• The Benton House has started collecting books for its July book sale. Drop off gently used books at the Benton House, 312 S. Downey, in the brown deck box at the back of the house. If you have a large donation (more than a box or two), e-mail them at booksale@thebentonhouse.org to coordinate a pickup.
• IMPD Southeast District will host a Community Day on Wednesday, May 18 from 4-6 p.m. at Garfield Park Pagoda, 2345 Pagoda Dr. This will be a family fun afternoon with face painting, bounce houses, and lots of other activities for kids.
• The Broad Ripple Art Fair will be held May 14-15 at the Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. There will be live music, lots of vendors and artists, and lots to do for the whole family. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids 5-12 online at indyartcenter.org or $25 at the door. The fair has been around since 1971, but was on hold due to the pandemic in 2020-21.
• Bard Fest is now a resident theater company at the Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort, and they will be presenting Shakespeare in the Park at the new amphitheater on the Fort Ben Cultural Campus this summer. They will kick off the season with A Midsummer Night’s Dream in July. They are holding auditions on Sunday, May 8 and Monday, May 9. All auditions are by appointment. Visit indybardfest.com for audition details.
• Photographer and watercolor artist Heather Knight will be the featured artist at the Southside Art League Gallery in Greenwood from May 4-28. There will be a reception for her on Saturday, May 7 from 4-6 p.m. at the gallery, 299 E. Broadway, Greenwood.
• Coffee with a Cop has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 18 from 4-5 p.m. at the McDonalds at 4705 E. 10th St. This is a great way to get to know our neighborhood officers with informal chats.
• The Garfield Park Mater Gardeners Plant Sale will be held Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Dr. Stock up for your gardens!
• Friends of Irving Circle will hold a clean-up on Saturday, May 14 at 9 a.m. to get the circle and fountain ship-shape for summer. The circle is located at 5703 University Ave., where S. Audubon meets University.
• Growing Places Indy has launched two outdoor markets on the near eastside providing locally sourced produce at affordable prices. The Saturday Farmers Market is held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 2236 E. 10th St. (10th and Belville). The Wednesday market will be held at the Growing Places HQ, 727 Oriental St. from 4-7 p.m. The markets accept WIC and will match SNAP up to $20 per visit.
• The Med, a new restaurant with Mediterranean flair, has opened in the old Legends space in Irvington, 5614 E. Washington St. It is owned by the same folks who brought you Lincoln Square in Irvington, but it offers a more upscale menu and lunch/dinner hours.