The revitalized Ruins at Holliday Park will open to the public on Saturday, September 17, 2016, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as part of the Rock the Ruins festival. According to Friends of Holliday Park, the project was part of a five-year, $3.2 million capital campaign. The Ruins, which originally opened in 1978 has been off limits to the public for almost twenty years. A free celebration with live music by Toy Factory, food trucks from the Indy Food Truck Alliance, beer and wine stations, and free kids activities will be held then.

The group notes: "The Ruins are the most identifiable element of the park. International sculptor Karl Bitter designed the Races of Mankind sculptures in the 1890s. The assemblage of fountains, columns and statues, designed by artist Elmer Taflinger, is one of Indianapolis' most distinctive art installations. For almost two decades, The Ruins stood fenced in and overgrown - off limits to the public. The new design by local landscape architects Eric Fulford (deceased) and Ann Reed of NINEbark, re-energizes the front third of the park creating spaces for events, performances and celebrations, and invites the public to interact with The Ruins as never allowed before. Horticultural design of the gardens created by Chris Turner/Utopos Gardens and construction by Smock Fansler Corporation."

Sorry Detroit. Indy is going car free on September 22, 2016.

IndyGo and others are urging you to ride a bike, take the bus, or at least car pool on that day. They are also displaying their new rapid bus on that day on Monument Circle from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The new red line bus rapid transit bus route will serve Broad Ripple. "IndyGo is excited to showcase this state-of-the-art bus technology in Marion County," said IndyGo CEO and President, Michael Terry. "We encourage residents to learn about what dedicated transit investment would mean for our IndyGo network and community by experiencing the bus in person."

Note that the red line bus rapid transit is not dependent on passage of the income tax hike on November 8, 2016.

The BRVA home tour is an opportunity to see the neighborhood's diversity and character, learn fascinating facts about each home and those who have lived in it over the years, meet the owners, and take away decorating and renovation ideas according to the BRVA.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor reminds everyone that 10-digit dialing for all local phone calls in the 317 area code will be mandatory starting October 15, 2016. You can even use it now. The OUCC has more info at https://lnkd.in/bUGNWY7, including a link to an IURC order.

The 10-digit pattern for local calls will allow room for the new 463 area code, while also allowing all consumers with 317 numbers to keep them.

Indy is the only place I have lived recently which had just one area code. However, it's no fun learning to dial 10 numbers again.

Don't forget we have daily train service to Chicago, including the four day a week Hoosier State which has cooked to order meals and a dome car. They are having a special, Buy One, Get One 50% off - Code V823 Details at www.hoosierstatetrain.com.

For all train service, visit www.amtrak.com.