Morning, gang.

We’re continuing our annual summer publishing pause through July 14. Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the last year.

Today we’re showcasing the lighter side of our work. That includes features on Greensboro’s first cannabis crawl, the RiverRun film and NC Folk festivals, Paperhand Puppet Project, and a recently released Greensboro Monopoly game whose creators could use a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

If you’re a new subscriber, you may be seeing some of these stories for the first time. If that’s the case, you’ve got a lot coming to you. Enjoy—and share with a friend!

— Joe Killian

Thanks for reading The Thread, a 3x week newsletter written by Greensboro editor Joe Killian and reporters Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher. Reach us with tips or ideas at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

Greensboro Cannabis Crawl Offers A Different Kind of Buzz

As THC-derived drinks grow in popularity, businesses in downtown Greensboro are riding the high with a 420-themed event.

Paperhand Celebrates 25 Years of People, Puppetry, and Politics

An exhibit at the Greenhill Center for N.C. Art in Greensboro captures 25 years of puppetry.

N.C. Folk Festival Returns to ‘Find Common Sound’

Folk music of all stripes brings people together. This year, its organizers say, that’s more important than ever.

RiverRun International Film Festival Returns to Theaters This Week

Since 1998, the Triad film festival has highlighted full-length features, shorts, cartoons, classics, and more in Winston-Salem and Greensboro theaters.

Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200

An official Hasbro-backed Monopoly game for Greensboro gets pushback for omitting key local landmarks. Some say knock-off versions represent the city better.

Joe Killian is The Assembly's Greensboro editor. He joined us from NC Newsline, where he was senior investigative reporter. He spent a decade at The News & Record covering cops and courts, higher education, and government.

Gale is a Report for America corps member and Greensboro-based reporter for The Assembly. She previously covered local government and community issues for Triad City Beat. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from N.C. State University.

Sayaka Matsuoka is a Greensboro-based reporter for The Assembly. She was formerly the managing editor for Triad City Beat, an alt-weekly based in Greensboro. She has reported for INDY Week, The Bitter Southerner, and Nerdist, and is the editorial/diversity chair for AAN Publishers.