Greensboro Daily Photo

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!

Santa of Chapman Street

Merry Christmas! The above house, on Chapman Street is where Jack True served as Greensboro's Santa for three decades. Mr. True and his family rented this house for years and eventually were able to buy the house with the help of people in Greensboro who appreciated all he did for the community. Mr. True derived great pleasure seeing the joy her brought all of the families who brought their children by to see Santa and his decorated house. He also decorated for other holidays, especially Halloween, Easter, and the Fourth of July.

Mr. True died of leukemia in 2003 and his family continues decorating, carrying on his spirit. We wish you.a Merry Christmas 2021. Let us all do something to bring joy to others today. If you get a chance, drive by South Chapman street tonight and see this glowing little house down over the hill. It will bring a smile to your face. If you knew Mr. True, it might even bring back memories of his handing out candy to children, beck in an era when times seemed to much simpler. Have a great day!

It Sure Looks Like Christmas At 309 South Elam!

This house at 309 South Elam is a good example of the exuberant holiday decorating in the Sunset Hills, Lindley Park neighborhoods. Right across from the First Moravian Church, this house is as enthusiastically decorated as the church is calmly understated. The two tree/bushes are mature crepe myrtle. We're betting the Christmas tree on the porch probably sets the tone for what is inside the house. This single family home, built in 1945 is fairly typical of the houses around it, although many of the homes in the neighborhood were built in the 1920s and 1930s.

For those who value a sense of community and walkability in a neighborhood, these homes in the Walker/Elam area are very desirable. Have a drive this evening and experience the magic and neighborhood spirit.

A Sunset Hills Christmas

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

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

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

 

*read more HERE.

 

Happy Hanukkah 2021

Hankkah is an 8-day festival of light commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple in the second century BCE. Hanukkah ends tomorrow (Monday, December 6th, so tonight, the menorah (above) will be shining brightly with all eight candles lit. The above menorah is installed in Greensboro at Temple Emanuel at the corner of Hobbs and Jefferson. 

This menorah is one of the largest in North Carolina. Members of the Brotherhood group at Temple Emanuel  help install the menorah every year. . The installation is both a religious act, and, an opportunity to have a little fellowship with other men who attend the temple. .The menorah looks much more impressive in person and on a clear night when it is illuminated. If you get a chance, drive by tonight and have a look! Have a nice day and, Happy Hanukkah! The Jewish community has done so much for Greensboro and their positive influence is seen everywhere, including at the corner of Hobbs, and Jefferson!

 

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.

Sunnyside Farms a Local Option for Christmas Trees

Since we were in Summerfield this past weekend, and featured The Jumping Bean yesterday, we thought we'd share another photo from Summerfield Road. Above, you see a slice of the view at Sunnyside Farms, a Christmas tree farm in Ashe County.  For 19 years, the Woyahn has been driving Fraiser fir trees to Guilford County from their Ashe County farm located in the northwest corner of North Carolina. The entire county has fewer than 30,000 people, so coming to larger communities like Greensboro and Summerfield is a must for keeping their business viable.

Their pop up Christmas tree site at 7200 Summerfield Road opened this past week and they will keep selling trees into late December. They are also set up at Hickory Grove Church on Wendover Avenue in the Greensboro/Jamestown area.  Sunnyside Farms works hard to make the selection of a tree a special event: From selecting to trimming to bagging to helping you get it on your car. And their giant 3-story Santa is always a hit with the kids. Even if you are past the tree decorating years, being out and watching how excited young children are about picking out a tree really helps create the feeling of Christmas. Even though we don't have snow, the colder weather in Greensboro and the surrounding communities, is making it feel a lot like winter. It also helps keep the trees fresher.

Happy Tuesday!

First Santa Sighting of 2021!

Golden Antiques, on 220 North at Highway 150, held their Mistletoe Market this past weekend and shoppers were out in droves. If their long checkout lines were any indication, people are making a lot of effort to shop early and local this year. The Santa at Golden Antiques was the first one we saw out this season. Indeed, Santa, or at least Santa's helpers are out even before Thanksgiving. Several other stores are stocked for holiday shopping. 

Downtown Greensboro Inc. has announced that the Festival of Lights will be held downtown on Friday, December 3rd with the tree lighting in Center City Park and other events up and down Elm Street. The Greensboro Holiday Parade will be on Saturday, December 4th. In addition to the usual floats, bands, and dance/cheer squads, there will be some giant balloons, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade style. So get out your planner as the December dance card is filling! How do you stay informed about upcoming events? We're finding that it is harder and harder to know about events before they happen. If you have suggestions, please let us know.

(By the way, we are happy to report that Santa has lost a little bit of weight and looking in good health).

Happy Veterans Day: Tech Sergeant Lochra

Albert (Al) Lochra served in the Army Air Force as a radio operator during World War II. He flew on B-17 airplanes and was stationed in England from 1943-1945. Originally from Uniontown, PA, Mr. Lochra first came to Greensboro in 1943 to Basic Training Camp #10. Two years later, in 1945, he would return here to the Discharge Center at the end of his service. Along the way, he met his wife (Mary) Helen Fletcher Lochran who grew up near Bessemer, just outside Greensboro. The two married in 1947 and Mr. Lochra has lived in Greensboro since 1949. He lost his wife in 2014 and now lives with his daughter and son in law.

Mr Lochra has a keen memory and can describe his early childhood and the war years in great detail. He remembers fondly practically growing up in his father's grocery store in southwestern Pennsylvania, and also the hoops he had to jump through to volunteer for the army. He also talked about the three "mercy" missions  he made in Europe during the war. One of the flights was to get people out of Austria and to bring them to safety in Chartres, France; one was to take American soldiers, eligible for release, to Morocco to board planes to return to the United States; and one was to take food to Holland, a mission that the US Army negotiated with the Germans. At 96 years of age, Mr. Lochra  served the military five years before the Air Force was founded in 1947. Greensboro is extremely lucky to have Mr. Lochra in our presence. He still walks a mile a day, whether it is outside in front of his house, or, on colder days, twenty times around the living room to get his mile. He offered to put on his (original) uniform for the photo, and knows it still fits as he wore it to a service on Sunday. We opted not to trouble him to run upstairs to get it. Greensboro salutes you Tech Sergeant Lochra, today on Veterans Day, and every day!

Halloween 2021, on Walker Avenue

Sunset Hills may have the reputation for the most collective Christmas spirit with those round light balls in the trees. However, Lindley Park went all out last night creating a pretty fabulous Halloween. Some streets in the neighborhood were closed to vehicle traffic. There were children galore out trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Walker Avenue, between Elam and Wendover Avenue was really alive. Specifically, 2406 Walker Avenue was especially celebratory. They had a Karaoke robot dancer and lazer light show. On the left, what looks like flames is light and a smoke machine. Children and adults alike were mesmerized. The family in this small house on Walker, built in 1925- almost 100 years ag0- really knows how to bring the neighborhood alive.

We hope schools, families, and teachers alike all have grace today. Between the NCA&T Homecoming this past weekend and all of the Halloween events, there will be a lot of tired people today. But, whenever it is possible to safely celebrate together, being a little tired the next day, is a small price to pay. Last night, we officially said goodbye to October. Hello November, we are ready for you, from Walker Avenure and beyond!

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. 

Pumpkin Patch Time

It is pumpkin time again and this patch found out in front of the Guilford College United Methodist Church at 1205 Fleming Road, where it intersects with New Garden Road and Ballinger Road.  You only have to walk around the pumpkin patch and look at the signage to realize just how dynamic this church is. In addition to church service, they have Girl and Boy Scout troops meeting there. They offer adult English classes on Wednesdays. They have a pre-school.  They are advertising a Brunswick stew sale. This Saturday, October 23rd, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, they are having a Fall Festival with professional crafters and a bake sale. This should be a fun event and one of many things you will be able to do this weekend to get out and celebrate autumn. If you buy a pumpkin, the proceeds to to the youth groups at the church. What a wonderful opportunity to do something for a church that does so much for the community.

Do you have your pumpkins yet? Do you like the traditional orange or are you seeking the white, green, and pastel ones? Do you like the textured ones that look like they have warts on them? It seems like every year there are more and more novel options. Happy week of the full moon! Happy pumpkin hunting!

Halloween, Yes She's on her Way!

Halloween is over two weeks away, but decoration is well underway in Greensboro. The above scene was found on Scott Avenue in Lindley Park- and every indication is that they aren't done yet! Can you imagine being a child and happening upon this scene? Would you have the nerve to walk past or walk up to the door to trick-or-treat? This is only one side of the yard. We may have to stop by for another photo of the other side! By the way, do you see the face in the upper window? Or, are you still trying to get past the doll in the cage? She is pretty creepy. There is a monster up the street, even bigger than the skeleton and it moves!

Since it is the weekend, if you want a little spooky fun, walk around your neighborhood and see what what decorations are out there. If you love spooky, the City of Greensboro is hosting a Fright Night Halloween Walk in Country Park tonight from 5:30- 7:30. By 7:00, it will be almost completely dark. You may want to go a little earlier. It is presented by the Greensboro Jaycees (details here). Happy Friday.

Fall Is Pumpkin Time

Pumpkin season is upon us. Youth groups will be selling them all over town. Remember when pumpkins for fall and Halloween were mostly orange? Well, for several years now, it has been almost as easy to find an ornamental pumpkin as it is the more traditional, orange one. The above assortment was for sale at Sprouts on Battleground Avenue. Not only the grocery stores but the farmers markets and local farms will be selling them. This will be a good weekend to get one while the selection is still good, and, if you don't cut it, it will last through the end of October and longer.

If you want to plan ahead and go out for pumpkins this weekend, here is a list of pumpkin patches by county in North Carolina. Fall is also a time for corn maizes and spooky woods. If you want a super fun event less than an hour south of Greensboro, consider attending "Boo at the Zoo". The first one will be October 16th from 9:00 am- 4:00 pm. See here for details. If you love fall and want to plan a trip to the mountains to see fall colors, here is a map. If you like pumpkin spice flavor.... well, let's just say your options are limitless. From Dairy Queen's  Pumpkin Pie Blizzard to all the the pumpkin spice possibliities at your local coffee shop, you will have no shortage of fall flavoring. We wonder just which companies use flavoring from Greensboro's very own Mother Murphy's. Happy Wednesday! Happy October! Happy Autumn!

Pumpkin Time

Pumpkin season is upon us. Youth groups will be selling them all over town. Remember when pumpkins for fall and Halloween were mostly orange? Well, for several years now, it has been almost as easy to find an ornamental pumpkin as it is the more traditional, orange one. The above assortment was for sale at Sprouts on Battleground Avenue. Not only the grocery stores but the farmers markets and local farms will be selling them. This will be a good weekend to get one while the selection is still good, and, if you don't cut it, it will last through the end of October and longer.

Fun Fourth 2021

The Third is the New Fourth in Greensboro. Today is the day that Fun Fourth will be celebrated downtown. It will be a little different without vendors; however, the community has made a real effort to provide a fun time for everyone. There will be a variety of events throughout the day with the actual Fun Fourth beginning at 4:00 p.m.

The above photo was taken from inside the fireworks tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot on North Battleground Avenue. People were buying personal fireworks, which are only legal in North Carolina for the Fourth of July. Just beyond the TNT fireworks tent the Jamaica Coast Catering had their Taste of the Tropics food truck set up and people were lined up to order their tasty food. This photo reminds us that holidays tend to be images upon images. You have one group doing one thing; another something else. As you plan all of your fun festivities for the weekend, please know that pets and farm animals are especially stressed when fireworks go off. Tracey McCain of WFMY News has compiled this list of fireworks in the Triad area. Perhaps you could consider attending one of those events in lieu of having a personal display. No matter how big or small your holiday is, just remember how much better it is than last year. Happy 3rd/Fourth!

Happy Juneteenth!

Happy Juneteenth!

We wanted to learn more about this now-federal holiday and its historical significance. What better way to learn than to speak to teachers! April Dunovant, on the left-  "Ms. D" as her students call her, teaches social studies at the Middle College at UNCG. She also served on the committee that wrote the African American history curriculum for Guilford County Schools (GCS). On the right is Ms. Andrea Green who teaches English, and is also at the Middle College at UNCG.  When asked what Juneteenth means to them and how we can all learn more about the holiday, Ms. D explained that Juneteenth is "a day to remember the struggles of our ancestors and their resilience and their ability to hope." Ms. Green encourages people to find credible and primary resources to learn about the holiday and what led to it, as opposed to just reading what gets posted on social media. She suggested visiting the website of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. She also suggested attending events like Day in the Park at 715 Summit Avenue from 4-7pm today and the open mic event with food trucks at LeBauer Park tonight from 5-8pm. 

Ms. D's grandmother was born on July 4, 1924, just 59 years after the end of the Civil War, and she always maintained that July 4th was not her Independence Day, because her ancestors were not free until June 19, 1865. She celebrated Juneteenth. Both teachers emphasize the complexity behind the Civil War, reminding us it was not as if President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation  in 1863 and everyone was free. Until 1865, the nation was still split into the Union and the Confederacy. Some slave owners in the Deep South, under the governance of the Confederacy, refused to comply. Ms. D and Ms. Green explained that even after the Civil War ended and the Confederacy fell, a whole new era of issues evolved, which is why some of the Juneteenth merchandise says "Free-ish since 1865."

Examples of these new issues include freed slaves needing housing, jobs, food, and money to be reunited with family members. Communities and towns had to be built with facilities and resources, accessible to African Americans. While African Americans were no longer slaves, they were still second class citizens, and separate was far from equal. There were many public places African Americans weren't allowed. It was at that time the historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were founded. As a local example, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University was founded in 1891 and was originally known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race. It was the first institution of higher education for people of color in the state of North Carolina. As another local example, the first African American students were not admitted to the University of North Carolina Greensboro until 1956, only sixty-five years ago. Young African American students are so eager to learn of a history that has not always been readily available to them. Ms. Green admits to not knowing about Juneteenth until a year ago and attributes the murder of George Floyd to igniting a nationwide interest in Juneteenth. People are diving deeper into a history that has not previously been taught.

We learned so much from Ms. D and Ms. Green and are so grateful to have friends with whom we can discuss complex issues. Through rich conversations and positive interaction so much can be learned. The students who have these two teachers are in good hands!  May everyone enjoy Juneteenth!

Memorial Day 2021 (Day After)

Happy Memorial Day 2021. Yesterday, we were on an urban walk downtown and so were these three young men. The guy in the middle is a recruiter originally from Detroit. When we saw them, they were in the 500 block of South Elm Street. We took this photo, and they asked if I would take a photo with their phone, so they could have a copy. They seemed to be enjoying their venture, which they actually said was a hike. It was so nice walking around town. Many stores were closed; however, ssome were open. After about noon, Elm Street started getting a little more traffic. It was so peaceful earlier in the day and nice to see how clean the streets were.

So many people from Greensboro either head to the mountains or the beach for holidays. With Greensboro being in the middle of the state, we are about equal distance from the mountains and sea. However, just like the guys in the photo, we opted for spending the day pounding the pavement. How did you spend Memorial Day? Happy Tuesday, happy June!

 

Guilford County Veterans' Memorial

Guilford County Veterans Memorial is located in Country Park. The privately funded memorial was dedicated in 2002. Over 400 personalized paver bricks helped fund the memorial for veterans of all of the U.S. branches of the military. The one acre memorial within the park is a quiet place where one can go to reflect. Even though this park is for all veterans and Memorial Day is meant to honor those who died while serving, truly the memorial is a place where one can pay respect to those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In thinking about Memorial Day, some people have mentioned the Buddy Poppy program (read more HERE). Do you remember purchasing a poppy to help veterans? Before Memorial Day 1922 was the first poppy distribution. They are made by disabled veterans and veterans in VA hospitals, and sold as a fundraiser through the V.F.W. Do you know if poppies are still sold in Greensboro? In checking online, the last reference we saw was from a 1990 article in the Greensboro News and Record, right before Memorial Day (see HERE). We hope you do something today to honor Veterans. 

See here to learn more about the memorial that is between Country Park and Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The memorial is open until 8:00 pm today, if you are interested in visiting. Hope to see you there!

Happy Mother's Day

Greensboro is such a great place to live. The weather and landscape help, but what makes Greensboro fantastic is the people. Yesterday, at a yard sale on Greenwood Drive, the homeowner and host of the sale gave a piece of new jewelry to all the mothers who stopped by. There were no gimmicks and no purchase was necessary. She said she wanted everyone to be able to say they received at least one Mother's Day gift. What a nice, heartfelt gesture and the moms were appreciative and joyfully selected a piece of jewelry. 

To all the mothers out there, in Greensboro and beyond, we hope you have a fabulous Mother's Day today. And, if you happen to know the woman who lives in the above house on Greenwood, thank her for her generosity and kindness. We bet she is that nice every day.

May we all give and receive random acts of kindness.  Happy Sunday!

 

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today is a day many Mexican Americans celebrate their Mexican heritage in the United States. It is not Mexican Independence Day, nor is is really celebrated outside of Puebla, Mexico, where the Mexican army won a battle over the French.

The above photo is a display of Mexican popsicles, known as paletas. These aren't your ordinary commercial popsicles. They are handmade, frozen treats with just about any flavor- especially fruit- imaginable. Chile mango, lime, and cherries and cream are a few examples. If you haven't yet, you owe it to yourself to try an authentic, Mexican paleta. Cinco de Mayo is the perfect day to do so.

One place in Greensboro to purchase paletas is at La Super Michoacana at 3821 West Gate City Boulevard (where this photo was taken). We don't know if Lucha Libre Ice Cream and Churros at 4925 West Market Street sells paletas, but they do sell Mexican ice cream desserts that are out of this world. Whatever you try, be adventurous. Mango Chile is just the right blend of tart, spicy, and sweet. So let Cinco de Mayo be a day you expand your flavor palate. Almost 8% of Greensboro's population is of Hispanic origin. While that encompass many different ethnicities, not just those found in Mexico, the Hispanic demographic accounts for almost 25% of Greensboro's population growth over the last decade.*  Take today to celebrate the many good things Mexicans and other Hispanics have brought to Greensboro - paletas being just one small example.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

* reference HERE.

 

Happy Easter 2021!

This hyacinth volunteers in a scruffy, unkempt flowerbed, coming back every year near Easter- a tangible reminder of the story of rebirth. The bulbs tolerate the Greensboro winters just fine, without any special attention. Nature just drops down a few leaves from nearby deciduous trees and, every spring, the bulbous fragrant plant pushes away the natural mulch and again shares its natural beauty. 

Today is the second Easter where Covid is affecting services. Some churches are open with social distancing measures in place. Others are still meeting online. Have you ever wondered how many churches there are in Greensboro? We have! The closest we can get to finding out is on Churchfinder.com (see HERE for Greensboro), where 300 churches are listed. So, that is a good place to start. We like to post something spiritual, reflective, or inspired by nature, every Sunday. We're going to review this list and try to find churches we've never featured over the last 13 years. Stay tuned...

... in the meantime: If you know of someone who is housebound for any reason, consider taking them a hyacinth today- little bit of spring. The scent of hyacinth is heavenly. If you receive one and are not in a position to replant it, find a friend with a yard to to plant it for you, and anticipate seeing it again next year! Let's fill our Greensboro yards with the bulbs!

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year began this past Friday, February 12th and will last up to sixteen days. We rang in the holiday by purchasing Chinese food from Bamboo House on Fleming Road. They were extremely busy with many large orders on Friday. Bamboo House is offering take out and delivery during the pandemic and the owners are taking every precaution in dealing with the public. We were struck by the fact that their pink Christmas cactus is in full bloom. We should have asked them if they have some special secret to plan its blooming to coincide with New Year.

This year is the year of the ox. Chinese New Year festivities will culminate with the Lantern Festival. The closest lantern festival to Greensboro is the one in Reidsville at Lake Reidsville Park (630 Water Words Road). Thousands of lanterns will be set afloat and reflecting on the water. Gates open at 4:00 pm, and, if you buy tickets by today, the early bird price is 25.99 (more details here). If you are looking for a fun outdoor event with plenty of opportunities to take photos, this will be the perfect event. We don't want to celebrate our ethnic communities only on special holidays; however, holidays are the most salient, observable aspects of a culture, and a good starting point to begin to learn. Greensboro has almost 300,000 Chinese residents and the local population includes Chinese-Americans and people from mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Mandarin Chinese is taught at Northwest High School, Page High School, High Point Central, Ferndale Middle School, and Northwood Elementary School. (Learn more about the programs here). 

Happy Monday and Happy New Year!

Honoring and Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Always observed the third Monday in January, MLK Day is a federal holiday. Government offices are closed, as are public schools. The above photo features the bust originally cast by Wilber Lee Mapp in 1994 and originally installed at the corner of MLK Drive and South Elm Street (see it here). This iteration of the bust is installed in Ole Asheboro at the corner of Bragg Street and Martin Luther King Drive. Mr. Mapp's sculpture was recast in bronze and installed here in 2019. The ribbon cutting ceremony was on January 21st. Here is the link from when we attended the ceremony two years ago. During yesterday's visit, we noticed that the greenway is now completed just to the right of this monument. There are two other pieces of artwork at this greenway juncture and the view is really pretty. We'll feature more from this area soon. 

Usually, Ole Asheboro and Southside would be teeming with people today with a parade and other celebrations. Today it will be COVID quiet. Perhaps people will walk or bike by and take time to reflect on the the teachings of Dr. King. As stated on the plaque in front of the bust, "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., planned to speak at Trinity AME Zion Church in Greensboro (a few blocks from here) on April 4, 1968. He canceled his visit to Greensboro to remain in Memphis where he was assassinated on that day." If you are here in east Greensboro, just over the hill, you will find Bennett College, where Dr. King spoke at Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel on February 11, 1958. Dr. King also stayed at the Broad Street home of civil rights attorney, Kenneth Lee.* 

*reference and more information. 

Happy New Year 2021: Reflecting On 2020!

 

Happy New Year!

On Greensboro Daily Photo, and throughout the entire City Daily Photo community, New Year's Day is when we share the most memorable photo of the previous year. We also like to feature one photo from each month. January 1st is always our favorite post to prepare because it gives us time to reflect on the great people, places, and events of the past year. The above photo of the year for 2020 is of Dr. Doris Henderson, who was originally featured, HERE, July 15, 2020. Dr. Henderson was an easy pick for the best post of 2020 because she is such an inspiring person, and in her 90+ years of living and working in Greensboro, she has touched many lives. Her photo was the most viewed in our 12 year history of GDP and it received the most comments in 2020. We are so grateful for all of the work Dr. Henderson still does for the community. She is a role model to many- including us!

For each month, we have selected a photo, putting together a diverse lot, to provide a good overview of life in and around Greensboro.

 

January: The Piedmont Old Time Society's Open Jam at Horigan's House of Taps. Hopefully music events can start up again in 2021

February: Common Grounds Coffee Shop. A Lindley Park neighborhood favorite!

March: Horse Farm on Pleasant Ridge. Of the 100 counties in NC, Guilford is one of the top equestrian locations. We have lots of horses!

April: Bees Swarming in Greensboro. Quite a backyard adventure!

May: Proximity United Methodist Church. So much history here. We try to pose something spiritual every Sunday. 12 yrs of Sundays = 624!

June: Bungalow on Percy Street. Greensboro has some really beautiful houses. This one is in the Dunleath (formerly, Aycock) neighborhood.

July: Kirkwood on the Fourth of July. After all, it is the people and sense of community & neighborhoods that makes Greensboro special.

August: Rotary Club Carousel. The carousel at the Greensboro Science Center is a tremendous community resource; so many made it possible.

September: Trains in the Gate City. At one time, trains were a main way to transport people and goods and Greensboro was the main crossroad.

October: Fall Fun at Lake Brandt. 2020 was a great year to rediscover Greensboro natural resources!

November: Peace- A Quaker Core Value. We featured Guilford College three times in November. We have got to find a way to sustain this college!

December: Sunny Winter Days. A landscape photo showcasing the natural beauty of Greensboro.

 

If you are interested in scrolling through the year, and pick favorites for yourself, this link should get you started.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Today's photo was taken at the iconic Santa in front of Friendly Center. We stopped to get a feature for GDP when the above couple, Lorrie and John, her husband of 30 years, were approaching the Santa. As it turns out, Lorrie and her three brothers grew up on Onslow Avenue, just a few blocks from Friendly Center. Seeing the larger-than-life, fiberglass Santa was one of their annual Christmas rituals. One year, when Lorrie came home for winter break during college, Santa was not on display. He was out out for repairs. Lorrie wrote a letter to the newspaper expressing her disappointment. Lorrie's 3rd brother died last December and her parents are also deceased; so now that it is just Lorrie and John, visiting Santa together as part of their holiday tradition.  

We took a photo of the happy couple so that they could have it as a 2020 memory. We got permission to use their photo to feature today. Through GDP, we meet so many wonderful people like Lorrie and John. The serendipity of the chance encounter with other people who love the city as much as we do is heartwarming.

Lorrie pointed out that Santa got a maintenance overhaul this year. We have local sculptor, Jim Gallucci to thank for sprucing up Santa and replacing the box that makes it possible for Santa to wave.* Here is a photo from 2018. See if you notice any differences. Lorrie noticed them right away. May she and John have many years of continued visits, and may we all find simple traditions that fill us with love for each other and with our great city.

* read about the repairs in the News & Record, here.

Christmas in Sunset Hills

Photographing the light-ball decorations in Sunset Hills is very hard to do. The above photo doesn't begin to capture the magic. However, it does provide a little of the feeling of the neighborhood. The tradition of hurling the lighted balls as high as possible into the mature trees began in 1996, outside the house of Jonathan and Annie Smith on Madison Avenue. What started as a few decorations in one yard grew to over 10,000 decorations, strewn throughout the whole neighborhood. As a matter of fact, the tradition is so important, if someone can't get their decorations in place, neighbors will come to the rescue and help.

As the tradition took hold, one neighbor suggested collecting food for a local food bank; another neighbor suggested a race to benefit the food bank. While the race is off this year, due to COVID, residents of Sunset Hills have continued to decorate because people can experience the joy of the lights without having to get out of their vehicles. Here is a News & Record article from a few years ago. One one of the longest nights of the year, tonight would be a perfect time to drive along Ridgeway Drive, Madison Avenue, Greenway, and the other streets of Sunset Hills. You will not be disappointed. They make Greensboro proud!

The Tiny Greenhouse

The Tiny Greenhouse, located at 1331 Beaman Place, is the perfect place to shop any time of the year, but in December, it is absolutely beautiful. The above photo features an especially festive corner of the shop. Anjelica, who has been working there for about a month, is featured in the photo.  Anjelica is an affable person, perfect for helping you find just the right item- whether it is a gift or something nice for yourself. 

Today's photo doesn't do justice to the Tiny Greenhouse. This Christmas corner is so festive, we snapped a photo there, but you can't see the abundant selection of plants, the many books for children and lovers of art, the beautiful puzzles, and other items that add a color and comfort to our homes. The cards in the foreground were designed by owners Suzanne and Edgar Cabrera. If you haven't been to the store in the past month, you need to go to see how they've  rearranged it. The checkout counter is to the left of the entrance now. Somehow, the change adds so much space for plants and merchandise. Also, you need to meet Anjelica. When not working,  she loves working on her own art projects and reading- especially the magic realism genre. 

Follow The Tiny Greenhouse on Instagram @thetinygreenhouse if you want to see even more of this fabulous local shop. January 1st will be their fourth birthday. What did Greensboro ever do without them?

Nativity on Chapman Street

Today's photo is of the nativity, the manger scene at the house of Santa of Chapman Street. While he left us in 2003, his little house, near the corner of Walker Avenue shines gloriously with both the religious and secular symbols of Christmas. The center of the photo is actually a scene, just to the left of the house. On the right, you see Frosty the Snowman peeking out on the edge of the porch. Jack True Sr., was a man of modest means, but he lived for bringing joy to others during the holiday season. For thirty years, he served as Santa on Chapma. He can rest assured that his family has continued the tradition.

As you drive through Sunset Hills and see all of the trees filled with the glorious chickenwire balls wrapped with strings of lights, consider heading over to the part of Chapman Street just off Spring Garden Street and pay homage to the man who really brought Christmas to life for so many families of Greensboro. Here is a detailed article from the News and Record, back in 2003, the year Mr. True died.

Merry Glenwood Christmas

This house, located on the East End of the Glenwood neighborhood at 828 Silver Avenue, is a fine example of the character of the homes in  Glenwood. With 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, this house (built in 1908) is larger than many of the homes. Look at that beautiful green and the white picket fence. The Christmas decorations are like pretty ribbon and a bow on a package.

The large front porch on this house evokes those days of yesteryear, when we had more time for sitting and talking to friends and families. In the pre-air conditioning days, sitting on the front porch was the perfect way to catch a breeze. If you look closely, you can see the Moravian star on this porch. At night, the lighting illuminates the property beautifully. Obviously, it is a house well loved

Happy Friday! Enjoy everything about this day.

Happy Thanksgiving 2020

Happy Thanksgiving 2020!

In today's photo is a real, taxidermal turkey that was caught in Randolph County. It is set up for display at the Antique Market Place at 6428 Burnt Poplar Road in northwest Greensboro. Also in the photo is Julie Mason, the owner of this giant antique mall and, the owner of the turkey. Julie has owned since  the Antique Market Place since it was located downtown in the 1990s. Her store has been in the current location since the year 2000. 

If you want to get in the holiday spirit, or just be in the presence of genuinely nice people who own their own local business, Antique Marketplace is precisely that kind of place. While Julie owns the business, individual vendors have booths and so it is a way for many people to own their own business. Fortunately, Antique Market Place is closed today so that employees can enjoy Thanksgiving with their families; however, they will back on their regular schedule on Friday (10am-6pm). In case you are wondering, lots of people have expressed an interest in purchasing the turkey, but is is part of Julie's private collection.

Again, Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for family, friends, Julie, her employees and vendors, and Greensboro Daily Photo readers-- you!

Christmas Tree Lots Beginning To Fill!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at this Christmas tree lot, located in the Harris Teeter plaza at the corner of New Garden Road at Bryan Boulevard. This Christmas tree lot is starting to get its shipments of Frazier firs. Bryan Wagoner's sells at this lot. His family, the Wagoner family, has been associated with selling Christmas trees since the 1940s, when the first lot was established as part of 4-H project. Today, some of the lots are owned by Bruce and Bryan Wagoner. The above lot is Bryan's. When Fred and Dot retired, they sold their business to Bradley Lowe who grew up working for them. He purchased the right to continue to use the Wagoner name.   Here is an interesting article about the Wagoner family and their Christmas tree businesses in Greensboro.

So many people are decorating for Christmas early this year; partly because they are spending more time at home and partly because 2020 has been so difficult, and they are ready for the joy that holiday decorating brings. While most lots are open from 9am to 9pm, something about getting the tree at night and celebrating with a cup of hot chocolate is a bit magical. Soon, the above lot will be full and, then, when you blink, it will be empty again. If you like a live tree, 2020 is the year to shop early. It might be something fun to do on Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving Day Eve whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere!

Happy Almost Thanksgiving

Happy, almost Thanksgiving. There are two days of school this week for public school students who are learning in person or remotely. The colleges and universities are wrapping up their semester. It is a year to stick a little closer to home. If we pause and take time to appreciate the beauty all around us, we just may find deeper meaning in our upcoming holidays.

The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro, at the end of a very long residential driveway in an area where there are a lot of trees. And, where there are trees, there will be leaves. The ground is full of them right now. The first round of leaf collection by the city began November 9th, with leaves to be picked up by December 23rd. If you missed having your leaves ready by November 9th, the second round runs from December 29th to January 29. However, best of all, you can mulch or compost your own leaves and find a way to leave them right where they are- even if you blow them into the beds around your house. Happy Monday. We hope you enjoy this view from the ground!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 2020

Golden Antiques and Treasures held their Mistletoe Market this past weekend. They had an outdoor market, food trucks, and all of the indoor booths were in tip top shape; festively decorated for the holidays. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the arrival of Santa. The unidentified girls in the above photo asked Santa if he was real. He verified that his hair and beard were real. The little ones were mesmerized. With the above Santa's positive image and real facial hair, he sounds like a candidate for the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas (FORBS). 

Santa is a retired civil-servant from Virginia who relocated to the area a few years ago. He stays busy with his calendar full of commitments to make appearances all over Greensboro (and Summerfield). Santa doesn't take money for his services. Instead, every year, he generously identifies a charity and has the companies and organizations he attends make donations. This year, Santa has chosen The STAR: Supported Therapies and Recreation. This is a community resource that provides free therapies, tutoring, and other services for individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities in the greater Greensboro area. Find them on Facebook. Be on the look out for Santa. He will be making appearances all throughout the Triad between now and December 25th.

 

Happy Veterans Day 2020

Happy Veterans Day! Eleven eleven is the day we remember those who have served in the military on behalf of the United States. The above photo is the flag flying over Independence Drive in Kirkwood.  This photo is dedicated to all of the people of Greensboro (and beyond) who are veterans. If there are veterans in your life, please be sure to thank to them. Happy Wednesday. COVID is really impacting in-person events this year, including those that celebrate our veterans.A lone flag with no people present is pretty representative of how we are celebrating this year. Hopefully, there are other ways we can let them know they are appreciated. 

 

Halloween 2020... Year 33 on Deep Green

Paul Stutts of 3415 Deep Green Drive, off of Westridge, has been decorating for Halloween for 33 years now. This past Saturday was no different. Yet again, he filled his yard with lights, inflatables, statues, and more. Superheroes were featured prominently, as was Dracula and the Headless Horseman. The driveway, however, was the main attraction for the young ones as that is where his young adult daughter sat, masked to be COVID safe, waiting for the little ones to walk up for candy.  Here is an article from 2014 where people sent photos of their spooky Halloween decor to the News & Record newspaper. Of course Paul sent in a photo of his home (see the article, here). It is so nice to see people put forth so much effort to bring joy to others and thirty-three years is quite a streak. When asked where he stores the Halloween decor during the off season, his response was, "Everywhere."

Most people reported participation being down this year with very few children going out to trick-or-treat. However, the spirit remains alive and well on Deep Green in Greensboro. Happy Monday and, for those who celebrate, it is the last day of Day of the Dead. Tomorrow, we will feature the altars assembled and on display thanks to Casa Azul.

Trunk or Treat 2020 at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church

For the last three years, the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, at the corner of  West Friendly Avenue and Westridge, has been holding Trunk or Treat,  where children of all walks of life are invited to celebrate Halloween. From 4-6pm yesterday, candy was distributed- with visitors and church members alike making every effort to social distance. Father Presbyter Loulakis was on site overseeing the event. If you look closely, he is the person in the long black vestment between the red and black SUVs.

This view from the Westridge side of the building showcases the simple, yet impressive, architecture of the building. Walter Blue was the architect. The building was completed in 1975. Geometric shapes, especially the square and the half-circle, are evident inside as well as outside the church. It is nice to see people outside on a sunny day and to hear the joyful voices of children making memories with their families.The Trunk-or-Treat memories felt more community oriented, than commercial.

Happy Sunday, and, if you are a member of Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, enjoy Divine Liturgy this morning.

 

It's Pumpkin Patch Time at Guilford College UMC

Yesterday, the Pumpkin Patch at the Guilford College United Methodist Church attracted people all day long. The weather was lovely and the selection was plentiful. The Pumpkin Patch is a fundraiser for the youth groups at the church. It was nice to see teens helping at the event and gaining an appreciation for how much work goes into raising money for their group. 

At the Guilford College UMC, the selection is plentiful. The tiny white pumpkins were running out as we were there yesterday, as were the ones with "character"' in other words, the non-traditional pumpkins. However, the traditional orange variety were plentiful- in all sizes. Almost every family with small children took lots of photos. Some families even dressed up so that baby's first, fall pumpkin patch photos would be just perfect.  To be sure, many memories are being made in this pumpkin patch and the youth group is making money. The church is located at the corner of Fleming and Guilford College Road. They are open Monday - Saturday from 10am-7pm and on Sundays from 1-7pm. Stop by if you want to get in the spirit of  the season. Happy Sunday!

Got, Skeletons?

Most neighborhoods have a household that is passionate about holidays. Often, that household has a personal favorite: the Christmas inflatable yard, the Easter yard, even the Fourth of July neighborhood. The above household at 10 Snowgoose Cove at Lake Jeanette is one such house. They are driveway to rooftop crazy about Halloween, with quite a skeleton theme. This mid-1990's home inTurnstone Village, Lake Jeannette's first neighborhood, always goes all out for Halloween. The yard looks amazing by day. We're betting it is awesome by night. We're also betting they will give away good candy for trick-or-treaters. 

Also, notice those beautiful pumpkins and mums, they are selling out quickly. Procrastinate no longer! Last we checked, Fresh Market still had pumpkins, but Mt. Pisgah UMC on Pisgah Church Road had already sold out for the season. As for 10 Snowgoose, they didn't procrastinate!