Took a walk around 847 Asylum Avenue today, getting a feel for the place as I prepare to take final photos of the house.

We heard from a neighbor on Ashley Street today about a large pile of scooters piled up in the parking lot of the apartment building that is behind her house, on Collins Street.  This isn’t the only pile in the neighborhood:  there’s one down at the old Sigourney Market site, and there’s one down at the old Arrow-Hagaman lot.  Nice to know that company’s that go out of business can count on someone to pile up all of their old stuff!

It was a cold, cold, cold, frigid day in Hartford - so we decided to take a walk!  The Mark Twain House & Museum recently installed a walking tour of sites related to Mark Twain in downtown Hartford.  It's a great tour, very informative, and it gives a sense of Hartford in the 19th century.  Not quite like you are there, but it certainly shows you what was there. 

The downtown walk is part of the Mark Twain House's celebration of its 50th anniversary as a museum.  There are several links that you can follow to get information on the anniversary exhibtion that includes the walkiing tour and the project supporting it.  There’s also a page about the tour itself, with a link to a downloadable pdf of the trail.

You have to look very closely, but there's some sort of mascot-like character pointing to the place into which you are supposed to "park your butts." This is the bus kiosk (and smoke station) on Garden Street, just below The Hartford's visitors parking lot.

Believe it or not, this is – or was – Caroling in the Park!  The Friends of Sigourney Square Park decided this year to move the event indoors and to focus on community and “toys for tots.”  The event took place at 224 the EcoSpace, and it was an amazing success.  About 200 people attended.  Members of the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association served breakfast to everyone.  The Hartford Police Department, including Asylum Hill’s Community Service Office Cesidio “Sid” Palmieri, were on hand to deliver toys to children.  And of course Santa was there!

Plans are already underway to hold this event again next year.

Shots are of the front of the house, the steeple at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, and Asylum Hill Congregational Church with The Hartford in the background.

The house is ready!  And if you’re interested, the real estate agent has put together a very nice video tour of the house.