Million Meal Marathon at Lucas Oil Stadium, Oct. 10, 2017

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2008, all rights reserved.

By Angela Tuell
On behalf of the Million Meal Marathon

INDIANAPOLIS – The 7th annual Million Meal Marathon, presented by Strada Education Network (formerly USA Funds), and the Indianapolis Colts, will bring together more than 3,000 community members with the intent of packing 1 million nutritious meals for Indiana’s hungry in a single day.

This year’s event will take place 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium and is in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts for their Colts Community Day.

The Million Meal Marathon, includes volunteers from corporate sponsor organizations, local civic groups, churches, Indianapolis-area schools and families. Volunteers work in four two-hour shifts, alongside Indianapolis Colts players and cheerleaders, to hand-package nutritious meals for hungry Hoosiers. Meal packs include 21 essential vitamins and minerals, a blend of six dehydrated vegetables, enriched soy with 52 percent protein and 10 vitamins, plus white, high-quality rice, and can be prepared by just adding boiling water. During the Million Meal Marathon, volunteers will add the dry ingredients to plastic bags, weigh, seal and box them in teams of 10-12.

One hundred percent of this year’s meals packed will be distributed to food banks in Indiana to feed the one in five Hoosier children who are food insecure and their families. Midwest Food Bank and Gleaners will pick-up the packaged meals throughout the day to deliver to their Indianapolis warehouses, where they will then be distributed to food pantries across the state.

The day wouldn’t be possible without the help of hundreds of volunteers. For more information about volunteering, enrolling a group to volunteer or sponsoring a table, visit www.MillionMealMovement.org.

Additional sponsors include Best, Arbor Homes, Charles Schwab, City Barbeque, Shelby Materials, Certa Pro, Capital Container Company, Print Resources, JR Sandadi, and Brown and Brown.

The Million Meal Marathon is a program of Million Meal Movement, a humanitarian food aid organization that feeds the hungry at home while teaching our children and communities the power of volunteerism. Launched in 2007, the organization has provided nearly 28 million life-saving, highly nutritious meals to hungry families in Indiana and around the world, all packaged by volunteers. In Indiana alone, 1 million people don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.

For more information about the Million Meal Marathon, visit www.millionmealmovement.org.

“Lights at the Brickyard” Returns Nov. 11-Dec. 30, 2017 @ims

Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2016, all rights reserved.

By Jessica Redden
On behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

INDIANAPOLIS. – Lights at the Brickyard, the popular, drive-through holiday display that debuted last year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will return from Nov. 17 through Dec. 30 this year with a longer route and over 2.5 million bright lights illuminating an expanded lineup of colorful displays.

The Lights at the Brickyard course will expand to more than 2 miles from last year’s 1.7 mile layout. As in 2016, the route—which travels through the IMS infield and along the front stretch of the historic oval—will cross the world-famous Yard of Bricks start-finish line.

Dozens of new displays can be seen along the route, with more than 500,000 additional lights this year.

“Lights at the Brickyard will become a wonderful holiday tradition at IMS, and we’re happy to see it grow into an even bigger and better family attraction this holiday season,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We’re also grateful for the feedback from our loyal customers after last year’s event, which helped guide improvements such as the longer route, even more displays and a more streamlined pricing structure. We can’t wait to welcome even more families this winter to once again celebrate Christmas by crossing the Yard of Bricks at the Racing Capital of the World.”

General admission will be $25 per car on Mondays through Wednesdays and $30 per car Thursdays through Sundays at the gate, with standard entry lane access. Vehicles with 15 or more passengers will be charged $50 at the gate, with standard entry lane access. General admission can be purchased only at the gate, with each admission valid for one drive through the displays per vehicle.

The popular Speedy Pass will also return, allowing participants who want the quickest access to the course to skip the longer lines and arrive through a special entry near the IMS golf course. This pass can be purchased now at IMS.com for $40 per car through Nov. 16 and $50 online from Nov. 17-Dec. 30. Speedy Passes are $60 when purchased at the gate, with special midweek pricing to be announced.

This year, Emmis Communications and B105.7, “Indy’s Christmas Station,” will become the official radio partners of Lights at the Brickyard.

Operating hours for Lights at the Brickyard are 6-9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Visit IMS.com for more information on Lights at the Brickyard.

Devour Indy Aug. 21 to Sept. 3, 2017 @devourindy

Mama Carolla’s Old Italian Restaurant is one of the participating restaurants in Devour Indy 2017. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2015, all rights reserved.

By Sarah Stegmeyer
On behalf of Devour Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Aug. 21) – More than 200 restaurants in the Greater Indianapolis area are serving up exclusive, value priced menus for Devour Indy 2017
Summerfest. Take advantage of these tasty menus from today, August 21, through Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017.

Beginning today, participating restaurants will be flaunting their three-course menus and showing diners why Indianapolis has been named the “Most Underrated Food City in the U.S” by Zagat.

Sip on the Mr. Cantarito – the official Devour Indy cocktail at Mr. Tequila’s Cantina and Grill in downtown Indianapolis.

Devour Indy welcomes more than 20 new restaurants to the mix, along with those traditional Devour favorites and an additional dozen hotels offering exclusive Devour Indy room rates.

Experience Indianapolis like never before by taking advantage of Devour Indy offers from various hotels and attractions across the city.

Book a stay at one of Indy’s A List hotels, explore the Magnificent Macaw exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo and cheer on the Indy Eleven at one of their two home games during Devour.

Visit www.devourindy.com to plan your two weeks of Devour Indy today!

Welcoming America Week in Lafayette, Sept. 15-24, 2017

The Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds is one of the participating venues in Welcoming America Week. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2017, all rights reserved.

By Kathy Mayer
http://www.kathymayer.net

(Lafayette and West Lafayette, Ind. – August 21, 2017.) Residents in area communities are invited to join in a lineup of events during Greater Lafayette Welcoming Week from Sept. 15 to 24, 2017.

Activities include a naturalization ceremony, Global Fest, OUTfest, Tippecanoe Latino Festival, a documentary film showing, immigrant entrepreneur panel and ice cream social.

“We have partnered with several groups to celebrate people of all backgrounds, recognize the important contributions immigrants have made to our community, and send a message that being a welcoming community makes all of us stronger-culturally, socially and economically,” said Kirsten Serrano, founder of Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies.

The organization promotes fellowship among immigrants and allies, educates the community on immigrant issues and advocates for immigrant rights to create a safe and welcoming Greater Lafayette community.

It has affiliated with Welcoming America (www.welcomingamerica.org), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization at the forefront of creating inclusive communities and spotlighting the benefits immigrants bring to all residents.

For Welcoming America Week locally, Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies’ partners include Global Fest, Tippecanoe Latino Festival, OUTfest and MatchBOX Coworking Studio.

“Neighbor-to-neighbor is an important way for people to connect,” Serrano said. “Coming together in larger group activities fosters a culture and policy environment for everyone to feel valued.”

Event details are available at:
www.convocations.org/-GlobalFest, www.outfest.pridelafayette.org,
https://www.facebook.com/tippecanoelatinofestival/
https://www.facebook.com/GreaterLafayetteImmigrantAllies/.

If You Go

Sept. 15, 2:45 p.m.
Naturalization Ceremony
White Horse Christian Center
www.convocations.org/-GlobalFest

Sept. 16, noon to 10 p.m.
Global Fest, Streets around Morton Community Center
www.convocations.org/-GlobalFest

Sept. 16, 4 p.m. to midnight
OUTfest, Downtown
www.outfest.pridelafayette.org

Sept. 17, noon to 6 p.m.
Tippecanoe Latino Festival, Fairgrounds
https://www.face-book.com/tippecanoelatinofestival/

Sept. 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Screening, “8 Borders, 8 Days” documentary, MatchBOX
https://www.facebook.com/GreaterLafayetteImmigrantAllies/

Sept. 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Immigrant Entrepreneur Panel, MatchBOX
https://www.facebook.com/GreaterLafayetteImmigrantAllies/

Sept. 24, 2 to 4 p.m.
Ice Cream Social, Murdock Park
https://www.facebook.com/GreaterLafayetteImmigrantAllies/

Portillo’s Opens Sept. 26, 2017 in Fishers

Artist’s rendering of the Fishers Portillo’s.
Image provided by Portillo’s and used with written permission.

By Ana Espinoza
On behalf of Portillo’s

(CHICAGO, August 16, 2017) – Portillo’s, the fast-casual concept known for its menu of Chicago-style favorites, announces the opening date for its first central Indiana location at 9201 E 116th St. in Fishers, IN.

Opening at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, the Fishers location will mark the 52nd restaurant opening for the brand.

The company plans to hire over 150 employees for the new location; interested parties can visit Portillo’s temporary hiring center location at The Wellington Banquet and Catering Center at 9775 N by NE Blvd., or apply online at joinalegend.com. More information on Portillo’s hiring opportunities can be found online at http://www.portillos.com/now-hiring-in-fishers-in.

Once complete, the restaurant will feature a Prohibition-themed interior, drawing décor inspiration from the 1920’s era. The 9,000-square foot restaurant will include seating for more than 200 guests, a seasonal outdoor patio, and drive-thru. Guests to the new Fishers location can enjoy all of Portillo’s classic menu items, including Chicago-Style Hot Dogs, Italian Beef Sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, fresh salads, and Portillo’s famous Chocolate Cake.

The attached photo is an artist’s rendering of what the Fishers restaurant will look like.

Fans can register for a chance to attend a sneak peek training meal prior to opening and receive updates on the Portillo’s Fishers location by signing up at www.portillos.com/fishers. For more information on the company, please visit www.portillos.com or follow Portillo’s on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About Portillo’s

In 1963, Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo’s hot dog stand in Villa Park, IL, which he called “The Dog House.” 53 years later, Portillo’s has grown to include restaurants in more than 40 locations across several states. Portillo’s is best known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, fresh salads and famous chocolate cake. The Portillo’s brand also includes Barnelli’s restaurants that serve award-winning ribs, pastas with homemade sauces, and fresh sandwiches, soups, and salads. Portillo’s ships food to all 50 states via Portillos.com. Portillo’s Home Kitchen is the company’s fast-growing catering business.