In partnership with Fort Wayne Trails, the city of Fort Wayne will celebrate active commuting on Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17. 

Leave your car behind and walk, run, bike, or roll into one of four locations for a free, light breakfast, coffee, and juice, courtesy of Engineering Resources and 3 Rivers Natural Grocery Food Co-Op & Deli from 6:30-9 a.m. The stops are at TriCore Porch Off Calhoun (next to 816 Pint ’n Slice), Johnny Appleseed Park, Hanna Street Trail by Weisser Park, and Swinney Park.

The event is being held as part of National Bike Month, and closes out Bike to Work Week.

For more information go to fortwayneparks.org/trails/news-events.html to learn more.

Dance Collective fundraiser at Bell Mansion

Grab your formal/semi-formal attire as Fort Wayne Dance Collective holds their annual A Night at the Bell Mansion fundraiser on Saturday, May 18, from 7-10 p.m. 

Tickets are $75 and include a drink ticket (beer/wine), live interactive performances by Dance Collective artists, musical entertainment by local musicians, a dessert bar from GK Baked Goods, a cash bar from Affine Foods, non-alcoholic beverages from Dry Lounge Social, and a silent auction.

Leadership shift at ARCH

ARCH Inc. announced the retirement of longtime Executive Director Connie Haas Zuber and the appointment of Interim Executive Director Karen Richards.

For almost 50 years, ARCH has worked with partners for the protection and preservation of historically significant buildings, structures, landscapes, and cultural heritages in Fort Wayne, Allen County, and northeast Indiana. By identifying and saving endangered structures, completing building histories, performing walking tours and home tours, free lectures, and other activities and events.

Zuber spearheaded significant preservation education through ARCH’s free lecture series and walking tours and, more recently, through collaboration with the Fort Wayne Committee of the Indiana Landmarks Black History Preservation Project.

Richards, a former Allen County prosecuting attorney, has been a long-term ARCH board member, serving two terms as president, and currently serves as program committee chair. 

New mural going in at Promenade Park

Art This Way has enlisted local muralist Tim Parsley to install a 1,300-square-foot mural along the South Harrison Street parking garage at Promenade Park. 

The mural will be painted from May 20-31, and the public will be welcome to visit the site during the installation. This project will cover the cinder block walls of the west entrance of The Riverfront at Promenade Park parking garage.

“This entryway mural is inspired by Parisian botanical design but with floral elements authentic to Indiana, providing another contribution to the ever-growing artistic celebration of downtown Fort Wayne,” Parsley said.

Parsley has painted numerous public art projects in downtown Fort Wayne, including the bison mural at The Landing, the Walt Whitman mural within the Bill Blass Runway, and the mural on the south elevation of Aaron’s Fine Rug Gallery on Broadway.

ArtsTix box office temporarily relocates

As Arts United Center closes to undergo modernization and expansion, the ArtsTix Community Box Office will temporarily relocate across the street to Auer Center for Arts & Culture, 300 E. Main St.

You will be able to continue to get your tickets at Arts United Center through May 31. The box office will be closed June 1-4 as it is relocated, before reopening at Auer Center on June 5.

Tickets will be available through artstix.org throughout the move.

Register for Embassy’s Score! intensive

Embassy Theatre will host their musical theater intensive, Score!, for incoming seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students July 8-20. 

Students will devise, create, and produce an original musical theatrical production on the stage of the Embassy through a unique peer-driven collaborative approach. 

Students will learn the multidisciplinary elements of the art form including playwriting, composition, movement, drama, music, visual arts, and technical arts with the facilitation of industry professionals. Space is limited to 25 students. 

Early Bird Registration is $450 and ends May 20. Regular registration fee is $550 and ends June 14. Financial aid is available. 

Email education@fwembassytheatre.org for more information.

City promotes preservation month

The city of Fort Wayne is celebrating National Historic Preservation Month throughout May. 

To promote and commemorate the month, the city’s Community Development Division is highlighting “People Saving Places.” 

The Historic Preservation staff will focus on historic place-savers who pour their time, energy, and resources into protecting places they care about. They will spotlight local historic districts and the stewards in our community who are doing the vital work of saving places and building community through preservation.

Residents are encouraged to share current photos of landmark buildings or culturally significant places that are at least 50 years in age. Share a photo, location, and a brief statement acknowledging the work done and why the building or place is important to you on your social media accounts using the hashtag #HPFW24.

Residents can also celebrate by exploring some of the city’s historic neighborhoods. The Historic Preservation staff has produced a number of walking tour brochures of historic districts throughout the city, including brochures for The Landing and historic buildings in the downtown area. These brochures are available at Visit Fort Wayne, the Community Development office, and may be downloaded from the City’s Historic Preservation website at CityofFortWayne.org/preservation.

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