Infinity Bistro

Before a performance at the Infinity Music Hall, many audience members stop next door at Infinity Bistro for dinner.  (This is an iPhone photo . . . sorry that the clarity is less than usual.)

Thanks for your concern about the huge storm.  Central Connecticut didn't suffer significant damage, but Connecticut's shoreline communities were badly battered, as were New York and New Jersey.  If you redirect your good wishes a little south and west of Hartford, lots of people down there can use them.

Infinity Music Hall

The visit to Norfolk earlier this month was in part to see fall foliage, but also to visit Infinity Music Hall and Bistro.

The Hall is a 300-seat theater that was built in 1883.  Renovated extensively in the past six years, Infinity Music Hall schedules great musicians who appreciate the intimate environment, excellent acoustics and knowledgeable fans.  The night I was there, the performers were Jorma Kaukonen -- guitarist with the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna -- and his friend Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin.

Infinity Hall recently announced plans to open a second stage in downtown Hartford.  I sure hope these plans come to fruition!

A big storm will be visiting when you read this.  My thoughts are with everyone who is affected.

Trenese

Trenese wondered why I wanted to take her picture.  I thought she was stylish . . . closely cropped hair, simple black sweater, high boots and big holes in her jeans.  You would take her picture, too, wouldn't you?  But, would you show her in color or black and white?

Bushnell Park Carousel

The carousel is open on weekends in the Fall.  I was practising panning, to see if I could freeze a kid's expression while the background moved.  This was my most successful effort.

Bill

Bill drives a West Hartford fire engine out of Fire Station 1 on Prospect Avenue.

Ringer!

The Pond House in Elizabeth Park has outdone itself in its Halloween decorations this year.

I'm old fashioned.  I like the basic pumpkin.

A Frightening Sight

This year I'm seeing more extensive Halloween decorations than in the past.  Wouldn't you think this scary guy would cause visitors to the Pond House restaurant in Elizabeth Park to lose their appetites?  A questionable business plan!

Antietam

Two neighbors on North Main Street in West Hartford have filled their adjoining front yards with a huge Halloween and Civil War exhibition.  I don't get the connection between Halloween and the Civil War, but, hey, it's not my yard.

It is the sesquicentennial of the Civil War -- 150 years, for those dashing to the dictionary -- so we see lots of Civil War-related information.  Among the materials on these yards are placards with information about Connecticut soldiers killed at the battle of Antietam in 1862.

Faces Seen in Elizabeth Park

Katherine

Mary

Three friends, each from a different land.  England, Poland and Long Island.

Foresight

Don't you wish they planned ahead when they planted this big maple tree decades ago?

Hint:  before you plant a tree, look up.

Hooker Day Parade

The annual Hooker Day Parade claims to celebrate Thomas Hooker, Hartford's founder, but it is really an excuse to dress funny and act goofy.

 

Fall Flare

This is one of those "nothing special" photos that I still like, probably because 

a well-mannered flare placed itself right where the rule of thirds told it to be.

Fall in Greater Hartford

Here are some foliage photos from the central part of the state.  The first was taken

on West Avon Road in Avon.  The Norfolk photos were late in the afternoon, 

in the "golden hour."  Today's photos were in mid-morning . . . still lovely light.

Main Street in Farmington

The access road to the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington.

Yale School of Music

Yale's music school has a summer location in Norfolk.  It is closed up now, tight as a drum.  The top photo was taken on the campus of the school.  The bottom was taken at the Church of Christ, on Litchfield Road in Norfolk, above the school's campus.

Norfolk

Here are two fall photos from the northwest corner of the state.  The first photo is on Mountain Road in Norfolk.  I am a big fan of back-lighting in the fall, when the trees are changing colors.



This one is on a farm off Route 44, on the way into Norfolk.  This year the yellow foliage seemed to appear first.  I am just starting to see lots of orange and red in the past few days.

Stonington

On the way to Rhode Island two weeks ago, I stopped in Stonington -- the last town in southeastern Connecticut. The leaves were starting to change colors and the houses on the main street looked great.  Current fall foliage photos from the other corner of Connecticut will begin tomorrow.

New Britain Mural

On September 24, I explained the State of Connecticut's program to fund new public murals in eight cities.  New Britain's mural is on a building near the intersection of Main Street and Columbus Boulevard.  In addition to state funding, the New Britain Museum of American Art and the estate of the artist, Sol Lewitt, contributed financial support.

Lewitt moved to New Britain as a child, attended New Britain schools and was loyal to his home town throughout his life.  He became one of the most prominent American artists of the 20th century.  This mural is Wall Drawing #1105, "Colored bands of arcs from four corners."  I have shown Sol Lewitt wall paintings at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford here and here.  There will be more . . .

This post is linked to Monday Murals.

Hartford Runs!

Yesterday 16,000 runners filled the streets in the ING Hartford Marathon, a half marathon, a 5K and kids' races.  These runners are streaming across the starting line in front of the Capitol.




Some runners break out in smiles as they finish.  Others grimace.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Santa Barbara

I was in Santa Barbara, California, last week.  The beautiful County Courthouse was built in 1926 - 1929 and is one of Santa Barbara's most visited sites.  Just below the observation deck of the Clock Tower is a small clock museum and mural visible behind glass walls. 

The tower holds a massive 1929 Seth Thomas clock built in Connecticut.  And, the new "History of Time" mural portrays key events and people in the history of clock-making.  Portrayed prominently -- on the right wall, on either side of the clock face with Roman numerals -- are noted Connecticut clockmakers Eli Terry and Seth Thomas.  The tale of the Santa Barbara museum and mural is told here.

Connecticut played a leading role in the history of clocks and watches in America.  This winter I will post some photos taken at the clock museum in Bristol, Connecticut.

Manchester Pipe Band

The Manchester Pipe Band practiced in front of the "Boat Building" before a recent performance at a Hartford riverfront festival, Pipes in the Valley.  The band has been playing traditional and contemporary Scottish bagpipe music since 1914.  It is one of the country's oldest bagpipe bands in continuous operation.  Here is a link to a performance on YouTube.

You can see more photographs with reflections by clicking here.

Many viewers wanted to see the finished mandala.  This is the almost finished mandala yesterday, before it is dismantled tomorrow.

The Mandala of Compassion

This is the partially completed mandala about three weeks ago.  It is now almost complete.  On Sunday, the nuns will ceremoniously dismantle the mandala.  They will disperse the sands into the Connecticut River at Charter Oak Landing in Hartford, a gesture signifying the impermanence of life. The public is invited to observe these rituals.

I have been away and my laptop died, so I have not looked at many other blogs recently.  But, now I am back and I have a new laptop (a Mac, this time).  If I can figure out how to use it, I will see you!

Buddhist Nuns

Six Buddhist nuns from the Keydong Thuk-che Choeling Nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal, have been at Trinity College for the last two months.  They are building a mandala, a sand painting used for prayer, contemplation, and healing.  They pause from their work to perform chants, which are marvelously harmonized.  

 

Cedar Hill Crosses

This is another image from Cedar Hill Cemetery.  I don't think these crosses mark the graves of well known people.  I just liked the pattern of crosses marching down the hillside, with the lady's statue and a couple of obelisks behind them.  This post is linked to Taphophile Tragics.

Columbus Day

Today's Columbus Day holiday celebrates Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World in 1492.  Those among you with a scrupulous penchant for accuracy will quibble with nearly every word in that sentence, from his name, to whether October 8 has any special meaning to the event, to whether he ever landed on the North American continent, to whether he was the first European to find us.

This fine statue is  in New Haven's Wooster Square.

Chasity

Chasity was walking her dog in Elizabeth Park.  She makes handbags.  Chasity forgot that she had her measuring tape hung around her neck.

Mishy and David's Hip Hop Shop

The six headless models you saw a week ago stood in front of this store on Wethersfield Avenue.

Ivanis

Ivanis is from Puerto Rico.  She came to Hartford through New York.  Ivanis owns a little shop in El Mercado called "Coolaid" that sells fashion items like shirts, shoes, bags and jewelry.  She showed me some bracelets she made herself. 

Please visit Weekend Reflections to see more photos with reflections.

Toribio

Park Street is the center of Hartford's Hispanic community.  El Mercado is a small mall on Park Street housing a grocery store, restaurants, and a variety of shops selling clothing, music and other popular items.

Toribio is Dominican.  He manages La Plaza del Mercado, the grocery store in El Mercado.  We walked around for a while and he showed me some of the foods that customers can buy in his store.

Miracle League

A baseball field for disabled children was installed this spring on Asylum Avenue in West Hartford.  The field's surface is rubberized, so that children in wheel chairs, walkers and other walking aids can play baseball. 

"Let's Play Ball for All."

Out of the Jurisdiction: St. Johannis

My blog sub-header says "Photographs from central Connecticut and other places I go."  Here is another place I went.

In June I was in Germany for a week.  While looking for an ATM in Nuremberg, I saw a high wall across the street, with flowers visible through the gates.  Crossing the street for a closer look, I discovered the historic church and cemetery at St. Johannis.  Isn't it breathtaking?  I was stunned.

This post is linked to Taphophile Tragics and Ruby Tuesday 2.

Silhouette

Hartford Public Library at night, with a man waiting outside.

Click here to see more photographs from City Daily Photo bloggers on the theme of "silhouette."