By: Susan Volbrecht—
Muncie, IN—This Thursday, September 28th, the Washington Street Bridge will be closed to traffic and turned into a unique dining space for Muncie’s very first Bridge Dinner, 5:30 to 7:30 pm (weather permitting). This one-of-a-kind event is a follow-up to Peter Kageyama’s “Love Where You Live” presentation in March (See video below.) Kageyama challenged residents to seek out “love note” opportunities – visible gestures that demonstrate our affection for the Muncie community.
Roni Johnson of the Muncie Action Plan explains: “People should come to the Bridge Dinner to celebrate, with their neighbors, one of the many treasures of Muncie–the beautiful and scenic White River and White River Trail. It is also a time to share with others pride in the community they call ‘home.’”
The event will feature food for purchase from Karma Kitchen, The Big Easy, and Sea Salt and Cinnamon (or bring your own!) Guardian Brewery will offer beer for the over 21 crowd. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite Muncie regalia, and t-shirts will be available for purchase from Muncie Map Co., Funcie, and Speak Munsee. The Muncie Central Jazz Band will provide live entertainment, and diners will enjoy decor crafted by the second graders of Burris Laboratory School.
A wide range of organizations are collaborating to host the event, including the Muncie Action Plan, City of Muncie, Ball State Office of Community Engagement, Building Better Neighborhoods, Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Muncie Arts and Culture Council, Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Muncie Civic Theatre, Muncie Community Schools, Muncie/Delaware County Economic Development Alliance, Muncie Downtown Development, Shafer Leadership Academy, Walls Furniture, and Woof Boom Radio. Ball State visual communication students designed the event logo.
Johnson shared why Muncie Action Plan is at the frontlines of planning this event:
“One of the five initiatives of the Muncie Action Plan is to ‘Strengthen Pride and Image’ in our community, therefore MAP is eager and proud to spearhead this inaugural bridge dinner. This unique event encourages coming together to celebrate the good things about our community.”
Admission is free for all ages; Eventbrite pre-registration is requested. Interested in helping out with the event? Contact Roni Johnson at ronijohnson42@gmail.com to assist with set-up or clean-up.
For more information, including parking suggestions, visit http://www.muncieneighborhood.org/bridgedinner.
