Weekly Flâneur: Two-Tone

Image of two-tone glass skyscraper. Click to enlarge.

Blue on blue, reflecting the sky. 

The architecture of this building reminds me of stair-steps to the clouds. 

Charlotte Plaza, Charlotte (duh), N.C., 2013

 

Weekly Flâneur: Time Warp

Diner delight. Click to enlarge.

East coasters dream of retiring in the South. Mattie's Diner was built in 1948, and came from New Jersey to live in Charlotte in 2010. Sometimes I work within walking distance to the little trailer diner, and when I do it's nothing but nifty fifties milkshakes, french fries, and tuna melts for me. 

 Mattie's Diner, Charlotte, N.C., May 2013

Weekly Flâneur: Faded

Faded street art of men in uniform. Click to enlarge.

The ghostly bobbies on the mural outside of Sir Ed's disapprove of me forgetting to take a picture of them while the sun was still high in the sky. Silly mural ghosts. Beer is much more important. 

Sir Edmond Halley's Restaurant & Freehouse, Charlotte, N.C., May 2013 

Weekly Flâneur: Book It

Click to enlarge.

The Main Library of Uptown Charlotte has featured a multitude of literary quotes on its outer columns since 1996. (Though the building itself has been around as long as I can remember. And I remember being kicked out of Main as a small child for being rowdy* with a friend in the late 1980s, so that's at least 20 years. They let me back in. Eventually.) It's a lovely way to enjoy some light outdoor reading on a lunch break from the skyscrapers that dwarf the building, before heading inside to grab a book on hold or wander the stacks.

Since I missed both Weekly Flâneur and Friday QuoteDay last week due to travel, I'd like to think that a photo of a quote can make up for it? What say you, dear friends? All smiles and forgiveness, or will you take your flaneuring needs elsewhere? (Kidding, I know you'll stay here with me forever! BBFFs, best blog friends 4eva!)

Mr. B is fond of Groucho Marx's quote, and so one recent night out on the town I snapped this pic. The first shot I took was without a flash, which ironically made the photo ... too dark to read. All the quotes can be found here.

"Outside of a dog, a book is probably man's best friend, and inside a dog, it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx

The bonus side quote reads:

"The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it from you." B.B. King

And hidden behind them both is this quote:

"One of the greatest gifts adults can give – to their offspring and to society – is to read to children." Carl Sagan

Let's all go take a blanket outside to the newly sprung grass and read a book in the sunshine. Don't wake me if I fall asleep. See you there.

*Well, not so much rowdy. More like a champion of justice. Another child stole my friend Katie's purse, containing a prized $2 bill inside, so I tackled him while she punched. We were in full Brownie Troop uniform. The attending librarian who found two girl scouts sitting on a boy's chest and beating him took pity on the thief and hauled us out of the kid's section and straight to the troop leaders, who happened to be our mothers. Sorry, Mom/Scout Leader!

Weekly Flâneur: Taste the Rainbow

Click to enlarge image.

Happy early St. Patrick's Day! The only rainbow I am interested in are these French Macaroons. How beautiful are they? If they look familiar, it may be because you've seen them in your dreams, or in The Hunger Games film. Amelie's French Bakery supplied Katniss and Peeta with the bounty of food for their train ride to the capital, and these lovelies were stacked high on their table. (Does that mean Charlotte, N.C., is District 12?)

Have a safe and happy drinking and green-wearing holiday, my loves! 

Amelie's French Bakery, March 12, 2013, Charlotte, N.C. USA

Weekly Flâneur: Inky

Click to enlarge.

This giant phallic landmark is supposedly a pen in an inkwell. It sits in the middle of the main campus at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. The illustrious creators of this statue were much more optimistic about the maturity of their students than I ever could be; every time I was or am on campus my sense of direction is marked by the location of the super stone penis.

Who's ready for some green leaves to color this black and white winter dreariness?

Taken at UNCC, February, 2013

Weekly Flâneur: Beacon

Click image to enlarge.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

Sherman Memorial Church of God in Christ

Charlotte, N.C., USA

Weekly Flâneur: Urban Green

Screen grab via American Forests.

Charlotte was recently named one of the 10 Best Cities for Urban Forests by the nonprofit American Forests. Their write-up includes a special shout-out to our little book-themed park, The Green.

"Mecklenburg County, in which Charlotte sits at the heart, was awarded the National Gold Medal Award in 2012 by the National Recreation and Park Association. Charlotte itself boasts a number of recreation attractions, such as the U.S. National Whitewater Center and the literature-themed 'pocket' park known as The Green. And these are just a few of the things making up Charlotte’s urban forest."

Visit the American Forests site to view the nine other cities, and check out the Queen City shots that illustrate how tree-friendly cement streets can be.  Perfect for a wandering walk in the sun, wouldn't you agree?

Weekly Flâneur: Presidential

President...Cullen? Click to enlarge.

Pop culture president! 

 

While Barack Obama may have won the election, Manifest Discs & Tapes declares Edward Cullen the true leader of the free world. Consider it the Breaking Dawn of a new era. 

Manifest on South Blvd., Charlotte, N.C., 2012

Weekly Flâneur: Floored

Click to enlarge.

Skeletal photography from a dead press.

Part of the floor mural "Welcome to NoDa," by artist William Puckett, in the atrium of NoDa @ 28th.

Charlotte, N.C., 2012

How Many More Years?

Short video I shot as the crowd gathered to watch MSNBC news film live at the EpiCentre in Charlotte, North Carolina, spontaneously begins to chant "Four More Years!" at the mere mention of Obama.

Weekly Flâneur: DNC Edition

My hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, is hosting the Democratic National Convention this week. For those unfamiliar with the election process in the states, think of the DNC as a big party. The DNC unites delegates from every state to discuss and celebrate the party platform during the election year, and it's the place where United States President Barack Obama will officially accept the nomination to run for re-election on the Democratic ticket.

What better way to celebrate four more years of Obama than with a collection of pics? Big names are in town, and the city is a circus of politicos and protesters. Many places won't allow cameras without an anchorperson and a boom mic attached to them, so the following shots are exterior Charlotte street scenes, a live taping of a TV show, and general convention madness. Enjoy! 

Welcome to the Queen City!

High fives: The official logo of the DNC.

We're turning left at Obama Ave.

Weekly Flâneur: Windows of Sky

(Image of skyscraper with blue sky. Click to enlarge.)

Look what's back this week!

All Hail the Queen City!

Hot time, summer in the city, Charlotte, N.C.

 

Weekly Flâneur: Heroic

Captain America, Phoenix, some writer, Dazzler, and Batman. Click to enlarge.

I dunno, flâneurs. Sometimes, you're just walking down the sidewalk and BOOM. Superheroes. 

 Like, what can you do? Grab a shield and pose. Or duck, because bystanders usually get in the way during epic battles. Mostly pose, though.

N.C. Music Factory, aka Gotham, Charlotte, N.C., May 2012

Weekly Flâneur: Sign of the Times

Image of sign, reading, "Hipster Yard Sale." Click to enlarge

Questions this sign brings up:

Do they sell hipsters?

How long is a yard of hipsters?

Hipsters!

North Davidson (NoDa), Charlotte, N.C., May 2012

 

Facts Are Your Friend

For my North Carolina readers, a gentle reminder that the Amendment One vote is happening on May 8th, a harmful political move that would hurt children and families across the state. The above video states some of the following facts:

Amendment One will harm children:
- A child of an unmarried parent could lose their health care and prescription drug coverage, putting the child’s health at risk. 

- A child could be taken away from a committed parent who has loved them their entire life if something happens to the other parent.

- It threatens existing child custody and visitation rights that are designed to protect the best interests of a child.

Amendment One will harm families:

- Marriage for gay and lesbian couples is (sadly) already banned in our state. But the impact of the amendment is so broad that it snares not only gay and lesbian couples and their children in its legal net, but also any unmarried couple and their children.

- Amendment One bans all other legal relationship recognitions—prohibiting North Carolina from ever recognizing civil unions and domestic partnerships. Thousands of North Carolinians rely on these legal protections. Removing these rights creates far-reaching and long-lasting harms for families from all walks of life.

- Amendment One would interfere with protections for unmarried couples to visit one another in the hospital and to make emergency medical and financial decisions if one partner is incapacitated.

Amendment One will harm unmarried women:
- The amendment is a dangerous step backward for domestic violence and stalking protection.
Domestic violence protections could only apply to married couples.
- In Ohio, where a similar amendment passed, this loophole has allowed convictions to be overturned.
- This amendment has the power to leave open for question how North Carolina’s domestic violence laws are applied—threatening our state’s victims of domestic violence.

Additional facts can be found at Protect All NC Families.

Early voting has already begun. For those outside the state who wish to help, visit ProtectNCFamilies.org. Vote AGAINST Amendment One on May 8th. 
 

Weekly Flâneur: Repeat

Cheery cherry blossoms, click to enlarge.

Another girl, another dream ago, we walked together, the backs of our hands meeting briefly,

 and felt our skin press against the sun-warmed bricks. 

Cherry cherry, Plaza-Midwood, Charlotte, N.C. 

(Cherry blossom time is so fleeting, so fast, I couldn't catch a moment to snap pictures of the pink blooms in Charlotte. This photo is an oldie, but goodie.)

Weekly Flâneur: Cosmic

Night shot of large skyscraper. Click to enlarge.

Blast off!

(Take your protein pills and put your helmet on.)

Uptown skyline close-up, Charlotte, N.C., USA

Weekly Flâneur: Cover Me

Image of parking sign covered in stickers. Click to enlarge.

Commuter reading. 
 Car park of 7th and Pecan Ave, Charlotte, NC, USA

Weekly Flâneur: Driven

Post rain sunset. Click to enlarge.

Do not take a photo while driving down 485. That is so dangerous. Why do something so stupid? Seriously. Bad. (But really pretty and I lived and I won't do it again?)

Yesterday's sunset, somewhere on the highway. Charlotte, NC.