Meet Me on Main – February 9, 2019

Meet Me on Main returns on Saturday, February 9 with Trolley Rides

Carmel, IN – Meet Me on Main returns this Saturday, February 9^th in the Carmel Arts & Design District. It will include all of your favorite components of the Second Saturday Gallery Walks including live music, face painting and caricatures, new exhibits and features in local art galleries and businesses staying open until 9 p.m.

Meet Me on Main will offer expanded options of “hands-on” art for the public offered every month. In February, The Art Lab invites you to drop in and create accordion Valentine’s Day cards from 5 – 8:30 p.m. This event is free and no sign up is required. It will be held at 110 W. Main Street, Suite 125, next to Highgarden Real Estate.

New to Meet Me on Main is a monthly drawing! Each month, three $100 gift cards to businesses in the Arts & Design District will be given away. To enter, visit participating galleries and businesses to fill out an entry form; only one can be filled out per location but the more businesses visited, the more you can increase your chances. There is no purchase necessary to participate.

Free trolley rides will take place in the District from 5 – 9 p.m. Pick up will be near Agave Bar and Grill and Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream at Monon and Main Street. Please note that the trolley rides are on a first come, first served basis. The first 200 visitors throughout the galleries will receive a free rose.

Special gallery exhibits will be featured throughout Meet Me on Main including:

• All You Need is Love is CCA Gallery’s February feature. Artists have created their spin on the theme from vibrant pinks and reds of Linda Wesolowski’s paintings, to glass blown hearts and flowers by Lisa Pelo, to uniquely designed hearts in Sterling Silver by Heidi Mandich and Tara Hicks to bleeding hearts in a row, a beautiful photograph by Ken Keifer. Stop by and see what you fall in love with. (111 W. Main St., #135)
• Carmel Art on Main Gallery is featuring …Chocolate, Jewelry and Art! during the month of February. They will have high end chocolates by Chocolate for the Spirit by Julie Bolejack, a USA top 10 ranked chocolatier by Forbes Magazine plus new jewelry by Pam Hurst Designs. The front gallery features a student and emerging artist show which includes work by students of Randall Scott Harden and Nancy Keating along with adult Herron art student Esther McQueen. (111 W. Main St., #140)
• Grab your sweetie and head to All Things Carmel’s Sweetie Selfie Station where you can take your picture with a Valentine’s themed background. (110 W. Main St., #104)
• Evan Lurie Gallery features Indianapolis +, a group show by artists based in the Indianapolis area and curated by Susan Brewer. (30 W. Main St.)
• Hoosier Salon will be hosting the 67^th Street Printmakers in February. The group is comprised of twelve printmakers from Central Indiana expressing themselves through the increasingly rarer mediums of Linoleum Cut, Lithographs, Silkscreens and Woodblock prints. (22 N. Range Line Rd.)
• In February, the Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery will feature student art from College Wood Elementary. The Community Art exhibit will feature student art from Kawachinagano, Japan. This year celebrates 25 years of Carmel’s relationship with Kawachinagano and the student art exchange. (40 W. Main St.)
• The Carmel Clay Historical Society & Monon Depot Museum present A Vintage Valentine’s on Tuesday, February 12^th. Join them for an evening of Victorian crafting and romance film viewing as you create vintage inspired Valentines in the historic Monon Depot Museum. Learn a brief history of card making and how the Depot played a role in sending out these tokens of affection. All crafting materials will be supplied and light refreshments and wine will be served. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by emailing agrove@carmelclayhistory.org. (211 1^st SW)
• Soori Gallery features paintings, bronze and acrylic sculptured works by leading American and international artists. Featured sculptors include Michael Wilkinson, Frederick Hart, Jerry Joslin and more. (33 E. Main St.)

Activities taking place during Meet Me on Main include:

• Free caricatures and face painting by Custom Eyes Designs inside Sub Zero Ice Cream (111 W. Main St., #130).
• Free musical entertainment throughout the district. Kassey King will play at The Olive Mill, Dianna Davis will perform at Hoosier Salon and Sammi Lorena will be at Evan Lurie Gallery.
• Free Make & Take Art Project with the Art Lab from 5 – 8:30 p.m. Create accordion Valentine’s Day cards at 110 W. Main Street, Suite 125, next to Highgarden Real Estate. The location is sponsored by Keystone Realty Group. No registration necessary.

A map of the gallery locations and more information about Meet Me on Main activities can be found at www.CarmelArtsAndDesign.com.

Public parking is available in the Carmel Lions Club lot (141 E. Main St.), Sophia Square parking garage (entrance off of 1st Ave NW), Indiana Design Center parking garage (200 S. Range Line Rd.) or on-street. The Arts & Design District parking map may be downloaded at http://www.carmelartsanddesign.com/images/Carmel_District_ParkingMap.pdf.

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The Carmel Arts & Design District is the Midwest’s premier arts and design destination. Home to more than 200 businesses, including art galleries, restaurants, antique dealers, design showrooms, boutiques, and creative service providers, the Carmel Arts & Design District promises to stimulate the senses. The Indiana Design Center is housed in the Carmel Arts & Design District. In addition, hundreds have taken advantage of the wide variety of housing opportunities and call the Carmel Arts & Design District home.

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Car Obsessions

Most car obsessions are historically thought of as between a man and a very fast car. I’m here to break the mold. My name is Bethany, and I am obsessed with my 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit.  My affectionate name for him is Thumper, and we first met in 2008. What made me first fall in love with Thumper was not his four cylinders, but the way I felt like he took care of me. It was the first time my car let me know how many miles I had untill I found myself on the side of the road with no gas, and my college self appreciated that more than words can describe. Not to mention Thumper’s gas mileage, getting thirty miles to the gallon is a big help when gas peaked above $4 a gallon.  The true test of our relationship was the winter when I returned from Asia, and found myself stuck in the icepocalypse for five hours. We made it to Indianapolis in one piece, and I am forever grateful for Thumper’s perseverance. I doubt Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson would even look twice at the car, but Thumper and I have a special bond that I will continue to brag about.

I know I’m not alone with my obsession, as I talked to many proud car owners at IU Health North Hospital Carmel Artomobilia. Each had a unique story and countless memories attached to their gorgeous vehicles. I hope you enjoyed the afternoon as much as I did! Below are some photos of the day. Enjoy!

Car enthusiast takes a peak at the trunk of a Indianapolis 500 pace car, the Chevy Camaro, at IU Health North Hospital Carmel Artomobilia.

 

Spectators enjoyed the art of the automobile by examining the engine of a classic car.

The personalized details of each car enhance the automotive experience!

Now on to my favorite section- the Ferraris!

Even racers fans had their choice of classic and new models!

These boys found their favorite car at IU Health North Hospital Carmel Artomobilia. Who could resist those whitewall tires?

What was your favorite? We would love to hear your feedback!

Indiana Design Center Revs Up

As we gear up for IU Health North Hospital Carmel Artomobilia, we are ecstatic to have a fellow member of the Carmel Arts & Design District share their unique perspective in a blog!  The Indiana Design Center is home to beautiful showrooms, design professionals, artists, and endless resources for residential and commercial interiors.

We were thrilled to read the blog announcing designer Michael Kalish‘s exhibit. Michael is known for using vintage license plates and car parts throughout his pieces. We are impressed how the Indiana Design Center is revved up and moving  full speed ahead with their great ideas (sorry for all the puns- I just can’t resist!).

Read their blog here.

Stay tuned for more Artomobilia features!

Cooking Up Ideas

Basil. Garlic. Salt. A little pinch of each provides a big flavor kick in my morning omelet. While prepping my ingredients and whipping my eggs, I thought, “A little goes a long way. The same is true in most things in life.” Maybe it was the chocolate coffee kicking in, or maybe I was on to something.

This morning’s revelation was reinforced later in the day when I stopped by the Simply Sweet Shoppe, where I found myself fixated on images of Kenya.  There on the colorful walls was a poster promoting the local fund-raising event. Kenya Carnival is dedicated to helping orphans and vulnerable students in Kenya, and Simply Sweet Shoppe is the title sponsor!

The Simply Sweet Shoppe isn’t the only small business making a big impact. PillowTalk is a strong supporter of the fight against breast cancer and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Every March, PillowTalk hosts the annual ‘Bras For The Cause’ event. ‘Bras For The Cause’ is a month dedicated to funding research for breast cancer. A portion of the profits for the entire month are donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Further west on Main Street, the Main Street Barber Shop is dedicated to helping America’s veterans. They are currently collecting household items, such as plates, linens, working appliances, and lamps to assist veterans in need (cough cough..If you are like me, by the time I get around to spring cleaning it’s almost fall, making now the perfect time to take household items down to the shop). The Main Street Barber Shop has several other events to help veterans throughout the year, so stop by to see how else you can help.

Finally, we can’t forget the Carmel Old Town Antique Mall and ArtSplash artist Erika Woods and their commitment to helping our four-legged friends. Erika used her talents to help decorate a room in the Humane Society of Indianapolis, while the owners of Carmel Old Town Antique Mall rescue greyhounds.  These beautiful dogs often visit the store – stop by and see them!

Small businesses can make a big difference and the Carmel Arts & Design District businesses prove it daily.

I wonder what life lessons my breakfast will provide for me tomorrow!

Long Lost Love Update

While planning IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine, I often found myself checking my phone- even without it ringing or buzzing.  Waiting for Mr. Right? No. Compulsive? Maybe- I was waiting hopelessly for the call from Vine & Table to provide an update on the status of my long lost love, Speight’s Gold Medal Ale.  Leading up to the call, I was daydreaming of my six pack with a bright red bow en route to America, flying first class so soon it could be enjoyed by my friends and me.

The call came at the end of the week, as promised. Unfortunately, my daydream didn’t come to fruition. Not because Vine & Table didn’t try hard enough, but because of legality.  Speight’s has yet to trademark their beer in America. The lack of a trademark along with trade regulations means that Speight’s Gold Medal Ale will not be able to be shipped to the states for a few more years. The Vine & Table staff offered to order another New Zealand specialty beer, but I have plenty of love for domestic beers and hope to create memories with my good friends at Sun King Brewery. Plus, I don’t have any qualms using the excuse ‘I need to go back to New Zealand… for the beer.’  And yes, the Speight’s Gold Medal Ale is worth a sixteen hour flight!

I can’t thank the Vine & Table staff enough for looking into the ordering and shipping of the beer. It’s not every day that you hear ‘I can order it for you,’ when talking about your favorite hard to find items, much less those from New Zealand!

I Left My Heart in……

There are very few tasks in this world that I am 100% confident in, but one particular feat that I can say “No worries!” to is traveling. Most people let out heavy breaths of exhaustion just at the thought of it, but not me, I have it down pat. Antibacterial wipes? Got them. Under three ounces of liquid? Oh, I’ll give you three ounces… in labeled bottles, taped shut and sealed in a perfectly measured quart bag. Cold on the flight? Nope, I have mastered the art of airport layering. Jet lag? My carefully monitored sleeping rules make jet lag cry… Well, not cry… but you get the picture.

 

What I’m trying to say is that I have set out on another vacation adventure. Although I’ve traveled throughout Southeast Asia, I wasn’t able to visit South Korea and my longing for kimchee became too much to handle. However, while I navigate the subways of Seoul, a little piece of me will be in the Carmel Arts & Design District. I missed the Second Saturday Gallery Walk on August 13^th and my regular visits to the local restaurants and shops are on hold right now. Where, in Seoul will I enjoy a fresh baked pie? How will I go a few days without shopping for great consignment deals?

 Upon my return, I look forward to getting back to my favorite District hot spots!

Exploring New Mediums

For the majority of my life, art was restricted to creativity within paint or crayons on paper. It wasn’t until later in my 20s that I considered art in various forms.  Street art, mosaics, recycled items and new mediums became my favorite art form.  The dimensions and different ideas displayed brought a unique energy to my outdated concept of ‘art’.  During my internship in 2009, I was able to experiment with a new medium when the interns were given the task of decorating a large Nebuchadnezzar bottle for the Art of Wine event.

Here is our finished product:

The interns' work of art, which was displayed in 2009.

Needless to say we didn’t continue our art exploration. Various other artists took a simple bottle and turned the medium into something brilliant.

Nancy Keating's award winning 2010 Nebuchadnezzar creation. I regret I did not have my camera in hand to capture her amazing 2011 Art of Wine contribution.

All decorated bottles and other wine related art were displayed throughout the District at IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine on July 16. There was no denying the heat that day, and it was wonderful to see the over 5,000 participants attend the festival. It  became very clear to me throughout planning for the event that my best ‘medium’ is logistics.  From now on out, I will stick to what I do best!

IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine was an exciting event with lots of action behind the scenes. Enjoy some photos showing off my medium- logistics!

The day before IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine. The skies are blue, the flags are up, and we are ready to go!

And it begins! The tents are ready and waiting for the wineries at IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine!

The stage is ready for Blair Clark and his talented musicians to start grooving!

At 5:00 p.m., the festival begins and patrons enjoy unlimited tasting from the various wineries.

Team 'Lucy' and 'Ricky' compete by stomping grapes for donations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Indiana Chapter. Thank you for all your donations!

Huber's Orchard & Winery satisfy patron's palates with a variety of their wines.

Tunes along the Monon Trail

“Welcome to the History of Jazz!” Professor Buselli announced on the first day of class in my freshman year at Butler University. Although I love music, I didn’t love the idea of memorizing the years of Mozart’s masterpieces in the traditional History of Music class. The History of Jazz was my chance to spice up my schedule and learn about music slightly more recent than the 18^th century while still earning the dreaded music credit for my business major.

Throughout the semester, I watched videos and listened to the sweet sounds of Jazz icons Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and Count Basie (to name a few). Aside from all the tests, quizzes and videos, I was taught about Jazz from a professor who loved, lived, and breathed the subject he was teaching. After nine weeks, I walked away with a strong appreciation of Jazz. Today, to say I enjoy a night of Jazz under the stars is an understatement.

Jazz is a growing force in Indiana, with several groups forming and playing at venues around the state. One venue marries Jazz with the wonderful summer evenings along the Monon.  IU Health North Hospital Jazz on the Monon stays true to its name. Jazz performed by talented musicians, located at the Monon and Main Street in the Carmel Arts & Design District.  As summer slowly comes to an end, so too does the Jazz on the Monon series. This Saturday, August 6^th, is the final performance, and it is not to be missed. Bring your lawn chairs, grab some food in the district, and enjoy the sounds of Blair Clark performing from 6:00 to 9:00pm.

Stomping for a Cause

As my research for IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine continues, our guest writer, Megan Marshall, shares her love of grape stomping!

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Hello! My name is Megan and I am lucky enough to be an intern again in the Carmel Arts & Design District this summer.  After helping to spread the word about fellow 2009 intern Bethany’s Arts and Design District blog, I decided I had to get a piece of internet stardom for myself. What better way to get my feet wet in the world of blogging than jumping right into the history of grape stomping in honor of our upcoming event IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine?

Believe it or not, the 1956 episode “Lucy’s Italian Movie” of I Love Lucy was NOT the first known grape stomping event, although I certainly like to credit it with the historical significance of creating a grape stomping memory for generations of Americans.  It is believed that grape stomping as a winemaking process dates back as far as 200 BC.  Grape stomping was the process used in every winemaking country to extract the juices from freshly picked grapes for wine.

However, grape stomping does not have the strongest history in United States.  Legislation was written to outlaw the practice in response to health concerns during the twentieth century.  Apparently, wine drinkers grew uncomfortable about knowing that bare feet had created the wine they were about to enjoy with family and friends.  A fair concern if you ask me! But never fear, wine stomping still maintains a strong presence at wineries and wine festivals across the U.S.

Now you may be asking, “Why the sudden lesson in the history of grape stomping?”  Well, this year for IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine, we decided to create an event with a twist by combining three things that anyone who knows me well will say I can not get enough of:

• History
• Giving back to the community
• And a little friendly competition!

Be sure to check out members of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Indiana Chapter, in a dueling grape stomp competition to raise awareness and funds for their organization between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. in front of the Simple Sweet Shoppe this weekend at IU Health North Hospital Art of  Wine!

On the left, the hilarious Lucille Ball and her grape stomping partner in the 1956 I Love Lucy episode titled “Lucy’s Italian Movie”. On the right, bloggers Bethany and Megan recreate the episode in the Carmel Arts & Design District office.

Long Lost Love

In preparation for IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine, I have been communicating with and researching each of our wineries that will be serving samples at the festival.  Vine & Table, located on Carmel Drive, grabbed my attention with their stock of wine and beer from around the world. Going to check out the selection was not an option, it was a “must do”!

I have been searching high, low, forwards, and backwards for my beloved Speight’s beer. This tasty beer is mainly produced in Dunedin, in the south island of New Zealand. This is the beer that I turned 21 with, the beer that I toured the brewery and spent this last Saint Patrick’s Day with, and the beer that I mutually love with some of my closest friends. In short, this is my beer.  And I miss it.

When I heard the famous question, “Can I help you?” at Vine & Table, I first hesitated, then asked a question that I already knew the answer to, “Um… do you have Speight’s?”  I’ve asked that question one too many times at other stores. Plus, I’d already scoured the walk-in beer cooler and filled my cart, but not with one hint of Speight’s. The man who approached me, thought about it, said no, but then responded in a way that I hadn’t anticipated, “But I can look into ordering it for you.” I almost dropped my cart, “Really?!?!”

He went on to explain how and why it was not just a faint possibility, but a real option.  I felt like a little girl who found out Toys R Us could order New Zealand Barbie. I left with essentials for my 4^th of July barbecue, and with a building excitement that I would soon taste  my beer.

Vine & Table has more than just beer, as the name implies. It offers wines, liquors, cheese, and foods from all around the globe.  If you have a long lost beer, wine, cheese, or any other spirit check out Vine & Table along with the seven other wineries at  IU Health North Hospital Art of Wine on July 16^th from 5pm to 10pm. The event is free, and unlimited tastings are available with a $15 cash wine glass purchase. All the specifics are available here.

The research doesn’t stop there! Leading up to the event on July 16^th, I am excited to schedule an evening at Shiraz with friends, road trip to one of the participating wineries, and venture outside of my wine comfort zone while shopping or eating in the District. It is part of my job after all! However, not so secretly, I am most excited that the research brought a long lost love back to me.

I will soon update the blog with a picture of my beer love and I!