Greensboro Daily Photo

Downtown Greensboro-- Presidents' Day

Here we see the skyline of Greensboro, taken on a winter day from the northeast, just off of Murrow Blvd. Today is Presidents' Day, a federal holiday that was formerly known as Washington's Birthday. First implemented in 1880, Washington's Birthday was the first federal holiday established in honor of a single person. President's Day, honoring the office of the presidency, falls on the third Monday in February; this year-- February 21st. Traditionally, Presidents' Day is a big retail day with sales on everything from cars to clothing.

While all is quiet with all of the federal offices downtown, Greensboro businesses and the Guilford County Schools are on regular schedules. Here is a President's Day webquest created by the Guilford County Schools. As feasible, teachers will incorporate the holiday into the curriculum today. If you are an American, how will you celebrate Presidents' Day? If you are from elsewhere, how does your country celebrate its leaders?

YES! It's the Weekend

YES! It is the weekend and YES! this is a box for one of Greensboro's weekly alternative newspapers. YES!, with a home address in Adams Farm, is a free newspaper that covers politics, art and entertainment in the Triad area. They were established in 2005 and are increasingly more prominent at local coffee shops and bookstores. They publish on Wednesday and have over 2,000 locations to pick up a copy of the paper. Even better, you can download YES! for free at www.yesweekly.com. 

We're not sure who made that paper box what it is today; however, it perks up the 300 block of South Elm Street. As you can see in the background, the Miller Furniture, a business that was located in downtown Greensboro for over 100 years, is for rent.

Let us know what you are up to this weekend.

Nathanael Greene Rides Again

The Nathanael Greene bronze statue at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park soars a majestic 27 feet above the earth. The monument depicts Greene, a Revolutionary War hero and our town's namesake. The statue, unveiled in 1915, was purchased with $30,000 appropriated by the U.S. Congress after local residents failed to raise sufficient funds.  The sculptor of the equestrian portion of the statue was Francis H. Packer (see reference below*).

Here we see the bronze horseman on a warm winter day this week. The early blossoms of spring were trying to decide if they dare open against the backdrop of the warm, blue, cloudless sky-- our contribution to Skywatch Friday. If you are local, mark your calendars for the 230th Battle of Guilford Courthouse Anniversary and Reenactment, March 12-13, 2011. Rain or shine, it will be a weekend of free entertainment and a great way to learn about history by reliving it! Photo opportunities abound. Here's one of reenacting troops we took last year and one of colonial musicians here.

*Historical information found in Gayle Hicks Fripp's book "Greensboro-- Images of America" Arcadia Publishing, p. 10.

Tate Street Winter

Pop-shove it? Five-O? Three sixty? If you know what these words mean, either you are a skateboarder or you have one in your life. Tate Street is Greensboro's version of a hang out for college students. With UNCG and Greensboro College nearby, students can visit between classes. This photo shows the dynamic nature of a "college street." A few students are skateboarding while the man in the red shirt (left, background) is hanging a banner to announce his new business. The only thing bad about a new business is that it means an old one is gone. If you could see behind the photographer's head, you would see that the Corner is having a 75% off closing sale and Design Archives  is gone. The latter has relocated to Elm Street, leaving a big space next to Tate Street coffee. Let's hope some new, great businesses are planned for these spaces. Now that the weather is warmer, we're all thinking, "spring." including the merchants on Tate Street. 

By the way, if you want a dictionary of skateboarding terms, visit here.

"E" is for Elm Street

Today's letter on ABC Wednesday is "E" and, as we are featuring A-Z streets this round, we felt compelled to feature Elm Street. Elm Street is the heart and pulse of Greensboro. It separates east from west and runs almost the entire length of the city. In the southern extreme, Elm merges with Eugene St.; to the north, at Lake Jeanette, it becomes Bass Chapel Road. Along the way, Elm Street passes through downtown, Fisher Park, Irving Park, State Street, Cornwalis, Cone Boulevard, Buffalo Lake, New Irving Park, and Pisgah Church Road.  Of all 138 streets starting with the letter "E," Elm has the most homes listed: 374.

The house in the above photo is located at 1007 North Elm Street, at the northern end of Fisher Park, just south of the Wendover Avenue overpass. The house was completed in 1919 for the John M. Galloway family. It was designed by Greensboro architect Harry Barton and constructed under the supervision of Andrew Schlosser, Greensboro's premier stonemason (G.H.Fripp, p. 58). Noteworthy are 1) Schlosser's fine stonework; 2) the chocolate mortar and 3) the ballroom on the top floor of the home.

1007 North Elm provides a glimpes of how the street looked before it became commercialized. Today, these older homes are mostly offices of professionals, organizations, or locally-owned, small businesses. The sculpture in the foreground was done by Frank Holder whose dance training echoes in the sculpture's movement.

"Sail with the Pilot"

For years, "Sail with the Pilot," the jingle of Pilot Life Insurance Company, was featured prominently during the ACC Basketball Tournament in Greensboro. Today, this bust, reminiscent of a bygone era, remains at the helm at 1010 Elm Street in front of Pilot Financial Advisors. 

If anybody remembers anything about this bust, please post a comment. We don't recall how it landed it its present location or who made it. Stop back tomorrow to see what the sailor is looking at.

Clemmons Florist on Friendly Avenue

Sunday afternoon at sunset, Clemmons Florist employees were busy working non-stop to get their Valentine's Day orders prepared. Clemmons is located at 219 West Friendly Avenue, beside West Market Street United Methodist Church.  This third-generation, family-owned florist has been a downtown Greensboro institution for over 55 years. Usually, they are able to provide same-day service-- thought not likely on Valentine's Day. While the building is plain, the sky is the limit with the floral arrangements they dream up inside. 

Today, we are reminded that Valentine's Day is not about you or someone else. It is about you AND someone else, the "we." If it is too late to send flowers, or that expense is not in your budget, try picking up the phone and delivering a heartfelt message... a singing valentine.  Be creative with your signs of affection. How about filling someone's driveway with sidewalk chalk hearts?

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all of our readers. Thank you for your visits. XOXOXO

Greensboro Primitive Baptist Church

The cornerstone on this church, located at 301 South Tate Street reads, "Greensboro Primitive Baptist Church, 1907-1953."  No other adornments or signs of church activity can be found. Nor does the church have a website. We did find an article where the memorial service for Kenneth L. Adams, Jr. was held there on May 6th 2010, indicating that some events take place on the property. Also there is an article about primitive baptists in early America in which Elder W. Currie King, pastor of this church in the late 1920's and early 1930's, is quoted (here). Other than those two references, information is scarce.

The church is sitting on prime real estate as it is located just up the street from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a street west of Greensboro College. The property is well maintained and the windows are almost-opaque stained glass and in good shape. We offer the church as one of our Sacred Sunday photos and in the hopes that someone can tell us a little more about the history of Greensboro Primitive Baptist.

Urban Francis II

We learned recently that Urban Francis is a 21st century version of St. Francis of Assisi. This close up of the face shows the detail sculptor Judith Shea put into the art project. The cast bronze statue has been installed behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum on the UNCG campus. Yesterday, a faithful reader asked where the pigeons were. We'll Jane, today's photo shows you that they are flying nearby, overhead. The stained face adds yet another human element to this saint in a mortal's clothing. Someone asked if the sculpture is installed permanently behind the Weatherspoon or if it is temporary. It looks permanent; however, we're not sure.

Notice how the brick casts a reddish glow onto the face of Urban Statue. Also, notice the reflection in the windows behind. We're sharing the photo with Weekend Reflection.

Urban Francis

The other-worldly, cast bronze, "Urban Francis" meets in-the-flesh "Suburban Frances." Actually, the woman is an anonymous art patron. She is reading the plaque about Judith Shea's bronze cast piece installed behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum, located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The inscription tells that the sculpture, edition 3 of 3, was made between 2000-2002 and that it was purchased through funds from the following sources: Lea Tannenbaum, the Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation, the Burlington Industries Endowment and the Weatherspoon Art Museum Acquisition Endowment. Urban Francis is a fine example of what collaborative effort can bring to a community. True to her fashion-designer roots, Shea's bronze pieces often are clothes-only (see here), leaving the human figure to the imagination. Greensboro's Shea, Urban Francis, is a human form with a hauntingly pensive look.

According to an article, by Martin Friedman, in Sculpture magazine, Urban Francis is St. Francis (of Assisi) and "he was the first of Shea's depictions of well-known saints in the guise of ordinary people" (well worth reading Friedman's article, here).  Stop by Greensboro Daily Photo tomorrow if you want to see a close-up of the statue's face-- tilting heavenward.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday.  If you want to see the sky over Greensboro from the past year, peruse previous posts here.

Greene Street Parking Deck

The 70th anniversary of the Weatherspoon Art Museum has inspired us to share more art today. This ceramic car is part of a collection of vehicles across the ages found on the Green Street Parking Deck in downtown Greensboro. The project was commissioned by the Cemala Foundation and executed by Burnsville artist Ron Fondaw. Cemala was founded in 1986 by Martha and Ceasar Cone II. The Cone family has maintained a commitment to supporting the arts in Greensboro for more than a century. The artist of the above project,  Ron Fondaw, originally from Kentucky, has developed an international reputation for curating, home designing and creating visual arts, the latter of which includes over fifty public art projects.

As you walk around the Greene Street Parking Deck, you see: a steam locomotive, a trolley, a tractor trailer, cars, and a HondaJet. The timeline of glazed, ceramic vehicles emphasizes the interface between the evolution of modes of transportation and the growth of Greensboro. If you are local, you will notice the large, colorful, lighted wheels on the side of the garage. They are part of the same installation. We'll try to bring you more photos from this parking deck. Given the length of the deck and the fact that it is six levels tall, it is virtually impossible to capture in one photo.

Readership of GDP has really increased lately. Thank you for visiting and please share the link with friends and family. We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

D is for Dogwood Drive

D is for Dogwood Drive, a residential street that parallels Friendly Avenue and intersects Holden Road just south of Christ United Methodist Church. Dogwood is one and a third miles long, starting at Beverly Place and ending at Woodvale Drive. Most of the intersecting street names are related to the theme of woods and trees. Out of the 172 streets in Greensboro starting with the letter "D", Dogwood Drive has 135 homes, second only to Drake Road with total number of properties. Drake Road, in the Southern end of the county and where Southern High School is located, has 142 homes.

If Dogwood Drive has one best attribute, it is the residents' efforts to enhance their front porches and front-yard gathering areas. Adirondack chairs, expanded porches, and benches invite neighbors to stop and chat on this "walking" street. We selected the above Dogwood Drive house for today's post because it exemplifies the street's drive for enhanced curb appeal. Recently, the front porch of this older home got quite a facelift. The bungalow-style columns and wide, winding sidewalk beckon.

The street is named for North Carolina's state flower, the dogwood, not for the dogs that walk their owners up and down the street. Recently, we spotted two whippets and two Jack Russell terriers showing off their owners as they socialized with neighbors. This spring, the neighborhood will be brimming with dogwood trees and azalea bushes. ABC Wednesday, "D" is for Dogwood.

Weatherspoon Art Museum

Run, don't walk to the Weatherspoon Art Museum to see the 70-year anniversary show. From now until May 1st, the museum will feature 100 pieces from their permanent collection. The museum, located on the campus of UNCG,  is a prime example of collaboration between local businesses, benefactors, townspeople, foundations and university faculty. The 42,000 square ft. space is filled with works of art by famous artists like Alex Katz whose painting is in the background above. On Sunday, patrons were captivated by the well-assembled anniversary exhibit. Also, the reception in the downstairs lobby was an enjoyable way to kick-off the exhibit and a place for members and friends to gather and socialize.

From the News and Record, we learned the the Weatherspoon was the first art museum in the UNC system and the second in the state. This is one more thing Greensboro has to be proud of. Best of all, entrance to the Weatherspoon is free. So, even if you only have 20-30 minutes, you can walk through the gallery and have a quick look-- daily. Don't take our word for it, head on over to the museum, if not in person, then virtually. The museum's website about the exhibit is a work of art in itself (see here).

Steelers Fans in Greensboro

Last month, these Pittsburgh Steelers fans were standing around waiting for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade to begin. As seen on the green street sign, they were gathered on Martin Luther King Jr Drive in East Greensboro. It was a gray winter day.  Informal surveys and NFL clothing choices indicated that more citizens of Greensboro were in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, today is not only a sad day for Pittsburgh but also for Steelers fans in Greensboro and across the nation. The Super Bowl was an exciting game-- determined by the last possession. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers. Even with injuries, they played a great game. We hope the man in the center of the photo continues to wear his jacket as six Super Bowl wins is something to be proud of. If he has one, can, however, put his terrible towels, away!

Greensboro is a great sports city. We love athletic events of all kinds and are especially excited that the Women's and Men's 2011 ACC Basketball Championships are in Greensboro in March! Check out our old March Madness photos.

College Park Baptist Church

Here we see a photo of College Park Baptist Church, located at the corner of Aycock Street and Walker Avenue, just across from the baseball stadium at UNCG. While the church is located on a busy road on the western edge of the UNCG campus, the traffic is not noticeable once you are inside-- especially after rush hour. College Park Baptist bills itself as, "a progressive bunch of liberal zanies." Established in 1906, the church will celebrate its 105th birthday in a few weeks. The sanctuary, in use today, was built in 1952. Since the church is so close to the university, it diligently hosts some kind of social event for the students at UNCG who are Baptist. This is a socially involved church with approximately 300 members. If you are looking for a liberal church in the vicinity of campus this may be the right spiritual home for you. Hats off to College Park Baptist for growing and adapting to meet the needs and interests of the local college community. They make every effort to be an all inclusive faith community.

On Sundays, we post some type of religious or spiritual post. To learn more about CPBC, check out their website here.

PUNK ROCK

Vanity tags are a reflection of one's personality and this driver must like music. Spotted on Cornwallis Drive more than once is the PUNK ROCK mobile. If you have a vanity tag, what is it and why? If you don't but were offered one for free, what would have put on it? What are some interesting vanity plates that you've seen? Here's one we featured last spring.

With a hint of reflection on this bumper, we're uploading this photo on James' Weekend Reflection. Besides, we're doing another kind of "reflecting" on vanity tags!

Revolution Park

The sun rises over the three-acre Revolution Park at 2200 Yanceyville Street, at the beginning of Cornwallis Drive. If this softball field could talk, it would recount many fun times. For decades, workers from Revolution MIll, just down the street, came for picnics with their families and played ball from dawn to dusk. Workers at Revolution Mill were a close community; living, working, enjoying recreation, socializing, and attending school and church all within a few miles of the mill. Owners saw to it that their workers' children had access to a sound education and to family-friendly recreation. 

The park is a still-active city facility and, while textile looms were silenced in 1982, in 2003, the mill was purchased and renovated for office space. Preserving the integrity of the buildings, the $40 million dollar renovation has resulted in nearly 100 businesses opening within the structure. The owners endeavor to make the new facility the heart of the community. Many families on Maple, Cypress, Walnut, Fairview and surrounding streets have memories of Revolution Mill and Park that are as strong as the sun reflecting and refracting in this photo. When the weather warms, families will be filling up the field and the bleachers.

This post will be shared with Skywatch Friday.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year starts today with the new moon of the new year and the celebration will end fifteen days later. The close is traditionally celebrated with a Lantern Festival. Greensboro's 19th Annual Chinese New Year Festival was celebrated this past weekend at the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street downtown. With the lion dance, other performances, displays, vendors, food, and plenty of fellowship, a good time was had by all. This fun is evident in the photo above, taken at the start of the festival. While the mom poured over the itinerary, little sisters in pink coats frolicked uninhibitedly at the festival; big brother looked out the door-- pensively contemplating the Year of the Rabbit.*  

According to the Chinese calendar, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. If you are interested in learning more about the Chinese zodiac, look here. If you are a teacher, your students might enjoy making paper lanterns. Here is the simplest way here.

*We aren't really sure these people are related.

C is for Cornwallis Drive

Cornwallis Drive is named for the British war general in the Revolutionary War. In 1781, General Cornwallis fought General Nathanael Greene in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse right here in Greensboro.

Cornwallis Drive begins at Yanceyville Street at Revolution Park near Revolution Mill and continues for 4.1 miles through Greensboro until it ends at Holden Road. Cornwallis covers a good cross-section of Greensboro's housing of the 20th century: From houses originally built for mill workers near Yanceyville Street to houses for the upper middle class in Irving Park (near the Greensboro Country Club) to everything in between. Elm Street divides Cornwalis into east and west. East Cornwalis has three homes; West Cornwallis, three times longer, has 220 homes. Finally, at Holden Road, Cornwallis Drive becomes Cascade Drive.  See other Cornwallis views here and here. Artist William Mangum can look out the door of his gallery (here) and see Cornwalis Drive. 

Cornwallis Manor Apartments, in the photo above is located at 2200 West Cornwallis right across the street from the Elks Club. These apartments have convenient location, location, location. For ABC Wednesday, "C" is for Cornwallis Drive, our featured street of the week. See earlier weeks here.

"Just a Cup of Coffee"

February 1st, 1960 four students from Greensboro's North Carolina A&T University ushered in a movement of non-violent protests when they led the Greensboro Sit-Ins. The protest began with the actions of David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr (Jibreel Khazan), and Joseph McNeil. They insisted on sitting at the lunch counter in Woolworth's Department Store on Elm Street, even though they were African Americans. Getting a cup of coffee "to go" was not acceptable. Their brave act contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement and to reversing policies of racial segregation. The poster in the photo is a reference to this significant event. The young girl and her mentor were doing their civic duty and marching in the cold in Greensboro's recent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day Parade.  A piece of artwork, related to their poster, can be seen here. 

Over the years Greensboro, North Carolina has played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. Last year, we opened the International Civil Rights Museum. Additionally, we have two historically-black institutions of higher education: NC A&T and Bennett College. Ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities is important to our city and, if you want to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement, Greensboro is a great place to start. See related posts here on Greensboro Daily Photo. See here the front of the statue at NCA&T dedicated to the February 1 Movement and here for a different view.

Listen to a short audio segment of "Lift Every Voice and Sing,"  a poem written James Weldon Johnson and put to music by his brother John. The song is often called the African-American National Anthem.

 

US Figure Skating Championships 2011

The 2011 US Figure Skating Championships were held in at the Coliseum in Greensboro this past week. The above photo of Kelsey Traunero was taken during the sold-out women's finals on Saturday night.  Even if you were not passionate about figure skating, you couldn't help being engaged and attentive at the venue. Fans from all over the United States came to Greensboro to see this event and they knew the names and moves of skaters as well as football fans know names of Super Bowl players. Many of the spectators seated near us attend this event annually.  Thousands attended the sessions over the last four days; many visiting Greensboro for the first time. Over 9,300 tickets were sold for the Saturday evening session alone.

Next year the national championships will be in San Jose, CA. Let's hope they can return to Greensboro soon. Look closely and you will see that Kelsey is pointing to the words, "Greensboro, NC." Look even more closely and you may see someone you know.

Congregational United Church of Christ

Congregational United Church of Christ is tucked on 400 Radiance Drive between Friendly Center and a cut-through from Aycock/Westover Terrate. While the featured building was constructed in 1952, the congregation's history dates back to 1900 in Greensboro. The origins of the religion and its membership date back to Pilgrims, Puritans, Germans and reformers in England and Europe in the 16th century.

The sanctuary of the above property was remodeled in 1993. This Congregational UCC only has an active membership of about 300.  Given its somewhat hidden location, it is hard to find the church at first but, people who attend say, the effort is all worthwhile. The ever-popular Rev. Julie Peeples is the dynamic pastor who has been leading the church since 1991.

Today's post is part of our religious Sunday series. If you are a new visitor, see earlier entries here.

IHOP; He Bikes; We all Go for Pancakes

Greensboro has three International House of Pancake (IHOP) Restaurants. This one is located at 1430 Westover Terrace at the corner of Green Valley Road and Battleground Avenue, making the restaurant a virtual peninsula surrounded by busy roads and a railroad track. IHOP opened in 1958 in California and has expanded to 1,500 restaurants in all 50 US States and beyond. It is known for breakfast foods and was originally going to be called IHOE (International House of Eggs), a name that did NOT prove popular (Wiki)! Rumor has it, IHOP workers are inside gearing up for the March 1st National Pancake Day when they will offer a short stack of pancakes to customers for free in the hopes that donations will be left for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. Mark your calendars for the event.

Today's photo in the fourth in our Guy Noir Series. These photos offer a little intrigue and could possibly serve as inspiration for a short story. What does the guy on the bike see? Why is he stopped? What is he waiting for. What if the person taking the photo were a private detective? Just what kind of international intrigue can you think up about the scene? We'll pose those questions to our friends at Weekend Reflection. Yes, Monsieur Noir noticed the reflection of a vehicle in the front window and door of the always-open restaurant..... See more of our original Guy Noir series here, here and here.

Moonrise over Greensboro

Last week's full moon rose early, huge in the winter sky. Here we see a view of the moon and stars sparkling in Northwest Guilford County. It isn't very often that we get to see stars in the night sky. According to Darkstar Astrology, "The full moon on 19 January 2011 at 29 degrees Cancer is trine Jupiter, sprinkling much needed luck and laughter upon us after the dramas and chaos of the Christmas holidays" (read more here). Do you speak astrology-ese? Whether you do or not, you probably fell in love with the night sky last week.

The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth and the same side of the moon always faces the earth. After the sun, the moon is the brightest object in our night sky. The brightness is due to a similar reflectance as coal (Wiki). The moon plays a large part in culture, lore, and language. To end your work week, here are some popular sayings that incorporate the word moon:

Once in a blue moon; it's only a paper moon; ask for the moon, to moon over something; many moons ago; promise the moon; to be over the moon (reference).

We're sharing this with our fellow skywatchers at  Skywatch Friday.

The Bulldog Resides in Greensboro

"Who let the dogs out?"   Mack Truck, Inc., that's who... and the above photo is an 8-foot-tall gold statue of Mack Truck's trusty mascot, the bulldog. Just as the bulldog is a heavy dog, Macks are heavy vehicles.

Last year was the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Zodiac and the first full year of Mack World Headquarters in Greensboro on National Service Road. Their headquarters, just down the street from Volvo Truck, rolled into Greensboro, September 2009. Mack Truck is a Volvo Group Company so this move, during a time of corporate restructuring, was a financially sound one for Mack/Volvo. Mack vehicles are sold in over 45 countries worldwide. This is a business we can be proud to have housed in Greensboro. If you ever have a chance, thank this company for being here.

Oh, and for you Georgia and NC State fans, now you don't have to leave town to get a photo with your favorite mascot! Since this IS actually a sign, I'm sharing it with the sign, sign meme.

B is for (East) Bessemer Avenue

Out of the 234 Greensboro streets beginning with the letter "B", this week's featured street is East Bessemer Avenue. Prior to the 1957 annexation into Greensboro, Bessemer was actually a town east of Greensboro. Bessemer School was a 1st- 12th grade public school for the Bessemer community. (Read its fascinating history with great links here). Until the eastern section of Wendover Avenue was constructed in the 1960's, Bessemer Avenue was the main artery to and from the east side of town. The Summit/Bessemer Avenue intersection was just north of the homes of some of Greensboro's most prominent citizens.

Bessemer residents billed themselves as blue-collar and working-class families. Many were mill workers. These families formed a tight knit community that valued the education of their children, almost above all. Teachers were respected community members and school athletics did a lot for uniting the community. Graduates of Bessemer schools remain active today, meeting in person as well as on Facebook. In the WWII era, a great community memory was built when actor Charleton Heston spent part of his military career at the army's Overseas Replacement Depot (O.R.D.), located in the East Bessemer/Huffman Street/Winston Street area.

East Bessemer Avenue has 86 homes; West Bessemer has 65 homes. Today's photo, located at 932 E. Bessemer Avenue, is a curb market in the business section. It has been an E. Bessemer landmark since 1955. For our friends at ABC Wednesday, "B" is for Bessemer!

Kindermusik

Reaching America in 1978, Kindermusik is a music/music-education concept developed in Germany in the 1960's.  The corporate headquarters is located at 203 South Church Street in Greensboro. Kindermusik introduces children to the world of movement and music as young as newborns. They have a well developed curriculum, great instruments, and talented teachers. 

With the recent news that American Express is closing its call center in Greensboro, we need to celebrate, support, and thank businesses like Kindermusik, that are headquarted in our city! Kindermusik is established in over 60 countries and home base is right here. 

Well, when life throws you lemons, make lemonade. When red cars park in the way of your picture, save them for Ruby Tuesday!

Main Post Office

Greensboro's main post office is located on Murrow Blvd. just east of Elm Street. The long silver building is easily identifiable. While this location is considered our main post office, the 9-5 Monday-Friday hours aren't any more generous than the branch offices. There is a Saturday collection at 2pm for the on-site mailboxes. The main post office has great parking. The US Postal system has an identifier for all of their post offices and you can find the webpage for the main post office here.

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago when the flag was at half mast a lot that week in honor of the victims of the Tucson, AZ tragedy as well as the death of former North Carolina auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr.  Mr. Campbell was the first African-American elected to a statewide executive office in North Carolina. He died of lung cancer on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. Campbell's whole family was known for their many efforts and actions that advanced desegregation and the civil rights movement (read more here).

Inside Westover Church

Recently, we featured the exterior of Westover Church (here). Today, we take you inside to get a scope of the modern architecture and symmetry as well as the large scale of this facility. This is a non-denominational church, located at Muirs Chapel Road. The church has ministry, fellowship, and and choir opportunities for people at all stages of life from children to seniors, from married to single. If you are interested, a new membership class starts January 30th.

The facility is so large that they offer tickets to many music venues through Ticketmaster. Upcoming concerts include two Greensboro symphony events. The photo was taken through the main window looking into the foyer. This is our religious, Sacred Sunday, photo for the week. 

Country BBQ

BBQ is to North Carolina what oranges are to Florida, rodeo to Texas, and Pizza to New York. Generally, North Carolina BBQ is chopped pork on a sandwich or a platter served with vinegar-based slaw and hush puppies. Here we see a behind-the-counter scene from Country BBQ on Wendover Avenue. Nothing completes the BBQ experience like prompt service, a friendly waitress with a southern accent, and a good cup of sweet tea. All of the above was provided during our recent visit to Country BBQ. Do you have a favorite BBQ place in Greensboro? In a different city? Greensboro's "Greensboring" blogger, votes, hands down for Country BBQ (read here). 

 This is our contribution to Weekend Reflection.

Winter Sunsets

Leafless trees in winter make beautiful, silhouetted sunset fotos. The above trees, photographed from the parking lot of the Battleground Wal-Mart, are dense with neglect. Dormant vines are patiently in place, waiting for spring when they can put out shoots and continue their invasion of the trees. The kudzu vine, which can grow up to a foot a day in the summer, competes for nutrients with trees and blocks sunlight, eventually choking the host tree to death. While the vine adds drama to a winter landscape, since it was first imported from Asia in 1876, kudzu has become quite an invasive menace. For today, however, we're gonna sit back and enjoy the view. If you are longing for summer, see some bloomin' kudzu here.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday where you can see a little slice of the sky above from just about every continent.

MERGE Green Goods

The latest green business in town is MERGE Green Goods at 527 South Elm Street. This woman-owned, local company bills itself as providing sustainable materials and design solutions for a greener lifestyle. They offer zero-VOC Mythic paint,  Earthtone recycled granite pavers, and more (website). MERGE is located just west of yesterday's Arlington Street and in an area of the city that is still being renovated and rebuilt. The store view above was taken through the front window of this building in one of the most historic part of town.

Next time you want to "paint the town red," head to MERGE and pick a hue! Even better Greensboro, let's adopt this Cincinnati initiative where volunteers take a day and literally paint the town by rejuvenating homes in need of TLC. Maybe we could even get MERGE to help out. We'll paint if you will!

A is for Arlington Street

Arlington Street is the western border for the Southside neighborhood of Greensboro. According to public records, Arlington Street has 37 properties on it, two of which is are historic homes: the William Fields House at 447 Arlington and nearby Kesler House at 437. Arlington Street begins at Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive downtown and ends at Butner Street, just before the Elm/Eugene confluence.

This house, located at 631, while less glamorous than the historic homes, is typical of the houses in the section south of Lee Street. Although humble in size, the house is JUMBO in enthusiasm. This may well be the purplest house in Greensboro. Pampas grass grown on the border of the yard also defines the property.

For our ABC Wednesday group (Round 8), we're featuring a street-a-week in Greensboro that begins with the given letter of the week. So many streets that begin with the letter "A" are on our list to photograph. Some, we have done already (see, for example, Arcadia here).  Arlington was chosen, partially for convenience as we were at the MLK parade in the neighborhood on Monday. However, this street has been a part of the fabric of Greensboro since the 1800's. Can you guess how many streets in Greensboro begin with the letter "A"?  We will tell you that five streets that begin with "A" are listed as having only one property. They include: Addison Point Drive, Airport Road, Albert Pick Road, Allerton Circle and Aspen Drive. The "A" street with the most residences is the lengthy Alamance Church Road, with 296 listings. Now, for your office trivia, taa daaa, in Greensboro, we have 182 streets that begin with the letter A. That's a half a year of a photo a day of streets that begin with the letter "A"!

Martin Luther King, Jr.-- Parade 2011

The Greensboro Chapter of the NAACP hosted yesterday's 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. Here we see Grand Marshals,  Maurice "Mo" Green and Sandra Hughes. Mr. Green is the superintendent of Guilford County Schools and Ms. Hughes is a retired WFMY news anchor. The parade route was held along Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, just east of downtown Greensboro. In spite of the cold weather, spirits were high as onlookers reflected on the parade's purpose and Rev. King's impact on civil rights in not only our city but also our country. The parade was an intergenerational experience. Adults talked, embraced, and greeted people they knew as they rode by. Children waited patiently for the next group that would toss candy into the crowd. People in cars drove with windows down not just waiving but reminding kids to stay in school, go to college, and to believe in their dreams. The weather was gray; the enthusiasm was technicolor!

Last year's photo for MLK Day was the MLK, Jr. bust, found at the corner of MLK, Jr Drive and Elm Street (see here). We forgot to link to it yesterday.

L. Richardson Memorial Hospital

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Today, as we reflect on the great life of Rev. Martin Luther King,Jr.  we bring you the following:

L. Richardson Memorial Hospital, at 603 South Benbow Road at the corner of Washington Street, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1992. In May 1969, the history of the facility appeared in an article in the Journal of the National Medical Association (available here). According to the article, it was  a "Negro hospital to serve the needs of the city" (p. 205). Before it opened, Greensboro only had six hospital beds for African American patients. The history of the hospital and the benefactors is fascinating. If you are interested in the history of health care or African-Americans in Greensboro, please read the article.

The Mission Revival Style facility, shown above, was formally dedicated as a hospital May 27, 1927 with "a baby show, track meet, and May Pole dance at World War Memorial Athletic Stadium" (p. 207). During its time as a hospital, Richardson Memorial trained nurses and had several important clinics, including one for nutrition of newborns, one for artificial sun therapy to treat rickets, and one to treat tuberculosis. In June, 1966, this facility ceased being a hospital when patients were transferred to a new, nearby facility. Babies were transported in station wagons. The elderly were transported by ambulances supplied by local funeral homes. The transition, like the hospital was a grand community effort. The facility is named after its first major benefactor, Lunsford Richardson of Vicks Salve Fame. Back in the day, it was the only fire-proof hospital in Greensboro and was an impressively supplied and staffed facility.

Today, L. Richardson Hospital Apartments, the 32-apartment facility is intended for residents 55 or older. Rent prices start at $419 a month. Kudos for retaining the façade and the name, lest its history fade forever. (See more pictures with a dash of yellow on Mellow Yellow Monday).

True Vine Baptist Church

True Vine Baptist Church is located across from the McIver Education Center at the Corner of Textile Drive at 1404 Summit Avenue. The ranch-house church is readily identifiable as a Christian institution by the cross nailed to the brick on the north side of the facility. The congregation is led by Pastor Jerry A. and First Lady Vanessa Allred. The congregation's motto is, "We are family; we care, we share and work in love together" (see website). While in existence since 2000, True Vine has only been in the present location since they purchased the property in 2003.

Surrounded by this past week's icy, crisp snow, the church has the illusion of being located in rural, peaceful silence when, in reality, it is located in a bustling area of East Greensboro not too far from Highway 29 and Wendover Avenue. The scene evokes the lyrics from George Bennard's Christian hymn, "Old Rugged Cross." "On a hill, far away stood an old rugged cross.." Read the lyrics and isten to the piano part at HymnSite.com (Scroll through GDP's previous religious photos  here).

A Bennett Belle en Route

We're thinking this young woman is a Bennett Belle as she was walking down Pastor Anderson Way in the direction of Bennett College with a backpack in tow. Belles are the mascot of Bennett College, a small historically-black, women's college established in 1873. Belles have many great traditions and a very rich history. One of their next big events is a January 28th dance at Proximity Hotel which they are co-sponsoring with UNCF. Bennett College is one of the great institutions of higher education mentioned in a 2008 YES! Weekly article about "boutique" schools in the Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem region-- the Triad (read more here).

As we reflect on this week at Greensboro Daily Photo, we are thankful that Sheryl Lieb taught us more about her father's life in the produce and deli business in Greensboro. We are glad to have chatted with a Proximity Public School alumna, as she inspired us to photograph the school. Finally, we enjoyed the Lawrence Welk dialog evoked in the comments for the ZINK post.

We're glad that the weather has eased up a little bit and it is not so cold and icy out today. Stop back tomorrow for our Sacred Sunday feature. Thanks to those who helped a local scout troop with cookie sales. Our biggest order was one for twenty boxes.

McIver Education Center

Today, we are at Charles D. McIver Education Center, located at 1401 Summit Avenue at the corner of Textile Drive. McIver Ecuation Center is part of the Guilford County School System and, according to their website, serves students from age 5-22 with moderate to several developmental delays, autism, and other educational needs. Our local system is just digging out from four snow days. Today, students, teachers, and staff, at McIver included, will be readjusting to the faster-paced, and more-structured schedule of being back in school.

In earlier years, the above facility was built as Proximity Public School for children of the local textile mill community of which Proximity Manufacturing Mill was a part. Proximity was the first mill of the Cone Brothers and, the school was in close proximity to the mill as the Cone family valued education.  According to local historian, Gayle Hicks Fripp, in her book GREENSBORO NEIGHBORHOODS, Volume II, this building was constructed in 1928 and the architect was Charles C. Hartman. As Frick points out, noteworthy is the brick and stone checker motif on the wings.

Also nearby is Proximity United Methodist Church. For sure, when Proximity was Proximity Public School, many students lived close enough to this neighborhood school that they could go home for lunch. Still chiseled on the header, at the center of the school, are the words, "PROXIMITY PUBLIC SCHOOL."

For Facebook users, Proximity School has started a community page, although it doesn't appear to have been discovered yet. If you attended Proximity Public School check the page out. This post is part of our 2011 Skywatch Friday series where we show a slice of the sky above Greensboro whether is vibrant blue, dull gray, or anything in between.

M. Lieb and Son Gourmet Foods

The back view of a brick building, located at the corner of Washington St. and Pastor Anderson Way in East Greensboro, reads "Deli M.LIEB & SON Gourmet Foods." The business must have come and gone as an internet search produced no results. One reference to a local "Lieb" is Paul Lieb.  Paul Lieb partners with Jeff Gorelick in the Foster-Caviness Produce Business and formerly, he owned Greensboro's Best Wholesale Foods with his father. We're betting M. Lieb was the grandfather. The building looks like it supported a business around three generations ago and appears to have been built in the early 20th century. It is amazing what one uncovers walking around Greensboro on a snowy day. The van and trucks have owners who were at a nearby business, Thermal Controls Corp, which we will feature soon.

Z is for ZINK

Z is for Zink Imaging!

ZINK is located on I-85/I-40 between Greensboro and Burlington in the building that used to house Konica. As a matter of fact, ZINK is located on Konica Drive. ZINK stands for zero ink and is a technology in which color is embedded in printer paper and so no ink cartridges are needed for digital printing. What a great idea. No cartridges for landfills. No mess. Images appear almost magically.

Zink was founded in 2005. According to their website, the zero ink technology has taken years to develop and is the collaborative effort of many different professionals including many scientists. ZINK has over 100 patents and more in the pipeline. The Chairman of the Board/President/CEO is Wendy Frey Caswell. We've been waiting since August to post this photo for the last letter this round of ABC Wednesday.  See GDP's Y-A efforts here.

If we sign on for another series, we're thinking of featuring streets for each letter of the alphabet. A is for Arcadia Drive, B is for Battleground, C is for Caldwell Street..... Let us know if you like that idea AND if you want your street/house/business featured! Remember, we're looking for architecture, history, and buildings that showcase Greensboro.