Greensboro Daily Photo

Happy New Year's Eve 2015

Happy New Year's Eve from Guilford, the mascot for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, our beloved minor league baseball team. The above photo was taken in front of the stadium with the Christmas tree in the background. The photo was actually an e-card made for us by one of our dear readers, Adrienne Everheart. Adrienne had been encouraging us to get a photo of this scene; in the meantime, she took a photograph for us. Having readers give suggestions and help us is heartwarming and makes this volunteer effort on Greensboro Daily Photo all worthwhile. Adrienne is a certified life and relationship coach.*  We are so fortunate at GDP to meet, almost daily, great people either living in Greensboro or with ties to the community. 

As we enter New Year's Eve, we hope that your year has been a good one and that 2016 will turn out to be the best year yet. Personal relationships and staying connected to community are so important. May your New Year's Eve be a safe one that helps you feel connected to friends, family, and community. And, if you struggle in that department, you just may want to give Adrienne a call! By the way, according to Fox 8, if you have had too much to drink at a New Year's Eve party, AAA is no longer offering the free "Tipsy Tow" service (taking people home for free); however, if you call them, they will make an effort to help you find a safe way home. Have a designated driver or a relative on call.

See you in the morning!

*Learn more about Adrienne's business, here.

Y is for Yvonne

Yvonne Johnson is a lifelong resident of Greensboro. She was born and educated here, and has dedicated her life to our city and its residents. After graduating from Dudley High School, she attended Bennett College, majoring in psychology and biology. While Yvonne did not consider entering the political arena during college, she attributes her early commitment to social justice to the culture at Bennett College. As a student, Yvonne served on student government and she worked with getting voters registered. She was also part of the Sit-In Movement in the 1960’s. However, it wasn’t until the early 1990’s, at the urging of a friend, that she considered running for political office. Ultimately, she ran for a city council at-large position. With a great love of people and learning, Yvonne decided that even if she lost, she would have a chance to meet more people in Greensboro and it would certainly be a learning experience. Her grassroots campaign was successful and she was the first African American elected to council since the district system was adopted in Greensboro. “Firsts” are nothing new to her family. Her uncle, a Penn State graduate, was the first African American Ph.D. in dairy science in the United States.

In addition to serving all the citizens of Greensboro, as council member and mayor, Yvonne has been running a non-profit for 33 years, One Step Further, Inc. This program mediates, advocates, and helps people with life skills and conflict resolution. Additionally, the organization runs a food pantry, serving over 900 families a month. Helping community and making Greensboro a better place for people of all ethnicities are high priorities for Yvonne. While a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from NC A &T contributes to her professionalism, her calm temperament and demeanor contribute to Yvonne’s ability to make people from all walks of life feel comfortable and valued when talking to her.

Some things you might not know about this high-profile woman is that she loves fishing, meditating, traveling, reading, and listening to jazz music. Above all, she cherishes time with family and friends. Family dinners are a priority. Playing bridge and pinochle are much-enjoyed pastimes, and she loves to indulge in getting decals on her fingernails. As for Greensboro, Yvonne loves the diversity- approximately 110 ethnic groups- and working with the diverse groups in our city. She loves all of the events the local institutions of higher education bring to Greensboro. She enjoys attending sporting events and tournaments. She loves our parks and feels enormously blessed to live here. She looks forward to watching Greensboro continue to grow. One of her hopes is that we will become the best job training center in the US and that we will be continue to grow in a multi-faceted way so that, from education to arts to sports and more, there is something for everybody.

Yvonne Johnson does so much for Greensboro, she was the obvious choice for our A-Z Local (Women) Series. Today is ABC Wednesday and “Y” is for Yvonne Johnson.

West Lee Street

Today, we feature yet another "off the beaten path" photo. This photo is taken on West Lee Street/Gate City Boulevard near UNCG and on the edge of the Glenwood neighborhood. The steam stack in the photo is located on UNCG's campus, across the railroad tracks at Highland and Oakland Avenues. The red wall above is the back side of a tattoo parlor in the neighborhood.

This part of town is changing quickly, as UNCG expands across Lee Street and into the Glenwood community. For now, there are still remnants of a part of town that has been historically filled with local businesses. The color of the wall, with the bright blue sky as a background, provide another example of how we can find beauty off the beaten path. The area will look even more beautiful when the trees leaf out.

Between South Elm and Davie Streets

Sometimes, it is fun to look beyond fences and between streets. The above photo was taken on the 300 block of South Elm Street, looking back to the businesses on South Davie Street. The camera lens was just beyond the fence of the Lofts at Greensborough Court. The skies were as warm and inviting as a spring afternoon. The temperature was in the high 60's, pretty unbelievable for December 27th. While we were on location, photographing in downtown Greensboro, the Carolina Panthers were on the field trying hard to beat the Atlanta Falcons. Every business that had a large screen TV featuring the game had people wearing Panthers jerseys. The first loss of the season was really hard to take; however, weather this glorious seems to make everything feel beautiful, even a gated, nondescript parking lot off of the main street downtown.

Sometimes we have to look past what is immediately in front of us. Perhaps we can do that with our sports losses, too. Happy Monday, dear readers.

Nativity Scene in Gibsonville

For many Christians, the Christmas season ends with Christmas Day. Some religions place more emphasis on Christmastide, or, the 12 days after Christmas and January 6th is Epiphany or Three Kings Day. During Christmastide, nativity scenes are especially meaningful. We found the above display in Gibsonville very near the Guilford/Alamance County borders. It was placed in the yard of a single family home. It is quite a commitment to have and store such a large display. People seemed to really enjoy it as we weren't the only ones driving by and taking pictures of this nativity. We're betting it would be even more beautiful in the snow. Greensboro has been experiencing record warm December weather; so we don't anticipate cold weather anytime soon.

We hope that you are having a great weekend and, if you celebrate Christmas, we hope it is was filled with meaning and great tradition.

Happy Sunday!. 

A New Parklet

This photo was taken this past fall on East Lee Street (Gate City Boulevard) and Arlington Street- near Martin Luther King Boulevard. It show the new park that has been built. If you happen to be out enjoying the weekend, you may want to explore some of these new public spaces in the city. Greensboro is making a real effort to revitalize parts of town and to have green space, with public art, available for all to enjoy. Consider going outside and walking and exercising with family and friends. The Christmas toys will be there when we get back inside! Happy Saturday!

The Greensboro City Government has a web page devoted to plans underway in the city. It is amazing how much is "on the books" to be done.*

*see the page, here.

Merry Christmas

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there's a feeling of Christmas. At least, that is what this photo exudes. This was the scene in downtown Greensboro at Hamburger Square on First Friday. It speaks to the excitement that people feel on Christmas. It also speaks to the sense of community that we feel in Greensboro. Almost everyone we interview for Greensboro Daily Photo says that they love the sense of community we have here. We hope that you feel that sense of community, especially today. Merry Christmas.

All Will Soon Be Calm

The above photo was taken, downstairs, at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. You can see from this sculpture in the middle that you are in GREENSBORO/HIGH POINT. We hope that weather you are staying in Greensboro, coming here to visit, or leaving town, that you are safe and happy. This will be a busy travel day, but by evening, most businesses will close and the air will have the peaceful sound of silence. Some people will be out attending midnight mass; some will be out trying to do last minute shopping; others will be home waiting for Santa. 

With the temperatures in the 60's and 70's in Greensboro it's beginning to feel a lot like we are in the southern hemisphere where it is summer right now. If you are lucky enough to have carolers in your neighborhood, don't be surprised if they show up in shorts and tank tops. You may want to have some hot chocolate cooling, just in case. In the busy, over-decorated spirit of the holiday season, the stark, monochromatic look of the above photo is to sight what palate cleansing is to taste.

X is for Xmas

Well, we don't have a person for X on ABC Wednesday. However we do have an "X" is for "X-mas." In the above photo, Pig Pounder Brewery has a sleigh with a pig Santa led by a team of pigs.* While they don't mention the pig-sled on their website, they do mention that the brewery has UK style beers and the name comes from a beer launched by the Darryl's restaurant chain in 1988. Keeping with the current trend for new breweries, they have a game night and a live music night. Located at 1107 Grecade Street, they are near the Sheetz Gas station and near Red Cinema. Their pig-themed advertising, including the pink, wrapped advertising on their vehicles, Pig Pounder perks up the downtown end of Battleground Avenue. Yes, "when pigs fly" is a way of saying that something will never happen.

When you drive by the scene, you can exclaim, "Not only do pigs fly, they pull sleighs and fill in for Santa. "Merry Christmas and while we don't have an "X" person for our A-Z people series,  For ABC Wednesday, "X" is for "Xmas" and flying pigs on Battleground for Christmas. 

 

* Our language-loving friends may already know that a group of pigs has many terms. A group of young pigs can be known as a drift, drove, or litter. Older pigs can be a team, passel, or sounder. "Saw a sounder at Pig Pounder," is catchy. We think we'll use that term!

Winter Solstice 2015

While we were sleeping last night, the Winter Solstice happened at precisely 11:48 Eastern Time. Last night was the night with the longest amount of darkness of the year. Today, days start getting longer and winter officially begins. The above photo was taken at the Solstice Celebration Lantern Walk in Hillsborough, NC this past Sunday evening. People came from miles around with handmade paper lanterns (with LED lights inside) to walk the mile + path along the Eno River.

Night photography is hard and the above photo does not even begin to reflect the beauty and diversity of the handmade paper lanterns. There were triangles, stars, moons, suns; lanterns on long sticks; lanterns with greenery; lanterns made from forming tissue paper around balloons, lanterns made by gluing paper snowflakes to plastic jars. The Lantern Walk, along the Eno River,  was such a family event spearheaded by The Hillsborough Arts Council. The idea was the brainchild of Eno Gallery owners Tinka Jordy and Mark Donley who outdid themselves with their paper-puppet lanterns. There was something magical about bringing in winter with a community walk, when the only lighting was supplied by the walkers themselves. The event started at 5:00pm and ended a little after 6:00 pm, on a Sunday night when there was to school the next day- just perfect for families with small children. Hopefully, this will be an annual event.

We propose a Winter Solstice Walk for Greensboro and will be happy to serve on the committee. Greensboro already has a fabulous Summer Solstice event. Who is ready to help us tackle old-man winter? (The photo above is a string of walkers at the mid-way point of the winding riverwalk; below, is a paper moon lantern with the actual moon in the background).

Jerusalem Market

Jerusalem Market is located at 5002 High Point Road, very near Sedgefield and Adams Farm. The market is full of everything from fresh, plump dates (the largest you will find in Greensboro) to cans of sardines to candies and meats from around the world. Also available are specialty, deli sandwiches, dreamed up by Saliba Hanhan (photographed above). A chemist by training, Saliba must use his knowledge of chemistry- specifically, how flavors combine-  to get his sandwiches just right. He takes his time with customers and is very generous with his knowledge about the foods he sells in his store. 

Born in Palestine, in 1948, Saliba was part of the Palestinian exodus when nearly three quarter of a million Palestinians fled their homes. After being displaced several different times and to many countries, his family found themselves in Ramallah. In 1952, Saliba attended a Quaker Friends' School there. The Quaker school for girls was established in Ramallah in 1869 and the boys' school opened in 1918. After majoring in chemistry, Saliba returned to teach science and math at the Quaker school where he attended as a child.

It is pure coincidence that Saliba moved to Greensboro and that Greensboro has such a large population of Quakers. He came here because his sister lived here. When he came to visit, Saliba fell in love with the way that, here, you can find greenery, even in the middle of winter. Even turnips and cabbage and greens are growing here in winter and, given Saliba's love of gardening, he knew he wanted to make Greensboro home. He traded his career in chemistry and working in a lab to a career in bringing Middle-Eastern specialty foods to the people of Greensboro. Greensboro is so lucky he stayed. If you are looking for some last minute Christmas gifts, consider putting together a food basket. Salina will help select a great assortment of goodies.

 

Nativity Scene at Greensboro College

The above nativity scene is found on the north side of the 25-acre lawn of Greensboro College and is visible from West Market Street. Greensboro College was founded in 1838. Since it is affiliated with the Methodist Church, the nativity display is especially meaningful. The nativity is really beautiful on a sunny day- especially when there is snow on the ground. Unfortunately, we took the picture at sunset, when the sun was low to the ground. The display is closely guarded with cameras and campus security, as it has been vandalized in the past.

If you look closely, in the background, the JP Building is visible, showing how close the display is to downtown Greensboro. The original nativity scene was built in the 1930's, a gift from the former Jefferson-Pilot company. How fitting that the nativity and the JP Building* keep a close watch on each other. Happy Sunday!

*The building now belongs to Lincoln Financial Group; however, many in the community still refer to the building as the JP building. 

Holiday Fun

As we enter the final weekend before Christmas, we at Greensboro Daily Photo (GDP) hope that you will find a way to have some lighthearted fun over the holidays. In the above photo, Mrs. GDP was captured having a great time at a AMF All Star Lanes at 910 South Holden Road. How fitting that she was wearing a "Fleece Navidad" Christmas sweater given to her by a dear friend, MaryKate Holden, whose family is, indeed, the very Holden family, for whom Holden Road is named. To be wearing a pun-ny sweater, gifted by the Holden family, bowling at a bowling alley on Holden Road is about at fun and joyful as it gets during the holiday season. To add to the joy, a colleague is in the background photo-bombing the shot. In addition, an anonymous person paid for Mrs. GDP's breakfast in the drive-through line this morning. When she got to the window to pay, the cashier announced that the car in front had already paid for her meal. How wonderful to be the recipient of a random act of kindness.

We hope you find a way to get out of your comfort zone, de-stress, and to bring joy to others these last few days of December. As we enter the coldest, darkest days of the year, even if you don't celebrate Christmas, know that in less than a week, the days will start getting longer again. That, in itself, is reason to celebrate.

The shine on the lane qualifies us to post the photo on Weekend Reflection. By the way, Mrs. GDP had a pretty decent bowling score and had a fun-filled time at AMF Lanes. Like the shirt says, Fleece Navidad!

Hop into the Weekend

Hops Burger Bar on Spring Garden Street has been wait-list busy since they received the designation of best-burger-in-the-USA by Trip Advisor this past summer. The weather has been unseasonably warm the past month. Above, is featured the side view of Hops over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The great thing about Greensboro's weather is that you can have good weather all but about two months a year. And, Hops has outdoor seating, just perfect for those warm fall and winter days.

Before you know it, Hops will have a second location open in Irving Park on Lawndale Avenue. On this last weekend before Christmas, you should consider enjoying a meal out so that you can rest up your cooking energy for Christmas- a week from today. Visit all of your favorite burger bars this weekend, and, you'll really be ready for turkey and ham for the holidays. Happy weekend, dear readers!

Construction Inspections

Construction Inspections is a department of the City of Greensboro. Their office is located at 611 Homeland Avenue; or, as we heard one man say, Homeland Security Avenue. The department is housed in this building directly across the street from the Yanceyville Farmers' Market and War Memorial Stadium. Every time we go to the farmers' market, we look across the street and wonder what is housed in the building. Finally, we walked up to read the sign, and now we know.

Surrounded by mature trees and greenery, it is hard to believe that it is located so close to downtown. With all of the construction going on in Greensboro these days, we can imagine Construction Inspections has been a really busy place. It is probably one place that is less busy over the holidays.

W is for the Women of Greensboro

Today's photo features women walking to the starting block of the "Running of the Balls." As they walked down Greenway, we were struck by how many women and children participated. Yes, there were many men, too, but the event was such a family -friendly one, we saw many women and children. All walked for a very good cause as tons of cans of food and money have been raised to help combat hunger in Greensboro. The morning after the "Running of the Balls," a man at the collection site at the corner of Rolling Road and Greenway said that they had already loaded 660 pounds of food from that one collection bin that morning. How wonderful for a neighborhood to band together to help the hungry.

Today is ABC Wednesday. As many of you know, this A-Z Round, we're featuring "Women of Greensboro". Unfortunately, all of the women we know whose names start with "W"  are either out of town or we don't have contact information for them. For example, Wendy Levine is a Greensboro woman who has left wonderful comments on GDP over the years. However, we have never met her and didn't have her contact information. We hope you aren't too disappointed for us to say that today is ABC Wednesday and "W" is for the walking, working, wonderful women of Greensboro. And, as for the men, we do hope to attempt an A-Z men of Greensboro. Happy Wednesday, dear readers, regardless of where your name falls in the alphabet!

All Is Calm

We have seen many photos of the colored lights and the festivities centered around "The Running of the Balls" in Sunset Hills this past weekend. We were struck by the tranquility by the scene at the above home on Ridgeway Avenue on Saturday, a few hours before light timers clicked to the "on" position, unleashing the technicolor display of light balls,  and well before 3,500 runners descended in festive garb. The above scene depicts front-row seating and a fire pit ready for viewing the runners' triple lap around the neighborhood. 

As darkness fell, the family filled the chairs, and then some; logs were ablaze; neighbors and friends visited and got reacquainted. While the whole evening was fabulous, there was something magical about that calm, quiet time before the event started. It reminds us of the proverbial saying, "silence is golden". Sometimes it is great to be in the middle of activity and noise; however, the din is most appreciated when punctuated by moments of silence. No matter how much residents love being Greensboro's epicenter of decoration-madness, surely, the Sunset Hills families of Greensboro are looking forward to the quietness of January when the tree balls are quietly lowered. Before you know it, all will be calm- even in Sunset Hills.

Angel Matthews

Angel Matthews, lifelong resident of the Guilford/Randolph County area, writes historical novels. When she promotes her novels, she dresses in period costumes which she makes herself. We saw her on Saturday in Gibsonville promoting her latest book, "Charlotte Confederate Calvary Soldier."  The book is displayed on the table in the foreground. Angel was especially happy to be roaming the halls of Gibsonville Antiques and Collectibles*, because the building, built in 1868,  was formerly the Mineola Plant, part of the Cone Mills Company. The building became part of Cone Mills in 1880 and remained open until 1988. Angel got her first job there and, given her love of history, she was quick to point out that the names written on the walls are signatures of former mill workers.

We asked Angel how she became interested in writing and, specifically, historical novels. She said her 8th grade history teacher was such a great teacher that he sparked her interest in both history and writing. How wonderful to be able to pinpoint the very educator who was pivotal in determining the course of your life. If you are interested in getting a copy of Angel's book or want to read a summary, it is available on Amazon. The book takes place in North Carolina  and includes the themes of love, war, and the Underground Railroad. You can also contact Angel directly on Facebook. It would be fun to read for a book club. Who knows, if you are local, you could quite possible convince Angel to make a guest appearance!

*if you like North Carolina textile mill history, this link is well worth reading (here).

Gibsonville Christian Church

Gibsonville is a small town located in the eastern end of Guilford County and spilling over into Alamance County. Gibsonville Christian Church as been serving the community for nearly 8 decades. This church, located at 325 Burke Street, has grown and changed its façade and has also changed denominations. What has not changed, however, is the spirituality of the congregation and the strong sense of community. The white truck, visible at the back of the building, was getting ready to pull the church's float in yesterday's Christmas Parade. The weather was perfect for a community gathering. Likely, there will be some tired little angels today, as fun was had by all!

Here is the website, if you want to learn more about the church. Pastor Baker and his wife Vickie will be there to greet you today if you get by for one of the services. Have a great Sunday; only one more after today before Christmas. Are you ready?

Running of the Balls 2015

Tonight is the annual "Running of the Balls" through the Sunset Hills neighborhood. This sold-out event begins promptly at 6:00 pm when, first, runners and, next, walkers complete a 5K course, ending in a hot-chocolate-and-music-filled parklet. And, yes, you guessed it, there will be more tree light-balls to greet the participants and spectators. The run is a fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank. People are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate. In addition to bringing canned goods to feed those in need, you are encouraged to wear the loudest Christmas gear you can find. For the 2,500 participants, this event truly rings in the season and reminds us of the beauty of giving of your time, food, energy, and good cheer.

Hope to see you tonight on Rolling Road, Ridgeway or Greenway Drives. These is no parking in the neighborhood so, plan ahead to walk to the event. It is well worth every step. The above photo doesn't do the scene justice. We were there at sunset and it was a little too early. The Today Show has been out at least twice to feature Sunset Hills. Surely, they have some good footage.

Beautiful Stars

Yesterday's Dickensian* holiday window got us looking through photos to find other festive photos. The above scene was taken a while back at Chakras Spa on South Elm Street. The view captured in from the ground floor, looking up at the stairwell. The stars, hanging from the ceiling, remind us of Moravian stars.

As hectic as this time of year can get, you might want to think about getting your loved ones (or yourself) a massage. There are several great options in Greensboro, one of which is, indeed, Chakras. Unfortunately, the Chakras website doesn't have any information about the year they opened. We know they opened downtown in the early years of the revitalization of Elm Street, but we don't remember the year. Not only do they do a great job of providing spa services, they also feature artwork and participate in First Friday. These community building efforts are part of what makes Greensboro so great. Have a great weekend!

 

*the words of GDP reader, Jane T. Mitchell

Rose Quartz Christmas

            A big thank you to all of you who take the time to decorate for the holidays!

             Love,

            Those of us who don't seem to make the time to do so.

The above display is found in Anthropologie's window in Friendly Center, beside the Apple Store. The lighter shades of pink are very close to one of Pantone's 2016 colors of the year, rose quartz- hence the title. The blue background is somewhat of a nod to the other color, serenity (blue).

If you know Anthropologie's window dresser, please ask her what inspired her when planning this display. Last we heard, the designer was Greensboro's own artist,  the incredibly-talented, Paige Cox. How wonderful that a national chain uses a local artist to create seasonal looks and artful displays for the store. This window is brilliant and uplifting. Standing in front of it, one can imagine living in that cozy neighborhood somewhere in Greensboro- perhaps College Hill, Lake Jeanette, your neighborhood. Wonder what Paige was thinking...

Someone on Santa's naughty list suggested, instead of the title "Rose Quartz Christmas," we dub the window, "50 Shades of Pink." Happy, light-hearted Thursday, dear readers.

V is for Vandy

Vandy Chhum's smile says it all. She approaches life joyfully and with optimism. Her name is a Khmer/Cambodian name given to her by her father. Vandy's road to Greensboro was a long one. Her family left Cambodia, spent time in a refugee camp in Thailand and moved to the United States in 1985. They moved from New York to Greensboro to Chicago and to Long Beach, always in pursuit of community and family. Cambodian families in the United States are a close community, as is Vandy's own family. When in Long Beach, she asked her her father for permission to return to Greensboro to attend high school and to live with her sister. Vandy not only graduated from high school, she attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, majoring in social work. 

While at UNCG, she interned with Communities in Schools, a national drop-out prevention program. She continued working for them after graduation and has been there for eleven years. With her youthful look, it is hard to believe that Vandy has been in the workforce for over a decade and that she is happily married with two lovely children. Vandy remins close to her family and is extremely proud to have been born into the Chhum family.

In the above photo, Vandy is photographed at the Sedgefield Country Club where she was attending brunch with Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for women educators. Vandy is also very involved with the Piedmont Interfaith Council, where she works hard to bridge faith groups, cultures, and people of all ages.

Vandy loves Greensboro so much, she selected it as her permanent home over fifteen years ago. She loves the people, the trees, the greenery, and the sense of community. Greensboro gives her a sense of belonging and is the one place she says she can truly call home. We are so grateful that Vandy is here and for all she does for our community. Today is ABC Wednesday and V is for Vandy. See our other A-Z People entries, here,

Along South Elm

This is scene on South Elm Street was so precious to us. The adults were walking along the brick sidewalk looking at the newspaper choices; mostly community-based, free papers. There are also three historic markers to read along this brick road.

Meanwhile the young boy was holding his ears because the train horn was so loud. If you look in the background, you can see the train cars moving along the train trestle. Right at this point, an old tree was chopped down last week and a new one has been replanted in its place. The scene looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting- for sure, a scene from a bygone era. Greensboro has a reputation for being a modern community with a yesteryear look.

We hope you are enjoying December and that you are finding time to explore all that Greensboro has to offer. Perhaps this family is walking to the skating rink that is now located in the parking lot off of Barnhart Street, less than a block from this scene. Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

Half-Mast Flag News

Did you know there is a website dedicated to half-mast flag news?*  Upon noticing flags around town at half mast, including the above in the parking lot of Costco on Wendover Avenue, we came home to verify the reason. American flags are to remain at half-staff through sundown today to honor the victims of the attack in San Bernadino, California. Additionally, today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

When a flag flies at half-staff, we are all reminded that tragedies like the one in San Bernadino and the attack on Pearl Harbor affect all of us. This patriotic sign of respect is a visual reminder that innocent, fellow Americans lost their lives- in Greensboro, and beyond. Let's hope when the flag is raised to the summit tomorrow, that it will stay there for a very long time.

* See here to stay abreast of when and why flags are at half mast, as well as to receive widgets and alerts.

Beautiful Christmas Star

As Christians enter the Christmas season, the star shape takes on great symbolism. It represents the guidance of the Magi. In Christian tradition, the Magi saw a star in the sky, revealing the birth of Jesus and leading them to Bethlehem.

The above star was purchased at the November craft show at the Yanceyville Farmers' Market. A very nice young man, named John, had his stand set up at the market and these stars, at nearly 4' tall, grabbed your attention upon entering the show. The December craft market will be held today, from 11-4 and he said he would return with more to sell. In November, the stars flew off the shelf. They are available with colored bulbs and also white. They would look really nice with the colored balls in Sunset Hills.

If you celebrate Christmas and are in the holiday spirit, or you just like arts and crafts, you might want to head over to the craft show at the Yanceyville Curb Market today. The above decoration can be displayed indoors our out; however, somehow it looks rather calming on a mantle as the lone seasonal decoration. Now, if we can only find some white flocking to cover up the cord. Can you believe the first week of December is almost over? Happy Sunday! Happy December!

First Friday 2015

December's First Friday/Festival of Lights is always magical. Giant puppets and performers on stilts walked up and down Elm Street as families marveled at their grace and balance. We caught up with the above performer as she sauntered along the 500 block of South Elm Street, on stilts and waving wing-like pom poms. The weather was brisk, in the mid 40's but clear- a perfect night for getting in the holiday spirit.

The Community Tree Lighting happened promptly at 7:30 to a standing room only crowd. From the event's sponsors to the downtown residents to the community at large, there were so many free events to enjoy. There was even hot chocolate provided by the Greensboro Downtown Residents Association. If you missed last night's event, here is a partial list of upcoming activities in the community this month.

First Friday 2015

Let the season commence! Greensboro's December First Friday is nothing short of magical. The above photo was taken of some people strolling along South Elm Street, in front of the Mack & Mack clothing store. This was last year's window, but we're sure the one this year will be equally festive. Please come downtown tonight and join in the fun. December's First Friday is extra special in that it is combined with the Festival of Lights. From the lighting of the tree in Festival Park to people singing and performing along Elm Street, everyone is sure to have a great time. 

The fake snow, at Hamburger Square, is always a hit with the little ones. However, from Center City Park to Gate City Boulevard, Elm Street will be packed with pedestrians. Go here for printable maps and a list of events. The festivities will be going strong from 6-9 pm and, of course, we have our own Betty Cone for making so much of this magic happen. Thank you, Betty! Thank you, to all of the people who volunteer their time and resources to make this event happen. Thank you, Greensboro! 

On the Corner of Madison & Ridgeway

The corner of Madison and Ridgeway is Ground Zero for the tradition of filling tree tops, and lining streets, with chicken-wire, light balls for Christmas. Already, most of the neighbors have filled their trees with decorations. Soon, the above 6 seats will be filled with Sunset Hills residents who will be enjoying the spirit of the great tradition they started. They will watch as people drive slowly through the neighborhood and  generously toss cans of food into the above trailer. The Smith family will see that it gets to the North Carolina food banks. Sadly, Greensboro is one of the most food insecure cities in the nation. Yet, we are generous, caring people. Hopefully, people will fill those trailers, that will fill the pantries, that will feel the bellies of our neediest.

Giving, remembering others, and acts of kindness are an important part of the season. If you can, drive by and see the Sunset Hills spectacular, and, remember to bring canned goods. The lights are hard to photograph. Here is a photo from a previous year. Here is a photo of the after-party for the Running of the Balls event through the neighborhood. Hope to see you there!

U is for Unnamed

The above photo of the Alumni House on College Avenue at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Last night was the 2015 Annual Luminary Dedication Ceremony, taking place at the Vacc Bell Tower and along the area around College Avenue, and spreading through campus. Over 1,000 luminaries were lit, as they have been since 1969. The luminaries are always lit on Reading Day, a day after the last day of classes.  It is a day of rest and reading before exams.

Meanwhile, in the Alumni House above, Chancellor Gilliam was holding his first Holiday Open House in the Virginia Dare Room. Indeed, the holiday season is upon us, not only on UNCG's campus, but also throughout our city. For this ABC Wednesday Round, in which we are featuring A-Z Local People, nobody with the name Uliana or Ursula or Udele stepped forward for an interview, so we're dedicating "U" to all of the unnamed people enjoying themselves, in the above photo, and throughout Greensboro.

 

Shop Window

Today's theme for the City Daily Photo community is "Shop Window." When we were in the post office the other day, we fell in love this little shop window set up to sell stamps. It is such a cute idea and the postal employee in the window was so helpful. We got all of the stamps we needed, without waiting in the main line. And the Peanuts Christmas stamps, available throughout the United States (not just Greensboro), are absolutely adorable. This is the 50th anniversary year of A Charlie Brown Christmas so the postage stamp idea and the little stamp window are brilliant.

Unfortunately, we didn't get "Lucy's" name the other day, but we can assure she was a lot more agreeable than Charle Brown's Lucy! Stop by the post office on Battleground, in the shopping center near Earthfare, for a great dose of holiday spirit and a great selection of stamps. Actually, many of Greensboro's postal employees have a great reputation for being super friendly and helpful.  Greensboro is lucky. Get to your nearest post office soon while the NEW STAMPS ARE IN!  

Finally, if you want to see other creative "shop windows" around the world, look, here!