Out and About, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

This sculpture is on the Greenway with the InterContinental Boston in the background. 

My wander today was focused on the North End neighborhood of Boston but, it began where I parked at Post Office Square, then along the Greenway, then zig-zagging through many of the North End streets, then back by The Old State House, and thence via Congress Street back to the starting point - about 11,000 steps later. It was in the mid-30's F but the wind was mild, the sun was shining, and it was a good day to be out and about in an always delightful city - Boston. 

Always a favorite view, the Custom House tower and the French-looking turreted buildings in the foreground - feels like Paris - with a Boston accent.

One of the many Italian restaurants in the North End neighborhood.

Dogs often wear coats here in the winter.

The Paul Revere statue shadowed in the foreground.

A weeping copper-clad and brick building.

Another Italian restaurant.

A typical street scene in the North End.  And no, I do not like the tacky plastic advertisement banner.

A hat shop - a step back in time.

Another Italian restaurant - I don't know what the armor outside means.

A cigar store, Mike's Pastry shop, and shorts in the winter.

Walking in North Square, and just down the street........

.....that's Paul Revere's house on the left.

Another Italian restaurant.

Modern Pastry and Mike's Pastry are two of the more popular sweet shops in the neighborhood.

Heading back through the greenway.

The Freedom Trail winds for about three miles through historic sites in Boston and Charlestown.

The Old State House (built in 1713) from whose balcony the Declaration of Independence was first read to the Boston citizenry in 1776. Every year on July 4th it is read again from there.

Towering just down the street from the Old State House.

Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT), Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I don't know about you but, I sure missed not having a season at PBT last year. I hope this pandemic ends soon so they can reopen their doors and stage. It's one of my favorite places on the planet.  And judging by the full houses I have seen at every production in recent years, many others agree. I have seen theatrical productions in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, and other smaller locations - PBT without question, puts on shows that rival the best I've seen anywhere.

When they reopen, come out and support this local jewel in our community.

I made this photo during a previous production - "Hairspray" during the 2019 season.

This advertisement board lists what was to have been the 2020 performance season but was postponed due to the pandemic.

If you want a trip down memory lane, follow this link to dozens of previous shows on PBT's Barn Stage in recent years.

Here's a great link to more PBT shows: Five Years of PBT!!

When they reopen, plan to come out and support this extraordinary local venue and the staff and fine actors and musicians who have struggled due to the pandemic impacts.

A view from the actor's perspective. This barn has stood for a long time - since 1875 - a theatre since 1937 - a complete renovation in 2013. I can hear the voices and feel the footfalls of generations gone by.  Come back and help celebrate this wondrous performance venue when they reopen. (Co-owner Bob Malone above).

Water, Water, Everywhere, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I am not much of a swimmer but, I still find myself drawn to water environments. Whether the downtown Plymouth waterfront.....



......or an inland pond, Fresh Pond in Manomet.....



...or a coastal ocean beach, White Horse Beach in Manomet.......



.....also White Horse Beach. Water, water, everywhere nearby is somehow comforting. 

Lots of places don't enjoy that luxury:

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC. Used by Permission.

Out and About, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

In the famous words of the wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movie, "You shall not pass." This was the police line to keep any pedestrians on Park Street away from the Massachusetts State capitol last Sunday in the lead up to the national presidential inauguration this week. 

Same view looking over the barricade with a zoom.

Farther away from the pedestrian barricade, the road was closed with both a police cruiser and wooden sawhorses.

There were Massachusetts State Police, Boston City Police, and Boston Transit Authority Police deployed around the area. Above, a group of State Police hanging out near the capitol building.



Here, a group of Boston City Police also nearby.



More officers at the ready.

Many folks, like this bicyclist, live inside the perimeter and had to come and go through the barricades with police assistance and clearance.

This group of officers was outside the perimeter standing by.

These groups of officers were on side streets also standing by.

Their riot gear was also standing by. Turns out it wasn't needed.

Everyone I saw today remained calm - both the civilians and the police. For my part, I moved slowly, kept my hands out of my pockets, away from my body, with my camera clearly visible. I didn't want it to be mistaken for a weapon or, me mistaken for a threat when I was standing up against the barricades making pictures. With a hat, a mask, and a bulky winter coat on, I didn't exactly look like a harmless old man wandering about like I usually do.

Some of Boston's priciest real estate is right there in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

This group is inside the secure perimeter in front of the capitol building.



The capitol building was completed in 1798 though enlarged since then.



Meanwhile, from what I could observe, life went on pretty much as normal away from the secured perimeter area. I always enjoy this view of historical juxtaposed with modern.

The bronze ducklings in the Public Garden stayed warm on this winter day.

And dogs along Marlborough Street in the Back Bay neighborhood took their people for a walk.

And life on the Commonwealth Avenue mall seemed normal, too.

As always, it was a nice day to be out and about in Boston though very windy and wintry. I put another 11,000 steps on my step counter. Thanks to all the law enforcement officers on duty today ready to protect our property and institutions. I am glad they weren't needed and that people behaved themselves. Massachusetts is mostly a "blue" state though we do have a penchant for electing "red" governors - go figure.