Greensboro Daily Photo

Train on Tracks

Yesterday afternoon, we were fascinated to watch a freight train stopped at South Elm Street for at least an hour. We asked a young man who was waiting and photographing it. He said he had been waiting for 50 minutes and that usually a stopped train indicates another one is on the track. He appeared to be quite a train aficionado. Greensboro is a great city for train lovers. We have both freight and passenger trains. As a matter of fact Greensboro got its nickname, Gate City, for being a gateway rail city. Here is a North Carolina rail map showing which freight and passenger trains travel through Greensboro.  

The above view is of Hamburger Square. Notice how nice the train trestle looks. The green and white paint makes it a stand out. Fortunately, with this underpass, pedestrians and cars can move through Elm Street, instead of having to wait for trains. People who work downtown probably know the train schedule by heart!

Happy Thursday, from the Gate City!

Oscar Oglethorpe and the Magical display!

Since we were in the 200 block of South Elm Street yesterday, we'll stay there today at 226 South Elm, admiring the window of Oscar Oglethorpe. This eyeglasses shop aways has fabulous windows. This one was staged by Tammy Tamster Pegram. The window has been stalled for the Month of March. In asking Tammy about it,  * we learned that she wanted a spring "flower power" decoration. Tammy tells us, she was thinking about "springing into new growth while embracing styles of past and having NEW retro Eyewear to SEE the world's beauty thru diversity." Tammy added that she wanted to "show the joy of vibrant colors in eyewear and elsewhere."  Finally, Tammy wanted to embrace, along the way, for Women's History Month. The pink and orange window sure appeals to us. 

Thank you Oscar Oglethorpe and Tammy Pegram for bring us a little joy in the heart of downtown!

 

* Learn more about Tammy, HERE.

Elm Street Center: 203 S. Elm Street

Elm Street Center is located at 203 South Elm Street in a building that was constructed in 1949 for the Ellis-Stone Department Store. This was eight years before Friendly Center was built (1957) In the same year, Ellis-Stone sold the store to Talheimber's. Since then, the space has also been an antique mall and an event center- and possibly more. Here is an interior view we featured in 2012, showing that fabulous staircase in the center of the building.

We love the way the red brick building peeks through the brightly colored flags of the Los Chicos Mexican Restaurant across the street at 200 South Elm Street. It is always fun to have cars in a photo. Nothing dates a photo more than cars and fashion! It is supposed to rain today; however, the middle of the week is scheduled to be nice. If you get a chance and need to get some steps in, consider walking Elm Street. From Center City Park at North Elm to the new Common Grounds Coffee Shop at Gate City, the distance is .6 miles. You can walk there and back, enjoying downtown, and pretty effortlessly get in 1.2 miles. If you see us walking along the sidewalk, be sure to say hello!

Happy Monday!

Temptations "Ain't Too Proud" Show at Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Today's photo features a truck at the Tanger Center this past weekend, one of two used for loading in the "Ain't Too Proud" show about the Temptations and the Four Tops. Just as we stepped back to take a photo, a group of theatre-goers walked by. We took several more photos, but this one was the best; an action shot, showing movement in front of the "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations:  Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams. The people in the foreground are a little Abbey Road-esque. The music and show about the Temptations were fabulous. The Tanger is a fabulous venue, too. 

The weather in Greensboro has been sunny, but cold over the last few days. The lows have been in the 20s and the highs somewhere in the 50s. It is officially spring now. We hope you have a happy Tuesday and, if you haven't been to the Tanger yet, we hope you have an opportunity to get there soon.

 

College Hill Sundries

College Hill Sundries is located at 900 Spring Garden Street at South Mendenhall. Most people know the corner establishment from the iconic Pepsi sign painted on the South Mendenhall side. See our post from 2009 (HERE- 14 years ago!!!), and you will see the Pepsi sign. We like this photo from yesterday because it shows what a dynamic place this neighborhood bar is. First, you see the "WILD FREE" hand-painted sign on the wooden, corner door. We believe that that is from the artists' pop up held there yesterday. On the left, you see one of the artists showing his work. Above his head, you see the "bike lane" sign, an important features for a college neighborhood. On the right, is a masseuse giving a massage at the special event. Finally, the sun was very bright yesterday and formed an arc over the middle of the photo. To the very right, you can see someone sitting at the bar. The place was hopping. From patrons to bartenders to vendors, everyone seemed in a cheerful mood. 

It took a little internet sleuthing and a some math to figure out when College Hill Sundries opened as a bar. In a News & Record article from 12/12/2001, we saw a reference to the King family who turned the location from a drugstore to a bar "19 years ago", which, since the article was written in 2001, would mean the bar opened in 1982, making it 41 years old this December! College Hill Sundries had its years as a dive bar with bathrooms that were barely tolerable. As explained in the 2001 article and verified by us yesterday, the bathrooms have been upgraded and  the beer selections modernized. From that same era (2001), the magazine "Men's Journal" listed College Hill  as one of the 50 best bars in America. The only bar in North Carolina to receive recognition in the publication. Oh the things one can happen upon, merely driving around town. 

We hope to see an add for the next pop up. If you are a vendor, you may want to inquire within to see about getting a spot.

Happy Monday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Greensboro will be awash with all things green, especially green libations for adults interested in partaking.*  As for us, we are out with our trusty canine looking for leprechauns and pots of gold. So far, all we have only managed to find is a little green man on a manhole cover. He has been painted green by the utility company. Do you think that is a hint treasure is nearby?  We have written about manhole covers twice on Greensboro Daily Photo; once in 2012 when we dug into the history of the Pomona Foundry that used to be in Greensboro and made manhole covers (see here). If our research is correct, they were acquired by Acme Castings left and moved from Greensboro (Pomona area near West Market and Spring Garden Streets) in 1969.

The second time we featured manhole covers was just about a year ago, when we were navigating the During-COVID- Era (DCE?) and wrote about the manhole rubbings done by Vito Ciccone (see here). That is an interesting post, if you haven't read it already. There, you can see that the above manhole cover design says "City of Greensboro North Carolina 1808" and you will realize the man in the middle is General Nathanael Greene, not a leprechaun. Do you have any manhole covers near where you live or walk? If so, look at what they say on them. We're wondering if any new covers are still cast with "Greensboro" or "Pomona" on them. What do the new ones say? These manhole covers weigh from 90-250 pounds. Do you know why they are round? Because the circle shape prevents them from ever being able to collapse inside!

Enough about manhole covers. We think we'll head over to M'Coul's Public House on West McGee Street downtown and have one of their (what we call) Irish meal bites: Deep fried, wonton wrapped corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.

Happy Friday! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

* See here for these adult events.

Original Methodist Church

As you can read on this sign, the original Methodist church was built here on South Elm Street in 1831, 33 years after Greensboro became a city. Today, it is located on West Market Street and known as West Market Street United Methodist Church. This monochrome, black and white photo, taken yesterday, emphasizes the lines and the fact that the trees still don't have leaves. If you look to the right of the trees and streetlamp on the right, at the end of the awning. you can see a pear tree that has already bloomed. Spring is a little early this year in Greensboro.

The other side of this historic marker is entitled, Former Methodist Cemetery, and reads: The original Methodist cemetery, west of Elm and south of Bragg streets, was used for public burials also. In 1916 the city purchased the land to extend Ashe Street, so the graves were moved. The church purchased plots in Green Hill Cemetery for 106 bodies unclaimed by family members. We're off to Green Hill to see if we can find the section with the unclaimed bodies. Do any of you know what part of the cemetery they are buried in? There is always something new to learn about Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

M'Coul's Public House

M'Coul's Public House seems to stay busy, especially on weekends. However, as we inch towards St. Patrick's Day a couple of Fridays from now, it will get super busy. Simmone McClinton, founder and owner, opened the establishment at 110 W. McGee Street in 2001. The building is historic and Simmone is committed to maintaining the integrity of the original structure, while adapting and updating whatever is needed to bring the restaurant into the 21st century. The building dates to 1892, and a lot has changed in 131 years.

In 2022, M'Coul's was recognized in the book "Hidden Gems of America: Restaurants" as one of their top pics in North Carolina. The above photo was taken upstairs, one of their  five options for dining. We love the mural and know there has to be a great story behind it. We're not sure, though. Do you know? It captures so perfectly the vibe of M'coul's. When we find out, we'll let you know.

Happy Saturday! Happy exploring!

Heavenly Buffaloes

Heavenly Buffaloes is a brick and mortar restaurant at 356 South Elm Street. However, they also have a truck that always catches our attention, especially when we see it parked on W. McGee Street downtown. Heavenly Buffaloes got their start in Durham, NC in 2014, but now also has locations in Chapel Hill and Greensboro. They pride themselves on using high quality ingredients, local and for the chicken wings, antibiotic free. They also have vegan (soy nugget) wings, made from a recipe they perfected over a year. They offer many flavors of sauce and levels of heat. 

It is nice to see a local (well, down the road) business doing well and, who knows, they could keep growing and expand to other states, like Biscuitville and Cook Out. Sundays- Tuesdays, HB is only open until 10:00 pm, but other nights until midnight. It is always nice to be able to grab a late night snack. We're always looking for new places to get a quick bite to eat when downtown. 

Happy Thursday! 

192 East Lewis St.

Happy March 1st! The above photo was taken on East Lewis Street and the building with the colorful mural is 192 E. Lewis. It is the Dick Broadcasting Building and also home of 107.5 KZL. That is a convenient place for a radio station with all that is happening on South Elm Street these days. Sometimes they have music concerts right here on East Lewis. Just behind the camera is Elm Street and many new entertainment entertainment opportunities with plenty of spirits.

Sometimes, just looking at the sky is enough. You can see where the sunny sky meets the darker clouds. It did rain the day we took this photo. The angle of the sun made the mural on the building stand out. If you like that mural and want to see a close up, see the GDP post here from a couple of years ago. Of course, you could head downtown and see for yourself this building from 1962.

Happy Thursday!

Dr Alvin Blount, Mural on South Elm Street

Thursday was such a warm day in Greensboro, at 81ºF, the warmest February 23rd on record. After the afternoon shower, the sky brightened up again. On our trek along the 600 block of South Elm Street, we ran across this mural to Dr. Alvin Blount. As you can see, there is a bust and to the right, a THKU which presumably is a "thank you" to a man who did so much for integrating the hospital system in Greensboro. Dr. Blount was one of 10 plaintiffs in the 1962 Simkins vs. Moses H. Cone lawsuit in which it was determined that federal dollars for public facilities should not be used to discriminate. 

Blount was from Raleigh, NC, but attended N.C. A&T in Greensboro. To learn more about this inspirational person, who was the first black surgeon to work at Moses Cone and who practiced medicine until the end of his life, see HERE. Dr. Alvin Vincent Blount died on January 6, 2017. Thank you for all you did to make a difference in the world, Dr. Blount!

If you want to see the mural, head to the east side of the 600 block of South Elm Street. We're not sure who created the mural. Do you know? The mural has, to the left, " Dr. Blount, Cone Hospital @ 1.4.4.0. It is a lovely addition to downtown.

Happy Saturday!

Common Grounds Downtown

Yesterday, after that brief afternoon shower, we had a chance to visit Common Grounds on South Elm Street. We affectionately refer to it as Common Grounds East, as the original location is in Lindley Park at the corner of Elam and Walker. The menu appears to be the same  with iced and hot coffee and smoothies. Their specialty lattes are named after actors, the Bill Murray, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Charlie Chaplin, and more. They also have pastries and draft beer. They are the last business on South Elm, on the northeast corner of the South Elm/Gate City Boulevard intersection. The parking lot on the corner, the one with the giant globe/orb, is for Common Grounds. 

As the weather warms, you will start seeing people sitting outside in the front of the shop as well as in the charming area in the back. Common Grounds on Elm opened last Friday, February 17th. If you stop by today, wish them a happy, one week anniversary. As you can see from the above photo, there is plenty of room to spread out and get some work done, or, to socialize with friends. In general, Elm Street south of the railroad tracks is being transformed. We'll share other examples, soon.

Happy Friday!

The Mavericks

Greensboro is becoming quite a town of live performances. Between the Tanger Center, White Oak Amphitheatre, the Coliseum, Community Theatre of Greensboro, Triad Stage, The Carolina Theatre, the local universities, and the smaller venues, Greensboro is becoming quite a town of live performances.

The above photo features The Mavericks, playing at The Carolina Theatre this past weekend. They are an American country music band from Miami, Florida, playing together since 1989. In the center is Raul Malo, lead vocalist and guitar player. The night they played in Greensboro, there were 9 musicians on stage. During the concert, audience members were actually invited into the orchestra pit to dance. That added an upbeat energy that permeated the whole show. You can see part of that crowd at the front of the stage.

The Carolina Theatre has been in the news lately, as the exterior is getting work done to help restore and preserve it. When built in 1927, it was the crown jewel of the south. It has had ups and downs over the years, with the interior now restored beautifully. The night The Mavericks played, we sat next a couple that had driven from Bristol, TN (about 3 hours) to see the show and commented on its beauty. Ever at the helm of helping with the renovation of The Carolina Theatre, Betty Cone,Honorary Chairman of the Board, is again working hard to secure funding for the exterior of the building. If you haven't been to a movie or show there recently, you should purchase a ticket to something. Both the Betty and Ben Cone, Jr. Auditorium (to named in 2018) or the Crown upstairs, The Carolina Theatre is a very special venue. If you want to donate and be part of the restoration effort, see HERE.

Happy Thursday!

 

Seth Walker: Singer-songwriter and Visual Artist

Seth Walker opened for the Mavericks this past Saturday night (2/18/23) at The Carolina Theatre. Seth, who attended New Garden Friends School in Greensboro, grew up in a musical family. His dad, Scott Walker was the orchestra teacher at Greensboro Day School.  Summers, his dad hosts a fiddle camp, aptly named the "Walker Family Band Fiddle Camp. Growing up in a musical family, he comes by his musical talent honestly.

Seth is a guitarist, and blues and jazz singer, within the Americana genre. Also a prolific singer-songwriter,  Seth has released 10 albums, and tours extensively. In addition to being an accomplished performance artist, he is also a visual artist (see his CDs and visual art  HERE). While he now calls nearby Asheville home, it was nice seeing him back in Greensboro playing. Since Seth has co-written songs with members of  The Mavericks, his music fit perfectly with theirs. The above photo was taken in the lobby of The Carolina Theatre, where we caught up with Seth spending time with old friends and fans. Our visit to The Carolina Theatre was timely as Nancy McLaughlin's article about renovation efforts at the theatre is just out in the News & Record.

 

Happy President's Day, always the third Monday of February!

This CommUnity Sings

Yesterday afternoon the "This CommUnity Sings" event was held at The Carolina Theatre. It was a free event of singing with planned audience participation. Everything about the event was perfect from the venue , to the musical team, to the songs chosen for Music Director Brittany Kaehler to teach the audience- "Under the Sea", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and "Mamma Mia".  

The above photo is of Red Kalyna, a Ukrainian group singing "Chervona Ruta" at the beginning of the program. "Chervona Ruta" is a popular Ukrainian folk song, widely sung in Eastern Europe. The lyrics tell of a mythical flower that brings happiness in love to a young girl who happens to find one of the flowers blooming red- something that, according to legend, only happens on the eve of summer solstice . Featured from left to right, members of the group, Peggy Boswell, Iryna Tkachenko, David Thompson, and Larry Vellani. We hope more community singing events are scheduled. "CommUnity Sings" was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who participated, making this event possible- especially the sponsors!

Happy Monday!

Meet Wayne, USPS Mail Carrier Extraordinaire

Today, we're featuring Wayne, mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. Wayne is from Caswell County, North Carolina, lives in Eden, and commutes to Greensboro to work.  Every day, he gathers the mail and walks his route, delivering mail along Elm Street and in the downtown area.  If you live in the 27401 zip code, surely you know Wayne. 

One weekend, we were in Just Be, asking Lisa, an employee, what we could photograph for Greensboro Daily Photo. She had several great ideas, yet for almost all of them, we were able to say "Already featured.". She thought and thought, her face lit up and she asked, "Have you featured our mail carrier, Wayne?".  Lisa told us the story of one day several women were on their lunch break in the store, Wayne walked in and in unison a chorus of voices said "Hi, Wayne".  When you have a mail carrier as personable as Wayne, it stands to reason that many are on a first name basis with him.

When we asked Wayne what he liked most about his route, without missing a beat, he responded, "The people, and seeing them smile." It can take so little to bring joy into the lives of others. Even if a bill is being delivered, it is impossible to be in a bad mood when you see someone with a warm smile who greets you with a few positive words. So thank you, Wayne, for bringing joy to 27401. Thank you "Just Be" (352 South Elm Street) for being not just a place to buy "gifts with stories to tell", but for suggesting we feature Wayne.

Happy Monday!

Piedmont Old Time Society Thursday Jam at The Continental Club

The Continental Club, located at 816 South Elm Street bills itself as "a cool, international social club, for disruptors and innovators." It is located in the building that years ago housed The Farmers' Exchange Store, a precursor to Southern States, where farmers would go to get grain, fertilizer, and other needs for farming. It is the white building on the southwest corner of Elm Street and Gate City Boulevard, the one with DAILY BREAD FLOUR on the back. 

Last night, The Continental Club hosted the open jam of the Piedmont Old Time Society (POTS), where acoustic fiddle and banjo music reigns supreme. POTS had previously held their jams at the Green Bean, but once that venue was no longer available, the group was on hiatus. When they learned the Continental Club would host the jam, they had eighteen people on the first night, playing well into the night. The lighting is absolutely beautiful at the Continental Club once your eyes adjust. However, it is a challenge to get crisp, color-balanced photos. The music sounded great last night. Hopefully, the Continental Club/Piedmont Old Time Society relationship will continue for a very long time and they will have all of their first and third Thursday jams there. The club is currently hosting an art exhibit by Trina Olson; the owner seems very supportive of visual and performing arts.

Happy Friday! May you find lots of great things to do in Greensboro this weekend.

Cats at Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

The Broadway musical Cats has come and gone from Greensboro, where it was performed at the Tanger Center this past week. The above photo shows the junkyard set where the cats gathered at night. The singing, dancing, and performing were superb. The performance was especially fun to watch if you knew the cats' personalities or if you were sitting next to someone who was a Cats fanatic. It also helps with appreciating the play to have read T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats"  In his poem "Three Different Names", you learn that cats have familial names, particular names, and secretive names.* It helps to have some of those names and personalities memorized when seeing the play.

The London production of Cats ran for 21 years and the New York production for 18. When a play is that popular, wins many awards, and keeps attracting crowds for nearly two decades it becomes part of our cultural lore. If you missed Cats in Greensboro, its next stop is DPAC in Durham; so, you still have a chance to see it locally. The next play up at Tanger Center is The Book of Mormon on 2/21-26. If you want ticket to that play, they are going fast. Head to the box-office at 300 North Elm Street and treat yourself to one.

Happy Monday!

 

* reference and read more HERE.

Eugene Street

Have you driven on Eugene Street lately? It has changed so much. This is the part between Friendly Avenue and Smith Street, with the baseball stadium on the left and the Carroll Bellemeade development on North Eugene. It is hard to believe the baseball stadium has been there since 2005. What was originally First Horizon Park is now First National Bank Field. The stadium can accommodate 7,499 guests. The people who live in the apartments on Eugene and Smith Streets can just walk to games. Between the baseball stadium and Tanger Center, options for this part of town have expanded significantly over the last 18 years. 

You can get some great sunsets from the apartments on Eugene. We're betting you can see some great baseball from many of those apartments. The next home game for the Greensboro Grasshoppers will be April 23. It would be well worth your investment in time and money to experience a baseball game. We hope to see you in the stands, or strolling along Elm Street, en route.

Happy Thursday!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Today is a federal holiday in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr.   Dr. King was a spokesperson for nonviolent activism, and his work for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States is given special recognition on the third Monday of January every year. Today is meant to be a day of community service and civic engagement, and in Greensboro there are many opportunities to make it one. There is a (sold out) breakfast at the Khoury Convention Center; the parade starts downtown at 11:00 am. Another event, hosted from 2:30- 4:00 pm at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum at 134 South Elm Street today, is a program by Dr. Will Harris entitled "Beyond, and Better Than, "DEMOCRACY." 

The above photo was taken during an event at the museum during the Festival of Lights in downtown Greensboro on December 2nd, 2022. LaShon Hill was singing in front of a mural of the Greensboro Four: David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan), Joe McNeil. Her performance was well received. The museum, in collaboration with NC A & T, UNCG, Bennett College, and Guilford College,  is hosting a speaker series this February and the lineup is fabulous: Al Sharpton, Andrew Young, Johnnetta Cole, and James Lawson. Between this speaker series and the Bryan Series, Greensboro is getting many memorable speakers this year. Having five institutions of higher education in our city is truly special. 

Happy Monday! How will you be spending the day?

Full Moon 324 S Elm St

Last night was especially beautiful in downtown Greensboro. As the temperature was dropping from the mid 50s to the mid 30s, the full moon was rising. Above, is a photo of the moon over 324 South Elm Street. The photo was taken from South Greene Street looking, east, towards Elm and that highest ray of light in the sky was the moon. This was the first full moon of 2023, the Wolf Moon. The moon was position almost the farthest point from the earth, the opposite of a supermoon. The lens flare, creating the rays of light on the photo happened, by chance, creating a starry mood in the photo. 

If you celebrated Epiphany or Three Kings Day, or "El Día de los Reyes Magos", last night was a beautiful evening to celebrate those holidays. Happy Saturday! Let's see what today brings. See you at the farmers markets.

The Day a Tabitha Brown Billboard Strolled through Hamburger Square

Tabitha Brown, Vegan Food & Kitchen Collection Drops January 8. Such was the signage at Hamburger Square yesterday afternoon. Tabitha Brown is an actress, published author, social media personality, and more from Eden, North Carolina. She became vegan to help her cope with chronic fatigue and pain. Her demeanor and programs are said to be comforting. She is a motivational speaker who has been on Good Morning America. If you have not heard of her before, start with the Wikipedia page, and you will go down the rabbit hole of wanting to know more and more. To give you insight into the kind of person she is, Ms. Brown moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career; however, when her mother was diagnosed with ALS, she returned to North Carolina to take care of her mother. She also lived in Greensboro for five years. Her breakthrough career in food and and healthy eating came when she made anvideo for a vegan BLT sandwich for Whole Foods Market. 

Now, we are curious as to the details of her kitchen collection being released this Sunday. We wonder where the billboard truck was headed yesterday, and why it was driving down Elm Street at 3:45 in the afternoon. Actually, you can learn a lot about Greensboro by hanging out at Hamburger Square. It is a little amusing that a mobile ad for veganism popped up on HAMBURGER Square. Ms. Brown is married to a retired LAPD police officer. They have two children, Choyce and Queston. The Browns are thriving in California. It is nice to know that they still have ties to North Carolina. We love the serendipity of what we will see, and have time to photograph, when traffic is stopped for a train rolling through The Gate City. 

Happy Thursday!

Bicycling in Greensboro

With New Year's resolutions, the local gyms have been busy and with the nice weather, people have been out running, walking, and bicycling. Last night, we were enjoying some urban walking downtown and saw many people out on their bicycles. Just after sunset, the weather was warm and damp, but not raining; perfect for being outside. This was one group we noticed coming through Hamburger Square. There were others on bicycles downtown.  If you notice, there was someone in front of Natty Greene's.

As Greensboro gets more bike lanes and greenway miles, the city is becoming more bike friendly; bicycling, as a sport and as  a mode of transportation, appears to be increasing. If you want to learn more about riding, local bike shops are a great place to start. Find a bike shop with the kind of cycling you like to do and start asking questions, keep your gear working well, and find opportunities for group rides. Greensboro has over 90 miles of trails and greenway.  Here is trail and greenway information in Greensboro.  Here is a list of traffic laws applicable to NC bicyclists. 

Happy Wednesday! 

 

 

Magnolia House: Interior View

Magnolia house, located at 422 Gorrell Street, is so important to Greensboro's history. It was built in 1890, but during the height of the Jim Crow era, Magnolia House gained special importance as a Green Book hotel. African Americans could stay here safely; guests would stay and often take a shoebox lunch with them as food on the road could be hard to come by. Today, Magnolia House again has lodgers, prepares meals, and educates groups about the history of the house. The signage throughout tells of prominent African Americans who stayed there, like Ike and Tina Turner and Jackie Robinson.  Magnolia House has special events; you can book weddings, music events, and more. It is quickly becoming a special destination in Greensboro.

The above photo features one of the downstairs rooms. The interior decorating was done by Gina Hicks and Laura Mensch of Vivid Interiors on South Elm Street. *  They brought their special flair while collaborating closely with property manager, Natalie Miller, whose father Samuel Pass owned Magnolia House. Above is an example of way Hicks and Mensch  respected the integrity of the architecture, leaving the fireplace, chair rails, high ceilings, yet brought a very elegant and glamorous look to the rooms. The wallpaper, gold light fixture, and mirror as a show stopping combination. Each of the six bedrooms are uniquely decorated.

The Christmas event at Magnolia House sold out; there doesn't appear to be a New Year's Eve event open to the public. However, check their schedule to see when a room is available and how you can order a shoebox lunch, or schedule a tour. Truly, this is a special piece of Greensboro's history. See more HERE. If you've never seen an exterior view, here is when we featured it in 2021.

Happy Thursday!

 

* read O. Henry Magazine article HERE.

The Day the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile Came to Greensboro

The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile was first launched in 1936. We don't know how many times it has been to Greensboro, but it was here during the Festival of Lights on Friday, December 2nd. In 1988, a fleet of 6 began making their way across the United States. They are 23-feet of advertisement and fun. People love getting their photo taken with them. If you want to know when it will be back in Greensboro, you can track it HERE. Greensboro isn't currently up on the map; however, you can even invite them to an event. We're guessing someone involved in organizing the Festival of Lights invited them.

In the above photo, this giant, plastic, bundle of joy was parked in the 500 block of South Elm Street, right across from the Community Theatre of Greensboro. They are often looking for enthusiastic people with great driving records to join the driving team. It would be so fun to have someone from Greensboro driving the Weinermobile! 

Happy Wednesday! After today, there are three more days until we close out 2022. Looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring our way. It is time to sit down and prepare a "Best of 2022" post for you. Also, we need to plan out a month-by-month activity spreadsheet to try to find 365 people, places, and events to share on Greensboro Daily Photo. Year 14 is going to be a good one!

245 East Friendly Avenue

245 East Friendly Avenue is a commercial building downtown, near the Greensboro Central Library. The building is two-story, 34,200 square feet, and built in 1924. The facade says Fruit and Produce and must have been a market in earlier years. Now, it is full of offices and, according to the sign in the window, will soon have a coffee and wine lounge. The sign in the Church Street window says Melrose Coffee Greensboro. It will be a California-inspired establishment serving coffee and wine. Perhaps you remember several years ago when there was a coffee shop in the library. It is nice to see Greensboro expanding and this part of town, east of Elm, getting a coffee shop. 

Happy Monday! We are about to start the week between Hanukah/Christmas and New Year. Temperatures will be inching up this week. We'll report back when Melrose opens. In the meantime, we're going to work on learning more about the history of this building. What do you remember?

Merry Christmas 2022

Merry Christmas! This is the Nativity scene/creche at Greensboro College on West Market Street. Last week, we shared Mary and Joseph walking to Bethlehem. Today, we share the part of the scene where they are in Bethlehem and Christ is born.It is a fitting photo for Christmas and one that is fitting for Greensboro College, whose roots are in the United Methodist Church. The college was chartered in 1835 by the Methodist Church. Originally, it was Greensboro Female College, the first chartered for women in North Carolina and the the third in the United States (NCpedia, visited 23 Dec, 2022). 

Today, Greensboro College seeks a diverse campus of people and welcomes students from all faith groups and even those who do not belong to a faith group. For those who celebrate, we wish you a Merry Christmas. Today is a doubly religious day, a Sunday and Christmas. We hope you are staying warm and that you are celebrating in a way that is just perfect for you.

Happy Sunday! Merry Christmas! Happy Winter!

Tinsel Town in the Cultural Arts Center

Have you had a chance to visit Tinsel Town in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street? The venture was started by #Downtown Greensboro during COVID and in LeBauer Park, as a way to provide festive events for the community, even though people were not gathering indoors. . Different organizations decorate trees, usually in some way to represent their mission or cause. There is a contest and through QR codes, visitors can select their favorite. Now, the display in inside, out of the cold, but the trees are still as fabulous as ever.

Tinsel town is closed through 2/27/22; however will open after the holiday until December 31. You should be able to vote and out of the 50 uniquely decorated trees, the top five vote getters will get $500 awarded to the non-profit of their choice, on their behalf. It is such a wonderful idea and you can learn more about it here. This rounds out our Merry-Philanthropic-Christmas. If you get a chance to visit and feature anything on social media, please tag Greensboro's very special #DGSOTINSELTOWN We with you a Merry Christmas. We are so thankful you are on this photo-a-day journey with us.

 

Miriam P. Brenner Children's Museum

If you want to help the children in your life burn some energy and excitement, now that they are out of school on break, consider taking them to the Brenner Children's Museum downtown on Church Street. It is located directly across from the downtown branch of the public library. The museum will be closed from December 24th- 26 so, today and tomorrow are perfect days. Earlier this year, it was announced that the museum would be named in honor of Myriam P. Brenner, given the $1.25 million dollar donation to the museum from Frank and Nancy Brenner. The name change was effective July 1922. Mrs. Brenner, from Charleston, SC, moved to Winston Salem when she married Abe Brenner in 1947. During her lifetime, Mrs. Brenner was generous volunteering her time and donating money to worthy causes.* She would be honored to know her family donated to the children's museum on her behalf. Modeling philanthropy for the younger generations was important to her.

The above photo, taken at night, does not capture the vibrancy of the museum. However, it does show you the signage with the name change out front. It also shows and the extent to which the exterior has been added to and upgraded. Children have so much fun climbing around outside, weather permitting. When we see a photo like the one above, it reminds of an Edward Hopper painting. He was known for creating  "subdued drama out of commonplace subjects 'layered with a poetic meaning', inviting narrative interpretations" (Wikipedia, Hopper, visited 21 Dec. 2022). Seeing the museum at night evokes that mood for us. It also reminds us that, in Greensboro, the winter solstice is behind us and the hours and minutes of darkness have begun to wane.

Happy day-after-winter-solstice! How will you spend your extra second of daylight?

* read more on Mrs. Brenner  here.

Angela L. Gunter, Fine Artist

We met up with Angie at the 205 Collaborative on Lyndon Street when they had their recent open house. Her spacious studio is up on the second floor, a perfect spot for her realistic oil paintings. On the day we were there, she was painting a miniature skull, very Georgia O'Keefe-esque and perfect for the tiny black frame she found for it (see it above in the center). The open house was so nice because it gave us a chance to get to know the artists and to see their work. Angie, has a very international perspective on life, having been raised in a Navy family and spending considerable time in Europe. She has also worked in film and television,  speaks German fluently, and loves to talk about language and culture. She likes calling Greensboro home and has lived here since 2008. Let's hope she is settled here permanently and that she keeps sharing her artwork with the world. Here is her website, if you are interested in seeing more.

Happy Tuesday and stay warm out there, dear readers.

Advent 3rd Sunday

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, Mary and Joseph are on their journey, looking for lodging. Themes for church services this week will likely revolve around John the Baptist, angels, joy, and Mary. Above is part of the scene of The Nativity Scene on the front lawn of Greensboro College. The first figures were created in 1936. In 2007, they were vandalized. In 2011, the shepherd was stolen. Fortunately, in 2022, the figures have been  replaced and the display is intact. It is special to see the whole display during the day, and also the lighted scene at night. If it snows this December, that will be the best view of all. The scene will be up at least through December. This tradition that started 86 years ago is pretty special.

If you notice in the back top left corner, the JP/LFG building anchors the photo in Greensboro.

One more week until Christmas. For those celebrating Chanukah (the Feast of Dedication), it starts tomorrow!

Happy Sunday!

ReVISION Vintage: Brittany and Lavender

Brittany and Lavender, along with a third partner Katie (not in photo), own ReVision Vintage at 313 East Market Street, right across the street from the wedding venue, Cadillac Service Garage. TheReVision Vintage building, built in 1928, houses home goods, clothing, and jewelry. It is so wonderful to meet young people who work so hard to keep clothing and home goods out of landfills, and enjoying every minute of helping customers. They love learning the history and provenance of the items they sell. They also have very good intuition about what individual customers might like. We found a perfect-condition,  sequined holiday top, perfect for outings at the Tanger Center this time of year. We also got a pair of 2 1/2" fuzzy, teddy bear earrings that Lavender made. They are available in brown, white, tan, and pink, adding just the right punch to a holiday outfit. For all who snag a pair of teddy bear earrings ($12), let's take pictures of their holiday adventures and share back with the store. 

In addition to running this fun, ground-level vintage store, today, from 11-4, Lavender will host an estate sale above the store, in apartment B. Apparently, people wait in line clamoring to get in to these estate sales as the inventory is always fabulous. Our suggestion is to attend the estate sale, then stop by the shop, and last but not least, head next door to visit Mr. Mitchell, who has been selling hats and other goods at Mitchell's Clothing and Accessories in this same spot in east Greensboro since 1937.  How's that for provenance and supporting local businesses? Shopping downtown, in east Greensboro, is regaining traction!

Happy Saturday!

107.5 on the Run

Downtown is so lovely this time of year and it is so fun to have these serendipitous experiences, like seeing a 107.5 car when you least expect it. We pulled up beside it at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Davie Street. The vehicle was so brilliantly decorated and the driver was really paying attention to the road. We love how the brightly wrapped sedan looks against the green windows of the Cultural Arts Center. Peeking out on the left is the Festival of Lights holiday tree in Center City Park.

The car advertises Jared and Katie. Jared Pike and Katie Tesh have been bringing Greensboro the morning show since 2012. Their morning show is so popular. If you haven't listened, tune in to hear this iconic radio couple. You never know what you are going to see when you drive around downtown. If you notice in the window is an advertisement for the Winter Show at the Green Hill Gallery in the Cultural Arts Center. The current exhibit is well worth your time!

Happy Friday, everyone!

LeBauer Park on a Rainy Night

This is what LeBauer Park looks like on a cold, but above freezing, rainy night. There is a certain charm about its calm emptiness. The time was about 10:00 pm as we were leaving the Tanger Center. The one-night-only showing of the Hip Hop Nutcracker was last night. The troupe performed to a sold out crowd. Their 10th anniversary performance was spectacular. It is nice to park in the Church Street Parking Deck, because to get from the Tanger Center to the parking deck, you get to walk past the park.

LeBauer Park opened on August 8, 2016. In its 6 years, this 4-acre 10 million dollar park  has grown to be one of the major city-owned, gathering places for fun downtown. This is the location of the ice skating rink this winter. There is also a playground, fountains, and a dog park. The Janet Echleman polyethylene sculpture, suspended 130 feet above the park's great lawn, is a nod to Greensboro's textile history. It is always nice when a piece of art is made with the history of a city in mind. If someone is looking for a fun and meaningful project, consider taking a photo a day of LeBauer Park. It is beautiful in all weather conditions, and when empty as well as when full of people.

Happy Thursday!

Winter Shows at the Cultural Arts Center

The Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street is filled with great artwork. Above are 3 wood portraitures by Percy King and on display and for sale at Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art. Originally from Columbus, OH, Percy King was formerly a football player at The Ohio State University. These portraitures are about 30" tall, 15" wide, and 5 inches thick. From a front view, they look like a heavily filtered photo; from this side view, you can see how individual layers stack to create a coherent whole. All three pieces are untitled and identified by color. Percy King is now living in Waxhaw (Union County). It would be so nice to see at least one of his pieces get purchased to remain on public display, locally.

If you head to the Cultural Arts Center (200 N. Davie St.), in addition to the Green Hill Gallery, the Center for Visual Artists has a lovely show and sale of work by local artists. The African American Atelier (in the same building ) will have a Holiday Market on 14, 16, and 17. Guilford Native American Art's gallery is open during the day, but we're not sure what they have available for purchase. It is worth a trip to the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center to support the arts and artists- even if you are just having a look! From Percy King's wood portraitures, to pottery, paintings, photography, and jewelry, there is something for everybody on your holiday gift giving list at all price points!

Happy Tuesday!

Morocco for the Win

This past Saturday, when Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup 2022, local Moroccans came to Center City Park to celebrate. Women and children were in the park proper. The men were off to the side, by their vehicles, beside Friendly Avenue, also celebrating. They were holding flags  and some had them draped over them. It was an impromptu parade of jubilant people. The above scene reminds us of just how diverse Greensboro and North Carolina are. According to the 2010 Census, there were over 33,000 Arabs living in North Carolina. Other articles indicate that the Arab population in North Carolina has close to doubled since then. Arabic is one of the 6 official languages of the United Nations and it is now taught in some public schools in North Carolina.

Arabic is one of top ten most widely spoken of the the 118 languages spoken by Guilford County Schools students. Even if you don't speak Arabic, on a day like Saturday, a lot of gesturing and smiling got the point across. Smiling seems to be a universal language and soccer seems to be a universal sport. If you have Moroccan neighbors, now would be a good time to greet them, smile, and talk soccer!

Happy Monday!

Beth Sheffield and Local Author Event

Today, the Central Library is hosting a local author fair and two workshops for authors and aspiring authors. Beth Sheffield will present a workshop on "Selling your Book in Three Minutes or Less." Beth will share some clear examples of how to prepare and rehearse your "elevator speech" in case you get a chance to pitch your book to someone- planned or unplanned. Sometimes, when least expected, there is an opportunity to tell someone about your book; you've got to be ready. In the above photo, Beth is showing a couple of her go-to books for aspiring authors. You may recognize Beth, as she works in the Greensboro Central Library with major programming and book clubs. It is easy to remember someone with a smile that heartfelt.

There will also be an opportunity to meet sixteen local authors, purchase their books, and get books autographed. Two books that are getting a lot of press lately, are Diya Abdo's book, "American Refugee: True Stories of the American Refugee Experience" and Virginia Summer's book, "Redefining Activism: Judge Elreta Alexander-Ralston." Both authors will be in attendance today. The library has several fabulous events scheduled for 2023. To keep up with their offerings, follow the GSO Library on Facebook, or check gsolibrary.org for updates. In the meantime, hope to see you at the Central Library between 1-4pm today. Other than the workshops, the rest of the event is drop-in-anytime to meet these local authors. See yesterday's GDP post HERE for more details. There are other events going on downtown today. If the parking deck attendant knows you are going to the event at the public library, you should be able to park for free. 

Writers' Event at the Central Library, Tomorrow

Greensboro's City Library system is an invaluable community resource. Truly, it is one of the few places open to everyone; with computers, books, clean restrooms, meeting rooms, and special events. Tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 10th), they are hosting the "Local Author Celebration Festival."  The event will be held from 1-4 pm at the Central Library at 219 N. Church Street. From 1:30- 2:30, local writer Quinn Dalton will hold a workshop for writers at all stages of their careers, "Jumpstart Your Writing Practice with Quinn Dalton." From 3:00- 3:45 pm, Beth Sheffield  will lead a workshop, "Selling Your Book in three Minutes or Less." Registration is required for the workshops. You can register with Ronald Headen at 336-412-6199 or ronald.headen@greensboro-nc.gov. 

The following local authors will be available for a meet and greet: Angela Parks, Anette Pearson, Diya Abdo, Edward Di Gangi, Haven Turner, Jennifer Orth Veillon, Joe Madera, Lakisha Tucker, Lee Zacharias, Matthew Armstrong, Michael Gaspeny, Quinn Dalton, Samuel Harrison, Sandra Bartell, Victoria Sparks, and Virginia Summer. Their books will be available for purchase and you will have an opportunity to get books signed. With this great group, there is a genre for everyone. We know this is a busy time of year, but the local author celebration will be so much fun. Also, it will help you start a reading list for 2023. If you are in a bookclub, you will get great ideas for books to read, and, who knows, you just might be able to arrange for a local author to visit your bookclub. We got Mary Flynn to speak at ours, before she moved to Wilmington.

Happy Friday!

Morgan Radford: Welcome Home!

Morgan Radford (in the red coat) and her family were in Greensboro last weekend for the Festival of Lights. Morgan gave a very inspiring speech on the stage near Center City Park, encouraging young people to believe in themselves. She also shared that Greensboro is  a great community and place to grow up. During her visit, Morgan received a key to the city from Mayor Nancy Vaughn. She also served as Grand Marshall of the holiday parade the next day. 

Morgan, who graduated at the top of her class at Grimsley High School in 2005, went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Massachusetts and a master's degree from Columbia University in New York.  She is now an American television news reporter and anchor. She works at NBC News and is based in New York. Morgan has always had a great work ethic and is driven to be the best she can be. Also, even since her days at Grimsley, and probably before, Morgan has been committed to serving community and helping others. She and her husband are expecting their first child. Let's hope her career continues to blossom, her delivery goes well, and that she comes back to visit Greensboro often. If we know she is coming, we'll leave the lights on; she has a key! Just look at that lovely, heartfelt smile.

Happy Thursday!

Design Archives, Located at 342 S Elm St.

Design Archives Vintage and Handmade Emporium is a shop full of smaller shops. Design Archives, owned by Kit Rodenbough,  has been in downtown Greensboro since 2001. When we were downtown on Friday for the Festival of Lights, we noticed that the sign above the shop windows still has the advertisement for the previously store, Ellenberg and Shaffer Glass Art Studio. Ellenberg and Shaffer made leaded and stained glass windows. However, they have long moved on and are now located in Norfolk, Virginia. Also evident from the tile entranceway is the reminder that the building formerly housed Coble Hardware. Before that,  the building was Greensboro Hardware. It dates to the early 20th century. Downtown Greensboro is so ripe for having someone research the history and provenance of these wonderful, historic  buildings. So much of Greensboro's history can be unearthed by researching these buildings, businesses, and occupants. Perhaps we should interview Kit and see what she knows about this building that is on the National Register of Greensboro Historic District.* Please try to get by Design Archives and not only admire the historic building, but have a look at the wide variety of items available to purchase. From the kitschy to classy to handmade to items related to Greensboro, Design Archives has something for everybody. You will be supporting small businesses and shopping local, all under one roof!

In the meantime, we did want to mention that between Design Archives and Little Brother Brewing, Kit has announced that she is opening a doll shop. If you walk by the space, you will see floor to (almost) ceiling dolls, many of which are handmade. It will be fun to watch how Kit works her magic with this space. We'll go back and get a photo!

Happy Wednesday!

*Read more about on the National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form.