Greensboro Daily Photo

Train on Tracks

Yesterday afternoon, we were fascinated to watch a freight train stopped at South Elm Street for at least an hour. We asked a young man who was waiting and photographing it. He said he had been waiting for 50 minutes and that usually a stopped train indicates another one is on the track. He appeared to be quite a train aficionado. Greensboro is a great city for train lovers. We have both freight and passenger trains. As a matter of fact Greensboro got its nickname, Gate City, for being a gateway rail city. Here is a North Carolina rail map showing which freight and passenger trains travel through Greensboro.  

The above view is of Hamburger Square. Notice how nice the train trestle looks. The green and white paint makes it a stand out. Fortunately, with this underpass, pedestrians and cars can move through Elm Street, instead of having to wait for trains. People who work downtown probably know the train schedule by heart!

Happy Thursday, from the Gate City!

Heavenly Buffaloes

Heavenly Buffaloes is a brick and mortar restaurant at 356 South Elm Street. However, they also have a truck that always catches our attention, especially when we see it parked on W. McGee Street downtown. Heavenly Buffaloes got their start in Durham, NC in 2014, but now also has locations in Chapel Hill and Greensboro. They pride themselves on using high quality ingredients, local and for the chicken wings, antibiotic free. They also have vegan (soy nugget) wings, made from a recipe they perfected over a year. They offer many flavors of sauce and levels of heat. 

It is nice to see a local (well, down the road) business doing well and, who knows, they could keep growing and expand to other states, like Biscuitville and Cook Out. Sundays- Tuesdays, HB is only open until 10:00 pm, but other nights until midnight. It is always nice to be able to grab a late night snack. We're always looking for new places to get a quick bite to eat when downtown. 

Happy Thursday! 

Vanity Tag: 1VIOLIN

Today, we have a little fun with a vanity tag. In the state of North Carolina, a vanity tag, or personalized plate, costs $30 above the other fees. It is really fun to see what people put on their vehicle tags. They say if people can't figure out the message in a few seconds, it just might not be a good investment. You have up to a combination of eight letters, numbers, spaces, and special characters to get your message across. We're betting the above person plays the violin, and plays it well. Likely, they tote it in their hatchback and, with a four-wheel drive, may do some mountain driving. We're betting they are passionate about music.

Here is a link to the DMV.  You should be able to search and see if the name or saying you want is available. Be careful though. If it is not an official site (and it may LOOK official),  you will be taken to an outside site that is probably not secure. Do you have a vanity tag? What does it say? Would you consider one? What would it say? Honk if you like violin music!

Happy Tuesday!

Appreciating the Prius Perspective

What does your vehicle say about you? We love reading bumpers. You can learn so much about a person by noticing the back of the car. We saw this Prius at the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville a few weeks ago and stood there reading every single bumper sticker: Make America Green Again; I brake for birds; Trees Please: Wander; Boycott Bottled Water; live simply that others may simply live; and, SKIP the STRAW. Additionally, the tag is a "First in Forestry" tag! $20 of the $30 fee collected for the plates goes forestry education programs in North Carolina. Follow that link if you want one of the NC Forest Service tags. And of course with a Prius, the owners are minimizing their use of fossil fuels.

We didn't see the owners of the car, but we can tell they are caring people for whom environmental issues matter. We've blocked out their tag number because it is not a vanity tag. When someone has a vanity tag with a recognizable word, we figure it is fair game; however, a series of numbers did not contribute to what we wanted to say about the bumper. We hope you have a great Saturday and that you find random things like cars filled with stickers to bring you joy! We're betting the owners of this Prius would love talking "environmental care" with any of us! 

Bicycling in Greensboro

With New Year's resolutions, the local gyms have been busy and with the nice weather, people have been out running, walking, and bicycling. Last night, we were enjoying some urban walking downtown and saw many people out on their bicycles. Just after sunset, the weather was warm and damp, but not raining; perfect for being outside. This was one group we noticed coming through Hamburger Square. There were others on bicycles downtown.  If you notice, there was someone in front of Natty Greene's.

As Greensboro gets more bike lanes and greenway miles, the city is becoming more bike friendly; bicycling, as a sport and as  a mode of transportation, appears to be increasing. If you want to learn more about riding, local bike shops are a great place to start. Find a bike shop with the kind of cycling you like to do and start asking questions, keep your gear working well, and find opportunities for group rides. Greensboro has over 90 miles of trails and greenway.  Here is trail and greenway information in Greensboro.  Here is a list of traffic laws applicable to NC bicyclists. 

Happy Wednesday! 

 

 

Looking North, Between Ground and Air

The above photo is a view of the area just north of Greensboro. The road below is 220 north; to the left is Lake Higgins and to the right, Lake Brandt. The water in Lake Brandt is noticeably muddier than in Lake Higgins. There is a good view of the Lake Higgins Marina in the upper left corner, and Strawberry Road curves off to the right off of 220. On the horizon, you can see the Belews Creek Power Station, Duke Energy's largest coal-burning plant in the Carolinas. To the left of the columns of steam, you can see the Sauratown Mountains, including Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock.

As we look towards the new year, let's remember to not only look at what is right in front of us, but also what is on the horizon.  Stokes and Surry counties can seem so far away from Guilford County; however, from the view of a plane, they seem so close. Maybe we'll get lucky the next time we are airborne and get a seat on the other side of the airplane with a good view of Greensboro proper. Happy Tuesday! We hope you had a good Hanukkah, Christmas, and that Kwanzaa is off to a great start for all who celebrate!

International Women's Day

Pull up a chair, or sofa, and join us for International Women's Day which began in 1911. Women's Day was first celebrated in Europe and in 1975, it gained traction when it started being celebrated by the United Nations. Today's photo was taken at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. This painting on the wall above the sofa is part of an exhibit at the Center for Visual Artists (CVA). The wall mural, Eve Genesis,  was painted by Kidd. The title of the whole, multi-artist exhibit is "The Eve Gene." The exhibit is curated by Virginia Holmes who is a local artist and activist.  

Purple and white are the colors of International Women's Day. If you read this before you get dressed for the day, please consider wearing purple and white, whether you live in Greensboro or elsewhere. If you want to learn more about IWD, read this BBC article. Also, the Greensboro History Museum is going a presentation at noon today. The CVA is open from 12pm- 5:00 pm today. Come sit on the big blue couch with us and reflect on all of the art in the room and on all of the great things the women of Greensboro have done.

 See more information, here.

HOPE

Well, today is the last day of February. It is hard to believe. Today is a bit of a "fluff" post, but we like it. This weekend, we stopped at the post office on Battleground Avenue (where Aldi is located, former Earthfare space). As we were getting back in the car, we noticed the car parked in front of us was "Hope '99". We stuck around a while in the hope that the owner would come out, so we could ask for the back story on the Hope vanity tag. Also, we were wondering the significance of '99. We were thinking the owner of the vehicle may have been at Starbucks and were tempted to walk around looking for Hope.

It is always fun to see vanity tags and even more meaningful to get the back story. Is the owner named Hope? Does the owner have hope about something? Maybe a little of both. Given some of the current events in the world, we all need to work hard to spread a little love and HOPE!

Happy Monday! To our ever faithful reader, Ginny, all the way in Wisconsin, Happy Birthday!!!

Liquid Nitrogen

Have you ever driven behind a truck full of liquid nitrogen? It is so interesting. That black sign below the green one reads, "venting of vapor is normal during operation." We're sure people have called on more than one occasion saying that a truck was "smoking." If you look at the street signs on the left, you can see that the vehicle was at the corner of Josephine Boyd and Oakland Avenue. The truck was quite large and the driver masterfully made that left turn. It took a while, but he did it. Airgas uses cryogenic storage dewars (vacuum flasks) to transport very cold liquid gasses.

Here is a link to learn about all of the uses for nitrogen. Sometimes while out driving, it is easy to hyper focus on getting from Point A to Point B; however, when you stop and observe just what vehicles are around you and what they are doing, it is really interesting. We've never seen an Airgas truck before, but then maybe we've just never noticed. According to the internet, there is a store on East Market Street. Since this large truck was turning onto Oakland between UNCG and the railroad tracks, we're betting they were filling an order for UNCG. Actually, just possibly, it was turning because it would not fit under the underpass over Josephine Boyd. At any rate, it was interesting waiting behind the truck that looked like it was vaping!

Happy Tuesday.

Street Scene along McGee and South Elm Street

Last time we were downtown shopping at Just Be (corner of McGee and South Elm Street), we looked out the window and this scene just struck us a memorable view of winter. And, since the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, we guess we should brace ourselves for 6 more weeks of winter.* Something about the festive wind chimes, the snow, that brand new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and the lights from the Green Bean Coffee House all came together for an instant and made a beautiful scene. If you look at Greensboro Daily Photo regularly, you know that yesterday's vehicle was Carolina blue. Perhaps it is only fitting that today we feature one that is closer to Duke blue!

Enjoy your Thursday and, if you get a chance, head downtown and enjoy the shops and restaurants. If you get a chance, wash your car. There has been a lot of salt on the road. Maybe the rain today will help with the salt!

 

*By the way, regardless of what the groundhog did and didn't see, February 2nd is precisely six weeks away from the spring equinox.

Vintage VW at Greensboro Farmers Curb Market

Today's photo was taken on Saturday after another weekend snow.  This vintage Volkswagen was parked outside the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street while its owners were inside shopping. The farmers market is on the east side of Greensboro, just north of NC A&T University. If you look in the background, you can see the JP/LFG building, Greensboro's iconic landmark.

If you are from North Carolina, you recognize that the car is painted Carolina blue for UNC Chapel Hill. No, that is not an original VW color, but it really fits the vintage car and its owners. We are thinking it is a 1970-ish Volkswagen square back. The VW may be small, but it looks like it could hold a lot of fresh produce. While some times of year, the farmers market is open on Wednesday, it will not be open today, you'll have to wait until Saturday. Do you think the VW will be back? Eating healthy is so addictive and the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market is a great way to do so! It has bringing us great, local food products since it was founded in 1874!

Happy Candlemas! Happy Groundhog Day! We're headed out to see if the groundhog sees his shadow. 

Gilley Small Engine Service

Giley Small Engine Service is a small business off of the northern end of Guilford County and Southern end of Rockingham County. Their address is specifically listed as Stokesdale. If you drive up 220 north, just south of Highway 158 on Spotswood Circle, just east of Highway 73. If you are out driving around, it is fun to seek out these old-time mom and pop businesses. Gilley is one of those places where the owner does most of the work. If you need your chainsaw or lawnmower repaired, chipper shredder or pressure washer, this would be a good place to take your small engine . It is getting harder and harder to find places that make repairs. Sometimes, it is almost easier to buy something new than to repair.

If the weather holds out this weekend, it is fun to drive around town, but it is also fun to drive 10-15 miles in any direction of the city and explore a little. We hope the weather holds out so we can can get out and explore some more places this weekend. Happy Friday and stay warm!

Piedmont Triad International Airport: Wrangler Jeansboro Statues

The Piedmont Triad International Airport was started in 1927 and, the 112 acre facility has been evolving and changing ever since. One of the latest efforts has been to enhance the facility with public art.

In 2018, four Wrangler Jeansboro statues were installed at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The above statue is by Jerry McGuire of Pfafftown. It is called "Slice of Heaven." This statue is located is baggage claim, one of the public areas of the airport that you can actually view even if you are not traveling. You don't need to go through airport security to see it. The statue itself is made out of fiberglass. The first installations of the jeans statues were in 2016. They are located not only at the airport, but also around town. Wrangler sponsored them as a nod to Greensboro's history with denim and jeans.* At one time, Cone Mills in Greensboro was the largest denim maker in the world. Wrangler actually coined the term Jeansboro in 2015. Many of the jeans statues were painted by students of Guilford County Schools.**

When we were at the airport Saturday night, we were only picking up a traveler, but it sure made us want to do a little globe trotting. However, at the end of the day, it sure was nice to return home and hunker down for the Sunday morning snow storm. Happy Wednesday 

 

*reference and more information, HERE.

** another great reference.

Gas Prices Exxon 801 East Market Street

This Exxon station at 801 East Market Street, open 24 hours, is one of the closest gas stations to town. As you can see, in the background, the Lincoln Financial Group building is not far away; it is one of the most iconic buildings in Greensboro. We jokingly say that, in Greensboro, all roads lead to the JP/LFG building. 

We like to check in at this Exxon once in a while to document gas prices. When we were there on December 5th, regular gas was $3.18 a gallon. It will be fun to see the price this time next year. The last time we did this, June 16, 2017, gas was $2.35 a gallon. As you can see, the price is up 83¢ a gallon in 4 1/2 years. This gas station will be even more in demand when Bailey Village is completed across the street.  This Exxon seems like an island and in a way, it is. You can access it whether heading east or west through town.

Happy Monday. Only five more days until 2022, can you believe it?

Pretty In VW Pink: Wink, Wink!

Some vehicles are just so cute. Such is the case with this pink Volkswagen Beetle. If you are out and about in Greensboro, be on the lookout for VW Beetles with eyelashes. We have seen one at the Red Collection on Mill Street. This one, with North Carolina tags, was spotted out shopping at Golden Antiques on north 220 this past Sunday. The pink color is perfect with the lashes.

The Beetle has been around since the 1930s when commissioned by Adolph Hitler and designed by Ferdinand Porsche. Unfortunately, 2019 was the last year they were made. Flow Volkswagen on Roanne Way sells VWs. Likely the have some used Beetles on the lot. We're wondering if the above WV Bug makes it to Herbie's Restaurant on Thursdays for WV night. We wonder if they made it to the "Break the Record" night for the most number of VW's to come to Herbie's in August. We're wondering is this car has a name. It should. Have a great Tuesday and, if you can, get any groceries you will need for Thruday, today. So many stores will be closet on Thursday and some are closing early on Wednesday. Wink if you like cars with eyelashes!!!

1953 Buick Riviera and a Great Conversation

Yesterday, we headed just over the Guilford County line, to Kernersville and struck up a conversation with the owner of this 1953 Buick Riviera. The conversation started with asking for permission to take a photo of the car and ended with a great story. The car is owned by Rodney Robles, photographed above. Mr. Robles inherited the car from his grandfather 30 years ago, when his grandfather, John Wesley Lowery, died at the age of 104. Mr. Lowery, a horticulture and forestry major,  was the first Native American to graduate from Virginia Tech. Mr. Lowery left his vintage cars to Mr. Robles because of his grandson's love of cars and his willingness to "talk cars" with anyone interested- like us. Not only did Mr. Robles talk about his vintage cars (he has more than one), he let "Ms. Greensboro Daily Photo"  sit in the driver's seat and get her picture taken. If you attend antique car shows, you may already know Mr. Robles, or at least recognize his cars. They are the ones painted in Virginia Tech colors as grandfather was a proud and loyal alum.  While Mr. Robles still works, he is retired from his career as a state trooper. 

On another note, Greensboro is preparing for Tommy Orange's visit here to talk about his book, "There, There" and how wonderful it would be if Mr. Orange would have an opportunity to meet Mr. Robles and his family. In his book, Mr. Orange articulates the west-coast, Native American experience masterfully. After a few short minutes of talking with Mr. Robles, we are confident he could share some great east-coast, Native American stories. He and his family are originally from Lumberton, NC. Both men would enjoy each other tremendously. Mr. Robles, ever the gentleman would have stayed and talked longer, but he was on his way to take dinner home to his wife. Her dinner will arrive in style and be delivered with a smile! 

SIOUXZEN

Seeing a good vanity plate on a car makes waiting in traffic a lot of fun. Yesterday, we were behind SIOUXZEN. Vanity plates have a slogan, phrase, or abbreviation that is customized. The owner picks something meaningful, pays extra, and as long as it is not an offensive (in some way) term, and nobody else in the state has it, the plate is your for an uncharge. Sometimes the message is so opaque it is not possible for most to decipher it, especially at a traffic light.

The above plate is a good one; it combines two words Sioux and Zen. Sioux are groups of Native American tribes  and First Nations people of North America. Zen is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that values meditation. However, reading the eight letters together can sound like you are saying the name "Susan." So what is it? On the surface, the meaning of the tag is transparent; yet, there may be a deeper meaning. Is there a Zen Sioux driving around Greensboro? Is the owner's name pronounced "Susan?"

It would be fun to see a database of all vanity tags issued in Guilford County. Or, a list of North Carolina tags that reference things in Greensboro. If you were to have a vanity tag, what would it be. What is the most interesting vanity tag you've seen recently? We'd love to have you post it in the chat. Remember, a combination of eight letters and characters is the limit and it can't be an offensive word in another language. However, we're betting some slip by the censors.

STOP!

Today's photo is of the Wal-Mart parking lot on North Battleground. This store is not as busy, or hectic,  as some of the others around town. There is a kudzu lot between Wal-Mart and the Big Lots Plaza. If you time it right, as you leave the store, you have a fabulous view of sunset. In the above photo, we'd missed the actual sunset, but we still saw that magical glow that  lingers a few minutes after the sun has dipped below the horizon. Part of the fun of photography is finding a way to freeze a little beauty, a slice of life, in a frame. What does "STOP" look like upside down? do's? dots? At any rate, looking at STOP from this orientation slows us down. 

Today, we just had a little parking lot fun. We hope you are having a great day and that when you can't stop and smell the roses, you can stop and maybe catch a sunset. From this orientation, it looks like the Wal-mart is surrounded by woods, which is part of the beauty of Greensboro. Let's work hard to keep it green!

Happy Tuesday!

"Bestway" on Market Street

Sometimes in a city there are people in our lives, we may not know much about them, but we come to take for granted that we will see them. Sometimes they bring us joy, sometimes the feeling is more neutral, and sometimes it is even negative- but we know we will see them. As we were walking to the opening of the North Carolina Folk Festival last week, someone walked past this man on a scooter and said, "Hi Bestway." We kind of looked at the man walking by and he said to us, "That's the guy that plays music out in front of Bestway. We see him all the time." Then we realized that we, too, recognized him and had seen him on many occasions out in front of the Bestway Grocery Store on Walker Avenue. When we asked him if we could take this picture downtown, we tried to interview him, but he had to go park his scooter and get settled into the festival.

Seeing him reminded us of how often we see him, really enjoy interacting with him, and also enjoy his musical talent, without really knowing much about him. Perhaps that is OK. Sometimes, people don't want us to know that much about them. However, we intend to let "Bestway" know we appreciate his talent and that seeing him in front of Bestway when we shop there is something we've come to expect. If he is not there, we wonder if he is OK. The gig economy is really unpredictable. You can be sure next time we walk past when he is playing, we'll drop a few bills in his instrument case, let him know how much we appreciate his music, and.... most importantly..... ask him his name!

Tabernacle Church at 544 South Mendenhall

Today's photo is the "Power for Living" Tabernacle Church at 544 South Mendenhall Street. The church is located in the College Hill neighborhood, very near Church of the Covenant. We featured this church the first year we started Greensboro Daily Photo  in 2009 (see here), and just checked back in here a few weeks ago. The church still has the same pastor, T.J. Patterson, and, unfortunately, still doesn't have a website or much of an internet present. The same blue door is there, but the brick is no longer bright white; it is more almond color. In 2009, the electric scooter industry was not on the radar screen. In 2021, it people can ride scooters to church. Oh, how times are changing. 

Happy Sunday and may you find a spiritual home (if you are seeking one). Greensboro has plenty of options from small like Tabernacle Church to churches with thousands of congregants. There is something for everyone, regardless of your religion.

I Love Greensboro

Driving or walk along West Market Street, not too far from the intersection with Spring Garden/Muirs Chapel, and you will see the above sign, "I Love Greensboro." This building at 4609 West Market Street used to house the Open Space Café Theatre. Now, it has the four businesses listed above: A tattoo parlor, beauty salon, pet grooming, and a clothing and custom t-shirt store. It looks like they may have room for one more business. This strip center may look small, but actually they have 26 spaces for off street parking. It was built in 1954 and has 76 feet of frontage on West Market. 

The other side of the building has a map of North Carolina, and there are several other murals surrounding the building. The murals and sayings, specifically "I Love Greensboro" are what got us to notice the building in the first case. It is always fun when a lime green car drives into view the minute you are taking a photo. Happy Wednesday and, remember to LOVE Greensboro!

Strolling the Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway

Since we featured a bike event yesterday on Greensboro Daily Photo, so, we thought it would be nice to share a photo of bikes out on the trail this past Saturday. The above photo was taken on the Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway, near where Lake Higgins and Lake Brandt meet.  We started at Bur-Mil and walked to the Vineyards community at Highway 150 in Summerfield. The trails are open from 8:00 am- sunset and seem to be busiest early morning. We were there mid-day, when the sun was hottest and the trails weren't very busy at that time. As evidenced above, we did see a some cyclists. And look at that dappled light. The trail was so lovely this weekend.

This part of the greenway goes past a kudzu field that has overtaken a lot of the terrain. Currently, the kudzu is in full bloom and quite fragrant. The Greensboro trail system is something to be proud of. Currently, the Piedmont Greenway will connect to the above trail. As a matter of fact, the Piedmont Greenway is a planned, 19-mile trail that will connect Greensboro to Kernersville to Winston-Salem. With all of the bicycle aficionados in the local area, the Piedmont Greenway will be a bit hit. We can't wait! Happy Tuesday! Hope to see you on the trails while the weather is still warm. 

Greensboro Velo Club

The Greensboro Velo Club held a Swap Meet in the parking lot of Cycles de ORO yesterday from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. It was a nice day for it. Cycles de ORO, located at 701 A Hill Street and right beside the greenway. The event benefitted the Cancer Research Institute. Private sellers brought their used bicycles and related goods, everything from bicycles built for two to clothing and tools. Also, there was a display of classic and exotic bicycles, including one from the late 1800s with wooden rims! The above photo shows some of the bikes that were part of the exhibit. The owner, Paul, is at the entrance to the store, coming out with what appears to be signage explaining about the bikes on display. 

The Greensboro Velo Club was established in 1975. The club hosts events and races. They are an active club that provides great camaraderie, great association with other cyclists. It doesn't matter what level of expertise and commitment you have to cycling, there is something for everyone in the club. They also help you find trails and places to ride that match your level of expertise and interests. At yesterday's swap meet, they sense of community was evident. If you want to keep up with opportunities for joining cycling events, see this calendar on the Cycles de ORO website.

Happy First Day of School 2021, Guilford County!

Happy first day of school to all of the students, teachers, and staff in the Guilford County Schools (GCS). GCS is the third largest school district in North Carolina. It is the 50th largest in the United States. There are 126 schools and about 70,000 students. With all of those busses, students, and school personnel on the road this morning and afternoon, we will all need to allow extra time to travel and be extra careful to drive 25 mph or under in the school zones. Also, remember to stop when the busses are picking up and dropping off students and the red arm is out. There aren't hybrid schools this year, students are either in person or participating in a virtual-only program. 

The above photo was taken yesterday afternoon in the bus parking lot at Grimsley High School. It had just started raining, creating nice reflections and, hopefully, getting all of that rain out of those clouds for that first day of school. Also, last night was a full, blue moon. Let's hope that full moon is behind us and today will be a perfect day for everyone. This year, in GCS, masks are required. Here's to 100% compliance, making every effort to keep all safe and healthy. Have great school year.

 

 

U Haul on Gate City

This week, we've been looking at street scenes in Greensboro. Today, we go back to "Tate + Gate", and are across the street from the future facility that UNCG is will build at the intersection. The U-Haul building is located across the street from the Industries of the Blind. It is probably no accident that U-Haul chose this location. As university students head back to UNCG and NCA&T next week, U-Haul will probably see an increase in business. Students who live off campus, and new faculty members for that matter, probably rely on U-Haul to get them to and from their apartments/houses.

One thing we that is fun to do at U Haul is to look at which states are advertised on their trucks. The one you can barely see in the left corner advertises Nebraska. On the day we were there, we saw Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alaska, and Virginia; however, we couldn't find one on the lot for North Carolina. This would be a fun end-of-summer activity with children, to make a list of states and see how many they could check off the list and even try to photograph. U-Haul's "Venture Across America and Canada" SuperGraphics program began in 1997 and for the last 24 years, it has been a hit with adults and children alike. See here if you want to learn more about the SuperGraphics program of the different states. Can you guess what North Carolina's super graphic is? After you've guessed, click here, to see it. We're wondering if UNCG's Millennial Campus Initiative will impact this corner of Tate + Gate. We predict many more changes for the area.

Happy Wednesday!

Construction in North Greensboro- Making Progress!

There has been so much roadwork in Greensboro this summer, but is does seem that it is all for the better. At the beginning of the summer, Josephine Boyd Street was being reduced by one lane at Walker Avenue in an effort to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street- used heavily by UNCG students. On up Battleground, at Westridge, that heavily congested intersection is getting improvements (read here). Battleground/Westridge is the intersection where Ollie's Ice Cream is located. Hopefully, the hot weather and proximity to Guilford Courthouse National Military Park has helped with ice cream sales. A few blocks north on Battleground at the Urban Loop, that construction has finished and this bypass extends to North Elm Street, and continues to lengthen. The West Market Street/Guilford College Road area is also getting great improvements. 

The above photo provides you with a glimpse of what you may find on any given day on Horse Pen Creek Road. To be sure, drivers have to be patient. There are so many apartment complexes being built on Horse Pen Creek, limited access roads with lights will be a must. Driving slowly is a must as navigating the barrels can be a little bit challenging. The City of Greensboro makes every effort to help keep drivers informed. See here, if you want to try to keep up with work that is being done, plus expected completion dates.

West Gate City Boulevard at Dillard Street

Today's photo was taken a couple of weeks ago. As hot as it has been, it is hard to believe how rainy it was mid-July. The photo was taken on West Gate City Boulevard at Dillard Street, between the Glenwood and Warnersville neighborhoods. West Gate City is formerly Lee Street. Dillard Street is likely named after the Dillard family, as in Dillard Paper Company. The DPC was incorporated in 1926 with its origins here in Greensboro. There is usually an interesting history as to how a street gets its name and why Dillard Street has its name, but we don't know the answer. Do you? 

We like the symmetry of this photo with the dark car on the leftt in front of a light wall and, on the right, a light car in front of a dark wall. The hydrangeas in the misddle add to the visual interest. Those are the kind of things one sits around and thinks about from inside a building when it is too rainy to go anywhere. We hope you have a great Saturday, today. Head to one of the farmers markets or find something fun to do, especially if it is outside! Greensboro is so beautiful, even in the rain seeing nothing more than a street scene.

Happy Saturday!

Reflecting on Greensboro and the Transient Nature of Trains

Happy Friday, we're moving into the weekend, Greensboro! Today's photo is of an eastbound train strolling towards downtown Greensboro. It is on the track behind Oden Brewing Company on Gate City Boulevard. On the other side of the tracks, Oakland Avenue parallels the train. You can hear the trains as they push through several times a day. Here is a list of passenger trains coming through Greensboro. Of course there are freight trains passing through, too.

If you get a hankering to go somewhere by train this weekend, head down to the J Douglas Galyon Depot on East Washington Street and see where your adventure will take you. The station was renovated in 2005 and it is quite attractive. If you want to read more about the freight transportation through Greensboro, see here. It plays a key role in the Piedmont Triad region. In his piece for "27 Views of Greensboro", Ed Cone reminds us that "chunks of our past keep disappearing" (p. 59). While our textile mills are gone, the trains still come through taking something from Point A to Point B, through Greensboro. Cone posits that perhaps transience is our most enduring trait. In your eyes, what is Greensboro's most enduring trait? What could be more fun than to ponder that thought while passing through Greensboro on a train. If you aren't going on a train this weekend, it is something to consider while standing at the fence along Gate City Boulevard.

Happy Friday! It is seven more days until First Friday, but downtown would love to see you today!

Hamburger Square

If you want to know what life was like at Hamburger Square about 100 years ago, Jim Scholsser's article "Hamburger Square Has a Past" is an outstanding place to start. It was published in the book, "27 Views of Greensboro". The Hamburger Square area had so many businesses, it makes one wonder how on earth they all fit. There were hotels galore, trains stopping all the time, and passengers boarding and exiting.  There was a cigar factory, and yes, there were seedy aspects that kept Hamburger Square teeming with life.  While those old businesses are gone, their architecture remains. The area is on the national register of historic places.

Tha above photo is of east/west rail lines at the 400 block of South Elm Street. Because of this rail traffic, Greensboro became known as "Gate City". Schlosser writes that the railroad actually transformed Greensboro. Because of the railroad, our city recovered from the Civil War quickly, growing and prospering.  In 1890, more than forty passenger trains stopped at the square daily. The railroad is what brought the textile industry here. In recent years (the 1990s) gentrification began downtown and started around Hamburger Square with Natty Greene's, Just Be, Green Bean, Design Archives, and McCouls. Schlosser reminds us: "One aspect of the square remains unchanged. Everyday, at all hours since 1856, trains have jolted the peace at Hamburger Square" (p. 93). The above photo shows a couple of young adults trying to get the perfect photos on these iconic tracks. People are quick to remind us that Greensboro doesn't have mountains, a beach, a river. Perhaps the railroad tracks, with their ability to move people and goods, are our geographic feature. Happy Tuesday!

All Paws on Deck at the Corner of Spring Garden and Holden!

The above photo was taken at the corner of Spring Garden Street at Holden Road. We were stopped at a red light next to this white van with the curious canine. Summer is a time when some vehicles drive along with all windows closed and the air conditioning blasting. This vehicle is the opposite extreme; driving along with windows down and their canine loving life. If you have a dog, you probably already know that Greensboro has some great options for boarding dogs if you need to travel. Also, if you are wanting a canine companion, there are plenty that need to be adopted. Here is a link to the Guilford County Animal Shelter. The last time we checked, there were at least 75 dogs looking for homes. The SPCA also has dogs (here); and then there are cats. We have a friend who rescues cats and are trying to feature her here on GDP. However, she is so busy rescuing, it has been hard to find a mutually convenient time.  Have a great Thursday and let us know if you adopt a pet, or know of another good, local agency for adopting.

Graduating Seniors of Guilford County

These are exciting times for high school seniors. They have returned to in-school learning, are able to have prom, and now, are practicing for graduation. This year, high school graduation ceremonies in Guilford County are being held at the Greensboro Coliseum. It makes sense to have them in one place, as GCS staff can make adjustments as needed. For example, seats are pre-arranged in a way that honors social distance requirements. The above photo features the car of a senior who will be attending East Carolina University. What a feeling of pride this student must have, and it is well displayed on their car. "Pirate Pride; ECU, ON THE WAY!

This has been an especially challenging year to graduate with the majority of the year remotely. Only since March have some of the students resumed in-person learning. To be sure, 2021 is the year to remember! Graduations start this Wednesday and continue through Tuesday, June 8th. The Early College at Guilford is the first ceremony and the program concludes with Southeast High School. If you see a graduate, please congratulate them and wish them luck on the year ahead. Here's to joyful closure and new beginnings!

Southern Line and the Norfolk Southern Corp.

Today's rustic photo represents a bygone era. The above rail cars, to the right of a pile of used railroad ties, look retired. The scene gives the illusion of being in a rural area, when actually is is located on a busy section of road on Spring Garden Street between Gay Terrace and Merritt Drive. It is very near the site of the long-gone Pomona Cotton Mill.  It reminds us that Greensboro has changed a lot over the last few decades.

However, the Norfolk Southern Corp still maintains the track that runs through this area (barely visible on the right side) with a terminal at Merritt Drive. Norfolk Southern is a dynamic corporation that still carries over 70 freight trains in North Carolina. Greensboro is nicknamed "The Gate City" because so many freight and passenger lines cross through here and the rail network dates back to the mid-1800s, before the Civil War. Let today's little bit of nostalgia remind you that planning a train ride would be a great addition to your summer plans- even if you just took Amtrack to another North Carolina City. With the taxi and car ride-hailing services widely available, you have plenty of transportation options as you reach your destination. While you wouldn't be going on the above cars, you do get an idea of some of the pretty scenery you would see along the way.

If you like catchy rail slogans, Norfolk Southern has had several: Tarwheel, is our favorite. As for Amtrak, our choice is "For the America you can't see anywhere else." Hop on for a little nostalgia this summer. Happy Tuesday! Public schools are rapidly coming to a close for the academic year; so, many of us really do need to secure some summer plans!

Pope Mobile In Greensboro

Sundays, we usually post something related to religion or spirituality on GDP. Yesterday, we were headed to town for a photo shoot.  En route, the Weatherspoon Museum was calling our name. They have great art and the museum is free and open to the public. Visitors are required to sign in, for the purposes of contact tracing, if needed. As we were leaving, we noticed this Yaris, a subcompact Toyota, with a sun shield with a photo of the pope. If he saw this scene, Pope Francis would probably be smiling, the way he is on the sticker on the back-seat, driver-side of the vehicle. A quick walk around the car revealed additional Catholic, religious items on this NC-registered vehicle. We're betting it can be find in the parking of one of our local Catholic Churches today.

As you can see from the photo of South Tate Street in the background, the trees have just about leaved out. Happy Sunday!

 

GTA Bus On Route #1 Heading East on McGee St

As we were leaving Just Be, yesterday afternoon, bus #782, the #1 West Wendover Avenue GTA bus was heading east on West McGee Street. It is one of the diesel-electric New Flyer XDE40 buses; it is clean, quiet, and a smooth ride. Today is Friday, a good day for taking the bus, and this one goes from Wendover, along Spring Garden, to town. Friday is always a great day to head to downtown Greensboro.

Notice the snappy ad for an ad on this bus and also worth mentioning is the reflection of the 300 block of South Elm Street in the windshield of the bus.  Can you spot the façade of the Green Bean Coffee Shop in the windshield? Everything looks better with a good dose of sunshine, including bus windshields!

Honk if you love Fridays!

Reflecting on Infrastructure and Sustainability

Infrastructure and sustainability are much in the news these days. President Biden spoke about infrastructure just yesterday. Infrastructure and sustainability are also the focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (see #9 here). Did you know Greensboro has a Community Sustainability Council? Their next meeting, a work session, will be April 12th. UNCG defines sustainability as "the enduring interconnectedness of social equity, the environment, economy, and aesthetics" (reference) and they even have a sustainability office. NC A&T is also playing a leadership role in sustainability research and efforts. Infrastructure system and sustainable practices are key concerns of The Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA). As of January 2020, GTA has modernizied its bus fleet with  battery-electric rechargeable busses.

The above bus stop is located at the corner of Spring Garden Street and South Holden Road. We don't know how many times a day it is served by one of the battery powered busses, but we did notice that it has a solar panel. Likely the energy generated by the panel lights the shelter by night. Perhaps there are solar charging stations at the bus stops.

Today's high school and college students are the ones who will be finding creative ideas to enhance Greensboro's sustainable practices and infrastructure system.  The possibilities are so exciting. 

Electric Vehicle Charging Station at Deep Roots Co-op!

The passenger car plug-in market share is growing, albeit, not quite as fast in the USA as in other countries. As an example, the total plug-in new car sales for Norway in 2020 was 74.7% and for the USA, 1.9%. * The electric car revolution is coming to Greensboro, too. It is especially encouraging to find charging stations, like the one here, downtown at Deep Roots Co-op - 600 North Eugene Street. It makes perfect sense for a grocery store co-op to have a charging station. The station is located near the back of  the Deep Roots parking lot, in the grassy median on the Joymonger's side. Just behind the tree in the background, middle, is the Lincoln Financial Group building (to help you orient even more).

While Earth Day is not technically until April 22nd, every day should be Earth Day. Those who have converted to hybrid or total plug-in cars are leading the way on doing their share to reduce their carbon footprint. Happy Tuesday!

* reference and more information HERE. 

Air Force 1

Forgive the poor quality of this photo, but it is hard to plan for when Air Force 1 is going to be flying around in Greensboro. Yesterday, in the Westridge Heights and Friendly Acres neighborhoods, Air Force 1 was circling from about 3-6pm. Often, the plane does touch-and-go landings and take-offs at PTI Airport. However, yesterday, the plane was making low circles around Claxton Elementary School. When it is flying that low, the most noticeable features are the American flag on the tail and how quiet the engines are. "Air Force 1" referee to any plane that is equipped to transport the President of the United States. If  you want to read more about Air Force 1 or even sign up to receive email communication from the White House, follow this link.

Yesterday was the perfect weather to be out flying around. The sky was sunny and clear. Greensboro is a perfect destination for Air Force 1, because it is only about an hour from Washington, D.C. and the air traffic around Greensboro is light. If you want to see Air Force 1,  mid-afternoons when the skies are clear, hang out near the airport and look up when you hear a plane. If you see one with four engines and a flag up by the vertical stabilizer and rudder, it is Air Force 1.

Happy Wednesday!

A Good Day to Try the Bus

The Greensboro Transportation Department is featuring the "Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 bus. We caught up with it at the corner of Muirs Chapel and West Market Street. The city is trying really hard to provide transportation while being mindful of the need to maintain safety protocols. This is probably the 9 bus and here is a schedule for busses throughout the city. Fares are really quite reasonable, only $1.50 for a regular one ride pass. An unlimited one-day pass is only $4.00. You could spend all day on the bus and see where the adventures take you. Perhaps you are already a regular bus user. The busses are clean and the the City of Greensboro is working hard to reduce its carbon footprint. Greensboro was the first city in North Carolina to add electric busses to its public transportation fleet. The more we use public transportation, the more the program will grow.

Happy Saturday!

The Day the Vaccine Came to Town

Last Thursday, when we were driving along Oakland Avenue to secure a photo of the Rolane Factory Outlet, before it gets transformed into housing, we snapped the above photo. At first, the tagging/graffiti on the rail cars is what caught our attention. However, upon closer inspection, beyond the colorful words that we couldn't read, we found legible words: Cryo-trans; the other side of the car had the slogan, "Protecting Today's Perishables For Tomorrow." A little internet searching revealed that The Cryo-Trans Company has refrigerated and insulated railcars to transport refrigerated and frozen goods.  The prefix "Cryo" comes from Green meaning "ice, cold, chill, and frost."  "Trans" comes from Latin meaning "across." So Cryo-Trans" is the perfect name for a company that transports, across country, items that need to be stored at a cool/cold temperature.

Curiously, almost exactly four year ago, in February 2017, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was stopped on this same railroad track in Greensboro on its trans-national farewell tour. At the time we drove by the circus trains, there was a man cleaning the garbage off the trucks while the performers were across the tracks performing at the Greensboro Coliseum.  We don't have proof, but we're guessing that the above rail car had stopped in this same spot to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the Coliseum. This time, instead of a person cleaning out railcars, a man was parked in a truck beside the railcar who was there before and after our photo shoot at the Rolaine Sock Factory. Perhaps, he was guarding the vaccine. Our best guess about this serendipitous encounter on January 21st 2021 is that we were witnessing the COVID-19 vaccine coming to town. It reminded us that Greensboro came by its nickname, "The Gate City" honestly, and so much of what comes and goes by rail is documentation of fleeting moments in time.

Uncovering the Owner of "NOT A COP"

Have you seen this "NOT A COP" car around town? Well, we have and felt a little like Eloise Bridgerton poking around town trying to uncover the true identity of Lady Whistledown. Our Greensboro version of the Bridgerton storyline has involved trying to find the owner of this highly-recognizable vehicle. We've seen it being driven near West Market Street, pulling onto Spring Garden Street. We've seen it near UNCG. Who would be so bold as to drive this car? What is its back story? Is it really used for transportation or just for some kind of publicity event?

Last night, for the SECOND time, we saw it parked at the Reconsidered Goods Creative Reuse Store at 4118 Spring Garden Street. In the spirit of Eloise Bridgerton, we waltzed into the store, approached the front counter, leaned in and inquired, "We're on a mission to uncover the owner of the 'NOT A COP' mobile. Do you know who the owner is?." Without missing a beat (and clearly not in elusive Whistledown fashion), an employee at the counter, cheerfully volunteered, "It's mine." As it turns out, the owner is Eli, whom we will feature on GDP next week. The ever-ebullient Eli was quick to tell us someone in South Carolina had three cars for sale that looked just like this one. Eli was able to purchase it at a very reasonable price and brought it back to Greensboro to use while attending UNCG. The decision was made to put the "NOT A COP" decal on the car because of the reaction so many people had to the vehicle. Mystery solved! 

We wonder what police think when they see the vehicle. To be sure, Eli better not be speeding! Happy Saturday!