Snowplowing With the Big Kids

Regional Market: Hard Cider Starter Kit

Then and Now: Fayette or Firemen's Park

Here are a photo of Firefighters Memorial Park and a 103-year-old post card taken from approximately the same spot near the south-west corner of the park.

According to the City of Syracuse's Parks Department website: Commonly known as Fayette Park, this 1.2 acre park has been known as Centre Square (1827), LaFayette Park (1838), Fayette Park (1917) and Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park (1972). In 1843, Fredrick Douglass, renowned abolitionist and orator, addressed a Syracuse audience on this site.

The difference of gardening styles separated by a century is striking. One hundred years ago this park was used by families, friends and neighbors to stroll among beautiful and naturalistic ornamental shrubs. Much of the growth was at eye level along with mid-sized and mature upper level trees, making the park a much more intimate space and a varied visual experience.

Today's park has uninterrupted sight lines from end to end, more benches, several picnic tables, and very easy maintenance: mowing and raking, and the occasional weeding and re-graveling of paths. Parks staff take care to paint and refill the central pool every spring.  

The older park was surrounded by fine residences. Now only the east side remains very much as it was at the time of the early park, with the red brick Park Central Presbyterian Church (original church on this site 1847 replaced by present structure 1875), and the Hamilton White House (1840-42), remaining.

Church near Highmarket

Moo Motel near Highmarket

St. Peter's and St. Paul's is Closed, near Highmarket

Love Me on AME Zion CHurch

Save 711: AME Zion Church

Evidence of Wind on the Tug Hill

Caroline, or Change: Top Notch at Syracuse Stage

...before the curtain goes up!

Aconite Blooms Under the Snow

Teaching Them Young at Labrador Mountain

Esker Mid-Flow at Stillwater

Rap-Shaw in February: Rocks and Stumps

Newest Patas at Rosamond Gifford Zoo

The Winners: Coneheaded Canoodlers at Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

Aliens Not That Hard to Spot in Saranac Lake

They're Everywhere: Space Alien Invaders on the Sidelines in Saranac Lake

Space Alien Invasion in Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2012

Theme this year: Space Alien Invasion. The ice palace is a work of wonder in spite of warm-weather-and-rain-related problems during building and even now. Ice is harvested from nearby Lake Flower. One can see here that the blocks are unusually thin for February. There is very little snow in the Adirondacks this week.

Stars in Armory Square

Rosamond Gifford Zoo: Macaw

The macaw in the aviary is a personable bird. I complimented it on its great beauty. Its response was to purposefully climb to a position in which it was clinging to the branch with beak and one foot, and then to flap its wings energetically. Is it love? Or does it say that to all the girls?

Tiger Play at Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Liberty Deli on Crouse near Genesee

This deli is a neighborhood anchor. The sandwiches are wonderful and the women who run it are the best! I love this place.