Greensboro Daily Photo

Eastern Music Festival 2022

Are you ready for the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) 2022?It is back with 60 concerts and events! The events for this 61st season begin tomorrow and last until July 30th. The founder, Shel Morgenstern, created the program at Guilford College in 1961. Young artists from around the world attend the summer program to gain additional instruction, exposure, and performance time as a way to help launch their professional careers as classical musicians. 80% of them receive merit or needs-based scholarships. Musicians are lucky to have this program and Greensboro is lucky to have access to all of this high-quality music. Read more about the history of the festival, here.  Also, see here for the schedule.

The above photo is of Dana Auditorium on the campus of Guilford College. Many of the EMF events are held here. It is always exciting to turn off of Friendly Avenue, drive by Dana Auditorium, and see the flags unfurled, announcing the EMF. This photo was taken a couple of nights ago, when the sun was setting about 8:30. We caught the sunlight, just as it was casting a golden glow on the top of the building. Thank you Guilford College for bringing great events to the community since 1837!

RIP: Women's Hospital

Women's Hospital on Green Valley Road is no more. The above photo does not even begin to show the scope of the debris on the site. D.H. Griffin is in the middle of the demolition and, if you didn't know better, you would think it was in a war zone. A drone photographer needs to capture this scene.*  

The hospital was known as Greensboro Hospital when it opened in 1977. In 1990 when Cone Health bought it, the facility became Women's Hospital. In 2021, Deep River Partners acquired the property. Due to COVID, the transaction was delayed so that Cone Health could use the hospital for a COVID-19 care facility- the first in North Carolina. It was used as a COVID-19 care facility for 11 months. People also could get vaccines there. Deep River Partners is a leasing agency for non-residential real estate. It will be interesting to watch the property transform as the new facility gets built.  Have a drive past it, at the corner of Green Valley Road and Westover Terrace and see the transformation in process. Now that it has started, the changes will happen quickly. There is a really good news release from Cone Health providing the history of the hospital and the future for the site.**  

*David Bartenfield?

** reference and more information.

Greensboro Summer Solstice Event Today!

Today is the day! From 2-10 pm the Greensboro Summer Solstice event will be in full swing at the Greensboro Arboretum and Lindley Park. If you are attending the Greensboro Summer Solstice event, we encourage you to dress in your best fairy costume, wear garlands of flowers, bring your sparkliest magic want, carry a parasol to protect you from the sun, bring some cash to tip performers, and be prepared to have some good ole solstice fun! In case you missed our post yesterday, here is a list of performers and a schedule for the day. The person in the above photo is an example of the kinds of costumes you will see all day long. Don't be shy about what you wear. Also remember they are charging $10 for everyone over the age of 12. The entrance fee will help defray costs and make it possible to pay the performers. 

Happy Saturday! Hello Summer!

Summer Solstice 2022

It is time for the Greensboro Summer Solstice. This year's event will happen this Saturday from 2-10pm in the Greensboro Arboretum & Lindley Park at West Market Street. The festival began in 2005 and has steadily continued to grow since with attendance anticipated to be at about 9,000. Artisans, performers, entrepreneurial vendors, and a diverse group of people will come together for eight hours tomorrow to celebrate Mother Nature and the summer solstice, the day of the year with the most light. 

The above photo was taken at the 2019 event and is an example of the types of activities that are available at the event. Everyone dons their best and brightest clothing. Tulle, floral headbands, silk skirts, pixie ears, and more will be standard attire for the day. Here is the list of performers and a schedule for the day. Note that vendors will shut down their booths about 8:00 pm with performers entertaining the group well past sunset. Also, the entrance fee is now $10 for everyone over age 12,  which makes it possible to pay performers and help sustain Greensboro's live music scene.

The event is well organized and a lot of fun. Plus, the arboretum/park is such a lovely venue. For 17 years this has been Greensboro's way to welcome summer! You won't want to miss it!

Porchfest 2022 Culminates at Sternberger Park

Porchfest in the Dunleath neighborhood this past Saturday was a big hit. Having started in 2017, they just celebrated their 6th annual concert filled afternoon. All afternoon, people gathered to play music and to listen to music; porches became venues. Summit Avenue, Park Avenue, Cypress Street, Percy Street (and a few more streets) were filled with great music and fun, neighborhood socializing. The event culminated with people gathering at Sternberger Park at 715 Summit Avenue with a group providing a final concert. It was a fulfilled time with a food truck, people with lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers of food. It was a mini MUSEP concert. The above photo features the group "The Headless Chickens" warming up.

Greensboro neighborhoods are doing a good job of branding their neighborhood with special events. While the Dunleath neighborhood is an amazing place to live and hang out 365 days a year, for one afternoon in June, Dunleath becomes one giant concert. If you did not get to attend this year, mark your calendar for next year. What does/could your neighborhood to give it a special character? Let's all do something to help our respective neighborhoods thrive.

And, hats off to Dunleath where creativity and neighborliness is standard fare!

Bonnie Raitt at Tanger Center

Last night, Bonnie Raitt gave a spectacular concert at Tanger Center. The concert started at 8:00 p.m. with the ever talented, singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams as the opening act. She sang for an hour and the performance was spectacular. After Lucinda, it took a while to get the stage ready for Bonnit Raitt's concert. The stage crew worked masterfully making the transition. Once the instruments were in place, Bonnie and her band sang without a break until about 11:00 p.m. She mentioned more than once how nice the Tanger Center is and that the acoustics are good. She also mentioned a few times how nice it is to be back performing in person. Her band is very talented, which she acknowledged. 

Tanger Center has transformed downtown Greensboro, especially in the north. Also, it is truly spectacular that we don't have to travel to Durham or Charlotte for concerts any more. She was in Durham last night and will be at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia tomorrow and Friday night. However, for one special night, she was right here with us in Greensboro, NC. She requested that no photos or video be taken and she wanted people to be "in the moment." She even scolded people who were filming. However at the end, she invited people to "take all the photos you want now," which was our cue to capture a photo from a very special evening.

There will be many concerts in Greensboro this summer. Some, like the MUSEP series on Sunday evenings, are free. Others, like the performances at Tanger Center do cost. As for music genres, Greensboro can boast that there is something for everybody. Happy Thursday!

Urban Gardner, Extraordinaire

Sunday, at the Parisian Promenade in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden,  Stephen Johnson spent the afternoon teaching kids to garden with a paper cup, soil, and sunflower seeds. All while they were planting their seeds in the cups, he was explaining about keeping them watered and how to care for their little planting. Stephen has become an expert, urban gardener,  growing produce on land at 712 S. Elam Avenue. He and his wife live on 3/4 acre just down from the Elam and Walker Avenue intersection. As their website states, they provide food and occasional plants at the Corner Market on Saturdays, all grown on their city lot. They would love to have more people on the urban gardening journey with them. Read their website (referenced below) and you will realize how easy it is to plant edibles!

In the above photo, Liz Lopez (right), is volunteering and helping Stephen for the day. Liz is a teacher and doctoral student. For Liz service and volunteering are a high priority. She has even taught a course in it at UNCG. Thanks to Stephen and Liz, there will be a lot more sunflowers growing in Greensboro and the average age of these young farmers if probably about eight! If you are growing sunflowers, especially one from Sunday, please take a photo and share it with us!

Read the Elam Gardens website, and you, too, might just be inspired to be an urban gardener.

Mt. Pisgah Choir Sings at Memorial Day Service at Friendly Center

It is always nice when churches perform community service. Today's photo features the Mt. Pisgah Choir singing at the Memorial Day Service at Friendly Center. Music always adds such a nice touch to any ceremony. Their Department of Music offers opportunities for people of all ages to be involved in music, starting as young as 4 years old. The church has a praise team band, a handbell choir, and more. Amberly Johnston is their director of music.* The music program at Mt. Pisgah UMC is very strong, if you are looking for an opportunity to share your special talent, or just have a desire to participate. We're not sure where else the choir will perform out in the community, but to be sure, they will be singing at the 8:30 and 11:00 am services today. Mt. Pisgah is located at 2600 Pisgah Church Road. It is the church you can see from the Lowe's parking lot on Battleground Avenue.

After church, if you are looking for something to do, head to the Parisian Promenade in Bicentennial Gardens on Hobbs Road from 12:00 - 5:00 pm today.  The event is free and open to the public. It is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. A promenade is a paved public walk; to promenade is to take a leisurely public walk so as to see or be seen by others. Remember, as you stroll along the path that YOU TOO are an important part of the event- and plan your outfit accordingly!

Happy, glorious Sunday!

 

* more information here.

Congratulations Class of 2022!

Spring is a very exciting time in high schools. Students start getting college acceptance letters and making plans for post-high school. Many students attend prom. Now,  high school graduation season is upon us. In Guilford County Schools, the middle and early colleges start the process with traditional high schools not far behind. Now that Covid is less of an issue, in-person graduation returned and students get a few more tickets to distribute. The first graduations started on May 25th. The above photo is of the Middle College at UNCG.*  Their graduation was on the first day; also graduating on 5/25 were Early College at Guilford, Greensboro College Middle College, Middle College at Bennett, and Kearns Academy.

According to the graduation schedule on the  Guilford County School website, the final day for graduation is tomorrow, Sunday, June 5th with Eastern, Andrews, Dudley, and Page holding graduation ceremonies in the Coliseum Complex. If you see graduates, please congratulate them. Every year, graduation is a milestone; however, this class was deeply affected by the pandemic and all of the changes that came about as a result of having to take classes remotely and, in many cases, having to take part time jobs to help their families. Those smiles in the students above are evidence of the joy and sense of accomplishment they are feeling. Congratulation class of 2022!

 

 

* photo credit Keisha Brown, Principal MCUNCG.

Barnhill's Art at the H20 Exhibit at Green Hill

Yesterday, we featured Jim Barnhill, artist, on Greensboro Daily Photo. Today's we're featuring a glimpse of his three pieces currently on display at Green Hill in the Cultural Arts Center at 200 North Davie Street. Barnhill's two paintings are gigantic and when you stand in front of them, it is as if you are in the ocean yourself viewing the scene. The placement of the three pieces is masterful.  The paintings are both close to 8' by 12' (yes feet!). The Exxon Valdez painting is from 2012 and the BP Deep Water Horizon painting from 2013. The Cachalot Whale, carved from crabapple wood, was painted in 1993, early in Barnhill's career. The three pieces, spanning 20 years, hint at Barnhill's great love of water, the ocean, and the environmental impact of man's harvesting of fossil fuels. How appropriate that Barnhill is featured in Green Hill's  H20 exhibit! The cachalot whale is the largest toothed predator. As we were walking past the paintings, we began to wonder... who is the real predator, the whale or the oil companies? What you can't see in our photo is that the whale is swimming above a pool of tar.

If you attend First Friday tonight from 6:00 - 8:30 pm, you can see these pieces, and many others, for yourself. Barnhill's paintings, and Holsenbeck's "Where is Our Water Falling" (made from 10,000 water bottles and lots of plastic rope) are so large, you must see them in context. Regardless of what you have planned , have a great weekend!

James Barnhill: Artist Extraordinaire

Greensboro artist James Barnhill is known for his larger-than-life sculptures: The February One monument at NC A&T, the Nathanael Greene monument downtown at Holliday Circle, and the Minerva statue behind the student union at UNCG. Jim Barnhill taught art at NC A&T University for 25 years and has garnered an international following over the forty plus years he has been a professional artist. He came to Greensboro in the early 1980s to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree at UNCG. He tells the story of being in a drawing and painting class and seeing others sculpting and telling his professor that he wanted to sculpt. That was the start of his career in sculpting. Part of what makes Jim's pieces so special is his talent for sculpting in a way that tells a visual narrative. If you stand in front of Jim's sculptures, it is as if you are experiencing the lives of the subjects themselves.

However, as evidenced by the above painting from 2017, Jim is also a fine painter. This painting features Jim's longtime partner, Edie Carpenter. When we were interviewing Jim at his house and asked what piece of art he wanted to be photographed with, he thought about it for a minute, and then pointed to this painting. This large canvas was painted from a photo of Edie when she was in Queens, New York. We had just finished talking about the balance between selling artwork and having pieces you want to keep in your personal collection. It is a pretty sure bet this realistic likeness of Edie will stay put on Jim's wall for a very long time.

Jim, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered exactly a year ago, will be at First Friday tomorrow night at Green Hill in the Cultural Arts Center. While Jim struggles with speaking, his mind is as sharp as ever. First Friday is from 6:00- 8:30 and is free and open to the public. Put a trip to Green Hill on your calendar for tomorrow night, and head to 200 N. Davie Street to see not only Jim and Edie, but also three of his works which are part of a  multi-artist exhibit entitled H20.

Prayers for Ukraine Took Place at Congregational United Methodist Church

Today is May First. In many places, it is International Workers' Day. In the above photo, taken last Sunday at Congregational United Church of Christ on Radiance Drive, it is a scene of their Earth Day celebration and a day to pray for Ukraine. All the blue and yellow strips of cloth have prayers and words of concern for Ukraine written on them. There is a duo playing music in the background, and a duo of children playing with nature stamps in the foreground. All is so peaceful in this shaded corner of the church lot.

The labyrinth at the church symbolizes wholeness; the path is meandering, yet purposeful. The labyrinth is a place of meditative prayer, a journey to the center and back again. The quilt the children are on adds even more texture to the scene, with the circle in the middle of the quilt echoing the circle in the middle of the labyrinth. The whole scene itself is calm and sedative in a world we humans seem to make so complicated for ourselves. It is so important to seek out these places of calm and to take time to reflect on all that is good in our lives. Just looking at this scene is guaranteed to move blood pressure in the right direction. Happy Sunday! Happy International Day of Workers! Happy all of us, especially the little ones on the blanket!

Photo Shoot on Lewis & Elm

Lewis and Elm has become a fun part of town. Lewis and Elm is both a business and a crossroad. The business has light appetizers, wine, cheese, and often live entertainment. Bourbon Bowl is in the area, a place to buy Wrangler jeans, Elsewhere Museum, Boxcar Bar and Arcade, and so much more. This is a part of town where you can go and hang out and have plenty of social activity. In the above photo, a graduate has chosen this location for some graduation photos. This is such an exciting time of year. By the end of the first week of May, university graduations begin and at the end of May, the high schools start their graduation ceremonies. 

Do you have a special place in Greensboro to take ceremonial photos? Many people like to use the murals or graffiti as a backdrop. To anchor the photo in Greensboro, or at the school, signage with the name of the school is always a good bet. Another idea is with one of the pairs of fiberglass jeans since in the mid-20th century, Greensboro was the denim capital of the world. The Bog Garden and Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden are prom photo favorites. It can be nice to have a natural setting so the background doesn't detract from the people in the photo. If you can find a place that holds a special memory or is linked to your career choice, those can make fun photos. Perhaps it was the lighting (bright, but not harsh sun) or the plain gray wall that attracted the graduate to the space. At any rate, this trending corner of town is much busier once the sun sets. 

If you have a graduating senior in your life, may you find the perfect spot to capture those photos. Location! Location! Location! Happy Thursday.

Governmental Plaza

Part of the fun of being at the Food Truck Festival downtown on Sunday was seeing all of the people. It was also special seeing streets lined with families. Governmental Plaza was busy and provided lots of shade on an otherwise blistering day. Governmental Plaza can feel so "heavy" when people have to go appear in court, serve on jury duty, get their taxes settled, etc. Business, business, business. However on Sunday, the plaza area, extending from Market and Eugene Streets to Greene and Washington Street came alive with people enjoying each other. The above photo was taken on the southeast corner of the plaza, near the parking deck. Children were playing and enjoying the bounce park. 

As you can see, the trees are starting to leaf out. Temperatures will be in the 80s today so it will really feel like summer. Let's hope the city can keep up the momentum and do even more to entice people to spend time downtown.

Happy Tuesday!

Eggstravaganza in Downtown Greensboro!

Today is the day for the Downtown Greensboro Truliant Eggstravaganza. There are hidden eggs and prizes throughout downtown. Participating businesses have eggs hidden in their establishment and if you find one and show a picture of the egg at the register, you'll receive an egg with a prize. The event is happening today and tomorrow. Read HERE for more details. In the above photo, Lauren and Allen of Healthy Boro Fitness and Nutrition Shop were toting bags of eggs to their juice and smoothie shop, Healthy Boro is located at 106 Paisley Street, just north of the Marriott. 

For the last four years, Lauren and Allen have been providing customers with nutritional liquid meals and more. They are such an upbeat, positive couple. Spend a few minutes around them and you will feel the positive energy of this husband and wife team. Stop by their store tomorrow and hunt for an Easter egg and you just may win one of the big prizes. Lauren and Allen carried these large bags of Easter eggs all the way from 536 South Elm Street to their shop on Paisley. That is a pretty long walk! Healthy Boro is not open on Saturday, so, if you want to earn one of those eggs, see them today. Some businesses are participating on Friday and Saturday. We had to laugh because we spotted Lauren and Allen when we were at the corner of McGee and South Elm. By the time we ran to catch up with them, they were already in front of Scuppernong Book Sellers! Meeting them was well worth the run. Happy Friday!

Friendly Avenue Baptist Church Fire Truck Easter Egg Drop

Yesterday was a very special day at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church.....

Children, from toddlers to 5th graders, were invited to hear the Easter story and then participate in the Fire Truck Easter Egg Drop. In the above photo, you see children scrambling to gather Easter eggs filled with treats, just after the eggs had been dropped from a fire truck's bucket ladder extended several stories high. In addition, there were stations all over the church lot with games, activities, and light snacks for the children. Everything was free and family friendly. Every detail was meticulously executed. Participants pre-registered, ensuring sufficient volunteer staff and enough Easter eggs.  By the start of the event yesterday, thousands of eggs were carefully stuffed and sealed with tape- wheel barrels full. Children were given clear empty bags to stuff with plastic eggs. In spite of the cool, breezy weather, fun was had by all. Friendly Avenue is known for having these big, inclusive events that help build memories for children. Yesterday was one of many examples of their efforts to build a sense of community.

If you were wanting to go to church at Friendly Avenue today, Palm Sunday, there is an 8:30 am service; Sunday school is at 9:45am;  and the late service is at 11:00am. Five o-clock in the evening is Kids Praise time; students and adults also have a group gathering at 5:00 pm. For Christians, today, Palm Sunday, commemorates the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed down, marking the path. We're betting today will also be a very special day at Friendly Avenue Baptist.

Happy Sunday!

Lynn Witherspoon

Today, we're featuring the ever enthusiastic and energetic Lynn Witherspoon. Lynn's impressive credentials include working with the National Folk Festival, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the upcoming Greensboro Bound Literary Festival, and the Carolina Blues Festival- to name a few. Lynn is the person who, as she puts it, takes care of all the things that happen in the background at festivals and community events. She ensures that the infrastructure is in place. As an example, with the folk festivals, she determines where the stages will be, how many tents they need, where vendors and food trucks will set up, how many volunteers will be needed and where, how to meet the needs of guest performers and presenters, and more. She learned the art of managing the inner workings of a festival by shadowing the crew of the National Folk Festival. However, Lynn had already amassed a tremendous skill set which includes being organized, loving to work with diverse groups of people, seeing the big picture as well as all of the step-by-step details; not to mention she is extremely computer literate. If you don't recognize Lynn, it is because she prefers working behind the scenes.

One of the many features that makes Lynn the perfect person for playing a leadership role in the operations of a local festival is the fact that she is a local herself. When the decision was made for the 2020 North Carolina Folk Festival to be virtual, with her knowledge of Greensboro, Lynn helped find the perfect locations to film. She selected: The Underground Railroad Tree at Guilford College; The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum; The Old Mill of Guilford; The Carousel at the Science Center of Greensboro; The Civil Rights Museum; Magnolia House; Center City Park; the First National Bank Baseball Field; and Gateway Gardens. While the folk festivals are near and dear to her heart, right now, Lynn is focusing her efforts on the Carolina Blues Festival* and the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival.  The entire Literary Bound Festival will be indoors and all of the details are nicely outlined on the festival's homepage. While the festival is free, through the homepage, you can access a sign up sheet. The organizers want to  have an idea of how many people are planning to attend each presentation and to honor the capacity of the venues. This in-person festival will be held May 19-22, and don't be surprised if you don't see Lynn. Rest assured, she will be working non-stop every step of the way!

The interview was conducted earlier in the week at Common Grounds, a coffee shop on Elam Avenue. 

*The Carolina Blues Festival will be also be held in Greensboro May 21st- 22nd in LeBauer Park.

It's Prom Time for Guilford County Schools!

It's prom time for Greensboro and Guilford County high schools, and this year promises to feel like life back to normal. No masks needed. The expenses of prom can be great; however, there are ways to keep costs down. Above, you see a sampling of the prom dresses available at the Goodwill Store on Lawndale Avenue near Harris Teeter and Target. They have at least 1,000 dresses available, organized by color. The collection has been closely curated and the dresses all look good-as-new. This Goodwill is located on the edge of the Irving Park neighborhood; where residents are in the position do donate generously.

Prices range from $9.99 to $99, depending on brand and style. They also have sparkly, shiny high heel shoes, ranging in price from $6.99 to $19.99. If you are in the position to sponsor a high schooler in financial need, consider bringing them here and treating them to prom attire. Yesterday afternoon, there were so many young shoppers having a blast selecting prom dresses. Standing in the aisle, we overheard, "You would look great in this dress." "I love this dress, but it is not my size." "Bree would look great in this dress." It is so heartwarming to see young people happy and having fun- just like old times.

How wonderful that it is cool to buy used. It is better for the environment and better for the pocketbook.

Happy Saturday!

Bach's Lunch

Yesterday was Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday and Starmount Presbyterian Church is hosting Bach's Lunch every day this week. The free, open-to-the-public concerts start at 12:15 p.m. and last for about 30 minutes. Today's concert is Debra Reuter-Pivetta on flute and Federico Pivetta on piano. Reuter-Pivetta is the principal flutist with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and a flute instructor at Salem College. Federico Pivetta is a chamber musician and teacher who often plays duets with his wife. Their performance today will be well worth attending. The rest of the schedule for the series can be seen here. They will continue through Friday. These concerts have been held every March since 1985 and except for the two years of the pandemic. We encourage you to call a few friends and head out to this event. It was easy to forget about these great community events during the pandemic, after two years of of blank calendars.

Starmount Presbyterian is a beautiful church located at 3501 West Market Street. The church was established in 1952, an outgrowth of Orange Presbytery, Church of the Covenant, and the First Presbyterian Church.  This is when Greensboro was really expanding westward. Starmount Presbyterian does so much for the community. It is part of the Greensboro Interfaith Hospitality Network, a group that houses homeless families. They have missions abroad. For one week, each March, their mission is to bring high quality music to the public. Head on over this week and show them some support! You won't regret it.

Happy Tuesday!

The Simon & Garfunkel Story

What on earth did Greensboro do before the Tanger Center?  Did we realize before it was built just how many performances would be held there? This past week alone, they have had a Lyle Lovett concert; The Simon and Garfunkel Story; and tonight is Anne Lamott, the second in the Bryan Series Lectures. Lion King just closed March 6th. The calendar is full, full, full every month and with top of the line performances. Hamilton is less than a month away!

The Simon and Garfunkel Story was performed this past Sunday. It is os the genre where musicians portray the original musicians, chronicling their lives with original film footage, and perform music from the repertoire of group. The harmonies on stage were outstanding and the audience realized the performance was as close to the real Simon and Garfunkel as we will ever likely hear again. If you are in the position to purchase tickets, the Tanger is as good as it gets! Even better is the fact that we don't have to leave town!

Happy Tuesday!

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse: The Redcoats Are Coming

After a two year (COVID) hiatus, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, of the American Revolution, was reenacted this past weekend. And let the record show that Saturday was the coldest on record for the event. At the coldest point on Saturday,  temperature of 16 degrees was recorded at the airport. One of the participants told us that the fact that it had rained and the ground was wet really added to the discomfort. Another said that at least he had bragging rights to take back to his friends who elected not to participate this year. Truth be told, war is never "cozy" so those should who came out for the reenactment of a battle that was fought on March 15, 1781 were reminded of just how cold and brutal war can be. In the above photo, the British infantry is getting ready for yesterday's battle.

On a lighter note, as a participant observer, it was fun and educational to walk among campsites and hear all of the educational conversations about weaponry, historical accuracies, clothing details and colonial ways. In the pop up shops, you could buy linen socks, swords, tankards, and other items that would have been used in the late 1700s. While attendance was lighter this year, we noticed considerable intergenerational interaction; the old guard mentoring pre-teens into the colonial ways and the ways of reenactment. Greensboro is lucky to have this opportunity for residents to not only observe, but also participate in living history. We complimented a group in their spread of food and they invited us to partake! 

Happy Monday; happy making memories in Greensboro!

Northern Roots to Open on South Elm Street!

Great things are happening in the 300 block of south Elm Street. The above photo was taken at the building between 300 South Elm, where Glitters USED to be and just north of Scuppernong Books. If you have been in Greensboro since the 1990s, it is where Indigo Beads used to be, before Wenty moved her store to Pisgah Church. The store with the butcher paper on the windows will soon be Northern Roots, an antique store and coffee shop. What a great idea for a business on this block. The business is owned by a woman moving down from Ohio. Perhaps that's the reference "northern" in Northern Roots comes from.

The man in the suit is one of the people uplifting the space and getting it ready to becoming the coffee shop. The inside is painted white and fabulously clean, so ready to house a stand-out business. The company doing the work is Empire Building and Remodeling, and it looks like they are doing a fabulous job. We're not sure when the new business will open, but let's hope Northern Roots will  be in Greensboro for a very long time. Oh, and the white suit is for safety measures. When the shop opens, the guys in the white suits will have moved on to their next renovation. We can't wait to visit. Not only us, but the people on this block, are probably looking forward to this new business.

Happy Friday! Please get out and enjoy Greensboro- or whatever city happens to be your corner of the earth!

International Women's Day

Pull up a chair, or sofa, and join us for International Women's Day which began in 1911. Women's Day was first celebrated in Europe and in 1975, it gained traction when it started being celebrated by the United Nations. Today's photo was taken at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. This painting on the wall above the sofa is part of an exhibit at the Center for Visual Artists (CVA). The wall mural, Eve Genesis,  was painted by Kidd. The title of the whole, multi-artist exhibit is "The Eve Gene." The exhibit is curated by Virginia Holmes who is a local artist and activist.  

Purple and white are the colors of International Women's Day. If you read this before you get dressed for the day, please consider wearing purple and white, whether you live in Greensboro or elsewhere. If you want to learn more about IWD, read this BBC article. Also, the Greensboro History Museum is going a presentation at noon today. The CVA is open from 12pm- 5:00 pm today. Come sit on the big blue couch with us and reflect on all of the art in the room and on all of the great things the women of Greensboro have done.

 See more information, here.

Manning Franks on the Beat in Downtown Greens'BORO!

Manning Franks of WFMY News 2 was on Elm Street yesterday afternoon covering a new policy in downtown Greensboro that permits people to carry alcoholic beverages out of one establishment and into another. The policy began yesterday at noon. The idea is that the policy is not about drinking, but walkability, the ability to stroll and shop in stores even if a beverage hasn't been completely consumed. There are very strict guidelines, including using an approved container/cup, not just any open container one might just happen to have. Also, the establishment a person is entering must have a square sticker on their door that has written on it, "G  BORO OUTSIDE DRINKS welcome."

Manning, the ever personable Four2Five Photographer/Editor, was on location interviewing shoppers and business owners  on Elm Street about the policy. Manning Franks is a Greensboro native and graduate of High Point University.  He is out covering current events a lot, so, if you are out attending an  event, chances are you will run in to him. Manning is easily recognizable as he looks a lot like a younger  John Stamos. He also looks like Profe Dickerson (who taught in the Guilford County Schools for about 14 years). Seeing the giant camera is also a clue. You can tell by that smile on his face that he loves people and loves his job!

Happy Wednesday! 

Spring is Just Around the Corner

If you were out driving on the north end of Glenwood on Haywood Street, behind the Kaplan Center for Wellness, you would have seen this landscaping crew hard at work. In this day and age, the internet if full of people complaining about others. Our post today is something along the lines of "caught being good"! As we drove by, we noticed everyone on the crew was working quickly and efficiently as a team. We stopped to ask if they were mulching or making major changes; they let us know they were mulching. We drove by their truck to and saw that this crew was truck 23 of Bland Landscaping Company. 

Bland is a full service landscaping company established in 1976. They serve the whole Piedmont area and the Costal Carolinas. Bland doesn't appear to have an office in Greensboro, but they service the area and have some big accounts here and we can see why. Whether you are going to do your own yard work, or if you are going to hire a landscaping company, today's photo reminds us it is time to start scheduling the work

Happy Wednesday!

Guilford Green Foundation

First of all, happy 2/22/22! What a date to remember!

Today, we're featuring two volunteers at the Guilford Green Foundation table at this past Saturday's "Really, Really Free Market."  Guilford Green is an organization that works for equality, diversity, and inclusion in the Greensboro community. They are also an LGBTQ Center and work hard to see that everyone is accepted and valued for who they are. Guilford Green concentrates on helping young people who might not have adults in their lives who know how to support family members with gender identities that are different from their own. You may have noticed, many people now sign their names with the pronouns that match their identity. On the table on Saturday, they gave away free buttons with pronoun choices on them.

Teens of today are navigating in a very different world from even ten years ago. Through the Internet, they have a world of information at their fingertips, and they are searching. Teens are talking about and making life choices, often, with parents who don't quite know how to navigate this changing landscape. Guilford Green is a great resource. The organization offers a drop in youth night on Thursdays from 6-8 pm at their headquarters at 121 North Green Street. They are also hiring. For graduating high school seniors attending an institution of higher education in the fall, the Pearl Berlin Scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $1,000- $3,000 for someone who identifies as LGBTQ or who is a straight ally.

As for the two workers at the table on Saturday, we're sorry we didn't get your name, but thank you for all you are doing in the community.

Happy Tuesday!

GCS School Board Meeting

Yesterday evening, the Guilford County Schools held their regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:00 pm at the Eugene Street building. As we drove by, we noticed a group had assembled outside from 5:00-6:00 pm. The were holding signs requesting schools to tell the truth. They did not say what group they affiliated with but signs said things like, True History Unites. Racism Divides; Tell the Truth PERIOD! and Turning a blind eye on our history has not saved us from its consequences. We were struck at how peacefully the group had assembled.

A lot of discussion at yesterday's board meeting centered around whether or not to continue mandating masks and the extent to which COVID tests should be administered to athletes. The decision has been made to continue wearing masks at least until the next board meeting. These decisions are never easy, but issues need to be discussed and decisions need to be made. We would like to thank all of the school board members for giving their time for the community. If you want to know more or be involved, the school board meetings are always broadcast live. If you want to get a point across, sign up to speak (3 minutes and under), send your representative an email, or, assemble peacefully like the group above.

Happy Wednesday!

Magnet Application Time Is Upon Us!

If you have children of an age where they are attending school, and you live in Guilford County, you probably are well aware that it is magnet application time. It you have children already enrolled in a program, you are helping your school recruit students who will be a good fit for the theme of the program. If you are looking, you have likely found the schools that are the best fit for your children. The Guilford County Schools are known for their school options at every grade level. The above photo was taken at Brooks Global Studies Magnet School. The Sign "Brooks Your #1 Choice" is an impressive advertisement for the school. As you can see from the more permanent sign, donated by Gate City Rotary, reminds us that the magnet application period runs from January 14th to February 21st.

Brooks Global is a year round school, which means that it is on a different calendar than the schools on a traditional calendar. Exciting things are happening at Brooks Global because land has been made available and plans have been drawn up for an all-new, state-of-the-art facility. As wonderful as Brooks is now, it will be even more spectacular when the new building opens. The new location backs up to the arboretum so the new lot will be as wooded as this one. We hope you have a great weekend, and, if you looking at the magnet schools, we hope you find one that is just right for your child.

Happy Friday, some schools are offering virtual sessions today!

A Little Snow... A Lot of Beauty

This is what Greensboro woke up to Saturday morning. Temperatures were in the teens and while there wasn't a lot of snow, There was enough to blanket years, streets, and windshields. The  bright sunshine helped roads melt quickly. In the above photo, taken in northwest Greensboro, just look at the beautiful shadows the morning rays of sun were casting on the hill and snow covered driveway.

Yesterday's weather conditions were such that many in-person church services are canceled or reduced today- with online options. As an example, the First Presbyterian church of Greensboro will have one service at 11:00 in person am today and live-streaming. There will be no Church School. West Market Street UMC will have a similar arrangement. Nothing beats in-person fellowship; however, it is nice to have the option for virtual fellowship or simply having some quiet time to reflect and be thankful. We are so conditioned to go, go, go; however, sometimes, staying home and admiring the beauty of the natural world around is spiritual in its own right. Even if all of the roads are clear, if there was any remaining water on the roads, there could be black ice conditions.  The low today is 21 degrees while the high may be 46°.  

Happy Sunday; may we all appreciate and enjoy our beautiful city.

Snow is Lingering and Getting Cleared

While it didn't snow yesterday, workers were busy clearing it up in parking lots and on streets. The above pile of snow was one of many in the shopping center on Lawndale Avenue. As you can see, it got warm enough yesterday for the parking lot to melt; however, after sunset, the temperature quickly dropped to freezing and by sunrise had dropped to 23°F. The main roads have been cleared, but the side streets are still bad. Efforts will be made to get the streets cleared today. Also, garbage pick up is pushed back by another day as efforts continue to clear the streets. Forecasters are predicting that we could get some more snow on Friday.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation clears snow "based on connectivity, traffic volume, trucking routes, and importance to hospitals."* They do not remove snow from driveways or sidewalks. Homeowners are expected to address these issues in front of their houses. In the meantime, small children are all out making snowmen and getting in the first sled rides of the season. Do you have a special sled riding spot in your neighborhood? Happy Tuesday and if you must go out, please try to stay on main roads and go in the middle of the day when roads are warmest.

*reference and additional information, here. The top priority is interstates and four lane divided highways. 

Happy MLK Day... First Snow 2022 Yesterday

Well, it happened. We got our first snow of 2022 on January 16th. The snow started about 6:30 am and an accumulation of snow and ice continued throughout the day. People sent rumors that Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel was headed to Greensboro. To our knowledge, he was only in Asheville. The snow and ice continued into the evening. Today is predicted to be sunny. According to Accuweather, 71% of Greensboro received 1-3" of snow with 1% receiving 6" and 1% receiving less than 1%. In the early hours of the morning, the snow was really light and fluffy; as the sleet and ice came, the snow got wetter and heavier. During the day, temperatures hovered in the 20s and actually warmed into the 30s after dark. 

We heard from so many people in Greensboro who spent much of Saturday cooking up a storm... or, that is, in anticipation of a storm. The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro as we were out on a morning walk. It is alway fun to get out and romp in the snow; less so, of course if it is work related. Speaking of work, we are one of those holdout families who receives home delivery of the Greensboro News & Record. Our Sunday paper yesterday was double bagged and actually delivered to our doorstep. We love supporting the community paper and are grateful the delivery drivers are willing to brave the elements. Thank you to everyone who is working through the storm.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is intended to be a day of service. It looks like this year, the MLK Day of Service through the Volunteer Center at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State's Student Center will host this event, open to the public, next Sunday, January 23rd from 3-5pm (see HERE).

Happy Monday and stay safe regardless of what you decide to do.

Snow, What are your Storm Foods?

Do you think by this time tomrrow we will have snow? Yesterday, everyone in line at the Walmart Supercenter on West Elmsley Street south of Greensboro thought so. When we went in the store about 4pm, the self-checkout line was backed up almost to the back of the store. Fortunately, the line moved rather quickly. Most people were just picking up a few items. We were behind a worker who was buying something to drink and a snack, either after work or during break. We wish we'd thought to buy it for him and thank him for being there. Workers were filling shelves about as fast as customers were emptying them. If you notice the worker's vest, above the Wal mart sun, it says "6 bottles recycled to make this vest." In front of the employee, was a woman who bought a large pack of corn tortillas and three gallons of milk. We all have our "go to" comfort storm foods. What are yours.

The Elmsley Wal mart Supercenter is one of the newest in the Greensboro area. It is large, clean and (normally) well stocked. Sometimes you can find random things there that other stores don't carry- like 25 pound bags of rabbit pellets. It is located between South Elm-Eugene Street and Randleman Road and driving out the back exit to Randleman Road, we took Florida Street to Josephine Boyd to Spring Garden and made it to Reconsidered Goods- almost at West Market Street- to drop off a donation in a little over 15 minutes. One of the perks of knowing Greensboro well it getting from Point A to Point B and avoiding the busiest streets. 

Happy Saturday! Hopefully, we won't need to hunker down!

Publix Distribution Center

Sometimes, on weekends, we like to drive from Greensboro to Kernersville, Burlington, Reidsville, Asheboro, High Point, or Pleasant Garden to see how the roads into and out of Greensboro are changing. Last weekend's venture took us to Burlington Road,- which is also U.S. 70, and East Wendover. We were shocked to see the above change, between Mt. Hope Road and Knox Road. What was formerly a small golf course (possibly nine hole), is now being transformed into the Publix Distribution Center near McLeansville. The center is 940,000 square feet on 338.69 acres. This industrial complex is scheduled to open in 2022.* This part of Guilford County is quickly becoming a place for trucks to get consumer goods and food from Point A to Point B. The $400 million investment should bring at least 1,000 jobs - not including the other jobs created as a result of having more people and commerce in the eastern end of Guilford County. Salaries will average between &42,000 and &44,ooo.**

It is fun to watch the progress. Now is a nice time to go have a look, especially on the weekend, as traffic is not yet excessive. On Sunday, it was as if the sky was pointing to the distribution center. Look at that arc of clouds. The photo doesn't do the site justice as the facility stretches as far as the eye can see. This is a case when a drone view would be best. Next time you need to drive somewhere east of Greensboro, consider taking the "back road" and seeing how much the area has changed.

Happy Wednesday!

 

• reference.
• ** reference.

Gas Prices Exxon 801 East Market Street

This Exxon station at 801 East Market Street, open 24 hours, is one of the closest gas stations to town. As you can see, in the background, the Lincoln Financial Group building is not far away; it is one of the most iconic buildings in Greensboro. We jokingly say that, in Greensboro, all roads lead to the JP/LFG building. 

We like to check in at this Exxon once in a while to document gas prices. When we were there on December 5th, regular gas was $3.18 a gallon. It will be fun to see the price this time next year. The last time we did this, June 16, 2017, gas was $2.35 a gallon. As you can see, the price is up 83¢ a gallon in 4 1/2 years. This gas station will be even more in demand when Bailey Village is completed across the street.  This Exxon seems like an island and in a way, it is. You can access it whether heading east or west through town.

Happy Monday. Only five more days until 2022, can you believe it?

United House of Prayer for All People

The United House of Prayer for All People is seen in the background, with the bright blue steeple and triangular roof. This church, based in Washington D.C. and serving the Pentecostal community, is known for good sermons, strong community outreach, and fabulous meals. In the foreground, on the right, you see one of the buildings being constructed on their 13.7 acre lot. After nearly 15 years, this lot, which was formerly housed a US Postal Service facility, will become Bailey Village, a complex of apartments, retail, and recreational space. To be sure, with North Carolina A&T State University and Bennett College as neighbors, Bailey Village will fill quickly and get plenty of use. This private investment in east Greensboro will have walkable spaces, possibly a grocery store and will be just a few blocks from downtown Greensboro. This will change the footprint of east Greensboro as this lot has been empty and creating somewhat of an island in an area that is ripe for housing, recreation, and retail.*

Not only will this development be good for east Greensboro, it will also be good for downtown Greensboro as it links downtown with the eastern part of Greensboro. Greensboro has grown significantly in the North with the ballpark, Tanger Center, and the new apartments across from the ballpark. It is only logical for Greensboro to expand eastward. If you are up for a Sunday drive, head over and see all of the changes along east Market Street and Dudley Street. It will be fun to watch this project evolve during 2022!

Happy Sunday!

* reference and more information, here.

A Sunset Hills Christmas

The above photo was taken, just as the sun was setting, in Greensboro. The corner of Ridgeway and Madison is "Ground Zero" for the giant ball decorations wrapped with lights. The neighborhood is decorated and ready for carloads to drive through. Last weekend, the Running of the Balls was held. All that remains now is to drop off your donations for local food banks and to simply enjoy all of the time and effort Sunset Hills has put into decorating. The display is especially beautiful because there isn't excessive light pollution. 

Perhaps you read about local middle school student, Cooper Dunning, who makes the lighted balls to sell, using the money to partially fund his college savings and to partially donate to a local charity. His goal is to make 1,000 of the balls this year; no easy task when you have to bend the chicken wire just right so it looks round and to space the lights evenly across the round surface. The non-profit he has chosen to help this year is the "Green for Greens" program that doubles food assistance vouchers for families in need.* How wonderful to see the younger generation stepping up and continuing the decorating and for their helping non-profits.

The Sunset Hills neighborhood was founded in 1924 and every year it just seems to keep getting better and better, as does this holiday decorating and collecting of food. The family of Jonathan and Anne Smith first started the tradition with two lighted, chicken-wire balls in 1996.  Also, their yard is one of the collection places for the local food bank. If you have not experienced Sunset Hills at Christmas, you need to do what you can to get there. Happy Thursday!

 

*read more HERE.

 

Tanger Center

Dear Evan Hansen reopened on Broadway in New York City on Saturday, just as the touring cast was performing the last shows at Greensboro's Tanger Center. Again, attendance was high at Tanger for this show , the third in the Broadway Series (Wicked, Beautiful, and now Dear Evan Hansen). Tanger and the Broadway series have both been a big hit in Greensboro and a much needed addition to 2021.  In the above photo, you see the advertisement board for all of the plays this year. It is located on the LeBauer Park side of Tanger Center and the photograph was taken on a non-performance day when all was quiet. Had we taken a photo yesterday, you would have seen people rushing into Tanger and pouring out, after the shows. 

Next up, at the end of December, is "Come From Away," about what transpired in 2001, the week after the September 11th attacks when 38 passenger planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland.  It is the story of the kindness of locals when 7,000 strangers were stranded in their town. On September 11, 2019, we featured Greensboro's own Katja Brown who was one of the people detained in Gander with her two toddlers. A lot has changed in Katja's life since 2001, and even since 2019 when we interviewed her, one thing is for sure; she will always have the memories of the kindness of people in Gander on September 11th, 2001. To be sure, when Katja sees "Come From Away," it will be through a very different lens from those who did not experience the event! If you want a ticket to the play, you should check availability soon.

Here's to a great week for everyone. If you have students in the Guilford County Schools, you have five more days before winter break begins! 

Festival of Lights, Let the Season Begin!

The Festival of Lights last night was extremely well attended. The two downtown City of Greensboro Parks (Center City and LeBauer) were stuffed with vendors, performers, food trucks, and the many festival going people of Greensboro. A good time was had by all. The above photo features the lighting of the Holiday tree in Center City Park, just before 7:00 p.m. last night.Can you see all of the phones positioned to get a photo of the lighting? 

After the lighting of the tree, people lingered in the parks, went to the Cultural Arts Center, and/or strolled along Elm Street. There are so many shows and events today, it should be easy to find something to do. The holiday parade starts at 12 noon today. Additionally, you can find plenty of opportunities to have fun downtown, and beyond! Remember to shop local.

If you want to see some other activities, there are so many options today. Let us know what you find. 

Black Friday 2021

Today is the day all of the retailers have been waiting for, Black Friday. People will be out shopping for special deals. If you subscribe to the Greensboro News & Record, Wednesday's edition was as thick and full of advertisements, just like old times. Let's hope retailers and shoppers have all of their dreams come true. The above photo was taken outside the K&W  Cafeteria, on Northline Drive, at Friendly Center. Stores at Friendly Center will be ready for you today. If you haven't driven along Northline lately, you might not know that the stops are now 4-way, making it easier for all drivers to get a turn getting through the intersections and left turns are now as easy as right turns.

If you are out shopping, let the above photo of Nancy, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, reminds us to remember others. Whether you donate to the Salvation Army's red kettle or another organization, give to the needy in some other way, or donate to someone in need directly, remember that there are many in need this year and kindness and generosity is especially appreciated. While we were talking to Nancy, who is a bell ringer for the first time this year, the above man got out of his car to drop a donation in the kettle. The people of Greensboro are giving people. We're betting you, dear reader, are already doing your part! Happy Black Friday!

1005 South Josephine Boyd

Yesterday, driving past this house at 1005 South Joesphine Boyd Street stopped us in our tracks. The sun was shining brightly and the combination of the red leaves, the red house, and the red car, punctuated by the pink, yellow, and blue planters looked stunning. With no cars on the road to the left, and the large lot that goes with the house, it looked like we were on a rural country road. In reality, we were just a block off of Gate City Boulevard and very near UNCG. This three bedroom, one bath, house was built in 1928. We can only imagine how rural it seemed almost 100 years ago.

Much of the Glenwood neighborhood is like this; at some places it looks very urban and others, very rural. If you want to drive around and explore Glenwood, we encourage you to attend one of the community events there. Most immediately, on Black Friday,  Glenwood hosts Greensboro's "Really, Really Free Market at the church at 1307 Glenwood Avenue. They could use any donations you have. Everything is free. You can even pick up something for yourself.  It is such a nice gesture, the "Really, Really Free Market has a really, really neighborly feel. Just like the house above!