‘Racing Dreams’ & more win IIFF

“Racing Dreams,” an outstanding documentary about competitive karting, took the Audience Award at the Indianapolis International Film Festival earlier this evening. Its three charming teen subjects and its director were all on hand to bask in the acclaim.

Other feature winners…

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Tweeting on the lawn

Annoyed by text-reading patrons at concerts? Well, Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra is now actively encouraging it.

For an upcoming concert at Wolf Trap, it will be Tweeting live program notes to audience members on the lawn during a performance of Beethoven’s “Pastoral.”…

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500 Days of Summer thoughts

So, did you make it to the screening of “500 Days of Summer”? If so, what did you think?

I’ll let a few others post before I chime in with my thoughts.

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How I spent my summer vacation

I just returned from a vacation with family at the New Jersey shore. But, of course, I didn’t leave A&E behind.

No, I didn’t catch any Atlantic City casino shows — although, I regret missing Chazz Palminteri do his one-man show,…

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You-review-it Monday

I’ve been out of town this week, so I’ve missed, well, everything.

But I plan on catching up in a big way this week. In the meantime, tell me about your weekend arts experiences. Did you get to the latest “Smoke…

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IBJ Movie Night: ‘(500) Days…’

Want to join me at a sneak preview of the new romantic comedy “(500) Days of Summer” starring Zooey Deschanel? (More info on the film here)

I’ve got passes for the Wednesday, July 22 7:30 screening at AMC Castleton Square…

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Get ready for Operapalooza

IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin guest blogs today.

The Indianapolis Opera is adding another event to the busy fall festival scene, but it’s definitely striving to carve out a distinct niche. Operapalooza, planned for Sept. 11 and 12, will mix sets by…

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NEA grants impact Indy arts groups

IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin guest blogs today.

If our report last week about federal stimulus money for the arts piqued your interest, we have an update this morning from the Indiana Arts Commission. See the list below for details on who…

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You-review-it Monday

So did you walk with dinosaurs? Hang out at Conner Prairie with the Symphony? Catch one of the final performances of “Octopus” at the Phoenix Theatre?

I spent Sunday afternoon at the oldest continually operating theater in the country catching a…

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Review: “Walking with Dinosaurs”

There are lots of ways that “Walking with Dinosaurs” (with performances through this weekend at Conseco Fieldhouse) could have compromised itself. It could have turned too jokey. It could have gone anthropomorphic or “Land Before Time” cute. It could have…

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IBJ movie night: “Zift”

The upcoming print issue of IBJ will include a preview of the Indianapolis International Film Festival, including our guide to the Best of the Fest. When that hits the stands, you’ll also find a rundown of Recommends, If You…

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Civic to add concert musicals

In addition to its slate of plays and musicals, Indianapolis Civic Theatre will be adding a pair of concerts to the upcoming season.

Currently being considered are concert versions of “Hair,” and “Rent.” Tickets will be $24 with performances Oct. 2-4 and…

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You-review-it Monday

I spent much of the weekend participating in panel discussions, leading a pub trivia game, assisting a charity auction, and playing games with my son, all at the InConjunction convention. (Particularly popular: The card games Fluxx and Castle.) Didn’t make it…

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Can arts save their way to health?

"Arts organizations that consistently do good work and are aggressive about their marketing are the ones
which succeed, both programmatically and financially."…

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Review: “Public Enemies”

Just when you’ve made it through another unfocused prison break sequence or another bank job more about the
sound of the machine guns then the strategy or risk of the heist, “Public Enemies” gives a glimmer of hope
it’s going…

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You-review-it Monday

Were you first in line to see the boy king at the Children’s Museum? Check out more Rickeys at the Indianapolis
Art Center? Or take advantage of the no-cover Friday night performance at the now-smoke-free Jazz Kitchen?

I caught up with…

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New Indy ballet co. names names

The city’s latest aspiring ballet company, Indianapolis City Ballet, is making good on its promise to bring international stars to town for a gala event at the Murat Theatre, Sept. 12. IBJ’s Kathleen McLaughlin takes over the blog today for…

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Cultural Trail Peace Walk first look

Ground will be broken today for another leg of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Also being touted: A $2 million memorial to great humanitarians (including Susan B. Anthony, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Einsten).

Take a look at renderings of the…

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