Who doesn't love Bob Ross? Bob Ross believed anybody could be an artist. His painting programs on…read morePBS were mesmerizing and comforting, even if you didn't paint. His series was filmed in this home in Muncie, Indiana. The home, now a museum, is opened for tours. Clay, the museum guide, was knowledgable and loved answering my questions. He spent a lot of time with us. The actual tour is self guided. In the house, you can view the small studio where filming of the show took place. The room has many artifacts on display with anecdotal stories. Upstairs, a gallery holds eight of his paintings along with a painted bowl. A sitting room is set up as a 1970's living room with a tv playing episodes of Bob Ross. A classroom is set up for painting classes upstairs, as well. The house is immaculate, including the restrooms. The home was a former residence of Lucius Ball, the oldest Ball brother and an heir of the Ball estate. Ball bought the home as a Victorian farmhouse, but remodeled it to the stately mansion it is today. The home was donated to Ball State University, where it was rented out as a studio for Bob Ross. Admission to the home was $15 adults and $12 for children. Tickets can be purchased from kiosks in the house. Admission also provides entrance to nearby Oakhurst Gardens and the art galleries at Minnetrista. There is a large parking lot to the east of the house, surrounded by lovely gardens. The Bob Ross experience is worth a visit if you like art, history and architecture.

When my husband turned forty, we threw him a Bob Ross themed party. When people asked me if it was…read morebecause he was a Bob Ross fan, I said "no, it's because everyone is a Bob Ross fan." Show me a person who hates Bob Ross. Go on, I'll wait. I didn't know a lot about Bob before visiting this tribute to his life, and I learned so much. He was just as kind and thoughtful as a person as he appeared to be on his show. He truly cared about people from all walks of life, and cared even more about their ability to believe in themselves and their potential as artists. Seeing some of his real paintings up close made me emotional... and I loved that there were many things you could touch and look at as closely as you wanted. That's why it's an experience and not a museum! The only thing I wanted to see was a lovely gift shop. There was a gift shop up the hill in a separate building that had some items, but wasn't "Bob Ross only," and I think that would have been the perfect addition.

On my last visit to Muncie, I found this giant mural downtown on the side of the Mark III Taproom…read moreon Walnut. The mural was completed in 2017 by the "We're Trying Collective" and volunteers. The mural was inspired as response to the Orlando Pulse Nightclub attack. Muncie residents wanted to let folks of all types know that they are welcome in Muncie. Community outreach gathered thoughts and interest and developed the mural. The mural has large pastel areas with a black overlay of lines that create a lot of abstract imagery. Between the lines, a number of hand prints can be seen of volunteers. The orange areas also have a number of equality symbols. Review #1367

You can't go wrong with a good statue. This is an icon in…read moreMuncie. It's easy to find and parking is handy. Sadly the grounds were not very well kept. My hope is this statue will continue to great drivers in Muncie and give them pause to stop, think and say a little prayer to whoever your higher power is.

In 1929 the spouse and children of Edmund Ball dedicated this replica bronze of Cyrus Dallin's…read morefamous Sioux Warrior. (The original is located at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.) The sculpture is part of Dallin's "Epic of the Indian" series. The statue is located east of the Minnetrista in a triangular park area at the intersection of Walnut St and Granville and is visible from the Cardinal Greenway Trail system. Though the statue is a beautiful work, it does not fit with the history of Indiana. The Hoosier state had Delaware and Miami tribes in the Muncie area. The Sioux and all western plains tribes were farther west, so this statue may not have been the best choice from an accuracy point of view. Still, it is an impressive sculpture and was probably selected more for the spirit it portrays than the actual tribe. Review #1206

This place is awesome here out of town and just stopped in prices are very very fair and the food…read moreis amazing for that 1/2 meatballs sub and glad I did it took all I could to finish it and I'm a big guy it's a must go

I travel for work and spent a lot of time in Muncie over the years. I'm sad to say I only…read more'discovered' Mancinos in the past six months. Since then, I've made it a regular rotation for grinders and dessert. The grinder bread--made on-site daily--is their specialty. I've watched videos on how they make it and cook it, but I doubt I'd be able to recreate at home. Try something you like the first time and then start to expand and experiment with their other combinations. Pizza is solid. One of these visits I'm going to skip the grinder and try their take on a midwest classic--taco pizza. Definitely a budget chain that gives you a locals favorite vibe. Didn't feel the classic 'record scratch--locals stare' when I walked in...but it was very apparent everyone knew each other. While it started in Michigan, there's many branches in MI, IN, KY, and a few in IL and WI. If you're heading to Mancino's, try a 1/2 grinder to start. If that is as intriguing as it was for me, you'll be back on the regular.

Prominently displayed in the middle of a roundabout, "Passing of the Buffalo" stands atop a stone…read morepedestal. The sculpture portrays a lone warrior Native American cast in bronze back in 1929. The headress extends the entire length of the sculpture to the warrior's feet where a cattle skull rests. The artist was Cyrus Dallin who also did the "Appeal to the Great Spirit" sculpture on the north side of downtown. Passing of the Buffalo can be found on the south side of downtown on Walnut across from the Children's Museum Review #1381

"Beyond the Threshold of Knowledge, the Flame of Wisdom illuminates the Path of Understanding."…read more This unattributed quote appears on the dedication plaque of this beautiful sculpture by local artist Kenneth Ryden (2001). Standing upon a pedestal of two round levels, a bronze of a man holding a flame is framed between two columns of stainless swirl finished steel that arc up and over the man. The dedication plaque lies on the top circle of the pedestal at the man's feet.'' The three phases of intelligence, first knowing, then finding wisdom, and finally, understanding are referenced in the quote and hopefully, provokes some reflection and contemplation of our own beliefs in the things we "know". Review #1506

In the old west end district of Muncie, it is hoped that adding this pocket park will help to turn…read morethe neighborhood around. Brick lined pathways lead to a central circle with a carved sculpture by Brenda Whitaker (Community Circle Monument) in the middle. The south end of the park is filled with a line of thresholds that get larger as they angle around to the east. In between the brick paths, the park alternates between lawn and mulched areas for plantings. The sculpture has a simple form with a beveled top and a circular hole just below the peak. There is some seating provided on what appears to be four granite benches. Review #2501

Outside the Children's Museum in Muncie is a whimsical bronze called "Wait for Me". The piece was…read morecast in 1999 by artist Paul Moore. There are five children arranged from largest to smallest (right to left). The four largest are linked hand in hand, but the smallest has let go to stop and inspect the ground for a bug to put in his jar. Since the largest child seems unaware of the bug catching, he pulls the group along (he carries a toy train under his arm.) The second largest kid is adorned in firefighting gear and pulls behind him the third child who is dressed in a costume with a tail and carries a Teddy Bear. The fourth child, a little girl no longer holds the hand of the center child, but has a firm grasp on the costume tail and appears to be tugging to keep the line of children from moving forward. The girl has a book under her right arm as she leans backwards to pull back on the chain of children. It's a fun collection of unique children, each connected, but having different interests and seeing the world with different points of view: Construction/engineering; service/protection; imagination; academics; and science. Review #1385

Sometimes, I find the most appealing art to be simple, such as this three paneled piece called…read more"Growing Through the Changes". The large panels are connected but set at slight angles to each other to appear free standing. Each of the steel panels has a cutout in the shape of a lush tree which allows you to look through the panel. Some of the cutout shapes are simply folded down instead of being entirely removed which adds a little texture and dimension to the panels when viewed from the side. The panels are not coated, so they have taken on a rusty red color over time. They are set in a green space by the City Hall and the color can add a bit of contrast to the green on a sunny day. The art was created by artist Sally Myers as a gift from a local gallery (Gallery 308) which was established to give local artists a place to have their works seen. The piece was given to the City in 2013. The piece, including the title, tie to the city which is undergoing a transformation, trying to rekindle growth despite the loss of industry and population. Review #1376

For visitors to the Youth Opportunity Center west of Muncie, there is a plaza in the roundabout…read morenear the entrance. Within the plaza, a sculpture called "Awakening Potential" stands on a raised pedestal. The plaza is paved with brick and has numerous columns with dedication plaques on them. The mix of concrete and brick is very appealing in its design. The art piece in the center is made of bronze and consists of two figures: a boy and a girl rising to 8.5' in height. Each figure holds aloft a small plant and seems to be contemplating the potential growth of the plant. Likewise, the location of the sculpture and plaza are placed at a facility that hopes to promote growth of the youth who come there. The sculpture was completed in 2006 by local artist Kenneth Ryden. Ryden has numerous works in the Anderson area as well as this one in Muncie. Although I've enjoyed Ryden's other sculptures, this one looks a bit unnatural in posing and proportion than his other works which are more lifelike. Review #1319