Fort Wayne Kicks Off Summer Season in April

Image provided by VisitFortWayne.com and used with written permission.

By Kristen Guthrie
VisitFortWayne.com
http://VisitFortWayne.com/

Fort Wayne is gearing up for the 2012 summer season and has plenty of fun activities to offer out-of-town travelers, including the opening of the amazing Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, the start of the TinCaps baseball season, and the kickoff to our outstanding festival season.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo will open its doors for the season April 21. The zoo provides visitors with a ride in every corner of the zoo, and an up-close encounter with its animals. It’s no wonder that it has been named by Parents magazine as one of the nation’s “Top Ten Zoos for Kids.”

The Fort Wayne TinCaps season opener is at home on April 5. Parkview Field was just ranked the “#1 Minor League Stadium in the United States” and it’s easy to see why. This stadium in a park-like setting provides a great experience for the entire family at an affordable price (seats on the lawn start at just $5!).

The festival season kicks off with the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale April 11-15 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Expo Center featuring savings of 40% – 60% on handbags, stationery, luggage and accessories. The summer months are packed with different festivals to attend including Germanfest, BBQ Ribfest, Greekfest, IPFW RiverFest, Three Rivers Festival and CountryFest.

But the #1 reason that families love Fort Wayne is that we are affordable, fun, and family-friendly! The Visit Fort Wayne DEALS page (found at www.VisitFortWayne.com) offers a great number of ways for visitors to bag a bargain when visiting some of Fort Wayne’s favorite attractions, restaurants, and hotels. Throughout the summer months the DEALS page will feature summer getaway hotel packages, coupons and contests to win tickets to events and overnight stays in Fort Wayne hotels.

For more information, visit http://VisitFortWayne.com/, or call 260-424-3700.

Indiana Tax Tips from the Department of Revenue

The filing deadline for Indiana tax returns is April 17, 2012.

By Bob Dittmer, APR
Indiana Department of Revenue
http://www.ai.org/dor/

Indiana Tax Tips

Beware! There are new scams this year looking to take advantage of you. Unscrupulous tax preparers are promising large refunds and getting taxpayers to pay for the service upfront. By the time the return is processed and the large refund is denied, the tax preparer has disappeared with your money! The scam has been heavily targeting elderly taxpayers, low-income taxpayers and church groups. To avoid becoming ensnared in this scheme, taxpayers should beware of any of the following:

• Fictitious claims for refunds or rebates based on false statements of entitlement to tax credits.
• Unfamiliar for-profit tax services selling refund and credit schemes to the membership of local churches.
• Internet solicitations that direct individuals to toll-free numbers and then solicit Social Security numbers.
• Homemade flyers and brochures implying credits or refunds are available without proof of eligibility.
• Offers of free money with no documentation required.
• Promises of refunds for “Low Income – No Documents Tax Returns.”
• Claims for the expired Economic Recovery Credit Program or for economic stimulus payments.
• Unsolicited offers to prepare a return and split the refund.
• Unfamiliar return preparation firms soliciting business from cities outside of the normal business or commuting area.

Remember, YOU are responsible for what is on your tax forms. Make sure they’re accurate, and don’t get tricked by one of these schemes.  The easiest rule to remember is: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Remember this year the filing deadline is Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

Looking to file electronically? You should! Everything happens faster – including refunds. Consider INfreefile by visiting http://www.freefile.dor.in.gov/ to see if you qualify to file online for free using professional software. Nearly a million Hoosier taxpayers qualify.

April Events in Bloomington and Monroe County

Little 500 Women's Bike Race at Indiana University. Photo provided by VisitBloomington.com and used with written permission.

By Julie Warren
Director of Tourism, Visit Bloomington
http://visitbloomington.com/

Welcome to Bloomington!

The trees and flowers are blooming, proving that Bloomington is the perfect name for this city.  The warmer temperatures and beautiful setting make it a great time to get outdoors and explore.  Walk the B-Line Trial through the downtown area, or venture outside the city limits to Griffy Nature Preserve.  No matter if you go deep into the Hoosier National Forest or stay on the Indiana University campus, just make sure you get outside and experience Bloomington at its blooming best!

When you’re finished exploring the outdoors, head inside to the Bloomington Handmade Market to do some shopping.  This unique artisan marketplace held on April 7^th at the Bloomington Convention Center, features artwork, clothing and household items made (you guessed it) by hand.  The items are unique and trendy, and all are made by local and regional artists.

If you’re visiting on April 20 or 21, you probably already know that it’s Little 5 weekend, one of the “greatest college weekends” in the country.  The Little 500 is a highly competitive bike race among IU students and takes place each year at Bill Armstrong Stadium on the IU campus.  The women race on Friday night and the men race on Saturday afternoon, but the revelry, activities and concerts happen all weekend.  It’s something everyone should experience at least once—or maybe more for the strong at heart!

Later that month, the IU Auditorium will present Young Frankenstein, the hilarious musical based on the Mel Brooks’ film.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (from laughing) and you’ll be thoroughly entertained!  Catch a show on April 27^th or 28^th at the magnificent IU Auditorium.

You can also see a Bleeding Heartland Roller Derby bout that weekend on April 28^that the Twin Lakes Recreation Center.  These roller girls are tough, entertaining the crowd with fast skating, hard hits and a few comedic antics.  It’s a serious competition, but a whole lot of fun to watch.

There are many more events, shows and performances taking place this month, including live local music every night of the week!  For more information on events, restaurants, shopping and attractions, go to VisitBloomington.com.

April 2012

• IU Softball vs Michigan, April 1, 1 pm, IU Softball Fields, 866-IUSPORTS
• IU Baseball  vs Michigan, April 1, 1 pm, IU Baseball Fields, 866-IUSPORTS
• IU Women’s Tennis vs Michigan, April 1, 11 am, IU Tennis Center, 866-IUSPORTS
• Cool Creatures:  A Live Animal Show, April 1, 1:30 pm & 3:30 pm, WonderLab, 812-337-1337
• Indiana University Arts Week Everywhere 2012: 3-D Production with Jacobs School of Music, April 1-8, 8 pm, IU Sample Gates
• Milagres with The Natives, April 3, 9pm, The Bishop
• Jacobs School of Music: Dubinsky Chamber Music Series, April 3-5, Noon, Musical Arts Center, 812-855-7433
• Rob Delaney, April 4, 8pm & 10:30pm, The Comedy Attic, 812-336-LAFF
• John Evan, April 5-7, 8pm & 10:30pm,The Comedy Attic, 812-336-LAFF
• Arts Week Everywhere 2012: IU Cinema’s Latino Film Festival,April 5-7, Times Vary, IU Cinema Center
• Gallery Walk & First Friday,April 6, 5 pm, Downtown Bloomington
• IU Opera: Candide by Leonard Bernstein,April 6-14, 8 pm,Musical Arts Center, 812-855-9846
• Three Views of the Same Object: Woodward/Newman Drama Award Winner, April 6-21, 8 pm,Bloomington Playwrights Project, 812-334-1188
• David Allan Coe, April 6,Bluebird Nightclub
• Build a Bug-Bot Workshop, April 6, 1:30 pm, WonderLab, 812-337-1337
• First Friday Evening Science of Art: Nature’s Palette, April 6, 5 pm, WonderLab, 812-337-1337
• African American Dance Company Spring Concert, April 7, 8 pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 812-855-5427
• Bloomington Community Farmers Market, Every Saturday, 8 am, Showers Commons
• Bloomington Handmade Market, April 7, 10 am, Bloomington Convention Center
• IU Men’s Golf- NYX Hoosier Invitational, April 7, all day, IU Golf Course
• IU Women’s Rowing Big Ten Dual vs. Minnesota & Wisconsin, April 7, all day, Lake Lemon
• Jacobs School of Music: Latin Jazz Ensemble,April 7, 8 pm, Neal-Marshal Black Culture Center, 812-855-7433
• IU Women’s Tennis vs. Nebraska, April 8, 11 am,IU Tennis Center
• Jacobs School of Music: Wind Ensemble, April 10, 8 pm, Musical Arts Center, 812-855-7433
• Civil War Roundtable, April 10, 7 pm, Monroe County History Center, 812-332-2517
• Last Comic Standing’s Natasha Leggero, April 12-14, 8 pm, Comedy Attic, 812-336-5233
• Rapper Mac Miller, April 12, 8 pm, IU Auditorium, 812-855-4682
• “Waiting for Lefty,” April 13-21, times vary, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, 812-330-4400
• Cabaret, April 13-21, 7:30 pm, Ruth N. Halls Theater, 812-855-1103
• African American Choral Ensemble Spring Concert, April 14, 8pm, 812-855-5427
• Savory Science: Egg-cellent Meals, April 14, 1 pm, WonderLab, 812-337-1337
• Gordon Bonham Blues Band, April 14, 8pm, The Player’s Pub
• Good Old War, April 15, Bluebird Nightclub
• Jacobs School of Music: Ballet at the BCT, April 18-19, 7:30 pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 812-855-7433
• 25th Annual Little 500 Women’s Race, April 20, 7 pm, Armstrong Stadium, 812-855-9152
• 62nd Annual Little 500 Men’s Race, April 21, 2 pm, Armstrong Stadium, 812-855-9152
• Cadmium Orange, April 21, 9pm, The Bishop
• Rachel Peden and Her Life on Maple Grove Road, April 22, 2pm, Ellettsville Branch Monroe Co. Public Library Program Room, 812-349-3050
• European Union Youth Orchestra, April 22, 7 pm, IU Auditorium, 812-855-1103
• Young Frankenstein, April 26-27, 8 pm, IU Auditorium, 812-855-1103
• Kumail Nanjiani, April 16-28, 8pm & 10:30pm, The Comedy Attic, 812-336-LAFF
• Bleeding Heartland Roller Derby, April 28, 6 pm, Twin Lakes Recreation Center
• IU Soul Revue Spring Concert, April 28, 8 pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 812-855-5427
• Sheila Stephen, April 28, 8pm, The Players Pub
• Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, April 28, Bluebird Nightclub
• National Pinhole Camera Day Workshop, April 28-29, Sat 1pm & Sun 1:30pm, WonderLab Museum, 812-337-1337

 

Free Remodeling Seminars, Apr. 12 and 14

By Sharon Smith
On behalf of CASE Design/Remodeling
http://www.caseindy.com/

Warmer, spring-like temperatures are giving many of us the itch to improve our homes. Learn how to approach two of the country’s most popular home improvement projects by attending one of CASE Design/Remodeling free, informative 90-minute seminars. These popular seminars provide homeowners with the basic building blocks plus tried and true advice for preparing for remodeling investments.

Larry Greene, president and owner of Case, will discuss how to choose a kitchen remodeler, remodeling design ideas and trends, as well as what to expect during a kitchen remodel, how to create a budget, and how to live through the process with minimal disruption.

The first weekday seminar will be held at the Indiana Design Center at 200 South Rangeline Road in Carmel on Thursday, April 12, 2012,  7-8:30 p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be served. The second opportunity is a Saturday morning seminar on April 14, 2012, 9-10:30 a.m., also held at the Indiana Design Center. This event features a complimentary breakfast. Please register by Monday, April 9, 2012.

CASE Design/Remodeling owner Larry Greene will provide expert advice on how to prepare for a remodeling investment. You’ll learn about:

·         The latest kitchen & bath design trends

·         Three levels of remodeling (cosmetic, pull and replace and custom)

·         Timelines & Budgeting

·         Living through a remodeling project

Each seminar offers special discounts and a door prize drawing in which one lucky winner will receive two free hours of home maintenance and repair services. Since 2009, Case has offered popular monthly seminars relating to home remodeling and renovation.

Space is limited so reservations are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please RSVP to receive a “ticket” for the seminar of your choice. Please register at caseadmin@indy.rr.com or by calling 317-846-2600.

About CASE Design/Remodeling
CASE Design/Remodeling is a recognized expert in home remodeling, with a proven process that combines innovative design & quality construction, all under one roof. The in-house team of experienced architects, designers, project managers & skilled craftsmen, help homeowners achieve their remodeling goals. Projects come in all shapes and sizes – from complex, large-scale renovations & additions, to basic cosmetic upgrades. Regardless of the project scope, each customer is brought through the simple design/build process, with expert guidance on functionality, feasibility, aesthetics & finishings. The Case team works with you every step of the way, and it doesn’t end there. As an Indianapolis area-based company for more than nine years, they stand behind their work. Case has captured several top awards for the best remodeling projects in the area by the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis and has been named one of the largest full-service remodelers in the country by Remodeling Magazine. For more information, visit www.caseindy.com.

Editor’s Acknowledgment: Maverick Public Relations.

Review: “Fallen Angels” at the Repertory Theatre

"Fallen Angels" at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Photo provided by the theatre and used with written permission.

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

Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels opened on the Upper Stage at Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis, to a nearly full house recently. The British farce, although originally set in the 1920’s, was updated to the ’50s by the playwright for this modern version.

The two main characters, Julia Sterroll (Cristina Panifilio) and Jane Banbury (Kelsey Brennan), are the closest of friends, and housewives to the dull, settled men who keep them in an upper-middle class lifestyle. Until, of course, they are contacted by a former flame who scorched both ladies with his Frenchman’s manières romantiques. Then the fur flies (in this case a pink wrap) drinks are spilled, and insults and secrets are flung as each is positive the other is conniving and manipulating in an effort to get back in the bed of Maurice Duclos (Martin Yurek).

Read the full review…

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook. Gotta Go is published on http://www.BroadwayWorld.com and in M magazine and the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.