Real Life TMNT Related locations in Northampton, MA

funatic · 10-15-2016, 11:57 AM

Just saw this - hope you havn't visited yet as I've lived in Northampton for 6 years and can give you a few more:

Mirage Studios
16 Market St
Not sure if this is the exact address. It's a big red brick building and last I checked had a teeny turtle-head Mirage logo on the ground level door. This is the last building to serve as Mirage Studios and I believe they still own the space for storage of comics/memorabilia and a couple former Mirage artists may still rent studio space there. They unfortunately don't offer regular tours (though maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask Dan Berger at [email protected]). I've gone in the lobby a few times to pick up art from Dan or Katie. They had a few posters on the wall and a set of the statues but that was many years ago.

Intersection of Main & King
Stand at the corner in front of Silverscape Designs (or if you're ballsy enough find a way to climb onto its roof!) for a similar perspective to the splash page panel from #11 when the turtles arrive in Noho http://www.miragelicensing.com/comic...01/11/1102.gif

The Bluebonnet Diner
324 King St
Go a mile or two down King Street from The Hotel Northampton and you'll find the diner where April worked in #14!

Second Time Around
34 Pleasant St
This is actually a chain consignment store that popped up a few years ago, NOT the original inspiration for April's antique shop - but hey, it's got the name and it's in Northampton, so, worth the mention. There's actually an old antique shop across the street from Mirage Studios on Market too that could have been the literal inspiration?

Turtle(ish) Mural
allyway on ~21 Pleasant St
Somewhat across the street from Second Time Around there's an ally between a boba tea and music shop that has some very abstract homages to the turtles, rather than attempt to describe them I'll let you be surprised. There used to be a Fred Wolf style depiction on a wall in the Thornes Marketplace but sadly they painted over that a few years back.

Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge
off Damon Rd, next to where Rt 9 crosses the Connecticut River
About 5 min out of town, I believe this bikepath bridge was featured in #28 "Sons of the Silent Age," where the turtles did some reflection (metaphorical and literal)

The Quabbin Resevoir
485 Ware Rd
Belchertown, MA 01007
About a 30 min drive from Northampton, the Quabbin was featured as a campsite for the turtles in Tales v2 #45 "Rocks" [http://www.miragelicensing.com/comic...l2/45/45.html]

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting (i.e. I think there's an Ice Cream place somewhere that has a big cow on top which could have been further inspiration for #14 but can't remoomber where it is anymore). Not sure on the farmhouse. Anyway, that's a decent list to go from. Make sure to check out the local Comic Shops in Northampton (Modern Myths & Newbury Comics) & Easthampton (Comics N' More) while you're here! Have a happy time in the Happy Valley!

10-15-2016, 11:57 AM	#2
funatic Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 1,226	Just saw this - hope you havn't visited yet as I've lived in Northampton for 6 years and can give you a few more: Mirage Studios 16 Market St Not sure if this is the exact address. It's a big red brick building and last I checked had a teeny turtle-head Mirage logo on the ground level door. This is the last building to serve as Mirage Studios and I believe they still own the space for storage of comics/memorabilia and a couple former Mirage artists may still rent studio space there. They unfortunately don't offer regular tours (though maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask Dan Berger at [email protected]). I've gone in the lobby a few times to pick up art from Dan or Katie. They had a few posters on the wall and a set of the statues but that was many years ago. Intersection of Main & King Stand at the corner in front of Silverscape Designs (or if you're ballsy enough find a way to climb onto its roof!) for a similar perspective to the splash page panel from #11 when the turtles arrive in Noho http://www.miragelicensing.com/comic...01/11/1102.gif The Bluebonnet Diner 324 King St Go a mile or two down King Street from The Hotel Northampton and you'll find the diner where April worked in #14! Second Time Around 34 Pleasant St This is actually a chain consignment store that popped up a few years ago, NOT the original inspiration for April's antique shop - but hey, it's got the name and it's in Northampton, so, worth the mention. There's actually an old antique shop across the street from Mirage Studios on Market too that could have been the literal inspiration? Turtle(ish) Mural allyway on ~21 Pleasant St Somewhat across the street from Second Time Around there's an ally between a boba tea and music shop that has some very abstract homages to the turtles, rather than attempt to describe them I'll let you be surprised. There used to be a Fred Wolf style depiction on a wall in the Thornes Marketplace but sadly they painted over that a few years back. Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge off Damon Rd, next to where Rt 9 crosses the Connecticut River About 5 min out of town, I believe this bikepath bridge was featured in #28 "Sons of the Silent Age," where the turtles did some reflection (metaphorical and literal) The Quabbin Resevoir 485 Ware Rd Belchertown, MA 01007 About a 30 min drive from Northampton, the Quabbin was featured as a campsite for the turtles in Tales v2 #45 "Rocks" [http://www.miragelicensing.com/comic...l2/45/45.html] I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting (i.e. I think there's an Ice Cream place somewhere that has a big cow on top which could have been further inspiration for #14 but can't remoomber where it is anymore). Not sure on the farmhouse. Anyway, that's a decent list to go from. Make sure to check out the local Comic Shops in Northampton (Modern Myths & Newbury Comics) & Easthampton (Comics N' More) while you're here! Have a happy time in the Happy Valley!