Indianapolis is My Home

22
Jan

U2 3D in IMAX Glory!

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Concerts, Downtown, IMAX Theater, Indiana State Museum, Movies, Things To Do in Indy

I may have just experienced one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen on a screen. Through the generosity of BestBuy.com RewardZone I was able to score a couple of passes to a sneak preview of U23D movie at the IMAX Theater at White River State Park.

I wasn’t sure at all what to expect. I’ve seen advertisements before about going to watch a music concert at a theater and I just didn’t think it would be something worthwhile. Seeing one in 3D seemed even weirder.

All I can say is…WOW! You are immersed in the experience of being a part of this concert that took place in Argentina. The stadium concert experience that was part of their "Vertigo" tour is simply inspiring.

I can’t even think of much more to say about it that does it justice, but you feel like you’re member of the audience as well as being right on stage with the performers themselves. The only suggestion I’d have was that the IMAX theater should have been cranking the volume another 50 decibels. I’ve watched movies that were pumping more audio and this U23D experience screamed for more volume!

UPDATE: The widget originally embedded in the page was messing up the layout and repeating itself. Visit the U2 3D Movie website for all the details.

UPDATE AGAIN: Ticket prices at the IMAX at Indiana State Museum is $13.50 for adults. Tickets at the Kerasotes 16 IMAX on the south side is only $12.50.

17
Jan

Harlem Globetrotters at Conseco Fieldhouse Saturday

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Comedy, Conseco Fieldhouse, Downtown, Sports, Things To Do in Indy

This could be a challenge this weekend. I’m taking my daughter to Pike PAC for "The Souls of Our Feet" as a daddy/daughter date. However, I just realized that the Harlem Globetrotters are going to be at Conseco Fieldhouse this weekend, Saturday at 2:00pm.

My son would love this and now I need to debate on whether or not I can swing taking my son to this on Saturday afternoon and my daughter to the other event on Saturday night.

If you’ve ever been to a Harlem Globetrotters game you know it’s a great time and very funny. My son would love it!

Decisions, decisions… can I afford the tickets?

17
Jan

Are You A Computer Teacher in Indiana?

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Colleges, Convention Center, Downtown, Education, Elementary, High Schools, Things To Do in Indy

A friend of mine is an a technology teacher on the south side in Center Grove. He let me know about a conference coming up next week for computer educators in Indiana. The organization is called Indiana Computer Educators and their annual conference starts next week in downtown Indianapolis. The conference will be held in the Indiana Convention Center, Exhibit Hall D.

Here’s a little more about the organization:

Indiana Computer Educators (ICE) is a non-profit professional group whose mission is assisting educators to enhance learning through the use of technology. David Flowers of the Fort Wayne Community School Corporation founded this organization in 1980. In 1980, ICE was a user group of forty-three people that had an interest in computers, met two or three times each year, and published a newsletter. The first ICE Conference included six hardware vendors.

I was heading into the teaching profession at one time, high school biology teacher was my goal. That changed quickly once in college and I started taking all the educational theory classes. Now what’s odd is I’m very interested in all the theory now. Hmmm….

Visit Indiana Computer Educators website

09
Jan

Holy Closed Doors Batman!!!

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business, Business Entrepreneurs, Downtown, Local Businesses, Museums, Things To Do in Indy

The Indianapolis Super Heroes Museum has closed its doors.

A downtown Indianapolis museum that displayed a collection of Superman, Batman and other super hero memorabilia has closed its doors.

The American Super Heroes Museum displayed the collection of Dane Nash of Fishers.

Nash didn’t indicate the reason for closing the museum, which has been shut since Dec. 31. It opened last spring.

That’s too bad, but I guess people like me are to blame. I thought it was a great idea but I never visited the museum. Apathy sucks you know it? I need to make a better effort of getting out more and doing stuff that’s local and support more local, independent business ventures.

What’s your favorite "hidden" local thing you love to do that more people should know about? The only problem with that is when things become too well known they lose some of their mystery don’t they?

Source: IBJ
Image Source: trentisw.com

04
Jan

Checkout John’s Famous Stew - Now Expanding

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Bars, Pubs & Grills, Business, Dining, Downtown, Local Establishments

It’s only fitting that a local dining establishment is expanding since you can’t help but expand yourself after eating there.

My boss and I checked out John’s Famous Stew on Kentucky Avenue awhile back at the suggestion of one of our clients as we were working on site at Lilly.

I grabbed the tenderloin sandwich pictured above as my meal and my boss said the stew was worth naming the place after as well.

Come to find out they’re expanding their locations and will be showing up in the Stutz Building downtown, which just happens to be walking distance from one of our other client’s offices. It’s a good day in Indy folks. John’s Famous Stew will be moving into the location once inhabited by Mo’s Loading Dock Pub. Mo’s was also a great place to eat when we first started going over there, but their service and quality kept slipping to the point we rarely went back.

I’m looking forward to getting back to work next week. We’ll be at the client close to there and will be sure and stop by John’s for a visit. I’m sure I’ll have the tenderloin again, maybe a cup of stew to go along with it this time as well.

Visit John’s Famous Stew website

Source Story

18
Dec

Sidney Taurel Retires from Lilly

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business, Business Leaders, Downtown, News

My first job when I moved to Indianapolis was working for WorldTravel Partners (now BCD Travel) in the corporate travel department for Eli Lilly and Company. I spent over 5 years on that account initially as a domestic corporate travel agent then as Technology Manager for the department.

I was very impressed with the majority of people I met while working with Lilly and particularly admired how the company was being led by Sidney Taurel. He had just become CEO in July of that year, 1998.

The announcement was made today that he’ll be retiring as CEO and John Lechleiter will be moving into his place.

10
Dec

Jamaal Tinsley Involved in Another Shooting

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Downtown, Indiana Pacers, Indy Pro Athletes, News

Pacer’s guard (has a whole different meaning now that you associate guns with it as well) Jamaal Tinsley has been involved in another shooting. This time it was downtown Indianapolis, in front of the Conrad Hotel.

Police said someone shot at the group with an assault rifle about 3:40 a.m. in front of the luxury Conrad Hotel. It followed a confrontation as Tinsley and his companions were leaving the “Cloud 9″ club outside downtown.

This is just getting old. According to the news article, new coach Jim O’Brien and Larry Bird say that Tinsley won’t be punished. He didn’t appear to do anything wrong. Except later in the article it states:

“He has every right to go to a club, there is no curfew, and he, to the best of my knowledge, did nothing wrong, other than he exercised poor judgment as to how late he was out and the environment he was in,” said O’Brien, who is in his first year with the Pacers. “He didn’t break any of our rules.”

That’s the point I’m trying to make though. I don’t care if he didn’t do anything necessarily illegal. I’m sure the innocent bystander wouldn’t have cared either if their family member had been shot as they were exiting the hotel during the shooting. Bad judgment, ummm yeah! In one breath they says there’s no curfew but then say part of his bad judgment was how “late he was out”. As far as the environment he was in, he put himself in the environment.

My son and I just went to a Pacer’s game and enjoyed ourselves. I was happy with how the team played and that I hadn’t heard of any of them being in the news lately regarding their off-the-court activities. Guess it was too early to say. I had actually thought about getting a jersey for my son for Christmas, not a chance now. Looks like I’m going to personally boycott the team another year to see if they can mature and grow-up a little bit.

Is it just me, or if you were on the Pacers team and had even the slightest inclination to hang-out with people that have broken the law, carry automatic weapons and other guns, or have warrants out for their arrest for drugs, or any other item; wouldn’t you stop for at least a split-second and think about it first? Morons!

Image Source: Another great cartoon by Gary Varvel

07
Dec

Indianapolis Gets Another Marathon in May

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Downtown, Indianapolis History, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, News, Outdoor Recreation, Special Events, Speedway, Things To Do in Indy

Indianapolis gets another event that I won’t be participating in anytime soon. An article in the IBJ says that organizers of a new mini-marathon for the city are adding it to the calendar because of the existing mini-marathon already being sold-out at 35,000 spectators.

I’ve got a number of friends that have run in the marathon and are hard-core runners I guess. I’m sure they’ll be extremely happy.

I believe this is a good move for the city. There should be more events that encourage physical exercise. I personally wish there were more cycling events in the city and opportunities to do them.

Of course there’s still the challenge of me getting my butt off the seat and actually going out and doing it. When I was in college and single, I’d bike about 80 miles a week. During my short stint working at Lowe’s on the south side I’d bike the 4 miles to work every day.

Good times. Good times.

Photo Source: The Auto Channel

07
Dec

Chris Rock at the Murat

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Celebrities, Comedy, Concerts, Downtown, Murat Theatre, Things To Do in Indy

Saw last night that Chris Rock is going to be coming to Indianapolis at the end of December.

He’ll be performing at the Murat Theatre. Tickets went on sale today.

Photo Source: Facade

07
Dec

Indianapolis Yuletide Celebration 2007

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Cultural Events, Downtown, Hilbert Circle Theater, Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indy Pro Athletes, Things To Do in Indy

My family and I will be attending the Indianapolis Yuletide Celebration this evening with a group of friends. I’m looking forward to it as I’ve heard good things about it from a variety of people. I think my kids will really enjoy it as well.

I heard last week that Ben Utecht made a guest appearance and sang “What Are You Doing New Years” with Sandi Patti.

Hopefully I’ll have a few pictures to share after this evening’s festivities.

Have you been to the celebration? What did you think? Do you make it an annual tradition?