IUPUI Has Turned Into Ticketmaster?

The following notice was emailed to students at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis today:

"The credit card payment method is becoming prohibitively expensive because of transactions fees charged to the university. In order to continue to accept credit cards, payments made with MasterCard, Discover, and American Express on student accounts at IUPUI (Indianapolis) will be assessed a 2.75% 'convenience fee' by the third party vendor on the payment amount effective 1 August 2010. Unfortunately, because of limitations imposed by VISA, we will no longer be able to accept VISA as a payment method, effective 1 August 2010."

This Indianapolis Observer is aghast! At least IUPUI could have the integrity not to disguise the charge as a "convenience fee". Yikes!

The Cabaret at the Columbia Club

The American Cabaret Theatre -- now known as The Cabaret -- moves to the Columbia Club on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis Tuesday (1 December).

The Cabaret will now be able to offer its patrons dinner packages, overnight stay packages and expanded food and bar service through the Columbia Club. After the show, the bar will stay open so that patrons can extend their evening enjoying cocktails and conversation. Note: Cabaret patrons will not have to be members of the Columbia Club to come to The Cabaret; however, special incentives will be available to guests who want to become members.

The Cabaret's holiday show is “A Song for the Holidays: Four Enchanting Broadway Voices, One Enchanted Holiday Evening.” Featuring Broadway favorites and holiday standards performed by Brian Lane Green, Lee Lessack, John Boswell and Joanne O'Brien, it will run for five performances from 10-12 December. For more information and tickets (@$40), go online or call 317:294-7005.

The Columbia Club, the Cabaret’s new home, is a private club established in 1889. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most Cabaret performances will be in the French Room on the Club’s third floor, but some will be on the Crystal Terrace or in the Grand Ballroom. The Cabaret, a professional, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, also will have office space in the club.

The Next Shoe?

Next to bail: Tim Motsinger, Republican candidate for Marion County Sheriff, has quit the race. He's said to be a close associate of Tim Durham, who recently held a fundraiser for him.

Tim Durham, Carl Brizzi, Greg Ballard...the list goes on

Interesting political and criminal developments in Indy this week involving Mayor Greg Ballard (and the mess that is called the Capital Improvements Board), Tim Durham (involving an FBI search warrant) and Carl Brizzi, the Marion County prosecutor who's not only a friend of Durham's but also is whispered to have conspired to convict an innocent man in order to garner headlines.

This Indianapolis Observer wonders what shoe's gonna drop next!

In the meantime, check the blogs (especially Advance Indiana and Ogden on Politics) for the latest shenanigans.

Cherub Keeps Watch Even Though Ayres is Long Gone

Here's the story, according to Indianapolis Downtown Inc.

It was 1946. World War II was over and thousands returned home from military service. Among them, Virginia Holmes--a prize-winning commercial artist--came back to Indianapolis and began her job in the advertising department at L.S. Ayres, a Downtown department store. When it came time to compose the 1946 holiday catalog, merchandise was still in short supply, so Holmes created whimsical cherubs to fill the somewhat empty pages. The cherubs captured hearts and began an Indianapolis holiday tradition that continues today.

Customer response to the cherubs was so great, Ayres perpetuated their appearance in its 1947 holiday advertising. It was Ayres’ 75th Anniversary, and that called for a special addition to their holiday celebration plans. Ayres commissioned nationally recognized Indianapolis sculptor and Herron School of Art instructor David Rubins to create a bronze cherub for the store’s landmark clock, located on the outside of their building on the southwest corner of Washington and Meridian streets.

As the story is told, the whimsical Cherub mysteriously appeared atop the clock on Thanksgiving Eve 1947 to keep a watchful eye on the holiday shoppers until Santa took over on Christmas Eve. In the 62 years since, hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers and visitors have seen the Cherub perched atop the famous clock each holiday season.

The May Department Store Company purchased L.S. Ayres in 1986, and in 1992, moved the Cherub to its headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. There was tremendous public outcry when the Cherub did not appear that holiday season. Humbled, the May Company donated the Cherub to the City of Indianapolis, and in 1994 Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., became the Cherub’s legal guardian.

So keep an eye out… the Cherub is due to arrive Wednesday evening!

Synchronized Swimming Championships to be at IUPUI

The world's most elite synchronized swimmers will gather in Indianapolis 11-15 August for the 2010 Esynchro FINA World Junior Synchronized Swimming Championships. The event will be held at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, and will consist of National Team athletes ranging in ages from 15 to 18 years old.

United States Synchronized Swimming is headquartered in Indianapolis.

Indy's International Festival Award Winners

Awards for the just-completed 2009 International Festival have been announced. First and second place awards are given to Nationalities Council of Indiana member-groups in each of five categories: theme, educational value, creativity, quality and food. In addition, the best overall culture booth received the grand prize trophy, nicknamed "The Betty".

Winners are as follows:

Creativity: 1st - Confucius Institute at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis; 2nd - India Association of Indianapolis.
Educational value: 1st - Indiana Association of Chinese Americans; 2nd - Italian Heritage Society of Indiana.
Quality: 1st - Sons of Norway; 2nd - Scottish Society of Indianapolis.
Theme: 1st - Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis; 2nd - Swiss Club Of Central Indiana.
Food: 1st - Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis; 2nd - German American Klub.
Best Overall Cultural Booth Trophy: Indiana German Heritage Society (pictured).

This year's Volunteer Service award (nicknamed "The Steve") went to Dan and Sophia Anderson.

Tomorrow's the Last Day of the 2009 Festival!

The Parade of Nations is a highlight of Saturdays at Indy's International Festival. Today -- Sunday, 22 November -- is the last day for 2009. Get to the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1201 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, between noon and 6 p.m. today (keeping in mind that most of the ethnic food booths sell out early!).

Indy's International Festival Underway at State Fairgrounds

Here are some pictures of "real dolls" taking part in Indy's International Festival, now through Sunday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1201 East 38th Street, Indianapolis. Come see for yourself!

Indy's International Festival Underway at State Fairgrounds

Two pictures from Thursday's Student Day at Indy's International Festival, taking place through Sunday (22 November) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1201 East 38th Street, Indianapolis. Y'all come!

Indy's International Festival is 19-22 November

It's almost time for Indy's International Festival! The first day -- 19 November -- is for student groups, but the public is welcome on the three other days. Come see Indy's ethnic diversity!

Building Trust

Topic for the annual symposium sponsored by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis is "Building Trust". The event begins at 9 a.m. 8 December and runs through 6:30 p.m. Although the cost is $250 per person, the last two events are open to the public at no charge. They are the Indiana Achievement Awards Reception and Ceremony, from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m., and the Donikian Family Lecture, beginning at 5:15 p.m. All events will be held in the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis.

How "Suite" It Is!

The Indianapolis Business Journal has a cover story this week about how the Lucas Oil Stadium suite holders are "crying foul". Seems that the NCAA can appropriate their suites -- and resell them at inflated prices -- during the men's basketball Final Four next April.

So, they're not getting full use of what they paid for. In the opinion of this Indianapolis Observer: It couldn't happen to a "better" bunch of corporate suits! The taxpayers of Indy aren't getting what they paid for either!

Some Events Defy Explanation

Dmitri Zakharov of Columbia University will discuss "A Discrete Analogue of the Generalized Weierstrass Representation of Surfaces in Pseudo-Euclidean Space" at 10:30 a.m. Monday (9 November) in Room LD 265, Science Building, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, 402 Blackford Street, Indianapolis.

It's part of the IUPUI Mathematical Sciences Seminar Series. For more information, contact Alexander Its.

Volunteers Sought by "500" Festival

Do you want to be a part of next year's "500" Festival? Head downtown RIGHT NOW for the Volunteer Fair hosted by Pacers Sports & Entertainment in Conseco Fieldhouse (it ends at 7 p.m.).

The non-profit organization is looking for volunteers to help produce a variety of community events and programs that celebrate the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

Is That a Threat or a Promise?

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is providing a $6 million grant to the Wishard Foundation for construction of a new Wishard Hospital, reports Inside INdiana Business. The gift is the single largest philanthropic contribution in Wishard’s 150-year history. The grant is contingent upon Marion County voters approving the hospital project in a referendum Tuesday.

This is NOT a "grant"; it's a bribe. (Wouldn't the hospital need the money even more if the referendum is not approved by the voters tomorrow?)

Does anyone think this announcement is just plain wrong on a number of levels? This Indianapolis Observer is horrified that "the powers that be" would think this sort of blackmail is appropriate behavior in the 21st Century! Those involved should be ashamed.