This weekend: Learn about Black identity, how to honor veterans, and support local girls
Food, culture and art join forces this week. The Indiana University African American Arts Institute will hold the Potpourri of the Arts Concert, where we can take in talents from three different organizations. To honor our veterans, there's a cabaret with not just live music but ideas on how really to thank a vet. There's a night of dining and dancing to honor vets and front-line workers. An award-winning documentary at Indiana University Cinema helps us understand Black identity. At the Orbit Room, Scout Gillett performs. And classical music is coming from the Bloomington Chamber Singers, Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble and the USA International Harp Competition Fall Concert.
Concert reflects African American traditions, in 3 ways
Get ready to be exhilarated, threefold. The IU African American Arts Institute will hold the Potpourri of the Arts Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the IU Auditorium. Performance works from the African diaspora with the African American Dance Company help honor the traditions of Black choral music, with the award-winning African American Choral Ensemble. You'll also hear classic and contemporary R&B and soul from the IU Soul Revue. Tickets are $35, $10 for students. For more, call 812-855-1103 or go to https://bit.ly/3FWwzur.
Friend's overdose presents a way to release grief
After the overdose of a lover in 2018 and then the 2020 quarantine, indie folk musician Scout Gillett returned to Kansas City, Missouri, for a reprieve. She saw her hometown was struggling as people suffered from addictions. “Nothing was as I’d remembered,” she said in a press release. So she channeled her fears into writing songs. Gillett headlines at the Orbit Room at 8 p.m. Wednesday, as she promotes her debut LP "no roof no floor." Kay Krull will also perform at the Orbit Room, 107 N. College Ave. Tickets are $10.
Cabaret honors veterans with songs and advice on saying 'thank you'
How many times have we said to a veteran, "Thank you for your service"? Some vets say this can sound hollow. Learn a few tips on how really to thank a military veteran, while tapping your heels to a cabaret act with Connie Shakalis, Vicki King and Sarah Strickland. It's free and open to all at 1:15 p.m. Friday at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 E. Third St.
An elegant night out to support Girls Inc.
Celebrate womanhood and support the next generation of female leaders by attending Friday's Inaugural Ruby Gala supporting Girls Inc. 6 p.m. at the Switchyard Park pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St. Organizers promise an elegant evening filled with food, dancing, auctions, friends and fun. Tickets are $75 individually or $750 for a table of eight. Girls Inc. provides long-term mentoring, empowerment and research based programming to enable girls to become role-models in their community. More information and tickets at shorturl.at/AIMYZ
Get a unique gift for everyone on your list at the Bloomington Handmade Market
Featuring artists from Indiana and beyond, the Bloomington Handmade Market is an annual tradition where makers offer their unique wares for purchase at the Monroe Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. This Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., browse hot sauce and chocolate, handbags and sewing kits, sweatshirts and ceramics. There will be something for every person on your holiday list, and you'll probably find something for yourself, too. Visit bloomingtonhandmademarket.com to preview the vendors.
"Black Is … Black Ain't" at IU Cinema
What is a Black identity? Filmmaker Marlon Riggs' grandmother’s gumbo becomes a way to describe the diversity of Black identities in the U.S. Riggs debunks Blackness' inflexible definitions, the ones we've learned, from both outside and inside the Black community. This award-winning documentary, his last film before he died at 37, shows how Riggs explored African American identity. A question and answer with special guests will follow this free but ticketed screening. Visit https://bit.ly/3WOGPuz. See it at 7 p.m. Tuesday at IU Cinema, 1213 E. Seventh St.
Sweet sounds to ring during USA International Harp concert
The USA International Harp Competition Fall Concert features Indiana University alum and now principal harpist of the Dallas Symphony Emily Levin, 2013 Bronze Medalist, in music for harp, voice and organ. It's 7 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 219 E. Fourth St. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for students online at usaihc.org or at the door.
Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble is more than wind instruments
At 7 p.m. Thursday, take in a free Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble concert at at Bloomington High School North, 3901 N Kinser Pike. Indiana University professor of music emeritus Stephen Pratt conducts. Music will include classics including Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland, Espirit de Corps by Robert Jager and American Salute by Morton Gould.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Things to do this weekend in Bloomington, Indiana
