Volunteers needed for 19th annual Stutz Artists Open House

Susan Mauck Studio at the Stutz. Photo provided by JTPR, Inc. Used with written permission.

By Jen Schmits Thomas
On behalf of Stutz Artists Association
http://www.stutzartists.com/

The Stutz Artists Association is looking for volunteers for the 19th annual Raymond James Stutz Artists Open House on April 27-28, 2012, at the historic Stutz Business Center.

Volunteers who work at least one three-hour shift will receive a free event T-shirt and admission to the two-day event.  In addition to enjoying the art and atmosphere of one of the city’s premier cultural events, volunteers may give directions, assist artists in their studios or help entertainers move equipment.  Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and will be asked to attend a one-hour training session.

At the event, more than 70 artists will be in their studios showing work that ranges from paintings, drawings and photography, to sculpture, jewelry and furniture.  Hours are from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27 and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, at the Stutz Business Center at 10th Street and Capitol Avenue downtown.

Admission is $12 at the gate.  Ticket proceeds support the Stutz Residency Program, a scholarship that provides free studio space and utilities for emerging local artists.

For more information or to complete a volunteer application, visit www.stutzartists.com.  Applications are due by April 1.

Editor’s Acknowledgment: JTPR, Inc.

Visitor Information for Horizon League Basketball Championship

By Ken Kosky
Indiana Dunes Tourism
http://www.indianadunes.com/

Indiana Dunes Tourism has joined Valparaiso University in welcoming the more than 10,000 visitors expected in Valparaiso for the Horizon League 2012 Men’s Basketball Championship.

Logo provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism and used with written permission.

The games, which are slated for this Friday and Saturday, March 2-3, 2012 — and possibly Tuesday, March 6 — at Valparaiso University’s Athletics-Recreation Center, feature the Valparaiso University Crusaders battling their conference foes for an automatic qualifying bid for the NCAA basketball tournament.

Indiana Dunes Tourism and Valparaiso University partnered to build a website landing page — www.indianadunes.com/horizon — specifically designed to assist the visiting teams and their fans.

The webpage has links to the Horizon League and to the Valparaiso University Athletics-Recreation Center. It also features Indiana Dunes Tourism’s dining, lodging, shopping and attractions listings in and around Valparaiso.

The webpage will also allow people to read online Porter County travel guides, map their trip, find coupons and get the latest information via Facebook.

In addition, Indiana Dunes Tourism will have a table set up at the Athletics-Recreation Center during the tournament to answer questions and to distribute brochures detailing Porter County’s businesses and attractions.

Indiana Dunes Tourism Executive Director Lorelei Weimer said she’s excited that Valparaiso University is hosting the tournament and bringing visitors to the area. Weimer said the average overnight visitor — which the teams and many of their fans are expected to be — spends about $93 per day, while the visitor in for the day spends an average of $40.

“Having the Horizon League tournament in Valparaiso will provide a big boost to the local economy,” Weimer said.

“We are excited to welcome more than 10,000 people to Valparaiso and provide them the information they need to find all the great hotels, restaurants, stores and attractions in the area.”

For more information, visit http://www.indianadunes.com/, or call 219-926-2255.

Indy Restaurant Pairings for the Big Ten Universities

Harry & Izzy's is the host for Penn State fans. AroundIndy.com staff photo.

By Brittany Smith
Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
http://www.indydt.com/

Downtown restaurants have paired up with Big Ten teams to make celebrating with like-minded fans easy during the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament (March 1-4) and the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament (March 8-11). Both events are scheduled at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 South Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Restaurant pairings are:

University of Illinois
Ram Restaurant and Big Horn Brewery, 140 South Illinois, 317-955-9900

Indiana University
Kilroy’s Bar & Grill, 201 South Meridian St, 317-638-9464

University of Iowa
Weber Grill, 10 North Illinois St, 317-636-.7600

University of Michigan
O’Reilly’s Irish Bar and Restaurant, 36 South Pennsylvania St, 317-974-0674

Michigan State University
Slippery Noodle Inn, 372 South Meridian St, 317-631-6974

University of Minnesota
Rock Bottom Brewery, 10 West Washington St, 317-681-8180

University of Nebraska
Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant, 350 West Maryland St, 317-405-6111

Northwestern University
Buffalo Wings & Rings, 111 West Maryland St, 317-822-8400

The Ohio State University
Champps Americana, 49 West Maryland St,  Circle Centre Mall, 317-951-0033

The Pennsylvania State University
Harry & Izzy’s, 153 South Illinois St, 317-635-9594

Purdue University
Scotty’s Brewhouse, 1 Virginia Ave, 317-571-0808

University of Wisconsin
Buffalo Wild Wings, 7 East Washington St, 317-951-9464

And if you haven’t visited the Indianapolis Colts Grille yet (110 West Washington St), now is the time! It is the official home of the Big Ten Conference. Enter for a chance to win $10,000 with FREE submission into the Grille’s bracket challenge.

Indy’s Marquette Community Wins National NAHB Award

By Brooke Benschoter
On behalf of Life Care Services™
http://www.lcsnet.com/

Life Care Services™ logo provided by LCS™ and used with written permission.

Three LCS™ communities received recognition at the 2012 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National 50+ Housing Awards, which is the industry’s most prestigious national awards program honoring excellence in building, design and marketing of housing for boomers and beyond. The Best of 50+ Housing Awards are viewed as a showcase for innovation, emerging trends and quality housing for the mature demographic.

Sagewood in Phoenix, AZ, received both the Gold and Innovation Award for Best Outdoor Amenity for the pool and patio dining areas, and the Silver Award for Best Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Sagewood is owned by LCS-Westminster Partnership 4 LLP and was developed by LCS Development™.

Opened in 2010, Sagewood fuses the casual nature of a desert community with the elegance of an upscale resort. The generous use of natural materials creates impressive yet comfortable surroundings, with every space fostering interest and engagement.

“We took advantage of the Sagewood location to feature outside amenities that our residents find valuable as they continue an active and vibrant lifestyle,” says Kent Larson, Senior Vice President, Director of Development for LCS Development.

WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community in Greensboro, N.C., whose master planning and repositioning was directed by LCS Development, received a Silver Award for Best Repositioned Project. The repositioning at WhiteStone, originally built in 1913, created additional lifestyle spaces for residents to enjoy, and thus sparked additional sales.

“The stellar design and functionality of the renovated and repurposed common areas has led to increased resident use and satisfaction,” notes Mark Kolada, WhiteStone Executive Director.

Marquette, in Indianapolis, Indiana, a community managed by Life Care Services™, also received a Silver Award for Best Repositioned Project. 

“Marquette’s renovation and expansion includes a state of the art fitness and wellness center, complete with an indoor aquatic center and spa,” notes Marquette Executive Director Steven Still. “These amenities allow residents to remain active all year long and have made Marquette a standout in senior living in this market.”

About LCS™

Based in Des Moines, Iowa, LCS is a leading provider of high-quality senior lifestyle products and services. The company operates business lines focusing on planning and development, operations management, marketing and sales management for senior living communities, home health care and companion services, senior living community ownership, insurance, international senior living consulting services and national volume purchasing services. LCS is an equal opportunity employer hiring skilled and professional employees to better serve the customer. The company was established in 1971 and is a recognized national leader in senior living communities and aging services. For more information, visit http://www.lcsnet.com/.

Editor’s Acknowledgment: Strategic America.

Joan Rivers at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, Mar. 3

Indiana Roof Ballroom. AroundIndy.com staff photo.

By Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig
Bureau of Jewish Education
http://www.bjeindy.org/

As Jewish children returned to Hebrew School at the Bureau of Jewish Education in the Fall of 2011  they became an essential part of American Jewish history as they entered the oldest, continually running, communal Hebrew school in the United States.   In 1911 the United Talmud Torah, founded by Rabbi Neustadt and supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis opened its doors to provide quality Jewish education by properly trained and adequately paid teachers.

While the name has changed several times from the United Talmud Torah to the Jewish Educational Alliance to the current Bureau of Jewish Education, its mission has never changed.  The BJE still provides quality Hebrew education to the Jewish children of Indianapolis.

The BJE also operates a pre-school and Kindergarten program.  In addition to teaching children, the BJE’s adult education program includes courses in Modern and Biblical Hebrew, Jewish thought and history,  Israel studies and so much more.   The Maurer Library of the BJE is a part of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. Residents of the area around the Jewish community campus use the library’s computers, check out or drop off books and materials and browse its Hebrew and Jewish studies holdings.

The BJE also provides a Holocaust Trunk program to provide educational aides to Indiana’s schools and teacher training to help incorporate Holocaust education into general school curriculum.

The highlight of the Centennial Celebration year will be the Purim Ball on March 3, 2012 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 West Washington Street, in Indianapolis, Indiana, featuring Joan Rivers. Ms. Rivers’ humor, wit and wisdom will enhance the festivities.  The evening, hosted by Laura Steele of Q95 radio, will honor past presidents and past Purim Ball Kings and Queens and will feature the crowning of a new Queen for the 21^st century.

For more information see www.bjeindy.org/joanrivers or contact:  Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig, Executive Director pwinnig@bjeindy.org , 317-255-3124.

Things to do in Indianapolis, Feb. 26 to Mar. 4, 2012

The Indiana Roof Ballroom will host the Ice Miller Indy Wine Fest on March 2. AroundIndy.com staff photo.

Things to do in Indianapolis
Feb. 26 to Mar. 4, 2012

• Murat Shrine Circus at the Pepsi Coliseum
• 21st Annual Indiana Heritage Quilt Show in Bloomington
• 13th Annual Ice Miller Indy Wine Fest at the Indiana Roof
• National Maple Syrup Festival in Medora
• Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam at Lucas Oil Stadium
• IHSAA Girls Basketball Championships at the Hulman Center
• Indiana Pacers NBA Basketball at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• Peter Frampton Live at the Old National Centre
• Kevin Eubanks Live at the Tarkington Theater
• Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament

Free publicity for your events! Submit an event.

ABOVE: Stock photo of the Indiana Roof Ballroom (not a photo of the Indy Wine Fest).

Livia and Steve Russell Theatre at the Phoenix Theatre

Phoenix Theatre. AroundIndy.com staff photo.

By Lori Raffel
Phoenix Theatre
http://www.phoenixtheatre.org/

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis recently announced the renaming of the Phoenix Theatre Mainstage to the Livia and Steve Russell Theatre.

Steve Russell, founder and CEO of Celadon, and Livia Klain Russell, retired florist/retired realtor, have been supporters of the Phoenix Theatre since 2003. The Russells keep an apartment in New York City; when they are there on business, they are attracted to the off-Broadway shows and to emerging and experimental playwrights. They often come back from a Big Apple trip with suggestions for the Phoenix Theatre.

Livia and Steve both serve on the theatre’s board and its fundraising committee, and they have been extraordinarily generous with their ideas and their financial support. They are true believers in helping those who help themselves.

In recognition of the Russells’ long-term commitment to the Phoenix Theatre, the Phoenix renamed its Mainstage “The Livia and Steve Russell Theatre” on Friday, February 17, 2012. The brief naming ceremony included remarks by Brian Payne, President of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and by Bryan Fonseca, Producing Director of the Phoenix Theatre.

Both the Russell Theatre and the Frank and Katrina Basile Theatre are housed along with administrative offices and a scene shop in a 1907 former church building at 749 North Park Avenue in Indianapolis’ Mass Ave Theatre and Gallery Cultural District. The building received an Adaptive Use Award from Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (now Indiana Landmarks).

About the Building

In 1987, Indianapolis philanthropist J. Scott Keller purchased an abandoned, turn-of-the-twentieth-century church in Indianapolis’ historic Chatham Arch neighborhood and donated the building to the theatre. The renovated complex received an Adaptive Use Award from Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The facility houses a 130-seat Mainstage and the newly renovated cabaret-style 75-seat Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre, as well as administrative offices, a scene shop, and costume and prop storage. The Phoenix Theatre has played a leadership role in the revitalization of downtown and is one of only a handful of professional theatres in Indianapolis, and the only professional theatre in the state dedicated to contemporary work.

ABOUT THE PHOENIX THEATRE
“The Phoenix Theatre has cornered the market on hip new works.” — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana’s only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 29 years. An Equity house, the Theatre presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 83 world premieres in its quarter century. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Livia and Steve Russell Theatre as well as the 75-seat cabaret-style black box Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre. The Phoenix Pub, located in the Basile Theatre, serves beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, water, and treats, and patrons may take all refreshments into either theatre. Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis’ historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts & Theatre District. The Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 400 individual donors.

Indy Magic Monthly at TOTS, Mar. 6

Nathan Kranzo at Indy Magic Monthly, Mar. 6. Image provided by Indy Magic Monthly and used with written permission.

By Taylor Martin
Indy Magic Monthly
http://www.indymagicmonthly.com/

What:  Taylor Martin’s Indy Magic Monthly presents “Monsters Attack!” (show #47)

When: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 7:15.

Where: Theatre On The Square Mainstage, 627  Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana

What: We end our fourth year of magic shows with a spectacular duo and a lecture. Taylor Martin’s Indy Magic Monthly will welcome two monsters of magic.

From Los Angeles comes Ron Saylor and Company. An illusionist of national stature and magician to the stars, Ron will present his first show ever in Indianapolis. Levitation, transformation, and a snappy presentation highlights his performance at Theatre On The Square.

Then, headlining, the Motor City Magic of Nathan Kranzo, The Great Kranzilla. Mentalism and magic, plus drop your pants comedy, will leave the audience wanting more. After the show, Nathan will present a lecture for magicians on some of his world shattering magic.

Opening for both will be Ken Abbott from Louisville. Ken is an award winning magician, voted top conjurer in Louisville for two years running. All hosted by Taylor Martin, recently recognized by the Society Of American Magicians for his keeping magic in the public eye of Indianapolis. Door prizes of tickets to TOTS productions, IMM, and other surprises.

Tickets: $20 adults, $12 seniors, military, and full time students. Family tickets $50 for up to 5, 2 children please. Lecture $10 with show, $15 by itself. For more information: Taylor Martin, 317-431-1320, or call the Box Office at 317-685-8687.

Internet: indymagicmonthly.com or TOTS.org

NOTE: Next show, April 3, 2012, and our fourth Anniversary with–from England–Piff, The Magic Dragon.

Review: “Legally Blonde” at Beef & Boards

"Legally Blonde" at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Photo provided by the theatre and used with written permission.

By Elizabeth J. Musgrave
Syndicated Columnist
http://gottagoelizabeth.blogspot.com/

Legally Blonde, The Musical based on the Reese Witherspoon mega hit film Legally Blonde (2001) opened this week at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis. The fun, frolicking romp is seen through the eyes of UCLA sorority girl, Elle Woods, dumped by her social-climbing boyfriend, Warner Huntington III. The story changes location as does Elle’s priorities when she enrolls in Harvard Law School to win him back.

Always a difficult task to take a movie, particularly one as popular as this one, and put it on a live stage. B&B utilized set designer extraordinaire Michael Layton to, once again, perform his layout magic. Layton’s revolving set whisks us from courtroom to murder scene to beauty salon with ease.

Read the full review…

About Elizabeth Musgrave

Musgrave is the syndicated columnist of Gotta Go, newspaper and magazine circulation 216,000, as well as a travel writer, public speaker, blogger, freelance feature, copy and content writer. A local theater, music and restaurant critic, Elizabeth can be heard on 93 WIBC’s Saturday Morning News Show as Indy’s entertainment advisor. You can follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook.

Indiana History Center Posts Attendance Record

Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. AroundIndy.com staff photo.

By Kim Easton
Indiana History Center
http://www.indianahistory.org/

Indianapolis— The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of the Indiana Historical Society, has seen blockbuster increases in attendance and library use as well as higher sales in the Basile History Market. The History Center is located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis along the canal.

Ticketed attendance for the Indiana Experience was up 71 percent over 2010, and overall visitors to the building increased 15 percent. Additionally, the William H. Smith Memorial Library served 14 percent more guests. IHS also saw increases in retail sales over 2010: Basile History Market revenue is up 13 percent. January 2012 attendance – up 78 percent over January 2011 – indicates the upward trend is continuing this year.

The Indiana Experience, which opened to the public in March 2010, provides visitors an interactive and high-technology experience – a new way to live history – from the You Are There series featuring historical interpreters to Destination Indiana’s virtual tours of the state using touch-screen technology.

“We are truly connecting people to Indiana’s past,” says IHS President and CEO John A. Herbst. “The attendance numbers are a wonderful indication that we’re on the right track – that the innovative and exciting programs we’re providing are engaging our guests.”

The December 2011 receipt of a $425,000 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support the endowment for the Indiana Experience provided a large boost to a fundraising campaign that is closing in on its goal. The grant will help to leverage significant private funds for the ongoing implementation of the Indiana Experience and is in addition to the more than $1.2 million in grants IHS received in 2011 from the R.B. Annis Educational Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Central Indiana Community Foundation, among others. The Campaign for the Indiana Experience ends in December 2012.

The five-year Campaign for the Indiana Experience began in December of 2007 and has steadily progressed since that time, receiving significant support from individuals, corporations and foundations.

For more information on the Indiana Experience and other IHS programs, call 317-232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.

About the Indiana Historical Society

Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups; publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; and provides youth, adult and family programming.