The Taste of Bloomington - 2012

The Foodie Husband and I braved the crowds once again this year to see what the best of Bloomington had to offer at the Taste of Bloomington.

Normally, I'd prefer to arrive early in order to avoid the crowds, but my dear husband had looked at the entertainment schedule and he asked that we delay our arrival till later in the day so that we might listen to a certain band that he wanted to hear.

I was more than happy to oblige him.

 We arrived about 6:30 at the entrance along the B-Line trail.

 To the back of the line we go!

 Admission is $6 per adult with children under 12 getting in free.

Most food items are about $3 each.

Adults over 21 who wish to purchase alcoholic beverages must show ID at the gate and get a bracelet.

 While my husband went to the alcohol tent, I went to Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack and picked up two barbecued pork ribs for my husband.  Price: $3.

 Then I stopped by Macri's and bought a pork tenderloin sandwich for me for $3.

 We found a curb to sit down on and ate our food and drink our drinks while listening to the band that was playing at the time.  It sounded like they were a polka band.  

 Then it was time to move on and get more food before the next band took the stage.

I must confess that I "cheated" and got a food that I've had before,

but I just love these fried dill chips from Scotty's Brewhouse.  What can I say?  They really are that good.  I don't remember the cost.

Plus, this late in the day it was often difficult to get into to certain restaurant lines, so sometimes one had to compromise.

 The Short Stop is actually located in a gas station in town, but they are acknowledged as having some of the best barbecue in town.

We had their pulled pork barbecue at a recent Master Gardener picnic.  It was very good.

 

The Foodie Husband bought an ear of corn from them, but by the time I got to him, he had eaten most of it, so I have no pictures of it.

 The last food item I got was from Chapman's Restaurant.

It was a Smoke House Slider with a special BBQ sauce.

This was a pork slider.

Chapman's is a good restaurant and I really wanted to like this sandwich, but it had a strange burnt taste that I just couldn't get around.  That burnt taste was just off-putting to me.

Sadly, with 53 vendors and with having to pay for each food item, it was impossible to try everything on offer.

As it was, I left feeling satisfied and knowing that there are many more restaurants in B-town that I need to try out.

 Hot air balloons!

 Pretty!

 I can't decide if these people have the right idea or if they are missing out on all the fun.

 The north stage.

 We are sitting on the steps in front of the Showers Building while the band tunes up.

 Oops, I've lost my husband.

And then I found him.

Thank goodness for cell phones.

He had wandered to the front of the stage to watch the Hairbangers Ball.

This band is the reason we had delayed our arrival to the Taste of B-town.

 They are from Chicago and play the music of the big hair bands of the 80s and 90s.

 I don't remember the last time the Foodie Husband and I had this much fun together.

 We danced and sang along to songs like "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Living on a Prayer," "Dirty Deeds," and "Sweet Child of Mine."

 And because I find it interesting to watch people around me,

I looked around and saw the other adults singing and dancing...

 and the children standing around and looking at their parents like they were crazy.

Good times.  Good times, I tell ya.

 Finally it was time to leave.

We passed by the Jazz Bloomington players.

Nice.

 On the way back to the car we walked a couple of blocks along the B-Line.

We found another brain!

 It's brain #4.

 Apparently this brain wants to remind us to eat our veggies.

It was a fun evening.

Thank you, dear Foodie Husband, for suggesting that we go and listen to the Hairbangers Ball.

It was a blast!  

Lunch at Macri's

Years ago Macri's was located on the east side of town

in a shopping center.

It was a favorite with locals and college students.

Then a few years ago the Krogers next store wanted to expand

and the owners of the shopping center didn't renew the lease 

for Macri's.  Rather than attempting to find a new place for the 

restaurant, the owners of Macri's decided to call it a day.

There was much sorrow in B-town that day.

Then recently it was announced that a couple of people 

who had ties to the old Macri's were going to bring 

the restaurant back to town, but in a different location.

After much hard work and perserverance, they finally 

opened this spring in the old depot off the B-Line trail on 

7th Street and Morton.

Macri's is back in town.

The new owners were able to purchase many of the 

original recipes.

Even the booths are similar to the old Macri's.

And of course there are TVs every where.

The menu.

One of my favorite dishes at the original Macri's was the gyros.

So naturally I had to have it to see if it was just as good.

It was.

The best in town, as far as I'm concerned.

The only difference was the switch in sides.

The original Macri's offered bagged potato chips as the side.

The new Macri's offers french fries, dill pickle spears, steamed broccoli, red potato salad, cottage cheese, onion rings, pepperoncini peppers, creamy coleslaw, or a side salad (some at a premium charge).

Next time I'll have to see if the spinach salad is still just as good.

Welcome back to town, Macri's!

We've missed you!

Welcome to the new and improved B-Line Trail

We have had a recent run of beautiful weather,
so after my massage yesterday
I decided to treat myself to a walk on the B-Line.

 The B-Line is a delightful trail that bisects
the urban areas of Bloomington.
Daily one can find walkers, joggers, bikers and skateboarders out enjoying the trail.

Parents take their children out on the B-Line,
workers walk the trail on their lunch hour,
friends exercise together.
This trail is popular with the people of B-town.

It is so successful that the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis have designated the B-Line as a “National Recreation Trail.”
The National Recreation Trail designation “recognizes existing trails and trail systems that link communities to recreational opportunities on public lands and in local parks."

This is quite the honor.
 

Lovely planters dot the trail.

Informational signs are posted along the trail.

This one talks about the old State Seminary school,

the precursor to Indiana University.

When it first opened on April 4, 1825

only Ancient Greek and Latin were taught.

Bloomington's population was around 500 at that time.

In 1828, State Seminary became Indiana College,

and Andrew Wylie became its first president.

By 1838 Indiana College had become 

Indiana University.

A fire in 1883 prompted the university to

purchase Dunn's Woods and relocate the 

university there.

The remaining building at this site

served as Bloomington High School until 1967.

When limestone was king.

Beginning in the late 1800s the demand for limestone skyrocketed:

• The 1871 Chicago Fire made inflammable limestone the building material of choice.
• The invention of the steam-powered channeling machine that could quickly cut through the limestone.
• The arrival of railroads that could transport the heavy blocks of stone to distant locations.
• A new architectural style, Beaux Arts, became popular with governmental buildings across the nation.  Limestone was the perfect material.

 At one time, eleven limestone mills lined the railroad tracks between 2nd street and Grimes Lane.  Finished limestone would be moved out of the mills and directly onto waiting railroad cars.  As you walk this stretch, try to imagine the sounds of machinery, voices and trains that were once a part of this neighborhood.

 

You are standing in the heart of Bloomington's early industrial area.  Goods manufactured here were shipped to all areas of the region, state, and nation.  

Along with this growth came growth of the community.  Neighborhoods, schools, and churches flourished as successful businesses provided economic stability to Bloomington.

The McDoel Switchyard

Just south of Grimes Lane the B-Line travels through what was once an over 30-acre railroad switchyard.  A switchyard is where the trains are broken up and reassembled for various destinations.  A switch engine pushed and pulled cars to get them in the right order.  Multiple tracks provided space for coupling and uncoupling train cars.

The McDoel Yard (named for Monon President W. H. McDoel) replaced existing yards in 1920.  The new yards included a turntable, a round moveable circle that allowed an engine to be turned in any direction.  It also had a roundhouse where engines and boilers were repaired.  The McDoel roundhouse had bays for 17 engines.  

The switchyard also included water and coal stations, shops for small repairs, and storage buildings.

I'm starting my walk.

Looking south across 2nd Street.

As if walking, jogging, or biking weren't enough exercise,

IU Bloomington Health has set up some exercise stations

along the path.

Thanks, but I think I'll pass this time.

More info on the old Bloomington High School

at Seminary Square.

It too was destroyed by fire and Bloomington now has 

two high schools at different locations.

Seminary Square is now a public park.

You might recall that it was hit by a tornado a year ago.

Stately old house (for sale by owner) across from the B-Line.

This decrepit and abandoned old building has been purchased by a developer who has plans to clean the place up and is thinking of turning the building into a beer garden.

From the looks of things, it's going to take some major work.

Good luck.

If he can accomplish this, it will be a nice addition to the area.

From what I have seen, this part of town can use some 

revitalization.

And I've finally arrived at the bridge over Grimes Lane 

(now called Patterson).

Looking to the west.

Looking to the east.

And the trail continues south.

The switchyard lies ahead.

The bridge over Grimes Lane.

Brain Extravaganza!

Brain #3 sits along the trail.

Thanks for coming along on my walk.

Next time, find out why I walked up to 7th Street.

Hint: I was hungry after all that walking!