Greensboro Daily Photo

Goodbye 2013

Driving west on I-40, just outside of Greensboro, we saw this truck in tow. The exact model truck on the front was pulling this truck on the back. Reflecting at the end of a calendar year, we look back while moving forward, sort of like the scene in the above photo. We can't do anything about what is behind us in 2013, but we can control where we go in 2014. 

Happy New Year's Eve; don't drink and drive and do be careful on the road. From the littlest country lane to be biggest of highways, the rules of the road are to be respected. And remember, when driving behind those big trucks on the road, whether you are on I-40 or elsewhere, if you can't see the mirrors, the driver can't see you! We want you to enter the new year happy and healthy, dear readers!

 

Indie Bookstore on Elm Street

Independent Scuppernong Books has opened in downtown Greensboro at 304 South Elm Street. They perk up their little neck of the Gate City and bring a much-needed bookstore to the downtown area. As seen above, Scupernong is one long room of floor to (almost) ceiling books. It is named for North Carolina's state fruit the scuppernong grape. The store also has a children's section and a coffee and wine bar. So far, they are doing a good job of attracting readers of all ages. 

The building is owned by Greensboro City Council member Nancy Hoffman who has plans for the other floors of the building. It will be interesting to see if the neighboring buildings become part of this block's renewal. In the meantime, we'll enjoy the 3,200-square-foot space featured above. As you are making a New Year's resolution, consider either reading more yourself or hooking someone else on books. Stores like Scuppernong are great because they aren't overly cluttered. They have just enough inventory to intice you to look and not so much that you are overwhelmed. Good luck, Brian and Greg!

Sunrise on North Battleground

After a frenetic and over stimulating December, for today's Sacred Sunday shot, we are sharing a simple, winter sunrise. The image was captured at North Battleground Avenue on the very spot where Laddie and Duke's Restaurant used to be located. The lot is now vacant and it is very convenient (and safe) to pull off the road in the BP Station to take photos. The gas station is up on a little hill so the view is perfect.

Many religions value meditating, sitting silently and clearing one's thoughts. This mental calibration is so peaceful and, early morning it can take place anywhere, even on Battleground Avenue. On this last Sunday of the year, allow yourself time, first, to indulge in mental relaxation, then, to ponder the beauty and joy you've experienced the last 12 months. If you are a planner, think forward with positive thoughts about your next twelve glorious months on earth. Imagine how you will make things around you positive and meaningful. 

If Greensboro can be this beautiful, surely, heaven will be, too- less the power line.

Art is All Around Us and Books Should Be Too!

In Greensboro, art is all around us and, sometimes, where we least expect it. The above photo features artwork from the Guilford County Schools. For the month of December, these paintings of winter trees have been featured throughout Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Friendly Center. We think they're part of the collection displayed by Jesse Wharton Elementary School. Notice the way the REAL winter trees, outside- beyond the window glass,  serve as a backdrop to the painted trees- inside.

Bookstores serve such an important purpose in a community. They are a place to fall in love with books, meet up with friends, and to enjoy community events. Getting the children into the bookstores to see their artwork and to look at books while they are at it, is a good thing. Can you imagine a community without brick and mortar bookstores? What if a community were judged by the number of bookstores (new & used) it supports? Greensboro has Barnes & Noble, Edward McKay, and now Scuppernong Books downtown. If Facebook facts are correct, 70% of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in five years. Let's all make it our New Year's resolution to not only go to a bookstore, but to take a friend with us. While we are at it, we can resolve to read more books, whether we buy, borrow, or download them. Are you in? 

We're sharing this post with our great friends at Weekend Reflections. 

At Bessemer & North Elm

Today's photo shows dotted clouds in a bright blue sky. Heading on North Elm at the intersection with Bessemer, just south of Wendover, drivers have so many options. You can head north, eventually reaching the Virginia border. To the right, you will find east Greensboro, to the left, Fisher Park. Get on Wendover and the gas tank, time and patience are the limit.

This part of North Elm used to be full of private homes; stately and beautiful. Many of Greensboro's prominent families lived here, just north of Downtown Greensboro. The gray house behind the two white cars is one such example of the lovely homes built here. Now, most of these homes have some type of business in them. Still, this section of North Elm retains some of it's early 20th century charm. Regardless of where you are today, we hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy this glorious and hopeful time of year.

 

L'Italiano Ristorante

Yesterday, we featured a father and son in downtown Greensboro. Today, we feature a mother and daughter. They are in L'Italiano Ristorante at 219 South Elm Street. The daughter looks simply precious with her mother's haircut and choice in clothing. They appeared to be having a good time. 

If you are out for Boxing Day, returning gifts, or just wanting something other than ham and turkey, a little pizza on Elm just may do the trick. This little restaurant has the look of a New York City pizza place. The prices are great and they have a great Caprese salad. Whatever you decide to do (or eat), we hope you have a GREAT day today! 

Oh Christmas Balls... ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)

Ridgeway Avenue is bumper-to-bumper cars as people drive to admire Greensboro's homegrown tradition of hanging Christmas light balls high in the trees. The tradition got its start 18 years ago in Greensboro.  Alison Smith North is attributed to creating the balls. Over the years, a few neighbors down the street from the Smiths, in Sunset Hills,  joined in. Before long, it became somewhat expected for each homeowner to participate. Now, there is even a 5K run through the neighborhood to appreciate the decorations. The whole effort has resulted in a giant fundraiser for local food banks. 2,500 people participated in the run, which resulted in earning over $32,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank. Additionally, non-perishable food is collected in boxes throughout the season. If you live nearby, you really should drive through this Christmas wonderland. You won't be the only one. As you can see in the above photo, vehicle traffic is steady. 

We cannot look at this image without thinking of a poem by North Carolina poet Zoe Kincaid Brockman (1893-1973)- published in Richard Walser's (1963) book, "Poets of North Carolina."

 

                                CHRISTMAS EVE

            A pine branch is so wholesome and so sweet,

            I hang a pungent wreath above my door,

            (Do angels sing at midnight any more,

            And are they heard above the blatant street?)

 

            My string of colored lights is gay and new,

            In my small room the tree stands straight and high,

            (Is there a special star to light the sky

            Whose wintry arch is tranquil and so blue?)

 

            Dear God, there's only tinsel in my hand,

            And sprigs of green and little, foolish lights,

            (My heart remembers far Judean heights,

            And you, I think, will see and understand).

                                                .

Looking Like Christmas

Jules Antiques and Fine Art is located at 530 South Elm Street. It has been owned by Agnes Preston-Brame and Gary Brame since 2007. The dynamic husband-wife team are both business people who have been in contracting and interior design and owned other businesses in Greensboro before opening Jules Antique.  Before their proprietorship, Mary of Rhyne's Corner Cupboard had the shop there. Antiques have dominated this section of Elm Street for a very long time.

The Brame's ecclectic shop contains everything from costume jewelry to original works of art. Agnes herself is a successful artist and during First Friday on December 6th, her paintings were on display in the gallery on the second floor of the store. The above photo was taken at Jules from the stairs leading to the second floor gallery. It captures the energy of the crowds that have been flocking to downtown during this hoilday season. The Christmas lights and foam deer antlers makes us think that, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas- at Jules, Greensboro and beyond. 

Nativity Scene 2013

 

With so much darkness in the winter sky, we welcome the bright and colorful nativity scene on the lawn at Centenary Methodist Church  on Friendly Avenue. Centenary UMC, as with all churches worldwide, are in the heart of the Advent season awaiting the magical moment of Christmas.  Centenary UMC had its steeple toppled a few years ago in a storm. Today, the steeple is whole again; the church is offering contemporary and traditional services and they continue to be a hub of activity near Sunset Hills and Friendly Shopping Center.

With the winter solstice yesterday, we now enter the time with increasing light, which will give us more time to ride around and enjoy the beauty of Greensboro. Happy Sunday, dear readers, whether you are spending it with a faith community, family and friends, or alone. May the now-growing-longer days be everything you want them to be. And, if you are homebound, we've got five years of pictures of Greensboro you can peruse on this website.

Gate City Yarns

The lady in the window is admiring all of the yarn creations at Gate City Yarns, downtown on Elm Street. Gate City Yarns has quality fiber supplies as well as classes in knitting, crocheting, and all kinds of classes. If you are interested in learing more about fiber arts, this is a great place to start. The store has been open for several years now and the staff is more than happy to help you learn how to felt, crochet, or do just about anything you can think of with natural fibers. Handmade items are more popular than ever before and Greensoro has many fiber artists with their own small businesses. With only four more days until Christmas, you might not have time to knit anybody anything; however, you might have time to get out and appreciate things others in the community have made.

We're sharing this photo with Weekend Reflections where a little bit of glass and light is derigueur. Oh, and if you want to give us a Christmas gift, the best thing you can do is get a few of our friends to start visiting our website or to follow up on twitter. For us, you make this effort all worthwhile!

Sedgefield Country Club

The Sedgefield Country Club, located off of High Point Road and south of Greensboro, came in to being in 1926 at what had previously been the Sedgefield Inn. The golf course at the club is recognized internationally and has attracted golfers like Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gary Player, and Ben Hogan, all of whom participated in the Greater Greensboro Open . Sedgefield continues as a regular golf tournament, now known as the Wyndam Golf Championship, on the PGA tour.

The above photo features the clubhouse, a place that is especially busy during the holiday season. Countless holiday brunches and gatherings are held here, annually. The club has done a great job of staying vibrant and viable even in years that have been difficult financially.  Sedgefield is now part of the McConnell Golf property, as is the Cardinal Golf Course. Between North and South Carolina, the McConnell group has eight properties (reference). So, Sedgefield Country Club maintains its tradition, history, and cozy feel,  while spreading its wings into a bigger corporate network.

The photo below features a fox, now inside on the mantle of the above clubhouse. Perhaps it was hunted on the grounds at Sedgefield. Happy Friday, dear readers.

 

Full Moon over Greensboro

Tuesday, December 17 the moon was full and it lit the sky over Greensboro to the extent that you could have gone out dancing with your friends without any other light. It seemed like sunset as the moon was dipping below the horizon just after 6am. The above photo represents our effort to capture the moon.

The first time we featured a full moon on GCP, we had a great discussion with fellow Greensboro blogger, Preston Earle, whose blog was called "Sawdust for Brains." He spent a great deal of effort trying to help us understand how to photograph the moon. While we didn't quite follow all of the technical aspects of his tutorial, we can't point a camera towards the moon without thinking of him. Mr. Earle died on January 2nd, 2012 and we wonder if he is up there cheering on our efforts. As we approach Christmas, let us take a moment and remember those who aren't with us and find joy in the memories of good times with them. Two more days until the winter solstice and, before you know it, the days will be getting longer. As for the above photo, Mr. Earle, this one's for you! 

W is for Western High School

The above photo is of the front entrance of Western High School, located at 409 Friendway Road. Western, with approximately 1,300 students, opened in 1968, in an the era when directional schools were opening throughout Guilford County. At the time, Western was part of the county school system, but now the county and city schools have merged into one giant district.

The front façade of Western is a result of the publicly-funded renovations and additions completed in 2000. The Fighting Hornet students and their families are hoping for yet more renovations to get the main gym repaired. Hopefully, the district will find the funds to do so; although, at the moment, money for education is not in abundance in North Caroina. Let's keep hoping for a new gym, or at least a new roof, for Western.

Today is ABC Wednesday and, in our education series, W is for Western. See our A-V entries here. Stop back for X,Y,Z. That end of the alphabet is never easy!

Through the Window of Thai Pan

Thai Pan is a Thai restaurant downtown at 217 South Elm Street. This time of year, it looks especially festive. From the street, the interior looks so warm and cozy and full of old-world charm. This is about as close as Greensboro gets to resembling an old European city. Actually, Elm Street is known for its frozen-in-time façades. The cute, small coziness seems particularly intimate.

We haven't had the chance to try the food but is did look tasty.Tuesdays tend to be quiet in Greensboro. Perhaps we'll head on down and see what they are serving up at Thai Pan. If not, we've a photo and will just imagine that we're eating there! Happy Tuesday!

 

The Wreaths on Northline Drive

The streetlights on Northline Drive and Green Valley, at the eastern edge of Friendly Center, look festive adorned with wreaths and punctuating the early evening sky. Sometimes beauty is found in the most unexpected places. You look up and, lo and behold, a photo-worthy scene is begging to be captured in pixels. Evenings as pretty as this one make the overabundance of darkness more tolerable. If you live in the northern hemisphere and are in the throes of December darkness, head outside and search for some evening beauty.

There are nine more shopping days until Christmas. In Greensboro, there are so many options. In addition to a Christmas, we suggest a list for diversifying where you go to be part of the retail scene. Don't spend your time in dollars all in one place. There is the above Friendly Center, the downtown area, the Four Seasons area, farmers' markets, and lots of indie businesses. You don't even need to make purchases; however, it is a lot of fun to get out and people watch. If you make it to Friendly to see the above scene, you might as well head over to Sunset Hills and catch the neighborhood light balls (here).

 

Oh Holy Night...

Shiloh Holiness Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) is located just down the road from Vandalia Elementary School. The church looks so beautiful in its simplicity when enveloped in large drops of rain. This little white church with the tall steeple is especially beautiful at dusk. Having one light on in the building adds intrigue to the scene. The church is active in the local community, just north of Pleasant Garden and on the southeastern end of the Greensboro city limits. It has a diverse congregation that works hard to appeal to young and old members alike. Shiloh Holiness has some type of service or activity just about every night of the week. Especially intriguing is the name of their Tuesday evening meeting, B.I.B.L.E. (B-asic I-nstructions B-efore L-eaving E-arth).

During this very holy time of year for Christians, we were so pleased to find this church that is Christmas card picture perfect. When Greensboro gets a good snow, we will beeline here to get a really pretty photo! Happy Sacred Sunday, dear readers. One more Sunday until Christmas!

Blue Steel Grimsley High School Drum Line

 

The Grimsley High School drumline, Blue Steel, performed outside of Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Friendly Shopping Center last night. As always, the drumline sounded great and had fabulous showmanship. They are a diverse group of teens, brought together for the love of keeping the beat. While they were performing outside, parents were inside busily wrapping books and the Whirlie jazz band was setting up to entertain. On the next block, at Tex and Shirleys Restaurant, Grimsley's flute ensemble played.  Whirlie families ate dinner with a part of the proceeds going to the school. Friendly Center is located in the Grimsley attendance zone so Whirles night is always well attended. All of these events represent countless hours of decication by students and teachers. It is so wonderful to see these truly community events. Here's to a giant drumroll for all who participated and watched!

So lovely that we're sharing it with the Weekend Reflection meme. Reflection is not the emphasis of this composition... but it is there.

 

Happy Friday 13th

Happy Friday 13th! For some, Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. It was especially unlucky for Gioachio Rossini who died on a Friday the 13th in 1869. His death is the earliest known written reference for this date being unlucky (reference). In many Spanish-speaking countries and in Greece, Tuesday the 13th is an unlucky day. To Italians, Friday the 17th is unlucky. To some, Fridays in general are bad luck and some people avoid the number 13th altogether. Wonder if these buildings on North Elm Street in downtown Greensboro have 13th floors. The 17-floor building on the left, Center Point, has a birdseye view of Center City Park, Festival Park, and all of East Greensboro. Partly visible in this photo, the few tall buildings downtown are mostly on North Elm Street. South Elm, past the 100 block, flattens out pretty quickly. 

This is the last weekend before the last weekend before Christmas and we hope you enjoy every second of it. And, by the way, don't worry too much about the Friday the 13th lore, according to Dutch insurers, Friday the 13th has fewer car accidents, thefts, and fires reported; perhaps because we are more careful on this glorious day. 

 

Moravian Stars Made Here

Moravian advent stars originated in Niesky, Germany in about 1856; evolving from a geometry class project in a Moravian boys' school. Stars vary in size, number of points, as well as shape of the base. There is quite a lot of geometry to be learned from this creative, hands-on way to teach about polyhedrons. The iconic stars continue to shine brightly in Moravian communities today, unually displayed from the first Sunday of Advent until January 6th- Epiphany or Kings' Day. In the above photo, Samuel C. Post, a member of the men's fellowship group of the First Moravian Church of Greensboro, is making miniature Moravian stars during a the annual Christmas tea. Mr. Post makes the stars in traditional white as well as in school colors of sports teams popular in the south. Mr. Post and the other vendors at the holiday event were so kind to explain and demonstrate their art, regardless of whether or not a purchase was made. 

Moravian stars were everywhere during last Saturday's tea, from the tiny stars seen above to the large star with 62 points in the church sanctuary. Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 6th, 2014 if you want to see this fabulous Moravian star-making process for yourself. We're determined to get to Winston-Salem this year to see the one atop Baptist Hospital. It measures 31 feet in diameter. That. Is. Big.

V is for Vandalia Elementary

Vandalia Elementary School, located at 407 East Vandalia Road, is one of the smallest elementary schools in Guilford County. The school is situated just beyond the Greensboro City Limits and just north of Pleasant Garden. On their website, the school is described as having "all of the components of a private school in a public school setting (reference). Vandalia has a total enrollment of 261  students, spread throughout grade levels Pre-K - 5th. We're betting their principal, the positive, upbeat, caring, Ms. Kimberly Robertson knows not only the names, but also the families of every child in her school.

As seen above, the lobby of Vandalia Elementary is warm and inviting. The signage sends the message that reading and parents (PTA) matter. Next to Champ Avenue, you see a teacher signing out for the evening. The office lights are out because it is well after 5:00 pm and the 7:00 am start of the day will be around before you know it. Today is ABC Wednesday and V is for Vandalia Elementary. See the features A-U schools, here.  Here's to a great rest of the school year to the Vandalia Cougars and to all schools- in Guilford County and beyond!

 

Beautiful Sky on a Sunny Winter Day

In winter, light can be a rare commodity. As seen in our photos over the last few days, darkness comes early in the winter months and envelops so many of our community events. Today, we share a winter scene from downtown Greensboro last week. You can see the sky shining through tree branches since their leaves are long gone. The brilliant blue sky, mottled with stripes of white clouds, is proof positive that winter can, indeed, be bright and colorful. In the bottom right part of the photo, evergreen pyracantha is ripe with its red, berry-like pomes.

Did you notice that peeking through the red and green ornamental greenery is a M'COUL'S Public House sign? Yes, you can stop by, enjoy some pub food and and admire this scene for yourself in an historic 1892 building. Greensboro has many pretty views like the one above. On a sunny day, beauty is everywhere!

Curb to Curb People

We wanted to start the week with another shot of the magic of the December, First-Friday event. This is a view of downtown Greensboro on South Elm Street, just over the railroad tracks near the 500 block. Literally, it was a crowd of curb to curb people. We overheard one man chuckle and say to his friend, "why are we walking on the sidewalk?" We don't remember the balloon arch in previous years, but is was such a nice touch as it soared over the highest point on Elm Street, the hilly little area near Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

To the left, you can see the Indie Market. The weather was so warm, it wasn't even necessary to wear a coat. Between the great advertisement, the fabulous events, and the great weather, we're betting that First Friday 2013 was the best attended yet. There were activities for people of all ages. The Polar Express ride was a big hit with the children. Parents liked gallery hopping with the appetizers and spirits. Everyone enjoyed strolling along South Elm. The above photo captures just a small slice of life in a giant and memorable evening. December is shaping up to be a fabulous month in Greensboro.

 

 

'Tis the Season

 

'Tis the season for music and celebrating. Yesterday was no exception when Marcia Payne Wooten performed a handbell concert for the Beta Delta Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Key Women Educators. The organization held its December brunch at Sedgefield Country Club. The handbell performance was a festive way for the women to begin their event. Mrs. Wooten, a member of the Beta Delta Chapter, teaches Spanish and language teaching methodology at The University of North Carolina Greensboro.

When Mrs. Wooten is not teaching future world language teachers, she can be found performing and teaching handbells for Union Grove United Methodist Church in Northern Iredell County. They have a very active music program and Mrs. Wooten is a dedicated handbell ringer and teacher for her church community. We share her ringing in the season for our Sacred Sunday post. Happy Sunday, dear readers! And thank you, Mrs. Wooten, for your heavenly music!

First Friday... December 2013

T

Horray!  First Friday, December 2013 was over-the-top fun and had the largest crowds ever. Temperatures in the 70's likely helped too. The above photo features the inflatables and artifical snowflakes at Hamburger Square. The corner of South Elm and McGee Streets was fun and festive all night long. In the left-hand corner, you can see "Just Be" and to the right is "Design Archives" both were selling arts and crafts items right and left. So much of what these stores is made in North Carolina. There were so many pretty things to purchase and so many talented musicians downtown last night that it was simply uplifting. A huge thank you to all of the sponsor and, especially the News and Record. They really helped build a sense of community with the foam antler and blinking necklace giveaways. If we didn't already receive home delivery of the paper seven days a week, we'd run out and get a subscription to help support a company that brings so much to our community.

Yep, downtown looks a lot like Christmas, even if it is air-conditioner weather. If you are looking for something to do today, the store windows on Elm Street are the prettiest that we have ever seen them. Have a stroll, take a look and say a big Merry Christmas or  ¡Feliz Navidad! to anyone you know who celebrates. Also remember that today is the Holiday Market at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Lawndale from 10-3pm. And the holiday market at the Yanceyville Curb Market across from War Memorial is Sunday. Alway room for one more handmade item in your life!

First Friday & Festival of Lights 2013

If you want to see Greensboro at its best, head to the Festival of Lights in Center City Park this evening and then stroll down Elm Street for the best First Friday of the year. Streets will be blocked off; live music will be everywhere; people will be decked in holiday gear from head to toe. December's First Friday is just what the doctor ordered to bring you some joy and holiday spirit. This is probably the biggest event of the season for helping Greensboro feel a sense of community. Regardless of what you celebrate- or not- it is fun to stand back and watch everyone having so much fun. It is even better if you contribute to the festivities.

Grab your wildest Christmas sweater, a few dollars for buying arts and crafts, your camera, a few extra dollars for tipping musicians, and come on down. If it is like previous years, you will even see some fake snowflakes in Hamburger Square. Here is a list of stores that will be open and musical venues from Friendly Avenue to Lee street. Here is a map. The above photo was taken last year at Center City Park just to give you an idea of the magic you will feel downtown tonight. Hope to see you there, dear readers!

Reaching Out to Minerva

Yesterday, we featured the tradition of lighting luminarias for the December Reading Day at the UNCG campus. Today, we share the tradition of reaching out to Minerva for a little end-of-semester academic support. Students visit the statue of Minerva and leave an apple with a bite out as a good luck ritual. In the above photo, one guy is stretching to place an apple at the base of Minerva's feet. The other four guys were content to leave their apples at the bottom of the pedestal. Perhaps the one student needed a little extra support.

Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom. As the goddess of wisdom, Minerva just might know what the students need. Below, we just had to share a close up photo of the base. One student wrote a note asking Minerva for help on a French exam and was so bold as to also ask for an "A." What traditions does your school have? Have you seen this apple laying tradition before?

U is for University

Yesterday was Reading Day at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the day when no classes are held or final exams given. Students are busy studying, writing papers, doing group work, and wrapping up the end of the semester. In the above photo, you see an annual tradition that dates to 1969, the placing of the luminarias on reading day. When the sun went down, the candles were aglow and the festivities began. The Spartan Chariots sang and free hot chocolote and cookies were distributed at the Quad lawn. The folks at Housing and Residence Life, as well as the on-campus Greek community, took care of the details relalated to this project. Over 1,000 luminaries are placed around campus. This year's luminary lighting is a fundraiser to raise money for a beginning teacher in Siler City, NC, to build her classroom library. Let's hope that this fundraising component, in the 44th year of the tradition, was successful and that the organizers adopt a classroom again next year.

Today is ABC Wednesday and U is for University. Enjoy our A-T Education Wednesdays here.

 

It's Piedmont Winterfest Time

It is Winterfest Time in Downtown Greensboro. This year, it is bigger and better than ever. Please make sure you stop by and either try it our or at least watch. People have so much fun. In the north, frozen ponds are a way of life. In Greensboro, we need to cheat a little bit and help mother nature freeze the water. The venue is set up in Festival Park and open from 10 am to 10 pm. Weekends are much busier than weekdays. The cost is $10 which includes 2-hour skate and saucer sled rentals. It is another way you can build memories with family and friends in downtown Greensboro. 

Winterfest will be here until February 1st; however, something about skating in December is magical. this Friday, if you stop by to see the Festival of Lights in Center City Park, you can walk across the street to see or be a skater. The building to the left in the back is the Central Library. To the right, in the background. is the parking deck behind the Cultural Arts Center. ArtQuest, library program, snacks, Children's Museum, galleries, and skating will make an unforgettable day for you.  This photo or this one could be in YOUR family album. 

Please let us know if you ever click through to the links. They take a lot of time to set up and we want to make sure that you like "looking back." Happy Tuesday, dear readers!

 

Small Business Saturday

If you read the News & Record yesterday, you know that Small Business Saturday was a big hit, especially in downtown Greensboro. Elm Street was hopping. The above photo shows people crossing the street at the iconic Hamburger Square, at the corner of South Elm and McGee Streets. As seen in the above photo it was a lovely day to walk the 99 blocks that constitute downtown Greensboro. Natty Greene's, seein in the background, was seating people inside and out. It is a great vantage point for people watching and refueling. 

If you missed the activities downtown this past weekend, you'll get another chance as this Friday, December 6th, is First Friday. The December First Friday is always amazing because it is the Festival of Lights and Center City will have festivities from 5:45-9:00pm. During the event, much of Elm Street will be blocked off for pedestrians only. Put on your good walking shoes and don't forget to wear your wildest holiday regalia. Come on out and make some memories with your friends and family. In the meantime, it is only Monday. We'll all need to pace ourselves for another week.

Looking Out at WMSUMC's Cross

The above cross is that of West Market Street United Methodist Church (WMSUMC). The vantage point is the parking lot at the corner of McGee and Greene Streets in downtown Greensboro. The cross shines from the tallest point on WMSUMC, one of the closest churches to downtown Greensboro. 

Today is December theme day for the City Daily Photo community.  This month's theme is "looking out" and, here we were, looking out toward the cross, for a brief instant, away from the robust retail and consumerism happening downtown on Small-business Saturday. Regardless of what you belive, take pause today and reflect on the good in your life. Looking out at the world around you can be the best tonic for positive reflection and introspection.  Let's hope I-40 and I-85 will be accident free today as the nation closes out Thanksgiving weekend for another year. The sunny, crisp weather in Greensboro this weekend made holiday travel easy in our neck of the woods.  Let WMSUMC's cross serve as a reminder that Christmas is right around the corner... a mere twenty four more days.

 

All Was Calm; All Was Bright; All Was Civil

This was a view of Friendly Shopping Center on Thanksgiving morning before retail frenzy began. Truly, just like the Christmas carol, all was calm; all was bright. Less than 24 hours after this photo was taken, doorbusters, extra discounts, and prices that only lasted a few hours had people frantically spending money right and left. Friendly Center seems to have found the secret formula to keep a retail center vibrant and thriving. It has been going strong since the 1960's while downtown Greensboro languished and revived; Carolina Circle Mall was born and died; High Point Road got a little bruised and banged up and is now undergoing rejuvenation. Friendly just keeps expanding and being, well, Friendly. Perhaps the name is a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Named for Greensboro's friendly Quaker community, the friendly road that links town with Guilford College was the perfect place to put a friendly shopping center. So, rule #1 is if you go shopping there, you must be FRIENDLY. The non-friendly just might be put inside their holiday trolley and sent elsewhere. Besides, that little red and white suited iconic fellow greeting you at the entrance will know who has been naughtily unfriendly and who has been nice.

Regardless of what you do today or where you shop, make it a happy, friendly Saturday! Also, please remember today's national initiative, small business Saturday. and support the little mom-and-pop businesses. Today is the day to make small retail the new big! By the way, you CAN find a few of those places at Greensboro's friendly, Friendly Center!

 

Three Men and a Santa

Thanksgiving morning, the crew from Sunnyside Farms was busy inflating their giant Santa, who was anxiously awaiting his opportunity to preside over the tree lot. This jolly icon of the commercial side of Christmas may not be quite as big as a Macy's Day Parade balloon, but he is mighty imposing.  The three "handlers" had their hands full. Just after we snapped this photo, Santa tumbled over. The three guys jokingly muttered something like "timber" and went about righting the listing Santa. We'll have to stop by this tree lot, located at the corner of Old Battleground and (New) Battleground Avenues, to see if Mr. Claus is vertical yet. In the meantime.....

Let BLACK FRIDAY begin! To many families, Black Friday is a holiday in its own right. People map out their store to store shopping plans. Coupons, bargains, meals on the run- with possibly an over-the-top Christmas sweater- set the festive mood and holiday memories are made. Shoppers rush home late afternoon to hide part of their bounty until December 25th and to dump the rest out on the bed to brag about the best discounts and doorbuster goodies. From Friendly Center to Four Seasons and every little store in between, Greensboro is hopping..... and shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Tomorrow, Greensboro, like the rest of America, will put those pumpkins away, faster than we store white shoes after Labor Day. One more day of fall colors and, tomorrow , we exchange them for the mighty red and green. Only four more weekends left before Christmas. We like the calmness of this photo- with the pumpkins, purchased at one Greensboro's many pumpkin patches. This weekend,neighbors will be heading to the North Carolina mountains to purchase Christmas trees. Others will stay in town and head to Wagoner's or Delancey Street for a tree. As for us, we're staying put in our Greensboro home, watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, giving thanks over some food and enjoying the fellowship of the family members who are able to be with us. A little Macy's Day Parade and a little football, will provide a much needed break from the normal hurried routines. Weather permitting, we'll head out to stock up on photos for Greensboro Daily Photo.

We hope that you are enjoying your holiday and that you will continue to read and to share this page with your friends. For you, dear readers, we give thanks.

T is for Teacher

For this round of ABC Wednesday, Greensboro Daily Photo has been featuring the A-Z's of education in Greensboro. To date, we've featured school buildings and the people they're named after. For today's letter, T, we'd like to feature  a teacher.  Students (S) + great teacher (GT)  = LEARNING (L).  Mary Kate Holden is definitely one of the GT's in that formula. She teaches science at the Middle College at UNCG. Her professional preparation includes an M.S. in biology and genetics from UNCG. How appropriate that she returned to her alma mater, right there on the same campus, to teach high school science to the next generation of scientists. Ms. Holden has been teaching for 15 year and has even been an administrator.  As evidenced by her dragonfly computer cover, this scientist is passionate about her field. 

On a personal note, Ms. Holden's name is the same as the road down the street from her home. Her husband's family granted Greensboro the property which became Holden Road. The Holdens  had a farm that extended from Starmount Country Club to Walker Avenue. Another personal tidbit, as we intereviewed Ms. Holden for this post, we noticed her long black hair. She hasn't had a haircut in 29 years. Wonder if her students know that! We could have spent the afternoon talking with Ms. Holden, but alas, she had to get back to after school tutoring. So, today is ABC Wednesday and we are honored to have gotten a few minutes with Ms. Holden to celebrate "T" for "teachers." Thank you Ms. Holden for everything you do for students! May you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

(This interview was so much fun, just maybe we'll take on A-Z Greensboro teachers for the next round of ABC Wednesday).

Desert or Deserted

T

Today's photo takes us to High Point Road, not too far from the Sedgefield neighborhood. The lot is fascinating as it looks more like it is from another country, not Greensboro. It may look like a desert, but we're betting it won't be deserted for long. Surely, someone is waiting to build something special here. We wonder if builders ever find interesting artifacts on these sites? Archaeologists found an ancient burial cellar in Syria a few years ago. Recently, Roman artifacts were found in London. Just last weekend, a 7-year old dug up 3,000-year-old Native American artifacts in his Tennessee backyard. Surely, if we dug long enough, we'd find something on that property. Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

 

Biking as a Mode of Transportation

Befitting that, increasingly, students are biking to and from the Health and Human Performance (HHP) Building at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The above photo was taken back by the dormitories looking onto the HHP Building.  To the left, you can see the back corner of the old Rosenthal Gymnasium (which dates to the 1920's). Many of UNCG's sports teams practice in or around this building. It is a hub of healthy activity and, as you can see from the bicycles, healthful living doesn't end when the students walk out the door. A true athlete or physical education (kinesiology) major realizes that staying healthy is a mindset and lifelong committment.

It may be a little cold to bike to work today; however, we should all try this mode of transportation when time and temperature permit! At the very least, thank a cyclist for saving fossil fuels and for being heart healthy. Most of all, share the road!

 

Angels Among Us

Cemeteries on fall days can be beautiful. The above photo features a stained glass angel floating above a grave at Muir's Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, established circa 1800. The grave is that of Gladys S. Bouvier* (1921-2010). Mrs. Bouvier's tomb-plate says that she was a loving wife and mother. From the ornament, surely she was a violin player, too. What a lovely tribute to Mrs. Bouvier. Although she lived to the ripe age of 88, she represents a generation not well represented on social media. Other than vital statistics, no information is available about her life online. However, her family has left a nice display that lifts the hearts of those walking through the cemetery. It is located directly across from the Muir's Chapel UMC on Muir's Chapel Road.

Today for our Sunday sacred/spiritual post, we leave you with this suspended angel, eternally playing a tune, to remind us that many people will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week with a seat or two empty at the table. May we all try to spread joy and provide comfort to those who are missing their heavenly angels. Greensboro has some pretty cemeteries and Muir's Chapel in one that has been receiving some of Greensboro's loved ones for over two centuries..

* Sort of wondering if she is related to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis.

Spring Street in Fall

This little bungalow on Spring Street is still displaying its fall colors. Those leaves just want to hold on a little longer. The backyard to this property is the baseball stadium. The front yard is a stone’s throw from Westerwood. One has to wonder how longer these homes can hold on when multi-level structures are going up all around. For now, we can enjoy this little slice of what downtown Greensboro used to look like. Does anyone remember what this neighborhood on Spring Street is called? Regardless, that tree to the right anchors the property and makes it look like it belongs here. Just down the street, they are building a rest stop for the greenway and this part of town is betting a little more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

If you get a chance, head downtown this weekend and look around for yourself. There is so much to see.... and do.

Looking Forward

Looking out the window at Friends Homes at Guilford, we see that another year is coming to a close. The leaves are a big clue about the season.  Friends Homes at Guilford, located on New Garden Road, across from Guilford College has grown from 24 apartments in 1968 to a 20-acre campus with 190 apartments, ten cottages, a 52 room asisted living facility and a 69 room nursing center. When it comes to the senior years, it is time to consider which arrangement will bring the best quality of life. As you look forward and out your window, what do you see?

If this weekend is anything like last in Greensboro, shoppers will be everywhere. We hope that you find a little time to just sit inside and enjoy the view- wherever you are. If you find the time, visit someone who is in a situation where getting outside might be a chore. Look forward to all the joy you can bring your family and friends the upcoming Thanksgiving week. Happy Friday!

Emma Key's on a Fall Day

Emma Key's Flat Top Grill is an eating establishment in Lindley Park, at Four Corners. Emma Key's is on the northeast corner of the intersection of Walker and Elam. It is located in what was formerly a 1950's barbershop. The old barbershop had as much character as the one in Andy Griffith's Mayberry. However, with the changing times, so change the demographics as well as the businesses.

With its famous burgers and snow cones, Emma Key's contributes to the popularity of Four Corners as a destination. Especially on the weekends, locals walk to Emma Key's. On nice days, like the one featured in the above, people love sitting outside and talking to neighbors as they walk past. The photo was taken a few Saturdays ago before the restaurant had opened. Their red umbrellas and faded yellow signage fit right in with the fall colors surrounding the place. Somehow, we expect to see Floyd the Barber walk by any minute. Wait! Maybe that is Floyd with his wife Melba walking in the distance. Even if you don't live near Emma Key's, how 'bout doing something right neighborly today.