Articles

Bassoonist hitting all the right notes

Although he wears one of his two tuxedos for concerts, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra bassoonist Samuel Banks dons sneakers
and jeans for a Tuesday morning rehearsal. But he works hard once the music starts. That attitude likely helped the 26-year-old
land his job in one of just 17 year-round orchestras in the nation.

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Red Hat Society over-50 women pursued by marketers

Members of the Red Hat Society get together monthly to celebrate life after 50, a demographic marketers often overlook. But
these women-and their spending habits-are attracting attention as the California-based club gains traction.

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Off to slow start, French Lick fears threat from ‘racinos’

French Lick Resorts & Casino is already struggling, less than four months after its launch. And the casino’s owners are downright
terrified legislators soon will allow both of the state’s horse-racing tracks to become “racinos” and add up to 5,000 slot
machines.

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Arts Council ready to play matchmaker

Leaders of the 20-year-old Arts Council of Indianapolis want to broaden the organization’s approach to arts advocacy. They
say they’d like to act as a cultural broker of sorts, making sure local artists are connected with possible patrons.

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Columbia Club faces membership, financial issues

The Columbia Club, the tradition-rich enclave where the city’s business elite have gathered and cut deals for more than a
century, is facing declining membership, the departure of its longtime general manager, and looming financial challenges–including
a $5.5 million loan that comes due this summer.

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IMA may drop Puck for service lapse

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is considering whether to revoke Wolfgang Puck’s exclusive catering contract after the company’s
slow service marred an important event in November.

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Downtown ice rink in the works

Ice skating on Monument Circle ended in the mid-1980s after damage from the weight of ice was discovered in the fountain basin.
But outdoor skating downtown might return. White River State Park plans to build a $1.5 million Olympic-size rink complete
with sound and light equipment and a skate-rental stand.

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Circle Truss proposed as gateway landmark

The Arch welcomes visitors to St. Louis. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge ushers in the masses. And soon the Circle Gateway
Truss could greet travelers entering downtown Indianapolis.

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Verizon amphitheater might be redeveloped

The potential redevelopment of Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville could open the door for a new concert venue in
Indianapolis, but industry veterans don’t expect it would look anything like the popular Hamilton County amphitheater.

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Stadium walkway carries $10M tab

An enclosed connector is set to be built, partly underground, that will link Lucas Oil Stadium to the soon-to-be expanded
Indiana Convention Center. It will span about a quarter of a mile and cost more than $10 million.

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Luxury Conrad hotel off to bumpy start

For its first nine months, occupancy at the Conrad Indianapolis has lagged the downtown average. Rates have fallen as the
hotel tries to fill more rooms. Employees have worked behind the scenes to fix kinks.

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Crystal Food Services to go national

Crystal Food Services plans to team with several prominent restaurant chains for a nationwide expansion after severing ties
with Marsh Supermarkets Inc. early next year. The locally based catering and food-service company will report directly to
Florida-based Sun Capital Partners, which acquired Marsh in September.

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Theaters decry cutback in newspaper reviews

Local theater leaders are sounding the alarm about a drop in coverage by The Indianapolis Star, saying the lack of ink is hurting attendance and the city’s ability to lure new productions to town.

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Mellencamp a reluctant pitchman in Chevy ad

U.S. celebrities making pitches for large corporations is nothing new. But John Mellencamp has been long known as an artistic purist with a disdain for commercialism. His debut this fall as a pitchman for Chevrolet’s Silverado pickup truck has surprised many and touched off a torrent of criticism.

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New ballet school takes over space left by failed dance group

Victoria Lyras began classes for her newly created Indianapolis School of Ballet Aug. 21 in 10,500-square-foot quarters on Capitol Avenue that previously housed Ballet Internationale's Clara R. Noyes Academy, which closed in November because of financial problems. ISB has 20 students so far.

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Chamber of Commerce explores casino recommendation

To shore up local government’s enormous financial shortfalls, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce has begun investigating whether it wants to push for a downtown casino–a politically explosive idea that would face widespread opposition.

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New Ambassadair owner drops dues, brings back charters

The new owner of Ambassadair travel club has eliminated membership fees and will add a flurry of charter flights in January under a plan to revive an Indianapolis institution that shuttled thousands of Hoosiers around the globe for 34 years.

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