Recently came across some old black and white photos of my part of town via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) I’d like to share. As much as I love vintage clothes, accessories and housewares I also enjoy a vintage photo that captures the times when life was a little more…simple. These photos are streets I drive on every single day, where I live and buildings I’ve seen transformed.
Intersection of Piedmont and Ponce de Leon looking north, probably in the 1930s
*Currently there is a gas station on either side of the street and all those cool looking cars are probably in museums.
Workers move in to fill a huge chasm under Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1955. The cavity at Penn Avenue extended 42 1/2 feet below the street and was 25 feet in diameter.
*We Atlanta drivers recognize this type of construction! Only now it’s covered with a HUGE metal plate (aka bandage) and scares the living crap out of us when we drive over it!
The Sears, Roebuck and Company building in 1979. It would eventually become City Hall East and is now in the process of being transformed in Ponce City Market.
*My home is just behind this massive building that I’ve seen first hand go from an abandoned building to one of the biggest makeovers in ATL, very excited for the completion of Ponce City Market!
Plaza Drugs has been an Atlanta landmark since 1951. This photo was taken in 1981 by AJC staffer Ray West, who also happens to be Kanye West’s father. Urban Outfitters now occupies this space. Photo: Ray West.
*This location is pretty rad! They kept it relatively the same on the exterior when transforming it into UO, where I actually worked at a few years back since I was able to walk to it from my apartment that was just around the corner. Really like this strip, which is also home to my fav salon Shear Love and a great boutique called Wild Flag.
Old Briarcliff Hotel at the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and North Highland Avenue. Photo taken July 14, 1980.
*This went from a hotel to a housing unit for crazy folks and drug addicts, or at least that’s what we speculated lived there because they’d visit us at UO. Now it’s being renovated and turned into apartments which I think is a fabulous idea as it’s a great spot location wise!
The refurbishing of Briarcliff Plaza, at North Highland and Ponce de Leon avenues, was a key event in the rebirth of the neighborhood. This photo is from 1987.
Development of the old Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant (and, behind it, the Kroger) on Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, March 22, 1985.
*So this is where I live! Yep, an old Ford Factory! Despite living next to intense construction over at Ponce City Market my time living here has been great, especially with the location being convenient to restaurants, bars and my personal favorite Kroger!
How neat is this? Love a good Flashback!! Thanks AJC for sharing! There’s many more photos but these are so familiar to me that they instantly became my favorites.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Hope every had good weekend! Mine was quite relaxing which is just what I needed. Didn’t snap any pics-well besides ones I took on my phone and posted to Instagram- so I wanted to share some photos from Christmas. Dustin and I took advantage of the sun and experimented with the 40mm “pancake” lens. It’s size is perfect to keep on the camera for daily use and is still able to snap crisp images. I’m thoroughly impressed!
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Jcrew sweater, Christy’s London hat, Free People top
2013 was filled with great memories and outfits! I loved many looks I wore and tried not to photograph ones that weren’t so thrilling. Slowly but surely, I continued to figure out who I “am” and getting used to the idea of being in my late twenties. A couple friends got married including my old college and Atlanta roommate and dear friend Ashleigh who gave me the title of maid-of-honor. My parents moved houses, youngest brother graduated from undergrad and older-younger brother bought a loft with his wife. I met my soul mate and adopted a kitten and learned that not all cats are created equal (or sane). Per usual I had a blast with my lady friends and Vino and Vajayjayz parties continue. I signed a new lease breaking a personal record for living in the same household since moving out on my own in 2004, which is a whopping 2 years! I started freelancing for Jezebel magazine as their street style photographer and took my photography to the next level with a major equipment upgrade with a Canon 5D Mark II. Blogging, of course, continues to be a passion of mine and I’m thrilled about my newest venture with WordPress. Life in Atlanta was and is good and only getting better! Here’s a recap of some of my favorite outfits/looks/moments from 2013-
GRANT PARK
One of my favorite photo collaborations was with
Betsy McPherson who is an old neighbor and friend that I met up with in Grant Park, our old stomping grounds, for an afternoon of overalls, sparklers and mosquitos. Loved the turn out and the outfits I styled including this Anthro jean jumper, see full post
here.
SHAKY KNEES
Believe it or not this was the less muddy/rainy day of the 2-day music fest! I’ve been to a lot of music festivals but this one will go down as the fest with the worst weather but nearly tied with day two of Music Midtown. Praying that 2014 is less rainy because I can’t take another year as wet as 2013. See full post here.
MUMFORD AND SONS
After not being chosen in the “lottery” to purchase tickets to this show Dustin and I weaseled our way into getting our hands on Mumford tickets and were so excited to watch them preform at Centennial Olympic Park! We hung out on a picnic blanket through the openers and then, hand in hand, enjoyed every last note of their tear jerking performance. Such a pleasant evening and I absolutely LOVE the sunlight in this photo! See full post here.
TURNING 27
In March I had luau for my birthday at Trader Vics and celebrated turning the odd age of 27. Didn’t feel too much different from 26 but overall I have noticed a gradual “slowing down” happening with going out and partying. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always have fun but there has been a shift from the early-twenties “fun” to the later-twenties “fun” that I don’t mind a bit. I’d much rather have my friends gather around a table for a potluck and drinks than come home from a bar smelling like smoke and have your ears ringing from overly loud music. There are lots of aspects of this time period of my life I’d like to touch base on and will do so over the next couple months as it’s almost time for a yet another birthday.
Photo by Darius Soodmand. See full post here.
JEZEBEL MAGAZINE PARTY
Two things about this photo: First, one of my biggest blogging goals became a reality when Free People offered complimentary products for me to style and blog. Since starting my website in 2007 all I wanted to “get” out of the experience-besides archiving my evolving style-was to gain some sort of sponsorship with my favorite brands. I was ecstatic when I was able to select and style a dress from my favorite boho company! Secondly, this photo is from an event I attended for Jez Magazine where I saw my first in-print street style layout. I squealed with joy and felt very proud of myself and will remember this moment I shared with Dustin. See full post here.
#LADIEZBEACHTIMEZ
A last minute trip to PCB ended up being a very rare experience that involved flying in a private jet down to a beach vacation with five of my girl friends! We snapped so many “hey look, we are flying on a private jet” pics but who wouldn’t?! See full post here.
HAWAII
In April, Stephanie and I took a trip to Hawaii that was an experience I’ll never forget for so many reasons! I can’t thank her enough for all she did with helping me make the trip possible. Having never earned a paid-day-off aka vacation time I don’t go on many legit vacations and she made it happen. See full post here.
FAVORITE DEALS
Scored many pretty pieces to add to my wardrobe that I’m currently shaping into the “real me” and less the person I kinda, sorta, think I am or want to become. Besides those few girls that are born with amazing style I think it just takes time and learning from mistakes to figure out your wardrobe. Trying to teach myself to remember that quality over quantity is important and to always have a few basics instead of all-loud-and-eccentric-everything, still learning and doubt this will happen overnight! See full post here.
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
Another photo collaboration with local photographer Josh Gywn. His direction and eye for capturing beautiful images was refreshing to work with, this image was my favorite from our day out at Stone Mountain. See full post here.
BRUNCH
Really liked this outfit I wore to a blogger brunch with Kel and Natalie. Since we were (mostly) sitting down I was able to wear these wedges. Sucks not being able to wear heels or wedges regularly but I make due with my boots and fashion sneakers. See full post here.
2013 NYE-Soirée in the Stars
Chelsea and I threw a New Years bash at the Highland Ballroom that will be filed in the “Badass Parties” chapter of my life. We planned it from start to finish, handmade most of the decor, promoted and sold out the event! It was the first time I set up a photobooth, learning a lot about camera lighting, and overall was very proud of our party planning skills. See full post here.
-NEW INK-
Got two new tattoos in 2013 including this one that Sam Parker at Memorial Tattoo on Carol Street and I drew up and also the word “curiosity” on the front of my foot. Strange fact: I have a total of three heart tattoos in various forms. See full post here.
DUSTIN
My fondest 2013 moment is finding my love, Dustin, at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in a torrential downpour during Band of Horses. Little did we know we’d be head over heals for one another and planning a future together a short time after the muddy fest. So thankful and excited for the present and future with this guy! See full post here.
2013 was an enlightening year with many great memories shared here on the blog and of course experienced in private. One thing I’d like to work on in the new year is more writing. I find it to be therapeutic but also want my blog to be image heavy so I’ll be filing thoughts in a whole different area of the blog, sharing opinions on everything from life, movies, music, clothes, love, etc and also bringing in a few contributors!
I’m looking forward to the natural changes and directions that life takes me, I hope you’re looking forward to seeing them here on LF!
