Greensboro Daily Photo

Raindrops Keep Fallin'

Summer 2013 has been unbelievable rainy in Greensboro. According to the NOAA's* precipitation and climate charts, rainfall has been above normal in Greensboro and temperatures have been at or below average. August has been unseasonably cool. The above photo was taken in the Battleground Wal-Mart on Saturday during the lull between downpours. This mother daughter team decided to head to their car while it was still drizzling. Local Wal-Marts were PACKED with back to shoppers. This season of open houses is upon us.

If you have children still in school, or know someone who is a teacher, please send some encouraging words their way. Teaching is an all-consuming profession. Also, if you have an extra box of tissues or bottle of hand sanitizer, there is a classroom waiting to welcome it! Perhaps the young lady, above, has school supplies in her navy-battleship gray shopping bag.

*National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Buddha on Roseland Street

Sunday is our day of reflection and a time to share the religions of Greensboro. The above photo was taken on Roseland Street near State Street. This representation of Buddha, sometimes known as Laughing Buddha,  is said to represent contentment. This image is seen everywhere from restaurants to temples to, well, yards around town. It has been said that rubbing his belly brings good luck. The people living in this house must be lighthearted and fun-loving and the figure in their yard is not to be confused with Gautama Buddha. 

If you want to learn more about Buddhism, you may want to consider joining one of the 19 meet up groups between Charlotte and Raleigh. Also, you could visit the Cambodian Buddhist Center in Greensboro. While reading today's post, if you are wondering whether or not Buddhism is a religion, read this Wikki entry or  this article. While you are out and about today, see how many visible signs of Buddhism you can find in Greensboro. Chinese restaurants, Ten-Thousand-Villages type stores, and Roseland Street are great places to start.

Another Fall Season Filled with Aggie Pride

North Carolina A&T University, part of the Southern Conference, is gearing up for a great season of football. Their season opener will be at Appalachian State in Boone North Carolina. The NC A&T Aggies play the Elon Phoenix on September 14th. This should be a great backyard brawl as the wins from the previous seasons are 4-4. The biggest event of the Aggie's season will be homecoming on November 2nd.*  Greensboro turns into an ocean of blue and gold on homecoming weekend. Hotel rooms and venue space are booked sometimes years in advance. 

The above photo of a couple of Aggie fans was taken at Smith High School a few weeks ago and serves as a good reminder that we should always be ready with our folding chairs. If you have instant seating in your car, you can bring it out and enjoy the beauty of fall in Greensboro, whether you are headed to something GIANT like the NC A&T Homecoming Parade or something as touching as sitting in a parking lot waiting for a loved one- as was the case with the above couple.

This week in Greensboro, it already feels like fall football weather as temperatures have dipped a little below 60. So, stash those folding chairs in the trunk of your car, as well as a couple of sweatshirts or blankets. Waterbottles come in handy, too. Here's to AGGIE PRIDE!

*Read more Aggie football news, here.

House on Church

Today's house is located on Church Street, across from Cone Elementary School. Likely, it was a mill house for a family whose members worked at the nearby textile mills. The Cone Mills community was close knit; houses were built in the day when neighbors knew each other. Families spent time on porches and walking around in the neighborhood. Also, getting from point a to point b often involved walking or catching a ride with a co-worker. In the glory days of the mill communities, everybody knew each other.

This outside of the above little white house is spotless and the yard is well cared for, hinting that the owner probably lives there. In the mid-20th century and earlier, smaller homes were common. We predict that the post-McMansion Generation will seek houses like the one above. If you think about it, the younger generation is growing up with "rooms full of stuff" consolidated onto their computer desktop: games, photos, scrapbooks, music, videos, clocks, paperwork, school assignments, books, magazines, you name it. If you are driving around town this weekend, visit Greensboro's mill villages and imagine yourself in one of these historical little homes. Greensboro is right there with the rest of America: Small is the new big. 

The Art of Sunset Hills

Today's photo is of a piece of sculpture located on Ridgeway Drive, near West Market Street. It is also located near the house on Madison Avenue where the Christmas light-ball tradition originated. This area of town, Sunset Hills,  seems to have many artistic people and some very interesting art in yards. We're don't know much about the above sculpture other that it is large, green, and appears to be metal. We'll have to stop and ask the owners next time we see them in their yard. Maybe we can even get them to pose by this outdoor artwork. 

The majority of the homes in Sunset Hills were built in the 1950's, and the neighborhood attracts a lot of people associated with the nearby universities. On the average, Greensboro has less than 4% of people working in the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media industries. Males and females combined, almost 22% of the residents of Sunset Hills are working in those professions. The art and landscaping throughout the neighborhood is a reflection of the creativity of the people dwelling inside.  Drive through the neighbohrood and you will see creativity at work-- or, at play!

E is for Erwin Montessori

Erwin Montessori Elementary School is located at 3012 East Bessemer Avenue where Bessemer is close to intersecting Market Street- four miles from the center of town. Erwin Montessori is named for Clyde Atkinson Erwin (1897-1952) who was a lifelong educator, ultimately serving as Superintendent of Public Instruction. (We can't help but wonder if he is related to the person currently in that position, Dr. June Atkinson). Ethel Stephens Arnett says about Dr. Erwin, "(h)e not only had a clear, pleasing, and convincing voice, but he also had a brilliant, well-balanced mind. When he spoke people listened because he had something to say"  (p. 384).*  That just about the nicest think someone could say about another person. Dr. Erwin was known as an evangel of public education in North Carolina. He fought for funding and and for programs that would help our students, including expanding the school year from 8 to 9 months and establishing a Division of Special Instruction to promote the education of handicapped** children and adults. Due to his national involvement, Dr. Erwin brought considerable positive, national recognition to North Carolina. As an aside, his son was a great educational administrator and, in his earlier years, was a teaching fellow at UNC- Chapel Hill (read Clyde, jr.'s obituary here and more about his dad, here).

In the above photo, you see a sign, advertising Erwin Elementary School, which in 2001 became a Montessori School, teaching not only the North Carolina state curriculum, but also the hands-on, differentiated Montessori curriculum. We can't find a date for when the school was originally built; however, it predates Arnett's (1973) book. If you look at the façade in the photo below, you will see that the school has a Frank-Lloyd Wright-esque, long, low, one-with-its-envoronment architectural style.

Finally, for our faithful readers, you will know that today is ABC Wednesday and this is the "E" contribution to our Greensboro A-Z education series.

 

* (For Whom The Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1973).

** common term used in earlier decades, (read more..... Arnett, p. 389).

Gate City Pharmacy

Gate City Pharmacy is located in the middle of Friendly Center.  They have been a Greensboro institution since 1967. Since their opening, Greensboro has seen a lot of mom-and-pop pharmacies go by the wayside as more and more people get prescriptions from the big box stores and even online. Service has helped Gate City Pharmacy remain in business for forty six years. They are known for compounding prescriptions. They make specialty topical preparations, hormone replacement therapies, veterinary compounds, liquid preparations, and other unique dosage forms.* Additionally, they are known for they way they work hard for their clients. They work diligently to contact doctors' offices to assist clients in getting prescription refills. They remember your name and your needs, are attentive and respect your confidentiality. 

We overheard them at 8:50 tonight, talking about the fact that a woman was on her way for a prescription and that she might arrive a few minutes after closing time.  She was out of her prescription. They waited. They really do go above and beyond for  loyal (and even not so loyal) customers. They are the "Cheers" of pharmacies. Everybody knows your name; everybody knows what you want/needs. They are like the Charlie Brown comic strip. "Friendly advice. The adviser is in."

As seen above, their Friendly Center façade is one of the new ones. It is stunning, especially at night. Finally, the outside canopy may be new, but the inside is a hold-out of good-old-fashioned committment to customers.

*reference.

 

On the Corner of Vernon & Cloverdale

At the corner of Vernon Street and Cloverdale Drive, in the heart of Greensboro, someone has constructed a heavenly little sanctuary. The above corner of the property has a greenhouse, a garden and fabulously planned plantings. The property is down the street from Lawndale Swim and Tennis Club and Joyner Elementary. The neighborhood, tucked between Lawndale Drive and Pisgah Church Road, doesn't get much name recognition; however, if the interactive map is correct, it is known as the Lawndale Homes neighborhood.

 

What do you do to make your dwelling uniquely your own? What do you tell people to look for when they are calling to find your residence? Do you have your street address or apartment number displayed prominently? If we lived at the above address, we would tell people to look for that house that resembles a stave church in Norway. It also reminds us of a place where literary figure Pippi Longstocking would go to have an adventure. Maybe we've just got Scandinavia on our mind today! As they say in Norwegian, "Ha en flott uke!" Swedish, "Ha en bra vecka!" Danish, "Har en god uge!" or Finnish, "On loistava viikko!"-- or in English, "Have a great week!"

Chevrolet with a Message-- or Two

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Sundays is "something spiritual day" on Greensboro Daily Photo. Today's inspiration comes via a white Chevrolet truck that was spotted on Battleground Avenue on tax-free-Sunday last week. The owner was likely shopping the back-to-school specials at Omega Sports. Perhaps purchasing shoes for homeless students.

The "By His Hands" bumper sticker represents a Raleigh-based organization founded October, 2012 by Steven J. Coker. The members work hard to help the homeless in the Raleigh area. Perhaps they have members in Greensboro. Hopefully, this Christian organization is having an impact on a very real problem- people in need of a place to call home.

Are you a "bumper sticker" person? Some drivers love to share their beliefs and affiliations on their vehicle bumpers. Others, prefer to be discrete about their endorsements. And then, there are some people who simply do not want messy bumper stickers on their car. To be sure, there are no questions about the world view of the person in this Chevrolet truck. Happy Sunday, dear readers.

Happy Saturday!

Here is a photo of the Spear YMCA on Horse Pen Creek Road, where yesterday's butterflies were hanging out. The Greensboro YMCA facilities are always busy and, especially in summer, group exercise classes fill quickly. Body pump seems to be trending these days. It is a group exercise class that involves using barbells and works on toning the entire body. No muscle group is neglected, or spared- depending on your perspective.

If you don't get to an exercise class, please allow yourself a little time to get out and enjoy our community. The greenway is always a good option for nature walks and bike rides. For other entertainment, from the giant flea market at Golden Antiques in Summerfield today to the Lego Exhibit at the Alamance Art Council in Graham and everything in between, there is plenty to do. Call a friend or make a friend as you head out for a little break from your routines. Try something new. Happy Saturday!

Oh Butterfles.......

Oh butterflies, what are you dreaming there, fanning your wings?*

This week, the bushes at the Spears YMCA were filled with butterflies. We dropped someone off to exercise at the Y on Horse Pen Creek Road and sat there for an hour just marveling at the beauty of these little miracles of nature. The above butterflies are Papilio Glaucus, Tiger Swallowtail Yellow. It seems like butterflies are "in season" now.  If you see a butterfly and want to identify it, use this must-see butterfly identification page. You can search by everything from main color to range to hindwing underside spot number. 

Did you know that there is a butterfly farm in High Point on Clinard Farm Road? At All-A-Flutter, you can visit, have a picnic and learn. When you need them, they ship butterflies to release for special events. Best of all, they work really hard to maintain a nice habitat for butterflies. If you are looking for something to do tomorrow, head over to one of their family shows (read more here and check prices). It never ceases to amaze us all of the things there are to do and see in the Greensboro area!

 

*Haiku poem by Chiyo-ni (original poem has butterfly singular).

James Benson Dudley

Yesterday's Greensboro Daily Photo post was Dudley High School and today, as promised, we feature the great man behind the name. Dudley High was named for James Benson Dudley (1859-1925)  who was an educator, administrator, scholar, and leader.  J.B. Dudley lived in a pivotal time in America's history. He was born a slave of Governor Dudley of North Carolina and died a prominent North Carolina leader himself.

James B. Dudley was born in Wilmington, New Hanover County and was educated in several  instutions of higher education, including Shaw University , Livingstone College, and Harvard University. From 1896 until his death in 1925, he was President of North Carolina A&T University (originally called The Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race).* During his tenure, the school grew from 25 to 125 acres; from two to thirteen buildings; from 58 to 527 students; from 8 to 28 faculty members.** In 1929, the name James B. Dudley was chosen for the new high school, located a few miles south of NCA&T, in recognition of Mr. Dudley's work for the community.

The above photo was taken on Lincoln Street, at the school's sign (donated by the class of 1976). The book is Mrs. Arnett's, opened to page 184 with the picture of Mr. Dudley, facing the direction of the school. Mrs. Arnett said it best: Mr. Dudley overcame great adversity, including social injustices and "instead of becoming disheartened, he was inspired to a life of useful activity" (p. 181) and was a friend of all races with good will to all humanity. If not every North Carolina public school student, at least the students at his namesake high school, should read the biographical information about James B. Dudley.

* reference.

**reference Ethel Stephens Arnett's book, For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina.

D is for Dudley High School

Dudley High School, built in 1929, is located at 1200 Lincoln Street in East Greensboro. Dudley was Guilford County's first black high school, back in the day when our local school system was segregated. While Dudley High is no longer segregated by law, according to the school's website, the student body is 89% African American.  Dudley enjoys great support from the surrounding community and there are many intergenerational events where present, future, and past students come out to support the school.

Extensive renovations and additions have been made to the Dudley campus over the last several years. Great effort was made to maintain the historical features of the original façade while incorporating 21st century technology and other modern features. Dudley is a state of the art learning institution and its mission is "to prepare students to become lifelong learners, critical thinkers and productive citizens in today's global society." The above photo shows just a tiny bit of the campus, which extends a city block.

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for Greensboro's A-Z education series, D is for Dudley High School. (See A-C, here). Stop back tomorrow to learn about James B. Dudley, for whom the high school is named.

 

 

National Night Out on Queen's Court

It is the first Tuesday in August, which means that it is time for National Night Out!

Locally, the Greensboro Police Department sponsors this community-building, crime and drug prevention program. Greensboro has won awards for our efforts in this event. Locally, over 100 neighborhoods participate. Hopefully, regardless of where you live, you are celebrating the event tonight.

The above photo was taken on a green-space island within a cul-de-sac on Queen's Court. Queen's Court is located in the Kirkwood neighborhood off of Lawndale (near Target). If their Fourth of July celebration is any indication, Kirkwood will celebrate National Night Out in style- block parties, cookouts, porch lights aglow, children playing outside past their bedtime, and more. From the looks of the above raised tomato bed, park bench, bird bath and decorative tables, Queen's Court celebrates National Night Out 365 days a year!

On Lee Street

The above business is located on Lee Street, between the UNCG and the Greensboro Coliseum. It is an auto body repair shop. Unfortunately, we didn't get the name of it, but really liked the way it was painted and the architecturally interesting circle at the front of the building. It makes us wonder who built the building and why it has this shape. As Lee Street changes before our eyes, these one-storey businesses will have trouble remaining. The trend is to replace them with buildings with larger and taller buildings. However, if Greensboro didn't change, people would say we were behind the times. The situation is slightly a Catch-22.

As for today's post; hopefully, a reader can tell us about this interesting place. In the meantime, we'll give it an A for creativity and uniqueness. Besides, a sky like that can make just about anything look beautiful. It would be a great place for a math teacher to bring students to measure.

Northside Baptist Church

Northside Baptist Church is located not far from Cone Elementary School, in the heart of the Cone Mill village community. Specifically, the church is located at the corner of Cypress and East Cornwallis streets. Cypress is one of those streets that gets fragmented due to new roads being added. It starts over near State Street and ends in the Aycock Historic District. The above church is near State Street.

Northside Baptist's history is tied to Cone Textile Mills and its roots date to the early 20th century. Fortunately, the church has worked hard to document its history, some of which is available here. As noted on their church website, by the time they set about to document their history, no founding members were alive to interview. However, through records and long-time members, they've managed to document a great deal of their early history. Northside Baptist began with a mere twelve members in a time when people walked everywhere and, for those twelve members, likely, the church was a stone's throw from their porches. While times have changed, the church's beliefs have not. If you are seeking a dynamic, traditional Baptist church with a lot of history and a vision for its future, visit Northside.

Happy Sunday, folks. See our other religion related posts, here. And stop back next Sunday to see what gets featured next.

On the Corner of Bluford and Dudley

The weekend is a great time to get out and explore Greensboro's diverse neighborhoods. This old house is located on the corner of Bluford and Dudley, across the street from NC A&T University and not far from War Memorial Stadium. Imagine what it must have been like sitting on that porch when this house was first built, back when foot traffic and trolleys were going strong in East Greensboro. Imagine sitting on the porch and listening to baseball games on warm summer evenings. Imagine sitting on the porch when the NCA&T events were happening. Unfortunately, by the signs in the window, this ole' house appears to be on the chopping block. 

We've driven by this white and blue house for years, en route to the Yanceville Curb Market. The nearby Aycock Historic District, just north of this house, seems to have been a little more successful at defining itself as a neighborhood than this neighborhood just south of it.  Does anyone know what will be built here? Greensboro is changing so fast, it is hard to keep up with all of the new projects.

New Sidewalk on Cone Boulevard

Cone Boulevard is getting a sidewalk!  The above view was taken between Battleground and Lawndale. Sidewalks-- also known as footpaths, footways, platforms, and pavement-- make it more conducive to walking along a road, and help distance pedestrian traffic from motor vehicles. We're not sure how far this section is extending; however, to be sure, walking on Cone just got a little safer. Typical of sidewalk construction in the United States, the above sidewalk is made of concrete. Sometimes, the contractor stamps his name into the concrete. If the contractor is lucky, the sidewalk cures before children get a chance to carve their initials in it.

Check here to see where the recent and next pieces of sidewalk will be popping up in Greensboro. See also this document, (scrolling down to the section on pedestrian improvements) to follow planned improvements for walkers and runners. Consider putting our sidewalks to good use and get out and walk this weekend. Remember, First Friday is celebrated downtown this evening. Find a friend and START WALKING!

Got FLOWERS?

Well, GDP has been a little heavy on posts of buildings lately; so, today, we're bringing you a summer bouquet. Where do you go in Greensboro to get flowers? Today's bouquet was a gift and we think it came from Fresh Market. They, along with Harris Teeter, are a good local source of flowers. The grocery stores are a nice alternative to the FTD florists. While we love our florists, it is convenient to be able to 'grab and go.'  

It would be nice for Greensboro to have a flower market. There are a few places around, like the Yanceville Curb Market and the Farmer's Wife (behind Natty Greene's), where you can find unique flowers and construct your own bouquet. To an extent, you can do this with the flower vendors at the Sandy Ridge Farmers Market. However, we could do with a good flower market or even a small stand. What do you think? If you need a business idea.... Happy Thursday.... there it is!

C is for Cone Elementary

Caesar Cone Elementary School is located on Churh Street, behind Page High School. It is named after the textile mill owner of the same name. Cone School, built by Cone to accommodate the children of mill workers, was originally located on 16th Street. The above building, the second iteration of Cone School,  was constructed in 1935 with funds from the WPA and the Proximity Manufacturing Company (now Cone Mills).* Cone (1859-1917) believed that happy families resulted in productive employees, a philosophy worthy of resurrecting today.

The above building was modernized in the early 1990's. While many changes were made on the inside, the outside was preserved. Also, a new brick building for Kindergarten students opened on-site, fall 2002. Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our A-Z Education in Greensboro series, C is for Caesar Cone Elementary School

*We found this information about the history of Cone Elementary on their website. We applaud Cone Elementary for maintaining and sharing their school's history, something we encourage EVERY school to do. They also site two references: Ethel Arnett's book, "For Whom the Public Schools Were Named" and the May 29th, 1971  edition of the Greensboro Daily News article, written by Joe Knox.

North Carolina Museum of Art 2013

The above photo is of the West Building of the North Carolina Museum of Art. While the museum is in Raleigh, not Greensboro, we like to feature it once in a while; because, truly, this museum belongs to the people of North Carolina. In 2011, we featured the NCMA, here. As stated in the post two years ago, North Carolina was the first state to earmark funds for a museum. Since NCMA is a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and a public institution, there is never a charge to tour the permanent exhibits. The exhibits span over 5,000 years- from Ancient Egypt to the present.

Did you notice the metal tree in the left of the above photo? It is a 43-foot tall hand-wrought, stainless steel tree that shines in front of the West Building. Read about this great, ever-changing-with-the-time-of-day, work of art here. And, if you haven't been to the museum in a while, it is a must-take day trip from Greensboro. You owe it to yourself to visit this great place at least once a year!

Greensboro Dance Theatre: Then and Now

Greensboro Dance Theatre, now (above). Greensboro Dance Theatre, then... as in a little over a week ago (below).

We always wanted to get a photo of the red façade for Greensboro Dance Theatre with real dancers standing around talking, to the left of the above painted dancers. However, as you can see from the first photo, staging a photo with the painted bailarinas is no longer an option. Like we've been telling you, Battleground Avenue is changing before our eyes. Greensboro Dance Theatre is located at 2604 Battleground Avenue and they're striking while the iron is hot and freshening up their look in time for fall registration. According to their Facebook page, they are "Greensboro's most award winning school." 

We have to make a little pun here. We're sharing this post with Oakland, CA's  Monday Mural meme. If you live in North Carolina, you'll understand when we say, "They've got Mural Monday and we've got Moral Monday." If you haven't heard about Moral Monday, read here in the Huffington Post. Whether, to you, Monday means murals, protesting, the beginning of the work week, planning a week for your household, taking care of your children, or just another day on the calendar, HAPPY MONDAY, dear readers! And, congrats to the GDT dancers and teachers; may they have a great 2013-2014 season!

Tabernacle Baptist Church on Aycock

Tabernacle Baptist Church is located at 1201 South Aycock Street, in the Glenwood neighborhood between the Coliseum and UNCG. In addition to Sunday services, they have Wednesday Bible study, outreach ministries (in Haiti) and so much more. They even have a Facebook page! We are featuring them as part of our Sunday series on religion, which we've been featuring for 4 1/2 years. We are starting to wonder if anybody knows how many houses of worship can be found in Greensboro. Our Sunday supply is nowhere near exhausted. We really entertain suggestions for Sunday posts. Also, we encourage all religious organizations to maintain some kind of archive and to share it online. We'd love to know the year this church was built and a little bit about the congregation over the years. Maybe some young member can take on this task, of course asking one of the old timers to share a little bit of the oral history! Happy Sunday, folks- regardless of what you believe and celebrate!

The WORX

The weekend is upon us and downtown Greensboro will be full of people. Above, we see "The Worx" a new restaurant at 106 Barnhardt Street.  A couple of years ago, Barnhardt was a sleepy little patch of space that was near the railroad tracks. Now it is a vibrant space hosting events, providing parking, and building community downtown. The Worx is an example of an old brick building, from the early 20th century,  that has been restored to its original spendor-  and then some. Greensboro has done a great job of keeping an historical look to buildings while making them relevant to 21st century needs. Don't the people in the above photo look like they are enjoying themselves? Hope to see you downtown soon. If not this weekend, perhaps on First Friday? 

On Prescott St.

As we wrap us this week, we share a house on Prescott Street between Battleground Avenue and West Smith Streets, very near Green Hill Cemetery. Also, it is located near all of the construction downtown.  The home is also close to the baseball stadium and the downtown greenway. To imagine that this little house has survived as a single family dewlling, in the midst of all of the changed, is unbelievable. The little stone wall is characteristic of the type of walls built around Greensboro in the early 20th century. 

If you are out driving this weekend try to find some of these special nooks and crannies in Greensboro. There really is a great deal to see.

Ham's Restaurant on Friendly; Gone But Not Forgotten

The first Ham's Restaurant opened in Greensboro in 1935. The above Ham's was located on Friendly Avenue near Aycock Street, between UNCG and Friendly Center. It was a Greensboro institution for decades, and in the mid 1990's, it was the only Ham's in Greensboro. The above  photo was taken at the Friendly Avenue property on a rainy day. To the left, the plastic tarp covering the window, shows where the iconic mural greeted customers. While the above eviscerated building is about to take on a new life, the latest Ham's has opened on South Elm Street. Along the way, Ham's has become known as a chain of seven community restuarants

In Greensboro, the economy seems to be on the rebound. If we've had any theme on GDP this summer, it is the fact that Greensboro is a changing, dynamic place. One business closes, and another opens. To be sure, it is not your Grandfather's city. If you look closely, above the entrance, you can see the former letters for the establishment. HAM'S.......Happy Thursday, folks!

B is for Brooks Global

Brooks Global Elementary School is a year-round school, located at 1215 Westover Terrace-- sharing a campus with Grimsley High School. While Brooks Global Elementary offers the traditional elementary curriculum, it adds an overlay of multulculturalism and global studies. One need only walk down the hallway to see firsthand the efforts to put the world at the fingertips of these young learners. Bright paintings and great artwork help teach about our diverse world. Unfortunately, when we drove by earlier in the week for a photo shoot, IT WAS RAINING (surprise, surprise). This great school is just the opposite of gloomy and gray.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this round, we're featuring A-Z Education in Greensboro. We selected Brooks because it was named for a State Superientendent of Public Instruction, Eugene Clyde Brooks.  Mr. Brooks (1871-1947) was  the superintendent from 1919-1923.  He also served as president of NC State (then, College of Agriculture, now, University). Were Mr. Brooks alive today, he would be proud to have such a successful globally-minded school named after him.

If you want to see more photos of Brooks Global Elementary (established 1950), look here. And, happy ABC Wednesday!

Summer Fun

Summer is here, rain and all! Today's photo features the celebratory yard on  Holden Road. This yard features plywood letters for just about every holiday, from Labor Day to Father's Day and everything in between. Located across from Starmount Country Club, the little brick house with the big front yard houses people with big hearts who bring much pleasure to those of us driving along Holden Road. For today, the sign says it all........ S.U.M.M.E.R.

Dow Corning Company

The Greensboro division of the Dow Corning company is located on 2914 Patterson Street, down from the Coliseum. Dow Corning is a global silicone supplier. The company is equally owned by the Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. Dow Corning , headquartered in Midland, Michigan, was established in 1943, specifically to explore the potential of silicones.*  Dow Corning's first product was silicone grease that made it possible for airplanes to fly at high altitudes. We're not sure what products are made in Greensboro, but the company is another example of the presence of the science and chemical industry in our community. With the public schools woking hard to prepare students for science, technology, engineering, and mathmatics (S.T.E.M.) careers, it seems like Dow Corning would be a good place for internships and field experience.

In addition to the business side of the company, Dow Corning funds the Edible Schoolyard educational programs at the Children's Museum. The Edible Schoolyard teaches children about food sources, cooking, the ecosystem, and sustainable living. How wonderful to have a corporation that is so committed to Greensboro's children. If you get a chance, stop by and see the edible schoolyard on North Church Street, across from the Central Branch of the Public Library. In the meantime, if you see someone from Dow Corning, thank them for funding the schoolyard!

*reference.

Play. Love. Pray.

Sundays, we try to post something religious or spiritual.* Sometimes it is a house of worship; sometimes it is a view of nature. This week, we share a photo of the most recent City Market- an event which pops up the third Thursday of the month, between Barnhart and Lewis Streets. During last Thursday's City Market, music was playing as were children. Adults were shopping, relaxing with friends and family, and enjoying the sights and sounds of our city.

Throughout the nation, this week has brought heavy conversations over Trayvon Martin's death, the results of the trial, and the fact that not all Americans feel truly equal and equally safe. Even President Obama weighed in on the matter. In memory of Trayvon Martin, several people in Greensboro assembled on West Market street yesterday. It is hard to know what it will take for our Nation to come together and truly feel like one Nation.

Seeing the musicians and the children in the above photo is uplifting. All were having a blast, enjoying not only the event, but also each other. We can only hope that our youngest generation will have an equal chance to have equal lives.  Perhaps the answer is to play, love, pray. Together.

*see previous spiritual, Sunday posts, here.

Thursday Evening at Herbie's Place

Thursday nights is Volkswagen Night at Herbie's Place on Battleground Avenue. It is a great time to come and share car stories about vintage VWs, get parts, and learn about volkswagens. The Good Ole Volks Club of Greensboro (estblished 2000) is the group that organizes the event. They also organize road trips. The Volkswagen bug, a German innovation, has been around since 1938, so there is seventy-five years of information about the "people's car" out there to share. From the looks of the crowd last Thursday, the event is well attended. From the GDP photo four years ago, it appears that some of the same cars are attending. 

It is so wonderful to find people who share your common interests. If you are local and love VW's, the Herbie's meet-up is for you. If you have other interests, it may just be up to you to start an interest group. If you do, let us know, and we'll try to get out to feature your group!

West Smith and North Eugene

Summer is the time of construction, and before construction comes demolition. Above, you see, literally and figuratively, the sun setting on the 50,000 square foot building, formerly the service department of  North State Chevrolet, at the corner of West Smith and North Eugene Streets. D.H. Griffin is on site doing demolition duty, alongside Lomax Builders who are preparing to build a four-story building called "Greenway at Stadium Park." * As the name suggests, you should be able to watch the home Grasshoppers' games from the roof of the new apartments. There has been so much construction around Greensboro lately.

If you haven't been here in a while, you will do a double take as you drive around town. Here is a photo of the Greenway at Fisher Park apartments across the street. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to sit beside the pool and watch the new property be constructed before our eyes. You may recall that the Greenway rest stop is currently being built just down the street (here) and Deep Roots Co-op is just across the street.  We'll print another photo when the project is completed. Happy Friday, dear readers. If you get a chance this weekend, drive down West Smith Street and see this desert-looking landscape and watch construction in process.

*reference and full article here.

Outdoor Exercise

The Greenway at Spring Garden Street is readily identifiable by its fancy paintwork. However, this summer, it has also served as one of the outdoor exercise spots for the Bryan Y. Tuesday evenings, weather permitting, an exercise class takes place here underneath the Freeman Mill Road overpass. This intergenerational group has a lot of fun and encourages each other through the fitness event. Their are also classes given near the fountain in Center City Park.

If you are local, you might want to call the Bryan Y (here) to learn more. If you are not local, or already belong to another fitness facility, perhaps you could encourage your instructor to hold a class out of doors. Hats off to any organization that finds fun, creative ways to get people exercising. If you get a chance, pump up your bike tires, call a friend and try out Greensboro's Greenway. It was built for all of us.

A is for Aycock Middle School

Dear GDP Readers: Here we go again with a NEW round ABC Wednesday. That puts us back to A and, for Round 13, we're going to try to share A-Z education themed-posts. You might find buildings, named after people significant in North Carolina's history. You might find people currently involved in education. Who knows what you'll find for A-Z schools/Greensboro & education. To be sure, we'll get very creative near the end of the alphabet. We'll also rely on John Batchelor's book, "The Guilford County Schools: A History" and Ethel Stephens Arnett's book, "For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina."

Today is A for Aycock Middle School, located in the Aycock Historic District, northeast of downtown Greensboro. The Aycock neighborhood got its start in 1895 when Caesar Cone paved Summit Avenue, the road that connected downtown Greensboro to Cone Mills.*  Imagine having a paved road in the 1800's! Some of Greensboro's finest families, including some of Cone's relatives, lived along the way.

Aycock School, opened in the 1920's and, on 8/30/1922, named for North Carolina's "education" governor, Charles B. Aycock. Aycock became governor in 1901 and died in 1912; however, in his lifetime, he was responsible for building close to 3,000 schools. Aycock School  is currently a 6-8th grade middle school that teaches not only neighborhood (attendance zone) students, it is also a magnet for Spanish immersion and science and technology, attracting student from around the county who want to maintain their Spanish fluency or those who want a heavy science component in their courses. 

See what the rest of the world is sharing for A on  ABC Wednesday .

Also, share your memories of Aycock School in our comment section!

*reference

Gate City Animal Hospital

Yesterday, we featured a mural full of much-loved pets. Having a pet is tremendously rewarding; however, it is a big financial committment. Today, we share a much-needed place when one has pets: A full-service veterinary facility. Gate City Animal Hospital is just that. They will take care of your pets from birth and see them through the senior years. Gate City, established in 1997 and located at 202 Pisgah Church Road, also has grooming and boarding services.

Gate City opened their office during the housing boom of the 1990's, when the lake Jeanette and North Church Street areas were growing so quickly. 

The above facility looks especially beautiful with the sunflowers at the front entrance and the bright blue sky reflecting off the picture window. Hats off to Gate City's great service and their great landscaping. While the latter doesn't generate revenue, it goes a long way towards making the establishment feel welcoming. Maybe the dogs and cats notice it too!

Pet City Mural = Win, Win, Win!

The Burger Spot at 3750 North Battleground is a Greensboro start-up, burger establishment that not only serves great burgers, they also help out the community. Each of these lovely critters in the above mural belongs to someone local who gave a donation to get their pet included the painting. The pets have names on their collars and deceased pets have halos. For $60, local student and artist, Jessica Oddono, paints a likeness from a photo or from an actual visit by the animal. Of the $60 fee, $25 is donated the Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network and the remaining $35 goes to helps keep Jessica from being a starving student & starving artist. Pets are encouraged to return to see his/her portrait in this outdoor seating area. 

We call this idea "win, win, win," because Red Dog Farm benefits, Jessica gets her work featured in a public space, and she has a way that helps support herself through her art. Plus, local citizens get to see their pet's portrait every time they stop for a burger. Oh, we could add another win for the Burger Spot for thinking up such a clever way to put some life into a formerly-drab wall. This is a very 21st century way to do business! If your pet is featured on the wall and you want your pet's portrait with the two of you in front of the painting, let us know in the comment line and we just may be able to feature you on Greensboro Daily Photo!

If we can find the link to the meme, we're sharing this post with the world through Mural Monday. We think it is managed by Oakland Daily Photo......

Heaven and Earth

The above is an aerial view of Greensboro on approach to the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Since Greensboro's terrain doesn't include any mountains, views like this one are only seen from an airplane. Sundays, we try to post something spiritual* and seeing Greensboro's verdant landscape against the backdrop of rainfilled clouds and blue skies is about as glorious as it gets. This summer has been especially verdant with all of the rain. We are thankful that we live in a community that is beautiful on so many levels.

Happy Sunday, folks. Whatever your religious beliefs may be, bless you, dear readers. Enjoy the world around you and make the most of the time you have on Earth.

*see previous Sunday photos here.

Four for Fore!

Even though the title is 'Four for Fore', actually there are six golfers in the above photo. Golf is a popular sport in Greensboro and we have golf courses in all parts of town, at all price points, and involving all levels of membership. Today's photo was taken on the farm course of the Greensboro Country Club.

Golf in many southeastern cities has suffered this summer with the excessive rain and Greensboro is no exception. If weather permits, and you want to try to golf in our area, find your options at one of our many courses, here. And, if you are interested in the fabulous 104+ history of golf at the Greensboro Country Club, read here and  learn about its humble start at the corner of Summit Avenue and Dewey Street where people played free of charge.

Hope you are enjoying your Saturday in Greensboro. We're running around trying to see if we can come up with a theme for this next round of ABC Wednesday! Stay tuned! And , heads up, if you hear someone yell "fore".

West Lee Street

West Lee Street is changing before our eyes! Today's photo is not very glamorous; however, it shows the construction taking place at the edge of the Glenwood neighborhood at the 900 block of West Lee. This area is very close to UNCG and where the University has a big redevelopment project in process (read more here). At one time, Oakland Avenue used to define the southern boundary of UNCG; not the case any more. We hope that the Glenwood neighborhood and the University work together to keep both entities happy, because the area is growing and looking very upscale.

If you get a chance, drive along West Lee Street this weekend. You will be amazed at the changes. Construction projects are abundant throughout Greensboro these days, not only near UNCG, but in the community at large. Should we conclude that the local economy is improving? Regardless, have a great weekend in our great city and take advantage of some of the staycation options mentioned in Biz Journals this week!

Antonio's Lilies at Adelaide's

Today, we share Antonio's lilies which he so graciously brought to Adelaide's shop on Spring Garden Street. Antonio grows them in his yard and brings them to the shop, usually on Thursdays, so that customers can enjoy their beauty all weekend long. The above pink lilies are a lot more common than the yellow ones he cultivates (see below). The pink ones look just perfect on the farm table in the front of the store.

We love to stop by Adelaide's Vintage Home and Garden Store any day; however, this time of year is especially fun. Antonio and Adelaide have so many freshly painted vintage items in stock, especially furniture, in anticipation of the return of Greensboro's college students. If you want first pick, stop by before college students start setting up house in early August. This week, they have lots of beach-house chic items as well as a range of mood-lifting yellows and, as always, their special blend of antique white. 

Greensboro is lucky to have so many Pintrest-perfect shops like Adelaide's. We wish we could spend time exploring Greensboro's stores every day. What places have you discovered recently?