Getting Closer to Opening It Seems

Just an up-date...

Looks like the two new places around to open on 7th Ave. South and 29th - 30th street are moving apace.

And the next day

Renovated Avondale Park Nearing Opening Day

Avondale Park Close to Reopening


Avondale park, which has been around for more than 100 years, is headed for the completion of a major renovation.

Over the years Avondale park has been the sight of stage productions, a small zoo where the elephant was taken for long lonely Sunday strolls by his inebriated keeper, the most major incursion of “hippie shenanigans in Birmingham during the 60s, and lately, sadly, a lot of drug deals, but also for the better the occasional musical recital and art show.

With the improvements coming together hopefully there will be more of the latter and none of the former of those last three.

If they are as diligent as they have been at Railroad Park things should be very nice.

Here are some shots of the as yet unopened park.

The Grotto, fed by a spring found in the park.

Not sure just what these are, sort of like balconies, found near the Grotto

The place were the water comes from underground that feeds the Grotto.

What can I say... I like the Grotto

The ball park.

And as I said, no word yet on when the park opens.

29Seven and counting

For the last seven and a half years there have been plains to build a 7-story condominium tower with space for 66 one and two bedroom apartments... pardon me... units, if you have to pay a mortgage on it, even if it looks and functions like an apartment it's a home, as well as space for 8 retail businesses.

While the businesses that were open and thriving there, the Southside Cafe really did serve a good breakfast, were closed up and torn down, there was nothing to worry about, think how much better the new thing would be?

It didn't happen.

Three years later the plan returns, this time with 4-story, building with 71 condos and 9 spaces for retail.

That didn't happen either.

Well.... it's back again (they just can't keep any body locked up Arkham Asylum for very long can they?)

This time however they say there is a really, really good shot of it taking place.


We'll see.

Now while the question of the new building remains to be seen, there is one thing that was set up on the sight by the 29Seven people. And I think it's just a little bit odd.

You see it on your right, if you're driving west down 7^th Ave. South, and you would probably never give it a second glance.

It's the home of 29Seven, or I assume that was it is meant to be, and that is what it looks like, however if you walk up to it and take a look it's another thing altogether.

In China Miéville's 2010 dark fantasy Kraken he had one point has his characters visit the Embassy of the Ocean in London, in which the watery part of the world indeed does have an embassy on the surface world.

The 7^th Ave. “home” of 29Seven looks as if it could be the Embassy of Mold.

Once you get a look inside the place you find that no one could possible be using it, as everything is rotting, covered in mold, what looks perhaps to be fire damage smoke, and / or thick sheets of dust.

While at the same time it does not look as if it is completely abandoned either, but a working place that that just got left, the tin walled... I don't know.... transporter chamber? still looking usable, whatever that use might have been, it looks as if the population just fled from some Cinematic style disaster with plans to return once the zombies / alien invaders / or mutant whatevers were taken care of.

I think the zombies may be winning.

Anyway.... here are some shots of the place.

I mean even leaving marbles in the dish for art's sake? and the pillow showing Fox and Skully where the victim was overtaken by the intelligent moving mold thing?

It's the little details that make it different.

I really doubt the lamp works.

Anyway if you turned it on the extra weight from the light would crash it.

"Ms Johnson, hold all my calls."

The teleporter room.

Okay.... so those are really the transparences from the window circles just placed on the floor, but still, it presents a rather odd looking set up I think.

Hey.... track lighting!

Not the oddest place I've ever run into (that would be a log cabin I came accross in the wilds of the West Virginia woods that had no doors or windows.) But interesting enough.

Busy on 7th Ave. South it seems

Looks like there will soon be two new restaurants among that large collection of eateries, bars, pubs, bistros and what have you along 7th avenue south.

One is going to be in the building where there used to be a willfully grungy biker / off-road racer bar that went away when the owner forgot to renew his liquor license, who even admitted it when he announced the event one day with a hand written sign basically saying “oops, wasn’t paying attention, sorry about that.” Apparently it’s going to become a Tin Roof BBQ now.

Seems "Tin Roof" which is out of Texas has a web site

Tin Roof BBQ & Steakhouse

 
And here we see behind the future Tin Roof, with one of the stoves ready to be moved in.

The other is being set in the old, long empty, Golden Rule site.

I don’t know what this one is going to be, but it already has a round floor to ceiling mirror as a centerpiece.

So speculate from there.

Meanwhile work continues on the former firehouse and future home of Bogue’s.

Renovations Begin

Shots taken of the outside and interior of the ex firehouse # 22

Sadly no evidence of a pole, which no doubt was never really found in a many real firehouses.

Sort of like cowboys and gun fights in the middle of town at noon.

Other pictures of the inside of Fire House 22 can be found on my Flickr account.

My Flickr Account