Indy Talks About Women in India

If you were outraged by the brutal rape and killing in India in December, and by the turgid legal response … If you are outraged that this is not uncommon around the world … And if you want to be part of efforts to change this situation, then you will want to be at the City Market, 222 East Market Street, Indianapolis for Foreign Policy and a Local Pint on 14 March.

Come at 5:30 p.m. for socializing with pizza and brews, and then stay for the 6 p.m. discussion.

The Village Experience is distributing a million dollars for projects empowering women in India. Learn how you can contribute to their work and of the work of other local groups addressing these issues. Talk with experts about the changing roles for women in India and other South Asian societies.

Ever think you’re the only one in Indianapolis who cares about global issues? You’re wrong, there are a lot of people like you. And you can meet them Thursday evenings at City Market with Foreign Policy and a Local Pint, a series of informal discussions about what’s happening in the world. Socialize with young professionals over free pizza and subsidized beer, talk to some of the world’s top experts, and discover local organizations working on issues in the countries we’ll discuss.

A tip of the Indianapolis Observer's hat to Provocate.org for organizing these events.

Guitars! Roundups to Rockers

"Guitars! Roundups to Rockers", an exhibit opening today at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, explores the Western connections of guitars and guitarists.

Guitars owned by Roy Rogers, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams Sr. will be among more than 100 instruments included in the exhibit, which runs through 4 August. According to the Eiteljorg, "The experience, including interactive content, is guaranteed to appeal to guitar gearheads, musicians and everyday music lovers of genres from Western swing to wailing rock, thrashing punk to bouncing jazz."

Guitars! is supported by ongoing programming, including films, performances, guitar instruction and a guitar “corral” that offers visitors a chance to pluck and strum.

Unfortunately, your Indianapolis Observer missed last night's sale, when autographed guitars from the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Carlos Santana, Pearl Jam, Keith Urban and others were auctioned off during the exhibit preview party.

Fortunately, you still have time to catch Cowboy Celtic, performing today between 2 and 4 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art)

How Buddhism Changes the Conversation

"Interfaith Encounters: How Buddhism Changes the Conversation" is the topic for a seminar featuring Dr. Kenneth Tanaka (pictured) set for 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 18 March at Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis. Cost of $40 includes lunch.

Dr.Tanaka earned a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and is Professor of Buddhist Studies at Musashino University in Tokyo, Japan. Among his books are: Ocean: An Introduction to Jodo Shunshu Buddhism in America, Dialogue with Others and The Faces of Buddhism in America.

According to CTS, the number of Buddhists in America has grown 17-fold since the 1960s to about 3.5 million. People from many religious traditions have found the encounter with Buddhism enriching to their own faith.

The seminar will conclude with Dr. Tanaka, Cantor Robert Zalkin and Professor Marti Steussy in "A 3-Way Conversation: Buddhist, Jewish & Christian".

Arsonist Torches St. John the Evangelist

An apparent arson has caused an estimated $400,000 in damages to a historic downtown Indianapolis Catholic church, according to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

The church, across Capital Avenue from the Indiana Convention Center, houses the first Catholic parish established in Indianapolis in 1837. Construction of the current church was completed in 1871.

Cronyism Begins to Infect Purdue

Your Indianapolis Observer thinks that this notice, courtesy of IBJ.com is just the camel's nose under the tent.

"Purdue University has hired a former official in Mitch Daniels' gubernatorial administration to lead the Purdue Research Foundation.

"Daniels, now Purdue's president, announced the appointment of former Indiana Secretary of Commerce Dan Hasler as president of the research foundation Wednesday. Hasler also will serve as Purdue's chief entrepreneurial officer."

Let's see how many Daniels' administration figures end up working in West Lafayette....

Book & Author Luncheon

Five authors are featured during the 33rd annual Book & Author Benefit Luncheon sponsored by the Christamore House Guild, set for April 19, 2013, in the Indiana Roof Ballroom, downtown Indianapolis.

They are:
*Melanie Benjamin (The Aviator's Wife)
*Tara Conklin (The House Girl)
*Ann Hood (Obituary Writer)
*Phillip Margolin (Sleight of Hand)
*Meg Wolitzer (The Interestings)

Mistress of ceremonies will be Diane Willis.

The event begins at 10 a.m., with books available for purchase and signing, followed by the luncheon program at 11 a.m. Tickets are $85 per person ($55 of each ticket is tax deductible; seats are limited and will be filled as paid reservations are received).

This springtime event has raised more than $1,000,000 over the past 30 years, serving over 650 students. The proceeds benefit the Frances Carter Coburn Scholarship Fund as well as programs offered through Christamore House, serving the educational and scholarship needs of many qualified students from the Haughville neighborhood.

For more than 100 years, the Christamore House has been serving the west side of Indianapolis. For most of that time, the Christamore House Guild (formerly call the Christamore Aid Society) has been there to help find volunteers and keep the doors open.

Art & Antiques Show & Sale

The 26th annual Indianapolis Art & Antiques Show & Sale is set for 8-10 March in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis (map).

It's presented by the Methodist Hospital Task Core in partnership with the Methodist Health Foundation in support of Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.

General admission is $12 at the door. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 8 March, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9 March and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 10 March.

Special events include "A Taste of Elegance", the opening night preview and party on 7 March; a presentation on Soirée: Entertaining with Style by Danielle Rollins on 8 March; demonstrations featuring local artists on 9 March, and a presentation by John A Tiffany on his book, Eleanor Lambert: Still Here on 9 March.

Your Indianapolis Observer notes that Eleanor Lambert, New York City's fashion arbiter for decades, was born in 1903 in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

(Photo courtesy of Methodist Hospital Task Core)