Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

MANCHESTER, CT — The latest journey to a Hidden Gem in Connecticut takes us to the side of a recreation complex in Manchester and a work of art that honors a civil rights leader.

Manchester's new Martin Luther King mural takes up an entire wall of the Mahoney Recreation Center.

The town partnered on the project with CT Murals, a project started by the non-profit The RiseUP Group in 2015 to create public art that is "inclusive and accessible for all."

The artist is Ben Keller, a young professional painter/mural artist who launched his own business in 2018. He started painting at the age of 12.

Keller's vision for "Birthing of a Legacy" depicts MLK "as a man bringing light to darkness and represents a symbol for more equal and positive times ahead. While the work will always continue, this mural is a reminder that the light is shining on 2021."

____

The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Other columns in this series for 2021 include:

• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner

To register for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.