Greensboro Daily Photo

The Bodega on Greene!

Greensboro has a bodega. Is you have grown up in New York City, you quite possibly had your favorite bodega. Bodegas are small grocery stores, often in neighborhoods with lots of Spanish speakers. Kids grow up with the bodega owners looking out for them. Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton Fame) has a new movie, "In the Heights" in which bodega culture is featured. Greensboro's bodega is located on Greene Street, just across from the Carolina Theatre and squarely between the Biltmore Hotel on Washington St. and the Hampton Inn on McGee Street. This idea of the bodega is to have food, snacks, and unanticipated items that people might need before seeing a performance or while staying in a hotel-- aspirin, needle and thread, breath mints- at very reasonable prices.

Todd Olson and Daniel Leonard, both entrepreneurs and owners of other food and drink businesses, opened the Bodega on February 19th, just before COVID hit. They had to close until July, but are open again. They are in the process of opening a sandwich shop inside the bodega. They already have an outdoor seating area, just waiting for performances to get in full swing at the Carolina Theatre so they can fill their seating area with theatre-going guests. They will even dim the lights for those who rush over during intermission so that customers can get back to the performance on time. If you are downtown, stop in and say hello to Todd and Daniel. If they don't have your go-to item, chances are, they'll start stocking it. Just need a quick cup of coffee with a little personal interaction, this long/skinny store is your place on South Greene!

Our Lady of Grace

Slowly, churches have started reopening. The above photo shows a couple of members going in to attend a service at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in the Sunset Hills neighborhood of Greensboro. At OLG, there are many options for mass: Saturday at 5pm; Sunday at 7am; 9am; 11 am; 1pm; and 5pm. This church is so beautiful, inside and out. We need to get back inside to get a photo of the West German, Kleuker organ that was installed in the 1970s at the Silver Anniversary of the OLG parish and the Golden Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bryan. It has 2,226 pipes and a lovely sound, especially when the sanctuary is filled with people.

The church itself was founded in 1946 and built in 1952; erected with money donated by Julian Price as a memorial to Ethel Clay Price. Located at the corner of West Market Street and Chapman Street, OLG actually takes up the entire block on the West Market Street side with multiple buildings, a school, and playground. The architecture is described as French Gothic with refined simplicity. The walls are granite. This 2016 article in the Catholic News Herald provides additional information about this beautiful church. Happy Sunday!

Elm Street at Phase 3

Last night, North Carolina officially entered in Phase 3 with the COVID restrictions. Restrictions have been relaxed and the streets, stores, restaurants, and bars, were busier last night than they have been a long time. Largely, people were still cautious, wearing masks and being mindful of social distance. The lime scooters were being right and left with people cruising through town on them in clusters.

The above photo features South Elm Street at McGee Street yesterday as night was settling in. If you look closely, you can see a TV on upstairs at Natty Greene's Brewing Company downtown. The blue car is a Papa John's Pizza vehicle out on delivery. Even though you don't see people in the photo, they were there. Before we know it, those leaves will change to fall colors and then drop to the ground. For this weekend, they are still bright green and look beautiful against the backdrop of the sapphire blue sky. Happy Saturday!

Golden Hour on Bunch Road

Last weekend, the golden hour of late afternoon was all aglow on Bunch Road between Oak Ridge and Summerfield. Bunch Road and that part of the county  are popular with bicyclists and motorcyclists alike-  especially on their weekend journeys. It was so beautiful, we had to stop and admire the view of this home, hidden high on a hill, with the low sun shining through the trees. Soon, that green and golden glow will be changing to orange, and then brown, as the fall season continues to take hold. 

Last night's moon probably looked spectacular from the above view. Animals and insects were chattering and buzzing. Even they were celebrating the light of the harvest moon. From Pleasant Ridge Road to Oak Ridge Road, the entire length of Bunch Road is about 8 miles. That is a good start to a bike ride if you are looking for some weekend fun. You can also head downtown to celebrate First Friday, now that we're entering Phase 3 of COVID caution. Whether near people downtown, or alone on a country road, or somewhere in between, be safe and celebrate yourself and your community! Happy Friday!

Kathleen Price Bryan YMCA

The Kathleen Price Bryan YMCA has reopened for indoor exercise and members love it. The above photo shows the facility, located on the corner of South Spring and West Market Streets. It was a sunny day yesterday and traffic downtown was light. However, people are cautiously optimistic that they are able to return to working out indoors. The YMCA organization was implemented in Greensboro in 1859 by Julius Gorrell and the "Y" has been enriching the minds and bodies of Greensboro for 161 years.

During COVID, the Y has made an effort to stay connected with members, from providing online exercise to Facebook posts, to some exercise outdoors. So many Y members have built not only their exercise regimen but also their socialization around the Y. It has been a hard six month and slowly and cautiously, members are reestablishing some of their routines. The building is beautiful on the inside and outside, especially on a sunny day.

Sunset On Lake Higgins

The above photo was taken at the bridge on Carlson Dairy at Lake Higgins. The sunset was so beautiful and the water was still; a perfect combination. Greensboro's three lakes have gotten popular during the pandemic. People are using the lakes for water sports and using the hiking trails surrounding the lakes. HERE is a list of Greensboro's hiking trails, brought to us by the city of Greensboro. The Bald Eagle Trail along Lake Higgins is 4.1 miles and the Bald Eagle Loop is 1.2 miles. For part of this trail, the lake is visible. Someone even put chairs down by water's edge and many people take their hiking breaks at these chairs.

Lake Higgins is a 226-acre municipal reservoir, the smallest of our 3 lakes. It si so small they have stopped allowing boats with motors on this lake because invasive aquatic plants were chocking out native plants.*  So far, this situation is not an issue on Lake Townsend and Lake Brandt and motorized boats are still allowed. On an non-related note, recently, we used the above photo as a backdrop for Zoom meetings. People as far away as Santiago, Chile can say they've seen a sunset on Lake Higgins.

* read more, here.

Saturday Afternoon Football

Slowly, and cautiously, sports are opening back up. This past Saturday, in the fields at Oak Ridge Military Academy, the Oak Ridge Youth Association held games. It was Hornets vs. Vikings in the above photo with lots of family members cheering on their children. We didn't see who won, but both teams were playing their hearts out. Spectators seemed to cluster by families and be conscious of social distancing.

With most school, YMCA,  and teams with religious affiliations on hold this fall, community-based and private organizations have been the "go to" choice for sports. As another example, Proehlific Park has 3 soccer fields for practice and games with the Greensboro United Soccer Association. Socially distancing is an added layer for athletes to navigate, in addition to staying healthy, eating right, and having good conduct on and off the field. As the temperatures cool off, rains roll in, and the fall days get shorter, every minute outside becomes more and more special- on and off the field.

People of Greensboro: Beverly Ramsey, Maskmaker

Since May, Beverly Ramsey has made over 4,000 masks and gives them away every Sunday, starting at 10:00 am. Quickly, they are gone. Beverly is an early childhood educator (and also a paralegal) who lost her position when COVID came along and childcare centers had to close. To focus on something productive, she recruited her mom to help her sew masks. Beverly first started using up the cotton fabric from her sewing room and made about 75 masks a week. Lately, she has been sewing 350 a week, which, even she admits, is a little daunting. Now, Beverly purchases fabric and focuses on a weekly theme. The theme for the past week was baseball. Previous themes have been, voting, dogs, cats, music, and sharks- to name a few. When we asked her how many she makes a day, she said that she can't really answer that because they set up a sort of assembly line and one day may be a day for cutting fabric and another for sewing. While there is no fee for the masks, she depends on donations to keep the project going. 

On the day we were there, people were thanking Beverly and telling her how much they enjoy the masks. Some were getting masks for family members, friends, and friends of friends. Admittedly, we took a few extra to give to people who weren't able to get out and get one for themselves.Greensboro is so lucky to have people like Beverly who help bring people together and are community oriented. Beverly says she loves hanging out in her yard on Sunday mornings, enjoying the fellowship with people who stop by for masks. This mask maker extraordinaire lives on Sylvan Road in Sunset Hills, just off Elam. Let's hope she receives enough donations to continue offering masks to the community and help get us through the COVID times. Also, as businesses start reopening, let's hope someone needs a very generous, community-oriented early childhood educator or paralegal! 

It is not entirely clear who thought up the concept of the church marquee. They are often pun-laden and always clever. "Fall Closer To Jesus", with its double use of the word "fall" is so clever. Hopewell Weslyean Church is located at 2825 Pleasant Ridge Road, at the corner of Lewiston Road. Technically, it is located in Summerfield, as opposed to Greensboro. Somewhere along the way, a member told us that the church was over 100 years old. However, our efforts to uncover a church history online failed to yield results.

Regardless, the church is on a well-maintained lot, with a cemetery on the property. It is surrounded by cornfields. The gravel parking lot is lined with crepe myrtle and rose of share. The front entrance to the sanctuary has white mums about ready to open. Sunday services are at 11:00. Perhaps we could attend a service and learn more about the church history. As always, we encourage churches to document their history and, if possible, share it online. The connections people make when reading the history are often happy and unanticipated moments. Once the older members pass, a lot of history goes with them. Happy Sunday, happy archiving! And remember, it is fall; and for Christians, it is time to fall closer to Jesus.

This Old House... 2101 Oak Ridge Road

2101 Oak Ridge in Oak Ridge, also Highway 150, is just northwest of Greensboro. The two story, two bedroom 1 bath house is 1,300 square feet. The small lot house size are not impressive statistics. However, the most notable point of interest is that it was built in 1863 during the Civil War. This old house must have so many stories to tell. Embraced by bamboo, the house has an air of mystery and intrigue.

Nearby Oak Ridge Military Academy was build in 1852. a little over 10 years before this house. At that time, the Oak Ridge area was pretty remote and undeveloped and Greensboro had only been a town for about 50 years. There are several historic homes in Oak Ridge from that era; some even have their own historic markers. The above humble house, at the corner of Linville Road, doesn't have a marker and doesn't even seem to have much about it available online. There are tax records and a mention of updates in 1963. The usual real estate pages doesn't even mention the last time it sold. Could it be that this old house has remained in the same family? If you know about its past, please let it know. If you know about its future, we'd be interested in knowing that, too. Happy Saturday. What adventures await?

Thank You, Postal Workers

Thank you, poster workers is a little sign in the front yard of a house at the corner of Mayflower Drive and Wright Avenue. This part of town, just west of UNCG is one of those walking routes for carriers and it is so nice to feel appreciated. This neighborhood, near West End/College Park and Sunset Hills Historic areas,  is very walkable with sidewalks and plenty of shade trees. While the above view looks very summery, soon, fall colors will be coming out on this street and those crepe myrtle will lose the pink flowers and the leaves will turn bright yellow.There is a lot of history in this neighborhood and property values are soaring. People value that cozy, neighborhood feel, and are willing to put major investments into expanding and upgrading the living space in these homes. 

Do you get mail delivered to your door daily? If you were a postal worker, would you want a walking route? To be sure, it would be nice to be thanked! Let's all make an effort to thank people and show appreciation... in Greensboro and beyond! Our thank you is to you for being a loyal reader. Happy Friday! 

Black Lives Matter

The signage at the corner of South Eugene Street and West Gate City Boulevard can be a lot to take in. There are street signs, billboards, signs for businesses, and the the signs crafted by the Forge Makerspace on Lewis Street. The BLACK LIVES MATTER sign is the latest in the series. The Forge is a non-profit makerspace that started in 2012, incorporated in 2013, and then found a space on Lewis Street. Their building is actually the green one visible from the above vantage point. The FORGE gives classes and workshops and provide machines for members to make things on. If you want to hone your maker skills, there are plenty of people around to give you pointers, too. We're betting that if you had a good idea for the next iteration of the sign, in all white capital letters, they would consider forging it! Happy Thursday!

Halloween Is in the Air

Greensboro has quite a few houses that go all out for Halloween. The above photo was taken on Wright Avenue, between the two-story White House (1609) and a small brick house (1611). The White House, built in 1944 is multiple occupancy as it is right across the street from UNCG. It is not entirely clear who has done the decorating, but the nearby parked car is decorated, too. In this era when so much has been cancelled, it is fun to walk through neighborhoods and see who has what decorations out.

The first day seems a little early for Halloween, but not if that is your favorite holiday and you have been waiting all year for it to come around. By day, this scene is not too scary; but, imagine stumbling upon this doll at dusk- or, perhaps bumping in to it! It is looking like some fall events are still on the calendar. The annual fall and Halloween themed event, Goulash, by  Greensboro Youth Council, is still scheduled by Saturday, October 24th. Keep up with the event, here. Also, it appears that Casa Azul will host their 2020 Day of the Dead fall celebration this year. Stay posted by visiting here. Regardless of what happens between now and the end of October, you can bet fall themed things will be hanging in trees and sticking in yards.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL from DOWNTOWN GREENSBORO

Happy first day of fall. The above scene is of the start of the east side of the 500 block of South Elm Street. The mural on the side of the building celebrates Downtown Greensboro, with bright green as the dominant color. Downtown Greensboro has added so many murals and street art over the past few years. The above mural is one of the newest.

If you notice, the trees in the photo are starting to show color. Before you know it, they will be dropping their lovely leaves. However, for the next few weeks, strolling Elm Street will really have a feel of autumn. Mullled cider and pumpkin spice will start appearing on food and beverage menus. Cheesecakes by Alex will have cheesecakes in fall flavors.  Stores that sell clothing have some great fall sweaters. One way to keep up with some of the happenings downtown is to look for the hashtag #MYDGSO. Have a great Tuesday.

Available

If you've driven on West Market Street lately, chances are, you've seen this strip of about 6bbusinesses in the 700 block, just down from Plants & Answers. The businesses are located near Moore Music, Greensboro College, the Bryan Y, and Weaver Academy.  This space for rent is an end unit. It seems like this area has a lot of potential, if the right business goes in. However, it could be that once people get this close to downtown that they focus on their destination and not what they need along the way.

What could you imagine there?  The strip already has a frame shop, a hair salon, a tattoo parlor, and a convenience store.  It is fun to dream and imagine about what businesses go where. Happy Monday and tomorrow is the first day of autumn. We are starting to fall it in the air! Could be a good time to start a business!

Glenwood Presbyterian

Glenwood Presbyterian Church is located in the heart of the Glenwood neighborhood at 1205 Glenwood Avenue. The church is due south of Gate City Boulevard and UNCG.  According to the cornerstone, the church was established in 1916, and rebuilt in 1943. The education building on the left was erected in 1960. The lawn is beautifully maintained and the lot is ample, the church is right across the street from Morris Farlow Park, adding to the open feel of the property.

We're sure the church has a lot of interesting history, and one curious thing is that on the northwest corner of the property is a tombstone of an E. Gray, son of W.G. & Tracy Smith who died just before his third birthday on January 23rd, 1923. It appears to be the only grave on the property. Another curious aspect of the property is that there is a set of stone stairs that don't appear to lead anywhere. We're betting they were part of the property that was once the Glenwood Park Sanitarium. The Greater Glenwood Neighborhood Association has done a nice job of maintaining and sharing some of the neighborhood's history (see here). If Glenwood Presbyterian has maintained written down any of its 104 year history, it would be wonderful if they would share it online. Happy Sunday and enjoy this cool, fall-like weather.

Trains in the Gate City...

Greensboro is known as the Gate City because of all of the trains that used to come through town. There were several routes going east to west and north to south and it was known as a gateway town. People compare the Greensboro of yesterday, with all of the rail traffic, to the Atlanta airport today. By 1890, there were over 60 trains a day coming through town. (reference and more, here).

Today's photo is South Elm Street as the train was crossing yesterday at 3:50 p.m. The train was a long one hauling a little bit of everything, including Fex Ex truck cargo. For pedestrians and cars that don't want to wait, they can always go around and underneath on McGee. It is charming to stand near the tracks and see what kind of cars and cargo are on the train. Also, if you look between the cars, you can see the Lincoln Financial/JP Building. There is something intriguing about rail transport. If you are ever looking for a fun weekend adventure, consider taking a day trip on the Amtrak passenger train. Happy Saturday!

Highway 150 Near Kernersville

If you've driven along Highway 150 between Greensboro and Kernersville, you've noticed a lot of changes. Out near County Line Road, lights have been added and streets widened. The above house has been at the edge of a big open field for decades; now, however, it is no longer. It will be interesting to monitor what will go up in its place. The weekend is such a great time to drive around the more rural parts of Guilford County and, in many cases, what was rural, is not su rural any more. We'll keep you posted on what goes up in the place of this house; unless, you have ideas and can share now. Here's to a great weekend for everyone!

Mexican Independence Day: September 16th

Yesterday, Greensboro's Mexican restaurants exuded a celebratory spirit. September 16th is a big day: Independence Day in Mexico and Mexican-Americans celebrate it, too. The above photo is a night shot of of La Bamba Mexican Restaurant on State Street. La Bamba opened on State Street in 1989 and continues today as a family-owned restaurant. Over the years, they have expanded and are now able to host large groups. La Bamba has lunch specials, house specialties, kids meals, and vegetarian meals; something for everybody. Their loyalty program is quite popular with patrons.

Mexico Restaurant on West Market Street opened in 1988, and La Bamba a year later. Since then, as the Mexican-American population of Greensboro grew in the 1990's more Mexican restaurants have opened and flourished here. There is something nostalgic about going to restaurants that have been around for over 30 years. We're betting some of the "Viva México" spirit will continue into the weekend.

 

Artisans Mercantile

The Artisans Mercantile by Sweet Tea Studio hopes to open in October. They will have 40 vendors in a store that will be brimming with things for the home and a place to gather. The store located at the corner of Golden Gate Drive and State Street. You may remember the Saltbox, formerly in this location. The Saltbox was Greensboro's "go to place" for artists' trunk shows, amazing fall candles, hand-crafted lighting, folk art, and so much more. It closed in 2012, after being in business for 38 years. Next, a dance studio moved in to this space. Now, the building will go back to being more like the Saltbox, a shopping destination with ample parking behind it. 

State Street is a Greensboro Street with the feel of a quiet North Carolina beach community: cozy shops, not much traffic, and very walkable. Eclectic by Nature, Vida Pour Tea, and Yamamoto Jewelry are a few of the businesses that have believed in State Street for a very long time. Many new businesses have opened over the last few years. Hopefully, Artisans Mercantile will be part of the reinvigoration of this part of town and will be around for a very long time. It is always nice to see new life breathed into a building.

Summer Gardens Winding Down... Cool Weather Gardens Winding Up!

These watermelons, grown in northwest Greensboro, remind us that summer gardens are quickly winding down. Soon, it will be time to pull up summer plants and plant winter, cool-weather crops like greens, broccoli, beets, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage. If you haven't tried gardening before, the fall crops would be a great place to start. If your summer garden didn't turn out as expected, the the cool weather vegetables give you a second chance. Here are some great pointers from the NC Cooperative Extension and here is their absolute beginner's guide.  Summerfield Gardens has an organic garden and they pick by hand. Soon, they will have gourds galore for you to pick from for your fall decorating. Some of those gourds actually look like the above watermelons. Actually, now that we think about it, watermelon are a member the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds! Happy Tuesday! Happy harvesting! 

 

Khoury Convention Center 2020

The above photo was taken on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, from the parking lot of Popeye's Chicken on Gate City Boulevard. If the photo were a 360º view, you would have seen a jam-packed, parking lot and drive-through line of Popeye's. Sunday and fried chicken just seem to go together. However, from the present view, as you can see, not a lot of traffic was coming and going on what was formerly High Point Road. The lone red car is like a punctuation mark, matching the red lettering of the hotel.

The Khoury Convention Center looks stunning with its pristine white facade. It is the tallest building around and easy to spot from just about every vantage point. Just beyond it, of course, is Four Season's Mall. You have to wonder how the convention center is doing with so many 2020 events being cancelled. With 250,000 square ft. of meeting space and 985 rooms and 27 floors. It has been a Greensboro institution since it was built in 1970. Let's hope that they will be able to do something to celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. The hotel was renovated in 2013, so it should be looking refreshed and ready for a toast to the next 50 years!

Newlyn Street UMC

This is Newlyn Street United Methodist Church, as seen from the Community Gardens on Golden Gate Drive- a block off of State Street. The Community Gardens is such an amazing resource for the community and the UMC looks so lovely from this view. Newlyn St. UMC has beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary and a very generous parking lot and mowed lot behind it. They also have a cornerstone which makes dating the church easy. The church was organized in 1921 and rebuilt in 1954. Summer 2006, a west wing was added to the building.

Nathan A. Harris is the minister. In reading the church website (here) you will learn that Rev. Harris has a Doctorate of Jurisprudence and a B.S. in business from Howard University, and a Master of Divinity from Duke University. He has worked at several federal agencies and has even worked in The White House! Greensboro is lucky that he decided to return to Greensboro. But then, if you read a little more, you will learn that his best friend is his father, John H. Harris III. How wonderful to have such a strong bond with family.

We didn't realize until publishing the photo that a young man stepped into the photo at just the right time to be seen between the raised okra beds! As we pause and reflect on the week ahead, let's all make it a goal to continue to build community in Greensboro, whether it is through a house or worship, a community garden, or both! 

Hotel DENIM, Formerly Battleground Inn

The Hotel DENIM is the new kid in town. Located at 1517 Westover Terrace in Midtown, the Hotel DENIM is a trendy, upscale hotel that is replacing the Battleground Inn. The above photo was taken yesterday morning when it looked like they were still putting the finishing touches on it. Online booking indicates rooms are sold out this weekend, so, either people who have known about it are already staying there, or they aren't quite ready, so rooms aren't available. If you search online you will see that the decor is bright and cheerful, with a nod to Greensboro's history- especially the Cone family and textile industry. There are 48 rooms with interior-corridor access, a bar and cafe. It is located near all of the Irving Park Plaza restaurants and bars. IHOP and Outback Steakhouse are within walking distance. Hotel DENIM is part of the CN Hotel Group.

The front looks so bright and fresh. It is always fun to try something new and having a hotel on in the Battleground Avenue/Westover Terrace area sure looks convenient. Oh, and wear your best denim if you make a reservation!

The Old Mill of Guilford

The Old Mill of Guilford is such a fabulous piece of history dating back to 1767. It has gone through many changes and a few different owners over the past 253 years. Isn't that amazing that we have the history of this water-powered, grist mill dating back that many years. Truly, it is a point of pride for the community, providing mighty fine milled products: grits, corn meal, pancake mix, oatmeal, breakfast cereal, other grains, and many other products that can be ordered online. 

It is located in in northwest Guilford County, on Highway 68, near Oak Ridge.* The grinding process has remained the same for 200 years. Electricity to run the modern machinery is generated by the waterwheel. The wheel itself is 24' and rotates at a speed of 4.6 RPM. If you want to support a local business and purchase healthy natural products, order from the Old Mill of Guilford. If you are local, give them a visit. At the moment, it is not possible to go inside, but you can pick up products from the front door. They are open daily from 9-5, including Sunday. Needless to say, it is a great place to take photos.

* See their well documented history, HERE.

Crooked Tail Cat Cafe

The Crooked Tail Cat Cafe has been open for almost three years now. It was the the first one in North Carolina. (See earlier 2017 photo, here). It is located at 604 South Elm Street, across the street from Mellow Mushroom. While the goal is to get the cats adopted, it is also a place for them to roam and learn to socialize with each other, as well as with humans. The above kitty was the only one hanging out in the window the other day. It was as if he knew he needed to maintain a good social distance.

If you are interested, you can book a time slot online, here.

At the beginning of the year, Guilford County approved 12.5 million dollars for a new animal shelter on Guilford College Road. It will accommodate up to 324 dogs and 250 cats. That is a lot to take in that at any given time, there could be over 500 pets surrendered or abandoned that need homes. The Crooked Tail Cat Cafe is doing their part to try to find homes for cats. Working together, the people of Guilford County are making great strides in improving the quality of life for animals awaiting homes.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Tobacco Harvesting Time in North Carolina

The above photo features a field of tobacco in the westernmost part of Guilford County. It is time to harvest tobacco; and, harvesting can be brutal when the weather is hot.The bottom leaves are harvested first and, when done by hand, is backbreaking work.  Since the Civil War, tobacco has been a big crop for North Carolina. However, after World War II, interest in agriculture in general has declined in the state. And with education about the harmful nature of smoking tobacco, use has decreased.

Greensboro has an interesting history with tobacco. A tobacco factory opened in 1881 and local production peaked here in 1890. Tobacco production had its ups and downs in the 20th century. In 1954, Guilford County was 4th in the state in tobacco production.  In the late 1970s, Greensboro had two tobacco warehouses, but both were closed by 1984. By 1990, there were only 644 tobacco farmers in Guilford County and local production fell to 25th in the state. Ed Williams' 1990 article in the "News and Record", updated in 2015, is one of our references for today's post, and is a really good place to start if you want to learn more about Greensboro's relationship with the tobacco industry. Read here.

It is fun to drive around and see if you can find a tobacco field and and old tobacco barn. If you know someone in the industry, it is really interesting to see the sticks hanging in the barn before and after the tobacco is cured. Seeing a field like the one above sure takes a person back to the old-time ways, back when tobacco barns, mules, and tobacco plants were seemingly everywhere.   

Here is a document prepared by NC State and suggested for use by school teachers.

Bourbon Bowl

The Southeastern-most side of the 500 block of south Elm Street is getting closer and closer to getting a new business. Great progress is being made on the Bourbon Bowl. The Restaurant, bar, bowling alley is going in the building that Al's Furniture and Appliances occupied for at least a couple decades. You may remember the junk stacked floor to ceiling and the 3' tall giant plastic A in the window. The building, built in 1940, was last renovated in 1960- predating the gentrification of South Elm Street. The new business will be more in line with the building s around it.

The Bourbon Bowl will have a 6 lane bowling alley, plus a patio that extends into the empty lot to the right of the building. Paul Talley, owner of Double G Properties is developing the property. He has worked closely with the city, receiving a $80,000 urban development investment grant from the city. The goal was to find a business that would attract college students to downtown. It is always fun to try out something new. Let's hope the project comes together smoothly and that it opens soon. It will be so fun to see the inside of this building. We're left wondering how many truckloads it took to relocate Al's inventory.

Happy Labor Day! Hopefully, you are able to celebrate yourself and not have to labor.

Get your Al's Furniture and Appliance nostalgia view, here.

CHURCH FOR SALE

This church, at the corner of Summerfield and Parsonage Roads, is for sale. It is almost 6 acres and includes a church, youth center, and great yard. It used to be the Cathedral of Faith Christian Center. It must be hard for small churches to remain viable during these COVID times. The mega churches offer to much to their congregations, it can be hard for the smaller churches to retain membership, even in the best of times. This church began with a congregation of three in 1990. Hopefully, current members have found a place where they can continue to worship together.  If your own house of worship has not started back yet, check on the others who attend. This is a time to make every effort to help sustain and lift each other up. 

Thank you for being with us for the last 11 1/2 years. At least Greensboro Daily Photo has always been virtual and we haven't monetized the site; so the only pressure we have is figuring out what to feature daily- and, as we like to say, every day comes around pretty often. Happy Sunday! 

 

Dick Broadcasting Downtown Greensboro

If you are downtown Greensboro this weekend, check out the mural on the Dick Broadcasting Building at 192 East Lewis Street. Maybe you can find your favorite musician among the artists. The piece is eye-catching. Dick Broadcasting began in Tennessee in the 1950s and when they expanded to a new state, they came to Greensboro, North Carolina. Allen Dick, son of founder James Dick Sr. built out WKRR here.

The company has prospered over the years and Allen Dick is trying to navigate the changes in FM radio and the popularity of the streamed, digital world. The commitment to local content and community in each of their markets is one of the reasons for their continued success. Their Greensboro stations can be heard at WKRR 92.3 ROCK 92 and WKZL 107.5. Their other big market in North Carolina is New Bern. 

192 East Lewis Street, built in 1962,  used to be a quiet brick office building on a double lot on Lewis Street. Today, it is a two-story wall of fame for some of great talent that has received a lot of playing time over the airwaves! Happy Saturday!

Erin Hess, Artist

Today's photo features Greensboro artist Erin Hess with one of her pieces that is very representative of her artistic style. Erin uses lots of color, texture, and depth in her paintings. They have a tactile quality; often glitter is incorporated. Erin has a studio and gallery space at Artmongers on South Elm Street. Erin, an engineer by day, spends her time away from work in her studio adding more layers her pieces of art.

Erin studied painting and photography at the University of Akron and lived in Ohio for several years. Tonight is First Friday in downtown Greensboro and the last weekend that South Elm Street will have several blocks closed to vehicles so that pedestrians can enjoy the stroll. We're hoping Erin is in her studio this evening so we can return to admire her art. The above painting may not be there as it has already sold and Erin agreed to meet the owners in Washington D.C. to hand deliver the painting. Erin is an up and coming Greensboro artist who already had quite a faithful following, especially online. See her art here at Deviant Art. Contact Erin at [email protected] or at Artmongerz. Also, see more of her mixed-media art on Instagram at _spac3queen_ (the underscores matter). Happy Friday!

El Camino @ The Antique Market Place

The Antique Market Place on Burnt Poplar Road was to hold a "Cruise-In" of vintage cars this past Saturday. Due to inclement weather, it was postponed until the next day. However, on Saturday, there was one car that showed up in all its glory. It was a Carolina-blue, Chevy El Camino. The El Camino was introduced in the Chevrolet line in 1959 and produced from 1959-1960 and 1964-1987. This car-truck hybrid looked spectacular with the brick and glass building as a background.

Tha Antique Market Place is a 45,000 sq. ft. facility with over 170 booths. It is one of those "little bit of everything" antique malls. When they hold special events, it is fun to see people both indoors and outdoors enjoying themselves, and reliving a little nostalgia brought about by viewing items from grandma's era. As for the above El Camino, it is very practical for hauling treasures. This particular one is about as close to Carolina blue as a vehicle gets. Happy Thursday!

Beautiful Landscapes of Greensboro

The above photo of the entrance to the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club is a fine example of the beautiful landscaping of Greensboro. You also see an example of the beautiful stonework found around Greensboro. Manicured lawns are labor intensive. It is nice to see GCC maintaining the farm course so beautifully. There are so many golf courses in Greensboro and many are accessible to the public. Golf is such a great way to spend time out of doors and with friends. Seeing views like the one above are very welcoming.

If you look across the street, at the house in the background, the crepe myrtles are still blooming gloriously. Yesterday's weather was in the 70's so, even though we are in the heart of summer, there are little hints of autumn in Greensboro these days.

Happy Wednesday! 

Orb Weaver Spiders are Back!

Have you seen a garden orb spider yet? They seem to signal that fall is coming. Spiders seem more prevalent in fall. First, the ones born in spring have had all summer to grow. Second, many are out looking for mates. The black & yellow argiope, featured today, has built a web in northwest Greensboro, a spot that is very popular with orb spiders every year. If you look to the left of the spider, you see a bug that has been trapped in the web. There is also a captured prey in the center.

We returned to the above web after dark and there are no signs of anything in the web. Orb spiders tend to build vertical webs and eat them daily, for food energy and to keep the web clean. The longer a web remains, the less sticky it becomes; incentive to rebuild it daily. For self preservation from prey, spiders usually hide and wait for something to land in their cobweb. When they feel the vibration, they know that something has landed. The yellow and black spider is very common in Greensboro and in North Carolina. If you find one, observe it and see how long it remains in the same spot. They are non venomous but can bite if harassed. It will be best to observe from a distance.

Happy September 1st! See other photos from around the world in the City Daily Photo portal here.

Tree Hole Art

Today's photo was taken on Highway 150, just east of Highway 220, right across the street from The Vineyards neighborhood. We first saw this tree art when friend and GDP reader Katja Brown shared it with us. Greensboro and the communities around us are known for their mature trees. Some neighborhoods, like Sunset Hills, incorporate their huge trees into their Christmas light displays. 

The above tree is one that must have split, leaving a hole in the tree. The owner has taken wooden discs and attached them in an artistic fashion. A squirrel, bees, and ladybugs also help fill the space. If you notice, the edge has been framed out, too. There are examples of this kind of art on Pinterest; however, this is the first one we've seen in Greensboro- Summerfield, actually. As you can see from its leaves, the tree continues to live.

Here's to closing out this last day of August with a little art and creativity by a local resident. If you find out more about the person who created this work of art, or if you see another one, please let us know. Happy Monday and have a great week!

Church Cornerstones

Cornerstones are a permanent, convenient way to know when a church was established. The above cornerstones are on the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church on Huffine Mill Road. We featured the church, here, earlier in the summer. Cornerstones make it possible to begin to research church history. The cornerstone to the right dates Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church back to Aug. 29, 1909, and explains that it was rebuilt in 1924, and it was led by Rev. Timberlake. The stone on the left says, Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, built April 30, 1954. with J.R. Cheek, Pastor.

In the pre-internet era, it was a lot harder to trace information, and cornerstones were so helpful. They provide the provenance, the earliest known history of the congregation. It appears that Mt. Zion on Huffine Mill has been meeting and praying together for over 111 years.

Happy Sunday, and if you ever have a chance to influence a new congregation, encourage them to install a cornerstone. Happy Sunday!

Downtown Street Time for Pedestrians

Downtown Greensboro is closing off sections of South Elm Street to give people a chance to dine and walk out of doors. The above photo was taken last night, and the same event will be happening tonight. If you want to get out and walk a little bit, maybe even get a bite to eat, Greensboro is making every effort to allow you to socialize and be safe.

The above photo was taken in the 300 block of South Elm Street, across from Cheesecakes by Alex. People are dining outside at 1618 downtown and at Jerusalem Market. Look how beautiful Greensboro looks on a warm summer day! The streets got busier as the even went on, but never overly crowded. The sign from Miller Furniture Company remains as a backdrop, even though the store has been gone since 2007. As an aside, Miller Furniture Company was family-owned and open from 1893- 2007; 114 years!

Arthur's Fine Shoes

If you want comfortable shoes and someone to wait on you attentively, head to Arthur's Fine Shoes at 2920-B Martinsville Road- Winstead Commons. Stan Neerman, photographed above, has been with Arthur's Fine Shoes since Arthur opened the store in downtown Greensboro in 1957. Stan, a Grimsley grad,  is now the owner and prides himself on offering "sit and fit" service. He will make sure you find a shoe that suits the needs of your lifestyle and the shape of your feet.

Arthur's is open Monday-Saturday from 11:00 am- 4:30pm. They will also arrange to meet you other times if these hours are not convenient. Now, that is service! Originally, we took this photo to show a friend all of the color options for the Arcopedico shoe which  is amazingly comfortable and looks very stylish when worn. Stan was right. Once you wear a pair, you will want another, in a different color. With 14 colors to choose from, there are plenty of options! 

Mushrooms Galore

Tis the season of abundant mushrooms in Greensboro. With all of the rain lately, mushrooms of every shape and color have been pushing through lawns and forest floors, on logs, at the base of trees and in composting wood.

The above photo was taken along the Bald Eagle trail in northwest Greensboro. The trails have been rather slippery lately. If you are out walking, do be careful.  Please remember to leave the mushrooms undisturbed. The spores grow in the conditions that are perfect for them. One of our readers mentioned that the genetic composition of mushrooms is closer to that of humans than plants. If you have a friend who is a mycologist, they can fill you in on the interesting world of mushrooms.

 It is fun  to lower a cell phone or camera to the forest floor and capture mushroom memories in photos! Happy Thursday!

Ducks At Country Park

There is so much to see at Country Park in Greensboro. The waterfowl have been spectacular this year, from ibis, to heron, to ducks, and geese. The paddleboat fowl in the background are pretty impressive, too. Please remember that you are not to feed the birds in the park, and bread is actually harmful to them.

While the days are still long and the weather warm, be sure to head to Country Park. Parking is very convenient at the Spencer Love Tennis Center off of Pisgah Church Road. It would be a good mid-week activity!