Greensboro Daily Photo

Geeksboro: Hollywood East

No, this photo wasn't taken in Hollywood, but at Geeksboro where, on Friday nights, a bit of reality is suspended and people gather to play all kinds of board games, card games, and good old-fashioned video games. Were the cast of Big Bang Theory to come to Greensboro, this is the first place they would want to stop and they would feel right at home here. Geeksboro is one of those coffee shops that thrives because it has something for everybody. Currently, they are in the process of of hosting a Wes Anderson Film Festival. The last movie in the series will be shown on Sunday night. It will either be Moonrise Kingdom or Grand Budapest Hotel, depending on what attendees vote for. 

Geeksboro is located in Irving Park Plaza down from a comic book store and above an improv theatre. Many great restaurants are in the plaza, and stopping by Geeksboro for a cup of coffee after dinner is a great way to add interest to an evening. Also, they  have original art on the wall. It is a great place to go whether you are alone or with friends. For sure, there is always something to see and someone to talk to. If you listen to the social chit chat around you, after a while you will be convinced you are among Penny, Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Amy and the gang. Brush up on Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who, Star Trek, The Hulk, and Halo, and whether Sheldon is there or not, you will have so much fun!

Below, was our vantage point last night.  

Hudson Overall Company

Hudson Overall Company set up a table, and industrial sewing machine, at the recent Mill Days at Revolution Mill. Hudson Overall is a part of the Hudson Hill retail store on South Elm Street. At their store, they offer jeans, Americana accessories, and leather goods. Hudson Hill emphasizes making and selling items that will last; a nod to the past, but well designed for the future. Flash fashion, their items are not! They are located in the store that was formerly Coe Grocery and Seed Company. There is a lot of history in that building and, Hudson Hill encourages you to come, sit a spell, soak in the history, and maybe find a Greensboro-themed t-shirt or some jeans made with local denim.

In the above photo, the tailor was sewing sleek, rugged, leather pouches with industrial zippers. People were stopping by marveling at this dying art. If you didn't get to the Mill Days, head to Hudson Hill and see some items that are made the old fashioned way, by hand. Happy Friday! We hope you use it wisely. It is the last Friday in September. The last quarter of 2107 starts in two days.

Great Egrets on Lake Brandt

Walking on the nature trails at Bur-Mil Park and on over Lake Brandt will only get more and more breathtaking over the next couple of months. The above photo features a great egret in a tree waiting over the lake, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down and capture breakfast. Egrets are great fishermen. Like the herons, they like their solitude. On the day we were walking last week, this egret was by himself. However, another egret was in sight on the other side of the lake. Great egrets have held their own, with respect to population because their habitat extends beyond the coastal area, well into the other regions of North Carolina. The snowy egret, on the other hand, resides mostly on the coast of North Carolina and their population has decreased 70% since the 1990s. 

If you like learning about birds of North Carolina, here is a great site. These egrets usually only stick around our area through October. So, if you want to see them, put on your walking shoes. They are fun to watch and photograph.

We hope you are having a great Thursday and remember, they say Thursday is the new Friday!

Cugino Forno

Pizzeria Cugino Forno opened in Revolution Mill last spring. The pizza is authentic Neapolitan style made in wood fired ovens imported from Italy. The above photo shows the pizza baker checking on a pizza he is baking. You see the 800-degree ovens and the wood below them. The process involves using a lot of hardwood.  "Cugino Forno" means "cousin oven" in Italian, a reference to the fact that cousins own the restaurant together.

The pizzeria is actually located just outside Revolution Mill, in a free-standing building that was once a machine shop. The pizza making technique used at Cugino Forno dated back to Naples, Italy in 1889, maintaining the same commitment to fresh ingredients and preparation of dough. Revolution Mill, known for flannel fabric, opened in 1899. So, it seems that the mill and the pizza are a perfect marriage. The oven-baking process used dates back 2,000 years. The process, the ingredients, the equipment, and the skill of the bakers, all come together and the result is a sort of alchemy that transforms dough, tomato sauce, and cheese into a little slice of heaven. The pizza really does taste like it was made in Italy. The attention to detail would please the Cone Brothers who worked equally diligently to see that every bolt of flannel at the mill was perfect. Hopefully, the attention to detail and commitment to quality will keep Cugino Forno around for a very long time!

Eaton Farms

Eaton Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze is located on Highway 150 between Oak Ridge and Kernersville. According to Buzzfile, they have been operating for approximately 40 years and they operate primarily as a tobacco farm. However, if you drive by in the springtime, they are growing strawberries. We aren't sure what the above crop is as it is too late for pumpkins, which are already on store shelves. Maybe it is a cold weather crop like greens. At first glance, driving by quickly, the rows, of slightly raised beds, looked like fields of lavender. The barn in the background, with the plywood pumpkin prominently displayed, is the first stop for shoppers and visitors.

We'll have to stop back when the maze is in full swing. The popularity of "breakout" games, where teams of people work together to break out of places by solving clues, will likely add to the frenzy for groups to try their luck at corn mazes. Corn mazes and pumpkin patches can generate great revenue for farms by attracting tourists and people who would not otherwise go to a farm. Being outside is such a healthy activity for people- if you can encourage them not to use their phones, but to enjoy all that is to be seen in nature.

Mill Days 2017

Yesterday the "Mill Days 2017" event was held at Revolution Mill. It was as if the space were a playground and people had full range to roam around. Those who attended enjoyed art activities for children, food & brew trucks, craft vendors, touring around, and more. One of the nice touches was seeing the textile looms that were on display outside. They gave children a chance to see how spools of thread get turned into bolts of fabric. It gave people who worked in the mills a chance to reminisce and to share memories with loved ones. Grandfathers were explaining to children and grandchildren the details of the looms and the weaving process. There was lots of pointing, talking, and leaning into the machines. And, the weather was perfect.

How wonderful to see this part of east Greensboro come back to life with a 630,000 space/compound being resurrected before our eyes. The textile industry was so important to the fabric of life in Greensboro. 630,000 square feet is a lot of space to renovate; twenty five million dollars is a lot to spend.  Let's hope the mill will continue to attract people who don't live or have businesses there. Let's hope developers will not only preserve, but also showcase as much mill history as possible. If these early phases are any indication of that which is to come, the revitalization will be worth every penny.

Greensboro's First Church of the Nazarene

The above photo is a view of the First Church of the Nazarene on Spring Garden Street. Located about six blocks from UNCG and about a half a mile from the heart of Lindley Park, it is hard to believe that this church congregation is no longer together. About five years ago, they church was active on social media and there is even a Youtube video of the pastor on UNCG's campus talking to students. Worldwide, there are about 2.5 million Nazarenes in about 30,500 churches.

Currently, Greensboro's First Church of the Nazarene is for sale. It seems like the smaller churches lose members to the mega-churches, that can offer so many special events and services. The above building is 6,560 square feet and looks like it is in good shape. Internet links indicate that the land could be used for multi-family residential, or other purposes. At less than $300,000, it seems like it something special could go in there. If a new congregation cannot use it, let's hope that the business that does go in is something else that nurtures the soul. It has good access for those who struggle with mobility. Plus, there is off street parking in the back.

 

C'est CRU

CRU is a wine and beer venue on Fleming Road, and at CRU, atmosphere matters. The owners work very hard to make the venue have that cozy feel, like Boston's imaginary Cheers Bar of TV fame. On weekends, they bring in live music and food trucks. Last night's food truck was Presto! by Elizabeth's Pizza at Quaker Village. The music was provided by singer, songwriter, and guitar player, J. Lane, who hails from Kinston (playing above).  Lane's acoustic, rock-classics sound added to the warm ambiance of the evening. Lane goes into the recording studio next week. Hopefully, when he returns to Greensboro to perform he will bring C.D.s with him.

"Cru" is a very interesting French word, with a definition as complex as a good French wine.* As we understand it, "Cru" means a vineyard or group of vineyards of quality. It means "growth" as the past participle of the French verb "croitre/to grow." Let's hope CRU continues to thrive as a neighborhood gathering place for the over 21 crowd and that J. Lane continues to grow his fan base in Greensboro and beyond. As with the soil that contributes to the character of the different wine regions in France, this little wine and beer shop has taken on a character of its own in Northwest Guilford County and... well... C'est CRU! 

(Forgive the not-so-high quality cell phone photo, but it is the only one we took last night. Sometimes, we just get caught up in the moment and not the photography).

*Reference and more information here for "cru".

 

Live Music Adds So Much

Greensboro is so lucky to have many talented musicians. With all of our institutions of higher education, musicians have an opportunity to hone their talent, here in Greensboro. Also, there are plenty of venues for musicians to share their talent.  The above photo features musicians performing at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market at the Market Music Makers Event on the Lindsay Street Lawn. Every Saturday from 8:00 - 11:00 am, you can enjoy this free showcase of local musicians. If you like live music, we encourage you to tip generously. Dropping money in the tip bucket is the single best way to express your gratitude.

This year, at the National Folk Festival, the Bucket Brigade collected all but $1,341 of their $77,000 goal. That money will help bring even more live music to the Triad, when Greensboro hosts the National Folk Festival next September. In the meantime, if you get to the Farmers Market tomorrow morning, enjoy the live music while you shop for fresh produce. If the above group is playing and you can get their names, please let us know. We enjoyed watching them, but left without getting their names. 

Rural Homes, Porches, and Trucks

Lately, we've been featuring some urban homes and places on walking tours of Greensboro. It is also fun to head out in the county and get pictures of rural places. They have so much character. The above photo features a house along West Market Street between the airport and Kernersville. This was taken back when the crepe myrtle was in full bloom. With its color and linear, sprite decor, the truck noticeably matches the house. When we spot something like this, we always wonder if the matching it intentional, or possibly subconscious. Perhaps oxblood, with its purple and dark brown undertones, is a favorite color of the owners.

In southern living, it is not uncommon for the menfolk to gather around the back of the pick up truck for fellowship and relaxation. However, the above home has a small side porch and a wrap around front porch. It would be easy to spend hours socializing on either of them. Enjoy your Thursday, and may you find time to socialize in person today, on a cozy porch or leaning against a vintage truck!

Teacher of the Year

Guilford County Schools held its Celebration of Excellence last night at Grimsley High School. The mood was fun and festive. Awards, recognitions, spirit, and achievement were celebrated. Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Education, Alan Duncan, assured the standing-room-only crowd that the party and festivities did not cost taxpayers money. Award money and other costs were underwritten by Guilford Education Alliance and Ilderton Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram of High Point. Entertainment was provided by students participants. Schools celebrated by cheering, clapping, and some even brought percussive instruments. 

The above photo features Shanda Hamm (second from left), Math Teacher at the Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro, who was recognized as Teacher of the Year. If you have ever met Mrs. Hamm, or had the good fortune to be her student, you will know she is very deserving of this award. She is talented, humble and always optimistic. Congratulations, Mrs. Hamm for all you do for your students and for the community. Hear a part of her acceptance speech, here.  Thank you to everyone who attended the Celebration of Excellence. Here's to another great school year for all of Guilford County. 

Local Persimmons are Ripe!

Local persimmons have started to ripen. This weekend, we found a bundle on a sidewalk, at the edge of a neighborhood, not too far from the Greensboro Day School. They are about the size of a quarter. These fall foods like persimmon and paw-paw remind us that not all foods are available to us year round. The pulp has a taste that is hard to describe. The persimmon has a part sweet, part savory, soft pulp that can be really hard to separate from the clinging seeds. The hardwood orange-red fruit, a favorite of Native Americans, is known as diospyros virigniana.*

Below, we're sharing the view of a persimmon tree. The trees aren't very pretty by the time the fruit is ripe. They look rather scraggly. You are not supposed to eat persimmons until they fall to the ground. If you eat them before they are ripe their astringency will pucker your mouth. If you are lucky enough to have two cups of pulp, read here, for a persimmon pudding recipe, brought to you by the family what hosts the Colfax Persimmon Festival in Guilford County, just north of Greensboro. We're headed now to see just how much pulp our plastic bag will yield. Wish us luck. Happy Tuesday!

 

*for more information, read this article from "Our State Magazine", here.

Blue Heron on Lake Brandt

This blue heron on Lake Brandt seems like he might be just a little bit too friendly.  As we stood on the trail, just south of Owls Roost near Bur-Mil Park, he started walking towards us. These imposing, blue wading birds have been increasing in North Carolina since the 1980s. They are now found in about every county, except those in the mountains. However, blue herons are not as abundant in North Carolina as they are in the counties east of us. They like wetlands and can live by fresh and salt water. They like to nest in live trees that are standing in water, which is precisely where we saw this bird fly to, when he heard the rattle of the boards on a wooden bridge on the trail. In Guilford County, the herons are year-round residents. They are about four feet tall and have nests that are often four feet wide.

It is so nice to walk and bike on Greensboro's trails this time of the year. Sights like this great blue heron are out waiting for all to enjoy; it is not too hot. Autumn is upon us and, soon, leaves will be changing colors and falling to the ground. We hope you have time to enjoy the weather while it is still warm outside. Happy Monday!

Love, Westerwood Style

Christianity and the Bible have a lot to say about love. One of the first Biblical scriptures of love that comes to mind is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." Especially in this day and age, such love can be hard to sustain.

It is easy to understand agape love, the love of man for God and God for man. However, it seems that the harder love is "philia" or brotherly love as it is an unconditional love, friendship and affection. The sign in the yard above (enlarged below) is in a front yard in the Westerwood neighborhood of Greensboro. "No matter where you are from, we're glad you're our neighbor."

Now that is surely and example of not only brotherly love, but also agape. Imagine walking up to a buttery yellow house in an urban neighborhood with a friendly, buttery yellow feline, and seeing a sign that made you feel welcome. That feeling is the essence of a good neighbor and a great neighborhood; someone who understands love. Westerwood has several such signs; as do many of Greensboro's neighborhoods. Did you know that the opposite of "philia" is "phobia"? It has been said that love conquers phobias. Imagine if we could all find a way to fill ourselves with love.

Remember, dear readers, we love you.

Thank You, Adam & Clark Tire

Today, we're featuring a good Samaritan and a local business with good customer service. The "check tire pressure" light came on in our vehicle and it was already a little past 6:00 pm last night. Where does one go to get tire pressure checked? Sure you can do it yourself, but often the gauges in the automatic machines are broken or you end up letting out more air that putting in, when using a pump at home. Nothing beats a digital gauge and a person who is fast and efficient at checking. We happened to be near Friendly Center and Adam at Clark Tire found the low tire and filled it up in less than two minutes. We can actually tell a difference in how the car handles and the "check tire pressure light" is off now. With a world that is becoming increasingly "self service",  it is nice to find Clark Tire where someone like Adam greets you with a smiling face. Adam knows about cars on multiple continents, has great expertise in his job, takes time to support great events like the National Folk Festival, and is just outright friendly.

As we look at old photos, almost seven years ago, on January 1st 2011, we featured Clark Tire on North Elm Street as our 2010 photo of the year (see here). Today we're featuring Clark Tire, Friendly Center. When someone gives you peace of mind by getting your tires up to pressure, it feels like you have met a person of the year. Thank you, Adam. We hope you have great experiences like this in Greensboro when you need to quickly problem solve. Happy Saturday! As for us, we're cruising at 35 psi on all four!

Rickshaw Raleigh

The Raleigh Rickshaw Company brought some of their rickshaws to the National Folk Festival in Greensboro. They have been in Raleigh since 2007 and, by now, people rely on using their services for tourists and locals alike to get from Point A to Point B. They are also hired for special occasions like engagements and weddings. The rickshaw drivers are known for being friendly, reliable, and helpful. They give riders ideas about things to do and places to eat. Rickshaw drivers have to be strong and have to have a lot of stamina. We don't necessarily associate rickshaws with America, but they are said to have been in 1869 by an American, Jonathan Goble. He was an American missionary to Japan and was said to have invented the rickshaw so that his wife could accompany him on outings in Yokohama.

The rickshaw drivers who worked the folk festival last week were indeed friendly and made traversing the festival easy. They also worked for tips only. We don't know how people in Greensboro reacted to this mode of transportation (2017 was the first year they were used at the festival), but hopefully, the rickshaws were well received. They are low on environmental impact and are a lot of fun. Hopefully, Greensboro will get a fleet. Would you use them? As you can see from the above photo, they sure do seem to fit into the downtown landscape.

Downtown On Two Feet or Two Wheels

The above photo says so much about downtown Greensboro. This South Elm Street shot was taken in front of the Green Bean Coffee Shop, on the eve of a recent Preservation Greensboro Walking Tour of Elm Street. Quite a crowd came out that night to learn about architecture. If you notice the flowers hanging from the lamp posts, they have been meticulously maintained all summer and continue to thrive. A watering truck comes around and waters them as needed. In the back right corner, you can see the former Cascade Saloon under renovation with scaffolding surrounding it. Soon, it will soon house the regional office of Christman Capital Development Company.

In the foreground, you see two of the ubiquitous LimeBikes. This reasonably priced, low-environmental-impact transportation choice is proving popular in the Greensboro market. Ease of use is tremendous, since there is no specific place one must dock/return them. LimeBike is in the process of ironing out some of the kinks. For example, while consumers don't want to have to commit to return them to a set place, some people are not good stewards and leave the bikes overturned in the middle of the sidewalk in neighborhoods. Perhaps there could be a financial incentive to get them somewhere out of the way. Those of us who returned Coke bottles for deposit money as a child could well find ourselves returning bikes for the change to buy a candy bar. In the meantime, we'll continue to enjoy our dynamic city, whether on two feet or two wheels.

And the Fog Rolled In

Greensboro was spared the high winds and strong rains from Hurricane Harvey and Irma.  We did receive rain, and yesterday afternoon, the fog rolled in. The above photo features the fog hovering over the Greensboro Country Club's Farm Course. This 18-hole, private course has been open since 1963. The total yardage for the course is 7,302 yards, close to a mile and a half long, and making it the longest golf course in Guilford County. While private golf courses do not want people walking on them who are not golfing, usually, they are appointed in a way that it is easy to map out a walking course in the neighborhood near them. Just looking at the above course makes our pedometer add steps.

The above scenery is reminiscent of an English moor, with low growing vegetation and grasslands. The fog softens the horizon and it almost feels like you can reach out and touch it. With the fog came warmer temperatures last night. Greensboro was in the high 60's yesterday and it is supposed to get close to 80º today. If you do monitor the steps you take, today is a good day to walk. With Greensboro's beautiful scenery, walking is a restorative activity. Come walk with us!

National Folk Festival Closes

Yesterday, The 77th National Folk Festival ended its three year run in Greensboro. Part of the reason the festival stays in one city for three years is to give a city the opportunity to build the infrastructure necessary to sustain a folk festival of its own. As an example, yesterday, at LeBauer Stage, a student in the sound engineering program at GTCC was working alongside a career sound engineer who was brought in by the National Folk Festival organization. Local people are learning the technical aspects and logistics for working at a festival from the experts. 

If you were not able to attend the festival, you can find videos and photos on YouTube and on the musicians’ sites. Also, the News & Record held live interviews with twelve of the festival artists/groups and these interviews are archived online, including on the News & Record’s Facebook page. The interviews were free and open to the public and as intimate as a fireside chat. The News & Record does so much for the local community. They were an invaluable add on to the festival.

Today’s photo, with the lone child in the foreground, the city’s skyline in the background, and festival-goers scurrying around the food trucks, reminds us of just how special Greensboro is and how community events like music festivals bring us together. For three days, downtown Greensboro was as diverse as the United Nations, and to our knowledge, we were all on our best behavior. While the National Folk Festival is moving on to Salisbury, MD, they have left Greensboro well prepared to host the North Carolina Folk Festival in 2018.

The National Folk Festival 2017

Today is the final day of the 77th National Folk Festival in downtown Greensboro. Folk groups from all over the world have been performing for three days now. There are nine stages of performers, a News & Record stage for interviews, tents and tents of crafters, and many food trucks all set up downtown with the City of Greensboro making a great backdrop. To be sure, there is something for everybody. From the above Moroccan group, Innov Gnawa, to the young girl below with her Polish-American, family polka band, Pan Franek, Zoisa, and the Polka Towners, Greensboro's streets are filled with people and music from all parts of the world. While this is the last year for the National Folk Festival to be held in Greensboro, the good news is that the community is planning to support a North Carolina Folk Festival, which will be held this same weekend next year.

Many people worship on Sunday and consider this the most holy of days. If you go downtown and see the diversity of people and the many cultures interacting and enjoying each other, you will find it a most spiritually moving experience. Just maybe, the path to world peace is paved with music. Ponder the spiritually moving aspects of the folk festival at noon today while enjoying the music of Alash, a group of Tuvan throat singers. Tuva is an area of Siberia on the border with Mongolia, where singers make amazing music from their throats. They will be entertaining Greensboro on Lebauer Park Stage at noon. Carolyn Lebauer would be so happy to know that the park she funded such a valuable community resource. The best way to show gratitude for the park and the festival is to vote with your feet and head downtown!

What Do Llamas Do?

Greensboro artist Leanne Pizio and local writer/llama owner, Katy Torney, have teamed up to produce a lovely hardback book about llamas. Leanne's illustrations capture perfectly Inca's llama adventures in the book. Last night was the opening reception and book signing at Irving Park Art & Frame. Today, the dynamic duo (photographed above) will be on hand for a book signing. The first reading will be at 11:30 am and the second one will be held at 12:30. They are promising to bring Inca to the event. It has been said that llamas are prone to attention deficit and Inca just may not be able to endure the second reading. Katy will try her best to keep Inca interested. As you may already know from reading the book, llamas need to "POOP," so they won't be able to trust Inca until she has had a bathroom break.

Several local artists and supporters of the arts came out for the reception last night. Greensboro is really lucky to have so many talented people in the arts. We are also lucky to have businesses like Irving Park & Frame that support local artists. If you have framing needs, please consider Irving Park & Frame on Cornwallis at Battleground- or any locally owned frame shop, for that matter. You may get lured to big box stores by coupons, but, in the long run, you get so much more for your money when you support local frame shops.

We predict that "What Do Llamas Do? will be a success well beyond the borders of our great city. Stop by and pick up your copy today, see Inca, enjoy the original artwork from the book, and meet some great people. Hope to see you there. Since you will already be close to town, you can head on in to the National Folk Festival. 

 

1616 Walker Avenue

1616 Walker Avenue is just a couple of doors down from Aycock Street. It is an attractive home built in 1922. Just think, it will be 100 in five years! It is over 2,100 square feet with four bedrooms. It sold in 2015 and, according to online real estate sites, it has almost doubled in value since the sale. Perhaps updates and renovations have been done. It does, however, also reflect the trend for historic homes close to town to hold their value.

Just yesterday, Preservation Greensboro shared an article about eight classic homes that have sold above market value this year,*  attributing the robust sales to home buyers valuing the history, aesthetic, and convenience of these homes in historic neighborhoods. The website gsohistorichomes.com maintains listings of pre-1940s properties available in the area. This service has to help in generating interest as the trend today is for consumers to do considerable online research before making purchases. 

Wouldn't you love to sit on this porch to people watch and to talk to neighbors as they walked by? You might even invite them to join you to attend the free National Folk Festival, being held in downtown Greensboro this weekend, a mere couple of miles from 1616 Walker!

 

* reference

Signs of Autumn

The rains over the last few days have brought in signs of fall. Temperatures have dropped, days are getting shorter, and trees are hinting of color change. Persimmons are one of those seasonal foods, only available in the fall. The above persimmons are starting to ripen. Soon they will have transitioned from bright green to a vibrant, dark orange. They are Asian persimmons, not native to the USA and they don't need a first-frost to ripen and to temper the astringent bitterness of the local variety. Native persimmons, much smaller and seedier, need a good frost to sweeten them up. While we are losing native persimmon trees to land development in Guilford County, in the more rural areas, you can find persimmon trees. 

The Colfax Persimmon Festival will celebrate its 10th year on November 4th from 10am to 4pm. This celebration grows in size every year. The native persimmon was a favorite of Native Americans. If you've ever had persimmon pudding, you know it is a taste like no other. It is hard to do anything with it commercially as the seeds are time-consuming to extract and the ratio of fruit to seed favors the seed over fruit. So, start asking at the farmers' markets and, by all means, attend the festival.

Let's hope we can keep summer around for a few more weeks, especially while all of Greensboro is celebrating the National Folk Festival this weekend!

Grimsley Cornhole

Consignment stores can be interesting windows into a community. The above photo shows an item that was getting quite a lot of attention at the Red Collection Consignment Store on Mill Street. It was a cornhole game with Grimsley High School and its mascot, The Whirlie, on it. Cornhole, a raised-platform lawn game, dates back to 1883, and has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is especially popular at tailgate parties. There are even national championships, covered on ESPN. Most boards have some kind of decoration, often celebrating university or national sports teams.

Grimsley High School is about a mile from the Red Collection. We overhead a gentleman comment that he was tempted to purchase the board and deliver it to Grimsley. It would be fun for students to play at lunch in the Grove. He said the board reminded him of all the fun he'd had playing cornhole over the years.

Consignment stores are like that; they evoke memories and get you thinking about things you may not have considered for years. They get you talking to people you have never seen before. We're betting the cornhole game is already sold and that it went to a good Whirlie home. It does make you wonder the back story of who sold it, and why. Resale stores evoke many questions. To be sure, they can be fun to peruse and turn us into urban archaeologists.

Georgia O'Keefe Art Exhibit

The Reynolda House Museum of American Art is only about a 30- 40 minute drive from Greensboro. It is a lovely, well-appointed house built in 1917 by Katharine Smith Reynolds and R.J.Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The estate was originally their home- over 1,000 acres in Winston. In the 1960's, their house became a museum, dedicated to American art. 

The current exhibit features American artist, Georgia O'Keefe and offers an array of her paintings, her clothing, and photographs of and by her. Additionally there are two, short video clips about her visual inspiration in New Mexico, one of her sculptures, and a brooch, that she wore often, designed for her by Alexander Calder. The above photo, Manhattan, is O'Keefe's rendition of New York City. If you like American art and want to plan out a nice day trip for yourself, consider spending it at Reynolda House in Winston. You get not only a chance to come to know Georgia O'Keefe, her life and her art, you will also tour a lovely home, owned by a prominent Winston family.

Happy Tuesday, that feels like a Monday!

Happy Labor Day 2017

This dog, who appears to be a Lhasa Apso, sure has the good life. On Saturday, he was hanging out on a bed at the Red Collection Consignment Store at the corner of Holden Road and Patterson Street, near the Coliseum. He was not overly excited by all of the attention he was receiving from customers, but was very accommodating when people stopped to take his photo. We chuckled, because the doggie bed appears to be fore sale. He sure did make it look cozy and what good advertising. (If Sparky endorses it, surely Lola will like it). Then again, maybe Sparky's owner had just purchased the bed.

The Red Collection is open today, as are most retail establishments in Greensboro. If you happen to be lucky enough to be off, consider being extra generous when you are in a tipping situation today. Is someone is waiting on you, thank them for meeting their work commitment. Labor Day has been a legal holiday in the United States since 1894, but not everyone gets paid holidays. It is a tribute to the contributions of workers for helping the USA prosper.

Most of Greensboro's pool clubs are having their last hurrah of summer today and many people are hosting cookouts.  If you have to work today, we hope someone saves you a plate of food. Finally, if you stop by Red Collection, ask them the price of the doggie in the window, or, in this case, in the bed! We're pretty sure he's not for sale! 

A Touch of Jerusalem in Greensboro

The above photo, a tray of kiwi and plums, is a view of the front table at Jerusalem Market Restaurant on South Elm Street. Jerusalem Market opened about a year ago, an off-shoot of the original market on Gate City Boulevard near Sedgefield.* Sitting at Jerusalem Market sipping iced Hibiscus Tea and eating lamb or air-dried beef, it is as if you are in the Middle East, right here in Greensboro. The map of Jerusalem on the exposed-brick walls and the copper tray of fruit also add to the ambience. 

It can be nice to attend a church, synagogue, or mosque or other religious center to nurture one's spirituality; however sometimes, stealing a few minutes of solitude, in a calm and inviting place, can also nurture the soul. Yesterday, we found ourselves lost in meditation, right there on Elm Street, and then, the food arrived at the table and the restaurant started to fill up. The food, prepared in the style of Old Jerusalem, with fresh vegetables and exotic spices, not only filled us up, but seemed to nurture the soul. Have a great Sunday and, as fall approaches, we hope you find a little time to relax, reflect, and refuel.

 

* read about the original Jerusalem Market, here.

Food Truck Festival

From 4:00- 9:00 pm, last Sunday, August 27th, a food truck festival was held in downtown Greensboro. Approximately fifty food trucks lined Greene and Market Streets. There were arts and crafts vendors and plenty of activities for children. The balloon sculptures were a big hit. The timing was perfect because on Sundays, most of the brick and mortar establishments are closed, so the food trucks do not detract from established businesses. The food truck events, like concerts in the park,  attract people to downtown who might not normally come downtown. The trucks also give people a chance to sample new types of food, especially ethnic food, that they haven't had a chance to sample. The owners of the truck are often entrepreneurs who have businesses less financial investment than brick and mortar. As you can see in the above photo, even one of Greensboro's new Lime Bikes visited the Italian Ice truck. 

If you like downtown festivals, we hope you have your calendar marked for the National Folk Festival, to be held next weekend (September 8-10). This is Year 3 for Greensboro, the last year before it moves on. The hope is, of course, that Greensboro will be able to sustain some type of folk music festival. In addition to music concerts, there will be plenty of arts and crafts booths and the food trucks will return to keep our bellies happy. 

Lamborghini of Greensboro

It isn't every day that one is on a walking tour of historic Greensboro and a bright orange Lamborghini comes driving by. The above vehicle was spotted on South Elm Street about 7:30 on Wednesday evening. The couple driving appeared to be out enjoying themselves, and they sure did attract attention. It is hard to be in a vintage, Italian sports scar, painted bright orange, and not be noticed. The distinctively square, low-to-the-ground shape of this vehicle makes it a stand out.

Lamborghini was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963 with the intent to have a grand touring sports car that competed with Ferrari. The company changed a lot over the years and ceased production in 2013. Greensboro has a Lamborghini dealership at 1310 W. Wendover Avenue near Battleground Avenue and downtown. Today's orange car has dealer plates, so it is highly likely that it could be yours! We're not car experts, but based on the shape, we're thinking it could be a Gallardo from the early 2000s. Does anybody know? Famous celebrities who own Lamborghinis include Kanye West and Janet Jackson. Lamborghini or not, cruise on down to Elm Street as it is First Friday and stores and galleries pull out all the stops for clients and visitors.

Evening Downtown Walking Tour

Last night, under the waxing gibbous moon, approximately fifty people were treated to a tour of downtown architecture. The host was Anderson, who works for Preservation Greensboro (based out of Blandwood Masion). The tour lasted almost an hour and a half. It began in front of the Green Bean in the South 300 block, progressed along Elm Street to West Washington Street, to North Elm and ended at the Jefferson Standard Building. The weather was perfect and the tour gave a good overview  of materials used in construction of the buildings, what style they represented, and how Greensboro evolved to meet the consumer needs of the day. One of the biggest surprises was that fact that many very accomplished architects have been involved in designing our downtown buildings.

We'll share more photos over the next couple of weeks and provide more details on some of these architectural points of interest. Especially interesting was the Brutalist movement from the 1960s and 1970s, giving us a whole new lens through which to view those solid-cement structures downtown. To be sure, Greensboro has many interesting buildings compressed into a small space. Additionally, there is a tendency to remove facades from later renovations and to return building to their original state. Thank you, Preservation Greensboro. Thank you, Anderson. 

Westie of Westerwood

This West Highland White Terrier was a big hit on the walking tour of the Westerwood neighborhood this past weekend. He lives behind the First Baptist Church in a part of Westerwood that was known as St. Paul's neighborhood. He guarded the street, especially on the lookout for human visitors and one of the many felines often seen exploring his neighborhood. He is quite proud of his neighborhood. In spite of his role as sentry, Mr. Westie did not bark at us.

In the early 1900s African American families lived on this end of Woodlawn Avenue, an example of early integration, given Westerwood is located on the west side of town and many African-American communities were found in eastern Greensboro. Plumber, cash register repairman, and preacher, were a few of the careers of the men, well-respected community members, on this street. The above house is one of the oldest in the neighborhood, and hopefully, it will be around for a very long time. It looks cozy, is nicely landscaped, and in a fabulous location.

Remember Double Oaks in Westerwood receives community members to stop by for a drink or two on Wednesday evenings and Preservation Greensboro offers a free tour (see yesterday's post).

 

MUSEP's Season Finale

Tonight was the season finale for the MUSEP concert series. No more of the music for a Sunday evening in the park until next year. The final concert was held in LeBauer Park last night, with the stage in front, the Echelman artwork acting as a net ceiling, and the lights of the city behind us. The weather was perfect, the music great, the venue fantastic, and all humans and canines were on their best behavior. First, we were treated to some live music by Benjy Johnson and Tres Diablos. Second up was "doby" (see photo below).  Even though night was rolling in, nobody wanted to leave as "doby" delivered some great music that had people up moving and dancing with MUSEP drawing to a close.

We'll have to wait until next June for MUSEP to start up again. In the meantime, we can continue to enjoy our city and county parks and the many events that are available for free in them. If you like LeBauer Park, you may want to attend the free movie showings. This is a partnership between the park and UNCG. The next one is September 1st at sunset, Captain America: Civil War. And then the next week, it will be time for Greensboro to host the National Folk Festival for the 3rd year. Hope to see you there!  

First Baptist of Westerwood

Yesterday, Preservation Greensboro offered a free tour of the Westerwood neighborhood. The First Baptist Church, located at 1000 West Friendly Avenue,  is one of the anchor buildings in the neighborhood and was featured early on the walking tour. Ben, a doctoral student studying history at UNCG, works for Preservation Greensboro and he gave a very informative tour about the architecture of the buildings and an overview of the early residents of Westerwood. Below, you can see a photo of Ben; above, the attentive tour participants that numbered approximately two dozen.

First Baptist, a neoclassical giant, opened in the early 1950s, costing approximately $1.5 million dollars- no small amount today and a tremendous amount 65 years ago when it was built. Bestrewed officially became a neighborhood in the beginning of the 20th century and was filled with white collar, emerging professionals. By the 1950's they would have been well established, needing a place to worship. First Baptist came along to fill that need. 

We'll feature another photo or two from the Westerwood tour. Also, if you ever have a chance to join one of the tours hosted by  Preservation Greensboro, you will not be disappointed. Their next tour is this Wednesday evening, and departs from the Green Bean Coffee Shop at 7:00 p.m.

One City, One Book

Today marks the kick off, downtown, for the "One City, One Book" event this year. After considerable input, including public voting, Greensboro has chosen "Hidden Figures" for the book for us all to read. The book, about three African-American, female mathematicians who contributed significantly to NASA, was also made into a highly acclaimed movie. This is Greensboro's 8th selection for the "One City, One Book" initiative. The block party kick off will be held from 1:00- 5:00 pm today in the Central Library . The kick off celebration will spill into the parks and space downtown, surrounding the library. Some events include: A vintage fashion show, music and refreshments, vintage cars, swing dancing, make-a-book art, playing with a robot, and more fulfilled actives. 

The above photo was taken at Center City Park last year. It is a great public space in the backyard of the Central Library. Many of the events will be in LeBauer Park. However, there will be lots of fun in Center City Park, too. It is always quite popular on the weekends. Downtown Greensboro between North Elm Street and North Church Street will be full of families celebrating Margot Lee Shetterly, Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson, and all of the other great women who worked tirelessly to help NASA with math calculations and who played a significant role in the Space Task Group. Come to downtown Greensboro and be part of the "One City, One Book" project. This will be a great point of pride for our community . 

Peluquería María

Peluquería y Salon de Belleza María has been located at 3004 Spring Garden Street for several years now, maybe even more than a decade. It is across the street from Kiosco Mexican Grill, on the corner at Holden Road. María's is open seven days a week and is especially busy on the weekend. 

According to a 2012 publication, City of Greensboro Growth and Development Trends, people of Hispanic origin represent 7.5 of Greensboro's population. This accounts for about 25% of Greensboro's growth during the early years of the 2000s.* Businesses like María's, that cater to Greensboro's growing ethnic populations, have been increasing over the last two decades, too. You can be sure, however, that regardless of your ethnicity, if you visit Kiosco to eat or María's for beauty shop services, you will be welcome with open arms. If you get a chance, visit a locally-owned business that is new to you this weekend.

* reference.

Confederate Monuments and Signage

Downtown Greensboro, at Hamburger Square and MLK Drive, Greensboro has two Civil War Monuments and a sign. They are not statues with people on them, but monuments like the one above that explain details of Civil War history relevant to this region. The sign in the background tells when the Confederate Cabinet met here. The monument above is the Army of Tennessee Monument. It was dedicated in 1985. To the left of it is the Confederate Soldiers Monument, dedicated in 1986. North Carolina has a Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee that is involved in developing information and executing monuments in a manner that is historically accurate. It will be interesting to see what changes come to Greensboro. Two very public changes have been the renaming of Aycock Auditorium on UNCG's campus and renaming Aycock Middle School. So far, Greensboro's changes have been made with input from stakeholders and peacefully. 

If you head downtown to see these monuments, be careful and use the crosswalks. The monuments are near railroad tracks, trains coming and going, and several streets coming together at once. They are worth a visit!

1618 Seafood Grille

The 1618 Seafood Grille, located at 1618 West Friendly Avenue was established in 2004 . It has received consistently good ratings since it opened. In addition to serving up good food, they have an extensive wine bar, and an inviting outdoor seating area. With their local roots, they are committed to giving back to the community and 1618 donates to many organizations.

The above photo was taken from at brunch recently, and gives you an example of the setting which is often described as sleek and open. The dominant color is gray, muting the setting, giving the guests and food a chance to stand out. The photo below will give you an example of the types of dishes served and the attention given to presentation. It is a frittata with a grouper salsa, served on a plate that is so large, the server usually has to bring out one at a time. Sunday brunch offers traditional dishes as well as creative, seafood dishes, like the one below. Here is to many more successful years and to continued expansion. 

 

Eclipsed Eclipse

Greensboro was not very lucky with respect to eclipse viewing yesterday. In the above photo, you see students from the University of North Carolina Greensboro standing on the bridge to the Petty Science Building. As you can see from the umbrellas and the gray sky above, the skies over Greensboro were not accommodating during the eclipse. Sadly, at least in central Greensboro, the eclipse was eclipsed. We were close to being in the path of totality, but the cloud/fog coverage trumped the eclipse. 

Many locals reported getting in their cars and out-driving the overcast skies. As for the students, they appeared to stay put and watch the eclipse coverage by NASA- of places where viewing was favorable. There were a few tv screens scattered around the UNCG campus. The 2024 solar eclipse won't be anywhere near Greensboro, so start planning your viewing vacation, if seeing a total eclipse is on your bucket list. Happy Tuesday!

Swann Middle School

Saturday was the dedication of Swann Middle School, formerly known as Aycock. The above photo features the crowd on Cypress Street waiting for the gray tarp to be removed and for the Swann name to appear above the front door. Mr. Alan Duncan, Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Education acknowledged in his speech that the renaming of the school was not taken lightly and that much dialog and input from stakeholders was taken into careful consideration before this change was made. In his nineteen years on the board, this is the first time the name of one of our Guilford County schools has had a name change. 

If you read the article in yesterday's News and Record, you will know that Dr. Swann was a man of integrity who loved children and who had a special talent for getting people to work together. He came to the Greensboro City Schools in 1960 after serving in the U.S. Army. He began as a health and science teacher, served as a principal, held several administrative positions in the Central Office, and served as the first deputy superintendent of the Guilford County Schools during the merger of the city and county schools in the area. Dr. Swann had an impeccable reputation and was tirelessly dedicated to children. Students at Swann Middle School can wear his name on their orange, black and white uniforms, t-shirts, and other school-spirit items with great pride. Even though school doesn't start until Wednesday, a large percentage of the Swann school population was there to participate in the program of dedication.  

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer is located at 901 East Friendly Avenue surrounded by many houses of worship. Sunday school starts promptly at 9:00 am and Sunday services at 10:00. According to their website, they are the only African-American Episcopal Parrish in Greensboro. The church celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2006, eleven years ago. Since 2008, Dr. Alicia Alexis has served the congregation as Rector.

The early meetings of the church were held in the chapel on the campus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, then known as Agricultural and Technical College for the Colored Race. The congregation met many places before the above building was constructed in 1954. While the church has since been remodeled and expanded, you can see the main building that dates back to the 1950's. 

If you walk around to the side of the sanctuary, you can see the dove-themed stained glass windows. They must look spectacular inside from the sanctuary. While the church's urban lot is small, it is very inviting. The church is right around the corner from NC A&T and Bennett College. Hopefully, the college students will learn that they are very welcome at  the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Sometimes college students feel so alone and having a faith group and religious home away from home can be just the place that gives them confidence and lifts them up, so they can soar. Here's to a great school for all students in Greensboro, regardless of their religion or personal beliefs.