“Just Us Girls” Packages in Richmond, Indiana @Visit_Richmond

“Just Us Girls” Pouch in Richmond, Indiana.

By Bob Burchfield, Editor
AroundIndy.com, LLC

The other day I was sightseeing in Richmond and Wayne County, Indiana. While visiting with Nancy Sartain at the Richmond/Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau (CTB), I came across a unique package that should be of interest to women.

If you stop by the CTB, located at 5701 National Road East in Richmond, you can pick up a “Just Us Girls” pouch (see photo above) containing eight (8) coupons (see below) for discounts on purchases at local galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and more (see below).

There is also a Visitor Savings Booklet included in the pouch, with 54 discount, free admission, BOGO, and free gift offers (see the “Experience Richmond” image below).

All coupons expire on Dec. 31, 2017. So now is the time to round up a group of your best friends and head to eastern Indiana to take a day trip with your BFFs, do some shopping, have some fun, and enjoy some good savings on products and services at area venues.

For more information, go to http://visitrichmond.org/, or call 765-935-8687.

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Review: Rosie’s Place Cafe in Noblesville, Indiana

Rosie’s Place Cafe in Noblesville, Indiana.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2017, all rights reserved.

By Bob Burchfield, Editor
AroundIndy.com, LLC

Every now and then, if you get lucky, you make one of those remarkable little discoveries for yourself that makes you ask, “Why didn’t I know about this place before?”

Such was the case on April 27, 2017, when I made my first visit to Rosie’s Place Cafe in downtown Noblesville, Indiana, across the street from the courthouse on the east side of Courthouse Square. It won’t be the last!

It’s a bustling little cafe with a delicious selection of breakfast and lunch menu items — and an absolutely amazing bakery renowned for its Gooey Butter Cookies (I’ve read that they sell tens of thousands annually!).

Gooey Butter Cookies — buy ’em by the bag!
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2017, all rights reserved.

The staff was very attentive and accommodating and cooperative in spite of the fact that I was being obtrusively pesky with all the photography. But as you can see in the photos below, there was simply too much to pass up for this old shutterbug! [grin]

I can’t articulate the delicious combination of tastes and flavors like some professional food critics and bloggers, but my eyes know what they like when they see it, and my taste buds know what they like when they taste it! The menu items contain generous portions and have strong visual appeal, color, and taste!

The Salmon BLT at Rosie’s Place. Wonderful.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2017, all rights reserved.

I’m sure the locals are very familiar with Rosie’s Place, but this was one heckuva find for this out-of-towner (although I am a Hamilton County boy from birth, born in Arcadia). If you’re in the neighborhood, check it out. You’ll be glad you did!

Rosie’s Place is located at 68 North 9th Street in Noblesville, and is open Mon-Fri 7 am to 3 pm and Sat-Sun 8 am to 2 pm. For more information, visit http://rosiesplace.net/, or call 317-770-3322. There’s also an additional location at 10 South Main Street in Zionsville (317-344-6500).

DISCLOSURE NOTICE: Rosie’s Place provided AroundIndy.com, LLC with free samples from its bakery in exchange for the promotional consideration.

Breakfast Tacos at Rosie’s Place, one of the cafe’s popular menu items.

Classic Eggs Benedict at Rosie’s Place.

A remarkable bacon and egg cheeseburger at Rosie’s Place.

Strawberry Parfait at Rosie’s Place.

Garden Gate Festival in Huntingburg, April 22, 2017

Image provided by the Dubois County Visitors Center.

By Whitney Hall
Dubois County Visitors Center

Embrace the sounds of JAZZ pouring through the air in Huntingburg, Indiana during the Garden Gate Festival, taking place on Saturday, April 22, 2017.

Now in its sixth year, the Garden Gate Festival returns once again to feature Jazz, Art, Wine, and Craft Beer as well as other additions.

The Garden Gate festivities begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time (EDT) with the Huntingburg Kiwanis Car Show. Be sure to make plans to see classic and antique cars lined up on Huntingburg’s Historic 4th Street. The car show is scheduled to last until 2:30 p.m.

This fun-filled day continues as individuals put on their running shoes and participate in the “JazzedUP” 5K and 10K, beginning along Huntingburg 4th Street. Proceeds from this run/walk benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

At 11 a.m., Kimball Electronics presents The Art Garden, featuring over twenty different artisan vendors with handcrafted items, art pieces, and vintage finds.

The Art Garden takes place behind the Old Town Hall located on Geiger Street and just steps away from Huntingburg’s 4th Street. The Art Garden continues well into the evening and will be joined with food, wine, craft beer, and jazz music.

Hungry? Along with art, Old National Bank presents the Food Garden, featuring delicious local and regional food booths. The Food Garden opens at 11 a.m. and features a wide variety of snacks and entrees. The sweet aromas will make mouths water.

Admission for the festival is free for children; for adults, the cost for general admission is $5. For those 21 years and older, the sampling admission is available for $15, including entry, wine and craft beer samples, and a commemorative glass.

Wine enthusiasts will be overjoyed with The Wine Garden presented by The City of Huntingburg and the Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce, featuring thirteen Indiana wineries in attendance, including Best Vineyards, Blue Heron, Buck Creek Winery, Cedar Creek Winery, Easley Winery, Ertel Cellars, Huber Orchard Winery, Madison County Winery, Monkey Hollow Winery, Patoka Lake Winery, Pepper Ridge, Windy Knoll Winery, and Winzerwald Winery.

Wine will be available to be purchased by the bottle. Craft beer lovers will be happy to hear that over ten different craft beers will be available at The Beer Garden presented by OFS Brands, including options from Basket Case Brewing Co., Breckenridge, Carson’s, Dogfish Head, Quaff On!, Schnitz Brewery & Pub, St. Benedict’s Brew Works, and Urban Chestnut. 12 oz. craft beer pulls will be available for $4.00 each. Also, the Dubois County Suds Club will be offering samples of home brew.

Redstone Car Service will be having vehicles on 4th street that people can pay to take them to their destination after the festival. The Garden Gate Committee and community partners wants everyone to make it home safe and make smart decisions.

While all this is taking place, a wonderful lineup of jazz ensembles will be featured on the stage in The Jazz Garden presented by Jasper Engines & Transmissions. The first jazz performance begins at 12:30 p.m. with the Vincennes University Jazz Ensemble. This jazz ensemble performs traditional big-band arrangement of various styles including swing, Latin, and popular jazz.

At 2:00 p.m., After Hours takes the stage, specializing in jazz and pop with jazz styling. After Hours has performed at hundreds of area events, and we are happy to welcome them for the first time to the Garden Gate Festival.

At 4:15 p.m., welcome the original stylings of Hot Jive Stew on the stage, with their premier guitarist Brian Curella. Curella has been performing in the Louisville region for over 25 years. He is known for his skilled guitar playing as well as his powerful tenor with a smooth voice. His jazz stylings feature aspects of Bossa Nova, Swing, Hard Bop, and Blues.

At 6:30 p.m., the Wade Baker Quintet takes the stage. It is the Wade Baker Quintet’s goal to play an eclectic fusion of jazz, hip-hop, funk and groove music while keeping the integrity and spirit of the traditions of the jazz masters we respect so much. Most of the tunes performed live are original compositions or compositions by other band members/close friends which makes the listener’s experience truly experimental, new and exclusive. In addition to playing new music, the band also performs standard jazz repertoire with more modern arrangements of the tunes, developed by members of the group.

In between these jazz ensembles, the award-winning Jasper High School band will be performing. Recently, this band was an ISSMA State Jazz Finalist, receiving a Gold rating with distinction in Group I, as well as taking second place at the Ball State Jazz Festival.

The Garden Gate Festival is coordinated by the Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce and Garden Gate Advisory Committee. A portion of proceeds from this event are given back to the Huntingburg community.

Coolers, pets, smoking, weapons of any kind, and pop-up tents are not permitted.

For more information, go to www.gardengatefestival.com.

Spring Blooms Exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art

By Bob Burchfield, Editor
AroundIndy.com, LLC

DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The Indianapolis Museum of Art provided free admission to this exhibit to AroundIndy.com (and many other media representatives) in exchange for the promotional consideration.

More than 3,000 patrons visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art last weekend to see the beautiful Spring Blooms exhibit. With 250,000 blooms on display all over the IMA grounds, it’s easy to see why! The colors are breathtaking, and the smells and aromas are intoxicating! Oh yes: and you can visit the new Beer Garden at the IMA Greenhouse!

The museum is open Tue-Sat 11 am to 5 pm (until 9 pm on Thu), plus Sun 12-5. The Spring Blooms exhibit is included with museum admission. If you like flowers, you will love this exhibit! Here are some photos from the beautiful exhibit.

An Indy Girl’s Summer in Indiana Dunes Country

On the beach at Indiana Dunes in Porter County, Indiana.
Photo provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism and used with written permission.

By Danielle Pieratt
Indiana Dunes Tourism Intern

I’ve been in Indiana Dunes Country for almost three months now while doing my summer internship. It’s been like a beach vacation without having to drive 15 hours to Florida.

Fortunately, I have a couple weeks left to enjoy the rest of the summer up north by relaxing on the beach, attending events like Indiana Dunes Tourism’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration and eating at award-winning restaurants like Lucrezia Cafe in Chesterton.

One of my favorite parts about living up north has been the beach. There are so many different trails and nature hikes to explore. If you are a fan of biking, there are plenty of bike trails to ride on that get you from one place to the next. At the end of July, Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is unveiling a new bike path called the Dunes Kankakee Trail that travels from the Visitor Center for three miles to Indiana Dunes State Park, and which will eventually go to the Kankakee River.

Valpo Velvet Ice Cream Company in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Photo provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism and used with written permission.

If you are thinking about venturing up north into Indiana Dunes Country to explore what it has to offer, a helpful guide is the “Must See and Do” in the Indiana Dunes Country Activities Guide. It features 14 options on exiting things to do.

The Broken Wagon Bison Farm was one of the most exciting things I got to enjoy from this list. On the tour, you are able to come face to face with over 100 of America’s largest native land mammals. This is especially exciting as it’s Indiana’s bicentennial this year.

No matter what you choose to do while visiting Indiana Dunes Country, it is sure to blow you away. The food, people and atmosphere can’t be beat… And that’s coming from an Indy girl. Visit www.indianadunes.com for more information.

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Editor’s Note: Danielle Pieratt is a senior attending Ball State University, working toward a public relations degree. She is currently an intern for Indiana Dunes Tourism, the official tourism agency for Porter County.