Greensboro Daily Photo

Geeksboro Coffee Shop

    Greensboro's newest indy coffee shop, GEEKSBORO, is located in Irving Park, near William Mangum's gallery and Elizabeth's Pizza. Since Acme Comics is nearby, it is not uncommon to see people in Geeksboro swapping out their comic books. Also seen are people playing "old school" video games and participating in fantasy, role playing games. Last time we were there, we sat next to a man, with his box of categorized cards, who was explaining every detail of villans, players, powers, and battlegrounds to a new player. Geeksboro is like that.... you can see experts interacting with experts and experts mentoring novice players in wargaming and fantasy settings while carrying on conversations about very specific aspects of science that not everyone can understand. It is as if the geekiness and intellect of the sitcom Big Bang Theory has come to life. Perhaps our favorite aspect of Geeksboro is the movie theatre in the basement where indy movies and documentaries are shown. They even show the CBS Sunday Morning Show with Charles Osgood.

    Owner Joe Scott works really hard to help everyone feel welcome, regardless of general interests and level of geekiness. He said that even in his dorm room, during his college days, he would attract people interested in comics, fantasy sci-fi, card and board games. Often, people he had never seen before would come. He wants to maintain that inviting atmosphere in Geeksboro. The shop is much like a TARDIS-- bigger on the inside that it appears from the outside. One of the best ways to keep up with the coffee house is to follow them on Facebook. One of the best ways to experience it is to put on your nicest Pac-Man shirt and head on down for a cup of fresh coffee.

Rustic Romance

    A new trend sweeping the nation is to have multiple mini-businesses selling out of one shop, with many people sharing the high cost of maintaining a brick and mortar storefront. Greensboro is following that trend. Downtown, we have Elements Gallery and Design Archives Emporium. Aubrey Home on Old Battleground, Daisy's Designer's Alley on Battleground Avenue, and Artemis and the Scavengers on Guilford College Road are all examples of the concept. Another new kid on the block, featured above, is Rustic Romance, located in the heart of Irving Park at 1680 Pembroke Road. 

    Owner, Lynn Mackay, runs the shop with nearly two dozen artists who help her keep the store stocked and who work the floor. Lynn has a beauty shop in the back of the art/consignment store and will color, cut, curl your hair. You can enjoy looking around the store while you are waiting to get your hair done. After a few minutes of talking to Lynn, you get the feeling you are talking to a long-time friend. When we were there on Saturday, Lynn's bulldog, Lilly, was there to keep everyone company. In the above photo, you see Lilly relaxing on an armchair at the end of a long day when all was quiet and Lynn had a minute to start closing the shop. 

    Hanging around Lynn feels a little like Steel Magnolias with the bond you make with all of the people coming and going from Lynn's shop. We all have difficulties in our lives; however, some people just have a way of peeling away the clouds and basking in the sunshine. Lynn is one of those people. By the way,  You may remember Lynn back when she had the Painted Daily in Quaker Village. Different store, different bulldog, same welcoming vibe.

Duane at Chartreuse

Duane is a freelance artist who turns old factory carts into coffee tables. He takes parts of farm and mill equipment, mostly wooden, and transforms them into lighting. In short, he restores and preserves iconic pieces of Greensboro's history. Above, we see him working away in back of cHARTreUSE, an artist/antique center on Merritt Drive. Duane's whole family is artistically gifted. He and his son have performed in CTG's Wizzard of Oz together. His wife is creative, too. How wonderful when family members have so much in common.

With the building of the nearby Spring Place, a community of student housing, on land that once held Pomona Cotton Mill, Duane's creations are coming full circle- without leaving the neighborhood- from mill, to Duane's hands, back to the nearby apartments. 

This scene is right around the corner from our favorite little red mill house and Deep Roots Market; a little neighborhood that is developing tremendous character. It would be great if Deep Roots Westside would not have to close when Deep Roots Eastside opens! For now, stop by and marvel at Duane's woodworking skills and then head to Deep Roots for a giant tahini cookie! Better yet, treat Duane to one!

Deep Roots Market

Today's post-Thanksgiving-feasting photo showcases Deep Roots Market, Greensboro's only healthfood cooperative store. The seed for the co-op was sewn in a dorm room at Guilford College in the 1960's*;  the retail store has been in its present location since 1990- with a different location in between. This little treasure, on Spring Garden at Wendover, boasts the largest sales per retail square foot of any grocery store in town (reference). Deep Roots Cooperative has a board of directors, by-laws, policy governance, and member owners; however, if you are in search of good-for-you-food in a pleasant atmosphere, you can shop here without a membership.

Construction is underway for the new Deep Roots store to be located North Eugene Street, providing downtown Greensboro with a full-service grocery store of more than 10,000 square feet. That's almost ten times larger than the current location. So far, more than 100 owners have loaned the store over $400,000 to help with this initiative. Here's to a successful transition to their expanded location and to providing downtown residents with a much-needed grocery store. Here's to having enough residents in Greensboro, who value eating healthy food, to support Deep Roots, Earthfare, and Whole Foods. Deep Roots will be on the greenway. Let's hope they install a LARGE bike rack! 

* read the history here.

Colonial Materials, Inc.

The above photo is a view of Colonial Materials, Inc. the largest distributor of drywall in North Carolina. The Pleasant Garden Yard opened in 1992 and is located on Hunt Road. We stumbled on it when we were driving along country roads in southeastern Guilford County in search of a little splash of color on an otherwise drab day. When we rounded the corner, just south of Pleasant Garden, and saw this riot of secondary color (orange, green, purple), it was just what we were seeking. If you are from elsewhere, does your community have a drywall business this bright and cheerful?  We like the way the fallow field in the foreground adds to a touch of nature to the scene.

The scene looks like a place Swedish artist Michael Johansson could have fun organizing. We'd like to see Andreas Gursky, who took the world's most expensive photograph, come photograph this Guilford County scene. (To our artist and non-artist readers alike, if you click through these last two links, your appreciation of this post will be enhanced).

Pomona Foundry, Inc.

Today's  photo of a sand-cast, ferrous-metal manhole cover on the Tate Street side of the UNCG campus in Greensboro. Pomona is a neighborhood west of Greensboro near Market and Spring Garden Streets. It is the community where John Van Lindley built his commercial greenhouses in 1889.* A google search for Pomona Foundry, Inc. answers some questions, but poses others about the Pomona Foundry and the neighborhood.

Pomona Foundry is a company acquired by Acme Castings, Inc. of Huntington, CA, in 1969. Thanks to the very fine online history of Acme Castings, we know that at the time it was acquired, Pomona Foundry was located 32 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. However, at the time of production, this Pamona Foundry manhole cover was molded in Pomona, NC, the community just west of Greensboro. Finding out when and why Pomona Foundry was moved to California in the first place is a question we have. Secondly, an adjacent Pomona manhole cover is stamped 'Greensboro, NC.' When did Pomona get incorporated into Greensboro. Perhaps one of our readers can help us piece together this puzzle. At any rate, it lets us get a fuller picture of the once thriving Pomona community, worthy of being cast into metal as the name of a Guilford County community. We're wondering if anybody in California knows about J. Van Lindley, the Pomona greenhouses, Pomona Cotton Mill, Dillard Paper, the terra cotta tiles made in Pomona, the Boar & Castle, and all those Pomona area places, most of which remain only as memories.

 

* reference.

Dance Center of State Street

We lament the "passing" of the Saltbox, a Greensboro store that closed earlier this year after thirty eight years in business. Their specialty candles and folk art collection were fabulous. We will be especially nostalgic for their fall and winter treasures and events.

Fortunately, the Dance Center of Greensboro has moved into their building, bringing positive energy and movement back to that little corner of State Street (at Golden Gate). State Street is starting to develop a niche market in wellness and rejuvenation. From plastic surgery to massage, to the magic, spells, and potions offered at Eclectic by Nature, there is a little something for everyone on this charming little street. The Dance Center should be a perfect fit. State Street, their second Greensboro location, is situated in the heart of McAdoo Heights. Let's hope we see dancers coming and going from this building for a very long time.

Let's also keep our fingers crossed that Nancy Moore (owner of the gone-but-not-forgotten Saltbox) finds a little place to work her retail magic. 

New York Pizza on Tate Street

    New York Pizza on Tate Street has been serving the UNCG area since 1977. In thirty five years, they've seen a lot of changes, watched a lot of people grow up, and even had college students bring their children back for a slice of nostalgia. One thing is for sure, the pizza hasn't changed; same good, classic, NYC, traditional pizza. According to their website, NYP is the "longest established family-owned pizzeria in Greensboro. They make their own dough and sauce in-house- impressive. We love the firey red hair of the woman who waited on us at and the rest of the outdoor crowd during the Tate Street Festival last Saturday. We also love the mural they painted last week on the Walker Avenue side of the building.

 

     NYP opened another location on Battleground Avenue last year; however, according to our waiter at the other location (last week), they no longer have the same ownership. We love supporting locally-owned and just may head to NYP in-between the Liberty Antiques Festival and the Spirit event at Elsewhere.... unless we get side-tracked and end up at another great eatery in Greensboro. Here's to another great, photo-filled weekend in Greensboro, and beyond!

Baby's World Daycare

En route to Kings Forest this weekend we stumbled upon Baby's World Daycare on Phillips Avenue. It is the brightest, crispest, most freshly painted business we have seen in a while. Imagine being a toddler and going up the yellow and red ramp and under the red and yellow awning. It must feel like going to school inside a Little Tykes Cozy Coupe. Baby's World doesn't have its own website so we can find out very little about the business. We do know that families everywhere want a clean, safe, nurturing home-away-from-home for their children while they are at work. 

If this place is as sparkly on the inside and if the help is as organized and inviting as the view on the outside, then Baby's World must be amazing.  They take children as young as six weeks and as old as 12 years. We'll try to get by one day when they are open to see those young ones at play.... 

Proximity Cemetery

In 2007, the Greensboro News & Record ran an article on Proximity Cemetery; an abandoned, derelict cemetery located on Phillips Avenue in the eastern part of Greensboro-  not too far from Wendover and Bessemer Avenues. The cemetery was garbage and weed strewn with nobody maintaining records of the deceased. Many headstones were broken, or stolen; some were thrown in a pile in the back corner. According to the N&R article, the cemetery was opened in approximately 1900 as a free burial place for the employees of Cone Mills and it is estimated that approximately 2,000 people are buried there. 

In 2004, the cemetery was sold in conjunction with the Cone bankruptcy case. Finally after six years of nobody knowing what to do with the cemetery and the city not wanting to own it, a neighbor on an adjoining property, John Sweeper, took it over.*  He said that he felt compelled to make the place look beautiful out of the love for his neighborhood and respect for the deceased. He has worked diligently over the last two years making the cemetery accessible to those who have relatives buried there.

Mr. Sweeper must be doing something right because, according to his groundskeeper, about twenty people have been buried there over the last year or so. Families who have lived in the community their whole lives, once again, are finding it appealing to make Proximity Cemetery the final resting place for their deceased loved ones. Initially, people were buried in the cemetery simply based on the next available space when they died. Now, there is an effort to bury families together and the cemetery has a section for veterans and babies. There are three sections named after local textile mills: Proximity, Revolution, and White Oak. As more data become available about who is buried there, information is being posted on find-a-grave.

For someone who knows how to write community grants or for a religious community in search of a LOCAL "mission," restoring this cemetery to its original, beautiful state is a worthy undertaking. It is, after all, part of Greensboro's textile mill history. Most immediately, Proximity Cemetery could use a hard surface on the circular drive that Mr. Sweeper added. He could use help getting tombstones leveled and archived. The cemetery could use plants for landscaping and a few benches to sit on... maybe a little prayer garden.  It wouldn't take much........ Do we have any volunteers? 

 

*Read the WFMY News article here. 

Latin Roots at Earthworks Gallery

Last Friday was hopping at First Friday in Downtown Greensboro. The above photo was taken at the opening reception for the exhibit "Latin Roots" at Earthworks Gallery. The exhibit celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. Last week's music and the month-long exhibit are made possible in part by Casa Azul, an organization that is the catalyst for many great events celebrating Latino culture in the wider Greensboro area. Earthworks Gallery, the event's host, is located at 500 South Elm Street, just across the tracks from the Cascade Saloon Building- the one that has been so much in the news lately.

The man on the left side of this photo, Jim Rientjes, is one of the proprietors of Earthworks. Jim is a very talented potter and he works day and night to ensure that the potters, jewlers, and other artists at Earthworks are represented well. We own pottery made by several of the artists represented here.

If you get a chance, stop and show your support for Earthworks, Casa Azul, and the artists involved in the Latin Roots Exhibit. Items are available for purchase at all price points. Look for the display with the papel picado.  And, as for getting all that visual stimulation- priceless.

La Vitrine.........

This window dressing, at design ARCHIVES on South Elm Street made us feel as if we were hanging out in Paris or New York City. Everyone loves a creative window display and this one was just so visually appealing that we're giving it an eight-mannequins-up award. Owner and Curator Kit Rodenbaugh, along with her very capable staff and vendors, keep their vintage and handmade emporium attractive and are constantly making us do a double take when walking by. This was the view of "la vitrine" at design ARCHIVES in early August. 

We looked at our recent posts and decided that GDP needed a good dose of color and a little levity to kick off a new month. Elm Street is so full of not just color but also LOCAL color and is a great place to take photos. On the same block as design ARCHIVES, we photographed this and this. Time to head back downtown and see what we can find on South Elm Street today. 

For yet another GDP riot of color, see this rooster, and this greenway trash. We're sharing today's post with Weekend Reflections where reflections are not only appreciated, they are expected. Goodbye, August; hello, September!

Pergola (and Cheesecake) by Alex

Pergolas have been around for a long time. "Pergola" originated in Late Latin, meaning projecting eave. Traditionally, pergolas are covered with woody, twisting vines. The word first appeared in Italian in 1645. The above wooden pergola is located just outside Cheesecakes by Alex at 315 South Elm Street. Owner/baker Alex Amoroso is usually on-site making cheesecakes or consulting with clients. You can be pretty sure that if he is sitting under this pergola, he is working- possibly helping someone choose from the approximately twenty flavors. And when you created the recipes, even eating the finished product is working!

There is a good chance that Alex and his loyal customers will have to sacrifce this location and pergola as the Weaver Investment Company will likely build an office building on the vacant lot they own, beside the pergola. Cheesecakes by Alex has been around since 2002. Let's hope they are they remain downtown for another decade or two- at least. In the meantime, you'll have plenty of nice days this summer and fall to eat a slice of cheesecake and check out the view from the pergola.

View from East Greensboro

Sometimes you can find beauty and visual interest where you least expect it. Here we are at an Exxon station captivated by the geometric, clean lines of the red, white, and blue scene. The station is located in East Greensboro, on East Market Street, near NC A&T. As you can see, it is still possible to make a pay phone call here. Pay phones and university campuses just seem to go together. The only other one we've located in Greensboro is beside UNCG (here). Do you know of others? 

This photo also documents the price of regular gas on July 28th (the day the photo was taken). Already, the price is higher. We plan to return to this same spot next year to compare the price of gas from one year to the next. Do you think it will be higher or lower?

On another note, if you notice, the Jefferson Standard/Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial Building is peeking out above the red roof of the Exxon outbuilding. When the "JP Building" is in a photo, you know it was taken in Greensboro.

Boho Salon Event

Last night, at First Friday, Boho Hair Salon on Elm Street held a fundraising event for Parkinson's disease. Team Fox, the grassroots fundraising group of Michael J. Fox, was on hand to spearhead the event. For $10, you could get a haircut at Boho and have your picture taken in the Back-to-the-Future mobile. All money was donated to their reserach eforts. Fun events like this make First Friday even more meaningful.

First Citizens Bank Done.... Almost

Those of you who follow Greensboro Daily Photo know that we're following the progress of the First Citizens Bank building (here). This soon-to-be Irving Park Bank has been under construction for over a year. When we first started watching the progress, we weren't even sure what side of the building would have the main entrance, Huntington Road or Northwood Street. As it turns out, the entrance is on Northwood, facing Anton's Restaurant and Baskins Robins. At one time, a reader suggested that the top might be a bell or clock tower. As seen above, neither is the case. 

First Citizens will be a four-story, full-service branch off of Battleground- 30,900 square feet of banking services. Lately, we've been in Facebook mode where people post photos of oldies and ask you if you remember. Well, this photo reminds of of the tv show Green Acres. Imagine Lisa going into the bank to return her jewels to the safety deposit box while Oliver waited outside for her, in his suit, on a tractor. Do you remember?

Elements Gallery & Summer Fun

Summer is a time for parents and children to spend time together and to enjoy their slightly-less hectic schedules. Sometimes, children are having more fun; other times, parents are more engaged an activity. At best, fun is being had by all. In the above photo, the parents are enjoying an event at Elements Gallery on Elm Street. Their children are waiting patiently outside, playing video games on their cell phone. The give and take of our summer schedules is what makes good memories for all.

Elements Gallery is like so many of the businesses cropping up on Elm Street with people coming to create a collective of mini-businesses. Elements Gallery is a collection of talented, local artists selling their artwork, pottery, and hand-crafted jewelry. In other businesses, people sell their skills, wares, artwork, products or vintage finds.  From nationally to locally, the trend seems to be for everyone to become his/her own independent contractor. While there is safety in numbers, nothing beats having your "own" business.  What are your special talents?

Top's Cleaners

We've got another photo from Battleground Avenue. Today, we see Top's Cleaners. This dry cleaning business doesn't appear to have anything written about it online. However, it has the look of one of those businesses on Battleground Avenue back from the early years and the facade of the building reminds us of the pre-fab looking architecture from the 1960's.

If you notice, the lot is surrounded by Dutch barns- a style of storage building that is quite popular in Greensboro. Next time we need to get something dry cleaned, we're going to try out Top's. Hopefully, they will live up to their name.

Stop back tomorrow. On Sundays we feature something religious or spiritual. As feasible, we will feature something on Sunday that is found in the neighborhood we shared on Wednesday; which means, tomorrow we will share something from Adams Farm!

Farm Bureau Insurance

The Farm Bureau movement was started in 1911, by John Barron, a Cornell graduate. For over 100 years, farm bureaus have served the purpose of providing not only financial support but also advise for rural families. Some farm bureaus are independent of the original American Farm Bureau Federation.

The above business, located at 2800 Battleground Avenue, is part of a North Carolina non profit organization that started in 1953 and originally headquartered in Greensboro. Their mission is to provide affordable insurance to farmers, to advocate for their members, and to provide educational services to their members.* Today, the agency also serves non-farmers and they are the largest property and domestic insurance agency in North Carolina and they hold an A rating (reference). 

The no-frills building on the east side of Battleground Avenue looks sturdy and inviting. We'll have to go see what the inside looks like sometime. Or, if you do business there, take a minute and let us know.

 

* read more here.

Delta Airlines @ PTI in GSO

Here we see a McDonnell-Douglas 88, the last variant of the MD-80 series. This Delta Airlines plane is parked at Lindley Field in Greensboro (GSO). Likely, this 155 seater is headed to Atlanta, Delta's main hub. Since Northwest Airlines and Delta merged, we see a lot more of the latter in Greensboro and the "old redtails" have been repainted. US Air transports the most people to and from Greensboro and Delta is second in passengers carried.

In the background, on the top right, you can see TIMCO Aviation Services peeking out from behind the jetway. They have a 600,000 square foot aircraft maintenance facility in Greensboro. TIMCO, established in 1990, is headquartered in Greensboro. Along with TIMCO and FedEx, DELTA, USAirways and all of the other carriers provide great resources for Greensboro. 

This photo reminds us of Delta's old advertising campaign. "We love to fly and it shows." 

First Friday Fun

July is well under way. Above is a scene at Elements Gallery, 526 South Elm Street, taken at last night's First Friday celebration. Greensboro has some great artists, visual and performing alike, and Elements Gallery is a co-op of about 45 artists. They all work together to keep this gallery dynamic and stocked with colorful items..

Last night, Vance Archer was playing fiddle. He also sells painted blocks of wood in the gallery. (Unfortunately, we didn't get the name of the guitar player). At last night's event, people enjoyed seeing the paintings, jewelry, pottery and other items offered for sale.  During First Friday, Elements Gallery serves light appetizers and beverages, as do many of the galleries.

If you missed First Friday downtown, today, you can head to the festivities in the Lindley Park neighborhood. They will be celebrating from 12-8pm at the corner of Walker and Elam Avenues.

Y is for Y...... (Formerly known as YMCA)

Knowing that ABC Wednesday would trump a Fourth of July photo, we have been posting Fourth of July photos this past week. Plus, we should have one for you tomorrow. However, TODAY, we're bringing you a photo of the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, located at 1101 East Market Street. The Hayes-Taylor Y is the oldest Y building in the city, dating back to 1939. The facility was built with 50 thousand dollars donated by Ceasar Cone and $50 thousand raised in the community, to match his contribution.*

As you can see from the red building to the left, the Y is landlocked. It needs to expand, but NCA&T University is all around the facility. The Hayes-Taylor has just cleared a zoning hurdle for opening a facility down the road at Barber Park.  In addition to a larger building, they want to expand services, including adding athletic fields, increase parking, and double capacity for people working out. 

The next hurdle for the new Y facility would be to secure 7 million in funding, which, if you think about it, is a nano-drop-in-the-bucket when you consider The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering & Gateway Gardens projects cost over 64 million dollars. At any rate, even without a one-man benefactor like Ceasar Cone, Greensboro will find a way to get this new Y built. As a community, we're like that. We find a way to realize our dreams.  Today is Wednesday and Y is for the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, the Y in our 2012 series on A-Z worthy causes and noteworthy issues of Greensboro.

*reference.

Peach Pickin' Time

It must be peach pickin' time in North Carolina (or close to it) as we've started seeing peaches at the farmers' markets. The above photo was taken yesterday at the South Elm Urban Market. According to the sign, the peaches are from the Pee Dee Orchard in Anson County. Anson County is located southeast of Charlotte, on North Carolina's border with South Carolina. According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service*, our state grows approximately 35 million pounds of peaches annually for the fresh, as opposed to the processed, peach market. California ranks #1,  because they tap into both markets.

If you are local, likely you will be making at least one trip to the Sandhills, south of Greensboro to purchase peaches directly from an orchard. Peaches don't travel well and don't keep long after they are harvested. As a matter of fact, they are like sushi: Fresh is best. If you can't get to the peaches, we are fortunate to have several farmers who bring fruit directly from their orchards to our farmers' markets. And then there is fresh peach ice cream; even those who restrict their sugar intake are known to enjoy a little fresh peach ice cream.  After all, 'tis the season........

 

*reference and more on peaches here.

Checked Out at the Greensboro Inn

The Greensboro Inn has iconic low-rise, motor-hotel*  architecture, designed for vacationing motorists and people on the go. It has an outward orientation with parking places in front of the doors.The current owners, the Khans, have owned it since the mid-1980's; however, the property is older and deserves to have its history researched, documented, and shared. Before its recent, uncelebrated days, we suspect it had an illustrious past. It would be interesting to learn some of its previous lore; especially, who stayed there.

As of early June, the Greensboro Inn has closed its doors. While, as seen in the above photo, the current owners kept it clean. According to the News & Record, the property, located at 135 Summit Avenue, was the scene of much activity that prompted calls to police about "criminal activity" within. Owner Debbie Khan said that the inn provided emergency shelter for some of Greensboro's displaced and homeless residents and some residents stayed as long as four or five years. The Khans are hopeful that the inn can chance become something wonderful on the downtown landscape. We hope so. The property is in a prime location, the owners seem like nice people, and they don't build properties like that any more. Peeking out from over the inn's flat roof is a spire of what became the Greensboro Historical Museum and was once the First Presbyterian Church. Perhaps, that is a good omen that properties on this block can be transformed.

*(motel is the portmanteau word).

Don't Forget Dad

Happy Father's Day and, as Just Be on South Elm Street reminds us, "Don't forget Dad." Today, The Urban Market will be set up in the afternoon and Elm Street will be busy with people strolling through the market wit theiir canine companions. The Urban Market would be a great place to purchase something for dad.... from vegetables and houseplants to linens and small trinkets. Just Be has some perfume that is tobacco scented. Now, that could be an interesting "dad" gift- that is, if you want your father smelling like tobacco, an interesting scent.

For those people lucky enough to have fathers still  living, don't forget that one of the best gifts you can give is spending time with your father. If you can't be there in person, you can call. The third Sunday in June first became celebrated as Father's Day in 1910 in Spokane, WA. Sonora Smart Dodd  wanted something to commemorate dads. If today is as beautiful as yesterday was in Greensboro, perhaps the gift of mowing the grass could be given. Regardless, "Don't forget Dad!"

Josephine's Bistro

Joesphine's Bistro and Bar, located at 2417 Spring Garden Street, is a great place to dine on a warm summer evening. Whether you dine inside or outside, co-owners Sara Keith and Chris Blackburn will make your evening memorable. Monday-Thursday, you can dine for $11 if you do so between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. We've never made the early session but we're betting it would be not only affordable, but fun! You can tall by the attention to detail on the outside that aesthetics matter to Sara and Chris, not only in decor but also in food.

Josephine's has a sister restaurant, the Lindley Park Filling Station, located at the corner of Walker and Elam. We love the artwork at both places. Some of the sculpture at both restaurants was done by Lawrence Feir.  We're thinking those flowers on the right might have been sculpted by Feir. Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

Vertical City

It isn't very often that we get to think of Greensboro as being a vertical city; however, this photo, taken at Hamburger Square at the corner of Elm and McGee Streets evokes verticality. Patrons at Natty Greene's are using the fire exit stairs. Two young girls are sitting in the second floor windows. There is more to life than what is seen at eye level. Greensboro might not be Hong Kong, but we are starting to add more to the upper levels of buildings, which is a sign of a thriving community and a city where retail space is at a premium.

This photo was taken the other day, after a brief rain shower, hence the spots in the upper left-hand corner. The building was built in 1895 and formerly housed Jones Wholesale Grocers. It has housed Natty Greene's since August 2004. Can you believe it has been almost 8 years since Natty Greene's burst onto the scene? It is as if they have always been there. Next time you are downtown, have a look high above. It is interesting to see what is happening on the upper levels of a building.

The Gallucci Family & Studio B at the Broach Theater

Studio B at the Broach (520 South Elm Street) is "where business and pleasure meet" in downtown Greensboro. Last night, as part of the June 1st, First Friday Celebration,  Studio B hosted the Gallucci, Galludci, Gallucci, and Gallucci exhibit. In the above photo, the Galluccis (Jim, Kathy, Mario, and Madeline) and their work can be seen around the room. The damaging, high winds, that knocked the power out for at least an hour, did not keep the Gallucci family from attending the exhibit and offering visitors doses of their artwork, hospitality, and appetizers. We have featured Jim's sculptures before on GDP (here and here) and have just learned that his whole family has artistic talent. We're betting that a family that practices art together stays together! Here's to the Gallucci Family for making Greensboro a more beautiful and FUN place. We think the man in blue and doing a sound check from above might be Mario. Notice the yellow, urban bench in the middle of the room, where you can whisper sweet nothings to the person at the other end through the bell-tube!

Greensboro is lucky to have Studio B at the Broach. They have created a very New-York-loft/gallery-look right here in downtown. We're sharing this with our friends at Weekend Reflections.

 

O. Henry Portrait

Today, we bring you a portrait of Greensboro's world famous writer, O. Henry- born William Sydney Porter- who lived from 1862-1910. This painting was commissioned for the opening of the new O. Henry Hotel in 1998. The original O. Henry Hotel was built in 1919 and torn down in 1979. The current property evokes the old-world charm of the original hotel and gives a nod to O. Henry himself.

Local artist Frank P. "Chip" Holton, III did a great job of making the painting look like it was painted during O. Henry's lifetime. Also, he situated the painting in Greensboro as O. Henry is reading a Greensboro newspaper. Holton has made over 500 pieces of original art for the Quaintance-Weaver group. In the Quaintance-Weaver properties alone, Holton has quite a reperitore;  with his art ranging from modern to traditional to a 17th-century inspired mural- a still-life. If you have a little time one afternoon, stop by for tea at the hotel and have a closer look at the above photo. As for us, we hope to interview Holton this summer so we can find out how he decided to paint O. Henry in this pose. Happy Tuesday, folks!

 

 

Tritech Electronics, Inc.

Tritech Electronics, Inc. is an analog and digital electronic service located at 1327 Headquarters Drive in East Greensboro. The business is an independently-owned, full-service repair facility for musical instruments and music related electronics. Owner Ben B Phillips III has been in the business for over twenty years. He got his start in Winston-Salem working for another company. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to buy the business and move back to his native Greensboro.

We haven't had a chance to meet Ben yet, but we can tell by the display of keyboards at the entrance to his little space, just off Bessemer Avenue, that he is a creative soul. We can tell by his website (linked above) that he is dedicated to his craft and his customers. He likes takinng broking electronics and giving them new life-- whether they are analog or digital. We should have saved this photo for the Fourth of July. It is very red, white, and blue.

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Lee Rogers of Sunset Hills

Lee Rogers is a local landscape designer. In the above photo, we see Lee sitting on the side porch of her historic Sunset Hills home. Her house on Waverly Way, known as the Mebane House, was one of the historic homes on Preservation Greensboro's 2012 Tour of Homes this past weekend.** She and her family have lived in the two-story, 1927 colonial revival for the past thirteen years. During that time, they have not only added to the spendor of the interior, they have done extensive work on the double lot. Thanks to Lee's keen design, their not-so-little corner of Waverly Way is lush with perennials; herbs and other edibles; giant, blue hostas; tiny, variegated hostas; and many more, interesting plants. Most recently, Lee designed a terrace that looks absolutely stunning in her side yard.

Above, we see Lee sitting behind a cluster of equisetum, more commonly known as scouring rush. This 100-million-year old plant is considered a living fossil* Lee likes the plant because it is perfect for this moist corner on the sunny side of her house. Now that Lee has had a chance to catch her breath from hundreds of people touring her house this past weekend, you should call her and let her solve your yard's design dilemmas. The best request we overheard this weekend was a woman asking Lee to design a backyard that would be big-dog friendly! Knowing Lee, it will be a show-stopper. You can contact Lee and learn more about her design philosophy through her website (here).

*read more about the scouring rush plant, here.

** if you want to read the informative brochure from the Sunset Hills tour of homes, including reading about Lee's home (The Mebane Home), go here. It takes a while to load but is well worth the wait.

Midway Auto Sales

For as many used car lots as we've been in lately, you'd think GDP was looking for a used car. That is not the case; however, when that magical 10 minutes before sunset strikes on a glorious, golden evening, we cannot help but to stop and admire the beauty overhead. Such was the case last night at 8:22 pm on West Lee Street at the Greenway. We went to see the greenway and were disappointed that the brilliant display of color was not working. Instead, the panels were all white. However, the sky was beautiful in that part of town and made stopping all worthwhile.

If you look closely, you will see three chairs on the corner of Midway Auto Sales at 502 West Lee Street. This is the very spot where, during business hours, you will likely find the owner and employees sitting to solve the world's problems with a good friend, prospective customer, or both. You may recall two and a half years ago when we took a photo of Sprinkle Gas Station, just down the street from Midway (see here). Well, they have the requisite chairs on the side of the building-- a real must if you are an old-time southern business. You've got to be willing to sit and develop a relationship with people who come your way. Fellowship and friendship are at the very core of the success of these old-time businesses. We'd love to be a fly on the wall and listen to just what gets communicated in those three chairs! Happy Thursday folks. Time permitting, consider driving or biking around town and seeing just how many businesses have their chairs outside.... almost as important as hanging a name shingle.

R is for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Today is ABC Wednesday and our causes for "R"  are the three green R's: Reduce, reuse, recycle. If you want to reduce the clutter in your life, there is no better place to take items than the Salvation Army Family Store at 307 West Lee Street. If you are not against reusing clothing, the Salvation Army has plenty to choose from among the racks. Recently, the store got a face lift and it is clean, bright, and well organized. Clothing is sorted by color and type. All clothing is $2.50, unless is is on the half price rack at $1.25, a real bargain by thrifting standards.  The Salvation Army does so much for the Greensboro community* and Greensboro's own Mr. Peter Vanstory  served on the board of the Salvation Army for over 35 years. Even though it is a national organization, when you work with the local branch, it feels very local.

Even if you don't shop thrift stores, you owe it to yourself to donate goods there. If you have time, stop in and say hello to the people working the counter. They are kind, gentle, humble people. If you never get downtown, consider their upscale, Lake Jeanette location. How about from now until at least the end of the month, let's all reduce and recycle at least once!

 

*read more here.

Wilson's Grocery and Gas

To those living near the intersection of Pleasant Ridge and Calson Dairy Roads, Wilson's Grocery and Gas is a Summerfield institution. Formerly a house, the convenience store serves as a hub of activity for the community. It is a place you can stop and catch up on the local news or pick up a pack of peanuts, a Coca Cola, and a moon pie. If you need to use the bathroom, you are directed to an in-house bathroom, bathtub and all. Back when Pleasant Ridge was less developed, Wilson's was a comfortable beacon, assuring you that you could, indeed, fill that empty tank.

Wilson is a pretty common name in Summerfield. There is a Dr. Wilson and a Wilson and Sons Pest Control, among others. We don't know if they are related; but, we're betting the Wilsons know each other. Small communities are like that. Some afternoon, when you have a little time, take a break from the chain gas stations and head out to Wilson's and listen to the conversations at the check-out counter.

Stamey's BBQ

According to their website, Stamey's BBQ has been "serving real North Carolina barbecue and southern hospitality since 1930." They cook BBQ "the old fashioned way," over hickory wood coals. In the photo above, you see the heart of what gives Stamey's Lexington-style, BBQ their great flavor... not just the sauce but also the hardwood. The brick pits are are kept at a tightly controlled temperature to ensure that the flavor, texture, and moisture level of the cooked meat is perfect. This Stamey's location, at 2206 High Point Road, has been open since 1953. It is convenient for people attending avents at the Coliseum Complex.

If you follow GDP, you know we LOVE it when businesses, churches, organizations and institutions (and even people) make their history available online. Archiving information for future generations is so important. Stamey's has done a great job of writing up their history. Read its history here. Next time we will feature a photo of Stamey's food that we will be EATING. This photo was taken on a Sunday, the only day Stamey's takes a day of rest, so we couldn't stop in to enjoy their BBQ. Hummmmmm. We think we just figured out what to eat for dinner tonight!

Llantas Usadas

Today's photo was taken in East Greensboro on East Bessemer Avenue, formerly the main east-west corridor leading into Greensboro from the east- the pre-1970's Wendover. Today, this little section near Summit Avenue is quite an enclave of Hispanic businesses.... peluquierias, taquerias, and llantas usadas. The Mexican flag flies high at Tamayo's Used Auto Sales. The above photo (at 2301 East Bessemer Avenue) offers used cars and used tires in a semicircular building that probably has quite a history.

Prior to 1957, Bessemer used to be a thriving town with Bessemer High School, located in the heart of this part of town from 1911-1963.* The neighborhood was so cohesive that to this day, the school has a Facebook page. In the high school's fifty-two year history, it only had 3 principals. It was the kind of place where everybody knew everybody's name and the principal made sure you towed the line, long after you graduated. Lets hope that sense of community still exists,today..... in two languages.

 

*Bessemer reference

LFG and Blandwood

To continue with yesterday's downtown juxtapositions, today you see a photo of the Lincoln Financial Group (The LFG) in the background and Blandwood Mansion in the foreground. Blandwood Mansion, having been built in the 1840's, is nearly  80 years older than the former Jefferson Standard Building (now LFG). But, they look beautiful together. LFG was built in 1923 by Joseph Bryan's father-in-law Julian Price. It remains Greensboro's landmark skyscraper. Blandwood is the oldest standing example of Italianate architecture, not only in Greensboro but in the United States! When walking around town, we find ourselves checking the time and temperature at the top of LFG and are so glad that LFG made all of the effort to repair it. 

Happy Friday folks. Here's to juxtaposing a little time for self with a little time for your own mother, or, if she is no longer living, with a deserving mother somewhere. Blandwood is open from 2-5 on Sunday. Perhaps mom would like a tour or a picnic on the lawn.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 is one of the most widely quoted Bible verses. It has been said that it is the "Gospel in a nutshell" (more here).

We got the woodburned keychain free at the checkout counter of Ace Hardware on West Market Street. Old-timey hardware stores and barbershops is the U.S. South are famous for homemade give-aways. Sometimes the same person makes an item for a store for years and it becomes the store's trademark item. Often, there is humor associated with the items. When used to go to the barbershop on the corner of Lees Chapel and Church Street, the barber gave away hand-painted 1" birdhouses. Actually, he called them mosquito houses. For sure these give-aways are conversation pieces, and that's what we southerners like most-- a chance for fellowship..... eternally.

Europa Bar & Cafe

In this photo of Europa Bar & Cafe, we were standing on the Davie Street side wishing we were eating there. Last Friday night, the weather was so inviting; perfect for sitting outside. At that time of night, when the sky is as deep blue, their outdoor patio is absolutely magical. Europa Bar & Cafe is located at 200 Davie Street in the Cultural Arts Center. This is the same building that houses the main offices of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra as well as Greensboro Opera.

Europa comes by its name honestly as the interior decor has Portuguese tile and plenty of hardwood details. The food choices seem great and the Sunday brunch looks good also. We'll have to try it out. They're open until 1 and 2am, a little late for us; however, it is great for a city to have options. Don't you love the lights?

Coe Grocery and Seed Company

Today, we take you to the 500 block of South Elm Street. The blue building behind the tree is Coe Grocery and Seed Company-- a Greensboro institution. However, we have been told that the two-story, brick building to the left is the original Coe Grocery and Seed. It is now houses the trendy Civic Threads. Civic Threads sells t-shirts that advertise their building's former tennant, now neighbor next door. If this brick building is, indeed, the former Coe Grocery, then the second floor should be the location where Greensboro's Jewish community held their early services.

Greensboro needs a Jeri Rowe or Jim Schlosser-like person to provide us with a complete history of this building. If those walls could talk.... We didn't see anything about the building in Gayle Fripp's book (Greensboro). If you have information, please do share it with our readers. Related, here is a Jeri Rowe article from 2009 that talks about the characters of the 500 & 600 block of South Elm Street.

Finally, at first we were upset that that giant SUV blocked our camera's view. However, nothing dates a picture better than vehicles on the street;except, perhaps, hair styles.