Greensboro Daily Photo

Sunset over Battleground Avenue

Last night's weather was pretty spectacular. First, we had a much needed soaking rain, after a pretty warm day. After the rain, when the sun came our and was starting to set, there was a very clear rainbow, with a well defined arc. Actually, it was a double rainbow with the top rainbow a little faint, but visible. Finally, the clouds broke at the horizon, letting the blue sky peek through, but there was a thick indigo coverage of clouds above. It would have been an ideal night to be near one of Greensboro's lakes to take a picture. However, we were on North Battleground Avenue and stopped at the Wal-Mart, because it is up on a hill and is is an urban space where you can get a photo without power lines in the way. 

When the ground is damp, you get an added bonus of a reflection, even on cement and asphalt. In a way, the parking lot adds visual interest. Man's contribution to the  landscape. The headlights definitely anchor the eye in the parking lot. There is a painting in the permanent collection of the Weatherspoon that is mostly dark with headlights. This photo reminds us of that painting. The more you look at both of them, the more you start to notice and it feels like night vision is starting to kick in. We need to find out the name of that painting. Do you know it?

Today is supposed to be sunny and in the mid 80s all day. Let's all enjoy this late summer weather as fall will soon be on its way. Are you ready for September? For now.... Happy last day of August! 

Reconsidered Goods- Happy 6th Anniversary!!!

The above photo features the indefatigable Paige and Benny, working the second checkout counter at Reconsidered Goods (RG) this past Saturday. The "HELP" had gives you a little clue of how busy they were. To celebrate the 6th anniversary, RG had a 50% off everything sale. The store was almost as busy as a retail business on Black Friday. RG is a creative reuse store. They work hard to keep things out of landfills and into the hands of people who can give old items a new life. They are part art supply store and part heavily-curated thrift store. As an example, they only take vintage clothing or clothing that could be used in theater or as a costume. If they don't think they can sell it, they don't accept it, or send it on to the Goodwill Store. As an example of creativity, in their section filled with the color green, they strung a 6 foot row of wine bottle corks that they had painted green. What a great idea. You could use old corks in the same way that beaded curtains were used in the 1960s; only you don't have to think "wine" if they are painted. But we digress! To be sure the creative types were out en masse. As fast as boxes and carts of treasures were being taken out the front door, volunteers and employees were restocking shelves. Please consider donating your art supplies, nicknacks, small pieces of furniture, art you are tired of, and other items to Reconsidered Goods. 

Happy 6th anniversary to Reconsidered Goods. And thank you to everyone who worked and made this past Saturday a fun shopping experience! Wondering what will Year 7 bring!

Brooks Global Studies Elementary School

The above photo features the land on which the new Brooks Global Studies Elementary School will be built. This location is between Starmount Presbyterian Church, The Greensboro Arboretum, and Holden Road. Specifically, the border streets are Tryon, Ashland, and Parkwood. The current location of Brooks Global is at the north edge of the Grimsley High School campus. The new location is on land already owned by GCS and was the site of the former Craven School. Craven School was built in 1955 and had fallen in disrepair since the 1990s when it was no longer used. In 2011 the school board voted to demolish it and the 7.7 acre site is now ready for new beginnings. The only remnants of the former school are this small, circular driveway and some cement steps.

Brooks Global has a fantastic reputation and the lottery numbers of students seeking admission to this magnet school are large. The new Brooks will have the same fabulous international theme, but will be state of the art and mindful of sustainable practices. GCS has hired HICAPS/C2 to manage the implementation of the project.*

For many Guilford County School (GCS)  students, today is the first day of school. By now, just about everyone (if not all) should be back in school. Please remember to drive 25 in school zones and stop for school busses picking up students. Oh, and remember to bring your charged Cromebooks and positive attitudes! May all students try their hardest and have the best year of school yet.

Happy Monday! Happy first day of school!

*Reference and additional information HERE. Se also, HERE.

Starmount Presbyterian Church, Admiring the Furniture

Today's view is of the interior of Starmount Presbyterian Church on West Market Street. The pulpit and the table are two of the three pieces made by local Presby member The Reverend Dr. Erich Thompson.* The furniture is special, given that it is made locally and that Rev. Thompson made it from the wood from pews- removed from the church after being replaced during a renovation. Another special feature of the pulpit is that the wiring for the sound system runs through the front left leg.

Before taking up woodworking, Rev. Thompson served as a preacher in Virginia and North Carolina. At first, woodworking was a hobby, but now, he no longer actively preaches and, instead focuses on creating furnishing for sacred spaces. His furniture-making business was founded in 2003, making it almost 20 years of designing furniture to fit the exact needs of given sacred spaces. This is almost the same amount of time he served as a congregational and worship leader.**

If you get a chance, attend a service at Starmount Presbyterian and you will be able to admire Rev. Thompson's beautiful furniture. We wish we'd captured more of the stained glass window in the background, as it is also beautiful. The window is comprised of rough, thick glass chunks and it complements Rev. Thompson's furniture quite well. Both exude great craftsmanship, are sturdy, and are more modern than traditional. If you are interested in attending a service, the church is located at 3501 West Market Street. Sunday morning service is at 10 am and available in person and live-streamed (see Facebook). You might even get a chance to meet Rev. Thompson!

Happy Sunday!

 

*The third piece in the church is a baptismal font.

** Reference and Rev. Thompson's website: HERE.

Carolina Theatre

The Carolina Theatre, at 310 South Greene Street downtown, is once again active with booking events lately. This theatre has been Greensboro's crowned jewel since 1927, almost 100 years since it opened. Thanks to restoration, repairs, and maintenance over the years, this theatre is as beautiful on the inside is as it is on the outside. As you see on the marquee, donors are an important part of sustaining the theatre. In the 2018-2019 season, just before the pandemic, they had over 100,000 people attend events. With other performing arts venues in Greensboro, especially the Tanger Center, The Carolina Theatre has a lot of competition. The management knows its audience and the type of events that will be popular here. We enjoy the old movies they feature on the big screen!

The Carolina Theatre has seen a lot of growth in the neighborhood around it. The new Hampton Inn is just down the street. And then, there is the bodega across the street where you grab a quick snack before heading in to see a performance. We took this photo from the entrance to The Bodega as the afternoon sun was backlighting the theatre. Tonight is Jokez and Jam at 8:00 pm. If you need a good laugh, this might be the event for you! Regardless, you will find something great to do downtown.

Happy Saturday!

Here is a link to the Carolina Theatre's upcoming events.

Downtown Greensboro on Hamburger Square

It is the last Friday of August and the last weekend before traditional public school starts in Guilford County. Tonight, there will be many high school football games. And, before we know it, it will be fall. 

The above photo features a sunny day, earlier in the week at Hamburger Square in downtown Greensboro. This is the last block north of the railroad tracks. Natty Greene's Downtown is featured in the above photo. The photo captures a lazy day of summer. There is a lone person crossing the street. The parked scooters are dormant. If you look closer, you can see that there are some people on the patio of Natty's. The street sign shows that we are at the corner at McGee and Elm.

If you are downtown this weekend, remember that Downtown Greensboro is still giving people,  who make purchases of at least $25 downtown, an opportunity to win $500 by uploading the receipt.  The establishment you made the purchase from also wins money. Let us savor this weekend and all of its possibilities!  Happy Friday!

Sunday Afternoon at Double Oaks

The Double Oaks B&B at 204 North Mendenhall Street dates to 1909. It was built for Harden Thomas Martin who was a native of Rockingham County,  the next county north of Guilford. The home was first opened as a bead and breakfast in 1998 by Win and Ann Milan. In 2016, James and Amanda Keith purchased the property and they have been working very hard to not only have it be a bed and breakfast, but to also be a venue for activities that bring in the community. The Keiths host events and also make it possible for community members to host events. The above photo features the Sunday afternoon old-time music group during String Band Sunday (from 4-7 pm). On Wednesday evenings they have jazz- Wine Wednesday.

If you know old-time music, you know that the fiddler calls the tunes and pretty much sets the pace for the jam. The above fiddler, Christen Blanton Mack is part of the Zinc Kings. They will be one of the featured bands at the North Carolina Folk Festival in Greensboro (September 9-11). Head to the folk festival to hear Christen fiddle. Or, stop by Double Oaks on Sunday afternoons to hear her fiddling and, maybe even play a tune with her. Savory tacos with homemade tortilla shells are available on Sunday afternoons. We are so lucky that in Greensboro, so many of these local venues offer special events- music, arts and crafts events, food trucks, and more. They say Thursday is the new Friday. Head out and find some fun! A new adventure is only a google search away!

Construction on Elm Street at Bessemer Avenue

Elm street has has been getting a waterline replaced. They are also installing bicycle lanes. The goal for the city is to install 75 miles of bicycle lanes within five years. The end goal is to encourage more bicycle usage and to make it safer to ride a bike. On Elm Street, the footprint of the street will not change. The bike lanes will be installed without widening the road. Here is a map of the project. If you are out and about and if possible, it is a good idea to detour from the part of North Elm near Bessemer Avenue. Something about this photo evokes yesteryear. With the Access Greensboro public transportation and the wires above, it is as if one of the trolleys from yesteryear will be clinging along any minute.

Having just interviewed Mr. Spear for yesterday's post, we have newspapers on the mind. In preparing this post, the information we learned about the project was found on the website of the City of Greensboro. Maybe something was posted in the News & Record, but the city's site was the one we saw. It occurred to us that increasing, to get information, one has to have good search logic and go straight to the source, making all of us self-appointed journalists, of sorts. We miss all of the local news, slice-of-life, and features about the people of Greensboro that one gets from a true, community newspaper. 

Happy Wednesday, the start of the last week of August!!!

David M. Spear

David M. Spear is a man who has worn many hats. He has been a journalist, businessman, photographer, and author.  During the Depression, his New England family moved to Madison North Carolina (Rockingham County) where they purchased the Madison Herald, a weekly newspaper that the Spear family would own for fifty years. David, who as a young adult was known to enjoy life and have fun, took over for his parents after they retired. They agreed to let David run the newspaper after a six month trial, making sure he would make the high level of commitment needed to run a newspaper. Indeed, Mr. Spear had commitment; so much so that there were many years in a row where he didn't take a vacation to ensure that the paper would not suffer. While the Madison Herald was known for being liberal in a largely conservative community, the folks of Madison and surrounding counties quickly learned to love and depend on the paper. It gained the reputation of reporting facts as well as community news, the daily, slice-of-life news that people waited in line to purchase.

In 1984, Mr. Spear decided he needed a break from the intense life at the newspaper and he became a photographer.  In his twenty seven years as a photographer, he published a photo book on the Nugent family, a rural Rockingham county family that lived very traditionally, not too much unlike how life was lived in the previous century. He garnered the family's trust and was able to photograph them inside the home and around their property. One day, they would be dipping their beagles to cure mange; another day, they would be working in the kitchen. Mr. Spear agreed to split evenly any revenue generated from the photos, and he held true to his word. To the delight of Mr. Spears and the Nugent family, NC State bought 70 of the photos! He also published a book of photos of his travels in Mexico as well as his travels in Cuba. His photography almost always features people and he masterfully captures people, either as portraits or in their surroundings. Many of his photos are in permanent collections in museums throughout the United States.  He also published a book, entitled, "Playing with Dynamite,"  about the Spear family's experiences at the Madison Herald. Something he mentions in the book, but doesn't ever try to capitalize on is the fact that his grandfather was Sherwood Anderson, the Lost Generation writer from Ohio who wrote Winesburg, Ohio.

Mr. Spear has been spending his fair share of time in Greensboro and most recently spoke at Scuppernong Books. In the above photo, he was at a Greensboro home sharing his experiences and discussing "Playing with Dynamite" at Greensboro book club.  If you ever get a chance to hear Mr. Spear speak, please do so. He is a wealth of history and information with first-hand experience during journalism's golden years. Next up, he has plans to return to Medellin, Colombia to continue learning Spanish and, if we are lucky, to continue writing and maybe even taking a few photos. If you want to know more, approximately 12.5 feet of linear shelf space are dedicated to Mr. Spear's work at the Wilson Special Collections Library at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. (See HERE).

Happy Tuesday!

3521 Battleground Avenue

Have you ever noticed the house on the west side of Battleground Avenue, between Britishwoods Park and New Garden Road? The above house 3521 Battleground Avenue sits on about 5 acres of property and will be part of the land that Will Stevens and Marty Kotis will develop as part of their High Ground Project. the project, estimated to be 35 million, will be a mixed use facility incorporating shops, restaurants, and lofts and  two five-story multi-family residential buildings constructed into a slope. Here is a link to a digital rendering of the project from Biz Journal. We had always hoped that the Britishwoods Park would be extended as it has a favorite sled riding hill, plus there is a stream and walking near it evokes the feeling of being on a mini-hike in a remote area when really you are on one of the busiest streets in town.

Now that we know that the mixed-use property is moving forward, we are anxious to see how it will look. To be sure, we will miss this little house in the woods and driving past is early morning or late at night, seeing the lights on, and wishing we lived on that five acres. According to Zillow, this is a two-bedroom; two-bathroom house built in 1978. Who would have known that 44 years later, land this far north on Battleground would become mostly retail. At least according to the drawing, it looks like there will be some green space and that the stream will flow above ground. Watch for The High Ground Project to be underway soon!

Happy Monday!

Deep River Church of Christ

Deep River Church of Christ is located at 2066 Deep River Road. The location is technically High Point, but it is very close to Eastchester Drive and Greensboro. Deep River is a Church of Christ with a congregation of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. On their website, there is been the option to read it in Spanish. They have special groups for singles, seniors, Spanish, women, and youth. You can attend church in person or also through live streaming. As with most churches these days, many options are offered to connect with the church. Sunday and Wednesdays are the two main days for attending the Deep River Church of Christ services and functions.

As you can see in the above photo, the building looks fairly new with modern architecture. The location is popular for churches; there are several churches on Deep River Road. Unfortunately, nothing about the history of the church is found on their website. So, we can't definitively when it was built. We did find a News and Record article from 2004 entitled, "Church Plans Physical and Spiritual Expansions Deep River Church of Christ to Expand its Building As Well As Develop Three New Ministries (article). This makes us think that it is about 18 years old.

Happy Sunday!

Joanne Rich, Mixed Media Artist

Today, we're featuring Joanne Rich, holding one of her brilliant mixed-media collages. Joanne hails from New York State, and arrived in Greensboro after living in Barcelona, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Her collages are influenced by her travels, especially the years  in Barcelona. Some of her city scapes really evoke a scene in Barcelona, where the sea, mountains, and downtown are all easily visible.

By formal training, Joanne is a teacher to students who grew up speaking languages other than English at home. She has an M.Ed. from Hunter College and currently teaches English language learners at GTCC. Joanne has over two decades of teaching experience, and, in her free time,  has focused a considerable amount of time honing her skills as a mixed-media artist. Her artistic roots run deep as her mother had artistic talent and encouraged Joanne in the arts as far back as she can remember. Joanne currently has some of her collages on display at Irving Park Gallery. In 2020, Joann won gold in the Greensboro and North Carolina mixed media competition of the Senior Games. In 2021, she placed silver at the city and state level, and currently has art in the running to receive a medal at the state level in 2022. You can find Joanne's work at the following website, or at her Etsy site under cat bird moon collage. Joanne is so talented. The above photo shows her sitting in her yard, getting ideas about how she will set up at Art Stock on October 8-9!

Joanne will be a participating artist in the 2022 Artstock Studio Artists 24th Annual Tour on October 8th from 10 am= 5pm. See HERE for details, and let's all plan to stop by for a visit and to admire (and purchase) her art. Those collages are constructed from snips of paper as small as 1/2 inch and are so fabulous.

Happy Saturday!

Greensboro's Downtown Greenway

Today's photo features the Downtown Greenway. The runner in the above photo is on the section at the corner of Market Street and Murrow Boulevard, heading south on Murrow. Edward R. Murrow was a broadcast journalist and war correspondent. Mr. Murrow was born in Guilford County in 1908 and made an international name for himself; he is indeed deserving of a street named after him. Now that the greenway parallels Murrow Boulevard, his name may has more prominence in the community. He died in 1965 so it has been 57 years since we have heard his voice. It would be special to have a stop along Murrow Boulevard with the option to see and hear him broadcasting, like the exhibit that is installed in the Greensboro History Museum.

As shared on the website of the City of Greensboro, most of the greenway is 12 feet wide, with landscaping, benches, bike racks, trash and recycling receptacles, and public art*. The downtown portion of the greenway is four miles long, connecting businesses, universities, and neighborhoods. If you follow the link below, you can see a map of the loop, showing the completed parts (East Greensboro) and the parts still in process (from Spring Garden Street to West Smith Street). If you get a chance this weekend, head down and have a look!

Note: We are having some technical issues with photos loading on Typepad. Hopefully, they will get them resolved soon)

 

*reference and read more HERE.

East Cone Boulevard & Damien Mitchell's Mural

This past weekend, we were out driving on East Cone Boulevard and, of course, the murals caught out eye. The above photo was taken at the plaza with a Roses Discount Store, hence the roses on the facade to the left. It is located at 1421 East Cone, near Twain Road and the O. Henry Oaks neighborhood. Also, out this way is Joe Davis Park at 1410 19th Street very near East Cone and Ceasar Street. The mural has lots of hashtag messages and, if the upper left name is correct, the mural is by Damien Mitchell. He has been painting murals for ten years and is based out of New York City. If you notice at the bottom, it is also tagged as a Kotis Street Art mural. If you want to know more about Greensboro's murals, you can find a lot on that link.

Also of interest in the above photo are the newspaper boxes, which makes wonder if they generate any revenue. We also like the way the white sedan is parked there, waiting, all white and unembellished, sharing the center focal point with the bright yellow smiley balloon.

Well, Thursday is the new Friday. May you find something fabulous to do this weekend in Greensboro!

Rast Mural on Mill Street

How lucky we were to be driving along Mill Street and notice a mural being installed! The graffiti street artist Julien Ripert, the artist known as Rast, is featured in the above photo. Julien hails from Paris, France, but is in Greensboro for three weeks to create this mural and another one at Red Cinema. He has been an artist for 15 years and is self-taught. His work can be found in France, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Belgium, and more. If you look at his work on Instagram (@artisteRAST), you will notice that he is known for painting building-sized, murals, busts of people. Some of his murals include very powerful images of men, and women, mostly older. The texture of his work, and the items people are holding or the things surrounding them, really add a focal point to his work.

The above mural is only half way done. We'll have to return for a follow up photo because Julien will connect the mural to an electrical source and part of the mural will spin. We can't wait to see the movement, added dimension, and additional paint to this project. One of our favorite pieces of Julien's work is "Good Planet" Urgency, an acrylic mural of an older man with a gray beard and mustache,  holding a globe that actually spins (posted on Instagram on May 2, 2021). Drive by, behind Saffron on Mill Street, and have a look if you get a chance. If you see Julien, please give him a big Greensboro welcome. He speaks French, English, and Spanish- and maybe more!

Happy Wednesday!

A Legacy of Leadership

The Center for Creative Leadership, founded in 1970,  is a wealth of Greensboro history. First of all, it was started by the family that created Vicks VapoRub, the Richardsons. On the middle shelf on the right is a gold jar of the salve, the billionth, yes billionth, jar. This product was selling well, even during the Great Depression. If you see the monitor in the bottom center of the photo, there is a very informative presentation about the history of the Richardson family, the history of the Vicks VapoRub product, and how that ties into the founding of the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL).

Lunsford Richardson (1854- 1919) is the pharmacist who created a salve to relieve symptoms of a common cold. The menthol that went into the salve was a drug from Japan. Lunsford's son, Henry Smith Richardson Sr. (1885- 1972), worked in the family business. As a quote in the presentation explains, H. Smith Richardson "began researching what separates a successful organization from one that fails. He devoted his time to developing ways to identify, evaluate, train and advance future leaders, and established the Smith Richardson Foundation in 1935."  H. Smith Richardson Jr. (1920- 1999) continued the work of his father and grandfather. Smith Richardson Jr. "was instrumental in creating the Center for Creative Leadership, an institute that trains executives, military officers and politicians in business and government. Mr. Richardson was chairman of the center's board from 1972 until 1994.*

The CCL, a global leader in leadership training, is located right here, between Bur-Mil Park/Owl's Roost and Hamburg Mill Road on North Battleground (Highway 220). Just think, it all has its roots in the work of the pharmacist who created the Vicks products. In the short hour we were at CCL, it was fascinating to hear the conversations related to the Richardson families companies and products. One person, who seemed to be very knowledgeable, talked about a garden that they had growing plants that could be used for medicinal purposes. If it has not been done already, getting oral histories of people who have first-hand information about the Vicks factory and some of the stories that only people who worked at the factory would know. As for the CCL, they have many books about leadership and much of the work they are doing today.

 

*Reference and more information in New York Times article from 1999. See HERE.

 

 

Vicki Johnson- Artists of Greensboro

Vicki Johnson, born in Murphy, NC, has been living in Guilford County since first grade. She graduated from Grimsley High School, the FIRST year it was renamed from Greensboro Senior High School to Grimsley.* The above photo was taken this past weekend, at Irving Park Art & Frame at 2105 W. Cornwallis Drive, where Vicki has some of her art hanging in their current exhibit. Vicki also has paintings currently on display  at the exhibit at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). Several of her pieces sold at the opening reception on Friday. Since retiring from the Communications Department of the Greensboro Police Department, Vicki has been able to focus on her art full time. She has a studio at Sternberger Artist Center on Summit Avenue. Vicki studied Art & English at Western Carolina University and has had careers related to both areas of study. 

If you get a chance, go see Vicki's art at the Center for Creative Leadership (limited hours) or at Irving Park Art & Frame (during the work day). Also, her paintings are hanging at Wellspring in the Care Center side of the facility. Vicki uses color masterfully and has artwork available at all price points and in all sizes. Also, keep your eyes open. Next time you read about a show or open house at Sternberger, you will have a chance to see even more of her work. It is always nice to see artists living their dream. Greensboro is lucky to have places committed to supporting local artists. The CCL and Irving Park Art & Frame both have several shows a year featuring local artists.

By the way, Irving Park Art & Frame is for sale. If you bought this wonderful, local business, you, too could be part of featuring the artists of Greensboro.

Happy Monday!

 

* Interesting article about Grimsley's history HERE.

Evangel Fellowship Church of God

Yesterday, we went on an adventure, in search of a church we haven't yet featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. We found a church,  at the end of East Cone Boulevard, past McKnight Mill Road, past Sportsplex, almost at the point where Cone Boulevard intersects with White Elder Road. The church is Evangel Fellowship Church of God in Church (2207 East Cone Boulevard). Evangel Fellowship is on the north side of Cone, across the street from Guilford Preparatory Academy. The pastor is Otis Lockett, Jr. who,  on Saturday, August 20, will marry Andrea Shelby. Pastor  Lockett's parents were the founders of the church. His mother is still alive and actively involved in church leadership. Pastor Lockett, Senior passed.

The church is a giant church that offers so many services for members of all ages. There is a youth facility at the property and one wing appears to be an extension of Guilford Preparatory Academy. to give you the scope of this church, almost 8,000 people follow their Facebook page. If you are in Greensboro and interested in a dynamic and active Pentecostal Church, Evangel Church may be perfect for you. You can follow them on Facebook and see if the sermons resonate with you.

Happy Sunday!

Center Creative Leadership

Last night was the opening reception for an art exhibit at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) on 220 North near Owls Roost and Bur-Mil Park. Six artists have their work in a show, entitled, Unexpected Treasures (Kathy Brusnighan, Laura Clisset, Vicki Johnson, Susan Lange, Jean Smith, and Ashley Walters). The opening reception was very well attended with the parking lot full on a Friday night. There were nice snacks and the atmosphere was conducive to relaxing, admiring art, and even strolling the lovely grounds of the Center for Creative Leadership.

Founded in 1970, CCL is committed to advancing the understanding of leadership what it entails to be an effective leader.   When on the CCL campus, you can see the video and artifacts about the Richardson Family. The family's lucrative business began with Lunsford Richardson, American Pharmacist and founder of Vick Chemical Company. It would be H. Smith Richardson, Jr., who would turn the concept of leadership and training leaders into a business. Today CCL is a global enterprise with its roots and home base right here in Greensboro North Carolina. 

One of the big surprises was that during the opening reception, lovely piano playing could be heard throughout the building. The pianist was Lisa Sinclair, a CCL employee for 34 years. While you won't be treated to Linda's piano playing, it is possible to stop by and see the artwork, by appointment, until November 18th. 

Happy Saturday!

The People's Market in Glenwood

This photo was taken yesterday, early evening (about 7:00 pm) at the People's Market in Glenwood. The market is held every Thursday, at the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Florida Street in the Glenwood neighborhood. Glenwood is a neighborhood just south of Gate City Boulevard between Coliseum Boulevard and Freeman Mill Road. The Glenwood neighborhood dates back to the early 20th century and is said to be THE most diverse neighborhood in all of North Carolina. The neighborhood works hard to celebrate its diversity and to get people at all income levels interacting and supporting each other. The clouds were so beautiful and, if you were outside at night, you saw the glorious Sturgeon moon; full and bright!

The People's Market is every Thursday from 5:30- 8:00pm from April through October. You can get everything from vegan food to fresh produce to hand pressed juices to free items, and MORE! Walking through this market reminded us that on the weekends in Greensboro,  and there are many options for purchasing produce and other goods locally. Please challenge yourself to support local farmers, vendors, and artists. Unless they are swamped, most will take the time to chat and make a personal connection with you. Tomorrow, there will be music at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville (9:00- 11:30). Recipes for success will be there and offering free tastings. We hope to see you there tomorrow and at the Peoples Market next Thursday- and everywhere else in between.

Happy Friday!

Summer Sunset

The weather in Greensboro has been a little crazy, ranging from storm warnings, lightening storms, and days in the mid 90s! It looks like the 90s are behind us for at least the next week. But, today may be rainy.  The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro; it is a sunset reflection off of a water feature on the Carlson Farms Golf Course. Sunsets always look better when reflected off of water. Also, if you notice the texture of the water, this is evidence that the wind was blowing. The water part of the above sunset looks like an impressionist painting. The sun sets at 8:14 pm tonight. Plus, it is a full moon, the Sturgeon Moon. The name, "sturgeon" is derived from the fact that the sturgeon are mostly caught this time of year, in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. It rises at 9:35 pm and is also nice to view over a body of water.

If we can get the rain to hold out, that moon should be beautiful. Do you have a "go to" viewing spot?

Happy Thursday!

Caribbean Flamingos at the Greensboro Science Center

Yes we have Caribbean flamingos in Greensboro. If you have been to the Greensboro Science Center lately, you have probably seen this exhibit. The Caribbean flamingo is native to not only the Caribbean, but also South America and the Galápagos Islands. These interesting creatures are approximately 5' tall and weigh between 4-9 pounds. They can live up to 50 years. They usually only lay one egg at a time and it takes close to 30 days to hatch. The birds can be hard to get them to the point where they warm up to their keeper. However, the ones at the science center  seem relatively settled in. It is fun to watch them eat and to interact with each other.

We hope you have been  safe during the recent storms, and, that you get a chance to visit the Greensboro Science Center soon! Have a great rest of your day!

Happy Wednesday!

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

As many of you may remember from the post on Sunday, it was General Nathanael Greene's birthday. We know that the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park always has a lot happening in March, about the time of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. However, we don't recall their celebrating his birthday in August. This past Saturday, they had a dedication of a new cannon that is a closer replica to what actually would have been at the battle than the cannon in he above photo. The young man in the photo, dressed in what would have been civilian clothes from the time period questioned the ranger. He had just returned from seeing the firing of the new cannon and questioned its size, wondering how it would fit through the door. The ranger admitted that they were going to have to increase the size of the door to get the new cannon through. How heartwarming to see a young student that attuned to history and interested in history so much so that he dresses for the occasion. 

Seeing the exhibits at the visitors center is very special, but even more meaningful is talking to people knowledgeable about the time period.  We are looking forward to seeing the cannon in its new home. Every time we go to the park and to events there, we learn a little bit more about the history of Greensboro. Mark your calendar for mid-March 2023, when the reenactment will take place. Happy Tuesday!

 

Alina Herrera & Dulce Melodrama

The above photo features the Greensboro band Dulce Melodrama during band practice on Sunday evening. The musicians have been playing together for about three years and, if you like energetic, Latin alternative music, you will love this band. They have quite a versatile range and can take classic ballads in Spanish and add a modern twist. With Dulce Melodrama, the old is new! They are getting close to heading into the studio to record, but for now, you can hear them on Instagram (dmdmusic) and on Facebook (Dulce Melodrama). Even better, tomorrow night, they are playing at Ramkat in Winston Salem, as the opening act for Monsieur Periné. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 9th. Doors open at 7pm, Dulce Melodrama plays at 8 pm, and Monsieur Periné is on at 9pm. This Ramkat concert will be fabulous.

The above photo features from left to right, José Ponce, who plays lead guitar, Leo Vega, on drums, Daniel Solís, bassist, and Alina Herrera, sings lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar. Ethnically, with heritage from Mexico, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico, these talented musicians come together to bring a sound that can range from folk and traditional to pop, rock, and alternative. We plan to head to the Ramkat to enjoy their concert tomorrow night.  However, even better will be getting to hear them in Greensboro. Maybe we can get Monsieur Periné to Greensboro, too. The Latinx community in Greensboro is growing, providing more opportunities to hear Latin music. We'll let you know about upcoming tour dates for Dulce Melodrama. 

Happy Monday and until tomorrow! ¡Feliz lunes y hasta mañana! 

Happy Birthday, Nathanael Greene

Greensboro became a city in 1808 and it was named after Nathanael Greene, who was a general in the Continental Army in the Revolutional War. He was born in 1742 in Potowomut Rhode Island and died in 1786 in Mulberry Grove Georgia, at the age of 43. While he was neither born nor died in Greensboro, he did fight in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on the very spot where the visitor center is located, just off of New Garden Road. The above portrait of General Greene is located in the visitor center. Yesterday was such a busy day in celebration of General Greene's birthday. The events started at 10:00 am with the dedication and firing of a cannon that is so big that they will have to adjust the size of the door of the visitors center to fit it in here!  The birthday celebration ended with a ranger-lead tour at 3:00 pm. 

Since on Sundays, we like to post something spiritual, we asked the ranger if there was anything religious to fit with General Greene and the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The ranger thought about it for a while and said, well, the Quakers, who were pacifists and didn't want anything to do with war, helped the wounded from the battle. It didn't matter who the wounded soldiers fought for, many were left behind and the Quakers cared for them. We are left wondering how many of the surviving soldiers decided to make Greensboro their home. We also learned that New Garden Road, that connects the Battlefield to the Friends Meeting, has been called New Garden Road since at least the 1700s. The rangers at the park are so helpful and interested in discussing the history of the area. If you know of anyone who ever has to do a report on the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, send them to the visitors center. The rangers will answer questions or, if they don't know, point you in the direction of the answer. Happy birthday, General Greene. You are gone but not forgotten.

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

First Friday: August 2022

While parts of Greensboro threatened rain last night, downtown in the city parks, First Friday was going strong. The above photo features the crowd in front of LeBauer Park. Casa Azul was there teaching salsa dancing. For several hours, partners were dancing the night away while children were playing in the grass. The lighting really adds to the atmosphere. Great fun was had by all!

At night, the new sculpture by Janet Echelman "Where We Met" looks so beautiful. It hovers over the park really capturing attention. To the left is the new restaurant, Parkside Pull-Up. Parkside that opened in April. People are thrilled to have hot dogs, hamburgers, and great French fries- it is perfect food for eating at the park, especially on a Friday night. The Cultural Arts Center also had a lot of activities last night. Your next option for a First Friday will be September 2nd. Mark your calendar and polish your dancing shoes! Happy Saturday!

2416 Walker Avenue: Little Round House

Twelve years on Greensboro Daily Photo, we featured the 2 bedroom 1 bathroom, round house at 2416 Walker Avenue. We decided to return after over a decade and see if anything had changed. Well, the actual house still looks the same (see here). In a way, how are you going to change a round house? If you add on, it will no longer be round. Adding a second floor would be hard. Indeed, the house looks the same, but the big difference is the yard. It has going from being a fairly empty 1/4 acre lot to now being filled with plants, flowers for pollinators, and a giant plant that is either squash, gourds, or pumpkins. There were butterflies, bees, and goldfinches working the yard and the owners have definitely created a yard that they don't need to mow.

Leading up to the door (not visible in this photo) are round stepping stones and two heads that look like the Moai heads on Easter Island. 2416 Walker Ave., built in 1976,  is definitely a unique property and the owners seem to have a great spirit about them. It will be fun to watch what they will do with all of the squash, gourds, pumpkins they harvest over the next month. Wonder what it will look like if we stop back by in another decade. We're still waiting for that tour of the inside.

Happy First Friday! Be sure to head downtown this evening. There will be so much happening downtown, especially in the city parks, in the Cultural Arts Center, and on Elm Street.

Penguin Exhibit at the Greensboro Science Center

Those penguins at the Greensboro Science Center are so absolutely adorable and they capture the hearts of all who see them. The penguins at the science center are about 2 feet tall. They are African penguins, native to the beaches of southwestern Africa. Their favorite food is herring, and they love playing with cat toys. As you can see from the above photo, they are also very adept at entertaining themselves. According to the website of the Greensboro Science Center, the penguins are crate trained, trained to come up for food, get on the scales for their monthly weigh ins, and some of them are trained to stand for photos. A baby chick was born in January of this year. It's name is Niffler from the Harry Potter series.

Seeing the penguins is included in the price of a general admission. For an additional fee, there is an opportunity to have an encounter with a penguin. If you haven't been yet, try to fit a trip to 4301 Lawndale Drive and spend time viewing penguins. They really are quite entertaining.

National Night Out 2022

National Night Out (NNO) is always the first Tuesday in August. The seeds of the initiative began in 1970, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia.*  It is an initiative to help build safe communities, for neighbors to get to know each other and their surroundings. It is a way for law enforcement and community members to get to know each other. NNO brings law enforcement and neighbors together for a positive reason.  There are 38 million "neighbors" and 16 thousand communities registered. However, who knows how many people participate who do not formally register. 

On "sure bet" neighborhood we knew we could find people out celebrating National Night Out in Greensboro was Lindley Park. They were having an ice cream social in front of the pool and recreation center. The above photo shows neighbors bicycling through the community at a little before 7:00 pm. The photo was taken at the corner of Walker Avenue and Wesdale Place. It looked like they were headed in the direction of the community center. In addition to the planned events, in Lindley Park, there were several people out walking their dogs and pushing babies in strollers; some doing both. Nothing beats a positive sense of community, which is precisely what makes a neighborhood a neighborhood. It doesn't take a big time commitment or anything super formal. NNO just takes a person, or two, or a few, banding together to celebrate the neighborhood. Hats off to Lindley Park for doing just that. If your neighborhood celebrates, please share with us what you do. Please share as many places and ways as you can. We'll try to get around to your neighborhood next year!

Happy Wednesday. Happy day after NNO!

 

 

* see the timeline, here.

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly House is now open at the Greensboro Science Center. It is a new (permanent) exhibit, located in the front of the building. As you can see from the above photo, while the butterfly area is enclosed, it is open to the outside, with netting to keep butterflies in, yet making the area open to the outside. It is a fabulous way to see butterflies up close and to watch their behavior as they travel through the wildflowers.

Inside, there is a temporary, traveling exhibit about butterflies. Children traverse a maze learning about butterflies as they go. Impatient children can simply crawl under the panels to get through the maze. It is so nice having the indoor and outdoor exhibit for the summer, both teach about butterflies and especially monarchs. While the Greensboro Science Center has been a Greensboro institution since 1957, if you haven't been in a while, be warned, you will not recognize it. The giant amethyst geode, the Foucoult pendulum, and the S.S. Curiosity (old ship to climb) are still there, but so many new exhibits have been added, you owe it to yourself to stop by and have a look. To be sure, we'll share more photos.

Happy Tuesday!

August is Happy Back To School Month: Newcomers School

Happy August 1st. As of today, some Guilford County Schools are back in session with workdays starting for teachers. Traditional schools start later in August. As the 2022-2023 school year is rolling out, it seems fitting to feature a school. The above photo is of the entrance to the Doris Henderson Newcomers School in northwest Greensboro. The school was initially built as Guilford Primary, a traditional elementary school. However, in 2007, it opened as a school to bridge the language gap  for students in 3rd- 12th grade who are new to the United States and with novice level proficiency in English. At the beginning of the 2009 school year, the Newcomers School was named for Dr. Doris Henderson who had been the principal at Guilford Primary for nearly fifteen years. It is the first school to be named for someone still living and, of course, Dr. Henderson attended the naming ceremony.

Recently, the Newcomers School received good news. A Fulbright grant through UNCG will bring 22 international fellows- from 21 countries and five regions of the world- to Greensboro to work in classrooms. The Newcomers School is one of three sites receiving the fellows.* The Newcomers School, l with a diverse faculty and student population, is about to get even more diverse!  UNCG is one of seven universities in the United States to host the Fulbright teachers for the six-week program. These fellows will hone their teaching skills and gain an American perspective on education, while bringing a tremendous skill-set to share with the GCS partner schools. POSITIVE THOUGHTS = POSITIVE LIFE, written on the entrance to the school, is a motto Dr. Henderson continues to live by today and that attitude permeates everything about the school. Those Fulbright fellows are about to have a fabulous experience!

* other sites include Western Guilford High School and the Middle College at UNCG (reference and additional information, HERE).