Citywide jazz concerts pop up fall, painting techniques class, mess fest, and more.
Happy Friday, Carmel. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Carmel Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Citywide jazz concerts pop up fall, school leaders map out six goals including AI in classrooms, and an Americana bookstore opens in spring 2026 — catch up here.
State-level stories: Caitlin Clark lets Special Olympics athletes live pro dreams, third graders hit record reading rates, and cookie butter pretzel bites nab the fair crown — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: South Korea’s court dismissed a Baby Shark copyright claim, a judge blocked fishing around Pacific atolls, and retirees eye a bigger Social Security increase — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Protect yourself online from scammers
- Ace your job interview this Monday
- Understand eviction sealing in Hamilton County
- Network and fundraise with Purposeful Living INC
- Discover Purdue basketball game-day secrets
- Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP
🫶 We got your back
Trails: Feeling twitchy? Escape crowded sidewalks for salty air and rustling pines with stroller-friendly, dog-approved hiking routes near Carmel that are perfect for clearing your head.
Golf: No passport needed for world-class fairways. Indiana’s hidden gems offer championship-caliber shots without the sticker shock. Check out Hoosier courses worth the drive.
Finance: Teaching your teen about credit cards can feel like decoding ancient hieroglyphics. Turn confusing plastic power into real-world know-how with easy credit lessons.
Cocktail: Whether you’re craving a smoky mezcal riff, a floral gin fantasia, or a boozy twist on the classics, Broken Barrel mixes rare spirits, house-made syrups, and a dash of theater into cocktails that turn your evening into a liquid performance you won’t forget.
Money: The average driver pays $175 a month on car insurance, but most of us are paying way too much. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool can save you hundreds.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🎬 Ride In Theater: The Wizard of Oz@ Bicycle Garage Indy | Friday (8/15) at 7:30pm – Craving fresh air, ice cream, and an under-the-stars flick? Dust off helmet, lights, and wheels for a 7:30 spin from Bicycle Garage Indy 106th to Zionsville’s Scoop, then roll back for The Wizard of Oz. No RSVP needed, just BYO chair, snacks, and drinks.
👑 One Night of Queen @ Conner Prairie | Friday (8/15) at 8:00pm – Nothing says nostalgia like belting Bohemian Rhapsody alongside a Freddie Mercury look-alike, am I right? For its 40th anniversary, Gary Mullen and The Works bring Queen’s ’80s swagger with enough showmanship to make Mercury jealous. Expect fist pumps, choreography that defies creaks, and rock royalty.
This weekend
🖌️ Painting Techniques Class@ 317Home | Saturday (8/16) at 10:30am – Painting Techniques Class is rolling into town, teaching you how to turn that wobbly hall table into something Pinterest-worthy with Annie Sloan chalk paint, no art degree needed. You’ll swap paint-spattered stories over a light lunch, practice pro tricks, and nab a 20 percent discount.
🐾 Paws to Read @ Carmel Clay Public Library | Saturday (8/16) at 2:30pm – For ages 6–12, whether your aspiring bookworm breezes through chapter books or still wrestles with phonics, this puppy-powered reading session in our cozy library corner turns shy whispers into proud narrators. Fifteen minutes, zero judgment, maximum tail wags. Space is limited, so register ahead.
🎉 Party Like It’s 1985 @ Carmel Arts District | Saturday (8/16) at 8:00pm – If you’re desperate for a time machine, hit Main for a free 80s street party with food vendors, bag chairs, and a tribute band whose fanny packs have seen more sunsets than you. Big hair optional, cheesy nostalgia inevitable.
🎈 Mess Fest @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Indianapolis | Sunday (8/17) at 11:30am – Grab the kid herd, suit up, and rally to St. Paul’s for a free, rain-or-shine community bash with water inflatables, a bubble foam pit, toddler play area, and tunes by The Downstairs Dads. Free hot dogs, ice cream, soda, plus food trucks await.
🧊 Be More Chill @ Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts | Sunday (8/17) at 2:00pm – Think suburban Jersey high school drama with a tech twist. Be More Chill follows hapless Jeremy as he plugs into a pocket-sized supercomputer that promises peak popularity, killer parties, and a shot with his crush. Spoiler: messing with your brain rarely ends well.
🎶 Sunday Vibes @ Carmel Clay Public Library | Sunday (8/17) at 3:00pm – Join me for a free, registration-only concert right here downtown, front-row to the gayageum as Eunsun “Sunny” Jung plucks out centuries of Korean flair. It’s cultural jet-setting without the airport lines. Bring an open mind, and maybe your envy.
Next week
🔒 Cybersecurity Basics@ Hamilton East Public Library – Fishers | Monday (8/18) at 2:00pm – Think of this as neighborhood watch for your laptop. In this free, in-person workshop, you’ll learn to spot scams, fortify passwords, and boot out digital riffraff. Registration required, because even hackers respect a guest list.
🍵 Teatime around the World @ Carmel Clay Public Library | Tuesday (8/19) at 10:00am – Teatime around the World is turning storytime into a globe-trotting tea tour for two-to-five-year-olds, steeping quirky traditions, plush puppets, and tiny spills from Shanghai to Darjeeling. Siblings are welcome, no passports required, just bring the fluffiest blanket and prepare for giggles.
🏀 Elliot Bloom and Rob Blackman Talk Purdue Men’s Basketball @ Ritz Charles | Tuesday (8/19) at 5:00pm – Swap your backyard potluck for a grown-up gathering at Ritz Charles as Purdue Men’s Basketball insiders Elliot Bloom and radio voice Rob Blackman spill behind-the-scenes secrets. Expect game-day rituals, bracket drama, and hors d’oeuvres-fuelled tips to impress at your next tailgate.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/15 Jams at the Junction @ Grand Junction Plaza – 7 pm
- 8/15 Advanced Comedy Class @ Allied Solutions Center – 7:30 pm
- 8/15 Davey and The Midnights @ Flatwater – 7 pm
- 8/16 moe. @ Holliday Park – 6 pm
- 8/16 Jon Shoulders @ Cobblestone Grill – 7 pm
- 8/16 Country Summer @ Urban Apples – 7 pm
- 8/16 Three Wheel Horse and more @ Black Circle – 8 pm
- 8/17 Drag Me to Brunch @ Feinstein’s – 11:30 am
🏠️ Price is right – Carmel edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Naveen Chakilam (RE/MAX Complete)
Five bedrooms, four and a half baths, and a sunroom that practically begs for lazy mornings. The kitchen brings serious culinary swagger with a new fridge, upgraded gas range, and a bonus mini fridge for late-night snacks. Custom closets mean everything has a place, while the two-story great room and gas fireplace turn movie nights into an event.
The finished garden basement doubles as a rec room, theater (projector and screen included), and bonus hangout zone. Out back, a private deck, fenced yard, and playhouse overlook a wooded trail. Three-car garage, fresh paint, and a community pool seal the deal in West Carmel’s top school district.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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