Greensboro Daily Photo

Lyle Lovett Performed at Tanger Last Night

Last night Lyle Lovett and his band performed at Tanger Center. If you like Texas singer-songwriter music, last night's concert was for you.  The songs were part country, part bluegrass, rock, spiritual, and more. Additionally, part of the charm of this fabulous concert was the storytelling Lovett infused throughout the show. One great tidbit was that the song for his senior class was "Freebird", also, the president of his high school during his sophomore year, Sylvester Turner, is now mayor of Houston. Also, Lovett shared his second cousin (once removed) Phillip "Stan" Williams was in the audience. Those were the personal touches Lovett added between songs.

Mr. Lovett said he enjoyed performing in Greensboro and he was quick to praise the sound quality of the Tanger Center. The woman who sat beside us during the performance said that Josh Groban made a similar comment praising the acoustics of the building. Thile the quality of this photo is not the best, it captures the feel of the stage and band set up last night. And, if this were a video with audio, you would hear how great the music sounded. If you follow Tanger Center on social media, you likely already know that the recent showing of "Lion King" at the Tanger Center had an attendance count of 46,000 people, with an economic impact of $12 million for just the "Lion King." Yes, from the smaller concerts to the high profile Broadway shows, the Tanger Center has added an opportunity for some fabulous entertainment for Greensboro.

International Women's Day

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

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

 See more information, here.

Star Magnolia; Spring in Greensboro is Spectacular

Happy Monday! We were downtown for First Friday this past Friday and had to stop and admire this tree in front of the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) on Davie Street. We think it is a star magnolia and it looked absolutely beautiful at dusk. The CAC was pretty quiet during First Friday. Green Hill has an exhibit with water as a theme, appropriately entitled H2O, but, it didn't open until Saturday.  The Center for Visual Artists (CVA) was open and we got to see some interesting art there in an exhibit called "The Eve Gene" with all of the art in some way tied to felinity and womanhood, in honor of Women's History Month (see Yes Weekly article). Even on a quiet night, the CAC is a great place to stop and refuel at Café Europa and to see a little art before heading to the events at the city parks and then heading downtown.

The above tree should still be in bloom. If you get a chance head to the north end of town and explore all of the great resources there, from the CVA to the Greensboro Central Library to the parks, the History Museum, the Children's Museum and more. More places tend to be open on Tuesday than Monday; however, the above beautiful scene is there waiting for you. Also, this week is a good one to explore Greensboro as most of the institutions of higher education are on spring break and traffic is lighter.

 

Happy Monday!

Taco Tuesday along South Elm Street

We were downtown on Tuesday afternoon for a stroll and an eye appointment and this balloon was rolling around South Elm Street at Spring Garden. It was as if the balloon had weights in it as it rolled along the street. Flavianos is located at 114 N. Elm Street; Los Chicos is at 200 S. Elm Street; Crafted is at 220 S. Elm Street. This balloon was pretty far from its originating location. What a creative way to advertise. You should have seen us chasing after it and trying to grab a photo of it with the words "Taco Tuesday" upright. Do you remember the 1957 movie, "The Red Balloon"?  A young follows a red balloon along the streets of Paris. We felt a little like Pascal chasing that balloon around. If only a cluster of pink helium balloons had gathered around us and taken us on a ride high above Greensboro.

Did anyone else see this balloon or one like it? By the way, the advertising was effective. It did make us crave Mexican food. Happy Thursday!

Manning Franks on the Beat in Downtown Greens'BORO!

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

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

Happy Wednesday! 

The Minor Swing Band

The Swing Trio Band members are no stranger to the Bryan Series and three of the members were on stage last night as the opening act for Yusef Salaam's talk last night. The musicians on stage were Jim Carson, Kevin Dollar and Bobby Doolittle. Bobby also plays for the Alley Rabbits. It was so nice to arrive early to the Bryan Series evening with Yusef Salaam and be entertained by musicians, two with guitars and one with a mandolin. The music was sponsored by Schell Bray, Attorneys & Counselors at Law.

So often, the musicians don't get recognized, but they add so much to an event. The jazzy, swing music added ambiance and peppy energy, yet didn't detract from the ability to carry on a conversation. There are so many fabulous musicians in Greensboro; if you ever have a special event, hire musicians. Live music is so affordable adds so much to an event.Actually, today marks the start of the Carolina Band and Conductors Conference at the UNCG College of Visual and Performing arts. We're betting there will be plenty of great live music in Greensboro this weekend. (See here for more details).

Happy Thursday!

The Bryan Series: Yusef Salaam

After nearly 3 years, the Bryan Series is back; now in the Tanger Center, and it is glorious. Last night, the series opened with Yusef Salaam. In 1989, Mr. Salam was convicted along with four other teenagers for a rape in Central Park in New York City. The then-teens  became known as the "Central Park Five" and were convicted in the press even before their trial.  The convictions were overturned in 2002. Since the exhoneration, Mr. Salam has dedicated his life to social justice issues, advocating for and educating young people. He has chosen to move on in life, looking forward, not backward. That message rings true in his book "Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice." Mr. Salam encourages young people, including his own children, to become the change they want in the world and work to break the generational curse.

While Mr. Salam was presenting on stage, his mother called. He took the call! During their brief on-stage conversation and throughout his talk, it became patently clear what a positive force his mother has been in his life. She was there guiding him all throughout the trial, sentencing, and his serving time. She helped him continue to believe in himself  and gave him guidance during those most difficult times. Even before, his mom was a positive force. As a single mom, she knew her 3 children needed positive male role models in their life.  Through the Boys and girls Club os New York City, a male big brother was found for Ms. Salam- a big brother who happened to be an accomplished district attorney and someone who is still in Mr. Salaam's life today.

It was such a thought provoking and powerful presentation. We are lucky to have opportunities to hear such high-quality presentations, and now in a beautiful venue, the Tanger Center!

Note: Thank you Katja Brown and Kim Diop for reminding me to mention we should now refer to these five as "The Exhonerated 5".

Almost Valentine's Day

It is almost valentines day and we're head over heels in love with all of the Valentine's Day window displays around town. The above window is at the Green Bean Coffee House at 341 South Elm Street. The window decorations are so cute and we like the store name in the middle window, a graphic that is a great marketing tool. The Green Bean has been a Greensboro institution since 2002; that's twenty years of good coffee and good times. 

If you are looking for something to do today for an early Valentine's Day celebration, consider going to one of the farmers markets, and later one of the brew pubs. Almost all of them are offering something extra special this weekend. To be sure, we'll be heaving to the Full Circle Market at Oden Brewing today from 12:00 pm- 4:00 pm. There will be artists and vendors at their 2nd Saturday market. It doesn't look like the Green Bean is hosting any special events today, but they are always opening to having events if you are looking for a venue.

Have a great Saturday and don't forget to tell those special people in your life that you love them- everyday, but especially on Saturday.

Fiber Space

There is a new kid on the block in downtown Greensboro, Fiber Space at 227 South Elm Street. We got a little chuckle, because, at first glance, we thought that Fiber Space was "fiber" as in yarn and wool. Remember, Gate City Yarns is only a few doors down at 231 South Elm! Actually, Fiber Space is not a yarn store or knitting space. It is a downtown workspace for people who are starting up businesses or who people who need work space away from home. Fiber Space is a black, veteran, female-owned cowering flex space. With the "Baked Downtown" bakery right beside Fiber Space, you can work your heart away in this comfortable space and head out for a croissant break, almost without leaving the building!

You may recognize this cozy space as for years it has been a clothing a store, for a good while, it was Anne Marie, and they Michelle's. If you are interested, check out the membership plans at Fiber Space. They range from $50- $100 a month. You can also get drop-in day passes. Fiber Space will also host special events. Join them tomorrow for the "Ain't No Love Spades Tournament" tomorrow night at 7:00 pm. 

Happy Friday!

Abba Design

In 2020, in the height of the pandemic, we featured the designers at Abba Design because they installed a lovely wall of live flowers in front of Wesley Long Hospital on Friendly Avenue. Tuesday, we were out doing a little urban walking and passed by their studio at 700 North Eugene Street. The outside of the studio is decorated so beautifully for Valentines Day. The designers at Abba plan and coordinate florals for weddings, offer subscription services for florals, and will provide you with lovely holiday decorating. They also handle corporate and price accounts. While we haven't booked anything for Valentines Day, as we were walking by, we just had to stop and admire the display on site. Every table had a bouquet of flowers on it. The fact that the late afternoon was sunny created dramatic shadows and made the red flowers and decorations simply pop.

So many of the stores in downtown Greensboro have displays for Valentines Day. Even if Abba is already booked for the holiday,  is never too late to do a little something for the special people in your life. You should even consider treating yourself to a floral subscription service.

Happy Wednesday!

West Market UMC and the Lincoln Financial Group Building

Nothing says downtown Greensboro like the West Market Street United Methodist Church and The Lincoln Financial Group Building. On the one hand, the Romanesque architecture of the church belongs in another century, older than the buildings around of it. However, if you look closely at this photo,  the top of the West Market Street UMC fits right in with the top of the LFP building. Both tops are green, angular, and have a special feature at the top; one a cross, the other the time and temperature.

This snowy and cold weather has been wreaking havoc on church serviced. However, as best we can tell, the West Market Street UMC will be meeting in person today. As a matter of fact, according to their Facebook page, they are offering coffee with the pastors at 10:00 am, in case you want to know more about the church and its ministries. If you go out, please be careful as there was an awful lot of ice on the streets yesterday and temperatures never got above freezing yesterday. If you do want to stay home, there will be plenty of options for online services. Nothing beats in person fellowship with other great people in Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

Little Cottage at 510 Prescott Street

On our walk along Prescott Street this weekend, we were smitten with the house at 510. It looks like a cottage straight out of an enchanted forest. It is on the northwest edge of downtown in the Bellemeade neighborhood. It is also only a mile from Grimsley High School and on the edge of the greenway. It was built in 1925 when this part of town was a more defined neighborhood. Walking around this property, you see more great stonework, especially the back fireplace. To the right is West Smith Street and to the left are construction trucks, and across the street is the Artistic Motion School of Arts & Preparatory Academy. While business and industry has encroached upon the neighborhood and made it an oasis in an urban setting, in this specific frame, we see a cozy little home. 

Next time you are on this part of the greenway, take a little detour and explore Prescott Street. Have a nice Tuesday!

1007 Battleground Avenue Between Prescott and Hill Streets

For those of you who used to eat at the Mexico Restaurant at 1007 Battleground Avenue between Prescott and Hill Street, this is the building that has replaced it. As you can see, this building will be office space, available this summer. It is conveniently located at the Downtown Greenway. The people who work here will be able to bike on their lunch breaks, head to Cycles D'Oro to get new bike gear or plan rides over lunch. For the active person, this office building  is a great location!  This building represents the trend for the north and north western end of downtown to attract new, multi-floor structures. 

It is always fun to see buildings in process and this one is very colorful now. Over the next few weeks, it will look very different. We would like to suggest that the offices in this building all get together and have weekly Taco Tuesdays in memory of all the great tacos served on site in the previous couple of decades. They could even have a "Spanish-only" lunch chat; at least one such group had their conversation group meet here.  Change can be really good for a city; but, it is also nice to keep a record of what preceded the change. For our readers who like our urban walking suggestions, if you get a chance, go walk Prescott Street (between Smith and Battleground), you will see everything from a dance studio, to construction materials, to personal residences, and now, this brand new office building. The other side of the building is closer to Hill Street. This photo was taken from the Prescott Street side.

Happy Monday!

Under Construction: Parking Deck on Davie St

Cloudy, gray days beget gray photos; however, there can be beauty in gray. The above photo features the giant construction project downtown at the corner of Market and Davie Streets. It is part of the $37 million 720 space parking structure. While open to the public, it will also be part of the new Westin Hotel.* If you are out driving downtown this weekend, drive down Davie Street and have a look at the construction. Having the the JP/Lincoln Financial Group building in the background adds to the interest of this location. Greensboro's iconic building serves as an anchor to help one orient the location in a photo. Just across Davie Street from this construction site is the now-dormant News & Record building.

If you have small children in your lives, or friends who are fascinated by construction vehicles, there are some mighty big ones at this site- perhaps the biggest we have ever seen downtown. Regardless of what you end up doing today, have a happy Saturday, possibly exploring Greensboro.. The photo was taken yesterday, early evening- precisely at 5:11 as the LFG clock reveals, way before the snow started. If you go out today, be careful as it might be a little slippery. But, there might be an even prettier photo waiting for us...

 

*Reference and additional information here.

Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company

It is the beginning of a three day weekend for many, a weekend that may end with a little snow. Today, however, it is the beginning of a beautiful Friday and we're sharing a sunny view of the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company- the Elm Street side. Do you see the name carved above the windows, the name that has changed many times over the years? We still tag the building as the "JP Building" because when we started Greensboro Daily Photo, the name of the company was Jefferson Pilot. Today, it is Lincoln Financial Group.

The building is a 374 foot skyscraper which, when built, in 1922, was the tallest building between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, GA!  Julian Price, president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company had it built and hired an architect from New York City, Charles C. Hartmann to design it. Thanks to Mr. Hartmann's design and Mr. Price's willingness to fund the use of high quality materials like terra cotta and granite, the building stands today as an icon of Neo-Gothic/Neo-Classical/Art Deco style. If you are out walking around this weekend, have a look at all of the details. Take a few selfies in front of it. We'd love to see them. The "up" orientation of the photo reminds us all to look up and stay on the sunny side of life.

Happy Friday!

Urban View

This is a view of West McGee Street, the 100 block. Longshanks Billiards is the business these young pedestrians are about to walk past. By the way, the cute dog on the left is painted onto the wall. (These are the details you notice when urban walking and photographing). The neon sign at the top of the photo advertises Ritchey's Bar and Restaurant. The clothing of the walkers and the small tree to the right, with no sign of foliage, are proof positive that it is winter. The grayness of the photo adds to the cold weather ambience. Winter- while relatively mild in Greensboro-  has an air of beauty in its own right. The gray buildings and sidewalk also give the photo an urban,  big city feel.

The above photo was taken mid-afternoon on a Saturday when all was quiet on McGee Street in Downtown Greensboro. However, a few hours later this side street will be lively and filled with people. McCoul's Public House, Little Brother's, Longshanks, and Ritchey's will be hopping, enough so that people just may be inspired to walk across the street to Legacy Irons Tattoo Company and indulge themselves with a tattoo, that is if they can get an appointment. They seem pretty busy. Today's photo reminds us a little of an Edward Hopper painting. We would love to see this photo turned into a painting... or a short story. That little doggie looks like he could belong to Greensboro's most famous short story writer,  O.Henry.

If you are interesting in urban walking, try out the downtown parts of the greenway. Or, try this site, "GPS my city". We haven't tried it personally, we love the serendipity of seeing where we end up; however, this site is a way to be more organized about your downtown touring.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Life Along the 300 Block of South Elm Street in Greensboro

Saturday afternoon in Downtown Greensboro was not crowded busy, but it was lively and peppy. The above photo is of the 300 block of South Elm, a block that has it all. There is Cheesecakes by Alex and Scuppernong Bookstore at the upper end of the S 300 block, plus good food and libation along the way (Jerusalem Market, Little Brothers, Natty Greenes, Grey's Tavern, Hibachi Cafe, and Heavenly Buffaloes),  good coffee (Green Bean, Scuppernong), a "Selfie Spot", and some great eclectic shopping (Design Archives and Just Be)- to name a few of the businesses along the South 300 corridor. The above photo features people perusing the sidewalk sale at Design Archives. The other people are walking past Little Brother's Brewing, and in the background, on the Elm McGee corner is "Just Be" full of fair trade goodness, about the best for it in the city now that 10,000 Villages has closed its Greensboro location.

The 300 block must be the longest in downtown. It starts with that building at Washington Street, the one with the rounded corner entrance, that housed "Glitters" for years, and extends all the way to Spring Garden Street.  While this section of downtown is ripe with fun experiences, truly, it is the people that bring a community alive. We started to interview those four upbeat, energetic, stylish, young shoppers at Design Archives, but they were having so much fun "in the moment" we didn't want to interrupt them. Besides, it looked like they were about to make a purchase and we wouldn't want to hinder a retail transaction! It was so nice to see such diverse groups of people downtown on Saturday; proof positive, there is something for everyone. 

Happy Monday! What do you have planned this week?

Sunny Afternoon on Hamburger Square 2022

In spite of the cold temperatures, Hamburger Square looked beautiful in the sun, late yesterday afternoon. The brick building in the center is Natty Greene's. Nobody was eating outside, and the electric scooters were quiet; however, a few people were out walking their dogs and running errands along South Elm Street. College students return next week, so streets should get a little more lively. Temperatures will remain cold for most of next week, so it may be a while before Elm Street regains its full energy. A Greensboro merchant once told us that the "J" months are usually the slowest. So, if you don't like crowds, mark for calendars for January, June, and July to do some major shopping.

Indeed, today is a pretty quiet day in Greensboro, unless of course you planning on attending heading to the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville from 7:30- 12:00 noon or the Greensboro Corner Farmers Market from 8:00- 12 noon. This evening, the Greensboro Hip Hop Festival will be held at at the Greensboro Coliseum tonight. So, there are still some things going on around town. And, as sunny as it will be today, it is a great time to take a walk. Hope to see you out and about today.

Happy Saturday!

Blumenthal's Clothing Store

Imagine our surprise when we walked into the Antique Market Place on Burnt Poplar Road and there was one of the signs from Blumenthal's Clothing Store that used to be in downtown Greensboro. There were two signs; this one, and the one that hangs in the Greensboro History Museum downtown. Blumenthal's opened on South Elm Street in 1926, left downtown for West Market Street in 2005, and closed permanently ten years ago in 2012. Blumenthal's was known for selling jeans, but had so many items like shoes, work clothes, belts, hats, and they even cashed payroll checks. The family business lasted for 86 years, but closed permanently when Bob Blumenthal had severe health issues and wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren.

Over the years, Blumenthal's  gave away a pack of cigarettes when someone's receipt matched one of the above numbers. Eventually, when the store stopped selling cigarettes, they gave a bandana to anyone whose receipt matched one of the above numbers. Blumenthal's occupied nearly the entire block between Spring Garden and McGee Streets. Their black and white facade with writing all around the picture windows was readily identifiable as you approached it. Indeed, they lived up to their name, "The Store with a Heart." The above sign has already sold, and all that is left of Blumenthal's are these two signs- and the memories that, as we age, are fading faster than than a pair of jeans. We also learned that Rhonda, who works at Antique Market Place used to work at Blumenthal's. We need to interview her and get some stories from the good old days!

Happy Wednesday!

Ringing in the New Year

Happy day before New Year's Eve. It isn't too late to peruse the internet and find something to do in downtown Greensboro. The above photo features South End Brewery and Kitchen. Their New Years Eve party starts at 9:30 pm tonight. They will have live music, free champagne toasting at midnight (while supplies last) and you will get to see a keg drop to bring in the new year. We don't know if they will offer a full menu tonight, but one of the really nice aspects of South End is that they offer a full food menu. It is such a great place to eat, hang out, and celebrate. The peace sign at the entrance reminds us to always keep the peace when interacting in public. Santa on the roof is another reminder that if you are not nice, Santa will know.

All of Lewis Street should be hopping tonight, including the Boxcar Bar & Arcade, right across the street from South End.  Of course other places around Greensboro will be lively, too. Whatever you decide to do, please be safe. 2022 is sure to be a good one. Happy New Year, dear readers!

Piedmont Winterfest Skating Fun

Piedmont Winterfest in downtown Greensboro was going strong yesterday, in spite of the fact that there was a high of 72º yesterday. Above Greta and Skylar were there to help those who came to skate. In spite of the fact that there was a layer of water on top of the ice, enough of the water was frozen that people could, indeed, skate. Since school is out, hours are extended from 12 noon- 8pm tonight and until 10pm the rest of the week. Here is a complete list of hours, in case you want to go. Here is the website where you can even purchase tickets ($12) and see more photos. 

It was so fun chatting with Greta and Skylar. Greta is a student at Appalachian State; she plans to be a physical therapist. Skylar is a student at Rockingham Community College- studying elementary education. You can tell by their attire that it wasn't very cold outside. At the time we arrived, nobody was skating, and the WFMY News 2 van was parked nearby with the driver (videographer?) in the van. Perhaps he was waiting for skaters. Just as we'd finished talking to Greta and Skylar, a couple of carloads of people drove up. Once they paid for parking, the kids were ready to hit the ice. You can find the rink at the Barnhardt Street Parking lot, between Southen Brewing on Lewis Street and Fat Tuesday and the former Jae, Mar shop on the north end.  See you on the ice!

United House of Prayer for All People

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

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

Happy Sunday!

* reference and more information, here.

Downtown Greensboro

Today on this Christmas Eve day, we're featuring the Tinsel Town tree decorated by Downtown Greensboro. Tinsel Town was conceptualized last year as a way to bring community together without needing to physically be in the same place at the same town. Downtown Greensboro was established in 1996 and for the past 25 years has worked tirelessly to improve the business district and to make downtown an enjoyable place for the residents of Greensboro.

Their all-green, Tinsel Town tree is still on display in LeBauer Park- as are all of the other trees. Just look at the DGI tree with name cards for all of the downtown streets. So clever and front row center is ELM Street. The tree to the right features a Moravian star, an iconic symbol of the the Moravian church, especially at Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. Many of the local churches will be featuring Christmas Eve services and midnight mass. If you are interested, check their social media to verify times. If you are downtown over the next few days, make sure you stop by and see these creative trees. 

Making Memories at LeBauer Park

If you are looking for something to entertain hildren who are home, consider visiting one of Greensboro's parks. LeBauer Park, one of two downtown parks, is the perfect way to spend the afternoon. LeBauer Park has been open for five years now. It opened on August 8, 2016 and we have to wonder what on earth did Greensboro do without it. Even when there aren't special events in the park, families can gather and play ping pong, exercise their dogs, let children play on the playground, and more.

The part featured above in today's photo is the Lincoln Financial Children's Garden. And yes, if you were on one of the top floors of the Lincoln Financial building, you could see this garden they helped fund. The garden has been very well maintained and actually still looks brand new. That rubberized surface makes the garden safe, even for toddling toddlers. As you can see from the above photo, everyone is having fun.

Happy second day of winter!

4th Annual Holiday Invitational at CVA

The non-profit, Center for Visual Artists has been open in Greensboro since 1956:That is quite a legacy of celebrating local art and supporting artists. If you have any extra time this week, head down to the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street and have a look at all of the galleries throughout the  facility. Also, if you are looking for last minute gifts, the Center for Visual Artists is holding their 4th Annual Holiday Invitational. You can buy so many interesting items from local artists. Christmas will sneak up on us this year, given it is on a Saturday and Christmas Eve is on a Friday night. That gives us four more shopping days until Christmas. Even if you don't need gifts, it is nice to get out and see some great art. CVA will be open Tue, Wed, and Thur this week. Here is a link to CVA's website so you can see hours and learn more about the show and plan a visit this week.

Happy Monday!

Piedmont Old Time Society at Green Bean

Last night was Third Thursday so the Piedmont Old Time Society held their bi-weekly jam at the Green Bean Coffee Shop in downtown Greensboro. The Green Bean very graciously stays open late just so the group can jam. It is also a nice opportunity to listen  for those who wander in. We were enjoying a turmeric ginger latte with hazelnut milk and noticed that tomorrow morning, from 10am-1pm, there will be a pop up craft show at the Green Bean (Saturday, December 18th). At least a dozen artisans will be at this holiday pop up so you will have an opportunity to support a local coffee shop and local venders all in one place. 

After leaving the coffee shop, we drove around Greensboro as it is so pretty this time of year. South Elm has added a lot of extra decorations. Of course we had to drive through Sunset Hills again to see the lights, and then over to see the Santa of Chapman Street house.While we were at it, we stopped in front of the First Moravian Church on Elam, which looks so peaceful at night, rather palate cleansing to see the single candles in the windows, a wreath on the side door, and a Moravian star leading to the sanctuary. The Blind Tiger had live music, as did the Tanger Center. Driving home, with the memory of string band music, and all of the Christmas lights suspended in the trees, indeed, it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. Please take a night drive if you haven't yet. For those who are counting, Christmas Eve is next Friday.

Unity Christmas Festival

This past weekend, Unity Church held their Christmas Festival in Center City Park on December 8th from 12:30- 4:30. It was well attended and fun was had by all who participated. Usually, Unity Church meets at the Church of the Covenant- 501 South Market Street. Unity follows the teachings of Jesus and, according to their website, "Unity honors the universal truths in all religions and respects each individual's right to choose a spiritual path." Unity was founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in 1889. Unity Church has evolved over the years and is now quite accepting of people who are spiritual, but not religious. Individual Unity Churches are autonomous and can vary from congregation to congregation.

Greensboro's Unity congregation is very accepting of people of all walks of life and they are involved in the local community. Everyone was welcome to the above event in Center City Park.  While they usually meet at the Church of the Covenant building, their outdoor events are always very powerful. If you attend today, you will hear the lovely voice of  Nitia Steward, one of their special musicians .

Center City Park

We find this photo heartwarming. It features a couple of kids heading to join some events in Center City Park, and a few people walking in the background. Seeing the Lincoln Financial Group Building situates the photo in downtown Greensboro. The leaves lingering on the trees place the photo in the late fall season. The decorated tree lets us know it is December.

The simplicity of the photo reminds us of the illustrations of Ezra Jack Keats. You may recall, he wrote "The Snowy Day" and "A Poem for Peter." Keats' illustrations often have a person or two interacting with their environment. His paintings and collages are usually very simple with emphasis on the person. Not long after this photo, a grandma was out with her granddaughter, who was at most 3. The little girl, wearing her Sunday best, was posing in this very spot and then over in front of the trees at Tinsel Town. It reminded us of just what a great place our two downtown parks are for making memories- especially with children. 

Happy Thursday, we just talked ourselves into hoping for a very snowy day!

Tinsel Town in LeBauer Park

 

Last year, during COVID and the winter holidays, Downtown Greensboro, Inc. (DGI ) had to get very creative about providing community events in a way that did not involve masses of people gathering. One of the brainstorms for reimagining holiday festivities was Tinsel Town. Tinsel Town was a big hit last year, and is an even bigger hit this year! This year's offerings have doubled since last year with the final count at 100. That means 100 organizations, groups- public and private- have created a tree, usually themed to represent their organization. The above photo, in LeBauer Park, gives you an example of what you will see when yo ago have a look. The tree in the front is is sponsored by the YMCA of Greensboro. If that tree is one of your favorites, you can use the QR code to vote for it. All of the trees are so unique. If you like trees and creativity, you will love this exhibit. Please vote because there are monetary prizes for the winners.

 

Festival of Lights, Let the Season Begin!

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

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

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

First Friday, Tonight In #DGSO

After a one-year, COVID hiatus, First Friday in downtown Greensboro has returned. The Festival of Lights, a tradition that dates back thirty years, will officially start at 5:30 p.m. The tree lighting will happen in Center City Park at 6:56 p.m. (We're not sure how that precise time was chosen, but, if you arrive at 7:00 p.m., you will be four minutes late).*  Throughout the evening, there will be food trucks, music and other entertainment, and many of the shops and restaurants will stay open late. There is even a market in LeBauer Park. The festival continues along Elm Street, all the way to the South 600 block. 

There will even be live ice sculpting, sponsored by Fidelity Bank and there is ice skating at the west end of Lewis Street. Today's high is predicted to be at 70º and drop to 55º by 8:00 p.m. Let's hope the ice will hold its form on this unseasonably warm day. This above street scene shows the Marshmallow Roasting Station in Hamburger Square from 2019. A good time was had by all in 2019 and should be had by all tonight.

*see here for more details, including a map.

Open House on Thursday at Tanger Center

With the "Beautiful: Carol King" Musical," this was a busy weekend for Tanger Center. The above photo features people leaving after the 1:00 p.m. showing yesterday afternoon. North Elm just got a whole lot busier. Tanger has a lot on its plate this week, too. Some events are by-invitation-only; others are for ticket holders (Sting); however, the best opportunity of all is FREE! On Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tanger is having an open house for people to go in and have a look at Greensboro's newest performing arts venue. 

If you have not yet had a chance to go inside Tanger Center, please take advantage of this opportunity on Thursday. You will like it. Check out the restroom on the ground level (at least the one for women). It has 40 stalls, which helps greatly with using the facility during intermission- if you have ever been to Broadway in NYC, you will realize what a nice feature this is. Have a great week and let us know what you think of Tanger!

Autumn View of Center Pointe

Even on an overcast afternoon, Center City Park and the Center Pointe Building look beautiful in the fall. This area is great for fall photos. Also, if you come downtown this evening, there will be a lot going on for First Friday. The photo was taken from the front entrance of the Cultural Arts Centers. It stays open later on Fridays; so between art, and parks, and restaurants, there will be plenty to do if you stop downtown. The Day of the Dead exhibit organized by Casa Azul will be open until 8pm at the Cultural Arts Center.

Center Pointe, the high-rise with the windows that reflect blue, has apartments and condominiums that are perfect for people seeking an urban lifestyle.  At 515 South Elm Street, a rock and roll party featuring The Finns will be going strong. Here is a link to even more happenings tonight. Regardless of what you decide to do, have fun and enjoy the beautiful fall colors and the last night before we return to Standard time!

Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment Dessert and Bakery is located on the southeast corner of Friendly Avenue and Davie Street. While it is relatively new to the location, the bakers are proud to be their generation. You can dine in or take out. The location seems perfect with all of the events happening in the cultural arts center. People can meet at the bakery before and after lessons and events. They can get in out of the cold and have a warm drink while waiting for a ride. It is also across the street from Center City Park. Tomorrow is First Friday and Saturday is their Block Party from 1:00pm- 5:00 pm. They will have craft vendors, live music, lots of tasty treats, and face painting.

If you are looking for a snack downtown or a new place to visit, Savor the Moment is well worth your time. Have a good Thursday and, remember, it is the new Friday! It will be a good night to be downtown. You can also catch the Jack Stratton and Rebecca Fagg art exhibit in the Cultural Arts Center before it goes away.

Dia De los Muertos

Today's photo features one of the altars from the 2020 Casa Azul Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos exhibit. It was set up in the Center for Visual Artists at the Greensboro Cultural Center at 200 North Davie Street. Last year, with more stringent COVID restrictions, families brought in pre-made altar boxes. This exhibit features photos of the deceased and the Virgin of Guadalupe, an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Mexico in 1531.

The Day of the Dead holiday starts tomorrow, as does the 2021 Día de Muertos Offend Exhibition in the Center for Visual Artists (see HERE). Opening night hours, November 1st, will be from 5-8pm. Tuesday will be extended hours from 12 noon - 8pm. The event is free and open to the public and will be shown until November 13th. If you and your family celebrate Day of the Dead, you will already know about the holiday. If not, The holiday is a time to honor ancestors and loved ones that have gone to the spirit world. The movies "The Book of Life" and "Coco" are related to the holiday. Also, you can learn about it from the exhibit and Casa Azul volunteers. 

Part of the Fabulous Orchestra Pit at "Wicked"

The above photo is of the orchestra pit at Tanger Center. During the intermission of Wicked, several people were up front by the stage looking at the instruments and musicians. As you can see from the above photo, musicians - at least the ones who play instruments that involved blowing through them-  are encased in a cubicle ( a COVID protocol). The trumpet player in the front/left part of the photo, Rusty Smith, was ever so patient with a middle school child who was talking music with him. The student admitted to not practicing enough and Rusty was giving him musician-to-musician advice. Rusty is one of the local musicians to play during Wicked. The others are Carla Copeland-Burns, Anna Lampidis, Wayne Leechford, Lynn Beck (in photo, playing French horn), Sean Devlin , John Beck, Jesse Kapsha, John Simonetti, and David Lane. There were also 6 people in the traveling orchestra.

Every aspect of Wicked was perfect; the acting, the set, the dancing, singing, and music. It is especially nice to know some musicians were local. We wish we had been able to interview performers and musicians to see what it is like to perform at the Tanger Center for the inaugural Broadway show. Indeed, it is going to be a good season!

Wicked at the Steven Tanger Center (aka T-PAC)

"Wicked" played to a sold out crowd last night at the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts (T-PAC). It was the last night of the play. It was extremely well received by the community, as is the Tanger Center itself. The above photo was taken well before the play started, before many people had taken their seats. Helping with filling the house is the practice of having a digital lottery for seats available for $25 for those who are selected (see here for details, in case they offer this option for future plays). Broadway in NYC has "Rush" as their opportunity for heavily discounted "same day" tickets. The theater is so wonderful and seeing a Broadway quality play performed is something everyone should experience at least once. If you ever have an extra ticket that you can't use, consider giving it so someone who otherwise might not be able to afford one.  Everything about "Wicked" was fabulous, from the acting, to the set design, to the orderly manner in which ushers helped people to their seats. All of the seats appear to be good ones.

The next Broadway play offered at Tanger is "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" from November 9-14. This run is not as long as "Wicked." If you like that 70s sound, get your tickets soon. See the rest of the lineup, here. After one big show, people are already talking about what a wonderful community resource we now have downtown. As we were leaving the theater tonight, all of the trucks and a bus were lined up to strike the set for the play. By the time this post publishes, there will. be no evidence that "Wicked" was ever in Greensboro; well, that is except for all of the t-shirts and other items from the merchandise stand everyone will be wearing for a very long time.

Cemetery First Presbyterian at the Greensboro History Museum

Today's photo was taken at the entrance to the cemetery behind the Greensboro History Museum, which was formerly the First Presbyterian Church. The cemetery has been restored and is now part of the museum property. Many graves of prominent Greensboro residents are here; for example, former Governor Morehead- North Carolina's only governor from Guilford County. There are graves dating back to the early 1800s. In addition to benches that accommodate pause and silent mediation, the plants and trees are very calming. It is a true oasis of greenery in downtown. There are long and short leaf pine, holly trees, palmetto trees, and more. *

This is the time of year when people go to the cemetery to clean the graves. Catholics have All Souls' Day. Soon many people in Mexico and Central Mexico, (and the USA) will celebrate the Day of the Dead. The cemetery at the history museum isn't always open so check with a docent, or anyone inside the museum, to get a schedule for when it is open. Truly, this whole museum complex is one of Greensboro's finest, downtown treasures!  Happy Sunday!

* reference and more information from Joel Gillespie, HERE.

Walking Downtown on Greene Street

As we were walking along Greene Street recently, we were struck by the muted colors and then, out of nowhere, these spray painted utility line stripes. The building just behind the light pole is the Greene Street Central Fire Station. It was built in 1926 when the city transitioned to professional fire fighters. There were six bays, enough for six fire trucks. Today, the building is part of the Marriott Hotel. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so it should remain a visible reminder of Old Greensboro for a very long time.*

Speaking of Greene Street, if you want to get to know the area better, this upcoming Wednesday, October 27th, meet up at Guilford Green (121 Greene Street) at 5:30 pm to walk the entire length of the 4-mile Downtown Greenway. Put on your best walking shoes and hit the pavement with us. Or, get a jumpstart and come downtown today and walk. Speaking of walking, do you see people walking in the photo? Happy Saturday, dear readers!

 

Reference and more information, here.

Bellemeade Parking Deck

Bellemeade Parking Deck between Elm, Bellemeade, and Greene Street just got a whole lot busier now that it is one of the designated parking decks for the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. The above photo was taken recently as people were filing in to attend Wicked. Police have been there to help ensure traffic runs smoothly in these opening weeks of Tanger. As you can see, traffic bogs down a little bit, so you want to arrive early. Plus, it is fun to stroll leisurely to your seat once in the theater. Sometimes, there can be a little bit of a delay getting out. We just need to remind ourselves that we didn't have to drive to Durham, Raleigh, or Charlotte to see Broadway plays.

The Bellemeade Deck is 8 stories and can accommodate over 1,200 cars. Did you know it is built on the site of the former O. Henry Hotel and that the O. Henry statues are right across the street from the deck? As you can see from the above photo, the structure is a combination of cement and granite. The cement is functional as it is strong enough to support the weight of the cars; the granite is a stylish touch. Today is Friday and while it is not First Friday, it is always a great time to be downtown.