Greensboro Daily Photo

Yoga on the Greenway

Yesterday, we shared a bicycling group along the Greensboro Greenway. Today, we offer a lovely yoga group that meets under the Greensboro Greenway at Spring Garden Street. The name of the initiative is Tuesdays at the Trailhead in Moorehead Park. The group meets from 6:00- 7:00 p.m. Tuesdays and the opportunity will continue through September 24th. This opportunity is in partnership with the YMCA of Greensboro. All ages and fitness abilities are encouraged to attend! And, in grand Greensboro tradition, the experience is free and open to all. Summers in Greensboro can be so much fun. So, enjoy your mountain and beach adventures, but know there are great adventures waiting for us here in the Gate City! It sure looks like the above yogis and yoginis are having fun!!

Happy Wednesday!

Easy Rider! Relaxed Tuesday Ride Series

Tonight is the night for the Easy Rider! Relaxed Tuesday Ride Series. The above photo was taken last week on the delightful ride partially through UNCG, partially on the  Greenway, and partially through neighborhoods. Here is the group under the bridge,  at Spring Garden Street. Behind the bicyclists, a group was practicing yoga. It is so wonderful to see these community resources being put to good use. 

If you are interested in the ride, arrive at Cycles de ORO on Battleground and Hill Street at 6:00 pm to get registered, meet others, and have time to go into the bike shop to purchase a helmet, spare inner tube or anything else you might need to be road safe. You must partake in the 6:15 pre-ride briefing and the ride departs promptly at 6:30. It returns to Cycles for your parking convenience and to likely get an ice-cream treat from Dale, the owner of the shop.  The rides are under 10 miles and the route changes week-to-week.  This is a great way to fall in love with cycling or to participate in a ride where you actually have time to talk to people! 

Happy Tuesday and summer fun!

Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam

This past Saturday night, Colin Cutler and his band, Hot Pepper Jam, played at Joymongers on Saturday night. The weather was warm and, when the photo was taken, many people were still outside. However, as the evening progressed, the crowd grew and more people came inside.  

As stated on his website, Colin is a "wide-ranging performer whose musical roots draw from the breadth of American folk music...".  Colin's diverse life experiences- from growing up in the Pentecost religion to serving in the Army to performing and traveling around the USA and abroad- have contributed to the diversity in his music.  Perusing his website, you will learn that he is also well-read and writes poetry and stories while on the road. Colin is lead vocalist and plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica. On Saturday, he played everything from a Patsy Cline cover to his own, danceable music. He also makes a tasty hot pepper jam!

If you get a chance to hear Colin and the band play, do so. He is a Greensboro performer who plays at Merlefest, Shakori Hills, the Susquehanna Folk Festival, and the North Carolina Folk Festival- to name a few places.  His next performance is at the  Asheboro Summer Concert Series on July 12th and at Four Saints Brewing in Asheboro on July 13th. So, you'll have to head about 40 miles south to hear him next week.

Joymongers keeps a pretty busy schedule of live music, so you have plenty of options in Greensboro, too (see HERE). Summer is the perfect time to call up a friend or two and head out to support the area's live musicians.

Happy Monday!

Temple of Prayer and Worship

Temple of Prayer and Worship is located at 2319 Randleman Road at the corner of Concord Street. It is a church in an old strip mall. They have Sunday services from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon and Thursday Bible studies from 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. On the door a phone number and contact email are listed. However, that is about all we could find out about this church as we couldn't find an online presence. Often, churches start out in empty store fronts and when the congregation gets adequate funds, they transition to a stand alone building.  Let's hope this church is successful and that members are happy with their spiritual home.

They say Greensboro is #3 in the nation per capita for number of churches. Plus, we have many houses of worship of other religions. May we all find our spiritual home.

Happy Sunday!

Hops Bine in Greensboro!

Last night, we were at our friends' house near Friendly Center and, upon leaving, noticed that they have a hops plant trellised in their back yard. Hops have been cultivated in what is now Germany since the 700's. Used for making beer and its citrusy, bitter, aromatic flavoring at one time was considered  a wicked and pernicious weed.  See HERE to read the Wikipedia site about hops. The NC State Extension Service can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about hops (see HERE). With all of the craft brewing in North Carolina, these has even been a hops project, helping find cultivars that are most conducive to being grown in North Carolina. Our state has come a long way in knowing the best growing practices for our area.  Greensboro has a rich history of breweries.  Triad Homebrew has been around for over a decade. While Greensboro has a rich history of brewing beer, it is still fun to see a hops plant thriving in someone's yard.  Do you see the hops flowers in the middle of the photo?

Hops bines (not vines) can grow up to 12" a day and only the female plant produces the hops cones. There are about 80 hops farms in North Carolina, or 4% of American production.* Our friends do not have a hops farm in the city, but we do want to go back and ask them if they harvest their hops. The United States has surpassed Germany in worldwide hops production.  While the ideal climate seems to be in the Pacific Northwest, it appears that we are making headway in North Carolina. Even if you don't drink beer or harvest the plant, it seems like it can be a nice alternative to kudzu!

Happy Saturday!

* reference and more information, here. 

Chandler's Coffee on South Elm Street Is Now Open and Ready to Serve You!

341 South Elm Street has new owners. On Wednesday, July 3rd, Chandler's Coffee had a soft opening. Above is owner Alexis Chandler who took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us and welcome us to the store. She and husband, Josh have been working day and night to get the coffee shop ready to open. When we stopped in on Wednesday you never would have known it was the first day. They were packed and the crowd was intergenerational, from toddlers to teens to grandparents. The baristas were pros; there was original artwork on the walls; and it is clean and organized. As you can see from what Alexis is wearing, they already have t-shirts made.

Alexis is from Asheboro and Josh is from Greensboro. They met at UNCG, fell in love, started a family, and are now living their dream with the coffee shop. Alexis, Josh, and their staff are committed to making the store be a hub of community activity, a 3rd space for people to gather to work, socialize, get a great cup of coffee and something to eat.  They are so committed to a local, hometown sense of community, that they have installed the artwork of Peter Schroth, the original owner of the Green Bean. Katie Southard, also a previous owner, is a barista.  All signs indicate that Alexis and Josh's venture is a hit with the Greensboro community. Tonight is First Friday in downtown Greensboro. We're not sure how late they will stay open, but if they are open, go in and pick out something to drink. There are many, many options.

Happy Friday!

Happy July 4th 2024

Full disclosure, the above photo was taken during the Fun Fourth Festival 2023 in downtown Greensboro on South Elm Street. Uncle Sam was working hard walking in the heat and agreeing to take a photo with anyone who asked. The event, Freedomfest, will be held today from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. There will be entertainment, patriotic characters, food trucks, water features, and more. Plan your outfit carefully for the best photos. See all of the festival details, including a map and schedule, HERE. Fireworks will start downtown after the Greensboro Grasshoppers  home baseball game.  The baseball stadium is your best bet for a good view. If you do not have a ticket, setting up a foldable chair outside the stadium is another option. Last year, the game was sold out. 

Meanwhile, just a little north of downtown, the Kirkwood neighborhood will be celebrating for the 75th year. The parade on Independence Road and the 50' flag are the anchors. When you see the 50 foot flag hovering  over the street, you will know you are in the right place. The Kirkwood event times overlap with Freedomfest downtown; however, their neighborhood, originally established for returning WWII vets and their families, will have no shortage of patriotism. However you spend your day today, be safe and neighborly.

Happy Fourth of July!

Community Swim Association

Last night was night five of five for the dual meets at the Community Swim Association. The above photo features the Lake Jeanette pool on Bass Chapel Road, where the club was hosting the Friendly Frogs. The photo features  a heat of boys competing in the butterfly stroke. It was just after 8:00 p.m. and the meet was still going strong. Community swim in Greensboro dates back to 1958 and over the last 66 years has grown from 150 kids from 5-18 years old competing to over 2,000 in 2024. It is a sport that brings people together and all swimmers get to compete. For the year-round swimmers, this is a way to stay in shape and build relationships with other members of their swim club. For the summer swimmers, it is a way to have a summer routine that includes discipline, physical fitness, and camaraderie. While the top tier swimmers want to win and break records, everyone takes great pride is getting personal best times.

This weekend, all CSA teams will come to the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC)  for City Meet, held there since 2016 (see photos from the first GAC meet HERE). Prior to 2016, City Meet for the Community Swim Association was held at Lindley Park Pool (see HERE).  While there was something special about those meets at Lindley Park Pool, GAC has a reputation of being one of the finest facilities in the nation. There is something really special about being in a pool where prestigious national events are held. We are confident that Lake Jeanette Lightning and Friendly Frogs will both fare will.  Good luck to all 20 teams and all 2,000+ swimmers.  If you have never been to GAC, head there this weekend to be a spectator in this fun, Greensboro tradition.

Happy Wednesday!

Greensboro Science Center

This past week, we had out of town guests from West Virginia visiting us in Greensboro. Our friend Joseph Roy (photographed above) is a master gardener with  great knowledge about landscaping and horticulture. He was so excited to learn that the Greensboro Science Center has a Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly House. He delighted in observing and photographing the butterflies in this well-landscaped habitat. The butterfly area in the science center has enclosed walls and a netted roof that can be opened when it is time for the butterflies to migrate. The center, named for the Cole family, is filled with plants that attract butterflies. The monarchs have plenty of milkweed there. 

The butterfly house opened in 2022 and the first year, seven species, including the monarch butterfly,  were introduced. Last year, nine additional species were introduced. The center will be open until September. If you want to go, be sure to wear a hat for the parts of the science center that are outdoors. Plan to do plenty of walking. However, if you have mobility issues, you can borrow a wheelchair for the duration of your visit. This little gem on Lawndale Avenue is well worth being a summer tradition. Our friend Joe gives it a two green thumbs up!

Happy Tuesday!

Warnersville Traditions & Celebrations

Warnersville is a community that really nurtures a sense of community. There is a recreation center and a community park at 601 Doak Street. Summers are extra special. On First Fridays, they have free movies. This past Saturday, the above  celebration took place outside the recreation center. There were speakers, including James Griffin, Founder of the Warnersville Historical and Beautification Society. Laura Way, President & CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro spoke. There were food trucks, an art walk; the Warnersville Drumline played; and at 7:45, the film about the Warnersville neighborhood was shared.

Warnersville was built on a 35 acre plot of land, purchased by Pennsylvania Quaker Yardley Warner, who divided the land into plots made available to "freedmen" just after the Civil War. This was the first planned African American community in the area.* The Warnersville community continues to build memories with the current generations of residents. On Saturday, fun was had by all. Unless the Fourth of July changes the schedule, there should be a movie!

*reference and more information, HERE.

Happy Monday!