Greensboro Daily Photo

Home Style Cooking

Everyone loves a little "Throwback Thursday" once in a while. The above photo features a building in nearby Stokesdale that formerly housed a "Country Cooking" restaurant. It offered homestyle cooking; good, fresh, mom-and-pop style food. Currently, the building is for sale and, this past Sunday afternoon,  had no signs of life. Next door is a used car lot and across the street is a school. On a school or work day, you would think the restaurant would have the potential to be super busy.

Imagine people considering buying a used car and talking about finances over a slice of homemade pie and a cup of coffee. Or, moms meeting for breakfast after they dropped their child off at school. You would think home cooked food would never go out of style. Then again, the restaurant industry is a lot of hard word and it is not always easy to make a profit. While the nostalgia factor is high for the old-time restaurants, time can trump nostalgia, with customers wanting instant food and drive-through convenience.

At the end of the day, remember to vote with your wallet, and, vote often!

I is for International Women's Day

Today is the 106th year of International Women's Day. To quote the campaign's website, "March 8th is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity." Local initiatives in North Carolina include encouraging women to campaign for advancement and to stay home from work today to heighten awareness of how much women contribute to the workforce. At least one school district in North Carolina is closed today because of concern about not finding sufficient substitute teachers. The irony is that today is also the annual statewide tornado drill day. With or without their female teachers, at 9:30 a.m., all students in the State will move to safe shelter and assume the crouched, facing-the-wall position. 

On another note, today's photo is a poster at the city parking deck on Bellemeade and Elm Streets. It features Prlyanka Ruparella, a Ph.D. student at Greensboro's Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. According to the school's website, out of fourteen full-time faculty, one nano science faculty is a female and one nano engineering faculty is a female. Let's hope that more women, like the one featured on the poster, decide to pursue these specialized science fields. To be sure, it is hard work. To be sure, women deserve equal pay for equal work. 

Today is ABC Wednesday, and for Round 20, "I" is for "International Women's Day", which has been celebrated in the USA only since 1975. In Cuba, Madagascar, and Uzbekistan, it is an official holiday. Here's to crouching and facing the wall at 9:30 and standing up and cheering at noon!

G Is For Greensboro

A proper entrance has a way of defining a space. In homes, it is known as curb appeal, that all-important first impression. In retail, the entrance is the first chance the business has to win over the customer; in restaurants, especially, it can determine if the diners will stay or leave. Cities can make first impressions, too. The above brick sign, located on Battleground Avenue at Westridge and Old Battleground, announces a driver's arrival into Greensboro.

This part of Greensboro, near Guilford Military Park, experienced tremendous construction in the late 1970s and early 1980s and was annexed in 1984.* We're betting the sign was constructed during that time. At any rate, it announces Greensboro in a part of town that has long been south of the city's actual northern limits. If you picked a new sign for a city today, what it would it look like? Perhaps it would be a vinyl banner in INTRO RUST or Sofia Pro font. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and in Greensboro, options abound for the letter "G".  For Round 20, "G" is for Greensboro!

* reference and interesting document, here.

SHEETZ on the Horizon

SHEETZ is a family-owned business out of Altoona, PA. In 1952, Bob Sheetz founded the company and it was not until 1963 that a second store opened; then a 3rd one five years later. Today, there are 500 Sheetz stores dotting the horizon. They are becoming so dominant on the east coast that they are gobbling up many of the locally owned gas stations and even some of the bigger companies. To date, Greensboro has eight of the 500 stores.

The above Sheetz, located on New Garden Road at Jefferson Road, is just a couple of miles west of Guilford Military Park, the site of the 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The scene reminds us of the terrain the Revolutionary War troops would have seen, less the SHEETZ sign on the horizon. And from this vantage point, one wouldn't even suspect there is an oasis of just about every color and flavor of beverage you can think of, and as many sandwich options as there are SHEETZ stores. We can't even imagine what those troops would think upon being told they had to click through multiple screens to order a meal.

Wonder what those birds on the wire are thinking. Perhaps they have their eye on some spilled popcorn!

Parkway Baptist

Since yesterday was the Moral March on Raleigh, we thought we'd share the above Frederick Douglass quote on the marquee at Parkway Baptist Church. Douglass was an African American social reformer, writer, orator, and statesman in the 19th century. He championed the cause of abolition and helped put an end to slavery in the USA. He believed in the equality of all people and was a staunch supporter of public education. Were alive today, we bet he would have been over in Raleigh marching yesterday, the eleventh year of the march for social justice, also known as HKonJ (the Historic Thousands on Jones St.).

Quoting Frederick Douglass is especially appropriate for Black History Month, and the above quote is appropriate every day. Parkway Baptist is located on Benjamin Parkway beside General Greene Elementary School. General Green is a science and technology school, known for building strong, well-rounded children. One of Greensboro Daily Photo's regular readers asked us to feature her church, Parkway Baptist. While on site photographing yesterday, the quote got our attention. We'll feature the church itself next week and, hope some of the members will see the post.

 

Armed Forces Career Center

Greensboro has a new recruitment office in to the 2900 block of Battleground Avenue. Based on the name, it appears to be a joint venture for all the branches: The Armed Forces Career Center. It is located relatively close to Grimsley and Page High Schools. As we reported last week, we have seen several military personnel at Green Joe's Coffee Company. Perhaps they are in the neighborhood checking the progress of the new facility. In addition to recruiting, we're betting they will be involved in the many holidays where veterans and active duty military participate. It will be a convenient place to visit to learn more about special events, like Veterans and Memorial Day.

North Carolina has military bases for four of the five branches of the United States armed forces: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Air Force (Fort Bragg, Base Support Unit Elizabeth City, Camp Jejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, respectively). North Carolina has 129,049 active duty and reserve members. Our State is third, just behind California and Texas.*  If you want to thank someone on active duty, consider sticking your head into the new career center and welcoming them to the neighborhood. Also, consider treating a soldier to a cup of coffee. Happy Tuesday!

*Reference, here.

You Are What You Ate

The vanity tag on this Prius reminds us to be mindful of what we eat. As we start the new year, many people are reflecting on mind, body, and spirit. You can learn a lot about a person not only by talking to them but also from the back of their car. We know from the above vehicle that the owners belong to First Lutheran Church of Greensboro; they listen to 94.1 KLOVE; they are mindful of energy consumption, (given their driving a Prius); and they feel ageless. Many of you may actually know the owners of this car. That is the fun of vanity-tag watching, knowing that the owners are a part of our community and we could see them at any time.

As we close out 2016, may we be especially mindful of what we drink on this holiday weekend. Here's to a great 2017. Stop back tomorrow, on January 1st, when everyone in the City Daily Photo community will post one memorable photo from their posts during 2016. It is always a hard decision to make and fun to think about the past year in Greensboro.

PEACE

Chakras Spa and Salon on South Elm Street is a place for pampering yourself-- from hair styling to full body massages to facials to pedicures, and more. As you head upstairs at Chakras, or slide into one of their "nests," they encourage clients to avoid using cell phones. As seen in the above photo, they also remind us to aspire for peace. Peace is defined as "1) freedom from disturbance; 2) quiet and tranquility; 3) freedom from or the cessation of war or violence."

Greensboro has a long tradition with aspiring for peace. The 1960 sit-ins were non-violent protests. Greensboro actually held a PEACE Festival in September this year. It was an international, interfaith festival downtown, sponsored by The Islamic Center of Greensboro. Then there is Peace United Church of Christ on West Market Street. Finally, UNCG has a Department of Peace and Conflict Studies.

When we hear of heinous crimes like the Russian ambassador to Turkey being assassinated while speaking at a photo exhibit, and then learn that people were purposefully plowed down in a Berlin Christmas market, we may all need to work harder to ensure PEACE on earth. At the end of the day, it is a lot easier to feel an inner peace when we have experienced the gentle touch of human hands. If you are looking for holiday gifts for that person who is anxious, angry, or even hostile, perhaps a good massage from a reputable spa is in order!

GHOE

Greensboro is brimming with visitors this weekend as it is homecoming at North Carolina A&T University. The event is referred to as GHOE, the Greatest Homecoming on Earth. Today is the parade and the football team is playing Florida A&M University. However, events have been going on all week and the celebration is well under way. On South Elm Street yesterday afternoon, we spotted the FROZEN-mobile-  parked in the south 200 block. The owner of this Chevrolet Corvette convertible is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Alpha Phi Alpha is the first African American Greek lettered fraternity. Its aims are "manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind." The organization emphasizes leadership, service, and working for important causes and social issues. Famous members include,  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Owens, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young and Lionel Richie.

We were curious about the meaning behind the vanity tag, as "FROZEN" is associated with the Disney movie of the same name. We waited around to see if the owner would return to the vehicle, but did not see him. There has got to be a great story behind this vanity tag. Perhaps he is associated with the movie. Regardless, we hope he is having a great homecoming and that he is living up to the great legacy of his fraternity. Have fun everyone, and drive safely. From 11:00 am to  5:00 pm today Elm Street will be filled with children out trick or treating at the downtown businesses. We're hoping for all treats and great weather!

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas is a natural gas distributor serving North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. They get their gas primarily from the the Gulf Coast in the United States. The company began operation in 1951 in New York and merged with a North Carolina Company, coming here in 1994. At the beginning of the month, they were acquired by Duke Energy (October 3rd 2016). Between Piedmont's 1 million customers and Duke Energy's 8 million customers, the combined operation is serving about 9 million people. That is a lot of revenue from natural gas and electricity. As seen in the above sign at the facility on Greengate Drive, the cost of natural gas is currently 1.36 per unit. The gated corporate building is tucked between Randalman Road and South Elm-Eugene Street, off Corliss Drive.

Piedmont Natural Gas won a platinum award fitness award from the National Heart Association for the last five years. They earned this designation for their healthy work environment. Let's hope the fit-friendly trend continues now that they are part of an even bigger company. The above pole with the rectangular top, to the right of the company sign, is a solar panel. It looks like the company is energy efficient, too. If you really want to get to know Greensboro, we suggest you explore some of these off-the-beaten-path places. Thanks to ABC Wednesday, which motivates us to explore the A-Zs of our city, we get to see so many interesting businesses, places, people and venues in Greensboro. Today is ABC Wednesday and "P" is for Piedmont (our region between the mountains and the coast) and for Piedmont Natural Gas. If you want to look back on the A-O entries for our 2016 Alphabet series, see, here.

 

Old Battleground

It can be easy to forget about those workers not working at eye level. In the above photo, a worker was bundling the wires above Battleground Avenue. Until we saw him working, we'd never noticed the fact that Old Battleground Road has an arrow pointing left, since to the right, the road changes to Horse Pen Creek. Greensboro has several roads like that; turn one way and you are on one road, turn the other and it is a different street. Another example is Hobbs Road; it changes to Garden Lake Drive, once you cross New Garden Road. Double named roads tend to happen when a road gets extended or when a road changes from more urban to rural. The arrows are a nice touch. 

We parked at the BP station to take this photo. It must be interesting to be working from above and seeing all of the drivers down below. Oh the stories these workers could tell.. 

Did you know that there is a website/app called "See Click Fix"? You can register concerns and the app sends the information to the right government official. The app bills itself as a civic tech platform. Is there something in your neighborhood that needs to be fixed? Report it and when you least expect it, perhaps you will see the above worker in your neighborhood! He seems to be a very hard worker.

Summer is Winding Down

The above photo gives the false illusion that Greensboro is a sleepy, western saloon town. It was taken from Spring Garden Street, behind the old train depot. The building with the faded Security Van Lines advertisement dates to 1890. The advertisement really adds to Greensboro's vintage charm. Wouldn't it be great for someone to get a grant to refresh the paint job, using the same font.

The front of the Security Van Lines building faces Barnhardt Street and houses The WORX. The WORX is an eating establishment that bills itself as a place where "Bistro Meets Pub." The tall clump of dry grass in the foreground hints that summer is fleeting. Another sign that summer is winding down is the fact that tonight is the last First Friday before Labor Day and before public school resumes. We hope to see you downtown. If you are in town, remember that LeBauer Park is scheduled to open on Monday. If you are on the northern end of town, you could swing by and check on the progress.

Memorial Day 2016

Above is the War Memorial Monument that originally stood inside War Memorial Auditorium at the Coliseum on Gate City Boulevard. When the auditorium was torn down, this monument was moved to Lindsay Street near the Greensboro Historical Museum and Central Library. It has the names of all the soldiers in Greensboro who have given their life defending the United States-- since WWII. There is a flag for each branch of the military. The iron benches allow an opportunity for reflection.

If you have a veteran in your life, especially one who can't drive, please consider driving him/her to this spot today. Another meaningful outing would be a visit to the Carolina Field of Honor. They will have a service at 11:00 am today. (Read more, here). If you are only able to visit, here, virtually, we want to also share a close up of the above inscription so that you can read it-- below.

Happy Memorial Day. It is still hard to believe that Congressman Coble is no longer with us to give a speech today.

Sunday Quote

Signs at churches usually have messages that try to get you to pause, take notice, and think-- maybe even long after you've passed the sign. The above sign, found at Highway 150 in the very western end of the county, is no exception. And, it is pretty self explanatory.  Union Grove, was formed in 1911 and it is actually closer to Kernersville than Greensboro. 

We featured the church building seven years ago (in 2009, here) showing the acreage in front of the church that was planted in tobacco. We were surprised yesterday to see that no tobacco has been planted this year and it is already almost June. Perhaps the fields are having a year of rest. It is usually an indication that change is coming when fields stop yielding crops. As the rained stopped yesterday, the skies over the church brightened and everything is the area looked and smelled clean and fresh. Maybe that rain was a way of saying " and on the sixth day, the dust was washed from the Bibles," to help us all find a cleaner path. See, we are still pondering that message!

S is for Signage

As seen by the crowd on the street, Saturday was a busy day at the Carolina Theatre on Greene Street. How wonderful that this iconic Greensboro venue, known since 1927 as the "Showplace of the Carolinas," is still a vibrant and dynamic community resource. Tomorrow night, the 2,200-seat theater will have chandeliers and gilded railings glowing as country music fans come out in droves to see John Anderson perform. Likely, concert attendees will be heard walking to their seats singing, "Just a swinging."  

The above sign, advertising not only the Carolina Theatre, but also upcoming events, harkens back to the pre-digital days when signs had to be changed by hand. The all-caps, sans-serif letters, look the same as they did almost 90 years ago. By night, the sign lights up, showcasing events and adding to the excitement of the evening.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds Series, "S" is for signage. While digital signs offer more advertising options and are easy to change, some buildings just call for the old-school, black block letters of our past.

Plymouth Nursery & Old Country Store

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

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

Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

The Tanger Center for the Performing Arts is a 3,000-seat facility, being built downtown. The façade will be glass and limestone and a rooftop terrace with a stunning view. The architect's drawings make it look very glamorous. It will make uptown sparkle. The project website reports that $35 million dollars of private donations have been raised so far-- the most ever for a single, public project in Greensboro.* So far, the construction crew is still leveling the lot. In the background, you can see the Wrangler headquarters. In the photo below, you can see beyond the constructing webbing. The mountains of sand currently dominate the property.

We hope to get inside the United Guaranty Corporation building to get an aerial view. For now, we'll have to pretend that we're in the desert, trapped between the dunes. We kind of hope they leave the some of the sand. It reminds us of Maya Lin's "Groundswell," dunes of glass sculpture, at the Wexner Museum at the Ohio State University. What would it take to arrange a photo shoot here? Imagine staging beach photos without leaving town!

 

* see reference and more information, here and here.

Auditorium, (Soon To Be) Formerly Known As Aycock

The Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina Greensboro voted to remove the name of former Governor Aycock from its auditorium. In 1928, the university voted to honor Governor Aycock by naming the auditorium in his honor. While he did a great deal for education, and visited UNCG several times, it was determined that his beliefs, actions, and values, related to racial segregation,  are not aligned with the core values and mission of the university today (reference, here). 

As of yesterday, the name Aycock was still on the auditorium; however, we did catch the signage crew at UNCG  assessing what would be involved in changing the name. It will be interesting to learn what the new name will be, as well as how the name was determined. 

Ashes to Go... and So Much More!

Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday have come and gone. In the above photo, taken yesterday on the campus of UNCG, just in front of the Elliot University Center or EUC, you see a sign advertising "Ashes to Go" in the Willow Room. A person of the cloth was available yesterday to help students honor the first day of Lent, without leaving campus. To the left, you see a student skateboarding to class and, in the far distance, a bus picking up and dropping off students. The red flags on the lawn are for raising awareness about "red flag" issues like domestic violence. In the distance, the white stacks of the Jackson Library, looking like an open book, are seemingly calling students to study.

These are a few of the many disparate images that merge on a college campus. In an instant, you can see many different things happening and talk to people from different walks of life. As education becomes more and more virtual, we're here to extol the value of an on-campus experience. We learn about ourselves and the world by interacting with others. The value of spending four years on a college campus is priceless.

 

You Are What You Ate

Well, we're snowed in here in Greensboro, so you get a post from our bank of photos. Even though we have over 80 thousand photos on file, there are days we look through them and wonder what on earth we are going to post. Anyone who is on social media is probably tired of snow pictures, so we dug up this vanity plate. Greensboro's drivers have some pretty funny vanity tags on their cars.

The above Prius owner reminds us, "you are what you ate." This is definitely food for thought as we prod along dealing with winter weather. With most of Greensboro snowed in and shut down, the determining factor of "what you ate" hinges on 1) how the supply is holding out and 2) whether or not one has power. So, this vanity tag is a little more relevant when we are not snowed in and can drive all over Greensboro buying and eating whatever our budget allows. As for us, we didn't realize how much we would miss bananas. Happy snowy, January weather, dear readers. We hope you are safe.

Wouldn't it be fun to follow the owner of this car through the grocery store. Seriously, we might learn a thing or two!

Father and Son Moment

On New Year's Day, this father and son were spending some quality time walking along North Elm Street stretching and practicing some calisthenics. Back and forth, back and forth, from the Chamber of Commerce building to Bellemeade Street. The signage for the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts matched the young boy's shirt perfectly and made us wonder if someday he might have the chance to attend (or be in) an event there. The scene reminds us that quality time can be had anywhere. All it takes is loving people, time, and a little creativity. Both father and son seemed to be strengthening their bond with every hop, lunge, and stretch.

If you are local, you, too, can make memories strolling along sidewalks in Greensboro. Recruit a friend or family member and head out tonight and see what the weekend brings your way. Try out a new coffee shop, tea shop, or bookstore. If you haven't been yet, Piedmont Winterfest skating is still open at Barnhardt Street and South Elm. It should be appropriately cold enough to skate tonight. Who knows, you might run in to this father and son or even the ONAQUEST-mobile from yesterday. Happy weekend!

On a Quest

ONAQUEST was spotted last week on New Year's Day, parked near Center City Park during the meditation event. It is amazing how much our bumper stickers say about us. From political candidates to position on issues, bumper stickers are a window into the personality of the person driving the vehicle.  Do you use bumper stickers or have a vanity plate? If so, what do they say about you? T-shirts with sayings work the same way. We love reading the t-shirts of Greensboro, too.

We hope ONAQUEST has a great year and that the search is not too long or arduous. Yet, if it were short and simple, it wouldn't quality as a quest! Our quest is to find the owner of this vehicle and interview her for GDP. Happy Thursday! The first work week of the new year seems to be flying by.

Let Us Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving. Let us give thanks for all that we have and reflect on the good things that have happened throughout the past year. As we enter into the frenzy of the upcoming month, let us pause today and find a way to enjoy a day with as little consumerism as possible. We took the above photo, at Anthropologie in Friendly Center six years ago, probably about the time that Anthro was just getting established in Greensboro. While the photo is old, the message is still fitting. We're glad we at Greensboro Daily Photo are here to bring you a photo a day of our great city. We're glad that we are in North Carolina on Thanksgiving and not having to travel. Can you see the outline of the state of North Carolina in the window? We're glad we can call North Carolina home.

If you want to hold out on the consumerism a little longer, tomorrow, on Black Friday, there will be a Really, Really Free Market at the corner of Grove Street and Glenwood Avenue in the heart of the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Greensboro's own Kathy Clark will be hosting this event, where you can bring things to give away, you can take things that you want or want to give as a gift. You can learn how to make gifts for people. What you CAN'T do is spend money, as there will be nothing to buy and you are under no obligation to trade things. Even if you are going to "cheat" and do some shopping, consider stopping by between the hours of 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to cheer Kathy on with this great undertaking. 

We're glad people like Kathy Clark are around to help us gather and enjoy each other's company without having to spend money. Finally, we're super thankful that you are reading our blog. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at GDP!

Persimmons Grove A.M.E. Church

Persimmons Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church is located on Dolley Madison, between Friendly Avenue and Market Street. It was founded in 1882 and named for a persimmon grove, near the church cemetery, off of Highway 421 (Market Street) near the airport. The denomination was founded in Philadelphia in 1816; so the Greensboro church was established less than 70 years after the denomination was founded and less than 20 years after the end of the civil war.  The above church building was erected in 1958.

Native persimmons used to be a seasonal fruit that people greeted with great anticipation at the time of the first frost. They were one of those foods that people could gather in the fields and take home
to use in their family's special recipes. Tomorrow, the Persimmons Grove is having a special homecoming event. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they served breads, soups, and puddings made with persimmons! Today, the congregation is rather small now and, on average, there are fifty people at a service. Everyone who attends, if not literally family, feels like family.  If you make the 11:00 service tomorrow, we're betting that the Rev. Debora Smith will make you feel welcome. We wish the church had a website and hope that someone is documenting the church history. We thought the name was unique to this North Carolina church; however, there is a Persimmon Grove in California, Kentucky, and Alabama (and maybe more).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roles Change

This billboard was seen between Burlington and Greensboro. It states that "Roles Change" and that AARP will be there to care for you. The photo is very thought provoking. We've been thinking a lot about visual literacy and the role of photos in helping people make meaning. Billboards have "flash text" on them; the reader needs to get the message in the few seconds they look up as they are driving. If you get a chance, show it so a child and see how long it takes them to understand the picture even if they can't read the Spanish. If they can't get it, tell them what it means.

Whether you are young or old, the sign is food for thought. While Greensboro has a lot of great options for senior citizens, it would be nice to know that family will be there when you need them. 

Happy Monday! Happy November!

 

Jewish Festival Today

Temple Emanuel's Jewish Festival will be held today, rain or shine, at the temple on Jefferson Road near the American Hebrew Academy and Hobbs Road. The event is open to the public. Not only will you have a chance to eat good food and baked goods, you'll have a chance to meet a cast of Old Testament characters: Moses, Abraham, David, Miriam, Sara, Esther, Ruth and Batya.  Like WFMY said, "they will bring the Old Testament to life."*

Temple Emanuel, while in a different location in Greensboro, was founded in 1907. For over a century, they have played a leadership role in the lives of some of Greensboro's prominent Jewish families. Temple Emanuel is working hard to descries their carbon footprint. One step was to install solar panels in 2011.

In addition to good music, food, and fellowship, the 50/50 raffle is always a big hit. Stop by if you have a chance. Here is the festival's website . Here are two pictures of the façade (here, too), in case you haven't driven past it before. Rain or shine, a good time will be had by all. And Moses (aka Ivan Cutter) is an amazing photographer. He can probably give you a few pointers, if you need some advice.

*reference and more information, here.

Got Doula?

While still less than 2%, according for the CDC* in Atlanta, out of hospital births have been on the rise since 2004.  In 2012, 1 in 49% of births to non-Hispanic, white women was an out-of-hospital birth. Home births are on the rise in Greensboro, too. However, we don't fit into the highest or lowest categories. Our community is lucky to have to experienced doulas. The word "doula" comes from the Greek, meaning "to serve." and doulas do so much more than deliver babies. They are there to assist families before, during, and after the birth. From belly binding to placenta encapsulation to spinning babies to reiki, doulas do more than you can imagine. 

From her website, we know that Sandra is the doula behind Greensboro Doula and she has been blogging about her profession and professional experience since July. We didn't get to meet Sandra yet, but we did get a chance to admire her very catchy vehicle. Maybe she'll be at Greensboro's next Baby Belly Bazar. Every dula we have ever met, has an air of calm about here. Maybe we'll hire one for all of the health and well-being aspects, even though no children or grandchildren are on the horizon.

Happy Thursday!

 *CDC data, here.

National Folk Festival

Have you made plans to attend the National Folk Festival, to be held in Greensboro on September 11-13, 2015? It will be fabulous. The other day, we went barreling downtown to the 300 block of Davie Street, thinking we'd found the national headquarters of the festival. As it turns out, the sign is an advertisement for the advertising and public relations business, King's English. Their website posts the statement, "20 years of words, pictures, and ideas & a bunch of clever people." Only, on their website, that statement is posted in multiple colors and a variety of fonts! Clever, clever, indeed!

As for the National Folk Festival. Let's all attend so there will be standing-room-only crowds and Greensboro will have more and more offers for these national events. If you like folk music and traditions, you will love the festival. Follow the link, here. You might even hear performers with dialects sounding similar to the King's English! In you go by the advertising agency, thank them for giving a shout out to a very important and FREE happening in Greensboro.

Greensboro is ready!

F is for Felicia

Felicia Brown is a massage therapist who loves helping others. For over two decades, she has worked in the massage and spa industry. Through diligent professionalism, she has not only increased her career's visibility, but elevated Greensboro's perception of the field. Above, she is photographed at A to Zen Massage Center, located at 523 State Street. Felicia has owned A to Zen for nine years. You may recognize her from Balance Day Spa, a business she opened and managed until she sold it in 2005. Felicia established A to Zen partly to continue massage therapy with her loyal following of clients, some of whom have been with her since the mid-1990's.

Felicia's first experience with the healing arts came in the 5th grade at the Greensboro Day School as her teacher was also credentialed in yoga and massage. The teacher offered an elective in relaxation therapy. In middle school, Felicia took the class, where they practiced yoga and learned about concepts like reflexology and massage. It is always wonderful when teachers open doors for students, especially in helping them establish careers! Over the years, Felicia has grown into quite an entrepreneur of the healing arts. She is also a business and marketing coach and educator. She is known for turning around troubled spas. She shares her expertise at conferences as far away as Poland. 

In her "spare" time, Felicia writes for her three blogs; promotes her books; trains as a triathlete; and spends time with her husband and beloved pets. One of her books, The Sunflower Princess, is a healing fairy tale that helps people of all ages manage grief and despair from the loss of loved ones. Those who spend time with Felicia realize her well of compassion, love, and empathy runs deep. 

To learn more about Felicia, start with her website, here.   Today is ABC Wednesday, for our A-Z Local People, "F" is for Felicia at, A-Zen! 

North by Northwest

This water tower in northwest Greensboro is so striking. The red and white checkerboard pattern of the paint is to comply with FAA obstruction guidelines, due to its proximity to the airport. Located near the Piedmont Triad International Airport, it is not uncommon to see it surrounded by contrails, as the case in the photo above.  The specific location is at the corner of Pleasant Ridge Road and Highway 68, pretty close to the airport- as the crow flies. If you compare today's photo to this GDP photo five years ago, you will notice the trees are now gone. The bypass is currently under construction beside the tower.

It is always nice when traveling to have something unique to the given community. This water tower might not be quite as unique as the peach in Gaffney, GA; however, it certainly lets travelers know they are in Greensboro (and near an airport).

We're not really a current events blog, but we do happen to know of a couple of noteworthy events today. Tonight is National Night Out, an event with the goal of building neighborhood camaraderie. Whether your neighborhood is hosting an organized event or not, please consider turning your porch light on and connecting with your immediate neighbors. If you are out running errands, greet as many people as you can with a "Happy National Night Out." Also, from 6:30- 8:30, the Central Branch of the Greensboro Public Library is showing the film, Hey Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird with a discussion of "Go Set a Watchman" afterward. Happy Tuesday! Happy National Night Out! So much to do......

Just Who Is He?

Vanity tags add to the fun of summer road trips. Which passenger in the car will find the most interesting vanity tags? The North Carolina license plate on the above Nissan states, LOOKN4HM. Sometimes, on Greensboro Daily Photo, it may seem like we take ourselves a little too seriously. Our heart is in the right place. We want to represent our city well and we don't ever want to make fun of people. But, it looks like the owners of this vehicle don't take themselves too seriously. So we will piggy back off of their fun and have fun along WITH them.

Looking for him? Just who is he?

For this Thursday, we leave you with food for thought. Someone in Greensboro, North Carolina is looking for him. So you know who he is? If so, do share the backstory!

Korean First Presbyterian Church

The Korean First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro is located in a brick church on Stage Coach Trail. Other congregations also meet there, too. From traditional to contemporary, increasingly, churches are offering multiple services that cater to different congregations. The church-within-a-church is also a common model. The Korean Presbyterian has a great website, unfortunately, it is in Korean so we can't tell you what it says (see for yourself, here). The Korean Presbyterian Church in America was founded in 1976. According to Wikipedia, it has approximately 55,000 members. 

In the six, plus, years of Sundays that we have been posting on religion in Greensboro, the religious diversity of our city continues to amaze us. Happy Sunday, and enjoy the beauty of the day, regardless of what you celebrate.

 

New Mural in Town

The North State Milling Company, at the corner of Elm and Lee Streets, has the iconic "DAILY BREAD FLOUR" lettering that we have all come to associate with this corner of town. In the above photo, you can see the new addition to the façade. This is the first change we've noticed since featuring it on GDP in 2009. (See the pre-mural façade, here). The brick building with metal silos was constructed in 1912 and remains an excellent example of early 20th-century industrial architecture.

According to Preservation Greensboro, we have learned that the mural was painted in 2015 by an artist named "Chase." It faces the downtown section of the Greenway, adding visual interest for those who walk or bike by. According to this News & Record article from 2014, clothing retailer Gerbing will move its headquarters into this building, bringing their Duck Head brand along with them.

We're sharing this post through the meme, Mural Monday, which will bring people from all over the world to Greensboro for a virtual peek at this work of art. Unbeknown to them, this Greensboro mural will be peeking back!

K is for Kriegsman

The Kriegsmans have been furriers since the 1870's when the family was living in Austria. About a century ago, family members immigrated to the United States. In 1928, Max and A.M. Kriegsman founded the Greensboro store. In addition to storing furs, they repair and custom design products. The fur industry has changed significantly from back in the day when it was harder to find warmth on a cold winter day and when wearing fur was a sign of financial status. Even middle class women wanted a touch of fur on a coat. The Kriegsman's work hard to keep their business contemporary and use materials like cashmere that appeal to people who might not wear fur. As businesses change over the decades and centuries, it is harder to find people truly connected to their craft; where, a product is taken from concept to completion through the craftsmanship of a single person or store.  Kriegsmans is that kind of store. It is located on Cornwallis Drive at Cornwallis Court. 

We think their family and their family's story would be a good one to be featured in a local magazine or newspaper. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our ABC local series, K is for Kriegsman. (Notice in the sign above that K is for Kaplan D.D.S., too)!

March Madness

Today, we're at 104 North Holden Road, the home where the owner shares his festive, timely, plywood signs for every holiday. This week, this family is supporting the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke, and both have advanced to the Sweet 16 tournament. North Carolina will have three of the sixteen teams in the Sweet 16 tournament. North Carolina State will also be there. For some reason, the Wolfpack is not endorsed on this lawn. We'll bet there is a good story there!

We're lucky to have such great basketball in North Carolina. If your co-workers, students, sales clerks, or anyone else in your life is tired these days, it could well be because they are staying up late watching these exciting games. Be merciful. Happy Monday! And, thank you 104 N. Holden for all of your hard work on this public art.

Sunday Worship

The above sign, at Morehead United Methodist Church on Horse Pen Creek might go unnoticed on a sunny summer day. However, on a snowy, winter day, the sign almost popped off the vinyl. The message is representative of so many houses of worship in the USA today. As churches scramble to keep and grow membership, one solution has been to offer both contemporary and traditional services, and to have a website available for people who are shopping for a church.

The Morehead congregation works very hard to invite people into their church. They often hold Saturday hotdog sales and have other events open to the public. Historically, their congregation has been comprised of rural, county folks. Then again, the church dates back to 1888 when just about everything around Greensboro was rural. Morehead Church was originally located on property donated by the Morehead family, land that is now part of North Battleground Avenue. The church documents their interesting history on their website; a history that includes building, relocating, rebuilding, merging, growing, and transforming; a pattern that is so common today. From the website, to the community functions, everything about Morehead UMC sounds inviting and accepting.

We love the rainbow sign; the snow, not so much. (But the sum was greater than its parts).  Happy first day of March! 

Greensboro's Once Thriving Cigar Industry

Did you know Greensboro used to have a thriving cigar industry? The above historical marker is found on South Elm Street, just north of the railroad tracks at Barnhardt Street. It denotes the existence of the cigar industry, dating it between 1903- 1955. At one time, there were 14 shops along South Elm Street. Greensboro's tobacco industry is well documented; however, google searches do not yield information about the cigar industry.

The O.Henry Magazine wrote about the industry in their November 2013 edition (p. 45, see here). In the article, the demise of the cigar industry is attributed to the rising popularity of cigarettes around the time of the world wars and the notion that "old men" smoked cigars. To appreciate the scope of the industry, in 1912, Roger Lang's cigar production company made over 20,000 cigars in April of that year. The O.Henry article goes on to say that Greensboro preferred to be known as a textile community and that the cigar industry likely lost their labor to the textile mills.

Changing of the Guard

We meant to post this in January when U.S. Congressman Coble retired. He served North Carolina for thirty years. The Greensboro native has been an insurance agent and practicing attorney; however, he is best known for his public service. It has been said that Congressman Coble prided himself on representing everyone in his district. When constituents called needing passports quickly, he didn't ask if they were registered as a Democrat or Republican. He just helped. When college students called to intern in his office in Washington, he didn't ask if they were registered Democrats or Republicans. He took someone he thought would good for the job. Hopefully, his successor, Mark Walker will continue to serve the 6th district well. Walker, born in Alabama and a pastor by profession, has never held public office before. He has big shoes to fill. We're not sure where his office is located; however, to be sure, Congressman Coble has left the building (located on the southeast corner of Elm and Cornwalis).

Remember, tonight is First Friday. Try to get out and explore downtown! Finally, thanks to those who helped us correct yesterday's post. Nice to know people are reading! Without you, we couldn't keep up this daily pace!

First Friday 2014

The above photo was taken at last year's First Friday/Festival of Lights events at the southwestern end of Center City Park. Tonight will prove to be equally well attended. We hope you will be there. From the musical stroll along Elm street, to the Indie Market, to the fake snow, to the lighting of the tree, to ice skating there will be something for everyone. 

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit, head downtown tonight. If you don't want anything to do with Christmas, you might still want to head downtown. You'll see people happily strolling and all of the merchants will have put together great displays and even a few bargains. At 9:00, Elm Street will open back up to pedestrians and people will scatter quickly;  so don't delay. Hope to see you there. The event will put you in a December frame of mind. Promise.

 

S is for SciQuarium

The SciQuarium is a relatively new addition to the Greensboro Science Center on Lawndale Drive. It is a place where learning takes place and memories are made. From the minute they walk in, until the minute they leave, people are captivated. The SciQuarium is North Carolina's only inland aquarium. As stated on the center's website, the SciQuarium features "a variety of water-dependent animals including penguins, sharks, otters, eels, stingrays, a rare fishing cat, an anaconda, and fish of all shapes and colors" (reference).

If you have been going to the Science Center since it opened in 1957, likely, you are marveling at the expansion over the years. It is hard to believe that the improvements and additions will continue until 2020. If you are used to the old petting zoo with the pesky goats and small mammals, you will be shocked to see the touch tank and all the other features of the SciQuarium. In the above photo, we can only imagine what the little boy will learn as he and his dad meander along the indoor trail. Today is ABC Wednesday, and for our S.T.E.A.M. Edition, S is for SciQuarium!