UCDA Design Summit in Indy, Pt. 3

Another Indianapolis area I wanted to revisit from when I lived there was Fountain Square. My BFF/Ray-of-Sunshine Christy drove down from Fairmount to join in the fun for the day, and the weather mirrored her personality. Fountain Square is anchored by The Fountain Square Theatre Building, a neoclassical brick and terra cotta building designed by Frank B. Hunter in 1928. When the theatre closed in 1960, it was replaced by Woolworth's. The area was revitalized back in 1993 when the Theatre underwent a restoration.



I love billboards with a sense of humor.



"Lady Spray" is the 4th fountain at the intersection of Virginia Avenue, Prospect Street, and Shelby Street. The first was a classical design with drinking places for horses and humans, surmounted by a cast iron statue of a seminude figure of the goddess Hebe, nicknamed "Lady Spray." It was erected in 1889 and paid for by Fountain Square business owners. The second fountain was commissioned in the early 1920s, and was dedicated in 1924 as a memorial to former Indiana Congressman Ralph Hill. The bronze sculpture that topped the fountain, titled "Pioneer Family," was created by Myra Reynolds Richards. The sculpture was moved to Garfield Park in 1954; public pressure secured its return in 1969. The third pedestal, base, and fountain were installed in the 1980s.



The current cast iron fountain was installed in 2009, taken from molds made from a historic fountain in Watertown, NY, and is topped by another version of Hebe.



Lunch at the Smokehouse BBQ was tasty!



Before the food arrived, I was busy taking note of all the details, vintage signs, posters, and decor that made this place feel so nostalgic and comfortable.



BBQ Pulled Pork, Sweet Potato Fries, and Cole Slaw. At this point, my "diet" had completely gone out the window.



Which is why I splurged even further and got a chocolate shake. It tasted soooooooo good, even if I felt my pants slowly tightening with each spoonful.

Spoonful…who am I kidding; I drank that thing in a nanosecond.



Upstairs is a duckpin bowling alley.



I would have played, but Christy was too busy talking on the phone. Or posing. Or both.



Shave and a haircut…2 bits! Fountain Square has a genuine old-fashioned barber shop.



Besides nostalgia, Fountain Square also has quirky art.



Murals that are colorful and twisted. This is my kind of place!



All of this walking had really helped us build an appetite.

OK. You caught me again. I'd made reservations for St. Elmo's Steakhouse, one of Indianapolis' most famous restaurants, so dinner was going to happen whether we were hungry or not.



The interior is very "old school"; dark, lots of wood, attentive waiters, and hunting photos.



No idea who this guy was, but he was all over the restaurant.



When your salad has bleu cheese and bacon, who cares about the decor?!?



I have to sign off now and loosen my belt.

See more Daveland Indianapolis Fountain Square photos on my main website.

Back Home Again In Indiana: Indianapolis

In between trips out to BFE to partake in our family reunion, I did my best to explore Indianapolis and put my camera to work. One of my favorite things about this progressive Midwest city is its downtown.



Any city that has an identifiable hub/center gets immediate thumbs up from me. Dubbed Monument Circle, vehicles and pedestrians coexist in the roundabout that contains The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at its center point. Completed in 1901, it stands an impressive 284' over the buildings that surround it.



I love the sculpting on it; the contorted faces and stoic expressions just seem to leap out of the stone.







Amazingly enough, the sun was out until almost 10pm, allowing to me shoot for much longer than I normally can here on the coast. Here, the moon can be seen facing the monument:



Indianapolis really is a hidden gem, often overshadowed by the neighboring city of Chicago. It boasts more than enough high caliber theaters, great restaurants, classic architecture, nightclubs, and fascinating museums to enjoy.



If you enjoy a good steak, then St. Elmo's is a must.





The former Union Station enjoyed a brief flurry of activity in the late 1980's when it was converted to a mall, but as of late, it is mainly used for office space and event rentals.





The Vogue Nightclub in the neighboring community of Broad Ripple:





The Indiana Historical Society Museum is located on the scenic canals that flow through the downtown area:



The Depew Memorial Fountain, with its playful statuary surrounding it, has always been a favorite. Created in 1919, it is located in an area called University Park.







Besides the typical things that would attract visitors, Indiana also has its low-key side, which is what makes it so appealing to me. The people are sincere and friendly, and there are plenty of rural areas nearby that make it easy to forget the typical stresses that so many of us get caught up in during our day-to-day dealings. Best of all, where else could you have your fortune told for only $10?



See more vintage and current Indianapolis photos on my Indianapolis web page.