Tim’s Picks: Gallery Walk No. 1, for starters
How about five ideas for your Greater Lafayette week?
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And not for your weekly dose of …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Wine After Work with Molter Brothers, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, Wildcat Winery , 3233 E. County Road 200 North in Lafayette — Wine during work? Usually not good. Wine after work? Yes, please. Patio season is in full swing, and Wildcat Winery’s luscious expanse and delicious vino along with the acoustic musical stylings of Lafayette’s Molter Brothers make for a great start to the weekend. To further enhance the evening, L Kora, one of Lafayette’s first food trucks still going strong, will be on hand with all the great Mexican eats that only they can provide.
Downtown Gallery Walk, 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 16, downtown Lafayette — The first Downtown Gallery Walk of 2025 will feature almost 20 local galleries and businesses displaying the varied works of dozens of local and regional artists. Along with a feast for the eyes, check out the eats, drinks and products of local businesses along the way. This weekend’s lineup includes:
“Everything in His Season” by Lavinia Hale opening reception, Artists’ Own, 518 Main St. — Plein-air painter Lavinia Hale will showcase her new, impressionistic works from all seasons, all painted outside at the sites in Indiana. The show will run through July 12.
Michael McNeil reception, Bindery Artist Studios, 511 Ferry St. — Bindery resident artist Michael McNeil will display his latest paintings.
“6 Local Women” re-opening reception, Vegan Cheese Lady Café, 605 Main St. — This exhibit features the talents of watercolorists Becky Chapman and Marcy Ritchie, stained glass artist Chloe Harshman, photographer and digital artist Bobbie Lutes, and mixed media artists Cori Sivils and Terri Duncan. The show runs through June 12.
The rest of the venues for the Gallery Walk are Castle-Brooks Spiritual Supply, Dimension 7: Sunshine Yoga’s Hub, Downtown Dental, Flora Candle Company, Flourish Studio and Classroom, Essentially Aqua, Generation NA, Halsema Custom Crafts, KL Art Gallery, LaLa’s Artisan Shop, McCord Candies, Main Street Books, The Beyond Gallery, The Lobby, The Weather Station and SeaJay’s Boutique.
Apple Blossom Market, noon-6 p.m. Saturday, May 17, Wea Creek Orchard , 5618 S. County Road 200 East, Lafayette — May didn’t wait long to get the outdoor market scene buzzing. The downtown Lafayette Farmers Market has grown and it’s attracting more people than ever. Lafayette Southsiders can get their local shopping in the beautiful spring afternoon with the first Apple Blossom Market of 2025. Dozens of local artisans, vendors and food purveyors will be featured, and there will be several kids’ activities for the youngest shoppers. This all happens under the setting of Wea Creek Orchard’s beautiful blossoming apple trees.
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Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra’s will close out new conductor and artistic director Kellen Gray’s first season with an eclectic mix of works this weekend. The concert “Born This Way” will feature classic works such as Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6,” the troubled composer’s final symphony and perhaps most introspective work, as well as 21st century composer Valerie Coleman’s “Umoja, Anthem for Unity.” This piece was penned in 2020 and was inspired by the word “umoja,” which is Swahili for “unity.” The LSO will also perform “Of a Spring Morning” by Lili Boulanger, an early 20th century French composer who died at age 24 but not before she scored beautiful and impressionistic music. $8-$39. Tickets.
Wabash Valley Youth Symphony, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — The world premiere of a new piece of music by young Chicago composer Liza Sobel Crane will highlight Wabash Valley Youth Symphony’s season-closing concert this weekend. The commissioned work will be in the capable hands of Greater Lafayette’s top teenaged classical musicians, and surely the musicians will be playing with passion as the living, breathing composer lives only two hours away. Crane’s works are relatable to young audiences as they “are often influenced by current social issues. Recent inspirations include anxiety and stress in today’s society, the negative impact of social media and its links to depression and suicide, sexual assault, neurodiversity, and other health issues,” according to her bio. Under the baton of conductor Chris Wild, the concert will also welcome back Wabash Valley Youth Symphony alumni. They will join the current musicians for a performance of Verdi’s “Overture to Nabucco.” Other pieces on the program include the first movement of Max Bruch’s “Violin Concerto” and parts of Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.”
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Thanks, again, for support from Purdue Convocations, announcing the lineup for its 2025–26 season.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.