Get Crafty
It is no surprise that studies support the benefits of having a calming, manual hobby that satisfies your creative urge. Sharing the Zen of busy hands takes those perks a step further, because the process naturally fosters conversation and a nice, relaxed vibe. In addition to its indoor golf simulators and big-screen TVs, The Hangar is equipped with dedicated crafting tables, which can be reserved in two-hour sessions. They provide the necessary tools, supplies, and instructions for wood burning and enamel glass painting (plus a full menu of food and drink options). The on-location artists who make up Urban Sketchers Indianapolis, Indy’s regional chapter of the global grassroots nonprofit, meet monthly at picturesque spots around the city with their pencils and pads in hand. StitchWorks, a working production facility inside the Stutz Building, brings sewing enthusiasts together to connect and create on its industrial sewing machines. Upcoming classes include this month’s Second Hand Flip with Lux & Ivy on February 22 and a two-day indigo dyeing and bag-making workshop in March.
Do First Friday Right
One night a month, the city’s art galleries and other creative spaces stay open late—an effective way to get the wine-and-cheese crowd through the door. The evenings are relaxed and social at First Friday’s don’t-miss locales, such as Harrison Center for the Arts, Murphy Arts Center, Tube Factory Artspace, Factory Arts District, and the Stutz Building. Wandering around open studios often leads to chatting up local artists and meeting fellow art lovers as everyone soaks up the creative energy. Just remember a few house rules: Use your indoor voice, don’t touch the art, bring cash to tip your servers, and ask for permission before taking photos of an artist’s works. Even in the age of selfies, nothing says, “I’m new here,” like a flash in front of a painting.
Finish Your Novel
Writing may be a solitary craft, but joining a writers’ group can turn the lonely glow of your computer screen into a shared creative spark. The international Shut Up & Write! nonprofit has several groups that meet in the Indianapolis area. The events are free and open to anyone who wants to show up for an hour of writing at either the Glendale Public Library (Fridays at 10 a.m.), in Speedway (Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.), or in Carmel at either the Just Love Coffee Cafe (Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m.) or the Starbucks at 1420 W. Main St. (Sundays at 10:30 a.m.). Members of the Indiana Writers Center keep fellow scribes accountable with classes and workshops at the Basile Opera Center. The focus ranges from an introduction to fiction, to intense eight-week courses, to single-session group critiques. The Pen to Paper Meetup group describes itself as a “coterie of misfit writers,” gathering at Indy Reads bookstore on the first and third Saturdays of each month. And the Central Indiana Writers’ Association provides monthly opportunities for keyboard clickers to come up for air, trade notes, and make friends with others who understand the joys of “having written.”
Join a Book Club
Sharing thoughts on a book can lead to real-life connections that last beyond the final chapter, and Indianapolis has plenty of organized book clubs to get a conversation started. A beacon of local culture, Kan-Kan pairs with Indy Reads bookstore to host a themed Book to Film Club at its Windsor Park boutique cinema. Visit the theater’s website for the next scheduled combo, purchase a ticket, and then stick around after the film for a group discussion. More than 150,000 members strong, The Gloss connects women across 15 countries who all read the same book and then break into local chapters or virtual meetings to discuss. And for a more genre-driven chitchat, get together with fellow intellectuals to talk about science-y tomes over drinks at the Books, Booze & Brains meetups hosted by Indiana Humanities.
… Or Start Your Own
It’s not hard to assemble your own band of bookworms. Sarah Layden, author of Imagine Your Life Like This (among other titles), associate English professor at IU Indianapolis, and longtime book club enthusiast, offers these tips:
• Invite opinionated acquaintances for a pop-up book club over coffee. It’s low stakes, and maybe you’ll make plans to do it again or even regularly.
• Ask friends who are also readers over for a meal. Books pair well with dinner.
• Planned discussion questions are a great starting point, but don’t be afraid to veer off script. Sometimes a small detail sparks the best conversation.
Support Independent Bookstores
Shelf surfers looking for companionship will find plenty of kindred souls at the numerous book clubs and readings organized by the Indy area’s robust collection of independent booksellers. This startling variety of verbiage vendors includes Ujamaa Community Bookstore at Flanner House, featuring a large collection of books about the African diaspora and offering a packed calendar ranging from meet-and-greets with authors to yoga classes. Downtown’s Dream Palace Books has a highly curated collection of used volumes, a full-service coffee bar, and events such as a women’s writers club and an open mic night. Golden Hour Books in SoBro hosts an eclectic collection of book clubs, including subject-specific ones catering to everyone from short story buffs to science fiction fans. Be advised that they’re quite popular, so you might have to wait a bit for an open spot. Golden Hour also hosts author signings, book swaps, workshops, and even private parties. Loudmouth Books on East 16th Street caters to the LGBTQ reading community with (among others) monthly meetings of the Sapphic Social Book Club and the Between the Covers Book Club for fans of romance novels. If an interspecies meet-and-greet sounds intriguing, every fourth Saturday of the month Curious Squirrel Bookshop in Zionsville offers Paws to Read, during which participants read books to specially trained therapy dogs. The Indianapolis Public Library also outlines its lists of regular book discussions at indypl.org.
Sing
Sometimes, you just need to belt your heart out—no auditions, no pressure, no perfection required. SongSquad Indianapolis, part of the community-focused Ubuntu Choir Network, offers a joyous, judgment-free space to join the chorus. Whether you’re a quiet first-timer, a karaoke diva, or a veteran of show choir, these weekly jam sessions allow members to harmonize and meet new friends through the magic of group singing.
The post Let’s Be Friends: Books And Arts appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.