From the builders of some of America’s earliest railroads and farms to Civil Rights pioneers to digital technology entrepreneurs, Indian Americans have long been an inextricable part of American life. “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation” explores the Indian American experience and the community’s vital political, professional, and cultural contributions to American life and history. The exhibition moves past pop-culture stereotypes of Indian Americans to explore the heritage, daily experience, and diverse contributions of Indian immigrants and their descendants in the United States. Weaving together stories of individual achievement and collective struggle, “Beyond Bollywood” uses photography, narrative, multimedia, and interactive stations to tell a uniquely American story, while conveying the texture, vibrancy, and vitality of Indian American communities.

“Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation” was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The Mathers Museum’s presentation of the exhibit has been generously funded by Indiana University alumnus Robert N. Johnson, the Madhusudan and Kiran C. Dhar India Studies Program, the Asian American Studies Program, and the Department of American Studies. Gallery is open 9am-4:30 pm Tues-Fri and 1pm-4:30pm Sat/Sun.

Free visitor parking is available by the Indiana Avenue lobby entrance. Metered parking is available at the McCalla School parking lot on the corner of Ninth Street and Indiana Avenue. The parking lot also has spaces designated for Indiana University C and ST permits. During the weekends free parking is available on the surrounding streets.An access ramp is located at the Fess Avenue entrance, on the corner of Ninth Street and Fess Avenue. Reserved parking spaces are available on Ninth Street, between Fess Avenue and Indiana Avenue. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. Please call 812-855-6873.

Monroe Lake will kick off its annual Winter Exploration Hike Series in January. This series features off-trail hiking through areas of Monroe Lake that are rarely visited.

Jill Vance, Monroe Lake’s Interpretive Naturalist, leads the hikes. “I don’t plan a set path,” she notes. “We go where the terrain and inspiration take us. The primary purpose is just to get outside and explore; I never know in advance exactly what we might find or see.”

Because the hikes are off-trail through often rugged terrain, Vance does not recommend them for young children, people with mobility concerns, or those with no prior hiking experience. Each hike lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.

Hikes in the series are free but they do require advance registration. Each hike is limited to 20 people. Registrants are sent an email with driving directions to the meeting location and additional details the day prior to each hike.

• Tues., Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m.: Upper Friendship Fields and Forest (Stillwater-Northfork Wildlife Area), register by Jan. 10 at http://bit.ly/wehs2016-1

• Tues., Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.: Lower Friendship Fields and Floodplains (Stillwater-Northfork Wildlife Area), register by Jan. 24 at http://bit.ly/wehs2016-2

• Tues., Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m.: Combs Road (Southfork Marshes), register by Feb. 7 at http://bit.ly/wehs2016-3

• Tues., Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m.: Kirks Ford Road (Southfork Marshes), register by Feb. 21 at http://bit.ly/wehs2016-4

• Tues., Mar. 1 at 2:30 p.m.: Geode Hill (Fairfax SRA), register by Feb. 28 at http://bit.ly/wehs2016-5

• Tues., Mar. 15 at 2:30 p.m.: Moores Creek (Moores Creek SRA), register by Mar. 13 at http://bit.ly/wehs2016-6

Questions about the hike series can be directed to Jill Vance at [email protected] or 812-837-9967. Entrance to all of Monroe Lake is free during the winter months.

On Tuesday, February 23rd, beginning at 5:30.m The Venue will host a presentation by Heidi Newman entitled Tips and Tricks for Self-Editing.
Heidi Newman has been a full-time freelance proofreader and editor for 16 years. In addition to working on magazines, marketing materials and academic papers, she has collaborated on 142 books. Her client base includes publishers, independent authors, small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations, non-profit organizations, and university students and faculty. She has taught self-editing techniques to writers’ groups throughout the Midwest since 2001.
Tips and Tricks for Self-Editing will help writers learn to polish their own text before submitting pages to an editor, employer, publisher, professor, or targeted readership.
In this interactive presentation Heidi will offer ideas for improving writing and for spotting errors that can decrease the impact of the message. Anyone who writes for business or pleasure is welcome to attend and participate in this free session.
Refreshments will be provided by The Venue. You can visit the following link for free parking options near The Venue:http://bloomington.in.gov/parksmart

Pub Quiz Team Trivia @ The Player’s Pub. “Work out your brain as you soak in beer. Six rounds of trivia. Thirteen taps. You do the math.”

We’re loving our new home at Bear’s Place (1316 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN 47401) and are pleased to present the original songs of Mike Schutte (Colorado native attending IU to earn his master’s), Mooresville’s favorite son – Luke Austin Daughtery (accomplished author, songwriter, poet) (lukeaustindaugherty.com) and Jason Blankenship (jasonblank33.wix.com/jason-blankenship-music#!) – a songwriter known for his great guitar work and high energy Country/Southern Rock/Americana work. This is our monthly OPEN ‘Share-a-Chair’ evening when writers take turns performing on our 4th Feature Writer spot – sign up to reserve you spot to perform a song at the Showcase! ([email protected])
NO COVER CHARGE – MUST be at least 21 to enter Bear’s Place Back Room.

Weekly all-ages Blues Jam. Host band will play the first set, then invite you & others to join in.