Greensboro Daily Photo

Guilford Park Presbyterian Church on Easter

The above photo is of the center courtyard of Guilford Park Presbyterian Church. It leads to the Columbarium. It reminded us so much of the Easter season: The three arches evoke the idea of trinity and of the three who died on the cross. The columbarium, is filled with sealed niches with stored funeral urns. Even in death, for Christians, there is the belief of an afterlife. The trees are starting to leaf out, another sign of the circle of life.

Guilford Park Presbyterian Church's first building was completed in 1947, and is an off-shoot of Buffalo Presbyterian Church. It is located in Kirkwood, on Fairfield, just off of Lawndale Drive. Guilford Park Presbyterian has a very robust history documented online. We are archivists at heart and cannot recommend the importance of documenting history of families, institutions, towns, etc. It is hard to retrieve information once the people with the stories and information are gone.  We hope the folks at Guilford Park Presbyterian have a Happy Easter. We're wondering if they will hold a service under the tree across the street, the one where the early members of the church first gathered to worship even before they were formally a congregation.

Happy Easter!

2306 Lawndale in Kirkwood is Ready for Easter!

Today would be a glorious day for an Easter egg hunt, as tomorrow is Easter. On Thursday, we had the opportunity to walk around the edge of Kirkwood on Lawndale near Cornwalis. This section  of the neighborhood has such a unique personality- a little bit hip and a little bit hippy. There is one of Kirkwood's two remaining Lustron homes.*  There are owners with vintage cars parked on the street, there is a house with an inflated unicorn, there is the palm reader. The above lawn at 2306 Lawndale is  decorated for Easter with two dogs guarding the pot. 

As we zip by this cluster of homes on Lawndale by car, we don't see it as a neighborhood. However, when we walked it this past week, we started seeing all of the things that make it a neighborhood. We were greeted by Great Danes guarding their yard, we noticed lots of storage sheds, we saw flowers and trees starting to bloom. There were people at Guilford Presbyterian Church getting ready for Easter. We looked up and a giant pink flamingo was staring at us. There were others walking. Someone was out for a run. We noticed a small park with a giant tree that reminds of the Angel Oak in Charleston, SC. Just like the Angel Oak, it is not permitted to climb the tree. Before we knew it, we were back at our car. Walking our many neighborhoods is a fun way to get to know Greensboro. May the Easter bunny deliver a basket of goodness to 2306 Lawndale, and to you too! Please stop back tomorrow.

Happy Saturday!

*See our post on the Lustron on Lawndale  from 15 years ago. 

Garrison Keillor Returns to the Carolina Theatre

Last night, Garrison Keillor- of Prairie Home Companion and NPR fame-  made his fourth visit to the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro. For an hour and a half he provided non-stop entertainment which included a lot of singing, often including the audience.  With a recurring theme of aging, he talked about how the age 60+  audience knew songs from memory and with a shared repertoire, whereas younger generations now rely on using their phones for lyrics in lieu of memorizing information. Much of his performance centered on reminiscing on his 50 year career and what the view from age 81 looks like. 

We last saw Garrison Keillor at the Carolina Theatre eight years ago, in 2016 (see HERE). While visibly older and thinner,  with a softer voice, he still has his quick wit, clear memory, and his ability to transport listeners with a good story. He is still standard attire- a nice suit with a red tie, red tennis shoes, and red crew socks. It was a lovely evening, and a bittersweet unspoken thought that he won't likely have another eight years to return for a 5th time. We were also informed by Carolina Theatre Executive Director Brian Gray, that Benjie Cone, also 81, died this week. His wife Betty spearheaded the multi-million dollar renovation of the Carolina Theatre, and Betty is the very reason the venue still exists. Benjie was always at her side, helping as needed. We are grateful for the Cones, for the Carolina Theatre, and for the opportunity to live in a community that attracts performances like that of Garrison Keillor. There are so many reasons to be thankful.

Happy Friday!

 

Dogwood are Blooming

Dogwoods are starting to bloom in Greensboro. They are a harbinger of spring. The above tree is located in a yard in Hamilton Lakes, at 704 Lipscomb Road. This house sold in August 2023 with the owners inheriting this lovely dogwood. Dogwoods are a favorite in Greensboro, right up there with azaleas. There is a Dogwood Drive in Hamilton Lakes that extends arcs over Holden Road, almost extending to Friendly Avenue on both ends.  There is a 4.2 acre Dogwood Park located in Irving Park, between Sunset Drive and Meadowbrook Terrace. Native Americans made medicinal tea from dogwood bark.  Dogwoods were also a favorite of President Washington and President Jefferson. Are there dogwoods in your neighborhood? Have they started blooming?  

On another note, Garrison Keeler or National Public Radio fame will be in Greensboro at the Carolina Theatre tonight. He hails from St. Paul Minnesota. Today, in St. Paul, the temperature should rise to 33, just over freezing.  They grow well in Minnesota, but we're betting they won't bloom for at least another month If someone reading this is driving him around town, please show him some of Greensboro's  lovely yards.

Happy Thursday!

Tina

The Tina Turner Musical is in town at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. If opening night was any indication, performances will be nearly sold out, if not completely sold out. It tells of how Tina overcame so many obstacles to rise to the top. All of the acting, singing, and dancing is strong. Ari Groover is a fabulous Tina Turner. Symphony King played young Tina Turner and wowed the audience with her voice and charisma. Ari and Symphony are both performers with amazing careers ahead of them. The above photo features the curtain at Tanger and the people with seats in front of the front row. The live orchestra was actually on stage during the performance, so the orchestra seats are available. 

In addition to good singing and dancing, Tina's backstory let the audience get to know who Tina was not only on stage, but also who she was as a person. Greensboro is so lucky to have Tanger and to be able to see top quality shows without needing to drive elsewhere. Try to see "Tina" is you can. Also, next season's Broadway line up at Tanger has just been announced: Back to the Future; MJ, the Michael Jackson Story; Hamilton; Some like it Hot; Mamma Mia; The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise; and Juliette.

Happy Wednesday!

1902 Madison Ave in Sunset Hills

This single family home in Sunset Hills was built in 1932. It has so many features that anchor it in this part of North Carolina. First the stone exterior looks like it may be Mt. Airy granite. Then there is the stonemasonry. We're wondering if it is was built by stonemason Andrew Leopold Schlosser. He would have been working in Greensboro during the time this house was built. Also, the green roof tiles are possibly Pomona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company, with a factory down the road, just off of West Market Street. Finally,  that cozy front porch exudes southern hospitality.

This home got new owners last year and, based on the NC State flag on the front porch, we conclude they are North Carolina State fans. If you live in Greensboro, or North Carolina in general, you know what a basketball state we are.  The NC State Basketball Teams, men's and women's are advancing to the Sweet 16. We're betting there will be some neighborhood parties in this house if NC State continues to advance. The Sunset Hills neighborhood is known for celebrating together. But during basketball season, even the friendliest of neighbors get a little competitive.

Happy Tuesday! 

Apples at the Base of UNCG's Minerva Statue

Recently, when we were on the campus of UNCG, we saw all of the apples with bites out of them. The tradition goes that if the apples, with a bite out, are left at the base of this Minerva statue, they will do well on exams. We imagine the apples have been there since the mid-term period as the apples have some age on them. As you can see in the photo, the sculptor is James Barnhill who earned an MFA from UNCG in 1982. The Minerva statue was a gift of the class of 1953  in 2003 for the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Here is a photo of Minerva from this time last year, so you can see the full statue. Minerva is the goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy; and the patron of strategic war. (It sounds like she might have been an overachiever). Do you see the little bird on the left? He was joyfully pecking the flesh of one of the apples.

These college traditions and lore of things around campus, make good memories and are part of building community in higher education.  Students graduate from an institution knowing these special traditions. In addition to placing apples at the base of Minerva, there is a rock that gets painted (known as the Rawk), a superstition to not walk under the clock tower, and the tradition of wearing blue and gold (school colors) on Friday. What traditions did your schools have?

College Park Baptist Church

A few days ago, we were walking along Josephine Boyd Street at Walker Avenue and noticed how beautiful this redbud tree looked in front of the College Park Baptist Church. This sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1952. The church has a rich history, holding its first organizational meeting in 1906. Given their close proximity to UNCG (then the State Normal School for Women) there has been great appeal to college students.

College Park is a LGBTQ-friendly church and, since 1999, has not been a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. They are now affiliated  with American Baptist Churches, USA. College Park was the first church in Greensboro to have an ordained woman minister, further evidence of the liberal leanings of this congregation.*  It is a beautiful church and if you are looking for a liberal, welcoming congregation, this just may be the spiritual home for you.

Happy Palm Sunday!

* reference and more information HERE.

On the EUC Lawn at UNCG

Thursday was a lovely afternoon in Greensboro. After we left the book talk on the UNCG campus, we walked across the lawn of the student union. It was nice seeing all of these UNCG students spending time together, relaxing and socializing. This is the picture of the best of college life when students have the opportunity to meet in person. The building in the background really frames the photo. It is the tower, or stacks, added on to Jackson Library in the 1970's. The nine-story tower is quite a landmark on campus.

Just under 18,000 students enrolled at UNCG this fall. Thirty six percent of students live on campus. Let's hope that even those who don't live on campus have an opportunity to enjoy some of the campus activities- planned and impromptu. Even though it is going to be a rainy day today, there are still plenty of things to do on a college campus, and we have four of them in Greensboro.

Happy Saturday!

Hal & Eleanor Minnock-Pugh

To celebrate International Women's History Month, the UNC Greensboro University Libraries hosted a Book Talk & Signing by Hal E. Pugh and Eleanor Minnock-Pugh. After twenty-five years of researching and writing, they published the book, "Naomi "Omie" Wise: Her Life, Death and Legend."  The event, held in the Oakley Room at the Alumni House at UNCG, the event was free and open to the public. Naomi "Omie" Wise was a young woman from Randolph County, North Carolina who was born in or before 1789 and was murdered in 1807. Her murder resulted in a trial that was held in Guilford County and in the end, the suspect was acquitted due to nothing more than circumstantial evidence. This murder happened in an era when news spread through newspapers, books, and oral tradition. The case generated much interest.  Many of the details of the murder are derived from the 147 various texts and fragments appearing about the case. Hal Pugh was intrigued by the case because he is related to the family back 5 generations. 

One of the most famous ballads about Naomi Wise is Bob Dylan's 1961 version. However, we likely owe all of the information about Naomi Wise to the great storytelling in North Carolinian Braxton Craven's 1851 book, "Naomi Wise, or the Victim." However, the Pughs say if the truth is a straight road, Braxton Craven's version was a curvy, embellished one. However, the story has endured for 217 years. If you read the Pughs' book, you will not only learn about a North Carolina woman whose story only endures because of her horrific demise, you will learn how meticulous research unfolds. The Pughs told us they are glad the research lasted for twenty-five years, because in recent years so many records and pieces of archival material have been made available through the internet, making it possible for them to search documents and records without having to travel hundreds of miles. In their spare time, when not research and writing about Naomi Wise, the Pughs are busy producing original redware and stoneware pottery.

The Greensboro community is lucky to have access to university-sponsored events like this one.

Happy Friday!

Robert Linville's PRECISION GOLF SCHOOL

Robert Linville has been a golf instructor for over 35 years. He is nationally recognized and respected as one of the top instructors. As a golfer, his roots run deep in Greensboro. In 1976- 1980, he was an All-American at Guilford College. He co-founded Precision Golf School, with Rodney Morrow, in 1989. At first, it was located in a strip-mall off of Friendly Avenue. The school now has five locations, and the one above is at Bur-Mil Park.* Bur-Mil Park is a great place to learn to golf, not only because of the instruction available there, but also because there is a driving range. They also have an 18-hole golf course.

Mr. Linville was also co-head pro at Forest Oaks Country club and he coached the Greensboro College Pride to much recognition, several seasons as top finishers, and an NCAA Division III Championship in 2000. In the above photo, both the man instructing (facing the camera) and his student were concentrating on the lesson, as we looked on. The view from behind the camera was filled with people hitting buckets of balls practicing their teeing off. Greensboro is a fantastic golf city with green fees at all price points. If you want to get back into golf, Bur-Mil is open to the public and does not disappoint.

Happy Thursday!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Luxe Soulfood & Cocktails

Luxe Soulfood and Cocktails is located at 403 North Elm Street in the building where Ganache was located for years. Luxe opened in October of 2020, which was about a year before Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. Luxe is one of the places contributing to the "Uptown" section of Greensboro and, specifically, North Elm Street. Here is a copy of the Soulfood Sunday brunch menu. While the meats look tasty, it is the sides that make Luxe a standout for good, home-cooked food. Mac and cheese, yams, potato salad, collards, cabbage, rice and gravy and more are examples of the offerings. Over the last three and a half years, Luxe has worked hard to maintain their upscale vibe, to the extent that they have a strict dress code. The Luxe family works hard to keep their customers satisfied.

On the day we walked by, there was a glare from the sun. It was that teal Polaris Slingshot, parked out in front, that caught our eye. We haven't had a chance to eat there yet, but after looking at that menu, we plan to try to get in soon.  We love a good brunch, but Sunday brunch looks quite crowded. It is heartwarming to see these Covid/post-Covid businesses that appear to be thriving. Their hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 11:30a.m.- 5:00 p.m; Friday from 11:30 a.m.= 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon- 7:00 pm. So it is not (yet) a late-night eatery.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Spring!

Spring is officially here. It is the season for Easter, which is early this year (March 31)  and Passover (April 22-30). However, Orthodox Easter is late- not until May 5th. Ramadan is happening now, but is not always a spring holiday. In Greensboro, spring is truly brings rebirth of the landscape with the greening of lawns and leafing out of trees and shrubs. It is a time to plant and celebrate nature. The above photo features a cluster of hyacinth in our yard. While not native to Greensboro, the bulbous, spring-blooming perennial does well here. We don't even take up our bulbs and they always return mid March, and their scent is heavenly. 

If you are looking for plants, the local farmers markets are a good start. When you buy locally, you help the local economy and you enter into a relationship with a grower who will probably be available to answer your gardening questions. The master gardeners will be set up to sell on April 14th at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market and will hold their annual plant sale at the NC Cooperative Extension Guilford County Center at 3309 Burlington Road on May 3rd and 4th. This is the weekend before Mothers Day and, even if you don't have a green thumb, you can probably keep a plant alive for a week to give to mom!

Happy Tuesday!

Springtime is Upon Us

Yesterday was such a lovely day in Greensboro. The sun was shining, but it wasn't too warm. The above photo is a scene in northwest Greensboro, along Carlson Dairy Road. You can see the grass is that early spring green, the skies were blue and the white blossoms were at peak, already starting to flutter to the ground. If you want to see the early stages of nature, you need to be driving around neighborhoods right now. Also, this past weekend, people were commenting that the reenactment of the Revolutionary War brought out lots of people. The warm weather helped boost attendance of people reenacting and spectators. What a way to get as close to history 200+ years ago. It was also St. Patrick's Day, but that usually results in not only green clothing but lots of green beverages.

If you want to keep up with what is blooming when, and you don't have a master gardener in your life, see this bloom calendar from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. Tomorrow is the first official day of spring.

Happy Monday! Happy Last Day of Winter!

 

College Place Church

College Park Church is located at the corner of Tate and Spring Garden Streets. According to the cornerstone, it was erected in 1919. It is well aware of its location just east of UNCG's campus and just southwest of the Greensboro College campus, in College Hill. The church works hard at being a community resource. As one example, the food pantry is open on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00- 9:00 pm. As stated on their website, they believe in putting faith into action. On Sunday, March 24th at 12:15 pm, just after Sunday service, they will host a Community Children's Easter Egg hunt in Springdale Park. Springdale is the park across the street at the corner of Springdale and Spring Garden Street. It is a diverse and welcoming congregation, open to people from all walks of life.

We drive by this church all the time, but are embarrassed to say that we have never been inside. We can tell the stained glass windows are beautiful. It must be transporting to  hear a choir sing, bathed in the light from those windows. If you are interested, read more about their staff, here. If you want to help, we're betting they would appreciate food for the community food pantry, or books for their Little Free Library.

Happy Sunday!

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

In Greensboro, this is the weekend of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, at least the reenactment. The original battle happened on March 15, 1781, but the above scene is what you will see if you head out this weekend- today or tomorrow. So head out to Country Park and see people reenacting, preparing food, talking about life if the 1800's, taking care of their horses, going down to the river to pray, and doing just about anything period-appropriate that you can imagine To be sure , they will not be using their cell phones, they will be present in the moment Greensboro is so lucky to have an event that attracts people from all over the country to come here and experience what life would have been like almost 250 years ago.

The weather should be nice today, between 50º- 70º and it shouldn't be raining. If you have never seen the reenactment battles, you owe it to yourself to go and do so. Remember, the red coats are the British. 

Happy Saturday!

Along Elm Street

We absolutely love street scenes of downtown Greensboro and this view of the 100 block of South Elm Street puts us in such a great mood. As you can tell by the clothing, weather has been warming in Greensboro. Nights are cold and afternoons are warm. Winter coats at 6:30 a.m. and short sleeves in the p.m. The above photo was taken in front of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. An older couple is reading information in the center window as a couple of younger people were walking along enjoying each other's company. We love the way the "worth" part of Woolworth appears in the photo. Yes, a visit here is well WORTH your time. Yes, we cropped the photo just a bit and brightens the exposure, but nothing was photoshopped in or out. The striped awning on this historic, 1929 building and the newer, retro light post really frame the scene.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, consider heading downtown; however, it is also the weekend of the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. See here for our photo of reenactment that dates back to 2010. So, you can have a 21st century experience along Elm Street and an 18th century experience in Greensboro Country Park. It is so educational to see people wearing clothing from 243 years ago and watching reenactors cooking food that would have been eating at that time. Regardless of what you end up doing, live the weekend to the fullest.

Happy Friday!

WFMY News 2

A few weeks ago, we were on the east side of Greensboro, just east of Highway 29 and drove past WFMY News 2. It was a cold and rainy day and we took this photo without getting out of the car.  Seeing the building reminded us of what a great resource our local news channels are. Especially now that so few people are reading the newspaper, we are relying on the news stations for local news. We had a chance to go inside in 2015 (see HERE) . We have to chuckle at our comment that this is an "unimposing square building on Phillips Avenue." We also had the good fortune to interview Lee Kinard who started at WFMY in 1956 and worked there for 43 years (see HERE).  He was such an amazing community resource and founded one of the early morning shows on TV (The Good Morning Show).

The exterior of the building looks so unimposing, but when you go inside, it is feels like a magical, alternate reality. We hope you get inside sometime- and for good reasons. WFMY launched its first live show on August 18, 1949 and will turn 75 this year. You may have heard about the big birthday celebration and they're looking for people in the community to celebrate who are turning 75. We'll have to look through out interviews and see if there is anyone we've interviewed to suggest for the "Turning 75" segment. Are you?

Happy Thursday!

Twilight in Greensboro

While the days have been sunny this week, we have experienced a cold snap with temperatures ranging from the 30s to the 70s. But, oh the sunshine, blue skies,  and seeing things blooming has been heavenly. In spite of all the sunshine, we feel compelled to share this twilight photo from Monday. It was way past sunset (8:10 pm daylight savings time, to be exact), and the crescent moon was so clear and bright in the sky. Even though we only had a cell phone when out walking, you have an idea of just how lovely the evening was. 

If you are local, you know we have a lot of golf courses and those golf course water features are fabulous for capturing reflections. This was taken from the outer perimeter of the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club, near Carlson Dairy Road. While this end of town is being developed before our eyes, it is still possible to find little pockets of nature and places where the stars shine brightly. The lighting glowing from houses at twilight can be so charming. On Monday, the moon was setting at 9:13 pm. Tonight, it will set at 11:40 pm. It seems strange to see the moon set, just after the sun did so. The next full moon will be on March 25th and the moon will rise at 8:09 pm. Oh, and the spring equinox is Tuesday, March 19th.

Happy Wednesday!

Annie Klick Pottery

The Mud Buddies Pottery Show was held at Bur-Mil at the Park Event Center this past Sunday. The place was filled with fabulous pottery of over 20 local potters. There were artists there with all levels of expertise from full-time, professional artists,  pottery teachers, and students selling their wares. Featured above in Annie Klick, who organized the show. She is holding one of her mugs, one that was wood fired. The weather was perfect and people were eager to get out and enjoy the warm weather. There were lots of Easter-themed items as well as items that would look great  in Greensboro homes, mountain retreats, and beach houses. We bought a couple of gifts (including the mug in Annie's hand).  She had some great berry bowls.

If you missed the March event, there will be other opportunities, including the fall show of the Mud-buddies. You can find Annie on Facebook and Instagram. We have so many talented potters in Greensboro. Remember to buy local.

Happy Tuesday!

SIX@Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Yesterday was a glorious day and, as you can see, spring is springing in Greensboro. This photo was taken on North Elm Street at the back of Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. The people walking along the sidewalk had just seen the afternoon showing of the Broadway musical SIX. It is about the six wives of Henry VIII, who ruled England from 1509-1547. In Hamilton fashion, the actors sang their way through their lives with a bit of history. They singing was high-energy, contemporary, and up-beat throughout the hour and a half production. The all-female cast and musicians, competitive through most of the show, come to the realization that Henry VIII was famous largely because he had SIX wives. There were a couple of jabs about the concept of "patriarchy" and, to engage the audience, they must have said "Greensboro" a dozen times. It was a great way to help the audience connected to the performance.

As you can see, exiting the theatre was glorious with the sun shining. While the air was crisp and windy, the brightness of the day had everyone walking with a syncopated upbeat. Indeed, SIX was a great way to celebrate Women's History Month. Who are the Greensboro women in your lives? It is a great month to show love and appreciation. Actually, every month is a great time to show love and appreciation.

Happy Monday!

(Do you see the JP/LFG building playing peek-a-boo)?

Bach's Lunch at Starmount Presbyterian

Starmount Presbyterian Church is holding a Lenten Concert Series This is their 40th season of hosting these events during mid-day. It is called Bach's Lunch. The longstanding tradition of the Bach's lunch was established to celebrate the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. The concerts start at 12:15 and end shortly before 1:00 pm, with lunch immediately following. In previous years, they had five concerts in one week. This year, they have changed the format to having one concert every Wednesday during Lent (March 13, 20, and 27 remain).

This past Wednesday's convert was Baajah Mohammed singing songs ranging from Debussy to gospel to Disney. Ms. Mohammed grew up in Guilford County and attended high school at Penn Griffin School of the Arts in High Point. She earned an undergraduate degree from ECU and completed her Master's degree at Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins.  She was accompanied by James Douglass,  a UNCG professor of collaborative piano. The concert was superb. After the concert, Starmount invites you to stay for a boxed lunch It is free. Of course donations for the concert and the lunch help keep the program funded, but there is no expectation to pay. The church is conveniently located at 3501 West Market Street with parking and entrance around the back of the church.

Happy Sunday! We've sprung ahead an hour, and for our Muslim friends, Happy Ramadan.

Saucer Magnolias are in Bloom

The deciduous saucer or tulip magnolias or are blooming now. They are some of the early spring bloomers and after they come out, so much more will start blooming. The saucer magnolias come in white, pink and purple and are actually deer resistant. The blooms don't last long once you pick them, but they are oh so beautiful. Also, as you can see, the daffodils are blooming, too. These perennial, spring flowers are part of the amaryllis family. If you love bulbs and flowers, here is a website for growing information for Greensboro from the NC Cooperative Extension.

Tuesday, March 19th is the first day of spring, just 10 days away. Also, tonight we move the clocks forward an hour making it stay daylight longer. If you are looking for something today, head to the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church for the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and Book Sale. It is a great way to support a community fundraiser and the pancakes are always served with a smile.

Happy Saturday!

Bright Star Playing at the Sunset Theatre in Asheboro, NC

Bright Star is live musical theatre playing until Sunday at the Sunset Theatre at 234 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro, NC. We had the good fortune of attending last night's show, and, it reminded us so much of Triad Stage. The music and acting was superb. The theatre is intimate and located in the center of town. While the production was in Asheboro, so many of the people involved (especially the musicians) had connections to Greensboro and Guilford County. Above, is a photo of the cast at the end of the production.

The script was written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. If you want tickets, see here. If you like live theatre and have time to go see this production, it is top quality. The setting is the Blue Ridge Mountains and Asheville, North Carolina in 1923 and 1945.  If you don't mind spoilers, see the synopsis, here. As for the Sunset Theatre, it dates to 1929, only two years after Greensboro's Carolina Theatre. How wonderful that it is still in use.

Happy Friday!

Bird's Eye View of the City of Greensboro

Out sleuthing yesterday, we found this map of Greensboro that dates to 1891. The year of the map was 83 years after Greensboro became a city (1808) and it has a been 133 years since that map was produced. A lot has happened in 133 years. We know this wouldn't have been an original map, but were curious about its origin. It looks like this map was scanned or downloaded from the Library of Congress Digital Collection. At least at one time, it may have been available through the Greensboro History Museum. They have a .jpg available for download. It features prominent buildings as well as the network of streets and trains. Also noteworthy is the amount of green space. So many of the streets have changed. On the digital copy that we've linked to below, you can zoom in and see details. As you look around on the Gateway map collection, you will see that they have maps of Greensboro from many different decades.

The digital era has transformed archives and access to information. But, there is still a need for people and organizations to store digital information, as information can disappear with a click of a button. We hope you enjoy linking through and looking at some of the maps

Happy Thursday!

* see here for map available for download.

T.W. Stanley Well and Pump Repair

Sometimes from something bad comes something good. The above photo features Mr. Teal Stanley and his son (background) who were on site replacing our broken well pump. Mr. Stanly learned the business from his dad and has since taught the trade to his own son, Trey. This is a 3rd generation business and it shows. They are prompt, dependable, and get to the source of the problem and make the repair quickly. We recommend them highly. This is a business they both love- and it shows. While Mr. Stanley was answering all of our numerous questions, Trey was working diligently.

In addition to being experts at the well and pump trade, we learned in talking to Mr Stanley,  he is a master checkers player, a skill he also learned from his father. Mr. Stanley is president of the North Carolina Checker Association. His children have also played checkers. When he was 10 years old, Trey was the boys national champ, and his sister, who was 6 at the time, was the girls national champion.*  In 2020, Mr. Stanley was the North Carolina State Champion at the highest level of play (Master). He'll be competing a regional event in Tennessee this weekend and we wish him well. But don't worry, if you have a well/pump problem, Trey will be minding the business. Now that we know how much skill is required to play a game of checkers, we'll never look at a checker board the same again. We also saw first-hand how much work is involved in replacing a well pump. They can be reached at (336) 273-7314.

Happy Wednesday!

*reference here.

Spring Day Sunset Hills Historic District

While it isn't technically spring, yesterday felt like a spring day and today should also be a lovely day. We were spending time in Sunset Hills and happened to look up.  We noticed the beautiful sky with all of the mature trees that, a little more than a month ago, would have had those 1' round Christmas balls in them. Some of those mature trees are over twice the size of the houses. Since 2013, Sunset Hills has been on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is the largest NRHP neighborhood in Guildford County.  This designation doesn't mandate appearance standards. Homeowners can opt-in with the opportunity of a tax credit if they elect to participate. 

According to Preservation Greensboro, the neighborhood began in 1922 with Arthur Kirby Moore developing the land.* The neighborhood was nestled between Walker, Avenue, Market Street, and Salem Road. Salem Road was renamed Friendly Avenue. Sunset Hills, even without many sidewalks, is a very walker-friendly neighborhood. Every morning and afternoon, you will see people out walking their dogs or taking children to the neighborhood park. Consider heading out to vote in the primaries today and then finding a walkable neighborhood to enjoy. Sunset Hills is a great one!

Happy Tuesday! 

 

* See reference and lengthy, interesting history HERE.

First Friday Collage Event

The March First Friday was so much fun downtown. In addition to all the regular activities along Elm Street, the Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street was filled with performances, vendors, and opportunities to make and see art. The above photo features Joanne Rich facilitating a collage make-and-take. Joanne is an accomplished, award winning collage artist and currently has a piece showing at the Center for Visual Artists, which is located in the Greensboro Cultural Center.  At the make-and-take, Joanne gave participants and much help as they wanted and worked on her own piece when workshop participants wanted to work independently. Joanne has quite an eye for taking little scraps of paper and assembling them into something else. We loved her encouraging words along these lines, "Try it and if it you aren't satisfied, glue something over it."  And that, we did- more than once!

This event was free and open to the public. In April, the theme for First Friday (April 5th) will be poetry. We look forward to all the offerings at the Greensboro Cultural Center centered around poetry. Mark your calendars; spring will be in full bloom by then. We'll close today's post with a haiku in honor of this upcoming event. (Remember, haiku is usually three lines totaling 17 syllables 5-7-5).  Poetry downtown, Poets counting syllables; Forging messages. A big thank you to everyone involved in First Friday on March 1st and a thank you in advance to everyone involved in upcoming events.

Happy Monday!

Crocus Flowers Signal Spring is on the Way in Greensboro

March is upon us and soon it will be spring. Also, on March 10th, Ramadan starts. The Islamic Center of Greensboro was established in 1984 and the  local Muslim population has continued to grow since then. The majority of the residents who practice religion are Christians and only 3 cities in the United States have more churches per capita than Greensboro.* Christians will be celebrating Easter at the end of the month. Passover will not be until April this year and Orthodox Easter will not be until May.

Many of the spring celebrations center around a rebirth of sorts. Flowers remind us of spring. Today's photo features some crocus plants in our yard. They remind us of the renewal of life that happens this time of year and that, before we know it, Greensboro will be abloom and leafing out. Many say that spring is the most beautiful time of year in Greensboro. Every season has its special moments. Today, we are featuring nature, as opposed to a house of worship. Nature, in its own right is full of spirituality. There are five Sundays in March, so we'll be sure to find some new churches to feature!

Happy Sunday!

 

*reference.

Softball Season: Bring On the Spring Sports!

The spring sports season is well underway and softball is the favorite of many. The above photo shows the UNCG women's softball team practicing on their home field at the corner of Walker Avenue and Josephine Boyd. Today, the Spartans are on the road at Elon University. The season will run into early May. The next home game will be Sunday, March 3rd at 1:00 pm in this stadium. If you are available, head out to watch the team, as the University is on Spring Break and so the players are working hard turning a time when many of their classmates are off to exotic beaches. This $3,000,000 stadium was completed in 2006 and is a nice place to watch a game. In 2003, Elon was ranked as a top North Carolina D1 school for softball*, so this game should be fun to watch.

We've had some rainy days this week, which also bring out some blue skies. This weekend should be nice, so whether you head to Elon to see a game or come to Spartan stadium on Sunday, the weather should be nice. If you know of teens in the area who play softball, this is the perfect place for them to see some great playing.  Whatever you decide to do this weekend, may you enjoy yourself.

Happy Saturday!

*reference.

Vote Early!

Have you voted yet? Early voting seemed to be gaining traction yesterday. The above photo was taken at Lewis Recreation Center at 3110 Forest Lawn Drive. This center is one of Greensboro's ten recreation centers. If you go there to vote in the afternoon, you will see students enjoying the after school program. Early voting can be done anywhere. However, be sure to take a form of identification. You have today and tomorrow to vote early.  We didn't see any candidates out, but we did see lots of signage. We expect we will see the results after voting on Tuesday (3/5). Former President Trump will be in Greensboro tomorrow for a "Get Out the Vote" Rally. President Biden visited in January. 'Tis the season.

Today is also First Friday, so there will be plenty to do downtown.  Here's to a great weekend for all.

Happy Friday!