What’s up? It’s Tim’s Picks time
What’s up? It’s Tim’s Picks time
Our weekly look at five choice ideas this week. Plus, ex-Rep. Steve Buyer goes on trial, IU Arnett questioned about midwife policy change, and a bill inspired by WL’s conversion therapy fight advances
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette.
XWorks Dance Concert with the Purdue University Division of Dance, 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, March 3, and 5 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 4, Pao Hall-Dance Studio Theatre 1179, Purdue — The student-led dance concert XWorks returns to Purdue with a show full of Boilermaker choreography, costuming, lighting, music — you know, the works. The intimate setting and passionate performance is a highlight on the Division of Dance calendar. The Purdue dance program and its concerts consist of students of all experience levels and majors. Some may pursue dance after their time in West Lafayette while others continue to use the art as a form of creative expression and stress relief from rigorous STEM studies. As usual, this weekend’s shows will have a diverse range of pieces — from tap and musical theater to classical Chinese dance and ballet. This space holds just under 100 audience members, so arrive early to get a chance to witness how Boilers can move. $5.
Something Is Waiting with Quick Flower and Bit Black, 9 p.m. Friday, March 3, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — March metal madness tips off in Lafayette when Chicago metal maestros Something Is Waiting will wait no more to make a Lafayette debut. Fronted by vocalist Eddie Gobbo, the music and vocal delivery is fiery, but some of the songs are a bit offbeat: “I Collect Stamps,” “Your Vintage Nu Rock Band” and, of course, “Nikki Lane’s Neo Nashville AirBnB,” a bizarre story song about staying in an AirBnB in East Nashville, Tennessee, if you couldn’t tell. The five-piece should make even the most jaded metal head crack a hint of smile. Do check out the band’s recent LP, “Songs for the Sally Beauty Pavilion.” $10.
“Memphis Jookin’: The Show,” 8 p.m. Saturday, March 4, Loeb Playhouse-Stewart Center, Purdue — Dancer Lil Buck and his crew will debut some new steps for West Lafayette when they bring the moves of Memphis Jookin’. The hip-hop dance style defies gravity as it requires tremendous leg and footwork, rhythm, balance and stamina. Fans of break dancing would be amazed at this show. Memphis, Tennessee, is a longtime purveyor of music that has its own distinct flavor, whether it's blues, hip hop or rock ‘n’ roll. Throw dance styles in there, too, as Lil Buck takes steps originated at Memphis hip-hop clubs in the late 1980s to the big stage of Loeb Playhouse. $18-$24. Tickets.
“Schubertiad” with Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society, 4 p.m. Sunday, March 5, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 600 Ferry St., Lafayette — Some new life will get breathed into a rarely performed Franz Schubert piece thanks to the talented musicians of the Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society. The 19th century Austrian composer’s “Octet,” an 1824 composition that pushes the limit of a chamber ensemble as it is for eight strings and woodwinds players, heavily features the clarinet and is a beautiful journey throughout its six movements. $15, $5 for college students, free for students kindergarten-12th grade. Tickets
Purdue Bangladeshi Artist Festival, 6 p.m. Sunday, March 5, Loeb Playhouse-Stewart Center, Purdue University — The Purdue Bangladesh Student Association will welcome two North American acts with Bangladeshi roots. MUZA from New York City is an electronic music purveyor with an insane amount of online popularity — his track “Noya Daman” has more than 100 million YouTube views. MUZA is a favorite as his sound fuses Bangla folk music with urban pop stylings. Joining young MUZA will be a Canadian trio called B Sharp, not to be confused with a certain barbershop quartet. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about Bangladeshi culture and the music that drives it.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
OTHER READS …
Former Congressman Steve Buyer’s trial for using inside information to profit on stock deals opened Wednesday in a federal courtroom in New York. (Here’s a story from when the Monticello Republican was indicted last summer: “Former U.S. Rep. Buyer arrested, charged with insider trading.”) Associated Press reporter Jennifer Peltz had the day of opening arguments, where Buyer’s attorneys contended that hitting it big on companies his clients owned was just a coincidence. Here’s the story: “Ex-U.S. Rep. Buyer of Indiana goes on trial over stock buys.”
What’s up with IU Health Arnett’s changes on how midwives can deliver babies at the Lafayette hospital? As protesters stood across McCarty Lane from the hospital entrance Wednesday, the reasons were exactly clear. Here’s coverage from WLFI reporter Pari Apostolakos: “Expectant mothers, midwives search for answers after IU Health midwifery program dissolved.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Leslie Bonilla Muñiz had that Senate vote Tuesday on Senate Bill 350, one inspired by a proposed – and ultimately failed – ordinance in 2022 that would have banned conversion therapy for minors in West Lafayette. The bill, advocated by local church leaders who believed they were unfairly targeted by the city council proposal, would install a state ban on those sorts of local bans on controversial practices when working with LGBTQ teens. Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, voted for the bill. Ripped from local headlines, here’s the story from Tuesday’s vote at the Statehouse: “Senate passes bill inspired by conversion therapy dispute.” For more context about how the debate played out, and ultimately ended, in West Lafayette, here’s a story I had: “Lawsuit looming, choice words flowing, WL City Council withdraws conversion therapy ordinance.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Casey Smith, with a look at how free textbooks, one of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s budget priorities, doesn’t make the cut in the latest Indiana House budget proposal: “‘Free’ textbooks? Indiana schools still on the hook for curricular fees under House budget plan.”
AND, FINALLY …: Tonight’s a chance for Purdue men’s basketball to clinch an outright Big Ten title.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.