Greensboro Daily Photo

Glenwood Coffee & Books

Glenwood Coffee & Books, located at 1310 Glenwood Avenue, is a great resource and retail space in the heart of the Glenwood community. Not only can you get a good cup of coffee there and find a great book to to buy, you can enjoy music and get involved in community events. Occupy Greensboro made many posters in the back room and continues to meet there. The space is likely to appeal more to the arts-loving, liberal-minded crowd. Every community needs good, independent bookstores. If you are interested in learning more about the bookstore, "like" their Facebook page or stop by when you get a chance. We hope to get by, soon, and interview the owner. He has been involved in indie bookstores for several, several decades. 

The bookstore is located very near the community garden in Glenwood (featured here in 2009). Where do you go to learn what is happening in Greensboro? 

Jenn's Diner

The cold, battleship-gray little place at 3929 North Battleground Avenue, formerly known as Waffle House, just got a facelift and is now Jenn's Diner. Since opening a few weeks ago, it has been non-stop busy and has added life to a little section of Highway 220 that was starting to look and feel empty.  If someone can build on the Laddie and Dukes lot and replace the corner drug store, there will be a nice oasis of activity at the corner of Battleground and Horse Pen Creek.

Looking inside and seeing the warm, orange walls, the artwork, and the TV, it is hard to believe that the place used to be a Waffle House Chain. The home-style, country-cooked entrees and classic diner breakfasts are a hit. This photo, taken at night, reflects the warm, inviting, glow of Jenn's Diner. 

Here's to this young couple making a go of their dream. Nothing beats an on-site proprietor. We've spotted enough of a reflection on the ceiling to feel worthy of Weekend Reflections!

Pet Dairy Building on Summit Avenue

Here we see the old Pet Dairy Building on Summit Avenue near the overpass down to Morrow Blvd. In an interview with John Schlosser, John Kincaid, Sr. remembers the 1930's when there was not only a plant, but also a retail dairy bar here. Kincaid and his (male) friends walked there for 10-cent milk shakes. Another option to go for a dairy treat here would be to come to the plant by taking electric street cars from nearby textile mill villages (reference). The plant was still thriving in the 1960's and we found this archived legal document regarding their efforts to furnish dairy products to a NC veterans' hospital in 1963. More recently, Kavanagh Homes purchased the building and 8-acre site in 2006, with plans to develop it for residential units (more here). We're not sure about the current plan for the building and site; however, it would be nice if the façade of the historic building remained. The architecture and signage on the building are worthy preservation. Additionally, Pet Dairy is a link to our city's textile-mill-village life.

Post a comment if you know anything else or have memories of this building east of downtown in a little area that reminds us that Greensboro's terrain is not completely flat. (By the way, we hope we're linking and referencing in a way that shows integrity. We love the ease of accessing information through the internet).

Coffee Shop Temperatures

The crisp air makes it perfect coffee shop weather. Time to download a good book and head out for a fresh cup of java. The above photo was taken in the Starbucks at Jefferson Village. We like to feature the independent coffee shops at Greensboro; however, Starbucks provides their employee with benefits and the customers with a good dose of personal service. We stopped by to try the blonde, light-roast, coffee-- something fun to do. 

In Greensboro, a high of 41 and low of 25 is predicted for today. At least we're not dealing with record snowfall like in Alaska. As a matter of fact, we really haven't had any snowfall at all, just a little cold snap. Perfect coffee weather. Do you know the temperature of an average cup of coffee?  From about 165-185 degrees-- perfect for warming you up quickly. Have a great weekend and let us know how you are spending this three day weekend.

I, Sears, take thee Whole Foods..........

STOP and take notice! In spite of the closing of several Sears stores nationwide, including the one at Oak Hollow Mall in High Point, the sears in Friendly Center is getting a facelift. With the new signage, the store looks inviting and is highly visible. Here we see a view of the Pembroke Road side from the Qdoba Restaurant parking lot. 

Greensboro is getting a little greener as Sears is leasing 34,000 square feet to Whole Foods. For sure, Whole Foods will add more choice for people who like to eat fresh, nutritious, additive-free food. Both Sears and Whole Foods have loyal shoppers and brand recognition-- a brilliant marriage.  

Sears has considerable history with Greensboro as the 900,000 square ft. Distribution Center at 2,600 Lawndale Drive opened in 1960. While that facility is closed, Sears still has distribution and call centers in Greensboro. Next time you are at Friendly Center, come see the softer side of Sears and the nutritious side-- Whole Foods! Let's hope both stores thrive under the arrangement and stay together for a very long time.

Pretty Birdie..... Spreading Wings on Elm Street

Pretty Birdie is an Elm Street business owned and operated by seamstress/designer Stephanie Teague. She uses sustainable and organic fabrics, new and vintage, to make clothing for not only local clients but also clients worldwide through her etsy site. Stephanie is a good example of a current business trend in the USA.

The older generation of Americans has seen the two-way dismantling of corporate loyalty-- to companies and to employees. The younger generation is realistic in knowing that they can't count on graduating from college and signing on to work for a corporation until retirement. Instead, many have transitioned to a model where they develop a product, service or skill and market it themselves. They take an idea from concept to completion. A global market is merely a URL or social network away.

Walking by Stephanie's shop at 612 South Elm Street, you see piles of fabric, two sewing machines and clothing racks filled with special orders-- many one-of-a-kind pieces waiting to be united with their purchasers. Stephanie is a self-taught seamstress who grew up in Charlotte making clothes for her Barbie dolls. Recently, her husband Sanders Trippe (who works at the Bass Violin Shop downtown) has started making rings and bracelets out of broken musical instruments and vintage melmac dishes. Stephanie and Sanders, working in concert, have a growing business that is winning awards and developing faithful followers, worldwide. Say hello to the 21st-century, mom and pop, global-enterprise model. Read more about Stephanie's business here. Don't plan on running in to browse on your lunch hour; her door reads, "by appointment only". Kudos to this 21st-century entrepreneur who sets her own schedule!

Speaking of going global, we're sharing this post with the world through Weekend Reflections.

R Twining and Company

R Twining and Co., located at 2812 Twining Road, can be seen on the east side of Highway 421, just south of Greensboro. According to a business information website, Twinings manufactures tea, food, beverage and tobacco products. We stopped by the day after New Year's and the gates were closed so we didn't get inside for an interview. We're curious as to whether they are related to the Twinings Tea that got its start in England in 1706. If you know about the business, post something in the comment section.

In the meantime, we're sharing this with Skywatch Friday. Here's to the bright white building perched high on "Twining Hill" south of Greensboro. When we see scenes like this one, we are reminded that Greensboro is not completely flat. Have a great weekend everyone!

Tri-City Fish Market

For years, Tri-City Fish Market and the painting of the siren/mermaid adorned Lee Street near Elm Street downtown-- a central section of town bringing together patrons from east and west Greensboro. It was conveniently located with parking to the side. Tri-City was the main place in town for fresh fish, seafood and oysters.  It predated the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Costco and made fresh seafood available when grocery stores didn't have the large, iced seafood sections. A few years ago, Tri-City Fish Market relocated to Florida Street just south of the Warnersville community. As seen in the above photo, the siren-mermaid resumed her spot on the right-hand side of the building.  While you may be able to get your seafood elsewhere, for sure, you can't get Tri-City's freshness, expertise, and personal service. 

One time Mrs. GDP developed an English course for immigrants who worked at a similar fish market in another city. After several days of on-site observation, we were teaching new employees to ask customers, "Do you want the heads left on the fish?" and to understand when the customers requested in English, "fillet the fish, remove the heads but save them for me." Then, the person working at the counter would shout back to the person cutting the fish, "Fillet, no heads, save all."  On a busy afternoon, you can hear similar lingo at Tri-City. Stop by, learn to speak 'fish-market-ese' and leave with the makings of a savory meal. If you are like us and you've made one of the 'eat-healthier' pacts for New Year's, visit Tri-City sooner, rather than later.

Post-holiday Shoppers in Search of Sales

Well, it is the day after Christmas and, if you celebrate the holiday, we hope it was everything you dreamed it would be. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, in the western world, today is a big day for bargain shoppers. Everyone is still in a festive mood and decorations remain in place; however, prices are lowered significantly in the hopes that every sign of the holiday will get purchased away. People line up to get seasonal merchandise at bargain basement prices to squirrel away for next year.

As for us, we've been caught up photographing the Advent season. With 2012 knocking at the door, it is time to shift gears and find some new themes. Hopefully, with a little driving around and a lot of serendipity, we'll find another year's worth of Greensboro photos to share. 

 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse........ Actually, the audience was waiting patiently for Billy "Crash" Craddock to come out on stage to entertain them. And, according to people who attended, the performance was outstanding. The event was held at the Liberty Showcase, located in Liberty, NC on 101S Fayetteville Street. The community of Liberty is about 20 minutes southeast of Greensboro, in Randolph County. Liberty Showcase features live entertainment just about every Saturday night and this Saturday, New Year's Eve, is sure to be great, fun, family entertainment.

We love the above photo as it exudes a cozy feeling of enjoying an evening with family and friends. It also evokes a feeling of anticipation, waiting for something special. So many families around the world tonight will be doing just that........ waiting.......... and waiting.......... for a little old driver so lively and quick, they will know when they see him, it must be Saint Nick! Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

....Thanks to Mitch Luther for another great photo. As we are about to begin our fourth year of Greensboro Daily Photo and posting DAILY, we're growing rather fond of an occassional photo from a guest photograhper. Every day comes around pretty often!

Wagoner's Trees

The Wagoners of Guilford County have been selling Christmas trees in Greensboro, according to one website since 1939 and, according to another, 1960.  Regardless, they have been growing trees in Gibsonville and selling them around Greensboro for a very long time. The inflatable Santa, in the center of the above lot, announces a Wagoner Christmas tree lot. The one in the photo is on New Garden Road. Another famous Wagoner lot is in Friendly Center and, yet another, is on Battleground Avenue near Honeybaked  Ham. Children delight in the annual ritual of selecting a Christmas tree. As you can see, the man selling trees in the photo was wearing short sleeves and shorts. Although it has been a little colder over the last few days, in Greensboro, we have been spared inclement weather.

Hanukkah begins at sundown today.  Christmas is in five days.  Tomorrow is the last day of public school and the excitement of the children can hardly be contained. If you haven't already purchased your Christmas tree, you'd better act quickly as the tree lots will soon be closing up shop until next season.

Adelaide's Vintage Home and Garden

Here is Adelaide in front of her shop, Adelaide's Vintage Home and Garden Store at 1938 Spring Garden Street. Located in the former Holliday Hardware Store, the former carries on the tradition of the latter by offering service with a smile and having just about anything you could imagine in stock. Nothing beats a personable, on-premise proprietor, especially during the Christmas season. While their open house was this past Saturday, it is not too late to stop by and find a treasure or two-- not only vintage but also some etsy-like handmade items. What a great way to honor the buy local/buy handmade movement.

The weather over the last couple of days has been brisk and sunny, not a bad combination for running errands. The shop in the photo is just down the street from the True Santa House on Chapman Street. This part of town holds so many members for Greensboro residents. Adelaide is always ready to talk about old times and keep memories alive!

Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market

This weekend, the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market was busy, busy, busy. On Saturday, the regular food and produce stands were open. On Sunday, the market transformed into a holiday spectacular with crafters selling their handmade goods. Isles were filled with people hoping to find just the right gift. Pottery, jewelry, soaps, wreaths, dolls, and food were among the offerings. Crafters know their faithful customers and many customers know each other; so, in many ways, the event seems more like a gathering of friends.

While the size of the event pales in comparison to those in the convention centers throughout the state, the Arts and Craft Fair at the Curb Market is absolutely spectacular when it comes to having a hometown feel. According to their website, the origins of the curb market date to 1874, making it one of the oldest market in North Carolina. Formerly, the building was the National Guard Army building. The rounded roof hints at the venue's previous use. If you missed yesterday's event, you will have to wait until next year; however, there are plenty of special days on the calendar for 2012. This Saturday, head on over to Yanceville St., across from War Memorial Stadium, and you will find yourself wanting to become one of the regulars.

Night at the Movies

Going to a movie is a great winter activity, especially if the weather is bad. Also, many good movies have been released in the hopes of making Oscar nominations for 2011. Many family-friendly movies are currently showing. From the Muppet movie to Happy Feet 2 to Puss in Boots to Arthur Christmas to Hugo, and more, there are plenty of movies to enjoy over winter break. Today, we're sharing a photo taken at the Regal Greensboro Grande at Friendly Center. If you are local, likely you know this theater well. We love the cranberry glow it casts at night.

If you celebrate Christmas, why don't you take a few minutes this weekend and write out your top ten list for favorite Christmas movies; then compare it to the one from the Washington Times here. That way, not only can you head to the movie theater, you can also watch the classics at home. We know one thing for sure, after we go to the movies tonight, we're heading to nearby Ridgeway and Madison in Sunset Hills to feast our eyes on the original streets aglow with light balls thrown high in the trees (see here).

Happy Weekend, all!

Southern Lights on Winter Nights

Winter is a time when light becomes precious. From Diwali to Hanukkah to Christmas to Kwanzaa, these fall-winter holidays incorporate light into their celebrations at a time when nature is stingy with daylight. Above, we see guests dining at Southern Lights at 2415-A Lawndale Avenue. Including the former location just off Friendly Avenue, Southern Lights has been open for twenty five years. Chef John Drees brought the restaurant to its current location, June 2010.

While we enjoy the ever-changing menu, the superb soups are perfect for a cold winter night. Their texture and consistency are melt-in-your-mouth perfect. Their featuring of local artwork is a nice touch. Presently, they are featuring the art of local artist Al Narizzano. We're not sure if the triptych is his work; however, its muted colors enhance the supper scene. Happy Thursday!

MACK and MACK & Ornamental Cabbage III

It is time for our annual ornamental cabbage photo; one of the top searches bringing first time visitors to Greensboro Daily Photo. This year, we tried to take an ornamental cabbage photo that was obviously taken in Greensboro-- no easy task. The above cabbage is planted in front of Mack and Mack Design Studio Showroom on Elm Street. The foliage anchors the window display beautifully and is a great prelude to the fabulously-colorful, expertly-designed pieces you will find inside. Mack and Mack Clothing is both a custom clothing design and production facility. It was founded in 1995 by Robin Mack Davis. Their signature, soft, washable fabric is called "Magic." They are also known for festive jackets and tops.

Robin and her crew are extremely committed to helping keep downtown Greensboro a vibrant and engaging place. On First Fridays, they feature music and snacks-- a good way to get people to stop in and look around the shop.

See our first ornamental cabbage shot here; and the second here. Wonder why so many people Google 'ornamental cabbage?'

Elizabeth's Pizza @ North Battleground

Elizabeth's Pizza has been serving up New York/Italian Style food since 1978. Each location makes a real effort to maintain a Cheers/ensemble cast feel, like the 1928-1993 sit-com set in Boston. If you are an Elizabeth's regular, it feels like "everyone knows your name," the staff is family, and you are a recurring character. It is as if Sam, Rebecca, Diane, and Carla expect Cliff, Norm, Lilith and Frasier to come bolting through the door at any minute. The above photo features the Elizabeth's on North Battleground Avenue.

Each location has it's own character and flavor. At the Battleground/Horse Pen Creek location, it is common for customers to call in orders and go to another Elizabeth's to pick them up. Waiters on the phone verify, "You know we're the Elizabeth's on North Battleground, the one across from Laddies and Dukes?" The one beside Waffle House? The one next to the little white house with the gravel drive? Well, Laddies & Dukes, Waffle House, and the little white house are long gone. The only enduring neighbor is the Goodwill Store.  Who will be their new neighbors? Who will claim the spot on the phone for take out orders?  

For sure, we hope this Elizabeth's, as well as the ones in the other locations, will be around for a very long time. Happy Monday........ and......... golden, Tuscan cheers!

'Tis the Season

Last night's First Friday in downtown Greensboro must have had record crowds. People from all walks of like were out walking and enjoying the gala event. There was so much festivity and the weather was perfect. Music, dancing, artwork, food, and strolling along Elm Street. It really seems as if our city could support this event every Friday in December. The above photo was taken (last year) at Just Be, a place at the corner of McGee and South Elm that sells arts and crafts, some of which are from local artists. 

Remember that today is the Jaycees Holiday Parade (12-2) as well as the Girl Scouts Candlefest. The Moravian Tea is hosted by the First Moravian Church.  Attending a performance, selecting a Christmas tree, attending parties; officially, 'tis the season. Please make the most of it, but pace yourself. Our one wish for the man in the photo is that he not to use his phone at the expense of enjoying the beauty around him.

This photo is to be shared with our friends at Weekend Reflections. It is an old one from our archives but we loved the subtle warmth, color, and reflection.

Stephie's Birds

For Black Friday, we're headed out for a little retail therapy. What better way to start the day than to head over to Stephie's Birds to see some GIANT feathered friends!  Stephie, a second generation bird breeder/handler, is known up and down the east coast for her breeding of fabulously beautiful, healthy birds, of all sizes. From scarlet macaws to purple parakeets, her expertise in all issues related to birds keeps even a few vets ringing her phone. Above, a cockatoo named Chance watches over the store. In addition to selling birds, Stephie finds new homes for birds that the original owners can no longer keep. 

Recently Stephie's Birds relocated to North Battleground across from Wal-Mart.

While we only show a sliver of the sky in the photo above, we're sharing this photo with our friends at Skywatch Friday. We'll be sure to snap a few more photos when we are out finding bargains. How are you spending the day?

Irving Park- First Citizens Bank (Continued)

First Citizens, established in 1913, has its roots in the south, specifically Georgia and South Carolina. We've been watching the construction of their newest branch in Irving Park, just north of downtown. We first posted a picture of early construction back in July and have been back to check the progress several times. As a matter of fact, while photographing the site last week, we spotted someone climbing the stairs, visible through the metal ribcage of the structure.  Most recently, the yellow insulation was installed and, as seen above, it is as brilliant as a poplar or birch tree's golden leaves on a bright fall day.

First Citizens will be competing with the red and gold Wells Fargo stagecoach bank that bought Charlotte-based Wachovia in 2008 and retired all signs of Wachovia on October 15, 2011. We're anxious to see what the First Citizens building will look like upon completion; however, this canary yellow shell against the Carolina blue sky will be hard to top.

The FASHIONABLE Guilford National Bank

On Greensboro Daily Photo, we find inspiration when and where we least expect it. The above photo was taken at the Antique Marketplace in Greensboro. The black & white advertisement, nestled between Pyrex kitchen bowls and vintage cocktail dresses, is for Guilford National Bank, the Friendly Center Branch.

According to the archives of the News and Record, the Guilford National Bank opened in 1934 with capitol of $250,000 and merged with Security National Bank in 1960. Since Friendly Center opened in 1957*, we're guessing this ad was published in the late 1950's. The ad establishes the bank's locations as the following: 419 N. Elm; 301 S. Elm; 1301 W. Lee ; 1712 E. Bessemer; and Friendly Shopping Center. The text below the black and white photo of the girl with her poodle reads:

                            WHY IT'S FASHIONABLE TO SAVE

"I heard daddy say we should save for the things we want. That's why I started my savings account at Guilford National Bank. Now I have my own fancy poodle. You, too, can have the things you want to be fashionable. Open your Guilford Bank savings account today."

We love that use of the word fashionable. What would we say today? trendy? cool? a good thing? Why is it fashionable to save in the 21st century-- or not?  What are you saving for? We're sharing this post with Weekend Reflections. There is just a touch of reflection in our photo (inside the Pyrex bowls on the edge of the ashtray peeking out from the lower left corner); however, check out the reflection in the glass window & door in the advertisement.

*read more about the early years of Friendly Center here. 

Mother Murphy's Laboratories

Right here in Greensboro, we've got the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory of flavoring and Mother Murphy is the Willie Wonka of our taste buds. For 65 years, Mother Murphy's Laboratories has been concocting flavors. The very beginning of the business can be traced to the early 20th century when college student Richard Stelling worked his way through college making and selling flavorings. In the 1920's, as a Greensboro physician, Dr. Richard Stelling continued to experiment with making flavors in an in-home basement laboratory. Eventually, Dr. Stelling teamed up with his patient, Jefferson Standard Life insurance agent, Kermit L. Murphy, Sr. to form a business. By 1947, they opened Southern Laboratories which, in 1955, became Mother Murphy's Laboratories, Inc. In 1965, Mother Murphy's moved into the above South Elm Street facility where they are still located and in the hands of the Murphy family (more company history here). 

Mother Murphy's makes not only flavors for bakeries but also for just about anything that contains a laboratory-made flavor including: candies, drugs, sodas and tobacco products. Since the 1980's, they have been adding flavors like vanilla and chocolate to cigarettes. There are days in South Greensboro when the winds are just right and wonderful scents waft through town. We're never quite sure if they are coming from Mother's Murphy's or from Lorillard Tobacco. Vanilla is a signature flavor for Mother Murphy's; however, they are also known for some very creative flavor combinations-- 5,000 in all, 400 of which are vanilla!. On the day we were hunting for this building, we smelled it before we saw it. Watch this 2 minute video to learn more, here.  It would be wonderful if every student in Guilford County could take a tour of this facility and see great science at work!

Q is for Quaintance, Dennis (& Nancy)

Here we see Dennis Quaintance on the Green Valley side of the O. Henry Hotel . Mr. Quaintance, President of Quanitance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels, is dressed casually because he walks the three miles from home to work at the O. Henry. Sustainable practices and reducing the carbon footprint are important to Mr. Quaintance personally and are embedded into the fabric of his business model. Another passion for Mr. Quaintance is building community-centered hotels that, unlike the national chains, are in and of the community (read more here). Above all, he values keeping guests satisfied and personalizes their hotel and dining experience as much as possible.

Earlier this month, The National Conference for Community and Justice named Mr. Quaintance as the 2011 recipient of the 45th Annual Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award for his ongoing efforts to respect the inherent worth and dignity of people of all backgrounds.  Mr. Quaintance attributes his passion for equality to early childhood when he saw his mother endure gender bias.

Having lived in Greensboro since 1978, Mr. Quaintance is an integral part of the fabric of our community. His hard work and collaborative efforts, between wife Nancy and business partner Mike Weaver, enhance our community in so many ways: The O. Henry Hotel, Proximity Hotel, Printworks Bistro, Green Valley Grill, Lucky 32 Restaurant, to name a few. From his humble beginnings as a housekeeper's assistant in a Montana hotel at age 15 to his rise to the presidency of Quaintance-Weaver, Mr. Quaintance has worked hard every step of the way.

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our People of Greensboro series, Q is for Quaintance. See earlier entries here. 

Cemex.... Aquí Se Vende Cemento

¡Bienvenido! Cemex, formerly Cementos Mexicanos, is a global building materials company, selling cement, ready-mix and aggregate concrete. Cemex was founded in Mexico in 1906 and has turned into a global corporation. It's national headquarters is in Monterrey, Mexico and the US headquarters is in Houston (Memorial City), Texas.

The local plant is located at 3415 Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax; very near the Farmers' Market. Online estimates indicate that the local business generates 10-20 million in revenue and employs 50-99 employees. Worldwide, revenue is into the billions. Locally, other than having to wait behind trucks coming and going at the corner of West Market Street and Sandy Ridge, you might not even notice that Cemex has an office in our community. According to their sign, they are open to the public, selling not only cement but also pavers, brick, block, sand, gravel, tools, retaining walls & other building materials.

If you want to learn more about the company and it's holdings, read their 2010 annual report here. See their Wiki entry here.

Stairway to Heaven

If we could imagine an album cover to Led Zeppelin's 1971 hit, "Stairway to Heaven," it would be the above photo taken right here in Guilford County. The clouds are so fluffy and heavenly; the stairway leads right to the heavens over the Dollar Center and Pawn Way in High Point. The shopping complex is located a block away from High Point University. The lyrics that inspired this photo, "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold; And she's buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there, she knows if the stores are all closed; With a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven..... (complete lyrics here). 

On the one hand, the photo is so local; on the other, so generic. Every community seems to have one of these strip malls with places to get cash, buy dollar imports from China, and start a new phone service. We're sharing this on Friday because the Skywatch Friday crowd will appreciate some lighthearted, creative Friday fun. Don't forget that today is FIRST FRIDAY, where downtown Greensboro come alive with art galleries and stores staying open late! Hope to see you on Elm Street tonight. Have a great weekend, all. 

Read more about Stairway to Heaven and Led Zeppelin's creative process here. 

 

Scott's Pumpkin Patch

Wrapping up our mini-tour of Burlington Road, just east of Greensboro, was a trip to Scott's Pumpkin Patch. In North Carolina, pumpkin patches are everywhere this time of year and no week-before-Halloween would be complete without our featuring a local place selling pumpkins. Here is one from 2010; here for 2009. Children delight in ambling through the pumpkins arranged by size and price. 

This old barn is representative of the outbuildings found throughout rural North Carolina. Ten years into the 21st century, these structures are disappearing before our eyes. As a matter of fact, the land in the present photo is for sale. Wonder if Scott's Pumpkin Patch will still be here next year? Places like Scott's make great memories for children and help us appreciate our old-time ways.

If you are local and looking for something to do this weekend, click here for a pumpkin patch picking guide for North Carolina. Also, keep in mind it is the last weekend for Johnson's impressionist sculptures to be in Graham. Finally, this is our contribution to Skywatch Friday. Please take time to look up and admire the sky above.

Tobacco Harvesting in Guilford County

The above photo shows a bittersweet industry for North Carolina: Tobacco. The state has a love/hate relationship with the product. We love the revenue from crop to finished product; we hate the physical consequences of first- and second-hand smoke.* In the USA, North Carolina is number one in tobacco production with a 2010 farm income of $582 million dollars and 166,000 acres dedicated to the crop. Tobacco's economic impact to our state is over $7 billion dollars (reference). That's a lot of revenue impacting and sustaining our population, any way you look at it. Smoking rates are slightly lower in North Carolina than the national average. Nationally 19.5% of high school students and 20.6% of adults smoke; in North Carolina, the numbers are 16.7% and 19.8%, respectively. Still 20.2 million cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids in North Carolina each year and 416,000 are exposed to second-hand smoke (references here).

The acreage in this photo is on Burlington Road, not too far from the praying hands we featured on Sunday. These workers harvested tobacco from early morning to early evening on Saturday.  It was a good day for it. Before the leaves are dried, the stems are sticky and wet. From the smell, you would never suspect the crop is tobacco. The leaves smell tart and pungent, almost like collards. As quickly as land is being developed for commercial use in Guilford County, if your want to see these old-time, rural scenes, you'd better plan your day trips sooner, rather than later.

 *Please follow the links in this sentence. You will enjoy the photos.

N is for Nussbaum, Victor Nussbaum Jr.

Victor Nussbaum (1920-2001), originally from Indiana, was a Greensboro resident for the last fifty years of his life. Before coming to North Carolina, he graduated from the Wharton School of business, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and graduated from the Harvard Business Executives Program. Southern Foods, a Greensboro institution, was founded by Victor Nussbaum, Jr. in 1960. Previously, in 1954, he started the precursor business, with a used pick-up truck, driver, an office helper, 8 customers and a vision. He went door to door encouraging people to purchase food from his truck. Mr. Nussbaum became known for fresh food at competitive prices. Local restaurants quickly came on board as customers. His hand-cut meats and fresh, ground beef became the hallmark of Southern Foods. His truck became a fleet.

Vic Nussbaum Jr. was involved in local government serving on City Council for two years, as Mayor Pro Tem for six, and as Mayor from 1987-1993. He was known as a "tireless advocate for those less fortunate." Greensboro's Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship was named in his honor. The Community Foundation of Greensboro gave housing Greensboro a $15,000 grant to repair a home for a Greensboro resident in need. Through serving on several boards of directors and his work for St. Pious X Catholic Church, Mr. Nussbaum's name is associated not only with quality food but also with tireless civic involvement. In the above photo, we see vans from Southern Foods recharging at the bays on Old Battleground, waiting patiently for a new work day to begin.

It is ABC Wednesday and "N" is for Nussbaum, Vic Nussbaum. (See our previous ABC entries here).

A Peek at Fall

From the parking lot in front of Barnes & Noble at Friendly Center, we snapped this photo of the O. Henry Hotel. Leaves have started to turn colors and should be at peek within the week in Greensboro. The red brick of the hotel looks majestic surrounded by fall foliage. While the original O.Henry Hotel (built in 1919) was torn down years ago, this 1998 iteration tries hard to provide guests with old-world charm. The O.Henry is committed to being as local and "in and of Greensboro" as possible. On the website, Dennis Quantance, says that our city is about: higher education; culture-- especially a great literary tradition; cooperation and collaboration between industry, government, and the community at large; its natural and man made beauty; and the interface between tradition and innovation. 

Here is a photo of the hotel's entrance when we were en route for tea. We hope to get by the Wizzard of Oz tea to be held there on October 23rd. We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday and then heading out to find more photos of fall's splendor.

The Art Shop

The Art Shop is located in the Pomona Park neighborhood we've been featuring this week on Greensboro Daily Photo. The present location on West Market Street is near where the Boar and Castle Drive In Restaurant used to be and near John Van Lindley's Pomona Nurseries of yesteryear. The Art Shop has been in business since 1899. Perhaps Mr. Lindley himself used this shop!  At 112 years old, The Art Shop has been serving Greensboro families' fine art needs for generations. The art shop has a national reputation for retail excellence.

The above painting in the window is an original; Garnet, painted by figurative artist Richard Johnson. Knowing that this goddess of fruit is hanging in the Pomona neighborhood, the old stomping grounds of one of Greensboro's most famous fruit tree specialists, is so fitting. Garnet, the Pomona of Pomona, has a bountiful harvest of fruit in her hands. Let's hope she finds a new home-- nearby.

We're sharing Garnet with our friends at Weekend Reflections, where a little reflection draws a big applause!

October 1: Mystery Objects at City Daily Photo Sites

Today's first-of-the-month theme for the city daily photo community is "mystery object." Our mystery object was found on Elm Street last week. It is a photo gliceé,  submerged under water in what looks like a gallon pickle jar; reminiscent of what you would see at the house of horrors at a carnival. This entrapped photo has been underwater since July 2009 for the purpose of showing the archival qualities of the gliceé process.

William Heroy is the Greensboro photographer and restoration specialist who has this display in his store front downtown. We originally took the photo for Skywatch Friday as that square of blue hovering at the top is actually a slice of sky. Since Friday is over, but there IS a reflection, we get to double dip (pun intended) and also offer this "mystery object" up for Weekend Reflections. See what we meant when we said the memes can do wonders for keeping your perspective fresh. Had we not been on the lookout for a Skywatch/Weekend Reflection/City Daily Photo themed photo, the above scene would have passed us by. Maybe Mr. Heroy will get a FLOOD of requests for this technique for Halloween.

If you want more of the City Daily Photo theme.... Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Golden Antiques in Summerfield

Golden Antiques is located off of 220 North in Summerfield. This antique mall has turned an older shopping area into a community gathering place. By virtue of the fact that people rent spaces to sell their upcycled, recycled, and used items, vendors are constantly coming and going. Golden Antiques tries very hard to community build. They have a booth that fundraises for Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue. They hold silent auctions. Sometimes people showcase their vehicles in the parking lot outside. Last weekend when we stopped by, Golden Antiques had a spread of food, prehaps for an open house. Poppy's Soda Shoppe, located at the front of the store,  gives people who aren't so keen on shopping a place to sit and have an affordable scoop of ice cream while their collecting-obsessed family members peruse the isles. Unfortunately, since we were on site to prepare this post, we have learned that Poppy's is closing. It is the second snack venue in the location. It would be nice to have sufficient traffic to support a cafe.

One thing that can't be purchased or removed from the place is the beautiful sunny sky above. The white, puffy clouds are floating on over to Skywatch Friday. Have a great weekend folks. If you are local and near downtown Greensboro, don't forget to head over to Westerwood for the studio tour event, easily accessible by walking.

American Flag Flying High Over Elm Street

The Elm Street Hair Company, located at 2002 North Elm Street, is now called Denise Coker Barbershop. The shop is at the end of State Street across the street from Brown-Gardiner Drug Store in Irving Park. A few years ago, the barber was killed 'in cold blood' while at work. It shook up this neighborhood as it isn't a high-crime part of town. 

Since so many people are posting American flags as their Facebook profile pictures this weekend, we began searching our archives for a flag photo. We were drawn to this photo because the building, its roof, and the sky echo the colors of the American flag. On the eve of the 10-year-anniversary of the September 11th event, this red, white, and blue scene, reminds us that bad situations are not always understood.  The best we can do is find a way to remember the past, while living in the present and hoping for the future. Here is to a world living in harmony. Here's to the flag flying high over Elm Street.

Rolling Roads Baptist Church

Rolling Roads Baptist Church is located at 2800 Vanstory Street not too far from the Four Seasons Mall and Ben L. Smith High School. Rolling Roads Baptist is very involved in the community around the churh, as evidenced by their programs  with Archer Elementary. At Archer, Rolling Roads sponsors a Bible program. Members prepare a meal for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. On September 11th, they are hosting a pot luck dinner for the staff at Archer. This tradition of providing (optional) programs for the school harkens back to earlier decades in Greensboro, and the South, when people wore a triangular path from home to school to church (or temple) and back again.

Additionally, Rolling Roads provides food items for Urban Ministry. In these financially challenging times, the religious groups of Greensboro play a very important role in keeping people fed, clothed, and spiritually nurtured. Rolling Hills is no exception. Rolling Roads is very excited about the new floor for their fellowship hall. As you can see from the photo, the church is not one of those giant mega-churches; so a $7,000 dollar replacement floor requires individual members to be extra generous in their financial support of this modest church. 

Today's series is part of our Sacred Sunday religious series. While this feature of GDP doesn't usually generate many comments, it is amazing how many people find our website for the first time during their search for these religious institutions. We try to cast the net widely to show the religious diversity of our community.

Giacomo's Italian Market

Giacomo's Italian Market is as close as you can get to Little Italy right here in Greensboro. Homemade sausage, pepperoni, seafood salad, insalata caprese, homemade pasta, and so much more. They make and serve up food the old-fashioned way: handmade and fresh; friendly and efficient. Whether you are looking for something for your Labor Day picnic or want to feel like you are in New York without leaving town, Giacomo's is a great place to visit. This photo was taken at the 2109 New Garden Road location, near Brassfield. There is also a High Point Road location as well as the option to order by mail. It seems like just yesterday we discovered their great sandwiches and pasta. Hard to believe they've been in Greensboro for about a decade.

We've been saving this photo for a Saturday Weekend Reflection shot. Have a great weekend everyone. A special thank you to our Facebook fans who doubled our pageviews on the day we posted the blue house on Alamance Church Road this week. Friend us on Facebook for an easy way for your friends and family to keep up with our posts.

Produce Stand

It is late summer and makeshift produce stands around Greensboro are becoming less frequent. However, this one at the Citgo/Quik Mart on Battleground Avenue near Target is still quite busy. And, the melons and heirloom tomatoes look tasty. About 4:15 yesterday afternoon, a strong thundershower hit Greensboro. We don't know if the vendors at this produce stand had to batten down the hatches; however, all seemed in good order when we drove by just after the storm. The couple in the middle sat down, likely to weather the storm together. To see two people sit a minute and truly enjoy each other's company was a good, grand finale to a busy work day.

If you like these makeshift, roadside produce stands,  here is a link to a directory of pick-your-own farms, roadside farm markets, and farmers markets throughout North Carolina. Eat Wild is another great resource. The first thing we thought about this photo was that it was a "Norman Rockwell moment." As it turns out, that is the name of a business, licensed by the Norman Rockwell Estate, to turn your portraits into "Norman Rockwell Moments." 

Mortar & Pestle at Fordham Drug Store

Next time you are at 514 South Elm Street, at the building that housed Fordham's Drug Store from 1898-2002, look up to the sky and see this apothecary mortar and pestle. Pharmacists used them to prepare prescriptions or for grinding pills. Trituration is the process of crushing, grinding, and mixing solid substances-- the task of the above bowl-like mortar and heavy pestle. When we started investigating the origin and meaning of the Rx symbol, we found many answers (read here). One thought is that it comes from the latin word "recipere" meaning "Take, thou."

In the early years of Fordham's, the Drug Store was on the street level and the doctors were upstairs, just below this decorative feature on the roof. Fordham's was a dynamic place with a soda fountain that catered to children. They also had liquor for sale, as long as the ABC man wasn't around (reference). For a while, the short story writer O. Henry worked at Fordham's. We're sharing this bright blue sky with Skywatch Friday.

Sky over Wendover

Here is a view of the sky over Wendover Avenue, taken from Benjamin Parkway looking east. Greensboro is a relatively flat city so it is not always easy to find expansive, open spaces for a panoramic view. This one was taken from a car window at a stop light while Mr. GDP was driving.The square building peeking out on the left is the fabulous Proximity Hotel. The environmentally-friendly Proximity was the first platinum, LEED rated hotel in the USA (read more). On a sunny day like this, the hotel's solar panels should be busy making energy. 

This beautiful sky with low-level, cumulus clouds was taken a while back. Thunder storms are predicted for Greensboro this weekend; however, let's hope for some nice weather so that we can drive to Sedgefield for the Wyndham Championship.  Even better, book a room at the Proximity by night and, by day, head to the Sedgefield Country Club to watch some amazing golf. In the meantime, we're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday.

The Big Lebowski at the Carolina Theatre

The Carolina Theatre, located at 310 South Greene Street, is a grand and dynamic place.  Throughout the summer, they show old movies. Nothing beats watching Alfred Hitchcock on the big screen. For Greensboro's The Big Lebowski fans, the classic movie and classic Carolina Theatre come together on Thursday, August 25th for an evening you won't want to miss. Costumes, bowling, white Russians, and audience participation are in order for the upcoming event. In the movie, Jeff Bridges is an unemployed "slacker" who loves to bowl. He gets involved in solving a kidnapping case. The movie has become a cult classic because it is so quotable and audiences love the characters (reference).

When they aren't showing movies, The Carolina Theatre might be having live shows, music events, hosting a production of the Wizard of Oz, or a Fourth of July 1776 music medley. Today, from 2:30- 7:00 p.m., the theatre is hosting The Deuterman Law Group's 3rd annual American Red Cross blood drive. Stop by today, donate blood, and purchase your tickets to next week's Lebowski event.*

While you are at it, you can marvel at the architecture of this 1927 beauty. The poster frames in the above photo are original. When The Carolina Theatre was first built, the poster holders hung outside, one on each side of the door. To preserve them, the poster holders have been moved inside to the foyer and painted green and gold. If you want to learn more about the history and architecture of this Greensboro treasure, here is a great article. Hope to see you there soon!

*Beware, The Big Lebowski is rated "R" and not just for "rowdy." The language and themes are strong in this 1998 comedy written by the famous Coen brothers. 

Industries of the Blind, Inc.

Seven out of ten working age Americans who are blind are not employed (reference). Greensboro has the distinction of having established the first work program in North Carolina for people who were blind. In 1933, the Guilford County Association of the Blind hired six employees to make mops for commercial sale. With the Wagner-O'Day Act in 1938, people with severe vision disabilities had a Federal market for the products they manufactured. Responding to this opportunity, in 1938, Greensboro's organization incorporated, becoming Industries of the Blind, Incorporated (IOB). During World War II, Greensboro's IOB employed 35 workers. By 1962, they landed their first million dollar contract. For over seven decades, Greensboro's IOB has been working hard "to enhance the opportunities for people who are blind to achieve greater vocational, personal, and economic independence" (reference). 

Today, Greensboro's IOB has 238 employees in two locations and, with their government military contracts, annual revenue has soared to 20 million dollars (News & Record, 2009).  Their products for sale include physical fitness pants for soldiers, ballistic nape pads, industrial brooms, household products, pens & refills. Our personal favorites are the 24 lb. mill broom (harkening back to the days of Greensboro's thriving textile mills) and the Sedgefield parlor broom. With the PGA Tours Wyndham Championship 2011 kicking off today at the Sedgefield Country Club, we hope that Sedgefield parlor brooms are put to good use in their namesake community during this great golf event.

The IOB brick building in the photo above is located on West Lee Street near UNCG. We took the photo at night, with glaring lights, fading letters, minimal color, and blurred periphery to provide insight into what the world looks like to many visually impaired. Hats off to IOB for providing their employees with competitive wages and benefits.