RELATED EVENTS

• Transformations

ShadowApe performs "Transformations" at Butler University Lilly Hall various times between July 17th and July 27th. (Photo provided by Shadowape)

Varios wineries will take part in the 'Indy Wine Trail Summer Barbecue' on July 19th and 20th. (Rob Goebel/Indianapolis Star)

See the "To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures From the Brooklyn Museum" exhibit, NoExit's performance of "The Immortal," and "The Mummy" at the IMA on July 18th. (Photo provided by the Indianapolis Museum of Art)

1. Mummy dearest

6:30 to 9 p.m. July 18, $12, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, www.imamuseum.org/calendar/immortal

Can't decide what you want on Friday night? Original modern dance exploring ancient beliefs about death and resurrection? Quiet contemplation of the glories of Egyptian burial practices? Or maybe an over-the-top movie about roaring mummies? You don't have to choose!

Wander through the IMA's exhibition of "To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures From the Brooklyn Museum." Then take your picnic dinner outside to watch NoExit's performance of "The Immortal," with dance and music inspired by the exhibition. Complete the magic by watching the goofy movie of "The Mummy," starring Brandon Fraser.

2. Middle Eastern Festival of Indianapolis

4 to 11 p.m. July 18, noon to 11 p.m. July 19 and noon to 5 p.m. July 20. $5 adults; free ages 12 and younger. St. George Orthodox Christian Church, 4020 N. Sherman Drive, www.mefestival.org

Question: Which state has an Arab governor? The answer: Indiana. Mitch Daniels' parents emigrated from Syria.

Surprised? Then visit the Middle Eastern Festival. Very nice Hoosiers will eagerly dispel every misconception you might have about Arab-Americans. They'll even more eagerly encourage you to eat plateloads of tasty food prepared from recipes carefully perfected over many generations. Work off the calories dancing to the music of Chadi Naddaf, a Lebanese from Montreal.

3. ShadowApe performs "Transformations"

July 17 to 27 (times vary), $15 to $25, Butler University Lilly Hall studio 328, www.shadowape.com

Imagine the stories of the Brothers Grimm told from the perspective of a middle-aged woman who knows too well that fairy-tale fantasies grow out of bitter realities. That's "Transformations," Anne Sexton's brilliant and funny poetry, the first major new production in three years by ShadowApe Theatre Company. You'll never see "Cinderella" the same way again.

4. Indy Wine Trail Summer Barbecue at the Wineries

Noon to 6 p.m. July 19 and 20 at seven Central Indiana wineries, $20/advance or $25/day-of, www.indywinetrail.com

You'd need quite an imagination to confuse Indiana with Napa Valley or the Bordeaux region of France. But the state's wineries do produce several nice wines, and nice spaces to sample them. Seven award-winning wineries will offer a mini-barbecue and a glass of wine, plus fresh air and pleasant live music.

5. 'Heroes and Victors'

8 p.m. July 18 and 19, $19 adults, Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, www.indianapolissymphony.org

What three things connect the films "Rudy," "Hoosiers" and "Breaking Away"? One: They're thrilling sports movies set in Indiana. Two: They have inspiring soundtracks that are part of their appeal. And, three: The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform selections from all three while projecting clips from the movies on giant screens. Don't worry, it won't all be Indiana film music: how could a performance like this not also feature classics from "Rocky" and "Chariots of Fire?"