Greensboro Daily Photo

Eclectic by Nature

Today's photo features a mural on the back of the Eclectic by Nature shop. The business is located in a stand-alone house on State Street, right beside Vida-Pour-Tea. Owned by Pavane Taylor, it is a shop that specializes in spirituality products. The mural in the above photo sets the tone for the kinds of items you will see when entering the shop. There are prayer flags in the background; the sun, moon, a candle, crystals, and nature in the foreground. For many, these are alternative religions, very different from the God and Christ based religions. However, there are many different types of spirituality present int eh Greensboro community. For those seeking spirituality more related to the elements and nature, this is one of the few go-to places in the area. They should be open today from 11:00 am- 6:00 pm.

Here is a photo we took of the front of the building nine years ago, back in March 2015 when we had snow in Greensboro. The building is so nicely curated inside and out.

Happy Sunday!

From the Dog Stick Library to the Greensboro City Library

We've featured plenty of Little Free Libraries around Greensboro, where you take a book and share a book. Today, we're featuring a Dog Stick Library. We've been looking for one and, yesterday, when we were on the exit ramp from West Wendover Avenue to Market Street, we saw this one. We tired around and went back to photo graph it. The above library is located in the 100 block of South Lindell Road, on the edge of Lindley Park.  A ten-year-old child from Canda and his father are credited with spreading the concept as a Covid quarantine activity. They got the idea from a stick library in New Zealand.*  The family of the Canadian duo had a family tradition of creating something every week. We'd love to know the back story on the Lindley Park "library" and the extent to which it gets used. It is very well built. We also want to take our dog there to see if he would like to borrow a stick.

If you love libraries and are craving a good human library experience, consider heading to the downtown branch of the Greensboro Public Library today from 1:00 pm- 4:30 pm to attend the Book Lovers' Social Author Day. It is their 15th annual celebration of books, authors, and reading. A dozen regional authors will be there to mingle, sell their books, and sign books. Read more HERE. We hope to see you there! We've attended in the past and authors have always been very personable.

Happy Saturday!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Sheila Duell Sings at Jazz Night at the O. Henry Hotel

Last night was Jazz Night at the O. Henry Hotel. People gathered in the lobby to dine and hear great live music. In addition to the weekly band, Dave Fox (piano), Neil Clegg (flute, saxophone), and Matt Kendrick (bass).  Henry Burns (not pictured) was playing with the group, and Sheila Duell was singing in English and French. It has been four years since Greensboro had an opportunity to hear Sheila sing at the O. Henry, and the audience welcomed her back with open arms. The two different parties we sat near both came to hear Sheila sing. 

Sheila has a B.A. in Theatre & Drama and French from the University of Indiana. She has been trained in acting at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.  In addition to her talent performing musically, she is accomplished in T'ai Chi, actually having trained in China.* In addition to hearing great music tonight, we had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life in the audience. Especially when Sheila Duell was singing in French, it felt a little like being in Europe. As we were leaving, it started to drizzle and the doorman walked us to the car with an umbrella. What an all-around lovely evening. Jazz happens at the O.Henry every Thursday from 6:00- 9:00 p.m. It will leave you in a good mood for the weekend

Happy Friday!

* Reference and more information HERE.

Kress Building

The Kress Building, downtown Greensboro, is so beautiful and really stands out in winter when there is no foliage to obstruct the view. We've featured it plenty of times over the past 15+years, but it is just one of those places we like to stop and study when we are on one of our walks from Tanger Center to Gate City Boulevard. Located at 212 South Elm Street, it was built in 1930. This art deco building has been restored. It has struggled over recent decades to get tenants that revive it to its original glory. It could even be subdivided, seems to be a place just waiting for someone to find the right use(s) for it.

The buildings considered Art Deco in Greensboro include: The Stone Ellis Building/Thalimer Department Store; Guilford County Office and Court Building; International Cilvil Rights Center and Museum; Isaacson Building; L. Richardson Preyer Federal Building; Mock, Judson Voehringer Company Hosiery Mill; and the S.H. Kress Company Building. Of all the options, this one seems to stand out the most. What do you think? It would be fun to seek all of them out on a Saturday afternoon. Here's to a great Thursday!

Wintery Skies Over Greensboro

This photo of a winter sky over Greensboro is what we think of on a sunny day. In Greensboro, the winter sun is travels low on the horizon, and the trees are without leaves. These conditions can make driving difficult, but the skies sure can be beautiful. When most of nature takes on shades of brown, the sky can stand out like a deep aquamarine gemstone. After a bout with weather in the teens and lingering below freezing, we are scheduled to see a high of 69º by Friday. The last time we had a measurable snowfall in Greensboro was on January 29, 2022 when we had 1.8 inches. If we have any snow, it will likely be between now and mid-February.

We always try to enjoy every season we experience in Greensboro, even when all of the seasons seem to present within a couple of weeks. Some people are diligent weather watchers and others love to wake up and see what the day will bring. These preferences depend on whether you work outside or have animals outside, if you have to traverse the roads, or if you are in a position to stay home. The Greensboro Science Center monitors the weather closely. When the weather drops below 60º, the Aldabra tortoises are kept inside at a temperature that suits their cold-blooded bodies. Are you a weather watcher?

Happy Tuesday!

1217 Lakewood Drive

Today, we're featuring 1217 Lakewood Drive in Hamilton Lakes. It is a very modern house with a low profile from the street. This 4 bedroom 3 bathroom house is not for sale, but we were attracted to is while driving around because of the Little Free Library box in the front yard. The library box is constructed in a similar shape as the house, painted the same color, and had a book we took to read. We had the ambitious idea, for 2024, to challenge ourselves to only read books acquired from Little Free Libraries this year, and to return them to a box when we finished reading them. We see so many of those great community resources as we drive through neighborhoods. Thank you, 1217 for the great selection of books.

The above house is located an easy walk from the lake and the park and walking trails. We imagine it is beautiful inside because it has a screened in back porch and so many amenities. The house was built in 1952, in the era of mid-century modern. It was designed by Wesley Doggett, an early graduate of the NCSU School of Design.* Mr. Doggett lived in Greensboro and died here in 2000.**  After retiring from Carolina Steel Corporation, he opened his own design consulting business. We're wondering just how many houses he designed, what decisions went into  designing 1217 Lakewood, and if he ever lived in the house. This is one of many houses with great provenance in the Hamilton Lakes neighborhood.

Happy Friday!

 

• * reference and more photos.
• ** read the obituary of this accomplished man, here.

Common Grounds Downtown

Downtown Common Grounds at 631 South Elm Street will celebrate its one year anniversary within the month. Since opening last February, they have opened their outdoor seating space and installed this metal owl sculpture. It was made specifically for the coffee shop. If you look closely, you can see the letters COMMON GROUNDS are attached to the metal arch at the front. We wish we knew who the artist is, but didn't seem a name posted anywhere. If you know, please let us know. We should have gone in and asked when we were downtown, on our urban walk, snapping photos this week.

Downtown Common Grounds has started featuring a lot of live music. It is one of many coffee shops to open downtown over the last few years and it makes a great place to work on work, read, or socialize. Their specialty drinks are named after famous actors. Who could resist a Marilyn Monroe or a Marlon Brando? Today would be a great day to head to downtown Greensboro and visit any of the coffee (or retail) shops.  Remember, the free hop-on trolley is still running. You can traverse Elm Street in no timw

Happy Saturday!

Hampton Elementary Demolition Has Started

Hampton Elementary School on Trade Street on the eastern side of Greensboro, was severely damaged in a tornado in April of 2018. Guilford County Schools, the City of Greensboro, and the community at large have been in discussion as to what to do with the school. Ideas ranged from revitalizing it to tearing it down. After other options did not pan out, the Guilford County Schools Board of Education voted to give the land to the City. The hope is to make the property into something the local community- known as Cottage Grove- can use so that children will benefit. *  It is a nice piece of land and it was especially pretty yesterday when we visited and the sun was shining. If you notice on the left, the door is open as workers were inside. Most of the noticeable demolition to date is on the back side of the building.

The school is named for William M Hampton who was a physician. Dr. Hampton was also a Board of Education member and the first Black person elected to the Greensboro City Council.**   There has been a nomination to include his name as part of the new visual and performing arts elementary school being built to replace Peeler and Hampton Schools. The current nomination seeks to preserve both names. Hampton School is tucked back into a neighborhood. If you are out this weekend, it is worth a drive past it. Perhaps you will have some ideas to share about the land.

Happy Friday!

 

• reference and more information HERE.
• ** reference and more information HERE.

Service for Sergeant Nix at Westover Church

The above photo is of the Muir's Chapel side of Westover Church. Today, it will be open for a very sad reason, for the funeral of Sergeant Phillip Dale Nix. He was killed on December 30th, while off duty, when he saw a crime in progress. He was a career policeman who leaves behind a wife, son, parents, extended family, colleagues, and  grieving community.  A vigil was held last night downtown outside at McDonald Plaza and the funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. today.

The funeral for this fallen hero is open to the public and people are encouraged to arrive early. The funeral route is published online (here) in case people want to stand along the way out of respect for the officer and his family. The community has really rallied around the Nix family and this loss of a first responder has attracted a national outpouring of care.  At 2:00 p.m. today, let us all pause for a moment of silence and reflect on what we can do for the public good, just as Sergeant Nix always did.

Rainy Day Downtown

Yesterday was a dark and rainy day with some high winds. While the worst of the storm skirted Greensboro, there were issues with standing water on many of the streets and there were overturned garbage cans on many of the streets with Tuesday garbage service. As we drove through town and Friendly Center, the area was pretty empty for a weekday. The above photo was taken at the corner of West Friendly Avenue and North Greene Street.

The building in the photo is Elon Law School, which opened in downtown Greensboro in 2006. This building at 201 North Greene Street opened in 1960 as the Greensboro Public Library. It was designed by Greensboro architect Edward Loewenstein in partnership with Gregory Ivy, who was chairman of the art department at Woman's College (now UNCG) from 1935- 1961. It is so nice to see downtown buildings preserved and repurposed and to know, not only did  201 North Greene Street have a memorable past as a library, but that great learning here will continue well into the future. As wet as it was outside, especially from 2:30- 4:30 pm, it was warm and cozy inside for students and faculty.

Happy Wednesday!

Night Sky Over Battleground Plaza

The above photo was taken from the northern point of Battleground Plaza at 3726 North Battleground Avenue. It was taken on December 20th when the parking lot was full. However, we were struck by the beauty of the early night sky and the white dots above. It could be that some of those dots could be planes heading into and out of the airport. The building in the middle of the photo is a Chick-Fil-A, one with a drive through and lobby that stay quite busy. For 23 years, this Chick-Fil-A was located at Brassfield. For a year now, it has been in the above location. The building is larger and the drive through is double wide. There simply wouldn't have been space to expand the old location. 

In this retail space, there are stores of all sizes, from the Big Lots with just under 30,000 square feet to several storefronts with just over 1,000 square feet. With Guilford Courthouse National Military Park just east of this plaza, it is surrounded by greenery. Above all, we love the view of the western sky from this vantage point.

Happy Tuesday!

Meet Princess Shabana

Meet @Princess.Shabana, a delightful person and rising influencer on social media (Instagram and Tik Tok).  Imagine our delight this past weekend when we were walking through the Public Work Arts Center in downtown Summerville, SC and in walked this young adult with her partner. As it turns out, Princess Shabana has many dresses like this and looking fancy from head to toe is her preferred way of dressing. If you are still reading, you may be wondering why we are posting a photo of someone who lives in South Carolina. Well, guess what, she is from Guilford County, NC- specifically, from High Point.

This is the kind of serendipity we love about Greensboro Daily Photo. When we are out and about, we never know who we will meet or what we will see related to the Greensboro area. When we were talking, t didn't even occur to to us to feature her on GDP because we were so caught off guard. Actually, when we entered the museum, the volunteer at the front desk was sharing cat stories with another visitor and talking about driving to Greensboro. Unfortunately, we forgot to follow up on THAT story- maybe next time. Exiting the museum, we ducked back in and encouraged Princess Shabana and her handsome prince to move back to the Greensboro area. They said they were considering it. We look forward to following Princess S on social media to see what other inspiring outfits she has.

Happy Monday!

First Friends Meeting: A Quaker Church

Today's post is the First Friends Quaker Church on West Friendly Avenue. In addition to the church's wooden sign that makes it clear "all are welcome", there is an additional sign stating, "THESE QUAKERS LOVE YOU", surrounded by a rainbow of colors dabbed around the border of the sign. As we walked the campus this past week, we were pleased to note the cornerstones around the church. From them, we learned that the congregation was organized May 6, 1891; the above church (or meeting house) was erected in 1957; and there is a cornerstone from an earlier building, dated 1909.

If you notice, there are solar panels on the northeast side of the building Quakers were advocates of earth-friendly practices before reduce-reuse-recycle became everyday household words. If you drive to the church and want to attend today, there is ample parking. A large magnolia tree somewhat obscures the building from view.It is located at 2100 West Friendly Avenue.

Happy Sunday!

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought on March 15, 1781, twenty seven years before Greensboro became a city. The battle is known as a victory within a defeat; meaning that, while we lost the battle, we won the war. The battle changed the course of the southern campaign during the Revolutionary War.* The above photo features the path we were walking around the park the other day, as the winter sun was setting. Shadows were long and growing and it was easy to reflect on the day and on the history of the park while walking the loop. Here are four suggested, easy-moderate hikes within the park. The actual park is only 250 acres. It was established in 1917 and was actually the first Revolutionary War Site designated by the U.S. government (read here).

Walkers can go along and visit monuments and even stop into the visitors center to see exhibits and learn from a park ranger. You can make your jaunt in the park an opportunity to learn some history, or you can simply walk and relax. The park is well used by walkers, joggers, and people with dogs. This year, on March 16-17, it will be brimming with living history reenacts who will set up in and camp out in the park. This special event is a great opportunity to bring history alive to young and old alike. In the meantime, we're going to keep chasing those spectacular sunsets and hope to see you out on the trail!

Happy Thursday!

*reference and more information.

Greensboro Daily Photo Begins Year Sweet 16!

 

Happy anniversary to Greensboro Daily Photo. We're Janis and David, the husband and wife team behind the website. David mostly does tech help when links are broken and sees that the payment to Typepad is made to maintain the domain name. Janis does almost of the photography and interviewing. Today, we begin year 16 of publishing a photo a day of Greensboro. We started on January 2nd, 2009 as part of the City Daily Photo community. This international initiative began with Eric Tennen and Paris Daily Photo in 2005. Since then, Eric has moved to Malta and stopped publishing PDP after a stellar ten-year run. To date, we have published almost 5,500 photos and accompanying paragraphs about the people, places, and events of Greensboro. Every year gets better and better for us as the internet makes access to information much easier than it was a decade and a half ago. Ferreting out information is fun. Taking photos just about everywhere we go has become second nature. If you have ideas, please put suggestions in the comments. David likes to say that "Every day comes around pretty often." 

Posting these photos reminds us of how much the city is changing every year. Some things we have documented have been replaced, making GDP something of an archives for the community. This past year, we delivered presentations to the Wednesday Lecture Club and the Friday Afternoon Group. Opportunities like this help connect us to the community and spread the word about Greensboro Daily Photo. The Friday Afternoon Group started in 1898, only 90 years after Greensboro was founded and at the end of the 19th century! While we attended many fabulous events in 2023 and photographed many places around town,  meeting the people in the community is what fuels our passion for bringing you a photo a day of Greensboro. So, as long as the analytics indicate people are reading, we aim to continue this labor of love. Here's to Year Sweet 16 and 365 more photos and snippets of information about Greensboro.

Happy Tuesday!