What: HiWatt Skatepark would be a public, multi-use park occupying a narrow strip of city-owned land between Spruce and Marshall, running from 7th to 8th Streets. The design includes a skate plaza, pump track, playground, and walking path, making it a space everyone could enjoy.

Backstory: HiWatt is the brainchild of the SkateWS Foundation, led by Bryan Ledbetter and Jerry Cooper. The project began gaining momentum when City Council unanimously voted to include a skatepark in the 2023 Downtown Winston-Salem Plan.

Who’s Paying: The park would be funded entirely through corporate sponsorships and private donors, with an estimated cost of $500K to $1.5M.

Next Steps: A formal lease agreement for the land heads to City Council next month, and once it's approved, the SkateWS Foundation will begin a fundraising push. Want to help? Sign the petition to show potential donors and sponsors there's interest in the project.

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Cooking Class - No need to travel to Italy. Learn to make fettuccine, shrimp scampi, and more Italian fare at Southern Home & Kitchen. 6 PM

DIY Workshop - Create a passport-sized traveler's notebook junk journal with Tea Paper Company at Incendiary Brewing. 4 PM

Bourbon Tasting - Try Maker's Mark's bourbons in a guided tasting at Dram & Draught. 6 PM

Evening in the Atrium - “America's Got Talent" finalist DaShawn Hickman performs live at 500 W 5th, with complimentary bites from Twisted Pine Catering. 5-7 PM*

Preview Party - First dibs on Bookmarks' Used Book Sale! Score a ticket for a private shopping hour at 6 PM, or come for free at 7 PM at the former Piedmont Music Center.

Girls Night Out - Forsyth Magazine is celebrating its birthday with specialty cocktails, a cake bar, and prizes at Second Harvest Food Bank. Ticket sales end tonight! 5 PM

Mahjong 101 - Curious how to play? Camel City Mahjong breaks down the basics at Chick-fil-A Peace Haven. 9 AM

Clears clogged pores from sweat and SPF

Gives you an instant glow

Leaves skin hydrated

📚 Announced: High sell-out risk. Award-winning author John Green (“The Fault in Our Stars”) will open the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors as its keynote speaker! Green will discuss his newest novel, “Hollywood, Ending,” on September 25 at Wait Chapel. Grab your tickets today!

🤖 Tech: Have you seen this 4-foot-tall humanoid robot around town? The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is testing how the robot, named Ralph Lauren, could help with crime scene mapping and officer safety. (WFMY)

🎓 University: $45 million. That’s how much the state is investing in WSSU. The funds will be used to finish the university’s new auditorium, modernize buildings, expand a scholarship program, increase employees' pay, and participate in a nursing student loan forgiveness program.

🏆 Awards: Ten UNCSA alumni are Emmy Award nominees this year! Nominees include Katherine LaNasa for her role as Charge Nurse Dana Evans in “The Pitt” and Tanase Popa for his work as executive producer of “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.” Catch the Emmy Awards on September 14.

📅 Save the Date: The Twilight Open tees off August 4 at Reynolds Park! Proceeds benefit First Tee, which provides free golf coaching and mentorship to underserved youth. Registration closes July 31.

🗳 Vote: The Graylyn Estate is in the running for USA Today 10Best’s “Best Boutique Hotel.” Graylyn placed No. 2 in 2025 and No. 4 in 2024 — cast your vote and help push it to No. 1 this year.

Who: Mackenzie Acker, a rising senior at R.J. Reynolds High School, founded Playfair Activewear during her freshman year after seeing how some girls from lower-income communities couldn’t participate in sports due to a lack of resources.

Mission: Playfair is a 100% youth-led nonprofit that provides free athletic wear and scholarships for club athletics to WS/FCS girls in need. The organization has student chapters at 5 local schools and has distributed more than $42,000 worth of gear!

How: Playfair works with local organizations like Crossnore and LEAD Girls to get athletic wear directly into girls’ hands. They also host free "shopping" events at the YMCA, where girls pick out what they need and check out just like they would at a store.

In Her Words: "We believe access to sports shouldn't depend on a family's financial situation, and we're working to make that a reality here in our community." - Mackenzie

Every day - 12%

A few times a week - 23%

Once in a while - 36%

Never - 29%

Jewelry Trunk Show - Art you can wear. The Elizabeth Locke Jewels Trunk Show comes to Windsor Jewelers on July 17. Explore an expanded collection of her distinctive handmade pieces, crafted in lustrous 19 karat gold.

Beat the Heat 5K - Run in this popular evening race on July 18 at the Fairgrounds and celebrate your finish with free pizza, subs, and beer!

Junior League Recruitment Event - Meet current members and learn how they volunteer, train together, and tackle local causes at Medaloni Cellars on July 26.

👖 ️Team member AK went to Sayso Coffee’s Sip & Swap event on Saturday and said, “I found a great pair of new jeans and bought a gorgeous bouquet from the florist there (who was my wedding day florist).”

⚽️ Get a free dessert at Little Richard’s BBQ tomorrow when you wear your favorite soccer jersey! Catch the France vs. Spain match while you’re there.