Filed under: AL, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Magic City Flickr Group, Neon in B'ham, neon signs, Photographs
Pardon the cheese, it was on a bet from a few months back. I figured the safest way to begin a renaissance at the Ramblings (at least this version) is by restarting the Neon in Birmingham series. For those new to the game, we take images of all of the neon signs located in Birmingham, AL proper. Why? Just because…
This is one of the newer signs here in town. It belongs to the new offices for Sims Architectural Studio. The office was formerly located on 20th Street in the city center. Now they’re enjoying digs in what’s becoming another design district for the city along 2nd Avenue South.
The official homepage for the series has moved to the (soon to be) new home for Dre’s Ramblings. You can always check out the Flickr set for the series and visit the Magic City Flickr Group’s set for more images.
Cheers.
Filed under: B'ham social events, bhamterminal.com/citystages/, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, city stages, City Stages 2007, City Stages Flickr Group, Commentary, Magic City Flickr Group, music, Photographs, street festivals, The Terminal
A little rain (actually, a lot of rain) didn’t seem to keep festival goers away from Birmingham, Alabama’s City Stages festival. Yours truly figured that he’d wait out the storm and then go, and it turned out to be a good thing. Festival organizers delayed the start of performances but that didn’t seem to keep steady, decent sized crowds from showing up.
I’ve been trying to update the online guide I created for The Terminal, so I’ve been a little groggy for most of the day.
But I didn’t want to get too far into the second day without sharing a couple of shots from last night. Continue reading
Filed under: AL, Architecture, art, B'ham Wiki, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Cities, Civic Engagement, Magic City Flickr Group, Photographs, Random shots, State of the Region, urban issues, Vulcan, vulcan park, Works Progress Administration
UPDATE: Click on the images below to see exactly where the damage has occured on the signs.
Vulcan. I affectionately refer to him here as “The Big Guy atop Red Mountain.” It is hard to think of any modern event covered in Birmingham, Alabama without thinking of the money shot many refuse to leave without, that of the god of fire and forging as he overlooks Jones Valley. The scary thing is, recently there have been bad things going on at the base of the statue.
Considering the fact that I did not see this tagging going on during the holiday season, I can only assume that it’s occurred in past couple of weeks. These interpretive signs that describe the view from the park overlook are not the only victims of area vandals. Picnic tables that are located throughout Vulcan’s current home (he moved there in 1936 and it was recently restored, the project completed in 2004) have also been “tagged” by some that probably don’t care about the significance of the world’s largest cast iron statue.
A common theme at Friday’s state of the region luncheon was “as goes [insert name of city here], goes the region.” Perhaps as we prepare to hold our elected officials accountable for the image of our city, perhaps we need to hold each other accountable for the image as well. At what point does it become your problem? Hopefully sooner rather than later. Especially as The Big Guy gets renewed national interest and in so doing, so does Birmingham, Alabama and the rest of the region.
Let me know what you think?
Cheers.
Filed under: Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Blogging, Cities, Magic City Flickr Group, Photographs, Random shots
As our friend (and fellow Magic City Flickr Group member) Curtis captured yesterday, we do “…live in interesting times.” This image shows that while some people would hate to admit it we do a lot happening at once, almost as crazy as one of those “New York minutes” everyone likes to talk about.
My Saturday trip to Ruffner Mountain reminded me that as much as some would love to do it all, maybe it would be nice to slow down every once in a while.
There’s been a lot going on in recent months. For those of you that are wondering, here’s a taste of the last couple of week’s posts:
A Sad Day for the Jaycees
The Dirt is Turned at Railroad Reservation Park Site
A Local Service Project that needs some attention
Ready for a ghoulish time in the Magic City?
Bright Blue Dots get larger in the Magic City
There are more, but I hope this gives you a taste of what’s been going on if you’re new.
Enjoy the day.
Cheers.
Filed under: Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham Jaycees, Birmingham, AL, Civic Engagement, civic/service organizations, Halloween, Haunted Houses, Magic City Flickr Group, Photographs, Random shots, The Emergency Post
I received an e-mail shortly after I returned to the office from lunch today. It was the Monday Morning Memo that is normally sent out by Sarah Pilgreen, the current president of the Birmingham Jaycees, letting the membership and those that are interested an opportunity to know of what’s going on in the organization. As eluded to earlier today, I spent the better part of the weekend at home in this weird place known probably only to myself and Boomer (the cat for those that are visiting for the first time).
I was slightly taken aback when I realized that instead of receiving an update on the success of the return of the Haunted House from this weekend (which we wrote about first here), I received word that it never quite got the chance to re-open. It may be best to use Sarah’s words to explain:
Friends,
It is very difficult for me to type this edition of the Monday Memo. This past weekend, instead of having a grand re-opening of the Haunted House, we were instead shut down by the Birmingham fire and building inspectors for various violations of the updated codes. At this time we are assessing our options to see what we can do, but as it stands we will not be able to present the Haunted House for this year.
My dealing with personal issues prevented me from giving as much time as I wanted to for the success of this project. My heart is heavy thinking of the various community service projects that could be accomplished with the additional funds not to mention the opportunities to meet new people and just have a good time. This organization has helped me tremendously both here and in Savannah, just knowing that there were people available who cared. It’s perceived role as a networking agent pales in comparison to the lessons available for learning and the opportunities to practice true leadership in all of its forms. If leadership is action and not position, this organization and its members are a great example of it.
The building on the hill in Lakeview served as the home of the chapter’s biggest fundraiser for nearly 40 years. The joy that accompanied its anticipated reopening cannot be measured, except by those that had previously participated in the Haunted House project. I would not have enjoyed being in the room when the group was informed that it wouldn’t get the chance to send it off joyfully again.
So what’s next? I’m not really sure. It is a hard pill to swallow, but it may have provided something else to our local chapter, something that again may best be spoken by Sarah:
While we may not be presenting a House in Lakeview this year, I want that feeling of teamwork and friendship to continue for the rest of this year. We pulled together when it was needed most and that is what will get us through this rough water. I understand the emotions involved with this decision as I’ve been wrestling with them myself. However, let’s find a way to channel those emotions into something positive so we can maintain our status as the premier leadership training organization for young professionals and maybe prevent abuse to innocent furniture or walls.
It’s been “preached” a lot recently that it only means something if you’re the best. That line right there told me that I’m a part of one of the best outfits out there nowadays.
If there are any other suggestions for this situation (like maybe somewhere to set up something as simple as a scary house, put a comment up here.
Thanks for listening and enjoy the day.
Cheers.
“We would do a great disservice to Birmingham if we dreamed too little dreams.”
– Dr. Joseph Volker, first president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dre\'s Ramblings 