Christmas bauble arches in Birmingham 2023

For the 2023 Christmas season, gone up in November 2023, at San Carlo Ristorante Italiano on Temple Street and The Queen's Head on Steelhouse Lane is a pair of Christmas bauble arches, for people to enjoy. Some I've noticed people have had their photos taken with them. I've also put them up on the Facebook and Instagram pages.

San Carlo Facebook post | San Carlo Instagram post

San Carlo Ristorante Italiano at 4 Temple Street has a Christmas baubles arch. Popular with people having their photos taken with it. There is a couple of Jack-in-a-Boxes on it, Santa's legs up-side-down, candy canes and dolls.

dndimg alt="San Carlo" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/San%20Carlo%20Xmas%20decs%2024112023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="San Carlo" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/San%20Carlo%20Xmas%20decs%2024112023%20(15).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

The Queen's Head Facebook post | The Queen's Head Instagram post

The Queen's Head at 28 Steelhouse Lane has a Christmas baubles arch with two halves of a cracked Christmas cracker above, and a red post box for sending post to Santa at the North Pole until the 24th December 2023.

dndimg alt="The Queen's Head" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBA%20Queens%20Head%20%20SL%2028112023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Queen's Head" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBA%20Queens%20Head%20%20SL%2028112023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="The Queen's Head" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBA%20Queens%20Head%20%20SL%2028112023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 Photography by Elliott Brown

Doctor Who 60: Alien Invasion of Acocks Green

Happy 60th anniversary to Doctor Who (1963 - 2023). Back in August 2015, the then Acocks Green Village BID held and event called the Alien Invasion of Acocks Green, and there was Doctor Who props inside of Acocks Green Library at the time. The TARDIS and Cyberman head were autographed.

Alien Invasion of Acocks Green: Doctor Who

Saturday 1st August 2015, the Acocks Green Village BID held an event called the Alien Invasion of Acocks Green.

That day, Doctor Who props were inside of Acocks Green Library, with an autographed TARDIS and Cyberman head. 

Also here was K9 and Davros (the creator of the Daleks).

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AIoAG%20Acocks%20Green%20Library%20(Aug%202015)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Autographed Cyberman head

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AIoAG%20Acocks%20Green%20Library%20(Aug%202015)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

As well as Doctor Who, there was a Steampunk exhibition inside.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AIoAG%20Acocks%20Green%20Library%20(Aug%202015)%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Autographed TARDIS with Davros.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AIoAG%20Acocks%20Green%20Library%20(Aug%202015)%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

K9

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AIoAG%20Acocks%20Green%20Library%20(Aug%202015)%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Heading out, there was a cardboard cut out Dalek, and shelves with Doctor Who books, comics and DVD's. David Tennant, Tenth Doctor era.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AIoAG%20Acocks%20Green%20Library%20(Aug%202015)%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Snowdogs Birmingham 2023 trail

For a third Christmas season in a row, there is another Wild in Art trail. This time 10 Snowdogs. Based on the Snowman and the Snowdog by Raymond Briggs. Get as many Snowdogs as you want in a day, or get them over a number of days if that is easier for you. On from mid November 2023 to early January 2024.

Go here for Jack Prophotographypictures Birmingham We Are post on the Snowdogs on our Instagram page.

 

Candy Cane in the Great Western Arcade

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CC%20Snowdog%20GWA%2010112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Elf at Christmas in Cathedral Square, Colmore Row (Birmingham Cathedral)

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Elf%20Snowdog%20Cath%20Sq%2010112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Classic Snowdog on Corporation Street (CASS Art)

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Classic%20Snowdog%20Corp%20St%2010112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bark the Herald Angels Sing at the Bullring (Nike Birmingham)

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bark%20Snowdog%20Bullring%2013112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Gizmo in Selfridges (Click & Collect)

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gizmo%20Snowdog%20Selfridges%2013112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Roodie in the Piccadilly Arcade

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Roodie%20Snowdog%20Picc%20Arc%2013112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Ginger at Hippodrome Square, Southside (Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street)

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ginger%20Snowdog%20Hipp%20Sq%2014112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Sparkle in The Mailbox (BBC Birmingham)

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Starry Night at Ice Skate Birmingham (Centenary Square)

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Ru-dog at the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market (Victoria Square)

dndimg alt="Snowdog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rudog%20Snowdog%20BFCM%20Vic%20Sq%2014112023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos by Elliott Brown

Creative Heights II: Shoot the Sunset from Staying Cool at the Rotunda

On Sunday 1st October 2023, Elliott and Jack and other photographers got the chance to go up to the level 20 balcony from Staying Cool at the Rotunda, as the sun went down. It was a bit cloudy, so not much of a sunset really, and got misty as it got dark. The views was amazing. Here just highlights of the views.

Full photos here in Sky High Birmingham.

This visit to Staying Cool at the Rotunda was booked two months in advance for Creative Heights II. The £15 paid went to the Love Brum charity, they raised over £400.

Sunday 1st October 2023 between 5pm and 8pm (although Elliott and Jack arrived around 4:30pm, and left by 7:30pm).

The balcony was on Level 20. We had access mainly to one penthouse suite, and briefly let into the other for the views on the other side.

 

The Rotunda

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Staying%20Cool%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham New Street Station and Grand Central

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BNSS%20GC%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Ringway Centre on Smallbrook Queensway

dndimg alt="Ringway Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ringway%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

1000 Trades Square (Grand Central Square)

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Birmingham New Street Signal Box

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Signal Box" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BNSSB%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Moor Street Station

dndimg alt="Birmingham Moor Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MSS%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

HS2 Curzon Street Station

dndimg alt="HS2 Curzon Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HS2%20CSS%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Millennium Point and Eastside City Park

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St Martin in the Bullring

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St Martin's Square at the Bullring

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Rotunda Square at the Bullring

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Bullring

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Selfridges

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High Street with Primark and Waterstones

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New Street

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The White House on New Street

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Birmingham Council House

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Birmingham Town Hall

dndimg alt="Birmingham Town Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town%20Hall%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Cathedral

dndimg alt="Birmingham Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCSP%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Centenary Square

dndimg alt="Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Centenary%20Sq%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Cube

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The Mailbox

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Ruins of St Thomas' Church at the Peace Garden

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BT Tower

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103 Colmore Row

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The Octagon at Paradise Birmingham

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The Mercian

dndimg alt="The Mercian" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Merc%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Victoria Law Courts and Methodist Central Hall

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Beetham Tower

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The Electric Cinema

dndimg alt="Electric Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Elec%20SS%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Hippodrome

dndimg alt="Birmingham Hippodrome" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BrumHip%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Back to Backs

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The Wellington Hotel

dndimg alt="The Wellington Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wellington%20BS%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Coach Station in Digbeth

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Custard Factory, Digbeth

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The former Floodgate Street Board School, Digbeth

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Former Father Lopes' Chapel, Digbeth

dndimg alt="Former Father Lopes Chapel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Digbeth%20Rotunda%2001102023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

St Alban's Church, Highgate

dndimg alt="St Alban's Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Albans%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Central Mosque

dndimg alt="Birmingham Central Mosque" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCM%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Small Heath Station

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St Andrew's Stadium, home of Birmingham City FC

dndimg alt="St Andrew's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Andrews%20BCFC%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr

dndimg alt="Alexander Stadium" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/ASPB%20Rotunda%2001102023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos by Elliott Brown

Solihull Food Festival heritage buses out from The Transport Museum Wythall

Over the weekend of 29th September to 1st October 2023, The Transport Museum Wythall had a couple of their heritage buses out in Solihull Town Centre for the Solihull Food Festival. I had a look on the 30th September 2023. West Bromwich Corporation 248 was at Station Approach, while WM Travel 6835 was going around the Town Centre with two stops on the way.

West Bromwich Corporation 248

248 NEA

I got to Station Approach near Solihull Station (closed due to ASLEF industrial action on Saturday 30th September 2023), to find West Bromwich Corporation 248 broken down, there was an engineer with the heritage bus at Station Approach bus stop A. I was thinking of riding it, until I realised it wouldn't go into service, so ended up walking into Solihull Town Centre instead.

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dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WBC%20248%20Solihull%2030092023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WBC%20248%20Solihull%2030092023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I'd previous seen West Bromwich Corporation 248 at The Transport Museum Wythall back on the August Bank Holiday Monday of 2022, and had a look inside of it (both decks).

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dndimg alt="Wythall Transport" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WBC%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wythall Transport" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WBC%20248%20TTMW%20(Aug%202022)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wythall Transport" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WBC%20248%20TTMW%20(Aug%202022)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

WM Travel 6835

WDA 835T

Metrobus

I first saw WM bus 6835 on the walk up Station Road towards Touchwood in Solihull Town Centre, as a fire engine went past.

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The 6835 bus was waiting outside of Touchwood, normally where the no 6 buses end their service from Birmingham, close to the entrance of Touchwood.

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I then went up to Starbucks in Touchwood, and from the first floor, saw 6835 come back around 20 minutes after I'd last seen it. Then a 6 arrived behind it.

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Later after a walk around New Road and Warwick Road, I got this view of it one more time from Poplar Road, before walking to the Solihull Town Centre bus stop near John Lewis to catch the 6 home. This was around half an hour after I got it from Starbucks above.

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

After leaving Starbucks, I walked through Touchwood, and was able to see 6835 arriving at New Road close to The Masons Arms public house. Was a lot of traffic around here.

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dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I walked up New Road, then onto Warwick Road, when eventually 6835 passed me, before it would turn onto Poplar Road to the next stop.

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dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I previously saw 6835 back at the Birmingham Bus Bash at Cannon Hill Park, during September 2017. It was the second bus from the left. The one that said route 52, Beeches Estate via Walsall Road.

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham%20Bus%20Bash%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%20(Sept%202017)%20%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham%20Bus%20Bash%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%20(Sept%202017)%20%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

And last saw 6835 at The Transport Museum Wythall during the August Bank Holiday Monday 2022 visit. It was the third bus on the left.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos by Elliott Brown