Open House: Indianapolis Art Center

Still thinking about signing up for a fall art class? Explore your options at this Friday's Indianapolis Art Center open house (6-9 p.m.). Catch an art demonstration in one of the studio classrooms, view exhibits of faculty and student work, listen to some music and snack on food from Yats. It's the perfect way to decide: glass blowing, figure drawing or steel sculpting?

Update: Elizabeth Gilbert Lecture

I just tried to get tickets for tonight's Elizabeth Gilbert lecture, and I'm sorry to report that it's sold out. Drat! I'll have to console myself with my previously scheduled knitting class at the Knit Stop.

Fall Season: Butler University Cultural Calendar

I just flipped through Butler University's fall cultural calendar, and there are several intriguing lectures coming up this season. I'm most excited about several of the science lectures, but you may find something else that appeals to you. Here's the full schedule:

• Sept. 16: "Darwinism, Natural Theology and Moral Values," with speaker Robert Richards.
• Sept. 22: Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps and Sound Portraits.
• Sept. 25: "Community-Centered Leadership: Leading from the Heart," with speaker Wilma Mankiller.
• Oct. 21: "Darwinism and Political Thought," with speaker Carson Holloway.
• Oct. 29: Daniel Pink, author of "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future."
• Nov. 10: "Caring About Our Communities: A Dialogue on Urban Renewal and Social Change in America," with Greg Ballard and several other mayors.
• Nov. 13: Lee Keesler, president and CEO, Arts and Science Council (Charlotte, N.C.)

Here's the schedule for the Visiting Writers Series:

• Sept. 16: Frank Bidart, poet.
• Sept. 29: Sherman Alexie, author of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian."
• Oct. 8: Thomas Lux, poet.
• Oct. 30: Lan Samantha Chang, author of "Hunger" and "Inheritance."
• Nov. 10: Honor Moore, author of "The Bishop's Daughter."
• Dec. 3: Chris Forhan, poet.

And, finally, here's the schedule for the J. James Woods Lectures in the Sciences and Mathematics:

• Sept. 18: "Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)," with speaker Elliot Aronson, a psychologist best known for his work on cognitive dissonance and cooperative learning. The focus of his talk is his new book, "Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts."
• Sept. 30: "A Naturalist and Other Beasts," with speaker George B. Schaller, a conservationist who will share his stories of trying to preserve endangered species.
• Dec. 3: "Ancient Fossil Hunters: The Grifin and the Monster of Troy," with speaker Adrienne Mayor, a folklorist and historian of ancient science. She will discuss how ancient fossils influenced Greek and Roman myths.

Author Lecture: Elizabeth Gilbert

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the book I was reading at the time, "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. And guess what? She's in town tomorrow (Wednesday) for a lecture at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The topic is "Divine Sanity -- Rethinking the Origins of Creativity." Now I have to decide whether to attend the lecture, which will require re-scheduling my introductory knitting class at Knit Stop ...

Here's the rest of the info: 7 p.m. Wednesday, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 100 W. 86th St., $20. Call (317) 846-3404 to reserve your spot.

Thank You, Readers!

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Upcoming Class: Predicting the Weather

Greetings from Hilton Head, where I'm spending a working vacation this week. Unfortunately, I'm spending more time filling water jugs and buying candles than actually working. For this Midwestern girl, hurricane preparations are quite a learning experience!

If you'd like to learn more about weather, the IUPUI Community Learning Network has a fall class on the topic. The class, which meets Sept. 24, is taught by Steve Bray, the chief meteorologist at WISH. According to the class description, Bray will dispel some weather myths and show you simple home experiments to help predict the weather. Could be fun!

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Meanwhile, cross your fingers for Hanna to disappear somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean ...

Update: Tarot Classes

When I noticed the absence of the tarot class on this fall's Lawrence Township schedule, I e-mailed my instructor for an update. Maybe she was teaching the class elsewhere? Alas, she doesn't have room in her schedule, so there are no immediate plans to offer the class again. I heard from several of you who were interested in the topic, so I'll keep looking for a local alternative.