Greensboro Daily Photo

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.

Shiloh Baptist Church

Here we see a view of Shiloh Baptist Church located at 1210 South Eugene Street, near where the street turns into Elm-Eugene.  According to the News and Record's archives, Shiloh Baptist has been experiencing internal strife for the last fifteen years as evidenced by their frequent turnover in leadership. However, Shiloh Baptist, located in the Warnersville community, has a rich history and held a legendary place in the civil right struggles of the 1960's (reference and here). It would be great if the church would develop a website and post their history and share photos from their archives.

Shiloh Baptist has such an interesting roofline and adds to this view of a sunny Greensboro sky full of fluffy clouds. Have a great Sunday everyone. 

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!

Revolution Cotton Mills

We've featured Revolution Cotton Mills previously; however, we love this view of the red tower at the end of the street. Revolution Cottin Mills were built in 1899 and were part of a 2 million square foot complex in northeastern Greensboro and harken back to the day when Greensboro was a national center of the textile industry. If you ever get a chance to walk around the structure, you will be amazed at the strength and durability of the construction. For the safety of the workers and for insurance purposes, the mills needed to be built according to "slow-burning" specifications: Watertight floors, spaces separated by brick firewalls, and extra sturdy support timbers (read more here).

The facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and with the help of Historic Preservation tax credits, it continues to be renovated and repurposed. We owe you a look of the inside of the facility. We owe OURSELVES a look on the inside and we'll put it on our to do list. In the meantime, if you are looking for office, event, or meeting space, this is a great place to start! This brick facility is solid as a rock, and, with proper care, should last at least another century!

The Y Bus

Happy Sunday, the day we like to post something spiritual, religious, or reflective-- essentially, living a life that is meaningful beyond ourselves. Today, we've chosen a photo of children riding the YMCA bus during the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. 

YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association. According to their website, the YMCA was founded in London in 1844 by George Williams and 11 of his friends. Initially, they provided a Bible-study/refuge to get young men off of the streets. The unique aspect of the early YMCA was that it the crossed rigid social lines of English society. In 1851, ten years before the Civil War, Thomas Valentine Sullivan, a retired Boston sea captain, formed a YMCA in Boston, the first in the USA. 

In 2010, the Chicago-based, non-profit organization changed its name to "Y" in an effort to clarify their mission of strengthening communities by "focusing on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility" (reference), regardless of gender (M/men's) or religious background (C/christian). They have grown to serve 10,000 neighborhoods. Today, the Y  programs enhance the health and well-being of people from all walks of life; from cradle to grave. From the looks on the faces of these young members, the Y accomplishing its mission is a positive, nurturing place. 

 

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.

MLK, Jr. Parade at Southside

Here is the tail end of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade yesterday with the iconic Jefferson Standard/Pilot/Lincoln Financial building in the background. The parade route took us north on MLK Drive, through Ole Asheboro and Southside and then downtown. The air was brisk but it kept everyone energized. Organizations were generous with tossing candy to children; the bands sounded great; and it was a nice way to remember our city's efforts towards equality. From church groups to postal workers to scouts to high school marching bands, to bystanders, a memorable time was had by all. 

These events are so good for community building. It would be nice to find a way to plan for these days with all public school children out and doing something with/for the community.

Dudley High School Marching Band

Here we see a photo of the Dudley High School Marching Band marching its heart out at the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. If you are local and can be there by 11 a.m., RUN to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive to attend the parade this year. You will see many bands from Guilford County Schools marching their hearts out; floats with participants tossing candy; adept equestrians on their horses; fraternities and sororities walking and riding with their brothers and sisters; inspirational drum lines with their cadence;  and people from all walks of life out showing respect. Participants and onlookers will be rallying for the dream of equality in America. Today is one of the top service learning days in Greensboro and, while teachers and students are out of school for this holiday, many are out making  civic contributions. Perhaps we should consider monthly service learning days. People working in concert to help those in need and combining their effort for the good of the whole community would be wonderful!

Dudley High School, located on East Lee Street and not too far from today's parade route, was founded in 1929 as the first black high school in Guilford County. Since 1971, the school has been integrated. We wish Dudley High had more history archived on their website. Dudley High School is located just down the street from Bennett College and North Carolina A&T University, two historically black institutions of higher education. Often aligned with Bennett and A&T's efforts, Dudley High School has participated significantly in some of the civil rights milestones in the city. Also, Dudley's faculty and administration have made significant contributions in our city's efforts towards intigration. Read a, now retired, former principal's narrative here. And, here is a Wiki entry listing the names of people you will recognize who attended Dudley. Go Panthers!

Y is for Yvonne...... Yvonne Johnson

In the above yard of a Buddhist household in the Glenwood neighborhood is a re-election sign for Yvonne Johnson who, in November, successfully ran a campaign for city council at-large. Prior to this current term, Yvonne Johnson served on city council for 14 years-- part of that time as mayor pro tem. Additionally, she was mayor of Greensboro from 2007-2009. She was the city's first African-American mayor and second female mayor, testimony to her appeal across Greensboro's sub-groups of voters. She is known for being fair and for holding people accountable for their words and actions. Yvonne Johnson, who is both a Bennett College belle and an A&T University aggie, has been politically active since her teen years when she marched in protest and to support the Greensboro sit-in movement.*

Today is "Y" on ABC Wednesday and, in our People of Greensboro series, we are featuring Yvonne Johnson. We're using the letter for her first name instead of her last because rarely do you hear her last name without her first; Yvonne and Johnson are almost as likely to colocate as O. with Henry. Also, as we researched this post, we learned that, among her many endeavors, Yvonne Johnson is Executive Director of One Step Further, a non-profit United Way Agency in Greensboro that provides mediation and court alternative programs to Greensboro's youth (reference)-- an effort started by Judge Elreta Alexander, the first person in this GDP series.

* read this News & Record article from a few years ago where Yvonne Johnson is referred to as a Steel Magnolia (here).

Photo of Yvonne Johnson from:

http://opportunitygreensboro.com/learning/the-bennett-college-choir-mentors-through-music/

Year Four Begins on Greensboro Daily Photo

January 2nd, 2009, Greensboro Daily Photo began-- quietly with a photo of Downtown Greensboro (here). 1,096 photos and paragraphs later, we felt it was fitting to share a scene on Elm Street to kick off Year 4. Last night, Elm Street was beautiful, quiet and aglow; the JP building was blinking the time and temperature and cars were returning. Indeed, the city appeared to be waking up from an extended holiday season to face the new year. 

We don't know how long you have been following Greensboro Daily Photo, but we are extremely happy that you are here. We hope  you will continue reading our blog for a very long time and that you will encourage your friends to follow us. We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. If you want to learn more about GDP, yesterday's post is a good place to start. Also, Day 1,000 we share a photo of the two of us (Mr. and Mrs. Greensboro Daily Photo). For 2012, we are looking forward to sharing new places and events in Greensboro. Let's borrow from President Kennedy and say, "Ask not what Greensboro can do for us but what we can do for Greensboro."

View from College Hill

Ever in search of a great view of our city, we just found a new one: The view of College Hill from Spring Garden Street. To the right is the all new housing community, The Province, that was erected near UNCG on the property that was once Newman Machine Company. The whole character of the southeast corner of historic College Hill has changed with this new complex. For one thing, more people are out walking and riding their bikes on sunny days. On the horizon, we see the landmark, Jefferson Standard/Pilot/Lincoln Financial building; a point of reference not only for this neighborhood but also for the community at large.

Many a great Greensboro citizen has worked in the (now) Lincoln Financial Group building, including yesterday's Mr. Vanstory. Seeing our 233 ft. skyscraper from this vantage point reminds us that it and the 20 story addition really are the landmark/beacons of our city.  Julian Price, president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance and the person who oversaw the project from blueprint dream to granite structure, paid for the building in full as he did not believe in debt.* Even though much has changed around the 1923 building, once the tallest between Washington D.C. and Atlanta, it remains an icon in the Greensboro community. Recently, the time/temperature indicator at the top of the LFG building was repaired. Many a child grew up developing an awareness of time and temperature from that device. 

*reference.

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. 

Corner of Elm & Washington

It has been a while since we've featured a panoramic view of Downtown Greensboro. Here, we see a view of downtown, facing eastward, from the Greene Street Parking Deck on Washington Street. Here you see the intersection is of Washington and Elm. The lower right corner is of Glitters. On the upper right corner is the Greensboro Bank and Trust Company. In the distance you can see the parking lot of the News & Record. 

So much is happening in Downtown Greensboro this December and we're working on our to-do list. From theater events to the Jaycees Holiday Parade to the Festival of Lights to first Friday to Winterfest and ice skating outside, there is literally something to do every day in December. As soon as their is snow, we're heading to this very spot to take more photos! Happy Thursday all. Let us know how you are spending your day!

Veterans Day 2011

Veterans Day is a time to remember those who have served in the military. It grew out of Armistice Day at the time of World War I which ended in the 11th hour in the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Well, today is a very special day because it is 11/11/11. Do you know where you will be/were at 11:11? Today, most government offices are closed, as are Guilford County Schools. Hopefully everyone will take time to remember the sacrifices made by service people and their families. Many restaurants are giving discounts to veterans. If you are one, don't forget to ask!

The above photo was taken at a Memorial Day event at Friendly Center; however, it shows veterans interacting with each other and it was very clearly taken in Greensboro. Maybe by Veterans Day next year, there can be world peace. Read about world peace on Wikipedia (here).

It isn't much of a sky in the background, but we're sharing it with Skywatch Friday.

Southern Railway Car in Gibsonville

Returning from Burlington yesterday, we drove through downtown Gibsonville, a community of approximately 6,000 people located in the easternmost part of Guilford County. Named in honor of Joseph Gibson, Gibsonville was incorporated in 1871; however, the Gibsonville  Post Office opened sixteen years earlier in 1855. Founding fathers laid the boundaries of the town in both Guilford and Alamance Counties, which has been quite a challenge with respect to governance. In 1971, 100 years after its incorporation, Melvin O. Wyrick published a History of Gibsonville, excerpts of which city officials have posted (here).

Southern Railway can trace its roots, and the beginning of its many iterations, to the 1830's. The bright red, vintage Southern Railway car, parked downtown, is an iconic memory of Gibsonville's booming rail history. It is located beside the tracks that parallel to E. Railroad Avenue, across from the former Cone Mills Minneola Textile Mill. Gibsonville saw extensive rail traffic in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the flurry of commerce surrounding the textile mill.

A little bit of downtown Gibsonville is peeking out on the left of the photo.  If you want to see more of the historic community and experience Gibsonville's southern charm, visit their annual Christmas parade-- to be held at 2pm on Saturday December 10th. We're placing an order for snow flurries to accompany the parade!

 

Occupy Greensboro

Occupy Greensboro, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street, held a demonstration march through downtown Greensboro this weekend. Organizers met at different locations including UNCG and Glenwood Coffee and Books. The local event was part of a 1,200+ city effort to raise awareness about the economic situation today. It is estimated that about 700 people marched locally. 

The above photo was taken on Elm Street in front of the International Civil Rights Museum. We like the way you can see the diversity of the two sides of the entrance: to the left, the sleek metal façade; to the right, the ubiquitous red and white striped awning of the F.W. Woolworth Company. The march continued up Elm Street, ending at Festival Park near the YWCA parking lot where supporters camped. Between this event and the 40,000 plus people in town for NC A&T's Homecoming, and President Obama's impending arrival, phone communication came to a virtual stand still on Saturday. Given all the extra activity in Greensboro this weekend, we're betting the police were relieved at how well-mannered people were.

President Obama Comes to Greensboro

President Obama is in Greensboro today. The above 2008 photo shows a student on Tate Street in front of New York Pizza near UNCG's campus and just west of Greensboro College. The student had just come from hearing the then-campaigning Obama deliver a speech downtown, outside, and to our citizens-at-large. Today, President Obama will speak by invitation only at the Jamestown campus of GTCC. We're hoping our recently-featured Dr. Kinard will be in attendance. Not only is his office on the Jamestown campus but, previously, he was a broadcast journalist. If anyone deserves an opportunity to hear the President, it is Dr. Kinard. As a matter of fact, if you click back through to his photo (here), Dr. Kinard is looking rather presidential himself!

The student in the above photo, who was texting his friends about the event, also got to attend President Obama's inauguration. Maybe someday, at Greensboro Daily Photo, we will be fortunate enough to attend some of these events. If only City Daily Photo could generate press credentials! Seriously though, if you get to hear President Obama speak in while he is in North Carolina please let us know.

NC A&T Homecoming 2011

This weekend is homecoming for North Carolina A&T State University and at least 40,000 people are participating in this much-anticipated annual event. North Carolina has eleven historically-black colleges and universities (HCBU) and NC A&T, with over 10,000 students enrolled, is the largest in North Carolina. NC A&T was established in 1891 with the mission of helping African-Americans prepare for careers in science and engineering. In its 120 year history, this institution of higher education has amassed an impressive list of alumni, many of whom are recognized internationally in their respective fields. The University is credited with playing a major role in the Civil Rights Movement. 

This weekend's homecoming activities include: bowling and golf tournaments; a conference and meeting; an alum scholarship game; alumni reunions, dances, dinners, church homecomings, a homecoming parade, tailgating parties, countless student events, and a football game. The above photo, taken on Elm Street early yesterday evening exemplifies the mood of the crowd: upbeat, enthusiastic, personable, and thrilled to be part of this special event.

For a list of HBCU homecoming events around the nation, visit here. To learn more about HBCU's in general visit here. Seeing the reflection of the former Kress Department Store in the windows above makes it possible for us to participate in Weekend Reflection which catapults this photo of Aggie Pride into the international arena! Go Aggies!

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE-- Polls Open Today for Primary Election

Come one, come all, the polls are open for the primary election. Greensboro votes today to see which candidates will earn a spot on the upcoming ballot. Several city council seats available in this municipal election, as is the position for mayor. The above photo shows people en route to vote at the Courthouse on Saturday. Candidate-at-large Marikay Abuzuaiter is the person campaigning on the left. We didn't get the name of the man to the right; however, both seemed personable and sincere. The nice aspect of the municipal elections is that partisanship and the democrat/republican dichotomy is kept to a minimum.

We were one of 1,744 people who voted early this year. If the weather person is correct, Saturday was much nicer weather for voting. However, take the attitude of one NYC post office and tell yourself, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays [this voter] from the swift completion of [voting] (read more here; loosely derived from Herodotus). Just within the past month, women in Saudia Arabia were given the right to vote. Regardless of whether you are male or female, consider it your civic duty to vote.

To help you make your decision, Greensboro 101 has a list of candidates (here). 

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).

K is for Kinard, Lee Kinard

Today, we share a photo of Lee Kinard Jr. at the corner of Tate and Spring Garden Streets. As seen on the above bronze plaque, this section of Spring Garden Street was dedicated to Dr. Kinard by Greensboro City Council in 1998.  Dr. Kinard founded one of the first early morning shows on television (The Good Morning Show) and went on to have a 43 year career at WFMY-TV in Greensboro. For his exemplary service to North Carolina, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award. Presently, Dr. Kinard is the Executive Assistant to President George R. Parker at Greensboro Technical Community College (GTCC).

Listening to Edward Murrow's coverage of World War II, Lee W Kinard, Jr. knew by age eight that he wanted to be a broadcaster. Kinard dropped out of high school at the age of 17 to pursue this dream.  He started at a radio station in Albemarle (NC) as a janitor and record filer and worked his way through the ranks, eventually buying the station. He joined the army during the Korean War and continued to work in broadcasting for the military. After returning to civilian life, Kinard moved to Greensboro where he not only started the Good Morning Show but also pursued his dream of higher education. He earned an M.Ed. in English from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro in the early 1970's-- as the oldest student in the program. In 1988, he earned a doctorate from UNCG. A passion for education and love of helping students led Dr. Kinard to speak regularly, at approximately 100 schools a year, encouraging students to stay in school. To quote Dr. Kinard, he has been "deep into education for the last thirty years of his career."

In 2008, Dr. Kinard published a 50-year history of GTCC.  Perhaps he could be convinced to write his autobiography, since when asked if he had plans for retirement, Dr. Kinard paused.... reflected.... and responded, "I do not feel compelled to stop." Today is ABC Wednesday and "K" is for Kinard, Dr. Lee Kinard. We are honored to feature him today. See previous entries of other fabulous Greensboro citizens, past and present, here.

Betty Boop at Glitters on Elm Street

The larger-than-life Betty Boop has been in the window of Glitters since..... forever. She has been a cultural icon for 80+ years since she first appeared in the cartoon Dizzy Dishes. Ms. Boop guards the corner of Washington Street at 300 Elm. Once a Depression-era, Jazz-age flapper, Betty Boop is alive and well today as in 2010, she became the official fantasy cheerleader of the United Football League and where she is being marketed towards the league's female demographic (more Betty-history here).

Perhaps Ms. Boop can see us through the present economic slump while dutifully bringing a smile to those who walk past her at Glitters on Elm. Glitters is one of those souvenir shops, like the ones at the beach, selling everything from t-shirts to incense, plastic trinkets, and Indian & Asian import statues. At Betty's feet is a giant yellow "rubber" duck that must be about the size of a yoga ball. Wonder how much these treasures cost? Just beyond Betty Boop, you see the large brick building that houses Cheesecakes by Alex. For sure, the 300 block of Elm is a visual feast of mixed metaphors. Happy Tuesday, all!

J is for Jarrell, Randall Jarrell

 

 

As seen in the sign above, Randall Jarrell was born in 1914, in the same year as fellow poet Octavio Paz and actor John Wayne; the year World War I began. Jarrell's relationship with Greensboro began in 1947 when he came here to teach and where he would live for 18 years. Today, we wanted to feature a portrait of the well-known writer; however, there are only two known portraits of him-- at least that he actually sat for. They were done by Greensboro artist and Jarell's long-time friend, Betty Watson. One of the portraits is in storage at Jackson Library and the other is now owned by the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery (read more here).

Jarell wrote for children and adults alike. Many of his writings draw from his military experience, some from his time teaching at Sarah Lawrence College. He won the National Book Award for his collection, The Woman at the Washington Zoo. His "parable of charming instruction", The Bat-Poet, illustrated by the famous Maurice Sendak, was published in 1964. (quote from the review here). It would be 29 more years until a bat-protagonist would again win the hearts of children (J. Cannon's Stellaluna). 

Jarrell's life ended too soon and tragically, in 1965 at age 51, when he was struck by a car while walking. Jarrell is buried in the cemetery adjacent to New Garden Friends Meeting. Today is ABC Wednesday and "J" is for Jarrell, one of Greensboro's great literary figures. See our A-I  entries here.

The Westerwood Neighborhood

Every neighborhood deserves a proper entrance. Westerwood has just stepped up their identity with this new signage installed at the round-about near Benjamin Parkway, across from the park and under the big, old oak tree. The rounded sign consists of brick, stone, metal, and plaster. This neighborhoood, a mere .384 square miles with a population of 1,241, is one of Greensboro's oldest. It is well maintained and well established, has charming granite curbs, narrow tree-lined streets and plenty of architectural variety. The two spikes in demographics are for residents in their early 20's and 50's. College graduates and those with advanced degrees in this neighborhood are well above Greensboro's average. The neighborhood is known for its visual and performing artists. In early October, artists host an "art and sole" walking tour open to the public. The event is a great way to get to know the neighborhood and to commence your holiday buying with local and handmade purchases (more here). We usually start our shopping at the Fairies' Nest located in Westerwood.

Here is a house and a church in the neighborhood that we featured last year. This is a neighborhood with impromptu concerts, dog walks, music lessons, artists studios, and fun. Having front porches and houses close together help with neighborliness. How does your neighborhood rate on the neighborliness scale? Is there anything you personally could do to enhance its livability? Remember, change can start with one!

Labor Day Day Weekend-- Got Plans?

Labor Day Weekend is upon us! This Castle of Horror Clown, last seen scooting through Market Street at the Fourth of July Parade, is hoping that you have a little time to clown around this weekend. While much of the world celebrates Labor/International Workers' Day on May 1st, in the US, we celebrate the holiday the first Monday of September. Traditionally, this is the last hurrah of summer vacations, after which academics become the focus for students. Drivers beware, I-40 through Greensboro will be bumper to bumper today and Monday... Just sayin'.......

We're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday crowd, hopefully some people are out there visiting blogs and not all away on vacation. We'll be staying in town, trying to find great things to photographs, but we will try to find some time to don wild clothing and clown around. Let us know how you are spending your weekend.

 

Children's Museum: Lindsay Street Mural

"What would make Greensboro a healthy city?" paints the little boy on the wall on the Lindsay Street side of the edible school yard at the Greensboro Children's Museum. As fast as the boy on the left can paint the question, in Wordle format, the boy in the middle paints cloud-like responses: people, living wages, acceptance, water, accessibility, heart, play....... 

This wall began with a series of curbside conversations when people passing by were asked "What would make Greensboro a healthy city?"  Muralist Kathleen Kennedy translated the common themes that emerged from the public responses into a 40-ft. mural. Judy Baca's "Great Wall of Los Angeles" inspired this project. (reference). Close to forty people contributed between $10-$100 to surpass the $2,000 funding needs to make this wall a reality. This is a great example of people coming together to make something wonderful for our city.

 Downtown Greensboro is starting to get some great, painted walls (here, here, here,and here). If you like public murals, you will not regret taking the time to visit those four "here" click-throughs! If you get a chance, head to the Children's Museum to see the wall for yourself. We were only able to fit about 1/3 of it in this photo. It continues for several more feet!

Greensboro Atheist Organization on Yanceyville Street

The Adopt-A-Highway Program  (AAH) was established in 1988 as a way for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and community volunteers to work together to keep highways litter free. According to their website, the twenty-three year program currently has 6,000 AAH groups. Those with twenty consecutive years of service were awarded two metal stars to add to their signs. The two Guilford County groups recognized for twenty years are Vulcan Materials Company Northeast McLeansville 4-H Club (we're betting Ms. Ivey is involved with the latter).

The Greensboro Atheist Organization (GAO) maintains Yanceyville Street. While the organization does not fall into the 10, 15, or 20 year longevity range for maintaining their street, they have been diligent about picking up trash along this long road in Greensboro that toggles between the rural, old-time world of Guilford County and the 21st century expanding of the suburbs. Yanceyville begins near NC A&T just east of downtown Greensboro and continues all the way to Highway 150 getting close to Brown Summit. We're not sure how much of this long road is maintained by GAO; however, we imagine that the GAO is kept quite busy keeping this road litter-free. We decided to use this photo today because yesterday, The News & Record had an article about the North Carolina atheists announcing their convention in North Carolina scheduled November 11-13, along with the South Carolina atheists, at Carolina Beach. 

Sky over Wendover

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

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

Center City Resource Team

If any wrong-doings happened in downtown Greensboro last night, it was not because we lacked police patrolling the area. In the above photo, six policemen on bicycles, who are part of the Center City Resource Team, were congregating in the city parking lot between Design Archives and Bin 33 Restaurant. Two minutes earlier, they had been riding up Elm Street in formation.  Additionally several members of the foot patrol were in Center City Park around its closing time.

With over 20,000 people in the community having  the right to carry a concealed weapon (or with a permit in process) and additional people who have guns illegally, these policemen risk their lives with each turn of a bike pedal. They do so much for our community and make a genuine effort to build rapport with the people who frequent their beat. Property owners in the downtown area pay an assessment to get extra services ranging from additional police to getting hanging baskets watered and having extra garbage pick up. So, if you are downtown, don't assume there is a problem, just because you see a mini-brigade of police.

Step Right Up!

Step right up and take advantage of all Greensboro has to offer! The Bellemeade Parking Deck, managed by the City of Greensboro, is located on the corners of Bellemeade, Elm and N. Greene Streets. The location is convenient to Center City Park, the ballpark, and just about anything in the northern end of downtown. Parking is free there if you are summoned to jury duty! Donald O. Tice was the architect of the the open-air, concrete and granite structure. The 8-floor deck was built on part of the property that was part of the original O.Henry Hotel. There are 1,276 spaces in the deck (reference). 

We call this photo "step right up" in honor of the endless stairs in the center of the photo and the carnival-like atmosphere of the Fun Fourth event. One day a year, we have our own little Coney Island with the parking deck as a backdrop. We are in funnel cake and hot dog heaven. Brides are frequently seen having bridal photo shoots here. Also, the structure's geometry and muted cement-color put all focus on the beaming brides.

Elm Street's Muggle Express

Since we're muggles and not wizards, we're depending on the Elsewhere Living Museum's Muggle Express to get us from Point A to Point B on Elm Street. We caught the bicycle at Elsewhere Collaborative at 606 3/4 South Elm Street and pedaled (collaboratively) to Center City Park. Along the way, we captured some fun snaps of our beautiful city. Here we see the blue-gray Jefferson Standard/Pilot/Lincoln Financial building on the horizon, situating the photo in downtown Greensboro.

People worldwide are busy seeing the the movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. Even though we're not wizards, we can imagine where we could find horcruxes* while strolling along Elm Street. See, even if you can't get away for a vacation, you can do great things with your imagination/stay-cation in Greensboro! Next chance you get, stop by Elsewhere and ask conductor Stephanie about the next departure of the Muggle Express! It would be great if Greensboro had an Elm Street trolley to shuttle us around town, especially during special events! Beep, beep!  Next stop..... Hogwarts!

*horcruxes: objects in which Valdemort (antagonist in Harry Potter) stashes pieces of his soul.

JP Food Mart

Situated at the point where Yanceyville switches from street to road and between a collapsed outbuilding and new construction, JP Food Mart is literally at the crossroads of old and new. The store has been around since, well, as long as anyone working there can remember. For the last decade, a husband and wife team from Nepal have owned the store, naming it JP after his and her first initial.

JP Food Mart sells typical convenience store goods with a better stock of staple foods than many corner stores. It is not uncommon for locals to walk there-- down Yanceville-- using JP Food Mart as their community grocery store. Inside you will find the original wooden floors and storage shelves from bygone years among modern conveniences like lottery tickets and an ATM machine. The rectangular brick façade in reminiscent of country stores from the mid-20th century and before, often giving the front a larger and sturdier appearance than the rest of the building.

July 4th in Kirkwood

Every event needs a focal point and The Kirkwood July Fourth Parade has the larger-than-life flag in the middle of a road named Independence! This scene on Independence Road in Greensboro's Kirkwood neighborhood has been reenacted for sixty three years. Anyone can don a red, white, & blue outfit and participate. Yesterday, children on vehicles of all sorts--bicycles, wagons, trucks, tricycles, and even stilts-- rode along passing under the giant FLAG. 

Every year, the parade gets a little more elaborate while remaining consistently informal. This year The Honorable Howard Coble was in attendance, Robbie Perkins was handing out bottled water, and the floats of the Guilford County Republican Party brought a little bit of politics to the parade. The sense of family, neighborliness, and camaraderie was evident and more treats were tossed to onlookers than in most city parades. The five o'clock time slot was just perfect, allowing families to enjoy the Fun Fourth festivities downtown in the morning and fireworks at the coliseum/amphitheater in the evening. For those who were too tired to venture out at night, there was plenty of backyard sparkler twirling to bring closure to the festive day.

Little House by the BIG HOUSE

Here we see a little house at 220 South Eugene Street with the BIG HOUSE in its back yard. Six months ago, we featured the jail under construction (here) and the Zenke family properties that had to be moved to make room for the new facility (here). The little yellow house is actually part of the administrative complex of the Guilford County New Detention Center-- the official name for the BIG HOUSE. The yellowish building with the rounded dormers is the Office of the Sheriff. Between it and the little house is the Personnel and Training Office. If you are local you might enjoy walking around the block to view the new facility and all of the ancillary buildings. If you have children, it would be a great opportunity to explain the judicial process and the difference between a jail and a prison. If you want you can walk across the street to the court house and sit in on a court case.

For Greensboro, getting a new $85+ million dollar, new 1,032-bed detention center is bittersweet. On the one hand we need the space; on the other, it is unfortunate that we have so many crimes committed. As the News & Record points out, current budget cuts will impact this new facility. Sheriff Barnes gives a compelling argument for needing adequate staffing.

V is for Vanstory

It is ABC Wednesday and "V" is for Vanstory Street. The house above, located at 2019 Vanstory at the intersection of Murrayhill Road and near High Point Road, was selected because it looks like it is well-cared for by its owners and that it has served them well over the decades. Built in 1958, this split-level is probably as full of memories on the inside as it is on the outside. What we see from the street is a replica of a North Carolina lighthouse, outdoor seating and lighting, wind chimes, yard ornaments, perennial flowers, river rocks and much more. Can't you just imagine sitting in this yard, planning your beach vacation while watching lightning bugs rise from the cool grass? If this YARD could talk.....

Vanstory intersects Holden Road by Smith High School; it winds behind the Four Seasons Mall and Koury Convention Center and ends at High Point Road with a cemetery on the right and Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home on the left. In between, you will find businesses, apartments, churches, and private residences. We're not sure how the street got its name but Vanstory is a Greensboro name with much history. The Vanstory Clothing Company opened in downtown Greensboro in 1900. It was located in the Vernon Building (built in 1883) at the corner of Washington and Elm Streets. The LIberty Oak Restaurant is located in that building today.

We're hoping one of our readers will know the connection between Vanstory Street and the Vanstory Clothing Company. Surely there is one! See our earlier ABC streets here! Can you believe we're almost at the end of the alphabet?!

Day 180

Today, June 10th, is the 180th day of school which means that school is over for the summer in Guilford County (NC). Hopefully, teachers have inspired students to love learning; students have put their best foot forward and made every effort to excel; and parents have been there to support their children and their children's teachers every step of the way. Let us hope that this year was great for all and that next year will be even better. One sure thing about teaching and learning is that the summer gives us all time to renew dreams and to refuel for a fresh start. May your summer be everything you are dreaming it will be-- and more. Don't forget to read!

This photo was taken as busses exited Lincoln Street onto Lee Street on the campus of Dudley High School and the Academy at Lincoln. This is a busy intersection with many students walking to school. Crossing guards work diligently keeping students safe (even those who think they're too old to be helped across the street). Here is a virtual wave goodbye and a warm embrace for our Skywatch Friday friends who will be looking at that slice of sky in the background.

Train over High Point Road

Here we are near Jamestown and the GTCC campus near Ragsdale High School. If you are headed to High Point, you are on High Point Road. If you are headed to Greensboro, you are on Greensboro Road. As you approach downtown Greensboro, the name of the road changes to Lee Street. At any rate, you see the walls on both sides of the road are covered with graffiti and the train cars passing by overhead are full of graffiti. Sometimes the spray painted words are social messages; other times, they reflect the name of the "Krylon artist" or a friend who had a fatal car accident in the given area.

Greensboro has been a big railway hub since the 1800's. The access to railways to ship goods-- from raw materials to finished products-- in and out of Greensboro brought us our textile mills. In 2010, we were 3rd in volume of the 16 Amtrak stations in North Carolina. On average, Amtrak serves almost 300 passengers a day out of Greensboro. If you came to this post in search of information about railways, you will be happy to know that Greensboro has an active chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Here's to our dear friends at Ruby Tuesday who love photo with red in them. Click through if you love red!

Expression of Patriotism

How is patriotism expressed in your neighborhood? This home on Pisgah Church Road has a cement replica of the Statue of Liberty. She lights up, a patriotic beacon near Lawndale Drive. Perhaps America can enter a period of calm and lift this cloud of terrorism under which we have been living. Evoking the symbolism of Lady LIberty, we can be hopeful. Her flaming torch represents liberty. The seven rays of her spiked crown represent the seven seas and seven continents-- reminding us that humanity is a connected web of mankind. Since 1886, she has stood for freedom. Let us hope that the world is ready for calm and peace. The photo evokes this quote from a Greek immigrant:

"I saw the Statue of Liberty. And I said to myself, "Lady, you're such a beautiful! [sic] You opened your arms and you get all the foreigners here. Give me a chance to prove that I am worth it, to do something, to be someone in America." And always that statue was on my mind" (Wiki).

Pisgah Church is a road like the one we featured yesterday, changing, literally, before our eyes. America is changing before our eyes. Since this house is fairly new, Lady Liberty should be in her present location for a very long time. Let's hope that her big sister in New York, Liberty Enlightening the World,  will be around for a long time, too. Let us hope that all that she stands for will remain. 

Sun Trust on Benjamin Parkway

Here we see a view of the Sun Trust Building at the corner of Green Valley and Benjamin Parkway. Sun Trust is a financial services institution, based in Atlanta with branches in North Carolina. However, we're posting the photo to show a busy section of Benjamin Parkway. The parkway extends from Battleground Avenue, going over Wendover Avenue, and turning at Bryan Boulevard to Holden Road and back to Battleground again.

The Benjamins were a prominent Greensboro family. Mrs. Benjamin was a Sternberger and connected to the early cotton mill history of Greensboro. Mr Benjamin was a Harvard educated businessman originally from New Orleans. Together, the Benjamins formed the Starmount Company and owned a considerable amount of land in Northwest Greensboro, developing Friendly Shopping Center, the Starmount Country Club and several nice neighborhoods in Northwest Greensboro. If you want to see the old Benjamin homestead, read our older post. It had such sentimental value to the family, the family home got relocated as businesses were built around it. The Benjamins have done so much for the Greensboro community, their name deserves to be remembered for a very long time. 

N is for Neal Street

Beep, beep! Hello dear readers, it's  ABC Wednesday and, as you know, we're going through the alphabet with a Greensboro street a week. Today, we're offering "N" for Neal Street. Neal Street is located in the Glenwood neighborhood; it starts at Oak Street and continues a half a mile north to Lee Street. Neal Street is typical of Glenwood neighborhood: smaller, fairly well-maintained homes on a quiet street with a mix of both owner-occupied and rental properties. Notice the vintage Ford Thunderbird, parked on the street. As you look down to the end of the street, you can see new student housing for UNCG. 

One cannot mention Neal Street without recognizing the Salvation Army Boy's Club located at 840 Neal. The large, red brick facility, while not visible in the photo, has been in the current location since 1957. However, the Salvation Army has been helping children in Greensboro since the 1930's. See their facebook page here.

Greensboro has 43 streets that start with the letter "N." View A-M streets here.