• IMPD East District’s Community Resource Unit helps improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods by providing access to over 70 social service agencies while also patrolling our streets. They are seeking donations to further their mission to help kids and adults create a vibrant and safe east side. Visit www.indypsf.org to make a tax-deductible donation — in the comment section, please note IMPD East District CRU so the funds can go directly to them.
• Indiana Historical Society will open a new exhibition “Chuck Taylor All Star” that tells the story of the Hoosier basketball legend and his game-changing shoes. The exhibit includes a virtual reality experience putting the visitor in the middle of the action in 1952. The exhibit runs through January 2025. Admission to the museum, located at 450 W. Ohio St., is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $5 for youth, children under 5 are free. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit indianahistory.org for more information.
• The historic Littleton/Kingen Round Barn in McCordsville was seriously damaged by a possible tornado on Feb. 27. The barn, built in 1903, is the largest round barn built in the state and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. No one was injured. The storm also caused damage to homes and businesses in the Fortville and McCordsville area.
• The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is funding $2 million for the I-65/I-70 Southeast Quadrant Inner Loop Planning Study, which will examine the possibility of capping the recessed segment of the 65/70 downtown loop. The loop was constructed in the 1970s and displaced thousands of individuals and businesses from the area and created a barrier to economic opportunity.
• The City of Lawrence was recently awarded a grant of $600,000 to replace storm water infrastructure in the Brookside Park Neighborhood, from 52nd to 54th streets to Richardt and Kercheval Dr. The project will bring new inlets, storm sewers, and paving to the neighborhood this summer.
• First Friday will be hopping on March 3, with 125 new works by Justin Vining focusing on the Irvington neighborhood. His open house will be from 5-9 p.m. at his gallery at 2620 E. 10th St. Other hot spots include Irvington shops like Hampton Designs, Market Vintage, Irving Theatre featuring Gene Deer and Delta Duo and several others in the community who will have specials throughout the evening; the Harrison Center at 1505 N. Delaware, and Circle City Industrial Center, 1125 Brookside Ave.
• Visit the Bona Thompson, 5350 University Ave, on Sunday March 5 at 2 p.m. when Ginny Caldwell Hingst talks about her book Irreplaceable, which describes a friendship whose loss affected her grandfather, Howard Caldwell Sr. He and Joe Ostrander were friends and colleagues before Joe’s untimely death at a young age. Using their correspondence and family archives, Ginny has documented a heartfelt story that vividly recreates a particular time and place in early 20th-century America centered around Butler College and the historic Irvington neighborhood in Indianapolis. This is a free presentation, but donations are gratefully accepted.
• If you want to see the short films nominated for Oscars, you can see them locally at Kan-Kan Cinema, where they are showing them through March 7. They are showing the Live Action, Documentary, and Animated selections at different times. Tickets are $12. You should probably order tickets online at kankanindy.com to avoid disappointment. The theater is located at 1258 Windsor St.