Greensboro Daily Photo

A Great Day to Be Outdoors

In Greensboro, today will be a great day to spend out of doors. Perhaps you can do yard work, help a neighbor outside, or enjoy one of our city's many trails or participate in sports. In the above photo, three golfers are on the putting green at the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. The photo was taken on Francisco Drive and shows that Greensboro actually has some change in elevation. Around our lakes, it is a little hilly. If you are on the above golf course, you really experience the hills.

On maps, Greensboro is recorded as being 892 feet above sea level.  The highest point in North Carolina is 6,687 feet at Mount Mitchell; the lowest point is sea level, at the shore; and, the average elevation is 700 feet. So, in Greensboro, we can proudly boast being above average. The standard par for a golf course is 72 and the average golfer shoots 100, in which case, at least in golf, we aspire to be below average. Finally, the average high temperature for March 25th in Greensboro is the mid-60's and today is predicted to be in the 70's. Indeed, it will be a great day to be outside.

Mountain Biking

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

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

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

*reference and more information, here.

Fishing on Lake Higgins

The lone angler above was recently fishing on Lake Higgins. The day was cold and the starkness of the winter vegetation combined with the blue cast to the photo make the scene look even colder. According to the website of the City of Greensboro, the lake is stocked with bass, crappie, sunfish, trout, and catfish. Fishing is allowed from a boat or on the pier at the marina. At the fall bass tournament this past October, twenty-one anglers participated and the first place fish weighed 7.30 pounds. The spring tournament usually attracts a more people. If you are interested, start testing your equipment now and make sure you have found a few key fishing holes by early April.

This 226 acre reservoir is also a great spot for paddle boarding and kayaking. Greensboro is so lucky that the city maintains the reservoirs and provides access for the public at large. We're sure the man in the boat would attest to the peacefulness of fishing after a long week at work.

C is for Coliseum Complex... and Champions!

The above photo features the part of the Coliseum Complex that leads to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Hall of Champions. The Hall of Champions opened March 2, 2011. It is hard to believe that it has been in Greensboro almost six years. The display features the history of the conference as well as its long relationship to North Carolina. The ACC is an American collegiate athletic conference and it sponsors competition in twenty-five sports. In 1953, the ACC was founded in Guilford County, in Sedgefield. If you like college athletics and are local, you owe it to yourself to spend some time at this facility.

In the above photo, a dad explains some sports concepts to his small children as they listen intently. The children were so well behaved and engrossed in the conversation. Whether he was ever an ACC athlete or not, in the minds of his children, this dad is a true champion. With so much negative press these days, the scene reminds us there is good in humanity and it starts at home.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "C" is for "coliseum" and "champion."

(They're Gonna Start a) Revolution Cycles

  

Revolution Cycles is located at 1907 Spring Garden Street, near Chapman Street, between the Coliseum and Lindley Park. They bill themselves as a a bike shop that carries interesting inventory, with a very different vibe from traditional bicycle shops. They stock brands like: Raleigh, Niner, Santacruz, and Salsa to name a few. A big part of their "manifesto" is to get as many people as possible riding bicycles and to offer bikes and clothing with graphic design that you can't find at other bike stores.

Inside the store is a bar, called the Handlebar. On Friday afternoons, the Handlebar hosts a "You made it through the week" happy hour. They have beer on tap and attract people who love to talk about biking adventures. The inventory is fabulous, their spirit and spirits are great. Beware if you go to their website, as their language is "R" rated;  partly for vocabulary choice and partly for the spirit of revolution. While today might not be the best day for biking, if Revolution Cycles is open, it could be a great day to check out an "off the beaten trail" bike store. To be sure, the people who own and work at Revolution have some amazing biking tales. As can be gleaned from the looks of the front entrance to the business, Revolution works hard to add energy to the 1900 block of Spring Garden Street.

Pop a wheelie if you like biking!

Great Golf in Sedgefield

Golf is a very popular sport in North Carolina and especially in Greensboro. The above photo features someone studying a shot at the Sedgefield Country Club and shows how many people like to spend their weekends in Greensboro, even when it is cold and wintry outside. It is possible to play golf about ten months a year here and golfing at the Sedgefield Country Club is beautiful, even in wintertime. This country club opened its doors in 1926 and, over the decades, has played a leadership role in hosting great golf tournaments in North Carolina. In 1938, the Greater Greensboro Open, now the Wyndam Championship, was established there. This championship brings some of golf's most famous and accomplished players to Greensboro. If you know golf, you will recognize players visiting local establishments during tournaments.

While the Wyndam Tournament won't be until August, you will see golfers out perfecting their swing in just about any weather short of a snowstorm. Speaking of snowstorms, by the looks of the empty bread and milk shelves at local grocery stores, a snowstorm appears to be brewing! You have been "fore" warned.  Stay warm!

It's Soccer Time!

Fall weekends are time for playing outdoors. Above, families sit on the sidelines in foldable chairs, watching their children playing soccer at the Guilford College fields at New Garden Road. Weekends around Guilford County, it is almost impossible to find an empty field; they are all filled with people practicing or playing sports. It is heartwarming to drive by these fields and see everyone enjoying exercising out of doors. The 1990's saw participation in soccer burgeon in Greensboro. Today, there are all levels of play, available for players of all ages. From organizations like the Y to City Youth Sports to private clubs to school and university programs, soccer is everywhere.

According to the Harris Poll, National League Football is the most popular sport in the United States. And, while soccer might not be number one, it is number one in the hearts of all of those parents sitting there, living in the moment, enjoying their children playing their best. If you love soccer and have coaching talent, imagine yourself in the above photo, mentoring the children of Greensboro, teaching them not only the fundamentals of soccer, but also how to be good of good moral character. Coaches, sponsors, and spectators who are good sports are always appreciated. Happy Friday and happy weekend!

NC A&T Baseball

The above photo features the baseball team of North Carolina A&T State University. On Saturday, they held an inter-team baseball game at War Memorial Stadium on Yanceyville Street. Blue and Gold played hard against each other, strictly for the good of the team as a whole. War Memorial is currently the NC A&T's home baseball stadium. War Memorial was used for minor league baseball teams (and other activities)  from 1930 until the the new stadium was built in 2004 in downtown Greensboro. How wonderful that the historic, War Memorial Stadium is still being used. 

Writing about baseball in Greensboro today, we would be remiss not to mention José Fernandez, the pitcher for the Miami Marlins who died tragically in a boating accident this past weekend. Fernandez played briefly for the Greensboro Grasshoppers at the beginning of the 2012 season and threw the first six innings of a combined no-hitter, when he was right here, affiliated with our hometown team. With all of Fernandez' baseball success, a memorable personal story was when he and his mother were fleeing Cuba, his mother fell overboard, and Fernandez jumped in and saved her life. The very water that brought Fernandez freedom also took his life. Greensboro was honored with his brief presence here, just four years ago.*

Greensboro is a great baseball town. From the leagues for small children to the AAU teams, the local university teams, and the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Greensboro has exciting baseball games in progress just about every night of the season. We really enjoyed the A&T scrimmage on Saturday and look forward to watching them play again. It would be lovely to watch someone else in Greensboro get picked up by the major leagues.

* reference and read more, here.

G is for Guilford, Greensboro, Grasshoppers, Greenway

So much in Greensboro starts with the letter "G." From the city, to the county, to the baseball team, to its mascot we are a community of "G's": Greensboro, Guilford, Grasshoppers, Guilford. In the above photo, Guilford, the Grasshopper is waving at people passing the stadium. Our minor league baseball team has been around since 2003 and the 7,499 seat stadium opened in 2005.

Greensboro's minor league baseball team has also been a hornet and a bat; however, people seem pretty happy with Guilford the Grasshopper. Minor league baseball games are great fun, especially on nights with fireworks. The next home games are next Tuesday and Wednesday (August 30 & 31). Hope to see you there.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for this Alphabet Round, "G" is for all of the above. Note the photos below, a print and cursive "G" and Guilford smiling and waving at us.

Happy Midweek, dear readers.

 

Kayaking on Lake Brandt

In the above photo, two kayakers prepare to spend the morning on Lake Brandt, just north of Greensboro. While they probably anticipated the early morning fishing boats, they were probably surprised to see people out in 60-foot, eight-person boats learning to row. As seen in the photo, the winds can keep the water on Lake Brandt a little choppy. As overheard by one of the Greensboro Crew members, "Oh well, that will just make us stronger than our competitors." These kayakers were enjoying a good workout and looked like they were enjoying their workout.

Greensboro hasn't traditionally been a destination location for watersports, as our lakes are on the small side. For example, nearby Smith Mountain Lake (SML) in Virginia covers 20,600 acres and Lake Brandt covers a mere 816 acres. But considering SML is 95 miles from Greensboro and Lake Brandt is in our back yard, Lake Brandt makes it possible to put a kayak (paddleboat, or boat for crew, etc.) on the water, get a good workout, and be finished in time to go out to breakfast with friends.

Greensboro CREW

History is being made as Greensboro now has rowing on Lake Brandt. High Point Rowing has expanded by offering Greensboro Crew. Rowing is a great sport that can be practiced for life and at all skill levels. The youngest members of the Greensboro team are middle schoolers. There are high school and adult rowers, too. Saturday, the day the above photo was taken, was the first day on Lake Brandt. Saturday was also the day that the American women's 8-crew took gold for rowing in the Rio Olympics. 

The above boat has eight rowers and a coxswain. There will also be boats configured for two and four rowers. An eight boat is 60 feet long. Keep your eye out for these long beauties when you drive or hike around Lake Brandt. For more information on Greensboro Crew, see here. They still have room for more participants.

City Swim Meet 2016

The Greensboro City Swim Meet is in its third and final day today. This culminating summer swim meet is held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Gate City Boulevard. Every child who swam for a community team is eligible to compete. What an exciting experience to swim in this beautiful facility, to see your name up on the electronic board with your ranking and times upon completion of the event. The above photo features the warm-up lanes. 

Below, you will see photo squares of some of the swimmers who earned medals in backstroke. You can get a feeling for the sense of camaraderie in the swim community. Most of the swimmers who medal swim year round and, while they may be on different teams in the summer, they could well be on the same team with their other swim club. Also below, you see the 2016 t-shirt design as well as two of the Friendly Frog coaches, poolside, cheering on their swimmers. It is pretty easy for the Friendly Frogs to identify their coaches. Look for the people with the frogs on their heads!

Attending the meet is free. Parking is $5 if you park in the Coliseum complex. However, if you are willing to walk, free parking can be found nearby.  This is a great opportunity to see the GAC if you haven't been yet. You will be wowed by this great community resource as well as the great sportsmanship of the kids!

Fourth of July 2016

Fun Fourth Festivities are well underway in downtown Greensboro. In the above photo taken last night, on East McGee Street, spectators were waiting for the 10K runners to start rolling in at the Fun Fourth 10K Freedom Run. There was also a 1 mile Fun Run for families and beginners.

Today's events on Elm Street will stretch from Friendly Avenue to Gate City Boulevard. The fun will conclude with the Fireworks Concert at Davie and Market Street. The free concert will start at 8:45 p.m. and the fireworks will start at 9:25. Hopefully, it will work out for the best, having the bulk of the festivities located downtown. If you attend, be sure to wear red, white, and blue! We will all be missing the smiling face of Betty Cone; however, this year's organizers, planners, and sponsors, have worked tirelessly provide Greensboro with a good, patriotic done of family fun. 

By the way, there are also fireworks after the Grasshoppers' baseball game tonight. Wonder if there is a good vantage point for watching both displays.

Time for Tuesday Night Swim Meets

Greensboro's community swim teams hold meets on Tuesday nights throughout the summer. Greensboro has 23 local swim clubs and 2,000 swimmers between the age of 5 and 18. There are swimmers at all ability levels and the great thing about summer swimming is that everyone gets to compete. The season is only five weeks long, so that families can take vacations. The commitment to the swim team is intense and practice is daily. The meets start promptly at 5:30 p.m. and, depending on the size of the competing teams,  can take hours, and hours, and hours...

The above photo features the Elks pool on Cornwallis Drive. Tonight, they are hosting the Greensboro Country Club so, if you are a family with swimmers, you know to have snacks ready, and, for the little ones, waterproof Uno cards and other activities to keep them busy. Seeing the 8 (and under) year olds swim their hearts out across the length of the pool is priceless. And participating on relay teams teaches them about working together for a common goal. At the end of the night, everyone will be exhausted, parents included. Hopefully, everyone will have had a great time and will have been a good sport, parents included.

 

Pleasant Ridge Golf Course

Pleasant Ridge Golf course, located on Pleasant Ridge Road, is an 18-hole course that opened in 1969. The course has a rating of 70.5 and a slope rating of 111 and features 6,432 yards of golf.* Since opening 47 years ago, Pleasant Ridge Golf has seen a lot of changes. At one time, it seemed like this facility was out in the middle of the country-- a rural respite. 

Now, with Highway 68 widening and all of the new construction, it seems like it is in the city. Yet, when you are actually out on the course, it is easy to forget all of the work waiting for you back at the office. Pleasant Ridge Golf Course is another great option for those hoping to enjoy the great outdoors this summer. It would make a great stay-cation!

*reference and more information, here.

To Row or Not to Row...

Oak Hollow Lake was a busy place this past Tuesday night when the Masters' Team of High Point Rowing took their final row of the season. In the above photo, you see an 8-boat that just came in, while another is waiting patiently in the background. Summer is the perfect time for water sports and rowing is a great way to combine exercise with teamwork and camaraderie. For the final row of the session, four 8-boats raced. Some of the rowers have bad been rowing for two years and some had just finished their first race. 

After the race, rowers and their families enjoyed a potluck dinner. Some people said their goodbyes and those who signed up for the summer session said "See you on the water next week." If you are going to be in town this summer still looking for a way to get some exercise, it might not be too late to give rowing a try. Imagine the feeling of power being behind the oar of a boat that is 62' long!

Time to Hit the Great Outdoors!

Summer is a time to enjoy the great outdoors.

The above vehicle was spotted at Friendly Center earlier this week in front of Great Outdoor Provision Company. Just seeing a kayak or canoe on top of a car screams "outdoor water adventure." The pretty blue sky we've had the last couple of days, as well as temperatures in the mid-80's add to the desire to be on the water.  Being in the heart of the piedmont region, Greensboro is centrally located between the beach and the mountains. The people in this vehicle could be headed in either direction. Even better, maybe they are planning an adventure on one of Greensboro's own lakes.

You have one more day to plan a weekend water adventure--  if you haven't already. Lake Brandt, Higgins and Townsend are calling. If you go to High Point, Oak Hollow Lake is waiting; there, you just may see some rowers.

Happy Thursday! Happy summer (almost)!

Ride of Silence

The above photo features the Ride of Silence as riders lined up at the Wrangler building on North Elm Street. Yesterday, participants rode 6.2 miles, silently honoring bicyclists who were killed and injured on our streets. Some people rode with families; others rode with friends, and many sported shirts of their cycling groups. The Ride of Silence is always held the third Wednesday in May--  with hundreds of locations worldwide. Not only does the ride honor those who have been injured or killed, it also raises awareness for us to remember to share the road with cyclists. Chris Phelan started the event in 2003 in Dallas.*

Cyclists were asked to ride no faster than 12 miles an hour, to wear helmets, follow the rules of the road, and to remain silent. The row on the above right was lined with police who also rode. This is also their week of remembrance (which we will feature tomorrow). So, this is a time to take great pause and remember those who are no longer with us. During the ride yesterday evening, two cyclists riding near us fell, hitting the ground pretty hard. We sure hope they were OK. Let us know if you hear.

*read more, here.

 

College Softball Season Winds Down

Last weekend, UNCG girls played Furman in softball. This Southern Conference, Division 1 match up on Saturday found the two teams splitting the double header, but on Sunday, Furman took the series, 2-1. In the above photo, UNCG is up to bat. If you like watching softball, heading over to the UNCG softball field at the corner of Aycock St. and Walker Avenue is well worth your time. The seating is comfortable and you are close to the action. UNCG's final at-home match up will be against Chattanooga on the last weekend in April (see schedule, here). Mark your calendar.

The Spartan softball team is excited to have added Danielle Bieberle as the fifth signing member to their 2016 signing class. Danielle hails from Auburndale, Florida and is described as a "left-handed slapper" who in quick in the outfield. Spring signing is always such a hopeful and happy time, once the signing is done. We are lucky in Greensboro to have so many institutions of higher education. They bring us great sports viewing options and many events are free.  If you ever run in to any of the IHE players or coaches, thank them for their hard work and dedication. Playing on a school sports team is a full time job- and then some.

The Lady Panthers... and Whirlies!

Well, it was a sad night, last night, for North Carolina's Panthers. While we would have loved a win for the Carolina Panthers in the Superbowl, we are proud that our team had a great season. North Carolina is known for loving its sports teams and our children start participating in sports and cheering for their teams from the time they can walk.

The above photo features Greensboro's own Panthers, the Dudley High School Lady Panthers playing the Grimsley High School Whirlies. The Panthers' varsity girls beat the Whirlies this past Friday night. Both teams played their hearts out; both teams exhibited good sportsmanship.

If you are a sports fan, consider going out to watch a local, high school game-- even if you don't have a child playing. You will have a great time, support great athletic programs, and spend a heck of a lot less than you will at a pro game!

Happy New Year's Eve 2015

Happy New Year's Eve from Guilford, the mascot for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, our beloved minor league baseball team. The above photo was taken in front of the stadium with the Christmas tree in the background. The photo was actually an e-card made for us by one of our dear readers, Adrienne Everheart. Adrienne had been encouraging us to get a photo of this scene; in the meantime, she took a photograph for us. Having readers give suggestions and help us is heartwarming and makes this volunteer effort on Greensboro Daily Photo all worthwhile. Adrienne is a certified life and relationship coach.*  We are so fortunate at GDP to meet, almost daily, great people either living in Greensboro or with ties to the community. 

As we enter New Year's Eve, we hope that your year has been a good one and that 2016 will turn out to be the best year yet. Personal relationships and staying connected to community are so important. May your New Year's Eve be a safe one that helps you feel connected to friends, family, and community. And, if you struggle in that department, you just may want to give Adrienne a call! By the way, according to Fox 8, if you have had too much to drink at a New Year's Eve party, AAA is no longer offering the free "Tipsy Tow" service (taking people home for free); however, if you call them, they will make an effort to help you find a safe way home. Have a designated driver or a relative on call.

See you in the morning!

*Learn more about Adrienne's business, here.

Holiday Fun

As we enter the final weekend before Christmas, we at Greensboro Daily Photo (GDP) hope that you will find a way to have some lighthearted fun over the holidays. In the above photo, Mrs. GDP was captured having a great time at a AMF All Star Lanes at 910 South Holden Road. How fitting that she was wearing a "Fleece Navidad" Christmas sweater given to her by a dear friend, MaryKate Holden, whose family is, indeed, the very Holden family, for whom Holden Road is named. To be wearing a pun-ny sweater, gifted by the Holden family, bowling at a bowling alley on Holden Road is about at fun and joyful as it gets during the holiday season. To add to the joy, a colleague is in the background photo-bombing the shot. In addition, an anonymous person paid for Mrs. GDP's breakfast in the drive-through line this morning. When she got to the window to pay, the cashier announced that the car in front had already paid for her meal. How wonderful to be the recipient of a random act of kindness.

We hope you find a way to get out of your comfort zone, de-stress, and to bring joy to others these last few days of December. As we enter the coldest, darkest days of the year, even if you don't celebrate Christmas, know that in less than a week, the days will start getting longer again. That, in itself, is reason to celebrate.

The shine on the lane qualifies us to post the photo on Weekend Reflection. By the way, Mrs. GDP had a pretty decent bowling score and had a fun-filled time at AMF Lanes. Like the shirt says, Fleece Navidad!

Take a Breath

Here we see young college students practicing yoga on the lawn in front of the student union building on the campus of UNCG. What a good way to cope with the stresses of a busy, collegiate schedule. Spending time with friends and working on your yoga postures can, indeed, be relaxing.

Many people we've been interviewing lately either teach or take yoga in Greensboro. From non-profits like the Y to private studios to individuals, there are yoga classes for people at all levels of flexibility and strength. Yoga helps us build not only strength, but also positive relationships. We hope your weekend is filled with opportunities to nurture your inner strength and to be renewed- even if it means grabbing a rubber mat and a friend and creating your own yoga session outside! Namaste!

Retro Run 2015

Last Saturday was the 2015 Retro Run, held in downtown Greensboro at the Railyard and on Lewis Street. It was a "feelin' groovy" sort of day. Everyone was encouraged to don retro attire. Registered runners received giveaway tie-dye, peace-sign necklaces. There was even a $100 award for best retro attire. The only detail overlooked was the absence of shag carpeting at the finish line! Participators said that it was a lot of fun and that people watching while racing helped the time pass.

Equally fun to watch were the many canines who dressed for the occasion. The greyhound in the photo above may have been best of show. He was friendly to all, yet attentive to his owners. He seemed to love dressing up. His coat blended in with the sidewalk, making his rainbow attire pop even more. In the photo below, you see some of the human participants near the finish line beside Gibb's Hundred. Yes, many people in Greensboro love their dogs as well as the city's quirky details!

Wild about SKYWILD!

If you are looking for  a treetop adventure in Greensboro, look no farther than the Greensboro Science Center. In the above photo, we're featuring SKYWILD, the science center's above-ground ropes course that opened May 2015. There are seven routes and sixty elements, rated from beginner to challenging. If you are interested, the price is $48 for a two hour session. All gear is provided and you are invited to stay the entire time or just part; and you have access to all of the routes and elements. The determining factor for how you spend your time is your fitness level, especially sense of balance, and upper-body strength. The elements range from 10- 45 feet above the ground.  Children as young as eight may be eligible to participate, at the managers discretion.*

How wonderful that Greensboro has this course. It encourages people to be outside and to interact with nature. It would be a great team building activity for your school, corporation, religious group, group of friends; you name it! Oh, and if you are driving along Lawndale Drive and see people jumping around in the trees, remember that you are at SKYWILD. 

* Rules and pricing, here.

If you want to see more, local journalist, Rosemary Plybon has a 4 minute YouTube video is you want to learn more about SKYWILD.

Summer Fun

You don't need to go to the beach to have summer fun on the water in North Carolina.  Greensboro doesn't have a river or whitewater rafting, but we do enjoy our lakes. In the above photo, you see people kayaking and paddle boarding on Lake Higgins. It is so fun to spend a few hours on the lake, and good exercise, too. Sometimes, people do yoga on the stand-up paddle boards. You can rent equipment at the marina on Hamburg Mill Road and rates are reasonable.

In July, the lake is open from 7am- 8:30 pm, except for Sundays when they open at 8am and on Mondays, when they are closed. Head on out and have a little summer fun!

W is for Wrangler

Featured in the above photo is the headquarters for Wrangler Jeans, a brand owned by VF Corporation. The office is located at 400 North Elm Street. Wrangler jeans were launched in 1947 by the Blue Bell Company, thirty nine years before it merged with VF Corp.* Wrangler's hallmark has always been rugged, outdoor clothing, especially jeans, that can hold up even with the rugged work of cowboys. Wrangler is the opposite of  the currently-trending "fast fashion."

How fitting that in the above parking lot, we see cyclists taking to the street after work on a Tuesday afternoon. The bi-weekly meet up, spearheaded by Mark G., leaves from the Wrangler parking lot. This group understands that part of being tough and rugged is by being in great physical shape. Riding bicycles is a great way to stay fit. Wonder if Wrangler, or another VF Corp. label, makes rugged clothing for the avid cyclist? 

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our ABC Local Round, W is for WRANGLER! Think positive thoughts as we struggle with our dreaded end-of-the-alphabet X-Y-Z local ideas!

*see a company timeline, here.

 

(Not So) Tiny Bubbles

 Today we have one more photo from City Market; specifically, Bubble Sports. This giant bubble adventure is brought to us by The Club, Oak Branch•Green Valley. If you haven't seen these before, people get inside and jump into each other. It is a contact sport with no contact. We didn't get to bubble up, but will try to do so when they are at Bryan Park at the Dynamo Soccer game tonight at 7:00 pm.

In the above photo, you can see Bubble Sport's prime spot in South End with the JP Building in plain view. We're predicting that these bubbles will trend as yard toys. Can't you just imagine some of those active neighborhood associations sponsoring bubble events. The corner of Walker and Elam may never be the same. Just think, this could bring new meaning to Sunset Hills' "Running of the Balls" event!

Fit for Life

Running is a popular sport in Greensboro and our city has lots of great running events. The 5 Mile Run/Walk and 1 Mile Frolic took place a few weeks ago with the starting and ending point at the Old Town Draught House on Spring Garden Street. From police to healthcare professionals, plenty of people were on site to ensure the well-being of the participants. The man in the foreground worked diligently to help sore and fatigued runners.

With First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" and "Gimme 5" challenges, even K-12 students are talking about ways to make healthier choices. Can you name five things that you are doing to eat better, be more active, and lead a healthier life? Let's all work together to help our friends and loved ones be fit for life. Let us at GDP know if your organization in Greensboro is sponsoring a healthful living event and we'll try to get by to photograph it. We love meeting our readers and helping them promote events. Every day comes around pretty often and we're always looking for things to feature! Happy weekend! 

Batter Up

Baseball season is upon us. Now that the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship has concluded, we can all focus our sports watching efforts on baseball. The above photo was taken at UNCG's field on March 22nd, when UNCG was playing Western Carolina. UNCG won!

The above stadium, located at the corner of Kenilworth Street and Walker Avenue was built in 1999 to rave reviews and is rated as one of the top small venues for Division 1 baseball. In 2006, a new scoreboard/videoboard was installed, making it fun to watch the stats and replays roll by. The stadium seats approximately 3,500 spectators. If you want to see for yourself, come out tonight as they have a home game against Wake Forest. If you can't get there this evening, here is the schedule for the rest of the season. In addition to the UNCG Spartans, there are always the Greensboro Grasshoppers, The Guilford College Quakers, The Greensboro College Pride, and the North Carolina A&T Aggies who would love your support. For the pre-collegiate options, there is AAU baseball,  high school teams, middle school teams, and Little League-- plenty of local options. Greensboro has no shortage of great baseball. Batter up!

 

Spring Colors

The field behind Proehlific Park, at the corner of Jessup Grove and Horse Pen Creek,  is abloom in spring colors. Only, the fields are not filled with flowers, but children of all ages, out playing soccer. The weather has been lovely and it is amazing what a little sunshine does to life a person's spirit. We hope your day is filled with quality time with friends and loved ones. I will be a good day to have an Easter egg hunt. We hope you have a great day with family and friends and, perhaps have a chance to enjoy the beauty of the season.

 

March Madness

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

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

One Snowy Foggy Morning

Now that it is March and the snow is probably behind us, we're posting one more snow photo. This road in northeast Guilford County shows Greensboro at its loveliest. The roads were clear, but the snow brightened up the dull winter landscape. For a few minute last Friday morning, it was also foggy, which is the blur you are seeing at the horizon line. The fog dissipated shortly after sunrise. Those weather events, that catch us by surprise, can be so beautiful.

Here's to a great March in Greensboro. Opening day of the ACC Basketball Tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum starts on March 10th and the championship game will be held on Saturday, March 14th. Last year, you may recall, University of Virginia beat Duke. Who will it be this year? Let's hope the above weather is behind us and we can all enjoy a week of great basketball in Greensboro.

(This photo was taken with a cell phone camera as we were caught without the Nikon. Not bad).

 

US Figure Skating Championships 2015

The 2015 Prudential US Figure Skating Championships have come and gone from Greensboro. Greensboro was lucky to have this event in 2011 and 2015. We think that Greensboro was a very good host and we hope to have the opportunity to host the event again. In the above photo, you see the champtionship pairs warming up. Guests had the opportunity to watch skaters warming up (for free) on one rink while others were at an earlier session performing. 

In the special exhibit area, there was a rink where young skaters had the opportunity to practice. How nice to have a chance to nurture the dreams and aspirations of the children in our community. The US Figure Skating Champtionships 2015 were held January 17-25. Greensboro had nine days of amazing skating. Our only regret was we didn't attend earlier so that we could have featured the event in time for you to attend.... Happy Tuesday, dear readers!

Coliseum Was a Busy Place this Past Weekend

This past weekend, the Coliseum was a vibrant, lively place. The Guilford County Schools held their magnet fair where parents could learn more about the district's many schools of choice. The National Figure Skating Finals were there  and, related to the figure skating , an exhibit with history, costumes and interactive stations, related to the sport, were set up. Finally, there was an exhibit of skating artwork from the community. All four events were well worth attending.

In the above photo, you can see one of the entrance hallways. The blue bags were give-aways from the magnet fair. The child on the stairwell had balloon art from the ice skating exhibit halls. We will post more about these events throughout the week. We'll have more photos from Saturday, stop back often. It is such a point of pride to see how smoothly everything ran.

Triad Rowing Event

This past Saturday, the High Point Rowing Club hosted the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival at Oak Hollow Lake. Twelve clubs participated, totalling 84 entries from sculling (single person boat) to eight person crews were held. The above photo features the main shelter where the timing committee maintained race statistics. Just beyond the shelter, the giant duck served as a point of reference for the launch area. The duck was a great way for participants to remember the High Point race. Since the High Point Rowing Club owns the duck, it is likely that they will use it often and rowers from elsewhere will remind each other, "you know, the place we rowed that had the giant yellow duck."

Since this is the only community rowing team in the area, Greensboro students and adult, master-rowers head down Highway 68 and West Wendover every afternoon to partake in this great sport. While High Point Rowing Club takes their rowing seriously, it is nice to know that they have a little sense of humor, as evidenced by the rubber duck. You may recall that the rubber duckie song was made ever so popular in the 1970's on Sesame Street. Wonder if anyone left the regatta on Saturday singing, "Rubber duckie, you're the one, you make rowing lots of fun.....".

Yoga on the Lawn

This Thursday, a small group gathered to do yoga on the lawn of the Elliot University Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It was a perfect day to be outside and it looked like a great way to destress from everything that piles up at this time in the semester. People in the vicinity fell into two categories, those who absolutely ignored the fact that there were people doing yoga on the lawn (like the woman on the bench with her laptop) and then there were those like us, snapping pictures and encouraging the women with smiles and a silent thumbs up. 

While the yoga was good, the greatest thing to happen on a college campus in Greensboro this week was NC A&T's showcasing of a hypoallergenic peanut.* Just think, anaphylactic reactions, caused by peanut butter sandwiches, may be a thing of the past. Can we get a few sun salutations for NC A&T's great scientific breakthrough?

*read more here.

The Holdens and Whirlie Soccer

The above photo features Bob and MaryKate Holden in the press box at Jameison Stadium at Grimsley High School. They were announcing for the scoccer game between Grimeley and Northern High Schools. The Holdens have been announcing at Grimsley's home soccer games for approximately eight years- since back in the day when their own son played at the school.

They make a great team. MaryKate announces for the JV games while Bob uses the binoculars to verify uniform numbers to see who made what play. For the varsity games, they switch roles. Friday afternoon was just perfect for playing soccer and the calling really enhanced the game. You don't want to overdo the comments; on the other hand, it is important to say enough that people can follow the game. Also, the Holdens do a nice job of saying the names of the players when they are involved in plays. Parents and players alike delight in hearing the names of the players called. Casual spectators (like us) appreciate it too. Attending high school athletics is a great way to spend a fall evening in Greensboro.

 

H is for Heart Health

What could do a heart better than exercising the body and the mind? In the above photo, we have both, bicyclists riding past the public library. Greensboro has many bike clubs; some expect riders to maintain a rigorous pace and others are happy to let riders pedal along at a leisurely pace. Regardless of pace, bike riding is good for heart health. Greensboro has many libraries. All are inviting places and are good for brain health.

This month, the American Heart Association is having the Guilford Heart Ball.  There is a healthy heart challenge. If you want to vote for one of the finalists, go to the Bank of Oak Ridge website. They are looking for three people to become Healthy Heart Challenge winners. Hopefully, you are doing something to keep your heart healthy. We want our GDP readers to be around for a really long time! If you aren't sure what to do, go research ideas at the public library.

We're sharing this post with our friends at ABC Wednesday and for the S.T.E.A.M. Round,  "H" is for "heart health."

Summer Is Winding Down

The Greensboro Grasshoppers, just like many residents, won't be in town this weekend. They're playing in Kannapolis, which should bring in the crowds since Kannapolis is such a busy area. However, the above photo evokes the feeling of getting out and doing things together. If you are in town, consider heading to one of the community parks or pools for the last hurrah of summer. As for the Grasshoppers.........

In the overall standings for the South Atlantic League Northern , the Grasshoppers are second only to the Hagerstown Suns in terms of number of wins (41 Wins for Greensboro and 42 for Hagerstown). Since the Grasshoppers have 9 more wins than the Kannapolis Intimidators, they should have a pretty good weekend of baseball. And, the playoffs start next week. Together, Labor Day and the end of Grasshopper baseball really signal summer's coming to a screeching halt. So, wherever you may be this weekend, have fun-  like you know that college football and pumpkin spice latte season are nipping at your heels!