I mean, of course there is a man wandering across four lanes of moving traffic by Woodruff Park! I have neither the time nor patience to whiz through some of the major thoroughfares of the city on Google Maps, but I bet this kind of thing gets captured by the Street Viewmobile a lot considering the real-life frequency.
Previously: Google Freak View
What gives, Atlanta? I went cruising around this evening hoping to see some dazzling lit-up bungalows reflecting on the shiny wet streets (I mean, Thanksgiving is over, people!), but came home pretty empty-handed on Christmas inspiration. People get way more enthusiastic about Halloween decor in Atlanta than they do for Christmas, it sometimes seems, which could be a disappointment at the end of the year for those of us who love any excuse for staring at colored lights against the city night sky. (See also: crying at the BeltLine lantern parade; crying at Ten Thousand Points of Light.)
There’s one Midtown house, however, that I can always count on. (See also: Valentine’s Day; St. Patrick’s Day; Halloween.) Well, except for during Thanksgiving, which they ignored – I was in a sour mood all month because they took down the two-story spiderweb from Halloween and I had no idea WHAT season it was or WHICH holiday we were supposed to be anxiously anticipating until the gentlemen of the manor finally put out a dozen glowing red topiaries.
What I respect most about this house is they always have a good balance of night and day decor. They don’t want the people who are visiting Piedmont Park during daylight hours to be alienated from the festivities, so there are giant stockings and snowflakes to excite and bewilder passers-by. Then after dusk – the house is ablaze in holiday colors!
My other two annual favorites are Edgewood Animal Clinic in the Old Fourth Ward:
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(EDITOR’S NOTE: Knowing what fans we are of both Murder, She Wrote AND Transit TV, many of our readers have been dying to know, “When will Pecanne Log break their legendary silence over the passing of Tom Bosley, which occurred way back on October 19?” Consider the silence SHATTERED…we just didn’t want to let the tragedy ruin Halloween. Now let’s move on to the holiday at hand.)
Everyone enjoy your Thanksgiving, no matter how far yonder you have to go to celebrate!
Which Southern stereotype are you most thankful for?
(And since you asked, that little number is from the deliiiiiiiiiiiightful Bloodhounds of Broadway.)
Annette Cook was a 15-year-old Grady High School student on a mission – to get Atlanta to shut the h-e-double-hockey-sticks up!
This little video was made in 1974 to educate us on the possible health damages of environmental noise pollution, but instead I was mesmerized by the absolutely beautifully-shot scenes of Annette biking through Atlanta in her dark cape and white knit gloves.
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Dust-to-Digital is releasing the 20th anniversary edition of Ten Thousand Points of Lights, a documentary (directed by George King) that introduces us to the Townsends, a chain-smoking, Divorce Court-addicted Stone Mountain family and their modest little ranch home which is a year-round homage to Elvis but, at a Christmas, becomes a kitschy fantasy land of twinkling colored lights, decaying tinsel garlands, Santa potholders, and a nativity scene made from s’more ingredients. For 17 years, they opened their home every holiday season to strangers who would come from all over to admire and tour “the Christmas house” (if the guests could follow Uncle Ray’s rules and not ask stupid questions about the power bill). The documentary follows the Christmas house’s last season in the public eye – after 1990, the whole family moved to Charlotte.
I don’t want to try to describe any of the special and hilarious moments and the marvelous characters in this film because I won’t do them justice – just get your hands on this beautiful Dust-to-Digital packaging and special features that include commentary and “where are they now?” interviews of three of the family members. The interview with granddaughter Gloria mentions the conspiracy theories around the appearance of an Elvis-loving nun in the Christmas house when the cameras were rolling. (Rumors were flying that the nun was a plant!)
This would make a very festive stocking stuffer, I might add!
(UPDATE: And here’s the video promo. Cute!)
Nowadays, the closest thing we have to this in that part of town is Stone Mountain Park’s creepy snow angel, which you have to PAY to see.
Previously: Atlanta Singles Celebrate! the Holidays
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