Greensboro Daily Photo

U is for Used (Books)

Greensboro has three bookstores that offer used books: Scuppernong on Elm Street; Pages Past on Spring Garden Street; and, Edward McKay on Battleground Avenue (featured above). Like many other brick and mortar businesses, used bookstores have had to either find a niche market or diversify. Scuppernong hosts a lot of community events; Pages Past focuses on rare books; and Edward McKay has DVD's, albums, and buys used textbooks. As people have access to just about anything they want to read via computers and phones and can have Amazon ship items with the click of a button, bookstores need to be destinations and gathering places. Finding a balance between being conducive to hanging out, yet enticing customers to make purchases can be tricky.

Hopefully, these bookstores will remain in Greensboro for a very long time and will depend on the reading habits of this younger generation of digital natives. For those who are committed to reducing waste in the environment, "used" is the new "new", new to the new owner, that is. And, with that trend, books just may be with us for a while longer. If you like to read books on paper, consider stopping by one of our great used bookstores. Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "U" is for "used."

In the Window of the Apple Store

Imagine our surprise when visiting the Apple Store at Friendly Center this past weekend and seeing these giant blue machines. They seemed rather anachronistic in the same room with all of those high-tech iPads, Mac Book Pros, and iPhones. The air conditioning had malfunctioned and those blue boxes were air conditioning units. We chuckled, realizing the Apple employees usually spend their days solving problems for customers, but, once in a while, they have to solve in-house problems. As we turned to leave, we happened to see this young woman walking with her chihuahua. The scene reminded us of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 movie, Rear Window, only, this time, it would be called Front Window.

We take so much for granted these days. It is hard to believe that in 1954, apartments didn't have air conditioning, not even these giant units. Rear Window takes place during a powerful heat wave and Jimmy Stewart finds himself people watching when tenants in the other apartments have the windows and blinds open in the hopes of getting the air to circulate. By the way, Rear Window will be playing at the Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro on July 24th, on the big screen. As you plan your summer fun, you can put the Apple Store on your list for a current state-of-the-art, high-tech experience. You can put the classic movies at the Carolina Theatre on your list for a little low-tech enjoyment. Even though you can watch Rear Window on the computer in the comforts of your own home, nothing beats sitting in an air-conditioned theatre watching the classics on the big screen with friends. We are lucky to still have that opportunity. Hope to see you there.

Memorial Day 2017

Today is Memorial Day, the day that we remember those who have died in active military service for our country. The above photo was taken at Forest Lawn cemetery where a Memorial Day service is held every year. The photo features the front corner of the veterans' section of the cemetery with the uniformly rounded tombstones. In the background, you see the Forbis and Dick canopies where speeches are made and people are recognized. The names of all veterans who have died this past year are announced. Flags are placed all along the roads in the cemetery. 

The veterans' section of Forest Lawn is extensive and, while the cemetery only opened in 1928, some of the veterans who are buried there were born in the last quarter of the 19th century. According to the information provided by Robert Carter (here), as of May 6th, 2017, 1,030 veterans have been buried in the veterans' section of Forest Lawn. They are conveniently listed in a drop down menu alphabetically.

If you have not had a chance to participate in a Memorial Day service this weekend, we suggest visiting Forest Lawn's section for veterans and saying some of the names aloud. If you attended a graduation service recently, you will likely concur that hearing full names can be very powerful. As we walked through the cemetery yesterday saying names, we started with Norman G. Dennis who was born in 1928 and died in 1957. You can start randomly, or with someone you know. You may see names you recognize as you read. We read a name for every year we have been alive. This task is easy at Forest Lawn as the graves and tombstones form concentric circles around the memorial and facing the flagpole.

Congregational United Church of Christ

Today, we're sharing two images of the Congregational United Church of Christ, a church located on Radiance Drive, just off of Friendly Center ( just across Benjamin Parkway from Grimsley High School). The above is a print and below is a photo taken yesterday from about the same angle. The photographer's challenge is to capture a photo without all of the distracting street signs at eye level and the phone cables, which are tastefully omitted from the painting, done by W. Simpson in 1993.

The building featured today dates back to June 22, 1952; however, the congregation formed in Greensboro in 1900. Initially, the group met in the Quaker Meeting Space at 115 East Lee Street. The got their own building in 1903, located at the corner of Eugene and Walker Avenue. The sanctuary of the current building was remodeled in 1993, about the time of Simpson's painting. For a reference and to learn more about the church, see here. People who attend the church really like it and seem very satisfied with their minister, the Rev. Julie Peeples.

Urban Walks

There should be a term in English for when it has been cold, rainy, and gloomy for days and then the sun comes out. That warm, joyful feeling that envelops you when the sun reappears is precisely what we felt yesterday. We love talking long walks, whether in the woods or along urban roads. Yesterday's walk was along Spring Garden Street, from Adelaide's Vintage Home and Garden to Spring Garden Bakery. That little section of Spring Garden has some nice shops now. Even nicer was that warm feeling from a good dose of sunshine.

If you'll notice the black stripe cutting through the sidewalk, mimicking the white line on the road, it is the shadow cast by the above bundle of cable stretched between the phone lines. It was as if the line were leading the way, encouraging us to keep walking. We hope you get out and walk some this weekend, whether you are home or vacationing on Memorial Day Weekend. Greensboro is pretty quiet. Maybe everyone (but us) is at the beach. It's a North Carolina tradition.

Please help us coin a new term! Re-joy-sun? At any rate, urban walks give one plenty of time to savor life's little joys.

From Amphibians to Friendly Frogs to Other Critters

Well, it has been raining cats and dogs in Greensboro this week. When you can't get outside to enjoy nature, it is nice to have nature come to you. During these rains, a little frog came to visit us on our back door. He was glued to the glass, waiting for bugs to hop by. The frogs are loving this rain.

Thinking of frogs reminds us that Greensboro has a great community pool with a summer swim team, the Friendly Frogs. If you are looking for some good, clean, summer fun for the whole family, consider joining one of Greensboro's many swim and tennis clubs. The Friendly Frogs are located at 2215 Mimosa Drive, right beside Friendly Center and Cone Health-Wesley Long Hospital. Swim practice has already started for the Friendly Frogs, but it wouldn't be too late to join. If you become a Friendly Frog, you will forever associate summer swimming with the tiny green amphibians. If their pool isn't convenient, you can become a Dolphin, Gator, Hornet, Marlin, Lizard, Elk, Tigershark, Piranha, Bear, Hammerhead, or more! All of the CSA teams provide great exercise and team building activities.

We love watching all of the teams; however, we're hoping one of those other CSA mascots doesn't attach itself to our door! (Well, maybe a lizard would be OK).

 

Hillside, the Julian Price Home

This past weekend, Preservation Greensboro held a fundraising tour of homes in the Fisher Park neighborhood. The above photographed house, aptly named Hillside, was originally built as the private residence for the Julian Price family.* Mr. Price was Chairman of the Board of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. Price hired architect Charles Hartmann to built the corporate tower of the Jefferson Standard building. downtown. Hartman also designed Hillside. The English Tudor/Period Revival home was constructed in 1928-1929. The expansive home has many interesting architectural details: Herringbone brick, chimneys, Tudor timbered accents, gables, dormers, and landscape walls, to name a few.

Eric and Michael Fuko-Rizzo have recently purchased the property, cleared the house of its filled-to-the-brim load, and have begun renovating it. It was featured on the tour this past weekend and looked quite different than it did on the Arts and Entertainment Hoarders show.  Much work remains to be done and not many rooms were open for the tour. However, there will be a designer showcase in 2018 that will feature the house in its renovated splendor. The most surprising feature of the home is that is is long, but thin. It is only one room wide, which means that there are windows on both sides of the room. It can feel like walking an entire city block getting from the northern-most to southern-most room. If you ever get a chance to tour this historic home, please do so.

Happy Thursday, dear readers!

 

* reference & read more about Price, here.

T is for Taco Tuesday

Taco Tuesday is a fun excuse to go out to dinner and eat affordably. The above photo was taken at El Azteca Mexican Restaurant at Quaker Village, across from Greensboro College. On Mondays, they have a fish taco special and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, their tacos are $1.50 each. So, if you missed Taco Tuesday yesterday, mark your calendar for Taco Thursday, tomorrow!

The waiters here will entertain you by bringing to your table four or more trays balanced on one arm. El Azteca also has a food truck you can rent out for special events. Mexican restaurants always seem to have a happy, upbeat atmosphere. As an example, the lights and papel picado banners on the ceiling above add to the ambiance.  If El Azteca is not convenient to your neighborhood, not to worry, Greensboro has no shortage of wonderful Mexican Restaurants. Do you have a favorite?

Today is ABC Wednesday, and "T" is for (imagine the ultra staccato sound of the trumpets announcing) "TTTTTT...Taco Tuesday." See the A-R Round 20 entries, here.

Raven's Roost

The Raven's Roost is a pop up market at the Yanceyville Curb Market. It is held once a month from 12:00 noon- 5:00 p.m. Part arts and crafts/DIY market and part antique/flea market, there is something for everybody. From hand crafted soaps to jewelry to up-cycled art to tie-dye and more, the market is a fun place to visit on a Sunday afternoon. The downtown location is very convenient. The live music and food are conducive to lingering. This week's musician was Eugene Chadbourne and friends. 

It would be nice to combine Raven's Roost with food trucks and to have it held every week. As the market grows, hopefully, it will expand to the other side of the farmer's market building. It would also be nice to have a pop-up dressing room. We're even wondering if it would be possible to use the inside, covered area. Regardless of how Raven's Roost evolves, people love an excuse to get out and interact in public spaces; especially when there is the chance of a great find. 

The next Raven's Roost will be held on June 18th. Mark your calendar and give it a visit.

 

Fisher Park Tour of Homes

This weekend was Preservation Greensboro's 7th Annual Tour of Homes and Fisher Park was the featured neighborhood. Fisher Park was a streetcar neighborhood dating to the beginning of the 20th century. It was planned around a park, Fisher Park, where the Genesis Marker is located. The marker represents the geographic center of Guilford County. Magnolia Street radiates from the park; actually, the park divides the street into two sections. Families on both sides of Magnolia, and throughout Fisher Park, enjoy spending time there. 

The above photo features people en route to view the Sweeney-Penn residence on Magnolia Street during Sunday's hours when the skies were cloudy. Saturday's weather was in the high 80's with the sun shining brightly, almost too brightly. Sunday's overcast skies made walking from house to house and waiting in line much more manageable. Crowds were large, but sociable, this year. One Preservation Greensboro member said ticket sales were brisk.

Eight residences were available to tour. The houses ranged from large and stately to small with character and "under construction."  Several homes on the tour, including the one on Magnolia Street, were built and restored in the Craftsman style. The home getting considerable interest was the Price house on Fisher Park Circle as it had been featured on a recent episode of A&E's show "Hoarders." We're betting neighbors will be happy to see traffic back to normal in their cozy neighborhood just north of town.

 

Morehead UMC Food Truck

Morehead United Methodist Church is a growing congregation, located on Horse Pen Creek Road. They have many extra activities that give the community members an opportunity to interact with people at the church to get an idea if they would like to join. On Monday nights, from 5:30- 8:00, Morehead has been bringing in a food truck, where people can purchase food and sit around enjoying fellowship and live music over a good meal.

The above photo features the food truck from this past Monday, which featured Haitian food. Tomorrow night, there will also be a food truck. If you are nearby, consider stopping by and enjoying the event. If you can't make the Monday event, and are interested, Morehead UMC also has Wednesday and Sunday events.

The Sierra Club

The Sierra Club of Greensboro is working diligently to clean up the stream that flows by the Yanceyville Curb Market. In the above photo, you can see a member who was removing garbage last Saturday. Greensboro is part of the Piedmont Plateau Group (PPG)  of the Sierra Club. The PPG Group was founded in 2013, but the organization dates back to 1892 when it was founded by John Muir. They have several events coming up in June and, if you are interested, see here. 

If you are looking for a great way to spend time outside and to make a difference, the Sierra Club is a great place to start. The Sierra Club advocates for exploring, enjoying, and protecting the planet together. It is an organization multiple levels of commitment. You can do something specific like help clean a stream, on an ongoing basis; or, you can find something almost every day to do to help the group impact the environment positively. It is so rewarding to chart the progress of the stream in front of the curb market. It now has more native plantings around it; a path is in process; and they will likely to get a bench to sit and appreciate the improvements of this little stream that is said to originate downtown, from a spring located under the International Civil Rights Museum.

If you see Vance at the Yanceyville Curb Market (photographed below)  ask him about how you can become involved in this very worthy organization.  

Westerwood Alley

Today's photo was taken at an alley on the western edge of Westerwood, near the cut-through from Friendly Avenue to to North Aycock Street. The Westover Terrace/Northfield Street area doesn't get a lot of notice, but the families in their neighborhoods take care of their lawns and add a lot of personal touches to their homes. After a hectic day, it can be therapeutic to explore these nooks and crannies around Greensboro.

As you can see from the photo, this telephone pole is still hard at work, helping keep people connected and in communication with each other. Before you know it, these old-school telephone poles will go the way of the phone booths. We hope you have a great weekend and you get out and explore your neighborhood. While you are at it, try to meet a new neighbor. Finally, if they aren't sold out yet, you might want to consider touring the homes of Fisher Park.

Kirkwood Place

On the western edge of the Kirkwood neighborhood is Kirkwood Place; due to open September 2017. It will have 17,000 square ft. of ground floor retail and 57 residential units above.  Likely, adding this many units will change the face of the neighborhood. Kirkwood Place is located right across the street from Lawndale Crossing, where Target is located (the vantage point of this photo). It is built on the piece of land formerly housing the Beaman Building. Razing the Beaman Building erases the classic 60's architecture on Lawndale.

It will be interesting to monitor the progress of one of Greensboro's newest construction projects. See below the old Beaman Building, a photo we took for Greensboro Daily Photo eight years ago. When we started this website, the intent wasn't to document the the changes and the buildings that have been replaced; however, indeed we are finding that many of the places are now gone- the price of progress. To be sure, our bank of then & now photos is growing.

S is for Skateboarding

Skateboarding is both sport and hobby that can also be transportation from Point A to Point B. If you are a middle schooler, skateboarding is a great way to pass time- learning tricks, perfecting jumps, and trying those moves in places with signs reading "no skateboarding allowed." The above photo, taken a couple of weeks ago,  features two young skateboarders in a pop-up skate space at the back corner of Four Flocks and Larder on Spring Garden Street.  It seemed like good, clean fun. The above skateboarders were very respectful of pedestrians and stayed well within the confines of their designated space. 

Skateboarding is big business. There are over 11 million skateboarders in the world and the sport will be represented at the 2020 Olympic Games. It is a relatively young sport, with the first makeshift skateboards appearing in the 1940's. Those early skateboards are a lot cruder (boxes with wheels) than the boards the guys are using above. The early skate parks were empty, California swimming pools. Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "S" is for "Skateboarding." To you boarders out there, may your kick flips and pop shove-its be everything you want them to be. Hope to see you in Tokyo!

Lake Higgins

Lake Higgins, a 226-acre municipal reservoir,  was beautiful and tranquil today. The lake is closed to the public on Mondays and so paddleboat, kayaks, and fishermen had to seek recreation elsewhere. The above photo was taken from the bridge at Carlson Dairy, facing east. While it is over a month until summer, based on the above photo, it's beginning to look a lot like summer in Greensboro. With temperatures like yesterday, in the 80's, beach weather is upon us.

While Lake Higgins is the smallest of Greensboro's three lakes (Higgins, Townsend, Brandt), the fishing is spectacular. The second and fourth Wednesdays, they offer night access to the lake. Mark your calendar for May 24th and head out for an aquatic adventure. If there are teens in your life, Lake Higgins has an Xtreme Teen Adventure Week from July 10- 14th (see more, here).  We hope you have an opportunity to breathe some fresh air and enjoy Greensboro's lakes this summer- maybe even at night!

 

Susan Ridenour, Potter

This past weekend, we ran in to Susan Ridenour at the 205 Gallery on Lyndon Street. It was the gallery's Second Saturday Open House and many artists were on hand to show visitors around and to offer their artwork for sale. Susan spent a lot of time explaining to us the details of her work; for example, how she molds the bowls,  in the foreground, to the shape of her hand; how strips that melt to reveal the specific temperatures at different parts of her kiln. (Pyro-metric pieces are in the back left corner of the table. They look like teeth of a tiger).

Professionally, Susan trained as a social worker. Raised in Raleigh, she came to Greensboro to attend Greensboro College. She received her degree, fell in love with the city, married, and has lived and worked here since. Knowing after her social work career that she wanted to nurture her artistic and creative side, Susan took pottery lessons. Her first lesson was memorable on so many levels, given the fact that it was on September 11, 2001.

Susan's pottery is lovely and her color scheme is very warm and neutral. If you are interested in purchasing a piece (or even renting space in her kiln if you are a potter), she can be reached at [email protected] or through the 205 Gallery.  Below, Susan's pottery is paired with Karen Bjork Dischell's painting and Sandy Dunaway's Pantone-color-of-the-year table. We want the whole display.  North Carolina has great veins of clay and Greensboro has great potters like Susan. 205 has great artists! What a wonderful combination.  Happy Monday!

AME Bethel Church

A.M.E. Bethel Church is located at 200 Regan Street, in between Bennett College and North Carolina A & T University. The Pastor is Alphonso E. McGlen Sr. He and his wife work together to help the church community. The church is active year-round and attracts people from all over the city. The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society in Philadelphia in the late 1700's. 

If you are driving along East Friendly Avenue in Greensboro, you will notice the sign on the corner of the church's lot. You will also notice the triangular shape of the building. There are several churches in the vicinity of AME Bethel and they all work diligently to meet the needs of their members. We wish they had a church history on their website. We hope to learn more about the history of the church. Let us know if you know some of the history. 

Happy Sunday!

Duck Dynasty

This mated pair of mallards returns to the above Greensboro swimming pool every spring to swim and hang out. As you can see, the pool has not yet been opened for the season. These dabbling ducks are walking around on the pool cover, trying to figure how to get to the water underneath. Maybe they'll stop back once the pool is open. According to Wikipedia, 45 species of ducks, geese, and waterfowl have been recorded in North Carolina. The mallard is the main ancestor of the majority of breeds of domesticated ducks.*

Mallards are known for being adaptable and eating just about anything. They are comfortable being around humans, they are at times considered an invasive species. Females can lay up to half their body weight in eggs.  Here they are in happier times, a few years ago, when the swimming pool was all theirs. How do you mark spring? What do you enjoy seeing out your window every year?

*"Anas platyrhynchos (On-line), Digital Morphology". The University of Texas at Austin. 2004. 

Victorian Beauty on Percy Street

This house, at 671 Percy Street, in the Aycock Historic District is one of the many Victorian-style homes in the neighborhood. The inviting porch comes in handy in the evenings and weekends when people sit outside and visit with family and neighbors. As a historic district, the integrity of the appearance of the homes is diligently maintained. Residents of the neighborhood are committed to keeping it family friendly and beautiful.

Next time you are headed to the Farmers' Market on Yanceyville, drive around the streets near Cypress, Percy, Summit, and Fifth Avenue. Some homes are already restored to their full glory; others, are works in progress. The above house, asa the crow flies, is only about a mile from downtown Greensboro. From the greenery surrounding the yard, it is hard to believe it is so close to town.

Fat Dog's Grille and Pub

Fat Dog's Grille and Pub's Lindley Park location on Spring Garden Street closed last week. Construction is well under way on the location a mile or so west, at the corner of Spring Garden Street and Holden Road. The above photo features Brochette Sign Company installing the new sign in what will become not only a place for hot dogs and craft beer, but it will also add a small brewery. The grille moved to add the brewery, to gain additional indoor seating, and to have patio seating.

Fat Dogs had a very loyal following from the Lindley Park neighbors who love having establishments they can walk to. It had the Cheers bar atmosphere "everybody knows your name."  Hopefully, the neighbors will continue to frequent the new space and it will retain that same cozy atmosphere. It looks like the establishment will be very nice. On the day we were passing by the new location, we saw the above workers hard at work. Fat Dog's is another example of growth in Greensboro. It will be interesting to see what goes in at their old location.

Revision Vintage

Today, we continue along East Market Street to the Revision Vintage shop of clothing, furniture, jewelry, and oddities. It opened May 5th at 313 East Market Street on the corner at Church Street and directly across from the event space known as the Cadillac Service Garage. The above photo features four of the five young women who own and stock the shop. The great creative team of Kim, Pam, Kristin, Lindsey and Britt (not photographed) grew their brick and mortar business from their pop up stores, realizing how well they worked together and the success of their collective collections.

Revision Vintage is proof positive that Greensboro is slowly expanding eastward. If you want to see for yourself, Revision Vintage is open on Thursday (12-6); Friday & Saturday (12-7); and Sunday (1-5). Additionally, the store offers great First Friday parties and dress up parties for grown ups. You can also make a private appointment on Monday-Wednesday in case you have some special needs like clothing for a theme party, special event attire, or you have vintage items to sell. If you like all things vintage, head over and introduce yourself to the Great Quintet at Revision Vintage, or call them at 336-617-3789.

The photo below features the store's façade. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Round 20 Series,  "R" is for "Revision Vintage."

Along East Market Street

Market Street, one way eastbound, splits Greensboro into north and south; Elm Street in the east/west marker. The above photo shows Market Street at Church Street, an the east side of the city. The unidentified man in the photo is entering the north side of town. In the distance, on Market Street, the Lincoln Financial Group (LFG)  building features prominently on the horizon. It's digital clock, alternating with the temperature, has been a Greensboro tradition since back in the day before cell phones replaced clocks and thermometers. Peeking out, just past the Lincoln Financial building, is the red-brick, West Market United Methodist Church. 

The photo was taken on a quiet Sunday afternoon. On workdays, the streets are much busier. We are always in search of new views of the Lincoln Financial Group building and like this view, especially with the backdrop of a blue sky and puffy white clouds. We're trying to change our mindset, but we still think of it as the Jefferson Pilot Building. Likely, there are people around town who refer to it as the Jefferson Standard Building. Old habits are hard to break.

Wheels on the Greenway

Yesterday a familyl-friendly, bike riding event, Wheels on the Greenway. It was held in downtown Greensboro at Morehead Park, at the Baker and Bean/Four Flocks and Larder parking lot. If you haven't been to this multi-restaurant facility, you should stop by and experience this great resource. They were very involved in the bicycling event and very accommodating of participants who parked in their parking lot. They even had golf carts to transport people who needed to get to their cars. All children who attended the bicycling event received a free helmet and t-shirt from Crumbly Roberts. Cycles de Oro was on site doing bike tune ups. Some people brought bikes to donate to Warnersville Recreation Center. Food was provided by Baker and Bean. Multi-purpose events like this provide families with great fun and get children hooded on bicycling early. Children also learned to ride safely and to get to know part of Greensboro's greenway.

The above photo features a one of the many groups pulling up to participate in the ride. The weather was absolutely perfect. Greensboro is lucky to have so many events free and so many people working together to make events memorable.

Our Lady of Grace

As seen in yesterday's photo, Our Lady of Grace (OLG) Church on West Market Street was busy. It looked like a wedding was in progress. The sign of a healthy, thriving church is one with many activities and events, in addition to regular services. This Roman Catholic Church was built in 1952. It was funded by Julian Price in loving memory of his wife Ethel. He was a lifelong Baptist, but she was Catholic. Sadly, Mr. Price died in a car accident and did not live to see this lovely church built. It has so many nice features. The pink granite on the exterior is from Salisbury, NC and the stained glass windows were imported from Belgium. The church is a real beauty, outside and in. It also has a 2.226-pipe Kleuker organ. 

OLG also has a K-8 school on site. If you are looking for a great solid education for your children, as well as a foundation in Catholicism, OLG is a great option. During the week, you can see children coming and going and playing outside. On the weekend, families are coming and going. Everyone seems happy. Mr. Price was President and Chairman of Board of Jefferson Standard, one of Greensboro's anchor businesses. He would be mightily impressed at all of the great happenings at OLG and the Madonna and child above the front entrance is breathtaking. Happy Sunday!

Moving On; Or Not...

Greensboro has so many institutions of higher education: Greensboro College, Guilford College, NC A&T University, University of North Carolina Greensboro, plus the GTCC community colleges. Also, High Point University is only 16 miles away.  All of these students are in the process of finalizing their semesters. For many who are graduating, or not continuing school, a move is in order. Yesterday, we walked past one car and saw the above items: books, a globe, a stool covered in shag carpet, and a wreath made out of peacock feathers (not photographed). They reminded us of all the move-outs currently in progress.

Driving around neighborhoods near the colleges, furniture has been pulled to the road waiting to be discarded. Think back to your student housing days and all the random items you just had to have... and had to leave. These years just prior to transitioning to the adult world are so special. Where on earth will our students go?  Some students have all details in order; others, might just as well spin the above globe and see where they land.

On another note, if you are living in Greensboro and like to shop local and handmade, head to Art in the Yard at 2629 Beechwood Street. Christine from Moonbird Pottery and several of her friends will be on hand to bring us some fine arts and crafts. Plus, those who attend will have a chance to talk to some great artists. While globe trotting is infinitely rewarding, just hanging out at home also has its rewards. Have a great weekend, wherever you end up. We hope to see you out and about.

Today, we're sharing this photo and our musings with Weekend Reflections, the meme that loves a photo with a good reflection.

It's Peony Time in Greensboro!

It is peony time in Greensboro. There are about 30 species of this herbaceous, perennial plant, but it only takes one in your yard to bring joy to your kitchen table. These late spring, early summer flowers are not hard to grow, once you find a place where they are happy. We talked to an older woman with peonies in her yard that are over 100 years old. They have been blooming faithfully for a century on her family's property. Her grandmother's instructions, to which she diligently adheres,  were to never allow anybody to disturb the roots and, in late fall, to cut the stems back to the ground. Their family "recipe" seems to have been successful and their plants continue to thrive.

This traditional floral symbol of China is found in many colors and many different versions. The Wrenn family in Greensboro offers four varieties to ship out to you from their peony farm, The Peony Patch (more, here). The Wrens have been growing peonies for about twenty years. We can only imagine the aroma walking through their garden. You can also find peonies places like Fresh Market if you want to have them immediately.

We hope you find some time this weekend, to stop and smell the... peonies.

Kepley's BBQ

Kepley's Bar-B-Q has been a High Point institution since 1948. It originally opened in a World War II quonset hut in High Point. Today, the above location, a square and more conventional building, is thriving at 1304 North Main Street in High Point. Formerly, there was a Kepley's location on Highway 68 in a barn; however, the barn was not replaced when it burned in 2001. Kepley's is known for its vinegar based Bar-B-Q, slow cooked pork, and personal service. 

Greensboro also has great Bar-B-Q restaurants; however, it is fun to drive around the county (and the State) trying out different styles. The different establishments, even within Guilford County, develop a reputation for not only their Bar-B-Q style, but also their coleslaw and hush puppy recipes. As you can see from the photo below, the signage is interesting, too. If you are looking for ideas for summer fun, consider traveling the State trying and rating locally owned Bar-B-Q restaurants. Here is a sample evaluation sheet- the rating system consists of taste, tenderness, appearance. High Point is a mere 16 miles from from Greensboro. Visit Kepley's if you get a chance. Look for the neon-outlined, red, hog sign.

Q is for Quaker Village

Quaker Village, a shopping center with a combination of locally owned and chain stores, is conveniently located across from Guilford College on West Friendly Avenue. Quaker Village opened in 1964 and thrived for many years until suffering bankruptcy in 2010. Quaker Village got a facelift in 2014 when a neighborhood Wal-Mart was added and many other changes were made. Based on long lines yesterday, it appears that business in the village is booming. We were there at dinnertime and several of the restaurants had lines out the door. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, Q is for Quaker Village. Since we've featured Quaker Village before, initially, we had planned to feature "Quilting by Linda" at 7349 West Friendly Avenue. The address led us to a business park near the airport, When we arrived in the complex, "Quilting by Linda" was no longer there. One of our previous posts for the "Q" round of ABC Wednesday was Dennis Quaintance; lucky for Greensboro, he is still here! We haven't featured Mr. Quaintance for six years. If we start planning now, maybe we can interview him for the next round. We also hope to meet the barbers at QV barber and style. It is nice to keep the ideas flowing. And, if you ever have ideas, please share! After all, you're the reason we are here.

Canine of Lindley Park

The above dog, who resides in Lindley Park, stands near the porch of his house as if he were a sentinel, keeping watch over the not only his master's domain, but also the neighborhood. This medium sized dog appears to be a mixture of breeds and seems to have a cheerful disposition. With that black and white coat, he is very visible from the street against the earthy colors of his front yard.

He is one of those neighborhood fixtures that people grow accustomed to seeing every day. Likely, the dog grows accustomed to people walking by and anticipates when his favorite canine buddies will be in the neighborhood. This type of dog really becomes a community pet, only, with his invisible fence collar, he knows better than to leave his designated territory. Have a great Tuesday and paws up if you like canines.

Green Bean

The above photo features the new mural of the Green Bean Coffee Shop. The beautiful pattern reminds us of The William Morris Arts and Crafts wallpapers of the 1860s. We're not sure what they will do to the part near the front of the store. At the moment, the chalk plaster bust of Elvis Presley greets patrons as they arrive and features store mugs and a couple of remaining T-shirts for sale with the store's cursive logo. Likely, the Green Bean on South Elm Street is getting a complete makeover. Historically, the store has always featured a rotating exhibit of the art of local artists. It will be interesting to see if they are able to integrate artwork into the above mural, which is a piece of artwork, itself. The Elm Street location of the Green Bean has been open since 2002; serving up great coffee and café food for fifteen years.

Today is theme day for the City Daily Photo community. Click, here, to see how the rest of the world interpret's "Let's eat." Our photo doesn't feature food per se, but food can be had at this establishment. The Green Bean even caters, which we only recently learned. Happy Monday! It is already May!