Greensboro Daily Photo

Mayberry Moment at Carolina Estates

Carolina Estates is an assisted living facility at 4424 Old Battleground Avenue. The above sculpture, located at the entrance, is what we in North Carolina call a "Mayberry moment." This could be Opey with a couple of friends sneaking down to the fishing hole, only to have Andy squeeze a confession out of them after a misadventure.  It is little details like this nostalgic sculpture, and all of the great landscaping  surrounding it, that earned this facility a landscape award from Greensboro Beautiful.

Greensboro Beautiful is a non-profit organization that works to conserve and enhance the the beauty and ecology of our area. They collaborate with the City of Greensboro. In addition to their own projects, Greensboro Beautiful acknowledges efforts of businesses to keep Greensboro "green." Nice landscaping  is not something that directly helps with the bottom line. For Carolina Estates to take the extra effort to landscape is impressive. For Greensboro Beautiful to notice is equally impressive. Happy Skywatch Friday, dear readers. Wherever you live, may your weekend be filled with Mayberry moments like the one captured in the above sculpture. (Listen here).

Gone Fishin'

Ahhhh summer! Here we see a jon boat with two men fishing on Lake Brandt near Strawberry Road and Highway 220. From Highway 220 , the scene is completely bucolic- two men in a boat fishing, surrounded by cattails, countryside and a tranquil shoreline. From Strawberry Road, the scene is the one photographed above- completely tranquil until you look at the horizon line and realize that the ever-expanding Highway 220 is nearby. To be sure, the road needs to be expanded. In the 21st century, we need to balance protecting our natural resources and undeveloped land with developing the infrastructure sufficiently.

Somehow, we don't think the two men in the jon boat were waxing philosophical about urban development and highway expansion. Likely, they were experiencing mental stasis, putting thoughts on complete hold,; everything, that is, except for the thought of catching a bass or catfish on this 816-acre municipal reservoir.

T is for Triple Bottom Line

Ron McNair Elementary School on Yanceyville Road in Browns Summit has several factors that make it an ideal school for teaching children how to decrease their carbon footprint and to have sustainable practices. To name a few:

"The 88,900 square-foot school building features sustainable materials, natural lighting in hallways, solar panels for water heating, light sensors, a light-colored roof to reduce heat gain, an integrated fresh-air system, sun shades for large windows and low-flow plumbing fixtures. All classrooms have access to outdoor learning environments. Vegetation has been planted to grow up green screens that will provide shade over outdoor patio areas. Additionally, the art and science labs are equipped with movable exterior wall systems, allowing the classrooms to literally open up to the outdoors when weather permits and facilitate an indoor/outdoor classroom space."*

This state-of-the-art learning environment is an example of what is known in environmental (green) glossaries  as triple bottom line. The triple bottom line concept asserts that for environmental practices to be sustainable, they must be aligned with 1) economic prosperity, 2) environmental quality, and 3) social equity (reference). McNair Elementary does just that; the sustainable practices contribute positively to the environment, they are not cost prohibitive, they are "for all," (open to any child living in the district). Therefore, for "T" day on ABC Wednesday, "T" is for triple bottom line. We hope that the children who attend this fabulous school generate even more ideas for protecting the earth's limited resources.

See GDP's A-S Go Green Greensboro entries here.

 

* Robert Nemitz

Community Pools and Summer Fun

In Greensboro, community pools were hopping on Memorial Day weekend. Greensboro has a great network of swimming pools that, while they aren't open to the public, they are affordable and available to any one who is interested in membership. Examples include Friendly Swim and Tennis (photographed above), Green Valley, Hamilton Lakes, Lawndale, Pinetop.* Other pools are more afiliated with neighborhoods and some have a more rigorous membership process tied to country club admittance.  They all have swim teams that compete in the city meet competition held in July. If you have ever belonged to a community pool, you know that these pools are a fabulous way to have a network of summer friends; they offer many social events; and the swim teams keep children physically active and well cared for with team activities. 

Each pool has its unique character and offerings. For example, in addition to a great swim team, Friendly Pool has a synchronized swim team. Swimmers on that team develop a specialized razor kick as powerful as the one used by water polo players. Often, children who grow up attending these pools become assistant coaches and lifegards when they are older. If you like the noises of happy children, community pools are a great place for seniors, too. From the YMCA to the Greensboro Country Club, there are memberships available at all price points and, in most cases, it is not too late to join. 

Let the summer fun begin!

 

*for a complete list, see here.

Memorial Day 2013 at Forest Lawn Cemetery

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro held their Memorial Day Ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Yesterday's service attracted about 60 onlookers and at least as many people participating in the service. Here we see the retiring of the colors with the Knights of Columbus lining the pathway. Congressman Coble was the guest speaker at the ceremony. He reminded the audience of the importance of patriotism and helped us honor the military men and women who lost their lives for our country. The name of every local service man and woman, who died while serving, is read to the crowd. 

Congressman Coble has been a North Carolina public servant since 1979; first a member of the state House of Representatives and since the mid-1980's  a U.S. Representative for North Carolina. If you are local, and want to find a way to celebrate Memorial Day consider visiting the Veterans' section of Forest Lawn (Section 1) today. It is easy to feel patriotic surrounded by headstones of veterans and graves marked with flags. If you want to learn about one of North Carolina's greatest living patriots, read about the life of historian, veteran, lawyer, and representative John Howard Coble. Happy Memorial Day.

 

Starmount Presbyterian Church

Starmount Presbyterian Church is located at 3501 West Market Street. In 1951, representatives of Orange Presbytery, Church of the Covenant, and First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro came together to organize a Presbyterian Church in the western part of town. In 1953, the church opened on land that was donated by Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Weaver. 

The building, ministry, and outreach have grown over the decades. From the church website, it seems like membership was at an all time high in the early 1990's, when it peaked at over 1,200. It is such a conveniently-located facility with so many interesting activities, as they enter their 60th year, maybe they can increase heir membership. Do you see that tall cross in the front of the building? Surprisingly, it is made of cement. If you get a chance, stop by and attend an event at Starmount Presbyterian. They are a dynamic congregation.

Holidays, Parks, and Pop-Up Fun

Well, it is Memorial Day Weekend and many of Greensboro's residents will be heading to nearby lakes or to the beach. For those who stay in town, today, ArtQuest is featuring Paint a Poem. ArtQuest is located in the Cultural Arts Center, seen in the above photo as the building with the green triangular roof in the background. Also, the "pop up" promenade near the Civil Rights Museum will be in full swing tonight. Stop by to get a snack and enjoy this pedestrian walkway. If you are looking for something to do on Sunday, tomorrow is Homeless Day in Center City Park. Come out and do what you can for our homeless community.

While we don't know of any events in the above photographed Festival Park this weekend, we do know that if you head downtown with a frisbee or hula hoop and a picnic lunch, you will be able to make your own "pop up" event. Regardless of where you are this weekend, do something to remember those who died defending the United States. What ARE you doing this Memorial Day weekend?

Nido R. Qubein School of Communication

Today, we spend one more day on the campus of High Point University at the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication on the campus. The School of Communication's programs offer an experential-learning environment. Upon entry into the building, it feels as if you have arrived at a corporate headquarters. The global and multidisciplinary curriculua prepare students for their future careers.

On our campus tour the other day, our guide said that HPU was his first university tour and, from that first moment, he knew that HPU was the school for him. He toured other institutions of higher education in North Carolina, mostly to please his parents; however, he never wavered in his goal of studying at HPU. And, his dream was realized. What a tentimonial to the new HPU!

As we celebrate the beauty of the sky on Skywatch Friday, we're pleased to report that the skies over High Point University are looking pretty blue in the photo above.

H-P-U

If you are local, you know that High Point University has really grown over the past few years. To help put that growth into perspective, consider the fact that since 2005, undergraduate enrollment has grown 183% and the operating budget has increased by 368%; buildings on campus have increased 245% (from 22 to 76 buildings) and campus has expanded from 92 acres on Montlieu Avenue to 327 acres and growing.* If you haven't had a campus tour, you owe it to yourself to do so. Without one, you might be left with the idea that all is glitzy and ostentatious. When you listen to the philosophy, you understand that everything on campus is done for a purpose. You get steak dinners once a week not only to be well fed, but to develop the etiquette that accompanies eating with a full place setting on nice china, being served, while carrying on a nice conversation. By the time students graduate, they know how to go forth and navigate the adult world. 

The above photo is the letter seating in one of the dining areas in the student union. Every detail of the physical facility from the lovely grounds to the classrooms to the dorm rooms are polished and well cared for.

As for H-P-U, all we can say is W-O-W...

*stats here.

S is for Solar Panels and Sustainability

Contemplating our environmental theme for the Go Green Greensboro series for ABC Wednesday, we've been driving around Greensboro looking for solar panels to photograph. We did find some out in the county; however, as far as in-town residences, this house on 16th street is one of the few.

Solar panels use light from the sun to generate electricity, decreasing the use of less renewable forms of energy. There are several companies in the Greensboro area that install solar panels. We were interested in Honey Electric Solar, Inc. because Rebekah Hren advises and trains for them. She teaches classes for the NC Solar Center and has written a book called the Carbon Free Home. While Hren lives in Durham, not Greensboro, our state is lucky to have people like Hren working to make our communities greener. Sustainability of one of the most important concepts of the 21st century. We need to find ways to sustain everything from our natural resources to our standard of living.

If this tiny house on 16th street at the base of the Billy Crash Craddock bridge can have solar panels, why can't more of us? Today is ABC Wednesday and S is for solar panels and sustainability. 

Roses at Night......

These roses, clinging to a wall near our garage, were photographed basking in the backlighting of floodlights.  During the drudgery of taking out garbage, just after the rain, we looked up and these lovely, luminescent flowers greeted us. By day and by night, cut and on the vine, roses are lovely in Greensboro this week. If the rains don't beat them down, the lovely display will continue through the summer. Sometimes, as was the case with the above roses, one finds beauty when and where least expected.

Sometimes, as experienced by people in Oklahoma yesterday, you find tragedy when you least expect it. The destruction from yesterday's tornado will be felt for a very long time. We are fortunate in Greensboro in that we don't usually experience natural disasters. If your are in the position to help the residents in Oklahoma in some way, Greensboro's Red Cross Center is located on Yanceyville Street. Consider helping, if you can.

If you have friends or family who have been affected personally by the storm, remind them that when and where they least expect it, something of beauty will shine through.

Friends Homes Inc.

Friends Homes, catering to the 60+ demographic, was founded as a non-profit by the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers). Friends Homes Inc. was chartered in 1958, in 1968, opened the New Garden Road facility and in 1993, opened Friends Home West. Both communities try to provide an affordable environment that fosters independence and a sense of wholeness in a secure environment* 

We chose this unit to feature because when we were out walking around, we loved the sense of individualism that radiated from the stepping stones to the dressed cement goose on the patio. If you head out that back door, you can be relatively removed from neighbors and all of the planned and structured events. If you head through the other door, to the interior hallway, you can be as connected as you want. Greensboro has plenty to offer for people at all stages of life.

*reference. 

Our Lady of Grace

How do you know it is Sunday, here on GDP? Well, you see something spiritual. Here is a picture of Mary holding her Son at Our Lady of Grace Church (OLG) on West Market Street. OLG was built in 1952 and made possible with funds donated by Julian Price, Chairman of the Board of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance. The church has a great deal about the church's history on their website. Details about the artwork are even shared on their website (here). Unfortunately, it didn't mention any details about the above artwork, but we like it. It is calming. And, we thought that for this time between Mother's Day and Father's Day, it would be appropritate to feature something that highlights the bond between parent and child.

Happy Sunday, and if you are a parent; do something to celebrate the love you have for  your children. Mary would be pleased; you will be, too!

On Westover Terrace

Some people dream of the future and technological innovation. Others are quite content to live in the present. Still others, have a little piece of their heart in the past. We suspect the residents of the above home fall into the past-loving category. In front of their house we see the retro lawn chairs and that beauty of a 1956 Dodge Royal. Can't you imagine sitting in that yard in the evening, catching fireflies with your children, and piling in that sedan to head for an ice cream... maybe even at nearby Yum-Yum.

The Westover Terrace of today is a street dissected by Benjamin Parkway. It has a busy part by Grimsley High School and Wendover Avenue. It also has a little section on the edge of Westerwood. The above house is located on that section that cuts through from Friendly Avenue to Aycock Street. As we drove by, we could almost imagine Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Carl Perkins music playing on that car radio. 

27403..... On College Hill

This weekend is Preservation Greensboro's Third Annual  Tour of Historic Homes and Gardens. This year's neighborhood is College Hill, Greensboro's first neighborhood and home to some of our city's oldest homes. College Hill was settled in the 1840's around the time that Greensboro College opened. The houses, many of which were built in the early 1900's, haven't changed much over the past 100 years. Here and here are  examples of the single family dwellings. The homes on show are a larger and more elegant, but these smaller homes are equally cozy.

The above view was taken on South Mendenhall, not too far from the Troy Bumpass Home and beside Greensboro College. Read Preservation Greensboro's Facebook page (here) and you will be running to buy a ticket for the tour of homes. The weathermen say the weather will be perfect. While photography is not allowed inside the homes, we'll be there taking photos from the street. Hope to see you there!

School is Winding Down... and Gearing Up

The Institutions of Higher Education in Greensboro have had their spring graduation ceremonies and are gearing up for summer school. High school students are in the middle of AP exams as well as International Baccalaureate and EOC common exams. The North Carolina curriculum and exams have changed this year. Teachers have worked very hard to implement the changes.

The above photo, taken a couple of months ago on the campus of Greensboro College, represents the students' side of education. It captures that feeling on being alone, pensive, and carrying a great weight one one's shoulder. Students are the reason teachers are so dedicated. Students are the reason schools, colleges, and universities try so hard to make school seem like a home away from home.

Greensboro College, affiliated with the Methodist Church,  was founded in 1838 on 80 acres located near downtown Greensboro. If you want to see an expanded view of the View House (by Assistant Professor Ted Efremoff) go here. Better yet, head downtown and see if the View House is still on display. Greensboro College is a lovely place to go for a walk. If you see any students, send them some words of encouragement.

R is for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Whole Foods in Friendly Center is making an effort to educate the public about disposing of trash. Before us, we see three bins: 1) trash/landfill, 2) recycling, and 3) compost. This sorting helps us reduce, reuse, and recycle. Some items inevitably head to the landfill; however, there is plenty of waste that can be recycled or composted.  The City of Greensboro takes yard waste that can be composted. They now takes all plastic bottles and jugs numbered 1-7.* This is a more generous policy than we had in previous years, Whole Foods helps educate us on what exactly can be done with which items.  Greensboro has learned that nobody wants a garbage dump in their neighborhood, so the less trash that we have, the better off we all are. Every composted or recycled piece of trash makes a tremendous difference in what gets sent to the dump.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our GO GREEN Greensboro series, "R" is for reduce, reuse, recycle! We can also add, "repurpose," that great effort to make something useful out of something that has outlived its usefulness. If you look closely on the wall, you can see that Whole Foods made decorations out of old wooden spools from local textile mills, a local, repurposed touch. 

 

*view the city's plastic recycling page here.

On Church Street

Church Street is changing before our eyes. This photo of the corner of Church Street and Pisgah Church (Lees Chapel)  Road shows one of the buildings of yesteryear. At one time, Church Super Market, was a barber shop with an older barber who would give his young clients mosquito houses. They were shaped like bird houses and about the size of a quarter. Likely, given the FOR RENT SIGN from last year, it is already something else and not inconceivable that the bilding will be torn down to become a 21st-century franchise. Don't you love the way the businesses are painted different colors? So clever and practical.

Canterbury School is located about a mile up the road and, beyond that, the Lake Jeanette neighborhoods. Just south, is Skateland East. Do you have any memories of this part of town? At one time, this area was strictly country. Now, it is strictly suburbs.

Feral Cats

A feral cat is a domestic cat that has returned to the wild. As opposed to lost or stray cats, they are born in the wild.*  When feral cats are trapped-neutered-and returned (TNR), they are allowed to live out their lives without having kittens and are less aggressive toward each other. In 1996, Greensboro started a feral cat assistance program (FCAP). The organization is involved in the TNR program, securing funds to help pay for the vet fees, finding homes for adoptable kittens and feeding colonies. A group of feral cats is known as a colony or a clowder.

Feral cats tend to congregate in places,  like schools, parks  and businesses, where they have access to food. They are known to travel through sewage systems and under roads to get to their food sources.

 

The above cat is one of many living around town. His clowder hides during high traffic times and emerges when there aren't many people around. They are slow and deliberate in their movements- unless they need to seek shelter. Greensboro has an active FCAP group. There are many levels of involvement and they need so much help get these feral cats spayed and nutered. We are learning that this program is highly controversial. (We have edited this post today and will add that not all people are in favor of assisting feral cats. At GDP, it is not our goal to endorse or condemn causes. It is our goal to share places, events, and scenes around Greensboro). 

 

*reference.

Happy Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother's Day! Today's photo takes us inside Our Lady of Grace (OLG)  Catholic Church on West Market Street. This photo, while blurry, evokes the spirit of family, love, and relationships. We don't need to see the faces to get a feel for the love and hope of the people celebrating this marriage.

According to the parrish history on their website, Our Lady of Grace was erected in 1952, through funds provided by Julian Price. Mr. Price, chairman of the board of Jefferson Life Insurance Company, build this Catholic church "as a tribute to the faith and love of his good wife, Ethel Clay Price" (reference). Both Mr. and Mrs. Price died before the church could be built and it was through the efforts of their dear children, Mrs. Joseph M. Bryan and Mr. Ralph Clay Price, that OLG became a reality. While most of us can't afford to build a marble and handcrafted wooden church with over 30,000 pieces of stained glass imported from Belgium, for our parents, we can honor them by ensuring that their grandchildren and great grandchildren are raised in a loving and nurturing environment. And, if you are at a wedding, participating in or watching the ceremony, remember to say a little thank you to your own mother. If you have children, renew your personal committment to being the best mother you can be. Happy Mother's Day, ladies. Finally, may the love of the above couple grow as strong as the love Mr. Price had for his lovely wife- the mother of his children.

Lights, Camera, Action.... On Elm Street

Elm Street is the pulse of downtown Greensboro. The above reflection was taken while walking past the Blu Martini Bar. Of course martinis are the featured beverage at the establishment. However, it is also known for music and a light show. The dots of light in the center of the photo are constantly changing color and add such visual interest to the 300 block of Elm.

While we were outside capturing the aggregate of light, the bartender invited us inside to photograph. Somehow, at the end of the photo shoot, this shot with the vehicle zipping past and the reflection of windows, branches, and lights- against a backdrop of cement gray- is the one that won out. It seems to captures the dynamic feeling of this little slice of Elm Street. Can't you almost hear the photo? 

Cheers dear readers, may you have a great weekend. For the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day. Here's a virtual toast to you! We're sharing this post with Weekend Reflections where mirror images and playing around with light are de rigueur.........

Books of Knowledge

The Central Branch of the Greensboro Public Library is so much more than a place to check out books. It is a dynamic hub of activity, providing free access to media of all forms. Children use the library after school and on weekends. Young and old alike take advantage of the special programs like book clubs and story time. Two weekends ago, Friends of the Library held their book sale at the Central Branch. Last weekend, the library was involved with the "Día de los Niños" event.  On the May calendar, for next week alone, we counted 72 events in Greensboro's city library system. If you are not doing so already, you should visit the library nearest your house and see just how much they have to offer. While this week is teacher appreciation week, your librarian could use some words of appreciation. They are amazingly helpful people.

This photo shows just how warm,  inviting, and safe it feels in the children's section of the downtown library. Oh, and you can get a great cup of coffee there during your visit.

The Phillips Collection at PTI

The Greensboro area is a great place to find furniture. With High Point just down the road, furniture abounds. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, with the event bringing over 85,000 people to Guilford County every six months.*  Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport conveniently serves both Greensboro and High Point. The above photo, taken at PTI a while back, features trendy, modern furniture from the Phillips Collection. Their motto is "every piece a conversation" and looking at the items above, their motto seems to hold true. What conversation does the above furniture evoke for you? Do you like the transparent nod to nature? Could you imagine yourself conversing on river-rock seats and gilded wooden stump tables? What kind of flooring does it need? To be sure, the Phillips Collection is creative and we are lucky to have local access to these trend setters.

 

* reference here. Consider following the reference, especially if you are local. 

Q is for Quantity and Quality

The yard sale season is upon us. Increasingly, people are painting, repurposing and reselling surplus items from their homes. The above photo features a sale from a while back when the Thrill of the Hunt was still on Battleground Avenue.* It is amazing what one can accrue over the course of a year. As college students move home for the summer, household items and tchotchkes can grow exponentially. With Craigs list, community sales, and personal yard sales, one person's trash becomes another's treasure.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Go GREEN Greensboro series, we're featuring "Q" for quantity and quality. Websites abound with suggestions for decluttering and paring down to owning things that really matter for us. If you spent a week considering the items that brought more quality to your life, what would you get rid of? Quality over quantity is a good first step in going green. If you don't mind quibbling over price and you need to get out from under the quagmire of stuff, consider organizing a sale in your neighborhood...... or ours!

*The Thrill of the Hunt is now located downtown across from the Mellow Mushroom on South Elm Street.

Rain and Sun and Rain

Yesterday Greensboro's weather was a day of rain, rain, rain, and SUN, and rain and rain.  Oh, and more rain. During that brief time when the sun was peeking through, the rain resumed, leaving a few moments of sparkling beauty.  In our effort to capture this mood in the above photo, you see big drops of rain falling through sunshine.  The scene reminded us Georges Seurat and pointillism. Seurat's is the 19th century version of pointillism. If you want to see the 21st century version of pointillism, go here.

As the rain abated, we found ourselves wishing it would linger. It can be pretty hard to top the beauty of nature. By the end of the week, temperatures may actually reach 80 degrees and we just may be wishing for those cooler days of early May.

Filling Station in Jamestown (North Carolina)

Jamestown is the little Guilford County community located between Greensboro and High Point. It has a tremendous amount of history in less than three square miles. Just up the road from Dr. Shubal Coffin's house is this little, old-timey gas station (photographed above). Time seems to have stood still here, while Jamestown is changing before our eyes. If you haven't ventured down there lately, Main Street is becoming quite a destination for restaurants.

We can't help but wonder what will become of this Mayberry/Andy Griffith-looking, High Point Road filling station. By the way, if you live in High Point, the road is known as Greensboro Road. We're betting that the roof on this little slice of Americana came from the Pomona Terra Cotta Works in Greensboro. While we hope you are enjoying the present, and dreaming of the future; we hope you have a little time to appreciate the history around you.

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath, Shabbat, begins just before sundown on Friday and continues until the appearance of three stars on Saturday. Depending on which  stream of Judiasm you follow, you have different observations and different restrictions on the day of rest. However, Shabbat for all offers the opportunity to have family time, to eat meals together, to rest and to contemplate the spiritual aspects of life. We think this man at Center City Park was observing Shabbat. It was a peaceful time and we decided to take a little time off too, to enjoy family, and to appreciate Shabbat.

Greensboro has a long history of mutual respect between Christians and Jews. Some of our most prominent early citizens were Jewish. To learn more, start with the website of the Greensboro Jewish Federation. And if you want to see & hear a really cute children's choir singing Shalom Chaverim to kick off your Sunday, go here. And if you want to see more spiritual photos from Greensboro, go here. Happy Sunday and, if you didn't just have one yesterday,  may it be a day of rest for you.

Bilingual Day of Children... El Día de Niños

Today, from 12:30- 5:00,  is the Día de los Niños Celebration at Festival Park in downtown Greensboro. This is the fifth year for the event for children and their families, especially those from Spanish speaking families or those who want to be in a bilingual atmosphere. Salsa dancers will perform, as will students from the Jones Spanish Immersion Program. The day is filled with dancing, crafts, poetry readings, art activities, music, and so much more.* As with so many of our festivals, IT IS FREE!

In this photo of a crowd scene, downtown, the child in red tennis shoes was entertaining everyone while his family looked on. We hope he is at the event this year, again winning the hearts of onlookers. Head on down and brush up on your Spanish and celebrate reading and literature.

 

 

*Here is the link to the schedule of events, if you are interested. Here is a photo from a previous year. Here is a great photo of the event.

Outdoor Sculpture Garden

This sculpture is part of an outdoor sculpture garden at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street, just outside Cafe Europa. This publicly displayed art has a modern "Calderesque" look. It brightens up this little part of town. Since today is First Friday, it will be a good evening to head downtown and see if you can find this piece of art. There will be plenty to enjoy. The merchants and museums really open their hearts to the community and offer lots to see, and do, and, sometimes, a little snack. From Festival Park to the Cultural Arts Center  to the corner of Lee Street and South Elm, there is so much to do and see.

Have a happy weekend, folks, and do take time to enjoy our great city. 

Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac

If you are longtime readers of our blog, you know that we love family-owned businesses, especially ones that value history. Bill Black 's Chevrolet Cadillac dealership  is one such business. It first opened in 1955 on East Market Street in downtown Greensboro (also selling Oldsmobiles). Since 1966, they have been at their current location at 601 East Bessemer Avenue. In 2004, they purchased North State Chevrolet and, according to their website, kept many of the North State employees.   Their website has a paragraph on the dealership's history. We'd really be happy if they would also feature photos of the "good old days."  They are located on the edge of the Aycock Historic District, where homes look like they did decades ago. 

We're not sure if the dealership's flag was flying half mast on the day we drove by. We do know that Old Glory looked majestic as she rippled in the air, high above Bessemer and Yanceyville Avenues.

P is for Plants

This past Saturday, an Edible Plant Sale was held in the Edible Schoolyard in the backyard of  the Greensboro Children's Museum. The Edible Schoolyard is a gem of a place that is fun for children and adults alike. As communities make more of an effort to eat local produce and to teach children how food grows from seed to plant to produce to table, events like the Edible Plant Sale bring children one giant step closer to their food source. Our regular readers know that we at GDP urge everyone to plant edible items in their yards and flower beds. Chard and lavender and rosemary make great bed fillers. Blueberry bushes are as beautiful and their non-berry producing counterparts. We hope that the Children's Museum continues to hold the plant sale every spring. They should have families come back late summer and bring their harvested vegetables to sell as a museum fundraiser. 50% to the children and 50% to the museum. The children could use their profits to purchase plants next spring. 

Today is ABC Wednesday, a favorite with many of our readers. "P" is for "plant" in our GO GREEN GREENSBORO series. May you plant many plants this spring and reap the fruits of your labor later this summer, possibly even turn some profit!  Plant, plant, plant.......