Greensboro Daily Photo

City of Greensboro Orchard

Greensboro is so lucky to have a public orchard on the greenway at the corner of West Smith Street and Prescott Street, between the western edge of town and the Westerwood neighborhood. On Sunday, in conjunction with the City of Greensboro, the Greensboro Permaculture Guild held an informational session in the first public orchard in Greensboro. Above, guild member and horticultural specialist , Aubrey Cupit shares his expertise with a group. The event was free and open to the public. Aubrey explained how agricultural ecosystems can be sustainable and self-sufficient when people work with nature as opposed to against it. In the session, we learned that a grass mowed lawn with a tree stuck here and there is not a sustainable ecosystem.

In the above photo, you can see that multiple fruit trees have been planted, in what is now a healthy and productive orchard. Fruit trees that do well in Greensboro are plum, cherry, paw paw, persimmons, and figs. If we remember correctly, all of those fruit trees are planted in this space along the greenway. Fostering biodiversity in public spaces and setting up private permaculture spaces is an idea that is gaining traction in Greensboro. If you are interested, go to the Greensboro Permaculture Guild's website, or follow them on Facebook. They do meaningful, community-based activities. As an example, their members have been working to help this orchard thrive. It is a great group of people with a wealth of knowledge, committed to earth care, people care, and fair share!

Happy Tuesday!

James Dodson: The Road that Made America

On Thursday night, Jim Dodson spoke at the Greensboro History Museum to a full house. The event served as a local launch for his book, "The Road that Made America." The book is an epic account of the eight-hundred-mile long wagon road from Philadelphia to Georgia. We haven't had time to read our copy yet, but we're thinking it  will remind us a little bit of Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley" and a little bit of Charles Kuralt's "On the Road" series. 

Jim was the first editor of the O. Henry Magazine and it launched 14 years ago in the Greensboro History Museum, so it was fitting for Jim to talk about his latest book in the same space. We hope you will stop by today for the Flashback 1970's event that begins at 11:00 am. Parking near 130 Summit Avenue and the event is free.  Greensboro played a significant role in the history of the Great Wagon Road (that made America), and you can see plenty related to that era, including a stage coach, if you stop by the museum. The more you dig into the history of Greensboro and the United States, when told by a master storyteller like  Jim Dodson, the more you will want to learn. The Greensboro History Museum is a great resource.

Happy Saturday!

Greensboro History Museum: Flashback 1970s Event

While milling about town this week, taking photos of Greensboro to share with you, we stopped by the Greensboro History Museum. We were reminded that tomorrow (July 12, 2025), the museum will have a super fun, nostalgic event celebrating the 1970s. However, before digressing, let us stick to the photo at hand.  Here we see a piece of furniture and memorabilia from the Clegg Hotel and restaurant. It fits with our initiative to feature more downtown history with our readers. 

William Francis Clegg moved to Greensboro from near Pittsboro, launching a cigar factory on South Elm Street, across from the train depot. He began selling coffee and sandwiches to people traveling by train. This small start up led to the creation of  a hotel and restaurant. An old postcard of the lobby shows large armchairs. We're betting men sat around smoking cigars and discussing business, politics, and life in general. Online, a New Year's Day menu from 1903. What an interesting piece of history and culture. You should be able to open it in the "menu" link. However, here are a few features. To drink: Moore Springs water, Buffalo Creek water, Harris Lithia water, Buchanan well water, White Stone ginger ale, ping pong lemonade with peppermint stick, coffee, tea, buttermilk, and chocolate. The protein menu was very different from what you would likely find today: Chowder of clams, baked shad, smoked ham, same old 'possum, Reedy Fork duck, broiled doe chops, ribs of beef, green goose, and roast wild turkey. What would you have chosen?

Going to the Greensboro History Museum is such a fun way to learn about local history. It is free, so you could take a little one and when they had reached their limit, you could exit and head to the public library or the children's museum, just around the corner.  If you want to learn about the 1970s, stop by The Flashback 1970's event (see here) tomorrow from 11:00 am- 4:30 p.m. There will be vintage autos, fashion, a fashion show, hands-on activities, a bake-off, talks, a costume contest, and more. To be sure, the event will be cool, groovy with a little flower power thrown in. Look for Mr. Clegg while you are there!

Happy Friday!

 

Train Depot Starts the 400 Block of South Elm

We know we've featured it before, but today, we're featuring the train depot as it represents 50% of the buildings in the 400 block of South Elm Street; with Christman's, on the south side of the railroad tracks, representing the other 50%. The east side of Elm in the south 400 block has a pie-shaped, vacant lot. The address of the (currently unoccupied)  Southern Railway Passenger Depot is 400 South Elm Street. Built in 1899, it has one chapter of its life  in the 19th century, several chapters in the 20th century,  and is about to get a new life in the 21st century. 

The North Carolina Railroad Company purchased the building in 2022 and, through a partnership with the City of Greensboro, will develop the space as commercial, mixed-use, in a way that maintains the integrity of the building. We love the way this photo shows the "railroad crossing" sign and there is a bicycle in view. You can also see the tip of the Blumenthal Building.  If you've been around a while, you will remember the Blumenthal Clothing Store, that catered to "big and tall" men. It was a step back in time to shop there in the 1990s, but then, it had been a Greensboro institution for almost a century (1926-2012). 

Happy Wednesday!

Pedestrians In Front of the 523 South Elm Street Mural

The above scene was captured during the Fun Fourth Freedom Fest this past Friday. There were so many people walking downtown, taking advantage of outdoor music and other activities along Elm Street. The photo also shows off the mural at 523 South Elm. While the building dates to the early 1900's, it appears that several changes have been made to the original structure.* One change is the fact that the second floor no longer has windows. However, the flat surface was the perfect "canvas" for the mural of an acoustic guitar and roses. The building looks so different from the early years where there was a hardware store and hotel there.

The mural is by JEKS who is based in Greensboro and has done several murals in Greensboro and beyond.  He is self taught graffiti artist and muralist. The lower blocks of the South Elm Street area are really being known for entertainment. Ziggy's, replacing Artistik, is a live music venue so the mural fits with the building's current purpose. Seeing all of the people, adds great warmth to the mural, and the photo, and just may be reminiscent of the early 1900's years when the downtown area where most business was conducted.

Happy Tuesday!

 

* see Section 7 p. 54 here for more information.

Freedom Fest 2025

Greensboro's Freedom Fest 2025 was so much fun yesterday. The festival was spread out from Gate City Boulevard to Market Street, along Elm and there were stages for singers on each end. People were singing and dancing. The sun was shining, but temperatures weren't unbearably hot.

The above photo was taken at Hamburger Square, at the railroad tracks, The City of Greensboro had a firetruck out spraying water for all who were interested. Children were thrilled to run through the water. Some were building up confidence, learning to not be afraid of water. The little boy on the left was still in diapers, but already ready to  join the fun.  The next holiday is not until Labor Day and it marks the end of summer. We hope you find a way to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Happy Saturday!

 

In Anticipation of Fun Fourth Freedom Fest

This photo in downtown Greensboro shows you how, tomorrow,  Fun Fourth Freedom Fest comes by its name. Hamburger Square will be filled with adults and children gleefully enjoying the event. Community service workers like firefighters, police officers, and community representatives will be milling about connecting and engaging with the public. Most businesses will be open and will appreciate your patronage. There will be street vendors, performers, and activities for children.

Starting tonight, some streets will be closed off. So, allow plenty of time and to plan ahead for parking due to not only festivities, but also construction taking place at Greene and Bellemeade.  Here is more information, provided by WFMY.  Remember to dress up in your festive red, white, and blue gear for more of an immersive experience.

See you there!

Symphony Rehearsal Hall on the Corner of Elm and Friendly

 The above photo of a cellist playing a solo piece was taken at the rehearsal hall of the Greensboro Symphony, specifically, the  Marilyn and Dean Greene Rehearsal Hall. After the Junior League's Bargain Box thrift store relocated to Mill Street, the space at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Elm Street had been empty for nearly a decade. Now, it has been brought back life, adding yet another free, slice-of-culture opportunity to the community.  Now, across from Center City Park, it is possible to watch and hear the symphony performing.

According to the history on their website, the roots of the symphony date back to the 1920s when musicians from Woman's College (now UNCG) banded together under the direction of the Dean of Music Henry Fuchs.*  However, the rehearsal window is fairly new and we have taken advantage of several musical offerings here. The music is always very enjoyable. If we had one wish for this initiative, it would be for durning a rehearsal, to have signage featuring details of the performer, especially the name of musician(s). On the eve of the Festival of Lights in December, there was music with dancing from the Nutcracker. Perhaps, when the space is schedule to be used, more information is available on their Facebook page so we can make sure to schedule another visit.

Happy last day of June.

*reference and more information HERE.

O Henry, the Demise the Bellemeade Parking Deck, and the D.H. Griffin Twist

These are the kinds of great things that come to mind when we are exploring downtown Greensboro. A couple of weeks ago, we were walking around downtown near Tanger Center and Bellemeade Street to see the parking deck being torn down. We were struck by the fact that the statue of O. Henry was right beside the parking deck. From this angle, it looks like he is documenting the event. You can see the D.H. Griffin demolition equipment in the background.  We're wondering, were he alive today, what would O. Henry write about this event. What kind of surprise ending would he spin? 

Many people don't realize the writer O. Henry was born in Greensboro N.C., in 1862, on September 11. There just may be our surprise ending, that, when we took this photo of the demolition, we didn't realize O. Henry was born on September 11, the day the  Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were destroyed on September 11, 2001 and that D.H. Griffin would be the very demolition group to clean up the debris. So, there is the link, he stands on Bellemeade, writing about what he is seeing being demolished by the very same company that would help orchestrate clean up on a very serious event that would happen 139 years later, exactly on his birthday.

Back Side of Chez Genese: I Am Equal

Today, we're heading back down to the 600 block of South Elm Street and showing you the back side of the buildings that face Elm Street. We were walking from Lewis Street behind the South End Brewing Company onto Bain Street. We're not sure who the artist #Cut50 is, but it appears they were the person who painted this wall.  We've been looking into characteristics of entrepreneurs and this sign reads "An entrepreneur is someone who will jump off a cliff and assemble an airplane on the way down" Reid Hoffman.

This area is very near the north/south railroad tracks at South Eugene Street. It is amazing what you can find in the city, and downtown, when out exploring.  While most murals have some kind of message, they aren't always as transparent as the ones above. With the heat wave lately, you might want to go early or later in the day. It stays light so long now... and it is Friday!

Happy summer!

Pat Kelly Stops to Chat with Us at Greensboro Daily Photo

Today, let's take a pause from buildings and streetscapes of downtown's Elm Street and feature a very special, local person. Pat Kelly is from Greensboro; a graduate of Page High School and UNCG- where he majored in broadcast cinema. Pat is a self-taught musician who is passionate about all Irish music. He plays the Irish bouzouki, the tenor banjo, and the mandolin. You may recognized Pat from the 15 years he worked at Sheppard Instruments at the corner of Spring Garden and Chapman Street. It is the italianate, brick building that now houses Freeman's Grub and Pub. Once Sheppard Instruments closed, Pat went to work at his alma mater, UNCG. He retired from Jackson Library in the interlibrary loan section in 2024. 

We met up with Pat at Breakfast in Paris, the little bakery and coffee shop in the alley in the 200 block of South Elm Street. Now that he is retired, Pat likes to walk, especially downtown, and getting a baguette at the bakery is the perfect destination. Pat agreed with us that the serendipity of seeing people you have known for decades is so special. Pat wants to visit Ireland in the near future. We hope  Pat and his wife Claire get back to Ireland soon and that we find a way to meet up with them, so we can hear of their adventures, see some photographs,  and maybe hear a few Irish tunes.

The 400 Block of South Elm: Christman Building

The Christman Company has taken the building at 408 South Elm Street and turned it into a shining gem. The three-story Italianate building, built in 1896,  is also known as the Cascade Saloon building. After the saloon, it was the Clegg Grocery Store. It sat empty for many years, until the Christman Company rescued it and worked their construction magic. The Christman Company was the perfect company to renovate and move into this building as their company was founded around the same time, actually two years before the building was erected. On the right side of the building (not photographed) are the railroad tracks and  the Southern Railway Passenger Depot, which was built in 1899. 

 The Christman building is beautiful and structurally sound, now. The City of Greensboro is currently working with the North Carolina Railroad Company to revitalize the historic building.  With every restoration along Elm Street, downtown becomes even more vibrant. We are hopeful it will become another place well loved by the community and that the integrity of the architecture will remain. We would also love to see downtown Greensboro used for more film projects as there are so many well-maintained historic buildings in the area.

These two buildings round out the 400 block of downtown Greensboro. It may well be the shortest block on Elm, perhaps in Greensboro. Does anyone know the shortest block in the city, or the longest block? We'll need to start looking in to it!

The Upper Part of the South 500 Block

Today, the building on the left is 506 South Elm Street and it was built in 1898. The business,  between the two white vehicles, is Find Your Flow Fitness Wellness Studio, located at 506 South Elm Street A. They've recently celebrated their 3rd year as a studio and people who go there love it. It is a nice option, especially for people who live and work near downtown. We need to get the names of the businesses beside the wellness studio.

In looking at information compiled for the National Register of Historic Places, the 504-506 South Elm Building is described as three-story Italianate brick with granite trim. They mention the Piedmont Cafe and Model Barber Shop, which operated there in the 1940s. The building between it and The Christman Company, is described as a triangular, Italianate structure with segmented arches over the second floor windows. The second floor was added on a few years later and it originally housed Thompson's Shoe Store. Just to the right of this last building in the South 500 Block is Barnhardt Street, which has many pop-up shops when the weather is nice and has become part of the "entertainment" corridor of the south end of downtown.

Upper South 500 Block

The upper South 500 block, west side, of South Elm is very interesting. On the left, you see Terra Blue the spiritual shop known for having crystals, being a place to get your tarot cards read, a place for a good cup of coffee, and so much more. It has been open since 1999. The store now uses both side of 518 South Elm Street. Years ago, the side on the right was "The Browsery" where Charles sold antiques and Ben sold books in the back, once he moved his bookstore from the 300 South Elm Street block. Beside it is the former Fordham Drug Store, which closed in 2015, after having been open for 104 years.* It is currently for sale and it would be so nice for someone to purchase this piece of Greensboro history. If you read the article referenced below, you will see first-hand the nostalgia that property holds for 20th century life in Greensboro. In addition to great service in the pharmacy section, the soda fountain was very popular. If we could go back in time, we'd try a lavender malted milkshake!

To the right is Edward Jones Investments, located in 512 South Elm. The two-story building dates to 1925 and was last for sale in 2017.  It was so refreshing seeing this group of teens walking through town recently, knowing there are things to do in town that attract people of all ages. Also, the greenery from the trees and the flower baskets, hanging from lamp posts, makes the city look so pretty.

*read the Our State Magazine article here.

Former Methodist Cemetery Sign on South Elm

For our Sunday post, the closest church options are St. Benedict's Catholic Church at 435 North Elm Street, or St. Pius the Tenth all the way up at 2210 North Elm. We decided to not jump that far ahead, but to head to the 300 block of South Elm for the historic marker about the Former Methodist Cemetery. The marker is for the cemetery that was near here. Some  bodies were exhumed and  moved to a cemetery on Ashe Street and Green Hill in the early 20th century. We love this photo because it shows people walking along the street. The person nearest the sign is Brian of Scuppernong Books. He works so hard to keep inventory stock and he is totally hands on in his business. This was probably the third time we saw Brian walking to and from the parking lot with books, headed to his store. 

We are also reminded that the Greensboro Public Library, the Greensboro Public Library Foundation, and other community partners will sponsor "One City, One Book" this fall. The program began in 2002, and in the last 22 years, has involved over 80,000 community members. This year's read is "My Father's List" by Laura Carney. Book clubs can check out sets from the library and individuals can secure copies. Additionally, you will be able to purchase copies from Scuppernong Books. "One City, One Book" events will begin in September and the author will visit in October. 

While Scuppernong is not church, and the Methodist Cemetery is long gone,  sitting quietly and reading at Scuppernong can be a very personal, perhaps even spiritual, experience. Have you ever noticed the Methodist cemetery sign? Head downtown and see what all you can notice.

500 Westside Block South Elm: One Block at a Time

Today, we're on the westside of South Elm Street in the 500 block. We were so captivated by the view from Ziggy's on the east side of South Elm Street, as Ziggy's has set up a lush jungle of potted plants at their entrance. However, we missed the Downtown Greensboro building,  Stolen Skate Shop, Ambleside Gallery (which we love and at least have featured before), Rock's Hair Shop, and the Vintage to Vogue Antique Shop. The antique shop is located at 530 South Elm, in the building that once housed Jules Antiques, owned by Gary Brame. Seen in the photo, is the Community Theatre of Greensboro at 520 South Elm Street and 518 South Elm with the ever eclectic Terra Blue Shop and just in the corner, the Fordham Drug Store at 514 South Elm. The Fordham Drug building was built in 1895 and housed the drug store for over 100 years. Barely visible is the office with Edward Jones. 

The National Register of Historic Places describes the 500 block of South Elm as having been built in the late 1890s and early 1900s with buildings that are two stories in height, with the west side of the block offering a lot of diversity in building styles. This part of Elm Street would be a great streetscape for a period-piece movie. The yellow brick in the CTG building sets it apart. Notice the alley between the CTG building and Terra Blue. We'll feature a shot of it tomorrow.

Happy Tuesday!

CTG Alley in the Middle of the 500 Block of South Elm

Today, we're featuring the alley in the middle of the 500 block of South Elm Street. It is used by the cast and crew of CTG and the gateway to the Herman and Barbara Cone Family Education and Event Center. The yellow "brick" wall is a wall of CTG donors.  CTG was founded in 1949 and has been a great community resource ever since. 

The alley was originally left here to serve as an alley for Glascock Foundry to access their foundry on Lewis Street. That business was originally founded in 1873 as Glascock Plow & Foundry. The foundry made wood and coal stoves and other cast iron items. A special thanks goes out to Great, Great Grandson Nollie W Neill, Dr. who  is a Glascock Stove historian and collector.  Most importantly, he collects stories and items from his great great grandfather's business. How wonderful that he remembers that little bit of lore about the alley on the 500 block of  South Elm Street. Do you have a family story to share about Elm Street?

 

Bible Study?

Sunday's we usually post something reflective or spiritual. We hope you don't see this as irreverent; however, on First Friday, at our front row seat at wrestling, we saw this man who was also in attendance. Of course the sign is not likely true, but a little something humorous. As you can see, the man was really enjoying the wrestling match. By the time we got up, we didn't see him any more- at least, the sign was gone and he'd disappeared into the crowd. We never did get the back story on the sign.

We had a chuckle, because Friday isn't usually prime time for Bible study. Perhaps, this guy carries this sign everywhere. If you carried a sign with you, what would it say? We hope you have a great Sunday and hope that, on this spiritual-day-of-rest for Christians that the above guy IS at Bible study!

Happy Sunday!

Chez Genese: One Block at a Time

This is the view of West Elm Street, just north of the Old Greensborough and Elm & Bain space on the corner. To the left is Bain Street. The business is Chez Genese a very special French inspired restaurant known for its brunch menu. Chez Genese opened in October of 2018 and seems to have gained popularity as a great meal location. We ate there last Sunday and it was well worth the 30 minute wait. While they don't have bar seating for singles, they have a communal table that seats about eight. This is a fun concept and great way to be alone, but not lonely.

At the time of the 2017 Triad City Beat article, Charlie and Ruth Jones owned the building, had PB& Java downstairs,  and were still holding their Grub Hub dinners upstairs.  Oh how we miss those dinners. They were such a special way for people of Greensboro from all walks of life to network and meet each other. If you click HERE, you can see an example of just how magical those dinners were. And, if you click HERE, you see that Tamika and Jeff who have the Black Belt Soap Company. We first met them at Grub Hub. Today, Tamika and Jeff are thriving entrepreneurs and people we are so lucky to have met. We like to sit at the communal table at Chez Genese as a not to Charlie and Ruth. They would like knowing that the get-to-know-someone-new model is still alive and well in the building.

Elm & Bain: One Block at A Time

Elm and Bain is the next building up from Old Greensborough on the west side of Elm Street. Today, it is an event center with over 11,000 square feet of space. On their website, Elm & Bain has a lovely history of the building, starting with its origin in 1919 as the Blue Bell Factory. In 1949, it was acquired by Wrangler. Next, Wrangler merged with VF Corporation and this factory became part of a multi-use commercial space. * September 2021, it launched and became known as Elm & Bain. It is so fun to drive by on the weekends and see events happening there. It is a sort of a "Gatsby" experience, observing an event overflowing with guests having a great time. The center can accommodate up to 450 guests! This definitely makes the 600 South Elm block a destination.

Happy Friday!

 

*reference and more information and photos HERE.

Downtown Greensboro One Block at a Time

We had a couple of people ask us about the entrance to the Old Greensborough at Gateway building and so, we thought we'd feature it today. We featured an overview on Monday and then a planting from the garden yesterday, so here you can see the main entrance, the one that makes it accessible to people with special mobility needs. There is no door person, making it necessary to have an access card to enter.

Since we've been  spending a lot of time downtown lately, we've been searching information on line. We came across a great article by Brian Clarey in the February 1st edition of Triad City Beat entitled,  "Downtown Greensboro: Block by Block."  We thought we'd use Brian's article as a reference for the downtown blocks in 2017 and see just how much they've changed since then.  Brian started with the South 600 block, so it makes sense for us to do so and, serendipitously, we've already featured this area twice this week. At the time of Brian's writing, Andy Zimmerman had just purchased the above building and plans for renovation were underway. Fast forward eight years later to 2025 and the property is beautiful.

We're not sure yet if we'll feature the downtown streetscape photos every day in a row. We may interject some other photos along the way, but by the end of July or early August, you will have seen the whole strip of Elm Street from Gate City Boulevard to Tanger Center, westside and eastside. Who knows, by then, there may be even more changes.

Happy Thursday!

Artichoke Thistle @ Old Greensborough

Today, we're headed back to Old Greensborough for a look at one of the plants currently in bloom around the parking lot. If  the "Seek" app (which is part of iNaturalist)  is correct, this is an artichoke thistle. Wikipedia  indicates the plant is very hardy, can survive drought conditions and , with a little bit of work, parts are edible.* If you saw Monday's post of the Old Greensborough building, you will see that the plantings surrounding the parking lot are beautiful. This photo was taken on the north side of the parking lot.

The Old Greensborough building at the corner of Elm Street and 620 W. Gate City Boulevard has three floors of businesses. To enter the building, it is necessary to have an ID. So, we asked three different groups of people leaving the building about the maintenance of this little, urban wildlife habitat in the heart of the city and every single group had a similar response. This is not a direct quote, but an aggregated response. "I don't know her name, but it is one woman. We used to see her out there with a wheelbarrow working a lot. But, the plants are pretty well established and they come back every year; so, we don't see her as often." We are determined, by the end of the summer, to see "the one lady", to at least find out her name and whether she is part of  and formal garden organization like Master Gardeners or Greensboro Beautiful. We'd love to interview her and give her the recognition she deserves..  

*Learn more about the artichoke thistle HERE.

Happy Wednesday!

Old Greensborough

What did we do upon learning it would be thirty minutes until we were seated for Sunday morning brunch at Chez Genese? We walked all along the south 600 block of Elm Street, of course. The above photo features the Old Greensborough Gateway Center- built in 1919 and housing the Blue Bell Factory. Today, the renovated building functions as an entrepreneurial co-working space (reference and more information HERE). Renovations happened over five years ago, between 2017-2019.  Most noticeable to us on the exterior was the new entrance (just barely visible in the middle of the right margin of this photo) to increase accessibility for all. Also noteworthy is the fact that every bit of the property, not covered with asphalt, sidewalk, or the building itself, has been artfully landscaped. The property is certified wildlife habitat by the national wildlife federation.  It has earned that designation because it provides food, water, cover, and places for wildlife to raise young. 

In walking the property, and using the iNaturalist and SEEK apps, we identified many plants. First, where is just about every color echinacea (cone flower) possible; figs; the American century plant; eastern redbud tree;  floating marsh pennywart; lambs ear, deodar cedar; artichoke thistle;  and, the potentially invasive, border privet. Likely, there are more plants; we stopped researching when our table at Chez Genese was ready. However, the lesson learned is that even tight, urban spaces can become certified as wildlife habitat. There are signs on the lot reminding people to respect the garden, which means touch and take nothing. Of course, the only thing we took were photos, oh,  and the inspiration to help create wildlife habitat anywhere we can. 

Happy Monday!

 

wrestling

Last night's First Friday in downtown Greensboro was so much fun. From the drum circle in Center City Park to the gallery openings to the employees at Scuppernong books who help you find just the book you were looking for- even if you didn't exactly know what you were looking for, there was something for everyone. A downtown first was an evening of  wrestling, brought to us by FIRE STAR Pro and their training classes in Greensboro. The above match was between Springs (on the right), and JCB on the left. It was JCB's first ever match, after graduating from almost a year's worth of training. He hails from Alamance County and is still in high school. JCB is so hooked on the sport and was really excited to win his first match. His merch table looked great.

We had ringside seats and were lucky enough to sit beside Dynamite Jackson's girlfriend who was patient enough to give us some impromptu lessons on the sport. Her partner was in the 3rd match, and he won. They were both jubilant. The weekends of First Friday, the block between McGee and Washington Street, at South Elm, is open only for pedestrian traffic. Today, there are vendors set up on the space. Also, it is the 20th anniversary of Just Be and they have give aways and a special promotion. It is a fun day to explore!

Happy Saturday

Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal at 208 N Mendenhall Street

The property at 208 North Mendenhall Street is a cozy, tucked-away enclave just up the street from the Double Oaks house and directly across from the First Baptist Church of Greensboro. With its vine-covered trellis, the street view evokes the feeling of entering a secret garden. Built in 1925, the 2,176-square-foot home sits on a lot just under a quarter of an acre. A two-level deck overlooks a beautifully appointed patio and a charming pergola—ideal for outdoor living. According to Zillow, the home last sold in 2016, suggesting the current owners are happily settled in their gem of a property.

If you are headed downtown for First Friday tonight, or headed to First National Bank Field for  the Greensboro Grasshoppers game against the Hub City Spartanburgers, you could swing by and see for yourself. You'd best be on foot, otherwise, you'll miss this view from the sidewalk. Let the downtown fun begin!

Happy Friday!

Savor the Moment

We love a good urban street view, and this is of the bakery/coffee shop "Savor the Moment." located right across the street from the Cultural Arts Center and Center City Park on the southeast corner of Davie Street and Friendly Avenue. In visiting their website, we learned that for $8.99 a month, you can become a member. Membership entitles you to one free cup of hot or iced coffee a day, as well as discounts and a free crunch cheesecake a month. They are open every day but Monday,  As an example, Savor the Moment is open 25 days in June, making a daily cup of coffee cost a mere 36¢, not even factoring in other goodies. That would definitely be a great gift for someone who spent a lot of time downtown. They even have an event space available for rental.  Today, they are open from 10am-9pm. Tomorrow is First Friday and they will be open until 10pm, a perfect spot is you are heading to one of the downtown parks or the Cultural Arts Center.

Happy Almost First Friday!

 

Just Be at 20

This time on Saturday next week, Kathryn Hashemi will be in the middle of bringing even more joy to all those who walk into Just Be, downtown, at the southwest corner of South Elm Street and West McGee Streets. Saturday, June 7th is the 20th anniversary of Just Be. The store bills itself as an eclectic and inviting store for gifts with stories to tell. This lovely shop opened in 2005 when, in the early 2000's, downtown was in the beginning stages of becoming re-gentrified. The Green Bean Coffee Shop had only opened three years earlier, in 2002, and Natty Greene's in 2004.

For some background information, the ever-talented Christina Brown opened  Just Be in 2002. Ten years later, in 2012, Sarah Margaret Church bought the store. She owned it until 2019 when Kathryn purchased it from her. Kathryn had been working at Just Be as an employee and knew how much she loved the store, the customers, and the location. Kathryn was the perfect person to carry on the legacy of Christina and Sarah Margaret, and become the third owner of Just Be. If you get a chance, stop by this weekend; however, also be sure to visit on Saturday, June 7th when there will be so many surprises in store with us. Kathryn is the perfect person to keep this special downtown store thriving.  Happy birthday, Just Be. Thank you, Kathryn for curating such a lovely store and for knowing just what will be perfect for your customers.

Happy Saturday!

 

Cross in Green Hill Cemetery

We've been meandering around in the northwest corner of downtown Greensboro this week and today's we'll leave you with one last photo from that adventure. This tombstone is one of the first crosses seen when entering the Green Hill Cemetery. Consisting of 51 acres, this public cemetery was established in 1877. We were surprised to learn that it is maintained by the Greensboro Parks and Recreation department. The cemetery is comprised of many family plots. This cross has the family name "Fry" on one side, and the family name "Rucker" on the other.

Notable people buried in the cemetery include U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, U.S. Congressman Lunsford Richardson Preyer, and Ethel Clay Price, wife of Julian Price and the person for whom Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church was built. The cemetery has approximately 19,000 burial plots. There are over 800 trees and shrubs identified and mapped in Green Hill. The cemetery is conducive to reflection, meditation, and prayer. Next time you are in the Fisher Park/Westerwood/Latham Park area, head to Wharton Street and have a quiet moment of reflection here.

Happy Sunday! 

Skyline in Downtown Greensboro, NC, USA

Yesterday afternoon, downtown Greensboro was so beautiful, bathed in sunshine with billowy white clouds. We were walking around looking for what we call "serendipity photos", photos that seemingly jump out at us. The lighting and contrast on this scene caught our eye. The most obvious feature is the Jefferson Standard/Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial Group buildings, with evidence that the photo was taken at precisely 3:53 p.m. Also featured prominently is the back side of Schiffman's Jewelry Store. Then, there is what Retired Greensboro Journalist Extraordinaire Jim Schlosser loves to find, a ghost sign. He would know, but we're thinking the white band, on the tall red brick building to the right, used to have "Ellis Stone" written on it.

Today is such a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. We encourage you to head downtown and see what beautiful photos you can snap. All it takes is a cell phone camera and a little noticing.That little alley to the left has the most delicious bakery, Breakfast in Paris. That would be a great place to start. You might even meet up with us there.

Happy Saturday! 

Carolina Home Partners

Carolina Home Partners, located at 700 Battleground Avenue, is a beauty of a house. While it is an island surrounded by roads in and out of the city, it sits perched on the hill on the south side of Green Hill Cemetery.  Constructed in the 1880s, it was formerly the cottage of the gatekeeper of the cemetery. It was nearly destroyed in 1973, but was restored and has been used by various businesses over the last 50 years. The pitched roof and pointed details are fitting with the Gothic Revival style*

It is now part of the Fisher Park National Register Historic District, so, hopefully, it will be well maintained for years to come. The current tenants Carolina Home Partners, is a real estate group. We're betting they will be good stewards of this Greensboro gem. 

Happy Friday!

* Reference and read more, HERE.

Ukrainian Night at Cafe Europa

On Thursday night at Café Europa in downtown Greensboro, two performances honored Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans who support Ukrainian independence. The first group to perform was Red Kalyna, a band based in Mebane. They were followed by the Fedynskyj family.

Jurij Fedynskyj is a Ukrainian-American luthier and researcher. Along with his wife and five children, he travels and performs songs of history, morality, and patriotism from Ukraine. Some pieces feature the family playing traditional instruments, while others are performed a cappella. Their music last night ranged across what is now contemporary Ukraine including high culture Baroque as well as traditional songs and dances in Slavonic, Ukrainian, a prayer song in Latin and songs in English. 

In the tradition of the von Trapp family, the Fedynskyjs travel the world, singing and sharing stories about Ukraine to raise awareness, promote peace, and help defend their homeland. Their performance was heartfelt and deeply moving. The five Fedynsyj children are remarkably talented, and their a cappella harmonies are pitch-perfect.

Everyone in the photo is wearing a vyshyvanka—a traditional embroidered garment closely tied to Ukrainian culture. The Thursday performance coincided with Vyshyvanka Day, always the 3rd Thursday in May, and several others in the restaurant also wore vyshyvankas to celebrate and show their support.

From left to right: Back row: Miroslav F.,  Jurij "Jurko" F., Misha Shvets holding Kvitoslava F. . Midrow: Loreins "Tychko" Vellani, Iryna Tkachenko, Mariya F, Natalia F., Adriana F., Olga Vakulenko. Front row: Lesya F.  

Read more here. 

Let's all Head Downtown Greensboro

Last night was First Friday and the above photo features the masks that are on display at Green Hill as part of the display of Papperhand Puppet of Saxapahaw. Notice these masks are floor-to-ceiling large! At last night's First Friday, a few blocks of South Elm Street were blocked off so that pedestrians could take to the streets. The blocks will remain blocked off until Sunday. Be mindful of the block closures if you are driving downtown. Even better, head downtown and take advantage of the enhanced walkability. Also, remember that the Bellemeade Parking Deck is being demolished. It is located at the corner of North Elm Street and Bellemeade, just across from Tanger Center. The free Hopper Trolley will be out to help pedestrians navigate downtown. Look for signage that address route detours.

Also downtown is the 10th annual Wheels on the Greenway.  From 9am-1pm, more than 30 community partners will be making this community event great. Head downtown to the corner of Murrow Boulevard and Lindsay Street with your bike, roller skates, foot pedal power, etc. to enjoy this event. Greensboro makes a real effort to build community, get people downtown and using community resources. The best way to show appreciation is to participate. 

See you downtown! Happy Saturday!

Spring Garden Road Construction

Today, we're featuring another photo of the view of the street and greenway work at Spring Garden Street. It gives. you a better view of the off South Spring Street rramp that is closed from South Edgeworth to Spring Garden Street. And, the pipes under the bridge are ones that will be buried in the area to control water flow. It is anticipated that this ramp will be closed until May 31st. The roadwork began April 1st, making it a two month project.

You can still use the street and the detour through College Hill is minimally disruptive. If you notice the bike lane, it is a nice part of town for riding a bike on the road, and the greenway is nearby. Today is a good day to ride a bike in Greensboro. The weekend looks a little rainy.

If you like keeping up with city news, here is a website you will enjoy.  

Happy Friday!

316 South Eugene St.

If online sources are correct, 316 South Eugene Street was built in 1963. It is hard to believe that 62 years ago, it was still possible to build a single story structure in downtown Greensboro. The Brown Law Building is the law office of Attorney Kent Brown and his firm. They specialize in traffic, criminal, and expungement cases. This location is so convenient to the Greensboro court house, the federal building, the police station, jail, and the municipal building. 316 South Eugene is only 1,376 square feet and on a .14 acre lot. The building last sold in 2012 for $179,200.*  

We wish we knew the original purpose of the building  and what each of the four owners have used it for. We wonder is the brick was locally sourced. Old Carolina Brick Company is still going strong in Salisbury, NC.  If you are looking for something to do today, head downtown and find a building or two that intrigue you. It is amazing what you can learn from a simple search.  As for us, we might put it on our list to head to Salisbury and see just what buildings in Greensboro have used bricks from their company.

Happy Saturday!

* information found here.

Meeting Place Is a Great Meeting Place along the Greensboro Greenway

Meeting Place is a piece of public artwork on the greenway, downtown, at the corner of West Smith Street and Prescott Street. The shape evokes the form of the tents used in the Revolutionary War. The ceiling is stainless wheel, with letters cut in the font of Nathaneal Greene's handwriting. Notice that the words are legible on the ground when the sun is shining. We featured this area of the greenway yesterday; however, in researching today's post, we learned that 19 different fruit trees and other edibles are planted here.

This artwork and resting space was conceptualized and designed by the husband and wife team, Mags Harries and Lajos Heder. The couple is from Massachusetts and they have created 30 works of public art. Read more about their artwork HERE.  See  HERE to learn more about other points on the greenway in Greensboro, including public artwork along the way. We have some great public art in Greensboro

Happy Wednesday!

Betty and Benjamin Cone Jr. ALCOVE GALLERY

What a treat to see the amazing Betty Cone at GreenHill this past Friday night. It was extra special to have a chance to talk to her right under the sign to the  ALCOVE GALLERY, named for Betty and her late husband, Ben. The two of them have done so much for the local community. In 1999, the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro established the "Betty Cone Medal of the Arts Award." In 1999, the Greensboro News and Record published an article about Betty, calling her "The Problem Solver for 30 Years." Fast forward to today and it's been over 50 years of civic engagement and brainstorming initiatives and solutions for the good of the city- almost since the day she arrived in Greensboro in 1969.  In the News & Record, she is quoted as being like the computers she used to program, "a storehouse of information and a capacity for detail."

Greensboro doesn't see as much of Betty these days, as you may already know, the Cones have a blueberry farm in eastern North Carolina, Cone's Folly. Their yield is about 10 pounds of berries per bush (and they have lost of bushes). In North Carolina, peak season is May and June. Likely, Betty will be in Pender County involved with getting the blueberries harvested. We are lucky to get her back in Greensboro when we can. She continues to inspire so many of us.

Happy Tuesday!

West Market Street UMC-a Great Backdrop!

The West Market Street United Methodist Church is one of the oldest churches in Greensboro. The congregation was established in 1830, only twenty two years after Greensboro became a city. While the above location is not the original, the church is one of the closest to downtown. Yesterday, served as the backdrop for the local "Hands Off" protest. About 2,000 people came to town to exercise their right to protest peacefully. There were people of all ages. Protestors were positioned all along Market Street. It will be interesting to see if the protest is mentioned during the service today.

In the meantime, something that will be mentioned is their upcoming Easter Egg Hunt in Lebauer Park on Saturday, April 12th from 3:00 - 4:30 pm in LeBauer Park. Children can not only hunt eggs, but participate in crafts and have snacks, The church is requisition you bring canned food for their food pantry.  As with yesterday's protest, the egg hunt will be open to everyone!

Happy Sunday!

 

The L. Richardson Preyer Jr. Building

The L. Richardson Preyer Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse, also used to be a post office until the late 1980s.  It is located downtown on the northeast corner of the Eugene and Market Street intersection. Completed in 1933, the building was constructed in the Art Deco style as a result of the 1926 Public Building Act .*  It also has classical and futuristic elements. Notice the long windows and verticality of the building. L. Richardson Preyer, Jr. was a U.S. Representative and District Judge. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is no rain in the forecast until Sunday afternoon, so you should have some time this weekend to get out and explore the beautiful buildings of downtown Greensboro. On another note, if you love history, Preservation Greensboro will have a tour of historic homes and gardens of Irving Park on May 17th and 18th. That would be a fabulous opportunity to learn more about one of Greensboro's oldest neighborhoods. (see HERE).

*If you love learning the history of buildings, read more HERE.

Downtown Greenway

Do you use the Downtown Greenway? It has been in the making since the early 2000's and has now become a reality. As the weather warms, it will be such a lovely resource for Greensboro. The above sign on the trail is just off of North Murrow Boulevard near Summit Avenue.  This multi-use, paved trail is four miles long and, as you can see from the above sign, this leg of the greenway has a lot to offer. We've gotten some great books from the Free Little Library. The greenway circles around the city, through neighborhoods, and has public art installed along the way. It is a collaborative project and labor of love between private and public organizations. Here is a link to their website, where you can learn of upcoming events, see a map, read the newsletter, see photos of the special features, and more.

One of our favorite, upcoming events will happen on Saturday, May 10th.  Greensboro will host the 10th annual Wheels on the Greenway from 9am-1pm. Vehicles of all sorts will be encouraged to participate, and it is especially geared to children. Hope to see you then.

Happy Tuesday!

Spring Cleaning on South Elm Street

With the warmer weather, trees are starting to blossom out, birds are chirping, forsythia is budding yellow and humans are out doing their spring cleaning. The above photo features window cleaning happening at the building that houses Scuppernong Books in the 300 block of South Elm Street. We had to chuckle upon noticing that the woman and the car to the right match the machine lifting the window cleaners to the top of the building. We love the movement in this photo.

Do you have spring cleaning rituals? We wonderful if the whole block chips in on the service at the same time. We wonder what events Scuppernong will be offering this weekend. Perhaps the lady blue wants to find out the same information. Friday and the weekend is a perfect time to get out and interact with people, AND to get a little spring cleaning done.

Happy Friday!

The Greensboro Skyline

Today's photo features the most prominent part of Greensboro's skyline. We see the iconic Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial Group building to the left of the photo. It is still our tallest building to date.  The photo was taken from the greenway area at the edge of the Dunleath neighborhood. There don't appear to be any new tall buildings on the part of Greensboro's horizon; however, there is significant construction taking place downtown and around Greensboro. Somehow, it is most likely that the JP/LFG Building will be our most recognizable. 

We love the above view of downtown; however, it will be even more beautiful as the greenery returns. If you want to see the changing face of Greensboro, have a look around the baseball stadium, extending up along Battleground to Cycles d'Oro and Green Hill Cemetery over to Joymongers. That northwest part of town has such a new look.

Happy Tuesday!