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February 3, 2025

📖 Top Books of 2024

Did you know that more than 1 million people visited Forsyth County Public Library branches last year? Keep reading to explore the top books of 2024 and be sure to visit your local library or bookstore to find your next great read.

Top 5 Books (Physical Checkout)

• “The Women” by Kristin Hannah

• “The Edge” by David Baldacci

• “A Calamity of Souls” by David Baldacci

• “The Exchange: After The Firm” by John Grisham

• “The Secret” by Lee Child

Top 5 Books (online checkout)

• “Don't Believe It” by Charlie Donlea

• “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen (audiobook)

• “It Starts With Us” by Colleen Hoover

• “I'm Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy

• “The Women” by Kristin Hannah

😎 Summer break is almost here—less than four months away! It’s time to sign your kid(s) up for an unforgettable experience at a YMCA camp!

• Day Camps: With a wide range of sessions, exciting themes, and activities for all ages, your child will have the time of their life this summer. Registration just opened!

• Camp Hanes: Interested in overnight or day camp at Camp Hanes? Spots are filling up fast, so be sure to secure your spot today!*

🗓 Events

Live Music | Recurring Events

Tuesday, February 4

• Face to Face Trivia - Head to Radar Brewing for a David Brooks-themed trivia night! David Brooks will speak at Wait Chapel on February 27 as part of WFU’s Face to Face Speaker Forum. 7 PM

Wednesday, February 5

• Author Meet & Greet - Take your kids to Bookmarks to meet Renée Watson and have her sign her latest book, “All the Blues in the Sky.” 4–5:30 PM.

• Networking Social - Meet fellow professionals at Greater Winston-Salem Inc.’s Winston Under 40 Social at Broad Branch Distillery. 5-6:30 PM

• Book Swap - Find your next favorite read (and new reading buddies!) at The Dutch Light. 7-9 PM

• Grand Reopening - Tour Ronald McDonald House’s newly renovated Family Room at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center! 12 PM

Thursday, February 6

• New to Winston - Meet other Winston-Salem newcomers at East of Texas and get to know each other through a “speed-friending” game! 6 PM

• DIY Workshop - Make Valentine’s Day-inspired mini terrariums at Sophisticated Florals. 6 PM

• Mom’s Night Out - Join Mom League at easytalk to hang out with fellow mothers while sipping on cocktails/mocktails. 7:30 PM

• Wine Dinner - Enjoy a multi-course dinner paired with Italian wines at Sage & Salt Bistro. 7 PM

• Hanes After Hours - Celebrate Black history at Hanes Art Gallery with DJ sets, a dance performance, and a creative workshop. 5:30-8 PM

• Margarita Class - Learn how to make delicious margaritas at Alma Mexicana! 6 PM

• Lunch & Learn - Join Triad Cultural Arts at The Enterprise Center to learn about the Black female artists of the Civil Rights Movement. 12 PM

• Mahjong Lessons - Learn to play Mahjong at Camel City Mahjong’s beginners class at Footnote Coffee. First of three classes. 10 AM

Friday, February 7

• Rodeo - Bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, and more—you’ll find it all at CINCH World’s Toughest Rodeo at LJVM Coliseum. Also available Saturday.

• Groundhog Day: The Musical - Watch Phil Connors relive February 2 over and over again at Theatre Alliance. Runs through February 16.

• Uptown Dueling Pianos - Prepare to be amazed at this all-request, sing-a-long show at The Playground! 7 PM

• Ladies Night - Enjoy a complimentary taco bar, a fashion show, door prizes, and more at Breathe Cocktail Lounge. Wear pink or red! 6-9 PM

• Dance & Dessert - Bring the family to Kaleideum for a night of dancing in the Digital Dome, plus Valentine’s Day games, crafts, and a scavenger hunt! 6-9 PM

• Quizzical - Do you know the answer? Attend this gala meets trivia event at the Millenium Center to support Imprints Cares! 5:30 PM

• Block Party - Join Kuya Bear for a block party at Cobblestone Farmer’s Market, featuring food trucks, a 3-mile run with The Run Club, and a live DJ! 4-8 PM

• One Act Play - Stained Glass Playhouse presents “Doubt, A Parable,” at 4401 Indiana Avenue. Runs through February 23.

• Hockey - Watch the ACC Hockey League Premier Championship Tournament at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena! Runs through Sunday.

🎉 Bookmarks continues to celebrate Black Voices! Here are three ways to join them specifically during Black History Month.

• Register for “After School with Renée Watson” on February 5

• Participate in "A Conversation with Tia Williams" on February 12

• Attend the Well-Read Black Girl Book Club on February 26

• Purchase “Picturing Black History,” co-authored by a Bookmarks staff member and nominated for a NAACP Image Award

Visit Bookmarks' website for more upcoming events and fantastic reads!*

🗞 Other News

• 🎤 Concert: The legendary Old Crow Medicine Show is hitting the stage at Bailey Park on May 10 for SummerLark 2025. They'll be performing their timeless hit "Wagon Wheel" and more! Don't miss out—grab your tickets today!*
  
  

• 🎨 Art: Have you seen the new artwork on Muddy Creek Greenway? The Greenway now features signpost paintings of native species by Amy Cruz, a local artist and art educator.
  
  

• 📰 End of an Era: Triad City Beat (TCB) announced it will cease publication after this month. TCB said it is ceasing publication due to obstacles such as lacking a business leader and an insufficient amount of future funding. We’re thankful to TCB for providing our community with a free source of information these past 11 years!
  
  

• 🏁 Victory: Chase Elliott won The Clash yesterday! This is the first Clash win for the 29-year-old racer, who held the lead position for 117 out of 200 laps. The Clash is NASCAR’s annual pre-season opener—this is the first NASCAR event to be held at Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971.
  
  

• 📜 History: February is Black History Month! Triad Cultural Arts is hosting several events in celebration, including an African American Trolley Tour on February 15 and Lunch & Learn events on February 6, 13, and 20.
  
  

• 🏆 Ranking: OpenTable ranked JOLO Winery’s EndPosts Restaurant as one of its Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America! This is the second year in a row the Restaurant has earned this achievement. Planning a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner? Check out our guide!
  
  

• 💔 Closings: Gnarly Blends, a smoothie and ice cream shop in Bailey Park, has announced it will not reopen for the spring season. Elderflour Baking Co. has also closed its physical location, though it will still appear at pop-up events and Cobblestone Farmers Market.

🏈 Touchdown! Dive into the excitement of NFL Flag Football, where boys and girls ages 4-14 learn the game’s fundamentals in a fun, no-contact environment!

• Perfect for all skill levels—no experience needed!

• The season begins March 23 (register by February 17)

• Teams meet once a week for 2 hours on Sundays at Old Town Park

Register today and get ready for game day! Go Panthers!*

SPONSORED

Upcoming Events

• Kaleideum After Dark - Make your own slime, sing karaoke in the Digital Dome, and explore Kaleideum at this 21+ only event on February 8.

• Magical Milestone Day - Celebrate Kaleideum’s first anniversary at 120 West 3rd Street with a magic show, birthday cake, a scavenger hunt, and more on February 15.

🌀 The Wrap

• ⛄ Yesterday was Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, but take that with a grain of salt—Phil doesn’t have a good track record of accurate predictions. (ABC News)

• 🍲 Last weekend's 47 Miles of HOPE run raised over $18,000 for H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem—the equivalent of 12,000 meals! Team member Jacob participated in the 10K.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

* denotes sponsored content

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