Events

13 things to do in Indy on Friday the 13th

Meet Tequila — a 7-month-old looking for a home at Nine Lives Cat Cafe. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Feeling superstitious? We’ve rounded up a checklist of local activities on Friday the 13th (commonly known as the most unlucky day of the year). Do one or all of them — just don’t attempt them under a ladder.

Adopt a black cat.

Did you know that black cats are the least likely to be adopted? You can do your part to fix that stat by stopping by Nine Lives Cat Cafe, Indy Humane, or Indianapolis Animal Care Services and making a new furrever friend.

Find a good luck charm.

Might we suggest stopping by Silver in the City to peruse its collection of pendants, which includes an assortment of Hoosier themes?

Get a baker’s dozen.

Make the most out of an unlucky day by treating yourself (and the office) to a baker’s dozen of donuts from Long’s Bakery or 13 croissants from Amelia’s.

Find a building without a 13th floor.

Yes, it’s a thing in Indy. There are several hotels around town that abstain from having a cursed floor, including The Conrad and the JW Marriott.

Take part in a superstition.

Check out IndyStar’s list of made-up local superstitions for 13 ways you can avoid disaster that are just too real. Our fave? Check out No. 7 — “What goes around, comes aroundabout.”

Swap your clothes.

Looking for a wardrobe refresh? Market Vintage is hosting a one-day-only Freaky Friday Clothing Swap from 6-8 p.m. with tarot readings and a small biz pop-up.

Cheers to an unlucky day.

Head to 8th Day Distillery for its Friday the 13th event, during which it will feature specialty cocktails and serve pizza from Pi Indy.

Get a flash tattoo.

Commemorate this day forever. We heard that Big Lew’s Tattoos is having a special deal on $31 tats starting at 11 a.m. today, as well as Infamous Tattoo Studio.

5 MORE ACTIVITIES

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Friday, Jan. 13

Museum of Broken Relationships | Friday, Jan. 13-Saturday, April 22 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Eskenazi Hall, 735 W. New York St., Indianapolis | Free | Navigate grief, humor, sarcasm, and sympathy through an exhibit that blends local stories with those from other countries.
Midnight Memories 1D Night | Friday, Jan. 13 | 9 p.m. | Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis | $20 | This party is for fans of One Direction and anyone who loves boy bands.

Saturday, Jan. 14

Adulting Conversation - Vision Board Workshop | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Ujamaa Community Bookstore, 2424 Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. St., Indianapolis | $65 | Think about the future with a professional guide who will walk you through your vision board.

Monday, Jan. 16

MLK Day Special with Snuggy Bear Presents | Monday, Jan. 16 | 12-6 p.m. | Indianapolis | Free | Listen to “Snuggy Bear” Dr. Jarrod Dortch and special guests explore and celebrate the Black experience and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King on 99.1 WQRT FM.
Women Crush Mondays | Monday, Jan. 16 | 6-8 p.m. | North Mass Boulder, 1411 Roosevelt Ave., Indianapolis | $16-$20, free for members | Connect with other female-identifying climbers and make new friends at this night that happens every first and third Monday.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

33º | Cloudy | 19% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Lockerbie Square is getting a new shop. The Whispering Shelf, a local new and used bookseller, announced that its opening a brick and mortar by early fall of this year. You might recognize the Whispering Shelf from its pop-ups around the city. Start ordering from the biz online. 📚

Community

Did you know the MLK Center is celebrating 50 years in the community? The anniversary comes after $2 million in renovations and will be celebrated during the MLK Center’s sold-out founders’ breakfast this morning. Want to see its makeover? Book a tour. 🤝 (WISH)

Number

$200,000. That’s how much grant money Indiana Humanities will be offering in 2023 to help tax-exempt organizations across the state. Museums, cultural centers, historical societies, schools, and libraries are encouraged to apply for one of its six opportunities to help deliver humanities programming. 💸

Civic

The origins of the beloved term “Hoosier” might be cleared up once and for all, thanks to a new bill being introduced this legislative session. Along with establishing “The Hoosier State” as Indiana’s official nickname, it will also put into law the theory that Harry Hoosier is the state’s namesake. Learn more. (Inside Indiana Business)

Sports

It was announced yesterday that Kyle Larson will be the fifth driver to run “The Double” on Memorial Day weekend, which is when a driver competes in the Indy 500 and then follows up with North Carolina’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. This will be his third season driving for Hendrick Motorsports. 🏁 (WRTV)

Biz

Heartland Film has moved to the Sterrett Center on the Fort Ben Cultural Campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new headquarters, which used to be in the Fountain Fletcher District, will be on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. Get the details. 🎥

Eat

Hoosiers, meat Indiana’s best barbecue spot. According to the Food Network, look no further than Westfield for your slow-cooked cravings. Locally owned Big Hoffa’s BBQ took the crown in its list of the 50 best barbecue joints in every state, citing its pulled pork and fries with ranch as standout dishes. 🐖

Show

Returning for its 101st year, the Indianapolis Home Show is coming to the state fairgrounds Jan. 20-29. HGTV’s Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb are scheduled to appear during the first two days, and the Centerpiece Home will be built from containers. Get your tickets. 🎟️

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New year, new art 🎨

Newfields is kicking off 2023 with outdoor art

A rendering of new artwork including the top of a house

This is called “Oracle of Intimation” by Brooklyn-based artist Heather Hart. | Rendering via @newfieldstoday

The Hawryluk Collection of Art in Nature will be a new series of public art in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at Newfields, thanks to a $3 million gift from Kent Hawryluk.

With a mission to activate the park with innovative ways to engage with art, these sculptures will welcome visitors to physically explore them. “Oracle of Intimation,” pictured above, will have an opportunity for Hoosiers to climb through its windows and onto the roof.

“This is Not a Refuge” by Pakistan-born, Indy-based artist Anila Quayyum Agha will be a shelter reflecting the displacement of refugees from all over the world. It will incorporate recordings of over a dozen immigrants in the Circle City as they tell their stories.

The last piece,"The Pollination Pavilion,” is by Catskills-based artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, based on the theme of flowers and birds. The 21.5-ft-tall gazebo is designed to attract pollinators and will have a sofa at its center for visitors to lounge on and observe nature.

Starting in June of this year, you’ll have free access to the large-scale sculptures from the “Home Again” exhibition in the center of the park.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anna.

Editor’s pick: Hoosiers, your answers shocked me in our recent survey about the Dolphin House. Only about half of you agree that it’s the “ugliest house in America,” while a whopping 36% of you love the eclectic vibes, and 12% of you “don’t think it’s that bad.” Maybe a re-brand is in order when the apartments are complete?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Indy Parks is getting $80 million in grants.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Anna Bowman, Nicole Hernandez, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Nicole Fancher | Advertise with us.

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