Greensboro Daily Photo

Coffee Shop Culture

Greensboro has seen several coffee shops open over the last decade. They try very hard to serve their own neighborhood, while also attracting people throughout the city. Many are owned by 30somethings living their dream and opening their own business; and doing a good job of keeping their customers happy. People of all ages are seen frequenting this family-oriented place.

Geeksboro and owner Joe Scott are no exception. Open since November 2013, Geeksboro is located on the edge of Irving Park, in the strip of shops along Lawndale Drive. It is billed as an arty hangout serving, coffee, snacks, and craft brews. Downstairs, they show indie movies and documentaries. They have monitors for electronic games as well as board games galore. People also bring their own games and controllers and meet up for competitions. Some nights are themed. For example, tonight is knitting and craft night as well as the night for people who play the card game, Magic.

We have found that people who frequent Geeksboro are friendly and very willing to answer questions about their game-- as long as you don't interfere at an intense point. (Don't worry, you can tell). In 2011, UNESCO declared the coffee houses of Vienna to be an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Austria* and you can see why. As more and more tangible goods get delivered through the internet or get replaced by apps, it is the "intangibles", like socialization and places to spend free time, that will be the brick-and-mortar moneymakers of the 21st century.

February's theme for City Daily Photo is "scene from a coffee house." See photos of coffee houses, around the world, here. See a scene from Geeksboro, above. 

*reference here.

Life's Journeys

The above feet are part of a statue in the back of the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro. They belong to Urban Francis, sculpted in bronze by Judith Shea and representing St. Francis of Assisi. In most religions, bare feet signify humility and service, traits that fit St. Francis. 

Life is full of all kinds of journeys: Spiritual/physical; self-imposed and planned/unforeseen; inspirational/burdensome. As we enter African American history month, let us remember the journeys made by so many people in Greensboro. The Underground Railroad, the network of secret routes to help enslaved people find their way to freedom, began in a wooded area that is now part of Guilford College.* Local residents and devout Quakers, Levi and Vestal Coffin, were very involved in the Underground Railroad. Also, tomorrow, February 1st, is the day in 1960, when the Greensboro Four sat at the Woolworth Lunch Counter in Greensboro and refused to get up- even though the lunch counter was segregated. The bare feet remind us of the protesters in the 1960's who walked and marched and stood up for their civil rights.

If Sunday is a day of rest for you, take a little time and ponder the things you would be willing to stand up and to march for... even if it meant doing so barefoot. If you want to see his face, look, here and a full-length view, here.

*reference.

FINALLY, a photo we can share on Shadow Shot Sunday!

Dr. MLK, Jr. Statue

This statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is waiting to the public from just inside the International Civil Rights Museum on South Elm Street in Greensboro. Tonight is a very important day for the museum. They are presenting the "Ignite4Change" Gala, which will be held at the NC A&T University Alumni-Foundation Event Center. Ticket prices range from $125 for an individual ticket to the $50,000, A Changed World, ticket. A ticket at the highest levels allows you to sit at the table with either Ezell Blair, Jr. or Joseph McNeil, two of the four original members of the sit-in group. The money goes to a good cause and the experience would be extremely memorable. Even if you only have an individual ticket, you will not regret attending.

Today is Weekend Reflections and we are sharing this post with our friends at that meme. We love the fact that there are people inside the museum and that they can be seen through the window. The museum has had a lot of traffic lately. Let's hope it stays that way!

Adiós, Cellar Anton's; Hola, Havana Phil's

Cellar Anton's was a Greensboro institution for over fifty years. The cavernous, 7,500 square foot building has been empty since 2013. Recently, driving down Battleground Avenue, we saw construction was well under way. It is being remodeled to house Havana Phil's Cigars. Havana Phil's has already been on Battleground, a little farther north,  since 2010. This new-to-Phil, high-profile location, at the edge of Irving Park, expects to open in the summer or fall. Their plans include constructing a smoking patio.

Perhaps, the change in relations with Cuba will have an impact on their inventory. We should stop by the current Havana Phil's Cigars at 3121 Battleground Avenue, pull up a chair, and ask Phil Segal about Cuban cigars and his plans for the new space. (We wonder what they have for non-smokers who don't mind the smell of a good cigar).

In the meantime, we're sharing this beautiful Greensboro sky with Skywatch Friday.

Snow Camping

Snow camping could be so much fun, especially in a little, Bambi Airstream like the one featured above. This 19' RV looked so abandoned and forlorn in its Greensboro driveway. Imagine being snowed-in here; it could have used an occupant.  Greensboro has two places to purchase RV's,  in Colfax off of I-40: Camping World of Colfax and Out of Doors Mart. January and February are probably a good time to purchase a camper as it is likely a slow time of year. Next time other people are out stocking up on bread and milk, consider shopping for a camper.

Wally Bynum built the first Airstream in 1929. He wanted a trailer that would move like a stream of air. It doesn't look like they've changed much over the last eighty-plus years. Perhaps, during the next blizzard, some of our local college students or STEM high school students could investigate making a new model and field testing it this summer. We'd be happy to test drive one for you!

C is for Costume

In Greensboro, there are certain costumes and signs you expect to see, advertising businesses.  For example, we've come to expect Lady Liberty reminding us that it is tax season (here); and Ronald McDonald promoting the golden arches (here); the Chick-fil-A cow convincing us to eat more chicken, and the pawn shop person shaking a sign, convincing us to stop and sell our gold, etc. However, we saw a new costume at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade. The above human advertiser wore an inflated, neon green outfit made out of a material that looked like a plastic pool inflatable. The novelty was very effective as he attracted a lot of attention. His sign doesn't even name the business he is representing. The phone number must be sufficient.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, C is for Costume.

The "Rolling On!" highway logo the ABC Wednesday crew made for Round 18 seems fitting for our theme: Urban Finds. See the rest of our entries to date, here.

Doggie in the Window

If you live in Lindley Park, and are of the age to enjoy adult beverages, you've probably spent time at Walker's Bar. Residents are very loyal to their neighborhood venues and Walker's Bar is known for being good to its patrons. It is affordable, has a wide variety of music on the juke box, attracts a great mix of people from all walks of life, and is a place where everyone knows your name-- and what you drink. The establishment is one that changes very little over time, and that can be comforting.

Lindley Park is also pet friendly. The doggie in the window seemed to be waiting for someone to take him for a romp in the snow that was melting quickly as the temperature approached 50 degrees in Greensboro yesterday. Maybe we underestimate this canine and he was waiting for some live music, a blues band....or a delivery from the Budweiser clydesdales. What is your guess?

Black Vultures

Thanks to the mild winter, black vultures seem to be lingering in Greensboro. In the above photo, taken yesterday, they are seen in a tree in our back yard. Since this was the second day we saw them in our yard, about two dozen in all, we were suspicious that something was luring them to our yard. Sure enough, as we approached, we saw a deer carcass, frozen in the snow. The vultures were devouring the carrion. Of course, we are wondering just what killed the dear, but by the time the snow thaws, there might not be anything left but bones.

For these heavy, stubby-in-appearance vultures, flying seems to be a task. When chasing them off, with great effort, they pull themselves from the branches. Unlike turkey vultures, they tend to stay in groups and attack the carcass together. Be careful, we learned that they may have actually killed some goats in a rural area just south of Greensboro (see, here, but warning: Content graphic). Be careful if you see them in your yard. Keep an eye on your small pets. These vultures don't seem to care that it is a "snow day." 

Center United Methodist Church

Center United Methodist Church is located on the corner of Lake Brandt Road and James Doak Parkway. While it looks like so many modern churches in Greensboro, its rich history in the area dates back two centuries. According to the church's history, shared here on their website, in the early 1800's, people came from miles around to attend mutiple-day camp meetings on the Shelton family farm. As many as 5,000 to 6,000 people would attend. 

Center UMC has had many changes over the century. At one time it was a Methodist Episcopal Church. Over the years, sanctuaries have been built and rebuilt; a parsonage and classrooms added. The church tries hard to attract people in the community. While they no longer attract people by the thousands, they still have a presence in Summerfield in a community where farms are being replaced by housing developments. Hopefully, as the population of the area continues to grow, they can attract new members who will continue its fine work, including documenting the rich history of the church!

You Are What You Ate

Well, we're snowed in here in Greensboro, so you get a post from our bank of photos. Even though we have over 80 thousand photos on file, there are days we look through them and wonder what on earth we are going to post. Anyone who is on social media is probably tired of snow pictures, so we dug up this vanity plate. Greensboro's drivers have some pretty funny vanity tags on their cars.

The above Prius owner reminds us, "you are what you ate." This is definitely food for thought as we prod along dealing with winter weather. With most of Greensboro snowed in and shut down, the determining factor of "what you ate" hinges on 1) how the supply is holding out and 2) whether or not one has power. So, this vanity tag is a little more relevant when we are not snowed in and can drive all over Greensboro buying and eating whatever our budget allows. As for us, we didn't realize how much we would miss bananas. Happy snowy, January weather, dear readers. We hope you are safe.

Wouldn't it be fun to follow the owner of this car through the grocery store. Seriously, we might learn a thing or two!

Snow Day 2015

This is what Greensboro looks like on a sunny, snowy day. It has been a while since we've taken any snow pictures. This is one from a few years ago. We'll add another one if there is snow on the ground in the morning. If not, we'll leave it here to remind us that Greensboro has virtually shut down today due to the anticipated snow. Before 3pm yesterday, the public schools announced that all but the most essential staff will be off and offices will be closed. Even the universities are closed. How will you spend this snow day. The above photo is of an off-the-beaten-path road in northwest Greensboro.

We hope that you are safe, have power, plenty of coffee, and a good sled!

Studebaker Truck

In Greensboro, we love our trucks. The above Studebaker truck was photographed in the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive during the MLK parade. The vintage truck, in front of the old white house with the wrap-around porch, takes us back to another era in time- the 1950's, E series. There were several vintage vehicles in Monday's parade; however, this was the only Studebaker we saw. 

According to "sailing adventure", on the Studebaker Driver's Forum, Studebakers were first sold in Greensboro by Gate City Motors at 220 North Church Street.  Next, they were sold at Barry's Studebaker, on South Elm Street, until they went out of business about 1969.  We're betting the above vehicle, and others like it, passed through Gate City and Barry's a time or two. New and modern has its advantages, but old and nostalgic has good points, too. Honk if the above scene brings back fond memories.

B is for Braille

Out exploring Greensboro recently, we discovered that the McDonalds restaurant, at the corner of Westridge and Battleground Avenue, has a braille breakfast and lunch/dinner menu. We don't know if all McDonald's restaurants have them, but it is wonderful to know that people who are visually impaired can read the menus for themselves.

In the absence of a physical or sensory challenge, it is easy to overlook the need for accommodations. However, when you have a friend or family member who needs accommodations or modifications, it is great when a business affords them as much independence as possible. Equal access and ease of use mean a lot... especially as we age. Look around you, in Greensboro, or wherever you live. If you see something that could be done to make information or places more accessible, start your own little campaign today!

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our 2016 Round, which we're calling Greensboro's A-Z Urban Finds, "B" is for braille. Braille characters, invented by Frenchman Louis Braille,  have been around since 1837.  With modern technology, specifically screen reader software, braille has been on the decline. But for now, braille is on the menu--  at McDonald's.

 

MLK Parade 2016

Yesterday, for Greensboro's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade, temperatures were in the high 20's. Since the sun was out and it was a clear day, nobody had to worry about getting instruments or uniforms wet. Parade participants may have been cold, but they were dry. The above photo is of a section of the Dudley High School Marching Band, the Blue and Gold Panthers. Their arrival along the parade route was much anticipated by spectators. Dudley's two drum majors and the Dudley High Alumni Association led the band along the route, from one end of MLK, Jr. Drive to South Elm Street- 1.8 miles. They gave a spectacular performance.

Until taking this photo, we'd never noticed the house in the background, which looks more like something you would see in Southern California than in Greensboro. In addition to enjoying the marching bands, politicians, churches and other organizations kept children entertained with all of the candy they tossed out to spectators. Some children had gallon storage bags full. This community event reminded us all to work together for our community, and it was a great opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones. 

It's Time for the MLK, Jr. Parade!

Today is the 3rd Monday in January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Greensboro celebrates the federal holiday with many events and great gusto. One of the highlights for the community is the parade which will start at 11:00am. It begins on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and continues on Elm and Gorrell Streets. The above photo is from a few years ago, but shows families waiting along the parade route in Olde Asheboro.

There will be floats, fraternities and sororities, bands, cars, organizations, and so much more. A good time will be had by all. Children seem to especially enjoy the event, especially when the bands are playing. Be sure to dress in warm clothing and take a chair, unless you don't mind standing. Hope to see you there. The house in the background is a Victorian beauty that has been beautifully painted. The architecture, paint, columns, and wrap-around porch represent the Greensboro of yesteryear. The parade represents the civic mindedness of Greensboro's families today!

 

Ai Methodist

About once a year, we like to check on the progress of Ai Methodist Church. It is located on Highway 68 in Oak Ridge. Over the centuries, the church has changed ownership and denominations; however, since 2009, Preservation Oak Ridge has been overseeing its restoration. In 2009, when Preservation Oak Ridge took over, not only did the church not have lights, it didn't even have a roof. Preservation Oak Ridge has played a leadership role in restoring this church. If you are interested in helping, they have a work day scheduled in February and options for donations online.  

The property has a church and a cemetery; the church dates to the late 1700's and the graves date to  1819. If you want to connect to the 18th and 19th century without leaving Guilford County, head out to Ai Church, just south of the Old Mill of Guilford. While the church is beautiful by daylight, the velvety look of the façade makes it irritable to photograph at night. Happy Sunday!

They Took a Seat to Take a Stand!

The above photo features the plaque in front of the International Civil Rights Museum on South Elm Street, recognizing Greensboro as the "Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement." It also names the four North Carolina A & T State University students who conducted the first lunch counter Sit-In (Franklin McCain, Joseph MaNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr. and David Richmond). In the middle is a quote, "Sometimes taking a stand for what is undeniably right means taking a seat." Such was the work of these four men.

Today, many of us begin a three day weekend. It is a good opportunity to remember the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Greensboro Four;  and to remember the importance of respecting the inherent worth and dignity of everyone living in our community. If you can, consider doing some community service. At the very least, we hope you have time to get out and enjoy Greensboro and to meet some new people in the community. Always be prepared to take a seat to take a stand!

We're sharing today with the Weekend Reflections meme.

Downtown Greensboro at Sunset

Downtown Greensboro has so much character. Here is the photo of the bridge at Edgeworth, looking west. The silhouette makes the sky look even more fabulous. Someone asked us once for the best place to photograph sunrise, sunset, and moon events in Greensboro. We'd have to say off of the top of one of the parking decks. In this photo, we were in the parking lot behind the old train depot near Spring Garden and South Elm. We're still looking for that perfect spot. Readers, do you have suggestions?

This week has been a full work week and a full week of school for students. Next will be a four day work week since Monday is the Martin Luther King holiday. We hope your weekend is relaxed, that you have a little more time to spend as you please. If you are looking for some opportunities for civic engagement, here are some announcements for events, including the MLK parade.

On Elm Street

Greensboro has had some rainy days interspersed with sunny ones this winter. We haven't experienced any snow yet. The schools haven't even had to experience two hour delays. The above photo Elm Street at Hamburger Square facing north. Elm Street, from the corner of Gate City Boulevard to Pisgah Church Road is about five miles long. This little stretch, often considered the heart of downtown, is a popular shopping area and a place people congregate during special events and First Fridays. It is a great place for an urban walk and for street photography. If it weren't for a lack of foliage, you might think you were looking at a photo of a sunny, summer day. It is one of Greensboro's many streets named for trees.

Happy Thursday! If you want to hear some great old-time music tonight, head to Gibb's Hundred Brewery on Lewis Street, starting at 7:30,  and enjoy the Gate City Rail Benders. Don't worry about socializing on Thursday. It has been said that Thursday is the new Friday!

A is for Alley

Urban walks are so much fun. Yesterday, we were walking around downtown at sunset and spied the alley behind P&B Java and Elsewhere Museum, just off the 600 block of South Elm Street. There is a lot of construction at the building on the corner of Lewis Street and South Elm Street. With the concrete trucks spinning and workers on site, we were the only pedestrians in the area. Walking the alley, we first found a space maintained by the Greensboro Permaculture Guild. When admiring their garden, we looked up and saw this beautiful sign on the back of Elsewhere Museum. Imagine after a long day of teaching and attending meetings, looking up and seeing an all-caps sign (shouting in the font world) I LOVE YOUR WORK. We decided that tomorrow, we are going to say to students, when it is most meaningful and needed, I LOVE YOUR WORK. When is the last time you said that to someone? When is the last time someone said it to you? Hopefully, it was recently. Such is the serendipity of taking an urban walk, in Greensboro, at the end of the day.

Today is a brand new round of ABC Wednesday. Every time, we say we are going to skip a round, we get inspired to continue. What better way is there to approach photographing and documenting your city than working through the alphabet? So, for today, we offer up, "A" is for alley. And thank you to the all-volunteer ABC Wednesday crew. WE LOVE YOUR WORK!

 

Greensboro's Grand Oak Trees

Do you have oak trees in your neighborhood? As oak trees age, their branches become gnarled, knobby, and rough. They take on so much character, and, in winter, their leaves are usually the last to fall. When mature, at least 50 years old, oaks begin to drop acorns- the prize of animals scavenging for food. In December, we saw a party pack of ham from Spain that advertised the pigs were acorn-fed. We wonder in Greensboro farmers feed their pigs acorns. North Carolina has 16 different kinds of oak trees: white, post, overcup, chestnut, swamp, live, northern red, southern red, cherry bark, black, scarlet, turkey, blackjack, pin, water, and willow oak. All but two appear to grow in Guilford County (reference). Even the pin oak, with the smallest habitat, grows here.

According to the City of Greensboro's Treasure Trees Program, these are our noteworthy oaks: a Black Oak in Summerfield, 116 feet tall; a Northern Red Oak on North Church Street, 133 feet; a White Oak on North Church Street, 135 feet; a Pin Oak on Sherwood Street, 130 feet; a Southern Red Oak on Neelley Road in Pleasant Garden, 125 feet; and a Willow Oak on Cypress Street; 138 feet. The Southern Red Oak in Pleasant Garden has the largest crown spread of all the trees in Guilford County, 125 feet. Its crown is exactly the size of its height. That is a lot of shade! Wouldn't it be fun to take a tour, "Trees of Greensboro." May we all be good stewards of our trees, regardless of whether or not they are on the list for being noteworthy. And if you are offering a tree tour, let us know!

In spite of all our reading, unfortunately, we are unable to determine which kind of oak is photographed above! Go here if you want to learn about the trees dubbed most significant trees in our area.

Rural Bait and Tackle Shops

Bait and tackle shops are to rural North Carolina what office buildings are to our cities; something that we assume will always be part of the landscape. It is at these little shops where fishermen to learn what is biting that day and other details about fishing. They also catch up on community happenings, enjoy fellowship, and purchase snacks and gas.

The above photo features the little bait and tackle shop on Lake Brandt Road, near Lake Brandt and directly across the street from Jesse Wharton Elementary School. As you can see from the storage pods, the store is now closed. There has been tremendous growth in this part of Greensboro and what used to be country and "way out past Lawndale Avenue" is now part of the city. Likely, something modern will be built there. Whatever gets built there, likely will be more in line with 21st century suburban living; however, it is hard to say goodbye to a decades old tradition.

The long shadows are typical on sunny winter days in the south when the sun is low to the horizon and there are no leaves to block the sun. Greensboro's skies were glorious yesterday around 3:00 pm. Happy Monday. Let's see what today brings.

 

Church World Services of Greensboro

Yesterday, at New Garden Friends, a meeting was held to provide an overview of the history of refugee resettlement in Greensboro, the needs of refugees,  and to inform individuals and groups how they can get involved and help. We learned from attending the meeting that last year, out of the nearly 70,000 refugees resettled in the United States, 2,475 were resettled in North Carolina and 671 were resettled in Greensboro. We also learned they receive very little financial assistance and they want nothing more than to become self-sufficient. They all arrive needing housing, a job, and a way to establish a credit rating. Sometimes, they need psychological, emotional, and spiritual help. The faith groups, social service agencies, the government, and individuals work together as efficiently as possible to start the road to self-sufficiency.

The above photo features Stephanie Adams, Office Director at Church World Service of Greensboro. She was very helpful in explaining to the audience what happens in the first few years of arriving in the United States and the nature of the help needed.  Each refugee receives a mere $925 to start life here. That money goes to housing, medicine, food, utilities, clothing (e.g., work boots), school supplies, transportation, and more. If you are interested in helping, you can contact Stephanie at [email protected]. Specific things you can do are 1) help with apartment set up, 2) provide assistance in getting a social security card, 3) teach a family how to use Greensboro's busses, 4) provide cultural orientation, 5) help with transportation, and 6) help with communication issues and learning English. People who provide this help are often surprised to find out how much they personally benefitted from developing deep and caring relationships with Greensboro's newest citizens. If you are looking for a way to make 2016 a memorable year, call CWS, or one of the other agencies helping refugees, and volunteer your services today.

Repair and Improvements

We were struck by the interesting combination of businesses in the 400 block of Battleground Avenue- Just down the street from the Smith Street Diner. You can enhance your facial features or remove tattoos on the left at CAS Permanent Cosmetics. On the right, you can fix up your car or remove dents at Cockman's Garage II: Complete Auto Repair. Both service-oriented businesses seem very popular, quite busy, and conveniently located to downtown. The pink and gray facade of CAS looks like it has been recently painted.

It is amazing what one can see when walking around town. Today will be a good day to walk , before it gets colder on Monday and Tuesday. Have a great rest of the weekend and thank you for reading Greensboro Daily Photo..

Father and Son Moment

On New Year's Day, this father and son were spending some quality time walking along North Elm Street stretching and practicing some calisthenics. Back and forth, back and forth, from the Chamber of Commerce building to Bellemeade Street. The signage for the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts matched the young boy's shirt perfectly and made us wonder if someday he might have the chance to attend (or be in) an event there. The scene reminds us that quality time can be had anywhere. All it takes is loving people, time, and a little creativity. Both father and son seemed to be strengthening their bond with every hop, lunge, and stretch.

If you are local, you, too, can make memories strolling along sidewalks in Greensboro. Recruit a friend or family member and head out tonight and see what the weekend brings your way. Try out a new coffee shop, tea shop, or bookstore. If you haven't been yet, Piedmont Winterfest skating is still open at Barnhardt Street and South Elm. It should be appropriately cold enough to skate tonight. Who knows, you might run in to this father and son or even the ONAQUEST-mobile from yesterday. Happy weekend!

On a Quest

ONAQUEST was spotted last week on New Year's Day, parked near Center City Park during the meditation event. It is amazing how much our bumper stickers say about us. From political candidates to position on issues, bumper stickers are a window into the personality of the person driving the vehicle.  Do you use bumper stickers or have a vanity plate? If so, what do they say about you? T-shirts with sayings work the same way. We love reading the t-shirts of Greensboro, too.

We hope ONAQUEST has a great year and that the search is not too long or arduous. Yet, if it were short and simple, it wouldn't quality as a quest! Our quest is to find the owner of this vehicle and interview her for GDP. Happy Thursday! The first work week of the new year seems to be flying by.

Z is for Zoë

Zoë Dillard is trained as a theatre teacher. She has a master's degree from UNCG where she taught as a lecturer in the theatre program here before leaving to teach in the K-12 environment in Fairfax County, Virginia.  While Zoë  appreciates music of all genres, she especially loves listening to, teaching, and performing in musical theatre. Some of her former students are establishing successful careers. Recently, Zoë returned to Virginia to watch a former student perform. One of Zoë's special memories was performing as a principal character in Fiddler on the Roof.

Having retired from her position in Virginia, Zoë returned to Greensboro with her family and is working as a substitute teacher. When she is not subbing, she loves attending theatrical events, traveling, singing in her church choir, and learning to cook gourmet food. She is happy to be back in Greensboro and loves all of the events we have access to locally. You can tell from her smile that Zoë is happy, optimistic, and fun to know. We're glad she moved back to Greensboro and hope to see her act and to hear her sing.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Women-of-Greensboro series,  "Z" is for Zoë. This concludes this Round of ABC Wednesday. Interviewing people for our website is one of the most meaningful things we do. We would like to thank everyone who graciously gave of her time to be interviewed and photographed for this A-Z series. We began in July with April Dunovant, and moved through the alphabet with many other great women of Greensboro:  Betty, Caryl, Delight, Elena, Felicia, Gisela, Hope, Isabella, Jane, Katja, Liliana, Mariela, Nikki, Pat, Quaneisha, Renee, Sheila, Toni, Vandy, Yvonne, and Zoë. Thank you, ladies; thank you, readers!

Joseph Shelton

Joseph Shelton moved from Statesville to Greensboro in 1973 to work in the corporate world. Somewhere along the way, he heard some great old-time music and he was hooked. He traded the business world for one of fine acoustic music and hasn't looked back.  Today, Joseph gives fiddle and dulcimer lessons, repairs stringed instruments, and performs for private and public events.

If you want to contact Joseph, you can contact him directly at (336) 274-2585 or at [email protected]. Perhaps you have your grandfather's violin that needs new strings or the bridge reset. Perhaps, you want to learn to play the fiddle, or give your classically trained bow arm some experience with the pulsing, rhythmic, old-time sound; Joseph is a great person to call.

A fun fact about Joseph is that he posed for Ben Long's fresco of the "Lord's Supper",* found at Churches of the Frescoes- Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs, NC (just outside of West Jefferson). Joseph posed as the disciple James for the fresco. Joseph is one talented fellow and we were so happy to see him and get to hear him play at a New Year's party with several members of the Piedmont Old-Time Society. May your year be filled with great music, Joseph!

*see a copy of the fresco, here.

Polar Bear Ride 2016

New Year's Day brought over 200 cyclists out for the annual Polar Bear Ride. Sponsored by the Greensboro Velo Club, the ride had three courses: 25, 41, and 60 miles. Cyclists started and finished at Cycles de Oro on Mill Street. In the morning, participants were greeted with coffee and after the ride, they celebrated with a spread of food inside the bike shop. The above photo was taken just as the owner of Cycles de Oro, Dale Brown, finished taking pictures for the different cycling clubs and then sounded the start of the race.

Fortunately, streets aren't crowded with cars on New Year's Day and, to our knowledge, the event was accident free- give or take a few cyclists rolling over because they couldn't get out of their toe clips in time. Riders were asked to bring 2 cans of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank and Greensboro cyclists stacked the table with canned goods. Some years, temperatures plunge and the January 1st ride really does feel like a North Pole event. This year, the weather was relatively mild, averaging in the high 40's- low 50's. What a wonderful way to start the year, getting exercise, donating food to a food bank, and spending time with a great community of cycling enthusiasts! Greensboro rocks, and rolls, and cycles!

New Year's Day Kindness Meditation

Approximately 100 people gathered in Center City Park on January 1st to start the new year off with some calming spirituality. Annie Fitzmaurice led the group through some visualization activities. She spoke of wishing wellness, peace, and harmony through kindness. Her voice is calming and perfect for leading a group in meditation. Anne also leads yoga and fitness exercises in the park.  As we sat, experiencing the group meditation on Friday, we were struck by the fact that even the dogs were meditating. Not one barked. 

Regardless of what religion you practice, mindfulness,  meditation, and mind clearing, are said to be good for one's health.  Focusing one's thoughts on kindness and clearing out negativity sounds like a great way to start the new year. We are lucky in Greensboro to offer such opportunities for free. Happy Sunday!

7th Anniversary

Today is the seventh anniversary of Greensboro Daily Photo. Seven years ago, we decided to join the City Daily Photo initiative, started by Eric Tenin of Paris Daily Photo, and have enjoyed showcasing the beauty of Greensboro to the rest of the world. We have regular readers as close as Greensboro and as far as Jerusalem and Moscow. We have published a photo a day for seven years without missing a day; that rounds out to over 2,500 photos of Greensboro.  Through the years, GDP has brought us closer to the community. We have had so many wonderful experiences, attending events and interviewing people. 

On the blog, we bill ourselves as Mr. and Mrs. GDP. My husband, David, takes care of the technical aspects of the website. Professionally, he is a commercial pilot. As for me (Janis), I am a teacher and have taught every grade from Kindergarten to doctoral students. I love the challenge of making lessons meaningful and relevant, regardless of the age of the learners. On the blog, I take the photos, conduct the interviews, and put together the text that accompanies the photos. GDP is our way of giving back to Greensboro while doing something as a couple. Both of us enjoy traveling, but love calling Greensboro home.

Thank you for your readership. Please share this URL with friends, neighborhood associations and anyone you know who has an interest in Greensboro. You can access GDP through Facebook, Twitter (#gdphoto), or as an email message. As we work on the lineup for 2016, please contact us with ideas of ways to showcase our city and citizens. Your readership and input are what make this effort all worthwhile. You are the reason for this blog. Enjoy!

Happy New Year 2016

Every New Year's Day, the City Daily Photo blogs asks participants to select their favorite photograph of the year. For GDP, the task was daunting; however, in the end, we selected this photo of an autumn event in Lindley Park. The Lindley Park neighborhood has worked diligently to build a sense of community. They host neighborhood events and have several businesses that keep people socializing in the neighborhood: Bestway Grocery Store has its famous "beer wall"; their coffee shop, with its many rooms, encourages hanging out; there are restaurants at all price points; a Saturday farmers' market is set up at the corner of Elam and Walker Avenue; and their laundry mat serves up beer and conversation. Their arboretum hosts many well-attended events; they have a community newsletter, started several years ago by an elementary school student and they work together for community grants- like "Knit the Bridge". The above photo was taken at a backyard keep-it-local art event hosted by Lindley Park potter, Christine Brown. As seen in the above photo, her yard is inviting and open to neighbors of all ages.

One of the big changes in Greensboro in 2015 is that the City Council instated participatory budgeting. We are the first city in the south to launch this initiative. Residents in each of Greensboro's 5 districts are invited to decide how to spend $100,000 in their district.* We hope you will join us in our New Year's resolution to be more involved in our community. Helping your district decide how to spend your $100,000 is a good start. They even have a Facebook page!

Regardless of where you live, we hope 2016 is the best year yet. We thank you for reading Greensboro Daily Photo. Please share our link on your Facebook page and let all of your friends, and neighborhood associations, know we are here. Tomorrow is GDP's 7th anniversary. On Saturday, we'll be starting our 8th year. Please stop back and help us celebrate! Happy New Year! 

* Learn all about Greensboro's participatory budgeting initiative, here.