<p>The chill of January is hanging over central Indiana.</p><p>With the holidays over, the trees and decorations have come down. Christmas lights are stowed in boxes for next year, and the special events and small get-togethers are done for the foreseeable future.</p><p>Cold, snow and ice, plus the all-encompassing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, promise a quiet, distanced next few weeks.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>But if the thought of holing up for the winter preemptively gives you cabin fever, never fear. Check out the best of locally made art, stroll through a tropical paradise right in central Indiana, or organize a private movie showing of a classic such as “Casablanca” or “The Goonies.”</p><p>Here are some ways to stave off the winter blahs while staying safe this January:</p><p>Tropical state of mind</p><p><strong>Deta</strong><strong>ils:</strong> Garfield Park Conservatory, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, 2505 Conservatory Dr., Indianapolis; $2 admission, must be purchased in advance at garfieldgardenconservatory.org.</p><p><strong>What:</strong> With travel to warmer climates not in the works during the pandemic, people can still pretend like they’re walking through a jungle on Indy’s southside. Palms, orchids, ferns, vanilla and banana trees form a canopy inside the 10,000-square foot conservatory at Garfield Park, which houses hundreds of different plants from all over the world’s tropical regions.</p><p>People can stroll along the conservatory path or sit on strategically placed benches to soak up the warmth. Reflect next to goldfish-filled ponds, lose yourself in the sounds of waterfalls, and dream about that trip to the tropics.</p><p><strong>‘All Things Purple’</strong></p><p>Details: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Southside Art League gallery, 299 E. Broadway St., Greenwood; free</p><p>What: Freezing temperatures may have you feeling blue, but members of the Southside Art League are going purple this winter. The Greenwood-based arts organization is hosting the first of its quarterly member exhibit, a showcase titled, “All Things Purple.”</p><p>Come see a wide variety of styles, subjects, media and prices, including original framed and unframed paintings, matted giclee prints, ceramic sculpture, paper sculpture and greeting cards — all united by violet, lavender, mauve and other hues of purple. The exhibit will be hanging through March.</p><p><strong>Community creativity</strong></p><p>Details: Greenwood Public Library Community Art Show, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 310 S. Meridian St.; free.</p><p>What: The Greenwood Public Library is celebrating the art of reading as its winter theme, and to go along with that, they’ve solicited people of all ages to submit paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, multimedia works and other pieces for a community art show.</p><p>Explore our most talented neighbors’ creative minds throughout the run of the show, which will be hanging from Friday to Feb. 28.</p><p><strong>Movie madness</strong></p><p>Details: Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin; call for pricing.</p><p>What: The Artcraft may have paused its classic movie series, as a precaution against increasing coronavirus cases. But people can still see the classics on the big screen, albeit in a slightly more private setting. The historic theater is offering small groups the opportunity to have private watch parties inside the theater.</p><p>This month’s offerings include “Blazing Saddles,” “Casablanca,” “The Goonies,” “The Lego Movie,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Viva Las Vegas.” Parties start at $200, and reservations will be accepted through Jan. 31. Contact the theater at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</p><p><strong>MLK Day: Speaking Love</strong></p><p>Details: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17, Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Ave., Indianapolis; free, though reservations must be made at DiscoverNewfields.org.</p><p>What: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is always a culturally diverse and engaging time at the Indianapolis Museum of Art galleries at Newfields. The same it true this year, only in altered form. Admission to the activities will still be free, but everyone is required to reserve tickets online in advance to comply with COVID capacity restrictions.</p><p>Limited programming will be held on site, but virtual activities including a playlist and at-home guided art making activity will be featured at DiscoverNewfields.org.</p>
