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Save your cash by attending these no-charge events
Posted: Jan 09, 2008 in Things to do, Culture
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The holidays are over and your credit cards are straining under leftover December bills. No fun for you for a while, right? Not so fast. Indy offers some great, free leisure-time options, whether you want to be entertained, educated or active. Check out these 10 freebies:
In the Company of Shakespeare
Whether you're a poet yourself or you simply enjoy listening, stop by Irvington's Lazy Days Coffee House on Thursday evenings for In the Company of Shakespeare. The open-mic event lets anyone share their words with the audience -- and sometimes true talent is discovered.
Recently, a 16-year-old resident of the nearby Children's Guardian Home brought audience members to tears with her poetry. "She really spilled her heart out about her life," says Jeff Coppinger, the owner of Lazy Days. "We get some pretty good stuff in here."
The event is family-friendly, he adds, and when kids are around, the poetry remains strictly appropriate for all ages. "I make absolutely sure of that," Coppinger says. "If there is a slip-up, they're blacklisted, so to speak."
When: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Where: Lazy Days Coffee House, 10 Johnson Ave.
Info: (317) 353-0777 or www.lazydazecoffeehouse.com.
Latin Dance Party at The Jazz Kitchen
Get ready to merengue -- and also do the salsa, bachata, reggaeton, Latin hip-hop and more -- at what the Jazz Kitchen calls "Indy's longest-running Latin dance night." Show up before 8 p.m. and avoid the $7 cover charge; ladies get in free until 10 p.m.
Some 200 to 400 dancers -- ranging in age from 21 to 71 -- show up each week, says the Jazz Kitchen's Roz Wells. "Some nights it's packed. And (dancers) tend to get dressy. They dress to impress."
DJs Marco Dominguez and Fernando Ramirez from Spanish-language TV network Univision spin the tunes, with free dance lessons provided at 8:30 p.m.
When: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays.
Where: 5377 N. College Ave.
Info: (317) 253-4900 or www.thejazzkitchen.com.
'A New Beginning'
Travel back in time to 1950 through the eyes of up to 30 local artists in "A New Beginning," the latest show to open in Westfield's trendy Gallery One36. Celebrate the exhibit's debut with a free artists' reception, where you can browse the offerings while sipping wine and nibbling on cheese and crackers.
Each artist has submitted one piece to represent the chosen year, says gallery owner Katherine Kemp. "It's the artist's choice, whether it's a memory they had of the 1950s or they want to depict an artist from the '50s. It will be a very interesting show. It will be a lot of fun."
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 26 (artists' reception). The exhibit, which runs through mid-March, is
open from 10 a.m. to 4.p.m. Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 6.p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
Where: Gallery One36, 136 E. Main Street, Westfield.
Info: (317) 867-4139 or www.galleryone36.com.
Romance and Chocolate
Want to celebrate Valentine's Day with your sweetie a bit early? Head to The Artist's Vineyard for an evening of art, chocolate and romance.
Owner Bobbi Samples (above) -- who didn't begin studying painting until her late 40s, but has rapidly made up for lost time -- encourages guests to enjoy a rotating roster of art exhibits and explore the world of wines.
The last Thursday of every month, Samples hosts a special artist's reception, complete with champagne tastings and hors d'oeuvres. Slated for Jan. 31 is an evening feting Noblesville artist Beth Forst, a painter who works primarily in oils.
"Since her works will be up the month of February, we're doing a chocolate theme for the evening," explains Samples. "Love and chocolate and things like that." Live jazz will add to the romantic mood.
If you'd prefer to sample some of the Artist's Vineyard's hard-to-find vintages, show up any Wednesday evening. Visitors taste four to six wines during the 90-minute sessions.
When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 (Roman and Chocolate); 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays (wine tastings).
Where: The Artist's Vineyard, 68 N. 9th Street, Suite A, Noblesville.
Info: (317) 219-3481 or www.theartistsvineyard.com.
Wine and beer schools
More than just tastings, these full-blown seminars at United Package Liquors feature super-knowledgeable beverage experts -- often from out of state -- sharing history, tasting notes, distilling/brewing/aging details and more. Past "schools" have focused on such varied topics as kosher wines and holiday-worthy champagnes. The next few weeks bring "tutorials" on Spanish wines, stout and porter beers and perfect Valentine's Day vintages. Sessions move at a leisurely pace, and audience questions are encouraged. Cheese and crackers are provided for munching (and palate-cleansing). These "study groups" tend to be highly popular, and space is limited, so reservations are recommended.
When: 7 p.m. Jan. 29, Spanish Wine School; 7 p.m. Jan. 31, Stouts and Porters Beer School; 7 p.m.
Feb. 7, Valentine's Day Wine School.
Where: Spanish Wine School, Hamilton Beverage Fine Wines & Spirits, 2290 E. 116th St., Carmel;
Stouts and Porters Beer School, Toddy Shoppe Discount Liquor, 40 Northfield Drive, Brownsburg;
Valentine's Day Wine School, United Fine Wines & Spirits, 3437 E. 86th St.
Info: Spanish Wine School (317) 844-0872; Stouts and Porters Beer School, (317) 852-8651;
Valentine's Day Wine School, (317) 255-9463; or www.unitedpackageliquors.com.
Freedom Walk and 'Keep the Dream Alive'
Celebrate the life and accomplishments of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at this community event. Activities begin with the third-annual Freedom Walk along the sidewalk from the Indianapolis Urban League to the Madame Walker Theatre Center. Urban League doors open at 11.a.m., with the walk beginning at noon. Light refreshments will be available. Once at the Madame Walker, you'll be moved by inspirational songs performed by local artists. Literary notables will recite "words of wisdom," and area dancers present a praise program using movement to motivate the audience. Featured performers include the Walker/Flanner House Youth Chorale and Chamber Orchestra and the Voices of the Light Mass Choir from Light of the World Church.
When: Noon Jan. 21 (walk); 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. ("Keep the Dream Alive").
Where: Freedom Walk begins at the Indianapolis Urban League Building, 777 Indiana Ave.; "Keep the
Dream Alive" will be performed at the Madame Walker Theatre Center, 617 Indiana Ave
Info: (317) 236-2099 or www.walkertheatre.com.
Meditation Hikes
So you're back at work after the holiday break, and there's no more time off on your schedule until Memorial Day weekend. A little stressed, you say? Take a deep breath and head to the Indianapolis Museum of Art for an hourlong meditation hike, led by Global Peace Initiatives organization.
GPI, according to its Web site, works "to promote messages of peace and hope around the world that awaken a sense of possibility." During your hike, you'll traverse the IMA grounds and gardens -- sometimes in meditative silence, other times in dialogue with your hike leader and participants -- while you focus on improving "body, mind and spirit."
Walks are held "in any and all kinds of weather," .says executive director Linda Proffitt. "Some of our best hikes have been in 8-inch snow ..... We saw absolute beauty. The juxtaposition between the trees -- the starkness with no leaves -- and the white snow and the vivid blue sky was just magnificent."
The hike experience evolves from week to week, she adds. "It's a whole exercise in looking at the impermanence of the natural cycle."
When: 5 to 6 p.m. Thursdays.
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road.
Info: (317) 222-1556 or www.globalpeaceinitiatives.net.
Cole Porter Room Film Series
Film buffs can get a quick fix on their lunch breaks, thanks to the ongoing Cole Porter Room Film Series. Each Thursday, brown-bag your lunch and settle in for an hour to enjoy flicks related to Indiana, history, current or past events, and more.
Throughout January, viewers continue to explore "Eyes on the Prize," a comprehensive PBS documentary series detailing the civil-rights movement of the 1950s and '60s. Upcoming segments include "Ain't Scared of your Jails: 1960-61" (Jan. 10); "No Easy Walk, 1961-63" (Jan. 17); "Mississippi -- Is This America? 1962-64" (Jan. 24); and "Bridge to Freedom, 1965" (Jan. 31).
February brings the four-part "Destination America," also produced by PBS. This series focuses on migration to the United States, telling stories of individual immigrants and their families both before and after their arrival in America.
When: Noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays.
Where: Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St.
Info: (317) 232-1882, www.indianahistory.org.
poly_genic by Kristina Arnold
Artist Kristina Arnold, an instructor at Western Kentucky University, brings her installation work to the Indianapolis Art Center, where she will transform the Sarah M. Hurt Gallery into a representation of the inside of the human body. In this custom-designed exhibit, plastic body parts and lighting-as-arteries help Arnold to "forcibly transport the viewer to a different reality," according to the artist's official statement.
Arnold, known for creating colorful environments and for using recycled materials, was honored as a 2004 Emerging Artist in Residence at the Pilchuck Glass School, founded by glass artist Dale Chihuly. A former health researcher, she now explores her interests in health and human biology through her artistic skills, honed at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Her solo exhibits have been presented throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, including a 2004 display at the Nashville International Airport.
When: Feb. 15 through April 20; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays; noon to 6 Sundays.
Where: Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St., Broad Ripple.
Info: (317) 255-2464.
Monument Circle from Top to Bottom
If your resolution to get in shape in 2008 is already slipping, have we got a workout for you! Skip the $1 elevator fee and climb all 330 steps to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument for a view 284 feet up in the Downtown sky.
After you catch the sights (and your breath), descend to the basement level, where you'll find the Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum. There, you'll discover a variety of vignettes depicting war experiences of Hoosiers from throughout the state.
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
Where: 1 Monument Circle.
Info: (317) 232-7615.
Old reliables
These freebies are better known, but no less fun. Keep these classics in mind when you're searching for entertainment on a tight budget:
The Indianapolis Museum of Art
After a brief experiment with charging an admission fee, the IMA is back to its open-door policy. With more than 50,000 works of art, the museum provides plenty of visual attractions to keep you entertained on multiple visits. A highlight this month (through summer) is "Hats of Africa: From Asante to Zulu" in the Eiteljorg Special Exhibition Gallery. You'll browse through more than 50 traditional head coverings representing 30 ethnic groups from across Africa. Cloth, leather, feathers, shells and hair form the basis for the headwear, and many of the pieces have never been previously exhibited.
Where: 4000 Michigan Road.
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays and
Fridays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Info: (317) 923-1331, www.imamuseum.org.
The Children's Museum
Been a while since you've visited the world's largest children's museum? You have two free days coming up in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day. Plus, Target Family Nights let you take the kids for free the first Thursday evening of each month. Enjoy 11 galleries in more than 400,000 square feet of fun. Relive your childhood with the museum's latest offering, "Curious George: Let's Get Curious!" Sure, it's targeted to kids ages 3-7, but admit it: You have fond memories of that cute little monkey and the man with the bright yellow hat. You'll get a kick out of watching the little ones explore George's apartment building, a sidewalk produce stand, a city park and more. The exhibit opens Jan. 19.
Where: 3000 N. Meridian St.
When: Admission is free Jan. 21 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Feb. 18 (Presidents Day) and
the first Thursday of each month from 4 to 8 p.m. (children younger than 18 must be accompanied
by an adult). Regular hours are 10.a.m. to 5 p.m.
Info: (317) 334-3322, www.childrensmuseum.org.
Indianapolis Artsgarden
Downtown office workers and visitors alike flock to the Artsgarden for free lunchtime concerts, exhibits, dance performances and other cool cultural events. Along with the performances, the seven-story glass structure lets in plenty of natural light to lift your mood. Upcoming performances include acoustic guitarist Scottish McMillan from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Jan..11; R&B and soul icon Lonnie Lester from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Feb. 5.
Where: Above the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets. -- By Julie Cope Saetre / Indy.com correspondent
When: Usually lunch-hour performances. Regular Artsgarden hours are 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays
through Saturdays; noon to 6:30 p.m. Sundays.
Info: (317) 631-3301 (Arts Council of Indianapolis) or www.indyarts.org/artsgarden.aspx.>