Greensboro Daily Photo

Joymongers at North Eugene

Joy mongers is a small-batch brewery located at the corner of North Eugene and Smith Street. They are celebrating their one year anniversary and to great fanfare as North Eugene Street has finally reopened. They are owned and operated by people from Greensboro. Jim Jones, one of the owners, is part of the family that operated the North State Chevrolet dealership by the baseball stadium. Their six acres has been transformed over the last few years. It is nice that they are still involved in a business in the area.

Over the last several months, admittedly, navigating that area has been difficult and the businesses suffered as patrons and shoppers struggled to find a place to park. The above photo features the park-let that is in front of Joymongers and part of the construction that was making the area congested. The park is very nice and is a perfect area to sit and chat. This corner brewery has become quite a gathering spot and this park will enhance the area even more. Click on the photos below to enlarde them and see even more details of this new destination. Check out the live music schedule at Joymongers. They feature a lot of great local musicians. The area is clear of construction now; we promise. 

Latham Park Skate Park

Greensboro now has a skate park at Latham Park. It is accessible from Hill Street (the south of Wendover side). It has only opened recently, but is already quite popular with Greensboro's skateboarders. In the above photo, it looks like there is one lone skateboarder. Actually, the park was quite busy, but the guys skating very politely wait their turn, giving the skater a chance to try new tricks and not have the pressure of someone right behind him. The people waiting are also very encouraging, making positive comments when someone tries something new or has an especially good move. 

It is wonderful to see skateboarders have somewhere officially approved for skating. So often people are running skaters off or they are skating somewhere where they are at risk of getting in trouble. This is good, clean, wholesome- albeit dangerous- fun. We worry about skaters who fall or who get hurt. The way these guys look out for each other, we're sure they'd see that a hurt skater got medical attention, if needed. Below, you see some of the guys waiting their turn to skate. Best of all, this is a City of Greensboro park and it is free and open to the public.

Greensboro's Community Swim Association

There isn't much that is more wholesome than community summer swimming. The above photo was taken at the pool of the Greensboro Country Club at Carlson Dairy Road where the GCC Dolphins hosted a meet. The Community Swim Association dual meets are held every Tuesday in early summer, culminating with the three-day City Meet, to be held this year on July 6-8. Community swim teams emphasize fun and good sportsmanship and every single team member gets to compete . While some swimmers, usually those who compete year-round, are more accomplished, every member is valued. The above photo features a freestyle relay in process. Often, the children who have been on the team for several years become assistant coaches in their teen years. 

Currently, teams are wrapping up their fundraisers for Swim-for-Cancer, a very worthy cause. The GCC Dolphins were raffling very lovely gift baskets. The results of the fundraiser are announced at City Meet, and are always a point of great pride for top fundraising individuals and teams. If you get a chance donate to the cause. Also, stop by the Greensboro Aquatic Center between July 6th and 8th and you will be impressed at how much Greensboro supports swimming.

Provincetown Court at New Irving Park

Provincetown is a neighborhood in New Irving Park, just north of Cone Boulevard and east of North Elm Street. It is one of those communities built in the 1990's. The houses average from 4,000 to 6,000 sq. feet. Both the houses and yards in this neighborhood are well maintained. The above photo features a flower display located at the entrance to the neighborhood. In the sun, these plants simply glow. A lovely entrance,  such as this one, helps maintain property values. After all, you only get one chance to make a first impression and this impression is impressive!

Below, you will see a few more examples of the entrance. Greensboro is lucky that so many residents adore plants. If the entrance to your neighborhood could using sprucing up, consider taking the initiative to drum up volunteers to make it look like you want. Happy Tuesday!

Morehead Foundry Complex

The Fresh. Local. Good. food group has expanded from the Iron Hen Cafe in Latham Park to the Morehead Foundry on Spring Garden Street. The refurbished and resdesigned facility is located at the Greenway, between downtown and College Hill. Several eating establishments share this space that has a modern, industrial look to it. From burgers to chicken dishes to coffee and dessert, there is something for every palate at the foundry. The food is homemade and as local as feasible. 

The above photo was taken a while back, on a Sunday afternoon, when many of the brunch parties were breaking up. It is always nice to see people out enjoying each other and to have places they enjoy going. Four Flocks and Larder, The Burger Revolution and the other establishments at this multiplex are gaining in popularity as people realize that parking is easy and the food is good. Sundays are especially fun, because in Greensboro and elsewhere in the south, Sundays are a day when people tend to dress a little nicer and stay a little longer. We hope you had a nice weekend and that your week if off to a nice start.

Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church

You can hardly tell that the above photo is of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. It was taken on Battleground Avenue with a zoom lens that compressed the church into the building and vehicles on Battleground Avenue. Mt. Pisgah is located on Pisgah Church Road where it intersects with Battleground. 

Mt. Pisgah dates back to 1845, The first building was a one room building just west of the above location. The church in the current location dates to the late 1800's and the current building was actually constructed in 1968. Mt. Pisgah UMC has grown and changed along with its surrounding neighborhood. As for the congregation, they work hard to remain relevant to society's needs today, while honoring the traditional beliefs and values of the United Methodist Church. Next time you are at Lowe's on Battleground, look up, and you will see Mt. Pisgah. In the fall, will notice an impressive pumpkin patch. 

Mushrooms

With all of the wet weather we've had in Greensboro over the last month, some interesting mushrooms have been popping up everywhere. It is especially common to see them when walking in the woods and along the trails. They especially like to grow on wood or around tree roots. The lipstick red mushrooms in the above photo were spotted in northwest Greensboro. Some people are experts in identifying mushrooms that can be eaten. Likely, these are poison. When in doubt, do not risk eating a wild mushroom. There are plenty of websites for identifying mushrooms and it is a fun hobby. We hope you enjoy your Saturday today. Consider heading out and seeing if you can find any mushrooms.

 

Eagle on 68

As they work on the bypass at Highway 68, there have been many changes. As we were stopped in traffic one day, they giant eagle swooshed by, being transported on the back of a truck. Of course we are curious as to where it was going and where it came from. Surely, there is a very interesting backstory. However, sometimes it is impossible to track down the back story. We just thought it was a fun symbol of America breezing along through Greensboro. Maybe it is getting ready for a Fourth of July celebration. Since it is Friday, many people will likely be leaving for the beach or the mountains. Be safe, have fun, and keep your eye out for eagles, dear readers!

Red Hat Ladies

Here we see some red hat ladies enjoying themselves at the Parisian Promenade in early June. They attend every year, dressed elegantly from head to toe, regardless of the weather. In the above photo, they are seen resting on one of the new picnic tables installed at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. The garden has been adding many new features. If you haven't been lately, we hope you will stop by and see what a love community resource it is. Every year, it just keeps getting better and better.

As for the red hat ladies, they are always delightful when strolling along the promenade. When is the last time you have dressed up and gone out for a walk with some friends. It is a lovely tradition. Happy Thursday!

House on Highway 68

This house is located on Highway 68, just north of Greensboro near Oak Ridge and Stokesdale. It shows the peeling off of many layers, revealing construction from previous generations. It is hard to remember back when homes were this simple with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. If you were lucky, they had indoor bathrooms. The turquoise on the front and the tin on the roof are trending colors and materials today. And with the tiny house movement, these small structures are also becoming popular once again. Regardless, this poor old place- that surely holds great memories for someone- is beyond being a fixer upper. Hopefully, at the very least, the materials will be up cycled.

P.S. We apologize for all the difficulties we are having posting and sharing on Facebook. We're trying keep this up while out of the country and, between minimal internet connectivity, jet lag, and time changes, we're a little off! We think we published three photos on Monday, perhaps you will have already have seen this post.

Hunter Elementary (New)

This fall, the students who attend Hunter Elementary School in Guilford County Schools will return to a brand new, state of the art facility. The school, located on Merritt Drive near West Spring Garden Street, replaces one that had been there since 1929. The new school has wireless technology, is handicap accessible, and her many features, like the above covered walkway, to help protect students from rain. Tomorrow, we will feature the old building and share some of the history. As you can see from the above facility, the new school will retain the name of Thomas Hunter. Mr. Hunter owned the nearby factory, formerly known as Cotton Mill Square.

The school community has long outgrown its original floor plan and mobile units had to be added. Now, the 520 students, when they return in the fall, will have a new facility and only the media center of the old facility will remain. In memory of the old building, some of the hardware will be salvaged and repurposed, and the cupola, which you will see tomorrow, will be salvaged and somehow incorporated into the new building. 

The principal, Ms. Wolverton, who has been with the school since 2004, and Ms. Bettie Moore, who has been an office assistant there since 1988, both plan to be there to greet students and staff when they return this fall.

Lake Higgins

Lake Higgins, one of Greensboro's reservoir lakes, is beautiful from the bridge on Carlson Dairy. It is calm and empty in the above photo, just as it would be if you drove by today. The lake is closed on Mondays. Perhaps the wildlife needs a day of rest.  However, on other days, if you paddle board or kayak, fish, picnic, and so much more. Lake Higgins is a fine place to visit on Tuesday through Sunday. You can even rent a lost of equipment there.

We've heard that Lake Higgins may even gain a rowing program. The sport has really gained momentum in the Greensboro/High Point area. We hope rowing remains strong in Greensboro. And, the more the merrier. If Greensboro gains another rowing team, Lake Higgins would be a great place to have it. Happy Monday. Today is one of the longest days of the year. It would be nice if you could get out and enjoy the extra hours of daylight.

Hunter Elementary: The Old Building

Hunter Elementary School's website provides a very interesting history of the school. We usually write our own verbiage on GDP, but this information is so important, as is:

"Thomas A. Hunter owned the factory located in the neighborhood (the former Cotton Mill Square on the corner of Merritt Drive and Spring Garden Street).  He wanted the best for the children whose parents worked in the mill and saw that a small school was built for them.  Hunter Elementary School, then Pomona Mills School, opened for students in 1929 in the neighborhood that was called Pomona. It was a county school in those days but conveniently accessible by the trolley.  Because of his deep concern for the school, Mr. Hunter was allowed to select the first principal, Mrs. Robert A. (Mabel) Merritt. who became a teaching principal for the school. When the old wooden school was replaced with an updated brick building, Mrs. Merritt requested of the Greensboro City Board of Education that the school’s name be changed to Thomas A. Hunter School to honor the late Mr. Hunter.

Mrs. Merritt served as the principal from 1918-1950, in many cases seeing to her student’s needs by reaching out to her church, West Market United Methodist, to provide clothes during the Depression. Upon her retirement in 1950, the city of Greensboro renamed the road where Hunter Elementary is located to Merritt Drive.  "I want the children around here to have a school as good as any city school. I want them to have good books to study and good books to read for special enjoyment." said Mrs. Merritt.  

Hunter Elementary has gone through many changes and improvements during the past 78 years, but Mrs. Merritt's philosophy still holds true. We do want our children to have a school as good as every other school and we do want our children to have good books for study and enjoyment. However, we want and expect much, much more of and for our students." (reference). Today is ABC Wednesday for for "X" we present the school that has been crossed off the map. See the rest of ABC Wednesday, Greensboro Round 20, here.

The Sanctuary at First Christian Church of Greensboro

First Christian Church of Greensboro is located on West Market Street on the edge of Sunset Avenue near Madison Avenue. They are celebrating their 100th year. A couple of weeks ago, we featured their outdoor celebration for the community and congregation. Today, the above photo shows the sanctuary. As you can see, it is very calm and tranquil; wooden pews, a wooden cross, flags, and a pulpit. Celebrating 100 years is quite remarkable. Their fundraising campaign this past year was very successful. Let's hope they are still going strong in another hundred years. 

Happy Fathers Day to all of the dads in the world. We're sure the dads in the First Christian Church Congregation are being made to feel very special, too.

Walk the Dog

Greensboro has lots of greenway and walking trails and there are plenty of places to walk dogs. Research shows that people with dogs walk more and walking is good for your health. With all of the rain we've had lately, as you can see, it is quite green and lush in Greensboro.

The above man seems to be enjoying his walk along the edge of the golf course at Carlson Dairy Road. This course is the farm course of the Greensboro Country Club and it is also the location where they host swim meets. If you do have a chance to walk with your canine companion, please take a doggie bag to clean up after they use the bathroom. If you look closely, the above leash actually has a case for little bags attached to the handle. 

 

Gas Prices

Gas prices have been pretty low this year. The above photo shows the gas prices at the Exxon on East Market Street, just east of downtown. At the time of the photo (a few weeks ago), the price for regular was $2.35. If you are heading to the beach or the mountains this weekend, notice the gas prices. It is fun, if you have children in the car, to have them record the gas prices and work out some math problems based on the MPG of your vehicle and the amount of gas you will need for your trip. Also, have them notice that gas prices in Virginia are lower. South Carolina just passed new gas taxes so the discount might not be so great if you head south. Gas taxes are supposed to be used for roads and highways. When you get stuck in a construction site this summer, just remind yourself that your gas taxes are hard at work.

Of course you notice Greensboro's iconic JP Building (Jefferson Standard, Jefferson Pilot, Lincoln Financial) in the background. All roads lead to this building and when you see it, you know you are home! Happy Friday. May your weekend adventures be many.

Carnicería El Mercadito

The above photo was taken at the bakery section of "El Mercadito" Mexican grocery store, butcher shop, bakery, and grill at the corner of West Market Street at 103 Muir's Chapel Road in Greensboro. Nothing says summer like a big slice of watermelon and those watermelon cookies are adorable. Recently, when we were shopping these, the watermelon cookies were available. While "El Mercadito caters to Greensboro's latino and hispanic communities, they welcome with open arms and big smiles people of all ethnicities. It is a good place to get fresh meat, cut like you like it, pastries, foods and spices not always available in traditional grocery stores.

Summer is such a great time to explore new businesses and places in your own backyard. It is open from 7 am to 9pm. To start, consider getting something from the grill and just sit and look at how happy and gentle a shopping experience can be. Everyone seems to be in a good mood, and polite. Nobody seems to be in a rush (even if they are). It is a fun space to explore the diversity of Greensboro. Get yourself a pack of banana chips (one sweet, one salty) a "jarritos" mango soda, a watermelon cookie and celebrate the impending arrival of summer!

W is for Workers

If you follow Greensboro Daily Photo, you know how much construction is taking place in Greensboro these days. Literally, the city is being reinvented before our eyes. Some construction is major, like the Battleground Stamey's BBQ being completely rebuilt. Some construction is more cosmetic. For example, the above photo features the SAPPORO and Jersey Mike's on Battleground in the Earthfare plaza, near the completely new Starbuck's. This sign appears to be a facade attached to the front of the building featuring the above two businesses. 

If you'll notice, there is a man at the top of the building. None of this construction can take place without workers; and, they are everywhere and working very hard. Working today was a bit challenging, if you were still working when the WET WEATHER hit Greensboro. We had a deluge.

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for Round 20, "W" is for "workers. If you see a worker, consider treating him/her a cup of coffee and, at the very least, if they are working hard, thank them. We love the way this cloud hovered behind this worker and actually made his neon shirt stand out.

School Is Out for the Summer!

There was a time when all schools in a district began and ended on the same day. Now, with early and middle colleges, year-round schools, schools on a traditional calendar, charter schools, and other configurations, there are many calendars. However, by today, most schools should be finished for the summer. The busses are parked and the buildings are quiet, other than employees writing year-end reports and getting rooms cleaned and packed up. You should notice a difference in traffic.

If you are home with children for the summer, ideas for hings to do are only a google search away. Good search logic should find exactly what you are looking for, from how to purchase a fishing license to what activities libraries are offering to finding restaurants where children eat free on a given day of the week. Even if you are working over the summer, the increased hours of daylight give you more time to do things before and after work. Somehow, those busses, parked at Grimsley High School, look a little forlorn without any children and drivers.

What is the first thing you are going to read this summer? We'd love to hear from you!

Tree Gone

Many tree services were hard at work in Greensboro, this past Memorial Day. The above photo shows an old oak tree on Battleground Avenue being cut down on Memorial Day. As you can see, it towered over Fidelity Bank (near Cookout and Omega Sports). We sure hope that it was diseased or at risk of falling. Although Greensboro was actually named for General Greene, and not because the city is so full of greenery, we do pride ourselves in having such a green city.

Greensboro has many certified arborists. Please consult one before removing a mature tree; maybe it can be saved. So many animals depend on trees for their habitat and, in some cases, for their food. It can take up to 30 years for an oak tree to start producing acorns. Two mature trees can produce enough oxygen for a family of four. On the other hand, if a tree is not healthy, and it cannot be brought back to health, you need to remove it. If memory serves us, the company removing the above tree was Adams Tree Service of Jamestown. They were very professional and hardworking. The tree was removed without incident.  

Wall of Kindness

The Wall of Kindness is located on Bain Street at the 600 block of South Elm Street, downtown Greensboro. The purpose is to have clothing and other items available free for those in need. The Wall of Kindness is one of many  acts of charity popping up around Greensboro. There is a small homeless encampment not too far from here and the 16 cents ministry meets under a bridge, not too far from here. It is a perfect opportunity for someone to stop by and get a pair of shoes for a job interview, a clean t-shirt, or a coat when the weather is cold. Many religious institutions have begun extending their missions beyond their brick and mortar buildings. The idea of helping those in need in a way that it is convenient is a sound one. 

Little places like The Wall of Kindness mean a lot to those who use them. The day we were there, we saw a man stop by and write an inspirational message and leave it in the shoe pouch. On this glorious Sunday, let us all stop and give thanks for what we have and consider how we can help those in need. Somewhere in an old e-mail, we think we have a note from one of the people involved in this initiative. If you know who is maintaining this wall, please let us know. If we find out, we will share.

Happy Sunday!

New Old Mill at Bicentennial Garden

The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden on Hobbs Road, the 7 1/2 acre park, established in 1976, keeps getting better every year. This year, it has added an old mill and pond. The mill shows visitors how meal is ground from grain by the energy generated from water flowing over a wheel. Inside, there is a vintage millstone (see below). What starts out as whole kernels of a grain like corn, gets ground down for use in foods like cornbread.

During the Parisian Promenade, an older gentleman was on site explaining how the mill stone was procured from Wilmington ten years ago and how they found the matching hardware up north. Hopefully, he will document everything he knows about the mill and share it on the park's website. He knows the history and we don't want to lose it. If you are out this weekend, consider stopping to see this lovely facility.  If elementary schools still have fourth grade social studies themed around North Carolina, this would be a fabulous field trip. Actually, everyone in Greensboro should see it. The old mill is located on the North Holden Road side of the park. 

Live Music on a Warm June Evening

Greensboro is fortunate to have so much good, live music. The above photo was taken yesterday at the Ham's Restaurant on New Garden Road. We're not sure who the musician was, as Ham's has their Friday live music schedule published on their website, but this was a Thursday event. The musician was very good and the weather was fabulous. To be sure, deciding to dine outside was not a hard decision.

Live music can be heard at many of Greensboro's local restaurants and breweries (Lucky 32, Blue Denim, Joymongers, Gibbs Hundred, to name a few). And then we have the theatres and city parks that offer live music. MUSEP concerts have started back up on Sunday afternoons. So much of this music free, or complimentary when one is dining.

Perhaps Greensboro has so many talented musicians because our local colleges and universities have very strong music programs, as do many of our religious organizations. If anybody knows the name of the above musician, please let us know. We'd love to hear him again. Ham's started in Greensboro in 1935. That's over eighty years of good food, good times, and now, good music. Tonight, Jukebox Revolver is playing at Ham's. They bill themselves as an energized, versatile, four-piece party band that plays music from the 1950's to today. It is Friday! You owe it to yourself to hear some live music. Whatever you decide to do, have a great weekend!

Name That Caterpillar

Summer is a great time for yard work, enjoying nature, and spending time outside. In Greensboro, there are many opportunities to play outdoors.*  The more time you spend outside the more likely you are to uncover interesting things in nature. Today, when moving the base of a birdbath, we happened first upon a nest of ant eggs and then the above caterpillar. The caterpillar was very static and lethargic. Perhaps it was getting ready to change into a moth. Do you have any idea what it is? If our internet search proves true, it is a "Schizura leptinoides"  and it will morph in to an equally unattractive moth! Such is the potential for summer adventures. You start the day never anticipating you will uncover a caterpillar that you have never seen before. Before we went back inside, we saw a tiny praying mantis. Hopefully the praying mantis will stick around long enough for us to get a good photo.

Even if you aren't going on vacation this summer, with these extended hours of daylight, you can have a fabulous stay-cation right here in Greensboro. Let us know if you uncover something interesting. The caterpillar looks like something that would appear in a Pixar animated film.

Happy Thursday!

*Learn more about opportunities for summer fun, (here) at the City of Greensboro's website.

V is for VF Corporation

VF Corporation is an global apparel and footwear company headquartered in Greensboro. The original company was founded in 1899. VF has over thirty brands. Lee, Wrangler, The North Face, Timberland,  and Vans are some of the brands owned by VF. According to their website, they have a global workforce of more than 60,000 employees. Recently, VF published statement that they disagree with the response of the White House regarding climate change and VF expressed a commitment to limiting emissions and helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.*

Greensboro, with its robust textile industry in the 20th century, was known as the denim capital of the world. Many Greensboro residents associate VF with jeans. We are, after all,  a "jeans" town- even in our public artwork. Some communities have fiberglass pigs, bulls, horses, etc. Greensboro has fiberglass jeans, artfully painted, downtown.

If you are interested, here is a very thorough timeline of the history of VF, where you will learn facts like the fact that VF actually stands for Vanity Fair. Originally located in Pennsylvania, VF relocated to Greensboro in the late 1990's. Above is a photo of their corporate headquarters off of North Elm Street. Below is the sign at the entrance. Today is ABC Wednesday and "V" is for "VF." See our A-U Round 20 lineup, here.

* See the VF website for reference and more information (here). 

Parlez-vous français?

Sunday's Parisian Promenade had something for everybody. On Sunday afternoon, Jennifer Kerns held a session at the garden gazebo, giving the audience French lessons. At the time of the photo, she was engaging the audience in a call and response dialog (How are you? Fine Thank you, and you?), which explains the pointing and the animated expression on her face.

Having Mademoiselle Kerns teaching French on Sunday was a wonderful addition to Greensboro's Parisian Promenade. After presenting to the audience gathered at the gazebo, she facilitated learning sessions in one of the upper garden spaces at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. Monday through Friday, Mademoiselle teaches French at Grimsley High School. For North Carolina world language teachers and their students, one of the expectations is to use the language in the community. Mademoiselle's lessons on Sunday were a great example of using French beyond the classroom. To the Tanger Family, Greensboro Beautiful, Mademoiselle Kerns and all involved in the Parisian Promenade: Merci beaucoup d'avoir offert de petits cours de français/Thank you for offering the mini-French lessons.

Patika Starr: One of the Stars of the Parisian Promenade

Patika Starr was one of the many performers at the Parisian Promenade yesterday; seen above, promenading through Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden, high above the crowd on stilts. Patika makes walking on stilts, and standing still on stilts, look as easy as resting on a park bench. Everyone wanted a photo with her and she was more than happy to accommodate. Patika and the other performers (the man walking through the park playing the organ, the mime, the aerial dancers, and the MC at the Poodle Parade to name a few) keep attendees coming back to the Promenade every year. These public performers definitely work hard.

You may recognize Patika from her fire dancing routine at the Summer Solstice or from the annual Mardi Gras event at Castle McCulloch in High Point, or perhaps from her participation in Greensboro's First Friday events. Then again, you may not recognize her, because she rarely looks the same twice. Her costume closet must be the size of a house. If you are looking for a performing artist, who is sure to be a crowd pleaser, look up Patika on social media. We will feature some of the other entertainers from Promenade throughout the week.

The Parisian Promenade is one of Greensboro's free public events that signals the start of summer. It comes at a perfect time as most schools are still in session (but winding down) and so people are still in town. The event is sponsored by Greensboro Beautiful, Inc., a local non-profit that does so much to help maintain garden spaces in Greensboro. Thank you, Patika, for your great performance!

First Christian Church of Greensboro

Yesterday, First Christian Church of Greensboro  celebrated turning 100 this year. Their Centennial Celebration Fun Day was held in the parking lot of the church at 1900 West Market Street. The event was a bit hit. It was open not only to the church community, but also the community at large. The above photo was taken at the end of the festival when many people had already left. The church has been working hard to raise $100,000 as part of their Legacy Fund, which is an endowment fund. The money raised is used for educational outreach and ministry above and beyond the annual budgeted amount. They should announce today if the money was raised.

As an example of special ministry events, today, Vy Nguyen is guest speaker for the Centennial Celebration worship service. He is the director of Week of Compassion, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) disaster relief effort. He travels the world as part of his ministry, but calls Linh Bui, California home. His participation in the 100th anniversary celebration should be really special. Let's hope they continue for another 100 years and beyond!

620 South Elm Street

Yesterday's post featured the Kotis property, 3 acres at the northwest corner of Eugene and Gate City Boulevard. Today's post takes you one block over to the 1.6 acre property on the northwest corner of South Elm Street at Gate City Boulevard. The building is part of the Old Greensborough office complex space that forms an L at the corner. Built in 1920, the building initially was the home of Blue Bell Overall Company. 620 Corp. has owned it since the 1980's. Developer Andy Zimmerman now has the property.*

As seen in the photo below, the Elm Street part of the building has been gutted and is being renovated. To our knowledge, it isn't yet being disclosed what will go in the building. One possibility discussed is office space, but it has also been suggested that it may house a grocery store, possibly a Trader Joe's. A grocery store would help greatly as the southern part of town is somewhat of a food desert. With over 53,000 square footage of space, there is plenty of room. According to Wikipedia, most Trader Joe's average between 10,000 and 15,000 square feet and have the highest sales per square foot of any grocer in the United States.

*Reference and more information, here. (Click on the photo below to enlarge it).

Gate City Changes

Gate City Boulevard at Eugene Street is undergoing many changes. Todays photos are street views of what was formerly Brooks Lumber Company behind  Steve's Automotive. The 3-acre property has been purchased by Marty Kotis and is about to be transformed from a lumberyard into retail space of some kind. They have found artists to paint murals and brighten up the corrugated tin. The million dollar investment could be quite a gold mine with UNCG's Spartan Village and other new construction at South Elm Street.

There have many ideas about the use of the space, from a brewery to restaurants, to micro shops, to a farmers market. It will be interesting to monitor its evolution. For now, enjoy the view of the murals from the parking lot of the Salvation Army Thrift Shop. The artwork is a perfect tie-in with the 50's anniversary of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. The artwork evokes the era of pop culture and a time of feeling groovy. There was a time when you could hardly find a mural in Greensboro. Not so anymore. They are abundant. Happy Friday!

Magnolia Blossom

The June 1st theme for the City Daily Photo sites is "nature" and we've uploaded one of Greensboro's mighty magnolia blossoms for the world to see. At the moment, they are blooming all around town and the scent is heavenly. This ornamental, evergreen tree is especially popular in the American southeast and widely cultivated in warmer climates around the world. They can grow to 90 feet tall and the blossoms can grow to the size of a dinner plate. If you have a magnolia in your yard, you may notice an increase in the beetle population. Beetles pollinate this flower that has been around since before bees existed. That's pretty old.

The blossoms only last a day, but, if you are having an event in your home, if you pick them just before the event, their fragrance will fill your house with a lovely scent. They are fun to photograph and to draw. We're glad we took this photo yesterday because last night's pelting rain was pretty hard on them. Happy June 1st; go here to see some great nature shots around the world in the CDP Nature Theme Day..