Street Fair, Tailgating

In addition to coffee ⛾ I enjoy street fairs.
The Woodlawn Market takes place about four times a year. It has become a popular place because of the revitalization that is and has taken place in the area. Rehabbing of desolate buildings into updated homes or into new uses such as businesses, clinics, child care and growth initiatives.

Booths at the Woodlawn Street Market

On market days vendor tents abound.  Food, produce stand, artisan clothing, art, jewelry, human interest groups. There may even be a few freestyle dancers.

I always accept the business cards of the various booths I visit. Here are just a few. Many of the artists dislike having their work photographed and so I never do unless I ask first. 

Below are some of the items I did buy

I was told that the green tops of radishes are edible. I found a recipe online, cooking them the same way as turnip greens are cooked. They have a little more bite than turnips greens. I remedied that by adding a little sugar.  They were good but unpleasantly aromatic. I also took some of the bottoms and baked them in the oven the same way I've done other root vegetables in the past. Make sure you wash  everything well because they were pretty gritty.    

Radishes before cleaning

Radishes before baking

Cooked radishes and radish green

The bowl cozy comes in handy when removing hot foods from the microwave .

Next day tailgating

A friend invited me to her church for their annual tailgating event. Church service is first held inside. Afterwards congregants flood the church grounds where tents, food and activities abound.

There were car  and motorcycle exhibits .

Children enjoyed the whirly car rides

Train rides around the property were enjoyed. There were other 

attractions also. Inside there was even a Cake Walk.

Line dancers (I don't remember the name of the group.)😞

This will be my first attempt at trying to upload a video on Windows 10😐 I've got a feeling it's not going to show. 

That's it***

It's A Senior AfFAIR

If you use your TV remote

to make phone calls,  you might be a senior citizen.











When you see another woman wearing ugly shoes

and you ask if they are comfortable, you might be a senior citizen.



If a young person tells you how good

copied from webstaurantstore.com

the Black-Eyed Peas are and you say thank you, you might be a senior citizen.

T

There are so many programs now for Senior citizens. Taking care of the body and mind is important once the routine of work and family takes a dramatic change.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) sponsored a Senior Fit  Health Fair at Railroad Park.

According to trekbirmingham.com  ideas for  a park in downtown Birmingham began as early as the 1950’s and was tossed around for the next 50 years.

During the fall of 2010, the park became a reality. The original name, The Railroad Reservation Park  was changed to Railroad Park. Honoring  the railroad history of Birmingham, Alabama  the 19 acre property is a sweeping vista of flora native to the area. Along with open lawns, well defined arbors are placed strategically throughout the park providing a shady respite for joggers and those escaping the excruciating southern summer heat . Water features add calm and beauty as visitors relax on benches and structures many of which were built from recycled bricks and other objects unearthed during construction of the park.  

Up until this year I’d never set foot onto Railroad Park.

Attending the Senior Health Fair afforded me the opportunity to visit the park.

There were a number of booths available providing, minimal eye tests, hearing tests, information on heart, blood pressure, memory, transportation, care giving respite and much more. All was informative. 

Periodically, exercise routines were demonstrated with 

impromptu participation by attendees. 

Healthy food was available .

These are some of the freebies doled out by the vendors. 

If it was something I couldn't use, I didn't take it

See the green arrow by the ear buds? They must 

have been for children because the span from left ear to 

right ear under the chin was about 5 inches. 😮 Couldn't 

use them.

I've seen these representations of Vulcan in other places in the city.

Each one is unique.The plaque to the lower left shows

who is sponsoring this particular artistic design .

 This one is titled  Magic City Lights. I'm unable to decipher its artist.

I'm appreciative to BCBS and others for sponsoring this Senior Health Fair.  I plan to participate in the various programs as long as I can. When I was a child it seemed that seniors A.K.A. "old people" just sat on the porch, were cranky to kids, and went to church. Now that I have become a senior, there are so many programs and activities available to ensure the golden years are bright. 

That's It***

Next week - "He stole my skin"

B-Uniq Sophisticated Ladies 7th Anniversary

March 1, 2019 was the Seventh Anniversary of B-Uniq Sophisticated Ladies (BUSL)  The Uniq is intentionally spelled that way to make it Unique.
BUSL Queen, Queen T.  assigned pairs of us to decorate a table. Regalia colors of red and purple for Red Hatters and pink and lavender for Pink Hatters were to be used. Gold, silver, pearls, rhinestones and any other bling could be used at will. That's a large part of being a Hatter- blinging it up.

The tables would be judged by visiting Queens who'd be attending the anniversary. There would be a first, second and third place winner.  Below are the tables. A wide array of items were used making each table unique.

I can't remember who won, but whoever it was deserved it. All of the ladies worked hard.

In addition to this stand out feature, there was a program which included, impersonators of The Supremes, Ike & Tina Turner,  an illusionist and a true singer of an Aretha Franklin song. Each year we have Mr. M. our fantastic DJ  jamming out the tunes. There was a silent auction, door prizes, vendors, lunch, dancing, and all sorts of gaiety. 

Several of the BUSL hatters husbands are always champs in helping out with the heavy lifting, driving and just wherever they can help out. I've jokingly said that we should call them Red Cappers and get them red caps since most men seem to prefer a cap to a hat.

There were about 140 ladies who attended the Seventh Anniversary.  It was great seeing many who'd come in from out of town and who I'd made friends with at other hoots.

 After such a grand and joyous affair, I slept like a log that night.  ZZZZ

END ***

COLLARD GREEN COOK OFF

This was my first time attending the collard green cook off. This is its eighth year of having this community event. 

"Urban Ministry is the inner city ministry of the United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Our mission is to serve poor and low-income persons in the Birmingham area with programs of compassion and wholeness."

Getting the preliminaries out of the way. House rules, restroom, registering, local neighborhood president.

It was an enjoyable event with vendors, AARP, children's activities, and a blues band that was fabulous.

Some of the vendors tents

Sassy Brown Band

I was under the impression that we would be voting on greens cooked by various cooks. Instead we were treated to a meal of cornbread, collards, a navy bean type soup, baked sweet potato, marinated cucumbers and fruit drink.  I only had greens and cucumbers and both were good. I could taste the freshness in both.

The weather cooperated with intermittent sweeps of sun and breezes.
THAT'S IT***

Neighborhood Farmers Markets

I tip my hat to East Lake United Methodist Church. They gave me my first chance at being a vendor for my crafted goods.

But not only that, it has stayed in a changing neighborhood when many others would have sold or abandoned the church. Their motto being, In the Neighborhood for Good.I spoke with one of the members who was wearing a shirt with this very motto on the pocket.

There aren't nearly as many vendors as there once were. Some of that can be attributed to the numerous pop up farmers markets that are in various communities now. At the time I was a vendor there were few fresh vegetable markets in the area  that offered fresh food at reasonable prices.

This is a very large church building with a very small congregation. They also have a 2nd hand store inside and they sell hot lunches everyday. They seem to get a large crowd for the lunches.

The church is beautiful inside and I'm sure it is expensive to maintain such a large structure. But, they've been holding on.

One of the members told me that the bell tower doesn't hold a bell and never did. The bell tower is now a cell tower rented to Verizon. Like he said, "you've got to pay the bills."

P.S. You may have noticed that the text is larger. It seemed to small and not dark enough in my last posts.

THAT'S IT 

Local Caribbean Culture

I attended the Caribbean Festival held each year by various people from the islands.

Vendors galore. They had the jerk chicken, curried goat and etc.

 Tin painted ornament from Haiti

 McDonald's had a booth. Spin the wheel and win a prize. I won this coffee carafe.

 Stilt walker

 More vendors

Great steel band. They put a reggae spin on all of their songs.











Very hot day.
That's it***

A TASTE OF 4TH AVENUE

The jazz was smooth and cool on September 22nd at the 9th annual TASTE OF FOURTH AVENUE.
Each year the street is blocked off and some of the most talented musicians perform.
Fourth Avenue was a bustling business district for Black people before integration  in Birmingham, Alabama. Whatever you needed, it could be found at a business located there.  Doing business within the confines of these few city blocks, people of color felt comfortable and treated with respect. Oftentimes business owners were neighbors or fellow church members and relatives whick helped to bond  people closer together.



photo copied from disboards.com

After integration 4th Avenue became something of a ghost town accompanied by a seedy reputation . Over the past 25 or more years, efforts have been made to restore the area and restore business and arts programs. The metamorphosis has been stupendous. Just a block away is the  Birmingham Civil Rights Institute which draws visitors from all over the world.

Additionally The infamous 16th Street Baptist Church is across the street from Civil Rights Institute.

Euge Groove performs. An artist paints as the musicians play

During Fourth Avenue's  dark days a decent person wouldn't think of walking the Avenue day or night. To see  all of the  positive renewal that has taken place is very rewarding. The one time Carver Movie Theatre is now the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame It stands to reason that an annual jazz concert would go hand in glove with the rest .

This year's  jazz festival began at 2 pm and was scheduled until 9pm.  I rode shotgun with a friend who preferred to wait until the sun was down and the climate was cooler. This was a great idea because there was just enough breeze in the air to stay comfortable. This year's headliner was  saxophonist  Stephen Eugene Grove better known as Euge Groove.  If you've never heard this man play you've missed out. His discography is endless. Who has he played with? Instead Who HASN'T he played with.? Need to relax? His music will mellow you out. His performance included tracks from his CD as well as an improvised arrangement of Amazing Grace .
Shielded by security Euge Groove descended the stage to walk through the audience serenading as he went. It was  a great performance by the headliner and the talented local musicians as well.  I always sleep well and have a warm fuzzy feeling after a great concert.

Upper left: Tekneek performs. Upper rt.: Carved wooden chairs with an African motif. :lower left: additional African crafts and art. Lower rt. Artwork

THAT'S IT***

JUNETEENTH

Degrees in the 70's with a cool breeze was perfect for this years Juneteenth Celebration. Opened by the Allstars  Band comprised of star band students from all over the state. A fantastic band, the students were multi-talented displaying dance steps and practiced moves that seemed second nature to them.

The Corvette Club took up the rear of the mini parade. Auto owners flaunted the special features of their "rides" as onlookers cheered and photographed or videotaped the show.

The talent and vendors  this year were not as large as in the past but still worth seeing.



The Goins Sisters singing Gospel



 A lady in green allows me to take her picture.

This post has been a headache which I believe to be the blogger website. Slow downloads af pictures and constant halting while typing text. I've had the same thing happen with the typing on public computers. The cursor disappears.