Boogie at Riddle Point, laugh at Comedy Attic, walk into galleries, along Hidden River
Soon, most of the students at Indiana University will leave for the summer (congratulations, graduates) and, hopefully, warmer weather (without any rain, please) will make being outdoors much more fun. If it's not warm enough for you yet, indoor activities include performances of "Madeleines" by the Jewish Theatre, four performances by comedian Dan Cummins at the Comedy Attic and Meet the Instruments at the library. Ready to get outside? Options include a couple walks — along the Hidden River Pathway and Friday's Gallery Walk — as well as the Riddle Point Boogie on Saturday at Lake Lemon.
5 performances of 'Madeleines' begin Thursday
“Madeleines” by Bess Welden, a new prize-winning play, will be performed by Jewish Theatre of Bloomington at 7:30 p.m. May 4, 6, 11, 13 and 3 p.m. May 7 in the Rose Firebay of the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St.
The play tells the story of a family of Jewish women grappling with how to love each other through haunted pasts, laughter and tears, and the solace of baking together, which includes their mother's treasured recipe for the small French cakes called madeleines. Francesca Sobrer returns to Bloomington to direct “Madeleines,” which features Bloomington actor and director Martha Jacobs in a double role.
Bess Welden will perform in the May 13 performance and will participate in a talkback that evening. Darrell Ann Stone will facilitate talkbacks on May 6 and 13.
Tickets are $30 and are available at the Bloom Box Office, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., online at https://buskirkchumley.org/tickets or by phone at 812-323-3020.
Only in Bloomington: Constellation Stage & Screen offers original plays, premiere performances for 2023-24
Also starting Thursday — Dan Cummins at the Comedy Attic
Stand-up comic and podcaster Dan Cummins will spend four days — 8 p.m. Thursday, 7 and 9:15 p.m. Friday and 9:15 p.m. Saturday — at Bloomington's Comedy Attic, 123 S. Walnut St., as part of his 2023 Burn It All Down Tour. Tickets are $35 per person. For tickets and more info, go to comedyattic.com.
Explore the Hidden River Pathway on a guided tour
Have you wondered about the construction of the underground culverts that are part of the Hidden River Pathway Project? If so, learn more on a guided walking tour 3:30-5 p.m. Friday with City of Bloomington Utility staff leading the way.
Meet at the Waldron Hill Buskirk Park near the intersection of Smith and Lincoln streets. The group will shuttle upstream to start the tour near Sixth Street and Indiana Avenue. From there, attendees will walk over the culvert that carries Clear Creek beneath downtown Bloomington. Learn fun facts about stormwater and about updates to the city’s underground infrastructure. For more, call 812-349-3617 or email stormwater@bloomington.in.gov. Registration closes on May 4.
Gallery Walk 5-8 p.m. Friday
On Friday night, stroll the monthly Gallery Walk, which includes up to 14 art galleries in the downtown area. One of the galleries, The Venue Fine Art and Gifts, will feature "Bloom" paintings by Anna Afshar, who creates works in watercolor, oil, acrylic and mixed media. Gallery Walk is 5-8 p.m. Friday.
Express gratitude at Art of Giving Saturday in Switchyard Park
Bloomington Parks and Rec's Art of Giving will be an opportunity for kids and their parents to learn the importance of gratitude and expressing themselves through crafts, homemade cards and other creations 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Switchyard Park Pavilion. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/420K6cG. It's for kids ages 3-12 with a parent. Cost is $5.
Riddle Point Boogie Saturday: music, food trucks, libations
The Lake Lemon Conservancy District will host the Riddle Point Boogie, a festival to raise awareness and money for the conservation of Lake Lemon, from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes will headline with more music from Joe’s Truck Stop, The Hammer & The Hatchet, Them Lasses and Low Landers. The Riddle Point Boogie Beer Garden will be hosted by Upland Brewery, Oliver Winery and Cardinal Spirits.
There will be food trucks — including Arepa Burger, Hungry Hippie Hot Dogs, 812 BBQ and Kona Ice — and vendors at the all-ages festival. Kids younger than age 12 get in free. Parking is included in the price of tickets, which are $45 per person. For tickets, go to soundboardstreams.com/event/lemon.
Gates open at noon, music starts at 2 and runs until 10 p.m. Riddle Point Park is at 2599 N. Tunnel Road, Unionville.
Meet the Instruments Sunday at the public library
Drop in and “meet the instruments” with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. Learn about different instruments in the orchestra through this instrument petting zoo. See how they make sounds, and get a chance to try them out yourself. For ages 4–10.
Learn how to garden without a yard on May 10 at the library
Join Maggie 6-7 p.m. May 10 to learn how to garden without a yard, through container gardening, at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. Learn how to transplant plants into a 5-gallon bucket as well as about soil, sun and water needs for plants — and which plants are best for container gardening. Participants will leave with a 5-gallon bucket to get started. For ages 16 and older. Register at mcpl.info/calendar.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: This weekend in Bloomington, IN: Theater, comedy, guided tour
