Jazz & Sushi at Earth House Collective

"Jazz & Sushi" are promised at tonight's fundraiser for Earth House Collective, 237 North East Street, Indianapolis. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m.;tickets are $20.

Bad News for Borders

Borders today announced it has filed for reorganization relief under Chapter 11. As part of this reorganization, Borders is implementing a Strategic Store Closure program in which it will close approximately 200 Borders superstores nationwide.

In Indianapolis, those closing are Downtown Indy (Meridian and Washington streets) and Carmel. Five Indy area stores not on the current closure list are Castleton, River Crossing, Indianapolis International Airport, Greenwood and Noblesville.

(Photo courtesy of Borders.com)

A Fraud of Shocking Proportions

"Fair Finance Co.’s bankruptcy trustee on Tuesday [14 February] filed a lawsuit alleging that Tim Durham perpetrated “a fraud of shocking proportions,” draining huge sums from the Akron, Ohio, firm for years to mask that his business empire had collapsed," reports IBJ.com.

"By the time Durham and fellow Indianapolis businessman Jim Cochran bought Fair in 2002, his Indianapolis-based buyout firm—Obsidian Enterprises Inc.—already was effectively bankrupt, the suit says."

Read the rest here.

If You've Ever Wanted to be a Star....

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre will host a Musical Theatre Audition Workshop for actors age 17 and older starting 26 February.

The workshop, which meets twice a week until 14 March at the theatre, 9301 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis, will be instructed by the Beef & Boards artistic team of Eddie Curry, casting director, and Terry Woods, musical director.

The class will focus on preparation and execution of a good musical theatre audition. Each participant will be given the chance each week to work through their audition pieces with constructive instruction in a safe and positive atmosphere.

For registration or more information, email Eddie Curry. Participation is limited to nine people.

City Reports Snow Removal Costs

According to the Office of the Mayor:

· As a result of last week’s ice storm, the preliminary numbers show that the City spent an estimated $3.4 million from January 31 to February 7 when the operation ended at 7:00 p.m. Monday night. This includes salt, equipment, labor and contractor costs.

· Indy Snow Force drivers worked more than 19,000 hours. They worked non-stop 12-hour shifts and the City maintained the 24 hour operation throughout the ice and snow storm. In addition, support staff worked more than 472 hours during the week.

· The City activated more than 200 contractors from February 2-February 6. The City estimates that these contract services of salting and plowing neighborhood streets will cost $532,500.

· Indy Snow Force dropped 27,923 tons of salt from January 31 to February 7. This includes putting salt on the City’s 6,000 plus lanes miles of primary thoroughfares and secondary streets. Contractors assisted Indy Snow Force with an unprecedented move of salting connector streets, main streets and intersections near schools. The City continued to go above and beyond by salting more than 67 Indianapolis school parking lots. Plus, contractors assisted Indy Snow Force with dropping salt on more than 4,000 lanes miles of residential areas. The total cost of salt for this storm was just over $2 million.

· The City budgeted about $7.3 million for snow removal this calendar year. So far in the 2011 calendar year, the City has spent approximately $5.4 million on fighting snow and ice storms.

(Image courtesy of Kriss Szkurlatowski)

Harrison Center On the Road

Join Harrison Center artists Kyle Ragsdale, Kathryn Dart, William Denton Ray, Quincy Owens, Shannon Hinkle and Kipp Normand at the Grand Opening of Allisonville Meadows, 10312 Allisonville Road, Fishers, a new senior healthcare community.

There'll be live music, art demonstrations and food by Mills Catering from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (15 February).

(Image courtesy of Harrison Center)

Sin and Redemption Has Been Rescheduled

The wintry weather has had its effect even on such traditional activities as Carnival! "Sin and Redemption", this year's celebration at the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, was postponed when ice and snow made the roads treacherous (not even the band could make it into town for the party!).

"Sin and Redemption" is promised now for February 26. There'll be dinner, dancing, entertainment and more. Tickets and reservations are available at the door or (if you want to be certain there's still room for you), reserve in advance with James Gould of the Athenaeum, 317:655-2755 ext. 1.

This pre-Lenten celebration done in the traditional style of Cologne, Germany, benefits the historic Athenaeum. It's sponsored by the Athenaeum Foundation, Athenaeum Turners, Indiana German Heritage Society and the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Committee.