An events-packed Saturday on the Old Northside of Indy

A week ago Saturday (June 11), I spent the day in the Old Northside neighborhood of Indianapolis, photographing a series of events occurring simultaneously.

I started at the President Benjamin Harrison House, where they were holding the annual Wicket World of Croquet Tournament. Participants were dressed in all-whites, and competition was held throughout the day. A jazz-pops combo, which included noted Indiana jazz photographer Duncan Schiedt on keyboards (pictured in top of post), performed on the House's porch, providing music throughout the day. The tournament had an Alice in Wonderland theme, and several volunteers spent the day dressed up in what had to be uncomfortable costumes on a very warm, humid day, portraying characters from the timeless animated motion picture classic.

Next I stopped at the Propylaeum two blocks north on Delaware Street, where they were sponsoring a two-day Beer Garden in the Yard -- dinners of salmon, chicken or sausages along with beverages, a live acoustic duo and some fashion and craft jewelry for sale.

A block up the street from there, the annual Independent Music & Art Festival unfolded from noon to 8 p.m. I finally made it there about mid-afternoon and caught a few numbers by Indianapolis hip-hop performer TJ Reynolds and his collaborators.

My last stop was yet another block north, where the popular annual Talbot Street Art Fair was taking place. All in all, a lot of activity in a very compact area in Indianapolis.

Above and next two below: The annual Wicket World of Croquet Tournament unfolded on the grounds of the President Benjamin Harrison House.  

Above: As the players competed, a jazz combo provided musical ambiance from the front porch of the Harrison House. One of the performers was noted Indiana jazz photographer Duncan Schiedt, who played keyboards ... and whose image is reflected in the tuba.

 

Above: Schiedt was born on the East Coast in 1921 and lived there until moving to Indiana in 1951. More than a photographer and musician, he so loved Indiana jazz that he authored a book about its history, "The Jazz State of Indiana." The Indianapolis Museum of Art had a gallery of his jazz photography on exhibit for several months in 2001.
 

Above:  This year's Wicket World of Croquet had an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. These volunteers dressed up in the classic tale's characters (from left) the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, Alice and the Queen of Diamonds.

Above: Two other volunteers, also in character, played the roles of President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison.

 

Above: I enjoy photographing someone else taking pictures of others. In this instance, I was intrigued by how the women seemed to be enjoying themselves ... but the guy?

 

Above: An apparent false alarm in the apartment complex north of the Harrison House brought out a full complement of firetrucks.

 

Above and below: At the Propylaeum, these salmon fillets and sausages were part of the grill offerings Saturday for those who chose to have lunch on the grounds during the Propylaeum's Beer Garden in the Yard.

Above: In addition to grilled food, the Propylaeum's menu included a choice of brew and these wines. 

Above and below: The Propylaeum's grounds also featured a bazaar, where fashions and crafted jewelry were for sale.

 

Above: Providing music for Beer Garden in the Yard were this duo. I was impressed after they played the one and only countrified arrangement of Michael Jackson's monster hit "Billie Jean" that I've ever heard.

 

Above and below: Just a block north of the Propylaeum on Delaware Street, Indy hip-hop performer TJ Reynolds and his collaborators (that's Joseph Lehner on drums below) performed as part of the annual Independent Art & Music Festival. The IAMF had a daylong bill of local talent, performing from noon to 8 p.m.

 

Above: And just north of the IAMF was the popular Talbot Street Art Fair, where these people were walking past vendors set up along East 16th Street.

 

Above: These colorful storefront decorations were along 16th Street, east of Delaware Street.

Hendricks County visit, Part V

In this final post, I include photos I captured June 3 during the remainder of my mini-tour/recon mission in Hendricks County, Ind. The images include stops in rural portions, as well as in Brownsburg, Danville and Plainfield.

The Mayberry Cafe in Danville (above), on the north quadrant of the courthouse square, has gained some renown for its decor that attempts to reflect that in the fictional town of Mayberry from the 1960s television sitcom "The Andy Griffith Show." For years, a sheriff's car would be parked in front of the eatery; there was none there the day I visited.

The inaugural Race2Race Relay will be held in Hendricks County on June 25, starting in McCloud Nature Park, winding east and southeast and passing through Danville, Avon, Brownsburg and Plainfield before ending in Sodalis Nature Park.

Above and next three below, all from the courthouse square in the heart of downtown Danville: 1) From the south quadrant, a law office; 2) From the east quadrant, the Royal Theater; 3) From the south quadrant, Frank's Place storefront; and 4) One side of the Hendricks County Courthouse from the outside.

 

Above: The very contemporary looking facade of the athletics section of Brownsburg High School.

Above and next two below: Images and a detail shot from the Veterans Memorial Park and Gardens in the northeast corner of Williams Park in Brownsburg.

Above and next three below: Images from the three, interconnected gazebos in the roundabout near the main entrance to Williams Park, Brownsburg.

Above: A contributory to White Lick Creek as it nears the junction of County Road 600 East and Gila Bend Road north of Avon. A year ago this month, after heavy repeated downpours, this creek and White Lick Creek just to east flooded, pouring over onto 600 East, and county officials had to close that highway (and other highways in the county) until water levels subsided.

 

Above and below: Exterior shots of the expansive Splash Island aquatic center complex in Plainfield. 

Above and below: Perspective and detail shots of the enormous, four-beam visitor welcoming sculpture spanning the U.S. 40 bridge over White Lick Creek in Plainfield.

Above: White Lick Creek, looking south from the bridge under the welcoming sculpture.

Hendricks County visit, Part IV

The June 25 Park2Park Relay in Hendricks County, Ind. -- which boasts the growing communities of Plainfield, Brownsburg and Avon -- will cover 60 miles, starting in the northwest corner of the county and ending in the southeast corner, and yet the teams of runners will run through the heart of downtown of only one community in the county -- tiny North Salem, in the early part of the race.

North Salem is northeast of McCloud Nature Park, the start point of the inaugural race, which will pit teams of six people -- each taking turns running 3- to 4-mile segments -- in a novel competition to see who gets to the finish line first. Highway 236 is Main Street in North Salem, whose downtown welcomes visitors with colorful red and blue banners on light poles along the curbs. The merchants district on the main thoroughfare includes a town hall, antiques and thrift shops, a post office, a Marathon gas station and the Red Dog Steakhouse and Saloon (above), whose bright red awnings make it stand out.

Just east of the town is Fairview Cemetery, where I also stopped to capture images when I saw Old Glory standing imposingly in the middle of the grounds. I instinctively thought to use it for the subject of several shots, but I couldn't help but find other angles to pursue -- including the town water tower, which can be seen not only from the cemetery, but from downtown. The most poignant, however, was of the gravestone of infant daughter of R.F. and E.C. Hicks, which I came across on my stroll out. To the right of hers were those of her parents, father Robert immediately next to hers, then that of mother Ella. 

These images are from North Salem.