Greensboro Daily Photo

Events Slowly Resuming

Slowly and cautiously, events are resuming for the fully vaccinated. Last night, a few people from the Piedmont Old Time Society ventured out to play music at the Pig Pounder Brewery on Grecade Street. If all goes well, they will hold an open jam there on the first and third Thursday of the month. However, the group will not meet in Greensboro on the first Thursday in June, as so many musicians will be attending the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention.  Old-time music is acoustic and consists of fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass. Occasionally, another instrument gets mixed in. The fiddle, however, is the lead instrument. Last night, there were several fiddlers and the music was great. 

Well, the weekend is upon us. May you have a great one. If you have a chance to go to Pig Pounder, and like to have interesting backdrops for photos, you will have found the perfect combination- especially at twilight. Marty Kotis' goal of having Midtown identified with murals has become a reality. The artwork looks even prettier when live music is being played. It is hard to believe that Pig Pounder has already been open seven years- since 2014!

Field of Poppies

Right across the street from Lindley Elementary School is a charming brick house with a white picket fence and a poppy garden. We refer to it as the field of poppies and stop by every year to see if the poppies are still going strong. Currently, they are in full bloom; bright red and ready for National Poppy Day. The Friday before Memorial Day is National Poppy Day. Wearing a red poppy honors the fallen and sends a message of support for people who have served the country in the U.S. military. The American Legion brought National Poppy Day to the United States. Here is the poppy story. In Greensboro, there is an American Legion group in northeast Greensboro at 1206 American Legion Street. There is also a legion group at 729 Creek Ridge Road, just west of where I-40 and I-85 split.

Meanwhile, back to today's photo, just imagine having a garden this beautiful, your own little field of poppies. Actually, the garden belongs to the house to the right of this photo. The one in the background actually belongs to the neighbors. The house with the above property, 2705 Camden Road, is a four bedroom three bath built in 1928. The lot is .34 acres and it is simply heavenly. Technically, red poppies are annuals but they can live for a few years and can re-seed. We'd love to talk to the owners and see just how much effort goes into keeping this yard so beautiful. If you know, please let us know.

Happy Thursday!

Southern Line and the Norfolk Southern Corp.

Today's rustic photo represents a bygone era. The above rail cars, to the right of a pile of used railroad ties, look retired. The scene gives the illusion of being in a rural area, when actually is is located on a busy section of road on Spring Garden Street between Gay Terrace and Merritt Drive. It is very near the site of the long-gone Pomona Cotton Mill.  It reminds us that Greensboro has changed a lot over the last few decades.

However, the Norfolk Southern Corp still maintains the track that runs through this area (barely visible on the right side) with a terminal at Merritt Drive. Norfolk Southern is a dynamic corporation that still carries over 70 freight trains in North Carolina. Greensboro is nicknamed "The Gate City" because so many freight and passenger lines cross through here and the rail network dates back to the mid-1800s, before the Civil War. Let today's little bit of nostalgia remind you that planning a train ride would be a great addition to your summer plans- even if you just took Amtrack to another North Carolina City. With the taxi and car ride-hailing services widely available, you have plenty of transportation options as you reach your destination. While you wouldn't be going on the above cars, you do get an idea of some of the pretty scenery you would see along the way.

If you like catchy rail slogans, Norfolk Southern has had several: Tarwheel, is our favorite. As for Amtrak, our choice is "For the America you can't see anywhere else." Hop on for a little nostalgia this summer. Happy Tuesday! Public schools are rapidly coming to a close for the academic year; so, many of us really do need to secure some summer plans!

2426 Camden Road

Yesterday afternoon, Camden Road was filled with families out for a stroll. Some children were riding bicycles, one toddler was dressed in a princess outfit, many people had dogs, neighbors were in their front yards talking. Truly, the Sunset Hills/Lindley Park neighborhoods were enjoying every moment of the overcast skies. Temperatures were in the mid-60s, but it seemed cooler since the sun wasn't out. The above photo is of 2426 Camden Road, just a few blocks away from Lindley Elementary School. According to the signage in the yard, this house has a graduating senior. Most of the schools are having in-person graduation services this year. Let's hope that is the case for this soon-to-be graduate.

This house, built in 1927, is a lot bigger than it looks from the front. According to Zillow, it is 2,400 square feet with five bedrooms and two baths. The landscaping on the property continues to delight people who are out strolling along the sidewalks. As you can see, the front yard of the house is filled with raised beds, and right now, the foxgloves are putting on a glorious show. Foxglove stems were a big hit when they were at the Corner Market on Walker and Elam. Now, we're wondering if by chance they came from this house! We're also wondering if the black cat lives here, or if he has just stopped by for a visit.

Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week and you are in a position to get out and enjoy all of the effort people are putting into their Greensboro yards.

West Market Street UMC

Today's photo is a view of the iconic Lincoln Financial Corporation building and the West Market Street United Methodist Church. It was taken from the northwest corner of the Governmental Plaza, near the Dr. George Simkins statue. The JP Building, now LFC. At one time, it was the tallest building between Atlanta and Washington D.C. Especially with the time and temperature at the top, it stands as a beacon in Greensboro. To the left in the photo, you see the south side of the West Market Street United Methodist Church. This vibrant, dynamic church offers traditional and contemporary services. They have something for everyone! Their music services are quite impressive. Dating back to 1873, West Market Street UMC is one of the oldest churches in Greensboro. Their stained glass windows are stunning and the sound of the Dobson-Rosales organ is memorable. There are approximately 2,000 members at West Market Street UMC, and do, if you are looking for a church that offers many programs and services for its members, this may well be the church for you. 

Fortunately, the church has an extensive history online. See their timeline and more photos here. Have a happy Sunday, no matter how or where you spend it!

Yum Yum Ice Cream on Spring Garden Street

Yum Yum has been a Greensboro tradition since 1906. While workers, ice-cream flavors, owners, and location have change over the last century, all of the goodness of Yum Yum has remained constant. The hand-scooped ice cream is fresh and tasty. After 100+ years, the Aydelette family has soul the business to the Lipp family and  the Lipps are making an effort to keep the ice cream shop the same. They do take credit cards now. That is a big different. Today would be a great day for an ice cream. Head on over, get some good ice cream, and make  some good memories. You can eat indoors, outside, or get your order to go!

People build so memories going to Yum Yum, especially when they are attending UNCG. One of the old, stand by flavors is Oreo cookie. Today sounds like it would be a perfect day for ice cream, at the corner of Stirling and Spring Garden Street. Happy Saturday!

Southern Conference Softball Championship 2021

The Southern Conference Softball Championship continues today and tomorrow, hosted by UNCG. The above photo, taken yesterday during game 1, features the softball field on the northwest corner of the UNCG campus. * The stadium was built in 2006 on the site of the old softball stadium and this beautiful facility has hosted the Southern Conference Championship every other year since 2014. It also hosted in 2007 and in 2013.

At 12:30 pm today, #1 UNCG will play #2 Western Carolina in Game 4 of the tournament.  Game 5 will be held at 3:00pm with #4 Mercer playing the Game 4 loser. Game 6 will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday with a match up between the Game 4 and 5 winners. If necessary, there will be a Game 6. The Chattanooga team earned the 2019 championship title. Chattanooga lost to Mercer in Game 3 today.

If you love softball or have a child who plays, you should consider attending a game here some year. However, at present, it looks like it is "pass list only", as UNCG is still taking every precaution in these Covid times. Last year the championship was cancelled altogether, so players are super happy to be back out on the fields and looked so ready to play as they filed into the stadium yesterday in their uniforms and representing their universities.

This is the 100th year of the Southern Conference. Let's hope the Spartans take all!  See the conference website here.

Rainbow Alley... and Reflecting on the Concept

Historically, alleys served a very important purpose. The narrow passageways behind buildings facilitate the delivery and removal of things. They lead to service entrances. They a provide a quick exit. As the weather warms up, alleys have a way of staying cooler longer and providing much needed breezes for the buildings around it. Often they become great public spaces.* Greensboro is not really known for its use of alleys, although with a little intervention by artists, people are starting to take notice. Rainbow Alley, by Gina Franco, starts beside the Biltmore Hotel at West Washington Street and continues behind Scuppernong Books, Jerusalem Market, Deuterman Law, and other businesses. It changes character with the weather. Last week, the shadows cast on a sunny day punctuated the painted stripes. It was as if there were a railroad on the rainbow road.

This alley, and the alley behind Elsewhere Museum in the 600 block of South Elm Street are the two alleys that seem to get the most use in Greensboro.  Let's examine our Greensboro alleys and imagine the possibilities. What alleys exist in Greensboro? Google searches only yield links about the Rainbow Alley and bowling alleys! Is there a list? If you want to orient to the location of the photo, find that JP/LFG clock peeking at you.

 

* Here is a publication for Seattle, WA meant to encourage additional use of alley spaces for the public. Perhaps this initiative is worth considering for Greensboro (#DGSO?).

Greensboro Bound Virtual

Yesterday, on GDP, we celebrated Greensboro's public library system. Today's photo is the window of Scupperonong Books, advertising the Greensboro Bound Virtual Literary Festival begins tomorrow; another example of literary goodness in our community. Greensboro Bound is billed as a festival for "readers, writers, students, academics, and volunteers who are passionate about books, writing, and reading". It is a non-profit organization established in 2017 (reference and more information). The festival is the brainchild of  Steve Colyer and Scuppernong Books owners. The annual festival has hosted many writers, many of whom are known internationally. 

Here is a link to see the list of events and RSVP to attend virtually. Many of the topics are timely and something for everybody across genres from young adult fiction to short stories, poems, cookbooks, crime writing, and more. When community partners, businesses, writers, and volunteers come together, in an event celebrating reading and writing, everyone benefits and the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts! Drop into a session and enjoy!

Central Library of the Greensboro Public Library System

Have you been to a public library lately? Today's photo is of the Central Library of the Greensboro Public Library system, the children's section. It is so beautiful, clean, and inviting. We visited on Saturday and there were just a few people in the whole building. The public library system is one of the few places where anyone and everyone has the right to visit. Truly, it is for the public. They are back to regular hours, yet are still offering curbside pick-up. They are also starting to reinstate special events, although most are still online (see an example, HERE).

The Greensboro Library system was established in 1902. Construction for the Central Branch in the current location began in 1997. Previously, it was located in the building that currently houses the Elon Law School at 201 North Greene Street. That other building was completed in 1960 with the local architect Edward Loewenstein and Gregory Ivy involved in the design. But, this former property is history and the current building is built with the public in mind. We have easy access to all the books and there are plenty of computers to use. Dust off your library card; the amazing world of books is just a swipe away. Happy Tuesday!

ORMA Tower

ORMA, Oak Ridge Military Academy, 2317 Oak Ridge Road (Highway 150)  is located northwest of Greensboro.  It was established in 1850s, before the Civil War, and the buildings and property encompass 38 acres. The school has evolved over the years (read more here), both in curriculum and student population and in the feeling of remoteness. At one time, there was no commercial development around the academy, mostly just a few houses and woods. Today, cadets are within walking distance of a convenience store, Wendy's, a grocery store, McDonald's, and more. Also, many community ball teams play on the ORMA fields. 

The above photo shows the ORMA sign getting painted. It was fascinating to see what may have been the world's largest stencils put in place. The red letters are a bright and bold standout, just west of the chapel and old well. Since 1983, the whole compound, including 21 buildings and "one contributing structure"  have been on the National Register of historic places. We're wondering if that  contributing structure would that be this tower or the old well. ORMA has been a Guilford County resource for 170 years. Let's hope they are thinking ahead for their bicentennial! In the meantime, we need to get back to check on the finished paint job. It is so fun to drive around Greensboro (and the county) and see how everyone is spring cleaning and sprucing up their properties.

Happy Monday!

Happy Mother's Day

Greensboro is such a great place to live. The weather and landscape help, but what makes Greensboro fantastic is the people. Yesterday, at a yard sale on Greenwood Drive, the homeowner and host of the sale gave a piece of new jewelry to all the mothers who stopped by. There were no gimmicks and no purchase was necessary. She said she wanted everyone to be able to say they received at least one Mother's Day gift. What a nice, heartfelt gesture and the moms were appreciative and joyfully selected a piece of jewelry. 

To all the mothers out there, in Greensboro and beyond, we hope you have a fabulous Mother's Day today. And, if you happen to know the woman who lives in the above house on Greenwood, thank her for her generosity and kindness. We bet she is that nice every day.

May we all give and receive random acts of kindness.  Happy Sunday!

 

Westerwood Mural: Part Alebrije, Part Postcard

Today's mural is on the side of the Westerwood Tavern. The Westerwood Tavern has been a Westerwood institution for over sixty years. While the name and owners have changes, that Cheers feeling of everybody known your name remains the same. Westerwood is a neighborhood of artists and the bar holds events to support artists. Today's mural is an example of their support of the arts.

The mural is most visible when headed west on Guilford Avenue. It evokes part Mexican alebrijes (as in the movie Coco) and part vintage Americana postcards. Local artist Beka Butts@bbutts_illustration created the mural. We actually featured Beka last November when she was working at the Day of the Dead exhibit for Casa Azul (see here). Beka trained at Savannah College of Art and Design and, fortunately, decided to bring her SCAD training back to Greensboro and share it with us!

Happy Saturday! May you have a chance to explore your community this weekend; whether it is Greensboro or elsewhere.

Cone Health: Wesley Long Hospital

We took this photo about a month ago, but realized we hadn't been photographing community resources lately. Today's photo is of Cone Health: Wesley Long Hospital, taken from our favorite vantage point, the O. Henry Hotel, on the Green Valley Grill side. This location ia a prime one in the city, just a block away from Friendly Shopping center at West Wendover Avenue.

Moses Cone is one of the largest employers in Greensboro and has played a leadership role, this past year, as Greensboro navigated the pandemic. Wesley Long Hospital has been part of the Greensboro community since 1917. Over the last century, the hospital has grown and evolved, handling more patients and adding departments, perhaps most notably, the Cancer Treatment Center. The hospital itself is a 175 bed, private room hospital. If you know someone who works in healthcare in Greensboro, be sure to thank them. You know they are ready for a vacation. This past week was teacher appreciation week. Please remember to thank teachers, too!

Have a great weekend and see if you can explore some new places in Greensboro and find some great vantage points!

Black Rat Snake Time

OK Greensboro,  the weather has warmed and snakes are out now. We saw this black rat snake in our backyard this weekend. They are not snakes that look for trouble. The snake saw me before I saw him and he froze, hoping not to draw any attention to himself. These snakes are non-venomous but will strike if they don't have a choice. However, their real superpower is that they are proficient climbers. Somehow, they can scale walls and trees with no evidence of having any way to grip. They earned their name because they eat their fair share of mice and rodents. If you see one, please leave it alone. 

The North Carolina Wildlife Commission is a great place to start to learn more about snakes.* There is also a Facebook group called N.C. Snake Identification & Education. If you don't mind seeing photos of snakes, this is a great place to learn about snakes and really to become less afraid of them. Happy Thursday and sorry, if you are feeling you can't "unsee" this photo!

 

*see here. 

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today is a day many Mexican Americans celebrate their Mexican heritage in the United States. It is not Mexican Independence Day, nor is is really celebrated outside of Puebla, Mexico, where the Mexican army won a battle over the French.

The above photo is a display of Mexican popsicles, known as paletas. These aren't your ordinary commercial popsicles. They are handmade, frozen treats with just about any flavor- especially fruit- imaginable. Chile mango, lime, and cherries and cream are a few examples. If you haven't yet, you owe it to yourself to try an authentic, Mexican paleta. Cinco de Mayo is the perfect day to do so.

One place in Greensboro to purchase paletas is at La Super Michoacana at 3821 West Gate City Boulevard (where this photo was taken). We don't know if Lucha Libre Ice Cream and Churros at 4925 West Market Street sells paletas, but they do sell Mexican ice cream desserts that are out of this world. Whatever you try, be adventurous. Mango Chile is just the right blend of tart, spicy, and sweet. So let Cinco de Mayo be a day you expand your flavor palate. Almost 8% of Greensboro's population is of Hispanic origin. While that encompass many different ethnicities, not just those found in Mexico, the Hispanic demographic accounts for almost 25% of Greensboro's population growth over the last decade.*  Take today to celebrate the many good things Mexicans and other Hispanics have brought to Greensboro - paletas being just one small example.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

* reference HERE.

 

People of Greensboro: Kevin Rutan

Kevin Rutan, today's featured guest, is seen standing among pieces of artwork sold at his recent studio show. Kevin is the ever talented, nationally-known, decorative artist and owner of "Fe Fi Faux, Inc." When not faux finishing walls for clients in the USA and abroad, Kevin can be found in his studio expressing his creativity on canvas. All of his artwork is original- no prints. He is especially known for faces of women, one of which was featured on the January 2021  O. Henry magazine cover. Kevin balances painting canvases with faux finishing which he learned in the Institute Guégan in Brittany, France, developing great expertise in faux bois and faux marble finishes. Kevin has lived in Greensboro for the past fifty years.

Twice a year, Kevin holds art shows in his College Hill studio, located behind his Joyner Street house. His house was once owned by William Raymond Taylor who was on staff at UNCG from 1921-1961. During his time in the house, William Taylor made theatre curtains in the above studio and the Rutans lived next door. When the Taylor family sold this great property, they offered it to their neighbors, the Rutans. Kevin has kept the legacy of creativity alive in this house that turns 100 this year. If you like modern art that balances creativity with technique, keep an eye out for Kevins paintings. See examples of Kevin's paintings at his recently created website. He has paintings at all price points, starting at only $45. Happy Tuesday!

Tulip Poplar Time in Greensboro

Those who are pollen sensitive know that trees are just about completely leafed out in Greensboro. The above photo is of a blossom that dropped from a tulip poplar tree. The tulip poplars get their name from the green/orange flowers the tree produces. It is actually more closely related to the magnolia tree than either a tulip or a poplar* It is the state tree of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana; however, it grows well in Greensboro. The tree itself is pretty because it tends to grow straight and it is one of the tallest hardwoods.

If you have one in your yard, or you see one, let us know. This one was seen on a property in northeast Greensboro. Bees are known to make honey from the nectar in these flowers. Happy Monday!

* Reference and more information, here.

Casa Belen Ebenezer

Casa Belen Ebenezer is an Apostolic Church located at 401 Norwalk Street , right at the corner with Pomona Drive. The pastors are Ivan and Azucena Morales Boitano. They offer Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday services in Spanish at 7pm. Also, there is a Sunday school at 10:00 and a service at 10:45. 

Yesterday, the building really stood out with the orange ramp against that bright, blue, cloudless sky. Also, there was someone on property doing yardwork. As quiet as it was here yesterday afternoon, it will be busy today. As Greensboro's population diversifies, more and more religions are offering services in other languages and not all of the buildings look like traditional houses of worship. It is not the facility itself, but the people, that makes a house of worship feel like a home.

We hope you have a great Sunday and that you have found a place to nourish your spirit... that feels like home. Happy Sunday!

609 South Mendenhall Street

Happy May Day! Today is the day of an ancient festival of spring. The property at 609 South Mendenhall Street is about as joyful and springlike as a yard gets. Yesterday, we happened to stop by the "Little Free Library" box at the edge of this yard and the beauty of the flowers drew us in. We noticed the owner, Jane, watering the hanging baskets on the porch and struck up a good-old-fashioned conversation. The house is located in the heart of College Hill, Greensboro's first neighborhood and the first to receive an "historic district" designation 

Jane and her family have lived at the house for two years and, while it looks like it has been there for a century, the house was actually built recently on an empty lot that was previously owned by the College Hill Neighborhood.  It was sold under the condition that the house would be owner-occupied and that the new construction be in line with the architecture of the neighborhood. Jane said the best compliment she gets is when someone tells her what a good job they did "renovating" the home. Today's photo doesn't begin to capture its beauty. The purples are much more dominant and the porch is so inviting, Hopefully, Jane has time to swap out a book in the "Little Free Library" and read it on that porch swing under the paint blue ceiling.

Styrofoam Recycling Part Two

In January, we featured the styrofoam recycling boxes on East Gate City Boulevard. Well, the program has been so successful that they've doubled capacity. The area is hard to photograph, especially when the sun is harsh, but what you see in the photo is just one side of the enclosure. The other side also has another big, blue box and three giant plastic bins. As you can see, they were full when we were dropping off styrofoam recently. It is located behind the Tiny House Community Development building. A nice feature of these boxes is that they are always available. They accept styrofoam #6 and foam egg cartons, foam plates, take out boxes, bowls, and cups as long as they are clean and dry. Also, they can't have labels and tape on them. It is really important to adhere to the rules so that the program continues without glitches.

The really exciting part of this styrofoam recycling in Greensboro is that the materials are densified into ingots which, in turn, are manufactured into useful products like picture frames, molding and other building materials. Here is the link for more information and the process at the facility at 1310 West Gate City Boulevard. West Gate City from the intersection of Josephine Boyd near UNCG and Elm Street is transforming before our eyes and the Tiny House/styrofoam recycling center is a big part of this transformation. Happy Friday! It is a beautiful time to be in Greensboro.

Elizabeth Hawks Herring Garden

Today's photo features one of the main views at the Elizabeth Hawks Herring Garden. It is located on the northeast side of campus at UNCG. Dr. William B. Herring, MD funded the garden in memory of his wife who was a great lover of music and gardening. So, the garden is perfect in its location beside the school of music. If you read about it (here), The design of the garden takes into consideration the sounds and movement of music. There are also areas conducive to practicing music, and we shared one such example last week. For over 20 years, the garden has delighted students, and the public.

The rock to the left of the birdbath has the following inscription, "No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." - William Blake. This birdbath is dedicated in the loving memory of Elizabeth Hawks Herring by her many devoted friends and fellow members of the UNCG Musical Arts Guild. September 19, 2004." What a special place. Thank you, Dr. Herring  for this great garden.

5207 W. Friendly Avenue

This house at 5207 West Friendly Avenue, built in 1939, has so much charm. It sold on April 1st and the new owners must be delighting in those azalea bushes, some of which are 10 feet high. This .5 acre property is located at the westernmost edge of Hamilton Lakes, right across from Guilford College. This Friendly Avenue house was built back when this this end of the county was rather rural.

In 1939, there was no Quaker Village; Hamilton Lakes had not yet been annexed into the City of Greensboro (1957); the town of Guilford College had not yet been annexed (1972). Still, if you drive past this property, you may not notice the house as the landscaping wraps around the property, buffering the house from the road. Drive on the Cannon Road side of the property and it will feel like you stepped back in time. It feels so peaceful and rural you may wonder if it is 1939 again. May the new owners enjoy their little house of tranquility. Happy Wednesday!

Enjoy Another Night of the Full Supermoon

Last night was the first of two supermoons in 2021. The other one will be in May.  A supermoon appears bigger because it is closer to the earth. Last night, the moon was 222,064 miles from the earth, about 8% closer than the average.* It was called the pink moon, but it didn't really present itself as pink. The moon was bright and for the most part, the sky over Greensboro was clear. The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro is a suburban neighborhood. The lighting against the white brick added a nice horizontal orientation to the photo.

The moon sets today (Tuesday, 4,27) at 6:59 am and rises tonight at 8:58 pm with 100% illumination in Greensboro. Follow the moon phases in Greensboro, here. If you want to try to photograph the moon, first, bring out your good camera. If you are using your phone, portrait mode seems to work best- even though no person is detected! Also, find a place where you can see the horizon line, a body of water works well. There is the moon report for today. The skies should be clear tonight; so, stake out your moon viewing site and sit back and enjoy. Happy Tuesday and Happy Moonbathing- no flashlight required!

*reference and more information about supermoons, here.

The Farmers Market & A B Seed at Sandy Ridge

The Farmers Market and AB Seed at Sandy Ridge were hopping yesterday. It seemed like all of Greensboro had been anticipating the Saturday cold weather and rain. By Sunday, people were cleaning patios, gardening, and out in search of plants and mulch. In the Farmers Market side of the market, Sandhills strawberries were a big seller. Asparagus and the cold weather vegetables are also in season now. One vendor had the last of the Richmond County pecans. Farmers markets remind us that foods have seasons and we await our favorite crops with great anticipation. Here is a North Carolina harvest calendar, if you want to see what will be ripe when. 

The above photo was taken at the outdoor area of AB Seed. If you notice the fiber screen overhead does a tremendous job of cutting down on the full sun, allows light, air, moisture, and some rain filter through. In the photo, the fluffy white clouds are a lot more noticeable than they are in person. You really owe it to yourself to spend time at the farmers market talking to the farmers and their assistants. Also, if you need glazed decorative pots for your porch and patio, AB Seed has just about every size and shape you can image. Happy Monday!

Hopewell Wesleyan Church on Pleasant Ridge Road

Country churches always look beautiful, even on overcast, rainy days. Hopewell Wesleyan Church was built over 100 years ago, but members have kept up the property. As seen in the photo, the azaleas in the foreground are a little past prime, but the ones at the entrance to the church are in their full glory.

As of 2917, there were about 1,600 Wesleyan churches in the United States and their are Wesleyan churches in about 100 nations.*  The early Wesleyan churches were known for being advocates of abolitionism and women's rights. Hopewell is located at 2825 Pleasant Ridge Road. They have a Facebook page if you are considering attending. Services are at 11 am and it looks like they may have resumed services in person. If you look at the Facebook page, you can see that the interior is brightly painted. If you go in person, take time to walk through the cemetery. There are some very old graves... a lot of history on that property. Happy Sunday.

* To help get a scope on the size of the Wesleyan church community in the United States, compare its 1,600+ churches in the USA to over 20,000 Catholic Church buildings in this country.

United States Post Office and Courthouse

The Unites States Post Office and Courthouse is also known at the L. Richardson Preyer, Jr. Federal Building. It is located on the block between Market Street and Friendly Avenue at Eugene Street. It was built in 1931- 1933 in the Art Deco style. It is five stories tall. The base is Mt. Airy granite and the walls are Indiana limestone. See HERE for more interesting details about the interior and exterior architecture. The interior is also beautiful and we need to get inside to photograph it for you.

Today's photo was taken across the street at the Governmental Plaza. The beautiful spring foliage adds great color to today's photo. The building was built in direct response to the Public Building Act of 1926. Hopefully, there are plans for a centennial celebration. In the meantime, if you are out dodging raindrops this weekend, head downtown to see this beautiful building. It looks fabulous in all weather conditions. To be sure, it looks like if was built to last for centuries!

An Earth Day Visit with Brooke Neal

Yesterday on Earth Day, we visited Brooke Neal, a retired psychological associate who worked with families of people with cognitive disabilities, people with autism, and people with mental health challenges. Brooke is originally from West Texas, but a series of adventures and relationships led her to Greensboro. While her professional employment was related to health and well being, her lifelong passion has been art. She remembers drawing a fish at age two, found that experience very satisfying, and was instantly hooked on the visual arts.

In the background, you see one of Brooke’s paintings, Gaia, a Greek deity and the personification of the earth. Brooke’s paintings have so much complexity and depth. The more you study them, the more you see. Brooke is a member for the 50+ Artists Community. So now that members are vaccinated, they are hoping to have a show soon. We’ll let you know. Notice how Brooke’s shirt matches the Mother Earth painting!

Tuba Lesson By Justin Worley

Imagine being on a mid-day walk and hearing the deep, low, relaxing notes of a tuba! Such are the experiences when you live in a college town. As campuses cautiously ease back to status quo, those wonderful sights and sounds are returning. In the above photo, Dr. Justin Worley (right) the is giving one of his UNCG students a lesson.

They were playing outside the School of Music in The Elizabeth Herring Garden. The garden has been completed since 2000 and it brings the community great joy. Mrs. Herring’s love of plants and music are evident in the design. From the water feature and lilies to the stone wall and the musicians, it felt like sitting in a Monet painting!

Note: The student agreed to be photographed but requested not to have his name used.

LOVE Is All Around!

The above photo was taken on Market Street, the road that leads into downtown. LOVE is a piece of art made by Frances P., a student at the Greensboro Day School. How wonderful that LOVE is what you see and think about as you enter our city.  Also in the photo is the Brown Building, Independence Center, and Lincoln Financial Corp. 

A lot of these utility boxes have artwork on them. It can be fun to walk around town and see all of the new artwork, whether  you like visual arts or architecture. For a town of about 300,00 residents, there is plenty to see here!

Dr. George C. Simkins, Jr.

 

Dr. Simkins (1924-2001) was a Greensboro native. By profession, he was a dentist, but he also dedicated his life to the Civil Rights Movement and social justice. For 25 years, Dr. Simkins led the Greensboro branch of the NAACP.  He worked tirelessly for desegregation of Greensboro.  This statue is located on the northwest corner of governmental plaza. The sculptor is Maria J. Kirby Smith. The statue was made possible by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation.

The day we visited, a couple of young educators were taking selfie’s here at this statue. How encouraging that they were out interacting with a piece of art about an impactful Greensboro social justice figure. If you head down to visit Governmental Plaza now, you will see the plantings on the plaza in full bloom!

Sunday on South Elm

Yesterday people were out and about in Greensboro. Red Cinema was open, brew pubs had people all around, and Elm Street was hopping. The above photo was taken at the Green Bean and is a good example of people spending time outdoors. The weather was beautiful, sunny and not too hot. The temperature hovered in the 60s for most of the day. Downtown Greensboro has also added a evening event on Saturday evenings, part of Elm Street is closed off to cars so that pedestrians are able to walk freely along the street. With the warm weather, "Open Streets" is really gaining traction.

Here is a list of some of the events happening in downtown Greensboro. For example, tonight is open mic night at Stumble Stilskins. Tomorrow is the Run and Walk Club meet up at Little Brother Brewing and also Trivia Night at SouthEnd Brewing. We hope you have a great week and that you find good safe ways to engage with the people, places, and businesses of Greensboro- whether you are downtown or on the outskirts. Oh, and dress for fun. People watching is back!

Pope Mobile In Greensboro

Sundays, we usually post something related to religion or spirituality on GDP. Yesterday, we were headed to town for a photo shoot.  En route, the Weatherspoon Museum was calling our name. They have great art and the museum is free and open to the public. Visitors are required to sign in, for the purposes of contact tracing, if needed. As we were leaving, we noticed this Yaris, a subcompact Toyota, with a sun shield with a photo of the pope. If he saw this scene, Pope Francis would probably be smiling, the way he is on the sticker on the back-seat, driver-side of the vehicle. A quick walk around the car revealed additional Catholic, religious items on this NC-registered vehicle. We're betting it can be find in the parking of one of our local Catholic Churches today.

As you can see from the photo of South Tate Street in the background, the trees have just about leaved out. Happy Sunday!

 

Life Along McDowell Drive

Today, we take you to 1204 McDowell Drive in the Green Valley area of Greensboro. This neighborhood is between Friendly Center and the Tanger Bicentennial Garden. It is so beautiful this time of year with all of the azaleas and dogwoods in bloom. The 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house above was built in 1963, back in the days when the satellite neighborhoods (Lake Jeanette, Adams Farm, Carlson Farms, etc.) were not even on the radar screen.

In 1963, David Schenck was mayor and there was a Civil Rights march that year. This was the year that The Women's College changed its name to University of North Carolina at Greensboro.* Meanwhile, back at 1204 McDowell, it was a new street in a neighborhood with streets named after many of the counties of North Carolina.  In 1963, there was a family enjoying their new house and new beginnings in a very beautiful part of town. These azaleas look like they may have been planted since then; however, their pink and white beauty represents a view so common in the years of Greensboro.

Happy Saturday! You still have time to get out and enjoy the beauty of spring in Greensboro.

*reference and interesting timeline, here.

GTA Bus On Route #1 Heading East on McGee St

As we were leaving Just Be, yesterday afternoon, bus #782, the #1 West Wendover Avenue GTA bus was heading east on West McGee Street. It is one of the diesel-electric New Flyer XDE40 buses; it is clean, quiet, and a smooth ride. Today is Friday, a good day for taking the bus, and this one goes from Wendover, along Spring Garden, to town. Friday is always a great day to head to downtown Greensboro.

Notice the snappy ad for an ad on this bus and also worth mentioning is the reflection of the 300 block of South Elm Street in the windshield of the bus.  Can you spot the façade of the Green Bean Coffee Shop in the windshield? Everything looks better with a good dose of sunshine, including bus windshields!

Honk if you love Fridays!

100 S Mendenhall St.

This house at the corner of South Mendenhall and Market Street is one of the great historic beauties in College Hill. The above view is the Market Street side, not even the main entrance. However, this time of year, both sides of the house are so beautiful, especially with the trees leafing out, and the sun shining. That red tree looked like it was on fire as we ran past on our mid-day, 5K route yesterday.

In 1980, College Hill was designated the first historic district in Greensboro. In 1993, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places. That designation adds a very special feature to a neighborhood (reference and read more here). The above house is on the northernmost corner of College Hill, quite a welcome into the neighborhood! The colors of the house looked especially beautiful yesterday; they would have been deemed in compliance with the requirements of the historic district.  College Hill was settled in the mid 19th century by people, in many cases, affiliated with nearby Greensboro College. Even though this house is situated on one of the busiest streets leading into downtown Greensboro, when you are there, it is as if you are visiting a bucolic, country estate.

 

Jae-Mar at 102 Barnhardt Street, Just off South Elm

The last time we walked along Barnhardt Street in downtown Greensboro, we noticed that the building that the Jae-Mar Brass & Lamp Company building is for sale and that Jae-Mar is closed. This small, family business was started by James Forster in 1986. If you ever needed a lamp repaired or re-brassed, this was the "go-to" place in Greensboro. It is our hope that the Forsters are either happily retired or they have a new venture in the making. 

Looking on real estate sites, we learned that after being on the market for almost 100 days, the building has a sale pending. The single story, cinder block structure was built in 1949. It looks like it still has lots of life left in it. We will wait with great anticipation to see what it becomes. As the South Elm/Lewis Street area perks back up, 102 Barnhardt should prove to be a great location. If you want a little photo fun, see how many geometric shapes you find in this photo! Happy Wednesday!

Carved Seahorse on the Rotary Club of Greensboro Carousel

Last week when we featured the exterior of the Rotary Club of Greensboro Carousel, several people requested to see an example of the animals. Above is a photo of one of the most unique animals, a seahorse. If you look just behind the seahorse, you can see a hummingbird. There are 56 handmade animals, some of which are endangered species. They are carved from wood. There is so much of Greensboro in this carousel; a UNCG Spartan horse.and an NC A&T bulldog. 

Above the animals on the upper section of the carousel, there are paintings of scenes around Greensboro: Wrangler Jeans, New Garden Friends Meeting, Lebauer Park, Levi Coffin, O. Henry, Carolina Steele, The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship and so much more. Soon, we'll feature some of the photos, too. This is a place of so much history and joy in Greensboro. We hope you get out to see it soon. The carousel is part of the 400- acre Battleground Parks District. Greensboro is so lucky to have these resources.

Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

This past weekend, the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge was filled with beautiful plants and people were out getting flowers and vegetables to plant in their gardens. The parking lots were full; such a drastic change from this time last year. As you can see in the background, people were honoring the wearing of masks and making an effort to socially distance. As you can see in the foreground, the available plants are healthy and beautiful. 

This large indoor/outdoor market is one of five operated by the state of North Carolina. If you are in a farmers market sort of cook, here is a list of farmers markets throughout North Carolina. Every time you visit another community throughout North Carolina, a stop at the farmers market is a great way to get to know a community!

Happy Monday!

Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church

Today's photo features Our Lady of Grace (OLG)  Roman Catholic Church on West Market Street in Sunset Hills. It was taken on Palm Sunday, just after church had ended. The church is so large, it is necessary to photograph it from the other side of the street to get a photo of the whole facade. These beautiful, exterior walls are made from pink granite from Salisbury, NC.

The first mass was held at OLG in 1952. If you are local, you likely know the great love with which OLG was built. Greensboro businessman Julian Price, a Baptist, funded the building of OLG for his deceased wife Ethel Clay Price, who had been a devout Catholic. Tragically, Mr. Price died in a car accident before the church was built. If you ever have a chance to attend a service at OLG, you will have a chance to see the stained glass windows imported from Belgium. They are best appreciated from the sanctuary. Also, the pipe organ, a Kleuker from Germany, is known for its high quality tone.* While OLG is 69 year young, it has such a rich history, and it is so wonderful that this history is well documented and easily accessible through the internet. May it continue to serve its congregation for generations to come. Happy Sunday!

 

*read more about the organ, here.