Yes, you could go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week. Here are more and/or options.

“My Neighbor Totoro”

What’s a summer without a movie screening in a Safeway parking lot? Okay, maybe that’s not exactly a tradition, but why shouldn’t it be? Big Car has pulled together a free event in conjunction with the Redline, which will soon be making its way to the Garfield Park area. While the surroundings will be distinctly urban, the animated gem deals with a young girl and her sister who move to the country and discover a Totoroforest spirit who takes them on an adventure-filled journey. Some chairs will be available to borrow for free, but you may want to bring your own, just in case. And no worries if you forget to bring snacks: The Safeway will be open. May 17 at Raymond and Shelby Sts.

“Kiss Me, Kate”

I’m a sucker for concert versions of musicals when the band where the band is more substantial than anything likely to be heard from even a Broadway pit. That’s the case here when the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra lends its talents to Cole Porter’s classic musical comedy. For vocal power, the ICO has recruited Michelle Ragusa, whose resume includes roles in Broadway’s “Titanic,” “Ragtime,” and “Urinetown.” She’s partnered (and un-partnered) with Ben Davis, an Indy native also with some impressive shows under his belt including “Violet,” “A Little Night Music,” and “Les Miserables.” If you are catching the show on Sunday, come early for a pre-show discussion where I’ll be joining Maestro Matthew Kraemer to chat about Porter and company. May 19-20 at the Schrott.

“The Pill”

To say that the Phoenix Theatre’s playwright-in-residence, Tom Horan, writes historical plays may be a bit misleading. Yes, much of his work—which includes “Typhoid Mary” and “Acid Dolphin Experiment”—is anchored in real-life events, but they spin out into very theatrical kaleidoscopes that are far from “A Man for All Seasons” or “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Here, he looks at the creation of the birth control pill with a strong cast that includes Jen Johansen, Constance Macy, Jan Lucas-Grimm, Jenni White, and Arianne Villareal.  May 17-June 10 at the Phoenix Theatre

Broad Ripple Art Fair

I’ll admit that one of Central Indiana’s core art fairs has lost a little bit of its must-go-ness when it cut back on the performing groups and other cultural booths to focus more directly on visual art. But if it works as a fundraising for the IAC and continues to bring in the crowds, who am I to complain? More than 225 juried artists and artisans will be displaying and selling their work. And three stages will include appearances by Cathy Morris, bigger Than Elvis, and more. May 19-20 at the Indianapolis Art Center