Greensboro Daily Photo

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!

Briggs Memorial Church

Briggs Memorial Church is one of those great finds when we were driving through the countryside in Guilford County. It is located at 1344 Rankin Mill Road in McLeansville. The eastern end of the county is full of churches; actually, the whole county has an abundance of churches. Sunday school is at 10:00 am and preaching starts  at 11:00. People of all ages are encouraged to attend this church. According to the cornerstone, the church was first built in 1954 and relocated to here in 1971. We haven't been able to find out the back story about the relocation, but we're sure it is interesting. It is a beautiful church, built on a large lot. We hope to see it inside someday.

Happy Sunday!

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.

Butterfly Time

We haven't seen as many butterflies this summer as previously. However, we did see a swallowtail enjoying a butterfly bush earlier in the summer. Today's butterfly was enjoying life on a butterfly bush on a sunny day in northwest Greensboro. Swallowtails are one of the most common types of butterflies found in our area. Summer is peak butterfly season with warm, sunny weather. If you want to see more in your yard, resist pesticides. If you really want to see a lot of butterflies at once, head to the Greensboro Science Center to their Butterfly House. In addition to the seven species they hosted last year, they have added nine new species. This new exhibit alone makes renewing your membership all worthwhile. 

Goodwill by the Pound

Last year, Triad Goodwill received more that 25 million pounds of donations. We're guessing once the donations get pulled from the shelves of the "regular" Goodwill stores, they move on to the by-the-pound Goodwill. Their ads, however, say that it is the same quality as in their retail stores. Definitely, the by-the-pound venture takes treasure hunting to the next level. The above outlet is located at 1235 South Eugene Street. Clothing, shoes, stuffed animals, and toys are sold at $1.59 a pound, and household goods, furniture, electronics, etc. are 79¢ a pound. If you are interested, here are the rules. It is interesting to see what is being sold there and how people are shopping.

Our big take-away, however, is the fact that in the Greensboro area alone, more than 25 million pounds were donated to Goodwill. Over-consumption is definitely an issue; however, as we learn to reduce consumption, reusing and recycling helps. Wondering just how long we could go without making purchases of non-essentials!

Treva at cycles de ORO

Tuesday is the day for the group bicycle ride that leaves from Cycles de Oro on Hill Street at 6:30 pm. It is a slower paced ride where someone rides in the back to make sure that everyone makes it through the ride. Above, is Treva, one of the store employees at Cycles de Oro. Treva usually rides on the rides and is so fun to talk to. When we first met her, she had just purchased a new bicycle and took it on an inaugural ride on the Tuesday ride. Treva also helped us find the perfect helmet and lighting system so that we could ride more safely. If you want to find a bike store and a person who will help you on exactly the level needed, find Treva at Cycles. 

While riding with her, we learned that during Covid, she retired from nursing, left her home at the North Carolina coast, and bicycled all the way across country to Oregon. Can you imagine? Coast to coast!. She has so many adventures and memories from that cycling adventure. We asked about her route and she said there were two states she avoided, due to the mountains, West Virginia and Colorado. Her smile in this photo is insight to her sunny disposition. 

Gary Jobe, Custom Home Builder

We have never had the good fortune to meet Gary Jobe, one of Greensboro's premier custom home builders. However, we have seen many of the homes he has built. He is a third generation custom home builder and has had a tradition of excellence since 1972. After five decades, he is retiring. While the name, Gary Jobe Builder will remain in place, Todd Powely is now President of the company. 

While out bicycling a few weeks ago, we stopped at Latham Park for a water break and noticed this office. How impressive that a person who has one of the most recognizable names in construction in the area has a humble office with no fancy fanfare. After all, we're wondering just how much time he actually spends in the office. We imagine he is out on the job or out overseeing that work is being done correctly. One very memorable complex that he built is on Stanley Huff Road. Apparently, the owners even have a helicopter pad on the property. To be sure, the next time we undertake an A-Z people of Greensboro, we'll try for "J" is for "Jobe"!

ILUV2SNG

Sundays, we usually post something spiritual. What is more spiritual than singing? Today's photo of a license tag was seen when we were recently out shopping. It is amazing what. you can learn about a person, or family, just from the bumper of a car. Here you see that the owner of this Chevrolet loves to sing, has connections to Gate City Music Garten, The Music Academy of North Carolina (MANC), and Johns Hopkins University, all from reading the back of their car.

If you love to sing and you ever see ILUV2SING when you are out and about, stop them and ask them about music opportunities. We're betting they are a wealth of information about music in Greensboro. In the meantime, today is Sunday. Between morning and evening church services, you have plenty of opportunities to sing and hear music in Greensboro. You may have a special church in mind, or, you can search "Religion" on Greensboro Daily Photo and plenty of options will become available. Also this afternoon, the  MUSEP music is in Hester Park, featuring the Sahara Reggae group.

Happy Sunday!

Love Is All Around

Sometimes, people just put you in a good mood. The above photo was taken a few weeks ago in the 300 block of South Elm Street. To the right, you see members of the Jehovah Witness congregation ready to talk to anyone who wants to learn more about their faith or attend a service in a Kingdom Hall.

To the left a you see a downtown shopper with a canine companion. Just seeing the two of them bouncing up Elm Street, exuding great joy,  put all of us in a great mood. It is a 21st century photo with the optimistic, "feel good" vibe of the Mary Tyler Moore Show from the 1970s. Today is Saturday and we suggest you head downtown on Elm Street, not just to seek joy but to bring some joy to those around you.

Happy Saturday!

Bennett College and Middle College at UNCG Faculty Visiting Morocco

Bennett College received a Fulbright-Hays grant to study Women and Democracy in Morocco. Currently, six Bennett faculty, five Middle College at UNCG teachers and their principal are in Morocco conducting research. The above photo was taken in the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca on July 8th at the beginning of their tour. Dr. Anne Hayes, Executive Director of Global & Interdisciplinary Studies at Bennett College  (fourth from right) and Sofyan Essarraoui, former Arabic Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) at Bennett College (seated), have put together a very special itinerary.  Between July 6th-August 4th, the group is traveling to eight different cities in Morocco in order to experience the diversity of culture and terrain in the country. Along the way, they are participating in meetings with several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and interviewing Moroccans about contemporary issues.

Since 2009, several Moroccan Fulbright FLTAs have taught Arabic at Bennett College, which has created a special connection between Bennett College and Morocco. This connection will continue in August, when an FLTA from Rabat arrives to teach Arabic at Bennett and to take classes. We are so lucky to have this HBCU, with so much civic and global engagement, in Greensboro. Writing the grant for this study experience and including public school teachers and their administrator in the opportunity is just one example of the fine things happening at this global-minded institution at the corner of East Washington and Bennett Streets.

Fresh Market for Lunch, Anyone?

Fresh Market is a chain of supermarkets based in Greensboro. It was founded by Ray and Beverly Berry in 1982. The Fresh Market was first privately owned, then publicly traded and then a privately held company. It had expanded into California and the mid-west, but it appears those stores have closed. In May 2022, Cencosud, a Chilean retail company, acquired a 67% stake in Fresh Market.* Indeed, we are curious as to how a company in Chile, South America became interested in this grocery store that got its start in Greensboro.

The above photo was taken at the Lawndale Avenue location, emphasizing the seating area where customers are welcome to sit and eat. Their "grab and go" section of salads, sandwiches, freshly squeezed juices, and more, has expanded significantly with the feel of a New York City deli. If a friend says, "Meet me at Fresh Market for lunch,"  we suggest you give it a try. Plus, all those planters of orchids make a beautiful backdrop.

*reference and read more, here. 

Madelyn Greco

The above photo is of local body painting artist Madelyn Greco. She and Scott Fray are Living Brush Bodypainting. They are world champion body painting artists. Madelyn is so talented, people seek her services far and wide. While she lives in Reidsville, NC, she is frequently in Greensboro and can always be counted on to help with the Summer Solstice event. When we caught up with her at Summer Solstice 2023, she had been busily painting the faces of volunteers. She also marched in one of the parades. Her Facebook quote states:  "Art is the joy of my life, Joy is the life of my art, Life is the art of my joy." She is Co-owner of Chameleon Colors USA and Competition Director at Jan Tana Bodypainting Revolution. 

No matter where you are in the world, if you see a body painting event and you ask if they know Madelyn Greco, rest assured, they will. Madelyn is another fine example of the many talented people we have in the Greensboro area.

Tobacco Road in Eastern Guilford County

At least once a summer we like to post a photo of a tobacco crop as tobacco has been such an important part of North Carolina's history. The above photo was taken a couple of weeks ago in eastern North Carolina, between Gibsonville and McLeansville. We imagine it has grown tremendously since the photo was taken. According to NC State, tobacco (nicotaina tabacum) is the most economically important agronomic crop in North Carolina and our state ranks first in tobacco production in the United States.

Here, you can see a photo of a tobacco field that we published in 2009, the first year of Greensboro Daily Photo. That field on Highway 150 is no longer used for tobacco, or for agriculture of any kind now. There has been so much change in the area surrounding Greensboro over the last 15 years- especially with respect to land used for farming.

Tomorrow is tobacco "Field Day" in Rocky Mount, NC, where they show field trials related to crop disease management, herbicide drift, water solution placement and more. 

Movie Theaters Along Battleground Avenue

If you are looking for something fun do to this summer, the movie theaters are back in business. The above photo is of Red Cinema in Mid-town at 1305 Battleground Avenue, the part of Greensboro just north of downtown. Red Cinema has been open since 1999 and, every year gets more and more murals. If you haven't seen the murals yet, you really need to stop by and have a look. Plus, they are great for photo shoots. Between the outdoor murals and the string of lights at night, Red Cinema really is a standout location.

A few miles to the north is Brassfield Cinema; while vacant since April 2020, it has beenacquired by Durham-based cinema company, Golden Ticket. If all goes according to plan, it should be opening this summer, giving the Battleground Avenue area plenty movie options. Movie attendance has been down 30% since pre-pandemic levels, but with all of the new movie options this summer, hopefully attendance will start bouncing back.

Faith Walk Baptist Church

We have found yet another church in Guilford County that we have not yet features over fifteen years of Sundays. Faith Walk Baptist Church is one of those humble, unadorned country church with a white exterior and one cross at the entrance. It is narrow and long with plenty of parking. As far as we can tell, they are still an active church, although we couldn't find an active website or Facebook page. There is a van parked on site that indicates they will pick up people interested in attending church.

According to signage on site, the Pastor and Founder is Reverend Dennis White and the First Lady is Wanda White. It is located at 1305 Rankin Mill Road in Greensboro/Mcleansville, right down from Keely Park. There is a cemetery right beside the church with many members of the Rankin, which is a popular name in the Greensboro area with a street and school named Rankin. These country churches hold so much history of a region. We hope someone has documented it.

Happy Sunday!

Peach Time

Peaches have started rolling in at the farmers markets, and the Carolinas are known for their peaches. If you are heaving to any local produce stands, check for peaches. If it matters to you, make sure to ask for "cling free". They mature a little later than the ones that pits that are hard to separate from the flesh. According to NC State's data base of Potential Peach Varieties for North Carolina, the following peaches should be at market now: Cary Mac, Harvester, White Lady, Majestic, Fireprince, Sugar Lady, Winblo, Ellerbe, Loring, Contender, and Rengold. There are peaches that will becoming in season from now until late September, the last of which will be Autumn Lady!

Historically, the bulk of the peaches in North Carolina come from the Sandhills reason, especially Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, and Anson counties. Average in North Carolina has declined significantly over the last 20 years. The local farmers markets today should be a great place to get fresh peaches, and, of course peach ice cream- a North Carolina tradition.

Greensboro Fire Department 10

Greensboro Fire Department (GFD) Station 10 is located at 4208 West Gate City Boulevard. According to the fire department's website, "the GFD exists for one purpose- to serve people in times of emergency, which is the core function of local government. The GFD is devoted to leaving a positive impact on our community." With respect to positive community impact, the GFD is always ready to participate in events that provide visibility to the fire department and to engage with the community. The above photo shows when they were set up downtown during Fun Forth with a water station to help people cool off from the heat. Children took great joy in running in and out of the water spray. Even a few canines enjoyed getting a wet.

The support staff of the GFD focuses on fire prevention and education. They also recruit and train existing personnel. Maybe someday, children will be future recruits because of the positive relationships built while attending with firemen and fire trucks.

806 Cypress Street

It has been a while since we've featured a home. Today, we're featuring a home in the Dunleath Historic Neighborhood of Greensboro, at 806 Cypress Street. This 5 bedroom 4 bathroom home was built in 1916, maintaining so much of the character of old world, Victorian charm. It is located across the street from Swann Middle School on a lovely tree-lined street. The Dunleath neighborhood does so much as a community, most recently was the Porchfest Music Celebration. This house, formerly painted white, is now this bold blue and currently featuring very lovely green plantings. It is such a pleasure to walk the sidewalks of Dunleath and see these large porches, fine architectural details,  carefully manicured lawns and friendly neighbors. If you get a chance, go drive around and see for yourself this summer.

Join Junior League of Greensboro

The Junior League of Greensboro (JLG) has been promoting volunteerism and the leadership potential of women in Greensboro for 95 years. According to their website, the JLG was founded on May 26, 1926 when Miss Kathleen Price (later Mrs. Joseph M. Bryan) organized the Junior Charity League with some book club friends and other select young women. In the early years of JLG, the organization worked closely with UNCG which was, at that time, a women's college.*  Over the years, JLG has done so much fundraising to help worthy projects of Greensboro. For example, in the 1970s, they raised money to help restore Blandwood Mansion. Over the years, they have been running the Bargain Box, a thrift store that raises money for their different causes.

The above photo was taken of a lawn of Junior League members who live in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Greensboro. It was taken on Independence Drive during the Fourth of July Festival last week. What a great way to advertise for your organization- with yard signs. Even if you don't live in Greensboro, you may know about Junior League, as there are over 295 Junior Leagues in four countries. Their headquarters is located at 3101 West Friendly Avenue, across from Friendly Center (see HERE).

 

* read the organizations timeline, HERE.

Trek Bicycle Shop

Recently, we went into the Trek store. It has relocated to Brassfield Shopping Center between Trader Joe's and the pet store. What a pleasure to be waited on by Rebecca and to peruse all of the new inventory. Literally, there is something for everyone and we're convinced that there isn't a thing about bicycles that Rebecca doesn't know. She is an avid cyclist herself and, as feasible, uses a bicycle as her primary mode of transportation. She patiently walked us through all of the features of the bikes we were interested in. The e-bikes are all the rage now. Interested customers are encouraged to take their bike of choice on a test run. They had an open house this past weekend so, if you go into the shop today, go easy on the staff. They are probably beat!

Happy Monday!

346 Elm Street

Look at all these fabulous pennants denoting various places around the United States. Go to 346 South Elm Street and you can travel without leaving town. A pennant, your imagination, and the sky is the limit. This tiny shop between Two Brothers Artisan Brewing and Design Archives always has an intriguing window display. So far, the store has not opened, but the merchandise changes regularly. We love a shop window that changes often. Kit Rodenbough, Design Archives entrepreneur, has the space and plans to open it on Saturdays. She's dubbed it Design Archives Estates. You know if Kit is involved, it will be fabulous.

One idea we had for Greensboro Daily Photo was to find an address that matches the day of the year it is. For example, in 2023, 346 will be December 12th. We could wait and publish this photo on December 12th. Somehow, we suspect that would be REALLY hard to get 365 engaging photos with numbers in them. Plus, we wouldn't want to wait until December to share Kit's latest venture.  

Happy Monday!

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church is getting some work done this summer. It looks like that beautiful slate roof is getting some repairs. It is absolutely breathtaking and matches the stone facade perfectly. It is located in the historic district of Fisher Park. Two weeks ago, when we helped a delegate from France visiting a couple of weeks ago. We drove them past Holy Trinity because they could also see the First Presbyterian Church and St. Benedict Catholic Church. They were amazed that all of these churches were right together. Truly this trinity of churches clustered together show the diversity of Greensboro's Christians. And, West Market Street United Methodist Church and First Baptist are right down the street.

On the day we were at Trinity Episcopal taking photos, there was a camping tent put up beside the labyrinth. Churches are dynamic places now. They do so much for so many. If you are looking for a great religious community, head to the service at Trinity today. All are welcome at Trinity and Sunday services are at 8:30 and 10:30 am. Even if you don't get to the service, stop by, walk the labyrinth and check on the progress of the repairs.

Happy Sunday!

Uncle Sam on South Elm Street

Uncle Sam is alive and well on South Elm Street. This photo was taken at the Fun Fourth Festival, but we wanted to make sure it got posted.  Uncle Sam was gregarious and did a great job engaging with the crowd. Downtown is so much fun when there are people out and about. There is so much to do this weekend. We hope you are taking advantage of all the options. There is an Eastern Music Festival event at 4pm today in Dana Auditorium on the Guilford College Campus. MUSEP tomorrow evening is at Gateway Gardens on East Gate City Boulevard. It is the 44th season of this Greensboro Tradition. See Details HERE. 

Have a Happy Saturday!

Downtown Greensboro: First Friday July 2023

Look how lively Greensboro is in the above photo. It was taken at the South 300 block of Elm Street, actually at Hamburger Square during Fun Fourth. It lets you see that if the Greensboro hosts and advertises an event, the public will attend. It was really hot on the Fourth and just beyond the railroad tracks, a hydrating fire truck from Station 10 was there to the delight of children and canines alike.

First Friday is another great event and local businesses work hard to keep downtown lively and it is today. From 6-9pm tonight, there is a lot to do in the Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street. There will be shopping, open galleries, live performances, and more. There is still the program where for each $25 you spend downtown, you enter your receipt into a drawing and have the chance to win $500. The business where you spent the money wins $500 also. We know several businesses that have won. We're still trying for the big win. There is also a Grasshoppers game. How will you spend your day and evening?

Happy Friday!

 

Sherwood: From the Kirkwood Parade to the Greensboro Community Swim Association's City Meet

The above photo features several members of the Sherwood group at the Kirkwood Fourth of July event. They placed first as entrants in the Kirkwood Parade and the young guy in the middle is holding their trophy. We think they must be Kirkwood community members who are also affiliated with Sherwood Swim and Racquet Club. The Sherwood swim team took top honors at the 2022 Greensboro Community Swim Association (CSA) City Meet. We're betting they want another top prize at CSA City Meet. Greensboro has several strong teams, though. We'll know on Saturday.

We are reminded that the CSA City Meet gets underway at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC)  today. City Meet brings swimmers gather from all over the area. For three days, you see teams having their end-of-swim season bonding moments and efforts of personal records. From the CSA parade to the medaling and closing ceremonies, it is quite a special summer tradition in Greensboro. The Community Swim Association Championship was established in 1958, sixty five years ago. The Kirkwood Fourth of July Parade was established 74 years ago- in 1949. The Sherwood Swim and Raquet Club was estalblished in 1961. That is a lot of history and combined years of tradition. The way we see it, everyone who participates is a winner.

Happy Thursday!

Greensboro Grasshoppers: Stars and Stripes Spectacular

The resolution isn't the highest on this photo, but it captures the spirit and excitement last night at First National Bank Field. The Greensboro Grasshoppers played to a sold out crowd. Their opponents, Aberdeen (MD), are a minor league team for the Baltimore Orioles and apparently one of the players is someone who is getting a lot of publicity. Fortunately for Greensboro, the Grasshoppers won 8-5 and immediately after the game, fireworks began. If you didn't get to attend last night, HERE is a schedule. You have several more opportunities this week and each night has a special theme.

Yesterday was so full of community events in Greensboro. We got around to as many events as we could and will share more photos of the Fourth throughout the week. From the Apple Pie Bicycle Ride to the  Freedom Run, to the Fun Fourth Festival downtown, to Kirkwood's  neighborhood parade, to the grand finale downtown with the fireworks at the baseball stadium, indeed, there was plenty to do. Hopefully, you were able to participate in something and even found time to have a picnic. Thinking of food,  since it's July, Cook-Out is back with their watermelon milkshakes. Oh, and City Meet for Greensboro's Community Swim Association starts tomorrow, and Friday is First Friday! July in Greensboro is always so special. Hope to see you out and about.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy July 4th, 2023

The Fourth of July is a big celebration in Greensboro. The Apple Pie Bicycle ride happens at 7:30 am at Bur-Mil Park today. There is a ride for all levels of strength and endurance. From 1pm-6pm downtown is Fun Fourth. Elm Street is blocked off and there will be plenty to do and see. At least one Uncle Sam will be in attendance. Last Fourth, we spotted two Uncle Sam at Fun Fourth (see HERE). So many businesses were closed yesterday and even more today. Here's to as many people as possible getting a four day weekend.

Regarding the Fourth of July in Greensboro, the most famous neighborhood event  is the Kirkwood Parade. This is the 74th year for Fourth of July fun in this neighborhood just north of downtown and slightly west of Irving Park. From 4:30- 8:30 pm, families will march and drive down Independence Road. Fun like you see above can be had when families and neighborhoods work together, building community and making memories. There is no entry fee and the event is not monetized. It is just a time for families to enjoy each other.

Happy Tuesday, Happy Fourth of July!

The Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival

The Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival was held this past weekend, after having been delayed by a week due to possible bad weather last weekend. While the weather was a bit threatening this past weekend, it rained around Greensboro, but not actually on the festival. The organizers had to scramble and find new vendors and performers because many couldn't reschedule. However, at the end of the day, it was a successful event and those who attended seemed satisfied. To our knowledge, there aren't summer solstice festivals of this caliber in other North Carolina cities. Do you know of any?

We selected the photo of the above four women to share today because they really captured the essence of the festival. It is not just about performers, but also about what the attendees bring to the event. All four came dressed as if they were performing in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." They were having so much fun together. We owe a big thank you to the people who put on the festival, including vendors, performers, and attendees. 

Tomorrow's event "Fun Fourth" downtown will also have a dress-up component. You are encouraged to wear your boldest patriotic and red, white, and blue outfits. It is always fun to see what people wear. Of course at least one Uncle Sam will be in attendance. The race starts at 7:30 am and the other events are from 1-6pm. See you there! If someone asks to take your photo, ask "Are you with Greensboro Daily Photo." Indeed, it could be us !

Happy Monday!

First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro

The First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro is one of our city's most recognizable churches. This brick building, in gothic revival style architecture, is actually the fourth building of the Presbyterian Church. It was built in 1927 and replacing the building at 130 Summit Avenue that  today houses the Greensboro History Museum.  The First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro was founded in 1824. The architect was Hobart Upjohn and the building is said to resemble the Cathedral of Albi in Albi, France. The interior is equally beautiful, with the  stained glass rose window being especially breathtaking. Currently, the First Presbyterian has about 2,700 members.

When we recently volunteered with a delegation from France, we pointed out this church, mentioning that it was one of our most European looking churches. They were very impressed with all of the churches condensed into that part of town; specifically St. Benedict's Catholic, Holy Trinity Episcopal, and First Presbyterian with First Baptist and West Market Street UMC not far. Each has a distinct style of architecture. Remember, for the month of July, there is only one service, at 10:00 a.m. If you make it downtown for a service today, be sure to join the congregation for lemonade on the lawn after the service.

Happy Sunday!

The Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival

Happy Summer Solstice Event! It will be held today in Lindley Park and the Greensboro Arboretum from 2:00- 10:00 pm. This festival is a fun way to spend an afternoon. The above photo was taken a few years ago and shows you the great length people go through to dress up and make the event fun. Not only performers, but everyone is encouraged to dress as fairies and sprites .

The solstice event was started in 2005. According to their website, "Mission: We aim to create an experience for our festival-goers that blends local artisans, performers and budding entrepreneurs with a little bit of magic and a lot of love, opening up imaginations to the possibilities in each of us." The event is so much fun and a chance to be playful and joyful, something that is proven to keep us healthy. It is also a fabulous opportunity to get great photos. The festival closes with a fire finale which is breathtaking in the dark. Children are absolutely mesmerized.

On another note, we have been members of the City Daily Photo community for the past 15 years. Cities all over the world post a photo a day of their city. The first of the month is theme day and the July theme is "climate". Our Summer Solstice photo fits perfectly with the theme. In Greensboro, the weather today is expected to be between 68º and 91º. So, if you are coming out to the festival, be prepared for a little bit of everything and find a way to protect yourself from the sun and to stay hydrated. We can't wait and don't care what the weather does. We're ready!

Happy Saturday!