It's finally.. warm! An installment of observations around Torrington; Buddhist Temples; curious automobile graphics

Wow. It's been a long October this spring. Having torn down my insulating window plastic in April, I was able to yet again confirm that it really does make a difference. I also feel guilty about looking forward to global warming if it means actually having some nice weather on time... oh, the shame..




So what's new? Lincoln came to town, but we missed it. Memorial Day has come and gone. The parade was nice, and it was refreshing to see so many people downtown. Just imagine how many of these people would return if our telltale vacant storefronts were beaming with vibrant business activity! I think it'll happen. Let's hope some progress is made before the aliens visit us in 2012. That's probably more likely to happen than, oh.. say: the husk of the Meara Building being on the market for anything less than 495k. But that's fine, I hope all the landlords downtown just sit on their properties until a buyer caves. It helps contribute to that derelict-charm that some people associate with downtown Torrington. An opinion of which, I don't subscribe to, fyi...

I digress though. Aliens to a downtown micro-rant? Good lard. Speaking of which, during a midday trip to everyone's favorite late-night-anytime-really-there's-no-bad-reason-to-go dining facility, the Twin Colony Diner, I happened across a curious vehicle with some sort of tribal markings adorning it's sides:





Edna & Eve?! Cubans & Venezuelans?! Let's hope these folks are passin on through.. not unlike the collective contents of our nation's colon. Fanatical nationalism and theocracy have always been more than enthused to pave the way to some dark eras in history, and I, for one, am glad to see these values becoming somewhat of an historical curiousity. I say that within the context of the larger story-arc of this planet, mind you... Give it a hundred years. Just because Obama turned the tide on these seperatist values doesn't mean I expect any sort of progressive snowball effect any time too soon... 2012 seems like a good number though.

Back to Torrington, though. We drove around a bit the other day, the rural scenery is really spectacular and worth sacrificing a quarter tank of petrol if you've time for a leisurely cruise. We explored the New Hartford area, finally locating the Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple. I've been wanting to check it out for a while now, and it's in a really nice spot. I plan on attending a meditation session sometime in the near(er) future.




"Each Wednesday and Saturday, occasional seekers, temple members and Buddhists alike experience this healing meditation at Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple in New Hartford. Tucked away down Kinsey Road off Route 202, the small road sign written in Korean and English is the only hint of the temple's 25-year existence - nine years on East Main Street in Torrington and 14 years at its current location."



The MSN groups link from the above article is broken, but you can find more information on the Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple at their blog.

For more information, please call:

Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center
19 Kinsey Road
New Hartford, CT 06057

Phone: 860-489-3254 Temple
Cell: 860-459-6255 Sue Yen Sunim
Cell: 860-922-2607 Master
Fax: 860-489-5760



Finishing off the month of May, I attended the Square Foot Show, at Artwell Gallery in downtown Torrington. Artwell is the epicenteral hub of creativity and culture in Torrington, and every show or opening is a rich combination of stimulating artwork, professional networking opportunities and the holistic experience of interacting with friends and interesting people you've yet to meet. The Jugadelics were in full form, as they often are, and serenaded the attending mass of people even as they spilled out onto the sidewalk with chalk art, cigars, and discussion. It's always a good time at Artwell.

And, in Torrington.