Greensboro Daily Photo

Heart Shine Studios

Today's image was taken at Vida Pour Tea on State Street near Old Irving Park. Liz McKinnon is holding one of her pen and watercolor paintings on display at Vida Pour Tea. To the left of the artist, you will notice a creatively lettered sign. That is also Liz's artwork. Several businesses hire people to do their lettering and you start to recognize the individual styles. As seen above, Liz combines cursive with print and serif with sans serif fonts. In essence, she does it all!

Liz is one of Greensboro's up and coming artists and we're sure we'll be seeing more of her. For now, you can see her artwork and follow her blog, here. Or, you can head to Vida Pour Tea to see her other great pieces. Reminiscent of illustrations in fairy tales, Liz's art has a lot of Russian imagery, bold colors and exotic animals. Liz has recently moved to Greensboro and loves it here. She sees Greensboro as being large enough to support artists, but not too big to be overwhelming. Indeed, Greensboro is a great place to call home and we're Heart Shine Studio is here!

Tate Street Festival Fall 2014

This weekend was so full of the arts in Greensboro. One such event was the Tate Street Festival between UNCG and Greensboro College. The weather was perfect and plenty of people came out to enjoy music and to see local artists.

It was also the weekend of the international body painting event and the Liberty Antiques Festival. Greensboro is also in the middle of the annual 17 Days Events. The Weatherspoon Art Museum also held the preview part for the annual Art on Paper Exhibit. How wonderful that the little ones in the above photo are being raised in a community with art all around them. 

 

Pray for Decreasing Hunger

Sunday is a day for spiritual posts which we sometimes refer to as food for thought. Yesterday, armed only with a cell phone camera, we were at the corner of Washington and South Elm Streets. The billboard in the back reminded us that hunger is an issue, even for children in the United States. One in five kids faces hunger.

As the Jewish community anticipates  Yom Kippur this Saturday- a high-holy day and day of atonement and fasting- and then Sukkot (The Feast of the Tabernacles) the following week, let's all say a prayer that we can help reduce world hunger. Food pantries in Greensboro are rather low and the weather will soon turn cold, making it harder for people to get out and search for food. If all of us who can, help fill the local food pantries, we will be doing our part to reverse those statistics- looming above the crowds- downtown.

Banned Books Week 2014

As Banned Books Week 2014 comes to a close, we headed to Scuppernong Books on at 304 South Elm Street to see their display. From the CSI tape in the front window to the display in the front of the store, they did not disappoint. The American Libraries ASsociation supports the freedom to choose what one reads. Some people believe that people should have the power to self regulate and to deside on one's own what is appropriate reading material. Others, believe that we should restrict or eliminate access. One person's literature is another's trash. 

Sadly, as a society, we'll have to work hard to keep people reading paper and ink books, period! In the meantime, Greensboro has great libraries and bookstores to keep the printed word in circulation. Happy Weekend Reflections, dear readers. What have you read lately? Head on down to Elm Street if you are looking for something to do!

Cement Yard Ornaments

Earlier in the week, we featured cement trucks, so we felt it would be fitting to close out the week with a glimpse of some cement-cast treasures. Cement yard ornaments were a lot more popular in the 1950's and 1960's than they are now. They were usually in the front yards and the iconic cement jockey was one of the most popular ornaments to welcome visitors. The above (almost) kissing Dutch boy and girl and the giant cement basket full of impatiens adorn a Magnolia Street yard in Fisher Park. Likely, they weren't cast with a cement mixer like the one at Chandler Concrete Company, but they might have been made somewhere like Oak Hollow Market. 

Before long, the impatiens will go by the wayside and hardy mums will round out these street-view assemblages. Yesterday, one of our readers commented that "the clothing does not make the man." Today, we're wondering if  yard decorations make the yard. Have a great first-weekend of fall. Best of luck to everyone, especially the Greensboro cyclists in the Tour of Tanglewood- a fundraiser for MS. Fish on Wheels is a Greensboro-based group of riders and it isn't too late to donate to their team, here.

Unlikely Quartet

A few weeks ago, four people were spotted together, a Muslim woman wearing a niqab covering her face, two women in western attire, and Superman, in full regalia. All were enjoying their time in downtown Greensboro, at Center City Park. Yep, America's like that. People from all walks of life gather, sometimes planned and sometimes serendipitously. We're not sure which was the case in the above photo, but we really liked capturing this unlikely quartet.

Our attire provides insight into what we believe- or not. What does what you are wearing today say about you? Do you have the opportunity to meet people who are different from you? We often learn that, beyond the façade, we are more alike than we realized! Happy Thursday.

 

K is for Kinetic Energy

Be it radiant, thermal, sound, electrical/light, or mechanical, kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to motion. Acceleration, velocity, and the motion of a rotating cement truck is a good example of kinetic energy. The above photo of a trestle, pile of sand and a couple of cement trucks was taken on one corner of the giant cement lot at Chandler Concrete Company. On Saturday, kinetic energy was on hold as the whole operation was at rest. 

Chandler Concrete Company, located at 1424 Mill Street in Greensboro, was originally founded in 1946. It has been family owned and operated for over 40 years. On any given work day, the sounds of energy in motion can be heard from Starbucks, Cycles d'Oro, the Red Collection, and all of the other businesses in that mini-valley between Westover Terrace and Battleground Avenue at Mill Street. The history of concrete dates back to Roman times and not a lot has changed about the recipe that can include calcinated like, clay, sand, gravel, and water, put in motion to make concrete. Cement power can be quite hazardous to skin, eyes, and lungs; so, hats off to those people who have made mixing and pouring cement their profession. 

Today, on ABC Wednesday, we're sharing this photo for our ABC Wednesday S.T.E.A.M.* Round and K is for kinetic energy!

*Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics

 

 

The Holdens and Whirlie Soccer

The above photo features Bob and MaryKate Holden in the press box at Jameison Stadium at Grimsley High School. They were announcing for the scoccer game between Grimeley and Northern High Schools. The Holdens have been announcing at Grimsley's home soccer games for approximately eight years- since back in the day when their own son played at the school.

They make a great team. MaryKate announces for the JV games while Bob uses the binoculars to verify uniform numbers to see who made what play. For the varsity games, they switch roles. Friday afternoon was just perfect for playing soccer and the calling really enhanced the game. You don't want to overdo the comments; on the other hand, it is important to say enough that people can follow the game. Also, the Holdens do a nice job of saying the names of the players when they are involved in plays. Parents and players alike delight in hearing the names of the players called. Casual spectators (like us) appreciate it too. Attending high school athletics is a great way to spend a fall evening in Greensboro.

 

Fall Weather is in Air

Tomorrow will be the first day of fall and, if you look at the trees in the above photo, you can see they are hinting at changing color. Before you know it, they will be yellow, orange and red. Sooner than we'd like to admit, they'll be gone. For now, they look strikingly beautiful against the late summer sky. Greensboro's weather was so beautiful on Saturday that something as simple as a parking lot with a red trailer on it made for a great photo.

If you look closely at the trailer, you can tell the photo was taken at Cycles d'Oro on Mill Street between Westover Terrace and Battleground at Lawndale.

 

Fellowship Presbyterian

Yesterday, Fellowship Presbyterian, located on New Garden Road near Brassfield, held a fall festival.  The day was glorious and people were on the front lawn buying and selling arts and crafts. Before you know it, churches will be moving those events indoors, into fellowship halls, as cooler and darker days are just around the corner. But this weekend, being outside in Greensboro has been glorious!

Several years ago, Fellowship Presbyterian was featured on GDP (see, here). While the congregation dates back to the late 1950's- early 1960's, the above property has only been their spiritual home since the 1980's. Since then, the church has added to the facility and has been able to have a pre-school program, Wednesday night dinners, and many different types of activities for the congregation. The church is especially interested in environmental stewardship. See the church's history, archived here. Church buildings, like the one above, can be beautiful; however, they are really special when filled with people!

 

Highland North Music

Highland North Music got its start eight years ago and continues to thrive in it's North Battleground location right beside Greensboro Academy. Recently, the musician owners purchased the above house, which had been vacant for several years, to use as a studio. Renovation has been a major undertaking for the owners. The building went virtually unnoticed until they painted a guitar on the chimney. Their mission statement is "(t)o prepare students to make meaningful contributions in their world as Performers, Composers, Teachers and Worship Leaders."* Likely, Highland attracts students from Greensboro Academy; one has only to walk through the shrubbery to get from the academy to the studio.

We couldn't find the names of the owners or instructors, but they seem to be establishing a presence in the Greensboro community as a place to not only learn music but also to learn to incorporate music into worship services. We're wondering how they got their name Highland, as it makes us think of Scotland, a place much in the news lately. The photo below, a little free advertisement on Highland's property, reminds of the greenery in bonnie Scotland. And, the lettering provides a little, rural Americana twist.

*see their building campaign website.

JP Building... View from the Park

We close out the work week with a view of the iconic JP Building (now Lincoln Financial Group). The photo was taken at dusk at the 1.9 acre Center City Park. From this view, you can see the building that was fogged in in our photo a few days ago.* In the above photo, you can see the time and temperature clock. It stands to reason that some people come to depend on it for the time. The jets are not always flowing so we were happy to so see them spraying into the sky in time to provide visual interest in the foreground of this photo. Water is such a precious resource; we're glad Greensboro is not dry (so far) as we approach the fall season.

It is a busy weekend in Greensboro and the Triad. Here is a partial calendar of events. Getting to the top of the JP Building is on our bucket list. Maybe we can make it happen today. Here's to seeing our own community from a new perspective.

Happy Friday. May you have a great weekend, regardless of how you decide to spend it.

*see, here.

At the Corner of Percy and Park

This big, pink house sits at the edge of the Aycock Historic District at the corner of Percy and Park.  Driving along Murrow Boulevard, it sits up on the hill sporting that bubble-gum pink color. Built in the American fourquare style, this pink house just may be a diamond-in-the-rough.*

Aycock Historic District is composed of single and multi-family dwellings. It is one of three historic neighborhoods in Greensboro. With its close proximity to downtown, in the early 20th century, Aycock was quite a fashionable neighborhood. Large trees, like the one on this lot, are common in this neighborhood. The house has a birds-eye view of the JP Building. The other day, when we were out taking pictures of the fog, the same man who asked us the time of day also asked if we thought the owners intended to keep their house "that color." Time will tell..........

*reference, here.

J is for Joint Effort

The underground pedestrian tunnel linking Lee Street at Glenwood Avenue with UNCG, has been completed since April, 2014. The 170 foot tunnel cost ten million dollars.* The North Carolina Railroad partnered with the University and contributed a million dollars for the project. As seen in the photos, above and below, the tunnel is hauntingly beautiful. It is open, clean, and convenient. Students can leave campus safely and get to housing in a tunnel with ample lighting and a camera to monitor safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The waffled ceiling and wavy walls minimize noise in the tunnel. Also from the Lee Street side, you can see blue paint; however, as seen in the above photo, from the main campus side, only gold is visible. The Lee Street side features amphitheatre-like seating where students can gather.

For ABC Wednesday today, for this S.T.E.A.M. Round, we're featuring J for JOINT EFFORT; the joining of two sides of campus as well as a joint effort between the university and the community. Increasingly, the scientific world is emphasizing collaboration and joint effort. If you look closely, you can see students in the first photo, and a train crossing in one of the photos below.

*reference, News & Record, here.

Foggy Bottom

Saturday, Greensboro was socked in with a thick fog. As it started to lift, the buildings forming Greensboro's skyline began to appear on the horizon. The photo was taken on the edge of the Aycock historic district at Murrow Boulevard. The downtown branch (east) of the State Employee's Credit Union is in clear view in the foreground. We're calling today's post "Foggy Bottom" because the fog reminds us of the old neighborhood of that name in Washington, D.C., the place where the building of the U.S. Department of State is headquartered; an area that is frequently fogged in.

As we were walking down Murrow Blvd. taking this photo, a man walked up  and asked us for the time. We weren't wearing watches and had left our phones in the car, so we didn't know either. He proceeded to tell us that he depended on the clock at the top of the JP Building for the time. We all laughed as there really was no way for any of us to know the time. How wonderful to know that people really do depend on the clock at the top of Greensboro's first skyscraper for the time and temperature. Fortunately, we don't have that many "Foggy Bottom" days!

Greensboro Farmers Curb Market

The above photo was taken Saturday at the Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street. The man at stall 117 was selling his yummy, late summer tomatoes. The market was busy this past Saturday, as it seems to always be on Saturday. It is also open on Wednesday mornings until 1:30.

The market has been organized as a non-profit, operated by Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc on behalf of the City of Greensboro. The board of directors has eleven members. They represent an array of careers and backgrounds; a balance of business people, community leaders, farmers and vendors. The Farmers Market has been around for a very long time; its roots date back to the late 1800's. To be sure buying locally grown food is trending in the USA. The Greensboro Farmers Market is a great place to purchase food directly from the people who grow and raise it. From honey to bacon and eggs and just about every vegetable in between, a visit to the market is well worth a visit. People like the man at stall 117 will make you glad that you did!

 

Christ Lutheran Church

As a religious community, Greensboro is known for being the largest Quaker community in the south. Plus, the south, in general, is known for its Baptist churches. However, Greensboro is extremely diverse in religious institutions and has a surprising number of Lutheran churches. Featured above is Christ Lutheran Church at the corner of Lawndale and Pisgah Church Road. The building looks like it may have been a bank at one time; the brick building is beautiful with that blue sky as a backdrop.

Thrivent Financial, with Lutheran roots in the midwest, is a Fortune 500 financial services organization. Thrivent Financial has a presence in North Carolina, including a Guilford-Rockingham County Chapter. It is rather interesting to imagine a church in the insurance/investment business. That means they are taking care of members in this life AND the after life! Happy Sunday, dear readers.

Triad City Beat

 Greensboro's new print newspaper and online information source, Triad City Beat, covers news and culture in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point.  They've had a a lot of luck, so far, using Kickstart as a funding sourse. It will be interesting following their foray into the journalism scene. The paper chronicles "innovation, sustainability and creativity" and emphasize that they are editorially independent.*

This past week, City Beat had photographers set up in front of the Empire Room at 203 South Elm Street. The scene definitely had a red carpet feel: Greensboro's own little touch of Hollywood. As seen in the above photo, literally, there was a red carpet. The small groups of people getting photographed looked pretty fancy. For sure, Greensboro Daily Photo could use some of that camera equipment! Maybe we should go through Kickstart!

Today, we're sharing this photo with the Weekend Reflections meme where a little glare and a lot of reflection are much appreciated.

* reference, here.

Jones Racing Company

Saturday, September 6th, Greensboro held the 5th annual run for the Downtown Greenway. Most of us know about the Greenway and how much it is doing for the downtown and for helping us all stay fit. We featured it recently, here. However, what you may not know is that Greensboro's own Jones Racing Company was the backbone of the recent race. The infrastructure for the course (finish line, crowd barriers, rubber racing mat, etc.), directing, managing, and timing were provided by Jones Racing Company. 

The company was started by Benji and Hope Jones, who were both Division 1 college athletes. They travel throughout North Carolina and even into nearby states to manage races.* The above photo features one of their employees working diligently to help break down the race so that the streets could be reopened to traffic. At the race for the Downtown Greenway, good fun was had by all and it ran smoothly thanks to Jones Racing Company! We love this story of college athletes turning their passion into their profession. Surely, to them, work must be fun; everyone's dream! Wonder if you have to demonstrate your fitness level to work for the company. The employee in the photo sure looked fit!

* read more about this Greensboro company and learn about upcoming events if you like to run for a cause, here.

 

Gypsy Wagon

The above vehicle, a sprayed-black Subaru, has been dubbed the "gypsy wagon" as evidenced by the license plate. While registered in North Carolina, it is not clear whether the owners reside in Greensboro. The bumper stickers, plastered all over the windows, indicate the owners like to travel, take the unbeaten path, and eat good food.

This could explain the fact that GPSYWGN was parked at the EASTWEST I40 BBQ Festival, held on September 6th 2014, in downtown Greensboro. The car so commands our visual attention, it is easy to miss the fact that the grand building of the News and Record stands stoicly in the background, anchoring the photo in Greensboro. To be sure, with a vehicle this customized, its owners cannot drive around incognito. One might even be able to take a good guess at their political affiliation.

Especially, on September 11th,  this very difficult day for America, we have to be thankful to live in a country where we are afforded this freedom of expression..............

 

I is for Imagination

 Last weekend, at Center City Park seemed like an imagination factory. Little children squeeled with delight as a teenager, dressed as Spiderman crawled and lunged around on stage. So many events took place downtown last weekend, it wasn't even clear why Spiderman was there. However, as seen in the above photo, he did a mighty fine job of keeping the attention of the little ones.

For our ABC Wednesday S.T.E.A.M. Round, we thought we would feature "I" for "imagination" because science is a lot of math and science combined with a little imagination. The more you imagine the possibilities, the more likely you are to discover something new. But, at the end of the day, you so need the science. Imagine the possibilities for the above little ones as they navigate the innocent, uncomplicated world where Spiderman greets you, when you least expect it. Another great thing about Greensboro. It is a great place to nurture your imagination.  

Vida Pour Tea, Plus

Well, if Sunday was any indication, Vida Pour Tea is contributing significantly to the rebirth of State Street. Sarah, the owner and the person behind the counter, put together an impressive open house featuring samples of baked goods and tea. She also prepared at least 30 different types of loose tea for purchase and at least that many varieties to serve in the store. As we arrived, live entertainment was starting. 

At the teahouse, we met "Kenny" Shulman. Kenny, the woman facing the camera, a birth doula in the Triad.* She was sitting with her friends Hollis and Susan, discussing, among other things, the upcoming belly painting event for pregnant woman. It will be held November 8th at the Cultural Arts Center. The biannual event is a fun, creative way for expectant to celebrate the baby bump! After talking to these fun, actively involved women of Greensboro, we realized that Sarah, in her short time on State Street, has captured the essence of what a tea house should be- a place to stop by, see people you know and make new friends, all while sipping your favorite tea, nibbling on snacks and being pleasantly entertained. We went in, just planning to photograph Sarah, and left with so much more. It felt a little bit like Paris!

*Read more about Triad Birth Dula and the Baby Belly Bazaar, here.

EASTWEST US 40 BBQ Festival

This past weekend, the EASTWEST BBQ Festival was held in downtown Greensboro. Pitmasters from North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Ohio came together to share their recipe with festival attendees. The annual event gives the Greensboro community a chance to taste BBQ from award winning vendors. The event was held in the lot behind the News & Record on East Washington Street. It is nice to see this part of town being used for a special event. As close as it is to the train station, people could even ride in for the day from Charlotte or Raleigh. Seeing the iconic JP Building in the background situates the photo firmly in Greensboro!

With the reasonably-priced food, beverages, entertainment, and merchandise, the entrance fee was $5 well spent. Do you have a favorite style of BBQ? Do you prefer pork or chicken? What ingredients do you like in your sauce? Dry rub? Vinegar? Molasses? Mustard? Tomato sauce? Just about anything you wanted was available this past weekend. If you missed it, mark your calendar for next year. For more local fare, you could head over to the Lexington BBQ Festival on October 25th. 

Heavenly View

Saturday's weather in Greensboro was absolutely beautiful. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds with the clarity typical after a day of rain. In this view of northwest Guilford County, it is as if the skies are opening up to perhaps show a peek of the afterlife.

It seems like a lot of people have been leaving earth as of late. Let's all send positive thoughts to those who have lost loved ones lately. Regardless of what one believes about life ending, death is never easy for those left behind on earth. These beautiful skies remind us that nothing is more beautiful than nature!

Raindrops Kept Falling.......

Yesterday's First Friday was dampened a little bit by the weather. Rain came as vendors were setting up for the Indie Market. The above photo features unidentified pedestrians crossing at the corner of Washington and South Elm Streets. They are walking in front of a Greensboro city bus that was waiting for the light to change. The photo represents the happy serendipity of street photography. These two groups came together for a random second in time. The southbound and northbound groups look like they are greeting each other. It is almost as if they are shaking hands and that they planned the green-for-Greensboro t-shirts!

Well, today is Saturday and time for Weekend Reflections. This meme gives people around the world the chance to see our great city. All we need to do to share is to feature a little reflection in the photo. That, we have done. Finally, while raindrops were falling, everyone was in a happy, upbeat mood. Those of us who came out for First Fiday were infinitely grateful not only for the great evening but also, for the much-needed rain!

Under the Greenway

This photo was taken a while back under the greenway at Spring Garden Street, near downtown. It captures the vibe that will be felt downtown today during First Friday (provided the weather agrees). People will be out milling around enjoying the all of the fine things downtown offers each first Friday of the month: Art exhibits, snacks, entertainment, and shops brimming with merchandise. We suspect the pumpkin flavoring may be rolled out, in lattes, cheesecake, and more.

If you notice the bike in the front of the photo, we thought we'd take a moment to remember Christopher Robert Fulp who died yesterday morning when his bicycle was hit by a car on Country Club Drive. Mr. Fulp's family and the family of the man who struck him will carry this sad event with them for the rest of their lives. Hopefully, they have friends and loved ones to help them through these very sad times. The road will be a long one. Greensboro is making an effort to be a bike-friendly community. However, as we can see from yesterday's sad event, we're not quite there.............. As always, be safe this weekend, dear readers. 

Nurturing the Inner Princess (or Prince)

The above photo is the children's room at Crown Honda on West Wendover. It is a bright cheerful place for children to hang out while their parents buy new cars or get old ones serviced. The room is not all princess-themed; the side behind the camera sports a train mural. The whole place is inviting for boys and girls alike.  It is heartwarming when children are provided kid-oriented spaces like the one above. In the United States, Greensboro included, we mostly associate them with the pleasant coming and going of daily living. Often, child-friendly spaces are established to provide children with a sense of normalcy amid chaos and trauma. UNICEF is very involved in providing safe spaces for children.

Even if you don't have small children in your life, it is nice, once in a while, to stop and remember the beautiful things of childhood- including Disney princesses. Stand in the above room long enough and you just might evoke the inner princess (or prince) of childhood. Stand in the above room and you might be inspired to donate to a local non-profit that provides safe, inviting places for children. Kids Path is one such place. Happy Thursday!

H is for Heart Health

What could do a heart better than exercising the body and the mind? In the above photo, we have both, bicyclists riding past the public library. Greensboro has many bike clubs; some expect riders to maintain a rigorous pace and others are happy to let riders pedal along at a leisurely pace. Regardless of pace, bike riding is good for heart health. Greensboro has many libraries. All are inviting places and are good for brain health.

This month, the American Heart Association is having the Guilford Heart Ball.  There is a healthy heart challenge. If you want to vote for one of the finalists, go to the Bank of Oak Ridge website. They are looking for three people to become Healthy Heart Challenge winners. Hopefully, you are doing something to keep your heart healthy. We want our GDP readers to be around for a really long time! If you aren't sure what to do, go research ideas at the public library.

We're sharing this post with our friends at ABC Wednesday and for the S.T.E.A.M. Round,  "H" is for "heart health."

Railway Station and Its Neighbors on South Elm Street

Today's photo features the old railway station downtown Greensboro on South Elm Street. You can still see the tracks beside it and they are still in use. It is not uncommon to have to stop here and wait for a train to pass. Fortunately, they are not usually too lone. However, every once in a while there can be a long wait. The above building was commissioned by the Southern Railroad Company and opened to passenger service in 1899.

By the 1920's, Greensboro had outgrown this building and the 1927, the new building on East Washington Street opened in 1927. Click here [for reference and] to see how this building looked in its glory days. The Richardson Romanesque style was even more impressive with the slate roof, dormers, and the lower overhang which resembled a wrap around porch. Now that changes have been announced for major upgrades for the nearby 500-block of South Elm Street, wouldn't it be nice to have this building returned to its original splendor. Greensboro already has the reputation for Elm Street's look of the past with amenities of the present and future. As the changes to the 500-block come our way, it will be interesting to see what becomes of the old train station.

Here is what Elsewhere Living Museum has planned for the area. Here is what is planned for individual properties. South Elm is changing before our eyes!

Rust & Ruin

Today, the worldwide City Daily Photo theme for September's theme day is "Rust and Ruin." So, we're sharing this photo that we took on Oak Island, NC at the Pirate's Deck this weekend. We went there to watch college football and looked up only to find this Greensboro license plate from back in the day when cars had to display city license plates on the front bumper. This Greensboro tag from 1962 must have belonged to registrant number 651. Could that have been from your vehicle? We're not sure when this requirement was dropped and State tags were sufficient. However, it is pretty fun to find one on a restaurant where you are eating over 250 miles from home.

While these plates have managed not to rust down at the beach, the Tranquil Texaco INFORMATION sign appears to be in shabby-chic ruin. Happy Labor Day. May you not have to work today and may you find some time to spend with people who are special to you. If you want to learn more about the history of Labor Day, the History Channel has videos, here.