PLAY LIST

When I pitched the idea to write about thrift and vintage stores in Indianapolis , I didn’t think it would take six months to complete.  The main challenge was getting realistic about how many stores I would include. There are over 30 “thrift” shops in Naptown. So narrowing the list was a battle.   In the end, I focused on three vintage store owners and their most prized possessions. Some of them...

Dearest PlayListers, As the final days of 2025 slip through our sugar-coated fingers, many of us are looking back — perhaps a bit astounded by all that we’ve lived through. A lot of life can happen in 365 days.  And all that life is easy to lose track of when you’re doing the same things. Eating at the same places. Sitting on the same couch, gazing at the same screens. Not that there’s anything wr...

Dearest PlayListers, IU beat Ohio State in the Big Ten championship on Saturday at Lucas Oil. Now, before you take me for a football fan, let me clarify: I am simply in love with one. My football fan is an IU alum. His name is Aaron. And I want to tell you about watching the game at Sahm’s Tavern in Irvington. Aaron and I don’t regularly go out for games, but this one felt special. We didn’t know...

What’s up PlayListers,  I hope your Thanksgiving weekend was splendid. Mine started off rough. It took my family and me six hours to drive to Indy from Michigan during the snowstorm. Nothing like a whiteout on I-69 in a small compact car.   On the same day, I hit the road again, this time to Ohio to bask in the music of R&B phenom and multi-instrumentalist Leon Thomas. He’s part Prince and par...

Fellow PlayListers, hello!  I’m Jenny Walton — not to be confused with your regular host Jennifer Delgadillo. I’m in your inbox because I’m constantly asking friends how I can help, and Delgadillo took me up on it. So, here we are. For the next few months you’ll see me most Wednesdays, with an occasional appearance from Mesgana Waiss.  And what luck that we start this new friendship right as we sw...

Greetings PlayListers, Last Saturday, I went to the Los Tigres del Norte concert at Clowes Hall. The regional Mexican band that started in the late ‘60s has a large following with the Mexican and Latin American diaspora.  It was an event filled with parents and their children, grandparents and friends. Some of us were on dates. We all danced at some point. Los Tigres del Norte perform songs about...

What’s up PlayListers,  I’m writing our beloved arts & culture newsletter this week while Jennifer Delgadillo is out.  Are you enjoying the snow? I’m not! I’m kinda upset because it’s been on my to-do list to buy some stylish accessories for the season. I’m talking leather gloves, striped balaclavas and a mean fur ushanka.  Hopefully, I can source some of these much-needed pieces for my winter...

Dear Play Listers, Do you feel the year rolling in on you? Because I do. As I type these words, meat departments everywhere are placing turkey bulk orders. “The Nutcracker’s” mouse army is practicing their ballet steps. Families across our city and beyond are wondering if they should invite uncle hot-button-issue to the holiday table. So I say this to you as much as I say it to myself: Take it one...

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali once said, "Don't count the days; make the days count,” so we found 48 things to make November count . In November, we get to turn the clock an hour back for daylight savings time (more sleep!). We also get Thanksgiving, Dia de Muertos, Veterans Day and Small Business Saturday. All month, we get to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. And although it’s e...

Whats up Play Listers, Do you have your costume ready? I normally just wear my witch hat and make sure to cackle loud when kids come by trick-or-treating.  But this year, work bought me a lion costume for this little thing earlier in the summer . I feel that I can get some extra mileage out of it. Besides regular ol’ candy slinging for Halloween Day, I’m planning to attend the International Distri...

Dear Play Listers Today is the last day of Hispanic or Latine Heritage Month. To observe the occasion, arts & culture reporter Mesgana Waiss spent some time with artist Leyda Melgar, learning about how she uses color pencils, her artistic influences and her favorite art that she’s made. You can watch that here. Today’s newsletter also packs: Details on an art show opening this Friday that was...

Dear Play Listers, When you hear the word “Hoosier,” what comes to mind?  The Indy 500?  John Mellencamp suckin’ on chili dogs?  Larry Bird eating a pork tenderloin? Cole Porter saying “ope”? Madam C.J. Walker watching basketball? These are all great Hoosier thoughts.  But today I’m saying “yes, and” to bring a few more things to the table. Things like Chinese laundries and chop suey restaurants,...

Wise Play Listers, Today’s newsletter includes: How to give your opinion on our city’s arts and culture budget. An interview with two Latino leaders who helped with the X Pan American Games in 1987. 45 things to do in October. Ebony Chappel’s City Chatter with some freedom of speech thoughts. Photos from some of our beautiful city’s recent cultural events. But first, I want to let you know that He...

Whats up Play Listers, We are in the midst of what is officially called “National Hispanic Heritage Month.”  Some people prefer to call it Latino or Latine Heritage Month because it welcomes more people.  The word “Hispanic” describes someone who is from a Spanish-speaking country, or something related to Spain. And because many people from Latin America speak other languages, the term is not alwa...

Plus: What everyone at Mirror Indy is doing. Esteemed Play Listers, I return to you from a week away in New Orleans with happy news. But first, I want to thank arts & culture reporter Mesgana Waiss for holding down the fort and writing this newsletter last Wednesday. If you missed it, you can read it here .  The happy news is that in New Orleans, Mirror Indy’s arts & culture work was recog...

What’s up PlayListers,  Today I’m writing the coolest arts and culture newsletter in all the land in the absence of my amazing editor Jennifer Delgadillo.  Am I the only person who has had to send way too many birthday wishes so far this month? I love my people but my fingers are a little sore from typing out those two magic words. Fun fact: September has the most common birthdays .  I’ve got some...

Hello, Last week, we asked you what our readers/listeners should be called and these are some of the responses that came in.  PlayListeners Spuds Listeners Listers PlayListers PL bbs While PlayListers received the most votes, I gotta say that I really like Spuds. Who doesn’t love a good potato? So I think what I’ll do is officially name us PlayListers, but call us Spuds informally and on weekends,...

Plus: a BUTTER podcast and making new friends.  Hi,  I need help coming up with a name for Play List readers and listeners.  We’ve been doing this newsletter for over a year now, and I think saying hello to you in a way that feels special is the right next step. Should it be “Dear _____________”: PlayListers P. Listers  PL babies Other Send your thoughts to jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org and w...

Artists Gary Gee, a mixed-media ceramicist, and FITZ, a cartoonist and illustrator, basically live in their studios. Both the artists’ work is inspired by their love for comic books.  You might have seen their artworks in museums, public parks and billboards around the city. They are the result of late nights and holidays spent creating and making sacrifices for their passion.  Gee and FITZ are tw...

PLUS: IndyFringe, BUTTER and how to make chiles rellenos at home. Chreece, also known as “Rap Christmas,” celebrates 10 years this Saturday , Aug. 23, with over 70 artists performing across seven venues. Arts and culture reporter Mesgana Waiss wanted to know how it all came to be. To find out, she interviewed musicians, fans and the founders. Then, she put it all together in a truly badass timelin...

Lafufu interview, BUTTER breaking news, Caitlin Clark zucchini   Take a deep breath, and join us on this journey called “staying in the loop of arts and culture.” This edition of Play List has everything: A Lafufu interviewing a puppet in Spanish BUTTER news about a Juke Joint pop-up dance party A zucchini dressed as Caitlin Clark Indiana State Fair food recs from Chef Oya Ideas for things to do a...

Bánh mì, Babyface, movies and culture money. Have you made it to the Indiana State Fair yet? Our pal Clockwork Janz is there this week collecting sounds for an aural work of art that we will share with you later this month.  You might remember Clockwork from such stories as “ 9 sounds of summer in Indy ” or “ What does joy sound like? ” They were also our go-to person when we needed some “womp-wom...

How do you do, fellow kids? My one piece of advice for you this month is to pace yourself and to stay hydrated. Last year, I got to the Chreece hip-hop festival too early and by early afternoon, I was panting like a dog because I was not ready for the heat. I had to get a water bottle and a plate from Yaso to replenish. August has everything : theater, art shows — including nerdy ones, exhibits wi...

Hello and happy Wednesday, Time for a rundown of what’s going on in arts and culture in the city this week. There’s plenty. But, before we get to that, I’d like to put some events on your radar.  We hope you will join us at any of these: 6 p.m. TONIGHT,  July 23, 10 East Arts Hub — Real Talk: Chat N Chew - Artist Town Hall Edition invites artists to share the real deal of what it’s like to be an a...

Drink this tall glass of arts and culture: tips, stories, parties and radio. *Opens the fridge* We are mid-month and these “things to do ” still smell good. So does this list of free concerts for this summer and beyond.  We are staying fresh. But, we also have a ton of new things for you, including stories about an art hub for photographers in the near east side, a southside LGBTQ-owned comic stor...