In Kirkwood: A Walk With Maddox

A Visit To The Kirkwood Urban Forest

"We have a Safety Third rule," Caroline told me. "Have fun first. Look good second. Safety comes third." That said, I am happy to report the only thing burned last Wednesday was the gasoline. She and I used one last hour of daylight to explore a ruined house. Then, after a quick check with her telephone/mirror, the pyrotechnics began. Look for her crew to perform at Paris On Ponce among the annual weekend of Bastille Day festivities, July 15-17.

Seen At The Kirkwood Spring Fling

Such coordinated dressing, they assured me, was entirely serendipitous.

That 70's Show

Lanta Gras put our city's unique stamp upon Mardi Gras hijinks.
Earth Wind & Fire blasted from the Soul Train leading revelers through the streets of Kirkwood. Look here for more pictures of the fun.

Roll Model: Sharif Hassan

Kirkwood resident Sharif Hassan wears many hats, from mixologist at TOP FLR and Argosy to doorman at the Tabernacle. His photographs from the streets of Cairo during the Arab Spring are a tribute to both his eye and daring. Now he has partnered with his brother, Ezz-Eldin, to test and market clothing for commuter cyclists. Called The Spindle, their venture began “in April 2013 as a blog, a pre-interview, to become a resource for community and manufactures to give them feedback for what works and what doesn’t, like the placement of a seam.” A former bike messenger, he knows from frequently blowing through pants and once took five pairs of jeans to bag maker Dustin Morado for stitching.
Hassan relishes riding in bad weather because “We test all the clothing we carry. Here it’s snowing one day and 70 the next, so I just dive into the bad weather when we get it. It’s nice to see how other people are decked out and what works for them. There’s no such thing as foul weather. There are only unprepared people.”
“Swerve makes a pair of jeans I pretty much live in,” he says of today’s outfit, which includes a jacket from Mission Workshop and DZR all weather clip-in shoes for his “urban assault vehicle”. Of its fixed 52x15 gearing, fat tires for the potholes and no brakes, he explains, “I like to build up death traps. I like to ride things other people won’t.”
The rest of us benefit from his hard won knowledge. “The whole idea is to create a new community of riders who are not hardcore. Introducing them to commuting apparel opens that door as a viable option for a new category of people who bike to festivals, art shows and bars.”

Street Scene: Millinery in Kirkwood

The revelation of one’s creative calling is an epiphany. Mine came from the photography stacks of the Richmond Public Library.
Tina Kite found her destiny reading about milliner Amy Hamilton of Granville Millinery Company in Ohio. All I had to do was hit the streets with camera in hand, Doisneau and Erwitt in mind. Kite searched in vain for an Atlanta tutor before reaching out to Hamilton, who invited her to visit Ohio for lessons. She returned from this introduction wanting more. When Waltraud Reiner of Australia announced a millinery workshop in the northeastern US, the plucky neophyte persuaded her to add an Atlanta event. Doing so required becoming its hostess. A friend skilled in public relations found them ink in the AJC and students traveled from as far away as Virginia and South Carolina. Talk about paying it forward. From these auspicious beginnings, Kite’s practice flourishes today. Ever generous, she gave an afternoon and valuable counsel to the model and me. These images are the fruit of our collaboration.
Intrigued? Crafty, DIY types should know of a workshop led by North Carolina milliner Jan Wutkowski at the Spruill Center in May. Please follow this link for details.

A Visit To Kirkwood

In Kirkwood: Kitchen Chic At Dulce Vegan

Becky Striepe calls her creations Cupcaprons. For sale at Dulce Vegan, they are but one way the lady behind Glue and Glitter has found to enjoy reducing our ecological footprint. "Cooking is so much greener than takeout," says she. If "a cute apron encourages you to get in the kitchen and put a meal together, I hope that I can make one to inspire you!"