Tim’s Picks: GermanFest, Starry Night, Shakespeare …
Shakespeare, Starry Night, GermanFest and more. Five of the best ideas heading into your Greater Lafayette/Purdue weekend.
Thanks for sponsorship help today from Duke Energy, in support of Mocktail Monday. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and mocktails in support of Mental Health America on Sept. 18. The event honors Recovery Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Buy your tickets for the sober social event featuring Red Seven, Ritual and more of your favorite restaurants. Cheer on community leaders like Reps. Chris Campbell and Sheila Klinker, Mayors Tony Roswarski and John Dennis, County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh and more as they serve up mocktails. Get your tickets here or click on the link below.
Here you go, five of the best ideas heading into your weekend, courtesy of …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
“Pericles, Prince of Tyre,” 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 610 Meridian St., West Lafayette — It’s not often a professional theater company presents a Shakespearean masterpiece under the late summer West Lafayette sky. Chicago’s Stone Soup Shakespeare (not to be confused by the Lafayette 1980s folk group Stone Soup that featured a young Carrie Newcomer) will present the work that dates to 1609. The play centers around prince Pericles’ quest for love and his unimpressed would-be father-in-law King Antiochus, who hires an assassin to kill young Pericles after not answering his riddle. In-laws, amiright? This West Lafayette production will be only the third out of 16 dates all over Indiana, Illinois and Missouri for Stone Soup Shakespeare. No tickets required, though nonperishable items will be welcome for Food Finders Food Bank.
GermanFest, 4-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, St. Boniface campus, Ninth and North streets, downtown Lafayette — Quickly becoming one of Lafayette’s top late summer traditions, St. Boniface’s GermanFest combines the German heritage of its 100-year-plus history with the Latino culture of many of its parishioners. Where else will you find schnitzel and traditional tacos on the same festive block? Ferry and North streets near Ninth Street will be blocked off for numerous food and beer booths as well as children’s games, activities and amusement park rides. The main stage will feature sets from The Big Swing Band and Indianapolis polka maestros, Der Polkatz. From the pageantry of tapping the first keg to twirling to the polka music, GermanFest is the ultimate Lafayette party to welcome fall. $5.
“Hoosier Women Artists: Trailblazers and Beyond” opening reception, 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, The Haan Museum of Indiana Art, 920 State St., Lafayette— Indiana’s home for Indiana art will pay tribute to Hoosier women artists of today and yesteryear in its new exhibition. Artists on display include Ada Shulz, Lucy Hartrath and Janet Scudder. A collection of quilts donated by the Pflume family, and ceramics by Julia Livingston round out the collection of textiles, glasswork and pottery. This exhibition includes over 200 pieces of artwork that have been curated to demonstrate the depth and scope of Indiana women artists. The show runs through Oct. 28. Lafayette watercolorist Lorie Amick will host a “lunch and learn” at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 3. She will display her amazing talents while giving her thoughts on the women artists that preceded her and those that will follow.
Starry Night, 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Sept. 9, State Street and Northwestern Avenue, Chauncey Village, West Lafayette — The annual Starry Night arts and music festival draws thousands of Purdue University students and community members to celebrate visual and sonic art under the stars. What started small — about 100 people in a parking lot 15 years ago — is now huge with several bands on two stages and numerous artists showing what they can do. There are tons of hands-on art activities for the kids as well. While Purdue classes have been in full swing for weeks now, Starry Night is the ultimate welcome back bash. Headlining acts include Lylak, Jordy Searcy and The Timbre of Cedar, a Michigan indie rock outfit traveling in support of its new EP, “Less.” The free event is hosted by Campus House, a non-denominational church community at Purdue.
Rachel Brooke, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, People’s Brewing Company , 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — A country singer-songwriter from the northern reaches of the Midwest, Michigan’s Rachel Brooke is showing that authentic Americana tunes can stem from the same state that gave us Motown and some of the finest rock ‘n’ roll ever. Brooke has been touring since her teens, first in a family bluegrass band before testing her rebellious streak in an all-girl punk band. She then shifted to a quieter country sound and has been blessing Lafayette with several appearances over the years. The website Saving Country Music could not get enough of Brooke’s recent music: “Rachel's voice is one in a million. … It is so wondrous because it is adorable and seemingly innocent, yet at the same time aged like a ghost, haunting, and filled to utmost capacity with pain.” $10. Tickets.
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 sponsorship help today from Duke Energy, in support of Mocktail Monday. For tickets for the fundraiser for Mental Health America, here’s your link.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.