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Finding the best advice about where to live, how to get cheap books for class and where to go for the best grocery prices can be a challenging task.
You’ve heard about nightlife at IU, but what happens during the day? Here are some suggestions on how to spend your time.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSCelebrating community arts was a regular occurrence in Bloomington this summer.But to transition into fall, the second annual Bloomington Community Art Fair will bring local artists together for a special Labor Day weekend event.The Bloomington Community Art Fair will take place 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 31 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Third Street Park and will showcase a variety of creative media produced by area artists.Last year’s festival included artwork ranging from letterpress prints and blown glass to homemade fragrances and stained glass, among others.The art fair will partner again this year with Garlic Fest to supply locally produced garlic-based foods and various genres of musical entertainment from local bands.Live music will begin Aug. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. in addition to performances during the two art fair days.For more information about the Community Art Fair, visit facebook.com/communityartfair or follow updates on Twitter by following @BtownArtFair.— Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSGambling, drug abuse and alcohol addiction are just a few habits Bloomington’s Amethyst House aims to eradicate from the community.To kickstart its upcoming programs, Amethyst House will rent out the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 for a benefit concert named “From Shadows to Light.”Local musicians Carrie Newcomer, Scott Russell Sanders, Joe O’Connell and Kate Long will perform at the event to raise money for the not-for-profit sober living facility.The Buskirk-Chumley regularly rents out its space to local businesses and nonprofit organizations for events such as this.Cost of the use of the theater is either covered by the BEAD Grant program or the Buskirk-Chumley’s Movie Partner Project.In 2012 alone, eight separate events raised a combined $233,000 for participating local organizations, according to a Buskirk-Chumley press release.This will be one of just a few current fundraisers for Amethyst House this year, along with its Capital Campaign and Homeward Bound 5K Walk.Donations to the Capital Campaign will help fund the repair of the facility’s roof and chimney.The Homeward Bound 5K Walk raised more than $8,500 for local homelessness prevention.Amethyst House was originally established as Ray of Love in August 1980.The founders of the sober living house were recovering community members who saw a need for safe housing for other recovering addicts, according to the center’s website.The organization’s name was changed in 1989 to Amethyst House, Inc. to reflect the detoxifying properties of the gemstone amethyst.Tickets for the benefit event are now on sale to the public and range from $20 to $100 depending on seating locations inside the theater.To purchase tickets, guests can go to buskirkchumley.org or visit the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office during its business hours.— Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSDeep space exploration is an enigma to most people on Earth.But a special event Friday evening allowed those on the ground to interact with a space probe currently orbiting the planet Saturn.Wave at Saturn, a worldwide event, took place between 5:27 and 5:42 p.m. EDT Friday.Participants of the event were told to look at the sky during the specific window of time and wave at NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, as a photographer captured the waving crowd.Locally, WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology provided members of the community a chance to gather and wave at the spacecraft as it passed by our planet.Cassini was scheduled to take a mosaic-style photograph of Earth through the view of Saturn’s rings, from its orbit about 900 million miles away from Earth.This event marked the first time in history the public has received advance notice from NASA that a spacecraft was photographing the Earth from interplanetary distances, according to NASA’s website.WonderLab’s event Friday evening included a craft station where guests could make a sign to wave at the Cassini probe and hands-on activities to educate visitors about interplanetary travel and the history of space exploration in the U.S.Telescopes donated by the Stonebelt Stargazers and NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Cervantes were also available for the public to view Saturn and the probe through the early evening sky.Cassini is gathering data for NASA scientists to study Saturn’s rings, planetary activity and moons.The spacecraft was launched Oct. 15, 1997, and arrived in Saturn’s orbit July 1, 2004.Cassini’s primary mission was to last four years, but since its launch the probe has made multiple discoveries from the study of Saturn’s moons Titan and Dione and the planet’s surface.The most recent discovery by Cassini found hints of activity on the surface of Saturn’s moon Dione on May 29.Saturn’s Dione moon showed signs of early life.“A picture is emerging that suggests Dione could be a fossil of the wondrous activity Cassini discovered spraying from Saturn’s geyser moon Enceladus or perhaps a weaker copycat Enceladus,” Bonnie Buratti of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who leads the Cassini science team that studies icy satellites, said in a press release on the NASA website. “There may turn out to be many more active worlds with water out there than we previously thought.”The Cassini probe is a cooperative project between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.There is not a set date for the probe to return to Earth at this time.— Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The USA International Harp Competition continues with competition recitals and special performances and culminates with a final performance and judging July 20. All 2013 USAIHC events are free and open to the public. For more information about the competition, visit usaihc.org.Thursday, July 11CompetitionRecital Hall Stage 1, Jacobs School of Music9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3 - 6:30 p.m.Friday, July 12 CompetitionRecital Hall Stage 1, Jacobs School of Music9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3 - 6:30 p.m.Saturday, July 13CompetitionRecital Hall Stage 1, Jacobs School of Music9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 2 - 3 p.m.ConcertAgnes ClementAuer Hall, Jacobs School of Music8 p.m.Sunday, July 14 CompetitionRecital Hall Stage 2, Jacobs School of Music11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3 - 6:30 p.m.Monday, July 15 CompetitionRecital Hall Stage 2, Jacobs School of Music9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3 - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 Composer’s ForumBenjamin AttahirRecital Hall, Jacobs School of Music10 - 11:30 a.m.CompetitionAuer Hall Stage 3, Jacobs School of Music3 - 6:30 p.m.Wednesday, July 17CompetitionAuer Hall Stage 3, Jacobs School of Music10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Stars of TomorrowPerformance by young American harpistsRecital Hall, Jacobs School of Music7 p.m.Thursday, July 18 Preformance Preparation and Presence SeminarFord Hall, Jacobs School of Music11 a.m.ConcertPark Stickney, jazz harpistAuer Hall, Jacobs School of Music8 p.m.Saturday, July 20 FinalsMusical Arts Center7 p.m.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Celebrating 20 years of arts and culture this year, the annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival recently announced a sneak peek lineup of artists. The festival will take place Sept. 25-29.A confirmed list of artists and musicians thus far is included below.For more updated information, visit lotusfest.org.Frigg (Finland)Scandinavian fiddleThursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27Funkadesi (U.S.)Multicultural funkThursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27Roberto Fonseca (Cuba)Cuban jazz pianoFriday, Sept. 27Srinivas Krishnan, Abbos Kosimov, Homayun Sakhi (India/Uzbekistan/Afghanistan)Global rhythmsFriday, Sept. 27Sonia M’barek (Tunisia)Tunisian malufFriday, Sept. 27Arga Bileg (Mongolia)FolkFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28DakhaBrakha (Ukraine)Ukrainian “ethnic chaos”Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28David Wax Museum (U.S.)Folk and rootsFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Debo Band (Ethiopia/U.S.)Ethiopian soul and funkFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28De Temps Antan (Quebec)Quebecois traditionalFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Nomadic Massive (Canada)Multi-culti hip-hopFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28The Once (Newfoundland)Traditional and original songsFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Pacific Curls (South Pacific)Roots and songFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Christine Salem (Reunion Island)Percussion and songFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Vasen (Sweden)Modern Swedish string musicFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Volosi (Poland)Modern Polish folk musicFriday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28Kardemimmit (Finland)Finnish kantele and songFriday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 29Wamjad, Amaan and Ayaan Ali KhanIndian classical musicSaturday, Sept. 28 Japonize Elephants (U.S.)Old-time Eastern honk orchestraSaturday, Sept. 28Lily & Madeleine (U.S.)Singer-songwritersSaturday, Sept. 28Red Baraat (India/U.S.)Bhangra funk and brassSaturday, Sept. 28Barbara Furtuna (Corsica)A cappellaSaturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29—Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSMezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, an IU alumna, won top honors Sunday in an international vocal competition.Barton, who earned her Master’s degree in vocal performance from the Jacobs School of Music in 2007, won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World title for her range of performances at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff, Wales, over the past week.The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition began June 16 with performances of operatic selections from more than 20 performers each representing a different country.Barton was selected to represent the United States in February of this year and traveled to Wales June 10 to prepare for her performances at the competition, according to updates on her website.Throughout the competition, Barton won several honors including the Song Prize, the Concert One top title and the Singer of the World final prize.Barton performed a final repertoire of songs selected from four different operas written by Cilea, Hänsel und Gretel Humperdinck, Sibelius and Berlioz, to secure the title Sunday.Barton was born in Rome, Ga., where she studied and earned her Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at Shorter College in 2004.Following the completion of her Bachelor’s degree, she completed a Master’s program at IU in vocal performance in 2007.From 2007 to 2009, she was a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio and three years later made her United Kingdom vocal debut at the Barbican Centre as part of Elgar’s opera “Sea Pictures.”According to a BBC report, Barton’s future plans include the role of Julia Child in “Bon Appetit!” with Opera Memphis and a return to the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the role of Magdalene in “Die Meistersinger.”— Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As sunshine turned into a rainy downpour Saturday afternoon, many Taste of Bloomington festival goers ran to tents and booths, huddling to stay dry.Ankle-deep flooding was seen at Gate 1, located at the corner of Seventh and Morton streets, where volunteer gate workers confirmed the festival was to continue after the rains subsided.At 3:30 p.m., Taste of Bloomington gate workers said live music had been postponed until 4 p.m., but the rain steadily continued and the musical acts did not start until about 5 p.m. on the main stage at Eighth and Morton streets.At about 5:30 p.m., small batches of visitors to the 31st annual Taste of Bloomington began to filter into the Showers Commons at City Hall to sample the flavors of local vendors and restaurants.The IDS sent two reporters into the Taste of Bloomington to talk with four food vendors, getting their takes on this year’s rain-soaked festival atmosphere.GYPSY MOON NOSH WAGONA newcomer to town and the Taste of Bloomington, Gypsy Moon Nosh Wagon was located at the Showers North Lot during the festival.Gypsy Moon owner Jackie White said the festival was a lot more work than she is normally used to doing out of her food truck.“I cook in small batches,” she said. “I like doing small orders. And I like to be creative and do funky stuff.”Her food truck is named Gypsy Moon because of its wandering, creative nature.“I’ve been painting that moon for years and years,” she said. “And I’ve always thought of myself as a gypsy. And now, the truck moves around like a gypsy, too.”Gypsy Moon Nosh Wagon is just one of several street food vendors in town. White said she has been in talks with Mother Bear’s Pizza, Uel-Zing coffee and The Big Cheeze to try and form a street food coalition in Bloomington.“I’d like to start what I like to call a ‘cluster-truck,’” she said.The menu Saturday featured coconut curry pork tacos — the day’s best seller — alongside red chili chicken tacos and bacon-bleu cheese guacamole.“It’s hard work, but I love the food and all the restaurants,” White said. “And we’re doing pretty good despite the rain.”COACHES BAR & GRILLCoaches Bar & Grill, located at the corner of Sixth and College streets, offered up items from its regular menu in single-serve portions.On the menu at Coaches’ booth, located in the Showers Commons, were fried mushrooms, cheeseburger sliders and the restaurant’s original “Firecracker Shrimp” with lemon aioli dipping sauce.Coaches’ Executive Chef Willie Price said the menu this year was different from last year’s menu of chili cheese fries, buffalo wings and the restaurant’s signature Firecracker Shrimp.“We really try to change up the menu each year,” Price said. “We try to give people a taste of something different each year and steadily improve upon our food.”Coaches Bar & Grill, partly managed by the Hilton Garden Inn to which the restaurant is attached, was overseen on Saturday by Dale Benson, the hotel’s food and beverage manager.Benson said Coaches’ and neighboring vendors’ booths were without power a handful of times because of the heavy rains that preceded the festival that afternoon.Power was quickly restored to the booths in that area within minutes, but the rain did have a different effect on the booth’s performance that day.“Because of the rain, it seems like no one’s coming in and people are leaving,” Benson said. “It’s always more hectic when it rains.”Even though the weather had an impact on the booth’s customer flow, chef Price said the day’s best-selling item was the fried mushrooms, second to the Firecracker Shrimp.DATS ON GRANTDats on Grant, a cajun creole café, joined the festivities with its “Real Cajun, Real Fast” attitude as it served up three tasty dishes: chili cheese étouffée with crawfish, caramelized corn with black beans — a vegetarian option — and bourbon chicken. Ryan Stackhouse, a food and wine lover attending the Taste, recommended the chili cheese étouffée with crawfish.“It’s spicy and it’s delicious,” he said.According to Dats’ online menu, étouffée is a French word loosely meaning “to smother with kisses.” For this recommended dish, crawfish is smothered with fresh vegetables in a thick and rich creamy sauce blended with a mixture of Dats’ secret spices, and served over rice with French bread. If customers don’t like the sound of the étouffée they can always visit Dats at 211 S. Grant St. to try its sandwiches, stew, Creole, chili and jambalaya. Dats serves dishes such as these that have been loved in the bayou for generations at affordable prices.Its hours of operation include 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. THE BIG CHEEZEThe Big Cheeze, a local food truck specializing in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, which debuted itself at the Taste of Bloomington last summer, attended again this year.The gourmet food truck served its best-selling homemade mac’n’cheese grilled cheese sandwich called the “Mac Daddy Grilled Cheese” and its popular “Momma Smacker” sandwich, as well as a newer sandwich called the “Fajita Grilled Cheese” served with a side of cilantro lime sour cream. “Last year the Taste was good for us, I mean it’s raining so it obviously slows things down this year,” Joe Morton, Big Cheeze co-owner with Chad Sutor, said. “But we normally try to target students mostly, so this is a good way to get our name out there to the locals during the summer months.” To try some of the truck’s other signature grilled cheese sandwiches, follow The Big Cheeze’s Twitter account @BigCheezeIN to find its late-night locations on Kirkwood Avenue or call (812) 322-5234.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although the stifling morning heat may have kept some locals in the shade, the 33rd annual Arts Fair on the Square participants bore the high temperatures to showcase their craftsmanship to the community.The annual Arts Fair on the Square, co-sponsored by the Bloomington Playwrights Project and WFIU, took place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday on the Monroe County Courthouse Square and lawn.More than 75 local vendors and visual artists gathered to showcase their abilities to Bloomington’s art enthusiasts.Artist Olga Yevseyeva sold her hand-painted pottery from a booth on the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut streets.Yevseyeva, a native of Turkmenistan, said she moved to Bloomington when she came to America in 1995, and it was then that she began to make pottery.“I never left,” she said. “I love the town and I love the people.”Yevseyeva learned to paint and create pottery from a teacher she found locally, a mentor she could not find while living in Russia.Her hand-painted pottery designs featured ornate, repeating patterns and flowers painted in bright, primary colors.She said she always makes each piece food-safe and encourages her buyers to use her items in daily life, instead of putting them on a shelf to admire from afar.Her pottery is called “maiolica,” the Italian name for the style of pottery she creates. Yevseyeva finds inspiration for her designs in traditional European and Russian pottery, but she uses her own original twist to make each piece special.“For me, it’s about enjoying the interaction with people and sharing a passion for what I do with them, and seeing people who appreciate and understand what I do,” she said. “It’s all really about enjoyment.”A second vendor at the Arts Fair on the Square was Kim Ransdell of The Collective Press, a local printmaking studio located on West Fourth Street.Ransdell sold bookmarks, postcards, greeting cards and T-shirts, each printed using presses dating back 70-90 years.Using quotes from famous artists and thinkers such as Picasso and Einstein, her paper prints spoke to viewers in large, bold letters and vivid, deliberately swiped colors.Ransdell’s prints sat under rocks on tables alongside the T-shirts, which promoted Bloomington’s bike-friendliness.At 1 p.m. the festival crowd turned its attention to the belly dancing troupe Dark Side Tribal.The local group of six women performed three choreographed dance routines, in American Tribal Style belly dance, a multicultural style inspired by traditional belly dances of the Middle East, North Africa and India.Each dancer wore a traditional headdress ornamented with flowers and colorful fabric, a multi-layered skirt and finger cymbals on both hands.Adorned with mirrored tiles, sequins and fishnet fabric, each dancer’s skirt and headdress was unique to its wearer.Two dancers at a time, the Dark Side Tribal troupe wowed the crowd with its fluid motions and intricate hand movements. As the women danced, bells shook at their hips and created a beat for the featured performers of each dance.Alice Dobie, a 10-year veteran of the troupe who also teaches classes at the Dark Side Tribal studio, said the group typically performs at international festivals throughout Indiana and surrounding states.Sarah Akemon, a three-year Dark Side Tribal performer, was featured as the first soloist in the troupe’s final dance.Akemon’s part included balancing a scimitar on her head while performing tricky belly dance movements.The Dark Side Tribal belly dancers were the first in a two-part belly dancing set Saturday afternoon, culminating with the Different Drummer Belly Dancers at 3 p.m.Locals gathered around the square’s Entertainment Tree to watch the second round of belly dancing performers before traveling to the Showers Commons at City Hall to taste the creations of local restaurants at the 31st annual Taste of Bloomington food festival.
Find something new to experience this week with local events and performances.
A variety of big-name and local musicians will perform in Bloomington this month.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater announced Tuesday it will soon be going through two significant staffing changes.Associate Executive Director Maarten Bout and Assistant Box Office Manager Caitlyn Kuhs will both be leaving their respective roles to pursue different paths.Bout, who spent the last five years as a marketing and public relations coordinator for the community theater, will soon join Indy Baroque Music, Inc., the parent organization of the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, as its executive director.Kuhs will continue her education later this year by attending Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.“Highly qualified staff are very desirable in the not for profit sector and we’re lucky to have had Caitlyn’s and Maarten’s support for all these years,” Danielle McClelland, executive director of the theater, said in a press release. “We’re now looking to fill their positions with equally qualified and energetic people so we can keep our momentum going and continue our path of aggressive growth.”Bout’s and Kuhs’ former positions are now open to new applicants and will be posted on the Buskirk-Chumley Theater website at buskirkchumley.org until the positions are filled.Bout will join Indy Baroque Music, Inc. at the end of July this year, where, he said, his job will have a much larger scope of duties than his position at the BCT.He said his new responsibilities will include financial development, program marketing and payroll management for staff, performers and crew members, among other tasks.“It will be a great next step for my career,” Bout said. “I learned a lot working with the Buskirk-Chumley and I felt now is a prime time. The position was open, it piqued my interest and the board of the Indy Baroque Orchestra decided to hire me.”Beside the greater responsibility and a change of scenery, Bout said he is most excited to work with Indy Baroque Music, Inc. Artistic Director Barthold Kuijken and to work closely with the talented performers and musicians within the organization.Bout has a performer diploma from the Jacobs School of Music and earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees from his studies at the Rotterdam conservatory Codarts in the Netherlands.He said he has always had a healthy interest in baroque music and the history of its performance, specifically, which he feels will help him tremendously in his new career.Although Bout will still be living in Bloomington and commuting to Indianapolis, there are some things he will miss about the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.“What I will miss really is the interaction with my neighbors,” he said. “The Buskirk-Chumley Theater is such a central location in Bloomington and we put on such a variety of performances during the year that I’m convinced that literally every person in Bloomington comes through those doors at least once. It’s very much a center for the community and we often like to say it’s the hub of cultural life in Bloomington. And I truly believe it is.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You’ve heard about the nightlife at IU, but what happens during the day? Here are some suggestions on how to spend your ample time here. Freshman and Sophomore YearsJump in Showalter FountainThe Showalter Fountain is a monument to IU’s arts history, but it also is a major symbol of campus culture and — sometimes — lore. First designed by the late IU faculty member Robert Laurent in 1954, the fountain was inspired by bronze fountain groups in America and those he saw while on sabbatical in Rome. The sculpted fish surrounding Venus are stolen almost annually; however, a simple dip in the fountain will suffice as a form of academic rebellion.Visit the Tailgate FieldsThe tailgate fields are often synonymous with drinking and loud music, but the wide open space used for pre-football game fun is the place to be during football season. Remember to wake up early, wear a pair of shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, and stay out of the way of the excise police. See “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at The Buskirk-ChumleyEach year around Halloween, the Rocky Horror Picture Show is performed at The Buskirk-Chumley Theater. This tradition offers costume contests, interactive performances and an all-around fun time for all. A suggestion: Don’t mention it’s your first time, unless you want to be brought on stage for a special “initiation” ceremony.Go to a Hoosiers GameYou’ll always remember your first IU basketball game. The roar of the crowd in Assembly Hall, the fast pace of the game and the IU fight song will surely inspire you to become a lifelong fan. Buy an IU T-shirt, pick a favorite player and let your Hoosier pride shine.Use the bathroom at SomaLocated on the corner of Grant Street and Kirkwood Avenue, Soma Coffee House and Juice Bar sports some colorful and amusing bathroom décor, which changes every so often. The toilet sits upon a stage-like platform, a pair of upside down mannequin legs holds toilet paper rolls and a mosaic decorates one wall. When your parents come to visit, let them experience it for themselves.Junior and Senior YearsPlay Sink the Biz at Nick’sNick’s English Hut is notorious for its food, sports bar atmosphere and the infamous game, “Sink the Biz.” The main objective is to keep a small beer glass — the “Biz” — afloat in a bucket full of beer, while each person take sturns pouring a small amount of beer into it. The first one in your group to sink the “Biz” into the water has to drink his or her entire beer. Be sure to order a side of seasoned Biz fries to enjoy as you play.Try a Signature DrinkEvery bar has its signature drink. The AMF at The Upstairs Pub is one of Bloomington’s most famous, with its electric blue color and combination of who-knows-how-many different liquors. Another B-Town favorite is the Hairy Bear at Bear’s Place. This potent, orange-hued drink is said to be an acquired taste, but you should try it at least once to see if it’s for you. Finally, there’s the Bluebird Nightclub’s Dirty Bird. This mammoth drink is a favorite of locals and show goers at the local bar/music venue.Go to the QuarriesAs a tribute to Bloomington’s limestone history and Breaking Away nostalgia, many people choose to visit the old quarries, now filled with water, sunken construction equipment and utility vehicles. Although jumping from the Rooftop ledge — whose location can be disclosed solely by word of mouth — is popular, it is also very dangerous. A history of injuries, diving deaths and arrests is tied to this secret location, but the quarry is also a popular hangout and party spot during the summer.Eat breakfast at the Runcible SpoonThe Runcible Spoon is famed for its commitment to locally brewed and sourced coffees, fresh food and eclectic atmosphere, but the breakfast menu is definitely its specialty. The range of options includes eggs, sausage, corned beef hash, mimosas and chai lattes. Go here to cure a hangover, study with friends or enjoy the patio on a spring day. Given the size of their portions, you’re sure to leave with another serving for later in the day.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There are already quite a few marquee performances waiting for you in B-Town. Grab a ticket before it’s too late.IU AuditoriumBlue Man Group8 p.m. Sept. 212 p.m. Sept. 22Tickets from $20 to $62Ghost Brothers of Darkland County8 p.m. Oct. 10Tickets from $20 to $62David Sedaris8 p.m. Nov. 7Tickets from $25 to $45West Side Story8 p.m. Tuesday, April 22-23, 2014Tickets from $20 to $62Russian RecordingJulianna Barwick8 p.m. Sept. 29Tickets $10 in advanceThe Buskirk-Chumley TheaterRocky Horror Picture ShowPresented by Cardinal Stage CompanyTickets $10 in costume, $15 without costume8 p.m. and midnight Oct. 27Musical Arts Center“The Nutcracker” ballet8 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 2 p.m. Dec. 7-8Student tickets start at $10The Bishop BarPere Ubu8 p.m., Sept. 22Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A rainy Friday almost washed out a major fundraiser for one local school.Originally set to take place outdoors at Third Street Park Saturday afternoon, Bloomington Project School’s FunRaise the Rent parade, carnival and live auction event was relocated to Girls Inc., on 1108 W. Eighth St., to keep participants dry. The Project School announced Friday afternoon that the location of the Saturday event was changed to Girls Inc. because of rainy weather.This year’s FunRaise the Rent was the second-annual fundraiser for the tuition-free charter school, helping to pay rental fees and general operating costs for the school.Included in the school’s festivities Saturday were a costume parade around the Girls Inc. building and a carnival featuring tabletop bowling, face painting, target games and live music and art performers. The day ended with a live auction of prizes submitted by area businesses.Some of the items for auction included a dinner date with Herald-Times editor Bob Zaltsberg, a Starbucks Coffee gift basket and an IU men’s watch donated by the IU Alumni Association.The Project School hoped to raise enough funds this year to offset the $88,000 yearly rental payment the school makes as part of its long-term lease with the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation department. A grand total of the proceeds from this year’s event has yet to be totaled and released by the school.— Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As a way to promote research in occupational folklore, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. grants the Archie Green Fellowship Award each year.One of only four recipients this year, Jon Kay — a research scholar in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at IU — was awarded a fellowship to conduct ethnographic and oral history research through interviews with park rangers working in neighboring states.Kay will work beside Brent Björkman, director of the Kentucky Folklife Program at Western Kentucky University, to accomplish its examination of occupational traditions and experiences in American workers. Fieldwork by Kay and Björkman will primarily include 70 long-form interviews with former and current park rangers and related personnel to document what they coined “Ranger Lore.”Only four Archie Green Fellowship awards were granted by the American Folklife Center this spring.The award is named after Archie Green, a pioneer in folklore research who helped found the American Folklife Center in 1976. Green was a scholar who documented and analyzed the traditions and culture of American workers and encouraged others to pursue similar research.Kay and Björkman’s final findings will be presented in the American Folklife Center’s archive and made available to fellow researchers and the public.— Amanda Jacobson
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heroclix, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons may not be familiar games at a typical family fun night.But one local gaming venue is aiming to change the perception of tabletop games and create a safe activity space for children and teens to enjoy.Hall of Heroes, located on East Third Street in Bloomington, is a newly established tabletop hobby store and gaming space for all ages.Owner Ryan Jacobs, 23, and his wife run the freshly opened gaming hall, which specializes in offering spaces for people to gather and share their love of tabletop, trading card and board games.The hall provides three themed rooms — available for small groups — one featuring a minotaur, another a dungeon with spiders and shackles and the third designed as an elven forest.“A friend of ours is a taxidermist and he had a bison, and he kept the skin in the freezer too long so it shrunk and he was like ‘Here, have this’,” Jacobs’ wife said. “So now it’s on the wall.”There is also a room with a 10-by-12-foot projector screen that can be used to play Xbox games or even screen movies.Jacobs said he decided to provide the projector room because he wanted to differentiate Hall of Heroes from other gaming halls in Bloomington.“My problem with the other local game stores is it’s too much niche,” he said. “Yeah, Magic: The Gathering is big, but it doesn’t mean you should only supply it, and I figured, ‘same thing.’ Why be just tabletop where you could easily add a room with something someone couldn’t do at their house, and cover every type of gamer out there?”Although the hall offers many easy alternatives to at-home gaming, Jacobs said the hardest part about opening the business was deciding whether or not to take the plunge of starting such an investment.“I had to decide to either go all out or don’t do it at all,” Jacobs said. “So that’s why I went with the larger space — a place where we can fit 80 to 100 people gaming all at once — or where we can host a big event for the city.”During the process of opening, Jacobs’ wife said the store had its difficulties, including informing their landlord and neighbors of what the store planned to do with the space.At first, she said they had to explain to the neighbors what the store actually set out to do.“They were a little uneasy,” she said. “We had to convince our landlords, ‘Look, this is for the kids.’ We’re trying to get registered as a Safe Place. Which is hard with the bar across the street, but there aren’t any places for kids under 21 to hang out in town. The arcade in the mall closed, one of the bowling alleys closed and the skate rink has weird hours, so we’re trying to offer every type of game and please every type of gamer.”The selection of items available to gamers at Hall of Heroes includes a full-service kitchen with snacks and drinks, gaming dice for sale, starter decks for various trading card games and adventure books for popular games like Pathfinder and Dungeons and Dragons.Jacobs is hoping to offer events with the schools in the area, to spark interest with elementary and junior high school kids to try out gaming for themselves. But he said there are still problems with getting young children involved in gaming.“A lot of people don’t know what to really think about gaming,” he said. “For the longest time a lot of people looked at Dungeons and Dragons as being satanic. So a lot of parents don’t want that in the schools. People are kind of wary of it.”Jacobs said he started playing video games as a young kid, but then started going to the former Avalon Games and Hobbies in Ellettsville, Ind., to play tabletop and trading card games. Eventually, Jacobs got hooked.He said the main reason he wants to promote Hall of Heroes as a safe place for children or a place for kids to interact socially was his personal experience with tabletop gaming as a teenager.“People hear ‘gamer’ and they think of a nerdy guy, sitting in the basement in the dark, hoarding over his collection of things. But I was a jock through school and now I game,” Jacobs said. “I gamed all through school while being a jock. I have people who are honor roll students that like the war games. You just wouldn’t think they’d connect.”To start his community outreach efforts, Jacobs is currently working on making a donation of various board games to Bloomington’s Project School — a progressive learning environment that aims to eliminate racial, social and gender prejudices among young children.The board games will be placed into an auction at the Project School’s second annual carnival and parade on June 1.In addition to establishing a rapport with the community, Jacobs’ goals also include becoming a registered Pokémon League location and forming a more permanent schedule of weekly or monthly events.“It’s a way that kids can meet people, be interactive, learn social skills, learn basic math, basic reading, all the academic parts," Jacobs said. “And they don’t even realize it because it’s in a game.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jazz at the Blue RoomWhen: May 23, 7 to 9:30 p.m.Where: Blue Studio Gallery, 1165 S. College Ave.Dan Sumner, a nationally recognized jazz guitarist and Indianapolis native, will perform a set of jazz selections with his band mates at Blue Studio Gallery tomorrow evening.Joining Sumner will be will be jazz bassist Ron Kadish and drummer Dan Deckard, both Bloomington locals and longtime Sumner collaborators.Sumner is an IU Jacobs School of Music alumnus and is currently a professor of guitar and music education at the University of Louisiana Monroe. To learn more about the Dan Sumner Trio, visit benedettoguitars.com/artists/daniel-sumner. Music party at the Bishop Bar with the 123s, Jiridón, Jet OneWhen: May 23, 9:30 to 11 p.m.Where: The Bishop Bar, 123 S. Walnut St.The Bishop Bar will present a music party event for an admission charge of $2.Featuring three acts, The Bishop Bar will present a healthy mix of music from three Bloomington bands.Jiridón, a six-member African diasporic dance music troupe, will bring influences of Venezuela, Brazil, West Africa and the U.S. to the audience.Joining Jiridón will be The 123s, whose musical tastes pay tribute to legends like Ray Charles, Little Richard and Fats Domino. Jet One will bring a lo-fi hip-hop sound to round out the musical selection that night.For more information, visit thebishopbar.com.Spirit of ‘68 Presents: Lee Ranaldo of Sonic YouthWhen: May 26, 8 to 10 p.m.Where: The Bishop Bar, 123 S. Walnut St.An intimate show featuring Lee Ranaldo, a founding member of the alternative post-punk band Sonic Youth, will take place Sunday evening at The Bishop. Ranaldo and his bandmates Steve Shelley, Alan Licht and Tim Luntzel form The Dust, Ranaldo’s newest musical venture. Tickets are available through the Spirit of ’68 Promotions website for $13 and the minimum age for attendees is 21. For more information, visit spiritof68promotions.com.“The Fish on the Dome” – A Bloomington TaleWhen: May 28, 5:30 to 7 p.m.Where: The Venue Fine Art & GiftsThe Venue Fine Art & Gifts will present a discussion and book signing by local illustrator Avi Katz for his work on a new children’s book titled “The Fish on the Dome.”The book was a collaboration between Katz and writer/poet Christopher Shaw. “The Fish on the Dome” takes readers on a journey through Bloomington using poetry and illustration. On Tuesday, Katz will explain the creative process of illustrating the book, and how he brought his visions to reality within the book.Katz will also be available to sign purchased copies of the book after the presentation.Django Jazz JamWhen: May 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m.Where: Café Django & Jazz Bar, 116 N. Grant St.Café Django will present a free live music showcase of various young jazz musicians and a special guest performer Tuesday evening. Café Django encourages audience members to bring their own jazz instruments and join in on the music that night.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSThe Jacobs School of Music will participate in the first of many tapings for a series of national commercials promoting the entire IU school system.Written by Angelo Pizzo and filmed by Fred Murphy — a collaborator on “Hoosiers” — the first commercial of the series will follow a Jacobs School alumna’s journey from graduation to her recent appearance at the Royal Opera House in London.Ailyn Perez, the featured alumna and soprano, will be at Auer Hall at 3 p.m. May 23 to film the commercial. IU is asking the student community to participate in the filming by wearing clothing appropriate for the years 1999 and 2000 that is also appropriate attire for a recital. The participants should be prepared to sit for about an hour and pose as an audience to Perez’s staged performance in the commercial.When finished, the production crew will offer a reception for all participants, including hors d’ouevres and beverages.To become involved with the filming, RSVP to musicpub@indiana.edu.—Amanda Jacobson