Greensboro Daily Photo

NC A& T Drumline

On Tuesday, Justice Henry and Shirley Frye received the key to the city of Greensboro for their lifelong service to our community. It was a lovely service. The atmosphere was even more celebratory having the NC A&T marching band drumline performing.  The NC A&T band was started in 1918 as a small program and the band became an integral part of the music. The percussionists at the University have developed quite a following, as they not only exude a percussive sound, they dance and perform exciting routines.

The band played tirelessly yesterday before the event and long after the event was over. Between the ceremony and the performance of the percussionists, there was a vibrancy in Center City Park. Usually, during the week it is a very quiet place. But Tuesday, the park came alive. It was such a joy to watch and hear the band perform. Their sound carried for several blocks. Perhaps, the wooden shelter in front of the band added to their sound. In case you want to hear them, the band will be playing at the NC A & T home football game against NC Central. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.

Happy Thursday!

The Frye Family, Exuding Vibrance

Today's joyful photo features Chief Justice and Shirley Frye with their family. Family members gathered in Center City Park yesterday to see  Justice and Mrs. Frye receive the key to the City of Greensboro. The event was even more festive with the NC A&T University drumline performing with their precision playing and marching. Once Mayor Nancy Vaughn gave the Fryes the prestigious award, and other dignitaries were leaving, friends, family, and admirers rushed in for photos. The Fryes were very accommodating, making no effort to rush off as people approached them, reminiscing and taking photos. Center City is the very park where the sculpture of  Justice and Mrs. Frye was unveiled on February 20th. This was the perfect place to bestow the award.  

Justice and Mrs. Frye worked very hard to fight the obstacles of segregation and discrimination while getting educations and beginning their lifelong journey of serving the community.  Justice and Mrs. Frye met on the debate team of NC A&T University in 1950, and for the last 74 years have worked together with utmost professionalism and integrity. Truly, they are role models, inspiring current and future generations. When asked by WFMY-TV Journalist Tanya Rivera what one word she would choose to describe Greensboro, Mrs. Frye responded with the word "vibrance." Not only do we agree with that description of Greensboro, we believe that word describes the Fryes and their family perfectly!

Happy Wednesday!

Glenwood Ave. in the Glenwood Neighborhood

On Saturday night, we went to a party in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. As we were leaving, we headed down the street to our car. We were struck by how beautiful the street looked at night. Curiously, all of the cars parked on the left are white. The cars on the right have a little more color. Notice that blue strip on the street, cast by that blue/purple street light. Duke Power has replaced a lot of those, but we find them charming and there are many in Glenwood.

The Glenwood neighborhood is located near downtown and on the south edge of the UNCG campus. It encompasses about 1/2 square mile of land with about 2,500 residents. Glenwood extends from Freeman Mill Road in the east to West Gate City Boulevard  in the north, and Coliseum Boulevard in the west. The southern tip of the neighborhood is a pie-shaped wedge, where Coliseum Boulevard and Freeman Mill intersect. Glenwood is one of Greensboro's earliest planned neighborhoods. Its residents have goals and plans to strengthen the community fabric; increase walkability and bikeability,  reduce perceptions of crime and danger, and more.*  Many of the houses are two bedroom, one bath and on about .10 acre lots. House prices are still affordable. While we don't live in the neighborhood, we have many friends there and are tempted to downsize take advantage of that great sense of community the residents are building.

Happy Tuesday!

* read about the neighborhood HERE.

Topgolf Greensboro

Topgolf Greensboro opened Friday, September 13, 2004. It is their fourth facility in North Carolina. Topgolf bills itself as an entertainment venue with a high-tech driving range. Food and drink are available and they encourage parties and events. As seen in the above photo, players hit from a covered area into an open green. If we counted correctly, there are 64 climate-controlled bays. People at all skill levels can play and the high-tech balls score themselves. Prices range from $28- $56 per hour per bay, depending on time and day of the week. Each bay can accommodate up to six players.  Tuesday is half-price day!

The venue is highly visible from I-40 between Guilford College and Bridford Parkway.  As we left Topgolf yesterday, we gained considerable patience waiting to turn left out of the parking lot onto Guilford College Road. We got a chuckle getting on I-40 east and noticing that exit 218-A leads to Pinehurst, making it possible to practice at Topgolf in the morning and head to Pinehurst for an afternoon tee time. Indeed, North Carolina ia a paradise for golfers. Topgolf should do well here.

Happy Monday- and start planning your 6-some for half-price Tuesday tomorrow.

Grace UMC Church, 438 W. Friendly Avenue

This Sunday's spiritual place is Grace UMC, located at 438 W. Friendly Avenue. Grace bills itself as a Lighthouse Congregation, meaning that they welcome all who are seeking a new church, even those who do so due to disaffiliation. According to their website, Grace was chartered in 1891. The Urban Ministries of Greensboro was also founded in this church. They have also hosted Habitat for Humanity and are partnered with Guilford Child Development, offering free childcare to immigrant and refugee families. Located downtown, Grace endeavors to be everything an urban church needs to be.  

A link to their rich history is the cornerstone in from of the church which reads, "GRACE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. " The architect of the church, in its current iteration, was Hobart Upjohn. He was a New York architect whose work is attributed to 50 churches and educational buildings. He also designed Temple Emanuel and Holy Trinity in downtown Greensboro and the First Presbyterian Church of High Point. It is so fun to explore the history of our community and those early people who left their mark on the footprint of downtown Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

Meet Louise Courts, Guilford Education Alliance

Meet Louise Courts, Development Director for the Guilford Education Alliance (GEA). She has worked for this organization since its inception, 2005. GEA aspires to lift up schools in Guilford County and helps connect the local community to our public schools. GEA oversees the Teacher Supply Warehouse at 311 Pomona Drive, Suite E. As an example of the great work they do, in the 19 days before school started this year, the Teacher Supply Warehouse filled 2,132 orders which amounted to a $312,195 value of supplies distributed. And, as you can see from this photo of the back wall of the warehouse, there is plenty left for the taking.

GEA is in a position to gather financial donations from the community and use them where needed by GCS. For example, during COVID, GEA raised a million dollars to purchase laptops so students could begin learning remotely. When cafeteria workers were on strike, GEA purchased $20,000 worth of pizzas to distribute to schools for student lunches. GEA responds to needs as they arise. However, they also have longstanding events they support. As an example, they underwrite the GCS Celebration of Excellence where Teacher of the Year, Rookie Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and more, will be recognized. This year, the Celebration of Excellence  will be held at Tanger Center on September 25th.*

See here to volunteer or learn more about holding a supply drive or donating to GEA and the Teacher Supply Warehouse.  Also, call Louise at 336-841-4332.  She, and everyone involved with GEA are catalysts for building high impact community/school partnerships. 

Happy Saturday!

*see the names of 2024 finalists, HERE.

Keystone Apartments at Horse Pen Creek Road

Yesterday morning, we noticed construction being put into place at the newest neighborhood on Horse Pen Creek Road. Keystone is a neighborhood of apartments near New Garden Road. Cresting the hill on Horse Pen Creek Road, we noticed this praying mantis-like piece of equipment hovering above the cleared acreage. The 1-3 bedroom apartments boast many amenities. The leasing office is on Seabiscuit Lane, the main entrance into the neighborhood.

According to the Triad Business Journal,  Keystone Homes, established 1996, is the #1 privately held housing developer in North Carolina. Scott Wallace is president and Mark Michael is vice president. Their headquarters is located at 3708 Alliance Drive, , off of Wendover near the car dealerships. Horse Pen Creek is no longer your sleepy little, heavily wooded road. It will be interesting to see this community finished.

Happy Friday!

Starbucks, Downtown

This Starbucks at 500 West Market Street is conveniently located across from the Bryan Y. It has off street parking and a drive through. As much as we love our indie coffee shops, the parking and drive through are great perks. The shaded, outdoor seating area is a plus. The architecture is a standout at twilight. The store was built on the lot that formerly housed a Hardee's. It has been open for about a year now. With several churches nearby, it probably gets busy on Sundays. 

Of course the pumpkin spice latte is back; however, the new kid on the block is an iced apple crisp non-dairy chai. The PSL is 21 years old this year. It is their most popular specialty beverage and probably one of the reasons we become a pumpkin spice nation in the fall. We tried to find out how many total coffee shops are in Greensboro. However, counting coffee shops around here is rather like counting churches; the number seems infinite. However, wanderlog.com shared 37. . What is your go-to place in Greensboro. As for us, we love exploring and experiencing the vibe of different places. That is a start! Maybe we can try to visit all thirty seven. 

Happy Thursday!

911 Memorial Stair Climb

It has been 23 years since the terrorist attacks in the USA. Around this time Greensboro holds an annual stair climb to honor the first responders who lost their lives that day. Greensboro has held this stair climb for 5 years. Greensboro firefighters, community members,  and police participated. Initially, the stair climb was held at the Bellemeade Parking Deck, recently, it has been held at the Eugene Street Parking Deck, at 215 North Eugene, directly across from the Grasshoppers stadium- First National Bank Field. The happening of the event usually coincides with the NC Folk Festival. The memorial for Sandy Bradshaw, the Greensboro flight attendant who died on United Airlines Flight 93 is located beside the stadium.

It is hard to believe that some of the first responders had not yet been born in 2011. The Eugene Street Deck opened a little over three years ago, in June of 2021. As this part of downtown sees more growth, this public parking deck will be a great asset to the community. Even though the run is over, let us remember 9/11 and hope an event like those on that day in 2001 never happen again on US soil

Early Fall in Greensboro

This is what "early fall" or, as some call it, "fake fall" looks like in Greensboro. If you are local, you can feel that big temperature drop to the low 50ºs and some days, not even reaching 80º. There has been less humidity in the air. When there is less moisture in the air, the skies aren't as hazy. At least, that's what treehugger.com says. And, when those leaves start changing, those blue skies are a perfect backdrop. Soon, if not already, the monarch butterflies will start their journey back to Mexico and the Blue Ridge Parkway will be the perfect place to go see this miracle of nature. Leaf viewing and visiting orchards are another reason to visit the mountains of North Carolina. For those of us who want to stay more local, on Saturday, September 21st, Karen C. Neill will give garden tours at the N.C. Cooperative's Demonstration Garden at 3390 Burlington Road (see HERE). Eventbrite has about 80 opportunities to celebrate fall (see HERE). And, of course, pumpkin spice everything has already hit the shelves.

In the meantime, we're going to keep taking those long walks to see what nature brings our way. The above photo was taken near Lake Higgins.

Happy Tuesday!

NC Folk Fest Year 10 Has Concluded

Well, Year 10 of the NC Folk Festival has come and gone. The music was spectacular, the weather perfect, and the new layout along Church Street seemed to work well. Additionally, there was  a stage on Elm, one in the Cultural Arts Center, and one in LeBauer Park, and it seemed to work well. The above photo features the Center City Jams Stage, which was half way between the (Train) Depot Stage and the Wyndham Stage. UNCG was one of the sponsors and many alumni helped and/or performed at the festival; as was the case with the above musicians. During this performance, we were seated by a former UNCG professor who flew in all the way from Washington State for the festival.  He had taught at least two of the above musicians. The above group performing at the Honky Tonk Jam, led by Mark Dillon (UNCG Class of 2010),  was not one that rehearses together, but people who love music and just got together to jam at the festival. They were fantastic. That driving honky tonk sound had the audience enthralled- including us.

Now back to concentrating on all things fall. The season is upon us.

Happy Monday!

West Market Street United Methodist Church

This is the facade of the West Market Street United Methodist Church. This year at the NC Folk Festival, there isn't a stage in front of this church; however, we still ended up walking past it. It is so beautiful by day and by night. With the curve of the roofline on the 0arch and the lighting, it makes us feel as if we are in Europe. The architect was S.W. Foulk and the style is Romanesque. It was constructed in 1893.

The sanctuary beautiful, making the church quite a place to experience, from the exterior to the interior to the members. The 68, yes 68, stained glass windows can only be fully appreciated from the interior on a sunny day. They were recycled from the German Pavilion at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. According to the church website, the church is "(a) vibrant urban church creatively worshipping, full of great programs for families, youth and ALL ages, in mission to serve the Lord!" 

Happy Sunday! 

Depot Stage at the North Carolina Folk Festival

The North Carolina Folk Festival is in full swing and last night the weather was perfect. In the above photo, Holler Choir, a group from Asheville is performing. This group of young musicians puts a creative spin on Appalachian music with songs titles like, "Carolina Moon" and "Hamlet Blues." The tent was full last night, with a few seats remaining, here and there. This tent is set up in the parking lot of the train depot at Washington and Church Streets, a convenient location  for anyone coming in from other cities by train. The train depot, truly a step back in time, had more foot traffic and got more visibility than it had in a long time. The Depot Stage has several food trucks around it, making it possible to eat and listen at the same time.

The Depot Stage and Elm Street Stage (a couple blocks to the west) are the two southernmost stages, a footprint that encourages people to visit the many businesses on or near the 300 block of South Elm. The northernmost stage, the Wyndham Stage, is located at the corner of Church Street and Summit Avenue, just past the Children's Museum; Summit Avenue to Washington Street are your east/west borders. Church Street, between Washington and Friendly Avenue, is filled with marketplace vendors. Jewelry, skins care products, and some very creative clothing were among the booths we saw. We saw so many people we know last night, but are still surprised at the number of locals who have never been in the ten years of the festival. 

Happy Saturday! Hope to see you strolling along Elm and Church Streets. Our t.wn is at its best this weekend!

NC Folk Fest 2024: Let the Music Begin!

All is in place for the North Carolina Folk Festival to begin. Tents have been installed. Parking meters covered. Sound systems checked. Musicians ready. Volunteers have their assignments. And. So. Much. More. We went downtown yesterday to walk the perimeter and get the lay of the land as the footprint has changed some this year. Here, you see City Stage at the corner of Market and Davie Streets. This photo is bittersweet, though because it was taken on land that once housed the News & Record building, and before that, the King Cotton Hotel. D.H. Griffin completed the demolition this summer. There is no evidence a newspaper ever went to press here. The above water is not a lake, but a low spot that filled with water during the recent rains. The lot is mostly level and ready for its next incarnation The few bricks on site, may be left from the King Cotton Hotel days. By next year, this prime lot will probably have something built on it. East Greensboro continues to grow.

For now, we'll focus on enjoying every minute of the North Carolina Folk Festival. It will begin promptly at 4:00 pm  today with the Queen Bees playing on the Elm Street Stage and and the NC A&T Drumline playing there at 4:45 pm. See a map and schedule HERE. We love seeing Greensboro transform into a haven for a diverse array of music genres and sounds, with workshops, dancing, and something for everybody! Hope to see you there. A silly prize for the first few people who recognize us. "Hey, aren't you Mrs. Greensboro Daily Photo" will get you a fun little prize.

Happy Friday!

 

Nature + Cooler Temps + the NC Folk Festival = Fall in Greensboro

It is starting to feel and look like fall in Greensboro. Temperatures are dipping into the 50ºs and it is getting dark earlier. In the above photo, in northeast Greensboro, not too far from Lake Higgins, look at that copper tree bark. The sun is setting earlier, but as it lingers close to the horizon, it casts a breathtaking glow on the tree trunks. The changing, sweater weather is a big sign that fall is on the way.

Another big clue is that it is time for the North Carolin Folk Festival, which comes to town this weekend. Here is the schedule and here is the map. The footprint is a little tighter this year, which is a good thing. It is easier to get from Point A to Point B, yet the acts aren't so close together that they interfere with each other. There will also be lots of vendors and about 20 food trucks. If all the music, and dancing, and workshops kind you needing a break, head out to one of the trails near the lakes and scenes like the one above will reground you and energize you so that you can head back down to the folk festival. Out of all the cities in North Carolina, they chose Greensboro. Let's show our support. See you downtown tomorrow!

Downtown, View from the Davie Street Parking Deck

Not being drone photographers, we don't get a photo from above very often. However, in late August, during the Food Truck Fesitival, we walked top the top of the Davie Street Parking Deck and got this photo.  It shows a few of the big buildings downtown. Peeking out in the background is the Lincoln Financial Group Building. In the foreground, on the right, is the Center Pointe Building. To the right is the Renaissance Plaza  Building, and in the middle is 300 North Greene Street. Below, is Friendly Avenue and the greenery is in Center City Park.

Center Pointe was constructed in 1966. It is a 17-story building with 97 condominium units. the 19-story Renaissance Plaza was built in 1990. The landscaping there is beautiful. 300 North Greene Street was built in 1989 and is a 21-story office tower. This north part of Greensboro extending from Tanger Center (established 1921) to First National Bank Baseball Field (established 2005) has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the last couple of decades. If you go downtown for the North Carolina Folk Festival this weekend (and we encourage you to do so), have a look at how the footprint of the city is expanding.

Happy Wednesday! 

Along Battleground Avenue During a Storm

Greensboro had some interesting weather this weekend. The above photo was taken at 4:50 pm on Friday night. The skies darkened quickly and then came the rains. We pulled off the road at T.J. Max and walked up the hill to get a good view of the sky. We got tickled when noticing that the sign for the tattoo salon looked like a rainbow. If we couldn't have a real rainbow to photograph, this would make a good runner up. That business location on Battleground was formerly a dance studio. Strange Beauty is a place you can get your hair styled, a massage, piercings, and a tattoo all in one place.

Strange Beauty Salon and Tattoo Collective at 2835 Battleground Avenue opened in April. See the My Fox 8 interview with owner Jessica J Paul. Jessica's goal is to create an inclusive space where the magic happens. Jessica believes attitude matter. She wants customers to leave feeling like they are part of something. What started out as our wanting to watch the storm roll into Greensboro turned into learning about a new business. At one time, tattoo parlors were in an isolated part of time that did not necessarily attract the mainstream consumer. Strange Beauty is right there beside T.J. Maxx and Ross Dress for Less. That's pretty mainstream. Getting a tattoo is now pretty mainstream.

Happy Tuesday!

Tabata Chisse, Photographer

This past Friday night, Casa Azul held an opening night reception with an opportunity to see art and meet artists.  The theme of the exhibit was "Chronicles de Cocina: The Stories We Tell Through Latinx Food." The event was held at the African American Atelier in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. The above photo features photographer Tabata Chisse with the three photos she has in the exhibit. To the left of the photos are her proud parents. Tabata's photos are centered around the theme of corn, a staple of Mexican cuisine and culture.  Corn represents sustenance, fertility, and ancestral wisdom. In the Mayan and Aztec empires, it was used in ceremonies and seen as a sacred gift from the gods.

Through her photography, Tabata aspires to keep Mexican culture alive not only in herself, but also in others who are far from their homeland. Her photographs keep Mexican culture close. Also, to Tabata, photography is a way to express her feelings and emotions and has therapeutic aspects. In her artist's statement for the exhibit, she states she learned from a young age that love and food are one and the same.  In Mexico, she has been part of 10 different exhibits, and now, she is exhibiting in the USA. In addition to being a photographer, Tabata is a credentialed nurse and make-up artist. From what we've seen, she is one of those people who can do anything she sets her mind to. We look forward to following Tabata's career(s) in Greensboro.  We hope you can get to the Cultural Arts Center see the exhibit and that you have a chance to meet Tabata somewhere along the way. You can tell by her smile she is a warm and kind person.

Happy Labor Day!

Kallam Grove Christian Church

Since it is a three day weekend, we ventured into Rockingham County, about 20 miles from Greensboro to spend the afternoon on a friend's farm. The winding country roads are beautiful between Greensboro and Madison. Our friend lives at the end of a road that is not paved into her property.  There are still roads like that in Guilford County, but they are getting harder to find.  On the way back, we drove past Kallam Grove Christian Church. It was established in 1865, right in the middle of the Civil War era. The original meeting area was under a brush arbor.Eventually, a small, white, wooden church was built. Since the beginning, they have been a Christian church, operating on a congregational model. All church business is presented to the church and voted on by members.

The church building shown above is the 1992 iteration of the church.  Off to the right is a sanctuary. In the background, you can see the cemetery with graves dating back to the 1800s. Driving on those winding, back country roads in this part of North Carolina, and stumbling upon a country church is such a special treat. They are everywhere with most likely struggling to maintain membership. But knowing all of the history of these churches, and the families that have donated land and supported them over the years, is a special part of the history of North Carolina. We drive around on these weekend jaunts, we are reminded of the second line from J.R.R. Tolkien's poem, "The Riddle of Strider".  "Not all those who wander are lost." Indeed, when we are out wandering, we are not lost. And, we always know that we are only an online search away from getting exactly where we want to go. So, be adventurous and hear out and explore the roads within a 20 mile radius of Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!