Greensboro Daily Photo

NC Folk Fest #DGSO Stage

One of the many nice things about the North Carolina Folk Festival is the way it brings people together, people from all walks of life. On Saturday, from 5-8pm, the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony was held on the #DGSO Stage at the 500 block of South Elm Street, at MLK Jr. Drive. With Jim Gallucci's sculpture as a backdrop and Café Pasta feeding first responders, people spoke, played, music, danced, and expressed appreciation. In the above photo, the group "Doby," is preparing to perform and Keith Holliday is speaking about the event.

Doby is a funk/soul group from Greensboro, NC. Robin Easter fronts the band. Jonathan Wilson, Leo Kishore, Jeff Yetter, and Bon Lozaga are the other band members (see here). Keith Holliday, a former mayor of Greensboro, is the development associate for the economic development organization, Downtown Greensboro, or #DGSO. This was the #DGSO stage. Doby's set was fabulous and, standing around watching, we concluded that Robin and Keith know just about everyone in Greensboro. The event was special and the setting was just perfect. The NC Folk Festival will return in one year and two days. In the meantime, we'll be on the lookout for Doby's next gig and for #DGSO's next big event!

Happy Tuesday!

 

Angels In Heaven

"The angels in Heaven have signed my name." As Lalenja Harrington and Laurelyn Dossett performed this Badgett sisters song on stage, during "Songs of Hope and Justice", the sign language interpreter took their spoken words and transformed them into visual music. Throughout the evening, there were times interpreters were swaying to the music, too. Listening to beautiful music by talented North Carolina performers singing a song written by North Carolina women, nestled between the Greensboro Courthouse and the West Market Street United Methodist Church, seated with an attentive audience: It doesn't get better than that. It was as if we were holding church service, right in the middle of Market Street, Ground Zero for the city's north/south street designation.

West Market Street is peeking out of the right corner of the photo. Today, the NC Folk Fest events at this location, the Old Courthouse Stage, don't start up until 1:00 pm, giving church goers a chance to meet first. It is a good thing, as the first act on the stage is "Hard Drive" a North Carolina Old-time and Bluegrass group. Bluegrass, especially, can get a little loud and hard-driving flashy, a good thing- unless it is overpowering a preacher is trying to deliver a heartfelt sermon. Indeed, every detail of this festival is well-planned. As a matter of fact, just may attend the West Market Street UMC church service this morning and already be at the folk festival- the best of both worlds.

Happy Sunday!

NC Folk Festival 2021, The Festivities Have Begun!

And so, the North Carolina Folk Festival is well underway. Yesterday, after opening remarks at the Lee Wrangler Stage (formerly City Stage), the UNCG Old Time Ensemble treated us to some very great songs and tunes. Above, playing fiddle, smiling, and wearing sunglasses, is Dr. Christen Blanton Mack, who leads the ensemble. To her left, also playing the fiddle is Tristin, a UNCG senior, who lead co-lead the first song, "How Many Biscuits Can You Eat?" (Watch this video from another era to find out the answer). The song was so full of energy and upbeat. Dr. Mack has done so much to help the group get that tight, string-band sound that is so important in old-time music. The UNCG Old Time Ensemble was formed in 2008; for fourteen years, they have been playing a genre of music that has been a part of North Carolina's culture for generations. Last evening, the old time ensemble was playing music in there very spot we featured yesterdays.

As for the North Carolina Folk Festival, it will continue until Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. and literally, there is music for everybody's tastes. The festival extends along West Market Street, to the West Market Street United Methodist Church. The vendors are also along Market Street this year and there are some great ones. The weather, the music, the energy, and everything has been so perfect so far. Don your mask and head downtown to see some great singing, instruments, food, arts and crafts, and dancing! Happy Saturday!

 

First Friday Sept

It is First Friday tonight and downtown Greensboro will be full of goodness and joy tonight. The above photo features the drum circle that will be happening in Center City Park (200 North Elm Street)  from 6:30-9:00 pm. No experience is necessary, just bring your positive attitude and a drum if you have one. If you don't, there are usually extras available to borrow. The Healing Earth Rhythms organizes and facilitates the event, but they really depend on audience participation. You can play, watch, or dance. People of all ages are invited to participate. The only expectation is that you enjoy drums. 

From North Elm all the way to South Gate City Boulevard, there will be interesting things to see and do. Just across the street from Center City Park, First Friday Art Park will be set up in LeBauer Park. We hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend and that you save some energy for the upcoming North Carolina Folk Festival, from September 10th-12th. Read about the line up, the schedule, safety protocols and everything else, here. Happy Friday!

History Museum Shop & Event Tonight

Today's photo features the Gift Shop at the Greensboro History Museum. What a clever slogan- Bring HISTORY Home. If you want Greensboro's iconic Boar and Castle sauce, you can get it here. If you want something with the state bird on it, get it here. If you are looking for books about Greensboro, get them here! If you need a Wrangle jeans apron, see above! Related to Greensboro and books, there is a very special event tonight from 7-9pm. It it is called, "The Life and Works of O. Henry", with Ben Yagoda and Jim Dodson. The book they will be discussing tonight is an anthology of O. Henry stories. Ben, the editor of the collection, and an accomplished writer himself,  is coming in from Delaware to discuss Greensboro's favorite author. Jim Dodson, of Greensboro, also an accomplished writer, will co-present the event. You may recognize Jim's name from O. Henry magazine; not only does he write for the magazine, he is its founding editor. All of this good local history and lore is brought to us by the Greensboro History Museum, Greensboro Public Library, and Scuppernong Books. While we can't guarantee the museum's shop will be open, you can be sure there will be books available for purchase.

If you plan to attend, please visit the museum's website (HERE) for tickets. Also, you can learn about attending virtually from the comfort of your own home- the new normal. Almost as good as the wonderful event itself is the fact that it is FREE, but do reserve a spot! If you can't head downtown this evening for the event (130 Summit Avenue by Tanger Center), please put The Greensboro History Museum on your to-do list to get by at another time. The single best thing you can do for our community is support our public non-profits.

Happy First Day of School 2021, Guilford County!

Happy first day of school to all of the students, teachers, and staff in the Guilford County Schools (GCS). GCS is the third largest school district in North Carolina. It is the 50th largest in the United States. There are 126 schools and about 70,000 students. With all of those busses, students, and school personnel on the road this morning and afternoon, we will all need to allow extra time to travel and be extra careful to drive 25 mph or under in the school zones. Also, remember to stop when the busses are picking up and dropping off students and the red arm is out. There aren't hybrid schools this year, students are either in person or participating in a virtual-only program. 

The above photo was taken yesterday afternoon in the bus parking lot at Grimsley High School. It had just started raining, creating nice reflections and, hopefully, getting all of that rain out of those clouds for that first day of school. Also, last night was a full, blue moon. Let's hope that full moon is behind us and today will be a perfect day for everyone. This year, in GCS, masks are required. Here's to 100% compliance, making every effort to keep all safe and healthy. Have great school year.

 

 

Construction in North Greensboro- Making Progress!

There has been so much roadwork in Greensboro this summer, but is does seem that it is all for the better. At the beginning of the summer, Josephine Boyd Street was being reduced by one lane at Walker Avenue in an effort to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street- used heavily by UNCG students. On up Battleground, at Westridge, that heavily congested intersection is getting improvements (read here). Battleground/Westridge is the intersection where Ollie's Ice Cream is located. Hopefully, the hot weather and proximity to Guilford Courthouse National Military Park has helped with ice cream sales. A few blocks north on Battleground at the Urban Loop, that construction has finished and this bypass extends to North Elm Street, and continues to lengthen. The West Market Street/Guilford College Road area is also getting great improvements. 

The above photo provides you with a glimpse of what you may find on any given day on Horse Pen Creek Road. To be sure, drivers have to be patient. There are so many apartment complexes being built on Horse Pen Creek, limited access roads with lights will be a must. Driving slowly is a must as navigating the barrels can be a little bit challenging. The City of Greensboro makes every effort to help keep drivers informed. See here, if you want to try to keep up with work that is being done, plus expected completion dates.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Now Hosting the Corner Market

The Saturday morning Corner Market had long outgrown its location at Walker and Elam. Yesterday, was the inaugural day in its new location, the parking lot of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 2105 West Market Street.  Hopefully, this relocation will be a good one not only for the market, but also for St. Andrew's. Perhaps they will be able to find tie-in events and maybe even gain more members who learn about it through the market. The aisles at the market are spacious and the parking lot even accommodates off-street parking. Also, market breakdown at the Elam/Walker location was hurried as Sticks and Stones needed their parking lot back in time to open. For being the first week on Market Street,  it was very well attended.  The aisles are wide and there is room for growth. There is also room for lines if people need to cue up for bread or produce. If they need a new name since they are no longer on "the corner", we suggest "Market on Market".

Yesterday was the farmers market, today it is church. Again, the parking lot will be full, only today with cars of congregants. St. Andrew's began in 1893 with three women founding an ecumenical Sunday school. Over the last 128 years, the church  has grown and relocated several times. They have a very informative history online (see here). If you are looking for a caring, accepting, liberal Christian church, St. Andrew's would be a great choice. Just look at how lovely and visible the church is from the parking lot. If you think the building is lovely, you should meet the members. Happy Sunday!

Schiffman's 2021

Schiffman's is currently open in Friendly Center at the former Pier 1 location.  In August, Greensboro's oldest and most established jewelry store will reopen in its original Friendly Center location. The above photo shows the exterior letters just before they were installed on Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon, they were already in place, bringing the remodeling one step closer to completion. The store has expanded, building into the former Build-A-Bear space. The new store is rumored to be the nicest jewelry store in the southeast. They will have jewelers on site, will be able to repair Rolex watches on site, and will have amenities and events that will make it quite the upscale destination.

We stopped by yesterday and spoke to Ben, and he assured us that the downtown store will remain open as a jewelry store and as the main office. Schiffman's has been in downtown Greensboro since 1893.  In 2011, we  were fortunate to have the opportunity to feature Tony Schiffman, Jr.. Tony died in 2015 at the age of 76, suffering from Parkinson's (obituary, here). He would be so pleased to know the business is growing under the helm of his three sons. If you like fine jewelry and want to shop local, Schiffman's is a fabulous option. Let's hope they remain open for another 128+ years... in Friendly Center AND downtown!

Happy Friday. Time to get out and explore!

BLT Day at Greensboro Farmers Curb Market!

Today is BLT Sandwich Day at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street, across from War Memorial Stadium. The above vegetable photo was taken about a month ago. By now, there should be plenty of ripe tomatoes, whether you get them on the BLT, or to take home with you, or BOTH!! They usually start preparing sandwiches at about 8:30 a.m. and you know they will sell quickly. Usually, they are set up outside and there is live music at the Lawn Lindsay Street- the side of the curb market.

Even if you don't like BLTs, the market is a great place to go to get some type of fresh produce and to interact with a great group of people. Also, it is always nice to support local vendors. The BLT makers should be there preparing sandwiches until 11:00 a.m.; however, it could be cut short depending on the size of the crown. Happy Saturday! May you find something glorious to to in Greensboro.

Aldi Opening on Battleground Avenue

Remember where Earthfare was located on Battleground Avenue? It was in the plaza near Pisgah Church Road, where there is a Starbucks and a U.S. post office. Well, now, an Aldi is going in the former Earthfare space. The first Aldi store was opened in 1913, during World War I,  in Essen, Germany by Anna Albrecht and Aldi stands for Albrecht Discount. Now, there are thousands of locations around the world, and over 1,600 in the United States alone. They are one of many grocery stores in Greensboro. In the United States, Aldi is third only to Walmart and Kroger. The above store is scheduled to open by this fall. There are already three Aldi's in the Greensboro area (New Garden Road, Randleman Road, and West Gate City Boulevard).  The New Garden Road store was the third to open (in 2013) and now, eight years later, the fourth is being added.

Even if you already have your "go to" place to shop for groceries, it is nice to see the above plaza gain and anchor store. This should put it at close to full capacity. The more options people have, the more likely they are to consider a destination.  Well, it is Monday, and if you had a large Fathers Day event, or a Summer Solstice event, chances are you will need to go to the grocery store somewhere. Where do you like to shop for groceries in Greensboro? Do you have a favorite? Happy Monday; you just may run in to us shopping for groceries!

The Carolina Buddies, Old-Time String Band

This past weekend, the 49th annual, Mt. Airy Blue Grass and Old-Time Fiddlers Convention was held in Mt. Airy, Surry County, North Carolina. While the convention was held about an hour north of Greensboro, our city was well represented at the event. Home base for many of our local musicians was the tent of the Piedmont Old Time Society. The above photo was taken while the Greensboro group, Carolina Buddies, was performing. The fiddler on the right is Aran Garnett-Deakin. Beside Aran is Greyson Leybourne, also on fiddle. Beside Greyson L. is Grayson Drum on guitar. Doug Shadwick is playing upright bass. The stage is located right in the middle of the field at Veterans Park and the performances serve as great entertainment for those people who either aren't camping or who just want to enjoy a good concert.

How wonderful that Aran, Greyson, Grayson, and Doug love playing acoustic, string-band music together. Let's hope they have a chance to perform locally in Greensboro. All four are talented and versatile musicians. Here's to a great week. The summer sure is looking better and better now that opportunities to hear live music are becoming available. The Piedmont Old-Time Society has an open jam on the first and third Thursdays at Pig Pounder Brewery. It is a nice opportunity to hear some great music. Who knows? You just may see some Carolina Buddies there!

Here is a link to their performance.

Goodbye School, Hello Summer

And just like that, school is over for the summer. Today was the last day for students in the Guilford County Public Schools. The above photo features the big send-off at Irving Park Elementary School (IPES), located in the heart of Irving Park. Most elementary schools have the tradition of all teachers going out to say their last goodbyes for the summer, and IPES is no exception. The teachers and students are really close at this school . The only thing better than this last day of school will be the first, in August,  when everyone will return with joy and optimism. All are anticipating that next year will be one where COVID is behind us and masks and social distancing will no longer be needed.

IPES was built in 1928, back when the Irving Park neighborhood was being established and a mere three years after the 350-acre Greensboro Country Club  property was getting established. IPES draws from neighborhoods beyond Irving Park and teachers and staff come from all over Greensboro. Public schools are a wonderful place to develop friendships for people from all walks of life; not only for students, but also for teachers. Once a pirate, always a pirate- hence the pirate flag. Teachers and staff, thank you for all you do, from Day 1 to Day 180! May your summer be restful and rejuvenating. May your students have a great summer, and find time to read at least a few books.  As for the 2020-2021 school year, it was: ONE FOR THE BOOKS.

Frozen, Jr.

Last night theatre students at the Academy at Lincoln performed Frozen, Jr. The performance was held in the staff parking lot in the rear of the school. To be safe, and since rehearsals started just as people were starting to get vaccinated, the play was staged outside.. Theater teacher, Ms. Cassy Whitley wanted to give her middle school students this memorable, culminating activity, especially since many of the actors head off to high school in the fall. The acting, singing, and dancing were superb. The tech crew also did a great job with special effects and with getting props set in place. Threat of rain almost cancelled the special effects, but they ran the show, undaunted, and even had fog, snow, and confetti. Fortunately, the rain held off. As you can see, audience members were captivated. 

It is no wonder Ms. Whitley is Teacher of the Year at her school. She always goes the extra mile for her students. With her guidance, these 4th-8th graders develop skills in all aspects of theatre. Ms. Whitley forewarned the audience that in the event of rain and if she shouted "strike", students would clear all props and equipment in under 30 minutes. There are still 3 more performances-  on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (2pm and 7pm). Arendelle never looked so gook in the open air! It is nice for students to be able to participate in performances again. It is important for the public to know the dedication of our public school teachers. Thank you, Ms. Whitley! And thanks to everyone else who made this show a reality.

Graduating Seniors of Guilford County

These are exciting times for high school seniors. They have returned to in-school learning, are able to have prom, and now, are practicing for graduation. This year, high school graduation ceremonies in Guilford County are being held at the Greensboro Coliseum. It makes sense to have them in one place, as GCS staff can make adjustments as needed. For example, seats are pre-arranged in a way that honors social distance requirements. The above photo features the car of a senior who will be attending East Carolina University. What a feeling of pride this student must have, and it is well displayed on their car. "Pirate Pride; ECU, ON THE WAY!

This has been an especially challenging year to graduate with the majority of the year remotely. Only since March have some of the students resumed in-person learning. To be sure, 2021 is the year to remember! Graduations start this Wednesday and continue through Tuesday, June 8th. The Early College at Guilford is the first ceremony and the program concludes with Southeast High School. If you see a graduate, please congratulate them and wish them luck on the year ahead. Here's to joyful closure and new beginnings!

Downtown Is Getting Lively!

Downtown was busy this past Saturday afternoon, and at 4:00 pm, parts of Elm Street were closed so that pedestrians could have some fun! Are you feeling a little bit like Rip Van Winkle, going somewhere and seeing things that are completely new? Pre March 2020, it seemed that LimeBike (now Lime) electric scooters were everywhere. Now, Blue Duck Micro-mobility is sweeping the streets. It is comforting that most of the established downtown businesses survived the pandemic year and seem to be doing well now. These scooters are especially popular with the younger crowd. Also, going strong on Saturday was Brew Peddlers pedal pub trolley.

Another fun thing about downtown this past weekend was the diversity of demographic; people of diverse ages and ethnicities seemed to be enjoying our town equally. The weather was in the 80s, the sun was strong, and rain was nowhere in sight. The weather was perfect for all of the schools that had proms this past weekend. Let's this trajectory of reopening and events happening in person continues for a very long time. Who wants to try out a Blue Duck with us?

Construction on Josephine Boyd Street

If you driven on Josephine Boyd Street lately on the northbound lane at Walker Avenue, you may have noticed some construction. For pedestrian safety, the street is being reduced by one lane. It is common to widen roads, but a bit unique to narrow one. The project is federally funded through the Greensboro Urban Area MPO. The project has been planned for at least seven years and is expected to be completed this summer; hopefully by the time UNCG students return to campus. The above view shows work in progress. As you can see, the crew is working hard. (See more information about the project here). Hopefully, the mature trees on this block will not need to be removed. The trees between Spring Garden Street and Walker Avenue, on the northbound side of Josephine Boyd were removed last week.

'Tis the season for roadwork. As of January 2nd, 2019, the street, formerly Aycock, has been renamed Josephine Boyd Street and it changes names along the way. If you have time for a "Sunday" drive, start on Lovett Street (which becomes Josephine Boyd, and then Westover Terrace, and then Battleground). It becomes Highway 220 and  you can follow it to the Virginia line. You will see so many changes along the way.  

As for the above intersection, it does seem like the changes are being made for very sound reasons. Happy Saturday!

Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru at the Greensboro Coliseum

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

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

Southern Conference Softball Championship 2021

The Southern Conference Softball Championship continues today and tomorrow, hosted by UNCG. The above photo, taken yesterday during game 1, features the softball field on the northwest corner of the UNCG campus. * The stadium was built in 2006 on the site of the old softball stadium and this beautiful facility has hosted the Southern Conference Championship every other year since 2014. It also hosted in 2007 and in 2013.

At 12:30 pm today, #1 UNCG will play #2 Western Carolina in Game 4 of the tournament.  Game 5 will be held at 3:00pm with #4 Mercer playing the Game 4 loser. Game 6 will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday with a match up between the Game 4 and 5 winners. If necessary, there will be a Game 6. The Chattanooga team earned the 2019 championship title. Chattanooga lost to Mercer in Game 3 today.

If you love softball or have a child who plays, you should consider attending a game here some year. However, at present, it looks like it is "pass list only", as UNCG is still taking every precaution in these Covid times. Last year the championship was cancelled altogether, so players are super happy to be back out on the fields and looked so ready to play as they filed into the stadium yesterday in their uniforms and representing their universities.

This is the 100th year of the Southern Conference. Let's hope the Spartans take all!  See the conference website here.

Oden Brewing Company Where the Past Steps into the Future!

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

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

Cone Health Facility at North Battleground & Drawbridge Pkwy.

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

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

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

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

Its Vaccine Time for Guilford County School Teachers

Yesterday, Keith was volunteering at the Coliseum as Guilford County School teachers cycled through the vaccination process.  The national guard, volunteers, nurses, Guilford County Health Department, and the Guilford County Schools all worked together to help this process run smoothly and efficiently. There was even a bus delivering people from the parking lot up to the entrance door. Once it started raining, this service was especially appreciated at the parking is back beyond the GAC swimming pool area.

If you have anxiety about getting shots or this particular vaccine, somehow fears are assuaged once you are there watching everyone else getting the vaccine. You realize you are contributing to herd immunity and helping prevent the spread. As reported in the News & Record and the state health officials, Guilford County has a total of 39,699 cases of COVID and 552 deaths. Hopefully the cases and deaths will start decreasing. Have a great weekend. Thank you Keith, all the volunteers and workers who are making this journey so much more pleasant!

Air Force 1

Forgive the poor quality of this photo, but it is hard to plan for when Air Force 1 is going to be flying around in Greensboro. Yesterday, in the Westridge Heights and Friendly Acres neighborhoods, Air Force 1 was circling from about 3-6pm. Often, the plane does touch-and-go landings and take-offs at PTI Airport. However, yesterday, the plane was making low circles around Claxton Elementary School. When it is flying that low, the most noticeable features are the American flag on the tail and how quiet the engines are. "Air Force 1" referee to any plane that is equipped to transport the President of the United States. If  you want to read more about Air Force 1 or even sign up to receive email communication from the White House, follow this link.

Yesterday was the perfect weather to be out flying around. The sky was sunny and clear. Greensboro is a perfect destination for Air Force 1, because it is only about an hour from Washington, D.C. and the air traffic around Greensboro is light. If you want to see Air Force 1,  mid-afternoons when the skies are clear, hang out near the airport and look up when you hear a plane. If you see one with four engines and a flag up by the vertical stabilizer and rudder, it is Air Force 1.

Happy Wednesday!

The Day the Vaccine Came to Town

Last Thursday, when we were driving along Oakland Avenue to secure a photo of the Rolane Factory Outlet, before it gets transformed into housing, we snapped the above photo. At first, the tagging/graffiti on the rail cars is what caught our attention. However, upon closer inspection, beyond the colorful words that we couldn't read, we found legible words: Cryo-trans; the other side of the car had the slogan, "Protecting Today's Perishables For Tomorrow." A little internet searching revealed that The Cryo-Trans Company has refrigerated and insulated railcars to transport refrigerated and frozen goods.  The prefix "Cryo" comes from Green meaning "ice, cold, chill, and frost."  "Trans" comes from Latin meaning "across." So Cryo-Trans" is the perfect name for a company that transports, across country, items that need to be stored at a cool/cold temperature.

Curiously, almost exactly four year ago, in February 2017, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was stopped on this same railroad track in Greensboro on its trans-national farewell tour. At the time we drove by the circus trains, there was a man cleaning the garbage off the trucks while the performers were across the tracks performing at the Greensboro Coliseum.  We don't have proof, but we're guessing that the above rail car had stopped in this same spot to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the Coliseum. This time, instead of a person cleaning out railcars, a man was parked in a truck beside the railcar who was there before and after our photo shoot at the Rolaine Sock Factory. Perhaps, he was guarding the vaccine. Our best guess about this serendipitous encounter on January 21st 2021 is that we were witnessing the COVID-19 vaccine coming to town. It reminded us that Greensboro came by its nickname, "The Gate City" honestly, and so much of what comes and goes by rail is documentation of fleeting moments in time.

Triad City Beat & Thomas Sayre's Greenway Art

Today is a special day on so many levels. First, a loyal reader suggested we photograph the above Greenway artwork and mentioned that it is especially attractive near sunset. Second, we serendipitously met up with Carolyn de Berry, staff photographer for Triad City Beat (TCB), who was on location taking photos for TCB. Carolyn was with her son, Lliam Robinson.  Third, we found something new being constructed downtown, fulfilling the request of a loyal reader.

Carolyn and Lliam: Carolyn relocated from Connecticut to Greensboro to attend Guilford College, where she majored in psychology.  Also trained as a commercial photographer, Carolyn has been a photographer at TCB since the paper was first established seven years ago. Carolyn looks for good, interesting, and newsworthy Triad subjects to feature. Her photos are published in TCB weekly. The intellectually curious, outdoor-loving Lliam is a student at New Garden Friend's School.

The artwork: The earthcastings, the trio of sculptures to the righ,t are by Raleigh artist Thomas Sayre. Sayre and his team installed them in late November. They are located near Guilford Avenue and Westerwood Tavern on the path of the Downtown Greenway. In the News & Record article about these concrete structures, Sayre is quoted as saying, "The greenway is about finding your way through downtown Greensboro [and i]n some ways I see the cairns as stacked stones that for centuries humans have used to find our way" (Kane, Nov. 17, 2020). The greenway project is progressing nicely and is anticipated to be completed in 2022.

If you are looking something fun to do, you can't beat urban exploring. And, who knows, you just may run into Carolyn and Lliam or David and me! It was so special finally meeting each other.

Skating

Today's photo features the "pop-up" skating rink in downtown Greensboro. It is located in the parking lot, just west of Elm Street accessible from Lewis Street. You can see the Eugene Street traffic heading into town above the rink. The rink was not very crowded yesterday, but the middle and high school students out on the rink seemed to be having fun. The Piedmont Winterfest is technically located at 123 West Lewis Street. The rink will be open until January 31st. According to the schedule on their website, skating will be open today from noon until 4pm, closed on Christmas Day and then open again on December 26th from noon-10pm. The cost is $12 for a one hour and forty five minute session and you can pre-purchase tickets, which is a good idea since they have to limit the crowds for safety.

Beautiful Star

Tonight is the night that Jupiter and Saturn should align in a way to create a "beautiful star". Together, they will reflect light in a way that has not been seen for centuries. It might be partly sunny in Greensboro. However, maybe we will get lucky and be able to view this phenomenon just after sunset and in the southwest sky. In the above cell photo from last week, you can see the moon to the left and the tiny speck between the trees is Jupiter up front and Saturn, faintly visible behind it. If you look to the horizon, you can see that that the horizon still had a little glow from the recently setting sun.

Tonight, the moon will be a first quarter moon. If you know of a "best viewing spot", please let us know. There will also be 5-10 shooting stars per hour, if visibility is on our side.

Night will come in Greensboro a little after 5pm. See you outside!

Greensboro Trombone Ensemble

The Greensboro Trombone Ensemble played at the Light the Night event in downtown Greensboro this past weekend. While the Festival of Lights was cancelled for this year, there were a few groups set up throughout town and it was very easy to socially distance and meander up and down South Elm Street listening to music. The Light the Night had sort of a "First Friday" feel.

UNCG has a really strong School of Music and so there are many ensembles for different instruments and genres in Greensboro. Under normal circumstances, students are always offering concerts as part of their course and degree requirements. It was a real treat to hear the brass ensemble with the sound bouncing between Schiffman's Jewelry Store and Triad Stage. If you ever get a chance to hear the Trombone Ensemble, you will be in for a treat. Perhaps you already have heard them.

Have a great Tuesday.

Guilford College Students Protesting

Guilford College students staged a protest yesterday along Guilford College Road, in front of New Green Friends Meeting. Students are very upset to be losing some of their favorite professors and also losing many of their liberal arts majors. Over the nearly 200-year history of the Quaker-founded college, the liberal arts have been at the core of the institution. Students stated that they wish they had been more included in the process for deciding what majors to retain and how to raise money for the college. Those student protestors were so articulate and passionate about their educational experience at Guilford College. 

A key symbol of  Guilford College is a great black oak. One fell in the 1990s and former Guilford President Bill Rogers drew the tree, and his drawing became the logo that is still in use today.*  Mature trees abound on the campus. One of the many memorable signs held by the students yesterday  said, "The tree is dying." Of course, "You fired my favorite professor" also hit home about the hurt felt by many of the stakeholders, especially the faculty, staff, and students. Downsizing decisions are never easy. Let's hope somehow between now and the final vote in February a financial windfall comes their way. Let's do it for the students, especially the ones who are committed to the liberal arts!

* reference and additional information, here.

Guilford Quakers

Guilford College was founded by Quakers on 349-wooded acres in 1837. The college is located at the corner of West Friendly Avenue and Guilford College Road. It is one of 15 Quaker colleges, universities and study centers in the world (see list here) and the only one in the southern region of the United States.

Guilford College has always been known for its strong liberal arts education and the core values of community, diversity, equity, excellence, integrity, justice, and stewardship. At least in the pre-COVID era, one could stroll along campus and learn about the school's role in the Underground Railroad and other activities centered around the Civil Rights Movement. You could see a greenhouse, young farmers, and sustainable agriculture practices. 

Financial hard times are causing the administration to cut costs and eliminate positions and academic programs. Nineteen of its 42 academic majors are recommended to be eliminated (reference). If you are in the financial position to do some good in the world, here are some ways to give to Guilford College. This institution, with an 183-year history of academic greatness in Greensboro, deserves not only to be around for its bicentennial, but to be thriving in 2037. Let us know if you are able to donate. While Greensboro Daily Photo doesn't generate revenue, we would love to know we played a part in keeping the Guilford Quakers in Greensboro! Happy Tuesday.

Vote!

All is quiet on the corner of Lewis Street and the 600 block of South Elm Street. At this storefront awaits a new business, the owners have brown paper over the windows and a message to VOTE! It will be interesting to see the election results for Guilford County. Our county has voted Democratic in the last four presidential elections and Republican in 2000- when George W. Bush was running. 

Hopefully, you have either already voted, or you intend to vote today. There is no school today. If you are home with children, today is a good day to teach them about civic rights and responsibilities. Have a great Tuesday. Regardless of election results, it will be nice to see the campaign signs disappear from the lawns of Greensboro. If you are working at the polls, thank you for your service!

It's Pumpkin Patch Time at Guilford College UMC

Yesterday, the Pumpkin Patch at the Guilford College United Methodist Church attracted people all day long. The weather was lovely and the selection was plentiful. The Pumpkin Patch is a fundraiser for the youth groups at the church. It was nice to see teens helping at the event and gaining an appreciation for how much work goes into raising money for their group. 

At the Guilford College UMC, the selection is plentiful. The tiny white pumpkins were running out as we were there yesterday, as were the ones with "character"' in other words, the non-traditional pumpkins. However, the traditional orange variety were plentiful- in all sizes. Almost every family with small children took lots of photos. Some families even dressed up so that baby's first, fall pumpkin patch photos would be just perfect.  To be sure, many memories are being made in this pumpkin patch and the youth group is making money. The church is located at the corner of Fleming and Guilford College Road. They are open Monday - Saturday from 10am-7pm and on Sundays from 1-7pm. Stop by if you want to get in the spirit of  the season. Happy Sunday!

Opening Day of The Summit, on Highway 68

The Summit has been a portable church meeting at Oak Ridge Elementary School. With a membership of about 1,000, the Summit has long been ready for its own building. Well, today is opening day for this glorious facility on Highway 68. When we were on site yesterday, Pastor Andy and his family drove into the parking lot to introduce themselves (and probably to figure out who was in the lone car in the parking lot on a Saturday. He informed us that, locally,  this is actually the third Summit, with one in Jamestown and one in Kernersville. If you want to attend tomorrow, on opening day, be fore to go online and get an event ticket. They have services at 9:00 and 11:00 am, and likely, both services will be at COVID capacity. You can also watch online. Here is a link to their website. Surely, this homecoming or incoming, will be a glorious event for all involved. All the best to the congregation and staff. "New" is a most exciting and hopeful of times.

Greensboro Votes!

Early voting is upon up. Above is a photo of the early voting station at Bur-Mil Park was taken yesterday. Before the polls opened, the park was an ocean of people and a sea of signs. If you look through the trunks of the trees, you can see part of the line. Once the polls opened at 8am, it took about an hour to get through the line and finish voting. By the time the first wave of voters had finished and people headed to work, lines started shrinking.

Regardless of how we vote, it is our civic duty to vote. Please note, this year, there are no "I voted early" stickers and there is no electronic voting in Greensboro. Bring a pen with black ink or, if you forget, they have pens. Be prepared to bubble in your candidates. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order with political affiliation clearly stated. 

Here is the early voting schedule and list of sites for Greensboro.

People of Greensboro: Beverly Ramsey, Maskmaker

Since May, Beverly Ramsey has made over 4,000 masks and gives them away every Sunday, starting at 10:00 am. Quickly, they are gone. Beverly is an early childhood educator (and also a paralegal) who lost her position when COVID came along and childcare centers had to close. To focus on something productive, she recruited her mom to help her sew masks. Beverly first started using up the cotton fabric from her sewing room and made about 75 masks a week. Lately, she has been sewing 350 a week, which, even she admits, is a little daunting. Now, Beverly purchases fabric and focuses on a weekly theme. The theme for the past week was baseball. Previous themes have been, voting, dogs, cats, music, and sharks- to name a few. When we asked her how many she makes a day, she said that she can't really answer that because they set up a sort of assembly line and one day may be a day for cutting fabric and another for sewing. While there is no fee for the masks, she depends on donations to keep the project going. 

On the day we were there, people were thanking Beverly and telling her how much they enjoy the masks. Some were getting masks for family members, friends, and friends of friends. Admittedly, we took a few extra to give to people who weren't able to get out and get one for themselves.Greensboro is so lucky to have people like Beverly who help bring people together and are community oriented. Beverly says she loves hanging out in her yard on Sunday mornings, enjoying the fellowship with people who stop by for masks. This mask maker extraordinaire lives on Sylvan Road in Sunset Hills, just off Elam. Let's hope she receives enough donations to continue offering masks to the community and help get us through the COVID times. Also, as businesses start reopening, let's hope someone needs a very generous, community-oriented early childhood educator or paralegal! 

Artisans Mercantile

The Artisans Mercantile by Sweet Tea Studio hopes to open in October. They will have 40 vendors in a store that will be brimming with things for the home and a place to gather. The store located at the corner of Golden Gate Drive and State Street. You may remember the Saltbox, formerly in this location. The Saltbox was Greensboro's "go to place" for artists' trunk shows, amazing fall candles, hand-crafted lighting, folk art, and so much more. It closed in 2012, after being in business for 38 years. Next, a dance studio moved in to this space. Now, the building will go back to being more like the Saltbox, a shopping destination with ample parking behind it. 

State Street is a Greensboro Street with the feel of a quiet North Carolina beach community: cozy shops, not much traffic, and very walkable. Eclectic by Nature, Vida Pour Tea, and Yamamoto Jewelry are a few of the businesses that have believed in State Street for a very long time. Many new businesses have opened over the last few years. Hopefully, Artisans Mercantile will be part of the reinvigoration of this part of town and will be around for a very long time. It is always nice to see new life breathed into a building.

Tobacco Harvesting Time in North Carolina

The above photo features a field of tobacco in the westernmost part of Guilford County. It is time to harvest tobacco; and, harvesting can be brutal when the weather is hot.The bottom leaves are harvested first and, when done by hand, is backbreaking work.  Since the Civil War, tobacco has been a big crop for North Carolina. However, after World War II, interest in agriculture in general has declined in the state. And with education about the harmful nature of smoking tobacco, use has decreased.

Greensboro has an interesting history with tobacco. A tobacco factory opened in 1881 and local production peaked here in 1890. Tobacco production had its ups and downs in the 20th century. In 1954, Guilford County was 4th in the state in tobacco production.  In the late 1970s, Greensboro had two tobacco warehouses, but both were closed by 1984. By 1990, there were only 644 tobacco farmers in Guilford County and local production fell to 25th in the state. Ed Williams' 1990 article in the "News and Record", updated in 2015, is one of our references for today's post, and is a really good place to start if you want to learn more about Greensboro's relationship with the tobacco industry. Read here.

It is fun to drive around and see if you can find a tobacco field and and old tobacco barn. If you know someone in the industry, it is really interesting to see the sticks hanging in the barn before and after the tobacco is cured. Seeing a field like the one above sure takes a person back to the old-time ways, back when tobacco barns, mules, and tobacco plants were seemingly everywhere.   

Here is a document prepared by NC State and suggested for use by school teachers.

Downtown Street Time for Pedestrians

Downtown Greensboro is closing off sections of South Elm Street to give people a chance to dine and walk out of doors. The above photo was taken last night, and the same event will be happening tonight. If you want to get out and walk a little bit, maybe even get a bite to eat, Greensboro is making every effort to allow you to socialize and be safe.

The above photo was taken in the 300 block of South Elm Street, across from Cheesecakes by Alex. People are dining outside at 1618 downtown and at Jerusalem Market. Look how beautiful Greensboro looks on a warm summer day! The streets got busier as the even went on, but never overly crowded. The sign from Miller Furniture Company remains as a backdrop, even though the store has been gone since 2007. As an aside, Miller Furniture Company was family-owned and open from 1893- 2007; 114 years!

Rotary Club Carousel at Natural Science Center: Soft Opening

Yesterday, the glass garage doors were lifted and people were trying out the Carousel at the Natural Science Center. Only a few were riding yesterday, including the little guy and his dad at the pink flamingo. August 20-23 are the "by invitation only" donor days. The member preview for the Greensboro Science Center members is August 24th-25th. The grand opening for the public is Wednesday August 26th. The cost is $2 for the general public and $1 for science center members. Masks and social distancing is required.

The project was initiated by and largely funded to commemorate 100 years of the Rotary Club of Greensboro. The club in our city dates to 1917 and is one of the earliest clubs- founded only 12 years after Rotary International was founded. If you want to keep up with the happenings at the carousel, it has its own Facebook page (Rotary Club of Greensboro Carousel).

Happy Saturday! May these last ten days of August be special. You have ten more days to have a watermelon milk shake at Cook-Out, the perfect item for a pre- or post- visit to the Greensboro Science Center and a carousel ride!

Protest at the Home of the Postmaster General

Irving Park, one of Greensboro's oldest and most established neighborhoods, is not accustomed to seeing protests. Yesterday, at 2:00 pm, a peaceful protest was held there at the home of the Postmaster General of the United States, Louis DeJoy. A few hundred people peacefully assembled, all wearing masks, and many holding up signs, expressing concerns about the changes Mr. DeJoy is making to the organization. Mr. DeJoy's position is that he is making the postal service more efficient and fiscally sound.

It is interesting to know that someone of such national significance lives right here in Greensboro. It is hard to believe that three years have passed already since President Trump visited Mr. DeJoy and his wife, Aldona Wos in 2017 (see here).