Summer Nights returns for another year at the Embassy Theatre, a weekly taste of Fort Wayne’s diverse music scene and a chance to enjoy it in the splendor of Fort Wayne’s historic theater.

Each Wednesday a different performer plays while the audience is treated to rooftop access and menu items for sale from local eateries. A cash bar is also available.

Starting at 5 p.m., and costing only $5 per person (with tickets available in advance or at the door), the music of the city’s finest fills the evening air, and this year’s schedule includes some area favorites: June 5, Aloha Brothers; June 12, KelsiCote Amigos; June 19, Kevin Hambrick; June 26, Lee & Joe; July 3, Olivia Morris; July 10, Todd Harrold Band; July 17, Evon Sams Trio; July 24, Dan Smyth; July 31, Sunny Taylor; Aug. 7, Chris Worth; Aug. 14, Q and the Coldfusion; Aug. 21, Lydia Brittan; Aug. 28, Fatima Washington.

Go sometimes, go weekly, but by all means go enjoy Summer Nights at the Embassy.

Explore the region’s best trails

Another summer favorite is hiking, and everyone likely has a trail or two that keep drawing us back time and time again.

But it’s easy to miss out in doing that, and some of the area’s best trails are almost hidden gems for those who don’t hike outside the box.

Every year Allen County Trailblazers provides a nudge to get hikers to check out some of the lesser-known and less-traveled paths. The program used to run September through December, but in the last couple years the program has grown to six months.

This year’s Allen County Trailblazers has its official kickoff on June 30 with hikes beginning on July 1 and running until December 31.

For those who have not participated before, this year there are 14 trails participating, and those who hike 10 of the 14 will earn a commemorative medallion.

Walking sticks can be purchased for $5 and medallions can be affixed to the stick.

The difficulty ranges from easy to moderate and range from just under a mile to two or more. (One trail, the newly expanded Pufferbelly, can run as long as four miles if the hiker chooses.)

This year’s lineup of trails includes: Meta County Park, Fox Island County Park and Payton County Park (all part of the Allen County Parks system); Blue Cast Springs, Dustin Nature Preserve and McNabb-Walter Preserve (part of the ACRES Land Trust); Eagle March Preserve and Arrowhead Preserve (Little Rivers Wetland Project); New Haven Rivergreenway and Haskamp Park (New Haven Parks & Rec); Kreager Park and Lindenwood Nature Preserve (Fort Wayne Parks & Rec); and Pufferbelly and St. Mary’s/Fourth Street (Fort Wayne Trails).

This year’s log (and a sheet with addresses for each trail) will be available soon at allencountytrailblazers.org.

Stratton-Porter

Gene Stratton-Porter is more than just Indiana’s most widely read female author. She was also a naturalist and photographer, and all of her passions are on full display at her home in Rome City in Noble County. There, visitors can see her home, her work, her gardens, and many days during the summer enjoy a wide range of programs and special events.

Coming up on June 10 is An Evening in Gene’s Garden, an adults-only (21 and over) night to sit under the stars and enjoy her beautifully landscaped garden. Beer and wine will be available along with appetizers and chocolate covered strawberries. The evening begins at 8 p.m. with tickets available through June 3 for $35 per person. All proceeds from this event benefit the maintenance and restoration of Stratton-Porter’s gardens and grounds.

Looking ahead, the Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site also hosts Junior Indiana Master Naturalist Day Camp on June 10-14 (ages 9-13), Stargazing & Night Hike on Saturday, July 27, at 9 p.m., and the annual Gene Stratton-Porter’s Birthday Open House on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 2-4 p.m. More information is available at genestratton-porter.com.

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