Ken

While I parked my car in downtown New Britain, Ken picked up some nearby trash and put it in the trash can.  We started talking.

Ken is philosophical and talkative.  He has many stories.  He told me stories about playing baseball at UConn.  And football.  And running track.  And setting track records.

I didn't hire a fact checker.  But, I have my doubts.

Willimantic

Willimantic has old mill buildings that have been renovated into space for nonprofits, government agencies, social service organizations and education.  On a nice day, from the right perspective and with the right light, the old mills cast attractive reflections on the dammed stream before it cascades.

Like reflections?  Click here.

The Spampinato Brothers

Joey Spampinato (left, with hair) was a founding member of NRBQ, an acclaimed rock band from the 1960s that played a blend of rock, jazz, blues and rockabilly.  His brother Johnny (right, with cap) joined NRBQ a couple of decades later.  Today, The Spampinato Brothers play an active small venue concert schedule, mainly in the northeast.  They played recently in West Hartford's Blueback Square as part of the summertime music series, "A Little Thursday Night Music."

Passages Gallery

Rosita owns Passages Gallery on Whitney Street in Hartford.  Passages offers custom framing, artwork and gifts, primarily African, Caribbean and African American.

Yvonne was a hostess at an art opening reception when I visited.

The reception was for paintings by Georges Annan Kingsley, a recent immigrant from Ivory Coast.   Kingsley's paintings are quite varied, from abstract to figurative, but always colorful.

Guest Photographer: First Anniversary

Daughter Susie and son-in-law Wes celebrated their first anniversary last weekend by taking a balloon ride in the skies above the Magaliesberg Mountains, northwest of Johannesburg and west of Pretoria.

These are Susie's photographs looking into the ballon as it was being fired up.

I always wanted to show Susie's photograph of one of her weimaraners.  So long as I have given the day over to Susie on her anniversary, here is Sequoia.

Faith Wibberly

Faith Wibberly is an illustrator in Norwich, Connecticut.  Over 24 hours, Faith painted a mural on the side of the Spirit of Broadway Theater.  The mural shows a watering can pouring a stream of water to feed a rose -- the symbol of Norwich -- with a school of fish in the water.  The mural project was a fundraiser for scholarships for area youths.  While I was passing by, Faith and her helpers were rushing to fasten a ribbon on the mural for a ribbon-cutting later in the day.

This post is linked to Monday Murals.

Update:  To see more, in addition to Kate's link,
see 24hourmural.com

Pink!

The Polka Dots Girls house on Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury is a place for parties, gifts and "spa" visits for pre-teen girls.  This would be heavenly to lots of young girls.  It would not have worked in my house.  My daughter is a softball, swimming, water polo, diving, saxophone, hiking, yoga, photography, gardening and crafts kind of girl.

To see other posts with pink subjects, please visit the monthly theme page of the City Daily Photo bloggers.