Naptown Observer

Retiring This Blog

2009-03-14T17:38:00.002-04:00

When I started this blog, I said it was an experiment. In that light, I'm calling an end to the experiment and closing this blog. I'll leave all the posts up indefinitely.

When I meet people through The Urbanophile, the almost universal reaction is, "How do you find time to write that much?" The answer is, I really don't have the time. I am oversubscribed and don't have the bandwidth to really keep up with this, so need to cut back.

What's more, what I had hoped to accomplish with this blog, namely documenting the cool and unknown spaces of Indianapolis, is being done today better than I could ever dream of doing it by The Heidelberger Papers, an absolutely terrific and first rate photo blog that should be required reading for everyone.

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you'll continue to follow me over at The Urbanophile.

Near 16th and the Monon

2009-03-04T21:43:00.001-05:00

UrbanIndy's "Straight Outta Dwell" house, side view.

On 25th St.

2009-03-02T20:50:00.000-05:00

On the Scene: Pecha Kucha Night

2009-02-28T15:56:00.001-05:00

Via cell phone.

Urbanophile Approved: M & M

2009-02-25T17:51:00.000-05:00

The film lineup at the Toby continues to impress. Saturday, Feb 28th there is a double header - I hesitate to call it a double-feature since you have to pay twice - featuring two films both named, simply, M.

The first is Fritz Lang's 1931 masterpiece. There's no need to tell you anything about this film as the material out there on it would fill volumes. Suffice it to say that I own it on DVD and have seen it in theater multiple times.

The other M is a 2007 feature from Korean director Lee Myung-se. I haven't seen this one yet, but can tell you that Lee's previous "Nowhere to Hide" is a stylish delight, and one of my favorite modern Asian films. Where else can you watch a murder unfold in slow-mo to the sound of the Bee-Gee's? So while this one might be a bit of an unknown for now, I'd attend based on Lee's track record alone.

By the way, for those who believe that Indy is behind the times, I don't believe that Lee's M has been screened in Chicago yet.

Urbanophile Approved: R Bistro

2009-02-22T17:13:00.003-05:00

Without a doubt, R Bistro is a great restaurant. Regina & Co. churn out great food night after night. What I love about this place is the short, well-chosen, frequently changed menu in a 5/5/5 format with five appetizers, five entrees, and five desserts. Don't give me 50 things to choose from. Just give me a short selection of your best. And the recipes strike the right balance of inventiveness and no-frills. This isn't frou-frou BS masquerading as haute cuisine. It's great, straightforward ingredients, often locally sourced, well prepared.

In an economy that is tougher than ever for restaurants, it's important that those of us who value great places like this get out and visit them regularly. Now let me be quick to add that I'm not trying to start any rumors about R Bistro. In fact, they looked well patronized when I was there Friday night. But let's not take any chances. Get out and support your great local restaurants, of which R Bistro is certainly one.

On the Scene: With the Hoosier Beer Geeks @ BW-3

2009-02-20T23:30:00.001-05:00

On Maryland St.

2009-02-18T08:16:00.001-05:00

In Fletcher Place

2009-02-12T20:54:00.001-05:00

On Shelby St. (near Prospect)

2009-02-10T08:05:00.001-05:00

IMA European Design Symposium

2009-02-08T12:27:00.002-05:00

Not sure if you heard of this or not, but the IMA is hosting a two-day symposium on contemporary European design, March 6-7. This is the kickoff to their major exhibit on this theme. This event is going to feature a slew of bigtime people like Alberto Alessi, Nasir Kassamali (owner of Luminaire), and Richard Wright of Chicago's Wright Auction House.

The IMA just dramatically reduced the price of admission, which is now $100 for both days, or $50 for one - and the prices are half that for students.

I don't have any proprietary insights as to how many people are registered, but I think you can gather that if the IMA is slashing prices it's because they aren't getting the takeup they hoped for. Listen up, people. I hear complaints about not having nice stuff in this town. Well, this is nice stuff. If you actually want to have more nice stuff in the future, you might want to, I don't know, go or something. It's a shame that too often people don't recognize what is right in front of them. I didn't put this together so can't make any promises on what it will be. But IMHO, if you are at all into design, you need to think twice before you skip this event.

On the Canal

2009-02-08T12:24:00.001-05:00

On Washington St.

2009-02-05T08:26:00.000-05:00

Urbanophile Approved: Breathless

2009-02-02T19:58:00.002-05:00

If you haven't been to the Toby yet, this Friday provides the perfect excuse as the IMA will be screening Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" as part of its Winter Nights series. I've seen a number of Godard's films and frankly never found him as great as some, but this is definitely one worth seeing. It should play well on the big screen. Details of the event available here.

Other Urbanophile Approved films upcoming at the Toby: 2/20 - Buster Keaton's The General (alas, opposite Pecha Kucha night) and 2/27 - Stanley Kubrick's Lolita.

On College Ave.

2009-02-02T19:57:00.000-05:00

Downtown

2009-01-28T20:46:00.000-05:00

I didn't take this one either, but found it very compelling.

Oh. My. God.

2009-01-26T21:21:00.002-05:00

I didn't take this pic, but had to put it up anyway. Astonishing.

See this and way more from Indy and many more cities on No Promise of Safety.

Under Construction: Allen Plaza

2009-01-23T18:18:00.002-05:00

On Ohio St.

2009-01-22T23:10:00.001-05:00

In Fountain Square

2009-01-20T21:22:00.002-05:00

Since Heidelberger left out close-ups of some of the best ones.

And here I thought I was the only H.L. Mencken fan around. Who knew?

On Illinois St.

2009-01-17T20:16:00.001-05:00

In Fountain Square

2009-01-15T21:33:00.001-05:00

On Washington St.

2009-01-14T19:44:00.001-05:00

On Michigan St.

2009-01-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

Density

2009-01-10T21:25:00.002-05:00

The West Side:

Fountain Square:

The East Side:

The images are scaled to fit this blog template, but if you click to enlarge, they are all the same resolution.