The weather was ridiculous today–over 60 degrees, sunny, bright blue sky, slight breeze. That meant I could leave the leggings at home and just slip on a skirt and go out for a ride. I rode down to meet A. for brunch and then headed to the Marigny for coffee and reading. It felt like springtime, I had nothing to do today, and it just felt good to pedal along. I headed back Uptown on Prytania, stopping to take a picture of this burned-down church at Prytania and Josephine. The Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church had been empty for years, up for sale, no buyers. Earlier this month it turned into a many-alarm fire and was destroyed. The block still smells like smoke, and there is debris everywhere. A couple sheriff cars were parked around the property as a red bulldozer-thing scooped the remains of the place into giant trash containers. Twisted iron railings and fences still line the rubble. I ride my bike down Prytania all the time, but I have to admit, I can’t really remember this church as it was standing. To me, the church was just the background. But now that it’s gone, there’s a gaping hole, and now I see it.