Greensboro Daily Photo

Salvation Army Kettle

The Salvation Army.. give to the Salvation Army. The bell rings and the big red kettle reminds us to help those who are less fortunate. My grandmother's first, and maybe ONLY, baby doll was given to her by the Salvation Army; so, the organization holds a special place our family's memories. Last Friday night, the Salvation Army was set up at the intersection of McGee and Elm Streets at Greensboro's kickoff to the 2009 holiday season. Tree lighting, indie arts and craft market, singers, and other performers, people of all ages came out in droves enjoying the festivities. 

With the prominence of the big RED kettle, we just had to select this photo for Ruby Tuesday. A few weeks ago, our photo of the sea of red shoes leading to the Salvation Army Select store led people to our blog in droves. May this photo lead people to the kettle.

 

Faithway Baptist Church

Faithway Baptist Church, 610 E. Lake Drive, sits at the edge of a city park/walking trail overlooking the area where Bryan Blvd. curves on into downtown. This church is within walking distance to the Lake Daniel and Westerwood neighborhoods. They've had the same pastor, James Bledsoe, for nearly 20 years.

Unfortunately the website for the church does not tell the history of the building and when we were on this night photo shoot, we didn't find a cornerstone with a date. The sign in front reads, "The truth shall make you free.. thy word is truth."  Actually, it reads,  "thywor  dis   truth" but we think they suffered a case of the shifting letters! Happy Sacred Sunday, Faithway! The light on the door looks like a cross!

On a sad note, this week, in Greensboro, a 14 year old boy took his own life. As you look at friends, relatives, strangers, young and old alike, please keep your words kind and inviting. Often it is not apparent who is troubled, self-loathing, and in pain. In closing, please pause to reflect on the week-- regardless of your belief system.

Holden Road in the Rain

Last week, we were driving from the southwestern to northwestern end of Guilford County. The rain was relentless; Haz-mat was cleaning up a spill on I-85.  This is the view from the passenger's seat as we made our ride home on Holden Road.We were all tired and wondering if we would make it home safely. Greensboro was a rainy and muddy mess. 

If you have a teenagers learning to drive, show them this picture and tell them this is the reason you take your drivers' education class seriously. This is one of many reasons why you CAN'T drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Here is our contribution to Watery Wednesday!

Sunset on I-40

This past weekend, we drove from New Bern westward to Greensboro. As the sun set, it created breathtaking views through the windshield glass. Mostly the sunset was spectacular on the south side of the interstate, making it hard to photograph. However, on this stretch, the view was also spectacular in front of us. Since Mr. GDP was driving, I was able to cheat a little bit and use the tint of the windshield glass to add the blue filter at the top. To us, the sunset was a real gift and on this Sky Watch Friday, we have decided to share it with you. 

Roundabout Twilight

Over half of the world's roundabouts are located in France. They are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. However, according to Wikipedia, the first modern roundabout in the United States wasn't constructed until in 1990 in Nevada. Roundabouts require the entering driver to yield to the driver already in the circle. They are supposed to be safer for drivers and pedestrians than traditional intersections. The roundabout in the photo is located at Lake Jeanette. Greensboro also has another one at the shopping plaza at Pisgah Church and one on Greene Street downtown. If you are interested in building one in your community, follow this link to a site that not only publishes articles about roundabouts but also gives you contacts for feasibility studies for your community.

The play on words "roundabout twilight" were selected because today is FRIDAY and we are participating in Skywatch Friday. We'd hoped for a better photo but roundabouts are hard to photograph! Do you like driving in them? Tell us your roundabout stories. We've heard that people who don't want the advances of a suitor arrange to meet in the middle of the roundabout, or better yet, in the center of a traffic circle in a big city!

First Baptist Church at Night

 Once more, we feature the First Baptist Church of Greensboro for Sacred Sunday. The church is as beautiful at night as it is on a sunny, cloudless day. Even with this side view, it is hard to appreciate the size of this church! 

Night scenes are particularly in beautiful in autumn when the leaves are changing, rustling, and falling to the ground. Imagine the above site years ago when all was dark and, rounding a country road, one happened upon the glow of a white steeple and bell tower. Such a beacon. Does anyone know how it is that a church gets the name "first." Is the First Baptist Church or First Presbyterian Church really the first one in town?

UNCG Sapphires: Singing A'Cappella, at Night, in the Rain

The August 2009 theme for the 1,000 City Daily Photo sites around the globe is: NIGHT. Greensboro's contribution is this photo of the Sapphires, an all-female a'cappella singing group from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). We took the photo AT NIGHT in the pouring rain at Greensboro's 2008 Summer Solstice event. We want to feature this very talented group and encourage you to enjoy their music. Their always-fine music varies depending on the strengths of the current members. For example, in the above photo, the singer holding the water bottle makes amazing, percussive sounds with her mouth. This You Tube video is a good example of the percussive sound of the Sapphires. Also, the song, "Numb," an MP3 file on the Sapphires' My Space account will leave you convinced that they are using instruments.

The Sapphires formed in 2000, after two members of the Spartones, UNCG's male a'cappella group, decided that UNCG needed a female group. Ironic that the male group formed first since UNCG has only been accepting male students since 1968. At any rate, we are thrilled to have both groups in Greensboro.  Let's hope CDP's August 2009 Theme Day gives the Sapphires a little international recognition!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

American Hebrew Academy: Religion and Scholarship Together

The American Hebrew Academy is the only Jewish Pluralistic College Prep Boarding School in the United States. The Academy is located on 100 acres at 4334 Hobbs Road in Greensboro, across the street from Temple Emanuel. Here we see a night shot of a small corner of the soccer field fully lit at 10:30 p.m. with students practicing. This sprawling campus is stunning on rolling hills with many beautiful buildings. However, campus security is high with a gatehouse and checkpoint at the only entrance and the entire campus is fenced around the perimeter. We took this picture through the wrought iron fence because it looks so beautiful at night. Next time we feature the campus, we'll go by day and try to get an appointment to go inside.

The school's goal is to develop students' academic potential while helping them learn to become tomorrow's Jewish leaders.  Building a sense of community is emphasized. As stated on their website, "(a)t sunset every Friday, students and teachers gather for Shabbat. There are Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv prayers followed by a family-style meal complete with Zamirot (Shabbat singing), Birkat ha-Mazon (grace after meals), and Israeli dancing. Shabbat morning services follow a late wake-up call. Students often lead morning and evening prayer services held every day at the Academy.

Fountain at Friendly Center

This fountain in the new part of Friendly Center provides Greensboro with a little bit of European charm. Sitting here and chatting with friends on a warm summer night is some of the most charming and least expensive entertainment around. I slip into Anthropologie while Mr. GDP hangs out in the Apple store. Next, we head off to Harris Teeter for a "to go" Starbucks, then over to Ben & Jerry's shop just behind the fountain. We like to sit with a cup of coffee or scoop of sherbet and chat about all the wonders of the day. If you read yesterday's post, you'll know that, right now, we're talking a great deal about how what we're going to do with all of our fresh produce. Last year, with only about six tomato plants, we had 85 tomatoes ripen at virtually the same time! This year, we knew better than to plant determinate tomatoes, the variety in which all of the tomatoes ripen within a very short window of time. Great for canners. Not for us. See, just looking at a picture of this fountain has us off-topic, writing about the garden! Relaxing. Peaceful.

Greensboro has made significant strides in the last few years in providing great, outdoor, public spaces. The fountain at Friendly is one such place. Whether you are local or from elsewhere, why don't you post a comment on places to go with friends and family on balmy summer nights. In the meantime, happy Watery Wednesday!

The Rhinoceros Club

The Rhinoceros Club, located at 315 South Greene Street (directly across from the Carolina Theatre) is a great place to socialize if you are over 21, like live music, and like to dance! The colorful newspaper boxes out front add a lot of visual interest. Do you suppose the patrons are inside reading? We hope you have a safe, great weekend!

                

Lake Jeanette Independent Baptist Church

This humble little house of worship on North Church Street is a picture of the Old South, the Greensboro of yesteryear. As dogs bark outside the house next door, the wooden cross at the tip of the steeple beckons..... PRAY.  A simple, white, "no frills" structure, the Lake Jeanette Independent Baptist Church is located near a bait and tackle shop on what used to be a quiet, country road. The saying on the marquee at the edge of the lot changes weekly. On the cold, January night the picture was taken, it read, "Pray for our Country." 

Merry Russian Christmas

Following the old Julian calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th. So, Merry Russian Christmas today. 

The photo above was taken in the Sunset Hills neighborhood of Greensboro. Since early December, the trees have been brimming with chicken wire balls covered with strands of lights. These light balls are hurled high into the mature trees lining the streets. No still photo can capture the sensation of walking through Sunset Hills where so many people come together to participate in this festive tradition. Truly, the sum is greater than the parts.

As the Christmas season wanes, these lights are being retrieved (no small task) and saved for Christmas 2009.

Happy New Year!

A night scene at the corner of Elm and W. McGee Streets in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Welcome to Greensboro Daily Photo (GDP). GDP is my foray into the blogging world. On days that I don't get out to take pictures of the people, events, and places in Greensboro, I'll share shots of collectibles, especially North Carolina pottery and hand-blown, 20th century, American glassware.  GDP is in good company as our city is blessed with another daily photo blog, In Good Light.