An events-packed Saturday on the Old Northside of Indy

A week ago Saturday (June 11), I spent the day in the Old Northside neighborhood of Indianapolis, photographing a series of events occurring simultaneously.

I started at the President Benjamin Harrison House, where they were holding the annual Wicket World of Croquet Tournament. Participants were dressed in all-whites, and competition was held throughout the day. A jazz-pops combo, which included noted Indiana jazz photographer Duncan Schiedt on keyboards (pictured in top of post), performed on the House's porch, providing music throughout the day. The tournament had an Alice in Wonderland theme, and several volunteers spent the day dressed up in what had to be uncomfortable costumes on a very warm, humid day, portraying characters from the timeless animated motion picture classic.

Next I stopped at the Propylaeum two blocks north on Delaware Street, where they were sponsoring a two-day Beer Garden in the Yard -- dinners of salmon, chicken or sausages along with beverages, a live acoustic duo and some fashion and craft jewelry for sale.

A block up the street from there, the annual Independent Music & Art Festival unfolded from noon to 8 p.m. I finally made it there about mid-afternoon and caught a few numbers by Indianapolis hip-hop performer TJ Reynolds and his collaborators.

My last stop was yet another block north, where the popular annual Talbot Street Art Fair was taking place. All in all, a lot of activity in a very compact area in Indianapolis.

Above and next two below: The annual Wicket World of Croquet Tournament unfolded on the grounds of the President Benjamin Harrison House.  

Above: As the players competed, a jazz combo provided musical ambiance from the front porch of the Harrison House. One of the performers was noted Indiana jazz photographer Duncan Schiedt, who played keyboards ... and whose image is reflected in the tuba.

 

Above: Schiedt was born on the East Coast in 1921 and lived there until moving to Indiana in 1951. More than a photographer and musician, he so loved Indiana jazz that he authored a book about its history, "The Jazz State of Indiana." The Indianapolis Museum of Art had a gallery of his jazz photography on exhibit for several months in 2001.
 

Above:  This year's Wicket World of Croquet had an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. These volunteers dressed up in the classic tale's characters (from left) the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, Alice and the Queen of Diamonds.

Above: Two other volunteers, also in character, played the roles of President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison.

 

Above: I enjoy photographing someone else taking pictures of others. In this instance, I was intrigued by how the women seemed to be enjoying themselves ... but the guy?

 

Above: An apparent false alarm in the apartment complex north of the Harrison House brought out a full complement of firetrucks.

 

Above and below: At the Propylaeum, these salmon fillets and sausages were part of the grill offerings Saturday for those who chose to have lunch on the grounds during the Propylaeum's Beer Garden in the Yard.

Above: In addition to grilled food, the Propylaeum's menu included a choice of brew and these wines. 

Above and below: The Propylaeum's grounds also featured a bazaar, where fashions and crafted jewelry were for sale.

 

Above: Providing music for Beer Garden in the Yard were this duo. I was impressed after they played the one and only countrified arrangement of Michael Jackson's monster hit "Billie Jean" that I've ever heard.

 

Above and below: Just a block north of the Propylaeum on Delaware Street, Indy hip-hop performer TJ Reynolds and his collaborators (that's Joseph Lehner on drums below) performed as part of the annual Independent Art & Music Festival. The IAMF had a daylong bill of local talent, performing from noon to 8 p.m.

 

Above: And just north of the IAMF was the popular Talbot Street Art Fair, where these people were walking past vendors set up along East 16th Street.

 

Above: These colorful storefront decorations were along 16th Street, east of Delaware Street.

Cheese: Concert comfort food?

I've seen a lot of people tote snacks and drinks to casual outdoor concerts, so this image wasn't unusual in that respect. I saw this gentleman pull out some cheese for his snack at Saturday's shoot at the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra's show in the Sunken Garden of Garfield Park, then noticed how the setting sun was highlighting his beard and shirt, so I felt compelled to grab this frame.

Here's to finding comfort and making the best out of your experience -- on what was a very uncomfortable, hot and humid evening.

Jazz ensemble livens up the Garden

It was a hot and humid early evening, but that didn't stop the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra from keeping its date Saturday to perform in the Sunken Garden of Garfield Park as part of the "Music in the Garden" series.

With temperatures reaching into the mid-90s for the sixth consecutive day, organizers wisely staged the ensemble at the west end of the garden, where the stage and a good 30 yards of audience seating area extending into the garden lawn were protected from the setting sun by the shade of at least a couple dozen trees. Joining the band on several numbers were vocalists Lydia McAdams and Rick Vale.

A note of gratitude to Indianapolis Star photographer Alan Petersime, who I ran into at the show Saturday. He was covering the performance for the newspaper. Alan showed me a striking image he had captured of some people sitting on a cement bench under the sprawling limbs of an expansive tree lining the north fringe of the garden, so I felt compelled to grab a copy myself. It's the image you see at the very bottom of this post. I think his turned out better (you can see it in his gallery posted at the multimedia area of indystar.com); Alan grabbed a frame with the full tree displayed, which I think made the image more powerful because it really dwarfs the people underneath. Also, he caught it at a time when the sun splashed highlights on the full tree, contrasting it nicely with the out-of-sunlight trees behind it.