Founded March 12, 2024, at Indianapolis, IN Vol. I, No. 27
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34 years old & STILL HOT!
School celebrates Michelangelo’s birthday with replica of Sistine Chapel
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Classical Academy students and educators celebrated a true classic in March with their own version of the famous Sistine Chapel frescoes by Renaissance artist Michelangelo, put on display at the adjacent 91st Street Church. The display also celebrated the artist’s 550th birthday March 6.
EDUCATION
The private Christian school is on the border of Fishers and Indianapolis and serves students throughout central Indiana. Dean David Hardesty said that, as a classical and Christian school, part of its mission is to celebrate the greats from history, especially when those greats are connected with Christianity.
“We get to celebrate something great — we get to acknowledge (Michelangelo’s) greatness, and we get to serve the Lord in the process of doing it with all these pictures of the Old Testament,” he said.
Art teacher Daniel Mann and his wife, Samantha, spearheaded the project, which involved 270 small panels that were then connected to create 13 frescoes. Daniel Mann said that each student in the school from pre-K to seniors contributed. On the day of installation, students and volunteers helped fill in any gaps between panels before carefully attaching each large fresco to the wall in a corridor of the church’s basement.
“It was a big project, but it was a cool project,” Mann said. “And the kids like to be a part of something bigger than themselves individually — so they were all excited to do it.”
Some of the students who worked on the project went on a school trip last year to Rome, where they visited the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
Classical Academy senior Teilah McClung was one of those students. She said the trip was memorable and working on the
art project brought back many of those memories. McClung said the Sistine Chapel was a “massive” room and crowded with visitors.
“We were just, like, standing, looking up for — we were there for a good 15 minutes,” she said, adding that they weren’t allowed to take photos. “It was really cool. It was so detailed and there was so much of it. It was just crazy.”
McClung said her favorite fresco was the “Creation of the Sun, Moon and Planets.”
Senior Anna Simmons also went on the trip.
“It was really amazing,” she said. “I think it was really cool, being classically educated my whole life, to be able to actually see the things that we’ve been learning about my whole life in person.”
Mann was a chaperone on the trip and said it was his first time seeing the frescoes in person.
“That was really something, because studying it — I’ve got an art history minor and a (Bachelor of Fine Arts) major, so I studied this stuff in depth in college,” he said. “I’ve always longed to see this stuff and to be able to do it with students for
the first time was amazing.”
Students started working on the art project about a month prior to installing it on Feb. 28. The replica focuses on a selection of the Genesis frescoes, along with the prophets. Some of the panels appear to be sideways, but that’s because they’re on a flat wall rather than a curved ceiling.
Hardesty said the school had additional plans for Michelangelo’s birthday, including decorated cupcakes and framed prints of other famous works by the artist. But the frescoes are the focus of the celebration.
“I’m proud of the adults in here for having made it work and I’m proud of the students for actually doing this,” he said.
He added that the school had to get permission from the church to hang the replica on the wall.
“They were like, ‘Weird, but OK — try not to have too many nude bodies,’” he said, laughing.
Although the original does include anatomically correct images, the students’ replica is a G-rated version.
For more about the Classical Academy, visit the-classical-academy.com.
86th & Ditch Rd or 82nd & Dean Rd
Classical Academy students and educators stand with a replica of the Sistine Chapel they created and hung at the East 91st Street Church. (Photo courtesy of Johnny McClung)
NORTH INDY APRIL EVENTS
PEACE WALK CLEANUP
Seeds of Caring has partnered with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick, for a cleanup effort at the Glick Peace Walk, set for April 6. Participating kids will learn about the importance of safe, beautiful, open spaces for all and then will get to work sweeping, mulching and picking up litter along the trail segment honoring individuals who made peaceful contributions to humanity. To register, visit seedsofcaring.org/ participate/indianapolis.
SPRING WILDFLOWER WALK
Holliday Park at 6363 Spring Mill Rd. will host a wildflower walk starting at 10 a.m. April 12 at the park. The walk for ages 16 and older will be led by Norma Wallman, author of “Wildflowers of Holliday Park.” To register visit hollidaypark.org/events-programs/calendar and click on the April 12 event in the calendar.
INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Indianapolis Public Library offers numerous programs for all ages at its various branches in March, including Mr. Daniel Sings for small children and their families at 11 a.m. April 5 at the Nora Branch; Dia del Niño Be My Neighbor Day, a bilingual program for younger and schoolage children and families at 9 a.m. April 26 at the Central Library; a circulating sound concert for all ages featuring the Encomium Ensemble starting at 6 p.m. April 29 at the Glendale Branch; and Storytime at different times at all branches. For more, visit attend.indypl.org/events.
DISPATCHES
Indy 500 Parade Tickets Now Available –
Tickets for the AES 500 Festival Parade May 24 are on sale and start at $25. The downtown Indianapolis parade kicks off at noon, showcasing floats, bands, celebrities and the Indy 500 drivers. This year’s theme, “Connected Through May,” celebrates community spirit. Proceeds support youth education and health initiatives. Purchase tickets at 500festival.com/tickets. The parade will be televised live on WTHR and streamed on Peacock.
Sailing camps open — Eagle Creek Sailing Club has scheduled four camps in June for ages 8 through 18 with certified instructors. Sailboats provided. For more, visit ecsail.org.
New emergency vet clinic opens
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A new emergency veterinary clinic has opened in Indianapolis’ Nora area, providing pet owners with fast, expert medical care in an environment that’s geared toward reducing anxiety for the animals and their people.
PETS
Dr. Anne Goodwin is medical director of Veterinary Emergency Group in Nora, which opened mid-February at 1480 E. 86th St. in the Nora Corners shopping center. The space is very different from a typical veterinary clinic. The open-concept interior has exam tables in one large central space, with the lab, pharmacy and kennels along the walls.
Goodwin said that kind of design is part of the VEG concept.
“What our founders basically figured out was that. if I went to the (emergency room) with my kid, we’d be together all the time — because my kid is scared, because the world is scary,” she said. “And then, as vets, we took (the pets) away and had this magic curtain that everything happened behind.”
Dr. Anne Goodwin is the medical director of Veterinary Emergency Group in Nora. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
The idea behind VEG clinics is to make the experience as comfortable for everyone as possible, she said, and to keep pets near their owners throughout the process. To help with that, the clinic has couches in addition to exam tables and will examine a pet wherever the pet feels the most secure — including the floor.
Goodwin said the Nora clinic is the New York-based company’s 97th location nationwide and is the first VEG clinic in Indiana.
Goodwin said Indianapolis has big gaps in veterinary care, particularly for after-hours emergencies. The VEG clinic fills that specific gap by providing only emergency veterinary care.
ai174222711923_4AD-AU-DC-Alaska-Canada.pdf 1 3/17/25 11:58 AM
For more, visit veterinaryemergencygroup.com/locations/nora-indianapolis-in.
T REASURES OF ALASKA & THE YUKON
20-AUGUST 4, 2025
Let Meridian Audiology Speak at Your Next Club Meeting!
Meridian Audiology LLC, a private Audiology practice, was founded by Dr. Alison Wyss, Au.D. and Kira VonBlon, M.S. after working together in an ENT setting for more than 12 years. The seasoned Audiologists strive to consistently provide premier care to patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing disorders as well as those who want to protect their hearing from damage.
In stark contrast to the medical audiology world where patients are in and out in quick succession, private practice allows Ali and Kira to spend whatever time their patients need from them for their individual hearing healthcare situation.
offering the top-of-the-line newest technology in hearing aids, tinnitus and auditory processing disorder.
“We want our patients to know that we are here for them, and we will not rush them out the door so we can get on to the next patient. We love to get to know our patients, and we feel we treat them like we would treat our own family,” VonBlon said.
“We’ve had many patients find and follow us to Meridian Audiology and that is a testament to our relationships with them.”
The Meridian Audiology Audiologists pride themselves on keeping up with, and
Beyond comprehensive hearing evaluations and hearing aid sales, service and maintenance, Meridian Audiology also offers the LACE AI (Listening for Communication Enhancement) program which improves comprehension of speech, tinnitus management consultations, hearing protection options and auditory processing disorder evaluation and management. We are also available to speak to your local community clubs about hearing and hearing loss. Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, offers convenient scheduling via phone, email, or online and are independent of other medical practices or hospitals. Hours are 9am4pm Monday-Friday by appointment only.
When spine conditions impact your life, OrthoIndy offers comprehensive care — both surgical and non-surgical — to help you move pain-free. From advanced non-surgical treatments like radiofrequency ablation and PRP therapy to robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery for precision and better outcomes, our experts provide the right solution for you.
Call 317.802.2000 to schedule an appointment today.
VonBlon Wyss
Pictured: Dr. Gregory Poulter, OrthoIndy Spine Surgeon
SHOW HOUSE
Annual St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild event supports Eskenazi mental health programs
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
The nearly 100-year-old Baxter House in the upscale Meridian-Kessler neighborhood on Indianapolis’ north side has been a flurry of activity for months as local decorators painted and primped their assigned rooms for the upcoming 2025 Decorators’ Show House & Gardens tour, organized annually by St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild.
The home and garden tour opens to the public April 22 and runs through May 11, with proceeds going to Eskenazi Health mental health programs.
The Baxter House at 5676 N. Pennsylvania St. has a medieval castle-feel at the exterior entrance, which opens into an impressive great room with high ceilings and exposed beams. In late February, rooms throughout the house were still unfinished as Lynne Smiley, guild member and the event’s decorator chair, walked through the 7,000-square-foot home, pointing out what various decorators had planned.
“Our mission is to include as many local artisans and businesses that we can, so that it can go toward a bigger mission of helping Eskenazi,” Smiley said. “(St. Margaret’s Guild) has been a group since 1907 and we’ve raised $14 million (in that time) to support our public hospital.”
The Decorators’ Show House event has taken place annually for 63 years, Smiley said, with no breaks — although it did go virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smiley said the guild has about 100 active members and they’re all passionate about giving back to the city, a passion underscored by the effort and care taken to put on each year’s show house event.
Smiley said the process begins with choosing a home.
“We have been known to do the Meridian-Kessler area, but we are not necessarily tied to that,” she said. “We want to be in and have show houses that are the houses people drive by when they’re going to work and they say, ‘Oh, man, I would love to get to see inside that house.’ Those are the kind that intrigues people to come and designers to participate, too.”
Guild members work with the homeowners of each chosen house to determine what permanent renovations the owners
want done.
“Every year is a different year as far as what the renovations look like, depending on what the home is needing or what the homeowners are interested in doing,” Smiley said. “They get a lot of things — donated paint, donated through Sherwin Williams, and a lot of things are discounted for them.”
The homeowners pay those discounted rates for any permanent renovations, she said. Each designer then gets to stage their assigned room, highlighting their
unique style. Those showcase rooms are disassembled before the homeowner moves back in.
Smiley said having different designers with very different styles means everyone’s taste is represented somewhere in each show house.
“You’ll come from a really modern room to a really traditional space, and that’s the beauty,” she said. “When a mother and her daughter are going through the house, they both can find rooms that resonate with them.”
BAXTER HOUSE HISTORY
The historic Baxter House at 5676 N. Pennsylvania St. sits on a 115-by-298foot lot in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood of Indianapolis. According to the Decorators’ Show House & Gardens website, the French Norman-style home originally was about 4,400 square feet but was expanded over the years to about 7,000 square feet.
The original foundation for the home was dug by horse and shovel, a process that took about six months.
The main floor includes a sunken living room with a second-floor balcony looking down onto the space. A sun porch leads into the large outdoor
space.
“The main floor also features a dining room, pantry, kitchen, home office and an attached two-car garage, originally built to accommodate the Baxters’ luxury cars — an unusual feature at the time,” the website states. “The second floor has four bedrooms and three full baths, while the third floor, once an attic, now has an ensuite. The lower level includes a recreation room, workshop, bedroom, full bath and kitchen.”
The Baxter family moved into their home in 1931. It cost $33,786 to build — the equivalent of about $700,000 in today’s dollars.
Local designers are invited to tour each upcoming year’s show house in late summer and then can submit designs for three spaces within the home. The guild’s design board ranks those submissions and awards rooms to the top choices.
Participating designers donate their time, expertise and materials for the event, and Smiley said the guild is grateful for their participation.
“What I personally love about (the event) is that design is rarely about giving back,” she said. “Normally, you hire someone to come in and design your home for you. What I love about this is seeing designers come together for a group project and … working for a greater mission.”
She said the annual event raises around $300,000 each year — after expenses — with funds specifically going toward Eskenazi’s mental health and addiction programs.
Show house tour hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, starting April 22; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. For more, visit showhouseindy.org.
ON THE COVER: The historic Baxter House in the north side Indianapolis MeridianKessler neighborhood is the site of the 2025 Decorators’ Show House and Gardens tour. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
A sitting room in the redecorated Baxter House, one of many rooms showcasing a local designer. (Photo courtesy of The Addison Group - Kendall McQuay)
A bedroom in the historic Baxter House is one of many that will be part of the annual Decorators’ Show House & Gardens tour.
IPL’s Nora Branch reopens after extensive renovation
By Les Morris northindy@youarecurrent.com
Carrying an armful of books, Julie Cross was walking back to her nearby house on an unseasonably warm March afternoon from the newly reopened Nora Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library.
LIBRARY
She was smiling after exiting the renovated space.
“It’s gorgeous,” she said. “I’ve been wait-
ing anxiously.”
Cross has been using the Nora Branch for more than 30 years but has been traveling to the Glendale Branch for the last 15 months while renovations have been ongoing at Nora, 8625 Guilford Ave. The Nora Branch closed in December 2023 and was supposed to reopen on Feb. 15. That was delayed because of weather-related supply chain delays.
Instead, the library opted for a “soft opening” March 12 with a more public cele-
Women and Infants Hospital is now open!
Designed
for moms and babies, with care for the whole family on the same campus
Being cared for together benefits both moms and babies. That’s why we’ve expanded and continue to advance the care we deliver to your family. The new Women and Infants Hospital, located on the Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis campus and connected to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, includes leading high-risk pregnancy care, a maternal and NICU Level IV Perinatal Center and “couplet” rooms, offering postpartum moms and NICU infants care in the same room. We’re here for the entire family, too — with routine to the most complex care — across our entire campus.
bration planned for later this spring.
The Nora Branch first opened in 1971 and expanded in 1990. This recent renovation was guided by community input collected during a series of meetings and surveys in early 2023, with a project budget of $2,250,000.
“We’re excited to reopen this branch, welcoming the Nora community back to a space designed with their input in mind,” Keshia McEntire, public relations manager for the Indianapolis Public Library, said.
The Indianapolis Public Library’s Nora Branch has reopened for patrons. A grand-reopening celebration will take place later in spring. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Public Library)
READERS’ VIEWS
Policy strengthens parental leave
Editor,
Like many working mothers navigating parenthood while maintaining careers, staying involved in the community and serving others, I understand the challeng es families face when balancing profes sional commitments with family ambitions.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed an exec utive order recently to strengthen parental leave policies for state employees and help families get the care they need.
The executive order will improve paren tal leave and childbirth recovery leave by expanding recovery leave and increasing paid leave hours for moms and dads.
The first weeks of parenthood are crit ical, which is why Braun extended paid childbirth recovery leave to six weeks, with up to eight weeks for C-section deliveries. He went a step further, expanding paid leave to families who lose a child in utero, allowing grieving parents the time to heal before returning to the workplace.
Previously, state employees were re quired to wait six months before they were eligible to receive paid leave benefits. That is no longer the case. Under Braun’s leadership, state employees will have im mediate access to these essential benefits, provided they are committed to at least one year of employment.
Braun’s new policy ensures that both mothers and fathers receive 150 hours of paid leave to bond with their children and establish new routines. Importantly, this new policy includes families who have cho sen to adopt. This step ensures all parents are supported during such an important transition.
These directives strengthen Indiana fam ilies and further Indiana’s reputation as a great place to work and call home. Braun’s executive order proves Indiana sees fami lies dedicated to public service as a priori ty and a blessing.
As a working mom who serves my com munity, workplace and the Republican Party, I am grateful Braun is fighting for family values and the professional success of all Hoosiers.
Natalie Goodwin, Indianapolis, chair of the Marion County Republican Party
A legacy of support.
The Payne and Mencias families have long believed in the power of the arts to inspire, connect and transform individuals and communities. With their latest contribution — a transformative donation for the Palladium’s naming rights — these families ensure that art and culture will thrive in Central Indiana for years to come.
Blueprint for Improvement: Zionsville master bath transformation
Commentary by Larry Greene
Built on 3 acres in Hunt Country Preserve, this home by Brad Bowman of Homes by Design needed a primary bathroom update to match its grandeur. Through a thoughtful renovation blending modern elegance with timeless charm, the result is a stunning space that enhances both aesthetics and functionality. The transformation has created a luxurious and inviting retreat, providing the homeowners with a serene sanctuary that elevates their daily experience.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The once dark and dated bathroom now boasts a sophisticated, airy design.
• Rich wood cabinetry was swapped for light oak, enhancing the soft, metallic plaster walls and adding depth as they shift in color with the light.
• The addition of gold accents, sleek mirrors and elegant lighting brings warmth and luxury.
• A refined quartzite backsplash and spacious double vanity create a spa-like retreat.
• Every detail was thoughtfully curated, turning this space into a timeless sanctuary.
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.
After
Before
Pure Prairie League set for Palladium concert
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For former Pure Prairie League bassist Michael Reilly, the time to retire from constant touring had come.
But Reilly’s long association with Pure Prairie League has certainly not ended. He promotes and manages the band, which will perform at 8 p.m. April 5 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“I got spoiled after COVID and I decided after 50-some years, that was enough,” said Reilly, who stopped touring about three years ago. “But I work harder now than I did when I was on the road. I do all the logistics for the band, all the booking and I produced the new album. I make all the setlists for the shows.”
Reilly, 75, joined the band in 1972, two years after it formed in Ohio. He stayed with PPL until 1988, when band members all took a break and then reunited in 1998.
John David Call, one of the band’s founding members who had been back with the band full time since 2010, had to retire at the end of 2024 because of an issue with his left hand.
Scott Thompson has been with the band since 2012.
“The guys in the band do a really good job with the songs,” said Reilly, who is based in Sag Harbor, a village in Long Island, N.Y. “We don’t try to change them or do anything different. We’re paying our respect to the songs. That’s what the people are paying their money to come out and hear those tunes. With this social media crap, people are calling us a tribute band. We’re not a tribute band. We are the band. We’re not a bunch of weekend warriors that go out and play someone else’s songs. We do these songs, and we have for years. People can call us whatever they want. It doesn’t bother me or bother the guys. We’ve been around for 55 years.”
Pure Prairie League has had a variety of members through the years, including Vince Gill, now with the Eagles, who was lead singer from 1978 to 1982.
The band came to prominence with “Amie” on its 1972 album “Bustin’ Out.”
Because of the song’s popularity, “Amie” was released as a single in 1975. The same album included “Falling in and Out of Love,” which is often paired with “Amie” in concert. “Two Lane Highway” is another concert fixture.
Reilly said the band has played “I’ll Fix Your Flat Tire Merle” in every concert since 1973.
Another major hit for the band was “Let Me Love You Tonight,” which was released in 1980 and became the band’s first song to reach the top 10 on the Billboard’s top 100.
“Those are the songs people are paying their hard-earned dough to hear and we are going to make sure they get their money’s worth and then some,” Reilly said.
“Amie” has appeared in several movies and TV shows.
“Back in the early ‘70s, we were doing 250 to 275 college shows every year,” Reilly said. “The college radio station played it. Every college kid that had a guitar (played it) because the chords are pretty easy.”
The band released “Back on Track” in December 2024, its first studio album in nearly 20 years. Reilly said the band will play several songs from that, including “The Beginning,” “Back on Track,” “Modern Problem,” “Picture Perfect Life,” “I”m the Lucky One” and “A Love Like Yours.”
“That gives people a chance to hear half of the new album,” Reilly said. “We do all the hit songs and some deep cuts like ‘Angel No. 9’ and ‘Woman.’ We always mix it up and we have a blast.”
Reilly, who occasionally travels with the band for shows, said he expects the Palladium show will be about 2 hours with more than 20 songs.
Although viewed by many as a country rock band, Reilly said the group has incorporated some bebop, jazz and blues songs.
“We’ve tried to stretch the parameters of big vocals and really tight musicianship,” Reilly said.
In recent years, the band has toured with Orleans, Poco, Firefall and Atlanta Rhythm Section.
“We’re doing a bunch of gigs this year with Little Feat,” Reilly said. “We only did about 30 shows last year and this year we’re going to do about 75 or 80.”
For tickets, visit thecenterpresents.org. For more on the band, visit pureprairieleague.com.
‘JERSEY BOYS’
“Jersey Boys” runs through April 13 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
CIVIC THEATRE
Civic Theatre presents “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” through March 29 at the Studio Theater at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Malingo with Josh Gillespie and Father Kennedy will perform at 7 p.m. March 26 in a free concert at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. The Magic of Dave Ranalli is set for 7:30 p.m. March 28 and “Simply the Best: A Celebration of Tina Turner” is at 7:30 p.m. March 29. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘BOOKSTORE’
The Cat presents “Bookstore” through March 30 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
Lang Lang will perform at 8 p.m. March 28 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
DISPATCH
Songbook Academy deadline extended — Applications will be accepted through March 30 for the 16th annual Songbook Academy summer music intensive for high school students, taking place July 12-19 at the Great American Songbook Foundation’s headquarters in Carmel. The national pre-professional program enables young singers to develop their performance skills under the personalized guidance of Broadway stars and other experienced artists and music educators. Led by performer and preservationist Michael Feinstein, founder of the Songbook Foundation, the Songbook Academy provides education on the foundations of American popular music. More more, visit TheSongbook.org/SongbookAcademy or email SongbookAcademy@ TheSongbook.org.
Pure Prairie League members are, from left, Scott Thompson, John David Call, Jared Camic, Randy Harper and Jeff Zona. (Photo courtesy of PPL)
Reilly
Central Indiana’s go-to destination for luxury fabrics, custom furniture, and window treatments.
Fischer Homes focuses on amenities in construction
By Lauren Weidinger editorial@youarecurrent.com
Fischer Homes, a home building company in the Indianapolis area, plans to continue expanding its footprint throughout the northern Indianapolis region this year.
To request a design appointment, scan the QR code or visit us at calicoindy.com Visit our showroom on 82nd Street!
Fischer Homes has established housing developments in Brownsburg, Fishers/Geist, Greenwood, Lebanon, McCordsville, Westfield and Greenfield. The communities offer a variety of homes, including single-family homes, low-maintenance ranch homes and townhomes, attracting first-time home buyers, families looking to expand, luxury home buyers as well as families looking to downsize. In many of Fischer Homes’ communities, homeowners can enjoy amenities such as pools, pickleball courts, walking/biking trails and dog parks. Additional amenities are available at select communities, such as the Lindley Ridge community at Chatham Hills, which offers a Sport & Social membership to The Club at Chatham Hills with purchase of a home.
At the beginning of this year, Fischer Homes began development at its new community at The Reserve at Holliday Farms in Zionsville. It also will begin development on two new communities in Noblesville – Oasis at Hyde Park and Morse Village – in 2025. Oasis at Hyde Park will have direct access to Hamilton
Town Center, and Morse Village will be a master-planned community at Morse Reservoir. All three communities will begin sales by the end of 2025.
In addition, Townes at Grand Park Village in Westfield will be open for sales beginning this spring. The community offers a low-maintenance lifestyle with brand-new townhomes that are within walking distance to all of the amenities at Grand Park. Fischer Homes also unveiled a new model home in Fishers at The Cove and is constructing the Nottoway model home at its Lindley Ridge community in Chatham Hills. The Nottoway model home is part of its Grand Estates Custom Collection. Tours will be available at the Nottoway model home in May.
on Page 3
The Margot Masterpiece Collection home. (Photos courtesy of Fischer Homes)
Interior of the Margot Masterpiece Collection.
Continued from Page 2
“We offer a variety of thoughtfully designed floor plans that can be tailored to your lifestyle,” said Sean Sullivan, Fischer Homes’ Indianapolis market president. “We are proud of our high customer satisfaction rating; in fact, many of our homeowners are referred to us by their friends and family who own a Fischer Home.”
Fischer Homes also has several partnerships that offer opportunities and deals to homebuyers. This includes its partnership with Victory Mortgage, which offers special financing with three-year complimentary refinancing to Fischer Homes’ homebuyers, as well as a new partnership with Builder Backed, which connects homeowners to trusted home service providers for future home projects.
Sullivan noted the importance of finding highly sought-after locations to begin new projects, with an emphasis on making sure the areas connect to parks, trails, restaurants and shopping.
“Our communities are not just about great locations; they also create beautiful, welcoming environments where you’ll feel right at home,” Sullivan said. For more, visit fischerhomes.com.
Sullivan
Midtown Collection family room. (Photos courtesy of Fischer Homes)
The Leland Masterpiece Collection family room.
A legacy of design at Calico of Indy
For more than 50 years, Calico of Indianapolis has been a trusted destination for home design, offering custom fabrics, furniture, window treatments, and expert interior solutions. But beyond the fabrics and furnishings, the heart of Calico is its multigenerational, female-led legacy — a story of creativity, entrepreneurship and a passion for helping homeowners bring their interior visions to life.
It all started in 1969, when Barbara Hanson’s parents, new to Indianapolis and unable to find their favorite fabric store, took a leap of faith and opened
their own. Hanson, who now owns Calico of Indianapolis, grew up surrounded by textiles and design, watching her mother transform their home with seasonal slipcovers and fresh upholstery. She spent summers working in the store before heading off to college and even spent a year in France before returning home — only to realize that Calico was more than just her family’s business. It was her calling.
With a loan from her father and a vision of the future, Hanson purchased the company to take it to new heights.
Barbara Hanson, left, and her daughter Jennie Hanson-Slaff own/operate Calico of Indianapolis. (Photos courtesy of Collective Alternative)
Continued from Page 4
She recognized that as women’s lives got busier, they needed a more convenient way to shop for home design. Today, Calico is central Indiana’s go-to source for luxury textiles, custom furniture and interior design services, offering one of the largest selections of designer fabrics and trims in the region.
Now, the third generation has stepped in, as Hanson’s daughter Jennie Hanson-Slaff brings her own fresh perspective to the family business. With an eye for timeless yet modern design, she has helped expand the store’s inventory with new fabrics, patterns, and styles. And just like her mother and grandmother before her, Hanson-Slaff shares a passion for helping clients create spaces that feel like home.
From reupholstering heirloom pieces to crafting custom window treatments and bedding to deconstructing and rebuilding furniture, Calico has remained a constant for homeowners looking to invest in high-quality, beautifully designed interiors. As the business approaches its 56th year, one thing remains clear: great design never goes out of style — it simply evolves with each new generation.
Visit the Calico Indianapolis showroom today to find the ideal fabric for your next project.
For more, visit calicoindy.com.
“From the initial design to the final check off, our remodel project went smoothly. Laura did an excellent job giving us various design options for our bathrooms and did a great job selecting finishes that suited our style Would highly recommend MJ Brown Renovations to anyone looking for someone to handle a renovation project ”
-Heather W
THE MJB EXPERIENCE: Our design-build process seamlessly integrates design and construction, ensuring a well-coordinated and efficient project. From initial concepts to material selection, purchasing, scheduling, and construction, we handle every detail to bring your vision to life with precision and ease Call us today for your complimentary in-home consultation
Furniture selection by Calico.
We are a full-service, licensed, bonded and insured roofing company serving Indy and surrounding areas for over 15 years. Let our trained roofing technicians inspect your roof free of charge so you know if your home is protected!
2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes
editorial@youarecurrent.com
As the homebuilding industry evolves, so does how we showcase its finest craftsmanship, innovation and design. The 2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes, hosted by the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), moves away from the traditional home tour format. Set for April 25-27 and May 2-4, this highly anticipated event allows attendees to explore more than 60 homes by more than 20 builders across central Indiana.
A new era of home tours:
The Parade of Homes vs. IndyRama
BAGI’s IndyRama has long been a showcase for high-end urban living, offering a glimpse into thoughtfully designed homes in Indianapolis’s downtown neighborhoods. The new 2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes builds on the foundation of IndyRama broadening its reach and offering a more inclusive experience that spans multiple areas of Indianapolis and the surrounding counties.
Rather than focusing solely on urban homes, this expanded event reflects the diverse needs of today’s homebuyers. From downtown city townhomes to spacious suburban residences, the Parade of Homes highlights a range of styles, locations and price points—allowing visitors to explore homes that align with their unique preferences. This evolution isn’t about moving away from urban living but rather about creating a home tour experience that better represents the area’s dynamic housing market.
With more than 60 homes from a variety of builders, this show allows homebuyers and design enthusiasts to discover inspiration, explore new communities and connect with the region’s
This home by David Weekley Homes in Chatham Village in Westfield is on the tour of the 2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes. (Photos courtesy of Collective Alternative
Interior of the Chatham Village home pictured above.
Continued from Page 6
finest home builders in a way that fits their lifestyle.
What to expect:
An all-access tour of innovation
The 2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes provides attendees with a free all-access pass. With the pass, attendees can tour as many of the homes as they’d like across six zones and over two exciting weekends. New home construction has never been a better option. With homes on the tour ranging from $250k to $4M+, condos to single-family, there’s something for everyone in this show.
Whether visitors are looking for bold contemporary designs, timeless traditional craftsmanship, or innovative smart-home technology, the 2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes delivers an experience that caters to all.
A must-see experience for every home enthusiast
Mark your calendars for noon - 6 p.m. April 25-27 and May 2-4, and prepare to embark on an exciting journey through central Indiana’s most sought-after homes. Whether you’re looking to buy, build or dream, the 2025 McComb Pella Parade of Homes is an event you won’t want to miss! Get your free tickets today! For free tickets, visit Bagi.com/ parade-of-homes.
This model by Lennar Homes will be open in Fishers.
This model by Epcon Homes will be open in Fishers.
Commentary by Zach Lundin Morgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 1231720
You’ve probably heard of a HELOC, or home equity line of credit, but you may not realize the impact this powerful tool can have on the journey of homeownership.
First, many misinterpret this loan as not a mortgage, when in fact it is. It is typically a second lien, behind your first mortgage. The important thing about this loan is that it does not impact your payment with your primary mortgage. This can be a great tool to use for home renovation, debt consolidation or other creative uses that do not get rid of your low interest rate on your primary mortgage. The way it works is simple. We take 89.9 percent of the current value of your home, subtract your outstanding mortgage balance, and the remaining equity becomes available for future use. The nice thing about a HELOC is that like a credit card, if you do not have a balance,
Each HELOC can look different based on the financial profile of the homeowner, which can result in different interest rates and draw lengths available. A bonus to the HELOC is that the costs to put one in place are typically a fraction of those associated with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Once in place, you can draw up and pay down the balance as you see fit. A caution to many prospective borrowers is that the lack of repayment on this loan can result in a balloon payment due at the end of the term.
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING MAINTENANCE
Landscape lighting service when you need it. Even the best lighting systems can’t stand up to time and the elements forever without a little help. Annual service is the best way to protect your lighting investment — and it starts at just $275 per year.
As the tree buds begin to swell, hinting at the life stirring within, nature signals that winter’s hold is loosening and the cycle of renewal has begun once again. Grab a cup of coffee and walk around your yard to assess your lawn and garden care needs. As the season changes, it is essential to refresh and maintain your landscape to ensure a healthy, vibrant outdoor space. Hire a professional spring cleanup service or do-it yourself to get your property prepared to thrive beautifully during the warm, growing season. Use this checklist to spring into your project. Cut out this handy helper and hang it on your refrigerator. This list might be a nice chore chart for the kids! Our lush green lawns bring us joy and provide a place for children to play, for pets to romp and a place to picnic with your friends and family.
• Remove leaves, sticks and winter debris to improve soil and plant health
• Dethatch and aerate lawn (if necessary)
• Apply spring fertilizer and pre-emergent weed control
As the frost fades and the first signs of warmth settle in, spring garden bed cleanup begins.
• Clear dead plant material and weeds
• Edge garden beds for a neat, tidy look
• Apply pre-emergent and fresh mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Prune perennials and cut back ornamental grasses
Examine your trees and shrubs to evaluate winter damage and prepare trees for the growing Seasons.
• Prune dead or damaged branches to promote new growth
• Trim and shape overgrown shrubs
• Assess trees for signs of disease, pests or structural issues
• Fertilize to encourage robust foliage and root growth
How do your patio and pathways look? Are they ready for cookouts, guests and relaxing weekends?
• Power wash and sweep walkways, patios and driveways
Commentary by Stephanie Carlson
Now is the time to plan landscaping projects. (Photos courtesy of Stephanie Carlson
Continued from Page 10
• Clean out gutters and downspouts
• Repair or reposition landscape features like stones, yard art, edging and planters
• Remove any leftover snow piles or winter salt residue
Liven up your porch pots with a refreshing floral design filled with color appropriate for the location. Pay attention to sun exposure when choosing plants
• Install early spring flowers (pansies, daffodils, tulips, etc.)
• Suggest and plant new shrubs or trees as needed
• Refresh container gardens with seasonal plants
• Clean out debris and prepare your raised garden beds for vegetables
• Determine if you want to redesign your landscape or build an additional garden bed With each careful step, your landscape transforms from a dreary dormant winter scene to a vibrant inviting yard, ready to burst with color and life.
Stephanie, owner of Naturspire Landscapes — a biophilic design firm that specializes in bringing nature indoors and a full-service landscaper — is happy to help with your spring cleanup and enhancements. Visit our website at www.naturspire.com or email steph@naturspire.com.
LUXURY LIVING
Fischer Homes is proudly building in communities throughout Indianapolis including Fishers, Westfield, McCordsville, Brownsburg, Avon, and more! 14
Ale Emporium sweeps wings, pizza, bar food categories
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Ale Emporium, with multiple locations in central Indiana, won three categories in the 2025 Current Best Of Suburban North Indy contest — best bar food, best chicken wings and best pizza.
Co-owner Tony Kwiatkowski said the business is honored to be recognized.
“Winning best wings and best pizza, and then winning best bar is a true compliment based on how many really nice and great bars there are in Hamilton County,” he said, noting that the business offers a sports-bar atmosphere with live music in addition to its signature menu. “The combination of our menu, our service and then the sports environment — and then on top of that, you do live music on the weekends — there’s a lot going on there that makes us pretty popular.”
Ale Emporium’s original bar opened in 1982 in the Castleton area, 8617 Allisonville Rd. Kwiatkowski said they expanded first to Fishers in 2018, 11501 Geist Pavilion Dr., and in 2019 opened a Greenwood location, 997 E. County Line Rd. B. They plan to open a fourth location in Avon this summer.
“(We’ve) been around a long time but our growth has really just come in the last seven years or so,” Kwiatkowski said. “We’re kind of famous for our wings and our wing sauces — our famous sauce is called Hermanaki.”
Hermanaki sauce, which is teriyaki-inspired, is one of the “Herman” series
developed by Herman Perryman, who joined the team in the late 1980s.
“Those main sauces are our most popular sauces,” Kwiatkowski said. “There are multiple contests throughout the year that we get submitted for best wings — a lot of it’s based on the Hermanaki sauce, which we win a lot of awards for, but … all those Herman sauces kind of put us on the map as far as wings.”
He said they refer to their pizza as “honest,” because they don’t skimp on the toppings.
Kwiatkowski said part of the Ale Emporium’s appeal is that it’s a local, family-owned business — started by Marc Luros and now co-owned by Luros’ son-in-law, Scott Baun and Kwiatkowski. While the Castleton business is 21-andover, the Fishers and Greenwood locations are family friendly.
Kwiatkowski added that the business helps raise funds for many area nonprofits, especially youth sports programs, and customers appreciate their community support.
For more, visit aleemporium.securetree.com.
Ale Emporium in Fishers is one of three locations owned by the Indianapolis-based business. (Photo courtesy of Ale Emporium)
Sara H., patient
Service makes the difference for Khamis Fine Jewelers
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Mary Khamis-Rowe, it’s the service that has kept her business going strong for three decades.
Khamis Fine Jewelers, which was named Best Jewelery Store in the 2025 Current Best Of Suburban North Indy contest, is celebrating its 30th year in business, having opened in November 1995.
Khamis-Rowe said two jewelers do the repairs and custom pieces. Khamis-Rowe performs appraisals. She is a certified gemologist and a certified appraiser of personal property.
“We were really excited to get the (award) and we appreciate all our customers voting for us,” Khamis-Rowe said of her store at 9763 Fall Creek Rd. in Indianapolis. “We enjoy helping people enjoy important milestones in their life by helping them pick the right piece of jewelry. We’ve become part of the neighborhood and the Indianapolis area — Carmel, Fishers and the surrounding area. We try to give the best service that we can.”
Khamis-Rowe said custom jewelry is an important part of the business.
“It’s a family piece that was handed down to you, which happens a lot these days, and it’s just not your style but you want to do something with the stones,” she said. “We can create a new piece where the customer would wear it and enjoy it.”
“I not only have training in the gemology aspect of it but also on the appraising aspect of it,” Khamis-Rowe said. “There are only two or three of us in the state that have that designation. I do a lot of appraisals for attorneys, for banks, for the FBI and for insurance.”
The service the store provides allows Khamis-Rowe to have more of a personal relationship with her customers.
“I get invited to weddings,” she said. “A lot of customers have become friends of mine. I’ve got customers texting me at 10 o’clock at night. Pretty much any jewelry store can sell anything or make anything, but it’s the service you give the customer that is going to bring them back to the store. That’s what I always tell my employees. We just need the best service and that’s what we strive for.”
Khamis-Rowe, a Geist-area resident, has been in the jewelry business for 47 years.
Khamis Fine Jewelers has four employeea. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
For more, visit khamisjewelers.com.
Khamis Fine Jewelers received Best Jewelers in the 2025 Current Best Of Suburban North Indy contest. (Photo courtesy of Mary Khamis-Rowe)
Khamis-Rowe
Rejoicing Vine celebrates wine, sustainability
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A family-owned north Indianapolis business that specializes in sparkling wines won top honors for Best Winery in the Current Best Of North Indy 2025 competition, only two years after opening.
Rejoicing Vine owners Brent and Frances Kumfer met in Connecticut. As they got to know each other, they toured local wineries in that state and talked about opening their own winery someday. After relocating to Carmel — and when their kids were old enough to be in school — they looked into how they could make that dream come true.
Brent Kumfer had left his corporate job to stay home with the kids. His former career focused on launching products, so he had a business background that complimented his more earthy interests of wine making and gardening. They said it took two years of searching before they found the right location at 8440 W. 82nd St., just south of Zionsville.
“It used to be one of the biggest orchid farms between the coasts, but it had closed down about a decade before we ended up coming here,” Frances Kumfer said. “Everything was overgrown — like, we had our son out in the field and the grasses were higher than his head.”
She said their Realtor was more than a little surprised when they decided to buy the spot, but it had everything they wanted — a building, a greenhouse and plenty of space. It just needed work — about two years’ worth of work, to be precise. They did a lot of the interior demolition themselves and cleared the field for grapes.
“It’s just a really kind of serene property,” Frances Kumfer said of the site, which is close to Eagle Creek Park. “It feels like you’re out in rural Indiana, but really, you’re only 20 minutes from downtown. It’s right off of 465 and 65, so it’s easy access to get to. We kind of really lucked out in finding this property.”
Brent Kumfer, who is at the winery pretty much every day, said customers seem to appreciate the hands-on, personal nature of the business.
“Customers have direct access to the
Award-Winning Catering!
owner, to the winemaker, and I think they find that exciting and love to learn about the stories,” he said, adding that they like to stress the importance of sustainability. “I felt like this was a calling from God to help the community. I kind of call wine our Trojan horse. So, we get people in the door and we talk about sustainability, we talk about our faith and things that people normally wouldn’t just openly discuss.”
To promote sustainability, they keg many of their wines rather than bottling them, which significantly reduces their carbon footprint. They also donate to local charities that help people get better access to fresh produce and they promote other small businesses through partnerships with local florists, cheesemongers, coffee roasters and bakers, among others. They also use a regenerative farming technique, which promotes natural diversity to improve the health of their crops — which leads to better tasting wine.
Grapes that do best in Indiana’s climate work well for sparkling wine, which is why Rejoicing Vine primarily offers the bubbly stuff. Unlike most wineries that have many still wines and just one or two sparkling varieties, Rejoicing Vine has about seven bubbly selections, with just one nonsparkling wine on the menu. For more, visit rejoicingvine.com.
Zing! Cafe is a Gold Winner in Catering and a top coffee shop nominee! As a locally owned, woman-run cafe, we serve quick, casual breakfast and lunch, plus expertly crafted coffee. Stop by for a fresh brew or a delicious meal and see why we're an awardwinning favorite! Visit
I’m honored to be chosen the Gold Winner in Travel Services for Suburban North Indy! I truly cherish helping families create Magical Vacation Memories. If you’re planning a Disney Vacation, I’d love to assist — let’s make your dream trip a reality! Danielle Ott danielle@hihovacations.com 317-750-0450 /totheparksandbeyond www.hihovacations.com Thank you for your votes!
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of IU Health North Hospital, we celebrate the team members, providers and volunteers who have dedicated their lives to serving others. From broken bones to broken hearts, from miracles born to miracles made through innovation and medical advancement, we’re proud to care for our neighbors and call Hamilton County home. We look forward to continuing to serve with skill and
Frances and Brent Kumfer of Carmel are the owners and operators of Rejoicing Vine in northwest Indianapolis. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
8
March 18, 2025 Current Best of
Food quality, customer service top priorities at Joe’s Butcher Shop
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
It’s been nearly 20 years since Joe and Kathy Lazzara launched Joe’s Butcher Shop at 111 W. Main St. Since then, it’s become a destination for both hungry diners in search of a fresh sandwich and those seeking premier ingredients to cook at home.
Joe Lazzara answered the following questions from Current about the business and its long-term success in the Arts & Design District. Learn more at JoesButcherShop.com.
Why did you decide to open Joe’s Butcher Shop?
I traveled quite a bit with my previous career and made a hobby out of visiting James Beard-nominated restaurants. I learned that what made many of the restaurants and chefs great was sourcing clean, sustainably raised, fresh proteins. We felt there was a gap in the Carmel market for a butcher shop and fish market that provided higher quality proteins
for the home chef.
How would you describe the shop to someone who hasn’t been before?
A local butcher shop and fish market committed to customer service that serves the finest, most sustainable proteins they can source. We sell products from over 20 truly local providers and serve up what many believe are the best tasting sandwiches in central Indiana.
The staff is friendly and the butchers knowledgeable. Both care about serving your needs and keeping your business. What makes the shop unique?
The first is the quality of the beef and the expert way it’s cut for the customers’ needs. When it comes to fresh fish, it would be difficult to find somewhere that cares more about marine stewardship while providing a superior product. Our deli and sandwich area has a full kitchen where we craft our sides and sandwiches from over 140 unique fromscratch recipes.
What is your favorite item and why?
Wow, I have so many favorites! I can start with our incredible fresh reserve Salmon and move through our beef case from our vacio/flap steak to our reserve filet mignon. On the grocery side, it’s got to be Heidi Ho’s Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies. They are wickedly sinful. Sandwich-wise, it’s tough to beat our Evan’s IPA Braised Beef Sandwich, incredible. We dry-age our own beef and pork, and lately I’ve become obsessed with our double thick cut 14-day dry aged pork chop. It eats more like a great beef steak
than a pork chop. It’s just outstanding. What do you enjoy about operating in downtown Carmel?
We took a risk establishing a store downtown when the Art & Design District was in its infancy. Downtown Carmel has become a hub of great events and a true community place to gather. We’ve had a front seat to what might be the most beautiful, successful growth experience of any city in the U.S. over the last 20 years. What’s not to enjoy?
What do you most want people to know about the shop?
That we are committed and focused on serving our customers to provide the best quality proteins and experience possible. That we love serving our community not just through our work, in and outside of Joe’s, but in how we take care of our 18 full-time and 32 part-time employees.
Anything else you want to share?
How honestly humble and amazed we are every day that our customers and community have made the choice for nearly 20 years to support our employees and what we do.
Joe’s Butcher Shop sells products from more than 20 local providers. (Photo courtesy of Joe’s Butcher Shop)
BAKERY
Taylors Bakery
taylorsbakery.bakesmart.com 317-596-2253
Le Petit Gateau lpgbakery.com 317-408-5500
BAR
Ale Emporium aleemporium.securetree.com
317-288-7394
3UP
3uprooftop.com
317-740-0930
BBQ
Big Hoffas Smokehouse bighoffas.com 317-867-0077
City Barbeque citybbq.com 317-660-8369
BREAKFAST
Rosies Place rosiesplace.net 317-688-7350
Cafe Patachou cafepatachou.com 317-569-0965
BREWERY
Sun King sunkingbrewing.com 317-843-6250
Bier Brewery bierbrewery.com 317-444-8500
BURGER
Gold
BRU Burger Bar bruburgerbar.com 317-975-0033
Roots Burger Bar rootsburgerbar.com 463-273-2004
CATERING
Zing Cafe zingcafecarmel.com 463-248-6340
City Barbeque citybbq.com 317-660-8369
GOLD AND SILVER WINNERS
CHICKEN WINGS
Ale Emporium aleemporium.securetree.com 317-288-7394
The Friendly Tavern friendlytavernzionsville.com 317-873-5772
CHINESE FOOD
China Wok 161chinawok.com 317-896-8786
Kings Garden carmelkingsgarden.com 317-573-9999
COFFEE SHOP
RIVET Coffee Bar and Roastery rivetcoffee.com 317-763-0007
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers thecakebakeshop.com 317-257-2253
Graeters Ice Cream graeters.com 317-810-1673
DISTILLERY West Fork Whiskey Co. westforkwhiskey.com 317-763-5400
Four Finger Distillery North fourfingerdistillery.com 317-804-5675
DONUTS
Titus Bakery and Deli titusbakery.com 317-763-1700
Pana Donut
Coffee & Boba Tea panadonut.com 317-757-3933
FINE DINING RESTAURANT
Anthonys Chophouse anthonyschophouse.com
317-740-0900
Harry & Izzys harryandizzys.com
317-915-8045
GREEK / MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
ATHENS ON 86th athenson86th.com
317-879-8644
Canal Bistro canal-bistro.com
317-254-8700
The Great Greek Mediterranean thegreatgreekgrill.com/ carmel-in-medical-dr 463-273-1311
HAPPY HOUR
Gold 1933 Lounge by St. Elmo 1933lounge.com
317-758-1933
Kona Grill konagrill.com
317-566-1400
INDIAN RESTAURANT
Amber Indian Restaurant indianindy.com/amber-carmel 317-580-0828
The Monks monkscarmel.com
317-564-8266
ITALIAN RESTAURANT
The Italian House italianhousedining.com
317-804-5619
Capri Italian Restaurant capriindianapolis.com
317-259-4122
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Nori Japanese Steakhouse noriwestfield.com
317-763-9903
Sakura indysakuraexpress.com
317-259-4171
COME BY OUR SHOWROOM
Restore Your Core Physical Therapy aims to individualize care
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
In Current’s inaugural Best Of Suburban North Indy contest, which recognizes businesses that make local communities thrive, Restore Your Core Physical Therapy won the top honor for physical therapy provider. Restore Your Core Physical Therapy, which has locations in Carmel, Zionsville and Greenwood, offers pelvic floor physical therapy, such as birth preparation, dry needling and cupping, among other services.
ligaments and joints to improve musculoskeletal function and reduce pain, sets it apart from other physical therapy facilities in the area.
“We employ many different treatment techniques and provide individualized exercise programs,” Robinson said. “A lot of the times when you go to physical therapy, they give you exercises to do, and then you come back and do those same exercises. We don’t do that. We check the exercises, but then we give clients new ones. So, everything is very individualized.”
Dr. Amy Robinson, a physical therapist who opened Restore Your Core Physical Therapy in 2016, said it is an out-of-network practice, which means it provides services outside of a health insurance plan’s network.
“I chose to be an out-of-network practice because we get to spend more time with our clients 1-on-1,” Robison said. “We can work our clients through an entire plan of care versus in the insurance-based world, where you can only get patients good enough, and then they make you cut them free. In our business, we see patients until they are better and build some resiliency within their system so (that) their symptoms don’t return.”
Robinson said the practice’s manual therapy, a hands-on treatment that involves manipulation of muscles, tendons,
Robinson said Restore Your Core Physical Therapy staff are specialized in pelvic floor therapy.
“We look at the pelvic floor in a very functional manner,” Robinson said. “When you go to physical therapy school, you’re lucky to get an hour lecture in the field of public health, and you have to go back after physical therapy school to get that education. At our clinic, two of us have nearly 30 years of practice, and we don’t just look at our patients lying on a table. That’s not functional.”
Robinson said the goal is to show patients that Restore Your Core Physical Therapy cares about them as individuals.
“My business has personally grown more from word-of-mouth referrals and less from marketing,” Robinson said. “It feels good that our patients see that we are different from other similar places.”
For more, visit restoreyourcorept.com.
Robinson
LATE NIGHT EATS
The Mill Tavern barwestfield.com 317-399-6972
Melt N Dip meltndip.com 317-827-2120
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant lahaciendaindianapolis.com 317-577-2689
Los Agaves losagavesgrill.com 317-804-9240
PIZZA
Ale Emporium aleemporium.securetree.com 317-288-7394
Bazbeaux Pizza bazbeaux.com 317-848-4488
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Monterey Cuisine montereycuisine.com 317-853-2280
noah grants grill house & oyster bar noahgrants.com 317-732-2233
The Shooting Academy, formerly Tim’s Shooting Academy, is more than just a shooting range and licensed firearms dealer.
Located just south of Grand Park in Westfield, The Shooting Academy is a destination for those who shoot and those who are looking to learn.
With the recent rebrand to The Shooting Academy comes a larger selection of firearms and accessories and expanded training course offerings. The indoor range includes 15 total lanes — five dedicated for rifles and 10 for handguns.
In addition to shooting practice, The Shooting Academy offers a number of training courses, including one-on-one training with certified instructors. One of the more popular classes is a ladies-only basic pistol training course.
The main focus at The Shooting Academy is safety — providing proper training on weapons so patrons learn not just how to shoot, but how to be comfortable around their weapons.
Typical customers bring their own guns to the range and purchase ammunition and a target on-site, or they can rent a gun for use within the facility. People who want to purchase or are considering purchasing a weapon can rent one of 50plus guns to try it out on the range and see what feels most comfortable.
The Shooting Academy is open to the public and offers a variety of memberships, ranging from $29 to $65 per
The Shooting Academy has 15 total lanes, with five dedicated for rifles and 10 for handguns. (Photo courtesy of The Shooting Academy)
month. Lanes can be rented for 30- or 60-minute sessions.
The number one benefit of The Shooting Academy over other shooting ranges — the Westfield location is indoors. That means people can participate in practice or training year-round.
The Shooting Academy is at 17777 Commerce Dr. in Westfield. The range is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. The range is closed on Mondays.
The business also considers itself an entertainment destination. Families, including children 12 and older who are accompanied by an adult, are welcome on the range to practice.
While the facility is undergoing rebranding to The Shooting Academy, information is available on the website under its former name, timsshootingacademy.com.
March 18, 2025
Best of Suburban North Indy youarecurrent.com/BestOf2025
GOLD AND SILVER WINNERS
Winners were picked by readers at youarecurrent.com from Jan. 29-Feb. 11 with
GYM/FITNESS CENTER
Roundtripper
Sports Academy roundtripper.com
317-896-2900 studio fitnez studiofitnez.com 317-225-1301
We’re beyond grateful to be voted #1 Yoga/Pilates Studio in Suburban North Indy! Your support means everything, and we’re honored to share our space with you.
At Fire & Flow Yoga, every breath, every movement, and every shared moment weaves us together. Here, you’re not just practicing — you’re part of something bigger.
As a thank you, text, email, or call us — tell us you saw this ad, and you AND a friend get one free class! See you on the mat, where we rise together!
- Greg & Cindi Odle
March 18, 2025
Current Best of Suburban North Indy youarecurrent.com/BestOf2025
Be Well Family Care offers unique patient experience
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
your vote!
Moms at Sea Travel is honored to be acknowledged as a family cruise resource by our Indianapolis area customers. We thank you for your support and look forward to helping you plan a lifetime of vacations.
Be Well Family Care, a medical clinic at 12430 N Clark St. in Carmel, won top honors for Best Doctor in Current’s inaugural Best Of North Indy 2025 competition.
The facility offers primary care services, such as physicals and pap smears, and introduces patients to community partners such as restaurants, chefs, health coaches and martial arts instructors as resources for healthy lifestyle changes.
The clinic opened in 2017, and Dr. Swathi Rao is owner and medical director. She said her dream was to create a practice dedicated to partnering with patients on their medical journeys.
• Royal Caribbean Partner of the Year
• Dream Vacations Franchise of the Year
• Dream Vacations Top Producer of Royal Caribbean
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“Oftentimes, you’ll go to family practices when you’re sick or once a year for a physical, but we are striving to find risk factors and treat them before disease happens,” Rao said. “We have much longer office visits with our patients and spend a lot of time getting to know them when they’re healthy, so they don’t get sick.”
The practice’s motto is to “Eat, sleep, move and cook well to be well.” The facility has a kitchen and offers cooking classes, yoga, discussions and a variety of events.
“We do group visits where we cook with our patients and have move-well visits with them,” Rao said. “We bring in local community partners that offer different ways to exercise, eat healthy and de-stress, and we do those classes
with our patients during the day or in the evening as group visits. For our patients, we bill those to insurance, but we invite nonpatients to come and join us in those classes as well.”
Rao said making the relationship between staff at Be Well Family Care into a partnership sets them apart from other area facilities.
“I think a lot of doctors are very authoritative, and we really try to meet patients where they are,” Rao said. “I feel like I only have a limited amount of time with patients to tell them how to improve their life and if I can use that time to help them understand what they need to change in their life, whether it be sleeping, stressing, eating or moving, then that impacts what we’re doing here. It motivates them to make changes, and they understand why they need to make those changes.”
For more, visit bewellfamilycare.com.
The teaching kitchen at Be Well Family Care. (Photo courtesy of Be Well Family Care)
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