Townsend Furnace

This iron cover in the sidewalk on Washington Avenue by the State Capitol bears the name of the Townsend Furnace which was a prominent Albany foundry in the 19th-century.  A few blocks to the west, Townsend Park is named for the family which owned the company.  One of its most notable members was Mayor John Townsend.

Healthy Hearts On The Hill

These signs - and smaller ones with arrows - have been appearing around Albany in recent weeks.  This particular sign is just outside the main branch of the Public Library on Washington Avenue.  They're part of a project called Healthy Hearts On The Hill, a program which is meant to promote heart-friendly lifestyles in the West Hill area of the city.  Here's their Facebook page.

Iron Gate Rose

An exquisite pink rose outside the Iron Gate Cafe on Washington Avenue

The Gnome

A patient-looking gnome with a lantern stands in the snow outside the Iron Gate Cafe on Washington Avenue.

The Bicycle Mural

When I was growing up in the late 70s and 80s, there were a number of large murals on buildings around Albany. Today, very few of those massive wall paintings are left. This one, a giant-sized bicycle and rider, can be found on the rear wall of a building at the corner of Washington Avenue and Henry Johnson Boulevard.

Other murals I've blogged in the past include:

The Mural At Madison and Main
A One-Dimensional Neighborhood (this one has since been painted over)

Improvising

On a very cold, but sunny day, a discarded mattress served as someone's makeshift sled for coasting down the slopes in Washington Park.

More Vault Lights

Last year, I was excited to discovered vault lights in sidewalk along Lancaster Street. Since then, I've been looking to find more of them. Over the weekend, I finally noticed this pair of old cellar doors on Washington Avenue. As with the smaller vault lights, glass prisms are embedded in these metal panels to illuminate whatever dark basement lies below.

End of The Season

The leaves are changing color fast and the nights are turning quite chilly. And the lunch trunks are vanishing from Washington Avenue. During the warmer months, they're a noon staple...an entire row of them along the West Capitol Park with savory smells and long lines. But it's November now and these three trucks are the last of the season.

Ornately Framed

I have to admit that I was quite surprised when I didn't find the 1890 Stuyvesant Apartments included in my favorite "go-to" book for information on Albany buildings, Albany Architecture - A Guide To The City (edited by Diana S. Waite). Granted, not every single structure in the city could be included in a single book, but since other notable buildings along this block of Washington Avenue between Dove and Lark Streets were listed, I did expect to see this one with its wonderful, ornate details...such as those framing a small window on the ground floor.