Keystone Theater #WordlessWednesday

The Keystone Theater in Towanda, Pennsylvania was built in 1886 as Hale's Opera House and had its grand opening in 1887.

It is Northeast Pennsylvania's longest continuously operated theater.  Various famous performers have graced its stage and you can learn more about its history and renovation here.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Urban Finds #AtoZChallenge

Today, I am returning to Greenville, South Carolina, to explore some of the views I saw in and around its downtown.

This fountain around Poinsett's Spring was built to slake the thirst of travelers on a main road through what is now Greenville.  This article explains that hundreds of people pass it daily without knowing what it is, but at least there is now a historical marker.

I never did investigate the bridge, though, which is the oldest surviving bridge in South Carolina.  And, speaking of the Poinsett these structures were named after....

This is Joel Robert Poinsett, scientist and politician.  If the name sounds familiar, the familiar Christmas plant the poinsettia is named after him. He was also our first Ambassador to Mexico and a Secretary of War.

Two pieces of rock with pansies in front of them. I wonder what the significance of this is.

Last but not least is this large cookie jar.  I first learned about Byrd's cookies years ago when we first visited Savannah, Georgia, where the original store still is.  Byrds has been expanding into other cities and has a store in downtown Greenville.  Their cookies are small but full of flavor.  I've been a fan since my first taste, and it was years since I had one.   And yes, you can sample any flavor in the store. (No, I am not being paid for this endorsement.  Just a fan of these cookies.)

One final picture.  These papers were in various storefronts in downtown Greenville.  This initiative is called "Keep Your Change To Be the Change" and addresses the growing problem of the unhoused in Greenville.  The money donated through the QR code or the website goes to the City of Greenville, which, in turn, will donate various outreach organizations.

We may not want to think of this population, but it is part of the urban scene in many places, not just Greenville, and, unfortunately, it was visible the two times we visited the downtown.

"U" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme this year is: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.

Lesson of a Garbage Can #WordlessWednesday

I was checking out a garbage container downtown, in the smallish New York State city I work in, when I saw this.


What goes in a public garbage can.  Trash, right?

Except here.  Look down and you will see flowers.  It's one way to revive a downtown.

Expect the unexpected.  Delight in small surprises.  The lesson of a trash can.

Take a break from writing! Join Esha the Skygirl and Natasha for #WordlessWednesday. 

Sustainable Saturday- Buffalo Balls and More

Today, I am bringing you a January farmer's market in Orlando, Florida, at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.

Orlando is so much more than Disney and Universal Studios.  If you visit Orlando, you owe it to yourself to investigate the non-theme park aspects.

Later this year, I hope to bring you some more from Orlando.  Today, I feature the Sunday farmers market.

In my limited experience, Florida farmers markets (well, I've only been to two so it is VERY limited experience) tend to be more sales of crafts, some flea market items, ready made food, and some produce, so I concentrated on the food aspect.

You will never find this in a farmers market where I live in upstate New York, because we don't grow avocados - but they do grow them in Florida.

And here they are, along with raw cacao.

Local (from Homestead, Florida) passion fruit was also for sale.

Oh, about the Buffalo Balls - they are chicken meatballs with "Buffalo sauce" (I assume wing sauce, which is a type of hot sauce originating in Buffalo, New York, eaten with fried chicken wings.  No buffalos are harmed in the production of wing sauce).

I enjoyed myself at the market, for so many reasons, but it was also a bit overwhelming with all the new sights and sounds.

Do you like to visit farmers markets when you travel?

Endicott (New York) and My 2700th Post #atozchallenge

First, a short celebration of my 2700th post.  Happy postaversary to me.  But no time, no time to celebreate.  The Blogging from A to Z Challenge awaits.

Traveling Through Time and Space, I return to the happier days of the late 1980's, when I worked in the small upstate New York city of Endicott, New York.

I worked in this building for almost nine years, and I still return to this building at least twice a year because my dentist works in it.

I have many memories of a village where so many streets are named after Presidents.  Washington.  Jefferson.  Madison.  Monroe.   Lincoln.  Cleveland.  Roosevelt.

This building is only a couple of blocks away from Washington Avenue, which once was the main shopping street of Endicott.  Just blocks away from IBM, which had a major facility nearby, Washington Avenue was full of prosperous businesses.  I didn't take pictures of the bustling Washington Avenue, because I didn't know, back then, that the prosperity of Endicott would, one day, be only a memory.

There was the downsizing of IBM, a company which actually started down the road in Binghamton as a manufacturer of time clocks and other time keeping devices. 

There was the death by mall of downtown shopping.  Endicott's Washington Avenue was one of many casualties. In my memories, I can still walk down the Washington Avenue of, say, 1987, in my mind. Very few businesses of that time remain.

But, worst of all, was the Plume,. "Tons of industrial solvents used to clean computer parts were dumped down drains or leached from leaky pipes into the ground for years before environmental rules required that such "spills" be reported.."  These solvents were used from the 1930's to the mid 1980's.   The case was finally settled in 2015.

Now, Endicott struggles to return to its once prosperous days.  
 

The North Brewery, Washington Avenue

There are new businesses and some new hope.  For example, where a bakery flourished for many years (and went out of business many years ago) there is now a brewery.

That's how you Endicott nowadays.

But my memories of the 90's still remain.

"E" day on Blogging from A to Z Challenge. 

Throwback Thursday - Binghamton Rising

This is a post from June of 2009, the first year of my blog.  So much as happened since I wrote this post.

This is a post about the return of downtown Binghamton, New York - a small city of about 47,000.  At its peak, its population was over 80,000.

The 1990's and early 2000's were rough times for Binghamton - high unemployment and many vacant buildings.  But things are turning around - faster and faster, now.  Much of the growth is due to developers taking vacant buildings and converting them into student housing for the increasing population of Binghamton University, a highly regarded public university.

The building I wrote about below, the Press Building, suffered a fire in December of 2010 and lay vacant for several years.  Fires are far from unknown in downtown Binghamton.

The planters pictured here were abandoned.  But now, finally, the building (it is said) will be renovated for student housing, and will reopen sometime next year.

Binghamton Rising

Yesterday was the 2nd Friday of the Binghamton Farmers Market. As I was browsing for snap peas, the heavens opened. I spent the next 35 minutes listening to a jazz band, sheltered in the tent of the farmer I had bought the peas from. I waited out the rain, joined by two co-workers. Finally it stopped not long before the end of my lunch hour.

Not too many years ago downtown Binghamton was...on the skids, let's face it-full of abandoned buildings. Since then, for many reasons, things have turned around-although it has a long way to go. The Farmers Market is one success story (such as it is-it's on a narrow street, and small, but it is very appreciated.)

Here is one of the success stories: The Press Building, not too long ago musty and mostly vacant-today, renovated.

The first picture is at an angle but it shows a portion of the renovated lobby.

Here is a picture of the building itself, and details of the renovation.





The other pictures are of planters in front of the building-each done in mosaic by a local nationally famous mosaic artist - each with a local theme.


This planter shows a carousel horse. Binghamton is named the "Carousel Capital" of the country for good reason - my son grew up taking the six free antique carousels for granted. I sometimes wish he was young again so I could ride with him.


The second picture, I'm actually not absolutely sure what it is. It could be one of the buildings that hold the carousels. Or it could be an impression of the band shell at Rec Park, another restored Binghamton landmark. (if you are a Twilight Zone fan, Rec Park is a must-see).

This final mosaic is a flower display.
I believe there are seven in all. Hopefully the elements and the street people are kind to them. The law firm responsible for much of this has done a good service for downtown Binghamton.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hanging baskets decorating downtown and donated by a life insurance company headquartered in downtown Binghamton.

Thank you,all, and may the rise of downtown Binghamton continue.