Greensboro Daily Photo

Art and Wheels in Westerwood

This weekend, we spotted this 1966 blue convertible mustang in the Westerwood neighborhood. It was parked near spot #14, Michael Gleason's woodworking studio on Lakeview Drive. One street over, on Courtland Street, was retired-English-professor-turned-master-woodworker Kelley Griffin's woodworking studio. In all, fifteen artists opened their studios, homes, and hearts to the Greensboro community. It was the perfect weekend for wandering through the lovely homes of Westerwood's artists.*  Greensboro has many fine "keep it local" events like this one.

You can never have too much original art in your house. Owning original, local art is a great way to connect to the community and its people. October is a great month for purchasing local art. This weekend is the Artstock Studio Tour (addresses here). On October 20th, the Yanceville/Greensboro Farmers Curb Market will host the 17th Annual Fall Pottery Festival and on October 26th, Leanne Pizio will feature a Keep It Local art show. The title of today's post is Art and Wheels in Westerwood. Maybe we should change that title to "art ON wheels."  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all had Carolina blue convertibles to drive around to see all of this great, local art!

*read more here.

Greensboro's Totally Beautiful Weekend

It was a totally beautiful weekend in Greensboro and the surrounding area. Once you get beyond the point that we really do need rain, it was a fabulous day to hang out, sent the 17 DAYS ARTS GREENSBORO FESTIVAL out with a bang, hear great music, and enjoy the food trucks on Spring Garden Street. It was also a great day to head to Belews Lake North of Greensboro.

Belews Lake is a 3,800 acre lake north of Greensboro that has been open since 1973. Duke Energy uses it to help cool the coal-burning power plant. It is one the closest lakes to Greensboro that allows recreational water sports. It is a great place to spend the afternoon out on the water. When you go there, you will see people jet skiing, water skiing, tubing, fishing, and zipping from cove to cove in their boats. The above photo was taken on the Carolina Marina side of the lake. 

The weather stations keep hinting that fall is just around the corner. And, leaves have started changing colors all around us. However, for what may be one last, glorious weekend, we got to pretend like it was summer all over again. Is this periwinkle blue sky with puffy white clouds and still, blue waters not a sight to behold? Happy Monday. 

Divine Weekend

If Sunday in Greensboro is as glorious in Greensboro as Saturday, it will be the nicest summer weekend of 2013- except it is fall! The above photo features the Chapman Street Side of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. (OLG) Taken on a slight incline and framed by trees, the photo shows just how beautiful everything in Greensboro looks on a bright, sunny day. 

Just beyond the tree to the right is a major construction project underway at the church. It will be interesting to see how it looks when finished. In addition to its fabulous worship services, parrish projects, and religious education programs,  OLG has a great K-8 school. Perhaps the addition is for the school as the construction is taking place on the school side of the property. Over the last five years, we have featured OLG several times; however, it is just so stunning from so many angles (e.g., here, here, and here). Funded by Greensboro life insurance executive Julian Price, the church was dedicated in 1952. Mr. Price died in 1946 so he didn't live to see all of the good that his money has done for Greensboro, not just the Catholics, but the community at large. The church has a fabulous history online (here) if you want to enjoy many fine details of Our Lady of Grace. Catch a glimpse of her here, in all her glory.

Happy Saturday, Downtown and Elsewhere...

This was a September event at Elsewhere Living Museum. It shows the creativity of their events which, with the window/stage,  make the place seem like a all is a stage. October's events at Elsewhere will be centered around dance. They are having a Dance Lab with is a youth-led movement-research investigation between Dudley High School students and artist Athena Kokoronis. Watching and participating in performing arts is a great way to spend one's time. How wonderful it is when museums and community groups pair up with public schools for preforming and visual events. Collaboration is definitely a 21st century skill. And Greensboro has plenty of examples of such collaboration.

 

Happy Saturday. We're sharing this photo with the Weekend Reflections people who like a little "reflection" in a photo.

Meeting of the Bugs

Gardens are dynamic places that teach us about the great cycle of life. This weekend, we volunteered to help clean out some community garden plots in downtown Greensboro. As we approached the spent sunflower, we noticed the bugs assembled to the underside of the sunflower. Insect behavior changes in fall* They tend to aggregrate and search for warmth. Some give off pheromones to send the message about a good overwintering site. If you see clustered bugs in your house, beware. Likely, they've told their friends about a great place to spend the winter. Whatever you do, don't squish them as many of the emit foul odors. It is suggested that you vacuum them up and dispose of the bag (reference).

From ripe apples to falling leaves to clusters of bugs, there are so many signs of fall in North Carolina. Isn't is wonderful to celebrate four glorious seasons? Happy first Thursday in October. Tomorrow is FIRST FRIDAY!!!

*read more here.

L is for Lincoln Academy

Lincoln Middle School opened on February 24th, 1959 as a junior high school in East Greensboro. It is located on the campus of Dudley High School, Greensboro's historically African-American high school. Yes, Lincoln was named after the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. "The school was named for Lincoln under the 1922 policy of the Greensboro Board of Education that required all public schools within the city limits to be named after 'outstanding people in various walks of life'."

Lincoln underwent a major renovation in the early 2000's. In the 2005-2006 school year, it reopened as a 1) neighborhood school; 2) a performing arts magnet; 3) a global studies magnet; and 4) a program for the top acacemic achieving students in the district. Because of these many themes, Lincoln Middle School, literally, has something for everybody- from orchestra to band and dance and Spanish and theater and visual arts, and more! These many programs help attract ethnically diverse population. According to Lincoln's own website, the school is 49% African American, 35% white, and 16% other.

If you ever get a chance to attend one of their full theatre productions or concerts, you will be mighty impressed with the talented students and teachers. Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our education series, we offer L for Lincoln. If you want to experience one of Greensboro's schools of choice, Lincoln would be a great one to visit. Call the office staff and see when the next tour day is scheduled.

* reference here for the quote and the great Wikipedia article about this local school.

Bark Park with a View

The Downtown Bark Park, featured in yesterday's post, has a bird's eye view of the Olde Greensborough Gateway Building (620 S. Elm). It is located on the very busy corner of Lee Street and South Elm. We've featured this former home of Blue Bell, Inc. blue jean building previously on GDP.  However, from this view, it almost looks as if we are closer to the outskirts of town, perhaps near the area of Revolution Mill. This is what Greensboro must have looked like years ago. While the former tenant is long gone, Greensboro is fortunate that this giant building is still in open, as a mixed-use space for office space, shops, studios and more. They have space for rent and perfect for people who don't want the burden of stand-alone brick and mortar. Greensboro is such a glorious city, especially on a sunny day. If you are out at the Downtown Bark Park, be sure to look at the view around you. Greensboro is changing before our eyes!

Dog Park Downtown

At the Southwest corner of South Elm and Lee Streets, a new dog park has "popped up." The venue got a warm welcome with great fanfare this past Saturday. The temporary dog park is managed by Action Greensboro. It has a fenced area for small dogs, a large area for big dogs, and a fenced buffer zone to ensure that dogs don't escape. Part of the purpose of this bark park is two-fold. 1) to get people talking about this soon-to-be-developed area.* This is the site of the South Elm Street Development Plan; 2) to gauge interest in a downtown dog park. It is modeled after the one in Country Park. If the bark park is well received, a permanent one might be installed downtown.

Stopping by yesterday, we were impressed at how well behaved the dogs were. When we were there, the small dogs opted to play in the BIG DOG yard. One very young puppy was there learning to be socialized. All canines and their human companions appeared to be on their best behavior. What a great idea. Greensboro has so much going on, it is impossible to keep up!

* reference.

CrossPoint Baptist Church

Today's Sacred Sunday feature on Greensboro Daily Photo is CrossPoint Baptist Church, located at 1806 Merritt Drive. CrossPoint is in the location of the former Hunter Hills Baptist Church. Hunter Hills had its beginnings in 1956, when the First Baptist Church of Greensboro authorized a branch church in the Hunter Hills Community. In 2004, Hunter Hills relocated to the 28 acres it owns on Wendover Avenue and became Life Community Church.*  Some point after that, the Merritt Drive property became CrossPoint.

CrossPoint church member and GDP reader, Nita, requested that we feature her church. Finally, last night, on a glorious Saturday evening, we had a chance to stop by and photograph Nita's church. As you will see below, the above photo only captures a small portion of the CrossPoint complex. There is a giant, more modern building, to the left of this more-traditional structure. Additionally, there are activity busses on site as well as something that seems like a giant arts and crafts center. We hope to get back and go inside the sanctuary as the stained glass looks lovely. Unlike many communities that often abandon old churches, Greensboro seems to have a tradition of breathing new spirit and life into old churches. Fortunately, churches like the one featured today, take on new energy and character, but manage to keep the beauty and spirituality embedded in every brick and every row of mortar. Happy Sunday, dear readers. Nita, this one's for you!

*great history, here.

Big Changes on Green Valley

The winds of change are blowing on Green Valley. Within a few days, D.H. Griffin took this office building, at 604 Green Valley Road,  from being whole to reducing it to rubble. They are experts. Rain and other factors this summer must have put their demolition efforts a little behind the targeted August competion date; however, it is down now. According to the Triad Biz Blog,*  the lot is the future site of a 29,000 square foot home-goods store, owned by Belk, Inc. The new complex will cost $9.2 million dollars. If the popularity of the Friendly Center area is any indication, the new facility will be worth every million spent.

Below, is a photo taken last Sunday. We're betting it is all cleaned up now. If you are out driving around this weekend, check on the progress being made on the lot.

* referenced article, here.      

Posted at 05:30 AM in 2013, 2013 Third Quarter, Buildings, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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This photo says, let the weekend begin!

Late last Sunday afternoon, co-eds were enjoying relays on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. They were holding wheelbarrow races on the lawn, located off of Spring Garden Street, near the McIver and Foust Buildings. This may have been a sorority event. The co-eds were having so much fun bonding with each other that we didn't want to interrup to ask. Sometimes scenes are meant to be enjoyed- from afar. As difficult as college can be, the sound of laughter and the spirit of friendly cooperation heartwarming.

Perhaps we should all take a break from what we are doing, at this moment; grab a friend/co-worker, run out and start a wheelbarrow relay. Happy Friday, dear readers.

This little old log cabin in the lane is tucked between Guilford Court House National Military Park and  Country Park on Nathanael Green Drive. It is located just over the hill from the Greensboro Science Center, near one of the fishing lakes.  Here we see the front view of the century-plus-year-old structure with an unidentified bike rider pedaling by this past weekend. The Fiddlin' John Carson song below fits the structure to a tea. While designed by nature and not on purpose, the roof reminds us of the sod-roofed structures of Scandinavia. It is such a charming log cabin, yet it looks like it will cave in at any minute. Imagine if it were repaired and repurposed as a healthy-snack venure and watering hole for all of the people using the park. It is so beautiful; it deserves a facelift. Let's not let it go by way of all the old tobacco barns and other structures of the rural North Carolina of yesteryear. Surely, we have at least one reader with knowledge of the cabin's history (not coming up in internet search) as well as someone with the ability to rescue it.

What a lovely venue for wedding and engagement photos. Put on your favorite plaid shirt and jeans and head on down!  Here is the "Fiddlin' John Carson song/video that is a "must watch" with today's post.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJiNa_RtyM

Kiser Middle School sits across Benjamin Parkway from Friendly Pool and Friendly Shopping Center. It is part of the Brooks Global Elementary, Kiser Middle, Grimsley High Complex, extending from Wendover to Westover Terrace. As with most of our older schools, it is a modest, no frills construction with a non-descript entrance. However, as the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover. It is a great city school, named for Claude Kiser (1881- 1952).

Kiser, originally from Forsyth County, moved to Greensboro in 1906 to organize the South Atlantic Lumber Company. Soon, Kiser was elected mayor of Greensboro, at a time when the city expanded from four square miles to 17.84 square miles.  He was a lifelong advocate for public schools and for teachers. During his twenty-two years on the Greensboro City Board of Education, our city schools flourished. 

Kiser was said to have been a quiet, reserved man. Regardless, he would probably be pleased to know that a school was named in his honor. Let's hope that the students within live up to Kiser's level of civic involvement and commitment to community. Today is ABC Wednesday and K is for Kiser. See GDP's A-J school entries here.

(Reference, Ethel Stephens Arnett, For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina).

It is amazing how many people use the Greensboro Atlantic-Yadkin Greenway, especially on the weekends. As indicated by the green signage, the above photo was taken on the greenway section near Bur-Mil Park at the Owl's Roost neighborhood. Especially prevalent on the weekends are dads with their little ones in the jogger strollers. The strollers make it convenient for parents to get out and exercise without having to arrange for child care. Plus, the children learn to appreciate the great outdoors. The 3-wheeled, baby jogger stroller (like the one barely visible above) was invented in 1983 by Phillip Baechler.* Mr. Baechler appears to live near Seattle and work for Boeing. It would be fun to interview him and find out the details behind his invention.

In the meantime, there are a whole lot of families enjoying his product on the weekends. Those first babies to jog the trails tucked in Baechler's 3-wheeled strollers are 30 now. We wonder if those who got their start in the strollers are runners and using the strollers, like their parents were. Next time you see someone under 30 using one, stop and ask if they were a baby jogger baby. Stroller or no stroller, be sure to enjoy our trail system in the fall once the leaves start changing. You will be amazed.

*reference.

The Keurig Company (of one-cup coffee pod machine fame) is sweeping the Triad with its "trade up" program. If you bring in your USED corded drip coffee maker, you can trade it for a new-in-the-box Keurig machine. Saturday morning's event was held at Bur-Mil Park. People started arriving at 12 midnight and you had to have arrived before 5am to get a wristband which ensured that you would get a machine. The line looped all the way around the building with people hoping to get a machine. As many people were turned away as got a new coffee pot. While Keurig would not release data, our estimate is that they gave away at least 500 machines. When the distribution began at 10 am, people had been waiting 7-10 hours for their coffee pot. Armed with snacks, blankets, and folding chairs, most people looked like they arrived well-prepared and were having fun. The Owls Roost neighborhood at Bur-Mil looked like it was hosting the world's largest Bunko game!

The old machines were dumped in a cardboard recycling box marked "SynergyRecycling." This Piedmont-Triad company specializes in recycling electronics in a way that minimizes environmental impact. For those of you who don't have to work on Wednesday, we heard Keurig is having another event at the Coliseum complex, specifically the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Grab a friend, a tired, drip coffee pot and head out for a marathon session of waiting for a new coffee pot. Good luck! By the way, your chances of finding an old drip coffee pot for trade-in at the Goodwill Store this week, are about 0%!

Finally, we'd like to mention that the young man who oversaw traffic movement, employeed by Bur-Mil, was such a hardworking gentlemen who kept a calm and professional demeanor during this event.

Covenant Church United Methodist is located off of Wendover Avenue and Highway 68, actually on Skeet Club Road and a little closer to High Point than Greensboro. Regardless, it is one of those dynamic houses of worship that has something going on just about every day. The church members recently finished having a Kids' Consignment Sale and they're preparing for their giant fall festival to be held on Saturday, October 12th. We've been told that Covenant Church has not only inspiring church services, but also great music and Bible studies.

The Greensboro/Triad area has so many wonderful faith-based organizations, ranging from extremely conservative and traditional to extremely liberal and contemporary. We try to share something different every week (see here) and after nearly five years of Sundays, we're nowhere near running out of places to feature. As always, we're open to suggestions and would love to hear from you. Happy Sunday; happy nurturing your body and soul. 

Happy Friday. Today, we share a whirligig sculpture by Vollis Simpson and installed at the Wesley Long Hospital complex. The saw dog in on loan. Here is a two minute video documenting the day it arrived in town. The whirligig is made from recycled/upcycled metal- everything from bicycle pieces to B-52 metal parts. Simpson hails from Wilson, NC. The retired machine shop operator turned visual artist is bringing visual pleasure and fun, whilygig sounds to Greensboro. You can see another piece of Mr. Simpson's art at the Hemphill Branch of the Greensboro City Library system.*

In May, North Carolina voted to make the whirligig our state's official folk art. In June, the 94-year-old Vollis Simpson left this earth. We hope his masterpieces are around to bring pleasure to us for a very long time. You leave us to ponder, Mr. Simpson, if a unit of speed is the ratio of a unit of distance to a unit of time, just how fast is our whirligig going if it never leaves the above pole? On a windy day, we're betting a little bit of Mr. Simpson's soul is spinning around his aerodynamic works of art. 

*Simpson reference, here.

Today, we share another photo from the Central Carolina Fair. The weather has been exceedingly cooperative for the 2013 fair. Hopefully, the sunshine  will last through the weekend so that Greensboro can enjoy the last few days of the fair. The view from the Super Shot is great, if you aren't so terrified in anticipation of the drop!

Sunday, admission to the fair is free, as is the El Grito Festival at the White Oak Amphitheatre. The El Grito Festival will be held to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexico's Independence Day. September 16th is Mexico's Independence Day and, yes, in Mexico, it is more popular than Cinco de Mayo- which is NOT Indepencence Day. Three cheers for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex for offering so many great events and for acknowledging Greensboro's ethnic diversity. Adelante! Or in the case of the Super Shot, Arriba y abajo! Up and down!

 

 

Jackson Middle School is located at 220 Ontario Street, between Four Seasons Mall and the Coliseum. It is named for Walter Clinton Jackson, a lifelong educator, who remained in the profession even when offered jobs in the business world. Education WAS his business. Dr. Jackson was born in Georgia, but spent a large part of his life teaching and leading educators in North Carolina. For sixteen years, Dr. Jackson was chancellor of the Woman's College of the University of North Caronlina (UNCG).  He was so loved at UNCG, they named the library for him; he left such a significant impact on the public schools, they named a middle school for him.

 Jackson Middle serves approximately 430 students in grades 6-8. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Wednesday A-Z education series, J is for Jackson, the middle school AND the man. We'd like to challenge the students at Jackson Middle to research, not only the school's namesake, but also the school's history and those who have contributed time and effort to this learning community. Today is an early release day in the Guilford County Schools. We're betting there will be at least a few Jackson Middle students, running along the above sidewalks,making the most of a two-hour, summer mini-cation!

We're back at the Central Carolina Fair today because the poultry exhibit is fabulous. The Carolina Feather Fanciers Poultry Show is being held in the Pavillion, in conjunction with the fair. With approximately 400 birds on display, it is one of the largest poultry shows in North Carolina. The birds above are Silver-Spangled Hamburgs. Aren't they lovely? They're in coop #353, exhibit #9. The one on the left seems to love being photographed. Three years ago, rainbow rooster was the show stealer (see here)- but not this year. For now, we're content feasting our eyes on these spotted, Dalmatian birds.

If you attend the fair, especially with young children, please spend some time in the exhibits. Also, if you see any 4-H members, thank them for all of their hard work. If you can't get out to enjoy this poultry show, the Carolina Feather Fanciers Association will have their spring show on Burlington Road on April 12, 2014. Mark your calendars.

The lovely weather this past weekend made the Central Carolina Fair a fun place to spend the afternoon. This is the 115th year of our fair. Hard to believe that it has been going strong since the end of the 19th century. Now that's tradition! The fair is a combination of exhibits, midway rides, entertainment, and sinful food. The smell of funnel cakes, cotton candy, and sausage dogs adds to the ambience, as does the screaming of the people on rides.  The fair is in full swing until next Sunday, September 22. It is fun to treat our Greensboro fair as a prelude to the North Carolina State Fair, which will be in Raleigh from October 17- 27.

 

Memories of the fair last a lifetime. Do you remember the first time you ever won a stuffed animal; the first time someone won a stuffed animal for you; seeing more varieties of chickens than you ever knew existed; trying scary rides that give you bragging rights for a long time? Call a friend, neighbor, classmate, or family member and head over to the Coliseum this week. It only costs five dollars to get in and absorb the nostalgia... cheaper than a movie! Senior citizens, college students, military, and patrons under 42" get in free. Everyone gets in free on the last day. It would be nice to have an NPR StodyCorps booth at the fair where people stopped by and told their fair memories over the last decades. It would be nice to find Greensboro's oldest living citizens who have early memories of going to the fair.

Spoiler alert! The above photo is not Greensboro, but neighboring Winston-Salem. These sunny days of late summer/early fall are perfect for day trips. The mountains are ripe for apple picking adventures. Wake Forest University is offering some fun football Saturdays. Old Salem Museum and Gardens is offering their fall gardening workshops and ready to show you what fall was like in a Moravian village. Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park are begging to be traversed, as is Grandfather Mountain. Mount Airy is waiting with some Mayberry nostalgia. All of these places have one thing in common. When leaving Greensboro, you need to head west and pass through Winston Salem. Greensboro is a great place to call home, but once in a while, we love to visit our sister city (of sorts) the next county over.... especially on bright, sunny days!

Happy Saturday, dear readers! And, a special thanks to Kim for her GDP comment yesterday about Bain Street having been named for former Greensboro Mayor Carson Bain. Read the 2010 obituary of this prominent Greensboro citizen, here. Readers and commenters like YOU (and Kim) make this blogging effort all worthwhile!

For this Friday, at the end of a HOT summer week, we leave you with this view of Bain Street. Do you know where it is? Have you ever been on Bain Street? As you can see, it is a really popular place to park for people who are downtown Greensboro. The word "bain" can mean "ready, willing, direct, near, short, gain, limber, pliant, flexible." However, in spite of having multiple definitions, this Middle English term is mostly not used today. We wonder how the street got its name.

It is the last street on the right, off of South Elm Street, just before East Lee Street. Happy Friday. Stop by Bain Street and see the beautiful sunset and the nice perspective- great for art students to see how the street vanishes onto the horizon!

Better Letterman has a daughter driving around town in a PT Cruiser who misses her every day. She misses her so much that she has a sign in the back window of her car. From the pink ribbon, we assume that Ms. Letterman must have died of breast cancer. It is amazing how much you can learn about a person while sitting behind them in traffic. Such a precious tribute. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; however, it is never too early to start thinking what we can do, where we can send our contributions and whom we can recognize.

There are plenty of opportunities at the Susan G. Komen breast cancer awareness website. If you have a friend or loved one who currently has or has survived breast cancer, let them know you support them. If you see Betty Letterman's daughter driving around Greensboro, send her some words of encouragement. After all, nothing takes the place of a mother's love.

Irving Park Elementary School (IPES) is located in the heart of the Old Irving Park neighborhood. The school was built in 1928, back when the 350-acre golf/clubhouse-centered community was young and establishing itself as a community of businessmen and leaders. The neighborhood continues to thrive today and school personnel and local residents work very hard to  maintain a vibrant learning community. IPES has held a spring fun day for decades; also, it has a giant playground/parking lot area, frequently full of families having fun and catching up on neighborhood news. The above mural project, spearheaded by IPES art teacher Kathie Williams, exemplifies the collaborative spirit of the school.  See their slideshow on Mrs. Williams' installation, here.  

As we pause on September 11, to recall the horrific attack on the United States in 2001, let us look forward and remain hopeful for our country.  Let us look to our public schools and to the children, our greatest resource,  to make the world a better place. The above mural says it all, perserverance, responsibility, courage, respect... 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z education series, I is for Irving Park Elementary. 

Here we see the At&T building at the corner of South Eugene and West Market Street. It is located across the street, diagonally, from the Preyer Federal Building. This view shows AT&T without the tower and several antennae that stood above the building for decades. The tower was dismantled in the summer of 2011. While AT&T is decreased its presence in Greensboro in 2012,* this building with the iconic logo in still easily reconizable in downtown Greensboro. 

Street parking in downtown Greensboro is free after 6 pm and on weekends, which is very generous for a city. If you haven't recently, we encourage you to head downtown soon and enjoy your city. It is very intiving and, admittedly, a little sleeker without the antenna-tower building topper. Given its east/west orientation, Market Street is so pretty at sunset, provided you aren't driving into the sun!

*read more here.

The above photo was taken in the 300 block of South Elm Street, in front of Design Archives,  during September's First Friday in Downtown Greensboro. People were lined up for free hugs. The FREE HUG initiative was featured on GDP last year (here). It seems people are more familiar with the concept now and, instead of having to recruit hug-ees, people are waiting in line to participate in this campaign. Juan Mann, of Sydney, Australia, started the initiative to help enhance social connectivity in an era when we are all seemingly disconnected.*  He discovered that, worldwide, many of us could use a few more heartfelt hugs.

Perhaps the world especially needs  hugs this week,  as we come upon the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. If only nations, cultures, peoples, could appreciate each other a little more. To be sure, understanding, appreciation, and gentle embraces had a positive impact on Elm Street this past Friday. Happy Monday, dear readers. To you, we extend a virtual embrace...

*read Juan Mann's touching story, here.

Bessemer United Methodist Church is located at 3015 East Bessemer Avenue. The church was built in 1928 directly across the street from the Bessemer Schools. From school to church to scout meetings, to the house for lunch, to the neighbor's house, this little part of Bessemer was the pulse of the community. 

Prior to the 1957 annexation into Greensboro, Bessemer was a community of its own. The community was so strong and they loved their churches, their pastors, and their school principals. There is information available online about the Bessemer schools; however, hard as we've searched, we're not coming up with a website for Bessemer UMC. Regardless, at least we have a photo of this beautiful house of worship for our Sacred Sunday posts. Enjoy!

If you are interested in the history of the Bessemer community, see our 2011 post with additional links, here. 

The Royal Limousine was in full swing last night, transporting people up and down Elm Street to this weekend's Second Annual BBQ festival at Festival Park (BBQ East West US 40 Fest). Imagine a double decker bus with a New Orleans jazz sound on the upper deck. That's what we were treated to yesterday and children, of all ages,  were mesmerized.  The above mobile, red block-of-fun brought a smile to everyone's face. How fun to see the JP building watching over us in the background on this glorious evening in downtown Greensboro.

Not only did Greensboro enjoy this bus at First Friday, we were greeted by Greensboro's own Madelyn Greco, internationally-award-winning body painter. She was on the Royal Limousine entertaining people, and promoting the BBQ festival,  with her fabulously painted body and her sassy burlesque attitude. Oh, from the activities for teens, adults, and everyone in between,  September's First Friday was simply magical... AND colorful. Here we see the fabulously decorated Ms. Moxy.....  What can today bring? BBQ? Food trucks? Family time? Enjoy, dear readers!

Yesterday on GDP was spider day, today is duck day. The above photo was taken at the Bog Garden at Benjamin Park. At the little bridge near the entrance the fluffy, crested duck in the front started chasing other ducks away. While we enjoyed duck watching, we were even more impressed at the people who were visiting this community space.

People with dogs on leashes, people in wheel chairs, people with baby strollers, people of all ages were going between the bog and bicentennial gardens. The 1100 block of Hobbs Road was very busy. Through the News & Record, we learned that NCA&T University is using the bog garden for a plant propogation project. All of this collaboration is helping the bog garden grow. This trend of getting students (from Kindergarten to graduate school) out to interact with the community and to treat the community as a living laboratory is a win-win situaiton. The Terra Cotta Heritage Foundation is an outgrowth of one such collaborative effort.

As you enjoy Greensboro this weekend (including First Friday tonight), think about how you might be able to contribute to something needed in our community. In the meantime, stop by the bog garden and check out Greensboro's own duck dynasty!

Anyone who has ever read E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" knows that autumn is not only state fair time, but also spider time. The above arachnid was spotted by our door in Greensboro. She is nocturnal and hides during the day. At night, she waits patiently in the center of the web. She is very territorial. For several days, we regularly dismantled the web and she would rebuild in the same spot. She knows that porch lights provide a bountiful supply of bugs. She is very aware of her surroundings. When we go out to photograph her, she retreats. Last night, we were successful in capturing her in all of her glory, right in the middle of her web.

Some people hate spiders; others, think they are a gardener's best friend.  North Carolina State University maintains some websites about North Carolina spiders. Even after looking, we're not 100% what type of spider she is. Do we have any arachnologists out there who can conclusively identify our front door friend? If you have small children in your life, consider doing some spider observing. You may be nurturing a future E.B. White.

H is for Hairston Middle School is located at 3911 Naco Road, off Franklin Boulevard (Franklin becomes Bessemer at the East Market intersection). The above school was named for Otis L. Hairston, who was born in Greensboro and who served his community in many capacities. Hairston was pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church for 34 years. He was not only a man of the cloth, but one dedicated to serving the Greensboro community. Some organizations in which he was active include: Industries of the Blind, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Greensboro School Board, NAACP, Greensboro Urban Ministry and United Way, Greensboro Human Relations Commission, State Democratic Party, Board of Trustees of Bennet College and Shaw University.* Pastor Hairston was one of those citizens who knew that civic involvement leaves a lasting impact. He died in 2000 and, in 2001, the above school was named after him.

If you want to learn more, especially about Mr. Hairston's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, read this interview by Greensboro's own Eugene Pfaff. Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our A-Z Education Series, H is for Hairston. It is so important to remember the good deeds of the people for whom our public schools are named.

* reference.

Nothing says Labor Day like a fun afternoon at a swimming pool. Above, we see families having fun and telling summer goodbye at Pinetop Swim and Tennis. Pinetop is located at 3723 Pinetop Road, between Hobbs and New Garden Road, tucked in behind Claxton Elementary School. Members love the sense of community and talk about the relaxed and easy-going atmosphere of Pinetop.

While, technically, summer will linger a little longer, Labor Day tends to be the break from summer dressing, decorating, and vacationing to the sights and sounds of fall. In the neighborhood near Pinetop, one couple was decorating their yard with scarecrows and pumpkins. Another was decorating with yellow mums. We saw a politician, gearing up for fall elections by driving along Hobbs putting campaign signs in yards. So quickly, we will be thinking about fall festivals, pumpkin sales in church yards, the Jewish High Holy Days, and eating turkey and pumpkin pie. However, yesterday, for one last day, around Greensboro, we all reveled in the beautiful sunlight of summer's last holiday. Alas, the baithing suits, beach towels, white shoes and searsucker suits are put away. Bring on the wool and flannel shirts.

Greensboro has been so wet this summer, it seems like fish are going to start swimming in the streets. The above street, East Wendover Avenue, has many small businesses, most of which are privately owned and not chains. One such example is DONG-TAM Fresh Fish market. Dong Tam, means "United Hearts and Minds" in Vietnamese and was the Headquarters Base Camp for the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. It was a place that started as a rice paddy and got converted to civilian amenities and displayed an American presence in the Mekong Delta.* 

We doubt that this establishment on East Wendover Avenuewas was intended to evoke that much history; however, it does represent the hopes and dreams of the Vietnamese community living in Greensboro- being successful, productive citizens. We're not so sure if this location is still open; however, there is a Facebook page for Dong Tam Fresh Fish Market at 2011 East Market Street. Perhaps they have relocated.

As we celebrate Labor Day in the USA, let us hope that new and longtime Americans alike learn to appreciate the social and economic achievements of the American workers. Let us find a way to celebrate and value the contributions of laborers. Happy Labor Day to all!

*http://www.gingerb.com/vietnam_dong_tam.htm

Today is Sunday, September 1st. On this first day of September, we oficially say goodbye to the carefree days of summer as we  revel in the long-awaited warmth of the season. The above path T's at this driveway, located in northeast Greensboro,  and makes us ponder the direction the fall and winter seasons will take our families, our communites, our nation. Turn right? Turn left? Go straight... even if the road ends?  

What direction will you take this fall? Do you have choices to make? If so, only you can make them. We leave you to ponder something a little spiritual this Sunday and today, instead of a religious buliding, you have a scene of late summer in all her glory. Beautiful trees are about as spiritual and thought provoking as it gets. The next time you see these trees, the leaves will be yellow, orange, and brown; then, they will be gone; they they will bud out and the cycle will begin again.

Happy Sunday, dear readers. Walk a path or a labyrinth; it is good for the soul.

 

No matter where you live in the USA, nothing says back-to-school like high school football games. Greensboro is no exception. Above, we see a slice of the Grimsley/Southern High School football game, held at Jameson Stadium, between Benjamin Parkway and Westover Terrace. Grimeley won the non-conference, beginning-of-the-season game 34-0. Interim Coach Pat Neal has been doing an amazing job of knowing his team's strengths and weaknesses; likely, because he has been working with the Whirlies for the past eight years . He really knows his players.

The scent of popcorn filled the air and neon glow sticks were being tossed back and forth, while cheerleaders and student council memebers brought the crowd to life. Also enjoyable was the drumline's halftime show. A great blend of young men & women as well as an ethnically diverse group, the drumline played masterfully while dancing, jumping, hopping, and with some members even being held upside down. What a perfectly glorious Friday night, including the weather. If you have not been to a high school football game lately, consider rushing out to a high school located near you and enjoying a good old autumn tradition. Happy last day of August, dear readers.

Super G Mart in a supercenter for international food in Greensboro.  If you are interested in cooking with hard-to-find spices or learning more about foods from around the world, Super G is a fun place to start. Out of 60,000 square feet, you will see many interesting products. From Korean rice cakes to Mexican cinnamon bark to tamarind seeds, there is something for everybody! The store is part of the larger Fanta City International Shopping Center at 4927 West Market Street.

North Carolina, including Greensboro, is becoming increasingly ethnically diverse. The top non-English languages spoken in North Carolina are: Spanish, French, German, Vietnamese, Arabic, Korean, Tagalog, Hindi, Gujarati, Russian, Hmong, Italian and Japanese. In all, there are approximately 200 languages other than English spoken in North Carolina. However, as of 2012, 89.66% of North Carolina residents (age 5 and older) spoke English as their primary language.* Regardless of what language(s) you speak, Super G Mart employees will find a way to communicate with you!

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_North_Carolina

As mentioned yesterday, Superinetndent Grimsley and O. Henry were born in the same year, 1864. Researching yesterday's post got us thinking about  O. Henry, Greensboro's most internationally known writer. In his youth, O.Henry worked at Fordham's Drug Store at 514 South Elm Street, an establishment that was open from 1898-2002. The drug store and the soda fountain were on the street level. Doctors were on call upstairs. Fordham's was a hub of activity and, likely, a great source of inspiration for O. Henry's writing. The building is in the Italianate style, so common at the end of the 19th century. The mosaic tiles in the above photo evoke the Greco-Roman art form.

Fordham's was open for 104 years and has been closed now for eleven. The windows and door are hauntingly covered with dark plastic to obscure the interior. What will become of this downtown landmark building? The soda fountain was relocated to Lane Drug Store at 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Let's hope the rest of the items in building,  from the mortar and pestle on top to this tile entrance at street level, remain intact, or, at the very least, relocated. Suggestions, dear readers?

Above is the gateway to Grimeley High School, built in another location in 1899 as Greensboro High School. The blue and white Whirleys are the only school in the nation with a "whirley" as a mascot. It resembles a funnel cloud. The school is named for George Adonijah Grimsley (1862- 1935). Grimeley was born in the same year as Greensboro's O. Henry. Grimsley, superintendent of the Greensboro city schools for twelve years, believed that "one of the greatest factors in the education of a child was his training to think fo rhimself, both orally and in writing" (Arnett, p. 228). He also believed that "to think and to give expression to their thoughts, and at the same time give them a taste of the best literature, would equip them to continue their education after leaving school and to get more out of life" (Arnett, p. 229). He implemented a model of teaching where students recited and debated the subjects each Friday.  It seems Mr. Grimsley's thinking is still current today. He was preparing students to be college, career, and life ready. 

The above photo was taken when all was quiet and the school was preparing to receive its students for the year. At the moment, Grimsley is doing the best to function normally, in spite of having a parking lot that is still not paved. This summer's heavy rains have the project way beyond the projected completion date. Yet, somehow, once students are inside, the legacy of pride in learning established by Mr. Grimsley, prevails. The class of 2014 represents the 115th year of this great school. Today is ABC Wednesday and G is for Grimsley (see A-F Education, here).

In Greensboro, fall is in the air. Mornings and evenings are crisp. By noon it is perfect weather for outdoor activities. Greensboro's latitude coordinate is 36.0800° N, almost thirty six degrees from the equator and just under fifty four degrees from the north pole. So, we're far enough north, at our altitude, to enjoy a good change of seasons without experience temperature extremes. Some call Greensboro paradise; a la Goldilocks- JUST RIGHT.

The above photo shows what happens to our foilage as the chlorophyll disintegrates: Goodbye green; hello red, orange, brown, gold.* The photo was taken Sunday, on the western end of the county, where Wendover changes to Skeet Club Road. For those of you who like autumn, in Greensboro, for the next two and a half months, just about anywhere you look, you will see nature in all of its glory. Beauty is all around. Enjoy!

* more here on why leaves change.

Co-Ed Fun

This photo says, let the weekend begin!

Late last Sunday afternoon, co-eds were enjoying relays on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. They were holding wheelbarrow races on the lawn, located off of Spring Garden Street, near the McIver and Foust Buildings. This may have been a sorority event. The co-eds were having so much fun bonding with each other that we didn't want to interrup to ask. Sometimes scenes are meant to be enjoyed- from afar. As difficult as college can be, the sound of laughter and the spirit of friendly cooperation heartwarming.

Perhaps we should all take a break from what we are doing, at this moment; grab a friend/co-worker, run out and start a wheelbarrow relay. Happy Friday, dear readers.

Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane

This little old log cabin in the lane is tucked between Guilford Court House National Military Park and  Country Park on Nathanael Green Drive. It is located just over the hill from the Greensboro Science Center, near one of the fishing lakes.  Here we see the front view of the century-plus-year-old structure with an unidentified bike rider pedaling by this past weekend. The Fiddlin' John Carson song below fits the structure to a tea. While designed by nature and not on purpose, the roof reminds us of the sod-roofed structures of Scandinavia. It is such a charming log cabin, yet it looks like it will cave in at any minute. Imagine if it were repaired and repurposed as a healthy-snack venure and watering hole for all of the people using the park. It is so beautiful; it deserves a facelift. Let's not let it go by way of all the old tobacco barns and other structures of the rural North Carolina of yesteryear. Surely, we have at least one reader with knowledge of the cabin's history (not coming up in internet search) as well as someone with the ability to rescue it.

What a lovely venue for wedding and engagement photos. Put on your favorite plaid shirt and jeans and head on down!  Here is the "Fiddlin' John Carson song/video that is a "must watch" with today's post.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJiNa_RtyM

K is for Kiser Middle School

Kiser Middle School sits across Benjamin Parkway from Friendly Pool and Friendly Shopping Center. It is part of the Brooks Global Elementary, Kiser Middle, Grimsley High Complex, extending from Wendover to Westover Terrace. As with most of our older schools, it is a modest, no frills construction with a non-descript entrance. However, as the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover. It is a great city school, named for Claude Kiser (1881- 1952).

Kiser, originally from Forsyth County, moved to Greensboro in 1906 to organize the South Atlantic Lumber Company. Soon, Kiser was elected mayor of Greensboro, at a time when the city expanded from four square miles to 17.84 square miles.  He was a lifelong advocate for public schools and for teachers. During his twenty-two years on the Greensboro City Board of Education, our city schools flourished. 

Kiser was said to have been a quiet, reserved man. Regardless, he would probably be pleased to know that a school was named in his honor. Let's hope that the students within live up to Kiser's level of civic involvement and commitment to community. Today is ABC Wednesday and K is for Kiser. See GDP's A-J school entries here.

(Reference, Ethel Stephens Arnett, For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina).

Greenway and Baby Joggers at Bur-Mil

It is amazing how many people use the Greensboro Atlantic-Yadkin Greenway, especially on the weekends. As indicated by the green signage, the above photo was taken on the greenway section near Bur-Mil Park at the Owl's Roost neighborhood. Especially prevalent on the weekends are dads with their little ones in the jogger strollers. The strollers make it convenient for parents to get out and exercise without having to arrange for child care. Plus, the children learn to appreciate the great outdoors. The 3-wheeled, baby jogger stroller (like the one barely visible above) was invented in 1983 by Phillip Baechler.* Mr. Baechler appears to live near Seattle and work for Boeing. It would be fun to interview him and find out the details behind his invention.

In the meantime, there are a whole lot of families enjoying his product on the weekends. Those first babies to jog the trails tucked in Baechler's 3-wheeled strollers are 30 now. We wonder if those who got their start in the strollers are runners and using the strollers, like their parents were. Next time you see someone under 30 using one, stop and ask if they were a baby jogger baby. Stroller or no stroller, be sure to enjoy our trail system in the fall once the leaves start changing. You will be amazed.

*reference.

Keurig Exchange at Bur-Mil

The Keurig Company (of one-cup coffee pod machine fame) is sweeping the Triad with its "trade up" program. If you bring in your USED corded drip coffee maker, you can trade it for a new-in-the-box Keurig machine. Saturday morning's event was held at Bur-Mil Park. People started arriving at 12 midnight and you had to have arrived before 5am to get a wristband which ensured that you would get a machine. The line looped all the way around the building with people hoping to get a machine. As many people were turned away as got a new coffee pot. While Keurig would not release data, our estimate is that they gave away at least 500 machines. When the distribution began at 10 am, people had been waiting 7-10 hours for their coffee pot. Armed with snacks, blankets, and folding chairs, most people looked like they arrived well-prepared and were having fun. The Owls Roost neighborhood at Bur-Mil looked like it was hosting the world's largest Bunko game!

The old machines were dumped in a cardboard recycling box marked "SynergyRecycling." This Piedmont-Triad company specializes in recycling electronics in a way that minimizes environmental impact. For those of you who don't have to work on Wednesday, we heard Keurig is having another event at the Coliseum complex, specifically the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Grab a friend, a tired, drip coffee pot and head out for a marathon session of waiting for a new coffee pot. Good luck! By the way, your chances of finding an old drip coffee pot for trade-in at the Goodwill Store this week, are about 0%!

Finally, we'd like to mention that the young man who oversaw traffic movement, employeed by Bur-Mil, was such a hardworking gentlemen who kept a calm and professional demeanor during this event.

Covenant Church United Methodist

Covenant Church United Methodist is located off of Wendover Avenue and Highway 68, actually on Skeet Club Road and a little closer to High Point than Greensboro. Regardless, it is one of those dynamic houses of worship that has something going on just about every day. The church members recently finished having a Kids' Consignment Sale and they're preparing for their giant fall festival to be held on Saturday, October 12th. We've been told that Covenant Church has not only inspiring church services, but also great music and Bible studies.

The Greensboro/Triad area has so many wonderful faith-based organizations, ranging from extremely conservative and traditional to extremely liberal and contemporary. We try to share something different every week (see here) and after nearly five years of Sundays, we're nowhere near running out of places to feature. As always, we're open to suggestions and would love to hear from you. Happy Sunday; happy nurturing your body and soul. 

Whirligig at Wesley Long

Happy Friday. Today, we share a whirligig sculpture by Vollis Simpson and installed at the Wesley Long Hospital complex. The saw dog in on loan. Here is a two minute video documenting the day it arrived in town. The whirligig is made from recycled/upcycled metal- everything from bicycle pieces to B-52 metal parts. Simpson hails from Wilson, NC. The retired machine shop operator turned visual artist is bringing visual pleasure and fun, whilygig sounds to Greensboro. You can see another piece of Mr. Simpson's art at the Hemphill Branch of the Greensboro City Library system.*

In May, North Carolina voted to make the whirligig our state's official folk art. In June, the 94-year-old Vollis Simpson left this earth. We hope his masterpieces are around to bring pleasure to us for a very long time. You leave us to ponder, Mr. Simpson, if a unit of speed is the ratio of a unit of distance to a unit of time, just how fast is our whirligig going if it never leaves the above pole? On a windy day, we're betting a little bit of Mr. Simpson's soul is spinning around his aerodynamic works of art. 

*Simpson reference, here.

Super Shot

Today, we share another photo from the Central Carolina Fair. The weather has been exceedingly cooperative for the 2013 fair. Hopefully, the sunshine  will last through the weekend so that Greensboro can enjoy the last few days of the fair. The view from the Super Shot is great, if you aren't so terrified in anticipation of the drop!

Sunday, admission to the fair is free, as is the El Grito Festival at the White Oak Amphitheatre. The El Grito Festival will be held to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexico's Independence Day. September 16th is Mexico's Independence Day and, yes, in Mexico, it is more popular than Cinco de Mayo- which is NOT Indepencence Day. Three cheers for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex for offering so many great events and for acknowledging Greensboro's ethnic diversity. Adelante! Or in the case of the Super Shot, Arriba y abajo! Up and down!

 

J is for Jackson Middle School

 

Jackson Middle School is located at 220 Ontario Street, between Four Seasons Mall and the Coliseum. It is named for Walter Clinton Jackson, a lifelong educator, who remained in the profession even when offered jobs in the business world. Education WAS his business. Dr. Jackson was born in Georgia, but spent a large part of his life teaching and leading educators in North Carolina. For sixteen years, Dr. Jackson was chancellor of the Woman's College of the University of North Caronlina (UNCG).  He was so loved at UNCG, they named the library for him; he left such a significant impact on the public schools, they named a middle school for him.

 Jackson Middle serves approximately 430 students in grades 6-8. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Wednesday A-Z education series, J is for Jackson, the middle school AND the man. We'd like to challenge the students at Jackson Middle to research, not only the school's namesake, but also the school's history and those who have contributed time and effort to this learning community. Today is an early release day in the Guilford County Schools. We're betting there will be at least a few Jackson Middle students, running along the above sidewalks,making the most of a two-hour, summer mini-cation!

Poultry Galore

We're back at the Central Carolina Fair today because the poultry exhibit is fabulous. The Carolina Feather Fanciers Poultry Show is being held in the Pavillion, in conjunction with the fair. With approximately 400 birds on display, it is one of the largest poultry shows in North Carolina. The birds above are Silver-Spangled Hamburgs. Aren't they lovely? They're in coop #353, exhibit #9. The one on the left seems to love being photographed. Three years ago, rainbow rooster was the show stealer (see here)- but not this year. For now, we're content feasting our eyes on these spotted, Dalmatian birds.

If you attend the fair, especially with young children, please spend some time in the exhibits. Also, if you see any 4-H members, thank them for all of their hard work. If you can't get out to enjoy this poultry show, the Carolina Feather Fanciers Association will have their spring show on Burlington Road on April 12, 2014. Mark your calendars.

Central Carolina Fair... Since 1898...

The lovely weather this past weekend made the Central Carolina Fair a fun place to spend the afternoon. This is the 115th year of our fair. Hard to believe that it has been going strong since the end of the 19th century. Now that's tradition! The fair is a combination of exhibits, midway rides, entertainment, and sinful food. The smell of funnel cakes, cotton candy, and sausage dogs adds to the ambience, as does the screaming of the people on rides.  The fair is in full swing until next Sunday, September 22. It is fun to treat our Greensboro fair as a prelude to the North Carolina State Fair, which will be in Raleigh from October 17- 27.

 

Memories of the fair last a lifetime. Do you remember the first time you ever won a stuffed animal; the first time someone won a stuffed animal for you; seeing more varieties of chickens than you ever knew existed; trying scary rides that give you bragging rights for a long time? Call a friend, neighbor, classmate, or family member and head over to the Coliseum this week. It only costs five dollars to get in and absorb the nostalgia... cheaper than a movie! Senior citizens, college students, military, and patrons under 42" get in free. Everyone gets in free on the last day. It would be nice to have an NPR StodyCorps booth at the fair where people stopped by and told their fair memories over the last decades. It would be nice to find Greensboro's oldest living citizens who have early memories of going to the fair.

Day Trip to (or through) Winston Salem

Spoiler alert! The above photo is not Greensboro, but neighboring Winston-Salem. These sunny days of late summer/early fall are perfect for day trips. The mountains are ripe for apple picking adventures. Wake Forest University is offering some fun football Saturdays. Old Salem Museum and Gardens is offering their fall gardening workshops and ready to show you what fall was like in a Moravian village. Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park are begging to be traversed, as is Grandfather Mountain. Mount Airy is waiting with some Mayberry nostalgia. All of these places have one thing in common. When leaving Greensboro, you need to head west and pass through Winston Salem. Greensboro is a great place to call home, but once in a while, we love to visit our sister city (of sorts) the next county over.... especially on bright, sunny days!

Happy Saturday, dear readers! And, a special thanks to Kim for her GDP comment yesterday about Bain Street having been named for former Greensboro Mayor Carson Bain. Read the 2010 obituary of this prominent Greensboro citizen, here. Readers and commenters like YOU (and Kim) make this blogging effort all worthwhile!

On Bain Street

For this Friday, at the end of a HOT summer week, we leave you with this view of Bain Street. Do you know where it is? Have you ever been on Bain Street? As you can see, it is a really popular place to park for people who are downtown Greensboro. The word "bain" can mean "ready, willing, direct, near, short, gain, limber, pliant, flexible." However, in spite of having multiple definitions, this Middle English term is mostly not used today. We wonder how the street got its name.

It is the last street on the right, off of South Elm Street, just before East Lee Street. Happy Friday. Stop by Bain Street and see the beautiful sunset and the nice perspective- great for art students to see how the street vanishes onto the horizon!

Remember Betty Letterman

Better Letterman has a daughter driving around town in a PT Cruiser who misses her every day. She misses her so much that she has a sign in the back window of her car. From the pink ribbon, we assume that Ms. Letterman must have died of breast cancer. It is amazing how much you can learn about a person while sitting behind them in traffic. Such a precious tribute. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; however, it is never too early to start thinking what we can do, where we can send our contributions and whom we can recognize.

There are plenty of opportunities at the Susan G. Komen breast cancer awareness website. If you have a friend or loved one who currently has or has survived breast cancer, let them know you support them. If you see Betty Letterman's daughter driving around Greensboro, send her some words of encouragement. After all, nothing takes the place of a mother's love.

I is for Irving Park Elementary

Irving Park Elementary School (IPES) is located in the heart of the Old Irving Park neighborhood. The school was built in 1928, back when the 350-acre golf/clubhouse-centered community was young and establishing itself as a community of businessmen and leaders. The neighborhood continues to thrive today and school personnel and local residents work very hard to  maintain a vibrant learning community. IPES has held a spring fun day for decades; also, it has a giant playground/parking lot area, frequently full of families having fun and catching up on neighborhood news. The above mural project, spearheaded by IPES art teacher Kathie Williams, exemplifies the collaborative spirit of the school.  See their slideshow on Mrs. Williams' installation, here.  

As we pause on September 11, to recall the horrific attack on the United States in 2001, let us look forward and remain hopeful for our country.  Let us look to our public schools and to the children, our greatest resource,  to make the world a better place. The above mural says it all, perserverance, responsibility, courage, respect... 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z education series, I is for Irving Park Elementary. 

West Market Street at Sunset

Here we see the At&T building at the corner of South Eugene and West Market Street. It is located across the street, diagonally, from the Preyer Federal Building. This view shows AT&T without the tower and several antennae that stood above the building for decades. The tower was dismantled in the summer of 2011. While AT&T is decreased its presence in Greensboro in 2012,* this building with the iconic logo in still easily reconizable in downtown Greensboro. 

Street parking in downtown Greensboro is free after 6 pm and on weekends, which is very generous for a city. If you haven't recently, we encourage you to head downtown soon and enjoy your city. It is very intiving and, admittedly, a little sleeker without the antenna-tower building topper. Given its east/west orientation, Market Street is so pretty at sunset, provided you aren't driving into the sun!

*read more here.

More Free Hugs

The above photo was taken in the 300 block of South Elm Street, in front of Design Archives,  during September's First Friday in Downtown Greensboro. People were lined up for free hugs. The FREE HUG initiative was featured on GDP last year (here). It seems people are more familiar with the concept now and, instead of having to recruit hug-ees, people are waiting in line to participate in this campaign. Juan Mann, of Sydney, Australia, started the initiative to help enhance social connectivity in an era when we are all seemingly disconnected.*  He discovered that, worldwide, many of us could use a few more heartfelt hugs.

Perhaps the world especially needs  hugs this week,  as we come upon the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. If only nations, cultures, peoples, could appreciate each other a little more. To be sure, understanding, appreciation, and gentle embraces had a positive impact on Elm Street this past Friday. Happy Monday, dear readers. To you, we extend a virtual embrace...

*read Juan Mann's touching story, here.

Bessemer United Methodist Church

Bessemer United Methodist Church is located at 3015 East Bessemer Avenue. The church was built in 1928 directly across the street from the Bessemer Schools. From school to church to scout meetings, to the house for lunch, to the neighbor's house, this little part of Bessemer was the pulse of the community. 

Prior to the 1957 annexation into Greensboro, Bessemer was a community of its own. The community was so strong and they loved their churches, their pastors, and their school principals. There is information available online about the Bessemer schools; however, hard as we've searched, we're not coming up with a website for Bessemer UMC. Regardless, at least we have a photo of this beautiful house of worship for our Sacred Sunday posts. Enjoy!

If you are interested in the history of the Bessemer community, see our 2011 post with additional links, here. 

Riding into the Weekend.......

The Royal Limousine was in full swing last night, transporting people up and down Elm Street to this weekend's Second Annual BBQ festival at Festival Park (BBQ East West US 40 Fest). Imagine a double decker bus with a New Orleans jazz sound on the upper deck. That's what we were treated to yesterday and children, of all ages,  were mesmerized.  The above mobile, red block-of-fun brought a smile to everyone's face. How fun to see the JP building watching over us in the background on this glorious evening in downtown Greensboro.

Not only did Greensboro enjoy this bus at First Friday, we were greeted by Greensboro's own Madelyn Greco, internationally-award-winning body painter. She was on the Royal Limousine entertaining people, and promoting the BBQ festival,  with her fabulously painted body and her sassy burlesque attitude. Oh, from the activities for teens, adults, and everyone in between,  September's First Friday was simply magical... AND colorful. Here we see the fabulously decorated Ms. Moxy.....  What can today bring? BBQ? Food trucks? Family time? Enjoy, dear readers!

Greensboro's Own Duck Dynasty

Yesterday on GDP was spider day, today is duck day. The above photo was taken at the Bog Garden at Benjamin Park. At the little bridge near the entrance the fluffy, crested duck in the front started chasing other ducks away. While we enjoyed duck watching, we were even more impressed at the people who were visiting this community space.

People with dogs on leashes, people in wheel chairs, people with baby strollers, people of all ages were going between the bog and bicentennial gardens. The 1100 block of Hobbs Road was very busy. Through the News & Record, we learned that NCA&T University is using the bog garden for a plant propogation project. All of this collaboration is helping the bog garden grow. This trend of getting students (from Kindergarten to graduate school) out to interact with the community and to treat the community as a living laboratory is a win-win situaiton. The Terra Cotta Heritage Foundation is an outgrowth of one such collaborative effort.

As you enjoy Greensboro this weekend (including First Friday tonight), think about how you might be able to contribute to something needed in our community. In the meantime, stop by the bog garden and check out Greensboro's own duck dynasty!

(Not So) Itsy Bitsy Spider

Anyone who has ever read E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" knows that autumn is not only state fair time, but also spider time. The above arachnid was spotted by our door in Greensboro. She is nocturnal and hides during the day. At night, she waits patiently in the center of the web. She is very territorial. For several days, we regularly dismantled the web and she would rebuild in the same spot. She knows that porch lights provide a bountiful supply of bugs. She is very aware of her surroundings. When we go out to photograph her, she retreats. Last night, we were successful in capturing her in all of her glory, right in the middle of her web.

Some people hate spiders; others, think they are a gardener's best friend.  North Carolina State University maintains some websites about North Carolina spiders. Even after looking, we're not 100% what type of spider she is. Do we have any arachnologists out there who can conclusively identify our front door friend? If you have small children in your life, consider doing some spider observing. You may be nurturing a future E.B. White.

H is for Hairston Middle School

H is for Hairston Middle School is located at 3911 Naco Road, off Franklin Boulevard (Franklin becomes Bessemer at the East Market intersection). The above school was named for Otis L. Hairston, who was born in Greensboro and who served his community in many capacities. Hairston was pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church for 34 years. He was not only a man of the cloth, but one dedicated to serving the Greensboro community. Some organizations in which he was active include: Industries of the Blind, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Greensboro School Board, NAACP, Greensboro Urban Ministry and United Way, Greensboro Human Relations Commission, State Democratic Party, Board of Trustees of Bennet College and Shaw University.* Pastor Hairston was one of those citizens who knew that civic involvement leaves a lasting impact. He died in 2000 and, in 2001, the above school was named after him.

If you want to learn more, especially about Mr. Hairston's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, read this interview by Greensboro's own Eugene Pfaff. Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our A-Z Education Series, H is for Hairston. It is so important to remember the good deeds of the people for whom our public schools are named.

* reference.

Goodbye, Summer

Nothing says Labor Day like a fun afternoon at a swimming pool. Above, we see families having fun and telling summer goodbye at Pinetop Swim and Tennis. Pinetop is located at 3723 Pinetop Road, between Hobbs and New Garden Road, tucked in behind Claxton Elementary School. Members love the sense of community and talk about the relaxed and easy-going atmosphere of Pinetop.

While, technically, summer will linger a little longer, Labor Day tends to be the break from summer dressing, decorating, and vacationing to the sights and sounds of fall. In the neighborhood near Pinetop, one couple was decorating their yard with scarecrows and pumpkins. Another was decorating with yellow mums. We saw a politician, gearing up for fall elections by driving along Hobbs putting campaign signs in yards. So quickly, we will be thinking about fall festivals, pumpkin sales in church yards, the Jewish High Holy Days, and eating turkey and pumpkin pie. However, yesterday, for one last day, around Greensboro, we all reveled in the beautiful sunlight of summer's last holiday. Alas, the baithing suits, beach towels, white shoes and searsucker suits are put away. Bring on the wool and flannel shirts.

DONG-TAM Fresh Fish market

Greensboro has been so wet this summer, it seems like fish are going to start swimming in the streets. The above street, East Wendover Avenue, has many small businesses, most of which are privately owned and not chains. One such example is DONG-TAM Fresh Fish market. Dong Tam, means "United Hearts and Minds" in Vietnamese and was the Headquarters Base Camp for the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. It was a place that started as a rice paddy and got converted to civilian amenities and displayed an American presence in the Mekong Delta.* 

We doubt that this establishment on East Wendover Avenuewas was intended to evoke that much history; however, it does represent the hopes and dreams of the Vietnamese community living in Greensboro- being successful, productive citizens. We're not so sure if this location is still open; however, there is a Facebook page for Dong Tam Fresh Fish Market at 2011 East Market Street. Perhaps they have relocated.

As we celebrate Labor Day in the USA, let us hope that new and longtime Americans alike learn to appreciate the social and economic achievements of the American workers. Let us find a way to celebrate and value the contributions of laborers. Happy Labor Day to all!

*http://www.gingerb.com/vietnam_dong_tam.htm

The Path

Today is Sunday, September 1st. On this first day of September, we oficially say goodbye to the carefree days of summer as we  revel in the long-awaited warmth of the season. The above path T's at this driveway, located in northeast Greensboro,  and makes us ponder the direction the fall and winter seasons will take our families, our communites, our nation. Turn right? Turn left? Go straight... even if the road ends?  

What direction will you take this fall? Do you have choices to make? If so, only you can make them. We leave you to ponder something a little spiritual this Sunday and today, instead of a religious buliding, you have a scene of late summer in all her glory. Beautiful trees are about as spiritual and thought provoking as it gets. The next time you see these trees, the leaves will be yellow, orange, and brown; then, they will be gone; they they will bud out and the cycle will begin again.

Happy Sunday, dear readers. Walk a path or a labyrinth; it is good for the soul.

 

High School Football

No matter where you live in the USA, nothing says back-to-school like high school football games. Greensboro is no exception. Above, we see a slice of the Grimsley/Southern High School football game, held at Jameson Stadium, between Benjamin Parkway and Westover Terrace. Grimeley won the non-conference, beginning-of-the-season game 34-0. Interim Coach Pat Neal has been doing an amazing job of knowing his team's strengths and weaknesses; likely, because he has been working with the Whirlies for the past eight years . He really knows his players.

The scent of popcorn filled the air and neon glow sticks were being tossed back and forth, while cheerleaders and student council memebers brought the crowd to life. Also enjoyable was the drumline's halftime show. A great blend of young men & women as well as an ethnically diverse group, the drumline played masterfully while dancing, jumping, hopping, and with some members even being held upside down. What a perfectly glorious Friday night, including the weather. If you have not been to a high school football game lately, consider rushing out to a high school located near you and enjoying a good old autumn tradition. Happy last day of August, dear readers.

Super G Mart

Super G Mart in a supercenter for international food in Greensboro.  If you are interested in cooking with hard-to-find spices or learning more about foods from around the world, Super G is a fun place to start. Out of 60,000 square feet, you will see many interesting products. From Korean rice cakes to Mexican cinnamon bark to tamarind seeds, there is something for everybody! The store is part of the larger Fanta City International Shopping Center at 4927 West Market Street.

North Carolina, including Greensboro, is becoming increasingly ethnically diverse. The top non-English languages spoken in North Carolina are: Spanish, French, German, Vietnamese, Arabic, Korean, Tagalog, Hindi, Gujarati, Russian, Hmong, Italian and Japanese. In all, there are approximately 200 languages other than English spoken in North Carolina. However, as of 2012, 89.66% of North Carolina residents (age 5 and older) spoke English as their primary language.* Regardless of what language(s) you speak, Super G Mart employees will find a way to communicate with you!

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_North_Carolina

Fordham's Drug Store

As mentioned yesterday, Superinetndent Grimsley and O. Henry were born in the same year, 1864. Researching yesterday's post got us thinking about  O. Henry, Greensboro's most internationally known writer. In his youth, O.Henry worked at Fordham's Drug Store at 514 South Elm Street, an establishment that was open from 1898-2002. The drug store and the soda fountain were on the street level. Doctors were on call upstairs. Fordham's was a hub of activity and, likely, a great source of inspiration for O. Henry's writing. The building is in the Italianate style, so common at the end of the 19th century. The mosaic tiles in the above photo evoke the Greco-Roman art form.

Fordham's was open for 104 years and has been closed now for eleven. The windows and door are hauntingly covered with dark plastic to obscure the interior. What will become of this downtown landmark building? The soda fountain was relocated to Lane Drug Store at 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Let's hope the rest of the items in building,  from the mortar and pestle on top to this tile entrance at street level, remain intact, or, at the very least, relocated. Suggestions, dear readers?

G is for Grimsley

Above is the gateway to Grimeley High School, built in another location in 1899 as Greensboro High School. The blue and white Whirleys are the only school in the nation with a "whirley" as a mascot. It resembles a funnel cloud. The school is named for George Adonijah Grimsley (1862- 1935). Grimeley was born in the same year as Greensboro's O. Henry. Grimsley, superintendent of the Greensboro city schools for twelve years, believed that "one of the greatest factors in the education of a child was his training to think fo rhimself, both orally and in writing" (Arnett, p. 228). He also believed that "to think and to give expression to their thoughts, and at the same time give them a taste of the best literature, would equip them to continue their education after leaving school and to get more out of life" (Arnett, p. 229). He implemented a model of teaching where students recited and debated the subjects each Friday.  It seems Mr. Grimsley's thinking is still current today. He was preparing students to be college, career, and life ready. 

The above photo was taken when all was quiet and the school was preparing to receive its students for the year. At the moment, Grimsley is doing the best to function normally, in spite of having a parking lot that is still not paved. This summer's heavy rains have the project way beyond the projected completion date. Yet, somehow, once students are inside, the legacy of pride in learning established by Mr. Grimsley, prevails. The class of 2014 represents the 115th year of this great school. Today is ABC Wednesday and G is for Grimsley (see A-F Education, here).

Fall is in the Air

In Greensboro, fall is in the air. Mornings and evenings are crisp. By noon it is perfect weather for outdoor activities. Greensboro's latitude coordinate is 36.0800° N, almost thirty six degrees from the equator and just under fifty four degrees from the north pole. So, we're far enough north, at our altitude, to enjoy a good change of seasons without experience temperature extremes. Some call Greensboro paradise; a la Goldilocks- JUST RIGHT.

The above photo shows what happens to our foilage as the chlorophyll disintegrates: Goodbye green; hello red, orange, brown, gold.* The photo was taken Sunday, on the western end of the county, where Wendover changes to Skeet Club Road. For those of you who like autumn, in Greensboro, for the next two and a half months, just about anywhere you look, you will see nature in all of its glory. Beauty is all around. Enjoy!

* more here on why leaves change.