Greensboro Daily Photo

Goodbye, Winter

Winter skies  can be so beautiful as a backdrop to the barren winter landscape. In spite of the recent cold snap, Greensboro has experienced a relatively mild winter. Also, we seem to have been spared an early spring icestorm. We took this photo a couple of weeks ago in northwest Greensboro and reslized if we didn't use it soon, we would have to tuck it away for a year. Officially, spring arrived on Wednesday, March 20th; winter is not just waning, it is GONE.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend to revel in the freshness of spring, we suggest heading to the Children's Museum tomorrow for the Festival of Colors, celebrating the colors of India and Indian culture. From there, you could walk from that to the Best Little Train Show at the nearby Gaylon Depot on Washington Street. If you finish those events by 2:00 p.m., you could walk  from the train depot to the Central Library for the free matinee (Aladdin). If you still want more to do, you could bike on the downtown greenway and stop by Deep Roots, welcome them to downtown and visit our friend Elizabeth who works there.

Whether you do attend one of the events we mentioned or do something else this weekend, please open your front door, allow some fresh air to flow through your house and shout at the top of your lungs, "Goodbye, Winter!". 

Gone With the Wind

For some reason, this photo of a desolate tree at Lake Higgins reminds us of a scene from Gone With the Wind.  It stands tall and alone on the horizon in the December sky, like something Scarlett O'Hara would fight to hold on to. It is hard to believe that spring will be here within a month and, before you know it, the trees will be putting on leaves.

Lake Higgins is a 226-acre municipal reservoir. The lake is one of a trio of water reservoirs: Lakes Higgins, Brandt, and Townsend. It is not always clear when you are leaving one lake and approaching another. They are located in the north end of the county. Fishing, kayaking, and hiking around the lakes are especially fun ways to exercise and enjoy our beautiful community. Since these next few months GDP is sharing posts of an environmental "Going Green" theme, this article about trees is especially appropriate. Please read a tree story,  here... a little sappy, but timely with Earth Day and Arbor Day coming up in April!

Listening for the Crack of Dawn

Sunrise was so beautiful on North Battleground this week, we had to pull off the road and snap a photo. The sky was only this intense for a brief minute before the color faded and everything turned gray-white. We couldn't help but think of North Carolina storyteller, Donald Davis who has a story called, "Listening for the Crack of Dawn." We just sat there in a parking lot, marveling and listening for the "crack" of dawn to happen. All we heard was an ambulance which broke the magic  and promptly snapped us back to reality. Off to our respective jobs we drove.

Davis tells the stories of his childhood,  the ones handed down to him from his grandmother. Before becoming a professional storyteller, he was a Methodist minister in High Point for over twenty years. So, while he wasn't in Greensboro proper, he was in Guilford County. Imagine having a master storyteller as a preacher. Sleeping through his sermons would be impossible. Now that we think about, his stories, much more powerful when heard than read, have the structure of a sermon. We've had some technology glitches this week  (one of which was that it would take 789 more hours to transfer our digital photos to an external hard drive and that the interaction couldn't be interrupted). Today is Friday and, this weekend, we're not going to do much more than listen for the crack of dawn!

Carolina Office Machines

It was beautiful in Greensboro this weekend. A little fog, a little sun, a LOT of warmth. Here we see a photo of Carolina Office Machines on Mill Street, taken from the parking lot of Starbuck's. Winter skies are usually fabulous on sunny days, so keep your camera handy. Carolina Office Machines sells not only machines but also office furniture. We wish this local company had a little company history on their website. Part of the charm of buying local is knowing your proprietors. From the look of the signage, the company has been around for a while. Their lettering is fabulously bold and prominent in front of the buttery yellow building and against the blue sky. Carolina Office Machines might need to call Sign A Rama (another Greensboro company) and see about getting a new "C" since we don't live in AROLINA! Happy Monday, dear readers!

Night Sky over Greensboro

The night sky just keeps getting longer and longer this time of year. This photo was taken along Dolley Madison Road, under the sapphire sky of late twilight with what appears to be a planet in the night sky. The road, Dolley Madison, is named after the wife of America's fouth president. Her family moved to Guilford County, to the community of New Garden. She was raised in the Quaker faith and although she only lived here the first year of her life, Greensboro can claim her as one of our own.

Locally, we respect our connections to our early history. While the scene above is modern, it does remind us of something one might have seen when rounding a corner 100- 200 years ago in the era of Ms. Madison. Here's to a great weekend. We hope you get out for some adventures in our fine community.

Autumn Knocks on Knox Road

Autumn is knocking at the door just about everywhere in Greensboro. We see it in the shorter days. We see it in the leaves beginning to turn. The okra has decided it is done blooming and the basil has gone go seed. Squirrels are scampering, collecting acorns from our city's large oak trees. October has got to be one of the loveliest months in North Carolina. Before you know it, the leaves will be at peak.

The above photo was taken in the eastern end of the county on Knox Road just across the street from Twin Oaks Ministry. It reminded us that, before you know it, many Greensboro families will be heading out to maize mazes, spooky woods, and haunted houses. Before we bring on those end of October activities, we'll concentrate on all that the beginning of the month has to offer. Of course tonight is First Friday and so downtown will be hoppin'. Also, from 8:00- 10:00 pm, the Creative Center at 900 16th Street will be holding a candlelight tour and Triad Stage is in full swing. Saturday is the Battleground Brewer's Guild will hold Octoberfest. On Sunday from 12:00- 5:00 pm, Art in the Arboretum will host their annual art and gardening event. If you know of other things and want to share, do add a comment. We'd love to hear what you are up to this weekend.

Shaw Residence Hall

After a little over a year of chain link fences and non-stop construction, The Quad Residence Hall is nearing completion on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The above photo is of Shaw Residence Hall, gateway to The Quad on the campus. The quad has been a part of UNCG since the 1920's, and, the institution had to decide whether they would raze the buildings or rebuild the outdated facilities. In the end, it was decided to honor history and rebuild.* At least a million dollars of the renovation is funded by gifts from alumi.

If you have a chance to get by to see these residence halls and learning communities before the students return next weekend, you will not be disappointed. Hats off to UNCG for finding a way to honor tradition while honoring 21st century technology and innovation.

*read more about construction here.

Flying through Rainbows

Earlier this week, Greensboro was blessed with a rainbow. By the time we had our camera in position to photograph it, little light was left. However, by that time, an airplane appeared overhead. (We were close to the airport). We loved seeing the airplane fly past the rainbow. From the ground, we could see what looked like the airplane going past the rainbow; however, from a plane, you can't have the sensation that you are passing through a rainbow.

Last Friday, Moscow Daily Photo posted a rainbow and referenced a rainbow view from the Netherlands. It would be so fun if you can link your photo of a rainbow to our photo and, then, someone can link to your picture.  Let us know if you link and we'll let MDP know that we've linked to them! Pass the rainbow on.

While we'd love to see another rainbow in Greensboro today, we'd like even more to see rain. Happy Friday folks. What does the sky look like above your head?

Our Glorious Center City Park

Happy June 1st! The above photo was taken in Center City Park around one of the much-loved fountains. Adults and children alike love the spouts of water- especially on a hot day. The trio of sibilings and the mother-daughter duo spent a lot of time entertaining themselves at the fountain. You can see the Cultural Arts Center peeking through to the right above the green umbrellas.

Since today is the first Friday of the month, downtown Greensboro, along Elm Street, will be buzzing with activity. From Center City Park to Elsewhere Living Museum to the Indie Market to everything else in between, there is so much to do on First Friday. Businesses make sure that their shelves are well-stocked for this great event. If you have been wanting to visit downtown, there is no better time than First Friday. Hope to see you there.

 

Center City Park

Here is a view of our glorious Center City Park by night (by day here). We know we feature it often (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 to show a few) but it really is the heart of the city; a nice open space for residents to gather. Tomorrow, the Greensboro Public Library will hold events related to El Día de los Niños in this very spot and the place will be brimming with fun activities for children and adults alike.

Between hanging out in Center City Park and visiting the Liberty Antiques Festival, and a few other events, like Earth Fare's Doggy Wash and Burgers for Bucks, we're going to be busy from morning to night. One of the biggest events is the U.S. Masters' Spring Nationals for swimming at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. If you haven't seen our new aquatic center, this is the weekend to stop by. Breathtaking. And swimmers may be setting records as you read. Finally, Leann Pizio is featuring a Keep It Local art event with multiple artists on her Oak Ridge property.

Please call a friend and see what a great time you can have in Greensboro this weekend. It will be a great weekend for adventure AND photos. Happy Skywatch Friday.

Man & Bulldog

When we were at the Indie Market at First Friday this month, we were smitten with this bulldog who was as sweet as can be. He was a heartthrob. We weren't the only people taking pictures of him. Bulldogs are known for their good dispositions. Althought they were formerly used for fighting in England, when dogfiting was outlawed, the dogs were bred to have a sweeter disposition. They are prone to hip dyslpasia and 80% of the puppies are delivered by C-section because their large heads can get lodged in the birth canal. However, when you see their sweet faces strolling the streets of Greensboro, the challenging aspects of the breed are quickly forgotten.

Well, it isn't First Friday for two more weeks; however, for music fan's, Pittsboro's Shakori Hills Festival is this weekend. Earth Day events will be going strong at Kathleen Clay library. For antique collectors, the Liberty Antique Festival is next Friday and Saturday and, for book lovers, Greensboro City Library is sponsoring Children's Day/El día de los niños on Sat. April 28th in Center City Park. The English bulldog gives all of these events a four paws up!  Finally, the week after that (May 4th) will be the First Friday Indie Market at the corner of South Elm and MLK Drive. So much to do in the area! Time to map out the rest of your month and squirreling away pocket change.

Farm Course Fun!

If you live here, you know Greensboro is a big golf town. If you do not live here and like golf, you should make it a point to come play one of our courses. Above, we see an event from a few weeks ago at the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. Golfers seemed to be enjoying every minute of the event. With six million dollars of renovations to the Farm Course, located off Carlson Dairy Road in Northwest Greensboro, use of the venue has increased significantly. Golf architect, Donald Steele, redesigned the above course. The 103 year-old Greensboro Country Club has not only one but two fabulous 18-hole courses. 

In addition to Greensboro Country Club, Grandover, Bryan Park, Cardinal, Forest Oaks, Pleasant Ridge, Starmount and Sedgefield  Clubs are some of the many options for golf in Greensboro. This News & Record article about golf in Greensboro goes all the way back to 1937-- the year of the first PGA-sanctioned golf tournament in Greensboro, the Greater Greensboro Open.

We're sharing this sky shot with Skywatch Friday. While an overcast sky doesn't make the most attractive sky picture, it can be good golf weather. Fore!

Captain Bill's Seafood on Good Friday

Today, Good Friday, is the last day of the Lenten frenzy at Captain Bill's Seafood & Steakhouse Restaurant. Many Christians, not just Catholics, give up red meat on Fridays during Lent.Captain Bill's LOVES that tradition! Captain Bill's is an old-school, southern seafood restaurant. This translates as no frills on decor, all emphasis on food and service. Fish is what draws people in; however, likely it is the hush puppies, slaw, and banana banana pudding that keep people coming back. 

Captain Bill's is located way out West Market Street, approaching the area where Friendly Avenue joins Market Street. It hasn't been too many years that taking a drive to the restaurants and dinner clubs "way out" Market and Friendly seemed like going on an extended road trip. Today, they seem like just an extra red light or two away. This photo was taken last Friday when the parking lot AND the restaurant were full. Captain Bill's has been a Greensboro favorite for a long time!

Related Good Friday post: Stations of the Cross; Good Friday crosses. Today is also Skywatch Friday.

Sky over Battleground

Seems like there has been considerable construction in Greensboro over the last two months. Bryan Boulevard has been receiving improvements over the last month and was closed for construction last night. A new Sheetz Gas Station is going up at the intersection of Jefferson and New Garden Roads. Recently, we featured the new Fisher Park Apartments and Meadowood Property under construction. Today, we saw 8 large dump trucks from Pffaftown turn on to Lee Street headed to a job site. Perhaps they were heading to the Lee Street property that has been cleared for the park near Musikgarten and the entrance to Olde Asheboro.

In the above photo, we see two men in a cherry picker working on phone wires. On the right, you can see the PNC Bank and the roof of Biscuitville peeking through. This photo was taken just north of Irving Park and behind the Target on Lawndale. Activity is all around us. Hopefully, your family is feeling an economic upturn. Let's all hope for the best and have a GREAT weekend!

We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday.

 

Pole Vault

Now that spring has sprung, track and field events are springing up everywhere-- including this high school meet last Saturday at Elon College. The Elon Phoenix were great hosts for this annual event. We know that Elon is not in Greensboro; however, they have a law school in downtown Greensboro and, with all of the construction between Greensboro and Burlington, it feels like we are really close communities now.

Pole vaulting has been around for a very long time and they have been a full medal event in the Olympics since 1896 for men and 2000 for women-- 104 years difference. In the above photo, pole vaulters were just warming up.  The poles look heavy but are definitely light. We're sharing this photo with Skywatch where the whole world sees the blue above!

 

Renaissance Plaza on North Elm Street

Renaissance Plaza at 230 North Elm Street is proof positive that Greensboro has a skyscraper. The plaza is 19 stories tall with a 2-story atrium lobby and nearly 300,000 square feet. The exterior of the building, built in 1989, is polished granite (possibly Mt. Airy granite?). Greensboro Beautiful has given the Renaissance Plaza an award for its landscaping and the maintenance of the landscaped areas. One of the main businesses in the building is United Guaranty. We took this photo at 8pm on Wednesday night and, from the looks of it, several people were working overtime. If you have not toured the building, you owe it to yourself to have a look. The interior has a "big city" feel. Do we really know Greensboro if we have not explored not only the horizontal but also the vertical nooks and crannies?

You may also want to head to Country Park today and watch people setting up for this weekend's reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. This is THE weekend of the year in Greensboro for reenacters and Revolutionary War historians. Let's hope Thursday's intense afternoon shower didn't make the ground miserably wet. Canvas tents don't mix well with soggy ground.

We're posting this photo on Skywatch Friday so that the whole world can appreciate the night sky over Greenboro.

Moon Over Proximity

The Proximity Hotel is located at 704 Green Valley Road, just down from the Merrill Lynch building posted yesterday. As seen in the above photo, the Proximity has several acres of property between it and Benjamin Parkway. It is a stone's throw from Friendly Center. This space would be perfect for a giant festival on a warm summer day. Likely, there are plans to build on these lots. For now, we enjoy standing there and taking photos of the sky without the distraction of power lines and telephone poles. The property has its own character every season of the year.

We've featured the Proximity from another angle; however, we still need to go inside and share the details of this environmentally-friendly, LEED Platinum-rated hotel. The owners are doing everything they can to reduce their carbon footprint. The hotel does look beautiful with clouds behind it. We were lucky to catch the moon out, hovering above hotel last weekend.

Here's to a beautiful weekend, readers, and to a great Skywatch Friday.

West Fisher Avenue Beauty

This home, located at 210 West Fisher Avenue, is a Fisher Park beauty. It was built in 1909 and, from the photo, looks like it is on a sleepy street in a secluded neighborhood. Actually, the home is located on a busy road that connects Battleground Avenue with downtown. The owners have done a fabulous job of keeping the historic flavor of this 103-year-old home. As seen in the photo, the front sports vintage details like woodwork, screen doors, lace curtains, and a grand rap-around porch. The owners are already preparing for enjoying spring afternoons. The pristine white rockers, wicker furniture, and round table are all ready for receiving guests. West Fisher Avenue has only a handful of private residences remaining and this is a glorious one.

Fisher Park, home to Green Hill Cemetery, First Presbyterian and Holy Trinity Espscopal churches, was Greensboro's first neighborhood. In 1901, Captain Basil J. Fisher donated land. Shortly thereafter, a trolley line was established and ran through the neighborhood which quickly became "the epicenter of Greensboro's cultural elite".*  Today, we're sharing 210 West Fisher Avenue with our Skywatch Friday friends.

* (Fisher Park, Wikipedia).

Bridge on Bessemer Avenue

Greensboro started the week with a snow event, had a sunny Thursday, and  rain is predicted for today. At any rate, it is still a good weekend to get out and enjoy our city. Here we see a car heading west over the Bessemer Bridge at Church Street. The above bridge connects Fisher Park with the Aycock Historic District. 

Nearby, is a walking bridge that allows pedestrian traffic to move back and forth. It is known as the Hendrix Street Pedestrian Bridge. It was rebuilt in 1997 and named after Max Thompson, who, while alive, worked tirelessly to make the refurbished pedestrian bridge a reality. We need to try to get a picture of the pedestrian walkway before the leaves return to hide it. It helps minimize foot traffic on the above bridge.

Notice the nice job they did of keeping the vintage, early-20th century look on the Bessemer Bridge. The low street lights are reminiscent of the gas lamps of yesteryear. Today, Bessemer is not nearly as busy as it was in previous decades when it was the principal east/west artery before Wendover was constructed. It is, however, incredibly convenient to use in getting from the east side of town to North Eugene Street, the First Presbyterian Church, Latham Park, Moses Cone Hospital and everything in between.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Old Greensborough

From the time of its founding in 1808, to 1895, Greensboro was spelled Greensborough. From the Revolutionary War era to the Civil War to The Textile Era to the Civil Rights Movement, to today, Greensboro has remained a city with great character. We owe much of the success and growth to our early Quaker founders, our many institutions of higher education, our Jewish community, our dynamic African American community and the way all interacted with the population-at-large. If you are interested in learning more about the history of Greensborough, the Wikipedia entry is a good place to start. As people add to it, the entry gets better and better (here).

The expansive blue sky opens up over Old Greensboro at the corner of Lee and South Elm Streets. This is the southern entrance into our great, Gate City. Between the two traffic lights in the center, you can see the Jefferson Standard/Pilot/Lincoln Financial building peeking out. We've added it to Skywatch Friday. Have a great weekend, dear readers. See you on Elm Street!

Dudley's Panther and Tyca Clowning Around

Tyca the clown and the Dudley Senior High School panther-mascot were out entertaining children during the MLK parade in January. Tyca the Clown was incorporated in 2007. He is frequently seen around town twisting balloons into all kinds of shapes for children to enjoy. Children know him by name and respond gleefully to his rainbow hair, outfits, expressive face paint, as well as to his animated persona in general. His address is listed online as 4425 South Danby Castle Road, Greensboro NC, 27407. Unfortunately, we didn't see a website or phone number. However, SOMEBODY must know how to get in touch with Tyca as he is seen working everywhere!

The suited panther, represents the royal blue and gold Dudley High School off of East Lee Street. Children enjoy waving and interacting with that furry larger-than-life creature. When you see him, you can be pretty sure that the Dudley band or sports team is somewhere nearby!

Happy Friday folks. Also, happy Skywatch Friday. We're sharing this photo with the rest of the sky-loving world.

Greenway Fisher Park Apartments

Construction is officially underway for a downtown apartment complex in the Northwest corner of the city. The Greenway Fisher Park Apartments (GFPA) are located on 4.2 acres at the former North State Chevrolet site near the baseball stadium. It is also adjacent to the Greenway loop and historic, Fisher Park. The Jones brothers are building five, three-story brick apartment buildings that will have a clubhouse, fitness center, a saltwater pool, and more. Costing about 10 million dollars, the facility is a major investment on a piece of property that has been dormant for a long time. It will be interesting to monitor the progress of this newest addition to the skyline. At least until the empty showroom/garage across the street is developed, GFPA residents will have a great view of the ballpark and the historic Jefferson Standard Building. To further orient you, notice the Paisley Street sign. We were standing here when the photo was taken.

We love seeing the insides of buildings before they get covered up by their façades. Right now, the construction site is looking beautifully green-- especially striking when the sun is low in the sky. See media coverage of the 196 high-end apartment complex here. We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday. It would be really nice to have some of those wires, lacing through the skyline, go underground.  Have a great weekend, dear readers!

Paisley Street... Quietly Endures

Paisley Street is located downtown, near the Smith Street Diner and the First Presbyterian Church-- vestige of early 20th century Greensboro. The street is named for the Reverend William Paisley who was born in Guilford County in 1767, forty one years before Greensboro became a city. The Rev. Paisley was involved in early real estate transactions in the county. He purchased lots on West Market Street from Thomas Caldwell. The lots were located just beyond the western town limit, perhaps not too far from this street that bears his family name.  

If you look closely, you will notice the JP Building peeking through in the background. If you are local, likely when you were little, you believed that all roads led to the JP Building, the city's time-and-temperature revealing epicenter. This sleepy little residential area of downtown is quite charming. Hopefully, it will survive the current construction boom at nearby Eugene Street. We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday, so that the world can see the sky over Greensboro.

The Softer Side of UNCG

We close out the week with this photo of UNCG, near the railroad tracks that parallel Lee Street and and Oakland Avenue. The "softer side" in the title is reference to yesterday's photo of Sears. This is the softer side of campus because it is one little nook that has remained relatively unchanged over the last half century. UNCG has undergone a period of considerable growth and construction-- from new dorms to the New School of Education, Music Building, Moore Humanities and Research Building, and on and on (map here). If you haven't been on campus in a while, you should start your visit at one of the old landmarks, like the Foust Building or the Steam Plant & Sink Building (above) or you just might not recognize the place. Even Spring Garden Street has changed.

Enjoy your Friday the 13th and stop by Skywatch Friday to see the blue skies above your favorite cities around the world. In the meantime, we're busy planning our our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities for Monday. For sure, we will be at the parade (more here). As for the UNCG Campus, Monday's holiday will be a HUGE day for service learning projects in honor of Dr. King.

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!

Last Skywatch Friday of 2011

Many Fridays throughout the year, we participate in Skywatch Friday, a meme where participants show a slice of sky overhead in their respective cities. This will be GDP's last Skywatch Friday of 2011. It is a winter sunset in northwest Greensboro. It had just rained and so some pink snuck in to enliven an otherwise sooty sunset. At this time of year, with excessive hours of darkness, an infusion of color from nature is a much-appreciated gift. To quote an old saying, some of the best things in life are free.

As we reflect on our sky shots of 2011, we find the one of Camberly's Garden to be the most poignant; the Peace on Earth at Guilford College to be the most hopeful; and Coble Farm on West Friendly, the most picturesque. If you are interested, feel free to review the year of Skywatch over Greensboro entries (here) and select your favorite. Let us know in the comment section below. In the meantime, lets hope 2012 is an equally great year for photographing the sky over Greensboro.

Christmas on Hubbard Street

Hubbard Street is located White Oak "New Town" community of Greensboro. White Oak, listed as on the National Register of Historic Places, is part of a mill community in northeast Greensboro. One hundred years ago, when Greensboro's textile mills were in full-steam production, White Oak Mills employed five thousand people. By the early 20th century, it was the largest denim factory in the world. Thanks to the Cone brothers, a thriving city-community surrounded the factory. This house is very typical of the mill houses in the neighborhood.

Also typical of the houses in this neighborhood is the connection to history and to community. While White Oak has changed somewhat in recent decades with the rise of rental property in the area, it is still easy to find a good old-fashioned home with great character. This little pink house on Hubbard Street, a block from Buffalo Presbyterian Church, is impeccably painted with a white picket fence and vintage, cement steps leading to a wreathed gate. This Christmas, the darling house on Hubbard reminds us that good things DO come in small packages.

Against the crisp, warm blue winter sky, the scene is heavenly and we are sharing it with Skywatch Friday.

Midnight Clear on Elm Street

Elm Street is magical on a cold winter's night. Downtown Greensboro looks like it did almost a century ago-- charming and well maintained with lots of brick façades and nothing ultra modern in appearance from Market Street and to the south. It is as if O Henry, Lunsford Richardson, and John Van Lindley could be strolling along the street listening to carolers and talking to friends.

In the above photo, First Friday was winding down yet the road was still blocked to cars. Pedestrians were making the most of the opportunity to stroll along the street. The evening was so well attended and so many community members were involved, we can't help but think Greensboro could use another event or two like this before the end of the year. If you want to keep up with events downtown, 99 blocks is a great start.

We're sharing this night sky with our friends at Skywatch Friday. 

Moravian Star

If you are in Greensboro, head to the First Moravian Church, 304 South Elam Avenue, for the annual Candle Tea-- today and tomorrow. They will treat you to Moravian sugar cake and coffee or lemonade, provide you with music, show you how to make beeswax candles, let you admire the putz (Nativity), and MORE for free! They will have a bake and craft sale and allow you to make donations; however, the goal is to showcase the Moravian religion and celebrate Advent. We're planning to pick up a chicken pie or two, yummy. Today, the tea extends from 2-9 pm and Saturday, the hours are 10-3 pm. Tonight they will have a brass band and living nativity. Why not start your afternoon at First Moravian (Facebook page here) and then head to Elm Street for First Friday. So much to do tonight..........

The first Moravian star*, ancestor of the star in the silhouette above, is said to have originated in Germany in the 1830's. The iconic star usually has 26 points and is the Moravian rendition of the Star of Bethlehem. Old Salem, a Moravian enclave in the United States, is located about 35-40 miles west of us at the southern end of Winston-Salem.

We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday.

*See a Moravian star from the tea at the church two years ago (here). 

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?

Sunset on Autumn

For a few weeks there, it seemed as if autumn would last forever. Locally, fall was especially beautiful this year. Leaves were brilliantly colored, skies were blue, and many days were just perfect for spending time outside: bike riding, festivals, nature walks......... Then, in Greensboro, the temperature dropped over 30 degrees in a 24 hour time period. From Wednesday's tepid, mid-70's balmy tornado-front to driving rain and fog, COLDNESS captured our autumn at one fell swoop. Leaves surrendered their grip and winter coats were brought out of storage. Also, with the time change and days getting shorter, many people leave for work and return in the dark. What? Was there a day today? Did someone see daylight? Sunshine?

Yesterday, just when all seemed about as uplifting as a big bowl of unseasoned broth, this brilliant sunset lingered on the horizon, a carrot dangling, reminding us to see the beauty that lies ahead. First, some snow, slush and lots of gray, but, before we know it, all will be green again. In the meantime, winter is knocking....... Can't you hear it?

We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday and are heading over there to see the sky above a few hundred cities worldwide.

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.

The Giving Tree

The persimmon tree is a member of the genus Diospyros... meaning the fruit of the gods. The astringent version of the persimmon is often found growing wild in North Carolina. The actual word "persimmon" is derived from a Native American word meaning "a dry fruit." Persimmon trees like to have their space and are usually seen in open fields. We have seen several persimmon trees around northwest Guilford County. The above stub of a persimmon tree reminds us of Shel Silverstein's poem, The Giving Tree.

Once, in Greensboro, there was a young persimmon tree. The persimmon tree was planted by a man, Mr. Greensboro Daily Photo. He loved this tree; visited the tree; he watered the tree, day in and day out-- from the first day of spring, through summer, into autumn. On a moonlight night, a buck walked past and decided to tear the tree down to a stub. He rubbed against the tree, stripped the bark, tore the top off and left it on the ground. The man is still very upset and has to decide what to plant in the space as it is very open and vulnerable to the tenacious, ruminant mammals. For now, he has this stub to look at to remind him that man may know how to fly to the moon but he just may not be able to outsmart the local deer.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday. 

 

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.

To Pilot Mountain and Beyond

From First Friday downtown to the Fall Festival at Bur-Mil Park on Saturday to Sunday's Italian Festival in Festival Park, Greensboro is packed with things to do this weekend. However, the mountains are also calling. From now until the end of October, it is possible to see peak leaves somewhere in North Carolina. You just have to find the right elevation.

The above photo of the iconic Pilot Mountain, just north of Winston-Salem, was taken last year later in the season. Pilot Mountain is a geological landmark that rises 1,400 above sea level and is the centerpiece of Pilot Mountain State Park. If you like the outdoors, Pilot Mountain is non-stop fun. Nearby Mt. Airy was the inspiration for Sheriff Andy Griffith's TV show about Mayberry. It is a quintessential small North Carolina town of yesteryear with 21st century updates.

Consider making a day trip from Greensboro to the mountains soon as this year is supposed to be good for fall foliage. We hope that you have a wonderful weekend; you are healthy and happy and, at some point, you visit Pilot Mountain, Mt. Airy, and beyond. (We're sharing this post with Skywatch Friday).

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.

Teamsters Union 391

According to their website, Teamsters Union, Local No 391, is North Carolina's largest and most diverse union. It grew out of a group of 26 drivers in 1938. At its height, in 1979, it had 10,000 members. Today, it has 8,000 members. Read the history of Teamsters Local No. 391 here. Their building is located off of Sandy Ridge Road and I-40 near the Farmers Market. The local unions feed into the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. 

We're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday where you can go to see a slice of the sky around the world. The red brick building looks so solid under the bold blue sky. Have a great weekend and don't forget about the Liberty Antiques Festival today and tomorrow. Here is a post about the event from a couple of years ago. It would be a great way to spend this first day of autumn!

Jackson Library

This is a photo of the back part of Walter Clinton Jackson Library on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The original, brick portion of the library (barely visible in this photo) was constructed in 1950. The original portion of Jackson Library was built to replace the Carnegie Library that had burned. This white, 9-story tower was built in the 1970's. Given its height and architectural style, the bright white tower is a landmark on campus. Clearly, it resembles a giant, glistening open book.

According to Wikipedia, Jackson Library is a selective depository for US government documents and a full depository for State documents (reference here). In addition to over 2.5 million books, Jackson Library also has an impressive collection of electronic databases and electronic journal subscriptions. Perhaps the biggest strength of the library is the reference librarians who have a great reputation for helping students and faculty find and access information. The library is named for a former chancellor. Walter Clinton Jackson came to the school as a professor in 1909, rose through the ranks in administration and served as chancellor for 16 years. 

Today, we're sharing this post with Skywatch Friday. Additionally, with a nod to Martin Handford and his book Where's Waldo? (after all, this IS a post about a LIBRARY), we're going to ask you to play a round of Where's Jane? with us. Do you see our friend?

Peace Acres

East Wendover is also Highway 70 and Burlington Road. Driving east towards Elon University, past Sedalia and near Brightwood Inn, you will find suburbia encroaching. However, a property that dubs itself Peace Acres has carved out its own little slice of tranquility. England has Stonehenge, Guilford College has Stickhenge, and the family at 6474 Burlington Road has what you might call Zenhenge, a circular stack of boulders and rocks. Their cozy brick house sits back from the road and the above rocks distance the property from the road. We'd love to know the story behind this assemblage in the field! While these rocks are more stacked than balanced, did you know that rock balancing is considered an art form? If you know of any rock balancing efforts in Greensboro, please let us know. We'd love to get out and photograph them.

Happy Skywatch Friday folks. Greensboro is gearing up for Indian summer which should bring some beautiful skies and silhouettes. Have a great weekend dear readers.