Happy Election Day! Go get your democracy on.

• An Evansville couple is in jail charged with neglect after three kids they were caring for apparently overdosed on prescription drugs.
• The Indiana Youth Institute says suicide is the second leading cause of death in Indiana for teens between the age of 15 and 19. It is now behind only accidental death as the leading cause of death for teens.
• Jasmine Jung, the Castle junior, sent home from Prom for wearing a tuxedo brought her appeal before the Warrick School Corporation with the help of the ACLU. Jung asked for her money back and an apology. No word on if she’ll get her wish.
• The Evansville School Board seems to have finally found a superintendent. They’ve entered contract talks.
• And in my obligatory plugging of Purdue news, the University announced that University of California at Riverside Chancellor France A. Córdova will be our 11th President. Córdova is a physicist and former NASA scientist. She’ll fit in great.

photo courtesy of Awesome Photography

Mothers Day is coming up this Sunday, and I have nothing to get my mother for a gift. I’ve already given her the standard gifts before: chocolates, cards, iPods, gift certificates. I need something new. I need something fun. I need creativity.

Because of this, I come to you, my dear It’s Evansville readers for help. Use this Open Thread and tell me what you are getting your mother to mothers day.

photo courtesy of mikelehen

Even though voter turnout is expected to be low, we wanted to make sure you were aware of where the polling places are. The polls will be open from 6:00AM. to 6:00PM. on Tuesday. Voters need to bring a valid, government issued ID to the polls.

You can get a listing of polling places from the Courier & Press Web site.

Even if you aren’t planning to vote, if you have any business you need to take care of at the Civic Center, don’t bother trying tomorrow as it will be closed for the primary.

Looking to catch up on all that happened this week on It’s Evansville? Here’s some highlights.

• We outlined some of the road construction projects underway around town.
• We had a local personal trainer provide us with an article on motivating yourself to hit the gym as part of Healthier Evansville week.
• We were live on the scene for photos of the Integra robbery on North Main.
• Ah, craigslist. We highlighted the best of Missed Connections.
• We posted photos from Thursday night’s Brad Paisley concert.
• We saw Spider-Man 3 and reviewed it.

It’s Sunday. What are you up to?

• Evansville’s mayor is not only running unopposed in Tuesday’s primary, but he’s got quite the warchest.
• Ever wonder what nasty things are floating around in the Ohio River and Pigeon Creek? Try a refridgerator.
• USI is planning to renovate the University Center and the old Rice Library. Designs should be to the board of trustees by the fall.
• Wesselman’s Park began construction on the new tennis clubhouse. The clubhouse will include office space, bathrooms, a kitchen and an open area for resting after a grueling 3 set match.

photo courtesy of carpeaqua

Hope you weren’t a fan of the bland chain-style BBQ that was served up at Smokey Bones on the east side. As of today, the restaurant is no longer open. The company that owns Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill says it’s closing 56 of its restaurants, because they’re not profitable enough. That includes the one in Evansville as well as 6 others around the state.

I went there a few times, and was not a fan at all. I’d much rather eat good BBQ at Shylers, or make the trek over to Owensboro for Moonlite. I may be biased though, because I am not a fan of chain restaurants. Give me local flavor anyday.

Every Saturday night we like to round up the local crime stories from the previous few days and put a spotlight on the riff-raff of society. We call it Evansville 911.

• Teresa Perry, a local attorney, was arrested at her law office Friday after she allegedly sold drugs and delivered methamphetamine to a police informant. Didn’t we just have an attorney selling drugs?
• Remember Gordon Wayne Wright, who distributed flyers of his two ex-wives in the nude? He was arrested again for that act, but with new charges: distributing pornographic material to a minor.
• More meth arrests. This time in Boonville.

Spoiler Alert: Some plot points discussed.

It’s a rare occasion that I go see a movie in theaters anymore. The cost of an evening ticket is exorbitant and that is before the soda and popcorn. The fact is that I have a pretty nice home setup for watching movies. There are some movies, though, that need to be seen in a theater. Big action movies with awesome CGI and great sound need to be experienced more than seen. I think most comic book movies are of that ilk. With that in mind, I took Friday afternoon off and headed out to Stadium 16 on the West side of town and bought a ticket for the 3:20 showing of Spider-Man 3.

The second sequel to 2002’s Spider-Man, Spider-Man 3 starts off with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and romantic interest Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) in good spirits and with Parker planning to pop the question to Mary Jane. The city is even overjoyed with Spider-Man and his heroism. The happiness ends when Parker’s former best friend Harry Osborn tries to avenge his father’s death in a great action sequence between the two. Unfortunately, this scene was probably the highlight of the movie, and it was in the first thirty minutes.

Continue reading It’s Evansville Review: Spider-Man 3…

We here at It’s Evansville like to support things that are a little different and unique. We like unique music. We like artists that think outside of the box. We like food that goes beyond the standard chain food. We also like a group of girls who skate and slam into each other. That is certainly different, and we support it!

The Demolition City Roller Derby team is having a benefit show this weekend to help get the team off the ground and hopefully playing matches in the near future. The benefit will be at Lanhucks (321 E Columbia Evansville, IN 47711 812-424-0830) Sunday night at 8PM. The team will be there as well as several local bands such as Stationary Odyssey, eXesion and my personal favorite, The Pretentious Wankers. Besides listening to live music and roller derby chicks, Lanhucks will also have PBR for $1.50.

Cover is $3 at the door.

We interviewed the co-founder of the team, Molly Hartshorn, last month. You can read about it here.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here’s a sampling of what’s going on each night.

Friday

• The Evansville Civic Theater is presenting Over The Tavern tonight. Curtain’s up at 8PM. Over The Tavern tells the story a A 12-year-old parochial student who discovers that questioning your faith is part of growing up, even when your tavern-owner parents would do anything to keep you from doing so.
• 1123 has a CD release party for several bands tonight: Synthetic Elements, Slick Nicolas and Noble Prize. The show starts at 7PM.
• If you’re looking for a relaxing time after the downtown Cruise-In, Matt Clark will be playing piano at The Jungle at 9PM.
• If you are looking to celebrate Cinco De Mayo early, Club Baja at Marina Pointe is having a party starting at 10PM.
• Fast Eddy’s has Gonzo’s Toybox at 10PM.
• Not downtown? Pieces of the Day is at O’Brians at 10PM.

Saturday

• Want to see some cars? There is a car show at Angel Mounds in Newburgh from 9AM - 4PM.
• If you’re looking for somewhere to watch the Kentucky Derby, Marigold Bar, Firefly and the Gerst Haus are all having Derby parties starting around 3 or 4PM.
• The Evansville Civic Theater is presenting Over The Tavern as well tonight at 8PM.
• It’s Cinco De Mayo! All the Mexican restaurants are having entertainment of some sort.
• If you want to see De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Hobo Jungle and Jillians are both showing the fight starting at 8PM.
• If you’re wanting to celebrate Cinco De Mayo after a mexican feast, take your pick. Crawdaddy’s, the Duck Inn and Club Baja are all having some sort of festivity.
• • Fast Eddy’s has Gonzo’s Toybox at 10PM.
• Pieces of the Day is at O’Brians at 10PM.
• Lanhucks has Nocturnal 10:30.