Meltdown Winter Ice Festival in Richmond, Jan. 24-29, 2017

Meltdown Winter Ice Festival in Richmond, Indiana.
Image provided by the event organizers.

By Nancy Sartain
Richmond CVB

Richmond, Indiana. — The chainsaws and chisels fire up on January 24, 2017 kicking off Richmond’s 4th annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. This event turns downtown Richmond into a wondrous destination where custom ice carvings, impressive ice fights, lively winter activities, and fun collide – and it’s all FREE.

Watch the ice fly as each internationally known, multi-award winning ice artist use their polished skills, imagination and passion to create a dazzling array of artistic ice sculptures. Meet the renowned artists and pose with more than 35 stunning creations. During the festival, over 22 tons of ice will be intricately designed and sculpted into amazing works of art. Each block of ice is approximately 4’ wide by 18” thick and weights nearly 300 lbs.

At the Family Fun Zone, festival attendees can interact with various sculptures masterfully crafted entirely from ice, such as corn hole, ping pong, and a slide. Other lively activities include a frozen fairy trail, paint and take souvenir, chili cook-off, frosty mug pub crawl, art show, food vendors, and more.

The main event is the no holds barred “Ice Fights” sculpting competitions between two ice carvers and 1200 lbs. of ice. These high-octane and competitive ice fights will take place Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th – competitions on both nights will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the new Elstro Park Plaza, downtown Richmond. Ice sculptures will remain on display, weather permitting.

For more information, visit the event Web site at http://richmondmeltdown.com/,  go to http://visitrichmond.org/, or call 800-828-8414.

CIROC The New Year at Regions Tower, Dec. 31, 2016

CIROC The New Year at Regions Tower.
Image provided by the event organizers and used with written permission.

By Jeff Long
On behalf of CIROC The New Year

Indianapolis, Ind. — Ring in 2017 at CÎROC The New Year 2017, voted Indianapolis’ best New Years Eve Event six years running, featuring an all-inclusive premium top-shelf bar all night, as well as light gourmet hor d’oeuvres, champagne toast, festive party favors and the best NYE view in the city.

Cost is $130 for an all-inclusive ticket with advance reservations. VIP/Group packages are available. NO REFUNDS ISSUED AFTER 12/29/16.

Regions Bank Tower continues its tradition for a fourth year in a row as host to Indianapolis’ biggest New Years party. The location features a 360-degree view of the entire downtown, and Indy’s only rooftop event space.

Featured rotating music will take over four rooms this year, and will be provided by Indy favorites DJ Indiana Jones, DJ Gabby Love, DJ Lockstar, DJ Action Jackson (Voted Indy’s #1 DJ for 2017,) DJ Lemi Vice, DJ Mass Appeal and DJ Rican and DJ Jozyano in the Ciroc Mango Lounge. Silk aerialist performers and special performances by Pur | The Company, Alkemy Dance Crew, & Paul’Michael!

With an event ticket, guests can receive a special CÎROC the New Year $99 room rate at Hilton Garden Inn located at 10 E. Market St.

Details: 8 p.m., Regions Tower, 1 Indiana Sq., $99-130, www.cirocnewyears.com

“How to Use a Knife” at the Phoenix Theatre, Jan. 19-Feb. 12, 2017

Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2015, all rights reserved.

By Olivia Hinkel
Phoenix Theatre

Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of How to Use a Knife opening January 19, 2017 on the Frank and Katrina Basile Stage. This production runs through February 12, 2017, with Bryan Fonseca serving as director.

ABOUT THE PLAY

Amidst the chaos of a New York City kitchen, Chef George is trying to turn his life around. As he struggles to stay sober, he must also contend with two spirited Guatemalan line-cooks, a pot-smoking busboy, an eerily quiet African dishwasher, and, of course, the lunch hour. But now immigration authorities are knocking at the door and it becomes apparent to George that his own life isn’t the only one he holds in his hands.

THE DIRECTOR

For 33 years, Bryan Fonseca has served as the Producing Director of the Phoenix Theatre. He previously worked in Indianapolis as the Producing Director of the Broad Ripple Playhouse and the assistant to the Producing Director at the Civic Theatre of Indianapolis. He was a founder and first Artistic Director of The Company Players in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. Bryan has directed for the MFA Playwrights Workshop at the Kennedy Center, The Human Race Theatre, Indiana University, Ball State University, and the Civic Theatre of Indianapolis. Over the years, he has transferred six Phoenix shows to Chicago. Bryan has received an Achievement and Service award from the Indiana Theatre Association, two Artist Fellowship awards from the Indiana State Arts Commission and two Creative Renewal Fellowships from the Arts Council of Indianapolis/Lilly Endowment. He is the first recipient of the Transformational Impact Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, with the generous funding support of Lilly Endowment Inc. In addition to his work at the Phoenix, he is an adjunct professor at IUPUI and lectures frequently at Butler University and the University of Indianapolis. He has served on the board of the National New Play Network and developed and served as the first president of the League of Indianapolis Theaters.

THE PLAYWRIGHT

Will Snider was born and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. His play How to Use a Knife will receive a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere this season through Capital Stage (Sacramento, CA), Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN), Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO), and InterAct Theatre (Philadelphia, PA). Other plays include The Big Man (EST’s Marathon of One-Act Plays), Strange Men, and Death of a Driver. His work has been developed at MCC, NNPN National Showcase of New Plays, The Kennedy Center, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Great Plains Theatre Conference, #serials@theflea, the claque, and MAKEHOUSE. He is a member of Youngblood, recipient of an EST/Soan Grant and The Kennedy Center’s Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, and spent three years working in agricultural development in East Africa. He is pursuing an MFA at UCSD under Naomi Iizuka.

THE CAST

How to Use a Knife features Chelsea Anderson as Kim, Ryan Artzberger as George, Josh Castaneda as Miguel, Rob Johansen as Michael, Tommy Lewey as Jack, Carlos Medina Maldonado as Carlos, and Ansley Valentine as Steve.

Chelsea Anderson has worked with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Forward Theater, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Heartland Actors Repertory Theatre, among others. She was most recently seen on the Phoenix stage in One Man, Two Guvnors.

Ryan Artzberger is returning to the Phoenix Theatre after having appeared in This and Reasons to be Pretty. In addition to being a regular at IRT and a company member of HART, Ryan has performed in theaters across the country, including Berkeley Rep, The Shakespeare Theatre Company in D.C., The Studio Theatre, The Lookingglass Theatre and The Goodman Theatre. Ryan is a graduate of The Juilliard School and Ohio University.

Rob Johansen will appear in this NNPN Rolling World Premiere directly following his appearance in Dogs of Rwanda. Previously, he was most recently seen at the Phoenix in the NNPN Rolling World Premiere of On Clover Road.

Ansley Valentine’s performance credits include several seasons with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s A Yuletide Celebration as puppet master and “Scrooge.” He recently joined the theatre faculty of Indiana University. His last appearance at The Phoenix Theatre was in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.

TICKETS

Tickets for How to Use a Knife are on sale now. Tickets are $27.00 per person on Thursdays and Sundays, $33.00 per person on Fridays and Saturdays, and $20.00 for anyone 21 & under. Tickets for How to Use a Knife may be purchased by calling the box office at 317-635-7529 or visiting phoenixtheatre.org. Curtain times for the production are: Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm.

IDADA First Friday Art Tour, Jan. 6, 2017

Art Bank Gallery on Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2015, all rights reserved.

By Joy Hernandez
On behalf of IDADA

Please see below for the Jan. 6, 2017 IDADA First Friday Gallery Openings and a link to some of the artist’s images. Please share, and thank you for supporting local art in Indianapolis!

GALLERIES
Art Bank 317.624.1010

811 Mass. Ave. artbankgallery.com

Our featured artist is Anna Simon. Anna will have an expanded display of her whimsical, colorful paintings through the month of January. View Anna’s work and the works of the many artists throughout Art Bank. Winter hours Wed–Sat 11am–7pm and Sun 12–4pm. Open late for IDADA First Friday Gallery Tour.

ARTMIX: Art Redefining Disability 317.974.4123

1505 N. Delaware St. artmixindiana.org

Soup & A Good Book…Visit the ArtMix gallery and enjoy some warm soup and browse an exhibit of handmade books. Also this month, we’re cleaning out our bookshelves—used books in art, education and disability studies all under $5.00! Free bookmaking project in our studios from 7–8:30pm.

Gallery 924 317.631.3301

924 N. Pennsylvania St. indyarts.org/gallery924

During the January 6th IDADA First Friday Art Tour, Gallery 924 will host a closing reception for TINY V: A Really Big Show. At the closing reception, you will be able to purchase artwork and take it right off the wall! Patrons who have already bought TINY artwork are also welcome to pick up their purchases during this event. AND, as a way to celebrate the kickoff of the Year of Vonnegut with our friends at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, we’ll also be hosting three pieces of original artwork by Kurt himself. Stop by and learn more about the year-long, city-wide celebration and how you can be involved.

iMOCA at City Way Gallery 317.457.5445

Inside the Alexander Hotel• 216 South St. indymoca.org

On Sunday, January 8th, iMOCA will open an exhibition of Sarah Hobbs’ photographs of installations which she builds to represent living spaces that involve the human psyche, such as “Prom Forever”, a room with walls clad in gold metallic sheets grounded by the iconic refreshment table typically found at high school proms. The exhibit is at the iMOCA City-Way Gallery through June 24, 2017.

SATCH LOST & FOUND Art GallerY 317.691.3661

1125 E Brookside Ave, 2nd floor, Schwitzer Gallery satch@indy.net

Closed for January 6th First Friday. In 2017 the gallery is moving downstairs to a much larger space on the main floor at Circle City Industrial Complex. Happy New Year!

Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library 317.512.1954

646 Massachusetts Avenue info@vonnegutlibrary.org

Join us for our Year of Vonnegut Kick-Off Party at our new location, 646 Mass Ave. Stop by for a building tour. See what it looks like now and learn about our construction plans and Grand Opening April 8th. Students from Herron High School will provide musical entertainment and share thoughts on their “Celebrating Leaders of Common Decency” art exhibit.

ARTIST STUDIOS

Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC)

1125 E Brookside Ave

Studio C7A: Darkroom Revelations. 317-727-0698.
Come celebrate the New Year! This month’s photography display features:
• Gayle Moore’s ethereal botanical silver gelatin prints

• Quaint Monhegan Island through the artistic eyes of Nancy Frass

• Tom Potter’s vision of the feminine mystique.

Studio C203: Katrina J. Murray Studio. 317-440-2660. Katrina will be showing works on paper. Shredded or cut magazine pages create an interesting play on
pattern and color.

Harrison Center for the Arts 317.396.3886

1505 N. Delaware St. Pam@harrisoncenter.org

Tuning Inception Artist Reception, Friday, January 6, 2017, 6–9pm

Harrison Gallery: Tuning Inception group show

Speck Gallery: Kyle Ragsdale Retrospective

City Gallery: Indy Cartography, Kate Oberreich

Hank & Dolly’s Gallery: TBD

Gallery Annex: Seer/Sign Painter, James Shuck

The work hangs through January 27.

ALTERNATIVE SPACES

Tube Factory Artspace 317.450.6630

1125 Cruft Street bigcar.org

Friday, January 6, 2017, 6–10pm

At Tube: Mari Evans: Carl Pope and Jeff Beaver’s What is this?

At Artist’s Residencey House: Marilyn Gatin’s Hands On Indiana Closing Reception

At Listen Hear: Grant Lewandowski Zine Release and Photo Show “Down On My Knees I Pray”and Jessica Kartawich’s “Dear Somebody”, 6–9pm

New Year’s Eve 2016 in Downtown Indianapolis

Monument Circle decorated for the holiday season in downtown Indianapolis. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2015, all rights reserved.

By Jennifer Hanson
Downtown Indy, Inc.

Downtown Indianapolis is the place to be when the clock strikes 12 this New Year’s Eve! From numerous parties to family-friendly events to dinner in style, ring in 2017 right. To view all these events online, visit: www.downtownindy.org/event-collection/52/new-years-eve/.

Be safe – don’t drink and drive. Plan your transit to and from your Downtown NYE destination ahead of time. For more information on Downtown parking visit: www.downtownindy.org/get-around-downtown/park/. For information on Downtown bus routes visit: www.downtownindy.org/get-around-downtown/bus/.

Georgia Street – all ages

Downtown Indy, Inc.’s New Year’s Eve Celebration presented by The Indiana Union Construction Industry,

Georgia Street; FREE

Georgia Street is the place to be this New Year’s Eve! Come for an exciting entertainment line-up, stimulating sights, plenty of food and drink and a unique midnight extravaganza all for FREE! The celebration takes place 8 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Headlining the event will be the electronic dance group Jump Smokers along with bands Standout Story, 87 Southbound and Just’A Band. The all-ages evening includes the Hoosier Lottery Countdown Pavilion inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse as a chance for revelers to step out of the cold. Full bars and food trucks will be available throughout the night as well. And at 11:59 p.m., an IndyCar hoisted high above the crowd will once again descend with fireworks at midnight!

Schedule of performers include:

Main Stage on Georgia Street

8 – 8:45 p.m. – 87 Southbound

9:15 – 10 p.m. – Standout Story

10:30 – 12:00 p.m. – Jump Smokers

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

10 – 11:30 p.m. – Just’A Band

Although hotel rooms are going quickly, guests for this event can stay at any of the Hilton family of hotels in Downtown Indianapolis, the official New Year’s Eve hotel partner.

Family-friendly events

Countdown to Noon, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, $22.50; youth (ages 2-17) $18.50; seniors (60+) $21.50; youth under 2 free

Experience all the fun of New Year’s Eve at a reasonable hour. Celebrate the final day of 2016 with activities, music from Grammy-nominated musician Zak Morgan and countdowns to 2017 at noon and 1 p.m. Receive hats and other festive favors for the big moment while supplies last.

Family New Year’s Eve, Indiana State Museum, $15, $9 members

The clocks are pushed forward and the New Year is celebrated early to allow children of all ages to enjoy the festivities. End the year with a family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration in the Governor Frank O’Bannon Great Hall. Enjoy jugglers, face painting and train rides from 6 – 9 p.m. with the balloon drop at 8 p.m. Reservations for the event are recommended.

New Year’s Eve with ComedySportz, The Athenaeum Theatre, $20; $18 for students and seniors

Welcome in the New Year with the most unique comedy show around! There are two celebrations – the first from 7:30 – 9 p.m. and the second from 10:30 p.m. – midnight (ending with a countdown to midnight) – and two live improvisation matches, where ComedySportz players battle each other for a prize.

Adults 21+ celebrations

New Year’s Eve Party with Zanna Doo, The Rathskeller, $50 in advance; $55 at the door

Enjoy New Year’s Eve with a hors d’oeuvre buffet, party favors and a midnight champagne toast at The Rathskeller. Doors open at 6 p.m., opening acts perform from 7 – 8:30 p.m. and Zanna Doo performs from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

New Year’s Eve Bash at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis; $45 – $80

Kick off 2017 at Hyatt Regency Indianapolis with one of three hotel and party packages. This action-packed night of entertainment and celebration includes several live musical performances on three stages, a fantasy casino “player’s lounge” and a midnight 15,000 balloon drop in the center of the atrium lobby. Entertainment includes performances by The Flying Toasters, My Yellow Rickshaw, Corey Cox, Hunter Smith Band, DJ Brian Jackson, Casino Games and Pyramid of Enlightenment. The party begins at 8 p.m. and the dress code is dressy casual.

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball, Union Station, $50 general admission; $99 VIP

Celebrate the 10th annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball with three parties for the price of one ticket taking place in three ballrooms within Union Station. Living Proof in the Grand Hall will play all your favorite party songs; 80s rock band Mullet Over will entertain in the Iron Horse Lounge and “club-style” music provided by P3 Productions will take place in the Illinois Street Ballroom. The party begins at 8:30 p.m.

CIROC the New Year, Regions Bank Tower, $130

Ring in 2017 at Indy’s only rooftop event from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. and enjoy a 360-degree view of Downtown. This event features a premium open bar all evening with light appetizers, champagne toast and a special midnight presentation. Music provided by DJ Indiana Jones, DJ Gabby Love, Action Jackson, Lemi Vice, Mass Appeal, DJ Rican and DJ Jozyano.

New Year’s Eve: A Gatsby Affair, The Pavilion at Pan Am, $95 – $100

A NYE Gatsby Affair at The Pavilion will be a one of kind New Year’s Eve experience at Indy’s newest event venue! With music from Sinclair Wheeler, Slater Hogan and a special performance by Kayla Noel, this event will have you dancing into 2017 with more than 1,000 other partygoers. Early bird tickets start at $100, providing each guest with amenities including a premium open bar, midnight champagne toast, silk aerialists, party favors, a photo booth, a live stream of Downtown Indy, Inc.’s New Year’s Eve on Georgia Street and more!

New Year’s Eve at Howl at the Moon, $25 – $110

Howl at the Moon offers three different packages to help ring in 2017: Champagne Supernova ($110) includes reserved seating, dinner from 7 – 10 p.m. and a champagne toast at midnight with party favors. Just Dance ($90) offers the same amenities as Champagne Supernova, except standing room only. For both packages guests must arrive between 7 – 10 p.m. General admission is $25, which includes guaranteed entry with guests arriving between 8 p.m. – midnight.

Hard Rock Café New Year’s Eve Party, $30 – $225

Rock in the New Year at Hard Rock Café with live music from DJ T-Bone and multiple event packages. The Party like a Rock Star Couple package ($225) includes two dinner buffets, one hotel room, party favors and two champagne toasts. The Rock and Roll package ($50) includes one buffet dinner, party favors and a champagne toast. General Admission ($30) includes a reserved seat, buffet dinner and champagne toast. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the dinner buffet is served from 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

New Year’s Eve Date Night, Chef JJ’s, $75 per person + 21 percent service fee

Share an evening with that special someone with fresh, local food prepared by Chef JJ’s culinary team. Tickets include beer or wine tasters, a five-course dinner and a sweet treat to take home. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. and concluding at approximately 8:30 p.m. Non-refundable, non-transferable seat deposits are available for $40.

New Year’s Eve Limo Bus Crawl, various locations, $49.95; prices will increase

Returning for a sixth straight year, party in style on a limo bus with My Drink On! This package includes no cover, champagne toasts at midnight, party favors, drink specials and a photo hunt. Limo buses will do constant loops and should arrive to each venue every 15 minutes (traffic pending).

Downtown sports for New Year’s Eve/day

The Indiana University men’s basketball team will face off against the University of Louisville at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Dec. 31 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are sold out on the primary ticket market, but are still available via secondary ticket sites such as Stubhub, TicketMaster, etc.

The Indianapolis Colts play the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. Go Colts!

Hotel packages

Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites

New Year’s Eve Dinner only package:
Five-course meal for two
Party favors
Champagne toast
Complimentary valet parking
The Alexander

Overnight stay in an art-centric deluxe guest room
Prosecco and chocolate covered strawberries
Brunch for two in Market Table
Late check out 1 p.m.