Greensboro Daily Photo

New Goshen UMC

New Goshen UMC was erected in 1970. It is located at the corner of Randleman Road and Shoffner Court, just down the road from the Wal-Mart on Elmsley Street. The church is located on the site of the original home of the Greensboro Red Wings, a community Negro baseball team that was organized in the 1930s. Goshen School was also located on this site. The school was built in 1930, and closed in 1950 when Rena Bullock School opened and replaced it.

Thomas E. Alston, who played for the Redwings, became the first Black man to play with the St. Louis Cardinals. Mr. Alston is buried in the cemetery on this site. If you explore the cemetery, you will find the name of many prominent Greensboro African American families (Alston, Herbin, Shoffner, and Alexander to name a few). Goshen Church is large and sprawling, as you can see from the above photo. Between the ball team, the ball field, and the school, all predating the church, we're betting there is quite a lot of history on this property. While there is an active Facebook page, where you can listen to sermons, we couldn't find a page linking to the history of the ball field or the school. If you have information we would love to share it. If you drive by, there is a very nice historic marker on site, 3300 Randleman Road.

Have a happy Sunday, on this last day of July!

The Beauty of Vigilance: Theresa Arico's Greenway Candle

2021 saw the opening of the Murrow Boulevard section of the Greensboro Greenway and, now, in 2022, we have the above work of art installed! If you have driven past the southeast corner of Murrow Boulevard and East Market Street, likely you have noticed the intricately detailed 13' tall mosaic sculpture, Vigilance, by Chapel Hill artist, Theresa Arico. The above piece is a central candle with three surrounding benches; each segment contains excerpts from Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem,  "The Hill We Climb". This piece of public art, located on the Greensboro Greenway is installed for all to enjoy. Imagine being out for a run, needing a break, and popping on to one of the benches for a a sip of water or to tie your shoe. Only, upon reaching the benches, you won't be able to sit because they are so interesting with their tiled words, vibrant hearts, pottery hands bent in the shape of a heart. The more you look at this sculpture, the more you notice.

As we learned from her website, Theresa  has been a forensic nurse for over twenty years. She has "received the stories of hundreds if not thousands of survivors."  Somewhere along the way, life pushed her in the direction to make art and and mosaic artistry seems, in a way, to parallel her other profession. Theresa takes disparate materials, some new and some sourced from traversing thrift shops, and synthesizes the individual pieces into a coherent whole. If you get a chance, drive by this weekend and have a look. "Vigilance" can be appreciated with a quick glance, or you can dig deeper into the story the piece is just waiting to tell. To be sure, this one, lone photo does not do the piece justice.

Happy Saturday!

St. Francis Episcopal Church: Pop Up Paperback Book Sale

As you are planning out your weekend, on Saturday, consider heading over to St. Francis Episcopal Church on Lawndale Drive for a pop up book event. The event will be much smaller than their traditional shows. They are making a real effort to be COVID safe. Also, only paperbacks will be offered- two dollars for the larger paperbacks and one dollar for smaller format books. Book sales are a key way for St. Francis to raise funds and, the money they earn, goes right back into the community. As an example, after the last sale, they were able to help Urban Ministries restock their food pantry. Hopefully, this small-in-scale, pop up format will be a success.

 The above photo features the book depository. If you are a regular to the St. Francis book sales, you know when that garage door goes up, you will see floor to ceiling books. It appears that tomorrow's book sale, from 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, will actually be held in the Parish Hall. To be sure, when you drive around back to park, there will be people to guide you to the books. St. Francis, an outgrowth of the Holy Trinity Parish, has been providing people with a spiritual home since 1954. For the last six decades, they've been bringing us great books.

Can you believe this is the last weekend in July. The books you buy tomorrow will be a great addition to your August reading list! Happy Friday! What authors can you recommend for us?

The Beauty of Thunderstorms in Greensboro

This is what it looks like when a thunderstorm is about to roll in in northwest Greensboro, and there have been several this week. The greens range from chartreuse to dark forest green. Grays range from almost white to charcoal to onyx. The different textures of the grasses and shrubbery really stand out as the skies darken. Such was the view of the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club this past Tuesday. About the time we took this photo, the "clear the golf course" siren started blowing. Lightening had been seen and it was too dangerous to continue playing golf. Golfers retreated with their carts back to the clubhouse. As it turned out, the bulk of the storm bypassed this part of town. Thunderstorms are like that, they hit some areas and bypass others, usually lasting about an hour.

According to Weather Spark, July is the wettest month in Greensboro with an average of 13 days of precipitation. These hot, humid days with frequent thunderstorms are the prefect conditions for chasing rainbows. In August, on average, temperatures will drop a couple of degrees and it will rain slightly less. Regardless of whether the days are sunny or overcast, Greensboro is a beautiful place to live.

Happy Thursday!

Dr. Kieth Wright Cello Scholarship

As the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) is coming to a close this week, you have only a few more opportunities to hear wonderful classical music by EMF students who have spent the summer honing their performance skills. This year, there are about 250 students from 41 US states and nine countries.*  EMF has been special to us in Greensboro since its origin 61 years ago. It is a chance to showcase our city to all of the participants from elsewhere.

The above photo features Dr. Judie Davie Wright and John Keane. John is the 2022 recipient of the Dr. Kieth Wright Cello Scholarship. John studies at Shenandoah University with Julian Schwartz. Dr. Davie Wright arranged the scholarship in her husband's honor shortly after his death. Dr. Wright retired from UNCG and Dr. Davie Wright from Guilford County Schools. After books, libraries, storytelling, and preparing people for a library science career, the EMF was one of their favorite activities; they were season ticket holders. Dr. Wright was especially fond of cello music. At the time the decision was being made to underwrite a scholarship, there wasn't an EMF cello scholarship, so the choice was an easy one. To date, there have been seven recipients of the Dr. Kieth Wright Cello Scholarship. 

On the evening we attended EMF with Dr. Davie Wright (July 15), John was performing in the student orchestra, and he stopped by for a quick visit with us during intermission. Additionally, after the July 22nd student concert, John performed a brief concert for his parents, who hail from Richmond, VA, his girlfriend, and for Dr. Davie Wright. What a nice gesture and a great example of how sometimes when we give, we receive even more in return.  Let's hope all EMF participants all have a chance to make some local, Greensboro, connections.

*Jennifer Fernandez, News & Record, p. A2 July 24, 2022.

Baseball in Greensboro

Greensboro is a great city for baseball and we have team options from youth T-ball and baseball programs for school aged children to a triad adult baseball team to the minor league baseball team, the Grasshoppers. There are also all levels of play from YMCA recreational ball to Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) programs. The above AAU game was being held in the World War Memorial Stadium on Yanceyville Street; former home of Greensboro's minor league team- then known as the Bats. Now, the World War Memorial Stadium is where the NCA&T Aggies play their games. The stadium is located on the edge of the NCA&T campus, just across from the Greensboro Farmers Market.

Next time you are at the farmers market, peak your head in and see if they are playing baseball. If you have a young person in your life who is interested in playing ball, the Aggie stadium is a fun place to be a spectator. It is really easy to get a good seat. The stadium was built in 1926, and it is showing some age, but when you are there playing or watching a game, the nostalgia is evident. We think the above AAU player is playing for the Dirtbags. The dirtbags, a travel team since 2002, has had 260 alumni drafted by Major League Baseball (reference and more information here). That is the caliber of playing you can see in the summer at Aggie Stadium. And of course, there are the Grasshoppers downtown. Summer fun!

304 North Greene Street on a Chiaroscuro Sort of Day

Today's photo features the alley between the downtown Marriott Hotel at 304 North Greene Street and the parking lot beside it. Straight ahead in the photo is a view of 348 North Elm Street, a single-story, flat-roofed building near Tanger Center. We don't tend to think of Greensboro as an angular city full of bold, geometric shapes. However, this photo, in black and white, really emphasizes the angles in the scene. The stripes on the pavement, the squares near the top of the N. Elm Street building, and the sunny/shaded (chiaroscuro) section on the pavement all come together to add drama to the view. Sometimes the negative space, between buildings, can be as interesting as the buildings themselves.

We want to get back downtown and photograph the inside of the Marriott. It was built in 1985, underwent a big renovation in 2008, and then, a multi-million dollar renovation in 2020. We haven't stayed there since the 2020 renovation and, given that it was happening during COVID times, we're not even sure that it is completely finished. With the Tanger Center and all of the new construction in the north end of town, the Marriott is certainly in a prime location. The last time we ate breakfast at the Sage Mule, on Battleground Avenue, we sat next to a woman who had walked from the Marriott.

The sun can be so harsh when taking photos; however, it you don't fight it, but play around with the lighting, the results can be interesting. Consider heading downtown and getting a few photos yourself- in black and white, or color! Happy Monday! 

RevMariela

So often we associate spirituality with a religion, a place, a doctrine, or even a building, However, at the end of the day, spirituality is about the people, what they believe, and their community of practice. The above photo features a few of the people (Janis Antonek, Katja Brown, Mary Bryan-Stewart, Dave Stewart), all from Greensboro, who drove to Winston-Salem to hear RevMariela and to be in her presence. On July 10th, RevMariela delivered a sermon at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winston-Salem. The smile on her face, the flowing, white cotton dress and the long, blue scarf are characteristic of the distinctive aura she generates.

Mariela, originally from Cuba, came to the United States in the 1995 as a political refugee and lived in Greensboro for 25 years. While in here, she realized she wanted to serve a community of like-minded souls as teacher, minister, and guide. RevMariela has a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. While she lives in Michigan now, from time-to-time she will return to the are to give workshops and deliver sermons. In the meantime, you can find her through social media as RevMariela. Her presentations are humanistic in nature and she focus a lot on helping people heal and develop inner peace. Regardless, of your spiritual beliefs or religion, you are sure to be inspired if you get a chance to hear one of her sermons.

Happy Sunday!

Oh, Butterfly!

Summer to us means having the opportunity to interact more with nature. In Greensboro, in the right environment, butterflies abound. The above female, eastern tiger swallowtail spent a lot of time in our yard yesterday morning. We know it was a she because of the iridescent, blue wash on her wings. Often, in nature, the males are more colorful; not true in the swallowtail kingdom. The swallowtails utilize many host plants, but really love trees. We have wild black cherry and tulip trees in our yard; both favorites of the swallowtail. They like to come lower to the ground for their nectar and our urban flowers are perfect. It is easy to attract butterflies, unless a yard is only grass.

Two fabulous local resources for learning more about butterflies are All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm, off of US-68 between Greensboro and High Point. Since 2001 (21 years!!!), they have been a great community resource. They also do a lot to help the butterfly population. For example, they raise monarch butterflies, helping with conservation efforts. Currently, the Greensboro Science Center has an interactive butterfly maze exhibit (until September 11th). In June, they also had the debut of their new butterfly house. It is a way to get up close and personal with butterflies. The GSO Science Center is also doing their part to help in the conservation of the monarch butterflies. As for us, we're anxious to get to the science center to see the new exhibit. In the meantime, we'll just keep nurturing the beauties in our backyard. Oh, and lest we forget, we need to head out to Sandy Ridge Road and visit our friend Helene at the Butterfly Effect. Stop in and ask her, just what exactly IS the "butterfly effect".

Happy Saturday!

Happy Friday: Here's To Good Weather and Fun!

That was quite a lot of rain on Greensboro yesterday afternoon. However, rain was just what we needed; the crops were thirsty! The above sunset is from Wednesday and taken in northwest Greensboro near Lake Higgins. This is not the time of year when the sunsets fall directly over Lake Higgins, at least not from Carlson Dairy Road view. However, there are still open fields in the northwest part of town, including the farm golf course for the Greensboro Country Club, so there are plenty of angles to get a nice view of the sky. 

If you are in Greensboro today, there are tunes at noon in LeBauer Park, and the movie Sing2 will be shown there as evening approaches. Also tonight, the Greensboro Grasshoppers will face off against the Hickory Crawdads tonight and they usually have fireworks on Fridays. So, even if the sunset isn't grand tonight, the fireworks will light up the sky. Of course downtown businesses are always there to help make your downtown experience enjoyable. Some even have extended hours on Friday. As another option, this is your next to the last chance to hear one of the Friday student concerts at the Eastern Music Festival tonight.  Here's to a great weekend, whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere. It is not predicted to rain again until Tuesday, so all of the outdoor options should be a go. 

Happy Friday, dear readers!

 

Weatherspoon Art Museum: Big Gal Faith

Today's 8 ft. x 26 ft. dress is a piece of sculpture from the exhibit entitled "Ostensibly So"at the Weatherspoon Art Museum at the corner of Tate and Spring Garden Street on the UNCG campus.  The artist, Leslie Dill, fashioned it out of a mannequin, oil paint, oil pastel, fabric, paper, wood, silver and gold leaf. The words and images relate to Dill's concerns: Cruelty and violence, lust, forgiveness, reflection, and transcendence.

Today from 12 noon to 1pm. there will be a free talk at the Weatherspoon about the three dimensional objects in the gallery. The presenters at these events do such a good job at helping even the novice art critic, and sometimes skeptic, understand the artists' goals and intended message. One time, we went into a session asking "Is this art" and by the end, with the explanation, actually fell in love with the piece. If you are looking for something fun, FREE, and a way to stay cool, head over to the Weatherspoon, see the exhibit and hang around for the talk. This is another example of one of Greensboro's great opportunities in the arts. Thursday hours are from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. So, even if you can't make the talk, you can stop by and see the exhibit on your own. The security guards at the Weatherspoon are so great, they can probably answer some of your questions. When we were there yesterday, Angela actually remembered us from a previous visit and she even took a (Facebook moment, not intended for GDP) picture for us with the above piece of art.

WFMY News 2

WFMY News 2 is located at 1615  Phillips Avenue. It has been a landmark on Phillips Avenue since 1949. While the building looks fairly nondescript on the outside, once inside, it it clear you are in a news studio. It is a whole separate world in there; fitted with sets, lighting, computers, cameras, and everything to interview, write, and deliver the news. This facility was actually the site of the first live television broadcast in North Carolina in 1949 and the second television station in the state.* The first was in Charlotte. Their coverage extends between Charlotte and Raleigh. They broadcast 38 hours of locally produced newscasts each week; six hours a day during the week, three hours on Saturday and five on Sunday. The station has gone through several changes, from ownership, to programming, to transitioning from analog to digital, to staff, and more. But one thing has remained constant. They are at Phillips Avenue, just north of town.

On the day we were there, mid-day, so was the CINTAS Uniform Apparel truck and the Pepsi delivery truck. It is hard to imagine all of the deliveries and day to day services it takes to get the news produced and on the air, and all it takes to have a good quality of life for the staff. In watching WFMY, you get the feeling that the newscasters enjoy each other and have fun on the set. In 2015, we had a chance go inside the studio and Eric Chilton took a few minutes to chat with us, right before he had to go back on the air. We also had the pleasure of interviewing Lee Kinard back in 2011. He had a 43-year career at WFMY.  In this day and age as so much news transitions from print to digital, and it is getting harder to read news specific to Greensboro, WFMY is there to make sure the local voices are heard. Thank you to each and every person involved in bringing us the news.

 

* WFMY-TV: Wikipedia, (visited July 20, 2022)

Kendra Adachi: Author of the Lazy Genius Way & The Lazy Genius Kitchen

Greensboro has two treasures you may not know about. One is the New York Times best-selling author, Kendra Adachi, living right here among us. The second is a meeting room on the northeast corner of the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street. This past Saturday, we got to hear Kendra speak in that very room. She was there to talk about her new book, "Lazy Genius Kitchen" and to offer rapid-fire, lazy-genius answers to the public's kitchen quandaries. About as fast as audience members could ask questions, Kendra processed the question, asked a follow up question- usually about priority/end goal- and gave a three-option answer that in some way tied to her lazy genius way. She is articulate, speaks with ease, is authentic, sincere, and extremely personable. When Kendra it talking to a group about organizing and making decisions about the home, it is as if you are in her living room at book club.

You can google her name and "lazy genius" and her her advice and watch her podcasts. With two books under her belt and an impressive social media presence, she is thinking long and hard about the direction she wants for her career. To be sure, she wants her professional life to align with her personal life with her husband and children. One thing she does have planned is a subscription-based, online community group. Kendra plans to launch it in September. We wish you all the best, Kendra, and are so glad that you love calling Greensboro home. You make us so proud and we appreciate your approach to organization. It will be fun to follow your career. 

The Martha Bassett Show

During the summer, there are many live music options in the Greensboro area. We had the very difficult decision of attending MUSEP at Guilford College or attending the live recording of Martha Bassett's show at Triad Park. We have never attended a performance at the amphitheater at Triad Park, so we went there. The Martha Bassett Show is usually recorded at the Reeves Theatre in Elkin, NC. Last night, however, the Triad area got a treat when Martha's show was recorded at Triad Park on the Guilford/Forsyth County line. Guest musicians were- to the audience's right of Martha (who was in the black and white dress), the South Carolina Broadcasters (David and Ivy S. Sheppard [member Steve Marshall was not on stage in above photo]); Molly McGinn and Jonathan Byrd. This line up was fantastic. All of the musicians were quite accomplished and their songs were prefaced with stories, and in many cases, an explanation of what inspired the song. Martha also played for the audience. As Martha states on her website, she is passionate about collaboration between artists of varying styles, cultures, and generations- and it shows! Martha has been a musician for over 20 years. While originally from West Virginia, she now makes her home in the Piedmont Triad.  Surrounding Martha (to audience's left) and in the back are part of her house band. They are fantastic and seamlessly provided whatever backup sound the guest musicians needed.

Triad Park, at 9252 West Market Street, is quite a recreational resource for the area. In addition to the above amphitheater, there are seven sand volleyball courts, nine horseshoe pits, an asphalt path for walking, biking, and skating, picnic tables and shelters, and more. Also, Triad Park is the location of the field of honor. If you haven't explored it, you owe yourself a visit. If you haven't listened to a recording of Martha Bassett's show, or heard one of her podcasts, we encourage you to do so. Follow this link to hear some of Martha's music. 

Covenant Grace Church

Covenant Grace Church is located at 4747 Lake Brandt Road, at the confluence of Lake Brandt Road, Beaconwood Drive and Lawndale Drive- near the Greensboro Day School. Previously, it was Westminster Presbyterian. We first featured the church (here) it in 2009, thirteen years ago, when Greensboro Daily Photo first began. While the name has changed, according to their website, the church still identifies as Presbyterian and are members of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). They also identify as "doctrinally reformed, warmly confessional, and fervently evangelistic.

The campus is large, with plenty of room for parking. There are picnic tables on the lot, a place to play basketball, and a tire swing in a mature, acorn-producing oak tree. While the steeple is on the street side of the building, the actual entrance in in the rear (photographed above). Sunday morning services are at 10:30 and there is youth group on Sunday afternoons from 4:00- 6:30pm. They also have live-streaming options and an active Facebook page in case you are interested in learning more.

Happy Sunday!

 

Guilford College In Summer: Brimming with Music!

Guilford College was founded in 1837 by the Quakers. Guilford College is a four-year, co-educational liberal arts college, and we are very lucky to have in Greensboro. Summers, the campus looks very different from the academic year. If there would be one word to define summers on campus, it would be music. Especially in July, Guilford College is brimming with music. Last night, another fabulous Eastern Music Festival (EMF) concert was performed in Dana Auditorium. Before the concert, Maestro Peter Perret provided insights into what to look for and anticipate during the evening concert featuring five student-conductors in training. The concert had nice attendance and the audience and student-performers alike seemed pleased with the concert. We sure enjoyed it! The above photo features musicians heading back to their dorms after performing; they were walking and enjoying each others' company. Circling them was a young doe who perhaps was startled as the performers walked through the courtyard.

Sunday, Guilford College will host Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP). And, about where you see students walking, from 6:00 pm- 7:30pm, the MUSEP concert will take place. However, if you come early, you can enjoy a picnic on the lawn with friends or new friends that are easily made at a MUSEP concert. There will be a couple of food trucks, if you don't have a chance to pack something. The band will be "The Beauty Operators." The concert is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Here is the line up for the rest of the MUSEP summer in case you haven't seen it yet. As for EMF, here is their schedule. Thank you Guilford College for inviting the community in for all of these music events, and, thank you for hosting them. Being known for great music events is a good thing! Hopefully, the EMF students will be able to enjoy the MUSEP concert.

Happy Saturday!

Night Kayaking at Lake Brandt

Last night, from 8:00- 10:00 pm, Lake Brandt held extended hours for night kayaking. You had the option to bring your own kayak, rent a solo, or rent a double kayak. The Greensboro Parks and Recreation staff are very good about helping participants get their equipment in and out of the water, whether you bring your own or rent. During the night events in the summer, you ride out as the sun is setting and ride back at dark. While the above photo is blurry, you get the idea of how it looked and felt out on the water last night. The water was calm and so peaceful. Most people participated with a friend or two. Some kayakers met new friends while out on the water. Everyone was very friendly. While the Parks and Rec. staff are also on the water for your safety, the expectation is that you can function independently on the water; there is no "guided tour". However, if you just pay attention to where you are headed and the location of the dock, the adventure is pretty straightforward. 

There cannot possibly be a better way to end a summer evening than to be on the water watching the birds and fish settle in for the night. Here is the link to the website with the information about our three lakes, Higgins, Brandt, Townsend. You can find information about rentals and the schedules for when the lakes are open. As we were leaving, the staff member who helped us carry our kayak to the car encouraged us to some out to lake Higgins next Wednesday for night kayaking. If you like to avoid the sun's strong rays, night kayaking is for you.

Happy Friday!

John Serrano, Librarian

Today, we're featuring John Serrano, a librarian at the McGirt-Horton Branch of the Greensboro Library System. John is photographed holding a book about George Moses Horton, for whom the McGirt-Horton Branch is named. Mr. Horton was born a slave (1797) and died in 1883 as a free man. Thanks to John, we learned about this great poet. While waiting for a performance by a quartet of musicians from the Eastern Music Festival, we had a chance to tour the library and get to know some of the staff, including John.

John Serrano hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has been working at the McGirt-Horton Library for a year. He and his wife came to Greensboro for her externship through UNCG and they decided to stay in North Carolina. John is very involved with the day to day tasks of  a librarian, which includes helping with special programs. In this day and age, library staff members help visitors hone digital literacy skills, they facilitate game nights, they help set up special events, and more. John has a BA in History and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Carroll University in Wisconsin, and a Masters Degree in Archives Management and History from Simmons University in Boston. He brings a wealth of information to his position at the library. Even better, he is extremely personable. Let's hope he remains a North Carolinian for a very long time.

Are you a user of the libraries in the Greensboro system? Each branch has a distinct personality and offers different programing, so it is worthwhile to visit them all. However, if mobility is an issue, you can order what you need through the library system and it can be sent to the branch of your choice.

Happy Thursday! No need to buy DVDs or books. Stop by the library, or visit online, and explore their offerings.

Ukrainians in the Carolinas

Saturday, the Ukrainians in the Carolinas organization held a fundraising event for Ukraine at the Calvin Graves Plantation in Caswell County. The festival, known as Ivana Kupala, was a summer solstice celebration. The event featured music, food, crafts, the making of Ukrainian live-flower wreaths (vinok), dance lessons and more! The live music was a combination of  genres, including Ukrainian folk music. The above photo features the East Piedmont Rounders, a group of old-time musicians. They were playing traditional acoustic tunes with Jan Gittleman flatfoot dancing. The musicians performing are David Thompson, Mary Charlton, Mike Collins, and Larry Vellani, with Charlie Berry working sound. The Red Kalyna American-Ukrainian band also performed later in the afternoon.

Calvin Graves was a North Carolina politician who, according to the historic marker in front of this house (above), in 1849, cast the deciding vote for the North Carolina railroad. While this venue 40 miles north of Greensboro, it is an easy day trip. The money used during Saturday's fundraiser will help build a well for drinking water, medical and tactical supplies in Ukraine. If you are interested in donating, see here. Also, Greensboro will likely see an influx of Ukrainian refugees and there will be ways for you to help Ukrainian refugees. See here.

Have a great Wednesday!

Highways, Byways, and Municipal Elections

Yesterday's sky was an example of how bright and clear the it looks after the rain has cleared dust and pollutants out of the air. The photo was taken at the corner of Fleming Road and Bryan Boulevard and, from the angle of the trees on the left side of the photo, you can see that Greensboro is not completely flat. It is in the Piedmont region and "Piedmont" literally means "foot of the mountain." Greensboro is between the mountains and the costal plain. The elevation is 892 feet, as contrasted with Raleigh, about 90 miles to the east which is at an elevation of 315'. Asheville, in the mountains is at 2,134 feet. Wilmington, near the beach is 36'. So, you can see, we are a state with a diverse topography. Summertime, it is especially convenient to live in Greensboro, because getting to the mountains or the coast is an easy day trip. 

If you notice the signs beside the road, it is because Greensboro is having elections on July 26th. This is an off date for municipal elections. We were supposed to have municipal elections last year, but they were delayed until this summer. If you are not going to be in town on the 26th, early voting has started. Please vote! We don't endorse candidates on Greensboro Daily Photo; however, we do encourage people to do their civic duty and vote. There are several bonds on the ballot, plus, we are voting for mayor and city council members. Tuesday, July 26th is predicted to be warm and sunny. However, why wait until then when you can vote today?

Here is a calendar for when and where you can go to vote early.

Eastern Musical Festival: Young Artists Piano Recital

Listening to a piano recital performed by young artists at the Eastern Music Festival was the perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. For one hour yesterday, Dana Auditorium, on the campus of Guilford College, was filled with the brilliant music of talented young pianists. The above photo is of Alvin Wang who opened the recital with "Chromatic Fantasy and Fuge in D minor, by J.S. Bach. There were about 75 people in the audience as the five different musicians performed: Alvin Wang (Bach), Ann Gao (Chopin), Hazel Musto (Ravel), Robiya Akromova (Rachmaninoff), and Andrew Reveno (Greig). Musto and Reveno were accompanied by Anthony Bock and Akromova and Gao were accompanied by William Wolfram. The remaining Sunday 3pm piano recitals are July 17 and 24 at 3:00 pm in Dana Auditorium. All are free thanks to the sponsorship of Steinway Piano Gallery. By choice, this photo was taken from the very last row in the auditorium, but there are usually plenty of seats up closer.

Here is the calendar for the remaining performances. Some of the events are free, some require the purchase of a ticket; all are open to the public. There is no performance scheduled for today, but tomorrow, from 10:30- 11:30, a string quartet will perform at the McGirt Horton Branch of the Greensboro Public Library at 2501 Phillips Avenue. Later that evening, the Eastern Chamber Players will perform from 8:00- 10:00 pm and those tickets are $33. Fifteen musicians on string and percussion instruments will perform in that evening performance. Please treat yourself to one of the performances this month.

Buffalo Academy at Buffalo Presbyterian

Buffalo Presbyterian Church, organized in 1756, is accepting applications for their elementary school. The school will open August 29th and is located in the church building at 803 16th Street. The school will start this fall, initially as an elementary school. Ultimately, they plan to have a fully-articulated K-12 program. The curriculum will be a tradition one, echoing the program established by David Caldwell back in 1767. The school will follow Dr. Caldwell's model. He was the first pastor of Buffalo Presbyterian. In addition to academic subjects, there will also be Biblical instruction. If you want your child to have a traditional, conservative, Christian education, this may be just the school for your child.

The photo was taken from Church Street, across the street from Page High School. Here is the link for the school, if you are interested. The church will be having a picnic on July 16th at 5:00 pm. That would be a great way to meet the people of this church community. As for today, there is Sunday school at 9:45 and church at 11:00. It is pretty impressive to know there is a church in Greensboro whose roots predate our city and also the United States of America! They have values education since the beginning. This church will prove a new venture, for sure!

Greensboro Community Swim Association: City Meet 2022

The Community Swim Association (CSA) is such a wonderful opportunity for swimmers between the ages of five and nineteen. Whether someone swims year round or simply in summer,  CSA provides children good, fun opportunities to hone their swimming and team-building skills. Swimming as a sportis all about swimming your personal best for yourself and your team. Yesterday's competition at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) did not disappoint. The above photo features the top three fastest female teams in Event 39, the 15-19 Medley Relay. The Bur-Mil Marlins, one of the newest teams in CSA and a group that practices at a public pool in Owl's Roost, took first place; The Lawndale Lizards, a team that meets closer to town and one of the older teams, took second place; Henson Forest, a newer team, located in Summerfield, placed third. The medley relay features each of the four strokes: Back, breast, butterfly, and freestyle. Four swimmers work together, to earn their team a victory.

If you want something fun to do today, head to the Coliseum Complex and for the price of $5 to park, you can have a wonderful spectator experience in a state-of-the-art facility. Here is a link to follow along of events and results. Today's events are: Freestyle, individual medley, and the free relay. Swimmers compete in the morning to determine who swims in what heat in the afternoon. Even is you don't have a child or relative swimming, chances are, you will know families with children competing. 

We hope you have a happy Saturday and, if you see a CSA swimmer, ask them what they enjoyed most about summer swimming. You will get an array of answers. For many, competing at the GAC will be a highlight, and, if they are luck/accomplished enough to make the podium, it feels a little bit like the Olympics! Look at those smiles!

Hello Summer... Let's Swim!

Hello Summer! Recently, we were at Lindley Pool having nostalgia for the Greensboro Community Swim Association and all the years the summer meets for the city were held at Lindley Pool in Lindley Park. It was fun having the meets outdoors and the park was great entertainment for siblings who weren't swimming and during those long waits between events- which can seem like a lifetime to the 8 and under swimmers. However, not the meet is held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) and it is going on today and tomorrow. There will be at least 20 swim clubs and about 2,000 swimmers between the ages of 5-18. If you go to the CSA website, you can monitor the results as they are reported.

GAC opened Summer 2011 and for the past 11 years, the facility has provided Greensboro with state-of-the art pools bringing many national events to the area. As a matter of fact, in two weeks, the YMCA long-course nationals will be held at the GAC, but for the next two days, those lanes belong to the children of Greensboro who competed in dual meets for their home swim clubs. Some children swim year-round, some just swim in the summer. Regardless of one's level, fun will be had by all. In the meantime, for those who aren't swimming in City Meet and who aren't interested in the meet of the summer, Lindley Pool is open and ready to welcome you with open arms!

Happy Friday!

 

Chess in Center City Park

This is one of our favorite photos from Fun Fourth. These two guys were playing chess on the Elm Street side of Center City Park. There were festivities going on all around them, but their concentration was on their chess fame. If you are looking for a place to play chess, Greensboro Chess Club meets every Wednesday from 6:30-9:00 pm at the Lewis Recreation Club at 3110 Forest Lawn Drive (near the intersection of Battleground Avenue and Pisgah Church Road). Instructors and resources are available. The club is open to all enthusiasts. However, nothing beats playing outdoors on a warm summer day, surrounded by people enjoying the day. They say chess is a metaphor for life. There are endless opportunities; we need to anticipate others' moves; losing isn't always failing and challenges can trigger growth. But, on a sunny day, with a friend, it can just be a way to learn a little and enjoy spending time together. 

Have a great Thursday. 

Uncle Sams at Fun Fourth Downtown Greensboro

Fun Fourth was such a joyful event for Greensboro, especially since, due to COVID,  this is the first "normal" Fun Fourth since 2019. Walking the length of Elm Street, we quickly noticed that there were two Uncle Sams. The top photo features Robby Hassell, who is a lawyer and judge. Uncle Sam in the bottom photo is Keith A. Holliday, former mayor of Greensboro. Both men have had accomplished careers, both are dedicated to serving the public, and are involved in many civic activities. Mr. Holliday covered Elm Street, south of Hamburger Square and Mr. Hassell, north. Both took their duties seriously, interacting with the public, posing for photos, shaking hands, answering logistical questions, and distributing little American flags to all who were interested. It was extremely hot on the 4th and neither Uncle Sam complained a bit about being in the hot, patriotic attire. To be sure, neither got sunburned since their bodies were covered from head to toe.

Friend and local performer extraordinaire, Jessica Mashburn, reminded us that Sam Hummel was Uncle Sam for decades. To each and every person who volunteered at the Fun Fourth, whether it was a highly visible position like dressing as Uncle Sam, or one of the behind-the-scene positions (the worker bees who go unnoticed), thank you for your service to the community. Truly, giving back to the community, is a special act of patriotism. We thank you! 

Watching Fireworks and Making Memories over the Fourth

If you are someone who love fireworks, and you live in the Greensboro area, you may have gone to Greensboro's fireworks in Gibsonville on Sunday night. Since the Greensboro fireworks were in east Guilford County the night before, last night was wide open for people to attend the Greensboro Grasshoppers game, and stay for the fireworks after the game. The baseball game was a sell out and the Grasshoppers beat the Greenville Drive, 11-4. And the fireworks were, truly, a grand finale! The above photo was taken at yet another fireworks opportunity in Guilford County, at Oak Hollow Lake in High Point. Children and families sat along the lake and, just after dark, fireworks lit up the sky as children (yes CHILDREN) sat around perfecting their photography and videography skills capturing digital memories. The night was relaxing and family oriented with carloads of people driving, and many walking,  to see the fireworks display. To be sure, families were making memories. 

Stop back to GDP throughout the week and we'll have some Fun Fourth photos from downtown Greensboro to show you. Those of us who stayed in town had plenty to do in all parts of the county!

Happy Tuesday!

Mapping Out Fun Fourth... Beginning at the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel

Last night, all was quiet in downtown Greensboro, on the eve of the Fourth of July. We were walking along Washington Street, in front of the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel. Today, the Biltmore Hotel will be in the middle of all of the Fun Fourth Activities. As of 5:00 am this morning, Elm Street will be blocked off and all cars must be off the street or they will be towed. The Fun Fourth will be fabulous this year. HERE is a list of all the activities for today. It will start with the Freedom Run, the Triad's longest running race tradition. The 10K starts at 7:30 am and the rest of the races at 8:00 am at 211 North Davie Street. If you are not running, you are encouraged to stand along the route and cheer people on (even if you don't know then). Freedom Fest this year is broken off into 4 zones, with activities going from 12noon- 6:00 pm. The zones are primarily from Tanger Center & LeBauer Park in the north to Lewis Street in the south &  between Greene and Davie Streets. The Fun Fourth committee made a real effort to see that each zone has vendors, music, attractions, food, and plenty to do. We are hoping to roller skate in Zone 2.

The Biltmore is between Zone 2 and 3. The simple bunting looks so elegant; it is the kind of decoration that you might have found when the building was constructed in 1895. Looking at the facade of the Biltmore, it is as if one has stepped back in time over 100 years ago. Yet, step into the hotel and everything you need for the 21st century is at your fingertips.*  This is the reason Greensboro is such a great city. We honor the past, especially in architecture; value traditions; and come together to to enjoy each other, on events like Fun Fourth. None of this could be done without a strong business community, good leadership, and a passel of great volunteers. As a grand finale, tonight, there is a Greensboro Grasshoppers game at 6:30 pm and fireworks at First National Bank Field after the game. Regardless of how you spend your time today, have a great day!

* If you follow Greensboro Daily Photo, you already know that we featured the Biltmore 13 years ago, the first year of Greensboro Daily Photo. As you can see from this photo, the awning has changed and the word "Greensboro" has been added to the name, likely to avoid confusion with the Vanderbilt's Biltmore in Asheville. 

Stained Glass Window, From When the Building Was a Church...

Stained glass windows are so beautiful regardless of whether they are religious or not. Today's window is in the main building of the Greensboro Performing Arts Center in Summerfield. The window is a holdover from the days the facility was a church. We remember it as The Cathedral of Faith Christian Center, but may even have been a different church before then.* In the room photographed above, the pews are gone and the center of the floor has been cleared. Likely there is dance practice inside. The entrance door requests people who enter to remove their shoes. That seems like it would be a good practice for any house, house of worship, or performance place. Imagine, as is done in some cultures, we always took off our shoes...

According to the Coldwell Banker Realty site, the property at 7200 Summerfield Road sold in February 2021 at a little over $600,000, which seems like a great bargain considering the size of the lot and the fact that it has an outdoor stage, two buildings, and lots of parking. The owners seem to have so much planned for the lot. There is a pop up Christmas tree lot, a Saturday farmers market, a coffee hut on site. Also, the greenway will eventually go in front of the property. Summerfield continues to add interesting activities and venues, making it quite the destination. As an added bonus, the town, the performing arts center, and this stained glass window are located just a few miles north of Greensboro, tucked away, just off Highway 220. Drive by 7200 Summerfield Road, just south of the fire station, and see for yourself what they've done to the property! We had a friend take a friend to the Mary Poppins musical held in the venue and gave it rave reviews. Any place that brings people together for meaningful fellowship is a win-  be it a church or a performing arts center.

Happy Sunday! Thank you for being on this GDP journey with us. Yesterday, made 13 1/2 years of a photo a day. We are so thankful for your readership.

 

*See here when we featured the exterior on Friday.

Happy July!

Can you believe it is already July? In two days, it will be the Fourth of July and many people will be celebrating. During holidays, it is fun to drive around and see how houses are decorated. The above colonial home on Fleming Road is holiday ready. The white, colonial Williamsburg home, with its simple framework, symmetry, and two stories, really stands out with the flags and red, white, and blue banners. The home was built in 1985, just as Greensboro was starting to experience a housing boom. The one-acre lot looks well maintained, without being overly manicured. The current owners have been in the house for a little over a year and it looks like they are taking good care of it. The architecture is such that the home could be as easily 100 years old as it is 37!

If you are out and about today, don't forget to go to one of the many farmers markets in and around Greensboro. Produce is coming on strong. You should see lots of peppers, cucumbers, squash, figs, blueberries, and more. Buy local and buy today so that you will have plenty to share on the Fourth! Oh, and don't forget, today is Day 2 62 days that Cookout will be selling watermelon milkshakes! There is another destination for you!

Greensboro Performing Arts

Greensboro Performing Arts is located at 7200 Summerfield Road. The building was formerly a church (Cathedral of Faith Christian Center) and still had the shape and the stained glass window to prove it. However, now, it is the new home of the Greensboro Performing Arts Center and great things are happening there this summer. Currently, the musical "Mary Poppins" is currently in production. There will be a showing tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 pm. If you are looking for something to do in the North Greensboro/Summerfield part of town, this is a great option. 

Every time we drive by, something new has been added to the property or to what they offer. In addition to the Jumping Bean Coffee Shop being on property, for a year now, there is also a farmers market on Saturday mornings. Plus, Greensboro Performing Arts continues to add classes, and performances. The most recent addition we've noticed is the signage and the metal tree. Consider brushing up on your spelling of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, grabbing your parrot handle umbrella, carpet bag, favorite kids and experience some wholesome fun and great local performing.

For those who choose to stay closer to town, remember that it is First Friday and there are lots of businesses hoping you will start celebrating downtown even earlier than the Fun Fourth! Let us know what you decide to do.