Greensboro Daily Photo

H is for Happy Tails

Happy Tails Emergency Veterinary Clinic on Battleground Avenue is one of Greensboro's after-hour vet clinics. Not unlike the fire department, emergency vet clinics are the kind of place you might not notice unless you need their services! When something happens to a pet at night or on the weekend, it is comforting to know that help is available. Happy Tails if open all night, every night and 24 hours on weekends and holidays. Currently, they are preparing for the Labor Day holiday weekend. Accidents tend to happen when our schedules change, guests are in the house, or our pets are away from their usual surroundings. So, be careful this weekend!

Happy Tails opened in 2008 and is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. They are there not only to help you patch up your pet, but also to help you make those difficult end-of-life decisions. With a largely female team, these veterinarians are great role models to encourage women in science. Today is ABC Wednesday and for this 2016 ABC Alphabet Round, we have been trying to feature giant letters. We couldn't find a giant "H" around town but we are super HAPPY with Happy Tails. Since currently we have two dogs, two birds, and a rabbit, we give them a 12-paw, 4-claw, 5-tail salute!  

G is for Guilford, Greensboro, Grasshoppers, Greenway

So much in Greensboro starts with the letter "G." From the city, to the county, to the baseball team, to its mascot we are a community of "G's": Greensboro, Guilford, Grasshoppers, Guilford. In the above photo, Guilford, the Grasshopper is waving at people passing the stadium. Our minor league baseball team has been around since 2003 and the 7,499 seat stadium opened in 2005.

Greensboro's minor league baseball team has also been a hornet and a bat; however, people seem pretty happy with Guilford the Grasshopper. Minor league baseball games are great fun, especially on nights with fireworks. The next home games are next Tuesday and Wednesday (August 30 & 31). Hope to see you there.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this Alphabet Round, "G" is for all of the above. Note the photos below, a print and cursive "G" and Guilford smiling and waving at us.

Happy Midweek, dear readers.

 

F is for Friends

Friends Homes at Guilford is located at 925 Guilford College Road, just across the street from Guilford College. The 20-acre campus started with 24 homes in 1968 and has continued to thrive and expand over the last 48 years. The parent non-profit group, Friends Homes, Inc., has been around since 1958, when it was founded by the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends. Friends are also known as Quakers and the Quakers settled in Greensboro early in our history. Wholeness, togetherness, and camaraderie are examples of the friendly, Quaker principles. Hence the reason that so much in Greensboro has the name "friend" in it. Friendly Acres, Friendly Center, Friendly Road, to name a few examples. 

When we were on site photographing, yesterday, several people talked to us. Residents had a friendly awareness of the fact that we were wandering around their campus. The facility has beautiful landscapes and common areas. Residents who are still living independently put considerable effort into individualizing their space and attracting birds to their sitting areas. Below, you see a few examples. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our 2016 Alphabet Series, "F" is for "Friends," where every day feels like an episode from the old TV show "Cheers" and everyone knows your name!

 

 

 

D is for Downtown, Specifically 1618 DOWNTOWN

The 1618 Downtown location is an extension of the 1618 Seafood Grille on Friendly Avenue and the 1618 Wine Lounge. The restaurant, photographed above just before dinner, is located on South Elm Street, near Scuppernong Books and across the street from Cheesecake by Alex. We read that owner/manager Nick Wyatt loved the historic building and the fact that it was centrally located. The building is known as the Book Trader Building, harkening back to the days it was a bookstore. The restaurant seats 65 and also has a retail wine store inside.*

We hope that the owner will add some history to the restaurant's website. It would be nice to know more about the building, as well as the date that it opened. We're estimating it has been open for about a year and a half. The restaurant takes its name, 1618 DOWNTOWN,  from the fact that it is located downtown and that the original restaurant has a street address of 1618 Friendly Avenue. When looking for it, do not be confused, given the address for 1618 DOWNTOWN is actually 312 South Elm Street.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Alphabet 2016 Series with the letters prominently displayed, "D" is for "DOWNTOWN." This sign was painted by Greensboro artist, Sage Hanna Betts. We had another contender for the "D" slot, which we will feature tomorrow. It is a "D" word that is important to Greensboro, but we were simply smitten by Sage Hanna's letters-  the all-caps font with the skyline featured inside. Brilliant!

C is for Connect. Cowork. Convene.

The Chamber of Commerce in Greensboro has established a workspace for early stage entrepreneurs to lease desk space to work on launching their businesses. The workspace is known as an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Ideas and best practices get shared as people network and learn to market and launch their businesses. The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the parent organization of COL-LAB, is currently located at 342 North Elm Street, and the COL-LAB is located right around the corner at 229 North Greene Street. 

The 4,773 square foot COL-LAB has conference rooms, classrooms, giant dry-erase boards, high-speed internet, and so much more. Collaborative urban work spaces are trending and Greensboro, with multiple, collaborative spaces, is on the forefront of that trend. Today is ABC Wednesday and for this Greensboro Alphabet 2016 Round, "C" is for COL-LAB, where you can Connect. Cowork. Convene. The photo below shows several entrepreneurs working on making their dreams reality. The above photo shows the office manager who works hard for the members. Not featured is the free coffee supplied by Biscuitville. Check it out!

   

B is for Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central North Carolina/Greensboro is located at 529 College Road in northwest Greensboro, very near Guilford College. For over 100 years, the BBB has been setting standards for business practices and helping consumers make informed choices, helping them identify ethical and trustworthy businesses. The BBB makes effort to ensure that businesses are truthful in their advertising. The provide services for businesses and consumers. Their motto is "Start with trust." Visit their website, here. The BBB was an Angie's List, long before there was an Angie's List. As a matter of fact, Angie's List is accredited with the BBB.

Now that business is conducted not only in brick and mortar places, but also over the phone, and online, the BBB is busier than ever. For example, right now, they are warning of a phone scam targeting recent college graduates with debt (see, here). A visit to the BBB sounds like it would be a good field trip for high school students, especially with the efforts to incorporate more financial literacy into the curriculum. 

Truthfully, when we set out to find the BBB, we assumed it would be downtown. We were surprised of the above location, but loved the fact that there is convenient parking all around the building. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our ALPHABET ROUND, "BBB" is for Better Business Bureau. If you live in Greensboro and you see any businesses with letters featured prominently, please give us some ideas. We were so delighted to drive up and find the BBB so prominently displayed!

A is for Al's Furniture and Appliance

Al's Used Furniture and Appliance Store has been a fixture in the 500 block of South Elm Street for at least two decades. And, best we can remember, that 3' tall "A" has been in that window for close to two decades. That "A" is about to leave the building as the 9,400 square ft., one story building is for sale. With all of the new businesses on the block, as well as on adjacent Lewis Street, Al's is sure to get its million plus price tag. The building is braced with steel beams, as opposed to columns, so the space can be used for about anything.  Al's is one of those old school second hand stores, one that is brimming with items, floor to ceiling. Perhaps when it gets emptied out, they will leave that "A" for provenance. Perhaps it can be incorporated into the name of the new business. The building was built in 1940 and last renovated in 1960. What do you think should go in this space? Any ideas? Do you think they will build up or leave it a one-story structure? It will be fun to monitor the transformation.

Today starts a new round of ABC Wednesday. For this round, we're going to make sure the featured letter of the alphabet appears in the photo. Therefore, for ABC Wednesday Round 19, "A" is for the "A" at Al's Furniture and Appliance.

 

Z is for Zoo

Established in 1957, the Natural Science Center of Greensboro is designated a science museum and zoological park. Today, the center houses several interesting animals. The center has evolved from a place with a small petting zoo and some taxidermy animals and cast replicas to a place involved in saving and protecting species as well as educating the public on the needs of animals and their habitats. 

The animal discovery zoo is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you are interested in visiting this summer, here is a partial list of animals that you can see. From an anteater to tigers to rare Javan gibbons, there is so much to see here. The aquarium with penguins and sharks is a fabulous addition. You ought to try to visit this summer. It is a great place to spend the day and it is expanding before our eyes.

Today is ABC Wednesday and to conclude our A-Z Urban Finds series, Z is for Zoo. 

Y is for Yarns, Gate City Yarns

Gate City Yarns is located downtown on South Elm Street. They sell very fabulous yarn; not your craft store, polyester, spun-in-China yarn. They have a diverse selection skeins of just about every natural source possible. They are a community gathering place for people who love and practice fiber arts. Everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level. They have been open since 2007. 

The above photo features a window display. To the left, you see people walking along the street on June's First Friday. To the left, you see giant knitting needles and some balls of yarn. In the middle, you see a lamp made from a guitar in a very steampunk style. Below, is a more conventional shot of the entrance.  They really bring a cozy, knit-by-the-fireside feel to the 200 block of South Elm Street. Today is ABC Wednesday and for "Y" in our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "Y" is for YARNS, Gate City Yarns. Click here to see A-Y and stop back next week when we conclude the series with "Z." 

X is for Malcom X

Did you know that Malcom X Liberation University (MXLU)  was located in Greensboro from 1970,  until it closed in 1973? It was located on the above lot at 708 Asheboro Street, now known as Martin Luther King Drive. The institution ascribed to the Malcom X's separatist ideologies and belief in racial equality through any necessary means. The curriculum included academic courses, a two-month stay in Africa, technical courses, internships, physical education, courses in nation-building, and a curriculum that centered on Black Power and Pan-Africanism. The three-year program was very demanding and students only got a weekend off in the case of an emergency.*

The program, located on the above lot, closed in 1973. We aren't sure when the building was torn down, but, all that remains is this open field. We would have liked to have seen MXLU at it's peak, back when the school tried to be as self sufficient as possible and even had a community garden. Greensboro is known for its involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, part of the city's appeal when Malcom X Liberation University relocated here from Durham.

 Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "X" lead us to Malcom X and MCLU.

*If you are interested in more details, the wiki entry is a good place to start. See, here.

W is for Windows

Double Hung Historic Window Restoration was founded in 1997 by Greensboro's own David Hoggard. He and his company are committed to helping people, companies, and organizations repair their buildings' windows instead of replacing them. For those trying to keeping historic properties as authentic as possible, Double Hung provides people with a great option. Not only do they come in and restore windows, they also make storm windows so that windows are windows more energy efficient.

As we drove around town looking at older homes, we saw some with the original windows and, indeed, they are beautiful. We'll share a few below. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, "W" is for Windows. Keeping original windows isn't for everybody, but once the windows are gone, you can't get them back. The vintage windows in the photos below are beautiful!

 

 

 

 

V is for Vegetables

The main photo today was taken at the stall of the Mighty Tendril Farm at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville St. this past Saturday. The Mighty Tendril is a small-scale vegetable, fruit, and flower farm in Staley, NC. Above, farmer Emily Madara is bagging up fresh vegetables for a family. The Mighty Tendril is a regular at the Greensboro Farmers Market. The market, established in 1874, is open year round on  Saturday from 7am to 12 noon and on Wednesdays for most of April - December, from 8am- 1 pm. 

This is such a fun Saturday morning tradition. You only have to go once to realize how meaningful it is to buy produce directly from the farmers. They are generous with their knowledge and it means so much to them to be able to make a living at something they love. Shopping for and eating locally sourced food will be good for your family, too.

The thumbnail vegetables were taken at a variety of stalls throughout the market. From left to right: Swiss chard, carrots, squash blossoms (yes, they are edible), beets, and onions. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, V is for vegetables- local, fresh vegetables.

U is for Union Square Campus-- and Universities!

The above photo features the Union Square Campus at the corner of South Elm Street and Gate City Boulevard. Long gone from this lot is the Tri-City Seafood shop that stood here for years (with the iconic mermaid painted on the side). The Union Square Campus is a training and education facility for the healthcare professions. The collaborative effort involves UNCG, NCA&T, GTCC, and Cone Health. Additionally, there are several business and government partners involved, including the City of Greensboro.

Included in the plans for the completed campus are several levels of nursing education and a radiography program. For the completed and equipped facility, the estimated cost will be between $37- 40 million. How wonderful that all of these local institutions are collaborating and sharing equipment.* The 103,000 square ft. facility is already closer to being completed than we took this photo last month.

This is the "U" for our ABC Wednesday, A-Z Urban Finds series. It also serves as the "Shadow and Highlight" entry for the June 2016 Theme Day for the City Daily Photo meme. By the end of the day, this post will have made it around the world and back.

Greensboro has so much to celebrate and share!

*Click here for more details.

T is for Townspeople

This photo dates to Saturday, April 30th, when a group gathered in front of Scuppernong Books downtown on South Elm Street to protest North Carolina's HB2, the bill (often referred to as the bathroom bill) that is now law.* As we were preparing this week's "T" for ABC Wednesday, we kept coming back to this photo because it shows residents of Greensboro coming together and exercising their right to freedom of expression. They were assembling peacefully, playing and singing great music in the hopes of bringing about change.  

Even though there were no trombones in front of Scuppernong, the lively scene leaves us whistling 76 Trombones and thinking about the transformative power of townspeople playing music. So, for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "T" is for "townspeople." See more ABC Wednesday choices for "T" around the world, here.

 *read more here and here.

S is for Signage

As seen by the crowd on the street, Saturday was a busy day at the Carolina Theatre on Greene Street. How wonderful that this iconic Greensboro venue, known since 1927 as the "Showplace of the Carolinas," is still a vibrant and dynamic community resource. Tomorrow night, the 2,200-seat theater will have chandeliers and gilded railings glowing as country music fans come out in droves to see John Anderson perform. Likely, concert attendees will be heard walking to their seats singing, "Just a swinging."  

The above sign, advertising not only the Carolina Theatre, but also upcoming events, harkens back to the pre-digital days when signs had to be changed by hand. The all-caps, sans-serif letters, look the same as they did almost 90 years ago. By night, the sign lights up, showcasing events and adding to the excitement of the evening.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "S" is for signage. While digital signs offer more advertising options and are easy to change, some buildings just call for the old-school, black block letters of our past.

R is for Revolution and Revitalization

In the above photo, Kayne Fisher of Natty Greene's Brewery is making the official announcement to the press that they are expanding into Revolution Mill. They will have two restaurants and will move, and expand, the Gate City Boulevard facility. The once prospering textile mill will be repurposed to include housing, artists' studios, the brewery, eateries, galleries and event spaces. Greensboro Park and Rec has made a commitment to cleaning up and beautifying North Buffalo Creek. The creek runs through the 45-acre mill property and will give this area-- 2 miles north of downtown-- a water feature. Natty Greene's plans to have a butcher and baker on site, and have made a commitment to good, fresh food, all of which was common when Revolution Mill was making textiles. 

This mixed-use campus of 520,000 square feet, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The above photo showcases the original maple floors and the exposed brick walls seen throughout the 1898 facility. The Revolution Mill redevelopment represents, perfectly, how our economy is changing from manufacturing to service and leisure. Here, people can work from home, eat and socialize, and enjoy many amenities, without leaving the property-- the ultimate staycation. Congratulations to Natty Greene's. And, congratulations to Greensboro for keeping this thriving brewery right here and for giving a tired, old mill, just the facelift it needed. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "R" is for Revolution Mill and its Revitalization! Below, you see co-founder of Natty's, Chris Lester, explaining the plans to interested community members. Here are two good links if you are interested in more details. (backstory on the groups that brokered the deal; Bizjournal's unveiling of the plan). 

Q is for Quest, Art Quest

Finding good places for children to have fun making art, without the worry of making messes, can be a challenge. In Greensboro, one need only look as far as Art Quest at the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. ArtQuest allows children, young and old, the opportunity to experiment with materials and make their own decisions about how they want their art to take shape. This venue is also a fun place to hold birthday parties.

A quest is a search for something and can be long and arduous. While you cannot be guaranteed that you will reach the end of your artistic journey at ArtQuest, for sure, you will have fun along the way. The above photo shows display shelves at the ArtQuest studio. The photo below shows the chairs stacked on tables, at closing time when all budding artists had gone home for the day.

Today is ABC Wednesday and Q, for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, is for Quest!

P is for Pullman on the Mighty 611

It is not every day that a Pullman sleeper rail car come to town. However, one was in Greensboro this weekend as part of the train we've been featuring for the last two days. And, this is not just any Pullman. It comes with a great deal of provenance. The car was built by Pullman of Chicago in 1925 as a 12-section, one drawing-room sleeper. In the 1950's it was reconfigured as a fancy office car and operated as part of North Western Railway's office car fleet. In 1996, it was purchased by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. It was sold to Dearing Railroad LLC in 2006 and is now part of  he 611 steam locomotive.

In its present configuration, the Pullman Dearing features two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a crew room, a dining room, a kitchen, an observation lounge and platform. *  It sure added a lot of character to the bullet-nosed, vintage 1950's train as it came chugging down the track and parked at the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot. 

 Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds, "P" is for "Pullman." 

*reference and additional information, here.

N is for News

News vans, reporters, and camera persons were downtown on Monday afternoon in front of the court house. They were covering redistricting. New voting districts for City Council elections are supposed to take effect in 2017. We haven't been following the issue thoroughly; however, we do know the issue has generated a lot of controversy and that there seems to be a lot of that going around in North Carolina these days. The above vans were parked on West Market Street, right across from the West Market Street United Methodist Church.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, N is for News. Downtown is always a great place to keep up with news and WRAL, with its coverage from the Triad to the Coast, was covering the news live. A big thank you to all TV stations and community newspapers for keeping us informed!

M is for Mask Maker

As you can see in the above photo, Kathy Clark is an amazing mask maker. Recently, she gave us a tour of her home studio and walked us through the multi-step process of mask making. Kathy uses everything from paper mache, to leather, to fabric in creating these theatrical beauties. Kathy can custom make just about any form, but especially likes her nutcracker and animal masks. In addition making masks and costumes, Kathy also produces and directs theatrical productions. She just finished bringing to life three of Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories at the Ruby Slipper Fringe Festival in Winston Salem. This weekend, she will be a living statue, outfitted in solid gold from head to toe, dropping golden glitter at the Azalea festival in Wilmington. Kathy earned a BA in Drama from UNCG and, with the commitment to the profession, is making her professors and mentors proud! 

Kathy sells her masks through Etsy, at craft fairs, and private commissions. Soon, she will start selling at Greensboro's, Third-Thursday, City Market between Barnhardt and Lewis Streets. If you want to purchase a mask, or need help with a theatrical production, see Kathy's contact information below. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, "M" is for Mask Maker (and masks)! If you'll notice, Kathy even wore her M shirt for today's "M" photo.

 

*contact information 336-409- 9195; [email protected]; oneeyedjanes.etsy.com

 

 

                                     

 

L is for Lane

Just east of yesterday's featured porch, still on Spring Garden Street, we see this bicycle lane leading to the greenway and then on to town. The city of Greensboro is making a commitment to adding more lanes for bicycles and for providing greenways for off-road routes. According to the city's website, in 2007, Greensboro established a new bike route system that includes a map with roads, greenways, and other information to help cyclists plan the safest routes possible. In 2006, the Greensboro Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) adopted the Greensboro Urban Area Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenway Master Plan, which incorporated ideas from public input for getting from Point A to Point B.The resulting plan was over 300 pages. Today, plans for bicycle protected lanes are being updated and adjusted as new greenways and highways are constructed. The Moses Cone-Wesley Long Health Care System has contributed funding  and been a key player in our city's transportation plans.*

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "L" is for lane, as in the above bicycle lane. You know you are close to downtown Greensboro when you can see the JP Building (Now Lincoln Financial Group). Dare we say all roads, and LANES in Greensboro, lead to the JP Building-- our iconic skyscraper?

Happy ABC Wednesday, dear readers!

* reference and more information, here.

K is for Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is a global doughnut company that was started in Winston-Salem in 1937. Founder, Vernon Rudolph, bought the original doughnut recipe from a chef in New Orleans. Rudolph chose Winston-Salem because his favorite cigarettes, Camels, were headquartered there. The company has quite an interesting history, with ups and downs, and interesting facts like doughnuts made with North Carolina's own Cheerwine soda.

Krispy Kreme has been in Greensboro for several years now. Since 2010, the above store, located on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro, provides a delivery service to local businesses. That sounds like a service with tremendous potential. As of 2015, Krispy Kreme had 1,000 stores and, continues to be comfort food to many of its customers. They have even developed new ovens so that the "Hot Now" neon sign can be lit longer. Doughnuts are like sushi, every second counts with respect to freshness.

Today, for ABC Wednesday, for our A-Z Urban Finds series, K is for Krispy Kreme. As far as we can tell, the Battleground Store is the closest to downtown Greensboro.

J is for "Juice" Flask

The above flasks were spotted at the tent vending area of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. They commemorate the battle. They are made of recycled wine and beer bottles, by a man whose family has been blowing glass for generations. From the lip on the vessel to the rough pontil mark in the front, they are made to look as authentic as possible.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "J" is for "juice flask." The more we look at it, the more we wish we'd purchased one. The vendor lives in Virginia, so, hopefully, he'll be back next year. He had several interesting vessels, but this "juice flask" impressed us, because it is specifically dedicated to our community and a local battle. 

I is for Intersection

The intersection of Market and Elm Streets is the one that splits Greensboro's streets into north/south and east/west. Our city radiates out from this spot. At the corner of Market and Elm, an historic marker reminds us of the Greensboro Law School that was once near here. While the view from ground level is not particularly a stand-out, it is one that sees a lot of traffic, by day, on the weekends, and after church. At the moment, there is considerable construction on the east side of this intersection- just beyond the camera's view.

In the above photo, you see a runner, who was running in last night's 70 degree weather. Out of view are the holiday snowflakes that still adorn Elm Street. As we walked along West Market Street yesterday, we saw people voting early. As we walked along Elm Street last night, we were struck by the fact that at 7:45 p.m. many of the businesses were hopping. Mack & Mack had people inside, Cheesecakes by Alex was crowded. People were hanging out at Scuppernong books. It seems that downtown no longer closes at 5:00 p.m. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "I" is for intersection, the meeting of north, south, east, west.

H is for Hellebores

Saturday is a great shopping day in Greensboro. The above photo is of some hellebores that we wish we'd purchased last weekend at the Yanceyville Curb Market. Hellebores help make gardening a four-season venture as they bloom late winter and early spring, when other plants are still dormant. They are great for brightening up the gray winter days. Behind the plants, you see other market-goers enjoying the fruits of the market.

In addition to being available at the Yanceyville Curb Market, hellebores are available at Gethsemane Gardens, located on NC-150 near Northern Elementary School. Gethsemane is often at the Yanceyville Market; and, we're pretty sure that they were the ones selling the above beauties. The plants were very healthy and the colors were exquisite. Gethsemane's  main farm is 30 acres and our friends who have visited say it is lovely. We think we'll call Gethsemane to see if we can arrange a tour-- and maybe purchase the hellebores that we regretted not buying last weekend. One question we'll ask is if deer eat them. If so, we'll have to pass as that would be one expensive snack!

For now, we'll enjoy the hellebores in urban gardens of our friends. Today is ABC Wednesday and "H" , in our A-Z Urban Finds series, is for hellebores.

 

G is for Greensboro

This view of Greensboro's skyline was taken from the parking lot of the Yanceville Curb Market near War Memorial Stadium. The street is Homeland Avenue. The photo shows how Greensboro's urban landscape transitions rather quickly from high-rises to two story housing. We get the benefits of a small city and the joy of lost of open, green space. Of course, the anchor building is the JP Building, now known as Lincoln Financial Group. Then spring comes our way, this view will be a lot more colorful.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, "G" is for GREENSBORO, and green, and Guilford (County) and GREAT place to live. 

F Is For Fire Station

Fire Station Number 5 is located on Westover Terrace where it intersects at Wendover Avenue. This station has one fire engine staffed with four people; one ladder truck with a four person staff; and one rescue truck, also staffed with four people. The fire house is also a "safe place" for youth seeking help or in need of resources. When we drove by at about 9:00 am yesterday, the ladder truck was getting tested/inspected by its crew. From the view across the street, it appeared to be in great shape. We don't know if you can see them, but the truck has stabilizing feet that extend about 3 feet on either side. 

Fire stations are places that are usually taken for granted, until we need their services. Fire departments are very dynamic places and do so much more than put out fires. According to the recording on their community relations line, we learned you can schedule fire department employees to come out to participate in community events, teach classes, provide free smoke alarms, and help with battery installation for smoke alarms. They also help with car seat installations, and conduct fire inspections and investigations. 

At Station 5, there is also a USAR Team. We thought USAR stood for for URBAN SEARCH and RESCUE, which is a FEMA Rescue Task Force. However, Greensboro is not on FEMA's list. Maybe this is a local search and rescue location. We hope to learn more. In the meantime, today is ABC Wednesday and for A-Z Urban Finds, "F" is for fire station (and fire persons). Hats off to the workers at Station 5!

E Is for Excavation

Urban excavation is taking place right before our eyes. Part of West Lindsay Street has been closed permanently, in front of the Grasshoppers Stadium. On this four acre stretch of land, Roy Carroll is building the $50 million dollar Bellemeade Village. There will be 300 more apartments where residents can walk downtown or to the ball stadium. Some of the residents should be able to watch the ballgame and fireworks from their apartments. Also, a Hyatt Place is being built.  Here is an article if you want to see more details of the Bellemeade project.

The construction in Greensboro continues to amaze us. If you haven't driven around downtown Greensboro and up Battleground Avenue in a while, you may want to do so. Greensboro has changed so much. They have torn down and dug up so much to make room for this new multi-block complex. It is definitely changing the landscape- and traffic patterns.

For our A-Z Urban Finds Series of ABC Wednesday, "E" is for Excavation. 

D is for Dads; Urban Dads

The above photo is a scene from inside the International Civil Rights Museum. It shows the museum at its best, open to the public and serving as a gathering place. Behind the photographer was a table set up for voter registration. In front of the camera is a scene of families gathered after the Dr. MLK, Jr. Parade. On the wall, the sepia photo is of the "Greensboro Four" (from left to right). David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., and Joseph McNeil.  They are the four men who sat at the Woolworth's lunch counter, in this very building, and ordered a cup of coffee. In defiance of segregation and in support of civil rights, these four were part of the impetus to change laws related to different treatment based on race.

The above information, the Sit-In story, is known by many, especially locally. What is not as well known is the fact that the "Greensboro Four" have fourteen children. Imagine what great dads and role models they have been. Imagine growing up knowing you have your own dad to thank for changing society for the better. Notice the dads on the couches. Imagine how special their children will feel when they get older, knowing that their dad spent the day with them and brought them out to participate in the MLK Day activities. Twenty-first century urban dads are like that- involved. Frequently, they are seen manning the strollers.

Today is ABC Wednesday and D is for Dads, Urban Dads. (See the other A-Z Urban Finds, here).

C is for Costume

In Greensboro, there are certain costumes and signs you expect to see, advertising businesses.  For example, we've come to expect Lady Liberty reminding us that it is tax season (here); and Ronald McDonald promoting the golden arches (here); the Chick-fil-A cow convincing us to eat more chicken, and the pawn shop person shaking a sign, convincing us to stop and sell our gold, etc. However, we saw a new costume at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade. The above human advertiser wore an inflated, neon green outfit made out of a material that looked like a plastic pool inflatable. The novelty was very effective as he attracted a lot of attention. His sign doesn't even name the business he is representing. The phone number must be sufficient.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, C is for Costume.

The "Rolling On!" highway logo the ABC Wednesday crew made for Round 18 seems fitting for our theme: Urban Finds. See the rest of our entries to date, here.

B is for Braille

Out exploring Greensboro recently, we discovered that the McDonalds restaurant, at the corner of Westridge and Battleground Avenue, has a braille breakfast and lunch/dinner menu. We don't know if all McDonald's restaurants have them, but it is wonderful to know that people who are visually impaired can read the menus for themselves.

In the absence of a physical or sensory challenge, it is easy to overlook the need for accommodations. However, when you have a friend or family member who needs accommodations or modifications, it is great when a business affords them as much independence as possible. Equal access and ease of use mean a lot... especially as we age. Look around you, in Greensboro, or wherever you live. If you see something that could be done to make information or places more accessible, start your own little campaign today!

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our 2016 Round, which we're calling Greensboro's A-Z Urban Finds, "B" is for braille. Braille characters, invented by Frenchman Louis Braille,  have been around since 1837.  With modern technology, specifically screen reader software, braille has been on the decline. But for now, braille is on the menu--  at McDonald's.

 

A is for Alley

Urban walks are so much fun. Yesterday, we were walking around downtown at sunset and spied the alley behind P&B Java and Elsewhere Museum, just off the 600 block of South Elm Street. There is a lot of construction at the building on the corner of Lewis Street and South Elm Street. With the concrete trucks spinning and workers on site, we were the only pedestrians in the area. Walking the alley, we first found a space maintained by the Greensboro Permaculture Guild. When admiring their garden, we looked up and saw this beautiful sign on the back of Elsewhere Museum. Imagine after a long day of teaching and attending meetings, looking up and seeing an all-caps sign (shouting in the font world) I LOVE YOUR WORK. We decided that tomorrow, we are going to say to students, when it is most meaningful and needed, I LOVE YOUR WORK. When is the last time you said that to someone? When is the last time someone said it to you? Hopefully, it was recently. Such is the serendipity of taking an urban walk, in Greensboro, at the end of the day.

Today is a brand new round of ABC Wednesday. Every time, we say we are going to skip a round, we get inspired to continue. What better way is there to approach photographing and documenting your city than working through the alphabet? So, for today, we offer up, "A" is for alley. And thank you to the all-volunteer ABC Wednesday crew. WE LOVE YOUR WORK!

 

Z is for Zoë

Zoë Dillard is trained as a theatre teacher. She has a master's degree from UNCG where she taught as a lecturer in the theatre program here before leaving to teach in the K-12 environment in Fairfax County, Virginia.  While Zoë  appreciates music of all genres, she especially loves listening to, teaching, and performing in musical theatre. Some of her former students are establishing successful careers. Recently, Zoë returned to Virginia to watch a former student perform. One of Zoë's special memories was performing as a principal character in Fiddler on the Roof.

Having retired from her position in Virginia, Zoë returned to Greensboro with her family and is working as a substitute teacher. When she is not subbing, she loves attending theatrical events, traveling, singing in her church choir, and learning to cook gourmet food. She is happy to be back in Greensboro and loves all of the events we have access to locally. You can tell from her smile that Zoë is happy, optimistic, and fun to know. We're glad she moved back to Greensboro and hope to see her act and to hear her sing.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Women-of-Greensboro series,  "Z" is for Zoë. This concludes this Round of ABC Wednesday. Interviewing people for our website is one of the most meaningful things we do. We would like to thank everyone who graciously gave of her time to be interviewed and photographed for this A-Z series. We began in July with April Dunovant, and moved through the alphabet with many other great women of Greensboro:  Betty, Caryl, Delight, Elena, Felicia, Gisela, Hope, Isabella, Jane, Katja, Liliana, Mariela, Nikki, Pat, Quaneisha, Renee, Sheila, Toni, Vandy, Yvonne, and Zoë. Thank you, ladies; thank you, readers!

Y is for Yvonne

Yvonne Johnson is a lifelong resident of Greensboro. She was born and educated here, and has dedicated her life to our city and its residents. After graduating from Dudley High School, she attended Bennett College, majoring in psychology and biology. While Yvonne did not consider entering the political arena during college, she attributes her early commitment to social justice to the culture at Bennett College. As a student, Yvonne served on student government and she worked with getting voters registered. She was also part of the Sit-In Movement in the 1960’s. However, it wasn’t until the early 1990’s, at the urging of a friend, that she considered running for political office. Ultimately, she ran for a city council at-large position. With a great love of people and learning, Yvonne decided that even if she lost, she would have a chance to meet more people in Greensboro and it would certainly be a learning experience. Her grassroots campaign was successful and she was the first African American elected to council since the district system was adopted in Greensboro. “Firsts” are nothing new to her family. Her uncle, a Penn State graduate, was the first African American Ph.D. in dairy science in the United States.

In addition to serving all the citizens of Greensboro, as council member and mayor, Yvonne has been running a non-profit for 33 years, One Step Further, Inc. This program mediates, advocates, and helps people with life skills and conflict resolution. Additionally, the organization runs a food pantry, serving over 900 families a month. Helping community and making Greensboro a better place for people of all ethnicities are high priorities for Yvonne. While a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from NC A &T contributes to her professionalism, her calm temperament and demeanor contribute to Yvonne’s ability to make people from all walks of life feel comfortable and valued when talking to her.

Some things you might not know about this high-profile woman is that she loves fishing, meditating, traveling, reading, and listening to jazz music. Above all, she cherishes time with family and friends. Family dinners are a priority. Playing bridge and pinochle are much-enjoyed pastimes, and she loves to indulge in getting decals on her fingernails. As for Greensboro, Yvonne loves the diversity- approximately 110 ethnic groups- and working with the diverse groups in our city. She loves all of the events the local institutions of higher education bring to Greensboro. She enjoys attending sporting events and tournaments. She loves our parks and feels enormously blessed to live here. She looks forward to watching Greensboro continue to grow. One of her hopes is that we will become the best job training center in the US and that we will be continue to grow in a multi-faceted way so that, from education to arts to sports and more, there is something for everybody.

Yvonne Johnson does so much for Greensboro, she was the obvious choice for our A-Z Local (Women) Series. Today is ABC Wednesday and “Y” is for Yvonne Johnson.

X is for Xmas

Well, we don't have a person for X on ABC Wednesday. However we do have an "X" is for "X-mas." In the above photo, Pig Pounder Brewery has a sleigh with a pig Santa led by a team of pigs.* While they don't mention the pig-sled on their website, they do mention that the brewery has UK style beers and the name comes from a beer launched by the Darryl's restaurant chain in 1988. Keeping with the current trend for new breweries, they have a game night and a live music night. Located at 1107 Grecade Street, they are near the Sheetz Gas station and near Red Cinema. Their pig-themed advertising, including the pink, wrapped advertising on their vehicles, Pig Pounder perks up the downtown end of Battleground Avenue. Yes, "when pigs fly" is a way of saying that something will never happen.

When you drive by the scene, you can exclaim, "Not only do pigs fly, they pull sleighs and fill in for Santa. "Merry Christmas and while we don't have an "X" person for our A-Z people series,  For ABC Wednesday, "X" is for "Xmas" and flying pigs on Battleground for Christmas. 

 

* Our language-loving friends may already know that a group of pigs has many terms. A group of young pigs can be known as a drift, drove, or litter. Older pigs can be a team, passel, or sounder. "Saw a sounder at Pig Pounder," is catchy. We think we'll use that term!

W is for the Women of Greensboro

Today's photo features women walking to the starting block of the "Running of the Balls." As they walked down Greenway, we were struck by how many women and children participated. Yes, there were many men, too, but the event was such a family -friendly one, we saw many women and children. All walked for a very good cause as tons of cans of food and money have been raised to help combat hunger in Greensboro. The morning after the "Running of the Balls," a man at the collection site at the corner of Rolling Road and Greenway said that they had already loaded 660 pounds of food from that one collection bin that morning. How wonderful for a neighborhood to band together to help the hungry.

Today is ABC Wednesday. As many of you know, this A-Z Round, we're featuring "Women of Greensboro". Unfortunately, all of the women we know whose names start with "W"  are either out of town or we don't have contact information for them. For example, Wendy Levine is a Greensboro woman who has left wonderful comments on GDP over the years. However, we have never met her and didn't have her contact information. We hope you aren't too disappointed for us to say that today is ABC Wednesday and "W" is for the walking, working, wonderful women of Greensboro. And, as for the men, we do hope to attempt an A-Z men of Greensboro. Happy Wednesday, dear readers, regardless of where your name falls in the alphabet!

V is for Vandy

Vandy Chhum's smile says it all. She approaches life joyfully and with optimism. Her name is a Khmer/Cambodian name given to her by her father. Vandy's road to Greensboro was a long one. Her family left Cambodia, spent time in a refugee camp in Thailand and moved to the United States in 1985. They moved from New York to Greensboro to Chicago and to Long Beach, always in pursuit of community and family. Cambodian families in the United States are a close community, as is Vandy's own family. When in Long Beach, she asked her her father for permission to return to Greensboro to attend high school and to live with her sister. Vandy not only graduated from high school, she attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, majoring in social work. 

While at UNCG, she interned with Communities in Schools, a national drop-out prevention program. She continued working for them after graduation and has been there for eleven years. With her youthful look, it is hard to believe that Vandy has been in the workforce for over a decade and that she is happily married with two lovely children. Vandy remins close to her family and is extremely proud to have been born into the Chhum family.

In the above photo, Vandy is photographed at the Sedgefield Country Club where she was attending brunch with Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for women educators. Vandy is also very involved with the Piedmont Interfaith Council, where she works hard to bridge faith groups, cultures, and people of all ages.

Vandy loves Greensboro so much, she selected it as her permanent home over fifteen years ago. She loves the people, the trees, the greenery, and the sense of community. Greensboro gives her a sense of belonging and is the one place she says she can truly call home. We are so grateful that Vandy is here and for all she does for our community. Today is ABC Wednesday and V is for Vandy. See our other A-Z People entries, here,

U is for Unnamed

The above photo of the Alumni House on College Avenue at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Last night was the 2015 Annual Luminary Dedication Ceremony, taking place at the Vacc Bell Tower and along the area around College Avenue, and spreading through campus. Over 1,000 luminaries were lit, as they have been since 1969. The luminaries are always lit on Reading Day, a day after the last day of classes.  It is a day of rest and reading before exams.

Meanwhile, in the Alumni House above, Chancellor Gilliam was holding his first Holiday Open House in the Virginia Dare Room. Indeed, the holiday season is upon us, not only on UNCG's campus, but also throughout our city. For this ABC Wednesday Round, in which we are featuring A-Z Local People, nobody with the name Uliana or Ursula or Udele stepped forward for an interview, so we're dedicating "U" to all of the unnamed people enjoying themselves, in the above photo, and throughout Greensboro.

 

T is for Toni

Toni Knight arrived in Greensboro as a student at UNCG in the 1960's and has remained here doing good things for the community for over fifty years. She majored in social studies, taught for about 8 years, and returned to the University for a master's degree in counseling. Toni was so well liked by the faculty and staff at UNCG that she was asked to lead the advising center for the Pedagogical Studies Department. While her position evolved over time, she spent a career giving students sound advice about classes, details about their respective majors, and even some sage advice about career choices. 

One of Toni's many good deeds along the way was the starting of a group she called Tomorrow's Place. It is a support group for women to sit and talk about life, whether it be working through problems, adjusting to life changes, dreaming about the future, or just discussing the present moment. For the first year, in the mid 1980's, the group met over soup at Toni's house. This was a time when the women's movement hadn't really started and there weren't many options for organized support for women. Today, the group meets at the First Lutheran Church of Greensboro and the format is a brown-bag lunch. Tomorrow's Place continues to help women celebrate the good times and endure the difficult ones. Three original members still actively participate. Tomorrow's Place doesn't have a website and mostly gets new members through word-of-mouth. The group has also formed a book club and pot-luck supper club. These women love being there for each other.

For the last five years, Toni has worked part-time for East Lawn Elementary School in Burlington. She is the volunteer and community coordinator, working for one of her former Teaching Fellows, whom she advised while he attended UNCG. She is also involved in Eldercare and is committed to helping her 90-year-old mother continue to live at home. Together, she and her husband, Tom Smith have three children and seven grandchildren- the joy of their lives. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z People Series, "T" is for Toni. However, if we had to pick a letter of the alphabet to represent Toni, it would be "C," for "caring" as she is such a caring person. With respect to what Toni likes about Greensboro, she loves how beautiful the city is and the fact that even the poorest neighborhoods are clean and litter free. We are so lucky she has made Greensboro her home.

 

S is for Sheila

Sheila Groves, originally from Lenoir, NC, came to Greensboro on a Broyhill Scholarship in the 1970's. Fortunately for Greensboro, Sheila stayed put. She majored in early childhood development at UNCG and dedicated her professional career to teaching in the public schools.  First, Sheila taught Kindergarten, many years at Sedalia, Millis Road, and Pilot Elementary Schools. Upon retiring from the Guilford County Schools, she became an instructor at UNCG. 

Now, in retirement, it seems as if she is busier than ever. She is member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of women educators. She is a member of Greensboro's Beta Delta Chapter, where she served as president. Now, she is the president of the state chapter, Eta State. In the above photo, Sheila is seen at a working dinner for the organization, held at the Lone Star Steak House on High Point Road. Sheila always has a warm smile on her face, even when she is in the throes of a mountain of paperwork. As you can see, she is in her element when doing things for others. She loves working with this organization of like minded women who are so committed scholarship and to making a difference in the realm of public education- here and abroad.

While in college at UNCG, Shelia made many lifelong friends and, every year since graduation, the same weekend in May, a group of eleven dorm friends travels to the beach for a weekend together. They come from different cities throughout the United States with very different careers, however, they are united by the strong bond they built while in Greensboro and at UNCG. When not traveling with family, friends, or Delta Kappa Gamma, Sheila docents elementary school groups for the Greensboro Historical Museum.

Most people don't know that Sheila used to live in a warehouse downtown, on Davie Street, in the 1980's, way before gentrification, before Greensboro's downtown buildings were renovated, and before Davie Street burned. Sheila loves the fact that there are so many opportunities to volunteer in Greensboro and that she has met many great people in Greensboro as a result of her volunteering.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "S" is for Sheila Groves, who is part of our A-Z Local (Women) series. To see the other ABC Wednesday entries for "S," around the world, go here.