08.20.2024

Today’s Forecast

Food

Go to dinner with strangers in Indy with Timeleft

Presented by an INDYtoday partner

a gif featuring images of people in a restaurant

Step out of your comfort zone, meet people you may not have met in your daily life, and connect on a deeper level at a Timeleft dinner. | Photos courtesy of Timeleft; GIF by 6AM City

Did you know that every Wednesday night at 7 p.m., small groups of strangers sit down to enjoy a meal together at several restaurants across Indianapolis?

Aside from living in the same area, there’s one thing they indubitably have in common: they’re all meeting for the first time.

How it works

Timeleft is an app on a mission to curb modern-day loneliness (and help solve that tricky question, “How do you make friends as an adult?”) by building connections through shared experiences + genuine interactions.

Users start by creating an account and completing a short personality test, where they share their age, career field, interests, diet, religious beliefs, and more. Based on their answers, Timeleft’s algorithm chooses five locals they’re most likely to enjoy conversations with. Tickets are $16 per booking (monthly packages are also available), and attendees are responsible for their bill at the restaurant.

a hand holding a phone with timeleft's app open, which shows the seat confirmation, the group and the restaurant — Timeleft emails you all of the information you need to prepare for your evening.
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Photo by ATXtoday

The day before dinner, participants learn more about their mystery guests broken down by percentages (i.e. 33% of the table works in the medical field) and receive safety tips for their excursion. One secret is revealed on the morning of the dinner: where the group will eat.

Timeleft picks the restaurant based on the general area the user chooses in the survey and how much they normally spend on a night out. You might be dining at local establishments like Harry & Izzy’s and LouVino.

Participants arrive at the restaurant at 7 p.m. and meet the five strangers — er, new friends — in their group. During the meal, Timeleft provides a game (think: fun icebreaker questions like “Explain your job to the table as if you were talking to a 5-year-old.”) for everyone to play.

At 8 p.m., the app reveals the location of the “Last Drink” — an optional after-dinner meet-up point that’s sent out to all dinner guests in the area, so people can meet up with other Timelefters if they want to keep the party going.

Keep reading to learn what sparked our interest in participating in this fun social experiment, or go ahead and book an upcoming Timeleft reservation.

See you at dinner, Indy

Asked

Would you try dinner with strangers?

A. Yes
B. No

We're dining to know

Events

Tuesday, Aug. 20

LIVE! President Harrison’s Birthday | Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site | Free | Celebrate Benjamin Harrison’s 191st birthday with first floor tours, actors portraying the president’s family, and birthday treats.
Tai Chi | Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 6-7:15 p.m. | Carmel Clay Public Library | Free | Register to experience fitness + relaxation in this session for beginners and more experienced participants alike.

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Crafting Corner: Metalsmithing | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | North Mass Boulder | $10 | Learn how to make your own keychain hand-stamped with a phrase or design of your choosing.

Thursday, Aug. 22

POCA Palace: A Cabaret of Sorts | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | Phoenix Theatre | $25 | This unique student production features a mix of music, comedy, and monologues performed by talented POCA (People of a Certain Age) individuals.

Friday, Aug. 23

ARTificial Intelligence: Panel Discussion + Artist Reception | Friday, Aug. 23 | 4-8 p.m. | High Frequency Arts | Free | This panel discussion will explore the intersection of art + AI and how artists can protect themselves in this new digital age.
St. Joseph Festival and Food Fair | Friday, Aug. 23-Saturday, Aug. 24 | 5-7 p.m. | St. Joseph Church | Free | Chow down on Vietnamese, Mexican, African, Italian, and American food while enjoying casino games + rides for the whole family.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Traffic

Pendleton Pike commuters have likely noticed construction taking over the route. It’s all part of the “Pendleton Pike Progress” project, which INDOT hopes will reduce crashes by 70%. It’s expected to take two years to complete. (WRTV)

Open

Moontown Brewing Company’s second location is officially open at 1000 W. Main St. in Carmel. The taproom is open daily and offers pints and snacks for guests aged 21+. Pro tip: You can also bring your own outside food.

Community

The first library in Indy established specifically for Black residents in 1922 has been restored + reopened. The Paul Laurence Dunbar Library, located in The Oaks Academy Middle School, opened on the first day of school after nearly 30 years of sitting empty. (WISH)

Number

Speaking of libraries: 26,140. That’s how many kids, teens, and adults took part in The Indianapolis Public Library’s 105th Summer Reading Program. See how their reading made an impact.

Watch

Missed the world premiere of Indy’s latest indie, “The Duel”? Now you support local Pigasus Pictures by streaming it on Amazon.

Sports

What is the best-ever season by a Pacers point guard? Locked On Pacers has the answer.

Number

22%. That’s how much auto insurance rates have increased over the last year. Stop overpaying + find a better rate when you get a free, no-obligation quote from Savvy.*

Cause

🎨 The big Broad Ripple picture

New public arts project in Broad Ripple launches a crowdfunding campaign

INDYtoday: INDY_DJ Mpozi Tolbert mural Broad Ripple_AUG24

DJ Indiana Jones with the former Mpozi Tolbert mural. | Photo courtesy of family of DJ Indiana Jones

Last year, a mural featuring the late DJ Mpozi Tolbert that had watched over Broad Ripple since 2008 was painted over. Now, neighborhood members are seeking to restore his legacy — times two.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for two new public art projects in Broad Ripple. One piece will honor Tolbert, while the other will pay tribute to Ron Miner, also known as DJ Indiana Jones. Miner had a hand in updating the mural of Tolbert in 2020 before it was erased.

The campaign is seeking to raise $12,500 by Thursday, Sept. 19. If it does, the organizations in charge of the new artworks — BRIDGE Collective and the Broad Ripple Village Association — will receive a matching grant from IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program.

Donate to the campaign.

The Buy

The Buy 8.20.24 (Affiliate)

A laundry hamper cabinet. This easy-to-assemble space-saver comes complete with a hidden compartment for the laundry hamper, as well as a drawer and shelves that are functional storage solutions.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Shea

From the editor

This is an amazing number: IPL readers devoted 21,901,629 minutes to reading this summer. That’s over 41 years.

If you read something you absolutely loved, let me know so I can add it to my reading list.

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