Articles

Museum seeks leader to stem attendance slide

The new Indiana State Museum building–a 230,000-square-foot study in glass, steel and limestone–opened in 2002 to blockbuster
attendance, with nearly 260,000 of its 614,000 total visitors checking out the exhibits. Fast forward to its five-year anniversary
and the news isn’t so rosy.

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IU alum selling rare Neiman collection

Indianapolis businessman Barton Kaufman is auctioning off 26 paintings by notable New York artist LeRoy Neiman. Kaufman plans
to donate the money to Indiana University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in 1962 and law degree in 1965.

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Carmel to get $30M Renaissance hotel

A prestigious, full-service hotel soon will complement Carmel’s booming office market along North Meridian Street. A Cincinnati
developer broke ground this month on a roughly $30 million Renaissance hotel with 263 rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting
space.

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Storied luxury Canterbury hotel may sell

The stately 12-story Canterbury Hotel could use a renovation, hospitality analysts say, to restore some luster and help it
take on more modern competitors. Such an overhaul might be on the way, along with new owners for the independent boutique
hotel at 123 S. Illinois St.

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Bassoonist hitting all the right notes

Although he wears one of his two tuxedos for concerts, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra bassoonist Samuel Banks dons sneakers
and jeans for a Tuesday morning rehearsal. But he works hard once the music starts. That attitude likely helped the 26-year-old
land his job in one of just 17 year-round orchestras in the nation.

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Red Hat Society over-50 women pursued by marketers

Members of the Red Hat Society get together monthly to celebrate life after 50, a demographic marketers often overlook. But
these women-and their spending habits-are attracting attention as the California-based club gains traction.

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Off to slow start, French Lick fears threat from ‘racinos’

French Lick Resorts & Casino is already struggling, less than four months after its launch. And the casino’s owners are downright
terrified legislators soon will allow both of the state’s horse-racing tracks to become “racinos” and add up to 5,000 slot
machines.

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Arts Council ready to play matchmaker

Leaders of the 20-year-old Arts Council of Indianapolis want to broaden the organization’s approach to arts advocacy. They
say they’d like to act as a cultural broker of sorts, making sure local artists are connected with possible patrons.

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Columbia Club faces membership, financial issues

The Columbia Club, the tradition-rich enclave where the city’s business elite have gathered and cut deals for more than a
century, is facing declining membership, the departure of its longtime general manager, and looming financial challenges–including
a $5.5 million loan that comes due this summer.

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IMA may drop Puck for service lapse

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is considering whether to revoke Wolfgang Puck’s exclusive catering contract after the company’s
slow service marred an important event in November.

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Downtown ice rink in the works

Ice skating on Monument Circle ended in the mid-1980s after damage from the weight of ice was discovered in the fountain basin.
But outdoor skating downtown might return. White River State Park plans to build a $1.5 million Olympic-size rink complete
with sound and light equipment and a skate-rental stand.

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Circle Truss proposed as gateway landmark

The Arch welcomes visitors to St. Louis. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge ushers in the masses. And soon the Circle Gateway
Truss could greet travelers entering downtown Indianapolis.

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Verizon amphitheater might be redeveloped

The potential redevelopment of Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville could open the door for a new concert venue in
Indianapolis, but industry veterans don’t expect it would look anything like the popular Hamilton County amphitheater.

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Stadium walkway carries $10M tab

An enclosed connector is set to be built, partly underground, that will link Lucas Oil Stadium to the soon-to-be expanded
Indiana Convention Center. It will span about a quarter of a mile and cost more than $10 million.

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Luxury Conrad hotel off to bumpy start

For its first nine months, occupancy at the Conrad Indianapolis has lagged the downtown average. Rates have fallen as the
hotel tries to fill more rooms. Employees have worked behind the scenes to fix kinks.

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Crystal Food Services to go national

Crystal Food Services plans to team with several prominent restaurant chains for a nationwide expansion after severing ties
with Marsh Supermarkets Inc. early next year. The locally based catering and food-service company will report directly to
Florida-based Sun Capital Partners, which acquired Marsh in September.

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Theaters decry cutback in newspaper reviews

Local theater leaders are sounding the alarm about a drop in coverage by The Indianapolis Star, saying the lack of ink is hurting attendance and the city’s ability to lure new productions to town.

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