Since I give architectural tours in downtown LA, I’m used to telling people to look up, not only here, but every where. In NOLA our guide begged us to please look down since sidewalks and streets attack people here. I still managed to look up.
To see Mardi Gras beads dangling off signs.
Or just to see a sign with my name on it. No, I didn’t go in, I didn’t even try pralines, Beignets, Pecan Pie and King Cake were enough sweets for me.
Or seeing the sign for H Rault, the business has been around since 1845, don’t know if the sign is that old. I do love the keyhole. Good design. Btw they are a great resource for anyone trying to renovate an old New Orleans house.
I did go into the yarn store and I came out empty handed! How is that for self control? We had lunch next door at Sylvain, on a friend’s recommendation, it was delicious.
Then there is the broken glass on tops of walls. This is a known method of burglary prevention all over the world. I think it is pretty effective.
Even when placed right next to a pineapple finial – the sign of welcome and hospitality.
I don’t remember anymore what this chain was holding. But what a wonderful cast iron face.
Then there are the combination of textures, the old wood shutter, the stucco building and the S-shape wrought iron. I think it’s there to keep the windows sealed.
No matter how strong your fence, nature will have it’s way, it may take a long time for the tree to grow and push the fence out of whack – but the tree will win.
A railing painted white, surrounded by green.
On Bienville old French buildings were torn down and the only Art Deco building in the quarter went up. There is more Art Deco downtown, but shortly after this happened, a movement started to save the character of the Quarter.
Who are these guys? What are they discussing? Today this is a very high end condo complex. I love the reflection of the older building across the street in the windows, windows are a wonderful thing.
Right underneath him is a spa, for relaxing, Maybe he’s contemplating how to get down there.
And finally in the look up department. On the street car going to and from the Garden District, one passes this massive circle, Lee Circle with it’s 60 ft high marble column with General Lee Standing atop it. Yes, these days people want it to come down, I say those who erase history are doomed to follow the worst parts of it. Leave General Lee alone, he accepted defeat at Appomattox, he bravely fought the war and when it was time to admit defeat he did. Of course it is very hard to see him unless you are a good distance away, like in the warehouse district. Even then, it took enlarging the picture for me to see that a pigeon flew all the way up to his hat to find a perch.
This is long enough for one post, there are still plenty of things to share.
Leah