Things Are Looking Up

Oh yesterday I was downtown oohing and aahing over the nearly completed Pizitz Building. The façade that last year was in disrepair and showing years of dirt and grime are now pristine. It made me so happy to see this. The opening is scheduled for early February. I'll be sharing many photos with you inside and out!

Remnants

 Pieces of what appears to be chunks for column details from the historic Pizitz Building.

Details

As the Pizitz Building undergoes its renovation, there remain some lovely details of this 93 year old building remain. These columns with their remarkable detail are reminders of days gone by when this was a bustling department store. 

Inside the Florentine

 

The second floor of the historic Florentine Building was deserted for far too long. The new renovation seems to have preserved the architectural details over the windows and the lovely features coming down the stairs. This space will become an event venue for the city and brings to life another Birmingham treasure. 

Bits and Details

Those of you that follow this blog know that I have had a love affair with the Lyric Theatre for YEARS.  Now, thanks to generous donors, the 100 year old Lyric is undergoing a fabulous restoration. I am grateful to be included in the documentation portion of all this.  I'll admit, the idea of the grungy, crusty theatre, that I've been passionate about photographing for so long,  getting "spiffed up", has taken me a while to accept.  I have loved her in all her peeling paint, bats, and dangerous areas for a long time. Today, I share one obsession, the plaster details. Look closely, that's horsehair. That is what makes the acoustics so fabulous. The best is yet to come.

Chair With Flower

Across the street from The Garage, Fritz Woehle has collected a treasure trove of wonderful old statuary, shutters, architectural pieces and this old chair with the perfectly placed flower growing just so.

Still Life

Southern Accents Architectural Antiques

Sometimes the afternoon light paints a still life all its own.

Save the Lyric Theatre Series - The Lobby

The historic Lyric Theatre opened in 1914 as a vaudeville theater. Over the years it became a movie theatre but has fallen into tragic disrepair.  Luckily there is a strong movement to raise funding for the restoration. This week I will be featuring photographs that I have been fortunate to make on four different occasions over the last four years. Hopefully these posts will raise awareness and perhaps spark and interest with future donors.

Birmingham Landmarks has contracted with National Community Development Services to lead a 7 million dollar restoration effort.  The first phase will be the restoration of the lobby.  Recently the entire space has been blasted with dry ice dust to reveal the beautiful architectural details such as this.

Details

I will be honest. I've lived in Birmingham almost all of my life and never noticed these shell details in downtown Birmingham. If my Birmingham readers are scratching your heads, I'll share the location. On the corner of 18th Street and 3rd Avenue North. It's just around the corner from the Alabama Theatre.

Details

The Massey Building, completed in 1925 is one of my downtown favorites. Have a look at the details and you'll see why.

B'ham Wiki says: ""Built in 1925, Massey Building was named for its original developer, R. W. Massey. It was designed by William Leslie Welton. Taking inspiration from Spanish Moorish architecture, the building features spiral-fluted columns and pointed elements atop the parapet meant to mimic minarets."

218 Richard Arrington Blvd. North

Belle Inspiration Magazine is featuring a number of my Christmas in Paris photographs this month. Have a look !

The Lyric Theatre Series II - The Details

Many of you who  have followed my blogs for a while,  know that it's all in the details for me. My camera is drawn to them every time.  This day, I wandered alone to the balcony of the Lyric.  What a wonderful find....these two strips of molding by the window with the noonday sun streaming in.  I know the renovation will be a blessing, but somehow I hope they hang onto these treasures, on this wonderful old plaster wall with its layers of (peeling) painted history.

Here are two fine videos that you will enjoy here and here.

It's All In The Details

When strolling along 20th Street in downtown Birmingham recently, I looked up and found this lovely old window. Loved the details.  Can anyone supply us with the name of this building?

From Grander Days

This architectural detail was on display at the Lyric Theatre on Sunday.  Our congregation was treated to a tour of this historic old theater after our service at the Alabama Theater on Easter Sunday.  It holds special meaning for the Independent Presbyterian Church members as our church founder, Dr. Henry Edmonds held services here on Sunday evenings preaching to those living in downtown Birmingham. His firm belief in reaching out to the community continues today.

The Lyric Theater is currently under renovation, although lack of funding has slowed the project.  I photographed here several years ago and posted photos here and here and here.

Reflections

Yesterday some of the students in my photography class joined me at The Garage for a little photo shoot. Owner, architect Fritz Woehle gave us just the grandest tour of his marvelous space full of antiques, and well just about anything you can imagine. I pressed my camera against the glass for this shot. You can see the reflection of the outdoor eating/drinking area as well. Oh I have so many more photos to come!

Oh the Details!

I was stopped in traffic on 21st Street North beside First Presbyterian Church recently, and I spotted this wonderful detail work that I'd never noticed before. Luckily I had my camera. I rolled down the window and here it is for you to admire!

I've posted other photos of this wonderful old downtown Birmingham church here.

Look Up Birmingham!

As in most cities, many of Birmingham's landmarks have sadly made way for more modern architecture. However,  some of our historic buildings , while having undergone extensive renovations  on their lower floors, have retained the lovely architectural detailing that was prevalent in the early 1900's high above street level.  This is the first in my series that will feature their "crowning glory", remnants of days gone by,  that can only be appreciated if you stop and look up!  Today's photograph spotlights the Empire Building on the corner of 1st Avenue North and 20th Street in downtown Birmingham.  Still stunning after all these years.