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This article is the final article in a series of articles highlighting Indianapolis.
It appeared in the June issue of AMSTAT news.

Local Events During the Joint Statistical Meetings

Walter T. Ambrosious
2000 Local Assistance Committee

Summer is a wonderful time to visit Indianapolis. There are events and activities both indoors and outdoors, many within walking distance of the convention center. Below, I mention just a few of the events that will be taking place during the Joint Statistical Meetings.

The Indiana State Fair will run from August 9 through August 20. If you have never been to a State Fair, you should take this opportunity. I have never lived on a farm but always enjoy spending an afternoon at the Fair. You can eat pork chops, barbeque chicken and ribs, corn on the cob, elephant ears, cotton candy, snow cones, and just about every other kind of tasty but unhealthy food you can think of. After that, you'll want to wander through the animal barns before heading to the Midway for bumper cars or a Ferris wheel ride. You can easily spend an entire day at the Fair if you go to all of the exhibits. The fair can be enjoyed by people of all ages. There will be several concerts during the fair. Check out the State Fair website referenced below for schedules.

If you like spectator sports, check out the Indianapolis Indians AAA baseball team. They will be playing the Toledo Mud Hens at 6pm on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th and the Richmond Braves at 7pm on Monday through Wednesday evenings. Tickets are $6-10. The field is just a couple of blocks from the convention center. You can easily eat dinner at the park and make an evening out of the game. The ASA will have an evening at Victory Field on Saturday night. Tickets can be purchased on the JSM registration form.

The RCA Tennis Championships will be held in Indianapolis from the 12th through the 20th. The Tennis Center is less than ten minutes from the convention center by foot. Just a couple hundred yards past the tennis center is the Indiana University Natatorium, which is hosting the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials from the 9th through the 16th. The "Nat" is on the campus of Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis.

During the week of JSM there will be a special exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on decorative lace and another on American furniture from 1740-1870. Nearer to downtown, the White River Gardens will have a live butterfly exhibit during the JSM. This unique display of literally thousands of butterflies combined with gorgeous flowering plants is a must see.

Music fans, if you plan to be in town on the Friday or Saturday nights either before or after JSM, you will love the experience of hearing the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra play outdoors at Connor Prairie (about 20 miles from downtown on the Northeast side). The "Symphony on the Prairie" concert series has become a summer evening tradition in Indianapolis. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket to enjoy music under the stars. Themes this year include "An Evening in Old Europe" on 8/11 and 8/12, and "Rock n' Roll Weekend" on 8/18/, 8/19, and 8/20.

Many of the local theater companies will have shows during the JSM. A complete schedule can be seen at the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association website. Many of these theaters are downtown and within walking distance of the convention center.

Finally, don't forget to check out the local assistance committee's website (http://math.iupui.edu/~indyasa/jsm/main.html) for more information about Indianapolis events and links to informational websites.

For more information, please visit the following web sites: 
Indiana State Fair (http://www.state.in.us/statefair/) 
Olympic Swimming Trials (http://www.trials2000.com/) 
RCA Tennis Championships (http://www.rcatennis.com/) 
Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association (http://www.icva.org/, click Events at the top for searchable list of local events) 
Indianapolis Indians (http://www.indyindians.com/) 
Indianapolis Museum of Art (http://www.ima-art.org/) 
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Connor Prairie (http://www.indyorch.org/marshtick.htm)

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