Greensboro Daily Photo

Community Swim Association

Last night was night five of five for the dual meets at the Community Swim Association. The above photo features the Lake Jeanette pool on Bass Chapel Road, where the club was hosting the Friendly Frogs. The photo features  a heat of boys competing in the butterfly stroke. It was just after 8:00 p.m. and the meet was still going strong. Community swim in Greensboro dates back to 1958 and over the last 66 years has grown from 150 kids from 5-18 years old competing to over 2,000 in 2024. It is a sport that brings people together and all swimmers get to compete. For the year-round swimmers, this is a way to stay in shape and build relationships with other members of their swim club. For the summer swimmers, it is a way to have a summer routine that includes discipline, physical fitness, and camaraderie. While the top tier swimmers want to win and break records, everyone takes great pride is getting personal best times.

This weekend, all CSA teams will come to the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC)  for City Meet, held there since 2016 (see photos from the first GAC meet HERE). Prior to 2016, City Meet for the Community Swim Association was held at Lindley Park Pool (see HERE).  While there was something special about those meets at Lindley Park Pool, GAC has a reputation of being one of the finest facilities in the nation. There is something really special about being in a pool where prestigious national events are held. We are confident that Lake Jeanette Lightning and Friendly Frogs will both fare will.  Good luck to all 20 teams and all 2,000+ swimmers.  If you have never been to GAC, head there this weekend to be a spectator in this fun, Greensboro tradition.

Happy Wednesday!

Thursday Evenings in Downtown Greensboro

Thursday evenings in Downtown Greensboro are hopping in the summer. The above photo features two of many events happening in LeBauer Park. The people with their arms up are participating in yoga with Embodhi Yoga Studios hosting their Slow Burn Yoga at 6:00 p.m. The pace is slow and they work on alignment and balance. Closer to the camera is a group of late elementary/early middle school students playing football. Not seen is a group of bicyclists getting ready for their 6:30 community ride. Both food stands in the park were hopping with some people ordering beer and others ice cream cones. There was something for everybody. Just around the block, the Flatiron had live music. 

Mid-town Greensboro, between the parks to about the 300 block of South Elm Street, gets a little quiet; and then, on South Elm, foot traffic picks back up. Last night was a warm summer evening and the sun did not set until 8:38 pm made the evening conducive to spending time outside. There will be plenty to do downtown tonight, and the Juneteenth Food Truck Festival in LeBauer Park will take place from 5:00- 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. Hello summer

Happy Friday!

Bicycling near A.H. Peeler Recreation Center

Today's photo features the Relaxed Riders Bike Group that left from Cycles de ORO on Hill Street last night. This was their rest stop at A.H. Peeler Recreation Center at 1300 Sykes Avenue. This was close to the half way point to the ride. It was a fun place for a water and bathroom break, as families were there signing their children up for summer camps. Neighbors were visiting with neighbors. Children were playing, jubilant about school being out for the summer. Peeler Recreation Center was named for Abraham H Peeler son of S.A. Peeler who was pastor of St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Warnersville. Mr. A.H Peeler was principal of J.C. Price School from 1932- 1969, inspiring generations of students.* Hopefully, the children at the rec center know the positive impact of the Peeler family on the Greensboro community. 

As the bike group was leaving the Glendale Hills neighborhood, along Textile Drive and Sykes Avenue towards Bessemer, they saw many children in their front yards with bicycles. The children seemed curious about  so many adults riding bicycles through their neighborhood. At the beginning of summer, children and adults alike are hopeful of the possibilities for summer fun.

The Relaxed Riders Bike Group arrived back at Cycles de ORO, a little before dark, shop owner Dale Brown was waiting with ice cream for the cyclists.

Happy Wednesday!

 

* reference and more information, HERE.

Milkweed Garden in Peabody Park

If you want to know what milkweed looks like, head to Peabody Park on the northwest end of campus at UNCG. It takes milkweed a couple of years to bloom and when we visited this park a couple of weeks ago, the plants were full of blooms. Peabody Park is a 34-acre tract of land and part of the Piedmont Prairie habitat. There are many different plantings there, for the purpose of attracting pollinators.

According to UNCG's website, the original pathway networked of Peabody Park was designed by landscape architect Warren H. Manning who was an advocate of "wild garden" designs. Manning came to work at UNCG in 1909, when the school was known as the North Carolina State Normal and Industrial School. Manning worked with the landscape designer of Central Park in NYC (Frederick Law Olmstead) and Manning went on to design at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.  The Internet is truly an amazing resource, where one can start out snapping a simple photo of milkweed, and wind up learning of a Central Park and Biltmore estate connecting to Greensboro. Check out Peabody Park this weekend and don't forget to head downtown to First Friday tonight. 

Happy Friday!

Red Hat Society at World Promenade

From Paris to the world, the Red Hat Society comes out every year to attend Greensboro Beautiful's promenade . The above photo gives you a good idea of the spirit of the festival this past Sunday. Friend groups came together, likely an annual tradition for many, and people were milling around while groups performed. There were also people who sat attentively, enjoying performances. Sunday, between the visitors, performers, and the grounds themselves, the Tanger Family Bicentennial Gardens were at peak beauty.

Here, on the World Stage, the Travis Williams Group was performing. This quintet is a group of talented musicians with Travis Williams on the oud (yes, that's an instrument); Collin Allured on an array of instruments; Ken Simonds on bass; Kinard Douthit on flute; and Bill Smith on percussion. If you follow the link above, you can see their summer schedule. If you want to learn more about the Red Hat Society, see HERE. It sounds like their mission is to gather for fun and fellowship, which was a perfect reason to attend the World Promenade.

Happy Tuesday!

LeBauer Park

PTI Kay Hagan Air Traffic Tower

Saturday night was foggy in Greensboro, making the Kay Hagan Air Traffic Tower at the PTI Airport stand out. The tower looked especially beautiful with the blue lighting and the red light on top. The 180 foot tower was constructed by an all-female engineering team and has been open in 2022. The state-of-the-art tower, controls a 60-mile radius of air traffic. Fifty-two FAA employees work at the tower. It was named after the late-Senator Kay Hagan, who was instrumental in helping secure funding for it.* This new structure replaced the 90-ft one that had been built in 1974. To be sure, it was visible as we drove up late Saturday night.

The Greensboro PTI airport is the fourth busiest in North Carolina.  

Happy Monday!

*reference and more information HERE.

Planting Season Is Upon Us

Planting season is upon us. The above photo was taken at the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyvillevduring the very-successful go-green plant sale on April 14th. This weekend, vendors will still have plenty of plants for sale. If you do buy a plant, know that as of 2023, Greensboro's hardiness zone is 8a (10ºF-15ºF). In 2012, it was 7B (5º- 10º)*

Also, on Sunday, the market on Yanceyville will have an arts and crafts, Made 4 Market Spring Sale. Buy something this weekend and be ready for Mother's Day on May 12th. Finally, tomorrow night is First Friday, so, you could take your mom, or someone special in your life, downtown to the shops, restaurants, and  houses of libation. Tis the season where there is so much to do and it is staying daylight longer.

Happy Thursday!

* reference and more information.

Bicycling in Greensboro

Happy May 1st! Today's theme for the City Daily Photo community is "bicycles."  Participating cities around the world are asked to post a photo related to bicycling in their respective communities. The above photo features the Cairn's Course art of the Downtown where Artist Thomas Sayre's artwork is featured. It is Phase 4 of the rail line. It was completed in 2021. Sayre, a Raleigh based artist, used earth and soil from this very area to cast the sculptures.*

Many people who work for the City of Greensboro are involved in the biking community. Bicycling in Greensboro is an organization that works to make Greensboro a more biking friendly community. The Greensboro Community Bike Shop is also really involved in helping people gain access to bicycles and to learn to ride- especially marginalized members of the community. They help people learn to repair their own bicycles. The above event (last spring) was a bike tune-up/repair clinic held on the greenway. Fun was had by all and tune ups were made free of charge. If you are a novice rider and want to ride in a group ride, the Easy Rider ride departs from Cycles de Oro on Tuesday evenings (see here). There are many cycling groups in Greensboro for all skill levels. All the bike shops can help you get connected to a group that is perfect for you.

Happy Wednesday, the First of May!

* read more here.

Friendswood Park

According to Trust for Public Land, Greensboro has 245 parks and 64% of Greensboro Residents live within a 10 minute walk of a park .* Many of the parks are truly neighborhood parks, often with a playground.  The above park is one such example. It is Friendswood Park, a 1.76 -acre neighborhood park  at 506 Shelby Drive. It is located just east of Guilford College Road and north of Bridford Parkway. Parks like Friendswood is a perfect spot to walk to meet neighbors and get out of the house for a while. There is also a picnic table, which is a great opportunity to build community. 

Just think, you could visit a new park every other day in Greensboro and still not run out of parks. Somehow, we have never driven past this park before. These park-lets are like this, tucked away in neighborhoods. We're headed out to see how many we can find. When we drove by Friendswood yesterday afternoon, it must have been nap time.

Happy Tuesday!

 

*See this map of areas in Greensboro most in need of parks (northeast & southwest).

Happy Earth Day 2024

Happy Earth Day 2024! Actually, every day should be Earth Day; however, today is a special day that has been celebrated since April 22, 1970- 54 years ago. The goal is to demonstrate support for environmental protection. There are several global events, coordinated by Earthday.org. The 2024 theme is "Planet vs. Plastics."  The Earthday website is a wealth of information and is perfect for parents, teachers, students, well, everyone to learn more about current initiatives and what we can do to help the flora and fauna of planet earth. If you live in the city of Greensboro, you recognize the cans above. The green on the left is regular waste, the one in the middle is for recycling, and the new one on the right is for yard waste. The yard waste container will be so much easier to manage as people don't need to manually toss it on the truck. Also, the yard waste inside will be a lot less likely to get wet.

State law in North Carolina requires that yard waste be separated from trash; so, no tossing of clippings and sticks in with garbage or recycling. Yard waste is collected weekly, plus, you can add on by purchasing those paper yard-waste bags. If you want to read more detail about how and why the city changed from allowing people to fill small garbage bins with yard waste, read HERE. The city estimates that the change will save nearly 13 million dollars over the next 15 years and that it will be safer. Many Earth Day events took place this past weekend. However, according to Eventbrite, today from 4-6 pm, Earth Huggers will host a community clean up starting at 602 South Elm Street. If you can't join this organized event, a Google search will yield great ideas!

Happy Monday!

The Downtown Depot on East Washington Street

The J. Douglas Galyon Depot. on East Washington Street,  was built in 1927. It is a transportation hub for trains and busses. We were walking by today and noticed that the Depot has new signage on the smoke stack. Earlier this week, Downtown Greensboro, Inc. held its annual State of Downtown Greensboro event. One of the big announcements centered around initiatives for the Depot. The goal is to make the Depot a destination with more businesses, shopping, and events. 31 new businesses opened in downtown Greensboro in 2023 and space is at a premium.*

Yesterday was such a nice day, we walked to the Depot property to see the changed on property. As you can see, the brick smokestack now has signage on it. Also, about 15 trees along this hill have been cut down. We're wondering what they will be replaced with. It was such a lovely day. We were going to go inside the train depot building. However, that blue sky kept us wanting to walk and walk outside around town. We'll head inside the depot and share it with you on another day. If the Depot gets developed with the vision Downtown Greensboro, Inc. has for it, it will be yet another example of how East Greensboro is showing tremendous growth.

Happy Saturday!

* reference and more information, HERE.

Kickball in S. Carolyn Allen Park

Spring is the time of year when outdoor sports begin sprouting up everywhere. Karen S. Allen Park and Athletic Complex is one of those spaces. It is located at 3610 Drawbridge Parkway near Wellspring Retirement Community and it is home to many different sports. Carolyn Allen Park is part of the Greensboro Parks & Recreation network. Right now, adult kickball is in full swing. The above photo was taken last night and Tuesday is a night for competitive-recreational kickball, as is Wednesday. Monday is the night for beginner-recreational. The atmosphere is family friendly, as is the kickball program. The teams are also co-ed. 

If you watch one of their kickball games, you will find yourself being transported back to middle school and memories will likely surface. It may even inspire you to want to play kickball. The ages range from 18 to senior citizens. Often, there are people available to help you learn how to get started in the sport. And once you are out on the field, you will start having so much fun, you won't even realizing you are exercising. They'll be out again tonight.

Happy Wednesday!

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

In Greensboro, this is the weekend of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, at least the reenactment. The original battle happened on March 15, 1781, but the above scene is what you will see if you head out this weekend- today or tomorrow. So head out to Country Park and see people reenacting, preparing food, talking about life if the 1800's, taking care of their horses, going down to the river to pray, and doing just about anything period-appropriate that you can imagine To be sure , they will not be using their cell phones, they will be present in the moment Greensboro is so lucky to have an event that attracts people from all over the country to come here and experience what life would have been like almost 250 years ago.

The weather should be nice today, between 50º- 70º and it shouldn't be raining. If you have never seen the reenactment battles, you owe it to yourself to go and do so. Remember, the red coats are the British. 

Happy Saturday!

Along Elm Street

We absolutely love street scenes of downtown Greensboro and this view of the 100 block of South Elm Street puts us in such a great mood. As you can tell by the clothing, weather has been warming in Greensboro. Nights are cold and afternoons are warm. Winter coats at 6:30 a.m. and short sleeves in the p.m. The above photo was taken in front of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. An older couple is reading information in the center window as a couple of younger people were walking along enjoying each other's company. We love the way the "worth" part of Woolworth appears in the photo. Yes, a visit here is well WORTH your time. Yes, we cropped the photo just a bit and brightens the exposure, but nothing was photoshopped in or out. The striped awning on this historic, 1929 building and the newer, retro light post really frame the scene.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, consider heading downtown; however, it is also the weekend of the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. See here for our photo of reenactment that dates back to 2010. So, you can have a 21st century experience along Elm Street and an 18th century experience in Greensboro Country Park. It is so educational to see people wearing clothing from 243 years ago and watching reenactors cooking food that would have been eating at that time. Regardless of what you end up doing, live the weekend to the fullest.

Happy Friday!

WFMY News 2

A few weeks ago, we were on the east side of Greensboro, just east of Highway 29 and drove past WFMY News 2. It was a cold and rainy day and we took this photo without getting out of the car.  Seeing the building reminded us of what a great resource our local news channels are. Especially now that so few people are reading the newspaper, we are relying on the news stations for local news. We had a chance to go inside in 2015 (see HERE) . We have to chuckle at our comment that this is an "unimposing square building on Phillips Avenue." We also had the good fortune to interview Lee Kinard who started at WFMY in 1956 and worked there for 43 years (see HERE).  He was such an amazing community resource and founded one of the early morning shows on TV (The Good Morning Show).

The exterior of the building looks so unimposing, but when you go inside, it is feels like a magical, alternate reality. We hope you get inside sometime- and for good reasons. WFMY launched its first live show on August 18, 1949 and will turn 75 this year. You may have heard about the big birthday celebration and they're looking for people in the community to celebrate who are turning 75. We'll have to look through out interviews and see if there is anyone we've interviewed to suggest for the "Turning 75" segment. Are you?

Happy Thursday!

First Friday Collage Event

The March First Friday was so much fun downtown. In addition to all the regular activities along Elm Street, the Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street was filled with performances, vendors, and opportunities to make and see art. The above photo features Joanne Rich facilitating a collage make-and-take. Joanne is an accomplished, award winning collage artist and currently has a piece showing at the Center for Visual Artists, which is located in the Greensboro Cultural Center.  At the make-and-take, Joanne gave participants and much help as they wanted and worked on her own piece when workshop participants wanted to work independently. Joanne has quite an eye for taking little scraps of paper and assembling them into something else. We loved her encouraging words along these lines, "Try it and if it you aren't satisfied, glue something over it."  And that, we did- more than once!

This event was free and open to the public. In April, the theme for First Friday (April 5th) will be poetry. We look forward to all the offerings at the Greensboro Cultural Center centered around poetry. Mark your calendars; spring will be in full bloom by then. We'll close today's post with a haiku in honor of this upcoming event. (Remember, haiku is usually three lines totaling 17 syllables 5-7-5).  Poetry downtown, Poets counting syllables; Forging messages. A big thank you to everyone involved in First Friday on March 1st and a thank you in advance to everyone involved in upcoming events.

Happy Monday!

East White Oak Community Center

Yesterday, we posted on the Freedom Fridges at the East White Oak Community Center on 10th Street in northeast Greensboro. Today, we thought we'd take you inside this wooden building that has played a significant role in this community for over 100 years. We're not sure about the artwork. The mural on the left looks like a work in progress. If you are local, you probably know the people on the right. Those wooden floorboards in this hallway look like they've seen a lot of traffic over the last century plus. When it opened in 1916, it was originally a school house for the children of African-American workers at Cone Mills textiles. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. David Richmond, one of the NC A&T Four grew up in this neighborhood.

If you want a tour of the David Richmond Resource Room, the Mill Village Exhibition, or other parts of this historic property, you can call them at 336-274-4555 or you can email them at [email protected]. There is so much outreach that happens at this community center. And, now with the food pantry, in a part of town with much food insecurity, it will play and even more pivotal role. 

Happy Monday!

Freedom Fridges

Usually, we post something religious or spiritual on Sundays. Yesterday, we had a chance to attend the installation of the Freedom Fridge at White Oak Community Center on 10th Street. While people do have church services here, its primary function is not a house of worship. It is a community center where people come together to help each other, giving what they can, is pretty spiritual. The Freedom Fridge was stocked to the gills with staples. The pantry to the right is stocked with items not needing refrigeration. The food items are open to the public and is open 24 hours. It is not under lock and key. 

A free market was held in conjunction with the unveiling of the refrigerator and pantry. The front lawn and community center were filled with items- mostly clothing- for people to take for free. There were many beautiful items coming in and out of the center, with plenty left at 3:00 pm when the event closed. 10th street, just down the street from Channel 2, WFMY News, was hopping all day yesterday.  If you want to see a thriving piece of Greensboro history, head to the White Oak Community Center. It dates back to 1916, when this area was a thriving textile mill village, built for African-American employees of Cone Mills. Today, it is community owned and operates as a 501 (c)3 non profit. Revenue is generated through grants and rentals for community events.  We love what is said about the community center on their website, "(p)eople come here to be part of a community." 

Happy Sunday!

Transform GSO

Yesterday's post featured cross-country walker Holden Ringer. Today, we're featuring the venue where Holden made his presentation and answered our seemingly endless stream of questions. We met at Transform GSO, an event space at 111 West Lewis Street. This downtown co- working space dates back to 2014 when Andy Zimmerman and Ken Causey opened it as HQ Greensboro. In 2020, the space was rebranded as Transform GSO and has expanded to a location next door at 111 Bain Street. These spaces are transformative in that they bring community together and help entrepreneurs and start ups and early stage companies. The space, available to members 24/7,  looked so different on Sunday night, that, at first, we didn't realize that this was the space Maria Johnson interviewed us (actually Mrs. GDP) about Greensboro Daily Photo in 2018 for the O. Henry Magazine.* Fast forward six years later and Greensboro Daily Photo, O.Henry Magazine, and Transform GSO are all three still thriving.

The meeting with Holden brought together many people in the community, most having a connection related to biking and passionate about making Greensboro as biking and pedestrian friendly as possible. In addition to meeting this very inspiring young man, Holden Ringer, we realized that people from every decade of life from teens to age 70+ gathered in a space where we all felt comfortable. This event was a prime example of the extent to which Transform GSO is a catalyst for the good things that are happening in Downtown Greensboro. We encourage you to book a tour of this space (see HERE). There are many options for membership, startomgwotj a $20 day pass. As the Sunday night event was coming to a close, we just stood back for a minute feeling so proud about the sense of community that comes about in shared spaces. Transform GSO for the win!

Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

 

* read the article HERE.

the corner FARMERS MARKET

This past weekend at the corner FARMERS MARKET, we finally met up with Kathy Newsom who is the manager of the corner market. As a result of the role she plays in the corner market it, indeed, seems as if she knows everyone. And, from the above photo, you can see she greets everyone with a smile. Kathy's involvement with the corner market dates back to its early beginnings in 2013 in the old location at Sticks and Stones parking lot at the corner of Walker and Elam. She was home schooling her children and wanted them to learn what adults do, including being community-oriented. At first, her own children would make artwork at the market, inspiring others with colorful signs with inspirational words like "HOPE" on them. As Kathy tells it, she was an around the market and so involved that they asked her to be manager. She helped with the transition to the current location, the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church parking lot. With the relocation, parking has become much easier and the market has been able to expand. Plus, Thile they were happy to accommodate, Sticks and Stones has their parking lot back.

Kathy loves being involved with community and we have known of her since her involvement with "Knit the Bridge," where, in 2015 Lindley Park friends and neighbors gathered to knit the Walker Avenue bridge over Wendover Avenue. Kathy reminds us of just how much we can do as individuals to build community. See her every Saturday at the corner FARMERS MARKET. If you are looking a way to become more involved with community in Greensboro, we bet Kathy will have ideas for you. We are so glad to finally be featuring her

Happy Saturday!

"Souper" Bowl Sunday at St. Andrew's

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, which means it is the last day to order soup from Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church. Church members will cook to bring you four different soup options. For $13 per quart, you can order corn chowder with bacon, Italian turkey sausage with white beans and spinach, West African sweet potato peanut, and hearty tomato bisque.  You must order ahead of time- specifically by today. Soup pick up will take place on March 16th and 23rd at the Corner Market from 8:00 am- 12:00 noon, and at the St. Andrew's Parrish Hall on March 17th and 24th from 11:15 am- 12:15 pm.  See details and order HERE at the Good Soup for Good link. This is the official name for the fundraiser. St. Andrew's does so much good for the community, including feeding the hungry. The congregation sponsored an Afghani family and they continue to help the family get established in Greensboro. 

If you follow the link, you will also see details for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner held at St. Andrew's on Tuesday, February 13th. Tickets are $7 for individuals and $15 for a family ticket. The above photo features Fran (left) and Virginia, members of the congregation who were at the Corner Market yesterday taking orders for the soup fundraiser. How wonderful that the Corner Market is able to use the parking lot of St. Andrew's for their Saturday Market (weekly), and St. Andrew's can set up there, when needed. If you buy soup regularly from the Corner Market, likely it is from John Drees. John is a well-respected local chef in Greensboro, and he volunteered to help the church prepare the soup batches for this fundraiser, in their certified kitchen. What a heartwarming story. Thank you John. Which soup will you be ordering? They all sound so delicious.

Happy Sunday! Happy Souper Bowl.

From the Dog Stick Library to the Greensboro City Library

We've featured plenty of Little Free Libraries around Greensboro, where you take a book and share a book. Today, we're featuring a Dog Stick Library. We've been looking for one and, yesterday, when we were on the exit ramp from West Wendover Avenue to Market Street, we saw this one. We tired around and went back to photo graph it. The above library is located in the 100 block of South Lindell Road, on the edge of Lindley Park.  A ten-year-old child from Canda and his father are credited with spreading the concept as a Covid quarantine activity. They got the idea from a stick library in New Zealand.*  The family of the Canadian duo had a family tradition of creating something every week. We'd love to know the back story on the Lindley Park "library" and the extent to which it gets used. It is very well built. We also want to take our dog there to see if he would like to borrow a stick.

If you love libraries and are craving a good human library experience, consider heading to the downtown branch of the Greensboro Public Library today from 1:00 pm- 4:30 pm to attend the Book Lovers' Social Author Day. It is their 15th annual celebration of books, authors, and reading. A dozen regional authors will be there to mingle, sell their books, and sign books. Read more HERE. We hope to see you there! We've attended in the past and authors have always been very personable.

Happy Saturday!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Contra Dance at The Grange

Today's photo features the Fiddle and Bow Country Dancers Contra Dance Event at the Greensboro Grange this past Saturday night. While the photo is a little blurry, it gives the idea of the energy and movement that is such a part of Contra dancing. Contra dance is a dynamic folk dance comprised of long lines of couples dancing with partners.  Its origins are ascribed to English, Scottish, French dance styles with strong African influence. The music this past weekend was in the old-time genre and provided by a string-band featuring David Thompson (bass), Darrell Cobb (guitar), Buz Lloyd (fiddle), and Jeff Furman (banjo).  George Segebade called the dance. Contra dancing is done with partners, but you don't have to have a partner to attend. The dances are intergenerational with people from age 12 to 80+ in attendance this past weekend. Dress is casual but flowing skirts are popular.

If you are new to Contra dancing, you can attend the orientation/lesson before the dance actually begins.  Most accomplished Contra dancers are very encouraging and love helping first-timers learn the steps. The next Contra dance at the Grange in Greensboro will be on Saturday, February 17th from 7:00-10:00 pm. The general admission fee is $10- $20 (sliding scale). The Grange is located at 4909 Guilford School Road.

Happy Monday!

The Yoga Connection

The Yoga Connection is a not-for-profit collaborative community that offer free group yoga classes (and free childcare) to immigrant and refugee women in GUILFORD COUNTY. The goal is to foster well being through an accessible group yoga class. Participants- immigrants and refugee women, volunteers, and teachers- gather to strengthen body, mind, spirit, and social connection. This innovative program, centered around the concept of "seva"  (selfless service in Sanskrit) has caught the attention of yoga therapists across the country. The above photo, taken by local photographer Rose Fama Hankins,* features a class in session.

The Yoga Connection offers two 8-week sessions. The first will begin on January 23rd and the second one will begin in September. If you know of someone who would benefit from this very special program, please help them register here, or if you are in the position to donate time or other resources, follow the link to this page. Classes are held Tuesdays from 12:45- 1:45 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Peace Church, 2714 West Market Street. The chance to spend time with other women and practice yoga together is a very special experience for all involved. The Yoga Connection, now  501c3, was started in 2019 by Syrian-American Mona Flynn, a local yoga therapist and exercise physiologist.

*read Rose's inspiring story here.

 

 

 

Rainy Day Downtown

Yesterday was a dark and rainy day with some high winds. While the worst of the storm skirted Greensboro, there were issues with standing water on many of the streets and there were overturned garbage cans on many of the streets with Tuesday garbage service. As we drove through town and Friendly Center, the area was pretty empty for a weekday. The above photo was taken at the corner of West Friendly Avenue and North Greene Street.

The building in the photo is Elon Law School, which opened in downtown Greensboro in 2006. This building at 201 North Greene Street opened in 1960 as the Greensboro Public Library. It was designed by Greensboro architect Edward Loewenstein in partnership with Gregory Ivy, who was chairman of the art department at Woman's College (now UNCG) from 1935- 1961. It is so nice to see downtown buildings preserved and repurposed and to know, not only did  201 North Greene Street have a memorable past as a library, but that great learning here will continue well into the future. As wet as it was outside, especially from 2:30- 4:30 pm, it was warm and cozy inside for students and faculty.

Happy Wednesday!

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought on March 15, 1781, twenty seven years before Greensboro became a city. The battle is known as a victory within a defeat; meaning that, while we lost the battle, we won the war. The battle changed the course of the southern campaign during the Revolutionary War.* The above photo features the path we were walking around the park the other day, as the winter sun was setting. Shadows were long and growing and it was easy to reflect on the day and on the history of the park while walking the loop. Here are four suggested, easy-moderate hikes within the park. The actual park is only 250 acres. It was established in 1917 and was actually the first Revolutionary War Site designated by the U.S. government (read here).

Walkers can go along and visit monuments and even stop into the visitors center to see exhibits and learn from a park ranger. You can make your jaunt in the park an opportunity to learn some history, or you can simply walk and relax. The park is well used by walkers, joggers, and people with dogs. This year, on March 16-17, it will be brimming with living history reenacts who will set up in and camp out in the park. This special event is a great opportunity to bring history alive to young and old alike. In the meantime, we're going to keep chasing those spectacular sunsets and hope to see you out on the trail!

Happy Thursday!

*reference and more information.

Stephen Johnson, Urban Farmer

This is Stephen Johnson, a vendor at the Corner Farmers Market on West Market Street beside St. Andrews Episcopal Church. He sells produce and delicious baked goods with much inspired by his innovative farming techniques and his Australian roots. Stephen is the person who first had the idea for the corner market. His home is only a block away from the original, Walker/Elam location of the market. Stephen, a trained psychologist, left that career to farm full time. His sustainable farming practices are quite innovative. He seems to work farming miracles on less than an acre of Lindley Park land. From enhancing the quality of water on his property, to ensuring there are bees to pollinate to learning to market his produce to baking and preparing yummy products like pesto, this urban farmer seems to do it all. John Van Lindley (1838- 1913), the pomologist and nurseryman  for whom Lindley Park is named, would be very happy to know the good work Stephen Johnson is doing in the community.

The Corner Farmers Market will be open today from 8-12 noon. Stop by and get some goodies for the holiday season. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Stephen's gardening techniques and his journey from Perth, Australia to Greensboro, USA, read this 2017 article in the O. Henry Magazine.  

Happy Saturday!

Principal for a Day 2023

Yesterday, the Guilford Education Alliance held their 2023 Principal for a Day program. Local community leaders shadowed workers in Guilford County Schools. The above photo features Brent Christensen with Keisha Brown. Mr. Christensen is President and CEO of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Brown is Principal of the Middle College at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Ms. Brown gave Mr. Christensen a tour of the Middle College, and it was a perfect day to visit the school, because the high school seniors were giving final presentations for their Pathways class. Pathways is a dual-credit class (high school and college) that prepares students to be college, career, and life ready. One of the components of Pathways is internships in the local community. 

The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, located downtown at 111 W. February 1 Place, is the largest business organization in Greensboro. According to their website, The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, established in 1877,  serves over 1,300 businesses, helping them succeed and grow. They also help attract new businesses to the area. The chamber plays an integral role in attracting new businesses to the area and keeping existing businesses here. To that end, developing relationships with the local school community is to the chamber's advantage. Having an opportunity for the school community to know more about local leadership, businesses, and opportunities for entrepreneurship is also beneficial. Thank you to the Guilford Education Alliance and Guilford County Schools for providing this opportunity. Thank you to Mr. Christensen and Ms. Brown for taking time out of your very busy schedules to participate in this initiative. It was a very productive day. 

Happy Friday! 

1899 Depot Coming Soon!

The Southern Railways, 1899 Depot, is being brought back to life and  is something we've all been waiting for. If you go downtown for the Festival of Lights this Friday, December 1st, have a look at this building as you cross the railroad tracks at 400 South Elm Street. If you peek to the left, you can see the railroad tracks running along the building. Trains come by here all day long, so it will be important for the building to be structurally sound and as soundproof as reasonable.

The above building was only used for 28 years as a train railway when, in 1927, it was replaced by the station on East Washington Street. In an WFMY2 News article from early summer, Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zach Matheny mentions that the hope the restored building will have a restaurant, bar, and social space inside. Given the fact the building is 124 years old, it remains in remarkably good shape- at least what we can see on the exterior. See this link for a view of how the building looked back when it was a train station. We love the way Greensboro makes an effort to respect the history of the downtown's architectural footprint, knowing that updates are needed for a space to be 21st century relevant.

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Thanksgiving 2023

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, we're featuring the "Helping Hands" sculpture by Gary Lee Price, in front of the Cone Health Cancer Center on Friendly Avenue. The sculpture was installed in recognition of volunteerism by the Wesley Long Hospital Auxiliary. For Thanksgiving, celebrated by so many, let us not forget those who are at work today, caring for our loved ones or seeing that needed services are available. Those of us who are off, let us be thankful.

As we enter the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, may we all remember to help each other. If you are able, please volunteer, either formally for an organization or informally for a friend or neighbor. If you need help, may someone be there with helping hands. Often, something as simple as a phone call, letter, or card makes all the difference. In Greensboro, Jewish volunteers fill in for Christian employees at the hospital on Christmas. This is such a lovely gesture. Today, we are thankful for those who give the gift of time. The sculpture also reminds us of the importance of touch. Here's to all of us touching the lives of others, in any way we can.

Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for you!

The Healing Gardens At Wesley Long

When we talk to civic groups about Greensboro Daily Photo, often people make suggestions of people, places, and events we should feature. Almost always, we have already written a post about the suggested place. One place we have yet to publish is the Healing Gardens on the grounds of Wesley Long Hospital at the Cancer Center. Yesterday, we had an opportunity to walk the path and oh how much we enjoyed the gardens. The gardens have different sections, some for walking, others for sitting with friends and family, and others for reflecting. Different phases of the gardens were completed in 2016 and 2017. They are open year round. At first we were disappointed to be their past peak of spring, summer, and fall phase. As we walked, however, we realized that every season will hold its own beauty- just like life Now, brown and rust are dominant, but as you can see from the above photo, there are other colors standing out at the moment.  The feather grasses majestically flank the path back to the Cancer Center.

The two acres of gardens have Wendover Avenue and Buffalo Creek on one side. That side is heavy on trees to help as a sound and visual screen. According to an O. Henry Magazine article, there are 353 trees within the garden and 234 more along Wendover Avenue. It is well worth a visit to these gardens, with someone special or alone. Look for additional posts of this special area.

Happy Tuesday!

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Last night, Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke at Tanger Center. For two hours, he entertained the audience by incorporating science and humor. We talk about having a global perspective, but Dr. Tyson brings perspective-taking to a whole new level, a cosmic one. He reminds us of the vastness of the universe and how the human body is made up of nearly the same elements as the universe and explained how it is that the universe is alive in all of us. People were excited about conceptualizing the vastness of the universe, how molecules connect us all, and the sense of perspective that can be taken on the world now that it has been seen from space. He encouraged the audience to think globally because air and water molecules "don't have to go through passport control" and therefore there is a little bit of each of us in everyone else. 

Dr. Tyson is a prolific author and public speaker with a special talent for communicating about science in a way that is accessible to even non-scientists. We were struck by the number of young adults that were in the very intergenerational audience. There are the kind of talks that can be transformative for the listener. It would be so wonderful for even more young people to have an opportunity to hear Dr. Tyson in person. He recounts how career defining it was for him to get to talk to Carl Sagan during his high school years. He vowed, if ever famous, to make mentoring youth a priority. This was such a special way to spend a Thursday night. And now, on to Friday!

 

Eugene Street Parking Deck

This is a night view of the Eugene Street Parking Deck. It opened in June 2021 at the corner of Eugene and Bellemeade Street. According to the Greensboro News and Record, it is the first downtown parking deck in 30 years. The deck has an electric vehicle charging station and parking is available by the hour or the month.

The above photo was taken recently after an event at Tanger Center. We were talking a woman to her car. She was from out of town and was having trouble finding her car. Thanks to helping her, we realized that this parking deck is due west, and within sight of Tanger and beside the baseball stadium. We were struck by the attractiveness of and lighting in the parking deck. It fills a very real need for more parking downtown. We love the fact that the business "Local Honey" is peeking out from the right side of the photo. We encourage you to explore downtown.

Happy Wednesday!

27404

After showing you a side view of the new United States Postal Service at Friendly Center yesterday, we realized we hadn't yet shared the view from the entrance. As you can see, the main hallway is spacious, bright, and very inviting. The wall of windows (behind the camera) adds a lot of light. The USPS at Friendly, 47404, will be put to the test during Christmas rush; however, every indication is that they will sail through with flying colors. Collecting stamps isn't the hobby it used to be, but there are some lovely ones currently available. We're not sure which ones the Friendly post office some newer stamps are: Alzheimer's, Diwali, Snow globes, Piñatas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Chief Standing Bear Stamps, and more (see HERE)!

According to this website, there are nine locations for the USPS in Greensboro. Also, for more post office news, According to this WFMY 2 News article from 2021, the USPS purchased the  201 North Murrow Boulevard Building that they had been renting. According to the article, they paid $4.47 million for the building and the 6.2 acres of property it is located on. Prior to the last couple of years, there hadn't been many changes to the post offices in Greensboro. Which one is your go-to facility? Be sure to visit the one at Friendly Center (3116 Northline Avenue). As a matter of fact, it would be fun to spend the day going around to all nine of them. Hmmmm. Maybe we just gave ourselves homework!

Happy Wednesday!

Relocated Post Office- Friendly Center Branch

The U.S. post office at Friendly Center has relocated from Pembroke Road to the area off of Northline Drive where Pier 1 used to be. The new location is so much bigger with increased capacity for mailboxes and for waiting in line. Also, as you can see from the above photo, there is a U.S. passport office. The USPS building is so clean and spacious, we had to walk around, even though we didn't have anything to mail out that day.

If you look closely in the above photo, it helps with the orientation. In that upper right corner, you can see Schiffman's. The new location should make buying stamps, sending out Christmas cards and gifts so easy. According to a USPS article, the change was necessary because the landlord of the Pembroke Road location decided not to renew the lease.* Let us know what you think.

Happy Tuesday!

 

* reference and more information, HERE.

 

The Arc of Greensboro and High Point

The Arc of Greensboro began in 1953, and in High Point in 1957. It is a grassroots organization started by the parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.A large part of the early years of the organization was dedicated to advocacy and educating the community at large about the potential of this special population. It is incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) that gets grants  from many organizations; however, they also have fundraisers.

This evening, The Arc of High Point will have their annual art auction. It is a silent auction of art painted by program participants throughout the year. You can attend in person at The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards (400 West English Road, Suite 151) from 6:00- 7:30 pm, or you can actually bid online. Get tickets HERE. The above photo features three pieces of art on the wall of The Arc School and it is very likely these pieces will be for sale tonight. Hats off to their art teacher, Liz McKinnon, who determines the theme for the evening and help students hone their art skills all year long. Liz has a way of bringing the inner artist out of her students. From Greensboro to High Point and all the corners of Guilford County, events like this have a way of bring people together. They remind us that all people who live here are part of our village. The theme this year is Art Eternal.

Happy Wednesday!

Greensboro Arboretum

Have you had time to walk through the Greensboro Arboretum lately? Even if there is no big event happening there, the terrain is lovely and the gardens are so well manicured. In addition to sculptures, including a metal bridge, there are 14 separate plant collections within the 17-acre space. It is located in Lindley Park on between Starmount Drive, West Market Street, and Ashland Avenue and  right beside the new Brooks Global Elementary School- under construction by Guilford County Schools. The Arboretum is a popular place for outdoor events.

The Greensboro Arboretum was a joint venture between the Greensboro Beautiful and the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. It has been open since 1991. It is family friendly and open year round. Every season is delightful and very different. If you want to see fall flowers and grasses, now would be a good time, before Father Frost moves in. It is especially lovely when the skies are blue. Spending time outside is good for the soul and you can walk around here and never have to leave a path- unless you want to!

Happy Wednesday!