Greensboro Daily Photo

Fishbones Restaurant

Fishbones is a modern bar and grill, located at 2119 Walker Avenue between Sunset Hills and Lindley Park. It was opened by Neil Reitzel in 2000 right beside the former location of the Blind Tiger. The Blind Tiger has long since moved to Spring Garden Street, but Fishbones is still going strong at the corner of Walker and Elam for over twenty years. Over the last two decades, this part of town has seen a lot of young families move into the neighborhood and Fishbones has the ambience of a restaurant and bar for locals.

Fishbones serves a wide variety of food with seafood being among the most popular dishes- especially the fish and chips. Since Fishbones has reopened from the pandemic, they have stayed busy. We arrived around 6:00 pm one evening last week, and by 7:00 pm, all of the seats were taken. They offer indoor and outdoor seating and take out. The above photo gives you a feel for the ambience. The tin roof and wooden floor are charming. The photo also gives you an idea of the seating; indoors, the chairs are tall, outside, they are not. Here is an article from the News & Record when they first opened. Happy Tuesday. Where is your "go to" place. Is it the same as it was pre-Pandemic? 

Chez Genèse at 616 South Elm Street

Today, we're sharing another photo of our downtown excursion on Memorial today. Today's photo is of Chez Genèse at 616 South Elm Street. Chez Genèse is a French cafe that employs people with intellectual and development disabilities. They serve breakfast and lunch. Here is the menu if you would like to see the options. It is hard to believe they've already been open three years. You may remember when Charlie and Ruth held their community dinners down here. While they've move on to Missouri, the current owners try to maintain that same feeling of being with community while you are eating here. The atmosphere is relaxed, but lively at the same time. There is some seating outside in front of the café.

Monday was pretty peaceful and, if you look closely, you can see people indoors as well as outside. The two sedans market out front really add to the scene. Let's hope the restaurant remains successful for a very long time! They do so much to help out the community. Happy Wednesday!

Lewis & Elm Restaurant

The above photo shows a table of guests at the restaurant at 600 South Elm Street, now called Lewis & Elm. This is evidence that things are opening back up again. Yesterday afternoon, downtown was pretty busy, and it was not even First Friday. Lewis & Elm is the new name of the restaurant in the location that was formerly Table 16. At the new restaurant, you must be 21 to attend. They offer an extensive wine list and a few dishes to pair with the wine. The menu includes items like conch, mussels, duck foie gras, salads, and cheese dishes. The 500 and 600 blocks of South Elm are quite vibrant now, as it the Lewis Street area. This area is also referred to as Southend. We have a feeling it is going to get more and more popular over the summer. 

Across the street, the Burbon Bown was set to open at the beginning of May. Word has it they are having getting fully staffed. If you know someone who is looking for a job, not is a good dime to interview. In the meantime, we will sit back and enjoy the beauty of the above photo. Seeing people out, enjoying themselves in downtown Greensboro, is nothing short of fantastic. Happy Saturday!

Tasting Room

The Tasting Room is located at the corner of Chapman and Spring Garden Streets.  It is a neighborhood wine bar and retail shop. The above photo was taken there last weekend. This afternoon in Fancy Friday! If you are over 21 and want to learn about wines, you can do so from 4:00- 10:00 pm. Last weekend, Ghassan's food truck was on site for one of the events.

901 South Chapman formerly housed a gift shop and at one time, it looks like it might have been a pancake house. Do you remember? Since the property is commercial, it is harder to trace the history. At any rate, it was nice to see this corner of town return to its vibrant self. Across the street from the Tasting Room, where Bianca's Italian Restaurant used to be, is a taco restaurant. Freeman's Grub and Pub is across the street (the brick building in the background on the left). They are a good food option. And, if you need a good cup of coffee, Spring Garden Bakery and Coffee House is located in the next block. So, as you can see, the streets are, once again, filling with people eager to socialize! Happy weekend!

Cheesecakes By Alex

Today's photo is the mural inside the new dining room at Cheesecakes by Alex at 315 South Elm Street. It was painted by the Greensboro-based artist, Jenna Rice (@JennaRiceArt). In the mural, Jenna painted Alex on the left with son Timmothy who is also in the business. Alex opened his business downtown since 2002. Over the nearly 20 years, the menu has expanded from a few cheesecake flavors to over two dozen. There are traditional flavors, like New York style to  seasonal flavors (blueberry, pumpkin), and unique flavors like butter pecan, and bananas foster. Indeed, there is a flavor for everybody. Additionally, there are other desserts like cupcakes, cookies, macaroons and macarons. 

Alex has had his bakery downtown early on in the revival of downtown Greensboro, opening it in the same year that the Green Bean Coffee Shop opened.  If you are downtown and want something sweet, step in and treat yourself to a slice of cheesecake and say hello to Alex, Timmothy, and the rest of the crew. Happy Thursday.

Events Slowly Resuming

Slowly and cautiously, events are resuming for the fully vaccinated. Last night, a few people from the Piedmont Old Time Society ventured out to play music at the Pig Pounder Brewery on Grecade Street. If all goes well, they will hold an open jam there on the first and third Thursday of the month. However, the group will not meet in Greensboro on the first Thursday in June, as so many musicians will be attending the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention.  Old-time music is acoustic and consists of fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass. Occasionally, another instrument gets mixed in. The fiddle, however, is the lead instrument. Last night, there were several fiddlers and the music was great. 

Well, the weekend is upon us. May you have a great one. If you have a chance to go to Pig Pounder, and like to have interesting backdrops for photos, you will have found the perfect combination- especially at twilight. Marty Kotis' goal of having Midtown identified with murals has become a reality. The artwork looks even prettier when live music is being played. It is hard to believe that Pig Pounder has already been open seven years- since 2014!

Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru at the Greensboro Coliseum

If you have people in your life who love dinosaurs, there is a perfect opportunity, happening right here in Greensboro. One weekend is already, however, there are still a few dates left. From May 19th-23rd, life-sized dinosaurs will take over the Greensboro Coliseum. These prehistoric creatures roar and move and look so real with the special lighting. Everything from the Brachiosaurus to Triceratops to T-Rex and more will be on display through the weekend.  What a creative way to to provide fun and make memories.

Carloads of Dino-lovers drive through the exhibit. Wouldn't it be fun to be in a convertible and drive through on a warm almost-summer evening, listening to the provided audio guide. Also, there are in-car activities to engage the participants. Prices start at $49 for a carload of up to eight What to West Gate City Boulevard and Coliseum Drive and let the fun begin . See the website for additional information. We are lucky this event is in Greensboro. Even if you don't drive through, be sure to drive by!

Southern Line and the Norfolk Southern Corp.

Today's rustic photo represents a bygone era. The above rail cars, to the right of a pile of used railroad ties, look retired. The scene gives the illusion of being in a rural area, when actually is is located on a busy section of road on Spring Garden Street between Gay Terrace and Merritt Drive. It is very near the site of the long-gone Pomona Cotton Mill.  It reminds us that Greensboro has changed a lot over the last few decades.

However, the Norfolk Southern Corp still maintains the track that runs through this area (barely visible on the right side) with a terminal at Merritt Drive. Norfolk Southern is a dynamic corporation that still carries over 70 freight trains in North Carolina. Greensboro is nicknamed "The Gate City" because so many freight and passenger lines cross through here and the rail network dates back to the mid-1800s, before the Civil War. Let today's little bit of nostalgia remind you that planning a train ride would be a great addition to your summer plans- even if you just took Amtrack to another North Carolina City. With the taxi and car ride-hailing services widely available, you have plenty of transportation options as you reach your destination. While you wouldn't be going on the above cars, you do get an idea of some of the pretty scenery you would see along the way.

If you like catchy rail slogans, Norfolk Southern has had several: Tarwheel, is our favorite. As for Amtrak, our choice is "For the America you can't see anywhere else." Hop on for a little nostalgia this summer. Happy Tuesday! Public schools are rapidly coming to a close for the academic year; so, many of us really do need to secure some summer plans!

Yum Yum Ice Cream on Spring Garden Street

Yum Yum has been a Greensboro tradition since 1906. While workers, ice-cream flavors, owners, and location have change over the last century, all of the goodness of Yum Yum has remained constant. The hand-scooped ice cream is fresh and tasty. After 100+ years, the Aydelette family has soul the business to the Lipp family and  the Lipps are making an effort to keep the ice cream shop the same. They do take credit cards now. That is a big different. Today would be a great day for an ice cream. Head on over, get some good ice cream, and make  some good memories. You can eat indoors, outside, or get your order to go!

People build so memories going to Yum Yum, especially when they are attending UNCG. One of the old, stand by flavors is Oreo cookie. Today sounds like it would be a perfect day for ice cream, at the corner of Stirling and Spring Garden Street. Happy Saturday!

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!

Cone Health: Wesley Long Hospital

We took this photo about a month ago, but realized we hadn't been photographing community resources lately. Today's photo is of Cone Health: Wesley Long Hospital, taken from our favorite vantage point, the O. Henry Hotel, on the Green Valley Grill side. This location ia a prime one in the city, just a block away from Friendly Shopping center at West Wendover Avenue.

Moses Cone is one of the largest employers in Greensboro and has played a leadership role, this past year, as Greensboro navigated the pandemic. Wesley Long Hospital has been part of the Greensboro community since 1917. Over the last century, the hospital has grown and evolved, handling more patients and adding departments, perhaps most notably, the Cancer Treatment Center. The hospital itself is a 175 bed, private room hospital. If you know someone who works in healthcare in Greensboro, be sure to thank them. You know they are ready for a vacation. This past week was teacher appreciation week. Please remember to thank teachers, too!

Have a great weekend and see if you can explore some new places in Greensboro and find some great vantage points!

The Farmers Market & A B Seed at Sandy Ridge

The Farmers Market and AB Seed at Sandy Ridge were hopping yesterday. It seemed like all of Greensboro had been anticipating the Saturday cold weather and rain. By Sunday, people were cleaning patios, gardening, and out in search of plants and mulch. In the Farmers Market side of the market, Sandhills strawberries were a big seller. Asparagus and the cold weather vegetables are also in season now. One vendor had the last of the Richmond County pecans. Farmers markets remind us that foods have seasons and we await our favorite crops with great anticipation. Here is a North Carolina harvest calendar, if you want to see what will be ripe when. 

The above photo was taken at the outdoor area of AB Seed. If you notice the fiber screen overhead does a tremendous job of cutting down on the full sun, allows light, air, moisture, and some rain filter through. In the photo, the fluffy white clouds are a lot more noticeable than they are in person. You really owe it to yourself to spend time at the farmers market talking to the farmers and their assistants. Also, if you need glazed decorative pots for your porch and patio, AB Seed has just about every size and shape you can image. Happy Monday!

LOVE Is All Around!

The above photo was taken on Market Street, the road that leads into downtown. LOVE is a piece of art made by Frances P., a student at the Greensboro Day School. How wonderful that LOVE is what you see and think about as you enter our city.  Also in the photo is the Brown Building, Independence Center, and Lincoln Financial Corp. 

A lot of these utility boxes have artwork on them. It can be fun to walk around town and see all of the new artwork, whether  you like visual arts or architecture. For a town of about 300,00 residents, there is plenty to see here!

Sunday on South Elm

Yesterday people were out and about in Greensboro. Red Cinema was open, brew pubs had people all around, and Elm Street was hopping. The above photo was taken at the Green Bean and is a good example of people spending time outdoors. The weather was beautiful, sunny and not too hot. The temperature hovered in the 60s for most of the day. Downtown Greensboro has also added a evening event on Saturday evenings, part of Elm Street is closed off to cars so that pedestrians are able to walk freely along the street. With the warm weather, "Open Streets" is really gaining traction.

Here is a list of some of the events happening in downtown Greensboro. For example, tonight is open mic night at Stumble Stilskins. Tomorrow is the Run and Walk Club meet up at Little Brother Brewing and also Trivia Night at SouthEnd Brewing. We hope you have a great week and that you find good safe ways to engage with the people, places, and businesses of Greensboro- whether you are downtown or on the outskirts. Oh, and dress for fun. People watching is back!

Jae-Mar at 102 Barnhardt Street, Just off South Elm

The last time we walked along Barnhardt Street in downtown Greensboro, we noticed that the building that the Jae-Mar Brass & Lamp Company building is for sale and that Jae-Mar is closed. This small, family business was started by James Forster in 1986. If you ever needed a lamp repaired or re-brassed, this was the "go-to" place in Greensboro. It is our hope that the Forsters are either happily retired or they have a new venture in the making. 

Looking on real estate sites, we learned that after being on the market for almost 100 days, the building has a sale pending. The single story, cinder block structure was built in 1949. It looks like it still has lots of life left in it. We will wait with great anticipation to see what it becomes. As the South Elm/Lewis Street area perks back up, 102 Barnhardt should prove to be a great location. If you want a little photo fun, see how many geometric shapes you find in this photo! Happy Wednesday!

Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

This past weekend, the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge was filled with beautiful plants and people were out getting flowers and vegetables to plant in their gardens. The parking lots were full; such a drastic change from this time last year. As you can see in the background, people were honoring the wearing of masks and making an effort to socially distance. As you can see in the foreground, the available plants are healthy and beautiful. 

This large indoor/outdoor market is one of five operated by the state of North Carolina. If you are in a farmers market sort of cook, here is a list of farmers markets throughout North Carolina. Every time you visit another community throughout North Carolina, a stop at the farmers market is a great way to get to know a community!

Happy Monday!

South End Brewing Company

South End Brewery in located downtown on Lewis Street in the building that formerly housed Gibbs, and Lewis Street Antiques before that. This part of downtown Greensboro is actually called Southend now. The artwork on the building and the telephone pole is quite eye-catching as you approach from the Lewis Street Parking Lot. 

The business is part of the booming trend to brew beer on site. They actually have their own brewer, William Brown who got his start home brewing and as part of the Battleground Brewing Guild. With all of the local expertise in beer brewing and all of these institutions of higher education, likely, it is a matter of time until one of the colleges or universities offers a degree in fermentation studies. NC State offers a fermentation engineering continuing education course and Appalachian State offers a degree. To our knowledge that opportunity is not currently available in the Triad, but the infrastructure is here!

Stop by South End today and you will probably see lots of people here. We were there on a weekday. Happy Saturday! 

Gaslight Apartments

The Gaslight Apartments are located in the 1100 block of West Friendly Avenue on the southern edge of Westerwood. The apartments/condos are part of a 16-unit complex, just west of the Friendly Avenue Baptist Church. They have twelve one-bedroom and four two bedroom units. They are owned by the Kairys Group, a commercial real estate company located in Chapel Hill. The Kairys Group purchased the apartments, renovated them, and have made quite a return on their investment. 

Also part of the renovation was painting the red brick and enhancing the landscaping. We always notice the Gaslight Apartments when the trees in front are blossoming. The pale pink blossoms really make the off-white, brick apartments stand out. Have a look next time you are driving by. And do hurry, the trees are greening out before our eyes.

Women of Greensboro: Michelle Jarrett

We'll close out Women's History Month with a photo of  the super creative, loads-of-fun, Greensboro artist, Michelle Jarrett. Michelle's business is FUNKY BY NATURE. We met up with her on Monday afternoon in her Greensboro studio.Just look at that heartfelt smile!  Michelle's talent is taking random scraps and repurposing them into fabulous works of art. She is currently working on metal yard flowers for an upcoming virtual art show (#southerncharmatthefarm). 

Michelle, originally from Philadelphia, has been in Greensboro for decades. She worked as a chef and caterer for 30 years before working another decade in jewelry making. Now, she has formed her own business, truly turning trash into treasure. Visiting Michelle's studio is like stepping into the pages of a Somerset Magazine feature on an artist's studio. Michelle is super organized; you can ask for anything from shards of stained glass to brass crimp beads to wire cutters and she can put her hands on the item within seconds. Currently, she is working on a pink poodle lamp with a shade made of pink plastic hair rollers. Fun, fun, fun! Design and creativity merge when Michelle is in the house. Follow her Funky by Nature Facebook page to learn more about her unique, upcycled, and unconventional decor.

If you want an opportunity to purchase Michelle's art, you can also contact her at 336-707- 7794.

Oden Brewing Company: The Façade

Yesterday's view on GDP was the back yard of Oden Brewing, the part behind the houses on the west side of the building. Today, we share the facade of Oden Brewing, located at 802 West Gate City Boulevard. If you are local, likely, you have noticed this this brick structure- vacant for years. The building has one of those fee- good stories of the younger generation preserving a little bit of the past. This story is even sweeter given the Oden family, brothers Bill and John, and their families, have resorted the building that once housed their great grandfather's bottling plant. According to their website, "William L. "Fate" Oden operated his soft drink bottling plant in the towering industrial building formerly known as Buffalo Rock Bottling Plant." 

At the height of the bottling of soft drinks, in the late 40s early 50s, there were ten bottling plants in Greensboro (read the 1998 News & Record article, here). It also appears that Buffalo Rock actually dates back to 1901 in Birmingham, Alabama, and that the above building would have been part of the network of Buffalo Rock bottlers and distributers. While plastic has long since beat out glass in the soft drink bottling industry, beer is still bottled in glass (or cans) and the Bill and John Oden family bottling beer in the very site that their great grandfather built a bottling business. Somehow, that story just seems for fitting in spring- the key season for rebirth and renewal.

Oden Brewing Company Where the Past Steps into the Future!

West Gate City Boulevard was hopping on Saturday night. Oden Brewing Company, located at 802 W. Gate City Boulevard, is part of the change happening to the Gate City Boulevard area.  The Oden building is a large garage-type brick structure used as a brewery (not photographed here).  Odom also owns the two houses photographed above and the property surrounding them. The houses date to the early 20th century and are being renovated to their original charm. Saturday  afternoon and into the evening, people gathered here to listen to good music, drink a few pints, and eat some really good BBQ out of the food truck on site. The surprising feature of the whole complex is the ample parking on this combined lot. Also, there are exit/entrances on Gate City Boulevard as well as onto Tate Street.

Most patrons on Saturday night spent their time on the porch or the picnic tables, stools, and chairs in the yard. Some elected to remain inside and the weather was warm enough to keep the doors open, bringing the outside in. It is really encouraging to see old buildings and houses get restored and repurposed, as opposed to tearing them down and building new. This trend will help Greensboro retain its old-world charm, keeping a foot in the past while also remaining relevant into the future! Here, you can be in public, just west of downtown, but have the feeling you are on a friend's farm out in rural North Carolina! Soon, we'll feature the Oden building soon and share its back story. Stay tuned!

Cone Health Facility at North Battleground & Drawbridge Pkwy.

Those of you who have been around Greensboro since the mid-1990s and before remember a very different North Battleground Avenue- near Horse Pen Creek. Twenty-five or so years ago, North Battleground seemed almost like driving out to the country. That was when Laddie and Duke's Irish Pub was busy serving up corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, onion ring loafs, Irish lamb stew, fish and chips, sandwiches and more. That restaurant has long been razed. two gas stations, two drug stores, and two auto parts store are part of the new landscape.

However, more recently, the property at the corner at Drawbridge Parkway and North Battleground is really transforming. First the Urban Loop I-840 passes right by with an exit right there. What used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken is now a Jake's Diner. What used to be a Food Lion is being transformed into the above medical facility. Brasfield and Gorrie have the contract to build the Cone Health Med Center on the 8 acre lot.  The facility will be 150,000 square feet and will be for emergencies, imaging, and an outpatient medical oncology and rehabilitation service. It will be exciting to follow the progress on this facility. As you can see from the image above, the facility has really started taking shape.

The facility will be just down the road from Well-Spring Retirement Community and Kernodle Middle School. If you haven't driven on Drawbridge Parkway and North Battleground since the Laddie and Duke's days, you owe yourself this adventure! Happy Monday!  

*For those of you who want a little more Greensboro nostalgia, here is an article about Laddie and Duke's, written by John Batchleor for the News and Record back in 1996. Thank goodness for good writers and newspapers and (digital) paper trails!

Downtown Greensboro #DGSOTOGO

Downtown Greensboro Incorporated is an economic development organization. The staff works tirelessly to ensure that downtown businesses, venues, and public spaces have what they need to thrive. This has been no easy task during the pandemic. They also work to see that community events like Fun Fourth and the Festival of Lights operate, as feasible. Their committees include 1) economic development; 2) fundraising; and 3) events and entertanment. The Downtown Greensboro organization was formed in 1997, and has been in their current location (536 South Elm Street) for five years. The above photo features part of the staff, from left to right: Zack Matheny, Joy Ross, Keith Holliday, and Stacy Calfo.

We had the good opportunity to meet everyone when we went into their office yesterday to collect a prize. Downtown Greensboro is currently holding a drawing where people who make purchases of $25 or more downtown have the chance to win $500 and the business where they shopped also wins $500. While we didn't win the cash prize, we won a very generous shopping bag full of t-shirts and items celebrating Greensboro.

Downtown Greensboro does so much for the community; read about them at this link ( which was one of our primary sources for information). And stay tuned, when we were visiting, they had just finished a meeting planning future events for the remainder of 2021. Hats off to this fine group and organization. Let's all show them a little love and head downtown this afternoon. It isn't First Friday, but it is always a Fun Friday-  in downtown Greensboro!

Oscar Oglethorpe Eyewear in the 200 Block of South Elm

Oscar Oglethorpe is a great place to get your eyes examined and to purchase trendy (and practical) frames, at a great price. They are located at 226 South Elm Street. So often, when we walk by, the window displays bring us big smiles. The display this month evokes fun in the sun and billowy clouds in the sky. The above photo is only a fraction of the display, but sunny days make the window decorations hard to photograph, due to glare. Last time we featured the window, in 2016, the person who worked this window magic was Tammy Pegram of Tammy Can Re-Design. Surely, Tammy continues to provide these fabulous displays. The 200 block of South Elm has the creative posters at Triad Stage, and across the street from both of these businesses is Thousands O' Prints. They, too, are known for fabulously curated window displays. 

At Oscar Oglethorpe's, not only are the window displays enticing, the staff is super client oriented. They have this way of finding glasses that are perfect for you, helping just enough to steer you in the right direction, without actually making the decision for you. Do call for an appointment, though. They work really hard at keeping you safe from Covid! Get some new glasses or sunglasses, buy a poster, eat some good tacos, get a pedicure, and never have to leave the South 200 block of Elm... unless of course you want to slip around the corner and eat at Liberty Oak, which, by the way, serves breakfast now!

Doggos Dog Park and Pub

At Doggos Dog Park and Pub, humans get in free and canine companions pay a fee. Above, owners Paula and Keith are featured in front of the wall of canines at the entrance. We interviewed Paula briefly on Saturday as she was super busy taking care of  customers. Doggos is located at 1214 Battleground Avenue, relocating there about a year ago from West Market Street. Their current location is the former Landrover lot; just look for the brightly colored exterior wall. Doggos is the first dog park/pub in Greensboro. We stopped by on Saturday afternoon, first noticing all of the fun everyone was having while en route to The Tiny Greenhouse. It was a sunny day and dogs were romping around joyfully as owners sat around socializing, socially distanced, outside. This midtown business is a hit with humans and all of the dogs give it a four paws up.

Here is a link to the Doggos website where you can learn about day, monthly, and annual passes. Annual members have access to members-only events and great "pawties." Humans must be over 21 and dogs must be friendly, fixed, and vaccinated. By the looks of the way the dogs were interacting the other day, the dog park/pub concept is a great one. And you can be sure Paula and Keith know the names of the canine members. As we were leaving, Paula addressed a Rhodesian ridgeback by name as he walked through the door. You could tell by the spring in his walk that he knew where he was going and that he was going to have a lot of fun. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE!

In Greensboro, we love to celebrate birthdays. Yesterday, our dear friend, Jane Mitchell celebrated a birthday and our mutual friend Alice Hill had the yard sign installed through Triad Yard Cards   (see also here). The day was sunny in Sunset Hills and those colorful signs simply popped, bringing so much joy to all who were celebrating with Jane. Mrs. GDP actually got to be in the photo because "Doc" from the locally-owned Fordham Cleaners happened to be dropping off dry cleaning in the neighborhood and took the photo for us. Serendipitously, it was also Doc's birthday! That was such a fun little moment of joy. The other ladies in the photo were dropping off flowers, balloons, and goodies from the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an organization for key women educators. From left to right: Janis, Alice, Myra, Jane, Sheila, and Elaine.

Jane has been a dedicated supporter of Greensboro Daily Photo from the beginning. She often gives suggestions and even helps us arrange meetings with people to feature. Every single person in the photo can tell you how Jane has touched their life, and these are just a few of Jane's many, many friends. In these pandemic times, when we have all had to be socially distanced for so long, it feels good to be vaccinated and cautiously finding ways to celebrate each other. The yard-card birthday greeting was absolutely the icing on the cake. May we all find ways to bring each other joy- whether it is a birthday or not!

Pop Art and 7-Eleven on West Market Street

Imagine driving along West Market Street and spotting a giant, 20' tall inflatable SLURPEE toppled along the side of the road. Such was the case at that 7- Eleven yesterday. The sun was shining late in the day and it looked like a giant piece of pop art. It is times like this we had a fashion model with us to add a person to the photo. It is at a new 7-11 Convenience store at the Spring Garden/Muirs Chapel intersection in the plaza known as "Shoppes on Market'.  There are red racing flags strung along the front of the store at the gas pumps and, in front of it all, the above-photographed, horizontal SLURPEE. From the looks of a website for this 7-Eleven location (HERE), this store might actually be available for purchase.  7-Eleven opened its first North Carolina Stores in the 1960s but left the state in 1988*.  Since about 2012, they have been aggressively re-entering the North Carolina market. Perhaps the Market Street store is part of that initiative.

If you have driven past that intersection lately, you might have noticed the new construction, the sprucing up, and the rejuvenation at Shoppes on Market. Also in that plaza, new business will open in the former location of the Goodwill. It is currently getting the insulation and exterior work completed. It is always nice to see older shopping centers being refurbished. If you know of other such projects in Greensboro, let us know. We'll try to get by to photograph them! 

Happy Tuesday!

*Reference and more information, here.

Camellias

Yesterday we featured hellebores; today it is camellias. This northwest Greensboro camellia bush is blooming in full glory. It is fighting hard to keep its blooms bright as the ice surrounds it. This photo show the beauty of the Greensboro landscape. Even when trees have dropped their leaves, there are holly trees (to the left) camellias and other evergreens to add color and texture to the landscape. If you absolutely love camellias, many local nurseries sell them; however, there is also a nursery that specializes in them. Cam Too Camellia Nursery is located at 805 Oakbury Court. It is located off of Highway 150, just west of Northern High School and a stone's throw from Gethsemane Garden Nursery. Established in 1982, the nursery encompasses 60 acres. The excitement of a specialty nursery is that the owners work diligently to produce hardier, more resilient, and more beautiful varieties with a longer blooming season. When you go to these specialty nurseries in Greensboro, and you show a sincere interest in their product, you have a friend for life!

We hope you are warm, safe, and making the most of what Leslie Jordan calls "hunkering down"! 

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year began this past Friday, February 12th and will last up to sixteen days. We rang in the holiday by purchasing Chinese food from Bamboo House on Fleming Road. They were extremely busy with many large orders on Friday. Bamboo House is offering take out and delivery during the pandemic and the owners are taking every precaution in dealing with the public. We were struck by the fact that their pink Christmas cactus is in full bloom. We should have asked them if they have some special secret to plan its blooming to coincide with New Year.

This year is the year of the ox. Chinese New Year festivities will culminate with the Lantern Festival. The closest lantern festival to Greensboro is the one in Reidsville at Lake Reidsville Park (630 Water Words Road). Thousands of lanterns will be set afloat and reflecting on the water. Gates open at 4:00 pm, and, if you buy tickets by today, the early bird price is 25.99 (more details here). If you are looking for a fun outdoor event with plenty of opportunities to take photos, this will be the perfect event. We don't want to celebrate our ethnic communities only on special holidays; however, holidays are the most salient, observable aspects of a culture, and a good starting point to begin to learn. Greensboro has almost 300,000 Chinese residents and the local population includes Chinese-Americans and people from mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Mandarin Chinese is taught at Northwest High School, Page High School, High Point Central, Ferndale Middle School, and Northwood Elementary School. (Learn more about the programs here). 

Happy Monday and Happy New Year!

Green Is the New Green Bean!

The Green Bean at 341 South Elm Street  has been a downtown Greensboro institution since 2002, and was part of the revitalization os Elm Street. This past October, Amy and Galen Foresman purchased the Green Bean. In the few months they've owned it, they've made changes to the space, giving the interior a facelift. They are determined to revitalize downtown's first coffee shop (of the new millennium) and make it a hub of activity.  The plan to incorporate local art and music into the space. The Foresman family has built deep roots in the Greensboro community and should have the connections to make their dream a reality. Galen Foresman is a philosophy professor at North Carolina A&T State University in the Liberal Studies Department; this should be a perfect background to bring great conversations and discussions to the coffee shop. 

The 300 block of South Elm Street has so many great shops. It is a place you can start your day with a great cup of coffee, shop for a new pair of glasses, search for vintage, handmade, and fair trade items, eat great meals, share a pint with a friend, buy a good book, and then head over to treat yourself to a slice of cheesecake. The Green Bean was closed by the time we made it downtown yesterday; however, we plan to stop by this weekend, enjoy a cup of coffee and check out the vibe. We're wondering if the hot-pink walls with jumbo sharpie graffiti are still in the bathrooms. To be sure, the exterior is inviting and, as for the man and dog, it is wonderful to see people with their canine companions enjoying the city. People make a city and make gray days joyful. Happy Saturday, dear readers. It is a good day for coffee. The Green Bean's new hours are from 7:30 am- 3:00 pm.

Retro Faucet Parts

Retro Faucet Parts bills itself as a mom and pop shop. This local, family-owned business was established in 1975. They pride themselves on being able to provide customers with just about any plumbing supply you need, whether it is for a fixture that no longer exists or it is the a plumbing part that is the latest technology. These specialists have provided parts for remodels of the Biltmore,  Julian Price Mansion, and Chinqua Penn- to name a few of the most well known places to use their service. Retro Faucet is  located at 3800 Spring Garden Street, right where Spring Garden connects to Wendover Avenue. By the looks of the exterior of the cinder block building, there is little doubt about what they sell. It is a little bit harder to determine the main entrance, which happens to be on the Cranbrook Street side of the building. It is the golden yellow door, to the right of Elmer Fudd and the painted sign that says ENTRANCE. As you approach the building, imagine the soundtrack to your favorite theme music from the Nintendo Mario universe.

That mural of Mario the Plumber is the work of Joey Allen Creations. Joey is a self-taught pop artist from Winston Salem. He is known for his murals that combine bright colors, pop characters, and modern icons. If you know Joey's aesthetic, you can see how the above artwork fits right in! We wish Joey had dated the mural. It can't be that old, because the Google map photo still shows the building as painted white. We need to check out the inside, being prepared to save Princess Peach or Princess Toadstool,  or at least collect some gold coins. There are 8 leadership goals to be learned from Super Mario Brothers: Face the unknown; be positive; adapt to changes; establish short and medium term goals; clearly define the long term goal; seek self confidence; be a team player; and finally, celebrate and compliment.*

If Retro Faucet Parts runs their business following these Super Mario lessons, they are sure to be around for another 46 years!

 

*reference HERE.

Clutch Coffee Bar

Clutch Coffee Bar at 1405 Sunset Drive, at Lawndale, is the newest coffee house in town. It replaced a former Wells Fargo building, and service is drive-thru only- although outdoor seating is under consideration. The Greensboro location of Clutch opened on January 30th. There are already two locations in Mooresville and one in Winston Salem. The three founders, John, Darren, and Jake realized their entrepreneurial dream in 2018. The company is committed to customer, culture, and community and the motto is "Power up", a reference to their commitment to providing inspiration to customers and employees alike.

To that end, Drayton (photographed above) is proof that the company's positivity and inspiration is working. Drayton, has been a barista since age 16 and was working for a multi-national coffee chain before deciding to make the change and work for a smaller, more-local company. We met up in the parking lot yesterday and we were able to conduct a brief interview. Drayton is a student at UNCG and absolutely loves working at Clutch and speaks highly of the owners and management. If you work with people Drayton's age or younger you probably already know that "Clutch" means "perfect, exactly what is needed, awesome." Also, according to the Urban Dictionary, "clutch" is used when someone does something just when it is urgently needed. So, if you are in the Irving Park area and need a little caffeine, a lot of caffeine, or an all-natural, caffeine-free, no-sugar-added juice from the juice bar, Clutch is right there!

A Day in the Life of a Very Big House

Yesterday, we shared a tiny house on Greensboro Daily Photo. Today we go big, grande indeed. This house, in the Carlson Farms area of Northwest Greensboro, is about 10,000 square feet on an acre and a half lot. Greensboro has an array of housing options and  houses surrounding the Greensboro Country Club both in town and at the Farm Course all tend to be very large. This house in the photograph, built in 1990, was a natural brick color until about a month ago when it got painted all white, a trend which remains popular in Greensboro- and elsewhere.

You also notice a home service was at the house the day we photographed it. Home services are booming with the pandemic. This home was getting a visit from "Doggie Paws and Kitty Claws", a mobile groom service. At 10K square feet, there sure is a lot of space for the owners and their canine/feline critters. The white van and white car, against the late afternoon sun, match the fresh white paint, yet are attention getting. The trees in winter off a little drama to the view. Have a happy Saturday! Give yourself an out-of-doors break today and see what you can get outside and notice.

Another Crown Victoria, This One a la Wes Anderson, Spotted in Greensboro

Last week's Crown Victoria, "Not a Cop", was traced to Reconsidered Goods. This week's Crown Victoria was spotted at Common Grounds Coffee Shop. With a quick google search of its hashtag, #SANTASVIC, we learned that an article about this car was published in Jackson County, Mississippi in 2019 when owner John Queen was headed back to Texas for a visit. Queen lives in Greensboro now and his car continues to turn heads and bring smiles. The white Christmas tree stays firmly secured on top 365 days a year and appears to be Interstate-proof. In the referenced article, Queen says the decorating started first as a competition with a friend, and also to bring joy to people. A quick review of the bumper stickers reveals so much about the owner, from political party to places visited, and hot beverage of choice- to name a few. Most of all, the car reveals the owner's commitment to Christmas decorations.

As for the title of today's post, clearly, it is a nod to Wes Anderson. We wanted to have a little fun this past weekend and went in search of a scene in Greensboro that evoked the aesthetic of film director Wes Anderson. We were inspired by the Instagram page @AccidentallyWesAnderson. Anderson's photos are recognizable by their iconic visual elements such as: unified color palate, use of everyday objects with a twist, playful patterns, and vintage items. These are some recurring elements in Anderson's movies*  Well, when we saw this scene in front of Common Grounds Coffee Shop in Lindley Park, at the corner of Elam and Walker Avenue, we were stopped in our tracks. This was it. It was as if the scene were staged for us, and even better, it also fits with what just may be emerging as a "Crown Vic/Greensboro" hashtag! 

 

*reference and more information.  

"Be the Light"

It was a fun challenge to find a photo for today. First, it is Day 2 of African American History month (we will have more, related photos).  Also, today  is Groundhog Day and as for capturing a photo of that groundhog in our Greensboro yard- not gonna happen. Besides, if he comes out and sees his shadow, we'll have six more weeks of winter. Finally, today is Candlemas, the 40th and final day of the Christmas season. Some churches will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ/the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary; celebrating families will light candles and have a big meal together. Today, we celebrate this many-faceted, conglomerate-of-holidays day with a quote from Chick-Fil-A Founder Truett Cathy. The above sign was seen at the Brassfield Chick-Fil-A, November 16th, 2020; it was hard to read, unless one was waiting in the drive-through line. And there were many...

"We live in a changing world but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order."  Truett Cathy (2020).  On this second day of February, may we find a way to "Be the light."

People of Greensboro: Meet Eli

Today, we feature Eli, who is the proud owner of the "NOT A COP" mobile we featured here this past Saturday. When we traced the car to the Reconsidered Goods, A Non-Profit Creative Reuse Center, Eli happened to be working at the front counter and we learned it was, indeed his car. Eli hails from Hendersonville, North Carolina and studied at Blue Ridge Community College before transferring to UNCG. Eli is a student in the American Sign Language (ASL)  interpreting program at UNCG, learning to interpret for the deaf with a special interest in community interpreting. After we talked about the history of his imposing black and white Ford Crown Victoria, we commenced to talking about when Firefighter Andrea Hall lead the Inaugural Pledge of Allegiance,  spoken and in sign language. Without missing a beat, and ever the advocate, Eli immediately replied how it would have been nice to have had an ASL interpreter through the whole inauguration. We're sure by now, Eli is jubilant over the announcement yesterday that the White House will enlist ASL interpreters for the daily press briefings. Who knows, just maybe, someday Eli will be interpreting on a national level.

For now, we will cherish the time Eli is in Greensboro and, specifically working at Reconsidered Goods on Spring Garden Street. Eli has one of those cheerful expressions and you can tell there is a smile underneath that mask! For all of our readers who are teachers, please note, Eli credits a teacher for recognizing his talent and potential as an ASL interpreter. Teachers, it is true, you have a special power. Sometimes one sentence of encouragement can spark a chosen profession. Happy Tuesday! Oh, and Eli, this past Saturday, we were at a business meeting on a front porch in Greensboro, and one of the members in the meeting had just read the "NOT A COP" post on Greensboro Daily Photo and said, "You know, they live in our neighborhood!" Now we know and we LOVE your neighborhood!

Reflecting on Friendly Center at Twilight

The above photo was taken in the newer section of Friendly Center, last night at twilight. A lot of stores close at 6:00 pm on Sunday, so at the time this photo was taken, the shopping center was fairly empty. This is the view behind Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, which happens to stay open until 9pm on Sundays. The original part of Friendly Center opened in 1957 and this new section above in 2006. Can you believe it has already been 15 years? It seems like just yesterday when a loud "boom" was heard throughout Greensboro, from the razing of the Burlington Industries building on this lot.  If you read about Friendly Center on Wikipedia, it mentions the "inward" orientation of the center, which is  naturally conducive to helping shoppers feel more together. Both the new and old parts have a seating/gathering area, which is part of the reason it considered an "outdoor lifestyle center".* So, when we see teens hanging out on the grassy area above, we all need to remind ourselves they have a right to hand out at an outdoor lifestyle center!

The most recent addition to the newer part of Friendly Center is Hawthorne at Friendly, where you can choose one of sixteen floor plans in this upscale living community. If you lived there and worked from home, you really could do just about everything without needing personal transportation. Twilight is such a magical time, especially with nice lighting as seen above. Just think, if you lived at Hawthorne, you could head over now and see if Greensboro's Ben and Jerry's store sells the flavor called "Netflix & Chilll'd (peanut butter ice cream, sweet and salty pretzel swirls & fudge brownies). Whether you live at Friendly or anywhere else in the community, it is nice to know we have access to these pop culture tie-in creations right here in Greensboro. Happy Monday!

*see Wikipedia (visited 1/24/2021) Friendly Center

Rolane Sock Factory and Outlet No More

Today, we take you to Hiatt Street between Spring Garden Street and the Pomona Rail Yard. What was once the Rolane Sock Factory is about to be repurposed as apartments and townhomes. It was built almost 95 years ago in 1926 and for years was known as the Mojud Hosiery Company. In 1938, a retail outlet was added to the facility. Over time the factory expanded and became Rolane. The building and businesses therein were a big part of Greensboro's history as a mill town. Jim Schlosser wrote a wonderful article about factory, telling us that at peak production there were 2,000 employees on three shifts. At one time, the factory produced over 19 million pairs of stockings a year. Mostly women worked there and the factory was such a vibrant place with a cafeteria and with their own baseball team. They held games on a field adjacent to the mill. The plant closed in 1972, but the outlet store onsite remained open until 1999. Many people remember the joy of going to the outlet store section and getting great bargains on socks, hose, and more- even Jordan almonds!

The building languished on its 8.7 acres for years. It changed hands a few times with a few stumbling blocks on the road to being repurposed. Issues were addressed and voilá, the conversion to housing has begin. As we drove by yesterday, we saw that all of the weeds were gone and the land around it is stripped down to red clay;  some of the fencing is down, the building has been gutted, and the facelift has begun. The interior will be transformed. However, the exterior will not change much as the building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2011. From this view of the Northside of you building, without any landscaping, the enormity of the building is noted. It takes up a whole city block. We'll watch the progress and feature the building when it has transformed. In the meantime, there is a great article in the O. Henry Magazine this month and one we used as a reference (see p. 38-39 for more history about the factory). Also, we featured it on GDP in 2014.

In Search of a Perfect View

Where can you go in Greensboro to take a fabulous sunrise, sunset, or panoramic view photo? We've been going around town, in search of the perfect view. So far, we haven't found a spot that absolutely showcases the beauty of our city. Today's effort was taken at the Church Street Parking Deck, beside the Central Library and behind the Cultural Arts Center. As seen on the sign, in the lime green block in the top left of the photo, this bright building is the Children's Museum. It has been a Greensboro treasure since it opened on May 15, 1999. While this view of the Children's Museum is a nice one and you can see the tree-lined Dunleath Neighborhood off in the distance, we are still hoping to find a nice panoramic view.

The Children's Museum is temporarily closed due to Covid. When open, it is a place that inspires hands-on learning and according to their website, they have more than 20 exhibits and a 30-foot tall climber. The museum has continued to grow over the years, having added an edible garden and an outdoor play plaza. The cost of admission is $10. If you want to help them through the COVID times, you can donate, here. While the streets look empty, if you look closely you can see a few people walking on the sidewalk in front of the museum.

Remembering J. Kenneth Lee

The above mural features a Greensboro civil rights great, J. Kenneth Lee. In her News & Record article in 2018, Nancy McLoughlin wrote a befitting title to remember this great man, "Remembering a quiet 'giant' Fighter of racism. Mentor to many. J. Kenneth Lee 'stood at the front of the line all the time'."* Mr. Lee was a civil rights attorney who came to Greensboro to attend North Carolina A&T State University. Mr. Lee went on to obtain a law degree from UNC Chapel Hill and returned to Greensboro to practice and to play an integral part in the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Lee worked hard to dismantle Jim Crow laws, to help desegregate public schools, and to open doors for African Americans that had previously been closed . As an example, Mr. Lee founded a federally chartered savings and loan, American Federal in Greensboro, making it possible for African Americans to secure loans. As mentioned yesterday, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed at Mr. Lee's house on Broad Street. While Mr. Lee called Greensboro home for most of his 94 years, he grew up in Hamlet, NC (Richmond County) and remembered fondly his time with his grandmother, who had been a slave. Here is an interesting entry on J. Kenneth Lee in the Carolina Law Oral History Project.

The above mural of Mr. Lee is painted on the Studio 503 building just beside the Point Dance Studio. The mural is located on Washington Street- at the corner of Pastor Anderson Way. Mural artist "Aches", who hails from Ireland, painted the portrait-mural in 2018. Here is an article showing "Aches" during the painting process. It is fascinating how quickly and efficiently these mural artists work!

* Reference and more information in Nancy McLoughlin's article.