Greensboro Daily Photo

Mystery Bus

Do you ever go exploring in Greensboro (or your own city) and uncover things that are a mystery? The above photo features a bus parked off of Gate City Boulevard at Tipton Place. It is back there, all decorated, looking like a mobile mural. We're guessing that it is somehow related to the property at the corner of West Gate City Boulevard and Eugene Street, formerly Brooks Lumber. That area has so many murals, lights, and outdoor art, likely the but is part of that venue.

Do you know about the bus? On the day we were on the photo shoot, we didn't see a single person on that street and there wasn't any kind of signage. There was, however, a fence preventing curious street photographers from getting closer. Happy Thursday, which they say is the new Friday! 

Spring Sports in Guilford County

Since spring is approaching, it is time for spring sports. The above school features an early-season practice at High Point Central. Although the high powered lights capture the attention, if you look in the middle to the right, you can see the team and their coach.  

While High Point Central is located in High Point, in 1991, the residents of Guilford County voted to merge the Greensboro, High Point, and county schools into one district. Today, the unified district, Guilford County Schools, has over 72,000 students and there are many sports rivalries among the district's schools. If you want some great, affordable fun, attend some local games and support our students. Many of them will go on to be college athletes and it is super special if you've had a chance to see them play when they were in high school.

Hellebores and Daffodils

In spite of spring being over 20 days away, Greensboro is starting to look a little greener. The hellebores and daffodils were out in full force this past weekend. Hellebores are also known as Christmas/winter/Lenten roses. They have a long blooming season and start blooming when most everything else in dormant. They even bloom before daffodils. Both of these flowers grow well in Greensboro, as seen in the above photo. Hellebores are especially happy under deciduous trees as they get plenty of light while blooming, but are somewhat protected after the sun gets more intense. 

Speaking of sun, on Sunday the sun came out after many gray, rainy days. Everything looks so bright and happy when the sun comes out, everything from flowers to people. Greensboro is supposed to have several days in the 60s this week. Head to the farmers market to purchase your hellebores from Janice Nicholson, who was referred to as the "Hellebore Lady"  in a 2002 News and Record article by Maria Johnson (here). Janice runs the family business, Gethsemane Gardens, east of Church Street on Highway 150, where she cultivates hellebores from seeds. The hellebores in the photo are a product of her regionally-famous green thumb!

Brian Jones at Scuppernong Books

On Saturday, Brian Jones spoke at Scuppernong books. He is the Associate Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. He spoke about the radical legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.  About one of the best things someone can do to understand fully what was happening at the time while Dr. King was alive is to listen to his speeches and to read his 1967 book, "Where Do We Go From Here?".

The talk was sponsored by the Greensboro Socialists and approximately 40 people were in attendance. Regardless of political beliefs, it was so informative.  Greensboro has many interesting guest speakers, through the Bryan series, the presentations at all the local universities, and the speakers of special interest groups and organizations. Check in with Scuppernong often as they are always hosting informative events.

Beauty in Nature...All Around Us

Sunday is the day we try to post something religious/spiritual. Greensboro has plenty of houses of worship, and we haven't exhausted them all in ten years of Sundays. However, sometimes, the most spiritual views of all come straight out of nature. Greensboro is such a beautiful city. The above photo was taken in Northwest Guilford County, reminding us that the area is known for horses, stables, and interesting landscapes. 

There has been so much rain lately, it is hard to believe that our last big snowfall was in early December. Also, it will be spring in 24 days. If you get a chance, head outside today and breathe in all the beauty of nature around us. For this beauty, we are thankful. If the weather forecast is correct, temperatures should rise to the mid 60's. The horses will happy today; we should be, too! 

Poppy's Pickles

If you are looking for something to do today, head to one of Greensboro's farmer's markets. The above photo features two of the workers at the Poppy's Pickles booth at the Yanceyville Curb Market near the old War Memorial Stadium. The two are standing at "parade rest" as they wait for their next wave of customers. If you crave a great pickle and love supporting local businesses, stop by Poppy's Pickles. They have samples for you to try.

Globally, pickles have been around since 2030 B.C. Poppy's is slightly younger, but they've certainly developed a great product. Visiting a farmer's market is such a great Saturday morning tradition! Hope to see  you there.

Smith Street Diner

Smith Street diner opened on Smith Street in 2005. It is hard to believe that it has already been open for 14 years. The restaurant is known for amazing breakfasts, one of the top 10 breakfast places in North Carolina. Not only is breakfast good here, but you can get it all day long here. Many people rave about the GIANT biscuits and the special recipe French toast; however, some are in love with the freshly squeezed orange juice. It takes six whole oranges to get enough juice for one glass.

Fortunately, they are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with great home-cooked meals, locally sourced as feasible. The opening of Joymongers, the adding of apartments across the street, the baseball stadium half a block away, and the greenway have given Smith Street diner plenty of foot traffic. They stay busy! Happy Friday!

Breadservice at the Corner Market

Today, we're sharing one more photo of the Corner Market at Lindley Park It is so much fun to go there and purchase food. For example, Breadservice was packed this past Saturday, with the baker taking his time to talk to all of his customers. He makes sure that everyone has a sample of bread to try. This past week, the sample was  a cornbread with an extra moist texture. At least one of the wheat breads has 70% wheat that is grown in North Carolina. If you like a seeded bread with a strong fennel taste, Breadservice has the perfect loaf for you.

For such a small space in the parking lot of Sticks and Stones Restaurant at the corner of Walker and Elam, they sure pack in a lot of great, local vendors with great products and plenty of free conversation. Stop by and check it out and, if your neighborhood could use such a market, consider starting one!

Blue House and Redbud Tree at the Corner of Scott and Walker

This past weekend, the blue house, at the corner of Scott and Walker Avenues, was in its early spring glory with this redbud tree bursting with color. This Lindley Park house is just down the street from Lindley Elementary School and is a prime example of the beauty of a well maintained older home in a well-established neighborhood. The people of Greensboro love their yards and many take great pride in landscaping. Just the right plantings in just the right place can really add beauty to a yard. The blue paint and white trim on the house make that pink tree pop!

The native eastern redbud is one of the first trees to flower in North Carolina, and it is a hardy small tree that can thrive in full sun or light shade. Once the tree is done blooming, heart-shaped leaves will be a vibrant green through the summer and take on beautiful color for fall. Redbud trees stay small and like to volunteer to grow, which means they are hardy and FREE! Let's hope the threat of ice today doesn't damage these glorious blossoms!

King Cake from the French Artisan Bread Bakery!

King cake is something that is eaten between Epiphany on January 6th and Fat Tuesday which, this year, is March 5th. King cake is one of those iconic foods served during Carnival season. You can get king cake at the Corner Market in Lindley Park. As seen in the above photo, the cake is made by the French Artisan Bread Bakery. The made-from-scratch cake is more like a sweet bread with icing and colorful sugar granules on top. If you don't want the giant cake, smaller cinnamon-roll-sized cakes are also available. It is really fun to eat local while honoring traditions celebrated in several countries. Here's to some pre-Lenten, culinary fun!

Twilight on Old Battleground at Site of Harris Teeter Fuel Center

The above photo features Battleground Avenue at the intersection with Old Battleground at twilight on Saturday evening. With the 840 bypass crossing over it and with new construction, Old Battleground is changing. On the southeast corner with Battleground Avenue, Old Battleground is getting a Harris Teeter Fuel Center. Since Harris Teeter has been a subsidiary of Kroger since 2013, HT is adding a gas points program and the gas station will be here. The old Citgo has already been torn down. Greensboro's first HT Fuel Center opened summer 2017 at 5706 W. Gate City Blvd. in the Adams Farm area. There are 11 total in North Carolina. Likely, Greensboro will see several more.

There is a brief point in the evening when the sky is an intense blue and just about anything, including cell towers, glaring lights, and an intersection near a future gas station,  are beautiful during this brief time. 

First Christian Church at the Corner Market

The First Christian Church, also known as Disciples of Christ, sets up at the Corner Market in Lindley Park. They sell baked goods with proceeds going to help those in need. They support the Green for Greens Program. The church, located at 1900 West Market Street, believes in community involvement. Some of the initiatives they are involved in include: the Glenn Haven Community Center; One Step Further Food Pantry; Cone Elementary School; Salvage Garden; and more. One of their mottos is Serve. Help. Reach. Feed. Connect. 

Today's successful churches do so much to stay relevant and involved. Some of the best ministering happens beyond the sanctuary. Saturday, the First Christian Church members at the farmer's market were hard at work. Hopefully, the day was a good one for them- in spite of the bone-chilling rain.

View of Downtown: Lincoln Financial Group

This view of downtown Greensboro was taken from inside a building on West Gate City Boulevard. The sky was beautiful, and bright. Lights inside the store reflected off of the front of the store window. The top of the Lincoln Financial Group was peeking through the window, situating the photo in Greensboro. On a clear day, the time and temperature can be seen from several blocks away. Have a great weekend. We hope you have a chance to explore Greensboro, finding new vistas and different perspectives, making something old look new.

It's Blossom Time in Greensboro

Readers have been alerting us to sightings of blossoms around Greensboro. You can usually count on these trees, located on Green Valley Road, on the east end of Friendly Center, to be some of the first to bloom around Greensboro.With so many in a row, they look spectacular, especially if you catch them on a sunny day. Yesterday was overcast, not the best for photos. However, this time of year, Greensboro is at risk of getting a late-season ice storm, or a hard rain that tears down the blossoms. 

Redbud trees have also started to bloom around town. This should be a good weekend for seeing some early signs of spring in Greensboro. We'll be on the lookout, too. Happy Friday!

Bike Patrol in #DGSO

It is becoming increasingly popular to see police patrolling on bicycles in Downtown Greensboro, or #DGSO. In the above photo, two policemen are heading east on McGee Street, about to cross over Elm Street. This part of town is known as Hamburger Square and, while Elm/Market is technically the point where the city spits north/south, east/west, Hamburger Square is equally famous for being a point of much activity downtown, especially during festivals.

The bikes are a convenient way to get from Point A to Point B, or around Point C, quickly, especially during times of high foot and vehicle traffic. Another great benefit of the bike patrol is that it gives officers a chance to stop and interact, positively, with community. Unless they are in pursuit of something urgent, they are encouraged to take time to build community with people along the way. According to the city's website, the Greensboro Police Department has 673 sworn law enforcement officers. According to a 2014 article in the News & Record, 70 officers have been trained to ride bicycles on patrol.

Stoop Scape in Southside

The above stoop leads to an apartment in Southside, on Martin Luther King Drive. It is so personalized with the planter shaped like a head. When plants are in bloom, it looks like a mane of green locks. In the winter, it looks like a head of long, brown hair. Regardless of the season, it is a fine example of someone in Greensboro adding character to the entrance to their home. Giving directions to this place would be quite easy. 

The entrance between Dame's Chicken and Waffles and Manny's Universal Cafe. If you are out for a smoothie or waiting for a table at Dame's, explore Southside. You will be surprised at all of the creative things you will discover. Southside has quite a bit of personality and feels a little bit like a trendy neighborhood in Washington, D.C.

Bonfire at the Psychedelic Art Exhibit

Last week, UNCG's College of Visual and Performing Arts hosted a psychedelic art exhibit inspired by the artwork of the 1960s and the Grateful Dead. It was installed at UNCG's Project Space at 219 West Lewis Street, beside the Forge. Curators Emily Edwards and Lisa Goble thought of so many great details to help build community. In addition to two floors of artwork, they brought UNCG's mobile art truck, provided snacks at the closing reception, and  hosted a big bonfire.

The fire pit, with psychedelic flames, burned furiously, but controlled, just outside in the lot beside the gallery. Art lovers sat around, talking about the counter-culture art exhibit, munching on fire-pit snacks like roasted peppers and popcorn, and giggling about period-relevant topics like the best tie-dye designs and what it meant to be a "square." It is amazing what today's young adults know about a movement that happened nearly 60 years ago. If you were there, likely you were "feeling groovy!" What a great event for the Greensboro community.

Country Side Market Stokesdale

In this era of giant chains like Sheetz or BP for gasoline and convenience store needs, finding a local pit stop, like Country Side Market is getting harder and harder. Country Side is located in Stokesdale, where Highway 68 and 158 meet.

While you won't find a Sheetz wrap or mac and cheese here, if you are local, you can bet you will find people who knew your grandfather and what kind of truck he drove. You will find people who knew where you went to school and who your teacher was. These little places are the Cheers bar of pit stops for gasoline and snacks. If you want to get a feel for local living in the Greensboro/Guilford County area, make a visit to one of these locally owned stores. Happy Monday!

McCrary Chapel United Methodist Church

The above church, McCrary Chapel United Methodist Church is located about 40 minutes south of Greensboro, between Ramseur and Liberty in Randolph County. The church is over 120 years old and has been a prominent fixture in the community for the last century. Like so many of the rural churches, membership has been decreasing and, if online resources are correct, there are ønly abou 74 members with about 37 attending regularly. It is a beautiful facility and has been well kept up. Either a manse or a fellowship hall is attached to the side.

If you want to take a Sunday drive to see it, the church is located at 327 NC-49, Ramseur. Nothing beats a Sunday drive with family and friends along rural, North Carolina roads. Happy Sunday, regardless of how you decide to spend it!

It Is Girl Scout Cookie Time!

It is that time of year, again, the Girl Scout cookies are everywhere. The above photo features an impromptu, pop up cookie booth found outside of Chick-Fil-A on Battleground Avenue this past week. It is so fun to see parents out with their daughters and their troop members. 

If you are out and see troops selling cookies, consider buying a box, or two, or three. These young ladies are out there making memories that will last a lifetime. The sale of cookies to finance troop activities has been a tradition since 1917- over 100 years! As always, thin mints remain the most popular.

Serendipity of Warm Weather

When the temperatures soar to almost 80 degrees in Greensboro on an early February day, you never know what will happen. Yesterday, a man , playing a drumset, was seen at the corner of Battleground Avenue and Pisgah Church Road. During the 4:00 p.m. hour, he was jamming, full steam ahead, in a spot that seemed to be perfect for the equipment. However, he was not set up in a place conducive to getting tips or earning much recognition.

The drum set says "Imani Pressley",  and Imani is a local singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. However, the above photo does not appear to be Imani. While the whole scene was quite mysterious, the music was quite enjoyable and perfect for a sunny, near-80 degree afternoon along Battleground.

Project Hero

Project Hero was founded in 2008 as an organization dedicated to Veterans and First Responders who are living with with PTSD, TBI, and injury. The non-profit helps them take steps towards recovery. The organizations helps Veterans and First Responders combat mental health issues brought about from PTSD. The organization often sponsors bike rides and sees that participants have adaptive bikes as needed.

The above car was parked yesterday in the Walker Avenue Parking Deck on UNCG's campus. It is a www.ProjectHero.org  car with a California license tag. There was no indication as to why the vehicle was in town. Perhaps there is an upcoming event. Perhaps the Veteran who drives the sedan is a UNCG student. At any rate, it is a vehicle that commands attention; it makes you want to stand up and salute it, even when it is empty.

Snowy Day

With yesterday's nearly record high temperature in the mid-70's, it is hard to believe that Greensboro was recently in a deep freeze and, before that, under near record snows. The window of Scuppernong Bookstore on South Elm Street is decorated to remind us of the fun of a snowy winter day. The above photo features their display of Ezra Jack Keats' 1962 children's picture book, The Snowy Day.

Regardless of what the weather brings over the next month or so, it is nice to know that days are getting longer and the sunshine a little more sustained. Regardless of the weather, it is always nice to find a bookstore, order a warm beverage, and begin the process of finding something great to read.

The Wishing Tree

The 300 block of East Bessemer Avenue has a wishing tree. Just outside this brick duplex is a trunk of a tree with a sign, inviting you to make a wish and leave something behind. The tree could benefit from a little sparkle and bling. Perhaps if you get some Mardi Gras beads or find an old chandelier prism, you could make the tree look a little more sparkly. Even more important is for you to make a wish and keep your hopes alive.

Have you ever seen a wishing tree? Would you consider creating one? How would you react if your neighbor established one? This household also has one of the bottle trees that is a fundraiser for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. It seems like this would be an interesting household to get to know. Have a happy Tuesday, and... make a wish!

The NC A&T Four Monument

On any given day, especially in February, it is common to see people stopping by this iconic statue on the campus of North Carolina A & T University. Dedicated in 2002, it features Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair, Jr.), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond. Sculptor James Barnhill decided to sculpt the four men marching as they left the February 1, 1960 sit in, as opposed to their sitting. He said he felt like this position had a stronger visual impact.*

Dressed for church, it was with great pride and joy that this family posed in front of  the statue on a quiet Sunday morning on campus. What a wonderful way to help children remember history and learn about a monumental event that impacted our country. 

* reference and more information, here.

Family Harvest Outreach

West Market Street, the block just west of Muirs Chapel Road, is getting a bit of a facelift. As seen in the above photo, Family Harvest Outreach is getting their trim painted. After a deep-freeze this week, having the temperature reach 50 yesterday made it seem like a heat wave. Plus, it was warm enough to paint. The church, a merger of a couple of Pentecostal congregations has a diverse membership. In spite of their financial struggles, they remain true to their vision of helping those in need.

Just down the street Goodwill Industries opened their newest store in Greensboro. It is clean, spatious, bright, and well stocked. Yesterday, the parking lot, while large, was filled to capacity. So, someone in need, could get a meal at Family Harvest, and, with a ten-dollar bill, head to Goodwill and find an outfit to wear to work. Increasingly, churches are realizing their role of helping people with their basic needs. If you want a religion that is part of the Holiness, Fundamentalist movement, this would be a good church to visit. If your beliefs are otherwise, the church would gladly accept donations for the community service they perform.

African American History Month

February is African American History Month and Greensboro has played a significant role in the civil rights movement. On February 1, 1960, four NCA&T students sat down at the Woolworth lunch counter, a place that only waited on white customers. Greensboro is home to two historically black colleges and universities, NCA&T and Bennet College.

The above photo features the bronze statue of Reverend, Doctor, Martin Luther King, initially sculpted in cement by Wilbur Lee Mapp and cast in bronze in collaboration of Mr. Mapp and Jim Gallucci. The bust is now permanently installed on MLK Drive. If you look closer to the right of it, you can see the water tower of Bennett College. There is talk that High Point University may provide a financial gift so that Bennett College can remain open. The Greensboro/High Point community is known to work together for the common good. Have a great Saturday!

Krispy Kreme Debuts Conversation Heart Donuts

Necco wafers have been around since before the Civil War and their conversation hearts debuted in 1901. However, the company was recently sold and the current owners could not meet demand for Valentine's Day this year. So, 2019 is the year without conversation hearts. However the Piedmont's own Krispy Kreme Donut Company stepped up to the plate and designed conversation heart donuts. Krispy Kreme opened in Winston Salem in 1937. 

As seen in the above photo, this year's conversation heart donuts really do resemble conversation hearts. The fondant message is edible, too. You can pick the filling of your choice: Cake batter, strawberries and cream, raspberry-filled, and chocolate cream. The donuts debuted two days ago and are proving quite popular with customers. They are available through Valentine's Day. The good news is that conversation hearts will be back in production in 2020. Let's hope Krispy Kreme will continue to offer the conversation heart donuts!