The Burden of Atlas

Have you heard the old stories of Atlas and how he was fated to carry the heavens on his shoulders? Well... apparently Atlas has moved to Buckhead and he is shouldering signage for advertisers instead. The pay is better, but, oh! the weather!

Atlas promotes a Sherwin Williams paint store

Roswell Rd at Irby Ave

Buckhead

Front view of Atlas

Close-up of Atlas' face

Atlas clearly takes his work seriously. You can tell by his expression that he's a professional.

View from below

Side face view 

He's made of tough stuff.

Fierce titty tattoos

Over time, some parts have fallen away...

Left hand 

But Atlas maintains his determined foothold.

View of Atlas' left foot

And his hunky-ness.

Back view and his buns of steel mesh

Atlas recommends that you get out of the rain by visiting the One Star Ranch on the other side of Irby Avenue. He recommends the BBQ and fries.

One Star Ranch restaurant

Irby Ave, Buck-head

This is traditionally recognized as the spot where, in the 1800's, Henry Irby built his saloon and nailed a deer head over the door so that his customers could fine him. This was clever branding before there was "branding." The brand overtook the location and, all these years later, the neighborhood is known as Buckhead. You can raise a toast to Atlas (outside in the rain) while you're there.

High Stepper

Graffiti

Inside the entrance tunnel I-85 South

connecting to I-75 North

Angry

Traffic cone facing West

Windy Hill Rd at Cobb Pkwy

Closer view

You can always choose your attitude... unless you're a traffic cone. 

Urban Alligator

Delightful mural of a black alligator playfully reclining - painted on the old Star Hotel building (now the Atlanta Cleaners) courtesy of ROA for Living Walls.

Alligator Mural 

Mitchell St at Forsyth St

Closer view of the mural

"The Belgian street artist, ROA, paints site specific large scale birds, rodents and animals-often in different states of decomposition--that are, or were once, local to the area."

The frisky back side

The jolly front side

Men and beast

Clever use of the building's architectural details

Leaving you with a smile

The Green Eye

Head South on I-85. Take the turn - North to I-75. As you turn, look up... above the wall, past the chain link fence... but not as far as the train bridge... and you will see it. The Green Eye.

The Green Eye

Entrance ramp to I-75 North from I-85 South

Sees all!

Share a Smile

Just when I needed it most...

Happy face scratched into the curb

Parking lot of the Chick-Fil-A, Johnson Ferry Rd

Step closer and receive the message!

Many thanks to you, Anonymous Artist, for reminding me that I can always choose my attitude!

Sharing a smile - priceless!  :-)

Happy Place

Sitting in traffic at a stop light, I watched a man walk along the side of the road ahead of me. For a brief moment he stopped and leaned over the guard rail, placing something inside the end block. Then he straightened up and walked on up the road. I lost sight of him in the parking lot of a gas station.

When the light changed and I could drive ahead, I looked to see what might be hidden in the guard rail. What I saw instead was a drawing.

This is someone's happy place!

Road side face of the end block

Barrett Pkwy at I-75

Closer view of the end block

Long view of the guard rail end block

Sidewalk Sketch

On our way through Chinatown, while crossing the street at a light, we came upon this simple sketch made when the sidewalk cement was wet. It's a dragon (or Godzilla) holding an ice cream cone!

Sidewalk graffiti

H St NW, Washington, D.C.

An unexpected treat right under out feet!

Shoes included to show scale

Chinatown in Washington, D.C.

Last November my aunt, Emily, invited me to join her and my uncle, Alex, and cousin, Emmy, in Washington, D.C. I had the most wonderful time!

Part of the fun was exploring the city. On our first day we took a stroll through historic Chinatown.

I'd like to share a few photos of the visual delights we encountered...

The Friendship Arch

H St NW at 7th St NW, Washington, D.C.

Closer view of the gate

According to Wikipedia, the Chinatown gate, named "the Friendship Arch," was designed by Alfred H. Liu, originally from Taiwan. The gate was erected to celebrate friendship between Washington and Beiijing and was dedicated in 1986. It includes 7 roofs up to 60 feet high, 7000 tiles, and 272 painted dragons in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It may be the largest such single-span archway in the world.

There are many charming and unexpected Chinese accents hidden in plain sight throughout the neighborhood.

Low relief panel of 2 dragons holding an orb above what seems to be 

2 modern nozzles... along with a random plastic grocery bag...

A red gate with a jubilantly sinuous design partially blocks the view of an alley

One particularly delightful treat was watching a chef create noodles - right in the front window of the Chinatown Express restaurant! 

Front window of the Chinatown Express restaurant

 6th St NW at H St NW

Noodle samples and the noodle chef

The noodle chef works his magic for passersby

Emmy, Aunt Emily and Uncle Alex prepare to test the noodles

The noodles were delicious! Actually... everything we ordered was superb!

Lunch with loved ones - "priceless!"

Forks in the Road

Fork in the road 

Polk Ave, Marietta

Another fork

3 forks

4 forks

More forks

Oh! Pitchforks!

This stretch of road is the undisputed territory of the Marietta Blue Devils, just outside their home field, historic Northcutt Stadium.