SOOC - Winter Moon over Derby

Winter is not a favorite season of mine as I am not a fan of the cold. Yet, there is an undeniable beauty of parts of it, such as a fresh white coating of snow and the cold but really blue winter sky. So for Straight out of the Camera - SOOC, I offer a recent pic that Patti took, a daytime moon over the (1889) Sterling Opera House in Neighboring town of Derby CT. Yes it is cold, but a look at space over a local landmark...

Ruby Tuesday Too - Sterling Opera House, Stately and Stout

Patti captures the Sterling Opera House on a cold day...

Ruby Tuesday Too returns, and on a winter's day, Patti and I took a ride around our neighboring town of Derby, CT. A landmark that towers over the downtown thoroughfare of Elizabeth Street is the oft posted and photographed (by us) and impressive Sterling Opera House, opened in 1889. It is a stately edifice, artistic in its restored exterior. Alas, interior restoration is still needed and its costs are so great that many angels are needed to complete the insides, which will require lots of $. Angels wanted!

Whimsical Windows - Houdini at the opera

The master illusionist looks on. Acrylic by Greg Karas

Toby's fun weekly meme, Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, is back. We look for portals of whimsy and/or otherwise in our travels...today, I return to the old Sterling Opera House in nearby Derby, where the sidewalk level windows are now full of portraits of artists who graced the stage from 1889-1945. This window has the image of the magician and stunt performer with the stage name Harry Houdini, the dapper artist wearing a pair of handcuffs. 

At sidewalk level, there is so much glare that it nearly obscures the performer (although in character he was an illusionist too :)

The artist is Greg Karas of Ansonia, and Patti wrote of this in her newspaper blog - the old and someday to be restored entertainment venue offers a cool exhibit to the lucky patrons who happen to be strolling by...

Whimsical Windows - Frowny Face

A large half-moon window at the iconic Sterling Opera House, Derby Connecticut

Toby hosts the fun meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors where we look at unique portals and frames from serious to...a frown? This giant window is part of the once historic (and haunted some say) but now in disrepair Sterling Opera House in Derby. Patti captured this view which may be sad (hence the toothy grimace) or happy (invert it for a smily face...). It all is a matter of perspective!

Whimsical Windows - Opera House Optics

Toby hosts the fun weekly architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. We all look for portals that offer perhaps a more fun look than we usually take notice of...

The place is the Sterling Opera House in our neighboring town of Derby Connecticut. Opened in 1889, it awaits restoration one day into an arts center for the region. Some say that it may be haunted - Patti was even part of and had written about the ghost hunting aspect of that last year...

Stately it may be, but the whimsical nature is evident :) The 'sun' above the door is the symbol of the local street festival Derby Day, this year on 16 June. A cute fellow, he even sports the hat that is the namesake of our neighbor. Whimsy indeed!