Back Street Hues

Too often, alleys are thought of as dark and forbidding back streets, stifled by odor. But, really, they’re just passageways, and the alleys of Melrose Avenue lead to a place that pulsates more from vibrant color than from shopping droves.

Just look. Down these alleys are sights out of time and sites out of place. Exposed pipes scream orange against the industrial gray of a forbidden parking place. A lone lock secures a latch among a riot of hues. One home’s back door projects the seaside serenity of a Cape Cod cottage.

It’s the second face of Melrose, but in typical Melrose style--offering art where the Dumpsters should be.