Greensboro Daily Photo

Sled Riding in Greensboro

Greensboro's big snow this week has been pretty fabulous for sled riding. Some parts of town received up to 9 inches of snow, much more than anticipated. It has been enough to shut the town down. You know it is bad when fast food restaurants (national chains) are closed. On Wednesday night, the Harris-Teeter parking lot was so empty, they appeared to be closed. Indeed, they were open. Perhaps customers filled their pantries with the requisite snow-pocalypse items on Tuesday night. Wednesday, Greensboro was a ghost town. Roads were treacherous, school was closed, not even teachers had to report to work. 

By Thursday, temperatures warmed significantly, the sun came out, and people were a little more adventurous. The city's sled riding spots were busy into the early evening. The above photo was taken in British Woods, off Battleground Avenue, a few years ago. However, the park at Downing Street was just as busy yesterday and, with the bright blue skies, sled riders were enjoying a free, low-tech, outdoor form of winter entertainment.

Today, while much of the snow has compacted and melted, and a little more dirt is peeking through on the hills, it is still a great day for sledding. Grab your sled, cafeteria tray from your college years (you know you have one), or some kind of inflatable, and head for the nearest snow covered hill. Whether you have children in your life, or not, we could all use a good dose of bringing out the inner child! Sometimes, it is nice to slow down and enjoy all that a snow day brings: family time, the quietness of nature, then laughter, snowmen, sledding, the crunching of snow, hot chocolate, and frozen toes and fingers warming after a day of playing. Have fun, while it lasts! Where is your favorite place to sled ride in Greensboro?

Food Pantry at Backpack Beginnings

The "Impact Wall" of Backpack Beginnings was recently featured on Greensboro Daily Photo (here). Today's feature in the sorting table for the food pantry portion of the facility. Office Manager Michele Alvarino is explaining how a person stands in the foreground, selects donated food from a central palate, determines the expiration date on each can of food and slides them down on a given color strip. The color indicates type of food (vegetable, starch, protein, etc.) and remaining shelf life. The person in the background position, where Michele is standing, then puts the item on the appropriate shelf. Yet another person will pack a box of about 35 pounds of food, from a variety of categories, to send to schools with food pantries. About 200 volunteers regularly drive food to and from schools.

In 2014, the Food Research and Action Center, ranked Greensboro and High Point as Number 1 for people who had difficulties in securing food.* Hopefully, with programs like Backpack Beginnings, the situation is improving. 

As many people have a day off today, celebrating the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, let us all remember that the day is intended to be one of community service. If you are looking for a way to help, consider holding a food drive, through any of your networks of friends and associates, and donate what you get to Backpack Beginnings. Access their website, here, or call 336-709- 9649 to arrange to drop off food. Finally, remember the words of Booker T. Washington, "The happiest people are those who do the most for others."  While Booker T. Washington died 14 years before Dr. King was born, they shared the common goal of uplifting and empowering African Americans and they would have loved each other. May we do our part to continue the work of these great humanitarians.

* reference.

723 North Church Street

This Victorian beauty is a multi-family home located at the corner of North Church Street and East Hendrix, at the north eastern end of Fisher Park.  Built in 1900, it is 3,166 square feet, mighty large for a wooden house built 118 years ago. It has a charming wrap around porch and mature trees on the lot. 

Established in 1901, Fisher Park is known as Greensboro's first neighborhood on what was at one time a swamp. In the early 20th century,  bankers, industrialists, and white collar workers hired the best architects of the day to build their homes here. The above house is as beautiful as it was when first built. One of the great features of Fisher Park is the diversity in the homes. With a little imagination, one can picture the trolley line moving through Fisher Park with trolley cars transporting people to and from the neighborhood. Imagine the maid and other hired help being dropped off at 723 North Church to start their day. From the cut out windows in the attic to the cement stoop to the porch, the details are so fitting.

Kettle Korn

Papa's Old-Fashioned Kettle Korn was a big hit at the Liberty Antiques Festival this year. The nice weather brought people out to shop: the warm afternoons made preparing kettle korn a little warmer, too. The distinctive aroma of kettle korn wafted along the rows of antiques all day long. The above photo was taken in the morning, when long sleeves were still needed. Seeing this kettle korn photo reminds us that the 150th North State Fair opens today and is well under way in Raleigh.

Since 1867, shortly after the Civil War, the state fair has been showcasing North Carolina's number 1 industry- agriculture. Prices to enter range from free to $10.* It starts today with a poultry show at 9:00 am and ends on Sunday, October 22nd, with many events including a folk festival. In addition to rides, games, exhibits, and competitions, the state fair is 11 days of three stages and 118 concerts that are free with admission. Recreate, for your family and friends, a scene right out of the Andy Griffith Show. Head on over to Raleigh and make some memores... and, while you are there, treat yourself to a big bag of kettle korn! If papa is there, tell him we said hello!

*see schedule, fees, competitions, and other information, here.

Liberty Antique Festival

The Fall 2017 Liberty Antique Festival was held this past weekend. The above photo shows the tents at one end of the field. The weather was lovely. The morning started out with crisp fall air. By mid-day, the sun was shining brightly and temperatures were in the 70's. Some years, there are strong rains during the show, and even though the event is held rain or shine, customers and vendors were mighty happy to see the sun. 

By 8am, when the gate opened on Saturday, the entrance line was quite long. Just before the gate opened, someone sang "God Bless America", what sounded like a train whistle blew, one of the parking attendants shouted "Get 'er done!" and the crowd started filing on in. By 8:10, one woman ran up to her friend, held up a bag and beamed, "we can go now." She must have found exactly what she was looking for. One man approached a vendor and said, "You told me to come back today." and the discounted transaction was made. Another woman, looking for someone yelled, "Marco" and an anonymous person from the crowd replied, "Polo" and everyone within earshot chuckled. Even if you are not in the market to purchase anything, it is always fun to get out and walk the field in Liberty, talk to people, and peruse the booths. There are food trucks,  good BBQ and deserts made by a local church. This year, a man was selling apple fritters. The fritters really made it seem like fall. The man with the fritters invited all for samples, promising they were delicious. 

As people become more and more connected to their electronic devices and making their purchases through Amazon Prime, opportunities to experience little slices of Americana, face-to-face,  become priceless. Mark your calendar for the last weekend in April for their spring show.

Cugino Forno

Pizzeria Cugino Forno opened in Revolution Mill last spring. The pizza is authentic Neapolitan style made in wood fired ovens imported from Italy. The above photo shows the pizza baker checking on a pizza he is baking. You see the 800-degree ovens and the wood below them. The process involves using a lot of hardwood.  "Cugino Forno" means "cousin oven" in Italian, a reference to the fact that cousins own the restaurant together.

The pizzeria is actually located just outside Revolution Mill, in a free-standing building that was once a machine shop. The pizza making technique used at Cugino Forno dated back to Naples, Italy in 1889, maintaining the same commitment to fresh ingredients and preparation of dough. Revolution Mill, known for flannel fabric, opened in 1899. So, it seems that the mill and the pizza are a perfect marriage. The oven-baking process used dates back 2,000 years. The process, the ingredients, the equipment, and the skill of the bakers, all come together and the result is a sort of alchemy that transforms dough, tomato sauce, and cheese into a little slice of heaven. The pizza really does taste like it was made in Italy. The attention to detail would please the Cone Brothers who worked equally diligently to see that every bolt of flannel at the mill was perfect. Hopefully, the attention to detail and commitment to quality will keep Cugino Forno around for a very long time!

Eaton Farms

Eaton Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze is located on Highway 150 between Oak Ridge and Kernersville. According to Buzzfile, they have been operating for approximately 40 years and they operate primarily as a tobacco farm. However, if you drive by in the springtime, they are growing strawberries. We aren't sure what the above crop is as it is too late for pumpkins, which are already on store shelves. Maybe it is a cold weather crop like greens. At first glance, driving by quickly, the rows, of slightly raised beds, looked like fields of lavender. The barn in the background, with the plywood pumpkin prominently displayed, is the first stop for shoppers and visitors.

We'll have to stop back when the maze is in full swing. The popularity of "breakout" games, where teams of people work together to break out of places by solving clues, will likely add to the frenzy for groups to try their luck at corn mazes. Corn mazes and pumpkin patches can generate great revenue for farms by attracting tourists and people who would not otherwise go to a farm. Being outside is such a healthy activity for people- if you can encourage them not to use their phones, but to enjoy all that is to be seen in nature.

Thank You, Adam & Clark Tire

Today, we're featuring a good Samaritan and a local business with good customer service. The "check tire pressure" light came on in our vehicle and it was already a little past 6:00 pm last night. Where does one go to get tire pressure checked? Sure you can do it yourself, but often the gauges in the automatic machines are broken or you end up letting out more air that putting in, when using a pump at home. Nothing beats a digital gauge and a person who is fast and efficient at checking. We happened to be near Friendly Center and Adam at Clark Tire found the low tire and filled it up in less than two minutes. We can actually tell a difference in how the car handles and the "check tire pressure light" is off now. With a world that is becoming increasingly "self service",  it is nice to find Clark Tire where someone like Adam greets you with a smiling face. Adam knows about cars on multiple continents, has great expertise in his job, takes time to support great events like the National Folk Festival, and is just outright friendly.

As we look at old photos, almost seven years ago, on January 1st 2011, we featured Clark Tire on North Elm Street as our 2010 photo of the year (see here). Today we're featuring Clark Tire, Friendly Center. When someone gives you peace of mind by getting your tires up to pressure, it feels like you have met a person of the year. Thank you, Adam. We hope you have great experiences like this in Greensboro when you need to quickly problem solve. Happy Saturday! As for us, we're cruising at 35 psi on all four!

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!

New Old Mill at Bicentennial Garden

The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden on Hobbs Road, the 7 1/2 acre park, established in 1976, keeps getting better every year. This year, it has added an old mill and pond. The mill shows visitors how meal is ground from grain by the energy generated from water flowing over a wheel. Inside, there is a vintage millstone (see below). What starts out as whole kernels of a grain like corn, gets ground down for use in foods like cornbread.

During the Parisian Promenade, an older gentleman was on site explaining how the mill stone was procured from Wilmington ten years ago and how they found the matching hardware up north. Hopefully, he will document everything he knows about the mill and share it on the park's website. He knows the history and we don't want to lose it. If you are out this weekend, consider stopping to see this lovely facility.  If elementary schools still have fourth grade social studies themed around North Carolina, this would be a fabulous field trip. Actually, everyone in Greensboro should see it. The old mill is located on the North Holden Road side of the park. 

It's Peony Time in Greensboro!

It is peony time in Greensboro. There are about 30 species of this herbaceous, perennial plant, but it only takes one in your yard to bring joy to your kitchen table. These late spring, early summer flowers are not hard to grow, once you find a place where they are happy. We talked to an older woman with peonies in her yard that are over 100 years old. They have been blooming faithfully for a century on her family's property. Her grandmother's instructions, to which she diligently adheres,  were to never allow anybody to disturb the roots and, in late fall, to cut the stems back to the ground. Their family "recipe" seems to have been successful and their plants continue to thrive.

This traditional floral symbol of China is found in many colors and many different versions. The Wrenn family in Greensboro offers four varieties to ship out to you from their peony farm, The Peony Patch (more, here). The Wrens have been growing peonies for about twenty years. We can only imagine the aroma walking through their garden. You can also find peonies places like Fresh Market if you want to have them immediately.

We hope you find some time this weekend, to stop and smell the... peonies.

Old Tobacco Barn

This old tobacco barn is located in Guilford County out near Kernersville, off Highway 150. Under the tin roof, you can see the original finish to the building. The wood and chinking is less evident where the building is painted red. To the right, below, you can see the old wood-fired oven, used to process tobacco the old-fashioned way. In this barn, tobacco is flue-cured, dried in the inverted U-shaped furnace on the right. It would have been fed pine logs to generate smoke. Through an elaborate drying system, the temperature of the tobacco filled barn is controlled. According to Our State Magazine, an acre of hanging tobacco can shed almost 5 tons of water.*

Although tobacco growing and processing has declined in North Carolina, tobacco is still a dominant crop in the State. If you get a chance this weekend, and you are local, drive into the rural areas surrounding Greensboro and you will see plenty of tobacco barns, most in some state of decay. Don't wait too long. In 1950, there were half a million tobacco barns in North Carolina. Today, there are around 50,000. The charm of the above building is enhanced by the tin roof.

*See Our State Magazine article for reference and to read more, here.

You've Got Mail!

This old mailbox, located off of Highway 220 north of Greensboro, on a rural country road, depicts an old mailbox that her about used its useful life. As a matter of fact, with the internet, we are receiving fewer pieces of surface mail. The mail we do receive is often in the form of giant packages which don't fit in a mailbox this size. The homemade stand and the shaped metal letters reflect the fact that the Caytons put a great deal of time and energy in this mailbox. We bet they knew their rural carrier by name and often waited when they saw him driving down their road.

Mailboxes really are a personalized touch of nostalgia-- unless of course you life in an apartment complex and are required to take you mail in the generic boxes of your building. What does your mailbox say about you? When is the last time you received a letter? Better yet, when is the last time you sent a letter? In the spring, the post office has some beautiful. You might just want to stock up and send a customized letter with a favorite stamp. In the meantime, enjoy the beauty of this one and, Happy Saturday!

 

Yum Yum

This has been an emotional spring for Yum Yum Better Ice Cream and Hot Dogs. In March, an SUV crashed into the side wall of YUM YUM and they had to close for repairs. With amazing turn-around time, the store was open again in just over a week. In early April, owner Bernard Aydelette, age 94, died. How wonderful that he lived long enough to see his store had reopen. He put so much of himself in the place over the decades. 

The above photo shows people enjoying a Saturday afternoon at the shop, shortly after it had opened and the weekend before Mr. Aydelette died. It paints a picture of just how much people enjoy the pause from a busy day, sitting in and around Yum- Yum. The store is located on Spring Garden Street, surrounded on all sides by UNCG. For that brief moment when it was closed, many in the community worried that it might not reopen. Fortunately, they are back in business and when groups hold their school reunions, or families come to town to see loved ones graduate this spring, this store that has been open since 1907 will continue to serve up homemade ice cream and pink pork hot dogs to adoring customers.

Happy Friday. May you have a great weekend that includes a scoop of ice cream- or two!

Happy Friday!

For many, it is the end of the workweek and time to rest. For others, it is time to head to a second job. Regardless of how your weekends are organized, consider driving around town and marveling in the beauty of the area- especially this time of year. The above photo is part of our documenting changes around Horse Pen Creek Road. On the Battleground end of Horse Pen Creek, this lot has has the remains of a little wooden house that burned: a fireplace and some porch columns. The jury is out on the old oak tree. We'll have to wait until the other trees begin leafing out to see if it is still alive. The lot itself is waiting to be reimagined as a 21st-century, revenue-generating venue. The urban loop is about to go under Horse Pen Creek Road;  Daystar Church is building church on farmland directly across from the Montessori School; so much continues to change on this road. Documenting change in one's community is fun; with some changes being more welcomed than others.

If you are looking for more concrete things to do in Greensboro this evening, remember it is First Friday and there will be opportunities for gallery hopping downtown. If you are near State Street at 6:00 p.m., Greensboro artist Liz McKinnon will read her new children's book at Vida Pour Tea. The reading promises to be delightful. Bundle up and enjoy the weekend! 

Greatest Show on Earth

As part of their Farewell Tour, The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is performing in Greensboro until Sunday. The Greatest Show on Earth has their train parked on the railroad tracks at Chapman Street, off of Spring Garden Street. In May, after 146 years of entertaining the public, the rings will go silent. According to WFMY News 2, their first visit to Greensboro was 57 years ago in 1960 and they have sold over 4 million seats over the years. In the above photo, the man in the green suit is picking up trash from the cars, which serve as living space for the performers and staff. 

Briefly, we interviewed the young woman below, who cares for the children while workers are practicing and performing. I asked her what people are going to do when their jobs end in May. She said some will go to other circus and performing troupes. She will move to Florida. She couldn't talk long as she needed to head to work for the evening, carrying what appeared to be play sand. It came to mind that she was literally and figuratively carrying a heavy load, knowing that she had to prepare both for the and her post-circus life. But for now, the show must go on.

Head to the Greensboro Coliseum if you want to see the circus one last time. 

Let's Ride

Weekends can feel so liberating. The above photo features a driver in his vintage car on 220 North, leaving Greensboro. He appears to be heading towards Virginia in what looks like a 1940's Plymouth. Can you believe that this car is over 70 years old and that it could still be on the road at 100? 

If you like classic cars, Greensboro Auto Auction (GAA) will hold its next classic car auction on March 2,3,and 4 at 301 Norwalk Street. Also, if you are an antique car lover, the Cars & Coffee Event will resume in March. From March-October, the third Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. classic car owners gather behind the Weatherspoon Art Gallery to open their hoods and talk parts, engines, and anything they can think of about their classic cars. Let us hear a virtual honk, if you love classic cars. Have a happy weekend, dear readers.

Last Farmhouse Standing

Over the past two decades Horse Pen Creek Road has transformed from a sleepy road to a busy hub of activity. The road is being widened and improved, as part of Greensboro's 2008 Transportation Bond referendum. Also, the Urban Loop is being routed underneath Horse Pen Creek. The projected completion date for the roadwork is 2019. The above photo features the last old-farmhouse on the road. The wooden farmhouse, peeking out from a dense field of bamboo, is tired and worn out; barely standing. It is located in across the road from Greensboro Montessori School.

You may recall from an earlier GDP post, Daystar will build a church on the property. Now that a lot of the the strip by the road has been cleared, the bamboo stands out. As seen on the photo above, when the sun sets on the bamboo thicket, it glows an almost translucent green. But, when the sun sets on the farmhouse, nothing will remain to remind us of the farmer, his black and white cows, his garden, and the dense bramble of blackberry canes surrounding the property. May Daystar be good stewards of the property. It is beautiful and so representative of the rural Greensboro of yesteryear.

In Summerfield

The stark winter landscape can be hauntingly beautiful. The above photo was taken of an old country property in Summerfield, not too far from Summerfield Farms on Pleasant Ridge Road. The empty building seems to accentuate the trees without leaves. Summerfield is an area northwest of Greensboro, consisting of about 27 acres and approximately 11,000 people. The community is completely within Guilford County and the students attend the Northwest Schools.

Summer field is known for its horse farms and wooded countryside interspersed with residential neighborhoods. The community has an Historical Committee as well as a Trails and Open Space Committee. Both groups work very hard to ensure that Summerfield has plenty of green space and areas for public enjoyment. If you are looking for something peaceful this weekend, plan to drive around in Summerfield.  We hope to take the same photo in about three months, when the trees will be in full foliage, the grass will be greener, and our community will be in bloom.

Z is for Zinc Kings

The Zinc Kings are an old-time band from right here in Greensboro, North Carolina. They met in 2008 in a music class at UNCG in a class called the Old Time Ensemble, led by Revell Carr. By 2010, Christen Blanton Mack, Dan Clouse, Mark Dillon, and Ryan Mack formalized their relationship and became a band.* Along the way, Christen and Ryan married; falling in love not only with old time music and with the Zinc Kings Band, but also with each other.

These extremely versatile and talented musicians can play bluegrass, jazz, and just about any sound you might need for a festive occasion. In the above photo, they were playing on December 20th at the Piedmont Old Time Society Presents series, held each Tuesday at Joymonger's Brewery Company on North Eugene Street. The Zinc Kings have quite a following and when they play, the old-time community comes out to support them. It was such a treat to listen to their music and we knew right away we would close out our A-Z Alphabet Series for ABC Wednesday with "Z" for Zinc Kings!

*Reference, and more information, here.

Greensboro's Christmas Tree Lots

The tree lots were busy this weekend. If you like a live tree, these lots are great fun and many people build annual, family traditions around selecting the tree. You can put on clothes that are good for photos, stop for a hot chocolate, and then heading out to select a tree. Greensboro has many organizations selling trees as a fundraiser. The above photo is the Wagoner lot at the Harris Teeter parking lot at New Garden Road, across from the entrance to Bryan Boulevard west.

The Wagoners have been selling Christmas trees in Greensboro since the 1940's. The above lot is owned by Bryan Wagoner whose father is John and his uncle, his father's twin brother, was Fred. Almost the whole family, including Bryan's brother Bruce, is involved in the business, from manning their lots to caring for the trees the eight years it takes them to mature. Bryan and Bruce's sister Lynn is a cardiologist in Ohio, specializing in heart transplants.* It is so nice to see these Greensboro families carrying the tradition of their parents. Making memories is such an important part of childhood.

*Reference and more information, here.

Reading Day 2016

Reading Day is a day set aside at institutions of higher education so that students can study and prepare for final exams. Usually, universities offer other activities for reducing stress and for building community. The above photo features the luminary exhibit from last year.  Today is Reading Day as well as the day of the placing of the luminaries, a forty-seven year tradition at UNCG. If you are near campus, walking to enjoy the lights along paths and sidewalks will be well worth your while. The farther back you walk into campus, the more intensely the candles glow- since there is less ambient light.

Other highlights this evening are the lighting of the Vacc Bell Tower and Anniversary Plaza and performances by the UNCG Steel Band and the Grimsley High School Madrigal Singers. Chancellor Gilliam will speak and hot cocoa will be served. The public is invited to attend this free event. It is so nice to support these collaborative, community-wide events. Hope to see you there.*

*learn more about UNCG's Reading Day and the Vacc Bell Tower, here.

This Old House

This old house is located along Highway 150 in rural Guilford County. Likely, as with the leaves on the trees to its left, the house is not long for this world. It is one of those fixer-uppers that not even Chip and Joanna Gaines (of HGTV fame) would undertake. Yet on this fall day, with the sun low in the sky, it takes on a warm, nostalgic glow. So often these rural homes are loved for generations, until the current generation decides to sell and take off for city life, or the changing surrounding properties make the home obsolete. In the case of the above property, we suspect it is a little bit of both.

Part of the reward we get  out of publishing Greensboro Daily Photo is keeping our finger on the pulse of our community. The Greensboro area has always been a nice blend of country living and urban fun. While the urban fun has burgeoned in the last decade, hopefully, there is still room for country living. We are grateful to have this photo, even if it serves only a as memory of the tin-roofed, little yellow house that was.

Got GRITS?

Founded in 1767, the Old Mill of Guilford has been grinding grain since before Greensboro founded. The old mill has thrived for nearly 250 years by serving good products and by having dedicated owners, employees and volunteers. Looking closely, you will notice that the above features the corn meal shelf, not the grits that are on the other side of the shelf. Since 2007, the mill has been owned by Alice and Darrell Klug. It was previously owned by the Parnells who died in 2007, the same year that the bright red water wheel was repaired. The mill is in good hands now and the Klugs are gearing up for the holiday season. They were quite busy when we visited this past Monday.*

If you are driving up Highway 68 from Greensboro, you will first notice the historic Ai Church that has been restored. At the bottom of the hill, also on the east side of the highway, you will see the Old Mill of Guilford. The giant water pipe and red wheel mark the way to the entrance. If you are inclined to "buy local" for the holidays, the Old Mill will provide you with many options- including a 1,000 piece puzzle, made from a William Magnum painting.

 

* read more of the mill's history, here.

Lovely Country Home

Historically, eastern Guilford County is the part of the county with multi-acre properties, farms, including dairy farms, in a bucolic setting. 4-H has been well represented in this part of the county. The above wooden farm house, located on Bethel Church Road, is representative of the rural side of eastern properties. It evokes the simpler style of life in previous centuries, back in the day when people worked the land, worked hard, and family mattered- above all.  The rectangular architecture, large front porch and large trees are inviting. This is the view from the road. In the rear of the property are implements needed to work the land.

The manicured, green grass helps us transition from summer and warm weather. The trees have started losing their leaves, hinting that winter is on the horizon. We wish we could have been there last night to have watched the moon rise. There is so little light pollution; the super moon must have looked stunning.

First Friday November 2016

Tonight's First Friday was dynamic and full of diversity. Casa Azul had a spectacular exhibit in the Central Library and in LeBauer Park. Musicians, people preaching the gospel, and visual and other performing artists could be found all along Elm Street.  In the above photo, the Gate City Railbenders are paying acoustic, bluegrass/old-time music while onlookers enjoyed listening to the music. Several people were dance. The energetic music was especially appealing to children, like the little boy above, who danced with heart and soul. Hamburger Square Park was hopping. The above music session was part of the Traveling Art Show moving along town.

When many groups work together, as is the case with First Fridays,  their effort is greater than the sum of the parts. When the weather is nice, First Fridays tend to be well attended. Mark your calendar for December 2nd, when First Friday and the 28th Annual Festival of Lights will combine for the largest First Friday of the year. Many of the art opportunities will still be available today, including the Día de los Muertos display in the library. Head downtown if you have a chance.

Folk Art

The News & Record published a fabulous article on the front page of the "Ideas" section on Sunday (9/11/16 p. E1). Written by Scott Romine, Head of the English Department at UNCG, the topic was "What constitutes fork art?.  Romine shares the common assumption that folk art "promises something lost in a globalized world of box stores, fast food and auto-tuned pop." He explains that folk art comes from a people, as opposed to a person. Folk art and folk culture aren't something available at the marketplace of "boutique multiculturalism"*

The tradition of hanging bottles in trees is traced to Africa and represents and effort to trap evil spirits. This tradition has been in the rural south for several generations. Now, bottle trees are available made from metal and people put them in their yards, to be sure for decorative purposes and possibly for the original purpose of chasing away evil. They have an element of folk art in them. The bottle tree above is found in Westerwood. They are usually available for sale at the Art to Soul Walk, held in the Westerwood neighborhood (map here) October 1st from 10am-5pm. We suggest go to Art & Soul and be on the lookout for folk art. While we can't pinpoint an exact definition, Romine asserts, "one knows it when one sees it."

*Romine attributes the phrase to Stanley Fish.

Guilford Militia

This weekend was one of about seven that Guilford Militia members camp and reenact at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Guilford Militia is a North Carolina History Society, founded in 1980, dedicated to portraying military history in this region in the mid to late 18th century, the time of the Revolutionary War.

The above group was set up on the Lawndale Avenue side of GCNMP. Members  of the organization are really friendly and love talking to people and telling them details about life in the 18th century. This weekend, there were about 12 people who participated in the event. Their biggest event is during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, always held mid-March. While the militia members won't be there today, the park is still open and it is great exercise to get out and walk, seeing the monuments and reading the history. Plus, there are a lot of unexpected surprises in the park. For example, we had no idea we would stumple on the above group while out walking our dogs this weekend. 

Have a Happy Labor Day. Psychologically, it is the last day of summer.

Laundry Day

In the above photo, a resident of East Lake Drive is taking advantage of wind energy, drying clothing on a line. This tradition kept the carbon footprint low, before people knew what a carbon footprint was; even before people knew what carbon was! It looks so charming with the light shining through the fabric. However, not all neighborhoods are equally receptive to clotheslines.

Some countries, like Scotland, have communal areas for drying laundry. In some rural places, it seems as if this is the primary method of drying clothing. In Greensboro, the tradition isn't exactly trending; however, seeing clothing out to dry reminds us that we all need to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

Just be careful about what laundry you choose to air.

The Hut on Guilford College

Guilford College was founded by Quakers and to this day, core Quaker values are still important here. The school opened as a boarding school in 1837, established by members of the Religious Society of Friends living in the community. The five "normative" testimonies are integrity, simplicity, equality, peace and direct/immediate access to God are incorporated into the curriculum today (reference and more here).

The above photo features "The Hut" in the heart of campus. It houses campus ministry. The value of "no frills" simplicity and peace greet you as you approach the area. The blue sign to the left says that "War is not the Answer." The white post in the foreground says "May peace prevail on earth" in eight languages (see below). We've identified the languages as Hebrew, Russian, German, English Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (yes we know the orientation is wrong), and one language we can't identify. Who can identify the second column, bar two? Happy Sunday and may the some, if not all, of the five normative be with you-- especially peace, in these troubled times.

 

 

Y is for Yarns, Gate City Yarns

Gate City Yarns is located downtown on South Elm Street. They sell very fabulous yarn; not your craft store, polyester, spun-in-China yarn. They have a diverse selection skeins of just about every natural source possible. They are a community gathering place for people who love and practice fiber arts. Everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level. They have been open since 2007. 

The above photo features a window display. To the left, you see people walking along the street on June's First Friday. To the left, you see giant knitting needles and some balls of yarn. In the middle, you see a lamp made from a guitar in a very steampunk style. Below, is a more conventional shot of the entrance.  They really bring a cozy, knit-by-the-fireside feel to the 200 block of South Elm Street. Today is ABC Wednesday and for "Y" in our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "Y" is for YARNS, Gate City Yarns. Click here to see A-Y and stop back next week when we conclude the series with "Z." 

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.

Farmer's Market: Produce, Family Fun, and More!

Yesterday, we brought you peaches, today, we're sharing tomatoes. As you can see, tomatoes come in many different varieties and in just about every color. You really do need to get out to the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market and see for yourself. This weekend is a good one to attend as there will be a Guilford Local Foods Celebration tomorrow, Saturday, June 25th, 2016 from 10am - 1pm with veggie self portraits and other competitions. 

If you are from the south, you will understand how much people crave those tomato sandwiches. White bread, thick slice of tomato (or two), butter and mayonnaise. Yummy! Tomorrow, there will also be a crawfish boil going on at the market. According to their website, crawfish will be $6 a pound live and $7 per pound cooked with Cajun seasoning. Vendors will be taking cash only with a 5 pound minimum- 25 pound maximum. You could spend a whole day at the market. There will be no shortage of food and fun. Get there early and enjoy!

V is for Vegetables

The main photo today was taken at the stall of the Mighty Tendril Farm at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville St. this past Saturday. The Mighty Tendril is a small-scale vegetable, fruit, and flower farm in Staley, NC. Above, farmer Emily Madara is bagging up fresh vegetables for a family. The Mighty Tendril is a regular at the Greensboro Farmers Market. The market, established in 1874, is open year round on  Saturday from 7am to 12 noon and on Wednesdays for most of April - December, from 8am- 1 pm. 

This is such a fun Saturday morning tradition. You only have to go once to realize how meaningful it is to buy produce directly from the farmers. They are generous with their knowledge and it means so much to them to be able to make a living at something they love. Shopping for and eating locally sourced food will be good for your family, too.

The thumbnail vegetables were taken at a variety of stalls throughout the market. From left to right: Swiss chard, carrots, squash blossoms (yes, they are edible), beets, and onions. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds series, V is for vegetables- local, fresh vegetables.

COE Grocery and SEED Co.

COE Grocery and SEED Co. has left the building. It has been a fixture on South Elm Street Since the early 1900's. However, this block of Elm St. is getting quite the facelift and it appears this little store is part of that wave. Coe Grocery used to be known for it's great selection of groceries as well as for a prompt delivery service.

At one time, Coe and Co. had a little bit of everything when, first, Charles Coe, and then his son Oman Coe owned and operated the store until the latter retired in 1980. It was quite a shock to walk by the other week, with the intention of purchasing plants,  and see that the store had been emptied out. Greensboro has done a nice job of keeping the downtown buildings functional and preserved, without compromising the vintage look.

Just like we said in yesterday's post, sometimes things have a way of disappearing. It will be fun to watch what goes in the space.

A Fold of Kyloe 2016

If you are a Greensboro Daily Photo regular reader, you know we have been publishing for a very long time-- 7 1/2 years, without missing a day. Well, the woman who runs Versailles Daily Photo is on vacation in Scotland and posted a photo of the above breed of cattle, kyloe. We went to find the photo we posted on March 30th, 2009 of the herd that lives off of Pleasant Ridge Road. While the text is still there, the photo is missing. Here is another copy of the photo to to share with our friend from Versailles. 

This situation reminds us that nothing on the internet is forever. While it can seem like forever, especially if it is an incriminating photo, link rot is real and things do disappear. Servers change, people quit hosting their blogs, hosting websites change hands or go out of business. Sometimes, links get corrupted. We haven't been the best about archiving our photos or the accompanying text. We haven't found a logical way to store 80,000 photos, 2,000+ of which have been shared on Greensboro Daily Photo. But then, maybe that doesn't matter. We live in very "immediate"  world where we look and move on. People want flash text-- every letter counts and 140 is enough. Maybe seeing something for that brief moment, once, is enough. We'll have to think on that.

In the meantime, today you are seeing a 2009 photo of a fold of kilos who have thick, wavy pelts to protect them from the brutal winds of the Scottish, Highlands. We're about to get in the car and retrace our steps to see if this herd-- rather fold-- is still around seven years later. Not only do virtual links disappear, real-time things (especially farms in Greensboro)  have a way of disappearing, too.

Plymouth Nursery & Old Country Store

Plymouth Nursery, located in Stoneville, actually serves Greensboro and the surrounding area. The above photo features their display at Golden Antiques on 220 North, just north of Stokesdale, over the Rockingham County line. Not only does Plymouth Nursery have some fine looking plants here, they also have a cozy, country store inside. You can find snacks, candy, and soft drinks in glass bottles and you can sit a spell and enjoy being in a store with a yesteryear feel. Looking at the above display will five you an idea of the step-back-in-time ambiance. Indeed, at the little country store, tucked away in the back of the antique store, is a great place to visit after a busy work week when the 21st century seems just a tad hectic.

Plymouth Nursery partners with Hannah's Haven, a teen challenge center in Brown Summit. Part of the profits at the nursery help women through the Hannah's Haven ministry. As we enter this Mother's Day weekend, it is nice to thinking about making purchases for mom at places that we know do something for the local community. Whether you make a purchase or not, the people at the nursery and the Old Country Store will help you feel appreciated. Happy First Friday of May!

Eternal Life Baptist Church

Six years ago, we featured the Eternal Life Baptist Church on Greensboro Daily Photo (here). There has been so much development on North Church Street over the last few years, we wanted to see if the small Baptist church was still there and indeed, it is. With American Flag Storage, an apartment complex, a Kotis construction project, and a strip mall down on the corner of Lee's Chapel, Eternal Life has managed to endure. As we drove on to the lot at 3614 North Church at sunset yesterday, with the fresh spring greenery all around, the simple white church seemed to be glowing. The neighbors across the street have seeded their lawn, and what we've affectionately dubbed "the world's smallest house" is still standing. This little neighborhood seems to be holding its own. 

If you are local and interested, Eternal Life has Sunday School at 9:45, worship at 11:00 and Thursday Bible Study at 7:00. The pastor is P.T. Noble. As best we can tell, their only web presence is the photo we took six years ago. Something about a simple, country church where time stands still, seems very comforting with this hectic world we live in. If we check in on Eternal Life in another six years, the year will be 2022.  Let's hope they are still standing... and we are too. 

 

 

Edible Redbud Blossoms

Recently, we learned that native eastern redbud blossoms are edible and so we ran outside to harvest some, just in the nick of time. As seen in the above photo, the buds are waning, being replaced by those lovely heart-shaped leaves. They tasted great as a salad topping and, to the palate, were virtually indistinguishable from bean sprouts. According to the North Carolina Folklife Institute, North Carolinians have been eating redbuds for centuries. Native Americans ate them raw and also boiled them. The blossoms also make great jelly. They are one of the first trees to blossom in spring. This sweet-pea pink color looks fabulous on a bed of greens.

Unfortunately, the redbud blossoms are mostly gone already. However, we can still enjoy the tree's beauty from now until fall.  As the "eat local" trend continues to grow, we expect to see these blossoms appear on more and more menus in Greensboro. The redbud tree has a shallow root system and can be difficult to cultivate. However, once one is established, you have a beautiful, edible addition to your yard. Let us know if you plant one!

Kimesville Dam

After reading Carl Wilson's Dec. 2015 News and Record article about the Kimesville Community on the Guilford/Alamance County border, we've wanted to explore the area. Yesterday, we had a chance to photograph Kimesville Falls, the stone dam and waterfall. It is located on Alamance Church Road (also known as Greensboro- Chapel Hill Road). The dam was built in 1812, originally powering a grist mill. A textile mill opened across the road and Kimesville became a thriving mill community. In the mid-20th century, the area was also a summertime swimming and fishing destination. They even had their own baseball and softball teams, the Muscrats-- the name inspired by muskrats, common in the area.

In the 1990's, the area was overgrown and deteriorating and was overpowered by kudzu. Community members have worked to keep the land cleared off. This past December, the Merry Christmas sign was even displayed over the falls, after a 20-year hiatus. We hope to get back to photograph it not only in the summer, but also this December. If you are driving east, the falls will be on the right side of the road. You might notice the mini-replica of the Cape Hateras lighthouse before you notice the falls.

(reference and Carl Wilson's N&R article, here).