Greensboro Daily Photo

The Difference Church

The building at  4530 Jessup Grove Road has become home to yet another house of worship. February 2023, Michael and Kris Larson founded the non-denominational, Christian church. The religion they practice is Bible based and centered around the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Baptism is the public declaration of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.* According to their website, they offer special ministries for children, men, women, students, and young adults. You can worship in person or through live stream. It seems like they have something for everybody. 

As people seek out a spiritual home, they seek a sense of belonging, a shared spiritual purpose and meaning, in an environment that fosters a connection other humans in the path to connecting  to the divine- something more powerful than the self.  If The Difference Church nurtures those connections surely their church will be there for a very long time. Let us home they are stewards to the cemetery across the street, that has been part of Jessup Grove since the original iteration of a church.

Happy Sunday!

*See their website, HERE. 

Spring Cleaning on South Elm Street

With the warmer weather, trees are starting to blossom out, birds are chirping, forsythia is budding yellow and humans are out doing their spring cleaning. The above photo features window cleaning happening at the building that houses Scuppernong Books in the 300 block of South Elm Street. We had to chuckle upon noticing that the woman and the car to the right match the machine lifting the window cleaners to the top of the building. We love the movement in this photo.

Do you have spring cleaning rituals? We wonderful if the whole block chips in on the service at the same time. We wonder what events Scuppernong will be offering this weekend. Perhaps the lady blue wants to find out the same information. Friday and the weekend is a perfect time to get out and interact with people, AND to get a little spring cleaning done.

Happy Friday!

got Sourdough?

This is not an exclusively Greensboro story as much as it is a "slice of life" story. Do you make sourdough bread? Are you the keeper of sourdough starter? The above sourdough starter is one that we are babysitting in our Greensboro home. There are two jars because the mother jar was outgrowing her jar. We made pancakes and bread and then split it, so we could have some when the owner returns. The mother culture came from Europe over 160 years ago; yes, it predates the American Civil War!  That put us under a lot of pressure to not kill something that has thrived since the time of President Lincoln. 

To bring the story back around to Greensboro, we recently learned that Gardner Bob's Homestead Kitchen on Spring Garden Street sells starter for those who are ready to take the leap. Their starter has been active for over 100 years. If you are looking for a good business to start, consider this idea. In Ørestad, Denmark, they have a Sourdough Hotel. Yes, if you are going on vacation, you can take your starter to them and they will keep it going for you (see HERE)!  For about $44 a week, they keep your starter healthy, maintain the temperature at 20ºC, and rehabilitate it- if needed. They also offer pickup by cargo bike! If you have a starter dough story story, please share it with us. Even better, let's meet up and break bread together.

Happy Wednesday!

Hippo Records

Every community needs a good record store. We had the opportunity to visit Hippo Records for the first time this past weekend. They are located at 2823 Spring Garden Street in the same plaza as Fentress Jewelry. If you haven't been in that part of town lately, it is worth a visit. There are some nice specialty shops there.  Hippo Records opened in 2013 and carries quite a variety of albums, from new chart toppers to used oldies-but-goodies.  According to laminate data, vinyl album sales have increased 300% over the last eight years. The younger generation is discovering that old-school sound.  In this digital era, vinyl isn't for everyone; however a sign of a thriving town is if there is something for everybody. Based on the crowd we saw Saturday, records are here to stay and this article is proof positive.

Happy Wednesday!

MJ Broadway Play at Tanger Center

Yesterday,  was the closing day for "MJ" the Broadway play about the life of singer, dancer, and entertainer Michael Jackson. This jukebox musical follows his career and personal struggles from Gary, Indiana to international stardom. The music, acting, scenery and lighting were superb. It helped us understand why it is so expensive to stage a play.  "MJ" attracted large audiences and the demographic seemed to be younger than many. Michael Jackson has already been gone for 16 years, and his music dates back 40 years ago; however his impact on music, performing, and pop culture will be around forever.

The above photo features a matinee crowd this weekend during intermission. The lobby of the Tanger Center is a generous space with ample lighting, especially by day. As you can see, people were milling about, socializing, having their photo taken with one of the banners from the show, and, of course catching up on a little screen time. Also, people were in line to get drinks and to use the bathroom. Next time we are at Tanger, we are going to count bathroom stalls in the women's room. We think they actually have more stalls than Buc-ee's! Tanger opened nearly four years ago in 2021. We overheard someone saying she couldn't imagine Greensboro without Tanger. 

We read a BBC article this weekend about a Chinese village making a QR code out of trees so that people flying over can scan the image and learn about the village. (See HERE). We had this thought for Tanger guests to get in formation to create a QR code to advertise Tanger Center. We're thinking the QR photo could be taken from the balcony here and put on posters for fun. If they do it, you heard it first on Greensboro Daily Photo. 

Happy Monday!

New Zion Missionary Baptist Church

New Zion Missionary Baptist Church continues to expand not only their physical space, but also their outreach. Above shows the church on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Recently, we shared their Community Enrichment Center (to the left) where there is so much happening for the community, including. community clothes closet. Pastor William F. Wright and his wife have been part of the church since 1980, forty five years ago! Pastor Wright was born in Aiken, South Carolina. His wife is from Henderson, North Carolina. Together, they have watch New Zion grow and expand. The church is not only visible from MLK Drive but is highly visible on East Gate City Boulevard.

We were stuck by the thought of this Corvette sports car racing by New Zion, where the main race is one for salvation.

Happy Sunday!

Chip Holton Painting in Real Time at Lucky 32

Last night, we had the good fortune to watch Chip Holton painting at Lucky 32, while Jessica Mashburn and Evan Olson played live music and sang. Consistently, at least a couple or two were dancing to the beat of the music and the strokes of the paint brush. Chip has a lot of artwork at Lucky 32, including the column at the entrance that features scenes of the Greensboro community. Chip is a Lexington, NC based artist, but he does a lot of work in Greensboro. *  He is a second generation artist and artist-in-residence at the O. Henry Hotel.  If you ever get a chance to watch Chip paint, we highly recommend it. He paints quickly and accurately. Last night, we saw him referring to his phone a few times; however, his sense of what to add to a painting in inspiring.

If you ever want something to do on a Wednesday night, head to Lucky 32. Hearing live music and watching Chip paint and people dance, combined with great food and service, is a good way to celebrate the middle of the week. We were hoping to interview Chip, but he was so focused on painting, there was no way we wanted to interrupt him. Wednesday nights at Lucky 32 is a great way to keep it local!

Happy Thursday! 

 

* read more about Chip Holton, HERE.

A Simple Cross

Religion can be represented by a community of believers, buildings, symbols, individual actions and more. The above photo, taken in May of 2023, shows a single cross placed on a wooden marker, almost as if the spot is sacred; possibly someone died there. Perhaps they did. The above photo is of the lot on Chapman Street, specifically 507 South Chapman, the home where Jack True, Sr. and his family lived. They decorated every holiday for all of the Greensboro community to enjoy. Mr. True  died in 2003 at the age of 71 (see the house here).

Fast forward to today and you will see two structures, which, are either duplexes or quadplexes. on the lot. (We need to get by for a then and now shot of what has been built on this lot). Jack died in '03,  and twenty years later, the house was razed. However, someone remembered Mr. True, the Santa of Chapman Street, and his love of God and community enough to mark the spot with a cross. Anonymous acts that are done in love are in the true spirit of religion. Let all of us, in Greensboro and beyond, regardless of religion or beliefs pause for a moment of silent reflection and think about why and for whom we are thankful.  

Happy Sunday!

 

Noon Year's Eve at the Greensboro Children's Museum

Above is a photo of the entrance to the  Miriam P. Brenner Greensboro Children's Museum. It was well attended yesterday, but we mainly went to learn more about today's Noon Year's Eve event. This spectacular event, held today from 10:00 am- 12:30 pm is a grand way for children to celebrate the new year early by counting down to noon! There will be family-friendly crafts, music, and a balloon and confetti drop. The 12 noon toast will be apple juice. What a memory maker for children and to give them an idea of how adults celebrate the holiday. As a society, we tend to demand everything immediately. Learning to anticipate and wait, and that sometimes the anticipation is as fun as the actual event, is a great life lesson for people of all ages. The cost is $15 for members and $18 for non-members.*

Help your little ones be present in the moment and take them to the Noon Year's Eve event. The Children's Museum is located on Church Street, across from the Central Branch of the Greensboro Library. As for what adults in Greensboro will be up to, well, the sky's the limit. This is a big night for restaurants, bars, and other venues. Many of us will be maintaining the tradition of ringing in the new year at home, watching the ball drop in Times Square. Whatever you do, Happy New Year!  We're thinking somewhere downtown, or nearby, should have a Noon Year's Eve celebration for adults: Tanger Center, The History Museum; The Weatherspoon Art Museum; The Train Depot...

Stop by tomorrow for our 2024 year in review post and on January 2nd for the start of Year 17 on Greensboro Daily Photo!

*if you can't make this event, the Jerry Hyman Day of Community Service and Accessibility is January 2nd, 2025 with $2 admission all day. 

Greensboro's Adopt-A-Street Program

Have you ever notices the Adopt-A-Street signs around town? Are you part of an organization that has adopted a street? In Greensboro, the Parks & Recreation Department oversees the Adopt-A-Street program. This is a two year agreement for groups to clean their street four times a year and to report the clean up activity to the city. Trash bags and gloves are provided. Neon vests and trash grabbers are also available- unless they all happen to be checked out. There are guidelines for where and how to leave the bags of collected trash, but the program is a very relaxed one that brings great joy to the neighborhoods, businesses, and houses along the way.

For Greensboro Daily Photo, we urban-walk a lot and stumbled on the above sign when leaving Greene Street and turning right on Spring Garden (between Gateway Plaza and the railroad tracks). We were intrigued to see Spring Garden is sponsored by THE UNO CLUB. Could that possibly be Mattel's game of UNO?  As it turns out, UNCG, indeed, has an Uno Club. When classes are in session, the club meets to play UNO for about an hour a week,  as a way to relax and enjoy a little friendly competition. We're guessing the street cleaning is a way for university students to also get to know and give back to the community where they study. Spring Garden Street is five miles long. beginning in the 300 block of South Elm Street downtown and continuing to Market Street, after which point it becomes Muirs Chapel. Conveniently, the adopted street of the UNO CLUB runs through the UNCG campus. We tried to find a master list of all streets being sponsored and their sponsors. So far, no luck.

There are so many volunteer opportunities with the City of Greensboro. See HERE if you are looking to share your time and talents with our community. That would make a great New Year's resolution.

Happy Monday!

HPU Christmas Display

Greensboro/Guilford County is so lucky to have 6 institutions of higher education-- IHEs  (Bennett College, Greensboro College, Guilford College, High Point University, NCA&T, and UNC Greensboro). While not in Greensboro, High Point University (HPU)  is just down the road and still in the same county. In an era when many IHEs are struggling with declining enrollments, High Point University continues to thrive, adding programs, majors, and buildings before our very eyes. They bill themselves as "the premier life skills university" and is ranked as "the nation's #1 best run college."  Located in the heart of High Point, home of Furniture Market, HPU focuses on majors directly related to the 21st century job market, and it is paying off. 

As a way of giving back to community, for a week at Christmas, they host a drive-through light show. It is a fabulous way to see the campus and to celebrate Christmas. The light show boasts more than 100,000 lights, 235 12'tall nutcrackers, a life-size Nativity scene, and the state's tallest Christmas tree, a whopping 70' tall.  Today, we're featuring the nativity scene on this, the 5th day of Christmas on the Advent calendar.

High Point University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, that founded the then-college in 1924. Oh, how this university has grown over the last 100 years. They bill themselves as Christian by tradition and interfaith by vision. We are so glad we finally got to see the Christmas display. It is a fabulous way to tour the campus. Unfortunately, the light show is finished for the season. It will take a while to disassemble and be ready for spring semester. In the meantime, we're wondering where the 235 12' nutcrackers are stored for the year.

Happy Sunday!

Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa Coincide

Today is the fourth day of Hanukkah, the fourth day of Christmas,  and the third day of Kwanzaa. The first day of Christmas is always December 25th. The first day of Kwanzaa is always December 26th. However, Hanukkah does not have a fixed date and this year, the first of the eight days was on December 25th. The last time this happened was in 2005, and the two holidays have only coincided four times since 1900. While all three holidays have a different significance, they all celebrate light. In the northern hemisphere, we are in the darkest days in December and these holidays remind us of the importance of light.

Yesterday was overcast, dark, and dreary. But, if you knew where to look in the Greensboro area, you could find light. Last night was the final evening of the Christmas light display at High Point University and about 800 cars were estimated to have gone through. The Winter Wonder Lights were going strong at the Greensboro Science Center. A Kwanzaa celebration was held at Peeler Recreational Center and continues for all seven days of Kwanzaa. Hanukkah was being celebrated at Temple Emanuel on Jefferson Road. Last night was also the Jewish Sabbath, so the celebration was especially moving. Whatever or however you celebrate, know there is light and it starts from within; however, candles are a warm reminder.

Happy Saturday!

Sustainably Yours and the New State Street District

Retired teacher Michelle Japp is living her retirement dream by having started her own business, Sustainably Yours. She started in a retired school bus, which she still uses for pop ups. However, a few weeks ago, she opened her brick and mortar business in the back right corner of the business that was formerly The Saltbox,  at 2011 Golden Gate Drive at the corner of State Street. The store has been rebranded as The District, "a collective of shops, classes, and such." There are 8 small businesses in the building and Sustainably Yours is one of them. They are usually open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with each shop proprietor on site to work their respective businesses. 

This model is a low-risk way for people to start small and expand as their business dictates. It is a way for proprietors to interact with their clientele and to see the best direction for their business to grow. This collection of shops gives a real boost to State Street retail. We have always maintained that State Street is the closest street Greensboro has with a beach vibe. Starting with La Bamba and Bull City Ciderworks at the east end of the street to the now very-vibrant 400 block of State Street, down to The District and Cafe Pasta,  the State Street area just keeps getting better and better. Stop by and congratulate Michelle on her new venture. She is such an upbeat ray of sunshine!

Happy Friday!

303 S Chapman Street: The Grinch Report...

Christmas has come and gone, but decorations still abound, especially in the Sunset Hills neighborhood. The above house at 303 South Chapman Street is quite a sight to behold for those who love animated characters. They've got Sponge Bob, Minions, the Grinch, Santa, and more! Sunset Hills is known for the light balls hurled high in the trees and they are a sight to behold. However, it is also fun to find other homes with Christmas spirit and 303 South Chapman does, indeed, have holiday spirit. The owners have been in the home for a couple of years, but they realize they are part of a neighborhood that values decorating. Their home is right down the street from Our Lady of Grace (OLG) Church and School. We imagine the children headed to and from OLG delight in seeing these decorations. We sure do.

Built in 1940, this house is a lot larger that it appears from this street view. Built in 1940, this WWII home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms. It was renovated in 2008 (and maybe since then) and has been well maintained. Perhaps the Grinch is aggravated with his neighbors and all of the balls in the trees. Somehow, we have the feeling, the Christmas spirit is not in danger in this great neighborhood. The Grinch hopes your holiday is everything you hoped it would be.

Happy Thursday!

Santa at the Greensboro Curb Market

Merry Christmas 2024! Santa came a little early to the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceville Street. He was in the cafe section reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas. The above couple had a child on their lap who delighted in hearing the story. For those who celebrate Christmas, we hope it is everything you are hoping it would be. For those readers who don't, we hope you are enjoying family and friends today, as most stores are closed. Perhaps we all have an opportunity to spend a little more time with family and friends. 

Things are pretty quiet today. A Google search didn't yield any conclusive results for places serving free meals today. We sure hope there is a way for the housing insecure to receive a warm meal and a cup of coffee today. Technically, today is the first day of Christmas, which will conclude on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Public school children in Guilford County will return on January 6th, Three Kings Day. If you have school children in your life. Today is the day to start celebrating the 12 days of Christmas. Let's all see what fun we can have and what good we can do for the Greensboro community. Meanwhile, Santa at the Book Nook may still be out delivering gifts. Be patient!

Happy Wednesday!

Nativity Scene at Mt. Pisgah Church on Christmas Eve 2024

Happy Christmas Eve. The above photo is the nativity scene in front of Mount Pisgah Global Methodist Church on Pisgah Church Road at Battleground Avenue. The display lights up the corner at Battleground Avenue.  We love how when we zoom out, the scene seen, when taken as a whole, almost looks like a tiny Putz with miniature figures, like the one we saw at the First Moravian Church. Actually, those figures are life-size and lovely in color. If you are local, and you like to see lovely nativity scenes when out admiring Christmas decorations, this one is very nice. 

The Mount Pisgah Church nativity scenes, we were intrigued to see one in place at Centenary United Methodist Church on West Friendly Avenue at Ridgeway. According to their marquee, they are having service at 5:00 p.m. tonight. Even though Centenary Church has been retired and since the property sold to Cone Health, tonight will be a very special opportunity to enjoy a service there. However you spend Christmas Eve., may it be special in every way.

The Legacy of the Wagoners Selling Christmas Trees

The Wagoners first got involved in trees through a 4-H project back in the 1940s. The Wagoners planted red cedars in Gibsonville to help raise money for their 16-year0old twins for college. Over the last 35 years, Greensboro residents have come to associate the name Fred and Dot Wagoner with Christmas tree lots.  The Wagoner business is now owned by Bradley Lowe who continues to use the Wagoner name. From arriving to the tree lot, under the multiple story inflatable snowman, to getting a Christmas tree wrapped and loaded in the car, the whole process of buying a live tree is meant to be a memory-maker for families. 

The above lot is located in the 1600 block of Battleground Avenue, beside Shannon Lee Furniture and the former location of McKay's Books.  You can't miss it. When we saw the lot on Friday, there were plenty of trees; however, we don't know how much longer they'll be set up. It is so much fun watching the little ones run through a tree lot. Fred died in 2011 and Dot died in 2020. * They are gone, but their legacy lives on.

Happy Monday! Happy day before Christmas Eve.

*See Dot's obituary, HERE.

Part of the Putz at the First Moravian Church of Greensboro

A "Putz" is a depiction of the story of Jesus' birth. It is a cherished Moravian tradition. The above photo features about 1/3 of the Putz at the First Moravian Church of Greensboro, located on South Elam Avenue. The whole display takes up an entire stage. We figured a close up of a segment would be more meaningful than a view from afar where no details are visible. Most of the features are a few inches or less. This tradition dates back to the 18th century.  The word originates from the German word, "putzen" to decorate

The Moravian religion, also known as Unitas Fratrum or Unity of Brethren, dates back to  1457 near Prague. The first Moravians settled in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in 1753.  It was not until 155 years later that the first Greensboro Moravian Church was organized (1908) on East Lee Street, and the church at 304 South Elam opened in 1949. Greensboro has a lot of religious diversity and it continues to diversity. Anyone who is Christian, or likes learning about other religions, should stop by the First Moravian Church for a service and to see the Putz. The Moravians have so many beautiful traditions,

Happy Last Sunday before Christmas!

Whirlie Nation... Grimsley High State 4A Football Champs!

Last night, the Grimsley Whirlie football team played the high-school 4A championship game against Rolesville High School Rams from Wake County. The above photo features the team sendoff this afternoon leaving from the Grimsley campus. Students, parents, and the press were on hand as the team marched from campus to the busses. Coach Darell Brown, a few players, and the principal spoke and gave words of gratitude.  The players, drum line, dancers, and cheerleaders all marched up through campus and the team headed in the busses, up Westover Terrace and turning right onto Wendover east.

The game was played at Kenan Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The Whirlies led the whole way, with a final score of 35-23.  There were some fantastic plays during the game. This is not only a great day for Grimsley High School, it is a great day for Greensboro. For sports fans, there is a lot of pride knowing we have the best 4A football team in the state. Congratulations to everyone involved in helping Grimsley remain such a great place to learn and play sports. Coach Brown has done so much for the football program and it has paid off.

Happy Saturday!

Cille & Scoe & Holiday Joy

Downtown Greensboro has become quite the place to meet up for food, spirits, coffee, and fellowship. From the little New York style pizza shop just up the street* to Cille and Scot (above), restaurants have been busy over the holiday season. The parades and Festival of Lights do a great job of bring people to the area from Tanger Center to Gate City. On the day of the Holiday Parade, the above Santa-hatted friends gathered at Calle & Scoe for a mid-day meal.

Cille and Scoe in downtown Greensboro opened on October 15, 2021. It is named for the grandparents of Chef Sean Reaves who owns the restaurant with his wife Tara. Cille and Scoe (Lucille and Roscoe) gave Sean a farm-to-table upbringing that he experienced with them.  Most of the food at the restaurant is sourced from North Carolina; as Sean and Tara remind us, not to be trendy, but to use what the earth around us is providing in a given season. Sean loves reinterpreting his grandmother's recipes, melding that good, old-fashioned flavor with a new presentation. Read more in the article from Our State magazine (here). From the wall murals to the plating of the food, the Reaves have put so much thought behind every detail of their restaurant, it is easy to see how it has thrived over the last three years. It is easy to see why all of Santa's helpers stopped by that day.

It is the last weekend before Christmas, a time of year when we speed up so we can find time to slow down. Hopefully, we can all find time for holiday joy not only in our homes, but also in some local eateries.

Happy Friday!

 

* Pizzeria L'Italiano 219 S. Elm street. There are actually 3 pizza places on Elm street the other two are Mellow Mushroom (609 S. Elm) and The Corner Slice (600 N Elm)

Greensboro Farmers Curb Market

There will only be one more Greensboro Farmers Curb Market before Christmas. If you need last minute gifts, flowers, or food, the farmers market on Yanceyville is a wonderful option. As you can see from the above photo, the poinsettias  they had last week were looking lovely. The market will be open from 8:00- 12:00 noon on Saturday.

The market was founded by the City of Greensboro in 1874, making it 150 years young. It has been rather crowded lately, which is good for business. 

Happy Thursday!

33 & Elm Coffee Shop

33 & Elm Coffee Shop is located at the rear of the Industries for the Blind building on West Gate City Boulevard at Tate Street. The above photo only features a portion of the shop. It is clean, friendly, inviting, and the coffee products are very good. The staff is very nice also. Can you guess how the shop gets its name? Well, The Industries for the Blind opened 91 years ago in 1933. The original location was on Elm Street; hence, 33 & Elm. The actual Industries for the Blind in Greensboro manufactures, assembles, and distributes product in an effort to eliminate barriers for people who are blind or visually impaired. There is also a National Industries of the Blind. 

The coffee shop is located in an area that is really taking off. Oden Brewing is close. UNCG has built across the street and is putting a community based art space on the other side of Tate Street at West Gate City. The coffee shop also serves the Glenwood neighborhood. The shop will continue to grow and grow. Manager George Hoyt is such a warm and welcoming person and will remember you once you've visited a time or two. If you have a little extra time over the end of December, or you have out of town guests, consider taking them here. Oh, and if you go today, it is 1/2-price, specialty-drink Wednesday.  If you happen to be the customer behind us in line when we are there today, we'll treat you to a specialty coffee! Let's fill this space with love... and customers!

Happy Wednesday!

Greensboro Cultural Center

The Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street downtown is home to many non-profit arts organizations. There are art galleries, dance, and music studios. Here is a list of tenants. We love the cloth flags on display during the Festival of Lights. We aren't sure who installed it. Perhaps it was part of the Greensboro Residency for Original Works. The artwork hanging on the ceiling was such a great backdrop for framing photos. It is so fun to explore the Cultural Center because there is always something great to see. 

Happy Tuesday!

 

GTA Transit & the Winter Wonderland Bus

Have you seen the Greensboro Transit Authority's "Winter Wonderland" bus yet? The above photo was taken during the Winter Parade a couple of weeks ago.  This burst of holiday cheer is a plastic wrap. It was originally unveiled at the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot on December 3rd. There have been many themed wraps on our city busses. They command attention and help promote public transportation. We can't guarantee that you will get the Winter Wonderland bus on a route, but here is the schedule. If you want to track your GTA bus, see here.

In July, GTA was awarded a $22.4 million grant to purchase 6 battery-electric busses as part of a federal program.We should have a day where we all try to get to work and school using public transportation. The more people use it, the more public transportation we will get. Once we try it and learn about public transportation, the more likely we'll be to use it. We're imagining all of those shadows of people enjoying the Winter Parade are people waiting in line for the bus.  Come on, let's ride!!!

Happy Monday!

GTA Transit

Have you seen the Greensboro Transit Authority's "Winter Wonderland" bus yet?

Candle Tea at First Moravian Church of Greensboro

Today's photo features the December Candle Tea of the  First Moravian Church of Greensboro. We love the muted colors and practicality of of the garments.  According to their website, Moravians are the oldest continuously practicing Protestant denomination in the world today. The above church is located at 304 South Elam Avenue. They have a congregation of members from many religious background. While the congregation is small in size, their outreach supports many programs in the community (see HERE).  Their special gift to the Greensboro community (open to everyone), the Candle Tea event has been a Greensboro tradition since 1962. It is a way not only for the Moravians to give back to the community, but for people to learn more about the religion, see the sanctuary, learn about the old traditions like making candles and displaying a Christmas Putz. The Putz is an elaborate rendition of the Biblical scene of Jesus' birth. We will feature it next Sunday, the last before Christmas.

The origin of the Moravian religion dates back to 1457 in Bohemia sixty years before Martin Luther began his reformation. It started about 100 miles east of Prague and by 1557 had grown to branches in Bohemia, Moravia, and Poland. The earlier name for the religion was Unitas Fratum (Unity of Brothers). Moravians arrived in North Carolina in 1753 with construction of Salem in 1766.  One-hundred forty-two years later, in 1908, the First Moravian Church was established in Greensboro. The Candle Tea is one of those events that heralds the Christmas season in Greensboro. We go every year.

Happy Sunday!

The Running of the Balls 2024

Tonight's the night, the annual Running of the Balls in Sunset Hills. The 5K race will start at 6:00 p.m. in the dark, through the Greensboro neighborhood that garnered national attention for filling the mature trees with these round balls of  colorful light.  Tonight marks the 12th year of the event and nearly 50,000 people have participated. According to their website, over 10,000 balls have been hung and the community fundraiser have made possible nearly 6,000,000 meals through Second Harvest Food Bank. That is an impressive number and the display the neighborhood installs is equally impressive. Indeed, we are Greensboro proud, and we don't even live in this great neighborhood. 

You may remember, earlier in the month, we interviewed the family that lives in the above photo. Their home, alone, is installing 65 balls. The display is so much prettier in person than it is in this photograph. If you are local, you'll have to get out an see for yourself. However, don't go tonight, unless, of course, you have signed up for the race. If you are looking for a great place to live, consider Greensboro... consider Sunset Hills. Oh, if you do move into a home in this neighborhood, there is an unwritten expectation for you to participate in this event.

Happy Saturday!

Bookstores, Booksellers, and Librarians

Coffee shops are such charming places to meet up with friends and downtown Greensboro has at least eight now. All take on their own unique character. However, when you add a bookstore into the mix, the charm is even greater. The above photo was taken in Scuppernong Books in the 300 Block of South Elm recently, reminding us of just how fabulous bookstores are. Scuppernong is always having special events, book club meetings, author talks and more. They also have employee picks and sales associates  make great recommendations based on customers' preferences.

Physical book reading appears to be on the rise. Some say Gen Z is bringing back reading. According to "Toner Buzz",  in 2021, young adult fiction saw a 30.7% increase in sales and 843.1 million print books were sold in the U.S. A slightly alarming statistic is that 41% of all new books sales are on Amazon. Wouldn't it be nice if we all purchased and gave books for Christmas this year.  The smell of a new book, the sound of the pages, and the ensuing conversations keeps us going back to local bookstores. We love to buy a best seller and loan it to friend after friend so they can bypass the long waitlists at at the library. However, the Greensboro Public Library network is as fine as it gets. You can buy a friend a "Friend of the Library" membership or make a donation on their behalf. this Christmas. So, buy some books locally, donate to the library, and sit and sip your coffee or tea while entering the magical world of reading. We're hoping Santa brings us that James Patterson and Matt Eversmann book called, "The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians."

Happy Friday the 13th!

Winter Golden Hour

Yesterday,  it was a rather dreary, rainy, overcast day all day in Greensboro. Then, at about 4:00 p.m. the sun came out.  The rain washed the air clean and this was the view when we were out walking. If it hadn't been so dreary, the pre-sunset,  "golden hour" glow up might not have caught our attention. The sun was low to the horizon, giving the dormant brown grass, and the lingering brown leaves, a warm hue. It was just so special and reminded of us of just how beautiful nature is in Greensboro.

The photo was taken at the farm course of the Greensboro Country Club, off of Carlson Dairy. We just had to stop and snap this photo.  Water features may not be so beautiful to golfers, but they are spectacular for photography. We should be back with some more over the top Christmas scenes this weekend or next week. But for now, a palate-cleansing scene like the one above is a pretty special gift.

Happy Thursday!

Downtown Greensboro INC

Downtown Greensboro, Inc. helps with economic development in the downtown area. Their boundaries are Spring Street to the west, Murrow Boulevard to the east, Fisher Avenue to the north, and Gate City Boulevard to the south. They were incorporated 28 years ago in 1996 and develop programs that encourage people to work, play, invest, and live downtown. Their commitment is to help downtown thrive when so many businesses have moved to more suburban areas. One of their current projects is developing the Gaylon Depot into a marketplace, food hall and public gathering space (see HERE). The Downtown Greensboro, Inc. website is a wealth of information, if you want to learn more,  see HERE.

Today's photo features their float in the recent Holiday parade. The Market Street sign anchors the photo at the crossroad with Elm Street. We recognize Zach Matheny, Keith Holliday, and Joseph Schorr, but aren't sure of other staff members. Here is a list of some of the downtown events some of which are yet to come. Indeed, we have a vibrant, downtown community and it continues to evolve each year. Thank you for all you do, Downtown Greensboro, Inc.!

Happy Wednesday!

Nutcracker Being Practiced on Ground Floor of Self-Help Building

The above photo of a scene from The Nutcracker ballet, was photographed through the ground floor window of the Self-Help Building at 122 North Elm Street, at Friendly Avenue. Formerly, the ground floor of the 10-story building housed the Junior League's Bargain Box. That wonderful business has long since moved to Mill Street and the ground floor of the Self-Help Building has been renovated. It is possible to walk by and see and hear performances by community groups. Just after the Tree Lighting in Center City Park last Friday, during the Festival of Lights, the Greensboro Ballet and the Greensboro Community Orchestra were practicing here for the upcoming performances of the Nutcracker (Dec 12- 14th at the Carolina Theatre see HERE).

The dress rehearsal in the window sure generated a lot of interest, which hopefully, will result in even more ticket sales. The Nutcracker seems to be Greensboro's favorite ballet.

Happy Tuesday!

The Greensboro Holiday Parade

The Greensboro Holiday Parade was held this past Saturday (12/7/24) and while the weather was cold, it was sunny and enthusiasm was high. The above photo was taken at what we refer to as Greensboro's epicenter. The crossover of Market and Elm Street is the point that separates north/south (Elm) and east/west (Market). The iconic building in the background is the Jefferson Standard Building, built in 1922. At 374 ft. tall with 18 floors, when it was build, it was the tallest building between Atlanta and Washington D.C. 

In the foreground, you see children smiling, and they were from noon- 2:00 p.m. when the parade ended. The soccer ball was part of the float entry by the Guilford Futbol Club. Based on the children on the float, it looks like they have teams for children of all ages. The man navigating the inflatable soccer ball was encouraging little ones to kick it, which was a hit with all the children standing near us. Downtown Greensboro was hopping with energy this whole weekend. Let's hope the foot traffic continues through the season.

Happy Monday!

The Worship Place

On Friday, at the Festival of Lights, so many groups were out performing and interacting with the public. The Worship Place sang on the southeast corner of the 500 block of South Elm Street, under Jim Gallucci's 911 sculpture. The Worship Place is a contemporary, Christian church is located at 1808  Merritt Drive. Glenn and Melody Eliseo are the evangelists at the helm at The Worship Place. Glen grew up in California and preached his first service at age 18. They both settled in Greensboro in 1989 and have continued their ministry here since then. Melody is a second generation preacher. Their choice sings with such joy, enthusiasm, and talent, they fill the night with the message of the meaning of Christmas. In addition to Sunday services, they hold midweek services. We think this same group has been on this corner for several years and we anticipate their returning next year.

Happy Sunday-- only two more before Christmas!

Festival of Lights 2024

Last night, the Festival of Lights was held in downtown Greensboro. It was holiday fun from LeBauer Park to the 500 block of South Elm Street.  The above photo was taken at the corner of Market and Elm Streets, where north and south and east and west are divided.To the left, you can see Elm Street peeking out. 

This display was one of the many picture-perfect places for families to snap photos along Elm Street. The photo is a bit deceptive, because it doesn't look like there were any people. In all actuality, the First Friday/Festival of Lights was very well attended. It seems like the days in December start to pass quickly and it will be January before we know it. Tomorrow is the holiday parade. expect temperatures around 40º. Just like last night, getting out and interacting with others will be fun and rewarding. Head on out and see for yourself.

Happy Saturday!

Festival of Lights Tonight!

Tonight is the Festival of Lights in downtown Greensboro. The Festival of Lights will be tonight from 5:30- 9:00 p.m. The community tree lighting will happen at 6:56 in Center City Park. All night long, there will be plenty to do in the Cultural District, in the two downtown parks, and all along Elm Street. Here is a map. There will be music, food trucks, dancers, hand warmers, and more. The above photo, taken in a previous years in Hamburger Square, show how much the event brings the community together. The evening is so festive and has been a Greensboro tradition for nearly 40 years. 

It will be cold tonight, so if you head downtown, bundle up. If you are planning on taking photos, remember to dress in bright, holiday colors. Also, downtown, tomorrow is the Holiday Parade, from 12:00- 2:00 p.m. This is a busy weekend for holiday activities. After this weekend, there are two more weekends until Christmas.

Happy Friday, and let the fun begin!

Yvonne Johnson-- Greensboro Has Lost a Special Person

Yesterday, Greensboro lost a very special person, Yvonne Johnson, age 82. She was working for Greensboro, as city council member at-large and mayor pro-tem of the Greensboro City Council, right until the very end. The above photo was taken in her home in 2015 when we interviewed her for Greensboro Daily Photo.*  She has worked tirelessly for the people of Greensboro all of her adult life, including serving as  mayor (2007-2009). Of course, now that she is gone, we think of all the things we would have loved to asked her, for example, about her involvement in the Sit-In Movement and her undergraduate years at Bennett College. The Festival of Lights will not be the same without her this year. It was also such a joy to see her and to be greeted by her at community events. She  had such a warm smile and calm demeanor.

We treasure the memory of the afternoon we spent with her in her home on the east side of Greensboro. After the interview, it was raining so her husband walked us to the car under his umbrella. They both insisted. She has been such an integral part of the fabric of Greensboro for decades. It is hard to imagine that she is gone. We can hardly imagine Greensboro without Yvonne Johnson.

Fox News wrote an informative piece  HERE.

*This is a link to our interview HERE. 

Let It Snow!

Above is a glimpse of the dusting of snow on the ground in Greensboro yesterday morning. Just like that, temperatures dipped into the 20s and with the cool air, a little snow appeared in the night. Don't be fooled though, the roads were icy. There were several accidents and some roads were closed. The call came in about 4:30 am for Guilford County Schools to be on a three hour delay. By 8:30, the decision was made to cancel school today. It was probably best to not have busses full of children on the roads or high school students driving. We'll see what today brings. Anticipated temperatures are between lows in the 20s to highs in the 40s with temperatures warming by Sunday.

In December, once it gets this cold, winter clothing and Christmas sweaters appear. The temperatures will certainly make it feel like Christmas for those who will be downtown on Friday evening for the Festival of Lights and on Saturday for the Christmas parade.

Happy Wednesday!

Small Business Saturday at Just Be

Small business seems to have been a success in downtown Greensboro where all of the retail stores are small businesses. The above photo features Joseph Leonard of WFMY-2 News who was interviewing Kathryn Hashemi of Just Be. Just Be is a carefully curated gift shop at the corner of McGee and South Elm Street. Kathryn has owned Just Be for about six years, but the store has been going strong in that location since 2005.  The store is a perfect blend of items crafted by local artists to international, fair trade items. Jewelry, great candles, scarves, clothing, and puzzles are just a few of the items in the store. She also has quite a selection for small children. She is so personable and prides herself in knowing her regular customers and what they like. Some of us go in and ask "What's new that we need Kathryn?" and she usually quickly finds something perfect that we end up purchasing.

After Joseph was finished interviewing Kathryn, we interviewed him for Greensboro Daily Photo. Originally from Lexington, South Carolina. Joseph is a multi-media journalist with a degree from the University of South Carolina, now working for WFMY. He is so personable and interviewing him and being interviewed by him feels like talking to an old friend. Yes, he turned the tables on us for a quick interview about what we find special about shopping the small businesses. Of course we said the connection to the people who start out as proprietors and quickly become friends- like Kathryn.

Happy Tuesday! Three more sleeps until the Festival of Lights!

Hudson's Hill Has Relocated to 314 S. Elm St.!

Hudson's Hill, formerly in the 500 block of South Elm Street, in the old Coe's Grocery Building, relocated to 314 South Elm on Black Friday. After less than a week in the new location, they are already seeing increased foot traffic. This local store is known for its jeans, Greensboro shirts and sweatshirts, and leatherwork. They have jeans that still have a Greensboro connection. One of the owners, Evan Morrison, uses original machinery from closed Greensboro textile mills to weave denim for jeans. Hudson's Hill also carries Susan Ridenhour's pottery and many other products with a Greensboro connection.

The above photo features Tinker Clayton, one of the owners, and one of his employees, Jenny. We first spoke at length to Jenny because Tinker was busy setting up VHS Christmas movies in the storefront window. We guess when someone needs to patiently wait for their friend or partner to shop or get a fitting, they can sit in the window and watch old VHS tapes.

Hudson's Hill was open in the former location for 13 years. They have barely scratched the surface of filling the above space with inventory and equipment to make even more products on site. They have big plans, combined with all the talent it takes to make quality products, the old-fashioned way. This is the ultimate place to buy local and to learn about Greensboro's tradition as a mill town. It is so nice to see the Miller Furniture Store put to good use after being empty for decades. With a little arm twisting, Mr. Miller agreed to rent to Hudson's Hill. Perhaps he has been waiting all these years for just this type of tenants- people who value quality, tradition, and connection to community. Check out Hudson's Hill at the Festival of Lights this Friday.

Yes, dear readers, it is already December!  Happy Monday!

Gate City Church of God 200 State Street

The Gate City Church of God (COG)  is located at 200 State Street, near Elm Street. The property is just on the east edge of Old Irving Park. According to realtor.com, this brick church building was built in 1949, when nearby textile mills were still in operation. The church would have served mill workers. The Church of God religion traces its roots back to 1886 in a millhouse in Monroe County, TN,*  near the North Carolina border. 

We're wondering if the above building, currently undergoing renovation would have been the parsonage that goes with the church. It will be interesting to see what becomes of it. Lately, State Street is experiencing a renaissance, so the above house at 208 is prime real estate.. Perhaps the churches near State Street are reaping the benefits of all of the growth in this church that extends from Elm Street to Church Street. If you are interested in attending the Gate City COG, service is at 11:00 am. Sunday is  a great day to stroll the length of State Street to see what new businesses have opened.

Happy Sunday!

*read more about the history of the Church of God,  here.