This weekend in Bloomington: Cinco de Mayo, gallery walk and plant sales

Brian Rosenzweig, The Herald-Times

It's commencement weekend in B-Town, but even if you're not taking part in the ceremonies, there's plenty to do just west of the Sample Gates. From a Cinco de Mayo celebration to opportunities to spruce up your yard in time for summer, there's plenty for students and townies alike to do during the first weekend of May – before things get a little quieter around town.

Who can grow the tallest sunflower?

Think you have what it takes to grow Monroe County's tallest sunflower? Pick up seeds at any Monroe County Public Library to give it your best try.
Think you have what it takes to grow Monroe County's tallest sunflower? Pick up seeds at any Monroe County Public Library to give it your best try.

Think your green thumb can coax a sunflower that reaches the greatest heights? Head over to any Monroe County Public Library location starting Wednesday, May 1 for a packet of five sunflower seeds and an information sheet about a competition. The team or individual who grows the tallest sunflower in August will win a prize, and prizes will be awarded for second and third place, too. Emailed photos will be required for submissions, which will be accepted from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. Registration encouraged, but not required.

See 'It' at The Back Door

You might be familiar with the creepy sewer clown from Stephen King's novel, but long before King gave us all coulrophobia, there was another "It" film about a saucy lingerie salesgirl.

The 1927 silent film was inspired by a story by Elinor Glyn, who uses the simple pronoun to encapsulate the spirit of the sexually-liberated youth of Prohibition-era America. Quintessential flapper Clara Bow stars in the Jazz Age romantic comedy.

Showing at The Back Door, 207 S. College Ave., at 8 p.m. Thursday. $5. 21 and over.

It's time for Gallery Walk

Visit By Hand Gallery in Fountain Square Mall during Friday's gallery walk for "Celestial Shadows": A celebration of Solar and Lunar Eclipses by Scott Johnson.

Johnson has made prints from the April 8 eclipse, as well as previous eclipses, including his newest work, "Continuum," a 35-image composite. Johnson's pieces are Chromaluxe Metal Prints, in which photos are reproduced by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets, making them waterproof and easily cleaned.

Gallery Walk is Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. By Hand Gallery is at 101 W. Kirkwood Ave. Suite 109 inside Fountain Square Mall.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Bloomington Brewing Company

Get your fix of tacos, brews and festivities at this free Cinco de Mayo event at Bloomington Brewing Company. Pili's Party Taco truck will be dishing out its famous tacos and tortas, while BBC will unveil "Aquila," its first ever Mexican lager with hints of salted lime. Festivities will include a ball pit, cornhole and a taco-eating contest.

The Cinco de Mayo celebration is Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Bloomington Brewing Company is at 2234 W. Industrial Park Dr. Free.

Plant event to support graduate research scholarships

Spruce up your yard with landscaping plants including irises, canna lilies, ostrich ferns, black-eyed Susans, wild geraniums, and beardtongues, or snag a new house plants, at the semiannual IGWS Plant Event Monday.

Black-eyed Susans will be among the plants available during the Indiana Geological Water Survey's plant event Monday.
Black-eyed Susans will be among the plants available during the Indiana Geological Water Survey's plant event Monday.

The sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 2022 of the Indiana Geological and Water Survey/Geology Building.

Donations generated from the event will support the IGWS Graduate Research Scholarship Fund.

Anyone wishing to donate plants or cuttings should label them and bring them to Room 2022 between 2 and 3 p.m. Friday, May 3, or between 8 and 9 a.m. the day of the sale.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington Events: Cinco de Mayo, gallery walk, IGWS Plant Event

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