Upcoming Classes: Indy Parks

Indy Parks has released its summer calendar, which covers June through September. For some reason, I have a bee in my bonnet about the Eagle Creek Park marina: Should I try a $75 sailing class or maybe one of the late-night canoe trips on the night of a full moon? Sometime during my crazy summer Shakespeare schedule, I'm hoping to do both.

As always, there are plenty of dance, fitness, arts and horticulture classes, concentrated at Broad Ripple Park, Garfield Park, Eagle Creek Park and Holliday Park.

Garfield Park Conservatory, for example, has classes such as All About Herbs (July 10 and Aug. 14), Beekeeping Basics (Aug. 1) and Butterfly Gardening (June 26). And, the arts center there has classes on jewelry-making, painting, print-making, poetry, drawing and more.

I've said this before, but I really hate the way the catalog is organized. Classes are listed by location, not topic or age group. So, if you want to find, say, an adult pottery class, you have to look through every darn page in the catalog, including page after page of toddler swimming classes. Are you listening, parks people?

Saturday Smorgasbord of Classes

Looking for something to do tomorrow? Try one of the many educational classes and events taking place around town Saturday -- everything from herb gardening to Asian bridal fashions. Here are a few options:

• Herb gardens -- Learn how to plant herbs; 2 p.m. at Smith & Hawken; free.
• Stepping stone workshop -- Learn how to make a decorative stepping stone; 10 a.m. Saturday at Garfield Park Conservatory; $5 (includes materials).
• Wire sculpting -- Make two pendants and learn basic wire-working techniques; 10 a.m. Saturday at Bead Boutique (Carmel); $50 (includes materials).
• Asian festival -- Starting at 11 a.m., the Garfield Park pagoda will play host to an Asian festival, which features food, cultural entertainment, vendors and even a bridal fashion show; free.
• Home improvement -- Don't forget the Home Depot workshops on topics such as container gardening and laying tile. See previous post for details.
• Cooking -- The Chef's Academy is offering a class on fish identification and cookery; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $75.

I'm not listing any classes for Sunday, because you should be very busy pampering your mother (or being pampered by your kids).