Greensboro Daily Photo

"Kick the Bag!"

Yesterday was Earth Day. Earth Day bills itself as the world's largest environmental movement. People are starting to realize that the earth's resources are limited and that garbage doesn't go away just because we can't see it. Greensboro has made great strides in the reduce, reuse, recycle movement. The city has a household hazardous waste collection center on Patterson Street. Nearby, on Patterson Street, Reconsidered Goods not only takes many household items, they teach people how to repurpose items that might otherwise end up in landfills. Greensboro also collects household items to be recycled bi-weekly. 

The above photo, taken at the Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street, shows a collection of reusable bags for shoppers to take for free, as opposed to using single-use, plastic bags. If you have any extra bags, drop them off at the market. Knowing they are there, we can all be more diligent about not using single-use packaging. No excuses! Finally, just because Earth Day has come and gone, we can still make an effort to reduce our carbon footprints for the next 364 days- and beyond. 

World Irish Dance Championships

The World Irish Dance Championships were held in Greensboro, North Carolina this past week. This is only the third time in their forty-nine year history that the event has been held in the United States. The Koury Convention Center was filled with competitors all week long. Special stages and bleachers were built to accommodate the event. Dancers came from twenty-seven countries, bringing with them beautiful costumes, perfect hair and makeup, and incredible athleticism. 

The above group, from Southern California is part of the Claddagh Dance Company. We didn't get to talk to them very much, because they were huddling with their director, Maire O'Connell  yet they took the time to pose for a quick photo.  This was such an exciting event for Greensboro. We hope the dancers and their families enjoyed their time in Greensboro (or "An Baile Glas/The Borough of Green" in Irish)  as much as Greensboro did having them here. 

Happy Easter 2019

Spring, Passover, and Easter are upon us and spring blossoms are glorious in Greensboro this year. The above pink dogwood tree is in full bloom on Ridgeway Drive. The dogwood is associated with Easter because some believe wood from the dogwood tree was used in the crucifixion of Christ. It is an incredibly hard wood and the blossoms are hardy, too. Giving the Christian symbolism and the sheer beauty of the blooms, the trees make a glorious backdrop for family Easter photos. Do children still get dress clothes for Easter? 

For those who celebrate, we hope that Easter 2019 was everything you'd hoped for. And for those who love the holiday, you have the opportunity to celebrate it again next week as April 28th (next Sunday) is Orthodox Easter. 

Easter Look Brought To You By Dudley Cosmetology University

The Dudley Cosmetology University of Greensboro has been has been helping cosmetology and barber students since 1972. They have an iconic presence in the 500 block of South Elm Street. At Dudley,  you can learn to care for and braid hair, do nails, and so much more. Apparently, you can also learn to embellish beards.

The above photo reflects Dudley's current window display where Easter includes adding a little holiday spirit to beards. If you have a beard and want a unique look for Easter, consider adding some plastic eggs to your facial hair!  Unlike New York City, Greensboro does not have an Easter parade. If they did we're betting some men would be sporting decorated beards. Anyone interested in starting a local Easter parade?

Stepping into the Weekend

Last night was a very busy one in downtown Greensboro. You would have thought it was already the weekend. There was a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game last night. Plus there are extra people in town for the World Championships in Irish dancing, which is currently happening in Greensboro. That event alone has brought as many as 5,000 dancers and 20,000 spectators into town. 

 

Those public school families who did not leave town, for their long-awaited spring break, seemed eager to get out and spend time with friends and family. Temperatures accommodated, being close to 70 degrees and with clear skies. In the above photo, several young adults, possibly here with the Irish dancers, are heading south on Elm Street, about to wait for the train to pass.Their clothing is as colorful as a bag of Brach's jellybeans! For those who celebrate Easter, we hope the holidays over the next few days are filled with spirituality, tradition, prayer, music, and maybe even a little Easter candy.

Sue Chen Playing the Chinese Dulcimer

Sue Chen, originally from Taiwan, is a graduate of the Beijing Language and Culture University in China. For several years, she has been a Mandarin language instructor in Greensboro. Ms. Chen is also very committed to teaching people about traditional Chinese culture, music and the history of the instruments used to play traditional Chinese music.  In the above photo, she is playing the Chinese dulcimer 扬琴 (Yang Qin) at the Global Education Conference, hosted this past Saturday by Guilford County Schools at Ragsdale High School.

From Ms. Chen, we learned that the modern yangqin usually has 144 strings, and four to five bridges. It can take up to four hours just to tune the instrument. As demonstrated above, the sticks are held, one in each hand, hitting the strings alternately. In the orchestra, the yangqin often adds to the harmony by playing chords or arpeggios. As the yangqin is softer than other Chinese instruments, it is usually positioned at the front of the orchestra, just in front of the conductor. Fortunately, the instrument folds up rather compactly to be transported as Ms. Chen is always giving concerts and demonstrations, so that the Chinese dulcimer and other traditional instruments will gain a wider audience. She is very generous with her knowledge of music, language, and culture. The beautiful sound of the yangqin is very relaxing and was enjoyed by conference participants.

 

On Bunch Road

Bunch Road is one of those roads that used to be rural, but now has more of a suburban feel. It connects the Northwest High School area to Oak Ridge and Summerfield. The above photo features an older, modest home on the road.  And the mature trees in the yard tower over the tiny house. Look at how beautiful the yard looks on the cusp of everything blooming.

The photo was taken this past Saturday, after the skies were gray for much of the day and then early evening, the sun came out to make everything look fresh and clean. Truly, this house and property is a peek at the Greensboro of yesteryear, back in the day when a small, single story home was enough.

Blossoms, Eric Tenen, Paris, and Notre Dame...

The weather in Greensboro has been very fickle lately. From sunny days to heavy rains to strong winds, the city has experienced several seasons in the last few weeks. The above photo shows a driveway on a hill in a suburban neighborhood in northwest Greensboro. The cherry blossoms have been beat to the ground from the winds and rain. However, in their own way, the petals are beautiful as they carpet the cement in pink. Peeking over the crest is the family's basketball goal.

In March, 2005, Eric Tenen launched Paris Daily Photo. Eric is the reason there is a Greensboro Daily Photo. We joined Eric's City Daily Photo group in 2009. Eric was known for taking ground-shot photos like the one above, and this orientation is now called the Tenen Perspective. We present this blossom photo in Eric's style in honor of his beloved city, Paris, that is suffering under the weight of yesterday's fire at Notre Dame. To Eric, to Paris, to Notre Dame. (Here is a photo Eric took of Notre Dame in 2008).