The Indiana Insider Blog

9th Annual Taste of Hendricks County in July 2012

erikdeckers — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:38:23 +0000

The 9th annual Taste of Hendricks County is coming up sooner than you think. Tickets are already on sale, and they’re expected to go quickly.

The event gives county residents and visitors a chance to sample local dishes from several different Hendricks County Restaurants will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 12 at Primo West by Five Star Catering, 2353 Perry Road, Plainfield. Time and space are limited, so you need to get your tickets now.

Josh from Hendricks County CVB tells me that Frank & Mary's famous catfish filets will return this year, even though the restaurant has changed owners.

Some of this year’s participating restaurants include: Black Swan Brewpub, Boulder Creek Dining Company, Charbonos, Confection Delights, Dawson’s Too Sticks & Stones, Frank & Mary’s, Nawlins Creole Café, McAlister’s Deli, Primo West by Five Star Catering, Stone Creek Dining Company, The Coachman Restaurant and The Porch. During the event, you will have the opportunity to win door prizes including gift certificates to each participating restaurant. They will also be providing free soft drinks during the event.

Proceeds from the event will benefit two local nonprofit groups, the Hendricks County Community Foundation and Leadership Hendricks County.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. You can buy your tickets online at the Hendricks County Flyer website, or at the Hendricks County Flyer office (8109 Kingston St., Suite 500, Avon), the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau (8 W. Main St., Danville), and the Leadership Hendricks County office (Hendricks County 4-H Fairgounds & Conference Complex, 1900 E. Main St., Danville).

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Milk Cow Music Festival at Fair Oaks Farms

nwiltrout — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:21:45 +0000

Fair Oaks Farms is one of my favorite Indiana pitstops, a great place to stop and take a break when on a road trip along I-65 in the northwest part of the state. While it’s an unlikely spot for family fun (its main purpose is supplying milk and other dairy products to customers all over the United States!), the farm has a little something for every traveler: great food, beautiful outdoor space, educational tours, interactive exhibits and play areas.

On June 2, Fair Oaks Farms will add concert venue to its growing list of purposes when it hosts the Milk Cow Music Festival. (Great name, huh?) There will be live music from country acts Little Texas and Amber Martin, a barbeque competition, car show, and more. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online here. A ticket will provide you full access to the farm, so if you’ve never been, this would be a great time to plan a visit.

If you can’t make it to the festival on June 2, mark your calendar for June 23 when Travis Tritt will perform. Tickets to this show are $35.

More information is available by watching this fun video:
June Events at Fair Oaks Farms (video)

Photo courtesy of Fair Oaks Farms.

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Indiana’s Top 10 Indiana Summer Gotta-Dos and Ice Cream Shops

erikdeckers — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:29:02 +0000

We’ve all seen those travel lists of the best places to go in a certain state, or 10 ice creams you have to eat before you die compilations. But can you ever really trust the sources of those lists? They’re usually compiled by travel writers like me and the other writers on the Indiana Insider blog being locked in a room by our editor and not let out until we’re done.

Or they’re wish lists compiled by a single writer whose promised himself he’ll get to at least five of those places this year (the same promise he’s made for the last three years). I mean, it’s one thing if some travel schlub like me says “oh you gotta go do this,” and it’s a list of all the places I want to go.

But this time, the people of Indiana have spoken. They have decided what their favorite Summer Gotta-Dos and favorite ice cream places are.

The Indiana Office of Tourism Development (and creator/host of this blog), created a survey to answer those two questions and asked for nominations from members of Indiana’s tourism industry. From those nominations, you and your fellow Hoosiers were asked to vote on your favorites, and the results were compiled. Here are the places, with links to previous Indiana Insider blog posts, if they’re available.

Top Ten Must-See Indiana Summer Gotta-Dos

Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field, Fort Wayne
Indiana Dunes, Chesterton
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus
Clifty Falls State Park, Madison
Quilt Garden Tour, Elkhart County
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis
Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, Albion
Shipshewana Flea Market, Shipshewana
Turkey Run State Park, Marshall

Top Ten Indiana Ice Cream Shops

The Chief, Goshen
Valpo Velvet, Valparaiso
South Side Soda Shop, Goshen
Ivanhoe’s, Upland
Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks
Rocket Science Ice Cream, Nappanee
Hartzell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Bloomington
Bonnie & Clyde’s Soda Shop, Bristol
DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Fort Wayne
Sycamore Drive-In, Logansport

So there you have it. Have you been to any of those places? Any plans to go this summer? Let us hear from you in the comments. What are your favorite summer Gotta-Dos and ice cream shops?

Photo credit: Erik Deckers

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Conner Prairie Horizon Council Hosts Craft Beer Event

erikdeckers — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:53:12 +0000

If you’re a beer fan, and don’t drink beers that are found on race cars, then you may want to visit
Conner Prairie’s History on Tap, their first-ever craft beer event for beer enthusiasts and newbies. The event, which is presented by their Horizon Council (the young professionals group), will feature tastings of both local and historical brews, brewing demonstrations, and an evening adventure through 1836 Prairietown.

Conner Prairie Horizon Council's first-ever craft beer event

For a $25 ticket, you will get to enjoy:

Beer tastings from local breweries including Bier Brewery, Flat 12, Fountain Square Brewery, Sun King, Three Pints Brewpub and Upland
Presentation by Douglas Wissing, author of “One Pint at a Time: A Traveler’s Guide to Indiana’s Breweries”
Craft brewing demonstrations by Tuxedo Park Brewers
An evening adventure through 1836 Prairietown
Sunset flights on 1859 Balloon Voyage (weather permitting, additional cost)
Food (additional cost)

You will also be able to enjoy a short beer that was made onsite by Conner Prairie’s costumed interpreters in Prairietown. You will be able to visit the Golden Eagle Inn to see how they made beer 186 years ago, and even taste a sample of their efforts.

History on Tap will be held June 15 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, $12 for designated drivers and can be purchased at their Eventbrite page (I buy tickets like this all the time; it’s totally safe and extremely convenient).

And if you want to save 20% off your ticket, go to the Conner Prairie Horizon Council’s Facebook Page and “like” it to receive the discount.

This event is for adults ages 21 and older, and you’ll have to show your driver’s license or other proof of age.

For more information, follow the Horizon Council on Twitter at @CPHorizon, or visit the Conner Prairie website.

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Trek the trails in Fort Wayne, Indiana!

hollyh — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:45:31 +0000

Fort Wayne's parks and trails have so much to offer!

A visit to Fort Wayne this spring won’t be complete without stepping foot in at least one of the local parks or trails the area has to offer. A newly-enhanced website showcasing Fort Wayne’s green space debuted this month to help you plan your next visit – and even includes sample itineraries for enjoying a day outdoors.

Among the most popular city parks are:

Foster Park, located at 3900 Old Mill Road, and founded in 1912, is one of Fort Wayne’s most unique green areas. It features tennis courts and access to the Rivergreenway, a 24-mile long paved multi-purpose trail. The park extends along a portion of the St. Mary’s River and features activity pavilions, Foster Golf Course, playgrounds and a floral area – full of beautiful blooms this spring. A replica of Abraham Lincoln’s birth cabin is also on-site.
Lakeside Park, located 1401 Lake Ave., at was founded in 1908 and is one of Fort Wayne’s legacy parks. Seated on nearly 24 acres, today this park features a beautiful rose garden and gazebo. This park offers an opportunity to sit by the water and enjoy nature. Lakeside also has basketball and tennis courts, a walking path and public fishing.
Johnny Appleseed Park, located on Harry Baals Drive, just off of Coliseum Boulevard, is home to a campground on one side, the riverbank on another. In between there is a portion of the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway trail. This park is aptly named after the historic man of apple tree folklore, Johnny Appleseed. Basketball courts, boating, sailing and fishing areas, picnic benches a playground and more are on site.

Hike or bike the fabulous Fort Wayne trails!

And when it comes to walking, running or wheeling along trails, the options are endless. The Fort Wayne area hosts more than 65 miles of trails, including both land and water – for kayaking, connecting visitors to the area parks, downtown and a host of local attractions. Traveling on foot, wheels or by water has never been easier!

Visit the trail system guide online for easy to read color-coded maps and links to the parks and trails websites. Sample trail itineraries include a 4.5-mile loop downtown taking you by scenic views of the cityscape, downtown museums and eateries. For a longer tour, consider biking a six or eight mile loop from Foster Park to another local green space, Tillman Park. This route will guide you near one of Fort Wayne’s favorite ice cream shops, and provides water fountain and restroom stops along the way.

Fort Wayne is northeast Indiana’s largest metropolitan area. The city, along with its county seat, is home to approximately 90 parks, encompassing more than 2,800 acres of land. A dozen of these are Legacy Parks, a term coined to signify a park that has been established for a century years or longer. For more information on the parks and trails featured here visit Fort Wayne Parks and Trails online and begin planning your next outdoor excursion.

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Seeing Is Believing: Surf’s Up in Carmel, Indiana

ammagan — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:09:58 +0000

Hanging ten in landlocked Indiana is about to get easier. On Saturday, May 26, The Waterpark at Monon Community Center in Carmel will open the FlowRider®, the state’s only simulated wave ride.

My boys (ages 9 and 13) had a chance to give it a try last week. I could tell you what they thought, but I’ll let you see for yourself. Hint: Words like “cool,” “awesome,” “amazing,” and “best mom” were used in abundance once they were back on dry land.

Here are some FlowRider® Fast Facts:

2 motors push 30,000 gallons of water up the ramp at 35 miles per hour
It’s a VERY good idea to wear snug-fitting swim trunks and one-piece bathing suits.
Boards and vests are provided for all riders.
Admission is included with daily waterpark admission ($10/day; $6/youth or seniors) or Escape Pass
Riders must be 48″ tall to body board, 52″ tall to surf standing
No lessons required, though morning lessons will be offered to daredevils who want to learn advanced skills and tricks
A Teen OpenFlow jam session (for kids ages 13-17) will be available Fridays before The Waterpark opens to the public
FlowRider® can be rented after hours for groups of 20 or more at a cost of $300 for two hours

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Taste 200+ Local Wines at Vintage Indiana Wine Festival

aatourism — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:54 +0000

Wine enthusiasts, rejoice! It’s nearly time for Indiana’s largest showcase of Hoosier wines and wineries. On June 2, 2012, 26 Indiana wineries will pour unlimited samples of more than 200 award-winning wines during the 13th annual Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival in Military Park.

Wine, friends and fun at Vintage Indiana Wine Fest

As a first-timer at last year’s Vintage Indiana, I was very impressed by the number of wines and wineries available to sample for just $22 with an advance ticket or $25 at the door. The unlimited wine samples from around the state were well worth the price. I felt like I was touring Indiana’s wine trails, but I didn’t have to leave town! The experience didn’t end when the festival did – after sampling all day, I purchased my favorite wines to take home by the bottle and was able to keep sipping and enjoying Indiana vino varieties for weeks to come.

In 2012, Vintage Indiana will be bigger and better than ever. The festival has added three new wineries: Monkey Hollow (St. Meinrad), Harmony Winery (Fishers) and McClure’s Orchard(Peru), and the well-known wineries like Oliver, Butler, French Lick, Huber and Mallow Run are all returning. So much delicious wine in one place!

Sip unlimited samples of 200+ unlimited wines

Between tastings, take a bite out of tasty local food options, including turkey and pork from local farmers and the offerings of food trucks like Taco Lassi and Big Green Bistro. Wine and food demonstrations, displays by local artists and three fantastic concerts will keep you entertained between sips. As a special treat this year, former American Idol contestant and country/blues music sensation Casey James will perform, along with local stars Jennie DeVoe, and Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel.

Bring your lawn chairs and make a day of it, tasting wines and soaking up local flavor to your heart’s content!

Event information
Date: June 2, 2012
Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Military Park, Indianapolis

Ticket information
Adult wine drinkers: $22 in advance at Marsh stores or online; $25 at the door
Designated drivers: $10 (unlimited soft drinks included)
Kids ages six to 20: $5
Children five and under: Free

For more information, follow Vintage Indiana on Facebook or Twitter.

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Simply Sinatra Kicks Off a Summer of Entertainment at Bearcreek Farms

ammagan — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:31:20 +0000

If you’re looking for laid back entertainment to start your Memorial Day weekend, and effectively your summer, turn your attention to Bearcreek Farms Country Resort in Bryant, Indiana. The jam-packed summer season of entertainment kicks off with a Simply Sinatra concert by veteran crooner Steve Lippia.

A favorite in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Lippia is sure to mesmerize Bearcreek fans with Sinatra faves such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Strangers in the Night.” Simply Sinatra will take place at Bearcreek Farms on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7:00pm. Tickets are a money-saving $10 each.

Free concert by The Harmony String Band May 25, 2012 at Bearcreek Farms

If you can stay over — Bearcreek offers lodging and motorcoach parking — plan to enjoy a free concert by The Harmony String Band at 7:30pm on Friday, May 25. The Harmony musicians are mostly from Indiana and play keyboard, “Gut bucket” (inverted washtub), guitars, string bass, harmonicas, banjo, mandelin to entertain with bluegrass, gospel, pop, and old-time favorite music.

Simply Sinatra and The Harmony String Band are just two shows to kick off Bearcreek’s entertainment schedule for the summer. Other show highlights include:

Christian Comedienne Chonda Pierce – June 16
Glen Miller Orchestra – July 19
Jan & Dean Show – July 20
The Van Dells – August 3
Andy Lorusso, The Singing Chef – September 6

Bearcreek Farms Country Resort is located in Bryant, Indiana, about mid-way between Muncie and Fort Wayne. Groups are welcome and the Homestead Restaurant is open Wednesdays-Sundays for buffet and menu dining. For more information, click here.

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Yo-Yo Competition Coming to the Indianapolis Artsgarden

nwiltrout — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:06:26 +0000

When I was little, I went through a yo-yo phase, where I was completely fascinated by these spinning toys on strings. I tried to master every trick, like walking the dog. I wasn’t particularly successful, but I still think yo-yos are pretty cool.

On June 9, aspiring yo-yo players will compete in the Indiana State Yo-Yo Competition at the Indianapolis Artsgarden near Circle Centre Mall. The fun kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. If you’d like to participate, you can register online here. But I’m more interested in observing the competition, which starts with 1-minute freestyle performances. As competitors advance, the length of performance lasts longer and the tricks become much more difficult.

The competition will be judged by competitive yo-yo professionals, and is organized by the Yo-Yo Hero and one of the world’s best yo-yo artists, Takeshi Kamisato.

The Indianapolis Artsgarden is also home to a series of free lunchtime concerts. It’s a great way to break up the monotony of the workday. To check dates, times and performances, a calendar is available here.

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Phoenix Theatre to Premiere “Forever Sung”

ammagan — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:16:38 +0000

Not many people like the idea of getting older, but let’s face it…it’s better than the alternative. In truth, there is much to be celebrated about aging. That’s the idea behind the original musical production “Forever Sung: A Celebration of Age in Song” at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis.

Forever Sung ensemble cast. Photo credit: Zach Rosing

“Forever Sung” opens to the public on Friday, May 18 and runs May 18-20, 24-26 and June 1-3 at the downtown theatre. The show is a collaboration between the Phoenix Theatre and the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community, which is sponsoring the event as a finale to its 10th anniversary year.

Audiences will delightfully recall songs from years past in this musical concert that celebrates every age of life. The music is borrowed from the songbooks of Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, The Grateful Dead, Toby Keith, Cat Stevens, Sting, John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Paul Simon and many others.

“Forever Sung” is presented in the Phoenix’s cozy caberet-style Frank and Katrina Basile Theatre. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. All seats are $25.

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