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.