Greensboro Daily Photo

PTI Airport: Run on the Runway!

The Piedmont Triad International Airport is such and expansive space and is especially beautiful on a sunny day. Above is a photo we took recently, taxiing into the gate at the Delta end of the airport. This 3,770 acre "campus" in western Guilford County. The airport got its start in 1927, with only 112 acres. My has it grown since the early days.* If you aren't scheduled to travel soon but want to get a good look at the runway, and you like to run, consider signing up to run in the PTI 5K/10K/one mile event on the runway.

PTI Run on the Runway will be held on Saturday, March 25th, starting promptly at 9:00 am. The event is open not only to runners, but also walkers, and is wheelchair and baby stroller friendly. The fundraiser "Walk to Win Against Hunger" will also be held at the same time. There is also a "Kids Dash" that starts about 40 minutes later (and is free). If you aren't a runner, perhaps you will want to volunteer to help. Run on the Runway is such a great way to build community, and to see the airport firsthand. Just think, the next time you fly from there, you can have bragging rights with the person sitting next to you, informing them that you actually ran on the runway!

Happy Wednesday, and... Beware of the Ides of March!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Jaki Shelton Green, NC Poet Laureate

On Sunday afternoon, North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green read ten of her poems at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. We wanted to feature Jaki, now,  so you can mark your calendar for her reading at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro on April 2nd. If you like thought-provoking, free verse poetry,  the Scuppernong reading is one you won't want to miss. 

Jaki teaches documentary poetry at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. She writes of love, loss, race, emancipation, American history, and more. Some of her poems share slices of everyday life- especially life in the south. Some are written through the lens of a documentarian, inspired by factual records.  In the 1980s and 1990s, Jaki worked with people on death row. For a year she had inmates write using imagery related to their hands- the last time they held their child's hands, what their hands did, the work done with their hands, and more.  Jaki wrote about her grandmother's hands; reminding the audience, teachers learn what they teach. After that reading, we knew we had to share a photo featuring Jaki's own hands. 

Hearing our state's poet laureate read in person is so special. We look forward to the Scuppernong event and hope to see you there.

Happy Tuesday!

Percy Street Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG)

The Percy Street Free Little Art Gallery* is part of an initiative similar to the Little Free Library initiative.  The owner keeps it stocked with delightful pieces of art, and even sometimes jewelry. You are always free to take a piece or art. This gallery box is located to the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville Street and we stop by for a look every time we go to the farmers market. We keep hoping to meet (and interview) the owners, but never see them out when driving by. We also want to honor their privacy and not go banging on their door at some early hour on a Saturday! The last time we were there, we picked up an ink drawing of a praying mantis. There were some rainbow earrings that were delightful, but we always limit ourselves to just one!

Here is a photo of the inside of the gallery from the day we visited in March 2022. We had a request by local artist, Bobby Craddock to feature the exterior of the box. We love requests and try to honor them, as time permits. Thanks to Bobby, we snapped this photo which, from this angle, really accentuates the little slice-of-pie shaped land that hosts the gallery. Bobby started a group 50+ Artists and Makers, and the members of that group will love to see this box. It would be wonderful to have more of them in the area. Whereas Greensboro Daily Photo inspires to keep showcasing and learning more about our community, a FLAG inspires you to make art every day! Stop by 717 Percy Street next time you are in the area and have a look for yourself. We didn't measure, but are guessing the box is 2' x 1'. 

Happy Friday! 

 

 

*Here is the home page to the Free Little Art Gallery, in case you want to start one or find one near you.

Love Greensboro

We found a great poster to reflect how we at GDP feel about Greensboro. We got print number 16/30 of the 12 1/2" by 19" poster.  In addition to the heart within the circle graphic, in the green, 31 Greensboro neighborhoods (from Adams Farm to Westerwood) are typed in an ALL CAPS, gray font. Believe it or not, it can be hard to find things with the word "Greensboro" on them. The posters are on sale at Reconsidered Goods. Look in the section with frames and prints- midway back on the left of the store, .

In doing a little more research about lovegreensboro, we found the group began in 2012, with the first online reference through Fox8, posted 9/3, 2012. The article, was entitled, " 'Love Greensboro' group wants to make city better." According to the article, the group was comprised of community leaders, business owners, and volunteers. They worked to bring people together to make Greensboro better and it was open to anyone interested. "Better" seems to have centered around expanding visibility of all the city has to offer, beyond Elm Street. The last post on their Facebook page was 2018, so we're concluding that the organization was viable for about 6 years. There may be a few posters left, if you are interested. We're wondering who designed and printed it. 

Happy Tuesday! For Christians, today is Shrove Tuesday. For revelers, Mardi Gras and Carnaval are in full swing!

#ReconsideredGoods #RG #DGSO

 

The Wednesday Lecture Club

Greensboro Daily Photo had the pleasure of speaking to the Wednesday Lecture Club last week. The Wednesday Lecture Club is a group of women who gather to learn about timely topics while socializing over lunch. The group was organized in the late 1930s by a group of friends who attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Soon, friends from other churches were invited to join the new club. We learned from a News & Record article that, in 1942,  Roy L. Morgan of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told members of the club of the activities of the agency when they met with Mrs. W.J. Carter at her home on Sunset Drive (reference).  This is an example of the type of programs they offer. A recent speaker was a local author who talked about his book- the harrowing tale of an immigrant. Our program was a slide presentation about the fifteen year history of Greensboro Daily Photo.

Featured in the photo today are Linda Sutton, Program Chair (left); Bonnie McAlister, President (head table, back center in blue);  and other club members. The meeting was held at the Greensboro Country Club. The food was delicious, service outstanding, and the conversation engaging. It is easy to see why group members enjoy each other so much.  We did not miss the opportunity to take a photo to share with the Greensboro community. We were grateful to have been invited to speak and to learn more about the Wednesday Lecture Club! We felt it fitting to feature them on a Wednesday. 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Jill Van Horn

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

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

Happy Tuesday! Happy reading!

This CommUnity Sings

Yesterday afternoon the "This CommUnity Sings" event was held at The Carolina Theatre. It was a free event of singing with planned audience participation. Everything about the event was perfect from the venue , to the musical team, to the songs chosen for Music Director Brittany Kaehler to teach the audience- "Under the Sea", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and "Mamma Mia".  

The above photo is of Red Kalyna, a Ukrainian group singing "Chervona Ruta" at the beginning of the program. "Chervona Ruta" is a popular Ukrainian folk song, widely sung in Eastern Europe. The lyrics tell of a mythical flower that brings happiness in love to a young girl who happens to find one of the flowers blooming red- something that, according to legend, only happens on the eve of summer solstice . Featured from left to right, members of the group, Peggy Boswell, Iryna Tkachenko, David Thompson, and Larry Vellani. We hope more community singing events are scheduled. "CommUnity Sings" was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who participated, making this event possible- especially the sponsors!

Happy Monday!

Tiny Homes on Freeman Mill & Willomore

The tiny home community, located at the corner of Freeman Mill Road and Willomore Street, is up and running. Construction is in progress and some homes are getting cose to completion. In the foreground, you see a frame that is about 11'x 16'. Tiny House Community Development is building homes on the site. Last spring an art teacher at Greensboro Day School arranged for her art students to build a house.*

At one time, there were other proposals for this lot, which was zoned for residential, single family homes. It seems like the tiny home concept will be a good fit. When we were on the lot yesterday, we noticed several deer tracks where they had been traipsing through the mud. Hopefully when people move into the homes, there will be a little bit of a buffer between the streets and the homes. It will be fun to monitor the progress. Can you our shadow in the middle of the photo?

Happy Wednesday!

* learn more HERE.

Meet Wayne, USPS Mail Carrier Extraordinaire

Today, we're featuring Wayne, mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. Wayne is from Caswell County, North Carolina, lives in Eden, and commutes to Greensboro to work.  Every day, he gathers the mail and walks his route, delivering mail along Elm Street and in the downtown area.  If you live in the 27401 zip code, surely you know Wayne. 

One weekend, we were in Just Be, asking Lisa, an employee, what we could photograph for Greensboro Daily Photo. She had several great ideas, yet for almost all of them, we were able to say "Already featured.". She thought and thought, her face lit up and she asked, "Have you featured our mail carrier, Wayne?".  Lisa told us the story of one day several women were on their lunch break in the store, Wayne walked in and in unison a chorus of voices said "Hi, Wayne".  When you have a mail carrier as personable as Wayne, it stands to reason that many are on a first name basis with him.

When we asked Wayne what he liked most about his route, without missing a beat, he responded, "The people, and seeing them smile." It can take so little to bring joy into the lives of others. Even if a bill is being delivered, it is impossible to be in a bad mood when you see someone with a warm smile who greets you with a few positive words. So thank you, Wayne, for bringing joy to 27401. Thank you "Just Be" (352 South Elm Street) for being not just a place to buy "gifts with stories to tell", but for suggesting we feature Wayne.

Happy Monday!

Cats at Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

The Broadway musical Cats has come and gone from Greensboro, where it was performed at the Tanger Center this past week. The above photo shows the junkyard set where the cats gathered at night. The singing, dancing, and performing were superb. The performance was especially fun to watch if you knew the cats' personalities or if you were sitting next to someone who was a Cats fanatic. It also helps with appreciating the play to have read T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats"  In his poem "Three Different Names", you learn that cats have familial names, particular names, and secretive names.* It helps to have some of those names and personalities memorized when seeing the play.

The London production of Cats ran for 21 years and the New York production for 18. When a play is that popular, wins many awards, and keeps attracting crowds for nearly two decades it becomes part of our cultural lore. If you missed Cats in Greensboro, its next stop is DPAC in Durham; so, you still have a chance to see it locally. The next play up at Tanger Center is The Book of Mormon on 2/21-26. If you want ticket to that play, they are going fast. Head to the box-office at 300 North Elm Street and treat yourself to one.

Happy Monday!

 

* reference and read more HERE.

Girl Scout Cookie Time

It is Girl Scout cookie time. The above troop was selling at Friendly Center this past weekend. They were set up on the part of old Friendly near Build-A-Bear and Toys and Co. That is a place with a nice amount of foot traffic on Sundays. As they were selling, children were inside Build-A-Bear bringing their stuffed animals to life. People were coming and going from Barnes and Noble, as well as from the $5 and Under store. We hope sales went well. By the time we arrived, thin mints had sold out. The young scouts briefed us on the new cookies. They showed us the new cookie that looks like a thin mint, but it has a touch of raspberry jam inside the chocolate coating. Boxes are $5 this year. It is nice to see scouts out selling in person again.  The above scouts were so helpful and adults from the troop were right there with them the entire time, helping with salesmanship as needed. 

Surely, you know someone who knows a scout selling cookies. It is a great way to support an organization that fosters leadership in girls; they have a troop for all age levels. There are troops in almost all neighborhoods in Greensboro. The council office (Peaks to Piedmont), located at 303 Pisgah Church Road, opens at 12 noon today. They should be able to help with any questions you may have. You can get information about a troop to join, a way to volunteer, and even a description of all of the cookies- new and old. We got a little chuckle when the website informed us it USES COOKIES to enhance the browsing experience. It begs the question, "which flavor cookie"?!!!

Happy Monday!

Pallet Homes- Addressing Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness

The above photo features the pallet homes at Billie A Nall Park on Clifton Road. If you live in Greensboro, likely, you have learned about this housing initiative through local media. The homes are located near Wendover, Spring Garden, and Merritt Drive. There are 30 of them with each sleeping one or two. They are called pallet homes because they are built on top of pallets. In addition to these small homes, parking spaces are available for those who are living in their cars. Showers, social services, and security are available on site and residents have bus passes to travel around town as needed. 

When we approached the pallet home site, the security guard got out and asked us questions. He spoke positively and respectfully about the program and the residents. He gave us information for how to find resources in case someone needs to seek housing and wants to request one of the houses. Here is a link to the Interactive Resource Center,  the organization overseeing this housing program.  The IRC has really taken a "whole-person" approach to this housing initiative.  We should also add that the area was very orderly and clean, not one sign of litter. There were concerns about the baseball field getting torn up due to this temporary housing arrangement as in the spring and summer, the decommissioned field is used by ARC of Greensboro. Let's hope all continues to go well in this site and that a more permanent solution can be found to place these homes. Little league baseball fields require about an acre and a half; so, for sure these 30 homes could fit on about an acre. Maybe a more permanent solution will be found. As it stands now, they will come down in March when temperatures warm and it is time to play ball. Fortunately, the homes are completely portable and collapse to being flat and easy to store. 

Happy Monday!

 

Let's Close Out the Year by Donating Food.

As we close out 2022, we leave you at one of the carts for donating food for NC food banks. This one is located at the corner of Ridgeway and Madison Avenues, Ground 0 for the light ball display in Sunset Hills. There is still time to enjoy the light display in the neighborhood. And, when these specific donation locations are gone, there are still plenty of locations to donate food around Greensboro. 

The Running of the Balls 5K for 2021 yielded $74,000, 19,000 pounds of food were donated, and 4 million meals were provided to food banks as a result of the Sunset Hills food drive. We don't know if the numbers are in for this year, but this may have been the largest crowd yet at the 5K event. Hopefully, it will be the best year ever for raising money and collecting non-perishable foods for local food banks. If you want to be part of this event in 2023, the date is already set, for 12/16/23. You can get more information about the race HERE. In the meantime, let's all go to a local farmers market today to help our vendors and close out the year by doing something to help the food insecure.

We hope you've had a great 2022 and that we have held your interest on Greensboro Daily Photo. Stop back tomorrow, January 1st 2023, when we will bring you a retrospective of this past year. On January 2nd, we will bring you our anniversary edition as we head into Year 15 of this project. 

Be safe and responsible tonight. See you in 2023!

Magnolia House: Interior View

Magnolia house, located at 422 Gorrell Street, is so important to Greensboro's history. It was built in 1890, but during the height of the Jim Crow era, Magnolia House gained special importance as a Green Book hotel. African Americans could stay here safely; guests would stay and often take a shoebox lunch with them as food on the road could be hard to come by. Today, Magnolia House again has lodgers, prepares meals, and educates groups about the history of the house. The signage throughout tells of prominent African Americans who stayed there, like Ike and Tina Turner and Jackie Robinson.  Magnolia House has special events; you can book weddings, music events, and more. It is quickly becoming a special destination in Greensboro.

The above photo features one of the downstairs rooms. The interior decorating was done by Gina Hicks and Laura Mensch of Vivid Interiors on South Elm Street. *  They brought their special flair while collaborating closely with property manager, Natalie Miller, whose father Samuel Pass owned Magnolia House. Above is an example of way Hicks and Mensch  respected the integrity of the architecture, leaving the fireplace, chair rails, high ceilings, yet brought a very elegant and glamorous look to the rooms. The wallpaper, gold light fixture, and mirror as a show stopping combination. Each of the six bedrooms are uniquely decorated.

The Christmas event at Magnolia House sold out; there doesn't appear to be a New Year's Eve event open to the public. However, check their schedule to see when a room is available and how you can order a shoebox lunch, or schedule a tour. Truly, this is a special piece of Greensboro's history. See more HERE. If you've never seen an exterior view, here is when we featured it in 2021.

Happy Thursday!

 

* read O. Henry Magazine article HERE.

Tinsel Town in the Cultural Arts Center

Have you had a chance to visit Tinsel Town in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street? The venture was started by #Downtown Greensboro during COVID and in LeBauer Park, as a way to provide festive events for the community, even though people were not gathering indoors. . Different organizations decorate trees, usually in some way to represent their mission or cause. There is a contest and through QR codes, visitors can select their favorite. Now, the display in inside, out of the cold, but the trees are still as fabulous as ever.

Tinsel town is closed through 2/27/22; however will open after the holiday until December 31. You should be able to vote and out of the 50 uniquely decorated trees, the top five vote getters will get $500 awarded to the non-profit of their choice, on their behalf. It is such a wonderful idea and you can learn more about it here. This rounds out our Merry-Philanthropic-Christmas. If you get a chance to visit and feature anything on social media, please tag Greensboro's very special #DGSOTINSELTOWN We with you a Merry Christmas. We are so thankful you are on this photo-a-day journey with us.

 

Salvation Army and Modeling Philanthropy

Tis the eve before the eve before Christmas. Above, we see a mom with her three daughters ringing bells at the Salvation Army kettle in front of Belk at Friendly Center. Yesterday we wrote about philanthropist Mariam Brenner and her desire to model giving for her children and grandchildren. The mom in the photo today, has the same idea, not simply telling her children to be generous with their time and intentions, but to scaffold the act of serving others. All three girls were vested in the task and we weren't the only ones who asked to take a photo while donating. 

While many of the Christmas tree stands in Greensboro have closed up shop, the bell ringers for charity are still ringing strong; whether, literally as in Friendly Center, or figuratively, as in the shelters with white flags up. White flag days are ones where people in need of shelter can spend the night inside  of designated places (YWCA, GUM Weaver House lobby, IRC). They can use our support- especially this time of year.

For those who celebrate Christmas, we wish you a merry one; regardless of what is celebrated, let us all remember to help others- as best we can.

Miriam P. Brenner Children's Museum

If you want to help the children in your life burn some energy and excitement, now that they are out of school on break, consider taking them to the Brenner Children's Museum downtown on Church Street. It is located directly across from the downtown branch of the public library. The museum will be closed from December 24th- 26 so, today and tomorrow are perfect days. Earlier this year, it was announced that the museum would be named in honor of Myriam P. Brenner, given the $1.25 million dollar donation to the museum from Frank and Nancy Brenner. The name change was effective July 1922. Mrs. Brenner, from Charleston, SC, moved to Winston Salem when she married Abe Brenner in 1947. During her lifetime, Mrs. Brenner was generous volunteering her time and donating money to worthy causes.* She would be honored to know her family donated to the children's museum on her behalf. Modeling philanthropy for the younger generations was important to her.

The above photo, taken at night, does not capture the vibrancy of the museum. However, it does show you the signage with the name change out front. It also shows and the extent to which the exterior has been added to and upgraded. Children have so much fun climbing around outside, weather permitting. When we see a photo like the one above, it reminds of an Edward Hopper painting. He was known for creating  "subdued drama out of commonplace subjects 'layered with a poetic meaning', inviting narrative interpretations" (Wikipedia, Hopper, visited 21 Dec. 2022). Seeing the museum at night evokes that mood for us. It also reminds us that, in Greensboro, the winter solstice is behind us and the hours and minutes of darkness have begun to wane.

Happy day-after-winter-solstice! How will you spend your extra second of daylight?

* read more on Mrs. Brenner  here.

107.5 on the Run

Downtown is so lovely this time of year and it is so fun to have these serendipitous experiences, like seeing a 107.5 car when you least expect it. We pulled up beside it at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Davie Street. The vehicle was so brilliantly decorated and the driver was really paying attention to the road. We love how the brightly wrapped sedan looks against the green windows of the Cultural Arts Center. Peeking out on the left is the Festival of Lights holiday tree in Center City Park.

The car advertises Jared and Katie. Jared Pike and Katie Tesh have been bringing Greensboro the morning show since 2012. Their morning show is so popular. If you haven't listened, tune in to hear this iconic radio couple. You never know what you are going to see when you drive around downtown. If you notice in the window is an advertisement for the Winter Show at the Green Hill Gallery in the Cultural Arts Center. The current exhibit is well worth your time!

Happy Friday, everyone!

LeBauer Park on a Rainy Night

This is what LeBauer Park looks like on a cold, but above freezing, rainy night. There is a certain charm about its calm emptiness. The time was about 10:00 pm as we were leaving the Tanger Center. The one-night-only showing of the Hip Hop Nutcracker was last night. The troupe performed to a sold out crowd. Their 10th anniversary performance was spectacular. It is nice to park in the Church Street Parking Deck, because to get from the Tanger Center to the parking deck, you get to walk past the park.

LeBauer Park opened on August 8, 2016. In its 6 years, this 4-acre 10 million dollar park  has grown to be one of the major city-owned, gathering places for fun downtown. This is the location of the ice skating rink this winter. There is also a playground, fountains, and a dog park. The Janet Echleman polyethylene sculpture, suspended 130 feet above the park's great lawn, is a nod to Greensboro's textile history. It is always nice when a piece of art is made with the history of a city in mind. If someone is looking for a fun and meaningful project, consider taking a photo a day of LeBauer Park. It is beautiful in all weather conditions, and when empty as well as when full of people.

Happy Thursday!

Morocco for the Win

This past Saturday, when Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup 2022, local Moroccans came to Center City Park to celebrate. Women and children were in the park proper. The men were off to the side, by their vehicles, beside Friendly Avenue, also celebrating. They were holding flags  and some had them draped over them. It was an impromptu parade of jubilant people. The above scene reminds us of just how diverse Greensboro and North Carolina are. According to the 2010 Census, there were over 33,000 Arabs living in North Carolina. Other articles indicate that the Arab population in North Carolina has close to doubled since then. Arabic is one of the 6 official languages of the United Nations and it is now taught in some public schools in North Carolina.

Arabic is one of top ten most widely spoken of the the 118 languages spoken by Guilford County Schools students. Even if you don't speak Arabic, on a day like Saturday, a lot of gesturing and smiling got the point across. Smiling seems to be a universal language and soccer seems to be a universal sport. If you have Moroccan neighbors, now would be a good time to greet them, smile, and talk soccer!

Happy Monday!

Beth Sheffield and Local Author Event

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

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

Writers' Event at the Central Library, Tomorrow

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

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

Happy Friday!

Kathleen Clay Edwards Library at Price Park and a "Talk with Tai"

Happy December! Yesterday, the last day of November, the afternoon sky was just lovely. This was the "golden hour" over the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch  Library. It is located in Price Park and surrounded by mature trees and hilly nature trails. Last night, Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba hosted one of his "Talk with Tai: City Manager Listening Sessions" at the Kathleen Clay Library from 6:00- 8:00 pm. Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay; those talks are such a wonderful opportunity stay abreast of issues and to provide input. Greensboro is lucky to have such an extensive library system and one that offers events that encourage community engagement. We hope you have an opportunity to use the local libraries. As for the "Talks with Tai" if you don't get a chance to attend one, you can watch one on YouTube. Access to information is only a click or a library visit away- or both!!

Happy Thursday! Happy December!

Safety Town

All is quiet in Safety Town now. Located off of Pisgah Church Road, beside Lewis Recreation Center, Safety Town is a community resource sponsored by: Greensboro Police Department, Nat Greene Kiwanis Club of Greensboro, Greens pro Parks and Recreation, Volvo, Greensboro Optimist Club.  As stated on their website, Safety Town is a two-hour-a-day, two-week program for five and six year old children that teaches safety about strangers, traffic, pedestrians, fires, bicycles, bus, poisons, water, and guns. The program has existed for 39 years. So many generations of children in Greensboro have participated in the program over the years. Other efforts in other cities model their safety town design on the Greensboro complex.

There are also opportunities for teens to register as Ambassadors. It is such a great way for teens to develop leadership skills. Everything about Safety Town is a win-win. Happy Wednesday. Tomorrow is December- already!

 

 

Farmers Market, Plus Small Business Saturday

The above photo features the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceville Street. It was taken a few weeks ago and we had a ball buying a few of every single apple Leonard Orchards brought to the farmers market. We went home and rated them from favorite (honey crisp) to least favorite (Granny Smith) and everything in-between! We hope they are still there today and we have another chance to purchase apples! We hope to stop by and visit our friend Annette and buy another pair of earrings; and then over to purchase some handmade paper journals from our friend Suzanne. 

Remember, today is Small Business Saturday when we are all encouraged to buy from local businesses. It doesn't get much more local than a local farmers market! Of course there are downtown shops, State Street shops, and local shops throughout Greensboro. Nothing beats building a relationship with a local proprietor. It is the Cheers-bar phenomenon of the local business community. Became a repeat customer and they will know your name! Here is a photo of Kathryn at Just Be. She works tirelessly to bring local and fair trade to her shop in the 300 block of South Elm Street. Her nearby neighbor, Design Archives, is a collection of small businesses under one roof. Here is a photo of Design Archives from when we featured it ten years ago. 

Pickleball 101

Have you had a chance to play pickle ball yet? It is a sport that is sweeping the nation. It has been rising in popularity since it was first invented in the mid 1960s in Washington State. For the last two years, it was named the fastest growing sport in the United States.*  Pickleball has become quite popular in Greensboro, too. It is really popular in the Bryan and Spears YMCA; the Greensboro Sportsplex; Bur-Mil Park; Smith Senior Center; and, Proelific Park to name a few places. The above photo features pickleball in full swing at Hamilton Lakes this past weekend. The courts there are nice and players extremely friendly. They are happy to teach new players the rules, the moves, and to get them into games as soon as possible. As a matter of fact, this past Saturday, they offered a clinic for beginners, thirty minutes before matches started up. At the Hamilton Lakes open-club event this past weekend, pickleball was combined with an old-time, string band jam, and a potluck. Pickleball, music, socializing, and food. Could there be a more winning combination? Other than a little fall wind, the weather was perfect!

Happy Tuesday! Please remember to vote.

*read more here.

NeighborWoods Program Brings Trees to Westerwood!

This past weekend, people came out in droves to participate in the tree planting event in Westerwood. The NeighborWoods is funded by private donations to Greensboro Beautiful, with support from the City of Greensboro and the Guilford County Extension Master Gardeners. The initiative is an effort to create tree canopy in neighborhoods where trees have been lost or damaged. The trees get planted in public areas and on streets and front lawn areas. In order to be selected, the neighborhood must show that they have the person power to ensure the trees are watered for the first three years and continue with long term maintenance.*

In addition to the fact that Westerwood will get about 150 new trees, it was also wonderful that people of all ages and walks of life came out to help with the tree planting. There were teams of sororities, college groups, master gardeners, neighbors, and more. The 2021 neighborhood to win the grant was Friendly Homes neighborhood. Friendly Homes is the neighborhood between Wesley Long Hospital and Villa drive and Mimosa. It will be fun to drive around the neighborhood this spring, as well as through Westerwood to see how the trees are doing. Greensboro is known for being a beautiful, green city. These new trees are sure to contribute to the beauty. Let's hope they got planted clear of power lines. Finally, we're wondering where all the shovels get stored and if school groups can check them out for school beautification projects.

Happy Monday!

 

*reference and learn more HERE.

Old Mill of Guilford

Today's photo is an exterior view of the Old Mill of Guilford on Highway 68. It is a fabulous piece of local history to visit year-round, but especially on a warm, fall day. We had out of town guests visiting and the first things they want to do when visiting Greensboro is eat barbecue and head to the Old Mill to purchase grits and meal for making cornbread. (yellow and white for both). They crave this little taste of home. One of the guests is a welder and he struck up a conversation with Amy, one of the owners. She explained that the 24-foot wheel no longer provides power because there are so many holes is the pipe, the water can't build up enough pressure to turn the wheel. We learned it would take anywhere from $75,000 to $300,000 to repair it, depending on whether the repair was a liner sleeve or replacement pipe. Our guest happened to be a welder and would love to be involved in the restoration, if only he lived closer. He was surprised at the thinness of the gauge of the current pipe and would want to opt for a thicker gauge.

On Monday, we shared a wish for someone to deliver a giant moving skeleton to the owner of the Halloween house at 2304 Gracewood Drive. Today, we're wishing someone would spearhead the replacement of the pipe at 1340 NC-68. When you see projects get done, like the Ai Church down the road, you realize the impact restoration has on the beauty of a community. The mill dates back to 1767, over 40 years before Greensboro was a city. You would think, as a community (a county, a state), we could make restoration happen.* Maybe we should start an "invest in our community" page on Greensboro Daily Photo. Surely, replacing the pipe at the Old Mill, so they don't have to resort to grinding grain electrically, would be something special for our community! As you can see, welders, the welding is a straight line, until you reach that bend at the top.

Happy Wednesday!

* read more about the mill, here.

Bryan Series 2022-2023: Venus Williams, Season Opener

The Bryan Series held its season opener last night at Tanger Center. The above photo features the Guilford College Jazz Ensemble.e. It was the pre-event music while we were waiting for Venus Williams to come on stage. Tennis star Venus Williams spoke eloquently about her career, the profession of tennis, women in sports, how to achieve your personal and professional goals, and so much more. Keeping with Bryan Series format, Venus was interviewed by Katrina Adams, who was also a professional tennis player. With Adams' expertise in the sport, the interview sounded more like a fireside chat. She knew the right questions to ask and often shared her professional insight. 

One takeaway message from Venus is that "Sports is a tool for life." Her advice for parents whose children want to play tennis professionally is to have a back up plan, work hard, surround yourself with good people and be a good person. A Guilford College student asked who her music influence was and the response was "Tina Turner."  We also learned through the night that Venus loves Karaoke and had a system set up for personal entertainment while on tour. It was so inspirational to hear someone who is so successful to be so grounded and appreciative; even humble. She credits her family, especially her parents, to helping her becoming the person she is today. She credits younger sister Serena as being a role model.

Greensboro is so lucky to have the Bryan Series. If you want to hear good conversation and knowledgeable people sharing their expertise on timely topics, you will want to purchase season tickets to the Bryan Series. It is such a special evening. Thank you Guilford College and all of the sponsors and donors.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Weatherspoon Art Museum: In Person Events Resume!

Friday, September 9th, the Weatherspoon Art Museum held a gathering open to the public, the first since the pandemic. It was a kick-off event for the exhibit, entitled, "Gilded: Contemporary Artists Explore Value and Worth." The works in this exhibit guild things that don't tend to get gold leaf put on them, case in point the above door. Guilding evokes wealth and we tend to guild things we value most. This exhibit plays with that notion.* The door is just plain white on the back. The title is "Third Ward" (2013) by Radcliffe Bailey (USA, 1968) and was reclaimed from a neighborhood of row houses in Houston's Third Ward predominately occupied by freed slaves.

The weather was lovely the night of the Weatherspoon event. It was wonderful to see people in the courtyard and all throughout the museum. Attendees were giddy, absolutely exuberant about being together in public, something we will never take for granted again. People dressed up with many college students in black dresses. The exhibit attracted a lot of attention, but the opportunity to people watch and to chat with other art lovers was the most special aspect of the evening. The Weatherspoon now has a coffee cart in the courtyard, something we have been encouraging for years. How nice to be able to sit and discuss art, and life, over a cup of coffee and not have to leave the courtyard to do so. 

If you get a chance, head to the "Gilded" exhibit. It will be up until April 8th. Happy Wednesday!

 

*read more here.

Banned Book Week with Liz Seymour

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

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

*link to the original article.

CTG

Have you ever been to the little alley at 520 South Elm Street to the side entrance to the Community Theatre of Greensboro? The wall of donors looks like the Yellow Brick Road in the Wizard of Oz, the play CTG produces annually and is actually casting for at the moment. Who will be the next Dorothy? Wicked Witch? Glinda? We'll soon find out. Slowly, some of the alleys of Greensboro are being revived and this is one such example. Ever since they purchased the 160 seat Broach Theatre in 2013, this has been home to one of the performing arts treasures of Greensboro. Mitchell Sommers had been at the helm of CTG for more than 27 years and oversaw this transition from the Cultural Arts Center to the above location. In 2017, he stepped down and earlier this summer retired - only to take on the interim executive directorship of Triad Stage (but that is another post for another GDP day). Rosalyn Fulton, whom many know from her many years at the Children's Theatre program in Greensboro, is the current director. Indeed, Greensboro is lucky to have these dedicated professionals to help keep the performing arts thriving in our community. 

We hope you have a chance to get out and downtown this weekend. Our town, any town, does best with community support. We get a smile on our face every time we walk down this alley, not only for the goodness we know is happening inside the theatre, but because of the scent of incense that is floating down from Terra Blue just around the corner. We always try to figure out what is burning (lavender, patchouli, Egyptian sage?).  Standing here, we just noticed "CONE" in the stars above. We're betting it is in honor of the late Robert (Bob) Cone who was a lifelong supporter of Community Theatre of Greensboro.

Have a great weekend, dear readers!

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! Today is the only federal U.S. holiday in September. We hope you are able to enjoy yourself. At least when we checked the weather last night, for Greensboro today, the radar was not showing rain. Hopefully, the weather will be nice and you can enjoy the da. If you are looking for something family oriented to do, may we suggest the Greensboro Science Center? The above photo was taken earlier in the summer at the science center. It is of the  Foucault Pendulum Exhibit visible from near the entrance. This exhibit has been there for as long as we can remember, way before the renovation.  We featured it on Greensboro Daily Photo in 2009, the first year we published our photo blog. A Foucault Pendulum is used to demonstrate the rotation of the earth.

After rereading our 2009 post, we remembered that there are actually two of these pendulums in Greensboro. The other is on the campus of NCA&T and a total of four in North Carolina, one more in Winston-Salem and one in Fayetteville. We'd love to eventually see all four. However, for now, we're concentrating on getting back to the Greensboro Science Center on Labor Day. According to their website, they should be open. It is a place to visit and be transported from thoughts about work and your busy work week- unless, of course, you happen to be working today.

Happy Labor Day!

Greensboro's Downtown Greenway

Today's photo features the Downtown Greenway. The runner in the above photo is on the section at the corner of Market Street and Murrow Boulevard, heading south on Murrow. Edward R. Murrow was a broadcast journalist and war correspondent. Mr. Murrow was born in Guilford County in 1908 and made an international name for himself; he is indeed deserving of a street named after him. Now that the greenway parallels Murrow Boulevard, his name may has more prominence in the community. He died in 1965 so it has been 57 years since we have heard his voice. It would be special to have a stop along Murrow Boulevard with the option to see and hear him broadcasting, like the exhibit that is installed in the Greensboro History Museum.

As shared on the website of the City of Greensboro, most of the greenway is 12 feet wide, with landscaping, benches, bike racks, trash and recycling receptacles, and public art*. The downtown portion of the greenway is four miles long, connecting businesses, universities, and neighborhoods. If you follow the link below, you can see a map of the loop, showing the completed parts (East Greensboro) and the parts still in process (from Spring Garden Street to West Smith Street). If you get a chance this weekend, head down and have a look!

Note: We are having some technical issues with photos loading on Typepad. Hopefully, they will get them resolved soon)

 

*reference and read more HERE.

The People's Market in Glenwood

This photo was taken yesterday, early evening (about 7:00 pm) at the People's Market in Glenwood. The market is held every Thursday, at the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Florida Street in the Glenwood neighborhood. Glenwood is a neighborhood just south of Gate City Boulevard between Coliseum Boulevard and Freeman Mill Road. The Glenwood neighborhood dates back to the early 20th century and is said to be THE most diverse neighborhood in all of North Carolina. The neighborhood works hard to celebrate its diversity and to get people at all income levels interacting and supporting each other. The clouds were so beautiful and, if you were outside at night, you saw the glorious Sturgeon moon; full and bright!

The People's Market is every Thursday from 5:30- 8:00pm from April through October. You can get everything from vegan food to fresh produce to hand pressed juices to free items, and MORE! Walking through this market reminded us that on the weekends in Greensboro,  and there are many options for purchasing produce and other goods locally. Please challenge yourself to support local farmers, vendors, and artists. Unless they are swamped, most will take the time to chat and make a personal connection with you. Tomorrow, there will be music at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville (9:00- 11:30). Recipes for success will be there and offering free tastings. We hope to see you there tomorrow and at the Peoples Market next Thursday- and everywhere else in between.

Happy Friday!

Caribbean Flamingos at the Greensboro Science Center

Yes we have Caribbean flamingos in Greensboro. If you have been to the Greensboro Science Center lately, you have probably seen this exhibit. The Caribbean flamingo is native to not only the Caribbean, but also South America and the Galápagos Islands. These interesting creatures are approximately 5' tall and weigh between 4-9 pounds. They can live up to 50 years. They usually only lay one egg at a time and it takes close to 30 days to hatch. The birds can be hard to get them to the point where they warm up to their keeper. However, the ones at the science center  seem relatively settled in. It is fun to watch them eat and to interact with each other.

We hope you have been  safe during the recent storms, and, that you get a chance to visit the Greensboro Science Center soon! Have a great rest of your day!

Happy Wednesday!

Penguin Exhibit at the Greensboro Science Center

Those penguins at the Greensboro Science Center are so absolutely adorable and they capture the hearts of all who see them. The penguins at the science center are about 2 feet tall. They are African penguins, native to the beaches of southwestern Africa. Their favorite food is herring, and they love playing with cat toys. As you can see from the above photo, they are also very adept at entertaining themselves. According to the website of the Greensboro Science Center, the penguins are crate trained, trained to come up for food, get on the scales for their monthly weigh ins, and some of them are trained to stand for photos. A baby chick was born in January of this year. It's name is Niffler from the Harry Potter series.

Seeing the penguins is included in the price of a general admission. For an additional fee, there is an opportunity to have an encounter with a penguin. If you haven't been yet, try to fit a trip to 4301 Lawndale Drive and spend time viewing penguins. They really are quite entertaining.

National Night Out 2022

National Night Out (NNO) is always the first Tuesday in August. The seeds of the initiative began in 1970, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia.*  It is an initiative to help build safe communities, for neighbors to get to know each other and their surroundings. It is a way for law enforcement and community members to get to know each other. NNO brings law enforcement and neighbors together for a positive reason.  There are 38 million "neighbors" and 16 thousand communities registered. However, who knows how many people participate who do not formally register. 

On "sure bet" neighborhood we knew we could find people out celebrating National Night Out in Greensboro was Lindley Park. They were having an ice cream social in front of the pool and recreation center. The above photo shows neighbors bicycling through the community at a little before 7:00 pm. The photo was taken at the corner of Walker Avenue and Wesdale Place. It looked like they were headed in the direction of the community center. In addition to the planned events, in Lindley Park, there were several people out walking their dogs and pushing babies in strollers; some doing both. Nothing beats a positive sense of community, which is precisely what makes a neighborhood a neighborhood. It doesn't take a big time commitment or anything super formal. NNO just takes a person, or two, or a few, banding together to celebrate the neighborhood. Hats off to Lindley Park for doing just that. If your neighborhood celebrates, please share with us what you do. Please share as many places and ways as you can. We'll try to get around to your neighborhood next year!

Happy Wednesday. Happy day after NNO!

 

 

* see the timeline, here.

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly House is now open at the Greensboro Science Center. It is a new (permanent) exhibit, located in the front of the building. As you can see from the above photo, while the butterfly area is enclosed, it is open to the outside, with netting to keep butterflies in, yet making the area open to the outside. It is a fabulous way to see butterflies up close and to watch their behavior as they travel through the wildflowers.

Inside, there is a temporary, traveling exhibit about butterflies. Children traverse a maze learning about butterflies as they go. Impatient children can simply crawl under the panels to get through the maze. It is so nice having the indoor and outdoor exhibit for the summer, both teach about butterflies and especially monarchs. While the Greensboro Science Center has been a Greensboro institution since 1957, if you haven't been in a while, be warned, you will not recognize it. The giant amethyst geode, the Foucoult pendulum, and the S.S. Curiosity (old ship to climb) are still there, but so many new exhibits have been added, you owe it to yourself to stop by and have a look. To be sure, we'll share more photos.

Happy Tuesday!

Baseball in Greensboro

Greensboro is a great city for baseball and we have team options from youth T-ball and baseball programs for school aged children to a triad adult baseball team to the minor league baseball team, the Grasshoppers. There are also all levels of play from YMCA recreational ball to Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) programs. The above AAU game was being held in the World War Memorial Stadium on Yanceyville Street; former home of Greensboro's minor league team- then known as the Bats. Now, the World War Memorial Stadium is where the NCA&T Aggies play their games. The stadium is located on the edge of the NCA&T campus, just across from the Greensboro Farmers Market.

Next time you are at the farmers market, peak your head in and see if they are playing baseball. If you have a young person in your life who is interested in playing ball, the Aggie stadium is a fun place to be a spectator. It is really easy to get a good seat. The stadium was built in 1926, and it is showing some age, but when you are there playing or watching a game, the nostalgia is evident. We think the above AAU player is playing for the Dirtbags. The dirtbags, a travel team since 2002, has had 260 alumni drafted by Major League Baseball (reference and more information here). That is the caliber of playing you can see in the summer at Aggie Stadium. And of course, there are the Grasshoppers downtown. Summer fun!