Morning, gang.

We hope you, like our staff, are enjoying Labor Day off today. We thought we’d take this opportunity to collect and republish our recent weekly food columns. Whether you’re reading them for the first time or being reminded of a dish you meant to try, we hope they’ll inspire you.

Greensboro is a great eating city. Get out there with what’s left of this three-day weekend and enjoy it.

— Joe Killian

Food for Thought: Summer Tomato Sandwiches

The tomato sandwich in summer is a sacred Southern thing. But is there room for […]

At Greensboro’s Machete, a Dish to Remember

Greensboro’s restaurant, Machete, offers a unique and delicious approach to roasted oysters.

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.

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A Game of (Hot) Chicken

Nashville Hot Chicken now belongs to the world. But with two new hot chicken joints […]

Black Magnolia Serves Up Comfort, With a Twist 

Cinnamon rolls? Classic. But Black Magnolia Southern Patisserie’s lemon blueberry rolls offer a tangy spin.

When Barbecue is More Than Barbecue

At Gyukaku, a communal Japanese barbecue experience beyond pulled pork.

Surrendering to SPAM (And Loving It)

My dad couldn’t make me love it SPAM. But Qinji Hawaiian BBQ & Ramen gets […]

The Agenda



Good morning and happy holiday! Let’s take a look at what leaders across Guilford County are deciding this week.

City of Greensboro

Greensboro City Council Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 5:30 p.m. @ Melvin Municipal Office Building in the Katie Dorsett Council Chambers, 300 W. Washington St., or watch the meeting live here.

The council will begin its meeting by honoring the Greensboro Bison baseball team and its coaches for winning the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League Black World Series 2025. 

There’s also an opportunity for public comment this week. Speakers must sign up by 6 p.m. on Tuesday for their three minutes.

A few of the main items on the agenda include:

  • Designating $1.49 million from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of the Treasury Equitable Sharing programs to the Greensboro Police Department. GPD wants to purchase an emergency response vehicle specifically built for emergency management, on-scene operations, special teams, and major disaster response. It’ll have a mobile dispatch center, too.
  • Accepting a $20,000 grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation to go toward tree planting initiatives and expanding environmental education partnerships. 
  • Accepting a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to fund tree planting in underserved areas of the city.
  • Securing temporary labor services for the Parks and Recreation Department with Blue Arbor, with a $494,100 contract and a $510,300 contract with LaLa World, both two-year contracts with a one-year extension option. The department has been contracting with temporary services for Central Business District maintenance and special events, public space development and maintenance, mowing, landscaping, and park maintenance. The council is also considering a $2 million contract with Blue Arbor and an $850,500 contract for the same time period with LaLa World for the Solid Waste and Recycling Department.

Redevelopment Commission Meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. @ Melvin Municipal Office Building in the Katie Dorsett Council Chambers, 300 W. Washington St. This meeting won’t be livestreamed, according to city staff.

At the start of the meeting, the board will go over the 2024-25 annual report before hearing an update on the South Elm West block in the space at 734 S. Elm St. The grocery store chain Lidl bought the site back in 2022, but ultimately cancelled their project in 2023 due to environmental issues.

According to Russ Clegg, who manages the long-range division in the city’s planning department, the Alexander Company has proposed a four-story residential building with space for retail and commercial business as well as public parking. On Thursday, the commission will provide an informational update, and will be looking at the company’s proposal again. If they’re in favor of it, Clegg said, they may work toward a sales development agreement with the company. After that, the commission will hear staff updates and go into closed session.

Guilford County

Guilford County Board of Commissioners
Thursday, Sept. 4, at 5:30 p.m. @ @ The Old County Courthouse, 301 W. Market St., or watch the meeting live here.

The board will vote on multiple items and hear reports, including:

Links to local board meetings and agendas:

Guilford County – Board of Commissioners

Guilford County – Board of Education

Greensboro – City Council

Greensboro – City Calendar

High Point – City Council

— Gale Melcher

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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.