🧵 In Today’s Edition

1. Surrendering to SPAM musubi at Qinji Hawaiian BBQ & Ramen
2. The Weekender
3. What We’re Reading

SPAM musubi is a cultural mashup that shouldn’t work, but works overtime. (Joe Killian for The Thread)

Surrendering to SPAM

Listen: I’ve made my peace with SPAM.

As a kid, I didn’t get it. Dreaded it, even. I was born in Eastern North Carolina, where slabs of salt-cured country ham were given to me like pacifiers before I had my first tooth. But processed pork, ground down and cooked in the very pull-tab cans in which it will be shipped to supermarkets? There was something darkly industrial, even dystopian about it — a shelf-stable staple food for when things have gone terribly wrong.

Could never get together with my dad on this. That’s what he loved about it.

He was born and raised in the Bronx of the 1960s and 70s, one of eight Puerto Rican siblings growing up in a cramped apartment where everything was scarce and shared. A mass-produced, eminently affordable source of calories and protein, formed into small square bombs of salt, sugar, and fat custom-made for a kid’s palate? Panza llena, corazón contento.

My wife and I were lucky enough to spend some time in Honolulu a few years back, and we fell in love with the whole melting pot —poi,  loco moco, fried rice omelets, and yes, even SPAM musubi.

These days, I’m lucky enough to be able to get my fix just down the street from my place, at Qinji Hawaiian BBQ & Ramen on Golden Gate Drive.

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.


It’s here! The highly anticipated three-day weekend! Huzzah! We’ve got a back-to-school kick-off for last-minute school supplies, a 12-hour comedy festival, a coffee art competition, and an internationally known jazz festival. Get your fix and get out there!

FRIDAY, AUG. 29

ASL Coffee Night @ Tate Street Coffee House
3-5 p.m.

Ever been curious about learning American Sign Language or trying out your signing? Join others at this monthly meet-up at Tate Street Coffee House. It’s an enthusiastic group led by folks passionate about sign language. Learn more here.

Back to School Kick Off @ Gardens at Anthony House
3 p.m.

Visit the Gardens at Anthony House Leasing Office on Friday afternoon to pick up some free school supplies or materials for your classroom if you’re an educator. The supplies are first-come, first-served! Learn more here.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30

12 Hours of Comedy @ The Idiot Box
10 a.m.-10 p.m.

All day on Saturday, the Idiot Box will have a line-up of comedians performing stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy for the price of just one ticket. Learn more here.

Artist Pop-Up at Vida Pour Tea
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ever wanted to watch an artist in their element? Visit Vida Pour Tea this weekend to meet local painter and illustrator Liz McKinnon, whose nature-inspired works match the calming vibes within this local tea house. Learn more about McKinnon here.

Adoption Fair @ PetSmart on Lawndale
12-6 p.m.

Been looking for a furry companion? Already have cats? Why not a few more? Visit the PetSmart on Lawndale to meet some adoptable felines, learn how to foster or how to support local rescue efforts.

Sora Latte Art Throwdown @ Borough Coffee
5:30 p.m.

If you’re a coffee nerd, or just a coffee enthusiast, head on over to Borough Coffee to watch baristas compete in a latte art throwdown. Competitors can sign up for $10, and attendees will get to watch as baristas compete for prizes. Coffee can, of course, be purchased on site, but there will also be alcoholic and NA drinks for sale. A local artist market will also be held at the same time. 

SUNDAY, AUG. 31

John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival @ Oak Hollow Festival Park
3-11 p.m.

Okay, okay. We know that this event is in High Point, but hear us out. The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival is a must for any music fan in the Triad. Now in its 14th year, the annual festival is a celebration of brass, big band, and classic jazz, which has roots in High Point. This year’s festival features Stanley Clarke, The Baylor Project, Rick Braun, and Ruthie Foster, just to name a few of the musicians. You don’t need to travel all the way to New Orleans to get your fix. Learn more here.

Labor Day Weekend Beer and Hymns @ Oden Brewing Company
3 p.m.

If jazz isn’t quite your vibe, what about some good ‘ol-fashioned hymns? The group will perform a mix of classic hymns, folk/Americana, and some contemporary Christian music. All are welcome, and donations support Peacehaven Farm.

— Sayaka Matsuoka

What We’re Reading

We Won’t Leave The Light On For You: Homeland Security made a surprise visit to a Greensboro hotel on Wednesday to check workers’ immigration status. Managers sequestered their staff, thwarting the effort. No arrests were made. The News & Record has the story.

Further Fallout: The City of Greensboro has fired two legal department employees linked to misuse of city resources under former City Attorney Charles “Chuck” Watts. One of the fired employees is contemplating legal action. The News & Record reports.

Welcome, Freshmen: Greensboro College’s incoming class is the largest in its 187-year history. The small private college, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, says the incoming class of over 1,000 is a six percent bump from last year. WFDD has the story.

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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.