Waiting for Speedway Fowler

Keene Pumpkin Festival 2011

2011-10-24T10:10:00.005-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T15:46:00.001-04:00

2011-02-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

Crab.

2010-12-02T13:51:00.002-05:00

Not cool.

2010-11-01T12:57:00.002-04:00

Now THAT'S color commentary:

2010-10-13T15:25:00.002-04:00

"The Houston Texans' pass defense is completely putrid and totally unacceptable in the National Football league."

- Ross Tucker, 1:55pm Sunday, October 11, 2010

Labor Day.

2010-09-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

Maybe Typical in New Hampshire?

2010-09-04T14:02:00.000-04:00

(Seabrook, NH)

New beer: $3.99/six-pack bottles!

2010-08-30T14:39:00.003-04:00

Found this at a store in Burlington, VT. A *VERY* good beer for the money. It's made by Rolling Rock, apparently.

Random pictures from Montreal

2010-08-30T13:46:00.005-04:00

Man Doing a Good Deed

2010-08-20T14:01:00.002-04:00

There's a homeless couple that hangs out near the curb at Chandler and Park Ave., outside the Walgreen's. Last time I as passing by, I saw a guy stop his car, get out, and hand them each a bagged lunch. That's the guy in the tie. Don't know who he is, but he gets a gold star for the day

Turtles Taco Shop

2010-08-18T14:23:00.004-04:00

Turtles open just a couple of weeks ago in Putnam, CT. It bills itself as "An Authentic Southern California-Style Taco Shop", and the food is fresh, cheap and very tasty.

Putnam now has three great restaurants: Pyzzz for pizza, Grandaddy's for BBQ and Turtles for Tacos. Pretty good for a small town.

Worcester World Cup 2010

2010-08-16T12:04:00.003-04:00

This is one of the best city events every Summer.

Vibram Open 2010

2010-08-15T12:32:00.001-04:00

Doghouse Flowers play Newton Square

2010-08-12T23:20:00.003-04:00

Stopped by on Tuesday to see Ed Arndt and his band play the last Newton Square Summer Concert. Great time. Great music.

Paris Cinema

2010-08-06T18:25:00.000-04:00

The Paris continues to sit and decay in downtown Worcester. I don't think it will be saved, and that's a shame. I think it could play a key role in the redevelopment of the downtown area. I went to the Paris back in the 70's and saw "Casablanca" and "The Song Remains The Same" there. It would be great to see the theater restored and showing a James Bond marathon or something like that.

Anyways... someone got inside the place a little while back and took some photos.

They're pretty cool and they show the potential that's still there.

You can see the photo set here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992596@N00/sets/72157623538417917/with/4450065131/

Wow! Look What I Spotted at Hampton Beach!!

2010-08-04T13:59:00.002-04:00

An Asteroids Console! I feel like it should be in the Smithsonian, but I also think that it's pretty cool that young kids get to play one of the original arcade game... in an actual arcade.

New Place on Chandler Street

2010-08-04T13:54:00.004-04:00

The Firewood Cafe - wood-fired pizza joint. This would make a good compliment to Corner Grille and Flats, and hopefully force some of the lesser pizza places to step up their game. I notice the sign also says "smoked meats". If they're looking to bring the Schwartz's Deli Montreal Smoked Meat Experience to Worcester... wow... that would be amazing.

Squirrel!

2010-07-28T13:45:00.001-04:00

Cheapest Beer Anywhere

2010-07-27T13:45:00.001-04:00

"Mountain Brew Beer Ice". Bought for ... $2.99/six-pack! This is apparently just rebranded Genessee beer, and for $2.99 it's a great deal. You can find this stuff at Stewart's Stores all over New York State. I bought a six- in Plattsburgh!

Le Chablis Motel

2010-07-26T13:43:00.001-04:00

Montreal's sleaziest hotel is apparently still in business.

New Doritos

2010-07-25T13:42:00.001-04:00

New Doritos! "Mr. Dragon's Fire Chips" are actually just wasabi flavored, but they're pretty good nonetheless.

Hallway

2010-07-24T13:11:00.001-04:00

Steeplejack

2010-07-02T20:39:00.000-04:00

(Palmer, MA)

The Very Last "LUMS" Has Closed!

2010-06-29T20:41:00.001-04:00

(Plattsburgh, NY)

Anyone who went to High School in Worcester in the 70's spent a lot of time at the West Boylston Street Lums....

People Feel Strongly About Some Strange Things

2010-06-29T20:35:00.000-04:00

There's a Bumper Sticker You Don't See Too Often

2010-06-29T20:33:00.000-04:00

(Ste. Catherine St., Montreal)

June Street White Hen Pantry is now a 7-11

2010-06-29T20:08:00.001-04:00

I guess 7-11 bought out the entire chain.

Local History

2010-05-15T16:24:00.003-04:00

This dirt road in Thompson doesn't look like much, but it was on this exact spot, in 1891, that the nation's most legendary train wreck happened.

From Wikipedia:

The Great East Thompson Train Wreck was a large rail disaster which occurred in East Thompson, Connecticut, on December 4, 1891. It was one of the most extensive train wrecks in American history, and the only one to involve four trains. It happened on the New York and New England Railroad, which provided a shortcut from New York City to Boston by making a diagonal across Connecticut. The railroad is now abandoned, and most of its tracks removed.

On the morning of December 4, 1891, four trains were scheduled to pass through East Thompson, in the town of Thompson in the northeastern corner of Connecticut: the hotshot Long Island & Eastern States Express from New York to Boston via a ferry across Long Island Sound, the Norwich Steamboat Express traveling to Boston from the quays of New London, Connecticut, the Southbridge Local freight to the town of that name just over the Massachusetts border, and freight train No. 212. To keep the slower No. 212 from impeding the approaching Eastern States Express, the local dispatcher allowed 212 to run on the left-hand track ahead of the express. Unfortunately both the dispatcher and 212's crew had forgotten about the oncoming Southbridge Local freight. At 6:40 am, just before the East Thompson station, the two freight trains collided head-on violently, jacknifing several cars and tossing one across both eastbound and westbound tracks.

Meanwhile, the Eastern States Express approached at 50 mph, unaware of the disaster. It crashed into the car across the other track, causing the engine to derail and strike a telephone pole, killing engineer Harry Taber and fireman Gerry Fitzgerald. (Fitzgerald was actually substituting for Mike Flynn, who had been scheduled but was marked off the roster since he had had a premonition of disaster the night before.) Steam from the ruptured engine destroyed a nearby home.

Then the uninjured crewmen remembered the Norwich Steamboat Train. A flagman was sent out, but was too late to get the speeding express to stop. At 6:45 AM, it plowed eight feet into the rear of the Eastern States Express, setting fire to the rear sleeping car and the engine cab. Fortunately the crew suffered only cuts and scrapes.

Miraculously, even though all four engines, the sleeper, and a baggage car were destroyed, the track was torn up for about 500 yards (460 m) east of the passenger station, and hundreds of people were injured in the wreck, only two people were confirmed dead; Harry Taber and Gerry Fitzgerald of the Eastern States Express. A third man, R.H. Rath of New York, was presumed dead, but his body was never found. (It has been suggested Rath was not on the train, as he reappears very much alive in legal documents more than three years after the disaster.)

Windham County coroner A.G. Bill ruled engineer Henry Wildes and conductor William Dorman of the 212 responsible for Tabor's and Fitzgerald's deaths.

The station has since been torn down, and the former New York & New England Railroad through this area is now an undeveloped rail trail.

Bush Meadow Farm, Union, CT

2010-05-11T09:54:00.004-04:00

We went to this amazing place for Mothers Day. EVERYTHING is local and made from scratch!

And we were greeted upon arrival by one of the local residents!

Old Gas Station

2010-04-20T10:20:00.001-04:00

(Stonington, CT)

Just Breakfast!

2010-04-19T10:19:00.000-04:00

That's service!

2010-04-18T10:18:00.000-04:00

Zuckerbraun's Department Store

2010-04-17T10:17:00.000-04:00

(Jewett City, CT)

When did Connecticut go Metric?

2010-04-16T10:16:00.000-04:00

(Plainfield, CT)

Conflicted Rock

2010-04-15T10:15:00.000-04:00

West View Orchards

2010-04-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

Another Roadhouse

2010-04-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

(Happy Jack's, Plainfield CT)

Pringles new Spicy Wonton chips

2010-04-12T10:09:00.000-04:00

Best Pringles ever.

CAMEL?????

2010-04-11T10:07:00.000-04:00

(Chandler Street)

Walmart Windmills

2010-04-10T10:02:00.003-04:00

I see the new Walmart being built on Route 146 has tiny turbines attached to the tops of all the light poles. I can't imagine they generate much electricity, but they do give Walmart an excuse to claim they're being "green".

2010-04-10T09:57:00.002-04:00

I've noticed several of these bumper stickers on stop signs on the west side lately. The dittoheads are actually getting out of their houses these days!

The Cup and Saucer has closed

2010-04-05T12:50:00.003-04:00

I was sad to hear that one of my favorite North Adams hangouts had closed, but it has been replaced by the new Petrino's Cafe, so at least it's not an empty storefront.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T11:47:00.001-04:00

American tourist on Grafton St., Dublin: 1964

Ritz Crackers: The Official Snack of Awkwardly Feigned Racial Friendships

2010-03-15T09:37:00.004-04:00

Ghost Town

2010-03-12T09:00:00.002-05:00

Old Bridge on a Snowy Day

2010-03-09T11:45:00.002-05:00

(Moosup, CT)

Roadhouse #4

2010-03-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

(Bishop Hill Tavern, Scituate, RI)

A LAWN JOCKEY? Seriously??

2010-03-02T11:40:00.001-05:00

Here There Be Dragons

2010-02-16T22:35:00.001-05:00

Roadhouse # 3

2010-02-15T22:29:00.000-05:00

(Cady's Tavern, Scituate, RI)

Old Abandoned Church

2010-02-15T09:03:00.003-05:00

(Haynersville, NY)

This Package Store Opens at 8AM

2010-02-11T22:28:00.002-05:00

(Putnam, CT)

Is anyone surprised by that???

"Have You Seen This Cat?"

2010-02-07T14:26:00.001-05:00

Seen on the bulletin board at "Coffee Obsession" in Falmouth.

Another Roadhouse

2010-02-04T11:50:00.001-05:00

Helen's Place... North Scituate, RI

Roadhouses

2010-02-01T11:45:00.003-05:00

I'm posting some pictures I took late last year. The theme this month is Local Roadhouses.

This is The Lake Tavern in Dayville, CT.

AM940 is Shut Down

2010-01-31T12:43:00.003-05:00

I used to listen to this all-news station a lot on winter nights whenever I was driving back home from Franklin Pierce or Channel 10. It was a great station and it is sad to see it go.

Canada's first radio station goes off the air
Mike King, Canwest News Service

MONTREAL -- Canada's first radio station fell silent on Friday night, as
Canadian media and entertainment empire Corus Entertainment Inc., pulled
the plug on two Montreal AM stations.

AM Info690 Montreal and AM940 Montreal's Greatest Hits went off the air
at 7 p.m. local time. Both were deemed unprofitable.

AM940 is a direct descendent of Canada's first radio station, CFCF
originally at the 600 dial on the AM band.

In 1919, the Canadian Marconi Co., launched XWA (Experimental Wireless
Apparatus) in Montreal and it became the first commercial broadcast
radio station in Canada. The name was switched to CFCF in November 1920.

Before the station signals were killed, recordings ran most of the day.
They were made by general managers of the respective stations, thanking
listeners and advertisers, and explaining it was a difficult decision to
close the stations.

"We put tremendous effort into trying to find the right format and
content to grow our audience base and operate profitably, but after
years of effort, it is clear these AM stations are not viable," Mario
Cecchini, vice-president of subsidiary Corus Quebec, said in a prepared
statement.

Brian Kenemy, a former vice-president of Corus Quebec's English radio
holdings, said in an interview that he thinks Corus "did its best to
hang on as long as they could, looking for affordable formats."

But with most money directed toward FM programming, Mr. Kenemy suggested
that the public company found it too difficult to continue supporting
the struggling stations.

Bourget MNA Maka Kotto, Parti Quebecois culture and communications
critic, argued the closing of Info690 "is not good news because it
sounds the death knell of another francophone newsroom in Montreal and
further undermines the media in Quebec."

The decision to cease operations affects eight jobs at Info690 -- three
journalists, two traffic reporters and three operations positions -- but
five of those positions are to be retained.

The Info690 Montreal newsroom, known as CorusNouvelles, will continue
its activities as part of 98.5 FM Montreal.

Two jobs, an on-air host and a technician, are affected at AM940, which
switched from all news to all music in 2008.

Cumberland Farms Updates Their Logo

2009-12-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

Interesting new look.

Grafton, NY

2009-12-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

(Route 2, 2:30pm)

Troy Pork Store

2009-12-23T09:52:00.000-05:00

Owen Breaks His Leg... Again!!

2009-12-12T09:16:00.000-05:00

Wise Owl

2009-11-23T07:14:00.000-05:00

(Route 44, Glocester, RI)

UFL Game: New York vs. Florida

2009-11-13T08:39:00.000-05:00

The game was at a FREEZING Renschler Field in East Hartford, but the crowd seemed to be having a good time. Florida won.

Boston Media Makers Gathering - November 2009

2009-11-01T14:14:00.001-05:00

Doyle's Pub - Jamaica Plain

Visit to Quaker Rural Cemetery, aka "Spider Gates"

2009-10-31T21:14:00.003-04:00

Cemetery in Morning Fog, Chapachet, RI

2009-10-28T11:31:00.002-04:00

Well, who doesn't?

2009-10-19T13:47:00.002-04:00

Newton Hill Newcomers Ball Disc Golf Tournament

2009-10-18T13:03:00.004-04:00

Snow and Bonfire at Marianapolis Homecoming

2009-10-16T09:25:00.002-04:00

Ed "Major Mudd" McDonnell Died 30 Years Ago Today

2009-10-13T06:23:00.001-04:00

Here's a late-70's Channel 5 package on a benefit held to raise money for the man, who was at the time fighting what would turn out to be a losing battle against kidney disease.

Australian Flagman Ahead

2009-10-06T13:58:00.000-04:00

(June Street)

New Barbecue Place

2009-10-01T09:24:00.002-04:00

Looks like this place has either just opened or will be opening any day now - Grandaddy's BBQ in Putnam. Look at that smoker!

Happy 60th Birthday, Merle Kessler!

2009-10-01T03:48:00.001-04:00

I gotta go.

Feet for your feet!

2009-09-28T10:53:00.000-04:00

Check these out... made by Vibram!

BP Comes to the Northeast

2009-09-27T10:23:00.003-04:00

This is obviously because of Exxon and Getty pulling out of the retail market, the same reason Irving and Phillips 66 have moved into the area. BP used to have a presence here 30 years ago. I remember one in Falmouth, back when their logo looked like this:

Those stations, as far as I remember, eventually became Gibbs gas stations. And the Gibbs stations eventually became Hess stations.

Out west, BP stations are known for their modern design, but around here they're just basic redressings of existing stations and they don't look very modern.

Big Turnout at the Worcester Tea Party Rally

2009-09-12T20:37:00.002-04:00

Keep in mind that at least four of the people in these photos are doing stoplight collections for the Special Olympics.

New York City

2009-09-06T13:17:00.005-04:00

2009-07-31T14:12:00.000-04:00

New Mural at Corner Grille

2009-07-30T08:10:00.002-04:00

It was half-done when I snapped this photo. This replaces the old mural which featured a white-haired man eating pizza and lyrics for "That's Amore".

2009-07-27T21:48:00.000-04:00

(on Chandler Street)

Piedmont Street

2009-07-23T08:55:00.008-04:00

A suitcase full of clothes, on the sidewalk, in the rain. Was this a child's dramatic runaway attempt called off at the last moment when the thought of the big world out there became too scary? Or is it a bag ripped off from the back seat of a parked car and rifled through? Or the whole of a homeless person's possessions, somehow lost or maybe abandoned?

Just Added BBC America to my Cable Package

2009-07-18T14:07:00.001-04:00

Just in time for next week's 5-part "Torchwood" mini-series. Can't wait!

City Hospital

2009-07-17T17:36:00.001-04:00

Strange-looking Sky

2009-07-16T17:27:00.001-04:00

I shot these pictures on Route 101 in Rhode Island. The sun was actually reflecting off some clouds overhead and creating a really strange effect.

Sewer-cide!

2009-07-15T05:30:00.001-04:00

(Route 102, Smithfield, RI)

Disc Golf is Awesome!

2009-07-14T16:13:00.001-04:00

Played 18 Holes at Pyramids Disc Golf in Leicester. $5 bucks! Really cool course, plus a great Pro Shop. All about 2 miles past Tatnuck Square. You'd never even suspect it was there. And there's another, different world-class course just a mile down the road.

Goodbye WBCN

2009-07-14T11:17:00.003-04:00

I was shocked to hear this morning that WBCN is shutting down. Mix98.5 will take over that spot on the dial, and an All-Sports station will start up at the 98.5 frequency. 'BCN was supposedly the inspiration for the movie FM, which was the
inspiration for WKRP, so it's the station that more or less set the
standard for FM radio lore in American culture. I hadn't listened in
years... pretty much ever since Charles retired, but still... what a
shock.

Found it

2009-07-13T00:09:00.000-04:00

Has the Getty Station at Tatnuck Square shut down?

2009-07-12T04:56:00.000-04:00

It looks like it, but it's hard to tell. the prices at the pump seem current, but the office is bare and the place was closed all day Saturday. I know Getty was getting out of the retail business and with the *other*Tatnuck Getty converting to Lukoil, maybe there wasn't another franchise available in that neighborhood. Or maybe it's still open. Can't tell.

Holy Name Wind Turbine

2009-07-11T16:10:00.002-04:00

The turbine has been locked down for the past week. No idea why. Mechanical problems?

Fourth of July Complaint

2009-07-11T09:12:00.000-04:00

Talk about a bonehead public relations move. Every year the public has been allowed to view Worcerster's 4th of July fireworks from the Unum parking lot off Lancaster Street. What I'd always attributed to corporate goodwill was apparently just an oversight on their part, because this year hundreds turned up to watch the show, only to see the lot chained off. It wasn't even a weeknight. I mean, come on. In the words of Maggie O'Hooligan: T'ANKS FER NUTTIN!

Happy Birthday, Arlo Guthrie!

2009-07-10T06:16:00.000-04:00

Scooby, Slightly Delirious.

2009-07-06T16:40:00.001-04:00

After a run-in with the lawn sprinkler.

Lunch at Deary Brothers Mike's Stand

2009-07-05T16:32:00.002-04:00

A grilled hot dog in a toasted bun with mustard and onions, hot fries straight out of the fryer and a cold coke for six bucks. Can't beat it.

Best Slogan Ever

2009-06-27T20:36:00.004-04:00

I need to get a photo of the new Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee placards being posted at some of their drive-thru's:

Anyways - their new slogan: "Ice it and get back out there".

Brilliant.

New England Summer Special Olympics 2009

2009-06-21T20:23:00.007-04:00

Rain and WIND

2009-06-21T20:06:00.007-04:00

Branches that were probably weakened by the winter ice storm came down on Chandler Street.

And the wind brought down a lot of pears from my backyard pear tree.

Old Barn, Pascoag, RI

2009-06-19T08:50:00.004-04:00

Are "Bubba Burgers" Supposed to be Shaped Like Texas?

2009-06-17T14:21:00.000-04:00

...because I'm not seeing it.

Scooby in the Summertime

2009-06-16T14:19:00.000-04:00