Greensboro Daily Photo

People of Greensboro: Meet Jake at Jacob Raymond Jewelers

Greensboro has many talented jewelers. The first name to come to mind is Schiffman, a family associated with watches and jewelry in Greensboro since 1893. Mark Holder and Delbert Fentress are also talented jewelers . In 2017,  another name was added to the list. Jacob "Jake"  Wosinski opened a jewelry store on McGee Street in downtown Greensboro and his unique designs and precise metalsmithing have been winning national awards ever since. He is a multiple AGTA Spectrum winner. He describes his style as "contemporary estate"- timeless with a modern edge. Jake is a third generation jeweler who started making jewelry at the age of eighteen. He studied jewelry making and apprenticed with other jewelers for 22 years before realizing his dream of having his own studio/showroom.

When standing outside the shop at 121-A West McGee Street, not wearing long sleeves and a mask, Jakes tattoos and long beard are noticeable. As a matter of fact, a passerby might assume he works with his friends at the tattoo studio next door.  When not busy with customers, Jake can be seen in the front corner of the store, right at the window, making jewelry. He has jewelry at all price points; and, if you don't see something already made that meets your needs, Jake will design it. His prices for custom work are really quite reasonable- especially considering the amount of work involved. Jake is so personable and takes great pride in designing and making exactly what his clients want. The name of the shop, Jacob Raymond, is a combination of his and his dad's names. Follow Jacob on Instagram at jacobraymondjewelry or online at jacobraymondjewelry.com 

Well, another year is coming to a close. We hope you have a happy and safe New Year's Eve. Please stop back tomorrow. On January 1st, we will feature our photo-of-the-year, and a highlight a photo from each month in 2020. Then, on Saturday, January 2nd, we again reflect on the past year as part of our anniversary post. Saturday, we start Year 13 of Greensboro Daily Photo. May we continue to find new places, businesses, and people of Greensboro  to share with readers!

Free Food Pantry

Food insecurity is a big issue in Greensboro. There are, however, several organizations committed to helping people have access to food. One such initiative is the Free Food Pantry at the corner of Haywood and McCormick Streets. This location is between the UNCG buildings on Gate City Boulevard and the Glenwood neighborhood. All of those big buildings in the background belong to UNCG. The above free-standing food pantry resembles the free libraries. This yellow one looks like a giant block of cheese!  Supplying and using the box is the honor system. People donating only put food in the pantry (hence the box of toys at the side); people taking only take what they need and keep it nice. Yesterday when we visited, it was filled with plenty of bread, spaghetti-O's, and chick peas. There were a few other items like powdered milk and a couple cans of green beans. 

There are several other sources of free food and meals in Greensboro. If you use these services, likely you know who is serving where and on what days. If you know someone in need of food, or you are in a position to help, here is a list of organizations getting food to those in need. As the saying goes, it takes a village and Greensboro is a pretty awesome village. Happy Wednesday!

Sunset Over the Wells Fargo at Friendly Center

Yesterday, the sunset was glorious. Perhaps it was just because the day was a warm, bright, and sunny. The above photo was taken at Friendly Center, just off of Northline Drive near Benjamin Parkway. The façade of the Wells Fargo Bank building seemed to glow under the setting sun. Wells Fargo is actually a multinational financial services company that was founded in San Francisco, CA in 1852. However, it has several branches in Greensboro.

In searching for a local connection, we learned that Wells Fargo merged with the more-local Wachovia in 2008. By way of that merger, Robert "Patt" Patterson began working at Wells Fargo.Mr. Patterson, an NC A&T graduate, was the first Africa American in Greensboro to hold a management position at a major bank. We also learned that Wells Fargo has a Corporate Historian for the company. Two years ago, this historian, Alyssa Bentz wrote a very nice article about the now-retired Mr. Patterson. (reference, here). We hope to interview Mr. Patterson for GDP, which might be possible since he still lives in Greensboro.

For today, we'll just have to settle on enjoying this beautiful sunset.

Tinsel Town

Yesterday was the last day for Tinsel Town in LeBauer Park. The display featured 50 trees decorated by community organizations. Visitors voted for their favorite trees through each tree's unique QR code. The top five winning trees will receive $500 to donate to the non-profit of their choice. Tinsel town was presented by Kontoon (Wrangler), The Fresh Market, and First Bank. The event was free and open to the public. Sunday was a sunny day and several people were out admiring the display. 

The Tinsel Town event was a creative way to involve community in a fundraiser, to get people out, and to give people something to do. Also, it was conducive to social distancing.  To our knowledge, this was the first year for Tinsel Town. It will be fun to see which trees won. The Page Pirates had a double-wide tree filled from bottom to top with pirate paraphernalia. Hopefully the winners will be announced in the newspaper and the event will be held again next year. There are only three more days until New Year's Eve, but, let's not rush things. Enjoy the whole week.

 

No Hate!

Imagine driving in the Friendswood neighborhood of Greensboro along Meadowview Street and seeing this bright flag. It reads, "Hate has no home here." This flag emphasizing the worth and dignity of all people seems appropriate for our Sunday post, a day when we try to post something more spiritual. This three bedroom, two bath,  suburban ranch home built in the 1960s is quite representative of many homes in the area. When it was built, the house would have really felt like it was out in the country, far from town. Sixty years ago, nationally, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 had not yet passed and locally, nearby Wendover Avenue would not be completed until 1972.

As we close out 2020 and look to 2021, we need to talk to the people who live in this home and learn the story of how it is they are so far along on the diversity continuum. Their neutral, beige house is filled with people who have taken a colorful stance against discrimination. Maybe all of Friendswood is filled with friends and allies. If you put a sign in your yard or a flag on a tree, what would it say. Ours would say, "Have a great day and THANK YOU for reading Greensboro Daily Photo" (and No Hate)! 

Downtown Fun at Burbon Bowl

South Elm Street at Lewis Street is quickly turning into Greensboro's downtown playground. The above photo features "Burbon Bowl" which will be a place to eat, drink, and bowl. It is located in the store that was formerly Al's Furniture and Appliances, a thrift store for decades, the one with items stacked floor to ceiling and the giant yellow "A" (for Al?) in the front window. On September 20th, we featured the exterior of Burbon Bowl, a photo that will jog your memory of the location (see here). Today's photo gives you an idea of the interior which seems to be mid-century modern with a 21st century twist. Between the 6 lane bowling alley and the outdoor area, this business will add even more fun to downtown Greensboro. After you are done bowling, you can ice-skate- in winter- and then head to Boxcar Bar + Arcade just around the corner for even more fun. 

Have a great weekend. It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and that in less than a week, it will be 2021!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Today's photo was taken at the iconic Santa in front of Friendly Center. We stopped to get a feature for GDP when the above couple, Lorrie and John, her husband of 30 years, were approaching the Santa. As it turns out, Lorrie and her three brothers grew up on Onslow Avenue, just a few blocks from Friendly Center. Seeing the larger-than-life, fiberglass Santa was one of their annual Christmas rituals. One year, when Lorrie came home for winter break during college, Santa was not on display. He was out out for repairs. Lorrie wrote a letter to the newspaper expressing her disappointment. Lorrie's 3rd brother died last December and her parents are also deceased; so now that it is just Lorrie and John, visiting Santa together as part of their holiday tradition.  

We took a photo of the happy couple so that they could have it as a 2020 memory. We got permission to use their photo to feature today. Through GDP, we meet so many wonderful people like Lorrie and John. The serendipity of the chance encounter with other people who love the city as much as we do is heartwarming.

Lorrie pointed out that Santa got a maintenance overhaul this year. We have local sculptor, Jim Gallucci to thank for sprucing up Santa and replacing the box that makes it possible for Santa to wave.* Here is a photo from 2018. See if you notice any differences. Lorrie noticed them right away. May she and John have many years of continued visits, and may we all find simple traditions that fill us with love for each other and with our great city.

* read about the repairs in the News & Record, here.

Skating

Today's photo features the "pop-up" skating rink in downtown Greensboro. It is located in the parking lot, just west of Elm Street accessible from Lewis Street. You can see the Eugene Street traffic heading into town above the rink. The rink was not very crowded yesterday, but the middle and high school students out on the rink seemed to be having fun. The Piedmont Winterfest is technically located at 123 West Lewis Street. The rink will be open until January 31st. According to the schedule on their website, skating will be open today from noon until 4pm, closed on Christmas Day and then open again on December 26th from noon-10pm. The cost is $12 for a one hour and forty five minute session and you can pre-purchase tickets, which is a good idea since they have to limit the crowds for safety.

Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar

Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar at 100 West Washington Street is a Greensboro institution. It was located in Irving Park for about 20 years and now, has been in their current location downtown for over 20 years. They are one of those restaurants that can feel as comfortable as the "Cheers" bar for those who are regulars. They are very original and special in their offerings and were on the front end of the bistro revolution in Greensboro. Also ahead of a trend,  Liberty Oak has been buying and showing local Greensboro art for decades now. Local artist Denise Landi recalls their showing and purchasing her art in the 1980s.

The above photo features their new signage out in front of their side entrance at the Vernon Building. That building was originally erected in 1883 and, as pointed out on their website, is the oldest building remaining in the Old Greensborough Historic District. Somehow, Liberty Oak just seems to belong here. Here is their fabulous menu, in case you are interested in dining indoors, outdoors, or placing a to-go order. Happy Wednesday!

Longer Days & Shorter Nights!

Yesterday, the winter solstice, turned out to be a glorious day in Greensboro. The temperature was well into the 50s and remained above freezing.  The above photo was taken yesterday, from the bridge at Lake Higgins. It was just before 5:00 pm and the sun was ready to dip below the horizon. The sky was minimally cloudy, meaning good visibility for The Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus-  or the Christmas Star as it is also called. Many people in Greensboro and in the Triad got photographs of that event. The best photos were taken through telescopes and the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn were visible. What a treat to have clear skies last night.

Yesterday, social media was buzzing about the fact that Air Force 1 was touching down in Greensboro. It is not uncommon for the US President's plane to fly into Greensboro. PTI Airport is close to Washington, D.C., the air port is not very busy, there are multiple runways, and they are long. This makes conditions ideal for approaches, landings, and take offs of the President's plane. Indeed, December 21st, 2020 was a busy day in the skies above Greensboro. On the shortest day, meteorologically speaking, conditions were perfect for landings, take offs, sunsets, and viewing planets! Now, today, days start getting longer and it should be sunny.

Life is good in Greensboro!

Beautiful Star

Tonight is the night that Jupiter and Saturn should align in a way to create a "beautiful star". Together, they will reflect light in a way that has not been seen for centuries. It might be partly sunny in Greensboro. However, maybe we will get lucky and be able to view this phenomenon just after sunset and in the southwest sky. In the above cell photo from last week, you can see the moon to the left and the tiny speck between the trees is Jupiter up front and Saturn, faintly visible behind it. If you look to the horizon, you can see that that the horizon still had a little glow from the recently setting sun.

Tonight, the moon will be a first quarter moon. If you know of a "best viewing spot", please let us know. There will also be 5-10 shooting stars per hour, if visibility is on our side.

Night will come in Greensboro a little after 5pm. See you outside!

JOY at Mount Pisgah UMC

Approaching the winter solstice it seems appropriate to share a night scene for our Sunday church shot today. This is Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. We have featured it a lot, but is is so visible and centrally located at the corner of Pisgah Church Road and Battleground Avenue. This view is from the CVS pharmacy across the street. The JOY sign, lighting, and the electric marquee command attention. The ray of green light shining down must be from the street light.

Today is the last Sunday before Christmas. However, many churches, including Mt. Pisgah. On December 21st on Facebook Live, they will have a Longest Night Service. At 4:30 and 7:00 pm on Christmas Eve, they will have services. The early one will be outside and on Facebook Live and the later one outdoors. This year there are so many options to enjoy church services remotely for Christmas, from Greensboro to Vatican City and beyond.

Christmas in Sunset Hills

Photographing the light-ball decorations in Sunset Hills is very hard to do. The above photo doesn't begin to capture the magic. However, it does provide a little of the feeling of the neighborhood. The tradition of hurling the lighted balls as high as possible into the mature trees began in 1996, outside the house of Jonathan and Annie Smith on Madison Avenue. What started as a few decorations in one yard grew to over 10,000 decorations, strewn throughout the whole neighborhood. As a matter of fact, the tradition is so important, if someone can't get their decorations in place, neighbors will come to the rescue and help.

As the tradition took hold, one neighbor suggested collecting food for a local food bank; another neighbor suggested a race to benefit the food bank. While the race is off this year, due to COVID, residents of Sunset Hills have continued to decorate because people can experience the joy of the lights without having to get out of their vehicles. Here is a News & Record article from a few years ago. One one of the longest nights of the year, tonight would be a perfect time to drive along Ridgeway Drive, Madison Avenue, Greenway, and the other streets of Sunset Hills. You will not be disappointed. They make Greensboro proud!

Sunset Tonight 507 pm

Darkness is arriving noticeably sooner. Tonight, in Greensboro, the sun will set at 5:07 p.m. Once we embrace the darkness, it can actually be fun to head outside at sunset and twilight and see the magical skies. The above photo was taken off of Clifton Road and Merritt Drive. The above silhouette looks like it could be on a rural farm. In reality, it is a photo of the western skies from a parking lot on the western side of town. 

The winter solstice will be on Monday, December 21st. There will also be a "Christmas star" that night- the two giant gas planets will be the closest together they have been since the 17th century.*  In Greensboro, it is currently predicted to rain on Sunday and be partly cloud on Monday. Let's hope the skies will be clear enough to see this Christmas/solstice star. Maybe we can wish upon a star...or a planet! Happy Friday, we are connecting to Skywatch Friday. Click that link and you can see sky shots from all over planet earth!

* reference and read more HERE.

The Tiny Greenhouse

The Tiny Greenhouse, located at 1331 Beaman Place, is the perfect place to shop any time of the year, but in December, it is absolutely beautiful. The above photo features an especially festive corner of the shop. Anjelica, who has been working there for about a month, is featured in the photo.  Anjelica is an affable person, perfect for helping you find just the right item- whether it is a gift or something nice for yourself. 

Today's photo doesn't do justice to the Tiny Greenhouse. This Christmas corner is so festive, we snapped a photo there, but you can't see the abundant selection of plants, the many books for children and lovers of art, the beautiful puzzles, and other items that add a color and comfort to our homes. The cards in the foreground were designed by owners Suzanne and Edgar Cabrera. If you haven't been to the store in the past month, you need to go to see how they've  rearranged it. The checkout counter is to the left of the entrance now. Somehow, the change adds so much space for plants and merchandise. Also, you need to meet Anjelica. When not working,  she loves working on her own art projects and reading- especially the magic realism genre. 

Follow The Tiny Greenhouse on Instagram @thetinygreenhouse if you want to see even more of this fabulous local shop. January 1st will be their fourth birthday. What did Greensboro ever do without them?

White Oak Denim Mill Sculpture from the Jeansboro Series

Some cities have fiberglass bulls; others pigs; others horses; and the representations go on and on. Greensboro has blue jeans. With Greensboro's rich textile and denim history, this choice makes perfect sense. The above plexiglass pair of jeans is called "Woven Heritage" and is part of the 'Celebrating Jeansboro', NC series. Wrangler VF Jeanswear spearheaded this public art project in 2015.  The above artwork is by Neidy Perdomo and Ivan Gonzalez. There are jeans, each painted with a different theme, all throughout Greensboro. The White Oak pair has been installed in front of the Carolina Theatre on Greene Street.

White Oak was the original and last selvedge denim supplier in the United States. There is a mill in Louisiana using some of the equipment from the White Oak mill, and there are murmurings that they will make American-milled selvedge denim. The article is linked here.* We remain hopeful that someone will find a way for Greensboro to once again become a center of selvedge denim. With the shop local, small-batch, quality-over-quantity movement that is thriving in young-adults, surely, high quality denim will be once-again made in Greensboro. Every time you walk past one of these beautiful sculptures, consider making that wish.

* (Inside Hook, September 1, 2020)

Sunny Winter Days

Although it is still technically fall, some of these days in November and December have already started to feel like winter. Before you know it, hours of daylight will start getting longer, minute by minute. Yesterday morning, the rains in Greensboro were intense. However, by early afternoon, the clearest, most beautiful light was shining and the city was glowing. 

The above photo was taken at the little pond by the silo on Carlson Farms, which is not a part of the farm course of the Greensboro Country Club. This is an example of how glorious a fall/winter day can look. If you notice, the browns and blues just seem to go together. So many months of the year, the color green is the dominant one in our landscape. We should all have a day where we dress in the blues and browns of winter, with of course, a pop of frosty-the-snowman white- maybe in January. It is anticipated that Greensboro will get some nasty weather this evening or in the morning. If that is the case, just look at this beautiful scene above and be remind that the sun will shine again. Have a great Tuesday.

PART: Connecting Communities!

The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, known locally as PART, is still running its routes, even during COVID. They do encourage passengers to remain 6' apart. The above photo was taken a couple of weeks ago, in downtown Greensboro. The bus was headed west on West Washington Street and stopped at Greene Street, just in front of the parking deck. The red, holiday lights really accentuate the graphic design on the bus. The vehicle in the foreground adds a little movement to the night scene.

Here is a link to their official website, in case you want to plan your route or track your bus. As stated on their website, PART was created in 1997 as a means of enhancing transportation in the Piedmont Triad. It is nice to have public transportation options, especially one that helps make it possible to get to other nearby communities. It is a way for Point A to Point B to be done in a way that decreases the carbon footprint. Happy Monday!  

Pomona Baptist Church

Today, we continue our journey through what was once the Pomona area of Greensboro. According to its cornerstone, the above church on Clifton Road was organized in 1906 and rebuilt in 1950. We can't find a history of the church online; the best available comes from obituaries. A News & Record obituary for the Rev. Clinton M. Oates, 86, states that he had been a minister at Pomona Baptist. Rev. Oates died in 1990. More recently, September 17, 2020, Mildred Cook Worsham passed away at the age of 94. When she was a young girl, her family moved from Mooresville to Greensboro where her father, Rev. Walter B. Cook, accepted the position of minister at Pomona Baptist.  

So, in the mid-20th century, Pomona was a viable church community. It would be really nice to have a church history as this church would have served workers at the Pomona Cotton Mill on Merritt Drive and the Pomona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company on West Market Street.  Somewhere, along the way, the the church changed hands. Gone is the Baptist affiliation and the pews;  today, it is the Clifton Road campus of Mercy Hill Church with round tables and chairs in the sanctuary. Mercy Hill's website will tell you how to affiliate with the non-demonational church. 

Cranbrook Street: Teeming with Life

Cranbrook Street is a quiet little street located between Spring Garden Street, Wendover Avenue, and Merritt Drive on the edge of Hunter Hills. When driving along the busy main streets in this industrial part of town, you might not even notice it. Also, Clifton Road and Spring Garden Street separate the street into very distinct areas, now cut off from each other. However, once on these blocks, you see a part of town with homes dating back to the early 1900's. You will see a vibrant community;  houses with Christmas lights, people out working in their yards, and front porches reminding us of the beauty of sitting a spell and chatting with friends and neighbors.

707 Cranbrook, photographed above, was built in 1907, back in the day when we depended on trees to provide shade from the hot summer sun. For 113 years, someone has called this place home. When this house was built, the people who lived here might have worked at the Pomona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company (built by John Van Lindley) or at the Pomona Cotton Mill. Today, both the tile factory and the cotton mill are gone, but this little house on Cranbrook Street holds the memories of a very historic part of town. It is still making memories for the people who live here. Happy Saturday!

Pink Sky over Reconsidered Goods

Yesterday, early evening, fluffy pink clouds were swooshing along above Reconsidered Goods. This creative, reuse center is located at 4118 Spring Garden Street, very close to West Market Street. Reconsidered Goods has really perked up this block of Spring Garden. While there are several great restaurants and businesses in the area, RG is one of the few places where people from all walks of life come to shop. The diverse and creative types that RG attracts is heartwarming. RG is part thrift store, part store for people in need of home goods and the perfect pace to pick up arts and craft supplies. Today we got 3 strands of holiday garland, 3 calendar prints a vintage card, a bone and wood bracelet, and an unused rubber stamp that says "So many thoughtful things you do... I'm glad I've got a friend like you." The saying is perfect for stamping a heartfelt message on cards to friends. Prices start at 25¢ and everything is sold below market value.

Even better than the items we found at Reconsidered Goods was the great pink sky that greeted us as we left the parking lot. Sometimes after a long day of working from home and trying hard to self isolate, a little drive or walk, with an opportunity to see the beautiful gifts of nature, is heartwarming. Look at that beautiful sky and how it frames the store and matches the pink door!

Wear your mask, be careful out there, and take time to admire the beauty of nature! And, donate your really cool items to Reconsidered Goods. Check for store hours and their donation schedule HERE. Happy Friday! 

Deep Roots Market Co-Op

Deep Roots Market is a co-op is a full-service grocery store, located downtown at 600 North Euguene street, just around the corner of Joymongers. Deep Roots started in the 1960s as a vegetarian buying club at Guilford College. In the mid 1970s, they moved to a storefront on Spring Garden Street, between the access ramp to Wendover and Merritt Drive. Since 2013, they have been in the downtown location. Anyone can shop at Deep Roots, but you get a discount and access to the big specials if you are a member.

There is a community room in the front of the store and, when gatherings are safe, great events happen there. If you are downtown, possibly at a brewery that doesn't sell food, on a bike ride and in need of a snack, or,  just interested purchasing great food and being part of a caring community, please visit Deep Roots. They have been providing the Greensboro community with organic, bulk, and locally sourced food before the big, corporate whole-food markets were in the area. Have you been? If not, consider stopping by when you are in need of groceries. Happy Thursday!

Downtown First Saturday

The above photo of Hamburger Square in downtown Greensboro was part of the Downtown in December, "Light the Night" event. It is the city's effort to provide a little fun and joy for the community, while remaining Covid-safe. As you can see from the above photo, there weren't many people downtown, but those who were there seemed to be having a very nice time. Behind the inflatables is the fabulous, local gift store, Just Be. Beside Just Be are a couple of restaurants that are reasonably priced and fast at takeout. If you do head downtown, business owners are very mindful of taking precautions to help keep you safe.

Here is a link to all of the events happening in downtown Greensboro in December. If you are leaving the house this weekend, this list will give you some options. Happy Wednesday!

Greensboro Trombone Ensemble

The Greensboro Trombone Ensemble played at the Light the Night event in downtown Greensboro this past weekend. While the Festival of Lights was cancelled for this year, there were a few groups set up throughout town and it was very easy to socially distance and meander up and down South Elm Street listening to music. The Light the Night had sort of a "First Friday" feel.

UNCG has a really strong School of Music and so there are many ensembles for different instruments and genres in Greensboro. Under normal circumstances, students are always offering concerts as part of their course and degree requirements. It was a real treat to hear the brass ensemble with the sound bouncing between Schiffman's Jewelry Store and Triad Stage. If you ever get a chance to hear the Trombone Ensemble, you will be in for a treat. Perhaps you already have heard them.

Have a great Tuesday.

Along Spring Garden Street

Have you been to Spring Garden Street lately? About a mile west of UNCG? This area is simply magical this time of year. The small, locally owned businesses have owners that are dedicated to bringing you wonderful goodness. At the far end of this plaza is Spring Garden Bakery. Its history of baked-from-scratch goodness dates back to 1980; the current owners have had it since 2001 (read a great article for more information, here). Moonbird Soulful Living is next with all things for the home and body that have some spiritual or heartfelt meaning. They have recently started carrying plants which are good for both the heart and soul! Thistle and Broom is the next shop (in the foreground on the left in the photo). They have home decor items that bring a special coziness to your home. Not in the photo, but first in the trio of home decor and  is Adelaide's Vintage Home and Garden. Her shop used to be in the above strip, but moved 1/2 a block west. The entire cozy home is Adelaide's shop- including the yard and porch.

These small businesses really depend on local shoppers to keep their brick and mortar stores viable. With so many "one of a kinds" you just never know what goodness you will find in these shops. With this winter nights, if you get there right as they are closing, you you will see these stores at the most magical time. Lights make the interiors glow. You see end-of-the-day shoppers, bakers getting ready for the next day, shopkeepers tidying things up before closing.

If they ever see us with foldable chairs set up across the street just watching, it will be because we want to see the beauty of people moving among the warm, low-light fixtures on these cold winter nights!. By the way, all of this goodness is just around the corner from the "Santa of Chapman Street House." May we all find some beauty in these dark days of winter. Happy Monday! 

Nativity on Chapman Street

Today's photo is of the nativity, the manger scene at the house of Santa of Chapman Street. While he left us in 2003, his little house, near the corner of Walker Avenue shines gloriously with both the religious and secular symbols of Christmas. The center of the photo is actually a scene, just to the left of the house. On the right, you see Frosty the Snowman peeking out on the edge of the porch. Jack True Sr., was a man of modest means, but he lived for bringing joy to others during the holiday season. For thirty years, he served as Santa on Chapma. He can rest assured that his family has continued the tradition.

As you drive through Sunset Hills and see all of the trees filled with the glorious chickenwire balls wrapped with strings of lights, consider heading over to the part of Chapman Street just off Spring Garden Street and pay homage to the man who really brought Christmas to life for so many families of Greensboro. Here is a detailed article from the News and Record, back in 2003, the year Mr. True died.

Hudson Hill, H.Lee Waters Films, & Cone Denim

Today, Hudson's Hill American Made will host a very special event. Jonathan Ingram with Cone Denim (on left above) will be at Hudson's Hill with a small pop up of products made with denim from Cone Mills. Jonathan has a wealth of knowledge on textile history and branding. He knows all the great details, like how the shifting of the wooden floors in a textile factory, like White Oak, affects the appearance of the denim. Ben Singer (@benesing on the right) will show video footage from the H. Lee Waters films about Cone Denim. Bene will present at noon and then again at 4pm. Each presentation lasts about two hours. Bene is a multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, and video producer, and more.  If you are involved in the local, live music scene, you probably know Bene. This is such a special opportunity for Greensboro.

H. Lee Waters (1902- 1997) was a photographer from Lexington, NC. When the Depression hit and people stopped getting photos made, Waters started making movies of people in North Carolina communities and then going back to the communities and selling tickets for people to see themselves and their community in the movies. Duke University houses the Waters archives. Bene will treat us to a showing of some of the footage, specifically the videos about Cone Mills.

In the middle, is Evan Morrison, one of the owners of Hudson's Hill and master leatherworker. Give Evan a piece of leather and he can look at it and calculate the size of the purse that can be made from it- and then make that purse. He repairs, creates, and designs. Many of the items at Hudson't Hill are his craftsmanship. Evan will be at the event. A fourth person, who will literally contribute to the local flavor of this event, is Randy Barnes @feedumdogs. Randy will be giving away his gourmet hot dogs (while supplies last).  Drop in today to Hudson's Hill at 527 South Elm Street and check out the event. Masks are required and they will monitor crowds. As you can see in the photo, the screen is in place and ready for your viewing pleasure.

Merry Glenwood Christmas

This house, located on the East End of the Glenwood neighborhood at 828 Silver Avenue, is a fine example of the character of the homes in  Glenwood. With 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, this house (built in 1908) is larger than many of the homes. Look at that beautiful green and the white picket fence. The Christmas decorations are like pretty ribbon and a bow on a package.

The large front porch on this house evokes those days of yesteryear, when we had more time for sitting and talking to friends and families. In the pre-air conditioning days, sitting on the front porch was the perfect way to catch a breeze. If you look closely, you can see the Moravian star on this porch. At night, the lighting illuminates the property beautifully. Obviously, it is a house well loved

Happy Friday! Enjoy everything about this day.

Holiday Lawn Ornaments

Today's photo is a lawn on Hobbs Road. Inflatable lawn ornaments have taken Greensboro by storm. People have realized that these decorations are so much easier to store in the off season. They look so forlorn when they are collapsed; however, when they are up, they brighten up the muted landscape on a dull almost-winter day. The school-bus yellow car in the driveway in a happy exclamation mark at the end of the cheerful display. If this scene were a sentence, it would read, The soldier stood at attention as Santa and Frosty looked on!

Greensboro's beautiful Sunset Hills neighborhood gets a lot of attention this time of year. Those chicken wire balls with lights, hurled high in the trees, is a sight to behold. However, as you can see, other neighborhoods have plenty of holiday scenery. Happy Thursday.

The Beauty of December Skies

In Greensboro, skies can be pretty gray in winter, and with not much blooming, it is as if everything is dormant and hybernating. However, when the skies are blue, the clouds low, and the sun approaching the horizon, the views are spectacular- almost dizzying. The above photo was taken off of Carlson Dairy Road, looking on to the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. It is as if one is seeing the moors of Scotland. 

Sometimes it is nice to simply stop and admire the beauty surrounding us. As many people enter the busy season of the December holidays, a good view of open space in Greensboro is just plain palate cleansing. Happy Wednesday!

Landscaping and Preparing for Colder Days

Thanksgiving week, there were some beautiful, fall days, and, it was as if all of Greensboro were out working on their yards. Leaves were being raked; dead branches bundled; beds were getting mulched, and more. The above photo features some holly trees being shaped. The crew working on this project in northwest Greensboro was from Benitez Landscape Lawn Services. They were working hard, taking great care to be safe and to get the holly trees balanced into a conical shape. The crew had not finished the crowns of the trees at the time of the photo. With all of the rain this year, the female hollies have really produced a lot of berries and the leaves are especially green. The texture of the foliage was especially vibrant against the cloudless, blue sky.

Today is predicted to be cold in Greensboro ranging from a low of 25°F to a high of 45°F. However, given that today is the first day of December, 'tis the season for cold weather. Happy December 1st; Happy Tuesday.

By the way, if you don't feel like doing those landscaping jobs for yourself, the number on the back of the green crew shirts for Benitez was 336-668-8076.