Sunday, February 7, 2010

Bank Chic?


There was a time, long ago, when the banks in downtown Birmingham were rather grand with their marble floors, soaring columns and interesting captitals like the old John Hand Building. Only a few remain and it sure isn't the First National/AmSouth/Regions building on 20th Street. It's all sleek and shiny and has this intersting chandelier, for want of a better term, by the elevators. I shot this a while back when I was down there getting my euros. Those grand old banks made you feel rich even when you weren't. This one, leaves me cold, and now that I think about it so did the euro/usd rate!

A very Happy Blog Birthday to our Jilly who is celebrating the 3rd Birthday for Monte Carlo DP AND Menton DP! Jilly, I've got my party dress on, and it's time for Peter to pour the champagne!

15 comments:

Chuck Pefley said...

That is definitely an interesting ceiling. I am guessing they, collectively, make a light fixture?

Keep us posted about your collaboration .......

Janet M Kincaid said...

Looks very 1970s. Bizarre...

Jilly said...

Oh Virginia, you are so kind. You, of course, are one of the blogger friends I'm thinking of when I wrote on my blogs today, of the help, encouragement and yes, inspiration I get from far away.

Let's hope one day we actually get to meet face to face - then we really will open the champers! Meanwhile I love our blogger friendship and thanks for the blogs' birthday wishes.

Pat said...

Yeah, this doesn't do much for me either. I prefer those old-fashioned, jillion-crystal ones. Both those and this one look like they're a cleaning lady's nightmare.

brattcat said...

Love the honeyed tones of this and the creative composition.

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

I guess this is where all of our money went. I guess we are all prone to wasteful spending.

Anonymous said...

A lot of the old banks look like churches.

MadAboutParis said...

Virg...what is the vintage of this bank...60's 80's Deco? I agree with brattcat - it looks like honeycombed stalactites in an KY tobacco barn!
Bon Dimanche!

TheChieftess said...

Can't say I'd like this in person, but it sure makes for an interesting photo!!!

Rob said...

Interesting light fixtures. I've never seen anything like it.

Lowell said...

This is a chandelier? Can I say "ugly"?

I think the bank buildings of yore are pretty much gone; which is detrimental to our societal well-being.

No, wait, it's the banks that have been detrimental to ...

Anyway, have a great week!

Louis la Vache said...

Well, the good news is this is certainly an interesting geometrical shot, complimentary to the second image in yesterday's post.

«Louis» agrees the new banks lack the elegance of the old buildings. A drive through the Financial District in San Francisco will prove that...

Unknown said...

Yes, banks used to have such magnificent interiors! Gladly, most of them in downtown Lisbon can not be changed anymore. Many even have roman ruins in the basements.
Wonderful photo, V.!

Daryl said...

Like sparkly corncobs ...

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I'll share in a glass of that champagne~
Thanks for lunch at the cafe. It is fun to find new friends.