December 2014 First Friday

Incredible that on a cold and rainy First Friday it would be that a lot was scheduled to be held inside the depot. How cool is that? I was unable to man my usual post at the Information Mailbox because of having bronchitis. In order not to miss the whole thing I arrived at the corner of Jackson & Buckeye Streets at about 4:45 p.m. and stayed in the warm car until hurrying across to the Gingerbread House Bakery for take home cookies while waiting on Gabettas to open at 5:30.

Needless to say I was first in the door at 5:30. I ordered dinner and by the time I'd finished and paid the place was nearly full. I was able to see the crowd as they gathered for Santa's arrival but decided that was about all I could do. I got back in the car and before going home drove around the square a few times to see all the decorations, drove up Main St to see a nice crowd gathered at Main St Cafe, around the corner to Union St to head home. At the corner of Union & Walnut I took in the now lighted staircase on the new parking garage. I turned right then entered the garage from Walnut St, drove through and exited onto Sycamore. Who'd have ever thought we'd have a multilevel parking

garage in Kokomo? Most interesting was that the ground floor was about 3/4 full.

I was sorry to miss so many of the festivities but am glad that I was able to do what I did. I'm already looking forward to January 2.

It's a happenin' place!

Well, okay, so the morning donut rush was over by the time I got there today, Oct 11, but Buckeye St, The Depot District or Panhandle Alley (whatever you choose to call it) is a happening place!

I decided to make today a "brunch" day so didn't get here till around 10:45. I first had a half order of biscuits & gravy at Gabettas  followed by a glazed cinnamon roll and coffee at Gingerbread House Bakery next door. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. I've been counting calories for a little over a year and believe it or not I'm still good for the day.

Parking is a little bit of a challenge here as everyone is coming out to support the local businesses. I've figured out that if you park in the bank parking lot at the corner of Jackson & Buckeye Streets and walk over you don't have to worry about it or even the calories since you'll get a little exercise to and from the goodies.

I've been to Gabettas several times since they've opened and the food has always been good. Once I even got to sit outside which was awesome. Who turned on the early winter anyhow? Hopefully we'll have a few more outside seating days yet. I've been to Gingerbread House Bakery twice and the atmosphere is really great as are the donuts. Check out the chocolate dripping down the walls.

We've had 3 First Friday's since my last comments and they, as usual, have been wonderful. Too bad the weather hasn't been the best but still lots of fun to be had.

The cool weather is what makes a hayride though! Even the sprinkles didn't deter them. Seems the October First Friday's are always well attended since most of us really love to be scared to death in the spooky basements and old hotels downtown. Each month's theme has something for everyone. More participants each month too. Great to see the Masonic Temple and Grace Methodist Church taking part and now also the restaurants on Buckeye St across from the Depot. Another new business on Walnut St too this month. Each month I'm privileged to be a guide at the Welcome Center on the corner of Main & Walnut and am amazed at the number of people that come by and say this is their first time attending. Keep getting the word out....where else can you spend an evening walking around, doing a little shopping and eating largely for free? And, if you haven't already heard, November's First Friday is going to have a Mystery theme. You aren't going to want to miss this one!

Here's a little "fall challenge" for you: Support our local businesses and restaurants. Soon downtown parking will be easier to come by with the new parking garage opening. We've got more places downtown to eat and shop than we've had for years, let's take advantage of that. Don't forget to check out the new Artist's Alley next to the Kokomo Art Association on north Main.

As the holidays approach and you begin thinking of getting together with friends remember these options. And before long, we'll have that shiny new YMCA we're so anxious to have, the new baseball stadium and the Heritage Trail is nearly complete too. Catch you all next month.

First Friday July 4, 2014

As you can see from the photo of the flag above, taken at the fire station on the corner of Washington and Superior Streets, July 4th started as a gorgeous day. My biggest challenge as I headed uptown early was to find the best place to get a good shot of the flag. It turned out to be harder than you would think. I took the first pictures here at the fire station then proceeded to the square to get the one on the courthouse lawn. Unfortunately that one had gotten caught in the rope due to the winds we'd been experiencing for several days. There was another, just west of the square, that would have been perfect but I couldn't get a clean shot of it without a blue dumpster in the foreground. I got a pretty good shot of the one flying over the Firestone building and the one at Key Bank on the corner of Main and Mulberry Streets. I decided to stop at the Main St Cafe for breakfast instead of continuing on this quest. Turns out, when I got home that this picture was near perfect. After all what would the 4th of July be without a great shot of our flag against a beautiful blue sky?

Later in the day, when I headed uptown to take up my post as one of the "guides" for First Friday, I was wondering if we'd have anyone at all since the Haynes Apperson Festival was going strong at Foster Park. I was pleased to see that even though fewer of the places were open and the crowds were certainly less, we did still have people and, even better, some were First Friday first timers. That's always a great thing. We made sure to tell them that although there was less going on this month due to the festival  they needed to come back next month to really get a feel for what First Friday is all about. By the way, wasn't the Haynes Pioneer replica awesome?

Since last year when the Kingston Square Apartments up north and The Washington St Residences at Taylor & Washington began construction I've made it a point to drive around town and photograph the progress of these and other sites such as the new parking garage. I've also documented the painting of some of the buildings on Sycamore St, such as Kokomo Toys, the installation of the islands, wrought iron fencing and ornamental street lights on Apperson, etc. I love to see the progress on a daily basis. I've taken photos of and eaten in all but one of the restaurants currently in the uptown area. Jamie's Soda Fountain, Main St Cafe, Pepperwhistle Bakery & Cafe, Cook McDoogal's Irish Pub, The District, Drakes Bar & Grill and The Foxes Trail. I've yet to make it to the Laugh House but will soon. Did you count the number of places I listed? Eight! I find this totally astonishing, especially since more are coming when Panhandle Alley is completed on Buckeye St by the train depot. Great things going on in Kokomo.

Now I want to say something about the negative things that some are saying and putting in editorials and letters to the editor. Most who criticize the beautification efforts do so because they feel this is taking money from other areas that need assistance. Areas listed most often are sidewalks and demolition of derelict properties. It's my understanding that much of the monies earmarked for the beautification efforts comes from the federal government to be used for that purpose. To be honest I don't know for sure whether or not this is true. I do agree that money needs to be allocated to repair, replace or install sidewalks where necessary.

With regard to derelict properties I do have strong opinions. I have a friend whose house is between two abandoned properties and across from one that burnt down. She is stuck, her house is paid for and she's retired. She has worked hard to keep her property up but living in the area she's in there is no way she could sell her house for more than pennies on the dollar due to the surrounding properties.  One of them belongs to a person who has just moved on and left it to rot but continues to pay the taxes so no one steps in. I don't think the city needs to be responsible for demolition of these type properties but I for sure think they should make or enforce laws that require the property owner to! These properties foster animal control problems and many become drug houses.

Done with the negative! I've probably said all I need to for this month but want to encourage you to spread the word about First Friday. It keeps growing and has something for nearly everyone. Where else can you go for "free" and enjoy a walk, a meal and a little time away from TV and all your tech toys?

First Friday and the winter from....wherever!

Could the worst winter in several years, as far as snow is concerned, be the reason for the length of time since I last blogged? Oh yeah...without a doubt. This "little" snow, one of many of all proportions, was in March. Come on, it's supposed to be getting nice in March!

And here we are just 2 days before First Friday in June. I have fond memories of seeing Santa in the toy department at Wm H Turner in the 1950's. I sure hate to see this building come down but that's better than sitting empty the way it has for the last several years. It will be interesting to see what happens on this site once it's cleared.

Regardless of the floods, tornadoes or snow storms I am still high on Kokomo and First Friday's. I read with interest Morgan Young's article about all that's going on uptown and how people feel about it. I'm proud to say that I'm one of the people he terms "early adopter's". The minute they lay out a vision of what can be done to improve the city I become a cheerleader. Often I'm in the minority and that's okay. Bring on the new ballpark! How can anything be worse than the way that area had become? No one should have to live in a place like that and the only way to get rid of it is to make it better. Do we need it or can we support it? We won't know until we try. I think it's worth trying.

Now, let's get back to First Friday. I went to all of them throughout the winter and spring and worked as a guide at most. Cold? Yes. Windy? Yes. Wet? Yes. And your point is? It would have been cold, windy and wet without First Friday but with it there was something to do besides stay in and complain.

Lots of people agreed with me. I was surprised at the number of people who came out. Sure there weren't big crowds but there were people out and about. It was fun to see things that the Library did and they were always a refuge from the elements. Another place holding fond memories for me is the old, soon to be new, Firestone building. It was great to have First Friday events there.

One of the things I'd like to encourage those coming to First Friday to do is to make sure you check out the places that are a little off the beaten path. The Literacy Coalition always has something special over on Mulberry St along with the Bohemian Tattoo Club & Gallery, All God's Creatures Grooming Spa and Walt Moss Barber Shop.There's also the Manna From Heaven Cakery, the historic Train Tower and Crystal Wand Creations on Buckeye St. Each month the whole experience seems to grow and soon, I'm sure, Panhandle Alley a little further north on Buckeye St will be participating.

Okay, it's confession time. I'll have to admit that when I first heard about FF last year I pretty much thought all I would see would be people my age (70+) who remembered the "good old days". There are plenty of us to be sure but we are far outnumbered by families with younger kids, teens and young adults. This has been a great thing to see. If you haven't yet attended a First Friday please give it a try. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find something you like.

If all else fails, there's always Jamie's Soda Fountain, Main Street Cafe, Pepperwhistle Bakery & Cafe, Cook McDoogal's Irish Pub, The Laugh House Comedy Club, The District, Drake's Bar & Grill and Foxes Trails where you can eat. So far the only one I've missed is The Comedy Club but by next First Friday that will be taken care of. Oh, and yes, only people my age remember when there were  this many places to eat uptown!