This is a fun mural that we found called elephant in the room. We took some fun cool pictures with…read moreit in the umbrella and had a good time.

You will find this mural in a small alleyway. It is the work of San Francisco artist Cameron Moberg…read morewho painted the piece 2018. It depicts an elephant showering a rainbow of water from his trunk. It invites invites the viewer to stand under the umbrella for a perfect photo opt with them appearing to hold the umbrella. Moberg explains the piece as Playful and interactive yet still has deep meaning. If you look closely at the painting you will see butterflies on the snout, which Moberg intended to represent change. And the paint and interaction is the joy we can receive from other cultures when we start to get past differences. Moberg chose an elephant because it is an animal that is not native to Indiana. He hopes that seeing a non-native creature could this subconsciously bring change. This mural's artwork is on point. I also like what the artist is trying to convey. Luckily, he explained the piece or it would have been missed completely, at least by me. I am also a sucker for interactive art. You will see another mural next to this one, depicting a large blue bird, with rainbow colored wings, in flight, leading a trail of feather. I do not think that they are part of the same mural, but they are both by Moberg. There is some free street parking available in front of the alley that the mural is located. There is also some space in the back of the alley to park. I just parked on the street. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. Fun fact: The elephant is painted using 7 shades of teal.

Pretty and peaceful bridge. There is some public art on it as well as picturesque views of the…read moreriver. I didn't realize just how close DT Lafayette is with a quick stroll across this lovely bridge. There are some nice trails near it, as well, if you'd like to go on a bike ride or stroll.

As part of the revitalization of the downtown areas of Lafayette and West Lafayette, the John T…read moreMyers Pedestrian Bridge and the Riehle Plaza have become symbols of people coming together. The stroll across the Wabash is not that difficult and the bridge easily accommodates a large number of people. Festivals are held here. As part of the revitalization, a new multi-purpose building is going up next to the plaza which will provide a large patio area overlooking the plaza and bridge. Across 2nd Street is the "Gateway" (see separate review). On the bridge, the "Millenium Sundial" was created in 1999 by artist David Aho. It stands nearly 8 feet tall on a 4 feet square base. The sculpture is on the Lafayette side of the bridge close to the south railing. Although it may have been moved during construction, there was also a memorial sculpture east of the bridge along the upper area of the plaza. The memorial sculpture is called "World Split Assunder" by local artist Mark Parmenter. It was dedicated on Sept 11th, 2003 on the second anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack. The sculpture shows the twin towers with the Pentagon turned on its side to look like a rising star. The towers and Pentagon are made of aluminum. The base of the sculpture is made of limestone and includes a globe that has been split in half with the halves located on each side of the towers. The overall height of the installation is 12 feet. Review #1403

This is a small, but well done tribute to Gold Star families that is among many other memorials in…read morethe Tippecanoe War Memorial (a sub-section of Colombian Park). It was dedicated in May 2015 and honors the families of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. It costed about $60,000 to build. It is in a very picturesque and located on a man made lagoon island, that is nicknamed memorial Island. The memorial is primarily a sculpture. It is an abbreviated version of more recent one, has 2 granite slab panels, and was made by the Louisville-based Woody Williams Foundation. The two panels form a cutout silhouette of a solder rendering a hand salute, along with the gold-etched words, "Gold Star Families, a tribute to Mothers, Fathers and family members who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom" with a large gold star above it on the first panel and "PATRIOT Honoring All Men and Women who served Our Country" below an image of the Iwo Jima flag raining on the second panel. The seals of the 5 branches of service are long the base of the sculpture. The memorial has a little bench in front of and facing it that you can sit and reflect and there is a nice flower garden that surrounds it. This is a nice place to reflect and pay respects to those members of the Armed Forces that made the ultimate sacrifice. There are not many memorials or monuments dedicated to Gold Star families, but that number is growing every month. Currently, there are less than 120 nationwide. The Woody Williams foundation has made these monuments in all 50 states and Guam. Indiana has 2 of them, the other two being in Fishers and Indianapolis. The front of each monument is the same, but some of them are personalized on the reverse side to suit each respective community. This one, in Lafayette does not have anything on the back.

I've been visiting West Lafayette for many years but never noticed this magnificent fountain until…read moremy visit to the Courthouse in September. The fountain is amazing - my first thought was just "wow". The fountain was designed by Laredo Taft in 1887. The statue honors General Lafayette, the city namesake. His figure stands majestically over the pool below. Panels around the base also honor John Purdue (namesake of Purdue University), an artesian well beneath the fountain, early pioneers of the city, Union solders who fought in the Civil War, and William Digby (founder of Lafayette). The fountain is surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Local business workers sat around the fountain eating lunch or reading in the serene setting and the sounds of the fountain water. There is free street parking about a block away. The fountain and Courthouse are definitely worth a visit.

Famous American sculptor Lorado Taft from Illinois was selected to create the magnificent fountain…read moreon the northeast corner of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. In 1887, the piece was erected on the site and appears to have undergone some TLC along with the courthouse. The main figure atop the fountain is that of the Marquis de Lafayette who was instrumental in helping the inexperienced and underfunded American military during the Revolutionary War. Below that life sized figure, there are four oval reliefs and below that, an octagonal shape with each of the sides bearing an ornate framing around the names of honorees with ties to the city. Honorees are quite varied and include pioneers, soldiers, John Purdue, and William Digby, the town founder. Earlier versions of the courthouse are also honored. Although the honorees may be somewhat random, the overall beauty of the work is fantastic. Review #1410

Outside of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering on the Purdue University campus is the…read moreEngineering Fountain. This has become an icon, not only of the university but also of West Lafayette, Indiana. It is made up of several structures surrounding a central stream of water. During the non-winter months this fountain is alive drawing the campus towards it. In the winter you can walk right through it when traversing from building to building. Right in the middle of many buildings, the Engineering Fountain is a must-see.

On the north end of the Purdue central campus is a plaza that has become a landmark of the West…read moreLafayette area. The Engineering Fountain is a plaza that is circular in design with an water installation in the center. The installation called "Class of 1939 Water Sculpture" was installed 50 years later by Robert Youngman in 1989. This concrete structure has four axis pieces reaching 38 feet in height. In the center is a geyser of water shooting 588 gallons per minute. For safety (some students had tried running through the fountain), a cylinder surrounds the upward water jet so students can still get wet from the falling water, but not take a direct blast from the jets. The water feeds back into the reservoir underneath and is recycled. To the perimeter of the plaza, landscaped lawns with flower beds add color to the area. Trees offer shade along the brick path that encircles the park. Elevated plantings complete the circular pattern while allowing sidewalks to pass through. Although I have not seen it at night, there are 280 colored lights directed at the fountain to add a dynamic visual to the park. Review #1130

Lafayette 7 has smaller theaters than Eastside 9. I'm not sure if any have the reclining seats yet…read more I have yet to see that and I went to Lion King on opening weekend. The theaters feature stadium seating so recliners may not be feasible, although there is a flat floor section up front. The theaters have "rocker" chairs which allows the person in front of you to lean back right into your knees. The last time, my wife had a huge guy in front of her that due to his weight was leaning back and practically in her lap. His female companion sitting in front of me was very animated during parts of Lion King, bouncing in her seat (and this was an adult, not a child!) when certain scenes excited her. Luckily she didn't bang into my knees. This would be my second choice for a local theater, only if I can't get the times I want at Eastside.

Seats are old and cloth but visually clean. The issue I have with this place is that they straight…read moreup did not clean the theatre between movie showings and just gave a limp 'ok' when we notified them of the issue. This is why I'll continue going to Flix Brewhouse in Carmel. Better service and cleanliness. The least they could have done was to send someone in to clean but the teenage manager couldn't care less.

Near the Purdue University Airport, a small plaza exists near Hangar 6. The plaza is dedicated to…read morethose who passed away in pursuing their dream of flying. An airplane wing is erected in the plaza and has a poem "High Flight" written by Canadian Fighter Pilot Ace John Gillespie Magee Jr inscribed upon it. The plaza is surrounded by a landscaped area. The poem on the side states: "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, -- and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew -- And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, - Put out my hand, and touched the face of God." John Gillespie Magee Jr - 1941 Review #1464