When Entertainment Director Shawn Michaels finished his May 15 performance at the Great American Mining Company as Drag Diva Michelle, he says he immediately walked out and quit for good, feeling a little unsure about which venue he could take his show.

He never would have guessed that place would be the South 13 Gentlemen's Club, a bring-your-own-beer venue featuring an all-female staff and exotic dancers off Hwy. 13.

However, one night he was taken to the club and thought it would be the perfect place to bring his drag show.

“I'm trying to bring the community back together,” Michaels said. “I'm interested in having foam parties and prides, and going all out and giving people a place to call home.”

For now, Michaels hosts a night of male go-go dancers and drag queens from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesdays. Adrian Watts of Krazy Karaoke was hired to DJ. Admission is $10.

Grant, who previously only opened the club doors from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, sees it as another step in an evolving business venture.

“Second time's a charm for me,” Grant said. “It was South 13 Saloon, and there was terrible business. And I'm not going to just to give up, so I turned it into what it used to be (when it was Silver Bullet Dolls) just with different rules and regulations. That's been working out great. ... Instead of keeping the club closed on Wednesdays and not making any money, I said (to Michaels) ‘Sure. Why not?'”

It's business as usual at The Great American Mining Company, where they still have shows on Fridays and Saturdays, said bar manager Angela Morris. During the summer, the club is only open one Thursday a month, as well as Friday and Saturday nights, but once students return and school's back in session, they'll be open every Thursday-Saturday.

Plank closed for summer

On June 5, Gare Stevens announced that The Plank, 209 E. 5th St., would be closed for the summer. The venue, which first opened in February, will resume business in the fall.

Hot dish

Love at First Bite

Baker Elaine Allen has taken over space beside her popular sandwich restaurant, The Bread Lady, at 803-A Moye Blvd. and added a bakery, Love at First Bite Bakery, at 803-B Moye Blvd.

Love at First Bite Bakery offers specialty cakes and bakery items not readily found in the Greenville area. “We didn't want to do doughnuts,” she said. “You've got Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme if you want doughnuts. We wanted to do speciality items you can't find,” including cannolis, muffins, macaroons, fruit tarts and fancifully decorated cupcakes, along with whole cakes including red velvet, carrot, mocha pecan, dulce de leche and black forest.

Hours are 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Call 413-0024 to contact Love at First Bite Bakery and The Bread Lady.

Dickey's Barbecue

Dickey's Barbecue Pit will open soon at 3013 E. 10th St., the former location of Phat Philly's, in Rivergate Shopping Center across from Hasting's Ford.

Fare includes smoked meats topped with tomato-based barbecue sauce, including pulled pork, chopped or sliced beef brisket, turkey breast, pork ribs, marinated chicken breast, Polish sausage and Virginia-style ham.

Burnetti's Pizza

Two couples have opened Burnetti's Pizza, Subs and Wings, a take-out and delivery restaurant at 4954 N.C. 33 East near Simpson. It's in the space formerly occupied by Fox's Pizza Den. Owners are Tim and Angela Stocks and Angela's parents Jack and Patricia Burnett.

“We want to put out good food at good prices and give back to our community,” Tim Stocks said. Once a month, Burnetti's donates food to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern North Carolina in Greenville. Discounts are available for school, church and fire department functions, as well as on-duty law enforcement and senior citizens.

Delivery is available to Simpson, Grimesland, Black Jack and surrounding areas for a $10 minimum order; depending on distance, delivery charges may apply.

Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 1-10 p.m. Sundays. Call 321-PIZA (7492). View the menu on the website www.burnettis.com.

Starlight Cafe

StarLight Café, 104 W. Fifth St., has a new summer menu for lunch and dinner.

Call 707-9033 or visit www.thestarlightcafe.com.

Coffee Shack

Coffee Shack coffeehouse has opened at 168 Beacon Drive in Winterville, off Memorial Drive just past Fred's Food and Badcock Furniture.

Owner is Stacy Dover of Winterville.

The Coffee Shack offers a variety of hot and cold coffee varieties, espresso drinks, teas, fruit smoothies, pastries and specialty beers and wines.

Espresso specialties include cappuccino (espresso and frothy steamed milk), mocha (espresso, steamed milk, milk chocolate or white chocolate and whipped cream), turtle mocha (espresso, caramel, hazelnut and chocolate), full moon latte (espresso with white and dark chocolate topped with whipped cream) and mocha patti (espresso, chocolate and peppermint syrup topped with whipped cream).

Iced coffees include mochas and lattes. Coffee frappes are made with creamy frozen coffee blended with a choice of flavorings including mocha, white mocha, caramel, banana/chocolate, peppermint or coffee. Non-coffee frappes include chai, orange dream, strawberry, mochael or peppermint mocha.

Smoothie selections include Strawberry Melt, Tropical Pleasure, Orange Dream, Blushing Banana, Banana and Strawberry and Health Nut.

A selection of local micro-brewed beers and wines will also be available.

Fresh pastries include cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies, cheesecakes and pies.

Kids' beverages inclule chocolate milk, fruity frappes and juice boxes.

The cozy atmosphere includes .... The Coffee Shack will feature live entertainment, local arts and crafts and free wireless Internet access. Conference rooms are available.

Hours are 6 a.m.-9 p.m., with later closing times if bands are playing.

Call 321-SHAK (7425).

Contact Kristin Day at kday@reflector.com or (252) 329-9579.

Hot Dish is a weekly column of restaurant and food news in The Daily Reflector. To submit items for consideration, call Jane Hudson at (252) 329-9577, fax (252) 754-8140 or e-mail jhudson@reflector.com. Deadline is Mondays at noon.