Springfield Massachusetts and Sam Hartshorne
I wanted to honor my son Sam Hartshorne’s 40th birthday, but he had to work at the diner. He’s been the main cook at the Whately Diner for many years and he wanted to celebrate. My solution yesterday brought us to the City of Homes, Springfield Mass, where we did just about everything fun you can do in that embattled little city with a high crime rate. But we sure had fun doing a whole bunch of cool things and enjoying some delicious Turkish food.
Our morning began at La Fiorentina, the ageless and very Italian cafe and pastry shop in the South End. We sat at a two-top bar table next to four regulars, each wearing hats and talking softly in Italian. Cappuccinos all around, and time to contemplate our day’s itinerary.
The Springfield Museums complex has a series of rooms that we began with the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and then we cruised through the natural history and giant plaster sculpture rooms.
It was fun taking our time and just browsing the various exhibits, there is so much to take in so you kind of float. A good feeling, reminded me of when I am on one of my trips and we inevitably have to take a tour or visit an art exhibit, all in the name of the story.
We spent a little time with the Dr. Seuss sculptures and then upstairs in the house that has the play areas. Theodor Geisel was a fascinating man, and today his foundation still brings in $30 million for book sales that they donate to charities.
We missed the planetarium show but soon it was time to find the city’s only Turkish restaurant. It’s called Saray 2, and it’s on Allen Street. I felt very welcomed by the hostess, and the food was impressive, lamb and chicken kabobs on rice with a bright colored salad. And tea in these little glass cups.
After chicken kofte and Adana lamb we had Turkish coffee, with mud at the bottom.
Next up was a very important historic place that I’d never seen in person…the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. It’s a fantastic collection of firearms…of every describable size and type.
It was once a giant factory producing weapons for American soldiers at war. Today it’s just the guns locked behind cases. I took a video of the machine gun case. Wow.
We had another highlight and that was the Basketball Hall of Fame. We took a ride and took in the lobby and some of the little shrines to each player. Not really compelled to go inside but we got the gyst.
There is a walking and bike path somewhere here, accessible by a bridge. But we were not able to find the place to park to take that hike, so maybe another time, next year!
We topped off the day by a visit to my favorite furniture store to look at some bedroom furniture. I’m moving out the old set of ratty boxes for a nice new wooden dresser.
A great birthday with Sam Hartshorne and I’m glad I discovered so many cool things do in Springfield MA with him.