Roofers

 

First rays of the rising sun in Tunic's Coffee this morning. 

 

 

First rays of the rising moon over Northampton by Scott Coen. 

 

However, let me draw your attention to the small structure  on a nearby rooftop visible in the left hand corner. 

 

Looks like a nice place for a outdoor barbecue, don't it? The fact is there are all kinds of structures on roofs throughout the downtown area that are sometimes scenes for bigtime parties. I've attended a number of them over the years, including one by First Church complete with saunas that defied every law of God or man. I don't go to those kind of parties anymore, but Coen's moonshot reminded me of a scene that I am sure still exists. What always amused me about those events is how the people in traffic and passersby below had no idea of the madness going on over their heads. Such is the secret nightlife of downtown Hamp. 

 

Speaking of photographers, Florence lensman Bill Arnold has decided to use a pair of time lapse photos to decorate the otherwise dreary space once occupied by Pizza Factory.

 

 

It is two pictures taken from the same spot on the Connecticut River near the Hadley Common at different seasons.

 

I don't know if they were for sale, but they would look nice on opposite walls in a large living room. 

 

Valerie Crow captured this bit of foolishness going on downtown this week. Waving big American flags seems like a new touch. Did the latest Democrat Party talking point about how to "relate" to normal people suggest doing that?

 

 

Of course the bigot brigade was out. 

 

Here's something naturally blood red to look forward to. 

 

This might be a good place to go see it. 

Experimental jazzman Roy Ayers died this week. I saw him back in the days when UMass used to have REAL Spring Concerts. I have only foggy memories of the event, but everybody said I had a good time.

Signs of Amherst

 

You would think that a wealthy community like Amherst (sometimes called The Academic Longmeadow) would have a less tattered welcoming sign. 

 

 

This sign outside an Amherst church usually has a message of peace and love. 

 

It would have more credibility if they didn't also have a sign supporting a racist hate group. They had to put it up high on the wall because good citizens kept tearing it down.

 

Looks like some kind of seafood restaurant is moving into the old Judie's space. Ain't it about time to take down your Christmas decorations, Amherst?

I never cared much for Judie's. Their food was good but their prices were high and their portions small. 

Even the trash alleyways in Amherst are arty. 

The renovation of the parking space across from Town Hall came out nice enough. However, that was a lot of valuable downtown parking that was lost for a public space that can't be used more than half the year. It also seats very few people. 

 

Amherst ice dragon. 

 

 

Amherst College Professor Robert Frost needn't have worried about his town being bullied into silence since the town motto is "Amherst - where only the H is silent."

 

 

Unfortunately, they tend to be loud on all the wrong issues. 

 

Got any favorite old clothes you can't wear anymore because they are falling apart? Then meet Max, who hangs out in Northampton's Masonic Street Laundromat and is ready to try to bring your old duds back to life for a negotiable price.

 

He's only been there for a little more than a month and has already had over 150 customers. So don't throw that beloved, perfectly fitting pair of old jeans in the trash just yet - instead let Max take a look at them on Saturdays from 9am-1pm and Tuesdays from 1:30-5:30pm.

 

Here's an interesting event coming up next week in the state capitol. As you can see in the insert, there is also a demonstration planned for the same day and time by those who want to keep Boston a sanctuary city. Should be an interesting one on one encounter of opposing views!

 

Boston at peace. 

Snows

 

Sunset over the Bridge Street Cemetery in Northampton. 

 

Snowpiles in front of the Tunic Cafe make it so you can't even see across the street.

I'm intrigued by these pay phone images someone has been putting up on the UMass campus. 

 

 

Most college students today are too young to have ever used a pay phone. So what's the point? To confuse them with an incomprehensible image?

 

The frozen solid campus pond at UMass leaves the small number of ducks who failed to fly south last fall trapped in this small unfrozen section.

Because people bring their kids to feed the ducks every day in warmer weather, some of the ducks become completely dependent upon the free food and forget their natural self-supporting ways. 

Call them the welfare ducks. 

 

Legendary photographer Paul Shoul captured this image of the embarrassingly large crowd that showed up at Northampton's First Church last weekend to hear congress-critter Jim McGovern whine about Trump and Musk. 

 

 

Know what's even more embarrassing? The number of audience members wearing masks.