Greensboro Daily Photo

Mortar & Pestle at Fordham Drug Store

Next time you are at 514 South Elm Street, at the building that housed Fordham's Drug Store from 1898-2002, look up to the sky and see this apothecary mortar and pestle. Pharmacists used them to prepare prescriptions or for grinding pills. Trituration is the process of crushing, grinding, and mixing solid substances-- the task of the above bowl-like mortar and heavy pestle. When we started investigating the origin and meaning of the Rx symbol, we found many answers (read here). One thought is that it comes from the latin word "recipere" meaning "Take, thou."

In the early years of Fordham's, the Drug Store was on the street level and the doctors were upstairs, just below this decorative feature on the roof. Fordham's was a dynamic place with a soda fountain that catered to children. They also had liquor for sale, as long as the ABC man wasn't around (reference). For a while, the short story writer O. Henry worked at Fordham's. We're sharing this bright blue sky with Skywatch Friday.

Sky over Wendover

Here is a view of the sky over Wendover Avenue, taken from Benjamin Parkway looking east. Greensboro is a relatively flat city so it is not always easy to find expansive, open spaces for a panoramic view. This one was taken from a car window at a stop light while Mr. GDP was driving.The square building peeking out on the left is the fabulous Proximity Hotel. The environmentally-friendly Proximity was the first platinum, LEED rated hotel in the USA (read more). On a sunny day like this, the hotel's solar panels should be busy making energy. 

This beautiful sky with low-level, cumulus clouds was taken a while back. Thunder storms are predicted for Greensboro this weekend; however, let's hope for some nice weather so that we can drive to Sedgefield for the Wyndham Championship.  Even better, book a room at the Proximity by night and, by day, head to the Sedgefield Country Club to watch some amazing golf. In the meantime, we're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday.

NC Carnivorous Plants & U Haul

We've finally found a U Haul that advertises North Carolina. The "Venture Across America" series by U Haul is brilliant-- combining fun facts and great graphic design with an otherwise boring Point A to Point B venture. The top statement reads "Carnivores of the green swamp preserve." At the bottom, it reads, "Did you know.... The endangered Venus Fly Trap and Pitcher Plant feed on small insects for survival. How does this reversal in the food chain work? Learn more about carnivorous plants...."

Carnivorous plants have adapted to eat insects because their host soil is thin and poor in nutrients. Due to plant poachers, carnivorous plants are threatened worldwide. Carnivorous plants don't grow in Greensboro; in our state, they only grow within a 60 mile radius of Wilmington.This costal city is a great habitat for carnivorous plants (see many examples here). North Carolina children love to study them, especially in the North Carolina social studies years (4th and 8th grade).

By the way, this U Haul is available for rent at Quality Food Mart at the corner of Battleground and North Elam. Have a great weekend and try to spend a few minutes looking at other Skywatch Friday posts! If you want some carnivorous plant fun, watch the 1960 or 1986 version of the movie, Little Shop of Horrors.

 

Take Us Out To the Ball Game

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are out of town this weekend leaving us with a BEAUTIFUL, but empty, stadium. It has been six years since this stadium opened its doors on April 3, 2005. Time flies when you are playing ball. Seating capacity in New Bridge Bank Park stadium is 7,499; however, with all of the picnic and grassy berm areas, more people can fit, if needed. The opening day crowd was 8,540. Greensboro loves its minor-league baseball. 

This scene, outside the entrance gate on the Bellemeade Street side, would be perfect for a photo shoot with the little baseball players in your life. To small children, these larger-than-life baseballs feel like the scene in Gulliver's Travels where Gulliver lands in Brobdingnag, the land of big people.

Here is the Grasshoppers' schedule. They'll be back in town next week. What a great way to wind down your summer and have some good, AFFORDABLE family fun!. Today, we're pitching this photo over at Skywatch Friday where hundreds of people worldwide share a view of the sky above their town.

Irving Park- First Citizens Bank

Today's photo takes us to the corner of West Northwood Street and Huntington Road. (This photo was actually taken at the edge of Edward McCay's parking lot). Here we see the early stages of construction of First Citizens Bank in Irving Park. First Citizens Bank was established in 1898. The four-story, 30,900 square-foot office of the Raleigh-based bank is under construction behind Anton's Restaurant.  In addition to administrative offices, it will be a full-service bank.  Being over 100 years old, one would like to think that they have a clear cut recipe for success that will carry them into the twenty-second century. 

The building will change the landscape of the southern end of Irving Park. It just may be the tallest building in Irving Park. Let's hope they are making an effort to be environmentally responsible and that they will feature local art. Greensboro artist William Mangum is just down the street and Irving Park Elementary School has a mighty fine art program (hint, hint).

Can you find the two American flags billowing in the breeze? By the way, readership has been up this week. Thank you to our new readers as well as our longtime readers. Readers, like YOU, make this mom and pop volunteer-effort all worthwhile. Please spread the word that we're here.

We're sharing this photo with viewers around the world through Skywatch Friday. Have a great weekend!

Breathing Fire and Feeling the Heat!

With temperatures close to 100 degrees in Greensboro, it feels like we are all breathing fire! July tends to be our hottest month; however, for July 2011, Greensboro is about 10 degrees above average! The above photo was taken during the grande finale, fire act portion of the summer solstice event last month. Flames emerging from the man's mouth illustrate how much of the nation has felt this month!

In our effort to find the hottest day on record for Greensboro, we only saw the hottest day on record for North Carolina-- 110 degrees; on August 21, 1983 in Fayetteville. In the meantime, we found other numbers that we decided were "must knows" for Greensboro. The city is 131.75 square miles. The elevation is 897 feet. The population as of 2009 was 260,083 (reference). Our thought for the day, or thought for the photo: "Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability." Roy L. Smith

In the above photo the flame of the "human BIC lighter" shines in the night sky and we are sharing the scene with Skywatch Friday.

 

Cornhole-- "It's your turn to toss!"

The lawn game Cornhole is all the rage in Greensboro! In the above photo, we see some young adults who brought their Cornhole game to the Coliseum to pass time until the fireworks started on July 4th. For those of you who haven't played before, the white raised board in the middle of the photo is one of two plywood, cornhole targets. The opponent's sloped target is in the spot where we were standing to take the photo.  Little corn-filled bags are tossed back and forth. The goal is to get the bag in the hole and to reach 21 points. If you really want to learn to play, read here.

Nobody is sure of the exact origin of cornhole. Native Americans played a similar game and there are tossing games in many early cultures. In modern times, Ohio and Michigan have played a significant role in popularizing the game. Word has it that in Greensboro teams and competitions are cropping up even with county employees to boost collegiality and to alleviate on the job stress. The game costs from $75 up depending on the elaborateness of the façade and whether they are made at home or purchased pre-made. We'd love to own one if you know of an affordable source.

We're tossing this post up on Skywatch Friday.  If we're lucky, we'll get comments from around the world. Wonder if they play cornhole in Siberia, in Rio de Janeiro........... in Jerusalem?

White Oak Amphitheater

Here we see a view of Greensboro's recently-opened (June 5th) White Oak Amphitheater on High Point Road. It was mostly empty on the Fourth of July when the pops concert got rained out; however, people were still free to enter and see the beautiful facility. It adds so much to our city. The amphitheater is named for the white oak, the official tree of the City of Greensboro. As you will learn if you watch this video clip about the amphitheater, Nathanael Greene's men slept under a white oak on the eve of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse at the time of the Revolutionary War. Greensboro also had a mill, The Cones' indigo dyeing operation, named White Oak; so named for a 200 year old white oak tree on the property. The white oak is one of the largest trees in the eastern U.S.

The White Oak Amphitheater is located at the corner of the Coliseum complex, on what was formerly property of the old Canada Dry plant. It seats 7,666 people. The amphitheater will feature concerts and community events. Refreshing as a crisp ginger ale on a warm summer evening is the fact that White Oak is named for something significant to the history of Greensboro-- a tree-- and is not yet named for a benefactor or corporate sponsor. We leave you with the above night view which includes a giant slice of the dusk sky over Greensboro. We are featuring this view for the world to see on Skywatch Friday. If you get a chance, attend an event at the amphitheater. It will feel like being on vacation in your hometown!

Aerial View of Southside

Here we see an aerial view of Greensboro's Southside neighborhood in all of its glory on a warm, summer day. If you want to learn a LOT about the neighborhood, located on the southeast tip of the city, please follow the link for the quote:

"Greensboro, North Carolina's Southside neighborhood, a 10-acre revitalization project, is one of the city's first significant mixed-use infill projects.Greensboro's Department of Housing and Community Development developed a traditional neighborhood district ordinance-- based on the Southside Area Development Plan adopted by the Greensboro city council in 1995-- to assist Southside's redevelopment" (Buntin & Low). Southside has been wildly successful and, Buntin and Low report that before re-development, this 10-acre area took in less than 1/2 million in tax revenue and post-development takes in around 10 million in tax revenue. 

If you are looking for something to do with so many extra hours of daylight, we suggest heading over to Southside, perhaps even to the Vintage301 Restaurant, to see what's cookin'. We're proud to share these clouds drifting through the radiant sky with our friends at Skywatch Friday. 

 

Camberly's Garden

Today's post takes us to Camberly's Garden at the Tanger Bicentennial Garden off Hobbs and Holden Roads. The above photo is fairly indicative of what you will see in Camberly's Garden-- foilage, sculptures, and flowers; beauty all around. If you spend time in this tranquil place, you start to feel the energy and emotion of this memorial garden dedicated to Camberly Holliday, daughter of former Mayor Keith Holliday and his wife Cindy.

Camberly died unexpectedly in 2002 of a brain aneurysm. Camberly was one of those young women who had a full, well-rounded life: music, dancing, Girl Scouts, academics; she loved and brought joy to her family, friends, church, and community every day of her fourteen short years on earth. We are so grateful that Greensboro has this garden where we can go to reflect, hope, and dream. With each wilting flower or new bud, Camberly's Garden reminds us that life is precious, yet fleeting.

This is our post for Skywatch Friday.

Piano & Organ Distributors

This piano in the sky is very visible from I-40 near the Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge Road. Piano and Organ Distributors has it suspended, leaving no doubt that you have found their store-- if you are looking it. Perhaps they even entice some impulse buyers with this great display. We'd seen the scene for years and decided to explore it a little closer one day. This part of Greensboro is great for finding not only pianos and organs but also campers.

Click here to see what kind of music we are imagining this piano playing today. Visit  Skywatch Friday to enjoy other sky photos from around the world.

ACC Hall of Champions

One of Greensboro's newest venues is the ACC Hall of Champions on High Point Road at the Coliseum complex. Here she is in all her glory, having recently opened to the public on March 3rd, 2011. If you are a college sports fan, you probably already know that the ACC was founded in Greensboro in 1953. This hall/museum was assembled to document and celebrate the high points of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hall of Champions has interactive displays and exhibits documenting the league's 58 year history. The exhibit everyone is talking about is the 4-ft., 360 degree video-globe at the entrance. On the exterior, in the gray panel to the right, you can see the logos of the ACC teams.

If you are local, we hope you can stop by for a real visit (open Wed. - Sunday). Sounds like a great field trip for PE teachers. If you are from elsewhere, you can visit virtually. We're sharing this post with Skywatch Friday, a dedicated group of sky lovers who will jump, block, tackle and flip over these fluffy clouds in the Carolina Blue sky! 

Paraskevidekatriaphobia and the Patriotic Barn

Today is Friday, the 13th. If just the sound of that day and date together has you shaking, you suffer from paraskevidedatriaphobia. The concept is cultural, as in some areas of the world (Spain Latin America, Romania, and Greece) Tuesday the 13th is to be feared. In general, 13 is a number often avoided in the USA; however, if you notice, our flag has 13 stripes, representing our 13 original colonies, an instance of a positive association with the number. Did you know that there are 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum?  On the dollar bill, there are 13 stars above the eagle, 13 levels of the truncated pyramid, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 arrows held by the eagle, and 13 bars on the shield? So, in a way, 13 is a patriotic number!

This patriotic barn is an example of the little surprises awaiting at many turns in the road throughout rural North Carolina. Located in the incorporated part of Summerfield, Guilford County, this barn predates the population explosion in North Carolina at the end of the 20th century. This once mighty structure is one wind storm away from ruin; however, while standing, it reflects the patriotism of the owner and is eye candy to photographers. This is one of our "you know you're a local if" shots. You know you're a local if you've driven past this structure!

Between natural disasters, tumbing economics, and political issues, the world has been swishing with change. We suspect that Americans aren't the only ones feeling patriotic. If you are flying your flag today, wherever you are in the world, please provide us with a link! We're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday where we all display that patch of blue above our head with pride. HAPPY Friday, the 13th! Happy weekend!

The Yin and Yang of Daily Living

As our faithful readers know, on Fridays, we usually participate in Skywatch Friday, showing you a little slice of the sky above Greensboro. This week, we share a sight that has been fairly typical this spring. To the north, you see a dark, foreboding sky. To the east, and off on the horizon, you see the sky breaking open with sunny, blue and white warmth. Cold/warm, wet/dry, destructive winds/calm air; Just when you think you can put your wool sweaters away, you need to dig them back out. Just when you think the April showers are behind you, you need your umbrella.

Spring 2011 in Greensboro has been characterized by weather extremes.  The Chinese explain this with yin/yang, asserting the polar and opposite forces in nature are interconnected, giving rise to each other. The dichotomy is not as much good and bad as it is a balanced, mutual whole. The plant grows so that it can bloom and produce and then it falls to the earth awaiting a new cycle. So, as we enter the weekend, regardless of the weather, ponder how it fits with the balanced whole. As for the yin/yang of daily living, life is usually easier towards the center of the continuum, as opposed to listing at one of the extremes. Here's to a balanced, Mother's Day Weekend, celebrating mom if she is living in the lower half of the photo and remembering her fondly if she has already drifted to the upper half.

Winds of Change

"The wind of change is blowing through this continent." This quote is associated with the 1960 speech made by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillian in reference to Britain's intent to grant independence to their territories in Africa. Today, we evoke the quote in reference to the recent tornadoes and damaging winds worldwide.  In the South, Alabama and North Carolina were hit especially hard. Before that, Japan experienced the tsunami and earthquake. It will be a long time before these communities recover. The world is interconnected in this Internet age, and, as Thomas Friedman will be quick to tell you, adversity in one corner of the world affects communities near and far.

As the winds come and go, Greensboro's skies have gone from blue to gray, from filled with cumulonimbus clouds to zero visibility. Here, we share a few of the international flags flying over Uniworld Auto Sales at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Holden Road. Japan's unfurled, red-dot flag stands between the British, French, Italian, and North Carolina flags  to remind us of our interconnectedness.

If you have a chance, visit some of our international friends at Skywatch Friday or the City Daily Photo Community where you can continent-surf without leaving your desktop in Greensboro.

Gateway Gardens: Oh Butterfly

 "Butterflies are self-propelled flowers." R.H. Heinlein

"Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and pleases wherever it goes."   Unknown

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." Hans Christian Anderson

Today, we offer our final view of Gateway Gardens, one of four butterflies hovering high above the ground. In addition to the trees, many of the pieces of artwork are intended to provide shade for visitors. Each butterfly is 4' tall by 6' wide and extends 12' from the ground, attached by a round, steel tubing arm. The coloring comes from acrylic and polycarbonate. See sculptor Erik Beerbower's 2004 drawing of the four butterflies here. The drawing helps you conceptualize how the quartet looks installed in Gateway Gardens. In 2009, we featured Erik's butterflies BEFORE they took flight (here), when they were still back at Erik's Lyndon Street studio. In case you're wondering, all four of the butterfly sculptures have been sold/sponsored at the $50,000 level; so that naming opportunity has been missed. However, many others are still available through Gateway Gardens' main website under donors and opportunities. If you want to see drawings of the rest of the sculptures, enjoy them here.

Let's hope that some of our friends from around the world who visit today through Skywatch Friday or the City Daily Photo community will actually have a chance to visit Greensboro's Gateway Gardens in person. If you author one of the world's city daily photo sites, we'll make every effort to provide you with a personal tour. Just don't all (+/-) 1,500 of you come at once.... or do!

Off And Running at Northern High

This Skywatch Friday photo was taken at a track meet at Northern High School last week. Students are circling the track against the backdrop of one of Guilford County's newest high schools. Were they adults, we'd say the runners were doing the 'woo-hoo" shuffle celebrating the fact that tax returns don't need to be filed today but on April 18th. 

Northern High opened January 3, 2008 with 2003 bond money at the cost of 14.4 million dollars (Rhino Times). On their website, the Nighthawks list their vision as being, "a learning community that nurtures citizens through wisdom for today, hope for tomorrow, and integrity for a lifetime."  In the spirit of having wisdom for the present, today, April 15th, they are promoting the National Day of Silence to bring attention to anti-LBGT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools (Northern's website).

May the Nighthawks and ALL students have hope for tomorrow and integrity for a lifetime. Imagine, integrity for a lifetime. Have a good weekend, doing your taxes-- or not.

 

Hyacinth and Daffodil Friday

Well, the weekend is upon us again. Time to turn to Go Triad to figure out how to enjoy it. There are so many things to do and photograph in our community. For sure, we will stop by the Craftsmen's Classic at the Greensboro Coliseum. We hope to attend: LUNAFEST (short films for women by women); Community Day at the Weatherspoon Art Gallery; the Historical Museum's exhibit of Jewish life in North Carolina; the  Greensboro Symphony's POPS Concert; or a live play-- or two. How will we ever decide?

If you are local, we hope you find some time to head out and smell the hyacinth (they are at peak), listen to the frogs, and admire the sky. This Skywatch Friday view is found in Northwest Greensboro not too far from Lake Higgins. We like the way the flowers are so lush while the trees are in their pre-leaf stage. Did you know that there is a leaf-out study? Go here to follow what leaves have emerged and where. If you have any suggestions for the weekend, please let us know. If we can't attend, surely some of our readers can.

You Can Always Go......... Downtown

Today is First Friday and the Indie Market will start up at 4pm. Restaurants and visual arts venues will come alive early this evening. Downtown will be door-to-door fun. While all is quiet in the above photo, the Bellemeade/Greene Street view combines several interesting buildings in Greensboro. The low, one-story building with all the color is Riva's Trattoria, a small family-style Italian Restaurant with great food. Chef Tracey purchases most of the food locally at one of the farmers' markets. Riva's may be quiet on the outside but inside, they are busy preparing exciting meals for you. Next, the round structure is a parking garage, a hub of activity during business hours. The tall, rose colored granite structure in the background is the headquarters for mortgage lender United Guaranty, a company established in Greensboro in 1963.

If this week's weather has you a little down or work has been stressful, being with people can help lift your mood. Petula Clark said it best, "When you're alone and feeling lonely, you can always go downtown ... the lights are much brighter there. You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares. So go downtown, where all the lights are bright. Downtown-- waiting for you tonight. Downtown-- you're gonna be all right now."  Today is not only Skywatch Friday but also theme day for the City Daily Photo Community and April's theme is "edges." 

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants  

Enjoy three minutes "Downtown" here.  

The Sky is the Limit

When life puts up hurdles, jump! This photo was taken at a the Phoenix Invitational Track and Field Meet at Elon University last Saturday. Many high school students throughout the Piedmont Region-- including several students from Guilford County-- participated in the meet. The warm, breezy, spring weather was perfect for spending the day outside running, jumping, throwing, and shot putting. The Elon staff and students involved with this event went out of their way to make sure it ran smoothly. Elon University is about 15 miles east of Greensboro; however, its connections to Greensboro are many. Elon  has a law school in downtown Greensboro and many people who work at Elon live in Greensboro. 

On another note, in these financially difficult times, please remember that school sports programs contribute significantly to the wellness of our children. Also, practice and meets give teenagers something to do and people to socialize with in a positive, healthy environment. Let's help keep these programs intact. Like the young man at the hurdle, we are ready to JUMP into the weekend and hope you are too. Happy Skywatch Friday.

Spring Place, Formerly Pomona Cotton Mill

Spring Place is located at the corner of Spring Garden Street and Meritt Drive.  Spring Place bills itself as "premier off-campus student housing" for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. They cater to students through their many amenities, lease terms, Internet access and the ability to process leases remotely. For those who don't want to use the bike lane along Spring Garden Street, Spring Place has shuttle service to UNCG and NC A&T. We have photos of completed sections of the 32-acre site; however, today's photo emphasizes the fact that Greensboro still has a fair amount of new construction. The sea of exposed wood smelled of freshly cut lumber-- in spite of the rain. 

This construction represents a new era for this part of town. In order to build Spring Place, The Pomona Cotton Mill, a Greensboro landmark built in 1897, had to be demolished. The Pomona Cotton Mill was a visible reminder of Greensboro's industrial history. The life of the property as a mill spanned 110 years, ending in 1950. Once the mill closed and until 1996, the brick buildings of the former structure had been repurposed as an outlet mall. Now, Pomona Cotton Mill is a mere memory, not likely to be remembered by the new generation of tenants.

The obtuse angle/peak at the top of the photo, mimicking the rooftops, is the newspaper used to protect the camera from the rain. It points to the gray, early-spring sky and is being shared with our friends at Skywatch Friday. Happy sky, dear readers. Happy Skywatch Friday.

 

Nathanael Greene Rides Again

Our city's namesake Nathanael Greene is assembling his troops at the round-a-bout downtown on McGee Street. In less than 24 hours, the 230th reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse will be in full swing. For one brief weekend, General Greene will step off his pedestal and come to life. In the American Revolutionary War, Greene was a major general for the Continental Army. The big battle in our area happened on March 15, 1781. Although Cornwallis beat Greene at the battle, it was a turning point in the war. Presently, the battlefield is soaked; however, Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be sunny. Let's hope so because wet wool is neither comfortable nor aromatic! If you are local, you have a great opportunity to interact with history! If you are driving down Battleground and hear gun shots, don't panic!

In the meantime, we're sharing this photo with Skywatch Friday.

Peace on Earth, Radiating from Guilford College

Inspired by our weekly Skywatch Friday posts, this photo is an effort to extend the art of Patrick Dougherty's 20-ft. art instillation on the campus of Guilford College. The camera is on the ground pointing to the sky through the round, maze of saplings that Dougherty bent into a beautiful work of art. See a 3-minute video about Dougherty's creative process, here. 

From saplings to Peace signs, to the sky... and beyond. Why?

Guilford College is known for its fine liberal arts education with emphasis on social responsibility. Peace and efforts for enhancing its students' global perspective radiate from the campus.  Guilford College was founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1837. Quakers are known for their tradition of pacifism (read more here). So, to Guilford College, to Quakers, to Patrick Dougherty, to the City Daily Photo Community that does SO MUCH to bring the world together, and to YOU our readers: PEACE! (see GDP's 2009 peace and saplings photo here). 

Southern Humor

This wonky playhouse and weekend humor are brought to you by Leonard Buildings and Truck Accessories at 4010 Wendover Avenue W, right next to Country BBQ. If you look closely, the porch, door, and window line are built off-kilter. The playhouse price is not much less than the nice Dutch-barn beside it and the brown building is so nice a person could almost live in it!

Perhaps the little, blue shed-like structure sends a message to children that things don't need to be perfect to still have fun. Wonder what was going through the builder's mind as s/he unsquared that entrance! Wonder what a child would have to say about it! Feel free to stop by and tour the abode; you don't even need a realtor or an appointment. 

Hang in there folks, it's almost spring and we've saved this for Skywatch Friday.

Nathanael Greene Rides Again

The Nathanael Greene bronze statue at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park soars a majestic 27 feet above the earth. The monument depicts Greene, a Revolutionary War hero and our town's namesake. The statue, unveiled in 1915, was purchased with $30,000 appropriated by the U.S. Congress after local residents failed to raise sufficient funds.  The sculptor of the equestrian portion of the statue was Francis H. Packer (see reference below*).

Here we see the bronze horseman on a warm winter day this week. The early blossoms of spring were trying to decide if they dare open against the backdrop of the warm, blue, cloudless sky-- our contribution to Skywatch Friday. If you are local, mark your calendars for the 230th Battle of Guilford Courthouse Anniversary and Reenactment, March 12-13, 2011. Rain or shine, it will be a weekend of free entertainment and a great way to learn about history by reliving it! Photo opportunities abound. Here's one of reenacting troops we took last year and one of colonial musicians here.

*Historical information found in Gayle Hicks Fripp's book "Greensboro-- Images of America" Arcadia Publishing, p. 10.

Urban Francis

The other-worldly, cast bronze, "Urban Francis" meets in-the-flesh "Suburban Frances." Actually, the woman is an anonymous art patron. She is reading the plaque about Judith Shea's bronze cast piece installed behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum, located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The inscription tells that the sculpture, edition 3 of 3, was made between 2000-2002 and that it was purchased through funds from the following sources: Lea Tannenbaum, the Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation, the Burlington Industries Endowment and the Weatherspoon Art Museum Acquisition Endowment. Urban Francis is a fine example of what collaborative effort can bring to a community. True to her fashion-designer roots, Shea's bronze pieces often are clothes-only (see here), leaving the human figure to the imagination. Greensboro's Shea, Urban Francis, is a human form with a hauntingly pensive look.

According to an article, by Martin Friedman, in Sculpture magazine, Urban Francis is St. Francis (of Assisi) and "he was the first of Shea's depictions of well-known saints in the guise of ordinary people" (well worth reading Friedman's article, here).  Stop by Greensboro Daily Photo tomorrow if you want to see a close-up of the statue's face-- tilting heavenward.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday.  If you want to see the sky over Greensboro from the past year, peruse previous posts here.

Revolution Park

The sun rises over the three-acre Revolution Park at 2200 Yanceyville Street, at the beginning of Cornwallis Drive. If this softball field could talk, it would recount many fun times. For decades, workers from Revolution MIll, just down the street, came for picnics with their families and played ball from dawn to dusk. Workers at Revolution Mill were a close community; living, working, enjoying recreation, socializing, and attending school and church all within a few miles of the mill. Owners saw to it that their workers' children had access to a sound education and to family-friendly recreation. 

The park is a still-active city facility and, while textile looms were silenced in 1982, in 2003, the mill was purchased and renovated for office space. Preserving the integrity of the buildings, the $40 million dollar renovation has resulted in nearly 100 businesses opening within the structure. The owners endeavor to make the new facility the heart of the community. Many families on Maple, Cypress, Walnut, Fairview and surrounding streets have memories of Revolution Mill and Park that are as strong as the sun reflecting and refracting in this photo. When the weather warms, families will be filling up the field and the bleachers.

This post will be shared with Skywatch Friday.

Moonrise over Greensboro

Last week's full moon rose early, huge in the winter sky. Here we see a view of the moon and stars sparkling in Northwest Guilford County. It isn't very often that we get to see stars in the night sky. According to Darkstar Astrology, "The full moon on 19 January 2011 at 29 degrees Cancer is trine Jupiter, sprinkling much needed luck and laughter upon us after the dramas and chaos of the Christmas holidays" (read more here). Do you speak astrology-ese? Whether you do or not, you probably fell in love with the night sky last week.

The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth and the same side of the moon always faces the earth. After the sun, the moon is the brightest object in our night sky. The brightness is due to a similar reflectance as coal (Wiki). The moon plays a large part in culture, lore, and language. To end your work week, here are some popular sayings that incorporate the word moon:

Once in a blue moon; it's only a paper moon; ask for the moon, to moon over something; many moons ago; promise the moon; to be over the moon (reference).

We're sharing this with our fellow skywatchers at  Skywatch Friday.

Winter Sunsets

Leafless trees in winter make beautiful, silhouetted sunset fotos. The above trees, photographed from the parking lot of the Battleground Wal-Mart, are dense with neglect. Dormant vines are patiently in place, waiting for spring when they can put out shoots and continue their invasion of the trees. The kudzu vine, which can grow up to a foot a day in the summer, competes for nutrients with trees and blocks sunlight, eventually choking the host tree to death. While the vine adds drama to a winter landscape, since it was first imported from Asia in 1876, kudzu has become quite an invasive menace. For today, however, we're gonna sit back and enjoy the view. If you are longing for summer, see some bloomin' kudzu here.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday where you can see a little slice of the sky above from just about every continent.

McIver Education Center

Today, we are at Charles D. McIver Education Center, located at 1401 Summit Avenue at the corner of Textile Drive. McIver Ecuation Center is part of the Guilford County School System and, according to their website, serves students from age 5-22 with moderate to several developmental delays, autism, and other educational needs. Our local system is just digging out from four snow days. Today, students, teachers, and staff, at McIver included, will be readjusting to the faster-paced, and more-structured schedule of being back in school.

In earlier years, the above facility was built as Proximity Public School for children of the local textile mill community of which Proximity Manufacturing Mill was a part. Proximity was the first mill of the Cone Brothers and, the school was in close proximity to the mill as the Cone family valued education.  According to local historian, Gayle Hicks Fripp, in her book GREENSBORO NEIGHBORHOODS, Volume II, this building was constructed in 1928 and the architect was Charles C. Hartman. As Frick points out, noteworthy is the brick and stone checker motif on the wings.

Also nearby is Proximity United Methodist Church. For sure, when Proximity was Proximity Public School, many students lived close enough to this neighborhood school that they could go home for lunch. Still chiseled on the header, at the center of the school, are the words, "PROXIMITY PUBLIC SCHOOL."

For Facebook users, Proximity School has started a community page, although it doesn't appear to have been discovered yet. If you attended Proximity Public School check the page out. This post is part of our 2011 Skywatch Friday series where we show a slice of the sky above Greensboro whether is vibrant blue, dull gray, or anything in between.

Near the Airport and I-40

Beep, beep! This California Sidecar truck on the left, licensed in Virginia, could be hauling trikes, side cars, accessories or after-market trike conversions. Recently, it was spotted near the airport and I-40, on Galimore Dairy Road, adding some great color to the winter landscape. Likely, it was refueling as this area is a popular spot for trucks to purchase fuel. To the right, you see the sign for Marathon fuel as well as Kinder Morgan. Kinder Morgan is a private company that stores and transports petroleum products, CO2 and natural gas. According to their website, the company has approximately 37,000 miles of pipeline and 180 terminals in North America. Here we see a Greensboro terminal. Kinder Morgan is an interesting company as they don't actually own fuel but transport it for others. Also, the CEO is paid $1 a year with the rest of his income tied to what he earns for shareholders.

Even though this side of town has an industrial look, one can still find great scenes to photograph, including Skywatch Friday shots (see here & here too). Over the last two years, Skywatch Friday has been one of GDP's most popular features. It is uplifting to monitor the sky above one's city. If you want a quick scroll through all GDP's sky photos go here. We've spent a lot of time counting clouds and chasing rainbows around town!

 

Coble Farm on West Friendly Avenue

Locals will recognize this farm on West Friendly Avenue, just past Guilford College Road. The snow really evokes yesteryear. This is an image of what Friendly used to look like-- before townhouses, apartment complexes and Friends' Home West sprang up. All around this property are modern buildings; however, this barn and silo are reminders of all the farms that used to be in the area. If you are interested in rural farm land & related NC links, here is an interesting link. Guilford County is the third largest of North Carolina's 100 counties and, until the last few years, seemed considerably rural (as evidenced by all of the roads ending in _______ Dairy Road [Gallimore Dairy Road, Carlson Dairy Road, Thacker Dairy Road, Williams Dairy Road, etc.]) . To learn more about preserving open space in Guilford County, this is the link for you! 

This Skywatch Friday post is our last photo for 2010. As you count down to New Year's Eve, please remember to be safe. Likely, the GDP family will be seated in the living room watching the ball drop from Times Square in NYC as we plan our year-in-review post for January 1st. All of the City Daily Photo sites are encouraged to post their best photo of 2010 tomorrow. Stop back and see what we selected!

Blue Christmas

Chirp, chirp. These birds on a wire at the corner of East Lee Street and South Elm have their eye on the pulse of South Greensboro, a part of the city that does not always sparkle. From their vantage point, they see people in need at Urban Ministries, The Salvation Army, Weaver House,  homeless camps, Grace Church and beyond. Actually, great things are happening to make our city aware of issues related to homelessness and to empower the homeless to have better lives. Partners Ending Homelessness is one such initiative. It isn't too late to help someone others in need... financially or emotionally. Every little effort makes a difference. From donating cans of food to toiletries to making financial contributions to donating unneeded clothing to volunteering time, you have many options for helping at all price points. And, if you yourself are in need, lonely, or worried about celebrating a holiday alone, go volunteer or go eat at a soup kitchen. You won't be turned away. Like the birds on this wire, life is better with fellowship.

Skywatch Friday where the blogging community comes together to share a skyview from our respective cities. The meme is the wire where we all come to park our fingers for a few minutes each Friday-- alone but together.

Black Friday in Greensboro

Today is Black Friday. Shopping for Christmas has officially begun, for some as early as three or four am! Specials and bargains abound. The term 'Black Friday' is said to have come into usage in 1966 in Philadelphia and spread to the population at large by 1975. The Merry Christmas snowman in the photo above was spotted in the window of the Saltbox, a fine State Street store for folk art, Colonial lighting, hand poured candles, and more. The Saltbox was established in 1974, about the time the term 'Black Friday' became nationally known, at least with meaning the day retailers began making a profit-- or being in the black.

If you look closely, you can see a Skywatch Friday blue sky peeking through in the upper corners of this window shot. The sky was mostly blocked out by the sleeve of my blazer blocking the glare. Hey Frosty, watch out for doorbusters! The shopping madness has begun! Day-after-Thanksgiving shopping could be another fun activity for the family-- or not!

Randall Jarrell

We close the week in the Guilford College area with a cemetery shot of Randall Jarrell's grave. Randall Jarrell was "an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist" (Wikipedia). Jarrell (1914-1965) was born in Tennessee and graduated from Vanderbilt.  Jarrell, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, used his first-hand experience to write about the moral dilemmas and fears of young soldiers. After the war, he came to Greensboro to teach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro or, as it was called during Jarrell's tenure, Woman's College of the University of North Carolina.

The cemetery is located adjacent to New Garden Friends Meeting. As you leave the Quaker Meeting House and walk due west, Randall Jarrell is buried between his wife and mother-in-law.  The inscription on his gravestone is, "Randall Jarrell, poet, teacher, beloved husband, 1914-1965" (commas added here)-- with a crescent moon and two stars. His wife's gravestone reads, "Mary von Schrader Jarrell, Joyful Christian, Wife and Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, Stanford University, Writer, 1914"-- with the same crescent moon and two stars. If you are interested in learning more about Jarrell, a good place to start is this piece written by his wife.

This is our contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Stop back tomorrow for another installment in our Guy Noir Weekend Reflection series!

Arcadia Drive Home

This Arcadia Drive residence has so much individuality and character. The charcoal gray and white paint makes the home stand out from its well-landscaped grounds. The tree in front reminds us of the great shadows cast on sunny fall and winter days. On the left side, the gray chunk of building peeking out is the not-for-profit Friends Home. This independent living retirement community was founded by the religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Behind this house are the vegetable plots and rose garden maintained by "friends." We're not sure if this house is in any way affiliated with the retirement community. We do know that the house is a beautiful sight to behold as you are rounding the corner to enter the retirement community. With Guilford College across the road, Friends Home behind it, and lots of new construction in the area, this majestic residence is an enclave unto itself!

With the beautiful Greensboro sky seen, not only behind the house, but also reflected in the windows, this is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday.

Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock State Park is not in Greensboro; however, it is only a 45 minute drive north and makes a great day trip! Located in the Sauratown Mountains, Hanging Rock comes by its name honestly. After hiking mostly uphill for a mile, you look up and see large rock formations--- hanging. Then, you walk about 3/10ths of a mile up behind the the rocks to heights of around 2,000 feet. If you aren't expecting this altitude, Hanging Rock seems as if you are standing on the highest spot on earth-- high enough for us! As you can see in the photo, the people in the distance are sitting on peaks of bare rocks and sheer cliffs. Established in 1936, Hanging Rock is a part of North Carolina's natural heritage and we are very proud of this state park. The park includes waterfalls, caves, ridges, 18 miles of trails and more over 6,457 acres. If you want more information, we like this link (see here). 

Happy Friday! This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday.

Orange Maple and Old Oak on Odell Place

Only a parking lot separates this old tree on Odell Place from the Odell Memorial Building on the campus of Greensboro College. Most of the year, the decrepit tree looks tired and on its last leg (trunk)? However, when the leaves change to red-orange and the sky is blue, it stands out like the lone, brilliant icon of fall. Nearby, at the west side of the parking lot is a giant oak tree. The oak is sturdier and more massive, but the leaves are nothing more than a dull, leathery brown. Park under the oak and you will hear thud.....thud.......thud with acorns landing like bullets on your car. Across the street is a ginko biloba tree planted in 1981 in memory of Howard C. Wilkinson, a former president of Greensboro College. Don't you just love it when trees have pedigrees, when they are a part of the landscape of a school's collective memory?  Surely, "Meet me by the old maple on Odell Place," has been uttered at least once. 

To enjoy the view, we stood directly under the maple tree, with the sun to our back, looked straight up and snapped. If you are out on a walk this weekend, head to a college campus and "read"  the trees! In you are in Greensboro, visit this one! Shel Silverstein would be proud! (If you have 9 minutes & 44 seconds, listen to him read The Giving Tree here).

This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday. Thank you for visiting Greensboro Daily Photo! We're here for you-- 365 days a year!

Suburban Fire Pits

Country folk in North Carolina like to burn a barrel; suburbanites love their fire pits. Here we see a fire ring burning during the last minute before the sky turns from sapphire to black. The other night, we were mesmerized by the warmth and the view.

This is a fast way to get rid of yard waste. Fortunately that is not much of an issue in Greensboro; the city will take just about any yard waste what a city resident can drag to the street. If you haul your yard waste to High Point, they give you credit for when you purchase their mulch. Plus, Greensboro has curb service for leaves, you just blow or rake them into the street and the city will haul them away. So many options that the old-timey choice in North Carolina-- to burn yard waste-- is going by the wayside.Charming as it seems, several restrictions apply to starting open fires. Our recommendation is to check your local ordinances; plus, we recommend taking a fire safety class like the one the scouts offer! 

This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday.

Ubiquitous Pumpkin Patches

 

This is the time of year that church youth groups sell pumpkins as a fundrasier. The above stand, located in Oak Ridge, is sponsored by the youth group of Oak Ridge Methodist Church. It is so fun to see small children delight in the selection of the family pumpkins. Increasingly, white, green, and ornamental pumpkins and gourds are becoming available.

Noteworthy in this photo is the canopy provided by Forbis & Dick Funeral Home. Our local funeral homes are generous to loan out these canopy/tents. They are a much friendlier sight over a pumpkin patch than over a cemetery plot! This glorious North Carolina sky, at the corner of Highway 68 and Oak Ridge Road near McDonald's Restaurant, is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday. If you don't want to drive to the far reaches of the county, you have plenty of in-town options. Here is the one at Mt. Pisgah Methodist Church that we featured last year.