A few miscellaneous Indianapolis Halloween related tidbits before we move on to the next holiday!

The Gothic Chapel at Crown Hill Cemetery

Thanks to our local foodie expert Renee for sharing a unique venue on her blog over at FeedMeDrinkMe – a friend of hers rented the Gothic Chapel located on the grounds of Crown Hill Cemetery, just 3 ½ miles due north of downtown Indianapolis.  Her event? A Halloween themed wedding rehearsal dinner.

The cemetery is the 3rd largest in the United States (555 acres!) and this chapel, built in 1875, is right in the heart of the grounds.  Many know it as a treasure trove of Indianapolis history and enjoy the surprisingly large number of tours conducted each year.  Others enjoy driving up to the top of the hill where they soak in the 360 degree panorama of our city ithat includes the downtown Indianapolis skyline.

Renting the facility for events benefits the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation whose mission is to raise funds for the upkeep of the cemetery as well as to inform and educate the public through tours and other programs.

I hadn't known the chapel was available for non-funeral related functions, so I picked up the phone and talked to Marty Davis with the Foundation.  She shared that the chapel has a vestibule as well as the main chapel that can sit right around 50 or so for a meal at rounds.  At just $200/hour ($400 on October 31st), you'll be hard pressed to find a more unique venue at this price point.

Bonus feature - the 183 pipe organ that is in the facility to help you create that perfect spooky/scary ambience.

Bummer - Unless you are lighting a Unity candle for your wedding - no candles allowed!

It was renovated just a few years ago to the tune of $2 million and was an Indiana AIA award winner in 2006 (more photos there). 

Intrigued?  Give Marty or her colleague Marianne Randjelovic a call.

ICVA Sales Team takes 2nd in Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Ok - I'm taking some liberties here because I don't think they really awarded anything else but 1st place, so technically everyone that didn't win was tied for 2nd, right?

As is our tradition – the ICVA staff conducted our annual pumpkin decorating contest last Friday over our Halloween lunch hour.  This year was a timed competition (60 or 90 minutes depending on whether or not you followed the rules) and carving was not allowed.  Each department was provided a pumpkin and some supplies, but we were encouraged to bring in additional supplies of our own as well.

Although the sales team didn’t bring home the victory, I thought you’d enjoy our theme and approach.  Wondering where the pumpkin is?  Click on the image to see our full entry! 

Our award winning Housing Department was crowned as the champions – fresh off of executing the housing program for the Girls Scouts of the USA National Convention (here in town this past Tuesday - Sunday), they stayed with that theme and brought home the victory this year.  Pretty sure they paid the judges off in Thin Mints though...

You can find one other noteworthy entry into the contest over here on Karissa's blog - they also got 2nd.  J