Ruby Tuesday Too - Red Door

Anything historic often has a tradition. Why some traditions exist I cannot say, but some offer intrigue, beautiful architecture and perhaps a hint of ruby red. So for this week's edition of Ruby Tuesday Too, I am looking at Christ Episcopal Church in Ansonia, a lovely house of worship with the Episcopal red doors. It seems that there is a tradition of red doors, and a lot has been written about it...so I refer to this source with an interesting description. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful building opened in 1905 and the red doors are a nice feature...

SOOC - Sky on Fire

Patti has been looking at the sky lately, and in this change of season, she captured a beauty last week in our domicile of Ansonia. She calls it Sky on Fire - and it is! So I am happy to submit this for Straight out of the Camera - SOOC I am not a fan of the cold seasons we are entering, but the Autumnal beauty we see now looks so nice...

Whimsical Windows - Ansonia Congregational

For this installment of Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I am heading less that two miles downhill to the First Congregational Church of Ansonia. This stately house of worship was built in its original configuration in 1865, and expanded in 1915. Unlike the austere Puritan churches we see on small town greens all over Ne w England, this church seems to harken back to the large buildings of Europe, made of stone and full of substance.

The history go this congregation is interesting. Industrialist Anson Phelps gave the land and money to start the meetinghouse in 1848. And, the small city of Ansonia was named in honor of its founder, Anson Phelps. This is a beautiful building and has the strength of not just its stone it is clad in, but also its the fervent and true believers...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Railings and Towers

Shadows fall before us in many unexpected places - and we hope to have a camera alongside. Which Patti and I did recently. Thus for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, the impressive 1896 Christ Episcopal Church in Ansonia is the subject today. This is the church profiled for SSS in 2011, and is always an impressive building that captures the more-southerly Autimn sky. Railings and towers always look especially nice as the leaves change colors and the temps fall...

Ruby Tuesday Too - Ansonia Public Library

Ansonia Public Library, 2015-10-10. Camera settings give wide angle look. Photo by Patti.

It is time for Ruby Tuesday Too, where we showcase that often arresting color red. I am offering an updated view of our public library in our small (19,000) city of Ansonia Connecticut.

The Ansonia Public Library was built in 1891-92. The exterior walls were constructed of red Longmeadow freestone from western Massachusetts. The foundation walls were constructed of granite from local quarries around Ansonia.

The architect was George Keller, renowned for his Civil War and military monuments, best exemplified by the impressive Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Hartford CT. 

Here, details abound in this view from across the street, including its dramatic arched entrance and leaded glass windows. The interior is beautiful too, with plenty of oak, a stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings.

The library - was dedicated in 1892 but until the city finally approved an annual appropriation of $1,500 in 1896. Elected representation no doubt acceded to the wishes of the voters back then it seems, the public being more than ready for this impressive center of learning...

Whimsical Windows - Barb's Corner Consignment

It has been a hectic month, but as the pace has slackened, I am back to post in the meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. Today it is an eclectic look at unique windows at Barb's Corner Consignment down the hall from us in in downtown Ansonia.

As we are apt to see in a consignment shop, it is the inventory of items from bric-a-brac up that is unique when compared to any other retailer. And proprietor Phyllis offers the viewers ver unique window designs. Such as Halloween and Christmas items, and a unique event that will occur on October 31.

The event is Mission: Give Back. In cooperation with Operation Gratitude, this local effort will be collecting a variety of items for service members, sending care packages to service personnel stationed overseas. A worthy effort that adds an additional sense of purpose to a fun place of commerce.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Pasta Rustico

In the last post on this blog, I opined about the seeming debacle of the same day cancellation of the 2015 Ansonia Harvest Festival. As chair of the Ansonia Cultural Commission, this was my first event planned exclusively by myself...and with the rain, wing and flying vendor tents, the Mayor Cassetti made the call that it was to be cancelled - now! He is a real leader for sure, and we are refunding all vendors for the lack of a true cancellation or postponement policy.

What does all of the preceding have to do with Shadow Shot Sunday 2? Well, Patti, Allegra and myself decided that a meal of comfort food at the Original Antonios in downtown Ansonia would be a help. And a it was, the Pasta Rustico (cavatelli, sausage, roasted garlic, broccoli rabe, white beans and olive oil) along with a side order of shadows on the floor behind. The day was son forgotten...for 24 hours at least :)

My FB ruminations are here...

Harvest Festival Redux

It has been awhile since I posted anything on this blog - too much time spent on the cancelled-the-day-of ansonia Harvest festival. For the non-paid position of Chair of the Ansonia Cultural Commission, trying to put on the event with the pressures of satisfying all and pleasing none, I am happy that the event had to be cancelled the morning of...a lot of interference from the previous chair and others (EDC?). I am not unpleased that the event was cancelled so that the many changes from the previous can be addressed and fixed.

As chair of the Cultural Commission, I need to know; have the autonomy and authority to work these events as I see fit - or not. Maybe this unpaid chairman might move on...

My opinion on our new Valley Voice website

More reading at Facebook: 
The day of the event, Upon further review

SOOC - Dunk Tank (Mayor) Dave

Any oddity we see can be a subject for Straight out of the Camera - SOOC 

If we see it and like it, we take our chances. Here is Ansonia CT Mayor Dave Cassetti at the August Rock the Valley event in our small city. Here happens to be perilously perched on the shelf of a dunk tank, the tank being a fundraiser, and many stopped by to fay their money to dunk the mayor (for the cause of course :)

Yes, he heckles the ball thrower who makes it so easy to take a chance to fund the Mayor. And many did! The sequence follows the sun as it begins to set, so it is a bit dark - but perfectly real for SOOC!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer concerts are over for the year...

Wednesday summer evenings concerts next to City Hall are done for the season. All Funk'd Up, a  fun Connecticut band, are not just fun to listen to - but for wordless pics too, despite the video...See WW

Whimsical Windows - Traci's on Main

For this week's meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I travel downhill from our Ansonia Uplands home to downtown, and a new pâtisserie, Traci's on Main. Not only a bakery, antiques are on display and for sale as well. This is located on the ground floor of the 1870 Ansonia Opera House, and the weathered windows and brickwork are nicely updated with the bold purple signage and awning to greet the customers. Nice looks with delicious pastry comply us to browse and snack any time we travel downtown...

Wordless Wednesday - Historical Naugatuck Valley

This is a train layout at the Derby Historical Society (DHS) that was built to evoke the past with a layout that covers the Shelton, Derby and Ansonia CT communities in the early 1920s. Of course, I also feature our darling daughter and DHS docent Allegra (obvious bias :). Is the detailing accurate? I'm not old enough (yet) to say! See WW 

Shadow Shot Sunday - City Hall Concert

Lead singer Bryan Kearney prepares

Soulful Felicia wows...

Who doesn't love shadows and live music downtown? Certainly not I, especially on a beautiful Summer evening in the park by Ansonia (CT) City Hall! In the 2015 Summer Concert Series hosted by the Ansonia Cultural Commission (I being the chair), this week's music was provided by The Bernadettes, a premier club band in the state.

Thus, for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, the shadows and music combine for a stylish post of sun and sound. Covering an eclectic mix of the '60s (classic Motown and soul), the '70s (Earth Wind & Fire, Disco era), I know their songs from a formative age and love them still - as does the band's large following. A very fun event...

I captured a few video's from wheelchair height - the cinematography leaves a lot to be desired...but not the sound!

September, Earth Wind & Fire, 1978

Signed Sealed and Delivered (I'm Yours), Stevie Wonder, 1970 (and to almost give away my age, I had the '45 single in 9th grade :)

Whimsical Windows - Redevelop, please...

For this week's edition of Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I am 
featuring the old city owned ATP building. 
With municipalities so eager to get a building back onto the tax rolls, many implausible ideas are pitched by developers where nothing comes of fruition. 

Still I hope that it is rehabbed and repurposed sooner than later.There are currently new bids by developers to rehab this - so hope remains...These were taken with my phone on a cloudy day, the look is forlorn and not stylish - but too solid to tear down. Buildings like this were built to last. I hope to see something on this functional building happen, and get our small city out of the landlord business...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Shadowy tea wreaths

Colorful circles create cool shadows

Stylish subjects and shadows

Britney the artisan. All photos by Patti

Our small city of Ansonia CT (pop. 19,000) is hosting a very unique series of events this year, Ansonia's Market Place. The idea is to bring people visitors to our downtown on Wednesday evenings to the lovely park/green aside City Hall. The idea is to spend a nice evening of visiting area crafters who are attending - the draw for the crafters is a No Fee policy for the season. We have enjoyed four Wednesdays of nice weather so far.

So for the fun meme Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I am showcasing the unique tea wreaths created by A Spot of Tea. Hosted by Patti Pensanti and Britney Fernandes, this artistic mother and daughter team have created a cool item that is engaging and eye catching. Given the sun and shadow, this was a great way to spend a beautiful day at Ansonia's market place...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Escape from Ansonia

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 takes me back to a recent function on Long Island Sound. Lovely Allegra was captured by personable photographer Patti who thought this scene similar to Dorothy telling Toto that we’re not in Kansas Ansonia anymore...

This is a great sentiment on a beautiful Summer evening on the salt water tidal estuary in Wast Haven. As well as shadows that are following my favorite ladies above the seawall. Blue sky, fluffy clouds and happy shadows are all here in our 20 minute escape from our home in the Ansonia Uplands...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Parade Promotion

I was part of the 2015 Ansonia Memorial Day Parade committee and was able to drive the parade route (at the end), and since the always lovely Patti and I are using our tiny LLC to set up a (paying) website for The Valley Voice, currently a stand-along blog. So our artist friend Rich DiCarlo created a sign for the van with a logo he designed - so we had free advertising for a non-existant publication...have to start somewhere :) How does all this fit for Shadow Shot Sunday2? Plenty of shadows from underneath, around and over the just washed van and the Main Street parade route. Happy shadows indeed!

A slideshow of the parade, from its beginning (herding the various parade marchers into a semblance of order is akin to herding cats) to its Main Street is shown below...full of shadows!