Greensboro Daily Photo

P for Pleasant Garden

Today is ABC Wednesday and Pleasant Garden was chosen for the letter P. It is a 15-square mile town just southeast of Greensboro, located off of Highway 421 and just north of Hagan Stone Park. What is known as Pleasant Garden today got its start in 1786 when northerners established a Methodist Episcopal church there. This original church remains and, today, is known as Pleasant Garden United Methodist Church. Pleasant Garden is a town that thrives because of its many volunteers, one of whom has posted an informative history on the town's website.

The above farm, land and outbuildings, is located on Pleasant Garden Road, at the intersection of Davis Mill Road- a little north of Pleasant Garden's town limits. While Pleasant Garden has plenty of modern homes, this farm evokes the feel of the traditional way of life the community saught to protect when incorporating in 1997. If you want to experience this sense of community, you have two opportunities this week. On Saturday, November 3rd, they are having a holiday craft fair at the Town Hall Picnic Pavilion, located at 4920 Alliance Church Road. A Veterans Appreciation Day Event will be held on Sunday, November 11th at 2pm, at the Pleasant Garden Fire Department. With a population of just under 5,000, you can bet that you will see a majority at these upcoming events. And, if you visit in spring, you will have the opportunity to see some pretty serious community baseball events.

If you are following Greensboro neighborhoods series, see A-O here.

Happy 85th Birthday, Carolina Theatre

Last night, hundreds of people braved the winds of Hurricane Sandy to watch and celebrate the premiere of Paula Damasceno's documentary film about the Carolina Theatre. Carolina 85 features the glamourous as well as the rocky history of the theater. At the time it opened on October 31st, 1927, the 2,200-seat Carolina Theatre was the showcase of the Carolinas. In the documentary, one patron called it, a "palace for the poor." People could go and bask in the "light of the dark" to enjoy a movie. Damasceno documents the theater's transformation from a seggreated venue to one one that embraces diversity. The film documents the theater's many other obstacles, including surviving the decline of downtown Greensboro, financial struggles, structural setbacks, and extensive fire damage. 

The above photo features the reception and partaking of the birthday cake onstage, at the conclusion of the documentary. All were invited to the afterparty, a befitting gesture appropriate for Damasceno's humble demeanor. She made it clear that, for her, "The community, who support this theater, make it beautiful." Thank you, Paula Damasceno, and all involved, for documenting the history of one of Greensboro's cultural treasures. In the above photo, Damasceno, second from the left, has her right arm extended in conversation with an attendee (quite possibly the youngest) who was extremely interested in film.

                                                                    

Pets in Halloween Costumes

Greensboro is head over heels in love with contests for pets in Halloween costumes. This weekend was full of such contests, one of which was held by Greensboro's own News & Record. Featured in our photo today is Taco the Chihuahua who is sporting an outfit hand made by the man he is pulling around on a leash- Tony. Taco has his master Tony wrapped around his little paw. Actually, watching the duo in action, it is obvious that the affection is mutual. Taco loves hanging out with his owner almost as much as he likes the attention he gets for his costumes. 

Taco took Best of Show yesterday at the doggie costume contest sponsored by Golden Antiques on Highway 220 in Summerfield. His owner made the costume out of leather purses purchased from a Goodwill Store. For a great detail, he added the saddle blanket, and, in the saddle pouches you will find miniature candy bananas. Many dogs had great costumes; however, the level of detail in Taco's costume, combined with the confidence with which Taco wore his costume, made him the undisputed winner.  Halloween in Greensboro has so much to offer for humans and pets alike.

(If we by chance don't post this week, you will know we are without power due to the storm. We'll try to work ahead. We already have our neighborhood photos, but still need to upload them. Keep your fingers crossed. Hoping everyone is safe).

Martin Avenue Baptist Church

Today's Sacred Sunday church is Martin Avenue Baptist Church in northeast Greensboro. It is a typical country church alongside a windy country road. The bright white wooden exterior just glistens on a sunny day. These Baptist churches have a common architectural style; the steeple, the cross, the triangular roofline, the building that extends to the back and has been added on-to at the side. Sometimes they are wooden and sometimes brick. Always, they are no-frills and take their worshiping seriously.

The country scene extends along the perimeter of Martin Avenue Baptist. Nearby, there are small, country homes, one of which has a 1950's Ford pickup truck parked in the church parking lot. It seems like the type of neighborhood where people come together in time of need. Likely, many neighbors belong to the church. Martin Avenue continues to the west until it intersects with Rankin Road. Martin itself continues down to McKnight Mill Road. To the east, it extends almost all the way to North O. Henry Blvd. As for the church, unfortunately, it doesn't have a website so we can't tell you about the history. We did learn from the marquee that Dr. James Talbert is the pastor of this beautiful church.

Sailing on Oak Hollow Lake

    We wonder how we've lived in the Greensboro area for nearly two decades and never known about the local sailing and boating scene. We've spent a great deal of time around Greensboro's Lakes Higgins, Townsend, Brandt, and Jeanette; however, somhow we haven't spent much time on the water near High Point. Last week, we were at Oak Hollow Lake just marveling at all of the people on the water with sailboats. The sight was breathtaking and a photographer's dream. 

    

    The 850 acre lake is next to a 1,500 acre park with a marina that has been open to the public since 1972. There is golf, a picnic area, fishing, sailing classes, and so much more.  The Oak Hollow Yacht Club is a public club and they hold regatta's the third weekend of every month. We must have been in the midst of the boat launching for the regatta when all of these beautiful sail boats (above) started dotting the shoreline. The yacht club held their first annual "Soak at the Oak" Regatta this past may. Perhaps we can all train and be ready for the one next spring. There is even a local radio control and model yacht sailing club that uses Oak Hollow Lake. If you are local, you will want to head down to Skeet Club Road and take advantage of this great, public recreation facility. 

    For our language loving friends, we found an A-Z dictionary (actually A-Y) of sailing/yachting terms. Why don't you click through and see just how many you know....... abaft, coaming, gunwale, lazarette, nautical mile, thwartships, tiller... tempted yet?

Diamond Bingo Hall

The game of B-I-N-G-O can be traced to an Italian lottery game in the 1500's. Modern Bingo, as we know it, dates to 1929.*  Bingo night in parrish halls has been a revenue-generating, Catholic tradition for a long time. Even network TV has featured Bingo from time to time. Bingo seems to be fading from churches and other venues, somewhat attributed to the no-smoking regulations. However, virtual Bingo is a big hit to the game-playing, Facebook crowd. 

Greensboro's own Diamond Bingo Hall, featured above, is located at the corner of Summit Avenue and Rankin Road in northeast Greensboro. Diamond Bingo doesn't have a website, so we have no idea of what it is like in side, how much it costs, what you can win. A google search reveals 19 bingo halls in Greensboro and the surrounding area; so, at least some people in the Greensboro area must enjoy playing bingo. Children love the learning versions in school. Civic Organizations and non-profits host Bingo games for fundrasiers, too. Guilford Green's bingo events have brought tens of thousands of dollars to the Greensboro community. 

Well, the weekend is here. Let us know if you're out playing BINGO and, if you are, here is some Bingo trivia to share with fellow gamers. Happy Friday folks. Please do something fun, even if it isn't Bingo.

 

* reference.

View from Revolution Cotton Mill Hill

A couple of weeks ago, we featured Palm Street Christian Church in McAdoo Heights and mentioned that it overlooked Revolution Mill. Here we see a view of Palm Street Christian from Yanceville Street. The photo was taken with a telephoto lens zooming from Revolution Mill, across Church Street and up on Palm near State Street. With the two, modest mill houses to the left of the church, you have an idea of just how compact one's path was early in the 20th century. From home, to church, to shops, to work, to recreation all on foot, if necessary. There is a lot to be said for that type of lifestyle.

Revolution Cotton Mills, a 2-million-square-foot complex, was built in 1899. At one time, it was the world's largest flannel production facility. This whole part of town played an important role in Greensboro's early history. We hate that Revolution is no longer a mill; however, we are happy that the structure is there for us to explore, photograph, and share. The brick shell is proof positive that Greensboro played a role in the Industrial Revolution.

 

O is for O. Henry Oaks

Today is ABC Wednesday and O is for O. Henry Oaks. If you are local, you likely know that short story writer O. Henry is from Greensboro. The August edition of O. Henry magazine dedicated several pages to all things, locally, named in his honor. As the article points out, there is an O. Henry subdivision on Sidney Porter Drive, as well as an O. Henry Blvd. Additionally, there is a neighborhood named O. Henry Oaks.  

O. Henry Oaks is located from 16th Street to Cone Boulevard to Spry Street between N. O. Henry Blvd. and Yanceyville St. Page High School is near O. Henry Oaks. The neighborhood is one of the most racially balanced in Greensboro. Approximately 40% of the neighborhood is white; 40% black, 10% Asian, 7% Hispanic, 3% other.* Today's post takes us to 3419 Yanceville Street, the upper northwest corner of O. Henry Oaks, where a plane tail permanently dive bombs into the lawn in the front yard. Surely, were O. Henry alive today, he would write an interesting short story with one of his famous smile-with-tears endings. How did the plane land in the yard? Why is it still there? What story does it have to tell? Today is ABC Wednesday and O is for O. (gotta have the dot) Henry!

(see Greensboro's A-N  neighborhoods here)

 

*http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/O.Henry-Oaks-Greensboro-NC.html

Kim's Pottery Studio

This past Sunday, the 16th Annual Triad Pottery Festival was held at the Yanceyville Farmer's Market. In the above photo, Benjamin Winslow- of Kim's Pottery in Eden,- demonstrates his great expertise at the wheel. Benjamin, originally from South Korea, studied art at Valdosta State University in Georgia. His study of art fueled his love of oil painting and pottery. Now, on most days, he can be found in his studio in downtown Eden where he not only makes and sells his wares, but also gives lessons and allows students to have studio time. Benjamin is such a calm and patient person. He is the perfect  person to demonstrate his work at the Farmers' Market. 

We like to attend the Triad Pottery Festival for many reasons, one of which is that  it is  held the weekend before local potter, Leanne Pizio holds her fall Leanne Pizio's Keep It Local event. If you need some good holiday gifts, head out to Leanne's. There will be at least 17 vendors and a great art hunt and the setting is bucolic. Hope to see you there. North Carolina is famous for its pottery. There is something special about eating and drinking from a handmade vessel- especially when it is local. 

Autumn Leaves on Horse Pen Creek

Seeing this view alongside Horse Pen Creek Road, just south of Greensboro Country Club's Farm Course, reminds us of Emily Dickinson's poem, The name- of it- is "Autumn".* While the meaning of her complex poem is  believed to reference the Civil War,** for us, it evokes the image of veins and arteries as we see orange, scarlet, and vermillion leaves on trees, completely sheared of limbs on one side. In Greensboro, Duke Energy performs this tree cutting, near power lines, because they are certified to do so and can preform the task safely. Agressive pruning is an evil necessity since so many of our power lines are above ground.

Here is Dickinson's poem:

        The name- of It- is "Autumn".

        The hue- of it- is Blood.

        An Artery- upon the Hill-

        A Vein- along the Road-

        Great Globules- in the Alleys-

        And oh, the Shower of Stain-

        When Winds- upset the Basin-

        And spill the Scarlet Rain-

        It sprinkles Bonnets- far below-

        It gathers ruddy Pools-

        Then- eddys like a Rose away- away-

        Upon Vermillion Wheels.

 

Before you know it, the wind will blow and the time will be upon us to get leaves hauled away. In the meantime, we'll just enjoy the great globules of colorful leaves as they cling to the arteries and veins of the trees. Should you see trees near power lines that need work, read what the city can and can't do to help (read here). Happy Monday to all!

 

*http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/emilydickinson/10608

** http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/edj/summary/v012/12.1cody.html

Fish... and the Bible

Fish is referenced in the King James version of the Bible 35 times. The first place it appears is Genesis 1:26 from which point on it is found numerous times in the Old and New Testaments alike.  We could not help but think of all the Biblical references to fish, last night, while dining at Greensboro's newest Egyptian restaurant, Samir. The fresh fish, grilled by Chef Samir himself was, indeed, heavenly. As seen above, it arrives at your table the old fashioned way, head and all. Not to worry, Chef Samir will help if you are unsure of how to eat it. Samir's Egyptian restaurant is filled with not only authentic cuisine but also artwork and images from Ancient Egypt.

The meal  brought to mind the following Bible verse: We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic (Num 11:5). The fish was an early symbol of Christianity and several of Jesus' Apostles were fishermen. It seems that the closer to the earth and sea one eats, the more spiritual the eating event becomes. Somehow we don't think these Biblical thoughts would have come to mind while driving through the window of a fast food restaurant.

Happy Sunday to all and may Chef Samir's restaurant, a mere 4 1/2 months old, be around to inspire us for years to come!

Dance Center of State Street

We lament the "passing" of the Saltbox, a Greensboro store that closed earlier this year after thirty eight years in business. Their specialty candles and folk art collection were fabulous. We will be especially nostalgic for their fall and winter treasures and events.

Fortunately, the Dance Center of Greensboro has moved into their building, bringing positive energy and movement back to that little corner of State Street (at Golden Gate). State Street is starting to develop a niche market in wellness and rejuvenation. From plastic surgery to massage, to the magic, spells, and potions offered at Eclectic by Nature, there is a little something for everyone on this charming little street. The Dance Center should be a perfect fit. State Street, their second Greensboro location, is situated in the heart of McAdoo Heights. Let's hope we see dancers coming and going from this building for a very long time.

Let's also keep our fingers crossed that Nancy Moore (owner of the gone-but-not-forgotten Saltbox) finds a little place to work her retail magic. 

An Afternoon in the Life of the Brown Building

UNGC's Brown Building, in the above photo, has been featured on Greensboro Daily Photo on more than one occassion. Since it was built in 1927, the Brown Music Building has served as one of the eastern-most buildings on campus and has been the subject of many postcards. It is nice to know that 85 years later, even though a newer music building has been built, The Brown Building remains a vibrant place for students to congregate both inside and out. Theater students keep the building brimming with life just about 7 days a week and the Brown Building Theater holds some amazing performances. Up next in the theater is Polaroid Stories. UNCG's radio station also broadcasts out of this building. Tune in to WUAG 103.1 FM to get the full college broadcasting experience. 

This photo was taken a few weeks ago at the Tate Street Festival when so many students were out enjoying the afternoon. After yesterday's rain in Greensboro, it will probably be a little soggy to sit on the grass today. Since the sun is supposed to shine, we just may get to walk along Tate Street and admire UNCG's stunning buildings.

Autumn is Upon Us

Fall is upon us in North Carolina. In the mountains, the leaves are moving into peak season, a little past at the highest elevations. Greensboro is not quite at peak; however, this weekend would be a great one to take a day trip and enjoy the season. Appalachian State University's biology department maintains a fall color report to help estimate the timing of fall color peaks for the various NC regions.

Above, you see the native persimmon, diospyros virginiana, nicknamed the possom apple. In North Carolina, the Scotch-Irish families have been enjoying persimmon pudding and other dishes since moving into the state in the 1700's and the Native Americans were eating the sticky, glue-like pulp long before colonial times. Fullsteam Brewery in Durham puts a different spin on the fruit, making it into beer. They will even pay $3 a pound for fruit, as long as it is picked at peak readiness and they don't have an overabundant supply. 

With the loss of farmland in the Piedmont area around Greensboro, the native persimmon is not readily abundant. Consider planting a few trees on your property if you are in the position to do so. Unfortunately, the native persimmon doesn't like to be crowded and it takes a male and female tree to get fruit. As fussy as nature can be, it is hard to believe that these these used to be everywhere.

Sorry for the late post. Time Warner Cable is coming out a second time today to see why we don't have internet access at our house.( Thanks to wi-fi at a local coffee shop, we're able to post). If the TWC worker gets our internet fixed, we just may fix him a 'simmon puddin.'

just waiting to be made into persimmon pudding, lest they be devoured by birds.

N is for NEW Irving Park

Modeled after Pinehurst, NC, Irving Park is a Greensboro neighborhood that was built in the 1920's. The neighborhood's showcase facility is the Greensboro Country Club, where prominent families of Greensboro have been golfing, swimming, playing tennis, dining, and socializing for decades. As Irving Park became fully built up and somewhat landlocked, it was only natural for this wonderful place to be somewhat replicated and extended. New Irving Park begins at Cone Boulevard and, to the west of Elm Street, continues to Pisgah Church Road with streets named St. Andrews and St. Regis radiating off of Willoughby Boulevard. To the east of of Elm Street, New Irving Park extends to Abbotswood Senior Living Facility. 

The above house is located on the corner of Loch Ridge and Hillwind Street on the northeast corner of New Irving Park.  It is representative of the homes in the Provincetown section of the neighborhood: two-story, brick homes with modest, well-landscaped lots.  We decided to take advantage of the fact that the above  lawn was being re-landscaped and a clear view of the house was available. We were thrilled that a father-daughter running team came along as we were on the photo shoot as New Irving Park is a place where families spend time together enjoying each other's company. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and we're getting close to half way through our A-Z neighborhoods of Greensboro series. See A-M photos here.

High Point Rowing Club's First Regatta

The High Point Rowing Club is not yet a month old, but this past weekend, they participated in their first regatta. The event was held in Wake Forest, North Caroina on Falls Lake. The regatta, hosted by UNC Men's Crew, gave crews a chance to get their times before November's big rowing event, Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN.  Head of the Hooch is the second largest regatta in the USA. The HPRC team is ready and plans to participate. This is a wonderful opportunity for the team. In the above photo, High Point's two crews are seen getting ready for this past Saturday's race.

While this blog is Greensboro Daily Photo, we're glad High Point rowing has brought the sport of crew to the Triad. Currently, the team practices on Oak Hollow Lake. It would be wonderful if Coach Gene Kininmonth also started a rowing program on Lake Brandt or Lake Townsend. Greensboro has lots of young ladies (and even a crew of parents) ready to row. Maybe they could even get Greensboro's own Caroline Lind, gold medal Olympic rower, to come home and give the girls a few tips.

That would be simply OAR-some!

Osage Oranges (Not So Orange)

Tis the season of maclura pomifera-  also knows as osage oranges, hedge-apples, horse-apples, bois d'arc, bodark and bodack* The brainlike texture of this fruit looks like something that should be decorating a house at Halloween. Although we've always called this grapefruit-sized, inedible fruit an Osage orange, it is more closely related to the mulberry than an orange. The dense, heavy orbs are filled with a sticky sap that, as old-timey lore has it, repels spiders and insects. Scientific studies show there is some evidence for their effectiveness as an insecticide.

Some refer to the trees and fruit as bois d'arc because early French settlers noticed that Native Americans used the strong, flexible wood in bowmaking. In early America, the trees were planted to serve as natural barbed wire fences as the branches are quite thorny. We think this is a photo of the "orange tree" wood in the Greensboro Arboretum; that would explain the spikes. Recently, we found several Osage oranges on a walking tour of Greensboro's Westerwood neighborhood. It takes a brave person to allow these trees to fruit on one's street; because, if they fall off and hit your car, they leave a pretty serious dent. The Osage orange has some interesting history, some of which is linked to US presidents! Why don't you head out for a nature walk and try to find some, and ...... watch out for that THUMP!

 

* see this reference where we got the general information for this wonder of nature!

Palm Street Christian

We close out the week with a church, located in McAdoo Heights. Palm Street Christian Church was first organized in 1905. Since Moses Cone built Proximity Cotton Mills in Greensboro in 1895*, Palm Street would have served residents of the surrounding mill community. The original building is no longer there and the current, red-brick structure was built in 1950. Palm Street doesn't appear to have a website or Facebook page so church history is not readily available.

If you stand in the church parking lot across the street, you can look to the east and get a great view of Revolution Mills. Three years ago we took this photo from Palm Street's parking lot. In this photo, we are actually at Revolution Mills, and, if you stood at the top of the red water tower, you could see Palm Street. Many of these neighborhood churches struggle for membership. We hope Palm Street will be around for years to come and that someone will make its history readily available digitally. For sure the church has provenance.

* reference.

Fat Cat of McAdoo Heights

The domestic cat is the most popular pet in the world. In the United States, over 73 million cats are owned and three out of ten households own at least one cat* The Greensboro feline, in the above photo, was last seen in the State Street Community Garden on Golden Gate Drive. He roams near the McAdoo Heights houses we featured earlier in the week. He loves to hang out among the raised-bed, garden plots that are mostly empy and fallow for the winter. While a few tomatoes remain, Fat Cat, is not in the garden for the tomatoes. He is in search of little mice and other small rodents. Quite possibly, he is convinced that all the world is a litter pan. He navigates this common area like a deer through a plowed cornfield, running the perimeter knowing exactly where he is going.

With his blue eyes and seal-gray coloring, Fat Cat appears to be part Siamese; with his shiny coat, he appears to be well cared for. We doubt Fat Cat is a feral cat; however, if you have any in your neighborhood, Greensboro has a Feral Assistance Program and there is always an abundance of cats in the Animal Shelter. Join one of the 35 million households and let a feline adopt you today! If you are lucky, your cat will be as pretty as the one featured today.

*reference and the history of laws relating to cats here.

Halloween on Hillside Drive

Last weekend, as we were traipsing the Westerwood Neighborhood for the "Art and Sole" Walking Art Tour, we stumbled upon 312 Hillside Drive. The simplicity of this Halloween-themed door impressed us. A little duct tape, paper plates, plastic fringe and, taaa daaaaa, you've got a festive door. The yellow tabby who owns this house was non-plussed about the fact that his fur was not exactly what the black fur that Halloween holiday expects.

Shotgun House

We're back in McAdoo Heights today to show you a little piece of history. The above home, located at 1918 Golden Gate Drive is significant because, it is said to be the last remaining shotgun house in all of Greensboro that is still used as a house (reference).  This red shingled shotgun, with the white addition in the front, perched above a cement retaining wall, is easily unnoticed as one drives down Golden Gate Drive. 

Shotgun houses were the most popular type of house in the southern states of the USA from the time of the Civil War until the 1920's. Shotgun houses are houses that are usually 12' or less wide and the rooms are built one behind the other without and hallway. Typically, you go from the front porch to the living room to a bedroom (or two) to a back room/kitchen to the back porch.*  They were called shotgun houses because if you fired a gun through the front door, the bullet would go all the way out the back door without hitting anything. This once prevalent model of housing fell out of favor in the 1940's, and, after WWII, was considered substandard. In Greensboro, many houses of this style were torn down during the redevelopment of east Greensboro in the 1960's (reference). 

With that addition in front, it looks like the above home has changed its orientation from front to back to side to side. Shotgun houses are efficient because no space is wasted on hallways; however, they are pretty inconvenient when someone has to walk through your bedroom in the middle of the night to get to the bathroom. Being the last of something, we think the neighborhood (or the city..... or HGTV..) should treat this 644 square foot,  two-bedroom, 1935 home to a restoration-makeover..... landscape and all. It is part of our mill town's history.

 

*reference.... Perhaps the most famous person to have been born in one was Elvis Presley.

 

M is for McAdoo Heights

McAdoo Heights is a neighborhood located just south of State Street, between Elm and Church Streets, on the fringe of Old Irving Park. It was developed in the early 1900's as a commercial and residential community for mill workers. The close-knit community, known as a "town within a city,"  flourished until the 1940's (reference). It had restaurants, a hardware store, grocery stores, a movie theater, a school,many churches, and its own police officer. Street names include: Golden Gate, Newlyn, Macy, Bernard, Roseland, Buffalo, Georgia, Palm, and Shelton. In earlier years, it was also known as "The Heights."

As we drove around this neighborhood last weekend, we did get a sense of the charm of McAdoo Heights. The community garden, on Golden Gate Drive, is just lovely. Many houses are decorated for Halloween and and, the day we were there, several families out enjoying the fall afternoon. The above house, at 200 East Newlyn Street is larger than many of the one-story mill houses in the neighborhood. It was built in the 1928, also a little earlier than many in the neighborhood. The high triangles of the peaked roofline at the entrance are quite welcoming and the light blue door makes it clear where one it to enter. We'd like to think it has the character of an "anchor" house for the neighborhood the way it stands, in all its glory, on the corner of Georgia and East Newlyn.

We wonder if there is a connection between McAdoo Heights and the retired, professional basketball star, Bob McAdoo who is from Greensboro. He graduated from Smith High School (in the late 1960's) and is currently an assistant coach for the Miami Heat. Maybe Coach McAdoo is the keeper of some great information about this cozy little neighborhood with his same name. Any and all pieces of information would be greatly appreciated.

Today is ABC Wednesday and M is for McAdoo Heights. For our A-L neighborhood pages, look here.

 

*informative reference here.

Greensboro's C'EST-MOI Mobile

(Mais ... Qui êtes-vous)?

Today is more light-hearted than usual on GDP. Since we have lots of faithful readers who are Francophiles, we just had to share the "C'EST-MOI" mobile for all to enjoy. Maybe Rice Toyota gives vanity tags for a promotion with purchase as we see so many vanity tags on Rice Toyota vehicles! Given the dealership, we know C'est-moi  has local ties. If you get a chance, ask the "It is I" or "It's me" mobile, who they are... and let us know, please.

Here are some local vanity tags we've shared in the past. (A, B, C, D, E,). Perhaps our favorite is the one related to breast cancer and, since it is breast cancer awareness month, these tags seem especially meaningful to share again.

By the way, yesterday was our most viewed day ever on GDP. Either our vegetables brought readers out of the woodwork or our four years of meeting people and promoting Greensboro are starting to pay off in readership. As much time as we spend on the road driving and meeting people, it is hard to believe that the effortless snapping of veggies in our back yard brought in new readers. Regardless, we love every minute of it. And, hats off to Hugh (see his comment) for realizing yesterday's okra was, largely, too mature to eat! So for today, Hugh is our featured reader.....Hugh.......

C'EST TOI.

Autumn Vegetables

In Greensboro, the temperature dropped significantly yesterday, from what felt like 80 degrees on Saturday to in the 50's on Sunday. Above, you see the produce that we harvested from our back yard yesterday. Chez Mr. and Mrs. GDP, we've opted to nurse along our summer garden a little more, as opposed to being good southerners and planting cold crops (turnips, collards, radishes, mixed greens, broccoli, etc.). We still have okra (purple & green), a few cherry tomatoes, and eggplant.

Additionally, the fruit on our saijo persimmon tree is now ripe. It was so abundant this year that the top snapped off under the weight of the fruit. Saijo means "the very best one" in Japanese and rightfully so. The saijo persimmon doesn't need a pollinator tree, is disease resistent and is hardy in our planting zone. Wish us luck that the remaining half of the two-year-old tree will continue to grow. The photo shows about 1/4 of the fruit from the little tree so you can see what we mean by abundant. We have already turned the pulp from these persimmons into persimmon cake. Although we've enjoyed the fruit, we regret not pruning the tree back and learned our lesson the hard way.

One of Mr. GDP's favorite childhood foods was persimmon pudding, made with wild, native persimmons. The wild variety is labor intensive to prepare for use in the kitchen. The seeds are large and the amount of pulp significantly less than the Asian varieties. It is getting harder to find native persimmons. If you see some for sale, or better yet, free for the picking, please let us know. With each generation, there are fewer and fewer memories of seasonal foods. Just about any food one wants can be imported from somewhere these days. However, nothing beats the spicy tastes of fall... consumed in October and November! Making native persimmon pudding is a North Carolina tradition and is still on our to-do list.

Session House of Bethel Presbyterian

Today, we take you to the session house at Bethel Presbyterian, way out in the eastern end of the county. Above, we see the small facility that dates back to 1875. On the outside, the white wooden structure resembles a one room school house. As you can see, on the inside, it looks a lot like a one room schoolhouse, too.

Here is where the church archives documents relevant to the history of the church. For example, there are receipts showing where people had paid for the priviledge of sitting in the same pew for the year.  There are many photos of church leaders and members over the years housed here. The white, hanging lights at the back wall came from the sanctuary of Bethel. Archiving documents and maintaining a history is particularly important to a church like Bethel that not only has a 200-year history; it also has church members whose families date back to about the founding of the church. To these members, documenting the history is priceless. The little building that houses these memories is priceless, too.

Does your church (or other religious institution) have its history in order? If not, no better time than the present. Happy Sunday, everyone!

Margot Robinson, Artist

Margot Robinson is one of the many talented artistes with a studio in the Creative Center. The Center is located at 900 16th Street, across the street from Buffalo Presbyterian Church, at the western tip of the Billy "Crash" Craddock Bridge. It brings together creative souls from all over the city and offers everything from yoga to Spanish to studio space. Margot shares a very large 3rd floor studio with Karen Dresser whose art quilts can be seen adorning the wall. Karen's abstract figures, as seen above, complement Margot's textured, pottery pieces.

Margot's sculptures are known as peaceful warriors and they are based on Japanese tomb sculptures. Her intent is for the sculptures to bring "a feeling of peace and joy" to their owner. She leaves the eyes hollow; they are the window to the soul. The ambiguous ethnicity of the peaceful warriors leaves much of the interpretation up to the owner. Some of the figures are reminiscent of little Russian grandmothers; others resemble Japanese figures from a different era. Margot shapes something ancient, yet contemporary into each of her clay figures.We met up with Margot (and Karen) last night at the Center, where she treated us to snacks and great conversation.  

Last night's Candlelight Studio Tour at the Creative Center was the perfect way to finish out a great, First Friday. With a drum circle and hula hoopers outside, and artists like Margot inside, we saw firsthand just how vibrant Greensboro's art scene has become.

Autumn Knocks on Knox Road

Autumn is knocking at the door just about everywhere in Greensboro. We see it in the shorter days. We see it in the leaves beginning to turn. The okra has decided it is done blooming and the basil has gone go seed. Squirrels are scampering, collecting acorns from our city's large oak trees. October has got to be one of the loveliest months in North Carolina. Before you know it, the leaves will be at peak.

The above photo was taken in the eastern end of the county on Knox Road just across the street from Twin Oaks Ministry. It reminded us that, before you know it, many Greensboro families will be heading out to maize mazes, spooky woods, and haunted houses. Before we bring on those end of October activities, we'll concentrate on all that the beginning of the month has to offer. Of course tonight is First Friday and so downtown will be hoppin'. Also, from 8:00- 10:00 pm, the Creative Center at 900 16th Street will be holding a candlelight tour and Triad Stage is in full swing. Saturday is the Battleground Brewer's Guild will hold Octoberfest. On Sunday from 12:00- 5:00 pm, Art in the Arboretum will host their annual art and gardening event. If you know of other things and want to share, do add a comment. We'd love to hear what you are up to this weekend.

Battleground Brewer's Guild

The Battleground Brewer's Guild is located on Ballinger Road at Longview Hills. It is one of those rare, hold-out farms in the once bucolic area. Both the Brewer's Guild and  Coble Farm- a stone's throw away on the next hill- are close to being choked out by development. For now, however, the Battleground Brewer's Guild, founded in 2000, looks like it is there to stay.

The brewer's guild is centered around learning to brew and enjoy good beer.  A lot of learning, teaching and enjoying goes on during their monthly meetings. The organization's next big event is a members-only Octoberfest celebration this Saturday. Shortly thereafter, they will hold Skirmish in the Triad (November 3rd), their fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The serendipitious uncovering of Battleground Brewer's Guild had us giddy with excitement this weekend. As we were exploring the Longview Hills neighborhood, we first noticed the cows, then the sign, then the grill, then the hops growing up the string. If you are over 21 and interested in this organization, read more here. Who knows, you may even be able to join soon enough to get in on these events. As for us, we are just thrilled to see cows and farmland so close to town.

L is for Longview Hills

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this round, we're featuring neighborhoods of Greensboro. For "L," we have Lake Jeanette, Latham Park, and Lindley Park, and likely a few others. We selected Longview Hills because we knew very little about the area and wanted to learn more. Longview Hills is a tiny neighborhood, less than a quarter of a square mile in size with a population of almost 350 residents. The neighborhood, extensively developed between 1970-1990, is built on what seems to have been farmland in a part of town that was a large Quaker settlement. The neighborhood has residents with above-average (for Greensboro) rates of bachelor's and master's degree. The neighborhood is close to Guilford College. 

Longview Hills is located just off Ballinger Road between I-73 and New Garden Road. It is a stone's throw from Friends Home and Arcadia Drive.  Buckhorn Road, Gretchen Lane, King George Drive, and Wakefield Place are also part of this neighborhood.  We are actually cheating a little bit as the above property is located at 1100 Rustic Road and Rustic is one street beyond the perimeter of Longview Hills. However, the property, built in 1955, is such a beauty and has probably the best view in the city of Longview Hills. Rustic Road actually becomes Arcadia at the bend in the road, just after this house. Also part of Arcadia runs through Longview Hills. 

We are intrigued by how these neighborhoods of Greensboro got their names and the extent to which the residents see the neighborhood a cohesive entity. The bridge is being rebuild at the Lenord Recreation Center end of the neighborhood; so don't plan on using it as a cut-through!

Campfires and Constellations

Campfires and Constellations is a genre-defying, little-bit-of- Americana, little- bit-of-rock-and-roll, country-with-a driving-beat BAND currently based out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All five musicians are UNC students from North Carolina and, Ernest Thompson, the banjo player (first row, left) is from Greensboro. Ernest developed his banjo style while taking lessons from Greensboro's ever talented Scott Manring. The other instruments represented in the band are guitar, bass, and percussion. The guys have such diverse interests and backgrounds and are talented not only musically but academically. 

The band was in Greensboro last night for a live performance on UNCG's radio station WUAG FM 103.1. If you want to hear their music, go here. If you like what you hear, head on over to the Facebook page for Campfires and Constellations and give them a "like." 

200th Anniversary Honoring of Bethel Veterans

Yesterday, Bethel Presbyterian Church*  held a special ceremony to honor all veterans and members of the Armed Forces affiliated with their church. The program started with a welcome and invocation by the church's pastor, Rev. Paul L. Rhodes. Several veterans and service organizations participated in the service. The event was organized partly to honor the 200 year history of the church and its members.

A rifle salute and cannon salute were conducted by people in uniforms of previous wars. The people in the above photo were dressed in period attire to represent the US Civil War. The woman on the left belongs to the Society of the Black Rose. This organization was established in 1998 to help with memorial services. Wearing a complete period mourning outfit, she is present to remind people of the loss of life during the Civil War.  The Black Rose was named in honor of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, who lost her life trying to help the Confederate Cause.  

The Bethel event also included a flag retirement ceremony and the presentation and raising of a new flag. This fine ceremony was educational to many and meaningful to all who attended.

*Read our earlier post on Bethel Presbyterian here.