping and areas for public art fronting Main Street and a grassy, landscaped area on the back side of the property. [more]

Final Week of Christmas Shopping - Do It Downtown!

Final Week of Christmas Shopping

Think Clayton. Think Downtown!

In the final days of your Christmas shopping, keep it local and shop at the many businesses in downtown Clayton!

Downtown businesses offer a diverse and unique selection of gift ideas and specials, and they'll remember your name the next time you come in!

There's more in downtown Clayton than you might think, including 7 restaurants!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Clayton Christmas Bucks Winner Announced!

Alice Benson of Clayton is the lucky winner of the $1,000 Clayton Christmas Bucks shopping spree. The promotion, sponsored by The Clayton News-Star and 24 Clayton businesses, was devised to keep Clayton dollars in Clayton. From Nov. 30 through Dec. 12, shoppers registered to win the shopping spree at participating businesses. Each business had two drawings for preliminary winners, who received $50 in Clayton Christmas Bucks (CCBs) to be spent at the sponsor's business.

All the preliminary winners' names were put into the grand prize drawing and, of course, Alice was the fortunate winner. In all $3,400 in CCBs were given away to Clayton shoppers.

The key to the contest is that the Clayton Christmas Bucks can only be spent at participating sponsors. Downtown Clayton businesses that participated are Main Street Jewelers, North Carolina Paper, Blackley's Printing, Tre Colori Italian Gourmet Foods and Gifts, Fancy That, T.R. Lee Gas and Oil Company, Mulberry on Main, Clayton Steakhouse, Jones Lunch, Elmore Furniture, Clayton Residential Rentals, Clayton Food Town, Doggie Do'z, Purses Unlimited and Shears Hair Studio and Colour Bar.

From the Flipside!

Weekend Dinner Features

BBQ rubbed Center Cut Sirloin cooked to prefection with Bleu cheese mashed potatoes and veggie

Porterhouse Pork Chop with a spicy curry sauce and served with couscous

Penne broccoli Alfredo served with a side salad and bread
________________________________________

It's going to be a DANCE weekend!!!

Tonight
D. Martini & The Highballs
www.myspace.com/dmartiniandthehighballs

Saturday
Joe Bell & The Stinging Blades
www.myspace.com/joebellandthestingingblades
_______________________________________

December 26th
DL Token
www.myspace.com/dltoken

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Johnny Orr & Southstation
www.myspace.com/southstationband

"America's Got Talent" Finalists To Perform in Clayton

"Voices of Glory," the popular trio who were among the top 10 finalists on America's Got Talent, perform at The Clayton Center, Saturday, Jan. 16, in a fundraiser to benefit the local Kids Café of Clayton program.

The Voices of Glory -- Michael, Avery, and Nadia of Highland, N.Y. -- are the siblings whose unique style of singing harmonies won America over during their run to the finals during season four of the popular television talent show. The group started singing together in 2007 after their mother was seriously injured in a head-on car collision. She was in a coma for months, and the three children serenaded her while she was hospitalized. Their mother eventually came out of the coma, started rehabilitation and is doing well.

Kids' Cafe is an after-school program for students at Cooper Elementary School that provides local students with hot meals, tutoring, mentoring and workshops for parents.

The benefit concert also will feature gospel recording artists C3 Chozen. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $15, plus service fees in advance; $20 plus service fees at the door.

From the Flipside...

Lunch Specials


$5.00 "brother can you spare a dime" burger with lettuce, tomatoe and onion and regular fries. Your choice of cheese.

Pulled BBQ chicken on a kriaser with lettuce and tomatoe, american cheese and your choice of a side.

Dinner Features

8oz. Center Cut Sirloin lightly spiced and grilled and topped with a medly of carmelized onions, blue cheese crumbles and a balsamic drizzle. Served on a ciabatta roll with mixed greens and tomatoes. Your choice of a side.

Linguine with red or clam sauce. Served with a side salad and bread.

12oz. Porterhouse pork chop with a brown sugar cinnamom apple glaze. Served with hierloom poatoes and a veggie, with bread.

________________________________________

Tonight Open Mic with Tracy Wiebeck hosting. Thursday: Karaoke

Friday  D. Martini & The Highballs

Saturday  Joe Bell & The Stinging Blades

Gift Cards make a fantastic gift. So does wonderfully delicious, LOCALLY roasted, organically grown COFFEE!!!

Order wonderful, affordable, gift baskets now from The Coffee Mill

Schedule that Holiday cartering now, or private party. Give us a call. We can work out a great package for you! morgone@mindspring.com   553-0123

Clayton Christmas Parade One of the Largest Around!

The 2009 Clayton Christmas Parade was held this afternoon and had 196 entries! The parade began at 3 and ended before 5 - great job by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce!