Greensboro Daily Photo

Faith Action House

Faith Action International House connects diverse groups of people across lines of culture and faith. The organization celebrates the cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity of Greensboro. According to their website, FaithAction International House began 15 years ago as an idea of Rev. Dr. Mark Sills and other community leaders. The inspiration comes from the diverse influx of immigrants in the community. Their headquarters, featured above, is located at 705 North Greene Street.

Some of the fine work FaithAction House does for the immigrant community includes: Legal assistance, language classes, computer and job readiness classes and healthcare. FaithAction work with the many faith communities of the immigrants they serve. They rely on volunteers; so, if it seems like something of interest to you, contact them at your earliest convenience and they'll put you to work. Happy Sunday!

Greensboro Recycles

Today, we're in front of Recycles Bike Shop on Spring Garden Street at Mendenhall. Featured in the photo is a BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycle. Notice, mounted on the back of the motorcycle is a custom made bicycle rack. This rack comes in handy for motorcyclists who want to be able to ride a bike off road on the trails upon reaching a destination. The above configuration is perfect for those day trips along the Blue Ridge Parkway that we have featured this week.

We're betting the bicycle on the back of the motorcycle has been recycled from the parts of old bikes. Recycles Bike Shop has been around since 2005 and they are known for taking cast off bike parts and reassembling them into bikes, extending the life of miscellaneous bike parts that might otherwise be taking up space in a landfill. Recycles is located between UNCG and Greensboro College and not too far from the Downtown Greenway. Seems like a perfect location for buying and selling bicycle parts. And, as for the custom motorcycle/bike racks, if you talk to the guys at Recycle, they should be able to outfit you with a rack for your motorcycle. You can probably even find out about a touring adventure.

Happy Saturday and remember to share the road!

Cone Memorial Park

We're closing out the week with another photo from the North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Moses Cone Memorial Park, Visitor Center, and Parkway Craft Center are located near Blowing Rock at milepost 294. Photographed above is Flat Top Manor. The 13,000 sure foot summer home of Greensboro's textile entrepreneur was built in 1901. The twenty-room abode now features a craft center that is part of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Moses Cone took great interest in nature and conservation and he planted white pine forests, hemlock hedges, and a 10,000 tree apple orchard.* The house is located on 3600 acres. Moses Cone and his wife had no children, so it is fitting that their property ended up in the National Park System. 

If you have not already scheduled all of your summer vacation, we urge you to consider heading to the parkway and enjoying this fabulous stop. If you go, read as much as you can about Moses Cone and you will appreciate his mountain home all the more. To give you an idea of the vastness of the estate, find below the view from the porch at Flat Top Manor.

* Learn more about the manor and the man behind the manor from our reference, here.

Driving Hope

Twenty years ago, in 1995,  Martha Kaley founded earlier.org, an organization dedicated to detecting breast cancer earlier and finding a biological method for detecting the disease. Martha, featured above and a breast cancer survivor herself, plays an active role in helping get breast cancer research funded. Breast cancer can be in the body for eight years before a machine can detect it and one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease. Those are alarming statistics.

We caught up with Martha on Tuesday, at Chic-Fil-A in Friendly Center, where she was helping with the fundraiser for earlier.org. For the suggested donation of a dollar, you could sign the above pink, DRIVING HOPE mobile. It was donated by Crown Automotive and will be auctioned off to help Martha and earlier.org find an earlier breast cancer test. If you recognize the Kaley name, it may be because Martha's husband (James) and son (Mark) are both orthodontists in Greensboro. It is inspiring to see how committed the whole family is to the cause.  Martha and her family are a prime example of how individuals can make a difference. 

T is for Triad Homebrew Supply

Triad Homebrew Supply, located on 105 Guilford College Road, is one stop shopping for wine, cheese, and beer equipment and supplies. From the different grains that go in to making beer to high capacity stills, fermenters, and everything in between, they have it all. Triad Homebrew Supply has over 50 varieties of hops alone. Additionally, you can take classes for making wine, cheese, and beer.

Home brewing has taking North Carolina by storm. Appalachian State University even offers a Bachelor of Science degree program in fermentation sciences. This degree reflects the growing importance for institutions of higher education to bring "real world" experiences into the classroom. Colleges are providing a more direct link to vocational training and the art of fermentation is one such example.

Greensboro has Red Oak, Natty Greene's, Gibb's Hundred, Pig Pounder, and Preyer's breweries. Red Oak has been brewing in Greensboro since 1991- and  has has a very interesting history, here. The other pubs came along since, with Preyer's being the new kid on the block- opening in 2015. Wonder if the local breweries get supplies from Triad Homebrew! Today is ABC Wednesday, and for our ABC LOCAL Series, T is for Triad. A lot of businesses in Greensboro use the term "triad" in their title and Triad Homebrew reflects a niche market that is trending! Behind that unassuming storefront is the complex world of crafts that have been passed down for generation after generation.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway

While this website focuses on Greensboro, North Carolina, we also feature places that one can easily drive to in a day from Greensboro. The parkway is a unit of the National Park System. The above photo was taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The above view is of the Walnut Mountains out from the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at milepost 370 on the Parkway, near Zebulon Vance's birthplace. 

This 469 mile linear park was started in 1935 and built to connect the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It was started under the tenure of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The buildings, structures, and the scenic views are absolutely breathtaking. An unanticipated pleasure is how pleasant the people are that you meet along the way. We had people telling us about their motorcycles, dogs, hiking adventures, and their other experiences on the scenic highway. On the parkway, it is as if time stands still. It is easy to forget about social media, texting, and elsewhere to focus on the beauty all around you. We will feature a few more photos from our day trip along the parkway this past Memorial Day weekend. We hope that you will plan a trip there this summer, whether you live in Greensboro or elsewhere. You won't regret taking this road less traveled, unless you are in a hurry! Can you see how the Blue Ridge Mountains get their name?

Memorial Day 2015

The above photo was taken at the Triad Park at the Carolina Field of Honor on the Guilford/Forsyth County lines, near Kernersville. It will be a good place to visit if you do not have plans today. Since today is Memorial Day, likely, the picnic facilities will be taken; however, there is plenty to do, see, and learn in the park. Visiting is a great way to show respect for those who have fought to defend the United States. From a playground to monuments, there is something for people of all ages.

Below, we feature some of the signage at the park. If you are having trouble seeing the bottom sign, it reads, "The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." President Calvin Collidge Greensboro has many monuments and places dedicated to veterans. The News & Record published a great article yesterday, if you are looking for other options.

Remembering the Life of Marty Sheets

The above photo was taken at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant on Mendenhall Street as people were arriving to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of  Special Olympian, Marty Sheets.* Marty, age 62, was a pioneer in Special Olympics, a N.C. Sports Hall of Fame athlete, and one of Greensboro's most decorated athletes. Marty participated in the inaugural Special Olympics games in 1968 and is depicted with Eunice Kennedy Shriver in a portrait that hangs in the Smithsonian.  Marty's life was a life well lived and he has been an inspiration to many. He was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor. 

* Read more about Marty's life in this News & Record article, here.

New Chancellor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro

Yesterday, Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. became UNCG's eleventh chancellor. He comes to Greensboro from UCLA where served as the dean of the School of Public Affairs. Originally from Minnesota, Chancellor Gilliam also taught at Grinnell College and the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He earned his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Iowa.  Chancellor Gilliam brings to UNCG considerable experience in community engagement, diversity and ethnic politics, public policy, and is well-regarded in his field and as an administrator. According to UNC system President Tom Ross (via the Raleigh News & Observer), Chancellor Gilliam "promotes openness and collaboration, strategic thinking and creative problem solving." 

The above photo was taken yesterday afternoon when the campus was putting finishing touches on the chancellor's reception in the Alumni House.  People dressed in UNCG's blue and gold, were walking to the Alumni House for the reception, exuding optimism and excitement. We welcome Chancellor Gilliam to Greensboro and hope that he has a long and productive tenure at UNCG. 

 

(Not So) Tiny Bubbles

 Today we have one more photo from City Market; specifically, Bubble Sports. This giant bubble adventure is brought to us by The Club, Oak Branch•Green Valley. If you haven't seen these before, people get inside and jump into each other. It is a contact sport with no contact. We didn't get to bubble up, but will try to do so when they are at Bryan Park at the Dynamo Soccer game tonight at 7:00 pm.

In the above photo, you can see Bubble Sport's prime spot in South End with the JP Building in plain view. We're predicting that these bubbles will trend as yard toys. Can't you just imagine some of those active neighborhood associations sponsoring bubble events. The corner of Walker and Elam may never be the same. Just think, this could bring new meaning to Sunset Hills' "Running of the Balls" event!

Titus Gant Quartet

The Titus Gant Quartet was the entertainment at City Market at South End last night. They had a great jazz sound and provided a great backdrop as people walked around the market. The members are: Titus Gant, saxophone; Drorester Alexander,  piano;  Lawrence Peoples,  bass;  Charles Pinckney drums. However, we overheard someone say the bass player was not Lawrence People tonight. If you know the sax player's name, let us know and we'll update this post.

City Market takes place the third Thursday of the month. June's will be on the 18th. Mark your calendars now. The event is free and open to the public and there is always a nice array of vendors and community service groups, like volunteers sharing information about the Greenway. The hours are 5-9 pm. Well, now it is Friday. Many Greensboro residents will be heading to the beach for the weekend. However, for those of us who stay, we hope you have a way to have a mini-vacation right here in our own back yard!

Lab Rescue

The Lab Rescue was quite a popular station at last weekend's "Bark and Wine" event at the Railyard. The Railyard is located in  the space in the parking lot off of Barnhardt Street, between the Spice Cantina and Gibb's Hundred. The Lab Rescue NC, photographed above, is a non-profit organization that rescues and finds home for Labrador retrievers in need. They try to save as many labs as possible. Last time we checked, they had five fabulous dogs in need of a forever home. 

This was the fifth year of the "Bark and Wine" event. They had vendors, a silent auction, music, beer, wine, and so much more. It was an event for people of all ages and, all breeds of canines were invited to attend. It was a very pet-friendly event. In all, 23 rescue groups were in attendance. There were plenty of options for helping pets in need.

If you can't adopt, fostering may be a great thing to do this summer. If you can't foster, perhaps you can donate to one of the rescue organizations. It is infinitively rewarding to be involved with these community organizations.

Saigon Nails and Skincare School

Today's ABC Wednesday photo takes us to the Saigon Nails and Skincare School. The school is located in the DP Business Center on High Point Road. It is tucked in the back of the business center on property near the putt putt golf courses of yesteryear. Greensboro's Vietnamese community has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade and the nail school is one of many options for our city's Vietnamese-Americans to learn a trade. 

We don't know a lot about the Saigon Nail and Skincare School and they don't appear to have a website. However, we did want to take this opportunity to write a blog entry featuring High Point Road, which has tremendous ethnic diversity. That part of town is a great place for commerce and for celebrating the ethnic diversity of Greensboro. In the photo below, you see the inside entrance to the salon. We're planning to return when they're open to see if they offer services to the public!

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Local Series, S is for Saigon Nails and Skincare Store.

McGee Street Event

Longshank's Billiards was enveloped by tiny bubbles this weekend at the 10th Year Anniversary of Just Be. McGee Street was blocked off between Elm and Greene Streets for a street festival to celebrate the success of Just Be. This family-friendly event featured music by "The Ends and Carri Smithey." There was a food truck, art activities and give-aways all day long. Ever the great hosts, the staff at Just Be mingled and made sure that a good time was had by all and that the bubble machines were full.

How wonderful it was to see the whole block, as well as a community of artists, come together to celebrate the success of a local business. All Saturday afternoon, on this little corner of town, you could feel what it means to build community. What a great idea to give back to a community in appreciation of its support. What a sunny, joyful afternoon, reminding us that summer is right around the corner! Happy Tuesday!

New Mural in Town

The North State Milling Company, at the corner of Elm and Lee Streets, has the iconic "DAILY BREAD FLOUR" lettering that we have all come to associate with this corner of town. In the above photo, you can see the new addition to the façade. This is the first change we've noticed since featuring it on GDP in 2009. (See the pre-mural façade, here). The brick building with metal silos was constructed in 1912 and remains an excellent example of early 20th-century industrial architecture.

According to Preservation Greensboro, we have learned that the mural was painted in 2015 by an artist named "Chase." It faces the downtown section of the Greenway, adding visual interest for those who walk or bike by. According to this News & Record article from 2014, clothing retailer Gerbing will move its headquarters into this building, bringing their Duck Head brand along with them.

We're sharing this post through the meme, Mural Monday, which will bring people from all over the world to Greensboro for a virtual peek at this work of art. Unbeknown to them, this Greensboro mural will be peeking back!

First, First Presbyterian

The construction equipment in the above photo provides an indication of the construction taking place in Downtown Greensboro. On North Elm Street, near Lindsay, Davie, and Summit Avenue, the Greensboro Inn has long been torn down and soon, construction will be underway for the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. The Greensboro City Council bought the land, and, to date, more than 35 million dollars has been pledged for the center.* 

We're featuring this photo because it shows the Greensboro Historical Museum, which was originally the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. This Romanesque Revival brick structure, featured above, was the First Presbyterian church from 1824- 1927, when the Gothic Revival cathedral in Fisher Park was built. 

We're hoping this post will encourage someone to do a photo shoot of the original First Presbyterian Church, before new construction again blocks the view. Downtown Greensboro, especially from North Elm to North Eugene, is changing before our eyes.

Happy Sunday!

* Read more about the history of the project, here.

Osteria Restaurant

Located on Westover Terrace near Lucky 32, Saffron, and Taste of Thai restaurants, Osteria is an Italian restaurant that serves quality food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Their cuisine is based on the flavors of Bologna, Italy with fresh pasta and fresh, local (as feasible) vegetables. Chef Koco Tamburi, photographed above with his wife, works hard to make your dining experience memorable. Those personal touches, like having the chef come out to greet you personally, make dining out all the more special. If you get by Osteria in the near future, we hope you get a chance to meet Chef Koco and his wife, who is an accomplished career professional Monday-Friday and a great addition to Osteria in her spare time. We're so glad they decided to make Greensboro their home. Thanks to them, our city has an Osteria! Don't you love the way Chef Koco embraces his wife with a pepper mill in one hand and a bowl of soup in the other! They really are nice people!

Regardless of what you do this weekend, we hope you seek out some of the local goodness of Greensboro. We have a great city with so many local venues and entrepreneurs trying hard to help you connect with our community. It is well worth your while to seek out these great people and places. 

Spoons

The "Spoons" sculpture is located on the grounds of the Carolina Theatre. It is one of seven coffee cup sculptures in downtown Greensboro. If you follow the link to the walking tour, the above sculpture is #5. They were commissioned by the United Arts Council and donated to the city. They represent the Civil Rights Movement and the efforts that led to all people being able to sit at the same lunch counter to be served a cup of coffee. The above plaque reads, "It is in the American tradition to stand up for one's rights- even if the new way to stand up for one's rights is to sit down." John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The artist was Leo Morrissey. Yes, those words are food for thought. If you get a chance, visit these statues this weekend. 

If you are downtown, tomorrow, Just Be turns 10 and starting at noon, they will block off their section of McGee Street and hold a birthday party. You are invited! If you make it to the party, you will be within easy walking distance of these sculptures. 

1960 MG, a Fun Ride!

This past weekend was the 3rd Saturday car show in the Fresh Market parking lot on Jefferson Road. We're betting that this cute 1960 MG from the April show was there again. The fun-loving owners love to share the stories of their car that they meticulously restored. If you see them driving this Carolina-blue car with ducks attached to the back, ask them about the car's provenance.

If you like car meet-ups, tonight, you can head to Herbie's Place and see an array of VW vehicles. We're dedicating today's post to faithful GDP reader, Katja, and we suspect this is the car she mentioned in a private message to us! If this it, Katja? Greensboro has many vintage car aficionados and many of our readers love cars. Remember to head out to Herbie's this evening if you want to talk cars!

 

R is for Replacements

Replacements, Ltd. and founder Bob Page, are featured in an exhibit at the Greensboro Historical Museum in the "Voices of a City" exhibit. Replacements was founded by Mr. Page in 1981 when he left his job as an auditor for the State of North Carolina to follow his passion- finding china and stemware patterns. In the early years, he kept a recipe box of index cards with his friends' requests to help them find pieces. He would keep an eye out for their requests when at flea markets and yard sales. 

The company has grown from that little recipe box to over 500 employees from over 30 countries. Replacements has a reputation for being a great place work two of many reasons are their embracing diversity and their allowing employees to bring their dogs to work. Replacements is truly a local startup with clients from all over the world. If you are local, it is well worth a visit to their showroom on Knox Road in the eastern end of the county, visible from I-40/85. If you get a chance, head to the historical museum and see the "Voices of a City" exhibit. Congratulations to Mr. Page for earning a spot on Greensboro's wall of fame!

Today is ABC Wednesday and R is for Replacements. See our A-Q local series, here.

Grand Finale

Greensboro's institutions of higher education are quickly bringing closure to the school year. Commencement for UNCG, NCA&T, and Greensboro College have already taken place. Guilford College, holds the last commencement service locally, this Saturday. The above photo captures a great unifying moment for UNCG, just before exams started. 

In the above photo, the campus group GIRL TALK is leading many members of the student body in the "Let's Move, Gimme 5 Dance."  The event, tied in with First Lady Michelle Obama's efforts to get the youth of our nation to make better life choices; specifically, to get enough exercise and to make better food choices. As part of the fifth anniversary of Let's Move! the First Lady is encouraging people to identify five ways to lead a healthier life.*  This effort is nothing short of a grand finale for the UNCG students who saw this inclusive event through from concept to completion. Let's all give a virtual high five for their efforts; indeed, a grand finale.

* reference, here.

Lorillard Tobacco, Headquarters on Green Valley

The above building is the Lorillard, Inc. at 714 Green Valley Road.  In 2014, Lorillard was acquired by Reynolds American Inc. Lorillard, founded in 1760, is the oldest continuously operating tobacco company in the United States. Their brands include Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold. They maintain their headquarters and produce all of their cigarette products in Greensboro, NC.

Lorillard represents the globalization of businesses these days. They are now owned by Reynolds American, but Imperial Tobacco, a British company, has taken control of Lorillard's manufacturing, headquarters, and research facilities in Greensboro (read article, here). So, it seems Lorillard, Reynolds, and Imperial Tobacco are all rolled in to one. True to most globalization, the arrangement is complicated. For now, Greensboro is breathing a sign of relief that Lorillard has not simply been absorbed by Reynolds.

Today's photo is of the corporate headquarters. The building is made of exposed aggregate precast concrete with glass and metal panels. The architect was Integrated Design, PA in Raleigh.** While we can't find a date on the building, it fits the architectural style of 1970's corporate. So, we're guessing about 1974. (Someone, please let us know for sure). Five years ago- the 250th anniversary year, GDP featured a photo of Lorillard's plant, built in 1956 on West Market Street. A lot has changed in the past five years!

* Reference.

** see more photos of the architecture, here.

Spirit Led Performing Arts Ministry

Nothing says Mother's Day, like a group of happy children and today, we see a group of young dancers performing their hearts out. They were at Chic-fil-A in Friendly Center this week, performing as part of the Spirit Led Performing Arts Ministry (SLPA). According to their website, SLPA offers liturgical dance, theatre, and mime for ages 3 to adult. SLPA, located in Greensboro,  has been teaching people to dance since 1992. SPLA is having an event at NCA&T's Harrison Auditorium on June 20th at 6pm. If you like spiritual dancing, you will love this event, which is free and open to the public.

Happy Mother's Day, and for many in North Carolina, happy graduation from college. In the meantime, can we have a virtual round of applause for the fabulous dancers above and a virtual hug for all of the mothers on this, their special day!

Going Here, There, and Elsewhere

Weekends on Elm Street can get pretty interesting. In the above photo two people from Elsewhere, a living museum inside a thrift store, were riding the bikes back to the museum. The museum members are known for their attention-grabbing modes of transportation and they bring great energy to the 600 block of South Elm Street. In the above photo, it looks like they're taking helmets to a whole new level.

This weekend will be no exception downtown, as Preyer Brewing Company opened in the former Steele & Vaughn Building, taking the Battleground, Smith, Eugene Street area near Deep Roots Co-op to a whole new level. We hope you have a chance to get out and explore the Gate City! Check out the new and patronize the old! 

We're sharing this with Weekend Reflections. (Reflections in the car are there... subtle, but there).

Urban Loop

Greensboro's Urban Loop is making great progress in the northwest part of the city. Here we see a section of being constructed at Alcorn Road, very near Northwest High School and not too far from the airport. The NC Department of Transportation was just cutting through the first layer of soil this past weekend. The crow, off to the right, can't seem to figure out what is happening, but he likes the insects and grubs being stirred to life by this construction. Only 15 miles remain to be built of the 44-mile long loop around the city.*

We laugh and say that Greensboro is a 20-minute town, that you can usually get from Point A to Point B in about 20 minutes. However, with a 44-mile loop around the city, it must take the better part of an hour to traverse the perimeter. As for the progress of the road construction, we'll be sure to keep you in the loop! Check back often!

 

* If you are interested, here and here are some project highlights and history.

 

Fincastles Diner Downtown

Much of May's First Friday fun took place in front of Fincastles Diner, featured above. Fincastles has been under new ownership since last fall, but it remains a family-friendly eatery at 215 South Elm Street. Robert Johnston, an operating partner in Smith Street Diner has taken over the restaurant.* We hope that means they'll start serving breakfast. The cooked-to-order breakfast market in Greensboro is far from saturated. Their Facebook page indicates that Fincastles will still serve burgers and sandwiches, but with upgrades, like artisan breads. Milkshakes and banana splits play into their all-new, retro diner theme.

As seen in the above photo, Fincastles has a very distinctive look on the exterior. If you forget the address, you can always look for the bright yellow façade and the red-striped awning. Here is a photo taken four years ago when we ordered a green drink and butter steak sandwich with Boar & Castle sauce, a culinary carry-over from the Boar & Castle Drive-in on West Market Street. We're wondering if those retro items from Greensboro's history will make the cut on the new menu.

*reference.

Q is for Quaker Village

If you have been out to West Friendly Avenue lately, you've likely noticed some big changes at Quaker Village. A major addition is the Wal-Mart neighborhood store is now open, bringing a grocery store back to the plaza. There hasn't been one since Fresh Market left in 2007. While initially met with resistance, the mini Wal-Mart seems to be gaining in popularity with the locals. The general consensus  is that the mini Wal-Mart is easier to navigate than a big one.

Quaker Village is a nice combination of chain stores and independent ones. The owner, Aston Properties of Charlotte, is making a concerted effort to help the stores feel connected as one big, accessible unit. Quaker Village was built over 50 years ago, in 1964.* In 2010, it was sold in a bankruptcy auction and, now, it appears to be gaining momentum as a shopping destination. How nice to see new energy brought to the historic Guilford College area. Today is ABC Wednesday and Q is for Quaker Village. See A-P in our ABC Local series, here.

 

*reference.

Aerial View and Lofty Thoughts

The above photo shows an aerial view of Greensboro. From the air, the city looks so tiny and the county looks so green. Making an approach, flying in from Atlanta, this view was on the lefthand side of the airplane. In this era of drones and businesses that take aerial photographs, seeing an aerial view is not such a big deal. Call us "old-school" but we still love recognizing landmarks from the air. Seeing Greensboro on the horizon, surrounded by greenery, felt like a great big welcome mat.

Today is Cinco de Mayo and many Mexicans in the United States will celebrate Mexico's win over the French at the Battle of Puebla on this day in 1862. We hope the Mexican families living in Greensboro take this opportunity to celebrate their heritage and that they don't have to spend the day telling people Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. Finally, regardless of ethnicity and hometown, may everyone living in Greensboro look at this photo and love calling Greensboro home. Consider this a virtual welcome mat.

First Friday in May

First Friday this past Friday was designed for pedestrians as everal blocks of Elm Street were closed to cars. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and skateboarders were in paradise- board, tire, and sneaker paradise, that is! As seen above, much of the fun was taking place on South Elm Street just north of Washington Street. This past Friday, from shop owners to art galleries to restaurants, food trucks, and indie artists, everyone went out of their way to make people feel welcome.

A few minutes after we took this photo, the sky opened up and rain started pouring. Last year's First Fridays had their share of rain. We're hoping this season Greensboro get some dry First Friday's,  as they are such a great time to get out and explore our city. The iconic Kress and JP buildings look lovely in this photo.

Lawndale Baptist Church

 Today, we're sharing a photo of Lawndale Baptist Church. It is located on Lawndale Avenue, just south of Pisgah Church Road and not too far from Joyner Elementary School. Unfortunately, they don't have a history of the church published online. However, they do provide links to the many programs and special services that they offer. This is a dynamic church with an active congregation, offering services for people at all stages of life. They also have a very dynamic basketball program that is well respected in the Greensboro community. 

Within the last decade, the church has grown tremendously and expanded the physical facility to accommodate the growing congregation. If anyone has information about the history of the congregation, please share it with us here. Happy Sunday!

Tweeting One Out!

On April 20th, we shared information about a car show in the Fresh Market parking lot. Today, we feature a vehicle in Costco's parking lot on West Wendover Avenue. This is the O-Tweety Cooper Mini. They say yellow is about the most visible color on the road and it is definitely a stand-out in this parking lot. If you drive around town in a bright yellow car, you definitely have to have a bright and bubbly personality. To be sure, you will not be flying under the radar. Indeed, this car looks like an animated yellow canary.*

We wanted to stick around to watch the O-Tweety family leaving Costco to see how they fit all those bulk items from the store into that tiny car. A case of salsa, 36 rolls of toilet paper, a case of bottled water, family members... just how did they do it? We hope you are out having fun in Greensboro this weekend, and remember, no tweet-ing while driving. Happy Saturday, all.

*interesting history on Tweety, here (even a little linguistics).

 

Revolution

Today is theme day for the City Daily Photo Community (CDP) and for May 1st, they have chosen "Revolution."  CDP bloggers have a lot of leeway as to how to interpret the theme. We've decided to address it literally. Our contribution was taken at the March reenactment of the Revolutionary War; specifically, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. This event happened on March 15, 1781, twenty-seven years before Greensboro became a city. General Greene's troops did so well in the battleship, under his leadership, that they decided to name our city after him. We lost the battle but won the war. Above, we see a photo of the cavalry approaching the field.

As we all charge, full steam ahead, into the weekend, we are thankful to live in a peaceful city and hope that "revolution" remains a thing in our past and "charge" is a shopping term, as opposed to a call to engage in warfare!