So, the kids are out of school…wait, THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL?!?! This means, that if we want to have fun, I also have to be willing to drop a decent amount of cash. OR, you can read my series of blogs that will help keep your summer eventful without breaking the bank (I will try to keep the events to free or minimal admission).

The Foellinger Theatre offers a movie under the stars!

If you are a devoted reader, you may remember Enjoy a Movie Under the Stars at the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre. All movies are rated PG and start at 8:30pm on Wednesday nights. Here is the schedule for 2012.

Cars 2-June 20
Kung Fu Panda 2-June 27
Puss in Boots-**Thursday, July 5**
The Adventures of Tintin-July 11
Happy Feet Two-July 18
Hugo-July 25
The Muppets-August 1
Hop-August 8
Zookeeper-August 15
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World-August 24

What to make it a special night? Take them out for dinner before or dessert after!

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Nothing says Midwestern summer like a visit to a local ice cream stand. Luckily, for lovers of this frozen treat, several local options abound:

Atz’s Ice Cream Shop:  A Fort Wayne staple with locations on North Anthony and Tillman Road, this family-owned ice cream parlor tempts customers with a wide selection of ice cream flavors, as well as dinner fare. Try the Mad Anthony sundae!

Zesto’s:   Zesto has proudly served the Fort Wayne community for more than 50 years. Claim to fame: this business has been locally owned by the same family for more than 35 of those years. Many people in the city consider the opening of our stores as one of the first signs of spring. Visitors can choose from four Fort Wayne locations: 2225 Broadway,6015  St. Joe Center Road, 5740 Falls Drive, and 210 E. Washington Ctr. Blvd. Here, you can find traditional ice cream cones, shakes, malts, floats, banana splits, and even classic ballpark fare like hot dogs. Tell them we sent you!

Zesto's serves up a variety of frozen treats!

“The Stand”: The Stand has been a Waynedale staple for quite some time. Located at 5200 Bluffton Road, this ice cream stand features coneys, ice cream, fat/sugar-free yogurt, plus daily soups and specials. Watch their Facebook page for updates. They are open until 10 pm during the summer, so you can get some late-night dessert action!

Bortolo’s Downtown Pizza: Not only can you find great pizza here, but their selection of hand-dipped ice cream is something to write home about as well. Grab a scoop and enjoy the outdoor seating. You’ll find them downtown at 534 W. Berry – 260-424-2030.

La Michoacana Paleteria : Stop by this unique ice cream shop/ Mexican grill for homemade ice cream treats. The owner, Victor, is friendly and quite proud of his shop. Victor provides all guests with personal attention, as he encourages everyone to sample his products.  The other treats are authentic Mexican style. An added bonus: most items are under $3.00! You can find them at 1421 N. Wells – 260-423-3515.

So, there you have it: a few local ways to enjoy a cold concoction in the Fort. What are your favorites?

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I have been to the Botanical Conservatory a couple times after moving to Fort Wayne and have always enjoyed it. So, when I found out it was just a dollar on the first Thursday of every month, I thought, “What an inexpensive way to enjoy the evening!”

What I had forgotten after not visiting for quite awhile is how amazing the vibrant colors stand out in each of the three gardens. The Showcase Garden had some of my favorites in bloom, the Weeping Bottle Bush and the Southern Magnolia. The colors were not the only things that made my walk through the garden fascinating. The fragrances that drifted through the air made me stay awhile, breathing it all in. It reminded me of so many spring days jogging through the trails of Fort Wayne when everything is in bloom and you would catch a whiff of something wonderful while passing by. I can’t find the words to describe the aura, but it’s something everyone should enjoy.

The Tropical Garden offers waterfalls and lush greenery!

The Tropical Garden is almost like I’m on vacation in some remote rain forest.  It not only consists of beautiful cascading waterfalls but for the chocoholic in me, the Chocolate Bush. It is a great place to take family or individual pictures with amazing green backgrounds and real fruit growing all around.  You could even mislead your friends into thinking you went on some exotic vacation.  Once again the wonderful scents made me stop and stay awhile.

The Desert Garden does cause me to perspire a little, but it is true to its origins.  You really feel like you’re in the Mojave Desert among the Saguaro Cactus (the largest in the U.S) and the Jojoba which produces edible nuts and also makes a coffee-like drink.

I really don’t think there is a better way to spend a dollar, so well worth it.  Not only did I take in beautiful gardens I had the opportunity to see colorful array of butterflies from Malaysia who will be flying around until July 8^th.  I also enjoyed the Outdoor Gardens that consisted of Fort Wayne vegetation.  They inspired me to go home and start landscaping.

I honestly couldn’t think of a more affordable evening for the whole family to enjoy or even a great date night.

$1 night at the Botanical Conservatory is the first Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Children under 2 are free.

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On any given Friday night at a TinCaps game you may find yourself sitting next to Mario and Luigi or even game show host Pat Sajak. And don’t be surprised if Papa Smurf was to show up too – this is because every Friday’s game throughout the season is Theme Night!

Keep your eyes on the video board because your favorite player could look a little like your favorite Star Wars character.  It is very entertaining how the TinCaps organization incorporated Theme Night into every aspect of the game from the music to the on-field contests.  Even Johnny gets involved dressing up like his favorite cartoon or Star Wars character.

The award winning Parkview Field is a great place to be on a theme night. Don't miss out!

It is always fun to see at the end of the sixth inning what the “2012 Hoosier Award Hospitality recipient” Bad Apple Dancers are wearing.  A  few Fridays ago I saw them dressed up as Pac-Man and the ghosts.  These weren’t your store bought costumes either, they were hand made and looked real to life.  The employees really do get into character.

The good news is, it is not just for employees, the fans are encouraged to dress up as well.  Those still stuck in the seventies can wear their favorite clothes without being embarrassed or the big Jimmy Buffett fans can break out their Hawaiian shirts and sway to the music.  It is a really inexpensive way to experience great entertainment and baseball!

Remaining Theme Nights include:

Friday, June 22       70’s Night

Friday, July 6          Country Night

Friday, July 13        Cartoon Night

Friday, July 27        Christmas in July

Friday, August 10    Jimmy Buffett Night

Friday, August 31    Fan Appreciation Night

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As if Fort Wayne doesn’t have enough great festivals, here is one designed to promote the significance of Fort Wayne’s three rivers to the city’s history and current status.

IPFW Riverfest 2012 is Saturday, June 23rd.

But don’t think this is an event filled with lectures and philosophical debates. Just the opposite is true! This one-day festival offers some of Fort Wayne’s most unique opportunities for fun and creativity.

Riverfest is held on the banks of the St. Joe River at the IPFW Campus. The date for Riverfest is Saturday, June 23, 2012. Hours: 9 a.m. to midnight. Cost: Free

One interesting event I’d encourage people to attend is Sayaka Ganz, IPFW art teacher, creating sculptures from scrap materials and river debris. By using these reclaimed objects, she will show how to turn something as common as a soup can or spatula into cool pieces of art. Hint: This would be a great project for families to work on this summer after hiking on pathways throughout the county. You teach kids to help clean up the environment and be creative simultaneously!

The festival celebrates families with Familyfest. Familyfest has a new location in front of Kettler Hall on the Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne campus. Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

The festival will also sponsor a river walk/run, sand volleyball courts for tournaments, local vendors selling yummy food, and musical bands playing.

Make time in your schedule to attend this fun event.
St. Joe River
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.

For additional information, please visit the Riverfest website.

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