gingko is the newest store in the Village, and therefore was the appropriate starting place for my tour. I made Mom promise not to go in until I got there. The featured artist was local metal smith Joanie Drizen. Her great outdoor art pieces are whimsical and fun. I was having a hard time concentrating on her work with the distractions of all of the cool things in gingko. I was sidetracked by the work of Leigh Standley. Leigh's yoga inspired work is quirky and remarkable. My favorite piece features a woman on a big blue bicycle with a wicker basket (looking like the twin sister to my bike) with the phrase "I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world." gingko carries Leigh's paintings, magnets and cards.

Mom and I headed to Marigold from there. Jewelry designer Suzanne Nicks Bowles was there with her beautiful pieces. Suzanne has only been crafting jewelry for the last six years. She had a long career as a visual merchandiser at Kittles. She said she woke up one day knowing she needed to make jewelry. I'm glad she followed her hunch. Her jewelry is crafted from sterling silver and Venetian glass beads.

Next stop was Artifacts: I was blown away by the three featured artists - I went back Saturday morning for a closer look. Not only were all the artists amazing in their own right, their work looked like it was meant to hang together. Lynn Devine McDonald has been a collector since childhood, so of course I'm drawn to her work. She layers old photographs, found objects, ephemera, stampings and paint to create her collages.

Anne Huskey-Lochard creates fiber art shrines inspired by her visits to New Orleans. She mixes religious metals with secular images for incredible results. In the last year the pieces have come to represent time capsules of her memories of her trips to New Orleans.

I've been looking forward to seeing Bernadette Ostrozovich's work for sometime. She has taught art to a diverse range of people for years. Her work has developed from her love of collage and sculpture. Family (she has two great sons, Michael and Nick) and nature are her two biggest influences. She has a great attachment to archetypes, semi-religious themes, and sometimes glitter. I was happy to finally meet her and see her amazing work.

Our last stop (only because we ran out of time) was The Bungalow. I was looking forward to seeing the work of Brian Phillips as he was the buzz of the tour. I ran in to neighbors, Robin and Tim, in gingko and they told me about his work. My mom had gone there first and had already purchased two of his paintings. I saw Anne Bond (Happy Trails Studio) on the street and she showed me the piece she bought - I was not disappointed. Brian designed the poster for Jazz on the Avenue last year; Musical instruments and musicians heavily influence his work. Photographer/artist Jeff Strayer also has work hanging at The Bungalow. I did run in to my very-favorite-artist-ever in the store, dear cousin Jessica Lowery. Jessica is graduating from Herron School of Art and Design this week and heading to Chicago this summer to pursue her career. I know she'll be missed at the Indianapolis Art Center's summer programs.

ginko 908 Westfield Boulevard 202.0120 - Joanie Drizen

Leigh Standley

Marigold 6323 Guilford Ave 254.9939 - Suzanne Nicks Bowles

Artifacts 6327 Guilford Ave 255.1178

Bungalow Home Collections 934 Westfield Boulevard 253.5028

I know Daddy Jacks is slightly out of the greater Broad Ripple area, but it's my birthday and I'll write about The Benders if I want. As I've said before, and I'm sure I'll say again, Tad Armstrong is my favorite singer. He's a darn good songwriter too. The band is loaded with great musicians David England, John Byrne and Wade Parrish. They play a bunch of cover tunes peppered with Tad Armstrong and David England originals. I'll be the one yelling "play that one song, you know the one with a guy and feelings and towns . . . you know. . . the song I like"

Daddy Jacks

The Benders

The Market is moving this year to the Broad Ripple High School campus, which allows for plenty of parking and space for the vendors. The music series is continuing this year, kicking off with the very talented Mikel and Arminta. You usually see Arminta fronting the Celtic rock band Blaq Lily. She and guitar-player husband Mikel will be performing unplugged (literally). The Market will run through October.

Boulevard Place Café has terrific food and is a great place to see music - it is filling a great niche in the music community. So many terrific independent, touring musicians stop in Indianapolis to play, and not enough of us take advantage of that.

It's always a good time when The Clodhoppers are in town. They were one of the last bands to play CATH, Inc. I was always happy to book them, not just because they packed the house, but they're darn fun. They've been playing their unique blend of rollicking, front porch music for five years.

Speaking of good times, The Born Again Floozies are not to be missed. Picture this if you will-guitar, tuba and tap shoes-all at once. This gypsy sidewalk trio is the most entertaining band in rock and roll - or at least Indianapolis. The highest praise I can give them is that Evan Finch and Kipp Normand, two of the hippest folks in Indianapolis, are fans.

Each of these women is an amazing and talented singer/ songwriter, and the thought of the three of them together is almost too much to comprehend. NYC based Trina was a CATH favorite. Colleen is from Boston, and Martine splits her time between Australia and the States. These women often sell out larger venues across the county. It will be a treat to see them in our neighborhood.