News from Downtown Muncie 7/8/2005

DOWNTOWN NEWS !!!!

Tonight's Free Friday Movie is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The movies are shown on the big white wall at the corner of Charles and Walnut Streets; Free; at dusk. Sponsored by Mutual Federal Savings Band and Downtown Development.

The Downtown Data Center now offers internet dialup and broadband services! To check availability, visit www.downtowndatacenter.com. Downtown Data Center also provides internet consulting, web hosting, and managed server solutions, served locally from Downtown Muncie.

A note from Genny Gordy, Chair Downtown Business Council:

We have several active committees now working on issues from Christmas to marketing to snow removal. If you want to help steer the development of our downtown, please sign on to a committee! At this point, we are seeking individuals who would like to serve on our first Executive Committee. This committee will oversee the various functions of Downtown Business Council, set policies, and arrange our first elections, hopefully by December.

You could serve a term as short as 5 months (until elections), or longer, based on what this committee decides are terms, and election results, of course. The Executive Committee will truly be a working committee, meaning, we have much work to do in these first months! We'll meet regularly, perhaps every 2 weeks, but will do our best to stick to a one-hour meeting time. If you are interested in a leadership position, play well with others, and can commit one to two hours a week to DBC, this message is for you!

While we will be asking for representation from several specific organizations, two or three spots are open for members-at-large. How about YOU?!!! Please email a short statement of interest to me at: gengor@aol.com, or call 284-8422 to offer your much-appreciated services!

I look forward to working with you! Genny

Old National: Doug Lippert of Old National removed a section of fence from our parking area that fronts on Walnut at Charles, then added mulch and flower pots to make it a walkway in order for downtown visitors to easily get to and from their cars when using our lot. He is going to add pavers soon to make it an 'official' walkway.

JULY

1st-30th Gordy's Fine Art & Framing presents INprint. INprint was formed in 1997 at the Indianapolis Art Center. The group is made up of 30 fine art printmakers based in central Indiana whose purpose is to create, share, educate and promote the media of printmaking.

1st-30th FB Fogg : featuring Amy Greely Jewelry this month. - Among other treasures from East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Naot Shoes, while they last, are 50% off.

5th-30th Artist Within presents: exhibit by watercolor artist Martha Sleeper Gilliom.

6th- 30th Mitchell Place Gallery Members Exhibit. www.mitchellplacegallery.com

8th Minnestrista Fire Sprite Picnic 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Boys ages 3-5 are invited to join the Fire Sprite ranks! Come for a picnic in the meadow. We will search for forest friends under rocks and toadstools and create a Fire Sprite hat to complete our afternoon. Due to limited space, siblings who attend must also register and pay. Price: Members, $10 per child; non-members, $15 per child

8th Minnestrista A Midsummer Night's Luminaria Fire Sprite Workshops 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Boys ages 6-16 can become part of the folklore at Oakhurst Gardens. Come creep around the gardens and woods in search of treasures hidden under rocks and toadstools. Boys will learn stories about mischievous and cunning pixies, create a Fire Sprite lantern, and race around the meadow in search of friendly elves hiding along the wood's edge. Price: Members, $15 per child; non-members, $25 per child

9th Minnestrista Preschool Fairy Tea Session 1: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Session 2: 1-2 p.m.

Join us for a special event planned just for them. The preschool fairy teas are for girls ages 3-5 and must be accompanied by an adult. Young fairies will dance around the garden and have a summer tea in the meadow. Due to limited space, siblings who attend must also register and pay.

9th Muncie Children's Museum: featured state, Illinois - Able Lincoln's Hat

Learn about Abe Lincoln and his famous hat. Then, make a hat and create silhouettes.

10th Muncie Children's Museum: featured state, South Carolina - Crab Kickball

Learn about South Carolina, the crab and play crab kickball.

11th- 15th Muncie Children's Museum: Wacky Art Camp Experiment with several mediums of art, make wacky projects and prepare an art show.

12th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state, Georgia - Just Peachy

Learn about Georgia and make a peachy treat. This activity costs and additional $1.00 to participate.

13th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Florida - Alligator Puppets

Learn about Florida and make an alligator puppet to take home.

14th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Mississippi - River Run

Learn about the Mississippi River and learn about rivers and erosion through fun experiments.

14th Minnestrista Quilters' Celebration 2005 - Minnetrista Minne-Trip 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We will travel to Marion, Indiana to visit the Quilters Hall of Fame located in the Marie Webster House, a national historic landmark. Following lunch and a tour of Marion's Wilson-Vaughan Historic Hostess House, we'll tour some other Marion sites displaying quilts as part of the celebration. Price: Members, $35 per person; non-members, $45 per person. Price includes lunch.

15th Danners Books & Gifts 10:30 p.m. - midnight a Harry Potter Party. It will be outside in the store's parking lot at 1316 N. Wheeling Ave. The HP Party will have a carnival atmosphere with lots of Harry Potter inspired booths such as Honeydukes Sweet Shoppe, Olivander's Wands and Gringott's Bank plus many others. Bob Walsh will be bringing his Baskin-Robbins goodies and Brenda West and her family will have their gourmet popcorn. There is no charge to come, but the booths have small participation fees. At midnight plus 1 second, Danner's staff and volunteers will be passing out pre-paid copies of the sixth Harry Potter book - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

15th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Tennessee - Line Dancing

Learn about Tennessee and learn a simple line dance.

16th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Alabama - Sugar Cane

Learn about Alabama and sugar cane. Enjoy the sweet taste of sugar cane.

16th Minnestrista Unique Irwin Gardens - Minnetrista Minne-Trip 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

This private garden was created in 1911 and was based on an Italian garden located in Pompeii. Learn from the horticulturist about the formal flower gardens, shrubs, and herb gardens. Relax during lunch at the Columbus Inn Tea Room and finish off the trip with a stroll through the Columbus Historical Society Museum's herb garden maintained by Master Gardeners. Price: Members, $25 per person; non-members, $35 per person. Price includes lunch.

17th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Washington - Apple Taste Testing

18th - 22nd Muncie Children's Museum: Building Fun & Games Camp. Use craft and building materials to create fun games and projects to plan and/or destroy.

18th -29th Minnestrista Camp Minnetrista - Camp Discover (Grades K-5)

Session 2: Monday-Friday, July 18-29, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Camp Minnetrista is an exciting summer opportunity for children to be active, have fun, and learn something new within Minnetrista's unique campus. The camp's staff is comprised of teachers and other educators from across the region. Campers will attend two classes each day. Class topics range from Nature Area Expeditions, Glass Works, Gardens Galore, and much more. Price: Members, $60 per camper; non-members, $75 per camper

19th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Arizona - Chips and Salsa

Learn about Arizona and western cuisine. Then, enjoy chips and salsa. This activity costs an additional $1.00 to participate.

20th Muncie Children's Museum, featured state: Oregon - Totem Poles

Learn about Oregon and make totem poles.

23th Minnestrista Richmond IN, Hot Glass Artist, Steve Sizelove workshop 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Learn the basics of working with glass to make solid pieces (like jewelry). Steve will emphasize safe working habits while participants explore the properties of clear and colored glass. Participants will finish the workshop having made pieces to take home. Price: Minnetrista members, $15; non-members, $25 (includes lunch).

Registration deadline: Thursday, July 21, 2005

24th Minnestrista, another glass workshop by Steve Sizelove 9:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m.

Gain a better understanding of glass art by working on hollow pieces (like a small bottle). Participants will explore how the base shape of a bubble can become any hollow form--from goblets to sculptures. Participants will finish the workshop having made at least one hollow

piece to take home (or at least having tried to--this isn't easy!). Price: Minnetrista members, $15; non-members, $25 (includes lunch).

Registration deadline: Thursday, July 21, 2005.

25th-29th Muncie Children's Museum Around the World Camp. Experience different food, games, clothing, art, music and other costumes from all over the world in just five days!

26th Minnestrista Pond Pals - Program for 3 Year-Olds Price: Members, $2 per child; non-members, $5 per child

30th Minnestrista Country with Marty Stuart and Flynnville Train 7:30 p.m.

30th Muncie Children's Museum Pigtails and Hardhats Exhibit

Grand Opening July 30 at the Muncie Children's Museum

Caution: Pigs at Work! Grab your hardhat, strap on your tool belt and head to the Muncie Children's Museum on Saturday, July 30 for the grand opening of the new Pigtails and Hardhats exhibit. Don't delay! The first 100 children entering the Museum will receive a free gift to celebrate this new exhibit. Free gift offer excludes field trip groups. This exhibit was made possible through the generous support of Delaware Machinery and Tool Company, Inc. To learn more, call the Museum at (765) 286-1660 or visit www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

AUGUST

27th Minnestrista Rhythm and Blues with John Lee Hooker, Jr. and Clarence Dobbins at 7:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

7th -9th Watercolor workshop by PAT SAN SOUCIE 9-4 PM located 400 arts and Journalisom Bldg at Ball State. Pat San Soucie is a renowned painter, educator and juror. She is a member of many watercolor societies including the National Watercolor Society and the American Watercolor Society. She is a Dolphin Fellow. She has received numerous awards and is widely published and included in many public and corporate collections.. San Soucie creates watermedia paintings in a unique style by pouring pigments through filters, yielding abstract textures, shapes and colors. She will teach workshop particpants different methods of creating paintings. The workshop is limited to 15 artists.

To register, send you name, address, phone number and email address and your check for $150 made out to Mitchell Place Gallery to:

Patrick Wasson

Watermedia 2005 Workshop Chair

409 S. Liberty

Muncie IN 47305

765-228-1247

pdubbs81@aol.com