Greensboro Daily Photo

Howard Coble Intermodal Transport Center

The above photo features the Howard Coble Intermodal Transportation Center. The multi-million dollar facility is part of the   Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART). Due to increased need for public transportation in the Greensboro area, this new facility is being built to increase capacity. It is located between the Piedmont Triad International Airport  and Colfax, at the intersection of West Market Street and Brush Road.

PART was named for former Congressman Howard Coble who secured the money for the project back in 2005. The facility includes a 2,000 foot bus terminal, a passenger facility, and parking slips for twelve busses. It is expected to be completed this summer. If Congressman Coble were alive today, he would have been so happy to see this facility come to fruition. It was quiet and hauntingly beautiful when we were on site last night. It will be even more beautiful when it is full of life and serving the transportation needs of the Triad.

Many Changes on Lewis Street

As Lewis Street gets gentrified, changes are taking places overnight. In the above photo, you can see that Dixie Lock and Key has moved from what has become a high-rent district. As seen in this photo just last year, Dixie Lock and Key was still open. The south side of Lewis Street is almost completely filled and, now, the north side has projects in all of the buildings, on the first, second, and third floors! The whole street is filled with entrepreneurs and visionary small business owners. At the corner of South Elm and West Lewis Street, you will find Downtown Greensboro Incorporated,  an economic development organization committed to helping stimulate investment downtown.

We'll feature this corner again next year to update you on the changes. One nice feature is that, regardless of what is transpiring on the inside, on the exterior, the integrity of the early 20th-century façade has been maintained. Greensboro streets still have the feel that they did decades ago. As for the barely-visible DIXIE sign on the left, perhaps someone can get it to the historical museum. Finally, if you notice the two people in front of the building, the young woman is glued to her phone. The young man is walking down the street, hands clasped behind his head, as if he just finished posing for Norman Rockwell.

L is for Lake

Some cities are built around rivers. Greensboro doesn't have a river, but we do have some lovely lakes. Hamilton Lakes is the name of a local community that is now part of the city of Greensboro. According to the city's website, the Hamilton Lakes neighborhood has over sixty acres of recreational opportunities. There are trails, natural wooded areas, a stream, a playground, and limited access lakes.

If you know the bodies of water in the neighborhood, you will have seen the mated pair of swans. The above photo features Mr. Swan who is dutifully patrolling the shoreline guarding his partner and their egg. She diligently sits on the egg, perched on their throne-like nest. He glides back and forth, ever willing to flap his wings and use his forceful beak on anybody who gets too close. Hats off to him. It will be lovely to see the swan family swimming around together this spring. When we do, we will snap a photo and appropriately title it "Swan Lake." For now, we'll respect their privacy and hope that the egg makes it to term.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "L" is for "Lake" (Swan Lake).  See A-K, here!

Blossoms

It has been eleven days since we've featured spring blossoms on Greensboro Daily Photo. We'd like to share the above photo today because the rain this weekend, combined with the warm weather, really helped Greensboro start looking like spring. Last year, a late freeze, killed many blooms. This year, even the dogwoods are blossoming. This is the time of year where yards look different almost daily.

The above photo was taken on Jefferson Road near Temple Emanuel. The pink blossoms in the foreground really stand out against the blanket of yellow forsythia. When trees and flowers are blossoming, they bring so much joy to not just the owners, but everyone who drives by. If you are in Greensboro, now is the perfect time to drive through older, established neighborhoods like Old Irving Park, where great effort is put into keeping the landscape beautiful. Also, consider visiting our public areas like the Arboretum, the Bog Garden, and Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. Happy Spring!

American Green Tree Frog

Yard work has its perks. We were removing weeds from an outbuilding and uncovered this American green tree frog. It was a small one, only about an inch long. While these frogs are common throughout the southeast, their North Carolina habitat range tends to be a little more to the east than Greensboro. According to a website for amphibians and, maintained by Davison Herpetology, the habitat of the American green tree frogs is expanding into the North Carolina Piedmont.* Have you ever seen one near your home?

As the above frog clung to the wall, we were reminded why we avoid using pesticides in our yard. Nature is such a delicate balance, and amphibians are at risk. There are 21 frog species identified in North Carolina. It would be nice to maintain all of them. If you want to learn more about North Carolina's diverse amphibian population, and possibly become involved in efforts to help prevent decline, go here.

Did you know that North Carolina has the highest salamander diversity in the world? We are second only to Georgia in amphibian diversity in the USA. Learning these facts made us even happier to cover the above tree frog back up and let him sleep for the day. At night, he will be leaping through the air, trying to make a meal of flying insects. Hopefully, he likes mosquitoes. We don't!

*reference and tree frog call, here.

Hope Chapel

Hope Chapel is an independent, Christian church located on Spring Garden Street, behind the Blind Tiger near the railroad tracks. The church first held services in Greensboro in 2008, based out of Lindley Elementary School. In 2011, they renovated a warehouse at 1825 Spring Garden Street and by December, 2011 they moved in and services began in the building where they remain today. According to their website, Hope Chapel's vision is "to embody and articulate the historic Christian faith to bring about spiritual, social, and cultural renewal in the university communities and surrounding neighborhoods..."  They especially believe in the gospel and community building and see the secular and spiritual as being intertwined. They are a small church, of about 175 members, and encourage people to visit, regardless of where they are in their faith journey.

The above photo was taken at Hope Chapel last night as people were entering for a 'sold out' concert by performers Andrew Peterson and Audrey Assad, who were in town as part of their "Edge of Dawn Tour." These Christian singer songwriters, are getting a lot of recognition. Audrey, daughter of a Syrian refugee, has a voice that is hauntingly clear. The two have very compatible voices. We're betting those who were lucky enough to get tickets really enjoyed themselves.

We hope you enjoy your Sunday, whether you stay home or venture out. If you like contemporary Christian music, listen to something by Andrew and Audrey. If you like exploring Greensboro, try finding Hope Chapel. It is part of a corridor of Greensboro- between Spring Garden Street and the railroad tracks-  that we predict will continue to grow.

A Great Day to Be Outdoors

In Greensboro, today will be a great day to spend out of doors. Perhaps you can do yard work, help a neighbor outside, or enjoy one of our city's many trails or participate in sports. In the above photo, three golfers are on the putting green at the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. The photo was taken on Francisco Drive and shows that Greensboro actually has some change in elevation. Around our lakes, it is a little hilly. If you are on the above golf course, you really experience the hills.

On maps, Greensboro is recorded as being 892 feet above sea level.  The highest point in North Carolina is 6,687 feet at Mount Mitchell; the lowest point is sea level, at the shore; and, the average elevation is 700 feet. So, in Greensboro, we can proudly boast being above average. The standard par for a golf course is 72 and the average golfer shoots 100, in which case, at least in golf, we aspire to be below average. Finally, the average high temperature for March 25th in Greensboro is the mid-60's and today is predicted to be in the 70's. Indeed, it will be a great day to be outside.

Boxcar Bar + Arcade

The Boxcar Bar and Arcade is one of Greensboro's newest venues on West Lewis Street. It bills itself as fun, and prides itself on being affordable, with an extensive lineup of modern and classic arcade games. They also have craft beer, outdoor seating and are dog friendly. While they don't sell food, there are usually food trucks nearby ready to sell you food. Plus, you are welcome to bring food from outside. This part of town just keeps growing. If you haven't visited Lewis Street lately, it is well worth having a look. Regardless of what you decide to do, enjoy your weekend! 

Meet Mr. Scott

Meet Zach Scott. He was a vendor at the Hand to Hand Market held at Gibbs Hundred this past Sunday. He is a senior at Appalachian State University, pursuing K-12 Arts Education Licensure. He is originally from Winston Salem and is student teaching locally this semester. About a year ago, Mr. Scott learned to crochet and, at the market, was selling his crocheted animals at very reasonable prices. In his hand, he is holding a snail that was just precious. It is encouraging to meet young adults in Greensboro who are pursuing their dreams and have an entrepreneurial mindset.

We predict that Visual Arts will flourish as people realize art is so much more than pretty decorations. Art can be useful like the design of tableware and home furnishings that takes into consideration space, comfort, and function.  Art is problem solving, thinking things through using the engineering design process. Art is anything original that communicates emotion. We know we loved that little snail. Even more, we loved knowing that a skilled, well-educated artist with a great disposition, specifically Zach Scott, has made a commitment to teaching art in the public schools.

K is for Kernodle (Middle School)

Kernodle Middle School, located at 3600 Drawbridge Parkway, opened on August 21st, 2000. It is located between Carolyn S. Allen Community Park and Well Spring Retirement Community.  The school was named for John R. Kernodle, Jr., a native of Burlington, NC and an exemplary citizen in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. He was a lawyer and theologian who served many civic positions, including serving as Chairman of the Eastern Music Festival and Chairperson of the Guilford County Board of Education.* This personable man was known for his commitment to social justice and for having a "wide smile and welcoming personality." He died in 1995 when he was only 50 years old as a result of being hit by a car in Atlanta.

Kernodle Middle School is well-loved by its stakeholders and were Mr. Kernodle alive today, he would be proud of the hard work on the part of students, teachers, and staff at his namesake school. In 1973, Ethel Stephens Arnett published a book, For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina. After 44 years and many new schools, we say it is high time for a new volume. To be sure, Mr. Kernodle would merit an entry.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "K" is for "Kernodle" (the school and the man). See ABC Wednesday posts around the world, here; and Greensboro Daily Photo's A-J, Round 20, entries, here.

 *reference and more information about Mr. Kernodle, here.

 

The Greensboro Skyline

Today, we're featuring coordinates 36º4'22" N  79º47'32"W.

We have wanted a good skyline shot for a very long time and finally got this one. Greensboro is changing before our eyes, with construction across from the baseball park on Eugene Street. It is nice to document the changes. The iconic Lincoln Financial building, on the right, still holds its own as the downtown anchor. As you may already know, it is actually two buildings. Attached to the Elm Street side is the Jefferson Standard Building. It is 374 feet tall and was built in 1927. At one time, it was the tallest building between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. The 20-story Jefferson-Pilot Building (front side), now the Lincoln Financial Building, was completed in 1990. It remains the time/temperature beacon for everyone from our bankers and lawyers and our homeless citizens. On foggy days when clouds are low, we have to resort to cell phones for time and weather data.

We wish we had Greensboro lawyer and photographer, J. David Bartenfield's drone photography talents and equipment. If you are friends with him (or his friends) on Facebook, you will see some fabulous drone photography of downtown Greensboro. However, for now, we'll have to settle for our old-school, out-of-doors, climbing skills to capture photos. This past weekend, clouds were beautiful and provided a nice backdrop to still and drone images alike. Happy Tuesday, dear readers.  

The Black Belt Soap Company

The Black Belt Soap Company is a wonderful business started by the very talented Dr. Temeka L. Carter. She is featured in the above photo with her associate, Jeff Petrishen. Dr. Carter uses all natural ingredients including plant-based essential oils and fragrance oils . The small-batch, hand-blended products are fresh and vegan-  with the exception of locally-sourced goat milk. With over 50 items on their website, there is something for everyone: banana chai smoothie soap, cedar wood and orange IPA beer soap, room sprays, coffee whipped shea body butter, lip balms, monthly subscription boxes, and more. We were on location at the Hand to Hand Market at Gibbs Hundred yesterday and were quite taken with their products. Indeed, we fell in love with all of their products.

The Black Belt Soap Company is not named after martial arts; it is named for Dr. Carter's home region in Alabama. Alabama's Black Belt Region is known for its black soil, perfect for growing cotton. On her website, Dr. Carter explains that the region "continue(s) to be defined by the legacy of slavery and the plantation agriculture system." It is high-poverty, has low-achieving schools, and has experienced considerable out-migration. Dr. Carter is committed to giving back to community, and a portion of her proceeds go to scholarships to help children in the area. As taken as we were with the Black Belt products, we were equally smitten with Dr. Carter's warm, friendly demeanor. 

Greensboro is so lucky to have community members like Dr. Carter, committed to helping others and giving back. Visit the website for the Black Belt Soap Company, here. See some beautiful merchandise here:

 

Oak Ridge United Methodist Church

Our Oak Ridge series comes to a close today with the above photo of the marquee of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, located just east of Oak Ridge Military Academy, near the J.L. Sawyer house.  Today's marquee is fairly typical of Christian churches with a cross and information about services for the week. Also typical are the crosses that have cloth, with the color representing the current cycle of the liturgical calendar. At the moment, Christians are in the Easter Cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost); the purple cloth is displayed during Lent. Purple represents royalty and penitence. For Easter, April 16th, the cloth will be white, symbolizing joy and festivity. This year, Easter for the Orthodox Christians as well as the other Christian denominations all fall on the same Sunday.

On the day we were photographing, winds were strong. On close inspection, we noticed it was plastic fishing line, not divine intervention, holding the cloth in place. Are you observing Lent? If so, we hope you are finding some creative fish dishes to serve on Fridays.

JL Sawyer House

Today rounds out our Tour of Historic Homes in Oak Ridge. Above is the J. L. Sawyer House, built in 1919 and, like the Whitaker house down the street, also in National Folk style.  It also has two external chimneys. This architecture, however, differs from the house featured yesterday in that the Sawyer house has a double-sloped gambrel roof and side-gabled carriage porch. If you enlarge the photo, you will notice the stone foundation. During the 1930's the Black Lantern Tea Room was also located on this site.

According to the historic marker at the road, Mr. Sawyer was a barber at Oak Ridge Military Institute (its early 20th century name). You can imagine that the barber at the military institute was kept busy, subjecting cadets to those first haircuts.

Zack L Whitaker House

The above house, located at 2412 Oak Ridge Road, just down the road from Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA)  was built for a local family in 1898. In 1937, it was purchased by the Whitaker family. Colonel Whitaker was a teacher and administrator at ORMA for over fifty years. According to the historic marker in front of the house, the architecture is known as National Folk I-house style. It has an entry pediment and two exterior chimneys.

As you may surmise from our posts this week, we spent a lot of time on location taking photos in Oak Ridge. The community has done a tremendous job of installing signage and historic markers. With that much attention to detail and reverence for history, Oak Ridge makes it easy to showcase its beauty and history. We encourage every community to do the same-  in Guilford County and beyond.

Now that it stays daylight later, perhaps you can head out to Oak Ridge and explore for yourself. You may even find a leprauchaun and a four leaf clover today. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

Blossomtime...

With temperatures dipping to the 20s this week, Greensboro will be lucky if tree fruits aren't affected. We wanted to sneak in another photo of blossoms before they are gone. It is not uncommon for Greensboro to see ice storms as late as the ACC Basketball Tournament (currently underway). Old Man Winter was hardly around this year; to see him return in mid-March, with the spring equinox only four days away, seems pretty cruel. Unfortunately, the ACC Tournament is not in Greensboro this year. The tournament, born in Greensboro, is scheduled to return here in 2020. Let's all start planning ahead and show fans and players how wonderful it is to play basketball here. Perhaps we should fill the Coliseum with blossoms!

At any rate, the blossom photo proves the blossoms were beautiful in Greensboro this year. If you like to take this kind of nature photography, The National Park Service is predicting cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. will reach peak between March 19-22. This pesky cold weather is delaying their arrival, which was originally anticipated to be March 14-17.  Perhaps we should count our blessings that we have blossoms and time to enjoy them, regardless of when they come our way. Happy Thursday.

 

J is for Jewish Federation

The Greensboro Jewish Federation building is located at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Dolley Madison Road. The Federation has two constituent agencies, The Jewish Foundation of Greensboro and Jewish Family Services. As stated on their website, the "Federation has been supporting, sustaining and revitalizing Jewish life for nearly a century." They provide many important services to the local Jewish community. Their assistance extends to financial, emotional, physical and spiritual support. Their website alone is a wealth of information related to issues important to the Jewish community. From seeking grants and scholarships for travel to Israel to attending Jewish overnight camps locally, the website of the Greensboro Jewish Federation is a good place to start. The Federation also offers plenty of opportunities to volunteer and provide financial donations to support their efforts.

Since the 1800's, Greensboro's Jewish community has played a leadership role in many facets of life here. Moses and Ceasar Cone arrived in Greensboro, at the end of the 19th century.  The Cone family name became associated with textile industrialism, conservation, and philanthropy. Moses Cone convinced another pair of Jewish brothers, the Sternbergers, to move to Greensboro, in part because of the acceptance he felt by the Greensboro community. Greensboro's early Jewish families, like the above Federation, are at the root of Jewish life in Greensboro.*

Today is ABC Wednesday and J is for Jewish Federation. See our A-I entries, here. See a close-up view of the tree of life/ Star of David decoration on the building's facade, below.

 

*reference and more information, here.    

Gate City Redux

This billboard is located behind Thousands O'Prints, Chakras, and Schiffman's at the corner of Davie and East Washington Streets. The "Go. Reconnect." is a reference to travel by train. It is the closest billboard to the train depot a half a block away. Greensboro has a tremendous rail history. The nickname "Gate City" dates to the late 1800s when as many as 60 trains a day moved through Greensboro. Today, people are still able to travel to and from Greensboro by train, hence the above sign.

If you are interested in train travel, head down to J. Douglas Gaylon Depot at 236 East Washington Street and learn about your options. Sure, you could look online (www.ncbytrain.org); however, the building is beautiful, the interior is historic, and seeing people coming and going is an experience that can't be replicated virtually.

Spring on Oak Ridge Road

This beautiful view is found on Highway 150, very near Oak Ridge Military Academy. En route to ORMA to photograph Linville Capel for GDP this past weekend, we about skidded off the highway upon seeing these beautiful forsythia in full bloom. One forsythia alone is beautiful, but when you see a string of five framed by a gravel, country road, the scene is heavenly. The Carolina blue sky, the red-budding bushes, and the curvy, old tree branches made the scene complete. Nature is so beautiful, especially when we make a little effort to landscape, using plants that vary in color, texture, and size.

The North Carolina State Beekeepers Association keeps track of what is blooming when in North Carolina; by region.* You may not be happy to hear this, but dandelions are scheduled to bloom in Greensboro this week. Keep in mind, bees need Dandelion flowers and, from the roots to the blooms, every single part of this pesky garden weed is edible. Just maybe you can tolerate them in your yard. If you harvest dandelions, please eat and drink them! Save a glass of dandelion root tea for us! As for those forsythia blossoms; yes, they are edible- somewhat bitter, but edible. Save a serving of forsythia blossom salad for us, too!

* bookmark this great site.

Linville Chapel

The above photo features Linville Chapel on the 101 acre campus of Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA). The academy opened in 1853; however, the chapel was not built until 1914*. It does have a plaque to the right of the front doors stating that it was renovated in 1991 by R.N. "Buster" and Edna Linville in honor of Bishop Kenneth Goodson and wife Martha whose first methodist appointment was in Linville Chapel in 1935.

The entire campus is registered as a National Historic District. If you have not been out there to see the campus, it is well worth the drive. There is so much history associated with the institution. Before the 1990s was very secluded and rural in character. Over the last two and a half decades, retail establishments have been encroaching; especially on the western end of the property. ORMA itself, however, still has the character of a campus from a century ago. We hope to be able to attend a service inside, at some point, as the stained glass windows are lovely.

* reference and more information, here.

 

The Traveled Farmer

The Traveled Farmer is located in Midtown, across from Sheetz and beside Red Cinema. As feasible, they are a farm to fork restaurant. They even have a little farmers' market inside where customers can purchase fresh produce.  It is part of the initiative to make this part of town, just before downtown, become a destination in its own right. If you are interested in seeing for yourself, they are open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm today. Saturdays, it is really popular to take in a meal or light snack here before heading over to the Red Cinema for a movie. 

The property is owned by Marti Kotis, who is working very hard to develop a dynamic vibe to midtown and The Traveled Farmer certainly seems to be attracting people to the area. They bill themselves as a farmers market within a restaurant and the produce is especially fresh. Speaking of fresh, we hope the beautiful greenery on the wall survives the cold snap this weekend. 

Tropical House of 2017

This house, located at the corner of West Friendly Avenue and East Greenway Drive North, is a bit out of character for the Sunset Hills neighborhood. In a part of town where homes are usually very traditional colors, to see an aqua and purple house is definitely attention getting- especially on this prominent corner lot. The pink flamingo, perched on a tree stump by the entrance walkway, hints at the fact that there is a story behind this color scheme. Painting a house is a commitment to a look as well as a financial investment. It is not something you do as a prank. We hope to find out the story about the house, which only recently was painted these colors.

Do you know the story behind this house? What do you think? Freedom of expression? Challenging the status quo? By the way, those of you that know Greensboro well know that the house has a cousin on North Mendenhall Street. Since it's the weekend, perhaps we'll see people working in the yard and can ask them. We have a couple of pink flamingos stored in the attic. Perhaps we can stop by and give them to the homeowners.

Have a great weekend and check out the brightest house in your neighborhood.

 

Home Style Cooking

Everyone loves a little "Throwback Thursday" once in a while. The above photo features a building in nearby Stokesdale that formerly housed a "Country Cooking" restaurant. It offered homestyle cooking; good, fresh, mom-and-pop style food. Currently, the building is for sale and, this past Sunday afternoon,  had no signs of life. Next door is a used car lot and across the street is a school. On a school or work day, you would think the restaurant would have the potential to be super busy.

Imagine people considering buying a used car and talking about finances over a slice of homemade pie and a cup of coffee. Or, moms meeting for breakfast after they dropped their child off at school. You would think home cooked food would never go out of style. Then again, the restaurant industry is a lot of hard word and it is not always easy to make a profit. While the nostalgia factor is high for the old-time restaurants, time can trump nostalgia, with customers wanting instant food and drive-through convenience.

At the end of the day, remember to vote with your wallet, and, vote often!

I is for International Women's Day

Today is the 106th year of International Women's Day. To quote the campaign's website, "March 8th is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity." Local initiatives in North Carolina include encouraging women to campaign for advancement and to stay home from work today to heighten awareness of how much women contribute to the workforce. At least one school district in North Carolina is closed today because of concern about not finding sufficient substitute teachers. The irony is that today is also the annual statewide tornado drill day. With or without their female teachers, at 9:30 a.m., all students in the State will move to safe shelter and assume the crouched, facing-the-wall position. 

On another note, today's photo is a poster at the city parking deck on Bellemeade and Elm Streets. It features Prlyanka Ruparella, a Ph.D. student at Greensboro's Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. According to the school's website, out of fourteen full-time faculty, one nano science faculty is a female and one nano engineering faculty is a female. Let's hope that more women, like the one featured on the poster, decide to pursue these specialized science fields. To be sure, it is hard work. To be sure, women deserve equal pay for equal work. 

Today is ABC Wednesday, and for Round 20, "I" is for "International Women's Day", which has been celebrated in the USA only since 1975. In Cuba, Madagascar, and Uzbekistan, it is an official holiday. Here's to crouching and facing the wall at 9:30 and standing up and cheering at noon!

Changes on Tate Street

This photo of Tate Street was taken on Sunday. If you are local, you may have noticed that the Subway Sandwich Shop closed. Indeed, the little patch that looks like tape on the front of the building (between the blue and red cars) was formerly a Subway. It has been said that the space will become a tattoo parlor. If so, it will be well positioned between Greensboro College and UNCG. Soon, college students and professors can contemplate tattoo designs between classes.

UNCG is purchasing some of the property on Tate Street as part of their expansion plans. Tate Street is nestled on the edge of College Hill Historic District, Greensboro's oldest neighborhood and the city's first designated historic district. It is a dynamic street with a lot of history. The College Hill Neighborhood Association is active, and works to promote their neighborhood. While businesses may come and go and properties bought and sold, for a neighborhood with two pre-Civil War houses and many from the early 20th century, every indication is that the neighborhood will thrive for a very long time. With UNCG moving onto Tate Street, it is anticipated that real estate values will rise. Let's hope the videographer in the foreground got some good footage to share, especially if the video is related to the upcoming changes.* 

* read article, here.

Live Music at Tate Street Coffee

One of the many perks of living in an area with so many colleges and universities is that there are frequent opportunities to hear really good, live music. Last night was one such opportunity. At Tate Street Coffee House, a band called Wake Robin* delighted the audience with great Americana music. The musicians, Mark Dillon, Holly Riley, and Emily Damrel played acoustic music and harmonized for two hours. Holly is in graduate school in Florida now, so having her back in North Carolina was a real treat. Holly not only sang but also played banjo and fiddle throughout the night. Mark and Emily still live locally and hopefully will be putting together more shows.

Between music inside Tate Street Coffee House, music at the Tate Street Music Festival, performances at Greensboro College and UNCG, and all of the music in the churches nearby, there is probably great music available every day of the year within walking distance of Tate Street. It is so special to support local talent and the musicians are always so appreciative. While local musicians perform because they love sharing their music, it never hurts to toss a little money in the tip jar- or in the case of last night's performance, the vintage, aluminum coffee pot. 

What a great way to get ready for the week! Thank you Mark, Holly, Emily, and Tate Street Coffee House!

*earlier typo corrected. Sorry, Wake Robin. Maybe we weren't awake when we typed the post. Perhaps autocorrect was not our friend. At any rate, correction made!

The Greensboro Islamic Center

Today, we're back at the Islamic Center on 16th Street in Greensboro. Since the blog began in 2009, something religious or spiritual has been featured on Sundays on GDP.  Most of the posts feature churches, as Christianity is the dominant religion in Greensboro; but in the last year, we've made an effort to explore religious diversity in Greensboro. The path to world peace is paved with getting to know and learning to love thy neighbor. The Islamic Center is a peaceful and welcoming place. The above photo features the courtyard between the mosque and the school, near where people remove their shoes before praying. 

If you missed yesterday's open session to visit and learn about Islam at the Islamic Center, go, here, to the website to find out about the April session. You will be served a hummus snack and be offered a free Quran. As they say in Arabic, As-aslamu alaykum or "peace be upon you." Perhaps we should title this photo: Between prayers.

Happy Sunday!

Dinner Time!

On the day we photographed them, these two beautiful horses were thrilled as it was dinnertime. They stopped eating, just long enough to pose for the photo, before they resumed devouring their bale of hay. They are two of the many horses at High Silver Texas Paint Horse Farm, located at the corner of Pleasant Ridge and Stanley Huff Roads. While neither of these horses is a paint, they certainly are beauties and representative of the happy, healthy horses found at this farm. Soon, they will be shedding their winter coats and will be even more stunning. You can tell they are well cared for and content. 

This is yet another example of the rural sights of Guilford County. We love progress; however, we also treasure some of the old-time beauty that is classic Greensboro. Guilford is one of the North Carolina counties with the most horses. Let's hope it will stay that way... for a very long time.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Friday!

For many, it is the end of the workweek and time to rest. For others, it is time to head to a second job. Regardless of how your weekends are organized, consider driving around town and marveling in the beauty of the area- especially this time of year. The above photo is part of our documenting changes around Horse Pen Creek Road. On the Battleground end of Horse Pen Creek, this lot has has the remains of a little wooden house that burned: a fireplace and some porch columns. The jury is out on the old oak tree. We'll have to wait until the other trees begin leafing out to see if it is still alive. The lot itself is waiting to be reimagined as a 21st-century, revenue-generating venue. The urban loop is about to go under Horse Pen Creek Road;  Daystar Church is building church on farmland directly across from the Montessori School; so much continues to change on this road. Documenting change in one's community is fun; with some changes being more welcomed than others.

If you are looking for more concrete things to do in Greensboro this evening, remember it is First Friday and there will be opportunities for gallery hopping downtown. If you are near State Street at 6:00 p.m., Greensboro artist Liz McKinnon will read her new children's book at Vida Pour Tea. The reading promises to be delightful. Bundle up and enjoy the weekend! 

Growth & Change

Horse Pen Creek Road has been transforming before our eyes. The above photo shows a still-rural lot with open space, blossoming trees, and a field with large trees casting shadows on a sunny afternoon. On the right, north of Horse Pen Creek shows an apartment complex, a recent addition to the area. The road is also being widened at intersections. It is as if the phone lines split the road down the middle; they make the contrast even more pronounced on the two sides of the street..

While change and growth are inevitable, having green space is crucial for keeping Greensboro green. As seen in the above photo, last Saturday was an exceptionally beautiful, warm day with dramatic skyscapes. We wish we could have skies that beautiful every day.

H is for Heart

This past Saturday,  Allen-Tate Realtors gathered at their office on Green Valley Road to sew for the Scarves 4 Warmth Project. The workday was sponsored by Realtor Kelly Creed. Many of her Allen-Tate colleagues filled their training room to make scarves that will be donated to people in need of a little warmth. The bright, cheerful scarves, often with hearts and crosses sewn on them, send a message that even though you are down on your luck, you can know that an assembly-line of people is behind the scenes supporting you. 

Standing in the back is Bobby Craddock, the project's founder. If you would like to volunteer with the Scarves for Warmth Project or schedule a workshop, email Bobby at [email protected]. We have the feeling this project is the start of something even bigger. Finally, we'd like to send a big thank you to the Green Valley, Allen-Tate crew. They made some beautiful scarves.

Today is ABC Wednesday and we're sharing "H" is for "Heart" as part of the Round 20 series.