Placebook: The Community of Hair Doing

Alachua Beauty Salon by Flickr user alternatePhotography
Alachua Beauty Salon by Flickr user alternatePhotography

Last night I participated in my bi-weekly ritual of getting my hair done. Being in that space, which is colored in jewel tones and punctuated by a stylist that’s also a friend makes the space even better. Much has been said about the role of the black beauty and barbershop, and I can second much of the community-building that happens. Not to be left out, many other salons, barber shops and places to get pampered become places where we go to not only get spiffy, but to find out what’s going on, to let off some steam and even make lifelong connections. Although the beauty salon or the barber shop may not always be an anchor of a physical community like in Mayberry, just like in pretty much every other movie about a salon, it creates a spiritual and communal place, that launches out into the physical. And with that, today’s daily news:

City councilpeople are normal too! They clean out their cars at gas stations!

There’s still not a loan agreement between the City of Greensboro and the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

The Greensboro Zoning Commission has established the new zoning districts along the soon to be dubbed Gate City Boulevard.

Greensboro will be the first state location for the make-your-own salad chain Saladworks.

There may be changes coming to the sales tax distribution in Guilford County.

A major furniture factory operation could be coming to the Triad.

The state has given Piedmont Triad International Airport 5.8 million dollars for improvements. Mt Airy’s airport also received a state grant.

Guilford Technical Community College’s aviation building should be completed in May.

The Burlington Outlet Village is dead.

A new Italian eatery, wine bar and market is coming to downtown Winston-Salem.

Thoughts on the Forsyth County cell phone tower regulation.

Forsyth County is also hosting a Creek Week.

Hatteras will restrict driving on the beach in order to protect shorebirds.

A High-Point former city councilman will probably not have to pay back his city debt.

85 new senior apartments are coming to Charlotte.

What would happen if Chiquita changed its headquarters again from Charlotte.

The latest in the drama around the Charlotte airport authority and parking rates.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools joins the fight against the new state teacher tenure laws.

UNC-Asheville’s downtown greenway has started construction.

New apartments are coming to Asheville’s south slope. Faster broadband service is also coming to Asheville.

Wrightsville Beach parking could get more expensive.

Wilmington multi-modal depot is back on the table thanks to a chat between Wilmington leaders and the state DOT.

Pender County officials reject rezoning for a jail in Burgaw.

Peruvian cuisine is coming to Wilmington.

Negotiations have restarted on the Dorothea Dix property in Raleigh.

A new candy factory is starting construction in Mebane.

Time Warner Cable has another private competitor for broadband service.

Apex will not be included in the Triangle implementation for Google Fiber.

Morrisville and Holly Springs have lobbied the Wake County Commissioners for athletic facility money.

Durham Public Schools is moving forward in its superintendent search.

Durham citizens are asking the county to give more money to the city for planning and historic preservation.

A bayonet is one of the 2,220 weapons seized over the past year at the Durham County Courthouse.

Cumberland County has set a timeline for its county manager search.

NC 87 in Harnett County has rapidly become more developed.

Around the Nation: this interview with the rapper formerly known as Mos Def sheds light on how place matters; Louisiana is no longer funding their public libraries, a major legal blow to the rails-to-trails movement from the Supreme Court and what will the transit ticket of tomorrow be like?