Greensboro Daily Photo

Oh, What a Great Egret

We were at Country Park a couple of weeks ago and this Great Egret was prancing around behind the Greensboro Science Center. The great egret is fairly common in North Carolina. Even though these large wading birds like to forage in wetlands and in costal communities, it is not uncommon to see them in Greensboro, especially on a visit during the late-summer,  post-breeding season.* This bird is a member of the heron family and is often seen in a habitat where blue heron can be found. They both feed on fish, frogs, and small mammals.

The egret above got tired of all the humans looking at it, not only us, with camera in tow,  but also the people peeking in the lower left-hand corner of the photo. The egret took flight, heading to the other side of the lake near the dog park. It is hard to believe that these majestic creatures are such graceful flyers; but they are. They are especially beautiful against a backdrop of dark greenery. You might want to visit one of our many Greensboro parks this weekend to see what birds are still around. Before you know it, they will be migrating somewhere warmer. Have you noticed a slight change in the air and the fact that the sun sets before 8pm? Likely, the egrets and herons have!

*reference and additional information, here.

G is for Guilford, Greensboro, Grasshoppers, Greenway

So much in Greensboro starts with the letter "G." From the city, to the county, to the baseball team, to its mascot we are a community of "G's": Greensboro, Guilford, Grasshoppers, Guilford. In the above photo, Guilford, the Grasshopper is waving at people passing the stadium. Our minor league baseball team has been around since 2003 and the 7,499 seat stadium opened in 2005.

Greensboro's minor league baseball team has also been a hornet and a bat; however, people seem pretty happy with Guilford the Grasshopper. Minor league baseball games are great fun, especially on nights with fireworks. The next home games are next Tuesday and Wednesday (August 30 & 31). Hope to see you there.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this Alphabet Round, "G" is for all of the above. Note the photos below, a print and cursive "G" and Guilford smiling and waving at us.

Happy Midweek, dear readers.

 

Laundry Day

In the above photo, a resident of East Lake Drive is taking advantage of wind energy, drying clothing on a line. This tradition kept the carbon footprint low, before people knew what a carbon footprint was; even before people knew what carbon was! It looks so charming with the light shining through the fabric. However, not all neighborhoods are equally receptive to clotheslines.

Some countries, like Scotland, have communal areas for drying laundry. In some rural places, it seems as if this is the primary method of drying clothing. In Greensboro, the tradition isn't exactly trending; however, seeing clothing out to dry reminds us that we all need to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

Just be careful about what laundry you choose to air.

Kayaking on Lake Brandt

In the above photo, two kayakers prepare to spend the morning on Lake Brandt, just north of Greensboro. While they probably anticipated the early morning fishing boats, they were probably surprised to see people out in 60-foot, eight-person boats learning to row. As seen in the photo, the winds can keep the water on Lake Brandt a little choppy. As overheard by one of the Greensboro Crew members, "Oh well, that will just make us stronger than our competitors." These kayakers were enjoying a good workout and looked like they were enjoying their workout.

Greensboro hasn't traditionally been a destination location for watersports, as our lakes are on the small side. For example, nearby Smith Mountain Lake (SML) in Virginia covers 20,600 acres and Lake Brandt covers a mere 816 acres. But considering SML is 95 miles from Greensboro and Lake Brandt is in our back yard, Lake Brandt makes it possible to put a kayak (paddleboat, or boat for crew, etc.) on the water, get a good workout, and be finished in time to go out to breakfast with friends.

Mensajero Fiel

Mensajero Fiel is a music group, based out of Thomasville. In the above photo, they are performing for a recent event at the Guilford Convention Center in Greensboro. The group has an upbeat sound and a visually appealing light show. They are perfect for special occasions like Quinceañeras and weddings and other celebrations where attendees speak Spanish. In between songs, they give thanks to Christ, "gozando en el señor."  They bill themselves as a musical ministry.

Greensboro has diversified tremendously over the last decade and our many different ethnic groups enjoy celebrating special occasions and worshiping in the same way and in the same languages their relatives have been celebrating for centuries. If you want to know more about the ministry of Mensajero Fiel or book their services, find them on Facebook, or YouTube. Happy Sunday. Feliz domingo.

A Westerwood Beauty & the Beauty of Westerwood

This single-family home with the stone façade is a Greensboro beauty. When the sunlight shines through the trees it takes on a magical character, a bit of European charm. Built in 1932, the home is located on Crestland Avenue, in the heart of the Westerwood neighborhood. Westerwood is one of Greensboro's early, planned neighborhoods, dating to the early 20th century. Westerwood still holds its charm today, attracting artists, musicians, university professors, and other creative folks.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of the neighborhood, consider a Saturday walk or bike ride around its streets. It is located behind Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, beside Greenhill Cemetery, and just off Benjamin Parkway.  If you want to get to know its visual and performing artists, mark your calendar for their October 1st "Art and Sole" event. On the first Saturday of October, artists open their studios, offering paintings and pottery for sale to the public. If you hope to live in this neighborhood, good luck, because the houses don't come on the market very often and when they do, they often sell to friends of friends. Happy Saturday!

Along Elm Street

Well, today is Friday and, although it isn't First Friday, walking with family and loved ones along Elm Street is always fun. The above photo was taken just south of the railroad tracks, in front of the Cascade Saloon, that is being restored. The building is structurally unsound and will require complicated feats of engineering to make it safe. Dating to 1896, it will be a Greensboro treasure when restored to honor the look of the late 19th century. The structure is such a complicated restoration process that the Christman Company will move their headquarters there to bring clients downtown and to showcase their construction and engineering talents.

The building is also known because The Wileys, an African-American husband and wife team, ran an "eating house" here in 1907. Notably, they ran the establishment on the main street in town, at a very prominent intersection and beside white-owned businesses, at a time when with strict segregation laws.* The above family put a smile on our face as they traipsed across the railroad tracks and past this historic building. They were so joyful. If we knew who they were, we'd love to recreate this photo in about ten years, when the children are teenagers and Christman has the building open and shining like brand new.

* read more and see reference, here.

August is a Good Time for Ice Cream!

During those hot summer days, a little ice cream can be a refreshing treat. The above photo features the Ben & Jerry's at Friendly Center. It didn't happen to be very busy the day we were there, but this patch of space can get quite crowded, especially on the weekends when the under-20 crowd is hanging out. We also have many non-chain ice cream stores in Greensboro, as well as pop up snow cone stands and food trucks. The important thing is not where we go for our treats, but that we eat them in moderation and that we find time to spend with people we enjoy being around.

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Do you like the trendy, complicated flavors, like Ben and Jerry's Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream, or Key Lime Pie from Ozzie's; how about the seasonal ones like peach ice cream, fresh from Candor; or, the tried and true flavors, like vanilla from Yum Yum? In July, Our State Magazine featured 30 ice cream shops that North Carolinans, love. Two Greensboro shops made the list, Yum Yum on Spring Garden Street and The Ice Queen, a Greensboro-based food truck. Homeland Creamery in nearby Julian was also nominated.* If we tried one a day, we could work our way through the State, and the list. Who's in?

*see article, here.

F is for Friends

Friends Homes at Guilford is located at 925 Guilford College Road, just across the street from Guilford College. The 20-acre campus started with 24 homes in 1968 and has continued to thrive and expand over the last 48 years. The parent non-profit group, Friends Homes, Inc., has been around since 1958, when it was founded by the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends. Friends are also known as Quakers and the Quakers settled in Greensboro early in our history. Wholeness, togetherness, and camaraderie are examples of the friendly, Quaker principles. Hence the reason that so much in Greensboro has the name "friend" in it. Friendly Acres, Friendly Center, Friendly Road, to name a few examples. 

When we were on site photographing, yesterday, several people talked to us. Residents had a friendly awareness of the fact that we were wandering around their campus. The facility has beautiful landscapes and common areas. Residents who are still living independently put considerable effort into individualizing their space and attracting birds to their sitting areas. Below, you see a few examples. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our 2016 Alphabet Series, "F" is for "Friends," where every day feels like an episode from the old TV show "Cheers" and everyone knows your name!

 

 

 

Wrangler Jeans as Planters

This past winter, when the temperatures dipped well below freezing in Greensboro, Wrangler displayed some frozen jeans around their headquarters on North Elm Street.* Craig Arrington, vice president of marketing communications, said that the frozen sculptures generated a lot of smiles and publicity with people snapping selfies beside the temporary sculptures. Now, this summer, they've got jeans being used as flower planters. It is so nice to see a little corporate humor. 

Remember, last week, we featured the Jeansboro statues that have popped up along Elm Street?  Slowly, Greensboro is getting rebranded as the denim town. We even have a venue downtown called "Cone Denim Entertainment Center" at 117 South Elm Street. Do we at Greensboro Daily Photo dare suggest a "Denim-fest"? Perhaps in two years, when we no longer get to host the wonderful National Folk Festival (this year September 9-11), we can sustain the momentum of Americana music by hosting a Denim-fest. If this happens, you heard it first on Greensboro Daily Photo.

Happy Tuesday! May we all think happy thoughts and bring joy to others... wearing denim while doing so is optional, but strongly encouraged!

*See Biz Journal article and reference, here.

Greensboro CREW

History is being made as Greensboro now has rowing on Lake Brandt. High Point Rowing has expanded by offering Greensboro Crew. Rowing is a great sport that can be practiced for life and at all skill levels. The youngest members of the Greensboro team are middle schoolers. There are high school and adult rowers, too. Saturday, the day the above photo was taken, was the first day on Lake Brandt. Saturday was also the day that the American women's 8-crew took gold for rowing in the Rio Olympics. 

The above boat has eight rowers and a coxswain. There will also be boats configured for two and four rowers. An eight boat is 60 feet long. Keep your eye out for these long beauties when you drive or hike around Lake Brandt. For more information on Greensboro Crew, see here. They still have room for more participants.

Faithway Baptist Church

Faithway Baptist Church is located at 610 East Lake Drive on the northern edge of Westerwood, is located in the building that was formerly the Beth David Synagogue.  Jewish services were held there from 1947- 1982, when Beth David relocated to Hamilton Lakes. Since then, the building added a steeple and converted to a Christian church. We wish Faithway had more information about the history of the property.

The Faithway church looks so beautiful now with the crepe myrtle lush and in bloom. Stop by, if you get a chance. The dynamic congregation of Faithway will be having a "Back to School Bash" on August 19th. You can almost see Grimsley High School from the porch of the church. Likely, several of there members have ties to Grimelsy.

Happy Sunday, dear readers.

 

It's the Weekend!

Nothing beats a summer weekend. The above photo shows people leaving town on North Battleground, at the location of the soon-to-be bypass. To the left, you see the green grass, growing on the clump of displaced dirt at the edge of the bypass.

Have you noticed how low to the horizon the clouds have been lately? It looks as if we will be running into them. If you are staying in town this weekend, there is rowing on Lake Brandt this morning. If you are downtown, Crawford's Creations in the 600 block of South Elm Street is featuring "Back to School" cupcakes. Taste Carolina is having a taste tour at 2pm today.* The O. Henry plays are being featured at the Greensboro Historical Museum. Also, today, near Gibbs Hundred on Lewis Street,  is the 5K Retro Run where the hippy look reigns supreme. We wish there were one consolidated place to find out about events, because there is so much to do in our city. How can a weekend only last 48 hours? Honk, if you love weekends!

*get tickets, here.

Weekend Recreation

It's the weekend and many people will be heading to a lake for a few days of boating and water sports. The above photo was taken at the beginning of summer, on the front side of the Greensboro Historical Museum. The red truck really stood out as it pulled the pontoon boat through downtown. Pontoon boats are popular in North Carolina because they have ample deck space for families with children. You can ski and fish on them. Also, they are comfortable, relatively safe, and last a long time. If you boat around here, you have seen plenty of these boats.

Popular lakes for the people of Greensboro are Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, High Rock Lake near Lexington, and Belews Lake between Walnut Cove and Stokesdale. There are no shortage of destination lakes in North Carolina and not shortage of pontoon boats. Many childhood memories are made on these lakes. We hope you have a great weekend and have a chance to get outside to enjoy the natural beauty of our state. 

Lebauer Park at Night!

LeBauer Park is officially open now and, if you get a chance, please drop by and experience it night. The above photo was taken last night at 11:00 pm and when the floodlights are on the sculpture, it takes on a magical quality. Everything still looks so fresh, new, clean, and pretty. Hopefully, we can keep it that way. If you look closely, you can see that we weren't the only people in the park at that time of night. What was formerly Summit Avenue, between Elm and Davie Streets is now a pedestrian walkway and where were standing to take this photo. When folks come downtown for the International Folk Festival on September 9-11 (less than a month!), they will be mighty impressed with this new venue.

What a generous thing for the LeBauer Family to do with their money. Leaving money to make a unique, community park for all to enjoy is just the kind of gesture that makes Greensboro a special place to live. We're wondering if you can see the park and Echelman sculpture when departing or approaching Greensboro by airplane. 

E is for Empire Room

The Empire Room is a venue for entertainment, corporate events, and weddings in Greensboro. The ballroom is located at 203 South Elm Street, alongside the Regency Room and in the building that was built in 1949 for the Ellis Stone Department Store. The 9,500 sure foot Empire Room can accommodate up to 800 people. Part of the charm of the Empire room is the 30 ft. ceilings. Of course, the crystal chandeliers, the floor-to-ceiling glass balconies that overlook Elm Street, and the food catered by the Painted Plate add to the elegance of the evening.

The "E" logo is the first thing you see from street level, just before you go through the second set of glass doors to ascend to the Empire Room. If you are local, we hope you get to attend an event here, if you haven't done so already. Today is ABC Wednesday, and for our "E" in the Prominent Alphabet Series, "E" is for Empire!

Body Painting

At August's First Friday, Madelyn Greco and Scott Fray were spotted in Scuppernong Books with some of their models. Madelyn and Scott of LivingBrush Bodypainting have won many awards for their art, including all five "World Awards". The duo co-founded an international body painting competition that will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, September 24th as part of the Arts Greensboro 17 Days Festival. As seen in the above photo, their artwork is amazing. The photo below features Madelyn, on the right, with one of her models.

Greensboro is so lucky to have these talented artists. When you least expect it, one of their models comes walking by. At other times, like at Summer Solstice, you can count on seeing their great artwork. Madelyn and Scott also take commissions. You, too, can get your body painted. If you were to do so, what would your theme be? Learn more, here, at their website. In the meantime, mark your calendar for the September 24th event. You will not be disappointed!

LeBauer Park Opens Today!

Friday afternoon, the construction and grounds crews were working tirelessly to have LeBauer Park ready for the ribbon cutting today. When we asked the site manager if it would, indeed, be ready, he smiled and said, "It has to be!" The ribbon cutting begins at 10:30 am today. The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro will kick off the opening of this 4-acre 10 million dollar park. From a dog-friendly part to a water feature to food kiosks, there is enough to do to keep people at the park all day.* Thanks to a grant from the Edward M. Armfield, Sr. Foundation, the Echleman sculpture, featured above,  has been permanently installed. The orange and blue web of netting is very photogenic and will take on different characteristics depending on lighting and the location of the viewer. We are so thankful to Mr. Armfield, The Community Foundation of Greeter Greensboro, and the LeBauer family for making all of this possible. Also, a big thank you to all of the workers and their efforts. This is such a fabulous resource for Greensboro.

If you have a chance, head downtown to the grand opening today. If you can't make it today, remember MUSEP'S final concert of the season will be held here. The concert is on August 28th at 6pm. Wally West Little Big Band will play two 45-minute sets of jazz music in this park.

* read more and see a video clip, here.

Penecostals of Greensboro

The above five young adults are part of the outreach ministry of the Pentecostals of Greensboro. They are photographed at the corner of Elm and Market Streets, the very spot where Greensboro divides into north, south, east, and west. As you can see, they have a cooler. It was full of ice cold water that the offered for free, with no strings attached. Of course, they very much appreciated it when people stopped and talked to them for a little while and got to know them better. We did just that. We stopped for a bottle of water at the beginning of our evening, and at then end of the evening- after walking about 3 miles and doing our own GDP outreach for almost four hours. The ice cold water really hit the spot, as did the personable demeanor of the church members. 

If you are interested in being part of a Greensboro Pentecostal community, you can find them at 1807 Merritt Drive. They will be there today at 11 am and on Wednesdays at 7:30. Additionally, you can find them on their website (here), Facebook and Youtube. Hopefully, they will be on Elm Street for the next First Friday. Indeed, this is great outreach for their church.

David & Flora

Last night's First Friday was one of the best ever. In spite of the rain, people were out enjoying themselves, strolling along Elm Street- and beyond. There was plenty to do from Center City Park and the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street, all the way down to Gate City Boulevard. We had the good fortune to meet David and Flora who were dining outside at the Snack Bar on South Elm Street. David is originally from Virginia but now calls Greensboro home. He works in construction. Flora works at Wal-Mart, where the two first met. When asked what they like most about First Friday, David didn't miss a beat in replying that he loved the fact that they could spend time together and get out and have fun in the community. They have been dating for two months. By the looks of those smiles and as much as they seem to enjoy each other, we predict they will be together for a very long time!

Happy Saturday. May we all have people in our lives who are as positive, happy, and as appreciative of each other as David and Flora!

Summer is Winding Down

The above photo gives the false illusion that Greensboro is a sleepy, western saloon town. It was taken from Spring Garden Street, behind the old train depot. The building with the faded Security Van Lines advertisement dates to 1890. The advertisement really adds to Greensboro's vintage charm. Wouldn't it be great for someone to get a grant to refresh the paint job, using the same font.

The front of the Security Van Lines building faces Barnhardt Street and houses The WORX. The WORX is an eating establishment that bills itself as a place where "Bistro Meets Pub." The tall clump of dry grass in the foreground hints that summer is fleeting. Another sign that summer is winding down is the fact that tonight is the last First Friday before Labor Day and before public school resumes. We hope to see you downtown. If you are in town, remember that LeBauer Park is scheduled to open on Monday. If you are on the northern end of town, you could swing by and check on the progress.

De-Nîme-ville or Gênes-boro?

Some cities have their decorated animals-- pigs, cows, horses, etc. Greensboro has landed pairs of decorated jeans around downtown. In April, Wrangler (VF Corp.)  held a Jeansboro design competition and the six of fifteen results have been installed around town. Several of the winning artists are from New Garden Friends School and Northwest Guilford High. The above pair of jeans was designed and painted by Jordan Clodfelter of New Garden Friends School. The three possible themes for the jeans were 1) Greensboro/Triad; 2) School Pride;  3) Original Themes. Jordan's Cone Denim theme clearly represents Greensboro-- the year it became a city, the Woolworth Sit-ins; the Carolina Theatre; the skyline; baseball; the state flower; a map; and the flag. If you are out for First Friday tomorrow, stroll along Elm Street to see these art projects. The above pair is at the northwest corner of Washington Street and South Elm.

"D" is for "Denim" Greensboro's textile industry was built on flannel and denim. The term "denim" is derived from Nîmes, France (de Nîmes, or from Nimes). The word "jeans" comes from the French word for Genoa, Italy (Gênes). Which do you prefer? Denimville or Jeansboro? Any way you say it, "denim" or "jeans," you are speaking French! And we hope you get out and see Greensboro's latest art with great meaning to our city's history. The painted jeans have been installed just in time for the National Folk Festival and, hopefully, will remain here for a very long time. 

D is for Downtown, Specifically 1618 DOWNTOWN

The 1618 Downtown location is an extension of the 1618 Seafood Grille on Friendly Avenue and the 1618 Wine Lounge. The restaurant, photographed above just before dinner, is located on South Elm Street, near Scuppernong Books and across the street from Cheesecake by Alex. We read that owner/manager Nick Wyatt loved the historic building and the fact that it was centrally located. The building is known as the Book Trader Building, harkening back to the days it was a bookstore. The restaurant seats 65 and also has a retail wine store inside.*

We hope that the owner will add some history to the restaurant's website. It would be nice to know more about the building, as well as the date that it opened. We're estimating it has been open for about a year and a half. The restaurant takes its name, 1618 DOWNTOWN,  from the fact that it is located downtown and that the original restaurant has a street address of 1618 Friendly Avenue. When looking for it, do not be confused, given the address for 1618 DOWNTOWN is actually 312 South Elm Street.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Alphabet 2016 Series with the letters prominently displayed, "D" is for "DOWNTOWN." This sign was painted by Greensboro artist, Sage Hanna Betts. We had another contender for the "D" slot, which we will feature tomorrow. It is a "D" word that is important to Greensboro, but we were simply smitten by Sage Hanna's letters-  the all-caps font with the skyline featured inside. Brilliant!

Scrambled Southern Diner

Scrambled Southern Diner is a restaurant on Spring Garden Street in the building that was formerly Josephine's Bistro. Scrambled, in the heart of Lindley Park has been a hit with the Greensboro community.  The heavy-on-breakfast-food theme is a good choice now that Hops Burger  Bar is located next door. You can eat breakfast at Scrambled, lunch at Hops and still have many dinner choices nearby, without leaving the neighborhood. As seen in the above photo, Scrambled is really busy-- especially on the weekend. It is nice to see restaurants so full, and people out having a good time. It is also nice to be able to find a homemade breakfast. And for those who are interested, they also have a fully-stocked bar!

Can you believe it is already August and before you know it, school will start. If you still have children at home, enjoy those leisurely breakfasts and opportunities to sleep in while you can!

Greensboro's Skyline

Today, in the City Daily Photo community, the theme is "skyline." Participating cities around the world will share photos of their skyline.* In preparing for today, it occurred to us that we don't really have a good skyline shot. So, we're sharing a view of the iconic JP building, which is Greensboro's most recognized building. This view is from East Washington Street. 

We'd love your input with respect to the best place for a skyline shot. In the meantime, google "Greensboro skyline images" and see what some of our other great, local photographers have to offer. Happy Monday. Can you believe it is the first of August?

*See skylines of other cities around the world, here.

Franciscan Center of Greensboro

Right beside the Greene Street COL-LAB that we featured recently, Greensboro has a Franciscan Center. It has been here since 1989. Inside, on Wednesdays, they offer Catholic mass at noon with the opportunity to partake in the Eucharist. There is also a bookstore and gift shop where you can purchase church supplies and religious items from Bibles and laminated prayer cards to rosary beads to religious jewelry. Father Luis Canino, is affiliated with this Franciscan Center, as well at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center. People who know him say very nice things about him. 

The Franciscan Center believes in living the Gospel by making Christ the center of one's life and in being joyous and loving one another.* When you enter through the front door of this space, you will sense a tranquil respite from the hectic pace of  your busy life. Even the signage with the extended cross and letters in all-caps is very subtle. The center also offers space to 12 step programs in the community.

Have you noticed The Franciscan Center downtown before? 

Happy Sunday, dear readers. Can you believe tomorrow is August 1st?

* reference and additional information, here.

Venus Fly Trap

The venus fly trap, or Dionaea muscipula, is a carnivorous plant that grows in eastern North Carolina. In the above photo, you see one at work, eating a grandaddy long legs. The tiny hairs close, only if they have had something come in contact with them twice within 20 seconds. That keeps the plants from expending energy to close if they are triggered by something like a piece of dirt. What an interesting adaptation. Also, they catch spiders and other crawling insects to extract nutrients to compensate for the very poor soil of their regular habitat.*

Often, you can find Venus fly traps in Greensboro at the farmers' market on Sandy Ridge Road. The farmers' market is always a fun place to visit on the weekend. Consider heading out there for some fresh produce, even if you don't need a carnivorous plant. If you are looking for a little welcome-back-to-school cheer for a classroom, consider a Venus fly trap. Happy Saturday!

* reference and more information, here.

Ice Cold

On the dog days of summer, like Greensboro is experiencing now, cold drinks just seem to hit the spot. This weather gives us a great appreciation for how our relatives, from earlier generations, simply had to slow down, take more breaks, and sip more cold drinks to get through the heat. Ninety degrees is no laughing matter, especially on the hot surfaces of the city.

The above photo features an Hawaiian Ice shop between the News and Record building and South Elm Street. As a point of orientation, on the upper left side of the photo you can see the back entrance to Schiffman's Jewelry Store. The photo below features the great lettering on the mural at the side of the building, advertising, "ICE COLD." 

Unfortunately, the above business does not appear to be open to the public. There is, however,  an Hawaiian Ice cart nearby on Elm Street (see article, here).  Maybe this building is where the Hawaiian Ice cart retreats at the end of a long, hot, summer day. (Something else to investigate).

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Chamber of Commerce

Since we featured the collaborative workspace of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, we thought we would follow up with the actual office space for the organization. Currently, the Chamber is located at 342 North Elm Street. According to their website, the Chamber prides itself in being "dedicated to nurturing the growth and prosperity of our members and making Greensboro a better place to learn, earn, and live" (reference). They work tirelessly to promote our city to businesses and organizations considering relocating here. From the moment you walk through the front door, it is obvious that they are promoting GREENSBORO!

Soon, the Chamber will be relocating to the old Myers Department Store space downtown. The building is located at 200 South Elm Street, by the International Civil Rights Museum. It was built in 1924 and is currently undergoing significant renovation with the architectural details of the facade being retained. Here is how the Myers Building looked, under construction, a few months ago when we featured it on GDP (link, here). At the time, we did not know one of its tenants was going to be the Chamber of Commerce. Hopefully, this move in the heart of downtown will work out well. Their old space will become parking for the new performing arts center.

We sound like a broken record, but Greensboro is changing before our eyes!

C is for Connect. Cowork. Convene.

The Chamber of Commerce in Greensboro has established a workspace for early stage entrepreneurs to lease desk space to work on launching their businesses. The workspace is known as an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Ideas and best practices get shared as people network and learn to market and launch their businesses. The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the parent organization of COL-LAB, is currently located at 342 North Elm Street, and the COL-LAB is located right around the corner at 229 North Greene Street. 

The 4,773 square foot COL-LAB has conference rooms, classrooms, giant dry-erase boards, high-speed internet, and so much more. Collaborative urban work spaces are trending and Greensboro, with multiple, collaborative spaces, is on the forefront of that trend. Today is ABC Wednesday and for this Greensboro Alphabet 2016 Round, "C" is for COL-LAB, where you can Connect. Cowork. Convene. The photo below shows several entrepreneurs working on making their dreams reality. The above photo shows the office manager who works hard for the members. Not featured is the free coffee supplied by Biscuitville. Check it out!

   

303 W Greenway N

The above Tudor Revival house in Sunset Hills has been building provenance since it was constructed in 1928. It has connections to Greensboro author, O.Henry; WWII combat fighter pilots, George and William Preddy; and vice-president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance, David Buckner; and many more great, local citizens. This neighborhood is known for being neighborly; the people who have lived in this house, their relatives and guests made great memories. Some residents fell on hard times and current resident, R.S. Gingher shares stories of his house in the February 2016 edition of the Sunset Hills newsletter (pp 6-8). 

The Elliot-Dodson house, as it is known, is a real beauty--  nearly 4,000 square feet on a little over a half acre. The house has been sold only three times, the last time in 1981. The current residents seem happy there. They refer to themselves as "temporal residents" keeping the home place, until it is time for the next generation to inherit the space.

Bellemeade Street, between North Elm & Greene

A sunny day can make just about anything more beautiful. And this space, downtown, between office buildings looks especially lovely, punctuated by the puffy clouds in the blue sky. The hard lines and geometric shapes of the buildings frame the clouds. If you live in Greensboro, you may recognize the building to the right. It faces North Elm Street.  The building to the left, Wells Fargo Tower, faces Greene Street. The little courtyard in between, on Bellemeade, has a sandwich shop and a place to sit; perfect for a summer rest. It is a quiet and peaceful space. The pink crepe myrtle shrub and turquoise awning add a punch of color. Nearby, great progress is being made on the downtown art center and the water park.

Have a great week. We hope you, and your family & friends,  have a chance to get out and find beautiful places in your city-- even if the motivation is a virtual game of Pokemon!

The Hut on Guilford College

Guilford College was founded by Quakers and to this day, core Quaker values are still important here. The school opened as a boarding school in 1837, established by members of the Religious Society of Friends living in the community. The five "normative" testimonies are integrity, simplicity, equality, peace and direct/immediate access to God are incorporated into the curriculum today (reference and more here).

The above photo features "The Hut" in the heart of campus. It houses campus ministry. The value of "no frills" simplicity and peace greet you as you approach the area. The blue sign to the left says that "War is not the Answer." The white post in the foreground says "May peace prevail on earth" in eight languages (see below). We've identified the languages as Hebrew, Russian, German, English Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (yes we know the orientation is wrong), and one language we can't identify. Who can identify the second column, bar two? Happy Sunday and may the some, if not all, of the five normative be with you-- especially peace, in these troubled times.

 

 

Greensboro Grub

Thursday night, Charlie and Ruth Jones held one of their community meals, known as Greensboro Grub. The meals, usually attended by 50-60 people are held in their historic building at 616 South Elm Street. People from all walks of life in the community vie for a spot when availability is announced online. We have been trying to get tickets for several years now and, last night, we were lucky. Oh, were we lucky! Charlie is a fabulous cook and he and Ruth spend about 3 days preparing for the dinner. We had beef stroganoff, chicken and mushrooms, a rice dish, and homemade mac and cheese. Desert was strawberry cake or pecan, bread pudding. We were also lucky because the dinner coincided with a poetry slam and so many of the dinner guests were talented poets, who shared their poems after dinner. The building has a 150 seat theatre for guests to voluntarily showcase their talents. The poetry was meaningful and heartfelt.

Charlie and Ruth were professional, traveling performing artists for over two decades. When you are at the dinner, in a positive way, it is as if you become part of the performance. Charlie asks a few people to stand during dinner and tell a little bit about themselves (What is your favorite movie; other than a family member, who has had the greatest impact on your life; what is your favorite memory of your hometown). By the end of the evening, everyone is laughing and exchanging contact information with people from all walks of life that would not otherwise meet. There is an inspiring, uplifting,  feeling-connected-to-community aspect to the event that is so much more than a meal. What you get from the Greensboro Grub will stay with you for a very long time. Charlie and Ruth pass a donation box and suggest an amount, but emphasize that you only have to pay what you can afford. Donations are anonymous and if you don't pay anything, nobody will know. Read more here and see the square below, where Charlie and Ruth kick off the poetry event with a short performance. The community is so lucky that they decided to call Greensboro home.

VW with Panache

On Simpson Street, in Downtown Greensboro, we have seen this Volkswagen Beetle on several occasions. With its bold color and flowery rims, it exudes panache and cheer on this sleepy little section of Simpson Street, between West Smith and West Fisher Avenue. We're betting that the owner of the vehicle works at Rose Reprographics or at least had this beautiful rim-overlay printed there.

We'd love to meet the owners of this Volkswagen, as they are probably as confident and creative as the vehicle they drive. As built up as downtown is becoming, it is hard to believe that there are still streets with one-storey houses and free, on-street parking. As you drive around this weekend, pay attention to the neighborhoods and cars that attract your attention. What do they say about you? Here's to a great weekend as we are getting frightfully close to August. Happy Friday and HONK if you love punch buggies!

 

Gate City Railbenders

The Gate City Railbenders are a Greensboro-grown, old-time string band. They can often be heard participating in the bi-monthly, Thursday jams at Gibbs Hundred. Yesterday, they delighted the community with their music for the Tunes at Noon series in Center City Park. The City had tables and chairs under tents so that spectators could eat lunch and enjoy the music. Food trucks were on hand, too. Several children were there eating lunch, playing, and writing poetry with a backdrop of great music.

Featured in the above photo are band members Alan Goble on guitar (and bass), Greyson Leybourne on fiddle, and Dom Hoyt on banjo. These talented, well-educated, down-to-earth guys played a great assortment of traditional string-band tunes. This year, as a band, they earned a 2nd place ribbon at the Charlie Poole Music Festival. While he is featured on fiddle above, Greyson earned the #1 grand prize ribbon for 3-finger banjo. We are really lucky that Greensboro offers these free events and that we have such fine musicians to share their musical talent with us!

B is for Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central North Carolina/Greensboro is located at 529 College Road in northwest Greensboro, very near Guilford College. For over 100 years, the BBB has been setting standards for business practices and helping consumers make informed choices, helping them identify ethical and trustworthy businesses. The BBB makes effort to ensure that businesses are truthful in their advertising. The provide services for businesses and consumers. Their motto is "Start with trust." Visit their website, here. The BBB was an Angie's List, long before there was an Angie's List. As a matter of fact, Angie's List is accredited with the BBB.

Now that business is conducted not only in brick and mortar places, but also over the phone, and online, the BBB is busier than ever. For example, right now, they are warning of a phone scam targeting recent college graduates with debt (see, here). A visit to the BBB sounds like it would be a good field trip for high school students, especially with the efforts to incorporate more financial literacy into the curriculum. 

Truthfully, when we set out to find the BBB, we assumed it would be downtown. We were surprised of the above location, but loved the fact that there is convenient parking all around the building. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our ALPHABET ROUND, "BBB" is for Better Business Bureau. If you live in Greensboro and you see any businesses with letters featured prominently, please give us some ideas. We were so delighted to drive up and find the BBB so prominently displayed!

Update on LeBauer Park

LeBauer Park in Downtown Greensboro is progressing nicely. The above photo shows what it looked like yesterday evening. The photo below shows the architect's plan. The formal ribbon cutting ceremony for the park is scheduled the morning of August 8th; so, hopefully, it will be completed in early August. The lighting of the aerial sculpture will be the evening of August 14th. The sculpture, Where We Met, is meant to honor Greensboro's textile history. The on-site food venues will be open by August 8th, too.*

The final MUSEP, Sunday afternoon in the park will be held at the above park on August 28th. What a great way to bring a close MUSEP and summer vacation for our children. Mark your calendar and make plans now for a big meet up in Greensboro's newest park, in the heart of the cultural district. Hope to see you at LeBauer at one of the upcoming events. This is so exciting. Let's hope everyone will take pride in this community space and work to keep it nice.

*  read more about the opening ceremonies, here.

MUSEP & EMF 2016

Last night's Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP) was held at Guilford College. The event featured musicians from the Eastern Music Festival (EMF). Under the direction of Gerard Schwarz, they played a variety of crowd-pleasers from John Phillip Sousa to Andrew Lloyd Weber. Several students guest conducted last night. It was fun watching them at the beginning of their career, leading the musicians. This combination of educational and performing experiences is powerful. Participants will remember this opportunity for a long time. This is the 55th year of the EMF. The age of the 200 participants ranges from 14 to 23.

As you can see from the above photo, there was a good turnout. The weather was perfect for a picnic on the lawn enjoying great music. It is such a perfect opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Some groups have quite elaborate setups of food to feast on during the performance. Next Sunday's performance is also at Guilford College, but on the lawn near Dana Auditorium and Friendly Avenue. If you are local, please treat yourself and come out and support the musicians. Hope to see you there.

In the meantime... Happy Monday!

St. Paul Presbyterian Church

Saint Paul Presbyterian is located in the southern end of Greensboro, at 2300 Old Chapman Street. St. Paul began in 1957, growing out of the Glenwood Presbyterian Church. In 2005, the church was destroyed by fire and in 2008, groundbreaking took place for the new church. "They bill themselves as a traditional church for these non-traditional times." *

The church is tucked back into a neighborhood and looks very inviting. Their Sunday coffee and fellowship is at 9:30 am. If you are looking for a church, they would love to see you.  

On another note, yesterday's flash floods in parts of Greensboro were pretty intense. We hope you are OK!

 * see their website, here.