Greensboro Daily Photo

State Street Is Changing Before Our Eyes

State Street is changing before eyes. The above construction is happening at the corner of State Street and Roseland Street. This work was being done yesterday, meaning that this building should be occupant-ready with a blink of an eye. Formerly, there was a tan, one story house on this corner and it was looking very tired. As this district brings in new businesses, it will continue to rebrand itself and attract new shoppers and clients. There are at least 30 businesses in the area and offerings range from salons and offices to coffee and tea shops and cute boutique shops. We can't wait to see how the above construction adds to the revitalization of this block.  Stay tuned!

Happy Thursday!

March Madness Is Upon Us!

March Madness is upon us and North Carolina is a basketball state. The above photo is a display in a local Harris Teeter store on North Battleground Avenue. If we're reading the brackets correctly, the following women's teams are competing: High Point University, UNC Greensboro, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, and Duke In the men's bracket, we have UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Wilmington, Duke and High Point University. If you are a basketball enthusiast, it is so much fun to don your school colors and head to a local sports bar. They will be packed and people will be cheering on their favorite teams. Jake's Billiards, Cooper's Ale House, Mac's Speed Shop, and Rody's are a few of the many places that will be hopping. Alternatively, you can grab some snacks at a local grocery store and invite people over to your house. A lot of people will have their choices on their t-shirts, in their yards, and on their cars.

The ACC Tournament has a long history with Greensboro and with North Carolina. Greensboro has hosted ACC tournament games more than any other city. If you want to read more about the ACC schedule, in all sports, see this article HERE. The ACC is always a great prelude to the playoff games. 

With so many heavy topics in the news these days, friendly-ish sports rivalries can be a much appreciated diversion. Who are you hoping will win this year? 

Happy Wednesday!

Fordhams Inside

Yesterday, we featured the exterior of Fordhams Cleaners. Today, we share an interior photo, at least how it looked on Saturday afternoon. 1900 Spring Garden Street just won't be the same without Fordhams. It was started in 1947 by Woodrow Fordham and managed to have a 78-year run. They did everything from clean draperies, wedding dresses and formalwear to wash and fold laundry. If you still need a good, old-fashioned dry cleaners, try Snow White. We featured them in 2009, the first year of Greensboro Daily Photo and they seem to still be going strong. (See HERE).

We've tagged this under the "then and now" category and will watch with great interest to see what this building becomes. That HVAC system looks like a giant, silver spider.

Happy Tuesday!

MJ Broadway Play at Tanger Center

Yesterday,  was the closing day for "MJ" the Broadway play about the life of singer, dancer, and entertainer Michael Jackson. This jukebox musical follows his career and personal struggles from Gary, Indiana to international stardom. The music, acting, scenery and lighting were superb. It helped us understand why it is so expensive to stage a play.  "MJ" attracted large audiences and the demographic seemed to be younger than many. Michael Jackson has already been gone for 16 years, and his music dates back 40 years ago; however his impact on music, performing, and pop culture will be around forever.

The above photo features a matinee crowd this weekend during intermission. The lobby of the Tanger Center is a generous space with ample lighting, especially by day. As you can see, people were milling about, socializing, having their photo taken with one of the banners from the show, and, of course catching up on a little screen time. Also, people were in line to get drinks and to use the bathroom. Next time we are at Tanger, we are going to count bathroom stalls in the women's room. We think they actually have more stalls than Buc-ee's! Tanger opened nearly four years ago in 2021. We overheard someone saying she couldn't imagine Greensboro without Tanger. 

We read a BBC article this weekend about a Chinese village making a QR code out of trees so that people flying over can scan the image and learn about the village. (See HERE). We had this thought for Tanger guests to get in formation to create a QR code to advertise Tanger Center. We're thinking the QR photo could be taken from the balcony here and put on posters for fun. If they do it, you heard it first on Greensboro Daily Photo. 

Happy Monday!

It Will Be Baseball Season in a Little Over a Month.

Baseball season is almost upon us. The Greensboro Grasshoppers have their first game on Friday, April 5, 2025, against Asheville.* It is a home game and will be played at First National Bank Field. The above photo of the venue was taken from the back side of the stadium at Bellemeade. This stadium replaced the War Memorial Stadium on Yanceyville on April 3, 2005. So this year's opening day will be 20 years and 2 days since the first pitch was thrown in the above stadium. You may remember the controversy surrounding opening a new stadium; however, largely, people are in agreement that is was the right move to bring baseball downtown.

The 2025 schedule is shared below. We hope you will have time to take in a game and participate in the many special events in the stadium. When you are inside, watching the game, it really does feel like the all American thing to do. In the meantime, we will all need to find other things to do for the next month. We've got the whole weekend to see what, serendipitously, will come our way.

Happy Saturday!

*See schedule HERE.

Desegregation of the Greensboro City Schools

The Greensboro City Schools were desegregated in 1971. Last night, four local residents, who attended school during the early years of desegregation, shared their personal experiences  to Beta Delta, a Greensboro chapter of NC Delta Kappa Gamma, a society of key women educators. Chapter President April Dunovant and Andrea Green, Vice President and Chair of the Educational Excellence Committee, assembled the panel. From left to right, Elaine McRae, Ragsdale High School; David Moore, Dudley High School; Dr. Joanna Evans Lynn, Dudley High School; Francine Scott, Dudley High School (and UNCG).  Elaine spoke about how her high school experience in an integrated school was very good, but only learned recently that the experience was not always as positive for her African American classmates. David Moore and Dr. Lynn both have books about their experiences. Mr. Moore talked about how the Dudley students were not completely on board with the idea. He also said that many of the white students that came to Dudley were from the White Oak Mill Community. As it turned out, the White Oak students were grateful for their Dudley experience because of the great course offerings available at Dudley.  Dr. Lynn worked in the Virginia Public Schools teaching during the first year of integration. Francine Scott graduated from Dudley and also worked there.

The Beta Delta members were very engaged and had several questions for this informative panel.  It is  important to remember our history and use what we have learned to make the future better. Having conversations with diverse groups about their life experiences helps us grow in unexpected ways.  We are really lucky the above four were willing to share their wisdom.

Happy Thursday!

 

Back Stage Coffee Shop, Greensboro's Latest Gathering Spot

Greensboro’s newest coffee shop, Back Stage, is located next to the Continental Club, just south of Gate City Boulevard on South Elm Street. Conveniently situated near a spacious gravel parking lot, it offers ample off-street parking. Another amenity is that the shop features a large back room, available for community groups to host music performances and other events. One such event took place on Saturday;  a group gathered in the back room to discuss the contested election (Nov. 5, 2024)  between Jefferson Griffin and incumbent NC State Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs. It remains the only election with uncertified results in the United States.

 Mr. Griffin is seeking to have 60,000+ votes excluded from the count. Those whose votes were in question shared their perspectives on the circumstances leading to this situation and why they believe their votes should be counted. Regardless of political views or voting choices, on Presidents Day, it is important to appreciate the right to peaceably assemble and to have unabridged free speech. This very spacious coffee shop is a venue that will likely be used by many for music,  public dialogue, and other community events.

Cultural Arts Center

Last night, the Greensboro Cultural  Center on Davie Street downtown was a hotbed of activity on First Friday. Galleries and hallways were filled with performing and visual arts. The above photo features the Greensboro Grow Residency Room in the center. Currently in residence is musician Jackie Spade and the room was hopping. Greensboro Grow residencies are available from one to four weeks and, once accepted, use of the space if free to the performing or visual artist. It can be considered an incubator space, or a place to interact and get feedback and publicity for one's craft. 

We serendipitously stumbled on Jackie Spade's performance last night. Sometimes, we research First Friday events and other times, we like just to see what we can see and learn as we go. Thanks to YES! Weekly, we learned that Jackies's Greensboro Grow residency was centered around his new album "Ugly Rose" and the immersive experience is entitled, "Ugly Rose: An Immersive Experience."  The themes of the experience, through the music, were beauty, pain, and personal growth.  If you want to see it for yourself, Jackie's residency continues for two more days. (Read YES! Weekly article here). We are so appreciative of local journalism and want to hold on to every opportunity to learn about local events. So thank you, Yes! Weekly. And, thank you to the City of Greensboro for making Grow Greensboro and Creative Greensboro possible. When these artistic initiatives are brought to the community, people come together and learn about each other and have fun. February's First Friday was so much fun and did not cost a dime!  We wonder what March 7th will bring.

Happy Saturday!

Construction on Highwoods Boulevard

They have made considerable progress on building townhomes on Highwoods Boulevard, between Hobbs Road and Jefferson Village.  One hundred thirty three and four bedroom townhomes are being installed. These homes will be convenient to Jefferson Elementary, Kernodle Middle, Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch Library and all of the shopping in the area. Here is the change from August. At this rate, they will be completed within six months. We wish we had a photo of the land when it belonged to Jefferson-Pilot; however, it changed hands in 1997, twelve years before we started Greensboro Daily Photo. For sure, this process will be archived in our "then and now" category. This particular property is a little over 16 acres. The community will be called Harmon Jefferson Village. We're wondering what the street names will be. Perhaps it is not too late to make suggestions. Stay tuned for the next installment. We would love to know if anyone found and Revolutionary War artifacts on this previously unimproved land. It is in the vicinity.

Happy Tuesday!

February 1, Greensboro Sit Ins

February 1st is a big day in Greensboro, NC, and in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It is the day that four students from NC A&T University walked from the university to the Woolworth store on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro. * Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil,  Ezell Blair, Jr., and David Richmond were four college freshman when they last down at the "whites only" lunch counter at the 5 & dime and declared they would not leave until they were served a cup of coffee.

Now, we know, that day represented more than just a cup of coffee. The above photo features the A&T Four statue on campus on the day celebrating the event. The sculpture is the artwork of Greensboro artist and sculptor James Barnhill.  Head over and see it today. If you are at the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville, you are just a block away!

Happy Saturday!

 

* See information HERE.

Mashburn & Olson at Lucky 32

Yesterday, we posted about the Chip Holton painting in real time at Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen. Today's feature in another photo from Wednesday night at Lucky 32. Every Wednesday, from  6pm-9pm, Jessica Mashburn and Evan Olson treat the guests in the bar area to three hours of great music. For years, they played Wednesdays at Print Works Bistro in the Proximity Hotel. This move, over to Westover Terrace and Lucky 32 seems to be working out well for the duo. When we were there, all of the seats in the back bar area were full. 

Jessica and Evan always put so much energy into their music; truly, they are musicians and performers. Born in Pinehurst, NC to musician parents, Jessica grew up surrounded by music and meeting headliners at festivals like Merlefest. Evan hails from West Point, NY. He is a singer-songwriter who came to North Carolina with his parents, graduated from UNCG, and now makes Greensboro his home. We're always proud when someone local has a Wikipedia entry. We discovered Evan's in preparing this post (link above).  It does need a little updating though, because this fabulous singing duo is now husband and wife team. You should go see them at Lucky 32 or one of their other performances. They are often performing at Grandover, High Point Furniture Market, and  for many private parties.  In addition to her voice, Jessica is known for her outfits, hats, and fascinators!

Happy Friday!

Chip Holton Painting in Real Time at Lucky 32

Last night, we had the good fortune to watch Chip Holton painting at Lucky 32, while Jessica Mashburn and Evan Olson played live music and sang. Consistently, at least a couple or two were dancing to the beat of the music and the strokes of the paint brush. Chip has a lot of artwork at Lucky 32, including the column at the entrance that features scenes of the Greensboro community. Chip is a Lexington, NC based artist, but he does a lot of work in Greensboro. *  He is a second generation artist and artist-in-residence at the O. Henry Hotel.  If you ever get a chance to watch Chip paint, we highly recommend it. He paints quickly and accurately. Last night, we saw him referring to his phone a few times; however, his sense of what to add to a painting in inspiring.

If you ever want something to do on a Wednesday night, head to Lucky 32. Hearing live music and watching Chip paint and people dance, combined with great food and service, is a good way to celebrate the middle of the week. We were hoping to interview Chip, but he was so focused on painting, there was no way we wanted to interrupt him. Wednesday nights at Lucky 32 is a great way to keep it local!

Happy Thursday! 

 

* read more about Chip Holton, HERE.

Brooks Global Studies Elementary School

The New Brooks Global Elementary School opened this month at 400 Ashland Avenue. The Brooks Pandas have relocated from Westover Terrace beside Grimsley and are enjoying their brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. To help orient you, the school's backyard neighbor is the Greensboro Arboretum and the other side is a block off of Walker Avenue, leading to West Market Street. The K-5 school is a 3-story building and 80,000 sq. ft. This lovely classroom is an example of the lighting, furniture, and interior decor. With global studies as the theme, you can bet geography skills feature prominently. The desks have maps on them and the tent cards have names of continents. If you notice, the desks are on wheels, providing so many options to classroom configurations- from small groups, to rows, to a paideia circle. The chairs don't have wheels and, if you have ever taught in an elementary school classroom, you might understand why!

The new school is on a rather small lot- seven acres- however, there is a playground and space for children to play and explore. How wonderful to see this taxpayer money put to such good use. Once you see these new schools in Greensboro, you realize the educational opportunities they provide. The lottery for rising Kindergarten students, Fall 2025, has passed; however if you are interested, you can always submit an application for Fall 2026. The program is so strong and teachers so talented, even in the old facility, space filled quickly.

Road Construction Projects

There has been a lot of road construction taking place around town in January, including the installation of new wires and poles in front of Grimsley High School  at Josephine Boyd Street and Benjamin Parkway. The above work was being completed at the corner of Guilford College Road and West Friendly Avenue, at Guilford College. Seeing the school bus reminds us that a new semester is underway and we need to remember to stop for busses. You never know when children will be running to or from their bus. Here is the link for the website of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Schools on the traditional calendar have a teacher workday today. However, other schools may be in session. So, there will be some busses on the highway. Also, be careful with all of those construction workers on the road. Here's to a great week of navigating around the Greensboro, weather on foot, bicycle or in a car. Also, have a great week if you are staying home.

Happy Monday!

Sayaka Matsouka & Triad City Beat

Featured today is Sayaka Matsouka, managing editor and writer extraordinaire for Triad City Beat (TCB). For the past decade, she has covered current events and timely topics, making TCB a prime example of investigative community journalism. Sayaka is particularly skilled at crafting compelling ledes that draw readers in. Here is a link to the newspaper, where you can explore the newspaper and find articles by Sayaka.

As with most community newspapers, TCB faces the challenges of rising print costs and meeting budget demands. However, Sayaka assures us that regardless of what the future holds for TCB or for community journalism in general, she will continue to report on local issues and tell the stories that matter to the community.

Sayaka, the daughter of first-generation Japanese immigrants, grew up in Greensboro. She attended Summerfield Elementary, Kernodle Middle, Northwest High School, and UNCG. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, practicing yoga, and playing tennis and video games. True to her nature, Sayaka was at a community event the day we captured this photo. Triad City Beat had a table at "Point of Contact," an inauguration-day event focused on community resources held at Scuppernong Books.  As the photo shows, Sayaka’s smile radiates, and her passion for community journalism is clear.

A Big Day in America

Today is a significant day for both Greensboro, North Carolina, and the nation. It marks a federal holiday dedicated to honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the inauguration of President Trump.  Dr. King's birthday was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1983. The last time this holiday coincided with a presidential inauguration was in 1997, during the second term of President Bill Clinton.

Today, we are proud to feature April Dunovant, a person who embodies the finest qualities of both America and its people. April is intelligent, reliable, and a model of integrity. In the image above, she holds her brass plaque of Dr. King, which features a copyright design from 1968 by the Timberlane Trading Company of Greensboro.

When we began searching for someone to highlight today, April was an obvious choice. With 14 years of experience teaching in North Carolina Public Schools, April has spent the last eight years teaching African American History. She also played an instrumental role in developing the African American curriculum for Guilford County Schools, collaborating with two colleagues to create a comprehensive program. Currently, April serves as an academic advisor at the Center for Academic Excellence at North Carolina A&T State University. Additionally, she has developed a course on the history of education for Black students in Greensboro City Schools, which she will begin teaching at Bennett College later this month.

Ever intellectually curious and globally minded, April will soon embark on a ten-day journey to Ghana with Dr. Tiffany Packer. During this trip, she will deepen her understanding of the crucial role Ghana played in the transatlantic slave trade—knowledge she will bring back to her classrooms. Dr. King would undoubtedly be proud of her ongoing commitment to education, history, and the pursuit of justice.

Freedom House Thrift

Yesterday, Freedom House Thrift opened in the former location of Tuesday Morning, on North Battleground in the same plaza where Big Lots is located. They had a smaller store a few doors up; however, that plaza will undergo major renovations and some buildings replaced. The new location must be three times the size for the retail portion and the back room for processing is large. They can process as much as they need there, even prepare bales that must move on to another place.  The store is bright, clean, and impeccably staged with vignettes by master designer Lori Gray. The Greensboro community answered the call to send in donations to stock the store and, at least on opening day, there were plenty of volunteers to wait on customers and to keep restocking shelves. The store actually has well-labeled departments. Other than not having duplicate items, you would think you are in a regular retail store. Everything, except the antiques, is nearly new.

The thrift store is a way for Freedom House to make money to fund their Christ-centered, residential facility for mothers struggling with addiction to receive treatment. Freedom house is a large community where participants work and live together for a year and than graduate, but continue with support and to help each other. It was the vision of  Ann Reilly who got it started in 2006. Nineteen years later, the program continues to thrive. The thrift shop keeps items out of landfills, gives their shoppers great items at a reasonable cost and the money helps women and families in need. Read more about the program HERE, and head to North Battleground to see the new store. And if you do not shop thrift stores, do consider items to this store that is local.

Happy Friday!

 

When It Snows, Make Snow People!

A whole new generation of children in Greensboro learned to  play in the snow and make snowmen this past weekend. The glittering, crowned, character above was made by a a family that lives off of Highway 150, near Lake Brandt. We're pretty sure their grandchild got to delight in the making of this snow person. While only about two inches of snow fell in the Greensboro area, people were very creative with their snow characters.  We even saw a snow dog complete with a curly tail. Prior to recently, January 2022 was the last time it snowed in Greensboro; so, many children don't even remember seeing snow. 

We hope you found a little time to enjoy this recent weather event. It might not be over yet. However, students will return to in-person learning today, leaving all of these snow creatures to continue melting and hoping to come again another winter day. In Guilford County  three new schools have opened this month (Brooks Global Studies, Peck K-8 Expeditionary Learning, and Foust Elementary Gaming and Robotics).  We're betting those students and staff members were anxious to return to their brand new, state-of-the-art, themed learning centers. Dare we say, they are as beautiful as a new fallen snow. The timing seems perfect for winter themed lessons. Perhaps, some students will cut out snowflakes. Remember those? 

Happy Wednesday!

New Construction Along Fisher Ave. & Spring St.

To continue on the "downtown street scene" theme from yesterday's post, above is a view of the signage of the new apartment complex going up at the corner of West Fisher and North Spring Streets. For a while, this has been an underdeveloped part of town, but lately, it is experiencing a Renaissance. This is the best of all worlds; to reclaim land and put it to good use in an already-urban area and to help downtown businesses gain customers. Just beyond this two block-long complex is a string of businesses: Dog Days Boarding Grooming Day Care, Arrowhead Coffee, and Windshield Glass, to name a few.

We can imagine a boost in business for people who need a windshield replaced, a dog groomed, or a good cup of coffee, when all it entails is walking across the street. Oh, the downtown Greenway and Cycles de ORO are just a short walk in the other direction.  If you want to have a look at that part of town, we suggest starting at Arrowhead Coffee, where you can get a good cup of coffee and park and look for free.

Happy Tuesday!

Reflecting on Winter Sunrises in Greensboro

Sunrise is at 7:30 today. Driving around Greensboro, on sunny, winter days, you may notice that it seems as if the sun is always in our eyes. In the northern hemisphere in the winter, the earth's tilt is away from the sun, creating this lower position of the sun on the horizon. This photo shows this intensity. It was taken at 8:30 am, prime rush hour! Sun in our eyes, snow, and cold weather; alas, winter has arrived. According to WFMY News, as of 5:00 am on January 11th, Greensboro had 2.1 inches of snow. Just a little bit north of us (Mayodan, Toast, and Mt. Airy) received between 4-5 inches. Equally challenging were those cold temperatures and winter weather usually lasts through February.

On Friday and today, Guilford County School teachers are teaching remotely, a plan that hasn't been utilized since the COVID Era.  To be sure the central office administrators are doing what they think wisest for the district, making decisions with "an abundance of caution."  And yes, there are GCS employees checking at 3:00 am in various parts of the county to determine road conditions.  We are a big district. While school closures affect businesses and families, at the end of the day, keeping children safe is a top priority. What will the rest of the winter bring? We hope you are safe, warm, and have an understanding boss if you have children at home today and need to stay home with them.

Happy Monday!

Trains Hamburger Square

The North Carolina Railroad was founded in Greensboro by John Motley Morehead. This view of the Hamburger Square area is located just across the railroad tracks of the historic marker we shared the other day, reminding us of our Gate City heritage. Our city was the perfect crossroads for north and south, east and west-bound trains.  The above Norfolk Southern train is headed east, going right past the former Southern Railway Station train depot. The city plans to renovate the building. Originally, it opened in 1899, the building has been closed for several years now. It will be fun to watch it come to life again.

According to Downtown Greensboro,  Inc., the plans are to return the building to a lively bustling, hub of activity (see HERE). While a change in the exterior brick footprint is not expected to change, the former awnings and roofline. This part of downtown has managed to keep its historic profile on the outside, even when interiors get modernized.  There is such beauty in those old brick buildings along South Elm Street. Of course if you venture downtown today, you will see snow and, quite possibly, some businesses closed. Check their social media or call for hours before venturing out.

Happy Saturday!

Remembering President Carter

As per national tradition, federal offices were closed since it was the day of President Carter's funeral.  Flags are still in the half-mast position. The above photo was taken at the Greensboro Veteran's Memorial, located downtown in the spot where Church St., Lindsay Street, and Summit Avenue converge. Specifically, the address is 301 North Church Street. The memorial honors fallen veterans who have died in battles since World War II. It was dedicated on November 10, 2014.*

President Carter won the 1976 election in North Carolina and many people remember him fondly. President Carter's term was from 1977-1981. In 1978, he visited Wake Forest University in Winston Salem to speak on his National Defense Policy. That is the only record we could find of his visiting the Triad during his presidency. While there aren't specific formal connections to Greensboro and President Carter, we're betting there are many personal ones, and if not for political reasons, likely for spiritual and humanitarian reasons. 

*see more information HERE.

Peck Elementary

Peck Elementary School is scheduled to open today. The original Clara J. Peck Elementary School has roots that date back to 1929. Ms. Peck was Greensboro's first public health nurse. The building was erected on a 37 acre lot. The old building still stands in front of the above state-of-the art K-8 school in the Glenwood neighborhood at the corner of Lovett and Florida Streets. The theme of the school is expeditionary learning which focuses on team groupings and learning that is interactive and collaborative.  Reading about the educational model is well worth your while (see HERE). 

The above photo only captures a snippet of the building that looks more like a community college campus than a K-8 public school.  The school is made possible by the bonds passed in Guilford County in 2020 and 2022. See HERE to get a better view of the school as a whole and hear from a teacher who is moved to tears talking about transitioning from the old to new facility and all it will mean to the students who attend.

Happy Monday and Happy First Day in the New School to all of the children who are scheduled to transition to the new facility.

Oath of Office, Maurice "Mo" Green

In the above photo, Maurice "Mo" Green is being sworn in as the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. The event was held at Haynes-Inman Education Center on January 1, 2025. His wife, Stephanie, is holding the Bible and the Hon. N. Carlton Tilley, Jr. is administer the Oath of Officemwas a full-circle moment as Mr. Green, also a lawyer, interned for Mr. Tilley. Before taking the oath, Haynes-Inman Principal Kevin Carr spoke. The education center opened when Mr. Green was superintendent of Guilford County Schools. It is an inclusive school for students that may need special services to accommodate their age, physical, or cognitive abilities. 

Representative Amos Quick gave the invocation. A student led the Pledge of Allegiance and Weaver Academy students sang. Next Alan Duncan spoke;  Leah Carper introduced the oath. After the Honorable Tilley administered the oath, Mr. Green made his inaugural remarks and Magan Gonzales-Smith gave the closing remarks. Speeches were uplifting, provided evidence that Mr. Green is highly qualified, reinforced the notion that teaching is an important profession, and that students deserve the best instruction possible. The whole event reminded us of how nice it is to see the community come together and support public education. It was inspiring to listen to speeches with a powerful message. Everyone who spoke had a personal connection to Mr. Green. We will follow his career with great interest. That heartfelt smile reminds us all to smile.

Happy Friday!

HPU Christmas Display

Greensboro/Guilford County is so lucky to have 6 institutions of higher education-- IHEs  (Bennett College, Greensboro College, Guilford College, High Point University, NCA&T, and UNC Greensboro). While not in Greensboro, High Point University (HPU)  is just down the road and still in the same county. In an era when many IHEs are struggling with declining enrollments, High Point University continues to thrive, adding programs, majors, and buildings before our very eyes. They bill themselves as "the premier life skills university" and is ranked as "the nation's #1 best run college."  Located in the heart of High Point, home of Furniture Market, HPU focuses on majors directly related to the 21st century job market, and it is paying off. 

As a way of giving back to community, for a week at Christmas, they host a drive-through light show. It is a fabulous way to see the campus and to celebrate Christmas. The light show boasts more than 100,000 lights, 235 12'tall nutcrackers, a life-size Nativity scene, and the state's tallest Christmas tree, a whopping 70' tall.  Today, we're featuring the nativity scene on this, the 5th day of Christmas on the Advent calendar.

High Point University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, that founded the then-college in 1924. Oh, how this university has grown over the last 100 years. They bill themselves as Christian by tradition and interfaith by vision. We are so glad we finally got to see the Christmas display. It is a fabulous way to tour the campus. Unfortunately, the light show is finished for the season. It will take a while to disassemble and be ready for spring semester. In the meantime, we're wondering where the 235 12' nutcrackers are stored for the year.

Happy Sunday!

The Legacy of the Wagoners Selling Christmas Trees

The Wagoners first got involved in trees through a 4-H project back in the 1940s. The Wagoners planted red cedars in Gibsonville to help raise money for their 16-year0old twins for college. Over the last 35 years, Greensboro residents have come to associate the name Fred and Dot Wagoner with Christmas tree lots.  The Wagoner business is now owned by Bradley Lowe who continues to use the Wagoner name. From arriving to the tree lot, under the multiple story inflatable snowman, to getting a Christmas tree wrapped and loaded in the car, the whole process of buying a live tree is meant to be a memory-maker for families. 

The above lot is located in the 1600 block of Battleground Avenue, beside Shannon Lee Furniture and the former location of McKay's Books.  You can't miss it. When we saw the lot on Friday, there were plenty of trees; however, we don't know how much longer they'll be set up. It is so much fun watching the little ones run through a tree lot. Fred died in 2011 and Dot died in 2020. * They are gone, but their legacy lives on.

Happy Monday! Happy day before Christmas Eve.

*See Dot's obituary, HERE.

Whirlie Nation... Grimsley High State 4A Football Champs!

Last night, the Grimsley Whirlie football team played the high-school 4A championship game against Rolesville High School Rams from Wake County. The above photo features the team sendoff this afternoon leaving from the Grimsley campus. Students, parents, and the press were on hand as the team marched from campus to the busses. Coach Darell Brown, a few players, and the principal spoke and gave words of gratitude.  The players, drum line, dancers, and cheerleaders all marched up through campus and the team headed in the busses, up Westover Terrace and turning right onto Wendover east.

The game was played at Kenan Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The Whirlies led the whole way, with a final score of 35-23.  There were some fantastic plays during the game. This is not only a great day for Grimsley High School, it is a great day for Greensboro. For sports fans, there is a lot of pride knowing we have the best 4A football team in the state. Congratulations to everyone involved in helping Grimsley remain such a great place to learn and play sports. Coach Brown has done so much for the football program and it has paid off.

Happy Saturday!

The Running of the Balls 2024

Tonight's the night, the annual Running of the Balls in Sunset Hills. The 5K race will start at 6:00 p.m. in the dark, through the Greensboro neighborhood that garnered national attention for filling the mature trees with these round balls of  colorful light.  Tonight marks the 12th year of the event and nearly 50,000 people have participated. According to their website, over 10,000 balls have been hung and the community fundraiser have made possible nearly 6,000,000 meals through Second Harvest Food Bank. That is an impressive number and the display the neighborhood installs is equally impressive. Indeed, we are Greensboro proud, and we don't even live in this great neighborhood. 

You may remember, earlier in the month, we interviewed the family that lives in the above photo. Their home, alone, is installing 65 balls. The display is so much prettier in person than it is in this photograph. If you are local, you'll have to get out an see for yourself. However, don't go tonight, unless, of course, you have signed up for the race. If you are looking for a great place to live, consider Greensboro... consider Sunset Hills. Oh, if you do move into a home in this neighborhood, there is an unwritten expectation for you to participate in this event.

Happy Saturday!

Downtown Greensboro INC

Downtown Greensboro, Inc. helps with economic development in the downtown area. Their boundaries are Spring Street to the west, Murrow Boulevard to the east, Fisher Avenue to the north, and Gate City Boulevard to the south. They were incorporated 28 years ago in 1996 and develop programs that encourage people to work, play, invest, and live downtown. Their commitment is to help downtown thrive when so many businesses have moved to more suburban areas. One of their current projects is developing the Gaylon Depot into a marketplace, food hall and public gathering space (see HERE). The Downtown Greensboro, Inc. website is a wealth of information, if you want to learn more,  see HERE.

Today's photo features their float in the recent Holiday parade. The Market Street sign anchors the photo at the crossroad with Elm Street. We recognize Zach Matheny, Keith Holliday, and Joseph Schorr, but aren't sure of other staff members. Here is a list of some of the downtown events some of which are yet to come. Indeed, we have a vibrant, downtown community and it continues to evolve each year. Thank you for all you do, Downtown Greensboro, Inc.!

Happy Wednesday!

The Greensboro Holiday Parade

The Greensboro Holiday Parade was held this past Saturday (12/7/24) and while the weather was cold, it was sunny and enthusiasm was high. The above photo was taken at what we refer to as Greensboro's epicenter. The crossover of Market and Elm Street is the point that separates north/south (Elm) and east/west (Market). The iconic building in the background is the Jefferson Standard Building, built in 1922. At 374 ft. tall with 18 floors, when it was build, it was the tallest building between Atlanta and Washington D.C. 

In the foreground, you see children smiling, and they were from noon- 2:00 p.m. when the parade ended. The soccer ball was part of the float entry by the Guilford Futbol Club. Based on the children on the float, it looks like they have teams for children of all ages. The man navigating the inflatable soccer ball was encouraging little ones to kick it, which was a hit with all the children standing near us. Downtown Greensboro was hopping with energy this whole weekend. Let's hope the foot traffic continues through the season.

Happy Monday!

Let It Snow!

Above is a glimpse of the dusting of snow on the ground in Greensboro yesterday morning. Just like that, temperatures dipped into the 20s and with the cool air, a little snow appeared in the night. Don't be fooled though, the roads were icy. There were several accidents and some roads were closed. The call came in about 4:30 am for Guilford County Schools to be on a three hour delay. By 8:30, the decision was made to cancel school today. It was probably best to not have busses full of children on the roads or high school students driving. We'll see what today brings. Anticipated temperatures are between lows in the 20s to highs in the 40s with temperatures warming by Sunday.

In December, once it gets this cold, winter clothing and Christmas sweaters appear. The temperatures will certainly make it feel like Christmas for those who will be downtown on Friday evening for the Festival of Lights and on Saturday for the Christmas parade.

Happy Wednesday!

Small Business Saturday at Just Be

Small business seems to have been a success in downtown Greensboro where all of the retail stores are small businesses. The above photo features Joseph Leonard of WFMY-2 News who was interviewing Kathryn Hashemi of Just Be. Just Be is a carefully curated gift shop at the corner of McGee and South Elm Street. Kathryn has owned Just Be for about six years, but the store has been going strong in that location since 2005.  The store is a perfect blend of items crafted by local artists to international, fair trade items. Jewelry, great candles, scarves, clothing, and puzzles are just a few of the items in the store. She also has quite a selection for small children. She is so personable and prides herself in knowing her regular customers and what they like. Some of us go in and ask "What's new that we need Kathryn?" and she usually quickly finds something perfect that we end up purchasing.

After Joseph was finished interviewing Kathryn, we interviewed him for Greensboro Daily Photo. Originally from Lexington, South Carolina. Joseph is a multi-media journalist with a degree from the University of South Carolina, now working for WFMY. He is so personable and interviewing him and being interviewed by him feels like talking to an old friend. Yes, he turned the tables on us for a quick interview about what we find special about shopping the small businesses. Of course we said the connection to the people who start out as proprietors and quickly become friends- like Kathryn.

Happy Tuesday! Three more sleeps until the Festival of Lights!

Opt Outside & the Really, Really Free Market

After preparing yesterday's post, we decided to dig a little deeper to learn about REI's # Opt Outside initiative. By closing their stores on Black Friday, 15,000 employees have the opportunity to spend time outside. They launched the initiative in 2015 and they encourage the nation, especially their 24 million members to have that mindset. (read more HERE).

The Really, Really Free Market on Black Friday is also an initiative with a purpose driven mindset. Greensboro's first Really, Really Free Market was  in 2008, offering people an alternative to mass consumption.  Kathy Clark,- in the red overalls in the above photo, welcoming us to the market in previous years-  replicated the market that started in Miami and Raleigh in 2003.*  At the Really, Really Free Market, people bring items to give away and everyone is free to take what they want. You do not have to barter, exchange, or even talk to anybody about what you are taking.  And, indeed, you never know what you're going to get. Today's event if from 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. at 1312 Glenwood Avenue. The Glenwood neighborhood remains committed to this event, and is hosting it again this year. By the time the event starts, so many items will available; however, people will be bringing items all throughout the event. So many of us have an abundance of items we don't need, use, or wear. It is so nice to send them on to someone who would really appreciate them. 

So, today, you can spend the day outside, biking, hiking, walking, and swing by the free market. They day can be so meaningful, without being part of mass consumerism. If you are going to make retail purchases, remember, tomorrow is Small Business Saturday; you can get a jump start on it a day early.

Happy, Not-So Black Friday!

*read more about the Really, Really Free Market  HERE in Triad City Beat).

Sunset Hills Getting Ready for "The Running of the Balls"

The neighbors of Sunset Hills are out getting ready for displaying their lights. In the above photo, Jay and River Jung were out with their fishing poles yesterday afternoon, getting their strands of light balls hurled into the tops of trees. Their technique it to cast a fishing pole, with a carabiner clip on the end into the trees. Once they loop the fishing live over, they attach a string of lights to the line. They get about 3 strands completed a night, and, when completed, will have 65 lights in their yard alone. They said they knew when buying a house on Ridgeway Avenue four years ago that they would have to be "all in" with the light balls. 

So, just know, if you participate in "The Running of the Balls" or, if you drive through Sunset Hills to see the lights, that residents take a lot of pride and joy in knowing how much others appreciate their efforts. The whole project is a big fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank. the Greensboro area struggles with food insecurity, and every non-perishable item donated, every entry fee, and every dollar donated goes to a worthy cause. People in-person, as opposed to screen time, really makes a community feel special and, Sunset Hills is just that, a special community. Drive by and see for yourself. Thank you to the Jung family and to everyone else who participates in this holiday tradition.

Happy Tuesday!

Sunset Hills at Sunset

We don't usually post nature photos two days in a row, but yesterday's sunset was so beautiful. This is an east-facing view of Sunset Hills yesterday, a little after 5:00 p.m. The western sky was a fiery red glow, but something about the pink tint cast here was so warm and calming. The archway shows you one of the many architectural details found in this well-established neighborhood. Sunset Hills was first established in the mid 1920s and has continued to be a popular neighborhood for the last 100 years. Development here continued through the 1950s. Over the last couple decades, the trend has been to take the smaller houses and add on to them, as is the case with the above home.  In an earlier iteration, it was a one-story, red brick home without a two car garage.

While visiting in the neighborhood, yesterday, we were reminded that next week, Sunset Hills residents will once again be shooting those round, chickenwire light balls way high in the trees. This has been a Sunset Hills tradition for over a decade. Twelve years ago, the annual, 5K run/walk was instituted beneath a breathtaking canopy of lights. Nearly 50,000 people have participated in "The Running of the Balls" and almost 6 million meals have been provided via Second Harvest. We don't know if they are still accepting reservations for the December 12th event (see HERE). We do know, if you want a calm, unadorned chance to enjoy a walk through the neighborhood, you might want to do so soon, as it is about to be the most jolly, festive, adorned time of year for this neighborhood with so much character.

Happy Tuesday!

150 Trees Recently Planted at Bennett College

Do you see that young magnolia tree? It is one of 150 trees planted on the campus of Bennett College on November 2nd. In collaboration with with Greensboro Beautiful, volunteers planted these trees-- a combination of willow oaks, white oaks, cherry laurel, sugar maple, and southern magnolias. They were planted to help restore historic and native trees that have been lost over the years.  Bennett staff member, Dr. Anne Hayes, Executive Director of Global & Interdisciplinary Studies at Bennett,  coordinated the partnership with Greensboro Beautiful.  

Greensboro Beautiful is a 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1968 with the purpose of conserving and enhancing the beauty and ecology of Greensboro. According to Christina Larson, Chair of Greensboro Beautiful's Executive Committee, there was actually enough space on the Bennett campus to plant over 200 trees; however, 150 seemed very special since this is the 150th anniversary of the founding of this historically black college for women in east Greensboro. Current Bennett students should take their photo with these trees, return to Founders Weekends in the future and monitor how much the trees have grown. They can show their children and grandchildren their photos with the trees over the decades.  Bennett College is a small, liberal arts college that provides students with many special experiences such as the tree planting, interaction with Fulbright scholars, and the She Wellness Pods we wrote about last week.  By the way, the green container is the back of the wellness pods.

Happy Wednesday, dear readers!

Ruth Rachel Roberts

Ruth Rachel Roberts died on August 16, 2017, at the age of 96. She would have been 103 this year. The above photo was taken at the estate sale held at her home on 4235 Ashland Drive. We wish we'd met Ruth*  and interviewed her for GDP; she lead such a long and interesting life.  We are grateful for our friend, local singer/performer Jessica Mashburn, for urging us to attend the estate sale.  Jessica was right. The house and its contents are quite a time capsule and window into Ruth's life that was as full as her house. Ruth graduated from Greensboro Senior High School (Grimsley)  in 1938 and went on to work for and retire from the United States Internal Revenue Service.  One of eight children, in her family, she was the last living member of her generation. The contents reflected a century's worth of household items and collections.

We photographed the wooden skate in the living room as Ruth was a competitive roller skater, traveling for competitions. She also officiated for competitions. Ruth was a master seamstress, making her costumes as well as clothing for daily wear. She was also an avid doll collector and was a member of Piedmont Doll Club. We're estimating there were still 300 dolls for sale in the last hours of the last day of the estate sale.  In addition to sewing, Ruth was a talented crafter. Boxes and boxes of crafting supplies and yards and yards of fabric were available at the sale.  Among other crafts, Ruth was known for making Chrismon ornaments-- ornaments with Christian symbols on them to remind people that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. **  Ruth was a lifelong member of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant and taught Sunday school there. Signs of her spirituality were seen everywhere in the house, from her craft projects to her book collection. 

The four bedroom 2.5 bathroom house was built in 1920, the year before Ruth was born. Wendover Avenue, built in the 1930s, ten years after the construction of the house,  is literally in the backyard of this 1/3 acre property. We're betting some of their property was taken to construct the road which grew and widened over Ruth's life. Somehow, when walking through the tan stucco house with minimal, if any, remodeling over the years, you imagine women in cotton dresses cooking and sewing; and men sitting, reading the paper, and smoking a pipe.  The sights and sounds of Wendover are hardly noticeable. Here's to a life well lived.

 

*  as she is referred to in her obituary,  the source of information shared in this post.

** The word is a combination of the words Christmas and monogram. Frances Kipps Spencer of Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia, created the first Chrismon tree in 1957. 

 

 

St Andrews Episcopal Church Holiday Photo Opportunity

St. Andrews Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Kensington Road and West Market Street, has the cutest little Christmas display. This set up is located on the Kensington side of the church- across from the parking lot where the Corner Farmers Market sets up. It is the perfect place for a family holiday photo shoot. This is such a good idea for a church to connect to the wider community. The part of the door, above the wreath is open, so people can stand behind it. Another cute pose would be to have a child trying to open the door, or knocking on it. Or Santa outside approaching the door and a child looking out the window in wonderment. 

The only thing that would make a photo here cuter would be to have snow. However, it hasn't snowed in Greensboro since January 2022, over 1,000 days, and WFMY-2 is hesitant to predict whether or not it is likely to snow this year. Currently, there is no snow in the forecast. While we are pondering winter weather, we encourage you to attend a service at St. Andrews. Also, mark your calendar for Saturday, December 7th from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm. It is the day of the St. Andrews  annual holiday festival and market. There will be many gift opportunities for everybody. 

Happy Sunday!

Changes on Battleground Ave & British Woods

Do you remember the house that was down over the hill at 3521 Battleground Avenue? It was the one at the park near British Woods and British Woods Park (see HERE). Well, that house got razed and the lot was dormant for a long time. Recently, the earth-moving equipment arrived and the lot is being prepared for the new construction at the corner of Battleground and New Garden. It will be interesting to monitor the change. The land and building in the background are part of the Brisish Woods neighborhood. There have been so many changes in Greensboro lately. We wondering how many trees will remain and what will be done with the creek that runs through the property.

We're heading out to see all of the changes in progress in Greensboro today. There is so much construction around town.

Happy Saturday!

 

Glow Vibe Golf

Sorry about the poor quality photo, but it shows you the idea of Glow Vibe Golf. A game was going strong last night at the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. The weather was perfect and club members were out playing  with their own golf clubs and having a blast. The Greensboro Country Club supplied the course for their members and Glow Vibe set up all the lights and provided the LED light up golf balls. Golfers were out cheering and having a great time. They had special pathways set up, fairly close to the holes.

Glow Vibe Golf was established in 2014 and is primarily based in Columbia, SC. Top Golf makes golfing an option even in inclement weather. Glow Vibe Golf makes golfing possible after dark. Greensboro is a great golf town. We'd imagine this opportunity to golf at night is a hit here, not just at private courses. Those playing last night sure seemed to be having fun.  Laughter filled the air.

Happy Friday!