Late yesterday afternoon, I sat outside under a large covered dining area with a couple of friends, had a glass of wine listening to an acoustic guitar and pleasant singer, and enjoyed looking across the street at lovely old architecture, cleaned and occupied. There was such life, such energy along the street, people passing, cars looking for spaces to park among the many cars already landed there. A horse driven carriage with plumed horse trotted by. A trolley turned the corner and let people out, and picked up waiting ones. Around the corner on the river, a minor league baseball team played in the state of the arts field where a large crowd of fans gathered. We walked across the street to another new bar, dining area, where my friend showed me "the shot room", photographic in the way the bottles are placed in square cubicles in an icy cold room where shots are served in ice jiggers. This was "The Alley Bar", another popping place for 6 in the evening. Then we strolled down the alley behind the main street and looked at the many lofts with balconies and plants and umbrellas, all tucked on top the old renovated buildings. Another stop at a ZaZa's Pizza for delicious pizza and another full house of others who were enjoying the downtown experience of my hometown. Yes. Montgomery.
Montgomery is changing! My brother, Charles, gives a lot of credit to the new mayor, Todd Strange (he went to Montevallo with my good friend, Andrea, and me).
They now run the trolley between downtown and Old Cloverdale and Maxwell on an hourly basis. They are "redecorating" the corridor between Maxwell and downtown and the entire downtown is going through a facelift. The same is being done from the Capital Heights corridor to town. What is so nice is the integrity of what still stands of the old town remains visible and is showcased by the innovations. You will be totally surprised as I was yesterday when I visited Charles and Sheila. My nephew won a literary award for his essay on Retinitis Pigmentosa, his disease which ultimately leads to blindness. It was just an incredible, unforgettable afternoon and I wanted to share a special time with my old Montgomery friends.
May we meet by the river one day soon.
Missie
