Greensboro Daily Photo

Magnolia Are Blooming in Greensboro!

The mighty magnolia has begun blooming in Greensboro. This native, broadleaf evergreen tree makes a statement year-round; however, once they begin to bloom, the fragrance is intense and they are even more attractive. Eventually, these white flowers will turn to pods and their bright red seeds will be a treat for birds and small mammals. If you see small beetles around your yard, and even in your house, remember that the magnolia is pollinated by beetles as these trees have been around since before there were bees.

If you live in the south, likely, you've watched the movie Steel Magnolias more than once. If you like Americana, English/Spanish music, here is a great performance by Tish Hinojosa where she sings about sitting under the great magnolia. The magnolia can grow to 80 feet and they make great shade, so find your go-to magnolia in Greensboro to use for protection from the summer sun and enjoy your day, under the magnolia..

Tanger Center at Night... More Downtown Beauty!

Since the interior of the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts was featured in the News & Record, we thought it would be fun to post a photo of the outside. Above you see the exterior construction in progress, plus the posters for the Year 1 plays that will be performed. To the right, you can see the reflection of someone looking at the building. Even under construction, it looks so beautiful at night.

The builders are hoping to have the space, located on North Elm Street at LeBauer Park, finished by March. It will be wonderful to have a performing arts center in Greensboro. And season ticket reservations are selling even better than expected. Do you have your order placed yet?

Cafe Europa

Cafe Europa is such a charming place to dine, especially on a warm evening when the weather is perfect for dining outside. The location at the Cultural Arts Center, between LeBauer and Center City Parks is perfect.

You may remember last year how the community rallied to keep the current owner there, someone who has a 16 year history with the establishment that opened in 2000. Before downtown got all of these great public spaces and new apartments, Cafe Europa was a destination. Let's  hope  Jakub Pucilowski and the City of Greensboro continue to work together and Cafe Europa remains for a very long time.

Even though this is a very poor cell phone shot, you can tell that the restaurant has great atmosphere- especially at night. Were O. Henry still alive, Greensboro's little slice of Europe would be a perfect place to get ideas for a short story! 

 

Wiley Cash, Catherine Venable Moore, and Laurelyn Dossett

Wiley Cash and Catherine Venable Moore presented at the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival this past Friday night. Cash discussed his latest novel, The Last Ballad," and Moore discussed a book she is writing about the history of the labor movement in West Virginia. Moore's work is centered around coal miners and mining history in southwestern West Virginia, specifically the Battle of Blair Mountain. She is also investigating how her historically democratic, unionized state came to support Republican candidates in recent years. Laurelyn Dossett played music and led the audience in a ballad, such a great addition to a session about a book entitled, "The Last Ballad".  Dorsett also sang about the mills closing. Dossett's song, "Leaving Eden," is about the closing of the last textile mill in Eden, North Carolina. 

This was one of four sessions at the book festival supported by PEN America as part of their Contemporary Appalachia series. The session was well attended; The Van Dyke Performance Space in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center was full. While the whole festival was free, some events like Ani DiFranco and Rhiannon Giddens were ticketed, and all tickets were claimed well before the performance date. Mark your calendar for mid-May next year if you like literary festivals. Also, check in with Scuppernong Books as they are Ground Zero for so many of Greensboro's great literary events.

(Please forgive the low quality cell phone photo, but at least you get a feel for the event).

Christ's Blessing

Christ's Blessing is a beautiful stained glass window in the Greensboro Historical Museum. The museum was formerly the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. This Tiffany-style window, with such vibrant color, dates to 1903. The Scales family sponsored the window in memory of their parents, Effie and Junius Scales. According to the information at the museum, the window represents the following Bible verse, "Let the little children come unto me... for such is the kingdom of heaven."

If you are interested in history, religious as well as the general history of Greensboro, the Greensboro Historical Museum, located at 130 Summit Avenue, is a place you want to visit, and often, as the museum sponsors many special events. Happy Sunday, whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere!

Picture Perfect Night in Downtown Greensboro

Last night was magical in downtown Greensboro. The above photo features LeBauer Park during the family movie night on the lawn. Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc. and UNC-Greensboro have partnered to bring the community  free movie Friday.* You bring the picnic and the chair, or blanket. Also downtown, Cafe Europa was filled with diners enjoying the al fresco experience under the strings of lights. The Greensboro Bound Literary Festival held a session in the cultural arts building. The Girl Scouts held a campout in the First National Bank Field, and the weather, dry and mid-80s, was perfect for these outdoor events.

If you want to start your weekend with some great fun, invite a friend or some family members and head downtown. Greensboro is so beautiful, especially when people from all walks of life come together and enjoy the company of each other. The above scene evokes simpler times, harkening back to the day when we sat around watching network TV together with no opportunity to record, fast forward, or watch a movie privately on one's phone. Don't you think the screen looks like a giant, console TV!

 

* Remaining schedule: May 24: Isle of Dogs; May 31: Ralph Breaks the Internet; June 7: Avengers: Infinity War; June 14: Ferdinand; June 21: Bohemian Rhapsody; June 28: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald; July 12: Mary Poppins Returns; July 19: Small Foot; July 26: The Meg;Aug 2: The Princess Bride;Aug 9: The Greatest Showman;Aug 16: How to Train Your Dragon 2;Aug 23: Aquaman; Aug 30: Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse

Midtown Mural

The Midtown area of Greensboro is expanding east. The above photo is a mural on the back of the building at the corner of Grecade Street and Beaman Place. They are part of Marty Kotis' commitment to bringing original art murals to the buildings of Greensboro, especially to Midtown.

The murals were painted last weekend on the back of The Tiny Greenhouse, which Our State Magazine bills as an "urban jungle" (article here). The adjacent business, Craftroom, is filled with handmade purses, pencil pouches, planters, and other items, many with fabrics inspired by Asian prints and patterns. The Music Academy is also located on this block. If you get a chance this weekend, drive by for a look. Brick never looked so bright! What a sweet twist that all of the cars behind the building happened to be white. Perhaps, after a full day inspired by so much design, a white vehicle is somewhat palate-cleansing. Have a great weekend and do something nice for yourself!

Zoo City Pickers

The Zoo City Pickers is a bluegrass band that played at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street this past weekend. Children danced, families ate fried donuts and other treats, and people shopped for produce and plants, as the sound of the Zoo City Pickers traveled throughout the venue. The band with its four members hail from Asheboro, Randolph County. Barbara Bartos plays the five string banjo, Bernie Bartos, the upright bass, PBob Coble, the harmonica, and Terry Lawrence guitar and mandolin.

If you think it is a sound you will like, The Zoo City Pickers will be playing at the Curb Market again in June. The main way to keep up with them is through Facebook. They don't appear to have a website. And regardless of what special events are or aren't at the Farmers Market, it is always a special place to visit.