PLAY LIST

Dear Play Listers,

Halloween is a holiday with a lot of range. Some people celebrate with fake blood and guts, others by sipping hot apple cider. 

There’s those who might try talking to dead people, and those who’d rather dress up as something goofy. 

With that in mind, we put together a list that we hope can check all the boxes in your group. We have family-friendly events, gatherings with adult potions (wink-wink), dance parties, film screenings and lots of storytelling. 

As long as you wear a costume, you are cel...

Dear Play Listers,

Where should we start? Today we have a story about a gifted wig maker, an interview with “FLAVA FRESH !” creator and curator D. Del Reverda-Jennings, a look back to pre-colonial Indiana and a staff update from the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. 

Also: a comic strip, a spooky print show and a free event with a Los Angeles-based labor activist playwright. He read a little sample for us. 

Get more Indianapolis arts and culture coverage at MirrorIndy.org/Arts.

You can also subscribe to get th...

Hello Play Listers,

There’s no way around it. We’re in October and we must shift our attention to all things ghosts, pumpkins and witches. 

This week we made you a list of metaphysical shops, gatherings and practitioners that you can put in your pocket and save for a rainy day.

We also have details on an exhibit of artists taking big risks, stories about historical reenactors, a deep-dive on the rise of the term “cultural campus” in art institutions, a Rivoli Theatre update and a new spot where you can pay $5 to sit do...

Dear Play Listers,

It was the late 1990s when mariachi Enrique Blanco first visited Indianapolis. Javier Amezcua, the owner of the famous Mexican restaurant El Sol de Tala, who died in 2015, used to bring Mariachi Sol Jalisciense from his hometown in Jalisco, Mexico, to create an authentic atmosphere at his eastside Indianapolis restaurant.

The mariachi group fell in love with Indy. They stayed. The rest is history. You’ve likely seen them playing your favorite Mexican songs during Day of the Dead celebrations. Perhaps you’ve seen them during halftime at a sporting event or at a...

Hello Play Listers,

It’s that time of the year — as we dip into sweater weather and get more introspective, our minds crave more stimulation. We seek out conversations and ask big questions. 

Enter Arc Fest: Free Press Indiana’s one-day palooza bringing together influential voices, artists, journalists, civic leaders and community members. 

The free festival is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at IU Indianapolis’ Hine Hall.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously said, “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”

Arc Fest run...

Dear Play Listers,

Hispanic Heritage Month, where we celebrate the contributions of Latinos to the history and culture of the United States, kicked off on Sept. 15.

One way to note the occasion is to support local, Latino-owned small businesses. Check out shops and restaurants in your neighborhood, get curious, try new things and go beyond the influencer rec list. 

Another way to celebrate is by attending one of these 24 events we rounded up with the help of Latinos Indy. The list includes everything from dance parties to networking opportunities and festivals.  

An...

How’s it going Play Listers,

Because of all those years kicking off the school year in September, I’m hardwired to start things this month. 

Whether that be ordering a 2027 planner or deep-cleaning my house to welcome the change of seasons, the month feels packed with checklists.

If that’s you, too, that’s ok! We’re getting things done. 

But don’t forget to have fun and let loose here and there. Smell flowers, kiss someone, treat yourself to a theater show.

We have details here for how to do that...

Dear Play Listers,

In September, we’ll be saying goodbye (some of us unwillingly) to summer and ushering in autumn. 

To kick off the month, I made you a “things to do” list and sprinkled a little bit of everything for every possible mood you might find yourself in.

Use this list to find fun in the city all month long.

Get more Indianapolis arts and culture coverage at MirrorIndy.org/Arts.

You can also subscribe to get the Play List email newsletter.

Dear Play Listers,

Do you know what “La Chona” is? My 8-month-old son danced to it for the first time with me last Saturday at the Polkas Norteñas Fest at the Indiana State Museum.

Musician Polka Bob from Indy Polkamotion was there to highlight the musical connections between Europe and the north of Mexico. Indy Folklore Academy and Grupo Folklorico Macehuani were there, too.

Listen here and then dance around your kitchen so that you get an idea. (They say everyone should dance to “La Chona” at least once in their lives.)

Anyw...

Hello Play Listers,

It’s been a week.

We’re thinking of everyone affected by floodwaters. If you missed Mirror Indy’s reporting on the historic flooding of local neighborhoods, please see this list of flood relief resources.

If you are an artist or creative who lost their work, art supplies or equipment you use to make a living and you want to tell your story, please reach out to arts & culture reporter Mesgana Waiss at [email protected].

Also in this newsletter:

Dear Play Listers,

Today we have a back-to-school poem written by teacher/poet David Strange. 

You might know David from the open mic series Listen, Please, which happens every second Thursday at Chatterbox Jazz Club.

We also have a look at six IndyFringe plays. With 63 acts and over 300 performances across six venues, you will need help making choices!

There’s art news and updates and fun things to do. And we have them all right here. Listen to what’s new. 

We got you. 

Get mor...

Dear Play Listers,

The Indiana State Fair kicks off Friday. Are you even ready?

I made a quick primer so that you don’t get caught crying helplessly over corn on the cob.

First: If you want discounts on admission tickets, parking passes and ride wristbands, you have to buy before 11:59 p.m. Aug. 6.

Next, old-timey is in — a VHS revival, a state fair train and a big tent circus were announced as part of this year’s experience. 

Feeling like it’s been a long time since your last fair...

Hang on tight to the very last pool days of the summer.

Soon, kids and teachers will be back to school and the city pools will close even though it’ll still be hot outside. 

You’ll just have to drink a tall glass of water and attend any of these 40 events arts & culture reporter Mesgana Waiss rounded up for us. 

Expect a Phoebe Bridgers’ album release party, a historic Black burlesque exhibit, live Iranian music and free outdoor festivals.

40 things to do in Indy right here 💦

...

Dear Play Listers,

Close your eyes and listen.

Can you hear that?

That’s lawnmowers and kids giggling while splashing water. There’s construction somewhere — everywhere — and people making deals at a garage sale.

These are the sounds of summer as collected by sound artist Clockwork Janz, who goes around the city recording everyday sounds like a music treasure hunter.

You can hear them all here and then find your own with the help of a little scavenger hunt sheet we made for you. 

Clockwork said taking a moment...

Dear Play Listers,

July is scorching us. Stay cool with the news we have for you today. We have drive-in movie recs, a video game shop to check out and documentaries you can stream from home or watch at an outdoor film festival. 

We also have a conversation with two filmmakers — Jessica Dunn and Michael Moskaliuk — who will show their first movie at the Indy Shorts Film Festival. 

Get more Indianapolis arts and culture coverage at MirrorIndy.org/Arts.

You can also subscribe to get the Play List email...

Dear Play Lister,

You are invited to the cookout. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. We have:

Here's the playlist the Baroque Competition made for us.

Get more Indianapolis arts and culture coverage at MirrorIndy.org/Arts.

You can al...

This edition of Play List is a big lunch.

Reporter Mesgana Waiss has been covering Mirror Indy’s arts and culture beat for over a year now. In that time she has written about budget cuts to arts organizations, did a look back at 10 years of the Chreece hip-hop festival and launched weekly reels with ideas for things to do.

Last week, Mesgana won the Excellence in QPOC Coverage Award from the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists for the story, “The hottest party in Indy that you’ve never heard of.” 

Today we’re celebrating...

Dear Play Listers,

Just from eavesdropping in the Mirror Indy newsroom I know people around me are going to the Caribbean, the Grand Canyon and New York City.

But not all of us will get to travel — be it because of gas prices or because it simply is not a good time.

Whether you’re staying home because you have to or want to, we have a guide for a delightful staycation in Indianapolis. It packs outdoor music venues, great patios, good corndogs and the perfect sunset.

See our summer in Indi...

Dear Play Listers,

It’s lunch time, and as I type this, I’m dreaming of the feta fries from Yazsh, the ones recommended by Byron and April Elliott in their illustrated near east side food adventure.

And so, in the spirit of hunger — metaphorical and physical — I share this collection of Mirror Indy stories that answer the age-old question: Where should we go eat? 

Get more Indianapolis arts and culture coverage at MirrorIndy.org/Arts.

You can also subscribe to get the Play List email newsletter.

Dear Play Listers,

Save this email. Share this email. Print this email.

It's filled with info on many of the city's major events, music series and Juneteenth celebrations.

If you’re like me, you’ll pull out your paper planner and just get to blocking what you’re doing when, underlining the events you definitely don’t want to miss.

You can see our full calendar with 57 things to do in June here.

Get more Indianapolis arts and culture coverage at MirrorIndy.org/Arts.

You can...

Dear Play Listers,

We invited artist Israel Solomon to read the newsletter for you today. We’re doing this to highlight the new Mirror Indy merch store, featuring limited-edition tote bags, journals and puzzles with his artwork. 

You may have seen Israel’s paintings at BUTTER or the Children’s Museum. His works stand out for being colorful, with people and objects painted to look like bright shapes with hard angles. 

Besides reading the news, Israel will also tell us a little more about his painting style, what he keeps in his tote bag and...

It’s almost Race Day, baby. The Indianapolis 500 is “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and we all get to be a part of it. 

If you have the passion and the patience, you can make your way to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and watch it live. Or you can celebrate Race Day with porch parties, family get-togethers, full-blown barbecues or what have you.

I usually see it in person with my uncle-in-law Tim McDonough. (Whatup, Tim!) The man is passionate about racing, and it’s contagious. He weaves through the hundreds of thousands of people at the tr...

Dearest Play Listers,

Do you know how you’re spending your summer yet? It’ll be here in a blink. 

For some, it already kinda is. Prom happened, graduation caps went up in the air, the Chreece headliners were announced and the signups for the public library’s summer reading program started.

It’s the perfect time to choose patio seating or get an ice cream cone. Everyone is looking pretty outside. 

So don’t delay! Catch up your calendar with our May things to do list. 

And read on for your w...

Dear Play Listers,

Now that I’m a new mom, I’m looking around in this new-to-me landscape of advertisements and celebrations for Mother’s Day. 

According to Good Housekeeping magazine (which my mother read religiously from the 1970s until the early 2000s), Mother’s Day started as an anti-war movement. It evolved to what it is now, a $25 billion commercial holiday. 

This makes me think. How can we make sure Mother’s Day is not another Black Friday?

If you read on, you might get ideas to take your special señora to a...

Greetings Play Listers,

If headlines about tech bros, the AI takeover and data centers have you feeling like tossing your phone into a sinkhole, you might find this edition of Play List highly stimulating and helpful. 

But first, this Friday is the first day of May and you know what that means: Reporter Mesgana Waiss combed through thousands of events and made a list with 40 events you can only attend IRL.

We have gallery, museum and art fair openings, a book bedazzling event, a gathering that celebrates women with yoga and live music, a...

Dear Play Listers,

Sharing arts and culture content can be tricky. On one hand, it can mean anything from hot dog shops to pool parties and the latest symphonic choir concert series.

On the other hand, it is the only place where some of us get to process and express our feelings about some of the scary stuff happening around us.

Mirror Indy checked in with four artists making art about the impact of the U.S. immigration policy on Latines, the war in Ukraine, motherhood and the Arab Diaspora.

You...

Greetings Play Listers,

To celebrate National Poetry Month, we invited poet Sam Ferrante to read a poem for us. You can also listen to Sam read her poem by clicking on the audio version of this newsletter.

How to Write a Poem 
by Sam Ferrante

First, every poem is a love poem. You must start
with yourself. By which I mean imagine you,
but with tiny, sticky hands, your small nose pointed
at your own grown-up knees, blueberry jam lifted
skyward, and little you demanding (you can tell

What’s up Play Listers,

The Black church is where you will find the most stylish people in the world.

An impromptu fashion show unfolded in the sanctuary of Witherspoon Presbyterian Church on an Easter Sunday morning. It was led by the Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones. The Adinkra symbol, Guy Nyame, which means “supremacy of God,” was embroidered on his robe.

Accessories were the true star of the show. Mini-sculptures dangled from mature earlobes. Ornate hats or “crowns” sat atop heads, obstructing the view for some. 

Parishioners sat in the pews, service bul...

Play Listers,

Let’s get down to business. We have now completed the first quarter of 2026. It was the more difficult one with the cold weather and gloomy skies.

Now is when you dust off your open-toe shoes and see if your spring/summer clothes still fit you.

If they don’t, you grab something stretchy from your closet and concede that you are not the same you were last year. You are a new you.

Who is the new you?

Is it someone who attends author readings? Someone who...

Hello Play Listers,

We have a delicious snack for you today: an illustrated food tour of the near northside by artist Byron Elliott.

Elliott and his wife April have celebrated her birthday for ten years by spending a whole day being tourists in Indianapolis, where they live. They visit restaurants they’ve been wanting to check out and explore areas of the city they don’t often visit.

With this comic strip, Byron let us in on the tradition by bringing us along to feast our eyes on the treats they found. 

Thi...

Greetings Play Listers,

Forreal — drive extra careful this weekend. People will be roaming outside with their noses buried in books. They’ll be alone or with friends, possibly carrying very heavy but very cute tote bags. 

Why? Because the 2026 Indy Indie Book Crawl kicks off tomorrow. 

Anyone can do it. Simply visit one of the 27 locally owned bookstores participating in this year’s crawl, or any of the booksellers hosting pop-up shops at The Stutz, through Sunday, March 22. 

We have the details on what’s new and how you can win prizes. 

Hey-hey PlayListers,

Late November last year, I went on parental leave. Now I’m on parental return.

That means catching up with you and with all the great arts and culture stories that were published while I was hanging out with a cool little baby.

Just like you, I read this very newsletter, written by arts & culture reporter Mesgana Waiss and guest writer Jenny Walton. It was pretty great to know I could still be in touch with our city’s vibrant culture, even with my hands full.

Not surprisingly, as book...

What’s up PlayListers, 

The weather has been fickle here lately, but I’m going to continue to be delusional about the chance of sustained warm spring weather. So, I’m putting together my spring Pinterest board. I want a wardrobe that is fresh and chic complete with funky hair clips, pastel-colored button-down shirts and draped modal-knit tops (hopefully sustainably made from small brands). 

Whatever the weather decides to do, you sure have lots of arts and culture to explore in Indianapolis. 

Hit up a few galleries on First Friday. Grab a ticket to the se...

Dearest PlayListers,

I’m a sucker for stories about people finding their way back to creative passions of their youth. A poet who takes up painting. A clerk who joins a rock band. A librarian who makes zines. And, in the wake of the Winter Olympics, literally any adult out there lacing up skates.

Earlier this week, I read about the “Guys and Dolls Sr.” production by Encore: Musical Theatre for Seniors, and my mind keeps resurfacing this quote from Emily Ristine Holloway, the show’s director: “The heart of theater is just storytelling. And who has th...

Dearest PlayListers,

I’m usually a little doom-and-gloom about late February and March. By this point, I start feeling like winter might be over any day. Like, it has to be over any day now, right?

Even though we’re getting spring-like temperatures this week, I’m here to remind you that it’s not. Terrible news, I know. 

But that’s no reason not to enjoy it while it lasts! Find your way into the sunshine on these nice winter days. Leave your indoor enclosures and be outside in a sunny patch. Even if it’...

Dearest PlayListers,

On Sunday, I finally made it to a Real Life, Revised reading and open mic. This free series at Indiana Humanities has been on my radar for months, and here’s my honest take: If you like readings, you’ll love Real Life, Revised. And if you don’t like readings, you might still like this one.

Each event is edited into a podcast that airs on WQRT. But there’s something magical about being in the room and sharing space with people who have written their fears, their loves, their witnessing of everyday...

你好! (Nǐ Hǎo) Play Listers,

January dragged on per usual. I’m exhausted with the winter’s frigid temperatures and skies the color of spoiled milk. I can almost taste spring. According to Punxsutawney Phil, we have only six more weeks of winter. 

If you’re feeling similar, let me lift your spirits with my February events guide that features 44 of the coolest things happening around town. 

Did you know this year marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month? In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week, which blossomed into a monthlong nati...

Friends, I know I don’t have to tell you, but this cold is brutal.

As I write this, the space heater at my feet just shut off — reminding me (again) that it’s on the same circuit as the space heater that was running in the bedroom.

I’m taking the precautions I can, and I’m checking in on my neighbors. I’m sure you are, too. And I’m sure many of you are also feeling a little restless, wherever you are cooped up.

A bit further down, I’ll mention hoodox.t...

Dearest PlayListers,

I don’t know about you, but writer Emily Worrell and I were just talking about how bummed out we feel. Winter — even when it’s not all that cold — makes it hard to catch all the sunlight we need to feel like decent versions of ourselves. 

This is about the time of year I find myself sneaking off with a book to the Garfield Park Conservatory over lunch or in the cracks of my weekend. But I’ve found that a good dose of bright, cheerful art goes a long way, too. 

Shea St...

Dearest PlayListers,

Last Friday night, I stayed home to work on a jigsaw puzzle. Don’t get me wrong, puzzles are the best. But here I am, writing this newsletter, telling you to get out and experience the world.

So, in honor of the impulse to curl up, I’m telling you about Booth. It’s a literary magazine curated and produced by folks from Butler University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program that specializes in short stories, personal essays and poetry. Much of Booth is quirky. All of it is a marvel...