Taltree Arboretum Celebrates Green Living in June

Railway Garden at Taltree Arboretum & Gardens in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Photo provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism and used with written permission.

By Alicia Kosky
Taltree Arboretum & Gardens
http://taltree.org/

Taltree Arboretum & Gardens is celebrating eco-friendly living June 1-30, 2014.

Go Green Fest is an educational festival about making a positive impact on the environment by making healthy life choices. This family friendly event is made possible by ArcelorMittal. The program includes workshops, hikes, “green” exhibits and a benefit concert by American English, Northwest Indiana’s favorite Beatles tribute band.

Schedule of events is as follows:

• Night Hike – June 5, 12 and 19. Hike through the arboretum to learn what comes alive at night.
• Butterfly and Insect Hike – June 7. Learn about butterflies and insects, including visiting Taltree’s Monarch Butterfly Waystation.
• Table Top Gardening – June 7 and 14. Kids create their own take-home vegetable garden.
• Green Cleaning – June 14. Discover tips and tools for cleaning with natural products and ingredients.
• Composting At Home – June 21. Learn different ways to compost with worms and flies.

Many of the activities will be held in the ArcelorMittal Adventure Garden. The adventure garden features many go green initiatives such as composting, raised bed gardening and water conservation. It is also home to many endangered heritage livestock breeds, such as American guinea hogs.

“Go Green Fest is a great place to learn beginner tips to living a healthier lifestyle.” said Alexis R. Faust, President and CEO of Taltree Arboretum & Gardens. “We’ll wrap up Go Green Fest with an American English concert under the stars. Concert attendees will learn a few ways they can be better conservationists by making small changes in their daily routines through recycling, water conservation and more.”

The American English concert is on June 27. Tickets are $25 for non-members and $20 for members. This concert is the first of six benefit concerts to support Taltree’s conservation and education efforts.

“ArcelorMittal is pleased to join Taltree to make this first-time environmental awareness event available to all in our community,” said Jolice Pojeta, Corporate Responsibility and Communications Manager, ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor. “We are proud to sponsor the Go Green Fest, which will provide a variety of fun, ecofriendly activities throughout the month.”

All Go Green activities, including the concert, are free for ArcelorMittal employees with a valid ID. Classes are free with gate admission for non-members and members. Night hike non-member price is $7 for adults (13-above), $5 for seniors (55+) and children (12 and under). Night hike member price is $6 for adults (13-above), $4 for seniors (55+) and children (12 and under). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Taltree.org or call 219-462-0025.

Taltree Arboretum & Gardens is a 360-acre, dog-friendly oak preserve of formal gardens, woodlands, wetlands and prairies that offers a variety of cultural events, classes and exhibits. Taltree is open year-round. All proceeds and donations Taltree receives powers its environmental restoration, conservation and education initiatives.

Taltree is located at 450 West 100 North, near Valparaiso, Indiana in northwest Indiana, just south of US Highway 30, approximately 15 minutes east of Interstate 65. For more information, visit Taltree.org or follow Taltree on Twitter at @Taltreearb and Facebook at facebook.com/Taltree.

Chow Down Midtown in Indianapolis, June 2-15

Moe and Johnny’s is one of the participating restaurants in Chow Down Midtown.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2014, all rights reserved.

Press Release
Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association
http://indianarestaurants.org/

Grab your family and friends to experience 14 days of delicious dining deals during Chow Down Midtown, June 2-15, 2014. More than 40 restaurants in the midtown area will offer three-course, value-priced menus.

This year’s event includes such restaurants in midtown Indianapolis (generally in the Broad Ripple area) as Ambrosia, Binkley’s, Delicia, Fat Dan’s Deli, Mama Carolla’s, Moe and Johnny’s (see photo above), Thr3e Wise Men, Union Jack Pub, Yats, Zest! Exciting Food Creations, and many more.

From seafood, fancy food to pizza, you and your friends can experience it all at your favorite restaurant or a new one. View the complete list of participating restaurants and menus at ChowDownMidtown.com. For more information, call 317-673-4211.

Jennie DeVoe at Mallow Run Winery, June 14

Jennie DeVoe. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2013, all rights reserved.

By Sarah Shadday
Mallow Run Winery
http://mallowrun.com/

Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville, Indiana, will once again be the setting for an evening of the soulful music of a local favorite, Jennie DeVoe. This will be Jennie’s sixth concert at the winery, and her performance never fails to enchant and energize her devoted audience. The show is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 2014, at 7 pm.

Jennie and wineries seem to go together well; you can catch her the weekend before on June 7 at the Vintage Indiana Wine Festival held in Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. This festival, which is celebrating its 15th year, is a celebration of food and wine and brings together over 25 Indiana wineries, including Mallow Run.

Indianapolis-based Jennie DeVoe is known not only for her captivating voice and music, but her personality and humor that shine through on stage as well. Her critically-acclaimed fifth CD, Strange Sunshine, was released in 2009 and quickly caught people’s attention, making her a celebrated artist both at home and away. Her work has been described as a “fresh, edgy, raw throwback to the soul records that Otis and Aretha used to make” and “a record for listeners who love good lyrics.”

Concertgoers will be treated to an evening of great music, local food vendors, and the award-winning wines of Mallow Run Winery. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy a relaxing evening on the lawn with great music and friends.

Mallow Run Winery is located at 6964 West Whiteland Road, Bargersville (two miles east of State Road 37), in Johnson County. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. Children 12 & under are free. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.mallowrun.com or by visiting or calling the Mallow Run tasting room at 317-422-1556.

Indiana History Center Concerts on the Canal…and more

‘Concerts on the Canal’ at the Indiana History Center.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2013, all rights reserved.

By Amy Lamb
Indiana History Center
http://indianahistory.org/

There are plenty of ways to enjoy downtown Indianapolis in the summer, and the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is offering several—its time-honored favorite Concerts on the Canal, popular Museum Nights on the Canal programming and Sunday hours in June and July. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of the IHS and the Indiana Experience, is located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis, along the picturesque, historic CentralCanal.

On Thursday evenings this summer, the IHS will host some of the area’s best performers. The concert lineup includes a diverse selection of musical styles, from jazz, blues and classic rock to big band, swing and the Great American Songbook. Local and regional favorites like The Woomblies, The Flying Toasters, Cynthia Layne, The Cool City Band (featuring Shannon Forsell and Laney Wilson) and Jessie Brown are just a few of the acts on this season’s schedule.

Concerts take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays from May 29 to July 31, in addition to IHS’s annual Independence Day Bash on Friday, July 4, which will start at 5 p.m. with the Indianapolis Municipal Band and feature King James and the Verses.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages to Concerts on the Canal, but food service is also provided in the HistoryCenter’s Stardust Terrace Café and at an outdoor grill, both operated by Hoaglin To Go. All alcohol must be purchased on-site, and a cash bar will be offered. No pets and no smoking are allowed on the Plaza. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the History Center’s parking lot.

Seating can be purchased on the Kruse Family Stardust Terrace in tables of eight ($45/$40 IHS members) or four ($35/$30 IHS members), and single-seats at the community table ($10/$9 for IHS members). Free seating is available across the canal on the grassy knoll. The 2014 Concerts on the Canal series is presented by The Indiana Rail Road Company, in partnership with the IUPUI Department of Music and Arts Technology.

For concert dates in June and July, IHS’s Museum Nights on the Canal will offer free Indiana Experience admission, as well as hands-on activities and extra entertainment, from 4 to 8 p.m. Indiana Experience admission will also be free on July 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum Nights on the Canal is presented by Citizens Energy Group and The Glick Fund, a CICF Fund.

Guests are also invited to take advantage of Sunday hours in June and July, when the History Center will be open from noon to 5 p.m. and offer additional programming. IHS is also proud to be part of the Blue Star Museum Program and extends free year-round admission to members of the active military and their families.

To reserve a table in advance or for more information, call the IHS at 317-232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.

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; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programming.

Indiana Historical Society’s 2014 Concerts on the Canal Schedule

May 29 – The Woomblies (Popular Motown, soul and rock)

June 5 – The Flying Toasters (High-energy dance favorites)

June 12 – Hopkins and Miller (Jazz of the 1920s and 1930s)

June 19 – Seth Jenkins and the Tides featuring Michael Beck and Dane Dye (Eclectic music from the 1950s to today)

June 26 – Cynthia Layne (R&B and jazz)

July 3 – Carmel Brass (Patriotic tunes)

July 4 – Indianapolis Municipal Band (Patriotic tunes and marches, 5 to 6:15 p.m.) and King James and the Verses (Classic rock and blues, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.)

July 10 – The Cool City Band featuring Shannon Forsell and Laney Wilson (Music of the Lounge Era)

July 17 – Deb Mullins (Cabaret with a mix of standards, bluesy jazz and pop)

July 24 – David Mannell with Laura Hammer-Erhart and Becky Barton with special guest John Alvarado (Classic music of Spain and Latin America, standards of musical theater)

July 31 – Jessie Brown (Country, rock and soul)

  

Museum Nights on the Canal and July 4 Programming

Hop, Skip and Jump (June 5, June 12 and July 24) – Meet up with your friends and learn how to salsa dance and do the swing and the foxtrot. Take a 30-minute lesson at 5:15 p.m. or 6 p.m.

Banding Together (May 29, June 19 and July 31) – Bring friends and coworkers – or come alone – to the History Center at 5:15 p.m. for a networking event to participate in improvisational activities and get to know new people.

Eleven for Eleven (July 10) – Did you know the Indiana 11th Regiment, formed during the Civil War, inspired the name of our city’s new soccer team? Learn 11 fun facts about the Indy Eleven and meet members of the team from 5 to 6 p.m.

Picturing Your Way Through History (June 26 and July 17) – Take a new look at the stunning architecture of the History Center through two interactive sessions at 5:15 p.m. or 6 p.m. Scope out creative shots to share on Instagram or even create a Vine.

What’s Red, White and Blue All Over? (July 3) – Is wine really good for you? Join us for a special wine and cheese tasting from 5:15 to 6 p.m. and hear what a member of the medical community has to say about the benefits of social time with friends and libations that serve you well.

Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers (July 4) – As you celebrate our country’s birth, spend a day here and find out how you can help others in our community.

 

Cool Sundays Programming

Racing Through History (June 1, June 15 and July 27) – Using toy cars, race on a track like no other in Indianapolis for a chance to win tickets to another favorite Indianapolis pastime, an Indianapolis Indians game.

Recipes Gone By/Recipes Made Anew (June 8, June 29, July 20) – Join us as we taste and explore dishes from Indiana’s history and make them new. We are pulling recipes from our collections and having local chefs interpret them with contemporary flare and local ingredients.

Snappier Pics (June 22 and July 13) – Tired of taking photos that don’t turn out? Learn from The Indianapolis Star photographers how to take the best possible photos from your smartphone

Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers (July 6) – As you celebrate our country’s birth, spend a day here and find out how you can help others in our community.

For more information, visit http://indianahistory.org/, or call 317-232-1882.

2014 Archdiocese of Indianapolis Parish Festivals

The Little Flower Summerfest is scheduled for May 30 to June 1.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2011, all rights reserved.

By Bob Burchfield, Editor
AroundIndy.com, LLC
http://aroundindy.com/fairs.php

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis released its 2014 parish festival schedule last Friday, with more than 80 events across the southern half of Indiana between now and October from Indianapolis to Clarksville, Tell City to Terre Haute, and Brookville to Bloomington. Ranging from picnics and yard sales to dinners and street festivals, the parishes of the archdiocese offer a wide variety of fun events each year, and many of them offer free admission as well.

Antipasto salad at the Italian Street Festival. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2010, all rights reserved.

Even though I’m not of the Catholic faith and tradition, I’ve come to appreciate these annual events that perhaps best embody Indiana’s newly-adopted “Honest to Goodness” tourism slogan, events where you can enjoy some good, clean fun in a more intimate setting with smaller crowds than typically found at larger fairs and festivals across the state.

Three come to mind as personal favorites:

1. LITTLE FLOWER SUMMERFEST. The Little Flower Parish Summerfest is coming this weekend, May 30 to June 1, 2014. It’s a neighborhood parish festival with carnival rides, good food, games, a raffle, live entertainment, and more, located at 1401 North Bosart Avenue on Indy’s east side (see photo above). This year’s festival is open on Friday from 5 to 11 pm, Saturday from 3 to 11 pm, and Sunday from 11:30 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 317-357-8352.
2. ITALIAN STREET FESTIVAL. Holy Rosary Parish at 520 Stevens Street (across the street from Eli Lilly & Co.) hosts the popular Italian Street Festival each year on the 2nd weekend in June. This year’s festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, 5 to 11 pm each day. It took a year off in 2012, but it came back strong last year and promises to be even better in 2014. With a terrific selection of Italian delicacies, this festival is pretty tough to beat when it comes to good food. For more information, call 317-636-4478.
3. MID-SUMMER FESTIVAL. This event is billed as “the festival that’s tops in food,” and it’s easy to see why when you check out the food tent, the indoor dining room, and other food offerings on the grounds of St. Christopher Catholic Church at West 16th Street and Lynhurst Drive in Speedway. With carnival rides, games, live music and other activities, this parish festival is definitely worth a visit. It’s scheduled for July 17-19 this year: Thursday, 4-10 pm, Friday 4-11 pm, and Saturday 12-11 pm. For more information, call 317-241-6314.

Filipino Chicken at the St. Christopher Mid-Summer Festival.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2012, all rights reserved.

Mentioning these three festivals is certainly not an attempt to denigrate any of the other parish festivals across the archdiocese. There are a lot of other excellent parish festivals all over southern Indiana. These just happen to be three that I like really well. You can view the complete 2014 Parish Festival Schedule at this URL: http://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2014/05-23/festivals.html