Market hosting ‘DNR Wildlife Science Day’ this Thursday!

Every Statehouse Market is something special, but we think Week 19 is especially, um, special.

You might say it’s “super special.” Or “ultra special.” Or “stupendously super-duper special.”

No matter what adjectives you choose to use to describe it, the second-to-last Statehouse Market of 2018 is packed with fun thanks to the good folks at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources!

Thursday, Sept. 27 is officially (drum roll, please) “DNR Wildlife Science Day” at the Statehouse Market!

Start the morning off right by stopping by conference room 19 of IGC-South for the series “Cookies, Coffee and Conservation.” The talks, which are conducted by DNR experts, run from 9 to 9:50 a.m. and will cover wildlife disease management, the Hoosier State’s diverse duck population, conservation funding, coyotes’ relocation to urban areas, an analysis of car-deer collisions from the past five years, and a peek at Indiana’s underwater salamanders.

When the market proper kicks off at 10:30 a.m., DNR staff will have informational booths set up on the plaza to help you “Find Your Next Adventure” this fall!

And speaking of critters that bear more than a passing resemblance to dinosaurs, visitors may get an up-close and personal look at a hellbender salamander — one of Indiana’s largest underwater lizard-like amphibians. Don’t worry! Although the name sounds like something you’d hope not to find in your swimming pool, hellbenders are entirely harmless.

You can even commemorate the day by taking a selfie with “Herbie the Hellbender” — a costumed DNR staff member, not an actual salamander with a waterproof smartphone. Although, admittedly, that would be kind of neat too.

All this, plus the usual market goodness: the best produce around, artisan goods crafted with care, and delicious street food to suit every taste.

Don’t miss this Thursday’s Statehouse Market! Meet us on Robert D. Orr Plaza for food, fun and the opportunity to learn about Indiana’s truly “Great Outdoors.”

That’s definitely something special!

And we can’t wait to see you there!

Vendors:

VanAntwerp’s Farm Market

Poseys and Pumpkins

Biltz Greenhouses

Limelight Coffee Roasters — Five Questions

Groomsville Popcorn — Five Questions

Simple Taste — This week’s items include paleo, sugar free, pies, chicken pot pies, muffins, cinnamon rolls, Simple Taste’s famous sandwich cookies, and vegan chocolate brownies.

Batch No. 2 — Five Questions

Chef Bricker’s Brick House Vinaigrettes — Five Questions

Food Trucks:

Nacho Mama’s — Five Questions

Serendipity — Five Questions

The NY Slice

Gigi’s Cupcake Truck

Chomp’Z — Five Questions

Pierogi Love Indy

Johnson’s BBQ Shack

El Venezolano

Rolling Asian Delight

Tommie’s Ooo Weee Chicken

Chef Dan’s Southern Comfort — Five Questions

Statehouse Market Week 16: The post-Labor Day homestretch begins!

Labor Day weekend is traditionally seen as the unofficial end of summer.

Gone are the barbecues and pool parties, and in their place Hoosiers ready for sweatshirt weather, football and pumpkin spice-flavored everything.

Well, according to our calendars, there are five — count ’em — FIVE Statehouse Markets remaining in 2018. And since the farmer’s market on Robert D. Orr Plaza is pretty much synonymous with the warm rays of summer in Indy, we think there’s still plenty of fun in the sun left this year.

We’re so confident, in fact, that we might even (gasp!) wear white clothing after Labor Day!

Yes, it’s a potential fashion faux pas, but that’s just how daring we can be — at least when it comes to choosing pants in September.

And why not?

After all, that’s the sort of trend-bucking, devil-may-care Hoosier spirit you’ll see each Thursday at the market as some of the area’s top farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs and mobile restaurant maestros gather for an event the smells of which alone simply scream “summer.”

So keep the shades handy and the warm weather wardrobe at the ready. Summer’s far from over, and we hope you’ll enjoy these last few Market Days with us – rain or shine, summer weather or fall-like chilly temperatures.

As always, we’ll meet you for lunch on the plaza between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

We’ll see you Thursday! Until then, keep looking on the sunny side of life and check out the Sept. 6 lineup below.

Vendors:

VanAntwerp’s Farm Market

Poseys and Pumpkins

Biltz Greenhouses

Wildflower Ridge Honey — Five Questions

Brick House Vinaigrettes — Five Questions

Oberweis Dairy

Limelight Coffee Roasters — Five Questions

Groomsville Popcorn — Five Questions

Gluten Free Creations – This week’s items include a variety of sweet breads, yeast breads, scone bites, cookies, brownies, paleo items and more!

Uber Green Farms — Five Questions

Food Trucks:

Citizen Hash

The Twisted Sicilian

Serendipity Trailer — Five Questions

The Flying Cupcake

Backyard BBQ

Der Pretzel Wagen

The NY Slice

Soul Sista On the Move — Five Questions

Rolling Asian Delight

Tacos Without Borders

Calliope Sno-Balls

Johnson’s Barbecue Shack

2018 SECC ‘kickoff party’ headlines Week 15 Market!

This week’s Statehouse Market is extra special as the myriad food trucks and produce vendors will be joined on Robert D. Orr Plaza by numerous dignitaries and state employees for the formal kickoff of one of the year’s most important — and most anticipated — programs.

Indiana Department of Revenue Commissioner Adam Krupp is heading that statewide initiative — the 2018-19 State Employees’ Community Campaign (SECC). The SECC is a charitable effort that sees thousands of state employees donate to nonprofit organizations each year.

Taking charge immediately, the dynamic and driven Krupp helped set a new goal for this year’s SECC that hopes to net at least $1.5 million dollars.

Krupp’s chosen charity is Project 44, a nonprofit that encourages bone marrow donor registration at Be the Match, the goal being to connect potential donors with compatible transplant recipients. Project 44, so named in honor of former Butler basketball star Andrew Smith who wore the jersey number during his collegiate career with the Bulldogs, hopes to save at least 44 lives.

During Smith’s tenure, the team reached back-to-back NCAA Basketball Championship games.  The 6’11 center was instrumental in those tournament runs and was popular with students and fans. Tragically, the talented Zionsville native Butler faithful often called “Moose” died from an aggressive form of cancer in 2016. He was only 25-years-old.

After his passing, Andrew’s wife, Samantha, worked to create the charity that bears his number. Andrew Smith had received a bone marrow transplant in 2015 that family members believe extended his life.

The charity made news when one of the first matches facilitated through Project 44 led to a 2-year-old boy with leukemia receiving a needed bone marrow transplant. The donor? One of Smith’s Butler teammates.

That’s close to a storybook start for a nonprofit hoping to raise awareness of a life-saving process that organization members believe all-too-often goes “under the radar” of many Americans: the continual need for blood stem cell donors and recipients.

It’s truly an effort aimed at saving lives.

In addition to Project 44, dozens of other charities can be the recipients of donations from State of Indiana employees. The results of those donations are real, tangible and often come at just the right time for those in need. Read about the impact of last year’s campaign here.

INDOR Commissioner Adam Krupp (left) meets with IDEM Commissioner Bruno Pigott. Krupp is set to lead the 2018 SECC. Pigott headed the campaign last year.

With plenty of motivation to give back to organizations that fight everything from food insecurity to homelessness, it appears Krupp’s lofty goal is a reachable one.

Last year’s campaign, which was headed by Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Bruno Pigott, brought in about $1.4 million that was divided among more than 1,600 nonprofit agencies.

Those are the kinds of stories that inspire others to do good in the communities in which they live.

This year’s kickoff will continue to highlight that important point through a series of games and events that coincide with the already-fun and festive Statehouse Market. Indiana First Lady Janet Holcomb and First Dog Henry Holcomb are expected to appear at the event, which will feature a dunk tank, a pie-in-the face event and plenty of informational booths from several charities. Samantha Smith is also set to appear at Thursday’s SECC “kickoff party.”

What’s more, several vendors and food truck owners have decided to donate a portion of their proceeds toward the SECC! Check out the links below to read all about this week’s lineup and the featured items that can be purchased to give a boost to the campaign.

Great food + helping those in need = win-win for all.

It’s sure to be a fun time,  so make plans to have lunch outside this Thursday to learn more about a great cause while enjoying the amazing eats and treats only the Hoosier State’s finest farmers and entrepreneurs can provide.

Vendors:

VanAntwerp’s Farm Market

Poseys and Pumpkins

Biltz Greenhouses

Wildflower Ridge Honey — Five Questions

Uber Green Farms — Five Questions

Limelight Coffee — Five Questions — Limelight Coffee Roasters will donate $1 from each 32-oz. cold brew jug or bag of coffee beans sold Aug. 30!

Groomsville Popcorn — Five Questions — Groomsville Popcorn will donate $1 from each large bag of sea salt and kettle corn popcorn sold Aug. 30!

Simple Taste Specialty Bakery

Hot Toddy’s — Five Questions

Oberweis Dairy

Food Trucks:

Nacho Mama’s — Five Questions — Nacho Mama’s will donate $1 from every indescribably delicious mini taco salad sold Aug. 30!

Simply Divine Cupcakes — Five Questions

Droopy’s BBQ — Got a hankering for some mac ‘n cheese? How about barbecue mac ‘n cheese? Droopy’s BBQ will donate $.50 from each barbecue mac ‘n cheese dish sold Aug. 30!

Chomp’Z — Who doesn’t like a delicious tenderloin? It’s called “Hoosier Comfort Food” for a reason, after all. Chomp’Z will donate $1 from each tenderloin sold Aug. 30!

Da Blue Lagoon

Las Tortugas — Five Questions

Nicey Treat

Serendipity — Five Questions

Chef Dan’s Southern Comfort — Five Questions — Chef Dan’s will donate 10 percent of Aug. 30 sales to the SECC!

Soladine Concessions

Pierogi Love Indy

The NY Slice

We’ll see you on Robert D. Orr Plaza Thursday, Aug. 30!

Happy, happy birthday, Statehouse Market!

You only turn 6 once, and the Statehouse Market is celebrating its birthday with the amazing state employees, specialty vendors and food trucks that have helped make it such a fun success since 2012.

The Week 8 lineup certainly guarantees a “bon anniversaire” all its own, but our biggest birthday wish is that you’ll join us in celebrating from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, on Robert D. Orr Plaza.

We’ll bring the food!

And to answer one very important question: Yes, there will be cake — cupcakes to be exact, thanks to the one and only Flying Cupcake.

In case you weren’t aware, delicious confections are kind of their “thing,” and to help us celebrate, they’ve produced pastries bearing the Statehouse Market logo! They’re chocolate AND vanilla because, really, you can’t have one without the other. Also, it’s our birthday, so we’re entitled to be just a little extra.

The tasty treats will be in short supply, so get them while they last!

Come help us blow out the proverbial candles by shopping for fresh, Hoosier-grown produce, and indulging in some of the very best street food the Indianapolis area has to offer.

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our birthday — this year or any other. The only thing missing is you, so make plans to meet us for lunch this Thursday!

And while you’re here, scope out some of the photos from our 2012 debut below.

Statehouse Market Opening Day – July 12, 2012

No, we’re not getting misty-eyed; we’re just happy to have come this far. Most of all, we’re looking forward to spending many more birthdays with you in the years to come!

For now, check out this week’s celebratory vendor and food truck lineup below:

Vendors:

VanAntwerp’s Farm Market

Poseys and Pumpkins

Biltz Greenhouses  — Blueberries, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, squash, onions, berries, sweet corn, cucumbers and peaches will be offered this week.

Wildflower Ridge Honey — Five Questions

Uber Green Farms  — Five Questions

Oberweis Dairy

Limelight Coffee

Groomsville Popcorn  — Five Questions

Gluten Free Creations — This week’s items include a variety of gluten free sweet breads, yeast breads, cookies, pecan tartlets, scone bites, paleo items, and more.

Generations Pie Company  — Five Questions

Food Trucks:

Nacho Mama’s  — Five Questions

Serendipity Trailer  — Five Questions

The NY Slice

General American Donut Company  — Five Questions

Gobble Gobble

Soladine Concessions

Pierogi Love Indy

Chomp’Z

Gaucho’s Fire

Tacos Without Borders

The Flying Cupcake

Johnson’s BBQ

Nicey Treat