Greensboro Daily Photo

First Church of Christ, Scientist

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is located at 105 Arden Place in Greensboro. The church was founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston Massachusetts. The church believes in healing through Christian Science treatment. According to their website, Christian Science is a system of healing based on they way Jesus healed and it was discovered by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866. “It is the soul of divine philosophy, and there is no other philosophy. It is not a search after wisdom, it is wisdom: it is God’s right hand grasping the universe, — all time, space, immortality, thought, extension, cause, and effect; constituting and governing all identity, individuality, law, and power. It stands on this Scriptural platform: that He made all that was made, and it is good, reflects the divine Mind, is governed by it; and that nothing apart from this Mind, one God, is self-created or evolves the universe."*

The services consist of singing hymns, prayer, and readings from the Bible and from Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The church does not have clergy, but relies on readers. The denomination is well known for the reading rooms and the publication, The Christian Science Monitor. While the church does not publish membership figures, it is reported that membership has been declining in the decades since World War II.

Looking at the church on Arden Place, we are struck by the beauty of the building and property.

*reference and learn more, here.

El Día de los Niños/Day of Children 2017

Today Greensboro is celebrating El Día de los Niños, Children's Day. downtown, in front of the Central Branch of the Greensboro Public Library. You can participate in literacy activities and see performing artists of all ages share their talents. The event began as a nationally celebrated initiative twenty years ago in 1997 and it has grown since then, as has our immigrant community.  

From 1-4:30 pm today, come down to Church Street and experience books, music, dancing, art, food, and much more. We took the above photo a few years ago, when the festival was still held in Center City Park. While the venue moved one block over, the festivities will be the same, and even better. The photo features an example of the elaborate costumes you will see and the photo opportunities you will have. The event is free and open to the public.

We are so lucky to live in such a culturally diverse community.

Fallen Tree & More Rain

In the past seven days in the Greensboro area, it has rained almost seven inches. When it rains so much in a short period of time, the soil gets soft and soggy and trees become vulnerable. Leaves retain moisture and get a lot heavier; roots loosen. The above photo features a fallen tree at a house in High Point on Ferndale Boulevard, across from High Point Central High School. The owners were working to cut the limbs into manageable pieces so that they could be hauled away. It appears that, fortunately, the house was spared. We didn't get a chance to ask our friend who teaches there if school traffic was affected.

Did you know there is a South Atlantic Water Science Center in North Carolina? They have a precipitation gauges throughout the state, including one at Horse Pen Creek at US 220. See here, if you want to keep up with "real time" rainfall near you. Somehow, we think the young couple in the yard above are more concerned about getting that tree out of their yard than they are about how much rain fell. 

Today and Sunday it is not scheduled to rain; however, it is on Saturday and Monday. Monday is May first. We'll all be ready to say goodbye to April showers and hello to May flowers. Wouldn't it be nice if somebody would leave some flowers at this couple's front entrance. They could use a little encouragement. This has been quite a lot of work for them!

Old Tobacco Barn

This old tobacco barn is located in Guilford County out near Kernersville, off Highway 150. Under the tin roof, you can see the original finish to the building. The wood and chinking is less evident where the building is painted red. To the right, below, you can see the old wood-fired oven, used to process tobacco the old-fashioned way. In this barn, tobacco is flue-cured, dried in the inverted U-shaped furnace on the right. It would have been fed pine logs to generate smoke. Through an elaborate drying system, the temperature of the tobacco filled barn is controlled. According to Our State Magazine, an acre of hanging tobacco can shed almost 5 tons of water.*

Although tobacco growing and processing has declined in North Carolina, tobacco is still a dominant crop in the State. If you get a chance this weekend, and you are local, drive into the rural areas surrounding Greensboro and you will see plenty of tobacco barns, most in some state of decay. Don't wait too long. In 1950, there were half a million tobacco barns in North Carolina. Today, there are around 50,000. The charm of the above building is enhanced by the tin roof.

*See Our State Magazine article for reference and to read more, here.

P is for People

The friendly, positive people of Greensboro are the reason we have maintained this daily photo site for over eight years. Last month, when we were on a photo shoot, walking along West Market Street and Elam, the passengers in an Accura sedan, stopped at a red light, rolled down the window and said, "Photograph us!" There are two kinds of people, those who hide from cameras and those who see out opportunities to get their pictures taken. The people in this car were in the latter category. They seemed so joyful and loving life that they wanted to share their smiles with the world. Their smiles were so perfect and heartfelt. We only had time to get the one photo of the couple, when the light changed and off they drove.

Today for ABC Wednesday, the letter is "P" and for our Round 20 Series, "P" is for "People," the people of Greensboro- not only the people in the above car, but you, too, dear readers!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

As the saying goes, it has been raining cats and dogs over the last couple of days. These April showers are not conducive to taking photos outside. The above photo, features a shopper examining an  adult-sized rubber ducky float at one of the big box stores on Wendover Avenue. The rubber ducky float even has a cup holder. If this rainy weather continues, perhaps we will all need rubber ducky floats. If you don't collect rubber ducks, you may not realize that there are people who do. Thirty-nine year old Israeli native Rinat Matityahu has a collection of 3,000 rubber ducks.*  We're wondering if she owns one this large.

According to the weather reports, in Greensboro it should stop raining and warm up some this afternoon. If so, we might not need that giant yellow float, after all. We're hoping the rain tapers off so that we can resume photographing outside!

Happy Tuesday, dear readers, in less then a week, it will be May. Maybe these April showers, will indeed bring May flowers.(Another rubber duck sighting in the Greensboro was at the High Point Rowing regatta, photo here).

*reference and fun PHOTOS, here. 

Freeman Grub & Pub

D.S. Freeman is barely visible on the brick storefront of the building at the corner of Spring Garden and Chapman Streets. The store has had many iterations since its general store days. For many years, It was David Sheppard's music shop. Instruments could be purchased, restrung, and repaired on the main level and, upstairs, musicians gave lessons. Just about anybody on the east coast who was an old-time musician, knew about this shop.

Today, the store is Freeman's Grub and Pub and is operated by the same people who own Jake's Billiards, just down the street. It has a reputation for serving creative, upscale bar food. * If these rains keep up, we'll all be seeking shelter. Freeman's could be just the place to stay warm, dry, and fed.

Based on all the wires overhead, in the neighborhood, we're assuming good Wi-Fi connectivity. Seriously, you don't notice the wires nearly as much when you are in the area. As most of them are on the opposite of the street, they made a striking frame for this photo.

Happy Monday!

*reference and more information in this Go Triad article, here.

Cross of Flowers at Eastertide

The flowers at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, downtown on Greene Street, were so beautiful at Easter. They are especially noticeable against the muted tones of the stone wall and cement archway. Not only did Holy Trinity decorate the sanctuary, they had this display of a cross holding flowers at the entrance. Perhaps people who attended the service contributed flowers.

Sometimes it is nice to drive around town exploring what remains when big, elaborate events conclude.  The above photo was taken at that very moment when Easter service concluded and the congregation had completely dispersed. Indeed, basking in the peace, solitude, and stillness of that which remains can be downright heavenly. The energy of the day could be felt, long after the crowd dissipated.

For our Christian readers, we hope the rest of Eastertide is as meaningful as Easter Sunday. Enjoy your day, dear readers.

You've Got Mail!

This old mailbox, located off of Highway 220 north of Greensboro, on a rural country road, depicts an old mailbox that her about used its useful life. As a matter of fact, with the internet, we are receiving fewer pieces of surface mail. The mail we do receive is often in the form of giant packages which don't fit in a mailbox this size. The homemade stand and the shaped metal letters reflect the fact that the Caytons put a great deal of time and energy in this mailbox. We bet they knew their rural carrier by name and often waited when they saw him driving down their road.

Mailboxes really are a personalized touch of nostalgia-- unless of course you life in an apartment complex and are required to take you mail in the generic boxes of your building. What does your mailbox say about you? When is the last time you received a letter? Better yet, when is the last time you sent a letter? In the spring, the post office has some beautiful. You might just want to stock up and send a customized letter with a favorite stamp. In the meantime, enjoy the beauty of this one and, Happy Saturday!

 

Yum Yum

This has been an emotional spring for Yum Yum Better Ice Cream and Hot Dogs. In March, an SUV crashed into the side wall of YUM YUM and they had to close for repairs. With amazing turn-around time, the store was open again in just over a week. In early April, owner Bernard Aydelette, age 94, died. How wonderful that he lived long enough to see his store had reopen. He put so much of himself in the place over the decades. 

The above photo shows people enjoying a Saturday afternoon at the shop, shortly after it had opened and the weekend before Mr. Aydelette died. It paints a picture of just how much people enjoy the pause from a busy day, sitting in and around Yum- Yum. The store is located on Spring Garden Street, surrounded on all sides by UNCG. For that brief moment when it was closed, many in the community worried that it might not reopen. Fortunately, they are back in business and when groups hold their school reunions, or families come to town to see loved ones graduate this spring, this store that has been open since 1907 will continue to serve up homemade ice cream and pink pork hot dogs to adoring customers.

Happy Friday. May you have a great weekend that includes a scoop of ice cream- or two!

The Unbridled Joy of Dogs

The above photo was taken at the Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital Dog Park at LeBauer Park. The two retrievers and the Bernese Mountain Dog were having a blast running around in the dog park at LeBauer Park, downtown. The golden retriever's ears show the energy being expended during play. The young girl on the hill was having the best time playing with the dogs. The dogs were well behaved and gentle with her. It is amazing how all of those big dogs were so well socialized. Greensboro is lucky to have such a great resource as LeBauer Park and we are lucky to have so many options for taking our canines to play.

The above dog park is sponsored by Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital, located just a few blocks away at 120 W. Smith Street. Hats off to Dr. John Wehe and his staff. They provide great service in the office for the downtown canines and canines visiting downtown. Dr. Wehe was generous to help with this park. We first learned of him because he is one of the few veterinarians to treat pet rabbits. 

Lets all make an effort to unleash a little unbridled joy more often- with our without canines!

O is for Outfield

Baseball season is upon us and, in Greensboro, there are opportunities to play and watch baseball at just about every level and for every age group. Pre-collegiate players have opportunties ranging from rec ball to more intense AAU ball. Greensboro is home to the minor league baseball team, the Greensboro Grasshoppers. High Point could also be getting a minor league ball team for their proposed downtown stadium. Also, the local high schools have baseball teams, as do all of the local institutions of higher education. Literally, you can find baseball diamonds in every end of the county. The above photo was taken at an April 8th home game for the UNCG Spartans and features Spartan player Justin Embler (#8) safely sliding into 3rd base. The Spartans won that day against Furman. 

If you are looking for affordable summer fun, baseball game entrance tickets are very reasonably priced. The Grasshoppers have theme days, frequent fireworks displays, and plenty for young children to do if they tire of sitting in their seats. Today is ABC Wednesday and for "O" on our Round 20 Series, "O" is for "outfield."  To all the left, center, and right fielders (positions 7, 8, 9 respectively) in the outfield, today, we salute YOU and may all those fly balls land in your glove!

NCCJ

Here we see several NCCJ members at Beth David Synagogue facilitating an interfaith tour earlier this year. Established in 1927 as the National Conference for Christians and Jews, the organization was founded in response to the anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States. In the 1990's the NCCJ expanded their mission and updated their name to the National Conference for Community and Justice. The group is dedicated to bringing diverse people together to address interfaith and social issues for ninety years now. NCCJ aspires to build a community free of bias, bigotry, and racism. Greensboro is lucky to have the organization based here and North Carolina is lucky to be home to NCCJ's "Anytown"  summer camps.

NCCJ has so much planned for this spring and summer and today, they will have a big fundraiser at the Chipotle Restaurant at 1402 Westover Terrace (across from Lucky 32).  If you eat there between the hours of 4-8pm and mention NCCJ, Chipotle will donate 50% of the proceeds back to NCCJ. That arrangement has the potential to be significant. If you want to help teach people to learn to get along regardless of background and beliefs, eat at Chipotle in Midtown and mention NCCJ. Learning to work together is a skill where we adults have room for growth, too. May NCCJ continue to do its fine work for many years to come.

Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Afternoon in the Park

Yesterday was looking a lot like summer at LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro. This urban park was a hub of activity yesterday and people were dressed in cheerful, summer clothing.  Children were playing on playground equipment, one man was practicing golf on a putting green, people were competing in ping pong and fooz-ball. Children were running through a shallow wading pond, friends were talking, dogs were running in the dog park and people were listening to the Kassem Williams Jazz Trio. People from many ethnicities were interacting; even the weather cooperated yesterday. It was sunny and still a little early for the pesky bugs to be attacking. Yesterday was just about perfect in LeBauer Park.

We hope you have a chance to visit and attend an event at LeBauer Park soon. What a great way to end a weekend that, for many, was a holiday, and for some spring break.  We're betting there will be a lot of tired students, employers, and bosses out there today. If you have to call a meeting, try to keep it brief.

Happy Monday! 

Happy Easter 2017

The above photo features the sanctuary pews at the First Baptist Church of Greensboro. First Baptist is located on Friendly Avenue, just west of downtown. Situated between the Westerwood and College Hill neighborhoods and close to housing near the baseball park, First Baptist is in a perfect location to attract new members. Indeed, membership is on the rise.

All is quiet in this photo, but will be filled with worshipers today, Easter Sunday. People will don their Sunday best, bring a flower to share, and a bell to ring every time the word "Alleluia" is spoken or sung. If you are looking for a place to celebrate Easter, service starts promptly at 10:30. The senior pastor, Alan Sherouse, is under forty years old and most of the staff is youthful (or young at heart). So, if you are seeking a traditional, Christian church, First Baptist hopes that you will consider them. They welcome the diversity in God's world, put Christian goals before religious partisanship, and are proud of having a multi-generational congregation. Happy Easter! 

Passover 2017

Passover continues today. Passover is a pilgrimage festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery and their exodus from Egypt, lead by Moses. At Temple Emanuel on Jefferson Road, today's Chevra Torah service will be at 9:00 am and the Passover Shabbat Service will be at 10:30 am. During Passover many observers only eat Kosher and unleavened food in remembrance of needing to flee Egypt hastily and not having time to wait for bread to leaven. These observances are not only respectful to religious tradition, they build memories for children, memories that will last a lifetime.

The above swallowtail butterfly was photographed last week very near Temple Emanuel. It reminds us of travel and flight,  and the great effort it takes to not only get from Point A to Point B, but to protect oneself from harm. Happy Saturday, Sabbath, and Passover.

Good Friday & Passover 2017

Today is Good Friday and Day 5 of Passover. We were driving around town trying to find a photo that would represent either holiday to share on Greensboro Daily Photo. Serendipitously, walking past the Red Box at a local grocery store, we noticed a young woman with "PASCUA" on the back of her sweatshirt. Since "Pascua" means "Easter" in Spanish, we thought it fitting to feature someone with that last name. According to Whitepages.com, there are at least 28 Pascuas in North Carolina. For someone of the Christian faith, that is a really special last name. But, it just so happens that "Pascua" also means "Passover" in Spanish  Therefore, for someone of the Jewish faith, "Pascua" is a really special last name, too.

Today, we wish you, "Feliz pascua." Or, should that be, "Felices pascuas"? 

 

Robin Redbreast

Little robin redbreast sat upon a tree; First he chirped and sang, and then he had to flee.

Robins are known for being a portent of spring. These migratory songbirds are one of the first signs, from the animal kingdom, that weather is warming and days are getting longer. Robins (turdus migratorius) are also one of the first species to lay eggs in spring and can have as many as three brooding seasons. Only 25% of robins survive their first year. On average robins live two years, with fourteen years being the longest known lifespan (Wikipedia). The robin is one of 309 species of birds in Guilford County (see the other 308 species, here).

Their original habitat was the coniferous forest; however they are now well adapted to suburban lawns. If you see them in your yard, smile, be thankful, and try to keep predators away from those pretty blue eggs. The above robin posed for us in a tree at the corner of Elam and West Market Street.

If you like haiku, here are several haiku about robins.

N is for Neighborhood

Greensboro neighborhoods have very distinct personalities. Sunset Hills is known for their location, convenient to Friendly Center and to downtown, and their lighted chicken wire decorations at Christmas. The above photo features the oldest house in Sunset Hills, located at 2702 West Market Street. This two-story home, in the Colonial Revival style, was built in 1895 and was relocated to the present lot in the early 1930s.

According to their National Register of Historic Homes application, the Sunset Hills neighborhood comprises 280 acres west of downtown Greensboro. It was developed in the 1920s, so having a house from the 19th century is unusual. The giant magnolia trees on either side of the lot hide the home from the street on this heavily-traveled section of West Market Street. The owners, who are only second owners since 1977, probably like the protection from road noise; however, it would be nice to be able to see more of their historic home. You can actually get a better look of the 3,000+ sq. ft. structure from the Elam Street side.

Today is ABC Wednesday, and for Round 20, "N" is for "Neighborhood, " specifically, the Sunset Hills neighborhood which, in addition to the Christmas ball decorations, is known for having neighborly neighbors who are frequently out walking along the tree-lined sidewalks.

House on West Market Street

This stone house with the green tile roof at 2002 West Market Street is a show stopper, especially in springtime. This single family home, built around 1925,  is approximately 3,660 square feet. It was built for Pearl and James M. Crutchfield. The stone exterior is a technique known as uncoursed, or stone that is not placed in an orderly, linear fashion. A lot of the stone used in construction during the early 20th century was mined in Mt. Airy. Also another likely location connection is the green tile roof. It could have been produced at the Pamona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company with clay from Chatham County. Pamona Terra Cotta operated on West Market Street from 1996 to 1976.

We checked, but didn't find an online history of the above house. Situated on only .73 acres, the property, with its surrounding plantings, is stately and commands attention. Located at the southeastern most corner of Sunset Hills, it is part of the neighborhood's National Register of Historic Places.

International Festival 2017 @ UNCG

This past Saturday, from 12:00 noon until 5:00 pm, UNCG's campus was filled with people coming out to celebrate the many cultures of the world and the many cultures that make up the Greensboro and UNCG communities. The celebration, held every April, promotes cultural awareness and appreciation through music, food, crafts, demonstrations, and most of all, interaction. The two women in the photo are very representative of the many people who participated in UNCG's International Festival. Their beautiful smiles reflect the pride they had in showcasing India. The festival is an opportunity to learn about cultures directly from people of those cultures. There were passports available to get stamped as you visited the booths of nearly 40 countries. And, to the delight of all, the festival is always free.

Thank you UNCG for opening up the event to the entire Greensboro community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer questions about religion; to serve food samples; and to interact with the public at large. For the whole afternoon the event felt partly like a world's fair and partly like people just being people, and realizing that we are more alike than we are different. Do we really have to wait twelve months until the next I-Fest?

Compassion International

Compassion International is  a "child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate people with those who are suffering from poverty. The ministry releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty." The organization began in South Korea in 1952 when American Evangelist Reverent Everett Swanson helped thirty-five orphaned children. Today, the ministry is worldwide and they help children all over the world. * This weekend, the ministry is set up at Mercy Hill Church in Greensboro, just off Regional Road, near I-68.

The above photo features the pop-up venue. You enter through the door on the right, receive a headset, and walk through a series of rooms, replicating the life and transformation of a child who has been helped by Compassion International. You hear the child's story as you tour through the different trailers. We toured and learned about Carlos' life in Guatemala. Wearing headsets, we heard his testimonial as we walked through rooms explaining about his life in Guatemala. The elementary-school aged children in the room with us were glued to Carlos' story. At the end of the tour, you have the opportunity to sponsor a child from the country of your choice. The commitment is $38 a month until the child is is self sufficient or until s/he reaches the age of twenty-two. From the sponsor board, we saw that many Greensboro families have sponsored a child.

The exhibit will be in Greensboro through Monday if you are interested in seeing for yourself... or sponsoring a child.

* reference, here.

Bypass Around Greensboro

The urban loop at 220 North, Battleground Avenue, is in full swing. The traffic pattern has been changed and work is happening as we speak. The above photo shows some of the equipment, the I-beams, the cement pylons, and other makings of the new bypass. The sound of traffic zipping along in the northern end of Greensboro will definitely change the dynamics of the city. However, it will also help with getting around the city. It is really interesting to watch a road getting constructed literally before our eyes. If you have elementary school children, seeing something like this process will be a memorable S.T.E.M. moment. 

Yesterday was cold, but the sun was out and the clouds were dramatic. With the winds were feisty and temperatures hovered in the low 40's, yesterday felt like winter. Today the weather should be better, hopefully people can get out and enjoy all that Greensboro has to offer. Does anybody else remember about 20 years ago when we called this planned road Painter Boulevard? Painter was the first city manger of Greensboro Somewhere along the way, that name got dropped. Wonder if it will get a name? In all, the urban loop will be 39.3 miles long and, in portions, be referred to as I-73; I-85; I-785; I-840; and US-421. Learn more, here.

Dr Sharon L. Contreras, Superintendent of Guilford County Schools

Today's photo features Dr. Sharon Contreras, who was named Superintendent of Guilford County Schools on June 28, 2016. In the past ten months, Dr. Contreras has worked tirelessly, getting to know as many stakeholders as possible in the community she serves. Last night, she was the guest speaker at the Delta Kappa Gamma initiation for new members in the Greensboro chapters. Dr. Contreras' talk was inspirational. She encouraged women to work hard, believe in themselves and their students, and to apply for leadership roles in the profession. She reminded the educators in the room to take care of themselves so that they, in turn, will be able to take care of others; to ensure that every student has the opportunity to discover his/her passion; and to work hard for what they believe to be good and meaningful. Although formerly an English teacher, Dr. Contreras is passionate about S.T.E.M. education and its potential to solve some of the health problems in the world. She is committed to ensuring that all students in Guilford County graduate career and college ready.

We welcome Dr. Contreras to Greensboro and the educators at Delta Kappa Gamma are very grateful for her taking time out of her busy schedule to speak at the initiation meeting. 

Green Acres

These cows, north of Greensboro and Stokesdale, just off Highway 220, were pretty unimpressed to have people driving down their road. It was a beautiful day and they were more interested in eating and resting than entertaining humans with cameras. So much of Greensboro has been developed, it is easy to forget our rural roots and the fact that there are still plenty of working farms near our community. Currently about 150 parcels of land and property are available in Guilford County. Perhaps most shocking of all is 16.74 acres on Horse Pen Creek Road is currently listed at $1,240,000. If you are looking for investments, it looks like property just might be the answer. Land around town is going fast and we just might need to tell the cows to moooo-ve over, here come the people.

We hope you are gearing up for first Friday and all of the events happening this weekend. One tremendously popular event is the International Festival on UNCG's campus. Check Go Triad, one of the best ways to keep up with events in our community. How do you stay informed about what is going on? The cows know... but they're not telling. We showed this photo to a francophile friend and she said, it is as if the above cows are saying, "Kiss my Dairy-erre." Forgive the potty humor and happy Thursday!

M is for McGee Street

The above photo was taken on McGee Street, just off Hamburger Square, in downtown Greensboro. The statue is of General Nathanael Greene, the Revolutionary War General for whom Greensboro is named. (The statue itself  is actually located in the center of the round-about at Keith Holliday Circle). On days with beautiful sunsets, this view from West McGee Street is most spectacular. General Greene eternally stands guard over our fair city, as if protecting us. The bronze statue on a granite base was made by sculptor James Barnhill and dedicated in 2008. It was sponsored by the Bryan Foundation. Read more about the statue on this thorough page. 

While the General Greene is stealing the show, today's focus is McGee Street, a street that ribbons through Greensboro from just past Natty Greene's Restaurant on the east side to Edgar Street in College Hill in the west. It is a street full of life, evident from the patio of Natty Greene's or at the outside seating of M'Coul's Public House at 110 W. McGee.

Today is ABC Wednesday and M is for McGee Street. See our ABC Wednesday, Round 20 A-L entries here. In the meantime, consider walking the length of McGee Street!

 

Easter Bunny 2017

Tis the season for Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets. Many churches sponsor them, but it isn't quite as common for neighborhoods to do so. However, the Lindley Park neighborhood is known for their egg hunts. They hold them on the hill of Lindley Elementary School. The above photo features the Easter Bunny arriving at the egg hunt this past Saturday. As he was hopping down the hill, children were busily hunting for plastic eggs. Once they noticed his presence, hugs abounded!

Saturday was a busy day in the Lindley Park neighborhood. First, they celebrated the fourth anniversary of the Lindley Park Market at the corner of Elam and Walker. When the market ended at noon, many people headed to Lindley Park Elementary to hide 800 Easter eggs for the community. By 3:00 pm, egg hunting was in full force. Fun was had by all.

In the photos below (left), you see Greensboro artist Kathy Clark posing with the Easter Bunny (photographer unknown). Also, below, you see Peter Cottontail giving a high five to a toddler and her mom. By the time the event ended, it was still early afternoon and there was plenty of more to do. Keep you eyes open for more egg hunts. Seeing the joy of participants, young and old, is priceless!

Prom season 2017

In Greensboro, and Guilford County, prom season is upon us. Wesleyan in High Point and Northern held their proms this past weekend. Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden was full of people taking prom pictures. Friend groups huddled together while parents took photos right and left. In some cases, couples had professional photographers documenting their special moment. The weather was perfect and there was such an air of excitement and optimism throughout the park. Couples were beautifully dressed and chatting joyfully as they left for dinner. One young woman took off her shoes to walk back to the car. If her shoes were already bothering her before dinner, we're wondering how she made it through the night. Another young woman called out to her mom, "send me the pictures you took." The mother asked if she wanted all one-hundred of them. Her daughter's response was, "yeah, you can air drop them to me." We're imagining couples at dinner and at prom sharing photos and snap chatting the night away. After all, today, social media is half the fun. You have to be under 25 to really understand that phenomenon. 

The Bicentennial Garden is such a lovely backdrop for photography. While shadows can be harsh, as seen above, there is usually a way to work around them. The above photo was taken after 7pm when shadows were long and strong. To our knowledge, Saturday was the first night for a local prom, kicking off prom season and there was no evidence that anybody thought about the fact that it was April Fool's Day.

Greensboro is so lucky to have such lovely public spaces with well maintained gardens. The venue will be booked for the next two months!

Peace United Church of Christ

Peace United Church of Christ is located at 2714 West Market Street, at Wendover Avenue. Their website mentions a 110 year history of service in Greensboro. The cornerstone on the actual building says 1978, so the building is much newer than the church's history indicates. From their website, it appears that the congregation is quite involved in programs that benefit members of the Greensboro community in need, especially in need of food and shelter. Peace Church also does a lot to build community within the congregation. On the grounds, they have several areas to gather for fellowship and prayer and there is a playground. Sustainability initiatives are evident; the use of rain barrels and the raised-bed garden are two of their efforts to care for the environment.

Right now, the congregation in gearing up for their April 15th Spring Carnival. They will have live music, pony rides, an Easter egg hunt, a bounce house, a bake sale, and more. That would be a good time to et to know the congregation, if you are looking for a church. Curiously, year-round,  the church has a giant chair outside at the street. Likely, there will be a giant bunny in it for the Spring Carnival. In the meantime, we're trying to figure out why on earth they have a giant chair outside. To be sure, it is attention getting. Should we plan a meet-up there? Meet me in the giant chair. We'll bring the coffee!

The Rainbow Stops Here!

Parts of Greensboro experienced strong rains Thursday night and they continued into Friday. Today's photo was taken from Mill Street yesterday afternoon at around 4:00 pm When we entered the Starbucks at that corner, it was raining. Upon leaving a few minutes later, the eastward sky was filled with sun and a rainbow. It was still dark and wet to the west. We were struck by the billboard message about diabetes and the fact that the rainbow seemed to cut through the sign. Should we interpret that image as a sigh that beauty will trump the horrors of diabetes?

Today is April 1st, meaning it is time for Theme Day with the City Daily Photo community. This month's theme is wet. You know where there are rainbows, there is water. Yes, it was very wet to the west. Whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere, may your weekend be filled with rainbows and joy.

See the CDP "wet" photos around the world, here.