Greensboro Daily Photo

Outsider Art in Glenwood

Driving around the Glenwood neighborhood lately, we stumbled upon this view on Silver Avenue. For those out walking or biking, the carved tree trunk takes you by surprise. It looks as if it is about to bite anyone who steps on the porch. 

The Glenwood neighborhood backs up to the part of UNCG that has expanded south of Gate City Boulevard. It is a diverse neighborhood that many say will be transformed as the University continues to expand. Right now, you can find people from all walks of life, a community garden, several different houses of worship, a variety of pets-- including chickens, old-time musicians, outsider art, and so much more.

The above house had more wooden carvings in the yard. If people were interested in having a carving commissioned, perhaps the U.S. Postal Service would be their best bet. 

Memorial Day 2016

Above is the War Memorial Monument that originally stood inside War Memorial Auditorium at the Coliseum on Gate City Boulevard. When the auditorium was torn down, this monument was moved to Lindsay Street near the Greensboro Historical Museum and Central Library. It has the names of all the soldiers in Greensboro who have given their life defending the United States-- since WWII. There is a flag for each branch of the military. The iron benches allow an opportunity for reflection.

If you have a veteran in your life, especially one who can't drive, please consider driving him/her to this spot today. Another meaningful outing would be a visit to the Carolina Field of Honor. They will have a service at 11:00 am today. (Read more, here). If you are only able to visit, here, virtually, we want to also share a close up of the above inscription so that you can read it-- below.

Happy Memorial Day. It is still hard to believe that Congressman Coble is no longer with us to give a speech today.

Coliseum Boulevard Church of Christ

Today's church, Church of Christ, is located on Coliseum Boulevard, south of downtown Greensboro. The minister is Jessie Tolliver, III. The church has been in the current location since the early 2000's when the Triad and Central congregations were undergoing a merger. This dynamic church has several events on Saturday and Sunday, plus Wednesday evening Bible classes.

You can't tell from the photo, but when we drove by yesterday, there were several cars in the parking lot. When a person makes a commitment to a religious community, it is nice to have access to that community more than one day a week. This church seems to actively work to provide events and opportunities for its congregation, above and beyond a Sunday service. It sure looks pretty against a bright blue, North Carolina sky.

Succulents are Blooming Now!

The above cactus is blooming on Mill Street in Greensboro above a cinder block wall in front of the Red Collection. Its flowers started out bright yellow and some of the newer ones have a touch of orange/peach. Cactus flowers are a sign that warmer weather is here. While taking this photo, we got several of those hairlike needles in us. The official name for those little devils is "glochids" and you can get rid of them by using tweezers, glue, or even tape. 

Years ago, out in the country in Guilford County, people used to fill old car tires with dirt and cactus plants for yard ornaments. As a child, you knew to keep your distance. While not that popular any more, cacti do seem to grow well in Greensboro and make pretty blooms--even if they can irritate the heck out of you.

Happy Saturday, dear readers! 

Greensboro Distilling Co.

Greensboro Distilling Company is a craft distillery located at 115 Lewis Street. It is locally owned and operated and, if it isn't open yet, it is about to open. They are making vodka, gin, rye, whiskey, and bourbon. According to their website, Bill, Andrew, Shelly, and Lesley Norman have all trained and received certification in the distillation process through a program in Colorado* and they are looking forward to bringing their organic spirits to Greensboro.

This corner of Lewis Street, near Gibbs Hundred, is quickly becoming known as a place for local spirits and, while nobody under 21 is allowed to drink, the establishments are all trying to keep the atmosphere tame (family friendly). They are providing opportunities to do things other than just drink-- like eating at food trucks, listening to good music, milling through an urban garden shop, and attending special events. If only Helen B. Snow, the woman who ran Lewis Street Antiques out of these buildings, were still alive today, she would marvel in what her former spaces have become. It is hard to believe that Helen, the feisty, independent octogenarian with the bold glasses and great stories, has been gone since Dec. 2010. In the meantime, Bill Norman, above, is well on his way to becoming the next iconic character of Lewis Street. Best of luck!

*more information, here and here (well worth a look).

Demolition Central

Part of urban renewal and building new things involves tearing things up. D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company began as a small-town, family-owned, wrecking company in Greensboro in 1959.  D.H. Griffin has steadily grown from a small demolition and wrecking company to the 3rd largest demolition company in the United States. They are still still a locally family-owned business and proudly state that they have been "Shaping America's Skyline since 1959." While they are still based on Hilltop Road in Greensboro, they now have locations not only in North Carolina, but also in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The above photo was taken at their facility on Burnt Poplar Road, near the PTI Airport. 

One of their most notable projects was the World Trade Center in New York City after the terrorist attacks of 2001. Two days after the attacks, on September 13th, David Griffin, Jr. drove to New York City and started helping with demolition. Eventually, he was put in charge of the project. *  Thanks to D.H. Griffin, there is a steel beam from the World Trade Center at the Carolina Field of Honor, just west of Greensboro near Kernersville. It is worth a visit if you haven't already been, especially on Memorial Day weekend.  Also, if you ever get a chance to talk to the folks at D.H. Griffin, they have fifty-seven years worth of interesting stories to tell about seeing things come and go- in Greensboro and beyond.

*reference and read more, here.

T is for Townspeople

This photo dates to Saturday, April 30th, when a group gathered in front of Scuppernong Books downtown on South Elm Street to protest North Carolina's HB2, the bill (often referred to as the bathroom bill) that is now law.* As we were preparing this week's "T" for ABC Wednesday, we kept coming back to this photo because it shows residents of Greensboro coming together and exercising their right to freedom of expression. They were assembling peacefully, playing and singing great music in the hopes of bringing about change.  

Even though there were no trombones in front of Scuppernong, the lively scene leaves us whistling 76 Trombones and thinking about the transformative power of townspeople playing music. So, for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "T" is for "townspeople." See more ABC Wednesday choices for "T" around the world, here.

 *read more here and here.

Downtown Mural

Greensboro is getting a new mural downtown at Hamburger Square. The artist can be seen on the hydraulic lift, at left, bringing her artwork to life. Artist, singer/songwriter, Kim Kennedy, knew the minute she saw this wall between M'Coul's Public House and Design Archives that she wanted to paint a mural here. Her Kickstart Campaign successfully raised over $4,000 to help bring the 25' x 50' mural to life. It features Kim's friend, and area musician, Joey Barnes.

Kim  has already made considerably more progress on this mural than when we took these photos a couple of weeks ago. She has been working 8-11 hour days on the project-- when the weather and her music commitments permit. At first, there were concerns that the artist painting this mural should be from Greensboro; however, her vision for the space fit perfectly with what the owners of the building were looking for. We think you will be pleased.

If you want to know more about the project and the artist, see here. Finally, here is a photo of the artist!

Weatherspoon: Outsider Art Exhibit

This past Friday night, Greensboro was treated to an evening with William (Gérard) Louis-Dreyfus and his magnificent collection of outsider art. Mr. Dreyfus spoke at the Weatherspoon Art Museum against a backdrop of art from his personal collection. The exhibit, entitled Inside the Outside: Five Self-Taught Artists from the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation.  The featured artists made their art with no formal training and usually having to scrimp and scrape to get supplies, in some instances creating art from soot, sharpened sticks and retail packaging cardboard. The billionaire collector, now 83,  jokes that he hasn't found a way to live forever; so, he will sell his 3,500 piece collection and donate the proceeds to the Harlem Children's Zone (read more, here).

In the above photo, you see Mr. Dreyfus, accompanied by Weatherspoon Director Nancy Doll,  talking to a gallery full of Greensboro art lovers. You may recognize the name; he is the proud father of  actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus (of Seinfeld fame). The exhibit will be at the Weatherspoon until September 4th. It is a very accessible, family-friendly exhibit. If you are lining up activities for summer, put this exhibit on your list. To quote the Weatherspoon: Free admission. Free parking. Free thinking.

Sunday Quote

Signs at churches usually have messages that try to get you to pause, take notice, and think-- maybe even long after you've passed the sign. The above sign, found at Highway 150 in the very western end of the county, is no exception. And, it is pretty self explanatory.  Union Grove, was formed in 1911 and it is actually closer to Kernersville than Greensboro. 

We featured the church building seven years ago (in 2009, here) showing the acreage in front of the church that was planted in tobacco. We were surprised yesterday to see that no tobacco has been planted this year and it is already almost June. Perhaps the fields are having a year of rest. It is usually an indication that change is coming when fields stop yielding crops. As the rained stopped yesterday, the skies over the church brightened and everything is the area looked and smelled clean and fresh. Maybe that rain was a way of saying " and on the sixth day, the dust was washed from the Bibles," to help us all find a cleaner path. See, we are still pondering that message!

John Anderson

John Anderson performed at the Carolina Theatre on Thursday night. It was an acoustic set with only the above guitar/dobro player on stage with him. The two sounded great together. They performed traditional country music, showcasing John Anderson's voice. As he reminded us, without the full band, the audience had a chance to hear the songs as they were written; not as they were recorded in the studio. The Greensboro crowd in attendance was very well versed on the songs he played. 

While Swingin', his most famous song, the two delighted the house with other tried-and true hits like Wild and Blue, Seminole Wind, and Would You Catch A Falling Star. His final, encore song was Chicken Truck and, by that time, people were in the aisles just a dancin' and a swingin'.

If you ever have a chance to hear John Anderson play, do so. He is a legend. If you ever have a chance to attend an event at the Carolina Theatre, do so. It, too, is legendary.

National Police Week

 

 

This week is National Police Week, a time to honor the fallen officers who have served their community and have died in the line of duty. While the above photo doesn't feature a police officer, it does feature Sarah of Vida Pour Tea. Sarah's  tea shop is offering a complimentary cup of tea or coffee to police officers this week. Look for the blue ribbons on State Street.

Whether you are a business or private citizen who wants to honor the police, consider displaying blue ribbons. The police, our public servants, are always appreciative of community support. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the whole week as Police Week. Larger cities, like Washington D.C., may celebrate in a larger way, however, even smaller communities, like Greensboro, have men in blue who also like to feel appreciated. Thank you Vida Pour Tea for supporting the men in blue!

Ride of Silence

The above photo features the Ride of Silence as riders lined up at the Wrangler building on North Elm Street. Yesterday, participants rode 6.2 miles, silently honoring bicyclists who were killed and injured on our streets. Some people rode with families; others rode with friends, and many sported shirts of their cycling groups. The Ride of Silence is always held the third Wednesday in May--  with hundreds of locations worldwide. Not only does the ride honor those who have been injured or killed, it also raises awareness for us to remember to share the road with cyclists. Chris Phelan started the event in 2003 in Dallas.*

Cyclists were asked to ride no faster than 12 miles an hour, to wear helmets, follow the rules of the road, and to remain silent. The row on the above right was lined with police who also rode. This is also their week of remembrance (which we will feature tomorrow). So, this is a time to take great pause and remember those who are no longer with us. During the ride yesterday evening, two cyclists riding near us fell, hitting the ground pretty hard. We sure hope they were OK. Let us know if you hear.

*read more, here.

 

S is for Signage

As seen by the crowd on the street, Saturday was a busy day at the Carolina Theatre on Greene Street. How wonderful that this iconic Greensboro venue, known since 1927 as the "Showplace of the Carolinas," is still a vibrant and dynamic community resource. Tomorrow night, the 2,200-seat theater will have chandeliers and gilded railings glowing as country music fans come out in droves to see John Anderson perform. Likely, concert attendees will be heard walking to their seats singing, "Just a swinging."  

The above sign, advertising not only the Carolina Theatre, but also upcoming events, harkens back to the pre-digital days when signs had to be changed by hand. The all-caps, sans-serif letters, look the same as they did almost 90 years ago. By night, the sign lights up, showcasing events and adding to the excitement of the evening.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "S" is for signage. While digital signs offer more advertising options and are easy to change, some buildings just call for the old-school, black block letters of our past.

Dress Day Downtown

Saturday must have been dress day in downtown Greensboro. The four women above were seen on Greene Street, near the Carolina Theatre in the afternoon. The day was blustery and the camera shaky, but seeing four people in dresses/skirts was enough for us to take notice. The four were walking so quickly, we weren't able to catch up with them to find out why they were dressed up. They not only looked beautiful, but also seemed happy-- a winning combination.

At any moment, we expect Petula Clark to pop out of Washington street singing her 1960's song "Downtown," especially  the part where she sings, "We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares. So go downtown. Things will be great when you're downtown. Don't wait a minute more, downtown. Everything is waiting for you, downtown....." 

Let's all have a dress day! What would you wear... downtown?

Hilary J Clement, Artist

This past weekend, Hilary J Clement was one of the artists at the Art Will Survive event in Greensboro. Hilary hails from West Virginia, but has called Greensboro home since 2001. By day, she works in the medical field, but every spare, after-work moment, she can be found painting in her studio at the 205 Collaborative, downtown, on Lyndon Street.

The two paintings above are representative of Hilary's artwork. She likes to paint subjects that evoke nostalgia-- the old family homestead, a jelly jar full of flowers from grandma's yard. Hilary loves the physical aspect of painting; standing and working a palate knife with paint around a large canvas. You can find her work on display at Tessa, a restaurant on North Battleground Avenue. You can also see her work at 205 Collaborative or at Hilary's website. Most fun of all, is catching up with her at an event where you have a chance to chat with her.

Christ Lutheran Church

There are many churches within about a two mile radius from the intersection of Lawndale Drive and Pisgah Church Road. Today's featured church is one such example. Christ Lutheran Church is located at 3600 Lawndale Drive, the southeast corner of Lawndale and Pisgah Church.  It was organized in 1959, on 2.8 acres there and, today, the facility includes a chapel, office, classroom, worship century, sanctuary, narthex, and nursery. It started with 25 members and today is estimated to have about 200 members.*

As seen in the above photo, Christ Lutheran has very interesting architecture. The steeple and circular window, below, combine and look as if an exclamation mark is rising up to the heavens.  The jagged, triangular roof punctuates the scene even more. On a sunny day, the building really catches your attention.

We wish Christ Lutheran had a history available online. If we find out more, we'll let you know. Happy Sunday!

*reference, here.

Peony Time in Greensboro

After a hard work week, and a week of gloomy weather, a good dose of nature can be as uplifting as just about anything. The above photo shows the translucency of a peony at sunset. Peonies are in full bloom this week in Greensboro, and, the ones that survived the torrential downpour last night, opened their petals, full-throttle. In the middle of the photo, you can see the yellow tint of the setting sun, seemingly just behind the peony-- only really 93 million miles away. 

Did you know Greensboro has a peony farm? For almost 20 years, the Wrenn family, through their business The Peony Patch,  has been growing and shipping peonies around the world. According to their website, this area has a fantastic climate and soil for peonies. We're betting the Fresh Market, sells the Wrenn's freshly-cut peonies as The Fresh Market has lovely bouquets. Thanks to the cooler weather, peonies have bloomed a little later this year. See the Wrenn's website (here) and also an article about them in garden and gun magazine (here).

If you have a chance, get out and enjoy nature this weekend. It is such a great way to recharge and you may be able to track down peony blooms. Magnolias are also blooming. Happy Saturday!

Delicious Bakery & Delightful Company

Nothing is more enjoyable than a place that brings people together. As we isolate ourselves more and more behind work desks and inside with electronic devices, places for human interaction are more important than ever. Coffee houses and bakeries provide space for people of all ages to gather and enjoy each other. Delicious Bakery is one such place. It is located at Pisgah Church Road, in the plaza on Lawndale Drive that formerly housed The Fresh Market and Pie Works Pizza. Delicious has been a Greensboro fixture since at least 2010, back when it was located a few blocks west on Battleground Avenue (see here). It has been voted best bakery in the Triad on several occasions.

The above Norman-Rockwell moment shows a dozen people* on the outside of the store enjoying the spring weather. Delicious will be a busy place this weekend. The bakery reports on their website that they are at capacity for special orders this weekend, but ready-made cakes may still be available for purchase.

We hope you have a wonderful Friday the 13th and that you find a little time to enjoy the deliciously, delightful company of others. Just don't expend too much energy trying to find a way to have your cake and eat it too!

*(Don't forget to count the infant)!

Plans Unveiled

Yesterday's post featured the pulse of the moment when Natty Greene's co-owners were sharing their expansion plans with the public. Today's photo features the boardroom, on the north side of Revolution Mill,  where it looks like Self-Help Ventures Fund and the Natty Greene's group were discussing their exciting venture at Revolution Mill.  Self-Help Ventures Fund is a non-profit loan fund that arranges deals like higher-risk business loans, real estate development, and home loan secondary market programs. * They are very involved in the revitalization of Revolution Mill and in working out the details to bring Natty Greene's on board.

In the above scene, we are imagining the key players in this project, all sitting around putting the final touches on the deal, donning hard hats, from the shelf in the corner, and walking through the mill to check construction progress. Things are happening fast. If weathered brick walls and glossy maple floors could talk, they would be toasting each other over a business deal that puts them to good use for at least another century. Below, is a photo from the welcoming entrance to the building. 

* (reference and more information)   

R is for Revolution and Revitalization

In the above photo, Kayne Fisher of Natty Greene's Brewery is making the official announcement to the press that they are expanding into Revolution Mill. They will have two restaurants and will move, and expand, the Gate City Boulevard facility. The once prospering textile mill will be repurposed to include housing, artists' studios, the brewery, eateries, galleries and event spaces. Greensboro Park and Rec has made a commitment to cleaning up and beautifying North Buffalo Creek. The creek runs through the 45-acre mill property and will give this area-- 2 miles north of downtown-- a water feature. Natty Greene's plans to have a butcher and baker on site, and have made a commitment to good, fresh food, all of which was common when Revolution Mill was making textiles. 

This mixed-use campus of 520,000 square feet, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The above photo showcases the original maple floors and the exposed brick walls seen throughout the 1898 facility. The Revolution Mill redevelopment represents, perfectly, how our economy is changing from manufacturing to service and leisure. Here, people can work from home, eat and socialize, and enjoy many amenities, without leaving the property-- the ultimate staycation. Congratulations to Natty Greene's. And, congratulations to Greensboro for keeping this thriving brewery right here and for giving a tired, old mill, just the facelift it needed. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "R" is for Revolution Mill and its Revitalization! Below, you see co-founder of Natty's, Chris Lester, explaining the plans to interested community members. Here are two good links if you are interested in more details. (backstory on the groups that brokered the deal; Bizjournal's unveiling of the plan). 

COE Grocery and SEED Co.

COE Grocery and SEED Co. has left the building. It has been a fixture on South Elm Street Since the early 1900's. However, this block of Elm St. is getting quite the facelift and it appears this little store is part of that wave. Coe Grocery used to be known for it's great selection of groceries as well as for a prompt delivery service.

At one time, Coe and Co. had a little bit of everything when, first, Charles Coe, and then his son Oman Coe owned and operated the store until the latter retired in 1980. It was quite a shock to walk by the other week, with the intention of purchasing plants,  and see that the store had been emptied out. Greensboro has done a nice job of keeping the downtown buildings functional and preserved, without compromising the vintage look.

Just like we said in yesterday's post, sometimes things have a way of disappearing. It will be fun to watch what goes in the space.

A Fold of Kyloe 2016

If you are a Greensboro Daily Photo regular reader, you know we have been publishing for a very long time-- 7 1/2 years, without missing a day. Well, the woman who runs Versailles Daily Photo is on vacation in Scotland and posted a photo of the above breed of cattle, kyloe. We went to find the photo we posted on March 30th, 2009 of the herd that lives off of Pleasant Ridge Road. While the text is still there, the photo is missing. Here is another copy of the photo to to share with our friend from Versailles. 

This situation reminds us that nothing on the internet is forever. While it can seem like forever, especially if it is an incriminating photo, link rot is real and things do disappear. Servers change, people quit hosting their blogs, hosting websites change hands or go out of business. Sometimes, links get corrupted. We haven't been the best about archiving our photos or the accompanying text. We haven't found a logical way to store 80,000 photos, 2,000+ of which have been shared on Greensboro Daily Photo. But then, maybe that doesn't matter. We live in very "immediate"  world where we look and move on. People want flash text-- every letter counts and 140 is enough. Maybe seeing something for that brief moment, once, is enough. We'll have to think on that.

In the meantime, today you are seeing a 2009 photo of a fold of kilos who have thick, wavy pelts to protect them from the brutal winds of the Scottish, Highlands. We're about to get in the car and retrace our steps to see if this herd-- rather fold-- is still around seven years later. Not only do virtual links disappear, real-time things (especially farms in Greensboro)  have a way of disappearing, too.

Happy Mother's Day 2016

We came across this mother and child statue while doing some urban walking around the Lindley Park neighborhood. From the sidewalk, it looks adorable perched in a front yard among flowers and trees. As we got closer, and saw the white streaks, we realized that the birds have been enjoying the statue too! Motherhood can be like that; beautiful, but sometimes a little messy. Mother's Day is a time to recognize not only our own mothers, but also the idea of motherhood in general. The holiday is always celebrated the second Sunday in May.

If you are in Greensboro and in the mood for taking mom out to brunch, there are the high-end options like this lovely, elegant brunch at the Proximity Hotel (here), but even something as simple as an impromptu picnic in one of the city's green spaces would be nice, too. If you are lucky enough to have a mother who is living, just remembering her will go a long way to making mom happy. To quote the 1982 E.T. movie, "phone home." Happy Mother's Day.

 

Dog Tag

Today's photo speaks for itself. Someone in Greensboro has a vanity tag celebrating DOGS! If semantics is your field of inquiry, you know that this tag can have several interpretations. Likely, the owner simply loves canines. Our informal research is telling us that Toyota owners have more vanity tags than other brands of cars.

We wonder how many states have people with "dog tags." Maybe they should seek each other out. If you know or run in to the owner of this vehicle, have them stop by to tell us the backstory. Ironically, we didn't see any dogs in the car.

If you love dogs, here is a link to the Guilford County Animal Shelter. Consider adopting, donating or volunteering time so that Greensboro's shelter dogs can have the best lives possible. Happy Saturday! 

Plymouth Nursery & Old Country Store

Plymouth Nursery, located in Stoneville, actually serves Greensboro and the surrounding area. The above photo features their display at Golden Antiques on 220 North, just north of Stokesdale, over the Rockingham County line. Not only does Plymouth Nursery have some fine looking plants here, they also have a cozy, country store inside. You can find snacks, candy, and soft drinks in glass bottles and you can sit a spell and enjoy being in a store with a yesteryear feel. Looking at the above display will five you an idea of the step-back-in-time ambiance. Indeed, at the little country store, tucked away in the back of the antique store, is a great place to visit after a busy work week when the 21st century seems just a tad hectic.

Plymouth Nursery partners with Hannah's Haven, a teen challenge center in Brown Summit. Part of the profits at the nursery help women through the Hannah's Haven ministry. As we enter this Mother's Day weekend, it is nice to thinking about making purchases for mom at places that we know do something for the local community. Whether you make a purchase or not, the people at the nursery and the Old Country Store will help you feel appreciated. Happy First Friday of May!

Greensboro Is First Stop for Author John Hart

Tuesday night, against a backdrop of periodicals, author John Hart spoke at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Friendly Center in Greensboro.  Tuesday was the first day that his new novel, Redemption Road, was released and Greensboro was the author's first stop on a 65 day book tour. Redemption Road is Mr. Hart's first book in five years. This former Greensboro Resident explained to the local audience of faithful fans how he did not want to submit a book for publication until he was confident it would be worthy of his readers' time. He was 300 pages into an earlier draft when he realized the story was not one he wanted to tell. Regarding Redemption Road, the early comments from the publishing houses and critics, are favorable, with some saying  this is his best book yet.

Not only can Mr. Hart write, he is also a very good public speaker who is personable and connects with his audience. In addition to answering questions from the audience, he took time to say a few kind words to people who waited in line to have copies of the book signed. Most people know Mr. Hart practiced law in Salisbury, NC. However, not many know he was a French literature major at Davidson College in NC. Reading French literature likely contributed to Mr. Hart's ability to tell a good, complex story. Knowing some of the backstory about the writing of the book really contributes to the joy of reading it. We're about 100 pages in and loving it. 

Q is for Quest, Art Quest

Finding good places for children to have fun making art, without the worry of making messes, can be a challenge. In Greensboro, one need only look as far as Art Quest at the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. ArtQuest allows children, young and old, the opportunity to experiment with materials and make their own decisions about how they want their art to take shape. This venue is also a fun place to hold birthday parties.

A quest is a search for something and can be long and arduous. While you cannot be guaranteed that you will reach the end of your artistic journey at ArtQuest, for sure, you will have fun along the way. The above photo shows display shelves at the ArtQuest studio. The photo below shows the chairs stacked on tables, at closing time when all budding artists had gone home for the day.

Today is ABC Wednesday and Q, for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, is for Quest!

Emma Keys: Breakfast-- Everyday

Since February 1st, Emma Keys in Lindley Park has been under new ownership. This trio of owners, James & Ruth Whack and Gene Bordinger, greeted us at the door when we went there for breakfast this past Sunday. We got a great breakfast - two generous slices of rye toast, two eggs and bacon- for less than $4. The only place in the Walker/Elam area offering a cooked-to-order breakfast, they also had fresh tomatoes from a vender at the Saturday market and fresh strawberries from Faucette Farms. Likely, what they get from the Saturday market will change; however, their interest in supporting local venders will not.

You can now eat your way around Lindley Park without leaving the Walker/Elam intersection-- breakfast at Emma Keys, plenty of options for lunch and dinner, Common Grounds for coffee and music at night, and Bestway for snacks all day. The new owners of Emma Keys are committed to being good neighbors and hope to be here to serve the community for a very long time. We don't know how long they can offer breakfast at those super-reasonable prices, but we encourage you to head over and welcome them. That, after all, would be the neighborly thing to do. By the way, ask Gene to play the Tish Hinojosa/Tex-Mex playlist, specially created because that's what we were in the mood to hear. If they aren't busy, they just might start a new playlist for you. Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

Music at the International Civil Rights Museum

Saturday at 1:00 pm. many people in Greensboro (and elsewhere) were out playing music and, in some places, singing along in protest to North Carolina's HB2. The original idea of playing music as a form of protest was sparked by Steve Haines who teaches music at UNCG. Another group, organized by Mark Dillon, also a music instructor at UNCG, sang and played in front of Scuppernong Books on Elm Street. Since the group in front of Suppernong Books, the one at Gibbs Hundred, and the one at Mack and Mack were featured in the News and Record yesterday, we thought we would share the group in front of the International Civil Rights Museum, Greensboro's "ground zero" for peaceful protests. What appeared to be a a high school or college group was playing jazz music. To the delight of the instrumentalists and onlookers, the woman on the right came out of the museum and began singing in her pitch-perfect voice.  What a treat. Greensboro has so many talented musicians and that above group was no exception. The above group was protesting on the very spot where the Greensboro Sit Ins took place in 1960.

In spite of the rain, many people came out to have their voice be heard. Indeed, the event was peaceful, and impactful. 

Books Galore

This photo was taken on Friday night at the annual book sale at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Lawndale Drive-- the calm before the storm. Saturday was when items were $10 a grocery bag- as much as you can stuff in the bag and carry. People know their genre and categories. Late Friday night, categories of choice were popular fiction, military history, dog handling, and classics. On Saturday, there were crowds of people trying to gather their year's supply of reading. A Greensboro tradition since the late 1950's, this is the 58th annual book sale.  While in this room, time stands still and shoppers forget that we are living in digital device era.

Today is Theme Day for the City Daily Photo community and the May theme day challenge is to convey the idea of SMELL through a photo. Well, you can imagine the smell of a room full of books. If you love that old book smell, but are totally committed to reading on your Kindle, you can order this unisex perfume "Dead Writers." With prominent notes of clove, vanilla, and tobacco, it smells like old books. Alternatively, you can look for book sales in Greensboro or hang out at one of our fabulous libraries.