This weekend's picks: Hailey Whitters, storytelling, and the weirdness of Wikipedia

Jill Bond, The Herald-Times
·4 min read
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Toe-tapping country music from a rising young musician, stories made new, perspective-challenging talks, pet products and experts, poetry and internet oddities are all set to keep you occupied this weekend. Whether you visit the Bloomington Home Show, take in a tale or want to get your best friend's tail wagging, Bloomington's got something going on this weekend to keep the winter doldrums away.

Hailey Whitters performs at the Bluebird

Hailey Whitters will perform at the Bluebird.
Hailey Whitters will perform at the Bluebird.

Iowa-born, Nashville based country singer Hailey Whitters will play the Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St., at 8 p.m. Thursday. Whitters is touring in support of her album "Raised," which was released last year. The single "Everything She Ain't" rose to No. 29 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and she recently made her late night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Tickets are $15.

Bloomington Storytellers Guild

Old tales will be made new during an evening of fantasy and folktales from around the world during the Bloomington Storytellers Guild 2023 Wintertelling.

Wintertelling, an annual performance by members of Bloomington Storytellers Guild, will feature a variety of tales chosen by storytellers to entertain adults and teens. Happening 7-8:30 p.m. Friday at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. using the Kirkwood entrance. Free.

Fishbowl

Question your own thinking by heading to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Friday for Fishbowl, the eighth annual TEDx conference. Fishbowl is meant to give audience members and conference speakers the chance to explore the duality of perception, taking you out of your own “fishbowl.” Speakers from diverse backgrounds will share their stories and perspectives, united by a desire to connect, discuss, and explore.

Tickets are $10-$25 and doors open at 5 p.m. with speakers beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets and more information at https://buskirkchumley.org/event/fishbowl/

Pet Expo

Ready to pamper your pet? Check out the Pet Expo at the Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Local vendors who offer products and services for your furry, scaly and feathered companions will be on hand, as will local experts who can answer your toughest questions about training, pet health and wellness, toys and more. Well behaved, leashed pets and those in appropriate carriers are welcome to join you. Free.

Bloomington poet PDVNCH sits in a pose for the Bloomington Portrait Group's Oct. 28, 2021, session with the artist at The Vault at Gallery Mortgage.
Bloomington poet PDVNCH sits in a pose for the Bloomington Portrait Group's Oct. 28, 2021, session with the artist at The Vault at Gallery Mortgage.

Poetry reading and open mic

Celebrate Black History Month with the poetry of PDVNCH and Bernardo Wade at Morganstern Books, 849 S. Auto Mall Road, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

PDVNCH is a dramatic storyteller whose words create vivid images and whose vocal tones are rhythmic in giving voice to the unheard. He's known for original hair designs, "Beads by DVNCH" and a passion for fashion.

Bernardo Wade, a writer and artist from New Orleans, is currently a master's of fine arts candidate in poetry at Indiana University Bloomington. Winner of the 2021 Puerto del Sol Poetry Prize, he has several works either published or forthcoming in numerous literary journals.

The event, sponsored by the Writers Guild @ Bloomington, also features an open mic where emerging and established poets are encouraged to arrive early and claim a spot to share their creative works.

Looking to spruce up your home?

Connect with local contractors, get ideas or just dream at the Bloomington Home Show this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. More than 100 vendors will have displays and local professionals ready to discuss your next project at The Warehouse, 1525 S. Rogers St. Don't worry about getting peckish either, there will be food trucks on hand to keep you fueled.

Hours are 2-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free, but donations to Hoosier Hills Food Bank are appreciated.

Dive deep into Wikipedia

Join @depthsofwikipedia creator Annie Rauwerda at 7 or 9:30 p.m. Saturday at The Comedy Attic to see what strangeness lies within the internet's user-generated collaborative encyclopedia. Born from pandemic boredom, Rauwerda's Instagram account highlights Wikipedia's most interesting corners. The account was the beginning of accounts on TikTok and Twitter and live comedic shows. Tickets are $25.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Things to do this weekend in Bloomington, Indiana