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.

Apex In Full Color

APEX ~ In 2013, Money Magazine voted this small turn-of-the-century railroad town #9 in the nation, and #1 in the state, as one of its "Best Places to Live". Its historic district is home to restaurants and pubs, antique shops, gift stores, a bakery, a bookstore, a cultural center, a local fire house and other small businesses. 

You won't find any major box stores in the four-block stretch of downtown.

For a directory of what you WILL find here on North Salem Street, click here. 

Color. There's a lot of it going on here. Each building touts it's own shade of cool. It's not overdone, and clearly adds charm to what could be pretty ho-hum architecture.

Be sure to stop in at Buttercream's Bakery for a sweet, scratch-made treat before you wrap up your visit downtown.

Thrill of the Hunt

In Historic Greensboro, a couple blocks down on Elm Street from Just Be, there is a eclectic shop called Thrill of the Hunt, where they sell in- and outdoor- used furniture, home decor, alongside vintage jewelry and fashion accessories. The shop is part thrift shop, part creative factory.

There is a workshop in the back of the store where used items are given new life.

Below are some examples of the gently used and upcycled items that are available for sale. For more information on the shop, click here.

Snapshots Around Greensboro

Despite being one of the largest cities in North Carolina, Greensboro is pretty small. It doesn't take long to walk from end-to-end. However, when you include all the outlying neighborhoods that border downtown, it IS quite vast. Here are some of the snapshots from my tour around the city.

Back in 1960, at the Woolworth's lunch counter, four black students staged a sit-in after being denied service. Woolworth changed its desegregation policy after hundreds participated in the sit-ins that followed. The International Civil Rights Center and Museum (above) opened on the 50th anniversary of those sit-ins on February 1, 2010. For more information on the center, click here.

Center City Park hosts outdoor events in the heart of downtown. Sitting by a fountain, having dinner with some friends after work under the night sky, and listening to a live band (on a stage not pictured here)... sounds like a good night to me. (The Greensboro Cultural Center can be seen in the background).

One of several approaches to Historic Greensboro.

I would not have spotted this fountain squeezed between two buildings, had I not run into a child fixated on something inside this alleyway.

The buildings above are reminiscent of the style of architecture found in almost every city I've visited in North Carolina so far.

Catch a movie, or a performance, at the 1100-seat Carolina Theatre (downtown) and when the show's over grab a drink or late-night bite within walking distance of any number of cafes and restaurants...

...and if the weather's warm enough, sit outside.

The Lincoln Financial Group Building is the hallmark of Greensboro's skyline.

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.

A Three-Hour Tour

It was a Sunday when I travelled to downtown Charlotte, so not everything was open, but it gave me a chance to navigate the new-to-me city without having to dodge pedestrians or rush hour traffic. Since this was my first introduction to the city, I just walked around and shot a lot of photos. I won't be able to provide a local's perspective on the city until I return again in the Spring when I dive a little deeper. In the meantime, here are some snapshots from my three-hour tour. Enjoy!

Fish Out of Water

The Many Sides of Charlotte

Raleigh Convention Center

Raleigh's Convention Center, the hub of much of the city's activity...http://www.raleighconvention.com/