Guest writer: Margaret Lawrence Banning; Photo courtesy of Cassandra Salimeno:

Thanks to Kathleen Angelone of Bookmamas and a legion of volunteers, business owners, and organizational representatives we had a very successful Celebrate Irvington event on Saturday, May 11.  It was a cold start for those hardy souls with the early shifts, but the day brightened and the crowds thickened in the afternoon.

The Alternative Gift Fair coincided with the celebration at the Irving Theater (I’m wearing the African style earrings I bought there as I write this), and that helped to bring in shoppers from a broader region to our fair neighborhood.

We had music for all ages and tastes, magic at the library, and scary birds flying around (actors from “The Fowl” at Q Artistry).  George Thomas of course was very busy with Mothers Day deliveries and looked very festive with seasonal planters and arrangements to tempt last minute gift and flower purchases.

Celebrate Irvington started a few years ago to give the merchants a reason to strut their stuff in the spring in addition to our busy fall and winter holidays.  It’s becoming a new tradition and one more reason to….. Celebrate Irvington!

Guest writer – Margaret Lawrence Banning: 

Irvington Development Organization and the Irvington Historical Society (IHS), the two partners in the historic Irvington Post Office building’s acquisition and redevelopment, wanted to throw together a little event to raise awareness and funds for the project.  IHS board member and amateur musician Paul Diebold and his brother Marc offered their “garage” band to provide the music, and Q Artistry Theater in the Irvington Lodge offered to host it.  It was to be a low-ticket, low-key little event. Thought we’d raise $3,000.

Just before the fundraiser was to be held on April 6, Chris Piazza of Reverie Estates offered a $4,000 challenge grant for the event.  We blasted the word out, and the event was a fantastic success!  We were able to triple his gift and raised over $12,000!  Axia Urban also came forward with a significant gift.  It’s very telling that those two companies know a thing or two about restoring old buildings and have been such great supporters to this effort.  They know what it takes, and they’ve stepped up to help! In addition, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Papa Roux’s creative and generous donation of a free po-boy to all attendees of the event.  We know Papa’s promotion helped generate a few ticket sales and we heard that a number of hungry eastsiders took him up on his offer. No surprise there!

What shouldn’t have been surprising is that this is Irvington.  When you’re talking about old buildings – and there’s Black Acre beer involved – you can count on friends and neighbors coming to the rescue!  We know how important that building is to our community’s history and to the present wellbeing of the business district.More than 100 people attended the festive evening that offered music from Marc and Friends, beer from Black Acre, and Mac Genie and Chef Dan’s Southern Comfort food trucks.  It was a spirited event and a chance for neighbors to come together to help save the oldest commercial building in Irvington’s Washington Street corridor.

We’ll keep you posted when work will commence on the building.  In the meantime, if you know anyone who might be interested in buying or leasing the building, or if you want to donate you can contact me at margaret@irvingtondevelopment.org or mail checks to IDO, PO Box 19714, Indianapolis, IN  46219.

Guest writer: Becky Schlomann:

Do you recognize these neighbors?  Yep, it’s Jon and Sarah Katz (and their lovely home).  As soon as I saw this, I grinned in recognition…and to me, that’s the sign of a successful portrait.  It’s the work of Irvington artist Candice McDonald, owner of Cordial Kitten.

It’s been a busy few months for Candice.  She recently decided to scale back her efforts travelling on the regional art show circuit to instead concentrate on portraiture, freelance advertising, and children’s book illustration.  Her husband Brandon is still developing his graphic and website design business, Brandon with Glasses – you might know him as the man who designed the last two Irvington Night Out posters for us here at IDO.  Oh, yes, and Candice and Brandon also have a toddler (Virginia, 2), and recently welcomed son Hank.

I think Candice’s work is her own best advertisement—check out her adorable coloring book, Animals With Jobs or her illustration of The Benton House for Halloween Fell on a Friday Night.  But my favorites are still those accurate, affectionate portraits.  Wouldn’t a custom watercolor make a great holiday gift?  Maybe one of you and your siblings for your parents?  Or of an animal, for a favorite pet owner?

You can find Cordial Kitten at our very own Homespun: Modern Handmade or connect with Candice via facebook.  She’s on sabbatical right now following Hank’s birth, but she says she’ll be happy to talk to you about future work, including summertime commissions.

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