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!

Girls' Night Out

Girls' Night Out, a group of very talented members of Independent Presbyterian Church, performed on the state of the historic Lyric Theatre recently. Church members came down to see the progress of the Lyric's renovation and these ladies provided some nostalgic music from days gone by. By the way, the accoustics in the Lyric are amazing. Their microphones were just props!

Four Little Girls

Last week during Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival, Spike Lee's 1997 movie Four Little Girls was shown around town at area churches.  I saw it for the first time at my church, Independent Presbyterian Church.  This documentary film chronicles events leading up to and after the senseless bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing 4 young girls.  It was a powerful and painful film to watch, but this story needs to be told again and again lest we forget.  Birmingham has come a long way since those days of the Civil Rights Movement, but we still have work to do, as do Americans across our country.

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.