Light and Shadows

Met a friend at Avondale's Parkside yesterday. I'd been many years ago and was thrilled to see the old doors  and iron work still leaning against the fence.

Recyled, Reused, Redesigned

Transformations by artist Willie Cole is currently on exhibit at the Abroms/Engel Visual Arts Center. This piece created from red plastic water bottles is titled Red Spirit Light. While this piece and the dogs sculpted from ladies' high heel are more light hearted, others featured alongside the Civil Rights photographs by Spider Martin and Peter Magubane are quite powerful.

Sunday Church Series - First Pres

Birmingham's First Presbyterian Church , since 1872, has been a welcoming place of worship in downtown Birmingham. I am honored to be exhibiting some of my work in their art gallery, the month of July.

Zig Zag

Sloss Furnace National Historical Landmark, and endless photo op. 

Look Up!

One of many beautiful ceiling details at the Historic Alabama Theatre. 

Somebody Pass Me the Fan!

Temps hovering at almost 100F around here this week. I'd kill for this old Emerson.

Historic Birmingham

The Iron Age Building built in 1886 is just one of the last two buildings with a cast iron façade left  in our city. Located on 20th Street North, I've had a fascination with the cast iron columns for  along time. I'm more than a little sad that they have painted these wonderful rusting columns with a coat of white paint, since this was taken. Progress?

Cast Iron Building

212 20th Street North

Catching Some ZZZZZZ's

Until I can swing a photography safari, these guys at the Birmingham Zoo will have to do.

Birmingham Rouge - RED TRUCK!

It is no secret that I have a special affection for bright red trucks. I'm really not a truck lover or owner but there's something about a vintage one with shiny red paint that makes me swoon. When we walked out of the  Alabama Theatre yesterday, there were some vintage cars on display. All I could look at was this Chevy.

Drum Roll................

Today Birmingham Alabama Daily Photo celebrates another milestone. Today ( or maybe it was yesterday, that post has disappeared) this blog debuted SEVEN years ago. Back in 2008, I knew next to nothing about blogging and my Mac guru John O. at the Apple Store, made it happen. What a wonderful ride it's been. I've made a zillion dear friends around the globe who have become more than just a blogger name to me. I've talked with, met in person and entertained many here in my home. The City Daily Photo community has opened the world to me. Of course I want to thank again,  Eric Tenin who was the creator of CDP and whose blog Paris Daily Photo inspired me. I created this BADP to make myself get out in my city and take photos in order to improve my after retirement passion, photography. Bloggers says I've posted 2,561 blog posts! Times flies when you're having fun and I'm still having a blast.

A huge thank you to everyone who visits, those who leave comments and all the great mentors who helped me limp along. I cherish your friendships more than you will know.
V

Summertime...

and the living is easy, hot but easy. Swing on!

Best Friends

This plucky chicken often hops on the backs for the sweet babydoll sheep at 1818 Farms in Mooresville. The sheep don't seem to mind!

Put Some South In Your Mouth

Purple hull peas and okra. That's what's for dinner!

Chillin'

It's hot down here, but that's no surprise, it's June. The kids at Homewood Central Pool are finding a great way to beat the heat.

Holy Shoes

On display at the UAB Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts Freedom Exhibition.  Holy Shoes of a Committed Foot Soldier (R.I.P.), features the shoes worn by James Armstrong while he walked the Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma and for 33 years after. Known as the Barber of Birmingham, a PBS documentary has been made about his life and the role he played in the Civil Rights Movement. 

Table For Four....

in the alley. You know a BBQ place is really good, when the patrons are happy to snag a table in the alley! Love me some Saw's in Avondale!

Sunday Church Series - Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church

This lovely little church was built on this site in 1912, on Granst Mill Road. I always love passing by and this day, I pulled in and took some photos.

Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church

4660 Caldwell Mill Road

Birmingham AL 35243

Sweet!

In more ways than one. Melons are in. Let the juices flow!

Thankful

That the bees are buzzing and pollinating at the M-Power Community Garden in Avondale.

Remembering II

Today I share this new installation at UAB. As the plaque states, it is a memorial to those who chose the anatomical donor program. Christopher Faulkner's design seems perfect for this open air courtyard. My friend Ron Council's name is right there. A lovely tribute to  Ron and many others.

Remembering

Today I am sharing a portion of a very special memorial at UAB (the University of Alabama at Birmingham). I will follow up tomorrow with the rest of this beautiful installation.

Pastoral

Last week I traveled north to the historic village of Mooresville to visit 1818 Farms. The McCrary's three acre farm was a delight. There were sheep, lambs, pigs that do tricks, a goat plus "designer" chickens, not to mention wonderful vegetable, herb and flower gardens! They host farm to table dinners, tours for school groups, and their own line of soaps and lotions. See their website HERE for more info. I"m headed back soon when the flowers are in bloom! Oh and come back for more photos this week.

Wonder

It's a delight seeing city kids discover farm animals. These boys had some big fun getting to know some really cool chicks.

Things Are Humming

Disclaimer: This was not taken in Birmingham. I snapped this (and dozens that I had to trash) sitting on the patio of my dear friends Judy and Dave Dunn in Brentwood, CA in 2011. Just rediscovered and thought I would share.

Light Up The Lyric

The fundraising campaign that managed to raise enough money to restore the Lyric Theatre was called Light Up The Lyric. Those that gave a designated amount, were given a box containing a vintage light bulb such as these as a keepsake. When I photographed there last fall, these bulbs lit up the area underneath the new scaffolding. It wasn't until I combed that group of photos last night that I had a close look at this image. It reminded me of candles in a church. Soon, this fall hopefully, the Lyric will throw open her doors and welcome us all in for a new era and the Lyric will be lit up indeed!

Still Lovely

The former Sheperd-Sloss Building, 1928, has housed many cafes and businesses over the years but so thankful they left the beautiful architectural details!

Watch Your Step

The stair railings in the historic Lyric Theatre won't be showing their age as much when the renovations are done in the fall of 2015. I'll miss the old rust and grunge....a lot.

Mmmmmmmm

Chez Fonfon on Birmingham's 5 Points South area is one of my favorite places to dine in Birmingham. It has a casual French ambiance that I love and their desserts are on display so you can think about them throughout your meal and when your waiter asks, "Dessert?" You scream, "YES!" The coconut cake is my most favorite but the tarte au citron, with its gorgeous meringue runs a close second. Each one, an edible work of art.

Chez Fonfon

2007 11th Avenue South

CDP Theme Day - Stylish

Rainbow rubber boots. The ultimate in style!

Today I join my fellow City Daily Photobloggers by posting our June theme of STYLISH. To see their photos click right HERE.