frontporchguy

For fans of a better downtown, here is late word of an event tonight aimed at improving the aesthetics of downtown as we renovate Business 40. Titled "The Integration of Public Art into the Bridges of Business 40," this panel discussion, idea slideshow, and community inspration-sharing session will be held Tuesday, April 22, from 7:00 - 8:30pm at Green Street United Methodist Church (639 S. Green Street, Winston-Salem

Thanks - it's done really well with the businesses - about half of my 30 advertisers have been in every edition, and they are almost all local single store shops. But it is where I live, so I want them to do well, so life is easier and more fun for me, too!

Thanks! Yes, I took the photo of Martha (she used to teach my kids choir). I take pictures of West End regularly throughout the year to use for either future brochures or on the website, or just 'cause it's the neighborhood where I live. Some of the pictures ended up in a picture book I did on the neighborhood by Arcadia Publishing: "Images of America: Winston-Salem's Historic West End". Sad thing is, that book was black and white photography, and some nice color shots I had to let go. I posted this shot and some others not in the book at a photo exhibit in Fall 2005 at the Visitors Center. I've always thought that wisteria on the house was stunning in bloom - I got Martha to play dress-up for this picture in a c. 1900 costume from the Little Theater. I think I made this picture with a 5.0 MP Kodak digital camera I borrowed for the shoot that day, though I often use a trusty Minolta XG-7 from the '70s and a bunch of then over-priced but now nice-to-have lenses.

When winter gets cold I pull up this picture of Martha Bassett smiling in front of the Colonel Ludlow house's wisteria...spring is a good thing!

Just to let my fellow Triad urbanities know: the latest version of the West End Historic District visitors guide and walking map is now available through the Winston-Salem Visitors Center, travel outlets and tourist destinations around the state, and at select West End businesses. This is the fourth edition of the brochure, which started in 2001 as a pro-active way to win friends who would preserve and value the housing resources and the wonderful pedestrian-friendly business area of West End Winston-Salem. With the Warthogs stadium and new restaurants, shops and housing on the way, West End will continue to be an attractive place to live and visit in our area. You can see more about "Winston-Salem's Front Porch" (you do know the neighborhood started as a mineral springs spa resort with an eighteen-foot wide front porch, right?) by visiting the website I did for the place, West End Historic District: "Winston-Salem's Front Porch" - and you can get your own copy of the travel brochure and map by asking for one at this email link.