How can I explore Greensboro's food?

In Greensboro, we find ourselves in the unique position of having far too many restaurants and far too little time. While this is certainly what the younger generation would call a "first world problem," the company Tour De Food has actually devised a solution to this problem.

Tour De Food has created a way to sample as many restaurants in downtown Greensboro as possible in just a matter of hours. The concept behind the events this company hosts is that customers will walk down Elm Street of downtown Greensboro while stopping at participating eateries to sample food. This is conveyed by their "Eat Drink Walk" slogan, as the company advertises that the walk will contain "Civil Rights history, architectural beauty, and some of the tastiest places in town."

The walk exposes your taste buds to all kinds of flavor, ranging from favorite Southern recipes to chef's classics, as the chefs choose which dishes they want to put into the spotlight. If you feel that you are already a seasoned connoisseur of Greensboro's restaurants, Tour De Food offers other tours throughout North Carolina, including Charlotte, Davidson, and Winston Salem.

A list of dates and restaurants of the tour can be found here, but time is of the utmost importance - there are only 7 walks left in the season, and tickets sell quickly. The tours are kept small to ensure a sense of intimacy and personalization from the chefs. Tickets are about 50 dollars and can be purchased here. Private tours are also available for booking any day of the week. For more information on the tour, visit their questions and answers page. Just remember to bring your appetite!

How does Greensboro Practice Sustainability?

Many cities participate in efforts to make life more green using the typical methods - recycling, planting trees, and conserving water. Greensboro, however, has decided to break the mold and try out a new way of practicing sustainability that simultaneously promotes local art, fitness, and community: The Downtown Greenway.

The Greenway is a work in progress, but eventually will be a 4-mile walking and biking trial that loops around the center of downtown Greensboro. The loop plugs greenery directly into the urban landscape, and is a result of the collaboration of the City of Greensboro and Action Greensboro. There is an emphasis placed on public art with all of the art displayed around the loop, and an emphasis on community caused by the many existing tails in Greensboro that will connect to the Greenway. The planning committees also claim that this will be an economic driver for the community. Greensboro should be proud of it's Greenway - it is the only one of its kind in the state and one of the few in the country!

The entire planning operation is made up of a combination of staff and volunteers who commit their time to community meetings and sponsorship recruitment. A large number of sponsors have agreed to put their support behind the Greenway, including non profit organizations, government agencies, schools, universities, neighborhood associations, and other downtown groups. If you would personally like to get involved, you can email Dabney Sanders at dsanders@actiongreensboro.org.

The Downtown Greenway is attempting to make Greensboro more sustainable with a variety of new installations and projects. Some of these include a potential bike-share program similar to those of growing popularity in larger cities, such as New York's Citi Bike. They have installed special trash receptacles in parks along the Greenway known as Big Bellies. These trash cans conserve resources because they are solar-powered self compacting receptacles that send a signal to the city when full, eliminating extra trips by the city to pick up half-empty cans. The city is also testing out Eco-Gardens, which are special storm water tree wells that will improve water quality by filtering storm water and run-off through specially designed soil. A fascinating Permaculture Garden acts as a sort of mini ecosystem that contains a public organic orchard that sports eight different kinds of fruit. Finally, the lighting installed along the Greenway is solar powered, further contributing to the green-friendly nature of the project.

Needless to say, as this project inches closer and closer to its 4 mile completion, Greensboro residents are itching to learn about the planning committees latest plans for sustainability and urban art.  To learn more about the project, visit downtowngreenway.org

What are the advantages of flying out of Greensboro airport?

It's vacation season! People are packing their carry-ons, stocking up on sunscreen, and hitching rides to the airport. Many are flying out of the country or to one of our warmer states to enjoy a temporary tropical getaway. It is very common for people to drive to Charlotte Douglas International Airport to catch a plain. However, the people of the Triad are fortunate enough to have their very own airport right here in Greensboro - this blog will explain why it may be better for both you and the city of Greensboro to use the Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Cost Efficiency
With a simple calculation of cost, we find that it may actually be cheaper to fly out of the Greensboro airport. While the ticket price itself appears more expensive, it is cancelled out with the cost of gas driving to and from the airport. It costs 40 to 60 dollars in gas, depending on the efficiency of your car, to drive to the Charlotte airport. With two round trips for drop-off and pick-up at the airport, you would spend 80 to 120 dollars in gas driving to Charlotte. If you are flying to a large airport within the United States, the cost of your ticket from Charlotte plus gas will most likely be more than the slightly more costly, but closer, Greensboro ticket.

Avoid Traffic
The road to the Greensboro airport is simple - just hop on I-40, 1-85, or I-73  - with predictable traffic patterns. Save yourself the stress of missing your flight because of surprise traffic delays on the way to Charlotte by flying out of Greensboro. Also, because Greensboro airport is rather small, you can arrive to the airport as little as 45 minutes before your flight and still get through security on time.

Business
The Greensboro airport brings in impressive quantities of business to the Triad area. Its distribution infrastructure includes the FedEX shipping and sorting facility, generating business in the area. Also, the airport is a business operated by the Greensboro Airport Authority, meaning that it does not use a cent of tax payers dollars.

By using this airport, you may save money and benefit the city of Greensboro simultaneously.

What is a great wedding venue in Greensboro?

It is the season of love in this hot summer air - many couples are getting married, while others are promising to marry each other and sealing it with an engagement ring. As these newly engaged couples search for a wedding venue in their hometown of Greensboro, NC they may find themselves stumbling upon the beautiful Blandwood Mansion.

The Blandwood Mansion is a restored historic home of former governor John Motley Morehead (served 1841 - 1844). As governor, Morehead hosted several significant people of his time, including mental health activist Dorthea Dix and architect Alexander Jackson Davis.  The mansion is the oldest building in Greensboro, having been built in 1795. It was originally built as a home on a farmer's 100 acres of land. Originally a rural home, it has survived urban development as downtown Greensboro grew around it. Interestingly, the mansion also carries national significance as the oldest Tuscan Villa in the United States (named a National Historic Landmark in 1988), meaning it was the first home built that attempts to imitate the architectural style of Italy. Tuscany's villas feature low rooflines, casement windows, a tall prospect tower, overhanging eaves, and stucco-on brick veneer.

The mansion and its 4 accompanying acres were saved by Preservation Greensboro Incorporated in 1964, and was opened as a museum in 1976. The house still serves as a memorial to Governor Morehead. Part of the Blandwood Mansion includes the Carriage House, an octagonal two-story building and gardens that hosts special events, including weddings, concerts, picnics, and historical events.

The historic home is located at 447 W Washington St, Greensboro, NC, 27401. Stop by anytime to view the beautiful architecture and its fantastic gardens!

Where can I take the family on a Sunday evening this summer?

It's Sunday evening. The week has consisted of driving the kids to swim lessons and baseball games, finishing up a final project at the office, cooking meals, doing laundry, cleaning, and trying to find enough time to give your poor dog a walk for once. There is nothing you would like to do more than to lay a blanket in the grass, relax in the cool summer air, listen to some soft jazz, and let the week's stress slip away. So you grab your blanket, the kids, the dog, and a snack and head out to the MUSEP concert of the week.

Greensboro must have realized what its residents wanted to finish off the weekend when they created MUSEP (MUsic for a Sunday Evening in the Park), an event that features different local bands from week to week. The event is hosted at a different city park from week to week, and is completely free of charge. Hundreds come out each week to hear the Philharmonia, jazz bands, or soul music of the week.

The event is very family friendly, as no alcohol is allowed inside the city parks. Many people bring their dogs and a picnic for the family. Most parks have a large green area unoccupied by picnic blankets in which you can find large groups of children playing soccer, football, or frisbee. The children are making new friends as the adults sit back and relax. Some concerts even have a small dance floor for those couples that feel like practicing their swing.

This week's concert will feature 2 bands: Sweet Dreams and Knights of Soul. It will be a fantastic night of Blues, R&B, Jazz, and Soul music. Sunday night's groups will play in downtown Greensboro at Gateway Gardens on East Lee Street. To view the complete schedule, click here. MUSEP is also responsible for hosting Greensboro's July 4 fireworks at the White Oak Amphitheater, giving Greensboro residents another chance to hear the Greensboro Philharmonia.

See you there!

Where in Greensboro can I find a fine dining experience?

During the summer, many find themselves with more time to enjoy themselves - especially by dining at restaurants! Greensboro has hundreds of restaurants, ranging from cheap drive-through burger joints to sit down places with perfect cuts of steak. Some places are in the middle of the spectrum, such as the Green Valley Grill. Located near Friendly Shopping Center next to the O'Henry Hotel on Green Valley Road, the Grill has a fairly central location that is convenient to most within the Guilford County area.

Green Valley Grill is known for its wine, with 75 by-the-glass wine selections to choose from. In fact, their wine list is awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence each year. For the wine connoisseurs of the area, the Grill offers a Wine Flight for a private wine tasting. The restaurant prides itself on its "old-world European culinary sensibilities and flavors" combined with its "informally elegant fine dining."* In other words, customers can enjoy the food of a very fine dining experience with the atmosphere of a relatively informal restaurant. Some of their enticing dinner entrees include wood-fired rotisserie chicken, pan seared smoked paprika dusted scallops, or heirloom tomato flatbread. Furthermore, the restaurant always asks for people with food allergies to inform the chef so that they can create a special hypoallergenic meal.

The decor of the Green Valley Grill is beautiful, transporting you into a world seemingly much further away than just a couple of miles away from downtown Greensboro. The restaurant also has a fantastic outdoor area with a large variety of greenery. This area is particularly beautiful in the summertime, as many of the flowers have bloomed and the leaves have all reached their green peak.

The restaurant also offers the unique service of pre-ordering food. Customers simply need to call, make a reservation, and place their order by 11 AM for lunch or by 4 PM for dinner. The food will be ready within minutes of their arrival. If you need catering for any event such as weddings, fundraisers, or business meetings, the Grill offers that service as well. If you ever find yourself at a catered event at the O'Henry Hotel, that has also been catered by the Green Valley Grill. 

Due to its partnership with the O'Henry, Green Valley Grill has been enabled to be more than just a restaurant. Cooking and cake decorating classes taught by the Grill's chefs are offered at the Hotel, as well as afternoon teas hosted by parties. Fun family events include special themed teas, including a Wizard of Oz Tea, a Mad Hater, Tea, and a Nutcracker Tea.

       

Green Valley Grill is more than just a restaurant - it is a place to build community. Stop by today for the ultimate food experience.

*All quotes and information can be found at www.greenvalleygrill.com