Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

HARTFORD, CT — So ... we all know where the Bushnell Performing Arts Center is, right? You kind of just have to find the Connecticut State Capitol and look across the street. But hidden in that landmark cultural and entertainment center is a real gem — the wall in the former green room.

That's where the headline entertainers — from just about all musical genres — either warmed up or unwound on the days they performed.

The wall was mostly hidden from sight, but Manchester-based photographer Tim Becker, after being commissioned to embark on what he termed, a "multilevel Google virtual tour, and still image gallery" of the iconic center out of his Creative Images Photography studio, gave us a sneak peek at the wall.

See the wall in the featured photo.

The most noticeable signature is probably that of R&B singing legend Pearl Bailey, located in the center botom third. Off to the left are both Broadway matriarch Helen Hayes and the chart-topping folk group The Kingston Trio. About four signatures above Bailey is Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer Joan Baez.

See Becker's complete tour of The Bushnell here.

(Tim Becker | Creative Images Photography)

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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. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• The Packing House
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant