When Chef JJ Boston first talked to me about EggFest, I have to admit I didn’t get it.   Eggs?  Really?  A food festival based on eggs?   But that is not what EggFest is about.

The “Egg” in EggFest is the Big Green Egg, a unique barbecue product.  It is a smoker, a grill and an oven all rolled into one.  On your egg, you can cook everything from appetizers to desert, and this festival celebrates all of that.

If you liked grilled meat and fish, are curious about what a grilled mango/pineapple salsa, grilled pizza or grilled apple pie will taste like, then join us on Saturday, May 19 at JJ’s Backyard as 30+ chefs demonstrate their skills.

Be sure to check out my husband Andy’s grilled salsa and maybe take home a jar or two of sauce for your own grilling adventures.

Sometimes it is fun to be a tourist in your own city.  Last week my brother was in town, and we wandered around downtown seeing the sites.  Indy is a pretty city when you take the time to look at it.  

These photos were shot on the canal and in front of the state capital.  Have you taken the time to see your city lately?

One of the coolest things about going to the Stutz Building is discovering all the interesting and unusual businesses that call this historic building home.   Sophia Violins is one of those businesses.

Wandering into their space you will find violins in all stages of construction.   These handcrafted instruments are truly a work of art

I love cars, not the ones they make today, but the classic designs of days gone by.   Today, it seems that most cars look alike. Stroll through a parking lot at the mall and you will be faced with a sea of beige mini vans, grey somethings, and the occasional pop of color.

But wander through the halls of the Stutz building and you will be reminded of what cars once looked like.

As the morning sun comes out from behind the trees in our yard, it shines through one of the first pieces my husband every made.

A fun tribute to Truman Lowe one of the first artists he worked with, Mr. Lowe’s smile brightens every morning.

One of my favorite things about spring is knowing I will be able to start my day here.  The little table on our deck is the perfect place to sit and watch the morning begin.

Do you have a favorite spot to sit and collect your thoughts before you start your day? 

One of my favorite annual exhibits is the Art from the Heartland held at the Indianapolis Art Center each spring.   Featuring the work of artists throughout the Midwest, there are hundreds of submissions in each category for the relatively few spots in the gallery.

There is always a wonderful mix of modern and traditional, photography, paint and sculpture and this year was no exception.  But I have to admit some of my favorite pieces were the work submitted by children.

The exhibit will be in the galleries for a few weeks.  There is no charge, so you really should drop by before it is gone.  If you don’t get a chance, you can see some of the images here: 

Composite Dalmation

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 4

I warned my friend Hazel that I was bringing my camera on our walk today.  I told her I was planning on stopping along the way to snap photos, and I hoped it didn’t annoy her too much.

She was really a good sport ( just one of the reasons I value her friendship).  But more then just patiently waiting as I took photos she had her eyes peeled for interesting images.   She is the one who spotted the turtles first.

We saw lots of other cool things along the way, so it was tough to pick just one favorite image, so I didn’t:

It was a beautiful afternoon, so Andy and I took a walk along the canal in Broad Ripple.  The water was filled with ducks and geese, playing, bathing, and looking for their next meal.

With so many people walking along the canal, the birds barely noticed us.  This  goose was absolutely fearless, walking toward me, and posing for the camera.

Even before we moved here, Broad Ripple was my favorite part of the city.   It is an eclectic mix of  quirky shops, unique restaurants, the Art Center, the galleries and the canal that runs through it all.

And despite the old buildings, the merchants have created a wonderful feel to the community with interesting signage that probably would never meet the rigorous zoning standards of Carmel.

Brugge Brasserie

Brugge serves great Belguim beer (watch out for their Triple the Ripple), crepes, muscles and the most amazing pomme frittes ( french fries) with exotic dipping sauces.

The food is good, the service is casual, and I love their sign.  Is it a giant beer mug filled with flowers, or is that just the foam coming down the side? You decide.

Ripple FX

I  actually have no idea what these guys do, but I loved their sign.  The polished steel and rusted metal create such a cool effect.

Ossip Optometry

 The distinctive “O’s formed into glasses are the trademark of Ossip.

While the billboard on Broad Ripple Ave is gone this sign still marks the back of the building facing the parking lot.

I have always been surprised that none of the graffiti artists in Broad Ripple have never been tempted to draw a face around the frames.

Broad Ripple Lawn Mower Repair

I just loved the fact that this lawn mower hangs by the door. There is no other sign on the front of the building.  I guess if you can’t figure out what they do from the lawnmower hanging from the front of the building you probably don’t need their services.