More than 78 percent of families in the IPS (Indianapolis Public Schools) district can't afford basic school supplies for their children, but the BackPack Attack program currently underway is making a difference, and you can help.

Enjoy a meal at Applebee's on Tuesday, July 14, or at Qdoba on Thursday, July 30, and 15 percent of your purchase will be donated to BackPack Attack. Click here for Applebees or click here for Qdoba to print a flyer to give to your server that night to make the donation. The Indiana Fever and the Indianapolis Indians are also hosting special events at their games on Friday, July 17, and Friday, July 24, respectively. By donating a school supply item at the Fever game, you'll receive a coupon for a free Pepsi product at the concession stand.

Donations through the program are expected to provide school supplies to 20,000 IPS students at the beginning of the coming school year. For more information or to make a donation, visit the BackPack Attack website.

Wondering how to follow up on last weekend's festivities and have just as much fun this weekend? Following are just a few ideas: No Doubt will be at the Verizon Wireless Music Center Friday evening; Jerry Seinfeld promises to deliver more than a few laughs at the Murat Saturday night; "Walking with the Dinosaurs," a theatrical spectacle that's gotten rave reviews, will be at Conseco; the VIVA! Puerto Rico festival will be held at Garfield Park Saturday; and for you sports fans, Saturday is the last day of the USA Swimming Championships at the IUPUI Natatorium. The Fourth of July may be over, but there's plenty of fun ahead, so get out there and enjoy!

Those of you who happen to check out this blog now and then will be happy to know that I've decided to officially give up weather forecasting after the "glorious" weather I predicted for the Fourth of July turned out to be a day of steady rain. (In my defense, I was quoting the National Weather Service, but I should have known better -- this is Indiana, after all!) So, to play it safe, from now on I promise to comment only on what is or was weather-wise, and not what's going to be!

I hope you all had a happy holiday weekend anyway! As of noon today, we're officially halfway to another weekend (not that I'm counting or anything). Stay tuned for more on what's happening in Indy this weekend and the rest of the month!

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, the day we celebrate the founding of this great nation in which we live. So fire up the grill; deck the halls (or yard) in red, white, and blue; and let your patriotic spirit shine. Here's wishing you and yours a safe and happy Fourth of July!