Greensboro Daily Photo

201 North Eugene Street

Today's photo features the lot at 201 North Eugene Street downtown. It formerly housed Guilford Center/ Guilford County Health Department. D.H. Griffin won the demolition bid and demolition began in March 2022, and appears to be complete. According to Fox 8 News, this land was part of a City Council-approved land swap with Carroll Corporation. It was done  to facilitate Greensboro's development of the Eugene Street Parking Deck downtown. The swap and financial transaction with developer Roy Carroll were explained in a 2018 News and Record article by John Newsome. It will be interesting to see what this corner looks like when construction is completed.

We took this photo on Saturday morning, and as you can see, the strong winds blew some of the safety fencing down. Hopefully, it has been secured as this would not be a fun place to land. We're always curious if anything of interest was found once the building was gone. We're wondering where all of the sand came from. While this is not the most attractive view of our beautiful city, it is always fun to see change in progress, especially when the JP/LFG building is in plain view.

Happy Monday!

Percy Street: Prayers Answered

Percy Street, located in the Dunleath Historic District (formerly, Aycock). It is the kind of neighborhood where everybody knows your name; neighbors look out for each other; and, people do things for the community at large- not expecting anything in return. Examples of this community mindedness include Porchfest, a tiny-library-like box for free puzzles and one for free art. As we were driving to the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville, we detoured through Dunleath and saw the above tree at the corner of Percy and Brandon had split in half. The owner of the house with the split tree was called over to the porch of a neighbor who wanted to make sure they were OK. Fortunately, the tree didn't hit the house and a removal service was on its way.  There didn't appear to be any damage to houses on Percy Street. Trees are so important to the eco-system; however, the mature ones in these older neighborhoods can do great damage. If you are one who prays, to be sure, this is a prayer answered.

From the remnants of Hurricane Ian, Greensboro had whipping winds and heavy rain. Many people were without power. As far as we could see, it was mostly branches dropping and not whole trees. We hope you were spared and that if there is a lot of debris in your yard, some Good Samaritan neighbor stops by to help you get things cleaned up. After all, Greensboro is known for greenery and, in a way, the trees belong to everyone.

Happy Sunday!

Jeansboro Sculpture at LeBauer Park

It is hard to believe this photo was taken less than a month ago, back before this cold snap brought in by Hurricane Ian dropped the temperature to the 50s. The photo shows you the vibrancy of downtown, especially on Davie Street between the two city parks. The artwork is a fiberglass pair of jeans, celebrating Greensboro's rich heritage of making denim and jeans. There was a time when Greensboro made more blue jeans than anywhere else in the world. While that empire has moved overseas, the memories remain. In 2015, the name "Jeansboro" was coined as a nod to that history. We even have a Jeansboro Day.*  

The artist of the above piece is Sage Hanna Betts. There are several of these blue jean sculptures around town, one at PTI airport and another at the Greensboro Science Center.  The 4' tall sculptures were painted by local students and artists. Here is a GPS City map. We haven't tried it, because we have a pretty good idea of what is where in Greensboro; however, if you want to map out a tour, try here. We hope you have a great weekend and your are safe and your home is dry! If we took this photo today, people would be in long sleeves, rain jackets, and jeans. It is time to put the shorts away.

Happy Saturday!

* read more here.

Ivan Saul Cutler and Woody Marshall, Photographers Extraordinaires

Today's photo features two of Greensboro's most visible photographers, Ivan Saul Cutler (left) and Woody Marshall (right).*  Both are photojournalists, often seen roaming the streets of Greensboro in search of a good story to tell through photos. Ivan hails from California and Woody from Greensboro. Both have a special talent for capturing photos of people engaging in community events. Ivan came to his photography career after inheriting a camera and equipment from his brother. Woody has been working as a photojournalist throughout the southeast for over 30 years. It is fun seeing them both working together. The genuine smiles and embrace show you just how much they appreciate each other.

The above photo was taken at the Van Dyke Performance Space in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center during the North Carolina Folk Festival. They were working at the 7th annual "Songs of Hope and Justice" earlier in the month- on September 8th. You should have seen them off to the side, zooming in, going for the perfect close up shots. Since this photo, they have probably worked at a dozen events. Both are easy to spot as they faithfully use their professional cameras and haven't acquiesced in the transition to cell phone photography. Saul likes to wear a brightly colored shirt. Woody is a little more understated, likely sporting solid colors. Have a great weekend, and know that you will likely see Woody or Saul, next time you are attending a special event.

*See more of Woody's photos HERE.

Boxcar Bar + Arcade Downtown on W. Lewis Street

The Boxcar Bar + Arcade was on the front end of making the  Elm/Lewis Street area a destination for in Downtown Greensboro fun and game entertainment. It opened on January 26, 2017, making it their 5th year of operation. The above photo features an interior view, located at 120 West Lewis Street. Since Boxcar is a bar, one must be 21 to enter. Even though it is for adults, it is a place where adults don't have to grow up. Look at how much fun those men are riding the virtual road on their motorcycles. It is quite a gaming experience with lots of visual stimulation. 

Boxcar has a boxcar off of the front, where you can order food. Also, there are times when live entertainment takes place on the front porch. When you've had enough arcading, you can walk around the corner to hang out at Elsewhere. They always have something engaging to do, see, and learn; or, you can head to Bourbon Bowl to bowl.  As for us, we're waiting for a turn on those motorcycles! Happy Thursday!

Weatherspoon Art Museum: In Person Events Resume!

Friday, September 9th, the Weatherspoon Art Museum held a gathering open to the public, the first since the pandemic. It was a kick-off event for the exhibit, entitled, "Gilded: Contemporary Artists Explore Value and Worth." The works in this exhibit guild things that don't tend to get gold leaf put on them, case in point the above door. Guilding evokes wealth and we tend to guild things we value most. This exhibit plays with that notion.* The door is just plain white on the back. The title is "Third Ward" (2013) by Radcliffe Bailey (USA, 1968) and was reclaimed from a neighborhood of row houses in Houston's Third Ward predominately occupied by freed slaves.

The weather was lovely the night of the Weatherspoon event. It was wonderful to see people in the courtyard and all throughout the museum. Attendees were giddy, absolutely exuberant about being together in public, something we will never take for granted again. People dressed up with many college students in black dresses. The exhibit attracted a lot of attention, but the opportunity to people watch and to chat with other art lovers was the most special aspect of the evening. The Weatherspoon now has a coffee cart in the courtyard, something we have been encouraging for years. How nice to be able to sit and discuss art, and life, over a cup of coffee and not have to leave the courtyard to do so. 

If you get a chance, head to the "Gilded" exhibit. It will be up until April 8th. Happy Wednesday!

 

*read more here.

Kelly McGough

Last night, at Hops Burger Bar on Lawndale, we met up with Kelly McGough (Grimsley, Class of 1976). Kelly was back in town clearing out a storage unit, the last of the Greensboro goods, now that his mom lives with him in Boston, MA. The McGough family moved to Greensboro in 1969, setting up house on Redwine Drive. As of 2021, after 52 years, none of Kelly's family resides in Greensboro and it has been a long time since Kelly has lived here. After high school, he went to UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in geography. While he loved his major, Kelly has made a career in a very different field. He sells financial software to venture capital and private equity firms.

Let's hope we can entice Kelly to continue to come to town once in a while. He loves playing golf, road trips,  and driving around seeing all of his former haunts and catching up on how Greensboro has changed. If you know Kelly, invite him down for a round of golf. Last month, Kelly became a grandfather. Congratulations, Kelly, you will make a fabulous grandpa. We're betting Kelly has a plan to nudge his grandson in the direction of UNC Chapel Hill. Here's to his new venture as a grandpa and his keeping old friends- like us!

LOVE Gso

We love Downtown Greensboro and all of the great events that have been happening lately. We love to urban walk downtown and often off the beaten path. The above photo was taken on Eugene Street, as evidenced by the sign, as we were walking Washington Street east to South Elm. The artwork of the intertwined hands is by Frances P. from the Greensboro Day School. Many of the signal boxes for the traffic lights have these wrap with featuring artwork. They add so much visual interest. This public display of art gives the artist recognition. It also gives the pedestrians and people in cars a chance to notice and wonder what exactly the boxes contain. An internet search reveals that each box costs between $500-$1,000 for printing and installation. In some cities, the artist receives money. We aren't sure about Greensboro. 

Next time you are downtown, check out the art on these boxes. They are happy bursts of color waiting patiently at the street colors. That in addition to the fiberglass jeans, and the murals, add quite a bit of public art to the community. If you know Frances P., or her art teacher, tell her we love it and that it is featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. We'd love to feature the two of them next to the box. If you notice the "JP" building, now Lincoln Financial Group building is peeking out, just below the Eugene St. sign. When you see that building, you know you are Downtown Greensboro.

Happy Monday, Happy last week of September and first full week of fall.