Back in Time in Birmingham
Another business trip. It’s been quite a lot of travel lately but I am trying to make the best of it by going out after work exploring with my iPhone and checking out cities. Since I don’t really carry my camera on business trips, I am getting some good practice using the iPhone.
Today I am in Birmingham Alabama. I have never been to Alabama before, this is my first time. It’s hot here. People are friendly and there is a lot of history. I usually try to spend 2-3 hours really walking around a city to get a feel for what it offers. Every city has a personality and Birmingham is no exception. It’s a city that really hasn’t gotten a very big start at downtown renovations so things are stuck in a time in a way. There is also a huge University campus here so its a combination of old, meets new.
On the way home
A whole section of the town is filled with vintage old car shops.
Some parts of town seem stuck in this year.
Old Jim N Nicks BBQ Joint
I like the old signs in this place.
Office to nowhere.
Photos about the town
Old Lucky Spot Liquor
I lived in one of the toughest areas of Oakland after college because rent was cheap. I found a nice remodeled apartment on the corner of East 7th St in a run down part of town and the price was right $475 for about 1000 square feet with hard-wood floors.
The inside of the apartment was really nice but on the other hand the outside was pretty tough. I think I was the only white guy in the neighborhood and boy did I stand out like a sore thumb.
Lucky Spot
Lucky Spot liquor was this dumpy little Liquor Store next to my place and I remember it well. It was so close that sometimes I would go there to buy groceries. When I would walk down the street, everyone would start yelling at me, “Hey Tony. How Ya Doin Tony?” I am not sure why they would yell that but probably because I stuck out in that neighborhood.
My car was broken into 5 times. I had two cars totaled just by drunk people driving into them. Someone drove off the road and into the front of the apartment and it seemed like every night police helicopters would be chasing crooks through the backyard behind the apartment. Every night was an episode of cops during my days in that apartment.
I headed back to Lucky Spot Liquor with Tu while we were on our way to the airport. I didn’t expect it to still be there but I was shocked to see it still was. The same dingy sign in the same neighborhood. I’m glad I don’t live there anymore but it sure made me appreciate how fortunate I am now to live in La Jolla. I guess I feel lucky and I am truly in a Lucky Spot.
Changing Neighborhood
The neighborhood has changed and we noticed it is mostly Vietnamese now. There are Vietnamese restaurants everywhere but there was also more graffiti.
I have to say one of the coolest things was much of the great street art that is in the neighborhood now. The neighborhood is looking just a little better these days.
In San Francisco with Susie Joe
I am not sure why I started calling her Susie Joe, I think it’s a good name. I like it. Tu and I were passing through Old Frisco when we gave my sister a buzz and said, “Hey Susie Joe, We’re on our way to Frisco”. She took the Ferry down from Vallejo and the rest was history.
We had a good time, hitting up the old town looking for things like Fresh Crab, Bread and playing vintage video games. It was a great little day in Frisco.
Susie Joe and Tu standing in front of a billboard in Old Frisco.
Susie admires an old 5 and Dime entertainment machine. 25 cents to watch Susie do the Can Can. The machine shakes making the puppet in the Hula Skirt Dance.
Fight of the Century (Not this Century, Last Century)
Susie and Tu posing with some Navy Guys in old Frisco
The old ships of San Francisco on the Marina.
We are not completely certain what happened here.
Bienvenidos a Miami
They call it the Magic City. A place of extreme culture where 35% of the city is of Cuban heritage and you can see it everywhere. I was on a business trip there this week for a banking conference and took my camera out after it was finished to capture some of the beauty of this place. Check out the whole gallery –Miami.
The beautiful palms are everywhere. The city was hot, but not too hot as it’s still spring.
This is South Beach. The architecture is amazing and old.
You can picture yourself in this island paradise.
Everyone has a boat in Miami. You need a boat.
It’s a city of beautiful art everywhere.
You have got to love the colors in Miami.
And you must work on your tan.
Miami is a beautiful place to visit.
Goodnight Miami
A Game of Yelp Roulette
This doesn’t have much to do with photography, but it is a fun thing that I have been playing that can really broaden your restaurant experiences. I call it Yelp Roulette but instead of winning in Vegas, or getting shot in the head like you might with Russian Roulette, you get to eat an amazing meal. It’s pretty simple to play, but you have to follow 3 simple rules.
#1 – You Need to Rely on Siri
The first thing that you need to do is pick up your phone and ask a simple question – “Where Should I Eat?”. The trick with Yelp Roulette is you need to rely on Siri to deliver you her suggestions. If you don’t have an iPhone, you’ll need to figure out the equivalent way on your Samsung phone
Step 2 – Read What Siri Recommends and Carefully Choose.
The second step is simple but requires you to make a choice. The way Siri works is that she will go out to Yelp and match your location with the top rated restaurants that are closest to you. You need to chose one of the first 5 restaurants displayed and click for directions to it. Typically you will be less than a block or two away from her recommendation but you will be going to the best restaurant that is closest to you. I find that there is typically a good variety of restaurants within the top 5 so you can still choose something that appeals to you at that moment.
Step 3 – Get to the Restaurant and Ask the Person, What is your Most Popular Item
Once you make it to the restaurant and ask the person or waiter there what the most popular dish is and order that. Now you are not only eating at the most popular Yelp restaurant closest to you but you increasing your odds of having a great dish by ordering the most popular item.
The final step is to publish your review to Yelp to keep the goodwill going. That my friends is Yelp Roulette!
11 Moody Black and White Shots from London
I was in London last week for business so I got up early one morning before work and did a photo walk to capture the mood of the city. In the winter it is quite cold and people are always in a rush. Everyone in London is in a rush
Men of London – I call this men of London, two guys having a smoke break on their phones.
Women of London – This is a bunch of gals just hanging out in doorways
In Between – This guy was walking in between big buildings.
Fancy Pants – Not sure why I like to call these guys fancy pants, all Londoners are.
Cell Phone Jimmy – This guy was on his cell phone with sun hitting him
Evil Tower – This tower seemed evil to me. This is Lloyds.
Street Sweepers – These are a throwback to bygone days.
Candy Crusher – These busses, wow they really jazzed them up.
I love Mormon – That’s what this bus says
Tower Bridge – Walking commuters on their way to work.
Suspicious Chicken – This suspicious chicken was giving me the evil eye.
