Saturday, June 23, 2012

Harvard Museum of Natural History

On the hottest day of the year I find myself hiking through Harvarad Square ... that was not pleasant,



... but once inside there were many treasures to behold.

A sleeping giant
(part of him anyway)

The famous 'glass flowers'

"Are they really glass ?" --- YES, the models are made entirely of glass, often reinforced internally with wire support. 
The naturalists and consummate glass artisans, Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka, created the nearly 4,400 models. 
The models were  made from 1886 through 1936 at Blaschkas' studio located in Hosterwitz, near Dresden, Germany.
The life-size models include over 800 species with remarkably accurate anatomical sections and enlarged flower parts.  Since the flowers are always in bloom, tropical and temperate species may be studied year-round.
*****
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ware and her daughter, Mary Lee Ware, financed the collection and presented it to the Botanical Museum of the Harvard University as a memorial to
Dr. Charles Eliot Ware,
Class of 1834

~  Fossils  ~

~~ minerals
and
gem stones!!

 Geodes and Crystals

all in different...
sizes,
shapes,
 and
colors!

There were masks...
                                      and feathers


 Paintings ...
 and carvings ...
All kinds of interesting and different things to see...
 and wonder about.
 (and the entire museum is airconditioned (sort of !)

Cirque Du Soleil

~ TOTEM ~


AWESOME


WONDERFUL


 ENTERTAINING


COLORFUL


 MAGICAL


SPECTACULAR


 FRIGHTENING


 ENTERTAINING


 A MUST SEE ....

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

**** A  PRIVATE  TOUR !
The McKim Building is notable for its perfect proportions, its classic serenity, its modestly borne and elegance. Its charm lies not only in the immediate effect of its features - its Copley Square façade, the Entrance Hall, the Courtyard, the Bates Hall Reading Room, the Sargent Gallery - but in the details that everywhere make the building a
constant source of surprise and aesthetic satisfaction


The floors, walls, and vaulted ceiling are of pink Knoxville marble; the floor is inlaid with patterns of brown Knoxville and Levanto marble...


 The low, broad entrance hall, divided into three aisles by heavy piers of Iowa sandstone, is of Roman design. The ceiling is vaulted, with domes in the side bays,
and is covered with a marble mosaic...

 
Connecting the Entrance Hall with the main staircase is a deep triumphal arch. The marble of the steps is ivory gray Echaillon, mottled with fossil shells;
that of the walls is a richly variegated yellow Siena...


 The great twin lions, couchant, on pedestals at the turn of the stairs are of unpolished Siena marble and are the work of Louis Saint-Gaudens. They are memorials to Massachusetts Civil War infantry regiments, the Second and the Twentieth.
The handsome coffered ceiling is of plaster...

 
Of particular interest to many visitors is the sumptuous Abbey Room, which may be entered from the south end of the Chavannes Gallery. The room’s dominating feature is the series of splendid and richly colored mural paintings The Quest of the Holy Grail by the American artist, Edwin Austin Abbey. The room, 64 feet long by 33 feet wide, is of luxurious beauty. The ceiling is remarkable for its heavy ornamental rafters...

The heavy marble doorways leading into Bates Hall and from the Chavannes Gallery are of rouge antique and Levanto marble. The mantle of the great fireplace in the east wall - wholly of rouge antique - is exceedingly rich and elaborate. The walls are wainscoted in dark-colored oak to the level of the murals, and the floors are of Istrian and red Verona marble...


photos courtesy of Shawn Smith
Informational text obtained from BPL website  http://www.bpl.org

Art & Architecture Tours
The Boston Public Library offers public tours highlighting the architecture of Charles Follen McKim and Philip Johnson, as well as the many works of famed sculptors and painters. The free tours last about an hour and are given by volunteer guides. No appointment is necessary. Tours meet in the lobby of the McKim Building (Dartmouth Street entrance). For more information, please email tours@bpl.org or call 617-859-2379.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Boston PRIDE - 2012


June 9, 2012 was an AWESOME day ! According to local news reports, approximately 40,000 people participated in
Boston's best ever
****** Pride Parade. ******

People from all over came to enjoy the beautiful sunny day in the city.





There were all kinds of sights ...







Lots and lots of happy people !


 ...Enjoying a Stroll.... Roll.
... a watchful eye !
*********************
The group of fun people I spent the day with were the
HRC Boston volunteers.

A great group. I've marched with the HRC now for about 8 years.




The day was of course a bit political...


Joe Kennedy ....
 for Congress















As the day progressed we marched on... through many of the colorful Boston neighborhoods.



The onlookers were many!






Rounding the corner nearing Government Center
the crowds grew even larger !



After a long walk...
 we finally reached Government Center. 
Informational exhibits set up,  Bands played, food of all kinds available.
A great day !






...and of course waiting for me at home,
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.*.
.*.
.*.
.*.
.*.

BART

8.4 miles total miles marched today.