The Old State House Has Closed

The State of Connecticut is broke.  Looking everywhere to find ways to cut spending, the State has decided to close the Old State House to the public indefinitely.  

Cities and towns are broke, too.  Yesterday Hartford and East Hartford announced

that there will be no fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Outside Hartford City Hall

I was thinking about the tile patterns in front of Hartford City Hall for the "looking down" theme for City Daily Photo bloggers on July 1.  A young man ran through the scene and yelled "sorry."

I liked the scene better with him in it than the scene without him.

But, I'm not going to use it on July 1.  I'll keep looking. 

Hamilton Heights

It was a Catholic girls' school for many years.  In the past few decades it has undergone

several changes.  These days I think it is an assisted living facility.

Another Little Free Library

I love these little free libraries.  Dropped off three detective stories and 

a couple of non-fiction books I liked.

Taxi

                You see, she was gonna be an actress and I was gonna learn to fly.

                She took off to find the footlights and I took off for the sky.

                And here, she's acting happy inside her handsome home,

                And me, I'm flying in my taxi, taking tips, getting stoned.

                                                                                    Harry Chapin

Huntington Street

Huntington Street is in an impoverished (and, unfortunately, high crime) neighborhood on

Hartford's Asylum Hill.  But, there have been investments to stabilize the neighborhood.
Habitat for Humanity has built a row of houses with solar panels on some roofs.

And, NINA (Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance) has built this handsome
Victorian-style house.  I think it is some kind of group home.  NINA is a nonprofit
funded by eight members, like insurance companies, a hospital and a bank.
The floral display in front of the house has NINA's "skyline" mark.

Moscarillo's

Moscarillo's Garden Shoppe has a long white fence, only a small bit of which fit into this image.

Pink petunia spills from each post and yellow day lilies lie in a bed at the fence's base.

AND, a vintage truck carries on the floral scheme.

The Linden

The Linden is a lovely old building on Hartford's Main Street, built in 1891.  It was extensively renovated several decades ago.  Today it has retail on the first floor and condos upstairs.

The Rose Show

There are often flower and plant shows in Elizabeth Park's Pond House. I usually don't visit.

But, on Sunday, I walked into the rose show near the end, when prizes were being awarded.

This couple fit my imagination's image of rose fanciers.

There were competitions for different categories of roses and for different kinds of displays.

These were, obviously, in the category of boxed roses.  Don't ask me any questions.

I don't know a thing about rose competitions.

This woman was cooing at a delicate rose with very subtle coloring and a heavenly scent,
so her friend (and I) photographed her with it.

People in the Rose Garden

There was a reader.  Her book, Young Skins, is about the interaction of several Irish characters.

The book had a good review in the New York Times.

When you come across someone posing, do you take photos?  I do.

The Park is near a Catholic university, University of St. Joseph, so I should not 

have been surprised to see a nun taking photographs in the garden.

I'm not sure, but I think this young woman was being photographed for Quinceañera, 

a celebration for Hispanic girls when they become fifteen.

She is in the annual garden, not the rose garden.

Rose Weekend

The third weekend of June is always Elizabeth Park's Rose Weekend.  Many roses are at peak.

 The arches leading to the gaze are usually covered with rose vines, but in recent years they
became spindly.  So, the vines have been cut back.  Give them two or three more years.

The garden is popular for prom, engagement and wedding pictures and for wedding ceremonies.

I came before the big crowds, so I don't have many people in some of these photos.

 Returning later, people filled the rose garden.

Fathers Day

The expression on your child's face makes it all worthwhile.  Happy Fathers Day, Wessel.

And happy Fathers Day to all other fathers who are taking a look at the blog today.

Thanks to my daughter Susie, today's guest photographer.

Dappled Gold

The Gold Building on Hartford's Main Street reflects onto the buildings across the street.

Fist Bump

The fire fighters let little kids climb up into the engine's cab.

Miscellany

There are so many places to go and things to see at this time of year.  I have more images to show than days available for them.  How about a grab bag today?

Some cute kids at Lyman Orchard's strawberry festival.

The Elizabeth Park Conservancy had a fundraiser.  The invitation encouraged guests to dress in festive garden party wear.  This gentleman got the memo.

The Yale Repertory Theater is celebrating its 50th year.  Founded in 1966 by Robert Brustein,
the acclaimed dean of the Yale Drama School, the Yale Rep presents
new plays and imaginative stagings of classic plays.



Did I mention that Lego's American headquarters is in Enfield?

Early June is too soon to see White Flower Farm plantings at their peaks.

I might have to go back.

And, this house on Main Street in Farmington caught my eye.

Anastasia

Hartford Stage is presenting the world premiere of a new Broadway-bound musical, Anastasia.  The book is by Terrence McNally and the songwriters are Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Hartford audiences have been enthralled.  The sets and staging are brilliant -- easily Broadway quality -- and the singing, choreography and acting are all great.  It is scheduled to move to
a Shubert theater on Broadway this winter, but the theater has not been named.
I enjoyed the show and hope it succeeds.

Last Day at The Yale Art Museum

In addition to impressive works of art, the museum presents its art beautifully,
in an architecturally interesting building.

Vigil for the Orlando Shooting Victims

A hastily arranged vigil for the 50 murdered and 53 injured victims of an Orlando gunman
was held last evening at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford.

The continuation -- and escalation -- of mass shootings is so dispiriting.

Let's not add to everything being said about guns, Muslims, ISIS, terrorism and the 

LGBT community.  Let's just think about those unfortunate fellow human beings whose lives were ended or forever changed at the hands of a madman.  So, for today only, comments are shut off.