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!

The Foodies Travel to Afghanistan

- without a Passport

The Foodie Daughter and I made our next stop on

our culinary tour around the world.

This time we traveled to Afghanistan.

Samira Restaurant is a highly rated restaurant in B-town.

While they have an extensive dinner menu,

they also have a rather nice lunch buffet.

Please forgive the blurred picture,

but the Foodie Daughter had a migraine and needed to

eat ASAP,

so I tried to take the picture as quickly as possible.

She picked fragrant basmati rice, fried chicken thigh,

meatballs in a spicy sauce,

a flavorful mix of tomatoes,

green bell peppers, red onions, perhaps some cucumber,

cilantro and other seasonings

and a salad.

I chose the meatballs and sauce, basmati rice,

the flavorful veggie dish

(I need to figure out the name of that dish),

brown basmati rice with slivered carrots and raisins

and a yam and black bean curry dish.

Please note that I don't normally like black beans,

but I liked this dish - a lot.

In fact, there was a lot I liked about this meal.

Hummus on toast was presented to us.

I loved this dish.






We also had some flat bread.



The only thing that could have made this better is if we

had had some good olive oil in which to dip the bread.





But the piece de resistance?




The baklava.



I have had baklava at another restaurant in B-town before.



There was no contest.



This baklava wins.

Hands down.



The Foodie Daughter and I wanted to lick the plate clean.



It was just that good.

The Taste of Bloomington

This is a busy weekend in B-town

what with the Bloomington Garden Walk,

The Arts Fair on the Square

and The Taste of Bloomington all happening.

In addition, this year the city is also hosting judges for

America in Bloom.

The judges are checking out the local scenery.

Fingers are crossed that we will win

for our size city in America.

Admission for the Taste of Bloomington is $6 per person,

with children under 12 getting in free (presumably with an adult).

So that is $12 for the Foodie Daughter and me.

Do you like the Rent-a-Fence?

Perhaps a couple of potted plants

would have spruced things up a bit?

Click on the photo to see the map

and list of participating restaurants, wineries and breweries.

It's not yet too busy at 3:30 pm.

At this hour The Pirate Flags were playing.

I had never heard of them before.
I have to say I kind of liked them.

And I do have a soft spot for
"International Talk Like a Pirate Day,"
which is celebrated every September 19.

Unfortunately,
the stage faced due west with no shade in sight.
I felt sorry for the band.

More food booths.

Ah, here's our chance to see whose cuisine is supreme...

Er, sorry about that.

Last year I visited Fatman's Barbecue and liked it.

The Foodie Daughter and I noted that Smokin'Jack's Rib Shack

was also here, so we could finally see which we liked better.

We bought a pulled barbecue pork sandwich and a potato salad

from Fatman's.

Mr. Fatman assured us that while it was his mother's recipe

for the potato salad, he had perfected it.

Next, we went down to the Smokin' Jack's/Kilroy's booth

and got a pulled pork sandwich there.

Our offering from Fatman's.

Total cost: $3.00.

Smokin' Jack's version.

Cost: $2.00.

The verdict?

We both agreed that Fatman's was more tender,

while Smokin' Jack's sauce was slightly better.

However,

I know from experience that one gets extra sauce

on the side at Fatman's.

So more info is needed....

Smokin' Jack's has a smokin' hot smoker.

(ahem, guys, please ignore the cute girls in the forefront)

However,

Smokin' Jack's is also owned by Kilroy's Sports Bar,

so they lose the indie vote.

Now, this gentleman standing is Fatman.

I can tell you that he is a character.

So...

Drumroll please...

Fatman's BBQ wins the taste test!

Eternal fame is bestowed upon the winners.*

*Eternal fame is fleeting and exists solely

in the minds of the bestower

and the winners.

Sobon is a Korean restaurant in town.

I chose the grilled beef rib.

Delicious, but quite difficult to eat in this setting.

I was given a plastic fork (which was useless),

but ended up grabbing a rib bone with a napkin

and nibbled on the rib.

I might have to brave the university traffic

and try that place out sometime.

Cost: $3.00.

Disclaimer:

I have had a gyro (properly pronounced yiro) before

at the Trojan Horse,

but it has been at least ten years.

My favorite place to get a gyro, Macri's,

closed a couple of years ago

and I have been in mourning since.

Cost of a half gyro from the Trojan Horse: $4.00.

And this was my absolute favorite item at the Taste.

This offering came from One World Catering & Events

and was the Watermelon, feta and mint salad with

a prosciutto-wrapped honeydew melon on a toasted bruschetta

with aged balsamic vinegar.

I also appreciated the bamboo tray and spoon/fork.

Cost: $3.00.

We needed something cool to drink,

so I got two lemon shake ups from Scotty's Brewhouse.

Total cost $4.

The sugared-rim was a nice touch.

My last indulgence of the day was from

Talons Restaurant at Eagle Pointe.

Here we have mango salsa with tortilla chips.

Cost: $ 1.00.

I was surprised to find that the showers fountain wasn't running.







Baking in the hot sun.

Why look,

there are opportunities to learn everywhere!

The Waiter/Waitress Race**

**Awkward! Why not call it the Servers' Race?

After all, B-town is all about political-correctness.

Let's see if I can remember the rules:

the first server has to fill a pitcher from the bucket,

then fill the wine glass.

Then the server must carry the glass on a tray with one hand

on a winding obstacle coarse before returning to empty

the wine glass into a carafe.

Each member of the team must repeat until the carafe overflows.

In the final heat,

the team must then pop the cork on a champagne bottle

in order to win.

And they're off!

So far Scotty's Brewhouse is in the lead.

And they win!

Something.

I don't know what; we were hot and got bored

and wandered off before we could hear the details.

We do know that eight teams participated,

although we can't agree on just what restaurants were represented.

Ah, today's youth.

Where would they be without texting?

Back to the Taste.

It was nice.

But would I do it again?

It would depend on what the weather was like

and what restaurants are participating.

The Foodie Daughter has already begged off

any future Taste of Bloomington outings.

I can tell you that yesterday's outing

cost me $32.00,

and that was without buying any alcohol.

But still, it was an interesting time and I'm glad I went.