• National Night Out will be held Tuesday, Aug. 3. This is the evening when some neighborhoods gather for a barbecue or other informal get-together to stay in touch in order to show criminals that the neighborhood is united in its efforts to fight crime. Neighbors turn on their porch lights and sit in front of their homes. Little Flower Neighborhood Association will have an event in the church parking lot (Bosart and 15th) for neighbors, and will be sharing the bounty from their new raised bed vegetable gardens.
• A big thank you goes out to Boy Scout Troop 9 in Irvington as they weeded the Irving Circle Park gardens on South Audubon. The fountain has been turned back on for the season. Please do not throw items into the fountain when visiting.
• The Indiana State Fair will open Friday, July 30 and is a great showcase for our agricultural past, present, and future. Tickets at the gate are $13 per person and children under 5 are free. Parking is $10. Thursdays are $3 admission days, with $3 midway rides and $3 food options available. The fairgrounds are located at 38th St. and Fall Creek Parkway, and served by IndyGo Routes 4 and 39. You can also ride your bike to the fair via the Monon Trail; secure your bike for free at the racks just off the Monon, and you can get $1 off fair admission.
• Shout-out to West Fork Whiskey, an east side business which just broke ground in Westfield on a new agritourism site just across the street from Grand Park. The 12 acre property will allow them more space to produce and age their whiskeys and other products, plus create a restaurant and cocktail lounge. Their current tasting room is at 17th and Bellefontaine St. on the near eastside.
• Congratulations are also in order for the opening of Ash & Elm’s new location at 1301 E. Washington St. on Aug. 10. The expanded tasting room is in the historic Ford Assembly building and will offer a complete menu, plus beer and wine as well as their ciders. The cider will continue to be produced at the facility at E. Washington and Hamilton.
• Garfield Park Vintage Movie Night will be Saturday, Aug. 7 at 9 p.m. at the Corporate Shelter at the Arts Center. This month’s feature is The Mask (1961), a 3D film. This month’s movie will be shown in the parking lot like a drive-in, so bring your own popcorn and non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets are $5. Find out more and register at gpacarts.org/events
• Act A Foo, an improv comedy group, will be on stage Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Theater at the Fort. The family-friendly show begins at 6 p.m. and the adult show is at 8 p.m. This crew is wildly funny and is featured at Indy Fringe. Tickets are $15 and available online at artsforlawrence.com
• The Indy Shorts International Film Festival was a big success, thanks to the many volunteers and filmmakers, plus all the behind-the-scenes organizers. Lots of great shorts were available for in-person and streaming viewings. The 30th Annual Heartland International Film Festival is coming up Oct. 7-17.