GP, Gen Con, Dig IN and more things to do in August
Indy Eleven fans celebrate a goal against San Antonio Scorpions at IUPUI's Carroll Stadium Saturday May 31, 2014. San Antonio won 2-1.(Photo: Chris Bergin/ The Star)
From racers to jokesters to gamers and more, August is chock full of fun things to do in Indy.
Indy Eleven vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
The Eleven might have the record of an expansion team, but the club's matches are among the best sporting experiences in central Indiana. Stand and chant with the Brickyard Battalion or stomp your feet in the grandstands before corner kicks; there are few bad vantage points in "The Mike," IUPUI's renovated track & field stadium. If you've got young kids in tow, come early to enjoy the funzone.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 6, Michael A. Carroll Stadium, IUPUI, 1001 W. New York St., $10-$100, (317) 685-1100 or www.indyeleven.com.
Drake vs. Lil Wayne
Drake takes a break from dancing during a show on his Club Paradise tour at Klipsch Music Center, Friday, June 1, 2012.(Photo: Alex Farris / The Star)
Looks like the student has surpassed the master. Or, at least is on equal footing. It wasn't too long ago that Drake was a new, young voice in hip-hop, representing blockbuster rapper and mentor Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. But today, Drake is releasing ever-better work (see last year's "Nothing Was the Same") while the once on-fire Wayne is stuck in pop purgatory (he was recently featured on Justin Bieber and, somehow, Paris Hilton tracks). See the two titans 'face off' at Klipsch.
7 p.m. Aug. 9, Klipsch Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, $34-$124.50, (317) 776-8181 or concerts.livenation.com.
Summer Soiree for the A List
Yes, you can attend without being a local celebrity. The Summer Soiree is for people who want to see the continued elegance of the Athenaeum, and are willing to drop a bit of money to make sure of it. The night will feature dinner, craft beers, wines, live entertainment and some goodies to take home. This is a 21+, business-casual event, so leave the kids at home. They don't grasp the importance of historic landmarks yet, anyway.
3 p.m. Aug. 7, The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St., $100, (317) 655-2755 or www.athenaeumfoundation.org.
Summer Nights: Clue
This year's Summer Nights at the Indianapolis Museum of Art will feature the 1985 cult-favorite mystery "Clue" at 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2014.(Photo: Submitted)
"Battleship" was a hot mess, but you can make a great movie out of a board game. The 1985 mystery "Clue" was, of course, based on the popular game of the same name. The cult favorite stars Tim Curry and lets the audience piece together a murder mystery (Mr. Mustard! In the library! With the candlestick!) with enough comedy to keep things light — "CSI" this is not. Come early with a board game and pair up with others to make the evening more than just date night at the movies. If you're shy, the IMA folks will be on hand to play matchmaker.
9:30 p.m. Aug. 8, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, $6-$10, (317) 923-1331 or www.imamuseum.org.
Annual Hop Your Face Festival
For the third year running, Fountain Square Brewing Company will throw a great party to celebrate the release of its imperial IPA, Hop Your Face. Though doors open at 2 p.m., come at 1 with your mat for a free yoga session with Tree House Yoga. With your mindfulness established, cut loose with music from Old Truck Revival, Sweet Poison Victim and more, and enjoy food truck fare.
2 p.m. Aug. 9, Fountain Square Brewing Company, 1301 Barth Ave., $5-$7, (317) 493-1410 or www.fountainsquarebrewery.com.
Chef's Night Off Indy: Mama Tried
Named for the Merle Haggard-written, Grateful Dead-covered song, the meal will be cooked by a crack team of local chefs, including Pizzology's Ed Sawyer, Plow and Anchor's Matt Stum and Seth Julian, the meat monger at Goose The Market. The team behind the bar at Cerulean will make sure you have the perfect cocktail for your expertly concocted meal. All you have to do is grab a ticket and show up.
5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10, Cerulean Restaurant, 339 S. Delaware St., $55, (317) 870-1320 or www.chefsnightoffindy.com.
Red Bull Indianapolis GP
The Red Bull Indianapolis GP hits the Motor Speedway on Aug. 10, supplying race fans with a full day of motorcycle racing in three different classes. The event is a round of the MotoGP World Championship, so there's a lot at stake when these bikes hit the pavement. The headline race, the 7th Annual Running of the Red Bull, blasts out of the gate at 2 p.m. for 27 laps on a 16-turn circuit inside the famous oval.
7 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 10, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W. 16th St., $41-$134, (317) 492-8500 or www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
Sun King Gen Con Tapping Party
Stop by Georgia Street the night before Gen Con to party with all the gamers, fans and wonderful weirdos who converge on the city for this annual convention. Sun King Brewing will anchor the event with beer, but you'll also find live music, food, prizes and party events. Five Year Mission, a local Star Trek tribute band, headlines the night. The best part is, you don't need to be a Gen Con attendee to come down for a drink. You just need to be of legal drinking age.
5 p.m. Aug. 13, Georgia Street, Downtown Indianapolis, free, www.gencon.com.
Ok Go
Led by singer Damian Kulash, the band has become (arguably more) well-known for their elaborate, funny and often 'how'd they do that?' music videos. Remember those treadmills? Millions of YouTube viewers do. The band's latest, "Hungry Ghosts," is set for release this fall. Of course, the first single, "The Writing's On the Wall," features a ridiculous video of live optical illusions.
8:30 p.m. Aug. 14, Deluxe at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $15, (317) 231-0000 or concerts.livenation.com.
Gen Con
Each year, thousands of gamers flock to Indy for four days of immersion in video game culture, including panel discussions, live entertainment, merchandise booths, contests and even an '80s-themed dance. Hit the pick-up play area to meet new folks who share your passion, then head to see Dan the Bard's concert (Dan the Bard being a leading Dungeons and Dragons songwriter). The universe of geekdom will converge on Indy. Get your thumbs ready.
Aug. 14-17, Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol St., $70-$150, www.gencon.com.
Miranda Lambert
Boy, oh boy, what Miranda Lambert has done with a third-place finish on a second-tier reality TV show. In 2003, the country singer took home bronze on the "Nashville Star" talent competition. She quickly released her debut album, "Kerosene," and she's been on the rise ever since. While Taylor Swift aces the country-pop princess role, Lambert's music and persona are decidedly edgier (take the title of her 2007 album, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"). Her latest, "Platinum," dropped this summer to positive reviews.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 16, Klipsch Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, $29-$49, (317) 776-8181 or concerts.livenation.com.
Indiana State Fair
Headliners in the beautifully renovated Coliseum include Lynyrd Skynyrd, the American Idol Live! tour, Jim Gaffigan and lyrical mastermind Pitbull. Test your skills in the Baton Twirling Contest, Vocal Throwdown or a dozen other contests. Or just relax and wander the vast fairgrounds to see what surprises are in store.
8 a.m. daily Aug. 1-17, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., $10 general admission, (317) 927-7500 or www.in.gov/statefair/fair.
Luke Bryan
Georgia-born Luke Bryan started his career as a songwriter for Travis Tritt and others, but with a voice and a face for the stage, it wasn't long before he was a marquee name himself. Bryan's brand of radio-friendly country music can be discerned from a quick run through his hits: "We Rode in Trucks," "Drink a Beer," "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" and his series of "Spring Break" EPs. Expect a rowdy crowd that will certainly have ridden to Klipsch in trucks, drunk many beers and will consist of many country girls who will undoubtedly shake it for him.
7 p.m. Aug. 29, Klipsch Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, $29.50-$59.25, (317) 776-8181 or concerts.livenation.com.
WARMfest 2014
The lineup of WARMfest (as in, White River Arts Recreation & Music) reads like a sidestage at Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza, but we've got it right here in our backyard. Big Head Todd & the Monsters, of Montreal, MUTEMATH and Guided by Voices will all hit the stage, with some other tasty nuggets tucked into the roster. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood (he of The Black Crowes) play excellent, psychedelic rock; WHY? turns hip-hop on its head; and '90s heroes Sebadoh are back in roaring form.
5:30-10 p.m. Aug. 29, Broad Ripple Park, 1550 Broad Ripple Ave., $50-$175, www.warmfest.org.
Keith Urban
He may be New Zealand-born, but Keith Urban sure pulls off a convincing Nashville. Urban moved to the United States in the early '90s, and by the time his 1999, self-titled album was released, he was ready to grow into a real-deal country star in America. Urban released four platinum-selling albums through the 2000's, a pair of gold records in the past four years, married Nicole Kidman, judged "American Idol" and watched his fanbase swell gigantically. He could've done worse.
7 p.m. Aug. 2, Klipsch Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, $29.25-$59.25, (317) 776-8181 or concerts.livenation.com.
Dig IN, A Taste of Indiana
Nearly 40 of the state's best chefs will be on hand with specialized dishes created with Indiana produce and Indiana meat, and they'll be ready to talk shop with aspiring, creative cooks and admirers alike. The festival is a partnership with the Indiana Wine Grape Council and the Brewers of Indiana Guild as well, so your thirst will be well- quenched.
Noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 17, White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., $35-$115, www.digindiana.org.
Otis Gibbs
Indiana native Gibbs sings songs from the heart following a long lineage of American folk and country musicians. His latest record, "Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth," drops just three days before the Hi-Fi show, so you can expect to hear some new tunes. If the single "Ghosts of Our Fathers" is any indication, it'll be another gem of well-crafted, acoustic road songs.
8 p.m. Aug. 22, The Hi-Fi, 1043 Virginia Ave. #4, Murphy Arts Center, $12-$15, (317) 493-1209 or www.hifiindy.com.
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon's latest album, last year's "Mechanical Bull," may not have been the blockbuster comeback that the hitmakers hoped for, but it certainly wasn't a bust. The stadium-sized Southern rock vets returned to the rawer, gruffer guitar rock of their younger days (the three Followill brothers grew up playing music) with a healthy balance of their bigger, radio-ready tunes. You know you'll hear "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody," but cross your fingers that they'll pull out a kicker like "Molly's Chambers" and stir things up.
7 p.m. Aug. 23, Klipsch Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, $28.50-$64.50, (317) 776-8181 or concerts.livenation.com.
Indianapolis Greekfest
Featuring delicious Greek food, traditional dancing, music and other entertainment, the Indianapolis Greekfest is just about the most fun you can have while at church. Held at Carmel's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the festival will also host church tours, children's activities and a marketplace where you can pick up imported jewelry, clothing and more. From the olives and tzatziki to the spanakopita and, of course, Greek salads, it's advised to eat lightly a week before the festival to prepare for this feast.
4-10 p.m. Aug. 22, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 24, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 3500 W. 106th St., Carmel, free admission, (317) 733-3033 or www.indygreekfest.org.
Carlos Mencia
Honduras-born Carlos Mencia was put through the ringer a decade ago when he was accused by comedians Joe Rogan and George Lopez of plagiarizing jokes. But with his hit Comedy Central show, "Mind of Mencia," under his belt and a few years on the road doing stand-up, Mencia is working hard to reclaim his name. The comic focuses on race and cultural differences, serving jokes with his boisterous, loud delivery.
8:30 p.m. July 31, 7:45 and 10 p.m. Aug. 1-2, Crackers Broad Ripple, 6281 N. College Ave., $25.50-$30.50, (317) 255-4211 or www.crackerscomedy.com.