Spring-ish

Elmer would like to welcome you to Spring-ish and the Lollypop Farm walk

A few of the horses





Don't play coy Emu...


Sleepy pig


Piggy pig


This is how I thought all of Upstate New York looked before I moved here.


Goose


Someday this llama will come closer


GOATS!!!


And now all the Daffodils are out.

Enough blogging for now.  It's going to be nice for only a few more minutes.  So, I'm going outside to enjoy it...

Daaaf-O-Dillll...

ANGRY CAT!  


Speaking of messes, this is not clutter; it's art.


70 degrees and sunny!  Break out the shorts and sandals, honey.  We're a goin' walkin'!  Here's East Chestnut Street in East Rochester.


A sure sign of spring were all the softball and baseball games taking place as East Rochester School.



The entrance to Edmund Lyon Park


More baseball, this time at Lyon Park.  




There's a pretty interesting neighborhood and the southeastern portion of the village.  It seems the developer was trying to create a modern elf village, which these houses don't appropriately show...  Sorry...


Our first flower at the new house.  Not bad little Daffodil.  When I came home today there were a whole row of these guys ready to pop.  I wonder what else will pop up in our yard?

That's all from Rochester.  

Panorama Valley: Part II

Continued from Panorama Valley: Part I

The Panorama Valley redevelopment creates a traditional Upstate New York neighborhood while preserving and enhancing current green space.

Today, there is abundant open space between the strip mall and Irondequoit Creek that is underutilized.  This area is ignored and neglected as no windows view this space and it is lined with dumpsters, used tires, and other refuse.  New and refurbished buildings will be designed to face both the street and the new Panorama Park.

Current view of open space behind strip malls

New buildings will be designed to face both the street and the park.  Along the park is a promenade to encourage foot traffic and restaurants.  The lawn area provides ample space for personal recreation and community activities with the stage for theater, concerts, etc.

This aeriel view of the Irondequoit Creek area shows its underuse.  The side facing the creek of all the buildings are windowless and used for loading docks and dumpsters.  

Current view of Irondequoit Creek between Panorama Plaza and Panorama Creek Drive

With a few changes, this area could be a great asset.  Rebuilding the dilapidated structures to the north to face the park and street would be valuable spaces for restaurants, boutiques, and a hotel.   A tree-lined promenade would link businesses to the creek and parking.  Existing trails along the creek should be preserved and connected to a community garden in the western portion and a lawn with a stage in the eastern portion.  Inviting gateways along Panorama Trail and an improved connection to the trails that follow the creek toward Linear/Channing Park.

Example of an entrance to Panorama Valley Park from Panorama Trail.

Irondequoit Creek

To see more about the Panorama Valley redevelopment, please visit:
Panorama Valley: Part I

A Wicked Good Time In Beantown

Welcome to Boston, Massachusetts.  How quickly can you do the Freedom Trail?


Enjoy the view from the hotel.  It's a months rent for a couple nights and parking is not validated...  Sometimes I miss the midwest.


The Park Street Church across from Boston Common

Brewer Fountain in the Common




Massachusetts State House and a kid with a backpack monster


Here lies Samuel Adams, founding father of the United States and beer guy.


Victims of the Boston Massacre are in the Granary Burying Ground.



Hope this guy wasn't too important...


Try telling the renter of this place that their apartment isn't haunted because it's built on top of a tomb.  But, the award goes to the basement day care center with the view of gravestones.  Poor kids and their therapy bills...


If I got a tattoo, it'd be something like this.  Born (and will die) in the wrong era.


Ben Franklin's parents


John Hancock...




Ben Franklin overlooking a Chinese restaurant at Old City Hall and "the Founding Father of Funny"


Here's Old City Hall


Jonathan Phillips.


The Old South Meeting House where they planned the Boston Tea Party


The Old State House and site of the Boston Massacre




Faneuil Hall (or Nathaniel Hall to those in the know)


Sam Adams


BREAKDANCING IN AMERICAN FLAG SHORTS!


Quincy Market


This is for Vicky.  Muller Greek Yogurt samples thrown at tourist on the street.


I guess a lot of Boston looked like this (or worse) before the Big Dig and without the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge.


Instead of a nasty highway, Boston has parks and other amenities (Rochester: take note for the Inner Loop)


The North End


Paul Revere's House.  You can tell he was worried about the British coming because of the bars on his front door


Paul Revere's Ride and maybe the bride's as well


For Megan, the place where Rose Kennedy was baptized


Paul Revere statue


Old North Church where Paul sent the signal "One if by land, and two if by sea" 


The USS Constitution.  I have to mention that this place had the most intense security of any tourist trap I've ever been in.




Taking aim at Boston.  The tour guide/soldier warned us not to pick up the large cannonballs because we don't want to hurt ourselves or others by dropping them on our feet.  





The USS Cassin Young


HUZZA!  For Pete


Bunker Hill



William Prescott


Beautiful neighborhood in the Charlestown neighborhood




Waiting to eat at Antico Forno.  Great food and worth the short wait


Feast of St. Anthony in North End (Little Italy)


The band and stage






After this and our honeymoon, I realize that my religious bretheren really like bright colors and lights.


Woody Boyd outside of Cheers


I'd shop more if this was common...


Trinity Church 


Boston Public Library


It seems the library was designed by Tim Burton




I feel smarter after just walking through here


The First Church of Christ, Scientist


The Christian Science Church Library and Sunday School


The Muddy River in the Fenway


Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox

Outside of the Green Monster


The bridge in the Public Garden 


The swan boats


Peddling these boats all day must give you really strong legs



St. James the Greater Church where the wedding was


This was the first time I've ever been to a wedding with a Dragon Dance and it was awesome.  I kind of wish we had done some kind of entertainment like this at our wedding.


Also, it was the first wedding I've ever been to where they sang the national anthem.  The groom is a big Bruins fan and they brought in Rene Rancourt as a wedding gift.  I wish the pictures would have turned out, but the didn't.  I've never seen wedding guest get so excited.

That's more than enough for now.  Congrats to Jen and Michael on their wedding.  Also, congrats to my cousin Mallory and Tim on their marriage.  I give my best wishes to my cousin Eric on his nuptials to Cierra.