Greensboro Daily Photo

Bookstores, Booksellers, and Librarians

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

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

Happy Friday the 13th!

Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Greensboro Library

The Kathleen Clay Edwards family Branch of the Greensboro Library is located off of Hobbs Road near Jefferson Elementary School. It is, indeed, a place for families to enjoy, as evidenced by the above family having a picnic, waiting for the library to open. Libraries are truly places available to all and where everyone feels welcome. Libraries are so much more than just going to check out a book. They are clean, cheerful, information centers with librarians who are friendly and willing to help with just about any request. They are a community resource and a venue for meetings, story time, musical events, and more.

In the case of the Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, Price Park is beside it with walking trails and places to observe nature, especially birds and butterflies. It is also possible to take your glass containers and styrofoam to recycle in the bins provided by the City of Greensboro. In Greensboro, there are seven branch libraries, plus the Central Library. Which branch do you use? The more we use and support our libraries, the more likely they are to have continued funding and the more we become connected to our community.  

Happy Wednesday!

Next Chapter Bookstore Gift Shop to Celebrate Juneteenth at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

Yesterday, we finally had the chance to stop at Ben's Boyz Restaurant in Friendly Center. Not only do they have delicious food, they also have a bookstore and gift shop at the entrance of the restaurant. Pictured above is Sherricka Carpenter Stanley who owns Next Chapter Bookstore. Her store represents over 70 authors and several local artists. The brick and mortar restaurant started as a food truck in the space where Starbucks is now located in Friendly. They opened the restaurant in May of 2021 and then on September 18, 2021, Sherricka launched the bookstore; fulfilling a goal she had on her vision board since 2011. Sherricka came to Greensboro to attend NC A&T where she majored in math education. She taught math for 25 years but has since left the classroom and works in her bookstore. Additionally, she is a published author with two of her own books for sale at Next Chapter. One is a rhyming book about family for little children. The other is a book about Kamala Harris.

If you want a good meal or a bookstore that has books and gifts for every occasion, head to 2711 Grandview Avenue in Friendly (up by the Juice Shop). Thursdays are their late night when there is an open mike when singers, musicians, poets, spoken word artists and paint live artists gather from 5:00- 8:00 pm to showcase their talent. We're not sure what their hours will be today, though, since we know Sherricka will be at the Juneteenth SOULebration..  SOULebration is happening at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax from 11:00 am- 6:00 p.m.. The event is free and open to the public. 

Happy Juneteenth!

Greensboro History Museum, Former First Presbyterian Church

Yesterday, the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival held sessions at the Greensboro History Museum. Formerly, the History Museum was the First Presbyterian Church. Seeing this view of the entrance of the museum, filled with people, reminded us of what it must have looked like when the building was a church. It was built in 1892, 84 years after Greensboro was established. First Presbyterian relocated to 617 North Elm Street in 1929.

One of the sessions held in the history museum was, "Calling on Ancestors: Writing the Past into the Present." Tyree Daye, Zelda Lockhart, and David Nicholson shared stories of ancestors across generations. The presentation seemed perfect for the history museum where past meets present on a daily basis. The audience listening to  the session in the intimate auditorium is not unlike what it must have felt like to attend a church sermon in the building. The space is a Greensboro treasure.

Happy Sunday!

Yes, Greensboro, There Is a Cybertruck

On one of our walks around town, hoping for serendipity to land a photo for Greensboro Daily Photo, lo and behold a Tesla cybertruck drove up Elm Street at the intersection with Washington. This forest green cybertruck with temporary tags was seen on May 15th (2024). We love the contrast of the futuristic vehicle with the weathered brick facade of the "Thousands of Prints, Plenty of Frames" shop. Starting prices range from $61,000 to $100,000 depending on which model you choose. Read more about this electric vehicle HERE. We wish we'd had a chance to see the driver, but the windows are pretty dark.

We'll be back downtown today to attend more events with the FREE, Greensboro Bound Literary Festival. What a great way to spend a rainy day. Most of the events and the great conversations will take place between the Central Library, History Museum, the Cultural Center, and Scuppernong Books. We're planning to go by and see what remains of the News and Record Building. That will be a hard look. My how times have changed. Digital virtual news, electric cars, we're wondering what is next for 36.0734ºN, 79.7932ºW.

Happy Saturday!

 

Conversation with James McBride

Last night, in the auditorium at the Elliot University Center on the UNCG campus, literary great James McBride spoke as part of the 2024 Greensboro Bound Literary Festival. Actually, he engaged in a conversation with moderator and author, Tita Ramierz, who teaches writing at Elon University. She came with a combination of her own well-crafted questions and questions shared from local book club members. McBride has written many books, the ones most-discussed last night were "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" and "The Color of Water"-  the latter a memoir that divides chapters between his mother's life (in italics) and his own. McBride also came to UNCG's campus 25 years ago when UNCG freshman read was "the Color of Water" with over 900 people attending his presentation. 

McBride shared so many pearls of wisdom, including what "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" is about. McBride explained it addresses small town secrets and the people who keep them, and what it was like to be an American at a time when that term was being revised. It is also about dialog. The book started as a chapter about a camp Moshe started and it grew from there. The topic of immigration and the Jewish experience in America is addressed. The character Malechai leads the reader to ponder what one keeps from the old-country vs. a new way of living. Ramierz noted that McBride was masterful at tying together all the threads of the characters' stories in the last 1/3 of the book. McBride said that he had those last three exciting chapters of Moby Dick in mind when writing the novel. He urges every American student to read those last three chapters of Moby Dick-  and perform one year of service abroad. 

When asked what he would write next, McBride talked about how hard it is to write a book after you've published one that is so widely successful. He said that he has to get it out of his head that the next book needs to be a "home run." He also said he's had his turn and that he is ready to give someone else a chance. McBride reminded the audience we need to support young, up-and-coming writers, which can be done with the help of the indie bookstores and librarians.

McBride, a journalist himself,  mentioned that at one time Greensboro had the most talented journalists, but local news is now lacking. Through good journalistic practices, people learn to write and the community stays abreast of what is happening. He asserts journalism is the perfect background to be a fiction writer.  

If you have not read "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store," do yourself a favor and read it. We plan to reread it, focusing on ideas his talk. Also, we want to pay more attention to the relationship between Fatty and Big Soap, and look for the reference at the end regarding "waiting for the future." We knew we would love McBride's insight into his writing and life in general. What we  didn't anticipate was how special it would be to spend the evening surrounded by people who love to read and discuss books

If you want to attend the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival over the next three days, see the schedule HERE, and if you want to purchase the books, head to Scuppernong Books.

Greensboro BOUND Literary Festival 2024

The Greensboro BOUND Literary Festival is upon us. The above photo was taken at Scuppernong Books yesterday. They have a display of books, the works of the authors who are coming to town. It starts today and events will be happening until Sunday. See HERE for a schedule and more information. James McBride, author of "The Color of Water" and "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" is speaking tonight on UNCG's campus. Pre-registration was required and it is full. 

In 2018, the festival was co-founded by Brian Lampkin, co-owner of Scuppernong Books, and Steve Colyer a retired telecom executive. The authors and their presentations, or conversations, and workshops represent a wide diversity of topics and genres. The author selection is also quite diverse.  The festival organizers have worked hard on the logistics, in an effort for attendees to make it from Point A to Point B (see here).  Greensboro is so lucky to have this great event centered around BOOKS! Year 7 looks pretty fabulous. 

Happy Thursday!

McKay's Mebane Mega-Bookstore

This month, Greensboro lost McKay's bookstore, as the store relocated to Mebane. It opened on April 19th to welcoming arms of the people of Mebane. We had a chance to stop by and see the new, 35,000 sq. ft.  store off of exit 154 off of I-40. The first McKay's opened in 1974. Now there is the story in Mebane and the one in Winston Salem.* If you still like to read a physical book, It is worth the trip to Winston or Mebane to find something to read. Forthuately, Greensboro has Scuppernong Books downtown on Elm Street. They work very hard to build community and to provide a well curated selection of new and used books. However, with four institutions of higher education in Greensboro alone, and six GTCC campuses in Guilford County, it seems like we could support a mega-used bookstore. Is there someone out there who wants to open one? We would love that. McKay's outgrew their old location Perhaps opening a store in Greensboro could be in their foreseeable future..

We also wonder what will become of the former building on Battleground Avenue. We're wondering if it will be removed to allow access to construction to the lot on Mill Street. Do you know?

Happy Monday! What are you reading, Greensboro? 

 

* read more HERE.

On the EUC Lawn at UNCG

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

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

Happy Saturday!

Hal & Eleanor Minnock-Pugh

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

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

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

Happy Friday!

Remembering O. Henry & Gift of the Magi

Today is the winter solstice, the day the North Pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. Today, sunrise is at 7:26 am and sunset is at 5:08 pm. In these times of extended darkness, reading is a great way to spend the evening. Let us remember that the writer O. Henry (William Sydney Porter)  was from Greensboro. There is a complex of three statues dedicated to the artist at the corner of Bellemeade and North Elm Street, right across from Tanger Center. It is a lovely place to visit. The above photo is of the open book sculpture. There is also a sculpture of O.Henry himself and a statue of his small dog. The book is 7' by 14'. It is open to the opening page of the short story, "The Gift of the Magi".

In "The Gift of the Magi," a young couple by gifts for each other by selling their greatest treasure. It reminds us, during the Christmas season, that love is more valuable than worldly possessions. The writing on the bottom left panel reads, " "Dell" said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."  What sacrifices have we made for each other this December? We can do great things without even needing to spend money. Let's all check out a copy of O.Henry short stories from the library, snuggle up, and have a good read.

Happy Thursday!

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church is getting some work done this summer. It looks like that beautiful slate roof is getting some repairs. It is absolutely breathtaking and matches the stone facade perfectly. It is located in the historic district of Fisher Park. Two weeks ago, when we helped a delegate from France visiting a couple of weeks ago. We drove them past Holy Trinity because they could also see the First Presbyterian Church and St. Benedict Catholic Church. They were amazed that all of these churches were right together. Truly this trinity of churches clustered together show the diversity of Greensboro's Christians. And, West Market Street United Methodist Church and First Baptist are right down the street.

On the day we were at Trinity Episcopal taking photos, there was a camping tent put up beside the labyrinth. Churches are dynamic places now. They do so much for so many. If you are looking for a great religious community, head to the service at Trinity today. All are welcome at Trinity and Sunday services are at 8:30 and 10:30 am. Even if you don't get to the service, stop by, walk the labyrinth and check on the progress of the repairs.

Happy Sunday!

Lisa Rawlings, Local Author

The above photo features Lisa Rawlings, who has recently published a book about her childhood called, "One Girl's Story." Lisa was on hand at at Just Be for First Friday in May to read from and promote her book. We saw her yesterday when she was working at Just Be for her daughter Kathryn, who owns this lovely gift shop at Hamburger Square. Lisa was born into a Navy family in Saigon, Vietnam and her dad's career took the family to many places around the world. However, she considers Meridian, Mississippi to be her hometown. The book is a collection of short stories. Lisa was prompted to write down these memories of her childhood after losing her sister, also her best friend, to an aneurism. Lisa teaches 5th grade at Caldwell Academy and wrote a book that she felt would appeal to her students. On the back cover, she encourages children, about her students' age, to read the book and compare how much their life is like hers and to see what aspects of her life were unique.

Lisa loves to read, write, teach, and spend time outdoors. She currently has a book series she wants to write;  her idea is too good to share at this point. Once she writes and publishes the first book in the series, we think it will take off. Meanwhile, if you want a copy of "One Girl's Story,"  you can get it at Just Be, or log on to her Instagram site lisa_rawlings and get details there. When asked what she likes about Greensboro, Lisa says she loves the location, given she can easily get to the beach or the mountains. Hopefully, once the school year ends, she'll have time to vacation somewhere in North Carolina and start that book series.

Happy Saturday!

Jill Van Horn

Jill Van Horn, a local author of mystery and love stories, is the perfect person to feature for Valentine's Day. She also happens to be wearing Valentine's Day red. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jill lived in Texas and California, before finding her home in Guilford County. She is multitalented; not only a published author, but also a family physician. Jill loves to cook and eat a healthy, balanced diet. She has a cooking channel on YouTube called the Doctored Chef. where she combines her love of cooking with her expertise as a health care professional. We suggest starting with Episode 1, a recipe for parmesan-crusted salmon and learn how the meal helps with depression and anxiety.

It would be wonderful if the Greensboro City Library system would purchase a set of Dr. Jill's books for book clubs to check out. In the meantime, you can purchase her books at Gibsonville Antiques (where we met her on Saturday) or, directly from her website. We should be calling her Dr. Jill, especially now that we know she is returning to practicing medicine, focusing on eldercare. If you are looking for a good beach book, start with "Fit for Love". The setting is Myrtle Beach. If you like a little magic, time travel, and Christmas, start with "A Stagecoach Christmas" or "A Christmas Carousel." We are so lucky to have Dr. Jill in our community!

Happy Tuesday! Happy reading!

Beth Sheffield and Local Author Event

Today, the Central Library is hosting a local author fair and two workshops for authors and aspiring authors. Beth Sheffield will present a workshop on "Selling your Book in Three Minutes or Less." Beth will share some clear examples of how to prepare and rehearse your "elevator speech" in case you get a chance to pitch your book to someone- planned or unplanned. Sometimes, when least expected, there is an opportunity to tell someone about your book; you've got to be ready. In the above photo, Beth is showing a couple of her go-to books for aspiring authors. You may recognize Beth, as she works in the Greensboro Central Library with major programming and book clubs. It is easy to remember someone with a smile that heartfelt.

There will also be an opportunity to meet sixteen local authors, purchase their books, and get books autographed. Two books that are getting a lot of press lately, are Diya Abdo's book, "American Refugee: True Stories of the American Refugee Experience" and Virginia Summer's book, "Redefining Activism: Judge Elreta Alexander-Ralston." Both authors will be in attendance today. The library has several fabulous events scheduled for 2023. To keep up with their offerings, follow the GSO Library on Facebook, or check gsolibrary.org for updates. In the meantime, hope to see you at the Central Library between 1-4pm today. Other than the workshops, the rest of the event is drop-in-anytime to meet these local authors. See yesterday's GDP post HERE for more details. There are other events going on downtown today. If the parking deck attendant knows you are going to the event at the public library, you should be able to park for free. 

Writers' Event at the Central Library, Tomorrow

Greensboro's City Library system is an invaluable community resource. Truly, it is one of the few places open to everyone; with computers, books, clean restrooms, meeting rooms, and special events. Tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 10th), they are hosting the "Local Author Celebration Festival."  The event will be held from 1-4 pm at the Central Library at 219 N. Church Street. From 1:30- 2:30, local writer Quinn Dalton will hold a workshop for writers at all stages of their careers, "Jumpstart Your Writing Practice with Quinn Dalton." From 3:00- 3:45 pm, Beth Sheffield  will lead a workshop, "Selling Your Book in three Minutes or Less." Registration is required for the workshops. You can register with Ronald Headen at 336-412-6199 or [email protected]. 

The following local authors will be available for a meet and greet: Angela Parks, Anette Pearson, Diya Abdo, Edward Di Gangi, Haven Turner, Jennifer Orth Veillon, Joe Madera, Lakisha Tucker, Lee Zacharias, Matthew Armstrong, Michael Gaspeny, Quinn Dalton, Samuel Harrison, Sandra Bartell, Victoria Sparks, and Virginia Summer. Their books will be available for purchase and you will have an opportunity to get books signed. With this great group, there is a genre for everyone. We know this is a busy time of year, but the local author celebration will be so much fun. Also, it will help you start a reading list for 2023. If you are in a bookclub, you will get great ideas for books to read, and, who knows, you just might be able to arrange for a local author to visit your bookclub. We got Mary Flynn to speak at ours, before she moved to Wilmington.

Happy Friday!

Banned Book Week with Liz Seymour

September 18- 24, 2022 is Banned (and Challenged) Book Week.  This annual awareness campaign is promoted by the American Library Association and also Amnesty International.  The above photo features Liz Seymour, who is hosting banned and challenged books in the Little Free Library box on Lexington Avenue in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. This little box, on the Florida Street side of Lexington, is filled exclusively with books that have been banned or challenged. Some of the titles may surprise you: The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald); The Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger); The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck); To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee); The Color Purple (Alice Walker); Beloved (Toni Morrison); Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) and the list goes on and on and on. Most of these just-mentioned classics are in the above box, to take for free (at least they were there at the time of our visit). Liz also has more contemporary selections like the graphic novel "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Koabe (2019).  All of the books in the Little Free Library are in terrific shape. Sharing banned and challenged books is a way to voice censorship concerns and celebrate free expression.

Liz Seymour has been an active community member throughout her decades in Greensboro. She is perhaps best known as the founding director of the Interactive Resource Center (IRC). The IRC is a day center in Greensboro for people who are experiencing homelessness. It opened in 2009 and Liz was at the helm until she retired in 2014. She retired to focus on writing full time. She is a compelling writer; one of her essays, "Inviting Anarchy Into My Home", was published in the New York Times (March 9, 2006). The piece describes her transforming her home from a conventional married-couple household into an anarchist collective with multiple, non-related people learning to live and thrive together.*  Liz has been one to take a stance and take action for what she believes in. The IRC is still going strong today, thirteen years later. While Liz has also moved on from her anarchist collective, people still talk about what a meaningful experience it was to them. Ever willing to push the envelope, Liz is currently sharing banned and challenged books. Whether they house banned books or just a couple of shelves of someone's mystery books they've finished, The Little Free Library is a great place to give and donate a book. There are many around Greensboro. May your weekend be filled with reading, fellowship with friends like Liz Seymour, and some good ole fall fun. 

*link to the original article.

St. Francis Episcopal Church: Pop Up Paperback Book Sale

As you are planning out your weekend, on Saturday, consider heading over to St. Francis Episcopal Church on Lawndale Drive for a pop up book event. The event will be much smaller than their traditional shows. They are making a real effort to be COVID safe. Also, only paperbacks will be offered- two dollars for the larger paperbacks and one dollar for smaller format books. Book sales are a key way for St. Francis to raise funds and, the money they earn, goes right back into the community. As an example, after the last sale, they were able to help Urban Ministries restock their food pantry. Hopefully, this small-in-scale, pop up format will be a success.

 The above photo features the book depository. If you are a regular to the St. Francis book sales, you know when that garage door goes up, you will see floor to ceiling books. It appears that tomorrow's book sale, from 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, will actually be held in the Parish Hall. To be sure, when you drive around back to park, there will be people to guide you to the books. St. Francis, an outgrowth of the Holy Trinity Parish, has been providing people with a spiritual home since 1954. For the last six decades, they've been bringing us great books.

Can you believe this is the last weekend in July. The books you buy tomorrow will be a great addition to your August reading list! Happy Friday! What authors can you recommend for us?

People of Greensboro: Orson Scott Card

Today's photo features science fiction writer Orson Scott Card. Originally from Washington State, Mr. Card has lived in Greensboro for the past thirty years. He is the author of the novel series, Enger's Game. In the above photo, Mr. Card is featured with his hairdresser, Nancy, at The Glen Hampton House on State Street. We were driving down State Street and saw Mr. Card heading into the salon. We dashed in and asked if we could photograph him. He kindly agreed, but didn't want to be photographed alone.  His hairdresser, Nancy, kindly agreed. You can tell by her big smile how nice she is (even though we caught her mid blink)! Same with Mr. Card, that smile revels a kind soul. 

If you are looking for a good book to give for Christmas, consider something from the "Ender's Game" series.  If you need your hair styled, call Nancy. We were grateful to run in to Mr. Card and grateful that he agreed to a photo-- even BEFORE getting a haircut. We love the books he has written. He has inspired so many teens to read (including our own children). To be sure, serendipity is the friend of Greensboro Daily Photo. It is merely by chance that we ran into Orson Scott Card.

Today is Friday! Head out and see what serendipitous something comes your way! 

History Museum Shop & Event Tonight

Today's photo features the Gift Shop at the Greensboro History Museum. What a clever slogan- Bring HISTORY Home. If you want Greensboro's iconic Boar and Castle sauce, you can get it here. If you want something with the state bird on it, get it here. If you are looking for books about Greensboro, get them here! If you need a Wrangle jeans apron, see above! Related to Greensboro and books, there is a very special event tonight from 7-9pm. It it is called, "The Life and Works of O. Henry", with Ben Yagoda and Jim Dodson. The book they will be discussing tonight is an anthology of O. Henry stories. Ben, the editor of the collection, and an accomplished writer himself,  is coming in from Delaware to discuss Greensboro's favorite author. Jim Dodson, of Greensboro, also an accomplished writer, will co-present the event. You may recognize Jim's name from O. Henry magazine; not only does he write for the magazine, he is its founding editor. All of this good local history and lore is brought to us by the Greensboro History Museum, Greensboro Public Library, and Scuppernong Books. While we can't guarantee the museum's shop will be open, you can be sure there will be books available for purchase.

If you plan to attend, please visit the museum's website (HERE) for tickets. Also, you can learn about attending virtually from the comfort of your own home- the new normal. Almost as good as the wonderful event itself is the fact that it is FREE, but do reserve a spot! If you can't head downtown this evening for the event (130 Summit Avenue by Tanger Center), please put The Greensboro History Museum on your to-do list to get by at another time. The single best thing you can do for our community is support our public non-profits.

Little Free Library at Eclectic By Nature

Reading books from the Little Free Libraries around town is so much fun. The above library is in the middle of a lovely garden on State Street at Eclectic by Nature. As stated on the website, "Eclectic By Nature is a woman-owned store that specialized in Spirituality products." They have everything from herbal healing and Reiki to Wicca and Shamanism. The books at a Little Library often reflect the interests of the person who installed it. That pairing doesn't always happen, but you would be more likely to find a book on some type of spirituality here than the libraries in other neighborhoods.

Here is a link to the homepage of the Little Free Library with all of the details, in case you would live to install one. If you enter your zip code on the website, it will give you a list of all the libraries that have registered. You could even use this service on vacation. Wouldn't it be fun to make a list of titles of  all of the books you've taken from one of the libraries, as well as the ones you donated. We like to try to return them to the same place we got them. Also, if you ever see a person working in the yard or sitting on the porch of a private residence with one of the libraries, say hello or thank them. We have met some really nice people that way. If they are in front of a business, go inside and meet the keepers of the library. The garden at this one at Eclectic By Nature is absolutely beautiful this time of year, and, last we checked, the book selection was great!

Greensboro Bound Virtual

Yesterday, on GDP, we celebrated Greensboro's public library system. Today's photo is the window of Scupperonong Books, advertising the Greensboro Bound Virtual Literary Festival begins tomorrow; another example of literary goodness in our community. Greensboro Bound is billed as a festival for "readers, writers, students, academics, and volunteers who are passionate about books, writing, and reading". It is a non-profit organization established in 2017 (reference and more information). The festival is the brainchild of  Steve Colyer and Scuppernong Books owners. The annual festival has hosted many writers, many of whom are known internationally. 

Here is a link to see the list of events and RSVP to attend virtually. Many of the topics are timely and something for everybody across genres from young adult fiction to short stories, poems, cookbooks, crime writing, and more. When community partners, businesses, writers, and volunteers come together, in an event celebrating reading and writing, everyone benefits and the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts! Drop into a session and enjoy!

Books for Back to School

August is the month for school openings in Greensboro. Early and middle college classes have already started. With schooling starting remotely this fall, it will be more important than ever for students and teachers to have access to books. One great resource is the Greensboro city library system. Grab and Go service is available at all of the branches; so, it is possible to check out books. Also, it is very easy to download the library's app and to check out books digitally. If you do not yet have a library card, it would be very important to secure one before school starts.

For those who prefer reading a physical copy of a book and owning their copies, Greensboro has some great options. Above is a one; Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Friendly Center. If you are a teacher, you should know that this weekend, B&N is offering a discount of 25% to teachers. This is a very generous sale and great time to add to your personal and professional library. It has been easy to socially distance every time we've been in B&N and everyone was wearing a mask. Can you see this man somewhat hidden in the photo? He is wearing a mask!

Happy reading to all, regardless of where and how you get your books!

Books about Greensboro

Yesterday, we featured Gayle Hicks Fripp, a Greensboro author and historian. Today we feature books she has written, or (in the case of she Schlosser book) that she has edited. In the books, many topics are addressed and key photos of the city abound. There are photos of early homes; stories of impactful people, businesses and businessmen; information about neighborhoods, and more. The book on the top left, "Faith on the Move" details the history of the West Market Street United Methodist Church. While this is a history of the church, West Market Street UMC is almost as old as Greensboro, and so much of its history is connected to the city in so many ways. As Greensboro grew, so did West Market Street UMC.

If you want to know more about the people and places of Greensboro, the above books are a great place to start. Greensboro was established as a city in 1808 and at one time was quite a textile center and was the crossroads for rail commerce throughout the south. You will learn about these topics in these books. One thing we learned in reading the book on neighborhoods (bottom right), is that in the early 20th century,  it was common practice to move houses, as opposed to tearing them down. If you are looking for a little summer reading, most of these books are available, through the local libraries and online. Have a great weekend!

Reading the World with Scuppernong Books

Scuppernong Books in downtown Greensboro is hosting a year-long reading series of contemporary fiction in translation from around the globe. The discussions are held the first July of each month. We are a day late in telling you about the July meeting, which snuck up on us and was held last night (see description, here). They met via Zoom and discussed a book from Israel/Palestine. But, it isn't too late to get the book for the August session. it will be from Morocco and is entitled, "The Butcher of Casablanca" by Abdellah Hadouchi. If you call Scuppernong, they will order the book for you (336-763-1919). Anyone can participate. During these times of self-isolation, we all need to get a little creative in staying connected to the world. An international-themed book club with mostly local folks participating sounds like so much fun.

If you look at the above photo, which was taken on Elm Street mid-day on Tuesday, as you can see, the street is empty. Understandably so, there is not much foot traffic these days. So, doing something like ordering a book, and participating in a Zoom call, could be something fun and educational to anticipate in August. 

Have a happy Thursday and may July be filled with good times and fresh vegetables!

Free Books

As we continue with all but essential businesses closed, disposing of unwanted items has limited options. You can't donate to thrift stores; you can't sell books to used bookstores. You can sell some things online, throw items away, or put them at the street and offer them away for free. Even then, people are reluctant to touch anything that has been in the hands of others.

At any rate, offering books for free is a very nice gesture. The books in this box were very popular, contemporary fiction titles. Someone would love to read them. The books in this spontaneous, "pop up" library were being offered in northeast Greensboro. However, many neighborhoods in Greensboro have Little Free Libraries. If you are interested in setting up a LFL in your neighborhood, read the history and find a map of where they are already located, see here. In the meantime, continue find ways to experience social interaction while maintaining social distance. Happy Wednesday... and today's post is not an April Fool's joke!

DM Pulley

If you have a dynamic,  independent  bookstore in  you community, you will never be  at a loss for things to do.  Last night,  D.M.  Pulley  spoke at  Scuppernong Books  on  Elm Street  downtown. Primarily, she  was in house discussing her  latest  novel, No  One's Home; however, she gave a fantastic presentation  balancing  what led her to  the mystery/thriller  genre, how the  genre is typically constructed,  and the plots of  each  of her books.

Pulley spoke of how her training to become  a structural  engineer scaffolded her understanding of how buildings have secrets  and  that you can dissect them,  not unlike how doctors perform autopsies.  She mentioned that  analyzing old layers of paint may reveal spattered  blood-  evidence of  a  crime, evidence of fire damage, and other interesting facts about the building.  It is so  wonderful that we have these events,  free and open  to the public.  

Stop by  Scuppernong  books tonight  when Holly George-Warren,  a  North Carolina native, discusses her  biography about Janis Joplin at  7:00 pm.  Live music  will be provided. Hope to see you there!

Book Club Book Sets Available from GSO Public Library

Did you know that the Greensboro Public Library System maintains sets of books that local book clubs can borrow? Usually each title has 10-15 books available. One person from the book club checks out the entire set, is responsible for distributing the books to members and getting them returned.* I learned about this program while at the Central Library interviewing Beth Sheffield about the "One City, One Book" kick-off event to be held this Saturday (August 24) at 6:30 p.m. in the Greensboro History Museum. By the way, the library has several sets of Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime" available to loan to local book clubs! 

Beth (photographed on the right) oversees book clubs and programming for adults for the Greensboro Public Library. If there is a literary event happening in the downtown parks, a public library, or the community in general, chances are, you will see Beth there, either facilitating the event or in the audience. Come to the "One City, One Book" kick-off event to hear Osha Gray Davidson talk about his book "Best of Enemies" and race relations in North Carolina. Davidson's session is a way to discuss racism, a theme from Noah's book, within a local context.

*read more about the Book Club program and search titles, here.

(photo credit: Karen Garraputa- who happened to walk by and, serendipitously, is in my bookclub)!

One City, One Book

The first of more than eighty events for the One City, One Book initiative is happening this Saturday, August 24th, at 6:30 pm at the Greensboro Historical Museum. The above photo features Beth Sheffield holding a copy of the selection for this year, Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime." Beth is the coordinator of adult programming and book clubs for the Greensboro City Library. As Beth explained, events related to One City, One Book incorporate themes of the book that will be of interest and relevant to people of Greensboro.

The Saturday event, features a visit by Osha Gray Davidson who wrote "Best of Enemies." This book from the 1970's is about the relationship between Ann Atwater, a Civil Rights Activist, and C.P. Ellis, Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan. The book tells of how the diametrically opposed pair work together to find some common ground and to understand the other's perspective on race. So much of what Davidson writes in his book is relevant today with the binary political divide we are experience in the United States. The Saturday event will also allow time for dialog and questions. Greensboro is so lucky Davidson will be here for the event; and, this is only the first of many events to come- from Zulu dancing to a visit from Carla Hall, soul food cookbook author. Beth says her hope is to get Trevor Noah himself to come discuss "Born a Crime." If you have insight into helping this happen, contact Beth at [email protected]. Follow the Greensboro Public Library on Facebook for events related to the book! See you Saturday!

Keith Monroe

This smiling man is Keith Monroe, standing among a few of his favorite books. Originally from Berea, Ohio, Keith has lived in Greensboro since his graduate school days. He obtained a Ph.D. in English from UNCG, fell in love with a woman from Greensboro, married, and decided to stay. Keith, who has a great sense of humor, refers to Greensboro as the Sargasso Sea, a place you enter and never leave. He and his family have built a great life here. He loves the small-town feel of Greensboro and his Sunset Hills neighborhood. He even enjoys the Christmas season with all of the decorating and the "Running of the Balls" event through the neighborhood.

Keith is retired from a career in journalism. He wrote editorials for the Winston-Salem Journal and was editor of the editorial page at the Virginian-Pilot. Since retirement, Keith stays busy reading, writing, eating good food, traveling with his wife, and exploring museums.  He is a member of an all-male book club and maintains a blog,  He especially loves reading about current events and politics, and editorializing about them. Keith's editorials can be found on his blog, Podunk Pundit, In true retirement fashion, he is his own boss, sets his own deadlines, and loves going to work. The commute is short; upstairs in his home, precisely where this photo was taken.

 

Greensboro Bound Literary Festival

These puppets in the window of Scuppernong Books are there reminding us that the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival begins tomorrow. This second annual event is sure to have something for everybody. The opening event will be a reception, a presentation about an interactive art project and a film screening at the Weatherspoon Art Museum at the corner of Spring Garden and Tate Streets.

There are so many great offerings. To name a few, author Wiley Cash will speak, There will be a response to Hillbilly Elegy. There will be a session on contemporary Muslim writing, spoken word, and a concert by Ani Defranco with Rhiannon Giddens. We predict that some of these events may grow so large in the future that they will be held in the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. This is a fabulous, diverse event for the Gate City! You owe it to yourself to attend at least one session. While all events are free and open to the public, many have already distributed all of the tickets.

To learn more about the festival and to see the schedule, see, here and  here.

Brian Jones at Scuppernong Books

On Saturday, Brian Jones spoke at Scuppernong books. He is the Associate Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. He spoke about the radical legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.  About one of the best things someone can do to understand fully what was happening at the time while Dr. King was alive is to listen to his speeches and to read his 1967 book, "Where Do We Go From Here?".

The talk was sponsored by the Greensboro Socialists and approximately 40 people were in attendance. Regardless of political beliefs, it was so informative.  Greensboro has many interesting guest speakers, through the Bryan series, the presentations at all the local universities, and the speakers of special interest groups and organizations. Check in with Scuppernong often as they are always hosting informative events.

Snowy Day

With yesterday's nearly record high temperature in the mid-70's, it is hard to believe that Greensboro was recently in a deep freeze and, before that, under near record snows. The window of Scuppernong Bookstore on South Elm Street is decorated to remind us of the fun of a snowy winter day. The above photo features their display of Ezra Jack Keats' 1962 children's picture book, The Snowy Day.

Regardless of what the weather brings over the next month or so, it is nice to know that days are getting longer and the sunshine a little more sustained. Regardless of the weather, it is always nice to find a bookstore, order a warm beverage, and begin the process of finding something great to read.

O. Henry Magazine

It is the beginning of the month, which means we are entering the final quarter of the year. Fall is upon us, before you know it, Greensboro's church lawns will be brimming with pumpkins and gourds for sale. It also means that it is time for the latest edition of O. Henry Magazine, a Greensboro staple since 2012. The magazine is widely available throughout the city, especially at Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and the Red Collection. If you ever have a hard time finding a copy, you can stop by their headquarters at 1848 Banking Street, behind the Lawndale Plaza in Irving Park.

If you have ideas for an article, the staff is open for ideas. The editors and contributors write exceptionally well, ask great questions, and do an excellent job of focusing on the positive in our great city. The last page is "An O. Henry Ending," which is open for community members to contribute something, especially if it has one of those twists at the end, the hallmark of the stories of one of Greensboro's greatest authors. Here is the contact information for the magazine, and here is a great article about founding editor, Jim Dodson. It seems like the O. Henry Magazine has been around forever. It is hard to believe that it is only six years old.

 

On Happiness & Art at The People's Perk

After a long day at work, what could do more to perk one up than to sit at a coffee shop, sip coffee, chat with friends- either well established friends or new ones? Joy is in abundance at The People's Perk coffee shop on South Mendenhall Street. Karen, the ebullient proprietor is always on hand to brighten your day. Works of art adorn the walls, the coffee is great, and there is this fabulous sketch book where customers share their thoughts. 

Today's coffee shop philosophy is brought to us by a generous, anonymous (Greensboro?) artist. The stylized fonts read "WITH freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, WHO COULD NOT BE happy? As you enter the weekend, whether totally stressed & worried, totally content, or somewhere in between, ponder freedom, books, flowers, the moon and other things that make you happy. What would you write if you stumbled on this book and a pack of colored pencils? Happy Friday!

Edward McKay Bookstore

According to their website, McKay Books was founded in 1974. This was way back in the pre-computer, pre-Internet era. The owners had the vision that knowledge was empowering and people needed a place to go to purchase books that were reasonably priced and a way to sell them back when their owner no longer needed them. In Greensboro, the store is known as Edward McKay and it has diverged and reemerged with the parent company that has branches in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, Greensboro, and Winston Salem.

The above photo features the Greensboro store, located at 1607 Battleground Avenue. As you can see, it is a busy place. If you haven't been in a while, you need to go see the recently remodeled store. Be prepared to be overwhelmed. In addition to books, they have DVDs, games, game figures, action figures, albums, and so much more. It is heartwarming to know that a place based on reading and knowledge is staying so busy. Empire Books on Spring Garden Street has recently closed. It is nice that Barnes & Noble, Scuppernong Books, and Edward McKay are still here for our reading pleasure. What are you reading at the moment?

Boomerang Bookshop: Nomad

The Boomerang Bookshop Nomad is on site for at Corner Farmer's Market in Lindley Park on Saturdays. The mobile bookmobile is also in Glenwood on Thursdays.  YES! Weekly referred to it as the "food truck of books." Diarra Crkt Leggett and his wife Elizabeth own and operate the mobile bookshop. Leggett is not new to books. He has sold books locally for nearly 16 years and worked as a library assistant in Kernersville. He comes by his passion for books honestly as his mother was a librarian in Winston-Salem for thirty years. In the YES! Weekly article about Leggett and his mobile bookshop, Leggett speaks of how happy it makes him when a customer finds the exact book they were looking for.*

In this era when social media is making anything longer than 140 characters something we mark as tl;dr ('too long; didn't read'), it is nice to learn of a mobile book store, offering new and used books, and opportunities to buy, sell, and trade, right there alongside the produce stand at the farmer's market. Even if you don't think you want a book, go meet Leggett and start talking literature. Likely, after searching his well culled inventory, you will find something you just have to read. Leggett is living the 21st century American dream. He has his own business, he is not tied down to brick and mortar, and when he goes to work, he is doing something he loves. It doesn't get better than that.                                    

*for reference and for more information, read Ian Mcdowell's article, here.

Cheerful Book Exchange

Does your neighborhood have a book exchange? The above home, located at the corner of Camden Road and West Greenway has one! They have hollowed out a grandfather clock case and filled it with books. The elaborate container, on a raised slab and with tin roof is one of the most elaborate you will see in Greensboro. Those books are protected in all seasons. It would be fun to monitor what books come and go. This container is likely stocked with some very interesting books. Sunset Hills has a very active neighborhood association and residents are generous when it comes to initiatives that help build community. For example, around Thanksgiving, the streets here will fill with light-balls that are hurled high into the mature trees. At night, they fill the sky with colorful light. People come from miles around to see the display.

This in a neighborhood where people know each other by name. It would be in character for residents to leave books in the box that they know their neighbors would enjoy reading. The display of perennials and landscaping help the book box stand out. Do you ever take advantage of one of these little community initiatives? If you stop by this box, consider leaving dropping off a book you know others will enjoy. Today is Friday, a perfect day to start a new book!

U is for Used (Books)

Greensboro has three bookstores that offer used books: Scuppernong on Elm Street; Pages Past on Spring Garden Street; and, Edward McKay on Battleground Avenue (featured above). Like many other brick and mortar businesses, used bookstores have had to either find a niche market or diversify. Scuppernong hosts a lot of community events; Pages Past focuses on rare books; and Edward McKay has DVD's, albums, and buys used textbooks. As people have access to just about anything they want to read via computers and phones and can have Amazon ship items with the click of a button, bookstores need to be destinations and gathering places. Finding a balance between being conducive to hanging out, yet enticing customers to make purchases can be tricky.

Hopefully, these bookstores will remain in Greensboro for a very long time and will depend on the reading habits of this younger generation of digital natives. For those who are committed to reducing waste in the environment, "used" is the new "new", new to the new owner, that is. And, with that trend, books just may be with us for a while longer. If you like to read books on paper, consider stopping by one of our great used bookstores. Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "U" is for "used."

Tre Stokes

Yesterday, Scuppernong Books was quite a hub of activity. The line wrapped around from the bookstore's entrance on Elm Street to the Biltmore Hotel on West Washington Street. People were waiting to get their copy of "Hidden Figures" signed by the author, Margot Lee Shetterly. The event was so popular that Scuppernong sold out of the book. To the crowd's surprise, just prior to the arrival of Shetterly, Tre Stokes slipped into the store with his mother, Shonia. Tre, a ten-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina, started as Levi Jackson, Jr. in the movie. In the above photo, he was talking to some of his fans. 

When Tre entered Scuppernong, all of the children in the bookstore wanted to get a photo taken with him. He graciously complied with a pose, a smile and a, afterwards, a big handshake. Tre's cheery personality and radiant smile put everyone at ease. In spite of his busy acting schedule that calls him away from Greensboro, he still calls Greensboro home and is a full time student in the Guilford County Schools. We have a feeling Tre's career will soar, yet he will always remember his local roots.