Greensboro Daily Photo

Artist Peter Marín: Day of the Dead

On Saturday, October 19th, Artist Peter Marin gave a talk and two workshops at the Weatherspoon Art Museum related to the Day of the Dead, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American Countries on November 1st and 2nd. It is a multi-day holiday involving family and friends gathering to celebrate deceased loved ones.

Peter's event at the Weatherspoon was free and open to the public. Participants learned about the practices of those who celebrate the holiday and its history. Holiday-appropriate horchatas, a rice based sweet drink, and conchas (sweet rolls) were shared. Participants made orange paper marigolds and papel picado (sculpted tissue paper), iconic crafts associated with Day of the Dead. Peter has written many grants to fund his dissemination of information about Day of the Dead in North Carolina. Peter plays an intricate role in Día de Oakwood in Raleigh, happening tomorrow night (see HERE). 

If you are interested in Day of the Dead, Casa Azul has many altars to see at the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street starting tonight and for the next week (see HERE). Halloween is over, but Day of the Dead is well underway and many people in Greensboro celebrate it now.

Happy Friday! It is First Friday in downtown Greensboro.

Goulash 2024

Goulash 2024 was a resounding success! Goulash is a Halloween-themed event held annually. The above photo features a scene in LeBauer Park this past Saturday. Children 12 and under dressed up and high school students in the Greensboro Youth Council (GYC) volunteered to help for the day. Actually, they met and planned for the whole school year, and some students have earned 40 service learning hours preparing and volunteering for  this event. The event is a collaboration between GYC and Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc. The Greensboro History Museum also has people who dress as historical figures for the event.

This year, there were games, inflatables, a costume contest, free candy, roaming performers, and more. To be sure, fun was had by all. Here we see two volunteers helping Dorothy pick out just the right piece of candy with mom watching on. The event was so well orchestrated and is an example of one of the many, many free community events held in downtown Greensboro. GYC  also runs a Santa's Workshop Toy Drive and there may still be time to get involved. (See HERE). Between Trunk-or-Treats, Goulash, and other community events, costumes get plenty of opportunities to be worn, even for those who don't go door-to-door. And for those of you out tonight, Happy Halloween!

LifeFit, a Mind-Body Practice & Wellness Business

Today's photo, by guest photographer Rose Fama, features a yoga session at Life FitYoga. You can tell from the photo, the atmosphere is calm and inviting and participants are engaged in the session.  LifeFit classes are offered at The Performing Arts Center (7200 Summerfield Road), in Summerfield, just north of Greensboro. LifeFit owner Mona Flynn has been leading classes for over 30 years. She has a doctoral degree in kinesiology from UNCG and is especially skilled in  helping clients determine what practices are the best for their given needs. She is credentialed to work with clients at all ability needs and all age levels. Mona is the founder and Board of Directors Chair for a 501c3, The Yoga Connection. Greensboro is lucky to have such an experienced, capable person who works tirelessly to help others.

New LifeFit classes start this week.  There are seven weekly classes and something for all ability levels. To learn more about class offerings, to register, or to talk with Mona about your specific needs, see the LifeFit website, HERE.  The first class is always free and Mona will help you determine which class is the best fit for you. 

Happy Wednesday. Namaste!

Revolution Mill on Yanceyville Street

Fall is such a special time of year. It gets dark earlier, yet it isn't cold yet; making it perfect to spend time to attend events and be outside. The above photo was taken at Revolution Mill on Yanceyville. Revolution is an old textile mill that was empty for a good while and now it is a multi-purpose, mixed-use building with everything from housing to offices, to restaurants, to exhibit space, and more. Here, we see a family leaving Cugino Forno Pizza Restaurant. We were leaving the ArtStock preview. 

This is a busy weekend for activities in Greensboro. There is ArtStock (see information in link) and also Leanne Pizio's Keep it Local Art and Pottery Show. Leanne's show has been going on for 26 years.  It is at 2409 Oak Ridge Road. There will be fabulous artwork and the weather will be nice. You could go from place to place meeting artists all day today and still have places to visit. If  you really want to be adventurous, you could take Amtrak to Raleigh and attend the last weekend of the NC State Fair. There are many options. 

Oh what a beautiful Saturday it will be.

ArtStock 2024-- Preview Party at Revolution Mill

ArtStock started in 1996 in Greensboro by a group of artists as a way bring artists together to sell their art and connect with the local community. Over the last 28 years, the group has grown to about 75 artists. The above photo features the preview event held last night at Revolution Mill. This gave the public an opportunity to get an idea of which artists they want to visit this weekend. The event was well attended and patrons and artists got to mingle.  On Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, artists will offer their artwork at many venues around Greensboro. See the map HERE. The Hopper Trolley will be taking patrons to the multi-artist studios and the pop-up galleries. Look for the Red balloons, an ArtStock tradition.

The current chair of ArtStock is Terrence Wessling. Terry, an artist himself, makes prints on handmade paper locally sourced from Paper Maker, Suzanne Baker. Suzanne is one of the featured ArtStock artists. However, between being a new grandfather and chair of ArtStock, Terry will not be showing his art this year. However, everything about last night's event exuded his energy and positive spirit. The weather should be nice and the artwork great. There is no fee to attend any of the pop ups and venues where art will be sold. We hope you get a chance to support some of our local artists.

Happy Friday!

Westerwood String Band

Yesterday, we featured the Westerwood Chili Cook Off. Today, we're featuring the Westerwood String Band with Carol Thompson dancing in front with her boards. Over the years, Carol has called dances, been part of the contra dance community, has danced at many of the folk festivals in Greensboro, and keeps the beat with her feet for the Westerwood String Band. It is so fun to see people come together around community, be it a neighborhood or a group with something in common. In this case, all of the string band members love traditional, old-time, acoustic music. 

Carol's neon orange shirt is from the recent Hirsch Wellness fundraising event, "Art Lives Here" . Carol is a visual artist and has worked in graphic design, skills that are useful during the Hirsch fundraiser. The more we talked to people at the Chili Cook Off, the more re noticed the overlap in friend groups. There are so many great people and neighborhoods in Greensboro, all working hard to bring people together. If you are still looking for things to do and a sense of community, don't give up. Better yet, organize something and invite people. 

Happy Tuesday!

The Annual Westerwood Chili Cook-Off

Yesterday afternoon, the Westerwood neighborhood held their annual Chili Cook-Off in Lake Daniel Park. Neighbors cooked chili in one of the following categories: Mild, Medium, Hot, Vegetarian, and Youth. Those who didn't make chili brought cornbread, dessert, and coleslaw. Strong neighborhood associations help keep neighborhoods nice and property values strong. Westerwood does so much as a community. Recently, they held the Art and Sole Art Sale with Westerwood artists opening their studios to the community at large.

The chili cook off is a chance to bring chairs and tablecloths to the park and spend time with neighbors. All throughout the event, people were playing volleyball in the background and the Westerwood String Band was playing music near the cook-off tables. The band's genre is acoustic, old-time music with Carol Thompson organizing the group. While the group entertained the crowd with their cheerful tunes in the Key of D, Carol danced on her board with cornmeal helps dancers glide across the wood. By 6:00 pm, all were full, the sun was getting low to the horizon, and it was time to head home to get ready for school and work. Every neighborhood would benefit from an event like this one.

Happy Monday!

Tanger Center for the Performing Arts-- & Juliet

The Tanger Center was full of energy this past week & weekend, as people filed in to see "& Juliet" a pop musical that is a coming-of-age tale about what would have happened had Juliet lived. It also has a sub narrative of Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway helping to drive the plot. If you know the music of Brittany Spears, Katie Perry, and Backstreet Boys you have an idea of the music in this play.The acting was superb and the lighting was breathtaking. It was fun to see the audience's reaction as the song lyrics became entangled in the plot. Greensboro is so lucky to have the fabulous Tanger Center for the Performing Arts venue. 

Crowds were good for this show. It is always fun to sit and talk to those seated around you-- especially when they know a lot about musical theatre. The Tanger Center has as many restrooms as a Buc-ee's travel center and lines move quickly. If you haven't been yet, you owe yourself a performance. If you are able to get a 'Tanger Center For All" ticket, they are sold for $20 (at least the last time we checked; see HERE). If you ever have a ticket or two you can't use, find someone who has never been and offer them your ticket(s). Performers love a full house. The audience has the power to bring the energy and enthusiasm that inspires the performers.  Next up, the week of December 26- January 5, 2025 is 'Hamilton.'  Don't throw away your shot to see it!

Happy Tuesday! 

Sheriff Rogers & Major Wiseman Speak to Students at the Middle College at UNCG

 Yesterday, Sheriff Danny H. Rogers and Major N.Z. Wiseman  visited the 9-12 Middle College at UNCG, the  K-12 high school on UNCG's campus. Sheriff  Rogers was a guest speak for the 9th grade civics classes.  Sworn in as Sheriff of Guilford County in 2018. Sheriff Rogers  is very personable and students enjoyed the question and answer session with him. After spending time with him, it was obvious Sheriff Rogers enjoys interacting with people. For the presentation, he  wore pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Major N. Z. Wiseman (on the left) was a highway patrolman for 30 years in North Carolina. Now, he is part of the Support Operations Bureau in Guilford County. Both men have had successful careers in law enforcement, are businessmen, and respected community members. It is nice for students to see the human side of law enforcement. Sheriff Rogers says his job is to "listen to the heartbeat of the community." He is the first black sheriff of Guilford County and he works hard to maintain diversity in his staff. At the end of his presentation, students were thrilled to have the opportunity to get their photo taken with the two guests If you see Sheriff Rogers or Major Wiseman,  be sure to thank them for their decades of service to our community..

Happy Wednesday! 

Tree Down On Bald Eagle Trail at Lake Higgins

After all of the recent rain, we were eager to get outdoors on one of the trails around one of the Greensboro Lakes. We selected the Bald Eagle Trail around Lake Higgins as it has short segments and parking is easy. Here, we were about half way through the hike (between the Lake Higgins Marina and Carlson Dairy Road) when we saw this felled tree. It had been uprooted and knocked down by the high winds and muddy terrain. The base of the hardwood tree was quite large and this usually-fearless terrier was hesitant to jump back down onto the trail. In the background, you see one of the two people out trying to cut the tree so people could walk and bike on the trail.

We could hear the buzzing of the chainsaw near the beginning of the hike. By the time we reached the course, we couldn't even see the person with the saw. At the rate one person can work, it will take a really long time to get this trunk off the trail. However, we sure appreciate his effort. In the meantime, everyone will have to climb up and over. Minor inconveniences like this pale in comparison to what the people of Western North Carolina are experiencing.

Happy Tuesday! Can you believe October is upon us?

GCS Celebration of Excellence & Teacher of Year

Last night, Guilford County Schools held their Celebration of Excellence at the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. The venue has a wonderful sound and lighting system and is such a special space.  At the celebration, Counselor-, Social Worker-, Rookie Teacher-, Mentor-, Assistant Principal-, Principal-, and Teacher-of-the-Year were selected. The most enthusiastic schools in the audience were also honored with a Spirit Award. To the right of the podium is Superintendent Oakley. Next to her is Jeffery Silverthorne, Western High, who was selected as GCS Teacher of the Year. He came to teaching after a couple of decades in the corporate world. And now, he is an adjunct instruct at High Point University as well as a teacher at Western High.

On the right side of the stage are the other Teacher of the Year Finalists: Suzanne Stringer, Triangle Lake Montessori (fourth from right in green dress); Natasha Richmond, Brightwood Elementary (third from right); next, Marthaniel Grinton, Northern High, and Christen Blanton, The Academy at Lincoln. Everyone on the stage was a winner, not only last night, but every day in their dedication to the children in the Guilford County Schools.

Happy Thursday!

 

Meet Louise Courts, Guilford Education Alliance

Meet Louise Courts, Development Director for the Guilford Education Alliance (GEA). She has worked for this organization since its inception, 2005. GEA aspires to lift up schools in Guilford County and helps connect the local community to our public schools. GEA oversees the Teacher Supply Warehouse at 311 Pomona Drive, Suite E. As an example of the great work they do, in the 19 days before school started this year, the Teacher Supply Warehouse filled 2,132 orders which amounted to a $312,195 value of supplies distributed. And, as you can see from this photo of the back wall of the warehouse, there is plenty left for the taking.

GEA is in a position to gather financial donations from the community and use them where needed by GCS. For example, during COVID, GEA raised a million dollars to purchase laptops so students could begin learning remotely. When cafeteria workers were on strike, GEA purchased $20,000 worth of pizzas to distribute to schools for student lunches. GEA responds to needs as they arise. However, they also have longstanding events they support. As an example, they underwrite the GCS Celebration of Excellence where Teacher of the Year, Rookie Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and more, will be recognized. This year, the Celebration of Excellence  will be held at Tanger Center on September 25th.*

See here to volunteer or learn more about holding a supply drive or donating to GEA and the Teacher Supply Warehouse.  Also, call Louise at 336-841-4332.  She, and everyone involved with GEA are catalysts for building high impact community/school partnerships. 

Happy Saturday!

*see the names of 2024 finalists, HERE.

Tabata Chisse, Photographer

This past Friday night, Casa Azul held an opening night reception with an opportunity to see art and meet artists.  The theme of the exhibit was "Chronicles de Cocina: The Stories We Tell Through Latinx Food." The event was held at the African American Atelier in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. The above photo features photographer Tabata Chisse with the three photos she has in the exhibit. To the left of the photos are her proud parents. Tabata's photos are centered around the theme of corn, a staple of Mexican cuisine and culture.  Corn represents sustenance, fertility, and ancestral wisdom. In the Mayan and Aztec empires, it was used in ceremonies and seen as a sacred gift from the gods.

Through her photography, Tabata aspires to keep Mexican culture alive not only in herself, but also in others who are far from their homeland. Her photographs keep Mexican culture close. Also, to Tabata, photography is a way to express her feelings and emotions and has therapeutic aspects. In her artist's statement for the exhibit, she states she learned from a young age that love and food are one and the same.  In Mexico, she has been part of 10 different exhibits, and now, she is exhibiting in the USA. In addition to being a photographer, Tabata is a credentialed nurse and make-up artist. From what we've seen, she is one of those people who can do anything she sets her mind to. We look forward to following Tabata's career(s) in Greensboro.  We hope you can get to the Cultural Arts Center see the exhibit and that you have a chance to meet Tabata somewhere along the way. You can tell by her smile she is a warm and kind person.

Happy Labor Day!

Underpass from Gate City Boulevard to UNCG Campus

Did you ever think an underpass would connect Gate City Boulevard to the UNCG Campus. Such is the case and the above photo is evidence. Yesterday after, there was a downpour in this part of town, the underpass was a welcome shortcut. For those without umbrellas or rain jackets, it served as a great place to wait until the heavy winds and rain stopped. The underpass is ten. years old this year. It was constructed in 2014 through a partnership between The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the North Carolina Railroad Company. The purpose of the underpass is to provide safe pedestrian access under the rail corridor. 

Train tracks are private property and trespassing is not only dangerous, it is illegal. However, it is hard to convince people not to walk across tracks in undesignated places when doing so saves significant time. The underpass has been a wonderful way to link the south side (Glenwood side) of campus to the main part of UNCG. It is a fine example of how partnerships are good for a community.  Another fabulous feature of this space is that it is a great backdrop for photos.

Happy Friday! Let's all get out and explore Greensboro.

Mojud Lofts

Mood Lofts are located at 1001 South Lindell Road, back between the railroad tracks at Oakland Avenue and Spring Garden Street, behind Hops Burger Bar. The apartments will offer, not only housing, but also communal space and many amenities, including a fitness room, a saltwater pool,  and a courtyard. This building has been empty for so long, it is nice to see it being repurposed and put to good use. The building's roots date back to the 1920s when Greensboro was a thriving mill town. At first, we thought the name came from another language, possibly Arabic. However, it appears to be a mix of two of the original hosiery mill executives: Mock and Judson. One, two, and three bedroom apartments. The architects have designed floor plans that keep as much of the historic elements as possible while adding new, clean, and modern amenities. Here's what the property looked like a few years ago when the transformation was getting underway. The view from this photo in 2014 is the same corner of the building you see in today's photo. It is hard for us to realize when we were out taking photos ten years ago that we were actually documenting some of the history of Greensboro. If you follow the links, you can see some "then and now" shots. 

If you get a chance, drive to Hyatt Street, back by the Sherwin Williams Paint Company and see the change to this part of town. Now, we're wondering what will become of the empty lot across the street of the MoJud Lofts, the place that formerly housed a mobile home community. Can you think of anything we should photograph now that will look entirely different another ten years from now? If so, let us know.

Read more about the interesting history of the mill, HERE.

Happy Wednesday!

Wyndham, Gillespie and the Golfer

Yesterday, we featured the above mural at the Gillespie Golf Course.  We love today's angle of the photo of the mural of the Greensboro Six. It leads the eye to one of the golfers who was out playing the 9-hole course on Tuesday. The photo, from this orientation,  shows how well the course is maintained. In learning more about the mural and the Wyndham tournament, we finally made the connection between the mural and Wyndham; which, starting today and until August 11th,  will be held at the Sedgefield Country Club.

Wyndham Rewards is a program associated with the Wyndham Golf Resorts and they partnered with First Tee- Central Carolina to make this mural and the documentary about it a reality. The project was announced last year at the 84th Wyndham Championship. So as we watch people playing the championship, know that the company associated with it has done this good deed for the community. As you may have heard, fans aren't allowed to attend today due to the threat of bad weather. Let's hope the golfers are safe and the weather permits the tournament to go on. We would like to thank Wyndham Rewards for the mural and love the fact that Greensboro cares about its Civil Rights history. May the Gillespie Golf Course, First Tee- Central Carolina, and the Wyndham all continue to be a part of Greensboro for a very long time.

Happy Thursday!

Gillespie Golf Course History & Mural

Yesterday, we had a chance to visit Gillespie Golf Course in Southeast Greensboro, specifically at 306 Florida Street. The course has so much history, we know we can't do it justice in one post. The recently painted mural captures so much of the history of the course.  It is a must-see to learn civil rights history in Greensboro. This 104-acre course opened in 1941. The 9-hole course was built by Perry Maxwell at a time when only whites could play there.  On December 7, 1955, five years before the Sit-In by the Greensboro Four, six black men teed-up at the course.  These six men were charged with trespassing and spent 15 days in jail. Their act of civil disobedience helped pave the way for integration in the 1960's. The mural and an historic marker honor the men. Greensboro condemned the course and did not open it for seven years.*

Dr. George Simkins Jr. was a local dentist who was instrumental in getting the course integrated and for advancing the causes of social justice and civil rights in Greensboro (and beyond).  In 2018, "Our State Magazine" published a wonderful article about the Gillespie Golf Course and the Greensboro Six (see HERE). The above photo doesn't begin to do the mural justice. Close up, the colors are so vibrant. The mural also lists the name of the Greensboro Six: Dr. George Simkins Jr., Phillip Cooke, Joseph Student, Samuel Murray, Elijah Herring, and Leon Wolfe- the sepia figures on the right side of the mural. Vincent Ballentine of Brooklyn created the mural. It was commissioned by Wyndham Rewards. See the QR code with your iPhone camera to learn even more. about the mural, the history and the upcoming documentary.

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed

The above photo of a monarch butterfly on milkweed was taken at the Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House at the Greensboro Science Center. That background is part of a mural painted on the wall. You can go to the science center to see the butterflies until mid-September, at which time, the net ceiling on the facility will be opened and the Monarch will begin their journey south to Mexico. In North Carolina, they like to travel at treetop level along the mountain ridges, especially near Asheville.* If you want to be part of helping save monarch populations, plan to plant milkweed next spring. This is the plant they depend on for the larval stage.  If you want to become involved in a monarch conservation project, see HERE.

Another option to learn more about butterflies and to see them are the agritourism farm and plant nursery  All-A-Flutter Farms between Greensboro and High Point, off of Highway 68. They are not open for visitors to tour now, but mid-September, they will open for groups. They are open for plant sales, however. Finally, here is a "butterfly atlas" for North Carolina.  As of the end of 2023, 177 butterfly species have been recorded in North Carolina. How many have you seen in Greensboro. Start reading about them now, if you want your yard to be a haven for butterflies next year!

Happy Tuesday!

 

* Reference and more information HERE.

Summer Sunset on Lake Brandt

Happy first Sunday of August. This is a recent sunset on Lake Brandt. By the time August is over, all schools will be back in session and summer will be effectively over.  Next time we are at Lake Brandt, we hope to head to nearby Lake Brandt Baptist Church at 1901 Trosper Road. Another church close to the lake is Covenant Church at 4600 Lake Brandt Road.  If you don't make it to an organized house of worship for service today, it is pretty spiritual to walk around the road in silent meditation. See the 10.9 mile Lake Brandt Loop trail HERE. August is supposed to be one of the driest months in North Carolina, so you'd think it would be a good time to plan outdoor activities. However, in Greensboro, August is off to a pretty rainy start. As a farmer would remind us, we need the rain.

Happy Sunday!

Destination Bike Shop at Barber Park for the Tuesday Night Riders

Happy August 1st everyone! The above photo was taken on Tuesday night with the Tuesday bicycle group that departs from cycles de ORO on Hill Street at 6:30 pm. The Tuesday ride route took us to the Bike Shop at Barber Park in East Greensboro. This is a place where bicycles get donated and volunteers learn to repair them. When they are ready, community agencies come and pick them up to distribute to those who need transportation, usually to work. Just about as fast as they can fix them, agencies request them for their clients. Sheldon Herman (front in blue shirt) is one of the key volunteers. He helps teach people to repair and sees to it that the bikes are given away to people who need them. Also, on Sundays, there is a Bike Library where people visiting Barber Park can borrow a bike and ride it around the park.

This community resource was really good for the riders on the bike tour to see. This is a great repurposing of Greensboro old sewage treatment plant. If you are able to visit Barber Park on a Sunday, you should ask for a tour of the facility. This is such an important and innovative program in Greensboro. Meanwhile, the shop made a good half way point for riders on the 10 mile trek with the added bonus that there was a bathroom. David, who maps the routes (and was inside giving tours as he is very involved in the Bike Shop) took us along McConnel Road and we got to see all of the new houses being built. Riders also appreciated the fact that we didn't have to go on Florida Street, which, from the Bike Shop, is a steady incline for several miles- brutal for a novice cyclist. 

Head to the group bicycle ride that leaves from LeBauer Park at 6:30 pm tonight. Get there early if you want a to purchase a beverage from Lawn Service by Little Brother Brewing, one of the sponsors of the ride. Plus you will need to sigh in. There is a fast group and a slow group. No shame for being in the slow boat group. You just don't have to feel like you are holding anyone up.

Happy Thursday, the first day of August! 6

LeBauer Park Shines at Night!

LeBauer Park is such a community resource in downtown Greensboro. There are people using it, informally and attending scheduled events, on a daily basis. See for yourself on the calendar HERE.  Be sure to head down this Friday for First Friday. First Fridays in the summer in LeBauer Park are simply the best. The Janet Echelman sculpture hovering above the park glows at night when illuminated. We took this photo at about 10:00 pm, Saturday night (after the performance we featured yesterday). It was one of the few times the park was empty. The view was serene.

LeBauer Park, designed by the architect Frank Harmon, is on 4.5 acres and was completed in August 2016. It will serve our community well for decades to come. Starting at 5:00 pm this evening there is an art event, Zumba, and music for a little hump day fun. Remember, Greensboro, the more we use our community resources, the more they will offer. The original plan for the park has come to fruition; that is be a well-used, multi-purpose, urban green space. Indeed, it is.

Happy Wednesday!

Pride and Prejudice at Van Dyke Theatre

Saturday evening was very special. At the Van Dyke Theatre in Downtown Greensboro, Tara Raczenski (second from left) and her cast of amazing actors performed a musical comedy of Jane Austen's 1813 book "Pride and Prejudice". The story was adapted into a musical play by Tara Raczenski, who also wrote the lyrics and songs. She also assembled a very talented cast of actors from many local theatre groups. Tara also performed the role of Mrs. Bennet. In the play, Mrs. Bennet is mother to five daughters with very different characters. By the end of the play, the audience knew and loved the characters. The musical arrangement by Chris Tilley is catchy, memorable, and on point with the play. He was also music director and accompanist. Of the twenty unique songs in the musical, we especially loved the snappy opening number, "This Is England". 

Tara Raczenski, originally from Kentucky, earned a theatre degree from Oral Roberts University.  In addition to acting, she has held a variety of theatre positions in Guilford and Forsyth County.  We predict this show will make it to Tanger Center and then to Broadway. Can we please slip it into the 2024-2025 Broadway series at Tanger Center? All of the local high school students could be offered an opportunity to go see it. 

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

 

MUSEP 2024

Yesterday, Music for Sunday Evening in the Parks (MUSEP) was held in Lindley Park (3300 Starmount Dr.), on the West Market Street side of the Greensboro Arboretum. Music was provided by the salsa group Orquesta Internacional la Clave. This group from Bogota delighted the crowd. 

When we took this photo, only a few couples were dancing, but along the way more people joined in. The music was fabulous and the weather was perfect.  Greensboro is so lucky to have the MUSEP Concert Series. It is free, open to the public, and you can buy food from the food trucks, or you can bring your own food. Some people set up elaborate picnics; some rely on the food trucks. Some are on picnic blankets: others bring chairs. MUSEP is two hours of music in the backdrop of a Greensboro park with an opportunity to socialize with others in the crowd.

Happy Monday!

Dean and Marilyn Green Rehearsal Hall

Such was the scene, yesterday afternoon, at the corner of Friendly Avenue and North Elm Street. To the right, on the  floor is the Dean and Marilyn Green Rehearsal Hall, located in the Self Help Building at Center City Park. The community will have a Bird's-eye view of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra rehearsing and, when weather permits, will get to hear them, too. This rehearsal hall is just a block away from Tanger Center where they perform.

We're not sure what they were doing to the building yesterday, but the cranes and buckets were out and, at least on the ground floor, windows were being cleaned. Plus, there were people inside. This is such a creative initiative for Greensboro. We can't wait to see it in use. You just never know what you are going to see when traveling along Elm Street.

Happy Wednesday.

Night Kayaking

The photo is blurry, but you can get this idea that night kayaking on Lake Brandt is fun! Last night was not very well attended because of the late afternoon storm. However, by the time 8:00 p.m. rolled around, the weather was perfect for being on the lake. Greensboro Parks and Rec. have so many events scheduled to get us outdoors (see here). Learn about night kayaking on Lake Brandt and Higgins (here). At night kayaking (or paddling), participants can get on the water at 8:00 p.m. and must be back on shore by 9:45 p.m.  You can bring your own kayak and launch for $8 or rent and pay from $15- 30 depending on what you use. People are very social. You can come alone, or bring a friend. Some people were in 'paddle quickly" mode; others made the event a leisurely date night with music and food. We saw one couple listening to music and holding hands not too far from the launch area. It was so sweet.

It is the weekend and all the lakes will be open with plenty of options. Get outdoors! Happy Friday!

Learning about Local Women Veterans with Dr. Beth Ann Koelsch

Beth Ann Koelsch, Associate Professor at UNCG, curates the Women Veterans Historical Project.  This project documents women's participation in the armed forces of the USA. There quite a lot of women who have served over the years at Woman's College, now named the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Dr. Koelsch spent the day last Saturday (July 6th) talking to people at the Forties Flashback Family Fun Day at the Greensboro History Museum. This event is an example of the fine programs available to us in the Greensboro area. It is also an example of how university faculty members can conduct research and organize documents and artifacts in a way that tell a rich story that otherwise might be lost. If you are interested in learning more about the collection, you can contact Jackson Library. We learned so much from Dr. Koelsch and from our day we spent at the museum.

Happy Tuesday!

Yoga on the Greenway

Yesterday, we shared a bicycling group along the Greensboro Greenway. Today, we offer a lovely yoga group that meets under the Greensboro Greenway at Spring Garden Street. The name of the initiative is Tuesdays at the Trailhead in Moorehead Park. The group meets from 6:00- 7:00 p.m. Tuesdays and the opportunity will continue through September 24th. This opportunity is in partnership with the YMCA of Greensboro. All ages and fitness abilities are encouraged to attend! And, in grand Greensboro tradition, the experience is free and open to all. Summers in Greensboro can be so much fun. So, enjoy your mountain and beach adventures, but know there are great adventures waiting for us here in the Gate City! It sure looks like the above yogis and yoginis are having fun!!

Happy Wednesday!

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!