Greensboro Daily Photo

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?

 

Z is for Zen Cat

Today is ABC Wednesday and Z is for Zen Cat Bakery. Zen Cat, is a gluten-free and vegan bakery, located on Grove Street in the heart of the Glenwood neighborhood. To end our ABC Wednesday series, we have chosen Zen Cat Bakery, not just because it starts with Z but for the following reasons:

Owner Angie Kenny started Zen Cat Bakery a few years ago because of a wheat allergy and her need to eat gluten free. Her personal journey led to the creation of a bakery that would accommodate sensitive digestive systems as well as people who have consciously chosen to eliminate wheat and animal products from their diet.  According to Angie, she chose the word 'zen' because it  signifies what it means to change one's way of eating, be it by choice or need.  One strives to be balanced and "zen like" in order to give up the foods once consumed and loved: pasta, breads, pizza, eggs, cheese, etc.

When asked what measures she takes to be environmentally friendly, she offered the following examples. she buys in bulk and works hard to minimize packaging; she uses biodegradable packaging (cellophane); and, perhaps best of all, she walks to work! Some days, she has been known to skip to work. As feasible, Angie buys and sells locally. However, she also has an etsy site. Unfortunately, the Grove Street storefront is not yet open to walk in traffic. That might be in Angie's plans for the future. However, for now, you have to call to order or buy from the local establishments that already stock her goods. Local delivery is available. Hats off to one woman's dream has become a delightful, Greensboro reality.

If you enjoyed this zen ending, please visit A-Y of our Go Green Greensboro series.

"McAldi" on Garden Lake Drive

We titled this post McAldi because these are the two new businesses on Greensboro's newest street: Garden Lake Drive. When the 5300 block of Hobbs Road crosses over New Garden, it becomes the newly-built Garden Lake Drive. This is also where Garden Square Apartments are located. Yes, there have been lots of changes on this formerly- bucolic property where Pilot Life Insurance used to own so much acerage. 

McDonald's has been in Greensboro since 1959; as a matter of fact, Greensboro had the first McDonald's in North Carolina (see here) and now there are many. This is the fourth Aldi Grocery Store in Guilford County. Aldi opened in 1976 and there are over 1,000 stores nationwide.* Aldi, with its no-frills-look and limited brands works hard to keep prices low. If you go there, plan on bagging your own groceries! Also, BYOB (bring your own bags)!

If you haven't been to the Hobbs/Garden Lake area of Greensboro in a while, stop by and see how much it has changed. If someone tells you they live on Garden Lake Drive, without missing a beat, you can tell them you know right where it is! 

*If you are interested in corporate connections, go here &  here to read how Aldi is connected to Trader Joe's.

The Lincoln National Corporation Building

Let's start the week with a view of the iconic Greensboro building that we call the JP Building. We call it the JP Building because, when we first became acquainted with it, the business was known as Jefferson Pilot. In its current iteration, it is the Lincoln National Corporation. To be fair to Lincoln Financial Group, the marketing name for LNC, they have their own grand history. Named for President Lincoln because his name evoked 'integrity', LNC traces its roots to back to 1905 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. President Lincoln's son authorized the use of his father's name as well as an image of him.*

Seven years ago, in March 2006, Lincoln Financial Group acquired Greensboro's Jefferson Pilot, which was founded in 1968 when Jefferson Standard Insurance (founded 1907) and Pilot Life Insurance (founded 1903) merged. And since 2006, what LFG has bought and sold gets complicated and, if you are interested, it is worth reading the Wiki entry. Television, radio, and sports are involved.

We think an update on the above building and all its incarnations would make a great O.Henry Magazine story. Is there still a restaurant on the top floor? If so, can someone who doesn't work there eat there? Does it still look the same inside? What's been going on in this building that used to be the tallest between D.C. and Atlanta? We just may need to head down to 100 North Greene Street and try to learn more. In the meantime, around our house, we can't help but call it the old JP Building. Habits are hard to break. Happy Monday, dear readers. 

*reference

Muhammad Mosque #92

Today's Sunday spiritual post takes us to Muhammad Mosque #92 at 1320 Glenwood Avenue, in the heart of the Glenwood neighborhood. The street to the left is Grove. It is not clear from searching online how long the mosque has been established; however, we found a 2006 farm survey, summarized by Brother Ridgely X.*  So it is at least 7 years old. The farm survey tells of an effort to procure groceries in a more economical manner. Right behind the mosque is Glenwood Coffee and Books. A Unitarian group meets there. Nearby are Methodists and Presbyterians. Glenwood is a religiously diverse neighborhood getting increasingly closer to UNCG.

Happy Sunday, dear readers. May a little ray of sunshine, like the one hovering over the mosque, brighten your world and warm your soul- wherever you may be.

*read Analysis of Mosque #92 Farm Market Survey... here.

Hawk & Mockingbird

High above Price Park, a hawk is testing his prowess against a smaller bird on the light pole. The small bird, possibly a mockingbird,  appeared to be taunting him, "Catch me, if you can."  Price Park is located off of Hobbs Road, near the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library. It has walking trails, a butterfly garden, a meadowlark sanctuary, and a picnic shelter. Many great events take place at this park, like an Earth Day celebration every spring. Year round, it is a great place to bird watch.

Hawks are known to have great visual acuity, a high IQ (for the bird world), and are able hunters. If you like bird watching, consider joining the Piedmont Bird Club. The club has been around since 1938. In 1973, Etta Schiffman compiled their history and, in 1988, Grace Draper put together a 50-year anniversary edition.* Hang out with these birders and you can tell your own mockingbird-that-got-away tales and maybe write their centennial history in 2038!  By the way, when we left, the cat and mouse game had ended and the above two birds went their separate ways.

* reference.

I-73: Driving in Wonderland

Today's BIG SKY photo finds us on I-73, northbound in Greensboro on a relatively-new stretch of highway, just west of town. The new interchanges around here can get confusing, feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland. Driving with Alice might sound like this:

"Wonder where this highway will take me if I get off here? Am I near I-40? Or I-85? If I exit here, will I end up in Winston? If I continue on this road, will I end up in Greensboro? On Friendly Avenue, I think. Maybe if I drive a little farther, I'll reach the airport. Or wait, am I confusing this road with Highway 68? Oh jabberwocky!  Does it really matter? This highway feels quite the opposite of down the rabbit hole. It is as if I'm driving into the sky.  Which way ought I to go from here? Perhaps, I should do as the King said. Begin at the very beginning and go on till I come to the end: then stop. By the way, why does the view look so different in the rear view mirror? How puzzling all these things are. Maybe I should drive on I-73 tomorrow or yesterday, but never today."

At any rate, when the sky is this beautiful and the view this expansive, we feel like we could drive all day! Hope your Fourth of July was everything you wanted and that, at the end of the day, you ended up right where you wanted to be... even if you never left at all!

Happy Fourth of July

Today's photo was taken at the 300 block of South Elm Street. The couple in the above photo is walking past Design Archives, across the street from Natty Greene's. They seem to be enjoying their leisurely stroll and taking advantage of the time between rain showers.

There is so much happening in Greensboro today for our city's 38th Fun Fourth celebration. Let's hope that all goes well for the events. Organizers are anticipating an attendance of 90,000; that's quite a crowd. For those who don't like the huge crowds, many of our neighborhoods, especially Kirkwood, have great gatherings.  Whether you want a grand celebration or just a chance to walk hand-in-hand, like the couple above, we hope you have a happy and safe Fourth... a little reprieve from the daily rain would help, too.

Here's a little walk back in history.... According to Thomas Jefferson's weather log, on July 4th, 1776, the temperature in Philadelphia didn't get gotter than 76 degrees on the day the Declaration of Independence was being signed. Can you believe we have weather data from 237 years ago? What could we document today in Greensboro that would be of interest two centuries from now? Let us know and we'll try to get out and photograph it!

Y is for Yards

Today is ABC Wedsesday and for our GO GREEN Greensboro series, Y is for Yards. Yards are a key factor in our efforts to live greener lives. Keepers of an eco-friendly yard must be mindful of the following: 1) water use, 2) use of fertilizers and pesticides; 3) types of plantings; and 4) pet waste.

This photo was taken in northwest Greensboro, from a wooded area looking out through to a golf course. Natural plantings are kind to the environment; golf courses; not so much so. However, man needs to find a way to strike a balance with nature. And, golf is a great way to get exercise and nurture friendships. These are ways to make golf courses eco-friendly. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina and the Mirimichi course in Millington, TN are said to be eco friendly. With as many golf courses as we have in Greensboro, perhaps we could pursue seeing if we can do something to make our local golf courses more eco-friendly. As for our own Greensboro yards, filling them with edible plantings and natural areas,  as well as minmizing manicured, grassy areas, is a good place to start. 

Well, the sun is beginning to set, not only in our photo, but also  on our GO GREEN series as we only have Z-week left. Thank you, as always, for reading. If you have a suggestion for our next A-Z round, we'd love to do another for you!

Mack & Mack

This is another photo taken at the Triad Acoustic Stage concert at Mack and Mack on South Elm Street the other night. Here we see the instruments resting among the Fourth-of-July-themed clothing at the design house. This was taken just before the concert, when all was quiet. It reminds us of Greensboro now, just before the Fourth of July. This is one of the biggest vacation weeks of the summer. Many people are out of town, in the mountains or at the beach. It may seem like nobody is here until you witness the deluge of people who will come out for all of the Fun Fourth festivities downtown this Thursday.

If you do not yet have red, white, and blue clothing to wear, you might still be able to get something from Mack & Mack. Most clothing stores are offering Independence Day wear. Here is a link to the Fun Fourth event. It has been a Greensboro institution since 1975.

(On a totally non-related note and for a little fun. See how long it takes you to find the cow-themed item in the above photo).

Alice Gerrard

Saturday night, Triad Acoustic Stage brought Alice Gerrard to Greensboro for a grand  evening of acoustic music. The event, photographed above, was held at Mack and Mack's clothing design house on South Elm Street. The venue makes you feel as if you are listening to music in someone's living room surrounded by all the clothing they are plannig to take on vacation. It gives you that old-timey feeling of when people would clear out a room or two in their house and host an old-time dance. You were close enough to the performers to be part of their impromptu jokes and could hear their comments to each other. Intimate and inviting. 

Since the late 1950's, Americana music- especially bluegrass and old-time- has been a driving force in Alice Gerrard's  life. Most of the people close to Alice were entrenched in the folk music scene of the 1960's and 1970's. During that time, Alice partnered with Hazel Dickens, performing and recording songs about coal mines, hard times, bittersweet aspects of life, and other reflective, soul searching themes. Sometimes a bit jazzy, sometimes bluesy; sometimes accompained and at others unaccompanied, Alice's performances are always special.  In the above photo, she is featured with four other FABULOUS musicians, from left to right, Laurelyn Dossett, Scott Manring, Alice Gerrard, Carl Jones, and Elizabeth Bahnson.