Eternal Flame

This is an enternal flame for Jesse Hill, Jr. It was place in front of this church (at Auburn Ave and Jesse Hill, Jr. Drive) to honor him. How cool is that?! If you click on the picture above, you will be able to read what the plaque says.

What the heck is this?

What is this? I have no freakin' idea. My friend and I were just driving around and we spotted it on the side of the road in a field. What the heck is it? Looks like some kind of weird sacrificial sight - we didn't stick around to find out what it was - besides there wasn't anyone around anyway - very strange

ING Marathon

Today was the annual ING Marathon, 1/2 Marathon and 5K. We saw lots of racers today but because of roads being closed off, it wasn't easy to get some shots. I did manage to get some of them wrapped up in their racing blankets and another one of some of the side-line cheerers

Olympic Memories

The 1996 Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta and were AWESOME !! I volunteered at the Media center and met people from all over the world - wicked cool ! The tower with all the stairs on the left is where the Olympic flame burned - it still remains along with other memories like the Olympic rings. What a great summer that was - being a part of it was incredible.

Turner Field

Baseball season is almost upon us - hooray !! I drove by Turner Field and much to my surprise and joy, the gate was open so I could go in and take a look around. I can hardly wait for opening day !! You are bound to see more pictures of Turner Field once the games begin!

City Grill

Look at this highly ornate ceiling at the City Grill. The sad thing is so many people don't bother looking up and seeing this beautiful sight. I am sure the person/people who installed this detailed mosiac were quite proud of themselves when done, as well they should be.

Sculpture

I knot the little plaque placed at the foot of this says the name and artist of this piece of art but I totally didn't write it down, thinking I would remember it - which of course I didn't. I don't know what it is called but I call it Pacman because that is what it reminds me of.

Red Bud Trees

Okay, okay - I know, another tree picture but I can't help myself. They are absolutely beautiful this year. Well they are every year but they seem to be lingering longer and be more full this year. Maybe I just notice them more because I'm constantly seeking photo ops. Either way, I just had to take a picture of this red-bud tree. I have no idea why they are called red-bud trees when they are pinkish/purple.

Bradford Pear Trees

These Bradford Pear Trees fill Atlanta each spring - and they've been quite beautiful and full this year. Sadly, I haven't taken pictures of any until today and they blooms are starting to fall off. I wanted to capture a pic of them while I still could. Be forwarned though - don't get around a big group of them - the actually smell awful - and they don't produce pears either !

Cherry Blossoms

I love, love, love Atlanta in the Spring. One reason I love Atlanta so much is that we really have a full four seasons. Spring, of course, is one of the most beautiful. Last week the Bradford Pear trees were in full bloom and this week it is the Cherry Blossom trees. The sky is blue and the temp. is in the mid to high 60s - just perfect weather.

Get outta the (Seg) Way

I have no idea what is going on here actually but I have heard somewhere that Atlanta offers a tour of the city on Segways - interesting - I might have to check that out !!

No Profanity Allowed

I saw this sign, left over from some kind of event at Turner Field (appeared to be related to rap music since I found several rap CDs on the ground) - wonder how they expected to control that rule at a venue the size of Turner field? What if they found someone using profanity - did they get escorted out by security?

Homeless

It is so sad - Atlanta has a bigger homeless population than most people like to acknowledge. Most of them seem to be black males - perhaps it is because there seem to be more resources for homeless females, especially those with children. Here is a group of men that seem to hang around Hurt Park (located near Georgia State University).

Graffiti Face

I do not like graffiti, as a general rule - it makes a place look beaten and broken down and quite frankly a bit scary. However, I am intrigued by it at the same time. I mean some of these graffiti artist are amazingly talented. This is not one of the ones that fall into the amazing group but it is still very interesting.

2 Swans A-Swimming

I think most people are facinated by swans. It is a not a bird you see everyday - but I see these 2 almost daily. They are in a little man-made pond surrounding some office buildings. There are usally a few ducks hanging around with them but the ducks were off doing their own thing today, leaving these swans time to have the whole pond to themselves.

Agnes Scott College

As stated previously, Atlanta is full of Universities - 13 total I believe. Agnes Scott College was founded in 1889 and has a beautiful campus. Did you see the movie Scream 2 ? Well it was filmed here and this is the campus where Neve Campbell's character attended. It is a women's liberal arts college (although I understand men are allowed to take certian classes there to meet their education requirements).

Those are NOT Roses

I found this tiny but proudly displayed sign by this group of flowers today. I found it quite humorous since there were not any roses within view - I looked all around and didn't find a single rose bush. Someone needs to tell these folks that these flowers, while quite pretty, are NOT roses !!!

Parking Rates

Like most big cities, parking can be hard to locate downtown. Many people that work downtown must pay to park - at their place of employment ! Fortunetly, I am not one of them - we have free parking! But not everyone is so lucky, as you can see. Can you imagine paying $60 a week to park where you work? Although I've heard some say they have paid as much as $200 a week. I usually don't have problems finding places to park, but sometimes I don't want to pay the rates that are being asked.

Fellini's Fountain

Ah the joys of youth - aren't these kids the cutest! They are playing around the fountain at Fellini's Pizza (yes, named after the famous Italian director). Anytime the weather warms, Atlantans flock to the outdoor dining restaurants - kids in tow. They were really having fun just running around the fountain and throwing in an occassional penny that a patron would give them - too cute!

United Way

The United Way building is located near Hurt Plaza. I actually was seeking to take a photo of the hand sculpture - that resembles this symbol but there were quite a few homeless men hanging around it at the time so I decided against it. I don't have a problem with the homeless, per se, but one of them was seriously yelling and talking to himself and frankly, you don't know what a mentally challenge person will do - so I just took a pic of the sign. I'll try to get the sculpture another time.

Land Shark

Isn't this little guy cute? I found him inside Boneheads in the Perimeter area. He holds the menus. I had the fish tacos - mmmm good !!

Spring is Coming

You know what they say about the weather in Atlanta? If you don't like it, wait a minute. That is so true. I can't believe we had snow on the ground this time last week. Look at it now!!

Sweet Tea and Coca-Cola

Sweet ice tea - often called the Table Wine of the South, is a staple in Atlanta, if you aren't drinking a cold tall glass of it, then you are probably drinking a glass of Coke (often shortened to Co-Coler). We drink gallons of this stuff ! Why? Because it is so good!!

Fox Curtain

Doesn't this look like some kind of Arabian work of art? It is actually the curtain at the Fox Theater. I go there quite a bit since I have season tickets. I stayed behind to wait for the crowd to leave so I could get this shot. I couldn't really find much history about this curtain but the whole theater has an Egyptian/Arabian theme. The curtain is a beautiful tapestry with quite a bit of detail - you can't tell it in this photo - but it actually sparkles. I assume it has gemstones sewn in.

I strongly encourage you to click on this picture - you will get a larger version of it - you can see all the marvelous detal and the sparkles in it then!

Pink Flamingos

Besides the Aquarium, another favorite place of mine is Zoo Atlanta. Both have animals - which is why I suppose I am drawn to them. This is the first exhibit you see after stepping through the gates. They don't smell all that great but they are so pretty to look at.

Ladies Room

This is a common sign I see several times a day. A woman with a disembodied head (why the heads are never attached, I will always wonder), notifies me that this is the ladies room. This sign even has braille. Some places use different terms (depending on where you are) - maybe I will get some other shots when I vist those establishments. I believe this symbol is probably the most common.

Zombies Are In Town

A movie is in town being filmed. There has been many a movie filmed here but I'm sure this one will be the one we are remembered for (hint of scarcasm) - the movie is Zombieland.
Yes, I know I shouldn't judge a movie by its name but in general I tend to dislike Zombie movies - they are usually just gross but yet kind of funny at the same time. At least that is my opionion. Although this one does have a great cast, Woody Harrelson, Abigal Breslin, Emma Stone (who I just adore ever since she was named the new "Laurie Patridge" - whatever happened to that project anyway?)

The Hi-Tech Gas and Auto, located at Ponce and N. Candler has been temporarily renamed for the movie into the "Gas N' Gulp", which personally to me sounds better than the real name of the place. A friend of mine watched from her nearby condo as scenes were being filmed. I don't think Woody Harrelson was in any of these scenes but there was a lot of buzz that Abigal Breslin has been seen about town.

Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

As I have mentioned before, Atlanta has a lot of beautiful old churches. Thank the Lord (literally) that they are still there and we can enjoy them and attend them. This is the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, founded in 1848. (That is the state capitol in the backgrown)

During the Civil War (often called by southerners as the "War of Northern Aggression"), Father Thomas O'Reilly served as the pastor. We owe Father O'Reilly a great deal of gratituded. Since, it was because of him, we still have many of our beautiful churches.

Like many churches during the time, this church served as a hospital. Father O'Reilly administered impartially to both Union and Confederate soldiers. He knew they were all God's children.

In early September, 1962, Atlanta fell into the hands of Union troops. But Father O'Reilly refused to give up his parsonage to Yankee officers, who were seeking out quarters. He convinced General Sherman to spare several churches and nearby homes. In addition, there were a larger number of Catholics in the Union army, who volunteered to protect their Church.

Thereby City Hall was damaged but not burned. The Second Baptist, Second (Central) Presbyterian, Trinity and Catholic churches and all the residences adjacent between Mitchell and Peters (Trinity Avenue) streets and Loyd and Washington streets were safe, all attributable to Father O'Reilly. He is an Atlanta Hero! His crypt is in this church (so I hear, I've never been inside)

Here is a rare photo of what the church and surrounding area was like in 1873. The church looks the same but the area looks very, very different.

When you are in large buildings, you may see this sign from time to time. It is the area of the building where you are supposed to go in case of a storm/tornado. Georgia doesn't have as many tornados as some states but one did fly through downtown about this time last year (some of the windows downtown still have not been replaced). So if you are ever in a tall building and hear the storm sirens go over - you better start looking for signs like this

Frozen Fountian - Take 2

You would think when the weather turns cold, fountian owners would turn them off but they often don't. Maybe, like me, they like seeing what the results are. Even though the snow didn't really stick around - it is still quite cold - since this fountian sits in a shady square (in front of the Cheesecake Factory on Peachtree), guess the ice still remains - pretty lucky for me to see.

Snow Day !!

It is not very often we get snow in Atlanta but it happens once in a while. When we do get the white stuff it is usually ice or a mixture of snow/ice but today it was pure snow - it started about 10 am and snowed literally all day long - so beautiful !!