Greensboro Daily Photo

Golden Antiques in Summerfield

Golden Antiques is located off of 220 North in Summerfield. This antique mall has turned an older shopping area into a community gathering place. By virtue of the fact that people rent spaces to sell their upcycled, recycled, and used items, vendors are constantly coming and going. Golden Antiques tries very hard to community build. They have a booth that fundraises for Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue. They hold silent auctions. Sometimes people showcase their vehicles in the parking lot outside. Last weekend when we stopped by, Golden Antiques had a spread of food, prehaps for an open house. Poppy's Soda Shoppe, located at the front of the store,  gives people who aren't so keen on shopping a place to sit and have an affordable scoop of ice cream while their collecting-obsessed family members peruse the isles. Unfortunately, since we were on site to prepare this post, we have learned that Poppy's is closing. It is the second snack venue in the location. It would be nice to have sufficient traffic to support a cafe.

One thing that can't be purchased or removed from the place is the beautiful sunny sky above. The white, puffy clouds are floating on over to Skywatch Friday. Have a great weekend folks. If you are local and near downtown Greensboro, don't forget to head over to Westerwood for the studio tour event, easily accessible by walking.

Day 1,000 on Greensboro Daily Photo

Yesterday, Greensboro Daily Photo (GDP) celebrated its 1,000th post.

We began on January 2nd, 2009 as a joint husband and wife effort to do something meaningful for our community. Over the last 1,000 days, we have learned so much about Greensboro and have met many wonderful people. We started out mostly posting photographs of convenience. If we were at a festival, we took photos of that festival. When driving around town, we photographed whatever was on our beaten bath.

Over the last two and a half years, we have become more proactive and thoughtful in our approach to the blog. Memes (the themed entries) have helped with the effort. Fridays, we often post on Skywatch Friday-- including a slice of the sky over Greensboro in the photo. Saturdays, we often post on Weekend Reflection. Sunday shots are "Sacred Sunday" incorporating something spiritual-- not with a goal to proselytize but to showcase Greensboro's religious diversity. The ABC Wednesday posts have become personal favorites. We learn so much while working through the alphabet. The last series was A-Z streets. The current series is A-Z people; residents who have contributed significantly to the fabric of Greensboro. We would like to thank our friends, interviewees, and readers for your input, comments, and feedback. Please continue to read and spread the word about the blog.

We're not sure where the next thousand posts will take us, or if we can sustain the frenetic pace this hobby entails. However, as long as we feel like we are contributing to the positive image of Greensboro, we will make every effort to publish daily. When we started this project, there were less than 300 cities participating in this project, which began in Paris with Eric Tennen. Now, we think there are about 2,000 cities in the City Daily Photo Community.

 

K is for Kinard, Lee Kinard

Today, we share a photo of Lee Kinard Jr. at the corner of Tate and Spring Garden Streets. As seen on the above bronze plaque, this section of Spring Garden Street was dedicated to Dr. Kinard by Greensboro City Council in 1998.  Dr. Kinard founded one of the first early morning shows on television (The Good Morning Show) and went on to have a 43 year career at WFMY-TV in Greensboro. For his exemplary service to North Carolina, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award. Presently, Dr. Kinard is the Executive Assistant to President George R. Parker at Greensboro Technical Community College (GTCC).

Listening to Edward Murrow's coverage of World War II, Lee W Kinard, Jr. knew by age eight that he wanted to be a broadcaster. Kinard dropped out of high school at the age of 17 to pursue this dream.  He started at a radio station in Albemarle (NC) as a janitor and record filer and worked his way through the ranks, eventually buying the station. He joined the army during the Korean War and continued to work in broadcasting for the military. After returning to civilian life, Kinard moved to Greensboro where he not only started the Good Morning Show but also pursued his dream of higher education. He earned an M.Ed. in English from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro in the early 1970's-- as the oldest student in the program. In 1988, he earned a doctorate from UNCG. A passion for education and love of helping students led Dr. Kinard to speak regularly, at approximately 100 schools a year, encouraging students to stay in school. To quote Dr. Kinard, he has been "deep into education for the last thirty years of his career."

In 2008, Dr. Kinard published a 50-year history of GTCC.  Perhaps he could be convinced to write his autobiography, since when asked if he had plans for retirement, Dr. Kinard paused.... reflected.... and responded, "I do not feel compelled to stop." Today is ABC Wednesday and "K" is for Kinard, Dr. Lee Kinard. We are honored to feature him today. See previous entries of other fabulous Greensboro citizens, past and present, here.

Betty Boop at Glitters on Elm Street

The larger-than-life Betty Boop has been in the window of Glitters since..... forever. She has been a cultural icon for 80+ years since she first appeared in the cartoon Dizzy Dishes. Ms. Boop guards the corner of Washington Street at 300 Elm. Once a Depression-era, Jazz-age flapper, Betty Boop is alive and well today as in 2010, she became the official fantasy cheerleader of the United Football League and where she is being marketed towards the league's female demographic (more Betty-history here).

Perhaps Ms. Boop can see us through the present economic slump while dutifully bringing a smile to those who walk past her at Glitters on Elm. Glitters is one of those souvenir shops, like the ones at the beach, selling everything from t-shirts to incense, plastic trinkets, and Indian & Asian import statues. At Betty's feet is a giant yellow "rubber" duck that must be about the size of a yoga ball. Wonder how much these treasures cost? Just beyond Betty Boop, you see the large brick building that houses Cheesecakes by Alex. For sure, the 300 block of Elm is a visual feast of mixed metaphors. Happy Tuesday, all!

JDRF Walk: Starting at Center City Park

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk was held this weekend with teams registering and starting out at Center City Park. This year's Corporate Walk Chair Steve Frost works at Bank of America. Additionally Grimsley High School helped the Piedmont Triad Chapter with the Greensboro Walk. Our local chapter was funded in 1994 with their first fundraising events held in 1995 on behalf of people with Type-1 diabetes. The goal of the organization is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications (more here). In the USA, over 26 million people are living with the disease.  

We're hoping someone will post the total number of people who registered to walk this year. Teams did a great job of coming up with creative t-shirts for their walkers and supporters. Seeing so many people brave the soggy day to walk for such a good cause was downright heartwarming. Center City Park is truly becoming Downtown Greensboro's favorite spot for fundraisers and community events.

Vespers at Christ United

"Vespers" comes from Latin, meaning "evening." While Christ United Methodist Church might not actually call their evening services "vespers," the term evokes a warmth and coming together of believers to celebrate their religion. In addition to prayers, vespers often include song.

Christ United on Holden Road is one of those large, Greensboro churches that seems to extend for a city block.  The above photo captures the new youth center in the back of the building. At dusk, the golden glow of the light and the translucent, blue glass cross are inviting. Imagine a tired, weary traveler happening upon this beautiful site..... Divine.....  Have yourself a great Sunday, and if you are religious, have yourself a Sacred Sunday. We've got about three years worth of religious Sundays  here. For a nice North Carolina vespers service, we've linked to this one at Duke University Chapel. We need to warn you, while fabulous, it is 35 minutes long. Time permitting, you are invited to "attend."

Vegetable Carving Alive and Well in Greensboro

The ancient art of Kai Su Luk, or friut and vegetable carving, is alive and well on Tate Street. These cut vegetables were on display in front of Tate Street's Thai Garden which has been open since 1995. One of the proprietors was advertising his carving talent at the Tate Street Festival last weekend. Taro root and melon are especially popular for carving. However, passersby last weekend seemed to be taken by the red peppers above which were sliced to look like flower petals with seeds as the center of the flowers. They were attached to small dowels and could actually be placed in a vase.

In addition to edible centerpieces, Thai carvers are experts at carving soap and are known worldwide for their high-quality carving knives. If you are interested in learning to carve, you can take a class locally through GTCC's Culinary Tech classes. Their students and, a carver or two, set up each year at the Parisian Promenade at the Tanger Bicentennial Garden. Alternatively, you can attend a school in  Bangkok (see this website).

The above arrangement is displayed on top of a mirror, the perfect touch to allow us to share the photo with our friends at Weekend Reflection.

Teamsters Union 391

According to their website, Teamsters Union, Local No 391, is North Carolina's largest and most diverse union. It grew out of a group of 26 drivers in 1938. At its height, in 1979, it had 10,000 members. Today, it has 8,000 members. Read the history of Teamsters Local No. 391 here. Their building is located off of Sandy Ridge Road and I-40 near the Farmers Market. The local unions feed into the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. 

We're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday where you can go to see a slice of the sky around the world. The red brick building looks so solid under the bold blue sky. Have a great weekend and don't forget about the Liberty Antiques Festival today and tomorrow. Here is a post about the event from a couple of years ago. It would be a great way to spend this first day of autumn!

September Weather Events

Across the USA, September has been a month of extreme weather events. Some cities had their wettest day in history. Binghampton, NY got 7.49" of rain in one day (9/7/11). Houston's 9/13 temperature of 102 was the hottest on record so late in the year. On 9/15, International Falls, MN had a record low of 19 degrees. These record busters go on and on (more here). As for Greensboro, September 7th was a gulley washer (video here) and yesterday was a little wet, too. However, in all, September has been sunny and dry in Greensboro-- with a little wind thrown in.

As fall knocks on the door, our garden looks dehydrated, scruffy and overgrown. The leaves at the top left of the photo are eggplant that has stopped producing. The marigolds are just about ready to call it a season and the legumes have flat, empty pods. The tomatoes were barren. We're decided to plop ourselves down on the above bench and herald the arrival autumn which comes, like it or not, tomorrow.

J is for Jarrell, Randall Jarrell

 

 

As seen in the sign above, Randall Jarrell was born in 1914, in the same year as fellow poet Octavio Paz and actor John Wayne; the year World War I began. Jarrell's relationship with Greensboro began in 1947 when he came here to teach and where he would live for 18 years. Today, we wanted to feature a portrait of the well-known writer; however, there are only two known portraits of him-- at least that he actually sat for. They were done by Greensboro artist and Jarell's long-time friend, Betty Watson. One of the portraits is in storage at Jackson Library and the other is now owned by the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery (read more here).

Jarell wrote for children and adults alike. Many of his writings draw from his military experience, some from his time teaching at Sarah Lawrence College. He won the National Book Award for his collection, The Woman at the Washington Zoo. His "parable of charming instruction", The Bat-Poet, illustrated by the famous Maurice Sendak, was published in 1964. (quote from the review here). It would be 29 more years until a bat-protagonist would again win the hearts of children (J. Cannon's Stellaluna). 

Jarrell's life ended too soon and tragically, in 1965 at age 51, when he was struck by a car while walking. Jarrell is buried in the cemetery adjacent to New Garden Friends Meeting. Today is ABC Wednesday and "J" is for Jarrell, one of Greensboro's great literary figures. See our A-I  entries here.

The Great Orator......

This young boy was entertaining himself on a stump in Westerwood Park as his dad played basketball just to the right of this photo. The little boy was so focused, as if he were practicing his student council speech. Eloquence in public speaking is part gift, part learned. Additionally, success of a public speaker is partially attributed to the effect of dialect on the ear of the listeners. We didn't hear what this young boy was saying but his every gesture and action made us want to take pause and listen. Unfortunately, we were just passing by; saw, but did not hear. It is amazing how much fun he was having climbing and jumping from that stump. It looked like a scene out of The Giving Tree. This tree continues giving enjoyment, even when it is nothing more than a stump.

Weekends, Westerwood Park is busy, non stop, with groups playing pick up games of basketball while joggers and bikers pass by. Parks are good not only for for physical health but also mental health! They are great for the imagination!  "Joggers, bikers, hoop-shooters lend me your ears...."

Down Home on Rankin Place

This buttery yellow house on Rankin Place is located a stone's throw from Tate Street and Greensboro College.  The 1,500 +/- square ft. house, built in 1900, is found in historic College Hill where houses are known to have distinctive personalities. The flowers and greenery in the front are typical of late summer gardens in older neighborhoods. The plants are spindly and leaning in all directions-- a picture of wild abandon.  It is as if plants and flowers are having their last hurrah before the weather turns cold. Just beyond the camera's view, the yard has a garden of edible greens growing on the left, near the cinder blocks. The yellow paint on this home is slightly different than the yellow house on Hendrix!

Walking  around Greensboro's historic neighborhoods is a great way to get ideas for plants and foliage that look nice into autumn. Before you know it, maple trees and blueberry bushes will be putting on quite a show. Pumpkin patch and corn maze time is just around the corner.... It is hard to be patient and enjoy soaking in this last few weeks of summer knowing the delights fall will bring!

 

Iconostasis at Dormition of the Theotokos

As seen on Greensboro Daily Photo yesterday, The Greek Festival is still going strong at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church. We wanted to take you inside and show where church services are held. This is a partial view of the iconostasis. The iconostasis is a wall of religious paintings that separates the sancuary from the nave (the place where worshipers stand). To the non-orthodox, this iconostasis looks very elaborate. However, it is really somewhat humble when one considers some of the elaborate, multiple-tiered iconostases in Europe (see here).

Icons date back to the early years of Christianity. The placement of the paintings and their subjects tell the story of Christianity and reveal saints and events important to the given church. This visual storytelling was especially important in earlier centuries when many people could not read. Above, the icon to the right of the holy doors is Christ the Pantokrator and represents his second coming. The icon on the left is Theotokos, or the Virgin Mary, symbolizing Christ's entrance into the world. Therefore, the Holy Doors in between, leading into the sanctuary, represent everything that is taking place between Christ's first and second coming.

This small photo, combined with our previous "Sacred Sunday" entries is an example of the religious diversity in Greensboro.

Greek Festival

Greensboro's Greek Festival is upon us! It will be held all day today and tomorrow at the Dormition of the Theotokos Church at 800 Westridge Road. If predictions are correct, 13,000 people will visit the festival that has been going strong since 1974. Music and dancing will be available all weekend. There is a Greek Market (The Agora), a Taverna with food, food, food, and RAFFLES galore. Last year, the church sponsored a session of "Orthodoxy 101" and taught guests about the orthodox faith. We're sure Father Newlin would love to answer your questions about his church. 

In addition to the many other activities in Greensboro, The Tate Street Festival is also happening this afternoon. Next weekend the Liberty Antiques Festival will be held. There is so much to do in mid-late September in Greensboro. We can't wait to get more photographs to share with you! Have a great weekend and start practicing your Greek. Google translate is a great place to start. Learning a few words from someone at the festival is even better.

Jackson Library

This is a photo of the back part of Walter Clinton Jackson Library on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The original, brick portion of the library (barely visible in this photo) was constructed in 1950. The original portion of Jackson Library was built to replace the Carnegie Library that had burned. This white, 9-story tower was built in the 1970's. Given its height and architectural style, the bright white tower is a landmark on campus. Clearly, it resembles a giant, glistening open book.

According to Wikipedia, Jackson Library is a selective depository for US government documents and a full depository for State documents (reference here). In addition to over 2.5 million books, Jackson Library also has an impressive collection of electronic databases and electronic journal subscriptions. Perhaps the biggest strength of the library is the reference librarians who have a great reputation for helping students and faculty find and access information. The library is named for a former chancellor. Walter Clinton Jackson came to the school as a professor in 1909, rose through the ranks in administration and served as chancellor for 16 years. 

Today, we're sharing this post with Skywatch Friday. Additionally, with a nod to Martin Handford and his book Where's Waldo? (after all, this IS a post about a LIBRARY), we're going to ask you to play a round of Where's Jane? with us. Do you see our friend?

The Westerwood Neighborhood

Every neighborhood deserves a proper entrance. Westerwood has just stepped up their identity with this new signage installed at the round-about near Benjamin Parkway, across from the park and under the big, old oak tree. The rounded sign consists of brick, stone, metal, and plaster. This neighborhoood, a mere .384 square miles with a population of 1,241, is one of Greensboro's oldest. It is well maintained and well established, has charming granite curbs, narrow tree-lined streets and plenty of architectural variety. The two spikes in demographics are for residents in their early 20's and 50's. College graduates and those with advanced degrees in this neighborhood are well above Greensboro's average. The neighborhood is known for its visual and performing artists. In early October, artists host an "art and sole" walking tour open to the public. The event is a great way to get to know the neighborhood and to commence your holiday buying with local and handmade purchases (more here). We usually start our shopping at the Fairies' Nest located in Westerwood.

Here is a house and a church in the neighborhood that we featured last year. This is a neighborhood with impromptu concerts, dog walks, music lessons, artists studios, and fun. Having front porches and houses close together help with neighborliness. How does your neighborhood rate on the neighborliness scale? Is there anything you personally could do to enhance its livability? Remember, change can start with one!

I is for Isaacson, Henry Isaacson

Here we see a photo of Mr. Henry Isaacson standing at the entrance to his law office in the Bank of America building, downtown on Elm Street. By profession, he is a real estate lawyer. However, Mr. Isaacson has served on several boards including one at North Carolina A&T University. During that time, he was involved in the negotiations that helped bring the International Civil Rights Museum to fruition. Presently, he is Chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority. 

Henry Isaacson is one of Greensboro's citizens who has been working tirelessly for our community for more than five decades. As a matter of fact, the Isaacsons have been enhancing Greensboro for generations. In the early 20th century, his grandfather, Isaac Isaacson was a charter member of Temple Emanuel (reference). He and his son have both been presidents of Temple Emanuel.

In addition to working hard for Greensboro, Mr. Isaacson works hard for his clients. One client was so grateful Mr. Isaacson was able to get his property rezoned that he named a road Isaacson Boulevard. We leave you today, on ABC Wednesday, with "I" is for Isaacson, Henry Isaacson. (A-H here).

Fox 8 at UNCG

Fox 8 News was on the UNCG Campus late last week just as clouds were rolling in over Tate Street's Aycock Auditorium. The news crew was on site to do a segment on the police department's crime prevention initiative. Theft of cars and laptops is a big issue on college campuses and police are using an SOS alert system that takes advantage of social networking systems. Police are making efforts to be more visible and are driving Segway-like scooters. Police are offering self defense classes. Read more about this initiative in the News & Record (here).

Aycock Auditorium, featured in the photo above, has been a hub of arts for UNCG since the auditorium opened in 1927. It has recently undergone a $19 million dollar renovation. You might want to try to peek inside if you are at the Tate Street Festival this Saturday. We didn't get to watch the Fox 8 segment but we're glad that they are up on current events at local universities. Let's just hope that crime is kept at a minimum all over campus and especially on this corner, right across the campus police stations.

HOPE on College Hill

On the heels of the 9/11 anniversary, internet posts, including those on Greensboro Daily Photo, have been a little heavy-hearted this weekend. Today, we lighten the mood up with a microcosm of HOPE and greenery on a porch in College Hill. College Hill is the historic neighborhood between Greensboro College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Walking around the neighborhood is fascinating as students have a way of customizing porches to reflect their personality, interests, beliefs, and worldview-- often on a shoestring budget.

College students are on the cusp of taking their place as society's leaders. In this case, we've got a co-ed who likes greenery and who radiates HOPE. "Hope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to the events and circumstances in one's life" (Wikipedia). Let's hope the best not only for this optimistic student but also for all of us!

This Saturday (September 17th) from 1-7pm, Tate Street will hold its bi-annual street festival. Music, food, crafts and clothing vendors take to the streets to bring you lots of fun (take a peek at last fall's festival here). If you come to the Tate Street Festival, take time to veer off the beaten path through College Hill to see the students' homes-away-from-home. The leisurely stroll among bicycles, peace signs, CO-EXIST bumper stickers, and conversation circles just may give you.....HOPE.

Remembering September 11: The First Ten Years

Today is the ten year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks or "9/11" as people quickly began calling it-- equating the date to our emergency response three-digit code. The above commemorative plaque, at the base of a flagpole, is on site at the Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home. The funeral home is located on the corner of Vanstory and High Point Roads-- directly across the road from the Hebrew Cemetery. Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home makes a real effort to bring dignity to the end of the lives of loved ones especially people who were public servants. Today, their website will link to videos related to 9/11. 

Many Greensboro residents have direct ties to 9/11; one of the most direct ones was the loss of Sandra Bradshaw. There is a 9/11 plaque in Greensboro, dedicated to Sandra W. Bradshaw, a flight attendant from Greensboro who died on the United Airlines flight 93. Previously, we featured her memorial plaque here. May we all find time today to reflect on this tragic event and imagine what we can do to ensure something like 9/11 doesn't happen again-- anywhere in the world. 

American Flag Flying High Over Elm Street

The Elm Street Hair Company, located at 2002 North Elm Street, is now called Denise Coker Barbershop. The shop is at the end of State Street across the street from Brown-Gardiner Drug Store in Irving Park. A few years ago, the barber was killed 'in cold blood' while at work. It shook up this neighborhood as it isn't a high-crime part of town. 

Since so many people are posting American flags as their Facebook profile pictures this weekend, we began searching our archives for a flag photo. We were drawn to this photo because the building, its roof, and the sky echo the colors of the American flag. On the eve of the 10-year-anniversary of the September 11th event, this red, white, and blue scene, reminds us that bad situations are not always understood.  The best we can do is find a way to remember the past, while living in the present and hoping for the future. Here is to a world living in harmony. Here's to the flag flying high over Elm Street.

Peace Acres

East Wendover is also Highway 70 and Burlington Road. Driving east towards Elon University, past Sedalia and near Brightwood Inn, you will find suburbia encroaching. However, a property that dubs itself Peace Acres has carved out its own little slice of tranquility. England has Stonehenge, Guilford College has Stickhenge, and the family at 6474 Burlington Road has what you might call Zenhenge, a circular stack of boulders and rocks. Their cozy brick house sits back from the road and the above rocks distance the property from the road. We'd love to know the story behind this assemblage in the field! While these rocks are more stacked than balanced, did you know that rock balancing is considered an art form? If you know of any rock balancing efforts in Greensboro, please let us know. We'd love to get out and photograph them.

Happy Skywatch Friday folks. Greensboro is gearing up for Indian summer which should bring some beautiful skies and silhouettes. Have a great weekend dear readers. 

Genesis Monument: Greensboro's Geographic Center

This is a close up of the center of Greensboro's Genesis Monument in Fisher Park. The 42 acres which became Greensborough were purchased in 1808 from Scotch-Irish settler Ralph Gorrell for $98.Today, the city has a total area of at 109.2 square miles; only about 4 square miles of the land is water. Last year, we featured the whole Genesis marker (here). Today, we're featuring the CENTER of the center. The details are interesting. You can see that our city's spelling used to be Greensborough. We used to have a Fayetteville Road, Salisbury Road, and Hillsborough Road which lead to cities with those names. You see the antiquated measurement "poles" listed. A pole is the same as a rod and equals 5.5 yards. 

Unfortunately, people have little regard for public property and have scratched initials in this plaque. Perhaps we can have students collect money to get it repaired and raise their awareness of the cost of defacing public property. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, head out and see this monument. Also noteworthy is the monument to Sandy Bradshaw who died in 9/11.

 

H is for Holliday, Keith Holliday

Keith Holliday, President and CEO of the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro Inc. since 2008, works tirelessly to preserve this icon of the Golden Era of entertainment and film. He helps keep it booked with diverse events that attract people from all walks of life. Formerly, Mr. Holliday was in the banking industry for twenty years and mayor of Greensboro for eight. He also served  as a council-person at-large. Through all of these incarnations, this lifelong resident (and product of Greensboro's public schools) has been a community leader, good citizen, and gracious person.

On the day that we were at the Carolina Theatre for this photo shoot, Mr. Holliday kept insisting that he be photographed in a way that highlighted the theatre's beauty. We decided to use a black and white photo because it shows details of the gilded, opulent decor.  When constructed in 1927, the glorious theatre was meant to transport Depression Era audiences with entertainment, including Vaudeville acts, and live music at an affordable price.  Mr. Holliday's love for the Carolina Theatre and for Greensboro is readily apparent within the first few minutes of talking to him, regardless of where he is standing!  Thank you Mr. Holliday for all you do for Greensboro.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "H" is for Holliday. See ABC Wednesday photos from around the world here and Greensboro's ABC series here.

Greensboro Police Department

The Greensboro Police Department is getting a new home. They are moving from the Melvin Municipal Building, where they share space with many other administrative offices,  into the 100,000 square-foot building at 320 Federal Place. Formerly, the Internal Revenue Service worked out of the building. If you've ever driven around in that part of town, it is hard to believe that a street is back there.

Soon, the police will have everyone under one roof, THIS ROOF, meaning no more driving to Swing Road to deposit evidence-- saving time and money. In the meantime, the IRS has moved into a building on Koger Boulevard, off of Wendover. Hats off to the police department for retro-fitting an existing building, costing the citizens around $300,000. Also, the building comes with a parking lot and is located near the new, downtown jail. Seems like a win-win in efficiency. 

 

Happy Labor Day 2011!

Happy Labor Day! We hope you are enjoying this last hurrah of summer. Labor Day typically marks the end of summer on the east coast (even though we have a few more weeks until autumn actually begins). In North Carolina, crops, for the most part, have been harvested. People have put away their white shoes. Vacations are winding down. Retail stores are offering GREAT discounts as they transition to fall merchandise.  

In Ancient Egypt, the obelisk symbolized Ra, the sun god and obelisks were said to represent a petrified ray of the sun. So, the above obelisk reminds us that even though the days are getting shorter, the sun will hover for a while and then be back in full force before we know it. If you are from Greensboro, can you guess where this obelisk is located? If not look here. Even better, look here to see a better representation of Labor Day in Greensboro.

Rolling Roads Baptist Church

Rolling Roads Baptist Church is located at 2800 Vanstory Street not too far from the Four Seasons Mall and Ben L. Smith High School. Rolling Roads Baptist is very involved in the community around the churh, as evidenced by their programs  with Archer Elementary. At Archer, Rolling Roads sponsors a Bible program. Members prepare a meal for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. On September 11th, they are hosting a pot luck dinner for the staff at Archer. This tradition of providing (optional) programs for the school harkens back to earlier decades in Greensboro, and the South, when people wore a triangular path from home to school to church (or temple) and back again.

Additionally, Rolling Roads provides food items for Urban Ministry. In these financially challenging times, the religious groups of Greensboro play a very important role in keeping people fed, clothed, and spiritually nurtured. Rolling Hills is no exception. Rolling Roads is very excited about the new floor for their fellowship hall. As you can see from the photo, the church is not one of those giant mega-churches; so a $7,000 dollar replacement floor requires individual members to be extra generous in their financial support of this modest church. 

Today's series is part of our Sacred Sunday religious series. While this feature of GDP doesn't usually generate many comments, it is amazing how many people find our website for the first time during their search for these religious institutions. We try to cast the net widely to show the religious diversity of our community.

Giacomo's Italian Market

Giacomo's Italian Market is as close as you can get to Little Italy right here in Greensboro. Homemade sausage, pepperoni, seafood salad, insalata caprese, homemade pasta, and so much more. They make and serve up food the old-fashioned way: handmade and fresh; friendly and efficient. Whether you are looking for something for your Labor Day picnic or want to feel like you are in New York without leaving town, Giacomo's is a great place to visit. This photo was taken at the 2109 New Garden Road location, near Brassfield. There is also a High Point Road location as well as the option to order by mail. It seems like just yesterday we discovered their great sandwiches and pasta. Hard to believe they've been in Greensboro for about a decade.

We've been saving this photo for a Saturday Weekend Reflection shot. Have a great weekend everyone. A special thank you to our Facebook fans who doubled our pageviews on the day we posted the blue house on Alamance Church Road this week. Friend us on Facebook for an easy way for your friends and family to keep up with our posts.

Labor Day Day Weekend-- Got Plans?

Labor Day Weekend is upon us! This Castle of Horror Clown, last seen scooting through Market Street at the Fourth of July Parade, is hoping that you have a little time to clown around this weekend. While much of the world celebrates Labor/International Workers' Day on May 1st, in the US, we celebrate the holiday the first Monday of September. Traditionally, this is the last hurrah of summer vacations, after which academics become the focus for students. Drivers beware, I-40 through Greensboro will be bumper to bumper today and Monday... Just sayin'.......

We're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday crowd, hopefully some people are out there visiting blogs and not all away on vacation. We'll be staying in town, trying to find great things to photographs, but we will try to find some time to don wild clothing and clown around. Let us know how you are spending your weekend.

 

House on Alamance Church Road

Gargoyles, crosses, stained glass window, piles of rocks, columns of lions, bright red door, and a widow's walk are among the items featured prominently at this abode. This blue house, located beside the highway not too far from I-85 and Alamance Elementary, at 1822 Alamance Church Road, is quite an enigma. If online databases are correct, it was built in 1895, has four bedrooms, one bath, and is 6,299 square feet. That's one bedroom per appoximately 1,500 feet and only one bathroom for the whole house-- possibly a world record! In 1995, the house sold for $39,000. Surely, they have been working on it since then. If you look between lion-topped column 1 and 2, you can see a structure peeking out. Is this a private residence? Are they gearing up for an HGTV episode of "If there walls could talk?" 

We posted this house with this odd perspective and the fading lions on the right because today is theme day for the City Daily Photo community and September's theme is "perspective." Whether you define perspective as 'point of view' or 'the visual/spatial effect of something appearing to get smaller on a two-dimentional surface,' today's photo is definitely an odd perspective! Visually, it is a lot to parse! Do help us find out its story. Do head over to the City Daily Photo site to see more interesting photos from around the world.          Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

G is for Guttman, Rabbi Fred Guttman

Rabbi Fred Guttman has served as rabbi of Temple Emanuel since 1995, helping the congregation transition from the Fisher Park building to the new building on Jefferson Road in 2002. He has his Rabbinical Ordination and Doctorate of Divinity from Hebrew Union College. Locally, Rabbi Guttman is known for his interfaith activities and efforts to enhance human relations-- interacting with groups from diverse backgrounds. As examples, he has served on the board of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) and he co-chaired the 40th anniversary celebration of Greensboro's Sit-In Movement, an important event in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is a phrase often used to describe much of Rabbi Guttman's work. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious NCCJ Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award (reference).

In addition to all of the significant good work he does locally, nationally, and internationally, Rabbi Guttman stays busy, diligently performing his rabbinical duties at Temple Emanuel. He has conducted Bar and Bat Mitzvah services for over a generation of 13 year olds. The above photo of Rabbi Guttman was taken at Temple Emanuel last month. Today is ABC Wednesday and "G" is for "Guttman." To see GDP's previous entries, click here. To see the ABC Wednesday contributions of other bloggers, go here.

Produce Stand

It is late summer and makeshift produce stands around Greensboro are becoming less frequent. However, this one at the Citgo/Quik Mart on Battleground Avenue near Target is still quite busy. And, the melons and heirloom tomatoes look tasty. About 4:15 yesterday afternoon, a strong thundershower hit Greensboro. We don't know if the vendors at this produce stand had to batten down the hatches; however, all seemed in good order when we drove by just after the storm. The couple in the middle sat down, likely to weather the storm together. To see two people sit a minute and truly enjoy each other's company was a good, grand finale to a busy work day.

If you like these makeshift, roadside produce stands,  here is a link to a directory of pick-your-own farms, roadside farm markets, and farmers markets throughout North Carolina. Eat Wild is another great resource. The first thing we thought about this photo was that it was a "Norman Rockwell moment." As it turns out, that is the name of a business, licensed by the Norman Rockwell Estate, to turn your portraits into "Norman Rockwell Moments." 

Minerva Statue at UNCG

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Minerva, equated with the Greek goddess Athena, was the Roman goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic and the inventor of music(see here). Minerva is the official seal of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), a fact which is reported on the lengthy Wiki list of institutions of higher education that use Minerva as a logo or seal. Minerva has been featured on the University's diplomas since 1894.  This statue of Minerva, in the above photo, is found on UNCG's campus. It was a 50th anniversary gift from the Class of 1953. James Barnhill, who earned his MFA from UNCG in 1982, sculpted it in 2003. According to a page on the university's website, "Minerva's power and gesturing hand combine grace and power. The upward perspective suggests aspiration and leadership" (reference). 

The approximately 5 ft. tall granite base (peeking out of the bottom of the statue in the photo) has the four names of the university chiseled into it; something that comes in handy for those who seek to be accurate with the University's many names. 1891-- State Normal and Industrial School; 1919-- The North Carolina College for Women; 1932-- The Woman's College of The University of North Carolina; 1963-- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The Minerva statue, installed on College near Jackson Library and Elliott University Center, is worth visiting if you are ever on campus.

Summer Bounty of Figs

Sundays, we usually post something related to religion. Often the photo is one of a church building, but not always. We didn't start out with this photo of common figs from our yard as a "Sacred Sunday" post; however, the more we read about figs, the more we realized that many religions make references to figs (see here).

Fig trees were one of the first plants cultivated by humans with their fossils dating to 9,000 B.C.  The book of Genesis (Adam and Eve are wearing fig leaves) has one of several references to figs in the Bible-- Old & New Testament. Did you know, the fig is the third tree mentioned in the Bible, after the Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge?  Buddha achieved enlightenment underneath a fig tree. The Qur'an also references the fig as one of the fruits that descended from paradise. Figs were an important fruit to the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

Figs are a great summer harvest with an extended season for producing fruit. They are high in calcium, fiber, minerals, & antioxidants.  The Middle East and Mediterranean Region are known for fig production, with Turkey and Egypt being the top producers. However, we've had great luck growing figs in Greensboro. Above you see a small part of yesterday's bounty from our two fig trees and yes, they do taste heavenly!

 

Greensboro Aquatic Center

This weekend, the Greensboro Aquatic Center is open for locals to stop in and see this beautiful community resource. Oh how wonderful it is to watch youngsters diving from the 7.5 and 10 meter platforms with such poise and confidence. It is also wonderful to admire this lovely facility and realize it is right here in in our own backyard to be enjoyed by EVERYBODY! 

Field of Dreams said it best. "Build it and they will come." Swimming, diving, water polo, scuba diving, synchronized swimming...... lessons and events...........spectators......swim teams.......national competitions.....a 79,000 square foot facility with nearly a million  gallons of water. While many people in Greensboro were stunned at the fact that the city was spending $19 million on a swim facility in these financially austere times, the positive economic impact from the currently-booked events is already double the cost. Water event planners come here and see this spotless facility with crystal clear water, plenty of space for spectators, a nice deck, grand dive platforms, and they can't wait to sign on the dotted line. Water time is selling fast.  Yesterday, we ran into Jay Dodson and his Star Aquatics team as they are involved in the opening events (read here). The Greensboro Aquatic Center will serve our community for a very long time.

The white ceiling supports reflected in the water, among other reflections, have us participating in Weekend Reflection.

Mortar & Pestle at Fordham Drug Store

Next time you are at 514 South Elm Street, at the building that housed Fordham's Drug Store from 1898-2002, look up to the sky and see this apothecary mortar and pestle. Pharmacists used them to prepare prescriptions or for grinding pills. Trituration is the process of crushing, grinding, and mixing solid substances-- the task of the above bowl-like mortar and heavy pestle. When we started investigating the origin and meaning of the Rx symbol, we found many answers (read here). One thought is that it comes from the latin word "recipere" meaning "Take, thou."

In the early years of Fordham's, the Drug Store was on the street level and the doctors were upstairs, just below this decorative feature on the roof. Fordham's was a dynamic place with a soda fountain that catered to children. They also had liquor for sale, as long as the ABC man wasn't around (reference). For a while, the short story writer O. Henry worked at Fordham's. We're sharing this bright blue sky with Skywatch Friday.

First Day of School

Summer vacation has ended. In Guilford County, North Carolina, today is the first day of school.By the time you see this photo, likely, those Spanish textbooks will have been distributed and seats will have been assigned to students eager to start on the path to becoming bilingual. "Aquí, se habla español," says the enthusiastic Spanish teacher........ and the journey begins. This seating arrangement enables students to work on their interpersonal communication skills. 

Teachers have this unbelievable way of making scarce resources go a very LONG way. If you are in a position to donate to a classroom, we suggest Donors Choose which is an online charity connecting you to classrooms in need. This week alone, close to 6,000 people have donated worldwide. Of course we hope you select a Guilford County teacher to help with your tax-deductible donation! If you aren't in a position to donate, thank a school employee with kind words or a card. Look up one of your (former) favorite teachers on a social network site and thank him/her. Here's to a great 2011-2012 school year. Hasta mañana.

F is for Ferrell Brothers, Rick and Wes

Today we take you out to the ball game with the Ferrell brothers, Rick and Wes. On the east wall of Greensboro's downtown baseball stadium, you will see this bronze plaque dedicated to these celebrated major league baseball player/brothers with ties to Greensboro. Born in Durham in 1905, Rick was one of seven brothers. He attended Guilford College where he played baseball (and basketball) and went on to be a major league catcher from 1929-1947. Rick, a hall of fame catcher, was one of the best hitting catchers in the American league.

Brother Wes, born in Greensboro in 1908, was known as one of the major league's best hitting pitchers. At age 19, he entered the major leagues where he played from 1927-1941. In his book, The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball, Dick Thompson says that Wes was,"as talented as anyone who ever set foot on a baseball diamond and as good as any pitcher who ever threw a ball" (reference). Another great piece of baseball trivia is the fact that Rick and Wes were sibling batterymates* for five seasons.

We wish more information were available on the Internet about the Ferrell family. Where did all of those boys practice baseball growing up? Where did they go to school K-12? Since Wes was born in Greensboro and Rick went to college here, their ties to the local community are significant and they bring Greensboro considerable recognition as players during the golden era of baseball. With America going through the Great Depression, the Ferrell brothers brought the world a much-needed bit of distraction from the financial woes of the day.  Were there any of the brothers who didn't play baseball?We do know that their other brother George, a minor league player, had a long and tremendous career in the sport. 

The more we look around for people who have made an impact on Greensboro for the ABC Wednesday meme, the more we realize that often, Greensboro heroes come in pairs. Today is ABC Wednesday and "F" is for Ferrell brothers, Rick and Wes. See previous entries here.

*pitcher/catcher teams

UNCG SOE

The new School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) looks as if it has always been in this spot. It flows well with the street and other buildings along Spring Garden/Lee Kinard Boulevard. The healthy greenery surrounding the building looks well established; to this end, a mature tree on-site was saved. Upon closer inspection the building is new and special for UNCG. The building is a 110,000 square ft. "state-of-the-art" structure with spacious classrooms, lecture halls, conference rooms, and collaboratory rooms. The building is the first on campus to be designated a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building at the silver level. The LEED rating is an effort to provide national standards for determining the extent to which buildings are designated "green" (read more about LEED ratings here). Systems for water use, climate control, and light sources, efforts were developed in a way that minimizes environmental impact. 

Here we see a GDP photograph from two years ago when they were just beginning construction on the new School of Education. The Bryan School of Business, peeking out to the right of today's photo is now dwarfed by the SOE building. We recently learned that the USA ranks 12th with the share of adults holding postsecondary degrees-- ages 25-34-- (reference), perhaps the SOE at UNCG can do something about that. In the meantime, the stalwart great-grandparent, the Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry Building-- in the business of education since 1902, is getting a facelift and will be keeping a watchful eye on its successor from down the street.

Finally, if you are so inspired, there are naming opportunities available at the new SOE building starting at $15,000- $20,000. The Luther and Sally Self Auditorium has already been named, as have several classrooms and collaboratory spaces.

Children's Museum: Lindsay Street Mural

"What would make Greensboro a healthy city?" paints the little boy on the wall on the Lindsay Street side of the edible school yard at the Greensboro Children's Museum. As fast as the boy on the left can paint the question, in Wordle format, the boy in the middle paints cloud-like responses: people, living wages, acceptance, water, accessibility, heart, play....... 

This wall began with a series of curbside conversations when people passing by were asked "What would make Greensboro a healthy city?"  Muralist Kathleen Kennedy translated the common themes that emerged from the public responses into a 40-ft. mural. Judy Baca's "Great Wall of Los Angeles" inspired this project. (reference). Close to forty people contributed between $10-$100 to surpass the $2,000 funding needs to make this wall a reality. This is a great example of people coming together to make something wonderful for our city.

 Downtown Greensboro is starting to get some great, painted walls (here, here, here,and here). If you like public murals, you will not regret taking the time to visit those four "here" click-throughs! If you get a chance, head to the Children's Museum to see the wall for yourself. We were only able to fit about 1/3 of it in this photo. It continues for several more feet!