Charlotte Magazine – July 2019

JUNE 2019 // CHARLOTTE 23

PEOPLE

Sign Here for

Friendship

Twenty people—some hearing, some deaf—

walk into a bar and build community

BY JEN TOTA McGIVNEY

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHAN COOPER

GOOD LIFE

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LIVING HERE

INSIDE: PEOPLE PERSPECTIVE BOOKS SEEN DIRECT FLIGHT STYLE HOME PLAYLIST

THE LESSON STARTS easily enough. One by one, Thomas Heynen

teaches 20 words in American Sign Language. This week’s theme

is Plaza Midwood, a tribute to the neighborhood that hosts these

Wine ‘n’ Sign evenings each Tuesday at 7:30. On Common Market’s

side patio, Heynen demonstrates signs, and about 20 people mimic

them—signs like “hippie” (both hands, palms back, framing the side

of the face), “beer” (the sign for B brushing the side of the mouth),

“bicycle” (small pedaling motion with hands), and “Snug Harbor” (a

sign Heynen created that translates literally into “love boat”).

GOOD LIFEGOOD LIFEGOOD LIFEGOOD LIFEGOOD LIFEGOOD LIFEGOOD LIFEGOOD LIFE

THE

Continued on next page

Alex Smith teaches American

Sign Language at Common

Market in Plaza Midwood.

The Wine ‘n’ Sign group

meets every Tuesday.