Events & Festivals

Erik over at Laughing Stalk gave us a head's up about the Flavor of Fishers this weekend.

This is a first ever event, presented by the Fishers Chamber of Commerce and Community Hospital North, will be held on Saturday, August 2, from noon – 10 pm at USA Parkway Circle (behind Sallie Mae).

Check out Erik's site for the complete details!

The Marion County Public Library booksale continues through this week-end, with Friday being the half-price sale day and Saturday being the "$5 For A Bag Of Books" day. Even without these great deals, prices start at $1 for a book, so there's no reason not to do a little browsing.

Book sales are held at the Library Services Center, which is located at 2450 N. Meridian. For more information, visit the Marion County Library website.

Continue reading "Scenes from the Broadripple Art Fair"

via a handy press release from Crime Stoppers:

Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana (wow, they have a really ugly site) is partnering with Shred-It and Office Depot to help citizens protect themselves from identity theft.

One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft is protect your personal information. Many people and small businesses have stored documents for years because they do not have the time or resources to dispose of the records that have accumulated.

On April 28th, 2007 for a tax deductible donation of $5 per bankers box, you can watch as your documents are instantly destroyed by one of the giant Shred-It high speed cross cutting machines. This is the same process many of the largest businesses in Indiana use every day to dispose of their important records. All proceeds will be donated to the Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana reward fund which is used to solve serious felony crimes throughout the Central Indiana community.

You can take advantage of this opportunity to protect your identity by bringing your old documents to one of the Community Shred Day events on April 28th, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The following Office Depot locations will host sites for the Community Shred Day:

12417 North Meridian Street, Carmel, Indiana

4200 South East Street, Indianapolis, Indiana

1276 US 31 North, Greenwood, Indiana

Registration is open for Gencon -- "the best four days in gaming, period." The convention takes place August 16th to the 19th in the Indiana Convention Center.

Join gamers, role-players, LARPers, fan-boys, cosplayers, anime lovers, armchair generals and sci-fi/fantasy personalities of all stripes for the biggest gaming convention in the world. If you've never been, it's four days of table-top, role-playing, and video gaming (and tons more) the likes of which you've never seen, and it all takes place here in Indianapolis.

The IMAX theater celebrated it's 10th Anniversary on Saturday with a record-setting cake over 11 yards long - 10 yards for each year of it's operation, and an extra yard to cheer the Colts on to victory in today's AFC Championship game.

Yards of Yummy Goodness

Continue reading "IMAX Theater Celebrates 10 Years with Giant Cake"

I will most definitely be attending this event with camera in hand to take pictures.

The IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum will culminate its weeklong 10th anniversary celebration by serving free slices of an 11-yard-long cake to the community.

Designed by hospitality students at Ivy Tech Community College – Central Indiana, 10 yards of the cake will resemble IMAX film stock and each yard will symbolize one year that the theater has been operation. An eleventh yard will be decorated in honor of the Colts, and will include a little well-wishing from IMAX for a “super-big” game on Sunday and encouragement to go the extra yard. The cake will be baked and designed by the students using a patent-pending icing called Chocó pan, created by Ivy Tech adjunct faculty member, Linda Shonk. Some of the designs will be 3-D.

The cake’s 11-yard length will make it a record attempt for the nation’s longest cake. Former Colts linebacker and WIBC talk show host Joe Staysniak will officially measure the cake with football yard markers manned by members of The Indiana Officials Association, including one official who will be involved in Sunday’s game.

Former White River State Park directors and commission chairs will be on hand to help cut the cake.

WHEN:
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007
Celebration starts at 1 p.m.
Cake-cutting at 2 p.m.

WHERE:
The IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum O’Bannon Grand Hall
650 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis

February 9 at the Indiana History Center: Actor/director/producer Sydney Pollack (a Lafayette native!) will show and discuss his new documentary film Sketches about architect Frank Gehry. Pollack will hold a Q&A session with the audience following the screening. Visitors can also learn more about Pollack's foray into film by visiting the IHS exhibition Hoosiers in Hollywood. Program support for this event provided by Heartland Film Festival.

Call 317.232.1882 to order tickets ($15, or $12 for IHS and Heartland Circle of Friends members).

Hello everybody! A while ago St. Mykal was kind enough to invite me to contribute to Indyscribe, but due to mysterious technical issues I couldn't get up and running until now. It's a couple of months late, but I'm posting my write-up of the 2006 Brick Street Chili Cook-Off in Zionsville, as it was the article that spurned Mr. Packer to make his invitation.

If you like chili and/or open air drinking, give it a read!

Saturday, October 14 2006, was yet another Brick Street Chili Cook off in Zionsville... bout 'time for a recap.

Continue reading "Brick Street Chili Cook-Off 2006"

The self-induced torture continues, with a trip with my in-laws to Winterfair. (Read more about my love-hate relationship with craft fairs and festivals from last week.)

Admission: $7; free, 12 and under. Good both days.

I have higher hopes for this event that last week's craft and hobby show, for the following reasons:

Continue reading "Weekend Plans for November 17: Winterfair and Thanksgiving Shopping"

You know the adage, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it?" That goes hand in hand with the definition of crazy (or is it stupid)?: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. In this case, both apply.

Tomorrow, my mother-in-law and I are going to the 57th annual Christmas Gift & Hobby Show at the State Fairgrounds. Exhibitors include Almost Christmas, Country Bunny Bath & Body, and Classy Lady Boutique. (I'll take two, please!)

Every year, I find myself a willing attendee of art fairs, craft shows, and holiay bazaars, hoping to find gifts and art that are truly unique, arresting, or otherwise purchase-worthy. I almost always go away empty handed. Too many teddy bears dressed in calico dresses and clothes with glittery shit stuck on them. Wouldn't these fairs do a better business if they broadened their scope a little to include stuff that 20- and 30-somethings wanted? (Maybe that demographic is at home on a Saturday morning, recovering from hangovers or chasing young offspring around.) As my husband likes to point out, "You're not the target market."

Still, I am compelled to go. Part of the reason is so I can spend time with people I like (yes, I like my mother-in-law), and part of the reason is that I still expect to unearth the cool painting or excellent birthday present. After all, you just never know.

Canstruction is a national community service project of the design and construction industry to benefit community food banks. Architects and engineers, in cities across the country, compete to design and build fantastic giant-sized structures made entirely out of canned food. After the winners are chosen in each city the creations go on view to the general public. At the close of the competition all of the food used in the canstructions is donated to the local food banks for distribution to community feeding programs. Over 80 cities participated in the 2006 Canstruction competition, including Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The Flickr Photo Pool for Canstruction shows lots of sculptures from past competitions and some of the 2006 contruction.

After we saw the 2005 competition in New York, I went to family Thanksgiving in Iowa, and discovered they do a very similar event -- each year, one of the local churches in Washington, Iowa sculpts a giant cornucopia from harvested food from local farmers, which is then donated to food kitchens.

Similar concepts, one with an urban and one with a rural feel.

I went shopping on lunch, and heard Christmas music in the store for the first time this year. Seems a little early to me, but it reminded me that the Indianapolis Symphony will soon be performing its annual Yuletide Celebration concerts—and it's never too early to get tickets for that series, for it's very popular. The Yuletide Celebration features instrumental and choral holiday music, plus dancers, guest tenor Mike Eldred, and even Santa himself—there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Fortunately, you have something like 27 performances to choose from! Check out their December calendar to see all the date and time options for the 2006 Yuletide Celebration. There are even some "SuperSaver" performances during the week, where you can save up to $15 per ticket compared to the weekend performances. The Yuletide Celebration concerts are sponsored by Duke Energy.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that connects neighborhoods, cultural districts and entertainment amenities, and serves as the downtown hub for the central Indiana greenway trail system.

Launch Events

Saturday, October 14th
Location: English Foundation Building, corner of North and Alabama streets

Be among the first in Indianapolis to see the route and design elements of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail-the 7.5-mile path that will be the downtown hub for central Indiana's greenway trail system and an icon for the urban development and cultural attractions that have come to define our city.

Civic and community leaders, downtown residents and commuters will gather for festivities to unveil the plans for the Cultural Trail. The event, hosted by the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) and the City of Indianapolis, commemorates the vision and mission to link neighborhoods, cultural districts and entertainment amenities throughout downtown Indianapolis.

Information fair: 10 a.m. - noon

Downtown neighbors and trails enthusiasts should plan to attend this fun family event.

Trail tours: noon - 2 p.m.

The public is invited to tour nearby sections of the Cultural Trail route on bike to learn more about how the trail will connect and enhance the neighborhoods and attractions along its path.

Construction Plans for the Trail

Construction of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will be done in six corridor stages over three years, beginning in 2007.

Volunteer for the 18th Annual White River Cleanup and help keep Indianapolis beautiful! In just one morning, you can help rid the White River floodplain of a year's worth of accumulated trash and restore the natural habitat.

   Date: November 11 (rain date: November 12)
   Time: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
   Meeting Location: The DPW garage parking lot, 1735 S. West Street

Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required for all participants. Check out the IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science site for driving directions and more details. And be sure to click around and look at their other projects—they have cleanup and planting projects throughout the year, in parks and greenways all over town.

I've never been a fan of the local seasonal haunted houses that take their inspiration from slasher movies and gore fests. I'm more of a fan of the "spooky Victorian Gothic spine-tingler" (like "The Others") and was happy to learn we've had a seasonal event like that here in Indianpolis for years. I'm even more happy that its located in my downtown historic neighborhood, within walking distance of my house. You know, so I can walk home after. In the dark. The spooky, spooky dark...

From Dark Pages: A Progressive Mystery Play
Morris-Butler House Museum
Weekends - Oct. 21, 22, 28 & 29th
6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

As far as we know, Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells, Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, Queen Victoria and Arthur Conan Doyle never encountered one another at the Morris-Butler House. That is one reason people have found From Dark Pages such a delightful piece of macabre Victorian fantasy. Almost every Halloween since 1992, the ever-changing progressive mystery play has led audience members upstairs, downstairs and all around the house museum in search of the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper.

Along the way, visitors meet well-known nineteenth-century characters from both life and literature.

Cost is $10 per person and reservations are required. Call 636.5409 or visit the Historic Landmarks site for information and reservations.

Indianapolis Downtown Inc. also provides us with a big list of other Halloween-related events, including one Brent (and other Sammy Terry fans) will love -- an autograph signing with the legendary horror movie host.

Continue reading "From Dark Pages: A Progressive Mystery Play"

Catch the St. Joan of Arc French Market today from noon to 10 p.m. at 4217 Central Avenue, Indianapolis. Admission is free. They have bands, raffles, and a children's area, but they mostly have food, wine, and beer. Come hungry and ready to open your wallet, because if you like to eat, trust me: you'll be burning through a lot of tickets. The great thing about the French Market is the opportunity to eat stuff that one doesn't normally see on the festival circuit: provencal chicken, escargot, ice cream crepes, and tenderloin tips in wine sauce are just a few of the options. Plus, it's a gorgeous day, and you didn't really want to work on the yard, anyway, did you?

Next Tuesday, September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, the day where you can talk like a pirate, all day, just for fun. Why, you ask? Well, why not?

You can celebrate locally by attending the Second Annual Hogeye Navvy International Talk Like A Pirate Day concert, which is a few days after the event itself.

Friday September 22 at 6:30 p.m.
German Liederkranz Club
1417 East Washington Street
Indianapolis

If you'd like to attend, email Mac (from the band Hogeye Naavy) to reserve your $15 $10 ticket for this event.

Hogeye Navvy is an acoustic, shanty-singing band whose repertoire expands to include the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, England, and North America. The band has performed for years around Indianapolis at everything from wedding receptions to pubs to a pre-show for a boxing match.

Special prizes for the kids who participate in costume and pirate-talk contests and other events. The Club has a bar that will be open and there will be food (really good food at really reasonable prices) available for purchase.

There is parking that is free in a well-lighted lot across the street in the Fraternal Order of Police lot. This building is NOT handicapped accessible due to the flight of stairs leading to the concert hall. No elevator is available.

11th Annual Indy Irish Fest
September 15-17, 2006
Military Park
Downtown Indianapolis

The Indy Irish Festival is the Midwest’s premiere celebration of Irish heritage, offering traditional music, dance, cultural activities, and family fun! You can save by getting tickets in advance at a number of Indianapolis locations.

The Fishers Ren Faire is returning after a successful first run last year. Steph was there last year, and so was I. Even if you're not into jesters, jousters, or jugglers, I'd still recommend this for the overall experience.

When: September 30-October 1st, 10:00am – 6:00pm ("Rain or shine")
Where: Heritage Park (Map)
Cost: Adults - $6, Ages 5 to 12 - $2, Ages 4 and under free

National early-education organization Jumpstart is hosting Read for the Record, a one-day event to set the mark for the largest shared reading experience ever.

Be part of the world record for the number of children reading the same book in a single day with an adult—come to the zoo with your kids on August 24 and join families across the country in reading the campaign's official book, The Little Engine that Could. While you're there, stop by the Pearson Education ABC Book-making Event, where your kids can personalize a book to take home.

This event is about more than hitting a benchmark for a world record; it's about sharing the "I Think I Can" message of this classic book with children who need additional support and development in their earliest educational years. Jumpstart currently provides one-on-one attention to more than 10,000 preschool children to help them build the language, literary, and social skills they need when entering kindergarten—giving them a great foundation for their lifelong schooling.

The nationwide Read for the Record event is sponsored by Pearson Education, Penguin, Starbucks, American Eagle Outfitters, and The TODAY Show. Pearson Education and Penguin have employees here in Indianapolis who will be staffing the Read for the Record event at the Zoo.

When: August 24, 1:00 p.m.
Where: Indianapolis Zoo
Book: The Little Engine that Could
Learn more and register to participate: readfortherecord.org

Jumpin' Jehosephats! Hang on to your saddles, coz it's going to be a bumpy ride. The week-end of August 12th looks like it's going to be a full one. Sure, the race might bring in a couple people from out of town, but that's nothing compared to what I'm calling GeekRock WeekEnd! Mark your calendars now.

Continue reading "Geeks... Rock... It's Indy!"

"ICAAN Find It" is a Indianapolis-based scavenger hunt event exploring the city's hot spots, for fun and a good cause, taking place at the end of April in downtown Indianapolis. I have a team that will be in the running, and you can put one together, too. Visit the event page to get complete information on how to register your team.

WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, April 29th, 2006
Indianapolis City Market
222 E. Market Street (Corner of Market and Pennsylvania)
8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Team Packet Pick Up & Registration
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ICAAN Find That! Scavenger Hunt
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Lunch, Entertainment, raffles
2:00 p.m. Awards

Continue reading "Scavenger Hunt to benefit ICAAN"

Controversy has been brewing over Perry Meridian High School's decision to preform the musical "Ragtime" (opening February 23rd) because the play contains racial epithets. In fact, the controversy over the play led to a school board meeting Monday night, where they decided they show must go on, but with a warning to viewers about the content.

Ragtime is set in the early 1900's and the subject matter includes examination of racial tensions, designed to raise awareness of race issues in American history. Apparently that examination is too real for some sensitive potential theater-goers. The play appeared on Broadway in 1988, and is critically acclaimed and considered by some to be one the best American musicals. It features a very large cast and complex musical numbers, so for a high school to take it on as a production is very ambitious.

Perry Township's school site indicates that tickets are $10 for reserved seating and $8 for general admission, but I wasn't able to find any information on where to reserve tickets. If you're interested in attending, I'd suggest calling the school and asking about where to obtain tickets at (317) 789-4400. The musical is presented in three shows at Thursday, February 23rd at 7 p.m., Saturday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 26th at 2 p.m. Perry Meridian High School is located at 401 West Meridian School Road.

From the Arts Council of Indianapolis, you can get an Indy Arts Card free that gets you discounts on a bunch of different arts and cultural events around town.

And the Arts Council of Indianapolis has redesigned their site since I visited last. It's very perky and easier to navigate. And they have RSS feeds for events listings. I'm all about the RSS feed, people. You can build your own feed with events that you want to hear about included. That's nicely done. I build a feed to grab every event possible. I should just build that into the right nav of this site, when I get a free moment to do it.

Ooo, check it out: a Big Band Dance Concert at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on Valentines Day. That's fun. Wow, there's a lot of stuff on their calendar.

WFYI is hosting their annual Indy Wine Fest this Friday, February 10 from 5:30-8 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom (140 West Washington Street). $50 buys you lots of wine and hopefully some food (although the web site was a little vague about that). Pony up $100 and you get access to the balcony, where they hide the better wine and fancy pants hors d’oeuvres. 10% of sale of all wines that night benefits Public Broadcasting in Central Indiana.

Many Indiana wineries are represented, including Butler, Chateau Thomas, Oliver, and Easley.

Frankly, I'm on the fence about going because I simply can't find enough information. I'd like to know what kind of food, if any, will be coating my stomach against the wine onslaught. I'm no expert, but I recognize a lot of these as the second-from-the-bottom-shelf big bottle wines that are sure to give you a hangover. There are some good ones in there, but I'd ask a wine-knowledgeable friend to go through the list with a highlighter ahead of time. Once you're there, sorting the wheat from the chaff could be tricky.

The higher-end Connoisseur wine list looks promising, but $100 is a lot of dough. I could buy two very nice bottles for that kind of money.

Then again, this is a Fest, which means it should be festive, right? Festive! It makes me want to wear spangly earrings and laugh gaily. ha ha ha! I'm having a fest!

Seriously, has anyone been to this thing before? Is it worth it?

Here's still more photographic evidence that, yes, Fishers had a ren faire. As someone who loved playing Dungeons & Dragons as a kid, this brought back a flood of (imagined) memories. I think the thing that pleases me most about these kinds of events (Conner Prairie, Civil War reenactments, etc.) is that your belief can be suspended one moment, and completely obliterated the next.

Continue reading "Ye Olde Fishers Ren Faire"

The historic Irvington community in east Indianapolis was named after Washington Irving because it reminded residents of the town in Irving's famed story "Sleepy Hollow." Located between Emerson and Arlington avenues along Washington Street, Irvington has its share of ghost stories and is proud to lead visitors through them on its annual Ghost Tours, which take place during the Irvington Halloween Festival that has been a community staple since 1947.

The Annual Irvington Halloween Festival

A popular event with attendance between 5 and 10 thousand each year, the Festival features 35 events over the course of several days, with the main festival taking place this year on Saturday, October 29th, right on Washington Street, which is closed between Ritter and Arlington for the event.

The Festival features booths, children's activities, a parade and a main stage. Some of the highlights include a Harry Potter Trivia Tournament, a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, Spooky Stories in the Park, and a Wacky Witch puppet show.

Third Annual Ghosts and Infamous Places of Historic Irvington Tour

Evenings, Friday Oct. 21, Friday Oct. 28 and Saturday Oct. 29, at 7 and 9 p.m., tickets available at Lazy Daze Coffee, 10 S. Johnson St.

The tour includes a dozen stops; among them the D. C. Stephenson mansion (where the KKK leader kidnapped and murdered Madge Oberholtzer), Masonic Lodge #666, and the murder and burial spot of ten-year-old Howard Pitezel, the last known victim of Dr. H. H. Holmes, America's first serial killer of "Devil in the White City" fame.

I should mention that after I read the bestselling novel Devil in the White City, I spent some time digging around to find the house mentioned where Holmes killed his last victim and hid his body in a chimney. I was surprised to learn recently that the property is owned by someone I know.

The First Annual Fishers Renaissance Faire this weekend was a blast. I don't have prior Ren Faire experience to compare it to, so I'll have to leave that part of the review to other folks, but I was entertained and educated the entire day. Considering the size of the crowd that attended on Saturday, other people seemed to feel the same way. The Faire planners expected attendance to be around 5,000 people, but the actual number was over 13,000.

Continue reading "Fishers Renaissance Faire: Huzzah!"

Fishers, Indiana is throwing it's first annual Renaissance Faire this year on the weekend of October 8 in Heritage Park.

The Faire will feature dozens of activities including short Shakespeare productions, jousting, fencing, sword combat, madrigal singers, gaming tournaments, story tellers, bards, and a royal court, as well as a kid's carnival area. There will be Renaissance merchants selling costumes, toys and games, pottery, swords and shields, and jewelry.

There are no pets allowed at the festival because a Falconer will be performing. Parking for the Faire will be at two remote parking sites, with shuttles to Heritage Park. Look for directional signs to free RenFaire Parking at intersections in Fishers. Admission is Adults: $5.00, Children 7-12: $2.00, Children 6 and under: Free.

There will be at least three IndyScribers attending, so expect some great pictures of this first-of-its-kind event.

This weekend is the 30th annual James Dean Museum Days in Fairmount, Indiana. The festival kicked off yesterday, and continues through Monday with events including a very large antique car show, a parade through town, showings of Dean's movies, a "rock & lasso" contest as seen in the movie "Giant," a James Dean look-alike contest, and numerous other events.

Fairmount is located about an hour and a half drive north of Indianapolis off I-69 North.

James Dean grew up in Fairmount, Indiana, and was buried there in Park Cemetery after his death in an auto accident in September of 1955.

We won't have an IndyScribe presence at the festival this year to do a review, but I've attended in years past and had a fun time. The car show alone is worth a visit.

The Gold Star Families for Peace Bus Tour stops for a few days in downtown Indianapolis to speak and visit with Indianapolis residents. Hosted by the North Meadow Circle of Friends at 1710 North Talbott Street, the visit drew supporters from in town and outside of Indianapolis, the media, and a small handful of protestors from inside the downtown neighborhood of Herron-Morton Place.

Continue reading "Bring Them Home Now Tour Stops In Indy"

Herron-Morton Place Neighborhood in downtown Indianapolis is holding it's annual neighborhood garage sale this weekend on Saturday, August 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 20 homes in the neighborhood are participating in the event, and maps of the participating homes will be at each location.

Herron-Morton Place is a five-block square neighborhood just east of Meridian Street downtown, between 16th and 22nd streets. The borders of the neighborhood are 16th street on the south, 22nd Street on the north, Pennsylvania Street on the west, and Central Avenue on the east.

My two cents: it's pricey ($15) and can be crowded, but the grounds of the art museum are lovely, and there are lots of stages for musical and dance events, so it's more than just pretty paintings. If you're in it for the art, though, you won't be disappointed. We're not talking museum-quality heirlooms, necessarily, but the art is juried, so you don't get too much of that "stuffed animals wearing calico dresses" crap. Last year I bought an Asian-inspired watercolor for myself, and the year before that I bought a woodblock print for a gift. My friend Kate, who collects pottery, seemed please with some of the artists she found. There's plenty of food and bev, and if I recall, they sell beer. (This is important to know ahead of time, as I found out during my recent outing to the state fair with my mother-in-law to see Clay Aiken in concert, where I realized too late that they don't sell alcohol. Oh, the humanity.)

Where and When: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Saturday September 10, 9-5
For more information, here's the Penrod Web site.

And other photos of our "Great State Fair."

Area Man (he looks like a guy that would be in an actual Onion photo!) Don't get it? It's a joke about headlines like this or this.

Continue reading "Area Man Eats Chicken At Indiana State Fair"

We got a great tip from our neighbors; last night dozens of hot air balloons were set up and displayed for the public at an event called the "Balloon Glow".

This morning, these same balloons raced to Greenwood (maybe Greenfield?).

Continue reading "Balloon Glow at the Fair Grounds"

The original "fringe" festival was an impromptu theatre happening on the edge of the Edinburgh International Festival in 1947, in which eight uninvited theater companies camped out at the edges of the official event and began performing, attracting attention from the festival goers. Indianapolis' 10-day event will include over 30 theater companies from Indianapolis and around the world, and will perform new and not-so-new theater in the Massachusetts Avenue theater district, for a price that everyone can afford: shows cost $10. See the website for shows and ticket information.

After a mercurial spring, I am so ready for summer: Muggy, sweaty, stultifying, tick-infested, crime-rate-increasing, glorious summer. Here’s why.

Continue reading "Summer's a-Comin'"

Dining Out for Life is an annual fundraising event held in 33 cities across America with all the proceeds benefiting respective HIV/AIDS organizations in their communities. On Thursday, April 14th, these fine Indianapolis restaurants will be contributing 25% of their food sales to The Damien Center. (The Damien Center provides and coordinates comprehensive services and education to persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in our community and offers free and confidential testing designed to limit the spread of HIV.)

Continue reading "Dining Out For Life - Thursday, April 14th"

Today is the Spring Equinox (a.k.a. the first day of spring). Since December 22nd, our days have been getting longer; longer to a point that for today, we will enjoy a full 12 hours of sunlight. Regardless of what that rat in Punxsutawney, PA says, Spring is here. Get out and enjoy it!

On Saturdays in January, February & March this year, the Zoo will have a brand new activity for kids - Story Time at the Zoo! See your favorite storybook characters come to life at Story Time at the Zoo. This all new event gives your little ones the chance to meet Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Corduroy Bear, Stellaluna, Curious George, and Winnie the Pooh up close and in person! (yeah! people in mascot outfits!)

Continue reading "Story Time At the Zoo"

Are you kicking yourself because you didn't register for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon before it sold out on Dec. 13? This year it's allowing transfers for the first time. To find out more visit their Web site.

From January 14-16, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library will hold the first of its 2005 book sales at the Library Services Center on 24th and Meridian.

Continue reading "Event: Library Book Sale"

A 750-pound, 10-foot-high, 18-foot-long and 8-foot-wide red arrow will travel around Indianapolis to major events throughout the year, to highlight arts and sporting events, building projects and other big attractions, according to Grant County's Chronicle Tribune, which provides a list of events where the giant red arrow is scheduled to appear. There's also a list on the Indianapolis Convention and Visitor's Association site.

The Indianapolis Star put together a list of "what and who will be noteworthy in the Indianapolis arts scene this year." And it's a big yawner, to say the least. My favorite noteworthy event is that Deer Creek (I refuse to use the corporate name for the concert facility, and you can't make me) is getting another gateway and expanded roads to ease traffic snarls at the venue north of Indianapolis. I'm not denying that it needs to happen, but is it one of the hot events of 2005?

Continue reading "Indy Star's "2005 hotlist" is really not that hot"

Take notice hoosiers with Seasonal Affective Disorder, for the first time in six months the amount of daylight actually increased today. That's right, those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere are now beginning to slowly tip back toward the sun (Kiwi's, you're days are now getting shorter). Take this extra daylight and use over the next couple days to shovel yourself out of the coming blizzard.

From the Indy Star: "Officials at the 500 Festival announced today the 2005 half-marathon has sold out at the earliest date in its 29 years of running.

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, which will be held on May 7, will have approximately 30,000 runners and walkers, officials said. The cap was reached today, with some paper applications yet to be processed.

The race sold out several weeks ahead of last year's record pace. Terry Powers, spokesman for the 500 Festival, attributed the early sellout to continuing strong interest in the nation's largest half-marathon, plus high demand last year."