Category: Tourism
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“Ici repose un soldat francais mort pour la patrie 1914-1918” reads the tomb of France’s unknown soldier beneath the vault of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The tomb is crowned by an eternal flame and is always wreathed with flowers and other offerings. The Arc de Triomphe is itself a war memorial. It honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The names of French victories and generals are inscribed on its inner and outer surface. Famous victory marches around or under the arc include the Germans in 1871, the French in 1919, the Germans in 1940, and the French and Allies in 1944 and 1945. (After the internment of the Unknown Soldier, military parades have avoided marching through the actual arch. The route taken is up to the arch and around its side out of respect for the tomb. Both Hilter and de Gaulle observed this custom during WWII).
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month – Armistice Day marks the ceasefire agreement that ended World War I. It took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning on November 11, 1918.
The date was declared a national holiday in many allied nations to commemorate fallen soldiers. After World War II, many countries (including the United States) changed the name of the holiday to honor veterans of all wars.
To all the veterans and current service members and their families – thank you for your service and your sacrifice!
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Pullman train car guest rooms at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Indianapolis.
Last week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation held its annual conference in Indianapolis.
The venue was an awesome example of adaptive use – a hotel and convention center housed within America’s first Union Station! Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Crowne Plaza features authentic Pullman train car guest rooms resting on their original tracks. Pretty unbelievable! Though I didn’t get to see inside the rooms, I can attest that guests can still hear the muffled rumblings of trains passing through because the hotel is adjacent to an active Amtrak train station. If you are ever in Indianapolis you should definitely check it out!
Turning Failure into Opportunity, Lexingtonians Embrace Centrepointe
Five years after an entire city block was razed in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, its people have learned to turn lemons into lemonade.
Only in Lexington, Kentucky, the “horse capital of the world”- A twilight polo match in the center of historic downtown.
Google the failed development known as Centrepointe and reams of newspaper articles and blog posts will flood your results screen. It reads like a soap opera- the (some might say greedy) developer, the hometown opposition, and the plot twist: death and financial ruin.
It started out as plan for urban renewal right out of a 1960s handbook. Developer, Dudley Webb wanted to demolish an entire city block in the center of the city’s historic center, in order to build a new mixed-use property with a hotel, restaurants, offices and condos. In the past, Webb spearheaded successful downtown development and even won awards and accolades from preservationists for his Victorian Square project. In light of this, preservationists and concerned citizens hoped to dissuade Webb from demolition. Instead, a tooth and nail battle over the fate of the block ensued.
Though the block contained some of downtown’s oldest buildings and more than a few beloved local business, and despite the fierce opposition faced by Webb, the block came down – only for the city to find that his mysterious main financial backer died suddenly. Without leaving a will.
Stomping the divots (just like in Pretty Woman!) at Centrepointe field.
The whole deal went belly up, leaving Lexington with a large grassy field at its center. Despite dozens of new designs for the development and promises by Webb that construction is eminent, the lot remains nothing but grass behind a wooden fence.
In the meantime, Webb has granted various groups in the city permission to utilize the Centrepointe field for events – a genius PR move. Festivals that once lined the streets have found a new home at Centrepointe including festivities surrounding St. Patrick’s Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Some rather unusual events have also taken place at Centrepointe, including the Alltech National Horse Show, and most recently an exhibition polo match.
Marketed as a once in a lifetime event, the twilight match was rumored to have been conceived of and executed in just 7 days! It was so fun and unique that it’s almost a shame that something will eventually be constructed on the lot. This author votes that downtown Twilight Polo should become a new Lexington tradition! Viva the grassy field!
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Cathedral St. Lazare’s spire as seen through an ancient Roman gate at the edge of the city of Autun, France. (Autumn 2006)
Autun, in the Burgandy region of France, was founded during the reign of the first Roman emperor, Augustus (after whom it was named). Several elements of Roman architecture dating from the time of Augustus, such as walls, gates, and a Roman theater, are still visible in and around the small town.
Autun Cathedral, also known as Cathedral St. Lazare, dates from the early twelfth century and is an example of Romanesque architecture. Originally, it was built to house the relics of Lazurus, a Christian martyr who was archbishop of Aix-en-Province. The cathedral is famous for its architectural sculpture, particularly the tympanum of The Last Judgement.
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Harvest time also means festival time. There have already been nearly 50 fall festivals this year in small towns all across Kentucky. I’ve been to three so far, how about ya’ll? What is your favorite harvest festival? Your favorite festival tradition?
(Mine is the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival in Evansville, In – it will be celebrating it 92nd year this weekend!)
The 39th Annual Midway Fall Festival, pictured above, took place a couple of weekends ago. It has been named one of Kentucky’s top twenty festivals. It features crafts, food, demonstrators, entertainment and children’s activities.
Midway is a classic railroad town. Its main street remains divided by the tracks and its major streets are still named after railroad officials. Random facts: it is midway between Frankfort and Lexington, hence it’s name, and it was the birthplace of Frank and Jesse James’ mother!
Happy Monday!
Bricks + Mortar 