Greensboro Daily Photo

Corner of Lindsay & Eugene Streets

On our Sunday drive downtown, we noticed that at the corner of Lindsay and Eugene, D.H. Griffin has been demolishing buildings. The location is directly across from the baseball stadium (on the east side). So much construction has been taking place around the ballpark over the last few years, but this is the closest project to downtown. The above building was at one time a bank or credit union. Unfortunately, we just don't remember. Nor do we know what the space will be used for. At any rate, as the space empties, the view of the iconic Jefferson Stardard/Pilot/Lincoln Financial building keeps getting better and better. While we were taking this picture, someone was surveying the parking lot across the street. So much more change in store for downtown.

Let us know if you know what will go in this space or, please direct us to a News & Record article if there has been one. Over the years, on Greensboro Daily Photo, we've taken quite a few demolition photos. Perhaps we need a tag for demolition; or, more nicely said, CHANGE. (See the Eugene Street view of the demolition-in-progress/CHANGE below).

Food for Thought on State Street

DAILY BIBLE READING PREVENTS TRUTH DECAY. Have you been to the dentist lately? Are you reading the Bible? What measures are you taking to prevent truth decay? These are the questions that come to mind upon reading the marquee on the Gate City Church. Do you wonder who thinks up these clever sayings on church marquees? Perhaps it was Pastor Powers. Perhaps they pop up on a website for pastors. Regardless, they are always attention getters.

As mentioned earlier on GDP, Gate City Church of God is for sale. It seems like this church, on the Elm Street Side of State Street, on the fringe of Irving Park, has been there forever. We can't imagine it being repurposed as something else. Churches, synagogues, and temples seem like such permanant pillars of a community. It is hard to believe that they come and go and change hands. As a best case scenario, congregations outgrow their old skin. 

With respect to the message on the sign, regardless of remedy of choice, may we all find a way to reverse truth decay.

Y is for YOUTH

Greensboro is a great place to raise children. As an example, in the above photo, we see an unidentified girl being taught to double-Dutch jumprope by two festival-goers. Double-Dutch jumproping requires a lot of coordination. There are special rhymes that are often chanted while people are jumping. During the Summer Solstice Festival, adults were working hard to teach children to double Dutch jumprope.In 2009, Double Dutch became a varsity sport in New York City public high schools.* Maybe the trend will spread to Greensboro. If so, the above solstice rope turners would be great for getting the young kids trained. They were so patient.

Greensboro also has great places to take kids. In addition to events and festivals like the solstice event, Greensboro has  many great venues: the Children's Museum, the Science Center, the Children's Theatre, ArtQuest, the city libraries, and so much more. The more effort a community puts into its youth, the more prepared they will be to run the community in adulthood.  Today is ABC Wednesday and Y is for Youth.

 * reference.

 

Indian Motorcycle Greensboro

There is a new motorcycle shop in town: Indian Motorcycle of Greensboro, located at 201 South Church Street. They have both new and pre-owned inventory. In the background of the above photo, Sales Manager Bob McBride is walking over to help a customer. In the foreground, you see a 2014 Indian Chief Vintage.

Polaris Industries, now owner of the Indian Motorcycle Company, introduced the current line-up of Indians in August 2013. The very next month Greensboro entrepreneur Monty Hendrix began negotiations to bring a dealership to Greensboro.

There are three models currently available in the Indian line, the Classic, Vintage and top of the line Chieftain. The bikes have received rave reviews from the motorcycle press. Monty, Bob and all the staff would be happy to give you a personal introduction. 

Friendly Avenue Church of Christ

Friendly Avenue Church of Christ is located on Friendly Avenue a little bit east of Guilford College. It is located on a section of Friendly Avenue where there must be at least a dozen churches, all having so much to offer their congregations and the community as well. Friendly Avenue Church of Christ is a very dynamic church. In addition to worship services, they have community service projects like the backpack program where they commit to filling backpacks for children in need.  They have mission trips to the Dominican Republic, a Spanish ministries, baseball fellowship outings, clothing drives and so much more.

We took a picture of the back side of the church so that you can see how these churches in Greensboro tend to expand by adding on to the original structure. In the upper lefthand corner, you can see the bright white steeple peeking out. Unfortunately, on their website, the church does not provide a history. It would be nice to know when it was built, as well as other historical details.

 

Lyndon Street Rowhouses

Walking east on Sycamore Street, leaving Church Street and heading toward Lyndon Street, you will see the Lyndon Street rowhouses. Theese rowhouses have a lot of charm. They are near the Lyndon Street artists' studios and on the eastern edge of the downtown area. According to Preservation Greensboro, they are rendered in pressed brick with marble trim and are more stylictically related to townhouses in Washington and Philadelphia than to early 20th century houseing in Greensboro. They were built in 1905 for upper-income, lower-eastside residents.*

They rent for $600 a month and up. It would be fun to buy a unit and have friends and relatives in the other units. The front porches make the entrance look so cozy and inviting. In the pre-airconditioning years, those steps would have been filled with parents and children, especially moms, sitting and chatting at the end of the day. The view would be even nicer if the city would bury the power lines. Happy Saturday, to our friends in Greensboro and beyond! Time permitting, seek out these rowhouses this weekend. We are so lucky they have been preserved.

 *reference.

Airplane Is Closer Than It Appears!

The airplane in the photo is closer than it appears; as are the two trucks that are parked alongside Inman Road, just where it crosses Bryan Boulevard, near the airport. This grassy area is a prime location to sit and watch for airplanes approaching the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. Some days, the approach brings the planes even closer to Inman Road. Plane-watching is great summer fun with little ones, especially if you can't be on one heading somewhere on vacation. 

Can you believe it is almost July? Even if you are not leaving town for vacation this summer, there is plenty to do around Greensboro. All you have to do is look, and not always at eye level. We're wondering if it would be allowed to bike to this grassy area and have a picnic! Happy Friday! 

Greensboro Grasshoppers- Great Baseball Fun!

If you are looking for a little summer fun, consider heading out to Newbridge Bank Park for a little Greensboro Grasshopper baseball fun. This minor league baseball park opened in 2005. The park accommodates 7,000-10,000 people. Seating options range from luxury suites to grandstand boxes to a picnic area in the grass and then plain ole traditional stadium seating (reference).

Last week, we got to watch the Grasshoppers come from behind and beat Haggerstown.* If you are able to go to a home game on Friday or Saturday, you will be treated to fireworks at the end of the game. As seen in the above photo, it is really easy to get close to the field to watch the game and the Greensboro skyline in the background looks beautiful. If you get a chance, please go check it out for yourself and take in a game- a great Greensboro tradition.

*here is the schedule if you are interested.

 

X Marks the Spot

The above house is located at 24 Snowgoose Cove in the Turnstone Village section of the Lake Jeannette neighborhood. Turnstone Village, built in the early 1990's,  was the first neighborhood built around the lake. The first couples to move in, built their homes as they started their families. In the early years, the cul-de-sac was full of Playskool and Little Tykes items. Children had playdates while moms sat on their lawns and socialized. Two decades later, the houses are still nice and the landscaping is mature. The original families are long gone and their children have now graduated from high school.

The above house is located on a little stream that feeds into the lake. We selected it for today's post because the address is 24 Snowgoose. Today is X day for ABC Wednesday and, since X is the 24th letter of the alphabet, we're saying that 24 is for X. And, believe it or not, finding a street addresses below 100 is no easy task. For today, X marks the spot, and "the spot" is 24 Snowgoose Cove! We know, this is an elementary code that even a Kindergartener could crack. Regardless, have a great "23, 5, 4, 14, 5, 19, 4, 1, 25" everyone!

Hyla cinera

We had a guest in our house last night, a green treefrog. He was hanging out on our front door at night enjoying a feast of insects flying around the porch light at night. In North Carolina, green treefrogs are more common in the wetlands and swamps of the Costal Plain area. However, they are expanding into the Piedmont, and Greensboro is part of the Piedmont. This is the first one we have seen in our neighborhood. We have a lot of frogs, but they are darker and lack the bright white stripe.

These green insectivores love to eat flying insects and go to great lengths, hopping and jumping, to catch dinner. Mosquito? Check! Fly? Check! Cricket? Check! Yummy! The more the insect moves, the more the green treefrog works to eat it. What a show! Every time we see any  frog in our yard, we are glad that we weed our patio by hand. Amphibians are very sensitive to chemicals. A little weeding (actually a LOT of weeding) is not only good exercise, it is good for the critters living around us. We hope you do things to make your neighborhood a good one for the ecosystem and that you have time to sit back and enjoy nature. The green treefrog's sound is described as queenk, queenk.* And so, "Queenk, Queenk," for reading our website today!

*Listen to his call, here.

 

Summer Solstice 2014

The 10th Annual Summer Solstice Event in the Greensboro Arboretum was spectular this year. In the above photo, you see a small portion of the puppets that were paraded around the grounds, through all of the vendors' tables, across the bridge on over to the other side.  The giant puppets are from a group in Saxapahaw called Paperhand Puppets. They use cardboard, cornstarch, bamboo, old house paint, fabric and just about anything else they can think of to make these fabulous puppets. The children were mesmerized; adults were pretty impressed, too.

The sun was shining all day long and the rain managed to stay away. Susan Sassman did an excellent job of taking the festival to the next level by getting funding for performers and, as always, organizing the event from setting up to the grand finale fire show to getting the arboretum cleaned up.* From organizers to performers to attendees to volunteers to vendors to all the little canines sporting wings, everyone came together to make the festival a fabulous one.

*read more here.  

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna is a mantra, and it was sung yesterday by the above people at Greensboro's 10th annual Summer Solstice Festival. The mantra (hare krishna, hare krishna, krishna, krishna, hare hare, was first popularized around 1500 AD.  It is meant to bring spiritual enlightenment. Strict followers of this stict belief system aspire to lead holy lives and they abstain from intoxicants.

The Hare Krishna group sat still for a very long time yesterday chanting and playing their various instruments. A few, we walking around explaining their belief system to others. Stay tuned and we'll feature mora about the solstice event later this week. And, if your want to read more about Hare Krishna, do so, here. Happy Sunday, and Hare Krishna, dear readers!

"We're Visiting Greensboro"

The top of the poster in the window reads, "We're visiting Greensboro."  The poster is from an exhibit at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, entilted Fallen Fruit by David Burns and Austin Young. The lemon-themed art, as photographed for the poster, represents a project called lemonade stand. Patrons of the Weatherspoon had the opportunity to drink lemonade with the artists and to draw faces on lemons. They were to create a self-portrait with black marker, representing either the best or worst day of their life. The artist selected some of these lemons to display at the Weatherspoon. Through this project, the hope is that, people will learn that there is more than one response to "When life gives you lemons....."*

Those who attended the Solstice Event last night got to see the real, decorated lemons. The Food for Thought exhibit will continue until August 24th and is well worth the visit. The women to the right are walking along South Elm Street, visiting downtown Greensboro. Had we been quicker, we would have asked them, "What do you do when life gives you lemons?".  

For our friends at Weekend Reflections, pucker up! This lemony photo's for you! And, albeit understated, the reflection is present!

*reference.

Coliseum Country Cafe

In the above photo, Carolyn Johnson came out of the kitchen, at The Coliseum Country Cafe, to welcome us to her restaurant when she found out we were first-time customers.  She was in the middle of making desserts, hence the flour on her shirt. The Cafe, located at 1904 Coliseum Boulevard, has been getting positive press lately, not only for its good home-cooked food, but also for its fabulous service. From the owner to the waitresses, everyone wants you to feel like family. The food is what you would imagine being served in a country grandmother's kitchen.

The restaurant has been open for almost a decade and a half, so if you are local and haven't eaten there, you owe yourself that treat. Friday is fish day and people come from miles around for the flounder. We just may see you there. You can keep up with their menu, which changes daily, by following their facebook page.

Beetle-mania

Summer is a great time for enjoying nature. Featured today is an eastern Hercules beetle (Dynastes tityus). It is among the heaviest and longest in the United States.* As seen in the above photo, the beetle is larger than a quarter. Imagine happening upon it in a parking lot, or, stepping on it in your yard. If you look closely at the above specimen, you can see that it is cracked and dead. When they are living and healthy, they are darker. This is the first one we've ever seen in Greensboro.

If you enjoy bug watching as much as we do and live in North Carolina, here is a bug identification guide for our state. Summer is just getting started and most of us are still in the honeymoon stage with the season. After another week or two, we all may be looking for something different to do, especially in households full of children. Consider bug watching. In Greensboro, we are lucky enough to have a great science center where employees are usually gracious enough to help with critter identification.

*reference and read more, here.

W is for Weatherspoon and Whitfield

 The above sculpture, entitled Ed Whitfield at the Caldcleugh Community Center, was created in 1996 by American Artist John Ahearn. Both artist and subject attended Cornell University; however, they first met during Ahern's residency at the Weatherspoon Art Museum. According to the description of the piece, the hands on Whitefield's chest are the protective hands of children. Not seen, are framed photocopies of newspaper clippings documenting significant events in Whitefield's life. This sculpture is one of many pieces in an exhibit related to social justice.

Currently, the Weatherspoon is gearing up for their 10th annual Solstice Event this Friday night (from 6:30- 9:30). The Weatherspoon is also delighting in the international visibility they have gained as a result of being listed in BuzzFeed's list of "18 Hidden Gems Around the World that you Need Visit."* Indeed, Greensboro is lucky to have such an amazing resource available- and it is free and open to the public. If you have time, consider visiting the Weatherspoon.

For ABC Wednesday, "W" if for "Westherspoon" AND "Whitfield."

See News and Record article, here.

 

Shoeshine Anyone?

Looking for a little summertime fun? Head to one of Greensboro's museums. They all offer something artistic and creative and are all free or nearly free. In the above photo, we are in the 600 block of South Elm Street at Elsewhere, The Living Museum. The photo was taken on the First Friday event in June, when they had a shoeshine stand set up. When we were there, the shoeshine person was not in. However, there was still plenty to do between the visual and performing arts at Elsewhere and in the street.

When is the last time you've had a pair of shoes professionally cleaned and polished? Would you even know where to go? There is something fun for your summer "to do" list. Go out and get a shoeshine. If you have some bored tweenagers, encourage them to set up a little shoe shining business. Hello, summer fun in Greensboro; hello, positive cash flow in your household.

 

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

The above photo was taken on the lawn of the student union at UNCG.* The University is known for its fabulous landscaping. Right now, the daisies on the lawn are in full bloom. We jokingly title today's post, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, not so much because students are tempted to eat daises, but they sure are tempted to pick them and share with each other. The building in the background is the Bryan School of Business. It has a solid reputation, getting positive reviews from Bloomberg Businessweek and The Princeton Review. 

On another note, today, Eastern and Page High Schools hold their graduation ceremonies today, at the Coliseum where several ceremonies were held this weekend. Quite a few Guilford County School students are electing to stay in Greensboro to attend UNCG. Likely, many will walk the above path many times, and maybe that great business school in the background just may be on their horizon. Happy Monday!

*if you are not from Greensboro, UNCG stands for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

People Make the Church

On any given Saturday or Sunday, you can be sure that Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, on West Market Street, will be alive with people who are celebrating  life's events. The above photo features one such event, one of the seven sacraments, a confirmation. Our Lady of Grade is such a beautiful facility that it provides a lovely backdrop for these events. Yesterday, several children were being confirmed and their sense of pride, committment, and believing warmed the hearts of family, friends, and onlookers alike. The statue of Holy Mary was a popular final spot for photography before leaving the church grounds.

While the physical structure of a church may be beautiful, not until it has active members, like the ones above, does it come alive. Whether worshiping or having fellowship with family and friends, remember that people bring events to life. Happy Sunday, whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere, celebrating or not.

See our previous post, here,  about Our Lady of Grace if you want a little church history and an interior view.

Koshary Eatery مطعم كشرى

Greensboro's third Egyptian restaurant has now opened. Koshary joins Cleopatra's and Samir's as a place to go to enjoy Egyptian cuisine. Koshary is located on South Elm Street in the building that formerly housed Opa!, a Greek restaurant.* Koshary, also kushari, is a rice based dish with macaroni, short pieces of spagetti, lentils, chick peas, tomato sauce, spices, and anything else that your family elects to add to the dish. Koshary, historically was a "working man's" dish as it was a way to use up leftovers and was convenient to take to work for lunch. It is Egyptian comfort food. 

The restaurant does not serve pork or alcohol. But is does serve lots of great Middle Eastern dishes above and beyond koshary. The established is owned by the same family that has Oakcrest Family Restaurant, beside Fleet Plumber on Battleground.** The restaurant seems to be off to a good start,  enticing people to stop by and try it out. Seeing the Arabic word "koshary" makes us wonder if it is related to the Jewish word, "kosher." Any readers out there have the answer to that one? 

*see a 2010 GDP photo of Opa!, here. 

** reference.

Grimsley's Convocation 2014

Yesterday was the convoation ceremony for Grimsley High School and, in the above photo, a portion of the 400+ graduating seniors are standing on the lawn, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Grimsley was formerly Greensboro High School, the oldest high school in Guilford County.  Greensboro High was established in 1899 and renamed "Grimsley" in 1962 (with some relocation and renovation in between).*

Mayor Nancy Vaughn was the featured speaker at the convocation. She did a wonderful job of helping students dream about their future, their potential, and the places they will go. However, the mayor- ever loyal to Greensboro, reminded them to come home to this beloved city. Sunday, the above "Whirlies" will don their caps and gowns once again to graduate. On Monday, Eastern and Page High Schools will have their graduations, that will be it for Guilford County's graduation ceremonies. Such a hopeful time in the lives of our young adults. If you see any graduates, wish them well. It is such a special time in their life.

* see their Wikipedia page, here. 

House on Pleasant Ridge

At one time, Pleasant Ridge Road was a winding rural road. This house on Pleasant Ridge Road, at Market Street, exudes the county home feeling of yesteryear, so typical to Guilford County. As you read, the buldozer is in the backyard of this house and part of the land has been cleared. The tin roof, gable, front porch, large windows and door in the center of this one-storey house all evoke living in times gone by. A single family dwelling with land is quickly becoming a luxury and, in many cases, something people don't want to maintain. The setting sun adds to the nostalgia of the scene.

Have you seen places in Greensboro that look like this home? Do you like the simplicity or find it dated? We all have our preferences and, fortunately, there is something out there for everybody. Drive by and have a look at the above property. Soon, it will be an apartment complex or a distribution center, or a new highway lane. It is always interesting to see what things become. Happy Thursday!

V is for Vegetables

Between farmers' markets and community gardens, Greensboro has proven that it sure likes its vegetables. The above display, located at the Weatherspoon Museum, is an advertisement for the Glenwood neighborhood's Recipe Roundup. As stated on the initiative's website, The Recipe Roundup was initiated by artists Harriet Hoover and Early Smith. It is supported by the Weatherspoon Art Museum. They are collecting recipes, illustrations and narratives surrounding the nearby Glenwood neighborhood.* The Weatherspoon is gearing up for their ever fabulous Solstice Party (Friday, June 20th 6:30- 9:30) and their upcoming exhibition entitled food for thought. Hats off to the Weatherspoon for their community involvement. Hats off to Hoover and Smith for planning a project around community gardens and those ever nutritious VEGETABLES.

We're sharing this photo with our friends at ABC Wednesday. This week, they are celebrating the letter "V."  At Greensboro Daily Photo, "V" is for "vegetables."

See our previous A-Z Alphabet Soup entries, here.

*read more about the Glenwood initiative, here.

 

Summertime and the Livin' Should Be Easy

School is almost finished for public school students. This has been an intense, polarizing school year in Greensboro and in all of North Carolina. Between the season's weather events, educational reform, changes to the reward system for teachers, budget issues, and the debate over common core, this school year has had been one of asking and attempting to solve very difficult educational questions. Summer vacation provides much needed time for relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation.

The above photo, taken at the outdoor tables at Cheesecakes by Alex, reminds us of how relaxing it can be to fill a mason jar with cut flowers and sit in the glorious outside. The simplest of things can be the most comforting. It is a matter of taking things we have around us and arranging them in the most pleasing manner. Here's to starting off our summer appreciating the simplest of things and, in our calmest moments, we just may find answers to some very complicated questions. And, if not, at least, we'll all come back to the drawing board rested.

Ella Fitzgerald sang it best..... "Summertime and the livin' is easy".......

Golden Girl

Last weekend's First Friday was extremely well attended. Great weather brought out people from all walks of life. In the above photo, at the corner of MLK Jr. Drive and South Elm Street, we see performance artist affectionately dubbed, "Golden Girl." In reality, this living statue bills herself as One Eyed Jane*  She stands motionless for very long periods of time, and she does it masterfully. You may recognize this performance artist from Greensboro's Summer Solstice Event. If you see her, be sure to drop in a tip and tell her she is great. Living statues thrive on financial and verbal reinforcement! It takes a great deal of time, money, and effort, to transform oneself into a golden statue- from head to toe!

Beyond this living statue, we see the bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (seen,  here). This corner is a dynamic spot in Greensboro. Dr. King never knows who is going to join him for the day.

*if you are interested in hiring this living statue for an event, contact her at oneeyedjane@gmail (dot com) or (three three six) 409-9195.

 

Church for Sale

Earlier this week, we brought you a write up about State Street and were standing in the street, directly in front of the above church, when taking this photo. We featured this church in 2012, when it was known at State Street Church of God. Presently, this church at 200 State Street is known as Gate City, and it is for sale. The asking price is $1,200,000. It comes with a parking lot and a parsonage. It was built when the mills were still going strong and people spent more time in their neighborhood communities. According to listing records this location is part of a subdivision of Old Irving Park, known as Lenora.* We had not heard of Lenora; however, there are many names of communities that have gone by the wayside.

Let's hope that this church is purchased and put to good use. It seems so strange for a house of worship to be sold. Who gets the money? God? Churches are usually the result of collaborative, fundraising efforts or large donations. It seems so strange to see one for sale. Some architecture can be easily disguised. 200 State Street in Greensboro, North Carolina, however, exudes.... CHURCH.

*see record here.

Beard and Moustache Club of NC

The Beard & Moustache Club of North Carolina held a mini-gathering in front of Civic Threads on South Elm Street during First Friday last night. The above guys are two of forty some men who gather to talk facial hair, hold contests, and, above all, fundraise for charity. Officially, the Beard and Moustache Club of North Carolina, "is a community of men and women who promote and educate the accolades of beards and moustaches." The Greensboro Chapter meets at the Local House Bar near Grasshopper Stadium. Additionally, they meet, well, wherever kindred spirits are found- like in front of Civic Threads. They have festivals and competitions and are ever raising money for charity. At a recent event , $10,000 was raised and donated.  In addition all of their charitable contributions, they just seem like nice guys.

In the above photo, we see two members of BMC of NC. They gave us a great briefing on the organization and made it quite clear that meetings are a lot of fun and open to not only men who are facial-hair-challenged, but also women. We'd love to go just to see how many famous historical figures we could imagine at one of their gatherings. For example, the guy on the left looks a little bit like Grigori Rasputin and the man on the right, a tad bit like Vladimir Lenin. Wonder if they'd consider doing living history lessons. Hmmmmh. Maybe we could recreate the entire cast of the Bolshevik Revolution. A new fundraiser for charity.

Today is Weekend Reflections and the reflection in the Civic Threads window is worthy of sharing!

 

In the Clover

Today's photo is of a field of red clover very close to Deep Roots Co-op in downtown Greensboro. The was beautiful the other morning when we were out walking. They say that the clover shoots taste delicious and the flowerheads are nutritious and full of protein. The heads are better when they picked when they are young and tender and then cooked. For sure, bees love the fields of clover. We learned in this TED Talk that part of the reason the bee population is in decline is that crop and ground cover diversity is decreasing. A well-managed lawn would be devoid of clover, something that bees love.

The above lot appears to be planned for development soon.  So, look fast, likely, the field of clover is not long for this earth. For now, the bees and we can enjoy it's majestic beauty. Happy First Friday. Just a little southeast from this photo, on Elm and Greene Streets, great fun is happening.

The State of State Street

Yesterday was a gloriously sunny day in Greensboro. The above photo was taken on the Irving Park side of State Street. We have always said that State Street exudes the comfortable feel of a street at the beach. Likewise, it has tremendous potential to attract pedestrians, festivals, and cultural events. We're not quite sure why it seems so empty. Proprietor-on -the-premise businesses like Mark Holder Jeweller, Tyler White Gallery, Ecclectic by Nature, and the other shops are very accommodating.  

Vida Pour Tea will soon be opening a tea house at 412 State Street.  If you've had tea at Scuppernong Books or Beansboro Coffee Shop, then you've already experienced Vida Pour Tea. Let's hope their brewed, custom loose leaf teas will be the ticket to get people pouring onto State Street. You can pick up a great tea pot at Yamamori, Ltd., head across the street for tea, then next door to Ecclectic by Nature for items related to earth-spirituality. Next time we photograph the street, it just may be brimming with people.

U is for Unloading

This past Saturday morning in downtown Greensboro, a sale was held at the corner of Bellemeade and Eugene Street. The auction of personal property, held by Dave's Auctions, was a benefit auction for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The company is owned by Dave Kirkman, a lifelong resident of Guilford County from McLeansville. His mobile auction company goes where you need them to go and, in the above photo, on Saturday Dave's was in downntown Greensboro. Furniture seemed to be selling well and the crowd was well mannered. We hope they made a lot for JDRF, an organization with an office just around the corner from this lot. Also in the neighborhood, you can see the Mariott in the background. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and, as we near the end of our  A-Z Alphabet Soup Series, "U" is for Unloading, that which we do when we have items that are Unwanted and Unneeded.

Irises

For the most part, irises have already peaked in Greensboro. The above photo was taken early one foggy morning, a few weeks ago, in northeast Greensboro. Irises, with their sweet peppery scent, delight our senses. The word iris is Greek for rainbow because these perennials come in so many colors. Historically, irises have been used for perfume and medicine. Some cities have extensive iris gardens*

In Greensboro, many of our community gardens have iris beds. However, for the most part, irises are seen blooming along the road, around mailboxes, and in flower beds. Looking at the foggy, grainy photo above, we realize that we are already missing the cool, misty, iris-dotted morning walks of May. Hello, June. You, too, are beautiful in North Carolina.

*two examples are Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in New Jersey and Giardino dell'Iris in Florence Italy (reference).

Talkin' Tarheel: Walt Wofram & Jeffrey Reaser

The above photo features Walt Wofram and Jeffrey Reaser at Scuppernong Books, last month, promoting their new book "Talkin' Tarheel: How Our Voices Tell the Story of North Carolina." They also spoke at Barnes and Noble yesterday. The NC State professors have documented the North Carolina dialects and languages throughout the state:  from Murphy to Manteo. They also include QR codes in their book so, when they talk about the way someone speaks or a dialect sounds, you can use your smart phone, scan the QR code, and hear what they are talking about. That is about as close to a talking book as you can get. 

We are so lucky that their dialect research has been going on for over twenty years and that they have recorded the special people and sounds of North Carolina while speech groups remain distinct. It is nice to see dialect approached in an informative, yet entertaining way. While neither professor is from NC, they sure have captured the essence of the way we speak. What Cecil Sharp did for collecting folksongs in North Carolina, they have done for language. North Carolina is lucky.

Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church is located on Burlington Road in the eastern end of the county, not too far from Sedalia and McLeansville. As seen in the photo above, the church is new construction. They have church vans on site, plenty of parking, a large grassy lot, appearing well positioned to serve their congregation. At the entrance, is an old stained glass window with the church's name (see below), leading us to believe that this new church has replaced an older one. At the moment, Calvary's website is under construction, so not much research can be done through the internet. About all we can find out is that the pastor is Reverend Paul Reginaldi.

With all of the growth in the eastern end of the county, near Sedalia, Stony Creek, and Rock Creek Dairy Road, Calvary Baptist has likely seen a steady rise in membership since it opened. Happy Sunday, dear readers, whever you are today.

Kindley's Office Furniture

Kindley's Office Furniture, at 513 South Elm Street,  has left the building. All that remains is this aqua scooter and some random items around the perimeter of the store. The double brick buildings, located on the left side of the street, across from Fordham's Drug Store, used to be filled with used desks and chairs. We're not sure what the place will become; however, we are sure that the 500 block of South Elm Street is about to change a lot. To be sure, we'll be there to document the changes! In the meantime, what remains of Kindley looks quiet and peaceful in the old building with the original oiled, wooden floors.

Happy Saturday. Happy exploring your city, wherever you live. Today is Weekend Reflections and we're reflecting as much as we can.

 

Social Status

Last weekend, people were lined up on South Elm Street waiting for Social Status to open so that they could purchase a pair of the new Jordan 6 shoes. The guys waiting in line had a great attitude and were hopeful that not too much would be added on to the $175 retail price for the shoes. We laughed about the fact that tennis shoes are the dress shoes of the 21st century. If you collect tennis shoes, like the guys above, you keep up with release dates and design changes in this fancy footwear. Here are some sneaker nicknames from recent years: Orca, Grapes, Grinch, Oreo, Cough Drops, Banned, and James Dean.*

We'll it is Friday, nearly a week later. Let's hope that the above guys are all sporting their Jordan 6's and that it is a great weekend for everyone. If you are a regular reader of GDP, we might add that the art of yesterday's featured artist, Jerry Cartwright, dons the walls of Social Status. We're going to try to get by to see the art this weekend, and maybe learn a little bit about sneakers in the 21st century! Have a great weekend.

*photos, here.

Jerry Cartwright, Artist

Last weekend, Greensboro artist Jerry Cartwright had several of his pieces of art displayed in his little camper out in front of Artmongerz, his studio and gallery. Cartwright, a retired social worker,  is one of the three new owners of Artmongerz, which is located in the 600 block of South Elm Street. Cartwright puts together fabulous assemblages with found objects. He can take a few dozen nick nacks and a couple of vintage photos, secure them in a repurposed wooden box, and leave you thinking you are looking at Aunt Ethel's tribute to her son who died in the war. He can take religious artifacts, glue them among pieces of scrap metal, surround them with some old wood and a few streaks of paint and leave you convinced that someone put together a board of items gathered on a pilgrimage. Unfortunately, according to Cartwright, those pieces don't sell well in the Greensboro market. Fortunately, his abstract paintings, like the one featured above, are quite popular.

Cartwright has amazing talent with a putty knife and acrylics. Somehow, he has just the right color combination and knows just how much paint to slather on a canvas. Even better, he is more than generous with teaching his technique and in encouraging others to try their hand at art. See Jerry's work at Artmongerz, and if you are lucky, you will get a chance to see him creating a painting. Ask to see his found-object pieces while they last.

T is for Time and Temperature

The above photo is a particularly good view of Greensboro's iconic Jefferson Standard/ Pilot/ Lincoln Financial buildings. From this Greene Street vantage point, you can see the original building to the right, built in 1923. It was known as the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company building. The newer Jefferson Pilot building, built in 1990, can be seen on the left.* Together, they represent a lot of history and financial activity for Greensboro. On top of the building to the left is the time and temperature sign. It is lighted with light bulbs. The sign was broken for years, but was repaired due to the public's demand. The working time and temperature piece seems to instil confidence in the residents.

ABC Wednesday seems to roll around around extra early on Monday-holiday weeks. Today's letter is T and we're sharing the JP building because everyone in Greensboro looks to it for time and temperature. See our previous ABC Alphabet Soup entries, here. This photo was taken yesterday at, you guessed it, 5:22. By the way, the temperature was 77 degrees.

*read the very interesting history of the building, here.

Box of Blues

Are you ever sad, lonely, don't know where to turn? Well, of course, if the condition is serious, you should seek professional help. However, if you are just a little down or want to get something off your chest, you can visit the box of blues perched in a tree in the 600 block of South Elm Street. It is located across the street from Mellow Mushroom and just south of Artmongerz and Elsewhere. Someone in Greensboro has constructed this little box that reads, "Have you had or do you have the blues? Tell your story, concern, condition, or conflict. Write on the paper inside (leave your contact) and put the envelope in the mail slot behind you- 612 S. Elm Street to become eligible to collaborate on you song with a musician for the healing blues album."

Just think, your predicament could go viral if your healing song is sung. It is worth a try. Some people leave their written ponderings in the little box. Most of the messages sitting in the box have pretty universal themes (love, unlove, interpersonal relationship). Fortunately, they don't seem to be too disturbing. Way to go Greensboro for this creative chance to vent in 4/4 time. 

License Plate Church Birdhouse

The license plate birdhouse resides in the Holy Trinity's garden downtown. It is a nice little reminder that the church is ever-present in the garden. It is also a reminder that gardening brings us closer to nature and can be quite spiritual. So far, we haven't seen any birds take up residence here; however, it is never too late.

Things are a little quite at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church this Memorial Day Weekend. Soon, on Sunday, June 8th, the Holy Trinity choir be joining the West Market Street UMC choir for a Penecost Celebration music program at 4pm at Holy Trinity on Greene Street. The concert is free and open to the public. If you attend, take your time, walk the labyrinth and stop by the garden to see nature's progress. You can have an afternoon with people (the concert), with self (the laybrinth) with nature (the garden) afternoon, all on the same city block. Heavenly!

 

Eye See You

This vandalized,  graffitied mirror is on the trail that parallels Benjamin Parway between Westerwood and Friendly Center. The mirror is at the bridge where Westover Terrace becomes Aycock Street. The bridge is visible in the reflection.

We don't know who spraypainted the eye with a beauty mark. However, by using the flash, the pupil of the eye appears to be bright. Below the eye, you see Mrs. GDP on the trail. Spring is in full bloom and we're sharing this fun, reflective photo with Weekend Reflections! Memorial Day weekend is usually painfully silent in Greensboro. If you are here, enjoy and be joyful! We will, too.