Greensboro Daily Photo

Formerly Harris Teeter

For those of you who formerly purchased groceries at the Harris Teeter at the corner of Muirs Chapel and 4640 West Market Street, this is the space today. Formerly painted "Harris Teeter", look at the building now. It definitely grabs the attention! What kind of business could be going in near Joann's Fabric and the Shoe Market? It is a huge space and work is being done on the inside. That Harris Teeter opened in 1999, employing 60 people. It closed in the above location twenty-one years later in 2020. Remember, it was in 2006 that the Harris Teeter in Friendly Center opened. Known affectionately by locals as the Taj MaTeeter, at least at the time it was built, it was the largest Harris Teeter in North Carolina.

Scenes like this one are what we see every day, representing change in Greensboro. As soon as we see change, of course we want to ponder what a space was like in previous iterations and how it will transform in the future. That lone car in the middle is there to provide perspective. This, too, is a large space. Stay tuned!

Happy Saturday!

Carina Cole, Manager of Hannah's Bridge

Carina Cole is the manager of Hannah's Bridge, a thrift shop with clothing for women, children, and men. We had a lovely conversation with Ms. Carina yesterday at the Grove Street location in Glenwood, which is actually Hannah's Bridge, Too. Hannah's Bridge (One) is in the Lawndale Plaza in Irving Park. The banner behind her explains the mission of Hannah's Bridge and their addition recovery program, Hannah's Haven. Testimonials on the wall in the store are from several young women who have seen their life turn around with help through Hannah's Haven. The program and the thrift shop are affiliated with Grace Community Church on West Gate City Boulevard, not too far from the Glenwood neighborhood.

The store is so beautiful. It is clean, spotless, and looks brand new, as do the clothes. Ms. Carina explained that they wanted to make sure their Glenwood location was as nice as the Lawndale one. The public schools in the Glenwood area are Title 1 schools and Hannah's Bridge does what they can to help the local community. As an example, this Saturday (September 30th), at the Glenwood location from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, all clothing and shoes will be sold for $1. If you know someone who needs clothing, please consider taking them to get a new outfit. Alternatively, consider stopping by and leaving a financial donation. They are a great cause. The addiction recovery program is Christ-based and for those who are ready for help, this is a great community resource.

The not-for-profit program was started by Bonnie Harris in 2003; the name Hannah came to her in a dream. When she checked the Bible, she learned that Hannah was a barren woman who cried out to the Lord and then gave birth (1 Samuel 1:19). "Haven" comes from the notion that that a haven is a safe place, and the "bridge" is the pathway to the haven.

Happy Sunday!

 

National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and college students are especially vulnerable. Many are away from home for the first time without the safety net of family and friends. Also, the rigor of college courses can be stressful. The above photo features a field of awareness and inspirational sayings at UNCG. The display gives  people resources and something to think about as they walk along the path in front of the Elliot University Center. 

988 is a dedicated number for people to call if they are in crisis or need information about resources. NAMI Guilford (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is another resource for Greensboro and the surrounding area. NAMI got started in Madison, WI, in the 1970s and now has affiliate groups in 48 states. We also have a North Carolina NAMI. These pinwheels get displayed every year and they remind us to always make an effort to be kind and to let people around us know we care. The pinwheels represent people who have died by suicide. The white stacks of Jackson Library can be in the background. May we have fewer pinwheels next year. 

LFG & Greene Street

As you can see from the LED display on the top of the building to the left, it is the LFG building. Lincoln Financial acquired the Jefferson-Pilot Corporation and this iconic building in March of 2006. The FLG building is highly visible from most vantage points downtown. The light façade shines against the above dramatic sky. The photo was taken this past weekend and shows how a Greensboro sky can change before our eyes. Here, you see a bright blue sky completing with a dark, ominous patch.

Something that has been under discussion for years is that Greene Street is part one-way and part two-way. Do pay attention when driving on Greene. The part in the photograph will be close during the 2023 North Carolina Folk Festival, to be held right here in Greensboro from September 8th-10th. (See map/festival footprint HERE). For the folk festival, let's hope the bright blue sky will win out over the dark, ominous one.

Have a great Tuesday. Hope to see you downtown!

 

First Lutheran Church

It has been about five years since we featured the First Lutheran Church of Greensboro; so, we stopped by yesterday afternoon to see if there were any changes. There don't seem to have been any changes to the structure; however, there are some new benches installed in a garden area just behind where we stood to take this photo. Also, we'd forgotten just how well the grounds are maintained. From hydrangeas to costa to mature trees, the church is a lush haven on Friendly Avenue near Holden Road. The original First Lutheran Church was located at 307 Ashe Street and the architect was Henry E. Bonitz. It was constructed in 1910-1911 and, unfortunately, is no longer standing. Thanks to local historian Gayle Fripp, we know the architect of the first First Lutheran Church. However, an online search did not yield results for the architect of the above iteration of the church.

As you can see from the photo, this structure is has noteworthy, even unique, architecture  and is literally solid as a rock. The triangle/trinity theme is ever apparent. The diamonds that flank the main part of the building provide a way to enter the building on the ground floor. The stonework is beautiful as is the sanctuary. This church was rather quiet on Saturday afternoon However, on Sundays and during the weekdays people are constantly coming and going, either to worship or to participate in one of the many groups that meet here. We hope to get detains about the architect and architecture. 

Have a great Sunday!

 

See the website of the church HERE.

Jenna Rice Art, LLC

Jenna Rice is a full-time artist based in Greensboro. We met up with her earlier this summer when she was painting a mural on the back of Red Cinema in Midtown. We noticed her painting while on a group bike ride and circled back around to interview her. Jenna was super nice and took time to meet with us, even though it was late in the day and she was in the middle of painting.  Originally from New England, she obtained a BA in Studio Art in 2012 from Florida Southern College.

Jenna's local murals mostly feature people, real or pop culture. It wasn't until we were preparing this post that we realized Jenna also did the mural inside the downtown dining room at Cheesecakes by Alex at 315 South Elm.

Happy last day of July! Tomorrow is August!

346 Elm Street

Look at all these fabulous pennants denoting various places around the United States. Go to 346 South Elm Street and you can travel without leaving town. A pennant, your imagination, and the sky is the limit. This tiny shop between Two Brothers Artisan Brewing and Design Archives always has an intriguing window display. So far, the store has not opened, but the merchandise changes regularly. We love a shop window that changes often. Kit Rodenbough, Design Archives entrepreneur, has the space and plans to open it on Saturdays. She's dubbed it Design Archives Estates. You know if Kit is involved, it will be fabulous.

One idea we had for Greensboro Daily Photo was to find an address that matches the day of the year it is. For example, in 2023, 346 will be December 12th. We could wait and publish this photo on December 12th. Somehow, we suspect that would be REALLY hard to get 365 engaging photos with numbers in them. Plus, we wouldn't want to wait until December to share Kit's latest venture.  

Happy Monday!

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!

Higher Ground Ministries

Higher Ground Ministries is located at 107 West Whittington Street, just south of Gate City Boulevard and between Eugene and Elm Street. The one-story church was built in 1989 and the lot size is one and a half acres. It is located on the east end of the Warnersville neighborhood. Named for Pennsylvania Quaker Yardley Warner, Warnersville was recognized as Greensboro's first Heritage Community in 2015. It was the first planned African American community in the are. Mr. Warner took 35 acres of land and divided it into plots that were available to "freedmen."*.

If loop.net is correct, this Higher Ground property is currently for sale for $825,000  (see HERE). According to their website, "Higher Ground provides support and encouragement not only to those whose lives have been torn apart by addictive behaviors, but to those who are living with the effects of someone else’s addiction or any life controlling issue." Higher Ground has more than one location in Greensboro. Perhaps this location has relocated. At any rate, this is a prime piece of property located close to downtown. If a church is looking to expand, here is one that ready and waiting. As is, that roofline definitely says "church".  It will be interesting to see what the site becomes.

Happy Sunday!

*reference and more information HERE.

 

Triad Stage, Gone But Not Forgotten

By now, you likely know that Triad Stage at 232 South Elm Street has closed. For twenty seasons they brought amazing plays to Greensboro, including some world premieres. The official closing date was June 20, 2023.  It was often said that this was one of the best theaters in North Carolina. They had staged over 140 productions. They brought live, professional theatre to town and helped with the regentrification of downtown Greensboro. Originally, the building was a Montgomery Ward store and it remained vacant for nearly 40 years before renovations began for Triad Stage. 

Greensboro now has the wonderful Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. However, that venue seats 3,000 and books Broadway Plays and national shows. Triad Stage seated 300. That makes Tanger ten times larger. And while this is a wonderful resource for Greensboro, where can the smaller, local shows be performed? This niche venue is irreplaceable. Hopefully another group can come in and open a theatre in this space.

For more details, see this Fox 8 article here.

Happy Friday! While it isn't First Friday, weekends are always a great time to head downtown.

Happy Juneteenth 2023

Happy Juneteenth. It officially became a holiday in 2021. June 19, 1865 was the day that over a quarter of a million enslaved black people in Texas were freed by executive order. Until that date, there were Americans who were not free. To celebrate, Greensboro has had several events already and the festivities will continue today. As examples, there will be a Juneteenth celebration in Barber Park, a celebration at Sternberger Center at 712 Summit Avenue, and a SOULebration at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market at 2914 Sandy Ridge Road. Today, The International Civil Rights Museum on Elm Street (photographed above) will offer genealogy research as well as a screening of the film, "The Autobiography of Jane Pittman." See here to learn more.

We hope you find some way to celebrate today and that you find a way to make the holiday even more meaningful and that you enjoy your three day weekend.

Happy Monday!

Golden Corral Lawndale Drive

It seems we've been noticing a lot of change in Greensboro lately. The above building, on Lawndale Drive, was formerly a Golden Corral.  It was always crowded, but for some reason in January of 2020 it closed. The Golden Coral off of West Wendover is still open. The first Golden Corral opened on January 3rd 1973 in Fayetteville, NC. Golden Corral is headquartered in Raleigh, NC. As of 2022, they had 397 locations throughout the USA and Puerto Rico.

Last week, we were driving by and noticed that construction is going on inside the building. The property is 2.84 acres. It will be interesting to see what moves into that space. So far, that we can find, nothing has been published. Do you know? If so, please let us know.

Happy Saturday! It is a great day for exploring- Greensboro and beyond!

Remembering Baskin Robbins Battleground

Remember the days when Anton's was open and quite a destination restaurant and Baskin Robbins was next door, the "go to" place for a date night ice cream? The above store on Battleground Avenue closed  December 24, 2020. The building looks so empty and abandoned. Hopefully something will open there soon. It looks like renovation may be in progress. It was always such a challenge to park there, but when you got inside, the flavors were oh so delicious.The store had been there for decades. Their original slogan of "31 flavors" was so creative. They also introduced ice cream cakes to the public. We happened to drive by on Thursday when all of  the work on the above-ground wires was being done. We parked near the very empty store. We miss it a lot and can't wait to see what goes in the space. We're wondering if they will keep the bright pink! What was your favorite flavor?

Happy Saturday!

 

 

View From the 300 Block of South Elm Street: Lincoln Financial Group

Yesterday afternoon, the weather was perfect in downtown Greensboro. This view from the 300 block of South Elm Street shows the trees as they are just about to fully leaf out. The billowy, white cloud in the sky was there just before the strong storm hit. The Lincoln Financial Group Building stands tall, reminding us of how iconic it has been to Greensboro's skyline.We love the way the leaves that are starting to bloom dominate the upper foreground of this photo. If you get a chance, head downtown and see all of the beauty that Greensboro has to offer. We still want to call Greensboro's first skyscraper the Jefferson-Pilot building, but Jefferson-Pilot merged with Lincoln Financial Group in 2006. So, after 17 years, we need to refer to the building as LFG. Whatever you call it, the building defines the downtown skyline and makes Greensboro feel like home. The weather should be nice today. Please head downtown and around town to support our local businesses.

Have a great weekend. We hope the storm wasn't too hard on you. Happy Saturday and thank you for reading. 

Guilford Works NC Works NextGen

Yesterday was a sunny, beautiful day downtown. While we were standing on West Washington Street to photograph the building on the southeast corner of West Washington and South Greene Street, a policeman on a bicycle rode by. The police station is just down the street, so, likely, he was heading back to the office. We wanted to photograph the building on the right, because we noticed a new business: Guilford County NCworks Nextgen Young Adult Program. It is a free service serving young adults from ages 16-24 years of age. They can learn about jobs and internships, get training and earn credentials, and get career counseling. Today from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, they are holding a workshop for resume building. During the time time slot, they will have a mobile career center parked at Urban Ministries. It sounds like an opportunity for people to get help and to build hope. The building looks so fabulous and inviting. If you look closely at the windows, you can see the vinyl wrap that adds a pop of color and makes the place stand out. With this signage, 301 South Greene Street is hard to miss.

We hope you enjoy your Thursday and we hope you get a chance to drive around downtown and see what is new since the last time you were there. That is one of our favorite passimtes.

Here is a link to start checking and see if you qualify. For those who are interested, there is also a High Point location at 607Idol Street.

901 Spring Garden Street: High on a Hill in College Hill

901 Spring Garden Street looked absolutely spectacular on Sunday afternoon when the air was cold but the sunshine was glorious. If you have been around for a while, you likely remember the days in the early 1990s when Mary Garvey had her shop here (The Clothesline). Mary had a talent for finding clothing for college students and faculty. You never knew what you would find there, or who you would find shopping there. Next, Adelaide's Vintage was there- with more emphasis on home goods.

Fast forward to now and Vanderveen Photographers have a studio there.  As they say on their website, "Becky and Bert Vanderveen have been together in life and photography since 1999, capturing art, beautiful moments and dynamic events along the way." Both have degrees from UNCG and their studio is only a block from the Weatherspoon Art Gallery. It seems like 901 Spring Garden would be perfect for a studio: good lighting, conveniently located, and off street parking. We hope to get to interview them sometime and to get a peek inside and see exactly how they have transformed the space. Just look at how well appointed that corner view is and how that white brick and fence sparkle of spring's sunshine. Does anyone know the original use of this building, built in 1961?

Happy Wednesday!

192 East Lewis St.

Happy March 1st! The above photo was taken on East Lewis Street and the building with the colorful mural is 192 E. Lewis. It is the Dick Broadcasting Building and also home of 107.5 KZL. That is a convenient place for a radio station with all that is happening on South Elm Street these days. Sometimes they have music concerts right here on East Lewis. Just behind the camera is Elm Street and many new entertainment entertainment opportunities with plenty of spirits.

Sometimes, just looking at the sky is enough. You can see where the sunny sky meets the darker clouds. It did rain the day we took this photo. The angle of the sun made the mural on the building stand out. If you like that mural and want to see a close up, see the GDP post here from a couple of years ago. Of course, you could head downtown and see for yourself this building from 1962.

Happy Thursday!

Eugene Street

Have you driven on Eugene Street lately? It has changed so much. This is the part between Friendly Avenue and Smith Street, with the baseball stadium on the left and the Carroll Bellemeade development on North Eugene. It is hard to believe the baseball stadium has been there since 2005. What was originally First Horizon Park is now First National Bank Field. The stadium can accommodate 7,499 guests. The people who live in the apartments on Eugene and Smith Streets can just walk to games. Between the baseball stadium and Tanger Center, options for this part of town have expanded significantly over the last 18 years. 

You can get some great sunsets from the apartments on Eugene. We're betting you can see some great baseball from many of those apartments. The next home game for the Greensboro Grasshoppers will be April 23. It would be well worth your investment in time and money to experience a baseball game. We hope to see you in the stands, or strolling along Elm Street, en route.

Happy Thursday!

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management & Building

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, operated by Bank of America, is located at 800 Green Valley Road at the intersection of Lendew Street. Our State Magazine, and other businesses, are also located in the building. The building is a 5-story, class A office building. It was built in 2001 on a 6.62 acre lot. Already over 20 years old, the building seems to be aging well and is attention catching with all of those glass windows, especially when the sun is setting.

In the area near Green Valley Road between Westover Terrace and Benjamin Parkway , and even down to Friendly Avenue, is a part of town that really feels like an office park. The area is only about 10 miles from the airport. It looks like there is a good view from the top. Maybe we can try to  get up there. Have you been up on the 5th floor? That reminds us, we still haven't given up on the dream of getting to the top of the Lincoln Financial Group building. That has to be a great view! Maybe 2023 will be the year.

Happy Friday 13th! If you are working, at 800 Green Valley or elsewhere, we hope you have a three-day weekend.

Full Moon 324 S Elm St

Last night was especially beautiful in downtown Greensboro. As the temperature was dropping from the mid 50s to the mid 30s, the full moon was rising. Above, is a photo of the moon over 324 South Elm Street. The photo was taken from South Greene Street looking, east, towards Elm and that highest ray of light in the sky was the moon. This was the first full moon of 2023, the Wolf Moon. The moon was position almost the farthest point from the earth, the opposite of a supermoon. The lens flare, creating the rays of light on the photo happened, by chance, creating a starry mood in the photo. 

If you celebrated Epiphany or Three Kings Day, or "El Día de los Reyes Magos", last night was a beautiful evening to celebrate those holidays. Happy Saturday! Let's see what today brings. See you at the farmers markets.

245 East Friendly Avenue

245 East Friendly Avenue is a commercial building downtown, near the Greensboro Central Library. The building is two-story, 34,200 square feet, and built in 1924. The facade says Fruit and Produce and must have been a market in earlier years. Now, it is full of offices and, according to the sign in the window, will soon have a coffee and wine lounge. The sign in the Church Street window says Melrose Coffee Greensboro. It will be a California-inspired establishment serving coffee and wine. Perhaps you remember several years ago when there was a coffee shop in the library. It is nice to see Greensboro expanding and this part of town, east of Elm, getting a coffee shop. 

Happy Monday! We are about to start the week between Hanukah/Christmas and New Year. Temperatures will be inching up this week. We'll report back when Melrose opens. In the meantime, we're going to work on learning more about the history of this building. What do you remember?

Our Lady of Grace

Our Lady of Grace (OLG), located at the corner of West Market Street and Chapman Street, is such a dynamic place. Every day, something is going on there. From the Monday through Friday K-8 school to Saturday weddings, Sunday services, and multiple meetings throughout the week, you really feel a sense of community at OLG. There are 11 masses during the week (Monday-Saturday). On Sunday, there is a 7am Quiet Mass, 9am and 11 am English Masses, a 1pm Tridentine Latin Mass, and a 5pm Spanish Mass. Truly, if you are Catholic, they offer something for everyone.

The other day, when we happened to be driving by, we saw a bucket lift extending up to the top window of the westside tower. We're guessing they were washing windows. After all, advent starts four Sundays before Christmas and, this year (2022) Advent starts today. Can you believe it? We have four Sundays before Christmas! Unfortunately, the statue of Our Lady, the one on the front lawn, was vandalized in October. They are hoping to get it repainted, restored, and back in place in time for Advent- today! We love this photo, showing some of what goes on, behind the scenes, of church upkeep. The real photo was behind us. A priest is a black robe cloak was talking to parishioners. The moment looked too special to interrupt.

Happy Sunday! Happy Advent!

Brooks Global Studies Elementary School

The above photo features the land on which the new Brooks Global Studies Elementary School will be built. This location is between Starmount Presbyterian Church, The Greensboro Arboretum, and Holden Road. Specifically, the border streets are Tryon, Ashland, and Parkwood. The current location of Brooks Global is at the north edge of the Grimsley High School campus. The new location is on land already owned by GCS and was the site of the former Craven School. Craven School was built in 1955 and had fallen in disrepair since the 1990s when it was no longer used. In 2011 the school board voted to demolish it and the 7.7 acre site is now ready for new beginnings. The only remnants of the former school are this small, circular driveway and some cement steps.

Brooks Global has a fantastic reputation and the lottery numbers of students seeking admission to this magnet school are large. The new Brooks will have the same fabulous international theme, but will be state of the art and mindful of sustainable practices. GCS has hired HICAPS/C2 to manage the implementation of the project.*

For many Guilford County School (GCS)  students, today is the first day of school. By now, just about everyone (if not all) should be back in school. Please remember to drive 25 in school zones and stop for school busses picking up students. Oh, and remember to bring your charged Cromebooks and positive attitudes! May all students try their hardest and have the best year of school yet.

Happy Monday! Happy first day of school!

*Reference and additional information HERE. Se also, HERE.

Carolina Theatre

The Carolina Theatre, at 310 South Greene Street downtown, is once again active with booking events lately. This theatre has been Greensboro's crowned jewel since 1927, almost 100 years since it opened. Thanks to restoration, repairs, and maintenance over the years, this theatre is as beautiful on the inside is as it is on the outside. As you see on the marquee, donors are an important part of sustaining the theatre. In the 2018-2019 season, just before the pandemic, they had over 100,000 people attend events. With other performing arts venues in Greensboro, especially the Tanger Center, The Carolina Theatre has a lot of competition. The management knows its audience and the type of events that will be popular here. We enjoy the old movies they feature on the big screen!

The Carolina Theatre has seen a lot of growth in the neighborhood around it. The new Hampton Inn is just down the street. And then, there is the bodega across the street where you grab a quick snack before heading in to see a performance. We took this photo from the entrance to The Bodega as the afternoon sun was backlighting the theatre. Tonight is Jokez and Jam at 8:00 pm. If you need a good laugh, this might be the event for you! Regardless, you will find something great to do downtown.

Happy Saturday!

Here is a link to the Carolina Theatre's upcoming events.

East Cone Boulevard & Damien Mitchell's Mural

This past weekend, we were out driving on East Cone Boulevard and, of course, the murals caught out eye. The above photo was taken at the plaza with a Roses Discount Store, hence the roses on the facade to the left. It is located at 1421 East Cone, near Twain Road and the O. Henry Oaks neighborhood. Also, out this way is Joe Davis Park at 1410 19th Street very near East Cone and Ceasar Street. The mural has lots of hashtag messages and, if the upper left name is correct, the mural is by Damien Mitchell. He has been painting murals for ten years and is based out of New York City. If you notice at the bottom, it is also tagged as a Kotis Street Art mural. If you want to know more about Greensboro's murals, you can find a lot on that link.

Also of interest in the above photo are the newspaper boxes, which makes wonder if they generate any revenue. We also like the way the white sedan is parked there, waiting, all white and unembellished, sharing the center focal point with the bright yellow smiley balloon.

Well, Thursday is the new Friday. May you find something fabulous to do this weekend in Greensboro!

Rast Mural on Mill Street

How lucky we were to be driving along Mill Street and notice a mural being installed! The graffiti street artist Julien Ripert, the artist known as Rast, is featured in the above photo. Julien hails from Paris, France, but is in Greensboro for three weeks to create this mural and another one at Red Cinema. He has been an artist for 15 years and is self-taught. His work can be found in France, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Belgium, and more. If you look at his work on Instagram (@artisteRAST), you will notice that he is known for painting building-sized, murals, busts of people. Some of his murals include very powerful images of men, and women, mostly older. The texture of his work, and the items people are holding or the things surrounding them, really add a focal point to his work.

The above mural is only half way done. We'll have to return for a follow up photo because Julien will connect the mural to an electrical source and part of the mural will spin. We can't wait to see the movement, added dimension, and additional paint to this project. One of our favorite pieces of Julien's work is "Good Planet" Urgency, an acrylic mural of an older man with a gray beard and mustache,  holding a globe that actually spins (posted on Instagram on May 2, 2021). Drive by, behind Saffron on Mill Street, and have a look if you get a chance. If you see Julien, please give him a big Greensboro welcome. He speaks French, English, and Spanish- and maybe more!

Happy Wednesday!

304 North Greene Street on a Chiaroscuro Sort of Day

Today's photo features the alley between the downtown Marriott Hotel at 304 North Greene Street and the parking lot beside it. Straight ahead in the photo is a view of 348 North Elm Street, a single-story, flat-roofed building near Tanger Center. We don't tend to think of Greensboro as an angular city full of bold, geometric shapes. However, this photo, in black and white, really emphasizes the angles in the scene. The stripes on the pavement, the squares near the top of the N. Elm Street building, and the sunny/shaded (chiaroscuro) section on the pavement all come together to add drama to the view. Sometimes the negative space, between buildings, can be as interesting as the buildings themselves.

We want to get back downtown and photograph the inside of the Marriott. It was built in 1985, underwent a big renovation in 2008, and then, a multi-million dollar renovation in 2020. We haven't stayed there since the 2020 renovation and, given that it was happening during COVID times, we're not even sure that it is completely finished. With the Tanger Center and all of the new construction in the north end of town, the Marriott is certainly in a prime location. The last time we ate breakfast at the Sage Mule, on Battleground Avenue, we sat next to a woman who had walked from the Marriott.

The sun can be so harsh when taking photos; however, it you don't fight it, but play around with the lighting, the results can be interesting. Consider heading downtown and getting a few photos yourself- in black and white, or color! Happy Monday! 

WFMY News 2

WFMY News 2 is located at 1615  Phillips Avenue. It has been a landmark on Phillips Avenue since 1949. While the building looks fairly nondescript on the outside, once inside, it it clear you are in a news studio. It is a whole separate world in there; fitted with sets, lighting, computers, cameras, and everything to interview, write, and deliver the news. This facility was actually the site of the first live television broadcast in North Carolina in 1949 and the second television station in the state.* The first was in Charlotte. Their coverage extends between Charlotte and Raleigh. They broadcast 38 hours of locally produced newscasts each week; six hours a day during the week, three hours on Saturday and five on Sunday. The station has gone through several changes, from ownership, to programming, to transitioning from analog to digital, to staff, and more. But one thing has remained constant. They are at Phillips Avenue, just north of town.

On the day we were there, mid-day, so was the CINTAS Uniform Apparel truck and the Pepsi delivery truck. It is hard to imagine all of the deliveries and day to day services it takes to get the news produced and on the air, and all it takes to have a good quality of life for the staff. In watching WFMY, you get the feeling that the newscasters enjoy each other and have fun on the set. In 2015, we had a chance go inside the studio and Eric Chilton took a few minutes to chat with us, right before he had to go back on the air. We also had the pleasure of interviewing Lee Kinard back in 2011. He had a 43-year career at WFMY.  In this day and age as so much news transitions from print to digital, and it is getting harder to read news specific to Greensboro, WFMY is there to make sure the local voices are heard. Thank you to each and every person involved in bringing us the news.

 

* WFMY-TV: Wikipedia, (visited July 20, 2022)

Mapping Out Fun Fourth... Beginning at the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel

Last night, all was quiet in downtown Greensboro, on the eve of the Fourth of July. We were walking along Washington Street, in front of the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel. Today, the Biltmore Hotel will be in the middle of all of the Fun Fourth Activities. As of 5:00 am this morning, Elm Street will be blocked off and all cars must be off the street or they will be towed. The Fun Fourth will be fabulous this year. HERE is a list of all the activities for today. It will start with the Freedom Run, the Triad's longest running race tradition. The 10K starts at 7:30 am and the rest of the races at 8:00 am at 211 North Davie Street. If you are not running, you are encouraged to stand along the route and cheer people on (even if you don't know then). Freedom Fest this year is broken off into 4 zones, with activities going from 12noon- 6:00 pm. The zones are primarily from Tanger Center & LeBauer Park in the north to Lewis Street in the south &  between Greene and Davie Streets. The Fun Fourth committee made a real effort to see that each zone has vendors, music, attractions, food, and plenty to do. We are hoping to roller skate in Zone 2.

The Biltmore is between Zone 2 and 3. The simple bunting looks so elegant; it is the kind of decoration that you might have found when the building was constructed in 1895. Looking at the facade of the Biltmore, it is as if one has stepped back in time over 100 years ago. Yet, step into the hotel and everything you need for the 21st century is at your fingertips.*  This is the reason Greensboro is such a great city. We honor the past, especially in architecture; value traditions; and come together to to enjoy each other, on events like Fun Fourth. None of this could be done without a strong business community, good leadership, and a passel of great volunteers. As a grand finale, tonight, there is a Greensboro Grasshoppers game at 6:30 pm and fireworks at First National Bank Field after the game. Regardless of how you spend your time today, have a great day!

* If you follow Greensboro Daily Photo, you already know that we featured the Biltmore 13 years ago, the first year of Greensboro Daily Photo. As you can see from this photo, the awning has changed and the word "Greensboro" has been added to the name, likely to avoid confusion with the Vanderbilt's Biltmore in Asheville. 

Cadillac Service Garage

The Cadillac Service Garage is an event venue at 304 East Market Street in downtown Greensboro. The building was built as a Cadillac dealership in 1921. From high ceilings to checkered floors and everything in between, so much detail remains from the design 100 years ago. There were a lot of years this building sat empty. Then there were the years it housed Design Archives, between the time Kit had her store on Tate Street and now in the 300 block of South Elm Street. How wonderful that the vintage feel of the building rings true loud and clear. Instead ov covering the brick walls, they are celebrated.

The event space accommodates up to 225 guests and there is outdoor space as well as indoor. The day we walked by last week, some of the signage was still visible for Meredith Murray and Dylan Cunningham's wedding on June 18th. How fun to see the place tidied up, but with some remnants of a super special event. We love the Cadillac Service Garage because it expands the footprint to downtown Greensboro east of Church Street. If you get a chance, drive by and have a peek inside. You will see echoes of 1921 blended with conveniences of 2022!

Happy Monday! Happy exploring east Greensboro! The changes are many.

Change the Nations Church- CTNC

This who read Greensboro Daily Photo regularly know that we try to do something religious/spiritual on Sundays. Sometimes, it is a reflective nature shot; other times it is a church or religious event. You can imagine after 13 1/2 years of Sundays- about 700- it is a challenge to think of something new. We had to chuckle because we googled "churches Greensboro" and up popped YELP with a list of Top 10 Churches of Greensboro. Now, how did they decide that? Some churches on the list, we have already featured. However, we were off in pursuit of #3, Elevation Church at 409 Friendway, which we discovered is the address for Western High School. We figured that the church meets at the school, but didn't see any signs of a church. So, next, off to #5, Church Alive, at 204 South Westgate. If you know Greensboro well, you know Westgate crosses over West Market Street, but South Westgate does not connect to Westgate. As a matter of fact, South Westgate is a dead end on both ends! En route to Church Alive, we found the above church, "Change the Nations Church" (CTNC) at 4619 Mercury Drive. So, we decided to feature a church not on the YELP list.

An internet search reveals that CTNC is "an international group of virtuous women dedicated to making positive impacts in families around the world through the proclamation of the word of God, social work, and by being living testimonies. [They] are made up of Christian women of all ages and walks of life. [They] believe that as Christian women [they] do play an important role in reflecting Christ in [their] homes, workplaces, & marketplace." They are a congregation of at least 25 nationalities of various ethnic backgrounds. If you want to be part of a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, Evangelical congregation, CTNC may well be the church for you. 

And so, you see, serendipity has so much to do with making Greensboro Daily Photo what it is. Just when we begin to wonder what on earth we would photograph and write about for today, doors opened and a new (to us) church appeared. By the way, we found four churches, never-before-heard-of-by-us,  tucked along the South Westgate area all thanks to an out-of-date YELP list!  Happy Sunday!

Kontoor Wrangler

Three years ago, on May 23, 2019, Wrangler and Lee became part of the publicly traded Kontoor Brands, Inc. Above, is the corporate world headquarters on North Elm Street. They also have a headquarters in Belgium and Hong Kong. While Wrangler is a top seller in the American jean market, the Lee line is the biggest denim brand in China- and to think this is all based out of Greensboro. It would be nice to have a "know your city" tour for elementary school students with this building and company being one of the stops. When we were there the other day, the sky was so beautiful, the wind was blowing, making the American and North Carolina flags fly high. The whole scene was just so majestic.

The above building was built in 1994 and has a beautifully visible presence on the north end of town, on the front end of the growth here. Now, with the Tanger Center, the baseball stadium, Joymongers, LeBauer Park and all of the other venues surrounding it, downtown truly stretches all the way from Smith Street to West Gate City Boulevard. According to their website, Kontoor is committed to sourcing and and manufacturing their apparel responsibly and sustainably.

We hope you have a great weekend. If you get a chance, have a walk along the above headquarters and its environs. It is fun to know our city.

Kontoor Brands, Inc.

Kontoor Brands is the company that now owns Lee and Wrangler Jeans. Their head office is in Greensboro and they employ about 15,000 people. Their iconic rounded building is just down the street from the one you see today. However, they own the above building at 444 North Elm Street and its surrounding 1.44 acre lot. This building was built in 1969 and it is some pretty interesting architecture. When we posted on this building in 2011, Preston Earle* shared that "the building was built to house a regional branch of the federal agency that oversaw savings and loan banks." Eventually First Home Federal S&L took over the building. When buildings, as unique as the one above, are built, it is hard to imagine them for anything beyond their original purpose. 

This building really takes on a different character when the sun is out. It always looks like an extraterrestrial structure; however, on a sunny day like we had recently, the building looks really inviting. We wonder what they are using it for. Do you know?

Happy Wednesday!

*Preston Earle died in Greensboro in 2012. We really miss Preston's comments, as we love it when the community gets involved in helping us learn about our city.

Street Scene on South Elm Street

Today's photo is of South Elm and Lewis Streets, at the intersection between the 500 and 600 block. If you've been in this end of town lately, you've probably notices the Lee Wrangler mural on the side of the Lee Wrangler shop. Kontoor Brands opened this shop in the summer of 2021. This is a common area for block and music parties and it has really started attracting crowds with all of the businesses here. Seeing the woman on the right with her jeans made us realize that this mural would be a great place for a photo shoot. The blue, black, and brick colors are easy to work with, too. Finally, if traffic is light, those lines and angles on the street add a lot of visual interest. It is so easy to find inspiration downtown.

Tomorrow is First Friday in downtown Greensboro. Here is a list of a lot of the activities for the evening. There will be plenty to do all the way from the north end of Elm Street, around Tanger Center (including in the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street) all the way to South Elm and Gate City Boulevard. Start making plans, put on your best walking shoes, plan a few activities, and let serendipity take over from there. Happy Thursday, which is said to be the new Friday!

Elm & Bain

This photo, taken last week, is a new downtown Greensboro event and meeting space. It is the last business on the southwest corner of Elm Street, just north of Gate City Boulevard.  Formerly, it was the Blue Bell Plant. Just beyond the above building is the building that forms an "L" with it and says above the top, "Old Greensborough Gateway Center." As an example of the kinds of events they host is the May 11th fundraiser for the North Carolina Folk Festival. Is is called "Fold A'Fare" and is a culinary event offering samplings of global foods created by chefs in Greensboro. Tickets can be purchased at ncfolkfestival.com/folkafare. Even if you don't get tickets for that event, there will be plenty more to choose from. You could even host your own event there. How wonderful to have another event space in the community.

We love the old times look of the black and white photo, but you can tell by the cars that it is a current photo Happy Tuesday!

Photo Shoot on Lewis & Elm

Lewis and Elm has become a fun part of town. Lewis and Elm is both a business and a crossroad. The business has light appetizers, wine, cheese, and often live entertainment. Bourbon Bowl is in the area, a place to buy Wrangler jeans, Elsewhere Museum, Boxcar Bar and Arcade, and so much more. This is a part of town where you can go and hang out and have plenty of social activity. In the above photo, a graduate has chosen this location for some graduation photos. This is such an exciting time of year. By the end of the first week of May, university graduations begin and at the end of May, the high schools start their graduation ceremonies. 

Do you have a special place in Greensboro to take ceremonial photos? Many people like to use the murals or graffiti as a backdrop. To anchor the photo in Greensboro, or at the school, signage with the name of the school is always a good bet. Another idea is with one of the pairs of fiberglass jeans since in the mid-20th century, Greensboro was the denim capital of the world. The Bog Garden and Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden are prom photo favorites. It can be nice to have a natural setting so the background doesn't detract from the people in the photo. If you can find a place that holds a special memory or is linked to your career choice, those can make fun photos. Perhaps it was the lighting (bright, but not harsh sun) or the plain gray wall that attracted the graduate to the space. At any rate, this trending corner of town is much busier once the sun sets. 

If you have a graduating senior in your life, may you find the perfect spot to capture those photos. Location! Location! Location! Happy Thursday.

UNCG Spring Open House

Last Saturday, April 9th, UNCG held spring open house for prospective  students and their families. Likely-future Spartans filled campus with curiosity and joy. The above photo features the auditorium at the corner of Spring Garden Street and Tate Street. It was built in 1927 serving as a giant welcome mat, inviting people to campus. It is the easternmost point on campus. The building was designed by Greensboro's own Harry Barton.* On Saturday, the opening welcome was held in this building, followed by college and school information sessions. Afternoon activities took visitors to the residence halls, the Kaplan commons, and the Elliot University Center, and more. Signage was well placed thought out campus and the people positioned outside directing people to the auditorium were very friendly. 

By the time students are ready for college, there can be many options, as opposed to the K-12 setting where students are more inclined to attend their attendance zone school. It is important to make a good first-impression. By all accounts we heard, UNCG did, indeed, represent itself well on Saturday. Having a beautifully sunny day helped make the campus shine. Whether attending high school or college, it is always a good idea to make an on-site visit. Usually, prospective students get a good feel as to whether or not they feel like the institution is right for them. In the case of the college visits, it is a good chance to help give parents peace of mind. May all decisions turn out to be good ones. Happy Wednesday!

For those who weren't able to attend in person, a wealth of information was available online.

*see also, reference and more information, HERE.

Rock Hill Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Rock Hill Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located at 1216 Bellevue Street on the western edge of the Arlington Park neighborhood of Greensboro. There is beauty in this simple white structure. The only hint of what is inside is the plain wooden cross that you see above and the sign at the edge of the road. However, on Sunday morning at 10:00 am, once you are inside, you will see lots of energy and will hear an inspiring sermon. You can also watch online if you can't make it to the church. There is plenty of parking up on the hill, behind the church. Also, there is a basketball hoop for the kids.

You can't tell from the photo, but Rock Hill really is high on a hill. As a matter of fact, it may be one of the highest hills in Greensboro.  There is also a park right beside the church and it is a great place for children to play after church, or, whenever they are in the neighborhood. If you are looking for a church and can get there by 10:00 a.m. we're betting Elder G. Meadows would love to have you!

We hope the wind and cold did not cause any damage to your home. The wind was fierce in Greensboro yesterday. Have a happy Sunday!

Rosenthal Annex on UNCG's Campus

If you like walking in the early morning, likely, you see beautiful scenes like this one where the lighting of dawn intermingles with the lighting inside buildings and houses. Yesterday, we were out walking at 7:00 a.m. and walked past Rosenthal Gym/Annex. Built in 1928, it was originally the Physical Education Building and then the (Joe) Rosenthal Gym. Next, it became part of the Health and Human Performance Building, which is now the Coleman Building.* Fortunately, the University of North Carolina (UNCG) maintains their archives and much of the history of their buildings is available. The gym was designed by Greensboro's own Harry Barton. What we don't know is why the classroom on the corner glows blue in the morning, just before dawn. Do you see those seven windows glowing blue? We don't know why, but they are so beautiful. Those windows match beautifully with the blue of the winter sky.

Happy Saturday! It would be wonderful to run into you out walking on this below-freezing winter day. Yesterday brought us a little snow, just enough to remind us that it is winter.

 

*reference here.

Artistic Motion Dance School of Arts and Preparatory Academy

Today, we conclude the photo shoot at Prescott Street with the rear view of the building where Artistic Motion Dance School of Arts and Preparatory Academy is housed. While the address is 800 West Smith Street, the building is right across the street from the house we featured yesterday and next door to the office building featured on Monday. The decoration of the back of the building is brilliant advertising. Smith Street is one way and if you take the street into town, you cannot possibly miss this building. If you notice, the sheet between the slivers of windows is made from giant vinyl banners. The part at the end of the building and between buildings is paint that matches the colors of the banner perfectly. The lines for the parking spaces accentuate the geometry of the building. 

Artistic Motion was founded in 2000. According to their website, they have an internationally acclaimed faculty with dancers from Russia, Georgia (the country), The Dominican Republic, England, and from many prestigious dance programs throughout the United States. They offer classes from ages 3-adulthood. The studio is conveniently located and there is plenty of parking. Perhaps the greatest news about Artistic Motion is that it is currently in partnership with Triad International Ballet, a new professional ballet company set to begin their first season in 2022! If you have ever seen a performance from dancers at Artistic Motion, you know the talent and precision of the dancers.

 Happy Wednesday! May we all find the beauty in the people and places of Greensboro. May we all have the positive outlook and commitment to perfection of artists in motion!