Sunday, July 31, 2011

ATLANTAvidz: Water Dream at MODA

I visited the Museum of Design Atlanta's (MODA) a few weeks ago and blogged about the exhibition "Water Dream: The Art of Bathroom Design," one that's very well done. Here's the video to entice you to read the full post...



ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

ATLANTApix: Half-Birthday at RA Sushi

Sliced Fish logo of RA Sushi
"Sliced Fish" Logo of RA Sushi
I received in the last few days my "half-birthday" gift from RA Sushi...a $20 gift certificate jsut for being born! (Oh, and for joining their mailing list...totally worth it!) You don't like sushi?! Neither did I when I first had it, but I'm not one to give up quite so easily. 

I started with the California Rolls and then moved up to "cooked" sushi, eventually building the courage to try raw fish. My most adventurous sushi experience--a nine course sushi flight--was at a restaurant in Washington, DC's Dupont Circle called Sushi Taro, awarded DC's Best Sushi. Today, I'm a huge fan of most anything with sushi-grade tuna.

You can imagine how excited I was to find a sushi restaurant in Atlanta of the same superior caliber, but with a lot more "fun" thrown in. RA Sushi is beyond phenomenal! And I love their "sliced fish" logo (photo).

RA Sushi has: tempting offers - Friends With Benefits is when you bring a friend to lunch on a Tuesday and one of you receives a complimentary meal, Facebook coupon required (find more deals on Facebook); special events - I wrote about "Mardi RA" earlier this year ("like" RA Sushi on FacebookFlying Sushi" and "Postcards From RA" on their website. to learn about more upcoming events); and fun - check out "

While you're enjoying a game of Flying Sushi, I'm heading over to RA Sushi with a few friends to cash in my half-birthday gift. I foresee their Cinnamon Tempura Ice Cream in my near future.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Friday, July 29, 2011

ATLANTApix: Buckhead Grand

Buckhead Grand
Buckhead Grand
Most of the buildings I've featured on tourATLANTA have been office buildings, entertainment venues, churches, or mixed-use buildings. I'm breaking that trend and featuring a residential building. 

Even though a residential building is not likely to be on any city tour, as a tourist I personally like to know what certain buildings are, especially if they're architecturally interesting.

The Buckhead Grand (a five star condominium) falls into the "architecturally interesting" category, as well as the luxury living category...for the views alone it would belong to that category.

As disclosed by its name, the Buckhead Grand is in the heart of Buckhead, Atlanta's financial district. The condos, soaring 36 stories, are the epitome of luxury...floor to ceiling, lobby to penthouse, inside and out. 

The units have nine feet ceilings, hardwood floors, marble soaking tubs, and spectacular views of the Buckhead and Atlanta skylines...I would love to have a view like this every morning and every evening! (And no, I'm not a real estate agent)

If you want an idea of just how luxurious these condos are, stop by the Museum of Design Atlanta to see their current exhibition, Water Dream. Several of the bathroom design displays exude luxury...the sort you'll find at Buckhead Grand.

The "flying saucer" discs jutting out from the corner on the upper floors are very unique...balconies! Does it get any more grand than that?

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

ATLANTApix: Stairway to Tara

Stairs at The Tabernacle
Stairs at The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle is one of the coolest, and most colorful, music venues in all of Atlanta...even the stairwells are painted so funky (photo), you don't know if you're in a music hall or an art gallery.

Once a church, now a concert venue, The Tabernacle also features a chandelier that once hung in the Lowes Grand Theater where Gone With the Wind premiered in 1939! How cool is that? And that's a little known fact, so tell all your friends.

The last time I was at The Tabernacle, when I snapped this photo (actually my first time there), was to see Margaret Cho...what a fun concert!

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

ATLANTApix: Giant "Tonka" Truck

tourATLANTA author, Travis, with a Komatsu Truck
tourATLANTA author, Travis, with a Komatsu Truck
One of my absolute favorite artifacts at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, is the biggest "Tonka Truck" I've ever seen. How big is it? That's me standing next to the driver's side tire in this photo...this truck is huge!

The marvels inside Tellus are also absolutely fascinating...and I still find myself laughing when I recall the humor incorporated into such a serious disciplines.

I'm very impressed that someone out there has the talent to so beautifully and elegantly present the geological, transportation, and archeological sciences (to name a few) and sneak in sneak in a "funny" here and there--like the Einstein Bobblehead in the Periodic Table of Elements display.

Just for the record, and so I don't get into trouble, the truck in this photo is not a "Tonka" truck--although I'm sure there are lots of kids who would argue, including guys my own age who also played with Tonka Trucks.

It's actually a Komatsu truck, so "Thank you Komatsu for bringing back wonderful childhood memories! And Tellus, too!"

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

ATLANTApix: International Coke

World of Coca-Cola Lobby
World of Coca-Cola Lobby
The World of Coca-Cola is an international experience from the moment you walk in until the grand finale of your visit, which consists of sampling Coca-Cola products from around the world.

The Coke bottles in this photo are in the lobby where visiting guests congregate immediately prior to entering the Happiness Factory Theater! Coke's new film, "The Great Happyfication," takes visitors "on a musical journey through a fantastic world inside a Coca-Cola vending machine, where Happiness Factory workers share their secrets for finding happiness."

One of my favorite stops along the excursion of the World of Coca-Cola is the happenstance meeting of the Coca-Cola polar bear. I've not yet had the opportunity to have my photo made with him (or her...I'm not sure which), but know that that is one that will definitely make my personal Facebook account, and maybe I'll post it here as well.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Monday, July 25, 2011

ATLANTApix: Bright Star (Sirius)

Bright Star (Sirius), High Museum of Art
Bright Star (Sirius), High Museum of Art
Bright Star (Sirius) is a recent acquisition and recently installed in the High Museum of Art's Modern & Contemporary gallery (actually, in a two-story stairwell in the gallery). The last chandelier I saw there was a Mori chandelier called "Speak of Me," made entirely of black glass...the contrast between the two is stunning.

As a space enthusiast, I'm even more in love with the piece knowing its named for the brightest star in the heavens as seen from Earth. Sirius, also known as the "Dog Star," is actually two stars, Sirius A and Sirius B. So, that the artist used two rods per "ray" is something I find as rather clever. Just for the record, Sirius A is approximately 25 times more luminous than our own Sun.

Speaking of the artist, American-born Spencer Finch's artistic manifestations are, regardless of the outward subtlety, the result of a deep contemplation.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

ATLANTApix: Flora

Flora at the High Museum of Art
"Flora" at the High Museum of Art
Not all beautiful marble sculptures are carved in Europe...some are American. "Flora," (photo) one of my favorites of the High Museum of Art's collection, was created by Chauncey Bradley Ives of Hamden, Connecticut, in 1852, when he was only 42.

The High has an incredible collection of marble sculptures, housed mainly in the Meier Building. One of the most popular is the "Veiled Rebecca." I'd be very curious to know where each of their sculptures rank in popularity...which would of course change over time as taste, fashion, and trends overall evolve.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

ATLANTApix: History of Papermaking

Robert C. Williams American Museum of Papermaking
Robert C. Williams American Museum of Papermaking
When playing Rock, Paper, Scissors, I'll always lean toward paper. Why? One of my favorite "hidden gems" in Atlanta is without question the "Robert C. Williams American Museum of Papermaking."

Part of the Georgia Institute of Technology, I pass by the Paper Museum, located on 10th Street the opposite side of Interstate 85 from Midtown. It's so easy to get to, easy to park (free), and an individual self-guided tour is free (although a $3 donation is greatly appreciated).

I've discovered since talking about the Museum with friends and coworkers that those with an art background or interest in the arts or those who are artists themselves tend to be the most interested in seeing the Museum. Personally, I think it's an excellent destination for everyone...I mean, try to imagine our world today without paper.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Friday, July 22, 2011

ATLANTApix: Fragrance Garden

Fragrance Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Fragrance Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Fragrance Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of three gardens that were constructed before the Atlanta Botanical Garden was founded in 1976. The Atlanta Bonsai Society constructed the Japanese Garden in 1967, the Atlanta Rose Society constructed the Rose Garden (since reconstructed), and the Fragrance Garden was created for the blind.

The Fragrance Garden is probably one of the least visited areas in the Garden, a loss for those who miss it. It's the one place in the garden where touching (not picking) and smelling is enthusiastically encouraged.  For me, the Fragrance Garden is a respite within a respite...but I would love to see more visitors enjoy the serenity of this space, watched over by a modest statue of Pan.

The Fragrance Garden's 1985 restoration was given in memory of Jane Seydel by her family.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

ATLANTApix: Voxels

Modern By Design at the High Museum of Art
"Modern By Design" at the High Museum of Art
Are we looking at a new design for an Atlanta skyscraper? Or perhaps the innards of a futuristic massive warehouse? Neither, actually. These tiny "voxels" (volumetric pixels) are collectively a table...crafted by a robot named Abby.

A current High Museum of Art exhibition (which I'll write more about in the not too distant future) features Abby, her current project, and the work of Joris Laarman, an artist set out to "add cultural meaning to technological progress"...an effort that I fully applaud.

The exhibition, Modern By Design, is running now through Sunday, August 21, 2011.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

ATLANTApix: Castle For Rent

Rhodes Hall and Equifax
Rhodes Hall and Equifax
Drive by Rhodes Hall, one of only a couple of what used to be hundreds of mansions lining Peachtree Street, and you'll see a sign in the front yard that reads "Castle for Rent."

No, no, no...you can't move in. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation has their headquarters on the upper levels and the rest of the house is open for daily tours, but...you can rent the "Castle" for special events. This time of year, especially on a weekend afternoon or evening, you just might catch a wedding ceremony underway...and what an incredible backdrop--one of the most beautiful homes in Atlanta.

The glass building you see on the right is the headquarters for Equifax, the largest credit bureau in the country. Founded in Atlanta in 1899 as Retail Credit Company by brothers, Guy and Cator Woolford, the company grew to become a world leader in the realm of modern credit reporting.

Don't get too excited. Your credit records are not in this building. They're actually housed in another high-security facility further outside the city.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

ATLANTApix: Atlantic Station Skyline

Atlantic Station Skyline
Atlantic Station Skyline
This entire section of the Atlanta skyline, now the area of town known as Atlantic Station, grew up from nothing during the years that I lived in Washington, D.C. 

Its distinctiveness has added a whole new dimension, and extension, to the overall Atlanta skyline, which was already quite impressive.

Atlantic Station was designed as a self-sustaining neighborhood. Today it has offices, residences, shopping, entertainment, and cultural events. And it's home to some very impressive exhibitions and events including, Bodies: The Exhibition, Cirque du Soleil, Dialogue in the Dark, and the Millennium Gate Museum.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Monday, July 18, 2011

ATLANTApix: Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon at Zoo Atlanta
Komodo Dragon at Zoo Atlanta
I clearly remember as a young child being fascinated with the Komodo Dragon. I do not recall the catalyst for this fascination--likely something I saw on Wild Kingdom or a video in school--but every time I see one, I have that same sense of mysterious wonder.

The Komodo Dragon at Zoo Atlanta does not disappoint...theirs is a fine specimen. I also learned on a visit to Zoo Atlanta that the Komodo Dragon is the only lizard that will attack prey that is larger than itself...sounds like my ex-wife at an all-you-can-eat buffet!

I'm only kidding...there is no ex-wife. But that kind of approach does remind me of a miniature pincer I once observed in Piedmont Park. It didn't care how big the other dogs were, it was going to let them all know who was King of his three square feet of the park.

There are more "dragons" in Atlanta than you might think. From the Dragons, Mermaids, and Unicorns exhibition at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the annual Dragon*Con convention in Downtown Atlanta, the Leafy Sea Dragons at Georgia Aquarium, the annual Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Lanier, to the Komodo Dragon at Zoo Atlanta...who would have ever guessed that Atlanta's Phoenix had so many dragon friends?

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

ATLANTApix: Jaguars on Vessels

Jaguar Vessel at the Michael C. Carlos Museum
Jaguar Vessel at the Michael C. Carlos Museum
Best known for its famous mummies, the Michael C. Carlos Museum has a phenomenal collection of art from other world cultures, including an impressive 2,300-piece collection of Ancient American Art.

Animals are prominently featured in this collection, in contrast to the large number of human figures in the museum's Greek and Roman collection, for example. Of the animals represented, the jaguar, the largest wild cat in the Americas, is featured in its own display, "Jaguars on Vessels."

This particular tripod vessel (photo) is from Central America and is hundreds of years old. And it is only one of many intricate, complex, and elegantly beautiful artifacts from civilizations and societies come and gone.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

ATLANTApix: The Agave Blooms!

Blooming Agave at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Blooming Agave at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
A rare sight for those of us in the South, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has a multi-story tall Agave that is currently in bloom. The plant will die shortly after its 10-year-plus preparation for its blooming finale...a spectacular sight to behold.

At the next Science Cafe (Thursday, July 21, 2011), in conjunction with Cocktails in the Garden (featuring frozen margaritas), Dr. Kathy Parker, Department of Geography, University of Georgia, will be giving the presentation "Ancient Domestication of Agave in Pre-Columbian Southwest," certain to be illuminating.

Enjoy this time-lapse Atlanta Botanical Garden video library of the growth and bloom of the agave. (video)

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Friday, July 15, 2011

ATLANTApix: Georgia Aquarium Photo-Op

Ocean Voyager gallery at Georgia Aquarium
Ocean Voyager gallery at Georgia Aquarium
I've been to Georgia Aquarium more than a dozen times over the last 12 months and I find it fascinating every single time...and I continue finding exciting photo ops!

Many of my friends have photos of themselves at numerous locales within the Aquarium on their Facebook accounts and one or two still have a photo from the Aquarium as their profile photo, even months after visiting...I like that.

My absolute favorite photo spot in the Aquarium is the huge concave window in the Ocean Voyager just down the hall near to the entrance to the gallery. It's so big that I can barely reach the top of the opening, but there's lots of room for fun and bizarre poses--quite of few of which I've seen! (and maybe I've indulged in a couple of them)

This particular photo is also in the Ocean Voyager gallery...the gallery I beeline to immediately upon arrival every time I go. Seriously and for real, of all the times I've been to the Aquarium I always go to Ocean Voyager first.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Maybe I should mix it up a little bit for some diversity, but I'm thinking that will have to be a special occasion. Until then, I'll first offer a "Hello" to Yushan and Taroko, two of the Whale Shark residents and then continue with my regular visitation with the other creatures of this water wonderland.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

ATLANTApix: The Vortex Burgers

The Vortex Burgers
Find the Best Burger in Atlanta at The Vortex
I've been to The Vortex several times recently with friends visiting from out of town (Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, California; and Miami, Florida) and I order the same thing every time: their "Big Blue Buffalo Burger," which is drenched in their original buffalo wing sauce and topped with their thick blue cheese spread.

Now I'm hungry again!

One of the best things about a visit to The Vortex (either their Little Five Points or Midtown location) is the menu. If it's your first visit, hang on to the menu and peruse it while you're waiting for your first course. 

I've said before that their "Idiot-Free Zone" policy is a favorite. Another is a warning under the heading "Read Our Menus" followed by "Everything you need to know about our food and beverage selection is printed somewhere within our menus. Please read them thoroughly. If you ask us stupid questions we will be forced to mock you, mercilessly.

I love this place!

If you're the adventurous type, to the point of ignoring every Surgeon General warning ever, you might consider The Vortex's "Super Stack" burger. It's made with "two half-pound Vortex sirloin patties stacked inside three grilled cheese sandwiches, topped with two fried eggs, eight slices of American cheese, ten slices of bacon and plenty of mayo on the side." They choose the side item for this burger which is a big bowl of fries and tots covered in their "cheesy-cheese goo."

If you actually finish it, you can get your photo (with the empty plate) published on their Facebook page!

As a blogger, I wonder if I'm required by law to suggest that you consult with your physician before ordering a burger trademarked "The Triple Coronary Bypass?" Well, as The Vortex would say, "Consider yourself warned."

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

ATLANTApix: Lily Pads

Lily Pads at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Lily Pads at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
The lily pads in the Conservatory Pond at the Atlanta Botanical Garden are but a few of the strikingly beautiful examples of their species on display. The Conservatory Pond, as well as the Aquatic Plant Pond near the Conservatory, is filled with colorful lily pads, fish, and the occasional frog.

I vividly remember visiting the Fuqua Conservatory when it first opened in 1989. The Conservatory Pond featured a "dragon" topiary. It was in three sections...the tail poking out of the water at one end, a "hump" in the middle, and a dragon head bursting forth from the other end of the Pond. It was a remarkable grand opening display and a sight that I'll always remember as impressive.

The next time you're at the Atlanta Botanical Garden for their Thursday night "Cocktails in the Garden" event, be sure to venture into the Conservatory. At night, the Conservatory resident frogs and birds turn the volume way up! You'll want to hear this.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

ATLANTApix: Emory Chairs Project

Emory Bench Sculpture
Emory Bench Sculpture
Art is prevalent throughout Atlanta as it is throughout the college campuses in Atlanta. One pristine example of such, carved from Georgia marble, is the "Emory Bench Sculpture" from the 2003 Emory Chairs Project.

Located between the Fishburne Drive parking deck and the Michael C. Carlos Museum,
this particular "chair" (photo) was created by Horace L. Farlowe (1933-2006).

It is one of 37 installations, organized in honor of the opening of the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, that were spread throughout the campus during the exhibition, indoors and outdoors.

I love this particular work because its beauty tells you that it's obviously a work of art, but it's enticingly inviting at the same time.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Monday, July 11, 2011

The Men of Dragon*Con

The Men of Dragon*Con
The Men of Dragon*Con
There's something for everyone at Dragon*Con! To balance the universe (and to complement yesterday's post about the Women of Dragon*Con), here's a bit about the Men of Dragon*Con...

Dragon*Con is not the convention of yesteryear. Even though the media erroneously and insistently (read "rudely") continue to refer to our conventioneers as "geeks and freaks," have a look for yourself and you decide...I think they're something quite beyond that (in a good way, of course).

The guys' costumes at Dragon*Con are inventive, worn with confidence, and many are quite revealing...these men are not timid nor shy! They're handsome and sexy (as are their female counterparts) and I wouldn't want to be the one who called them anything else...especially any of the ones with the huge biceps or a light saber! There's a healthy dose of villainy, drama, and a lot of fun thrown in, as well.

The Men of Dragon*Con are all about superheroes, villains, steam punk, zombies, and a lot of outright fun. The best thing...any of them are more than happy to pose for a photo. So, if you're one of the 40,000-50,000 who will be attending Dragon*Con 2011, make sure to remember your camera...you're going to want to post those pix on Facebook!

I'm serious about the media and their name-calling...intentional or not. Take good look reporters! Just like the Women of Dragon*Con, these dudes are "handsome and sexy." Keep it up with the insults and one of these muscle-bound numbers just might kick some reporter butt. Just sayin'.

The list of male celebrities attending Dragon*Con this year is just as impressive as the costumes being worn by conventioneers. The male celebrity I am most looking forward to meeting is a two-way tie: Leonard Nimoy (Spock on Star Trek), who I met nearly a decade ago, and Sam Witwer (Battlestar Galactica and Being Human).

Also slatted to attend (and certainly also available for autographs) are: Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5), Joel Gretsch (Taken and V), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), and William Shatner, the original Captain James T. Kirk.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Women of Dragon*Con

The Women of Dragon*Con
The Women of Dragon*Con
Dragon*Con 2011 is fast approaching and many are well into their preparations for the four-day convention. Others are anxiously awaiting the event just for the people watching...or creature watching, alien watching, superhero watching. Whatever the case may be, there will be lots of watching going on.

The costumes are definitely a highlight of the convention. The women of Dragon*Con don costumes that range from the imaginative and tailored to the seductive and provocative (the same can be said of the men of Dragon*Con, but let's focus on the ladies for a moment).

One of my favorite things about Dragon*Con is the enthusiasm the costumed have for having their photo made with other conventioneers and onlookers. Forget the scum and villainy, you'll never find a place with more elegance and sexiness, as well as a healthy dose of good old fashioned fun.

The media doesn't get it just yet...as recent as last year when they were reporting on Dragon*Con they too often used the phrase "geeks and freaks" to describe the attendees. Take another look reporters! Maybe this year you'll catch up with the times and call our conventioneers the obvious "hot and sexy." Keep it up with the insults and one of these scorching hot numbers just might kick some reporter butt...just sayin'.

And just wait until you see the celebrity women who will be attending. The one I am most looking forward to meeting is Kate Mulgrew who played Captain Kathryn Janeway on Startrek: Voyager.

Also attending, and the list is growing weekly, are: Tricia Helfer (Number Six on Battlestar Galactica), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia on Star Wars), Amanda Tapping (from Stargate and Sanctuary), and Meaghan Rath (Sally on Being Human).

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

ATLANTApix: Alston Overlook

Alston Overlook
Alston Overlook at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Alston Overlook provides a unique view of the Atlanta skyline and one of the most beautiful vistas of the city anywhere in Atlanta. The highest point in the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Alston Overlook provides "a place for both Atlanta residents and visitors to connect with the wonders of nature."

From either of the serenity-evoking bench swings in the Overlook or from other points within this modest space (also used for weddings and private events) one can take in the Parterre Garden, home of the Dale Chihuly-created Levy Parterre, as well as the Midtown skyline to the right and the downtown skyline to the left.

From nowhere else in the Garden is it more evident that the Atlanta Botanical Garden is indeed an "Urban Oasis."

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Friday, July 8, 2011

ATLANTApix: Robert W. Woodruff

Robert W. Woodruff
Robert W. Woodruff
Atlanta would likely not have the incredible arts culture it does today were it not for very generous gifts from Robert W. Woodruff, a leader of Coca-Cola from 1923 until his passing in 1985. He contributed $4 million (c.1962) to help establish the Woodruff Arts Center and $7.5 million (1979) to help build the signature white High Museum of Art building.

The Woodruff Foundation, part of his legacy, supports the arts in Atlanta and Georgia, as well as charitable, scientific, and educational activities.

This statue of Robert W. Woodruff (photo) stands on the south end of the grounds of the Woodruff Arts Center, home to Alliance Theatre, High Museum of Art, Young Audiences, 14th Street Playhouse, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

ATLANTApix: Rise and Fall of the Confederacy

Rhodes Hall
Rhodes Hall
To say that the South is obsessed with the Civil War would be an understatement, but it's not as pervading as one might think...until you start looking.

Fortunately, some of the examples of the fascination with this event are quite beautiful, such as the nine (three sets of three) stained glass windows depicting the rise and fall of the Confederacy (photo) in Rhodes Hall on Peachtree Street.

Built in 1904, Rhodes Hall was originally the home of Amos Rhodes, founder of Rhodes Furniture. Today it's a house museum, an incredible event facility (many weddings are held here), and the headquarters for The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

ATLANTApix: Mickey is a Braves Fan!

Mickey Mouse is a Braves Fan!
Mickey Mouse is a Braves Fan!
I've been an Atlanta Braves fan since the late 1980s and it's great to know that I'm in good company. As it turns out, Mickey Mouse (photo) is also a fan! And an enthusiastic one at that.

Mickey is at Turner Field for every home game ready, willing, and able to pose for photos with fellow Braves fans...and he'll never blink!

There are lots of other distractions to enjoy when visiting Turner Field, including: taking a few swings in the batting cages; taking in the incredible view of the Atlanta skyline at the Coca-Cola Sky Field; and taking a guided tour of Turner Field. And that's only a few of the 101 Things To Do at Turner Field.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

MODA: Water Dream

Water Dream tub
Water Dream tub
Is there anything more inviting than a luxurious bathroom with all the latest gizmos and gadgets?

Perhaps the newest exhibition at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), "Water Dream: The Art of Bathroom Design," can answer that question for us.

Water Dream, running now through Saturday, September 24, 2011, delves into the allure of bathroom design that goes well beyond function…and into the dream world.

From hundreds of rubber ducks on the sidewalk of their Peachtree Street address to “The Making of a Faucet” to the invocation of future, serene and ethereal bathroom settings, Water Dream is in fact a journey.




Gallery One: The Timeline

Bathroom design timeline
Bathroom design timeline
Gallery One, the hallway that flanks Gallery Two leading to Gallery Three, just might be my favorite in the Museum. The creative use of this space is absolutely brilliant.

You know that feeling of utter delight when you’re researching a project or writing a paper and you find the perfect source of information? That same feeling is what you get in Gallery One…you want to yell, “Jackpot!”

For Water Dream, the story of bathroom design—its history, specifically—begins in 1870! The timeline continues with major bathroom inventions throughout the years and brings visitors to the latest developments in bathroom design.

Gallery Two: The Faucets

Queen Mary fauctes
Queen Mary faucets
Someone left the water running! Gallery Two has more faucets than my local Home Depot. Not really, but there’s a virtual cornucopia of them in this gallery.

Don’t get your hopes up…my reference to a retailer doesn’t mean that Water Dream’s faucets are for sale. Actually, they chronicle the evolution of the bathroom—through faucets.

The artifacts in this gallery also tell of bathroom luxury, specifically with examples of faucets found on the Queen Mary ocean liner, the Manderin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona (every Manderin Oriental Hotel I’ve been in has indeed been luxurious!), and the “Volcano” soccer stadium in Mexico.

There’s also a display of faucet design specifically for children’s bathrooms. It’s perfectly alright to giggle when you see them.

Gallery Three: Water Dream

Philippe Starck design
Philippe Starck design
This exhibition has everything but the kitchen sink…for obvious reasons. They do, however, have lots of bathroom sinks…after all, you have to for a bathroom design exhibition, right? And bathroom tubs! Lots of tubs!

In Galley Three you learn about Philippe Starck, the designer responsible for a revolution that more than a decade ago reinvented the bathroom.

Beyond that catalyst for a modern approach to bathroom design, there was Water Dream, the project, which is seen in this gallery.

In 2005, Axor, a company that manufacturs bathroom fixtures, challenged a trio of European designers—Jean-Marie Massaud, the Bouroullec brothers, and Patricia Urquiola—to take the bathroom one step further, by challenging old assumptions and creating bathroom fixtures that emotionally reconnect their users emotionally with the 330 million cubic miles of water that circulate on or near the surface of the Earth. The bathrooms they conceived celebrate the transformative qualities of water in the domestic realm.”

Water Dream
Water Dream
Patricia Uriquola’s designs are reminiscent of the pioneer days, coupled with an ultra-modern sleekness. She has shown in Milan and has been published in the International Design Yearbook.

When asked about her design philosophy, she said, “I want people to approach my products and to want to touch them.”

If when you’re walking around exploring, don’t be alarmed when you hear birds chirping. They’re not invading; they’re part of the exhibition. Although not real, they are animatronic…a fun embellishment.

Bouroullec Brother
Bouroullec Brothers
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec said about design in general, “We like the idea of letting the user decide how to use an object.”

Their approach to bathroom design, for the Water Dream project, is definitely minimalistic, but enticing at the same time. As a matter of fact, visitors are invited to “customize” the Bouroullec bathroom themselves. How cool is that?!

Jean-Marie Massaud
Jean-Marie Massaud
Jean-Marie Massaud’s largest project to date is “Volcano,” the 50,000-seat soccer stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico (Go Chivas!).

When he started working on the Water Dream project, he brought nature inside. With nature as his inspiration, pebbles, branches, logs, and grasses make it into his bathroom design. His shower-through-the-ceiling I think is my favorite feature.

The Team

Water Dream
Water Dream
I’m not sure if the folks at the information and ticketing desk are museum staff, interns, or volunteers (yes, there are volunteer opportunities at MODA!), but their professionalism and courtesy are outstanding…and that always makes for a more pleasant experience.

Although not exactly a hands-on exhibition (most of it’s not anyway), throughout the exhibit’s run they’re also tasked with making about a gazillion fingerprints disappear. That, I suppose, is a challenge of such a shiny exhibition.

The necessity to meet that challenge addresses our original question: “Is there anything more inviting than a luxurious bathroom?” Evidence of so many fingerprints I think answers the question loud and clear…people are drawn to luxury, even in the bathroom.

Upcoming Exhibits

Graphic Intervention: 25 Years of International AIDS Posters
October 2, 2011 – January 1, 2012

The Opulent Object in Wood, Metal and Fiber: Richard Mafong, Mike Harrison, and Jon Eric Riis
October 2, 2011 – January 1, 2012

Young Architect’s Forum: Emerging Voices 2011
January 11, 2012 – January 22, 2012

Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave
February 5, 2012 – June 3, 2012

The Return

Did Water Dream whet my appetite for bathroom design enough to bring me back? Sure. I love this museum. While it’s modest in size compared to its neighbor across the street, the High Museum of Art, it packs a lot of information into its exhibitions. Their innovation and creativity alone are enough to keep me coming back…actually, I can hardly wait to see what they do next!

Touring the Museum of Design Atlanta

Date toured: Saturday, July 2, 2011
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Thursday open until 8:00 p.m.); Sundays 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Mondays
Location: 1315 Peachtree Street (
directions and map)
Cost: $10 adults; $8 seniors and military; $5 students and children; members free
Parking: Street parking and nearby parking garages
Website: http://www.museumofdesign.org/

Mo'Duck and Friends
Mo'Duck and Friends