Morning, gang.

One of my favorite parts about living in Greensboro: it’s a great eating city. From nationally recognized fine dining to the word-of-mouth hole in the wall, burgers and fries to the cuisines of our many immigrant and refugee communities—we’ve really got it all.

This week, we’re exploring one of the third rails of food in the South: the tomato sandwich. It’s a simple thing that inspires a lot of complex emotions. I’ve had people chide me for my choice of tomatoes or bread, for not using enough mayo, even for whether I cut mine in half. I expect this column will inspire plenty of feedback.

— Joe Killian

Photo: Joe Killian for The Assembly.

At Chez Genèse In Greensboro, A Twist On The Tomato Sandwich

Listen: You don’t need me to tell you about tomato sandwiches in the summer. You know this stuff.

They’re a Southern sacrament, the four simple ingredients their own sign of the cross: ripe tomato, soft white bread, mayonnaise, pepper. Duke’s or Hellman’s? Let’s skip right past the implied insult of the very question, and we can still be friends.

I was born in Eastern North Carolina, where my Great-grandma Grace would gently squeeze softball-sized garden tomatoes until that sly little smile came over her face.

That’s it. Perfect. Sandwich time.

A few slices of Sara Lee, an alarming amount of mayo, a generous dash of pepper. She’d shoo us out onto the porch where we could devour them recklessly, the juice running down our arms. She enjoyed her own over the kitchen sink, watching approvingly.

Those bona fides established, I am here to say: this is a column about a tomato sandwich, but not that tomato sandwich.

Read the full story here.

— 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.

Your Guide to Getting Out There

This week we’ve got a mix of stuff for the kids, some spicy fun for adults, and even some ghost-adjacent activities. It’s still summer, y’all! Get out there and touch some grass!

FRIDAY, JULY 25
Shark Week @ Greensboro Science Center
10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Who says you have to go to the beach to enjoy marine life? Bring your kids to the Greensboro Science Center this weekend for crafts, games, and activities in celebration of Shark Week. Activities are free with general admission or membership. Learn more here.

Keen Edge Mobile Sharpening @ Maxie B’s
10 a.m.-1 p.m.

If you’ve ever tried to cut something with a dull pair of shears or even dull lawn mower blades, you know how frustrating it can be. You can bring those tools to Maxie B’s this Friday, where Keen Edge Mobile Sharpening will restore them to near brand new. I’ve personally used this service, and it’s fantastic. See what kinds of tools they sharpen here.

SATURDAY, JULY 26
Cars and Coffee @ 1720 W. Gate City Blvd.
8 -10 a.m.

Every car enthusiast’s favorite monthly event is back! Join other gearheads and sip coffee while admiring other people’s wheels at this national social event. Learn more here.

Library Block Party @ Vance Chavis Branch
10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Block parties aren’t just for neighborhoods, y’all. Join other families at the Vance Chavis Branch Library this Saturday for a day of music spun by a local DJ, games, crafts, and a giant bouncy castle. Community organizations will be on-site to hand out a variety of useful information, and staff will help with library card sign-ups. Extra parking is available at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Call 336-373-5838 with any questions.

GSO Minecraft & Roblox Club @ iCode
11a.m.-1 p.m.

Wish your kid could turn their obsession with computer games into a social activity? Why not take them to iCode, where they can join other kids to talk about Minecraft or Roblox? Just drop them off for $25, which includes a play session and pizza for lunch. Learn more here.

Paint Your Date @ Red Oak Brewery
2 p.m.

Have you ever seen those videos of people painting their dates and thought, I could do better? Well, now’s your chance. Grab your friend or date and head to Red Oak for an afternoon of portrait painting. Let’s just hope your partner doesn’t end up looking too much like Mr. Potato Head. Tickets for sale here.

Singles Dinner and Haunted Walking Tour @ Natty Greene’s Pub
5-9:30 p.m.

Who said dating can’t be both fun and scary? Join other singles in the area for a dinner at Natty Greene’s and then go on a haunted walking tour. This dual event will take place rain or shine. Be sure to buy tickets for the walking tour here. Learn more online here.

Wyndham Championship Kick-Off Concert @ Hamburger Square
6 p.m.

It’s Wyndham Championship week! Whether or not golf is your game, Camel City Yacht Club will kick off festivities with a free concert downtown. 

SUNDAY, JULY 27
Makers Way @ Gateway Gardens
1-4 p.m.

Want a chance to get creative? Visit Gateway Gardens this Sunday to check out live demonstrations by vendors on glass blowing, pottery, poetry, and more. You’ll get the chance to see experts do their thing and have your hand at making something too.

Shades of HUNKS @ Chemistry Nightclub
7 p.m.

This one is just for adults! You’ve heard of Magic Mike, but what about Shades of HUNKS, an “ultimate male revue?” Sounds pretty tantalizing if you ask me. Let your hair down, put on your cutest outfit, and get ready for a night to remember. This event is 21+ only and doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets on sale now. 

— Sayaka Matsuoka

What We’re Reading

Held Without Explanation: Last week, Mohamed Ali Aboubaker Naser was taken by ICE. On July 29, he will get a bail hearing. Naser, 50, came to the United States from Libya legally with his wife. He has a valid work visa and has applied for asylum. His lawyer says ICE agents refused to look at his legal documents and interrogated him about Iran, a country he has never visited and about which he says he has no knowledge. His lawyer said ICE was following a false tip that Naser was Iranian. He is not under a deportation order but is still being held at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. The News & Record has the story.

Honoring the Past, Preparing the Future: The Guilford County Board of Education voted this week to name a new arts school after Dr. William Hampton and Rev. Silas Peeler. Peeler was a former president of what became Bennett College, and Hampton was Greensboro’s first Black city council member. WFDD has the story.

Still Searching: Greensboro Police have been searching for Larry Darnell Burton, 74, for more than three weeks. The unlicensed care facility from which he wandered away has since been shut down. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office to press charges against the facility. Fox8 has the story.

Fly Around Fest is hosting this music festival to celebrate Appalachia’s natural beauty and rich musical traditions while raising funds to support the recovery from the historic floods from Hurricane Helene on Aug. 1 & 2.

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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.

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.