We had to turn around and get a picture of this.
This pachyderm lives, appropriately, in the corner of a liquor store parking lot in Fortville, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. Search “pink elephant Fortville” on Google maps, you’ll find him.
Indiana attractions
LOVE statue is now 53 years old
LOVE outside at the IMA in the early years
Robert Indiana was born in 1928 as Robert Clark. He changed his name to Indiana in 1958 to show his roots in the Midwest. His first widespread use of the stacked four letters of “LOVE” was a Christmas card in 1964 for the New York Museum of Modern Art. This design creation led to the LOVE sculpture constructed of Cor-ten steel in 1970. LOVE in steel was first put on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It made the rounds of several American cities for five years until it returned to the IMA. After needed restoration was performed due to weathering of the steel, it is now displayed inside the museum building to protect it from the elements.
Permanent display inside the IMA
Remember 8 cent stamps?
The design was also the inspiration of a USPS 8 cent stamp in 1973. Countless copies of the statue were made and sold over the years, however Robert Indiana had failed to copyright his design, thus he did not reap the benefits. He died at the age of 89.
Hard Truth Distilling Co. cinnamon vodka
Here I am tasting the Cinnamon Vodka
Nashville is in Brown County, one of Indiana’s most popular tourist destinations. Last year we found the Hard Truth Distilling Co. on the outskirts of this quaint little town.
Hard Truth began in Nashville above a pizza parlor, and has developed into a full tasting facility and a separate restaurant, all set on beautifully landscaped grounds just outside of town. We went to the tasting room, where we each had samples of many of the distillery’s products.
We liked many of the offerings, however our absolute favorite was the Cinnamon Vodka. This spirit is made with their original, wheat-based vodka and premium, natural ingredients to produce an awesome true cinnamon flavor drinking experience. This has 30% alcohol by volume, in other words 60 Proof.
Photo courtesy Hard Truth Distillery
We enjoy it mixed with lime soda, as a chilled straight shot and even in coffee and tea. There are several recipes utilizing this great spirit on the Hard Truth website. Well worth your time to visit the site.
The Indianapolis AES 500 Festival Parade
The month of May in the Indianapolis area is one reminder after another that the famed Indy 500 Mile Race is coming. Local companies use checkered flags, references to racing, and any other connection to the race that they can think of. Media covers the events of the month including not only activities at the track, but also beauty pageants, balls, concerts, half marathons and of course the parade. All celebrates the 2023 version of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.
The 500 Festival Parade again is sponsored by Indy’s electric service company, AES. This parade is one of the original festival events and is one of the highlights of the month of May in Indianapolis. The parade courses through downtown Indianapolis with over 200,000 spectators lining the streets. The parade is filled with floats, giant helium balloons, award-winning bands, celebrities and dignitaries, and all 33 of the drivers in this year’s Indy 500. One of the premier parades in the country, it stands with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The 2023 AES 500 Festival Parade will take place on Saturday, May 27, in downtown Indianapolis. The Parade will be broadcast locally on WTHR(NBC), and nationally on Peacock.
Beef & Boards “An American in Paris” delights with dance
Do you like dance live on stage? Do you appreciate the brilliance of George and Ira Gershwin’s music compositions? Head out to Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre for the currently running production of An American in Paris. Set in Paris immediately after the end of World War II it follows the story of an American GI who decides to stay in Paris and have a go at a career as an artist. Yes, he finds a girl.
An American In Paris Lise and Jerry
One of the first things we noticed when we arrived at the theater was the larger than usual stage area that had been prepared for this show. Every square foot of the stage was utilized by Ron Morgan’s dynamic choreography and direction. This show was filled with dance. The depth of talent in this cast is exceptional and showcased by awesome choreography. The precision displayed during mass numbers is amazing, as are the scenes featuring couples. Cast members even utilized dance moves while placing props during set changes!
Jerry Mulligan (Jon Rose), center, sings “Beginner’s Luck” out of joy to have fallen in love with Lise
Milo Davenport (Sarah Hund), right, asks Jerry (Jon Rose) if she’s enough for him
The 1951 movie, An American in Paris, won Best Picture that year, and debuted classic music pieces from George and Ira Gershwin. The Gershwin songs in the B&B’s production also include “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” “Stairway to Paradise” and orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “2nd Prelude,” “2nd Rhapsody,” “The Cuban Overture” and “An American In Paris.”
Henri Baurel (Ian Black), center, imagines himself to be an authentic “song-and-dance man” while singing “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise”
Our GI, Jerry (Jon Rose), is smitten when he meets Lise (Sophie Aknin), a beautiful Parisian girl. Lise is engaged to Henri (Ian Black), and is also desired by Adam (Austin Glen Jacobs) another American. The convoluted love stories are artfully told by means of the music and dance. The backdrop to the storyline includes references to the hard truth that Paris had just endured several years of Nazi occupation.
Adam Hochberg (Austin Glen Jacobs) center, declares that he, Jerry Mulligan (Jon Rose), left, and Henri Baurel (Ian Black), right became the “Three Musketeers”
Lise (Sophie Aknin) completes the lift at the conclusion of the “Paris Ballet”
The Gershwin music is just wonderful. The dancing is superb. You’ll say “Wow” after each scene! You’ll marvel at the quality of the ballet and other styles of dance. We really enjoyed the depth of talent that shows in the entire cast. It may sound like a cliché, but this is one show you don’t want to miss!
Lise (Sophie Aknin) auditions at the Ballet du Chatelet as Jerry (Jon Rose) watches
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of An American in Paris is now on stage through May 14 . Tickets include Chef Larry Stoops’ buffet and select beverages. Visit Beef & Boards website for pricing and availability, or call the box office at 317.872.9664.
Gershwin’s music comes to Indy’s Beef & Boards
This romantic musical finally is back on stage at Indianapolis’ beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Scheduled for 2020 and shut down by the pandemic, Gershwin’s music filled An American in Paris will open for 47 performances starting March 30th and run through May 14th.
Based on the 1951 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, An American in Paris brings breathtaking dance and music to the stage. Jerry Mulligan, a young American soldier, is doing his best to make it as a painter in the bustling city of Paris following the end of WWII. But when Jerry meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret, his life becomes complicated.
The cast of the Arizona Broadway Theatre production of An American in Paris
The City of Light’s streets become a dancefloor for the music of George and Ira Gershwin, including great tunes like “I Got Rhythm,” “But Not for Me,” “Shall We Dance,” and “’S Wonderful.” Of the impressive 11 Tony Award nominations it received,
An American in Paris won four, including Best Orchestrations.
We’re looking forward to enjoying these Gerswhin masterpieces and the accompanying story and dancing choreography on opening weekend. We’ll add our take then. Brisk ticket sales are already limiting seating availability for some performance dates. We suggest that you go to the Beef & Boards website and reserve your time for this classic movie-based show.
Explosive musical Footloose on stage at Indy’s Beef & Boards
Are you ready Indianapolis? The first musical of Indy’s beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 50th Anniversary season is the dynamic, dramatic and explosive Footloose, now on stage. This show is a marvelous musical entertainment treat.
Ren and his friends dance in the opening number of Footloose
The production opens with a vibrant dance number that sets the stage for premium quality choreography and music throughout. A Beef and Boards press release provides a snapshot of the storyline: “The 1984 movie danced its way into the hearts of millions, and was nominated for two Oscars, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for its powerhouse hits including “Footloose,” “Almost Paradise,” and “Let’s Hear It for The Boy.” The stage musical combines the bestselling score with dynamic new songs in a celebration of the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness.”
Ethel McCormack, Ren’s mother, played by B&B veteran Sarah Hund
Rev. Shaw Moore, played by Eddie Curry, B&B long time actor and director
Rusty (Shelbi Berry Kamohara) sings “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”
Ren, a rebellious teenager from Chicago, who, with his mother, moved from the Windy City to Bomont, a super conservative small rural town. He is shocked when he learns that dancing is illegal, among other culture shocks. The plot follows the drama as he comes to grips as best as he can with his developing feelings for Ariel, the minister’s daughter. Oh yes, the minister, Rev. Shaw Moore, is responsible for maintaining the ban on dancing, founded by a tragic accident that took the lives of four teens, including the minister’s son.
Ariel (Sharaé Moultrie), top, sings “I Need A Hero” with her friends (from left) Urleen (Logan Hill), Rusty (Shelby Berry Kamohara), and Wendy Jo (Maya Mays)
As he tries to take her order, Ariel (Sharaé Moultrie), right, tells Ren (Daniel Dipinto) that what she wants isn’t on the menu.
If you like song and dance, Footloose is for you. There are over a dozen songs performed across the two Acts of this stage play. Not only will you enjoy the songs, but you’ll also be amazed at the high stepping and energetic choreography of the dances. Over the course of the scenes the story of Ren and his quest to fit in are dotted with happiness and sadness. But the overall show is both uplifting and inspiring. Yes it has a happy ending.
At the Dance
Willard leaps at the dance
Making their Beef & Boards debuts are Daniel Alan Dipinto as Ren, and Sharaé Moultrie as the minister’s daughter, Ariel. Shelbi Berry Kamohara (The Addams Family,
Honky Tonk Angels, Hello, Dolly!) is Rusty, while Noah Nehemiah Robinson makes his Beef & Boards debut as Willard. Eddie Curry reprises his role as the uptight town minister, Rev. Shaw Moore. The show is directed by Heather Patterson King, with choreography by Doug King and musical direction by Kristy Templet. Footloose is rated PG-13 for some adult themes and language.
Ren leaps for joy at the dance
Footloose is on stage through March 26 in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner
Theatre. Tickets include Chef Larry Stoops’ dinner buffet and select beverages.
To purchase tickets online, visit beefandboards.com. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays.
Before Footloose at Beef and Boards
We are back at Beef and Boards, just had a great meal. Now we are enjoying a fancy cocktail waiting for the start of the first musical in the 50th anniversary season: Footloose!
Kevin Bacon starred in the 1984 movie which became an instant hit. Tonight’s cast at Beef and Boards includes several talented actors making their debut here.
We’ll have a full review with photos for you tomorrow !
Comedy filled murder mystery dinner show
We had a fun and different evening for last night’s entertainment. Our son and daughter-in-law from Columbus, Ohio came over to Indianapolis and treated us to an evening at the Indy version of The Dinner Detective murder mystery dinner show.
Where the body was found!
The show was held in a decent sized conference room at the Sheraton Hotel in the Keystone Mall on the north side of Indianapolis. Our party had seven, including three of our adult grandkids. The table sat 10, so another couple was seated, and before the show started another fellow sat down. We all wondered if this fellow was in fact part of the show.
Interaction between cast and audience
All attendees had made up “aliases” for name tags. Sher was Nancy Drew. The crowd was encouraged to question as many other guests as possible, and begin to make a suspect list. Soon after we began eating the murder victim made his appearance with a mortal wound and died on the floor. Thus the mystery commenced.
The detective hovering over the victim’s body
Two “Police Detectives” soon came out and began the investigation. They interviewed and interacted with many of the audience. There was constant funny patter, including some hilarious one liners and great improvisation. The lack of an obvious script was a bonus.
This was the “Curtain Call” for the cast
Clues were discovered, some under some of the plates on the tables, some from printed pages giving background information for the plot. The flow of the acting was pretty much constant. The two police detectives did a great job keeping the storyline on track. The plot was quite complicated and only one person got all the details correctly.
Vegetarian Farro Risotto
Chicken Marsala
The rich dessert
All of this action took place while we were enjoying the very nice multi course meal. It started with Caesar salad. Entrees offered were Chicken Marsala, Pan Seared Tilapia, and vegetarian Farro Risotto, all topped off with a decadent rich chocolate cake. There was also a full service bar that was open the entire time. The meal was good, however the table service left a lot to be desired. That was really our only disappointment of the evening.
The company logo
We had a great time being immersed in this murder mystery. The Dinner Detective has over 80 locations in cities all over the country. Check to see if there is one near you.
The Lincoln Memorial Bridge over the Wabash River
One of two pylons on Indiana side of the bridge.
This bridge carries U.S. 50 Business across the Wabash River from Vincennes, Indiana to Lawrence County, Illinois. The east end of the bridge is in the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park. At this entrance to the bridge you will find two large pylons made of granite, each with a raised sculpture depicting a Native American Chief.
The bridge is what is called a deck arch design, and has two traffic lanes and wide pedestrian walks on each side of the roadway. It was opened to traffic in September, 1933, the same year that the George Rogers Clark Memorial was completed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the monument in 1936.
View from the George Rogers Clark Monument
Wabash River walk, Illinois is on the other side of the river
Parked after crossing the bridge
This was one of the attractions we enjoyed on our trip to Vincennes, Indiana in August of 2020, during the height of the pandemic. We had a spot at a nearby RV Park, and were able to maintain the then acceptable “social distance” and had masks available.
Roadtirement 