Hooray! Fort Wayne has caught the food truck bug! There are several options for foodies to get their fix in the Summit City. Here are a few of some of the most popular, along with their offerings:

• JumBy’s JoiNt: They are a one-of-a-kind mobile culinary experience that made its debut in early 2012!  Owner Jim sets up shop most often in the downtown area, but also does private events. The menu changes daily, but there are a few all-American staples, like grilled cheese, cheeseburger, and and fries.
  

  JuMby’s JoiNt has satisfied hungry bellies since 2012.

• Brava’s Food: It doesn’t get more American than this! Brava’s serves up hot dogs from a mobile unit. The locally-owned business is now in its third year, and is gaining notoriety for its street-vendor fare. So, what is the “fare?” Brava’s features all-beef hot dogs, with toppings like fresh chopped veggies (tomato, cucumber, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc), as well as homemade chili. Be sure to try their specialty: a super-secret Brava Sauce. Thick cut Ossian bacon also comes on some of the hot dogs. Also, look for them on the streets of downtown Fort Wayne.

• Affine Food Truck: Affine is the brainchild of two local chefs specializing in a wide range of sandwich preparations using free-range, locally sourced pork, chicken, and duck. Try their tacos, soups, and fries. They set up shop at local businesses, as well as bars.

• Big John’s Ragin Cajun: Big John Maxwell delivers the cuisine of New Orleans and the Louisiana Bayou to northeastern Indiana. Think Po’ Boys and Jambalaya!

• The Getaway Grill: Jerry Perez, owner of Getaway Grill Food Truck says his mission is to bring great food to the streets of Fort Wayne- he is accomplishing that goal and much more! The best part: everything he buys is produced locally, from his food cart to the farmers markets. We hear the chicken and black bean quesadilla is to die for!

You can’t go wrong with any of these vendors. It’s all a matter of preference, really. Learn more on the Fort Wayne Foodtruck Association Facebook page or follow any of these vendors individually for updated menus and locations.

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It’s hard to believe, but it’s comic convention time again here in Fort Wayne. This is the third year I’ve covered our local con, and while it wasn’t the first post I wrote for the Visit Fort Wayne blog, it was close enough that I use it to mark my anniversary with the organization. For the last three years, the Summit City Comic Con has been the place to meet locally- and nationally-recognized comic creators and collect original artwork and prints. Last year I snagged a wicked cool commissioned Daredevil sketch and a hand-signed fantasy art print, both of which are now hanging on my wall at home. Along with providing great artwork, it gives comic and toy collectors an opportunity to track down back issues and collectibles (like Minimates, my toy addiction).

This year, a new, refocused convention will take its place – the Appleseed Comics & Arts Convention (Appleseed Comic Con for short). The con will be held Saturday, May 11, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Wayne Convention Center.

One of the Appleseed Comic Con’s purposes is to spotlight the inclusivity of the comics community. Seriously, even if you don’t know a soul at the con, you can make friends very easily and very quickly. Heck, it’s a week after Iron Man 3 opens, so that’ll give us all something to talk about. There’s also a concerted effort to reach out to young fans. The comic book industry, much like the video game industry, has grown up with the kids of my generation. Comics today are more “adult” – and, sure, that does mean that there may be sex and violence and salty language. But it’s not just that. The themes comics today deal with are often more adult too. It’s not just about Spider-Man stopping the Vulture from robbing a jewelry store anymore¹. And that’s not to say there aren’t comics for kids, but most “mainstream” books really aren’t. When I go to the comic shop on Wednesdays, it’s mostly folks my age and older (I’m 36). The Appleseed Comic Con, like the industry as a whole, is trying to make sure that kids today get the same excitement from comics as we did when we were young.

So what’s new? What should you be looking for? Well, Marvel’s big “universe-changing” event, Age of Ultron, is currently just past its halfway point. What changes will we see when it’s finished? Only a few people know, as Marvel has kept details tightly under wraps. Hot on the heels of Age of Ultron is Infinity. Starting later this summer, it features Thanos, the villain teased at the end of 2012’s blockbuster movie Marvel’s The Avengers. DC’s “New 52” is approaching the start of its third year, and this summer will see Trinity War, a crossover running through Justice League, Justice League of America, and Justice League Dark. What are the best books I’m reading right now? Well, it’s a great time to be a fan, which means I’m reading a lot. I won’t list them all, but here’s a sample of the best of the best: Animal Man, Green Arrow, and Swamp Thing (DC); Avengers, New Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, and Hawkeye (Marvel); The Massive (Dark Horse); & East of West and Saga (Image).

2013 Appleseed print by Dave Wachter

Be sure to attend the Appleseed Comic Con. Tickets are $10 each. If you pre-order yours at www.appleseedcon.com, you’ll get a copy of the Dave Wachter-drawn convention poster and be entered for a chance to win an exclusive print. See you there!

¹ Don’t get me wrong – adult themes aren’t new to comics. A fine example of this is the classic Iron Man story “Demon in a Bottle,” published in 1979, which dealt with Tony Stark’s alcoholism.

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This post is one in a series of Fort Wayne’s favorite celebrities: the Bad Apple Dancers! Click here to meet the rest of the bunch!

Bad Apple Dancer Austin Allen

Play Ball!

It’s that time of the year again! Time for ballgames by Tin Caps at Parkview Field!

If you’ve not yet attended a ball game at Fort Wayne’s outstanding ball field, please consider doing so this year. Not only does the team offer a beautiful place to sit and watch baseball, they offer some fascinating local entertainment between innings. The name of that entertainment is the Bad Apple Dancers.

These are four guys whose main function is to smooth out the dirt on the field. While pulling a big rake, they add their own moves on the route around the diamond.

To help you get to know the Bad Apple Dancers we’ve asked them to contribute some personal information about themselves. First up is Austin Allen who also works as Ticket Sales Manager for the Tin Caps.

Name: Austin ‘Flava A’ Allen
Hometown/State: Owosso, MI
Position on the ball field: Bad Apple Dancer
Years playing for the Tin Caps: 2013 will be my third season with the team, second season as a Bad Apple Dancer

1. Favorite Fort Wayne restaurant? Pint N Slice
2. Favorite place to go to relax in Fort Wayne? I like to run on the trails or play disc golf at Shoaff Park.
3. Favorite thing to do in Fort Wayne—other than dance on Parkview Field? I play volleyball a couple times a week. I enjoy the different festivals throughout the summer as well.
4. Favorite store/shop? The Orchard at Parkview Field
5. Favorite Fort Wayne park? Shoaff Park or Swinney Park
6. Favorite Fort Wayne summer festival? RibFest
7. Favorite place to go for a burger and fries in Fort Wayne? Dash In
8. Favorite concert venue in Fort Wayne? The Embassy
9. Favorite place to go for ice cream in Fort Wayne? Yo-Yo
10. Likes most about Fort Wayne? There is a lot going on, and it is easy to keep myself busy. I can always find something to do or somewhere to go.

To order tickets for Fort Wayne TinCaps Baseball at Parkview Field call 260.482.6400 or learn more here.

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I used to have a hard time resisting the pretty flowers and vegetable starts grocery stores and hardware stores display this time of year. But now I know better. Quality is extremely important when it comes to plants, along with a large assortment. Choosing colors is half the fun! So, on Mother’s Day weekend each year, I line the back of my SUV with blankets and head out to the McMillen Ice Rink for the Mother’s Day Plant Sale.

The plant sale is extensive – and so much fun!

The experts who provide the plants are the same gardeners who landscape Fort Wayne parks, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and the Botanical Conservatory downtown. I buy my herbs, tomato plants, vegetable starts, hanging flower baskets, my annuals and my perennials there. I even picked up a few house plants last year. There are over 600 different plants to choose from! And there’s always someone nearby, ready to answer my questions, and to load my car when I’m finished.

I’m really looking forward to the “Do It Yourself” presentations on Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. This year butterfly gardening will be covered. And I’m going to listen in on the shade gardening presentation before I shop so I can figure out what to do with the shadowy corner of my backyard. I can learn how to make compost and why it’s so important, and how to grow herbs to use in my cooking.

The Mother’s Day Plant Sale is 4 – 7 pm on Friday, 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday and noon – 4 on Sunday. If you’re a planner, like me, you might want to take a look at the complete plant list at www.botanicalconservatory.org.

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This post is part of a series highlighting the Your Story. Made Here. videos recently produced by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. These videos share the stories of Northeast Indiana, and our many strengths. Click here to view the rest of the series.

The crack of a bat, the cheering crowd, the taste of a ballpark hotdog and an ice-cold beer, it’s all waiting for you!

Locals love Parkview Field because it’s about so much more than baseball. The addition of Parkview Field to the downtown landscape generated a sense of community. Cheering on the TinCaps to their numerous victories has brought a sense of pride and togetherness to the community. The success of the community collaboration that brought Parkview Field to downtown Fort Wayne has continued through such events as Taste of the Arts and Buskerfest.

Opportunities to meet up with friends, network, or simply relax on the lawn are endless.  Whether you’re a young fan or a seasoned armchair pitcher there’s plenty to enjoy at Parkview Field. Young professionals are drawn to Thirsty Thursdays to network with peers, meet up with friends, and enjoy dollar beer night. Fireworks nights are great for a casual yet romantic date night or for families who enjoy looking up at the stars. Suites are available for those looking to entertain large groups or host business colleagues. The Homerun Porch and the Picnic Pavilion make great places to bring your employees for a fun activity away from the office.

3 Rivers Federal Credit Union Employees enjoying a night off with Johnny TinCap at Parkview Field

Be on the lookout for “theme nights” at the ballpark as well. Love getting dressed up for Halloween? Why not celebrate on May 10 with “Halfway to Halloween” night at Parkview Field. Several “Decade Celebrations” are planned for the 2013 season with nights honoring every decade from the 50’s-90’s. There’s even “Star Wars Night” for you to sport your Darth Vader costume and a “Social Media Night” to give you an excuse to be on your smart phone throughout the game.

Great minor league sports aren’t limited to downtown Fort Wayne. Experience the Mad Ants Basketball, Komets Hockey, and the Derby Girls at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.  There’s something for every sports fan throughout the year.

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