Greensboro Daily Photo

Fall Is Pumpkin Time!

Tis fall and pumpkin season is upon up. It seems like every few years a new variety of pumpkin is trending. This year, it seems to be the striped ones. Traditionally, the first pumpkins of the season we saw were the ones at Centenary UMC on Friendly Avenue. Now that that congregation has been dissolved, the first pumpkins we've seen this year are at Fresh Market. They have a lovely display in front of both stores. The above photo was taken at the Jefferson Village store. The sky was so beautiful, we just had to capture a photo.

Unless they are already on shelves in Greensboro, pumpkins may be a little harder to come by this year. According to the NC Cooperative Extension, most of the pumpkin production in North Carolina takes place in the western counties where  disease pressure is lower (reference).  The you pick option is open for pumpkins at Rudd Farm and some of the proceeds from sales the weekend will go to Hurricane Helene relief. If you are able, consider buying from local farmers. As the weather cools, nothing says fall more than pumpkins... oh, and pumpkin spice. Speaking of fresh market, they even have pumpkin spice popcorn, "Poppy" brand from Asheville. (We only found it at the Jefferson Village location).

Happy Friday from the Great pumpkin lovers at Greensboro Daily Photo!

Keystone Apartments at Horse Pen Creek Road

Yesterday morning, we noticed construction being put into place at the newest neighborhood on Horse Pen Creek Road. Keystone is a neighborhood of apartments near New Garden Road. Cresting the hill on Horse Pen Creek Road, we noticed this praying mantis-like piece of equipment hovering above the cleared acreage. The 1-3 bedroom apartments boast many amenities. The leasing office is on Seabiscuit Lane, the main entrance into the neighborhood.

According to the Triad Business Journal,  Keystone Homes, established 1996, is the #1 privately held housing developer in North Carolina. Scott Wallace is president and Mark Michael is vice president. Their headquarters is located at 3708 Alliance Drive, , off of Wendover near the car dealerships. Horse Pen Creek is no longer your sleepy little, heavily wooded road. It will be interesting to see this community finished.

Happy Friday!

Happy Summer Solstice 2024!

The 2024 summer solstice arrived yesterday at 4:50 pm. It was a glorious day  with a temperature ranging from about 64º to 86º. There was so much going on, including an event at Revolution Mill.  The "golden hour" was especially photogenic yesterday. The above photo was taken along Battleground Avenue about 8:30p.m. Even though the scene is not especially picturesque, you can see the vibrancy of the sun in the western sky.

For about the next week, we'll celebrate the solstice as the hours of light will be the longest for the year. Yesterday, the sun rose at 5:32 a.m. and set at 9:10p.m., close to 16 hours of daylight. Tonight, the sun sets at 8:40 pm. There is a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game with fireworks after dark. Tomorrow from 2:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m,  the annual Summer Solstice event will be held in the Arboretum. If you like taking pictures, this is a great chance to see people dressed up in all of their summer solstice creativity. The more festive you dress, the more you will enjoy the event.

Happy Solstice!

National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and college students are especially vulnerable. Many are away from home for the first time without the safety net of family and friends. Also, the rigor of college courses can be stressful. The above photo features a field of awareness and inspirational sayings at UNCG. The display gives  people resources and something to think about as they walk along the path in front of the Elliot University Center. 

988 is a dedicated number for people to call if they are in crisis or need information about resources. NAMI Guilford (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is another resource for Greensboro and the surrounding area. NAMI got started in Madison, WI, in the 1970s and now has affiliate groups in 48 states. We also have a North Carolina NAMI. These pinwheels get displayed every year and they remind us to always make an effort to be kind and to let people around us know we care. The pinwheels represent people who have died by suicide. The white stacks of Jackson Library can be in the background. May we have fewer pinwheels next year. 

North Carolina Folk Festival 2023

Today is the day. Folks, the North Carolina Folk Festival is a really big deal. We wanted to advertise it one more day so that you get out and celebrate these musicians in town. The above photo is of City Stage, which is located between Davie and Church Street. Here is a map of the entire venue footprint: LeBauer Park, Lawn Stage, Center City Jams, Van Dyke Stage, and Old Courthouse Stage- with food trucks and craft vendors in between. That is a very reasonable distance between stages to get from one event to the other.

The music will be great whether you are attending during the day or at night. The last events start at 9:30 tonight. Saturday proves to be fun. Mark Dillon will lead the Honky Tonk Jam and María Gonzales will lead the Latin Dance Social. We love seeing how Greensboro comes together to support this monumental undertaking. Look at the above crowd. Indeed, they were having fun.

Happy Friday!

Happy Labor Day Weekend

Well, it is Labor Day weekend and there will be plenty to do in Greensboro However, many will be leaving town; the mountains and the ocean may be calling you. The above photo was taken on the Urban Loop, heading toward the airport and Bryan Boulevard. This 39.5 mile highway surround Greensboro and gives us a way to get from Point A to B without start and stop, city traffic. Mostly, the loop is in the city limits.

Be careful when on the road or heading to the airport.  Hurricane Idalia should no longer be a threat but did result in some cancelled flights. The FAA says this is predicted to be the third busiest holiday for air travel to date this year. As for those of us staying in Greensboro, today is First Friday so downtown will be booming. The farmers markets will be well stocked.  Monday morning is a big Labor Day bike ride leaving from Oden Brewing. However, do pace yourself this weekend because next weekend Greensboro hosts the North Carolina Folk Festival, where there will be a variety of music genres. Something for everybody.

Happy September!

The Habit Burger Grill at Brassfield Shopping Center

Habit Burger got its start in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California. They serve open-flame, chargrilled burgers. The franchise is mostly on the west and east coasts; nothing in the middle of the country. The above location, at Brassfield Shopping Center. The footprint of the building is mostly the same as then it was Chick-Fil-A; except, Habit has a covered patio, eating area and no playroom. When we were there last night, they had mostly drive through customers. Hopefully, they will build repeat customers and the word will get out about this new restaurant.

The promising news is that Brassfield Shopping Center is experiencing a Renaissance. Most of the stores are rented in the shopping center with great diversity in types of retail places. There is a Crumbl Cookie, Gold's Gym, Biscuitville, Trader Joe's, Trek Bike Store, Pet Supplies Plus, FedEx, and more. Brassfield opened in 1987 with PharMoor Drugs, Michaels, a movie theatre, and Stein Mart serving as anchor businesses. The cinema has not yet reopened, but there is a Red Box dumpster in front of the building, an indication that work has been started. How wonderful to have an existing shopping center experiencing a rebirth, as opposed to needing to clear land and building something new. If you are on North Battleground (NoBa), be sure to stop into one of the Brassfield shops, especially one that you may not have visited- perhaps the Habit Burger Grill.

Happy Friday! So many choices and weekends are short..

Jim Gallucci's Millennium Gate Close Up

Jim Gallucci's Millennium Gate, located in the 200 block of South Greene Street,  was dedicated on December 30, 2000. When we featured the 20' tall gate on Greensboro Daily Photo in 2016 (see HERE), we featured the whole gate. Earlier in the summer, we spent quite a bit of time at Governmental Plaza, especially focusing on the individual components of the gate. Seventeen artists were involved in creating the 105 icons on the gate and spanning 1,000 years of history. These icons were selected by the Greensboro Community.*

Because our public library system does so much for the Greensboro community, we honed in on the section of the gate showcasing the Greensboro Public Library. Look at that child reading a book and how the "cut out" parts of the book open up to reveal the world at the child's fingertips. And then there are the children at the bottom with doors opening for them. All of this opportunity is made possible thanks to a library card, and we are seeing it thanks to the artist who created it and Jim Gallucci who sculpted it out of galvanized steel and silicon bronze!

*Reference and see more details, here.

Crabapples, Crocus, and Hellebores

Have you noticed that things are starting to boom in Greensboro? The above tree (crabapple, we think) is in the parking lot behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum. It is visible from Tate Street. Seeing these blooms reminds us that we haven't seen snow in a while. According to this website, the last time we had snow in Greensboro was 1.8 inches on January 29th 2022, over a year ago! February and March can bring inclement weather in Greensboro. As a matter of fact, last March 13th, the temperature dipped to 19º.  We've got crocus flowers and hellebores going strong in our yard. The camellias are about finished. It is alway fun to see what blooms in winter and is an encouraging sign that spring is just around the corner.

The weather this weekend isn't supposed to dip below 33º,  so, it should be a good weekend to head out and explore the city. Maybe we can get to the new piece of artwork on the downtown greenway at Murrow Boulevard and East Gate City. What will you do?

Happy Friday!

First Friday in October

The above photo was taken on Wednesday evening around 7:30 , after the presentation at GeenHill, which is located in the Cultural Arts Center in the foreground. The photo was taken from the top level of the Church Street Parking Deck at 215 North Church Street. This 417 space is a great place to park for downtown events, especially on the north end or when visiting the two city parks. It is also a great place for a panoramic view. The JP/LFP building is peeking out behind the Self-Help building. Tonight would be a good evening for you to head to town to see Greensboro at night. It is First Friday and many stores, galleries, restaurants, and other venues will be open. To name a few, the First Friday Drum Circle will be in Center City Park from 6:30- 9:00 pm.  On down Elm Street, South End Brewing will be sponsoring an Octoberfest. From 7:00- 9:00 pm, Signal Fire Band will be playing Reggae Rock on Battleground Avenue at Smith and Lindsay Streets. Jamaica Coast Catering and Pig Pounder Brewery will be on site for food and libations.

All may be still in the above photo, but fast forward to this evening and downtown will be vibrant and teeming with people. The weather should be nice- no rain and between the high 60s and low 70s. Hope to see you downtown soon! Happy First Friday, the first day of October and the first day of the 4th quarter of 2021. 

Sunset Tonight 507 pm

Darkness is arriving noticeably sooner. Tonight, in Greensboro, the sun will set at 5:07 p.m. Once we embrace the darkness, it can actually be fun to head outside at sunset and twilight and see the magical skies. The above photo was taken off of Clifton Road and Merritt Drive. The above silhouette looks like it could be on a rural farm. In reality, it is a photo of the western skies from a parking lot on the western side of town. 

The winter solstice will be on Monday, December 21st. There will also be a "Christmas star" that night- the two giant gas planets will be the closest together they have been since the 17th century.*  In Greensboro, it is currently predicted to rain on Sunday and be partly cloud on Monday. Let's hope the skies will be clear enough to see this Christmas/solstice star. Maybe we can wish upon a star...or a planet! Happy Friday, we are connecting to Skywatch Friday. Click that link and you can see sky shots from all over planet earth!

* reference and read more HERE.

Pink Sky over Reconsidered Goods

Yesterday, early evening, fluffy pink clouds were swooshing along above Reconsidered Goods. This creative, reuse center is located at 4118 Spring Garden Street, very close to West Market Street. Reconsidered Goods has really perked up this block of Spring Garden. While there are several great restaurants and businesses in the area, RG is one of the few places where people from all walks of life come to shop. The diverse and creative types that RG attracts is heartwarming. RG is part thrift store, part store for people in need of home goods and the perfect pace to pick up arts and craft supplies. Today we got 3 strands of holiday garland, 3 calendar prints a vintage card, a bone and wood bracelet, and an unused rubber stamp that says "So many thoughtful things you do... I'm glad I've got a friend like you." The saying is perfect for stamping a heartfelt message on cards to friends. Prices start at 25¢ and everything is sold below market value.

Even better than the items we found at Reconsidered Goods was the great pink sky that greeted us as we left the parking lot. Sometimes after a long day of working from home and trying hard to self isolate, a little drive or walk, with an opportunity to see the beautiful gifts of nature, is heartwarming. Look at that beautiful sky and how it frames the store and matches the pink door!

Wear your mask, be careful out there, and take time to admire the beauty of nature! And, donate your really cool items to Reconsidered Goods. Check for store hours and their donation schedule HERE. Happy Friday! 

Beautiful Thursday Night Sunset

Greensboro has been so rainy lately, but last night we got a respite and the sunset was beautiful. The above photo was taken in northwest Guilford County close to Horse Pen Creek Road. Tonight' sunset in Greensboro will be at 8:29. The sunset literally and symbolically indicates that day is done. We hope you have had a good day and will find a way to enjoy your weekend. As businesses slowly begin to reopen, please use good judgement and practice good care when venturing out.

Today is the 150th day of 2020, with 216 days remaining. It is also the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The 2020 theme is Women in Peacekeeping (read about it here). If there are any women in your life who are peacekeepers, in Greensboro or beyond, please be sure to thank them. Happy Friday!

Pond and Sky View

There are so many trails and good walking streets in Guilford County in Greensboro. Walking is an opportunity to get exercise, yet remain physically distant. The air really does seem refreshing and clean these days. The temperatures in April have been cool at night and warming up in the day. Perfect for walking.

The above photo is of a small pond on the southwest edge of the Farm Golf Course of the Greensboro Country Club, in the Carlson Dairy and Tory Hill area.  The white structure in the middle of the photo is an old grain silo back when the land was farmed.

Today should be a great day for skywatching it will be sunny and the temperature just may reach 70º. We hope you have a chance go get out and enjoy. Happy Friday! Hope to see you tomorrow.

Night Sky Over Greensboro

By day and by night, the sky has been so beautiful in Greensboro this past week. The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro about 8:30, just as it was about dark. You can see that stars are starting to appear. Stars are even more visible with less light pollution as of late. The mature trees on the above lot are representative of so many properties in Greensboro. 

Tonight is First Friday in downtown Greensboro. While we can't stroll the streets for ourselves, businesses are getting creative about ways to deliver to homes. And, not just restaurants are delivering. If you have a go-to downtown store, it is worth calling and seeing if they can bring something fun to you. Remember to support local businesses. Remember to admire our beautiful city- even at night!

Thanksgiving Sky... and The Really, Really Free Market

The Thanksgiving sunrise in Greensboro was so beautiful yesterday. It was a perfect fall day with the temperature reaching 57 degrees. Evening was also a special treat with the waxing crescent moon visible in the wester sky just after the sun dipped below the horizon. This first phase of the new moon appears as a crescent sliver to the right and the whole form of the moon is visible. Those who braved Round 1 of Thanksgiving weekend shopping surely noticed this beautiful moon.

As for today, a very special event is happening in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Kathy Clark has yet again organized the "Really, Really Free Market." Today, from 10am - 2pm, at 1417 Glenwood Avenue, in the Christ United Methodist Church lot, people will be bringing and taking items and no money will exchange hands. This is such an environmentally friendly way to spend the day. Besides, giving used items it trending; so, you can help the environment and be right in style. Hope to see you there. If you see Kathy, be sure to thank her and, if you have some time on your hands, ask her if she needs any help! Here is an old photo of the event.

Picture Perfect Night in Downtown Greensboro

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

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

 

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

Lake Daniel Park & North Buffalo Creek

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

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

Behind Reconsidered Goods

The weekends are a great time to get out and explore Greensboro. The above photo was taken last Saturday, behind Reconsidered Goods on Patterson Street, not too far from the Coliseum and Stamey's Barbecue. On the one hand, it looks like a desolate scene from Breaking Bad, where something intense is about to take place. On the other hand it looks crisp, calm, and orderly. The dominant blue and white unites the photo, creating order through color. However, the contrast of the soft, fluid, billowing clouds in the sky above and the rigid, geometric stillness of the bottom half, make the two parts as different as night and day. The car, usually a vehicle with great mobility, sits, abandoned and frozen in time. Surely, there is a great story here.

Greensboro is such a fun city to explore. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, take a little time to explore somewhere new and let your imagination run wild. And, if you are out with friends or loved ones, make a plan to help the tornado victims. Speaking of Reconsidered Goods, on Thursday, some very kind community members gathered in their sewing lab to make cushions for displaced elementary school students  to use during group time. Our community is a good one!

Golden Gate Shopping Plaza

Yesterday's fluffy clouds really accentuated the new facades of the stores at the Golden Gate Plaza near State Street and Irving Park on Golden Gate Drive. The plaza has over 150,000 square feet, space for 26 businesses, and is close to full occupancy. Before the 2015 renovation, the plaza was at 40% occupancy. The new owner, The Bedrin Organization from New Jersey, have been good stewards. The two largest places are Food Lion on one end and the Air Fun Trampoline Park at the other. Each is over 30,000 square feet; Planet Fitness is over 24,000. There are four restaurants and a coffee shop. 

Today is the first day of Passover and also Good Friday. Passover commemorates the Israelites being freed from Egyptian slavery. Good Friday commemorates Christ's Crucifixion. Schools are closed and it is a day for families to spend together. These beautiful clouds remind us to be thankful for the beauty around us and that it can be appreciated, even in a parking lot- especially when there are others around to appreciate the beauty with you. It has been a while since the sky has been this beautiful.

Hopefully, you have a little time for rest and reflection today, even if you are not fasting or doing penance.

Happy Friday

Yesterday's sunrise in Greensboro, for a brief moment, made the sky as beautiful as a cotton candy stand at the state fair. Fluffy pink, blue, and purple clouds framing a a silhouette of trees is quite a nice way to start the day. Have you noticed that the days are finally getting longer? The sun rises today at 6:44 am and sets at 6:17 pm., which is pretty close to twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness. The temperature will be in the mid-50's today and it should be clear. The weather sounds like it will cooperate and we will have a great First Friday in downtown Greensboro.

If you are in downtown Winston-Salem tonight, Campfires and Constellations will be playing at the Luna Lounge on Trade Street at about 9:00 p.m. Their banjo/pedal steel player, Ernest Thompson, is from Greensboro and all band members are from North Carolina. 

Wherever you find yourself tonight, may your evening be as beautiful as a Greensboro sunrise!

 

Adiós, Cellar Anton's; Hola, Havana Phil's

Cellar Anton's was a Greensboro institution for over fifty years. The cavernous, 7,500 square foot building has been empty since 2013. Recently, driving down Battleground Avenue, we saw construction was well under way. It is being remodeled to house Havana Phil's Cigars. Havana Phil's has already been on Battleground, a little farther north,  since 2010. This new-to-Phil, high-profile location, at the edge of Irving Park, expects to open in the summer or fall. Their plans include constructing a smoking patio.

Perhaps, the change in relations with Cuba will have an impact on their inventory. We should stop by the current Havana Phil's Cigars at 3121 Battleground Avenue, pull up a chair, and ask Phil Segal about Cuban cigars and his plans for the new space. (We wonder what they have for non-smokers who don't mind the smell of a good cigar).

In the meantime, we're sharing this beautiful Greensboro sky with Skywatch Friday.

Fleming-Shaw Transfer and Storage, Inc.

Driving behind the Piedmont-Triad International Airport (the West Market Street side) can be fun, especially at dusk. When the sky is growing dark and businesses have closed for the day is a peaceful and relaxing time. It is the urban photographer's equivalent of a nature walk. Fleming-Shaw Transfer and Storage, Inc. is located at 7712 Boeing Drive, such an appropriate name for a street near the airport. Fleming-Shaw has been in the heavy haul and rigging industry since 1934. They have 48-state authority and, according to their website, can arrange shipments to all 50 states. 

Fleming-Shaw sounds like a wonderful company; however, the above building had a 'for sale' sign in front of it. Hopefully, the company is relocating in Greensboro. We only learned of this company when sitting in the parking lot marveling at how beautiful a simple metal building can look against a sapphire blue sky at dusk. If you like visually appealing type, you will appreciate the cursive name against the ALL CAPS of the company description.

We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday.

And Justice for All......

The above sky photo was taken on Wednesday afternoon, after Tuesday's big rain that washed the haziness out of the air in Greensboro. It was taken at Jefferson Village on New Garden Road in the plaza with Target. The store in the center of the above photo is "Justice- Just for Girls". We found the sign amusing and wondered: Where do boys, men, and women go to find justice? Justice.... just for girls. To the right, the shopping cart holders advertise "bed, bath, and beyond." The above sky is, indeed, the great beyond.

Dr. Seuss would say, "Oh the places you can go with the names of those businesses." Just a little Friday Fun that we're sharing with everyone from Greensboro, to Skywatch Friday, and beyond. And, even though we can't get to the beach, we can pull out a lawnchair, sit back and admire the beauty of the world around us. Happy third Friday in July! And, may there always be justice for all of us!

Airplane Is Closer Than It Appears!

The airplane in the photo is closer than it appears; as are the two trucks that are parked alongside Inman Road, just where it crosses Bryan Boulevard, near the airport. This grassy area is a prime location to sit and watch for airplanes approaching the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. Some days, the approach brings the planes even closer to Inman Road. Plane-watching is great summer fun with little ones, especially if you can't be on one heading somewhere on vacation. 

Can you believe it is almost July? Even if you are not leaving town for vacation this summer, there is plenty to do around Greensboro. All you have to do is look, and not always at eye level. We're wondering if it would be allowed to bike to this grassy area and have a picnic! Happy Friday! 

Social Status

Last weekend, people were lined up on South Elm Street waiting for Social Status to open so that they could purchase a pair of the new Jordan 6 shoes. The guys waiting in line had a great attitude and were hopeful that not too much would be added on to the $175 retail price for the shoes. We laughed about the fact that tennis shoes are the dress shoes of the 21st century. If you collect tennis shoes, like the guys above, you keep up with release dates and design changes in this fancy footwear. Here are some sneaker nicknames from recent years: Orca, Grapes, Grinch, Oreo, Cough Drops, Banned, and James Dean.*

We'll it is Friday, nearly a week later. Let's hope that the above guys are all sporting their Jordan 6's and that it is a great weekend for everyone. If you are a regular reader of GDP, we might add that the art of yesterday's featured artist, Jerry Cartwright, dons the walls of Social Status. We're going to try to get by to see the art this weekend, and maybe learn a little bit about sneakers in the 21st century! Have a great weekend.

*photos, here.

Blossomville

The above little yard and house, located on Horse Pen Creek Road, is one of those yesteryear scenes: Small house, large front porch, swingset for children and grandchildren, truck and car in the large side yard. Best of all, pear blossoms are in full bloom. If you get a chance this weekend, drive around and enjoy all of the blossoms and early signs of spring around town. It will be about a week before the cherry tree blossoms are in full bloom in Washington, D.C. As for Greensboro, we are looking beautiful now. 

Today is Skywatch Friday, where people around the world share the beauty of the sky above them. It is also First Friday and people will be flocking in downtown Greensboro to gallery hop and enjoy being out together. Whatever you end up doing, ENJOY your weekend! Enjoy the glory of spring.

 

On Randleman Road

Randleman Road, located between Jamestown and Pleasant Garden,  is a retail corridor south of the city. In the above photo, we see a man, walking parallel with Greengate Drive, separated from the highway by a brick building. Just over his head, you see Wendy's and Cookout burger establishments,  BP and Kangaroo gas, and so much more. At the top, right edge, you see signs for I-40 and I-85. So, basically, from Randleman Road, the rest of Greensboro is just a quick turn away. With the nice weather this week, likely the roads will be busy with people getting out to have a little fun this weekend. May one of the fun loving people be you! Likely, some of Jason's BMW motorcycle crowd will be out for a ride this weekend.

We haven't participated in Skywatch Friday in a while. We will, today. Here's to the above bright, blue sunny day on Randleman Road.

 

 

Sunny Winter Day

Winter is a time of contrasts in Greensboro. It has been said that Greensboro can experience three out of four seasons in a single week. This week, the sun peeked out on Wednesday and the above vista was much needed after some gray days. The sunny skies set the stage for a beautiful full moon this week. That moon lit up the night almost as brightly as the sun did in the photo above.

To the left, you see the corner of the Stone Building and to the right, Eberhart Building on the campus of UNCG. Everhart, the psychology building, resembles a Lego construction less the bright colors. The building's angles frame the scene as if it were an Escher print. If you are lucky enough to have a three day weekend, remember that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is supposed to involve some service to community. It isn't too late to find something to do this weekend to help Greensboro to be an even greater place. And, don't forget to taking time to look up and let your rejoicing rise high as the listening sky.... and.... dream.

We're skipping into the weekend and sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday.

 

At Bessemer & North Elm

Today's photo shows dotted clouds in a bright blue sky. Heading on North Elm at the intersection with Bessemer, just south of Wendover, drivers have so many options. You can head north, eventually reaching the Virginia border. To the right, you will find east Greensboro, to the left, Fisher Park. Get on Wendover and the gas tank, time and patience are the limit.

This part of North Elm used to be full of private homes; stately and beautiful. Many of Greensboro's prominent families lived here, just north of Downtown Greensboro. The gray house behind the two white cars is one such example of the lovely homes built here. Now, most of these homes have some type of business in them. Still, this section of North Elm retains some of it's early 20th century charm. Regardless of where you are today, we hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy this glorious and hopeful time of year.

 

Three Men and a Santa

Thanksgiving morning, the crew from Sunnyside Farms was busy inflating their giant Santa, who was anxiously awaiting his opportunity to preside over the tree lot. This jolly icon of the commercial side of Christmas may not be quite as big as a Macy's Day Parade balloon, but he is mighty imposing.  The three "handlers" had their hands full. Just after we snapped this photo, Santa tumbled over. The three guys jokingly muttered something like "timber" and went about righting the listing Santa. We'll have to stop by this tree lot, located at the corner of Old Battleground and (New) Battleground Avenues, to see if Mr. Claus is vertical yet. In the meantime.....

Let BLACK FRIDAY begin! To many families, Black Friday is a holiday in its own right. People map out their store to store shopping plans. Coupons, bargains, meals on the run- with possibly an over-the-top Christmas sweater- set the festive mood and holiday memories are made. Shoppers rush home late afternoon to hide part of their bounty until December 25th and to dump the rest out on the bed to brag about the best discounts and doorbuster goodies. From Friendly Center to Four Seasons and every little store in between, Greensboro is hopping..... and shopping!

House on Church

Today's house is located on Church Street, across from Cone Elementary School. Likely, it was a mill house for a family whose members worked at the nearby textile mills. The Cone Mills community was close knit; houses were built in the day when neighbors knew each other. Families spent time on porches and walking around in the neighborhood. Also, getting from point a to point b often involved walking or catching a ride with a co-worker. In the glory days of the mill communities, everybody knew each other.

This outside of the above little white house is spotless and the yard is well cared for, hinting that the owner probably lives there. In the mid-20th century and earlier, smaller homes were common. We predict that the post-McMansion Generation will seek houses like the one above. If you think about it, the younger generation is growing up with "rooms full of stuff" consolidated onto their computer desktop: games, photos, scrapbooks, music, videos, clocks, paperwork, school assignments, books, magazines, you name it. If you are driving around town this weekend, visit Greensboro's mill villages and imagine yourself in one of these historical little homes. Greensboro is right there with the rest of America: Small is the new big. 

West Smith and North Eugene

Summer is the time of construction, and before construction comes demolition. Above, you see, literally and figuratively, the sun setting on the 50,000 square foot building, formerly the service department of  North State Chevrolet, at the corner of West Smith and North Eugene Streets. D.H. Griffin is on site doing demolition duty, alongside Lomax Builders who are preparing to build a four-story building called "Greenway at Stadium Park." * As the name suggests, you should be able to watch the home Grasshoppers' games from the roof of the new apartments. There has been so much construction around Greensboro lately.

If you haven't been here in a while, you will do a double take as you drive around town. Here is a photo of the Greenway at Fisher Park apartments across the street. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to sit beside the pool and watch the new property be constructed before our eyes. You may recall that the Greenway rest stop is currently being built just down the street (here) and Deep Roots Co-op is just across the street.  We'll print another photo when the project is completed. Happy Friday, dear readers. If you get a chance this weekend, drive down West Smith Street and see this desert-looking landscape and watch construction in process.

*reference and full article here.

I-73: Driving in Wonderland

Today's BIG SKY photo finds us on I-73, northbound in Greensboro on a relatively-new stretch of highway, just west of town. The new interchanges around here can get confusing, feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland. Driving with Alice might sound like this:

"Wonder where this highway will take me if I get off here? Am I near I-40? Or I-85? If I exit here, will I end up in Winston? If I continue on this road, will I end up in Greensboro? On Friendly Avenue, I think. Maybe if I drive a little farther, I'll reach the airport. Or wait, am I confusing this road with Highway 68? Oh jabberwocky!  Does it really matter? This highway feels quite the opposite of down the rabbit hole. It is as if I'm driving into the sky.  Which way ought I to go from here? Perhaps, I should do as the King said. Begin at the very beginning and go on till I come to the end: then stop. By the way, why does the view look so different in the rear view mirror? How puzzling all these things are. Maybe I should drive on I-73 tomorrow or yesterday, but never today."

At any rate, when the sky is this beautiful and the view this expansive, we feel like we could drive all day! Hope your Fourth of July was everything you wanted and that, at the end of the day, you ended up right where you wanted to be... even if you never left at all!

Broach and Studio B

The Broach Theater, located at 520 South Elm Street,  was said to be Downtown Greensboro's longest running professional theater.* In January 2013, the News and Record reported that Community Theatre of Greensboro purchased it. In the basement below the theater space, Studio B is a venue where special events, including performing and visual arts, are hosted. It is rented out for receptions, celebrations, meetings, and even for photo shoots. Their motto is, "where business and pleasure meet." 

The entrance to Studio B is between these two brick buildings. Evenings, the string of lights makes the way not only noticeable , but also inviting. Studio B is said to accommodate about 150 people for a seated dinner and many more for just standing. The last time we were there, Gallucci Family was having an art event there. That was over a year ago; so, a return visit is long overdue!

We'll have to share this post with Skywatch Friday. They love to see slices of sky from around the world. Happy Friday, Greensboro.

 

* reference. 

Mayberry Moment at Carolina Estates

Carolina Estates is an assisted living facility at 4424 Old Battleground Avenue. The above sculpture, located at the entrance, is what we in North Carolina call a "Mayberry moment." This could be Opey with a couple of friends sneaking down to the fishing hole, only to have Andy squeeze a confession out of them after a misadventure.  It is little details like this nostalgic sculpture, and all of the great landscaping  surrounding it, that earned this facility a landscape award from Greensboro Beautiful.

Greensboro Beautiful is a non-profit organization that works to conserve and enhance the the beauty and ecology of our area. They collaborate with the City of Greensboro. In addition to their own projects, Greensboro Beautiful acknowledges efforts of businesses to keep Greensboro "green." Nice landscaping  is not something that directly helps with the bottom line. For Carolina Estates to take the extra effort to landscape is impressive. For Greensboro Beautiful to notice is equally impressive. Happy Skywatch Friday, dear readers. Wherever you live, may your weekend be filled with Mayberry moments like the one captured in the above sculpture. (Listen here).

Nido R. Qubein School of Communication

Today, we spend one more day on the campus of High Point University at the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication on the campus. The School of Communication's programs offer an experential-learning environment. Upon entry into the building, it feels as if you have arrived at a corporate headquarters. The global and multidisciplinary curriculua prepare students for their future careers.

On our campus tour the other day, our guide said that HPU was his first university tour and, from that first moment, he knew that HPU was the school for him. He toured other institutions of higher education in North Carolina, mostly to please his parents; however, he never wavered in his goal of studying at HPU. And, his dream was realized. What a tentimonial to the new HPU!

As we celebrate the beauty of the sky on Skywatch Friday, we're pleased to report that the skies over High Point University are looking pretty blue in the photo above.

Goodbye, Winter

Winter skies  can be so beautiful as a backdrop to the barren winter landscape. In spite of the recent cold snap, Greensboro has experienced a relatively mild winter. Also, we seem to have been spared an early spring icestorm. We took this photo a couple of weeks ago in northwest Greensboro and reslized if we didn't use it soon, we would have to tuck it away for a year. Officially, spring arrived on Wednesday, March 20th; winter is not just waning, it is GONE.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend to revel in the freshness of spring, we suggest heading to the Children's Museum tomorrow for the Festival of Colors, celebrating the colors of India and Indian culture. From there, you could walk from that to the Best Little Train Show at the nearby Gaylon Depot on Washington Street. If you finish those events by 2:00 p.m., you could walk  from the train depot to the Central Library for the free matinee (Aladdin). If you still want more to do, you could bike on the downtown greenway and stop by Deep Roots, welcome them to downtown and visit our friend Elizabeth who works there.

Whether you do attend one of the events we mentioned or do something else this weekend, please open your front door, allow some fresh air to flow through your house and shout at the top of your lungs, "Goodbye, Winter!". 

Gone With the Wind

For some reason, this photo of a desolate tree at Lake Higgins reminds us of a scene from Gone With the Wind.  It stands tall and alone on the horizon in the December sky, like something Scarlett O'Hara would fight to hold on to. It is hard to believe that spring will be here within a month and, before you know it, the trees will be putting on leaves.

Lake Higgins is a 226-acre municipal reservoir. The lake is one of a trio of water reservoirs: Lakes Higgins, Brandt, and Townsend. It is not always clear when you are leaving one lake and approaching another. They are located in the north end of the county. Fishing, kayaking, and hiking around the lakes are especially fun ways to exercise and enjoy our beautiful community. Since these next few months GDP is sharing posts of an environmental "Going Green" theme, this article about trees is especially appropriate. Please read a tree story,  here... a little sappy, but timely with Earth Day and Arbor Day coming up in April!

Listening for the Crack of Dawn

Sunrise was so beautiful on North Battleground this week, we had to pull off the road and snap a photo. The sky was only this intense for a brief minute before the color faded and everything turned gray-white. We couldn't help but think of North Carolina storyteller, Donald Davis who has a story called, "Listening for the Crack of Dawn." We just sat there in a parking lot, marveling and listening for the "crack" of dawn to happen. All we heard was an ambulance which broke the magic  and promptly snapped us back to reality. Off to our respective jobs we drove.

Davis tells the stories of his childhood,  the ones handed down to him from his grandmother. Before becoming a professional storyteller, he was a Methodist minister in High Point for over twenty years. So, while he wasn't in Greensboro proper, he was in Guilford County. Imagine having a master storyteller as a preacher. Sleeping through his sermons would be impossible. Now that we think about, his stories, much more powerful when heard than read, have the structure of a sermon. We've had some technology glitches this week  (one of which was that it would take 789 more hours to transfer our digital photos to an external hard drive and that the interaction couldn't be interrupted). Today is Friday and, this weekend, we're not going to do much more than listen for the crack of dawn!