A couple of things before I take you along with me on the walk I took yesterday:
I am completely ignorant about Houston. Completely. I hope I didn’t come off as disparaging that city because that was not my intention. I just have to choose where and when to visit Don on his tour vs. when I have to stay home and take care of the cottage and the endless leaves that will be falling in October and November. If I learned anything on our drive across the country it was the fact that you never know what wonders are just around the corner. And I’m sure Houston has them. Another time, Houston!
My heart and prayers are with all of you who are in the path of the hurricane. I know of at least two of my readers who live in that area of Texas. I’m sure there are even more. Stay safe, evacuate if you need to. I’m sure I can speak for all the readers of this blog when I say our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I did end up taking a walk yesterday and it was lovely.
First up, this building which is the view I see from my apartment. I’ve always loved this building, the former Goodwin Hotel, that has been closed since, I think, 2008. I’ve watched it over the years, thinking how cool it would be to have an apartment there. I’ve even written about it on the blog. When I was here in January and February, I would see the occasional light in one of the rooms and, once or twice, the silhouette of a man or two. I thought I was going crazy. The hotel portion of the building, after all, was empty. There were businesses on the ground floor but nothing up above. Then I thought they might be squatters, or something like that.
This time around, I saw the same thing in a different window. But the next night, I saw more windows lit up. Hmmmm. So I walked that way the other day and found out that the hotel has been restored, reimagined, redesigned, and has now reopened as the Goodwin – a Boutique Hotel! I even went inside and talked to the desk clerk, who said they had opened in June. It’s stunningly beautiful. It’s also a sign of the revitalization going on in Hartford.
I walked through the park to the Capitol building, which is ornate and gorgeous, as a Capitol should be. I had the honor of meeting the Governor of Connecticut – Dannel Malloy, a man I greatly admire – last year.
All inclusive. As it should be.
A view from the park. My apartment building is over there.
I loved this. And it’s so true.
My favorite apartment building in Hartford – The Linden. This is actually the back of a portion of the building. I fell in love with those balconies and the french doors leading into the apartments a few years ago. There’s a beautiful courtyard. It reminds me of something I might see in New Orleans or Charleston.
Gosh, I’d love to get inside one of those apartments!
I stopped by the library, of course, where I scanned the new fiction and saw the newest Sue Grafton (which has just been published.) So I went about getting my card renewed and checked it out. The librarian and I got to chatting and she told me she is originally from Charlottesville, which prompted a conversation about the events that transpired there. She’s going back for a visit in a couple of weeks.
The interior of the main room is being redone, partly because the University of Connecticut, or UConn, has just opened a new campus in downtown Hartford. This is great news for Hartford. There is now a section of the library for UConn students. The campus itself is just behind the library, in several buildings, the biggest of which is the former Hartford Times building.
I saw students, clearly going through some sort of orientation, everywhere. As I walked around, I kept trying to remember something I read when I was here at the beginning of the year – something that was coming to downtown Hartford because of the UConn expansion. Then I saw it – a small branch of Barnes and Noble. It had just opened the day before. It’s connected to a Starbucks and like many university bookstores that are under the umbrella of B & N, the concentration is on textbooks and sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. But there is a smallish section of fiction and non-fiction that I was happy to see.
The Barnes & Noble is in that building on the left in the rear of the picture. There are new loft apartments upstairs. The main building can be seen at the rear – through this magnificent Alexander Calder sculpture. On the left – but barely seen in this photo – is the Wadsworth Antheneum, the beautiful museum I have shared with you in the past. On the right, just across the street, is the Main Branch of the Hartford Public Library.
A very nice walk. I may take another one today as I don’t have to be at rehearsal until 1:30 and I’m nervous about whether the stove will arrive or not, so I’m keeping myself busy.
Update: She’s in Newburgh, just about 20 miles south of our cottage. She’ll be delivered today!
Stay safe my friends.
Happy Friday.
Hartford looks amazing. I’d love to travel to Connecticut one day. Thanks for sharing your walk.
I’m nervously waiting to see if my gate guy, who has promised a 9 a.m. start today will actually show up. He’s a lovely gentleman but hasn’t been very consistent with keeping his appointments. Didn’t even tell my dh that today is supposed to be the day ~ if he shows and the gates are installed today, he’ll be surprised and we can celebrate. If he doesn’t show, I may have to get super tough and demand our money back! Wishing you well today and hope you soon receive news that Stella is almost there.
X Chy
I hope that guy shows up, Chy! Waiting for someone to show can be so frustrating! Have a good weekend, my friend.
Now he can’t come until Sunday …. at least he texted me this time. So frustrating. But I’m off to have a good day anyway!
Anxiously waiting for news of Stella. Best wishes today.
X Chy
Oh poop! But at least he let you know. Hang in there!
Loft apartments above a B & N! :) Only thing better would be over a used book store.
Exactly! And/or a bigger B & N!
I do love your walking tours. Places that I will probably never see in person, yet, through you, I get to visit. Thank you.
Stove day!! I am excited for you both! She is going to be where she belongs!
Safe travels when you go to see her and Don.
I won’t get to see her until Sunday night, I think. I’ll see photos, of course, but not in person until then since Darko is running chunks of the play for the next 3 days and I have to be here.
Oh, excitement becoming unbearable—she’s in your neighborhood!
I do so love the mammoth Calders! When we lived in San Francisco there was an installation in a park near us. We took our fur baby, Calder, to pose for pictures beneath the treasures done by the man he was named for. Wish I could post one. Maybe on instagram.
Interesting factoid: Guy Wolff’s father was a close friend of Calder’s and they all hung out together!
Wow! Mr. wizard’s business partner had a story of going to Calder’s east coast (Connecticut?) studio in his younger days. Oh, to be a fly on the wall there!
Connecticut!
Thanks for the hurricane well wishes. I am vacillating between chill and OMG. (Oh my guacamole)!!
Hang in there and stay safe, Cindy!
Love the walking tour, and the photos are so clear and pretty; thanks, Claudia; nice to share in your temporary locale; I don’t know a thing about Connecticut.
It’s a beautiful state – truly beautiful.
Oh…thanks for the walking tour! Hartford has some great architecture. Glad to hear that the hotel has been revitalized! Stella’s getting closer! ;)
She sure is!!! I’m glad I’m busy here, because I’m too nervous and I would be driving Don crazy – all day long!
Loved “going along” on your walk with you! When will Stella be hooked up, Claudia? Pacing the floors as if expecting a new baby, because you are!
She won’t be hooked up until Monday morning, Wendy. That’s when our propane guy is coming. So, she’ll be sitting in the kitchen but not quite in place until then. I’m pacing, for sure!
I was born in Hartford, and my mother grew up there. Since I was a military kid, we lived everywhere, but we always came home to Hartford to visit the grandparents and great aunts/uncles. My mom’s father was Italian, so Little Italy was a favorite. No one is left there now, but we stop on our way to visit Maine. Our focus, Franklin Ave. Grinder Shop (the best sandwich anywhere!) and Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery & Pastry Shop. Plus, we love the Mark Twain House (I am an American lit teacher). Fun fact, my mom is 78, but when she was a child, the Twain House was the public library. She used to check out books there.
Claudia, thank you for sharing the revitalization of Hartford; it makes my heart sing! Enjoying the tour from Yorktown, Virginia . P.S. So EXCITED for Don!
Wow! How interesting that it was the public library! Goodness! Thanks, Tina-Marie!
It amazes me ~ all of the connections people have to each other ~ which we see so many times in your posts! Truly 6* of Separation!! The stories thread through each other and another branch is brought forth. Makes me smile.
Revitalization ~ another wonderful thing!! I hope these special words resound throughout our day today instead of the ones we are used to of late. Thanks for the tour and the great pictures.
Stella is close by. You both must be bursting!! Safe travels on Sunday as you journey home to see her again! I’m sure she is wondering about her new home. Quite an adventure for an “older lady” who is now fit as a proverbial fiddle for her new residence. Yay!!
Stella isn’t arriving until Monday. Another company is bringing her to the house on Monday morning. We’re a bit disappointed but I’ll be there, at least. Though I have to go back to Hartford pretty quickly!
“Lovely walk” is right. Sounds like you live in a very nice part of Hartford when you’re there. I love when you do a walking tour too. Feel like I went along with you – it’s your descriptions paired with excellent photography. PS – Stella’s in Newburgh? So close! I have very good friends there. I’ll let them know to shoo her along promptly today – Don & the guys are waiting! Have a great weekend!
#Resist
Stella is in Newburgh because she landed at Stewart airport. She – we’ve since learned – is being brought to the cottage by another company and they will deliver her on Monday morning.
Thanks for another great tour…I am happy to hear that beautiful old hotel has been restored and you are not seeing ghosts in the windows! lol Omg…I can’t believe Stella will be in your or her new kitchen today!..So much happiness you bring to me Claudia!
Not til Monday. She’s here but another company has to bring her to the house. They called Don to arrange that this morning. That wasn’t made entirely clear to us before, but it makes sense. Ah well. Don had to rearrange things, but he’s on it.
At least you will be home Monday to give all those men proper directions…lol…
I’m too nervous to watch!
What a beautiful city full of gorgeous architecture! Here’s hoping the stove gets in today. When will you get to go home again? Soon,, I hope to see the beauty.
Have a great weekend.
Judy
It’s nearby at an airport and will be brought to the house on Monday. I’ll be home on Monday for the day.
I love Connecticut. It is a beautiful state. I have been in Connecticut many times. Have you ever been on the Merritt Parkway in Autumn? It is breath taking . I have many cousins living in Connecticut.
Marilyn
Yes, though we have the Taconic Parkway nearer to us and it’s equally beautiful. The northeast is awfully gorgeous in Autumn. I do love Connecticut and I’ve sure spent a lot of time here – and not just in Hartford!
Calder lived in Roxbury and a lot of his work was cast/forged in Waterbury. Have you been to the Mark Twain house? It’s fabulous! And Harriet Beecher Stowe’s house is right there with it. I’ve always loved the statehouse, but haven’t been inside since it was restored to all its Eastlake splendor some years ago.
Believe it or not, I haven’t been to them, though I’ve seen their exteriors. I always want to wait to visit them with Don and we somehow never have time to take the tour! Stay safe, Margaret!
When I was in boarding school, we bought our textbooks from Barnes & Noble who set up tables in the gym. They had a store in Boston in the late 1960s on Boylston Street that sold textbooks and ‘hurt’ books. Things have changed.
I remember that from my undergrad school as well.
I’m so excited about Stella! Can’t wait to see her in her new home.
Thank you for taking us along on your walk…it was lovely.
You’re welcome, Sherry!
What would this yellow car with a Brazilian flag be?
It’s a food truck.
Uh-oh! I commented on Houston, but I certainly didn’t do it because I thought you were being disparaging. Houston has many good and bad points like any large city. Rather, I was just telling you about the things I like about it, if you should change your mind. Mostly, I was excited to tell you that I just happened, in that large city, to run into someone who already had tickets!
Oh, I know you didn’t think that! But I thought about they way I discounted Houston and wanted to clarify my thoughts on that city. Thank you Linda!
Thanks for the lovely walking tour. I’m glad to hear that hotel has been renovated.
I am too. It makes me happy to see it in use again.