Ceres Street is a beautiful little alleyway tucked between the Piscataqua River and Market Street, at the back of the rowhouses that line the street. Centuries ago, the storefronts served as a way for shipping merchants to bring their goods directly into the buildings and warehouses…and now the buildings are occupied by people, retailers, restaurants, etc. I love the brick feel and the narrow atmosphere.
I’m always afraid to overdo any particular subject here at The Daily Portsmouth. Sometimes, I can’t help myself…in the late afternoon recently I had the chance to stroll down Ceres Street and the lighting was just awesome. It’s been an appropriate amount of time since the last tugboat photo – so even though I overdo the tugs (nobody seems to mind too much), I thought I’d share a new take on the workers. The Moran Towing tugboats are serious pieces of machinery, and they’ve gotten busy again with the arrival of fall and freighters unloading sand and salt. I love the grittiness of the shot and the textures that seem to pop off of the frame, highlighting the ruggedness of the vessel. I think it’s a nice change from the usual sunset/waterfront shots that usually feature them.
More shots from the vista of the 100 Club balcony…enjoy!
Also check out a recent post from one of the photographers I most admire in the business today, Vincent Laforet, formerly of the New York Times, and now recognized for his expertise in the HD DSLR video world: VINCENT | LAFORET.
Earlier this week, the weather was pretty darn hot – and the mornings were ridiculously foggy. I’ve always loved these stairwells on the back of the Ceres Street rowhouses, and the thick misty fog only added to the aura they bring to the streetscape. The brick walkways and leading lines are cool, and my favorite part might be the flower petals that have fallen from the hanging plant that are strewn around the watermark.
Come visit tomorrow for some shots I snapped from the 100 Club - where Catapult Seacoast held its latest event in the Business Speaker Series that featured the fascinating mind of thinker/painter/scientist/filmmaker Chase Bailey of Left Bank Films. Some beautiful shots await…
Today’s post features two views from the corner of Bow Street & Ceres Street. The shot above features the view towards Market Street with The Dolphin Striker off to the right with its blue canopy, and the NJM Gallery to the left with its painted red bricks & bright blue trim around its colorful windows. Below, the restaurant known as Two Ceres Street can be seen at the bottom of the staircase next to Izzy’s. Though I’ve yet to stop in for dinner or drinks, I’ve heard great things about both – and something about a special “green drink”.
Please come visit tomorrow for a very special post and a beautiful photo of a new scene.
The new brick sidewalks on Ceres Street are looking good (though I miss the old worn bricks), and the early morning light was something that I don’t often shoot in – so I was loving the different lighting and early shadows. Along with the sidewalks, the bricks of the building look great, and I’ve always wanted to live in one of the rowhouses with their cool staircases to the upper levels. I’m sure it gets a bit loud during the warmer months, but I’m pretty sure the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. It was also the first time I’d seen the Black Trumpet’s yellow door open during the day to reveal the cool gold staircase inside.
Today – another one of my favorite spots on Ceres Street, The Oar House. The Oar House has an awesome outdoor sign, an incredibly well located deck for the warmer months, and one of the most inviting and cozy interiors of any place in Portsmouth. I don’t get there for dinner too often, but the few times I’ve been to enjoy a glass of wine in the downstairs bar, I was lucky enough to hear Don Fancy on the piano. The exposed wooden beams on the ceiling throughout the interior add to the building’s charm.
My favorite part of this shot must be the downspout off to the right – I just loved how the copper is worn and discolored with all that character. The sidewalk in this shot is new, as the City invested some serious dollars this past spring to spruce up the Ceres Street infrastructure along with the new park at The Decks.
