Two of my very favorite things to do are happening this week. I'm a State Fair junkie and a big fan of the Midwest Music Summit. The Fair is celebrating its 150th year anniversary and MMS is 6.

We did not take family vacations when I was young, but we always made it to the State Fair. I loved the poultry barn and the little chicks that walked up the ladder and chirped down the slide. Somehow my parents skirted us around the end of the Fair with the Ferris Wheel and carnival games. I was convinced that the tractor tram was a ride. The big decision of the day was whether we were eating at the Pork Producers tent or the Cattleman's Club. When I was a teenager and had some spending money I would thoroughly examine everything that could possibly be engraved at the vendor across from the grandstand. I would invariably ended up choosing a grab bag and telling myself I was happy with the heart-shaped dog tag. I still enter the Open Show every year. This year there are two Sweepstakes winners on the Gazette Team. Elizabeth Hague's beautiful handmade quilt was the big winner in that category and my Bakelite salt-and-pepper shakers won the big prize for kitchen wares. I'll see you at the Fair, I'll be the one riding the tractor shuttle eating a steak sandwich and giggling.

The Midwest Music Summit brings 300 bands to Broad Ripple August 10-12. You can hear every thing from angst-ridden singer/songwriters to hip-hop in the same day for one low, low price. My favorite thing each year is the songwriters' round lead by our beloved, hometown troubadour Otis Gibbs. It's also the best deal in town. Just $25 dollars gets you a wristband that is good for all three days. I think that breaks down to less than ten cents a band and less than a penny a song. MMS has a great reputation and has become the premiere music event in the Midwest. Registration has been moved to the Monkey's Tale, which is located at 925 Westfield Boulevard. I encourage you to support the Summit this year. MMS is an Indianapolis treasure and we need to keep it going strong.

I met Catherine in a writing class at Butler. She didn't need the class; she's already a great screenwriter. Catherine already has several short films and two feature films under her writer/directorial belt. She's working on her next film and needs our help. Come to a screening of her previous shorts and help support her newest endeavor The Generator. The project needs cash and supplies. Here is the short list of needs.

This is your big chance to make it big in the movies. Come to the screening for more details.