born again elvis
10 Oct 2013
state fair
17 Sep 2013Some more photos from the Tennessee State Fair this weekend:
And my personal favorite:
pig racing
09 Sep 2013
Pig Racing at the Tennessee State Fair. September 9, 2013.
The title pretty much says it all. To the winner go the slops.
skull’s rainbow room
03 Sep 2013
The past few weeks I’ve been lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the renovation of a Nashville landmark: Skull’s Rainbow Room. The Rainbow Room sits largely forgotten at the corner of Printer’s Alley, where it had been used (until recently) for storage. In its glory days, though, Skull’s Rainbow Room was a lively joint known for its live music, burlesque dancing, and strippers. The proprietor himself, Skull Schulman, was quite a character himself. He was a tall (6’4″) thin man, known for his colorful hats and patchwork suits (I am not making this up), and his flamboyant presence earned him the moniker of the unofficial mayor of Printer’s Alley. In later years, as Nashville struggled with the urban decay that plagued so many downtown areas, Printer’s Alley fell into ruin. The Rainbow Room held out for quite some time, until the late ’90s. Skull had a reputation for carrying large amounts of cash to give out to the homeless, and sadly it was this reputation that drove two men to invade his bar and murder him in 1998 — a tragic end to Skull and his Rainbow Room, which has sat empty ever since.
Not much remains in the space, today, but I did find his TV to be a charming relic — I like how he has a reminder for wrestling at the top. I’d like to think the lipstick kiss plastered to a wall in the office belonged to Heaven Lee, but I know that’s off by several decades (and she mostly worked at the Black Poodle).
These bottles of whiskey were tucked under the stage. I would imagine bottles of Lew Motlow’s would be worth a bit of money, but they were empty (yes, I checked).
semi truck
18 Jun 2013
This is a semi-truck in the fog. I don’t know why, but I like it, so I’m posting it even though it’s just a semi-truck in the fog. It looks like a movie set. A set for a movie about a semi-truck. in the fog.
fire
12 Jun 2013
I told myself I’d only post new photos on this blog, but as I’m laid up in the house like an invalid, I’m breaking the rule. I re-processed an old photo of a friend from 2010 last night out of boredom. I liked the result.
fan fair
11 Jun 2013
Every year, I make a point of getting out to Fan Fair. I realize it’s not called that anymore — CMA something? I am certain it’s not actually CMApocalypse. Fan Fair. But anyway, yes, while most Nashvillians flee the downtown area, I dive in headfirst. It’s quite an experience: nothing you wouldn’t normally see bits and pieces of on any given day on lower Broad, but during Fan Fair, the volume gets turned to 11. I always have a blast.
balloon man
10 Jun 2013
Balloon artist on lower Broadway.
Nashville, TN. June 7, 2013.
The Balloon Man’s 5 rules:
- Say Please (Di Por Favor.)
- A balloon does not go in your mouth.
- It is your balloon and you have to carry it.
- If you are BAD whoever is in charge of you gets to pop your balloon.
- – For Swords Only – Do not fight with anyone who does not have a sword.
balloon man revisited
10 Jun 2013
Nashville, TN. June 9, 2013
I went back to take photos of this guy on Sunday. In retrospect I think I like this photo better than the one I posted earlier — something about the vignette created in my head by the gaggle of laughing hipsters paying no heed to the sad balloon man.
vintage baseball
21 May 2013
Franklin Farriers vs. Nashville Maroons
Bicentennial Mall, Nashville, TN. May 19, 2013.
I went out to the bicentennial mall this weekend to catch some vintage (1860s) baseball. I didn’t have a ton of time, but I stayed long enough to grab some photos and learn at least one rule (catching the ball after one bounce is still an out). It was a blast! The next game is June 2 at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, so head on out there if you want to see it.
lady fury
17 May 2013
Lady Fury of the Nashville Rollergirls.
Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN. May 11, 2013.
pigeon forge
15 Apr 2013
Pigeon Forge, TN. April 13, 2013.
Nice spring weather for a fire in the mountains at Pigeon Forge.