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James Butler Sr. likes to keep it in the family. And he's an entrepreneur, always willing to try something new. So when he decided to open Butler's Down Home Kitchen (1811-B Freeman Mill Road, Greensboro; 333-3444) next door to his barber shop, it became a family affair.

"I had a retail store along with the barber shop," Butler says. "But my children are not really interested in retail."

So last year, he decided to remodel the former retail space as a restaurant. He had planned to lease the restaurant and was approached by several people.

"But it looked so interesting, we decided to give it a shot ourselves," laughs Butler.

The 70-year-old widower has been a barber for 47 years. In his retail store, he has sold shoes and other sundries, and he also created a mobile blade-sharpening business. Now he's trying his hand at food service.

"It's a lotta work, but ain't nothing going to happen if you don't sacrifice something," he says.

When not cutting hair, James' son Tim Butler, a business graduate of N.C. A&T, runs the kitchen and attends GTCC's culinary program.

Tim Butler, or his brother James Butler Jr., also a barber, will arrive at the shop for a day behind their chairs only to discover their pop has been in the kitchen next door working on a new recipe culled from cookbooks by soul food masters such as Sylvia Cook or Mildred Council.

"It's like owning a new car," Butler says of his new kitchen. "I can't stay out of it."

Butler's offers daily lunch specials with two sides and a choice of meat such as Chopped Steak or Fried Chicken ($5.75) on Mondays, Baked Chicken or Ribs ($5.75) on Thursday or even Rabbit ($6.50) or Smoked Turkey ($5.75) on Wednesday.

Sides include macaroni and cheese, yams and greens.

Burgers and sandwiches also are available for lunch.

Breakfast platters with grits or hash browns and toast are served alongside salmon cakes, liver pudding, smoked sausage or fish. Breakfast sandwiches and omelets are available.

Ice cream and homemade cake by the slice round things off. Butler's even stocks three flavors of Blenheim Ginger Ale, including a diet version.

Butler's serves breakfast from 6 to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Farmers Appreciation Day

Show our stewards of sustainable agriculture that we love them by attending Farmers Appreciation Day and Market Celebration from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market at Lindsay and Yanceyville streets near downtown Greensboro.

In addition to all the great seasonal produce, flowers, baked goods, soaps, etc., there will be live music and exhibits. Alex Amoroso of Cheesecakes by Alex will be serving breakfast (for a modest fee) from 7 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, call 373-2402 or 574-3547.

Celebrate Salsa, Diversity

The N.C. Cooperative Extension and the UNCG Center for New North Carolinians will hold a Summer Salsa Sizzle from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Road in Greensboro.

The event features traditional Latin music, dance and food. There will even be salsa lessons.

For more information on this free event, call 375-5876.

Global Wine Tasting

Bistro Sofia (616 Dolley Madison Road, Greensboro) takes you on a global wine trip during a wine tasting from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $15 and includes six to eight selections and hors d'oeuvres.

The tasting is the first in a Sunday Sipping series. Call the restaurant at 855-1313.

Charity Tastings

A recent wine tasting at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (3342 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro) to benefit the United Way of Greensboro raised $800 for local programs dedicated to HIV/AIDS treatment.

Fleming's Wine on Wednesday fund-raisers continues for the next four weeks. From 5 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday, the restaurant offers wines by the glass at a discount along with complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Each tasting benefits a different organization, including United Arts Council, Goodwill Industries, Junior League and the Greensboro Symphony. Call 294-7790 for schedule.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com.