For my first post of pictures I am using some older photos from 2004 of my hometown.

I hope you enjoy them:

 

 

 

Awesome pics, I haven't seen too many from Indianapolis.

The first shot is taken near that Mexican neighborhood.  That playground area had decent activity when I took that same shot a year ago (or two?!?).  Woodruff Place isn't that far either, and that's a beautiful neighborhood.

 

Also, Crown Hill Cemetary is a very nice place as well.  Great shots.

Nice.

Not a bad skyline, but seems lacking without anything prewar.

 

Thanks for the pics, do you know how tall the monument is?

I believe the Monument is 287' tall.

I always thought the Indianapolis skyline was rather un-impressive.  I love the town, just not the skyline.

 

Nonetheless, the pics are nice.

Indianapolis needs to take the next step in the development of downtown by increasing the quality of architecture for new skyscapers. They have some really well done buildings but most of them are 5 stories or less.

Indianapolis needs to take the next step in the development of downtown by increasing the quality of architecture for new skyscapers. They have some really well done buildings but most of them are 5 stories or less.

 

Yeah, but Indy seems to be lacking that 'urban grit'  :wink:

Randy nailed it. :]

Indianapolis needs to take the next step in the development of downtown by increasing the quality of architecture for new skyscapers. They have some really well done buildings but most of them are 5 stories or less.

 

Yeah, but Indy seems to be lacking that 'urban grit'   :wink:

 

Eh, go to the city's east and north-central sides and tell me that.

^I'll second that. Get into the right (or wrong) neighborhoods, and you'll find so much grit you'll be trying to brush it out of your teeth for a week, and you don't have to go far from Monument Circle to find it.

 

Indianapolis is developing a first-rate trail system; Monon Trail is one of the best and most heavily-used urban rail-trails in this part of the country.

 

 

Don't forget the west side or the south side if you are looking for grit.

 

Indianapolis lacks pre-war skyscrapers mainly, I think, because of an unwritten rule of not building anything taller than the monument. Up until I think 1960 or 61, Fort Wayne had the tallest building in the state.

 

Here is an overview of the new downtown bike/walking trail:

http://www.indyculturaltrail.info/before-and-after.html

Eh, go to the city's east and north-central sides and tell me that.

 

Sorry, but I couldn't resist it was a perfect opportunity to poke fun at an inside joke between rage and I!

 

In all seriousness Indy suprised me in many ways when I visited, but it was lacking something...it may be that I am used to the pre WWII buildings in many of the cities I have visited (all midwest/eastcoast).  When I was there though I saw zero taxis, heard very little noise on the city streets and it just didn't have the urbanity that I desire.  Totally a personal opinion :-/

UncleRando,

I feel a job coming on when you graduate in Phoenix or maybe Las Vegas. No trees, wide boulevards, and non-descript buildings and  lots of stucco. Pre WWII buildings are mine shafts and ghost towns. Then you will say, if only these places had the urban grit of Indy.

Actaully, Phoenix and Las Vegas have QUITE a bit of grit.

Gang graffiti on stucco walls on wide open boulevards and a swirling dust cloud isn't my definition of grit. Dirt yes, grit no.

 

CoolDayMan,

My comments was actually meant to be a joke to UncleRando.

Gang graffiti on stucco walls on wide open boulevards and a swirling dust cloud isn't my definition of grit. Dirt yes, grit no.

 

Replace stucco with brick and "swirling dust clouds" with rain and you basically got a repressed Midwestern ghetto, which is certainly "grit" as well.

Top 5 great things about Indy:

5. Nightlife

4. Clean

3. Rathskeller

2. Keystone Mall

1. Only an hour and a half from Cincinnati

CoolDayMan,

I would be interested in hearing what your definition of 'grit' is.

I like downtown Indy because it seems to have pretty vibrant street life.  The Cons fieldhouse is right on the street and there are always plenty of folks milling around before and after games - it probably reinforces the retail/and restaurants in the area - the really wide sidewalks that accomodate a lot of outdoor dining.  Not sure where it ranks on the "grit" meter, though.

Well I believe that there is a new ranking coming out on the Top 50 Gritiest Cities in America.....early rumors are that Indy is near the bottom of the list :laugh:

LOL!  You're right I hear its tied near the bottom with Phoenix & Vegas .

CoolDayMan,

I would be interested in hearing what your definition of 'grit' is.

 

Grit is generally unclean, untouched, often well-worn (whether it be due to weather, pollution, social ills, or "ghetto" aesthetics) fabric of an urbanized area.  Grit is different in appearance based on location (meaning, grit in Rabat is different from grit in Warsaw, yet they both have grit).  In this case, Las Vegas and Phoenix have "grit" but is different from the Indianapolis or Gary "grit."  Still, both have substantial gritty areas.

I think we tend to associate grit more with New York/Camden style grit because that's the kind that gets conveyed in popular photos and movies.

CoolDayMan,

I would be interested in hearing what your definition of 'grit' is.

 

Grit is generally unclean, untouched, often well-worn (whether it be due to weather, pollution, social ills, or "ghetto" aesthetics) fabric of an urbanized area.  Grit is different in appearance based on location (meaning, grit in Rabat is different from grit in Warsaw, yet they both have grit).  In this case, Las Vegas and Phoenix have "grit" but is different from the Indianapolis or Gary "grit."  Still, both have substantial gritty areas.

 

Grit doesn't seem to be a good way for a community to develop, so that it can grow economically, socially or environmentally. But, I do respect your opinion. It just seems that places that meet such criteria (in general) are struggling to suvive in todays world. Example: 'Gritty' downtowns, they may have grit, but after five that all they got and empty streets. Not real good for the future of that community.

I think we tend to associate grit more with New York/Camden style grit because that's the kind that gets conveyed in popular photos and movies.

 

Well, "eastern" grit, sure.  But there are also gritty movies that feature East Los Angeles as "barrio" and such.

 

CoolDayMan,

I would be interested in hearing what your definition of 'grit' is.

 

Grit is generally unclean, untouched, often well-worn (whether it be due to weather, pollution, social ills, or "ghetto" aesthetics) fabric of an urbanized area.  Grit is different in appearance based on location (meaning, grit in Rabat is different from grit in Warsaw, yet they both have grit).  In this case, Las Vegas and Phoenix have "grit" but is different from the Indianapolis or Gary "grit."  Still, both have substantial gritty areas.

 

Grit doesn't seem to be a good way for a community to develop, so that it can grow economically, socially or environmentally. But, I do respect your opinion. It just seems that places that meet such criteria (in general) are struggling to suvive in todays world. Example: 'Gritty' downtowns, they may have grit, but after five that all they got and empty streets. Not real good for the future of that community.

 

Oh, I never endorsed "grit."