Holy Rosary Italian Street Festival returns to Indianapolis June 14-15, 2013

Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 520 Stevens St., Indianapolis, will once again open its hearts and grounds to the festival lovers of Indiana. Having to cancel last year's event, the parish released a statement promising to come back this year with the beloved event.

And they are fulfilling that promise.

Located in the Fletcher Park neighborhood, the little parish that could is rolling out the red carpet with its annual fundraiser.

The family friendly event offers a mini-Midway alongside the parish and includes rides and games. You can find rubber ducky games, dart-throwing and basketball tossing. Rides include a carousel for the little ones as well as older kid's rides.

Families, friends and strangers will come together to raise much-needed money for the tiny church through food, drinks, snacks, games and rides.

Every year dedicated volunteers roll up their sleeves (figuratively and literally) in the 90+ degree weather and the scorching sun to dish up meatballs, spaghetti and cannoli. No good Italian festival is good without Italian beer and wine, however, and there wills plenty of beer chilling on ice and wine being uncorked.

This year, two stages are added for musical entertainment in the form of the The Indy Nile Band and Cooking with Nonna on the main stage. A side stage will feature Theotokos.

The best part of this festival is the spirit of the people who hold it and those who attend. Everyone's spirits are high and welcoming, joking and laughing while they dish up hundreds upon hundreds of their goodies for those wanting to capture the flavor of the Italian cuisine and culture.
Hours: Friday , June 14: 5-11 pm; Saturday, June 15: 5-11 pm rain or shine
Website: www.HolyRosaryParish.org
Note: The Italian Street Festival is held the 2nd weekend of June annually.

Photos: Elizabeth J Musgrave

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Spaghetti ice cream named Indiana State Fair ‘Signature Food’ 2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Spaghetti Ice Cream, created by Monroe Concessions, has been voted the 2012 ‘Signature Food’ at the Indiana State Fair. Online voters selected this dish after reading the insights from a panel of eight judges who tasted all six entries.

Click to read review of 2011 fair food.

Fair goers can find this winning dessert on Main Street across from the Pepsi Coliseum, the spot given to the contest’s winning concessionaire every year. The dish sells for $5 and consists of spaghetti shaped gelato, Italian ice cream, with strawberry ‘tomato sauce,’ shaved white chocolate ‘cheese’ and chocolate ‘meatballs.’
Bob and Joanie Monroe of Monroe Concessions in Marion, Ind., came up with the concept after learning that this year’s fair is the “Year of Dairy Cows” and will also feature an exhibit on Italy in the International Pavilion. This is the second time the Monroes have won the contest. Their deep-fried chocolate covered strawberries won the inaugural competition in 2006.

Indiana State Fair

Aug. 3 - 19

For tickets, directions and more information, visit IndianaStateFair.com.

To celebrate the 2012 Indiana State Fair's “Year of Dairy Cows” theme, contest rules required vendors to use dairy products in all food creations. The other entries will all be on sale at throughout the State Fair.

Cheese Squared (Coffman Concessions)

Chipotle, creamy spinach or garlic herb cream cheese wrapped in Swiss cheese, then lightly breaded and fried. ($6 for 5 squares)

Moo Chew Meal (American Dairy Association)

A light, refreshing lemon chiller milkshake served with a sourdough grilled cheese sandwich loaded with American and Pepper Jack cheese. ($5)

Micro Beer Cheese Sauce (Barto’s Catering)

Local micro brew-fused beer cheese sauce served on either fresh cut fries, hefty burger or on the side for dipping. ($1/cup)

Caramel Corn Sundae (Baskin Robbins)

Vanilla ice cream with hot caramel topping, caramel corn, fresh whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. ($5.50 for 2 scoops)

Blue Ribbon Cannoli (Bakerman Concessions)

A crisp Italian cookie shell filled with sweet, whipped ricotta cheese, whipping cream, powdered sugar, mini chocolate chips and dried berries, topped with a powdered sugar sprinkle. ($6 for 2)

Cumulus Radio sponsored this year’s competition, which is in its seventh year. WFMS and WJJKon-air personalities directed listeners to the radio stations’ web sites to view a video of the judges’ comments and get an itemized listing of all the entries.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her newest column, Infused at GottaGo.us and FoodandDrinkDigital.com and as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published onGottago.us, BroadwayWorld.com, in M and Retired Living magazines and several newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Holy Rosary Parish Cancels Italian Street Festival 2012

The Holy Rosary Italian Street Festival, held annually, will not be serving up gelato and cannoli this year. According to sources at Holy Rosary Parish, on Indianapolis' Southside, and per a press release sent out by the church, the action comes as a result of staff needs.

The 2012 Italian Street Festival is being reluctantly canceled for one year only. Its chief organizer, David Page, feels it necessary to step down from the huge undertaking. In the meantime, the church's volunteer committee is planning a smaller, Italian-themed event for this August or perhaps in October to coincide with Columbus Day celebrations.

“We want to assure the public that this much-loved civic event has not seen its final days,” Fr. Michael Mageria, parish administrator, said. “It will return in all its glory to its rightful place on the calendar in June 2013.”

The mid-June event has been held on the corner of East and Stevens streets since 1983. From its inception it was apparent the event would be popular and has grown to welcome tens of thousands of visitors yearly. The festival combines authentic Italian food, such as gelato, cannoli and pasta. with a midway, games and entertainment. Wine and beer are also served at the parish's fundraiser.

“The festival had grown so large, it had become, in its way, a small business enterprise that consumed much of David’s time throughout the year,” Fr. Magiera explained. “No one individual — or even a group of individuals — was immediately ready to take over such a large undertaking."

The church will announce the exact dates for the temporary festival slated for later this year. It is tentatively called "Taste of Italy," and will serve as a transitional festival until the return of the Italian Street Festival in June, 2013.

Holy Rosary Catholic Church was founded in 1909 to serve Italian immigrants in Indianapolis. Located at 520 Stevens Street. It is the only parish in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to offer both the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms of Mass under one roof.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook. Gotta Go is published on www.BroadwayWorld.com and in M magazine and the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.