Tim’s Picks, Golden Apple winners and more
Meet Greater Lafayette’s five Golden Apple-winning teachers. Meet five things Tim Brouk says you should consider this weekend and beyond in this week's 'Tim's Picks.' And meet ... well, more
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Let’s open this Thursday with …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette.
Tippecanoe Drink n’ Draw, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, Knickerbocker Saloon, 113 N. Fifth St., Lafayette — Bars and art have been known to work together like paint on a brush. “A Bar at the Folies-Bergere” by Edouard Manet, “The Night Café” by Vincent Van Gogh and “At the Bar” by Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec are all famous works honed from within bars where the flow of creativity was only matched by the flow of wine, beer and absinthe. Lafayette artists have found the area’s oldest bar to have a similar effect. Every month, a group of artists meet at the Knickerbocker Saloon for some pints and some painting and drawing. Tippecanoe Drink n’ Draw’s aim is to get artists of all skill levels away from their studios and meet each other over a glass or three. All are welcome, as art supplies will be available or you can bring your own materials.
The Magic of Bill Blagg LIVE!, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — Las Vegas magic man Bill Blagg returns to downtown Lafayette for a new show that will make your troubles disappear. This entertaining wizard honed his brand of magic for almost 20 years. Past acts have included levitating objects, death-defying stunts and lots of humor. His current show will have to be seen to be believed. Dramatic lighting, loud music and audience participation always enhances a Blagg show, which has been dubbed “absolutely incredible” by the Chicago Tribune and “incredible family fun” by USA Today. $28-$42. Tickets.
Lafayette Reptile Expo, 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette — More than 20,000 square feet of snakes, lizards and frogs will infest the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds for those needing something scaly and/or slimy in their lives. The show will welcome vendors from all over the Midwest offering the creepiest and crawliest of critters — and the products to help give those snakes and turtles long lives filled with the hottest of heat rocks and the juiciest of crickets. Along with the reptiles and amphibians will be birds, invertebrates and small exotic mammals on display.
Fergus Daly Band, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Delphi Opera House, 109 S. Washington St., Delphi — Carroll County’s best venue will host one of Tippecanoe County’s best acts when the Fergus Daly Band performs at the historic Delphi Opera House. The 19th century building was famously renovated in recent years and is a gem of the area. Fergus Daly, a singer-songwriter extraordinaire, is a longtime local music gem here in Lafayette. Backed by his band of many years, which will feature Jessica Billey on fiddle and vocals for this event, Daly presents an Americana rock ‘n’ roll sound that wins crowds new and old alike. It will be a treat to take in Daly’s tunes in such a beautiful space and it will surely enhance the band’s always stellar sets. $10-$20. Tickets.
Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries, 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, Loeb Playhouse, Purdue’s Stewart Center — If you attend Bill Blagg’s show in Lafayette Friday and say, “Great magic show, but I wish it had more math,” then you can count on Irish mathemagician Danny Carmo (played by Caolan McBride) to multiply your interest in magic. Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries tour combines his love for math and magic in one glitzy, entertaining show aimed for kids grades 2-6. Carmo last appeared in West Lafayette in 2018 when his show sold out, even after his four performances for elementary school students. A math-centric university like Purdue is the perfect venue for a show that makes remainders — and more — disappear. $15-$20. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
CONGRATULATIONS, GOLDEN APPLE WINNERS
On Tuesday the Greater Lafayette Commerce honored five teachers – three from Tippecanoe School Corp. and one each from Lafayette and West Lafayette school corporations – with this year’s Golden Apple Awards, given to some of the top teachers of the year. Here’s a look at each winner, introduced in these Greater Lafayette Commerce-generated videos.
Dana Crum, East Tipp Middle School
Jessica Harris, Mayflower Mill Elementary School
Lucas Harmon, West Lafayette Intermediate School
Maribel Masoodi, Edgelea Elementary School
Sunshine Waber – Mayflower Mill Elementary School
Want to nominate a teacher for next year’s Golden Apples? Here’s a nomination form. The deadline is May 1.
MORE READS, OTHER READS
After news Tuesday that Gateway to Hope, the Tippecanoe County Health Department’s syringe exchange, would move to 23rd and Ferry streets, Lafayette’s school superintendent addressed questions about having the program a few blocks from LSC’s Sunnyside Intermediate School and Murdock Elementary. LSC Superintendent Les Huddle he was confident in the health department with a program that has been running since 2017, first on North Sixth Street and now at the Lafayette Transitional Housing Center on Union Street. Here’s look at the plans, revealed Tuesday during a Tippecanoe County commissioners meeting: “New home in the works for syringe exchange.”
WFYI reporter Brandon Smith with some news that neutralizes talk that Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita might run for governor or Sen. Mike Braun’s seat in 2024: “Rokita announces he's running for re-election in 2024.”
From Indianapolis Capital Chronicle reporter Whitney Downard on a Senate bill banning gender-affirming medical care for minors clearing a committee vote Wednesday, despite ongoing protests at the Statehouse: “Anti-trans medical care bill passes Senate committee.”
From WFYI reporter Rebecca Thiele, on an effort spurred in large part by West Lafayette High School students and denied for a second consecutive year: “Indiana lawmakers sidestep climate solutions conversation yet again.”
Associated Press reporter Tom Davies on the Indiana House taking aim at IU’s Kinsey Institute, voting 53-34 Wednesday to block state funding from the sexual research done there: “Indiana lawmakers back defunding Kinsey sex institute.”
From the AP, on an Indiana House bill that advanced Wednesday and that would require voters submitting a paper application for a mail ballot to include a photocopy of a government-issued identification card or at least two ID numbers: “Republicans back bill for tighter Indiana mail voting rules.”
From Indianapolis Star reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow was the first to report Wednesday that Indianapolis’ Triple AAA baseball affiliate was sticking with a name it’s had since 1902, even as other teams back away: “Indianapolis Indians will keep name, partner with local tribe: 'We want to be respectful.’”
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“Indiana lawmakers back defunding Kinsey sex institute.” - Indiana's Republican politicians race after lies and innuendo instead of looking for the truth. They continue to attack gay and trans people, and ignore the fact that our planet is under siege. What a bunch of &^%(*&.
You're doing a great job in your reporting, showing that it CAN be done in this time local news is being thinned out everywhere. I especially liked the videos for the Golden Apple awards. What great teachers we have in our communities! They need support and the assurance that their jobs are not only most important, but also demanding. My daughter's a 4th grade teacher in KV and she doesn't feel that way as much as she should!
Charley Kerlin