Rambling Around

On Saturday, I had a bit of business to attend to in Broad Ripple.

This is the first time I've had the chance to kind of ramble 

around this urban village, known primarily to Indy folk 

as the site of hip music venues and arty boutiques.

The first full day of spring seemed to have brought out all

the citizens who had small children and dogs, as they seemed

to have descended on the Monon Trail en masse.

The doors had been flung open at this local produce market, 

both to greet the sunny day and the customers 

who stopped by, pausing a bit during their walks,

 to sample the various juice or tea drinks.

Overpowered

This picture, taken at around 7:30 a.m., 

shows the exterior of the Federal court building 

reflected in the glass of the Chase Tower.

The building, surrounded by banks and insurance

companies, still gives the impression

of strength and resolve, while the glass of

the bank building, although transparent, manages 

to hide a lot of secrets.

Red, Yellow, Blue ...

I like early mornings. I feel as though 

they belong to me, quiet, crisp, and new.

Early Tuesday morning, on my way to work,

I stopped at a corner near the downtown 

area to meet my second bus.

I could have gone a bit farther, to go to

the place where I could enjoy a hot chai latte,

but I'd seen this -- a clear inky sky serving

as the backdrop for skyscrapers,

set off by a perfect sliver of Moon, dangling

in just the spot meant to balance

the yellow office lights and red logos.

Checkered Past

Checkered patterns are all around us. 

From game boards and tile floors,

to intricately planned artworks and textiles, 

they provide visual rhythm to our daily lives that

we take for granted. In Speedway, the black and

white pattern of checkered flags has a specific

role in describing the origins and identity

of the community, even forming the

backdrop of the town's flag. 

Here, the pattern covers the exterior of 

a neighborhood utility box. 

Over the years, as it has faded and been 

repainted, the checkered past of the box 

has been revealed, adding depth 

and variety to its surface. 

Whoever painted it last even took 

the time to align the pattern

on the handle.

Lone Watch

During my walk on Saturday along Speedway's 

Main Street, I looked through the window of one of the town's 

vacated storefronts. The town, which exists in the shadow

of the Speedway, is working on the revitalization of Main Street, 

attracting racing related businesses, restaurants, ice

cream shops, and at least one brewery. 

One of my favorite places, Lino's Coffee Shop, was named 

"Best Coffee Shop" in 2012 by readers of Indianapolis Monthly 

magazine, a designation it richly deserved. 

It serves coffee and food that is extremely well-prepared 

for reasonable prices. Once you visit, you will return.

Shadows of Spring

I took a long walk around Speedway Saturday afternoon, 

taking pictures as I went. The most abundant floral offerings

 I found were the metal lawn ornaments; 

here and there were the coiled wire tendrils of vines, 

the bright enamel colorings of painted daisies, 

and the embossed cut-outs of metallic angels 

and stars. If the scatterings of volunteer crocusses

are precursors, then the real flowers can't

be far behind. The biege earth canvas has been 

washed clean, waiting for the flowers.

Grids and Cocoons

Just a bit over a week from spring, 

the colors are subdued.

 People walk amid the grayed swashes,

 their patterns creating the cocoons

that envelop us in their

light and shadow.