I knew there was a Park behind Ponce City Market, the old Sears Building/City Hall East, but I had no idea there was such a huge Park! Mostly because so much of it is below street level. Old Fourth Ward Park was a wonderful surprise!
Old Fourth Ward Park, Ampitheatre
The only part of the Park that I visited on this particular day was the below street level portion, and the paths surrounding it. There are stone 'sculptures', water features, winding paths, and an ampitheatre, which fellow blogger Terry Kearns, author of Architecture Tourist, told me that he went to a lovely wedding there not too long ago. I can see how the ampitheatre would be a perfect setting for such an occasion.
Old Fourth Ward Park, winding pathway
Since visiting I've seen photos of the Park during the warmer weather—growing season—and it's really quite beautiful. I thought it was rather remarkable even in the winter.
Old Fourth Ward Park
The Park's design affords vistas near and far of the various features. This particular water feature—a waterfall—is impressive from every angle, and there are lots of angles for this feature.
Old Fourth Ward Park
Throughout the park there's lots of boulders and cut stone, placed with purpose.
Old Fourth Ward Park, 100 Year Storm Mark
One of the history-telling features of the Park—some may think that it's merely decorative, like I did—is the 100 Year Storm Line. It runs the entire perimeter of the Park!
Old Fourth Ward Park
I mentioned the cut stone throughout the Park...I should have said "sliced" stone. Note this boulder is missing a slice...making it more than a big rock, it's now a sculpture!
Old Fourth Ward Park
This beautiful fountain prominently features sliced stone.
Old Fourth Ward Park
If you look closely, you'll notice that this collection of monoliths were "sliced" from a single stone (maybe two, one for each side). It's brilliant, I think...that kind of artistic design makes the already interesting fountain worthy of further study beyond noticing its beauty.
Old Fourth Ward Park
On the path above the recessed portion of Old Fourth Ward Park are design elements that please the mind and eyes, like these "stools" where a walker or biker might rest for a moment, contemplating what one does when resting in a beautiful park.
Old Fourth Ward Park
Another seating area features a spiral drain, reached by a spiral and winding dry bed creek that feeds from another section of the Park, across a street.
Old Fourth Ward Park
The entrance we took into the Park was on the Ponce City Market side. The bright blue glass and stone planters immediately caught our attention an was foretelling of some of the surprises we would soon discover.
Our time in the Park met with all kinds of visitors from senior couples out for a stroll, to kids playing hide and seek, to young professionals play croquet! There were a number of parents there with their kids, including one dad who had taken out this twin girls to give their mother a little personal time...great dad and husband!
With so many friends who are new mothers, I understand the importance of the oh so precious personal time, which is incredibly rare for a while after becoming a new parent.
Old Fourth Ward Park, Ponce City Market
One of the best features of this new Park is its location! It's all about location, right? It's surrounded by a residential area, Ponce City Market, and it'll be a stop on the Atlanta Beltline! I for one am very excited about this Park and its growing popularity. I can hardly wait to go back to see the rest of it!
Head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for a few more photos of the Park...and be sure to "Like" the Page while you're there, please. Here's a little more about the Park, video courtesy of the Old Fourth Ward Park Conservancy...please visit their site, too!
I recently went to the new Historic Fourth Ward Park…I was amazed! A great deal of the Park is below the 100 Year Storm mark (I had to look up exactly what that meant...I've never claimed to be a meteorologist). You would never, ever know that the majority of this Park—a stone water-retention pond—is below street level.
Fountain at Historic Fourth Ward Park
So, if you’re driving by trying to decide whether or not to check out the Atlanta Beltline-adjacent Park, don’t be deceived by what you see from the car…you have to get out and venture “into” the Park to enjoy its full glory—where you'll find lots of beautiful features and places to relax.
In the meantime, enjoy this pre-sized Facebook Cover Photo of one of the water features in the Park. Head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page, and right after clicking that “Like” button, check out the other Facebook Cover Photos…all for you to use as you like!
Did you know that in addition to the incredibly popular Fountain of Rings at the Centennial Olympic Park, there are water gardens and a reflective pool...and in the winter, there's even an ice skating rink? That's a lot of water, even for a 21-acre park.
As much fun as the Fountain of Rings is, and I love the four daily Fountain shows with accompanying music, the water gardens (photo), near the Quilt gardens, are my favorite. They're such a delightful respite from the city, even though you can still see the city all around you.
As a matter of fact, in this photo you can see the top of the world headquarters of CNN, home of the Inside CNN Studio Tour. And there are lots of other attractions near Centennial Olympic Park, so go splash, play, and enjoy!
ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!
The Quilt of Nations in Centennial Olympic Park is one of my favorite structures in the 21-acre park, the largest downtown park developed in the United States in the last 25 years. In March 2011, I posted a photo of the "ceiling" of the Quilt of Nations. This particular image depicts more of the structure as seen when approaching it.
Representing each of the 197 countries that participated in the 1996 Olympic Games, the most countries to ever participate in the Olympic Games, is a flag for each respective country. They're arranged alphabetically.
The quilt and leaf pattern seen throughout the Park was adopted by the Olympic Committee as the "official look" of the 1996 Games because of its representation of the American South.
The Quilt of Nations is one of five quilt plazas in Centennial Olympic Park.
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Nestled in the northeast corner of Centennial Olympic Park is a paralympics monument named Paralympic Legacy. The monument stands in honor of the 3,310 athletes who participated in the 1996 Paralympic Games held only two weeks after the Centennial Olympic Games hosted in Atlanta, Georgia.
The athletes, representing 103 countries and whose names are inscribed on the four granite columns surrounding a taller spiral sculpture, set 268 new world records that year.
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Walking through downtown Atlanta, a surprising gem of a green space is Hardy Ivy Park. One of her jewels is "The River Sings," a painted metal sculpture by Richard Taylor, a rather successful artist who lives in Wisconsin.
The park serves as a memorial to Hardy Ivy who was Atlanta's first permanent settler. Shared with Taylor's 15.5-foot, 2009 sculpture, the Carnegie Education Pavilion also resides in this precious plot of downtown real estate where Peachtree departs its short-lived straight line to begin an adventure on a course winding through the City and beyond.
Adding to the coolness of Taylor's creation, the artist says of his own work, "My work allows the cadences, rhythms and syncopations of music and poetry to find themselves in visual expressions in paint, metal and space."
The River Sings was provided by the City of Atlanta's Office of Cultural Affairs' Public Art Program.
ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival, in its 75th year, was the best I’ve attended since my first in the late 1980s…they totally outdid themselves.
From the daily live music to the incredibly popular Ferris wheel, from the talented and very personable artists to the over-the-top food vendors, from the disc dog tournament to the animated clowns, this Festival was…well, it was very festive!
I tried to convince several friends to come along but heard the same story multiple times…“It’s all the same artists year after year,” as if that was the only thing this Festival is about. The friends who opted to not attend totally missed out because it was so much more. Next year, guys!
Yes, it’s true, there are some artists who are there year after year, many of which I welcome back with open arms…there’s some amazing talent at our festivals. Actually, I have several personal favorites that I’ll mention in just a moment.
The Dogwood Festival indeed has an artist market (similar but not the same as our annual Arts Festival later in the year), but it doesn’t stop there. There are numerous special events for adults and lots of children’s activities and programs…there’s more going on than most realize and more than any one person can possibly do in a single day…it’s a good thing it’s a three-day festival for us festival-lovers.
The Rides
Shark Slide
There were rides! The most popular was the antique Ferris wheel…and for good reason. From the top, you could see the Atlanta skyline…a unique and rare view of the Atlanta skyline at that. The line to ride was a little long, but it moved relatively quickly, so the wait would definitely be worth the view. Consider doing this first so you can enjoy the rest of the Festival at leisure, assuming the Ferris wheel returns next year.
There was also a shark slide, rock climbing, and a bungee jumping contraption with trampolines that allowed riders to do mid-air somersaults…it looked like way too much fun!
The Artists
Greg Stones
The Dogwood Festival, in addition to its many other activities, is an opportunity for artists, local and from around the country, to showcase their work…and sell it. Some of my favorites are not local so I like it when I see them return so I can see their newest work in person.
My favorite artist this year, by far, was Greg Stones. Why? From the moment I stepped into his booth, and many times since, I was laughing out loud. I had to ask Greg where he got his inspiration…
“From watching too many B-rated films,” Greg told me, totally reminding me of my friend Daved in Washington, D.C., who also has a great sense of humor and a writing style I can only aspire to. I have to admit that I do believe I’m developing a new respect for B-rated movies.
I asked Greg if I could take a photo for tourATLANTA and he agreed. He stood up and I immediately felt short…even at my 6’2”! Greg had to squat for the photo so that the background didn’t split his head, which he would have made a grand joke of, I’m sure.
The first artist I met at this year’s Festival was Elaine Rader, a Georgia resident. If you met Elaine anywhere else, chances are you would guess that she’s an artist of some kind. Well, she is…and a splendid one at that. Elaine was one of the artists in the “Georgia Artists” section of the Artist Market.
I’ve heard of attorneys becoming chefs (on several counts), but I’ve never heard of a professional ballet dancer turning jewelry artist…that’s just what Elaine did. She studied at Julliard and performed as a member of the New York City Ballet. Her transformation is to our benefit…Elaine’s organic, sculptural jewelry is unique and sophisticated, as is she.
I also had the pleasure of meeting artist James LaCasse who does fantastic work based on the human form. An annual favorite of mine is artist Beau Tudzarov…his digital chess pieces and martini glasses are mind-bending phenomenal. And artist Maria-Louise Coil encapsulates Atlanta landmarks in a beautifully artistic manner the likes of which I’ve never seen…I foresee one of her pieces joining my art collection in the not too distant future.
The Events
In addition to the peripheral activities around the Festival, there were several more prominent events taking place. The one I found the most entertaining was the dog disc exhibition, which was a qualifier for a national competition.
Customer & Artist
The dog disc exhibition, held through Woof Sports USA, basically entailed playing catch with dogs using Frisbees instead of a stick. By the way, the competing dogs were the only canines allowed in the Festival.
During the tournament, the master of ceremonies conducted a trivia contest for all the nearby kids, which was just as entertaining as the dog disc exhibition.
She would ask a question while the kids waited on the sidelines. As soon as the trivia question (such as “What kind of dog is commonly seen at fire stations?) was answered, all the kids had to run to the MC and shout their answer. The kids had a blast running and winning prizes and the parents undoubtedly enjoyed the guarantee that the kids got a good night’s sleep that evening.
La Fete, an event celebrating the international diversity of the Festival, was conducted on the first evening of the weekend in the Greystone event facility. Honored guests included councilman Kwanza Hall & Consul Salvador de Lara Rangel of Mexico, as well as Miss Georgia, the beautiful and radiant Christina McCauley. I didn’t get to go to La Fete this year, but it’s definitely on my calendar for next year!
The Clowns
Clowns!
Clowns! No, I’m not talking about some of the festival attendees…there were real clowns there, round red noses and all, to entertain the masses.
If nothing else can garner a smile from the kiddies, a clown can. Whether by engaging them in colorful conversation, creating a balloon art hat, or sweeping the grass floor of Piedmont Park with a rainbow broom, these brightly colored animated artisans are a festival favorite…for kids of all ages.
I’ve loved clowns since my first visit to a circus as a child…and the Dogwood Festival clowns deliver every promised smile and a few giggles, too.
The kids have an opportunity to somewhat be a clown as well via a visit to the face painting booth…with lots of options to choose from, they can spend the day roaming Piedmont Park as a lion, a princess, or a clown.
The Photos
Photo-making
I also saw more cameras this year than I’ve ever seen at the Dogwood Festival…and for good reason. The day I went, the weather was perfect…blue sky, moderate temperature, lots of color.
People were snapping shots with the Atlanta skyline as a backdrop (Piedmont Park is excellent for those shots). They were making photos of the artwork (except in the booths with signs posted prohibiting photography). And many photos were made of the various attractions throughout the Festival, including the Ferris wheel, the dog disc competition, and of course other festival goers.
The Recycling
3D Metal Art
Even a week before Earth Day, the Dogwood Festival was very environmentally conscious. There were recycling bins throughout the Festival and even the cooking oil being used by food vendors was designated to be recycled into bio fuel.
I find myself impressed with these endeavors. They’re not easy and they take time and money to conduct, so kudos to the Festival organizers for making the effort to do it and for helping to increase awareness of the necessity to recycle.
The Pop Art
Coke Dragon
There was more art at this year’s Dogwood Festival than what was in the artist booths. One of the pieces that you totally couldn’t miss was the Coca-Cola bottle dragon…yes, a car-size dragon made entirely of Coke bottles and cans. Talk about recycling!
There was also a fleet of decorated golf carts ranging in theme from tropic island to frat party. I wasn’t able to determine what they were for, but it looked like, based on signage on the carts, that there may have been some kind of parade or they may have just been used as transportation for Festival dignitaries.
And probably the most unique pop art item was a decorated port-a-potty artistically crafted to resemble a country out house. Oh, the things you see at festivals!
There’s More
Chevy
Yes, there’s still more! One of the coolest things I saw was a Dogwood sapling giveaway. Atlanta already has more Dogwood trees than I could count, but I find it exciting to know there will be even more next year.
Chevrolet was onsite conducting a promotion (and giving away bags to those who completed a quick survey) and had quite a few cars on display…some sporty, some more family oriented.
Radio stations were out in force entertaining the Festival-goers adding to the music from the several live music stages throughout the Festival.
Food Vendors
And the food vendors…anyone would be remiss for not giving a nod to the food vendors at a festival of this nature. We had a grand choice of every kind of festival fare you can imagine.
From funnel cakes to…wait for it…deep fried pickles? Yes, deep friend pickles (fondly called Elvis Pickles at one of my favorite dining establishments here in Atlanta).
I know we Southerners are famous for deep frying anything, but deep frying pickles surprised even me. I refrained from indulging, but many treated themselves.
The Challenges
Ok, so any festival this size will have its challenges and the Dogwood Festival did too, but they were not detrimental to ones’ having a great time.
Glass Art
Telephone reception was definitely an issue and I’ve heard the same complaint from people who have attended other festivals or large gatherings in Piedmont Park…so, City of Atlanta and cellular providers, listen up! We need more bandwidth in Piedmont Park!
These festivals and gatherings are great for the local economy. Please don’t make visitors determine they can’t attend because something as simple as a phone call or a text message won’t go through.
And that’s not all…the bandwidth is also needed for vendors. Their mobile credit card machines don’t work if the transmission won’t go through. The vendors miss a revenue opportunity if they can’t conduct transactions and visitors miss opportunities to make a purchase if they don’t have the cash on them (and I know quite a few people who purchase a piece of art at these festivals on an annual basis).
Getting There
Festival-goers
The Dogwood Festival takes place throughout Piedmont Park, which has several entrances…any of which can be used to immediately access the Festival.
Parking during any event of this size can be a challenge, but not impossible. I was parked within three minutes of arriving, but I also have a small car. Many of our suburbanites, especially those with families, drive larger vehicles which can add to the time it takes to find parking.
There are a few pay parking lots in the vicinity of Piedmont Park, including the relatively new one shared by Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which went back and forth between lot full and available throughout the weekend.
The Return
The next Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a year from now…is it on my calendar? You’re doggone right it’s on my calendar. I will definitely be back…and I plan to take full advantage of all the events being offered, especially the La Fete event and I do hope they bring back the Ferris wheel—a sentiment many others have expressed!
Attending the Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Date toured: Sunday, April 17, 2011 Location: Piedmont Park (directions and map) Parking: Piedmont Park parking deck or nearby street parking MARTA: Taking MARTA to the Dogwood Festival Cost: Free (with some ticketed events and rides) Website: http://dogwood.org/
The new Legacy Fountain is now open in Piedmont Park. Part of a 53-acre expansion, the new Piedmont Park Promenade features two sprawling meadows, the Fountain, and a new woodlands and wetlands area, all adjacent to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
The Legacy Fountain features more than 70 water jets that spray up to 30 feet into the air, as well as an LED-lighting system capable of a million lighting configurations...that's going to make for some spectacular shows!
Visitors can get to the Legacy Fountain, which is fully stroller and wheelchair accessible, via Piedmont Park's northeast quadrant or via the public path that also leads to the Atlanta Botanical Garden from Piedmont Avenue.
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On this date in 1961, Ray Charles, born in Albany, Georgia (south of Macon), won four Grammy Awards, including a Grammy for Best Performance by a Pop Single Artist for Georgia on My Mind.
I saw Ray perform Georgia on my Mind in Piedmont Park (photo) many years ago. I and a couple of friend made our way up to the stage to get an upclose look at the music legend...he was an incredible performer!
Georgia on My Mind became Gerogia's official State song in 1979 and remains so today...it's akin to a state anthem, actually.
Piedmont Park has long been a popular site for concerts, films, and festivals, like this week's Dogwood Festival (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 14-16, 2011). Venture out to the Dogwood Festival and know that you're walking the same grounds as great legends like Mr. Ray Charles.
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"Portrait of Olympic Founder Pierre du Courbertin"
In April 1886, the Olympic Games were resurrected and played in Athens, Greece. Thanks go to founder of the Modern Olympic Games, Pierre du Coubertin.
One hundred years later, at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, a statue honoring Coubertin was erected in Centennial Olympic Park. Atop the monument are seven doves carrying the Olympic Rings and a laurel wreath (photo).
Portrait of Olympic Founder Pierre du Courbertin was created by sculptor Raymond Kaskey. Among Kaskey's creations are the bronze-work for the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and Portlandia in Portland situated outside the Michael Graves' Portland Building.
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Spring is in the air so I just couldn't resist posting a summer photo of Piedmont Park. That's Atlanta's Midtown skyline (part of it) in the background. Oh, sweet anticipation.
There's always a lot to do in Piedmont Park. Ongoing through March is The Rink...ice skating at Park Tavern. So if you did not have the opportunity satiate your desire to go ice skating during Snowmagedon of the South recently, you have only a few more weeks to do so.
And there's always: walking, jogging, swimming, tennis, bocce, grilling, picnicking, bird watching, and dog walking...to name a few of the other things to do in Piedmont Park. Prepare for spring...it's coming!
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Tourists and locals alike can take respite from the city in any of the more than 350 public parks throughout Atlanta.
One park that I return to time and again is Winn Park, specifically Iris Garden (established in 1930). It's in a beautiful residential neighborhood on Peachtree Circle, one block off Peachtree Street near 15th Street.
Iris Garden has cascading ponds, elevated benches, stone paths, and incredible views of several Midtown skyscrapers. That's why I like it so much...while you're communing with nature you can at the same time can revel in the architectural marvels of Atlanta.
When you're finished with your lunch, book, meditation, or whatever brought you to the beautiful Iris Garden, you're close enough to walk over and visit the High Museum of Art and the soon to open Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA).
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