Greensboro Daily Photo

Baseball Town

For not having a professional baseball team, Greensboro has some great baseball viewing opportunities. In the above photo, we see a game in progress at UNCG's baseball stadium. They were playing Appalachian State on April 13th and UNCG won 6-5 after 11 innings. Needless to say, it was a nail biting game.

Just about two miles east, Greensboro has the Grasshoppers and a few miles east of that, NCA&T's team.  For the universities to the pre-collegiate crowd, Greensboro has some great baseball opportunities. From Summerfield to Pleasant Garden, to AAU to the Parks and Rec teams, there is baseball for just about everyone at all levels.

If you haven't been to a game in a while, look up the schedule of your favorite local team and head out for a little nostalgia, Americana, and a great evening of sports. The Grasshoppers are home from tonight through Tuesday and Friday night is fireworks night!

ACC Men's Basketball Tournament 2013 Underway in Greensboro

March Maddness is well underway. Greensboro is  hosting the 2013 ACC Championships at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. We are also lucky to live in a state with such great basketball teams: Duke, Carolina, NC State, and Wake Forest (to name a few [in alphabetical order]).  The above photo was taken yesterday, Day 1. Today, Day 2 is a big one because both Duke and the University of North Carolina are playing. Those are the the much-coveted tickets- especially the Carolina game. Tickets get more expensive as the field narrows. We can't imagine what people will actually be paying for these tickets.

If you are local, you should try to go see a game. It is so much fun to be part of the excitement. Plus, next year, the ACC Tournament is in Atlanta, GA. We will really miss what has come to feel like a backyard brawl. While our town doesn't have any professional sports teams, we make a mighty fine host when golf and basketball tournaments come to town and we are gaining a national reputation for hosting great swim meets. Let's all be good sports and do what we can to keep people using Greensboro as a tournament town!

F is for Fresh Fish and Fresh Food

Greensboro is a great place to fish for bream. The above fish was hooked locally in a private pond, when the weather was a little warmer. Lakes and private ponds are filled with these edible panfish. Americans are trying harder and harder to eat local food and Greensboro is involved with that initiative. One way to eat local is to fish. Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department is very involved with the Community Fishing Program. As one example, they deliver fish to lakes (read one example here).

Another way to help sustain our feed supply is by planting more edible landscaping (see here). We hope you are making some effort to eat fresh food. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Go Green Greensboro series, we're saying F is for Fresh... fish and food! Let's all take one day a week and try to eat completely from food that is grown locally.

Toboggan Time

Downtown at Winterfest, not only do they have ice skating, but also they offer toboggan rides. On the stage side of Festival Park, a small (100 ft.)  ice slide has been added. As seen in the photo, families wait in line to  the sled ride. For many, the incline is too big, for others, it is too small. For many, the ride is "just right." And for those at the just-right age, this little activity is quite a memory maker.  Disc rental is included in the price of the skates.* If you haven't been down to skate yet, today would be a lovely day. From the looks of the scene, secondary colors are all the rage. So, don your best purple, green, and orange gear and come on down!

*more here.

Piedmont Winterfest

Piedmont Winterfest, outdoor skating in downtown Greensboro, is fun for young and old alike. Yesterday's below freezing temperatures made it seem especially appropriate to be downtown skating in our own little "Rockerfeller Center"- even if it is just temporary. If you are looking somthing family-oriented to do today, consider heading to the rink on Davie Street at Festival Park. The brighter the clothing you wear, the more fun you are guaranteed to have. As they say in the carols, "it's Christmastime in the city." Anytime you see families having this much fun and getting  exercise at the same time, you know the event is a good one.

High Point Rowing Club's First Regatta

The High Point Rowing Club is not yet a month old, but this past weekend, they participated in their first regatta. The event was held in Wake Forest, North Caroina on Falls Lake. The regatta, hosted by UNC Men's Crew, gave crews a chance to get their times before November's big rowing event, Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN.  Head of the Hooch is the second largest regatta in the USA. The HPRC team is ready and plans to participate. This is a wonderful opportunity for the team. In the above photo, High Point's two crews are seen getting ready for this past Saturday's race.

While this blog is Greensboro Daily Photo, we're glad High Point rowing has brought the sport of crew to the Triad. Currently, the team practices on Oak Hollow Lake. It would be wonderful if Coach Gene Kininmonth also started a rowing program on Lake Brandt or Lake Townsend. Greensboro has lots of young ladies (and even a crew of parents) ready to row. Maybe they could even get Greensboro's own Caroline Lind, gold medal Olympic rower, to come home and give the girls a few tips.

That would be simply OAR-some!

Session House of Bethel Presbyterian

Today, we take you to the session house at Bethel Presbyterian, way out in the eastern end of the county. Above, we see the small facility that dates back to 1875. On the outside, the white wooden structure resembles a one room school house. As you can see, on the inside, it looks a lot like a one room schoolhouse, too.

Here is where the church archives documents relevant to the history of the church. For example, there are receipts showing where people had paid for the priviledge of sitting in the same pew for the year.  There are many photos of church leaders and members over the years housed here. The white, hanging lights at the back wall came from the sanctuary of Bethel. Archiving documents and maintaining a history is particularly important to a church like Bethel that not only has a 200-year history; it also has church members whose families date back to about the founding of the church. To these members, documenting the history is priceless. The little building that houses these memories is priceless, too.

Does your church (or other religious institution) have its history in order? If not, no better time than the present. Happy Sunday, everyone!

High Point Rowing Club

The High Point Rowing Club is new to the Triad area and we are so fortunate to have this opportunity for our high school athletes. The Triad's first rowing team practices at Oak Hollow Lake and yesterday was a fabulous day to be out in the 60' shell. Even the choppy water couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the people who came to practice. The rowing program started a few weeks ago and this was only their third practice. Coach Gene Kininmonth, originally from Australia, brings a wealth of experience to the team. Not only is he a rower himself, he has coached several places, including UCLA. 

If you are not inclined to row, there is still a great deal for you to do in the Greensboro area this weekend. Consider eating  at the Greek Festival and then heading over to the Tate Street Festival. It would be great if you could stop by Elements Gallery at 526 South Elm Street to preview the items in their Breast Cancer Awarness and Prevention Fundraiser. There are so many things to do in the Triad area, none of us should ever complain about being bored. Head on out and enjoy yourself.

We're sharing this photo with the great people at Weekend Reflections who will be clapping joyfully as they see the reflection of the crew in the water.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game............

Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd.* This 1908 song is the unofficial anthem of baseball. While it is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch, the song is on the tip of everyone's tongue when they think of baseball. The Greensboro Grasshoppers won't be playing at home until their Memorial Day game on Monday; however, the above photo reminds us that it is a holiday weekend-- a time for family and friends... and photos galore. The stadium is the perfect place to get a postcard perfect picture with the word GREENSBORO, providing a sense of Americana to your photo.

Currently, the Bryan Foundation owns the stadium; however, the ownership group of the Grasshoppers is hoping to purchase the stadium. The ownership issue has created a little bit of controversy. The important thing is for the stadium to remain the affordable, vibrant place for family-friendly fun. Greensboro loves its baseball. May "take me out to the ballgame" ring loud and clear for decades to come. Happy Friday, dear readers. 

 

*reference.

Greensboro Grasshoppers: A Glorious Evening of Baseball

Strike 1,2,3 and you're out at the old ball game!  If you are looking for affordable, family fun, head down to Newbridge Bank Park.This is a view of the Greensboro Grasshoppers playing the Delmarva Shorebirds in the stadium last Friday night. The weather was perfect and the fans were enjoying themselves. There is a free playground for children and, for adults, North Carolina's largest outdoor sports bar, Natty's Hill-- a nod to Greensboro's namesake, Nathanael Greene. With the events held here, our stadium keeps downtown Greensboro hoppin' all summer long. For more fun, get your picture taken with Guilford, the mascot. You don't even have to go inside to take your picture with the larger-than-life baseballs that adorn the entrance. For sure, the venue is the pride of Greensboro.

The Grasshoppers are one of the minor league teams affiliated with the Miami Marlins. Learn more about minor league baseball and purchase tickets here. Batter up! 

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!

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!

 

Swan Song for Winterfest 2012

Piedmont Winterfest 2012 officially closed yesterday. The above ice-skating rink will be drained and, hopefully, like Frosty the Snowman, come to life again next year. The postcard-perfect, Winterfest was a successful, public-private partnership involving many local entities*. It was located in Festival Park on Davie Street near the Greensboro Central Library. We're not sure how the unseasonably warm weather impacted attendance; however, on the days we visited, there were many skaters.  Yesterday, many children were out trying their hardest to master skating. One of the most determined children was a little boy who was out there all afternoon. You can see him in the middle of the rink, next to the girl with blue pants. We're hoping next year's rink can be even bigger.

If you still want to ice skate in Greensboro, you can head to the Ice House off of West Wendover Avenue. They were one of the sponsors of this event and will be more than happy to see you on their home turf...ice. Skating is great exercise. Happy last-Monday-in-January, dear readers.

*read more here.

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

When the winter weather is nice in Greensboro, nothing beats heading to one of our parks or the greenway for a bike ride. Here we are at the entrance of Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The signage marks the 2 1/4 mile bike trail, clearly.  

Next month will be time for the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. We recommend riding the trails this month to learn the lay of the land, so that on reenactment weekend, you will be able to move from point A to point B efficiently. Greensboro has many active cycling groups, check with one of the bike shops if you want to find a group of cyclists at your level. Have a great weekend everyone. Hope to see you out on the trail. 

Fall Bike Ride

This past Sunday was a perfect day for a bike ride. Here we see a group of cyclists en route, calling a fellow cyclist who was lagging behind-- ahh technology. We met up with these cyclists on the part of the greenway trail that parallels Benjamin Boulevard, between Friendly Center and Grimsley High School.

If you are interested in cycling and want to find like-minded people, the Velo Club of Greensboro is an active, social cycliing club.  It was established 36 years ago, in 1975 and continues to add meetings and events. In addition to their weekly Sunday rides, the local club is gearing up for three big events this fall/winter: 1) The Tanglewood Park Festival of Bikes on November 18th; 2) the 15th annual Polar Bear Ride on January 1st; and  3) the big Cyclocross Race at Bur-Mil Park on January 22nd. The Polar Bear Ride would be a great way to bring in the new year that would be perfect for those of us who vow to move more and eat less.

Whether you join a group or do something on your own, travel on Greensboro's Greenway or on paths uncharted, we suggest you head outdoors and take advantage of these fleeting good-weather days.

 

 

Fall is For Football..... and the Grimsley/Page Game

Fall is the season of football, from high school to college to the pro games, most Americans have vivid memories of attending and watching football in the fall. Football transitions us from hot sunny days, where one gets a stadium sunburn, to chilly days where plaid woolen blankets and hot chocolate are about the only thing keeping spectators in the stands. In Greensboro, this past Friday's fall weather was just perfect for the annual Page/Grimsley game, held at Jamieson Stadium. Page and Grimsley are arch rivals and while in some sports (like ladies' varsity volleyball) Grimsley dominates, for sure, Page dominates in football.

The 54-game rivalry found Page victorious Friday. It was the fifth year in a row for the proud Pirates. Grimsley blue was dominated by Pirate red every step of the way right down to the 49-0 final score (read more here). On both sides of the stadium, the crowd was well behaved and school spirit was mighty strong. Here's to fall football, healthy rivalries, gracious winners, gracious losers and respectful fans. Regardless of which of our 17 high schools with foodball teams* wins at the local level, let's hope that Greensboro is well represented in the state playoffs so we can all cheer for our district. Happy Monday, everyone; happy fall football, aficionados. 

*(Guilford County has so many special programs, we hope our count of 17 is accurate. If not, please let us know and we'll come back in and correct the number).

Greensboro Aquatic Center

This weekend, the Greensboro Aquatic Center is open for locals to stop in and see this beautiful community resource. Oh how wonderful it is to watch youngsters diving from the 7.5 and 10 meter platforms with such poise and confidence. It is also wonderful to admire this lovely facility and realize it is right here in in our own backyard to be enjoyed by EVERYBODY! 

Field of Dreams said it best. "Build it and they will come." Swimming, diving, water polo, scuba diving, synchronized swimming...... lessons and events...........spectators......swim teams.......national competitions.....a 79,000 square foot facility with nearly a million  gallons of water. While many people in Greensboro were stunned at the fact that the city was spending $19 million on a swim facility in these financially austere times, the positive economic impact from the currently-booked events is already double the cost. Water event planners come here and see this spotless facility with crystal clear water, plenty of space for spectators, a nice deck, grand dive platforms, and they can't wait to sign on the dotted line. Water time is selling fast.  Yesterday, we ran into Jay Dodson and his Star Aquatics team as they are involved in the opening events (read here). The Greensboro Aquatic Center will serve our community for a very long time.

The white ceiling supports reflected in the water, among other reflections, have us participating in Weekend Reflection.

F is for Ferrell Brothers, Rick and Wes

Today we take you out to the ball game with the Ferrell brothers, Rick and Wes. On the east wall of Greensboro's downtown baseball stadium, you will see this bronze plaque dedicated to these celebrated major league baseball player/brothers with ties to Greensboro. Born in Durham in 1905, Rick was one of seven brothers. He attended Guilford College where he played baseball (and basketball) and went on to be a major league catcher from 1929-1947. Rick, a hall of fame catcher, was one of the best hitting catchers in the American league.

Brother Wes, born in Greensboro in 1908, was known as one of the major league's best hitting pitchers. At age 19, he entered the major leagues where he played from 1927-1941. In his book, The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball, Dick Thompson says that Wes was,"as talented as anyone who ever set foot on a baseball diamond and as good as any pitcher who ever threw a ball" (reference). Another great piece of baseball trivia is the fact that Rick and Wes were sibling batterymates* for five seasons.

We wish more information were available on the Internet about the Ferrell family. Where did all of those boys practice baseball growing up? Where did they go to school K-12? Since Wes was born in Greensboro and Rick went to college here, their ties to the local community are significant and they bring Greensboro considerable recognition as players during the golden era of baseball. With America going through the Great Depression, the Ferrell brothers brought the world a much-needed bit of distraction from the financial woes of the day.  Were there any of the brothers who didn't play baseball?We do know that their other brother George, a minor league player, had a long and tremendous career in the sport. 

The more we look around for people who have made an impact on Greensboro for the ABC Wednesday meme, the more we realize that often, Greensboro heroes come in pairs. Today is ABC Wednesday and "F" is for Ferrell brothers, Rick and Wes. See previous entries here.

*pitcher/catcher teams

Wyndham Championship & Golf in Greensboro

Greensboro is abuzz about golf this week. Today is the Round 3 Tournament Play of the Wyndham Championship. At 6p.m. tomorrow, we'll know who takes the Sam Snead Cup and prize money. Sam Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open (GGO), the precursor to the Wyndham,in 1938, the year it began. He won the GGO a total of eight times, his last time being in 1965 at the age of almost 53 years. His record still stands today as having won the most times and having been the oldest to win. With these records as well as his commitment to the event and the sport, it is easy to see why the winner will be awarded the Sam Snead Cup. It was said that when Sam Snead hit the ball, "(i)t sounded like a rifle and the ball flew like a bullet" (reference). Mr. Snead died in 2002, four days short of his 90th birthday.

If you are interested in following the results of this week's PGA event, the Wyndham posts the leaderboard here. Tommy Gainey started the day Saturday in the lead position. The event combines several social events and and the Wyndham is donating 100,000 toward a charity that focuses on helping children. We have to disclose that the above photo was taken at the Greensboro Country Club earlier this week as we weren't confident that we could get into the Wyndham with a camera (without a press pass). 

Take Us Out To the Ball Game

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are out of town this weekend leaving us with a BEAUTIFUL, but empty, stadium. It has been six years since this stadium opened its doors on April 3, 2005. Time flies when you are playing ball. Seating capacity in New Bridge Bank Park stadium is 7,499; however, with all of the picnic and grassy berm areas, more people can fit, if needed. The opening day crowd was 8,540. Greensboro loves its minor-league baseball. 

This scene, outside the entrance gate on the Bellemeade Street side, would be perfect for a photo shoot with the little baseball players in your life. To small children, these larger-than-life baseballs feel like the scene in Gulliver's Travels where Gulliver lands in Brobdingnag, the land of big people.

Here is the Grasshoppers' schedule. They'll be back in town next week. What a great way to wind down your summer and have some good, AFFORDABLE family fun!. Today, we're pitching this photo over at Skywatch Friday where hundreds of people worldwide share a view of the sky above their town.

City Meet 2011 at Lindley Pool

Since the community swim season concluded with this past weekend's trans-city meet, Greensboro's dedicated swim families can finally dive into their summer vacations. Lindley Pool at Lindley Park has hosted the Community Swim Association's event since 1959. The park and pool are named for John Van Lindley who donated the 40 acres for the park in 1917.*  Lindley (1838- 1918), a local Quaker landowner, was very involved in developing Greensboro neighborhoods and recreation areas around the turn of the 20th century. 

In the above photo, we see one of the Friendly Frog coaches, Coach Ed, positioned behind young swimmers at the finals on Saturday. His pink hair is left over from the wildly fun parade of swim teams earlier that afternoon. Little did Coach Ed and his colleagues know at that point in the afternoon, Friendly would go on to win the event, reclaiming the title from The Greensboro Country Club. If you follow swimming in Greensboro, you will be interested in seeing the list of winning teams across the decades (here).

After 52 great years at Lindley Pool, Greensboro's City Meet will move inside to the Greensboro Aquatic Center at the Coliseum Complex.  Friendly Swim Team has the great distinction of winning the first and last meet held at Lindley. Stop back next year to see which team will win the FIRST meet at the aquatic center!

*reference & photo in Gayle Hicks Fripp's book Greensboro Neighborhoods Volume II, p. 76.

Greensboro Aquatic Center

The Greensboro Aquatic Center, part of the Coliseum Complex, is located on High Point Road beside the ACC Hall of Champions. If you look closely (or enlarge the photo) near the purple, you can see workers in the process of finishing the exterior. Like the new baseball stadium, the history of the aquatic center is not without controversy. Confusion the way it was presented to the public in the bond referendum and concern that it was a non-essential in these financially difficult times were the two main issues.

Fortunately, bookings are starting to pour in. The 2011 Masters Swimming High Performance Camp will be held here at the end of August. This camp will attract competitive adult swimmers and coaches from all over the USA. Next spring's Masters Championship will be held here, April 2012. Also in April, the venue will host the 2012 YMCA National Short Course Championship which historically attracts 1,600 swimmers and 4,000 spectators. If you have ever been involved in an away sporting event, you know that one can easily spend $500 dollars between several days in hotels, food, sports-related paraphanelia, gas, etc. 

Those involved in competitive swimming in Greensboro know that it is difficult to find pool time for practice and meets. Many of the facilities with Olympic-sized pools lack adequate space for spectators. This venue will change the face of swimming in Greensboro. Let us hope that at the end of the day, as was the case with Newbridge Bank Baseball Park, the Greensboro Aquatic Center will be "a good thing" for Greensboro. For sure, the face of High Point Road is changing as we type. Just the sight of that wavy roof makes us want to grab our goggles and suit up!

Gone Golfing

Greensboro is a big golfing town and here you can see we've "gone golfing." Actually, this is the driving range at Bur-Mil park. It is open to the public and mighty fun and affordable. These men were having a blast while their children practiced at the putting green and, in at least one case, the wife was looking on. In the 1930's Greensboro launched its first PGA-sanctioned tournament and golf has become entrenched in our local culture. Public and private courses abound in our city. The News & Record has assembled a great history of golf in Greensboro (here).

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday-- a place to enjoy the sky fifty-two weeks a year.

ACC Hall of Champions

One of Greensboro's newest venues is the ACC Hall of Champions on High Point Road at the Coliseum complex. Here she is in all her glory, having recently opened to the public on March 3rd, 2011. If you are a college sports fan, you probably already know that the ACC was founded in Greensboro in 1953. This hall/museum was assembled to document and celebrate the high points of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hall of Champions has interactive displays and exhibits documenting the league's 58 year history. The exhibit everyone is talking about is the 4-ft., 360 degree video-globe at the entrance. On the exterior, in the gray panel to the right, you can see the logos of the ACC teams.

If you are local, we hope you can stop by for a real visit (open Wed. - Sunday). Sounds like a great field trip for PE teachers. If you are from elsewhere, you can visit virtually. We're sharing this post with Skywatch Friday, a dedicated group of sky lovers who will jump, block, tackle and flip over these fluffy clouds in the Carolina Blue sky! 

Proehlific Park Family Sports and Fitness Complex

Northwest Greensboro is the home of Proehlific Park. Proehlific Park is located on 22 acres at the corner of Jessup Grove and Horse Pen Creek Roads. It was started by retired NFL player Ricky Proehl with the philosophy of providing opportunities for unlimited free play for children. Additionally, organized sports are available. In the above photo, a youth soccer league is enjoying the weather outside on the fields behind the main facility.Parents and siblings alike sit on the sidelines and cheer on the young players.

It is hard to believe that the weekend is over; adults are back to work and children are back in school. For days where the weather isn't cooperating, Proehlific Park has 60,000 square ft. of space in the indoor facility. Even with the YMCA just down the road, Proehlific Park attracts quite a crowd.

Regardless where you and your children go for exercise, the important thing is to ensure that everyone is staying physically fit-- for life. According to data from North Carolina Public Health, over 62% of adults in Guilford County are overweight or obese. Let's all work together, young and old alike, to defy that statistic.

Learning to Golf-- and MORE-- at Bur-Mil Park

Fore!!! Greensboro is a great golfing city and we have several affordable options open to the public. Bur-Mil Park is one such option. The young guy in this photo was practicing his putting this past Sunday with his dad and big brother. All were concentrating on perfecting their game at Bur-Mil, located at 5384 Owl's Roost Road in Northwest Greensboro. The 9-hole golf course opened in 1914, almost 100 years ago! Originally, Bur-Mil Park was owned by Burlington Industries and used as their employee club.  Guilford County purchased the 250-acre park for 4.5 million dollars in 1989. In addition to golfing, Bur-Mil has a clubhouse for meetings and events; eight picnic shelters; a family aquatic center; a wildlife education center; summer camps; tennis courts & lessons; hiking and biking trails; access to the city's greenway, and a lake with fishing.

Burlington Industries has been through many changes since being incorporated in 1923. Gone are the days of the corporate office on Friendly Avenue with employees heading to Bur-Mil on the weekends (read the history of Burlington Industries here). However, private industry's loss has been the public's gain. If you are local, please make an effort to visit Bur-Mil. We especially recommend the educational programs facilitated by the Frank Sharp Jr. Wildlife Education Center.

Greensboro Grasshoppers Ready for Season Opener this Friday

Here we see Guilford the Grasshopper (mascot for our minor league baseball team) greeting fans at the corner of N. Elm and Bellemeade Streets, a couple of blocks from the baseball stadium. At the impromptu photo shoot, we learned that Guilford was actually en route to the "Walk to Defeat ALS" at Center City Park last Saturday. Guilford reports that turnout was tremendous this year and fundraising goals were surpassed. Thank you, Greensboro!

After the ALS Walk, Guilford the Grasshopper hopped back to the stadium to get ready for this weekend's baseball games. According to their website (here), the 2011 home opener is this Friday evening and after the game there will be a fireworks show.  Also, to kick off the season, the Grasshoppers have 9 nights of home games in a row at NEWBRIDGE BANK PARK. We have a new, conveniently located stadium with comfortable seating, a nice field, a wide variety of concessions, places to find shade when it is too hot, a playground for energetic children, and much, much more. The club is always offering special events, including fireworks shows. The Greensboro Grasshopper baseball games are great, affordable family fun. With ticket prices ranging from 6-9 dollars, attending a game is less expensive than going to a movie! Attending minor league baseball games is quite a Greensboro tradition and Guilford hopes to see YOU there!

Spring Baseball at War Memorial Stadium

What would spring be without baseball? Here we see a baseball team about to enter World War (One) Memorial Stadium. The stadium was built in 1926 and was semi-retired in 2004 (read more on this previous GDP post). War Memorial Stadium is located at 501 Yanceville St. across from the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market in the Aycock Historic District. The stadium started out as a football field but soon was refitted as a baseball field. The triple arched entrance was featured in the 1988 movie, Bull Durham. If you look closely, on the outer edges of the archways, you will see two bronze plaques. They list the name of those who died fighting in WWI.

While the Greensboro Bats have flown this belfry and morphed into Grasshoppers, Greensboro College and NC A&T University still use the stadium for their games. Last night was senior night for Greensboro College, the last home game of their season. The NCA&T Aggies have games there this Saturday and Sunday (see NCA&T's baseball schedule here). If you are a photographer, here's your opportunity to take some great baseball photos in a vintage stadium.

The Sky is the Limit

When life puts up hurdles, jump! This photo was taken at a the Phoenix Invitational Track and Field Meet at Elon University last Saturday. Many high school students throughout the Piedmont Region-- including several students from Guilford County-- participated in the meet. The warm, breezy, spring weather was perfect for spending the day outside running, jumping, throwing, and shot putting. The Elon staff and students involved with this event went out of their way to make sure it ran smoothly. Elon University is about 15 miles east of Greensboro; however, its connections to Greensboro are many. Elon  has a law school in downtown Greensboro and many people who work at Elon live in Greensboro. 

On another note, in these financially difficult times, please remember that school sports programs contribute significantly to the wellness of our children. Also, practice and meets give teenagers something to do and people to socialize with in a positive, healthy environment. Let's help keep these programs intact. Like the young man at the hurdle, we are ready to JUMP into the weekend and hope you are too. Happy Skywatch Friday.

St. Patrick's Charity Classic

This past Saturday, the Rothar Tugas St. Patrick's Cycling Classic charity bike ride departed from cycles de ORO (1410 Mill Street) at 10:00 am. Proceeds were donated to the Down Syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro. Novice, intermediate, and expert rides were available at 29, 42, and 61 miles respectively. A good time was had by all. The weather was perfect: warm, breezy and sunny but not too hot on what was the last day of winter. At the end of the ride, the Ancient Order of Hibernians served Irish stew and riders had a chance to win a $100 cash raffle, prized, and even a trip to Ireland. In the above photo, the man in blue, cycles de ORO owner Dale Brown, is heading out to announce the grand send-off.

Let's hope that a generous amount of money was raised for the Down Syndrome Network. Greensboro, its school system, and the Down Syndrome Network are known for fabulous efforts to serve the needs of this special population.  The money will be well spent. If you missed this ride, don't worry, Greensboro cyclists and bicycle shops are always sponsoring rides for worthy causes.

2011 ACC Basketball Tournament in Greensboro

This weekend, while people are reenacting the Battle of Guilford Court House, others are flocking to the Coliseum in Greensboro to watch ACC  Tournament basketball games. By tomorrow, we'll know the 2011 Champs. For now, we're reposting the photo of this window from a couple of years ago. Not only are the games here this year, Greensboro is home to the Atlantic Coast Conference. As their website states, "(t)he Atlantic Coast Conference was founded on May 8, 1953, at the Sedgefield Inn near Greensboro, N.C. with seven charter members- Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest." Today the conference has expanded to eleven member schools and generates some pretty intense rivalries.

As of last week, Greensboro is now home to the ACC Hall of Champions. One of the highlights of the brand-new, state-of-the art facility is a 4-ft. 360-degree video globe that shares conference highlights with visitors. We'll try to get a photo of the new facility but NOT during tournament madness. Getting near the venue during the busiest weekend of the year is not advisable. 

We're posting this photo, with the reflections in the windows, on Weekend Reflection.

 

 

Gate City Roller Girls 2011

Hurray, the weekend has rolled in. Last night's First Friday in Downtown Greensboro was a little quiet. However, the Gate City Roller Girls were out in full force. Again, they rolled onto the scene when we least expected it and volunteered to pose for a photo. Founded in 2010,they are a fun-loving group of women are dedicated to athleticism and roller skating fun. They are part of Greensboro's first official Roller Derby League. This fast-paced, contact-team sport is fun for women of all ages. They practice at least three times a week and are up for a workout indoors or out.

We're sharing this with our friends at Weekend Reflection. Surely, you see the reflection on the knee pags as well as the vehicle. See our older photo of them here! If this weekend is nice, how about getting out for a little roller skating fun. Thing spring! We're posting this with weekend reflection. Look at that reflecting off of those knee pads and beyond! We hope to see these girls on Friday, April 1st when the Indie Market will return to First Friday!

Tate Street Winter

Pop-shove it? Five-O? Three sixty? If you know what these words mean, either you are a skateboarder or you have one in your life. Tate Street is Greensboro's version of a hang out for college students. With UNCG and Greensboro College nearby, students can visit between classes. This photo shows the dynamic nature of a "college street." A few students are skateboarding while the man in the red shirt (left, background) is hanging a banner to announce his new business. The only thing bad about a new business is that it means an old one is gone. If you could see behind the photographer's head, you would see that the Corner is having a 75% off closing sale and Design Archives  is gone. The latter has relocated to Elm Street, leaving a big space next to Tate Street coffee. Let's hope some new, great businesses are planned for these spaces. Now that the weather is warmer, we're all thinking, "spring." including the merchants on Tate Street. 

By the way, if you want a dictionary of skateboarding terms, visit here.

Steelers Fans in Greensboro

Last month, these Pittsburgh Steelers fans were standing around waiting for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade to begin. As seen on the green street sign, they were gathered on Martin Luther King Jr Drive in East Greensboro. It was a gray winter day.  Informal surveys and NFL clothing choices indicated that more citizens of Greensboro were in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, today is not only a sad day for Pittsburgh but also for Steelers fans in Greensboro and across the nation. The Super Bowl was an exciting game-- determined by the last possession. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers. Even with injuries, they played a great game. We hope the man in the center of the photo continues to wear his jacket as six Super Bowl wins is something to be proud of. If he has one, can, however, put his terrible towels, away!

Greensboro is a great sports city. We love athletic events of all kinds and are especially excited that the Women's and Men's 2011 ACC Basketball Championships are in Greensboro in March! Check out our old March Madness photos.

Revolution Park

The sun rises over the three-acre Revolution Park at 2200 Yanceyville Street, at the beginning of Cornwallis Drive. If this softball field could talk, it would recount many fun times. For decades, workers from Revolution MIll, just down the street, came for picnics with their families and played ball from dawn to dusk. Workers at Revolution Mill were a close community; living, working, enjoying recreation, socializing, and attending school and church all within a few miles of the mill. Owners saw to it that their workers' children had access to a sound education and to family-friendly recreation. 

The park is a still-active city facility and, while textile looms were silenced in 1982, in 2003, the mill was purchased and renovated for office space. Preserving the integrity of the buildings, the $40 million dollar renovation has resulted in nearly 100 businesses opening within the structure. The owners endeavor to make the new facility the heart of the community. Many families on Maple, Cypress, Walnut, Fairview and surrounding streets have memories of Revolution Mill and Park that are as strong as the sun reflecting and refracting in this photo. When the weather warms, families will be filling up the field and the bleachers.

This post will be shared with Skywatch Friday.

War Eagle(s) Spotted in North Carolina

Auburn University is not the only home of the "war eagle" mascot. War Eagles are soaring in nearby Davie County! Knowing that Auburn University plays Oregon in football for the National Championship today, Mr. and Mrs. GDP drove over to Davie County, home of the Davie County War Eagles to take this photo. While the Davie County War Eagles fell to the Hillside Hornets for the North Carolina 2010 4-A Championship in December, they still represent quite a Cinderella Story, making it all the way to the finals for the first time in the school's history.

We're hoping that Auburn's War Eagles can represent the South and beat Oregon tonight. Regardless, here's to a good game, everyone staying healthy, and record viewership for a Monday game! Many TV sets in Greensboro, including those in the local sports bars, will be tuned to this nationally televised game.

Page High School Stadium

Greensboro city residents know the depth of the rivalry between Grimsley and Page High Schools. Last week, we featured the stadium at Grimsley. This week, we offer a view of the stadium at Page High School, home of the Page Pirates. On Friday, the Grimsley Whirlies will host the 51st regular-season meeting of these two teams. Students on both campuses are putting a crazy amount of energy into theme dressing and expressing school spirit. Revenue from the events centered around this game significantly helps the athletic program. We seem to recall reading the Page High School is slated to receive a new stadium. However, Google searches on Page High School are hard. There are not many Grimsleys out there; however, page is a tag for everything from where you are in a book to what you do when you are trying to contact a doctor in a hospital! Also, we didn't readily find any information about building plans on the Pirates' website. Does anybody know?

If you are an alumnus, you may not know that both schools have impressive Wikipedia sites (linked above). 

We share this today with Ruby Tuesday, the place for all things red.

Take Me Out To the Ball Game

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are at home tonight everybody! Let's all buy a ticket and head to town. For those of you from elsewhere, we have a Class A team that plays in the South Atlantic League. Since 2003, the Grasshoppers have been a farm team for the Florida Marlins. Our stadium was built in 2005 and it seats 7,499 fans. Our baseball team has had several nicknames (Patriots, Hornets, Bats, and now, Grasshoppers). According to Wikipedia, the team first played at Cone Park on the property of Cone Mills. Then it moved to War Memorial Stadium; now, the team plays in NewBridge Bank Park (seen above) at 408 Bellemeade Street. You can follow them (here) on Facebook!

Greensboro's baseball history is actually pretty interesting and available on Wikipedia where we found most of this information! This is our entry for Ruby Tuesday. In case the brick isn't red enough, the lady in the bulls eye red shirt in the center of the photo has us covered!

 

Reflecting on Greensboro's Past and Present

Go Greensboro Grasshoppers, so says John Klopp at his State Farm Insurance Office in downtown Greensboro. This reflection represents the view out John's window. The window reflects the most recognizable building downtown-- the JP building. From the parking lot, you can see Newbridge Park Stadium.

Since we're posting this for our friends at Weekend Reflection, we decided to take this opportunity to reflect and be thankful for the week. We're sharing David Hoggard's post on Greensboro's 1926 World War Memorial Stadium, that, to some, has outlived its usefulness . Hoggard quotes Edwin Jeffress (then part owner of one of the local newspapers and Greensboro's mayor in 1926 at the stadium's dedication). The inspirational words explain the name, World War Memorial Stadium.

"And so the stadium has been built by children's and widows' and wives' and rich men's wealth. It is here for the use of the coming generations; the soldier boys said they wanted no hollow granite, no useless monument to decorate our street corners, even no statuary or brass to remind us of those who have passed along after doing life's full duty, but they wanted something that would be useful; that would help develop mind and body; that would in this way be a perpetual memorial to those who have passed..., that those of us who follow should use our best efforts to make ourselves physically fit to answer any emergency... and when the call to duty comes, answer with a clear, strong voice, 'We are ready to do our bit.'

Thank you David for sharing the quote. This would be a good quote for public school children to memorize.

 

...In with the New.... Newbridge Bank Park

Yesterday, we featured War Memorial Stadium, Greensboro's premiere stadium for 79 years. However, since 2005, Newbridge Bank Park has been Greensboro's destination for baseball. The new stadium has contributed significantly to the rebirth of downtown. From baseball games to fireworks displays to scout camp outs to evenings on the playground just inside the gate, Newbridge Bank Park is fun, fun, fun. 

Take me out to the ball game in the new ballpark; but, find a way to keep our vintage gem, War Memorial. To follow up with questions yesterday, World War Memorial Stadium was so named because it was dedicated on the eighth anniversary of Armistice Day (November 11, 1926). See more pictures here.

For the ABC Wednesday crowd, N is for Newbridge and NEW ball park!