Indiana Dunes

 

May 17, 2022

Indiana Dunes

 

Indiana Dunes National Park

Finding myself having to drive from Chicago back to Indianapolis and having all the time I wanted to make the journey, I opted to take the scenic route rather than just following the quickest path down I-65. Instead, I headed around the rim of Lake Michigan to visit one of the newest National Parks in America, the Indiana Dunes National Park.

I had visited the area, which has been protected for many years, previously, visiting the Indiana Dunes State Park, but it was my first time there since it was redesignated as the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019. The park runs for about 20 miles (32 km) along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and covers 15,349 acres . Along the lakefront, the eastern area is roughly the lake shore south to U.S. 12 between Michigan City, Indiana, on the east and the ArcelorMittal steel plant on the west.

Formed after the lake’s water levels dropped at the end of the Ice Age, the region’s dunes have slowly shifted and grown over with lush vegetation. The nature reserve consists of acres of extraordinary sand dunes and unique geology, making it an unrivaled destination for recreation and nature experiences in the state.

Large sand dunes, located beyond the entire shoreline, have taken thousands of years to form, and tower nearly 200 feet above Lake Michigan. A wide range of habitats and plant species are found in the park, with vegetation stabilizing some of the sand. These habitats provide homes for many types of plants and animals. The lake also provides a habitat for many aquatic species, as well as a constantly changing fishery.

It is a beautiful place with miles of undeveloped shoreline and the beach is great for swimming in the summer and there are plenty of hiking trails and wildlife as well. You can also get a cool view of downtown Chicago from most spots along the shore, though the metropolis seems worlds away from the natural beauty of the park.

I spent some time hiking and photographing and visited the nature center and visitor center before heading south, again off the main route, through the small Northern Indiana towns, that I have seldom passed through before. I had one additional stop that I wanted to visit before heading back.

Tippecanoe River State Park is located near the small town of Winamac, Indiana and is a state park that I had never visited before. It seemed to be located in a somewhat indirect line between the Dunes and Carmel, where I was bound, so I added it to my itinerary.

Noted for a grove of old-growth white pine trees, the park also preserves more than 2 miles (3 km) of undisturbed wetland shoreline on the Tippecanoe River. The park has ten miles of hiking trails and thirteen miles of trails designated for horseback riding and there were a number of people riding horses through the park while I was there.

The highlight for me was hiking a trail to a 90 foot tall fire tower that I was able to climb and which commands a beautiful 360 degree view above the treetops of the park and surrounding area. Built as part of the WPA projects in the 1930s, the tower is still sturdy and is pretty damn cool. I also hiked along the river, which is popular for fishing as well as kayaking and canoeing. It was another great state park to check off my list.

American Writers Festival

 

May 16, 2022

American Writers Festival

American Writers Festival

Sometimes I get to indulge multiple passions in the same trip or time period and such was the case on my first weekend of my trip to Indianapolis as I was able to take in a writers festival the day after attending the Indy Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event which was sponsored by and partially held at the American Writers Museum in Chicago was the day after the race and as soon as the race was over and I dropped my sister Michele off at home, I was back on the road to Chicago.

It was an easy drive and I booked a hotel for two nights downtown near the museum and just across the Chicago River from the House of Blues where I was going to catch a concert while in town. I had become a member of the American Writers Museum on a previous visit to the city and had been kept updated on their programming via e-mail and was thrilled to learn of their first ever Writers Festival.

The first ever festival was held on a single day at two venues, the amazing Chicago Cultural Center, which had four stages and the museum itself which is just a block up the street.  The inaugural American Writers Festival coincided with the American Writers Museum’s fifth anniversary. The free literary festival featured more than 75 beloved contemporary authors, artists and playwrights.

The Festival consisted of discussion panels and author signings with leading contemporary writers across various genres, including children’s and young adult fiction, science fiction, history, biographies, poetry, and satire, who shared insights into their craft. Participating writers addressed their perspectives on many of today’s most timely and controversial topics including immigration, book censorship, racism and equality through themes within their literature.

Before I get to the writers, I have to comment on the incredible building where the majority of the event was held. The Chicago Cultural Center, opened in 1897, is a Chicago landmark building operated by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events that houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. It is located in the Loop, across Michigan Avenue from Millenium Park. Originally the central library building, it was converted in 1977 to an arts and culture center at the instigation of Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weinberg.

The architecture is absolutely incredible and while the acoustics were not perfect, it was still a grand setting for this awesome gathering of writers. The keynote was delivered by poet Joy Harjo and writer Marie Arana and was fantastic, then it was off and running with an incredible assemblage of writers including Ashley C. Ford, Dr. Eve Ewing, Jabari Asim, Elizabeth Nunez, Jaqueline Woodson, Imani Perry, Sara Paretsky and many more.

It was a great day that went by way too fast and yet it was just the midway point of my day as after a quick dinner break, I walked across the river from my hotel to the sold-out and packed House of Blues Chicago to go see the young Jamaican musical sensation Koffee perform. A few years ago, our friend and well known Jamaican writer Nicole Dennis-Benn and her wife Emma had suggested that we check out Koffee who at that time was only nineteen.

It has taken three years, but I finally got a chance to see her, now 22. The Reggae singer, songwriter, rapper, deejay and guitarist from Spanish Town, Jamaica. She released her debut single "Burning" in 2017, and in 2019 signed with Columbia Records. Her 2019 EP, “Rapture”won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 62^nd Grammy Awards, making Koffee the youngest person and only woman to be awarded in the Best Reggae Album category.

Watching her performance, you can understand what all the hype is about. I got the feeling that I was witnessing something special and I was glad that I was able to catch her in a relatively small venue as it seems she is on the fast track to greater stardom and much larger venues in the near future. It was also clear that the frenzied crowd was in the know already as they sang along to almost every track and were as about as excited a crowd as I have been a part of in a long time. 

https://americanwritersmuseum.org/

https://www.originalkoffee.com/