Greensboro Daily Photo

Sam Ravenel Child Care Center

Not too far from yesterday's little art gallery on Percy Street is the Sam Ravenel Child Care Center. It is located between Yanceyville Street and Swann Middle School in what is now called the Dunleath neighborhood. In 1959, the Children's Home Society built the above building, a child care and receiving house. On the sign on the left, it says that the building is a foster care and adoption service. It is part of the Children's Home Society of North Carolina, our state's largest non-profit, private adoption agency. The agency is headquartered in Greensboro in a new building just up the road. he society was formed by the Greensboro Chamberer of Commerce and has benefitted from generous private donations. The organization began in 1902 and has found homes for over 25,000 children in their 120 year existence. The above Ravenel Child Care Center is where babies are kept. On the weekends, the parking lot is empty but during the week, during working hours, it is a dynamic space that does so much good for helping children in need of foster and permanent homes. In the above Ravenel Center, in 2015, a support group was started for adult adoptees and birth parents.

The Children's Home Society and Ravenel Child Care Center stand to remind us of the commitment of the Greensboro community to take care of children and to provide a viable solution for birth parents who are not in the position to take care of their children. If you want to know more about the society, follow them on Facebook. Also, on Saturday, June 11th at 8:00 am in Country Park, they will hold a 5K walk/run and family festival fundraiser. Learn more about it here. Those of us who aren't in shape have over two months to be ready for this event.

*follow link to read more about the Children's Home Society.

Percy Street Free Little Art Gallery

 

Every time we head to the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville, we swing by the Percy Street Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG). During COVID, these little galleries were popping up as a way for people to engage with art and to have their art seen when larger, brick and mortar galleries were closed. These "galleries" are the size of the Free Little Library boxes. As you can see from the above photo, it is a miniature diorama, stocked with small paintings, collage pieces, sculpture, and even a tiny figure. In the corner is a box with tiny art for the having. We usually only look, but a 1"xv2" mixed-media painting of an artichoke stole our heart, and yes, it was free for the taking.*  

These little boxes make art accessible to more people even people who don't tend to frequent galleries; people from all walks of life. Especially during the pandemic, they gave people something to talk about and gave artists a chance to show their work. There is something special about working in miniature. Anne Lamont gives her writing students an exercise to take a tiny 1" frame, look through it, and write about what one sees. That hyper focus on an encapsulated space is a fun experience that you should try. Even better, if you are an artist, consider curating a box! Perhaps best of all, they aren't closed on Mondays!

 

The Free Little Art Galleries (FLAG) have a Facebook page with posts from 2013, meaning the galleries have been around for almost a decade. To our knowledge, the Percy Street FLAG is the only one in Greensboro. If you know of others, please let us know. It would be fun to do an art tour.

*read this article in the Smithsonian Institution Magazine if you want more details about this innovative idea. Also, see here, for a Washington Post article.

Tammy Pegram Can Create, Design and Redesign!

Finally, finally, this past Sunday, we had the chance to meet the ever talented Tammy Pegram. We have been admiring her window displays at Oscar Oglethorpe for a very long time. Tammy designs innovative window displays for Oscar Oglethorpe on South Elm Street. Here is a small slice of one of her window displays we featured on Greensboro Daily Photo a year ago. Additionally, Tammy made all of the above assemblages and had them for sale at the event held at Curiosities at the Curb, held at the Yanceyville Curb Market this past Sunday. Tammy is one of those people who can look at an item and imagine what it could look like with a little paint, glue and doll parts. She is also known for her painted skulls and has several people who collect them. Also, we want to point out the lamp in the upper left-hand corner. The shade is made from about 80 slides from the collection of an art museum. Tammy painstakingly put them together to form the frame. Look at how the light shines through!

 Tammy also redesigns rooms, taking existing items you have in a room and moving them around in a way that helps the room look refreshed and more cohesive. You can tell by her smile in the above photo that she is a cheerful breath of fresh air. Tammy graduated from high school in Fayetteville, NC, and we sure are glad that she made the decision to relocate to Greensboro! You can find Tammy on Facebook at "Tammy Can Redesign".

Events, like the one at the curb market, are so good for the soul. After a couple of years of isolation, we are all ready for some social interaction and Tammy is such a breath of fresh air.

Happy Tuesday!

Meet Chapulín

Longtime GDP reader, and enthusiastic dog lover, Jane Mitchell encouraged us to share the story of our dog, Chapulín...

Over Christmas, our young adult daughter was in Mexico, staying near the home of a woman who rescued dogs and cats and has made her home into a shelter. Our daughter began helping the rescuer by walking a few of the dogs and socializing them. She fell in love with Chapulín and was so touched by his back story that she arranged to adopt him.

Chapulín originally belonged to a professional musician who lost everything, including her home, during COVID when opportunities for musicians were non-existent. She had to surrender her two small dogs because she wasn't allowed to have them at the homeless shelter. Chapulín's sibling was adopted by an older woman, and Chapulín came to Greensboro with our daughter. The woman who ran the shelter was able to share a photo of Chapulín with our daughter to let the original owner know that he is in good hands now. Chapulín, meaning grasshopper in Spanish, comes by his name honestly. He hops through the grass just like a grasshopper. Also, he hops into our arms upon request. The shelter owner put all of the paperwork in order, got the dog a final vet visit, and agreed to take him back if there was a problem at the airport. The adoption was seamless and the Chapulín came home in a carrier under the seat on the plane.

When you hear touching stories like the situation with Chapulín and see individuals singlehandedly rescuing and rehoming animals, you realize how important it is to adopt, not shop. If you ever see us in one of the Greensboro parks walking our 12 pound chihuahua/terrier, please say hello- in English or Spanish. He is bilingual!

Site of Union Graveyard & Formerly, Old Methodist Church

Yesterday, exploring the northwestern end of the county, we stumbled on a lot that used to have a Methodist church and still has graves of union soldiers. It is a little hard to access as there is no off street parking, but there is an historic marker outlining who is buried there. The graves aren't marked; possibly the names have worn off. The earliest graves are of veterans of the American Revolution in the 1700s- specifically, Samuel Vance and John Lowrey.. Also buried there is Civil War veteran James Gray Lowrey, who likely was the son of John Lowrey. According to the historic marker, Allen Lowrey was founding trustee and land donor for Oak Ridge Institute. He was born in 1809 and died in 1882 at the age of 73. We're not sure where the Methodist Church would have been located. The property is full of trees and stumps from trees that have been removed.

This property is on East Harrell Road; it splits off of Highway 150 and connects to Highway 68. That is one interesting road. Across from this Union cemetery is a house with a Confederate flag and just on down the road, a state trooper parks his car at the road, reminding all of us to honor the speed limit. There is also an old tobacco barn. History is so important. We are grateful that this property has been kept, honoring people who lived as long as 300 years ago. The shadows from the late afternoon sun accentuate the gravestones, some of which are nothing more that upturned rocks.

Happy Sunday!

It's Prom Time for Guilford County Schools!

It's prom time for Greensboro and Guilford County high schools, and this year promises to feel like life back to normal. No masks needed. The expenses of prom can be great; however, there are ways to keep costs down. Above, you see a sampling of the prom dresses available at the Goodwill Store on Lawndale Avenue near Harris Teeter and Target. They have at least 1,000 dresses available, organized by color. The collection has been closely curated and the dresses all look good-as-new. This Goodwill is located on the edge of the Irving Park neighborhood; where residents are in the position do donate generously.

Prices range from $9.99 to $99, depending on brand and style. They also have sparkly, shiny high heel shoes, ranging in price from $6.99 to $19.99. If you are in the position to sponsor a high schooler in financial need, consider bringing them here and treating them to prom attire. Yesterday afternoon, there were so many young shoppers having a blast selecting prom dresses. Standing in the aisle, we overheard, "You would look great in this dress." "I love this dress, but it is not my size." "Bree would look great in this dress." It is so heartwarming to see young people happy and having fun- just like old times.

How wonderful that it is cool to buy used. It is better for the environment and better for the pocketbook.

Happy Saturday!

Free To Soar

Hallelujah, spring has sprung. This work of art, Free To Soar,"  is installed at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden at Hobbs Road. The bronze was made in 2000 by Greensboro artist Michiel Van Der Sommen. Yesterday, we took a stroll through the garden and the grounds are definitely showing signs of spring. This is the time of year where the landscape changes almost daily. Yesterday, dogwoods were just starting to bloom and redbud trees had fully budded. Who knows about today. The garden was created in 1976 in honor of the bicentennial of the United States. 

If you want to visit, during the week, the gardens are not nearly as busy as on weekends. While the garden is only 7.5 acres, between the plantings, artwork, bridge, mill, gazebo, and creek, it seems so much bigger. In March and April, the hours are 8am-7pm. Mark your calendar for April 17th for the Parisian Promenade. It will be brimming with people, poodles, and other dogs that like to stroll with their owners.

Happy Friday! It's the weekend; feel free to soar!

904 Country Club Drive

Continuing on our stroll through the Irving Park Neighborhood of Greensboro, the above house really caught our attention. Located at 904 Country Club Drive, this beauty has a professionally manicured, striped lawn with terraced steps leading up to the grand entrance. While stately, the square design of the architecture indicates an efficient use of space. And without dormers and other complicated details, it is relatively easy to maintain. The house, built in 1948, overlooks the golf course of the Greensboro Country Club. It was built by Ray H. Taylor, who was vice president of  City Industrial and Savings Bank and of Wysong and Miles. The house has seen several owners over the years, including Maurice Jennings, Sr., founder of Biscuitville. As is the case with historic homes, regardless of who owns it, the house is always known as the house of the first owner.

The Taylor House sold in this past fall (2020) without even being listed.* It had been on and off the market, underwent updating, and during the pandemic, this 6,252 square foot beauty sold for $420 per square foot, a recent record for local historic homes. We're betting the current owners enjoy knowing the provenance of their historic home. If only these walls could talk! And, if the lawn could talk, we're betting it would chuckle about all of the premium golf balls that have landed on it from the 3rd fairway of the Greensboro Country Club across the street. We're wondering how far on the property a golfer has had to wander to keep a ball in play.

Happy Thursday!

*read David Arneke's article on the Greensboro Historic Homes website.

Golf in the Heart of Irving Park

Spring is the time for being outdoors and for outdoor sports. The people of Greensboro love golf and there are many courses in the area; at all price points. The above photo was taken at the Greensboro Country Club in Irving Park yesterday. However, given the black and white photo and the golfers using pull carts, the scene could have as easily been from the early 20th century as it is the 21st. Irving Park is one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods yet is is easily accessible. One can meander through the rolling hills of the neighborhood on foot or drive along in a car. It is so lovely this time of year with the manicured lawns and the spring flowering plants and trees. 

If you drive along Country Club Drive, you will notice that work is being done at the Greensboro Country Club (GCC). Summer 2020, GCC passed a 19.1 million dollar renovation plan. They are revamping the pool, restaurants, fitness center, and youth activities facility. They are getting two additional pools and recreational facilities.* The finished product promises to be a state-of-the-art facility rivaling any country club in the southeast.  While all of the upgrades in amenities will be appealing, there is something charming about the timeless look of the golf course itself.

Happy Wednesday!

*read more about the renovation, HERE.

Bach's Lunch

Yesterday was Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday and Starmount Presbyterian Church is hosting Bach's Lunch every day this week. The free, open-to-the-public concerts start at 12:15 p.m. and last for about 30 minutes. Today's concert is Debra Reuter-Pivetta on flute and Federico Pivetta on piano. Reuter-Pivetta is the principal flutist with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and a flute instructor at Salem College. Federico Pivetta is a chamber musician and teacher who often plays duets with his wife. Their performance today will be well worth attending. The rest of the schedule for the series can be seen here. They will continue through Friday. These concerts have been held every March since 1985 and except for the two years of the pandemic. We encourage you to call a few friends and head out to this event. It was easy to forget about these great community events during the pandemic, after two years of of blank calendars.

Starmount Presbyterian is a beautiful church located at 3501 West Market Street. The church was established in 1952, an outgrowth of Orange Presbytery, Church of the Covenant, and the First Presbyterian Church.  This is when Greensboro was really expanding westward. Starmount Presbyterian does so much for the community. It is part of the Greensboro Interfaith Hospitality Network, a group that houses homeless families. They have missions abroad. For one week, each March, their mission is to bring high quality music to the public. Head on over this week and show them some support! You won't regret it.

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Spring Brought to You Today by the Forsythia!

As of yesterday, it is officially spring and today should be another beautiful day in Greensboro. The temperature should get to 70º.  At least once a year we like to post a photo of forsythia, an iconic harbinger of spring. They are a popular spring plant, one of the first to bloom. They are originally from Asia and are in the olive family. This forsythia is located in our side yard and took us by surprise, seeming blooming out of no where. Fortunately they held off until after that cold snap last week. Thanks to that weather, we're having to replant our cabbage.

As we looked around the yard and neighborhood, we noticed that the cone flowers are starting to pop out of the ground. The lenten roses are still going strong. Blueberry bushes are starting to show blossoms and dogwoods are almost ready to bloom. Greensboro is about to be at peak beauty. Our local, public places like The Greensboro Arboretum and Tanger Center Bicentennial Garden are great places to visit to enjoy spring plantings. What are you favorite places to go around town?

Sunset tonight will be at 7:32 pm. Just like that, the days are getting longer. Happy Monday!

The Grace and Truth Church

 

Do you believe in grace? Do you believe in truth? If so, then you have found the right church for yourself!

Grace and Truth Church is located at 1237 Randolph Avenue in Arlington Park. It is a small Baptist church that will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. today. Elder Johnny L. Edwards is founder and pastor. The church has been operating at least since 2011.  It is a simple structure with a very low-pitched roof and the rectangular form of the building. If you continue on Randolph Avenue, it will lead you to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at the Asheboro Community. 

You can tell from the cross with the purple drape around it, that we are in the season before Easter. We're guessing from the size of this church that the congregation is small. But, if you attend this church, we're sure it feels just right. 

Happy Sunday!

 

Signs of Spring at 1801 Wright Avenue

There are signs of spring all over Greensboro. This little house on Wright Avenue looks like the owners are ready to enjoy being outdoors. They've got a small table in front, a robin's egg blue gourd birdhouse. They've got a tree is blossoming in the front yard. 1801 Wright is a 2 bedroom one bathroom house on a .33 acre lot. It was built in 1952 and looks like it has been well cared for over the past 70 years. The first day of spring will occur tomorrow, Sunday, March 20. It is a perfect to walk, bike, or drive around Greensboro's neighborhoods to admire all of nature's beauty. 

This small is in a perfect location, convenient to so much in Greensboro and a couple blocks off of Josephine Boyd and a street away from Walker Avenue. Have a great weekend!

Utility Line Construction Services

Utility Line Construction Services, ULCS, has been on Walker Avenue for at least a couple of weeks working on the Duke Power Lines. We're not sure what they are doing, but it appears to be a major job involving the actual lines, and doesn't appear to involve cutting trees. It is fun to watch the workers as they move around in the buckets. Of course you have to be careful and keep your distance, but, if you had "truck-obsessed" little ones, they would delight in seeing this set up. The above crew is stationed in the 1700 block of Walker Avenue between UNCG and Lindley Park. You have to allow a little extra time to navigate as the road is closed. However, everyone wants their power to be fully functioning, so a little detour once in a while is a small price to pay to have power!

It is Friday and, while it is not First Friday, there will be plenty to do in Greensboro. Remember the new policy is in effect where you can walk along the "Downtown Greensboro Social District" with cups of wine, beer, or mixed drinks from a bar or restaurant within the district. To date, the merchants we've talked to are reacting favorable. Of course, be sure not to drink and drive. Have a great weekend. If you missed St. Patrick's Day last night, maybe someone will have a cup of green brew left for you!

Spring on South Elm Street

Spring is so beautiful in Greensboro. The above photo was taken downtown on the 300 block of South Elm Street. Many trees are in blossom this week! If you want to see them, the time is now! In the background of the photo is a mural painted in 2016 by performing and visual artist Kim Kennedy. The center panel features her musician friend Joey Barnes. This mural is withstanding the test of time and still looks as fresh as it did when painted six years ago. It was painted on the south end of a parking lot on Elm, on the building where Design Archives is located. 

When writer Anne Lamott spoke at Tanger Center on Tuesday, she mentioned a writing strategy she shares with her students. She encourages them to take a 1" frame, look through it, and write about what they see in that postage stamp sized view. At GDP, we don't use a 1' frame, but, when framing a photo, we do find great joy in  blocking out everything but what we see through the lens. No matter what is going on in the world, or what around you may not be pleasant, for the brief moment a photo is being taken, it becomes a world unto itself. Photos also capture a moment in time. This little view was of South Elm on 3/16/22 at about 5pm.

Lamott also suggested supporting the indie bookstores. If you are in the 300 block of South Elm, you are at downtown's fabulous indie bookstore, Scuppernong Books. Please shop local for your reading needs. Happy Thursday!

Jeans at Friendly; Lamott at Tanger

From the textile mill days, Greensboro was known as the denim capital of the world. The above pair of fiberglass jeans is one of many in the series "Celebrating Jeansboro, NC, 'Arts in the City', and you can find these works of art throughout the city and at the PTI Airport. The jeans above were painted by Public Artist Darlene J. McClinton, M.F.A. The project was first launched in 2015 as a contest for Guilford County School students to submit proposed ideas for designs. This pair at Friendly Center, with the look of splattered work pants, is located in the new side of Friendly in the common area  behind Ben and Jerry's. The idea of celebrating Greensboro's textile history with the blue jeans statues is so fitting. 

On a completely non-related topic, but relevant to Greensboro, Anne Lamott spoke at Tanger Center last night as part of the Guilford College Bryan Series. Lamott spoke to a full house and graciously held a book signing afterward. The line for the book signing was long and Scuppernong Books were on hand for people to purchase books on site. During Lammot's presentation, she revealed her grandson's other grandmother lives in Greensboro. Let's hope that gives her good reason to return to Jeansboro, ummm, Greensboro! We'd love to have her back. Even better would be to get a photo of Jax and his two grandmothers for Greensboro Daily Photo.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story

What on earth did Greensboro do before the Tanger Center?  Did we realize before it was built just how many performances would be held there? This past week alone, they have had a Lyle Lovett concert; The Simon and Garfunkel Story; and tonight is Anne Lamott, the second in the Bryan Series Lectures. Lion King just closed March 6th. The calendar is full, full, full every month and with top of the line performances. Hamilton is less than a month away!

The Simon and Garfunkel Story was performed this past Sunday. It is os the genre where musicians portray the original musicians, chronicling their lives with original film footage, and perform music from the repertoire of group. The harmonies on stage were outstanding and the audience realized the performance was as close to the real Simon and Garfunkel as we will ever likely hear again. If you are in the position to purchase tickets, the Tanger is as good as it gets! Even better is the fact that we don't have to leave town!

Happy Tuesday!

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse: The Redcoats Are Coming

After a two year (COVID) hiatus, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, of the American Revolution, was reenacted this past weekend. And let the record show that Saturday was the coldest on record for the event. At the coldest point on Saturday,  temperature of 16 degrees was recorded at the airport. One of the participants told us that the fact that it had rained and the ground was wet really added to the discomfort. Another said that at least he had bragging rights to take back to his friends who elected not to participate this year. Truth be told, war is never "cozy" so those should who came out for the reenactment of a battle that was fought on March 15, 1781 were reminded of just how cold and brutal war can be. In the above photo, the British infantry is getting ready for yesterday's battle.

On a lighter note, as a participant observer, it was fun and educational to walk among campsites and hear all of the educational conversations about weaponry, historical accuracies, clothing details and colonial ways. In the pop up shops, you could buy linen socks, swords, tankards, and other items that would have been used in the late 1700s. While attendance was lighter this year, we noticed considerable intergenerational interaction; the old guard mentoring pre-teens into the colonial ways and the ways of reenactment. Greensboro is lucky to have this opportunity for residents to not only observe, but also participate in living history. We complimented a group in their spread of food and they invited us to partake! 

Happy Monday; happy making memories in Greensboro!

Rock Hill Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Rock Hill Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located at 1216 Bellevue Street on the western edge of the Arlington Park neighborhood of Greensboro. There is beauty in this simple white structure. The only hint of what is inside is the plain wooden cross that you see above and the sign at the edge of the road. However, on Sunday morning at 10:00 am, once you are inside, you will see lots of energy and will hear an inspiring sermon. You can also watch online if you can't make it to the church. There is plenty of parking up on the hill, behind the church. Also, there is a basketball hoop for the kids.

You can't tell from the photo, but Rock Hill really is high on a hill. As a matter of fact, it may be one of the highest hills in Greensboro.  There is also a park right beside the church and it is a great place for children to play after church, or, whenever they are in the neighborhood. If you are looking for a church and can get there by 10:00 a.m. we're betting Elder G. Meadows would love to have you!

We hope the wind and cold did not cause any damage to your home. The wind was fierce in Greensboro yesterday. Have a happy Sunday!

Art Behind Ben and Jerry's

Yesterday was beautiful in Greensboro and Friendly Center had a fair amount of foot traffic. The above scene was taken behind Ben and Jerry's in the patio/courtyard. People were enjoying the weather and spending time together. Long time Greensboro Daily Photo reader, and dear friend, Alice Hill suggested we have a look at the mural boards in this location. There are several. You can see two as a backdrop  to the photo. The one on the right says "Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home. Of course the one on the left says Greensboro. The area was done by local artist, and Grimsley High School graduate, Gina Elizabeth Franco. Gina came to a career in art, almost by accident when she volunteered to paint a library mural. Gina already has several local murals under her belt, including Westerwood Tavern, and the Interactive Resource Center.*

While today's weather is not as inviting as the weather yesterday, it is still a good day to get out and explore the city. One thing you won't want to miss is the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It will be today and tomorrow; 10am- 5pm today and 10 am- 3pm on Sunday. They are a little short on volunteers, but we're sure the event will be memorable, especially for people who have never seen it before. Have a great day, regardless of what you decide to do.

 

*read more about Gina's art journey HERE, and HERE.

Northern Roots to Open on South Elm Street!

Great things are happening in the 300 block of south Elm Street. The above photo was taken at the building between 300 South Elm, where Glitters USED to be and just north of Scuppernong Books. If you have been in Greensboro since the 1990s, it is where Indigo Beads used to be, before Wenty moved her store to Pisgah Church. The store with the butcher paper on the windows will soon be Northern Roots, an antique store and coffee shop. What a great idea for a business on this block. The business is owned by a woman moving down from Ohio. Perhaps that's the reference "northern" in Northern Roots comes from.

The man in the suit is one of the people uplifting the space and getting it ready to becoming the coffee shop. The inside is painted white and fabulously clean, so ready to house a stand-out business. The company doing the work is Empire Building and Remodeling, and it looks like they are doing a fabulous job. We're not sure when the new business will open, but let's hope Northern Roots will  be in Greensboro for a very long time. Oh, and the white suit is for safety measures. When the shop opens, the guys in the white suits will have moved on to their next renovation. We can't wait to visit. Not only us, but the people on this block, are probably looking forward to this new business.

Happy Friday! Please get out and enjoy Greensboro- or whatever city happens to be your corner of the earth!

North End of Downtown

This photo was taken on Friday night at 6:48 just off of Elm Street behind Perry's Exxon Station. Also, on the right is the Greensboro Music Company, established 1993. The Greensboro Music Company, buys, sells, and repairs instruments. It is also possible to take lessons there. We like the face that this part of town has so many one story buildings.  Something about this twilight sky, the blue above and the brown, cream, and white at the bottom of the frame just captivates us. We used to not like cars in photos, but for street scenes, they help identify the decade a photo was taken.

This is the Greene and Smith Streets area of town. The image is so serene and the streets look desolate, only because this is not a very busy part of town at night. We wish this end of town had a name. Northend? Northside? NOFA (North of Friendly)? NOTA (North of Tanger).

Have a Happy Thursday! Have you made plans for this weekend?

Lyle Lovett Performed at Tanger Last Night

Last night Lyle Lovett and his band performed at Tanger Center. If you like Texas singer-songwriter music, last night's concert was for you.  The songs were part country, part bluegrass, rock, spiritual, and more. Additionally, part of the charm of this fabulous concert was the storytelling Lovett infused throughout the show. One great tidbit was that the song for his senior class was "Freebird", also, the president of his high school during his sophomore year, Sylvester Turner, is now mayor of Houston. Also, Lovett shared his second cousin (once removed) Phillip "Stan" Williams was in the audience. Those were the personal touches Lovett added between songs.

Mr. Lovett said he enjoyed performing in Greensboro and he was quick to praise the sound quality of the Tanger Center. The woman who sat beside us during the performance said that Josh Groban made a similar comment praising the acoustics of the building. Thile the quality of this photo is not the best, it captures the feel of the stage and band set up last night. And, if this were a video with audio, you would hear how great the music sounded. If you follow Tanger Center on social media, you likely already know that the recent showing of "Lion King" at the Tanger Center had an attendance count of 46,000 people, with an economic impact of $12 million for just the "Lion King." Yes, from the smaller concerts to the high profile Broadway shows, the Tanger Center has added an opportunity for some fabulous entertainment for Greensboro.

International Women's Day

Pull up a chair, or sofa, and join us for International Women's Day which began in 1911. Women's Day was first celebrated in Europe and in 1975, it gained traction when it started being celebrated by the United Nations. Today's photo was taken at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. This painting on the wall above the sofa is part of an exhibit at the Center for Visual Artists (CVA). The wall mural, Eve Genesis,  was painted by Kidd. The title of the whole, multi-artist exhibit is "The Eve Gene." The exhibit is curated by Virginia Holmes who is a local artist and activist.  

Purple and white are the colors of International Women's Day. If you read this before you get dressed for the day, please consider wearing purple and white, whether you live in Greensboro or elsewhere. If you want to learn more about IWD, read this BBC article. Also, the Greensboro History Museum is going a presentation at noon today. The CVA is open from 12pm- 5:00 pm today. Come sit on the big blue couch with us and reflect on all of the art in the room and on all of the great things the women of Greensboro have done.

 See more information, here.

Star Magnolia; Spring in Greensboro is Spectacular

Happy Monday! We were downtown for First Friday this past Friday and had to stop and admire this tree in front of the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) on Davie Street. We think it is a star magnolia and it looked absolutely beautiful at dusk. The CAC was pretty quiet during First Friday. Green Hill has an exhibit with water as a theme, appropriately entitled H2O, but, it didn't open until Saturday.  The Center for Visual Artists (CVA) was open and we got to see some interesting art there in an exhibit called "The Eve Gene" with all of the art in some way tied to felinity and womanhood, in honor of Women's History Month (see Yes Weekly article). Even on a quiet night, the CAC is a great place to stop and refuel at Café Europa and to see a little art before heading to the events at the city parks and then heading downtown.

The above tree should still be in bloom. If you get a chance head to the north end of town and explore all of the great resources there, from the CVA to the Greensboro Central Library to the parks, the History Museum, the Children's Museum and more. More places tend to be open on Tuesday than Monday; however, the above beautiful scene is there waiting for you. Also, this week is a good one to explore Greensboro as most of the institutions of higher education are on spring break and traffic is lighter.

 

Happy Monday!

Oak Ridge First Baptist Church

Driving between Kernersville and Greensboro, we are always struck by the number of churches are found along Highway 150. Someday, we'll have to try to count them. Driving through Oak Ridge and getting near Bunch Road, you see the Oak Ridge First Baptist Church on the left. While this building actually dates to 1999, the congregation dates to 1894. Given the church was established over 120 years ago, we wonder about the oldest living members; specifically, who they are and what they remember about the church in the early years. At this particular bend in the road, you also see St. James AME Church, a church whose building also served as a school. There is so much history in this end of Guilford County. If you haven't already, you ought to drive out here and explore. There is an old cemetery behind the Baptist Church and the AME Church.

We're wondering how the graves are marked. Have you seen it? The weather is supposed to be in the 70s today. Perhaps it would be a great day to drive out and have a look! There is ample parking at the church.

Happy Sunday!

 

The Day Students from Wilmington Came to Town

Today's photo is not a prize winner, but the story is great. Last night, walking through LeBauer Park en route to First Friday. We noticed a very large group of students running to a briefing with their teachers. They were given some ground rules for the evening and then instructed to head to the LeBauer Park 3-D sign for a group photo. It was a group of middle school, performing arts students from Wilmington. Two busloads of students, teachers, and parent-chaperones, approximately 110 people, came to Greensboro for an educational experience- and what a memorable one. Yesterday, by day, students received instruction from the UNCG School of Music. According to one of the parents, for some, it was their first time on a college campus. In addition to their time at UNG, and in LeBauer Park, they got to see the Lion King at Tanger Center. You could feel the excitement in the group. 

This whole event was significant, because it is proof positive of what a special community resource we have in the Tanger Center. That students would drive from the beach to Greensboro to see a performance is significant. Also, having so many fine institutions of higher education in the area is as added bonus, especially when you can incorporate instruction from professors with seeing a professional performance. We can be so proud Greensboro is able to offer such fine academic and cultural experiences. We can also be proud that schools are willing to drive three hours for a learning tour. The students were very well behaved, at least from our perspective. We don't know who dreamed up the itinerary, but it was brilliant!

Happy Saturday!

Sue Duemmel

Today's photo, taken in Barnes and Noble, Friendly Center,  is of French teacher extraordinaire, Sue Duemmel. Madame Duemmel, originally from Warren, Ohio, relocated to Greensboro in 1997. She majored in French at Baldwin-Wallace College and obtained an M.A. in French Translation from Kent State University. At first, she worked in the business sector, transitioning to the classroom along the way. Madame Duemmel has a special talent in helping French programs grow. She currently teaches at Ben L. Smith High School to students in Level 5 International Baccalaureate (IB) French. Recently, she cut back to teaching part time, continuing to teach the IB students. They are preparing for the IB French exam. When asked what it has been like teaching during the pandemic, she said, "The last two years have been a sprint, turned into a marathon, at sprint pace."  She hopes to continue teaching part time, tutoring, or working in the educational technology field.

When asked what she liked about Greensboro, one of the first things Mme. Duemmel mentioned was the natural beauty and the change of seasons. She walks the watershed trails almost daily. With 18 trails in the area, she pointed out you can walk a different one each day and by the time you return to the first one it has a completely different look. She finds walking the trails very meditative. "You have to pay attention to ensure you don't trip on a tree root." Talking about the French language and culture with Mme Duemmel was so engaging, she had us ready to sign up for lessons! Recently, Mme Duemmel has given presentations at the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina and will present at the end of the month at the Southern Conference on Language Teaching. We sure hope she stays in teaching! 

Happy Friday!

Taco Tuesday along South Elm Street

We were downtown on Tuesday afternoon for a stroll and an eye appointment and this balloon was rolling around South Elm Street at Spring Garden. It was as if the balloon had weights in it as it rolled along the street. Flavianos is located at 114 N. Elm Street; Los Chicos is at 200 S. Elm Street; Crafted is at 220 S. Elm Street. This balloon was pretty far from its originating location. What a creative way to advertise. You should have seen us chasing after it and trying to grab a photo of it with the words "Taco Tuesday" upright. Do you remember the 1957 movie, "The Red Balloon"?  A young follows a red balloon along the streets of Paris. We felt a little like Pascal chasing that balloon around. If only a cluster of pink helium balloons had gathered around us and taken us on a ride high above Greensboro.

Did anyone else see this balloon or one like it? By the way, the advertising was effective. It did make us crave Mexican food. Happy Thursday!

Manning Franks on the Beat in Downtown Greens'BORO!

Manning Franks of WFMY News 2 was on Elm Street yesterday afternoon covering a new policy in downtown Greensboro that permits people to carry alcoholic beverages out of one establishment and into another. The policy began yesterday at noon. The idea is that the policy is not about drinking, but walkability, the ability to stroll and shop in stores even if a beverage hasn't been completely consumed. There are very strict guidelines, including using an approved container/cup, not just any open container one might just happen to have. Also, the establishment a person is entering must have a square sticker on their door that has written on it, "G  BORO OUTSIDE DRINKS welcome."

Manning, the ever personable Four2Five Photographer/Editor, was on location interviewing shoppers and business owners  on Elm Street about the policy. Manning Franks is a Greensboro native and graduate of High Point University.  He is out covering current events a lot, so, if you are out attending an  event, chances are you will run in to him. Manning is easily recognizable as he looks a lot like a younger  John Stamos. He also looks like Profe Dickerson (who taught in the Guilford County Schools for about 14 years). Seeing the giant camera is also a clue. You can tell by that smile on his face that he loves people and loves his job!

Happy Wednesday! 

Night Sky over Greensboro in March

Happy March! Today's photo of the twilight sky is from one more walk around the golf course at Carlson Dairy. It was taken at about 7:00 p.m., evidence that the days are getting a little longer. On March 13th, the clock moves forward an hour, plus the days keep getting longer. March will show spring breaks at the local colleges and universities. Also, the spring equinox is on March 20th. Here is the planting calendar for Greensboro; yes, it is time to start seedlings and time to get the cold weather crops in the ground. 

We love the way the lights at the parking lot at the Greensboro Country Club cast a golden glow on the trees. This time next month, there will be leaves on these trees. For now, the bare branches add to the drama of the scene. We're not sure what all the white dots in the sky are, but at least a few are stars. Last night was a very clear night.

Here's to a great week and a great month for everyone. If you live along Horse Pen Creek Road, here's to making great progress on road construction.