Westfield City Magazine Vol 2, Iss 1

complimentary - Vol 2, Iss 1

Acorn Farm

Small Town Café

Big Taste

www . W estfield C ity M agazine . com For Locals, New Residents & Visitors

Articles • Shopping • Entertainment • Dining • Sports • Maps • Events • Special Offers

Table of Contents

4 Acorn Farm 10 Small Town Café…

Big Taste Union Baking Co.

Calendar of Events 8 Dine, Wine & Food 15

Volume 2, Issue 1 www.WestfieldCityMagazine.com

publisher Steve Holloway editor-in-chief Jackie Holloway Digital & Social

Media Editor Daniel McFeely vp production Cheri Moore account exec Gary Blackburn ––––– photography BY Kaylee Purcell & Cindy Wardlow ––––– contributing writers Shirley Blackburn & Melissa Purcell ––––– Distribution Angie Clear ––––– Published by Blue Heron Publications, LLC www.BlueHeronPublications.com

All contents COPYRIGHT 2015 Blue Heron Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. Any use of the contents of this publication without express written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Some of the views by contributors may not be the representative views of the Publisher.

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Westfield’s Hometown Attorney  Bankruptcy  Business  Criminal Law  Estate Planning  Probate  Real Estate Law www.WestfieldCityMagazine.com

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317.565.1818 317.758.0100

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Written By Shirley Blackburn

N

estled away in a beautiful setting off Oak Road in Westfield is one of the area’s truly premier antique and gift shops, Acorn Farm Country Store.

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Housed in a two-story cottage-type home, the store displays its stock in a variety of rooms chock-full of eclectic and interesting items vying for attention.

It’s difficult to see everything on just one go-round, so back-browsing is not uncommon here.

The shop is surprising in its scope of inventory, offering everything from early fine period antique furniture and glassware to mid-century and later collectibles. And these pieces are complemented by a wide array of novel gifts and decorative accessories.

Of course, the inventory changes as pieces come in and go out, but, generally, you’ll find antique tables, chairs, dry sinks, cupboards, stoneware and many wooden and metal smalls, plus fine china, blue transfer ware, pattern glass, depression-era items and lots more on the floor.

In addition to all that, there are contemporary WCM - 4

furniture reproductions and modern-day accessories.

A wide selection of linens, candles, signs and other items make it difficult to get out the door without finding

premier antiques and gifts something that suits in all price ranges.

Another attraction of the shop is the popular tablesetting seminars held in May and November of each year.

Cherie Grunske, a talented designer from Grand Rapids, MI sets six different tables

table-setting seminars each May & Nov at the store, using items from the shop for each table, giving recipes and sharing dessert. It’s a little shopping, a little eating and a lot of fun for those attending.

As pleasing as all this is, there’s even more to delight at Acorn Farm!

The combined talents of Jill, Mic and daughter Becky

Besides the shop, itself, the three are also deeply immersed in the history of Acorn Farm. Its setting and chronicles are definitely part of the attraction when visiting the country store.

First, there’s the westward turn in off of Oak Road, where tall trees edge the property, breaking only for the driveway. The road to the shop curves and winds maybe a quarter mile past beautiful grounds, forage and out buildings. On first visit, you begin to wonder what this place is and know instinctively it’s something more than a great antique and gift shop. Indeed.

What this is -- is the site of the first day camp for children in the United States.

In 1933, Jill’s father, Herb Sweet, started a day camp for kids on the 40-acre property. For $3 a week, during the height of the Great Depression, Herb would pick up your child at home, occupy him with wholesome camp activities, feed him lunch and teach him about nature from 9-3:30 each day,

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First, there’s proprietress Jill Sweet Mead, ever ready with a smile, plus a friendly suggestion or solution for those customers with a particular need. According to her husband, Mic, “she’s the real secret to our success at the shop because she wants everyone to be happy.”

Bowles must be a recipe for success, as Acorn Farm Country Store enters its 20th year of business.

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then return him safely home.

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Two years later, Herb and his wife, Dee, bought the property and began, in earnest, to enrich the lives of young 5-12 year old boys and girls from the north side of Indianapolis during their summer vacation from school.

During World War II, the camp operated Monday through Saturday, with alternating groups of kids coming Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Cost per child was $27.50 per month.

historic grounds

At first, the camp was mostly nature-oriented, with hiking trails through the woods, bird-watching, woodcrafts and archery. As the years went by, though, activities were expanded to include many more crafts, games, swimming, caving and even log cabin building.

“Herb Sweet was a man who loved kids,” says Mic, his son-in-law, “and the kids loved him.” Herb and Dee ran the camp successfully for 45 years. It closed WCM - 6

in 1977. An old store built in 1855 and originally located in the heart of downtown Westfield was re-located to Acorn Farm when Herb

learned it was slated for demolition. Once housing a telephone company and other businesses, it is now one of the out buildings on the right side of the drive as you enter the property.

That love of old things At one time, the first motorized fire truck owned by the city of Westfield was located on the grounds at Acorn Farm. For years, the kids at

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camp sat in the driver’s seat and played on it. It is now in private hands.

camp entitled “Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns Grow.”

It is available at the shop.

Besides running the day camp, Dee Sweet was also interested in antiques and even became a formal appraiser of them. That love of old things was clearly passed on to her daughter, Jill, who has now successfully operated an antiques and accessories business for two decades.

It’s just an added bonus for visitors to the country store that she does so on the beautiful and historic grounds at Acorn Farm.

The Sweets’ granddaughter, Becky Bowles, has written a book about them and their WCM - 7

Calendar of Events

March 21st

Build a Birdhouse Workshop!/Westfield Parks & Recreation. Join the Westfield in Bloom Environmental Awareness Committee for the fourth annual birdhouse building workshop. Learn about the birds that frequent local backyards and build a box. No prior experience necessary. Materials will be provided, but please bring your own hammer. Ages 6-12. An adult must accompany each child attending. Pre-registration is required. FREE. 1 - 3 p.m.

Westfield City Service Center, 2728 E. 171st St. | (317)804-3183

April 3rd - 19th (Every Sunday, Friday, Saturday) The Civil War/Westfield Playhouse. Written by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd, & Jack Murphy. Directed by Nathan Gober and Jan Jamison.

1836 State Road 32 West (317)776-2558 | www.westfieldplayhouse.org

NorthWalk

740 N. Union Street, Westfield

New Residential Development Located in Downtown Westfield with Fantastic Walkability!

May 29th - June 14th (Every Sunday, Friday, Saturday) Deathtrap/Westfield Playhouse. Directed by Pam Kingsley.

1836 State Road 32 West (317)896-2707 | www.westfieldplayhouse.org

• Main-Level Master Bedrooms • Low Maintenance Living • Homes Starting at $269,500

May 30th

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Craft Market/Maple Knoll. The outdoor market will showcase 20-25 vendor booths next to the pool and clubhouse area. Event is free and open to the public. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Maple Knoll Apartments, 500 Bigleaf Maple Way (317)896-3130

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“Serving the community of Westfield is a passion of ours.” This statement on the Union Baking Co. website shows how committed Joe Quinn and Kelly Evans are to excellence. The two are fulfilling their dream – a small town bakery, selling homemade, fresh goods to happy customers.

Their stories aren’t typical of bakery owners. Kelly, once a hotel manager, then a corporate flight attendant, traveled the world. Joe’s degree in Business Administration didn’t lead him directly into business. No stranger to following his dream, Joe played drums in a band that toured the Midwest, worked in a Broadripple pub and then moved into management.

Growing up, Kelly watched the Food Network and still does, The Barefoot Contessa and Everything Italian being two favorites. She baked in her leisure time and formed the idea of opening a bakery after a flight to Zurich.

“Our pilot bought a box of French macarons (a brightly colored sandwich-like confection). I ate the whole thing.” Kelly returned home, baked her own macarons and shared them with friends.

Their response, along with the need to lighten her crazy schedule, encouraged her to consider a new career.

The next day she and her mom found a place to rent for a bakery in Zionsville. She was very successful there, but luckily for Westfield, circumstances led to a new location at the corner of Union Street and State Road 32 in September 2013.

Enter Joe. The two had met in Zionsville and were dating.

He had always cooked and had become pretty adept. While managing beer and wine stores, Joe also found recipes that paired with different wines, knowledge that he would share with customers. “A man would come in, describe a dinner with lobster ravioli but say his wife hated white wine. I could help him choose an appropriate red.”

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Joe’s friendship with restaurant owners allowed him to further develop kitchen skills. “I was a ‘pup’ when it came to testing recipes and working in restaurants, but my association with different chefs was wonderful.

I could see how they thought, how they mixed things together.”

When the new location at 303 E. Main became available in 2014, Joe was all in. “The kitchen was larger and there was more parking too.” He quit his job and the new, improved Union Baking Company with bakery and café was born. “It’s scary but exciting,” Joe reflected. “The more Kelly and I thought about it, the more we thought we could do this – we could totally do this!”

As for the menu, the bakery features Kelly’s special French

“unique ing

redients”

macarons, éclairs, scones and more, along with coffees and teas. They also offer specialty cakes, including multitiered wedding cakes. On the café menu, there are daily items as well as a special of the day with various soups, sandwiches and sides; you never know what Joe will come up with. He enjoys rich, old-school French food, but you can find him cooking anything from PB&J to Duck Confit. He doesn’t limit himself and feels there’s room for everything. “We can do Indiana chili with corn and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer one day and fine French cuisine the next.”

Recipes come from many sources.

Some they find, test and tweak, while others are old family favorites like Irish stew. Joe’s mom always advised ‘waste not, want not.’ While Joe thinks she may have meant more than just food, he follows this practice when he cooks.

One time, for instance, he took advantage of a crazy good deal at Costco and ended up with a boatload of mushrooms. What to do with this excess? That was the birth of Joe’s Mushroom Risotto.

Approachable, delicious food is the goal as well as the use of unique ingredients.

Customers can expect seasonal changes, with light and fruity in spring and summer and, well, pumpkin of course in the fall.

Cookies are specialized for holidays too.

” l a o g e h t s i d o o f s u o “delici Joe and Kelly cater small events like showers and private parties with 12 – 15 people. Currently their café is opened for breakfast and lunch Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7:00 – 4:00. Could dinner be in the future? This couple is obviously not afraid to embrace change, so stay tuned.

Thanks to Kelly Evans & Joe Quinn Owners Union Baking Company

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Written by Melissa Purcell

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Handcrafted Brews • Wine • Spirits Family Friendly • Locally-Sourced Food Grand Junction Brewing Company is a Westfield original, a destination where people will come for the beer and stay for the experience.

110 S. Union Street • Westfield, IN 46074 317-804-5168 • GrandJunctionBrewing.com WCM - 14

dining: quick guide american

coffee, tea & sweets

Applebee’s Charleston’s Chili’s Kona Grill Mitchell’s Fish Market Prime 47 Ted’s Montana Grill The Local

Gigi’s Cupcakes The Goodie Basket Union Baking Company White House Donuts

delicatessen

Heavenly Ham McAlister’s Deli

asian

China Buffet China Wok

Erika’s Place First Watch The Original Pancake House The Pancake House

Cafeteria

Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria

W

Pub fare

Mexican

wine & Liquor

italian

Breakfast

Bella Pizzeria BoomBozz Pizza & Taphouse Jan’s Village Pizza Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza

Biaggi’s J. Razzo’s 2 Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Rail Epicurean Market Local Pub & Eatery

Big Hoffas

Pizza

BoomBozz Pizza & Taphouse Buffalo Wild Wings District Tap (See ad p. 16) Grand Junction Brewing Co. (See ad p. 14) Henry’s Pub & Grill Midwest Grill Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Local Pub & Eatery

Garden to Table

Bar-B-Que

El Jaripeo Los Cotorros- Sheridan Los Torros

Abuelo’s Agave Blu Cabo’s Mexican Cuisine & Cantina Chipotle Mexican Grill Don Pablo’s

he p t e r he

21st Amendment

winery

Blackhawk Winery

ros go to pra ctic e

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ROUNDTRIPPER ACADEMY

www.roundtripper.com | 317-896-2900 16708 Southpark Drive, Westfield

Celebrating 20 years of excellence!

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