Tag Archives: dogs

July 25, 2018

Winnekenni Park (Haverhill, MA)

Date Of Visit:July 15, 2018

Location: 347 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill, MA (about 45 minutes north of Boston, MA or 50 minutes southeast of Concord, NH)

Hours: open daily sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There are about 20 parking spaces at the main entrance. Parking is also allowed on the side of the road past the main entrance. There are also additional parking lots throughout the park and trail (see attached map)

Trail Size/Difficulty: 700 acres of roughly 10 miles of trails/easy to moderate

Handicapped Accessible: Some areas of the park and playground are. But the trails are not.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: castle, lake, wildlife, trails, playground, scenic

Fun Facts:

Winnekenni (pronounced “winnie kinny”)is an Algonquian Native American term for “Very Beautiful”
The castle was built between 1873-1875
they host several events throughout the year at the castle or at the park
Kenoza Lake, which is encircled by the main trail, was originally known as “Great Pond.” It was later renamed in 1859 by John Greenleaf Whittier as “Kenoza Lake”, which means “Lake of the Pickerel”
Winnekenni Park became Haverhill’s first public park during the early 1800’s

Tips:

check out plug pond and the basin (see map) for scenic views off the beaten path
some of the side trails are tricky
they usually dissuade people from parking at the castle unless you have a function there
take the castle trail to go to…the castle

Website: Winnekenni Park

Winnekenni Park (2)

Trail Map: Winnekenni Trail Map

Formerly the home to Dr James Nichols, who used the area to test his experiments with chemical fertlizers, Winnekenni Park offers a variety of scenic views and difficulty levels of hiking or running.

The main trail which goes around Kenoza Lake (Dudley Porter Trail) offers some pretty views and active wildlife.

The trail to the castle was fairly easy and quick. I found myself at the castle within 15 minutes after entering the park. In fact, I was a bit disappointed that it was so easy to find. I would later wish everything was this easy to get to.

The castle, which was built between 1873 to 1875 is still used today for weddings, reunions and other social events. The day I visited it was being used. So I was unable to gain access.

There are a couple of memorials, of the many at the park, at the castle. This memorial is dedicated to Dorothy M. McClennan, a Haverhill native and benefactor to the castle.

According to his obituary, Nicholas Jay Morani, of Methuen, MA, died unexpectedly at the age of 25 in March, 2017. It’s always sad to see lives cut short at such a young age.

If you came to see just see the castle, which I had originally planned, your visit could be a very short one. You could hike or walk up to the castle and back to your car in an hour and most likely 30 to 45 minutes. Of course, I wanted to see more.

The trails at Winnekenni Park are mostly easy and wide.

I am always looking for treasures. One of the secrets to most visitors too the park are the trails off the main trail. Take the Plug Pond Trail foe some scenic views, pretty flowers and tall trees.

I must admit I got a little lost going on the side trails and the map I had didn’t seem to help much on the side trails. In any case, somehow I found myself in this clearing. It offered some pretty views but I don’t think i was supposed to be there. Eventually, I got out of there and made my way back to the main trail.

As you walk along the trails you will see a few more memorials, beautiful views and some other interesting things. Do be careful, especially if you travel some of the side trails or lesser used trails. Horses are apparently frequent visitors to the park.

This memorial was another one of the monuments I noticed along the trail. It appears it was recently visited based on the items left on the bench.

This memorial is dedicated to Ralph J Potter Jr.

Another memorial along the trail is this bench which is dedicated to Dudley Porter, who the main trail is named after. Porter was a successful business man. His wife dedicated the memorial to him after he passed away in 1905. It was actually built as a fountain and bench. But, the fountain no longer works as the main water connection has been disabled.

This memorial is located near the main entrance. it is dedicated to Christopher J Laubner. The garden and short walkway is called “Christopher’s Corner,” Originally from Lawrence, MA, Christopher moved to Haverhill where he lived until his death. He was only 31 when he passed away in 2014.

Winnekenni Park is a dog friendly park and I saw many cute dogs during my hike there.

Ziya is a 13 month old German Shepherd.

Luna is a 2 year old pitbull.

Not only is she adorable. She also loves to fetch!

Lily (or Lilly – her mom and dad spell it differently) is a 3 year old mixed breed.

Mira is a 2 year old German Short Haired Pointer.

Princess is a 1 and a half year old pitbull mix.

11 Comments | tags: dogs, Haverhill, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, Winnekenni Castle, Winnekenni Park | posted in dogs, Haverhill, lake, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

July 19, 2018

Underground At Ink Block (Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: July 12, 2018

Location: 90 Traveler St, Boston, MA

Hours: Accessible all day except between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Cost: Free

Parking: There are 175 parking spots (parking at Underground Ink is not free) and additional street parking and parking garages nearby

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Underground At Ink Block

Highlights: art, bar, dog park, scenic

Fun Facts:

there is over 100,000 square feet of wall art at Underground Ink
the park is located under I-93 (Interstate 93)

Boston’s newest hot spot doesn’t have a cover charge nor does it have a dress code. It doesn’t even have a roof. Well, it sort of does.

Located under the I-93 overpass, Underground Ink Block blends art, entertainment and beauty in a most unlikely place.

One of the more beautiful aspects of the park are the murals.

There are several murals at the park. This mural, which appears on the wall at the entrance to the park, was painted by Vyal Reyes.

There is a large group of murals by the parking area.

This particular mural was painted by Watts, California native Upendo Taylor.

Three artists worked on this mural which is part of a group of three murals that share one wall. Problak Don Rimx and Marka27 all collaborated to paint this beautiful mural

New York native Cey Adams painted this lovely mural.

Nepali artist IMAGINE (Sneha Shrestha) painted this imaginative mural. Imagine likes to incorporate her native Sanskrit language with modern designs.

This mural, located under one of the overpasses above, was painted by Percy Fortini-Wright.

You may notice some of the landmarks and symbols associated with the Boston (such as the famous Citgo sign that hovers over the left field wall at Fenway Park) on the right hand corner of the mural.

This mural, which covers the outermost wall of the area, was painted by Hoxxoh.

If you get lost at the Underground Ink Block, just follow the bright lines on the ground. The colored streaks on the ground lead to the different murals around the park

Underground Ink also an area for hosting events, such as yoga, or to stop by and have a game of ring toss and toss back a few beverages with friends.

There are also some pretty views at the park (at least if you look in the opposite direction of the busy intersection at the entrance)

But, the highlight for many of us has to be the dog park. Tucked away in the back of the parking area, the dog park has lots of room for dogs and humans to play.

During my visit. there was a “Hound Around” event for dogs. The event, which was sponsored by Capital One at Ink Block, was hosted by The Urban Hound.

The park is big enough for the dogs to roam around in and play without being too crowded.

There were pools for the dogs to cool down or get a quick drink. I know. Gross. But, hey, they’re dogs. They don’t care! Some dogs preferred to just drink from the hose.

There was a pretty big turnout and everyone played nice.

Oprah, a 3 and a half year old Boston Terrier, can really jump! She was jumping up for her toy in this photo.

Simba, a 2 year old Chow Chow, looks like a fluffy teddy bear.

Besties Zoey, a 4 year old Black Lab, and Jovie, a 2 year old Golden Doodle, looked adorable after a dip in the pool.

Junior, a 6 year old Collie mix, has beautiful markings.

Yoshi, a 2 year old mix rescue dog, had fun playing with his ball.

Badger, a 3 and a half year old Aussie Terrier mix, waiting patiently for his dad to throw his toy.

Bella, a 7 year old Boxer, took a break to watch the other dogs play.

Kylie, a 6 year old Morkie (Maltese and Yorkie mix) was all smiles at the park.

As I left the dog park, I met Nikki. Nikki is a super talented designer and creator of dog bandannas and accessories. Check out her website: Just Add Dogs.

If you and Fido missed out on this Hound Around event, don’t worry. There will be another one Thursday, Aug. 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Underground Ink Art Block.

Cute dogs were not the only animals I saw at the Underground Ink Block. I also saw this rabbit having dinner. As an aside, I have been noticing many more rabbits and other animals who do not typically belong in the city making their way into the city. I do hope it’s only a trend and not a permanent thing. After all, the city can be far more dangerous than the wild!

Thank you for sharing another adventure with me!

6 Comments | tags: art, Boston, dog park, dogs, Massachusetts, murals, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, rabbit, Underground Ink | posted in art, Boston, dog park, dogs, Massachusetts, murals, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

July 15, 2018

Long Hill (Beverly, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates of Visits: June 17, 2018 and July 13, 2018

Location: 572 Essex St, Beverly, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston,MA)

Hours: Gardens are open year-round, daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Allow a minimum of 1½ hours. Peak bloom in May and June. Guided tours are offered in spring, summer, and fall and by appt.

Cost: Free

Parking: There is ample parking at the end of the entrance of the park to the left of the road

Trail Size/Difficulty: 1.2 mile loop, easy to slightly moderate in some areas

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the estate and the grounds of the estate are accessible, although the trails may not be accessible to some people

Dog Friendly: Yes

Websites: Long Hill Trustees Website

Long Hill Facebook page

Maps: Map of Long Hill Gardens

Long Hill Trail Map

Highlights: gardens, trails, wildlife, farm, Long Hill estate, family friendly, children’s garden

Fun Facts:

The estate located at Long Hill was purchased by former Atlantic Monthly editor Ellery Sedgwick
The estate is available for weddings and other events
The trustees have partnered with the Food Project to give children the opportunity to learn about sustainable agricultural practices

So, it’s the middle of July already. How did that happen?

After a brief heatwave, the weather has improved and it has been the perfect weather for a walk and photo session at Long Hill. In fact, I liked it so much I went twice.

Long Hill is teeming with flowers and plant life, especially this time of the year.

Adjacent to the flower gardens is what appears to be a storage area where they keep flowers to be planted at a later time.

There are also several flower beds and a well maintained garden next to the main parking area.

There are a variety of trees at Long Hill. Many of them have the name of the tree posted on them.

But, there is only one truly majestic tree at Long Hill; the tree standing in front of the estate at Long Hill.

This dramatic copper beech was planted by the estate owner Mabel Sedgwick. The twin trunks of the tree seem to hug each other and merge together. In fact, legend holds that two trees were planted in the same hole and then they grew together.

The grounds of the estate are well manicured with statues and other decorative items scattered around. The grounds of the house consist of six acres of gardens, including formal, geometric outdoor “rooms.” The sections or “rooms” include a variety of flowers such as handkerchief trees, southern magnolias and other plants that aren’t typically seen this far north.

The grounds are also a wonderful place to have a picnic with your family as this family did with their little one. Their little one was standing behind the tree when the photo was taken.

As if all this wasn’t enough, there is also a 1.2 mile trail with mostly gentle with some moderate inclines. You can find many birds, garter snakes, frog and even a few chipmunks along the way.

If you get tired along the way don’t worry. There are chairs for you to sit.

There are certain sounds you expect to hear while hiking along a trail. A bird squawking. A frog croaking or even a chipmunk chirping. These are all normal sounds you may hear along the trail. But, a rooster crowing? Yes, there is a small farm at Long Hill.

Next to the farm is a community outreach program called The Food Project to teach children how to grow sustainable foods, conserve and even pick their own fruit and vegetables.

Long Hill is a dog friendly park (technically, you may be asked to register your pet and sign some forms beforehand).

During my visits I saw a number of cute dogs.

Brutus is a 5 year old Doberman.

Remy is a 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier mix.

Whiskey is a 5 year old mixed breed dog.

Don’t forge to stop by my Facebook page to view photos, posts and other fun stuff not included in my blog!

12 Comments | tags: Beverly, dogs, flowers, Hiking, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, trees | posted in dogs, flowers, garden, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, trees, Uncategorized

June 22, 2018

18th Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic (Hampton, NH)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: June 14-16 (usually annually, the second or third weekend in June)

Location: Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH

Cost: Free

Hours: the sculptures are accessible for viewing all day until June 27, except between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. when the beach is closed

Parking: Parking info can be found here

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Tips: The sculptures will be able to be viewed at night when they illuminate the area

2016 Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Competition

Website: Hampton Sand Sculpture Event

Sculptors don’t just sculpt wood, ice and clay. In fact, some of the world’s best sculptors like to play in the sand. And that’s exactly what they were doing last weekend at Hampton Beach, NH.

The theme of this year’s sand sculpture of the sponsors of the event was “The Aliens Have Come To Hampton Beach.” All of the featured sculptors contributed to this sculptor.

The massive sand sculpture included a memorial to Canadian sculptor and regular Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic competitor Michel Lepire.

Michel passed away earlier this year. But, his son, Marc Lepire, did participate and made a special tribute for his dad in his own sculpture.

The competition included 10 sand sculptures, not included the sponsors’ sculptures, with sculptors from all over the globe.

Visitors to the beach were allowed to view the sculptures up close on the beach at 1 o’clock and given a ticket to put in a bucket next to their choice. While it is great to be able to get so close to the sculptures and I did take photographs while I could get close to them, the sculptors have until 4 to complete their works. And, of course, they use every minute at their disposal usually. So, I didn’t end up posting most of the photos I took at 1. But, I did cast a vote (for “Influence” by Carl Jara). Then, I waited a few more hours so I could photograph the sculptures in their completed states. Time goes by pretty quickly at the beach, though. So I didn’t mind waiting. After all, I’m a pretty patient person, except when I am driving.

When the votes for the sculptures by the official judges were finally tallied the winners were recognized and given their awards ($3,000 for first place) and a fireworks display capped off the festivities. Below are the top ranked sculptures and the also rans.

First place went to “Temptation” by Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island.

Melineige Beauregard of Montreal nabbed second place with her sculpture “Rising.”

Dan Belcher of Missouri swam into third place with “Water Dance.” This was certainly one of the larger sculptures. It must have taken many hours to make all of these shapes and designs.

“Influence” by Carl Jara of Ohio came in fourth place. he also won the “Sculptor’s Choice” award which must be very rewarding since it is voted on by his peers.

David Andrews of Wisconsin came in fifth place with “Ancestral Swirl.”

The “People’s Choice” award which the visitors got to vote for went to Marc Lepire of Quebec for “Wind Lovers.”

The remaining sculptures are listed below. I was actually surprised that some of them, like “Winging It” by Delayne Corbett of Vancouver did not place in the voting. Since ikt had so much intricate detail I thouggh tit was sure to be in the top 5. But there was so much competition at the event. So, even some of the best sculptures didn’t make top rankings.

“Defeating The Darkness” by Justin Gordon of Groveland, MA, was another sculpture I thought may have been overlooked. There’s a lot of wonderful detail in this one.

This futuristic looking sculpture called “Three Phase Steam Phork” was sculpted by California sculpture Kirk Radimaker.

There’s something about the sculpture “Joy” by Karen Fralich.

I’m not sure if it’s the name of the sculpture, the seemingly carefree child or the butterflies sporadically placed throughout the sculpture. But, something about this sculpture makes me smile.

If you missed the sand sculptures last weekend, don’t worry. They will be on display until Wednesday, June 27. They also illuminate the area for night viewing if you can’t make it there during the day time.

The wires you may see sticking out of the tops of some of the sculptures, shown sticking out of the head of the sculpture in the photo below, are meant to deter birds from landing on.

No matter. Some birds still found a way to land on them.

The sand sculpting event had more than just sculptures, though. There were other family friendly activities as well such as face painting.

There were also so many cute dogs at the event.

Watson is a 5 year old Dalmatian Coonhound. he was adopted from the Pope Memorial SPCA.

Jackson, a 5 year old Great Dane, was another gentle giant. He was a little hard to get to look at me because his dad was parking the car and he kept looking to his left and right in the hopes of seeing his human.

Greta is a 7 year old German Drahthaar.

Bailey, who will be 6 months Sunday the 25th (yes she is a Christmas baby), is a Teacup Yorkie. She was dressed to the nines for her day at the beach.

Some dogs are a little shy of my camera. This was the case with Luna, a 1 year old pit and lab mix. At least at first. But, she warmed up to the camera pretty quickly.

Bailey is a 6 month Standard Poodle. With her fluffy fur, she reminded me of a big teddy bear.

Buddy, a 14 year old Cairn Terrier, was certainly not in Kansas anymore. That’s right, Buddy is the exact same breed as Toto from The Wizard Of Oz movie. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. Just look out for the “flying monkeys.”

Brady, who was named after a certain local sports star, is an 11 month old Cavachon. Are you saying to yourself, Cava what? I did too. His folks told me he is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise mix.

And, last but not least, Tyzon, a Boxer, will be 5 years old in September. It had been a long day taking photographs and I was ready to get ready to head home. Then, when I saw Tayzon I decided to take out my camera for one more dog photo. He was very accommodating and the kids loved petting him. And he loved the pets he recieved.

6 Comments | tags: dogs, Hampton Beach, New Englaand, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos, sand sculpting, sand sculptures | posted in Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH, New England, photographs, photography, photos, sand sculpting, Uncategorized

June 17, 2018

10th Annual Salem Arts Festival – Part III (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: June 1-3, 2018 (event usually takes place the first weekend in June)

Location: Front St, Old Town Hall, Salem, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: Street parking, which is limited during festivals, costs .75 an hour (4 hour limit) and there are several parking lots and garages. You can find more information about parking in Salem here.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Location: Artist’s Row, Salem, MA

Fun Facts:

Salem (in Hebrew) means “peace”
If you do visit (and shop) in Salem, don’t forget your re-usable shopping bag (they ditched plastic bags earlier this year)

10th Annual Salem Arts Festival – Part II

What would an arts festival be without…art?

Well, in addition to the musical artists, acrobats, flamenco dancers and various other entertainers, there was also lots of art on display at the Old Salem Town Hall during the festival.

All of the artists featured at this display, with one exception, were from Massachusetts and overwhelming from Salem or in the Salem MA area.

The exhibit was free of charge and there was lots of different art to entertain even the harshest art critic. In fact, there was everything from clocks and photographs to glass sculptures and a paper mache work of art in the exhibit. Much like

This clock called The Slow Procession of Luna was made out of oil, wood and clay. It was created by Gardeneer, MA artist Melinda Goodhue.

Grasshopper Junction, Arizona was painted by Lynn, MA, artist Heather Stewart.

Salem resident Denny Tentindo painted VWII. It is an oil on wood painting.

Remembering Georgie by Heather M Morris of Belmont, MA, is an acrylic on canvas work.

Urban 3, a photograph on canvas, was made by Chrissa Markos, a Manchester (MA) resident.

Urban 1, also by Chrissa Markos is a photograph on canvas.

The Annunciation is an acrylic on board work of art by Lynn, MA, artist Daniel Parziale

This creation, made out of recycled magazines by Betsy Silverman, is called Sister Act.

Dancing With The Stars is an oil painting by Nancy Satin.

This work, called Dragon: noun, was made out of a dictionary. It was created by Jacob Crawford. His work of art won the Deborah Greel Honrary Award

Edison & His Children is a digital collage by Edward Morneau.

Engaged, by Daniel Breslin, was made out of found objects on wood.

The Controler, by Jack Walsh, is made of found objects.

Jacob Crawford created Rainbow Chameleon with paint swatches.

Nathaniel Hare-Thorne was sculpted by Swampscott, MA, resident Diane McAlisterr

Marie by Taylor Popek is made oout of acrylic yarn and polyfil.

I love all of the Salem references in this Salem Cat sculpture (you may see the Bewitched statue, Old Town Hall, the Peabody Essex Museum and other attractions on Essex St) and the foliage on the trees puts me in the fall spirit. This scupture is an acrylic painted ceramic piece by Salem resident Beki Ferrari.

Salem Derby Cat by Beki Ferrari is another acrylic painted ceramic sculpture. You may also see other Salem attraction from Derby St (The House of the Seven Gables) on this sculpture. Of course, I would have to say this was my favorite.

Through View is an oil painting by Boxford, MA, resident Tom Bailey.

Emergence is an encaustic (“hot wax” painting) mixed media work of art by Amesbury, MA. artist Deb E. Goldberg.

Diane McAlister sculpted this work called Bride of Frankenmummy.

Crow is a clay sculpture by Billie-Joe Gauley of Salem.

Girabbit is another clay sculpture by by Billie-Joe Gauley.

Great Egret by Racket Shreve is a watercolor painting.

Brit Eating a Salad is an oil on wood painting by Salem artist Amanda Dunham.

NorEaster is a glass work of art by Matthew Cronin.

Autumn is another glass sculpture by Matthew Cronin.

Ipswich artist Jen Boisvert carved sculpted this piece called Figure.

This untitled work is a mixed media on wood work of art by Sara Ashodian.

Deb E. Goldberg made this encaustic and mixed media work of art called Departure.

Ocean V is an acrylic and refined linseed oil painting by Melissa Pasdon of Salem, MA.

This untitled work is a painted wood sculpture by Heather Stewart.

Blue Fish by Elizabeth Visco of Lynnfield, MA, is a Raku (A type of Japanese pottery) stoneware work of art.

Robert Crooker of Wakefield ,MA, made this acrylic painting.

There was also fun for those who people and dogs who wanted to cool down and splash their friend or sister.

While I was photographing all of these great works of art, I saw a dog that had similar markings to my mom’s new dog. So, I knew I had to photograph her. June (or “Junebug”) is a 15 month old mixed breed dog.

During my walk back to my car I met Glenna who looked adorable resting on her rock.

And, proving that I do indeed visit Salem frequently (one of the last times I visited someone say “Hi Nomad”), I saw Cookie who I had I photographed earlier this year and also again during the festival.

11 Comments | tags: art, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem, Salem Arts Festival | posted in art, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Salem Arts Festival, Uncategorized

June 12, 2018

10th Annual Salem Arts Festival – Part II (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Location: Front St, Old Town Hall, Salem, MA

Dates Of Event: June 1-3, 2018 (event usually takes place the first weekend in June)

Cost: Free

Parking: Street parking, which is limited during festivals, costs .75 an hour (4 hour limit) and there are several parking lots and garages. You can find more information about parking in Salem here.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Location: Artist’s Row, Salem, MA

Fun Fact: Salem (in Hebrew) means “peace”

Murals weren’t the only types of art on display at the Salem Arts Festival.

In addition to the amazing art on display and family friendly activities I highlighted in Part I of this series, there were several bands, dancers and other entertainers who set up on the stairs of the Old Town Hall on Front St.

All of the performers were very talented and entertaining (view the videos below to see for yourself)

All of the performers had some ties to New England, and in many cases the Salem area.

Liz Bills And The Change are from Haverhill, MA (about 40 minutes north of Salem), rocked the alley next tot he Coffee Brewhouse. Great presence and style.

Wellesley (MA) native and Berklee College of Music graduate, Sarah Blacker and the New England Groove Association was another great performer.

She even made a new young fan.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the performers was the variety of music and entertainment. In fact, I actually heard and enjoyed some music from bands that I never thought I would be into. One of those bands was the Boston-based Outrageous Fortune Trio Jug Band mixed jazz and blues in their repertoire. I particularly enjoyed their version of “Come Together.” He actually used the cane in the photo below as an instrument.

I loved the Emma Sundvik & Hunter Burgamy Jazz Band.

I also had a surprise encounter with a friend from my gym. Anthony (“Antonio”) plays the Flamenco guitar for Boston Flamenco. Anastasia and Anna Maria joined him in his performance.

At the end of their performance, Anastasia gave some of the visitors a lesson in Flamenco dancing.

The entertainment was not just limited to music, though. One of my favorite forms of entertainment was the dancing of the Salem YMCA Fly Kidz. These kids can dance!

And what would an arts festival in Salem be without a visit from Dark Follies?

Dark Follies incorporates stunts (a straitjacket escape artist), dancers and other magical entertainment into their acts.

The kids loved the Boston Opera Outreach Troupe. It was great seeing little children embracing this music.

If that was not enough, the Aerial Artistry of Baechtold & Abel (and their college understudy) took center stage on Front St. Their acrobatics were so graceful. But, what people may overlook is the strength these acrobats must have to be able to support their own and their partner’s body.

Speaking of Front St, there were “tiny dancers”, or more accurately a tiny stage with real life sized dancers performing.

There were also fairies who blew bubbles, read stories and danced with the children (and a few adults).

There was also a “Poets In The Round” poetry reading event.

The street performers who you might usually see only during the Halloween season also came out to partake in the festivities and take photos with their fans. Or, just take in the scenes with a, uh….friend. It was like Halloween in June!

Of course, what would an art festival be without dogs?

Rocko looked cool rocking his bee wings with his doting humans.

Igor (the Hairless dog) was one of the more unique dogs I have photographed. You may notice his two different colored eyes.

Below are some videos of the performers from the art festival. Sorry for the “shaky cam” in some of the videos, particularly those taken at the end of the day.

And, believe it or not, there is at least one more installment of photos from the art festival coming soon!

7 Comments | tags: art, dogs, Massachusetts, music, musicians, New England, performers, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem, Salem Arts Festival, singers | posted in art, dogs, Massachusetts, musicians, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Salem Arts Festival, Uncategorized

June 9, 2018

10th Annual Salem Arts Festival – Part I (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: June 1-3, 2018 (event usually takes place the first weekend in June)

Cost: Free

Parking: Street parking, which is limited during festivals, costs .75 an hour (4 hour limit) and there are several parking lots and garages. You can find more information about parking in Salem here.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Location: Artist’s Row, Salem, MA

Fun Fact: Salem (in Hebrew) means “peace”

Lady Of Salem – 2018 (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: June 1-3 (during Salem Arts Festival)

Location: Throughout Downtown Salem

Parking: Street parking, which is limited during festivals, costs .75 an hour (4 hour limit) and there are several parking lots and garages. You can find more information about parking in Salem here.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: A collection of figureheads displayed throughout downtown Salem

Tip(s): While most of the figureheads are located on Essex St, follow the red historical tour line throughout the city to find the remaining figureheads

In observation of the Salem Arts Festival, the Salem Historical Society decided to send out the ladies of Salem.

The Ladies Of Salem are a collection of figureheads constructed by a variety of artists.

While these figures have been displayed before (see related post above), when I did photograph these figureheads in the past there weren’t as many on display as theere were this past weekend. Some of them were missing (they had been destroyed or stolen off their mounted displays) and others looked a little roughed up. Besides I was in Salem to photograph the Arts Festivals (posts on this event soon). So, I thought I would photograph all of the figureheads in their current state. And, much to my delight, they all looked as though they may have been touched up a bit and the were all actually there. Since they were posted rather high on lamp posts, a ladder or cherry picker would have came in handy. But it was still fun photographing all of the figureheads. Plus, it gave me a chance to photograph some dogs along the way.

There appeared to be a few figureheads on display that either were not posted or I may have missed in my earlier visit in 2016. The tricky thing about looking for these figureheads is there wasn’t a map or website with the locations of the figureheads’ locations. This made it more difficult but also more fun.

The one tip I was given by the helpful workers at the tourism office is to follow the red line which represents the Salem Heritage Trail and includes many of the famous historical haunts in Salem. The trail is only about a mile or so and there are lots of fun and interesting things to see along the trail.

More than half of the 21 Ladies of Salem are displayed along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. The other figureheads may be found on Derby and Washington streets, as well as one that is posted at Old Town Hall.

The figureheads are put on display from time to time, especially for different events such as the arts festival or the maritime arts festival.

The artists were given a blank canvas on a 33-inch-tall-by-14-inch-wide and 14-inch-deep figurehead molded of a hard yet lightweight fibrous material. Before the mounting board is attached, the figureheads weigh only 7 pounds.

I wanted to take closeups of the figureheads’ faces to show off the details of them. I also like to think of them as being in deep thought, gazing off to the sea or some other distant place.

Most of the figureheads are dressed or painted to represent the sponsors of the figurehead. For instance, the figurehead that is sponsored by Essex’s N.Y. Pizza & Deli in the Salem Museum Place Mall (aka Witch City Mall), has a crown and “I Love Pizza” t-shirt on. You may also notice stickers of bees on the signs of the figureheads. The bees are part of the “bee proud” awareness promotion for pride month.

Figureheads on ships were said to have strong magical or religious significance. As you may notice from the photos below, women were largely used as the shapes of the figureheads. They were supposed to be used to appeal to the ocean gods and spirits and cause these spirits and gods to be stricken by their beauty, enabling the ships to proceed without any interference from these potential evil doers.

The Phoenicians are said to have been the first people to use figureheads, from around 2500 to 539 BC, when they adorned the prows of their oared galleys with wooden carvings that depicted animals, birds, dieties, and serpents.

The Egyptians and Chinese instituted the practice of painting eyes, known as Oculi, on the bows of their vessels, so that they may find their way across the oceans.

Catholic countries, such as Spain, used religious figureheads, such as Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, in the hopes that these figureheads would bring them safety and fortune in their voyages.

However, the “golden age” of figureheads is said to be between 1790 to about 1825. During this time frame many warships and merchant ships built in North America and England were decorated with these artful figureheads.

But, the figureheads I found were built much more recently.

The first figurehead I spotted is by the artist Shalimar.

This figurehead was made by the artist Demetrius Lacroix.

This figurehead, which I did not include in my earlier post about the Lady Of Salem figureheads, was sculpted by Alicia Irick Cohen. The figurehead does have some obvious wear and tear, unfortunately.

This figurehead was created by the YMCA/Girls Today Program.

The artist for this figurehead is Amberlynn Narvie.

Niko Papadimitriou is the artist for this figurehead.

This figurehead was created by Vonn Bittercup.

The artist for this figurehead is John Devine.

Kenneth Glover is the artist for this figurehead.

This blue faced beauty was created by Mr. Bleckley’s 5th grade student artists

Dori Phillips painted this figurehead.

This colorfully painted figurehead was made by Cynthia Mikula Smiszek.

Karen Lamesa and Tina Armstrong painted this figurehead.

Jeanne Pare-Kapnis painted this figurehead.

Sheila Billings made this figurehead.

The figurehead below was crafted by Jeanne Pare

The next figurehead was painted by Jill Pabich.

This figurehead was painted by Kerry May Killam.

Jeanne Pare-Kapnis painted this figurine that was located on Derby St.

Mary-Ellen Smiley painted this figurehead which was located in the Old Town Hall near the Essex Pedestrian Walkway.

I could not locate a sign with the name of the artist for this figurehead. Unlike most of the other figureheads, this one was located in a store on Essex St (Witch Tee;s)

Although not part of the Lady Of Salem display, there are additional figureheads in the Peabody Essex Museum, also on Essex St. You would have to pay an entrance fee to the museum to view them. But I have a photos of them below from my visit October 8 of last year.

Besides being the weekend of the arts festival, the weather was perfect for visitors and their dogs. There were lots of dogs enjoying the figureheads and the festival. Below are a few of the cute four legged visitors I met during my visit.

Brody is an adorable 10 year old mixed breed dog.

Don’t blink or you might miss Wink, a 13 year old Pomeranian and Brody’s sibling.

Aster, who is as handsome as the flower he is named after, is a Border Collie and Australian mix.

Luna is a 3 year old Chihuahua. He has very cute features.

I love Lance’s fur and and sweet nature. Lance is a 9 year old Standard Poodle.

Who doesn’t love Golden Retrievers? Not anyone I would want to know. Bowen, named after a wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, is a 3 month old Golden Retriever.

I am not sure how long the Ladies will be on display, although they may have all been taken down after the arts festival which ended Sunday (June 3). I am pretty sure you may see them again during the summer, specifically during the 30th Annual Salem Maritime Arts Festival August 4th and 5th of this year. It’s a pretty good bet you may see me there!

Also, keep an eye out for my photographs from the 10th Annual Salem Arts Festival from the first weekend of June which I will be posting in parts since there was so much to show you all!

6 Comments | tags: aert festival, art, dogs, figureheads, Lady Of Salem, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in art, dogs, Lady Of Salem, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

May 26, 2018

Chicopee Memorial State Park (Chicopee, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: May 26, 2018

Location: 570 Burnett Rd., Chicopee, MA

Cost: MA residents: $8, Non-MA Vehicles: $15 (seasonal passes are also available – info on seasonal passes can be found here)

Hours:

Memorial Day – Labor Day

Sunday – Saturday:
9:00 am-7:00 pm

Labor Day – Memorial Day (weather dependent)

Sunday – Saturday:
8:00 am-4:00 pm

Parking: There are several parking areas that can accommodate roughly a few hundred cars. Parking does fill up quickly during summer weekend days.

Handicappped Accessible: Yes, the beach is accessible to all. But, some trails may not be accessible.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Park Size/Trail Difficulty: 562 acres/Easy to Slightly Moderate difficulty

Tip(s):

Leave early (at least on warm days) – there was a line of cars waiting to get in when we arrived at 8:55 (the park opened at 9)

Fun Facts:

Chicopee State Memorial Park was formerly known as the Cooley Brook Reservoir and Watershed
The park was the site of reservoirs built in 1896, 1912 and 1926 to provide water for the city of Chicopee
“Chicopee” is a word originating in the Algonquian languages of eastern North America meaning “violent waters”

Fitbit Stats: 2.5 miles hiked, 433 calories burned, 5,333 steps

Highlights: beach, trails for hiking, running and cycling, wildlife, Vietnam memorial, fishing, picnic tables, pretty landscapes, sites for barbecuing, cross country skiing and snow shoeing during the winter (or more like fall, winter and spring in New England)

Website: Chicopee Memorial State Park

Trail Map: Chicopee Memorial State Park Trail Map

The main attraction for most visitors is the 25 acre pond that serves as a beach, restricted fishing area and area for dogs to play and swim in.

One visitor who was fishing with his grandson told me they caught kippers (a whole herring) and a large mouth bass.

The beach is the most popular part of the beach. There were lifeguards on duty (seasonally). While I was there, the little ones were busying themselves with a game of “Marco Polo.”

The views of the pond are pretty spectacular.

The paved trails, which are ideal for some cyclists and runners, are easy to slightly moderately difficult in some areas. They are manageable for most people of all age groups. For the more daring, there are some unpaved side trails to explore.

During our hike, I encountered a variety of wildlife. From the small minnows, robins and red winged blackbirds to the larger ducks and Canadian Geese, there is a variety of wildlife to appreciate at the park.

I also noticed this interesting web-like cocoon on a tree during my hike.

Upon further research, I found out this is a “caterpillar cocoon.” Tent caterpillars spin these large, web-like structures in trees or other plants to protect the developing larvae.

Chicopee Memorial also has picnic areas and barbecue grills. They also allow people to play music at a “reasonable volume” as Milton would say (bonus points if you get that reference).

As you exit the park, there is a memorial dedicated to all of the people from Chicopee who served and died in the Vietnam conflict. A very sober reminder during this Memorial Day weekend.

Chicopee Memorial park is a haven for dogs and dog lovers. I saw numerous dogs during our visit. One of the more popular areas for the dogs and their parents to congregate is the area just past the beach. An area is designated for the dogs to use. It is in this section of the pond that I met Maggie, a Black Lab who turns 2 tomorrow (5-27). Maggie had a fun time retrieving balls that her dad dutifully threw for her to fetch. She would often return the retrieved balls to me which was sweet.

Holly, my mom’s 11 month old Dutch Shepherd mix, loved the views from the side of the trail. I suspect you will be seeing more of her in my future photo shoots in Western MA.

As I was about to leave the park, I saw Bailey and I decided to get her photo. Bailey is an 11 month old Black Lab/Shepherd mix.

8 Comments | tags: beach, birds, Chicopee, Chicopee Memorial State Park, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in birds, Chicopee, dog, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

May 25, 2018

Kite Day (Hampton Beach, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: May 20, 2018

Location: Hampton Beach, 160 Ocean Blvd, Hampton, NH (about an hour north of Boston, MA and an hour northeast of Nashua, NH)

Hours: Hampton Beach is open everyday. The beach is closed from 1 a.m. until sunrise.

Parking: Parking cost me $2 an hour during my visit (pre-Memorial Day). There are various parking options and rates at Hampton Beach. You can find the parking rates here. There are also several parking lots that generally charge $20 for all day parking during the late spring and summer seasons.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: kites, kite flying

Fun Facts:

Recently, “kite day” has also served as the “Kites Against Cancer” event in which funds are raised to fight cancer (the event was cancelled this year)
In addition to the visitors kites, the beach staff tie up several jumbo sized kites of their own

Website: Kites Against Cancer