Greensboro Daily Photo

Original Methodist Church

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

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

Happy Sunday!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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

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

Happy Monday! How will you be spending the day?

Let's Close Out the Year by Donating Food.

As we close out 2022, we leave you at one of the carts for donating food for NC food banks. This one is located at the corner of Ridgeway and Madison Avenues, Ground 0 for the light ball display in Sunset Hills. There is still time to enjoy the light display in the neighborhood. And, when these specific donation locations are gone, there are still plenty of locations to donate food around Greensboro. 

The Running of the Balls 5K for 2021 yielded $74,000, 19,000 pounds of food were donated, and 4 million meals were provided to food banks as a result of the Sunset Hills food drive. We don't know if the numbers are in for this year, but this may have been the largest crowd yet at the 5K event. Hopefully, it will be the best year ever for raising money and collecting non-perishable foods for local food banks. If you want to be part of this event in 2023, the date is already set, for 12/16/23. You can get more information about the race HERE. In the meantime, let's all go to a local farmers market today to help our vendors and close out the year by doing something to help the food insecure.

We hope you've had a great 2022 and that we have held your interest on Greensboro Daily Photo. Stop back tomorrow, January 1st 2023, when we will bring you a retrospective of this past year. On January 2nd, we will bring you our anniversary edition as we head into Year 15 of this project. 

Be safe and responsible tonight. See you in 2023!

Downtown at Holliday Circle

This Friday is  First Friday and the Festival of Lights. Are you ready? Downtown is ready for us. The above photo is the General Nathanael Greene Statue at Holliday Circle- 405 South Greene Street. General Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and the person for whom Greensboro is named. The 22' tall bronze statue is on an 10' granite base.  Greensboro artist James Barnhill is the sculptor. It was dedicated on March 28, 2008. It was placed there as part of the Greensboro Bicentennial in that same year. *  Sculptor James Barnhill's work is featured prominently throughout Greensboro. He is a retired faculty member at NCA&T State University.  The round-about, Holliday Circle, is named for Keith A. Holliday who served our mayor from 1999 to 2007. So, this circle holds so much history for our city.

The photo was taken from the west, looking east, towards Hamburger Square. This historic area will be busy this Friday. Here is a list of holiday happenings in Downtown Greensboro. You won't want to miss these events. During COVID,  Downtown Greensboro (#DGSO) a local non-profit did a fabulous job of finding things to engage the community. Some of these events- like Tinsel Town- remain. Friday is on target to be beautiful weather. It is only Tuesday and we can hardly wait!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Elon University School of Law

(Sorry for the delay in this post and for the initial publication without text. It was totally the fault of Ms. GDP, not technology).  The above photo features the lobby of the Elon University School of Law, right downtown at 201 North Greene Street. It was founded in 2006 and, in 2011, it earned full accreditation by the American Bar Association. One of their signature experiences is a Residency-in-Practice Program. From the beginning of law school, Elon law students gain hands-on experience. They work to fill community needs like elder law. The school has a 10:1 student faculty ratio. While Elon University is located in Alamance County, Guilford County and Greensboro also gets to reap the benefit of this nationally recognized law school and their community-based initiatives.

If you are a person who frequents the libraries of Greensboro, you may remember this entrance hallway as the former Central Public Library*. The building was completed in 1960 and is an Edward Lowenstein/Gregory Ivy building. We hope to get inside to showcase more of the architecture, and will definitely return to photograph the exterior of the building. In preparing this post, we were reminded of the zero-lot-line placement of the building (extending right up to the sidewalk) and the corner orientation that is fairly symmetrical on the Friendly Avenue and Greene Street sides. For now, we're admiring the peaceful entranceway with the small rotunda ceiling. On the night we took this photo,  all was calm on the inside as people were reveling on the streets outside during the North Carolina Folk Festival. Communities can look very different at night and we notice things that might not get noticed by day.

Happy Friday!

*Please read this very informative page about this  library-now-law-school building.

Penguin Exhibit at the Greensboro Science Center

Those penguins at the Greensboro Science Center are so absolutely adorable and they capture the hearts of all who see them. The penguins at the science center are about 2 feet tall. They are African penguins, native to the beaches of southwestern Africa. Their favorite food is herring, and they love playing with cat toys. As you can see from the above photo, they are also very adept at entertaining themselves. According to the website of the Greensboro Science Center, the penguins are crate trained, trained to come up for food, get on the scales for their monthly weigh ins, and some of them are trained to stand for photos. A baby chick was born in January of this year. It's name is Niffler from the Harry Potter series.

Seeing the penguins is included in the price of a general admission. For an additional fee, there is an opportunity to have an encounter with a penguin. If you haven't been yet, try to fit a trip to 4301 Lawndale Drive and spend time viewing penguins. They really are quite entertaining.

304 North Greene Street on a Chiaroscuro Sort of Day

Today's photo features the alley between the downtown Marriott Hotel at 304 North Greene Street and the parking lot beside it. Straight ahead in the photo is a view of 348 North Elm Street, a single-story, flat-roofed building near Tanger Center. We don't tend to think of Greensboro as an angular city full of bold, geometric shapes. However, this photo, in black and white, really emphasizes the angles in the scene. The stripes on the pavement, the squares near the top of the N. Elm Street building, and the sunny/shaded (chiaroscuro) section on the pavement all come together to add drama to the view. Sometimes the negative space, between buildings, can be as interesting as the buildings themselves.

We want to get back downtown and photograph the inside of the Marriott. It was built in 1985, underwent a big renovation in 2008, and then, a multi-million dollar renovation in 2020. We haven't stayed there since the 2020 renovation and, given that it was happening during COVID times, we're not even sure that it is completely finished. With the Tanger Center and all of the new construction in the north end of town, the Marriott is certainly in a prime location. The last time we ate breakfast at the Sage Mule, on Battleground Avenue, we sat next to a woman who had walked from the Marriott.

The sun can be so harsh when taking photos; however, it you don't fight it, but play around with the lighting, the results can be interesting. Consider heading downtown and getting a few photos yourself- in black and white, or color! Happy Monday! 

Guilford College In Summer: Brimming with Music!

Guilford College was founded in 1837 by the Quakers. Guilford College is a four-year, co-educational liberal arts college, and we are very lucky to have in Greensboro. Summers, the campus looks very different from the academic year. If there would be one word to define summers on campus, it would be music. Especially in July, Guilford College is brimming with music. Last night, another fabulous Eastern Music Festival (EMF) concert was performed in Dana Auditorium. Before the concert, Maestro Peter Perret provided insights into what to look for and anticipate during the evening concert featuring five student-conductors in training. The concert had nice attendance and the audience and student-performers alike seemed pleased with the concert. We sure enjoyed it! The above photo features musicians heading back to their dorms after performing; they were walking and enjoying each others' company. Circling them was a young doe who perhaps was startled as the performers walked through the courtyard.

Sunday, Guilford College will host Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP). And, about where you see students walking, from 6:00 pm- 7:30pm, the MUSEP concert will take place. However, if you come early, you can enjoy a picnic on the lawn with friends or new friends that are easily made at a MUSEP concert. There will be a couple of food trucks, if you don't have a chance to pack something. The band will be "The Beauty Operators." The concert is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Here is the line up for the rest of the MUSEP summer in case you haven't seen it yet. As for EMF, here is their schedule. Thank you Guilford College for inviting the community in for all of these music events, and, thank you for hosting them. Being known for great music events is a good thing! Hopefully, the EMF students will be able to enjoy the MUSEP concert.

Happy Saturday!

Sunset Hills Is Still Aglow

Today, we return to Sunset Hills to feature the lighted balls of Sunset Hills. The above photo was taken on Ridgeway Avenue where it gets busy with carloads of people viewing the beautifully decorations. Sometimes, it can be hard to cross the street. From November to January, the neighborhood is a winter wonderland with this all-volunteer, free show of lights. While, in person, the lights are a picture perfect display of color, the monochromatic, black-and-white version emphasizes the light as it contrasts with the darkness.

Did you ever participate in one of those "how many jellybeans in the jar" contests? We think Sunset Hills should have contest to see who has the closest estimate of how many balls are in the trees. This would have to be within a well-defined perimeter, of course, as other neighborhoods and streets that extend beyond Sunset Hills have the lighted balls. We also wonder which street has the most; our guess would be Greenway with the park. If you haven't been yet, it isn't too late, but come January, neighbors will be helping neighbors pull down the displays only to be stored safely until next November.

Golfing As Self-care

What do you do for self care? Golfing is a great way to get outside without having to leave town. The above photo is of the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club at Carlson Farms. It is such a lovely course, and it is so easy to photograph as it is visible from the surrounding roads, Francisco Drive, Tory Hill, Hedrick Drive, Carlson Dairy, Jessup Grove, and, Horse Pen Creek. This course, built in 1963, provides members with an opportunity to play gold, year-round. This course gets a five-out-of-five for being in excellent condition. Indeed, it is a pretty course that stretches over 7300 yards through the community, which is over 400 yards a hole.

Even if you don't have a membership to this specific course, there are plenty of options in Greensboro. Consider playing golf at Bur-Mil Park, just down the road from here. If you don't play golf, consider walking or biking along the greenway and trails. It should be sunny all day today, with temperatures ranging from 28º- getting up to 52º at 2:00 pm. It will be a lovely day to do something out of doors! See you on the trail, or somewhere along the way. Self-care matters!

Happy Saturday!

Life Community Church

Today, we're on location at Life Community Church, at 4900West Wendover Avenue, on the north side of Wendover between Jamestown and Greensboro. Life Community is a Baptist religious center and their mission is: "Together in Christ, sent to everyone." This mega-church is actually a large compound with two large buildings, lots of parking, and a fabulous playground. Life Community Church is the new home for Hunter Hills Baptist Church which used to be on Merritt Drive in Greensboro. Pertor Emeritus, Jake Thornhill is the one who oversaw the move so that the church could continue to grow.While the lead pastor is Chad Grayson, They actually have five full-time pastors.

Hunter Hills Baptist purchased the 28-acre tract of land in 2014. The church loves this location because it is accessible and visible.Perviously, the land was zoned agricultural, but now, it is institutional and it still has room to grow, if need be. If you are looking for a Baptist Church to join and  you like the idea of a  mega-congregation, this could be the church for you. Have a great Sunday, no matter how you spend it!

Dr Shine

Do you know anyone whose name matches their profession? We once knew a man who worked in a greenhouse and his name was Mr. Plant. The above person, who shines shoes professionally, is Dr. Shine. We don't know if that is his birth name or if it is a nickname, but shine he does. His Facebook page informs us that he comes from a long line of shiners. Shoes sparkle when he is finished with them. His personality shines if you talk to him while he is shining your shoes. Mr. Shine's business is called "First and Ten" and is located at 104 N. Westgate Drive in Greensboro. However, the above photo was taken at the 600 block of South Elm Street on First Friday. He came downtown to be part of the festivities and to help gain visibility for his business.If you want a shine, the store is open on Saturdays from 10-1pm. It is closed on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday through Friday, the store is open from 9:30- 5:30. It is so nice when careers from previous centuries are still around.

Between the equipment Mr. Shine uses and the monochromatic photo, this seen looks like it could date from a century ago. Hats off to Mr. Shine for being so positive and for taking so much pride in his work. If you need a shoeshine, head over and see Mr. Shine, and be sure to get there early.  One o'clock is quitting time!  Happy Saturday.

Downtown Fun Along Barnhardt Street

Today's photo leads us downtown, along the railroad tracks on South Elm Street at Barnhardt Street. The three people in the above photo were en route for a photo shoot back in the parking lot between Barnhardt and Lewis Street. Downtown Greensboro is a great place for photo shoots, whether one is shooting in color or black and white. Monochromatic photos like this one put more emphasis on lines and shapes. The triangular shape formed by the railroad tracks leads the eye to the horizon line, near the destination of the walkers.

To the right is the Jamison Building (which was recently for sale). This one-story, concrete-building was built in 1947 and it is the third on the site. The two previous buildings burned.* It will be interesting to see what kind of businesses open here. To be sure, it is a prime location, highly visible. So much has changed in this back area, just west of Elm Street and perhaps, the best is yet to come. Let's stay tuned!

 

*Reference.

Reflecting on Infrastructure and Sustainability

Infrastructure and sustainability are much in the news these days. President Biden spoke about infrastructure just yesterday. Infrastructure and sustainability are also the focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (see #9 here). Did you know Greensboro has a Community Sustainability Council? Their next meeting, a work session, will be April 12th. UNCG defines sustainability as "the enduring interconnectedness of social equity, the environment, economy, and aesthetics" (reference) and they even have a sustainability office. NC A&T is also playing a leadership role in sustainability research and efforts. Infrastructure system and sustainable practices are key concerns of The Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA). As of January 2020, GTA has modernizied its bus fleet with  battery-electric rechargeable busses.

The above bus stop is located at the corner of Spring Garden Street and South Holden Road. We don't know how many times a day it is served by one of the battery powered busses, but we did notice that it has a solar panel. Likely the energy generated by the panel lights the shelter by night. Perhaps there are solar charging stations at the bus stops.

Today's high school and college students are the ones who will be finding creative ideas to enhance Greensboro's sustainable practices and infrastructure system.  The possibilities are so exciting. 

The Rotary Club of Greensboro Carousel

The Rotary Club of Greensboro Carousel is a beautiful landmark between Country Park and The Greensboro Science Center. Whether you are walking the loop around the park, or visiting the Science Center, the Carousel is the beacon of joy on the hill.  The ride is open year-round and mostly open on the weekend from 10am-5pm. There are discounts for Greensboro Science Center members and a combo ticket option. It has only been open since August 26th, not even a year, but in many ways, it seems as if it has been open for a very long time. 

That beautiful carousel has 56 hand-carved, hand-painted figures. Some people have their favorite figure to ride; others are taking the challenge of riding every single one. The carousel is such a work of art, it is easy to make it a regular destination, especially if you have little ones in your life. This photo reminds us of the Wizard of Oz. Everything is gray-scale until you see the actual structure and then the colors will come alive!

Happy Wednesday!

Gateway Plaza

Gateway Plaza is a high rise apartment complex at 200 Spring Garden Street at West McGee Street. This housing option must be popular as, according to online sources, no apartments are currently available. You can't beat the address with respect to location, a block away from Hamburger Square! Today's photo is of the park-like seating area nicely hidden outside. It looks so cozy and conducive to having a nice conversation, even a physically-distanced conversation. Just beyond this area is an outdoor pool. 

The 221-unit high rise was built in 1975. The architecture of the building reflects the square, no-frills look of the 1970s. But, the location, the outdoor area, and the reasonable rents make it a very appealing place to live! Regardless of where you live, we hope you have a comfortable place to sit outside!

Downtown Greensboro, Skyline!

Tis August! Let's start the month with a photo of the skyline downtown Greensboro with the Lincoln Financial Group's building as the great anchor at city center. The time and temperature blinking on top serves as the prominent beacon reminding us the that the Lincoln Financial building remains the tallest in Greensboro. This photo, taken on North Battleground near Mill Street, shows the city at a distance; with so many downtown experiences being distance memories.

The typical markers of summer passing have not happened this year. No large festivals like the Fourth of July or Greensboro Bound, no MUSEP concerts on Sunday afternoons in parks throughout the city. No summer camps are being offered downtown, no yoga in the park. Regardless, we must remain optimistic and know that, in the end, social distancing will pay off and eventually, we will begin filling our social calendars. Here's to a great August, finding ways to have fun and remain safe. We are Greensboro strong!

 

The State of Things

Frank Stasio hosts his National Public Radio show, "The State of Things" for WUNC once a month from Greensboro. The live show is on air on Tuesdays, broadcasted from the 3rd floor space at Triad Stage. Attendance is free, as long as you send in your ticket request and space permitting. The venue is intimate and the cafe seating adds to the charm.

One of the topics addressed on yesterday's show was housing insecurity in Greensboro. In the above photo, Stasio (left) is photographed with Richard Barron, a city reporter for the Greensboro newspaper, The News and Record. They discussed the situation that over 26 thousand people in Greensboro pay more than 30% of their income on rent. When this much of the household income goes to rent, tenants are considered to be rent burdened. Also, there are over ten thousand people in Greensboro waiting for low cost housing. Greensboro has a mere 3-4% housing vacancy, with much of that availability on higher-end properties. 

Attending "The State of Things"  is yet another great way to stay informed about issues, meet people in Greensboro,  and do something fun, for FREE, in Greensboro! Frank is taking some time off this summer, so the next time he broadcasts from Greensboro is Tuesday, August 20th. Bookmark this link, if you are interested in attending later this summer.

 

On the Corner of Tate & Gate City

This building, at the corner of South Tate Street and West Gate City Boulevard, has housed many businesses over the years. It is located in a part of town that is changing drastically. With UNCG's expansion across Gate City to the edge of the Glenwood neighborhood, college students are seen regularly, walking to and from the two parts of campus.

It is amazing when walking, what you see that you might otherwise miss. For example, on foot, one notices the set of stairs behind the building. Why were they put there? Was it to load and unload inventory or to make it easier to get from Point A to Point B? Also, on foot, the poster on the side of the building invites curiosity: "Civil Rights: Forward and Upward." Did the owner of the building put it there or the last person renting? Was there an event related to Civil Rights in the building?

The photo has a "then/decades later" photo of the Greensboro Four, the four North Carolina A&T students who were instrumental in the Sit In Movement with their refusal to give up their seats at the lunch counter at Woolworth in 1960. While the photo was taken recently, being published in black and white makes it look like could have been taken decades ago. Wonder what the young men walking on the other side of the street noticed the stairs... the poster...

The NC A&T Four Monument

On any given day, especially in February, it is common to see people stopping by this iconic statue on the campus of North Carolina A & T University. Dedicated in 2002, it features Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair, Jr.), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond. Sculptor James Barnhill decided to sculpt the four men marching as they left the February 1, 1960 sit in, as opposed to their sitting. He said he felt like this position had a stronger visual impact.*

Dressed for church, it was with great pride and joy that this family posed in front of  the statue on a quiet Sunday morning on campus. What a wonderful way to help children remember history and learn about a monumental event that impacted our country. 

* reference and more information, here.

The Greensboro of Yesteryear

This photo of the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville looks like it could have been taken in 1874 when the market first opened. Shoppers are crossing the footbridge as the market (on the left) was closing. The farmers market is a place, not only to purchase great produce, but also to meet and interact with other people interested in supporting local businesses and eating nutritious food.

With the monochrome finish of the photo, the woman in the beautiful, long, white coat looks like she could be straight out of a Russian novel. Let's pretend she is the smart, cheerful, funloving Natalya Rostova in Tolstoy's novel, "War and Peace."  Natalya may well be the only Russian heroine who is still smiling after a thousand pages!*

Cone Mills was founded in 1895, about 21 years after the above farmers market. Can't you just imagine a wealthy woman out ƒor a stroll on an overcast morning in November, in that very part of town? While the new structures in Greensboro are lovely, it is always fun to seek out views that haven't changed much over the last century.

See you tomorrow, or as they say in Russian, "До завтра."

*reference and more examples of famous heroines in Russian novels, here.

The O. Henry Hotel Complex

Yesterday, the O. Henry Magazine was featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. Today's feature is the O. Henry Hotel and Green Valley Grill. The above photo was taken at the bar, the transition between the hotel and the restaurant. The appointment of the restaurant as a "stand alone" venue, while attached to the hotel, makes it inviting to the public as well as to guests. The whole complex is about as close to the feel of old New York City or Europe as you can get in Greensboro.

On Thursdays at 5:30 pm,  and many Saturdays at 6:30pm, the hotel lobby fills with live jazz music and faithful, local fans who come to enjoy the performance of talented musicians. You can start the evening with cocktails in the bar, dine in the restaurant, listen to jazz music in the lobby, and have the option to spend the night in the hotel for the evening. Yes, Thursdays offer dusk to dawn fun without leaving the property.* The Thursday jazz nights are a favorite with Greensboro locals.

Truly, the O. Henry Hotel complex is complex... in a good way!**

• *read more about Jazz nights, here. 
• **consisting of many different and connected parts.

1616 Walker Avenue

1616 Walker Avenue is just a couple of doors down from Aycock Street. It is an attractive home built in 1922. Just think, it will be 100 in five years! It is over 2,100 square feet with four bedrooms. It sold in 2015 and, according to online real estate sites, it has almost doubled in value since the sale. Perhaps updates and renovations have been done. It does, however, also reflect the trend for historic homes close to town to hold their value.

Just yesterday, Preservation Greensboro shared an article about eight classic homes that have sold above market value this year,*  attributing the robust sales to home buyers valuing the history, aesthetic, and convenience of these homes in historic neighborhoods. The website gsohistorichomes.com maintains listings of pre-1940s properties available in the area. This service has to help in generating interest as the trend today is for consumers to do considerable online research before making purchases. 

Wouldn't you love to sit on this porch to people watch and to talk to neighbors as they walked by? You might even invite them to join you to attend the free National Folk Festival, being held in downtown Greensboro this weekend, a mere couple of miles from 1616 Walker!

 

* reference

Double Oaks

The Double Oaks Bed and Breakfast is located at 203 North Mendenhall Street on the edge of Westerwood, just north of Friendly Avenue. It was the gathering point for the Westerwood Tour that was offered by Preservation Greensboro. Unbeknown to anyone, including the Preservation Greensboro tour guide, Ben, we were given the opportunity to go inside and tour the bed and breakfast. The owner was on site and event planners were preparing for a wedding shower and it worked out perfectly for us to tour and move on before guests started arriving. 

The Colonial Revival mansion was completed in 1909 and owned by Harden Thomas Martin who moved to Greensboro from Rockingham County after a successful career owning and operating retail stores. Over the years, it has been a bed and breakfast previously and was owned at one time by Charles R. Forrester, Chairman of the Greensboro Historic District Commission. Double Oaks is one of those houses with great provenance. Presently, it is owned by James and Amanda Keith who welcome their guests, and even the public, with open arms. James told us on the Saturday tour that he envisions it being used in the manner it would have been when built; that people would come and stay a while, not just for a quick visit. To that end, on Wednesday evenings from 5:30- 8:00, you can stop by for something to drink. Wine and beer are on tap for $5 a pour. They have built a lovely stage in the corner of the lot for concerts. If you come out this week, you could stop by Double Oaks and then head to the Green Bean at 341 South Elm Street for Preservation Greensboro's free walking tour of Center City North.

Thanks to people like the Keiths, organizations like Preservation Greensboro, and GDP readers like YOU, our city just keeps getting better and better!

From Amphibians to Friendly Frogs to Other Critters

Well, it has been raining cats and dogs in Greensboro this week. When you can't get outside to enjoy nature, it is nice to have nature come to you. During these rains, a little frog came to visit us on our back door. He was glued to the glass, waiting for bugs to hop by. The frogs are loving this rain.

Thinking of frogs reminds us that Greensboro has a great community pool with a summer swim team, the Friendly Frogs. If you are looking for some good, clean, summer fun for the whole family, consider joining one of Greensboro's many swim and tennis clubs. The Friendly Frogs are located at 2215 Mimosa Drive, right beside Friendly Center and Cone Health-Wesley Long Hospital. Swim practice has already started for the Friendly Frogs, but it wouldn't be too late to join. If you become a Friendly Frog, you will forever associate summer swimming with the tiny green amphibians. If their pool isn't convenient, you can become a Dolphin, Gator, Hornet, Marlin, Lizard, Elk, Tigershark, Piranha, Bear, Hammerhead, or more! All of the CSA teams provide great exercise and team building activities.

We love watching all of the teams; however, we're hoping one of those other CSA mascots doesn't attach itself to our door! (Well, maybe a lizard would be OK).

 

O. Henry Courtyard

If you are out and about this weekend and are looking for a little old-world charm, head over to the O. Henry Hotel. The above black and white photo features the courtyard in the very heart of the hotel. Just beyond is where their southern breakfast is served and, at the point where the photographer is standing, is the lobby where afternoon tea is available. Even for people who aren't staying at the hotel, the O. Henry is a vibrant and dynamic place for the general public. 

This upcoming week is packed with a lot of great happenings. On Thursday, they are offering a cocktails and jazz package featuring the music of Emile Worthy; next weekend, they are having a Farm-to-Fork Harvest Gathering with sustainable food movement folks, talks, and food.* The O. Henry is a dynamic place that can connect you to the pulse of the present or can take you back to yesteryear. Sometimes, it is good to get away, even if you don't leave town.

As for today, if you are local, consider heading to the Coliseum for the Living Art America North American Body Painting Championship. There will be live body painting sections from 2-4:30 and at 8pm, a runway show. Greensboro is a busy town on the weekends and the world's best body painters are here to share their art with us!

*monitor happenings, here.

Blossoms Galore

Easter was a bit rainy this year in Greensboro. Fortunately, the weather seemed to hold out in the first part of the day and; hopefully, you were able to do your church/family activities without getting wet. It is hard to believe that Passover isn't happening for another 3 weeks and that Orthodox Easter is not for a month. We'll have to mark our calendar for more pictures. 

The above photo was taken on Friday in Brassfield Shopping Center off Battleground Avenue. If you look closely, you can see the roof of what was formerly Pizza Hut. The franchise still has locations in Greensboro; it seems this one just didn't make it. The Chick-Fil-A behind it is thriving and the Gold's Gym in this plaza, formerly a RUSH Gym, seems to be doing well. Unfortunately, the SRI Shoe Warehouse is closing in Brassfield. Hopefully, some of the energy from Midtown-Battleground Avenue will trickle up to Brassfield. It seems like a great location. We were there on Friday, mailing a package at Fed Express, and the stores seemed pretty busy. 

Getting in the car, we were struck how the sun faded the parking lot and the white blossoms extended the pastel look into the sky. We really like the way something as simple as car roofs on an asphalt parking lot can be an interesting subject. (If you are a lover of photography, we'll share the we were inspired by this 1912 photo by Russian photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky). Happy Monday!

"Heimat" on Elm Street

Today is theme day for the City Daily Photo community around the world. The March theme is "heimat" which in German means something along the lines of "homeland; being comfortable and happy; and feeling that this is the place you belong." For "heimat," we're sharing this view of Elm Street Center. Elm Street Center shows how Greensboro has worked hard to bring the downtown area back to life and the way we like to keep the building's façade intact, yet make the it functional for the 21st century.

The above photo was taken on Saturday night when the men on the balconies were in suits and ties, enjoying the balmy night air. Were it not for the cars, one would think the photo was taken in the 1950's. The building dates to 1949, when it was built for the locally-owned Ellis Stone Department Store.  Today, Elm Street Center has two elegant ballrooms, The Empire Room and the Regency Room and they stay booked.

A special thanks to Mainz Daily Photo, for introducing the CDP community to a new word and the place JB considers his "heimat."  See the "heimat" entries from around the world, here.

Great Day to Bike

Greensboro loves its bicycles and we're extending the greenways and making the community more bicycle friendly every year. The International City Daily Photo Group, of which Greensboro Daily Photo is a part, hosts a theme on the first day of every month. The August 2015 theme is bicycles. Last week, we accidentally published this photo, along with a second photo the same day. Not many people noticed this one. Our intent was to publish it on bicycle theme day. If you have seen it before, we apologize, but we hope you enjoy it.

In the above photo, a young person, who appeared to be about middle school age, was walking with his bicycle across Gorrell Street at Murrow Boulevard. While the photo was just taken last week, it looked like a scene from 60 plus years ago. There is nothing in the photo to indicate that it was taken in the 21st century. A child in a collared shirt with plain, black shorts, a simple bicycle, is walking past a bus stop and a fire hydrant, near a flat-roofed brick building. The street scene is hard to date. There were no earphones, cell phone, or ultra-fancy tennis shoes, which makes it even harder to believe that this is a current photo. 

Sometimes, it is nice to put down the technology, grab your bike, and go rom Point A to Point B. We hope you have a chance to get out on a bicycle and uncover some interesting scenes around the city. If you are one of GDP's visitors from the CDP portal, welcome! 

Baby It's Cold

Greensboro has experienced single digit temperatures this week. According to the national weather service, yesterday, it was 6 degrees, tying the record low from 1970.* To the surprise of many, the local public schools started at their regularly scheduled time.  Hopefully, everyone was OK; of course, the well-being of the children is the top priority. Deciding whether or not to delay or call off school is no easy task!

How do you photograph coldness when there is no snow on the ground and no icicles in sight? We decided to show this old house in rural, northwest Guilford County. It looks like it is a drafty, uninsulated, no-frills homestead. However, these old homes can be extremely cozy, filled with people sitting around the wood-burning stove, telling tales of extreme weather. What will you be doing to stay warm this weekend?

*reference.

 

A Magical Time of Year in Old Salem

Winter can be dark and gray in North Carolina. If you want something to do with family and friends to make the winter-solstice-week special, consider driving the next county over to Old Salem. The Moravian village is so beautiful this time of year. Historically, the Moravians come from the eastern part of the Czech Republic. Moravian missionaries have been in North Carolina since the mid 1700's and  they founded (Old) Salem in 1766.* Old Salem feels like a small, European village- pretty magical, especially in winter.

If you just want to walk around admiring the architecture, the cobblestone streets, and the simplicity of a bygone era, you don't even need to purchase a ticket. The gift shop has fabulous, seasonal gifts and the bakery (featured above) sells goods made from centuries-old recipes in wood-fired ovens. The man in the photo above told us that when he goes home, his grandchildren tell him he smells like a bakery. What a great memory for them, and for you, if you have a chance to stop by for a visit. Way too many people who live in Greensboro have never visited Old Salem...........

*(read more, here).

Blue Cowboy & Indian Invade Elm Street

Cowboys and Indians have taken over the window of the Guilford Building at 301 South Elm Street. We're not sure exactly whose assemblage this is, gracing the window of a place that was formerly the Greensboro Bank and Trust Company. The impressive building was the second tallest in Greensboro when it was built in 1927. The architect for this building was the same one who designed the Jefferson Building. The building with provenançe has gone kitsch.

By 1927, Western film was a thriving industry and names like Boris Karloff and Gary Cooper and Westerns, like  "The Meddlin' Stranger" and Gary Cooper "Nevada" were delighting movie-goers. Perhaps the window is a nod to this bygone era. More importantly, it is fun to see things that exude creativity and set one's mind to imagining. Who on earth spent all of this time finding and assembling this scene worthy of a short story- or of a Western?  The more we examine the scene and notice the sameness of the blue, the more we start suspecting the monochromatic figures were generated by a 3-D printer. Wouldn't that be a 21st century twist! Print-em out cowboy!

We're sharing this post with our friends at Weekend Reflections who adore photos with reflections.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2014

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Greensboro Daily Photo readers!  The above photo is one we have in our archive of vintage photos and postcards. It was not taken by us, nor do we think it was taken in Greensboro. We found it languishing in a Greensboro antique store. The photograph is well composed and would make a good short story for an O. Henry short story contest. Are these three sisters? Irish sisters? Are they nurses? Just friends? Just co-workers? Are they in Ireland? Ireland's version of candy stripers? Do they have relatives in Greensboro? There are so many unanswered questions about these young women who remind us of Downton Abbey's Crawley sisters. 

Wherever you are, take the above trio's cue, don your shamrocks and enjoy Saint Patrick's Day. For those who have Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking, did you know that they are lifted for the holiday?* Head on out and find some Saint Patrick's Day fellowship, toast the luck of the Irish, and see if anybody you know in Greensboro is related to these fruit-peeling beauties. Greensboro may not have Chicago's kelly green river or NYC's grand parade, but there will be one hoppy, hoppin' Greater Greensboro St. Paddy's Party on  Barnhardt Street tonight.

(If you know of other events, please list them in the comment section).

* reference

Oh, Deer

The deer in North Carolina have just about had it with winter, too. Above, we see two of the white-tailed deer that hang out in our backyard in Greensboro. Every year, they seem to get more aggressive about entering suburban yards and patios. The early March snowstorm had these herbivorous creatures grazing especially close to homes. The above photo was taken at dawn, making us wonder if suburban deer are crepuscular animals. They do seem most active during the twilight hours.

The photo was also taken at the start of daylight savings time, when the deer may have thought they had another hour before their humans and neighborhood canines were due to wake up. Until you see deer running from your yard, it is hard to imagine that their tails are 9-11 inches long, that no neighborhood fence is too high to jump,  and that they can seemingly eat their weight in plants in a single session. 

Spring Will Come

This photo, taken this past week about sums up the feeling of desolation that can come from winter. This scene is located  just off of Highway 220 at Summerfield Road, near all of the highway construction where they are widening 220. The tree in the center has a pine tree behind it, making it look extra padded and a little menacing. It seemingly divides the two homes beside it. This is the landscape of rural Greensboro that is disappearing quickly. In the summer, when all is rich and verdant, this same scene looks quite charming. The large tree in the center will look as if it has spread its green, leafy wings from Lake Higgins to Oak Ridge. For now, it looks cold and desolate, like something out of the Wizard of Oz about to reach down and grab you. 

Likely, not only Greensboro, but also the nation will be talking about the Great Winter of 2013-2014. Or, perhaps the not-so-great winter. At least it will make us really appreciate spring which is almost always beautiful in Greensboro.

 

Happy Birthday GDP

Today, Greensboro Daily Photo has just finished five years of publishing a daily photo & cooresponding text- 1,825 days without missing a post. There were times, during power outages when we drove to closed restaurants to use their wi-fi to get the post published, and we've enjoyed every minute of it. In the above photo, you see Mr. and Mrs. Greensboro Daily photo out celebrating our "perfect attendance." The best birthday present you can give this community website is to keep reading and to share the URL address with friends and family. Our initial goal was to stick to this venture for five years. As we enter Year 6, if you're in, we're in. We'll continue this all-volunteer project for another year.  There are people to interview, community events to photograph and plenty of serendipitiously great scenes around Greensboro waiting to be documented.  May our community prosper in 2014 and beyond. Here's a virtual toast to health, happiness, and another 365 days!

YWCA, Gone but not forgotten...

This photo, taken in downtown Greensboro, looks like it could have been taken 100 years ago. Actually, it was taken on Friday evening. It features the back of the original First Presbyterian Church, now the Greensboro Historical Museum. The lot in front, recently seeded with grass, is the site of the now-gone YWCA.  

The Young Women's Christian Association still has a facility in Greensboro, located on Spring Garden Street. The YWCA has quite a rich history in Greensboro, dating from 1903. Nationally, the organization got its start in New York City in 1858 (read history here). It is the oldest and largest women's organization in the United States.

As for the open field, left behind from the razing of the YWCA, we're not quite sure what is planned for the lot. While we wait to find out, Greensboro is taking advantage of the extra green space downtown. The lot is located between  Festival Park and the Greensboro Public Library. Vacant, the lot provides a stunning, old-timey view of a church is even older than the YWCA. It has been in Greensboro since 1824.  As we share our Sunday-day-of-reflection post, let's be thankful that the YWCA still has a local presence and that it continues to empower local women. Let's also be thankful that the First Presbyterian Church continues to thrive. They do their share of good deeds, too! Regardless of what you believe, happy Sunday. Take a Sunday drive and enjoy this view with your own eyes (in color).

MLK Parade Day

Today is the Martin Luther King Holiday and Greensboro is brimming with community service opportunities. High school students are taught to take every opportunity to give back to the community and most don't see today as merely a chance to sleep in late. May are out working and learning. Read about the day long event at Four Seasons Town Center. There is so much to do.

The International Civil Rights Museum has events scheduled throughout the day to help people learn about our past and to get involved in the future. The above photo is from last year's MLK, Jr. Parade. Today's parade begins at 11:00 and will last until about 2:00 pm.  The parade begins at 2031 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and heads north to Gorrell Street. Twenty thousand people are expected to participate. Unfortunately, it takes place at the same time as President Obama's swearing in ceremony at 11:30. Unless you are "old-school," you won't be bothered by recording the swearing in ceremony and watching it later in the day. Regardless of what you decide, please do something. Today is a day to be with others and to celebrate the great progress our city has made in respecting the inherent worth and dignity of all our residents.

Today, we close with the quote of Reverend Samuel Kyles, said to those threating to assassinate Dr. King:  "You can kill the dreamer.... but you cannot kill the dream."  May we all dream of a great community; and LIVE the dream.

Xtra Xtra, Read All About It

In 1982, a newspaper known by the name News & Record was first delivered to the Greensboro community. However, Greensboro's print journalism history was first made in 1890 with the printing of the Daily Record. The Daily Record was owned at one time by Juilan Price, the man who at one time also owned Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, making Mr. Price one of the most influential men in the Piedmont during his day. In 1809, the Greensboro Daily News was founded, giving our community a morning and afternoon newspaper. From 1982-1986, the Greensboro community supported two newspapers. In 1986, competing newspapers were gone and The News & Record emerged as the sole daily newspaper for the community. The above facility, a city block of newspaper history, past, present, and future, was completed in 1976, on the site of the old King Cotton Hotel.*

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for this round, we've been featuring neighbohroods. For X, in the absence of an X neighborhood, we're featuring the newspaper. Two-hundred East Market Street, at the corner of Davie St.,  is the "x marks the spot' place from which news radiates to ALL the communities of Greensboro.The newspaper is in every community- in print and digitally.  Thick or thin, the News & Record is an invaluable clearninghouse of news, information, events, and ideas. A newspaper is more than ink, paper, and coupons. It is a community's shared discourse. Papers give communities a common frame of reference and tell us what others deem important and newsworthy. Without a common source of printed information, a community struggles to define itself. As the younger generation goes digitial and seeks out their own, disparate news sources, we need to find a way to keep them informed about what is actually happening in their own community and from the perspective of people in their community- even if they disagree with the views presented. A local paper, printed or digital, grounds us to each other. The News & Record is more than the sum of its parts; it is Greensboro's ANCHOR.

Today is ABC Wednesday and, X is for X-tra X-tra read all about it. We're asking you for a one day moratirium on saying "I saw on FACEBOOK...," and  to use as your conversation starter, "I read in the News & Record, that......"

* reference, here.

See our ABC Wednesday A-W neighborhoods of Greensboro, here.

You've Got Mail on "Our Street"

Considering how busy the postal service gets this time of year, we just had to share this van, spotted on North Battleground Avenue (near Big Lots and Wendy's) this week. The mailbox at the top is "air mail" and just below is "e-mail." Behind the back door is "residential mail" and on the trailer hitch on the bottom is "junk mail, bills, taxes." Gotta love this sense of humor. We only wish we'd had a Christmas card to drop in the residential mailbox or some of our junk mail to hand off to the van's owner. We don't know where they really get their mail, but the van has North Carolina tags. What does your vehicle say about you and your lifestyle? If it is this interesting, you just might find it on Greensboro Daily Photo.

It is a busy weekend in Greensboro. we hope you find time to do something fun and meaningful. Today is theme day for the City Daily Photo Community, the meme that inspired this website. People around the world will be showing us "their streets."