Date Of Visit: January 12, 2019
Location: Dean Ave (off Elm St), Manchester, NH (about 20 minutes south of Concord, NH and 1 hour northwest of Boston MA)
Hours: Accessible 24 hours a day
Cost: Free
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Parking: There is plentiful parking on Elm St. Just don’t forget to feed the meter.
Summary: Images of cats painted on the walls of an alley in Manchester, NH.
Highlights: graffiti, family friendly, historical
Tips:
- cat alley is located on Dean Avenue between The Bookery, (844 Elm St) and Lala’s Hungarian Pastry (836 Elm St)
- parking meter timers are enforced strictly
- The street sign for Dean Avenue can be found on the shingle of LaLa’s Pastry Shop
New Hampshire is known for being a dog friendly state. It turns out it’s also cat friendly.
The artists involved in this artistic display include Peg Lipin, Bill Earnshaw, Brian Lapree, Noonan, Cindy O’Rourke, Del Christensen, Aimee Cozza, 11-year-old Kaitlin Gould, Brianna Gould, Caroline Chavette, Emily Drouin, Alex Mathieu and Anita Huddlestun.
Painted in 2009, Cat Alley has an assortment of cats in different poses and situations and professions. Paintings of cat burglars, copy cat editors and cat barbers line the walls of the alley. I never knew cats were such barbers. Whenever I go anywhere near my cat with a of scissors, she freaks out. They’re also pretty good in the kitchen too. Maybe they should open a deli-cat-essen.
The alley is a little hard to find. But, if you set your GPS to 844 or 836 Elm St you will be able to see it. Unless you get there early, you may have to park some distance from the alley. But, once you see the sign for Dean Avenue that can be found on the shingle of LaLa’s Pastry Shop you will know you’re there.
A plaque at the end of the alley gives a historical background about the alley.
If you want to ride your bicycle to Cat Alley, you’ll be pleased to find these cat shaped structures to lock your bicycle.
Someone took an interest in my photography. So, of course, I photographed him as well. He did approach me and when he noticed what I was photographing we both went on our separate ways amicably. Just something you may want to keep in mind if you do go for a visit.
Below are a few similar places I have visited and blogged about on my New England Nomad blog. Please check them out and follow me at https://www.facebook.com/newenglandnomad/
Legal Graffiti Wall (Beverly, MA)
Nearby Attractions:
Hidden New England 