• Fort Harrison State Park will open a dog park with a dedication at 11 a.m. on Oct. 23. The urban setting and available location away from the high use areas of the park make it a good fit. The dog park will be dedicated in honor Indiana Conservation Officer K-9s and their handlers. The park will be located along Fall Creek Parkway.
• It’s the season — not Christmas, but Halloween! — and there’s some great stuff to do all month. Q Artistry begins their Cabaret Poe for a limited time only this weekend at the Irvington Lodge. PLUS, they’ll be having a Monster Concert, a family friendly show with great music, jokes, and much more beginning on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. (tickets are $8 for students & seniors, $10 general admission). PLUS PLUS the Gothic Ball on Oct. 19 at 10 p.m., a costume ball fundraiser for the Q that will feature performances from past Q Artistry shows and special appearances, a silent auction, food and drink, music, dancing, and much more (tickets are $20 or $10 at the door with a purchase of a ticket to Cabaret Poe). Visit qartistry.org for more information.
• Looking forward to the Irvington Historical Society’s chili supper on Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m. SPIRIT Paranormal Investigation Research & Intervention Team conducted a paranormal of the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, and the results will be revealed for the first time at the supper. Our very own Al Hunter was involved, but he’s not talking until the big day. Tickets are $25 in advance, paid to the Irvington Historical Society, 5350 E. University Ave., Indianapolis IN 46219.
• Also looking forward to the opening of An Illiad at the Indiana Repertory Theatre Oct. 16-Nov. 16, based on Homer’s Illiad. For tickets and information, call the IRT ticket office (317) 635-5252.
• The Wheeler Mission recently received a $1 million grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and will begin construction on a new two story 12,000 sq. ft. facility on N. East Street. The facility will be for homeless men.
• The Emerson Heights Neighborhood will be having a Fall Cleanup on Oct. 12 from 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at the corner of Walnut and Dequincey to get the gear. Volunteers are always welcome!
• Did you know the Irving Theatre will be 100 years old on Dec. 3 this year? Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Dale Harkins, the current owner, the Irving remains a vital part of the east side community, hosting concerts and events year round.
• The latest scam to hit the east side is a doozy. An outfit called “Express Couriers” is calling people and asking if they will be home because they have a package delivery that requires a signature. A package is delivered, in fact, with a basket of flowers and wine. The delivery person says they do not know who sent it and they are only making a delivery but does say because the package involves wine, there is a $3.50 delivery/verification charge proving that an adult signed for and received the wine and that he didn’t just leave it on the doorstep where it could be stolen or taken by a minor. It is when the person to whom the gift was delivered offers to pay cash the delivery person says it must be paid by credit or debit card only so that everything is accounted for and so he does not have to carry large amounts of cash on him. He has a little machine for you to swipe your card and you are asked to enter the card’s pin and security number. A receipt is even printed out. People who accept these deliveries and use their card are discovering, within a day or so, that thousands of dollars has been withdrawn from their account at various ATM Machines. DO NOT ACCEPT THESE CALLS OR THE DELIVERIES.