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Strawberry Park

Posted on June 10th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Community Feature, Downtown


The Strawberry Festival, an event orchestrated by Christ Church Cathedral on Monument Circle every year as a fundraiser for local, state and national charities, is one of those gatherings that seems to cut through all the ethno-political boundaries. One look at the mix of the crowd would tell you that. Nothing polarizing these people towards getting together other than to share a bowl of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream.

I talked with a couple people there who said this was one of the perks of working downtown. Walk over on their lunch break, have some strawberries, mingle, get some fresh air and people watch. The weather was perfect for all that today.

The way the Circle was mostly blocked off to auto traffic made me think about the announcement by the City recently of their thoughts about turning the area into a pedestrian park permanently. This event gives a partial glimpse of what that might look like. Changes like that don’t happen overnight. It might sound like a great idea, and maybe it is, but how would you feel if you had one of the businesses on or close to the Circle that counted on drive-up traffic. I have a feeling it will somehow evolve in that direction though. Just have to fine tune it and give people time to adjust.

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Gone Fishin

Posted on June 8th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Nature


I’m wondering is it just me or are others noticing more of these characters around than in years past? I realize this is the second time in recent weeks that I’ve commented about Blue Herons, but they keep crossing my path. This time by the water company canal near Butler University. One came flying in to perch nearby before I had my camera ready and positioned themself just offshore…standing there motionless as any good hunter would, waiting for their prey to make the mistake of swimming within reach of their long beak.

Then, a couple minutes later, one of his buddies swooped in too. But this time I was ready for them.

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Exploring

Posted on June 6th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Community Feature, Food for Thought


The path less traveled. As I’ve evolved with my foray into photography, I’ve come to realize the value of the meaning of those four words. Without any exception, every time I’ve expended the additional energy to try a method of encountering the terrain that’s more challenging, I’ve been rewarded by the outcome. A small example of this logic is this shot above, which is not so ironically a view of a path that leads around and behind the Eiteljorge Museum.

If you just park your car in the underground garage and used the normal entrance to come and go, you’d miss this path that leads through some wonderful garden areas with absolutely beautiful plantings and landscaping…meandering and eventually leading to the downtown Canal areas behind. I park the car like everyone,  but have learned the value of exploring. Discovering places you never knew existed and growing as a person.

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Grilling Saga

Posted on June 4th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Cuisine & Restaurants, Just for Fun


As a long-time user and current owner of a Weber grill, I was more than interested in it’s namesake restaurant when it opened here a few years ago. I bought my first Weber about 35 years ago, and finally, after years of faithful service, rolled it out to the street on trash day last year. Sadly it had been on it’s last legs for the last 2 years…but I couldn’t part with ‘Ol Blackie. It had helped me prepare thousands of meals over the years and was like part of the family. But it was finally time.

My neighbor had a Weber that was 7-8 years old that they literally never used. It was an exact clone of mine in design. They kept it stored inside the garage and it still looked like it had just come new out of the box. Having witnessed the final demise of Blackie, they gave theirs to me, knowing that it would be well-utilized and cared for. So…Blackie lives on, in spirit. The universe is still in alignment.

I’ve heard good reviews about the Weber Grill restaurant. But I smile every time I go by there. I’m thinking…it seems like it’s totally backwards to go inside to eat something grilled. Isn’t that the whole point of having a grill?…cooking outside…on your own. It’s the connection with our ancestors, our heritage, who for hundreds of years, while this country of ours was being shaped, cooked over an open campfire. Grilling outside…one of the last bastions of true Americana.

My favorite thing from the grill? I can’t decide between these two. Grilled Salmon fillets…and grilled Quesadillas.

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Trellis Mandala

Posted on June 3rd, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Architecture & Design, Nature


Just a photo I liked. Taken in the gardens south of Oldfields Lilly House, Indianapolis Museum of Art. I was drawn to the symmetrical design that the trellis made. To me it was like a simple mandala. While gazing at it there, the scent from the flowering plants made the experience even more delightful.

There’s an infinite number of other things to gaze upon and enjoy at IMA…another discovery around every corner. An amazing place.

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Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 30th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Holidays


Over the last week or so, there’s been several people I’ve encountered, just being friendly, who have inquired, “Got any big plans for Memorial Day Weekend”?  To which I smile and reply something like, “Nope…just going to relax…stay at home”. And even though that’s partly the truth it’s not exactly how I know it will turn out. There are a number of little projects around the house that I’ve decide to take on that need completing. I won’t go into details on that. Everyone has a To-Do List of those types of things. Chores are mixed with spending time with family, playing with my guitars, preparing for outdoor barbecues and puttering in the garden. Yes, for a few days, I get to feel like a civilian. Off duty. Since I don’t have a 9 to 5, five-day-a-week job, the three day holiday doesn’t have the impact on my schedule it might have for some. But the phone has only rang 3 or 4 times so far this weekend on “official business”. When you have been a Realtor for as long as I have though, you learn to switch it on when needed, and then switch it off instantly afterwards. I always take care of what has to be done, holiday or not.

Memorial Day itself gives pause to think about those that have given the ultimate sacrifice so that all the rest of us can have relaxing weekends like this. I do think about them, and the spirit of the day also has grown to include thinking about friends and family that are no longer around. To me Memorial Day has become a day to spend a few minutes to honor fallen comrades and cherished memories…and enjoy the present with life’s simple pleasures.

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Carb Day Events

Posted on May 28th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Community Feature


Crews from various driving teams competed to see which one can service their car the fastest in the Pit Crew Challenge, just one of several events today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Carb Day. These crews are so good that I barely had time to point my camera before they were done…with the car smoking it’s tires as the crew finishes.

I had late morning appointments so I arrived at the track after the Firestone Freedom 100 was over and just in time to see the finish of the pit crew competition. However the main attraction, at least for me, was to see ZZ Top whom I had never seen live before. It wasn’t the best venue, but where could you possibly see them for just a gate admission of $10? There were LOTS of people already waiting for them to begin, but it was amazing how close to the stage I got with a polite “Excuse me please. Thank you”. I thought Billy, Dusty and Frank sounded great. Those boys can Rock n’Roll! I was wondering how many times they have played some of those same songs over the 40+ years they have been together. Looked like they are still enjoying it.