Whimsical Windows - Sunnyside and Shadyside

For the architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I am featuring the Maritime Center office building on the harbor in New Haven Connecticut. I took these on the land side and this structure is a fairly modern, attractively styled, the blue mirrored windows the key styling detail. The views are on the sunny and shady sides, the bright side being more brilliant, the darker side a bit more somber. The windows are like aqua zebra stripes that reflect the blue sky that envelops the building...I look forward to seeing your links!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Water Views

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and we look at the shadowy world from many angles. And if I am the designated driver, the lovely Patti is the designated photo taker (cannot be too safe :)

Here is on the way to the wedding we attended last week by the water. This view by the seawall in the Morris Cove section of New Haven and it is on the road along the sea wall. Those who live nearby have spectacular and shadowy views of the harbor while keeping my eyes on the road. Thanks m'lady!

Tina's Pic Story - 'N' is for...

New Haven City Green

Port Chester New York, Hutchinson Parkway southbound

Nice Day, our patio in July

Tina is back with her fun meme Pic Story. The process is simple - she provides the weekly theme and we match that with our photos. This week, it is the letter 'N'. I found three items that should word: The city of New Haven, the state of New York, and our home on a Nice Day. I trust that I have met the theme!

Whimsical Windows - Pirelli/Armstrong Building

Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors is a fun architectural meme hosted by Toby. We look for interesting portals and today is the highly visible Pirelli in New Haven CT. This building was opened in 1970 and in a Modernist style designed by architect Marcel Breuer, who used cast concrete for the exterior while draped over the steel frame. 

It was built for the now defunct Armstrong Rubber Company as their corporate headquarters until acquired by Pirelli. When IKEA purchased the land for its blue and yellow big box, the city requested that the landmark building remain in place - and IKEA accommodate that request. The detail seen in the vertical view just above the window is a stylized slanted A that represented the Armstrong logo - perhaps the advantage of working with the malleable concrete. The past and present can coexist...

Ruby Tuesday 2 - City Seal

Ruby Tuesday 2 is back with its simple ruby red rule. Today’s picture is from within the Connecticut State capitol building in Hartford. Captured from above is a seal from a city that dates back to 1784.

Due to the brick red hue, I captured this from wheelchair height. 

Intrigued, I checked it out and learned a thing or two. This is actually the seal for the City of New Haven, about forty miles south of the capital city. Per the city’s web site, this design was from two prominent New Haven residents, Ezra Stiles and James Hillhouse. In 1784, Stiles wrote of the seal:

Finished the City Seal. The Devise, the Harbour of New Haven, a Ship at the Entrance, and an Ionic Pillar entwined with a Grape Vine. Under the Ship at the Mouth of the Harbour, MARE LIBERUM; and round the Seal SIGILL.CIVITAT.NOVI-PORT.IN REPUB.CONNECTICUTENSI.1784...It is always fun to learn something new about your state or town when seeking rubies. The detailing on the wall and arch is amazing in any color – especially red!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Spring like shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back on a great nearly Spring day!

Last Sunday the always lovely Patti and I undertook a trip to IKEA in New Haven. It was a delightful day, with blue skies and a breeze of Long Island Sound allowing for a chilly 48°F (9°C), But the sun is moving northerly at this time, so shadows are abundant.









The place to park was on the fringes of the massive (1200 space) parking lot (car park). As shadows come in many shapes, the subject would be the lot itself. Patti, the intrepid photo huntress, took the views. Our entry to IKEA was near the old Armstrong Rubber headquarters. Shadows are all over the structure, the flags waving in the wind accordingly. Upon our exit from the retailer, and given our far-flung location, shadows instead of card were all over. From the cart return to the rental U-Haul vehicles, the shadows are slight (tree, tubular steel) to bigger (the U-Haul van). I am partial to parking area shadows... 

Nearer our vehicle, the photographer and myself are evident on either side of the Dodge. Shadows surround the scenes well, so the usual subjects define the theme today. Shadowy artistry surround us all, so be sure to see more at the fun SSS2!

Whimsical Windows - Linear Lunacy

Toby hosts her fun meme, Whimsical Windows- Delirious Doors. The premise is quite simple: we post windows, doors and other interesting architectural art.

Today, we are looking at the Long Wharf Maritime Center on the New Haven CT harbor. The 15-story building, opened in 1985, follows the modern norm of steel and glass construction. It does offer a few neat styling diversions - as the building gas many corners, the series of windows to the right do not line up with their respective floors, they seem to rise and fall at random.

As does the blue scaffolding...

The zany linear reflections are seen on the north face. The reflections conspire with the corners to add more complexity to the scene - it almost seems that one window does not end at the other window - it also enters into it. 

With more scaffolding to further confuse the viewer...See more portal artistry at Toby's meme!

Also posted as part of Tina's 29 Days

Tina's Pic Story - Creative Crossing

Tina's Pic Story arrives with the simple premise: she provides the theme, we provide the photo. This week's theme is Creative...We are at Union Station, the rail station in New Haven. We are actually in a passenger tunnel beneath tracks 8 and 9. It is usually a busy place full of commuters on weekdays. On this Saturday, beyond the gaze of security, I was able to capture this view.

The glow is eerie, the flash or lack of makes this an oval portal of a chartreuse green. We might imagine being in a space ship, except the light at the end might be enough to wake us up from a strange dream sequence...

also part of Tina's 29 Days

Shadow Shot Sunday - Memorializing

Shadow Shot Sunday-2 reappears this week, courtesy of our three outstanding hosts, Rose, MMT and Gemma. We look here, there (and perhaps everywhere) for shadowy objects. Today it is summer, a time of warmer temperatures, more sun and naturally, shadows.

The subject is the gateway to the impressive Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, on the periphery of Yale University. This burial ground dates back to 1797, replacing the grounds on the New Haven Green. The portal here is in an Egyptian Revival Style, itself built in 1845, and the source of shadow.

The grounds memorialize over 14,000 historic figures who lived in Connecticut that are interred here, including: Lyman Beecher, abolitionist; Charles Goodyear, of tire fame; David Humphreys; Roger Sherman, who signed the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution; and Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin.

The shadowy lighting falls upon this stone portal, adding an aura to the history of the entry. See more shadows at this fun meme! 

Also posted as part of Tina's 29 Days meme