On Greensboro Daily Photo (GDP), and throughout the entire "City Daily Photo" community, January 1st is the day we post one special photo from the previous year. As we looked at the year in review, as "Best of Show" for 2021, we simply had to feature a photo of the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. While the opening was delayed until 2021 due to COVID, when it did open, this performing arts center added so much to downtown. Now, Greensboro residents need only drive to 300 North Elm Street to see top quality performances. (See the original post from October 9th here).
Now, we will present a line up of a memorable photo from each month. We tried to provide a variety of people, places, and events throughout the year. Of course, you can always go back and review the entire year, too!* It is one of our favorite things to do on New Year's Eve. Some days are better than others; however, all in all, we're pretty proud of actually being able to maintain this daily effort and seeing the photos of Greensboro and the people we have met along the way makes us love the city more and more. So, click on the month, if you are so inclined.
January: For January, we selected the photo of Carolyn de Berry, staff photographer for, Triad City Beat. Meeting her is the beautiful, serendipitous aspect of GDP. In January, we were still in full lockdown pandemic mode. Public schools were still remote and people were not yet vaccinated. As we went to document progress on the downtown greenway, Carolyn was there, doing the same thing with her son. How fun for a photographer to capture a photographer in action. Greensboro is a city that still has a small town feel.
February: February, we feature the Barnhill statue of the Greensboro Four on the NCA&T campus. The Sit-Ins are such a giant part of Greensboro's history and contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.
March: Here, we feature the Downtown Greensboro Inc. staff. We actually went in to collect a prize we won from one of their of their initiatives to enter people in a drawing for every $25 spent downtown. We didn't win the cash, but we won a very nice package of Greensboro related items. Part of the reason we started GDP was to connect more with people who otherwise wouldn't be in our circle of influence, and this is another great example of how by giving you often get more in return- friendships and, well, a little bag of #DGSO goodness.
April: We would be remiss in not featuring the Greensboro Parks system. The April photo is the parks district behind the Greensboro Science Center. The parks have been such a great way to get out and do things and remain relatively COVID safe. May we never take our public parks for granted!
May: The Cone Health network has literally been a lifeline during the COVID year. While this photo only of Wesley Long Hospital, let is represent all of the healthcare workers who have worked tireless for us in 2021 and who are once again revving up to help those with COVID.
June: Piedmont Triad International Airport is such a great local resource and our connection to the wider world. Over the past few years, they've had renovations and added community art.
July: Schiffman's Jewelry has been a Greensboro institution since 1893. They sponsor so much locally. As examples, we have Schiffman's to thank for the Ring of Light in the Tanger Center; they installed a clock at the Rotary Carousel; they help fundraise for help find a cure for juvenile diabetes. At a time when many were questioning the future of retail, Schiffman's forged ahead with renovation and making their Friendly Center store a real destination..
August: The August feature is retired journalist, but very much active, Jim Schlosser. How could we have gone almost 13 years without featuring Jim? His family dates way back in Greensboro with one of his early Schlosser relatives being Greensboro's most famous stone mason. In the short time that we've known Jim personally, he has given us so many leads on people and places to feature. The day we interviewed him, we were at the Greensboro History Museum, another great, local treasure.
September: The North Carolina Folk Festival is a Greensboro treasure. We are so lucky to have it here. In addition to great music from around the world, the festival brings together the people of Greensboro who attend, volunteer, help visiting musicians, and more. If you like music and haven't volunteered for the NC Folk Festival, we encourage you to do so. And, always attend and support vendors and support the businesses of sponsors and thank you for making this annual September event possible.
October: Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, The Orchestra Pit, is the October feature. We featured the exterior of the Tanger Center for the photo of the year, but this photo of the orchestra pit reminds us that a venue is only as great as the people who work there. Local musician Rusty Smith was so nice to a random child who leaned his head over to talk at intermission. He gave the pre-teen boy some quick suggestions and encouragement regarding his learning to play the trumpet.
November: In November, Tommy Orange visited Greensboro. He wrote the book "There, There" a book that shares his first-hand insight into the urban Native American experience in Oakland, California. This visit was made possible by the Greensboro Public Library System. They have established a "One City; One Book" initiative and, with community input, they select a book for the whole city to read. So many book talks, exhibits, performances, and opportunities are made available leading up to the "One City; One Book" initiative. Especially those who read the book feel so connected to the book, the author, and all involved in the events.
December: The Festival of Lights returned this year after a year off due to COVID. People were so happy to get to be together again. We like this photo because it shows all of the phone screens with people taking photos of the lighting of the tree. When we first started GDP in 2009, the cell phone and selfie photos weren't nearly as prevalent. By 2021, everyone wants a photo to share on social media.
Be began 2021 wondering what on earth we would be able to share DAILY with the Greensboro still on lockdown. All in all, we are pretty proud of what we have been able to do. As we prepared this review, we were ever grateful for everything that we have been able to see, do, and document in 2021. Here's to a great 2022 for all of us! Please be sure to start back tomorrow for our annual anniversary post celebrating the beginning of Year 14. Also, we will talk a little more about the daily photo journey.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
* Start here if you really want to go back to January 1st, 2021.
Wonderfully selected.
Posted by: William Kendall | Saturday, January 01, 2022 at 04:18 PM