suns along the Mohawk

Posted by: David Giacalone | October 14, 2019

digging North Ferry Street

If, like myself, you’ve been wondering what the Big Dig/Disruption looks like at the river-end of North Ferry Street, this posting is for you. On October 10 and 11, I got some shots while construction workers were on site and sidewalks closed on North Ferry Street; and on Saturday, October 12, I came back when sidewalk access had been restored. As usual, a sunny day and big yellow machines made the trip worthwhile photographically.

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Click on a tile below to see a full, larger version of the image.

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As always, and especially with no youngsters around to explain the equipment for me, you will have to look elsewhere for explanations or details about the individual machines, the nature of the excavations, or the construction-disruption schedule. Thanks for your understanding.

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Posted in Riverside Park, Stockade Views | Tags: North Ferry Street, Old Pump House, Stockade forcemain project

Posted by: David Giacalone | October 12, 2019

an Upper Union celebration of autumn

above: display by Sophia Sabella Photography

. . colorful autumn photo-ops, with unscary scarecrows. .

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. . above: Scarecrows by [L to R] Dunkin’ Donuts. DiCocco Accountants and Union St. Vet. Hospital . .

. . tasty food opportunities, too, including [L to R below]: Alaturco Mediterranean Kitchen, Tesoros Cafe, and Needi Snacks:

A bank of gray clouds failed to dim the colors, muffle diverse and enjoyable music, or totally banish the blue skies and puffy white clouds at the Upper Union Street 2019 Harvest Fest. I enjoyed by photo-stroll and chatting with friendly strangers.

This slideshow has a couple dozen photos. For a larger version of an image, pause on it, Right Click, and choose Show Image in New Tab. I hope you’ll enjoy the event as much as I did.

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. . share this post with this short URL: https://tinyurl.com/UpperFest . .

p.s. A Sour Note: It was disheartening to see that, ten weeks after Northeastern Fine Jewelry was informed by the Schenectady Planning Department that the program on its large, bright, close-to-the-street digital screen was not in compliance with the City Code and its special use permit, the sign is still not in compliance. It is still changing more often than allowed by the Zoning Code and its Permit [no more than every 8 seconds], and using movement and gimmicks that make the sign even more distracting along your busy, mixed-use streetscape. Click here for a 44-second video clip that contains at least 10 changes. For more on this story, see the posting “Is anyone enforcing our digital sign rules?“. [The image above shows the former, tasteful and effective sign and the current digital sign.]

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Posted in visits elsewhere | Tags: Autumn Festivals, Schenectady Neighborhoods, Upper Union Street

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 22, 2019

don’t miss the 2019 Stockade Walkabout

The 57th Stockade Walkabout is coming soon: Saturday, September 28th. It is a chance to see inside a wide variety of Stockade homes, institutions and other properties. Read about it and see photos of properties that will be open here.

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Click here for Ticket Information for this Stockade Association fundraiser.

This tiled mosaic has photos from our prior coverage of the Stockade Walkabout (e.g., 2015 Walkabout, and 2014 Walkabout). Click on an image for a larger version.

volunteer check-in

Schenectady County Historical Society

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Posted in Downtown Schenectady, Stockade Views | Tags: Stockade Walkabout, Walkabout

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 21, 2019

Congress Park and Art in Saratoga

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This afternoon, I set out for Historic Congress Park, off Broadway in Saratoga Springs, on the last Saturday of Summer 2019. A lovely blue sky made a great backdrop for my drive and the park scene. My original motivation was to attend this years’s Saratoga Art in the Park, thanks to a reminder from painter Ivy Yuan [Artbyyvy]. But, I found myself focusing on only a few art exhibits (mostly familiar art and artists from the Stockade Art Shows), and instead marveled at all the lovely settings, nooks, etc., in the grand old Park.

Like my photoshoot a fortnight ago, at the Stockade Outdoor Art Show, I found myself viewing and schmoozing at the exhibits of Erik Rutnik (viz., the large blue painting above) and Ivy Yuan, along with Tim Prendergast. Noelle Adamoschek’s Freehand Design mosaic art also caught the light and my eye at the Park. The following tile columns are representative of art and art show scenes I enjoyed today.

. . click on a square for the full image; scroll over to see if it has a caption . .

artsy anticipation

Ex. 18 finds a perfect tree

photography by David Fingerhut

Shelley and Ken adopt Ivy’s “Geisha with blossoms”

Erik Rutnik with art lovers

Andrea with Ivy’s “Elephant Sanctuary”

Noelle’s mosaics . . .

welcome, more Ivy Yuan art

inside Ex. 18 with Ivy Yuan

wrapping an Elephant

tiny art lover takes a break

more Art by YTY

. . . Freehand Designs

Lifesong Inc.

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Congress Park itself was dazzling today. My photos might not do it justice, but it would be a crime not to share some of the images.

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. . above: the Carrousel was quite inviting for some . .

. . but, the pools and fountains were more alluring to me . .

Columbian Fountain

The Triton Pool

The Palladian Circle

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As with any fine urban park, people of all ages were enjoying the amenities. And, people were quite friendly. As when I strolled Broadway’s retail blocks earlier this summer, I again left hoping to return in the near future. Here are a few more images of my brief stay.

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“Remember”

. . Sad Follow-up: On May 22, 2020, the wondrous Ivy Yuan died, at age 52, of pancreatic cancer. Read the touching tribute written that day by her husband, Rodney Hammond. Ivy was a new friend taken far too soon from all those she has touched with her art and passion.

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Posted in Other Outdoor Art Shows, visits elsewhere | Tags: Ivy Yuan art, Saratoga Springs

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 19, 2019

foggy river morning

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. . view west from Riverside Park Overlook at [L] 8:14 and [R] 8:30 AM

This morning, the CBS News 6 team told me there was quite a bit of fog at various river locations in the area. When I got outside at 8 AM, a thick fog blanketed the Mohawk River along its Schenectady Stockade riverbank. I was lucky to be able to see several phases of the fog along the River, at Cucumber Alley, Washington Avenue, and Riverside Park over the next 40 minutes.

.. above: rear of 1 Cucumber Alley ; below: scene from 16 Washington Avenue sidewalk toward River . .

This Slideshow depicts my September foggy photoshoot, September 19, 2019. Each of the images can also be found separately in the Thumbnail Grid at the bottom of this posting.

For more Stockade and Mohawk fog postings, click here.

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: view west from near Gov. Lane 8:34 AM

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Below is a Thumbnail Grid of the Slideshow photos. Click on one for a larger version.

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Posted in river seasons, Riverside Park, Stockade Views | Tags: fog along the Mohawk, Mohawk River, Riverside Park

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 7, 2019

another artful outing in the Stockade

My expectations are always high as I head out the door for the annual outdoor art show on the blocks surrounding Lawrence Circle in Schenectady’s Stockade. With comfortable temperatures, art by new and returning artists displayed under sunny blue skies, and exhibitors, neighbors and visitors in good spirits, the 68th Annual Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show did not disappoint. During over five hours of shooting and schmoozing, I totally enjoyed myself and the 2019 Outdoor Art Show, from my first photo [above, R, entering at N. Church and Front Streets, about 9:40 AM] to the last [below, a portrait of Lawrence painted during the Show by Erik Rutnik].

. . find more information at https://www.facebook.com/stockadeartshow

Later tonight and on Sunday morning, I will be adding over a hundred photos taken while strolling along the blocks of the art show, with images of exhibits, individual works, and individuals. [7 PM, Sunday: Done!]

Images may be used by the artist for any purpose without further permission from David Giacalone, who holds the copyright. Others may use images for non-commercial purposes. Please attribute the photographs to “suns along the Mohawk” and David Giacalone.

At this time, I would like to celebrate the “winners” of the prizes and awards granted by the organizers of the Show.

, , Zoe Oxley setting up the Winners Circle around Lawrence the Indian

1st Place – MABEL LEON

2nd Place – BRETT SCOTT

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3rd Place – SARA LUANN PERKINS

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Best First-Time Exhibitor – IVY YUAN

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Best Stockade Depiction (Cohen Award)

– KEVIN KUHNE . .

Oakroom Artists Gillilan Award – BRETT SCOTT

People’s Choice – ALEC ACEVEDO . .

Best Depiction of Human Form – MARY ELLEN REILL

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YOUNG ARTIST AWARDS

1st PLACE . . MIA ETKIN . .

2nd Place – EMILY FREDERICKS . .

. . 3rd Place – JAKE MATUSIC

HONORABLE MENTION

GEORGE DIROLF. .
MARTY HARDIN

MARC POHL
TIM PENDERGAST

VIRGINA HOEPPNER . .
HOLLY VAN VOAST .

. . Share this post with this short URL: https://tinyurl.com/2019StockadeArt

. . above: artwork by [L to R] J. Matusic, M. Etkin & M. Hardin . .

Tim Pendergast’s . .

Emily Frederick’s origami cranes:

. . If you liked this year’s Art Show. please enjoy our coverage of prior Stockade Outdoor Art Shows, such as the 2018 Show.

. . click on an image for a larger version! . .

SUNDAY A.M.

We’re slowly adding images throughout the morning, including slideshows. So, please stop by often. [7 PM Sunday: Only a little fine-tuning left to do; take a stroll around our Stockade’s venerable Outdoor Art Show. Please let me know if I’ve misidentified an artist or misspelled a name.]

. . Perennial Pleasers: Cute Kids and Pets!

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and, Good Neighbors with good art, like Mabel Leon and Robert Laper:

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. . artists: both new (to me), e. g. :

. . Philip Parker . . IMG_2316-001

Carolyn Scheicher. .

. . and returning favorite artists:

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. . above: Peter Watrous; below: Val Robert

SLIDE SHOW ONE: Green Street Scenes

. . for a larger version of a Slideshow Image, pause on the image, right-click, and choose Open Image in New Tab . .

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Christine brought a helper . .

. . Thanks, Lawrence, as always.

. . painted on site, by Erik Rutnik . .

. SLIDESHOW TWO: FRONT STREET SCENES

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. . above: our first Stacey sighting in years . .

. . above: Mark Miletta and St. George go well together ..

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. . SLIDESHOW THREE: North FERRY STREET SCENES

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. . thanks again, to all Art Show

volunteers & organizers . .

and, here’s a bonus:

“Remember” by Ivy Yuan

. . Sad Follow-up: On May 22, 2020, the wondrous Ivy Yuan died, at age 52, of pancreatic cancer. Read the touching tribute written that day by her husband, Rodney Hammond. Ivy was a new friend taken far too soon from all those she has touched with her art and passion.

IVY YUAN TILED MOSAIC: Click on any image for a larger version from the diverse selection of art in, on and outside the tent of first-time exhibitor Ivy Yuan, who moved to Schenectady earlier this year. You’ll find a few more above in Slideshow Three.

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A big follow-up Thank You, to Ivy Yuan, who shared this webpost at her Artbyyty Facebook page Sunday evening (Sept. 8). That’s great enough, but it also triggered a lot of visitors, many of whom have the very good taste of liking Ivy’s art a lot, and are curious enough to check out other artists and webposts, too. As cosmopolitan as she seems to be, Ivy probably knows more Italian than I do, but I just have to say “grazie i prego!“

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Posted in Outdoor Art Show (Stockade), Stockade Views | Tags: Lawrence the Indian, Stockade Outdoor Art Show

Posted by: David Giacalone | August 14, 2019

an August assortment

Two weeks into the month, I have an array of August images I hope you’ll enjoy. We’ve got splash-pads, sunsets, sunflowers, and Saratoga scenes, along with glimpses of a favorite new restaurant (Mangino’s on Eastern Avenue), and a fledgling new political campaign.

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The Niskayuna Splash-pad at Blatnick Park opened last Saturday (August 10; photos above below). Thanks to news media coverage, I headed to the Park on Sunday (Aug. 11), and was surprised at how few people were using it on a truly lovely day. Click on an image in columns of square tiles for a full and large version.

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Tribute Park Splash-Pad. On the way home from Jeff Blatnick Park, I stopped at Schenectady’s Tribute Park, a “pocket park” at 868 Eastern Avenue. This Slideshow offers a brief tour. [To see a larger version of a slideshow image, pause the slideshow on the image, right-click, and choose Open Image in New Tab.]

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. . above: photo from my first visit to Tribute Park, June 30, 2019. Designed by Mary Wallinger, Tribute Park got lampposts like those we had expected Mary would use at Gateway/Liberty Park.

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Mangino’s. It was a very short drive from Tribute Park to my new favorite restaurant, MANGINO’s GOURMET MARKET (with bistro) , at 764.5 Eastern Avenue, Schenectady. The establishment is run by Rick Mangino, with a treasure of family ties to the restaurant business and Schenectady, who is the owner and Executive Chef; and Bonnie Goodwin, the landlady, who directs the front of the operation, adding energy and hospitality.

In addition to fine traditional and modernized versions of Italian cuisine, and desserts, the restaurant is beautiful, and family friendly, with a neighborhood-yet-special feel. My excuse for stopping was to sample their soft-swirl ice cream. But my real purpose was to snap some photos to share with my friends. The second floor houses the kitchen, and the third floor offers a quiet and comfortable set of spaces. It sports an array of artwork by Joey Matula. This slideshow can’t capture the atmosphere adequately. Nor, can I match the quality of the photography you can find on their Facebook pages and website (photos by Rick Mangino, I believe).

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Riverside Park Sunset. The same evening that I spotted the sunflowers at 29 Front Street in the Stockade, August 10, I headed down N. Ferry Street to the Riverside Park Overlook, and I’m glad I did. By some lights, it was not a spectacular sunset. But, the Mohawk River showed once again that it doesn’t need “spectacular” to create quietly beautiful and a bit mysterious.

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. . . By the Way: How did that branch/trunk get so well embedded in the riverbed that it has been there for over a year? Ideas?

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. . collage with three of the above sunset photos . .

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A Broadway Stroll in Saratoga Springs.

The Saratoga Race Track was dark on Monday, August 13; humidity was tolerable; there was a gentle breeze; and the blue sky had just enough puffy white clouds. In other words, it was the perfect day to drive down Rt. 50 to the truly strollable Broadway retail district in downtown Saratoga. The variety of shops, cafes, and fellow strollers was quite a treat, as was the shade of mature street trees, and lack of digital signs in front of businesses. (The only digital sign I saw on my Broadway walk was alongside a public Authority, Saratoga City Center.)

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Memo to Gary McCarthy and Ray Gillen: Check out Saratoga Springs, if you want a truly walkable-walkabout downtown, and one that can actually attract visitors regularly, and enhance the experience of those looking for a casino adventure.

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Omar Launches His Campaign. Curiosity got me out to downtown Schenectady the evening of August 1st, to try to learn about Omar McGill, who was announcing his candidacy as Schenectady County Legislator for District 1 (in the City of Schenectady). The event was held at the Veeder Ave. doorway of the County Building. He was presented by Marion Porterfield, a member of the City Council.

Omar is running on the Working Families Party line, after being rejected by the Democrats, who nominated Peggy King, and appointed her to Karen Johnson’s former seat. There was a lot of energy out there that night, as you can see in the following Slideshow.

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Last Minute Bonus: Egrets Only. Walking to my car this morning (Aug. 14) off Cucumber Alley, I glanced at the Mohawk and saw a white figure on the shore of the Isle of the Cayugas. At first, I saw one white egret (see photo on right), but eventually another appeared on the water (below).

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. . wishing you more sun and sunflowers as our summer moves toward my favorite month for Stockade photography, September.

.. above: sunny display at 29 Front Street ..

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Posted in Downtown Schenectady, Mohawk sunrise or sunsets, Riverside Park, Stockade Views, visits elsewhere | Tags: Downtown Schenectady, Mohawk River, Riverside Park

Posted by: David Giacalone | July 27, 2019

Stockade tree trimming workshop

. . [L] Arborist Clarence Fountain of CF Tree Care had a lot of useful information and tips;

[R] so did arborist Jeff Kehoe. .

The Stockade Association’s infrastructure and tree-scape mavens invited two certified arborists, Jeff Kehoe and Clarence Fountain, to present a workshop on proper trimming of street trees this morning, Saturday, July 27, 2019. Starting at St. George’s Church, the group visited trees and learned lessons on North Ferry Street, and spilled around the corner at both Green Street and Union Street. I got to hand around and tag along to snap some photos. Since I was not taking notes, I hope the Association will post a summary of the useful information we were given. Many thanks to Clarence and Jeff for sharing their Saturday morning with us.

As a long-time believer that “Schenectady needs a Tree Preservation Policy”, and the Stockade needs it even more urgently, I am pleased that the Stockade Association supports efforts to assure that our older and newer trees are properly maintained, so that they may thrive and last as long as possible.

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Posted in Stockade Views | Tags: streetscape

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suns along the Mohawk

digging North Ferry Street

an Upper Union celebration of autumn

don’t miss the 2019 Stockade Walkabout

Congress Park and Art in Saratoga

foggy river morning

another artful outing in the Stockade

an August assortment

Stockade tree trimming workshop

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