Greensboro City Public Outdoor Pools Will Open Memorial Day Weekend

Yay! Nothing says summertime like fun at the pool. The city of Greensboro will open its public pools on Memorial Day weekend, which is this coming weekend (Saturday, May 27-Sunday, May 28, with Memorial Day on Monday, May 29). City pools are available for lap swimming, swim classes, team swimming, and public swimming.

The four outdoor pool locations are:

Lindley Pool, 2914 Springwood Drive, 27403
Peeler Pool, 1300 Sykes Avenue, 27405
Warnersville Pool, 601 Doak Street, 27406
Windsor Pool, 1601 E. Gate City Boulevard, 27401

The pools have varying days and hours of operation; please use this link to find out specific information for each pool: http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=3642
Did you know? Greensboro city pools are available for private rental! You can rent a city pool for a private party or event after regular hours. Click this link to get more information: http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=4946

In addition to the pools, there are two "spraygrounds" maintained by the city. These are located at Barber Park and Keely Park. The spraygrounds will open on May 25 and continue until August 27th, with an extra weekend of September 2nd-4th (Labor Day Day weekend).

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Free-use image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/swim-water-diving-underwater-422546/

Cosmic Bowling is a Fun Night Out

Have you ever gone bowling in the dark? How about in a nightclub? Well, that's the experience at cosmic bowling! You don't actually go to a nightclub for cosmic bowling, but the atmosphere can be pretty similar. I went to cosmic bowling with a group of friends Saturday night, and we had a blast! We met at the bowling lanes at about a quarter till 10 and we rented our shoes and got our lanes. It was $15 for everything (shoes plus all you can bowl). Food and drinks cost extra, but there was a nice waitress who would bring whatever we wanted. I personally am kind of cheap, so once I found the water fountain, I was good!

Anyway, at 10 pm, the regular lights went down, and the disco lights and black light kicked in! Everything was colorful and festive, and of course, there was still enough light to bowl. The music was kicky and upbeat, and we couldn't help dancing around, as well as bowling, so it was definitely a great workout (which I needed, after eating at the buffet earlier)! We bowled several games, and I left at about 1am, but some of my friends were still going strong. All in all, it was a great experience, and if you haven't tried cosmic bowling, you should check it out!



At Triad Lanes in Greensboro, they call this “Lightning Strikes”--here are the details: http://triadlanes.com/lightning-strikes.aspx

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!




Free-use image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/bowling-alley-balls-colors-playing-669358/

Downtown Greensboro First Friday Events for June 3rd

GreenHill arts center, 200 North Davie Street (near the corner of Davie and Friendly Ave), celebrates First Friday from 6-9pm, featuring a performance by gospel singer Mary D. Williams from 6:30-7:30. Also at GreenHill this month is the exhibition Influence, a collaboration with Art Alliance Greensboro, featuring ceramics, sculpture and works in 2D by a dozen Art Alliance instructors. The First Friday celebration will also serve as the opening for the Influence exhibit, which runs through the end of June. Cash bar. Admission is free, but donations gratefully accepted. 

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, 134 South Elm Street (in the historic Woolworth Building) celebrates June as Black Music Appreciation month with a live performance by Smooth Grooves, and will also host a silent auction for the ICRCM Annual Golf Classic. Admission to this event is free to the public.

Chakras Spa and Salon will host its First Friday event with drinks and refreshments art by Sarah McClinton, and music by Kim Kennedy & Mandy Brooke. Chakras is offering a 15% discount at any spa or salon services scheduled by event attendees. See my feature article on Chakras Spa and Salon here:  http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/12/chakras-spa-is-delight-for-senses-and.html

Elements Gallery, 526 S. Elm Street, an artists' cooperative gallery, will feature a fifth-anniversary celebration on First Friday with a wine-tasting, food, and live music among a display of member artists' work, featuring pottery, jewelry, and other handicrafts. 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/music-jam-guitar-lady-girl-844869/

$7 Rabies Vaccine Special at After Hours Veterinary Emergency Clinic & Guilford College Animal Hospital

A local animal group, Animal Rescue and Foster Program of Greensboro (www.arfpnc.com), has tipped me off and asked me to spread the word about a good deal on rabies vaccines here in Greensboro.

During the month of January, the After Hours Veterinary Emergency Clinic & Guilford College Animal Hospital, located at 5505 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410, near Guilford College, will be offering rabies vaccines for only seven dollars. These shots will be available 24 hours a day through the entire month, so there's no reason not to get your pet protected against the deadly rabies virus.

According to the clinic, "no appointment is necessary during emergency hours (nights, holidays, and weekends), but calling ahead is strongly encouraged. Appointments are recommended Monday-Friday 8am - 6pm." The phone number for the clinic is  336-851-1990. Email service@ahvec.com for more information.

Pet owners, remember that rabies vaccinations are required by law.

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Veterinarian image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/kitten-veterinarian-feline-doctor-569873/

"Giving Tuesday" in Greensboro

 
Everyone is familiar with "Black Friday", the big Christmas shopping day right after Thanksgiving, and with "Cyber Monday", the day people go back to work after the Thanksgiving holiday and use their office computers to hit up online emporia like Amazon and eBay for deals, but there's a new "holiday" catching on quickly called "Giving Tuesday". This is the reminder to all of us that the reason for the season is giving, not buying. Not giving the latest iPhone or video game console, but giving your time, your heart, your help to someone in need.

So take a bag of food to Urban Ministry, a pile of hardbacks to the Greensboro Public Library, or a box of donated goods to Goodwill. Volunteer to help a group like Animal Rescue and Foster Program of Greensboro or Habitat for Humanity. Look for opportunities in your own neighborhood to help an elderly person with yardwork or small home repairs, or help a single mom by offering to have her kids over to play with your kids while she gets a chance to run errands or just have time for a bath and a nap.

There are so many ways we can give in Greensboro to make it even nicer. Please do your part today!

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/hand-child-children-hands-838975/

Greensboro's Next "First Friday" is October 2

First Friday has been a tradition in downtown Greensboro for quite a few years, now, but for visitors and new residents who haven't gotten the memo yet, this is the memo: Join downtown businesses as they put on an "open house", featuring even more special specials, more active activities, and more chill chillin', as you walk around, enjoying the party atmosphere. Typical for First Fridays: sidewalk sales, street musicians, gallery shows, special readings and performances.

There will be many participants, as always, but check out the following special events:

• The International Civil Rights Center & Museum at 134 South Elm Street will feature College Night from 6p - 8p, with free admission and performances by students from local colleges

 

• Urban Grinders at 116 N Elm Street will feature "Sprayday", an art exhibit by Tony Waldron, a Durham-based artist and UNCG grad who creates his works with "street" materials such as spray paint and markers

• Greenhill at 200 N Davie Street, is featuring music by local band Raving Knaves, playing rock and roll with a 50s-style, Chuck Berry influence. Band will play from 630p - 730p; free admission (cash bar)

• co//ab at 229 N Greene Street will be giving tours and answering questions about the space from 530p - 8p. Find out what coworking is all about!

• Chakras Spa at 229 S Elm Street will have an art show and competition featuring original art created on skateboard decks. With music by Winston Salem's DJ SK and food and drink by Castle Catering, this sounds like quite the party! Free admission, 730p - 10p

• Just Be at 352 S Elm will host Russian textile artist Aida Brodt for a meet-and-greet from 6p-9p, showcasing Brodt's work for sale in the store

Also happening on First Friday this coming Friday, October 2, will be jazz at The Worx, art and exploration at Elsewhere, reggae at VybzNation, and much more. Come party downtown Greensboro and join in the fun! 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image is my own photo of Chakras Spa. Read my article about Chakras here  http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/12/chakras-spa-is-delight-for-senses-and.html

Food Assistance, Inc. Delivers Food and Fellowship to the Elderly in Greensboro

I recently had a wonderful experience volunteering for Food Assistance, Inc., here in Greensboro. The charitable organization serves low-income and disabled senior citizens through their "Groceries on Wheels" program, which supplies bags of food to seniors  in Greensboro and throughout Guilford County. So, on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago, some members of the Greensboro Social meetup group that I belong to got together to work in the warehouse at Food Assistance, Inc., preparing bags of groceries for other volunteers to deliver.

The warehouse was impressive and well-organized, with pallets of such foods as bread, canned goods, and even fresh produce, all donated from grocery stores and other organizations or private individuals. There was also a bank of freezers that held donations of frozen vegetables, microwave entrees, and even some treats like ice cream. It all looked great, and I liked the thought of someone being able to enjoy some ice cream, even when they are living in otherwise challenging circumstances. I know that people who can really appreciate the small pleasures in life are truly the happiest.

As you might expect, the warehouse wasn't air-conditioned,  but Food Assistance had very kindly set up some large fans that gave some relief, and they supplied us with cool drinks that kept us going nicely. I was fortunate enough to be working in the freezer section, making bags of frozen foods to supplement the fresh food, but it was busy enough that I still worked up quite a sweat, running around from freezer to freezer!

We packed bags as quickly as could, to fill the orders of volunteer drivers who were going to deliver the food to the individuals and families on their routes. Every volunteer needed several bags, so we were hopping! At morning's end, we were done--a bit tired and sweaty, but feeling great that we were able to help out. Volunteering is a truly rewarding activity--you always get more out of it than you put in. The seniors not only get food to help them throughout the month but also the extremely important and much-appreciated care and support of the volunteer drivers, who visit with them and are able to check on them to ensure all is well. Some of the volunteers are kids, who really put a smile on the older folks' faces!

To learn more about Food Assistance, Inc., the Groceries on Wheels program, to volunteer or to donate, please visit their website http://www.foodassistancenc.com/ and check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FoodAssistanceIncGroceriesOnWheels?fref=ts 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Food Assistance logo used with permission.