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Columbus residents: ready for an exciting 2017? From huge conventions to casual tours and rare concert performances, this is looking to be a very fun year. All sorts of new and returning events await you, so check out the great examples below and mark down the ones you'd like to attend. You don't want to let these pass you by since several are rare and many are free to attend. Art House in the Red Room Held at the Bartholomew County Public Library on the last Tuesday of every month, Art House in the Red Room is a film-watching and discussion event. From 6-9 p.m. the room plays a foreign, rare, artistic, or socially important film. This is a smaller, quieter event fit for a more insightful evening. more No Tie Affair This casual and fun tasting tour has stops at several of the best restaurants in town. The evening is full of games like a 50/50 raffle, roulette, and a silent auction. Relax and don't dress fancy, because it's going to be a wild night. The initial meetup is at the Mill Race Center on April 16th, and the trip takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $50 in advance. Columbus Farmer's Market Want some fresh ingredients for a special dinner? This gathering of farmers, artists, and other venders on Brown St. takes place on each Saturday from May 6 to September 16, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You can visit the Columbus Farmer's Market for locally grown and produced plants, produce, and foods, along with handcrafted items and artwork. It's also a place to see non-profit groups and potentially support a cause that interests you. Check the site soon, since there will be more information on the events taking place on each Saturday, such as live music and other performances. Salute! Provided by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Salute! is a patriotic concert, free to the public and held in Bartholomew County Veterans Memorial. Salute! plays on Friday, May 26, starting at 7 p.m. The event will be on the grass, so some kind of portable chairs are recommended for yourself and anyone you bring along. New Kids on the Block + More A trio of enduring talents will be playing together at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. New Kids on the Block, Paula Abdul, and Boyz II Men will be holding a concert together on Sunday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range drastically, from $29 to over $1800 depending on seat location. This is just one of many music events, and others coming to Columbus include Tom Petty, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Neil Diamond, and Train. Check the listing at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and other nearby venues. This is just a sample of the many things to do in the middle and early parts of the year. Take the chance to try something new at a local event or gathering, and you might end up with a new annual tradition or regular activity. Image via Flickr by IIP Photo Archive used under CC BY 2.0 /cropped from original

Crossovers are one of the most common automobile types seen today due to their versatility, ample space, high safety ratings, and peppy, car-like performance. Chevy offers three very different crossover SUVs in its current lineup: the Equinox, Traverse, and Trax. If you're interested in getting a Chevy crossover but aren't sure where to start, take a look at the details on each 2017 model. Traverse Need a ton of room for up to eight occupants? Chevy's extra-large crossover is as roomy as possible without losing that Chevy agility or attractive bodywork. The inside is equally gracious as well, thanks to Smart Slide second-row seats that easily slide forward without flipping. This makes it much easier to load people or extra cargo in or out of the third row. The Traverse has the best cargo volume among the three Chevy crossovers at 24.4 cubic feet. That's just behind the third seat row, and the full potential cargo area with the seats folded down is 116.3 cubic feet. Drivers who want the latest in Chevy's technology can opt for different features, from Wi-Fi hotspot potential to satellite radio. more Equinox The 2017 Equinox is an award-winning crossover that seats up to six and boasts 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Those ratings come from the special eco-saving mode and other improvements made to the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It's also great for complex road trips thanks to the seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. The Equinox starts with 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Love the look and the size, but want more power? Consider the optional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 301 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 speed of 6.7 seconds. Trax Maybe you need a smaller and more economical crossover for mostly neighborhood and city drives? If so, you might love the Trax, which Chevy describes as the perfect urban crossover due to its extra-agile handling and plentiful tech features. It's also even more efficient that the Equinox, reaching 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway from a 1.4-liter turbocharged ECOTEC four-cylinder engine, and with minimum sacrifice in cargo room. For such an affordable model, the Trax has some very high-value technology included standard, like mobile app and phone integration through a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Extra safety or driver assistance is available through added systems like lane departure warning, rear parks assist, side blind zone alert, and a rearview camera. No matter what 2017 Chevy crossover you choose, you're sure to get a fun, responsive driving experience, flexible options, refined cabins, attractive exteriors, and more. You'll also likely have the chance to try higher trim levels that each take the base model in a more luxurious direction. There's a lot to choose from and think about, but don't freeze up! Just message or call us with any questions about current models, and we'd be happy to help you. Image via Chevrolet.com

Chevrolet is bringing back their beloved Traverse SUV for its second model generation, fully redesigned to an even higher standard in practicality and space. More will come to light once we're closer to the model's mid-2017 release point, but what's been revealed so far may get you excited. Check out these five things to love about the 2018 Traverse, and you might just want one for your family. Well-Equipped The Traverse is clearly designed to make trips with the family eventful and enjoyable. A hands-free programmable lift-gate, Smart Slide second-row seats, Chevy MyLink, and much more are all included standard. For drivers with techy families or friends, the Traverse can come with up to seven USB ports plus a wireless charging platform. Higher trim levels and packages go even farther, adding heated and ventilated seats, a 4.2-inch driver display, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, and other nice extras. more Power and Efficiency The 2018 Traverse also has new technology under the hood. The standard engine will be a 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It earns up to 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Combine this with innovations that make model 362-pounds lighter, and it's clear the Traverse will have a new and more assertive personality. So Much Room The 2018 Traverse is expected to deliver best-in-class third-row leg room, easily beating competing SUVs that treat the third row as less important. Cargo space will no doubt be massive, probably slightly more than the 2017 Traverse's 24.4 cubic feet alone and 116.3 cubic feet with the seat rows down. The driver and front passenger seats now have 7% more overall passenger space, improving things like head room and leg room. The second row has 11% more space and the third row has broadened by a hefty 17%. Snazzy New Look While somewhat reminiscent of the prior Traverse generation, the 2018 model is set to have a new look in most places. Based on the shots collected so far, the Traverse has grace and confidence oozing from every detail, like the most recent Chevy brand front fascia with stronger line work. The wheelbase is two inches longer, as is the overall length by a half-inch. RS Trim One of the most exciting additions for the second-generation Traverse is a new trim level with a somewhat calmer and torque-geared engine instead of the 305-horsepower standard. The new RS trim level includes black trim and wheels along with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with up to 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Drivers who enjoy the Traverse as is but like to tow, go off-roading, or use the Traverse's torque in other ways might find this trim the best fit. If you've been after a great three-row SUV but hate rear rows being cramped or less enjoyable, give either the current or upcoming Chevy Traverse a look. It will be a while until more info comes out, but we're happy to help with any questions about the 2017 Traverse or other current lineup Chevy models. Image via Chevrolet.com