Tag Archives: Massachusetts

June 5, 2018

Lady Of Salem – 2018 (Salem, MA)

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 20, 2018

Museum Of Dog (North Adams, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: May 5, 2018

Location: 55 Union Street, North Adams, MA (about an hour and a half northwest of Springfield, MA, and hour and 15 minutes northeast of Albany, NY)

Hours: Mon – Sat : 10am to 7pm, Sun : 12pm – 6pm

Cost: $5 for adults, $1 for children

Parking: There is parking available both across the street from the museum and next to the museum (look for the stretch limos with the long dog painted on its side)

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Of course

Website: Museum Of Dog

Highlights: Art, collectibles and other memorabilia; all dog related!

Tips:

The Museum Of Dog offers a “Dancing Dog Evening Tour” performed by “in house talent” with some tours
Admission includes an optional guided tour of the museum by a knowledgeable staff member
If you have the time, make sure to stop by MASS MOCA which is only a mile or two away from the Museum Of Dog

Fun Facts:

Daisy, the dog of the founder and owner of the Museum Of Dog David York, has a exhibit dedicated to her
The Museum Of Dog holds the distinction of being the first of its kind in The Bay State

As summer approaches, what better place too whittle away the long dog days of summer than the Museum Of Dog?

The brainchild of dog lover and frequent Massachusetts vacationer David York, The Museum Of Dog has all things dog related that any dog aficionado is sure to appreciate.

The museum, which occupies what was formerly the Quinn’s Paint & Wallpaper Co, has works of art, collectibles and an assortment of other canine related items.

Statues of dogs line the shelves and floor of the museum.

This statue is a replica of Nipper, the dog used for the old logo for RCA.

But, the museum does not just limit itself to statues of dogs. There are also books, paintings,

The prized piece of art must be the portrait of Sophie; David York’s dog who he rescued many years ago.

In keeping with their roots to the area, there is an exhibit dedicated tot eh former tenants of the building, Quinn’s Paint and Wallpaper Co.

There is also an annex to the museum. The Daisy Exhibit features some of Daisy’s “art work.”

Daisy’s work is comically best described as “totale en doge.” She certainly puts all of herself into her art!

You can see her work for yourself in the”Sophie Annex.”

The annex houses many items associated with dogs such as tennis balls. There are also flowers and other types of decor in the rooms.

There are also ads for people looking to adopt dogs and art work from some of the visitors to the museum.

The rest of the annex includes an area for visitors to contribute to an exhibit of their own. Each visitor is encouraged to write their dog’s name and his or her biggest talent. The forms are then posted on a wall in the annex. Eating, sleeping, kissing, snuggling and sleeping are some of the more popular talents posted on the forms. Hey, I’m pretty good at those things too!

Parking is plentiful at the lot across from the museum, next to the museum and at the lots on Union St. There are limos located at the two main parking areas.

Somewhat ironically, there were no dogs present at the Museum Of Dog during my visit. But, they are welcome at the museum. So, make sure to take pooch along with you when you do visit!

10 Comments | tags: dogs, Massachusetts, museum, Museum Of Dog, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Western Massachusetts | posted in dog, Massachusetts, museum, New England, north adams, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, western massachusetts

April 16, 2018

Heritage State Park (Holyoke, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: March 31, 2017

Location: 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA

Cost: Free, although there is a fee to enter or use some of the attractions at the park such as the Children’s Museum, Volleyball Hall Of Fame and the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round

Hours:

Park hours

Sunrise to sunset

Visitors center hours

Sunday:
12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Tuesday – Saturday:
12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Parking: Free onsite parking for about 50 cars is available in Visitors Center lot

Park Size/Difficulty: 7 acres/Easy

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are allowed

Highlights: merry-go-round, canal, children’s museum, volleyball hall of fame, easy trail, statue, picnic area, play area, guided tours of the area

Website: Holyoke Heritage State Park

Tip: From May through mid-October, the park offers hour-long narrated train rides on a 1920s vintage railroad on Saturday and Sunday.

Fun Facts:

Holyoke is still known as the “paper city” because during the 19th century the city produced an estimated 80% of the writing paper used in the United States and was home to the largest paper and alpaca wool mills in the world
Between 85% and 90% of Holyoke’s energy which is powered by the municipally owned canals pictured below was carbon neutral as of 2016
Holyoke is also the birthplace of volleyball

Among the abandoned and dilapidated buildings of a once thriving mill town there is a special park that preserves the history of the area while providing family friendly entertainment and honoring their heroes.

The first building you notice upon entering the park is the Holyoke Merry Go Round. The affordable merry go round ($2 per ride) is very popular with children celebrating birthdays (perhaps I can have mine there). The merry go round, which was once part of Mountain Park (an amusement park that used to be located in the area), has been around in one capacity or another since the early 1900s.

Railroad tracks remain at the park as a reminder of what was a staple of the area. The railroad tracks are no longer in use. Yet they remain a reminder of the railroad system that bisected the area. The last photo shows the end of the tracks right next to the entrance of the Children’s Museum.

The Children’s Museum At Holyoke is located along the path of the canal (444 Dwight St). Although we didn’t go in, I did take some photos of the some murals on the exterior of the building.

Located next to the children’s museum is the Volleyball Hall Of Fame. Again, due to time constraints, we did not visit the museum. But, it is certainly on my list!

I loved walking along the canal. The views of the old factories and the canal offered some nostalgia and pretty views. I also appreciated the simple, yet historic, feel of the park. It is, in a word, charming, despite the many abandoned buildings in disrepair that line the canal. It felt like a refuge from the busy, crowded streets, although I am sure it is much more crowded during the summer season and when the temperatures rise (if that may ever come).

Along the walkway, which is handicapped accessible, there is a small picnic area and play area. There are also some interesting exhibits.

One of the exhibits is a storm drain art display. The artful displays encourage people to not pollute.

This flywheel stands near what was once the location of Skinner Mill. The mill was sold in 1961 and burned in 1980.

The pearl of the park is the statue dedicated to all of the officers who have lost their lives while on duty as police officers. The officer’s names are all engraved on the monument.

There are three police officers’ names listed on the monument. All three of these officers died while on duty working for the Holyoke police.

Officer John P. Driscoll lost his life on April 25, 1922 when he succumbed to injuries sustained when he fell from the running board of a car that he had commandeered after pursuing a vehicle that was being driven by a drunk driver. Officer Driscoll had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife, five children and parents.

Officer James Gatzounas died after being assaulted as he and other officers responded to a fight at a New Year’s Eve street party on January 1, 1977. During the altercation, Officer Gatzounas was kicked and punched as he attempted to place one of the suspects under arrest. He later died after going into cardiac arrest.

Two suspects, ages 19 and 17, were charged with first degree murder. When Officer Gatzounas’ autopsy revealed he died of cardiac arrest instead of injuries from the beating, the charges were reduced to manslaughter. Officer Gatzounas had been with the agency for 18 months and had previously served with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was survived by his wife and child.

The Man displayed in the statue, flanked by two children, is John A. DiNapoli. Officer DiNapoli was shot and killed i his vehicle while he was following a suspect. Officer DiNapoli had served for 21 years. DiNapoli was known for his service to the community. he and a few other officers started a Christmas tradition of giving toys to the children of Holyoke who lived in high crime neighborhoods. He was survived by two grown children. His son also became a police officer.

Stop by my Facebook page and like my page to view photos, reviews, videos and other fun stuff not included on my blog!

Below is a short video from the Holyoke Merry Go Round

18 Comments | tags: Holyoke, Massachusetts, merry go round, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, sttaue | posted in Holyoke, Massachussetts, merry go round, New England, photographs, photography, photos, statues, Uncategorized

March 22, 2018

Northeast Reenactors Fair (West Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: February 24, 2018

Location: Mallary Complex, Eastern States Exposition Center (1305 Memorial Avenue
West Springfield, MA)

Cost: $10 per person (2 day passes are also available for $20)

Parking: $5 to park for the day. Parking is ample.

Website: Northeast Reenactors Fair

Highlights: Items and people in costume from various eras

Hello fellow bloggers and readers, I have been out of commission for a while due to a back injury. But, I am recovering and I should be back to my normal blogging schedule soon. Thank you for your support and I look forward to posting more of my adventures!

The Eastern State Exposition Center in West Springfield. MA, was in a time warp the last weekend of February.

The Northeast Reenactors (formerly the New England Reenactors) descended upon the Big E to show off their attire, sell their era-appropriate merchandise and celebrate the days of yore.

There were reenactors of every era in costume at the fair.

While there were reenactors from every time period, there were quite a lot of Vietnam War era reenactors.

The weapon in this photo, an M29 Mortar, is still used today, with some slight modifications. If you never thought you would ever use geometry, think again. The trajectory of the projectiles use a lot of geometry and other mathematical formulas to direct the mortars accurately. Also, it took five people, yes five people, to operator (the squad leader, the gunner, the assistant gunner, first ammunition bear and the second ammunition bearer). One of the projectiles can be seen to the right of the M 29.

There were also vendors selling their wares. Many of the products being sold were home made replicas of the items of previous eras.

There were also various displays of the popular attire, books and other items from the various eras.

Check out the cameras used during the Vietnam era. Maybe I should consider trading in for one.

It was such a big event, even two presidents showed up.

President Madison

And, of course, President Lincoln.

If all that wasn’t enough, there was also entertainment at the reenactors fair. Singers performed a variety of songs from the past.

Below is a video of one of the talented performers.

Please follow me on Facebook to view photos, video and other content not included on my blog.

New England Nomad

10 Comments | tags: Eastern States Exposition, Historical, Massachusetts, New England, photo, Photography, photos, reenaactors, West Springfield | posted in Eastern States Exposition Center, historical, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, reenactors, Uncategorized, West Springfield

February 23, 2018

SCAM (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visits: October 21, 2017 & February 10, 2018

Location: Essex St, Salem MA (shares the same entrance as Witch Tee’s at 173 Essex St)

Hours: Closed Mon – Thu, Fri: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sat & Sun: 12-7 (Hours may vary depending on the season)

Cost: Free

Parking: Street parking is accessible throughout Salem and at the parking garages on Congress St and New Liberty St

Handicapped Accessible: The first floor is handicapped accessible but the only way to the second floor is by using a stairwell

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: SCAM

Highlights: art made by local artists

Beware! There is a scam in Salem.

But this scam does not involve some shady Nigerian Prince or a bug with your Windows operating system. No, this is an entirely different kind of scam.

SCAM (The Salem Collective of Artists and Musicians) has a wide collection of unique art from artists in Salem and the neighboring areas. I wen there on a whim. It was a busy weekend in Salem just before Halloween. So, I thought I would duck out from the foot traffic and stop in, And, was I glad I did!

I originally visited SCAM in October, 2017. The decor did have a Halloween or spooky theme in some areas and an early Christmas themed work of art.

The entrance way to SCAM is a shared entrance with Witch Tees on the pedestrian walkway on Essex St. Go to the right at the entrance to enter the art museum.

The first floor has a variety of art, novelty items and some merchandise for purchase.

My favorite pieces are the vintage art of celebrities from the past such as the art work with Marlon Brando and Leonard Nimoy. Little known fact: Leonard Nimoy was born in nearby Boston, MA.

I also liked the height chart that corresponded with the height of other celebrities. I was Keanu Reeves! Who knew Lady Gaga was so tiny! I also like how they have Matt Damon’s “crouching height.”

Most of the art is on the second floor. There is a variety of unique art and innovative items on the second floor of SCAM.

Watch out where you step when you go upstairs!

That is just one of them more offbeat pieces of art or entertainment at SCAM.

The works of art on the second floor of SCAM are very creative and impressive. Some of the art on display is for sale.

SCAM is not a very big art museum. You can easily go through the building and view all of the art in 20 minutes or so.

From the outside of the building was yet another innovative work of art!

SCAM changes up their decor and art from time to time. During a recent visit on February 10, I noticed there was a new set up in the front window. I love how they integrate action figures into different locations.

Below is a short video of the display at the front of SCAM.

7 Comments | tags: art, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem, Salem Collective of Artists And Musicians, SCAM | posted in art, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

February 18, 2018

Talcott Greenhouse At Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden (South Hadley, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: January 20, 2018

Location: 50 College St, South Hadley, MA

Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m, Sat & Sun 1 p.m. -4 p.m. (hours may vary depending on the season)

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a parking lot for about 40 cars

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Website: Talcott Greenhouse

Highlights: variety of plants in the Talcott Greenhouse at Mount Holyoke College

It may seem a little early in the year for New Englanders to be talking about our gardens and plants, especially since we just received 3 inches of snow in the Boston area. But, the Talcott Greenhouse is a great place to go for a preview of the spring planting season that will soon be here.

The greenhouse has a wide variety of plants

There were a variety of plants and flowers that caught my attention like this huge cactus!

The botanical garden is open all year. The plants are cared for by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. In fact, the person working there during my visit helped answer a few questions I had about some of the plants and flowers int eh garden.

This particular flower is an orchard. The banana-looking parts of he flower are actually where the plant stores water.

Below are a few of the plants and flowers that caught my eye.

Philodendron Erubescens (“Pink Princess”)

Begonia Brevirimosa

Microsorum Thailandicum

Sinning Bullata

Begonia Silver Jewel Dibleys

Cirita Keiko

and the rest…

I especially liked how the flowers were displayed throughout the botanical garden. The colors of the plants in each group seemed to blend so well with all of the other plants they were placed with.

The coolest part of the greenhouse was definitely this tree that was growing through a wall!

12 Comments | tags: botanical garden, Massachusetts, New Englaand, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, South Hadley, Talcott Greenhouse | posted in botanical garden, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, plants, South Hadley, Uncategorized

February 13, 2018

16th Annual Salem’s So Sweet (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: February 10, 2018

Locations: Throughout the city of Salem

Hours:Visible 24 hours a day, until they melt

Cost: Free

Parking:Metered street parking is available and there are two big parking garages on New Liberty St and Congress St

The Downtown Garage (New Liberty St) costs $0.75 per hour.

The Waterfront Garage (Congress St) costs $0.25 per hour.

Both garages operate from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.

Public Transportation: The MBTA’s Commuter Rail has a stop which deposits its passengers right at Washington St. $15 for a round trip ticket from North Station (fares vary depending upon where you leave from and where you are going)

MBTA Commuter Rail

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Salem’s So Sweet

Ice Floes (South Hadley, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: January 20, 2017

Location: 1 Alvord St, South Hadley, MA (Brunelle’s Marina)

Cost: Free

Parking: Parking for about 50 cars is available in the lot next to Brunelle’s

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, although some areas may be inaccessible

Dog Friendly: Yes

New England’s bizarre weather has created yet another peculiar attracted that has peaked the interest of countless visitors; ice floes.

But, these icy chunks of frozen water are no ordinary ice floes. These ice floes and ice chunks are so large some people have been seen lying on them, taking selfies on them and walking on them, cautiously (more on that later).

Although most of the ice floes and chunks of ice have surely melted with our recent warming trend, it is likely this may happen again this season or again next winter, although this was a fairly unusual event for this area.

The chunks of ice were stable in most areas. But, not all areas. Let’s just say I may know from experience. So, do be careful if you do visit this icy attraction.

The slabs, caused by frigid temperatures have attracted large crowds.

Despite our downright balmy weather conditions this weekend, it has been a particularly cold winter. But, hey that’s New England for you.

The ice chunks were often found bunched together, almost in a tectonic fashion.

The ice formed some very interesting shapes.

Another interesting aspect of the chunks of ice are the white and blueish colorful hues from the light shining through the ice. The colors reminded me of crystals and diamonds.

A few of the visitors decided to make good use of the snow and made this snowman. But, I’m not sure what the sticks in the head are all about. it’s a little disturbing, actually.

The ice floes are also popular with dogs.

Princess is a 3 year old Maltese.

Winston, a 5 year old English Cream Golden Retriever, barked out his approval of the floes.

Below is a video of the ice floes floating and traveling down the Connecticut River.

9 Comments | tags: Connecticut River, ice, ice floes, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, South Hadley, winter | posted in dogs, ice floes, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, South Hadley, Uncategorized, winter

February 5, 2018

Ice Sculptures (Greenfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: February 3, 2017 (Carnival is usually held annually the first weekend of February)

Location: Main St, Greenfield, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: I found metered street parking to be plentiful on Main St. There is also parking available on the side streets off Main St.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Tips:

the sculptures are lit up at night
there are several events and exhibits during the carnival (see the website below and the link to my post from last year’s carnival to see what other events take place at the carnival

Website: Greenfield Winter Carnival

Highlights: Ice sculptures from the Greenfield Winter Carnival

Well, we made it. We’ve officially made it half way through the winter season. Pause for collective groan. But, cheer up. To celebrate this monumental milestone, Greenfield holds their annual winter carnival fair. The fair includes a variety activities such as a parade of lights to kick off the carnival, face painting, a k9 keg pull a cardboard sled race among many other fun family friendly activities. But, the highlight for many of the visitors to the Greenfield Winter Carnival are the ice sculptures.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the festivities this year. But, I did post about it last year.

You can click here to view my blog post from last year’s winter carnival.

Unlike other ice sculpture exhibits where the sculptures are carved elsewhere and delivered, like the Salem’s So Sweet ice sculptures which are going to be on display this upcoming weekend, the ice sculptures at the Greenfield carnival are carved on sight on Main Street. In fact, you may see some of the chunks of ice from the original blocks of ice in some of the photos below.

There were 11 total ice sculptures. They are located on both sides of Main St. We found 10 of them. All of them are located on Main St. These sculptures are also lit up during the evening and some were already lit when we saw them during the afternoon. The frigid and blustery conditions ensured the sculptures remained frozen despite the abundant sunshine.

The first sculpture on Main St (going from south to north) was created Sue O’Sullivan of Royalston, MA.

The second sculpture was created by Brendon Kellner of Cambridge, MA. I think the figures are supposed to be dancing or about to embrace. Or, they’re choking each other. It is up to your particular interpretation today. It may also depend on how your day is going, I suppose.

The next sculpture of a family of penguins (there is a little one in the middle of the two larger penguins) was created by Marc Cinamella of Palmerton, PA.

This sculpture was certainly one of the more popular ice sculptures and my favorite. There were a group of photographers huddled around this sculpture. Of course, waiting for the scene to clear out before I took my photo was less than pleasant given the conditions. The intricate detail of the sculpture really is impressive. The sculpture was carved by Mark Bosworth of Athol, MA.

Unfortunately, I did the shadow of this groundhog look a like sculpture.

This sculpture created by Chef Ben Pike and Franklin County Tech School Culinary students.

This snowflake is not any ordinary snowflake. This icy snowflake was carved by hometown Greenfield citizen John Passiglia.

This howling wolf was created by Robert Markey of Ashfield, MA. I’m not sure if it was done by design or if it was the way the sun was reflecting off the sculpture but I like how the wolf seems to disappear the father you look up on the sculpture in the second photo.

These humongous legs and feet were carved by Annaliese Bischoff from Leverett, MA.

David Barclay of Northampton, MA carved this dragon. I love the scales on the chest of the sculpture.

The final sculpture we found (there was one more farther down the road we missed) of a certain Boston Bruins goalie was carved by Michael Legassey of Athol, MA.