Wishing You All the Best Lights of the Holidays

Dancing in the corner of my eye, 

the lights on the Christmas tree in the IPALCO

headquarters always delights.

There is an installation of etched and cut

glass that catches the brilliant colors,

breaking breaking the dots into even more bits,

holding them in abstract shapes that makes

me think Pointillism has met Futurism.

Since the day after Thanksgiving

holiday lights have illuminated the Circle.

The downtown area has been crowded with people,

all of then caught up in the twinkling charm

of the lights, suspended like bubbles of

champagne in the night air.

A Seasonal Kaleidescope

On my way to Saturday morning swim practice,

I had time to talka walk around Monument Circle to see

the Christmas decorations. My favorite lights

are on the Christmas "tree" in the Indianapolis Power & Light

lobby. The lights are multiple sizes, creating a visual

treat that does not become boring to look at.

There is a cut glass window installation that comes

alive only during this holiday season, reflecting the colored

lights in its star-like shapes.

A New Angle

After swim practice Monday morning,

I went downtown for lunch. I decided to have 

a little pizza instead of my favorite turkey burger. 

The change meant a little detour, 

away from my usual rat trail. I headed

into the southeast section of downtown Indy

where I walked along the short block

called Pearl Street. I looked up to see the restored

buildings along Washington Street, now full

of restaurants, art galleries, and a barber shop.

In the background, Victory pokes up 

from atop her perch on Monument Circle, while other 

buildings, all built within the past thirty years,

stand in stark blahness compared

to the older beauties in the foreground.

Bigger is definitely not better.

And my pizza? Meh. 

At least it had a nice thin, crispy crust

and plenty of cheese. I found another

 pizza place afterward on Pearl Street.

I'll have to try it next time.

Curiousity: Theme Day Missed, But It was Worth It

A public library is the most enduring of memorials, 

the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event 

or a name or an affection; for it, and it only, 

is respected by wars and revolutions, 

and survives them.  -- Mark Twain 

 I had intended to have a post for Theme Day. 

There aren't many "curiousities/ oddities" in Indy 

that don't verge on the downright scary.

What I had planned was pretty standard fare, 

but I missed it due to an odd conjunction

of circumstances not worth repeating.

Instead, I hied myself to Monument Circle

on Tuesday, September 2nd to take pictures

of Monument, one of six installations

comprising The Public Collection.

Developed to promote public art and literacy,

I found a wide range of books

provided by the Marion County Public Library,

titles that could entice just about anyone to

borrow something to read.

I found one for myself, a bit of historical

fiction that allows me to indulge

some life-long romantic fantasies. 

The SPARK Project continues on the Circle,

allowing visitors to mix and mingle among little

seating areas to play chess or checkers,

to stack giant Legos, play Foosball or ping-pong.

The temperatures were in the sun-baked

and humid ninetys so many folks, instead, 

seemed to prefer to sit in the shade with a bowl

of ice cream. 

But the serene and quiet activity at Monument 

and SPARK screened the main event of the lunch-time

schedule, a gathering of NHRA drivers and

displays of their Top Fuel and Funny Car dragsters.

They are in town for the annual NHRA Nationals

held each Labor Day weekend since 1955 

at Lucas Oil Raceway, just a few miles west

of Indianapolis.

I don't care for drag racing - it's just

not my thing, nor do I like Corvettes, but I 

do like the Camaro shown above.

Of course, I'd like it; priced at over $150,000

it was a beautiful expression of technologies

and mechanics wrapped in a sleek yellow and black

aerodynamic skin. If given enough money

to buy the damn thing, would I pay my bills or

have this low-flying road sculpture?

The Chevy Funny Car shown above belongs to 

NHRA Champion driver, John Force,

Shown below at the Fan Fest Autograph session 

with his daughters Ashley and Courtney,

themselves champion drivers who 

often beat their dad. He's taught them well.

While sitting in my own spot of shade with a dish of ice cream, 

I happened to notice a young man sitting at a picnic table. 

For whatever reason, I recognized him right away. 

He was Graham Rahal, Indy Car driver, son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, and fiance of Courtney Force.

He was waiting for her to complete a radio interview promoting this weekend's drag racing. Between the book kiosk, 

the cars and their drivers, and the displays at SPARK, 

seeing him made my day, topping both my curiosities and 

my interests with a little cherry.

Late Afternoon Sun

Amid all the gray yesterday afternoon,

 I was nearly blinded by the sun's reflection 

off a nearby building. The clouds were filled 

with snow, so I must've gotten the last few 

of the rays allotted for the day.

Drizzly Night

This may easily be one of the more F'd up pictures

 I've ever taken, but I don't care. I like it.

What started out to be an image of four cyclists, 

possibly delivery men for a couple 

of the nearby restaurants, became a layered 

image showing the intersection 

of three separate stories, not one.

From the inside, there's me reflected in

the Starbucks' window, the tan and green plaid

of my jacket showing faintly at the corner.

Then there's the shopper passing through

the scene, a shallow blur of anonymity, 

while the four men chat among themselves 

near the bicycle stand.

A Weekend of Classics

The Circle City Classic weekend, 

held the first weekend in October, is an event 

that's grown exponentially since its 

inauguration in 1983.

At its core is a football game between teams

from traditionally black colleges, with a band contest

between the schools' bands during the half-time.

From these events add on the CCC Parade

and a schedule that includes a plethora of pageants, 

clinics, concerts, luncheons and breakfasts.

These pictures are from the Circle City Classic 

Pep Rally, featuring the marching bands 

of the Central Kentucky University Thoroughbreds 

from Frankfort, Kentucky, and the 

Central State University Invincible Marauders

from Wilberforce, Ohio. I was doing a volunteer stint

at the Circle Theatre Friday night, so got to see the

Marauders. They performed a version of the

Star-Spangled Banner that was warm and mellow,

free of the histrionics that can be a part of

our national anthem.   

Of course, there was the usual contingent 

of drum majors, cheer squads, flag bearers, and 

dancing girls, like the pretty Tiara shown above.

Children, sitting on the curbs or held by their parents,

were enthralled by the sound of the brass 

and drums (as were their parents).

Just about every day, Indianapolis news is often 

dominated by the tragedy of another shooting, 

another young person, usually an African American male, 

dying at the hands of another. It happens so often

we tend to forget that the majority of people are working

hard to put their kids through school so they can 

become educated and productive citizens of the world.

These kids -- the musicians, the dancers, the flag

bearers, the steppers and line dancers

are representative of their parents' and neighbors'

efforts put the lie to the image we see too often.

Misty Morning

Saturday morning, while waiting for a bus, 

I took a walk around Monument Circle.

Other than Starbucks, none of the little

 restaurants was open, with outdoor seating 

stacked in piles and chained 

against theft. The brushed metal texture

of the tables played a well-regulated contrast with 

the splotchy raindrops collected on the tops.

All the Fixin's!

Thursday saw the 49th Annual 

Christ Church Cathedral Women's Strawberry Festival. 

Held annually on Monument Circle, people line up early

for the treat and sit in the shadows of the Monument

and the Cathedral to enjoy strawberry shortcake with

ice cream as live music plays in the background.

People of all ages stand in line for some of the 

18,000 home made shortcakes and fixin's,

lovingly made and stored by members of the church 

in the months leading up to the Festival.

The Festival served an estimated six tons 

of strawberries to go with the cakes, as well as 

vanilla ice cream and whipped topping.

Ninety-five per cent of the proceeds from the Festival

will go directly to local, national, and international

outreach groups.

1,001

Not many days ago, the IPALCO building was lit in the shape 

of a pink heart to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

Now, in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, the building's 

windows show green. I've gotten to enjoy being downtown

during the early morning hours to see the city prepare 

for another day. Below, an insurance company on the northwest

quadrant of the Circle is already lit for work, and

already working if the numbers of lights in office windows

are any indication.

Shoot, this marks post number 1,001 for

Speedway Daily Photo. My camera was already 

on its way to becoming my constant companion 

when I started this blog. Now, leaving it behind when

I leave home is the decision I face, rather than 

whether to take it along.

Finding Myself(ie)

On a sunny afternoon last week, I walked around the Circle 

to enjoy the, for once, reasonable temperatures 

and bright colors. I always like to look at the displays 

of frames at Ossip Optometry and try to find ways to

get a picture of the array of styles offered.

This time, I noticed the inverted/converted 

reflections of the monument in the lenses and 

the glass display shelves.

Long gone are the days when "four eyes" meant

one resigned one's self to glasses that were

about as attractive as the orthopedic shoes

I wore as a child -- brown or black with thick soles. 

Now, if I could only get shoemakers to create 

stylish and pretty pumps for my short, wide feet.

And my "selfie"? I'm that black blob 

at the bottom in the yellow frames.

Night Circle

After working my stint at the IHSAA Boys' Swimming 

and Diving Championships, I went to Starbucks 

to pass the time waiting for the bus 

over a chai latte. I really enjoy looking at the

tiny lights wrapped around the trees. They almost seem

to make a repeat design as they arc around

the Circle, offset by the twinkling mosaic of the

office lights in the center building.

Downtown Saturday @ 7 A.M.

It was all love Saturday morning as I waited downtown 

for the bus that would take me to swim practice 

on the far east side of town. The sun was rising in 

a clear blue sky, the air seemed clean and fresh,

and traffic was sparse. I had a few extra minutes so

I walked over to the Circle, where the lighted trees

curved around a giant heart on the side of 

the Indianapolis Power & Light building.

Mission Accomplished

Last Saturday, I noticed a couple men removing 

the little squadron of fiberglass toy soldiers 

from their posts on Monument Circle.

As a truck pulling the troop's transport slowly drove around 

the monument, a sling was put under each soldier's arms, 

then he was lifted from his post on to the trailer.

Finally, they were carted away to home base, 

to be stored until just before Thanksgiving, 

when they will again be assigned special duty, 

bringing joy to visitors on the Circle 

during the Christmas season.

Because I Can ...

...So I do, which means it's probably too easy and that I should look 

for more of a challenge, but I really enjoy the way 

the lights on the IPL Christmas tree are reflected by the cut 

and etched glass installation in their window.

I don't think I'll ever pass on an opportunity to find 

some new angle to look at the myriad lights on this display.

In and of itself, I don't find the art glass to be very interesting,

but sometimes the weather gives it a different look,

and it's obvious that the multi-colored lights take on another

aspect when viewed amid and through the cut glass.

Circle Lights

Between buses, I decided to wait for my ride home 

by walking around Monument Circle to see the lights.

It does not get old, nor does it disappoint.

There is something about the twinkling colors that adds

a happy edge to the winter evening, making the most

routine of tasks seem special.

The carriage horse have been dressed for the season,

with little felt headdresses or hats, their hooves

painted with gold glitter. Not only do the lights

on the carriages make them more visible to motorists,

but the horses seem to be pulling their

own light show.

Art in Indy: Childe Hassam

A storm front went through the Indianapolis area Sunday, 

bringing heavy rain and severe wind gusts. 

This photo was taken around 4 p.m. from a reception room window 

overlooking Monument Circle on the second floor of the Circle Theatre. 

The giant candy cane and toy soldier in the background 

are a part of the holiday decor on the Circle.  

The rainy scene reminded me of the city scapes by American Expressionist 

painter, Childe Hassam (1859-1935). The scene shown above,

Rainy Day on Fifth Avenue, was painted in 1893 and is among the

most familiar of Hassam's paintings portraying daily life 

in New York City. 

There were two concerts Sunday afternoon. The first was another performance 

by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra of the Ravel and Debussy works

scheduled for the weekend, while the New World Youth Orchestra, 

made up from talented middle and high school musicians

played a late afternoon concert. Among the pieces they performed 

was the Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra 

by Robert Schumann. The pianist for the occasion was

Jeeyoon Kim, a native of Korea who, in addition to her concert 

and recital appearances, lives in Indianapolis where she

 teaches keyboard at Butler University.

A Wedding Party

As I walked over to the Starbucks located on Monument Circle on Saturday, 

I saw a group of well-dressed, attractive men (Woo hoo!) 

waiting at the Monument's base. Since they were wearing boutonnieres,

I suspected (wiggle of eyebrows) that they formed the groom's 

half of a wedding party.  

When I looked across the street, I saw a line of identically 

dressed women approaching, behind whom was the bride,

their make-up artists, and photographer.

Everyone smiled and chatted happily as they posed 

for their pictures, attracting a few neighborly paparazzi 

who, like me, made pictures of their own 

to record the pretty occasion.

One of the more unusual features of this bride was the henna tattoos 

that had been drawn on her arms and feet. I overheard her brother 

explaining to some passers-by that, not only had the lines taken many hours 

to draw, but that the bride had to wait another long while 

for the artwork to dry, requiring help from her mother to eat, etc.

Among the photos taken, were some of the drawings made 

on the bride's feet. Kudos to the photographer who was willing 

to get down on the cold ground to record the beautiful art. 

Decorating the Tree

Waiting between buses to go swimming, I found the volunteers from 

the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 

had begun their annual task of hanging the long, heavy strands

of lights that make up the World's Tallest Christmas Tree.

Since 1962, the Circle has been decorated  for the Circle of Lights, 

with the Monument lighted in a ceremony that 

takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Up to a quarter million 

people come downtown to attend the event,

which is also televised to an even larger audience.

There are a total of fifty-two strands, using 4,784 LED lights. 

While all the bulbs are checked before being brought to the Circle, 

they are re-checked just before a pulley tows each strand 

up to a permanent attaching point over 200 feet above.

Above is a picture from last year,

just after the Monument's lights were turned on.