Greensboro Daily Photo

Happy Summer Solstice 2024!

The 2024 summer solstice arrived yesterday at 4:50 pm. It was a glorious day  with a temperature ranging from about 64º to 86º. There was so much going on, including an event at Revolution Mill.  The "golden hour" was especially photogenic yesterday. The above photo was taken along Battleground Avenue about 8:30p.m. Even though the scene is not especially picturesque, you can see the vibrancy of the sun in the western sky.

For about the next week, we'll celebrate the solstice as the hours of light will be the longest for the year. Yesterday, the sun rose at 5:32 a.m. and set at 9:10p.m., close to 16 hours of daylight. Tonight, the sun sets at 8:40 pm. There is a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game with fireworks after dark. Tomorrow from 2:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m,  the annual Summer Solstice event will be held in the Arboretum. If you like taking pictures, this is a great chance to see people dressed up in all of their summer solstice creativity. The more festive you dress, the more you will enjoy the event.

Happy Solstice!

Greensboro's 44th Fun Fourth

Happy Fourth of July! Today is Greensboro's 44th Fun Fourth Celebration. The event takes place in downtown Greensboro all day, and is free and open to the public. Last year, over 100,000 were in attendance and even more are expected this year since the holiday is on a Wednesday and not part of a long weekend. Also, since the Community Swim Association will hold their end-of-season meet beginning on Thursday, the 2,000+ families involved in the swim event are still in town. That should add a few thousand more people attending the biggest Fourth of July event in all of North Carolina.

The day will be jam packed right down to the fireworks at dark. There will be a fireworks display downtown in the parking lot at East Market and Davie Streets and, after the Grasshoppers game ends, there will be fireworks at First National Bank Field. Read this Go Triad article to learn about all of the other activities. The above photo was taken at Greensboro's Fun Fourth several years ago; however, it captures the spirit of today's fabulous event.

Fireworks

It is almost the Fourth of July and we all know what that means. First, many of Greensboro's residents head to the beach this week. Many who remain in town will either set off their own fireworks or go to the show at the Patriot Fireworks Show and Concert. The downtown show will take place between 9-10 pm at the corner of Davie and Market Streets, as a culmination of the Fun Fourth event.

For those who want to have their own fireworks display, there are many vendors set up around town. The above tent is located at the Green Valley side of Friendly Center. If you look between the American flag on the right/middle. you can see the O.Henry Hotel peeking through. If you do decide to set off fireworks, make sure you do it legally and let the neighbors know in case there are humans or animals that react adversely  to the loud noises. This is the most patriotic time of year and one of our few civic holidays. Finally, here is a link to the Freedom Run, if you want to start celebrating this evening. Read details, here.

Duke Energy Changing Meters

Gone are the days when the meter reader came to the house to see how much electricity had been used. Also going away is the method of being able to drive by at 35 miles an hour and reading the meter on the go. With the new digital meters being installed in Greensboro, all information is transmitted to Charlotte without the need for any humans. Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States with almost 8 million customers in six states, will know if your power goes out in Greensboro, before you have time to call!

The above photo features one of Greensboro's two remaining meter experts who has over forty years experience installing, reading, and servicing meters. He is shown in the process of changing out the old electromechanical meter with the spinning wheel for a digital one. From knocking on the door to let the homeowner know what was about to happen, to explaining why the change was being made, to exuding pride about his long career at Duke Energy, he was a professional in every way. While digital technology may be efficient, there is something to be said for seeing people on the job working hard and taking pride in seeing that the job is well done. By the way, even if you remove that exterior cap, service is not interrupted. If you are not home, you might not even realize your meter has been changed out.

Antique Marketplace

The above photo was taken at the Antique Marketplace on Burnt Poplar Road in Greensboro. It reminds us that even if we can't get to the beach this summer, we can bring the beach to ourselves. These light and airy colors, the fresh fish sign, and the white furniture, is a seen that could be seen at any of North Carolina's beach areas. 

It also reminds us that, in addition to shopping at the 45,000 sq. ft. indoor space, if you really want to make a day of it, you can head over to Chartreuse in Thomasville will be having a tent sale with their two barns full and many additional vendors outside today. If you get your antiquing in early, you will still have time to hurry back to attend Summer Solstice in the Greensboro Arboretum. Rain or shine, there is plenty to do on the weekends of summer in Greensboro. Wonder if we brought lemonade for everyone if Rhonda, Mike, and the crew at Antique Marketplace would let us sit a spell at that lovely table!

Grimsley High School Graduation 2018

Guilford County Schools are now closed for the summer and high schools have bid farewell to their graduating seniors. The above photo was taken this past Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum, when 403 Grimsley High School students graduated. Featured in the photo are Student Body President Alex Anton and Senior Class President Georgia Little. They are leading the graduates in singing the alma mater. Herbert Hazelman, Grimsley's band director for 40 years, wrote the alma mater in 1949. When singing, students point up and to the right, in reference to their optimism toward the future. 

Alex, a third generation Grimsley graduate, and Georgia, are all smiles. It has been a great year for them and they are confident that their four rigorous years at Grimsley have prepared them for college. Shall we join Alex and Georgia in one final singing of the alma mater? All hail to thee, Our alma mater strong, We'll sing thy praise through all the days, with triumphant song. All hail to thee, And as the days go by, We'll pledge our faith and love and loyalty, Greensboro Grimsley High. Congratulations to not only the Grimsley grads, but to all of the graduating seniors in the Guilford County Schools.

(photo credit: Polly Anton, used with permission)

Happy Juneteenth 2018!

June 19th is a very important day in the United States. June 19th, 1865, was the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation was at last delivered in Galveston, Texas by Union Army Major General Granger. While slavery had been abolished in the United States in 1863, in the pre-telephone/internet era of the 1800s, it took over two years for word to make it all the way to Texas. Juneteenth is observed in some way in 45 of the 50 US States. The holiday reminds America, when we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, not all people living in this country in the mid-19th century were free. 

In the above photo, the two African American women, walking along South Elm Street in their lovely dresses, are free to come and go as they please, and on their own terms. A few blocks north of where these women are walking, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum will host a Juneteenth event, called the Color of Commerce: A Celebration of Black Owned Businesses in the Triad. The event is free and open to the public, but you are encouraged to get tickets, here, in case there is a crowd that exceeds seating capacity. The event will help aspiring, new, and established business owners take their business to the next level. It will be held on June 25th from 6-8pm. Happy Juneteenth!

 

Produce Stands and the Flavors of Summer

Produce stands are a summer tradition in the South and they are plentiful in Greensboro this time of year. These side-of-the-road pop ups are a great place to stop and chat a while, unless of course vendors are super busy. By talking to the vendor, you can tell how the growing season has been, what is in season and what is not, and maybe even get some suggestions for recipes. Recently, the above stand has been at the Spears YMCA on Horse Pen Creek Road. Until this past week, they have had strawberries, but strawberries are out of season now. Blueberries and peaches are plentiful. 

The above produce was from Candor (Johnson Peaches if we remember correctly) which is located in Montgomery County. According to the 2010 census, the town of Candor only has 840 residents. However, come the third Saturday in July, which is July 21st this year, all of Candor will be celebrating the peach festival and peach EVERYTHING will be for sale. Until then, in Greensboro, we can all enjoy Candor/Sandhills peaches from the farmers markets and produce stands. Maybe we can even sneak off to Yum Yum to get some ice cream to go with those fresh peaches. By shopping locally, we are reminded that different foods have a season. Oh, the flavors of summer. 

Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit

Today's Sacred Sunday shot is of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit on Yanceville Street, just south of Lee's Chapel Road. The church is small and humble, but they are doing great things. Just beyond the church is a community garden with raised beds that are thriving. Next Saturday (June 23rd) from 12-3pm, they will offer free health screenings. You can get blood pressure and blood sugar screening and some other services. 

Today, faith groups are playing a major role is seeing that congregants, and other community members in need, take important steps towards staying healthy. Screenings and good produce are two such examples. You are also encouraged to nurture your spiritual self while at it. Happy Sunday! Happy healthy!

Kona Ice Truck

Summer is upon us and shaved ice and ice cream trucks will be getting lots of business this weekend. The above photo features the Kona ice truck that was parked at the Bur Mil swimming pool the other night. The franchise prides itself on clean trucks, friendly staff, good flavors with an effort to be health conscious. Kona started with one truck in Kentucky in 2007 and is up to nearly 1,000 today. They have even started making their flavors in-house. It would be interesting for them to team up with Greensboro's Mother Murphy's Flavoring Company, in case the need a few thousand more flavors. If you want to channel the inner child in you, try the  FLAVORWAVE with a little bit of all ten flavors.

Enjoy your weekend, with or without shaved ice!

 

 

Bur-Mil Marlins Host Friendly Frogs

One of Greensboro's great summer traditions is the dual swim meets. Twenty three teams with over 2,000 swimmers participate in the Community Swim Associations summer meets. For five weeks of summer, children ages 5 to 18 will spend hours practicing and competing. Parents will help with snacks, judging, scoring, looking after kids and anything else needed to make the experience memorable for all involved.

Last night, the Bur-Mil Marlins hosted the Friendly Frogs at their pool at Owl's Roost. Swimmers were working hard as were parents. A Swim-for-Cancer bake sale was underway. Siblings sat around the pool playing games, talking, and getting a little cell phone time. The Marlins are one of the newest teams in the community swim program. They placed 6th overall last year and the Friendly Frogs were 4th. Both teams were giving it their all last night. The best aspect of CSA is that all team members have the opportunity to participate, not just the elite swimmers. Go Marlins! Go Frogs!

Airplanes Over Greensboro

Public school is out in Greensboro. Families will be leaving town for their beach and mountain vacations. Others will travel by air to start their summer adventures. The above airplane is in the landing pattern for Piedmont Triad International Airport. For those who aren't in a position to take out-of-town vacations this summer, great staycations can be arranged in Greensboro, centered around plane watching in and around the airport.

This photo was taken at Bur-Mil Park.  On many days, Bur-Mil is right in the landing pattern and the planes do seem really close, especially if you have your head in the clouds, dreaming about your summer fun. Speaking of summer fun, tonight the Bur-Mil swim team will host the Friendly Frogs in a dual swim meet. If possible, we will post a photo of the meet tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Cabbage White Butterfly on White Echinacea

Summertime is Greensboro is such a great time to enjoy the local flora and fauna. As the summer solstice approaches and the hours of daylight are almost at peak for the year, there is so much to see and appreciate. In the above photo, a butterfly was settling in for the night, trying to blend in with the white cone flower. To the right of this scene is a cabbage patch and the larva of these butterflies are a serious pest to cabbage. Fortunately, the growing season for cabbage is over and we were able to harvest all of the cabbage before the invasion of the cabbage butterfly.

Insect-plant interaction is fascinating. Sometimes it is a good thing. For example, magnolia trees are pollinated by beetles. So, if you have a magnolia tree in your yard, you may notice beetles also. Sometimes, the relationship is not so great, as is the case with cabbage butterfly that comes to invade the cabbage patch. If you are sitting with your friends and family glued to their phones, have them investigate the flora and fauna and the dynamic interaction of the two. With all of the rain this spring, Greensboro is especially green and rich in vegetation.

Another Amazing Midtown Mural!

The Guilford Green Community Center is one of the latest buildings in Greensboro to get a new mural. The mural extends around the building and onto the parking lot. The community center is located at the corner of Grecade and West Bessemer, on the eastern edge of Midtown. You can see the scope of the project by looking at the door in the middle and noticing the two floors of windows.

The muralist, Adnate, from Australia and Luxembourg graffiti artist Eric Mangen are painting the above two-story office building owned by Greensboro developer, Marty Kotis. They have used a fire engine, filled with a mixture of paint and water, and eight fire extinguishers to spray this building. They work quickly and precisely. Greensboro is getting a lot of social media attention for these murals done by some of the best muralist/graffiti artists in the world.*  Follow this process on Facebook@ Eric Mangen Worx, or drive back behind the Midtown Sheetz to see this building transforming before your eyes. They will still be working on it today.

*Reference and more information, here.

 

Salvation Army Store

The State Street/North Elm area, on the edge of Irving Park, has seen a lot of change over the years. Congressman Howard Coble, whose office was to the left of this Salvation Army Family Store, is no longer with us. The barber on this corner is no longer with us. The above store, formerly a drug store, became this thrift store several years ago. Currently, they are holding a 50% off sale. Since their lease is not being renewed, the thrift store will be closing. This location was so convenient for the Irving Park, Kirkwood, St. Pius X, Page High School, area folks to donate items. It was not uncommon to find name brand clothing in good condition at this store. It will be interesting to see what this location will become in its next iteration and to see if the Salvation Army will find a new location.

In the meantime, the 24-hour BP Gas Station and Brown Gardiner Fountain across the street are still going strong and new businesses continue to pop up on State Street. The business world is dynamic and ever changing. Hopefully, the service/retail trends reflect the needs of the local people and, people in this community will find a convenient place to donate items. Remember, reduce, reuse, and recycle. The Salvation Army was extremely convenient as donation drop offs were drive-through on the side of the pharmacy window. Do you have a favorite business or employee you think should be featured here? Let us know. Happy Monday!

Rainbow Over the Golf Course

Today's photo was taken at the golf course of the Greensboro Country Club along Carlson Dairy Road. While the farm course is extra thirsty due to having extensive landscaping done, most golf courses require generous amounts of water. The photo reminds us that when there is water, and the sun is angled just right, a rainbow forms. Rainbows can appear in unexpected places at unanticipated times. Let's all help each other find the rainbows even when the clouds loom large. Happy Sunday.

McDonald's at the Corner of Holden Road and Gate City Boulevard

McDonald's is an international chain and not something usually featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. However, the above McDonald's has been a fixture at the corner of Holden Road and Gate City Boulevard for years. When Border's Bookstore used to be in this plaza, people would combine a trip to Borders with a McDonald's visit. It is also popular with nearby Smith High School students and staff. Currently, covered in plywood and surrounded by barriers, this McDonald's looks like it is closed, but actually, the drive-through is open for business (and quite busy).

Currently, McDonald's is giving 4,000 of its stores a facelift. Changes will include more self-ordering kiosks (already big in Europe), digital ordering, home delivery, a return to dollar menu options, fresh (not previously-frozen) quarter pounder beef,  mobile order & pay and curbside pick up are some of the new features McDonald's will roll out. It will be interesting to see which ones will be picked up for the above McDonald's. We're betting that the "AYPLACE" [sic] will be bigger and better when the renovation is complete. Honk if you love Happy Meals!

(Formerly) Southside Hardware on South Elm Street

Yesterday's post about the alley off of Lewis Street resulted in a wonderfully informative comment from Nollie W. Neill, Jr. whose family had a business in that alley. His family's foundry was Glascock which moved to West Lee Street (Glascock Stove & Manufacturing Co.). He also wrote that a tornado on April 2, 1936 damaged and destroyed many of the buildings in the Lewis Street/South Elm area. 

We'll try our luck today and post a photo of the Southside Hardware Company buildings from the back, the MLK, Jr. Drive side. The other side of the buildings faces South Elm Street, a block up from yesterday's post. For now, we can only show the signage as Google searches aren't resulting in any information. There is a Southside Hardware in High Point. Does anyone know if they are related?

Alley Paralleling South Elm Street

It is always nice to find a little area in Greensboro that has gone unnoticed. The above alley is one such place. It is located just off of Lewis Street, paralleling the east side of South Elm Street. The side of the featured building is Boxcar Arcade. With the brick, river rock, and landscaping, the scene evokes a little slice of Europe. This alley doesn't even have a street sign, or a name on Google maps. It goes behind many Elm Street shope, leading to Barnhardt Street. 

The alley continues to the south, behind Elsewhere Museum, where it is put to good use. If you have a little time, consider exploring these "off the beaten path" places of Greensboro. This scene is an example of how Greensboro looks "green" even in the heart of downtown. If you are counting your steps, they will add up before you know it. And if you time your walks just right, you can avoid the sun!

RED Cinema & RBG

Greensboro is lucky to have a theater like RED Cinema that shows movies and documentaries that are not always mainstream. Out of 15 movies, many are top moneymakers; others are more typical of small arthouses.  Years ago, Greensboro had the Janus Theatre in Irving Park. Now, RED Cinema, in nearby Midtown,  fulfills that role. As an example, this week, they are featuring the movie about the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG).

Last night, there were 15 people at the 7:15 showing (not bad for a Monday night). Eleven out of the moviegoers were in their 30's or younger. It is nice to see the younger generation taking a real interest in this iconic political figure. The above photo features the south side of the theatre with a dramatic mural by Dan Kitchener. Marty Kotis has done a great job of branding this part of town and seeing that Greensboro has its share of great murals. Betsy West and Julie Cohen have done a fantastic job of directing and producing a fabulous film on the life and career of Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It should be in town for at least a few more days.

Norfolk Southern

All during First Friday, the train tracks at Hamburger Square on South Elm Street were having problems. The arms kept going down and the lights flashing, yet, no train was coming. Cars waited and waited, and then the arms would go back up, with no sign of a train. The same thing was happening on Saturday. Then, Saturday afternoon, here came the Norfolk Southern 9411 chugging down the track. A downtown local commented, "This is like the boy who cried wolf. This time, it really is a train." Hopefully, the problem was fixed and the arms are only coming down when needed. Fortunately drivers and pedestrians alike always have the option of using the underpass.

Seeing a train roll through town is, indeed, a beautiful sight. You can see the water tower at Bennett College in the background, clearly situating the photo in downtown Greensboro. Trains have been such a part of Greensboro's history and the very reason we are nicknamed the Gate City. Gateway city, transporting textiles, jeans, necessities and luxury items to where they are needed. If you ever get a chance, take a day trip on our passenger trains.

Evangel Fellowship Word Ministries

The above photo was taken in downtown Greensboro in Governmental Plaza on First Friday. Members of the Evangel Fellowship Church of Greensboro were doing sound checks, getting ready for Christian Anderson to sing at a benefit concert,  which was a fundraiser for East Greensboro tornado victims. Ms. Anderson was scheduled to sing at 6:30 and, hopefully, she got to perform before the wind and rain disrupted many First Friday events. 

Evangel Fellowship is a dynamic congregation that worships at 2207 East Cone Boulevard. Otis Lockett, Jr. is pastor. The biblical-based congregation has been together for 35 years, moving from Freeman Mill Road to East Cone Boulevard. Christian Anderson is a local Christian musician who spreads the word of God through her voice. Sometimes, a powerful song can move a person spiritually even more than just plain talking; although, congregants sing the praises of Pastor Lockett and his wife. Happy Sunday!

Crafted, the Art of the Taco

Crafted, the Art of the Taco, was established in 2012, in a long skinny space on the east side of Elm Street. The new Crafted, photographed above, is located across the street, in the south 200 block in the  building formerly housing Mack and Mack clothing designers. Kris Fuller takes great pride in serving high quality food in this upscale "taco joint." The move has doubled capacity and provides a great space to eat both inside or almost-inside, at the open windows-  protected from the elements. 

Last night, at First Friday, being protected from the elements was pretty important. At first it was sunny, too hot, at 91 degrees. Then, between six and seven pm, the skies darkened, lightening started; soon,  the rains came. The above photo was taken around 8pm, when the rains subsided, twilight gave downtown a warm glow, and people both inside and outside enjoyed the beauty of an almost-summer evening.

Mango Chili Paleta Anyone?

If you are looking for something to do with family or friends this weekend, consider heading over to Gate City Boulevard to the Michoacana Store for a frozen fruit bars at the "heladería y paletería". Michoacan is a state in Mexico, just west of Mexico City. While most know of the area because of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, it is also well knows for frozen fruit bars, perhaps even the original home of them.

When you find this store tucked-away in Greensboro, you will not be disappointed. It is located across from the Habitat for Humanity Restore, behind the Latino Credit Union, beside K-Pop Nail Salon. La Michoacana, and the surrounding area, is like a little taste of Mexico right here in Greensboro. There is even a man selling fresh coconuts out of a shopping cart in the parking lot. The popsicles are $2.49 each and there must be at least 100 flavors, made on site. As an example, the above flavor is mango and chili pepper. It is not sweet at all, but savory, spicy and filled with real chunks of mango. The first bite tastes like real fruit and real food, not sugar. Other flavors include tamarind, kiwi strawberry, cherry, chocolate, and coconut. They do have more playful, candy flavors and some that are milk based. You could try a different flavor a day and probably have not exhausted the choices by the end of the summer. A nice option is to cut off chunks so that everyone can try more than one.

Indeed, it is time for summer fun!

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)

Today is the last day of May and, throughout the state, public school students on traditional calendars have started their end of course exams. The above photo was taken at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) on May 16th when the teachers marched in Raleigh. Even thought this is GREENSBORO Daily Photo, we are reminded that the public schools are all governed by the NCDPI. The above photo was taken on the back lawn behind the building, showing the artwork on the building.

If  you see a public school child around town this week, wish them all the best on these exams. If you have one in your house, help them eat well and get a good night's sleep. If students are well rested and fed, they will likely be more alert and able to focus. Remind them of what is engraved on the NCDPI building, "You are a child you are suitable to be awed" and add, "you are a child, we are in awe of you." Happy Thursday and happy end to the school year!

Cascade Saloon

The Cascade Saloon on South Elm Street is almost back in business. Built in 1895, The Cascade was a place for people to socialize, dine, and have a drink, whether just making a visit to town or about to embark on a train ride at the nearby depot. The architecture of the facade is so typical of  storefronts during the late 19th/early 20th century.

While the building has sat empty since 1960 and was at the brink of collapse, thanks to Preservation Greensboro and the Christman Company, it is being renovated. Christman, a construction company will be headquartered there. So, while you won't be able to go in for a meal, all who drive by will be able to see a very lovely building restored to its original splendor, and then some. Have a look at where the building was photographed for Greensboro Daily Photo last year and learn more about the Christman Company, here.

Skinks of Greensboro

With summer approaching, for many, there is more opportunity to spend time out of doors exploring the flora and fauna of Greensboro. One creature you are likely to see is the little critter photographed above, a skink. Skinks are readily available in Greensboro. These reptiles are lizards and, while they resemble newts, newts are actually amphibians and are a type of salamander. Skinks live in a variety of habitats. They like to hide under things like logs where their predators cannot reach them. They like to be under leaves and in gardens where there are plenty of insects to eat. 

The skink above, spotted near the golf range at Bur-Mil Park, is one whose tail has been sacrificed to a predator, but whose life was spared. You can see the tail starting to regenerate and the skink, himself, looks well fed. The beauty of the extended hours of light of the warm summer days make nature watching in Greensboro's parks so much fun. 

Memorial Day 2018

Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, is a federal holiday remembering people who have died in active military service. There are several Memorial Day ceremonies in the Greensboro area. One that will be very special will take place at the Carolina Field of Honor, where Greensboro's own, Major Karoline Hood, U.S. Army, will speak. Major Hood graduated from Northwest High School and went on to Graduate from West Point. She has deployed to Iraq and to Afghanistan, where she was a platoon leader and company commander.

Major Hood is an inspiration to us all, serving her country and modeling excellence in all she does, from leading troops to running marathons to teaching math courses at West Point, and more. If you want to attend the ceremony will begin promptly at 11:00 am today at The Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park, 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville. Please remember to bring seating and wear a hat if it is sunny. 

Reference and additional information, here.

Youth for Christ

Today's feature is the sideview of the Youth For Christ (YFC)  house at 917 North Elm Street in Greensboro. YFC reaches out to youth who share the love of Christ and who are looking for social involvement centered around Christian endeavors. On their website, YFC helps explain its mission in the following way: 

"Just as our nation's culture has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, so has the way in which people come to Christ. The weekend church service is no longer the primary mechanism for salvation decisions; only one out of every ten believers who makes a decision to follow Christ does so in a church setting or service. On the other hand, personal relationships have become even more important in evangelism, with a majority of salvation decisions coming in direct response to an invitation given by a family member or friend."  Evangelism is most effective among kids. Copyrighted by The Barna Group, Ltd. Youth for Christ has been evangelizing since 1944. The YFC building on North Elm Street is relatively new, freshly painted, and equipped with vehicles and vans to help teenagers participate in Christian activities. We hope you have a happy Sunday and, if your church is looking for a way to support teens in their faith path, consider volunteering for or donating to YFC.

Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Several readers have asked about progress on the Tanger Performing Arts Center. The above photo, taken yesterday afternoon, from North Elm Street shows that construction has begun on the 3,000 seat center.  The Tanger Performing Arts Center (T-PAC?), will house a variety of productions, including those that entertain- like concerts and Broadway productions-  and those that are more educational and informative- like the Bryan Series Lectures.

Steven Tanger, CEO of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, pledged $7.5 million towards the project that will cost over $80 million upon completion. Mr. Tanger's father Stanley, founded Tanger Outlet Centers in 1981. Fortunately for Greensboro, the Tangers have been very generous in funding public projects; not only the above project but the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden.

Yesterday, even the cement and the reinforcing bars at the base of the structure looked beautiful underneath that blue sky and giant, hovering, puffy white cloud. To orient you even more to the project, if you look in the distance, you can see the Greensboro History Museum (the original First Presbyterian Church). If you get a chance this weekend, drive downtown and see how much Elm Street is changing.

Lake Daniel Park & North Buffalo Creek

East Lake Drive wraps around Lake Daniel Park and North Buffalo Creek, at the northern end of the Westerwood neighborhood. In this grassy area, people play basketball, ride their bikes, walk their dogs, and spend time with family and friends. In the above photo a group, it seemed to be a walking club, is following the trail through the park on the Lake Daniel Greenway. It is a two mile multi-use path that stretches from West Friendly Avenue to Mendenhall Street.

The path is open from sunrise to sunset and, in the summer, those hours of light add quite a lengthy opportunity to ride a bike, walk, and run. As seen in the above photo, the sun is low to the sky, and the group is hoping to finish their walk before sunset. Happy Friday. May you find a way to enjoy the out of doors on this Memorial Day weekend, even if it is a bit wet. After all, the holiday marks the unofficial start of summer- which is actually Thursday, June 21st.

Canine Companions in Greensboro

Greensboro residents love their canine companions. Yesterday's GDP post featured LeBauer Park, a local park that has a special section for dogs. Country Park also has a "bark park" section. Owners who know their dogs have been well socialized can let their dogs run around within the confines of the fenced-in area.

Greensboro also has many dog-friendly businesses. Replacements, Ltd., for one, allows employees to bring their dogs to work. Many brew pubs allow dogs on leashes. When the festivals in the parks, like MUSEP, start back up for the summer, you will see many canine companions. You will also see dogs out running with their owners, like at the "Running of the Balls" in Sunset Hills each December.

The old English bulldogs in the above photo didn't look like they were in the mood to run, but the were photographed while out exploring with their owner in Price Park. If you are interested in a dog, please look at the local animal shelters. There are plenty of options.

Fun at LeBauer Park

This photo was taken last November, but we haven't had a chance to use it yet. The scene shows the side of LeBauer Park where the ping pong tables are located. The ping pong tables have proven very popular with people who visit the park. In the sort time that it has been open, LeBauer Park has proven very popular with the people of Greensboro. There always seems to be something going on. For example, today, at noon, The Wrangler Tunes at Noon will feature the Marcus Horth Band. This Friday, UNCG's Spartan Cinema will show the movie "Leap" at the park.

As Greensboro's parks gear up for summer concerts and play, your best bet is to keep a blanket or some folding chairs in the trunk of your car. It helps to be ready to enjoy these events, even if you stumble on them without knowing ahead of time. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to keep an extra pack of ping pong balls. Happy Wednesday.

Driving Hope

Driving Hope is a breast cancer awareness and fundraising initiative. The above pink truck was spotted in front of the Crown Paint and Body Shop off of Wendover Avenue on Norwalk. The Driving Hope initiative is part of the Earlier.org campaign which gets people to test earlier for breast cancer. The Crown Automotive Group has an ongoing partnership with the earlier.org group. That is a pretty amazing paint job on that truck. Imagine if that is what you drove around town. Perhaps Crown Paint and Body is the source of this pink paint job and the addition of the decals.

 If like to help raise awareness about cancer, here is a Cancer Awareness Calendar. This past week was the National Women's Health Week. May 31st is World No Tobacco Day. You can keep up with all of these important awareness days, maybe even play a leadership role in spearheading an event. Do you think you could get everyone you know to put down their cigarettes for one day? Let's all try!

Father's House of Praise

The Father’s House of Praise is located on 152 Litwin Drive, Thomasville, NC, just down the road from Greensboro and highly visible on the right if you are driving to one of the Chartreuse Barn Sales. For a small church, the Father’s House of Praise offers many worship opportunities.  The’ve got Sunday school, Sunday church, Sunday night services and Wednesday night services. Music appears to be an important part of their services.

As seen in the above photo, the church pops against a blue sky wth that bright red roof, double crosses, and little white steeple. Exploring the communities surrounding Greensboro, like Thomasville, makes for great “free time” fun. Happy Sunday, dear readers. If you want to learn more about the Father’s House of Praise, they have a Facebook page, but don’t seem to have a website.

LevenEleven Brewery

LEVENELEVEN is a new brew pub in town, located on 1111 Coliseum Boulevard, right across from the Coliseum. Dan Morgan opened the facility this winter and relocated his "brew shed" next door where his  loyal customers can still  purchase home brewing supplies. Dan and his employee Derrick are both accomplished, award-winning brewers, sharing their brew in three-barrel batches.

In the above photo, members of the Piedmont Od Time Society are meeting for their Thursday jam. This is a new location or the old-time musicians since Gibbs is relocating. LevenEleven bills itself as Greensboro's smallest brewery. Small is the new big!

Its Coliseum strip mall location is transforming before the city's eyes. There is a coffee shop, the brewery, a the beermaking supply store, and Adelaide's warehouse where you can find her painting furniture and repurposing items. It is always nice to see a new area around town develop an identity as a destination. By the way, the acoustics were great last night and rumor has it the porter was exceptional. Those three barrels were draining fairly quickly. 

Classical Cambodian Dancing

Last night, Sokcheat Chiep demonstrated the delicate gestures of classical, Cambodian dancing for a group of female educators, specifically, the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, International. Sokcheat is affiliated with the Cambodian Cultural Center of North Carolina where girls and women of all ages learn to dance as their relatives have for generations. The Cambodian Cultural Center is located in Lexington on Highway 8, just southeast of I-85.

It is so nice for children to grow up knowing the language and culture of their ancestors. The Delta Kappa Gamma members really enjoyed trying to move their hands as gracefully as Sokcheat did. After the dance demonstration, her aunt, Vandy Chhum, explained to her DKG group that, historically, these dances were performed for the Royal family and didn't get performed beyond the palace courtyard. Not living in a monarchy, Americans do not always remember protocol when royalty is involved. This still photo captures only one small example of the beautiful positions of the hands and feet.

Education Rally on May 16th

About 2,000 teachers in the Guilford County Schools requested a day off yesterday to have the opportunity to go to Raleigh to advocate for public school students in North Carolina. These absences resulting in the district making the decision to have a teacher work day. These teachers, participating in yesterday's walk,  are working to improve the profession, to increase per-pupil spending, to get more resources allocated, and to bring teacher pay on par with salaries in other states. 

In addition to car pools and individuals driving from Greensboro to Raleigh, teachers also took the train from downtown Greemsbprp and at least 6 busloads of local teachers went to the march. It will be interesting to see if the day of advocacy for public education will result in any increased funding. The day was peaceful and orderly, and all plans are for teachers to return to the classroom today to finish out the school year with their students.

General Nathanel Greene by Night

The statue of General Nathanael Greene is the main feature of the traffic circle on South Greene and McGee Streets. The monument appears to have gotten some new lighting and greenery. When the sun sets behind the statue, the display can be dramatic and colorful. However, at night, when the sky fades to black and lighting illuminates the scene, the effect is equally beautiful. It is as if the greenery at the base makes the marble pedestal and the patina of the statue even more prominent.

The 22-foot statue, sculpted by James Barnhill, was dedicated ten years ago, in 2008. During the American Revolutionary War, General Greene led troops in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. While the results of the battle were not favorable for Green and his men, it weakened the British and helped result in America winning the war. Indeed, Greensboro's namesake looks majestic on the 10 ft pedestal standing guard at the south end of the city.*

*if you like learning about commemorative landscapes of North Carolina, explore this site, hosted by UNC. See, here, for a very different view of the statue, not long after it was installed.

An Evening on Smith Street

The above photo is a view from Joymonger's deck at dusk, looking at Smith Street Diner and the new construction over on Eugene Street. The scene is tranquil and serene; however, at unpredictable intervals, car and motorcycles zoom past, roaring loudly- especially on the weekend. Regardless, the browns and blues of dusk, the geometry of the telephone poles, the lines on the street and the rectangular solid buildings align and create a beautiful, magical sight, even if it is punctuated intermittently with vehicles in need of a muffler.

If you turned the camera onto Joymonger's when this was taken last Friday night, you would see a crowded, vibrant group. However, there is a certain Hopper-esque beauty to the quietness of the above scene and the glow of the light within the gallery to the right. As the evenings warm up and it stays light longer, spending time downtown is very enjoyable. #DuskOnSmithStreet