Longest Dinner & Mass Ave Criterium Draw Crowds

Photo: The alley was quite a festive sight for the inaugural Longest Dinner, Aug. 12. More photos by Art Scapes by Steve.

For both events, the Longest Dinner and Mass Ave Criterium could not have had better weather, which promoted great attendance and participation.

The Longest Dinner in the Historic Massachusetts Avenue Bricked Alley was a smash hit on Aug. 12 with nearly 300 in attendance. The event featured a three-course sit-down dinner, cash bar, IndyFringe buskers, live music and more. With tables placed end-to-end in the Bricked Alley behind Chatham Tap, Metro and Scholar's Inn, it was a splendid evening of good food and live entertainment. Thanks to Pauline Moffat, Jill Ditmire, the Ivy Tech Culinary School, and many others who coordinated and contributed to this event that benefitted the IndyFringe Theatre Festival (opens this Thurs., Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m.) and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. 

Chad Burdzilauskas Wins Inaugural Mass Ave Criterium

Photo: Cyclists from across the Midwest wait to begin the most competitive men's, category 1/2/3 race.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail 2008 Mass Ave Criterium had equally beautiful weather on Saturday, Aug. 16, for the 150 cyclists, including some who came from Ohio and Kentucky to race for $5,000 in cash prizes. Chad Burdzilauskas of Carmel won in the top men's category and shared much of the prize money with his Louisville, KY-based Texas Roadhouse teammates. National champion, Tracy Tolson, won the women's category. Many children participated in the the Kids Bike Race and the Bike Safety Rodeo where they earned new, free helmets. Thanks to the Mass Ave Merchants Association, Indiana Bicycle Coalition, Rathskeller, Athenaeum and many others for helping to make this first year so successful and special thanks to The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF Affilate, and NUVO newsweekly for their financial and in-kind support. See photos by Ted Somerville.

Next Brown Bag Lunch: Aug. 26 at NIFS

Bring your brown bag lunch and get the latest on Cultural Trail developments at the next Brown Bag Lunch Meeting to be held at the National Institute for Fitness & Sport (NIFS), 250 University Blvd. (in White River State Park) from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Free parking will be available in White River State Park in lot southwest of the Visitors Center off Washington St. There is garage parking for a small fee in IUPUI garage just north of NIFS, next to the Natatorium and Tennis Center.  Or avoid parking and take the FREE IndyGo Red Line that circulates through downtown and the IUPUI campus. Brown bag lunch meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month from 12 to 1 p.m. Check http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/get-involved.html for varying locations.

Cultural Trail Bike Tour: Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m.

Discover how the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick will transform downtown Indianapolis. Join us for a guided tour of the entire route and learn about its history, progress and future plans. Tours are limited to the first 20 registrants, so sign up today! Cultural Trail tours are offered the first Saturday of each month from April through October. For more information, visit http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/get-involved.html.

Photo: A few Cultural Trail Bike Tour participants ride along North St. near Alabama St.

Construction Updates

The Northeast Corridor, connecting the finished half-mile segment at North St. and Alabama St. to the Monon Trail on 10th St., will be bid through the Indiana Department of Transportation on Sept.12. Pending a successful bid, construction will begin on this corridor by the end of October.

The heavy rainfall experienced earlier this summer caused some flooding in the Davlan building due to drainage issues at that location along the Cultural Trail. The Cultural Trail team has been working closely with the Davlan building's owner and tenants to address the issue and we are now fixing it to properly drain the water away from the building. The work started on Thursday, Aug. 14, will be completed in about four weeks.

For more information, please contact Gail Payne, 317.713.3333 or Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.