Springalingadingdong

Saturday was a great day to be in English Village! Thanks to Carole Griffin, owner of the fabulous Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu, the day was spent celebrating Spring in a variety of ways. There was the Seed and Feed Marching Band ( In a variety of outrageous dress), hula hooping, fairies floating around, a Bread Toss, May Pole and the grande finale...the beheading of Marie Antoinette. You had to be there. 

Not So Stormy Weather

Last night Birmingham had high hopes that we would finally get some much needed rain. We are in the throes of a drought and the clouds looked like they might give up some rain.......but not. All was not lost because English Village was geared up for a fun night of open houses, jazz on the street and a parade put on by Carole Griffin and her creative group from Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu. It was a great night to be out and about!

Cool Dude

I will admit that I'm often drawn to hair or hairdos as we called them growing up.  Whether it's a toddler with a halo of golden curls or this guy's great locks yesterday at the Pepper Place.  As I sat listening to the music, I  turned and spotted him.  I took about 10 photos before I got up and told him that I loved his hair and been photographing him for a while.  Found out he was from Continental Bakery, one of my favorite haunts.  He and I will reconnect one day soon and I'll share my photos.

This Thursday, July 10, I will be presenting TRAVEL TO PARIS at the Hoover Library at 2:00 PM here in Birmingham.  I hope you will join me!

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Continental Bakery

While have a coffee with friends,  I snapped this view.  Reminds me so much of the lovely signage in Paris.

Change is Good

I'll admit right here that when I went by Continental Bakery a few weeks ago I was taken aback.  WHAT? Where are the chairs that I've photographed a million times and posted on this blog?  I was a bit bummed, but last week I went back armed with my camera and had a go at the new seating arrangement. Maybe I can love both.

Patiently Waiting

Yesterday while having coffee at Continental Bakery, this cute pooch and his human were waiting outside.  This is one smart dog.  Any handout from this bakery is top notch!

Table/Chair Series - Morning Light

Continental Bakery, one of the most photogenic places in Birmingham. I could hardly eat my pain au chocolat for taking photos. I've featured this place many times here.

Jour du Macaron

Well today the country of France celebrates Jour du Macaron!  This delightful sweet is one of my favorite indulgances.  Why not celebrate right here in Birmingham I say!  Yesterday I made a special trip to Continental Bakery in English Village to photograph a plate full just for the occasion.

If you are thinking those coconut cookies Grandma use to make - think again.  These delicate confections  are made with almond powder, eggwhites, and sugar and sandwiched in between is most often a flavored buttercream filling. In France you can buy them in dozens of flavors and colors. Oh la la!  To read more about macarons click here.

Time Worn

This terrific old door handle at Continental Bakery has caught my eye for years. I've photographed it over and over and over. I think I "might" be happy with this one, but there's always next time!

Pepper Place Dogs III - Le Chien et la Baguette

Meet Eloise ( aka "Weesie"). This precious pup is my friend Liz's new baby pug, and when I found her riding around in the French market basket yesterday, I absolutely melted! This pug has very good taste.......a baguette from Continental Bakery!

Pain au Chocolat - Here, There???

Today un petit cadeau pour vous. If I'm going to throw calories to the wind, this is where I'll do it. My Francophile friends are imaging this is from a Paris patisserie. Non mes amies, c'est Continental Bakery's booth at the Pepper Place Market just last weekend! I'm off to the other city j'adore. I'll be having one in Paris tomorrow morning, if all goes well. Au revoir.

PS Don't fret, BADP will continue and I hope to comment daily. If you want to follow my folies á Paris, click here for my daily updates on Paris Through My Lens!

Spring-a-Ling-a-Ding-Dong!

With a catchy name like that how could this event not be a blast??? Well it lived up to its name. This street party in Mountain Brook's English Village all began last year when Continental

Bakery and Chez Lulu Restaurant owner Carole Griffin dreamed it all up to celebrate the bakery's 25th anniversary. It was so well received that she decided to do it again this year. Area merchants as well as artist and vendors joined in and made it a great event for the community.

How can I describe it? Well, try and imagine sweet little fairies decked out in tutus and wings, a brass band replete with pink feathers, a Chicken Lady (with chickens) , giant papier mâché puppets, a bread toss, hula hoop contest, oh and did I mention the mock beheading of Marie Antoinette? I have a bucket full of photos but today, let's salute Carole who was the absolute star of the show!

You Say Macaroon, I Say Macaron

My faithful Paris Through My Lens readers, are pretty obsessive about the divine, the delicately scrumptious French macaron. Wikipedia states that the words macaron and macaroon are interchangeable, but don't mistake these for the coconut macaroon that we find here in the U.S. Confusing isn't it! Well here in Birmingham there's no Gerard Mulot or Ladurée so what's a girl to do when she just has to have one? Luckily Continental Bakery in English Village usually offers three flavors, and I snapped this photo just before I enjoyed mine.

BTW, I'm so pleased that my dear blog friend and artiste Shell Sherree down under in Brisbane, has immortalized my photo of the Gerard Mulot macarons in a delightful watercolor illustration here!

P.S. It's macaron day at Ladurée on Paris Through My Lens today as well!

Monsieur Soleil

Oh I know what you're thinking, "Virginia's gotten her two blogs mixed up again!" While not unheard of , this photograph today is not from Paris, but right here in English Village at the oh so European , Continental Bakery. Monsieur Soleil is a papier-mâché "puppet" for lack of a better word, that was part of the May Day festivities in the spring. I'm a little partial to la tour Eiffel in the background as well. Bon weekend everyone!!!

BLOG WORD A DAY

From Biz Stone's book Who Let the Blogs Out

Blogstipation - Noun. Writer's block for bloggers!

La table par la fenêtre- Table/Chair Series II

We have visited Continental Bakery here and here.  They bake the most wonderful breads and pastries and the shop is oozing with French charm.  I enjoyed an enormous chocolat croissant and coffee here while photographing it yet again from every angle.  

Three Very Special Treats for Me Yesterday:  I picked up the phone and it was our  Bibi from Belgrade calling!  How wonderful to hear her voice and be able to have a long chat. We swapped books and websites and had a grand time learning more about each other.  It just made my day!  I also got to talk with my dear friend Mary in Cincinatti who is leaving for Paris on Monday. I am so thrilled for her and can hardly wait for her tales of all the cemeteries she will be visiting !!  Lastly, for all of you who have been so interested in Lilly's progress, check out her blog and see for yourself!!!!! 

( Alas, I have been homebound since my car is in the shop $$$$$ YIKES!)

Got Brie???

English, oui???

Several months ago I posted a photograph of the interior of Continental Bakery here.  I mentioned that this bakery, reminiscent of a French boulangerie, was located in an area called English Village in the suburb of Mountain Brook.  Some of you chuckled at a place called English Village that had such a charming  French style bakery.  Today I show you the outside. English? Mais oui!

The Tune du Jour is a special one.  Last week I featured my  friend and talented musician (here),  Michael Dulin.  I am happy to report that you can now sample his music and make a playlist on Deezer.com  .  I can also treat you to his music right here on my blog.  The Tune du Jour is "The One I Waited For".   I especially chose this song because not only is it a personal favorite, but the one he waited for is a very dear friend as well. Enjoy .

THEME DAY: METAL - "Table Pour Deux"

Continental Bakery in Birmingham's English Village neighborhood, has fabulous breads and pastries.  The ambiance is icing on the cake. (I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.)  You really do get the feeling of shopping in a French boulangerie.  It has so much charm, it is tempting to sit at this table pour deux  near the window for hours.  I can sum up the experience in two words....pain au chocolat!  Enough said.

To see all of the participants of Theme Day, click the link on the sidebar.