Greensboro Daily Photo

Love Consciousness Event

Common Grounds Coffee Shop on Elam Avenue is a quirky, indie, neighborhood coffee shop. They offer special events like concerts by local musicians and Thursday open mike nights. Many of these events are sold out or standing room only. Last night, this Lindley Park venue held a "Love/Consciousness Event." As seen in the above photo, the front corner of the shop became a pop up yoga and meditation area. People played instruments, balanced on yoga balls, listened to music, all while sipping coffee and thinking good thoughts about the universe. Last night's early evening rain shower, made spending time at the coffee shop feel extra cozy.

The event was not listed on Common Grounds' Facebook calendar. Sometimes, the serendipity of life brings special times our way. This weekend, we hope you have an opportunity to get out and enjoy Greensboro, stumble upon unanticipated events, and meet new people along the way. Common Grounds is open to new ideas and diverse views and provides a free space to share your ideas. Head there with an idea, or at the very least, a smiling face. If you get there for coffee this morning, you will also have the opportunity to visit the Corner Market in Lindley Park. Happy Saturday. Peace and Love!

Got AC?

The heat in Greensboro has been intense over the last few days. Yesterday was especially hot. We can imagine that the air conditioning companies are busier than ever. The above photo features a bright blue van that belongs to Central Carolina Air Conditioning.

Founded in 1967, CCAC has been cooling Greensboro homes for fifty years. Actually, according to their Facebook page, they design, install, maintain, and repair residential heating and air-conditioning systems. They are located south of I-40 near Sedgefield, but they service the whole city. It is forecasted to reach 90 degrees today, so it is likely that most of Greensboro's air conditioners will be running full steam. On the one hand, we hope nobody needs a repair, on the other hand, for some, those repairs amount to a paycheck. Indeed, life is complicated. We hope you have a nice weekend, stay cool, and have some fun before the K-12 schools start back.

Imperial Koi

Imperial Koi is an upscale, Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar on New Garden Road near the Brassfield Shopping Plaza. The food is very good and the decor inside is elegant. However, as seen in the above photo, the al fresco, patio area is lovely- especially at dusk. The pink, claiming clematis that frames the seating area is in full bloom. It is as if you are a member of the wedding party when seated in this area between the flowers and under the tiny, white lights.

Imperial Koi has been in Greensboro since about 2009, when the owners relocated from Connecticut. They have developed an extensive menu of just about every meat you can think of. Additionally, the sushi offerings are extensive. If you have sushi-loving friends, you can enjoy the sushi boat in great atmosphere, whether you dine inside or out!

Elm and McGee Streets

There has been a lot of construction going on at the corner of Elm and McGee Streets, across from Natty Greene's brew pub. We're not sure what business is going in at this spot where the Idiot Box was formerly located. In the above photo, you see one of the workers busy trying to prepare the building for its new owners. One of the major changes is the windows and the way they open in the front, indicating that interaction with Elm Street will be really important.

We haven't spent as much time as usual downtown over the last couple of weeks. If you know more about this location, please let us know. Happy Wednesday, a good day for a random act of kindness, and a good day to help us investigate this new Greensboro business. Thank you!

ECOFLO: Keeping the Green in Greensboro!

ECOFLO is a company that provides hazardous waste disposal. It is a privately-held, veteran-owned business. In Greensboro, the facility is located at 2750 Patterson Street. They have many services, including industrial and household waste processing. Free drop off for used motor oil is one of the services they are best known for. They also have a mountain of used electronic equipment, including unwanted giant screen TVs. ECOFLO®, Inc. has been the contract administrator for the City of Greensboro/Guilford County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center since 1994. 

Patterson Street is starting to be a major sustainability corridor. On the corner, the Red Collection is a consignment store for people to give unwanted items a new life. Reconsidered Goods, behind Red Collection, up-cycles materials, especially for artists and crafters. Across the street is Shops on Patterson,  an antique store. Then, you will find ECOFLO, open Wednesday-Saturday to help with getting rid of hazardous waste. Call before you go to make sure your disposal needs can be met. 800-999-6510 or [email protected]  With school about to start, for teachers, homeschoolers, scout leaders, and other community leaders, perhaps your organization can do something to help with keeping hazardous waste contained in an environmentally friendly way.

We Are All ALIKE We are all DIFFERENT

This weekend, on an urban walk along Spring Garden Street, the above plants were spotted near Spring Garden Street on Holliday Drive, just behind Spring Garden Bakery. They are the same plant, but at very different stages of growth. The purple one is drying up, the yellowish one is younger. They reminded us of the juvenile non-fiction book, written in 1991, by Cheltenham (PA)  Elementary School. The book about culture, diversity, and individuality is aptly titled, "We Are All Alike We Are All Different. It reminds us of the importance of embracing diversity. 

Last night, a candlelight vigil was held in Greensboro to mourn the violence in Charlottesville and to stand in solidarity for social justice. Look at how much prettier this photo is with the two flowers being completely different colors. They are alike; they are different- just like us.

Each year, Greensboro becomes increasingly diverse. The website of the City of Greensboro has the following population data: White 44.2%, Black 41.1, Hispanic 7.8, Asian 4.0, and the other categories making up a few percent* Working together, embracing differences, and treating each other with dignity, will be what it takes to thrive in the 21st century. These are serious times.

* reference.

 

Time for Reflection

This bench is placed in front of a porch full of petunias at a home on Walker Avenue, just off Tate Street. It is so inviting and tempting to use for a respite, a time for silent meditation. At least one day a week, we all need to take pause, reflect on the week behind and the week ahead of us. Today would be a good day for to do so.

There are many serious situations in the world right now, one of which is just up the road in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tonight in Greensboro, there will be a candlelight vigil for unity and social justice at Governmental Plaza on Greene Street from 7-8pm. As a community, Greensboro made great headway toward social justice in the 1960's, during the the Civil Rights Movement. Let's hope and pray we can keep race-based violence out of our community.

And, if we see someone on the above bench, we just may ask for permission to join them, regardless of how alike or how different we may be...

Miniature Horses

Greensboro and Guilford County are known for having horses. We are one of the State's counties with the most horses. The above photo was taken just outside Greensboro, near Oak Ridge, on a farm where they have miniature horses, at Westergaard Kennels and Dog Boarding. In addition to raising golden retrievers and boarding dogs, the kennel also raises miniature horses on their 15 acres.

It is hard to tell the above horses are not full sized, as there is nothing to reference, other than the fact they are shorter than the fence. They are usually about 3 feet tall or less. Miniature horses can live up to about 35 years; so, if you get one, you are committing to a pet that will span generations. Miniature horses tend to be friendly and interact well with people.  The photo below features one that really tried to befriend us. 

Tobacco Field

In North Carolina, tobacco has been a successful cash crop and central to our state's agricultural history. In North Carolina, tobacco growing dates back to the mid 1600s, as it was one of the few crops that grew well in the dry, sandy soil. The above field is an example of soil quality the Sandhills and even here, in the Piedmont. The above tobacco is planted out West Market Street, near the Guilford/Forsyth County line. 

Over the past decades, North Carolina has been moving away from its agricultural industry, with more emphasis on the industrial and service oriented sectors. There was a day when virtually every community in Greensboro, and the surrounding areas, had parcels of land planted in tobacco. Now, the crop is not nearly as easy to find and employment in tobacco. Between 1992 and 2012, employment in the tobacco industry has declined by almost 50%*

As you can see from the above photo and the insert below, tobacco ripens from the bottom up. The bottom leaves have already turned yellow. If you want the leaves to grow larger and thicker, you need to cut off the flowers before they open. Trimming directs the energy to other parts of the plant. Most North Carolina children who live on tobacco farms have had the chore of working the fields and helping in the process. The tobacco in the photo has a lot of flower buds.

This weekend would be a good one to take a drive around the rural parts of Greensboro to look for tobacco fields, old tobacco barns, and other traces of our agricultural history.

 

*reference, here.

Crepe Myrtle

Crepe myrtle is a beautiful tree/shrub and has been especially popular on the suburban lots of Greensboro. There was a time in the 1990s when virtually every new home came with a crepe myrtle bush as part of the landscaping. Many crepe myrtle never reach full height as they get brutally lopped off. The above crepe myrtle has reached tree height, growing well above the roofline on this suburban lot.

As you can see, where there is a crepe myrtle in bloom, there is a mess. Those blooms shower anything and everything in their path. The crinkled, crepe-like flowers keep blooming all summer. In the fall, the tiny leaves take on a showy display of color before they... you guessed it... drop, all over driveways, vehicles, gutters, rooftops and anything else in their path. The blooms of white crepe myrtle resemble snow. 

While native to the Indian subcontinent, they sure find themselves at home in Greensboro. 

Music in the Park

We want to share one more day of MUSEP photos with you, as the free concerts on Sunday afternoons are so special and so much appreciated by the families of Greensboro. The above photo gives you an idea of turnout, and this is only a small slice of the crowd, that extends way back into the park. As you can see, people bring their own chairs and set up in groups; some dance, some mostly watch. Everyone has a good time. This past Sunday's concert was at Latham Park. The concert this upcoming Sunday will be at Lindley Park. 

The photo below features Wonderwall, the Beatles tribute group that delighted the crowd with over an hour of non-stop Beatles music. Do you know your Beatles trivia and the origin of their name? Wonderwall Music is the name of an album by former Beatle, George Harrison. It was the first solo album by one of the Beatles. It was also the soundtrack to the movie Wonderwall. The group, Wonderwall, was very well received by Greensboro's MUSEP-attending crowd. It was interesting to see people in their late 60s and children under ten equally enjoying this music from the 1960s. Happy Wednesday and may we all have more joyful music in our life!

Final Farewell

Part of the reward of preparing Greensboro Daily Photo entries is that we meet many great community members. Six years ago, in 2011, we had the opportunity to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. Peter Vanstory. Sadly, Harriet Funk Vanstory died on Friday, August 4th. Her obituary , in the Greensboro News and Record yesterday, shares some of the personal details of Mrs Vanstory's life. 

Mrs. Vanstory was originally from Delaware, but spent the majority of her life in North Carolina. She attended Salem College in Winston-Salem. She earned a Master's degree in French from the University of North Carolina. She taught French, Spanish, and English in the Burlington City and Guilford County Schools for twenty seven years. She was an outstanding teacher, remembered fondly by her students and those who worked with her. Even with working outside the home, Mrs. Vanstory is remembered for supporting, helping, and caring for her immediate and extended family. She was an outstanding organizer and hostess and played a leadership role in many Greensboro organizations. Mrs. Vanstory was one of those women of the last half of the 20th century who found a way to balance the  professional, personal, social, and spiritual aspects of life. Mrs. Vanstory, you will be missed. Our thoughts are with your family and friends as they say their final goodbye.

MUSEP 2017

Greensboro is so lucky to have the Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP) concerts. They are held each Sunday, all summer long in the many different public parks throughout the city. Each park has its unique character and each band has its unique sound. Most bands are local. Last night, the evening started with the above-photographed Zinc Kings, masters of Piedmont old-time music. The second act to delight the crowd on the lawn was Wonderwall, a Beatles tribute band. Both bands were outstanding. 

MUSEP is quite a community-building event. People from all walks of life and all parts of the city come together to enjoy music outdoors. Many friend and family groups put together elaborate picnics and combine listening to music with socializing over dinner. While last night's event at Latham Park was packed, the photo shows how much fun some of the under five crowd had while listening to music. They were equally enthusiastic when the Beetles tunes were playing. While the photo is a grainy, cell phone photo, it captures the joy we all feel at MUSEP.

Three Sunday concerts remain (Aug. 13 in Lindley Park; Aug. 20 in Country Park; and Aug. 27 in LeBauer Park). See here for times and names of bands.

 

The First, First Presbyterian

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Today, a building that was formerly the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro now houses the Greensboro Historical Museum. It is a very dynamic venue featuring permanent and rotating exhibits relevant to local residents, businesses, and events. Even though the building is on the site of the first, First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, it is actually the third First Presbyterian Church on the site. The museum is located at 130 Summit Avenue, downtown next to LeBauer Park. It is open from 2-5 pm today, if you are looking for something interesting and educational to do today. Even though the building is now a museum, many aspects of it retain the feel of a church, including the spectacular stained glass window at the stairwell downstairs.

Currently, there is an exhibit of the journeys and stories of second generation Asian Americans. The exhibit opened in June and will be installed until December 31st. The stories are told from the viewpoint of Greensboro residents of Asian heritage, and is well worth a visit- or two. Also this week, the 5 by O. Henry plays begin in the museum's theatre. Have a great Sunday, regardless of what you decide to do. 

 

Lumber Yard Fun

Today's photo was taken last night at the former lumber yard lot, an open, outdoor area located on the corner of Eugene Street and West Gate City Boulevard. It was a warm summer night and the community came out to eat from food trucks, hang out, and listen to live music. Marty Kotis purchased the three acre site last year and has turned it into a vibrant, family friendly place.  Mr. Kotis has the grand vision of bringing a variety of businesses to the property, housing them in existing buildings to maintain the integrity of the space as much as possible. His goal it to develop the property so that it is rated in the top ten slots of Trip Adviser.* Based on last night attendance and feedback, he may well be on his way to making the space a major entertainment destination for Greensboro. 

The string of lights leads to the giant exhaust silo that was formerly part of the lumber yard's mill shop. The space is known as "Tracks", a nod to the railroad tracks on the north side of the venue. Kotis hopes to attract millennials, and will keep the space "grittier" than his more polished midtown buildings at Red Cinema and Pig Pounder Brewery. As an example, much of the ground is dust and mulch.  Walls are filled with murals that resemble the urban graffiti art at the Wynnwood Walls in Miami.

If you want photos of the artwork, a daytime visit is suggested. If you want to enjoy the vibe of resting after a day of riding rides at the county fair with family and friends, a twilight visit is best.

*reference. 

First Friday August 2017

Today is the first Friday of August and downtown Greensboro will be celebrating First Friday. The above pedestrians were recently walking along South Elm Street. The city is so beautiful this time of year, with the trees and shrubs leafed out and flowering hanging baskets dotting the streetscape. If you like to get out and interact with people, come downtown this afternoon/evening for First Friday. There will be so much to do. First Friday is usually busiest between LeBauer Park and the 600 block of South Elm Street. This month, it is expanding a little bit southwest tonight as food trucks will be in the 300 block of West Gate City Boulevard-  in the former lumber yard, near Eugene Street and across from the Salvation Army Thrift Store. The food trucks will be there from 6:00 - 10:00 pm. 

You can also elect to stroll along Elm street, just like the above folks. Galleries will have lots of new art and many serve complimentary appetizers. Retail shops restock their merchandise and fluff up their stores for all to enjoy. The Greenhill Gallery on Davie Street will be open from 6:00- 9:00 pm, featuring live music from 6:30- 9:30 pm. UNCG and Revolution Mill are sponsoring the Lego Batman movie in LeBauer Park, with free, pre-show entertainment begining at about 7pm. When it starts to get dark, around 8:15, the Batman movie will begin. Bring your lawnchairs and a picnic snack, or purchase food from vendors at the park. You can simply stroll and see what is unfolding tonight, or, you can map out your evening schedule. Either way, you are sure to have a lot of summer fun!

Roundabout in College Hill

Roundabouts, or traffic circles, are looping junctions that are meant to keep traffic moving. The City of Greensboro is trying out one at the corner of Walker Avenue and South Mendenhall Street, in front of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The circular shape only makes it necessary to stop if you need to yield the right away to someone who has entered the circle first. Some roundabouts are fancy, with statues or fountain in the center. The above intersection in Greensboro is rather small and makeshift; if the roundabout stays, chances are, it will not have much in the middle.

The earliest circular junction known is in the English city of Bath and dates to 1768. The modern day roundabouts opened in Germany in 1899. They started becoming common in the 1960s with England having many and France boasting having half of all roundabouts. As for Greensboro, we're not known for them, but they are becoming more common. Can you think of where some of the other are located in the city? Do you like them. Most people seem to have a strong opinion about them- either loving them or avoiding them. What are your thought? Honk if you love roundabouts!

National Night Out

National Night Out was celebrated last night. Many people and neighborhoods in Greensboro took part in the event. The above photo features South Mendenhall Avenue in the College Hill neighborhood. Their slogan was "College Hill for Everyone." College Hill is located between Greensboro College and UNCG on the edge of downtown. They closed part of the street to allow neighbors a chance to spend time getting to know each other. Pizza, sodas, and watermelon were available for all. Children were playing in the street; learning to hula-hoop was especially popular. The event is a community-police awareness-raising event. Throughout the event, held from 5-9 pm, several different police stopped by to interact with the residents of College Park. 

The event has been held annually since 1984. College Hill has been a neighborhood since the mid-1800s; it has had an incorporated neighborhood association since 1978 and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993. College Hill is a neighborhood committed to feeling neighborly and an event like National Night Out is perfect for helping all neighbors feel welcome. If your neighborhood does not yet have organized activities for National Night Out, consider planning one for next year. It is always the first Tuesday in August.

Young at Heart

Happy August 1st. Can you believe August is upon us? Every first of the month, the City Daily Photo community sponsors a theme day and this month's theme is "Young at Heart." The obvious choice is the face of a senior citizen, someone like Iris Apfel who is well into her 90s, but seems as if she is in her 40s.  Indeed, we know many people in Greensboro who are older and eternally young at heart. In the end, we decided to select an older dog. You can tell by the gray on her face that she has some age to her. She was adopted from a no-kill shelter in the mountains of North Carolina. She had been there for a very long time and had been passed over a lot. However, when visitors and volunteers were with her, she seemed genuinely interested in being with the person handling her. Many of the other dogs seemed more interested in simply being out of confinement. Today, she is living the good life in Greensboro. She is active, loves to go on walks, run and play ball. She is always ready for a road trip and is planning one in that little Airstream in her back yard.

Guilford County has many options for adopting dogs that need a new home. If you Google "dog adoption Greensboro" many great organizations will appear in your search. If you are looking for a dog, we hope you will adopt, and that you find a dog that is a good fit for your living situation and your family.  Also, we hope you will consider adopting an older dog. So often they are, indeed, young at heart. By the way, the above mutt wants you to know that yesterday was National Mutt Day. We were celebrating during the photo shoot! Note the wagging tail!

The Fat Cat Ltd. at Priba with Gwen

The above photo features Gwenn Lance of The Fat Cat Ltd. Original Art. Formerly, Gwenn had her own gallery in the Oak Ridge shopping plaza. Now, she has moved the gallery and embarked on a design collaboration with Priba Furniture and Interiors on Stage Coach Trail- between Western Guilford High School and the PTI airport just off West Market Street. You can shop for original art and furniture pieces at the same time. Gwenn's gallery features many local and regional artists who are nationally recognized. Gwenn also does in-home consultations to help you evaluate your art needs and will help you hang your art once you purchase it. At Priba, you can find everything from more graphic-monochrome pieces to more organic and colorful pieces like the one above.

Gwenn hails from Michigan but has lived in the area for over a decade now. She is such a pleasant and talented person; if you like artsy, design-savvy people, you would love meeting her. Gwenn is at Priba on Saturdays and, by appointment.  It is a real treat to have her do a gallery walk with you and learn about the artwork. Seeing the paintings in the context of furniture groupings helps customers visualize what it will look like at home. The Fat Cat/Priba collaboration began in the fall of 2016. We hope it will continue for a very long time. 

Colfax Baptist Church

Colfax Baptist Church is located along West Market Street in Colfax, just beyond the elementary school. The architecture is rather iconic for southern churches: Brick, small front stoop, white steeple with a cross on top, large parking lot, and mature trees. The church is close to Kernersville. In recent history, it was very rural; however, over the last few years the area has really been built up.

The church is also just down the road from the Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park. If you are local and looking for a fun Sunday drive, driving from Greensboro to Kernersville on Market Street (and back) is a good one. Pack a picnic lunch and head west. If you see anyone from Colfax Baptist, encourage them to archive some of their church history on the Internet. We couldn't find anything. See the beauty of the church property in the photo of the signage, below.

Happy last Sunday of July!

Bicycling in Greensboro

Today's photo features a cyclist at the corner of South Elm Street and East Washington Street. Greensboro has been working hard to make travel safer and easier for cyclists.  About ten years ago, in 2007, Greensboro established and mapped a new route system for cyclists, based on recommendations of the BiPed Plan.* Since then, over the last several years, Greensboro has been constructing bicycling lanes, edgelines, and greenways. While the city is increasing its off-street paths, as seen in the above photo, many cyclists still need to use the city streets, especially when commuting to work.

Not all automobile drivers embrace the idea of sharing the road with cyclists. Please help spread the word, cycling is good for one's health and for the environment. May we all be willing to share the road.  If you haven't tried, cycling, early weekend mornings is a good time to start learning- especially on some of the off-road options. Happy Saturday! Pedal power! 

* reference and more information, here.

 

Sunflower

From Tuscany and Provence to the Biltmore Estate, to the Triad, and the rest of the sunflower-growing world, sunflowers exude warmth and happiness. The above sunflower was photographed on a front lawn on Joyner Street in College Hill. As you can see, it has not yet gone to seed. Once the center pod turns to seed, you know summer is fleeting. Right now, the heads of the sunflowers on Joyner Street are still perky and perfectly formed. As they mature, they will droop to protect the seeds from the elements. Eventually, they will turn brown and dry out, but the seeds will be tasty.

If you go to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, you will see a field of sunflowers, a contrast from the formal gardens. Biltmore has over 100 acres dedicated as a wildlife food plot and the sunflower garden is a large part of that garden. Bumblebees, songbirds and doves are especially attracted to sunflowers. If you plant sunflowers in your yard, you will bring so much joy to not only wildlife but to people like us, who walk around looking for signs of Greensboro's seasonal beauty. If you get a chance, drive around the block from South Mendenhall and Joyner Street and see some beautiful old homes and nice flower gardens. This sunflower will be waiting for you (and the birds)! Happy Friday!

 

House on South Mendenhall

This beautiful Greensboro home, at 612 South Mendenhall Street, looks like it could be found at the beach or in a small, southern town. With all of the perennials in bloom, it is picture perfect this time of year. The robin's egg blue and white trim make the pink and yellow flowers stand out. That porch and brick path look so inviting. Equally inviting is the beautiful kitty that loves to greet visitors. This 1,600 sq. ft. house was built in 1921. It is so well maintained, it is hard to believe that it 96 years old. Situated between Greensboro College and UNCG and less than a mile from downtown Greensboro, the location is very convenient.

We're betting the owners really enjoy their house. We have so many beautiful homes in our great city!

Happy Birthday, Laura of College Park!

The College Park neighborhood of Greensboro is located just west of Aycock Street, near Sunset Hills. You may recognize the street names: College Park Drive, West End Place, Mayflower Drive, and Sylvan Road. College Park is a diverse neighborhood filled with residents who seem to enjoy each other's company and who are supportive of each other. One such example is the above photographed yard display for Laura, who turned fifty yesterday. The display was planned and implemented by several of her friends in the neighborhood. Imagine waking with a clothesline in your yard, filled with bras and this birthday greeting.

We learned of the display thanks to Nanny Foster, who lives in College Park. We also have to thank Nanny who is a great photographer. She took this photo and submitted to us for publication. Usually, we take our own photos, because part of our enjoyment is getting to know the people and places of Greensboro. However, guest photographers sure make our job easier. A big thank you to Nanny, whom we featured HERE last year.

In preparing this post, we realized we don't have a category for HUMOR. Perhaps we need to start infusing our posts with more humor. After all, Greensboro is full of fun, joyful people. Thank you, Nanny, for reminding us of that. And, happy 50th Laura. We can't wait to see what your friends do for your 60th!

Mayfield Creamery

Mayfield Creamery, based in Athens Tennessee, is expanding its territory and seeking to increase brand recognition. To increase product recognition in targeted markets, they are holding ice cream challenges in different cities. Yesterday was Greensboro's turn. Yesterday, they were in LeBauer Park with WFMY providing live Facebook feed. Their goal was to serve 10,000 scoops of ice cream FREE between 11am and 3pm. For every scoop of Mayfield Moose Tracks served, Mayfield would donate $1 to the Salvation Army to help with its community programs. Word of free ice cream spread quickly throughout Greensboro and LeBauer Park was crowded with people gathering for a scoop.

Mayfield broke their record and served ten-thousand scoops in an hour and fifteen minutes. Hats off to Mayfield Creamery and LeBauer Park for partnering for this fun fundraiser. They were able to get over ten thousand people downtown on a hot, summer Monday when surely half the residents are away at the beach. There is something magical about the word, FREE!

The photo below is a scene of the Mayfield Ice-cream freezer leaving the park. If we understood correctly, they are headed to Charlotte. 

Happy 70th Birthday, Wrangler

The Kress Building on South Elm Street is filled with a Wrangler timeline and some memorabilia, detailing the seventy years of Wrangler. According to the timeline, in 1947, Greensboro's Blue Bell Corporation hired a Philadelphia taylor, "Rodeo Bill" Lichtenstein to design a jean that would be functional to cowboys, but would have a fit that was flattering. Mr. Lichtenstein was smart and got input from rodeo champions, and one, Jim Shoulders, was signed on to endorse the brand, an endorsement that lasted 59 years. Throughout the years, Wrangler has adapted to the changes of the times and, in some cases, helping to set trends. In the above photo, the multicolor jean in the middle of the photo was launched in 1970 with a partnership between pop-art artist Peter Max and Wrangler.

If you get a chance, head downtown to see this exhibit which reflects a tremendous part of Greensboro's denim & jeans history. After all, one of our city's nicknames is now Jeansboro. Thank you, Kress Building for showcasing this great piece of Greensboro's history.

Bible Revival Ministries Center

The Bible Revival Ministries Center is located on the Forsyth/Guilford County line off of Highway 150. Rev. Bill Daniel is the founder and senior pastor. He has been broadcasting on local cable access channels since 1997 and was on the radio before that. The center's mission is to promote the healing of the whole person. Also, according to their website, they support missionaries throughout India, Africa, South America, and the United States.

Bible Revival Ministries Center also has a very active Hispanic church and congregation housed in the building. The Hispanic congregation meets on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The above photo was taken on Saturday. It is refreshing seeing young fellows so happy about being at church and enjoying each other's company. In spite of the really hot day, they came dressed in long sleeves and long pants. The girls and women, equally elegant in their dresses, were standing together enjoying each other's company. While the spiritual aspect of being part of a congregation is important, the social aspect of fellowship is powerful, too. It is heartwarming to see the youthful energy of the young guys enjoying each other's company and bounding over boulders to go inside, when they could have taken the easy road!

1618 Downtown

Hey teachers, looking for something to do next week? Grab your employee badges and head downtown, 1618 downtown restaurant is offering teachers 25% off on lunches between now and Labor Day (Tuesday-Friday). This is a great deal because the food is delicious and already reasonably priced. They have a lot of locally sourced food and it is fresh. Their sandwich options range from ground ribeye to chicken to a portabella mushroom vegetarian option. If you like salads, they have a tasty salad of salmon on greens. The waitstaff is perfectly attentive, without being overbearing. 

1618 is located at 312 South Elm Street, near Scuppernong books. After lunch, you can head to Scuppernong and select a book; the staff is great at making recommendations, if you ask. Downtown and 1618 downtown have so much to offer these days and in the summer, parking is easier. The business gets its name, not from its address on Elm Street, but from the address from the original 1618 that is located on 1618 West Friendly Avenue. Both are yummy!

New Police Vehicle

If you have been downtown recently, perhaps you have noticed that the Greensboro Police Department has these new tricycles. They scoot along on the sidewalks. The above photo was taken on Washington Street at the corner of South Elm Street as the vehicle was westbound. We first noticed it as the vehicle and driver passed us eastbound. The photo below captures the reaction of most people who saw the officer and vehicle on Tuesday afternoon. The scene was definitely a head-turner, with everyone doing a double take. Wonder if the police officer was thinking, "Made ya look!".

The Greensboro police force has officers on foot, in cruisers, on horseback, on motorcycles, and now on tricycles. Regardless of mode of transportation, it is a tough job. If you are an officer, may you have an event-free weekend. Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

 

 "What on earth was that?"

B+P (Bites & Pints) Gastropub

On Monday, driving around Spring Garden Street in the Lindley Park area, we noticed that the old Fat Dog's Grille and Pub was getting pressure washed and renovated to be transformed into B+P, Bites and Pints.  According to the signage at the road (see below), Bites & Pints will be a gastropub- a place that combines high-end beer and good food. Chef, restauranteur, and consultant, Kristina Fuller and businessman and tavern operator, Mike Bosco, are teaming up to bring new life to this little building that looks like it was a gas station at one time. If so, the nod to British Petroleum/BP is even more clever.

Fuller, who owns and operates Crafted the Art of the Taco and Crafted the Art of Street Food, has consulted extensively on the project. Bosco, who owns and operates Westerwood Tavern, will be opening and operating the establishment. While it is sure to attract people throughout the Triad, Lindley Park residents are very loyal to businesses in their neighborhood, especially when they can walk to them. To be sure, with KF+MB collaborating on the venture, B+P will be a big success! It shouldn't be long before they open. 

Flowers in Lindley Park

The south end of Lindley Park backs up to Spring Garden Street and extends to Holden Road. The above photo features a gentleman watering the cone flowers around the sidewalk at the part of Lindley Park near the entrance sign on Willowbrook Drive. The view is beautiful at this bend. And on sunny days, butterflies, bees, and birds, can be seen enjoying this flower garden.

The founder of Lindley Park, John Van Lindley (1838- 1918) was a pomologist and nursery person. He owned over 900 acres in this part of town and just west of here, before it was incorporated into Greensboro, when it was known as Pomona. He also donated 60 acres for a recreation complex, which is located near the above photo. At one time, Mr. Van Lindley had over 22,000 customers in his nursery business. He had more customers than Greensboro had residents at that time. Were he alive today, he would be proud of the unidentified gentleman above who is working hard to ensure the neighborhood flora thrives! You have to admire the fact that he is watering by hand, being careful not to waste any water.

Stop back by in the fall. Once these coneflowers go to seed, goldfinches will be plentiful.

BY THE WAY: Stop at the Corner Market this Saturday morning (at the corner of Walker and Elam) and kids will be able to make slime. They are calling it Slime Day. Lindley Park is always doing something fun! You can shop for flowers, produce, arts and crafts, while the kids are making slime!

K Cs Improvement and Construction Company

KCs Improvement and Construction Company is a construction company on Battleground Avenue, conveniently located across the street from Lowe's Home Improvement Store. The business is painted school-bus yellow and when the setting sun shines on the building, it almost glows as you are driving down Battleground. The company appears to be willing to tackle everything from the small, handyman type jobs to the larger construction projects. Sometimes, it can be especially difficult to find companies willing to accept the smaller jobs.

Some day, when we have more time, we're tempted to go inside and learn more about the company, as well as who determined that their corporate color would be bright yellow. To be sure, when sitting in traffic behind one of their vehicles, you will definitely notice it. Happy Monday folks and, since there are very few busses on the highway during the summer, pay attention to how many bright yellow vehicles you see. You may see one of KCs trucks. Happy Monday; have a happy mellow-yellow, sunshine-yellow Monday, dear readers!

Glitters

For years, Glitters was an anchor store in the 300 block of South Elm Street. Even before the regentrification of downtown Greensboro, Glitters was there. And back in those days, they were one of the few places in town where you could be guaranteed to find incense, Buddha figures, and other items from eastern religions. They also had what some referred to as "hippie items." About a year ago, Glitters moved to the 500 block of South Elm.  And, now, we see a "going out of business" sign in the front window. Perhaps the demographic of downtown is changing; perhaps, there are more places that sell the same kinds of items as Glitters. 

While it is hard to say goodbye to a Greensboro institution, we'll evoke a quote from Buddha about letting go, "Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be." May we all have faith in what will be, whether on South Elm Street, in our personal lives, in the Nation, or in the world. Have a peaceful Sunday.

Vroom! Saturday is Convertible Time

Nothing says summer fun like a sporty convertible. The above photo, taken at the Harris Teeter in Friendly Center, features a yellow, Ford Thunderbird convertible. With its retro styling, the above yellow beauty looks like one of the eleventh generation Thunderbirds that were manufactured in the early 2000s. The last Thunderbird was produced in 2005.

While sales weren't as brisk as Ford had hoped, looking at them now, the convertible model has that snappy charm that is so desirable during parades and when driving at the beach. We would not be surprised if this car's owner purchased provisions at the Taj-Ma-Teeter to use that first night of a beach vacation. To be sure, whoever owns this car, that is over a dozen model years old, takes extremely good care of it. If you are out walking this weekend, take a picture of a car you really like. There are some great ones on Greensboro. Happy Saturday!

There's a Frog in the Bucket, Dear Readers, Dear Readers

Today's photo doesn't require much explanation. This is just a common green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) who happened to land in a bucket in our backyard in Greensboro. When we went to water this morning, and started filling a bucket, this green beauty made his presence known. You have no size reference in the photo (we didn't want to push our luck), but you can see that he is very fat. With all the rainy weather we've had in Greensboro, bugs have been ABUNDANT! He is, without a doubt, the largest green frog we've seen in our yard. We tilted the bucket, so that he could get out if he wanted, and positioned it beside the basil. When we checked about 30 minutes later, he was still there. An hour later, he had moved on. While many people keep these frogs as pets, we prefer letting them roam our yard and eat all the bugs they possibly can.

The above frog is the state amphibian of Louisiana and Georgia. Do you know North Carolina's state amphibian? See the answer at the end of this post.* Getting outside and enjoying nature is such a great part of summer. We say this often, but, not that it is the weekend, please find time for a nature hunt, and let us know what you find.

*The marbled salamander the pine barren tree frog have State recognition in North Carolina. The pine barren tree frog looks similar to the one above, except, instead of white, it has a brown stripe (and brown belly).

Food Lion at the Y

The Food Lion food truck was at the Spears Y yesterday afternoon. They were at the Y distributing backpacks of with nutritious food: a box of salad greens, an apple, and a banana to anyone who stopped by. The purpose was to spread the word that Food Lion is committed to selling fresh food, especially produce. The stores in Greensboro should all be refurbished/remodeled by the end of the summer and they are making a real effort to bring in new customers, especially those who may be have tried them in the past but shop elsewhere; or, those who are in the habit of shopping at other grocery stores. The promotion got a lot of attention. Combining the Y with fresh produce was a good idea. People were walking up to the truck asking if they were giving away apples.

Perhaps the truck will be at another location today. We forgot to ask, and, by the time we returned to ask, they were gone. Having a mobile grocery distribution vehicle is a good idea, especially if they want to advertise and build a customer base at community events.  By the way, we've already eaten the apple and it was tasty!

 

Pleasant Ridge Road

The above photo was taken on Pleasant Ridge Road just as you cross over Highway 68. This part of Pleasant Ridge parallels the northwest section of the Greensboro bypass that crosses just south of here. About fifteen years ago, this area seemed like a rural, country scene. Today, a 360 degree view here would show you a very different scene. For now, we'll focus on that which is ahead, the Pleasant Ridge Golf Course.

In spite of all the construction and changes, the Pleasant Ridge course is still 18-hole. It is open to the public and a great place to practice your putting on a sunny, Greensboro afternoon. There are four sets of tees for different skill levels. The course has been open since 1969. In two more years, they will celebrate their 50th anniversary. Here's to another 50 more! Here's to enjoying summer drives to parts of town not part of your beaten path.

Five Hearths

We had trouble figuring out how to format this post, so, we're sharing them all in this giant format. They are best appreciated when seen together. These sculptures appear in front of the Jim Melvin Municipal Center downtown on Washington Street. They are a series of five cast glass and concrete works, resembling headstones, located just off the sidewalk. They were created in 2016 by artists Crystal Schenk and Shelby Davis. The sculptures reflect moments of individuals working working together as community, doing things we can all celebrate and be proud of. As people walk to the municipal building, they see this homage to the diversity of Greensboro and how individuals come together to make community.

See the exact explanation in the plaque below. The installation is a gift of the Cemala Foundation. If you are local, we encourage you to head downtown and see them for yourself. As with all good sculpture pieces, seeing them installed in three dimensions is much more impactful than looking at photos. Although, you don't have to squat to get a good look through our photos! Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

Twilight

Twilight, after a rain, when it is bright but not sunny, can lead to a sky full of the most beautiful blues. The above photo was taken at Jefferson Village last week after a rain. The skies were clear and dramatic. On a night like the one above, it would not be usual to see fireflies in Greensboro. Did you know that temperature affects the number of flashes per second? The lights in the parking lot look like giant fireflies. The week after the Fourth of July in Greensboro can be pretty quiet with many people away on vacation. If you are in town, we hope you will find something creative and fun to do. The News & Record newspaper, the O. Henry Magazine, and Go Triad are three good places to start to get an idea of what is happening around town. Then again, we can all make our own fun. Consider organizing a picnic in one of our local parks. If you are trying to be more mindful and calm your mind, remember Meditation at noon tomorrow at Church of the Covenant at the corner of South Mendenhall and Walker Avenue.

Regardless of what you do, please get outside; walk around the block or visit a park. Truly, it is hard to improve on nature- especially dusk in Greensboro this time of year.