06/14/2026
It's the first day of summer next weekend with the summer solstice! But it certainly feels like it this week! You ARE staying hydrated with DeBeen, right?
There's a lot going on in the Triad for fun coffee walks. Earlier today, the pride parade was held in Winston-Salem. We hope you've spotted the dandelion sculptures, "Invasive Hope" along Salem Parkway. Along the Muddy Creek Greenway, see the nature-inspired paintings and asphalt murals by local artist Amy Beth Cruz.
Tomorrow afternoon, Sun in Greensboro, the free World Promenade takes place in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden with artists, singers and performers, as well as a pooch parade. Next Sat, Greensboro hosts the 22nd annual Summer Solstice Festival. Don't miss this community event with costumes, music, dance, with lotsa magic and sparkles! There is an entry fee. Both events have food vendors and local handcrafts.
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But for this biweekly coffee walk, we took a road trip to the most recent public art installations of the Downtown Greenway. Greensboro's Downtown Greenway finally was completed a few weeks ago, after more than 25 years of construction.
Forbes magazine and other respected sources have favorably compared the Greenways in our Triad Cities to the celebrated Highline of New York City. Part of the reason for the comparison is the public and community art and repurposing of former industrial routes such as railway lines.
See the new May Bee and the Bot, a 28-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture by Pete Beeman. The sculpture "features a robot on bended knee, topped with an insect on its head – a stylistic hybrid of a mayfly and honey bee – representing the connection between technological innovation and environmental sustainability.
"The piece includes an interactive hand-crank element, which allows visitors to move the wings overhead, and reflects the Downtown Greenway’s role in bringing together seemingly different ideas: urban and natural, built and organic." The location is West Market, near North Cedar.
We then followed the Greenway a miles away, across Gate City Boulevard to the Five Points neighborhood, off Freeman Mill Road. The bench by Gary Gresko was installed in 2009.
"This bench represents the Warnersville neighborhood. Warnersville, Greensboro’s first African American community, was once known as Five Points, and so the number five is a repeated symbol in this work. The five words etched into the back of each chair were chosen by residents to describe the essence of their neighborhood and its history." The words are Triumph, Endurance, Hope, Strength and Faith.
Nearby is Off We Go, a sculpture by Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin, installed last spring. The whimsical piece "features a tandem bicycle carrying two chickens and a puppy, playfully setting off along the trail. . . . Together, they echo the experience of the Downtown Greenway itself – a place where movement, connection, and discovery unfold in the natural rhythm of the landscape."
Walk with us to enjoy the urban oasis! All parks and art installations along the four-mile Greenway are free and open to the public. Continue on: there's plenty more to enjoy! Special events are held throughout the year.
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📷 Sphinx Yoga
🎵 "Music: Last Summer," Ikson
Stretch your legs! Get a change of scenery! Get in those steps and reap the benefits of outdoor exercise!
Take along your drink from DeBeen. Dispose of the cup responsibly, or reuse at DeBeen and save on refills. Enjoy your favorite drink, stay hydrated, save money, and help save the environment! Win-win!
If you take DeBeen selfies while out and about, we’re always happy to reshare with your permission. We're featuring DeBeen on the go — parks and dog walks, cityscapes, in nature, under interesting skies, at the water’s edge, with nice views. Be creative! Share your favorite spots!
Have a great weekend! See you again in two weeks for another summer excursion, timed with Independence Day, DeBeen cup in hand!
