Downtown Terre Haute offers excitement for ISU students

 I have walked through downtown Terre Haute many times, so I know it is full of things to do and places to go throughout the year, whether they be planned events or just visiting its many shops and restaurants.

Andrew Conner, executive director of Downtown Terre Haute Inc., hopes to bring Indiana State University students and the downtown area together.

“We view the ISU community and the student body as one of our most important constituents,” Conner said. “Downtown Terre Haute Inc. is dedicated to making downtown Terre Haute a better place. It’s one of the most important parts of our work to find ways to connect the ISU community with the downtown that is right on its doorstep.”

Many things are certainly happening this summer and fall on ISU’s doorstep: for students interested in buying fresh groceries the Farmer’s Market opens on June 5 in the parking lot across from the Clabber Girl Museum and Bakery (located at the corner of Wabash Avenue and Ninth Street).

Students with musical tastes can enjoy the Crossroads Blues Fest September 12-13.

Other festivals include the Strawberry Festival on June 10 where you can enjoy strawberry shortcake and live music, the Saint Bendict Community Festival on July 9 and 10 at Ninth Avenue and Ohio Street with activities such as casino games and an indoor flea market, and the Vigo County Fair beginning the week of July 11 at the Vigo County Fairgrounds on South Third Street.

Those interested in learning a skill or new recipe can look no further than the many small businesses and nonprofit organizations located on Wabash Avenue.

“There are cooking classes offered at the Asian Market and Clabber Girl all year round,” Conner said. “Free arts classes are being offered at Art Reach.”

Other locations where craft programs and classes are available: knitting groups every Tuesday during the day and every Thursday evening at RiverWools (671 Wabash Ave.), and Modern Charm (683 Wabash Ave.) updates their website (www.moderncharm.vpweb.com) weekly with classes about beadwork and jewelry making.

For the student that is also a parent, the Terre Haute Children’s Museum (523 Wabash Ave.) is offering summer day camp programs for children in the second through fifth grades for $50 for nonmembers. These programs include Mythbusters Camp, the Science of Sports, and Space—Star Wars.

Students with children interested in art will appreciate the Swope Art Museum’s (25 S. Seventh St.) summer youth art program starting June 7. The class schedule and registration forms are available on their Web site (www.swope.org/syap.html).

For students who like their entertainment in a more laidback style, The Verve (677 Wabash Ave.—must be 21 to enter) has a different performer every week, Coffee Grounds (423 Wabash Ave.) hosts Poetry at the Grounds the third Thursday of every month starting at 7:30pm (the upcoming dates are June 17 and July 15) and the Market Bella Rossa Deli (669 Wabash Ave.) hosts brunches and wine tastings as announced on their cork board.

Students seeking a little bit of comfort can find it in Thriftstore Cowboy Vintage (125B S. Seventh St.), A Bit of Britain (located at (10 North Sixth Street) and Wise Pies Pizza and Subs (9 South Sixth St.).

At Thriftstore Cowboy Vintage, retro clothing and band tshirts can be found for reasonable prices.

While at A Bit of Britain, one can sit down and enjoy a hot cup of tea or purchase some to brew at home from over a dozen unique flavors.

Wise Pies sells the most delicious BBQ chicken pizza to have ever graced my taste buds.

Of course, there are more things to see and do than what I have described; you just have to put on your walking shoes or hop on your bike and go exploring the downtown area yourself!

Of course, going to the calendar of events on www.terrehaute.com is also an option, but not nearly as adventurous as walking the streets yourself.