Greensboro Daily Photo

Nico's Italian Restaurant and Bar

Today, we share a photo of Nico's Italian Restaurant and Bar in Downtown Greensboro. Nico's Restaurant is located inside the Centre Points Building, an upscale 17-floor urban apartment complex, at the corner of Elm Street and Friendly Avenue. We always notice the restaurant when we are across the street at Center City Park. On one of the first warm nights of spring, when we drove by and people were dining outside, we snapped this photo. The scene reminds us of big-city life, even though it was taken here. On March 14th, Nico's celebrated its one-year anniversary. Nico's is a collaborative effort between Sicilian Nico Scavone and Greensboro's own John Drees (of Southern Lights) .

We're sharing this photo with Weekend Reflections. And, no, the waiter isn't watering the evergreen. There is a young couple dining behind the shrub! We hope to be dining there soon ourselves.

Sky over Battleground

Seems like there has been considerable construction in Greensboro over the last two months. Bryan Boulevard has been receiving improvements over the last month and was closed for construction last night. A new Sheetz Gas Station is going up at the intersection of Jefferson and New Garden Roads. Recently, we featured the new Fisher Park Apartments and Meadowood Property under construction. Today, we saw 8 large dump trucks from Pffaftown turn on to Lee Street headed to a job site. Perhaps they were heading to the Lee Street property that has been cleared for the park near Musikgarten and the entrance to Olde Asheboro.

In the above photo, we see two men in a cherry picker working on phone wires. On the right, you can see the PNC Bank and the roof of Biscuitville peeking through. This photo was taken just north of Irving Park and behind the Target on Lawndale. Activity is all around us. Hopefully, your family is feeling an economic upturn. Let's all hope for the best and have a GREAT weekend!

We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday.

 

Pink Dogwood

Dogwood is the state flower of North Carolina (and the state tree of Missouri). Dogwoods are a sign of spring and, in the South, the saying "dogwood winter" is a reference to the belief that it isn't wise to plant crops before dogwoods bloom for fear of a cold snap that could damage sprouting plants. The wood is prized for being hard and strong, but dogwood trees don't get very large. Local woodworkers use it for making small items like ink pens, canes, dulcimers and wooden inlays.* In Greensboro, the pink variety, featured above, is not as common as the traditional white. 

Locally, this iconic spring blossom is being attacked disease which has the potential to destroy the trees. NC State University has been developing a disease resistant dogwood that is anticipated to be ready by 2014. They are also working on a red-flowering variety of dogwood. Read more here.

Today's photo is dedicated to local artist Karen Bjork Dischell. Since we can't paint pictures of trees like she can, we took a photograph mimicing her use of positive and negative space among the branches.

 

Painting found on the following website: http://ure.uncg.edu/prod/cweekly/2010/08/31/karenbjork-dischell/

*reference.

K is for Kids

The above photo was taken in the children's section of the Benjamin Branch Library. The Benjamin Branch was named for Ms. Blanche Sternberger Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin and her parents, the Sternbergers, were great philanthropists in Greensboro. Many of the Sternbergers' projects and donations, Sternberger Elementary, Sternberger Park, The Junior Achievement Property, to name a few, help the children of Greensboro. Benjamin Branch Library is located at 1530 Benjamin Parkway.

Recently, this branch has undergone renovation. While tiny, it is a vibrant, warm, and inviting place with easy access to technology. The library, located across from General Green Elementary School, remains busy, especially after school. The young fellow in the photo above was trying to trace the origin of a barking dog recording with his family smiling nearby. The adults who were tutoring (just beyond the camera lens) were slightly less amused at the barking dog recording!

Today is ABC Wednesday and K is for Kids. If you are looking for causes to help the children of Greensboro, your options are many. For as little as $10, you can become a Friend of the Greensboro Public Libraries (join here). The United Way of Greensboro does a great deal to help our children. Just about any school or church can connect you with ways to help the youth in our community. Finally, if you are interested in bringing a child to our community, Carolina Adoption is a great place to start.

This is our ABC causes of Greensboro series. See also ABC People and ABC streets.

Bluebirds are Back

Bluebirds have returned to Greensboro. Usually, this time in March, they have found a spot to nest. If you see them in your yard now, likely, they are planning to stay for the season.  In this area, bluebirds lay their first eggs about April. Their eggs are usually light blue in color with five-six in the first clutch. These songbirds, a member of the thrush family, are so docile and content to hang around in suburban yards. 

The 2012 meeting of the North Carolina Bluebird Society will be held on Saturday, April 12, a couple of counties over, in Hillsborough. (Learn more here). This organization works to protect bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds in North Carolina. North Carolina has quite an active group of people dedicated to attracting and maintaining bluebird habitats. Information online is plentiful. Bluebirds like to be near a water source. The above bluebird was photographed near Lake Higgins. They love insects, but when those are scarce, they eat berries and seeds. Dogwood berries are a real favorite.

There is a lot of mythology surrounding the bluebird. If you want to know more about the 'bluebird of happiness' wikipedia is not a bad place to start. While North Carolina's state bird is the cardinal, the following states have the bluebird as their state bird: Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, and New York. Click here to listen to an eastern bluebird. The 37 second track will repeat all day, if you let it. Heavenly.

Fisher Park Apartments

Greenway at Fisher Park Apartments, on the corner of Smith and Eugene Streets, is an apartment complex that is going up fast. Workers and machines were working overtime last week. The whole face of the northwest quadrant of downtown is changing over night. Before you know it, with those brick façades, the apartments will look like they have always been on this lot. The fact that the buildings are only four stories high keeps them from overpowering the location. For sure, residents will find themselves walking to baseball games, school board meetings, Smith Street Diner, Orrell Design, and the Greenway-- if they can pull themselves from the luxury of home!

When we were on site, workers seemed to be working very hard. We loved the way the crane towered over the complex. It is amazing what you can find to photograph in Greensboro when you drive around with a camera. 

Northern Guilford Baptist

Today, we provide marquee-inspiration....... Jesus- the source of peace. The sign is found at Northern Guilford Baptist Church, which we've featured before (here). They are located on Horse Pen Creek Road near the Spears Y.  The house to the right in the background looks similar to this baptist church/house of worship.

In this neighborhood that is transitioning from homes to apartment complexes, a marquee is a quick way for a church to advertise and to attract new members.

Schiffman's Back Door

Today, we share not the Elm Street side of Schiffman's Jewelry Store, but the rear view. Schiffman's has been in downtown Greensboro since 1893. We've featured Mr. Schiffman previously as well as an interior view of his store. However, last month, when we were driving downtown, we noticed the Davie Street entrance with convenient parking.

Imagine discreetly slipping in the back door of Schiffman's to pick up an extra place setting of your heirloom china, maybe even selecting a diamond ring for your sweetheart. Even if you aren't buying something, consider slipping in the back door and thanking Mr. Schiffman and his sons for having maintained a business on Elm Street for 119 years. Surely that is a record for downtown Greensboro!

We hope you have a great weekend. We're sharing this with Weekend Reflections.

Pole Vault

Now that spring has sprung, track and field events are springing up everywhere-- including this high school meet last Saturday at Elon College. The Elon Phoenix were great hosts for this annual event. We know that Elon is not in Greensboro; however, they have a law school in downtown Greensboro and, with all of the construction between Greensboro and Burlington, it feels like we are really close communities now.

Pole vaulting has been around for a very long time and they have been a full medal event in the Olympics since 1896 for men and 2000 for women-- 104 years difference. In the above photo, pole vaulters were just warming up.  The poles look heavy but are definitely light. We're sharing this photo with Skywatch where the whole world sees the blue above!

 

Earth Fare to Go

Since yesterday's GDP post was about diabetes and food choices that aren't the best, today, we thought we'd share a photo of a woman who was eating a colorful salad at the reenactment event. She had assembled a salad from Earth Fare's salad bar. If we understood the sign correctly (last time we were at Earth Fare), the container for her salad bar is wheat-based packaging. This biodegradable product is an environmentally friendly way to package to-go food. 

On April 12th, Earth Fare will get a some competition as Whole Foods is opening in Greensboro. Hopefully, having two large supermarkets that make a commitment to selling healthy food to the general population will foster healthful eating. Greensboro will have 34,000 square feet of pure nutrition available, in the heart of Friendly Center. Here's to saying goodbye to processed foods with unnecessary  additives.

J is for Juvenile Diabetes

Juvenile Diabetes, or Type 1/insulin dependent diabetes, usually presents itself before age twenty. Diabetes affects the body's ability to use glucose. In healthy bodies, insulin-- a hormone--  helps glucose enter cells where it is used for energy. 

The above photo, taken at the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, is somewhat misleading as being overoverweight and eating excessive fat and sugar is not a cause of juvenile diabetes. However, a balanced diet and weight control are helpful for diabetes management.* Additionally, avoiding empty calories and excessive caloric intake does help prevent Type II, adult-onset diabetes which is presenting itself in younger and younger children. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta estimates that one in three children born in the year 2000 or later will develop diabetes at some point in their lifetime (reference). As a society, we have got to do a better job of modeling healthy eating for our children; seeing that they eat nutritious food, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight.

We're sharing today's post with ABC Wednesday and our cause for J is Juvenile Diabetes. Consider getting involved with or donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

* Get more information on diabetes, from a local Guilford County source here. If you are interested in the cuisine of the original 13 colonies, start here.

2012 Reenactment Fun

Today, we share a lighthearted photo from the 2012 Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Just as these troops were about to go into battle, this attractive young woman came over and asked to have her photo taken with the soldiers. The man on the left dropped to his knees and proposed to the young woman. To our knowledge, she did not respond before the men headed on to battle.

Dressing for the event adds a whole new dimension to your experience. You go from taking the photographs and being an observer to being in the photographs and interacting with the reenacters in a more personal way. It is never too early to start planning your costume.  As for the humor, even the promotion for the event infused a little humor into their campaign this year (here).

Battle of Guilford Courthouse-- Reenactment 2012

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was reenacted at Country Park this past weekend. Thanks to The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department, the volunteers, the Guilford Battleground Company, the reenactors who came from all over, and the sponsors, the 2012 event was a huge success. By day, the weather was cooperative; however, when asked if the weather bothered her, a sutler (non-miliatry participant) smiled and said, "It doesn't bother me. It is always wet at Guilford". Soggy ground and mud did not dampen the spirts of the enthusiastic participants.

The purpose of the reenactment it to teach attendees about life in the colonial period, specifically in Guilford County. To be invited back, participants wares and demonstrations must be authentic; they must interact well with visitors and other participants; and they must obey site rules and guidelines. There are three categories of participants: Military, sutler (non-military), and craftsmen/demonstrators.

When the above photo was taken, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was well under way and the Redcoats were just up the hill. The reenactment site is tucked neatly behind the Spencer Love Tenis Facility, in the location where Pow-Wow is held. We feel sorry for anyone who was out walking or driving nearby who didn't know the event was a reenactment. Cannons and guns firing made quite a ruckus. If you did not attend this year, put it on your calendar for next March. Stop back to GDP and see more photos of the event over the next few days.

.......... Alas, it is back to the 21st century for our family!

St. Benedict's Catholic Church

St. Patrick's Day is a great day for Catholics. We couldn't help but think of St. Patrick* as we drove around Elm Street and then past St. Benedict's Catholic Church on West Smith Street. In the photo above, we see the Elm Street side of the church. The doors looked especially colorful in the bright sun. When we photographed the church three years ago, the stained glass window above the doors was not in place (see here). The good news is that the beautiful window was replaced. The bad news is that the church's website doesn't appear to be active any longer. If you are interested in this church's history, see our link above. Tracing it's roots to 1877, St. Benedict's is one of the oldest catholic churches in the Diocese of Charlotte. 

This is our weekly religious piece. Don't forget to go to the lake at Country Park early morning if you want to take part in the church service with the reenacters of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The battle will be reenacted at 2pm. 

*Was St. Patrick Catholic? Irish? If you are interested, read more here.

Greensboro's Finest Hour

As the planets have aligned in the March night sky, significant events in Greensboro this weekend have aligned as well. First, ACC Men's Basketball is in full swing at the Coliseum. The Southeast Zone Sectional Age Group Championships are underway at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, the turning-point battle of the Revolutionary War, is being reenacted here.

On a smaller scale, the Rothar Turas cycling event is under way. St. Patrick's Day festivities are in full swing. While there is no river to turn green, we've seen plenty of green brew being imbibed. Also, Triad Stage is in the final weekend of fabulous performances of a trilogy of plays by Reynolds Price. These are just a few events in town this weekend. Many of these events attract guests from out of town. One attendee at Triad Stage tonight said that she saw more out of state license plates today than North Carolina plates.

If we all are good hosts, we all behave, and we get a little help from the weather, quite possibly, this weekend could be Greensboro's Finest Hour. Please allow extra time for driving AND help our guests feel welcome! We're sharing this with Weekend Reflections. WELCOME TO GREENSBORO!

Renaissance Plaza on North Elm Street

Renaissance Plaza at 230 North Elm Street is proof positive that Greensboro has a skyscraper. The plaza is 19 stories tall with a 2-story atrium lobby and nearly 300,000 square feet. The exterior of the building, built in 1989, is polished granite (possibly Mt. Airy granite?). Greensboro Beautiful has given the Renaissance Plaza an award for its landscaping and the maintenance of the landscaped areas. One of the main businesses in the building is United Guaranty. We took this photo at 8pm on Wednesday night and, from the looks of it, several people were working overtime. If you have not toured the building, you owe it to yourself to have a look. The interior has a "big city" feel. Do we really know Greensboro if we have not explored not only the horizontal but also the vertical nooks and crannies?

You may also want to head to Country Park today and watch people setting up for this weekend's reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. This is THE weekend of the year in Greensboro for reenacters and Revolutionary War historians. Let's hope Thursday's intense afternoon shower didn't make the ground miserably wet. Canvas tents don't mix well with soggy ground.

We're posting this photo on Skywatch Friday so that the whole world can appreciate the night sky over Greenboro.

Attend the 231st Guilford Courthouse Event This Weekend

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse took place on March 15th, 1781-- 231 years ago today. Major General Nathanael Greene commanded the American forces at Guilford Courthouse. His army consisted of around 4,500 Continentials and militia. The British forces of about 1,500 were led by Lt. General Cornwallis. While the British won the battle, it was really the turning point for the Revolutionary War and seven month later, Cornwallis surrendered to the combined American and French forces under General George Washington (reference here). The reenactment takes place in Greensboro this weekend. If you want to spend a few hours walking through the late 18th century, come out for the festivities.

Go here for a schedule; see musicians here, soldiers here, the campsite here and here, mother and son here, and a family walking here. After seeing our photos, if you think you are going to attend, watch this You Tube animated map of the battle and this live-action short video clip. Finally, Sunday morning, you can enjoy a church service down by the lake. This may seem like a laundry list of click-throughs; however, it is nice to have an idea of what you will be seeing. If you live nearby, the reenactment festivities is such a fabulous event, so accessible, and FREE; it is a delightful way to learn about life in Colonial America.

Finally, the grave in the photo is of an American soldier who lost his life during the battle. His last name is TATE. 

I is for Indian

Today's photo takes us to Lonnie Revels Greenway, the section of Freeman Mill Road between Spring Garden Street and Florida Avenue that is named for Lonnie Revels (1935-2003). Revels, originally from Robeson County, was a lifelong advocate for American Indians in North Carolina. He fought tirelessly, seeking national recognition for the Lumbee Tribe. While North Carolina recognizes Lumbee as a tribe, the federal government does not. From 1790- 1870, through the US Civil War Era, the Lumbee were classified as "free other", "free colored", and "free mulatto" (reference). By 1885, North Carolina recognized them as Indians. However, not having federal recognition as a tribe prevents them from receiving federal services. 

Mr. Revels graduated from Wake Forest University in 1958, served in the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, married his high school sweetheart, and moved to Greensboro in 1961. Here, he owned a printing company, while remaining active in issues related to Indian/Native American Affairs. Nationally, Revels was appointed to the Civil Rights Commission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture by President Nixon. At one time, he was the senior member of the Commission of Indian Affairs in North Carolina. Locally, he was elected to Greensboro's City Council in 1985. He was the District 15 representative for the Lumbee Tribal Council. Mr. Revels was a founder and board member of the Guilford Native American Association (GNAA) which continues to serve over 5,000 Native Americans in Guilford County. The GNAA sponsors a pow-wow annually. While Mr. Revels has been deceased for eight years, his civic involvement will be remembered for years to come. As we look at this little section of Freeman Mill Road, we can only imagine the thoughts that weighed heavily on Mr. Revels' mind as he was commuting on this road between Greensboro and his home community-- Pembroke.

Today, we remember Mr. Revels' cause-- for the Lumbee to become a tribe, and respectfully submit for ABC Wednesday, I for Indian. Mr. Revels had great respect and love for the land. It is fitting that a little sliver of land with blossoming trees, sandwiched between ribbons of asphalt, be named in his honor. 

photo from: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10642296

 

Blueberry Buds

The blueberry bushes in our backyard are starting to show signs of life and Greensboro is a great place to grow them. These perennial flowering plants belong to the same genus as cranberries, which is why the word arándano serves for both in Spanish. Blueberries are actually native to North America and are available in both wild and cultivated varieties. The North Carolina blueberry council has produced a four minute You-Tube video on blueberries in North Carolina (here). If you are interested in the plant at all, watching it will be four minutes well spent. 

The 9th annual blueberry festival will be held in Burgaw (Pender Co.), NC on Saturday, June 16th. Pender is one of our southern coastal counties so it is a long drive from Greensboro. However, the festival is a non-profit, civic event that sounds like it is a lot of North Carolina fun. What a way to kick off the summer. Attend the festival and head on to the beach! In the meantime, we suggest you consider planting some blueberry bushes in your own yard. Not only will you have a bush that provides interesting color from March-October, you will be planting something edible. It doesn't get any more local than your back yard!  NC State will walk you through the planting process here. Let us know if you plant any bushes.

Greensboro's Newest Sartorialist

Inspired by style documenters like Scott Schuman, Tommy Ton, and GQ Magazine, Greensboro native Ernest Thompson started a men's fashion blog that he calls The Swagvation Army. Ernest is a lifelong resident of Greensboro and graduate of the Early College at Guilford. Currently, he attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studies linguistics and Arabic. Living on a student's budget, Ernest combs thrift stores looking for quality clothing that has style, or as the younger generation says...... swag. After a trip to the dry cleaners or a spin in the washer, the clothing is ready to be modeled. 

In addition to blogging, Ernest also plays banjo in a band (Campfires & Constellations), works part-time, and competes with Carolina's club Ultimate Frisbee team (Darkside), and spends a little time with his friends. We had the pleasure of taking photos of Ernest for his website while he was in Greensboro during spring break. It is heartwarming to know that the younger generation appreciates fashion beyond t-shirts, tennis shoes, and jeans!

Happy Monday folks. If you have time, click through to Ernest's website and give him a few words of encouragement, a retweet,or a pin.

First Baptist Church of Greensboro

Today, we feature a view of the steeple at First Baptist Church from nearby Tate Street. While Scott P. Culclasure wrote a history of this church* (The 1859-1999 years), historical information about First Baptist does not appear to be readily available in electronic format. We love it when churches provide historical overviews on their own websites. We have featured First Baptist here and here.

First Baptist is one of those churches that encompasses a city block. The white steeple serves as a landmark on Friendly Avenue. It looks beautiful surrounded by the dramatic clouds on an early March day. Notice the SECU (State Employees Credit Union) sign peeking out, as well as the tree blossoms at the right of the photo. This photo is exactly how we expect the transition from winter to spring to look in Greensboro.

*Culclasure's book is called "In Every Good Work."

LOAF & Méchelle's

The 200 block of South Elm Street, between Schiffman's & Chakras, has a couple of new kids on the block. LOAF is a bakery that moved in to assume the shop formerly occupied by Simple Kneads. They specialize in artisan breads but also sell pasteries, granola, and coffee. The acronym LOAF stands for local, original, artisan and fresh. Méchelle's is a clothing store at 227 South Elm. Méchelle's sells an interesting assortment of clothing, shoes, and scarves. Both stores seem to be well received by people who shop downtown. They are a perfect for the old-world charm of the vintage buildings that house them.

We're sharing them with Weekend Reflections. Happy weekend, folks. It has arrived......

Moon Over Proximity

The Proximity Hotel is located at 704 Green Valley Road, just down from the Merrill Lynch building posted yesterday. As seen in the above photo, the Proximity has several acres of property between it and Benjamin Parkway. It is a stone's throw from Friendly Center. This space would be perfect for a giant festival on a warm summer day. Likely, there are plans to build on these lots. For now, we enjoy standing there and taking photos of the sky without the distraction of power lines and telephone poles. The property has its own character every season of the year.

We've featured the Proximity from another angle; however, we still need to go inside and share the details of this environmentally-friendly, LEED Platinum-rated hotel. The owners are doing everything they can to reduce their carbon footprint. The hotel does look beautiful with clouds behind it. We were lucky to catch the moon out, hovering above hotel last weekend.

Here's to a beautiful weekend, readers, and to a great Skywatch Friday.

Merrill Lynch on Green Valley

Merrill Lynch is the wealth management part of Bank of America. The company was founded as a Wall Street company in 1914. The above Merrill Lynch office is located near Women's Hospital in Greensboro on Green Valley Road. Green Valley is a 'cut through' road, connecting Battleground Avenue with Friendly Center, Friendly Avenue, Market Street, and Wendover. Green Valley is pretty busy during the work week and can look like a ghost town on the weekends.  Are you more of a fan of newer glass and steel buildings, or are you more partial to old, brick buildings? We have both in Greensboro.

The above photo was taken as part of our 'glass buildings' series as we want to show the world that Greensboro has modern architecture, too. We love the way the building looks almost as if it is floating across an ocean of clouds. The clouds, reflected in the glass, add intrigue to the building. The clouds also resemble steam being emitted from a steamboat.

We're hoping workers are inside managing everyone's money well!

H is for Homeless

Today is ABC Wednesday and this round we are featuring causes.

'H' is for 'homelessness'. One can't assume that the man in the photo is homeless; however, pushing a shopping cart full of clothing down the main street of town indicates that, likely, this man is in need. When we were photographing on Monday afternoon, it was extremely windy. The man would push his cart forward a few steps and his hat would blow off of his head. He would chase it back for half a block and then walk on to retrieve his cart. Seeing this process, time after time, until he finally gave up on wearing his hat, painted a perfect picture of his life-- arduous. To walk a mile in his shoes would be to see just how hard one works to live out of a cart.

Greensboro organizations that work hard to help the homeless are Urban Ministry, the Homeless Prevention Coalition, and Partners Ending Homelessness. Acording to a News & Record article last year, Greensboro is making headway on reducing homelessness (more here) and we have a ten year plan for ending homelessness. However, current data reveal the number of homeless public school students has increased by 48% since 2008. Can you imagine helping your child do homework living un an abandoned building? Can you imagine which of your possessions you would keep should you have to limit your belongings to that which would fit in a cart? If you are in a position to help, those well-established organizations, like Urban Ministry or the Salvation Army, are sure bets to stretch your donation dollars for the homeless.

Spring Green

Our white hyacinth are just about to bloom. The green shoots are at that fresh, tender, translucent stage. There is nothing that can surpass or even dulpicate the beauty of a warm spring day. Spring is such an optimistic and hopeful time of year; rebirth is all around us. Spring green is interesting from a color perspective, too. It is halfway between cyan and green and is a pure chroma with a hue of 150 degrees. Its complementary color is rose (reference here). No wonder spring green is so compatible with rose colored flowers.

As for green and spring........ Greensboro has the word 'green' in it and 'spring' is a word that appears on many names in our city: Spring Garden Street; Lee Spring (springs);  Spring Place, Spring Arbor, Wellspring Retirement Centers; A Breath of Spring Carpet Cleaners, and Spring Place Apartments-- to name a few. As a community, we are very excited about the 2012 Spring Nationals for the U.S. Master Swimmers, being held the end of April at our own aquatic center (here). For sure, spring is knocking at our door.

Better hurry! Just about the time it takes you to blink, signs of tender spring green will be gone...... only to come out again, the next spring.

A Sunday Afternoon near 352 South Elm Street

Elm Street is not only a great place to take pictures, it makes a great backdrop for photographing models. Above, we see a photographer using the art and handicraft shop, "Just Be", as a backdrop for her pictures. This photo was taken at Hamburger Square, near the Elm-McGee parking lot where, beginning May 6th, the South Elm Urban Market will set up shop. The Urban Market will feature local produce, food products like eggs and cheese, and handmade items. Elm Street attracts businesses that are locally owned and have a hometown feel to them; therefore, this Sunday market is a perfect fit. Several Elm Street restaurants and shops are already open on Sunday. Likely, more will remain open if the Sunday market is as well attended as anticipated. Indie, etsy-like businesses seem to be the trend everywhere and Greensboro is no exception. 

This photo captures so many of the details of downtown: the railroad tracks, the vintage brick buildings, the people, the topography, and the sign announcing that you are under video surveilance-- to name a few. Happy Monday folks.

God Is Love

The above view was captured while walking on West Friendly Avenue at Cedar Street. The concrete pads were formerly part of a home's foundation. Currently, the lots are vacant and waiting for a new life. From the looks of the garbage pile, it is a popular hangout for the homeless. In the midst of all of this decay, we see, spray-painted to the wall, God Is Love. How inspiring to know that someone can be stripped of most material goods and still have the perspective that God Is Love. Maybe someone preaches from here. Would make a great spot for a tent revival. What do you think would be the best use of this lot that connects the eastern edge of Westerwood to town?

This is our weekly, Sunday, religious post. See more here.

Cone Export & Commission Company Building

Today, we're at 330 South Greene Street at the Cone Export & Commission Company. The building was built in the 1920's in the Elizabethian Revival Style. Formerly, it was a commodity exchange and housed the execuitve offices for Cone Export. The closeup photo shows the detail of how the stone façade was pieced together as well as the elaborate font on the raised lettering. Currently, the building houses the Cemala Foundation. Previously, we have posted interior photos here and here.

Greensboro has many vintage building with exterior details intact. If you are in town and have time this weekend, walk around and enjoy the details.

 

West Fisher Avenue Beauty

This home, located at 210 West Fisher Avenue, is a Fisher Park beauty. It was built in 1909 and, from the photo, looks like it is on a sleepy street in a secluded neighborhood. Actually, the home is located on a busy road that connects Battleground Avenue with downtown. The owners have done a fabulous job of keeping the historic flavor of this 103-year-old home. As seen in the photo, the front sports vintage details like woodwork, screen doors, lace curtains, and a grand rap-around porch. The owners are already preparing for enjoying spring afternoons. The pristine white rockers, wicker furniture, and round table are all ready for receiving guests. West Fisher Avenue has only a handful of private residences remaining and this is a glorious one.

Fisher Park, home to Green Hill Cemetery, First Presbyterian and Holy Trinity Espscopal churches, was Greensboro's first neighborhood. In 1901, Captain Basil J. Fisher donated land. Shortly thereafter, a trolley line was established and ran through the neighborhood which quickly became "the epicenter of Greensboro's cultural elite".*  Today, we're sharing 210 West Fisher Avenue with our Skywatch Friday friends.

* (Fisher Park, Wikipedia).

got, ELECTRICITY?

It is March 1st which means that it is theme day for the City Daily Photo community. This month's theme is 'electricity'.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

The ubiquitious phone and electrical lines are easier to capture in photos than not, as seen in the above picture.  The power lines cut the photo in half and reinforce the horizontal aspect of the photo. From the power lines on down, the photo is very rigid and angular. Above the lines, the clouds are fluffy and fleeting. The property is offered for sale by C-Ray Properties, begging the question, "Is it Rays of electricity we are C-ing?".

The vacant, mid-century, flat-roofed building offered for sale, likely will not be long for this world. The trend is to build multi-family units on this part of Lee Street as the Univeristy of North Carolina at Greensboro is not too far away. The privacy wall and elevated windows add a layer of intrigue to this photo.Is the cloaked man Guy Noir? Possibly looking for Ms. Guy Noir?

If you had this building, what would you use it for? We took this photo last week on a blustery, winter day on West Lee Street.