Greensboro Daily Photo

Hudson's Hill Has Relocated to 314 S. Elm St.!

Hudson's Hill, formerly in the 500 block of South Elm Street, in the old Coe's Grocery Building, relocated to 314 South Elm on Black Friday. After less than a week in the new location, they are already seeing increased foot traffic. This local store is known for its jeans, Greensboro shirts and sweatshirts, and leatherwork. They have jeans that still have a Greensboro connection. One of the owners, Evan Morrison, uses original machinery from closed Greensboro textile mills to weave denim for jeans. Hudson's Hill also carries Susan Ridenhour's pottery and many other products with a Greensboro connection.

The above photo features Tinker Clayton, one of the owners, and one of his employees, Jenny. We first spoke at length to Jenny because Tinker was busy setting up VHS Christmas movies in the storefront window. We guess when someone needs to patiently wait for their friend or partner to shop or get a fitting, they can sit in the window and watch old VHS tapes.

Hudson's Hill was open in the former location for 13 years. They have barely scratched the surface of filling the above space with inventory and equipment to make even more products on site. They have big plans, combined with all the talent it takes to make quality products, the old-fashioned way. This is the ultimate place to buy local and to learn about Greensboro's tradition as a mill town. It is so nice to see the Miller Furniture Store put to good use after being empty for decades. With a little arm twisting, Mr. Miller agreed to rent to Hudson's Hill. Perhaps he has been waiting all these years for just this type of tenants- people who value quality, tradition, and connection to community. Check out Hudson's Hill at the Festival of Lights this Friday.

Yes, dear readers, it is already December!  Happy Monday!

Tanger, the LeBauer Park Side

The above photo is of the LeBauer Park side of the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. It was taken a few weeks ago, when the hydrangea heads were dried up, but the roses were still going strong. This north side of town has blossomed over the last few years. We are so lucky to have live theatre in Greensboro, and especially all of the Broadway musicals. This 494 million facility has only been open since 2021, but it seems like it has been with us for a very long time.

Tanger seats about 3,000 people which seems to be just the right size for our community. It is not uncommon for people who give talks there, especially Bryan Series speakers, to mention how impressed they are with the venue. It just seems to fit that corner lot and serves as a gateway to the city parks and the Cultural Arts Center.  See here if you want to attend an event at Tanger. They have a different option every night this weekend.

Happy Thursday!

Mitchell's Grove Methodist Church at the Veterans Day Parade

Mitchell's Grove Methodist Church had the above float in the Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Greensboro last week. Mitchell's Grove, located in High Point, was founded in 1827, making it one of the oldest churches in Guilford County. This church is very active and dynamic.  They have lots of events, including youth groups, a backpack initiative for Union Hill Elementary School, hot dog Thursdays, Bible studies, praise band practices, and more. If you are looking for a Global Methodist Church  in High Point, this is a good one to visit. The height of attendance were the online services during COVID, soaring to over 450 people.

Their impressive Veterans Day float came at the end of the parade, just before the final entry, the police motorcycle quartet. The float was memorable in that participating veterans were listed by name with their branch of service mentioned on the signage. We hope you have a happy Sunday. 

 

Veterans Day 2024

Happy Veterans Day 2024. This year's  parade was held on Saturday, November 9th, mostly on North Elm Street, marching south and turning onto East Market Street. The above photo is of the Dudley High School Marching Band of Thunder (MBOT), as they  turned onto East Market Street, near the end of the parade route. The band adheres to a strict practice regimen which includes a dress code. The daily practices are mandatory.   All of the hard work and practice pays off as the band sounds and looks great. The band performs with show style movement and military-style operations-- evidenced by their moves such as about-facing, right flanks, and standing at attention. In addition to musicians, the band has a drum major in front and dancers, the Pantherettes, in the back. If you missed Dudley High School MBOT on Saturday,  they will be back for the December 7th Holiday Parade, downtown Greensboro from 12:00 noon- 2:00 pm. In the background, you can see the Lincoln Financial Group (formerly JP) building in the background, anchoring today's photo in Greensboro. 

On a more somber note, on Veterans Day 2021, we featured Tech Sergeant Albert Lochra (see HERE). This is Greensboro's second Veterans Day without him, as he died on July 1, 2023. He was loved by many in the Greensboro community (obituary HERE). With the sadness of the passing of another one of our remaining WWII veterans, we are reminded of the youthfulness and vitality of high school students today. The cycle of life continues as the Dudley students march on. Let's all do something to honor our veterans today. We are forever grateful for the day we interviewed Mr. Lochra and are on the lookout for our next veteran interviewee.

 

 

Our Vote Is Our Power!

Today is the day. Since half of North Carolina has already voted, today is the day the other half of the state  will vote. If you are not sure where you vote,  here is the list of polling places. Remember, today, you must vote in your assigned place and a few polling places have changed. The Greensboro Transit Authority announced that bus fares are waived today so people can go vote. You need a valid photo ID, but if you do not have one, you can fill out a "Photo ID Exemption Form."

The above photo was taken at the Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street at the Guilford Native American Art Gallery. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, there are 1.012 American Indians registered in Guilford County. Out of North Carolina's 100 counties, the one with the most registered voters who identify as American Indian is Robeson County (26,403). Every vote matters, and indeed, "Our vote is our power." Today is the day to use your superpower, regardless of  your political affiliation and what demographic you fit!

Also, if you like original art, or want to know more about Greensboro's Native American community, stop by the Native American Art Gallery.

Happy Election Day 2024!

Downtown Greensboro in LeBauer Park

When we have community events in Greensboro, downtown comes alive with people, art, music and things to do. We didn't make it to First Friday last night, but we heard it was great. The Greensboro Cultural Center on Davie Street has exhibits that are still on display, including Casa Azul's  very colorful and thought provoking "Day of the Dead" exhibit. Downtown retail stores have holiday items for sale, with "Just Be" topping the list of Christmas gifts galore. 

The above photo was taken last weekend at LeBauer Park. The Greensboro Youth Council's Goulash was in full swing. The spotted standard poodle, Woody, stole everyone's hearts. He was so sweet and his owner was very kind. Woody was determined to strike up a friendship with the above black lab who is entering on the right of the photo. Downtown Greensboro is very dog friendly for friendly dogs.

The weather should be beautiful today. Head downtown and see what adventures you can have. We've got a lot of catching up to do and cannot wait until the Festival of Lights, held downtown on Friday, December 6th from 5:30- 9:00.

Happy Saturday!

Goulash 2024

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

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

Full Moon over South Elm

Here was last night's full moon over South Elm Street. The photo was taken from the parking lot of the Continental Club. Tonight, at the Continental Club, at 7:00 pm, is the opening reception for a group of street photographers. Preston Wiles curated the exhibit and installed it last night. The show kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and the show is called "From Dark to Light." If you like black and white photography, you will love this exhibit. Plus, you will have a chance to meet the photographers. As people who have been publishing street photography for 16 years, we always love to meet other photographers committed to telling visual stories. At the exhibit, there are also paintings by local artist Jack Stone. The Continental Club, with its international vibe,  is a place that does a nice job of building community through visual arts, music, and libations. In the previous century, the building was the home of The Farmers Exchange Store. From the old wooden floor to the geometric roof, many of the hints of yesteryear remain; however the lighting definitely gives it a 21st century feel.

For those of you celebrating NC A&T's Homecoming, we hope you have a great weekend; stop by and see the art at the Continental Club, listen to a little music, and socialize! It is a great place to network.

Happy Friday!

1007 N. Elm Room with a View-- and with a History

The above photo was taken from the 3rd floor in the house at 1007 North Elm Street. The 7 bedroom, Fisher Park house is made out of the same rock as this back yard garage and servant's quarters. The architect of the house was Harry Barton. The original owner was John Marion Galloway, the largest grower of bright leaf tobacco in the world- back in the day.*  We need to return and get a photo of the front of the house, now that we found all of the details of the property on the form where it is nominated for the National Register of Historic places. (See Here).

We would love to see this same view once there is some fall color, and then in winter to see the backyard. This is a house for romantics. You need to be able to dream about how beautiful it will be,  decorated and full of people. There are so many rooms that invite different moods and purposes. If the walls could talk, oh the stories they would tell of people dancing, socializing, and sipping beverages up on the third floor. 

If you had a three story house with a library on the ground floor, bedrooms galore on the second floor, and a ballroom and full bar on the third, how would you use this house? 

*Imagine our joy upon researching this reference for the owner of the house and discovering that it is attributed to our dear friend Alice Moore. Alice, who died several years ago, was the architectural historian who wrote the national register nomination for the Galloway house. (see HERE).  Alice also wrote the  nomination for the Latham-Baker Mansion at 412 Fisher Park Circle. We'll need to make a note to photograph that one, too. We had no idea that a quick visit to an estate sale on Sunday would bring back memories of a friend who inspired us at the start of Greensboro Daily Photo in 2009.

Alice Moore (March 1983). "John Marion Galloway House" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved November 1, 2014.

Happy Wednesday!

 

Tanger Center for the Performing Arts-- & Juliet

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

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

Happy Tuesday! 

GCS Celebration of Excellence & Teacher of Year

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

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

Happy Thursday!

 

Greensboro Pride Festival

Yesterday was perfect weather for the Greensboro Pride Festival downtown, primarily on Elm Street. It is the main event for Alternative Resources of the Triad (ART). According to WFMY-2, the Greensboro Pride Festival started in 2006 with about 400 people.  The goals of the event are to give members of the LGBTQ+ community a chance to socialize and have a space in public to come out and be surrounded by support from within the community and allies. Special services and resources are available as well as opportunities to purchase merchandise of interest.

Here was the schedule.from yesterday.  If you missed it this year, you can start planning for next year. Also, for those who missed the  event, there is an LGBTQ Center at the Guilford Green Foundation and there is  a local Facebook group. 

Happy Monday!

NC A& T Drumline

On Tuesday, Justice Henry and Shirley Frye received the key to the city of Greensboro for their lifelong service to our community. It was a lovely service. The atmosphere was even more celebratory having the NC A&T marching band drumline performing.  The NC A&T band was started in 1918 as a small program and the band became an integral part of the music. The percussionists at the University have developed quite a following, as they not only exude a percussive sound, they dance and perform exciting routines.

The band played tirelessly yesterday before the event and long after the event was over. Between the ceremony and the performance of the percussionists, there was a vibrancy in Center City Park. Usually, during the week it is a very quiet place. But Tuesday, the park came alive. It was such a joy to watch and hear the band perform. Their sound carried for several blocks. Perhaps, the wooden shelter in front of the band added to their sound. In case you want to hear them, the band will be playing at the NC A & T home football game against NC Central. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.

Happy Thursday!

The Frye Family, Exuding Vibrance

Today's joyful photo features Chief Justice and Shirley Frye with their family. Family members gathered in Center City Park yesterday to see  Justice and Mrs. Frye receive the key to the City of Greensboro. The event was even more festive with the NC A&T University drumline performing with their precision playing and marching. Once Mayor Nancy Vaughn gave the Fryes the prestigious award, and other dignitaries were leaving, friends, family, and admirers rushed in for photos. The Fryes were very accommodating, making no effort to rush off as people approached them, reminiscing and taking photos. Center City is the very park where the sculpture of  Justice and Mrs. Frye was unveiled on February 20th. This was the perfect place to bestow the award.  

Justice and Mrs. Frye worked very hard to fight the obstacles of segregation and discrimination while getting educations and beginning their lifelong journey of serving the community.  Justice and Mrs. Frye met on the debate team of NC A&T University in 1950, and for the last 74 years have worked together with utmost professionalism and integrity. Truly, they are role models, inspiring current and future generations. When asked by WFMY-TV Journalist Tanya Rivera what one word she would choose to describe Greensboro, Mrs. Frye responded with the word "vibrance." Not only do we agree with that description of Greensboro, we believe that word describes the Fryes and their family perfectly!

Happy Wednesday!

Grace UMC Church, 438 W. Friendly Avenue

This Sunday's spiritual place is Grace UMC, located at 438 W. Friendly Avenue. Grace bills itself as a Lighthouse Congregation, meaning that they welcome all who are seeking a new church, even those who do so due to disaffiliation. According to their website, Grace was chartered in 1891. The Urban Ministries of Greensboro was also founded in this church. They have also hosted Habitat for Humanity and are partnered with Guilford Child Development, offering free childcare to immigrant and refugee families. Located downtown, Grace endeavors to be everything an urban church needs to be.  

A link to their rich history is the cornerstone in from of the church which reads, "GRACE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. " The architect of the church, in its current iteration, was Hobart Upjohn. He was a New York architect whose work is attributed to 50 churches and educational buildings. He also designed Temple Emanuel and Holy Trinity in downtown Greensboro and the First Presbyterian Church of High Point. It is so fun to explore the history of our community and those early people who left their mark on the footprint of downtown Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

Starbucks, Downtown

This Starbucks at 500 West Market Street is conveniently located across from the Bryan Y. It has off street parking and a drive through. As much as we love our indie coffee shops, the parking and drive through are great perks. The shaded, outdoor seating area is a plus. The architecture is a standout at twilight. The store was built on the lot that formerly housed a Hardee's. It has been open for about a year now. With several churches nearby, it probably gets busy on Sundays. 

Of course the pumpkin spice latte is back; however, the new kid on the block is an iced apple crisp non-dairy chai. The PSL is 21 years old this year. It is their most popular specialty beverage and probably one of the reasons we become a pumpkin spice nation in the fall. We tried to find out how many total coffee shops are in Greensboro. However, counting coffee shops around here is rather like counting churches; the number seems infinite. However, wanderlog.com shared 37. . What is your go-to place in Greensboro. As for us, we love exploring and experiencing the vibe of different places. That is a start! Maybe we can try to visit all thirty seven. 

Happy Thursday!

911 Memorial Stair Climb

It has been 23 years since the terrorist attacks in the USA. Around this time Greensboro holds an annual stair climb to honor the first responders who lost their lives that day. Greensboro has held this stair climb for 5 years. Greensboro firefighters, community members,  and police participated. Initially, the stair climb was held at the Bellemeade Parking Deck, recently, it has been held at the Eugene Street Parking Deck, at 215 North Eugene, directly across from the Grasshoppers stadium- First National Bank Field. The happening of the event usually coincides with the NC Folk Festival. The memorial for Sandy Bradshaw, the Greensboro flight attendant who died on United Airlines Flight 93 is located beside the stadium.

It is hard to believe that some of the first responders had not yet been born in 2011. The Eugene Street Deck opened a little over three years ago, in June of 2021. As this part of downtown sees more growth, this public parking deck will be a great asset to the community. Even though the run is over, let us remember 9/11 and hope an event like those on that day in 2001 never happen again on US soil

NC Folk Fest Year 10 Has Concluded

Well, Year 10 of the NC Folk Festival has come and gone. The music was spectacular, the weather perfect, and the new layout along Church Street seemed to work well. Additionally, there was  a stage on Elm, one in the Cultural Arts Center, and one in LeBauer Park, and it seemed to work well. The above photo features the Center City Jams Stage, which was half way between the (Train) Depot Stage and the Wyndham Stage. UNCG was one of the sponsors and many alumni helped and/or performed at the festival; as was the case with the above musicians. During this performance, we were seated by a former UNCG professor who flew in all the way from Washington State for the festival.  He had taught at least two of the above musicians. The above group performing at the Honky Tonk Jam, led by Mark Dillon (UNCG Class of 2010),  was not one that rehearses together, but people who love music and just got together to jam at the festival. They were fantastic. That driving honky tonk sound had the audience enthralled- including us.

Now back to concentrating on all things fall. The season is upon us.

Happy Monday!

West Market Street United Methodist Church

This is the facade of the West Market Street United Methodist Church. This year at the NC Folk Festival, there isn't a stage in front of this church; however, we still ended up walking past it. It is so beautiful by day and by night. With the curve of the roofline on the 0arch and the lighting, it makes us feel as if we are in Europe. The architect was S.W. Foulk and the style is Romanesque. It was constructed in 1893.

The sanctuary beautiful, making the church quite a place to experience, from the exterior to the interior to the members. The 68, yes 68, stained glass windows can only be fully appreciated from the interior on a sunny day. They were recycled from the German Pavilion at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. According to the church website, the church is "(a) vibrant urban church creatively worshipping, full of great programs for families, youth and ALL ages, in mission to serve the Lord!" 

Happy Sunday! 

Depot Stage at the North Carolina Folk Festival

The North Carolina Folk Festival is in full swing and last night the weather was perfect. In the above photo, Holler Choir, a group from Asheville is performing. This group of young musicians puts a creative spin on Appalachian music with songs titles like, "Carolina Moon" and "Hamlet Blues." The tent was full last night, with a few seats remaining, here and there. This tent is set up in the parking lot of the train depot at Washington and Church Streets, a convenient location  for anyone coming in from other cities by train. The train depot, truly a step back in time, had more foot traffic and got more visibility than it had in a long time. The Depot Stage has several food trucks around it, making it possible to eat and listen at the same time.

The Depot Stage and Elm Street Stage (a couple blocks to the west) are the two southernmost stages, a footprint that encourages people to visit the many businesses on or near the 300 block of South Elm. The northernmost stage, the Wyndham Stage, is located at the corner of Church Street and Summit Avenue, just past the Children's Museum; Summit Avenue to Washington Street are your east/west borders. Church Street, between Washington and Friendly Avenue, is filled with marketplace vendors. Jewelry, skins care products, and some very creative clothing were among the booths we saw. We saw so many people we know last night, but are still surprised at the number of locals who have never been in the ten years of the festival. 

Happy Saturday! Hope to see you strolling along Elm and Church Streets. Our t.wn is at its best this weekend!

NC Folk Fest 2024: Let the Music Begin!

All is in place for the North Carolina Folk Festival to begin. Tents have been installed. Parking meters covered. Sound systems checked. Musicians ready. Volunteers have their assignments. And. So. Much. More. We went downtown yesterday to walk the perimeter and get the lay of the land as the footprint has changed some this year. Here, you see City Stage at the corner of Market and Davie Streets. This photo is bittersweet, though because it was taken on land that once housed the News & Record building, and before that, the King Cotton Hotel. D.H. Griffin completed the demolition this summer. There is no evidence a newspaper ever went to press here. The above water is not a lake, but a low spot that filled with water during the recent rains. The lot is mostly level and ready for its next incarnation The few bricks on site, may be left from the King Cotton Hotel days. By next year, this prime lot will probably have something built on it. East Greensboro continues to grow.

For now, we'll focus on enjoying every minute of the North Carolina Folk Festival. It will begin promptly at 4:00 pm  today with the Queen Bees playing on the Elm Street Stage and and the NC A&T Drumline playing there at 4:45 pm. See a map and schedule HERE. We love seeing Greensboro transform into a haven for a diverse array of music genres and sounds, with workshops, dancing, and something for everybody! Hope to see you there. A silly prize for the first few people who recognize us. "Hey, aren't you Mrs. Greensboro Daily Photo" will get you a fun little prize.

Happy Friday!

 

Downtown, View from the Davie Street Parking Deck

Not being drone photographers, we don't get a photo from above very often. However, in late August, during the Food Truck Fesitival, we walked top the top of the Davie Street Parking Deck and got this photo.  It shows a few of the big buildings downtown. Peeking out in the background is the Lincoln Financial Group Building. In the foreground, on the right, is the Center Pointe Building. To the right is the Renaissance Plaza  Building, and in the middle is 300 North Greene Street. Below, is Friendly Avenue and the greenery is in Center City Park.

Center Pointe was constructed in 1966. It is a 17-story building with 97 condominium units. the 19-story Renaissance Plaza was built in 1990. The landscaping there is beautiful. 300 North Greene Street was built in 1989 and is a 21-story office tower. This north part of Greensboro extending from Tanger Center (established 1921) to First National Bank Baseball Field (established 2005) has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the last couple of decades. If you go downtown for the North Carolina Folk Festival this weekend (and we encourage you to do so), have a look at how the footprint of the city is expanding.

Happy Wednesday! 

Tabata Chisse, Photographer

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

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

Happy Labor Day!

Center City Park with the Fryes

Greensboro has two parks downtown: Center City Park (west. 2006)  and LeBauer Park (est 2016). Above is a photo from Center City Park, located at the corner of Friendly, Davie, and Elm. It was taken during the food truck festival. The unidentified couple above were enjoying refreshing fruit juices on this very hot day. They were resting at the statue of  Justice Henry and Shirley T. Frye. Both Fries are impactful community members. Mrs. Frye, ever the dedicated community volunteer, integrated Greensboro segregated YMCAs in the 1970s. Henry Frye was the first African-American chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. 

We sat in Center City Park for a good while watching people at the Frye sculpture and how they interacted with it. Many people had their picture taken beside the Fryes. One young teen stood up on the statue, standing beside them. We had mixed feeling about climbing on the statue, but the pride on his face gave us a spark of hope that he aspires to become the great community member, just like the Fryes. Center City Park, on the day of the food truck festival, was everything a city park should be. People were milling about, resting and enjoying their food; children were playing as parents watched from a distance.  Seeing everyone enjoying the afternoon and interacting would have made the Fryes proud of their community. 

Happy Saturday!

The Corner Farmers Market at St Andrew's Episcopal on West Market Street

We caught the tail end of the Farmers Market on West Market Street yesterday. We were struck by the community venture it has become. Located in St. Andrew's parking lot at 2105 West Market Street, the Corner Market is truly a community venture. They invite vendors in to sell their bread, vegetables, soups, and arts and crafts. There is a children's art corner, an Australian farmer on Elam Street, who grows produce on not much more than acre of land, a young couple bringing their bread from Virginia. All of these vendors are such an integral part of the market. And then there are the customers, like the people in the above photo, who come to support local farmers and to show their children the source of their food. All of this magic happens on Saturday morning, thanks to the generosity of St. Andrew's.

Today, on Sunday morning,  the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, at St. Andrews Church, people will gather to celebrate Christ, their spirituality, and each other. St. Andres traces it's history in Greensboro back to 1891. The Episcopal has a rich history, over 130 years,  in Greensboro.* The Episcopal church, and especially St. Andrew's, values their relationship with people. As they say on their website, "not artifacts, not architecture, or even such actions as kneeling, singing, or making the sign of the cross."  They are about people in communion with God and each other. As we look at this fine relationship between St. Andrew's and the Corner Market, we realize, this is community at its best and at the core of why Greensboro is such a great place to live. Regardless of what you believe, we hope that you have a spiritual home (even if it is your own home) that nurtures your soul, literally and spiritually. We hope your spiritual home if one like St. Andrew's that allows all people in and believes building community is a big part of their mission.

Happy Sunday!

 

*read more HERE.

Public Transportation at Holliday Circle

Today's photo takes us to Holliday Circle at West McGee and Greene Street. The statue in the center of the circle, by local sculptor James Barnhill, is of Natty Greene. In the background, you see the iconic Lincoln Financial Group buildings with the LFG light at the top. It alternates with the time and temperature. Remember when  there weren't cell phones to inform us of the time and temperature? What a nostalgic feature. Peeking out on the left is the Hampton Inn and Suites.

Notice there are two busses in the traffic circle. the one in the foreground is a Veterans Resource Ride. In 2020, the public transportation agency transformed a 40-ft municipal transit bus  into a mobile resource center for veterans and their families. The bus is actually available for anyone to ride, however, there is information about resources for veterans displayed inside, and the driver is a veteran.*   The more public transportation gets used, the better the system will become. As you can see, the transportation department works hard to study what resources will benefit the community. It is so enjoyable to walk around downtown and see what we stumble upon. Personally, we use the Hopper Trolley, but need to use the bus system more. How about you?

Happy Thursday (the new Friday)! 

 

* reference.

 

Lavender- Expert on Haute Couture & Everything Vintage

Meet Lavender Tatum, truly an expert on everything vintage and haute couture.  The above photo was taken at the Greensboro History Museum this summer during their "Forties Flashback Family Fun Day."  Lavender, who only graduated from high school a few years ago, but is quite a timeless old-soul when it comes to knowing the history and provenance of items, especially clothing. Lavender volunteered at the history museum's Forties Flashback event not only bringing items to display, but also to help dress docents in period clothing. The above dresses are part of a collection Lavender brought to the event. Lavender meticulously restored the above beaded, silk, & tulle dress and has all of the original documentation, including the NYC designer's original drawings and the bill of sale. Knowing the provenance of the dress, a collector of NYC couture will easily value it at several thousand dollars. 

Lavender co-owns Revision Vintage, located at 313 East Market Street and also has a personal business Duck Lane Vintage. The latest item to appear in a Duck Lane Vintage Instagram story is an introduction to Glenny, a meticulously detailed 1937 Jaguar town car in perfect condition. We can't wait to hear the stories about the adventures of Glenny and where he lands. We also look forward to many years of following the adventures of Lavender who is truly a local expert and lover of the history of items made and used by humans over the decades.  In this era of living virtually, where photos, movies, games and more are housed on cell phones, it seems the younger generations don't collect anything. To find someone who appreciates and has great expertise on vintage items is special. After spending the afternoon together and getting a great interview, we failed to ask about the origin of the name- Lavender. Oh well, we'll save that question for the next interview. Revision Vintage opens at 1:00 today.  Now that the sun is shining and the rain has stopped, we just may head down there and see what's new; or old.

Happy Saturday!

 

Happy 20th Natty-Versary

Natty Greene's, in downtown Greensboro, at the corner of South Elm and East McGee, is turning twenty! Yes, it as been twenty years since they took the risk of moving into downtown and bringing their food and spirits to Hamburger Square. They were one of the early businesses to believe in the revitalization of downtown. Many other businesses followed them, some have come and gone, but Elm Street, north and south, remains strong.

The above photo features the outdoor  block party as they were just setting up to get it started yesterday evening. In spite of the menacing overcast sky, First Friday events were held. The outdoor area of Natty's has extend all the way to McGee with the addition of a pavilion where music can take place. Today, from  3:00 - 11:00 p.m., Grammy-nominated music star Brent Cobb will be performing. You can even bring your blankets and lawn chairs and stay for this performance. They've also a beer garden with a  system to more than double their beer-producing capacity on site. They are very committed, however, to remaining a family-friendly place where, with all those food choices,  drinking is optional! Natty will be "hops-ing" today!

Happy Saturday!

Relics of the Past

Relics of the past. We love finding memorabilia of items related to Greensboro. The above leather, metal-zippered, envelope pouch likely insurance policy papers. It was used at the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company which was located in the building they built at 101 North Elm Street, at the corner of Market Street. The building was completed in 1923. Jefferson-Standard became Jefferson-Pilot and in 2006, the company was sold and became Lincoln Financial Group- what you see on the building today if you are in the area.*

In 1967, Jefferson Standard merged with Jefferson Pilot, to form Jefferson Pilot Corporation. Therefore, we are concluding that this zippered envelope can be dated between 1923 and 1967. We're hoping that someone who worked there or who had one of these can share details with us. We saw an old listing for one on eBay, but no information comes up about it.  Now, with so many transactions being online  and so few "give aways," this is a relic of the past, not unlike those zippered pouches for transporting cash to and from the bank. Do you have any Greensboro artifacts that tell stories of the people and places? Be on the lookout for them when you are out and about this weekend. Even if you don't purchase them, snap a photo. If you have something you don't want, see if the Greensboro History Museum would like it. 

See you downtown at FIRST FRIDAY tonight!

 

* See more details in the archives of the Greensboro History Museum, HERE. 

LeBauer Park Shines at Night!

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

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

Happy Wednesday!

Pride and Prejudice at Van Dyke Theatre

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

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

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

 

Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment is a bakery on Davie Street, right beside the Cultural Arts Center and across the street from Center City Park. It is a super convenient place to go and have a treat after visiting the Central Library on Church or any of the other spaces on this north end of town. Owner Tanya Dickens works hard to make sure that customers, indeed, savor the moment when they come in for a treat. Their signature, original treat is the Crunch Cheesecake. It is a combination of her cheesecake and strawberry crunch cake recipes and, if those flavors and textures sound good to your, it will be DELICIOUS!  Tanya's signature Crunch Cheesecake now comes in 16 flavors. Perhaps the young couple on their way into the store will order one.

Read more about Tanya and the bakery in "High Point Discovered" Magazine, HERE. You will learn that she is quite the entrepreneur and that her business has already expanded to High Point. She weathered the pandemic, which took her business in a very different direction. She has instilled the sense of entrepreneurship not only in her own children, but in the many children she mentors. In addition to growing her own businesses, her community service is to help others learn to conceptualize and launch a business. What may seem like just another bakery, is really an incubator of ideas, generosity, and yummy sweet treats. We were initially attracted to "Savor the Moment" because of the positivity in the name. "Savor the moment" is quite an expression to ponder.

How will you spend your Saturday? How will you savor the moments?

Dean and Marilyn Green Rehearsal Hall

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

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

Happy Wednesday.

Governor's School West

Greensboro College is the host campus for Governor's School West for the 2024 season. Opening day was June 23rd and it will last for a month. High school students have been participating in campus-wide events: performances, presentations, classes, speakers, and more. Above, participants of this very prestigious program are at the International Civil Rights Museum on South Elm Street. The four-week program is highly competitive even among the most gifted and talented high school students. There are no credits, tests, or grades; just highly-motivated and intellectually curious students receiving highly-engaging opportunities, facilitated by talented teachers.

At Governor's school, there are several academic disciplines to choose from: Art, choral music, dance, English, Spanish, instrumental music, mathematics, natural science, social science, and theater. If you ever have a chance for a loved one to participate in Governor's School, by all means encourage them to do so.  The Governor's School in North Carolina was established in 1963 by then-Governor Terry Sanford. Twenty-four states have some form of special opportunity for students. How wonderful that one of these opportunities is held in Greensboro. The other site is Meredith College in Raleigh.

Happy Monday!

 

* see here.

Continental Club

How will you spend the weekend in Greensboro? The above photo is of a banjo player, yes, a banjo player, heading into the Continental Club on 816 South Elm Street. This is a great place fore music and dancing. The venue is located in a building that was originally "The Mill" a landmark and historical place. It is so great to see those historic buildings put to good use. It sold in 2016 and has been a hub of activity since then. If you are out this weekend, head downtown Greensboro and check out some of these historic properties that are getting a new life. The above property was originally the 1910 North State Milling Company. See a wonderful 2 minute video HERE.

Happy Saturday and happy exploring historic Greensboro.

Learning about Local Women Veterans with Dr. Beth Ann Koelsch

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

Happy Tuesday!

Yoga on the Greenway

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

Happy Wednesday!

Easy Rider! Relaxed Tuesday Ride Series

Tonight is the night for the Easy Rider! Relaxed Tuesday Ride Series. The above photo was taken last week on the delightful ride partially through UNCG, partially on the  Greenway, and partially through neighborhoods. Here is the group under the bridge,  at Spring Garden Street. Behind the bicyclists, a group was practicing yoga. It is so wonderful to see these community resources being put to good use. 

If you are interested in the ride, arrive at Cycles de ORO on Battleground and Hill Street at 6:00 pm to get registered, meet others, and have time to go into the bike shop to purchase a helmet, spare inner tube or anything else you might need to be road safe. You must partake in the 6:15 pre-ride briefing and the ride departs promptly at 6:30. It returns to Cycles for your parking convenience and to likely get an ice-cream treat from Dale, the owner of the shop.  The rides are under 10 miles and the route changes week-to-week.  This is a great way to fall in love with cycling or to participate in a ride where you actually have time to talk to people! 

Happy Tuesday and summer fun!

Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam

This past Saturday night, Colin Cutler and his band, Hot Pepper Jam, played at Joymongers on Saturday night. The weather was warm and, when the photo was taken, many people were still outside. However, as the evening progressed, the crowd grew and more people came inside.  

As stated on his website, Colin is a "wide-ranging performer whose musical roots draw from the breadth of American folk music...".  Colin's diverse life experiences- from growing up in the Pentecost religion to serving in the Army to performing and traveling around the USA and abroad- have contributed to the diversity in his music.  Perusing his website, you will learn that he is also well-read and writes poetry and stories while on the road. Colin is lead vocalist and plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica. On Saturday, he played everything from a Patsy Cline cover to his own, danceable music. He also makes a tasty hot pepper jam!

If you get a chance to hear Colin and the band play, do so. He is a Greensboro performer who plays at Merlefest, Shakori Hills, the Susquehanna Folk Festival, and the North Carolina Folk Festival- to name a few places.  His next performance is at the  Asheboro Summer Concert Series on July 12th and at Four Saints Brewing in Asheboro on July 13th. So, you'll have to head about 40 miles south to hear him next week.

Joymongers keeps a pretty busy schedule of live music, so you have plenty of options in Greensboro, too (see HERE). Summer is the perfect time to call up a friend or two and head out to support the area's live musicians.

Happy Monday!

Chandler's Coffee on South Elm Street Is Now Open and Ready to Serve You!

341 South Elm Street has new owners. On Wednesday, July 3rd, Chandler's Coffee had a soft opening. Above is owner Alexis Chandler who took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us and welcome us to the store. She and husband, Josh have been working day and night to get the coffee shop ready to open. When we stopped in on Wednesday you never would have known it was the first day. They were packed and the crowd was intergenerational, from toddlers to teens to grandparents. The baristas were pros; there was original artwork on the walls; and it is clean and organized. As you can see from what Alexis is wearing, they already have t-shirts made.

Alexis is from Asheboro and Josh is from Greensboro. They met at UNCG, fell in love, started a family, and are now living their dream with the coffee shop. Alexis, Josh, and their staff are committed to making the store be a hub of community activity, a 3rd space for people to gather to work, socialize, get a great cup of coffee and something to eat.  They are so committed to a local, hometown sense of community, that they have installed the artwork of Peter Schroth, the original owner of the Green Bean. Katie Southard, also a previous owner, is a barista.  All signs indicate that Alexis and Josh's venture is a hit with the Greensboro community. Tonight is First Friday in downtown Greensboro. We're not sure how late they will stay open, but if they are open, go in and pick out something to drink. There are many, many options.

Happy Friday!