Take a tiger by the tail

Nassau Hall: More Princeton wildlife, of the bronze variety. 

Come out of your shell

A snapping turtle explores College Road. This one ran off (surprisingly fast) after I took its photo. I'm told females lay eggs in summer - look forward to baby turtles!

A weekend to remember

The redcoats are coming, Princeton Battlefield. Princeton marks the long Memorial Day weekend by remembering the 1777 Battle of Princeton, from the Revolutionary War. These British troops were part of a historic reenactment.

Life on a spring day

"I think of Princeton as being lazy and good-looking and aristocratic—you know, like a spring day."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise
(Actually, it's been Princeton University's exam week, so students couldn't be *complete* layabouts!)

How to end the day

Princeton is so coffee-centric, I must be the last tea drinker in town. Even my British partner-in-crime, Mr. L, drinks coffee, not tea. (A Brit not drinking tea? Go figure!)

Scene from evening walk

Caught in evening lights, a lone dancer rests between rehearsals at a local cultural center. 

Standard Grill

The old-timey Standard Grill restaurant in New York City. Princeton is considered a "bedroom community" (suburb) of the greater New York metro area, and Princetonians often must commute to the city for work, or visit to see major plays, concerts, etc...
(Alas, I only have this Instagram shot).

To thine own self be true

Polonius' advice to his son from Hamlet. An overcast afternoon, near Springdale Road.

Chasing the sun

A sunny moment (hooray!) amidst recent rains, Stokes Library.

Grey grey grey

Near the Dean's Garden: A grey, grey, grey day. On the bright side, rain has helped green things grow. 

Art in progress

An artist hard at work on a mural at the Witherspoon Street bakery. She was toiling under a noon glare, but  took time to wave cheerily at onlookers.
(Fun stuff: Witherspoon Street was named after John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Princeton University president, ancestor of actress Reese Witherspoon :).

Something old, something new

The old-world, gothic lines of University Chapel set off a modern sculpture, Song of the Vowels.
(The Chapel is a popular place for Princeton alumni to marry. But only students, alumni, current faculty and staff, or children of any of the above, can marry there. Oh Ivy towers.) 

Happy surprise

A burst of pale flowers late in spring is unexpected and welcome.

Hunter

Not sure what this bird is called (possibly a juvenile Cooper's hawk?). Catching sight of these hunting birds is a great reminder of the natural world.
(Many apologies, my humble pocket camera couldn't get a clearer shot across the field!)

Even small towns need a scandal

Upstart II, Engineering Quad. True to its name, this sculpture caused a scandal from Day 1: female students expressed their reservations and the town board fought against its placement.

Lingering light

After months of leaving work in darkness, it's nice to see light at the end of the day.

Brief interlude

Classes are over! Exuberant students spill out of Princeton eating clubs, enjoying a brief interlude between classes and exams.

Postcard from England: Castle ruins

Romantic ruins of Kenilworth Castle. The castle walls have witnessed everything from a 1279 round table of one hundred knights (and their ladies) to lavish entertainment for Elizabeth I.

Postcard from England: Abbey Fields

Something different this coming week (thanks to a UK visit)! Soft light breaks over Abbey Fields in Kenilworth, a small town in the heart of England. You'll find pools & remains of an abbey founded in 1119.

(I'm posting these in "real postcard time," to match the arrival of real postcards snail-mailed from England.)

All dressed up

And somewhere to go, surely. This Princeton tiger prowls a local street fair in cat-tastic style.

Avenue of trees

Plane trees line Battle Road, so called for the nearby Revolutionary War battlefield where George Washington defeated British troops in 1777 (shortly after he crossed the Delaware).

A place to reflect

The Institute for Advanced Study pond is a peaceful place for scholars and others to stroll and think. Albert Einstein was part of the Institute faculty until his death in 1955.