The Clyde has definitely changed the concert landscape in recent months, and now you can add foodie destination to the locale at Quimby Village.

The Club Room at the Clyde is now open and will be a full-service destination for lunch, brunch, dinner, and good news for concertgoers, late-night snacks and beverages. A full-service bar complements a casual atmosphere and great food for every taste.

Chuck and Lisa Surack have brought a perfect spot for a wide-range dining experience and further revitalizes that Quimby Village landscape which has come alive since The Clyde was renovated and began hosting concerts that appeal to all musical tastes.

The Club Room is currently open for dinner Monday through Saturday. A lunch menu will be added starting Monday, April 8. Sunday brunch and dinner hours begin May 5.

Blue Gate To open $3 million theater

For those who enjoy summer adventures in Shipshewana, it’s no secret that the Blue Gate hosts some very big names in music. An upcoming renovation will assure that even more music superstars will be heading to the area to perform.

The current Blue Gate has not been able to keep up with technology as more sophisticated sound and light systems accompany most live music shows, and a new $3 million-plus theater will occupy the former Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum space in Shipshewana, bringing a more modern venue for 21st century performances.

Observe Nature down on the Riverfront

As plans continue to expand and explore new ventures on the Riverfront, new this spring is a series called Riverfront Citizen Science Series which will feature a different Riverfront project each Sunday at 10 a.m. Best of all, each of the events is free and open to all ages with no pre-registration required.

First Sunday of each month (April 7 and May 5) will be Watch the Wild where participants will observe and report on plants, water & wildlife on our river and what seasonal changes are happening. Observations are collected and shared with the scientific community through Nature Watch.

Second Sundays of each month (April 14 and May 12) will offer Bird Watching on Our Urban Rivers where you can collect a bird count that is shared with Cornell Bird Lab that is focused on urban birds. The basics of learning to use binoculars and identifying birds will be shared.

The third Sundays (May 19, no April event due to Easter) are Young Naturalist Series where children ages 5-10 are invited to an hour of learning about nature, crafts and a fun themed snack. (For this event class size is limited, so pre-registration is needed to reserve space.)

Finally, the fourth Sundays (March 24, April 28 and May 26) the focus will be Project Squirrel where visitors will observe, collect data and share information with scientists about the squirrels found along our rivers.

In addition to the Sunday gatherings, those interested in helping the development of the Riverfront should join up for the first Saturday of the month to work with volunteers with Riverfront Clean Ups and collect any useful data for the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network. This is a regional effort to provide early detection and rapid response to invasive species. It’s recommended those participating wear close-toed shoes for safety.

Embassy hosts Musical Theater Workshop

Fort Wayne theater fans come in all ages and sizes, and again this year the Embassy Theatre hosts SCORE! for middle-school students who are interested in expanding their experience in theatrical arts.

The three-week devised musical theater workshop immerses students in all elements of theater. Devised theater is a term used to describe a mode of theater-making that does not begin with a script. Instead, students create a script through the process of thematic and artistic exploration.

The SCORE! 2019 workshop will take place July 8-28. During the three weeks, the students will incorporate play-writing, drama, music, production, and technical arts, culminating with a performance on the legendary Embassy stage.

Early registration tuition is $450 until May 1. Starting May 2, regular tuition is $550. Deadline for registration is June 7 or until capacity (25 students) is reached. For information about scholarships, visit the Embassy website at fwembassytheatre.org/education.

Artlink helping turn passion into careers

More good news for local artists comes from Artlink where in February they launched a new Education Series to help local artists turn their passion for art into careers.

Tackling a broad range of topics, a monthly series of speakers and workshops will address helpful areas like health and wellness, business and marketing, presentation, and portfolio development. In hosting the series, Artlink hopes to provide information that will help artists succeed. Classes take place on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. with the location varying month-to-month based on the class.

The class is free for Artlink members, and only $5 for non-members. A schedule of topics and locations can be found at artlinkfw.com/events.

Volunteer to help a gallery

Artlink is also hosting a volunteer day on Sunday, April 7, allowing fans of the gallery and of the arts in Fort Wayne a chance to pitch in for a day once a year or once a month. Projects will range from gallery cleaning, painting, filing, and easy administrative tasks.

Feel free to drop by between noon and 2 p.m. and let the good folks at Artlink put you to work.

News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.