Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Foreclosed 30310 Homes on the Auction Block
Posted by: lain // Category: West End, Atlanta // 10:41 am
More often than not, our zip code is in the news for the wrong reasons.
This time around, we’re featured in the AJC for our unusually high foreclosure rate. 30310 is offering up 26 homes for auction this evening.
Regarding potential buyers, the article quotes West End real estate blogger Nia Knowles–
“My fear is we’re going to have the same issue we had before. I don’t want to be stuck with houses that aren’t properly managed by some investor who just flew in.”
If you live, say, outside of 30310 and read the papers, I wouldn’t blame you if you thought that the state of affairs in West End was pretty grim.
After all, we’ve been plagued by mortgage fraud, more than most communities. Last November one dude pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud charges that affected 80 different properties, most of them in West End.
Thing is, I really like working in this neighborhood. The people here are great, and the houses (that haven’t been foreclosed upon) are beautiful. I walk from the Marta station most days.
And, significantly, there’s a sense of community here that many neighborhoods will never have.
While it’s a shame that bad press like this can fuel skewed perceptions, at least there’s the potential for new neighbors to purchase an intown house for a steal.
Previously:
- West End Tour of Homes Concert
- West End Tour of Homes Photo Gallery
- 30310 Foreclosures Continue
- Wren’s Nest Staff Recommends West End Restaurants
Wren’s Nest Fest is Today
Posted by: lain // Category: Storytelling, West End, Atlanta, Events // 7:20 am
So, we’ll be out of the office and in the backyard. Don’t you dare call this office unless you want to hear our new, one-day-only voicemail message.
If you’re feeling limber, and you don’t much want to go to the H&M opening or need something to do before the Wordsmiths Birthday Party, Wren’s Nest Fest might be just what the doctor ordered.
Might I suggest that you take a long lunch break and hang out with us for a picnic? We’ll even grill you a hot dog.
More information here, and as always, directions are here.
Comments: 0Update on the Art Block Summer Camp
Posted by: lain // Category: West End, Shirking Responsibility, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Wren's Nest Publishing Co., Transparency // 12:14 pm
A few weeks back we discussed the Art Block–the summer camp for middle schoolers we’re hosting right now–and how nobody had signed up.
Well, I’m pleased to say that we had seventeen kids sign up at the eleventh hour. Way to be, us.
Unfortunately, the kids are no longer writing their play at the Wren’s Nest as previously planned. Uh oh.
Instead, they’ll be creating the play entirely at Hammonds House and the West End Performing Arts Center (home of Fly-By Theatre) right down the street.
There are two reasons for this, and they’re certainly related:
1. Our professional writers disappeared faster than the drummers of Spinal Tap.
2. The other artistic professionals who took over the writing component deemed our workspace too “depressing,” our dining room too “cramped,” and our outside too “hot.”
Had we been able to provide a writer, the theater people would have been spared the horror of our venue.
And while it’s our own fault for not anchoring down a writer, I think it would have been irresponsible for us to involve a contract when the Art Block may or may not have had campers. I wouldn’t have wanted to explain to our accountant how we just paid someone, say, $2,000 because s/he woulda taught a camp for us, except we couldn’t come up with any campers. Oops!
Frankly, we’re not too upset about our lack of involvement.
After all, the camp is indeed happening, plus it’s a lot less work for us and a lot less wear and tear on the house. No doubt the kids will put on a great show without our help–
In the meantime, I’m happy to get on with the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company. It’s more exciting for me…which is what counts. Who did you think we were doing this for, the children?
Comments: 0Everybody’s Working on the Weekend
Posted by: Amelia // Category: West End, Events, Shirking Responsibility, Ladies Night // 12:33 pm
Now, I know the kids these days often use their Friday nights for wooing their sweethearts and going to the disco, but here at the Wren’s Nest, we have bigger and better things to do.
Specifically, host a great and totally confusing (for us) concert! Woot!
(Theresa Hightower, doing what she does best: singing about thinly veiled sexual euphemisms! Dentist’s drill, anyone?)
Friday night the Wren’s Nest hosted (totally awesome) Theresa Hightower to kick off the West End Tour of Homes. We used our splendid amphitheater and guests brought their own food and drink, which made things pretty easy on our end.
(Food adorably carted in a wagon and Theresa Hightower in the background.)
In fact, we had so little responsibility, we actually had no idea what was going on. Luckily, there was wine, so we quickly got over our worry and had a grand old time. Like these people:
Or these people, including Board Chair-to-be Janice:
Or even these people, featuring recently-blogged-about West End Developer Suna Om (she gave me her card!):
Frankly, a good time was had by all and the only downside was that we had to lie and say our bathroom was out of order.
Sometimes people forget that port-o-lets are not just for decoration. And yes, while you really have to go, we really need to not have people trying to bust into the museum. Sigh.
Part 2 of our weekend adventures coming tomorrow!
Until then, you can tide yourself over with pictures on the Wren’s Nest’s facebook page! (Not a fan of the Wren’s Nest yet? Don’t talk to us. You sicken me. Err, become one today!)
Comments: 2May Day at the Wren’s Nest and Photo Gallery
Posted by: lain // Category: West End, Atlanta, What Would JCH Do?, High School Hijinx, Historical Quagmires // 12:13 pm
Well, it looks like the Wren’s Nest is bringing back the May Day Festival. I know this because I read it in this morning’s paper.
Also, because we’re helping organize it. Durr.
If you read the article, you’ll note that there was a May Day celebration here at the Wren’s Nest for over 70 years.
Our amphitheater was built in the 1920s for the celebration, and the walkway that leads up to it commemorates each May Queen from 1909 - 1983.
It was a very formal affair, and quite a big deal to the organizations in charge of the Wren’s Nest before our current non-profit board took over in 1984.
In fact, the May Day festival ended up eclipsing Joel Chandler Harris and the Brer Rabbit stories in terms of organizational priorities. From what I can gather, it was done under the guise of “what Joel Chandler Harris would have wanted.” I think it was more “what they wanted,” but oh well.
The same sort of excuse was used to justify segregation of the Wren’s Nest, and as we now know, that claim was absolutely false.
That said, the May Day festival was a pretty neat tradition. There would be a parade down Gordon Street (now R.D.A.), and it would culminate in our back yard.
We’ve got a scrapbook of pictures from each year, and I’ve included one from each decade below. Have fun!
Mary Colcord was the first May Queen of the Flower Festival. Here she is in 1909.
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Before Ludacris, I suppose this is how you dropped dem bows in Atlanta. Look at the size of those things!
Christine McEachern was the May Queen in 1915. She’s surrounded by: (standing, left to right) Mary Gresham, Julia Greene, Louise Nichols, Evelyn Jordan, Maude Foster, Dorothy Brogdon, and (seated) Kathryn Stoy and Margaret White.
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Elizabeth Camp in 1927.
She’s surrounded by (standing, left to right) Sara Harrison, Madeline Wrigley, Beatrice Robinson, and Sara McCormack. Then, seated: Jane Spink, Charlotte Richards, Virginia Dillon, and Celeste Houston.
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Betty O’Kelly was the May Queen in 1932.
Apparently you had to be escorted to the stage by a boy your same age who handed you the “Queen’s Scepter.” I met the guy who did the escorting in 1944, and he said that his lines were, “O Queen! Here is thy scepter!” because the year before the kid said, “Hey lady, here’s ya’ stick.”
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Probably 1948. These girls look like Rockettes in training or something. As you can see here–this was a pretty big deal, apparently.
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Jane Brooke was Queen in 1949. I like the color of the flowers.
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Some of the ones taken in the 50s and beyond were clearly not taken at the Wren’s Nest. This one is Judy Carlsen from 1958.
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Here’s Judy’s stone. All of them look like this with a couple changes in size and font, and each is in a different state of repair.
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Here’s Kathryn LaRose Wright from 1963.
She’s with John Hunsinger, Paul Jenson, Missy Wright, Kitty Gundt, John Chapman, and Julie Hinton.
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Eugenia Marie Conway from 1975. Flower children meet the Flower Festival.
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Not the best picture quality, but Margaret Lynd Rhodes was the final May Queen, in 1983.
Comments: 8Sneak Preview of the West End Tour of Homes
Posted by: Amelia // Category: West End // 1:23 pm
Though it’ll be in tomorrow’s print edition, today’s online Atlanta Journal-Constitution features a lovely article about a West End resident, complete with an awesome photo gallery.
Barbara English’s home will be featured this weekend in the West End Tour of Homes, which will be on and popping this Saturday and Sunday.
(Unquestionably the Wren’s Nest staff’s favorite picture. That window is 11 feet tall!)
While Lain has mentioned this weekend’s many Wren’s Nest-related events already, we’re not afraid to drive the point home. Especially since this tour of homes offers a glimpse into many gorgeous abodes that, suffice it to say, people don’t always associate with this neighborhood.
Let’s recap–
The Kickoff Concert for the Tour of Homes featuring Theresa Hightower is here at the Wren’s Nest on Friday, May 2nd at 7 pm. Tickets for the concert are $25.
The Actual Tour of Homes will run on Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday May 4th from 1 - 5 pm. Tickets for the tour are $15.
The Wren’s Nest will be open from 10 - 5 that Saturday and 12 - 5 that Sunday.
And maybe, if you’re lucky, we’ll put our terrifying dummies on the porch to celebrate the occasion.
Comments: 4Georgia Blog Carnival and Our West End Newsletter
Posted by: lain // Category: West End // 8:34 pm
Two new posts are up–
1. Georgia Blog Carnival links to our discussion on the word “bastard” as well as plenty of other posts about and occurring in Georgia
2. Our West End Newsletter posted its latest issue online. If you’re interested in what’s happening in West End, check it out.
If you’re not so interested, you can just read the article we wrote about the Grounds Coffeehouse.
Comments: 0West End Tour of Homes and Concert
Posted by: lain // Category: West End, Sing Songery // 10:08 am
Unless you continually hit refresh on our main page, y’all will be pleased to hear that we’re having a concert at the Wren’s Nest a week from tomorrow.
The crowd boogeyed like whoa the last time we had a concert here. See?
The West End Tour of Homes starts here on Friday, May 2nd with a concert featuring Theresa Hightower. Tickets for the concert are $25.
I will be attending, that’s for sure, though mostly to coax Ms. Hightower into singing a jazz version of the Wren’s Nest theme song. You will not want to miss that.
The actual Tour of Homes will run on Saturday, Mary 3rd and Sunday May 4th. Tickets for the tour are $15.
Get this though–if you buy tickets to the Tour of Homes, you get in the Wren’s Nest for free. We’ll be open from 10 - 5 that Saturday and 12 - 5 that Sunday.
When was the last time you visited West End? Maybe next weekend would be a good time to check it out.
Sure, this particular house was bulldozed to build a highway, but we’ve got no shortage of beautifully restored Victorian and Arts and Crafts-style homes.
I hope to see you here next week. And I mean that. I’m not opening this place up on Sunday for nothing.
Comments: 3Marriott In West End?
Posted by: lain // Category: Historic Preservation, West End, Atlanta, Ridiculous Demands, Really? // 8:19 am
Suna Om–investor, business owner, and fellow member of the West End Merchants Coalition–wants to build a Marriott right down the street from the Wren’s Nest.
(photo courtesy of the AJC. They’ve got three more in this album.)
Gosh, what is that little dog doing behind her?
Anyway, I had no idea that she has a Marriott in mind. Her property is about three and a half blocks east of us, just across from Hank Aaron’s Krispy Kreme and the Mall West End.
Here’s what I like–this idea is totally out of left field. If you walked by her property today, you’d go, “Really? A Marriott? Ohhhkay, lady.”
I really like the prospect of bringing a hotel to West End. What a great kick in the pants that’d be.
Here’s what I’m skeptical about–the location.
Granted, those old buildings are a little grimey. But they’re also neat old urban storefronts that already cater to a lot of street life. I’d hate to see them torn down. It would change the neighborhood irrevocably, and not for the better.
Put a little money into cleaning those buildings up, and they’re no different than what you’d see in more successful shopping districts like Little Five Points or East Atlanta Village.
(thanks for the picture, Amber!)
Of course, I’m not the one bringing the money to the table. Nor do I have much idea of what property is on the market, but it seems like there are more than a handful of better, nearby locations for a Marriott–
Say, perhaps, the empty parking lots around the corner where people sometimes sleep on discarded mattresses.
Or the newer gated, cookie-cutter apartment complexes that bisect the community with fences and parking lots.
Replace those with a well-executed hotel, and the neighborhood would gain economic steam and retain its historic character. Developers, especially here in Atlanta, tend to overlook the economic importance of authentic vintage flavor (ahem–old streetcars, houses, libraries, etc.).
We’ve got a great, urban neighborhood here in West End. My fear with the Marriott idea is that it will cause the neighborhood will become a victim of its own success before it even has the chance to be really successful (again).
That said, assuming she is sensitive to the historic and urban fabric of the West End neighborhood, more power to Ms. Om. I’m excited to follow her progress, and I hope she inspires others.
Comments: 8Wren’s Nest Construction Company and Brown Middle School Outreach
Posted by: lain // Category: West End, Good Questions, Ridiculous Demands, Nonprofit Management // 1:03 pm
We’ve got two new programming ideas we’re considering, and we need your help! Please let us know what you think. Ready?
1. The Wren’s Nest Construction Company
Our successes with wren’s nests, both long ago and recently, may lead you to believe that we are experts at building birdhouses. You would be wrong–but we’re working on it.
Here’s our first programming idea, in list form:
- Kids come to the Wren’s Nest.
- We teach them how to build functioning birdhouses that look exactly like our mailbox, the original Wren’s Nest.
- We also teach them about the subtle architectural differences between the Wren’s Nest (Queen Anne Victorian home of Joel Chandler Harris) and their own wren’s nests (home of birds).
- They construct said birdhouses.
- We help them place it along the Beltline Arboretum, while discussing both the nesting habits of birds as well as the historic evolution of West End.
- They periodically check up on their nest, and the progress of the birds that have nested there with the help of, say, someone like the Atlanta Audubon Society.
- We call it something cute, like The Wren’s Nest Construction Company.
Fledgling, you say? Well that’s why we’re looking to you for suggestions!
Is this a good idea that promotes hands-on education of the Wren’s Nest through architecture, preservation, and Atlanta history? Or is it a bad idea?
2. Brown Middle School Educational Outreach
We’ve been given permission to start an after-school program at Brown Middle School, approximately three blocks from here. Here’s our idea, again in list form:
- Go to Brown Middle School.
- Have our storytellers teach a weekly class on storytelling to 6th graders.
- Have our staff teach a weekly class on newspaper publishing to 7th graders.
- Have our staff teach a weekly class on blogging to 8th graders.
- We call it something cute, unlike Brown Middle School Outreach.
All of these would be very hands on with the students, a la the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company.
Too ambitious, you say? What if we had a three year roll-out? So we’d start with storytelling in year one, then add newspaper in year two, and finally add blogging in year three.
We’re assuming that newspapers will still exist in two years. While that may not be a safe bet exactly, I’m willing to go out on a limb.
Now: if you’ve read this far, you probably thinking along these line: (1) these ideas are terrible; (2) these ideas are the best thing I’ve ever heard; (3) these ideas need some work, and here’s how.
Please, enlighten us, and don’t be afraid to hurt our feelings!
Comments: 6