Memorial Day Parade

I like parades.  Monday's Memorial Day parade in Ridgefield was fun. 

Ridgefield has a Colonial tavern.  Some folks from the tavern rode in a truck and posed in period garb.

The Lions Club had a lion atop a truck.

We got an enthusiastic greeting from one of the granddaughters riding with the swim team.

Nine girls.  Nine expressions.

One serious young man held his sign, "Happy Soldiers Day, Memorial Day! ♡Thomas."

Senator Richard Blumenthal walked with Ridgefield first selectman, Rudy Marconi.  The governor also walked, but I didn't spot him until he was past.

I loved the idea of a grandson accompanying the Pipe Major.

The blaring from many fire trucks made for a noisy parade.

College Hill Buildings

 I walked around the Brown University campus last Saturday.  

This complicated building is near the bottom of College Hill.  It is part of the Rhode Island School of Design or "RISD," pronounced RIZ-dee.

As I walked around, I frequently thought either "Man, I don't remember this building" from my long distant days on College Hill or "Wow, this one has been wonderfully restored, hasn't it"

This Richardsonian Romanesque building was two or three blocks east of the campus when I was there.  But, the campus has moved east as it has grown, and this one is now the headquarters of the Division of Applied Mathematics, Brownspeak for "studying computers."

Fleur de Lys Studio

 This striking building is near the bottom of the challenging climb up to the top of College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island.  It is an architectural monument to the American Arts and Crafts Movement of the 1880s.  Its half-timbered main facade was built in 1885 with elaborate Art Nouveau stucco sections between the timbers.

The Fleur de Lys Building is a dedicated studio building owned by the Providence Art Club for the use of its members.   It is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Fleur de Lys was purpose built as artists' studios and was never a domicile of any kind. 

Originally owned by Sydney Burleigh, it was deeded to the Art Club at the time of his death.  

Typically six artists have studios in the building.

The Graduate

 I was in Providence yesterday for an event honoring a legendary professor who has served the university for 65 -- yes, 65! -- years.  That gave me time to walk around and see things I hadn't seen recently as well as new things and old things I had never noticed when I was there.

Walking past the Economics building where I spent many hours, a graduate and her mother were taking pictures.  I volunteered to take some photos on her phone and then asked if I could take one on mine.  She just picked up her doctorate in Economics and is moving to teach at University College Dublin.

St. Mary's Church

 

While I was in Stamford, Connecticut, I passed this beautiful Catholic church.  I had to stop for a moment.  

The bright light against the facade and the rich blue skies showed the church perfectly.  Unfortunately, I was in a hurry so I couldn't take the time to go inside.

Chelsea Piers Connecticut

 I was in Stamford, Connecticut, recently to watch a granddaughter in a swimming meet.  It was held at Chelsea Piers Connecticut, a simply massive sports facility.  CPC has a huge indoor Olympic swimming pool, two hockey rinks, a soccer field, a climbing wall, multiple gymnastic facilities, etc., etc.

Macedonia Church

 Macedonia Church occupies a prominent location on West Avenue in Norwalk.  It is a large and striking yellow brick and white marble building.  Originally a Methodist church, it was built in 1897 - 1898.  The building had, unfortunately, been largely neglected with little or no preventive maintenance for decades.

In 2013 - 2014 the Norwalk Preservation Trust took steps to raise awareness about the building's condition.  In 2014 Macedonia Church bought the building and has since then worked to raise the funds to restore it.  Macedonia Church is a nondenominational congregation led by Black evangelical preachers.

One stained glass window was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  Another bears the likeness of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.  Unfortunately, the church was closed when I passed by, so I was unable to get inside to see them.