Greensboro Daily Photo

Lowe's Outlet in Brassfield Opening Soon

Brassfield first opened in 1987, buthad been struggling for a few years. Phar-Mor Drug Store and Pizza Hut closed, as did the movie theater. However, things have been turning around quickly. Trader Joe's moved in and Biscuitville built in the Pizza Hut location. Chick-Fil-A relocated across the street, but Habit Burger is moving into Chick-Fil-A's former location. Now, as you can see from the above photo, the Lowe's Outlet is close to opening. It will be one of ten scratch-and-dent outlets for the home improvement store (read HERE). No scratch-and-dent products are sold online, which makes sense. There will be no surprises when appliances arrive at one's house. It will be interesting to see what else they end up selling. Gabriel Brothers, started out as a store of seconds clothing, but by the time they were rebranded as Gabe's in 2013, they were selling overstocks and so much more than the seconds of the early years. Likely, Lowe's Outlet will have many great deals. Greensboro is about to find out!

The Lowe's corporate headquarters is located in Mooresville, NC. While this Brassfield location, soon to be their tenth outlet store, it is their first in North Carolina. The urban loop makes north Battleground easily accessible and appealing to customers and retailers. Someone needs to work on branding the area. For now, we're going to call it NoBa (North Battleground). So, you heard it first on Greensboro Daily Photo. Mid-town has lights and murals. Do you have suggestions for business owners in NoBo to make the area cohesive and distinguish it from Mid-town?

Heading East on West McGee

This week is already mid-June and Greensboro's Summer Solstice Festival will be in two Saturdays- start planning your costume. The above photo was taken this past Saturday, downtown on West McGee Street, right beside Little Brother Brewing, across from Just Be. We're not sure why so many people landed downtown; perhaps they were parents of students at college orientation. We just enjoyed seeing people walking two-by-two en route to Elm Street. We were also struck by the geometric shapes seen in this view, giving Greensboro a "big city" look.

Speaking of downtown, do you know about the Passport Program? For every $25 you spend in a downtown establishment, you get an entry into the PassPort Program. From now until September 1st, the more you spend, the more entries you have. Each week, one shopper will win $500 and the establishment the item, food, or service was purchased from will win $500. See details here. We've never won, bet we know people who have. The opportunity is real!

Happy Monday!

Chabad Community Center

The Scott D. Kaplan Chabad Community Center is located at 5203 West Friendly Avenue. The structure, originally built as a single family house in 1939, is on one acre. It sits back from the highway and the front yard is well manicured and peaceful. From what we can gather online, this community center was established to serve the needs of the Greensboro Jewry. From activities related to the high holy days to daily study opportunities, they seem to remain busy. In addition to the house, there is a large event tent on the property. Chabad Rabbi Plotkin, who hails from Montreal, Canada, is the spiritual leader of this center. Education is the cornerstone of Rabbi Plotkin's mission (reference and more HERE). Formerly, he taught at the American Hebrew Academy. Also, he teaches classes to those who want to learn more about the Talmudic way.

Chabad Hasidic philosophy focuses on religious and spiritual concepts from a Jewish perspective. The Jewish community of Greensboro has contributed in so many ways to our city's history and resources. It is nice to have an organization committed to outreach, educational studies, philanthropy, and spirituality for our dynamic, Jewish community members. 

Happy Sunday;  while not the Sabbath for the Jewish community, traditionally the day we post something spiritual. For our readers affiliated with Chabad, we invite you to educate us!

Dunleath Porchfest 2023

Today is porchfest in the Dunleath neighborhood of Greensboro. Located just north of the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market and Yanceyville Street, Dunleath is a cohesive neighborhood. They have activities and events that evoke that feeling of the neighborhoods of yesteryear. Big front porches and generous sidewalks help bring people together. This is the kind of neighborhood where everyone knows each other's names, interests, and needs. Recently, on May 6th, they held a neighborhood yard sale. On August 1st, neighbors will come together to celebrate national night out.

Today, from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, you will hear performances with a festival-like feel. And, best of all, the event is free and open to the public. Music in Sternberger Park  will conclude the event. Neighbors open their porches to musicians, who offer their talent for the event. Every street becomes a venue. Organizers try to space the bands out so that they don't ending interfering with the music of other groups. Also, hosting houses only have one concert, giving guests the opportunity to roam the neighbors and see more of the architecture and landscaping. Performances last 45 minutes. Porch hosts will have maps to distribute to guests. While the event is free, musicians appreciate tips in their tip jar. There is a lot of expense that comes with performing.

This photo was from last year, on Cypress Street just as a performance had finished, we seem to recall. Hope to see you there!

Happy Saturday!

Magnolia Blossom Time 2023

Greensboro is filled with the scent of magnolia blossoms. Oh how we wait patiently for the sweet essence of magnolia blossoms every year. With the cooler weather, they are blooming a little later at our house this year. In 2020, we featured one on May 22 and in 2019 on May 23. By October, they will be sporting the showy red seed pods. While the sweetbay magnolia- with its green deciduous foliage-  is native to Greensboro, many people have planted the southern magnolia here. The above is a southern magnolia blossom. We always bring one inside for the day, knowing full well that they will only last for a day.

In addition to hanging out under the magnolia tree today, we will also be attending the Juried Members' Exhibition at the Center for Visual Artists at 200 N. Davie Street in the Cultural Arts Center from 6-8 pm. At least two artists we've featured on Greensboro Daily Photo will have art featured there, Karen Bjork Dischell and mixed media artist, Joanne Rich, will feature their work there. If we understood correctly, someone from the group currently exhibiting will be selected for a solo show this year. Try to get by the show and support our local artists. Also, find a magnolia tree to enjoy.

Happy Friday!

 

Mortgage Investment Corp, Building

Mortgage Investment Corporation is located at 1808 Spring Garden Street. We are drawn to the 1808 address because that is the year Greensboro was established. We cannot find documentation for the year the building was built, but learned that for this part of Spring Garden, the buildings date to the mid-1950s. However, since the building is called "Mortgage Investment Corp, Building," we're guessing that this company built the building for the business and the business dates to 1962 (see here). This is a 61 year old business and perhaps a building of that age. Also, the decorative concrete block work on the building was popular during that time period; they afforded privacy, but allowed in light. They are even known as breeze blocks. We're wondering if the brick came from the Old Carolina Brick Co. in Salisbury, NC. Buildings have so much history in them and as the saying goes... "if these walls could talk."

You might not recognize this facade or know about the Mortgage Investment Corp.; however, if you were in Greensboro in the mid-1990s, you likely recall the restaurant at 1808, down below on the basement level: Hayble's Hearth. Hayble's had great home cooked food. It was the closest to eating at your southern grandma's house that you could get at a restaurant. Sundays were packed from opening to closing. Today, that lower level is a hookah lounge. As part of a summer fun quest, we think we're going to driving around Greensboro looking for places with an 1808 address. Here is the first one.

Oak Ridge military Academy- ORMA

Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA), founded in 1852, is the nation's oldest military academy. It is a school that is said to build character, confidence, and the students' futures. It is located on Highway 150 at US 68. The above photo was taken recently as cadets were retiring the flag for the day. If you are interested in learning about the academy's history, HERE is a timeline. ORMA tries to ensure that students develop college and life readiness. They have 90 students enrolled in grades 7-12, or about 15 per grade level. When an organization has this much history in Guilford County, it is nice to think that this 100 acre campus will be around for a very long time.

If you are looking for summer opportunities, they do have three: A leadership adventure camp; a high school academic camp; and a middle school academic camp. Call them or check out their website, if you are interested. They may still have room.

Happy Wednesday!

Harajuku Fashion at Parisian Promenade

Greensboro's Parisian Promenade is a French-themed event, held the first Sunday in June in Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. It is presented by Greensboro Beautiful and admission is free. We have been attending (most years) since it first began in 2001 and enjoy seeing how event differs each other. This was the first year we noticed anyone dresses in Harajuku street fashion. Harajuku is a conglomeration of eccentric fashion styles originating in Japan in the 1980s. People who sport harajuku build a sense of community around their freedom of expression. Harajuku fashion can vary considerably, with the clothing often being described as cute . Usually there are multiple friends dressed in the same fashion.  

At the Parisian Promenade, the above trio was having a great time walking around together. If you follow Harajuku fashion, you will recognize their look as The Lolita Style, inspired by 17th century fashion and the Rococo and Baroque movements. They said they just liked to dress up for fun, and fun they had during the promenade. Watching this trio stroll through the park together felt like seeing something new on a Paris runway. Their clothing made quite a memorable splash. Now, we'll be on the lookout for more Harajuku around Greensboro and at least we'll know what it is when we see it.

Happy Tuesday!

The Parisian Promenade

Yesterday, Greensboro Beautiful presented the Parisian Promenade in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden on Hobbs Road. What a fabulous opportunity for families and friends to gather and stroll along the park seeing and being seen. The above scene is so Parisian, a street cart with buckets of flowers and a striped awning. The flower truck business is known as The Myrtle Cottage. The truck was located up by the Poodle Promenade Ring and flower sales were brisk. Prices were reasonable and people seemed to really enjoy buying flowers for themselves and their loved ones. The idea of being able to purchase flowers in a park or on a street corner is so quintessentially French. It is nice to see it in Greensboro and maybe  The Myrtle Cottage will make the opportunity more commonplace in Greensboro.

The weather yesterday was overcast, but it never did rain; making it perfect for the Parisian Promenade. The event is a project of the Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Greensboro Beautiful. Greensboro Beautiful is a 501 (c) 3 volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the beauty and ecology of Greensboro. The Parisian Promenade in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden is a beautiful example of Greensboro at its best. The venue is beautiful, the vendors and activities were delightful for people of all ages. Ecology deals with the relations of organisms to one another. Seeing people out enjoying the flora of Greensboro was such a great way to kick off June. Summer will be here before you know it. Next year will be here before you know it. Mark your calendar for the first Sunday in June for the next Parisian Promenade.

Lindley Park Baptist

As we biked past Lindley Park Baptist Church the other day, we did a double take. As you can see, the marquee says, "AMAZING GRACE 1048- 2023." Looking around, we saw the zoning notice for a public hearing on June 20th, 2023 at 5:30 pm. The sign didn't say where the hearing would be held. It is case # PL(Z) 23-26 and the contact number is Olivia Byrd at 336-373-2986. If our friends' internet sleuthing is correct, the church, the fellowship hall, and the house beside it may become Kellin Foundation, a local non-profit. According to their website, they are a "trauma-informed behavioral health service." 

Lindley Park Baptist, located at the corner of Walker Avenue and Holden Road, has been a church since 1948, and the cornerstone on the above building dates the sanctuary as being erected in 1972. As of a News & Record article from 2001 (updated 2015) the church had about 200 members. We will follow the possible conversion from church to its new use with great interest. Recently, a church at the corner of Spring Garden Street and Englewood Street got converted from a church to student housing (Spring Garden Station) and there is no evidence that it was formerly a church. Greensboro is known for its many churches; hopefully, the members of Lindley Park Baptist have found a new spiritual home.

Happy Sunday!

Carolina's Diner

Today's photo is of Carolina's Diner. There are several locations in the Triad and the corporate office is out near the airport. This is the location in Quaker Village.  On the day we visited, we didn't think the diner was open because there weren't many cars in the parking lot. It is located in the breezeway with Elizabeth's Pizza and the Mexican restaurant and we soon learned most people park on the Wal-Mart neighborhood store side. The diner is open 24 hours 6 days a week, with shorter hours on Sunday when they are closed from 9pm- 6am on Monday. That is probably "deep clean" day.

If you like diner-style food, Carolina's Diner is as good as it gets and the prices are very reasonable. We're always in search of a good, home cooked, over-easy egg and this place delivered. The location, near Guilford Collage, probably attracts a lot of college students. Hopefully, in July the Eastern Musical Festival residents discover it, as it is one of the most conveniently located places to eat near the Guilford College campus. Carolina's Diner was established in 2001. It is hard to believe that was twelve years ago. Wonder how many dozen eggs they use in a week! 

Happy Saturday!

Thought Provoking Mural Beside the Children's Museum

 

This is a slice of the mural on the northern wall of the Brenner Children's Museum in downtown Greensboro. It is on the East Lindsay Street side, at the corner of Church Street. It was painted in 2010 by Kathleen Kennedy. If you haven't walked and admired the mural over the last 13 years, you owe it to yourself to do so. It evokes the word cloud poetry that was popular a couple of decades ago. We love the fact that the word "Greensboro" appears prominently. 

The plaque at the edge of the wall says, "This mural celebrates Guilford College's contribution to communities locally, nationally, and globally" from the Center for Principled Problem Solving Engage. Inspire. Learn. It is a really good wall for a photo shoot. It is a corner that doesn't get a lot of traffic. We were reacquainted with it a few weeks ago when we walked from the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville to downtown Greensboro. Walking downtown in Greensboro is fun, early on a weekend morning when there aren't many cars out. That is also a great time to bike. It is amazing what you will notice, being out in public,  when not in a vehicle.

Happy Wednesday! Happy last day of May!

304 North Chapman Street

304 North Chapman Street in Sunset Hills is a real beauty with tremendous curb appeal. This red brick home was build in 1930, and sometime around the last time it sold (2019) the brick was painted white. You can see both examples on online real estate sites. This house appears to have its original footprint. Many homes in Sunset Hills are getting additions; in some cases whole second floors. The porch on the above house and the sidewalk in front is characteristic of this neighborhood, making the streets conducive to neighbors stopping to chat with each other. What really caught our eye was the Spanish lavender, known for its showy, intense, purple bracts and the fact that it blooms in spring. It is an evergreen, and in the mint family. It should look good all year round. We noticed the flag was up. Perhaps it is up everyday at this house; perhaps it is up for Memorial Day. The streets of Greensboro are quiet today as many people have taken four day vacations. Traditionally, Memorial Day is the herald of summer- which is technically June 21st.

Happy Tuesday, which feels like a Monday!

Memorial Day 2023

The above memorial is located at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Lindsay Street, between the Flatiron and the Greensboro History Museum. Parts of the memorial came from the War Memorial Auditorium in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. It was relocated to the above spot in November of 2014. We notices yesterday that some of the letters are missing from the part in the middle.* Everlasting Monument installed the letters. It would be nice for someone to hire them to come out and add the missing letters, as they would be able to match the font style and size. Along the top edge of the semi circular brick wall are eight plaques of names from World War II, one and a half from the Korean War, one and a half from the Vietnam War, and fourteen names from Operation Iraqi Freedom. That is over 600 names of Greensboro soldiers who lost their lives while serving. 

The inscription on the monument reads, "Greater love hath no man than this. That a man lay down his life for his friends. Dedicated 1959 to the memory of the men and women of Greensboro who gave their lives in the wars of our country."  In 1940, the population of Greensboro was just over 59,000 and we  lost about 200 soldiers from Greensboro during World War II. It is hard to believe that World War II ended 78 years ago. Every time we go past this memorial, we stop and read through the list of names. 

Memorial Day tends to be a day of picnic and family gatherings. It is also a good time to remember those who died while serving.

Missing letters: 2Ys, 2Es, and an O.

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

In walking and driving around weekend, we've noticed how different some things look by day and by night. The above photo is of St. Paul's Catholic Church at the corner of Horse Pen Creek and New Garden Road.  That dramatic, triangular roof is a standout regardless of time of day. However, the lighting on the church at night accentuates the shape. Also, the the small pond in front of the church, adds yet another element. Last night, it was cool (in the mid- 50s) and breezy, adding a blur to the bottom third of the photo. However, the reflection serves to emphasis the greenery surrounding the church, something not nearly as noticeable by day. Also, St. Paul's has lined the parking lot with flags in preparation for Memorial Day tomorrow. None of this would have been noticeable had we not taken that closer look we suggested yesterday. 

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church was dedicated in 1976  to meet the needs of the growing Catholic community in Greensboro, especially in the northwest part of town. However, the above sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1993, again to accommodate growth in membership. On the church website, the last membership statistic they give is for 1998, a time when there were 1,900 families (over 5,000 members). Not visible in the above photo is the Parish Life Center, built in the early 2000s, adding space to provide a place for classrooms, a gymnasium, and a great space for special events like their ever-popular kids' consignment sale. 

Other Catholic Churches in Greensboro include: St. Benedict, Our Lady of Grace, St. Mary's, St. Pius, and St. Peter Yu Korean Catholic. According to this website, 49.6% of the people of Greensboro are religious and 3.8% of Greensboro's residents are Catholic. In preparing this post, we learned that Greensboro ranks 4th in churches per capita in the United States, making it easy for us to find a house of worship to post here on Sundays!

Happy Sunday! 

National Poppy Day 2023

Today is National Poppy Day. In the United States, the red poppy  has been nationally recognized as a symbol honoring those who served and died for our country in war. On Sept. 27, 1920, the poppy became the official flower of the American Legion; in 1924, poppy distribution became their national program. In Greensboro, there are two American Legion posts. One is located at 1206 American Legion Street in northeast Greensboro. Post 53 is located at 529 Ridge Creek, near I-40 and Highway 220 in the southern part of the city. Perhaps the local American Legion, or the VFW will be selling poppies today.

In preparation for National Poppy Day, we looked for poppies to photograph in Greensboro. We had already photographed the beautiful field of poppies across from Lindley Elementary School, so were on the hunt for another source. Our friend, local businesswoman Kit Rodenbough, mentioned how much she is enjoying her poppies this year. We asked to photograph the poppies in her garden. Kit lives in the neighborhood between Irving Park and Kick Back Jack's and has a lovely backyard garden. When we arrived, she mentioned she had recently purchased the house from Julie Dameron, a retired nurse who recently moved to Friends Home West. We not only recognized the garden Julie planted, but also the garage room where Julie had her art studio. She is an accomplished painter, often taking inspiration from her garden. Also, she always kept bouquets of fresh flowers from this very garden. Julie left behind not only her poppies, but also a lovely rose garden. However, Julie is cultivating a rose garden at Friends Home West. Today, she can now see that the lovely poppies at her previous home are bringing joy to Kit. Such is the nature of gardening; an initial investment of time and effort yields benefits that can last for generations. If you see Kit or Julie, compliment them on their poppies.

Today, when people are wearing a red poppy on their lapel,  you will know the story. Ask them if their poppy is from the garden of Kit and Julie, the garden across from Lindley Elementary School, or from a garden we need to know about so we can photograph it for next year! If someone approaches you to purchase a poppy for your lapel,  you will know the backstory.

Finally, we have a dear friend and reader who requested we share the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae. This is the poem that inspired the use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. Our friend remembers having to memorize the poem in 6th grade.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

Krispy Kreme Doughploma

Yesterday was the first day for graduations for Guilford County Schools. They day started with the graduation of the Early College of Guilford, Greensboro College Middle College, The Middle College at UNCG, Kearns Academy, and the Academy at Smith. High School graduation ceremonies will continue through June 11th (see schedule here). The above photo; however, features "dough-ploma" day at Krispy Kreme Donuts. Yesterday, any student who could verify they are graduating this year received a dozen original glazed donuts for FREE from Krispy Kreme. This tradition started during Covid and has been so well received, that it continues today (read HERE). No purchase was necessary.

The above photo was taken at the Krispy Kreme on Battleground Avenue. When we stopped by around 6:00 pm. the store was so busy, some students had to wait in a line outside. When we drove back by at almost 9:00 pm, the line was equally long. It was only one day, but as quickly as information spreads with teens through social media, the word got out quickly. How wonderful they offer these doughplomas. We're wondering what other businesses do something so generous. This was not just one doughnut, but a whole dozen. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

Happy Thursday!

True Family Home; 507 Chapman Street- Gone, But Not Forgotten!

As of yesterday afternoon, just before 5:00 pm, this was all that was left of the little blue house on Chapman Street, the place where Jack True made holidays come to life for generations of Greensboro's children.*  His years of playing Santa Claus on the porch were epic. Now, with only signs of the foundation remaining, you can see that this house had a tiny, tiny footprint. Built in 1935, it had two bedrooms and one bathroom. According to Zillow, the lot is .19 of an acre and it sold on 2/23/23 for $79,000. Unless it was rezoned or additional property acquired, it will accommodate a single family dwelling of 3,529 square feet.

This is a very desirable neighborhood between Lindley Park, Sunset Hills, and UNCG. It will be interesting to see what gets built. There are those breathing a sigh of relief that the house with only a wood stove for a heat source and a leaky, tarped roof is gone. A new structure will serve to improve this corner of the neighborhood. However, there are those who know that sometimes houses with the tiniest of footprints are home to people with the biggest hearts. Such was the case at 507 Chapman Street.

* see here, a Greensboro Daily Photo of the house when it was still standing.

Northern Roots Coffee Shop

Northern Roots is a coffee shop downtown near Scuppernong Books and on the same side of the street. This past weekend, they celebrated their one year birthday. While they are known for their coffee and tea drinks, they do have some sweet and savory croissants and bagels. People especially enjoy sitting in the cozy seating, especially at the windows. When we stopped by this weekend, they were 5 minutes from closing, so we grabbed a coffee to go and snapped this photo. The store is much busier early in the day. Coffee shops become our third spaces, a sort of home or business area. This is a "palate cleansing" coffee shop with the relaxing and neutral colors. Elm Street now has several coffee shops. It would be fun to start the day at Dolce Aroma at 233 North Elm Street, and work our way to Common Grounds at 631 South Elm Street, visiting everything in between How much caffeine would be that in all of the establishments in those 8 blocks?

Happy Tuesday!

Greensboro Bound Literary Festival

The Greensboro Bound Literary Festival has come and gone, but oh what a wonderful festival it was and we look forward to having it return to Greensboro next spring. The festival is always a combination of North Carolina authors, as well as authors from across the United States. This year, there were 55 authors participating. Presenters were as local as the poet laureates from 14 Guilford County high schools.

The above photo features the three co-presenters from the "This Is Your Brain On Poetry" session at Scuppernong Books on Saturday afternoon. They are, from left to right, Filipino-American poet and author Janine Joseph (Stillwater, OK), Maureen Sherbondy (Raleigh, NC), and Crystal Simone Smith (Durham, NC). Topics of their writing often include issues related to social justice. We forgot to ask the trio how they came together for their session, but they seemed to be a perfect fit.

Finally, it is always fun to see the worker bees, behind the scene making our festivals run seamlessly. We saw Lynn Witherspoon working logistics, dashing around on a golf cart, probably going between the literary festival and the blues festival. 

Church of the Covenant... Psalm 100:4

Today's Bible verse is from Psalm (100:4) and it is posted at the entryway to the Church of the Covenant on South Mendenhall Street. We saw it recently when attending a concert there. Don't you wonder how it is that some scripture gets quoted, or inscribed for all to see? The Book of Psalms was used in Ancient Israel and a key book for Jews and Christians alike. In searching the meaning online, it appears to reminds believers to go to God with thanks and to give thanks under any circumstance. On the evening we were at the church, for a short while we were the only ones in the entrance area and this door looked so inviting. We didn't, however, open it.

Do you have a favorite verse? What are some of your favorite religious quotes and  inspiration seen around Greensboro, published for all to see?

Happy Sunday!

Farmers Market Day

Today is Farmers Market day. The above photo is the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville, across from the old War Memorial baseball stadium. It opens at 7:30 am today and continues until about noon. Two other well attended markets are the one on West Market Street at St. Andrew's Church.  The Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge is another good option. It is not to late to plant if you are interested in having a garden. Any of these markets, or the smaller pop-up markets, would be a great option. Just getting out and being around people and seeing fresh vegetables is a good thing. Greensboro is really blessed to have all of these options for farm to table food.

While you are out and about, you can also go to Preservation Greensboro's 13th annual tour of homes. This year, they will be in Westerwood- today and tomorrow. See here.

Have a great Saturday! 

Sheldon Herman, Bicyclist and Volunteer Extraordinaire

As we continue our posts about biking in Greensboro during National Bike Month, we would be remiss if we did not feature Sheldon Herman. Sheldon was co-owner and business manager for Lotus Center on Lawndale Drive. In retirement, Sheldon has not slowed down in the least. He works tirelessly with the bike community to get people riding and to make cycling safer. He also helps get bikes for people who have no means of transportation to work. In 2021, Fox News featured Sheldon's efforts to make bikes available to Afghan refugees, others in need, and children who need to experience the joy of riding a bike  (read more here). Bikesboro, a local biking network and group of volunteers, donated more than 400 bikes to adults and children. Through the Bikesboro group, you can become part of a great biking community.  Sheldon is also one of the founders of the bicycle shop in Barber Park, which is where the above photo was taken.

The bicycle shop in Barber Park is located in an older brick building at the bottom of the hill, just beyond the enclosed sports complex. There, people bring bikes to donate, volunteers come to learn to repair bikes and get them road ready. While the bike shop at Barber Park has been open for a while now, they have started a new initiative: The "Bike Library." Every Sunday from 1:00pm- 4:00 pm, people can check out bicycles to ride around the park. The volunteers make sure the bike is the right size and even give lessons for those who have not yet learned to ride or who need a refresher. The grand opening of the "Bike Library" will be this Sunday, May 21st from 1:00pm- 4:00 pm. The opportunity borrow a bike is free! A heartfelt thank you goes out to Sheldon and all of the other volunteers. See you at Barber Park on Sunday!

Happy Friday!

Amphibians: Frog

Today's photo is a green tree frog. He perched on the door and spent the whole evening getting a meal. Here is a really nice website about frogs and toads of North Carolina. It helps in identifying local frogs and toads. What kind do you think this one was? It was found on a window in northeast Greensboro. Part of the secret to having your yard serve as a habitat for frogs and toads is that you need a water source and a natural part of the yard.

Another thing we've been seeing this week is lightning bugs. They thrive in summer heat and like a higher , unmanicured lawns. So far, we've only seen asynchronous fireflies in Greensboro. However, in the mountains of North Carolina, there are synchronous fireflies. The call went out for people to win an opportunity to go see them (see HERE). We didn't enter the lottery, so we didn't have a chance to win. In the meantime, we'll keep documenting the food and toads. Have you ever seen the synchronous fireflies in the North Carolina mountains?

Happy Thursday!

Jimmie I. Barber

Jimmie I. Barber * served the Greensboro City Council for twelve years, from 1969- 1981, which, at the time made him the longest serving black member in Greensboro. Barber Park, located between East Gate City Boulevard and Florida Street, was dedicated, renamed Barber Park, in 1989. It had first been known as Southeast Park. 

The sculptor of the above bust of Mr. Barber is Maria J. Kirby-Smith who finished she sculpture in 1990.  The position of the extended hand, ready for a handshakes, suggests community engagement, the gesture of a gentleman; something that likely helped keep Mr. Barber in office for so many years. According to the above plaque, he was the "people's man" who "belonged to all the people." Contributions to this bronze bust were made by the Greensboro Jaycees, Las Amigas, and The City of Greensboro. The monument is located near the sports building at the bottom of the hill. With the landscaping around it, it is easier to find while walking or on a bicycle. Challenge yourself to find it the next time you are at Barber Park.

Happy Tuesday!

 

• See Mr. Barber's photo, here.
• Learn more about Greensboro's parks in this Our State Magazine article from June 2022.

Southern Fried Burger in a Pretty Great Hamburger Town

Greensboro is known as the Gate City; however, we're also known for some pretty good hamburgers. We even have a square downtown known as Hamburger Square! The above photo is from dinner last night at Hops Burger Bar. The restaurant opened on Spring Garden Street in 2013 and by 2015 had gained national attention when TripAdvisor voted it as America's Best Burger Restaurant. A second location of Hops Burger Bar opened on Lawndale Drive in Irving Park in 2015. One special aspect of Hops is that every Sunday they create a new burger that they only offer for a week. In the 10 years they've been open, that is over 500 different burgers.

As a fun, little self challenge, when we go to Hops, we order the special, regardless of the combination of ingredients. Yesterday ws about the most unique burger we've had to date.  Here is the description of it up on the chalk board of "The Southern Fried Burger". It is a battered and fried hamburger , topped with Tabasco marinated tomatoes, bourbon pickles, country gravy, and crumbled applewood bacon on a piece of thick, diced garlic toast. It is served with a side of corn fritters and a spicy maple sauce. (We opted for cole slaw instead of the corn fritters).

We hope you had a great week even if it didn't include a "Southern Fried Burger."  It isn't too late, you've got  six more days to try one! Happy Monday!

 

Bruce Molsky performs Presbyterian Church of the Covenant

The Presbyterian Church of the Covenant is located at 501 South Mendenhall Street. Designed by Greensboro Architect. Harry Barton, the Church of the Covenant was built in 1914 to replace a church that was built in 1906. Have you ever noticed that it has symmetrical facades on Walker Avenue and Mendenhall Street? The above photo features the sanctuary. It is built on the corner of the lot and the shape actually adds to the acoustics of the space. The above photo was taken from the balcony this past Friday when Bruce Molsky was performing.

Bruce teaches in the American Roots Program at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and he is one talented musician. He plays guitar, banjo, and fiddle. His playing style is influenced by Tommy Jarrell. When Bruce plays the fiddle and sings at the same time, it is hard to distinguish sometimes if he is singing or if the violin is playing a drone note. Bruce is very personable and had just the right amount of telling the back story to a tune or song and playing. Bruce also held a fiddle and banjo workshop on Saturday, in the above photo. If you ever get a chance to pray, meditate, or hear a concert in the Church of the Covenant, you should take advantage of it. You would be in for a treat.

Happy Sunday!

Lisa Rawlings, Local Author

The above photo features Lisa Rawlings, who has recently published a book about her childhood called, "One Girl's Story." Lisa was on hand at at Just Be for First Friday in May to read from and promote her book. We saw her yesterday when she was working at Just Be for her daughter Kathryn, who owns this lovely gift shop at Hamburger Square. Lisa was born into a Navy family in Saigon, Vietnam and her dad's career took the family to many places around the world. However, she considers Meridian, Mississippi to be her hometown. The book is a collection of short stories. Lisa was prompted to write down these memories of her childhood after losing her sister, also her best friend, to an aneurism. Lisa teaches 5th grade at Caldwell Academy and wrote a book that she felt would appeal to her students. On the back cover, she encourages children, about her students' age, to read the book and compare how much their life is like hers and to see what aspects of her life were unique.

Lisa loves to read, write, teach, and spend time outdoors. She currently has a book series she wants to write;  her idea is too good to share at this point. Once she writes and publishes the first book in the series, we think it will take off. Meanwhile, if you want a copy of "One Girl's Story,"  you can get it at Just Be, or log on to her Instagram site lisa_rawlings and get details there. When asked what she likes about Greensboro, Lisa says she loves the location, given she can easily get to the beach or the mountains. Hopefully, once the school year ends, she'll have time to vacation somewhere in North Carolina and start that book series.

Happy Saturday!

Art & Supply Pop Up

Our friend and artist, Cassandra Liuzzo, is featured today at her pop up art sale at the corner of Grove Street and Lexington in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Cassandra had Shelf Life Art & Supply Co. in Irving Park for several years. After closing that store, she now sells art at Design Archives in downtown Greensboro. At her studio in Glenwood, she sells art and craft supplies, as well as gives private and group art lessons. Her pop up sales will continue throughout the summer on the same day as the Glenwood Market. Cassandra's hours are a little earlier, 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm on Thursdays. If you are at the Glenwood Market, just follow the path to from the market to the front of the church and you will see her pop up. 

Cassandra, a Grimsley High School graduate, is a talented artist herself. She had a Greensboro Residency for Original Works (GROW) downtown in 2021. Not only is she accomplished at drawing and painting, she has beautiful journals and is quite a fiber artist. It will be interesting to follow her career and see the direction her talent will take her. You can find her website on Facebook (Shelf Life Art & Supply Co.) and connect with her at shelflifeart on Instagram. If you get a chance, stop by Cassandra's pop up next week. Not only will you have the opportunity for a good conversation, you will find some great supplies at a reasonable price. Thank you Cassandra for always having a great smile and welcoming spirit.

Happy Friday, dear readers. 

Happy National Bike Month; Happy Times on the Greenway!

National Bike Month was established in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists.* Communities coast to coast have events to promote connecting communities, making streets safer, and connecting people with resources for biking. Last night, there was a great event downtown. It was called "Tune in and Tune Up."  Those involved with last night's event included, The Downtown Greenway Department of Greensboro Parks and Recreation, The Community Bike Shop at Barber Park, Bicycles in Greensboro (BIG)  and volunteer bike mechanics and enthusiasts. Partiicpants came together to at the Cairn's Course spot on the downtown greenway to help bicyclists with simple tune-ups and to receive pointers on  basic bike maintenance.

We had our bikes tuned up, got air in our tires,  and rode the gravel greenway path. The weather was perfect and the sense of community was wonderful. We learned about the Tuesday Beginner Bike Ride that meets at Cycles D'Oro at 6:00 pm. Nobody gets left behind on that ride and there is help if you need it. We also learned about a big event at the  Community Bike Shop at Barber Park on Sunday, May 21st. The bike shop is open every Sunday  from 1-4pm; however, Sunday, May 21st will be extra special there. At the bike shop in Barber Park, you can borrow a bike. Yes, Greensboro has a bike "library"! You can learn about making repairs, about opportunities to volunteer, and more.

Last night was so much fun. We can't wait to bike on the greenway some more. While it will be a couple more years until the downtown greenway is completely paved and finished, for now, the gravel path is a good start. Chelsea Phipps (not photographed) is the Greenways & Gardens Program Coordinator in the Park Operations Division of the City of Greensboro. While she was in attendance last night, we didn't get a chance to include her in the photo. Most days, you can find Chelsea out doing something on the ever-expanding greenway! Chelsea is committed to making  Greensboro's  greenway a space that gets used and loved by the community, be it for bicyclists, runners, walkers, and more. 

 

Happy Thursday! Happy National Bike Month!

 

* Read more HERE.

719 Fifth Avenue in the Dunleath Neighborhood

The Dunleath neighborhood in east Greensboro is very walkable. The above photo was taken this past Saturday when there was a Kentucky Derby party in the neighborhood as well as multiple yard sales. There were almost as many free items as items for sale. The weather was sunny, but crisp and it was a perfect day to walk around and meet neighbors.  The above photo, at 719 Fifth Avenue was not having a sale, but they were getting a fresh paint job by "Absolute Quality Painting" and it was looking beautiful. This Dutch colonial house was built in 1910 and currently sits on 1/4 acre. It last sold in 2022 and the neighbors are quite likely getting ready for Porchfest. On Saturday, June 10th, Dunleath will have porches filled with musicians from 11 am- 6pm. As stated on their website, neighbors offer their porches and musicians offer their talents. Music sets last about 45 minutes and people stroll from porch to porch enjoying great music. Maps are printed to distribute to guests. Porchfest began in 2017 and has continued to grow every year.  This is another example of a grassroots event that makes Greensboro such a special place to live.

Happy Wednesday!

Hibernation is Over: It's Turtle Time!

This, turtle was in our yard the other day. With the hours of daylight increasing and the temperatures rising, they are ready to come out of hibernation and mate. We're guessing this 10" turtle was a male; the way he was scooting along with determination, he was probably in search of a mate. He looks like an older turtle, the way the rings on his back are growing together. Remember to only touch turtles if they need to be scooted out of the road and to keep them oriented to the direction they were headed. Do be mindful they can bite. Here is a starter page for identifying turtles in North Carolina. At first we thought this was an Eastern box turtle, but it seems a little flat and larger than most box turtles. Do you know? If so, please let us know.

Spring is an exciting time for wildlife aficionados. It is also time you will see snakes. There is a Facebook group NC Snake Identification & Education. You can have someone identify the type of snake you see with a photo and the name of the area it was found. Many people comment that they are not as afraid of snakes as a result of belonging to this page. If there are little ones in your life, it is fun to keep a wildlife journal, documenting what you see throughout the spring and summer. The more you walk in wooded areas, the more you will see. The more natural areas you have in your yard, the more you will see. If you really want to animal watch in Greensboro and in North Carolina, here is a good place to start learning.

Hare Krishna Chariot

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded in the mid-1960s in New York City.* The Hare Krishna movement is a branch of Hinduism. The above photo is of a religious chariot, used in Ratha Yatra public processions, which are expressions of love for Lord Jagannath. Imagine our surprise when a few weeks ago, we saw the chariot assembled on Church Street near Wendover Avenue. Two devotees had were busy making sure everything was in good order before shipping the chariot out on loan for Ratha Yatras to Chicago. It is loaned out for Hard Krishna events all over the United States. Between events, the chariot resides in Greensboro. It can be disassembled for storage.

On the top left of the chariot is Jackson Mayshark who became a Hare Krishna in 1972 while living in California. Mr. Mayshark lives in Greensboro, where he owns and manages Ambleside Art Gallery on South Elm Street. He had an earlier iteration of a chariot, but sold it after he refined design specification and purchased the above model. Mr. Mayshark's  friend ("brother") Al Fitch is on the ladder. He is a practicing Krishna, from Ohio and will borrow the chariot, soon for an event in the Ohio Valley.

There are three Krishna Temples in North Carolina: One in Stokes County. one in Hillsborough, and one in Apex. The day we happened upon the chariot on Church Street, Mr. Mayshark and Mr. Fitch were very kind to answer questions at great length about the religion, as well as details about the chariot. We hope to learn more about the community in the Piedmont area of Greensboro. Mr. Mayshark has offered to take us to take us to a service and we hope to do so. There is so much depth and texture to the people of Greensboro. Greensboro Daily Photo helps us take the time to learn more about the people of our great community.

Happy Sunday!

 

* read more about the Hare Krishna movement and history HERE.

Wheels on the Greenway, Plus!

 

Today's photo features the May First Friday in downtown Greensboro- yesterday. LeBauer Park had música latina and tents for creating and crafting. Reconsidered Goods was one of the non-profits bringing creative joy to people visiting the park. The warm weather and Cinco de Mayo brought out a lot of folks. Today will be equally busy downtown. In Center City Park, Tabitha Brown will be on site. She has several tents of activities planned. Also, she will roll out her line of clothing and household items, to be sold at Target. Since she is from the Triad, she will hare her designs with us first! Her event is free and open to the public.

Equally exciting today is the 8th annual WHEELS on the Greenway event. As you can see on the sign above, the event starts at 9:00 am in the park at the corner of Murrow Boulevard and Lindsay Street (405 N. Murrow Blvd.). If it has wheels, you are invited to bring it participate. Several community partners will be offering interactive activities. There will be helmet giveaways, opportunities to learn to work on bikes, a "bling your bike" station, and so much more. Please follow the link at the beginning of this paragraph to see just how many community partners are involved and all of the activities will be associated with WHEELS on the Greenway. We are so proud of Greensboro and just how much there is to do hear. The community just keeps getting better and better!

Happy Saturday!

Matt Fisher

Matt Fisher has been the director of the SELF Design Studio at UNCG for nine years. He is one of the most creative people you will ever meet. In the photo,he is standing in the makerspace in front of a 3-D printer. Matt teaches students to code and create 3D items with the Fusion3. Just behind Matt is a chess set that was printed on the 3D printer. Also in the photo is a cardboard mask that he made. Because of Matt's expertise, his easy-going personality, and his love of helping people explore their own creativity, students come to the makerspace to hang out and make things, often just for the sake of learning and not specifically for a class. Student interns love their placement here. On the day we were there, Matt was helping students make stickers with the Cricket. He had a sewing machine out because one student is learning to sew. A class was learning to code and make digital dioramas to as final projects for Spanish class. Some students were in the makerspace coding their avatars to walk around in their diorama, while others were in the hallway recording their Spanish audio samples to upload so their avatars could lead the viewer through the diorama. All of this creativity happens on the third floor of the School of Education building.

Matt is originally from New Jersey, but has been in Greensboro for close to 20 years. His undergraduate degree is in marine biology and his MA is in Creative Arts and Learning. He can teach, write curriculum, and create. UNCG is lucky to have him. Matt lives in Greensboro with his wife, two daughters, and four cats. When we told him that Greensboro Daily Photo has been publishing a photo a day for fifteen years, he pulled out his cell phone to show us his creation. For 10 years, without missing a day, he takes a short video of something interesting about his day. It can be something new he learned to do at work; sometimes it is of his daughters, wife, or the silly cats. He selects about 2 seconds of video and stitches them all together on an app his friend created. At the end of the year, he reviews 365 days in about 5 minutes. Matt started an initiative about 4 years ago where he makes stickers and refrigerator magnets that say "Thanks for being a good human." He hands them to people to remind them they are good humans and gives them a few extra for the good humans in their lives. Truly, he is an inspiration.

May this post spark a little creativity in all of us. Finally, thanks for being a good human, dear readers. Happy Friday!