Busybodies....

at the Finley Avenue Farmer's Market.  It's hard work keeping all those pumpkins in line!

Bringing Up The Rear...

for a great cause!

A few weeks ago, I heard some commotion outside my apartment. When I went to my balcony to investigate I realized that the Magic City AIDS Walk was parading right past me!!  I am a supporter of Birmingham AIDS Outreach and should have been at Avondale Park when they started the race.  I quickly snapped the photo on the left, and then ran down to the street with camera in hand and caught what might have been the last participant but most assuredly the cutest!

One More Day!

All of you in the Birmingham area, today is the last day to take advantage of the 41st Annual Greek Food Festival at  Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.  They have fabulous food you can dine in, take out or drive thru, as well as music and dancing, pastries and so much more. It's a favorite of mine and last night, I enjoyed Greek chicken, rice and salad that I brought home!

Euro Birmingham - The Garage

I should have started this series years ago, as it was a photography class assignment and started my love for photographing my city.  Actually The Garage is a local bar that shares the space with a wonderful collection of architectural details and collectibles on Birmingham's southside. I've brought you here many times.

The Belle of the Ball

Many of you will remember Coosa from this post.  She was thrown into the Coosa River with a broken leg and left to drown. Thankfully she was rescued and now is living a happy life with a wonderful family.  Last night at the Adopt a Golden Birmingham's fundraiser, Coosa was the guest of honor, and reunited with her rescuer Darryl and her foster mom Ruth.  She lots of hugs, kisses, and tummy rubs last night, and could not have been more well behaved.  It was her night to shine.

Artwalk

Artwalk 2013

Meet Me Under the Clock at Loveman's

Loveman's Department Store, formally Loveman, Joseph and Loeb, was the premier department store in Birmingham and this wonderful Art Deco clock was a popular meeting place when I was growing up. Thankfully the façade was not destroyed when the McWane Science Center moved in.  I past this last week and loved seeing that the clock we all remember was still keeping good time.

Birmingham Rouge - Freshfully Market

Those of us that live in or near the Avondale community were thrilled to welcome Freshfully Market.  They bring us fresh produce and products from Alabama farmers only,  as well as healthy sandwiches and salads.  I love their sign that asks, "Who's Your Farmer?".

Sunday Church Series - Saint George The Great- Martyr Melkite Greek-Catholic Church

Saint George

The Great-Martyr Melkite

Greek-Catholic Church

425 16th Avenue South

Pickin'

I loved watching the Steel City Jug Slammers at Art Walk.  

Retro!

During Art Walk I always like to stop in at Omni Studios to see what Leisa Cole and Tony Rodeo have  created.  This retro vignette was behind the make shift bar.  Brought back memories of those old TV sets!.  BTW, their photography was fabulous as always!

Addie Mae's Shoes

  

In the sculpture of the Four Spirits ,  by artist Elizabeth MacQueen, Addie Mae Collins is kneeling on the bench barefoot, her Sunday shoes on the ground beside her.  I was touched by the marigolds sprinkled around her shoes and on the bench, obviously picked from the flower bed just behind.  A sweet remembrance.

The Four Spirits

The Four Spirits is a steel and bronze sculpture by Birmingham native Elizabeth MacQueen.  MacQueen's vision for a memorial of the four young girls killed in the 16th Avenue Baptist Church bombing in 1963 was unveiled over the weekend at Kelly Ingram Park. I went down on Monday to photograph. As you can imagine, there were many there to see it and just watching the crowd that gathered was very moving for me. Many took photographs, some stood in silence and touched them.  Today an image that moved me.  I will share many more details as this work begs to be photographed up close so that the symbolism intended can be appreciated. I realized when I looked at my photos that I didn't really get a good overall view for you. I will go back this week for that. For now and the next few days, I will share special details that spoke to me.

I found this interesting comments from the artist HERE. 

Mural For All

If you read yesterday's blog post, you saw some charming artists hard a work. This is the finished product, a wonderful mural entitled MURAL FOR ALL.  It was part of the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which took the lives of 4 young girls in 1963.  It was a beautiful weekend of remembrance and healing for our city.  This mural, which consisted of 1800 individual tiles, hand painted this week at Railroad Park was designed by Russ Bennett for the non profit organization City Year.  It was well planned and executed and was done in record time.  I sat with a delightful group of children from a local school on Friday and proudly painted my tile. Yesterday I went back to capture the finished mural and looked for my tile.  I know it's up there somewhere!

What Are They Creating???

You will have to come back tomorrow to find out!

May Peace Prevail on Earth

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. It took the lives of 4 innocent little girls that day.  There will be a dedication of a sculpture in their memory today across the street from the church in Kelly Ingram Park.  I think this peace pole at the church says it all.

Click HERE for today's events.

Fifteen Thousand Paper Cranes.......

blow gently in the breeze high above Railroad Park. This Birmingham Art Peace Project installation features origami cranes folded with love by individuals, and groups from as far away as Japan to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Birmingham church bombing victims. This is a very special weekend in Birmingham. This is just one that I will feature throughout the weekend around town.

See: Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes

VIew of Second Avenue

Some of my Paris loving friends will do a double take and think this is the view from the Musée d'Orsay clock, but no, it's one of my favorite places in downtown Birmingham....What's on Second.

Rainbow GIzmos

These twisty things are decorating a lot of parking meter poles along Second Avenue North.  I guess I'm out of it because I have no clue about who does them and what they are called.  Rainbow Gizmos will have to do for now.  One thing I do know, they are colorful and fun and they perk up 2nd Avenue!

September 11.... Remembering

This past year, the Mountain Brook City Hall, Police Department and Fire Department have undergone a complete renovation.  Their new facility has been enhanced with the new addition of a very special memorial.  The Fire Department wrote a grant and now are the proud owners of an H beam that was once part of the World Trade Center.  This 7 foot, 1305 pound beam now stands proudly outside the station.  The bronze base was designed by artist Shea Scully. Today, the dedication. 

Art Walk 2013 - Steel City Jug Slammers

There were great bands all around downtown at Birmingham's Art Walk this past weekend.  The Steel City Jug Slammers group caught my eye.  I'm sure you can understand why!  More from this group later this week.

Board...with nothing to do

There was a lot going on with Art Walk taking over 1st and 2nd Avenue Friday night so the skateboarders were just hanging out. 

Beau Pain!

Pepper Place Market

This puts a Parisian boulangerie to shame!  

Gallery Cat

Casey lives at this loft on 1st Avenue North and he was a wonderful  host for those stopping in last night for the first of the two day ARTWALK.  Photographer's John DeMotte's work is featured here.  We loved his work!  ARTWALK resumes today from 12 -5. Don't miss it.

Reid Chapel

Samford University has a beautiful campus south of Birmingham in Homewood.  It's a special place for me as my mother was the president's secretary for over 30 years. I grew up there.

I will be teaching my photography class, From Snapshots to Creative Photographs at Samford After Sundown again this fall. Please share this link with anyone who might be interested in the Birmingham area.

Also, for those of you planning a trip to Paris, or just dreaming of one, I"ll be teaching a one day workshop, Weekend In Paris at Samford on Sept. 28 from 9-3.  I will share travel tips, a bit of French culture and language as well my favorites things to see and do in Paris. In the afternoon we will talk photography and how to bring home fabulous photographs from your travels.  

Two Legends

Birminghamians know these two places very well.  City  Federal the first skyscraper in town and John's City Diner, formally John's Restaurant.   We all have fond memories of eating there and their special slaw.

Sharing

M Power Ministries' wonderful community garden in the Avondale neighborhood takes care of the birds and the bees!  This lovely feeder uses the spent sunflowers to share with the birds.

New Deal Barber Shop

The block of Fourth Avenue North,  before you get to the Carver Theatre has a Barber School and 3 or 4 well established barber shops that date back 40 or so years.  New Deal Barber Shop's  owner was kind enough to allow us to photograph his wonderful vintage barber chairs, and take his photo as well!

New Deal Barber Shop
1701 4th Avenue North

Asleep On The Job

Legion Field in Birmingham's Graymont neighborhood was dedicated in 1927 and was the site of many many college and high school games.  Auburn and Alabama played several games a year there and annually the Iron Bowl until  2000.   In 1996 is was a soccer venue for the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta.  Of note, I participated in the Opening Ceremonies here in '96 myself. Talk about your 15 minutes of fame!

A pair of these limestone lions flanks the entrance on the south side of the stadium.  Shhhhhhh!

CDP Theme Day - Pink

Today City Daily Photo Bloggers' guru chose our monthly theme.  I prefer something more challenging than PINK but was happy to have a no brainer for once.  A pink tutu and purple and pink boots was an easy choice!

To see how the other CDP bloggers around the world have pinkified their blogs today, click right HERE!