Greensboro Daily Photo

R is for RELIGION

Clap, clap, pray, and thank God. According to Men's Health Magazine, Greensboro has earned the designation as the second holiest city in the USA! We are second only to Colorado Springs!  Charlotte, Durham, and Raleigh are also in the top 15, making North Carolina the HOLIEST of states! (read more here &  here). While some question the research methodology or what is actually being measured (here), undeniably, Greensboro is BIG on volunteerism, generosity, and spirituality. We at Greensboro Daily Photo know from having photographed religion in Greensboro for two years worth of Sundays that religion is extremely important in our community. 

Above, is a photo of Hey Nunnie Nunnie, a comedy act currently on stage at the Renaissance Festival in Huntersville. We thought the clapping nuns would be appropriate for our 2nd place designation. This is the last weekend of the Carolina Renaissance Festival so run, don't walk to see this fabulous comedy duo. Oh, and if you ever make it to Greensboro, you will, indeed, see a religious organization on just about every corner. (Please note, this is not meant to be disrespectful; just a way to combine two NC happenings).

For ABC Wednesday, "R" is for RELIGION-- Greensboro style! 

Charlie Tefft Pottery

Accomplished local potter and Guilford College instructor Charlie Tefft makes functional art pottery that is inspired by the world around him. As seen in the photo above, most of his glazes are neutral, brown and blue. In the foreground is the brown and white wren pitcher. His pieces range from traditional to modern with an Asian feel. (See more on his website here. Keep up with him on Facebook here). To be sure, all of Charlie's work is extraordinary and reasonably priced. We caught up with Charlie at a recent pottery event at Yanceyville Farmers' Market. Charlie has also been very involved in the Ultimate (Frisbee) community. Artist, teacher, athlete, all around nice guy-- Greensboro is lucky to have people like Charile living here.

On November 20th and 21st, Charlie will have a pottery show and sale in his studio at 6303 Thornblade Court from 1-5 pm. Mark your calendar and head out to visit. It will be a great place to find a gift.

We share Charlie's pottery with our not only our local but also our international friends at the Ruby Tuesday meme.

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Disclaimer: We are about an hour and a half south of Greensboro in Huntersville, NC. 

Here we are enjoying the entertainment on the Stage of Merriment at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. As you can see from the photo, even people at the back of the tent were interested in the entertainment: jugglers, comedy shows, a sword swallower, jousting, over 500 people milling around in costumes; plenty to keep attendees entertained. Seven weekends a year, Huntersville, NC comes alive with costumes, food, entertainment, and good times from centuries past. The buildings in the background are permanent structures in place for the one time a year when this fairground comes alive for the Renaissance Festival. This upcoming weekend is the last for the festival so, if you are in the area, we highly recommend your visiting. The outdoor acts, ten to fifteen per day per stage and there are six stages-- are included in the price of the ticket ($18 at Harris Teeter; $20 at the door). Throw on a costume and head on down and eat a bread bowl of food, steak on a stick, a turkey leg, while strolling through a replica of a 16th century village. Wikipedia explains the history of Renaissance fairs here.

We're sharing this with Mellow Yellow Monday.

'Tis a Gift to be Simple

This is a photo of the inside of the New Garden Friends Meeting space located at the corner of New Garden Road and Friendly Avenue. The Society of Friends, New Garden Friends Meeting in Guilford County (Quakers) was established in 1754. As a religion, the Society of Friends traces its origins to mid-century England and Wales and believes that ordinary people can have a direct relationship with Christ. Neither priests, nor the Pope, nor preachers are needed to mediate the relationship with God. Therefore, above, you don't see a pulpit, fancy icons, crosses, or paintings. Pews, crisp white walls, and plain blue carpeting are the backdrop for the Friends' gathering here in Greensboro. In this religion, simplicity is highly regarded. Our Quaker friends practiced "reduce, reuse, recycle" long before the green movement. Quakers eschew titles (e.g., Mr., Mrs., Reverend), favoring, instead, the use of first names. As stated on Quaker Finder dot org, "(c)ommunity is a central part of the Religious Society of Friends." Together, the religious experience is deeper than when alone. If you are interested in attending a meeting, start here.

Yes, we know the title of this post is not Quaker but are lyrics of a Shaker song. However, that is the title that kept coming to mind as we roamed the hallway of the New Garden Friends Meeting and, again, as we were preparing this post for Sacred Sunday.

Frank Family Science Center

Since we've been hanging around the Guilford College area this week, we thought we'd end the week sharing a photo of the Frank Family Science Center. The building, located on Guilford College's campus, is over 50,000 square feet. Constructed in 2000, the Frank Family Science Center was designed by the faculty who took extra effort to make the facility conducive to student/faculty interaction. The design helps with a sense of community. From the positive testimonials, it is obvious that students and faculty alike enjoy this building. It has occupancy sensors which help with conserving energy. Faculty efforts to be closer to students is one of many reasons Guilford College is featured on the website of Colleges that Change lives. Read what CTCL says here!

The little dome you see on top is the Cline Observatory. Presentations are offered monthly with the all-dome projector. Weather permitting, they offer public viewings with the observatory telescopes. The next big event scheduled will happen tomorrow on November 14th when Don Cline, from the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) will present a session, entitled "PARI: A Place to Learn about Science and Stars." Yes, this is THE Don Cline, Guilford College alum. for whom the observatory was named. HIs presentation will start at 7:30 pm.
 

Arcadia Drive Home

This Arcadia Drive residence has so much individuality and character. The charcoal gray and white paint makes the home stand out from its well-landscaped grounds. The tree in front reminds us of the great shadows cast on sunny fall and winter days. On the left side, the gray chunk of building peeking out is the not-for-profit Friends Home. This independent living retirement community was founded by the religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Behind this house are the vegetable plots and rose garden maintained by "friends." We're not sure if this house is in any way affiliated with the retirement community. We do know that the house is a beautiful sight to behold as you are rounding the corner to enter the retirement community. With Guilford College across the road, Friends Home behind it, and lots of new construction in the area, this majestic residence is an enclave unto itself!

With the beautiful Greensboro sky seen, not only behind the house, but also reflected in the windows, this is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday.

Veterans Day 2010

November 11th is Veterans Day. It is one of the few holidays in the US, like the Fourth of July, that does not change dates for the convenience of falling on a Monday. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the ending of World War 1. In 1954, it was expended to celebrate all veterans. Guilford County Schools is closed today so we hope teachers and students are doing something to remember Americans who have served in the Armed Forces. Usually, there is a flag raising by veterans in Friendly Center at 8am on holidays celebrating the military (see our old post here). We like the scene of the above window, not too far from Friendly Center, that hangs one flag for each of the branches of the military.

As language people, we just had to study on the notion of Veterans' Day and Veterans Day. It seems the latter spelling, the attributive, as opposed to the former (the possessive case) is preferred by the US Government (see here). Learn more by looking at the 3 minute video clip put out by the US Department of Veterans (no apostrophe) Affairs (here)

"Q" is for QUAKER

"

The Hege Library is the archival epicenter for our local Quaker/Friends community. The library has 80,000 square feet of space and contains over 240,000 books, periodicals and non-print media. According to the library's website, "the Friends Historical Collection, located in the Hege Library, is a comprehensive research collection of materials pertaining to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) worldwide. The collection is open to Guilford students and faculty, Friends, visiting scholars, and genealogical researchers." They have 600 manuscripts of records related to Carolina Quakers. Some of the documents date back to 1680. The Friends of the Library are very generous in their support of the literary and artistic endeavors at the library. The prominently-featured globe reminds us that reading and knowledge helps us be worldy.

On today, this ABC Wednesday, "Q" is for Quaker!

Giant Playgrounds

On the weekends, in the fall, college campuses turn into veritable playgrounds-- in a good way. Between intramural leagues, fall festivals, football games, concerts, plays, and art exhibits, there is plenty for students to do. Such was the case at Guilford College this weekend. It was homecoming and students, present and former, of all ages were on campus. In the photo above, students had queued up to Cameron's Funnel Cakes at an arts festival held on the Friendly Center side of campus. The Quakers have been in the Guilford College Road/Friendly Avenue area of Guilford County since the mid-1700's, long before these roads existed! Guilford College is the only Quaker founded college in the southeastern United States. Fall is an impressive time to be on this campus!

If you like college sports, the Guilford College Quakers have some impressive sports facilities for a private school of its size. Unfortunately, the football team's last regular-season game is away next weekend, at Emory & Henry. If you want, you can listen to it on free live audio. Even better, head over to campus and take a brisk walk while the weather is still walker-friendly. The little red camper is not a permanent fixture so don't expect to find it there this weekend. Do expect to find some beautiful brick buildings brimming with history! The funnel-cake-mobile was snapped especially for our friends at Ruby Tuesday! Go Quakers!

First Frost

On Sunday, we woke to a time change (fall back) and the first frost. Greensboro was blanketed in a light, but undeniable, frost. The above photo of a fall rose and a rose hip was taken in our yard on Saturday. The roses were an unexpected, November gift. By Sunday, the gentle frost made the roses look soggy and wilted. 

Our fall roses evoke memories of when they bloomed in June, adding a touch of summer pink in November. The rose hips, however, are the burnt orange of fall. They are important to the plant because they send a message to the rose that it is time to prepare for winter. If you haven't prepared your roses for winter, read here. We were caught off guard and have done nothing to get our plants ready for winter (mulch and water are needed). 

We're sharing this bokeh photo with Mellow Yellow Monday. Have a great week everyone! And winterize.... inside and out!

Cedar Grove Tabernacle of Praise

The Cedear Grove Tabernacle of Praise appears to be attached to and affiliated with the Cedar Grove Baptist Church. They are located together at 612 Norwalk Street, just off West Wendover between the car dealerships and Costco. The church got its start in 1923, nearly half a century before Wendover Avenue even existed. In the 1920's, this would have been a rural Baptist church. The first church was actually constructed in 1926 and rebuilt in 1966. We are so thankful that Cedar Grove has archived some of its history on their website. We'll share some of it here and provide the link in case you want to read more.

The tract of land for the original Cedar Grove Baptist Church was donated by the Boren Family of the nearby Pamona Terra Cotta Pipe Company.  Back in the 1920's, in order to raise money for the church, there were several fundraisers. Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown of the Palmer Institute was a guest speaker at a fundraising banquet held at the Terra Cotta School. Rev. J.T. Hairston also spoke. Dr. David D. Jones, former president of Bennett College sang at the fundraiser. Later, to celebrate the construction of the new church, the entire congregation marched down Red Road (now Wendover) to Buffalo Creek for the first baptism (excerpted from here). Today, reverend James Johnson and his wife co-pastor the church. We offer this photo and text to you for Sacred Sunday!

Fluorescent Rocks Fluorescing

This is a photo of the fluorescent rocks fluorescing at the Natural Science Center in Greensboro.  The photo isn't that clear but it captures the energy and educational fun that can be had at the science center. In this corner of the geology room, the rock display is almost like the Wizard of Oz: You don't experience the full magic until you go behind the curtain. Children delight in pulling the curtain shut and then sliding it open. Close the Curtain. Dark. Fluorescence. Marvel. Peel back the curtain. Light. No fluorescence. Just rocks. Giggle. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.......

If Saturday's weather is as damp and nasty like Friday night, you will be looking for something fun to do indoors! We're heading over to the Natural Science Center on Lawndale Drive today to view the "Bodies Revealed" exhibit with 14 REAL human bodies with different skeletal, muscular, nervous, reproductive, digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems revealed and coated in resin. If organs and bones make you squeamish, this is not the exhibit for you. If you want to learn more, read here.

Had I known we were sharing this with Weekend Reflection, I would have tried less hard to keep my reflection from showing on the glass while taking the photo. You can barely see my outline on the small green rock in the middle. Also, there is the reflection to the left, beyond the curtain.

Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock State Park is not in Greensboro; however, it is only a 45 minute drive north and makes a great day trip! Located in the Sauratown Mountains, Hanging Rock comes by its name honestly. After hiking mostly uphill for a mile, you look up and see large rock formations--- hanging. Then, you walk about 3/10ths of a mile up behind the the rocks to heights of around 2,000 feet. If you aren't expecting this altitude, Hanging Rock seems as if you are standing on the highest spot on earth-- high enough for us! As you can see in the photo, the people in the distance are sitting on peaks of bare rocks and sheer cliffs. Established in 1936, Hanging Rock is a part of North Carolina's natural heritage and we are very proud of this state park. The park includes waterfalls, caves, ridges, 18 miles of trails and more over 6,457 acres. If you want more information, we like this link (see here). 

Happy Friday! This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday.

Open Space Café Theater

The Open Space Cafe Theater is another place to go in Greensboro to be entertained. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago so Jimmy Dean has left the building! Up next, at the end of November is PEEPERS by Walt Vail, the winner of the Open Space Café Theater's  (OSCT) first annual new play competition. The OSCT has been featuring live, professional theater in Greensboro for four years now. Inside is a foyer where you can buy beverages and snacks. Beyond the foyer is a small stage and also an area with cafe seating where desserts and beverages can be enjoyed while being entertained. The actors are VERY close to the audience during these performances. Sometimes they even build you, the audience, into the performance. Literally, you can reach out and touch them!

At times, the proprietor, Joe Nierle, books music acts too. This December, back by popular demand, he will be showing TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS in December. We really enjoyed the New Year's Eve event we attended here!

"P" is for Preddy

Historic marker J80 on Summit Avenue is dedicated to George Preddy. Mr. Preddy was born down Summit Avenue a couple of miles east of downtown Greensboro.  As stated on the marker, Preddy was a World War II fighter pilot. He was born in Greensboro in 1919 and attended Greensboro High School. He doubled up on classes so that he could graduate at age sixteen.

Preddy served as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. At the time of his death, he was the highest ranking ace in the European theater and had earned a Distinguished Service Cross. Ironically, Preddy died on Christmas Day 1944 as a result of friendly fire. He was only twenty five. At the time of his death, Second Lieutenant Preddy had accomplished 26.83 aerial victories and 5 ground victories in 143 missions (read more in the archives of the Greensboro Historical Museum here). In 1968, a portion of I-85 was named Preddy Boulevard in honor of George and his brother Bill, also a pilot killed in World War II. If you are interseted in the military accomplishments of George Preddy, Wikipedia has a fair of information (here).

In the background of the photo, you can see buildings in downtown Greensboro. Some historic markers are in high-traffic hard to read areas; however, the one to Preddy is very accessible on Summit Avenue which, in Preddy's day, was a very prominent part of our city. Today, on Greensboro Daily Photo, "P" is for for Preddy on ABC Wednesday. Thank you for visiting.

Blumenthal's Big & Tall

Blumenthal's Clothing Store, formerly at 358 South Elm Street & presently at 4620 West Market Street, has been a Greensboro institution since 1926. A great photo of the former downtown location is seen here. Also, the Greensboro Historical Museum has on display the neon sign from inside the Elm Street store. The sign tells about the offer of the customer receiving a free pack of cigarettes if the last letter of their receipt matched the number on the sign. It was always so much fun to see if you had a winning receipt, even after cigarettes fell out of favor as a prize!

According to a News& Record article September 2010, Blumenthal's is closing everything but the Big & Tall portion of their business. For us, it is always sad to see the end of those old Greensboro businesses. In the above photo, you see the Blumenthal's mobile as well as a view of the Market Street location. While the Market Street store has great products at reasonable prices, gone is the provenance of the downtown store-- squeeky wooden floor boards, old wood and glass counters from the 1920's, converse tennis shoes and Dickies work pants (when nobody else had them), the chance of a prize with purchase, employees with tape measures around their neck.

This is our contribution to Ruby Tuesday! With that bright yellow vehicle, the photo could have worked for Mellow Yellow Monday! Honk if you love Blumenthal's!

Homeward Bound

This photo was taken at the Southern Railway Station in downtown Greensboro at 236 East Washington Street. The scene evokes the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel's song, "Homeward Bound," at least some of them.

"I'm sittin' in the railway station got a ticket for my destination.....Homeward bound, I wish I was homeward bound, home where my thought's escaping..."  

Without the one night stands or guitar in hand, this family did, indeed, look homeward bound, waiting patiently for either the train or the bus late one morning. This railway station is a photographer's dream. Here is a color photo we posted in July. Here is an exterior view of the train station which has been a Greensboro landmark since 1927! If we had one wish for the station, it would be to see it utilized more; not only for getting from Point A to Point B and for visiting the great coffee shop and information center, but also for having local events. How about a quick day trip to Raleigh? Let's do it! We can depart Greensboro at 9:11 am and get to Raleigh by 10:48 am!!!

This month's theme for the City Daily Photo is public transportation. At Greensboro Daily Photo, we're saluting our city's great railroading history and the reason we are nicknamed the Gate City. 

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Old Presbyterian Graveyard

As we close out the month with a Sacred Sunday photo, we thought we'd share a photo of one of Greensboro's most famous cemeteries, The Old Presbyterian Graveyard. It is located behind the Greensboro Historical Museum. Formerly, the museum's building was the original Presbyterian Church with the cemetery beside it. The graveyard and church were established in 1831 when Jesse H. Lindsay donated the money for the land. This confined space contains about 300 graves dating between 1834-1926. North Carolina Governor Moorehead is buried here as are soldiers from the 1) Revolutionary War; 2) Civil War; and 3) the War of 1812. Short story writer O. Henry has relatives buried here. 

Many people consider cemeteries to be "creepy" places as they remind us of DEATH. However many religions and cultures incorporate cemeteries into their holidays and rituals. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Nov 1 &2) is a time when you visit the graves of loved ones, remembering fondly their time on earth. In the mountains of North Carolina, Decoration Day, is especially popular. This is usually held in October when families tend to the graves of loved ones, making sure that nature doesn't reclaim the land. Alan and Karen Singer Jabbour have written a fabulous book on Decoration Day (here).

Today, we urge you to pause and remember your deceased loved ones-- even if you can't, literally, be at the gravesite.

On Greensboro Daily Photo, we featured the cemetery in March 2009 (here).

The Spandex Trio-- SEE no evil; HEAR no evil; SPEAK no evil!

On Thursday afternoon, three guys in unitards were posing near Ben & Jerry's and the fountain in Friendly Center. They said they attend Grimsley and Page High Schools. Sitting around, costumed from head to toe, must have seemed like a great thing to do after a rigorous end to the first nine-weeks of classes, on a teacher workday just before Halloween! They were very entertaining and polite. We titled the photo "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil," after the 17th century Japanese maxim which implies for us to be of good mind, speech, and action. At first sight, we weren't sure; however, in talking to the Spandex Trio, we concluded they were of good mind, speech and action. (The expression has a lot more meaning and symbolism in Japanese than in English where we tend merely to ascribe the meaning of looking the other way or feigning ignorance [reference and more details here]).

For the next 48 hours, Halloween costumes will be everywhere. If you see the Spandex Trio please let them know they are being featured on Greensboro Daily Photo and thank them for this creative endeavor. As for offering them candy, we're not sure how they would consume it! Trick or treat? This is our contribution to Newton Area Photo's Weekend Reflection-- notice the sky reflecting in the shades of Mr. Cobalt Blue.

Orange Maple and Old Oak on Odell Place

Only a parking lot separates this old tree on Odell Place from the Odell Memorial Building on the campus of Greensboro College. Most of the year, the decrepit tree looks tired and on its last leg (trunk)? However, when the leaves change to red-orange and the sky is blue, it stands out like the lone, brilliant icon of fall. Nearby, at the west side of the parking lot is a giant oak tree. The oak is sturdier and more massive, but the leaves are nothing more than a dull, leathery brown. Park under the oak and you will hear thud.....thud.......thud with acorns landing like bullets on your car. Across the street is a ginko biloba tree planted in 1981 in memory of Howard C. Wilkinson, a former president of Greensboro College. Don't you just love it when trees have pedigrees, when they are a part of the landscape of a school's collective memory?  Surely, "Meet me by the old maple on Odell Place," has been uttered at least once. 

To enjoy the view, we stood directly under the maple tree, with the sun to our back, looked straight up and snapped. If you are out on a walk this weekend, head to a college campus and "read"  the trees! In you are in Greensboro, visit this one! Shel Silverstein would be proud! (If you have 9 minutes & 44 seconds, listen to him read The Giving Tree here).

This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday. Thank you for visiting Greensboro Daily Photo! We're here for you-- 365 days a year!

Old Greensborough

The Old Greensborough Gateway Center is located at 620 South Elm Street, at the corner of Lee Street, in the heart of "Olde Greensborough." At one time, the building was owned by Greensboro's blue jean giant,  Blue Bell, Inc. Currently, it is a renovated, mixed-use space with offices, storage, shop areas, studios, light manufacturing available for rent (here). 

The façade was renovated, 2000-2004, by Jo Ramsay Leimenstoll. Professor Leimenstoll is Director of Graduate Studies for the Interior Architecture Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 1982, the Olde Greensborough district was placed on the National Register. We would like to learn moare about the history and lore of this building. Today, our "O" is for old, as in Old Greensborough.

"O" is for the Odell Memorial Building

"O" is for the Odell Memorial Building on the campus of Greensboro College in Downtown Greensboro. The building was constructed in 1922 with the "munificent" gift of local merchant J.A. Odell.  $100,000 is a generous donation by 2010 standards; imagine its impact in the early 20th century. The façade of the brick and concrete building remains as it was when it was built; the interior underwent renovations in the 1990's.  Odell Memorial is the nucleus of Greensboro College's fine performing arts program (reference here). For years, it was the meeting place for The Book Club of North Carolina's Town Meeting on Books.

If you are interested in the history of Greensboro College, you may know about the Odell Famliy. They were actively involved in the running of the college and female family members were schooled there. J.A. Odell was a local merchant who, in 1884 was elected president of the Durham Cotton Mill. Additionally, Mr. Odell mentored and raised a young man by the name of William H. Branson. Mr. Branson went on to be a prominent businessman. You can learn more about Mr. Odell and Mr. Branson by reading Mr. Branson's genealogy (here) and in another article (here). They both lived by the work ethic of their day: "Men rule best who have served most faithfully in every sphere to be ruled." 

If you want to support the performing arts at Greensboro College and see the Odell in all its glory, we suggest attending this weekend's performance of the musical, "Little Shop of Horrors." (336-217-7220 for tickets).  If a romantic musical about a man eating plant is not your cup of tea, we're sure the theater program would accept your donation to be used for theater scholarships.

A big thank you to ABC Wednesday for inspiring to find an "O" with historical significance in Greensboro. A heartfelt thanks to the faithful readers of Greensboro Daily Photo!

Obama Mobile

This may not be Cadillac One; however, Greensboro has its very own Obama Mobile!! "Don't hate, appreciate"  seems very appropriate in this early-voting time of tension! What if we all took that slogan to heart, Democrats and Republicans alike? As you can tell from the signs around town, election time is near! Tuesday, November 2nd is the general election this year. Don't let it sneak up on you. Do your homework and know the candidates (and don't just "know" what they or their opponents tell you).

We've been saving this photo to use since the Summer Solstice Festival in the arboretum and are using it long after the autumnal equinox! We'd love to talk to the patriotic driver to learn his/her reason for painting this slogan on the van. By the way, we're featuring the letter "O" all week! So far, it has been Orrell Design and Obama-mobile. Stop back often.

This RED, white and blue is one for Ruby Tuesday.

Orrell Design

Orell Design, established February 2003 in downtown Greensboro, is the kick-off photo for our week of "O's" (inspired by ABC Wednesday here). We've wanted to feature Orrell Design for a long time because of the quality hair cutting, coloring, styling, etc. and fine spa experiences available at Orrell Design. Owner Kerrie Orrell, when not at the shop, is busy doing fine community work. She is always donating products, services and time to worthy causes. Likely, in the summertime, if you see young swimmers running around town with stripes of pink in their hair, Kerrie has donated her time for a breast cancer fundraiser! If you see a child whose hair was shortened by 10 inches overnight, chances are, one of the stylists at Orrell Design cut it for Locks of Love. Kerrie, as energetic as the Ever Ready Bunny, also manages to care for her three children. This Greensboro-grown proprietor is a role model for us all.

Orrell Design, located at 440 North Eugene Street is our contribution to Mellow Yellow Monday (see that yellow building to the right?).

 

Serpents in Religion

Little did this unassuming serpent at Greensboro's Natural Science Center realize that he would be featured on Sacred Sunday!  Sacred Sunday is not only people and buildings, but also thoughts that cause us to pause and reflect on spirituality. The serpent is a recurring symbol in mythology and many religions. In the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:4-5 & 3:22/Old Testament), it is the deceptive serpent who tempts Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, the serpent is analogous to Satan (see this Wikipedia site to learn more). In Abrahamic religions, the serpent is largely associated with deceit. Snakes can also be guardians and in Buddhism, a snake shielded the meditating Buddha from the elements.

In the play, Brother Wolf, written by Greensboro's own Preston Lane (Triad Stage) with original music by Greensboro resident Laurelyn Dossett, Rattler Man, spreads terror with his box of serpents. Rattler Man is a foil to the charismatic traveling preacher in this Beowulf-inspired play. While snake-handling exists in Appalachia, we don't know of any snake-handling religions in Greensboro. According to our internet "research" North Carolina has laws restricting the practice. As you pause and reflect, what does the serpent represent to you?

Where is Chris Smith?

This photo was taken beside the train tracks near Church Street, under Morrow Boulevard. We've been accused of always making Greensboro look even more beautiful than it is. Well, here is a photo of the less glamourous side of our city. Yes, we have our share of homeless people.

Given the garbage piles, this area looks like a popular place. Given the signed graffiti, we conclude Chris Smith was here. Who is Chris Smith? Does he look like his self-portrait? This is a Saturday mystery for the 12 oz. Prophet (a blog for graffiti aficionados). If you love photos of graffiti, one of the artists at Winter Light Gallery on Blandwood Avenue has some amazing photos for sale. Unfortunately, we don't see his name; however, his studio is on the second floor in the back room! 

If you enlarge this photo, you can see reflections in the pieces of garbage; we can't resist joining the Newton Daily Photo meme (Weekend Reflection) this week. For some reason, we thought James was away.

Suburban Fire Pits

Country folk in North Carolina like to burn a barrel; suburbanites love their fire pits. Here we see a fire ring burning during the last minute before the sky turns from sapphire to black. The other night, we were mesmerized by the warmth and the view.

This is a fast way to get rid of yard waste. Fortunately that is not much of an issue in Greensboro; the city will take just about any yard waste what a city resident can drag to the street. If you haul your yard waste to High Point, they give you credit for when you purchase their mulch. Plus, Greensboro has curb service for leaves, you just blow or rake them into the street and the city will haul them away. So many options that the old-timey choice in North Carolina-- to burn yard waste-- is going by the wayside.Charming as it seems, several restrictions apply to starting open fires. Our recommendation is to check your local ordinances; plus, we recommend taking a fire safety class like the one the scouts offer! 

This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday.

Littlest White House

It has been a while since we've featured a house. This little white house is located on Boulevard Street just down from the intersection of High Point and Holden Roads. You can tell from the size of the house in relation to the trees and garbage cans that it is tiny. However, the humble abode, across from Blessingdale's Thrift,  looks so clean and cozy, as if it should appear in a fairy tale. What we didn't capture in this photo is how this house is an enclave unto itself. With noisy roads nearby and businesses like Krispy Kreame Donuts, McDonald's Restaurant, Border's Bookstore, and scenes like this one just around the corner, one has to wonder how this little house has survived. This type of house was so common to Greensboro in decades past. Even today, yards like these are known to fill with children, tables of foods, and charcoal grills on the weekend for family reunions and other celebrations of life.

We felt the same about this little house on Church Street that we posted about a year ago (here). Of course, we love Greensboro's GIANT and HISTORIC houses too! If your home were to be featured, what would you say about it?

N is for Night Deposits

This is the night deposit safe of the Guilford National Bank at the corner of Elm and Washington Streets. Guilford National Bank opened in 1934. At one time, the building also housed the Greensboro National Bank. Neither Greensboro nor Guilford National Banks are still in existence; however, the safe remains-- another artifact of a bygone era. The safe evokes the era when everyone carried large bags of cash to the bank. We were a cash and carry society. The bank building is still a dynamic and vibrant rock solid place.

By chance, we stumbled upon an interesting case that the Guilford National brought against the Southern Railway Company on behalf of the estate of Jesse Coble in 1963. This week in N on ABC Wednesday and some more "N's" on our to-do list: N is for News & Record. The N&R has compiled an interesting list of history related to our Greensboro banks (here). N is also for Nido (Qubein), president and powerhouse fundraiser of High Point University. N is for New Garden Nursery! We are working remotely today. If we get a chance, we will share this with our fellow bloggers at ABC Wednesday. As you can see from Monday and Tuesday this week, on days we don't link to our international viewers, local viewers tend to look without commenting :(

Tracey Marshall & The Art House

Today, we feature another great woman of Greensboro, local artist Tracey J. Marshall. Tracey, a graduate of UNCG and former student at Savannah College of Art and Design, is photographed above in her latest art venture, Art House. Art House is a dynamic art gallery and studio located at 600 North Church Street where, Tracey, Dawn Ashby, Denise Landi, and other working artists maintain studios and teach lessons to the young and old alike. 

Through a strong and weak economy, Tracey has held strong in her determination to work as an artist full-time. Her other gallery, Marshall Art Gallery is located in the Village of North Elm on Pisgah Church Road. Even if you don't recognize Tracey, you may know her advertising-on-the-go van which we featured last year here. Above, Tracey is standing in her own studio in front of some of her pieces of art. However, her range and style is even more diverse than seen here!

Dolley Madison Slept Here

Here we see a portrait of Dolley Payne Todd Madison (1768-1849) that is housed in the Greensboro Historical Museum. Not only did Dolley Madison, wife of 4th President James Madison, sleep in Greensboro, she was BORN here. She was born in Greensboro's New Garden Community to Quaker mother Mary Cole and soon-to-convert father, John Payne. About a year after her birth, the family moved back to their native Virginia; however, Dolley Madison's connection to Greensboro and the thriving Quaker community was strong. As we began researching Dolley Madison for GDP, we concluded that she is underrepresented in our community. We would only find information about her at the Historical Museum. To our knowledge there is no statue of this vibrant, active, First Lady. We would like to start a "Fund a Statue of Dolley Madison Campaign" right here. Perhaps a local organization could take on this effort as we don't have a way to collect money!

According to the plaque at the Greensboro Historical Museum, the above portrait is attributed to John Vanderlyn, painted around 1850.

Metropolitan United Methodist Church

The Metropolitan United Methodist Church is located in East Greensboro on at 1701 East Market Street. It is very close to the campus at NCA&T University, just west of Lorillard, Inc.  We wish they had their own website so we could share more information with you about the congregation, its history, beliefs and leadership.  We do know that in May, they held a community event called, "Fry Dem Fish." Perhaps this is an annual event and we can stop by next time to learn more about the church. Being situated almost on the campus of NCA&T University, we're betting they have a large population of students attending services. 

In the absence of easy information, we have to focus on that which meets the eye. From the exterior, we were struck by the modern architectural roofline, the triangle, the trinity! The church doesn't have a marquee-- with changing messages-- outside. They do have a brick sign with a bell in it. This is our feature for Sacred Sunday. How will you spend your day?  If you are out for a Sunday drive, we encourage you to drive past MUMC. Come on, find it for fun! Have suggestion for something "spiritual" to photograph in Greensboro, let us know. In the meantime, does your place of worship have a website? Does it have an archives? A history posted? You know how much we love history!  If you are interested in church architecture over the centuries, *here* is a good link. 

Potty Humor @ Green Bean Coffee House

Green Bean Coffee House in downtown Greensboro on Elm Street actually encourages its patrons to write on bathroom walls. They also insist that the chalked words remain family friendly. This chance for self expression is all great fun-- unless someone is waiting desperately to use the restroom! We resisted writing on the walls because we were anxious to get back to drinking our great cup of coffee! This coffee shop is known as a downtown community center because of all the art exhibitions, concerts, and gatherings that take place at the Green Bean. We've featured it before ( here  and here). We've also featured toilets before, here! Let's play "where's Waldo." Time yourself and see how long it takes you to find the quote, "All women are beautiful except Joan Rivers."

Enjoy this lighthearted Saturday post which we are sharing with Weekend Reflections!

Ubiquitous Pumpkin Patches

 

This is the time of year that church youth groups sell pumpkins as a fundrasier. The above stand, located in Oak Ridge, is sponsored by the youth group of Oak Ridge Methodist Church. It is so fun to see small children delight in the selection of the family pumpkins. Increasingly, white, green, and ornamental pumpkins and gourds are becoming available.

Noteworthy in this photo is the canopy provided by Forbis & Dick Funeral Home. Our local funeral homes are generous to loan out these canopy/tents. They are a much friendlier sight over a pumpkin patch than over a cemetery plot! This glorious North Carolina sky, at the corner of Highway 68 and Oak Ridge Road near McDonald's Restaurant, is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday. If you don't want to drive to the far reaches of the county, you have plenty of in-town options. Here is the one at Mt. Pisgah Methodist Church that we featured last year.

To Kevin B @ UNCG

Based on the decoration of "the rock" on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Kevin B @ UNCG aspires to become a teacher. He is visualizing himself as a teacher. This rock is located near The Caf, the fountain, and the clock tower. The photographed area is a great meeting place for UNCG students.

Let's hope Mr. B's dream is realized. We love these spirit rocks as they are such a public way to display memories, issues, to commemorate, and to dream. In essence, they are controlled-graffiti. This is the first time we've seen one dedicated to a living individual.

M is for McNair, Dr. Ronald E. McNair

Ronald E. McNair, Ph.D., was a physicist and NASA astronaut. While Dr. McNair was from South Carolina, his connection to Greensboro is a strong one. Dr. McNair eearned a bachelor's degree in physics, graduating magna cum laude, from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University. He was selected from a pool of 10,000 applicants for the NASA astronaut program. Unfortunately, his life came to a quick end on January 28th 1986 when he was one of the seven crew members on the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded above the Atlantic Ocean 73 minutes after takeoff (Wiki). This bust is placed on NCA&T campus inside the McNair engineering building. Additionally, a bust and plaque can be found just outside the East Market Street building. Today is "M" day on ABC Wednesday and "M" is for McNair. This past weekend was homecoming at NCA&T University. NCA&T contributes so much to the Greensboro community both intellectually and financially. Dr. McNair would be pleased at the progress and growth in his alma mater.

Other Greensboro M's include: MARKET and MENDENHALL Streets; Edward MURROW;  MAESTRO (Sitkovetsky of the Greensboro Symphony); statue of MINERVA (at UNCG); METHODISTS;  and Dolley MADISON. 

Name that Berry

Last week, we were hiking the rail trail just north of Bur-Mil Park and stumbled upon these ripe berries. This photo is straight from the camera with no adjustments. We were in awe of the pink casings that released the red berries; however, have no idea what kind of berries these are. If you know, please post the answer in the comment below. Likely, they are poisonous!

We took so many photos on the rail trail. It is such a wonderful community resource for Greensboro and Guilford County. On the weekends, families, couples, cyclists, and walkers (with and without canine companions) can be seen taking advantage of our greenway. Bur-mil Park is located on Highway 220 (Battleground Avenue) about a mile north of the Horse Pen Creek Road intersection. According to its website, Bur-mil was established in 1989 when Guilford County purchased this 250-acre recreation facility from Burlington Industries. Gone are the Greensboro days when companies like Jefferson, Pilot, and Burlington Industries had their own recreation areas. It is always nice when all or part of the acerage, like Bur-mil, becomes available to the public. This photo is for our friends at Ruby Tuesday.

Yellow Dawg Construction

Yellow Dawg Construction is a local Greensboro business. According to their website, owner Gray Clark has been doing home repairs for over 35 years-- since his graduate school days. The Lake Jeanette-based business is named after the family's yellow labrador dog, Gracie. Mr. Clark is also an ordained minister and contributes to mission projects like Habitat for Humanity. We haven't met anyone from Yellow Dawg. We just stumbled on their truck when we parked next to it at the Apple Computer Store in Friendly Center. For those of you from elsewhere, "dawg" is southern for "dog." 

We specifically took this Photo to share with Mellow Yellow Monday.

Cathedral of Faith: Christian Center

Cathedral of Faith Christian Center is located on the corner of Summerfield Road and Oak Street on Highway 150 between Oak Ridge and Summerfield. The Pastors are Harry and Jeanette Buckner. According to their website, they started with a congregation of three in 1990. In looking through the website, while they are God-based and Christian, there is no obvious affiliation with a specific denomination. For our readers in other countries, the denomination-less churches are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Is this the case in your country? We're not sure if there is significance to the red roof and absence of a steeple.

We love the marquee of the Cathedral of Faith. This weekend, it reads: The beauty of nature is God's greeting card. That statement is so appropriate for the fall season on the east coast as the leaves begin their splendid transition from green to red, orange, yellow, ochre, and burnt sienna. This is another edition of our Sacred Sunday inspiration. Bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley has a CD entitled, Saturday night, Sunday morning. After our Saturday night post, we need this one on Sunday morning!

Saturday Afternoon Intrigue a la Guy Noir

A few Saturdays ago, we were walking around State Street in Greensboro on a photo shoot and stumbled past a woman waiting in the driver's seat of her SUV. Legs kicked up, lit cigarette, music from her radio surrounding the vehicle, the whole scene seemed more like something from the 1940's than 2010. The images evoked  Guy Noir and A Prairie Home Companion. Can't you just hear Garrison Keeler with his booming bass voice describing this scene? Kevin Kline playing Guy Noir, out solving a crime with leads to this scene?

In reality, likely, this young woman was waiting for someone in her family to finish shopping. Since we featured Lorillard, Inc., the tobacco company, in the middle of this week, we thought this picture would be a good way to end the week. The photo was cropped to protect the innocent as we're releasing it to the "wire service" also known as Weekend Reflections.