Mortenson Plaza

Mortenson Plaza carries the Hartford downtown to the Connecticut River.  

I suppose the waves are intended to call to mind the flowing river.

Neighbors

The First Church Congregational and the Noah Webster Memorial Library have been
neighbors on South Main Street in West Hartford for almost a century,
since the library (1917) joined its older neighbor (1882).

Elizabeth Park

The Elizabeth Park Conservancy secured some grants that permitted it to renovate "the farmstead," consisting of historic buildings and greenhouses.  The most prominent are this lovely
turn-of-the-20th-century Lord & Burnham greenhouse and the 1875 farmhouse
that serves as the headquarters of the Elizabeth Park Conservancy.

The renovations were completed in November.

Merry Christmas in the West End

The owners of this house in the West End of Hartford do a great job of decorating for Christmas.

But, they have the creativity -- and the budget -- to change the decor every year.

I showed it in 2013, but compare the differences.

Merry Christmas!  For those who prefer it, happy holidays!

Merry Christmas in Elizabeth Park

Once Again as in Olden Days

Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Will be near to us once more.

Janet has held this Christmas party for 40 years.  I have been looking forward to it every year for 30.

Now the kids are adults.  One nine year old grandson sang a stunning "five gold rings" and 

brought the house down.  The traditional carols are sung first, then the secular Christmas songs.

I put the photo through a light "paint" filter to protect the privacy of the tenors.  And the sopranos.

Thank you, Janet.  And have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Buttoned-Down Beauty

This well maintained Tudor home on the Hartford side of Prospect Avenue looks good in all seasons.

I photographed it in its Christmas dress on a snowy day in 2012.    The Christmas decor this year is identical, a centered wreath above the central window and paired wreaths under the side windows.
Why mess with a good thing?