Greensboro Daily Photo

Faithstep Ministries Church

Faithstep Ministries is located at 309 West Gate City Boulevard, very near the Salvation Army Thrift Store. This church is in a small strip mall and near the downtown greenway. As you can see from the above photo, it is a small sanctuary, but is well cared for. It is evident from the interior that music is an important part of the ministry. They don't have a website, so it is hard to find out much about them. They have a saying on the outside of the building, "Stepping Out With Faith in Christ". The sanctuary was quiet yesterday, but we're betting it is full of enthusiasm and praise today.

Happy Sunday!

Construction at Friendly Center

Yesterday, driving around Greensboro trying to find something interesting to post for you, we came across this corner of Friendly Center. For years, the former Romano's Macaroni Grill Italian Restaurant sat empty, near where Tex & Shirley's used to be on Northline Drive at Pembroke Road. It closed unexpectedly in 2017. It had been there since 2002, and, for those of you who remember, it was built on the site that was formerly Terrace Theatre.

Now, six years later, demolition is complete and land is being graded for a medical office building. According to signage, the property is 80,000 square feet. This will really change the footprint of this corner of Friendly Center, and those in nearby housing will be able to walk to their medical appointments. It is hard to tell what you are looking at in the above photo, but it is simply the construction site with the K&W Cafeteria building peeking out on the left. We left the car window to show you, sometimes we are on site and, on occasion, we just do a drive by. We can't wait to see what this finished corner looks like.

Happy Saturday! Look for us out exploring. 

DISCO4ME

So, it is Fun Friday (not to be confused with First Friday) and we went around looking for something fun to post. First, we saw the school bus yellow car and pulled into the above parking lot when. Even better, we drove around to see what kind of car this was (Buick Sentra) and look at this license plate: DISCO4ME. Who is this DISCO4ME person? Surely, they are a lot of fun. Were they really around in the 1970s when disco was all the rage? Truly, this person has a sense of humor to post a bumper sticker saying they brake for flea markets, thrift shops, and stuff left on the curb. I guess it is a good thing their vehicle is bright yellow as they make frequent stops.

Regarding disco dancing in Greensboro, the best we could find is Silent Disco (see HERE) where you wear headphones while you dance. We hope you have a great weekend and we are counting on good weather so that we can get out and take lots of photos and attend the last MUSEP concert of the year! Oh, and, get ready to see lots of school bus yellow starting on Monday.

Happy Friday!

Woodworker Ken Collins

Some houses absolutely reflect the personalities of the owner. Such is the case of this artist at 832 Glenwood Avenue in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Ken Collins has his "shingle" displayed at his driveway announcing that he is a woodworker. However, Ken is so much more.  As you can see from the art around the yard, Ken is quite the metalworker and upcycler, too. It is hard to see in the photo, but the metal fan blade flowers have glass telephone insulators as their centers.

Ken's studio is behind his house and it seems every few years when we drive by the artwork has changed. Also, we have seen his work available at ReAligned Antique Store at 115 East Lewis Street, downtown. We don't really know him personally, but years ago, Ken repaired and rewired a lamp for us and did a fabulous job. It is so meaningful to meet local, creative people. We actually featured him in person eight years ago, and hope to have a chance to see more of his artwork.

If you look at your home, what does it say about your? We're always on the lookout for great people and places to feature. Let us know.

Happy Thursday (the new Friday)!

Jayne Butler, Librarian and Actor

Today, we're featuring library assistant extraordinaire, Jayne Butler, who works at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch of the Greensboro City Library. Yesterday, we were having technical difficulties with an online library account and Jayne took about an hour helping us get everything sorted out. She has to be the most patient person on earth. Jayne, originally from New Jersey, moved to North Carolina to attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). She graduated  in 1998 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Professional Theatre (Acting). Among her many roles, she performed in the Lion King for the National Broadway Tour.  Also, she performed in Florida in Walt Disney Resort's Festival of the Lion King. In 2022, she was invited by NCAT to be the featured lead in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Jayne, whose stage name is Jayne Trinette, sings, acts, dances, and does it all.*  She is the kind of person who can have that booming stage presence and three octave  voice,  like she needed as Ma Rainey, yet she can be soft spoken and gentle when helping someone in the library. We asked Jayne how she developed so much patience and she said, "Rejection. In acting, you have to be patient and know your day will come."   While COVID created a bump in the road, let's hope Jayne's next big role is around the corner, and that every librarian brings to the job Jayne's patience and enthusiasm.

Happy Wednesday!

 

*Follow Jayne on Instagram @ jaynesings

Tex & Shirley's Family Restaurant

The above photo is an inside view of Tex and Shirley's Family Restaurant. This pancake house has been a Greensboro institution since the early 1970's. It is now located at 1617 West Friendly Avenue in the space that once housed Ham's Restaurant. You may remember the electric train that traveled around the ceiling while eating breakfast at Ham's. The train is long gone, but the footprint of the building remains the same. For nearly 50 years, Tex & Shirley's was located on the Pembroke Road side of Friendly Center. It left that location at the end of 2017, when the building was being sold and demolished. Tex and Shirley's relocated briefly in Irving Park Plaza on Battleground; and in 2021, it opened at the above location.

Upon retirement in the 1980's, original owner Slater "Tex" Moore sold Tex & Shirley's to Bart Ortiz, Sr. In 2012, Bart Ortiz, Jr. took over the restaurant . He also owns the Tex & Shirley's off of West Wendover Avenue. This current location is just a couple of miles from the original location and in a News & Record article, Ortiz said they were moving back to the neighborhood they used to serve. Let's hope this current location is successful and they are able to stay put.

Happy Tuesday! 

Autumn Will Be Here Before We Know It!

While this was taken on the 4th of July, it is one of our favorite photos of Summer 2023 in Greensboro. It was taken in front of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. The above photo shows people out at a festival enjoying the summer with family and friends. The sun was shining brightly.

We are hearing people saying they wish fall would hurry up and get here. Fall will be here in 33 more days, just over a month. This is the last week of vacation for Guilford County Schools students (on a traditional calendar) as school resumes on Monday, August 28th. After the start of school comes Labor Day, and then the National Folk Festival, and then fall. Let's not rush our days away.

Happy Monday!

Faith Walk Baptist Church Is For Sale

About a month ago, we featured Faith Walk Baptist Church at 1305 Rankin Mill Road, out near Keeley Park. As it turns out, when we drove past last Sunday afternoon for the MUSEP concert, the above van was gone and we saw a for sale sign. The church is being sold. It is a very simple building that could be converted into just about anything, easily. The property is a prime piece of land in a part of the county that is changing before our eyes.

As we drive to MUSEP this evening at Barber Park, who knows what we will see or what will have changed. SunQueen Kelsey and the Soular Flares will be playing tomorrow evening. Their music is about self-love. As we consider our spirituality, our journey is a faith walk and it is more likely to be positive if we practice self love. Grad a friend and head on out to MUSEP this evening. In the meantime, if you have an idea for a former church property, there is one waiting for you.

Happy Sunday!

Model A Car at Ozzie's

While we were at Ozzie's Ice Cream on Old Battleground Road recently, we ran into the Silers. Mr. Siler was standing in front of his 1931 Model A Ford. The vehicle is absolutely beautiful inside and out. While almost everything is restored to authentic fidelity, it does have air conditioning. An admirer of the vehicle and friend of Mr Siler said that he can fix anything. This summer, the car had the adventure of a lifetime. The Silers drove it to a show in Hamilton Ohio, 479 miles and it drove just fine up at cruising speed.

Mr. Siler recommended the ice cream highly. We hope to see him again there, sometime when he drives down from Bethany. Maybe he will even bring another vintage car. Greensboro has a lot of vintage car aficionados, as well as organized car shows. Then, there are the people who just show up with their vehicles and, like Mr. Siler, most are proud of their vehicles and eager to answer any question you may have.

Happy Saturday! 

The Habit Burger Grill at Brassfield Shopping Center

Habit Burger got its start in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California. They serve open-flame, chargrilled burgers. The franchise is mostly on the west and east coasts; nothing in the middle of the country. The above location, at Brassfield Shopping Center. The footprint of the building is mostly the same as then it was Chick-Fil-A; except, Habit has a covered patio, eating area and no playroom. When we were there last night, they had mostly drive through customers. Hopefully, they will build repeat customers and the word will get out about this new restaurant.

The promising news is that Brassfield Shopping Center is experiencing a Renaissance. Most of the stores are rented in the shopping center with great diversity in types of retail places. There is a Crumbl Cookie, Gold's Gym, Biscuitville, Trader Joe's, Trek Bike Store, Pet Supplies Plus, FedEx, and more. Brassfield opened in 1987 with PharMoor Drugs, Michaels, a movie theatre, and Stein Mart serving as anchor businesses. The cinema has not yet reopened, but there is a Red Box dumpster in front of the building, an indication that work has been started. How wonderful to have an existing shopping center experiencing a rebirth, as opposed to needing to clear land and building something new. If you are on North Battleground (NoBa), be sure to stop into one of the Brassfield shops, especially one that you may not have visited- perhaps the Habit Burger Grill.

Happy Friday! So many choices and weekends are short..

Deer in the Suburbs

Are you ever out walking in the morning and run into deer? We like to walk early in the morning and it is a rare day if we don't see deer before 7:00 am. There are lots os fawns now. They will have time to mature before winter sets in. North Carolina wildlife published a "North Carolina White-Tailed Deer Density" map in 2020.  According to this map, there are more than 50 per square mile in Guilford County. We have more deer per square mile than Rockingham County. They are pretty to look at, but they can do a lot of damage. They are constantly foraging and love almost anything green and leafy. It is illegal to take in a deer in the Triad and you are encouraged not to feed them because it keeps them from foraging or in some cases learning to forage. They are meant to survive in the wild and have moved into the suburbs as much of their habitat is being converted to housing and commercial properties. The above deer were seen in northwest Guilford County.

Happy Thursday! 

Native American Art Gallery and Resources in Guilford County

The Native American Art Gallery in the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street is filled with some lovely arts and crafts, as seen in the above photo. It has been open since 1990. They both exhibit and sell Native American art.  They also have annual exhibitions and multi-disciplinary arts and education programs. It is a 501 (c) 3 agency and do a lot to support the local Native American community.

Also, mark your calendars as The Guilford Native American Association will host their 46th Annual Pow Wow September 15-17. At the Pow Wow, you can see many intricately handcrafted items in use. For example a jingle dress usually has 365 jingles on it, one for every day of the year. You may see people wearing their best moccasins.  Did you know that the Guilford County Schools has an American Indian Education Program? They help Native American students achieve academically and provide opportunities for students to engage in cultural activities facilitated by Native community members.  There is a lot of overlap in participation between these groups, creating a way for the Native community members to stay connected to the past and in the present.

Happy Wednesday!

LFG & Greene Street

As you can see from the LED display on the top of the building to the left, it is the LFG building. Lincoln Financial acquired the Jefferson-Pilot Corporation and this iconic building in March of 2006. The FLG building is highly visible from most vantage points downtown. The light façade shines against the above dramatic sky. The photo was taken this past weekend and shows how a Greensboro sky can change before our eyes. Here, you see a bright blue sky completing with a dark, ominous patch.

Something that has been under discussion for years is that Greene Street is part one-way and part two-way. Do pay attention when driving on Greene. The part in the photograph will be close during the 2023 North Carolina Folk Festival, to be held right here in Greensboro from September 8th-10th. (See map/festival footprint HERE). For the folk festival, let's hope the bright blue sky will win out over the dark, ominous one.

Have a great Tuesday. Hope to see you downtown!

 

Banjo Earth

Last night Banjo Earth was the featured act at MUSEP. The MUSEP concert was held in Keeley Park off of Rankin Mill Road in East Greensboro. It is a lovely venue and the musicianship  was tremendous. Unfortunately, the concert wasn't very well attended. It was such a great opportunity and excuse to explore Keeley Park. See here where we featured Keeley Park in July. It is conveniently located just off the I-840 and 785 bypass.

According to the website of lead singer Andy Eversole, Banjo Earth is a music and video project. Andy travels the earth sharing his music and learning the past and present music of the cultures in which he is immersed. Andy is an Americana, bluegrass, experimental, folk artist from Greensboro. As a band, Banjo Earth is committed to peacemaking. Next up is a journey to Mexico. Hopefully, post-Mexico,  when the group regroups in Greensboro, they will perform for us again. In the meantime, see their past adventures here. We are so lucky to have access to an array of great live music in Greensboro. Next week's free MUSEP concert will be in Barber Park.

Happy Monday!

First Lutheran Church

It has been about five years since we featured the First Lutheran Church of Greensboro; so, we stopped by yesterday afternoon to see if there were any changes. There don't seem to have been any changes to the structure; however, there are some new benches installed in a garden area just behind where we stood to take this photo. Also, we'd forgotten just how well the grounds are maintained. From hydrangeas to costa to mature trees, the church is a lush haven on Friendly Avenue near Holden Road. The original First Lutheran Church was located at 307 Ashe Street and the architect was Henry E. Bonitz. It was constructed in 1910-1911 and, unfortunately, is no longer standing. Thanks to local historian Gayle Fripp, we know the architect of the first First Lutheran Church. However, an online search did not yield results for the architect of the above iteration of the church.

As you can see from the photo, this structure is has noteworthy, even unique, architecture  and is literally solid as a rock. The triangle/trinity theme is ever apparent. The diamonds that flank the main part of the building provide a way to enter the building on the ground floor. The stonework is beautiful as is the sanctuary. This church was rather quiet on Saturday afternoon However, on Sundays and during the weekdays people are constantly coming and going, either to worship or to participate in one of the many groups that meet here. We hope to get detains about the architect and architecture. 

Have a great Sunday!

 

See the website of the church HERE.

Exterior of Hopper Trolley

After featuring Greensboro's Hopper Trolley yesterday, with the driver, we had a couple of requests to show the exterior of the trolley. So, here you have it. It is well marked and very distinct from the city busses. Of course, this is one of four trolleys and they run up and down Elm Street from 12 noon to 12 pm on Thur-Sat and until 10 pm on Sunday. It is so beautiful inside and out. We especially love the inside. It is clean and spacious. There is a map of Greensboro on the ceiling.

The above trolley was photographed in front of Natty Greene's just as it was turning onto Hamburger Square. Hamburger Square is a really convenient place to catch the Hopper Trolley. Today would be a perfect day to give it a try. If you want to combine a ride with a baseball game, the Grasshoppers* will be home for Thirsty Thursday and the trolley will be running. Mark your calendars. 

Happy Saturday, make it a great one!!!

 

* see schedule HERE.

Downtown Free Hopper Trolley

The Free Hopper Trolley is such a fabulous service for Downtown Greensboro. It has been up and running for about four weeks now and is super convenient. It runs the length of Elm Street from Fisher Street in the north to Carolyn Coleman Way, just south of East Gate City Boulevard. There are four trolleys running from 12 noon- 12 midnight from Thursday to Saturday and from 12 noon- 10 pm on Sunday. When we were riding yesterday, we had the good fortune to ride with Lorraine. She has been a public bus driver for over 30 years, with much of her career in New York City and Boston. She is so personable and so careful.

The only thing the trolley needs is passengers. Lorraine said that it gets really busy when there are events downtown, like baseball games or First Friday. People who live in or near downtown report really finding it convenient. Let's hope it catches on. While the drivers will try to stop if they can do so safely, look for the round Hopper Trolley signs. The stop at Hamburger Square is convenient to Natty Greenes. The stop at North Eugene/Smith Street is convenient to the baseball stadium. Today would be a great day to try the Free Hopper Trolley. If you see Lorraine, thank her for her service!

Happy Friday!

Ozzie's Ice Cream

(Sorry this is late. We usually publish at 5:30 am. Today, it was set for 5:30 pm)!! Nothing says summer more than ice cream. Last night, we headed to Ozzie's for ice cream and hot dog night. In the beginning (2014), Ozzies was located on Old Battleground at Westridge. Since 2020, has been located down the road at 3712 Old Battleground; about as far as you can go on on Old Battleground before you arrive at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. This location is perfect. There is good car parking and since it backs up to the greenway, it is possible to grab an ice cream after a walk or bike ride. As you can see from the above photo, there is plenty of room for outdoor seating. Most nights, it is full.

Through the summer, Wednesday evenings was a time for hotdogs being grilled outside with live music at Ozzie's. However, the schedule will now change with is a couple of weeks off and then for the hotdog & music nights to resume outdoors on September 1st. Student workers will be going back to school and they will be able to work on Friday nights, but not on Wednesday. The owners, Adam and Betsy Greer are educators themselves. Plus, they have five children of their own, and their own children have developed a great work ethic as a result of working at the store.  Adam and Betsy  got the name for the business on a mission trip in Uganda. There is a diner on the Main Street of Jinja called Ozzie's. They became friends with the owner and the name is a nod to that friendship.

In 2020, Maria Johnson wrote a great article about Ozzie's for O. Henry Magazine.  Happy Thursday. It's a great day for ice cream!

Major General Nathanael Greene

Yesterday's post on the Black Patriots of the Revolutionary War who fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was very well received, prompting us to visit the park this afternoon. It has been a while since we've visited the Nathanael Greene Monument at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The official address of this monument is 2332 New Garden Road. Nathanael Green was the major general for whom the city of Greensboro is named. General Greene was born on August 7, 1742, making this his birthday week. 

While he was born in Rhode Island and died in Georgia, Nathanael Greene fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. He died only five years later. As you can see, the above monument is an equestrian statue. The sculptor was Francis Herman Packer. The imposing monument, dedicated in 1991, stands over 27 feet tall. While General Greene's army was defeated by General Cornwallis and his troops, the battle was a turning point in the war. As we shared yesterday, we now know that there were black patriots who also fought.

Happy Wednesday!

Black Patriots of Revolution

The above photo features the GTA bus that honors the Black men who fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. These were men who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary Battle in Guilford County. The bus operates across routes citywide. If you want to learn more about the research that went into uncovering the story of the experiences of enslaved and free people of color at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It is fascinating to learn how people of Greensboro come together to research information and bring history to light. This video is over an hour long and even if you don't watch the video, it is nice to know that information gets archived. So from an idea to the process of researching the Black men who participated to putting this history on a bus for all to see has been a lengthy process that came to fruition this summer. 

If you are looking for something to do as summer wanes, spend some time at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and try to learn more about the people whose names are found on this bus. Happy Tuesday!

MUSEP Concert- Orquesta Internacional La Clave

The Music on Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP) concert last night was supposed to have been at Lindley Park, but rain intervened. Fortunately, the program was moved inside to the Van Dyke Performance Space at the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. The group that performed was the Orquesta Internacional La Clave and, as you can see from the above photo, people were having a great time dancing. Orquesta Internacional La Clave played lovely salsa music and people were dancing up a storm. Unfortunately, the change in venue impacted attendance significantly.

This is the 44th year for MUSEP. Three concerts remain in this season. Hopefully, you will be able to attend them. We learned last night that, on average, the concerts cost $3,500 each. While entrance is free, contributions are always greatly appreciated.

Happy Monday!

Guilford College on a Quiet Sunday Morning

Guilford College was founded by the Religious Society of Friends (also known as Quakers)  in 1837. This 340 acre campus, once remotely located west of Greensboro, is now part of the suburbs of the city. Seeing the  publicity lately about its the involvement in the Underground Railroad, we are reminded of what a peaceful sanctuary this lovely place is. Since 1990, Friends Center has been a program on campus that aims to support and nurture the Quaker-inspired and multi-faith activities. Friends Center is located in the Alumni House. 

Soon, students will be arriving on campus for fall semester. Especially for students who are struggling being away from home for the first time, or students in general who are feeling lonely, a place like Friends Center can make all the difference in helping students adjust to campus life. If you are looking for a way to do some good, consider donating or being involved in a program like this one or any such program at a house of worship. In the meantime, if you just need a quiet place to walk and appreciate the beauty of nature, the Guilford College Campus is a great place to start.  The Underground Railroad Tree, a tulip popular that dates to the 1700s, is such a spiritual place and a great addition to any campus walk. 

Have a great Sunday!

Crosswalk Tamra Hunt

Recently, we ran across this crosswalk in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. It is located on Neal Street at the intersection with Haywood, very near Gate City Boulevard. To help you orient to the location, in the upper right hand corner of the photo you can see the UNCG's Kaplan Recreation Center. The artist is Tamra Hunt, who is a Greensboro based artist and member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. This crosswalk is part of Creative Greensboro's Neighborhood Art Program. Hunt has spearheaded performance and visual arts programs in the Glenwood neighborhood, helping people learn about indigenous people in the community. 

If. you are interested, read the City of Greensboro's page (HERE)  where Tamra shares the meaning of each piece of the above artwork. If you drive to Glenwood to see this artwork, also drive by the Lonnie Revels Greenway (see HERE) another place of recognition of a member of the Lumbee Tribe.

Va Opossum

With the extended hours of daylight in the summer and the full moon this week, wild animals have been busy. We took this photo earlier in the summer, but we see animals in our yard all the time. This Virginia opossum was out exploring and dashed into a the above hole when he saw us coming. Likely, a groundhog actually lives there. Opossums keep neighborhoods clear of cockroaches, ticks, and small rodents. They love eating ticks and help cut down on Lyme disease. They are even known to eat venomous snakes. Opossums are marsupials and carry their young in a pouch. Likely, those babies in your Greensboro yard were born earlier in the summer and are old enough to live on their own now. Please be kind to them. They won't bother you in any way. In an online search, we learned that the Virginia opossum has been in North Carolina since the Pleistocene Period- also known as the Ice Age and lasting from 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago. Wow!

Happy Thursday!

Farmers Market Flowers

Do you like cut flowers? The weekend is the perfect time to purchase flowers for the week. The above photo was taken at the farmers market at Sandy Ridge. Our local Greensboro farmers markets are quite the "go to" places for cut flowers. They are always so beautiful and and reasonably priced. Sometimes you get pre-packaged bouquets and often, you can design your own. The above couple look like they could be brother and sister. They worked very well together helping us find the perfect bouquet.

If you can't get to a farmers market, The Fresh Market also has a very nice selection of flowers. 

Happy August 1st. Today is theme day for the City Daily Photo community and August's theme is: Garden. While this isn't technically a garden, you know it takes gardens to make these beautiful flowers happen!

Jenna Rice Art, LLC

Jenna Rice is a full-time artist based in Greensboro. We met up with her earlier this summer when she was painting a mural on the back of Red Cinema in Midtown. We noticed her painting while on a group bike ride and circled back around to interview her. Jenna was super nice and took time to meet with us, even though it was late in the day and she was in the middle of painting.  Originally from New England, she obtained a BA in Studio Art in 2012 from Florida Southern College.

Jenna's local murals mostly feature people, real or pop culture. It wasn't until we were preparing this post that we realized Jenna also did the mural inside the downtown dining room at Cheesecakes by Alex at 315 South Elm.

Happy last day of July! Tomorrow is August!

Keeley Park

Today is Saturday and what better thing is there to do than to visit one of Greensboro's parks? The above photo was taken at Keeley Park, located at 4100 Keeley Road in McLeansville. Keeley Park has so many amenities, from a community garden to a sprayground, to stocked fishing ponds, to paved walking trails and more. There are shelters you can reserve and on the day we were there, the above shelter was reserved for the birthday celebration of a two year old. As you can see, the shelters are very nice, and a good way to have a large event and not worry about it being in your home.

The land where Keeley Park is located was originally a family owned farm, and then a city-owned plant nursery. Keeley Park originally opened in 2012, however Phase II opened  to the public in December of 2020. It consists of 114 acres. The Urban Loop crosses the eastern part of the park and makes it easily accessible from all over Greensboro. One of the park's most notable features is an "Up In the AIR" playground that is a fully inclusive playground.  AIR stands for "adaptive and inclusive recreation," and allows children of all abilities can play together. If you haven't ever been out there, please treat yourself to a visit.

Happy Saturday!

Jim Gallucci's Millennium Gate Close Up

Jim Gallucci's Millennium Gate, located in the 200 block of South Greene Street,  was dedicated on December 30, 2000. When we featured the 20' tall gate on Greensboro Daily Photo in 2016 (see HERE), we featured the whole gate. Earlier in the summer, we spent quite a bit of time at Governmental Plaza, especially focusing on the individual components of the gate. Seventeen artists were involved in creating the 105 icons on the gate and spanning 1,000 years of history. These icons were selected by the Greensboro Community.*

Because our public library system does so much for the Greensboro community, we honed in on the section of the gate showcasing the Greensboro Public Library. Look at that child reading a book and how the "cut out" parts of the book open up to reveal the world at the child's fingertips. And then there are the children at the bottom with doors opening for them. All of this opportunity is made possible thanks to a library card, and we are seeing it thanks to the artist who created it and Jim Gallucci who sculpted it out of galvanized steel and silicon bronze!

*Reference and see more details, here.