Greensboro Daily Photo

Original Methodist Church

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

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

Happy Sunday!

Vanity Tag: 1VIOLIN

Today, we have a little fun with a vanity tag. In the state of North Carolina, a vanity tag, or personalized plate, costs $30 above the other fees. It is really fun to see what people put on their vehicle tags. They say if people can't figure out the message in a few seconds, it just might not be a good investment. You have up to a combination of eight letters, numbers, spaces, and special characters to get your message across. We're betting the above person plays the violin, and plays it well. Likely, they tote it in their hatchback and, with a four-wheel drive, may do some mountain driving. We're betting they are passionate about music.

Here is a link to the DMV.  You should be able to search and see if the name or saying you want is available. Be careful though. If it is not an official site (and it may LOOK official),  you will be taken to an outside site that is probably not secure. Do you have a vanity tag? What does it say? Would you consider one? What would it say? Honk if you like violin music!

Happy Tuesday!

Appreciating the Prius Perspective

What does your vehicle say about you? We love reading bumpers. You can learn so much about a person by noticing the back of the car. We saw this Prius at the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville a few weeks ago and stood there reading every single bumper sticker: Make America Green Again; I brake for birds; Trees Please: Wander; Boycott Bottled Water; live simply that others may simply live; and, SKIP the STRAW. Additionally, the tag is a "First in Forestry" tag! $20 of the $30 fee collected for the plates goes forestry education programs in North Carolina. Follow that link if you want one of the NC Forest Service tags. And of course with a Prius, the owners are minimizing their use of fossil fuels.

We didn't see the owners of the car, but we can tell they are caring people for whom environmental issues matter. We've blocked out their tag number because it is not a vanity tag. When someone has a vanity tag with a recognizable word, we figure it is fair game; however, a series of numbers did not contribute to what we wanted to say about the bumper. We hope you have a great Saturday and that you find random things like cars filled with stickers to bring you joy! We're betting the owners of this Prius would love talking "environmental care" with any of us! 

View from Hamburger Square

This is the view of West McGee Street from the middle of Hamburger Square- the intersection of McGee with South Elm Street. Just Be Gifts  is to the left, Little Brother Brewing to the right, and Natty Greene's Restaurant just behind us. At the Festival of Lights on Friday, December 2nd, there will be standing-room-only in this square. In the background, center of the photo, you can see Nathanael Greene statue- local artist Jim Barnhill was commissioned to sculpt it. To the right in the background is the newly opened Hampton Inn. We're betting it will sell out for the Festival of Lights/First Friday. Look at how convenient it is to downtown! Although the scene looks empty and gray in today's post, it will be crowded and full of color when everyone is downtown on December 2nd. 

If you have a teen learning to drive, McGee is a good place to practice. As you can see, the lanes are clearly marked, AND, if you look at the diamond-shaped, yellow warning sign on the right, there is a round about. Round-abouts are becoming more popular in Greensboro. It is a good idea to practice navigating them- with or without a novice driver!

Happy Tuesday! A big thank you Katja Brown who alerted us to the fact that today's post hadn't published!

Iglesia De Dios NC

This simple, humble, cinder-block church is located at 4624 Highway 220 North, just past Highway 150. The sign says "BIENVENIDO a casa" or "Welcome Home". Above the door, the sign reads, "All Christian Denominations Ever Circling, Ever Intertwined, All Encompassed in the Cross of Jesus Christ." We can't find the church online, but the website for the denomination, "Iglesia de Dios" indicates it is Pentecostal. The back of the sign still shows the lettering for when the building belonged do the Revelation Church with Pastor Darin Bray.

It looks like the church may hold services on Saturday. They do have a Facebook page and they do stream live. Also, according to their Facebook photos, they do baptisms live and it looks like one of Greensboro's lakes. It is always fun to drive around Greensboro and discover a new church. We like the simplicity of this one.

Happy Sunday!

Voting Concluded

Yesterday was a big day. Someone in California won the Powerball, we had a full moon, a total eclipse, and voting is over. The above photo was taken at the Lewis Recreation Center near the intersection of Pisgah Church Road with Battleground Avenue. The Lewis Center is one of Greensboro's ten recreation centers and it is used for multiple purposes and by people of all ages. This was an early voting site, which is one of the reasons we're guessing that voting seemed light there. When we were there before 8:00 a.m. this morning, people were trickling in one at a time. 

According to the North Carolina State Board of Education, in Guilford County, 28.74% of registered voters voted early. Received by mail were 7,577 ballots and 101,202 people voted early. Let's hope the 71.26% of the people who didn't vote early voted yesterday. Hopefully, all of the polls were orderly and voting went smoothly. Soon, the results will be confirmed and all of the signs and political ads will go away. Those of you who ran for office, campaigned, canvassed, and worked the polls, thank you for your service!

Next up, Thanksgiving and possibly some cooler weather.

Happy Wednesday!

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly House is now open at the Greensboro Science Center. It is a new (permanent) exhibit, located in the front of the building. As you can see from the above photo, while the butterfly area is enclosed, it is open to the outside, with netting to keep butterflies in, yet making the area open to the outside. It is a fabulous way to see butterflies up close and to watch their behavior as they travel through the wildflowers.

Inside, there is a temporary, traveling exhibit about butterflies. Children traverse a maze learning about butterflies as they go. Impatient children can simply crawl under the panels to get through the maze. It is so nice having the indoor and outdoor exhibit for the summer, both teach about butterflies and especially monarchs. While the Greensboro Science Center has been a Greensboro institution since 1957, if you haven't been in a while, be warned, you will not recognize it. The giant amethyst geode, the Foucoult pendulum, and the S.S. Curiosity (old ship to climb) are still there, but so many new exhibits have been added, you owe it to yourself to stop by and have a look. To be sure, we'll share more photos.

Happy Tuesday!

Greensboro Performing Arts

Greensboro Performing Arts is located at 7200 Summerfield Road. The building was formerly a church (Cathedral of Faith Christian Center) and still had the shape and the stained glass window to prove it. However, now, it is the new home of the Greensboro Performing Arts Center and great things are happening there this summer. Currently, the musical "Mary Poppins" is currently in production. There will be a showing tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 pm. If you are looking for something to do in the North Greensboro/Summerfield part of town, this is a great option. 

Every time we drive by, something new has been added to the property or to what they offer. In addition to the Jumping Bean Coffee Shop being on property, for a year now, there is also a farmers market on Saturday mornings. Plus, Greensboro Performing Arts continues to add classes, and performances. The most recent addition we've noticed is the signage and the metal tree. Consider brushing up on your spelling of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, grabbing your parrot handle umbrella, carpet bag, favorite kids and experience some wholesome fun and great local performing.

For those who choose to stay closer to town, remember that it is First Friday and there are lots of businesses hoping you will start celebrating downtown even earlier than the Fun Fourth! Let us know what you decide to do.

Up Up Away!

Ah, the serendipity of summer, we spend more time outside, it stays light longer, and it seems there is more time to notice the world around us. Yesterday, we were in the plaza on West Market Street where the Art Shop, Mythos Restaurant, and A Special Blend Coffee Shop are located. We did a great job of escaping the heat in these air conditioned stores. As we were going back to our car, we noticed a Hyundai Sonata parked beside us with the vanity tag "UPUPAWAY" and we found ourselves singing the 1967 song "Up, Up, and Away", written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by the 5th Dimension. (Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon; would you like to glide in my beautiful balloon; we could float among the stars together, you and I).*

We'd love to know the story behind this vanity tag and why the person purchased that phrase. If we'd met them, we would have thanked them for getting such a great song stuck in our head. We're also wondering if they live in Greensboro or are just passing through. Have you seen this tag before? Happy Thursday!

* But, then again, maybe we're showing our age. There is a more current song with the same title by the American rapper, Juice WRLD and the lyrics aren't so lighthearted. 

Greensboro Children's Museum

Have you been to the Greensboro Children's Museum lately? It is such a special community resource and a perfect option for planning activities for children on these sweltering, summer days. The educational museum boasts twenty, permanent, hands-on exhibits and a 1/2 acre, outdoor learning garden. At the museum, children learn through fun play. There is so much to do and learn here. They are offering eight summer camps and, when we checked yesterday, one still had spots available.

The Children's Museum opened in 1999, twenty four years ago and just keeps getting better and better. See HERE if you want to learn more about the museum. If you want to visit, go to church street, across from the Central Branch of the Greensboro City Library, look east and just to the right of the "LOVE makes a family" banner.

Happy Wednesday! Happy finding great ways to help the children if your life spend their summer! 

Art Behind Ben and Jerry's

Yesterday was beautiful in Greensboro and Friendly Center had a fair amount of foot traffic. The above scene was taken behind Ben and Jerry's in the patio/courtyard. People were enjoying the weather and spending time together. Long time Greensboro Daily Photo reader, and dear friend, Alice Hill suggested we have a look at the mural boards in this location. There are several. You can see two as a backdrop  to the photo. The one on the right says "Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home. Of course the one on the left says Greensboro. The area was done by local artist, and Grimsley High School graduate, Gina Elizabeth Franco. Gina came to a career in art, almost by accident when she volunteered to paint a library mural. Gina already has several local murals under her belt, including Westerwood Tavern, and the Interactive Resource Center.*

While today's weather is not as inviting as the weather yesterday, it is still a good day to get out and explore the city. One thing you won't want to miss is the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It will be today and tomorrow; 10am- 5pm today and 10 am- 3pm on Sunday. They are a little short on volunteers, but we're sure the event will be memorable, especially for people who have never seen it before. Have a great day, regardless of what you decide to do.

 

*read more about Gina's art journey HERE, and HERE.

HOPE

Well, today is the last day of February. It is hard to believe. Today is a bit of a "fluff" post, but we like it. This weekend, we stopped at the post office on Battleground Avenue (where Aldi is located, former Earthfare space). As we were getting back in the car, we noticed the car parked in front of us was "Hope '99". We stuck around a while in the hope that the owner would come out, so we could ask for the back story on the Hope vanity tag. Also, we were wondering the significance of '99. We were thinking the owner of the vehicle may have been at Starbucks and were tempted to walk around looking for Hope.

It is always fun to see vanity tags and even more meaningful to get the back story. Is the owner named Hope? Does the owner have hope about something? Maybe a little of both. Given some of the current events in the world, we all need to work hard to spread a little love and HOPE!

Happy Monday! To our ever faithful reader, Ginny, all the way in Wisconsin, Happy Birthday!!!

Oak Ridge First Baptist

As you travel along Highway 150 in Oak Ridge, between Oak Ridge Military Academy and Bunch Road, you will see many churches in this area. Heading east, back in the vicinity of Greensboro, in northwest Guilford County, the Oak Ridge First Baptist Church will be on the left and the St. James AME Church will be there beside it. The pastor of the Baptist church is James A. Webster; his wife Brenda is First Lady. 

While the church was actually established in 1894, 128 years ago, the above sanctuary was built in 1999. Imagine how many changes this congregation has experienced over all of those years. The church formed not long after the Civil War, and just about the time cars were being invented. Just think, now, there are computers, cell phones, and one can watch the service online- withou stepping foot inside. Their history reaches across three separate centuries. Sometimes, African American congregations have a hard time keeping up with records when so much was not documented (formally) in the African American community. The First Baptist has a cemetery on site. We're betting that has helped with maintaining records. Church history is so important to document and we wish First Baptist had a searchable data base.

If you are interested in attending, in person worship is held on Sundays at 10:00 am. The service is also available online.

Happy Sunday!

GCS School Board Meeting

Yesterday evening, the Guilford County Schools held their regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:00 pm at the Eugene Street building. As we drove by, we noticed a group had assembled outside from 5:00-6:00 pm. The were holding signs requesting schools to tell the truth. They did not say what group they affiliated with but signs said things like, True History Unites. Racism Divides; Tell the Truth PERIOD! and Turning a blind eye on our history has not saved us from its consequences. We were struck at how peacefully the group had assembled.

A lot of discussion at yesterday's board meeting centered around whether or not to continue mandating masks and the extent to which COVID tests should be administered to athletes. The decision has been made to continue wearing masks at least until the next board meeting. These decisions are never easy, but issues need to be discussed and decisions need to be made. We would like to thank all of the school board members for giving their time for the community. If you want to know more or be involved, the school board meetings are always broadcast live. If you want to get a point across, sign up to speak (3 minutes and under), send your representative an email, or, assemble peacefully like the group above.

Happy Wednesday!

Reflecting on Public Transportation

Do you ever ride the bus? We should all take a day and pledge to use public transportation exclusively. The above photo shows the bus stop on North Church Street, very near Cornwallis. Some bus stops see very little traffic. This bus stop on North Church gets a fair amount of ridership. On the day we were there, at least six people were waiting. We were struck by how clean, orderly, and decorated the stop is. As you can see, this bus stop has a garbage can and there was not one piece of garbage in the area. Somebody takes care of the area around this stop. The cross in the ground says "Remember Joyce" and behind it is a small poster that starts with "Black Lives Matter" and ends with "Kindness Is Everything," and also adds other words of widsom.  The flowers and decorations extend all the way to the nearby parking lot.There are still Christmas bells and curled ribbons. We aren't locals at this bus stop so we don't know the back story on the signage. But, we're betting that the regulars at the bus stop remember Joyce.

The city busses have been making a real effort to be clean, efficient, and to reduce their carbon footprint. They are also making a concerted effort to help the public schools with their transportation needs. If the opportunity ever presents itself, thank a bus driver. Sometimes it is just a matter of saying hello and thank you. Public transportation and the people who make it possible should never be taken for granted!

Happy Tuesday!

Duds & Suds

Perhaps we're having nostalgia for signs this week, but yesterday, the Suds & Duds laundromat and bar looked so beautiful in the late afternoon sunshine. The building, located at 2114 Walker Avenue, was built in 1935 and is 5,630 square feet. The building has some beautiful architectural details. On the upper right corner, you can see the brick behind the black marble. If you enlarge the photo, in this same spot, you can still see the outline of the letters for Elam Drug Company. Back when the drug store was there, people would sit at the soda fountain, sipping a fountain drink and catching up on issues in the neighborhood, city, and beyond. You could walk in and pick up your prescription or have it delivered.

Since at least the mid 1990s, the drug store and the soda fountain closed and a laundry mat opened in the location. And now, you can sip a beer and sit at the bar talking about the neighborhood, city and beyond. So, some things have changed and some have remained the same. One aspect of this part of town that hasn't changed is the fact that it remains community oriented and people from all walks of life come in to use the laundry mat. If you want to read more about this building and the Walker/Elam area, here is a 1995 article from the News & Record and written by Kelly Simmons.

Happy Thursday! We have several friends who have been without power for over three days. We hope power has been restored. Those winds on Sunday night were fierce!

Blumenthal's Clothing Store

Imagine our surprise when we walked into the Antique Market Place on Burnt Poplar Road and there was one of the signs from Blumenthal's Clothing Store that used to be in downtown Greensboro. There were two signs; this one, and the one that hangs in the Greensboro History Museum downtown. Blumenthal's opened on South Elm Street in 1926, left downtown for West Market Street in 2005, and closed permanently ten years ago in 2012. Blumenthal's was known for selling jeans, but had so many items like shoes, work clothes, belts, hats, and they even cashed payroll checks. The family business lasted for 86 years, but closed permanently when Bob Blumenthal had severe health issues and wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren.

Over the years, Blumenthal's  gave away a pack of cigarettes when someone's receipt matched one of the above numbers. Eventually, when the store stopped selling cigarettes, they gave a bandana to anyone whose receipt matched one of the above numbers. Blumenthal's occupied nearly the entire block between Spring Garden and McGee Streets. Their black and white facade with writing all around the picture windows was readily identifiable as you approached it. Indeed, they lived up to their name, "The Store with a Heart." The above sign has already sold, and all that is left of Blumenthal's are these two signs- and the memories that, as we age, are fading faster than than a pair of jeans. We also learned that Rhonda, who works at Antique Market Place used to work at Blumenthal's. We need to interview her and get some stories from the good old days!

Happy Wednesday!

SIOUXZEN

Seeing a good vanity plate on a car makes waiting in traffic a lot of fun. Yesterday, we were behind SIOUXZEN. Vanity plates have a slogan, phrase, or abbreviation that is customized. The owner picks something meaningful, pays extra, and as long as it is not an offensive (in some way) term, and nobody else in the state has it, the plate is your for an uncharge. Sometimes the message is so opaque it is not possible for most to decipher it, especially at a traffic light.

The above plate is a good one; it combines two words Sioux and Zen. Sioux are groups of Native American tribes  and First Nations people of North America. Zen is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that values meditation. However, reading the eight letters together can sound like you are saying the name "Susan." So what is it? On the surface, the meaning of the tag is transparent; yet, there may be a deeper meaning. Is there a Zen Sioux driving around Greensboro? Is the owner's name pronounced "Susan?"

It would be fun to see a database of all vanity tags issued in Guilford County. Or, a list of North Carolina tags that reference things in Greensboro. If you were to have a vanity tag, what would it be. What is the most interesting vanity tag you've seen recently? We'd love to have you post it in the chat. Remember, a combination of eight letters and characters is the limit and it can't be an offensive word in another language. However, we're betting some slip by the censors.

Night Safe- A Ghost, Of Sorts

When retired Greensboro journalist Jim Schlosser strolls Elm Street, he looks for things that evoke the past and bygone days. One such item is today's night safe at the Jefferson Standard/Lincoln Financial Group building at the corner of Elm Street and Market Street. The Moser safe company was in business for over 120 years, from 1874- 2001. It was an Ohio company and had the reputation for making extremely secure safes and bank vaults. One such night deposit box. Who would ever conceive that they would become obsolete? As a matter of fact paper currently is slowly edging its way out and it is said it costs two cents to make one penny. So, scenes like the above save truly are relics of the past.  Back in the mid-20th century, when this corner was a hub of activity we're betting that deposit box saw a lot of traffic. 

On another note, this is Friday and while it isn't First Friday, weekends do tend to be busy in downtown Greensboro. During the day from 11:00 am- 2:00 pm, there are food trucks at Center City Park, as well as live music by the Ashley Virginia Music. Tonight, Wicked is showing at the Tanger Center and everyone is talking about this play. We hope you have something enjoyable to do this weekend. Even getting out and seeing what you can find from bygone years is fun. Happy Friday!

 

I Love Greensboro

Driving or walk along West Market Street, not too far from the intersection with Spring Garden/Muirs Chapel, and you will see the above sign, "I Love Greensboro." This building at 4609 West Market Street used to house the Open Space Café Theatre. Now, it has the four businesses listed above: A tattoo parlor, beauty salon, pet grooming, and a clothing and custom t-shirt store. It looks like they may have room for one more business. This strip center may look small, but actually they have 26 spaces for off street parking. It was built in 1954 and has 76 feet of frontage on West Market. 

The other side of the building has a map of North Carolina, and there are several other murals surrounding the building. The murals and sayings, specifically "I Love Greensboro" are what got us to notice the building in the first case. It is always fun when a lime green car drives into view the minute you are taking a photo. Happy Wednesday and, remember to LOVE Greensboro!

Greensboro Bound Virtual

Yesterday, on GDP, we celebrated Greensboro's public library system. Today's photo is the window of Scupperonong Books, advertising the Greensboro Bound Virtual Literary Festival begins tomorrow; another example of literary goodness in our community. Greensboro Bound is billed as a festival for "readers, writers, students, academics, and volunteers who are passionate about books, writing, and reading". It is a non-profit organization established in 2017 (reference and more information). The festival is the brainchild of  Steve Colyer and Scuppernong Books owners. The annual festival has hosted many writers, many of whom are known internationally. 

Here is a link to see the list of events and RSVP to attend virtually. Many of the topics are timely and something for everybody across genres from young adult fiction to short stories, poems, cookbooks, crime writing, and more. When community partners, businesses, writers, and volunteers come together, in an event celebrating reading and writing, everyone benefits and the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts! Drop into a session and enjoy!

LOVE Is All Around!

The above photo was taken on Market Street, the road that leads into downtown. LOVE is a piece of art made by Frances P., a student at the Greensboro Day School. How wonderful that LOVE is what you see and think about as you enter our city.  Also in the photo is the Brown Building, Independence Center, and Lincoln Financial Corp. 

A lot of these utility boxes have artwork on them. It can be fun to walk around town and see all of the new artwork, whether  you like visual arts or architecture. For a town of about 300,00 residents, there is plenty to see here!

"Be the Light"

It was a fun challenge to find a photo for today. First, it is Day 2 of African American History month (we will have more, related photos).  Also, today  is Groundhog Day and as for capturing a photo of that groundhog in our Greensboro yard- not gonna happen. Besides, if he comes out and sees his shadow, we'll have six more weeks of winter. Finally, today is Candlemas, the 40th and final day of the Christmas season. Some churches will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ/the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary; celebrating families will light candles and have a big meal together. Today, we celebrate this many-faceted, conglomerate-of-holidays day with a quote from Chick-Fil-A Founder Truett Cathy. The above sign was seen at the Brassfield Chick-Fil-A, November 16th, 2020; it was hard to read, unless one was waiting in the drive-through line. And there were many...

"We live in a changing world but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order."  Truett Cathy (2020).  On this second day of February, may we find a way to "Be the light."

Uncovering the Owner of "NOT A COP"

Have you seen this "NOT A COP" car around town? Well, we have and felt a little like Eloise Bridgerton poking around town trying to uncover the true identity of Lady Whistledown. Our Greensboro version of the Bridgerton storyline has involved trying to find the owner of this highly-recognizable vehicle. We've seen it being driven near West Market Street, pulling onto Spring Garden Street. We've seen it near UNCG. Who would be so bold as to drive this car? What is its back story? Is it really used for transportation or just for some kind of publicity event?

Last night, for the SECOND time, we saw it parked at the Reconsidered Goods Creative Reuse Store at 4118 Spring Garden Street. In the spirit of Eloise Bridgerton, we waltzed into the store, approached the front counter, leaned in and inquired, "We're on a mission to uncover the owner of the 'NOT A COP' mobile. Do you know who the owner is?." Without missing a beat (and clearly not in elusive Whistledown fashion), an employee at the counter, cheerfully volunteered, "It's mine." As it turns out, the owner is Eli, whom we will feature on GDP next week. The ever-ebullient Eli was quick to tell us someone in South Carolina had three cars for sale that looked just like this one. Eli was able to purchase it at a very reasonable price and brought it back to Greensboro to use while attending UNCG. The decision was made to put the "NOT A COP" decal on the car because of the reaction so many people had to the vehicle. Mystery solved! 

We wonder what police think when they see the vehicle. To be sure, Eli better not be speeding! Happy Saturday! 

See The Good

Are you ever driving along and see something so inspiring that you have to pull off the road and photograph it? Such was the case for us last week when we were driving along Spring Garden Street at Pomona Drive when we saw this billboard. See the good. If you search that phrase, you will actually find an initiative started by a person named Kathy. Her goal is for people to see the good in each day. It doesn't say where Kathy is from, but surely, there is a Greensboro connection as the billboard is in our city. Her blog encourages people to contribute a paragraph about something good. 

As we look ahead to 2021, the notion of seeing the good, in our local community and the people around us sounds like a meaningful way to approach life. Perhaps this could be a New Year's resolution. It is easy to see the good in Greensboro as the weather is not too extreme, there is a good greenway system for walking and bicycling; there are many parks; good schools and several universities, colleges, and community colleges- to name just a few of the good things. If you are looking for a religious community, there are multiple churches of just about every faith.

Our motto has always been to see the good in Greensboro and to feature as much as we can. We thank you for starting your year out with Greensboro Daily Photo and hope you will stay with us for this new year of exploring the people and places of our city. Happy Sunday!

Update: Thanks to a reader, we've learned that the #seethegood initiative recently started in High Point. Bob Buckley at Fox 8 reported on it, here.

No Hate!

Imagine driving in the Friendswood neighborhood of Greensboro along Meadowview Street and seeing this bright flag. It reads, "Hate has no home here." This flag emphasizing the worth and dignity of all people seems appropriate for our Sunday post, a day when we try to post something more spiritual. This three bedroom, two bath,  suburban ranch home built in the 1960s is quite representative of many homes in the area. When it was built, the house would have really felt like it was out in the country, far from town. Sixty years ago, nationally, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 had not yet passed and locally, nearby Wendover Avenue would not be completed until 1972.

As we close out 2020 and look to 2021, we need to talk to the people who live in this home and learn the story of how it is they are so far along on the diversity continuum. Their neutral, beige house is filled with people who have taken a colorful stance against discrimination. Maybe all of Friendswood is filled with friends and allies. If you put a sign in your yard or a flag on a tree, what would it say. Ours would say, "Have a great day and THANK YOU for reading Greensboro Daily Photo" (and No Hate)! 

It is not entirely clear who thought up the concept of the church marquee. They are often pun-laden and always clever. "Fall Closer To Jesus", with its double use of the word "fall" is so clever. Hopewell Weslyean Church is located at 2825 Pleasant Ridge Road, at the corner of Lewiston Road. Technically, it is located in Summerfield, as opposed to Greensboro. Somewhere along the way, a member told us that the church was over 100 years old. However, our efforts to uncover a church history online failed to yield results.

Regardless, the church is on a well-maintained lot, with a cemetery on the property. It is surrounded by cornfields. The gravel parking lot is lined with crepe myrtle and rose of share. The front entrance to the sanctuary has white mums about ready to open. Sunday services are at 11:00. Perhaps we could attend a service and learn more about the church history. As always, we encourage churches to document their history and, if possible, share it online. The connections people make when reading the history are often happy and unanticipated moments. Once the older members pass, a lot of history goes with them. Happy Sunday, happy archiving! And remember, it is fall; and for Christians, it is time to fall closer to Jesus.

Black Lives Matter

The signage at the corner of South Eugene Street and West Gate City Boulevard can be a lot to take in. There are street signs, billboards, signs for businesses, and the the signs crafted by the Forge Makerspace on Lewis Street. The BLACK LIVES MATTER sign is the latest in the series. The Forge is a non-profit makerspace that started in 2012, incorporated in 2013, and then found a space on Lewis Street. Their building is actually the green one visible from the above vantage point. The FORGE gives classes and workshops and provide machines for members to make things on. If you want to hone your maker skills, there are plenty of people around to give you pointers, too. We're betting that if you had a good idea for the next iteration of the sign, in all white capital letters, they would consider forging it! Happy Thursday!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL from DOWNTOWN GREENSBORO

Happy first day of fall. The above scene is of the start of the east side of the 500 block of South Elm Street. The mural on the side of the building celebrates Downtown Greensboro, with bright green as the dominant color. Downtown Greensboro has added so many murals and street art over the past few years. The above mural is one of the newest.

If you notice, the trees in the photo are starting to show color. Before you know it, they will be dropping their lovely leaves. However, for the next few weeks, strolling Elm Street will really have a feel of autumn. Mullled cider and pumpkin spice will start appearing on food and beverage menus. Cheesecakes by Alex will have cheesecakes in fall flavors.  Stores that sell clothing have some great fall sweaters. One way to keep up with some of the happenings downtown is to look for the hashtag #MYDGSO. Have a great Tuesday.

Available

If you've driven on West Market Street lately, chances are, you've seen this strip of about 6bbusinesses in the 700 block, just down from Plants & Answers. The businesses are located near Moore Music, Greensboro College, the Bryan Y, and Weaver Academy.  This space for rent is an end unit. It seems like this area has a lot of potential, if the right business goes in. However, it could be that once people get this close to downtown that they focus on their destination and not what they need along the way.

What could you imagine there?  The strip already has a frame shop, a hair salon, a tattoo parlor, and a convenience store.  It is fun to dream and imagine about what businesses go where. Happy Monday and tomorrow is the first day of autumn. We are starting to fall it in the air! Could be a good time to start a business!

Happy 50th Birthday, Jane

Happy 50th birthday, Jane. We have no idea who Jane is, but we do know that someone in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Greensboro. As we were driving through Kirkwood last week, just down the street from Independence Drive, this message was spray painted on the street. 

Kirkwood is a Greensboro neighborhood, nestled between Lawndale Drive, Cone Boulevard, and Cornwallis Drive. It came into being in the 1920s, but really got built up in 1946, just after WWII when soldiers were returning to Greensboro and starting families. In that year, 140 homes were built by contractors who had built barracks in North Carolina, using techniques of mass production that they had used in building the military buildings. If you want to read more about this neighborly neighborhood, read this article we used as a reference from the News & Record. After reading Andrew Barrow's 2015 article about Kirkwood, you will understand completely how it is that Jane's birthday is celebrated even in the streets!

Happy belated birthday, Jane and hopefully you are not shy about sharing your age with everyone.  May the next decade be the best one ever! We'll stop by in 2030 for your 60th!

Vanity Tags Duke & App

Vanity tags are like tattoos for your car. In North Carolina, they cost $30 above and beyond the renewal fee. The maximum number of characters is eight. The above car has Duke & App for tags. If you live in the North Carolina, you know that the car belongs to a family with fans of both Duke University and Appalachian. North Carolina has so many fabulous colleges and universities it can be hard to convince high school students to even apply to universities out of state. 

If you are traveling this summer, you are likely noticing vehicles and tags. It is always fun to see where people are from and, if they have vanity tags, how long it takes you to figure out what they mean. Some, like the one we're featuring today, are much more transparent than others. If you have a vanity tag, what does it say? If you don't have one but would get one, what would you select?  How wonderful that the above family values higher education! Happy Monday!

Sanctuary Deliverance Church Of The Living Word

Sanctuary Deliverance Church Of The Living Word is located at 3631 Summit Avenue in Greensboro. That location is really getting pretty far north of the city. The church sign above has a very powerful message, "Appreciate today because tomorrow is not a promise"! As we learned from their website, the church was formed in 1982. Vander D. Purcell Sr., and Vander D. Purcell, Jr. are the pastors. They meet at 9am on Sunday and are taking every precaution to keep COVID at bay. If you are interested in becoming d disciple through the word of Sanctuary Deliverance Church may be the spiritual home for you.

If you look at how nicely the lawn is maintained, you know that a lot of love goes into keeping this church looking nice- inside and outside! Happy day after the Fourth of July. If you are out on north Summit Avenue, stop by to see this church.

Congratulations 2020 Graduates!

Our 2020 graduates are having a year to remember. Living in quarantine is especially hard for high school seniors who were not able to have prom, an awards ceremony, or graduation ceremony. In North Carolina, colleges also finished spring semester remotely. One way to compensate is that schools are providing families with yard cards to recognize their graduates. The above yard in northwest Greensboro has two graduates. Andrew is graduating from Wesleyan Christian Academy, a private K-12 school in High Point. Elizabeth is graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Congratulations to the two of you.

This year will be one to look back on,  and surely, something good will come from your sacrifices. Maybe this situation will help you define your career path. To all of our graduates, and others who are celebrating milestones in quarantine, in Greensboro and beyond, congratulations. If you know someone with a senior or see one of these cards in a yard, perhaps you can find some special gesture to help the graduates feel special. Happy Friday, dear readers!

Thank you Postal Workers

Yes, there is a street in Greensboro called Merlot Way. It is located in a neighborhood known as Laurel Park, across from the Spears Y, off of Horse Pen Creek Road. On one of the mailboxes in the neighborhood is a message thanking the postal workers. While that note is touching, it is especially heartwarming that the postal carrier left a response, "Loved your note. T(hank) Y(ou).

Driving a truck as a postal carrier can be an isolating, stressful job. Unless you have a permanent route, it can be hard to master the logic of a route. Now, in this era where we are supposed to remain home, postal workers are considered essential and continue to deliver the mail daily. Something as easy as expressing gratitude, orally or in writing, to these essential employees can bring great joy to the recipient. May we lift our glasses and join us in a virtual toast to this family on Merlot Way (even if we are only drinking grape juice). 

HERS in Her Car on the Highway!

It is always fun when we are out together and "Mr. Greensboro Daily Photo" says, "There's a photo for you." Such was the case recently when we were on the urban loop around Greensboro and he spotted the "HERS" car. Armed with only a cellphone camera, I snapped the photo as the car changed lanes and Mr. GDP navigated behind the wheel.

We immediately wondered if the family had a "HIS" or a "HERS2" car. It is fun to read vanity plates and see how quickly we can figure out the message and even the backstory that goes with the tag. Do you have a vanity/specialized tag? If so, what does it say? If not, and you got one, what would you want on it?

As for 421, please know that is what they have renamed Business 40 to and through Winston-Salem. For some reason, the signage takes a little getting used to. We're not sure if the car in front of us was headed on 421 to Winston, but what we do know is that it was HERS! Happy Tuesday!

Country Outbuildings

Country outbuildings can be so charming, especially to the people who spend time in them. This one is located on the southeast end of Summerfield, almost backing up to 220 north. The man who owns it got the driving range sign from his buddy in Monroeton, who got a new sign for his driving range. This little building looks like it could be quite the man cave.

The man who owns this property was so nice to talk to, a person who remembers the way things used to be, someone whose dog is always by his side, someone who takes time to stop and chat with passersby, and remembers the days when life was a little less hectic. Do you like outbuildings? Do you have anywhere fun to spend time when you want to get out of the house? Do you like to talk about old time ways? The more rural areas on the outskirts of Greensboro are so fun to explore. Today would be a good day to drive around and enjoy the serendipity of what you might find. Happy Saturday! 

All Welcome

On yesterday's walking tour of the artists' studios in Westerwood, we spotted this sign at 406 North Mendenhall. The people in the house seem like they are very inclusive. All, all, all, and all!

The house may be tired and in dire need of a paint job, but the people inside will make you feel loved. Regardless of your religion or belief system, they will embrace you. We'd love to talk to the people who put the sign up. In the meantime, it is great food for thought for a Sunday, the holiest of days for Christians!

 

Can you Read This?

It is Friday the 13th, there is a full moon tonight, and it is time to have some fun in Greensboro. The above Ford was spotted in town and we're wondering how long it takes for the average person to figure out what it means. If you live in the South, likely, you can read it fast.

As you are driving around this weekend look for vanity tags and let us know the most interesting ones you find. Scroll down to verify the meaning of this one. 

 

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I'm fixin' to!  Translation: I'm getting ready to (do something).

Woods of Terror

With autumn comes corn mazes and haunted houses to visit around Halloween. Woods of Terror is one such attraction. It bills itself as an American haunted theme park and boasts 15 attractions in one location on North Church Street. The above car, spotted in Summerfield in front of the recently reopened Golden's Antiques, is a mobile billboard for Woods of Terror. The vanity tag reads "Eddie Mc", so it must be Eddie driving around advertising for the attraction. The graphics sure are catchy and Eddie is a big part of the nightly monster parade at Woods of Terror.

If you like these places, you can buy tickets online. The first date is September 20th and tickets start at $25. Fall and harvest time have many unique traditions around the world: The Tomatina in Spain, Octoberfest in Germany, Sukkoth in the Jewish faith, Vendima in Argentina, and so many more. Right here in Greensboro, we have a great fall tradition that even has its own fan club!