Day of First Nights

Some Video from a family-friendly afternoon at Holyoke's First Night, Jr. festivities at Heritage Park:

A feature of the park is the classic, transplanted old Mountain Park Merry Go Round; now safely housed in it's own big round building and still delighting big and small kids alike.



Nearby, we let the little one expend some energy at the Childrens Museum before heading back outside to the park grounds for the drop of the New Years Ball; a jubilant crowd and outgoing and incoming mayors in attendance.



When all of this afternoon fare was done there was still time for a run to Northampton, where their own First Night celebrations have begun to garner some serious popularity among the valley folk. It was shoulder to shoulder on every sidewalk, shop and venue. The view from Thornes entrance:



We made it up in time for a look at the early evening fireworks; positioning ourselves among a burgeoning throng of spectators in front of the Faces block. But the initial fireworks turned out to be partially obstructed by the Thornes building across the street. A mass exodus to the rear of that block and closer to the launch area ensued.

We decided a half display was good enough for us, and maintained our position on the sidewalk with a few other contented folk. Luckily enough, the rockets gained a little altitude as the show went on:

Gay People

We checked out the 2011 installment -and 30th anniversary- of Northampton's annual Gay Pride Parade. Or simply Northampton Pride, as it's come to be called.

The attendance seemed just a scoche off compared to last year, but there was a healthy showing among the LGBT community, the supporters, and the gawkers.

Perfectly late as usual we still managed to find a good viewing perch above the fray along the railroad bridge spanning the route, and in time to view the majority of the proceedings.

Kelly and I count ourselves among the multitudes of supporter-gawkers, as my camera subject choices and some gay acquaintances and a Pride Survey will attest.

We're not fervent, but hey, we're there.

I suspect it's detached side liners like us that make up the bulk of attendance at an event like this.

And it's probably the casual spectators like us that have helped slowly transform, for better or worse, this once risk-filled march for equality into the easy going celebratory parade it is now...

...replete with vendors, hawkers, and corporate sponsorship.

As I've read recently, some of the old time warriors and original marchers have lamented that the cause has lost it's way, that too many groups seem to have a dog in the fight now.

Still, what may be seen as a decay of the fighting spirit exhibited 30 years ago...

...could just as well be considered unintended consequences of accomplishment. Coat tail riders and fair weather friends inevitably come part and parcel with success. While there's more to do and more to achieve; with the front lines of the battle having come such a considerable way...

...maybe there's cause to celebrate a little.

Run For It

Sunday we were en route to Belchertown on some ongoing 'business' that's been taking up a lot of our attention lately (details on that hopefully to come...) But we had some extra time so we routed ourselves via Northampton, to get another look at their Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage going on that morning.

It's an annual 5k run/walk for charity, with proceeds going towards helping victims of domestic violence escape their predicaments. Our own first look at the event was back in 2008, with record numbers of participants that year. And this year...

...it looked to be as big if not bigger.

Like a good parade, these runs are always fun to watch and/or photograph. As much for the spectacle of so many as the spectacle of a few.

Some colorful standouts are always sprinkled in with the masses of charity-driven participants.

For the spectator, it's a good reason to get out on a cold, crisp December morning. Maybe listen to some drums.

For the participant, it's one of the healthier means of just getting out there and doing a good thing. Something satisfying for the heart and mind; especially on such a crisp December morning.

...a satisfaction by the way, not reserved for humans.

The run is as popular as ever and as I'm writing this, a tweet just came in over the wire: this year's event netted some $135,000 for Safe Passage.

That's a lot of folks helping a lot of folks, while helping themselves.

...pretty sure that's what they call a 'Win-Win'.

'.

Wooden Ships

We had read about it in the Gazette, as had many others, apparently.

UMass grad student and local artist Steve Snell had hit upon an artistic concept unlike most: build a wooden boat around an old junk couch, and paddle it down the river. Post-Pop-Art, as it was described in the article. This was something that had to be seen to be believed. (Which I think is what they said MAKES it post-pop.)

He was scheduled to come by the Norrwottuck rail trail bridge about 3 o'clockish. We arrived about 3:30, and there was no sign of the bold artiste yet.

The usual boat traffic came and went underneath us and 3:30 turned to 4 o'clock.

What, did he sink? Some people could be heard murmuring sly jokes to each other, like, "Well, he's an artist, not a navigator. Sooo, I'll see you tomorrow."

But few spectators left.

The event was to be well documented. I saw a couple local blogger types and one local news camera, TV22, amongst us.

Then there was this guy smartly getting the live angle shots.

Finally, with a few squints and some pointing; a soft rise in voices signalled that the dubious had become real.

It was a guy... indeed paddling down river... indeed, on a couch.

Just when you think you've seen it all...

The crowd began to hoot and holler as he glided under the bridge. His Post-Pop-Art vessel seemingly as stable as any.

The artist-turned-sailor looked a little exhausted from his trek, which had begun up in Hatfield several miles away. Still he mustered up enough energy to play up the crowd with some exuberant paddle waving and hoots of his own.

He seemed relieved to have reached the end of the trip and called out to the camera boat following along that he'd take out at nearby Sportsman's Marina.

The couch while evidently seaworthy probably wasn't the sleekest hull on the river that day. But then, I supposed that's one good thing about floating a couch..

...when you get tired; wellll...

More Flying Things

We swung into the meadows near Northampton late Saturday as the sun was dropping low. We'll swing in here whenever we're in the area at the right time; just because it's a good place to get some good looks at the Holyoke range,



...the late summer grasses in the setting sun,



...and sometimes the rising moon.



And on this particular afternoon, also the many small planes taking off and landing right nearby at Northampton Airport.



We often catch one or two coming or going when we're here.



But the small field was particularly busy at this hour, on this day.

No sooner had one revved up and lifted off,



...when another was coming in.



We counted five or six in the space of a half hour.



The busiest we had ever seen it. Must be the perfect weather bringing out all the pilots and their magnificent flying machines.



A speedier mode of travel...



...can hardly be imagined.