Indy Has Mojo Working on Mondays

INDIANAPOLIS--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--With feel-good music, games, food and surprise entertainment, Monument Circle turned into Party Circle this past Monday as the lunch crowd and passersby enjoyed the downtown area’s newest festival – and one of the few scheduled on a weekday rather than the usual Friday-to-Sunday timing of most area activities.

“Mojo Mondays are exactly what Indianapolis needs”

“Mojo Mondays” as the event is billed, is sponsored by Indymojo.com, a free online community with Indianapolis focus and local membership. The idea came about, according to Indymojo spokesman Ryan “Hup” Hupfer, because “nobody wants the weekend to end – and Indy needs a Monday party.”

Hupfer, whose formal title is Social Community Evangelizer, heard the Indiana War Memorials Foundation was receptive to an outdoor activity in early April. He lobbied to get permission for Indymojo to launch the parties as a free, community “recess” from 11:00am to 1:30pm every Monday.

Hupfer believed that Indymojo’s promotion and local membership would “pretty much guarantee the popularity” of the weekly party as a way for the website’s online acquaintances to meet in person.

“Being an Indianapolis site – versus, say, Myspace – means that our members get to meet face-to-face instead of being just online pen pals,” said Hupfer. By the second week, however, curious office workers and others on their lunch break far outnumbered the Indymojo faithful. Originally planned only for June, Mojo Mondays are now on schedule for the rest of the summer.

Several local businesses, arts and community groups have already jumped on board, Hupfer added. “Hotbox Pizza is providing free samples, and Circle City Athletics sets up the 'corn-hole' games.”

The Indy Jazz Fest made an appearance recently and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra featured a “petting zoo” for visitors to see – and try a few - classical instruments. A big participant, Hupfer noted, has been the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, with ticket giveaways to local events and attractions.

“Mojo Mondays are exactly what Indianapolis needs,” said ICVA spokesperson Bob Schultz, adding that the weekly promotional presence in the heart of the city every week “raises the profile of our arts and culture scene. The vibe is alive and well, and we're thrilled to be participants."

After each Mojo Monday, Hupfer posts video highlights on the community’s homepage, www.indymojo.com. Additional photos, blogs, and coverage are also available, but only to registered members – though anyone can join for free, Hupfer added. “We love doing this, and it’s worth it to see everybody loosening up on a Monday instead of Friday.”

• Video Links:

Week 1: http://www.indymojo.com/blogs/Blog.Cfm?EntryID=56&BlogID=19

Week 2: http://www.indymojo.com/blogs/Blog.Cfm?EntryID=83&BlogID=19

Week 3: http://www.indymojo.com/blogs/Blog.Cfm?EntryID=104&BlogID=22

• Bill Benner Blog Entry: http://indyinsights.typepad.com/
  indy_insights/2007/06/just_another_mo.html

About Indymojo.com

Re-launched in May, 2007, Indymojo.com is a free online community created for and maintained by its local members from the Indianapolis area. Unlike national social network sites, Indymojo is a true local community where members get to know each other online and offline through their individual profiles, content sharing, user groups, community events, member forums, blogs, and more. The site is part of the Metromojo family of online communities, serving approximately 100 million page views per month across its various “city sites.” For more information about Metromojo go to www.metromojo.com.

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