The hood is hopping. Pride weekend is in full force this weekend. The danger of living in a neighborhood this close to the parade route is wanting to say “Happy Pride weekend” but not knowing the persuasion of the people walking by.
We saw three guys walking around and I said, “Which one is Cadillac and which one is Tom Cruise?” Don’t understand the reference? Spend 3 minutes with this genius bit of animation and you will.
Happy Pride Weekend!
While talking about his band schedule, I met another new guy (to me) who was also in a band. Jason was talking about hitting some cities in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. Mo mentioned that his band was flown in a military cargo plane to perform for the soldiers at Guantanmo Bay. His band, Mother’s Finest.
Mo’s got a sweet ride that he built himself. The doors come from VW Beetle, he salvaged wood from a shipping pallet for the roof and steering wheel and the trunk has been cut down to fit his Frankensteinian monster of a hot-rod. If I had only seen it in a picture I wouldn’t have looked twice, but I feel in love with this thing when I saw it. I love the carpeted doors.
I continue to add place to my Roadside Attractions, Museums, Etc. google map. As I cruised the net amassing more weird and unique places to visit, my wife looked over my shoulder and said something to the effect, “This used to overwhelm me, I thought we were going to have to visit every one of these places last summer.” While in a dream-world, cruising the U.S. (before tackling the rest of the world) would be a wonderful way to spend time, I like being married more.
Back to my latest find. Margaret’s Grocery and Market is an almost perfect intersection of my interest in folk art and masonic tourism.
This fantastic place was built by Reverend H.D. Dennis and named for his wife.
From Lucky Mojo’s entry on Margaret’s Grocery and Market
“…what will be apparent to any Freemason viewing this illustration, is that the Double Headed Eagle atop the signage is not just any eagle: it is that of the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite. Furthermore, the two pillars flanking the door of the store are marked with the golden letters B and J, initials familiar to all Masons.”
This place look fantastic, and so worth a visit. Must drive more!
Roadside Art Online: Margaret’s Grocery environment
Flickr: Search for “Margaret’s Grocery”
I started collecting Cabinet Magazine. An odd, satisfying magazine of arcane information, theory and facts. From low-brow and mundane to esoteric and obscure. The need to get the complete collection has taken hold. I’ve got 12 of the 25 published issues (green), leads on 5 issues (yellow) and no info on the remaining 8 (red).
Anyone with suggestions, leads and actual issues for sale feel free to leave a comment.
Issue 1 – Invented Languages
Issue 2 – Mapping Conversations
Issue 3 – Weather
Issue 4 – Animals
Issue 5 – Evil
Issue 6 – Horticulture
Issue 7 – Failure
Issue 8 – Pharmacopia
Issue 9 – Childhood
Issue 10 – Property
Issue 11 – Flight
Issue 12 – The Enemy
Issue 13 – Futures
Issue 14 – Doubles
Issue 15 – The Average
Issue 16 – The Sea
Issue 17 – Laughter
Issue 18 – Fictional States
Issue 19 – Chance
Issue 20 – Ruins
Issue 21 – Electricity
Issue 22 – Insecurity
Issue 23 – Fruits
Issue 24 – Shadows
Issue 25 – Insects
Let’s see… do I want a ghost town in Idaho (with mineral and timber rights) or retro-fantastic houses in Houston?
Our move to Texas is still months away but I am cruising the web for places of interest in Houston. I feel like by the time we get there I’ll be pretty well schooled in the city’s attractions.
One source for unique Houston locations is Hot Town, Cool City. Included is a map ( I *heart* maps), links to the locations, and a trailer to a movie of the same name as the site.
The Aurora Picture Show looks like a great arts movie venue. The preview got me intrigued, and isn’t that what the movie is for! Its seems like a big ra-ra-cheerleader lovefest, but that’s okay. It’s nice to see people enthused about their city and for good reasons.
Also found, this great picture of Houston at night.
My Houston Google Map
Houston – a photoset on Flickr
Flickr: Photos tagged with nationalmuseumoffuneralhistory
After this Atlanta Exxon Mobile gas station refused to help a stabbing victim, no one should support the business. But that being said, do stop by for the snowballs by Orleagian Snowballs. The business started by former New Orleans residents is run independently of the Exxon Mobile.
Today, I spotted the bright green cart in the gas station’s lot (on Ponce and Moreland) and hoped to visit it soon. Having seen the cart on Piedmont and Monroe, I was pleased to find them closer to home. ‘Soon’ turned into this afternoon and I was getting a sugar fix with the missus. Joining us was a friend that never had one before (New Orleans style that is).
Owner Kenneth Woodfin describes the snowball (on Atlanta Cuisine Restaurant Talk) this way, “An Orleagian Snowball is an addictive frozen dessert that consists of tightly packed snow drenched with choices or combinations of up to 30 handmade flavored syrups. In addition, its lactose and fat free.”
While not officially open, someone (possibly Kenneth) was there prepping the new stand. This is apparently the second one the displaced New Orleaneans have opened. Despite him planning on opening tomorrow, he was happy to give us what we came for, 2 small Dreamcicles and one 1 small cherry. Seriously nice guy!
So, go already.
For more Oreagian related links see:
Orleagian Snowballs Cart – Atlanta Photos – IgoUgo
The Columbus Dispatch – Local/State
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It’s Sunday, you know what that means. No, not a day spend in reverent reflection of all that god has given us.
It means rollerderby!
Apocalypstix vs. Denim Demons.
Yeah, I’ll be there!
Now that she handed in her resignation, I’ve been given permission to blog about this. The missus has a new job in Houston, TX . While I’ve never had much of an interest in the Lone Star state, the brief research I’ve done on Houston has piqued my interest. Things to look forward to about my new city :
National Museum of Funeral History “Experience the skill and workmanship of 100 years ago as you enter an authentically recreated Casket Factory set in the early 1900’s.” Come on, that exciting stuff, people! Also, glass caskets and contemporary African fantasy coffins.
The Orange Show – Starting as a one man’s attempt to make the single greatest attraction in the country, the Orange Show Center for the Visionary Arts is now home to Jeff McKissack’s strange home/homage to his favorite fruit, are also renovating the Beer Can House and offer Eyeopener Tours, “…Eyeopeners, we called the tour, ‘places that made you stop, look and look again.’ At our committee meetings, we tried to outdo each other in bringing the most interesting food, the best story, a great new sighting.”
The Art Car Museum – Houston is home to loads of people taking cars and transforming them into eccentric pieces of art. Also see: Houston Art Car Parade 2006 – a photoset on Flickr
All in all, promising stuff.
We have a couple of months before the move. Started to amass a collection of Houston blogs, while somewhat informative but so far fewer Houston bloggers than I expected in a city that size.
I’m also starting the process of disconnecting from Atlanta. It has begun in simple ways, starting with unsubscribing to local online mailing lists for galleries and music venues. That was the easy part. The hard one, telling one of my employers who I like very much. They had been using me exclusively for art installation and I’ve really enjoyed working with them. So, I’ll miss them much. When I did it, they were pretty excited for my wife, and offered to recommend me to anyone who called. Plus, an artist they rep lives in Houston so I might have someone to talk to there about opportunities.
Neon Poisoning 