Greensboro Daily Photo

Skyline in Downtown Greensboro, NC, USA

Yesterday afternoon, downtown Greensboro was so beautiful, bathed in sunshine with billowy white clouds. We were walking around looking for what we call "serendipity photos", photos that seemingly jump out at us. The lighting and contrast on this scene caught our eye. The most obvious feature is the Jefferson Standard/Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial Group buildings, with evidence that the photo was taken at precisely 3:53 p.m. Also featured prominently is the back side of Schiffman's Jewelry Store. Then, there is what Retired Greensboro Journalist Extraordinaire Jim Schlosser loves to find, a ghost sign. He would know, but we're thinking the white band, on the tall red brick building to the right, used to have "Ellis Stone" written on it.

Today is such a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. We encourage you to head downtown and see what beautiful photos you can snap. All it takes is a cell phone camera and a little noticing.That little alley to the left has the most delicious bakery, Breakfast in Paris. That would be a great place to start. You might even meet up with us there.

Happy Saturday! 

Carolina Home Partners

Carolina Home Partners, located at 700 Battleground Avenue, is a beauty of a house. While it is an island surrounded by roads in and out of the city, it sits perched on the hill on the south side of Green Hill Cemetery.  Constructed in the 1880s, it was formerly the cottage of the gatekeeper of the cemetery. It was nearly destroyed in 1973, but was restored and has been used by various businesses over the last 50 years. The pitched roof and pointed details are fitting with the Gothic Revival style*

It is now part of the Fisher Park National Register Historic District, so, hopefully, it will be well maintained for years to come. The current tenants Carolina Home Partners, is a real estate group. We're betting they will be good stewards of this Greensboro gem. 

Happy Friday!

* Reference and read more, HERE.

Be Kind Kids on State Street

Be Kind Kids is a consignment boutique specializing in children's clothing. Located at 407 State Street and looked next to Wonderland Bookshop (for children), Be Kind Kids is part of the State Street revival. The store has been open for at least three years and they add inventory all the time. Also, if their website in any indication, Be Kind Kids, or BKK as the owners affectionately call it,  are so much more than just children't clothing.

The 400 block of State Street has added so many new shops over the last few years, starting with Eclectic by Nature and then Vida Pour Tea, two of the anchor stores in the heart of State Street. Let's hope BKK and these other businesses along State Street thrive. We always say this is the one street in Greensboro that comes closest to feeling like a street at one of the North Carolina beach communities. Also, talk a walk from Church Street to Elm Street, a little over 1/2 mile, and you will see the charm in this self-contained street. For the record, Greensboro Daily Photo is giving State Street the nickname Entrepreneurs' Row. There must be at least 30 independently owned businesses on this street.

Happy Thursday!

Greensboro Bound Book Festival

The Greensboro Bound Book Festival was held in Greensboro on Saturday, May 17th. With a total of fifteen sessions, the festival was a smaller festival this year  than it has been in the past; however, the sessions that were held were very good. The four venues were 1_ Greenhill Center for NC Art, Greensboro History Museum (photographed above- during the festival), Van Dyke Performance Space, and Greensboro Public Library.

One of the most exciting events surrounding the festival was the May 15th,  lead-up event featuring bestselling author Percival Everett. It was held at UNCG, in the Elliot University Center- Auditorium, a partnership between the UNCG  University Libraries and Greensboro Bound. That event was free, but tickets had to be secured ahead of time as it quickly became fully subscribed. Mark you calendars for next year. The festival is usually the third Saturday in May. For anyone associated with the public schools and higher education, this is a very busy time of year.  Contributing to and making time for Greensboro Bound is a good investment in the literary future of our community. It is a really good way to find material for a summer reading list.

Happy Wednesday!

Golf in Greensboro

Greensboro is known as a golf town.  There are ten golf courses in Greensboro and if you add a 20 mile radius around the city, there are an additional 23 courses. According to Golf Link,  there are 542 courses in North Carolina, with a combination of public, municipal, and private courses. The above photo was taken on the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. It is convenient to photograph because the course is highly visible from local streets. The above farm course originally opened in 1963 and eventually became part of the Greensboro Country Club. It got redesigned in 2009, and remains  a beautiful, challenging course.

Greensboro is perhaps best known for the Wyndham Championship (once known as the Greater Greensboro Open), part of the PGA Tour. We are also known for Gillespie Golf Course and its Civil Rights history. There will be social, fundraising, amateur, and professional tournaments in the Greensboro are all summer long. Our 33 area courses will be busy, busy, busy. However, is you want to play, you have plenty of options for a tee time.

Mary Flynn, Author

Greensboro native and Grimsley High School graduate, Mary Flynn (left), was in town this past weekend to discuss her latest novel "Torn" with a Greensboro book club. She was hosted by Sandra Shields (right) a dear friend from St. Francis Episcopal Church. Mary has been writing and publishing for at least the last fifteen years and "Torn",  about the timely topic of abortion law and access, is Mary's eleventh novel. 

Mary's genre is realistic fiction and she touches on an array of topics. Three of her books take place in the Wilmington area, where she and her husband moved several years ago after retiring from the Guilford County Schools as a speech pathologist. In the above photo, on the table, is a copy of "Lumina", a book about the Lumina Pavillon* from the ocean side of Wrightsville Beach, NC.  It is always fun to read a local author, especially one as accessible as Mary.  As her schedule permits, Mary is available to talk to organizations and book clubs. You can reach her or order her books at her blog, TheOneNovel.com. There is also an author interview on this link. If you are looking for some good summer reading, consider one of Mary's novels. There is something for everybody!

Happy Monday!

* See an Our State magazine article about Lumina Pavilion, HERE.

Bluebird at Green Hill

Sundays, we like to post something religious or spiritual at Greensboro Daily Photo. We were walking in Green Hill Cemetery yesterday looking for something to post. There is a large tombstone in for form of a cross near the entrance. The name on one side is Rucker and on the back side Fry. We got our picture, and as we were leaving, saw this male, western bluebird on William Francis Clegg's worn tombstone. Sadly, William was born July 17, 1910 and died a little over a year later on September 13, 1911. We have been using the Merlin Bird ID app daily to identify birds in our Greensboro yard. So, somehow, it felt very special to see this bluebird so close and so low to the ground near downtown Greensboro.

When we looked at the other side of the tombstone and saw William's birthdate, we remembered one of our relatives was also born on July 17, 1910. One of many things we love about Greensboro Daily Photo is that it causes us to notice in ways we might not otherwise notice. We hope you, too,  have something that inspires you to notice the beauty in the little things around you. Green Hill Cemetery, located at 901 Wharton Street, is a very special place to walk and reflect on life and the importance of making our time on earth matter. 

Happy Sunday!

Ukrainian Night at Cafe Europa

On Thursday night at Café Europa in downtown Greensboro, two performances honored Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans who support Ukrainian independence. The first group to perform was Red Kalyna, a band based in Mebane. They were followed by the Fedynskyj family.

Jurij Fedynskyj is a Ukrainian-American luthier and researcher. Along with his wife and five children, he travels and performs songs of history, morality, and patriotism from Ukraine. Some pieces feature the family playing traditional instruments, while others are performed a cappella. Their music last night ranged across what is now contemporary Ukraine including high culture Baroque as well as traditional songs and dances in Slavonic, Ukrainian, a prayer song in Latin and songs in English. 

In the tradition of the von Trapp family, the Fedynskyjs travel the world, singing and sharing stories about Ukraine to raise awareness, promote peace, and help defend their homeland. Their performance was heartfelt and deeply moving. The five Fedynsyj children are remarkably talented, and their a cappella harmonies are pitch-perfect.

Everyone in the photo is wearing a vyshyvanka—a traditional embroidered garment closely tied to Ukrainian culture. The Thursday performance coincided with Vyshyvanka Day, always the 3rd Thursday in May, and several others in the restaurant also wore vyshyvankas to celebrate and show their support.

From left to right: Back row: Miroslav F.,  Jurij "Jurko" F., Misha Shvets holding Kvitoslava F. . Midrow: Loreins "Tychko" Vellani, Iryna Tkachenko, Mariya F, Natalia F., Adriana F., Olga Vakulenko. Front row: Lesya F.  

Read more here. 

Sunrise Surprise on North Battleground (NoBa)

Yesterday morning was a bit foggy, which made taking a photo of the sunrise easy. The above photo was taken shortly before 7:00 am at the corner of Battleground Avenue and Horse Pen Creek. The orange glow made a great backdrop for the Sherwin-Williams blue truck driving by. The truck  may have been heading to the Sherwin-Willams store just on the other side of this intersection.  We wonder if the truck was coming from the Sherwin-Williams Greensboro Manufacturing Plant & Distribution Center at 1025 Howard Street (and behind Hops Burger Bar on Spring Garden Street.

We hope you have a beautiful weekend and that you have time to get out and celebrate our great city!

Happy Friday!

Rainy Day Wednesday

Yesterday started out overcast, but, by the end of the day, it was glorious. There were strong rains throughout the day. However, near sunset, the sun came out and seemed to be trying hard to push the rain away. Earlier in the afternoon, we were on North Elm, between Pisgah Church Road and Interstate 840 (The Urban Loop). We were leaving the dentist's office and it started to pour. We pulled into a parking lot to wait out the rain and to look around a little bit.  This is the plaza where The upscale Salvation Army Thrift Shop, Lab Corp, and a few other businesses are located.

We thought it was so sweet, this girl was running to share the umbrella with a person who was likely her mother. Fortunately, it stopped raining fairly quickly and we got back on the road to head home. It is important to remember to stop and embrace the things we cannot change. In moments of rest, we can look around and observe things that would otherwise pass us by. 

Happy Thursday!

Mythos Grill on North Battleground

This is an interior view of the new Mythos Grill at 3900 Battleground Avenue, the third in Greensboro. One is on West Market Street in the former Panera Bread Location. A second is on Battleground, on the back side of Target. The one on North Battleground, which we are branding as NoBa, is in a location near Horse Penn Creek where many restaurants have already come and gone. If the crowded parking lot and busy interior- on a Tuesday night- was any indication, this restaurant is a hit.

Slowly, this part of town is waking up. Dear Dad's (the old Waffle House) has a steady group of customers, Rody's  has a loyal customer base, especially when popular sports teams are playing. As the medical facilities and apartment complexes continue to pop up, the food and retail establishments will likely get busier. Fortunately, the NoBa Mythos has the same menu as the others. 

Happy Wednesday! See you in NoBa!

Guilford College: The Senior Art Thesis Exhibition 2025 in Founders Hall

Pictured (left to right): Associate Academic Dean Dr. Kathryn Shields — also Co-Chair of the Art Department and Associate Provost of Guilford College; Senior Art Major Farrah Wilde; Senior Art and English Major Clara Fuehler; and Dr. Rachel Fesperman, Part-time Lecturer in Art. Farrah and Clara both had pieces featured in the exhibit. The Madonna with children and pomegranate painting is by Farrah.

Last week, we were headed to campus for a meeting with Meredith Summers, EDJ, Chief of Staff at Guilford College. During our visit, we asked where we could find Farrah’s artwork. Meredith contacted Dr. Kathryn Shields, and within an hour, Dr. Shields not only let us know where the exhibit was located but also arranged for Farrah to be available to speak with us. We also had the opportunity t meet Clara and Dr. Fesperman.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the exhibit and having the opportunity to engage with both students and faculty.

We cannot emphasize enough how this experience reflects the collaborative, student-first culture at Guilford College. It is truly a local treasure. Let's hope it remains the dynamic and vibrant resource it has been for over 200 years—and for generations to come. We will remember this meeting and Farrah and Clara's artwork for a very long time.

Happy Tuesday!

License: LIK2BIKE

We were out and about this weekend and saw this license tag in a parking deck. As the greenways start getting more and more use in North Carolina and group rides become available, we were wishing we could see the owner of this car to tell them that we like to bike, too.

If you like to bike, most of the local bike shops arrange rides at all ability levels. We know a fairly easy ride leaves from Cycles de ORO, early on Tuesday evenings. There is a Thursday ride that leaves from LeBauer Park. If you LIK2BIKE, there are plenty of options in Greensboro. Be sure to wear a helmet and have a front and rear light. Oh, and bring a water bottle and a positive attitude and you'll to far.

Happy Monday!

Centenary UMC

The Centenary United Methodist Church building always looks so beautiful a the intersection of Ridgeway and Friendly Avenue. The steeple is firmly in place. We remember when it was knocked off by high winds. We remember buying pumpkins from the youth group in many Octobers over the years. We remember the lovely Nativity scene displayed on this side of the church every December. It is so hard to believe that, as of the end of 2024, they held their last church service. We seem to remember Cone Health will put something on the property. For now, we'll just continue to enjoy this view with the lovely church, the North Carolina clouds, and that pine tree on the right.

We'll tag this as "then and now" and show you when it looks in the future "now."

Happy Sunday!

WQFS @ Guilford College

WQFS 90.9  the radio station at Guilford College in Greensboro. Typical of college radiation stations, WQFS provides a wide range of programming and music genres. Serving not just Guilford College but also the Piedmont region of North Carolina, WQFS is a student-run radio station made up of college and community DJs. For those who don't live nearby, the station is also streamed on the internet via Tunein. We stumbled upon a program in progress when we were touring an art exhibit at Founder's Hall on campus. We're not sure who the DJ was that day, but it was apparent she was enjoying herself and receptive to our spontaneous photo shoot. 

Greensboro College is a local treasure. It was founded in 1837 by the Religions Society of Friends (Quakers). Until the the 1920s, the college was largely isolated, west of Greensboro.  However, once the old trail to the college became Friendly Road, Guilford College became firmly linked to Greensboro. Guilford College adds so much to the Greensboro area. Truly, it is a local treasure, as is WQFS. As a local community member, you can even present a program on the station. Whether through education or the airwaves, Guilford College and WQFS continue to enrich Greensboro with opportunities for connection, creativity, and community.

Magnolia Time in Greensboro

Today, we got our first magnolia bloom of the season in our Greensboro yard. Our tree is  a southern magnolia (magnolia grandiflora). It is a mature tree, over 2 1/2 stories high and at least 50 years old. They can live from 80- 120 years, so hopefully, it will be around for a while.

The Southern Magnolia is native to North Carolina, and it is known for its large, fragrant white flowers and glossy leaves. The magnolia is an ancient genus. Magnolias have been around prior to the evolution of bees, so they are actually pollinated by beetles. If you have a large magnolia tree, you may notice more beetles in your yard, on your porch and even in your house. We're going to head around town this week and see where else the magnolias are blooming.

Rachel's Rose Cottage

Yesterday, we had a chance to spend time on the Guilford College Campus. Students are wrapping us the academic year and the ever-popular, 3-week session is underway.  These 3-week spring sessions are a chance for students to have focused learning experiences that aren't necessarily linked to their major. These 3-week, special sessions have been very popular with students. Some courses are held on campus and there have been some in places like Disney and Mexico.* The short-courses began in 2019, in the same year Rachel's Rose Cottage coffee shop opened.

The coffee shop was named for Rachel Barlow Taylor, a Guilford College student and former home economics teacher. Her grandson, Guilford College Trustee Fred Taylor provided the philanthropic support to convert the building to a coffee shop.**  Rachel's Cottage is so lovely and the roses are currently in full bloom. We can't wait to go back when it is open to have a cup of coffee. This building has been repurposed many times. It started out as a coal-fired power plant, was converted as the student affairs building, housed a language lab, became a storage building, was converted to a  multi-faith, campus ministry building, and, now, it is a coffee shop. Rachel's Cottage is absolutely breathtaking in its current iteration.

Happy Thursday!

• *read more about the sessions, here.
• ** reverence and more information, HERE.

Robin Egg, Babies are Hatching!

Out walking about his weekend, we saw this robin's egg shell. Just look at that lovely blue. Robin eggs incubate in 12-14 days. Hopefully, the baby birds lived. We try to provide a habitat full of berries and a natural setting where they can build their nests.

American robins can be found in North Carolina year-round and winter over here. It is not uncommon for winter roosts to number in the thousands.   They have adapted to a variety of habitats, but in the winter, are more abundant near the coast than in Greensboro. They do like all the berries found locally. 

Robins can have two to three broods a year. If we are lucky, we can go back and find more babies. It is always fun to look.

Happy Wednesday!

Inside the Old Mill of Guilford on Highway 68 in Oak Ridge

Yesterday, we took you to the outside of the Old Mill of Guilford. Today, we're inside with Amy Klug. She and her husband Darrell have been running the mill since 2008. Over the last 16 years, they have helped the business grow, especially the online sales. Their online business soared during COVID and now, they have online sales, in house sales, and sales to retail establishments and also a table at the Yanceyville Curb Market. We saw Amy on Sunday afternoon; proof positive that a miller's work is never done. 

Amy and Darrell are selling the mill. They are ready for someone else to come in with new ideas and new energy. They acknowledge that the community has been extremely supportive. Historically, mills were gathering places where farmers gathered and talked while their grain was being ground.  The Klugs realize the importance of keeping this business strong, especially in light of the fact that it is one of the oldest grist mills in the USA. The Old Mill of Guilford  was a mill before America was a country. We are grateful for the Old Mill of Guilford and for all of the people from owners, volunteers, and customers who make this mill running smoothly. We hope their products are available for a very, very long time!

Happy Tuesday!

Old Mill of Guilford

Sunday afternoon drives are so fun around Greensboro. You can drive in any direction and see something special. We headed up Highway 68 north, just before Oak Ridge and stopped in to the Old Mill of Guilford. This grist mill is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you are local, you are likely as proud of the Old Mill as we are. It was established in 1767 and is one of the oldest continuously operating grist mills in America. The fact that the old techniques for grinding grains are as relevant today as they were 250+ years ago is nothing short of amazing.

 It is such a peaceful, step-back-in-time place to visit. And, best of all, you can purchase all of their products in the mill store on site or on line. They have over 50 products. The rice we purchased yesterday, sourced from Oriental, NC, was absolutely fabulous! Next, we're going to try the buckwheat pancake mix from there.

Happy Monday!

 

Browns Summit Methodist Church

It has been a while since we've spent much time in the northeastern end of Guilford County. This past week, we drove up to Rockingham County and, on the way home, we got off the highway to drive through Browns Summit and take the back roads back to Greensboro. The town Browns Summit gets its name from the Civil War era when the Richmond/Danville Railway Line was built through John Brown's farm in the area. Likely, the methodist church grew  and established members around the railway. 

The church's official address is 4426 E NC Highway 150, Browns Summit, NC. It is located just west of the Browns Summit Middle School, a school for academically gifted students. The church has the main building with the sanctuary and then an addition on to the right. Since the last time we drove past the church, a Dollar General popped up (see the sign peeking through on the left).  Just to the west of the church are plowed fields. To be sure, this is an area of Guilford County that is undergoing lots of change. We hope to get back to explore some more.

Happy Sunday!

Let's all Head Downtown Greensboro

Last night was First Friday and the above photo features the masks that are on display at Green Hill as part of the display of Papperhand Puppet of Saxapahaw. Notice these masks are floor-to-ceiling large! At last night's First Friday, a few blocks of South Elm Street were blocked off so that pedestrians could take to the streets. The blocks will remain blocked off until Sunday. Be mindful of the block closures if you are driving downtown. Even better, head downtown and take advantage of the enhanced walkability. Also, remember that the Bellemeade Parking Deck is being demolished. It is located at the corner of North Elm Street and Bellemeade, just across from Tanger Center. The free Hopper Trolley will be out to help pedestrians navigate downtown. Look for signage that address route detours.

Also downtown is the 10th annual Wheels on the Greenway.  From 9am-1pm, more than 30 community partners will be making this community event great. Head downtown to the corner of Murrow Boulevard and Lindsay Street with your bike, roller skates, foot pedal power, etc. to enjoy this event. Greensboro makes a real effort to build community, get people downtown and using community resources. The best way to show appreciation is to participate. 

See you downtown! Happy Saturday!

Spring Garden Road Construction

Today, we're featuring another photo of the view of the street and greenway work at Spring Garden Street. It gives. you a better view of the off South Spring Street rramp that is closed from South Edgeworth to Spring Garden Street. And, the pipes under the bridge are ones that will be buried in the area to control water flow. It is anticipated that this ramp will be closed until May 31st. The roadwork began April 1st, making it a two month project.

You can still use the street and the detour through College Hill is minimally disruptive. If you notice the bike lane, it is a nice part of town for riding a bike on the road, and the greenway is nearby. Today is a good day to ride a bike in Greensboro. The weekend looks a little rainy.

If you like keeping up with city news, here is a website you will enjoy.  

Happy Friday!

HPU Baseball @ UNCG!

The High Point University (HPU) Panther Baseball Team came to UNCG last night all suited up and ready to play baseball. There was a rain delay, and then the game was cancelled in anticipation of more rain. We saw them as they were reloading the bus to head back to campus. Fortunately, the university is just down the road.  HPU has had a baseball team since 1933, but they have only been Division 1 since 1999. Founded in 1924, High Point College became High Point University in 1991. Since Dr. Quebein became the president in January 2005, HPU has grown in size, and number of professional programs. Though  extensive marketing and branding with a focus on positive messaging and visual style, their aesthetic is modern and polished. 

On the back left side of the bus is the message, "The Premier Life Skills University." The back end of the bus has written  on it, "Choose to Be Extraordinary!".  As we spoke briefly to  a member of the team, we were impressed with their politeness. It seemed more than an effort to maintain a polished image; it seemed like a mindset. If you want to see them play, their next home game is May 9th. UNCG's next home game is against the Citadel, tomorrow (May 2nd) at 4:00 p.m., if you want a chance to see them play. 

Happy Thursday! Happy May 1st!