NEW PLACES TO SHOP
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Founded March 12, 2024, at Indianapolis, IN Vol. I, No. 21
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Hospice care offers dignity, remembrance
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Embracing grief and remembering loved ones during the dark days of winter was the theme of the annual Tree of Life event Dec. 8 at Compassus inpatient hospice, 8450 N. Payne Rd. in College Park in Indianapolis.
GRIEF
During the hourlong service, visitors remembered loved ones who died in the past year. The names of the more than 400 people who died at Compassus in 2024 were read aloud while friends and family members placed dove-shaped ornaments on a tree in the hospice chapel.
Compassus Indianapolis hospice Chaplain Christopher Suder said grief plays by its own rules — popping up and invading people’s lives at the drop of a hat. Events like Tree of Life provide a way to embrace those moments.
“The goal is to provide the bereaved another opportunity to honor their grief journey, recognizing that not all things are accomplished with grief at the funeral,” Suder said. “We’re offering ongoing support for them and opportunities for them to remember. Every year in December, we honor and remember those who we have cared for.”
The hospice services are designed to provide end-of-life comfort, peace and dignity by managing symptoms, providing practical help to families and offering emotional support.
BeBe Denton’s family said hospice was a blessing in a difficult time.
Denton’s father, Richard Besore, died as a hospice inpatient in February 2003. Her mother, Carol Jean Besore, died in hospice through Compassus at Denton’s home in May 2023. Denton said her mother had kidney failure and was prepared to die, and hospice care made the experience easier for everyone.
“It was a great experience, frankly,” she said of her mother’s care. “They did a great job. The wonderful thing about Compassus is, they are as involved as you want them to be. So, they have a lot of services, and you can sort of pick and choose what you need or don’t need, what you want or don’t want.”
Denton advocates for everyone to consider hospice care for themselves or a loved one.
“They treat the pain but they don’t treat the illness,” she said. “It’s all about making the person comfortable and taken
care of. It’s just a great thing of celebrating someone’s life while they are dying. It’s a weird thing to say, but I would recommend it. People don’t know about hospice, and I think what they don’t know sometimes scares them. We were very lucky.”
Suder said there is a misconception that hospice equates to the last moments of life, when it can mean extended care for days, weeks or even months.
“One of the things that people don’t
recognize about hospice is that not only are we caring for them physically, we’re also caring for the spiritual and social needs of the patient and their family,” he said. “Hospice means hospitality. It means a resting place on the way to the final journey. It can have a negative connotation, but I think that’s changing. The real benefit of hospice is peace and comfort by recognizing the whole person, not just the physical.”
Learn more at compassus.com.
Compassus chaplain Christopher Suder speaks during the Tree of Life event Dec. 8. (Photos by Marney Simon)
Visitors at Compassus inpatient hospice in Indianapolis celebrated their loved ones during a tree lighting ceremony Dec. 8.
Indy woman charged with $92K theft
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
An Indianapolis woman has been charged with stealing more than $92,000 from her Carmel employer, some of its clients and a bank.
INVESTIGATION
Magen Peters, 40, was arrested Dec. 6 and booked into the Hamilton County Jail facing fraud, forgery, identity deception and theft charges. Her bond is $75,000.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the investigation began in November 2023 when the operations manager of The Deck Store in Carmel contacted police after noticing monetary discrepancies in cash deposits made by Peters, a manager at the company. The operations manager had instructed Peters to deposit $8,200 at the bank but discovered Peters had only deposited $5,200 and that the deposit slip was altered to make it appear the full amount had been deposited.
In addition, investigators discovered Peters made 19 fake refund transactions totaling more than $25,000 by using store clients’ past purchase invoices to generate returns and spent the funds on personal expenses, according to the affidavit. An inventory revealed the items were not returned to The Deck Store.
The affidavit also states that Peters made thousands of dollars in purchases from The Deck Store using stolen credit card information from one of the company’s clients to reportedly complete a deck project for her parents.
The investigation also revealed that Peters processed five unauthorized credit card payments from The Deck Store clients to pay down the outstanding balance in the account of another client tied to her parents’ reported deck project, the affidavit states.
After The Deck Store fired Peters, the company audited her emails and discovered she had opened an account at Regions Bank using personal information of a former employee who had reported to her, the affidavit states. After making an initial deposit in the account, she overdrew it by more than $3,000.
Peters
Brebeuf Jesuit athlete more than a passing success
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School senior quarterback Maverick Geske put up some eye-popping numbers during the football season.
“He’s had amazing production in his high school career,” said Matt Geske, his father and Brebeuf Jesuit’s head coach. “He finished in the top 14 alltime in career yards.”
A Zionsville resident, Maverick’s single-season total of 4,039 yards in 2024 is fifth on the IHSAA state list.
“Outside of his production and physical attributes from his freshman year to now has been the leadership, the ability to get his teammates all playing together, the camaraderie, the work ethic, all those things combined has made (him) a special on-the-
field player and, more importantly, brought our team along with him,” Matt Geske said.
Maverick, who is 6 feet and 205 pounds, completed 211 of 346 passes (61 percent) with 40 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. He also rushed for eight touchdowns and caught a TD pass for the Braves (8-3), who reached the Class 4A sectional semifinal before losing to Roncalli.
Maverick threw for 3,084 yards as a junior. He became the starter during his sophomore season, throwing for 1,651 yards while completing 56 percent of his attempts. He was recently named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association’s Class 4A All-State Senior Team.
His production earned him an offer to play football at several schools, including a recent offer from Indiana University.
“Being with a lot of those guys for the past four years in the weight room and offseason, it was pretty fun,” Maverick said. “We got a couple of special things done, like beating Carmel. We didn’t go as far as
we planned (in the postseason) but it was definitely a fun season.”
Maverick said his main improvement has been in leadership
“My leadership has improved drastically over the last two years,” he said. On the field, he said his decision-making has been another big improvement. Studying game film helped in that aspect, he said.
Maverick, who will graduate this month, might enroll in college in January to take part in spring practice.
“I want to put on some weight to compete with those (older) guys,” he said.
“I want to get a little stronger. My goal weight is 215.”
Maverick, who turns 18 later this month, had a 7-1 record for Brebeuf’s baseball team last season as a pitcher. The Braves reached the IHSAA Class 3A state championship before losing to New Prairie.
“Baseball has been a close second, but football has always been my No. 1 sport,” Maverick said.
European Cottage wins People’s Choice honor
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Five custom luxury homes created by local builders were showcased during the 2024 BAGI Home-ARama at Promontory of Zionsville in September. When the three weekend-long showcase was over, one home stuck out among visitors as the best of the best.
HOME-A-RAMA
The European Cottage, a creation of Zionsville-based Randy Shaffer Custom Homes and Kent Shaffer Homes, was named Home-A-Rama People’s Choice winner.
The 8,741-square-feet home has six bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. The home’s features include a waterfront view, large-scale windows, floating stairs, an abundance of natural light, a covered porch with motorized screens for year-round usability, a lower-level bar/lounge area and a gourmet kitchen with dual islands.
“I think it was a combination of the decorator, the architect and all the people who had their hands on it — the subcontractors and the carpenters,” Randy Shaffer said of the home’s unique charm that earned the People’s Choice award. “It was a totally different house than any other
house in the showcase.”
Shaffer said the house — which was sold before Home-A-Rama began — was coordinated with the architect, the builder and the homeowner in order to meet the needs and wants of its new occupants.
Shaffer said as a custom builder, Shaffer
Homes — established in 1985 — has the ability to focus on the fine points that turn a regular home into a luxury product.
“I think it’s a combination of 40 years of experience and we’re still doing things the old way, but also doing some things the new way,” Shaffer said. “We’re building
houses with extreme quality but adding new ideas. I think what people like most is the attention we pay to details — extreme details. I think one reason we’ve been so successful is that we don’t build a lot of houses. We build about five to eight houses a year. That gives the ability to put our time into these homes and the customers.”
Shaffer said home building has become more creative over the past 40 years — easier in some ways, such as technology advancements; but harder in other areas such as implementing highly-detailed designs into a build.
“To me, the quality is better now,” he said. “Building your own home, you’re going to get exactly what you want and you can watch it being built. Building a home is a personal thing. I think that really makes people happy. They can watch their own home be built every single day, then just move in.”
Shaffer said the key to getting that perfect home is making sure you’re working with a builder you like and trust, who has plenty of experience.
“When I started building, I actually built the house. I used a hammer and nails,” he said. “I think a builder with on-the-job training makes a huge difference.”
Learn more at randyshafferhomes.com.
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School quarterback Maverick Geske threw for 4,039 yards this past season. (Photo courtesy of LJ Lesing)
Geske
The European Cottage built by Shaffer Homes was the People’s Choice winner at the 2024 BAGI Home-A-Rama. (Photo courtesy of BAGI)
At right, Joey Chestnut of Westfield with St. Elmo Steak House president and co-owner Craig Huse. Chestnut set a new record Dec. 7 at the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship. (Photo courtesy of Susan Decker Media)
Joey Chestnut breaks
St. Elmo shrimp-eating record
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Competitive eater Joey Chestnut set a new world record at the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium Dec. 7, consuming 21 pounds of the fiery fare in eight minutes.
COMPETITION
But when he’s not putting away pounds of food at lightning speed, Chestnut is happy to cozy up at home in Westfield.
Chestnut, 41, started competitive eating in 2005 while studying engineering at San Jose State University. The California-native entered a lobster eating contest, where he tied for third and was immediately hooked.
“I thought it was going really weird, but I kind of liked it. I didn’t have to hold back,” he said. “My whole life I’ve always thought, ‘Don’t be the first one to finish, I don’t want to be embarrassed.’ And during the contest I didn’t have to hold back. It was pretty awesome. I put some thought into it, and two weeks later there was a deepfried asparagus contest. I won that. It was delicious.”
From that point he traveled on weekends, and after graduation he worked in construction, but kept competing. Eventually, he was able to give up his day job to embrace competitive eating as a career.
“I’ve been very lucky,” he said. “There are big contests, and in big contests there are sponsors, and then there is media and fans, which brings more sponsors. I’ve been very lucky. It’s been a crazy ride.”
Those travels led him all across the U.S. for different contests. But for some reason, Indiana stood out. He moved to Westfield four years ago.
“It’s nice to come home to a quiet place,” he said. “It’s clean, it’s safe, there are nice restaurants all around the north side and
I have friends here. It’s a perfect location because I travel so much.”
Chestnut said although there were other Midwestern cities that might be a suitable hub for someone who travels as much as he does, there’s something idyllic about Westfield.
“People are nice. It’s kind of laid back,” he said. “It’s a unique place. Hoosier hospitality is real. Everybody takes care of their stuff, and I can leave for five days at a time and (my home) is safe. That’s important, peace of mind. All the kids in the neighborhood are great. There are block parties. I just love everything about the community.”
As a competitive eater, Chestnut said there are very few things he won’t try — provided they are normal menu items — but contests can be tricky when food he likes isn’t cooked well. The only contest he’s ever turned down is Rocky Mountain oysters. And, he said proudly, he’s never been disqualified for failing to keep anything down.
When it comes to the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Championship, Chestnut joked that the real challenge is pushing through the pain.
“It hits so hard. It’s almost painful and then it goes away, so then you just want it again,” he said. “For a contest, it’s a tough one. It hits you hard and you have to work past that weird pain for eight minutes. Everything about this contest is different — it’s cold and you’re eating this spicy cocktail sauce, your hands get numb but your face is burning. It’s a unique contest.”
Chestnut said in Westfield, he recommends the locally owned fare along Restaurant Row on Park Street, such as Chiba and The Italian House.
And he always comes back to the basics.
“I still love to eat,” he said. “I love a good hot dog.”
DISPATCHES
Energy assistance program — Applications are open for winter utility bill assistance from the Indiana Energy Assistance Program. EAP applicants should gather their last three months of income for the application process. While review can take several weeks, EAP approval leads to financial assistance being applied to natural gas and electric utility bills and temporary protection from utility disconnection for nonpayment. Citizens Energy Group customers who qualify for EAP automatically receive a 10 to 25 percent discount on natural gas bills and a wastewater bill credit. Applications close April 14, 2025. Eligibility requirements and the application can be found at in.gov/ihcda under the “homeowners and renters” tab.
Diaper drive — The Indiana Diaper Bank is collecting diapers, training diapers, wipes and monetary donations through the month of December in the 2024 #ShareTheLove diaper drive. The goal is to collect $30,000 — approximately 120,000 diapers — by the end of 2024. The drive assists struggling families through the Indiana Diaper Bank’s social service organization partners. Indiana Diaper Bank distributes up to 600,000 diapers every month throughout the state to programs that support Hoosier families who struggle to afford diapers. Organizations that wish to participate can sign up at tinyurl. com/2p8wjts6. Learn more at indianadiaperbank.org.
Happy Little (Virtual) 5K registration open — The Indiana DNR and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation will host the third annual Happy Little (Virtual) 5K event April 19-27, 2025, to benefit state park programs. Registrants can complete the 5K anywhere outdoors on foot, bike, skate or paddle during the race window, which encompasses Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day on April 25. Registration is $36 and includes a t-shirt, commemorative bib number and a Bob Ross-inspired finisher’s medal. In 2024, more than 1,000 people participated in the virtual race, raising more than $18,000 for tree plantings and healthy forest initiatives in Indiana State Parks. Register at tinyurl.com/4ket8eew.
NEW PLACES TO SHOP
A new place to thrift
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
About 20 hardy Hoosiers withstood 16-degree temperatures — with a windchill of 1 — to be among the first shoppers at the newest Uptown Cheapskate store in Indiana, which opened Dec. 5 at 5151 E. 82nd St., in the Clearwater Springs Shopping Center at the corner of 82nd and Allisonville Road.
The doors opened promptly at 10 a.m. and customers quickly filed in — each getting a free tote with some goodies inside — and began shopping in earnest.
Uptown Cheapskate franchise owner Brad Hill, who attended Hamilton Southeastern High School and whose mom still lives in Fishers, was impressed with the people who stood in line outside.
“With the weather being a little colder than we expected, we weren’t really sure,” he said. “But we definitely had a lot of people just from the community reaching out, ‘Hey, when are you guys opening?’ There definitely was a lot of excitement around that.”
Hill said he expects as more shoppers get to know the store’s brand, its popularity will grow.
Uptown Cheapskate, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a resale clothing chain that
buys gently used men’s and women’s clothes, shoes and accessories from community members — either for cash or store credit — and then resells them. The chain has franchises throughout the United States, including Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.
Hill said that was one reason he wanted to open a store in the Indianapolis market.
“Thrifting, resale — it’s one of the quickest growing markets out there, especially (because) it’s good in bad economic times and good,” he said. “That’s kind of the thing that also kind of turned us on to it.”
Although the store didn’t open for shopping until Dec. 5, it did need to collect merchandise ahead of the big day. Hill said they spent some time buying clothes and other items from members of the community.
“We were just buying — not selling anything — probably for the first month and a half,” he said. “And in that time, we took in (about) 30,000 items. We were very busy. I think customers were very excited to have us as another option in the Indianapolis market.”
Hill said the store serves customers of all ages but seems to be particularly popular with shoppers between 18 and 30. For more, visit uptowncheapskate.com.
Indiana’s first L.L. Bean store opens in Rivers Edge
By Lavanya Narayanan NorthIndy@youarecurrent.com
Outdoor gear retailer L.L. Bean opened its first storefront in Indiana Nov. 15 at 4030 E 82nd St, Indianapolis, in the Rivers Edge shopping center.
Founded more than 100 years ago by Leon Leonwood Bean in Freeport, Maine, the company is expanding its physical presence in the Midwest. Outside of Indiana, the brand has already opened three stores each in Illinois and Ohio; two in Wisconsin; and one in Michigan.
“We’ve long enjoyed the support of our Indiana customers, and now they have the opportunity to see, feel and try our high-quality products firsthand while also benefiting from expert advice from our knowledgeable employees, many of whom are outdoor enthusiasts themselves,” said Donna Fruehe, manager of the new Indianapolis store.
L.L. Bean launched as a boot company but now sells everything from coats, totes, flannel, slippers, pajamas and percale sheets.
“Our emphasis is on quality, and our purpose remains to enable people to experience the restorative power of being outside,” Freuehe said. “We like to say that the outside is inside everything we make.”
The new 16,000-square-foot store in Indianapolis is a short drive from Sahm Park and Fort Harrison State Park as well as Geist Reservoir, a popular spot for fishing and kayaking.
“Indiana offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, with its 24 state parks and abundant natural spaces,” Fruehe said. “We’re very excited to be opening our first store in the state, where local adventurers can find everything they need for exploring, from hiking the trails of Prophetstown State Park to paddling along the White River.”
L.L. Bean donated $10,000 to the Jordan YMCA of Greater Indianapolis earlier this year to enhance development of outdoor programming.
Learn more at llbean.com/llb/ shop/518887?page=llbean-store-indianapolis-in.
Customers brave the cold Dec. 5 as they wait for the new Uptown Cheapskate store on 82nd Street and Allisonville Road to open. (Photos by Leila Kheiry)
???. (Photos courtesy of L.L. Bean)
Songwriter Berlin’s rare piano on display
Submitted by Great American Songbook Foundation
As the air fills with the familiar strains of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” – the bestselling pop single of all time — the Great American Songbook Foundation is unveiling a piece of music history once owned by the man who wrote it.
Irving Berlin, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, revolutionized American popular music with many classic songs that have become part of the fabric of our culture: “Blue Skies,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Anything You Can Do,” “Happy Holiday,” “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and even “God Bless America,” to name a few.
His success came despite interesting personal limitations: Berlin did not read or write music, and as a self-taught pianist, he preferred playing on the black keys, corresponding to the key of F-sharp. As time went on, he commissioned piano makers to build transposing instruments — pianos with mechanisms enabling the player to shift the keyboard left or right and play in any key without changing hand position.
One of those rare instruments was donated recently to the Songbook Foundation’s vast Songbook Library & Archives by Berlin’s family. Built circa 1955 by Sohmer & Co. of New York, it is a well-constructed but simple upright piano with a twist: a transposing lever mounted under the keyboard.
After some restoration work at Piano Solutions in Carmel, the unusual instrument is back at the Songbook Library & Archives, near the Songbook Foundation’s headquarters at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Later this month, it will be publicly displayed for the first time in conjunction with Civic Theatre’s production of “White Christmas” at the Center’s Tarkington theater, a musical adaptation of the 1954 Bing Crosby film that features 17 songs by Berlin.
(“Moon River,” “Hooray for Hollywood”) and Richard Whiting (“On the Good Ship Lollipop,” “Ain’t We Got Fun?”).
Kept in the songwriter’s New York office, the piano was one of three Sohmers left to Berlin’s three daughters after his death in 1989. His daughter Mary Ellen Barrett died in 2022 and passed it down to her daughter Elizabeth Matson, who donated it to the Songbook Foundation.
“I learned about the Great American Songbook Foundation a few years ago, and knew right away it would be the perfect place to donate this treasured family heirloom,” Matson said. “There could be no better place for Irving Berlin’s special instrument than in this museum devoted to celebrating the legacy of all the Great American Songbook writers.”
Songbook Foundation Executive Director Christopher Lewis said the priceless artifact will receive the respect and attention it deserves.
“Few artists exemplify the American Songbook more than Irving Berlin,” Lewis said. “We are eternally grateful to the family for entrusting us with this historic instrument and to the Piano Solutions staff for their expertise in helping us to preserve it. This piano will soon have a prominent place in our Songbook Exhibit Gallery at the Palladium and it ultimately will be a highlight of our planned music museum and visitor experience.”
Piano Solutions owners Greg Durthaler and Brian Hostetler have serviced several historic pianos for the Songbook Foundation, including instruments owned by songwriters Harold Arlen (“Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather”), Johnny Mercer
Despite their decades in the business, however, the Berlin instrument was the first transposing piano they had worked on. They described the project as a “conservation” job, returning the long-dormant instrument to its original working condition with a minimum of replacement parts. The piano had to be dismantled to a large extent, with the keyboard removed to reveal the machinery within. The meticulous work included reglueing joints and cleaning and lubricating scores of small parts, rebuilding rather than replacing any broken or worn elements. The wooden case was deep-cleaned and treated for mildew but not refinished.
The first priority was to figure out how the transposing mechanism was designed and how to get it working again. Hostetler deduced that the piano’s central pedal had to be pushed all the way down to allow the lever and the keyboard to move freely, sliding left or right in increments to cover the 12 keys of Western music. A small brass plate with markings indicates the current key.
“It’s ingenious, but it also can cause problems if you’re not really careful with it,” Hostetler said. “Over the years, the device can actually break parts that you don’t want broken.”
Now fully functioning, the Berlin piano will be viewable publicly for the first time during the Dec. 20-21 final weekend of Civic Theatre’s “White Christmas” at The Tarkington. The lobby display also will include other relevant items from the Songbook Library & Archives, including an original promotional poster for the movie, a written arrangement of “White Christmas” owned by co-star Rosemary Clooney and a snow globe gifted by Berlin to Clooney as a memento of the production.
The piano also will be employed for a tune at the Songbook Foundation’s upcoming presentation Songbook Academy Sings the Songs of the Season, with two sold-out concerts by Songbook Academy alumni scheduled Dec. 22 at the center’s Studio Theater.
‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” runs through Jan. 5 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“A Sinatra Christmas” is set for Dec. 18, followed by “Deception: An Evening of Magic and Lies: Dec. 19 and Frank D’Ambrosio Dec. 21-22 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. The performances start at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’
Civic Theatre presents “White Christmas” through Dec. 24 at The Tarkington at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
‘FESTIVAL OF CAROLS’
Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s “Festival of Carols” is set for 8 p.m. Dec. 20 and 3 p.m. Dec. 21-22 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘SEUSSICAL’
Carmel Apprentice Theatre’s production of “Seussical” runs through Dec. 22 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way. For more, visit thecat.biz.
DISPATCHES
‘Voices of Christmas’ concert set — The Indianapolis Opera’s “Voices of Christmas” concert is set for 3 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Basile Opera Center, 4011 N. Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis. The concert includes the Indianapolis Opera Chorus and a special appearance from the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. Tickets are $25.
Foxworthy to perform in Fishers — Renowned comedian Jeff Foxworthy will perform live at the new Fishers Event Center Feb. 21, 2025, for the first Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation Legacy Celebration. Tickets are on sale at FishersEventCenter.com. A portion of proceeds benefit staff and students of Hamilton Southeastern Schools. For more, visit jefffoxworthy.com.
SONGBOOK FOUNDATION
Songwriter Irving Berlin’s Sohmer transposing piano was donated recently to the Songbook Library & Archives in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Songbook Foundation)
‘Nutcracker’ returns to Murat
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Indianapolis Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” has been a holiday fixture at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis for several years. Althought the story remains the same, it’s always a new look.
INDY BALLET
“The production is staged every year in a similar way, but it is never the same as it is a live performance,” said Victoria Lyras, Indianapolis Ballet’s founding artistic director. “It is a wonderful time of the year to share the love for this art form with our audiences through this magical production.”
Indianapolis Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” will be presented Dec. 19-22. The production has been at the Murat since 2016 except for 2020, when the performance was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In this year’s production, we feature three ballerinas as the Sugar Plum with three different Cavaliers,” Lyras said. “We also have three Snow Queens with their three Snow Kings. Clara is danced by a student from the Indianapolis School of Ballet and ‘The Nutcracker’ is performed by three different dancers in the company.”
The Nutcracker Tea, featuring characters from the performance, is set for noon Dec. 21 in the Tunisian Room at the Murat Shrine. Those buying Nutcracker Tea tickets receive a 20 percent discount on the same-day matinee tickets.
“The Nutcracker Tea is very popular, especially combining it before our Saturday matinee,” Indianapolis Ballet Executive Director Don Steffy said. “Families receive two holiday experiences in one afternoon — the Tea and the performance of the full-length ‘Nutcracker.’”
For tickets, visit indyballet.org.
‘Festival of Carols’ returns
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Mary Jo Wright has been with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir for 11 years, but being a member never gets old.
CONCERTS
“I love singing with the choir because it just provides an outlet to do really beautiful music with people that love music as much as I do,” the Carmel resident said. “I’m not professionally trained, but that is not a requirement to be in this choir, although you do have to go through an audition every year for quality control. I love that part of it and it’s challenging.”
Wright said the music changes every year, but the group always performs Handel’s “Hallelujah, From Messiah.” The ISC also annually performs “The Dream Isaiah Saw.”
There will be three performances of the ISC’s “Festival of Carols” at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The performances are at 8 p.m. Dec. 20 and 3 p.m. Dec. 21-22. There will be a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Schrott Center for the Arts in Indianapolis.
“We get our Christmas music in October and we start working on it,” Wright said. “It really is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s music we all love and people come to hear it.”
“We usually end the concert with those two songs because it’s a very poignant part of the concerts,” Wright said.
Wright said they are revisiting “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” with longtime award-winning journalist Debby Knox doing the narrator’s part. The Lawrence Central High School choir will do two pieces and join for the final two songs.
Alden Wagaman, a 25-year-old Noblesville resident, is in his first year with the choir.
“It’s something I wanted to do my whole life as a young aspiring musician,” he said. “Being in the Symphonic Choir has been amazing.”
Wagaman, the director of choral activities at Lincoln Middle School in the Pike schools system in Indianapolis, said ISC Artistic Director Eric Stark creates a good grouping of sacred and secular songs.
“There are fast and slow tempos. There is a nice wide variety,” Wagaman said. For tickets, visit thecenterpresents.org.
CURRENT CRAVINGS LONE PINE
Commentary by Mark LaFay
Lone Pine Steakhouse, 710 S Rangeline Rd, Carmel, is the new bistro on the block featuring a menu full of classic dishes with plenty of personal touches.
Diners can expect some familiar options with steak and frites, chops and seasonal seafood. Or they can venture into some of the dishes where chefs Ben Barnas and Aaron Hansen let it all hang out.
Starters like chicken liver pate with pickled plums, mustard seed and leek strands on crispy semolina toast, or “pizza” mushrooms, are a great way to kick off the meal, followed by either cassoulet, a stew of duck, sausage and beans, or brined and crispy fried Cornish hen for entrees. Even the deserts are scratch made and always change. Don’t forget the beverage program, Owner and Certified Sommelier Josh Mazanowski has curated a great bottle and by-the-glass wine list.
Lone Pine is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and
PUZZLE ANSWERS
Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.; and Sunday 5 to 10 p.m. It is losed Monday.
MOST UNIQUE MENU ITEM
Pizza mushrooms! Eli Creek maitake and oyster mushrooms sautéed in tallow butter with roasted red peppers and pepperoncini, pizza spices, basil aioli, pecorino cheese.
CAN I GET ANOTHER GLASS OF … Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel, Sonoma County.
Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Teams: BEARS, BENGALS, COLTS, JAGUARS, LIONS, TITANS; Parts: ANCHOR, MOTOR, PROPELLER (ROPE); RUDDER, SAIL; Pickles: DILL, KOSHER, SOUR, SWEET; Orders: BOTTLE, CAN, DRAFT; County: FAIRGROUNDS, JAIL; Home: NOBLESVILLE
A duck leg, sausage, and beans is cassoulet (Photo courtesy of Lone Pine)
Blueprint for Improvement: Modern kitchen makeover in Carmel
Commentary by Larry Greene
Our Woodland Springs clients completely reinvented their kitchen — and they weren’t afraid to start from scratch! Our team reimagined the space, expanding the kitchen’s footprint and maximizing storage with custom cabinetry and clever design solutions. The result? A balance of form and function. From builder-basic to beautifully bespoke, this kitchen combines modern style and practicality in perfect harmony. THE BLUEPRINT
• Taking space from an underutilized dining room allowed us to reimage the layout for improved function and flow.
• Soapstone countertops offer durability and beauty, perfectly complementing the natural oak cabinetry.
• White upper cabinets and an expanded window above the sink enhance the room’s bright, airy feel.
• Handcrafted subway tiles and recycled glass pendant lights add texture and visual interest, completing the look with a touch of character.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
LIFESTYLE
1. Swindle
Across
5. Exam for Butler MBA hopefuls
9. “Come again?”
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18. Change one’s story?
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25. Uppity one
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It Again”
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ERN UNION
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DIGITAL EDITIONS, MORNING DAILY BRIEFINGS AND BREAKING NEWS ON YOUR PHONE
42. “We Have the Meats!” advertiser
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10. Peter, Paul and Mary: “If I ___ a Hammer”
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17. Talk, talk, talk
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One-Time
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59. Slangy assent Answers on Page 9
