Greensboro Daily Photo

Sunday Best

We usually publish something religious or spiritual on Sunday and were going to save this photo for Monday. However, it doesn't much more spiritual than seeing nature in all her glory.  It looks as if Mother Nature has put on her Sunday best. Seeing this beautiful sight yesterday, behind the Weatherspoon Museum, at the corner of Spring Garden and Tate Streets, made us bask in the glory of the day. We hope you find something worthy of reflection and prayer in your life today. And if you are nearby, stop by the Weatherspoon to see the great art in the museum. Then, step in the back parking lot and see the Divine beauty that has blessed Greensboro this week. Blossoms signify an awakening. Blossoms encourage us to rejoice. Blossoms on leaveless trees remind of the cycle of life and the inevitability of new beginnings. They are... well.... simply heavenly. May your Sunday be filled with warmth, love, spirituality, and blossoms.

People on the Street

Every 1st of the month is theme day for the City Daily Photo*  community and the March theme is "People on the street." Our person is an unknown man leaving New York Pizza at the corner of Tate Street and Walker Avenue. The pizzeria is 37 years young. A lot of people from Greensboro and elsewhere have walked through those doors. New York Pizza's by-the-slice option is a favorite of nearby students at Greensboro College and UNCG. The bright art on the brick changes frequently and really adds a lot of visual interest to the College Hill neighborhood.

The above colorful façade, with the nod to Pac-man, reminds us of the art of Jiha Moon: visiting Falk Artist at the Weatherspoon Art Muesum. Jiha Moon fuses pop culture images, like angry birds and the Nike swoosh, with traditional Korean motifs. If you are near Spring Garden and Tate Streets, we encourage you to stop in the Weatherspoon today. From 1-4pm, they are featuring WAM Family Day. There will be docents and activity facilitators available to show you around in English and in Spanish. Children are not only welcome, but encouraged to stop by. The Weatherspoon and the pizzeria are less than a block apart. We hope to see you at WAM Family Day and would love to join you for a slice of pizza! Whatever you do, enjoy your day!

*Greensboro Daily Photo has been part of the international City Daily Photo community for over five years. Go here to see people from around the world today.

 

Gassing Up... Sheetz

This photo was taken at the Sheetz Gas Station at the intersection where Market and Friendly meet up, near all of those gas tanks out by the airport. From West Wendover to Battleground across from the Carousel Grande Theater, Sheetz seems to be taking Greensboro by storm. Sheetz is named after the Sheetz family that started with one store in Altoona, PA in 1961. Now, there are 400 locations in 6 states. People who work in the Pennsylvania and Ohio stores say it is a good place to work. We hope their Greensboro employees think so, too. There are at least 5 stores in Greensboro and, the bright red buildings and gas trucks are hard to miss.

Where do you get your gas in Greensboro? Are you loyal to your gas station? Or, do you station hop? Do you like mega-stations or tiny, mom-and-pop places? For some nostalgia, go back and look at this 2009 photo of Sprinkle Gas Station on Lee Street. Two different worlds; two different world views! Got Sheetz or Sprinkle in your tank? Happy Friday, dear readers.

Reflecting on Blogging at Holliday Circle

Today's photo features Holliday Circle, a very different angle and view of yesterday's subject. The above photo has a picture of Greensboro's namesake, Nathanael Greene with the statue facing the camera. It features Holliday Circle with a Guilford County Schools school bus navigating the traffic circle. The Holliday Circle sign situates the photograph at the corner of Greene and McGee Streets. However, it just doesn't capture the spirit or beauty of Greensboro. Today's photo was taken from the fire escape of the building of the Cemala Foundation on Greene Street. Given the subject matter, you would think it should be a compelling photo; however, the photo is too cluttered and lacks the range from dark to light of yesterday's photo. The sky and Jefferson Standard building are missing in today's photo. Also lacking is a focal point.

Some of GDP's readers prefer the written text and don't pay much attention to the photos. Others enjoy the photography and don't spend much time reading the text. Some like both equally. We have been accused of making Greensboro look and sound even more beautiful than it is. Journalists and photographers create mood by selecting the pictures and writing the text they want and leaving the rest in the digital trash. As bloggers we all aspire to more posts like today's and prefer erring on the side of beauty.  Regardless, we're forever grateful that you are there for the gamut.

G is for Greensboro

On ABC Wednesday, G is the most-anticipated letter on Greensboro Daily Photo. G is for Greensboro, Guilford County, General Greene, the greenway, and a whole lot more. The above photo was taken at Holliday Circle, named for Keith Holliday, mayor of Greensboro from 1999 to 2007. The man in the above statue is General Nathanael Greene for whom Greensboro is named. General Greene lead the Patriot forces at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War. He eternally stands guard over our great city. In his view, punctuating the blue sky, in the upper right-hand corner of the photo, is the Jefferson Standard (Pilot/Lincoln Financial Group) building. It is Greensboro's 233 foot skyscraper that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. The handle of Greene's sword is pointing to the Carolina Theatre an 86-year-old treasure on Greene Street. 

While General Greene has long departed earth, his presence is felt in our city. While former Mayor Holliday is now serving in an appointed position for the N.C. Department of Commerce, his impact on this city block will be felt for a very long time. Here's to G for Greensboro and all of the great people who keep it a vibrant place to live. Thank you ABC Wednesday for providing an international forum for showcasing our G-reat city. Thank you Lincoln Financial for bringing our iconic timepiece back to life to keep Greensboro on time. (See our other entries here). 

Dog Walking Weather

 

The last few days, the weather has been refreshing. It feels as if spring has sprung. The above photo was taken on the edge of College Hill, at 813 Spring Garden Street, across from The Province apartments. College Hill has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993. Likely, the above house was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a good example of the housing near Greensboro College and UNCG. The woman at the sidewalk has a tiny dog up in the yard. Both seemed excited to be out enjoying the spring-like weather. Soon, those trees will be full of leaves and  the house will be somewhat hidden from the street. May today be as lovely as yesterday and may those of you with dogs get extra long walks- no matter who is leading the way!

Hints of Spring

With the warm weather this weekend, hints of spring were everywhere. This year, the spring equinox begins on March 20th at 12:57pm. In less than a month, we can close the door on winter! Will you miss it?

The above pair of crocuses surfaced,  peeking out of the ground, yesterday. These perennials, in the iris family, are common along the edge of woodlands and meadows and they are abundant in Greensboro. These mostly, yellow and purple tulip look-alikes bring such a happy hopeful feeling when spotted. Seeing them reminds us that if you still need to prune in your yard, you should do so before plants begin to show signs of growth.

The nortwest corner of Guilford County is Zone 7a and the southwest corner is 7b. Now is the time for Greensboro gardeners to find things to plant in our zone. It is time to order summer flowering bulbs for new beds. Also, these nice days are perfect for cleaning up beds that were missed in the fall. If you commit to taking pictures every month, you will have a visual history of your yard's beauty as well as a way to plan for its future needs. Consider edible yardening and planting things that you can harvest.

Greensboro is extremely beautiful in the spring. Adults and children alike can all be a part of this beauty. If you don't have a yard, get involved with a community garden;  help a friend; help a school. Happy Monday; happy yardening. By the way, did you hear the frogs last night?

 

Damascus Christian Center

Damascus, the capital of Syria, has been inhabited since thousands of years BC. In Greensboro, Damascus is the name of a relatively-young Christian center off of Randleman Road. The congregation meets in a small strip mall, beside a hair salon, on Greengate Drive. The white building, reflecting in the window, is the BMW store, featured on GDP the other day.

It is not uncommon in Greensboro to have houses of worship in these small (usually) retail spaces. Historically, churches haven't been the most popular tenants in these commercial spaces because they only generate customer traffic on Sundays. However, as some of the big box and retail stores go dark, faith-based, and nonprofit real estate seems to be trending.* Greensboro has many houses of worship in buildings that formerly housed retail. Happy Sunday, however you and your loved ones decide to spend it.

*reference, here.

 

Fusion Design 3D Printing

The above photo, taken last July, is a photo of Chris Padgett, founder of Fusion3 Design, and his 3-D printer. Padgett's start-up business is based on a 3-D printer that he designed while he was a mechanical engineering student at NC State University.* While nobody is exactly sure of the role 3-D printers will play in our lives, to be sure they are part of the fabric of the 21st century. Trent Capital Management, Inc, with a local office on North Elm Street, has invested heavily in this technology.

If you see Chris demonstrating his 3-D printer, make sure you take time to talk to him. He is quite adept at talking about scientific innovation in a way that non-scientists can understand.  It is nice to know that Greensboro has a representation in this innovation. Imagine the possibilities, from plastic knick knacks to prosthetic limbs and everything in between. If given the option, how would you use 3-D printing?

*read more here.

On Randleman Road

Randleman Road, located between Jamestown and Pleasant Garden,  is a retail corridor south of the city. In the above photo, we see a man, walking parallel with Greengate Drive, separated from the highway by a brick building. Just over his head, you see Wendy's and Cookout burger establishments,  BP and Kangaroo gas, and so much more. At the top, right edge, you see signs for I-40 and I-85. So, basically, from Randleman Road, the rest of Greensboro is just a quick turn away. With the nice weather this week, likely the roads will be busy with people getting out to have a little fun this weekend. May one of the fun loving people be you! Likely, some of Jason's BMW motorcycle crowd will be out for a ride this weekend.

We haven't participated in Skywatch Friday in a while. We will, today. Here's to the above bright, blue sunny day on Randleman Road.

 

 

Carolina BMW

Carolina BMW has been selling motorcycles in Greensboro since 2001. Located at 2407 Greengate Drive, off of Elm-Eugene, just south of I-40, Carolina BMW not only sells new and used BMW motorcycles, they also have on display motorcycles from previous decades. The above cycle is 1967 R69 S. Five decades of significant and legendary BMW motorcycles are on display at the shop until March 15th.

A motorcycle of the above vintage is featured in "Investment Biker" by Jim Rogers. Rogers and his girlfriend travel 65,000 miles on an around the world trip in 1990-1991. Rogers, an investor, fuses his writing about their travels with economics, history, and a personal look at investment opportunities worldwide. While you may not be able to motorcycle around the world, spend time with Jason and his staff at Carolina BMW, and you'll be tempted to join one of their organized rides.

 

F is for Farms

Today's photo is a flashback to October, before the leaves changed colors and dropped from the trees. The farm is located on Carlson Dairy Road approaching Pleasant Ridge Road. The scene is one that has been ever so common, in Guilford County,  since the Revolutionary War. In the late 20th and now 21st century, many of these farms have been sold off for housing tracts, highways, office buildings, and retail. Driving down Horse Pen Creek, there appears to be one farm remaining, and actually, they may have sold the cow. Organizations like the Piedmont Land Conservancy have been created to make sure the drive to develop is balanced with conserving land and water for future generations.

Greensboro should have just a little more of a month left of winter. Before you know it, trees will be greening out again. Make sure you get out to enjoy those country farms left on the fringe of the county. They are beautiful in every season. That little house on the hill looks so cozy. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Alphabet Soup series, F is for farms.

Guests on This Earth by Lee Smith

Today, Greensboro Daily Photo is talking books! Lee Smith's latest novel, "Guests on Earth," is one that comes highly recommended.   Lee Smith was born in Virginia but has lived in Hillsborough, NC for many years. Her writing includes themes related to life in the Southeastern United States and, as in the case of the above book, relevant to life in North Carolina. "Guests on Earth" is set in Highland Mental Hospital in Asheville, NC between the years of 1938-1948.* Lee has researched documents to make the passages as accurate as possible not only about life in Highland Mental Hospital, but also about mental health treatment during that timeperiod. Althought not the protagonist, F.Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda was in and out of Highland for treatment and features prominently in the book. We don't want to spoil the book for you if you haven't read it yet, but Zelda is a secondary character.

The book is currently on the 'book club' circuit, including in Greensboro. Have you read it? Any of Lee Smith's books? We'd love to hear what you are reading and what you thought of the above book. If you have read "Guests on Earth," you might recognize the characters on that little shelf above the book.  Just a little silliness, since we don't have a weather event to discuss today. Happy Tuesday; happy reading!

*read more here.

 

Arco Realty Company

ARCO Realty Company of Greensboro, NC, sits quietly at 625 South Elm Street, just south of Mellow Mushroom. According to their website, they are a "multilingual, multigenerational property management company with over 55 years in business." In Greensboro, ARCO stands for Agapion Realty Company. If you are in La Palma, California, ARCO represents Atlantic Richfield Company.

The ARCO building has the strong, square simplicity of a Greek temple. It looks utilitarian without a lot of wasted space. Other than the flat roof, it must be easy to maintain. Another thing the building has going for it is location, location, location.  

Happy Monday, it looks like it is back to work and back to school for everybody. Finally, Greensboro has moved beyond snow-pocalypse.

Muirs Chapel UMC

Today, we need a little break from the snow pictures, so we're taking you to a sunnier day last year at Muir's Chapel United Methodist Church, located at 314 Muirs Chapel Road. This thriving church was founded in 1822, a mere 14 years after Greensboro became a town. Typical of the area's 19th century churches, Muir's Chapel has changed and grown, adding buildings and space along the way. Today, the congregation of over 1,300 has come a long way from those early years when Jeremiah Johnson preached among the arbors and trees on the grounds. The present day sanctuary was last remodeled in 1980. For being relativly close to town and busy Market Street, Muir's Chapel UMC has a rural, country feel to it. Yet, when you look at the array of services they offer, the church is definitely in touch with the multiple approaches to having a relationship with God and Christ. The church is very 21st century in that regard.

While we've featured a photo taken in the cemetery (here), we wanted to show you the welcoming, front entrance. Today is Sunday and, we're pretty sure,  you are invited. Hard to believe about a month from now, trees will be budding out again. Hang in there!

Snow Days

Snow is a weather event of great contrasts. It can be hauntingly beautifuly and incredibly ugly. The above photo shows the beauty of the snow giving way to the warmth of the sun, with the sun creating crisp shadows. As the snow gets muddy and slushy, it will look gray and lifeless. Snow can bring people together or keep them apart. With children out sledding and families staying close to home, bad weather brings us together. When people live alone, being snowed in can be extremely isolating, putting contact with the outside world on hold.

In exactly a month, Greensboro will celebrate the 233rd Anniversary of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, not too far from where the above photo was taken. At times, the Revolutionary War soldiers must have felt the desolation of these cold winter days. Perhaps, in their own way, they saw the beauty, too. What do you see when looking at a scene like the above? Happy Saturday, dear readers.

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Just Be is an ecclectic store on South Elm Street at Hamburger Square. They sell handmade and unique items. Owner, Sara-Margaret, designs the window displays as works of art- a la Anthropologie. They have lots of gift items, especially jewelry. Another local item is Vida pour Tea; they are lovely, aromatic blends sold packaged at Just Be and by the cup at many cafes around town. The above photo shows Just Be's Valentine's Day window display. It was photographed Wednesday, when the snow was just starting to stick.

White, the color of fresh snow, is produced by the reflection of all wavelengths of visible light. White hearts are noticeable, reflecting against the backdrop of soft snow. If you can't get out to celebrate Valentine's Day today, JUST BE yourself and find a way to let your loved ones know that your love for them is abundant. Send them a Valentine's Day IOU. Forward this picture to them and tell them how much you care.

The Great Snowstorm of 2014 Has Arrived!

Since last week, people in Greensboro have been talking about the impending snowstorm. As predicted, it arrived right on schedule. Guilford County Schools were closed and local universities closed today at noon. Traffic out of town was at a gridlock. Battleground was bumper to bumper even North of Horse Pen Creek. People who were driving to Summerfield must have driven hours to get home. The above photo was taken on South Elm Street. This unidentified family was downtown and, as soon as the photo was taken, they piled into a mini-van and, hopefully, drove safely home.

Tomorrow is Valentines Day and the holiday is incredibly romantic- especially on a Friday. Let's hope that flower deliveries and purchases of chocolates and special dinners are executed, as planned, tomorrow. If Valentines Day is put on hold, Greensboro should plan a rain check in March. In the meantime, if we ARE snowed in, lets all eat hearty soup and watch the Olympics.

 

E is for Extending

Greensboro is extending the urban loop, U-2524C Greensboro Western Urban Loop, plowing right through the Horse Pen Creek. They've been clearning land for the last couple of months. It will be interesting to follow the progress and the change from this marshy, wetland-looking area that was formerly home to heron, wild ducks, and other wildlife. The above photo is the area that cuts through near Kernodle Middle School and Caldwell Academy. When completed, this will be a nearly 40-mile beltway around Greensboro (see map here).

Preparing this "E" post for ABC Wednesday, many negative words came to mind, erosion, elimination, extrusion, and excavation to name a few. The word extension, which describes adding on to a road, seemed to be a more neutral term. For our A-Z alphabet soup round, "e" is for elimination, oops.... extension. Drive out 220 on North Battleground and have a look. Before you know it, Point A to Point B will be even faster!

 

Afternoon Bike Ride

Greensboro residents love to catch a nice weather day to bike ride. In the above photo, you see a family out riding on a recent, dry afternoon. They were hovering in the parking lot next to Cheesecakes by Alex. If you like to participate in races, you can go here to see what races are coming up in North Carolina. If you just want to ride around on your own, Sunday mornings are great for street riding and the trails are fabulous. As always, there is safety in numbers.

Cheesecakes by Alex is expanding, as are the bike trails. It is a little easier to justify eating yummy cheesecake when you are burning calories on the trail. Here's to a little balance in our lives. Happy Tuesday, dear readers. Wanna ride?

 

Fresh Air

The above scene is located across from the Stoney Creek neighborhood, just off of Rock Creek Dairy Road. The photo was taken yesterday, just before sunset, when the sun was shining in all of its glory. Short of some cold temperatures, Greensboro has been relatively spared winter's grip. The above acerage is such a typically beautiful example of North Carolina's landscape an a bright winter day. The photo gives the illusion of endless rural fields. However, across the street from this very lot, are new strip malls with a McDonald's Restaurant, a Goodwill Store, a Food Lion, a convenience store, and more. It is an example of how suburban and rural landscapes are merging in Greensboro, especially on Burlington Road.

The weekends are such a lovely time to take weekend drives in Greensboro and provide such great transitions between the end of one workweek and the beginning of another. Whatever your days off may be, and even if you are retired, we hope you find time to enjoy a little bit of nature and celebrate the beauty of winter, with or without snow!

 

First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro

 Today is Sunday, a time for reflecton and thought about life, liberty, and spirituality. Many people will be headed to church. In the above photo, to the left, you see three people walkng on Summit Avenue at LindsayStreet towards a red brick building. It is the original building for the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, located on the corner of Summit Avenue and Davie Street. Once the church outgrew this building, the congregation built a new church on North Elm Street and the building in the above photo became the Historical Museum of Greensboro. The building is well maintained, as is the cemetery in its backyard.

To the right, you can still see the sign of the, now gone, Greensboro Inn. Regardless of what you end up doing today, we hope it is a lovely one for you. Happy Sunday, dear readers.

Community Theatre of Greensboro

The Community Theatre of Greensboro has a permanent home at 520 South Elm Street. Here, dreams are made. Children try out for the Wizard of Oz, and other plays, and, if cast, they have the experience of a lifetime. CTG was founded in 1949 and is the oldest arts organization in Guilford County. While they are in their 64th season, they are in their first permanent home. If you get a chance, stop by 520 South Elm and enjoy a performance.

Don't you think this entrance beautiful? The red, white, black, the glass diamonds really make the entrance stand out. Notice that the Salvation Army is embedded in the mosaic tiles at the entrance. It would be interesting to hear some of the stories of the Salvation Army era, here. Happy Saturday and happy Weekend Reflections.

 

 

Connected: Together, But Separate

Yesterday, we took you to a store in the Four Seasons Mall, conveniently located beside the Koury Convention Center. Well, malls aren't just about stores and things, they are spaces for people to meet up, to walk, and to participate in community events. One such event is Guilford County Schools' Science Fair. When the event is held at the mall, children from across the county, convene with their parents and teachers to put forth their bright ideas for science experimentation and innovation.

In the above photo, we see an increasingly common sight in public spaces: common area seating with places for people to charge their electronics. In the left, front part of the photo, in front of the woman in the blue jacket, is an icon of a plug. It is a pictogram, conveying meaning through its pictorial resemblance to the physical object. The  =| is an international symbol for "charging station." So, we can go to the mall, not just in Greensboro, but just about anywhere, all sit together, recharging. As seen in the above photo, people are connecting to others, not beside them, but elsewhere. Today's picture is about being together, but separate. How often do you find yourself in that situation these days?

Have a great weekend, and, if you get a chance, check out the other photos at Weekend Reflections- but perhaps not when you are with others!

Dragon Seed

Dragon Seed, located at the Four Seasons Town Center, bills itself as a store for cultural gifts. It seems to sell a little bit of everything, from imported chess sets to wall hangings to dragon set-abouts and Buddha statues. It looks a little bit like New York City. It would probably be a good place to find a Chinese calendar and something for the upcoming Lantern Festival. Since it is the year of the horse, perhaps horse nick nacks are available.  

In Greensboro, events to celebrate Chinese New Year took place this year at the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. Unfortunately, we were not able to get down there to take photos.  Here is a link to some of the ethnic/cultural events that Greensboro sponsors, if you want to keep track of them throughout the year. If you are like us, you try to take advantage of all the great events our city sponsors. Happy Thursday, dear readers. Things seem a little quiet around town, as well as in the Dragon Seed, too.

 

D is for Denim

Greensboro has a great history with textiles and denim. The Cone Brothers were instrumental in bringing the textile industry to Greensboro. Above, you see the Cone White Oak Plant, on 16th Street. Many of the plants are closed or repurposed; however, The White Oak Plant is still in business, making fabric the old fashioned way. At 109 years old, it is America's oldest working denim mill. Surrounding the the White Oak Plant are the neighborhood mill villages that used to be filled with people who lived close enough to work at the mill every day. While the textile industry in Greensboro is far from what is used to be, we have locals, like Evan Morrison, who are committed to ensuring that we support our textile industry and keep our denim industry alive. As Morrison points out, "American" means a great work ethic, especially a blue collar work ethic. And nothing says American clothing like denim. Morrison sells American made denim at his booth in Design Archives on South Elm Street. Included in his inventory is denim from the White Oak facility. Read more about our local denim expert and his start-up business, here.

Is you grew up in Greensboro and are at least in your mid-20's, which is the case of Morrison, likely, you remember your family's stories of the textile industry. One of our favorite quotes comes from Levi's Jonathan Kirby, "Some mills make fabric, Cone makes history." If you treasure this history, read the Bloomberg Businessweek article here. Well worth the three minutes it will take you to read it!

Today is ABC Wednesday. See A-C of our "Alphabet Soup" round, here.

From Greensboro Inn to Performing Arts Center

The Greensboro Inn is gone. D.H. Griffin demolition has worked their wrecking-ball magic and all that is left of the three story motel across the street from the Greensboro Historical Museum and the Wrangler Headquarters. They are making way for the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts (see plans, here). Construction will be underway for approximately 18 months and the facility should open in 2016. The 63 million-dollar center will will be designed by the H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture firm will design it, with Atlanta-based Rosser International, Inc. will serve as the project's lead architect. Rosser designed Greensboro's ACC Hall of Champions and the Greensboro Aquatic Center (reference). Let's hope that G-PAC becomes a D-PAC, west and that our community can support even more preformance arts events. Greensboro is changing before our eyes! Seems like it is time to dive in and embrace the change. 

Brotherly Love

This giant chair at the Greensboro Children's Museum is sampled by many children who visit there. The above two boys were a little competitive, but their love for each other was evident. We don't usually quote scripture; however, we couldn't look at the two guys without thinking of the following quotes, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17 ESV). And then there is Psalms 133:1 (ESV), "Behold , how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity." We sure hope the latter verse is more relevant to the relationship to the two above. We love sharing something spiritual on Sundays and, at the end of the day, all religions tell us that how we interact with each other matters. Here's to brotherly love and respecting the inherent worth and dignity of everyone.

If you haven't been to the children's museum, this Friday will be First Friday and the entry fee is only $2. Stop by and see for yourself what a great resource we have in the community. Snap a photo or two in "chairy" and, if you are lucky enough to have siblings, send the photo their way. Happy Sunday!

At February First, on February First, Remembering February First

Today is February 1st and the above photo is of Feburary First Street, that tiny street that represents such a big event in the history of Greensboro. Just south of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, February First Street was renamed for the heroic event, The Greensboro Sit-Ins, when four students from A&T University sat at the lunch counter and demanded to be served. The back left signage in the photo reminds us that the heroic event took place at Woolworth. The big sit-in event happened on February First in 1960 at 4:30 pm, right inside this building. You. Are. Here. And it is beautiful; on so many levels.

As the nation enters Black History Month, Greensboro enters a period of remembering our efforts in advancing civil rights on February First, in Greensboro, in North Carolina and beyond. Last month, the world lost a great man, Franklin McCain. Physically, he won't be here today; however, his ideas will be here for a very long time. If you have time this afternoon, stop by the museum. Better yet, purchase a ticket and head to the 54th Anniversiary Gala being held at the Khoury Convention Center. A memorable evening will be had by all. Wherever you are, do something today that helps make the world a more just and equitable place.

 

Winter Blue and White

Winter skies can be pretty dramatic. High pressure moves to low pressure, all with the earth tilted away from the sun. If you look closely, you can almost imagine the earth's tilt. The slice of blue sky, wedged between snow and clouds is dramatic withthe leaf-less trees punctuating the landscape. The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro, earlier this week.

In Greensboro, weather has been on everyone's mind. School was held one full day and two shortened days. It has been consistently cold for several days. Water pipes are freezing everywhere. For students, it is really hard to focus when weather events are first and foremost on the mind. Teachers on block schedules are struggling, because, it feels like they are restarting the semester over, and over, and over. If you don't know what we're talking about, watch the movie Groundhog Day on Sunday (Groundhog Day), and enjoy the seemingly repetitive glories of winter.

Snow Day

This is how Greensboro looked on Wednesday. It wasn't very much snow, but enough to close everything down. Our community, especially the school system, errs on the side of caution when snow falls. Hopfeully, everyone was safe and had a little change to walk outside and notice how clean the air smells after a snow. There is a texture, density, and smell to the air just before a snow that, if one is attuned to it, is as accurate as the weatherperson. 

As January winds down, it seems like is has been forever since New Years Day.  Wonder what February will bring. And, as someone wrote on Facebook the other day, "Winter, your days are numbered!" In the meantime, we're headed out to make some snow memories. This is really the first "significant" snow of the season for Greensboro.

C is for Children, Montagnard Children

As we have been documenting over the last few days, this past weekend was a busy one in Greensboro.  Above, you see the lobby of the Greensboro Historical Museum after the screening of the documentary made by Montagnard high school students whose families arrived as refugees and immigrants. These new Americans have become historians and filmakers in a project that will be archived at the Smithonian. The above crowd includes not only Montagnard families but also community members who know and care about the stories of this group of people from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Long before the film project began, Betty Stratford was busy tutoring English Language Learners at Mendenhall Middle School.  In collaboration with Lie Rlayang, Betty designed a series of cloth panels telling the story of Lie's journey to America. The scene below is one of Montagnard children learning about life in America through TV- specifically cartoons and sit-coms. Betty was not in attendance on Saturday, as she is not well; however, her husband, students and artwork were there to represent her dedication to Greensboro's immigrant children. Today is ABC Wednesday and C is for "children."  If you get a chance, be sure to watch, The Young Mountaineers: An Untold Story of Montagnard Youth in Greensboro. 

 

 

 

O. Henry Event for Local Authors... and Readers

Sunday, a bookselling event for local authors and readers was held at the O. Henry Hotel. And, what an event it was! The rooms were full of people all interested in talking about reading and writing. Books were flying off the makeshift shelves. Light appetizers, tea, coffee, and flavored water were served and anyone who purchased a book received a $10 voucher to apply to a meal eaten at the hotel's Green Valley Grill. UNCG's MFA Writing Program and O. Henry Magazine were co-sponsors. Scuppernong Bookstore was on hand with books of local interest. Fun was had by all.

Like so many events in Greensboro, it was free and open to the public. Let's hope that this local, community, literary afternoon is held annually. One woman was overheard commenting, "Events like this one aren't usually held in places this nice." The elegant O. Henry Hotel was generous in all that they shared with the public and the public seemed appreciative.  Below, you see local writers, Fred Chappell and Jim Dodson, busy signing copies of their books. A big thank-you to all involved. Now, it is time to sit back and read the works of these great authors!

From Magnet Fair to Magnet Mondays

This past Saturday, Guilford County Schools held the magnet fair at the Pavillion at the Greensboro Coliseum and turnout was tremendous. Our school district is known for not only great traditional schools but also alternative and theme-based schools. According to their website, GCS has 54 magnet schools. Having so many educational options probably plays a big role in the fact that our district's drop-out rate is low. Everthing from performing arts to aviation to Spanish immersion to math, science, and technology is available in the magnet schools. Today is the first magnet Monday which means that parents can bring their children to these specialized  schools to look around and get an idea if a school is right for them.

Choice in schooling is definitely trending in the 21st century. Even in the neighborhood/attendance zone schools, Guilford County students can take courses through the district's virtual public school program. One can only imagine how schoosl will look five years from now. We predict that students having an August-June, 8am-4pm, brick-and-mortar experience only will be the exception, not the rule. And, Guilford County is ahead of the curve. Regardless of where you live, encourage the young people in your life to find the precise educational opportunities that will nurture their love of learning.  As always, remember to encourage them to be well-rounded and to READ, READ, READ! Happy Magnet Monday, dear readers. See you at school!

Faith Groups and Helping

Faith communities nationwide are quickly becoming the "go to" groups for helping people with not only spiritual but also food, shelter, health, and other daily living needs. If you are looking for a way to help or in need of help, and not already part of a faith-based organization, you may want to consider finding one. This weekend in downtown Greensboro, there were many opportunities to help and be helped The above photo was a pop-up table that appeared near the Greensboro Public Library at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Church Streets. People were leaving with bags of toiletries. We saw one husband and wife team hiding a zip lock bag of toothpaste and bottled water in what seemed to be a designated spot where someone would come later to retrieve it. We're not sure what group set up the tables, above but is seemed like a great group of loving, caring, compasstionate folks- coming and going.

As we fight single digit temperatures in Greensboro, please consider volunteering time or donating money to help one of the great groups established to help those in need.  Here is a list of places that serve free food to the homeless. There are at least three opportunities every day of the week to eat or help. It is really easy to help and the best place to start is with groups that have already mobilized and know what is needed most. Sunday is a great day to start. Let us know what you decide to do.

Greensboro Children's Museum

The other weekend, we were driving by the Greensboro Children's Museum on Church Street and it look absolutely magical in the early evening hours. While the photo is a little fuzzy (drive-by photography can be like that), it captures the beauty of the façade and the energy when the building is being used at night. It looked like a birthday party might have been underway as people were walking in with gifts. The museum offers not only activities by day but also activities in the evening. Today, they're celebrating Vietnamese New Year all day long. Stop by, by day, and learn how Greensboro's Vietnamese community rings in the new year. Happy Tết Nguyên Đán !

Gene's Barber Shop

Finding an "old school" barber shop is is getting harder and harder. Even Gene wants to make it clear that he offers hair styling, too. Barbers have a rigorous training program and the barber pole (see above the PEPSI machine) is said to be the oldest symbol of a trade or craft and it dates back to the BC era. Barbers were known as barber-surgeons and have always been well respected. From the feedback online, Greensboro's Barber Gene is well respected here. One customer said that Gene can use a straight razor to shave hair down to a zero. Now that's smooth.

Barber shops are known for being great places to congregate and to share the latest ideas. Barbers need to be able to cut hair, give a clean shave, sharpen a razor with a razor strap, and be a worthy debater. Maybe we should stop Gene's and learn about a day in the life of a barber. Gene's is located on Spring Garden Street across from yesterday's little gray art house. 

Little Gray House on Spring Garden Street

Yesterday we brought you a Summerfield house with ties to Greensboro writer O. Henry. GDP readers refered to the dilapadted Saunders Inn as historical and painterly. 

Today, we head closer to town and feature an artistic house on Spring Garden Street. The above humble home does not likely come with an equally impressive pedigree as the Saunders Inn; however, it does provide a window into how the artistically-inclined live among us. Not having talked to the tennants, we are left with more questions than answers for you. We wonder how they decide what artifacts make it to the front porch, how the colors are selected, if there is a theme, and if more will get added. If we ever drive by and see anyone sitting on those sweet red chairs on the front porch, we'll wander over and ask them. The house is located close to Lindley Park between Holden Road and Elam Avenue. Admiring the house from a distance, it becomes patently clear that the residents value symmetry and that the house is well loved. May we all stand back and breathe in their playful enthusiasm. We leave you, today, with a closeup of the "artifacts."  

B is for Boardinghouse

Located in Summerfield on Highway 150, also known as Oak Ridge Road, at the corner of Deboe Road, is the old Saunders Inn. It was a place where travelers or people relocating could stay, get a good meal, and keep their horse in the outbuildings. In the early 1800's, when Sydney Porter was relocating to Guilford County, he lodged here and actually stayed on to teach innkeeper Hezekiah Saunder's children*. Fast forwarding to 1862, this teacher's grandson, William Sydney Porter, would be born in Guilford County and grow up to become Greensboro's most celebrated writer, O.Henry.

The above property, a simple country home from the 19th century, could be transformed into a splendid piece of literary history. Imagine being able to attend a retreat for writers in a place with connections to O.Henry. The barn on the property was torn down not too long ago; so, it is hard to tell what the future has in store for this weary old place. Even in this state of decay, it remains beautiful. Reading Summerfield town council notes, it appears that this property will be compromised by the widening of Highway 150 as well as development. **

Today is ABC Wednesday and this round on Greensboro Daily Photo, our theme is "Alphabet Soup," a serving of whatever comes our way from week to week. We learned of this property from the man who sold us a book about O.Henry's life. B is for Boardinghouse, bed & breakfast, located in northeast Guilford County.

*reference and more about Summerfield, here.

** read more here in Summerfield's Town Council Notes from 10/29/2013. It is really interesting tracking the change to our county and seeing how it unfolds.

 

Small Car; Big Fun!

This little FIAT 500 was recently spotteed at the Red Collection Consignment Store on Mill Street. What a playful sense of humor the owner has, putting plastic eyelashes on the headlights. It was as if Miss Fiat were flirting with the car parked in front of her. He looked a little older and a lot bigger than she did. For sure, the owner of this FIAT with Betty Davis eyes needs to stay in a good mood and ready to converse, as her wheels are quite a conversation starter. Hats off to the owner for being so creative. Hopefully, she didn't buy anything too big from the Red Collection because it probably wouldn't  fit in the flirtatious car's back seat.

If you see this FIAT and its owner in Greensboro, please tell them they were featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. Somehow, the owner snuck out of the parking lot before we could track her down. We're thinking that Mr. Big SUV had something to do with their hurried departure. Happy Tuesday and, have a great rest-of-the-work week! Beep! Beep!