Posted by: David Giacalone | September 10, 2022

before summer 2022 ends

SunFl207Union14Jul22The 71st Stockade Outdoor Art Show ended a few hours ago, and once again gave me a very enjoyable day of photography and schmoozing.  Lots of good art, images, and people.  I just took my memory card out of my Canon and discovered I took over 200 photos at the Art Show.  After a short nap, I’m going to start working through them to  find a 100 or so worth turning into this years’s Art Show posting. Until then, here are a few images from Summer 2022 that I do not want to forget (like the sunflower to the right). 

  • SOAS2022pinaCalabro1 Later this evening (Saturday, Sept. 10), Pt. 1 of our 2022 Stockade Outdoor Art Show posting will appear at the top of our home page. And, it will hopefully grow into full coverage of the Show by Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2022. [Image to the left by Pina Calabro] update: Art Show posting completed Saturday, September 17, with over 200 images. See https://tinyurl.com/2022StockadeArt .
  • You can whet your appetite for more SOAS by browsing our 2021 Outdoor Art Show posting.

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

Happily, our Stockade sunflowers were back:

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We had beautiful sunsets: 

CloudsOnFire . . clouds on fire

. . and supermoons, too:

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. . August 11 Supermoon, see from near Front St. and a porch at Cucumber Alley . . 

The Central Park Rose Garden continued to inspire:

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  • YuanExiled But, it was alarming to realize that the beloved sculpture by Robert Blood [Variations on the Chinese character Yuan (Garden)], with no paths leading to it from the main Garden or the Park sidewalks, and virtually no flowers or other decorative plants, was suffering the same fate as the City’s Statue of Liberty Replica — uprooted from a central, important spot and exiled during a landscaping project, despite there being plenty of room to bring it back to its original appropriate location. 

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There were, of course, some dispiriting new sights (another Schenectady tradition). Above, another dull, large apartment building, this one at State Street and Clinton Avenue built by Redburn. And, below, construction completed at the New Pump Station, at N. Ferry Street and Riverside Park. It takes up space on a lovely and peaceful lawn, blocking views, emitting sewer odors, and dispacing the grandest old shade tree in the park (despite it being shown in all renditions of the pump station project shown the public), a healthy, century old silver Maple.  

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At Liberty/Gateway Plaza, a frivolous “temporary” sculpture appeared at the end of July (image below) on the sculpture base where Lady Liberty Street should be, lacking its grace, gravitas and local history.

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Finally, for some of my favorite Stockade and Downtown images of the summer of 2022, scroll down this page to see the Jumpin’ Jack’s Fireworks show, seen from the Schenectady side of the River (image above); two new and whimsical murals near Jay Street and Franklin Street; and beautiful blossoms in Riverside Park nurtured by Stockade residents.

Posted by: David Giacalone | August 3, 2022

Kith and Kin celebrate Jennifer A. Schmidt

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The Schmidt Family (of Front Street in the Stockade) brought together scores of the kith and kin of Jennifer A. Schmidt, on Saturday July 30, 2022, to celebrate her life with affection and gratitude. The event was held on the rear lawn of the Schenectady County Historical Society headquarters, followed by a reception at The Stockade Inn.  Jennifer and her husband Larry (Lawrence R. Schmidt) raised their daughters Madeleine Stapel and Meredith Hudak in the grand house many of us believe has the best front porch in town. 

JAScelebrationSculpturePosterPlaque The ceremony included the dedication of a sculpture chosen by the family to symbolize Jennifer’s commitment to education, literacy, and preservation of the Stockade district. To the left is an image of the dedication plaque and below is a poster showing the sculpture. Arrival of the sculpture has been delayed by supply chain problems. [It was quite a delay: see Jennifer’s sculpture has arrived] Click on an image for a larger version.

 . . JAScelebrationSculpturePosterPlaque

SchmidtSCHSbenchTwo handsome, sturdy benches were also donated by the family. This editor/photographer loves the soft pre-sunset light on the foliage and lawn behind SCHS, and the new benches provide a perfect perch to enjoy serenity and beauty, as the sculpture garden grows.

 Jennifer'sLawn14Jul22

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Jennifer is loved and missed by family, friends and neighbors. And, the columns below show the people who came to celebrate her life last Saturday.  Click on a tile for a full, larger version.
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. . . JAScelebration11 . . Meredith shares memories of her Mother

. . neighbors came to honor Jennifer . . JAScelebration17

JAScelebration1. . Larry [R foreground] sees that his plans came together very well. .

  • Jennifer-Bob2010OAS5x7 Editor’s Note: The only photo I had of Jennifer does not have perfect light balance, but seems quite appropriate for Jennifer: She is smiling while volunteering at the 2010 Stockade Outdoor Art Show, with Bob Briber, another beloved and departed Stockade neighbor, looking on.
Posted by: David Giacalone | July 25, 2022

hi, Evelyn!

Thanks for stopping by and bringing smiles.

It takes only one sunflower to brighten a Stockade Stroll.

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Posted by: David Giacalone | July 2, 2022

Jumpin’ Jack’s fireworks return

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It felt normal and nostalgic last night, as we viewed the Jumpin’ Jack’s Independence fireworks celebration from across the Mohawk River along the rear of Washington Ave. and Cucumber Alley. The two-year Pandemic Pause was a mere memory. As has become my tradition over the years, I’m embracing the results of shaky hands and premature shutter clicking for the beautiful, surprising serenpidity of colors and shapes they produced, in the sky and reflected on the River.

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. . share this post with this shorter URL: http://tinyurl.com/JJFireworks2022

Click on any tile below for a larger version of the image. And, let’s all thank the folks at Jumpin’ Jack’s for throwing the lightshow we enjoy virtually every year on the Friday night before the 4th.

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Posted by: David Giacalone | June 13, 2022

two new Downtown murals worth a visit

On Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, June 10 & 11, I enjoyed lovely strolling weather and sights in Downtown Schenectady. I was pleased to see in person that there are two new “public art” murals near Jay St. at Franklin St. and the Jay St. Pedestrian Walkway that could put a smile on my face. 

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First (above), as part of this year’s Schenectady Kids Art Festival, Oscar Bogran designed the Butterfly Mural on the side wall of Pizza King at Franklin and Jay Streets. On June 4th, most of the mural was painted, with the help of kids who were guided by Bogran’s plastic stencils.  Oscar put finishing touches on Friday, including cleaning the sidewalk, and the mural was “unveiled” over the weekend at the closing of Schenectady Arts Week.

ButterflyMural10Jun2022 . . Oscar Bogran hopes folks who want wings will be photographed or make selfies in front of the Butterfly. For more details, see this June 1st Gazette article.

/classic

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On Friday evening, I was surpised to see an artist painting along the alley-way off Jay St. that leads to the Clinton St. Parking Lot. A colorful, playful Monopoly Board Mural was nearing completion. It was created by the artist Elona Mitchell-Strong, who also hosted a community mural-painting day on the Jay Street pedestrian mall Saturday, June 11. Dowtown Schenectady (DSIC) and the Capital Region Arts Center sponsored Elona’s mural.

Click on any of the square tiles below for a larger image of the Monopoly Board mural.


Better yet, plan on coming to Jay Street to enjoy each of the new murals in person.

update (June 29, 2022): Walking by along Jay Street on June 26, 2022, I had to snap a few more pictures of the two new murals, with different light and angles. They still looked pretty good. Click on a tile for a larger version.

 

Happy Follow-up (July 27, 2022): Artist Elona Mitchell-Strong announced Monday July 25 she had “finally finished” her first mural. Not aware it was finished, as I strolled down Jay Street the next day, I was pleased and surprised to see the final touches Elona had added to her ms.terpiece. Here are a few snaps from my smartphone, including the character Elona calls her first logo, designed by Nate Peltier of Schenectady.

Posted by: David Giacalone | May 19, 2022

flowerbed beauty at Riverside Park

KODAK Digital Still Camera

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James Addison, Washington Avenue neighbor and Stockade Association board member, has avidly taken up the Riverside Park “floral director” mantle previously worn by the beloved Jennifer Wells. I want to thank him (and all who have helped) for both the hard work and the lovely results at the west entry to the Park. This posting features flowerbeds on the riverside of the pedestrian path; but you can see equally inspiring plantings on the other side of the path and entry.

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Click on the individual photos above and the images in the square tile columns below for larger versions.

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Posted by: David Giacalone | May 2, 2022

April blossoms were lean but lovely in 2022

. . click on  a photo for a larger version . .

. . magnolia trees bloomed more fully than our cherry trees; above at St. George’s Cemetery . . 

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[above] view of cherry trees, north (R) and south (L) from corner of Washington Ave. and Cucumber Alley

[L] 15 Washington Ave. (at Front St.)

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IMG_4603 . . this guy followed me constantly on sunny days of blossom peeking. .

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. . above: the south lawn at St. George’s Church (with 1st Pres. steeple) . .

StGeo-mag20ApD A few other magnolia trees caught my eye (click on mosaic tile for larger version, scroll over it for caption):

IMG_4560   . . 32 Washington Ave.  IMG_4558   . .

. .  below: at 1st Reformed Church:

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IMG_4595  . . IMG_4600

Of course, Cherry Blossoms attracted my attention, too, as I hoped/waited for more of them.

 On Union Street:

. . N. Ferry St., near Union St.

cbNFerry24Ap22. . . IMG_4609

N. Church St. at Front St. . .

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on Front Street bloom patrol:

31Front-weepcb24AP22 . . LawrenceCirclePearTree28Ap22 . . a weeping cherry (31 Front St. rear) and a tall pear tree (Lawrence Circle) . . 

26Frontredbud24Ap22 . .

. . above: a favorite redbud seems budless (26 Front). 

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. . above: just east of Lawrence Circle . .

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IMG_4576  . . and, back on Washington Avenue . .

Click on a square for larger versions of Wash. Ave. blossoms:

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notchedcherrytree2020  . . IMG_4568  . . more cherry blossom trees amputated inartfully for the sake of utility wires.

AtDoor16Wash24Ap  . . out my front door, April 24 . .

. . and, looking toward the River . . 13-15WashAv27Ap22

Finally, the morning of April 19, 2022, cherry blossoms and trees had a snowy frosting:

. . and Steve Caporizzo featured the event at Channel 10:

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BONUS: Stockade Cemeteries, April 20, 2022:

. . . . Click on the Cherry Blossoms Category in the Sidebar for links to a dozen years of our “coverage.”

. . . . And, don’t miss this years heavenly crop of weeping cherry blossoms at CGOH.

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. . Lawrence Circle, April 27, 2022 . . 

20NBroadway28Ap22a     . . and, on April 28, lovely white blossoms were brightening the lot between the 20 North Broadway Tavern and the Swift Building, which developer John Samatulski is helping to bloom again. 

Posted by: David Giacalone | April 24, 2022

weeping beauty near Heaven

 

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CGOH22Ap22S , , CGOH22Ap22V  

CGOHstsigns22Ap22 There is no surer joyous, jaw-drop scene in the City of Schenectady than the annual array of weeping cherry blossom trees on the lawn of Congregation Gates of Heaven, at Ashmore Avenue and Eastern Parkway, near the Niskayuna line. That is especially true under a bright sun, with clear blue sky and puffy white clouds, which was the scene when I arrived on Friday, April 22, 2022. 

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Click on the above photos or any of the images in the following mosaic tile array for a larger picture.

. .  click on our Cherry Blossom Category for links to a dozen years of Schenectady blossoms . . 

 

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