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!"

Little Library

There is a hardware store on Concord Road that takes the idea of serving and enriching the community seriously - Vickery Do It Best Hardware. You don't have to pass through the door to be blessed. Employees have attached a cupboard to the front of their building, creating the Little Free Library. Take a book, share a book, have a great day!

The Little Free Library

Concord Rd near South Cobb Dr

Closer view of the library

Right front side of the hardware store

Remind me to ask about the pink ribbon... this is a hardware store, after all!

The View Along the Chattahoochee

The view is beautiful along the Chattahoochee River.

Chattahoochee River - Long Island Shoals

Whitewater Creek Rd NW, Atlanta

Take a break from the city and stroll the wooded trails in the National Park. Enjoy the local flora and fauna. You never know what you'll see along the way.

Fisherman in a cat hat

Camel Sighting #2

The camel has returned to Kennesaw for Christmas again this year. He is helping the Shriners sell Christmas trees.

The Camel

Hwy 41 at Old 41, Kennesaw

Closer view of the camel as noble spokesperson surveying his territory

Steely-eyed

A camel in Kennesaw... for Christmas

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Center Congregational Church created a display in their front yard this year. It was designed to convey the true meaning of Christmas to passersby.

View of the church and display - a baby in a manger at the foot of a cross

Center Congregational Church

Moores Mill Rd at Howell Mill Rd

Still...
What I thought when I first spotted the display from the road... as I walked closer... and even after I had taken the photo... was: "It's terrible weather to leave a baby outside!" Even a plastic baby.

Blue-eyed baby Jesus with light blue binky

No matter how I looked at the display, the baby looked more abandoned than revered.

Happy Holidays!

Patti and Van Pearlberg wish you "Happy Holidays!"

The Pearlberg yard 

Church St at Sessions St., Marietta, GA

Front view of the Pearlberg home

A blow-up Santa in his sleigh with 2 flamingos, a Christmas tree, a Menorah, penguins in a snowmobile, a snowman (and more) bring cheer to the neighborhood.