Greensboro Daily Photo

New Construction Along Fisher Ave. & Spring St.

To continue on the "downtown street scene" theme from yesterday's post, above is a view of the signage of the new apartment complex going up at the corner of West Fisher and North Spring Streets. For a while, this has been an underdeveloped part of town, but lately, it is experiencing a Renaissance. This is the best of all worlds; to reclaim land and put it to good use in an already-urban area and to help downtown businesses gain customers. Just beyond this two block-long complex is a string of businesses: Dog Days Boarding Grooming Day Care, Arrowhead Coffee, and Windshield Glass, to name a few.

We can imagine a boost in business for people who need a windshield replaced, a dog groomed, or a good cup of coffee, when all it entails is walking across the street. Oh, the downtown Greenway and Cycles de ORO are just a short walk in the other direction.  If you want to have a look at that part of town, we suggest starting at Arrowhead Coffee, where you can get a good cup of coffee and park and look for free.

Happy Tuesday!

A Mondrian Take on Perry's Service Center

Perry's Service Center, formerly known as Perry's Downtown Exxon, is located in the 400 block of North Greene Street, a block off North Elm.  On January 26, 2015, The Greensboro News and Record wrote an article about Perry's being the oldest, downtown gas station even in the early 1980s. As the article points out, in 1953, less than a decade after WWII, there were 47 places to buy gas downtown. Journalist Jim Schlosser cleverly combed Greensboro city directories and surmised that gas was first pumped there in 1929. *

A couple of years ago, we were walking past the property the day Exxon was leaving the site. A couple of guys were called in to remove Exxon signage and they didn't know what was happening next.  According to the Winston Salem Journal (3/26/24), as confirmed by their perusing the Register of Deeds filings, a Clemmons group purchased the site for $502,000.  This past December 29th, we were urban walking and noticed a fresh paint job on the building with the addition of yellow on the canopy. This must be new, because yellow was never an Exxon color. Also, the concrete car bumpers have been painted bright red.  Another sign of life was that bay being partially open.  However, what really caught our eye was the red, blue, and yellow composition against square and rectangular shapes. If the 20th century Dutch painter Piet Mondrian's canvases came to life in a street scene, they would not look unlike this scene!

Happy Monday!

 

*If you miss Mr. Schlosser's journalism and you like a good stories about Greensboro, see the original article HERE.

Trains Hamburger Square

The North Carolina Railroad was founded in Greensboro by John Motley Morehead. This view of the Hamburger Square area is located just across the railroad tracks of the historic marker we shared the other day, reminding us of our Gate City heritage. Our city was the perfect crossroads for north and south, east and west-bound trains.  The above Norfolk Southern train is headed east, going right past the former Southern Railway Station train depot. The city plans to renovate the building. Originally, it opened in 1899, the building has been closed for several years now. It will be fun to watch it come to life again.

According to Downtown Greensboro,  Inc., the plans are to return the building to a lively bustling, hub of activity (see HERE). While a change in the exterior brick footprint is not expected to change, the former awnings and roofline. This part of downtown has managed to keep its historic profile on the outside, even when interiors get modernized.  There is such beauty in those old brick buildings along South Elm Street. Of course if you venture downtown today, you will see snow and, quite possibly, some businesses closed. Check their social media or call for hours before venturing out.

Happy Saturday!

Historic Marker Fun

Historic markers often go unnoticed, but they are so informative and very pre-digital age. Now, with AI and QR codes, you can access virtually any information. However, the old-school markers make us "one" with history, as in "on this very spot" or "near by" ...  But, now, in the digital era, if you notice that letter and number at the top, J-102, you can search additional information online.  See HERE where we searched for more information. The railroad system has been important to Greensboro since the 1800s.  The above marker was installed in its current location in 1996 and it is located at Hamburger Square, at the corner of McGee and South Elm. Below,  is the essay provided online at the above link. However, us this link to search by county in NC and any State marker can be found here, and there are a lot!

Essay:

     Appropriately, ceremonies marking the beginning and end of construction on the North Carolina Railroad took place in Greensboro or its environs. The Guilford County seat was positioned near the midpoint of the 223-mile arch that the road followed across the state from Charlotte to Goldsboro. The early annual meetings of the stockholders were held in the Gate City. And, most importantly, Greensboro was the home of John Motley Morehead, former governor (1841-1845) and “in large measure the road’s founding father,” according to railroad historian Allen W. Trelease.

     The formal groundbreaking took place on Friday, July 11, 1851, following the annual stockholders meeting. Thousands attended, a crowd which the local paper judged to be the largest in the town’s history. Morehead spoke, voicing his pride in the project. Calvin Gravesof Caswell County, who had sacrificed his political career by casting the deciding vote in favor of the railroad, had the honor of turning the first spade of soil. Those assembled filled a chest that served as a time capsule. Five years later, the two track-laying crews met at “Hilltop” midway between Jamestown and Greensboro. David F. Caldwell of Greensboro, legislator and railroad backer, drove the final spike. The Greensborough Patriot of February 1, 1856, headlined “Finished!!” and the Greensboro Times of January 21, 1856, “The Road Completed!”

     The railroad proved to be a key factor in Greensboro’s, indeed the Piedmont’s, prosperity and industrial growth. During the Civil War the city was both a storehouse and a rail center for the Confederacy. Civilian refugees and wounded soldiers were transported and sheltered there. In April 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis arrived in Greensboro in the course of his flight southward.


References:
Allen W. Trelease, The North Carolina Railroad, 1849-1871, and the Modernization of North Carolina (1991)
Burton Alva Konkle, John Motley Morehead and the Development of North Carolina, 1796-1866 (1922)
Cecil K. Brown, A State Movement in Railroad Development (1928)
Ethel Stephen Arnett, Greensboro, North Carolina: The County Seat of Guilford (1955)
Greensborough Patriot, December 20, 1851 and February 1, 1856

Print Media

Life is about change. January is a time when we often strive for change. We only need to look at the parking lots in front of the local gyms to see January is a time when people aspire to make lifestyle changes. One change that has been inching our way since the personal computer is the diminishing of print media. For old timers, seeing these boxes by the side of the road are a point of affection and nostalgia. To the younger generation, print media can seem like unnecessary clutter.

We are so fond of the O. Henry Magazine and cannot wait for a copy to be published every month. It is a great way to keep up with items of local interest and to rest one's eyes from the computer screen. Their print features and photos are fabulous.  The Carolina Peacemaker has been Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967. For a dollar, you can have a copy of this weekly paper with items of interest to the community at large, but with special focus on the African American community, a community.  With a staff of ten and a weekly circulation between 9,000 and 10,000, they do so much to keep the community informed. And every event we go to photograph in Greensboro, one of the Peacemaker's photographers, either Ivan Saul Cutler or Kevin Dorsey is there with their cameras and big lenses. The "Marry Me" magazine to the right is new to us (but then we've long been married). If you want any of these publications, head to the corner of McGee and South Elm Street. To orient to the location, that is the iconic Bennett College water tower in the distance. The "O. Henry" and "Marry Me" are free. Have four quarters handy if you want one of the Carolina Peacemakers. You owe it to yourself to give it a try. 

Happy Wednesday!

Collins Grove Church

We were glad to see the Collins Grove UMC van in the Holiday Parade on December 7th in downtown Greensboro. We have featured the church building before. It is located out near the Cardinal neighborhood at the corner of Fleming and Lewiston Roads (see HERE). Hopefully,  the information is correct. Here is the article Jim Schlosser wrote in 2005 about the church and community, entitled, "Grave Times for Collins Grove? Residents Worry Development Is Chipping Away at Black Community." We sure do miss Jim's writing. He is such an intellectually curious journalist.

Other than Jim's article, we don't see much written about Collins Grove online. In looking at the lot (5210 Collins Grove Church Road), it looks like a very generous piece of land. Having driven by, we can vouch for the beauty of the property and the members in the van sure seemed nice.

Happy Sunday!

 

 

Greensboro's Adopt-A-Street Program

Have you ever notices the Adopt-A-Street signs around town? Are you part of an organization that has adopted a street? In Greensboro, the Parks & Recreation Department oversees the Adopt-A-Street program. This is a two year agreement for groups to clean their street four times a year and to report the clean up activity to the city. Trash bags and gloves are provided. Neon vests and trash grabbers are also available- unless they all happen to be checked out. There are guidelines for where and how to leave the bags of collected trash, but the program is a very relaxed one that brings great joy to the neighborhoods, businesses, and houses along the way.

For Greensboro Daily Photo, we urban-walk a lot and stumbled on the above sign when leaving Greene Street and turning right on Spring Garden (between Gateway Plaza and the railroad tracks). We were intrigued to see Spring Garden is sponsored by THE UNO CLUB. Could that possibly be Mattel's game of UNO?  As it turns out, UNCG, indeed, has an Uno Club. When classes are in session, the club meets to play UNO for about an hour a week,  as a way to relax and enjoy a little friendly competition. We're guessing the street cleaning is a way for university students to also get to know and give back to the community where they study. Spring Garden Street is five miles long. beginning in the 300 block of South Elm Street downtown and continuing to Market Street, after which point it becomes Muirs Chapel. Conveniently, the adopted street of the UNO CLUB runs through the UNCG campus. We tried to find a master list of all streets being sponsored and their sponsors. So far, no luck.

There are so many volunteer opportunities with the City of Greensboro. See HERE if you are looking to share your time and talents with our community. That would make a great New Year's resolution.

Happy Monday!

Nativity Scene at Mt. Pisgah Church on Christmas Eve 2024

Happy Christmas Eve. The above photo is the nativity scene in front of Mount Pisgah Global Methodist Church on Pisgah Church Road at Battleground Avenue. The display lights up the corner at Battleground Avenue.  We love how when we zoom out, the scene seen, when taken as a whole, almost looks like a tiny Putz with miniature figures, like the one we saw at the First Moravian Church. Actually, those figures are life-size and lovely in color. If you are local, and you like to see lovely nativity scenes when out admiring Christmas decorations, this one is very nice. 

The Mount Pisgah Church nativity scenes, we were intrigued to see one in place at Centenary United Methodist Church on West Friendly Avenue at Ridgeway. According to their marquee, they are having service at 5:00 p.m. tonight. Even though Centenary Church has been retired and since the property sold to Cone Health, tonight will be a very special opportunity to enjoy a service there. However you spend Christmas Eve., may it be special in every way.

Whirlie Nation... Grimsley High State 4A Football Champs!

Last night, the Grimsley Whirlie football team played the high-school 4A championship game against Rolesville High School Rams from Wake County. The above photo features the team sendoff this afternoon leaving from the Grimsley campus. Students, parents, and the press were on hand as the team marched from campus to the busses. Coach Darell Brown, a few players, and the principal spoke and gave words of gratitude.  The players, drum line, dancers, and cheerleaders all marched up through campus and the team headed in the busses, up Westover Terrace and turning right onto Wendover east.

The game was played at Kenan Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The Whirlies led the whole way, with a final score of 35-23.  There were some fantastic plays during the game. This is not only a great day for Grimsley High School, it is a great day for Greensboro. For sports fans, there is a lot of pride knowing we have the best 4A football team in the state. Congratulations to everyone involved in helping Grimsley remain such a great place to learn and play sports. Coach Brown has done so much for the football program and it has paid off.

Happy Saturday!

The Greensboro Holiday Parade

The Greensboro Holiday Parade was held this past Saturday (12/7/24) and while the weather was cold, it was sunny and enthusiasm was high. The above photo was taken at what we refer to as Greensboro's epicenter. The crossover of Market and Elm Street is the point that separates north/south (Elm) and east/west (Market). The iconic building in the background is the Jefferson Standard Building, built in 1922. At 374 ft. tall with 18 floors, when it was build, it was the tallest building between Atlanta and Washington D.C. 

In the foreground, you see children smiling, and they were from noon- 2:00 p.m. when the parade ended. The soccer ball was part of the float entry by the Guilford Futbol Club. Based on the children on the float, it looks like they have teams for children of all ages. The man navigating the inflatable soccer ball was encouraging little ones to kick it, which was a hit with all the children standing near us. Downtown Greensboro was hopping with energy this whole weekend. Let's hope the foot traffic continues through the season.

Happy Monday!

Festival of Lights 2024

Last night, the Festival of Lights was held in downtown Greensboro. It was holiday fun from LeBauer Park to the 500 block of South Elm Street.  The above photo was taken at the corner of Market and Elm Streets, where north and south and east and west are divided.To the left, you can see Elm Street peeking out. 

This display was one of the many picture-perfect places for families to snap photos along Elm Street. The photo is a bit deceptive, because it doesn't look like there were any people. In all actuality, the First Friday/Festival of Lights was very well attended. It seems like the days in December start to pass quickly and it will be January before we know it. Tomorrow is the holiday parade. expect temperatures around 40º. Just like last night, getting out and interacting with others will be fun and rewarding. Head on out and see for yourself.

Happy Saturday!

Gate City Church of God 200 State Street

The Gate City Church of God (COG)  is located at 200 State Street, near Elm Street. The property is just on the east edge of Old Irving Park. According to realtor.com, this brick church building was built in 1949, when nearby textile mills were still in operation. The church would have served mill workers. The Church of God religion traces its roots back to 1886 in a millhouse in Monroe County, TN,*  near the North Carolina border. 

We're wondering if the above building, currently undergoing renovation would have been the parsonage that goes with the church. It will be interesting to see what becomes of it. Lately, State Street is experiencing a renaissance, so the above house at 208 is prime real estate.. Perhaps the churches near State Street are reaping the benefits of all of the growth in this church that extends from Elm Street to Church Street. If you are interested in attending the Gate City COG, service is at 11:00 am. Sunday is  a great day to stroll the length of State Street to see what new businesses have opened.

Happy Sunday!

*read more about the history of the Church of God,  here.

Sunset Hills at Sunset

We don't usually post nature photos two days in a row, but yesterday's sunset was so beautiful. This is an east-facing view of Sunset Hills yesterday, a little after 5:00 p.m. The western sky was a fiery red glow, but something about the pink tint cast here was so warm and calming. The archway shows you one of the many architectural details found in this well-established neighborhood. Sunset Hills was first established in the mid 1920s and has continued to be a popular neighborhood for the last 100 years. Development here continued through the 1950s. Over the last couple decades, the trend has been to take the smaller houses and add on to them, as is the case with the above home.  In an earlier iteration, it was a one-story, red brick home without a two car garage.

While visiting in the neighborhood, yesterday, we were reminded that next week, Sunset Hills residents will once again be shooting those round, chickenwire light balls way high in the trees. This has been a Sunset Hills tradition for over a decade. Twelve years ago, the annual, 5K run/walk was instituted beneath a breathtaking canopy of lights. Nearly 50,000 people have participated in "The Running of the Balls" and almost 6 million meals have been provided via Second Harvest. We don't know if they are still accepting reservations for the December 12th event (see HERE). We do know, if you want a calm, unadorned chance to enjoy a walk through the neighborhood, you might want to do so soon, as it is about to be the most jolly, festive, adorned time of year for this neighborhood with so much character.

Happy Tuesday!

Rain Along Battleground Avenue

Yesterday, Greensboro got some much needed rain. This is what Battleground Avenue at Irving Park looked like at a little after 5:00 pm.  The rain brought cooler weather. Temperatures dropped to 39º and the high was only 47º.  The reflection off the car lights made the scene look very beautiful. The white vehicles are real stands out, contrasting with the dark streets. 

This weekend is predicted to be cool, but dry with sunshine. It should be a good weekend to get outside.  This is weekend three of five in November and thirteen more days before Thanksgiving. And, if you look around, Christmas decorations have replaced Halloween decorations and election signs.

Happy Friday!

Veterans Day 2024

Happy Veterans Day 2024. This year's  parade was held on Saturday, November 9th, mostly on North Elm Street, marching south and turning onto East Market Street. The above photo is of the Dudley High School Marching Band of Thunder (MBOT), as they  turned onto East Market Street, near the end of the parade route. The band adheres to a strict practice regimen which includes a dress code. The daily practices are mandatory.   All of the hard work and practice pays off as the band sounds and looks great. The band performs with show style movement and military-style operations-- evidenced by their moves such as about-facing, right flanks, and standing at attention. In addition to musicians, the band has a drum major in front and dancers, the Pantherettes, in the back. If you missed Dudley High School MBOT on Saturday,  they will be back for the December 7th Holiday Parade, downtown Greensboro from 12:00 noon- 2:00 pm. In the background, you can see the Lincoln Financial Group (formerly JP) building in the background, anchoring today's photo in Greensboro. 

On a more somber note, on Veterans Day 2021, we featured Tech Sergeant Albert Lochra (see HERE). This is Greensboro's second Veterans Day without him, as he died on July 1, 2023. He was loved by many in the Greensboro community (obituary HERE). With the sadness of the passing of another one of our remaining WWII veterans, we are reminded of the youthfulness and vitality of high school students today. The cycle of life continues as the Dudley students march on. Let's all do something to honor our veterans today. We are forever grateful for the day we interviewed Mr. Lochra and are on the lookout for our next veteran interviewee.

 

 

And Just Like That, It Is Fall

This past week, Greensboro trees have really started showing their fall colors. Every year, we love to stop and admire these photos on Westover Terrace,  where the road splits from Battleground Avenue, at Green Valley Road.  Thursday afternoon, we pulled into the parking lot of Ivybrook Academy to admire the fall color in the maple trees near the median and greenway. The long shadows are coming earlier and earlier these days.  

 Greensboro is such a beautiful community. We hope you are out enjoying the neighborhoods and all of the fall colors. If you are interested in experience fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, here is a link to see what areas are open. It looks like there are now opportunities to get out and enjoy some of the beauty of the western end of the state. See HERE.

Unbridled Joy on Tate Street

Yesterday was a very busy day on Tate Street and on UNCG's Campus. The Tate Street Festival brought music and vendors to this street on the east side of UNCG's campus. The shops and restaurants seemed to be busy. The unidentified couple above broke out in dance when a peppy band started playing. The weather was beautiful and people seemed to be enjoying themselves. The first Tate Street Festival was held in 1973 with Jim Clark, Editor of the Greensboro Sun, was one of the organizers. UNCGs Homecoming was also in full swing. The first officially-named homecoming was in 1982. It is hard to believe that the Taste Street Festival predates UNCG's Homecoming. 

We'll post a homecoming photo tomorrow. To be sure, fall is prime time for festivals and special events in Greensboro. We usually post something spiritual on Sunday and had a photo of a church for you. However, it seems to us, people being joyful and enjoying each other's company has a very spiritual aspect. 

Happy Sunday!

Greensboro Pride Festival

Yesterday was perfect weather for the Greensboro Pride Festival downtown, primarily on Elm Street. It is the main event for Alternative Resources of the Triad (ART). According to WFMY-2, the Greensboro Pride Festival started in 2006 with about 400 people.  The goals of the event are to give members of the LGBTQ+ community a chance to socialize and have a space in public to come out and be surrounded by support from within the community and allies. Special services and resources are available as well as opportunities to purchase merchandise of interest.

Here was the schedule.from yesterday.  If you missed it this year, you can start planning for next year. Also, for those who missed the  event, there is an LGBTQ Center at the Guilford Green Foundation and there is  a local Facebook group. 

Happy Monday!

Oscar Oglethorpe Eyewear

Earlier in the week, leaving the celebration for Justice and Mrs. Frye and heading to our car, we noticed this window at Oscar Oglethrope Eyewear at 226 South Elm Street. Seeing those eyes staring back at us in purple and burgundy caused us to reminisce about a time, decades ago. Back in the day, storefronts were the Internet and social media for a store. Grocery stores posted ads of what was on sale, what was not available. Clothing stores dressed mannequins that drew y ou in. Consumers went "window shopping." Doing window displays was a popular profession.

In the 21st century, storefronts simply don't have that same allure. But look at how the Oscar Oglethrope Eyewear window draws you in. Their windows are always so creative and change often; same with their trendy glass frames. Their inventory is constantly changing. Decorating a downtown window  seems so appropriate. As for the 200 block of South Elm Street, here is what the documentation for the "National register of Historic Places Inventory- Nomination Form" has to say about the 200 block of South Elm.

"This area contains the most architectural diversity of any part of the district, Here are found the simple Italianate structures of the late 1880's, 1890's and early 1900's, as well as the Art Deco buildings of the 1920's and 1930's and the modern structures of the 1950's and 1970's. The entire area is included because all structures fit together so well to form a complete sereetscape of both sides of the street and show such a wide range of architectural styles. Most of the structures are two-stories in height, although a few do rise to three and four stories."

Happy Saturday, a perfect time to go window shopping and reflect on what you see.

Glenwood Ave. in the Glenwood Neighborhood

On Saturday night, we went to a party in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. As we were leaving, we headed down the street to our car. We were struck by how beautiful the street looked at night. Curiously, all of the cars parked on the left are white. The cars on the right have a little more color. Notice that blue strip on the street, cast by that blue/purple street light. Duke Power has replaced a lot of those, but we find them charming and there are many in Glenwood.

The Glenwood neighborhood is located near downtown and on the south edge of the UNCG campus. It encompasses about 1/2 square mile of land with about 2,500 residents. Glenwood extends from Freeman Mill Road in the east to West Gate City Boulevard  in the north, and Coliseum Boulevard in the west. The southern tip of the neighborhood is a pie-shaped wedge, where Coliseum Boulevard and Freeman Mill intersect. Glenwood is one of Greensboro's earliest planned neighborhoods. Its residents have goals and plans to strengthen the community fabric; increase walkability and bikeability,  reduce perceptions of crime and danger, and more.*  Many of the houses are two bedroom, one bath and on about .10 acre lots. House prices are still affordable. While we don't live in the neighborhood, we have many friends there and are tempted to downsize take advantage of that great sense of community the residents are building.

Happy Tuesday!

* read about the neighborhood HERE.

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!

Downtown, View from the Davie Street Parking Deck

Not being drone photographers, we don't get a photo from above very often. However, in late August, during the Food Truck Fesitival, we walked top the top of the Davie Street Parking Deck and got this photo.  It shows a few of the big buildings downtown. Peeking out in the background is the Lincoln Financial Group Building. In the foreground, on the right, is the Center Pointe Building. To the right is the Renaissance Plaza  Building, and in the middle is 300 North Greene Street. Below, is Friendly Avenue and the greenery is in Center City Park.

Center Pointe was constructed in 1966. It is a 17-story building with 97 condominium units. the 19-story Renaissance Plaza was built in 1990. The landscaping there is beautiful. 300 North Greene Street was built in 1989 and is a 21-story office tower. This north part of Greensboro extending from Tanger Center (established 1921) to First National Bank Baseball Field (established 2005) has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the last couple of decades. If you go downtown for the North Carolina Folk Festival this weekend (and we encourage you to do so), have a look at how the footprint of the city is expanding.

Happy Wednesday! 

Along Battleground Avenue During a Storm

Greensboro had some interesting weather this weekend. The above photo was taken at 4:50 pm on Friday night. The skies darkened quickly and then came the rains. We pulled off the road at T.J. Max and walked up the hill to get a good view of the sky. We got tickled when noticing that the sign for the tattoo salon looked like a rainbow. If we couldn't have a real rainbow to photograph, this would make a good runner up. That business location on Battleground was formerly a dance studio. Strange Beauty is a place you can get your hair styled, a massage, piercings, and a tattoo all in one place.

Strange Beauty Salon and Tattoo Collective at 2835 Battleground Avenue opened in April. See the My Fox 8 interview with owner Jessica J Paul. Jessica's goal is to create an inclusive space where the magic happens. Jessica believes attitude matter. She wants customers to leave feeling like they are part of something. What started out as our wanting to watch the storm roll into Greensboro turned into learning about a new business. At one time, tattoo parlors were in an isolated part of time that did not necessarily attract the mainstream consumer. Strange Beauty is right there beside T.J. Maxx and Ross Dress for Less. That's pretty mainstream. Getting a tattoo is now pretty mainstream.

Happy Tuesday!

Underpass from Gate City Boulevard to UNCG Campus

Did you ever think an underpass would connect Gate City Boulevard to the UNCG Campus. Such is the case and the above photo is evidence. Yesterday after, there was a downpour in this part of town, the underpass was a welcome shortcut. For those without umbrellas or rain jackets, it served as a great place to wait until the heavy winds and rain stopped. The underpass is ten. years old this year. It was constructed in 2014 through a partnership between The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the North Carolina Railroad Company. The purpose of the underpass is to provide safe pedestrian access under the rail corridor. 

Train tracks are private property and trespassing is not only dangerous, it is illegal. However, it is hard to convince people not to walk across tracks in undesignated places when doing so saves significant time. The underpass has been a wonderful way to link the south side (Glenwood side) of campus to the main part of UNCG. It is a fine example of how partnerships are good for a community.  Another fabulous feature of this space is that it is a great backdrop for photos.

Happy Friday! Let's all get out and explore Greensboro.

Elon School of Law & Union Coffee Company

Today's post is at the 200 block of West Friendly Avenue on the corner with the Elon School of Law and the Union Coffee Company. This is a perfect location for a coffee shop, because law students can sit in the coffee shop and study. Across the street if the West Market Street United Methodist Church. People can meet for coffee centered around church meetings. Just down the street is the federal building. Finally, there is a barber shop next door.  

Union Coffee Company is owned by Daniel Davidson. We need to meet this young entrepreneur who, with his wife, has his hands in other ventures in downtown Greensboro (see HERE). Additionally, he has played the cello for 25 years. When we stopped in after the food truck festival, we had great service and actually found a great cold drink. Also, there was free water available. Best of all, the employees seemed to love their job. While Daniel has owned it for only a couple of years, the shop has been open since 2019. Hopefully, the five year mark is a good indicator that a solid client base has been established.  We love the crisp, angled look of this part of Friendly Avenue.

Happy Thursday!

Raleigh's Crossroads UMC

Raleigh's Crossroads UMC is located at 715 Guilford College Road, near I-40 and Wendover Avenue and just off Hornaday Road. It is really easy to spot when driving by. We've checked our archives and it doesn't appear that we've featured it in 16 years of Sundays. We guess, in a way, it has been hidden in plain sight. As you can see from the above photo, the building is right at the road. According to the UMC website, the lead pastor is Tamara Ingram, attendance is 77, the primary language spoken in English, and the primary ethnicity is African American/Black. Their Facebook page reveals a men's choir and you can also see sermons by the preacher from a few years ago. An interior view of the church, the sanctuary with an A-line ceiling, can also be seen. The building was built in 1974.

The Northern Piedmont District, United Women in Faith, will hold a Social Action Workshop there on October 5th. The church appears to be an active congregation and willing to open their space to others. We're wondering if, in the church's 50 year history, if it has always been Raleigh's Crossroads UMC; however, we can't find evidence of any other name. Next time we drive by, we'll look for a cornerstone. In the meantime, enjoy the view and see if you can find it next time you are on Guilford College Road headed towards I-40.

Happy Sunday!

 

DeTomaso Pantera Arrives Near the Corner of Walker and Elam

The De Tomasa Pantera is a mid-engine sports car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer DeTomasa, from 1971- 1992. Seven thousand of them were manufactured between those years. We were admiring the pumpkin orange car yesterday, in front of Suds and Duds on Walker Avenue. It  has a "Power by Ford" sign on it and one of the men standing there admiring the car  with us said that Ford supplied V-8 engines for the car, that was used in racing. He also  said that these cars inspired the futuristic cars in the movie Blade Runner. The car certainly drew a crowd. 

We love the serendipity of urban walking, seeing something interesting, and becoming part of a group of complete strangers talking about something. Did that meticulously maintained car could not possibly have had an owner who was at the laundry mat? Possibly, they were at Bestway, or one of the bars or restaurants in the area. Possibly, it belonged to a college student, as school is back in session.  We wish we'd waited around to see whined it, but then, dinner called Maybe we'll see it again this semester. 

Happy Saturday!

Public Transportation at Holliday Circle

Today's photo takes us to Holliday Circle at West McGee and Greene Street. The statue in the center of the circle, by local sculptor James Barnhill, is of Natty Greene. In the background, you see the iconic Lincoln Financial Group buildings with the LFG light at the top. It alternates with the time and temperature. Remember when  there weren't cell phones to inform us of the time and temperature? What a nostalgic feature. Peeking out on the left is the Hampton Inn and Suites.

Notice there are two busses in the traffic circle. the one in the foreground is a Veterans Resource Ride. In 2020, the public transportation agency transformed a 40-ft municipal transit bus  into a mobile resource center for veterans and their families. The bus is actually available for anyone to ride, however, there is information about resources for veterans displayed inside, and the driver is a veteran.*   The more public transportation gets used, the better the system will become. As you can see, the transportation department works hard to study what resources will benefit the community. It is so enjoyable to walk around downtown and see what we stumble upon. Personally, we use the Hopper Trolley, but need to use the bus system more. How about you?

Happy Thursday (the new Friday)! 

 

* reference.

 

Rain and Wind from Tropical Storm Debby

We hope you were spared damage from Tropical Storm Debby.  Several trees and branches were down today, there were some power outages; and, as you can see from the above view of Buffalo Creek that the banks were overflowing. This is the view from North Elm Street, just north of Cone Hospital, near Irving Park. It was so bad that Latham Road was closed. Normally, the above creek has visible, rocky banks. It is not a river, but a creek. It looks like we had about 4" of rain yesterday (see HERE). The flood warning remained through the night. There is a 60% chance of rain today, but the good news that no rain is scheduled for the weekend. There is so much to do this weekend. There are three more weekends until traditional schools open in Greensboro. If you have children, we hope you enjoy every minute of these last couple of weeks with them.  Eventbrite is one way to look at what is happening downtown (see HERE). A few events include: Music in the Park; The Rocket Man Show at Tanger; African American History Tour; Greensboro True Crime Tour; Downtown History Tour; Hopper's Game & Fireworks (seen on Greensboro College's Facebook Page). Whatever you decide to do, enjoy. We'll stop back soon to check on the level of this creek.

Happy Friday!

Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment is a bakery on Davie Street, right beside the Cultural Arts Center and across the street from Center City Park. It is a super convenient place to go and have a treat after visiting the Central Library on Church or any of the other spaces on this north end of town. Owner Tanya Dickens works hard to make sure that customers, indeed, savor the moment when they come in for a treat. Their signature, original treat is the Crunch Cheesecake. It is a combination of her cheesecake and strawberry crunch cake recipes and, if those flavors and textures sound good to your, it will be DELICIOUS!  Tanya's signature Crunch Cheesecake now comes in 16 flavors. Perhaps the young couple on their way into the store will order one.

Read more about Tanya and the bakery in "High Point Discovered" Magazine, HERE. You will learn that she is quite the entrepreneur and that her business has already expanded to High Point. She weathered the pandemic, which took her business in a very different direction. She has instilled the sense of entrepreneurship not only in her own children, but in the many children she mentors. In addition to growing her own businesses, her community service is to help others learn to conceptualize and launch a business. What may seem like just another bakery, is really an incubator of ideas, generosity, and yummy sweet treats. We were initially attracted to "Savor the Moment" because of the positivity in the name. "Savor the moment" is quite an expression to ponder.

How will you spend your Saturday? How will you savor the moments?

Dean and Marilyn Green Rehearsal Hall

Such was the scene, yesterday afternoon, at the corner of Friendly Avenue and North Elm Street. To the right, on the  floor is the Dean and Marilyn Green Rehearsal Hall, located in the Self Help Building at Center City Park. The community will have a Bird's-eye view of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra rehearsing and, when weather permits, will get to hear them, too. This rehearsal hall is just a block away from Tanger Center where they perform.

We're not sure what they were doing to the building yesterday, but the cranes and buckets were out and, at least on the ground floor, windows were being cleaned. Plus, there were people inside. This is such a creative initiative for Greensboro. We can't wait to see it in use. You just never know what you are going to see when traveling along Elm Street.

Happy Wednesday.

Yoga on the Greenway

Yesterday, we shared a bicycling group along the Greensboro Greenway. Today, we offer a lovely yoga group that meets under the Greensboro Greenway at Spring Garden Street. The name of the initiative is Tuesdays at the Trailhead in Moorehead Park. The group meets from 6:00- 7:00 p.m. Tuesdays and the opportunity will continue through September 24th. This opportunity is in partnership with the YMCA of Greensboro. All ages and fitness abilities are encouraged to attend! And, in grand Greensboro tradition, the experience is free and open to all. Summers in Greensboro can be so much fun. So, enjoy your mountain and beach adventures, but know there are great adventures waiting for us here in the Gate City! It sure looks like the above yogis and yoginis are having fun!!

Happy Wednesday!

Easy Rider! Relaxed Tuesday Ride Series

Tonight is the night for the Easy Rider! Relaxed Tuesday Ride Series. The above photo was taken last week on the delightful ride partially through UNCG, partially on the  Greenway, and partially through neighborhoods. Here is the group under the bridge,  at Spring Garden Street. Behind the bicyclists, a group was practicing yoga. It is so wonderful to see these community resources being put to good use. 

If you are interested in the ride, arrive at Cycles de ORO on Battleground and Hill Street at 6:00 pm to get registered, meet others, and have time to go into the bike shop to purchase a helmet, spare inner tube or anything else you might need to be road safe. You must partake in the 6:15 pre-ride briefing and the ride departs promptly at 6:30. It returns to Cycles for your parking convenience and to likely get an ice-cream treat from Dale, the owner of the shop.  The rides are under 10 miles and the route changes week-to-week.  This is a great way to fall in love with cycling or to participate in a ride where you actually have time to talk to people! 

Happy Tuesday and summer fun!

Happy July 4th 2024

Full disclosure, the above photo was taken during the Fun Fourth Festival 2023 in downtown Greensboro on South Elm Street. Uncle Sam was working hard walking in the heat and agreeing to take a photo with anyone who asked. The event, Freedomfest, will be held today from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. There will be entertainment, patriotic characters, food trucks, water features, and more. Plan your outfit carefully for the best photos. See all of the festival details, including a map and schedule, HERE. Fireworks will start downtown after the Greensboro Grasshoppers  home baseball game.  The baseball stadium is your best bet for a good view. If you do not have a ticket, setting up a foldable chair outside the stadium is another option. Last year, the game was sold out. 

Meanwhile, just a little north of downtown, the Kirkwood neighborhood will be celebrating for the 75th year. The parade on Independence Road and the 50' flag are the anchors. When you see the 50 foot flag hovering  over the street, you will know you are in the right place. The Kirkwood event times overlap with Freedomfest downtown; however, their neighborhood, originally established for returning WWII vets and their families, will have no shortage of patriotism. However you spend your day today, be safe and neighborly.

Happy Fourth of July!

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!

More Along Eugene Street

Yesterday's post was from a photo taken while walking along Eugene Street. Today, it is the same. This is the part of Eugene across from the ballpark. In the middle, Hyatt Place is featured. It was built in 2019 and adds a modern flair to this part of town. It has 108 rooms and is known for having a sleek design and for being dog friendly.  The photo is a bit distorted as a result of the angle we used to take the picture. However, the angle does add to the emphasis on geometric shapes.

If you look closely, you can see the city's beloved Lincoln Financial Group off to the far right. There is a lot happening downtown this weekend as tomorrow is First Friday. Thursday is the new Friday, so today would be a great day to head downtown. See you there!

Natty Greene's Expansion on South Elm Street

Today's photo features the revamped outdoor eating space for Natty Greene's. The sunscreens help shield customers from the summer sun. In the back right of the sun deck, a performance stage has been built; making it much easier for musicians to plug in and perform. Is is part of the brewhouse pavilion. Here is a Fox8 article that explains the expansion in more detail and gives you an overview of the space. The new space has an elegant look and adds a nice touch to Hamburger Square.

Can you believe today is the first day of June? Traditional schools in Guilford County will be out for the summer. First Friday will be next week on June 7th. That will give you a great chance to get downtown and explore and see this patio area. Natty Greene's does not take reservations, so this new space adds seating and when musicians are playing, you have an enjoyable way to pass the time.

Happy Saturday!

Yes, Greensboro, There Is a Cybertruck

On one of our walks around town, hoping for serendipity to land a photo for Greensboro Daily Photo, lo and behold a Tesla cybertruck drove up Elm Street at the intersection with Washington. This forest green cybertruck with temporary tags was seen on May 15th (2024). We love the contrast of the futuristic vehicle with the weathered brick facade of the "Thousands of Prints, Plenty of Frames" shop. Starting prices range from $61,000 to $100,000 depending on which model you choose. Read more about this electric vehicle HERE. We wish we'd had a chance to see the driver, but the windows are pretty dark.

We'll be back downtown today to attend more events with the FREE, Greensboro Bound Literary Festival. What a great way to spend a rainy day. Most of the events and the great conversations will take place between the Central Library, History Museum, the Cultural Center, and Scuppernong Books. We're planning to go by and see what remains of the News and Record Building. That will be a hard look. My how times have changed. Digital virtual news, electric cars, we're wondering what is next for 36.0734ºN, 79.7932ºW.

Happy Saturday!

 

Wendover Avenue at Rush Hour

Yesterday brought a lot of rain and temperatures hovering in the 60ºs. Today it should be warmer with temperatures in the 70ºs, but also rainy. We aren't on Wendover Avenue very often, but we were yesterday afternoon, turning on to West Wendover near the I-40 interchange. So often we opt for backroads when possible, but Wendover is very convenient to navigate east/west travel in Greensboro. 

This 15 mile stretch of road was completed in 1972. In the west, it ends at Eastchester. In the east, it changes to Burlington Road at O. Henry Boulevard. According to Brixmor, there are approximately 58,000 vehicles a day on Wendover Avenue. With a population of just over 300,000, that means that about 19% of Greensboro's population uses Wendover Avenue in a day. Of course not everyone on the road is necessarily from Greensboro, but that gives you an idea. The road has a personality all its own!

Happy Wednesday!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This past Friday had some interesting weather. There was sun, some rain, rainbows, and then the Northern Lights. The above photo was taken along Highway 150, between Kernersville and Oak Ridge. The business is the Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home. According to their website, they've been in Kernersville since 1984.  Surely, there is a message when a rainbow arcs over a funeral home.

We love to drive on the back roads and out in the county. Highway 150 to Kernersville used to have a country road feel. Over the past few years, construction has been extensive. Already, it is getting harder to tell where Kernersville and Forsyth County end and Oak Ridge and Guilford County begin. The road is still un-busy enough to allow for time to stop and photograph and catch little slices of life, much more so than U.S. Highway 421 or I-40.

Happy Tuesday!