Under the Umbrellas

Made you smile, didn't it!  Welcome to Zoës Kitchen in Homewood.  Zoë's very first place was just down the street and it was hardly big enough to turn around in,  much less handle the mobs of patrons that lined up for lunch every day.  Now you can dine at Zoës all over town,  and you can find  franchises in AZ, TN, LA, TX, FL, NC, and SC !   Their  motto is "Eat Smart, Eat Healthy" and they mean it, but with  Zoë's great Greek twist.  I eat there a lot and it's always fresh and healthy just like they advertise,  but I have a little secret.......the homemade chocolate sheet cake is the absolute best thing you ever put in your mouth!

Stripes - Table/Chair Series

Sometimes I stumble on the best photo ops when I least expect it.  I went to Wine and Whiners, a really fun group as you've probably  guessed,  last Wednesday afternoon ( after 5 of course!!).  I had never been to Beth's home before and wasn't prepared for all of the great photographs that awaited me.  I took one look around and high tailed it to the car for my trusty camera.  Here's but one example.  I had a little post processing fun with this one so I'm including another photo so you can see how pretty this table and chairs looks tucked away in her backyard. 

Meet the Artists - Magic City Art Connection

Michael Cameron Marlowe

Birmingham, AL

What a great weekend in Birmingham.  I love a good art show!!!! The Magic City Art Connection is always a fabulous event. Set in downtown Birmingham's Linn Park , it is a wonderful conglomeration of art and music and just plain fun!  If you read yesterday's post,  you know I have been a "repeat offender" by attending both Friday and Saturday.  I will have several more posts for you.  Today meet a few artists friends! By the way, I think Daphne and Michael have been inside my head.  IF I could paint worth a hoot, I'd be a big copycat of their work.   

Daphne Covington

Atlanta, GA

Coolin' Off

Most of you, outside of the Deep South, won't believe we had temps in the high 80's yesterday and more to come tomorrow.  I joined some friends downtown at the Magic City Art Connection yesterday afternoon at 4:00 and whew,  was it warm.  But what a great event.  I met so many talented , creative, friendly artists.  How will I get all of them on here for you to meet?  I promise to give it a try. Just as I was leaving,  I spotted these cute kiddos finding their own way to cool off in the waterfall at Linn Park.  I  really wanted to dip my toes in as well. Today, I'm on my way back downtown to meet more artists.  Stay tuned!

Chaises Vert - Table/Chair Series

Today mon amie Thérèse from Chandler A-Z, has generously offered this great photo to add to my Table/Chair Series.   Before you know it, I'm going to have more guest bloggers than our friend Peter!!   Thérèse actually sent me 3 photos to choose from, all of which were wonderful but this one really caught my eye. Merci beaucoup mille fois, mon amie!!

Padre

Today the The Happy Bloggers--Maya, Janet, and I--made a field trip to Cullman, Alabama. After visiting the Ave Maria Grotto, we stopped to photograph the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Outside only. Our attempts at illegal interior photos were nixed by the Big Guy Himself. However, as we left I ran, literally, to get this shot of the padre ambling away from the church. For an eighty year-old man, he was moving at a fair shuffle. I was the paparazzi chasing the papa!

DISCLAIMER: This text has been written by D.C. Confidential. Any similarity or disparity between my writing and Virginia's is purely coincidental.

 V NOTE: Get a crowd of bloggers under one roof and this is what happens.  We start blogging for each other.  Tonight, after a wonderful dinner by Chef Janet,  we have critiqued each other's photos from today's travels to a fare thee well and collaborated on everyone's post photos.  Tomorrow, I'll be on my own again, but be looking for another guest photographer's offerings coming soon! 

V

Zig Zag II

A few weeks ago when I was down under 1st Avenue North at the Sloss Furnaces Iron Pour, I noticed this stairway in silhouette.  Apparently it goes up to 1st Avenue.  I'm not sure why.  This was one time I was smart enough not to try and  find out! 

Two Great Things That Happened Today!  

*I am pleased to have 2 blogger friends staying  chez moi.  Janet, (D.C. Confidential) , and Maya ( Maya Photography ) , are here,  and we are planning an excursion to Cullman, Al today to see the amazing Ave Maria Grotto. Stay tuned for photos and a few tales I'm sure!!

* I received word that I had won 2nd Place in the Samford University Earth Day Art Exhibit!

A Trip to the Basement - Lyric Theatre

Last week I promised the "nitty-gritty" of the old Lyric Theatre.  Well today, I'm really delivering on that promise.  I earned my City Daily Photo badge for Valor on this mission!   My friend Tom Cronier, who was my intrepid tour guide,  insisted that I go down under the stage with him to see the dressing rooms.  There had been previous discussion concerning ummmm........rodents down there.  I have a hefty phobia about those,  but I won't go into that now.  Let's just say I went,  but not cheerfully!  Actually when I got down the dark, grungy steps there was light, for which I was eternally grateful.  What Tom knew I'd groove on werethe interesting signs on the old doors.  Well see for youself.  We used his flashlight to highlight my "favorite" - Tom's Rat Room!  We didn't stay long after I got a load of that one.

* I know you're wondering what the  signs on the doors meant.  No one knows!

Golden Stairway

Today we step inside the beautiful Harwell G. Davis Library on the campus of Samford University.  Major Davis, as he was called,  was president of Samford from 1939 till 1958 .  He was instrumental in moving Howard College from East Lake to this magnificent campus in Homewood  where it was renamed Samford University in 1955 .  I had the privilege of knowing Major Davis.  My mother was his secretary for many many years. This library is a fine tribute to this kind and gentle man.  

While I was in the building I decided to look around and take some photos.  Actually, the steps are black marble,  but the lighting turned them into this warm golden color.  I'm adding a ceiling detail as well.  You can see its reflection on the stairs.  While I was wandering around, a young man stopped me and asked if I taught elementary school. He was one of my former students that in now in his second year of law school!  I recognized him beard and all.  It was so great to see him again,  and he wasn't too big to give his third grade teacher a hug!

Reservations for Two- Table/Chair Series

If you read the NY Times article  36 Hours in Birmingham,  you know about Little Savannah.  I featured this lovely neighborhood restaurant here.  Today, we go back for dinner.  I love the starched white tablecloths and the velvet curtains that they bring out for the dinner crowd.  If you ask me for a recommendation from the menu, I'll have to say everything is delicious. Chef Cliff  Holt and and his wife Maureen do an excellent job here.   If you come to Birmingham, you must stop in and have dinner with them!

* Thanks to Marie-Noyale (Larchmont DP) and Bob Crowe ( St. Louis DP) for forwarding me the link to the NY Times article!

Catching Some Rays

We're back at Samford University again.  Do those balusters look familiar??  While taking a few shots of them, I walked up on this student hard at work on his tan on the steps of Cumberland School of Law.  I think I woke him up so we chatted and he told me he was from Georgia.  A new "stranger" to add to my cache!  ( Other Samford posts here and here.) I don't know about any of you, but when I was a coed at Auburn University, spring quarter + serious tanning time = less class attendance!

* My friend Marie Reed sent me to this blog yesterday.  Wonderful Birmingham vintage postcards and you will get to see the Alabama and Lyric Theaters on one!  

Balusters

A few days ago I was on the Samford University campus,  and I noticed these beautiful balusters in front of the Cumberland School of Law.  The lighting was a little bright,  but the shadows were nice I thought. Check out Meandering in Lotus Land today.  I think Wayne I might be on the same track.  Could this be history in the making??

The "Little" Boys of Summer

"Throw it like a baseball player", said Coach. 

Around here, you just can't start playing baseball soon enough.  If you're too young and don't yet have the motor skills to hit a moving ball , not a  problem!!!  That's why someone ( an overzealous daddy no doubt) invented tee ball.  I pass this field every day when I walk. Yesterday the little guys had their new hats and shirts on for practice.  I grabbed my camera out of the car and tried to get a few shots.  I had to laugh at the seriousness of the daddy/coaches. They mean business,  but the players??  Well as we like to say, it's pretty much like "organizing earthworms".  Attention spans were very, very short and there seemed to be a lot of  just having fun and being goofy little boys  going on.  When you're five and six, isn't that what you should be doing?  ABSOLUTELY!

Time out to get to know your new teammate!  Everyone else is more or less,  

sort of, maybe,  paying attention! :)

A Taste of Vancouver - Table/Chairs Series

Well since yesterday was my 300th Post,  my thoughtful producer/manager Wayne,  (Meandering in Lotus Land),  gave me the day off!  How generous to send me this photograph to add to my Table/Chairs Series.  This is the Liberty Bakery off Main Street in Vancouver, BC.  I love the color of that wall and those vintage chairs paired with that neat tiled table.  Thanks W., there could be a raise in your future.  You know, I could get use to this.  Anyone else care to donate??