Some students may think the world ends this side of Lincoln, that Evansville is composed of the blocks in the UE mile and maybe extends to Wal-Mart. But there is a chance that they are selling the city short.
“Not on the surface, but if you dig a little bit, Evansville has a lot to offer us,” said Duane Myers, a Reitz Home tour guide.
All one has to do is watch a game at Bosse Field or wander around the Haynie’s Corner Art District. It may begin to sink in that Evansville is more than just a stereotypical Midwestern city.
“The main thing is to just get out, and the more you’re out, the more you’re going to see,” said Susan Washburn, marketing and membership director for the Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences. “We hear it on a daily basis: people come in from out of town, and they’re just amazed at how much Evansville has to offer.”
The Classics
Civic Theatre, 717 N. Fulton Ave., has staged performances since the 1920s and begins its 83rd season in September.
It offers student tickets for $12, and the first play, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!” opens Sept. 12.
“We’re trying to attract a younger audience this season,” said Chris Tyner, box-office manager. “So, all of the shows on the bill this year are ones that will appeal to a younger generation.”
Another classic is Bosse Field, home to the Evansville Otters. Located at 1701 N. Main St., the field is the third oldest professional ballpark still in operation. It opened in 1915.
Students can catch the action at 7 p.m. Friday when UE hosts “UE Night at the Otters.”
Cost is $5, which includes the game ticket and picnic dinner. To register for the event, visit evansville.edu/alumni or the Igleheart Building by noon Friday.
The picnic begins at 6 p.m., students should pick up their tickets at the field.
Not far from Bosse is another well-kept secret: the Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden, 1545 Mesker Park Drive.
Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. year round, the zoo is a place for students who may want to escape their residence halls and remind themselves of what real animal life is like.
A new Amazonia exhibit recently opened, showcasing both plant and animal life from South American rainforests. Admission is $8.50.
The Eccentric
The Eville Swing Cats offer swing-dance lessons 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Jungle Restaurant, 415 Main St. And swing dancing is not just for old people.
“It is a lot of fun, but people might think that because the music is old that swing dancing isn’t for college students,” said junior Jessica David, who took lessons last year from the Cats. “And it’s easy to learn. It only takes about a half-hour to get the basic moves down. Besides, every girl likes a guy who knows how to dance.”
No experience or dance partner is necessary, and it costs $3 per lesson for those with valid college IDs.
Perhaps the most eccentric area in Evansville is tucked away at Haynie’s Corner Art District.
The Alhambra Theater, 50 Adams Ave., sponsors an old movie on the fourth Friday of every month.
Projected onto a wall on the outside of the theater, September’s film will be Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.” Bring blankets, chairs and snacks for this event that starts at sundown.
Down the street from the Alhambra is the Poethouse and Art Emporium, which hosts poetry readings the third Tuesday of every month.
“Freedom of speech is the name of the game here; anything as long as it’s still poetry,” owner William Sovern said. “It’s some pretty hip stuff here.”
The district gives visitors a glance at Evansville’s variety.
“It’s totally different from any other place in Evansville,” said Wendy Brehold, an Alhambra board member. “[People] really get a feeling of what Evansville is, past all the usual strip malls and fast food.”
The Intellectual
Evansville is also brimming with history. The Reitz Home, 224 S.E. First St., is a Victorian museum built in 1871 that showcases the former home of the John A. Reitz family.
Tours are from 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and 1–3:30 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $2.50 for students.
A few blocks from the Reitz Home is the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, 411 S.E. Riverside Drive.
The museum will offer a variety of programs this fall, from a “Day of the Dead” celebration to an environmentally aware “Carbon Challenge.”
The museum is open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and noon–5 p.m Sunday. A $4 donation is suggested.
