Greensboro Daily Photo

Fishing on Lake Higgins

The lone angler above was recently fishing on Lake Higgins. The day was cold and the starkness of the winter vegetation combined with the blue cast to the photo make the scene look even colder. According to the website of the City of Greensboro, the lake is stocked with bass, crappie, sunfish, trout, and catfish. Fishing is allowed from a boat or on the pier at the marina. At the fall bass tournament this past October, twenty-one anglers participated and the first place fish weighed 7.30 pounds. The spring tournament usually attracts a more people. If you are interested, start testing your equipment now and make sure you have found a few key fishing holes by early April.

This 226 acre reservoir is also a great spot for paddle boarding and kayaking. Greensboro is so lucky that the city maintains the reservoirs and provides access for the public at large. We're sure the man in the boat would attest to the peacefulness of fishing after a long week at work.

Tre Stokes

Yesterday, Scuppernong Books was quite a hub of activity. The line wrapped around from the bookstore's entrance on Elm Street to the Biltmore Hotel on West Washington Street. People were waiting to get their copy of "Hidden Figures" signed by the author, Margot Lee Shetterly. The event was so popular that Scuppernong sold out of the book. To the crowd's surprise, just prior to the arrival of Shetterly, Tre Stokes slipped into the store with his mother, Shonia. Tre, a ten-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina, started as Levi Jackson, Jr. in the movie. In the above photo, he was talking to some of his fans. 

When Tre entered Scuppernong, all of the children in the bookstore wanted to get a photo taken with him. He graciously complied with a pose, a smile and a, afterwards, a big handshake. Tre's cheery personality and radiant smile put everyone at ease. In spite of his busy acting schedule that calls him away from Greensboro, he still calls Greensboro home and is a full time student in the Guilford County Schools. We have a feeling Tre's career will soar, yet he will always remember his local roots.

NC A&T Gospel Choir

The North Carolina A&T State University Fellowship Gospel Choir sang their hearts out at the Ronald E. McNair Celebration and Memorial Day this past Friday. McNair was a physicist and NASA astronaut who died on the Space Shuttle Challenger during its 1986 mission. McNair earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics at NC A&T State University. To honor and remember their fellow Aggie, the University always holds an event around the time of the explosion of the Challenger. The community is invited to participate. The above photo was taken at the luncheon held on campus this past Friday.

According to the University's website, the mission of the gospel choir is to "promote and provide a socio-religious organization that embraces the love of gospel music." The gospel choir travels extensively, and frequently performs at NC A&T's official ceremonies. We hope you have an opportunity to hear them live sometime. They are outstanding. In the meantime, you can listen to one of their performances, here. If you look to the right of the choir, on the edge of the photo, you can see a photo of Dr. McNair. If you believe in heaven, you surely believe Dr. McNair is there waiting to greet us when it is our time-- and, just perhaps with a gospel song! Happy Sunday!

Shall We Bike?

Today's photo features a person pedaling across the bridge in downtown Greensboro where South Edgeworth meets up with Freeman Mill Road, directly above Spring Garden Street. It is common to see cars and trucks passing above on this bridge; however, bicycles are not so common. Since the Greenway is also located near here, many cyclists- especially recreational riders- opt to ride the greenway. The young man above appeared to be a man on a mission. He had the energy of someone well accustomed to using pedal power to get from Point A to Point B.

If his determination inspires you to get out and bike this weekend, here is the city's link to their Greensboro Urban Area Bicycle Map. Over the past decade, Greensboro has gotten more bicycle friendly and motorists are becoming more accustomed to sharing the road. The Dutch have learned when drivers exit a car, they should open the door with their right hand. This forces the body to turn, increasing the likelihood of seeing a person riding past on a bike. Whether you are on a bike, in a car, or otherwise, we hope you get out and enjoy the weekend.

Revolution Mill Meets WAM!

The repurposing of the 520,000 sq. ft. Revolution Mill is transforming the 19-acre property from a 20th century textile mill to a 21st century cultural hub of apartments, restaurants, gallery space, offices, and more. The above photo is 123 Gallery 1250 is located downstairs in Revolution Mill. The gallery walls, by artist James Marshall, represent the first of many collaborative endeavors between UNCG's Weatherspoon Art Gallery (WAM) and Revolution Mill. 

The three square photos below provide additional examples of the beauty of the space. The red spiral staircase near the gallery is reminiscent of a Mondrian painting and are a prelude to the geometry of the gallery.

Construction and design elements are being done with great consideration to honor the original features of the building. It is obvious that investors care about aesthetics and are willing to purchase materials that are durable. The cool palate in Marshall's geometric walls accentuate the signature red used throughout the building. Good design is making a difference. We encourage you to take one of the free, Monday evening tours. 

This Is Horse Country

In the Greensboro area, beauty abounds. On a recent, sunny, winter day, we drove on Highway 220 from Greensboro to the Stokesdale area. Once off the beaten path, we saw many scenes like the one above. The white horse was as curious about us as we were about her. The other horses were perfectly content to graze in the back of the pasture. The feathery tree line framed the view.

Guilford County and the surrounding area are known for being horse country. If you are interested in horses visit the international online horse directory, O Horse. It lists local opportunities for therapeutic riding, boarding horses, horse breeding, riding camps, pony parties, massage therapy for horses, and so much more. If you want to see a great show, on March 4-5, the Greensboro Kickoff I & II Horse Show will be held at the Sedgefield Showgrounds on Groometown Road. 

C is for Coliseum Complex... and Champions!

The above photo features the part of the Coliseum Complex that leads to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Hall of Champions. The Hall of Champions opened March 2, 2011. It is hard to believe that it has been in Greensboro almost six years. The display features the history of the conference as well as its long relationship to North Carolina. The ACC is an American collegiate athletic conference and it sponsors competition in twenty-five sports. In 1953, the ACC was founded in Guilford County, in Sedgefield. If you like college athletics and are local, you owe it to yourself to spend some time at this facility.

In the above photo, a dad explains some sports concepts to his small children as they listen intently. The children were so well behaved and engrossed in the conversation. Whether he was ever an ACC athlete or not, in the minds of his children, this dad is a true champion. With so much negative press these days, the scene reminds us there is good in humanity and it starts at home.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "C" is for "coliseum" and "champion."

School Choice Program in Full Swing

This is the time of the year is when families at all grade levels start thinking about schools. High school students are starting to hear about their post-secondary options. K-12 families are trying to find programs that meet their children's needs. Students always have the option to attend their designated school. However, Guilford County also has a wide variety of themed choices. The above photo features families and educators in the booth of the General Greene Elementary School of Science and Technology. This school, located on Benjamin Parkway, had so much interactive material that students were captivated. Their display had everything from microscopes so science experiments to reptiles. General Greene has a state of the art science lab, many options for digital learning, and educational field trips to reinforce their curriculum. They also have extremely catchy tie-dyed t-shirts (see below). 

Each magnet school, or school of choice, has curricular features and equipment relevant to their theme. If you live in the county and are interested, apply soon. The application process is in full swing and programs fill quickly. For the next three Mondays, potential applicants have the opportunity to tour schools. 

The Workday

The above wall is located on Spring Garden Street, approaching downtown and the West McGee Street traffic circle. This part of town is where the 16 Cents Ministry meets under the bridge and not too far from the Greenway and the Four Larks and Larder Restaurant. The cement wall looks like it might be getting pressure washed for a fresh coat of paint. When clean, the cement is quite beautiful in its own right.

The scene features one lone person cleaning the wall on a winter day. The man was working on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and he worked diligently even he thought nobody was watching. It is a reminder that some people have to work on holidays and that we have to take it upon ourselves to do the best job possible- even when nobody is looking. Integrity and a good work ethic are two of many character traits emphasized in the public schools. Obviously, the above man internalized the lesson. This is just a little food for thought as many head off to start their work week!

Triad North Carolina Women's March

Yesterday's marches and rallies in support of women's, human, and civil rights touched the world. The Greensboro crowds were also quite large for our local event- the Triad North Carolina Women's March. The above photo features Rabbi Andy Koren and Rabbi Fred Guttman. Both started their day at Temple Emanuel for the Sabbath service and then, with congregants, headed a few blocks away to the downtown march. People gathered at Governmental Plaza and marched peacefully to LeBauer Park. The expressions on the faces of both rabbis are representative of the tone of the day. These two men work tirelessly for human and civil rights within and beyond the Jewish community. Indeed, Greensboro is greater for their efforts.

Time for a Car Wash

When the weather is nice, you can expect a long line at the car wash. This is especially true in winter when people are anxious to clean the salt off of their vehicles. The above photo was taken at Streetcars Car Wash on Battleground Avenue, near Kirkwood. As with most car washes, they have many different levels of service and all price points available. They are a great place to take children to help them understand the concept of a multistep process, as well as taking a job from concept to completion. The day we sat across the street and watch the crew working at Streetcars, the workers seemed to work hard on those final details. They have to stay on their toes, because they work right there on Battleground, one of the busiest streets in Greensboro.

We hope you have a great Saturday and have a chance to get out a little even if it is just to go do chores. Consider giving your car a little extra TLC.

High School Options Day

Today's photo is a picture of the Dudley High School Marching Band taken at a previous MLK Day parade. The band was rounding the bend on Southside at the end of the parade route. The JP Building, now Lincoln Financial, can be seen in the background. We share this photo today to remind readers that tomorrow is High School Options Day for Guilford County Schools. GCS is a leader in schools of choice. This model allows families to select programs that match the interests, talents, and learning needs of their children, and staying within the public school system. 

From the arts to science to language immersion, GCS offers 17 different magnet themes. The showcase event will be held tomorrow at the Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you are interested in finding the right school for your child and you think a themed school would best meet their learning needs, you won't want to miss this magnet school fair. If you are interested in becoming a Dudley Panther, they have special programs that may interest you and you don't have to live within the attendance zone to apply. Hope to see you tomorrow!

the tiny greenhouse...

This week, we had a chance to meet Suzanne Cabrera of The Tiny Greenhouse, located at 1331 Beaman Place, in Midtown. Suzanne and her husband Edgar design and print cards, invitations, and posters. Additionally, they design tiny greenhouses and garden items like potted plants with very creative trellis systems. They are also interior architects and will help you with your in-home design needs. They specialize in mid-century modern.

While Suzanne and Edgar have had their cards and paper products in stores for a a few years now, they have only recently opened their brick-and-mortar shop. They are hopeful the the Midtown area of Greensboro will continue to grow and become a destination, where they will not only have their existing clients, but they will also get significant walk-in traffic. Once you see their great work, you will love it. Their signs and graphic designs are absolutely adorable. Every new year, we purchase a box of their cards that say "May this be the best year yet" and send them to people who may need a little extra shot of cheer.

Talking to Suzanne and Edgar will fill you with cheer. They are another fine example of Greensboro's growing group of young entrepreneurs who work hard to build professional and personal relationships with clients. May this be their best year yet!

B is for Barns

The Greensboro area still has many structures from the last century, reminding us of our rural roots. The above photo of a tobacco barn was taken on Highway 220 North, north of Greensboro and near Stokesdale. It is a fairly typical tobacco barn, about 20' x 20' square, with a tin roof and built of hewn logs and mortar. In the 1950's, there were half a million in this area, which was part of  the tobacco belt. Growing tobacco was one of North Carolina's primary crops. You may remember names like Winston, Salem, Lucky Strike, and Kool. Those were some of our local tobacco products. They all got there start in a barn similar to the one in the above photo.

Today, tobacco growing has decreased and only an estimated 50,000 tobacco barns remain in North Carolina.* The exterior view of the above tobacco barn appears to be in pretty good shape. It will be interesting to see if it gets restored or if it falls in the hands of crafters who will dismantle it for the wood. It is doubtful that it is still used for tobacco. It sure evokes nostalgia for yesteryear. Do you have any memories of curing tobacco or working in the barns?

Today is ABC Wednesday and for ABC Round 20, their final round, B is for Barn, specifically Tobacco Barns.

* reference and more information.

YMCA Bus on South Elm Street

It was a beautiful day in downtown Greensboro today. Being in the mid-50's, the weather was perfect for all of the events related to civil rights and community service, including the parade in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The above Thomas-built bus was parked in front of the International Civil Rights Museum while a group of students was touring the museum. They sounded so energized about their visit. While the museum has struggled financially, when you hear adolescents excited about a field trip and what they are learning, especially when it is historically significant, you know the experience is an important one.

This bus, from one of the YMCA's from the northwest North Carolina region, has a really catchy slogan on the side, "on the road to success." It is beautifully painted and the fact that it was made right down the road in High Point makes it even more special. While the streets look empty in this photo, many of the downtown venues, including the civil rights museum, were busy. Happy Tuesday, today, dear readers. For those who were lucky enough to have yesterday off, it will feel like Monday.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2017

Today is a federal holiday, marking the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King was a proponent of non-violent activism and today is a day when many people honor him by doing something positive for their community. The holiday was signed into law in 1983 under the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The above photo was taken last year in the morning at the International Civil Rights Museum on South Elm Street. The people in the photo were probably gathering to attend the annual breakfast. This year's breakfast will feature Dr. Oscar Dowdell-Underwood as guest speaker. He is the author of Bumblebees Can Fly: Empowering Young Men of Color." It is sponsored by the Human Relations Commission. 

After breakfast this morning, people will gather to prepare for the parade. It will begin at 11:00 am and finish at approximately 2:00 pm. in Southside, a 1.2 mile stretch along Martin Luther King Drive. If you can't attend the parade, hopefully you will have a chance to do something to celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. King. Greensboro's connections to the Civil Rights Movement are many.  Dr. King was scheduled to speak in Greensboro on April 5, 1968, the day after he as was assassinated. 

 

Daystar Grows, Again

The last farmhouse on Horse Pen Creek Road is about to become a Daystar Church campus. To the left you can see the old homestead, photographed after last week's snow. To the right, below the bent tree trunk, you can see the Daystar trailer. The 30-acre farm, that used to have a hardworking farmer, cows, a large garden, and rows and rows of blackberries, will be an additional campus for one of the nation's fastest growing churches. The current locations for Daystar campuses are: Westover Terrace, Spencer-Dixon Road, and Drawbridge Parkway. When the facility is finished, members that meet at Kernodle Middle School will move the 1/2 a mile up the road to this location.

Daystar, formed in the year 2,000 and the pastor, Allen Holmes has been there since the beginning. He was 27 when he and his wife arrived and had only been pastoring for 18 months. He has since earned a doctorate in leadership from Gordon- Conwell Theological seminary. * Holmes as grown up with the church and the church has grown up with him. What a powerful story. It will be interesting to watch the changes to the property. With 30 acres, hopefully they will have some green space and walking trails. It is a beautiful property. 

* reference and more information.

Moon over Macy's

Yesterday there was a full moon and it was Friday the 13th. The above photo was actually taken at Friendly Center on Thursday at moonrise. We dubbed it, "Moon over Macy's" and noticed that the white vehicles mimicked the piles of snow that had only melted the previous day. This week, Greensboro temperatures ranged from single digits to 70 degrees. By Thursday, we were happy to be out shopping and dining.

Friendly Center opened in 1957 and  this shopping center remains popular with Greensboro shoppers. When Macy's closed its other Greensboro store in 2015, the above location continued to thrive. In the recent (2017) announcement of Macy's closing 68 stores nationwide, the Friendly Center Macy's survived the chopping block yet again. Hopefully, with the great location and loyal customers, Macy's at Friendly Center will be productive and remain open for a very long time. It is nice for a community to have a mix of locally-owned and chain stores. For now, the Greensboro Macy's can bask in the moonrise, knowing sunset was evaded!

Happy Saturday and remember, shopping brick and mortar keeps jobs in the community!

Lovebirds

The above lovebirds (and their cousins and siblings) at Friendly Pets in Friendly Center are very tame. They are finger trained and calm around people. The above pair seemed especially grateful to be handled together. These affectionate and social members of the parrot family are native to Africa, but do well in captivity. When properly cared for and well socialized, lovebirds can live for 10- 15 years. Friendly Pets takes great pride in keeping their birds tame and finger-trained and they are available during business hours to help meet your birds' needs.

If you want a bird and like the idea of rescuing, adopt-a-pet, currently has three parakeets and a cockatiel available. Here is the link for the North Carolina Bird Rescue. They have birds, too. If you are considering one, please remember birds are happiest when they have out of cage time. They make good companions. If love birds and want a gift that keeps on giving, here is Greensboro's chicken and poultry brochure. The city of Greensboro allows residents to keep chickens if they follow certain guidelines (read here). So, if you don't want birds indoors, consider getting hens that can double as pets and providers of eggs. There is no shortage of cute hen photos on Pinterest and social media. 

Reconsidered Goods

As you can see by clock, we visited Reconsidered Goods at precisely 4:40 pm. In the above photo, Co-Founder and Director Paige Cox took a break in her busy schedule to tell us about the store. Reconsidered Goods is a non-profit, creative reuse center, modeled after the Scrap Exchange in Durham, NC. Paige partnered with Joseph Edwards and Martha-Hughes-James to found the store, located just behind the Red Collection on Patterson Street at Holden Road.

In the background of the photo, you can see some of the inventory available for purchase. They offer everything from fabric samples and scraps to skeleton keys and vintage snapshots, just waiting to be up-cycled and repurposed. While we were on site, Paige was explaining field trip options for schools. Teachers can bring students and help foster their creativity as well as give them tasks that scaffold the engineering design process. Paige was also helping a furniture maker who came to purchase leather. There were several bolts and they were reasonably priced. Another person was buying boxes of 1,000 piece puzzles. Two workers were pricing and sorting and rolling fabric. Reconsidered Goods is a busy and dynamic place.

The photo below features  the Make & Take area where people, young and old alike, can work for a studio fee of five dollars. There are many free materials in the Make & Take area and other items, like mat board and old photos, can be purchased. Several items are available for under a dollar. Paige is so committed to this venture that she left her full-time position staging and setting merchandise for Anthropologie, where she worked for five years. The idea is a powerful one. Even if you aren't inclined to repurpose things, the store is well worth a visit. They also offer classes. Finally, they gladly accept donations- in case you are looking for something to do with those left-over art supplies like that 1/2 a ball of yarn or partial tube of glue. It is also a great place for students to volunteer and, with a little creativity, earn service learning hours.

 

A is for Audree

LuLaRoe Audree Hatchett is one of the most upbeat and positive people you will meet. She always has a smile on her face and treats everyone with dignity and respect. Audree signed on as a LuLaRoe consultant in December.  LuLaRoe is known for their soft leggings, but they have other items too- like the elegant outfit Audree is wearing. A mother of three, Audree is so excited to be the new owner of a home-based business. Audree lives in Greensboro and enjoys meeting clients in person, but also loves her on-line customers. In this Internet era, entrepreneurs like Audree can realize the dream of owning and managing a business online. She also does in-home pop-ups and live sales on Facebook.  

We love to feature Greensboro's newest entrepreneurs, whether they have brick and mortar operations or online stores. Join Audree's Facebook group (here) e-mail her at [email protected] if you want to shop with her.

Today starts a new round of ABC Wednesday and, we're kicking it off with "A" for LuLaRoe Audree Hatchett! For this round of ABC Wednesday, we're not committing to a theme, but we're thinking we'd like to feature people. With your help, we might be able to do so. If you know of someone positive, upbeat, and encouraging in Greensboro, let us know and we'll do our best to feature them. We've still got B-Z available!

 

Snow Man Sighting on Elam Avenue

Yesterday, we drove around Greensboro with the goal of finding a snowman and said we would photograph the first one we found. The first (and only) one we saw was the above life-size snowman, residing on Elam Avenue in the heart of Lindley Park.  Sporting this red scarf and hat and plopped in front of an NC State flag, he is definitely an NC State fan. 

After we finished taking a photo of this Wolfman, also known as Wufman, from NC State, we attempted to head down Camden to watch people sledding at Lindley Park Elementary. Even with a four wheel drive, the road in front of the school seemed too slippery. It became readily apparent why school was cancelled today- side roads are treacherous. If you see any other snow people, let us know and we'll try to get around to photograph them. If they are in Duke, Carolina, or Wake Forest attire, that is OK. Our winter photoshoots are determined by safety of streets, not by what the snow-subject is wearing! 

It is important to realize that some things are out of our control, like the 8-10 inches of snow in Greensboro this weekend! Speaking of not having control over the weather, Frosty better look out; temperatures are on the rise over the next few days!

Sun & Snow

Somehow when the sun is out, a yard full of snow doesn't seem so cold. Yesterday, temperatures in Greensboro were below freezing and the eight inches of snow showed no signs of melting; yet, the glorious sun was shining. Regardless of your age, this is perfect play date weather. Since school is cancelled today, families are able to to head outside and sled to their heart's content. Road travel has been fairly easy on the main roads, but the side roads remain extremely icy and the sidewalks are dangerous, too. Education is important, but safety is even more important. With internet access, students have access to consider learning resources.

Playing in the snow can be so memorable. Given the Natural Learning Initiative* and the documented benefits of connecting children with nature, time spent traipsing around in the snow is time well spent. Another option with these cold temperatures is to make snow cream- a wintry, southern tradition. If you family doesn't already have a snow cream recipe, a great recipe is only a Google search away.

*See this resource from NC State.

Heavenly Snow

Well, the heavens opened and the snow arrived on Friday night in Greensboro. Stars aligned and conditions were perfect for the snow to stick. By Saturday morning, local accumulation was at 8" and growing. Of course Greensboro is at a standstill and grocery store shelves throughout North Carolina are depleted of bread and milk. 

The above photo features the Moravian star, a popular scene in the Piedmont area. Moravians arrived in North Carolina in the mid-1700's when they were exiled from Europe.*  They bought 99,000 acres in neighboring Forsyth County where the Moravian Village, Old Salem, is thriving today. As a result of Moravian immigration to the area, the iconic Moravian star dots the local landscape. The Moravian star is an illuminated decoration, originating in the 1830's as the result of a geometry lesson. It is popular during the Christmas season and, since Friday was Epiphany, the star hasn't overstayed its welcome by much. Besides, according to the Christian calendar, the season is not over until Candlemas (or Candelaria) on the Second of February. The illuminated star looks especially beautiful against the backdrop of snow, serving as a beacon of light... as long as there is electricity!

 

* reference and more information, here.

(They're Gonna Start a) Revolution Cycles

  

Revolution Cycles is located at 1907 Spring Garden Street, near Chapman Street, between the Coliseum and Lindley Park. They bill themselves as a a bike shop that carries interesting inventory, with a very different vibe from traditional bicycle shops. They stock brands like: Raleigh, Niner, Santacruz, and Salsa to name a few. A big part of their "manifesto" is to get as many people as possible riding bicycles and to offer bikes and clothing with graphic design that you can't find at other bike stores.

Inside the store is a bar, called the Handlebar. On Friday afternoons, the Handlebar hosts a "You made it through the week" happy hour. They have beer on tap and attract people who love to talk about biking adventures. The inventory is fabulous, their spirit and spirits are great. Beware if you go to their website, as their language is "R" rated;  partly for vocabulary choice and partly for the spirit of revolution. While today might not be the best day for biking, if Revolution Cycles is open, it could be a great day to check out an "off the beaten trail" bike store. To be sure, the people who own and work at Revolution have some amazing biking tales. As can be gleaned from the looks of the front entrance to the business, Revolution works hard to add energy to the 1900 block of Spring Garden Street.

Pop a wheelie if you like biking!

Great Golf in Sedgefield

Golf is a very popular sport in North Carolina and especially in Greensboro. The above photo features someone studying a shot at the Sedgefield Country Club and shows how many people like to spend their weekends in Greensboro, even when it is cold and wintry outside. It is possible to play golf about ten months a year here and golfing at the Sedgefield Country Club is beautiful, even in wintertime. This country club opened its doors in 1926 and, over the decades, has played a leadership role in hosting great golf tournaments in North Carolina. In 1938, the Greater Greensboro Open, now the Wyndam Championship, was established there. This championship brings some of golf's most famous and accomplished players to Greensboro. If you know golf, you will recognize players visiting local establishments during tournaments.

While the Wyndam Tournament won't be until August, you will see golfers out perfecting their swing in just about any weather short of a snowstorm. Speaking of snowstorms, by the looks of the empty bread and milk shelves at local grocery stores, a snowstorm appears to be brewing! You have been "fore" warned.  Stay warm!

Case of the Mystery Gummy Bears

Walking and running are activities conducive to getting lost in thought. Recently, when we saw this burst of Christmas color along the road in northwest Greensboro, we had no idea what it was. As we approached the scene, it soon became obvious they were gummy bears. We couldn't help but make up a little story about how they got there. We decided somebody, determined to eliminate junk food and sugar from their diet, tossed them out a car window. The bears seemed helpless and abandoned on the asphalt. 

Walking is great exercise, not only for the body, but also for the mind. You never know what you will see, think, and feel. Here is an infographic of 21 foreign words to describe sensations experienced in nature. You may have to endure some ads to see them, but the words are great. Our favorite for the gummy tale is the Finnish word, "Poronkusema", meaning "the distance reindeer can travel before needing to stop to rest and relieve themselves." Maybe the bears had simply reached their "poronkusema" limit! 

Z is for Zinc Kings

The Zinc Kings are an old-time band from right here in Greensboro, North Carolina. They met in 2008 in a music class at UNCG in a class called the Old Time Ensemble, led by Revell Carr. By 2010, Christen Blanton Mack, Dan Clouse, Mark Dillon, and Ryan Mack formalized their relationship and became a band.* Along the way, Christen and Ryan married; falling in love not only with old time music and with the Zinc Kings Band, but also with each other.

These extremely versatile and talented musicians can play bluegrass, jazz, and just about any sound you might need for a festive occasion. In the above photo, they were playing on December 20th at the Piedmont Old Time Society Presents series, held each Tuesday at Joymonger's Brewery Company on North Eugene Street. The Zinc Kings have quite a following and when they play, the old-time community comes out to support them. It was such a treat to listen to their music and we knew right away we would close out our A-Z Alphabet Series for ABC Wednesday with "Z" for Zinc Kings!

*Reference, and more information, here.

Armed Forces Career Center

Greensboro has a new recruitment office in to the 2900 block of Battleground Avenue. Based on the name, it appears to be a joint venture for all the branches: The Armed Forces Career Center. It is located relatively close to Grimsley and Page High Schools. As we reported last week, we have seen several military personnel at Green Joe's Coffee Company. Perhaps they are in the neighborhood checking the progress of the new facility. In addition to recruiting, we're betting they will be involved in the many holidays where veterans and active duty military participate. It will be a convenient place to visit to learn more about special events, like Veterans and Memorial Day.

North Carolina has military bases for four of the five branches of the United States armed forces: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Air Force (Fort Bragg, Base Support Unit Elizabeth City, Camp Jejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, respectively). North Carolina has 129,049 active duty and reserve members. Our State is third, just behind California and Texas.*  If you want to thank someone on active duty, consider sticking your head into the new career center and welcoming them to the neighborhood. Also, consider treating a soldier to a cup of coffee. Happy Tuesday!

*Reference, here.

Welcome Year Nine

 
Today is the Eighth Anniversary of Greensboro Daily Photo. We have published a photo a day of Greensboro, with accompanying text, for 2,920 days- through deaths, power outages, and vacations out of the country-- without missing a day. While we try hard, we don't always get everything perfect. We are just average Greensboro residents trying to provide our community with a slice of life, documenting the positive and uplifting aspects of Greensboro. Fortunately, we have faithful readers who send comments, suggestions, and edits. 

Tomorrow starts Year Nine. As we ponder what on earth we will find to share for another year, we're confident a new building will get completed; a community member will welcome us to do an interview; a beautiful front yard will catch our eye. Indeed, we suspect there will be plenty to feature in 2017. Even those Sunday reflections and posts of a more spiritual nature somehow seem to come to mind. 

The Community Daily Photo concept began with Paris Daily Photo. Eric Tenin conceived of the idea and shared daily photos of Paris for ten years until he moved to Malta a year or two ago. Today, there are daily photo sites on every continent. Hopefully, GDP can reach PDP's ten year mark. Remember, you can sign up to receive GDP through e-mail; you can bookmark us and log on to the URL directly; and, usually Facebook publishes daily. For some reason, our tweets on Twitter have stopped. We're working on that issue. (In the absence of an IT department, we are lucky if we even get e-mails read). However, if you stick with us for another year, we will try our hardest to bring you the best of Greensboro, one photo at a time.  

                                                                                                                                       Fondly,  Janis and David

 

The Best of 2016

This past year, we at Greensboro Daily Photo have had the opportunity to attend so many wonderful events in Greensboro, meet some great people, and find a year's worth of interesting nooks and crannies to feature. It was really hard to pick a "Best of 2016" photo for the International City Daily Photo Community. Our local readers tend to respond most enthusiastically to posts that tell the stories of Greensboro-- like our recent ones of the Millennium Gate or the O. Henry dog statue. There is so much to love about our city. Over the past year, we enjoyed having the presidential candidates come to town. The opening of LeBauer Park was a very special occasion, too. We finally discovered Charlie and Joan at the Greensboro Grub this past year. This husband-and-wife duo does a tremendous job of fostering a sense of community in Greensboro. Also, we are fortunate to have four distinct seasons here, with each season offering great photo opportunities.

In the end, we decided to share our September 10th photo from the 2016 National Folk Festival.  Having the opportunity to host the National Folk Festival, in downtown Greensboro, was pretty special. The festival was a music-packed weekend of fabulous musical acts, representing ethnicities and musical genres. Attendance in 2016 surpassed the previous year's attendance. The hope is that participation in 2017 will be even greater and that Greensboro will be able to sustain the event after the three nationally-sponsored years.

Regardless of where you live, we thank you for reading this past year and hope you continue reading in 2017. Happy New Year!