Asheville's Street Performers

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA is an enclave for artists of all kinds, and that is on display on just about every street corner downtown. Even up close I had no idea how the performance artist (above) pulled off these illusions. I'm not sure how a stuffed teddy bear can keep this very tall man balanced on two wheels. He's been photographed a thousand times, but I have yet to find out anything about him or his act... and perhaps that is how he wants to keep it, a secret!

Musicians are all over the place, and most of them are pretty good. They don't need a permit to play on the street, but there are a lot of rules in place they must abide by, including: allowing enough room for pedestrians to get to where they are going; playing only certain times of the day; and performing no less than forty feet from another performer. Although I don't plan on moving to the city or becoming a street performer myself, I did run across the brochure put out by the city for those who are. It's pretty interesting to read about all the rules artists and panhandlers must follow. Click here and read for yourself.

Asheville Grove Arcade

Anyone who makes their way to downtown will certainly find themselves at the Grove Arcade. It's an obvious choice for my first blog post about the city of Asheville, so apologies for the predictability. The building is a beautiful piece of architecture to be appreciated, especially from the inside looking out. It takes on a different mood depending on the time of day. Inside the mall you'll find offices, high-end galleries, makeup studios and shops selling artisan crafts, decor and designer clothing. On the permitter of the building there are several cafes and restaurants that spill out onto the sidewalks adding to the charm of this section of town.

Just outside the south entrance of the grove, seven days a week, you'll find a dozen or so artisans selling their wares in the portico. Side-by-side you'll find booths with finely crafted jewelry, t-shirts, hand-sewn stuffed animals, fine art and photography. I've been to the city twice now and each time their was a different group of sellers. If you'd like to learn more about the Grove Arcade, the Portico Market, or to take a video tour of them both, click here.

Sun, Sand and Surf!

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH ~ I dedicate this post to all the kids returning to school. There's a week until Labor Day and the beaches are packed with families taking in the last days of summer vacation. I took this shot of Wrightsville Beach (4-miles long) in Wilmington, NC back in the winter when the beach was pretty empty. I imagine this is what it will look like again in a month or two. But until then, kids, enjoy the sun, the sand and surf (now that the sharks have stopped biting!)

Accolades - Best Place to Live 2015

Okay, so it's not Raleigh, but Apex is just a couple towns away and still considered part of the greater Raleigh/Durham area. Congratulations to this small American town. Check out my posts on Apex. Here's another, click here.

Southport Sea Breezes

No, this is not Bermuda, the Virgin Islands or somewhere on the Greek Islands. This is SOUTHPORT, an out-of-the-way place along the intracoastal waterway of North Carolina, a small town spanning no more than four miles.

I checked this town out with a couple friends on an unusually warm winter day back in mid-March. It was also Sunday, so few places were even open.

Southport has been the backdrop for many tv shows and movie productions, including Dawson's Creek, Crimes of the Heart, Revenge, A Walk to Remember and Safe Haven. And it's not hard to see why with picturesque southern homes, the sounds of waves lapping against docked boats and seagulls soaring overhead.

There are two distinct vibes here in Southport  represented by the two photos above. To the left...I imagine a spunky woman in her nineties on her skateboard, dressed in helmet and kneepads vandalizing a traffic sign early in the morning before others her age are even waking for the day. To the right, I picture an older lady of leisure, spending the afternoon with the love of her life, soaking in fresh air, scenic views and sipping on sweet tea—a scene straight out of a Nicolas Sparks novel. And if my initial impressions prove to be correct, both women would be welcome here. 

This is a town I would visit again, for sure, but perhaps not on Independence Day, when this quiet town of roughly 3500 swells to a boisterous 50,000 for the Fourth of July Festival. For me, I'd like to remember this place for the welcoming spirit, and slow pace. Until we meet again...

Find Your Cool!...in Durham

How does one approach a blog post about Durham, NC? The same way you approach the city itself. Carefully. With eyes open and with an open mind. I find I can't pin down a city's personality until I've met with it at least three or four times. (I should probably apply this same logic to meeting people, since my initial impressions have often been proved wrong).

I still have so much left to explore. The city has captured my attention for sure. It remains a mystery even after a half dozen visits. These photos were shot in downtown Durham, but do not include images from the famous Tobacco Campus and Durham Bulls Stadium. That will come at a later date.

Historic mills are being converted at a swift pace into posh condos, office space and commercial hubs. Brightleaf Square is one such hub (click here for more info).

The architecture of the Durham County Human Services buildling is in stark contrast to the historic brick tobacco mills all over town. It's a hint of what's to come in Durham.

Where the nine-to-fivers go, Monday through Friday.

Murals can be found all over town, highlighting its passion for baseball, its pride in racial diversity, or just replicating the advertising of yesteryear. 

And fish...Sometimes a blank wall calls for giant painted fish.

One does not need to make much of a leap to imagine what Durham looked like fifty or...

one hundred years ago...

...but block-by-block the city is being transformed into this current century.

I end this post with a photo of this one lone city block. If the painter Edward Hopper were alive today, perhaps he would find inspiration here. (Early Sunday Morning, 1930.) Perhaps he would even find "Durham Cool." 

Just Be

Last week I ventured into Greensboro, North Carolina, about one hour northwest of Raleigh. It's the third largest city in the state. My first stop was "Just Be", a boutique on the corner of South Elm and McGee Streets. Meagan, the store's director, was extremely friendly and welcoming. She informed me all about the store and the city's past and present state. It seems Greensboro has had quite a turnaround in the past decade, and continues on an upward climb with the development of a new Coliseum and Cultural Center. 

Just Be carries fair-trade products and hand-made arts and crafts from around the region. There's quite a selection of gifts, accessories, jewelry, home and wall decor, cards, pillows, mirrors, ceramics, lotions, honey and teas—and that was just on first glance. I'm sure the list goes on. If I lived close by I would make this a first stop during gift-giving season. But then again, if I lived close by I'd be doing some serious damage to my bank account year-round.

If you'd like more information on Just Be, click here to go to their website.

Spring's A-Comin'

The signs are all here. Spring is on it's way and it can't come fast enough! Took this at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum over the weekend. 

Zoo, Part II

Welcome back to the Zoo, Part II. The flamingos were the highlight of my trip. They are such unusual creatures — standing on one leg, twisting their necks in order to bury their heads inside their own feather down pillow. Flamingos get such a bad wrap when they're molded in plastic and staked on the front lawns in America. These birds are cool and the real deal!

I give the North Carolina Zoo props for their creativity. Throughout the park there were things for kids (and adults alike) to do and look at—from their "Hide, Seek, Skip and Run" structure made solely of twisted branches, to their signage, poetry and sculpture. 

I felt for the bear above. It paced from one end of the ledge to the other, over and over. Perhaps it was hungry, awaiting mealtime, or just stir crazy, having lived in the same quarters for so long. Or perhaps it was just making sure I highlight it's good side.

Too bad these bears couldn't meet up for some play. This one just looked bored. Bad photo through some streaky glass, but wanted to show the in-and-out of-water environments.

Moving inside to the steamy jungle environment of the "Forest Aviary". Birds were flying around and swooping in pretty close, cawing and doing what birds do. Watch yourself. This was another cool building with two levels... one kept you high in the tree branches looking down, the other left you staring up. This place was a hotbed for photographers shooting all the exotic plants, trees and flowers. Orchids everywhere!

And just when my body was acclimated to the jungle-like climate, I stepped out and headed towards the dry grasslands  of the African Pavilion.

It was here that I found ten minutes of sheer silence - a nice break from the busloads of tourists. For some reason no one ventured down the long, wooden pathway to get to the viewing station and pavilion. Rhinos were feasting and lounging in the sun. I felt good about the zoo here, since the land was vast and offered plenty of room for these animals to roam.

Is a caption even necessary here? I didn't think so. Thanks for visiting the zoo with me.

NC ZOO (ASHEBORO)

Welcome to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. I visited last weekend (in March) when many of the exhibits were undergoing construction. If you're visiting during off-season, be sure to pace yourself. If you walk the entire route, you'll find yourself in a long line (with a long wait) for the tram back to the entrance or you'll have to hoof it back on foot. I made that rookie mistake. The zoo is not laid out in a loop as I had expected. The shuttle runs during the spring/summer so this is not an issue then. Despite that glitch, I enjoyed my day exploring the 550 acres.

Can't say I remember what was in the Sonora Desert building ~ snakes and geckos I guess. I was distracted more by the architecture. To be inside, but feel like you're outside, was all pretty cool. I loved the clear, dome-shaped roof.

Welcome to Honey Bee Garden. Kids were lining up to have their photo taken by mom and dad. As an artist, I loved the inside of the honey comb. Very cool patterns, textures and colors. 

I was really pulling for the turtle above. It was having the darndest time pulling itself up on the stump at feeding time. As for the turtle below... nothing like pulling a chair up to the buffet bar. 

Food and drink can be found at various hubs along the route. If you're stopping at the cafeteria, be sure to go at off hours or you'll be fighting long lines and school groups. This was around 2pm when things settled down a bit.

I'll be back with a second installment of the zoo in a few days. Until then, make yourself comfortable.