Greensboro Daily Photo

Sears Demolition Is Well Under Way- 2024

2024 has been a year of change in Greensboro. We already showed you a photo of the razing of the News & Record building downtown. Today's photo is of demolition in progress Sears in Friendly Center at 3200 West Friendly Avenue. This is the east side with the main entrance. When it closed in 2023, the Friendly Center store was the last remaining Sears store in North Carolina. Nationally, Sears has roots dating back to 1892 (see history HERE). The year 1928 was a banner year for Sears in North Carolina when the first Sears opened in North Carolina. In that year, Sears stores opened in Greensboro, High Point, Asheville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem- a year before the stock market crashed. In Greensboro, Sears relocated in 1934, 1940, 1948, and 1973.*

Sears remained in Friendly Center for fifty years, from 1973- 2023. In 2012, Whole Foods took over part of the Sears building in Friendly. At one point, there was discussion of renovation of the above building, but as it stands now, it looks like it may be headed for total demolition. D.H. Griffin has the contract. We are wondering how they will address the common wall, shared by Whole Foods and Sears. While we are sad to see this business close, it is always refreshing when a lot gets rebuilt, as opposed to destroying unimproved, rural land.

What Sears memories do you have? Likely it will date us, but yes, we have great memories of looking through the Sears catalog to pick out school clothes and Christmas toys. We remember going to the catalog department and picking up (and returning) items for our grandparents and parents. For many, there is some real nostalgia associated with Sears. Here's to new beginnings.

Happy Tuesday!

 

*read the timeline for Sears stores in North Carolina HERE.

Missed MUSEP due to the Rainy Sunday Evening

Yesterday, during the day, the weather was lovely, warm and sunny. Then, just about 7:00 p.m., rain clouds started rolling in and shortly thereafter, it was raining throughout Greensboro. Above, you see rain in the distance over northwest Greensboro at the Carlson Farms Golf Course of the Greensboro Country Club. 

The first MUSEP (Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park) was to hold their first free concert of the season from 6:00- 8:00 pm, but it had to be cancelled due to the prediction of inclement weather. Indeed, it did rain yesterday evening. The concert series is presented by Creative Greensboro from June- August. Scheduled was Greensboro Big Band on the lawn of Greensboro College. However, it just isn't safe to have all of the electricity and sound system running when it is raining out.  MUSEP will not have a concert on Father's Day next Sunday. Weather permitting, they will return on Sunday, June 23rd at LeBauer Park. The schedule is HERE, in case you are interested. These free concerts have a way of bring the community together. If you like music, picnics, and fellowship, this series is for you. In the meantime, we have to admit, out garden loved the rain and the frog chorus put us to sleep!

Happy Monday!

Union Memorial United Methodist Church

The above photo features Union Memorial United Methodist Church located at 1012 East Gate City Boulevard at the corner of Bennett Street.. The church resembles  a two-story apartment complex. The church lawn is expansive. The cornerstone dates the church to 1951, with W.E. Hairston listed as pastor. Timmothy Fitzgerald is the current pastor. The cornerstone above it says High Street M.E. Church, Organized December 2, 1902.

Union Memorial offers a free breakfast every 3rd Saturday, which will be next weekend at 8:30 am. If you are interested in the church, that would be a good time to attend.

Happy Saturday!

School Is Out!

In Guilford County, school is out for the summer. Teachers and students have worked long and hard to get to this point. The above photo was taken at Grimsley High School yesterday.  At the high school level, students stop coming to school when they have finished their last exams. The Grimsley High School graduation ceremony was yesterday. The last graduation ceremonies will be on Sunday, June 9th with Northern's graduation at 5:00 pm. That will REALY close out the year for students.

Students on traditional calendars will return on August 26th. Here's to a great summer for everyone. Congratulations to all the graduates. 

Happy Saturday!

 

Milkweed Garden in Peabody Park

If you want to know what milkweed looks like, head to Peabody Park on the northwest end of campus at UNCG. It takes milkweed a couple of years to bloom and when we visited this park a couple of weeks ago, the plants were full of blooms. Peabody Park is a 34-acre tract of land and part of the Piedmont Prairie habitat. There are many different plantings there, for the purpose of attracting pollinators.

According to UNCG's website, the original pathway networked of Peabody Park was designed by landscape architect Warren H. Manning who was an advocate of "wild garden" designs. Manning came to work at UNCG in 1909, when the school was known as the North Carolina State Normal and Industrial School. Manning worked with the landscape designer of Central Park in NYC (Frederick Law Olmstead) and Manning went on to design at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.  The Internet is truly an amazing resource, where one can start out snapping a simple photo of milkweed, and wind up learning of a Central Park and Biltmore estate connecting to Greensboro. Check out Peabody Park this weekend and don't forget to head downtown to First Friday tonight. 

Happy Friday!

More Along Eugene Street

Yesterday's post was from a photo taken while walking along Eugene Street. Today, it is the same. This is the part of Eugene across from the ballpark. In the middle, Hyatt Place is featured. It was built in 2019 and adds a modern flair to this part of town. It has 108 rooms and is known for having a sleek design and for being dog friendly.  The photo is a bit distorted as a result of the angle we used to take the picture. However, the angle does add to the emphasis on geometric shapes.

If you look closely, you can see the city's beloved Lincoln Financial Group off to the far right. There is a lot happening downtown this weekend as tomorrow is First Friday. Thursday is the new Friday, so today would be a great day to head downtown. See you there!

Lincoln Financial Group, Plus

On one of our recent urban walking treks, we were looking at all of the changes on Eugene Street, which led us to the baseball stadium, the Hyatt, the Carroll at Bellemeade Apartments, and more. We then went to the Grace United Methodist Church and noticed that the lot at the corner of Eugene and Friendly is cleared and filled in with grass. This open lot provides a perfect view of the (from left to right) the Jefferson Standard Building (1923)  The Lincoln Financial Group Building (1990), the West Market Street United Methodist Church (this iteration dates to 1898), and the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Building (completed 1933).

L. Richardson Preyer, a Greensboro native,  was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and later a United States representative of North Carolina. This accomplished person, a Princeton and Harvard graduate, was the son of Mary Norris Richardson Preyer and William Yost Preyer, and the grandson of Lunsford Richardson, the founder of Vick Chemical Company. On this one city block, alone, in Greensboro, there is so much history. What a joy it is to piece together; and it is even more fun to explore on foot. Now, with cell phones, we can walk and research and photograph, all at the same time.

Happy Wednesday!

Red Hat Society at World Promenade

From Paris to the world, the Red Hat Society comes out every year to attend Greensboro Beautiful's promenade . The above photo gives you a good idea of the spirit of the festival this past Sunday. Friend groups came together, likely an annual tradition for many, and people were milling around while groups performed. There were also people who sat attentively, enjoying performances. Sunday, between the visitors, performers, and the grounds themselves, the Tanger Family Bicentennial Gardens were at peak beauty.

Here, on the World Stage, the Travis Williams Group was performing. This quintet is a group of talented musicians with Travis Williams on the oud (yes, that's an instrument); Collin Allured on an array of instruments; Ken Simonds on bass; Kinard Douthit on flute; and Bill Smith on percussion. If you follow the link above, you can see their summer schedule. If you want to learn more about the Red Hat Society, see HERE. It sounds like their mission is to gather for fun and fellowship, which was a perfect reason to attend the World Promenade.

Happy Tuesday!

World Promenade 2024

Greensboro Beautiful's June event, Parisian Promenade has been rebranded as World Promenade. As opposed to only representing Paris, the theme expanded to feature artists and performers throughout the world. The above photo features Amanda Garner, Director of Greensboro Beautiful, who helped with this transition. She oversees other community events for the organization. We photographed her during the event in the vendor booth of the Sustainably Yours Mobile Boutique.* She had stopped by while making her rounds to see if the artists and vendors needed anything.

There were food trucks, artists, performers, and more all throughout The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. The event was planned in conjunction with the City of Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department. The family friendly event was extended into the upper part of the garden. Gauging attendance and the mood of the attendees, the event was a big success. This is one of many free events available to the public throughout the year in Greensboro. Here is a link to the Greensboro Beautiful website where you can learn about volunteer opportunities and their many events. Greensboro is known for its beautiful landscaping and green spaces, Greensboro Beautiful, mostly manned by volunteers, contributes significantly to this beauty.

Happy Monday! 

*Follow them @sustainablyyours336 on Instagram

Grace United Methodist Church

This is a view of Grace Church from Eugene Street. Their actually street address is 438 West Friendly Avenue. According to their website, Grace began in 1891 as a small group that was outreach-minded. Today, the congregation continues to nurture community partnerships, including Community Development Partnership and their Learning Together Program.*

The photo was taken from the lot at the corner of Friendly and Eugene that is currently empty. Construction has happened all around here: The Hyatt Place, the Carroll at Bellemeade luxury apartments, the parking garage, the Office Tower at First National Bank, are a few of the changes. But, for now,  this view from the east makes the church look like it is in the suburbs or even the country. With building, attached to building, Grace is expansive taking up a half of a city block.

We first featured this church in 2014 (see HERE); at that time, we learned that the American actor Charlton Heston was married at that church. He and his wife Lydia Clarke remained married until his death in 2008. You may remember him from the Ben-Hur movie and The Ten Commandments.

Happy Sunday

 

* read more HERE.

Natty Greene's Expansion on South Elm Street

Today's photo features the revamped outdoor eating space for Natty Greene's. The sunscreens help shield customers from the summer sun. In the back right of the sun deck, a performance stage has been built; making it much easier for musicians to plug in and perform. Is is part of the brewhouse pavilion. Here is a Fox8 article that explains the expansion in more detail and gives you an overview of the space. The new space has an elegant look and adds a nice touch to Hamburger Square.

Can you believe today is the first day of June? Traditional schools in Guilford County will be out for the summer. First Friday will be next week on June 7th. That will give you a great chance to get downtown and explore and see this patio area. Natty Greene's does not take reservations, so this new space adds seating and when musicians are playing, you have an enjoyable way to pass the time.

Happy Saturday!

At the Corner of Beaman Place & Grecade Street

Today's photo was taken in the same parking lot as the one from yesterday. This is a parking lot on the southeast corner of Beaman Place and Grecade Street in Mid-town. Beyond the lens to the left is FILTER Coffee Shop, then The Tiny Greenhouse, Then Craftroom (the pink building [artwork by Golden305]), then the Music Academy, and finally, the building with the mural is The Chop Shop Hair Company. Also, hidden back there is Jacobi-Lewis Restaurant Supply. This shows you just how diverse the area of town is becoming.

Just researching this post has us wanting to go back and visit each of these businesses. The Chop Shop Hair Company is decorated in steam punk style full of collectibles. Also, they cut hair for men and women. We didn't see the artist's name on the mural, but we bet The Chop Shop manager will know. There is so much to explore in Greensboro and we're out to see as much as possible this summer. Don't forget the inaugural "World Promenade" on Sunday, June 2nd at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden from 1:00- 5:00 p.m.. It is a rebranding of the Parisian Promenade, but it will be another spectacular Greensboro Beautiful event.

Happy Last Day of May!

FILTER Coffee

Filter Coffee opened in Mid-town in January of this year. It is located in the space beside The Tiny Greenhouse, a space that had been vacant for quite a while. 1333 Beaman Place is now hopping at 7:00 am.  Co-owners Paris and J'mihyia Whitsett bill their establishment as a "groundbreaking establishment where coffee meets hookah."*

FILTER has extended coffee shop hours: Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 6. p.m.;  Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The photo above was taken through the back door after closing. Between the "C" and "ff" of the word "coffee" is downtown Greensboro. FLITER has windows on three of four sides, forming something of a glass house. The space us huge, and very conducive to spending time socially as well as having a nice space to get work done. Having a full-service, black-female-owned  coffee shop is yet another step forward for the Mid-town area. Read the article below for even more details.

Happy Thursday!

 

* see article HERE.

 

 

Summer Fun at Friendly Center

Today, we're sharing another scene from Friendly Center. The photo was taken at dusk, between Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Harris Teeter. While it is hard to see people, there were actually several people hanging out there. Barely visible are two people playing corn hole. Just beyond the low wall by the left-most column, several teens (or young adults) were sitting picnic-style and engaged in meaningful conversation. We were struck by the fact that they seemed to be enjoying each other, as opposed to using their phones.

It is nice to find safe spaces for fellowship and good, clean fun. This little spot in Friendly Center appears to be just such space. "New" Friendly Center has been around since 2006. They are already undergoing some work with cones and tape on the side not too far from the above scene. Can you believe it has been 18 years? Let's hope Friendly Center remains vibrant and a place people feel comfortable. So far, so good!

Happy Wednesday!

Eclectic by Nature (Formerly, My Secret Garden)

The other day we were walking along Bradford Street heading toward State Street, looked up and saw the above view. It is the house at 414 State Street which houses the business, Eclectic by Nature. It is a woman-owned store that specializes in spirituality products and gift items. If you want crystals, incense, journals, oils, candles, and more, this is your place to go. It is a house full of items and special events. There is always something on the event calendar. 

Not only is the shop beautiful, but the grounds are inspiring, as you can see from the photo above. They way the light shines on the redbud tree leave and the flag is so pretty. Had we panned out in the photo you would see wildflowers, a gate of lovers' locks and more,  all coming together in such a beautiful way. There is even a free little library in the front yard. We like this store, but are also nostalgic for the plant and yard ornament/statuary shop that used to be in this house. It was called My Secret Garden. These locally owned business are so fun to visit, especially in the summer.  If you want to read more about State Street, read this great "Yes! Weekly" article (see HERE).

Happy Tuesday!

Memorial Day 2024

We took this photo on Memorial Day 2022 at the flag ceremony in Friendly Center. We didn't see confirmation that it would be held today, but to our knowledge, it is held every year at 8:00 am at the original part of Friendly Center and on the Friendly Avenue side. It is very solemn and wonderful for children to see and as a way to honor those who gave their life for the country. 

Other events listed today are theMemorial Day Ceremony at the Triad Park Field of Honor at 9652 West Market Street at 10:30 a.m. On a less solemn note, there will be wagon rides at Summerfield Farms at 3203 Pleasant Ridge Road from 1:00- 5:00 p.m. If you or a friend has lost someone serving the country, you are in our thoughts. Greensboro is a patriotic town, so we know there have been many.

Happy Monday.

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society. It is a  Catholic men's group with the purpose of serving and doing charitable deeds. The organization dates back to 1882 and today,  boasts nearly 2 million men worldwide. There are different councils in Greensboro. St. Mary's council is located at 1414 Gorrell Street.  There is a council at St. Pius X. There are more Knight of Columbus groups in Greensboro, dating back to 1904. There used to be a clubhouse on Horse Pen Creek. It is no longer there.

The above omit if the Piedmont Council stone was taken in 2018, over six years ago. Traditionally, the Knights of Columbus have held a wreath laying ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Happy Sunday!

 

Hydrangea Season on Walker Avenue

It is hydrangea season in Greensboro and 2017 Walker Avenue is in full bloom. This two bedroom one bathroom house is located just down from UNCG and across the street from the little log cabin*. Hydrangeas like a lot of water and the recent rains have kept these bushes in full bloom. This house was built in 1947 and, according to Zillow, last sold in 2013. This is a very walkable neighborhood, part of the reason houses around here hold their value. 

If you are in town this Memorial Day weekend, it would be a good time to drive around and admire the beauty of our neighborhoods. Another great event to attend is the Memorial Day observance today in Country Park at 2:00 pm. It will be held at the Guilford County Veterans' Memorial. Hope to see you there.

Happy Saturday!

* see our post from 2009 about the cabin (HERE).

Carolina Theatre Romeo & Juliet

Last night was a very special night. Artistic Motion School of Arts and Triad International Ballet presented Romeo and Juliet at the Carolina Theatre. The choreography was staged and adapted by Natalya Davidson and Heather Prokhnitski, both accomplished teachers who bring a wealth of expertise to the dance community in Greensboro. The above photo features the lobby of the Carolina Theatre after the final performance of the ballet. A mix of dancers, their families, and fans can be seen in the photo.

Husband and wife team Karina (Juliet) and Grigor Zakyan (Romeo) were perfect in the leading roles. Both have strong connections to Artistic Motion in Greensboro and the Armenian Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan. This organization dates to the early 20th century and has a long tradition of quality performing arts with links to the Soviet Armenian heritage and the Republic of Armenia- an independent country since 1991. Greensboro can be proud of having such high caliber ballet in the community. In Romeo and Juliet, there were guest artists from the National Ballet of Armenia, Richmond Ballet, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Artistic Motion. Not going unnoticed were all of the village kids, children who are growing up with a strong foundation in the performing arts. Indeed, the hashtag Together we can #BeExtraordinary was achieved.

Happy Friday!

LEAP Artists Imagine Outer Space at Green Hill

The Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art has dynamic exhibits that are displayed in the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. Currently, they have an exciting exhibit featuring all things outer space. It is called LEAP: Artists Imagine Outer Space. There are space suits, as the artist imagines it. There are futuristic outposts, fictional persona, and works of art that inspire viewers to imagine our place in the universe.  This is a creative, interactive exhibit that will hold the attention of people of all ages. 

This exhibit will be installed until June 29th and on First Friday (June 7th) the exhibit will be open from 3:00 pm- 9:00 pm. It will be a great way to kick off summer fun.  During First Friday there will be participatory activities. The above photo is an example of the level of engagement and intergenerational fun possible at this exhibit.

Happy Thursday!

911 Sculpture Project

We've mentioned the 911 Sculpture Project by Jim Gallucci a couple of times now, so, we thought we'd feature it again. Located in the 500 block of South Elm Street, the sculpture was installed in downtown Greensboro in 1917, replacing the Martin Luther King bust which was relocated in Old Asheboro.

The base of the sculpture has a pentagon shape. Two steel beams from the World Trade Center hold the moveable gate together. The sculpture has fifty sheets of steel, replicating paper fluttering to the ground. In all, 16 tons of steel from the NYC building were used. Gallucci put so much thought into the construction of this work of art, we're convinced he would do the News & Record justice. He would work his magic with pieces of the rubble we've shown you over the past two days. To help you orient, also seen in the above photo is the Christman Company building at 408 South Elm Street.

Happy Wednesday!

Dismantling The News & Record Building 2024

Today, we wanted to share another view of the back side of the former News & Record building. This close-up shows the extensive metal that was used in the building.  We would love to see Jim Gallucci make a sculpture out of some of this rubble. Does anyone know about the green metal doors, seen above? They are intriguing; as are all of the gears, which likely had something to do with printing presses In this closeup, you can see former offices. Also, on the right, you see one of several I-beams. This is a lot of history of a bygone era.

We've got to find a way to read local news and get people writing it. Triad City Beat, Yes Weekly, and the Carolina Peacemaker are three of our lifelines now. As of 2018, Rhino Times ceases publication. The printing of the News & Record moved to Winston-Salem in 2017.  Please continue to read it and send in letters, editorials, and articles for print. It is so important for us to hear from people in our community. How do you get your local news?

News & Record, Going But Not Forgotten

The weekend started with acclaimed author and journalist, James McBride praising the fine journalism in Greensboro. The weekend ended with our heading over to see what was left of the Greensboro News & Record Building on East Market Street. The front of the building is still intact, but demolition is well under way on the back side. You can still see office space from this back view. Demolition should be finished by the end of the summer. While the newspaper traces its roots back to the late 1800s, the above building was completed in 1976. After 48 years, with the diminished state of print journalism in the digital era, no longer needed were the above in-person think tank and printing presses. D.H. Griffin began demolition on 4/22/24. They are the local company that played a major role in clean up after the 911 tragedy in New York City. 

While on site, we noticed pieces of steel I-beams, chunks of bricks and cement, and many interesting metal pieces (e.g., several small metal doors that looked like facades of safes). After resuming our walk along South Elm Street, we visited Sculptor Jim Gallucci's 9/11 Sculpture Project on at the South 500 block of Elm. It is crafted from beams that D.H. Griffin brought back from NYC. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a sculpture commemorating 130 years of noteworthy journalism in Greensboro. The I-beams are still there and could be figured into a sculpture. As we were leaving, we noticed a piece of the Sunday comics in the rubble. It was on that thick paper and the color was intact. Sometimes you don't realize what you miss until it is gone. We look forward to seeing what becomes of the space.

Happy Monday!

Greensboro History Museum, Former First Presbyterian Church

Yesterday, the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival held sessions at the Greensboro History Museum. Formerly, the History Museum was the First Presbyterian Church. Seeing this view of the entrance of the museum, filled with people, reminded us of what it must have looked like when the building was a church. It was built in 1892, 84 years after Greensboro was established. First Presbyterian relocated to 617 North Elm Street in 1929.

One of the sessions held in the history museum was, "Calling on Ancestors: Writing the Past into the Present." Tyree Daye, Zelda Lockhart, and David Nicholson shared stories of ancestors across generations. The presentation seemed perfect for the history museum where past meets present on a daily basis. The audience listening to  the session in the intimate auditorium is not unlike what it must have felt like to attend a church sermon in the building. The space is a Greensboro treasure.

Happy Sunday!

Yes, Greensboro, There Is a Cybertruck

On one of our walks around town, hoping for serendipity to land a photo for Greensboro Daily Photo, lo and behold a Tesla cybertruck drove up Elm Street at the intersection with Washington. This forest green cybertruck with temporary tags was seen on May 15th (2024). We love the contrast of the futuristic vehicle with the weathered brick facade of the "Thousands of Prints, Plenty of Frames" shop. Starting prices range from $61,000 to $100,000 depending on which model you choose. Read more about this electric vehicle HERE. We wish we'd had a chance to see the driver, but the windows are pretty dark.

We'll be back downtown today to attend more events with the FREE, Greensboro Bound Literary Festival. What a great way to spend a rainy day. Most of the events and the great conversations will take place between the Central Library, History Museum, the Cultural Center, and Scuppernong Books. We're planning to go by and see what remains of the News and Record Building. That will be a hard look. My how times have changed. Digital virtual news, electric cars, we're wondering what is next for 36.0734ºN, 79.7932ºW.

Happy Saturday!

 

Conversation with James McBride

Last night, in the auditorium at the Elliot University Center on the UNCG campus, literary great James McBride spoke as part of the 2024 Greensboro Bound Literary Festival. Actually, he engaged in a conversation with moderator and author, Tita Ramierz, who teaches writing at Elon University. She came with a combination of her own well-crafted questions and questions shared from local book club members. McBride has written many books, the ones most-discussed last night were "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" and "The Color of Water"-  the latter a memoir that divides chapters between his mother's life (in italics) and his own. McBride also came to UNCG's campus 25 years ago when UNCG freshman read was "the Color of Water" with over 900 people attending his presentation. 

McBride shared so many pearls of wisdom, including what "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" is about. McBride explained it addresses small town secrets and the people who keep them, and what it was like to be an American at a time when that term was being revised. It is also about dialog. The book started as a chapter about a camp Moshe started and it grew from there. The topic of immigration and the Jewish experience in America is addressed. The character Malechai leads the reader to ponder what one keeps from the old-country vs. a new way of living. Ramierz noted that McBride was masterful at tying together all the threads of the characters' stories in the last 1/3 of the book. McBride said that he had those last three exciting chapters of Moby Dick in mind when writing the novel. He urges every American student to read those last three chapters of Moby Dick-  and perform one year of service abroad. 

When asked what he would write next, McBride talked about how hard it is to write a book after you've published one that is so widely successful. He said that he has to get it out of his head that the next book needs to be a "home run." He also said he's had his turn and that he is ready to give someone else a chance. McBride reminded the audience we need to support young, up-and-coming writers, which can be done with the help of the indie bookstores and librarians.

McBride, a journalist himself,  mentioned that at one time Greensboro had the most talented journalists, but local news is now lacking. Through good journalistic practices, people learn to write and the community stays abreast of what is happening. He asserts journalism is the perfect background to be a fiction writer.  

If you have not read "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store," do yourself a favor and read it. We plan to reread it, focusing on ideas his talk. Also, we want to pay more attention to the relationship between Fatty and Big Soap, and look for the reference at the end regarding "waiting for the future." We knew we would love McBride's insight into his writing and life in general. What we  didn't anticipate was how special it would be to spend the evening surrounded by people who love to read and discuss books

If you want to attend the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival over the next three days, see the schedule HERE, and if you want to purchase the books, head to Scuppernong Books.

Greensboro BOUND Literary Festival 2024

The Greensboro BOUND Literary Festival is upon us. The above photo was taken at Scuppernong Books yesterday. They have a display of books, the works of the authors who are coming to town. It starts today and events will be happening until Sunday. See HERE for a schedule and more information. James McBride, author of "The Color of Water" and "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" is speaking tonight on UNCG's campus. Pre-registration was required and it is full. 

In 2018, the festival was co-founded by Brian Lampkin, co-owner of Scuppernong Books, and Steve Colyer a retired telecom executive. The authors and their presentations, or conversations, and workshops represent a wide diversity of topics and genres. The author selection is also quite diverse.  The festival organizers have worked hard on the logistics, in an effort for attendees to make it from Point A to Point B (see here).  Greensboro is so lucky to have this great event centered around BOOKS! Year 7 looks pretty fabulous. 

Happy Thursday!

Wendover Avenue at Rush Hour

Yesterday brought a lot of rain and temperatures hovering in the 60ºs. Today it should be warmer with temperatures in the 70ºs, but also rainy. We aren't on Wendover Avenue very often, but we were yesterday afternoon, turning on to West Wendover near the I-40 interchange. So often we opt for backroads when possible, but Wendover is very convenient to navigate east/west travel in Greensboro. 

This 15 mile stretch of road was completed in 1972. In the west, it ends at Eastchester. In the east, it changes to Burlington Road at O. Henry Boulevard. According to Brixmor, there are approximately 58,000 vehicles a day on Wendover Avenue. With a population of just over 300,000, that means that about 19% of Greensboro's population uses Wendover Avenue in a day. Of course not everyone on the road is necessarily from Greensboro, but that gives you an idea. The road has a personality all its own!

Happy Wednesday!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This past Friday had some interesting weather. There was sun, some rain, rainbows, and then the Northern Lights. The above photo was taken along Highway 150, between Kernersville and Oak Ridge. The business is the Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home. According to their website, they've been in Kernersville since 1984.  Surely, there is a message when a rainbow arcs over a funeral home.

We love to drive on the back roads and out in the county. Highway 150 to Kernersville used to have a country road feel. Over the past few years, construction has been extensive. Already, it is getting harder to tell where Kernersville and Forsyth County end and Oak Ridge and Guilford County begin. The road is still un-busy enough to allow for time to stop and photograph and catch little slices of life, much more so than U.S. Highway 421 or I-40.

Happy Tuesday!

All Pets Considered

All Pets Considered is a great local business. It has been in Greensboro for 32 years- since 1992. They have pet foods and supplies, as well as pet-themed gifts. Located at 2614 Battleground Avenue, on the south side of Cone Boulevard, All Pets Considered is easy to spot when that bright pink van is parked out front. As you can see from the van, they offer delivery service. They cater to cats and dogs, offering professional pet grooming and the option to shop online. See their website HERE.

There is a second location of All Pets Considered (APC)  at 5004 High Point Road. We encourage to shop local. Local vendors do so much for the local economy. On Saturday, APC hosted a fundraiser for Red Dog Farms. We hope it was successful. We'll try to catch the next one.

Happy Monday!

Mother's Day 2024

Happy Mother's Day 2024. Yesterday, we were out looking for something in Greensboro to photograph for Mother's Day. When driving past Fresh Market on Lawndale, we saw this very creative sign that said "MOM" with metal letters and flowers. It was so beautiful, a standout even from the road. The display must have been effective, because so many people were inside purchasing flowers. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, about 75% of the cut flowers the USA, today, originate in Colombia and the industry has been growing since 1962.  Indeed, there were lots of bouquets of Colombian flowers flying out the door of Fresh Market- especially roses.

We have lots of wonderful florists in Greensboro, but by this morning, grocery stores are the best bet for getting cut flowers and home improvement stores for flowers to plant. Places like the Arboretum, Tanger Bicentennial Gardens, and Gateway Gardens are your best bet for taking photos with flowers. And then, there is always the above display that would be perfect for a photo with MOM.

Happy Sunday!

 

When the Northern Lights Came to Greensboro

May 10, 2024 was the night the Northern Lights came to Greensboro. We didn't capture the best photo on the internet, but last night, between 10:30pm and 11:00 pm, we did capture a photo of that strange weather phenomenon that extended into the south. We will always remember seeing them at night. Imagine what people thought in previous centuries without light pollution when the night sky lit up with a colorful show. We learned of this  remarkable experience when others started posting photos. Apparently, they are the result of a geomagnetic storm. 

We will head out again to have a look tonight. The best aurora is usually seen between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. and visibility is best from higher altitude and in a place of low light pollution. We drove around in northwest Greensboro to take this photo. We hope you get a chance to see them and that we get an even better photo this evening. The blur to the right was a car coming along.

Happy Saturday!

Brooks Global, In Progress

We love to drive by new school construction and check on progress. The above photo is of Brooks Global Elementary School as it stands now, located just behind the Greensboro Arboretum. This is one of the six schools that have been funded with bond money. The state-of-the-art design will fit an 80,000 sq. ft. building on an 8-acre lot. There will be solar panels and ceiling tiles made of recycled material; all visible to students so they can learn about sustainable energy. The school will have large windows to help bring the outdoors in and students will be able to walk across the street to the Arboretum.* An outdoor classroom in anticipated to be a popular feature.

The building is starting to look like a school. If you want to see people hard at work, get there before 3:30, when the construction crew winds up for the day. When we visited yesterday, we saw people hard at work. The process and progress are fascinating. Those will be some lucky teachers and students who have the privilege of teaching and learning here. Hopefully, photos of the construction will be available to be archived.

Happy Friday!

*reference and more information, HERE.

 

 

Layers of Downtown

We love this view on Greene Street and have published a similar one in years past. The front building is the Fire Department, City of Greensboro Central Station. It was built by architect Charles C. Hartmann from 1925- 1926. In 1980, this Renaissance Revival building is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It closed in 1980, replaced by a station at 1514 North Church Street. We love the way the Marriott Hotel looms large behind the fire station. The day we walked by, the red, white, and blue cars just happened to be parked in a row- adding yet another layer of visual interest. 

Mariott will build a 12-story hotel on North Eugene Street. Here is a list of many projects on the books for downtown Greensboro.  Have a great Thursday! Head downtown to see some of these projects in process and locations of what is here now that will soon be replaced.

The LeBauer Splash Pad

As the weather gets warmer, downtown just seems to come alive. The photo above features the splashed or spray ground in LeBauer Park. It is open from May to September 8am-10pm. Children love romping in the water while parents sit around watching. The children have so much fun. It is also known as the VF Seasonal Plaza fountain. See this list of local splash pads. Perhaps you could set a goal to visit all of them with your children this summer.

These water features are just so fun and a good prelude to a vacation to the beach. For those with children, school will be winding up soon. We'll be on the lookout for some more summer-fun ideas!

Happy Wednesday!

LeBauer Park

Wrangler, Lee, Kantoor

Today's photo features the view of the Wrangler, Lee, Kontoor Building at 400 North Elm Street. The photo was taken from the southeast side of Tanger Center. We love the way the unidentified couple echos the couple on the advertisement. This 60,000 sq. ft. building opened in early 1994. Oh, the changes it has seen in 30 years. However, fortunately, the world headquarters of what is now Kontoor is located here, in Greensboro. When the four story building opened, there were 700 employees*. For our loyal history buffs, here is a timeline of Wrangles history, something we can be very proud of in Greensboro. 

Preparing this post, we realize we've never been inside the building. The lighting is supposed to be indirect and conducive to a good work environment. We're adding that effort to visit the inside to our summer "to do" list. As for the couple in the photo, we're betting they were wearing jeans!

Happy Tuesday!

*reference and more information HERE.

PTI Kay Hagan Air Traffic Tower

Saturday night was foggy in Greensboro, making the Kay Hagan Air Traffic Tower at the PTI Airport stand out. The tower looked especially beautiful with the blue lighting and the red light on top. The 180 foot tower was constructed by an all-female engineering team and has been open in 2022. The state-of-the-art tower, controls a 60-mile radius of air traffic. Fifty-two FAA employees work at the tower. It was named after the late-Senator Kay Hagan, who was instrumental in helping secure funding for it.* This new structure replaced the 90-ft one that had been built in 1974. To be sure, it was visible as we drove up late Saturday night.

The Greensboro PTI airport is the fourth busiest in North Carolina.  

Happy Monday!

*reference and more information HERE.