First stop on this month’s tour is COFFEE BY DESIGN (67 India St.), where echoes of fireworks linger in Caitlin O’Neil’s fantasy world rendered in watercolor and acrylic. Next we head up to Congress Street and into EMBER GROVE (247 Congress St.). Here the annual sale is underway, meaning the shop’s signature functional art is extra affordable.
Just up the street, we stroll into NORTH STAR MUSIC CAFE (225 Congress St.) and enjoy Mark Mass’ photographs of national parks. Now we’re going to climb the Hill. (And we’re not even going to think about taking a car, because the East End goes into lock-down mode around this time and only walkers and bikers are allowed to pass.)
About half way up, we stop at HOMEGROWN HERB & TEA (é Congress St.), where Adam Chau and Allan West show drawings and paintings made outside the comforts of a studio. Our final stop is at the ST. LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER (76 Congress St.) to check out Sam Cousins’ photographs, many of them depicting the recent demolition of the old church’s sanctuary.
With the roar of the crowd and the smell of fried dough filling the street, we just follow our senses to the Prom where the party is popping. Here we’ll grab a piece of grass before the fireworks begin at dusk.
— Avery Yale Kamila