Greensboro Daily Photo

Hinnant's Sculpture to Harriet Tubman in LeBauer Park

In May 2019, Durham-based artist Vandorn Hinnant installed a sculpture in downtown Greensboro at LeBauer Park. The words remind the community of the African -American, political activist and abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Tubman, who was born in 1822, lived to the age of 90, in spite of her brutal treatment and hard life as a slave. Tubman dedicated her life to equal rights and to helping others to freedom, especially through the Underground Railroad. 

The sculptor of the above piece, Vandorn Hinnant, is originally from Greensboro and is known to return for art events. In January, he attended the installation of the MLK bust in Ole Asheboro. Hinnant grew up in Ole Asheboro and studied at NC A&T and UNC Greensboro. He is also a founding member of the African-American Atelier in Greensboro. As hinted in the above sculpture, his art connections to social justice and geometry.*

*Read more about Mr. Hinnant, here.

Pools Closing- End of Summer

Labor Day signals the end for most outdoor public and private pools; the last hurrah for swimming. Many pools have longstanding traditions on Labor Day weekend. For example Friendly Pool has a picnic and performance by their synchronized swim team. The above photo features the Bur-Mil Aquatic Center on the closing day. The Bur-Mill pool is part of the 250 acre Bur-Mil Park in Northwest Greensboro. Bur-Mil has only been a park since 1989, and the pool was added in 2003, but both are extremely popular. 

As you can see from the above photo, the pool is clean and inviting. It is reasonably priced and open to the public. If you want to visit the pool, you will have to wait until Memorial Day. In the meantime, the walking and biking trails and golf facility are open at Bur-Mil, as are many of the other amenities. Please support these public parks in Greensboro and help the young children develop a love for nature and spending time outdoors. Bur-Mil is a great place for people of all ages!

Last MUSEP Concert of the Season

The final MUSEP concert was held at Blandwood Mansion this past Sunday in downtown Greensboro. Holding it there was such a great grand finale, especially with the Food Truck Festival just around the corner. Some people visited the food trucks before the concert and some after the event. You know summer is coming to a screeching halt when the Sunday evening MUSEP music concerts come to an end. The Italian Villa architectural style, built in the late 18th early 19th century, home of Governor Motley (of the same era) would make a great painting! Here are a couple of examples of paintings of Blandwood. (#1 and #2). 

MUSEP just celebrated their 40th anniversary. Let's hope MUSEP remains strong for years to come and that they continue to feature concerts throughout the parks in Greensboro!

MUSEP at Latham Park

The Sunday evening music concerts hosted at the city parks, and brought to us by the City of Greensboro have been a fabulous Greensboro tradition for forty years. Last night's music was at Latham Park where the audience was treated to a Beatles tribute by Wonderwall and Funk, by Doby.

Between bands, the UNCG art department rolled out a giant beachball and the under-ten crowd went wild chasing it around. It was so wonderful seeing the above crew have unbridled fun OUTSIDE, while their parents enjoyed talking with friends and sharing snacks. MUSEP does so much to build community and we are lucky to have these concerts. Forty years of great music, every Sunday, all summer long. The final concert is next Sunday at Blandwood Mansion. See you there!

National Night Out

National Night Out is held throughout the United States on the first Tuesday of August. The purpose is for police officers to build community with residents and for neighbors to get to know each other. The initiative started in 1984, which makes this year the 35th year of the event. People sit on their front porches with the lights on, children play outside, and officers stop by to meet and interface with residents. 

The above photo shows the Lindley Park neighborhood as people began to arrive for the gathering in the park-- beside the pool and in front of the recreation center. People of all ages seemed to be enjoying themselves and the rain managed to hold off until later in the evening. Did you have an opportunity to participate in an event? If not, consider spearheading one next year. You never know, you just may start a tradition that will last for decades. And, if it is in front of your house, you won't even have to drive anywhere to enjoy the evening.

Oh, Playgrounds!

Over the past several years, Greensboro has been getting more public space, including play spaces. LeBauer Park is one example. There is so much to do there: Fountains, ping pong, climbing spaces, and more. Gateway Gardens is another public space that families adore.

The above photo is one of the playground spaces at the Greensboro Arboretum, on the West Market Street side of the park. The equipment is plastic with no sharp edges and the mulch bed is thick. This playground is part of the 17 acre space that you can use for walking and picnicking. It is open daily and is free! If you like parks, try it out this weekend.

MUSEP 2019

MUSEP 2019 has been in full swing for a few weeks this year. Greensboro's free concert series, "Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park," has been going strong in Greensboro for forty years. The concerts vary in style of music and location.  Last night's concert was held in Barber Park in East Greensboro; the Philharmonia of Greensboro played Classical Music and Pops. The weather was a little hot, but no rain!

Next Sunday, the concert will be held in Lindley Park at Starmount Dr. and West Market Street. It will be an evening of Americana and Nu Blu (Bluegrass). The concerts are free, but they always appreciate your donations. Even more, they appreciate your attendance, to support these great musicians, many of whom are local. Grab a friend, a chair, picnic snack, and come on out!

 

Picture Perfect Night in Downtown Greensboro

Last night was magical in downtown Greensboro. The above photo features LeBauer Park during the family movie night on the lawn. Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc. and UNC-Greensboro have partnered to bring the community  free movie Friday.* You bring the picnic and the chair, or blanket. Also downtown, Cafe Europa was filled with diners enjoying the al fresco experience under the strings of lights. The Greensboro Bound Literary Festival held a session in the cultural arts building. The Girl Scouts held a campout in the First National Bank Field, and the weather, dry and mid-80s, was perfect for these outdoor events.

If you want to start your weekend with some great fun, invite a friend or some family members and head downtown. Greensboro is so beautiful, especially when people from all walks of life come together and enjoy the company of each other. The above scene evokes simpler times, harkening back to the day when we sat around watching network TV together with no opportunity to record, fast forward, or watch a movie privately on one's phone. Don't you think the screen looks like a giant, console TV!

 

* Remaining schedule: May 24: Isle of Dogs; May 31: Ralph Breaks the Internet; June 7: Avengers: Infinity War; June 14: Ferdinand; June 21: Bohemian Rhapsody; June 28: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald; July 12: Mary Poppins Returns; July 19: Small Foot; July 26: The Meg;Aug 2: The Princess Bride;Aug 9: The Greatest Showman;Aug 16: How to Train Your Dragon 2;Aug 23: Aquaman; Aug 30: Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse

Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse

Today, the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse continues. The morning will start with the troops down by the river for a worship service on the day of the big battle. Today is the 237th anniversary of the battle that happened on March 15, 1781.

We must confess that we took this photo eight years ago; however, it evokes such a beautiful of a father and son praying together it is worth featuring it again. The young boy would be about twenty years old now.  This scene was taking place in the part of Country Park that is behind the Greensboro Science Center, off Lawndale Drive.  If you get a chance, head to the park and experience this event. Happy Sunday.

Spring Is On Its Way...

 

Signs of spring are here, in Greensboro. Today is a beautiful Saturday. The sun is shining, the early flowers are pushing their way through mulch, pine straw, and leaves from deciduous trees. The above crocus plants are volunteers, staking their space under a sweet gum tree. At long last, Greensboro has a reprieve from rain, with nice weather predicted for the week. By about mid-July, we'll probably be begging for rain.

In the meantime, today is the 238 Anniversary of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. If you are up for it, head over to see one of the most historic events in Greensboro, the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Today and tomorrow, there will be events to bring Revolutionary War history alive.

Post Election Day

Regardless of how you feel about the election results in Greensboro and beyond, almost everyone seems to be glad that this election cycle is over. The plus side is that locally and nationally, more people voted, realizing the importance of the process. However, the yard signs, billboards, memes, and less-than-kind words were stressful.

The above photo was taken this past Saturday between the Cultural Arts Center, the Church Street parking deck, and LeBauer Park. The sunlight was so beautiful, the grasses were at peak color, and leaves were starting to turn orange. It is noticeable that, while this photo was taken in an urban area, there is no signage; absolutely nothing has words on it. A lone, unidentified artist stands, deciding whether to turn right or left. In the distance, there are people enjoying each other's company in the park. The scene is calm and civil, a palate-cleansing, post-election view. 

Westerwood Chili Cook-off

Tis' the season for Brunswick stew, barbecue, and chili. Yesterday was the chili cook-off for the Westerwood neighborhood. Held in Lake Daniel Park by the tennis courts, the Westerwood chili cook-off brought neighbors together to see who could cook the best chili and to build community through eating together.

Westerwood is a downtown neighborhood of 650 homes build around the 1920s, just (you guessed it) WEST of downtown and convenient to everything. The community is full of character, partly due to its beautiful tree lined streets and partly due to the residents who work hard to keep the neighborhood a vibrant, dynamic place to live. As people were eating chili, the Westerwood String Band played old time tunes on their fiddles, banjos, and guitars. It was a perfect fall day for eating chili, listening to live music, and socializing.

If you are looking for a way to bring your own neighborhood together, consider putting on a pot of chili or stew and start inviting. Where there is good food, there will be people. Happy Monday!

Greensboro Beautiful & Arboretum

Today, is another photo taken at the Art in the Arboretum event this past Sunday (October 8th) sponsored by Greensboro Beautiful. This wonderful organization sponsors lots of gardening events in the community. This non-profit organization was established in 1968. As they report on their website, Greensboro Beautiful is dedicated to conserving the beauty of Greensboro and to enhancing the ecology. It is common to see members around town doing clean-ups, planting trees, or working gardening events. If you look closely in the background, the green watering can is actually a donation bucket for Greensboro Beautiful, and, indeed, they put to good use every penny that comes their way.

The plant in the foreground appears to be a trifoliate orange. While, technically, they are edible, they are very bitter. Sometimes marmalade is made from them. If you try to pick one, watch out for those prickly thorns. This is a great time of year to visit the Arboretum. In spite of the heat, seeing the plants with their colors starting to change make the visit especially worthwhile.

Happy Labor Day 2018

Happy Labor Day! Children are out of school today, and if you are in town, consider taking them to one of Greensboro's parks. There are some wonderful options. The above photo features LeBauer Park where children can move freely from place to place, playing games like ping pong and corn hole, or simply climbing, running through water, and making up games on their own. Labor Day, a federal holiday, always the first Monday in September, honors the contributions workers have make to our country. For many, the holiday heralds the end of summer.

Downtown Greensboro may actually be a little quiet today as the city prepares to transform into one giant folk festival. The first, annual North Carolina Folk Festival begins this Friday and, Greensboro's streets and downtown parks are in the process of transforming into a giant, open-air venue. Our city will fill with some of the best folk musicians in the world. Today, let us give thanks for the labor movement, for the rights of children to be children and not have to work alongside their parents in factories. Let us plan to get as many children as possible to the folk festival, so that they can see first-hand, the magic of a community when people come together and volunteer for events like the NC Folk Festival. For Greensboro, Labor Day reminds us that the greatest music event of the year is about to begin!

Ghassan's Food Stand at LeBauer Park

Today, we're featuring another photo from the dance event at LeBauer Park on Sunday night. as it was getting dark and beginning to rain, people were still in line determined to get some of Ghassan's great mediterranean food before heading home. About five minutes after this photo was taken, the big white umbrellas were folded up, and the rains came. 

For the downtown parks, food options are many. Of course there is Cafe Europa, the restaurant that has been an anchor in the area before the parks were built. Another option is to bring food and have a picnic. Also, there are two food stands in the park itself, Ghassan's and Porterhouse. Although only one is featured today, both stands are identical in architecture, with a crisp, sleek, modern look. At that magical time when day turns to night, the LeBauer Park area is especially beautiful.

Happy last day of July!

Dance GSO

Last night, Greensboro Downtown Parks hosted National Dance Day at LeBauer Park. To celebrate the diversity of Greensboro, a variety of dances were showcased, from swing to folkdance to bachata to hip hop and more. In many cases, the audience was invited up to participate. People danced on the central stage, under the flags of nations, just a block northeast from the Lincoln Financial Group building.

Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc. does a tremendous job of keeping Center City and LeBauer Parks scheduled with activities that bring people from all walks of life into the heart of our great city. In the above photo, members of the Ballet Folklorico and the community at large watch the couple in the wedding dance celebrate their having successfully tied this bow with their feet. One event like this Dance Greensboro event remind us of the diversity of our city.

 

Lake Higgins Boat Launch

Greensboro  Department of Parks and Recreation received a 37,000+ grant from the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund to create a boat entry that accommodates people in wheel chairs who want to boat or kayak. The above photo explains the five-step process. How wonderful for people in wheelchairs, who are driving and living independently to be able to participate in water sports. 

July is Parks and Recreation month and the construction of this new launch is one of many examples of how Greensboro's Parks and Recreation division makes ever effort to be inclusive. Head out to Lake Higgins and see this launch for yourself. Better yet, find someone who would benefit from using the EZ Launch and take them out to try it out!

Picnic in the Garden

This past Saturday in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden, a Picnic in the Garden event was held. Mostly, it was an opportunity for people to come purchase food from food trucks and sit in the gardens to eat. It was really hot on Saturday; however, there were plenty of shady places to sit to picnic. The placement of food trucks in the parking lot of the garden brings food to a place where there is none close. Therefore, the food trucks fill a need without directly competing with brick and mortar restaurants.

This casual event is another example of Greensboro's effort to encourage people to get out and take advantage of our lovely public spaces. Greensboro Beautiful has done a tremendous job of planting beautiful flowers in the 7.5 acre garden that opened in 1976 as a way to honor the 200th anniversary of the United States. The more events that are held in the garden, the more people will think of it as a destination and it is a lovely one. BaconEssence and Ghassan's were the two food trucks this weekend. The next picnics in this garden will be held on August 11th and September 8th. 

Apples at Gateway Gardens

These apples at Gateway Gardens are a big hit with children and adults alike. Children love to run around them and hide inside them. Openings on the sides allow for children to play inside, while those slits keep water from accumulating and make it possible for parents to see inside. Children feel like they are hidden to the world, yet they are in plain sight.

Greensboro's free city parks and gardens contribute so much to the opportunities for children to explore outdoors and interact with nature. As Greensboro Beautiful points out on their website, this LEED-certified silver project is an eleven acres interactive garden and horticultural oasis. It is their biggest project in their 50-year history. And, as Greensboro saw on Sunday afternoon, it is the perfect venue for a concert. While planning for the garden began in 1999, Gateway Gardens opened to the public in 2011. For the past seven years, the plantings have become established, the visitor center has opened, and the grounds just keep getting better and better. Here is their website, if you want to keep up with events and to learn more about the venue.

Gate City Divas

The Gate City Divas were one of two groups that performed at last night's MUSEP Concert, held at Gateway Gardens in East Greensboro. This talented group had as many as 18 people on stage, playing instruments, singing lead and back up. The resulting sound is bluesy and full; the lead singers' voices are raspy and pitch-perfect. The group members come from all walks of life; the core group of eight female vocalists play multiple instruments. Many perform with the local group, Ladies Auxiliary and most are singer/songwriters. The bass player even plays with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. The audience was highly complimentary of the keyboard player (Kristy Jackson). Several people commented on how cohesive the Divas' sound was given the diversity of their backgrounds, not only in music, but also in life experience.

If you haven't been out to a MUSEP concert this year, check your Sunday afternoon calendar. They continue into August. Not only do you get to hear great music, you get to experience an array of Greensboro's great city parks... for free! Each concert costs the city $3,000; so if you have a few extra dollars or want to bring a tax-deductible check, they do pass around a donation bucket.

Read more about the individual divas on their website, here.

Memorial Day 2018

Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, is a federal holiday remembering people who have died in active military service. There are several Memorial Day ceremonies in the Greensboro area. One that will be very special will take place at the Carolina Field of Honor, where Greensboro's own, Major Karoline Hood, U.S. Army, will speak. Major Hood graduated from Northwest High School and went on to Graduate from West Point. She has deployed to Iraq and to Afghanistan, where she was a platoon leader and company commander.

Major Hood is an inspiration to us all, serving her country and modeling excellence in all she does, from leading troops to running marathons to teaching math courses at West Point, and more. If you want to attend the ceremony will begin promptly at 11:00 am today at The Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park, 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville. Please remember to bring seating and wear a hat if it is sunny. 

Reference and additional information, here.

Lake Daniel Park & North Buffalo Creek

East Lake Drive wraps around Lake Daniel Park and North Buffalo Creek, at the northern end of the Westerwood neighborhood. In this grassy area, people play basketball, ride their bikes, walk their dogs, and spend time with family and friends. In the above photo a group, it seemed to be a walking club, is following the trail through the park on the Lake Daniel Greenway. It is a two mile multi-use path that stretches from West Friendly Avenue to Mendenhall Street.

The path is open from sunrise to sunset and, in the summer, those hours of light add quite a lengthy opportunity to ride a bike, walk, and run. As seen in the above photo, the sun is low to the sky, and the group is hoping to finish their walk before sunset. Happy Friday. May you find a way to enjoy the out of doors on this Memorial Day weekend, even if it is a bit wet. After all, the holiday marks the unofficial start of summer- which is actually Thursday, June 21st.

Fun at LeBauer Park

This photo was taken last November, but we haven't had a chance to use it yet. The scene shows the side of LeBauer Park where the ping pong tables are located. The ping pong tables have proven very popular with people who visit the park. In the sort time that it has been open, LeBauer Park has proven very popular with the people of Greensboro. There always seems to be something going on. For example, today, at noon, The Wrangler Tunes at Noon will feature the Marcus Horth Band. This Friday, UNCG's Spartan Cinema will show the movie "Leap" at the park.

As Greensboro's parks gear up for summer concerts and play, your best bet is to keep a blanket or some folding chairs in the trunk of your car. It helps to be ready to enjoy these events, even if you stumble on them without knowing ahead of time. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to keep an extra pack of ping pong balls. Happy Wednesday.

Tesla, the Electric Car Revolution is Upon Us

At the earth day event at Price Park a couple of weeks ago, one of the displays was of electric cars. In the above photo, the silver car is a first generation Tesla car. The blue car beside it is a 2018 Tesla car. Greensboro does not yet have a Tesla dealer. We would have to go to Raleigh or Matthews to purchase one. However, for educational purposes and to generate interest, they brought these cars to show at the earth day event.

Founded in 2003, Tesla specializes in electric cars and the company is committed to helping the world transition to smarter, more sustainable energy sources. The Tesla car is one such solution. However, their highway-capable, electric car, the Roadster (the blue car above,  starts at about $100,000. Even if it is not yet in our budgets, it is important to know about them. Soon, we'll be seeing them on the streets of Greensboro, honking at us as we pull in to gas stations.

 

ELF Urban Kayak

The above vehicle, the ELF Urban Kayak was on display at the Earth Day event at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Library and Price Park this past Saturday. ELF stands for electric, light, and fun. The first generation model was launched from a Kickstarter campaign, by designer and developer Rob Cotter, out of Durham in 2013. The ELF is a human and solar powered vehicle meant for commuters. The design makes it eco friendly in that it cuts CO2 emissions. The urban kayak part of the name alludes to the green material of the 8'shell.

Cotter got his start working for Porsche and BMS in California. Now, he is in North Carolina, enjoying his role as a working inventor. The ELF is one of many examples of the fabulous items on display at Saturday's Earth Day event. Perhaps one of the curious young ladies inspecting the vehicle in the above photo will be one of Greensboro's future STEM scientists.

Learn more about the ELF here. Let us know if you see one of these 21st century cycles in use in Greensboro! Remember, this upcoming Saturday is the family-friendly science event on UNCG's campus. If you want more hands-on opportunities to engage with science, everything from learning about rockets to trying your hand at computer programming, head to UNCG to the Science Everywhere event. More information, here.

Pilot Mountain

October weekends are great for traveling in North Carolina. Pilot Mountain is only about 45 minutes from Greensboro. This iconic landmark just off U.S. 52 between Winston Salem and Mt. Airy is a fun day trip from Greensboro. It is located in Surry County and is part of the Sauratown Mountains. The elevation is 2,421 feet at its highest point. The Saura Indians called The Knob (above)  "Jomeokee" or Great Guide.*

As you can see, the leaves haven't really turned yet, so the next few weekends should still be good for exploring the counties north and west of Guilford County. Pilot Mountain is a great place to hike and picnic, if you are looking for outdoor recreation. The Andy Griffith show called the destination Mt. Pilot. If you head to Mt. Pilot, you might want to make a day of it, head on over to "Mayberry" as Mt. Airy is truly a town steeped in nostalgia. Happy Monday!

*reference.

MUSEP's Season Finale

Tonight was the season finale for the MUSEP concert series. No more of the music for a Sunday evening in the park until next year. The final concert was held in LeBauer Park last night, with the stage in front, the Echelman artwork acting as a net ceiling, and the lights of the city behind us. The weather was perfect, the music great, the venue fantastic, and all humans and canines were on their best behavior. First, we were treated to some live music by Benjy Johnson and Tres Diablos. Second up was "doby" (see photo below).  Even though night was rolling in, nobody wanted to leave as "doby" delivered some great music that had people up moving and dancing with MUSEP drawing to a close.

We'll have to wait until next June for MUSEP to start up again. In the meantime, we can continue to enjoy our city and county parks and the many events that are available for free in them. If you like LeBauer Park, you may want to attend the free movie showings. This is a partnership between the park and UNCG. The next one is September 1st at sunset, Captain America: Civil War. And then the next week, it will be time for Greensboro to host the National Folk Festival for the 3rd year. Hope to see you there!  

Music in the Park

We want to share one more day of MUSEP photos with you, as the free concerts on Sunday afternoons are so special and so much appreciated by the families of Greensboro. The above photo gives you an idea of turnout, and this is only a small slice of the crowd, that extends way back into the park. As you can see, people bring their own chairs and set up in groups; some dance, some mostly watch. Everyone has a good time. This past Sunday's concert was at Latham Park. The concert this upcoming Sunday will be at Lindley Park. 

The photo below features Wonderwall, the Beatles tribute group that delighted the crowd with over an hour of non-stop Beatles music. Do you know your Beatles trivia and the origin of their name? Wonderwall Music is the name of an album by former Beatle, George Harrison. It was the first solo album by one of the Beatles. It was also the soundtrack to the movie Wonderwall. The group, Wonderwall, was very well received by Greensboro's MUSEP-attending crowd. It was interesting to see people in their late 60s and children under ten equally enjoying this music from the 1960s. Happy Wednesday and may we all have more joyful music in our life!

MUSEP 2017

Greensboro is so lucky to have the Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP) concerts. They are held each Sunday, all summer long in the many different public parks throughout the city. Each park has its unique character and each band has its unique sound. Most bands are local. Last night, the evening started with the above-photographed Zinc Kings, masters of Piedmont old-time music. The second act to delight the crowd on the lawn was Wonderwall, a Beatles tribute band. Both bands were outstanding. 

MUSEP is quite a community-building event. People from all walks of life and all parts of the city come together to enjoy music outdoors. Many friend and family groups put together elaborate picnics and combine listening to music with socializing over dinner. While last night's event at Latham Park was packed, the photo shows how much fun some of the under five crowd had while listening to music. They were equally enthusiastic when the Beetles tunes were playing. While the photo is a grainy, cell phone photo, it captures the joy we all feel at MUSEP.

Three Sunday concerts remain (Aug. 13 in Lindley Park; Aug. 20 in Country Park; and Aug. 27 in LeBauer Park). See here for times and names of bands.

 

Joymongers at North Eugene

Joy mongers is a small-batch brewery located at the corner of North Eugene and Smith Street. They are celebrating their one year anniversary and to great fanfare as North Eugene Street has finally reopened. They are owned and operated by people from Greensboro. Jim Jones, one of the owners, is part of the family that operated the North State Chevrolet dealership by the baseball stadium. Their six acres has been transformed over the last few years. It is nice that they are still involved in a business in the area.

Over the last several months, admittedly, navigating that area has been difficult and the businesses suffered as patrons and shoppers struggled to find a place to park. The above photo features the park-let that is in front of Joymongers and part of the construction that was making the area congested. The park is very nice and is a perfect area to sit and chat. This corner brewery has become quite a gathering spot and this park will enhance the area even more. Click on the photos below to enlarde them and see even more details of this new destination. Check out the live music schedule at Joymongers. They feature a lot of great local musicians. The area is clear of construction now; we promise. 

Latham Park Skate Park

Greensboro now has a skate park at Latham Park. It is accessible from Hill Street (the south of Wendover side). It has only opened recently, but is already quite popular with Greensboro's skateboarders. In the above photo, it looks like there is one lone skateboarder. Actually, the park was quite busy, but the guys skating very politely wait their turn, giving the skater a chance to try new tricks and not have the pressure of someone right behind him. The people waiting are also very encouraging, making positive comments when someone tries something new or has an especially good move. 

It is wonderful to see skateboarders have somewhere officially approved for skating. So often people are running skaters off or they are skating somewhere where they are at risk of getting in trouble. This is good, clean, wholesome- albeit dangerous- fun. We worry about skaters who fall or who get hurt. The way these guys look out for each other, we're sure they'd see that a hurt skater got medical attention, if needed. Below, you see some of the guys waiting their turn to skate. Best of all, this is a City of Greensboro park and it is free and open to the public.

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. 

Parlez-vous français?

Sunday's Parisian Promenade had something for everybody. On Sunday afternoon, Jennifer Kerns held a session at the garden gazebo, giving the audience French lessons. At the time of the photo, she was engaging the audience in a call and response dialog (How are you? Fine Thank you, and you?), which explains the pointing and the animated expression on her face.

Having Mademoiselle Kerns teaching French on Sunday was a wonderful addition to Greensboro's Parisian Promenade. After presenting to the audience gathered at the gazebo, she facilitated learning sessions in one of the upper garden spaces at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. Monday through Friday, Mademoiselle teaches French at Grimsley High School. For North Carolina world language teachers and their students, one of the expectations is to use the language in the community. Mademoiselle's lessons on Sunday were a great example of using French beyond the classroom. To the Tanger Family, Greensboro Beautiful, Mademoiselle Kerns and all involved in the Parisian Promenade: Merci beaucoup d'avoir offert de petits cours de français/Thank you for offering the mini-French lessons.

The Unbridled Joy of Dogs

The above photo was taken at the Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital Dog Park at LeBauer Park. The two retrievers and the Bernese Mountain Dog were having a blast running around in the dog park at LeBauer Park, downtown. The golden retriever's ears show the energy being expended during play. The young girl on the hill was having the best time playing with the dogs. The dogs were well behaved and gentle with her. It is amazing how all of those big dogs were so well socialized. Greensboro is lucky to have such a great resource as LeBauer Park and we are lucky to have so many options for taking our canines to play.

The above dog park is sponsored by Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital, located just a few blocks away at 120 W. Smith Street. Hats off to Dr. John Wehe and his staff. They provide great service in the office for the downtown canines and canines visiting downtown. Dr. Wehe was generous to help with this park. We first learned of him because he is one of the few veterinarians to treat pet rabbits. 

Lets all make an effort to unleash a little unbridled joy more often- with our without canines!

Prom season 2017

In Greensboro, and Guilford County, prom season is upon us. Wesleyan in High Point and Northern held their proms this past weekend. Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden was full of people taking prom pictures. Friend groups huddled together while parents took photos right and left. In some cases, couples had professional photographers documenting their special moment. The weather was perfect and there was such an air of excitement and optimism throughout the park. Couples were beautifully dressed and chatting joyfully as they left for dinner. One young woman took off her shoes to walk back to the car. If her shoes were already bothering her before dinner, we're wondering how she made it through the night. Another young woman called out to her mom, "send me the pictures you took." The mother asked if she wanted all one-hundred of them. Her daughter's response was, "yeah, you can air drop them to me." We're imagining couples at dinner and at prom sharing photos and snap chatting the night away. After all, today, social media is half the fun. You have to be under 25 to really understand that phenomenon. 

The Bicentennial Garden is such a lovely backdrop for photography. While shadows can be harsh, as seen above, there is usually a way to work around them. The above photo was taken after 7pm when shadows were long and strong. To our knowledge, Saturday was the first night for a local prom, kicking off prom season and there was no evidence that anybody thought about the fact that it was April Fool's Day.

Greensboro is so lucky to have such lovely public spaces with well maintained gardens. The venue will be booked for the next two months!

Mountain Biking

The well-maintained trails around Bur-Mil Park are perfect for off-road biking. The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department maintains the trails not only in the city, but also around the watershed lakes. Greensboro Fat Tire Society, our local mountain biking club, also helps keep the trails clean and safe.* The groups try to keep the trails as primitive as possible. They provide rules of etiquette. In 2003, Bicycling Magazine voted the Owl's Roost Trail (above) as the "best urban mountain biking trail" in the country.

The two cyclists above seemed to be enjoying their ride yesterday, and they weren't the only ones. Hiking and bike trails were extremely busy as temperatures soared to 82 degrees; surpassing the 1999 record of 73 degrees. It was perfect spring weather; except, spring is over a month away. North Carolina weather can be unpredictable,  and Greensboro has been known to have ice storms in March.

We hope you had a chance to spend some time outside yesterday. If not, there is always today, and tomorrow, and the next day...

*reference and more information, here.

All Is Calm... For Now!

In the above photo, Center City Park looks so peaceful and inviting, but empty. Drab weekday afternoons aren't exactly conducive to spending time in parks. The yellow leaves were partly hanging on to the trees and partly carpeting the sidewalk. After yesterday's rain, the trees just might be bare. The City Daily Photo community's theme day today is Transitions. We share this photo as a transition from fall to winter,* And we ask, is a park a park without people? 

Tomorrow night will be First Friday and the Festival of Lights. This very park will be packed with people out celebrating the Christmas season. Elm Street will be packed, too. With the decorations glowing, you will know that fall is going! We hope to see you there.

*see other photos from cities around the world for the City Daily Photo theme, TRANSITIONS,  here.

Dog Days

Greensboro families love their pets and in our parks. On warm sunny days, dogs being walked by their owners is a common site. The above photo was taken in the Greensboro Arboretum during the recent art event. It features two Great Pyrenees dogs. This livestock guardian dog can weigh up to 120 pounds. While they can be gentle and affectionate, they can also be very strong willed and fearless. They love to feel like they are being useful and are very hardworking on farms. We saw four or five of them, the day we saw these two. As seen in the above photo, they drew a lot of attention and everyone wanted to pet them. The fact that they were impeccably groomed made them extra appealing to passers by.

If you are looking for something to do outdoors this weekend, head to one of Greensboro's great parks and count the number of dogs you see. If you do not have a canine companion, consider heading to a place the rehomes dogs, like a pound or a rescue. There are many dogs waitings for forever homes in Greensboro at the NC Pyr rescue site, there are currently nine available (here). Hope to see you out on the trails this weekend, with or without a canine companion!

Glorious Fall Day

Yesterday, the weather in Greensboro was just about as glorious as a fall day gets- at least the days before the leaves start changing. After a few days of drenching rains from Hurricane Matthew, Greensboro residents were ready to get out and take advantage of the nice day. The above photo was taken on the loop at Guilford Military Park. As seen in the above photo, this trail is 1.7 miles of peace and tranquility. Many people were out walking with friends, family, and trusty canines and there were several people riding bicycles. 

It is said that walking is really good for one's health. There was even an article in the New York Times, entitled, "How walking in Nature Changes the Brain."  It increases the blood flow to the brain and soothes the mind. Guilford Military Park, located off of Highway 220, just happens to be 220 acres; 220 acres much appreciated by the nearly half-a-million people who use regularly.*

* Interesting News & Record article, here.

Live Christian Music Concert

Yesterday and today, from 4-6 pm was a live music concert, held in LeBauer Park. As seen in the above photo,  a group playing music on the stage. They were singing Christian songs. The music was relaxing and inspirational. We walked through the tables set up on the edge of the concert area trying to find out what religious organization was sponsoring the event. The postcards and literature in the Miracle Tent only said "Live Music Concert" and did not provide a name or contact information.  As we were leaving the venue, a young man came up to us and asked if we wanted to put our name on a list to be contacted by the organization. We asked who would be contacting us, and he couldn't say.

We'd like to be able to write and provide more about this free, end-of-summer event, in LeBauer Park.  All we can say is that if you like Christian music that doesn't appear to be affiliated with any denomination and you are looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, head to LeBauer Park between the hours of 4-6 p.m. It should be a lovely day for a concert.

Happy Sunday, dear readers!