Greensboro Daily Photo

Groundbreaking Has Begun on the New Peck School

Yesterday, we had an opportunity to visit the site of the New Peck Elementary School. As you can see, they have broken ground and the multi-million dollar project is well underway. The new school is located between the current Peck Elementary and Lovett snd Florida Streets in the Glenwood neighborhood. The design of the school was inspired by the woods that will surround the school. Teachers will be encouraged to provide opportunities for students to learn about nature from the property around the school. The new school will be a pre-K-8 Expeditionary Magnet School. The Expeditionary Learning Model is an outgrowth of collaboration between Harvard University and the Outward Bound Program, with emphasis on teamwork, courage, compassion, and active learning.*

Peck Elementary School was built in 1929. Over the past 94 years, so much has changed and the new school will reflect needs of the 21st century learner. This project part of the first phase of construction in the master facilities plan for Guilford County Schools. Given the preK-8th grade model, it is anticipated the new school will accommodate 900 students and should be completed in 2024. In the meantime, Peck Elementary will remain open. The school was named for Mrs. Clara Jane Thornton Peck. Mrs. Peck was a nurse whose many volunteer efforts were akin to what social workers do today. Throughout her adult life, she helped care for those in need, including during the 1918 and 1920 influenza outbreaks. Mrs. Peck died in 1926 at the age of 62. Let's hope the new school will be named for her, this inspiring woman who was born during the Civil War. We're confident the school would make her proud.

Happy Friday! Happy last day of March!

* see this News & Record article from 2020 for more information. It is well worth reading.

Train on Tracks

Yesterday afternoon, we were fascinated to watch a freight train stopped at South Elm Street for at least an hour. We asked a young man who was waiting and photographing it. He said he had been waiting for 50 minutes and that usually a stopped train indicates another one is on the track. He appeared to be quite a train aficionado. Greensboro is a great city for train lovers. We have both freight and passenger trains. As a matter of fact Greensboro got its nickname, Gate City, for being a gateway rail city. Here is a North Carolina rail map showing which freight and passenger trains travel through Greensboro.  

The above view is of Hamburger Square. Notice how nice the train trestle looks. The green and white paint makes it a stand out. Fortunately, with this underpass, pedestrians and cars can move through Elm Street, instead of having to wait for trains. People who work downtown probably know the train schedule by heart!

Happy Thursday, from the Gate City!

College Hill Sundries Interior

Recently, we posted an exterior view of College Hill Sundries. In case you haven't been side, here is an interior view. After a few visits, it is the kind of an everybody-knows-your-name sort of place. It is located at 900 Spring Garden Street, at the corner of Mendenhall Street. The establishment has been open for over 40 years and if you look around, it looks like not much has changed from yesteryear. The establishment is larger than it appears as in the back there is a pool table and more space for people to stand around. 

According to Triad City Beat, owner Jason Paul is part owner of Westerwood Tavern and Hops Burger Bar. Keep your out for special events held there. They are a perfect opportunity to visit the establishment and have a look around, especially if you don't just want to sit and have a brew. It has been such an anchor business in College Hill, a neighborhood that has been designated a historic district since 1980.

Happy midweek, almost April!

Oscar Oglethorpe and the Magical display!

Since we were in the 200 block of South Elm Street yesterday, we'll stay there today at 226 South Elm, admiring the window of Oscar Oglethorpe. This eyeglasses shop aways has fabulous windows. This one was staged by Tammy Tamster Pegram. The window has been stalled for the Month of March. In asking Tammy about it,  * we learned that she wanted a spring "flower power" decoration. Tammy tells us, she was thinking about "springing into new growth while embracing styles of past and having NEW retro Eyewear to SEE the world's beauty thru diversity." Tammy added that she wanted to "show the joy of vibrant colors in eyewear and elsewhere."  Finally, Tammy wanted to embrace, along the way, for Women's History Month. The pink and orange window sure appeals to us. 

Thank you Oscar Oglethorpe and Tammy Pegram for bring us a little joy in the heart of downtown!

 

* Learn more about Tammy, HERE.

Elm Street Center: 203 S. Elm Street

Elm Street Center is located at 203 South Elm Street in a building that was constructed in 1949 for the Ellis-Stone Department Store. This was eight years before Friendly Center was built (1957) In the same year, Ellis-Stone sold the store to Talheimber's. Since then, the space has also been an antique mall and an event center- and possibly more. Here is an interior view we featured in 2012, showing that fabulous staircase in the center of the building.

We love the way the red brick building peeks through the brightly colored flags of the Los Chicos Mexican Restaurant across the street at 200 South Elm Street. It is always fun to have cars in a photo. Nothing dates a photo more than cars and fashion! It is supposed to rain today; however, the middle of the week is scheduled to be nice. If you get a chance and need to get some steps in, consider walking Elm Street. From Center City Park at North Elm to the new Common Grounds Coffee Shop at Gate City, the distance is .6 miles. You can walk there and back, enjoying downtown, and pretty effortlessly get in 1.2 miles. If you see us walking along the sidewalk, be sure to say hello!

Happy Monday!

Shalom! Jewish Festival at Temple Emanuel- Today

The above photo was taken at Temple Emanuel during Friday evening services. Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish Temple, located at 1129 Jefferson Road. Today, from 11:00am-5:00 pm, they will hold their annual Jewish Festival, now in the spring, instead of the fall. This community-wide event, celebrating Jewish life and culture, will be held rain or shine. There will be Jewish and Israeli food, temple tours, exhibits, music, dance, arts and crafts and more. There will be a kids zone as well as characters from Tanakh (what Christians refer to as the Old Testament). So, if you attend the festival, don't be surprised if you see Moses, Abraham, Rachel, and Noah walking around.  It is a good chance for the community to learn about Judaism and to celebrate a community that has done so much for Greensboro. 

Word has it that one of our favorite jewelry artists, Anette, will be there with jewelry  inspired by the people and symbols in Judaism. We are also looking forward to the Rabbi telling us about the symbolism in the 12 stained glass windows, as well as the meaning of the gold letters at the top of the sanctuary. The tents are in place, the food is ready, and Moses will be there to tell you just how he felt when God delivered the 10 commandments to him.

Happy Sunday!

Ramadan Mubarak at Nazareth Bread

Ramadan is the holiest holiday for Muslims. Ramadan literally means "the hot month", a month of worship, prayer, studying the Quran, and fasting. Practicing Musilims get up before sunrise, eat breakfast, pray, and abstain from from food and liquids all day until after a final prayer at sunset. Once the sun sets, they break the fast and eat a meal. The above photo is the evening buffet at Nazareth Bread, located at 4507 West Market Street.  Due to demand, this Middle Eastern eatery offers this buffet during Ramadan. after a day of praying, reflecting and abstaining, people are ready to enjoy a meal together. This delicious buffet, which appears to extend forever, is $21.00.

Based on the People Groups website, There are over 10,000 people in Greensboro whose religion is Islam, and this number continues to grow. If you have Muslim friends you can help them by being mindful that they aren't able to eat or drink during the day. They may not want to be around while you are eating a meal or having your coffee break. If you want a great meal, stop by Nazareth Bread tonight and partake in this buffet. People of all faith groups are are welcome.

Happy Saturday!

Meet Dr. Diya Abdo

If there is anything you want to know about migration, internationally, nationally, or right here in Greensboro, Dr. Diya Abdo is the person to ask. She is a Lincoln Financial Professor of English at Guilford College. Dr. Abdo is a second-generation Palestinian refugee born and raised in Jordan. While much of her research focuses on Arab women writers and feminism, she is perhaps best known for an initiative she started at Guilford College in 2015, Every Campus a Refuge, or ECAR. The mission of ECAR is for every U.S. college and university to serve as a resettlement campus to help local resettlement agencies by hosting refugee families. The central challenge for refugee families is to find housing. Once their sponsorship benefits (a small stipend and temporary housing) expire, it is really hard for refugee families to find housing. In spite of all of the documentation that cleared their entry into the United States, they don't have social security numbers or a credit history, so it can be hard to convince landlords to rent to them. Under the ECAR program, college campuses provide housing for families. As an example, Guilford College has a refugee family living in a faculty house. To date, Guilford College and Wake Forest are the two participating North Carolina campuses. According to this website, Guiford has hosted 32 refugees, 18 of them children.  Trained volunteers help with their daily needs in the resettlement process.

Dr. Abdo travels around the country sharing her expertise. She has given TED Talks and has lectured widely on the topic of ECAR and migration. Currently, she is at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, giving a presentation. Fortunately, she made time in her busy schedule to meet with us and chat over coffee at the Green Bean. Greensboro is lucky she and her family have settled here, and we hope they stay for a very long time. Also, hats off to Guilford College  whose 7 core values- community, diversity, equality, excellence, integrity, justice, and stewardship- fit seamlessly with the ECAR initiative and with the mindset of Dr. Abdo. 

Happy Friday! Hurry home, Dr. Abdo!

Spring Has Spring on Oak Street

Yesterday, we were out along Oak Street in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. We noticed the bulbs planned at the house on the corner of Oak and McCormick. The flowers are healthy, having  weathered the recent cold weather. Blooming flowers are such a part of Greensboro landscapes in spring. 

The house in the background is a 2 bedroom 1 bath house built in 1915. This 108 year old house on the corner lot has so much yesteryear charm. The porch is inviting, the windows look like the original, and the bulbs are a simple row that look like they could have been there since the beginning. Remember if you get any pots of bulbs you can plant them and keep enjoying their beauty, year after year. This cooler weather we have had in Greensboro is actually good for bulbs. According to Dutch Grown, tulips will last for 1-2 weeks if the weather is between 45-55 degrees. However, if the weather is warmer, they will only last for a few days. We'll stop back and have a look after Friday, when the temperature is expected to be in the 80s. In the meantime, if you want to see them at peak, head over today!

Happy Thursday!

901 Spring Garden Street: High on a Hill in College Hill

901 Spring Garden Street looked absolutely spectacular on Sunday afternoon when the air was cold but the sunshine was glorious. If you have been around for a while, you likely remember the days in the early 1990s when Mary Garvey had her shop here (The Clothesline). Mary had a talent for finding clothing for college students and faculty. You never knew what you would find there, or who you would find shopping there. Next, Adelaide's Vintage was there- with more emphasis on home goods.

Fast forward to now and Vanderveen Photographers have a studio there.  As they say on their website, "Becky and Bert Vanderveen have been together in life and photography since 1999, capturing art, beautiful moments and dynamic events along the way." Both have degrees from UNCG and their studio is only a block from the Weatherspoon Art Gallery. It seems like 901 Spring Garden would be perfect for a studio: good lighting, conveniently located, and off street parking. We hope to get to interview them sometime and to get a peek inside and see exactly how they have transformed the space. Just look at how well appointed that corner view is and how that white brick and fence sparkle of spring's sunshine. Does anyone know the original use of this building, built in 1961?

Happy Wednesday!

Temptations "Ain't Too Proud" Show at Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Today's photo features a truck at the Tanger Center this past weekend, one of two used for loading in the "Ain't Too Proud" show about the Temptations and the Four Tops. Just as we stepped back to take a photo, a group of theatre-goers walked by. We took several more photos, but this one was the best; an action shot, showing movement in front of the "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations:  Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams. The people in the foreground are a little Abbey Road-esque. The music and show about the Temptations were fabulous. The Tanger is a fabulous venue, too. 

The weather in Greensboro has been sunny, but cold over the last few days. The lows have been in the 20s and the highs somewhere in the 50s. It is officially spring now. We hope you have a happy Tuesday and, if you haven't been to the Tanger yet, we hope you have an opportunity to get there soon.

 

College Hill Sundries

College Hill Sundries is located at 900 Spring Garden Street at South Mendenhall. Most people know the corner establishment from the iconic Pepsi sign painted on the South Mendenhall side. See our post from 2009 (HERE- 14 years ago!!!), and you will see the Pepsi sign. We like this photo from yesterday because it shows what a dynamic place this neighborhood bar is. First, you see the "WILD FREE" hand-painted sign on the wooden, corner door. We believe that that is from the artists' pop up held there yesterday. On the left, you see one of the artists showing his work. Above his head, you see the "bike lane" sign, an important features for a college neighborhood. On the right, is a masseuse giving a massage at the special event. Finally, the sun was very bright yesterday and formed an arc over the middle of the photo. To the very right, you can see someone sitting at the bar. The place was hopping. From patrons to bartenders to vendors, everyone seemed in a cheerful mood. 

It took a little internet sleuthing and a some math to figure out when College Hill Sundries opened as a bar. In a News & Record article from 12/12/2001, we saw a reference to the King family who turned the location from a drugstore to a bar "19 years ago", which, since the article was written in 2001, would mean the bar opened in 1982, making it 41 years old this December! College Hill Sundries had its years as a dive bar with bathrooms that were barely tolerable. As explained in the 2001 article and verified by us yesterday, the bathrooms have been upgraded and  the beer selections modernized. From that same era (2001), the magazine "Men's Journal" listed College Hill  as one of the 50 best bars in America. The only bar in North Carolina to receive recognition in the publication. Oh the things one can happen upon, merely driving around town. 

We hope to see an add for the next pop up. If you are a vendor, you may want to inquire within to see about getting a spot.

Happy Monday!

A Bit of A Nonconventional Church

A church is a public place made available for worship. Today's "church" is a display set up in the middle of the Antique Marketplace on Burnt Poplar Road. Master interior decorator and room stager, Lori Gray, often stages the displays at the entrance of Antique Marketplace. Sometimes she brings in items to use. Other times, she just walks around the antique mall and takes items for sale at the different vendors' booths and assembles them in the middle of the store. The above photo is a scene, a church, she staged recently. The more you look at the display, the more references you will see. A fan on the altar for hot days, before there was air conditioning, shine brightly reflecting the light from the lamps. There are crosses on the doors- probably 20 feet tall.  The trumpets represent the music in church. Ladies Sunday-go-to-church hats are on the chairs beside purses, and a collection plate. In the middle is a painting of the Last Supper. 

This display is so creative. Have you ever seen one quite like it in an antique mall. As we walked the aisles, passing by the display a few times, by the end, we really did want to sit, rest, and have a little silent meditation. A church is a public place made available for worship. So, technically, last Tuesday night, we went to church. However, we need to get back and drop a few dollars in the collection plate. Remember church, synagogue, temple, or mosque is not about the physical space as much as what we do there.

Happy Sunday!

Tribe Thrift at "West End"

Trive Thrift has relocated its store from North Spring Street to 1607A West Friendly Avenue, the part of Friends being rebranded as West End. The Tribe is part thrift, part new, and part hand painted art. In the above photo, you see proprietor, Kandice Russell and her daughter who just happened to be at the store the night we visited. If we did the math correctly, it opened on March 1st. The store is heavily curated by Kandice; you have clothing at all price points and styes. One of the fun features Kandice offers is that you can do a shoppers night with friends. If you bring in 10 friends for a personalized, private after-hours event, you earn $100 in store credit. Kandice provides al the snacks and drinks; you provide the customers. It is a great way to bring your friends together in a cute space outside the home.

Kandice (Russell) is from Greensboro, and attended Grimsley High School. Her store is literally just a few blocks away from her alma mater. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, stop by and visit the Tribe and then have a look around "West End". While you are there, congratulate Kandice for getting the new shop set up. The clothing is really fashionable and at a good price point.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Greensboro will be awash with all things green, especially green libations for adults interested in partaking.*  As for us, we are out with our trusty canine looking for leprechauns and pots of gold. So far, all we have only managed to find is a little green man on a manhole cover. He has been painted green by the utility company. Do you think that is a hint treasure is nearby?  We have written about manhole covers twice on Greensboro Daily Photo; once in 2012 when we dug into the history of the Pomona Foundry that used to be in Greensboro and made manhole covers (see here). If our research is correct, they were acquired by Acme Castings left and moved from Greensboro (Pomona area near West Market and Spring Garden Streets) in 1969.

The second time we featured manhole covers was just about a year ago, when we were navigating the During-COVID- Era (DCE?) and wrote about the manhole rubbings done by Vito Ciccone (see here). That is an interesting post, if you haven't read it already. There, you can see that the above manhole cover design says "City of Greensboro North Carolina 1808" and you will realize the man in the middle is General Nathanael Greene, not a leprechaun. Do you have any manhole covers near where you live or walk? If so, look at what they say on them. We're wondering if any new covers are still cast with "Greensboro" or "Pomona" on them. What do the new ones say? These manhole covers weigh from 90-250 pounds. Do you know why they are round? Because the circle shape prevents them from ever being able to collapse inside!

Enough about manhole covers. We think we'll head over to M'Coul's Public House on West McGee Street downtown and have one of their (what we call) Irish meal bites: Deep fried, wonton wrapped corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.

Happy Friday! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

* See here for these adult events.

Brick House at 6303 West Market Street

There was a time when driving to Captain Bill's Seafood House on West Market Street felt like being in the country and seemed almost as far as Kernersville; far and remote. Now, West Market has really built up. Captain Bill's at 6108 W. Market is still going strong and just a little west of the seafood restaurant is the above structure at 6303 West Market. The two story house was built in 1945. Now, it no longer listed as a home but class C office space on 1.75 acres.

Yesterday, we drove by and noticed that out of trees have been cut down and it doesn't appear to have any businesses located there at the moment. It appears to be in transition, on its way to becoming something else. We're wondering if they will keep the house or replace it with something bigger. If you find out anything about the house and what it will become, let us know and we'll report on it.

Yesterday was Ides of March and tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. As best we can tell, today is, well, just Thursday. While not specific to Greensboro, read  the "national" holiday calendar and you will learn that today is everything from National Panda Day to St. Urho's Day (see, here).

PTI Airport: Run on the Runway!

The Piedmont Triad International Airport is such and expansive space and is especially beautiful on a sunny day. Above is a photo we took recently, taxiing into the gate at the Delta end of the airport. This 3,770 acre "campus" in western Guilford County. The airport got its start in 1927, with only 112 acres. My has it grown since the early days.* If you aren't scheduled to travel soon but want to get a good look at the runway, and you like to run, consider signing up to run in the PTI 5K/10K/one mile event on the runway.

PTI Run on the Runway will be held on Saturday, March 25th, starting promptly at 9:00 am. The event is open not only to runners, but also walkers, and is wheelchair and baby stroller friendly. The fundraiser "Walk to Win Against Hunger" will also be held at the same time. There is also a "Kids Dash" that starts about 40 minutes later (and is free). If you aren't a runner, perhaps you will want to volunteer to help. Run on the Runway is such a great way to build community, and to see the airport firsthand. Just think, the next time you fly from there, you can have bragging rights with the person sitting next to you, informing them that you actually ran on the runway!

Happy Wednesday, and... Beware of the Ides of March!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Jaki Shelton Green, NC Poet Laureate

On Sunday afternoon, North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green read ten of her poems at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. We wanted to feature Jaki, now,  so you can mark your calendar for her reading at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro on April 2nd. If you like thought-provoking, free verse poetry,  the Scuppernong reading is one you won't want to miss. 

Jaki teaches documentary poetry at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. She writes of love, loss, race, emancipation, American history, and more. Some of her poems share slices of everyday life- especially life in the south. Some are written through the lens of a documentarian, inspired by factual records.  In the 1980s and 1990s, Jaki worked with people on death row. For a year she had inmates write using imagery related to their hands- the last time they held their child's hands, what their hands did, the work done with their hands, and more.  Jaki wrote about her grandmother's hands; reminding the audience, teachers learn what they teach. After that reading, we knew we had to share a photo featuring Jaki's own hands. 

Hearing our state's poet laureate read in person is so special. We look forward to the Scuppernong event and hope to see you there.

Happy Tuesday!

Season's First Snow: Sunday March 12

So that we can document and archive this weather event, it snowed yesterday in Greensboro. As you can see from the photo, it wasn't hardly anything. Had we not been out at 7:30 am, we wouldn't have seen the snow. By 8:00 am, it was gone. Since this was the time-change weekend, it still felt like 6:30 am to us. We chuckled and said had we blinked, or slept in, we would have missed it.  It has been over a year since Greensboro has seen snow. According to WFMY News2, on January 16th 2022, there was 3.3 inches of snow at the PTI airport. Also, there hasn't been much snow period over the last three years.

It is not uncommon in Greensboro to have bad weather in March, especially ice. The snow was such a surprise yesterday. Do you think there will be any more snow or ice? It is already almost the middle of March. The astronomical start of Spring in the northern hemisphere, the Spring equinox, is in seven days. It is time to start getting ready to plant, especially if you are starting seeds inside. 

Happy Monday!

St Marys Catholic

St. Mary's Catholic Church takes up almost a whole city block at the corner of Gorrell Street and Duke Street. The above photo is of the Parrish Center. It was built in 2003 and is located beside main sanctuary. The church sign on Gorrell Street is written in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, representative of the diversity within. St. Mary's has a very informative history posted online. Thanks to this digital history, we learned that St. Mary's Parish traces its origin in St. Benedict's Parish.  An outgrowth of St. Benedict's, St. Mary's was established in 1928 to serve the black residents of southeast Greensboro who had converted to Catholicism.  

Starting in the 1970s St. Mary's began serving refugees and immigrants from Africa and Southeast Asia. In the 1990s, many of the Latino immigrants  began worshiping there. Today, the congregation is comprised of people from twenty-one countries and, according to their website, from every continent except Australia and Antartica. St. Mary's is committed to helping those in need, many fleeing civil wars in their respective countries. While not a financially wealthy parish, St. Mary's is rich in love and doing God's work. 

Happy Sunday!

Gin Wall, Talented Felter at Greensboro Farmers Market

If you're at the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street today and you like all things felted, stop by and visit Gin.  Originally from Kansas, Gin Wall studied horticulture and zoo agriculture, putting her knowledge of plants and animals to good use in her career at the North Carolina Zoo. The felted plants and animals reflect her knowledge of flora and fauna; Gin probably doesn't even have to look at anything for a reference. On the day we visited, Gin was working on a custom order of a giant felted pea pod filled with big felted peas. She learned crafting from her mother and has turned felting and crocheting into a full-time gig, now that she's retired from the zoo. 

If you can't make it to the farmers market today, tomorrow is Curiosities of the Curb, an afternoon filled with artists who cater to people who like a little whimsy in their art. Also, there will be antiques and plenty of upcycled items at the event. We don't think Gin will be there though.  Stop by today to visit her booth and soak in all of the many shade of green so prevalent in spring.

Happy Saturday!

Percy Street Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG)

The Percy Street Free Little Art Gallery* is part of an initiative similar to the Little Free Library initiative.  The owner keeps it stocked with delightful pieces of art, and even sometimes jewelry. You are always free to take a piece or art. This gallery box is located to the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville Street and we stop by for a look every time we go to the farmers market. We keep hoping to meet (and interview) the owners, but never see them out when driving by. We also want to honor their privacy and not go banging on their door at some early hour on a Saturday! The last time we were there, we picked up an ink drawing of a praying mantis. There were some rainbow earrings that were delightful, but we always limit ourselves to just one!

Here is a photo of the inside of the gallery from the day we visited in March 2022. We had a request by local artist, Bobby Craddock to feature the exterior of the box. We love requests and try to honor them, as time permits. Thanks to Bobby, we snapped this photo which, from this angle, really accentuates the little slice-of-pie shaped land that hosts the gallery. Bobby started a group 50+ Artists and Makers, and the members of that group will love to see this box. It would be wonderful to have more of them in the area. Whereas Greensboro Daily Photo inspires to keep showcasing and learning more about our community, a FLAG inspires you to make art every day! Stop by 717 Percy Street next time you are in the area and have a look for yourself. We didn't measure, but are guessing the box is 2' x 1'. 

Happy Friday! 

 

 

*Here is the home page to the Free Little Art Gallery, in case you want to start one or find one near you.

Full Moon 0n Westover Terrace

Evenings have been so lovely in Greensboro this week. The above photo was taken when we were in "West End" getting food at Wylie's Gourmet- from their parking lot. As we sat in the car, looking east, we noticed just how lovely the lighting at twilight was. While the moon was full, it doesn't show up very will in the photo. Regardless, it helps illuminate the sky. The cement curb, framing the parking lot, adds contrast and yet another line in the photograph.

Spring has definitely sprung in Greensboro. As you can in the trees on the left, deciduous trees have begun to regain their leaves. While telephone poles detect from photos, sometimes, if you build them into the photo, they can actually enhance a view. They sure did help draw in the eye and focal point in the above photo.

Happy Thursday!

Wylie's Gourmet Cafe and Desserts

West Friendly Avenue, around Tex and Shirley's and Bandito Bodega, is slowly becoming branded as West End. Wylie's Gourmet Cafe and Desserts  is located in that area, and is part of a series of businesses that have opened over the last year or so. Wylie's opened October 1st 2021. Featured in the above photo is Sonya Wylie. She is a fabulous cook who learned from her grandmother and mother. Originally from Salsbury, Sonya has been in Greensboro for over 30 years. Formerly, she was a hair stylist and also had a food truck. However, now, she pours all of her time and love into the restaurant at 1608 West Friendly. 

Especially popular are wings, subs, chicken salad, and pimento cheese sandwiches. The chicken wings are very large and portions are generous. Wylie's is take out only and no beef or pork are served. There is ample parking beside the restaurant. It is always special to support local businesses where owners and regular customers get to know each other rather quickly. A heartfelt thank you to our friend, and loyal reader, Alice Hill, for encouraging us to feature Wylie's. We're confident we'll be back. When we asked Sonya if she knew Alice, she said "Of course we do and we love her."  Local businesses, with the proprietor on site, make a community feel like home.

Happy Wednesday!

From Beef (Burger) to (Timmy's) Chicken

Ralph Harvis brought Beef Burger to Greensboro in 1971 where it remained open until 2021. The iconic building at 1040 W Gate City Boulevard has remained closed and dormant since Ralph's death in 2021.  On January 26, 2023, WFMY ran a segment, sharing that Beef Burger will become Timmy's Hot Chicken- already a  popular restaurant in Winston-Salem. Not unlike that ever-popular Chick-Fil-A, Timmy's will have a limited, but tasty, menu. Owner Timothy Walker reports that there is much work that needs to be done to bring the venue up to 21st century standards and to pass inspections. He hopes to maintain the feel of the Beef Burger at his chicken restaurant. 

In the photo, you can see UNCG's John Moyer Sink Sr. building with a smokestack right behind the former Beef Burger. However, the railroad tracks- still in use- run between Beef Burger and UNCG.  (800 Oakland Avenue); so, this is a case of close, yet oh so far. At the left, front corner of the building, you can see the dumpster used to clear out items that need replacing. It is expected to open to this summer. To be sure, we'll store this in a before/after file.

See the WFMY News 2 article here.   See an older GDP write up here.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Cindy Farmer, What's Right With Our Schools

Cindy Farmer's career in television journalism spans more than thirty years. Cindy has been in Greensboro since 1990, when she moved from Virginia to assume a position at WFMY. In 1997, she switched to Fox 8 where she anchors the morning and noon news.* As part of her assignment at Fox8, she hosts "What's Right With Our Schools."  In the above photo, Cindy is at The Middle College at UNCG (MCUNCG), covering a story about four middle college teachers and their principal who will travel to Morocco together this summer. The teachers have this wonderful educational opportunity, a Fulbright-Hays grant, written and obtained through Bennett College. That collaboration between higher education and high school faculty is indeed "what's right with our schools."  All involved in the Morocco trip will develop materials to share with students and staff, with the end goal to enhance global mindedness and interculturality.

Cindy is committed to finding these stories that give the public at large a window into positive aspects of a K-12 public education. Her easygoing questions, big smile and friendly demeanor all put interviewees at ease. Her disposition is as sunny as her blouse. The MCUNCG "What's Right" story should be airing soon.

Related to "feel good" stories, Cindy graduated from Virginia Tech and is an avid sports fan. We imagine she was pretty excited to see her Virginia Tech Hokies women's basketball team beat the Louisville Cardinals yesterday, making the Hokies the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament champions  yesterday.

Happy Monday, dear readers!

 

• reference and more information.
• see an earlier GDP post of Cindy, here.

Original Methodist Church

As you can read on this sign, the original Methodist church was built here on South Elm Street in 1831, 33 years after Greensboro became a city. Today, it is located on West Market Street and known as West Market Street United Methodist Church. This monochrome, black and white photo, taken yesterday, emphasizes the lines and the fact that the trees still don't have leaves. If you look to the right of the trees and streetlamp on the right, at the end of the awning. you can see a pear tree that has already bloomed. Spring is a little early this year in Greensboro.

The other side of this historic marker is entitled, Former Methodist Cemetery, and reads: The original Methodist cemetery, west of Elm and south of Bragg streets, was used for public burials also. In 1916 the city purchased the land to extend Ashe Street, so the graves were moved. The church purchased plots in Green Hill Cemetery for 106 bodies unclaimed by family members. We're off to Green Hill to see if we can find the section with the unclaimed bodies. Do any of you know what part of the cemetery they are buried in? There is always something new to learn about Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

M'Coul's Public House

M'Coul's Public House seems to stay busy, especially on weekends. However, as we inch towards St. Patrick's Day a couple of Fridays from now, it will get super busy. Simmone McClinton, founder and owner, opened the establishment at 110 W. McGee Street in 2001. The building is historic and Simmone is committed to maintaining the integrity of the original structure, while adapting and updating whatever is needed to bring the restaurant into the 21st century. The building dates to 1892, and a lot has changed in 131 years.

In 2022, M'Coul's was recognized in the book "Hidden Gems of America: Restaurants" as one of their top pics in North Carolina. The above photo was taken upstairs, one of their  five options for dining. We love the mural and know there has to be a great story behind it. We're not sure, though. Do you know? It captures so perfectly the vibe of M'coul's. When we find out, we'll let you know.

Happy Saturday! Happy exploring!

Ladies Night at Golden Antiques

Last night was ladies night at Golden Antiques. While the 24,000 square foot store, located at 4537 US Highway 220 North, usually closes at 6:00 pm, once every quarter it stays open until 9:00 pm. And, at 6:00, people start piling in for discounts, fellowship, and samples of food. In addition to the regular booths, special displays are set up; as an example, BBQ sauce, Tupperware, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and more. The Sustainably Yours Bus, with lots of items for the house, clothing, and more, was parked outside, as was a food truck. The above photo shows the check-out line in the back middle of the photo. By the time we remembered to take a photo, the line had died down considerably.

Inside, you could tell people were ready for spring and Easter, as Easter decor and all things pastel and garden inspired were flying out the door. It seems like we are all ready to socialize and spend time together again. If you want to attend a Ladies Night, they happen once a quarter, coinciding with each change of seasons. Mark your calendar for the remainder of the year: June 1st, September 7th, and December 7th. In the meantime, the weekend is upon us. May you find something enjoyable to do. There is always plenty to choose from in Greensboro.

Happy Friday!

Heavenly Buffaloes

Heavenly Buffaloes is a brick and mortar restaurant at 356 South Elm Street. However, they also have a truck that always catches our attention, especially when we see it parked on W. McGee Street downtown. Heavenly Buffaloes got their start in Durham, NC in 2014, but now also has locations in Chapel Hill and Greensboro. They pride themselves on using high quality ingredients, local and for the chicken wings, antibiotic free. They also have vegan (soy nugget) wings, made from a recipe they perfected over a year. They offer many flavors of sauce and levels of heat. 

It is nice to see a local (well, down the road) business doing well and, who knows, they could keep growing and expand to other states, like Biscuitville and Cook Out. Sundays- Tuesdays, HB is only open until 10:00 pm, but other nights until midnight. It is always nice to be able to grab a late night snack. We're always looking for new places to get a quick bite to eat when downtown. 

Happy Thursday! 

192 East Lewis St.

Happy March 1st! The above photo was taken on East Lewis Street and the building with the colorful mural is 192 E. Lewis. It is the Dick Broadcasting Building and also home of 107.5 KZL. That is a convenient place for a radio station with all that is happening on South Elm Street these days. Sometimes they have music concerts right here on East Lewis. Just behind the camera is Elm Street and many new entertainment entertainment opportunities with plenty of spirits.

Sometimes, just looking at the sky is enough. You can see where the sunny sky meets the darker clouds. It did rain the day we took this photo. The angle of the sun made the mural on the building stand out. If you like that mural and want to see a close up, see the GDP post here from a couple of years ago. Of course, you could head downtown and see for yourself this building from 1962.

Happy Thursday!