Evansville Living July/August 2024

MUSIC Summer of

Stunning, home built by CAC Development in Woodfield Subdivision. The open floor plan features a formal dining room and home office with closet that welcomes you into the great room with gas fireplace, stone accents and built-in display cabinets. The gourmet kitchen features granite countertops, all stainless Viking appliances, gas cooktop, double ovens, Kohler farm sink, beverage fridge, center island and breakfast nook. Off of the kitchen is a covered patio with spiral stairs that lead to the ground level patio, in-ground pool, hot tub and putting golf green. The master bedroom is an oasis with an elegant master ensuite with suede granite double vanities, walk-in tiled shower with dual shower heads, soaking tub and his & her walk-in closets. The fabulous walkout finished basement offers a large open family room, complete with a second kitchenette with granite countertops, wrap-around bar that seats 7, custom cabinets, tap and stainless appliances. The in-ground heated saltwater pool is 16 x 36 and 6 ft deep with inset auto cover and lights. A 3 car attached garage with new epoxy flooring completes the home.

7 Bedrooms, 5 Full + 1 Half Baths • 6,836 SF • Newburgh

$1,999,000

Built in 2021 by R.A. McGillem Custom Homes, this property offers a rare chance to own a magnificent home with 5 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths, spanning almost 7,000 square feet on nearly a full acre. The foyer then opens up to the living room featuring charming beamed ceilings, a rustic stone fireplace, and delightful views of the backyard. The gourmet kitchen, equipped with chef-grade stainless steel appliances, a sizable island with bar seating, and a concealed butler pantry featuring a beverage fridge and icemaker, adds luxury to the home. The family room boasts a double-sided fireplace and beamed ceiling. The main floor features two owner suites, each with their own en suite bathrooms and walk-in closets. The finished basement is a multifunctional area with plenty of space for recreational activities. The covered patio area with a fireplace, ceiling fans, and an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, sink, and beverage fridge provides the perfect setting for entertaining guests or simply relaxing with family.

5 Bedrooms, 4 Full + 2 Half Baths • 6,913 SF • Newburgh

This incredible 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home sits on just shy of 30 acres and has endless amenities and choice of Castle or Boonville schools. Built in 2021, this home features an open floor plan with endless natural light and beautiful wooded views from every room. The foyer opens to the impressive living room with high ceilings, endless windows and twosided wood burning stone fireplace with custom mantel. On the other side of the fireplace is a hearth area, perfect for sitting and enjoying a fire. The generous kitchen features endless counter space and cabinetry, breakfast bar seating, island, like-new GE Cafe appliances, and stunning views of the scenery. Food storage is no issue with this home as the walk-in pantry with built-ins provides endless space. The owner suite finishes the main floor with beautiful views, high ceilings, dual walk-in closets and ensuite bath. The ensuite boasts raised height twin sink vanities, jetted tub, and tiled walk-in shower with rain head. The four car attached garage features epoxy flooring, a shower, garage pantry and laundry basin.

5 Bedrooms, 3 Full + 1 Half Baths • 4,900 SF • Boonville

Better together

At the EVSC, we know that we are better together! When we join with our families, staff and our community, we can ensure positive outcomes for all our students. Check us out today. #WeAreEVSC

Fine arts offerings at all levels, including honors orchestra & state-qualifying marching bands. $37M in scholarships offered to the Class of 2024.

Rigorous high school opportunities, including 30 Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

7 innovative model high school programs that meet student interests and future career goals.

State-championship sports teams and a host of afterschool opportunities at all levels.

Features

46

COVER STORY Summer Music Season

Listening to the strains of live music makes the summer sweeter. Here in the Tri-State, there is no shortage of seasonal opportunities to get your groove on. Meet the musicians shaping the scene, then venture out to one of the area’s live music venues and festivals to discover your new favorite band.

Evansville Living July/August 2024 Volume 25, Issue 5

86

HOME OF THE ISSUE Family Centric and Forward Thinking

When Jeff and Misty Bosse set out to build their dream home, they envisioned a contemporary space to meet every need of their daily life. Step inside this dramatic custom build on the Ohio riverfront in Newburgh, Indiana.

40 LOCAL VOICES

Southern Justice Pilgrimage

Writer Paul Leingang and area parishioners recount a visit to Legacy Sites in Alabama, where they received an immersion in Civil Rights history.

ON THE COVER Jon Hyneman, Gene Baker, Ray Pritchett, and George Barnett of The Pits have played an eclectic catalog of cover tunes for more than 40 years. Here, they’re captured at the Four Freedoms Monument on June 22 prior to an evening show at Bokeh Lounge. Read more about the summer’s live music scene starting on page 46. Photo by Zach Straw

We Were Curious Meet Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve’s tiny ambassador, Artemis 20 Model Citizen Louisa Royer sets a world record with her drone 20 In the Spotlight UE men’s soccer celebrates a half-century on the pitch

Military Museum offers plenty of bang for your buck

CULTURE

27 On Display Connect with Stephen Pace’s Hoosier art at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science

34 Travel Journal

Cool off with a summer sojourn to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

HOME & STYLE

83 What’s In Store

Jesse Jeanne’s Flower Boutique fulfills a dream for its owner

84 Artful Living

What does it take to sell everything in a five-story Victorian? This couple finds out

84 On the Market

This Gum Street home combines old and new 85 Get Inspired A homeowner’s favorite wallpaper is recreated in paint

85 Trending Now

Stock up with home and body care products handcrafted by three area businesses

FOOD & DRINK

95 In the Kitchen

This season-proof picnic menu can take the heat

96 Good Eats

Fly By Faith Cafe whips up comforting food in an unlikely setting

96 Think Drinks

Sample summer ciders for an early taste of autumn

97 Local Foodie

Darlene Grafton shares her lifelong love of cooking with her family

99 Dining Directory Peruse the cuisine of Tri-State restaurants

Fresh Takes

144 Anthony Head revisits the magic of first concerts ahead of a major milestone

Special Advertising Sections

Just For Kids 57

Beat summer boredom with these kid-centric activities and destinations

Henderson, Kentucky Beginning after pg. 64

Explore the history, recreation, daily life, and more of our city’s Southern neighbor

Dine 111

Dig into the area’s dining scene through its newest restaurants and most exciting menus

WNIN 138

from

Here, you’re not

Online access to applications Current Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

Combined borrowing amounts up to 90% of your home’s value

Quick, local decisions

Flexible terms and competitive interest rates

Explore WNIN’s upcoming program highlights, guide listings, and station-wide happenings for August and September 2024 Best of Evansville

Coming in the SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Celebrate the best the River City has to offer, as chosen by voters and Evansville Living editors

Evansville’s Authority The

Brown Recluse

Mosquito

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Kristen K. Tucker

PRESIDENT, TUCKER PUBLISHING GROUP

Todd A. Tucker

EDITORIAL

Jodi Keen

Managing Editor

John Martin

Senior Writer

Maggie Valenti Staff Writer

Nick Shelton

Editorial Intern

Jackson Tucker Office Assistant

DESIGN

Laura Mathis

Creative Director

Maliah White

Graphic Designer

Hadley Mitchell

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Adin Parks

Photography Fellow

ADVERTISING

Jessica Hoffman

Senior Account Executive

Jennifer Rhoades

Senior Account Executive

Logen Sitzman

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

CIRCULATION

Gregg Martin

Distribution and Circulation Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

Mary Bolin, Mitch Ellis, Gordon

Engelhardt, Zach Evans, Anthony Head, Katie Henrichs, Paul Leingang, Michelle Mastro, Chuck Stinnett, Donna Stinnett, Audra Straw, Zach Straw, Glenn Tang, Timothy Weir, Art Woodward

TUCKER

MISSION STATEMENT

The staff of inform, instruct, amuse, and entertain our readers, of living in Evansville and the surrounding area. With each issue, we provide a targeted audience of active, well-educated consumers for our to positively chronicle the many unique aspects of living in Evansville and the TriState to benefit our community.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions are $18 for one year; $24 for two years; or $30 for three years. To start a new subscription, renew an existing subscription, or to change your address, visit evansvilleliving.com/subscribe; call 812-641-5919 or 818-286-3122 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST Monday through Friday, or send an email to elbcs@magserv.com.

2024 INDIANA STATE GAMES

CALENDAR ITEMS, COMMUNITY UPDATES, DINING GUIDE

Please email events@evansvilleliving.com information prior to the magazine cover date. Details may be edited or deleted for space.

ADVERTISING

Take advantage of prime advertising space. Call us at 812-426-2115 or visit our website.

Todd A. Tucker, President Kristen K. Tucker, Vice President

CONNECT WITH US

Follow our updates on social media: Facebook, facebook.com/evansvilleliving X, twitter.com/evansville Linkedin, linkedin.com/ company/tucker-publishing-group Instagram, @evansvilleliving

The Indiana State Games local 501(c)3 non-profit annually hosts events for persons age 50+ to compete in a choice of 25 sporting events by gender, sport, and five-year age increments: 50-54, 55-59, etc. Participants compete recreationally and competitively for Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. Many 2024 events have concluded, but you can still register for:

• Swimming in Evansville: Sun, Aug. 18th

• Archery in Noblesville: Sun, Sept. 8th

Volleyball in Indy: Sept. 7th

Basketball 3 on 3 in Indy: Sept. 7th

Golf in Indy: Mon, Sept. 9th

Registration and information: www.IndianaStateGames.org

Interested in registering, volunteering, and/ or sponsorship opportunities? Contact Holly Schneider with questions: 812-297-9568, indianastategames@gmail.com

WHO WAS YOUR FIRST?

Ask someone, ‘What was your first concert?’ and pretty good stories almost always come out.”

That was the nut graph of a story pitch the Evansville Living editorial offices received in May. (In journalism, a nut graph is a paragraph that explains the context of the story in a nutshell.) Evansville native and Texas resident Anthony Head, a writer of more than 30 years now focusing on live music, proposed a story about his first concert ahead of its 40th anniversary – the July 7, 1984, performance at Roberts Municipal Stadium by hard rock band Van Halen. Head’s query caught our attention; his timing was great. We invited him to recount the memories of his first concert in Final Detail (page 144). In the office at the same time, we were putting the finishing touches on the organization of “Sounds of the City,” working with writer and musician Zach Evans. As the feature team was wrapping up a meeting with Evans, they put Head’s icebreaker question to the test, revealing their first concerts. The responses were as broad as the age range of Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., employees. The music feature, robust in its inclusion of artists across musical genres, venues, festivals, and more, begins on page 46.

Enjoying live music was something I grew up with. My parents took me to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, before I was a teenager, in 1974 or 1975. I saw Tony DeFranco and The DeFranco Family perform at Mesker Park Amphitheatre. (Look them up; a pre-teen blast from the past. Those of a certain age might remember the pop single, “Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat.”)

The first rock concert I saw with a friend was on July 9, 1979, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Downtown Evansville: Molly Hatchet and AC/DC. Today, my taste in live music isn’t quite so loud. In early June, my husband and I traveled to New York City to Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater to see one of our favorite musical performers, Joe Jackson. And right before this issue went to press, on June 24, we saw Little Feat bring its catalog of rock, funk, folk, blues, jazz, country, rockabilly, and New Orleans, Louisiana, swamp boogie spanning six decades to the historic Victory Theatre. Now then, what was your first concert? It’s never too late for that first!

As always, I look forward to hearing from you!

QUESTION What Was Your First Concert?

Todd A. Tucker

“My first show was AC/DC, UFO, and The Motors at Freedom Hall Civic Center, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, circa 1978.”

Jodi Keen

“My best friend and I went to see ‘NSYNC at the then-Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 2, 1999.”

John Martin

“[My first concert] was the heavy metal band Ratt, who played on the campus of Western Kentucky University in 1984.”

Maggie Valenti

“My first concert was Kelly Clarkson at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.”

Hadley Mitchell

“My first concert was Justin Bieber at the KFC Yum! Center in 2012.”

Maliah White

“My first concert was a Pentatonix concert in 2017 at the PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati, Ohio.”

Adin Parks

“My first concert was Lecrae at the International in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Oct. 18, 2017, for my close friend’s and my 14th birthdays. A very good time.”

Jessica Hoffman

“My first concert was Boyz II Men at the old Roberts Municipal Stadium.”

Logen Sitzman

Kristen K. Tucker Editor & Publisher

“My first concert was Florida Georgia Line at the Ford Center in 2014 ... the tickets were free.”

Gregg Martin

“My first concert was Three Dog Night at Roberts Municipal Stadium in 1972.”

LITTLE FEAT AT THE VICTORY THEATRE

Gone are the days of seat hierarchy. No more shortest legs in the back. Because finally, there’s a three-row SUV where everybody wins. With intuitive tech, lots of legroom and those little extras you expect, everybody gets an elevated experience, no matter where you sit, in the Lexus TX. THE THREE-ROW LEXUS TX

Conversation

CHEERS FOR CITY VIEW

You and staff did a terrific job on the City View guide! It is really very well done and attractive! Congrats!

Gary Davis, Indiana Trails

Loved the edition!

Josh Claybourn via LinkedIn

Sabor Colombia made Evansville Living City View. … Thank you Evansville Living for giving us a space in your magazine to talk about our dream to become business owners and do what we love most.

Sabor Colombia via Facebook

RIGHT AT HOME

Check out our first-ever ad in this month’s Evansville Living (At Home special advertising section, May/June 2024).

Bancroft Blue Design Co. via Instagram

FRIES AND PHILANTHROPY

As a local family-owned business for 40 years, we pride ourselves in not only creating the best tasting burgers, fries, ice cream, and more but also giving back to this community that we love so much (“Eyes on the Fries,” May/June 2024).

G.D. Ritzy’s via Twitter

EVANSVILLE, THE BEAUTIFUL

We hit your list this year (“Most Beautiful Homes,” May/June 2024). Bless you folks for lifting up the beauty in our city and the hearts of the people who call Pocket City home.

Greg Donaldson, Evansville

TOP TREATS

Thank you so much to Evansville Living for featuring us in your May issue (“Take a Bite,” May/June 2024). Being able to do this for a living has been a dream come true!

Tori Chapman via Facebook

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW

Check out Evansville Living’s latest article (“The NEW New Harmony,” May/June 2024). Learn more about the entrepreneurs, residents, and groups working together to help New Harmony embrace reinvention. Historic New Harmony is thrilled to be a part of this community effort.

Historic New Harmony via Facebook

HOME

SWEET HOME

Thank you so much for including our home in the most recent edition of Evansville Living (“Old-World Charm,” May/June 2024). The story was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful home. It’s bittersweet to be moving, but we feel comfort in knowing that our time in the house and the house itself will be forever preserved in the pages of your amazing magazine.

Patricia and Jonathan Weinzapfel, Evansville

Contributors

ZACH EVANS

“For my first on-my-own concert I saw guitar great John Mayer on his ‘Continuum’ tour in Murray, Kentucky, in 2007. Since then, I have seen hundreds of concerts and shows, and I’ve performed, booked, and/or produced hundreds of concerts and shows. Music is my life, and without it, I fear I would be nothing.”

Zach Evans is a writer, musician, and concert promoter in Evansville. He has reported stories in the area since 2013. You can catch him performing around the region in Corduroy Orbison and other bands. His interviews with area musicians start on page 46.

CHUCK AND DONNA STINNETT

“It was easy for us to write about life in Henderson, Kentucky, because of the booming dining scene, the growth in downtown retail, our economic development gains, the ever-growing number of fun festivals, and the unprecedented collaboration among the people working to make 42420 (our ZIP code and nickname).”

Chuck and Donna Stinnett met as student journalists at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where they honed their craft working on student publications. They married and were recruited to Henderson as reporter-photographers for The Gleaner newspaper, where each worked for more than 35 years. The couple tell the story of their adopted home town starting on page 65.

ADIN PARKS

“I love to photograph anything that has to do with humanity as a whole. I prefer to shoot news photography and to make images that hold genuine moments of connection between individuals.”

Adin Parks is a junior photojournalism student at Western Kentucky University and is completing a photography fellowship this summer with Tucker Publishing Group.

NICK SHELTON

“I feel like working on sports beats throughout a season allows you to build a relationship with the coaches and players. Covering men’s and women’s golf at Ball State University this past year, I felt like I was on a journey with the team, where I, in a way, got to experience the ups and downs of the process with them.”

Nick Shelton – a 2022 graduate of Gibson Southern High School in Fort Branch, Indiana, and a senior journalism student at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana – joined Tucker Publishing Group for a summer writing internship.

PAUL LEINGANG

“Congregants wanted to gain insight into racial disparity highlighted by the Civil Rights Movement. Many staffers at The Legacy Sites were genuinely thankful for our multi-racial, mixed religion group.”

Paul Leingang was the editor of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville newspaper The Message and director of communications for the Diocese from 1987 until retiring in 2012. Paul recounts local congregants’ travels to Alabama’s The Legacy Sites beginning on page 40.

ANTHONY HEAD

“It was my youthful passion for reading that inevitably led to my career as a writer. Being a storyteller, it seems, has nearly always been my life’s ambition.”

Born and raised in Evansville, Anthony Head has been writing professionally for more than 30 years. His work on travel, wine, history, music, and dive bars has appeared in more than three dozen national and international publications. Turn to page 144 to read the back story about his obsession with live concerts.

OCTOBER 5TH AND 6TH!

Kentucky Living magazine has named the Lions Arts and Crafts Festival at Audubon State Park one of the Top 3 arts and crafts festivals in the commonwealth. Henderson Lions bringing arts and crafts back to Audubon State Park

Join us for over 100 vendors with handmade arts and crafts and a variety of tasty food booths.

Proceeds to benefit local nonprofit organizations and scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Visit hendersonlions.org for more information.

Admission: $5 parking Days/Hours Open: Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Address: 3100 U.S. 41, Henderson, KY 42420

CINDERELLA CAN PLAY BASEBALL

UE makes an unprecedented run in this season’s NCAA tournament BY

GORDON ENGELHARDT

For a few days in June, the University of Evansville was the darling of college baseball. The Aces stunned No. 1-ranked Tennessee 10-8 in the second game of the Knoxville Super Regional on June 8, the first time a regional No. 4 seed had defeated the No. 1 overall seed in NCAA tournament history.

UE achieved the “America’s Team” moniker by being the smallest school, by far, to reach this year’s Super Regional round.

“It’s the most incredible experience I’ve ever had,” says UE coach Wes Carroll. He spoke to Evansville Living for its May/June 2024 issue about hosting the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, which UE also won for the second time in the program’s history. “The fact that we captured the country’s imagination and were labeled ‘America’s team’ is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been a part of.”

The next day, the Volunteers eliminated UE 12-1 in the Super Regional championship game on the road to its eventual College World Series victory. It appeared UE, and especially its pitching staff, had run out of gas.

But what an unprecedented ride it was for the Aces. They captured an NCAA regional championship for the first time, after earning the MVC tournament title in its host role at Braun Stadium-German American Bank Field. At the close of June, the Aces were ranked 23rd in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

Evansville loses 11 seniors, including American Baseball Coaches Association/ Rawlings third team all-American Mark Shallenberger, named in a vote of collegiate head coaches. The ABCA also named Carroll the Midwest Regional Coach of the Year on June 25.

“We return a good amount of impactful players,” Carroll says. “We want to build [on this year’s success and recruit] with the right kind of players who fit our core culture. We want to compete for the Missouri Valley Conference title, year in and year out.”

University of Evansville baseball players celebrate as they beat East Carolina and advance to the NCAA Super Regional tournament — a first for the Aces.

hether you’re splurging on something special, or enjoying a bottle over conversation with friends, The Wine Vault offers a fine selection of wine, craft beer, olive oil products, chocolate truffles, gifts, and accessories that everyone will love. Owners Holly and Scott Edmond and their staff are very knowledgeable about their products and provide excellent customer service when selecting the perfect wine. Visit the shop today and indulge in something unique.

Good Living

‘FIERCE HUNTER, SMALL PACKAGE’

After a car crash, Artemis the owl finds a second life as an animal ambassador

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

Artemis’ story is similar to those of many of Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve’s 23 animal ambassadors. The male Eastern Screech Owl – native to Indiana – escaped with a broken wing after being hit by a car in Phelps County, Missouri. Rehab began at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine Raptor Rehabilitation Project in Columbia, Missouri, on Nov. 7, 2020.

Elaine Kung, Wesselman Woods’ wildlife curator and educator, explains that Artemis has fared better than many of his peers.

“So many of them go blind in at least one eye afterward,” she explains. “Their skulls are so thin, and everything around there is just so delicate.”

Though he kept his sight, rehab could not repair the soft tissue in his right wing, leaving him flightless. UoM sought a permanent home after determining Artemis could not live independently in the wild. Wesselman Woods expressed interest, and he became a resident animal ambassador in Evansville on Dec. 16, 2021.

“We really want a good representation of our native animals here because there is just so much more education that can be done on that front,” Kung says. Today he lives at Wesselman Woods’ Nature Center with five fellow bird ambassadors. His exact age is unknown, but Kung estimates he could be as young as 4 or as old as 15. The life span

for Easter Screech Owls typically is 10 years, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity.

This small owl eats a typical diet of mice, and his cage has a dense set-up of strategically placed perches, branches, and ramps to help him move around. Upon arrival, he had to learn how to interact with people and get used to a crate. He also was trained to step up onto the leather glove handlers wear.

“When we did first get him, he was still on a learning curve in trying to figure out what his new physical restrictions were. It was sad to watch him because … flying is falling for him,” Kung says.

He’s settled into his role nicely and often appears in elementary school classrooms, summer camps, and on Wesselman Woods’ social media. Kung describes Artemis as an introvert, adding that as cute and small as he is – only about 4.9-5.3 ounces – his species is not a fan of cuddles or pets.

Compared to his fellow avian ambassadors, “he’s probably the easiest one to handle,” Kung says, attributing that to Eastern Screech Owls’ nature. “They’re not super flighty, pokey, or inquisitive. Their go-to is stealth and camouflage, so he’s comfortable sitting in one spot.”

Despite his diminutive and calm nature, Artemis should not be underestimated.

“For their size, Eastern Screech Owls do have pretty strong feet,” Kung adds. “Fierce hunter, small package.”

wesselmanwoods.org/animals

ELAINE

Setting the Record

Third grader Louisa Royer becomes the world’s youngest drone videographer BY

MAGGIE VALENTI AND JODI KEEN

IT’S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT for an eight-year-old to set a Guinness World Record. In May, Evansville Day School third-grader Louisa Royer was named the world’s youngest drone videographer.

A science enthusiast, Louisa requested a drone with picture and video capabilities for Christmas 2022 so she could see inaccessible plants and environments. Using the drone required practice and an online drone safety class with the Federal Aviation Administration, plus learning how to use video editing software.

“I really like being able to get close to stuff I couldn’t before, like a dangerous plant. I could get close to it with a drone,” says Louisa, who specifically steers clear of poison ivy.

She films all around Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana, as well as on family trips and holidays. On an EDS-organized trip to Hungary and Romania, Louisa’s retired science teacher, Soi Powell,

suggested she compile her best footage from the trip to submit to festivals. The resulting three-minute film, “Dangerous Plants,” uses footage from her DJI Mini 2, plus images of Louisa controlling the drone and segments of on-camera interviews with her. Her parents, Mark and Allison Royer, helped her with the editing process, but the rest was all her.

“Dangerous Plants” was one of 30 entries screened at the 2023 Thunderbird Drone Festival in Woodward, Oklahoma. The film then won the “Best New Pilot” award at the Arizona DroneFest Film Festival in October and was featured at the Bloomington, Indiana, International Film Festival this April.

Louisa, the Royers’ elder of two daughters, found Guinness World Records’ YouTube channel and videos of other drone-related world records. Applying to Guinness required that Louisa put together a professional-grade video, get it attested to by videographers, and win an award at an international film festival. Three months later came news that she had the world record in hand.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

50 YEARS OF KICKS

University of Evansville celebrates victories on the pitch

BY JOHN MARTIN

What makes the University of Evansville men’s soccer program special, Marshall Ray says, is “how connected the alumni stay.”

UE expects between 50 and 100 former Aces on campus in September for the soccer program’s 50th anniversary. For Ray, it is a chance to see ex-teammates and players he coached.

Recruited by former coach Fred Schmalz in 1995, he played four years for the Aces, then returned as an assistant coach (2006-14) and head coach (2014-23). Ray now works for Shepherd Insurance.

“I’m really impressed by the variety of films she makes. In a given month, she’ll do shots of her brother, Henry, playing basketball, historic buildings Downtown, and nature scenes from a boat,” Mark says.

Louisa aspires to one day become a scientist, but more immediately, she has her lens trained on submitting more of her films to festivals.

He describes former coaches Bill Vieth, Bob Gaudin, and Schmalz as “the three pillars” of Aces men’s soccer. “The connection they had with their players is what holds the program together,” Ray says.

Vieth founded the program. UE formed a club team in 1973, playing a few games. Vieth and others approached then-UE Athletic Director Arad McCutchan about fielding a varsity squad the following season. That first varsity team compiled a 3-8 record.

The Aces had great success later, making nine straight NCAA Division I tournaments starting in 1984, and advancing to the Final Four in 1985 and 1990.

Vieth, who coached the program’s first three years, says skillful recruiting by Gaudin and Schmalz pushed the Aces forward. Both coaches utilized local talent and also recruited their native regions –Gaudin in New York and Schmalz in St. Louis, Missouri.

Members of UE’s soccer squads will attend the 50th anniversary celebration during Labor Day weekend, with a focal point being UE’s Sept. 1 Mayor’s Cup game matchup versus the University of Southern Indiana.

“We hope to have a big event,” Vieth says.

EYE IN THE SKY

Tune into Louisa’s films on YouTube @lulutravelingtheworld5153

LOUISA ROYER PHOTO BY JODI KEEN. SOCCER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE

EVANSVILLE DAY SCHOOL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL HEAD ROBIN RENSCHLER AND LOUISA ROYER

FRED SCHMALZ

Uncork the perfect blend of tradition and taste with the Western Kentucky Wine Trail! Explore homegrown flavors across six scenic counties, enjoying premium wines, private tastings, and lively events. Come join our wine-loving family and feel at home with every visit.

A MIGHTY MUSEUM

Discover a vast range of U.S. and world military heritage in Vincennes

BY JOHN MARTIN

It welcomes about 30,000 guests annually, and its artifacts come from sources all over the U.S. and the world. And yet, the Indiana Military Museum views itself as an under-the-radar attraction.

The destination in Vincennes, Indiana, packs a century-plus of history into small, walkable spaces. Adult admission is $8, and there’s a lot of bang for the buck — you can browse friend and foe weapons, uniforms, and vehicles from conflicts from Civil War to the present day.

Founder Jim Osborne says visitors come away impressed by the sheer depth of its inventory, and some even compare it favorably to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“They enjoy seeing our museum as much or better because they see more artifacts per square foot,” says Osborne, who served as Knox County Superior Court judge from 1976 to 2014.

Guests can inspect a Sherman tank, Japanese and German tanks, and a Russian-made howitzer used by Iraqi forces. One of the museum’s rarest treasures is a World War II-era Higgins boat.

There’s also a tank donated to a now-closed Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, museum by the late Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev as the former Soviet Union was dissolving.

Outdoor exhibits include the USS Indianapolis 697 atomic attack submarine and an array of aircraft such as a 1940s C-47, C-45, and the A-26 Invader used from World War II to Vietnam. There’s even a fragment of a World War I Zeppelin and a Cold War-era nuclear missile.

Uniforms worn by U.S. Army icons Gen. George Patton, President Dwight Eisenhower, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell are on display. One exhibit offers a glimpse of what assembly lines looked like at Evansville’s Republic Aviation in the 1940s.

Many items in the collection were culled by Osborne, who’s made several trips to Europe and even met Albert Speer, Nazi Germany’s minister of armaments and war production, before Speer died in 1981.

Osborne says the museum, incorporated 40 years ago and open at its current location since 2013, survives on memberships, entrance fees, and donations. It’s staffed by volunteers, many of whom are veterans.

“We are here to honor the men and women who have served our nation throughout its history and to impress upon each new generation that they are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices made by those who wore our country’s uniform preserving our freedoms,” Osborne says.

An expansion expected to finish within a year will add exhibit space and a 50-seat theater, where visitors will be shown an orientation video. Special events and touring exhibits are promoted on the museum’s Facebook page and website.

715 S. Sixth St., Vincennes, Indiana indianamilitarymuseum.com

JIM OSBORNE

RECREATION OF ROOM IN A 1940S-STYLE FAMILY HOMESTEAD

HOME AGAIN

A love of history and nonprofits led Natalie Singer to the Reitz Home

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

When Natalie Singer was a student at Scott Elementary School, the Reitz Home Museum was her ideal field trip destination.

“It’s one of my favorite field trips I ever had,” says Singer, who became the museum’s executive director June 3.

The North High School graduate always was involved with theater and choir and earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater from the University of Southern Indiana. Her ambitions led her to the Evansville Civic Theatre as a box office and business development manager.

“For me, it was kind of a natural transition into nonprofits because when I was working for smaller theaters, they operate the same way,” Singer explains. “It’s all about fundraising.”

She worked for Girl Scouts of Southwestern Indiana, Children’s Museum of Evansville, and WNIN before becoming the Henderson Area Arts Alliance’s executive director in 2020. She has spent 15 years working with nonprofits.

“I’ve been really lucky to have some incredible mentors as well over the years. And I think that’s part of what has kept me in nonprofit work … what I’ve learned from them,” she says.

Although in Henderson, Kentucky, she had the opportunity to stoke her passion for the arts, Singer still wanted to work in her hometown. When the executive director position opened up at the Reitz Home Museum, at 112 Chestnut St., she felt a calling.

“I was really intrigued. It just kept pulling me,” Singer says. Her interest in history also attracted her to the position. John Augustus Reitz completed construction on his namesake home in 1871, and it stayed in his family through 1931. By the time the Reitz Home Preservation Society took over in 1974, it had been a private residence under the care of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville since 1944. Tess Grimm was the society’s first executive director until her retirement in 2011, followed by Matt Rowe, who left in January.

“Every single piece in here has a story, and I don’t know what any of those stories are yet. … I can’t wait to actually be able to spout off all the facts because there’s just so much to learn,” Singer says.

Th e museum’s September gala celebrates the preservation society’s 50th anniversary, and Singer hopes to steer the nonprofit forward collaboratively. She also wants to cultivate partnerships between the museum and other Evansville-area

nonprofits and organizations. Repairs and maintenance constantly are needed on the 153-year-old home, and Singer’s fundraising experience lends her qualifications to help the museum address those concerns.

“ There are a lot of passionate people already connected to the museum,” she says. The home’s “history is so tied to the growth of Evansville. I’m so grateful for all the people who saw how amazing this home was and wanted to keep it standing. You’ve got a lot of people that are passionate about historic preservation here, and that is so important.”

PRESERVATION STATION reitzhome.com

ART TALK

NATALIE SINGER

Melodic Memoir

Matt Hay finds purpose in crafting ‘Soundtrack of Silence’

MATT HAY never considered the possibility of losing his hearing at a young age, but while in college, a medical diagnosis made that a reality. Hay responded by crafting a collection of songs that made him think of the people he loved most in his life. The playlist became known as the “Soundtrack of Silence,” and Hay later crafted a memoir of the same name that was published in January.

In the late 1990s, the Newburgh, Indiana, native was a sophomore at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, when he noticed his hearing getting progressively worse in one ear.

An MRI scan at Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis revealed many disturbing realities. For one, Hay would lose his hearing, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. More pressingly, the doctors stated he had neurofibromatosis type 2, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumors in the central nervous system – in Hay’s case, brain tumors on his hearing nerves.

“Getting all that news was a lot to process,” Hay recalls. “Even though [the doctor] told me the hearing wasn’t that big of a deal, it felt like a pretty big deal to me.”

Given the prospect of losing his hearing, he considered what songs and sounds he wanted to re-listen to and remember for

BY JODI KEEN

50 States 1,000 Eats

Joe Yogerst for National Geographic 2024, National Geographic Partners

“Though plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants are sprinkled through the chapters, roadside diners, mom-andpop eateries, food trucks, farmers markets, and food halls are also touched on as integral parts of our world stew.” – Introduction, page 7

Southwestern Indiana favorites like fried tenderloin and brain sandwiches score a mention in this cross-country culinary adventure. Plus, two Hoosier photographers and Evansville Living contributors – Steve Geis from Newburgh and Zach Straw of Mount Vernon –have photos featured.

SHELF LIFE

BY NICK SHELTON

the rest of his life. Hay asked himself, “What is the soundtrack for the little bit of life I’ve already lived, and what do I want the soundtrack to be for the life I have not yet lived?”

Among songs by The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, and Elton John was The Beatles’ 1969 hit “Here Comes the Sun,” which reminds Hay most of his now-wife, Nora.

Hay considers himself a lucky man for the life he’s led. He works as Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s U.S. director of advocacy for metabolics.

“What an honor to put something out into the world that makes somebody else feel a little less alone, a little more connected, a little more grateful for their health, or a little more appreciative of their support network,” Hay says. “That’s what I want to take out of this.”

CALLING AN AUDIBLE

us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280220/soundtrackofsilence

The Hidden Power of Rising Dividends: How To Produce Security, Income, and Growth

Greg Donaldson 2024, self-published

“The devastation of Black Monday snuffed out most of my illusions about investing. … Four people reached out to me … and told me where to look, asked me to believe, challenged me to see things differently, and finally gave me eyes that could see the flickering light. Without our knowing it, they would send me on a quest to find what would ultimately be called the Rising Dividend strategy.” – page 7

After the 1987 stock market crash, Evansville’s Greg Donaldson came to view dividend investing as a reliable indicator of value for companies. But the Donaldson Capital Management founder’s theory was a hard sell for businesses in big cities. In this new release, he shares how dividends marked a turning point in his financial career.

My Kid’s Gay & I’m OK!

Karen Edwards 2024, self-published

“She finally said, ‘Mom, you’re right. I’m gay.’ I paused for a few seconds and then responded with, ‘You know, if God came to me right now and told me he could make you straight, I’d tell him no. … Because then you wouldn’t be my Rachel. You are perfect just as you are, and don’t let anyone tell you any different.’” – page 18

Karen Edwards’ debut lays bare the heart-wrenching experiences, moving conversations, and tough decisions she faced when her daughter came out. Written as a parent’s support guide, the Evansville resident gives hope to the uncertainty families and friends face as loved ones mature in the LGBTQ+ community.

MATT HAY

HOMETOWN EXPRESSIONS

Hoosier creator’s art comes full circle in ‘Stephen Pace in Indiana’

Radiant paintings of Stephen Pace, one of Indiana art’s favorite sons, are waiting for you in a new exhibition at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science.

“It’s the classic ‘hometown boy makes good’ story,” says Susan Colaricci Sauls, director of university art collections at the University of Southern Indiana, which facilitated many of the pieces on display.

Local ties bookend Pace’s art career. Born in Missouri in 1918, Pace grew up on Midwest farms and moved to New Harmony, Indiana, as a teenager. Horses were his favorite subjects to sketch. His first show

BY TIMOTHY WEIR

was in New Harmony and first formal art training from artist Robert Lahr, who taught at the Evansville Museum.

B y the 1950s, Pace had risen to international fame in the New York school of abstract expressionists.

After a six-decade career in New England, Pace and wife Palmina returned to New Harmony in 2007 and opened the Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries at USI in 2008. Pace died two years later. This history flows through the vibrant, autobiographical art in “Stephen Pace in Indiana,” the Evansville Museum’s first major Pace exhibition since 1992.

Many pieces symbolize his late brothers and their farming life, as well as reflect the progression of Pace’s style.

“ This is a wonderful opportunity to see a large body of work by such an accomplished

artist,” says Mary Bower, Evansville Museum’s retiring executive director.

SPEAK 2024 is about intentional enjoyment, and our featured authors are known for helping readers escape into a great story or teaching about the importance of recreation. EVPL’s annual reading challenge theme, Read - Discover - Play, reminds us of the pleasures of reading, the joy of discovery, and the value of play. SPEAK 2024 presenters will inspire audiences to embrace enjoyment as an essential part of life.

STEPHEN PACE

STEPHEN PACE IN INDIANA

Through Sept. 8 at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science 411 S.E. Riverside Drive

PHOTO BY ADIN PARKS

Culture THE GUIDE

JULY

Victorian Christmas Tea

The Newburgh Museum invites guests to enjoy a late-19-century Christmas in July featuring a special appearance by Queen Victoria herself.

July 13, Rolling Hills Country Club, 1666 Old Plank Road, Newburgh, Indiana, newburghmuseum.com

Bethlehem Barbecue Dinner and Ice Cream Social

This annual summer social doubles as a major fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Evansville. Fill your plate with barbecued pork butts, baked beans, homemade desserts, and bottomless ice cream.

July 14, Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 6400 Oak Hill Road, bethlehemucc.org

The Women’s Hospital Classic

2024 Summer Urban Hikes

Visit the Hi-Rail Trail, Riverfront Greenway, Industrial Corridor, and Midlevee Corridor for city-wide outdoor excursions organized by the Evansville Trails Coalition.

July 13 and 21; Aug. 10 and 18, various locations throughout Evansville, walkbikeevv.org

Top professional female tennis players go head-to-head in this $60,000 ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour tournament.

July 15-21, Wesselman Park Tennis Center, 551 N. Boeke Road, usta.com

COUNTY FAIRS

THESE SUMMER STAPLES come complete with live music, carnival rides and games, livestock contests, produce and baking competitions, and more. Area festivals kick off with the 165th annual Posey County Fair, held with free admission July 15-20 at the Posey County Fairgrounds, 111 Harmony Township Road, New Harmony, Indiana. The Warrick County 4-H Center, 133 County Road 100 N., Boonville, Indiana, hosts the Warrick County 4-H Fair July 15-20 and costs $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 7-12. The Vanderburgh County Fair is slated for July 22-27 at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, 201 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road. Adults can join the fun for $10, while kids 9 and under get in for free.

For more, see poseycountyfair.com, warrickcounty4hcenter.com, and vanderburghcountyfair.com

St. Wendel Bierstube

This neighboring village celebrates 100 years of the Knights of St. John’s charity and fellowship with live music, burgers, fried chicken, sausages, and a beer garden.

6 p.m. July 18; 5 p.m. July 19-20, St. Wendel Knights Home, 11714 Winery Road, Wadesville, Indiana, knightshome.org

Mean Girls: High School Version Evansville-area students perform in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.’s musical twist on the 2004 high school comedic film.

7 p.m. July 18-20; 2 p.m. July 21, Old National Events Plaza, 715 Locust St., evscfoundation.org

Mutts at Myriad: Woofstock

The Honey Vines and Between the Frets headline this benefit concert – which includes a pop-up shop and puppy snuggles – for the Warrick Humane Society Shelter Project.

noon-5 p.m. July 21, Myriad Brewing Co., 8245 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, Indiana, myriadbrewing.com

Free Vegetable and Flower Share

Share your extra summer produce and flowers plus favorite recipes with community members, and take what you’d like to create your own special dishes.

1-3 p.m. July 25; Aug. 8 and 22, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Stringtown, 2100 Stringtown Road, evpl.org

Finding Nemo Kids

The Foundry Center for the Arts puts on this children’s version of Disney and Pixar’s 2003 animated adventure.

6:30 p.m. July 26; 1:30 p.m. July 27, Epworth Community Church, 4455 Epworth Road, Newburgh, Indiana, foundryarts.org

Editor’s Note: Event dates were accurate as of press time. Before attending, check with the organization or venue for the latest event news. Find a full calendar of events at evansvilleliving.com/events.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FAIR

AUGUST

Twinderella The Musical EVSC, Evansville African American Museum, and Benjamin Bosse High School join forces after a summer theater camp to put on this musical about Cinderella and her long-lost twin brother.

6:30 p.m. Aug. 1-2, Benjamin Bosse High School Auditorium, 1300 Washington Ave., evvaam.org

Volksfest

Evansvillians celebrate their city’s German heritage with authentic food, drinks, music from the Rhein Valley Brass, half-pot drawings, and more.

Aug. 1-3, Germania Maennerchor, 916 N. Fulton Ave., evvgermanclub.com

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Annual Book Sale

Bibliophiles have kept this sale going for decades, but the deals are the same: Thousands of multimedia titles are on sale for $2 or less.

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 3; noon-3 p.m. Aug. 4, Washington Square Mall, 4800 Washington Ave., evpl.org

Holidays

in the Sky

Enjoy 44 nights of light shows created by 500 drones, plus fireworks displays set to music.

Through Aug. 4, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, 452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, Indiana, holidayworld.com

National Night Out

Join law enforcement, first responders, and 65 community organizations at this annual event featuring food, activities, games, and a bike giveaway.

6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 6, C.K. Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut St., National Night Out Evansville on Facebook

Night Market

Can’t make it to a daytime farmers market? Shop at night from vendor stalls selling locally grown food and handmade goods. Food trucks and live music will be on hand.

5-8 p.m. Aug. 9, Northwest Sixth Street from Main to Sycamore Streets, downtownevansville.com

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Attend this free production by the Evansville Shakespeare Players of The Bard’s comedy of two pairs of mixed-up lovers.

Aug. 9-11, Willard Public Library lawn, 21 N. First Ave., Evansville Shakespeare Players on Facebook

49th Annual Frog Follies Street rods from across the nation converge in Evansville each August for three days of car shows, parts sales, swap meets, antique signage shopping, games and activities, and more.

Aug. 23-25, Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, 201 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road, frogfollies.org

Geek Con

Indulge your inner nerd at this convention dedicated to art, science, and geek culture with panels, presentations, hands-on activities, board games, vendors, contests, and more.

11 a.m. Aug. 24, Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, 411 S.E. Riverside Drive, emuseum.org

FESTIVAL OF NATIONS April 18, Old National Events Plaza Guerdine Garcon, Rytshlyne Pierre, Clarentina Theagene, and Angelina Fleurant

April

OVER THE EDGE 4 GRANTED April

HOLLY’S HOUSE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT April 20, Bosse Field Lexi Bell and Jackie Juncker

SPRING WINE WALK

26, Main Street Henry Lee Watkins and Michele Crowley-Watkins

YOUTH FIRST’S PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE BENEFIT AUCTION April 25, Bally’s Evansville 1. Barb Abell, Kate Moore, and Toni Martin 2. Amy Wilkerson and Holly Wilkerson

26, CenterPoint Energy 1. Elizabeth Chapman, Twain Chapman, and Cecilia Chapman 2. Haley Brown, Jodi Merrick, Dawn Morand, Trista Hughes, and Stephanie Gerhardt

EVANSVILLE PHILHARMONIC CLASSICS FINALE April 27, Victory Theatre Niti Moore, Sandeep Das, Jaimie Sheth, and Roli Asthana

DAY OF SERVICE May 9, Boys & Girls Club of Evansville Amyra P.

WOMEN’S CLUB OF NEWBURGH PAINTING FOR HAMILTON POINTE May 22, LakeRidge Crossing Clubhouse Amy Kehler, Linda Lutz, Julie Farmer, Rebecca Busch, Lori Kelso, and Janet Moran

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF EVANSVILLE HYPE COMMITTEE GAME NIGHT May 23, High Score Saloon Haley Rich, Derrek Trout, Jessica Lashley, Danny Schembre, and Taylor Ayers

WALKING FOR DREAMS May 19, Bally’s Evansville riverfront 1. Julia Lee, Kathy Greaney, and Doug Claybourn 2. Adam Lee, Vicki Carter, and Lisa Tichy 2. 1.

RIVER CITY RODEO May 17, Vanderburgh 4-H Center Sherry Amstutz, Alohana Jackson, and Rhoda Mattingly

QB’S BBQ WINS BARBECUE COOK-OFF May 18, Young & Established Nathan Baltzell and Connie Baltzell Jr.

DEACONESS CLASSIC FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH May 13, Evansville Country Club 1. Cheryl Wathen, Melinda Lebofsky, and Siobhan Pietruszkiewicz 2. Linda White and the late Don Rausch

SUMMER OUTSIDE THE CITY

Beat the heat in this historic Wisconsin resort town

BY KRISTEN K. TUCKER

The mail jump videos went viral on TikTok. Or maybe it was YouTube.” That’s what I learned from my 22-year-old son when I told him the highlight of a recent trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

And, as it turns out, Lake Geneva mail jumpers have blown up on both TikTok and YouTube.

Mail delivery to the homes encircling Geneva Lake dates to 1916. Wealthy Chicagoans, primarily, already had begun to relocate to the small town of Lake Geneva, 80 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The road route around the lake was not yet complete, so to deliver mail during the summer months while the homeowners were in residence, the U.S. Postal Service contracted with a local boat company to bring the mail to the homes’ docks, where mailboxes were installed. Today, the tradition remains. From June 15 to Sept. 15, mail is delivered to about 75 homes around the lake by the Lake Geneva Cruise Line on the 75-foot Walworth with a load of 150 paying passengers, a captain, and a mail jumper, who has tried out for the summer job.

The Walworth departs at 10 a.m. daily; the cruise around the lake and the delivery service takes two and one-half hours. For passengers, the highlight of the cruise is seeing the agile mail jumper deliver mail by jumping off the moving boat as it navigates between peers on the shoreline, dashing down the dock to the mailbox, and jumping back on the boat – usually. (Go to TikTok or YouTube to see the viral “fails.”) Passengers also get an in-depth narration of the lake and the area, an opportunity to view the original Wrigley Estate, consisting of six different homes, and see the villages of Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, and Fontana from the lake.

A MAIL JUMPER LEAPS OFF THE WALWORTH MAILBOAT — A PASSENGER CRUISE BOAT OWNED AND OPERATED BY LAKE GENEVA CRUISE LINE

“

WRIGLEY HILLCROFT ESTATE

DRIEHAUS ESTATE

MAIL JUMPER PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAKE GENEVA CRUISE LINE. HOME PHOTOS BY KRISTEN

Late last summer, I visited Lake Geneva after a 20-year hiatus. I experienced the mail boat cruise, visited several historic properties, enjoyed outside activities, and ate great food.

L ake Geneva rose to prominence in the late 1800s as a Gilded Age retreat for Chicago’s wealthy magnates. The Wrigleys, Wackers, Chapins, Drakes, and Schwinns built lavish summer mansions here, more than 100 of which stand still. Encircling Geneva Lake is a public shore path that stretches 26 miles. The path follows the route taken by the Potawatomi Native Americans, who lived on the land before colonial settlement, and passes by estates dating from the 1870s to today.

More than 50 years ago, Playboy Enterprises chose Lake Geneva as the site for a new high-end resort, bringing elaborate grounds and progressive architecture to the

GRAND GENEVA RESORT & SPA

YERKES OBSERVATORY

Have you ever explored by dog sled? Slept in an igloo? Become friends with locals? You’re about to!

Travel in ways that are authentic, connected, and extraordinary. On small group tours, dive deeper. Get to know the pulse of a destination by talking with the people who live there. With an average of 16 - 24 travelers, get to really know your fellow travelers, Tour Manager, and local guides.

Access places you’ll never forget – like venues, accommodations, and destinations that larger groups can’t always reach. Stay in culturally reflective accommodations. Learn the family recipe from a local (and cook with them). Dip your toes outside the tour with built-in free time.

Small Groups Mean Big Experiences with Tourcy

a dark and moody speakeasy lounge in the basement. On Tuesdays throughout the summer, Maxwell Mansion rolls up the door and opens its back terrace tiki bar. It’s the only time the pool is open to the public; public guests must buy at least one drink from the tiki bar to receive a wristband, which allows use of the pool that day. The public pool guests made for a lively visit during my stay.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do in Lake Geneva, from kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the lake to renting bicycles and walking the shore path. Golfers can enjoy the legendary courses at The Ridge Resort and the Grand Geneva. Horseback riding is available for guests of all ages at the Grand Geneva, as well.

Lake Geneva has a rich history in magic, partly due to its proximity to Appleton, Wisconsin, the home of Harry Houdini. Illusionist Tristan Crist performs up-close Las Vegas-style magic in his impressive theater, The Tristan Crist Magic Theatre. In fact, Tripadvisor.com

MAXWELL MANSION POOL

REAL MUSIC VARIETY

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is a six and onehalf hour drive from Evansville – straight up U.S. 41 North through Chicago and around Lake Michigan to Kenosha before heading west to Walworth County, Wisconsin. I flew to Milwaukee and had group transportation for the 55-minute drive to Lake Geneva. Evansville Regional Airport’s twice-daily flights to Chicago with American Airlines return on Sept. 4, making northern destinations like Lake Geneva more accessible.

TOURISM AND TRIP PLANNING visitlakegeneva.com

STAY

MAXWELL MANSION staymaxwell.com

GRAND GENEVA RESORT & SPA grandgeneva.com

DINE AND DRINK

PIER 290 pier290.com

BARRIQUE BISTRO & WINE BAR barriquewinebar.com

GENEVA TAP HOUSE genevataphouse.com

JOURNEY FOR TRUTH

Evansville congregants visit The Legacy Sites in Alabama

BY PAUL LEINGANG

“Iused to say I wasn’t African because I was born in the U.S.A.,” says Marilyn Miller of Evansville, among 31 pilgrims who visited Alabama civil rights locations recently. “But after the pilgrimage, I have changed my mind. I knew a lot of things had happened to the slaves, but to see so much up close and personal … and to think it could have happened to some of my long ago family.”

Her insight came in Alabama’s capital city, Montgomery, seeing the Legacy Museum’s free-standing wall of jars – hundreds of them – each holding earth dug up by family members and others at the sites of lynchings all across the U.S., northern states as well as southern.

The pilgrimage began in Birmingham and continued through Alabama to Selma and Montgomery. The travelers – Black, white, Catholic, Baptist, and others –were organized by Evansville’s All Saints Parish and Mount Olive Galilee Church. Congregants wanted to gain insight into racial disparity highlighted by the Civil Rights Movement and apply what they learned back home. The group toured the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. At the city’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, four girls died when Ku Klux Klan members set off a bomb under a stairway during Sunday service on Sept. 15, 1963. “I was the same age as they were,” said one pilgrim.

From Selma, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge past the site where the first march ended with billy clubs and tear gas on Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965, the tour arrived at the City of St. Jude Parish, where recording artists Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, and others entertained the marchers on their last night of camping. In the pilgrimage tour bus along the way, quiet discussions in the seats were interrupted by shouts. “There’s where the marchers stayed one night.” “There’s another sign.” “This is the road they took!” Conversation in the bus seats grew more animated. “Do you remember this?” “It took them five days.”

Montgomery’s developing city center welcomes visitors to restaurants and shops

near the city square – once the busiest slave warehouse and auction site in Alabama and possibly in the country. Pilgrims toured the Rosa Parks Museum, where they rode a simulated bus, and the three recently opened Legacy Sites. The museum begins with an immersive sight and sound display of the ocean voyage of slave-trading ships. The hillside memorial honoring more than 4,400 lynching victims includes rusted black iron columns suspended from the rafters above visitors’ heads, each column listing the names of the victims from states

PRESERVING HISTORY Jars of earth dug up by the family members and descendants of U.S. lynching victims at the locations where they were lynched are displayed at The Legacy Museum. It is one of many demonstrations of the atrocities and impact of racism that participants of the Southern Justice Pilgrimage saw. Participants also went to The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which includes an exhibit detailing the events of Sept. 15, 1963, when the Ku Klux Klan set off a bomb at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church killing 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Carole Robertson, and 11-year-old Carol Denise McNair.

and counties – including Posey County. A memorial to those Southwestern Indiana victims was dedicated in 2022 in Mount Vernon, Indiana.

The irony was not lost among pilgrims: They were enjoying lunch and lodging in a developing Downtown, welcoming visitors to places where Black Americans have feared for their lives and once were bought and sold.

“I have participated in all three of the Just Faith programs on Faith and Racial Justice that were sponsored by All Saints Parish,”

THE LEGACY MUSEUM

BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE

ALONG THE WAY Participants of the Southern Justice Pilgrimage made stops at Legacy Sites in Alabama, which includes The Legacy Museum’s National Monument to Freedom, listing the chosen surnames of 120,000 Black Americans registered on the 1870 census. Another stop included the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which participants including Brenda Meyer and Jane Leingang walked across.

says Emma Jean Couture of Evansville. “I learned much about the history of the slave trade, the fight for civil rights, the racial inequities in our community and country. It was not until the Justice Pilgrimage to Alabama that I was able to move this learning from my head to my heart.”

The third site, the recently unveiled Freedom Monument Sculpture Garden, honors Indigenous Americans and enslaved people. A rail car that transported slaves is on display. The surnames of Black Americans from the 1870 census cover a large wall, many names taken by Black individuals and families from the white families who used to own them. For Kim and Fred Mulfinger, “perhaps the most moving experience” was “finding Kim’s family name on that wall.”

“After visiting the Legacy Museum, with its vivid depictions of the horrors of slavery, the Jim Crow era, and the fight for Civil

“I LEARNED MUCH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SLAVE TRADE, THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, THE RACIAL INEQUITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE JUSTICE PILGRIMAGE TO ALABAMA THAT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THIS LEARNING FROM MY HEAD TO MY HEART.”

—

Rights, finding her family name on the wall made it bitterly personal, and she quietly wept for some time,” Fred reflects.

At the end of each day, the Rev. Floyd Edwards of Mount Olive Galilee invited the group to process the day’s often-painful experiences. “I have never seen hate so clearly, and understood it so little,” says Brenda Meyer, justice ministry coordinator at All Saints.

Personal experiences were high among post-pilgrimage comments. There was the tour guide at the City of St. Jude who had participated in part of the march when she was 15. There was Wanda Battle, who gave the group a tour of Montgomery churches and “the hood” where urban renewal and highway construction had taken her home and so many others. Many staffers at The Legacy Sites were genuinely thankful for our multi-racial, mixed religion group.

The Legacy Sites provide an overview and speak of individual tragedies. “Elizabeth Lawrence was lynched in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1933 for reprimanding white children who threw rocks at her.” “Grant Cole was lynched in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1925 after he refused to run an errand for a white woman.”

“Elias Clayton, Isaac McGhie, and Elmer Jackson were lynched by a mob of 10,000 people in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1920.”

JUSTICE PILGRIMAGE PARTICIPANT EMMA JEAN COUTURE

THE LEGACY MUSEUM’S NATIONAL MONUMENT TO FREEDOM

THE LEGACY MUSEUM

EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE

PILGRIMS FROM ALL SAINTS PARISH AND MOUNT OLIVE GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH

OBSERVANCE After a day of witnessing the horrors of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, and racial violence, Rev. Floyd Edwards of Mount Olive Galilee Baptist Church would gather Southern Justice Pilgrimage participants together to reflect.

Susie Hansen, who recalls wearing Buster Brown shoes like a little girl who died in the church bombing, says, “In spite of all this distressful and damning material, I choose to remember the rising of a new hope. I pray that my main memory from this pilgrimage is that 31 people of different races and religions came together and lived as a family for four days.”

What’s next? Maybe a return to Alabama, or Memphis, Tennessee, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, or Underground Railroad sites in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“My hope for our pilgrimage and our fellowship with one another is to build a better community, better understanding between races as well as age groups,” Rev. Edwards says. “My desire is that there be openness and honesty and for us to learn and grow together.”

Louisville Orchestra with Ben Sollee September 26, 2024

Voctave October 17, 2024

Always...Patsy Cline November 9, 2024

A Christmas Carol December 15, 2024

Yesterday and Today February 7, 2025

Take3 March 23, 2025

Catapult April 3, 2025

At U-Vet Animal Clinic, your pet can benefit from the same properties of a laser that human patients have experienced for over 20 years. Benefits of a CO2 laser include—

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BETTER FOR YOUR PET. EASIER ON YOU.

Bluegrass Dental Evansville Welcomes Dr. Samantha Martin!

Dr. Samantha Martin (Dr. Sam) grew up in Ferdinand, Indiana, where she attended Forest Park High School. She attended the University of Southern Indiana where she majored in Dental Hygiene and graduated in 2012. After graduating, she practiced as a full time dental hygienist for eight years in Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana. She also taught dental hygiene at USI for seven years as part time faculty. She then attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry earning her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2024.

Dr. Sam is very passionate about providing excellent care for her patients. She remains committed to learning

and pursues clinical and academic excellence by attending continuing education courses. Dr. Sam truly values the relationship that is built between patients and seeks to make every dental visit enjoyable. She is confident in providing care in all aspects of dentistry with a passion for creating beautiful smiles in her cosmetic cases. She lives with her husband, Nick, in Newburgh, Indiana. They have two black labs, Avery and Lily. When she is not spending time at home with family, Dr. Sam is outdoors running, walking, or biking. She also enjoys watching Florida State football.

When did Bluegrass Dental open your location in Evansville? And, how long have you been serving patients in Owensboro?

Bluegrass Dental Evansville opened its doors on June 1, 2022. We also have been serving patients in Owensboro, Kentucky, since November 2019.

What is your team’s approach to working with patients?

From the initial consultation, our team takes time to listen to your concerns, understand your goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Whether you require routine cleanings, complex restorative procedures, or cosmetic enhancements, our team’s holistic approach ensures that you receive the best care.

Bluegrass Dental offers comprehensive dental services for patients of all ages.  Can you tell us more about your cosmetic dentistry services?

Dr. Sam has been recognized by the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry for her commitment to creating world class smiles. Here at Bluegrass Dental, we can apply this expertise to crowns, veneers, dentures, fillings, whitening, facial Botox, and fillers.

What types of restorative dentistry services do you offer?

Bluegrass Dental provides a wide range of restorative services: fillings, root canals, crowns, bridges, implants, dentures, periodontal treatment, surgical

and simple extractions, emergency treatment for toothache or chipped/ broken teeth, TMJ disorder treatment, and full mouth reconstructions.

What do you and your dental team pride yourselves on?

At our dental practice, our team takes immense pride in our commitment to delivering exceptional, holistic dental care that prioritizes your overall wellbeing. We understand that oral health is strongly linked to your overall health and we strive to provide treatments that not only address your dental needs but also contribute to your overall quality of life.

Why should new patients choose Bluegrass Dental when searching for the best dental care?

Bluegrass Dental is focused on the patient’s overall health, comfort, and satisfaction which results in a positive dental experience and a trusting doctor-patient relationship. Our goal is to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. To deliver on this commitment, we harness the latest technologies and approaches to provide you with world class care.

EVANSVILLE OFFERS

A LOT FOR MUSIC LOVERS

– more than just the big-name touring acts that pass through Downtown venues like the Ford Center, Victory Theatre, or Old National Events Plaza. Local talent is regularly showcased on indoor and outdoor stages throughout the city, and we have sounds for all tastes, including rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, smooth jazz, and country. Summer is the perfect time to get immersed in the music scene, as seasonal festivals, jam sessions, and concerts take center stage around Evansville, as well as farther afield in Henderson and Owensboro, Kentucky. This summer, get to know some musicians, settings, and events that make us tap our feet and sing along.

PHOTO BY GAVIN MARTIN

Loops and Rhythms

A musician on the go, Dekar Justus creates a collaborative career

Here is one week in June for Dekar Justus.

Saturday night: Arrive in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Val Air Ballroom to drum for 17-year-old blues guitar prodigy Grace Bowers. Sunday: get back home in Evansville to perform at Mo’s House in Haynie’s Corner Arts District. Monday: Prepare materials for a show (and answer questions from Evansville Living). Wednesday: Rehearse for a show being staged later that night in Nashville, Tennessee. Thursday: Get to Greensboro, North Carolina, to drum for Walker Burroughs, a top 8 finalist in season 17 of “American Idol.” And then what?

“And then back home for whatever the weekend brings here in town,” Justus says.

It’s nothing new for the 29-year-old percussionist, singer, and songwriter. His entire time on this Earth has been consumed by drums and music. He got his first drum set at age 2 and played his first non-church gig at 11. He was performing in bars years before his 21st birthday.

“It was electrifying,” Justus says of his first shows. “I just fell in love with the feeling that people are enjoying music, and I realized how powerful music was for me.”

Justus can play as well around the beat as he can to it. His skills lie in his ability

BY ZACH EVANS

to improvise phrases and backbeats with a band to keep the groove organic and reflective of each musical moment on stage.

The best way to see Justus in action is at Mo’s House, where he often band-leads on the first, second, and third Sundays of the month. The first is open mic night, the second is Loops & Rhythms (featuring multi-talented musician Monte Skelton), and the third is a spotlight night on a specific artist.

His drive and competitive nature love the huge crowds he’s played to lately, including 30,000-plus attendees at a May music festival in Napa, California, but the pareddown shows at Mo’s are just as fulfilling.

“No matter the scale, I could play in front of five people and still give the same amount of energy and love to what I do,” Justus says.

Part of his motivation to make one person or 10,000 people dance along with his drums is something his father taught him at a young age: save a life.

“He ingrained in me anytime I’m playing, I have the opportunity to save somebody’s life. And I know music has done more than that for me over the years,” Justus says. “… And you never know who’s listening. You never know who needs it.”

NAMES YOU LOVE AND RISING STARS

These musicians are set to become – or already are –your favorites

NAME YOU LOVE:

There’s no better band to take you back to 1968 than The BackBeats (pictured on the opposite page). They are Evansville’s premier tribute act to The Beatles. The five-piece band – Evansville’s Fab Five? – can be seen at Bokeh Lounge regularly to what are often standing room-only crowds.

RISING STAR: Annabel Whitledge

Seventeen-year-old Annabel Whitledge got to live out a dream by performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, in May. The Henderson, Kentucky, native is still in high school, but her country music career is already on a positive path.

NAME YOU LOVE: After Hours

Michael Gray’s jazz band After Hours is a talented group of players who know their instruments better than some people know their own children. You can catch them at Bokeh Lounge, Lincolnshire Front Porch Fest, or private parties and corporate events in the area.

NAME YOU LOVE: The Honey Vines

The Honey Vines are a pair of the best cultivators of music and young musicians in Evansville. Andrea Wirth and Melanie Bozsa still perform as the singer-songwriter duo, but they are also guitar, piano, and songwriting instructors at Evansville Music Academy.

— Zach Evans

DEKAR JUSTUS AT MO’S HOUSE

One

More Time, With Feeling!

The Pits prove they’re anything but

BY ZACH EVANS

Catch The Pits on a Saturday night, and you could hear anything. Walk into the club, it could be Dr. Dre. Grabbing a table at a Florida retreat favored by Evansville snowbirds, it’s Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” A stop at the bar at Tiki on Main for another drink, it’s every bar patron’s favorite, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” On a packed Bokeh Lounge dance floor, it’s “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga.

“Four old white guys doing Lady Gaga. Just the thought of that is (funny), but if you pick the right songs, it works,” says The Pits guitarist and vocalist Gene Baker.

And they know it works when listeners get out of their chairs and stay out of their chairs. For more than 40 years, The Pits have kept fans on the dance floor.

I n the Downtown home where the Evansville band found its footing (their “Abbey Road,” they call it), Baker and George Barnett, the band’s drummer and vocalist, talk about what’s kept people coming to their shows all these years. After all, they’re long self-described as “love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re The Pits.”

“Our whole thing is we want people to dance and party,” Barnett says.

Th ey have original tunes they keep in rotation, but cover songs make up the band’s 60-plus song list. It spans eight decades because their audiences are 21 to 81, Baker says. Barnett calls Baker the “consummate entertainer.” Barnett sings the prettier songs, while Baker takes the lead on the contemporary pop and rap.

“I have the musical taste of a 16-year-old girl,” Baker says.

That’s why the setlists can hop from Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa to Tom Petty and The Turtles. What helps set the band apart is that all four members, which includes Ray Pritchett on keys and Jon Hyneman on bass, sing four-part harmonies.

The band’s first gig was in the summer of 1983 at a beach party with a stripper pit near Alcoa in Warrick County – hence “The Pits.” Another early show was an outdoor party on a flatbed truck.

“Gene fell off the back of the truck in the middle of his ‘Johnny B. Goode’ lead,” Barnett says, holding back a laugh. “Fell onto his back from six feet up. I thought he was dead. But he kept playing.”

Their public debut was on St. Patrick’s Day 1984 at the longclosed Green Oasis on South Green River Road. The Evansville Press headline about the show captured the essence of the party band that still lands today, “The Pits: Everything but the pits.”

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

8 p.m. Saturday, July 27, Bokeh Lounge, 1007 Parrett St.

CONNECT ON FACEBOOK @MEETTHEPITS.

JON HYNEMAN, GENE BAKER, RAY PRITCHETT, AND GEORGE BARNETT

All about that Funk

Georgia Funkadelic gets its grooves from having fun

BY ZACH EVANS

Kinetic: the most applicable word to describe a Georgia Funkadelic show.

It’s not just the music, though the groove does constantly weave through the seven-piece Evansville band during every performance.

What’s kinetic is the action on stage that broadcasts from bandleader Matthew “Georgia” Frankic. With his bass guitar strapped on, he can’t stop dancing, boogying, and swaying. And the band moves with him. Then it hits the audience. The feeling is electric. The groove splinters out from Georgia Funkadelic, leaving the stage and swimming into the crowd. No one is safe.

“The gyrating is natural. I can’t control that. I can’t turn it off,” Matthew says as his bandmates laugh while lounging in the backyard of his East Side home.

That’s the Georgia Funkadelic experience – it’s all about having fun and dancing.

The group was formed in 2020 and has grown from an instrumental trio, with Roy Micah Carter on keys and Ben Ganster on drums, to adding “The Funkadellas” (powerhouse vocals from Cher’Rita Horne and Lindsey, Matthew’s wife), and guitarists Lucas Pate and Nick Rhoades.

The name may suggest a pure funk sound, but the band integrates soul, blues, rock, jazz, and other styles to create the “Georgia Groove” that comes out.

What glues the kinetic sound and movement together is the familial bond the members have for each

other. Sundays are rehearsal days. The band meets up at the Frankics’ home, known as “The Muck” to the band, to rehearse, commune, and connect.

Those connections foster their inspiration.

“It takes a lot of vulnerability to be creative,” Lindsey says. “You have to be in a safe space with people you know are going to be encouraging.”

What also separates Georgia Funkadelic from the rest of the music community is its costumes, often matching.

At the Victory Theatre for the Evansville African American Museum’s Beyond the Mountaintop concert, the men wore matching black tuxedos, and the women wore dashing blue dresses. For ParksFest 2022, they all donned green tracksuits. And, of course, matching pink tracksuits as well. It’s all for the sake of the experience.

“It’s all about fun and having fun,” Matthew says. “And dancing.”

GEORGIA FUNKADELIC RELEASES

“Georgia’s Pool Party” (2020)

“Georgia’s After Party” (2021)

“Love Tango” (single) (2022)

“flamboyance” (2023)

“pure love” (coming soon)

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana rooftop, 212 Main St. GEORGIAFUNKADELIC.COM

‘DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS’

You’re sure to hear these heavy metal and alternative bands from blocks away

XANDERWOLF

Photographer Alex Morgan formed Xanderwolf in 2019. With Chris Koyle on guitar, Jason Rager on drums, and Nate Windberg on bass, the punk-infused rock band released its debut LP in 2023.

A self-described heavy rock band from Evansville, Faerie Ring embraces the lost art of the riff. The four-piece act’s slow, thunderous sound has filled venues across the Midwest, including a July tour that puts them in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio.

A MODEST PROPOSAL

A Modest Proposal works so hard to provide opportunities for independent musicians with their music festival, Fuchsia Fest, and DIY shows, that it could be easy to overlook how talented the band is. The Evansville band blends alternative, post-hardcore sounds into something uniquely its own. Its new album, “Let Them Smell Their Flowers,” was released on July 5. — Zach Evans

FAERIE RING

BACK ROW: MATTHEW FRANKIC, ROY MICAH CARTER, BEN GANSTER, LUCAS PATE, AND NICK RHOADES. FRONT ROW: CHER’RITA HORNE AND LINDSEY FRANKIC.

SEPARATION

These musicians mix their talents with other trending artists

JON HYNEMAN

Jon Hyneman educated more than 2,000 students while a band teacher for the North Gibson School Corporation before retiring last year. Perhaps the city’s best jazz bassist, Hyneman stays busy performing with The Pits and picking up gigs in jazz ensembles, including The Sidemen with …

BOB GREEN

The multi-instrumentalist’s sax and piano skills can be appreciated by all every week at the Piano Bar at Cavanaugh’s. Green performs in The Sidemen with Hyneman and drummer Pat Moore, who founded and formerly owned Moore Music. Bob Green also gigs regularly with Evansville music royalty Gina Moore and with …

MONTE SKELTON

If a list of Evansville music celebrities were created, Monte Skelton would be at the top. It’d be an impressive feat if you lived in the region and hadn’t seen him play either sax, bass, or his unique instrument, the EWI, an electronic wind instrument that gives him multitudes of sounds to loop and build upon. Skelton has performed with tons of musicians and groups, and has no problem sitting in on a session, including gigs he’s played with …

THEOPHILUS AKAI

Theophilus Akai’s guitar skills have taken him out of Evansville’s bar scene and landed him on premier recordings and big stages, including June’s CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee, with Hueston. His recording and session work was streamed 1.3 million times in 2023. You may have seen Theophilus Akai perform with Dekar Justus as well as Osiella, a project that included …

CYNTHIA BOURNE

The former Cynthia Murray has shared her powerhouse vocals with the region for most of her entire adult life. Bourne, who recently married musician and writer Freddie Bourne, is known for her band Cynthia Murray & The End Times, as well as her work with Stephen Anthony. She also used to perform with The Pits, which includes … Jon Hyneman. Full circle! — Zach Evans

Rolicking Punk Rockers

The Chugs inject their high-energy music with a jolt of fun

BY ZACH EVANS

Have you ever gone to a concert and wanted to jump onstage with the band, who’s shirtless and covered in sweat? Have you ever wanted to thrash to songs about Hamm’s beer set to charismatic surf punk music? Do you enjoy things that seem silly in concept but are performance juggernauts in execution? If you answered no, do you hate fun?

If you answered yes, meet The Chugs, a punk rock trio from Evansville that has taken over the region because of its catchy melodies, tenacity, and genuineness that connect emotionally – and sometimes physically – with the audience.

“I think it legitimately is just like we’re friends with everyone,” says drummer Sam Kuban, explaining the band’s connection with the audience.

“Yeah, honestly, the music is second,” agrees guitarist Scott Wambach.

“If we weren’t doing this, we’d be doing something else,” says bassist Brian Harding. “What?” Wambach asks. “Wrestling!” Harding answers immediately, to which they all loudly agree.

That’s The Chugs: equal parts talent, energy, a classic Midwest beer, and The Three Stooges. The affectionate, sometimes boyish bond the trio shares with one another is infectious. And yes, sometimes they end up shirtless on stage. But that’s all part of the fun.

The band rehearses their Hamm’s-centric songs in the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse. That’s where they also record their music, including their “six pack” EPs, “The Cancept Album” and “Hey Neighbor!” The band is working on another “six pack” with local punk band Sluice. The project will be called “Slugs.”

The band opened for comedian and actor Chris Gethard at Arcademie in early July. It’s not the first time the band has warmed u an audience for a comedy show. They also opened for “Kids in the Hall” star Kevin McDonald in February.

“It feels like it fits for us, though, right?” Kuban says.

With multiple shows coming up this summer, what does the band want the audience to take away?

“A lot of sweat. A couple of bruises,” Wambach says.

“Well, that they had fun at a punk show, honestly,” Kuban adds. “And also a couple hundred dollars’ worth of merch.”

UPCOMING SHOWS:

July 26 – North End Pub, Lafayette, Indiana

Aug. 17 – Damsel Brew Pub, Evansville

Aug. 31 – Hammsfest, Saint Paul, Minnesota Sept. 7 – Front Porch Fest, Evansville THECHUGSBAND.COM

SCOTT WAMBACH, BRIAN HARDING, AND SAM KUBAN IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE FROM THE TELEVISION SERIES “ROSEANNE.”

The Bluegrass Music Connector

Southwestern Indiana enjoys close proximity to the birthplace of this burgeoning genre

BY ART WOODWARD

Explosive acoustic guitar solos. Hard-driving banjo picking. Powerful fiddle playing. Lightning-fast mandolin licks. Intense, high harmonies. And lead singers with a lonesome ache in their voice. These are some of the hallmarks of the American-made music known as bluegrass. Born in the hills and hollers of the Appalachian Mountains, the genre has influenced countless popular musicians, from The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia to Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

Bluegrass’ roots are planted in Evansville’s back, and front, yards. Rosine, Kentucky, 40 miles south of Owensboro, is the birthplace of Bill Monroe, considered the father of bluegrass. Monroe moved to Brown County, Indiana, at 18 and later developed “Bill Monroe’s Music Park and Campground” in Bean Blossom, Indiana. On that site, in 1967, he founded the very first multi-day bluegrass festival – Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Festival, an event still taking place each June.

How great is bluegrass music’s impact on the region? We asked these folks who are at the forefront of the genre.

TERRY WOODWARD, executive committee member at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and founding organizer of ROMP, the nation’s premier bluegrass festival held each June in Owensboro EL: Owensboro has been called the center of bluegrass music. How did that distinction come about?

TW: Back in the 1980s, I was on the board of the Owensboro Tourism Commission. We were studying the things that make our city unique. I presented the idea that we are the nearest bigger city to Rosine, Kentucky, where Bill Monroe was born. I thought we should celebrate the origin of bluegrass music here in Owensboro. The idea was well received, so we created the IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association, which years later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. Next, we broke ground for the bluegrass museum, and about a decade later, we added ROMP as a fundraising element for the museum. I was involved in creating all three.

CHRIS JOSLIN, Executive Director of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum

EL: Talk about some of the ways the museum gets youth excited about bluegrass music.

CJ: We are a music-centric, nonprofit organization intentional about presenting bluegrass music to the community and to the world. We offer educational programs, both in group settings and with individual lessons, on various instruments: banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle … we even offer dance. There are special curricula for kids, arts and crafts workshops, and a big part of our recruitment comes during ROMP with our Kids Zone. We take a holistic approach to building connections within our groups, fostering friendships among students, and encouraging them to take those musical relationships further. Some of the students actually form bluegrass bands. The fru-

ition of this vision can be seen with The Bluegrass Brothers, a trio of young musicians, all multi-instrumentalists, who have come up through our program. These kids are getting booked to play professionally.

We also provide opportunities for students to play in the community: our student showcase at ROMP, our Jingle Jam during the holidays, and our students perform at nursing homes, in hospital lobbies, and at other places in the community where people gather. The best place to learn about what we do is on our website: bluegrasshall.org.

ERINN WILLIAMS, teacher, Eastern Kentucky native, Owensboro resident, and facilitator of Kids Zone at ROMP

EL: How does Owensboro fit into this resurgence of bluegrass music today?

EW: What Owensboro does well is provide cultural awareness of Appalachian music to people from all over the world. It makes us [Eastern Kentuckians] appreciate where we come from and excited about where the genre is going.

Read Art the Dude’s recap of this year’s ROMP and preview of Henderson, Kentucky’s Bluegrass in the Park festival at evansvilleliving.com.

TERRY WOODWARD WITH COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND MARTY STUART

BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Putting Poetry to Music

Hannah Evelyn Jones’ songwriting is led by her soul

One could say Hannah Evelyn Jones and music were destined to intertwine. Her grandmother, Evelyn, led a family gospel trio in the 1950s and ‘60s. Her father played in bands and ran sound for musicians on the road. Jones and her twin sister grew up singing in church, school choruses, and the Evansville Children’s Choir. Over time, she fell in love with the guitar.

“Guitar grabbed my soul,” Jones says. “I was writing poetry, so it went hand in hand that guitar was the vehicle to put poetry to music.”

By the time Jones graduated from Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana, in 2017, she had been playing solo acoustic music for two-plus years and immersed herself in the local music scene. She was “glued,” she says, to WIRED Coffeehouse & Venue, a Downtown business that closed in 2018.

Now a tattoo artist by trade, Jones sprinkles shows and sessions between writing sessions.

“Music’s funny in that it’s not a fulltime job for most people, but it demands your full-time attention,” she says. “It’s a piece of the pie of my professional career.”

Her work is a mix of indie and pop rock, with singer-songwriter and Americana-country influences, too. As a writer, Jones is influenced by Neko Case, Jason Isbell, and Brandi Carlile, as well as “more in-your-face women in country” like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Onstage, she channels the energy of Paramore, Blondie, The Sundays, and Sheryl Crow to deliver an eclectic, engaging show. Her backing band of late, Hannah Evelyn & The Handmades, includes Jake Bethel on bass guitar and vocals, Zach Evans on keys and guitar, and Benji Koelling on drums.

BY JODI KEEN

“I find it really easy to do the artistry portion of things, but being an entertainer is a whole different skill set,” she says.

Jones performs under the name Hannah Evelyn, a nod to her musical grandmother. She plays in Haynie’s Corner Arts District and Downtown venues like Bokeh Lounge and the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana. She credits the Booked! series at Your Brother’s Bookstore with encouraging a passion for local music.

“I’m a community member, first and foremost,” she says. “A music scene isn’t one band making it. It’s about the collective efforts of all musicians working together and building up the legitimacy of the scene.”

HANNAH EVELYN RELEASES

“Exposed Floors,” a full-length album in 2019

“Cicada Songs,” an EP in 2020

“Embers and Constellations,” an EP in 2021 A collection of singles in 2023

HANNAH EVELYN JONES PERFORMS AT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA’S SUMMERTIME ROOFTOP SERIES. ZACH EVANS PLAYS THE ELECTRIC GUITAR.

Can You Feel the Beat?

Explore diverse music festivals from across the region

A vibrant music festival scene unfurls around Evansville each summer, beckoning listeners with relaxed atmospheres, diverse lineups of talent, and engaging activities. From bluegrass celebrations like ROMP and Jerusalem Ridge to community favorites like WNIN’s Jazz Fest and a trio of front porch fests, music enthusiasts will find something to enjoy.

FRONT PORCH FESTS

Enjoy tunes for free on the lawns of more than 70 area homes.

HAYNIE’S CORNER ARTS

DISTRICT FRONT PORCH FEST

Sept. 7, 2024, Haynie’s Corner Arts District • frontporchfestevv.com

Find diverse local talent like Kelsey Ellen, Atlas of The Dogs, and The Old Goat Show. Order snacks and drinks to go from area food trucks.

LOVE LAMASCO PORCH FEST

Sept. 15, 2024, Wabash Avenue of the Flags • facebook.com/ LoveLamasco

This second annual event features live sets on front lawns, food trucks, a kids’ zone, and more.

LINCOLNSHIRE PORCHFEST

Oct. 6, 2024, Lincolnshire Historic District • facebook.com/ lincolnshireporchfest

Enjoy tunes from the likes of Dr. Doctor, Dixielanders, and Honey Roy and food trucks on the streets of this Tudor-lined neighborhood.

HENDERSON, KENTUCKY, PORCH FEST

Early June, South Main Street hendersonky.org

This year’s event on June 1 hosted the E.J. Simmons Blues Band, Soul N The Pocket, Kings Highway, and more.

SONGWRITER FESTIVALS

Hear from music makers themselves at this trio of regional workshops.

SANDY LEE WATKINS

SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

July 24-27, 2024, Henderson, Kentucky • sandyleesongfest.com

Restaurants and bars host Nashville, Tennessee, songwriters, who share the inspiration behind their biggest hits. Tickets start at $20.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE SONG

Aug. 31, 2024, Wesselman Woods’ Odonata Pond Amphitheater sakeofthesong.com

Nature and music mix at this free homegrown festival, which includes workshops, children’s activities, and a beer garden.

COSMIC SONGWRITER FESTIVAL

Mid-May, Bloomington, Indiana cosmicsongwriter.com/festival

Multiple venues host musicians for Nashville-style listening room performances. Tickets range from $14 to $38.

JAZZ AND BLUES

Get your groove on at events celebrating these collaborative, free-form music styles.

WNIN JAZZ FEST

July 20, 2024, WNIN wnin.org/jazzfest

Bring your lawn chairs for this free all-ages evening of music by regional favorites like Monte Skelton, Bokeh Big Band, and The Sidemen Trio.

W.C. HANDY BLUES & BARBECUE FESTIVAL

Mid-June, Henderson, Kentucky handyblues.org

This signature event is free and offers live blues, food trucks, craft vendors, and more.

BLUEGRASS

Get to the root of this regional specialty at three annual gatherings.

BLUEGRASS IN THE PARK

Aug. 9-10, 2024, Henderson, Kentucky • bluegrassinthepark.com

This family-oriented free festival leans traditional but welcomes many bluegrass styles, plus artisans, hobbyists, and crafters.

JERUSALEM RIDGE

BLUEGRASS CELEBRATION

Sept. 12-15, 2024, Rosine, Kentucky jerusalemridgefestival.com

Pay homage to the Father of Bluegress, Bill Monroe. This year’s lineup includes Larry Sparks, Blue Highway, and Fast Track. Tickets average $22 for a single-day pass.

ROMP

Late June, Owensboro, Kentucky rompfest.com

The “Roots and Branches Festival” hosts bluegrass music and complementary genres. Single-day tickets start at $45.

REGIONAL FESTIVALS

& CONCERT SERIES

Set your calendar for these special concerts within two hours of Evansville.

SPENCER COUNTY COUNTRY MUSIC FEST

July 19-20, 2024, Grandview, Indiana, spencercountymusicfest.org

Confederate Railroad, Kentucky Shine, and more perform at this inaugural festival. Tickets start at $25.

FRIDAY AFTER 5

May-August 2024, Owensboro, Kentucky • fridayafter5.com

Bounce between stages offering free entertainment on the Ohio River.

GARDEN GATE WINE, JAZZ & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

Late April, Huntingburg, Indiana facebook.com/gardengatefestival

This festival’s food and drink offerings rival the block party’s live music. Tickets start at $20.

— Nick Shelton and Art Woodward

LINCOLNSHIRE PORCHFEST

W.C. HANDY BLUES & BARBECUE FESTIVAL

FRIDAY AFTER 5

Vibe Check These

tastes

SEASONAL

ARTS COUNCIL OF SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA

212 Main Street • 812-303-3178

artswin.org

Enjoy a birds’-eye view of Downtown when acts like Hannah Evelyn, D.R. Bridges, and Soul N The Pocket perform.

FARM 57

3443 Kansas Road • 812-677-5757 facebook.com/Farm57

Food Trucks at the Farm is a seasonal event on Wednesdays and features performances from singer-songwriters like Ben Dahlquist, Lindsey Williams, and Stephen Anthony.

MARINA POINTE AND NIGHTCLUB

1801 Waterworks Road 812-550-1050, facebook.com/ MarinaPointeNightclub

A hotspot in the summertime, Marina Pointe hosts DJs and musicians on weekends.

REITZ HOME MUSEUM

112 Chestnut St. • 812-426-1871 reitzhome.com

In spring and fall, this French Second Empire home hosts weekly Wine Down to the Weekend concerts featuring Gina Moore, Kings Highway, and The Smoke Rings.

WHERE TO FIND EVERY GENRE

BOKEH LOUNGE

1007 Parrett St. • 812-909-0388, bokehvibes.com

The Haynie’s Corner Arts District staple offers a diverse calendar of

live performances by local favorites like Corduroy Orbison, The Pits, and The BackBeats.

DAMSEL BREW PUB

209 N. Wabash Ave. • 812-909-1956

damselbrewpub.com

Enjoy jamming to metal and punk rock played by High Strung, Thlurm, and Faerie Ring at this West Side brewery.

LAMASCO BAR AND GRILL

1331 W. Franklin St. • 812-437-0171 lamascobarandgrill.com

This West Side neighborhood bar welcomes local and national performers of all genres, like Evansville’s The Randys and the Thursday Morning String Band.

WHERE TO EXPLORE NEW BANDS

WAREHOUSE 410

410 Carpenter St. • 812-568-1467 warehouse410evv.com

The former industrial facility hosts an eclectic mix of regional and touring musicians like country artist Brooks Werner and alt-rockers Lucero.

YOUR BROTHER’S BOOKSTORE

504 Main St. • 812-303-8230

yourbrothersbookstore.com

This indie bookstore’s Booked! concert series showcases local indie talent for all ages, like Sluice, Woe Boy, and Slack.

DATE-NIGHT VIBES

CAVANAUGH’S

Bally’s Evansville, 421 N.W. Riverside Drive • 812-433-4000 casinos.ballys.com

Spectacular Ohio River views are complemented by classy piano music and smooth jazz from rotating artists like Bob Green.

ENTWINED WINE & COCKTAIL BAR

303 Main St. • 812-550-1393 entwinedbar.com

Cocktails and a changing tapas menu offer a cosmopolitan vibe for jazz musicians like Monte Skelton to perform.

APPEALS TO GENERAL AUDIENCES

ALLEN FAMILY AMPHITHEATRE

525 E. Highway 662, Newburgh, Indiana • facebook.com/ newburghamphitheater

This small but comfortable riverfront venue hosts performances by area musicians.

TIKI ON MAIN

524 Main St. • 812-424-5020 facebook.com/tikionmainstreet

Basketball fans over age 21 cross the street from the Ford Center to pregame and postgame here for karaoke and live music.

ROCK AND COUNTRY PARTY MUSIC

BUD’S ROCKIN’ COUNTRY BAR & GRILL

2124 W. Franklin St. • 812-401-1730 budsbargrill.com

Line dance to country tunes by the banjo-playing Ridge Runners and Southern rocker Jake Holder, among others.

CHASER’S BAR & GRILL

2131 W. Franklin St. • 812-401-1699 chasersbargrill.com

Expect DJ music in The Attic and live music by regional and national country and pop artists.

KC’S TIME OUT LOUNGE AND GRILL

1121 Washington Square 812-437-9920, kcstimeout.com

Stop by for good-time vibes from ‘80s and ‘90s rock enthusiasts Flat

Stanley and the all-genre-embracing Goldy lockS Band.

GROOVE SESSIONS

MO’S HOUSE

1114 Parrett St. • 812-401-3800 moshouse.com

This Best of Evansville award-winning cocktail bar often hosts Dekar Justus for Sunday open mic and jam sessions, as well as regional jazz musicians.

MOJO’S BONEYARD SPORTS BAR & GRILLE 4920 Bellemeade Ave. 812-475-8593, facebook.com/ MojosBoneYard

Spot touring blues and funk musicians like Albert Castiglia and Coco Montoya at this East Side bar.

REGIONAL

BRASHER’S LITTLE NASHVILLE

123 W. Second St., Owensboro, Kentucky • 270-702-6003 brasherslittlenashville.com

Musician and promoter Andy Brasher stocks his lively bar with top-shelf spirits and music including bluegrass, rock, and pop voices like Cynthia Murray & The End Times and Music City artists.

LINCOLN AMPHITHEATRE

15032 E. CR 1500, Lincoln City, Indiana • 812-937-2329

lincolnamphitheatre.com

From May to October, this 1,500seat covered outdoor stage offers a lineup that includes national tributes to Taylor Swift, The Eagles, and rock ‘n’ roll’s golden age.

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER

217 S. Main St., Beaver Dam Kentucky • 270-274-7106, beaverdamtourism.com

The 10-year-old venue brings in varied acts like country artists Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson, rapper Nelly, and a group tour of early 2000s pop stars.

— Nick Shelton and John Martin

HIGH STRUNG PERFORMS AT DAMSEL BREW PUB

REITZ HOME MUSEUM

BRASHER’S LITTLE NASHVILLE

Every child deserves equal learning opportunities! Building Blocks has been committed to providing quality early childhood development resources for more than 50 years. Our goal is to create a learning environment that fosters curiosity and creativity, because nurturing young minds isn’t just about setting kids up for success — it’s about empowering future generations so our community continues to thrive! We want to impact you AND your child’s life. Contact us today!

At the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, we know that when we join with our families, staff, and community, we can provide outstanding opportunities that students need to be successful. From state-championship sports teams to honors music programs to rigorous course options and innovative programs, students have the tools to not only succeed but also find their passion in life. Couple that with our highly trained, caring teachers, and we are truly better together!

Walther’s Golf & Fun

2301 N. First Ave.

812-464-4472 • golfnfun.com

Locally owned and operated for 28 years, Walther’s Golf & Fun is the area’s go-to spot for kids and adults of all ages. Attractions include indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses, minibowling, action-packed laser tag, an expansive arcade with virtual reality, and made-to-order food from Coconut Cafe. And just next door, visit Evansville’s premier golf driving range. Come and check out what’s going on at Walther’s Golf & Fun. Whether you’re looking to host a birthday bash or enjoy a fun day out, go wild at Walther’s!

YMCA membership includes lots of free, fun activities just for kids! At the Y, kids can play and make new friends in our Child Watch and Kids Zone, or soak up the fun in our pools and splash pad! There are even youth fitness classes like Kids Power Circuit, Kids Yoga, Kids Boxing Fitness, and more. Find Your Friends. Find Your Fun. Find Your Y.

FIND YOUR FRIENDS. FIND YOUR

Improve your health while making memories, forming friendships, and strengthening the social fabric of our community. YMCA membership includes group fitness classes, pools, child watch, kids zone, open play pickleball and basketball. The Dunigan YMCA even has After Hours Access too!

There’s no joining fees, no contracts, and no limits! Join today and receive $25 OFF a future Child Care program. Some exclusions may apply.

Learn more about membership, programs, and community impact at www.ymcaswin.org.

Five branches serving Southwestern Indiana. For more than a workout. For a better us.

ACROS Gymnastics

4505 O’Hara Drive 812-476-5999 • myacrosgym.com

Just south of the airport, conveniently located between Lynch Road and St. George Road in Evansville, ACROS Gymnastics provides daily class options for ages one year through teens. From recreational and homeschool gymnastics and tumbling to competitive gymnastics (girls and boys), we have the best program to fit your child’s need. We also offer birthday parties and open gyms (Tumble Tuesday). ACROS brings the fun to gymnastics! Call or email us for a FREE trial class.

Our focus is on fitness, health, and having fun!

Recreational & Homeschool Gymnastics and Tumbling starts as early as 12-months up to 18 years old for girls and boys.

Competitive Gymnastics also offered starting at 5 years old. We also offer Open Gyms (Tumble Tuesday for Toddlers & Youth) and Birthday parties (Saturday & Sunday).

H&H Music

1313 Washington Ave. 812-477-5339 • handhmusic.net

Your complete music store since 1955. Our staff of professional musicians are ready to help you with instruments, accessories, sheet music, repairs, and lessons. Visit us in-store and experience old-school customer service.

• Pianos, Digital Pianos, Synthesizers, Keyboards

• Band, Orchestra

• Guitars, Basses, Mandolins, Ukuleles

• Drums, Percussion

• Sheet Music, Accessories

• Lessons

• Professional Repair

Just for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

8011 Robin Hill Road, Newburgh, IN 812-853-2977 • jus4kids.com

We would like to Welcome Dr. Dylan Nesty. Now accepting patients on a limited basis.

“Dr. Cook and his office staff provide top quality services and are consistently caring and professional. While my daughter has always enjoyed her routine checkups, I was surprised to hear that she enjoyed her recent tooth extraction! I could not recommend this practice more highly.”

– Daria S.

Celebrating 50 years as a business, Shannon’s School of Dance is a Tri-State fixture. Under the stewardship of Michelle Crosbie, now in her 20th year as the studio owner, SSD has evolved over the decades and the studio reflects her creativity and dedication to the art of dance!

From ballet to hip-hop, Michelle’s commitment to a loving, supportive atmosphere has enriched countless lives of young students. Congratulations Michelle on your 20th anniversary, and here’s to excellence and the enduring legacy of dance!

Accepting new patients on a limited basis.

8011 Robin Hill Road, Newburgh, IN 812-853-2977 | www.jus4kids.com

The School of Ballet Indiana

303 N. Stockwell Road, Ste. B 812-401-3321 • schoolofballetindiana.com

Welcome to SBI — where we offer individualized training with small student-teacher ratios. Our program follows the nationally recognized syllabus developed by Marcia Dale Weary for CPYB. Academic Divisions include Primary (Creative Movement & Pre Ballet), Preparatory, Pre-Professional, and SBI Institute. Our studio is home to the non-profit performance group, Ballet Indiana. Each semester, our students perform in Ballet Indiana’s amazing and challenging shows. Contact us today to begin your ballet journey

Individualized training with small classes proven to elevate dancers to the next level. Our award-winning instruction is tailored specifically to each dancer’s abilities.

• Classical Ballet Training

• Ages 3 - Adult

• Pointe

• Contemporary Classes

• YAGP Coaching

• Private Lessons

• Performances in Ballet Indiana Productions

• Petite Boîte Dance Boutique

303 N. Stockwell Rd., Suite B • Evansville, IN 812-401-3321 • schoolofballetindiana.com

Sky Zone in Evansville is an exhilarating indoor trampoline park nestled in the heart of our city. It is a vibrant hub of high-flying excitement and energetic fun for all ages. Picture wall-to-wall trampolines inviting you to bounce, leap, and soar through the air. But the fun does not stop there. You can test your agility on ninja warrior courses, conquer climbing walls, or plunge into foam pits with friends and family. It is an experience that is uniquely Evansville — where laughter echoes off the walls and memories are made with every leap.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, which to us simply means to advocate for a child during a very difficult time in their life and be a voice for them in the courtroom. Sadly, in Vanderburgh County, more children are walking this difficult path alone because we simply do not have enough volunteers. Learn how to become a CASA volunteer today!

Visit the West Side of Evansville this summer and immerse yourself in the wonders of the wetlands. Howell Wetlands is a vital ecological sanctuary that supports diverse wildlife and provides a serene environment for outdoor activities like birdwatching and hiking. It’s a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts and families seeking an enriching, tranquil escape in every season.

PHOTO BY

EXPLORE YOUR OWN

Southern Charm

A guide to nature, history, dining, festivals, culture, shopping, and more.

The Road to Henderson, Kentucky

There are plenty of reasons to explore

Evansville’s Southern neighbor

Henderson, Kentucky, basks in a rich personality all its own. Since the 18th century, the seat of Henderson County has made its mark as a destination for quality food, music, and the Great Outdoors. Just this year, the city earned accolades as one of Southern Living magazine’s “Top 20 Friendliest Towns in the South.”

Get a taste of locally sourced food and some of Kentucky’s best barbecue while savoring a variety of flavors from Southern fare to Mexican and Asian cuisine. Partake in regional staples like bourbon and whiskey, and don’t miss locally brewed craft beer and coffee.

Be entertained by the many renowned annual music events –– the long-running is one of the largest free music festivals in the nation –– celebrating rock, bluegrass, blues, jazz, and country. Regional musicians take center stage each June along picturesque Main Street during Henderson’s annual PorchFest.

Mar vel at Western Kentucky’s rugged nature by hiking or birdwatching at John James Audubon State Park and learn more about its namesake naturalist. Stroll along the Ohio Riverfront and visit one of five parks along its shores, plus many more throughout the city. Find charm in Downtown Henderson’s locally owned small businesses and along its historic streets and neighborhoods. W hatever your tastes, there’s an opportunity to find something new in Henderson. Have fun exploring!

HENDERSON RIVERFRONT

Established in 1902, Hercules Manufacturing Company builds custom truck bodies, tailored to our customer’s needs. We specialize in both refrigerated and dry freight truck bodies. Our team is always focusing on our mission to foster an environment of continual success through the greatest asset we have: our people.

HEAR FROM OUR EMPLOYEES

Hercules provides both my husband and I with career opportunities we never thought possible. Hercules embraces the values of safety, learning, and a commitment to the community.”

– Shelby S.

I’ve been at Hercules for almost 17 years. I like working here because it’s a fast-paced working environment and the company thanks you for your hard work in many different ways. It’s a great place to work and take care of your family. I want to thank Hercules for letting me have a good job to take care of my family all these years.”

-Frankie O.

I enjoy working for Hercules because of the family-oriented environment and how all of my superiors have been open minded and helpful with my personal barriers. Hercules has been good to me and I’m grateful for my position.”

– Jayden M.

Historic Henderson

Today’s city grew from a dream of establishing a 14th American colony

BY CHUCK STINNETT

Henderson is the result of a dream. It’s just not exactly what the dreamers had in mind.

W hat a North Carolina judge and land speculator known as Col. Richard Henderson and his investors envisioned in 1774 was buying a vast tract of forested frontier covering much of what is now Kentucky and a portion of Tennessee from Cherokee tribes, then having it declared the 14th American colony, to be called Transylvania (Latin for “across the forest”).

The goal: Become rich selling land in the new colony to settlers.

The Transylvania Company hired a frontiersman to guide settlers through a pass in the Appalachian Mountains called Cumberland Gap, then blaze a trail into Central Kentucky that became known as the Wilderness Road and build a fort. Such deeds helped make an American folk hero of that frontiersman, Daniel Boone.

Alas, the Transylvanians’ hopes were short-lived. The Commonwealth of Virginia declared western lands across the mountains to be its own Kentucky County. Virginia urged the Continental Congress to decline the declaration of a 14th colony and went on to nullify the purchase from the Cherokees.

But the Virginia General Assembly in 1778 made a key concession. In its “special grant of land” approved in October 1778, it acknowledged that “Richard Henderson,

and company, have been at very great expense in making a purchase of the Cherokee Indians,” and though declaring that purchase void, it said Virginia “is likely to receive great advantage there from, by increasing its inhabitants, and establishing a barrier against the Indians.”

So, it granted Richard Henderson and Company 200,000 acres where the Green River met the Ohio River – a splendid location because of its access to river transportation, though still hundreds of miles into the wilderness from the “civilized” East.

Because of that remoteness and the presence of hostile Indians and river pirates, it would be nearly two decades before a town – Henderson – would be laid out.

DID YOU KNOW?

>> Richard Henderson never set foot in the city or county that bears his name. He never traveled farther west than Central Kentucky and died 12 years before the town of Henderson was laid out.

>> The city of Henderson had a railroad bridge across the Ohio River (the Louisville & Nashville Railroad’s original bridge completed in 1885) nearly a half-century before it had a highway bridge across the river (the

But when Re volutionary War Col. Samuel Hopkins was sent to do so in 1797, he chose the highest ground around, at a site known as Red Banks.

It would prove a fortuitous choice. While all the major cities along the Ohio River were submerged beneath cold, muddy waters during the Flood of 1937, Henderson remained dry, leading to a phrase: “Henderson, on the Ohio, but never in it.”

That bec ame a marketing tool that helped lead to the recruitment of new industries and the development of a modern economy for Henderson and Henderson County, helping establish Henderson as one of the most prosperous communities in the state.

RICHARD HENDERSON

Audubon Memorial Bridge opened in 1932 and is now the northbound U.S. 41 Twin Bridge). That first railroad bridge (later replaced) was designed by George Washington Ferris, who would go on to invent the Ferris Wheel.

>> Two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients – the late World World II U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Luther Skaggs Jr. and retired Vietnam veteran U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Gary Littrell –hailed from Henderson.

Business & Industry

Ironclad Industry

From farms to factories to downtown boutiques, Henderson is open for business

BY CHUCK STINNETT

Henderson’s economic roots are definitely in the dirt – as in, agriculture.

But while farming remains important in Henderson County, its heavy industrial base is crucial to a diversified economy that ranges from medical services to Main Street shops.

Henderson found its footing and initial wealth during the 19th century by raising and processing tobacco.

Tobacco – especially dark air-cured tobacco used in snuff, chewing, cigar, and pipe blends – was raised on thousands of acres of land in Henderson County. For decades, tarp-covered farm wagons piled high with cured tobacco bound for auction warehouses jammed downtown streets in the late autumn.

By 1899, Henderson County farmers

had produced a staggering 15.4 million pounds of tobacco from 18,410 acres – the greatest amounts on record.

Fortunes were made here, especially among men who owned the warehouses where “leaf” was auctioned or at the factories called stemmeries where tobacco was processed and prepared for shipment aboard steamboats.

Local lore declared Henderson second only to Heidelberg, Germany, as the wealthiest per capita in the world – or, in a slight variation, as home to the world’s second-greatest concentration of millionaires per capita. It was an impossible claim to prove, but it was plausible enough to be claimed today.

The dark-tobacco market relied heavily on exports, and trade disputes and tariffs took a heavy toll in the early 20th century. By 1909, tobacco production in Henderson County had fallen by nearly one-third from a decade earlier. It plunged by more than half again by 1934. Today, the tradition of raising tobacco has essentially vanished.

But agriculture remains vital. Henderson County ranked first in Kentucky in soybean production in 2022 and second in corn output.

After holding tight to agriculture for generations, Henderson County began industrializing. That accelerated in the early 1970s with the recruitment of an aluminum smelter (today operated by Century Aluminum), a commercial truck wheel plant (today’s Accuride Corp.), and a commercial truck axle factory (now operated by Dana Corp.). Other major manufacturers include Audubon Metals, Hercules Manufacturing Co., and Gibbs Die Casting.

A chicken processing plant now operated by Tyson Foods and a Columbia Sportswear distribution center were prominent additions in later years, and locally owned Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group engineers, fabricates, builds, and maintains water storage tanks and communication towers across the country and overseas.

In 2021, Gov. Andy Beshear came to Henderson to make what he called the biggest economic development announcement in Western Kentucky in a quarter-century: the recruitment of Australia-based Pratt Paper, which has opened a 280-employee, $500 million, 1.15 million-square-foot

DOWNTOWN HENDERSON

CENTURY ALUMINUM SCOTT FARMS

complex that recycles used corrugated boxes into new boxes.

In all, more than one in four jobs in Henderson County today is in manufacturing, accounting for fully one-third of all wages paid in the county.

Meanwhile, Main Street is alive and well in Henderson, bursting with both legacy and new stores. Downtown offers boutique shopping at stores such as Beachbum Farms, J’Petals, Olive + Mae, Radiant Sun, Falcon Creek, Victoria’s, LandyLane, The Olive Leaf, and Elite Henderson, along with longtime retailers such as Alles Brothers Furniture, Simon’s Shoes, Wilkerson’s Shoes, and Campbell Jewelers. Deaconess Henderson Hospital remains a leading employer in Henderson, supplemented by numerous Deaconess-affiliated medical providers as well as Owensboro Health Henderson Healthplex. Owensboro-based RiverValley Behavioral Health also has a significant presence in Henderson County, offering the community services related to addiction, mental health, development, physical health, and more.

DID YOU KNOW?

>> Total wages paid in Henderson County exceeded $1 billion in 2023 for the first time ever.

>> Simon’s Shoes became regionally famed for stocking a wider variety of sizes than most shoe stores.

PHOTOS BY AUDRA STRAW

THE OLIVE LEAF

Find Your Inspiration

Henderson’s recreation options encourage exploration BY

DONNA B. STINNETT

D“ iscover Your Nature.” It’s what Henderson County’s community brand suggests. Although that can mean different things to different people, even in a literal sense, there’s plenty of nature to discover here.

CITY PARKS

Henderson has five parks along the Ohio River – Audubon Mill, Sunset, Red Banks, Atkinson, and Hays – stretching approximately 2.5 miles. There’s the RiverWalk, a paved, lighted walking path stretching between Riverview School and ending at a plaza near Park Field, home of the Henderson Flash collegiate wooden bat team of the Ohio Valley League.

Along the way, there are two boat ramps, two playgrounds, the riverfront water feature, an open field for playing pitch and catch or flying a kite, barbecue pits and picnic shelters, a disc golf course, and a sand volleyball court.

Audubon Mill regularly hosts outdoor music and other events. Newman Park on Sand Lane has

fields for softball and soccer and an accessible playground (as does downtown’s Central Park). The trailhead for the 3.1-mile Canoe Creek Nature Trail is in Newman Park. Dog parks are located in Community Park and Red Banks Park. East End Park has a spray park, and there’s a new sports complex for youth sports under construction to replace aging facilities. In all, the city maintains 26 public spaces.

PARKS IN THE COUNTY

Freedom Park, adjacent to the farmers market at the Henderson County Fairgrounds, has a playground and hosts summer reading programs.

Sandy Lee Watkins Park, in eastern Henderson County, has a playground, picnic shelters, a paved 3-mile walking trail, four fishing lakes (one with a boat ramp and kayak/canoe launch), and plans for future amenities.

Sloughs Wildlife Management Area is a mecca for hunters, birdwatchers, canoeists and kayakers. It includes wetlands, woodlands, ridges, open fields, and observation platforms to survey it all.

Green River National Wildlife Refuge is in development by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

HIKING AND MORE

Audubon State Park, which has overnight camping and six cabins, contains a 6-mile trail system with paths for beginners to advanced hikers. One of the easiest is the Audubon Wetlands Trail that takes you along a boardwalk over a slough and might give you a look at a bald eagle’s nest or a heron rookery. The most difficult is the Eagle Glen Pet Trail. The longest is the Back Country Trail (1.6 miles) that takes you by Wilderness Lake. The park has a nature center, educational programs, bird watching, picnic shelters, a fishing lake, seasonal pedal boat rental, and playgrounds.

BOATING ON THE OHIO RIVER

NEWMAN PARK

AUDUBON

AUDUBON STATE PARK

GAME ON

If pickleball is your sport, you can play inside at the Henderson County Family YMCA or outside at Community Park, the Bridges of Henderson Golf Course, and Audubon State Park.

If you prefer golf, Henderson offers The Bridges (18 holes), Henderson Country

Club (18 holes), Audubon State Park (nine holes), and Bent Creek (nine holes).

Horse racing takes place at the historic Ellis Park Race Course, which offers free admission into the grandstand for the summer live meet from July to August.

Bowling is available at the newly renovated retro Diamond Lanes Echo.

DID YOU KNOW?

>> There are markers in the road at the Second and Third street boat ramps noting the river levels during different historic floods.

>> Henderson Farmers Market is open three days a week (Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday) from the first Saturday of May through the last Saturday in October.

>> Three historic truss bridges in Sandy Lee Watkins Park on the walking trail were “rescued and repurposed” after roads in other communities were rerouted and new bridges built.

>> The Brain Injury Adventure Camp provides outdoor education and activities for all ages and abilities and activities including low-ropes and highropes courses, team building challenges, zip-lining, and more.

RiverValley

RiverValley

Creative Minds

Arts and culture thrive in this river town BY

DONNA B. STINNETT

If someone in Henderson tells you there’s nothing to do, don’t believe them. There’s no shortage of arts and cultural events to create a nice quality of life.

MUSIC FESTIVALS

Henderson has a string of music festivals in the warm months that run the genre gamut and keep people tapping their toes.

It starts in mid-May with Summerfest, an evening of rock music presented on an outdoor stage with the Ohio River as a backdrop. The site is on the doorstep of nine Downtown restaurants, and there’s a beer garden.

On the Saturday evening that launches June, 10 South Main front porches become the performance spaces for musicians at PorchFest, with food trucks perched nearby. PorchFest quickly is followed by the long-running W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, whose main stage offers four days of blues artists. Local restaurants and watering holes host their own music for lunch breaks and happy hours.

In July, songwriters take the spotlight at the Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival. Nashville, Tennessee, songwriters perform their works – often hits by bigname artists – and tell stories about them. Of the five summer music festivals, only Sandy Lee Watkins requires a ticket.

In August, the two-day Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival features bands playing both traditional and progressive bluegrass music.

BEYOND MUSIC

There are plenty of other events sprinkled throughout the year. To bust folks out of the winter doldrums in April, the Breakfast Lions Club hosts Tri-Fest, a street festival with food booths, carnival rides, contests, and fireworks.

Festivals celebrating diversity include Juneteenth and Pride in the summer and

the colorful Dia de los Muertos in the fall. In October, the Henderson Lions Club presents an Arts & Crafts Festival at Audubon State Park, offering plenty of fall decor and holiday gifts.

VISUAL ARTS

For visual arts fans, there are galleries with rotating shows at Henderson Community College’s Preston Arts Center, Gallery 101, Citi-Center office building, and Henderson County Public Library’s Dick & Sheila Beaven Gallery. Ohio Valley Art League hosts “pop-up galleries” in Downtown businesses at November’s Art Hop Seven murals lend local color to Downtown buildings, and a walking trail of bronze bird sculptures depicts the works of artist/naturalist John James Audubon, who lived here for about a decade. In addition to gallery shows, the Audubon Museum possesses a world-class collection of Audubon art and historical artifacts.

PERFORMING ARTS

Henderson Area Arts Alliance presents its annual season of touring artists at Preston Arts Center, showcasing music, theater, dance, comedy, and more. Over the years, performers have included Marvin Hamlisch, Bill Monroe, Vienna Boys Choir, Burt Bacharach, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Smothers Brothers, Glen Campbell, Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain, Russian National Ballet, and dozens of other shows.

DID YOU KNOW?

>> Country legend Louis Marshall Jones, aka “Grandpa Jones,” was born in Henderson County in the Niagara community. His character was a feature of the TV country variety show “Hee Haw.”

>> “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy was a Henderson resident for about 10 years starting in the 1890s and met his first wife here at a summer barbecue.

>> One-time resident John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America” double-elephant folio, which documents 435 species of birds, is considered one of the world’s most expensive books.

>> Women’s Honor Court Park on the riverfront showcases local women whose accomplishments have enriched the community’s story. It’s the only park dedicated to women in Kentucky and one of only a handful in the U.S.

HENDERSON AREA ARTS ALLIANCE PRESENTATION OF “CHICAGO” AT THE PRESTON ARTS CENTER

W.C. HANDY BLUES & BARBECUE FESTIVAL

AN ARTIST’S MURAL IN DOWNTOWN HENDERSON

Bon Appetit!

The dining scene is booming in Downtown Henderson and beyond

BY CHUCK STINNETT

You don’t have to take longtime residents’ word for it when they say Henderson’s restaurant scene has never been brighter. All you must do is take note of all the cars parked on First, Second, Main, and Water streets most evenings.

One resident, borrowing a famous phrase from Yogi Berra, jokes, “Nobody goes to Downtown Henderson to eat anymore. It’s too crowded!”

In truth, the eight restaurants serving dinner in the central business district can seat hundreds of people.

And more than ever before, Henderson restaurants are collaborating, using one another’s ingredients for special dishes as well as incorporating locally grown produce. They sometimes even promote each other’s special events.

The cooperation between restaurants astonished Aaron Nelson, a partner in the new Cap & Cork restaurant Downtown.

For example, Cap & Cork uses cold brew coffee and coffee grounds from the Antler Specialty Goods coffee shop for its espresso martini cocktails.

“ We’re using Thomason’s (Barbecue) baked beans this week and use their barbecue sauce in our aioli,” Nelson’s wife, Heather, said in June.

And when their restaurant was having difficulties with its point-of-sale software system, Quinn Thomas from around the corner at Rookies Sports Bar & Restaurant hustled over to help.

“Every Downtown restaurant owner has been to our place to eat,” Aaron Nelson says, “and we eat at theirs, too.”

“I knew that Henderson was close-knit, and Downtown was close-knit,” he says. “I love the camaraderie.”

The anchor of Downtown dining is Rookies, renowned for specialties such as Arabian salad, flat iron steak, and Southern-style catfish filets. It’s been owned and operated by three generations of the Thomas family since 1991 and today occupies three adjacent buildings.

But in just the past several years, the evening dining options Downtown have, well, mushroomed with the openings of the seasonal On Deck Riverside Bar & Grill as well as Tacoholics, Rockhouse on the River, Hometown Roots, Homer’s Barbecue, Cap & Cork, and Olea Bar & Grill

All operate full-service bars, and some offer hometown craft beers from Henderson Brewing Co. Bourbon fans will particularly appreciate Hometown Roots and Cap & Cork, which each stock 200 or

more brands of whiskey and also prepare specialty cocktails.

Six Downtown eateries have outdoor dining options in good weather, and three periodically offer live music at night.

Of course, folks don’t just eat in the evening. At least six Downtown restaurants and sandwich shops serve lunch, and a couple are popular breakfast spots.

Coffee lovers gravitate to Roast Coffee Bar , Antler Specialty Goods, and Coffee + Cream.

Bar becue reigns in Henderson. Southern Living magazine in April 2024 ranked Thomason’s Barbecue as No. 2 on a list of the state’s “Best BBQ Joints.”

HOMETOWN ROOTS

CAP & CORK

THOMASON’S BARBECUE

A regional tourism promotion, the West Kentucky BBQ Belt, kicked off in May, highlighting more than 40 restaurants in 15 Kentucky cities that specialize in slow-cooked barbecue. Five are located in Henderson, serving barbecued pork, chicken, brisket – and Western Kentucky’s specialty, mutton. They’re listed at www.wkybbq.com.

Ther e are multiple Mexican restaurants around town, including two –

Bodega Market Luncheria & Grocery and Medina’s Taco Shop , both located in Henderson’s working-class East End – that are praised for serving particularly authentic cuisine.

Like wise, there are several choices for Asian food, with Koi Asian Fusion offering a range of cuisines, from sushi to curries.

There are pizza shops galore, including some that have been baking pies for decades. Fans of hole-in-the-wall establishments have plenty to choose from: historic Metzger’s Tavern, John Earl’s Ice House & Fine Foods, and M&M Fish & Seafood among them.

Those craving homestyle meals gravitate to Eastgate Family Restaurant or Southern Flare Café

S weets lovers have a selection of doughnut shops, while Coffee + Cream serves hard-scooped ice cream (and, on many Saturday evenings, an hour of live Christian praise music) and The Dairiette specializes in over-the-top desserts. COMMUNITY FOCUSED.

O utside Henderson, Farmer & Frenchman Winery & Café is a dining destination open for lunch and dinner that draws fans from across the Tri-State. The core of its menu is Italian, but seafood, steaks and daily specials are staples as well. Patio dining is available much of the year.

The countr yside is dotted with places to grab breakfast or lunch – many of which double as country stores and several bearing their place name – including the Geneva Store, Mom’s Kitchen & Bakery, the Cairo Country Café, Papaw’s Poole Mill Restaurant at Poole, the Niagara Store, three spots around Robards –Sugg’s General Store, Rockhouse Pizza, and the North-South Truck Stop – Bryant’s Grocery (a.k.a. the Hebbardsville Store) and Cagey’s General Store at Beals.

EAT WELL

The Henderson Tourist Commission offers an online directory of area eateries. See hendersonky.org/attraction-category/whereto-dine for details.

At Field & Main, we’re passionate about fostering a culture where our team strives to make a meaningful impact on our clients and the wider community. A universal solution doesn’t exist; instead, we’re devoted to providing personalized service to meet each individual need. Here, every detail matters in our quest to help you achieve the success you’re entitled to. Experience the distinct advantage of MODERN CRAFT BANKING with us.

METZGER’S TAVERN

Built in 1869 on the corner of Julia & Powell Street in Henderson, KY, Metzger's Tavern has always been more than just a local neighborhood bar. The history runs deeper than even the tobacco twists that hang from the ceiling.

In 1870, the doors of this old gal opened as "The Swing Door Saloon," serving beer only to the locals. During prohibition from 1920-1933, the building operated as a grocery store & pharmacy and often sold moonshine under the counter in prescription bottles. After prohibition, the tavern resorted back to serving cold ones & obtained its liquor license, making it the second oldest operating liquor license in the state of Kentucky.

THE 3 KEY INGREDIENTS

TRADITION

Since 1869, this little tavern has stuck to what it knows. Cold beers, great food, and even better friends.

FOOD

Bean soup, burgers, chili, and dipped dogs; it's what we do.

FRIENDS

No one is a stranger here at Metzger's Tavern. There is always a cheers to be had and a game to cheer on.

Residential Life

Right At Home

Henderson residents enjoy the city’s varied neighborhoods – and national accolades BY

DONNA B. STINNETT

No doubt about it, Henderson is a friendly town.

W hen a riverboat tourist visited in 2021 and started meeting local folks, she immediately bought a house and moved here.

S he apparently wasn’t imagining things. A Southern Living magazine poll published in June 2024 named Henderson No. 19 on a list of “Top 20 Friendliest Towns in the South.” A separate list of superlatives titled “The South’s Best” published in the magazine’s April 2024 issue ranked Henderson No. 8 in its “Best Small Towns” in Kentucky.

A lot of the city’s charm comes through the large number of buildings accented with Evansville-rooted Mesker Steel architectural details and Victorian-era homes concentrated in and around the central business district.

Downtown is a mixture of professional offices, locally owned restaurants – there are now 10 concentrated near Second and Main streets at the primary downtown crossroads – and a vibrant collection of boutique shops.

A new events center called The Vault takes up residence in a renovated former bank building and hosts weddings, receptions, community banquets, and other events.

Downtown is the seat of both municipal and county government, as well as judicial proceedings. The Elks and Moose lodges are perched Downtown. There’s also an abundance of green spaces.

The Henderson Tourist Commission offers a self-guided walking tour allowing folks to stroll the historic streets and learn community history, including stories about ghosts that may still be loitering. (Find it at hendersonky.org.) Architectural

styles include Georgian, Queen Anne, Victorian, Châteauesque, Federalist, and Italianate.

On North Main Street is the home that stood in as the boarding house for the Rockford Peaches in the 1992 film “A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna. It can be found at 612 N. Main. Downtown’s former Soaper Hotel also served as a filming location for the movie.

On the opposite side of Downtown at 232 S. Main stands the residence of an originator of Mother’s Day. While teaching at Center Street School in 1887, Mary Towles Sasseen Wilson organized a Mother’s Day celebration and in the early 1890s published a pamphlet used to promote the holiday as a national observance.

DID YOU KNOW?

>> Central Park is believed to be the oldest municipal park east of the Allegheny Mountains. A 27-foot-tall replica of the original 1892 fountain was installed in 2003.

>> Opened in 1904, Henderson County Public Library is the oldest public building in the city and has gone through three major renovations, including a 2020 expansion that added community meeting rooms overlooking the Ohio River. The library collection includes 10 original Audubon prints. In Classical style, the name engraved in the original building’s stone is “PVBLIC.”

>> Henderson’s other distinctive neighborhood – once called Audubon and now known as the East End, about a mile southeast of Downtown – currently is the focus of revitalization through a targeted project by city government and community partners.

Perhaps the oldest home in town, built around 1820 by Wyatt Ingram, is found at 124 S. Elm St. Ingram was a tobacco merchant who transported his goods to New Orleans, Louisiana, by flatboat, then walked home. Local lore says he made that circuit 13 times.

>> Jagoe Homes, a large Owensboro, Kentucky-based housing developer, announced plans to construct up to 300 single-family homes in a new $35 million, 86-acre housing community off U.S. 60-East. Jagoe intends to build the homes over the next seven to 10 years, with prices ranging from $200,000 to $400,000, averaging around $250,000. It is the largest residential development in decades and perhaps ever in Henderson.

NEWLY RENOVATED HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

CENTRAL PARK FOUNTAIN

THE HOME USED AS THE ROCKFORD PEACHES’ BOARDING HOUSE IN THE 1992 FILM “A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

Our Mission at Baker Family Chiropractic

The mission of Baker Family Chiropractic Health and Wellness is to promote the health, well being and happiness of families from conception to birth and beyond by providing high quality, affordable chiropractic care that honors the human body’s ability to naturally function at its maximum capacity.

Call us today to schedule with our friendly staff!

270-212-0388

319 8th Street Henderson, KY 42420 bakerfamilychiroky.com

Century Aluminum Sebree stands as a beacon of American manufactured Aluminum

Century’s Sebree aluminum smelter has a production capacity of approximately 220,000 metric tonnes per year. The facility is 100-percent owned and operated through Century Aluminum.

Henderson Advertiser Resource Guide

AUDUBON METALS

270-830-6622

Audubonmetals.com

BAKER FAMILY

CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

270-212-0388

Bakerfamilychiroky.com

CABINETS BY DESIGN

270-826-2244

cabinetsbydesignky.com

CENTURY ALUMINUM

270-521-7812

Centuryaluminum.com

CITY OF HENDERSON

Office of the Mayor Municipal Center 222 First St. 270-831-1200

Hendersonky.gov

DRIVER LICENSING

REGIONAL OFFICE

374 Borax Dr. 270-854-2428

Drive.ky.gov

ERA FIRST ADVANTAGE REALTY/MELINDA LUNTSFORD

270-860-7740

Melinda.luntsford@erafirst.com

FIELD & MAIN BANK

888-831-1500

Fieldandmain.com

GIBBS

270-827-1801 Gibbsdc.com

HENDERSON AREA ARTS ALLIANCE

270-826-5916 haaa.org

HENDERSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

270-826-7505

Hendersonkychamber.com

HENDERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE 270-827-1867 henderson.kctcs.edu

HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

101 S. Main St. 270-826-3712 hcpl.org

HENDERSON COUNTY RIVERPORT AUTHORITY 270-826-1636 hendersonport.com

HENDERSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

270-854-9455 Choosehendersonky.com

HENDERSON TOURIST COMMISSION

270-826-3128 Hendersonky.org

HERCULES

MANUFACTURING CO.

270-826-9501

Herculesvanbodies.com

METZGER’S TAVERN 270-826-9461 Metzgerstavernky.com

POST OFFICE

100 First St.

270-827-9874

PRATT INDUSTRIES Innovations.prattindustries.com

REDBANKS

270-826-6436

Redbanks.org

RIVERVALLEY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

270-689-6879

Rvbh.com/careers

ROOKIES RESTAURANT

270-826-1106

Rookiesrestaurant.com

SQUARE YARD CARPET

270-827-1138

Squareyardcarpet.com

THOMASON’S BARBECUE

270-826-0654

Thomasonsbbq.com

Home is where the Heart is. The East End is the Heart of Henderson.

“Henderson is a great place to grow up, live or come back to visit every now and then. We are proud to have been a small part of your family functions, church gatherings, graduation parties and birthdays since 1960.”

Kevin Gibson

Second generation owner of Thomason’s

One of Southern Living’s Top 20 Friendliest Towns in the South, set your sights on Henderson, where delicious food, vibrant festivals, and the comfort and creativity of our river town retreat feed the soul, all with nature and history as its backdrop. plan your trip at hendersonky.org

Home & St yle

DREAMS IN BLOOM

Jesse Diekhoff fulfills a longtime ambition with East Side flower boutique

BY MAGGIE VALENTI

Flowers and plants have been a part of Jesse Diekhoff’s life for as long as she can remember. Her father runs Phil’s Tree Service in Newburgh, Indiana, and she started working for Colonial Classics, also in Newburgh, when she was 15.

“Flowers bring light, color, and joy into people’s lives, even when they least expect it. Something as small as the gift of a flower can change someone’s day,” Diekhoff says.

After a decade with the garden center, she is branching out with her own storefront, Jesse Jeanne’s Flower Boutique. The idea took shape in 2020 through her floral preservation side hustle, Jesse Jeanne’s Flowers. Diekhoff dries petals from special events and significant occasions – funerals, weddings, baby showers, to name a few – and frames them or encases them in resin to create a long-lasting memento.

At first, she worked out of her apartment’s spare bedroom, but the venture quickly grew as word spread about her services. When she and her husband, Andrew, moved into a house, the business claimed the basement, but that only proved it required more space.

An opportunity “fell into my lap at the right time,” she says, when her husband’s friend had a retail space for rent near the intersection of South Green River Road and Washington Avenue. In considering opening her own storefront, Diekhoff determined it was not feasible to continue working fulltime at Colonial and grow her business. Leaving her longtime job was bittersweet.

“It was hard for me and everyone (at Colonial), but I knew I wanted to venture out on my own,” she reflects.

Jesse Jeanne’s Flower Boutique needed upgrading. Diekhoff “completely redid all of it,” replacing moldy walls plus the floors, electrical, and lighting with help from friends and family. The shop is painted in shades of pink and green, and the store’s logo is Diekhoff’s and her year-old daughter Sammie’s birth flower – lily of the valley – and tulips.

Her shop will offer floral arrangements and seasonal planters, sourcing products from local growers and wholesalers, as well as out-of-state vendors. Shoppers can sign up for a fresh flower subscription and pick up baked goods and cookies from Saige’s Baking Creations. For now, Diekhoff will rely on family members to help keep the place running, though she plans to hire staff. She also plans to eventually teach classes out of her new space.

“It’s been very nerve-wracking, very exciting. A mix of all kinds of feelings,” Diekhoff says.

PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

JESSE DIEKHOFF

Home & Style

CHANGE IN PLANS

Everything must go for these homeowners

For years, Darrell Pennington thought he would work until his 70s and enjoy his retirement then. Gradually, he says he considered what it would be like to accelerate retirement, uproot from Evansville, and experience worldly cultures.

He realized this would mean selling the beloved Victorian home – and nearly all its contents – where he and his wife, Penelope, have lived for 27 years and raised two children. In January, he gingerly broached the subject.

Penelope’s response surprised him: “Can we leave tomorrow?”

“ That put it in a whole different perspective,” says Darrell, who retired May 10 as chief operations officer with Mortgage Masters of Indiana.

It’s been full steam ahead ever since for the Owensboro, Kentucky, natives. They are downsizing their home just outside the Riverside Historic District item by item. Friends and former coworkers have browsed the Penningtons’ collection, which is set up “kind of like a flea market,” Penelope says. An auction likely will be needed for larger pieces.

The home’s uniqueness has caught Evansville Living’s attention in the past – a secret basement-level speakeasy called The Red Polka Dot was profiled in 2021, and in 2023, the magazine returned to check out a terrace space. In earlier years, the Penningtons had

BY JOHN MARTIN

rooms dedicated to University of Kentucky sports (which also was profiled in Evansville Living) and legendary rockers KISS.

But Penelope, who retired five years ago from Milestone Investments, says her sentiment for the house is overshadowed by excitement about what’s to come.

“We have 27 years of everything,” Penelope says. “We’re not hoarders, but we have 5,000 square feet that’s full. There are things in the house I wouldn’t get rid of otherwise … but it’s nice for people to take things that I love and give them another life.”

The Penningtons’ immediate plans are to purge their belongings and put their house on the market. In mid-October, they board a vessel on a one-way voyage to Spain. Norway, the United Kingdom, Europe, North Africa, and Central and South Americas are on their wish list.

They do plan annual visits back to Evansville, staying in a camper, completing some U.S. travel, and visiting their daughter, 22, and son, 18.

Indicating their readiness to hit the road, the Penningtons headed to Ireland for 10 days in late May and early June to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.

That trip, Penelope says, represented “a big kick-off to our new life.”

ON THE MARKET

Old and New

Gum Street home offers ‘yesterday’s charm’

BY JOHN MARTIN

THIS NEW ENGLAND-STYLE

BRICK HOME dating to 1952 expertly combines old and new, according to listing agent Jim Lang with NextHome Hahn Kiefer Residential.

S ituated on Gum Street between Alvord Boulevard and Boeke Road, the home is a sprawling ranch with a lush green front lawn. The interior has been carefully maintained over its long life – “you can see your reflection in the hardwood floors,” Lang says.

Thoughtful upgrades over the years have ensured the home’s future.

A 600-s quare-foot great room with 13-foot tray ceilings added in 1995 help make it “an amazing party house,” Lang says, while more recent work has brought a new custom shingled roof and bay windows.

Lang, who also has a background as an architect, loves the four-bedroom property, and he’s not alone. Many who walk through, he says, comment that the house “is arranged for today’s living but has yesterday’s charm.”

2308 E. GUM ST.

DARRELL AND PENELOPE PENNINGTON

BEAUTY RECREATED

USI alumna accepts wallpaper pattern restoration challenge

Beth Poole loves the dining room wallpaper in the East Side home she’s shared with her husband, Barry, for 28 years. Rolled sometime in the 1950s or ’60s, it features vertical green vines, with pink flowers, bluebirds, and butterflies.

Poole has always found the intricate pattern calming and nurturing. In fact, she owns a china set in Franciscan Desert Rose that resembles the walls. As the paper aged, she was determined to reproduce it.

The task seemed impossible. Even the person who would have decorated the house told Poole she couldn’t locate the pattern. Poole

feared her pursuit had hit a dead end — that is, until she thought of a young woman who had attended preschool with her daughter, Grace.

R achel Kercher graduated in spring 2023 from the University of Southern Indiana. Kercher performed lots of painting at USI while earning a degree in studio art. Poole had maintained contact with Kercher’s mom over the years, and when Poole sprung the idea of painting her dining room walls with the old wallpaper pattern, Kercher enthusiastically agreed.

TRENDING NOW

BY JOHN MARTIN

“I am very blessed to say the least, it’s an opportunity I never thought I’d have,” Kercher says.

Kercher used a plumb line to create a vine pattern that nearly mimics what the wallpaper shows, and then added the flower, bird, and butterfly accents. She’s already spent several weeks on the project while also maintaining a job at Deaconess Midtown Hospital.

Kercher plans to finish by late July. The wallpaper recreation is her first project of this type, but she hopes it won’t be the last.

“I think it would be great [to do similar projects in the future],” she says. “This is kind of a turning point for me. I never thought to paint on anything but a canvas. I would love to paint on all kinds of things.”

Kercher would get a ringing endorsement from Poole, who’s thrilled that the pattern she adores will live on, albeit in a different form.

“I didn’t give up looking for 28 years,” she says. “It took 19 for the little 4-year-old that I knew to become an artist, graduate from USI, and be the one that finally said, ‘Yes, I’ll do this.’”

More Than Skin Deep

Stock your home with these Evansville-area products BY JODI KEEN

These handcrafted home and body businesses bring artisan products to your doorstep.

BLACK CAULDRON SOAP CO.

blackcauldronsoapco.com

Leticia Farmer’s hand-cut bar soaps ($5.99) from Elberfeld, Indiana, feature scents like Dapper Man and Princess Peach. Home care products include carpet refreshers ($7.49).

ZINGARI MAN

zingariman.com

Heather Melton’s line of luxury handcrafted men’s products began in Evansville but has ex-

panded globally. Fruit extracts in the Rescue Potion ($25.95) nourish skin, while lip balms ($4.50) pack moisturizing shea butter and sunflower oil.

NEW HARMONY SOAP CO. newharmonysoap.com

Jim and Stephanie Spann’s products span aromatherapy to pet care and have been sold for 12 years. Treat irritated skin with a fortifying balm ($17.99), or lighten the room with a spray ($8.99) infused with plant-based oils.

RACHEL KERCHER AND BETH POOLE

ROOM VIEW

Jeff and Misty Bosse’s custom home brings a dash of modernity to the Newburgh riverfront

BY MICHELLE MASTRO AND JODI KEEN

Constructing a new home takes a leap of faith – even more so if the design is unique. When plotting their dream home, Jeff and Misty Bosse wanted a wholly original residence. It had to meet their family and work needs. It should include space for their personal art collection. And it had to be the right fit in the right space.

As much as they desired a home of their own vision, they were willing to take this leap of faith only if they had the help of Jack Faber, a friend and architect at Hafer. Initial plans began in September 2020.

As it turned out, envisioning the home came easy. The trick would be finding the right property. On the riverfront in Newburgh, Indiana, just east of the Old Locks & Dam along French Island Trail, Misty – a real estate broker and general manager at ERA First Advantage in Newburgh – discovered a plot of land for sale. It was perfect because it had woods in the back and ran along the river, features that made the property appealing and picturesque.

Misty, Jeff – the owner of Bosse Title Company – and Jack walked the property together, brainstorming. True, it’s adjacent

CUSTOM CREATION Jeff and Misty Bosse’s modern home near the Newburgh, Indiana, riverfront is a dramatic departure from its more traditional neighbors. Designed with family friend and Hafer architect Jack Faber, the home stands out for its striking geometric elements and array of windows and balconies.

to the riverfront; however, the land sat oddly off the road and sloped downward, culminating in a deep ravine. “That’s why nobody had ever put a house on it,” Jack says.

The average home layout just wouldn’t work here. With a typical ranch-style home, the house’s garage would face the river, or the bedrooms would, and thus none of the main living spaces would get the sweeping WITH A

PHOTOS BY GLENN TANG AND MITCH ELLIS, BLACK PIXEL

views the Bosses craved. The couple sat down with their friend and decided to map it all out on paper – literally.

At one of the trio’s first meetings, Jack asked the Bosses to write down all the rooms they wanted their home to have. The names of listed rooms were cut into strips of paper, which Jeff and Misty then put in the order they each could see their daily motions flow.

“[Jack] had already put a preliminary plan together, and we were almost all on the same page, which was a relief,” Misty laughs. “We were like totally in sync on what we thought.”

They opted to put the garage as far away from the view as possible. “Misty wanted to be able to be in the kitchen and see the river,” Jack says. “And so, that’s how it was all designed.”

Bedrooms were pushed closer to the rear of the house, and common living spaces were moved forward. “We kept diagramming the house out because, as we pushed and pulled walls, spaces got bigger,” Jack says.

What the three ended up mapping out was a home crafted from a series of rectangular shapes, a layout befitting Misty’s love of transitional design and Jeff’s affinity for midcentury modern.

“We wanted to try to break these up by introducing different colors,” Jack says. The drawings became an assemblage of different shapes, broken up by colors and grid patterns on the outside, while the interiors incorporated soaring ceilings, which harkened to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style, or leaned heavily into a

A TRIUMPH OF TEAMWORK

Misty, Jeff, and Jack worked together closely to maximize their enjoyment. Windows show off sweeping views of the Ohio River, while the west exterior’s mix of materials, textures, and colors doubles as its own artwork.

“Misty wanted to be able to be in the kitchen and see the river. And so, that’s how it was all designed.”

JACK FABER, ARCHITECT

HOMEOWNERS JEFF AND MISTY BOSSE WITH ARCHITECT JACK FABER AND THE COUPLE’S FRENCH BULLDOGS, NORM AND LULU

“With this layout, you’re either walking toward art as you’re going out to the garage or you’re walking toward the river. We really thought through [the designs].”

HOMEOWNER JEFF BOSSE

contemporary take on the mid-century modern aesthetic with clean lines and white spaces juxtaposed against pops of color.

The designs were modern and vast, but above all, each room was drawn to lead to a focal feature, whether that was riverfront views or the numerous works of art the couple have amassed over the years.

One of the main living spaces would be near the entryway and present the Bosses’ personally curated art gallery, which runs the gamut of hyper-realistic watercolors to still life oil paintings by Henderson, Kentucky, artist Chris Thomas.

“With this layout, you’re either walking toward art as you’re going out to the garage or you’re walking toward the river,” Jeff says. “We really thought through [the designs].”

FUNCTIONAL

ART Jeff and Misty’s art collection factored heavily into their home design. The wine cellar lies in a glass-fronted alcove. Paintings by Henderson, Kentucky, artist Chris Thomas hang in the kitchen. A solid wood dining table has passed through generations of the Bosse family.

DOWN TO THE DETAILS

Jeff’s second-floor office is laid out with his workspace open to a sitting room and adjacent balcony, so it accommodates business meetings in a relaxed setting. The star of the back patio is a rectangular fire feature designed by Jack to anchor the outdoor space while camouflaging a planned hot tub. Concerned that the exterior walls were too blank, strategic landscaping and decorative metalwork were added to break up the wide swaths of white paint.

While planning for an impromptu art gallery would have been a challenge to some, it was a cinch to Jack. He added customizable light fixtures – Misty went with white instead of the originally planned black – that can easily adjust to focus on the couple’s collection.

“This is why we wanted Jack to design the home,” Misty says.

In fact, the couple swears if you hold up the drawings they sketched of the house as it stands today, you will see no difference between the two.

Once the drawings were completed, the 3D rendering was made, “and we all let out some expletives,” Jeff laughs. “The house looked exactly like we imagined.”

From the moment you walk into the two-story entrance, your lungs expand. To the left, wide swaths of space contain the open-concept kitchen, dining room – featuring a solid wood dining table that belonged to Jeff’s grandparents – and living room, all with arresting views of the Ohio River. Via the art-laden hall to the north is Misty’s office, guest bedrooms, a three-car garage, laundry facilities – including a step ladder for when the couple’s French bulldogs, Norm and Lulu, need to enter the sink for a bath – and the couple’s primary suite. All entertaining spaces, as well as the couple’s suite, are connected to the outdoor patio, which is tucked into a cove in the house rather than tacked onto the back or end.

Upstairs, the open walkway connects to Jeff’s office and a balcony overlooking French Island Trail.

“When there’s a sunset, this house [is] amazing,” Jeff says.

The basement level contains a glass-fronted wine cellar – “functional art,” Jeff calls it – storage and additional guest quarters.

Ground was broken in February 2022, and building commenced under the supervision of Greg Kuhlman Construction. Jeff and Misty continued working with Jack as the design moved from paper to reality, refining some details and adapting others.

“We didn’t want to unravel [his] design and make it something weird,” Misty says.

Construction wasn’t finished when Jeff and Misty took up residence in May 2023, but they were ready to start enjoying those river views.

Today, the couple love to entertain in the house, as well as outdoors. The patio includes a grilling area and comfortable seating, looks over the aforementioned shallow ravine – now dotted with curated landscaping – and is flanked by a custom fireplace feature designed by Jack, which will hide a future sunken hot tub.

“I have an issue with most outdoor fireplaces because they often don’t look very good

812-422-3899

www.bippusframeshop.com

when they aren’t being used,” Jack says. “I designed the fireplace feature to look like a modern Corten Steel sculpture during the day to frame views of the trees beyond. But at night, the function becomes apparent when the fire is lit and provides an amazing glow to the outdoor living room.”

The couple says guests always remark upon the experience of entering the home. They are greeted with soaring ceilings and walls hung with art strategically placed for maximum visual appeal.

“[The house] is meant to feel inviting,” Misty says. “But we also wanted to inspire some awe.”

Their residence also is forward-thinking and designed for future accessibility, if the couple chooses to age in place.

“The home has three floors, so we have a core that could one day become an elevator shaft,” Misty says. “This is a storeroom right now. But it’s designed so the floor can come out for a residential elevator.”

The result is a testament to inspired vision, dedication, and teamwork.

“ This is very personal because they’re friends,” Jack says.

“[A home] is an investment,” Misty explains. “If you’re spending the money, you want to spend it wisely. You don’t want to have to go back and redo something because you didn’t consider a detail.”

SETTING THE TONE Immediately off the entryway, guests can enjoy Jeff and Misty’s home art collection. Gallery lighting paneled in soft white illuminates the hanging pieces of mixed media and themes.

Nick Wood, Cherie Simpson, Jeremy Bethel,

Ray Butler

Jack Faber, AIA, Jason Southwell, and Avery Reiter, Hafer

Architect and interior designers, respectively

haferdesign.com

812 Concrete Coatings

Garage floor

812garagefloors.com

Altstadt Hoffman Plumbing

Services

Plumbing

altstadtplumbing.com

Benny’s Flooring

Flooring

bennysflooringin.com

Bippus Frame Shop

Art framing bippusframeshop.com

CCS Cabinetry customcabinetsllc.com

Combs Landscape

Landscaping and irrigation combslandscape.com

Complete Electric Electrical

812-401-1858

Coulup Construction

Trim 812-573-1961

D & J Complete Construction

Exterior insulation finishing systems and siding dandjcomplete.com

D & L Granite

Quartz counter tops, back splashes, and Jeff’s custom desk dl-granite.com

Earl Parker, Parker’s Custom Ironworks Custom metal fabrication facebook.com/ ParkersCustomIronworksLlc

Elite Tile & Marble Inc.

Interior tile installation 812-455-5514

Evansville Winsupply Plumbing fixtures winsupplyinc.com

Greg Kuhlman

Construction General contractor gregkuhlmanconstruction.com

Hahn Brothers Drywall Drywall hahnbrothersdrywall.com

Head’s Construction Roofing headsconstruction.com

Illuminating Expressions

Lighting illuminatingexpressions.com

Insulpro Inc. Insulation insulproinsulation.com

Kight Home Center Building materials, framing, doors and trim kighthomecenter.com

Kings Great Buys Plus Appliances kingsgreatbuys.com

Kip Farmer

Art gallery design kipfarmer.com

Lea Matthews Furniture & Interiors (now closed) Furnishings

Lensing Building Specialties Windows lensingbuildingspecialties.com

Louisville Tile

All interior tile louisville-tile.com

Niehaus

Construction Framing House framing 812-490-8283

Paragon Sight Sound Security Security and networking evansvillehometheater.com

People’s Furniture Furnishings peoplesfurniture.com

Room & Board Furnishing roomandboard.com

Stella’s Finishing Touches Furnishings stellasfinishingtouches.com

Tri-State Stoneof Evansville Stone veneer tristatestoneofevansville.net

1300 Asbury Cemetery CHANDLER, IN

4 BEDS | 3.5 BATHS

3,862 SQFT.

Discover this extraordinary custom-built home on 5 acres with a total of 6,189 +/- sqft including the quality finished pole barn, pond, inground pool, and water frontage with dock that opens to a larger lake. This home with a French country style showcases winding walkways, intricate brickwork, and extensive landscaping with irrigation. The open floor plan offers a great room with fireplace accented by built-ins and an abundance of natural light.

The main level owner’s suite boasts two walk-in closets, sitting area, and the ultimate updated spa-like bath.

The interior of the 56x40 pole barn was recently professionally completed and offers 2,327+/- sqft.

$1,200,000 PENNY CRICK 812-483-2219

5512 Stone Point dr. MOUNT VERNON, IN

3 BEDS | 2.2 BATHS

3,363 SQFT.

de the Foyer to andscraped aple flooring that armth and character in living areas, arpeting graces the and ceramic tile he bathrooms and oom. Adjacent to itchen is a spacious oom, featuring fireplace and irect access to the 693 sqft covered screened-in back porch, overlooking a tranquil and private backyard oasis. Perfect for outdoor entertaining or relaxing, this porch is equipped with a second built-in exhaust hood for your gas grill. Each room is generously proportioned, and the massive primary suite offers access to the

Delicious. Nutritious. Locally Grown.

Watermelon is a summertime staple, and it is easy to see why. It’s delicious, hydrating, full of vitamins and antioxidants, and at just $.17 per serving, it is the cheapest fruit per serving in the produce aisle.

Even better, you don’t have to go far to find tasty, locally grown watermelon. Indiana is a top watermelon producing state, and stores across the Tri-State are stocked with farm-fresh watermelons for you to enjoy.

Find locally grown watermelon at your favorite grocer today!

@illianawatermelonassociation

2024 WATERMELON QUEEN

Wondering how to pick the best watermelon?

Queen Maya has the answer!

Look. Choose a watermelon that is free of any cuts, dents, or bruises.

Lift. Does it feel heavy for its size? The heavier it is the juicier it will be!

Turn. You want to see a yellow ‘ground spot’ from where the watermelon ripened from the sun.

Watermelon & Whipped Feta with Honey & Pistachio

INGREDIENTS

1 watermelon

10.5 oz feta cheese

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup water, as needed for whipped texture

Drizzle honey, to taste

1 cup pistachios, chopped Thyme, or other herbs, for sprinkle garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a food processor, blend feta cheese and olive oil until creamy. If the cheese is too thick, add more olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Alternatively, you can whip feta with heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.

2. Cut the watermelon into triangle pieces and spread the whipped feta on top. Drizzle with honey, chopped pistachios and fresh herbs like thyme or basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Watermelon Margarita Mocktail

INGREDIENTS

2 cups cubed watermelon, plus wedges for garnish

1 ounce agave

1 ounce lime juice, plus wedges for garnish

1 tablespoon

Himalayan pink sea salt, or Kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place salt on a small plate. Run lime wedge around outer rim of rocks glass and dip into salt to coat. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

2. Combine cubed watermelon, lime juice and agave in cocktail shaker and muddle thoroughly.

3. Double strain, using a fine mesh strainer into prepared glass filled halfway with ice. Garnish with lime and watermelon wedges. Serve.

Food & Drink PACK A PICNIC WITH PAM

Retired

BY JODI KEEN

chef Pam Heironimus offers tips for packing the perfect summer picnic

When planning a summer picnic, details are important but shouldn’t stress you out. Balancing a satisfying spread with the season’s heat is a process retired chef Pam Heironimus calls “easy breezy.”

“From the food safety end of it, you want items you can serve cold or at room temperature,” she says.

Start with low-moisture cheeses such as aged cheddar, parmesan, and gouda. Pair them with cured meats like salami and prosciutto, or smoked chicken. These make good toppings for bâtard, a bread loaf similar to a baguette but a little shorter and wider. Go the extra mile by toasting the bâtard for 10 minutes; pack it into a paper bag in your basket.

Don’t underestimate the power of flavorful condiments to elevate your picnic. Heironimus is fond of chutney’s spicy profile and the earthy, nutty elements of sun-dried tomato pesto.

“The possibilities are endless,” she says.

When selecting a beverage, again, be mindful of the summer heat. If the scenery allows alcohol, Heironimus recommends a bottle of full-bodied red wine because it doesn’t have to be chilled. Light beverages like lemonade and fruit juice will help you stay hydrated but won’t weight you down. And don’t forget water.

“You can bring sparking water to keep it light, or filtered water with fresh fruit, but the point is to keep hydrated,” Heironimus says.

A m elon salad helps with hydration, too. Honeydew and cantaloupe are known for their water-based flesh, and the acidity in added navel orange juice helps the mixture retain its freshness. A pro tip from Heironimus: If you’ll be outside for a while, add a cup of frozen red seedless grapes to your melon salad to help it stay chilled.

Keep bugs at bay with a portable, battery-charged moquito repellant.

In the end, your picnic should “not be a big fuss,” Heironimus says. “Have all your stuff bagged up, throw it in your basket, and go live your life!”

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cantaloupe

• 1/2 honeydew

• 1 navel orange

• 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

Instructions:

Clean the melon and use a baller to scoop out pieces of fruit. Place in a bowl.

Zest the navel orange, then juice it and stir into the bowl with the melon.

Stir the chopped mint into the fruit. Reserve a few sprigs as a garnish and serve chilled.

Mint Melon Salad

Guided to Success

Daniel and Maria McClure credit faith with achieving a long-held dream

BY NICK SHELTON AND MAGGIE VALENTI

SAUSAGE EGG AND CHEESE BAGEL, VANILLA YOGURT WITH STRAWBERRIES, CALIFORNIA WRAP, BROWNIE, AND SPRINKLE COOKIE

A HOSPITAL may not seem like the ideal place to start a cafe, but Ascension St. Vincent Evansville is exactly where Daniel and Maria McClure found their culinary calling.

Both worked in the restaurant industry for about a decade, and Daniel had studied culinary arts at Vincennes University. It was his dream to one day have a place of his own, but “it was never the right time,” Maria says. In 2023, a friend decided to sell space at Ascension’s Medical Office Building. The McClures took a chance, and Fly By Faith Café was born on March 1, 2024.

“First mission accomplished!” Daniel says. The name is inspired by their religious devotion.

“We literally are throwing everything into our faith in God that God put us here for a reason,” Maria says. “Sometimes it’s hard to just let go and fly by your faith.”

Diners can order burritos, casseroles, sandwiches, oatmeal, yogurt, biscuits and gravy, fruit, wraps, melts, salads, smoothies, and baked items like scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and cookies. Breakfast is an all-day affair, with coffee including lattes for sale. Daily lunch specials range from pasta to smoked pulled pork or chicken-loaded baked potatoes to taco salad. Maria says customers’ favorites are the breakfast burrito consisting of an egg mixture with a choice of bacon, sausage, or ham, as well as the California wrap, filled with chicken, bacon, avocado, onion, tomato, spinach, and chipotle dressing.

Cust omers also have responded positively to the café’s name, remarking on it during difficult times in their lives.

THINK DRINKS

CIDERHOUSE RULES

“I’ve had a lot of people take pictures of [the sign] … and say, ‘I needed this,’” Maria says.

Fly by Faith Café offers catering and delivers to nurses and, when permitted, patients throughout the hospital campus. Plans include serving the public through evening hours.

“There are opportunities we can always venture into,” Daniel says.

801 St. Mary’s Drive Order online at fly-by-faith-cafe.square.site Open 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday

BRENDA MCCLURE, DANIELLE MCCLURE, MARIA MCCLURE, DANIEL MCCLURE, AARON MCCLURE, AND RAVENA DOWELL

Quench your thirst with these three summer selections BY NICK SHELTON, WITH JODI KEEN

Hydrating in summer is key, but it doesn’t have to be boring. This trio of drinks packs in flavor while cooling you off.

Pineapple Hula Cider by CiderBoys

Barker Brewhouse

96 N. Barker Ave., barkerbrewhouse.com

Tart but sweet, CiderBoys’ Pineapple Hula Cider is Wisconsin made but available this summer at a locally owned craft beer taphouse, Barker Brewhouse. The 5% ABV tropical drink is reminiscent of – surprise! –a liquid green apple Jolly Rancher and is just one of 12 hard ciders available in Barker’s selection of more than 100 cans and bottles.

Apple Cider Slushies

Evansville

Countryside Orchard 16800 Petersburg Road, countrysideorchard.com

Catch an early taste of autumn this summer with this locally produced twist on apple cider slushies. Freshly pressed, strained, and then chilled with crushed ice, this cool drink will help you get through the heat of summer farmers markets.

Fruit Ciders

Mayse Farm Market

6400 N. St. Joseph Ave., maysefarmmarket.com

Open daily, Mayse Farm Market stocks several fresh summer flavors of its fruit cider. Putting its freshly grown summer produce to full use, the 84-year-old market offers 32-ounce bottles of seasonally made blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, and peach cider that are perfect mixers for lemonade, tea, and adult beverages — or to sip on their own.

FAMILY FEAST

Darlene Grafton’s weekly meals keep her loved ones close

BY MAGGIE VALENTI AND JODI KEEN

Cooking has always been important to me,” says 91-year-old Darlene Grafton. The 1950 Central High School graduate has a degree from Evansville College in home economics, which serves her well as she whips up weekly family meals … for up to 20 people … for 15 years.

Darlene has picked up many recipes from the 42 different countries she lived in with her late husband Stan, who was in the U.S. Air Force until 1978.

“The boys were always in the kitchen with me,” she says of her and Stan’s six children, Kemit, Brent, Mark, Rod, Tad, and the late Gregory. “Every place I lived, I found something that I like.”

“They made full advantage of where they lived,” Brent says of his parents.

Darlene regretted that her sons never got to know their extended family well, and the weekly meals were borne out of a desire to foster closer family relations. Her own family has grown considerably: Today, Darlene has 19 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-greatgrandchild, plus several chosen family members and around 40 relatives living in Evansville.

“I have a big footprint,” Darlene says, adding “The glue that binds family is good eats.”

It’s these “good eats” – salmon salad, handmade sushi, angel food cake, blueberry pie, German chocolate cake, cake balls, cheesecake, Chinese slaw, pumpkin cheesecake, and corn pudding, to name a few – and Darlene’s warm, giving nature that keep loved ones coming around. When Evansville Living visited the week of May 7, Darlene cooked up ground beef with noodles, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut alongside rice and shrimp.

“I love making new recipes,” which she says she finds on Google and Facebook.

“I’m hungry each week, so I can eat my weight,” says Holly, a chosen family friend.

Underscoring Darlene’s love of family and cooking is that she cannot eat what she cooks. After being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2013, subsequent surgeries left

her unable to swallow even her own saliva. No matter – Darlene cooks for the camaraderie, which her relatives and friends make the most of.

“When you have a handicap, you learn to live with it,” Darlene says.

The family gathers to bake Christmas cookies and carve Halloween jack-o-lanterns. For birthdays, guests take turns sharing what

they love about the guest of honor, and Darlene makes them their favorite dessert. She does not cook on her own birthday, preferring instead to order pizza or Chinese takeout. For her 90th birthday in 2023, the family created a cookbook filled with her recipes, a sweet gesture for a woman whose life is devoted to her loved ones.

“It’s not the house that makes a home,” she says.

TABLE FULL OF LOVE

Darlene Grafton has a full life. She shares a table once a week with immediate and extended relatives plus those close to the family. Though she can no longer enjoy meals herself after surgeries to combat throat cancer, Grafton’s joy does not come from taste, but family.

SERVING HOMEGROWN FRESHNESS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 8 DECADES; AND NOW 4 GENERATIONS!

Locally Grown Goodness Year-Round

IN THE BEGINNING

Vance and Minnie Belle Mayse started their farming business in 1940 at the Fourth Street Farmers Market in Downtown Evansville, Indiana. They were among other farmers who participated, servicing the Tri-State area with their homegrown fruits and vegetables. In 1977, Vance’s son, Paul, and his wife, Sherrill Mayse, decided to open a small farm market located on St. Joseph Avenue. Paul offered homegrown vegetables: tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and sweet corn. Each year, the market became more successful.

PRESENT DAY

Today, Mayse is a family owned and operated farm market. Four generations of Mayse family members produce four major crops that are offered throughout the season. All the produce comes straight from the farm whether it’s their signature greenhouse tomatoes, fresh strawberries picked directly from the field, or honey straight from the beehives located on the farm. The Mayse family stands proudly behind the Mayse Farm Market motto, “Where you can find down on the farm freshness and that homegrown flavor in an authentic country atmosphere.”

FALL FAMILY FUN ON THE FARM

Over 20 years ago the Mayse family became involved with agri-tainment and introduced their “Fall Family Fun on the Farm.” Families and school tours are able to enjoy the corn maze (different every year), pumpkin picking, farm animals, and 20+ additional activities that create memories to last a lifetime.

ON-SITE BAKERY

When you walk in the door at Mayse Farm Market you’ll say, “Wow! What is that great smell?” The source could be any number of items – fruit pies, cookies, signature fruit breads, cream pies, fudge, flaky turnovers, yeast breads, or cinnamon cobblestone bread. All the bakery items make wonderful gifts for any occasion. The pies and cookie trays are especially popular at the holidays.

COUNTRY SAUSAGE SEASON

Many customers compare the Mayse sausage to the flavor their parents and grandparents made from their childhoods. Mayse offers fresh sausage in a variety of flavors in both bulk and link. They also offer smoked hams, smoked bacon, liver sausage, ponhas, and headcheese. Mayse offers cookie trays, pies, and other baked goods from Thanksgiving through MidJanuary. They also enjoy working with other local businesses to provide baked goods to their employees during the holidays!

Crop Calendar

SPRING

• Hothouse Tomatoes

• Homegrown Strawberries

• Flower Hanging Baskets & Ferns

• Homegrown Cucumbers

• Local Asparagus

SUMMER

• Homegrown Sweet Corn

• Homegrown Tomatoes

• Homegrown Zucchini, Squash, Green Beans, Onions & Garlic

• U-Pick Flowers

• Southern Peaches, Local Cantaloupe & Watermelon, Homegrown Blackberries

FALL

• Family Fun on the Farm: September 21st – October 27th, 2024

• Wagon Rides to Pumpkin Patch

• Corn Maze

• 25+ Fun, Fall Things to Do

• Mums

WINTER

• Homemade Sausage

YEAR-ROUND

• Fresh Baked Goods

Evansville, IN 47720 | 812-963-3175 | maysefarmmarket.com

• Honey from Hives on the Farm

Dining Directory RESTAURANTS

THAT DEFINE OUR CITY

FINE DINING

CAVANAUGH’S: 421 N.W. Riverside Drive (inside Bally’s Evansville), 812433-4333. Steaks, fresh seafood, overlooking the Ohio River, and entertainment in the piano bar.

 RED GERANIUM: 520 North St., New Harmony, IN, 812-682-6171. Contemporary American fare.

UPSCALE DINING

BAR LOUIE: 7700 Eagle Crest Blvd., 812-476-7069. Full bar, expansive menu with a variety of appetizers, a large hamburger selection, and signature martinis. Catering available.

BIAGGI’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO: 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway Ste. 3, 812-4210800. Italian cuisine from scratch including monthly chef features, authentic pastas, chicken parmesan, and bruschetta, plus gluten-free options. Catering available.

BONEFISH GRILL: 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway, 812-401-3474. Wood-burning grill, fish, steaks, soups, salads, and its famous Bang Bang Shrimp. Catering available.

 BRU BURGER BAR: (Best Restaurant for a Burger) 222 Sycamore St. in the former Greyhound bus terminal, 812-302-3005. Signature chef burgers, classic sandwiches, salads, appetizers, desserts, and an extensive drink menu.

CAMBRIDGE GRILL: 1034 Beacon Hill (at Cambridge Golf Course), 812868-4653. Salads, sandwiches, pizzas, entrées, and an expanded wine menu.

THE COLLECTIVE: 230 Main St. (above COMFORT by the Cross-Eyed Cricket), 812-909-3742. Fresh specialty appetizers and entrées with an extensive beverage list.

 COMFORT BY THE CROSS-EYED CRICKET: (Best Restaurant for Brunch) 230 Main St., 812-909-3742. Full breakfast menu, home-style favorites, sandwiches, steaks, and salads.

COPPER HOUSE: 1430 W. Franklin St., 812-909-8089. Unique cuisine meets comfort food including shrimp and grits, burgers, apricot salmon, goat cheese bites, and signature cocktails. Event space available.

 CORK ‘N CLEAVER: (Best Restaurant for a Celebratory Dinner) 650 S. Hebron Ave., 812-479-6974. Steak, prime rib, chicken, seafood, salad bar, soup, and sandwich lunches.

COSMOS BISTRO: 101 S.E. First St., 812-437-5281. A local chef-inspired rotating menu of duck, lobster agnolotti, venison tartare, oysters on the half shell, and more.

ENTWINED WINE AND COCKTAIL BAR: 303 Main St., 812-550-1393. A robust list of wine, beer, and cocktails, plus appetizing plates of starters and shareables.

 FARMER & FRENCHMAN: 12522 U.S. 41 S., Robards, KY, 270-748-1856. Café featuring cheese and charcuterie trays, salads, Neapolitan pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, desserts, beer, and Farmer & Frenchman house and European wines. Catering available.

 HAUB STEAK HOUSE: 101 E. Haub St., Haubstadt, IN, 812-768-6462. A la carte menu. Steak, prime rib, seafood, chicken, pork, vegetable side dishes, and desserts.

HOUSE OF COMO: 2700 S. Kentucky Ave., 812-422-0572. Baked chicken dishes, lamb chops, fish entrées, and oversized steaks with Lebanese and Middle Eastern influence. Catering available.

 R’Z CAFÉ AND CATERING: 104 N. Main St., Fort Branch, IN, 812-615-0039. Classic comfort food to modern cuisine, including breakfast and lunch combinations as well as daily specials.

SAMUEL’S: 113 S.E. Fourth St., 812-777-0047. A wide range of shareable bites for the table, specialty entrées, and sandwiches rotating seasonally for those 21-plus only. Open for lunch and dinner.

Listing Key

 2023 “Best of Evansville” winner

 Regional Restaurant outside of Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana

Highlight indicates restaurant advertiser in this issue

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, restaurants are accessible to people with disabilities and accept major credit cards. City and county ordinances prohibit smoking in many facilities. We suggest calling ahead to check which venues are exempt. Evansville Living has made every attempt to present an accurate guide. Please notify us of significant changes in a restaurant’s management, location, or menu. This directory is compiled by editorial staff and not based on advertising.

SCHYMIK’S KITCHEN: 1112 Parrett St., 812-401-3333. Globally influenced restaurant with a full bar with brunch available on Sundays.

PRIVATE CLUBS

EVANSVILLE COUNTRY CLUB: 3810 Stringtown Road, 812-425-2243. Executive chef on staff. Diverse menu selection including prime steaks and fresh seafood. Member-only dining.

OAK MEADOW COUNTRY CLUB (THE MEMBERS GRILL): 11505 Browning Road, 812-867-1900. Chef-created menu in full-service dining room and diverse options ranging from traditional to cutting edge. Breakfast served on weekends. Member-only dining.

ROLLING HILLS COUNTRY CLUB: 1666 Old Plank Road, Newburgh, IN, 812925-3336. Executive chef on staff. New and classic dishes including chicken, steak, seafood specials, and pastas. Member-only dining.

DELIS

BOWLIFY SUPERFOODS: 250 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-303-2874; 8390 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-518-1364; 900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage). Acai bowls, smoothies, rice protein bowls, and avocado toasts. Catering available.

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK: 1414 Hirschland Road, 812-594-9820. More than 12 flavors of chicken salad, soups, sides, and desserts. Catering available.

THE DELI: 421 N.W. Riverside Drive (inside Bally’s Evansville), 812-433-4000. Deli sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, and pizza.

THE DELI AT ONB: One Main St. (inside Old National Bank), 812-424-5801. Fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, paninis, desserts, and daily specials. Catering available.

FIREHOUSE SUBS: 1031 N. Green River Road, 812-909-4445. Hot and cold sandwiches with toppings such as smoked turkey, sliced chicken, and veggies. Kids eat free on Wednesdays and Sundays. Catering available.

THE GRANOLA JAR CAFÉ & BAKERY: 1033 Mount Pleasant Road, 812-4371899; 333 State St., Newburgh, IN, 812-490-0060; 5600 E. Virginia St., 812-401-8111. Specializes in house-made granola along with sandwiches and deli salads plus vegetarian and vegan options. Catering available.

HONEYBAKED HAM: 1446 N. Green River Road, 812-471-2940. Boxed lunches, sandwiches, salads, as well as whole, half, or slices of ham. Variety of desserts and side items. Catering available.

JASON’S DELI: 943 N. Green River Road, 812-471-9905. Sandwiches, salads, and other healthy meals with fresh ingredients and no artificial trans fats, MSG, or high fructose corn syrup, plus a 22-foot-long salad bar and free ice cream with every order. Catering available.

JIMMY JOHN’S: 701 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-401-5400; 130 N. St. Joseph Ave., 812-402-9944; 330 Main St., 812-402-5653; 2320 N. Green River Road, 812-402-5747; 8680 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-4907111. Deli-style sandwiches, fresh-baked bread, vegetables prepared daily, and cold-cut meats. Catering available.

KWENCH JUICE CAFE: 1211 Tutor Lane, Ste. A, 812-550-1125. Vegan smoothies, juice shots, and acai and pitaya bowls.

MCALISTER’S DELI: 2220 N. Green River Road, 812-618-2050; 5301 Pearl Drive, Ste. 100, 812-228-4222; 3788 Libbert Road, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-3354. Deli sandwiches, salads, spuds, soups, and sweet tea.

OLD TYME DELI & MEAT SHOP: 307 N. First Ave., 812-401-1030. A traditional deli and meat shop offering plate lunches.

PANERA BREAD: 220 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-476-7477; 5201 Pearl Drive, 812-250-7088; 4015 Gateway Blvd., Newburgh, IN, (inside Deaconess Orthopedic Neuroscience Hospital) 812-706-6386. Breads, sandwiches, paninis, soups, salads, and specialty coffee drinks. Catering available at Burkhardt and Pearl locations.

PENN STATION EAST COAST SUBS: 137 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-4797366; 4827 Davis Lant Drive, 812-402-7366; 5310 Pearl Drive, 812-434-7366; 8887 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812- 4017366; 1111 Barrett Blvd., Henderson, KY, 270-826-7361. Grilled, made fresh-to-order sub sandwiches, homemade hand-cut fries, fresh baked cookies, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Catering available.

WHICH WICH: 6401 N. Green River Road, 812-867-0826. An extensive menu of customizable sandwiches and sides. Catering available.

BAKERIES, COFFEEHOUSES, AND ICE CREAM

 2ND STREET BISTRO & BAKERY: 111 S. Second St., Boonville, IN, 812573-8887. Sandwiches and freshly baked breads, desserts, cookies, cakes, pies, and more.

 3 CHICKS FUDGERY: 305 Main St., Mount Vernon, IN, 812-307-3454. Fresh fudge, gourmet coffee, hand-dipped ice cream from JB’s Barnyard, and unique gifts. Catering and food truck available.

FRESH TAKES

NOW OPEN

Penny Lane Coffeehouse opened a second location on May 28 at 601 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road. Bowlify Superfoods also now serves its fresh acai bowls, smoothies, and more at Main Street Food & Beverage, 900 Main St. Rockin Chicken Indi offers South American-influenced ribs, chicken, seasoned potatoes, plus burgers and more at 2519 N. First Ave. Diners can order arepas, tequenos, empanadas, patacones, churros, and more from new Venezuelan food truck Arepasville. Chef Jeremiah Galey’s Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge has opened in the former Amy’s on Franklin at 1418 W. Franklin St. and offers chicken served as a quarter, sandwich, or tenders in a range of spices and sauces, plus tacos, steak frites, pasta a Maggio, and more. Patsy Hartigan’s Irish Pub, 203 Main St., has opened under partners Josh Pietrowski, Scott Schymik, and Alan Braun and is serving traditional Irish fare. Nellie’s North, 6600 N. First Ave., is now serving omelets, skillets, crepes, steak burgers, sandwiches, catfish, and more. Catering is available.

NIBBLES

Pizza King has opened its new storefront at 1021 S. Weinbach Ave., next door to its former location. The Evansville Otters Frontier League baseball team at Bosse Field, 23 Don Mattingly Way, is offering one-off new menu items like a Big Cat Stacker, a deep-fried southern catfish sandwich, at its third base concession stand this summer for each new opponent the team faces, in partnership with Doc’s Sports Bar. Spankey’s Una Cafe, 15 Jefferson Ave., now offers breakfast items such as pizza featuring scrambled eggs, ham, and bacon, as well as coffee dessert pizzas. Schymik’s Kitchen, 1112 Parrett St., has suspended regular dinner and brunch service and will focus on private events and focused dinner programs. St. Joe Inn, 9515 St. Wendel Road, is under the new ownership of Joe and Lisa McElroy. Olea Fusion Bistro will move to Owensboro, Kentucky. Olea Bar & Grill has opened in its place at 108 Second St., Henderson, Kentucky, and serves a menu of burgers, tacos, sandwiches, wings, and salads. Sunrise Café Family Restaurant, 8401 N. Kentucky Ave., is expected to open a second location in the former Casa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant location, 2121 N. Green River Road Ste. 8, by mid-July.

DEARLY DEPARTED

Jan’s Place, 1400 W. Maryland St., has closed. Citing a need for more space, Casa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant has shut down its location at 2121 N. Green River Road Ste. 8 and will combine with El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant at 1919 N. Green River Road. Fool Moon Grill and Bar, 5625 Pearl Drive Ste. G, will close on July 21.

Dining Directory

BASKIN-ROBBINS: 3960 N. First Ave., 812-550-1500. Premium ice cream, plus bakery treats and custom ice cream cakes and pies.

BE HAPPY PIE COMPANY: 2818 Mount Vernon Ave. Ste. B, 812-449-7718. 6225 E. Virginia St. Ste. C, 812-916-9454. Made-from-scratch bakery specializing in sweet and savory pies, sweet rolls, brownies, cookies, scones, petite cheesecakes, coffee cakes, and cookie pies.

BEA SWEET TREATS: 4111 Merchant Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-454-7728. Custom cakes and cookies, macarons, cinnamon rolls, and other baked goods.

BEANS & BARISTAS: 800 N. Green River Road (inside Eastland Mall), 812475-8566. Full coffee bar, gourmet coffees and teas, Italian sodas, and various pastry treats. Retail gourmet coffee beans, teas, and unique gifts.

 BLACK LODGE COFFEE ROASTERS: 610 Church St., New Harmony, IN, 812-682-2449. Pour-overs, cold brew, iced coffee, espresso, and more.

BOBACCINOS CAFÉ: 3848 N. First Ave., 812-773-3333. Extensive coffee, boba tea, and blended tea menu, plus pastries, sandwiches, smash burgers, and breakfast items including biscuits and gravy.

BUBBLE PANDA: 1524 N. Green River Road, 812-760-2728. Bubble tea shop offering milk and ice teas, slushies, smoothies, and lattes.

BUBBLE TEATALK: 619 N. Burkhardt Road, Ste. G, 812-598-5235. Bubble and milk teas, smoothies, slushies, and more.

CLEO’S BAKERY & BROWN BAG LUNCHES: 9 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, IN, 812-853-0500. Full bakery with cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, coffee, and lunches including signature sandwiches paired with a choice of chips, pickles, and homemade soup. Catering available.

COOKIES AND CUPCAKE BY DESIGN: 419 Metro Ave., 812-426-1599. Cookie bouquets, custom-decorated cookies, cupcakes, cookie cakes, and other baked goods. Local delivery is available.

CRUMBL COOKIES: 939 N. Burkhardt Road Ste. B, 812-965-4133; 5435 Pearl Drive, Ste. 2, 930-212-0677. Delivery and carry-out homemade, gourmet cookies. Catering available.

D-ICE: 800 N. Green River Road (in Eastland Mall food court), 812-3199071. Thai-fried ice cream rolls and bubble tea.

DONUT BANK BAKERY AND COFFEE SHOP: 210 N. St. Joseph Ave., 812-426-1011; 2128 N. First Ave., 812-426-2311; 1031 E. Diamond Ave., 812-426-0011; 5 N. Green River Road, 812-479-0511; 1950 Washington Ave., 812477-2711; 3988 State Highway 261, Newburgh, IN, 812-858-9911; 1200 Lincoln Ave., 812-402-4111; 4800 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812-401-2211; 1303 W. Broadway St., Princeton, IN, 812-385-3711; 2630A U.S. 41, Henderson, KY, 270-212-0181. Donuts, coffee, cookies, other baked goods, and smoothies.

DUNKIN’: 3960 N. First Ave., 812-550-1500; 850 N. Green River Road, 812-303-5797; 848 S. Green River Road, 731-259-4112; 3955 Orchard Lane, Newburgh, IN; 2222 U.S. 41, Henderson, KY, 270-297-0299. Donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and a variety of coffees.

 ELBIE’S ICE CREAM: 70 S.E. Front St., Elberfeld, IN, 812-403-3778. Seasonal ice cream stand with specialty dishes, ice cream nachos, unicorn sundaes, and more.

FARM 57: 3443 Kansas Road, 812-677-5757. House-made pastries plus coffee, ice cream, and drinks. Seasonal live music and food trucks on Wednesdays.

 FIRE & ICE: 606 Main St., Ste. B, New Harmony, IN. Serving ice cream, milkshakes, honey-glazed hot ham, chili, and more.

GAYLACAKE: 320 N. Main St., 812-454-9791. Specializes in order-only cupcakes, cookies, special occasion cakes, and other baked goods.

GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY: 423 Metro Ave., 812-476-4999. Freshbaked bread, breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, homemade soups for lunch, and specialty sweets. Catering available.

HOMETOWN NUTRITION: 300 Main St., Ste. 1A, 812-401-0058. Smoothies, boosted teas, protein shakes, and more.

 HONEY MOON COFFEE CO.: (Best Place to Have a Cup of Coffee) 612 S. Weinbach Ave., 812-602-3123; 1211 Tutor Lane, 812-893-2945; 2903 Mount Vernon Ave., 812-470-3205; 20 W. Water St., Newburgh, IN. 812-746-8168. Curated coffee and drinks, Hong Kong-style bubble waffles, all-day breakfast items, and Graeter’s ice cream.

INSOMNIA COOKIES: 318 Main St., Ste. 100, 930-500-4814. Late-night bakery specializing in delivery and carry-out warm cookies.

JOE BREWSKI COFFEE: 10 N.W. Sixth St. Specialty cold brews and lemonades.

 LIC’S DELI AND ICE CREAM: (Best Ice Cream/Gelato) 800 E. Diamond Ave., 812-424-4862; 4501 Lincoln Ave., 812-477-3131; 2001 Washington Ave., 812-473-0569; 11 N.W. Fifth St., 812-422-2618; 8700 Ruffian Lane, Newburgh, IN, 812-858-0022. Deli-style soups, salads, sandwiches, locally made ice cream, choco-cremes, and sorbets.

MAYSE FARM MARKET: 6400 St. Joseph Ave., 812-963-3175. Homegrown fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, strawberries, sweet corn, and pumpkins, plus a bakery with pies, cakes, rolls, fruit breads, and more.

MILK & SUGAR SCOOP SHOPPE: 2027 W. Franklin St., 812-602-1423; 10931 IN 66, 812-625-1087. Premium ice cream shop.

MISSION GROUNDS: 1107 Washington Square, 812-421-3808. Specialty coffee, tea, lemonade, whole beans for sale, and pastries.

MR. BUBBLE TEA: 503 N. Green River Road, 812-550-3166. Smoothies, Asian beverages, and bubble tea in different flavors.

MULBERRY JEAN’S ACCENTS: 600 State St., Newburgh, IN, 812-4905835. High tea served with sandwiches, desserts, an extensive collection of premium coffee beans, and a variety of loose-leaf tea.

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES: 6436 E. Florida St., Ste. 100, 812-758-7856. Serving full-size and miniature specialty cakes for any occasion.

ORANGE LEAF FROZEN YOGURT: 701 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-401-5215. Up to 70 flavors of frozen yogurt.

PANADERÍA SAN MIGUEL: 2004 Washington Ave., 812-814-8037. Traditional Mexican bakery with cakes, pastries, and bread.

PARLOR DOUGHNUTS: 204 Main St., 812-303-4487; 301 N. Green River Road, 812-303-5906. Specialty doughnuts and coffee from Proper Coffee Roasters. Green River Road location also serves breakfast items and milkshakes.

PENNY LANE COFFEEHOUSE: 600 S.E. Second St., 812-421-8741. Fair trade organic espresso and espresso drinks, gourmet coffees, Italian sodas, fresh-baked pastries, and vegetarian soups.

 PIECE OF CAKE: (Best Birthday Cake Baker) 210 Main St., 812-424-2253. Customized cakes, cookies, coffee, sodas, breakfast items, and more.

REVIVE ENERGY AND NUTRITION: 1211 Tutor Lane. Boosted smoothies and teas, protein shakes, and more.

RIVER CITY COFFEE + GOODS: 223 Main St., 812-550-1695. Espresso bar, brewed coffees, pour-overs, and teas.

RIVER KITTY CAT CAFE: 226 Main St., 812-550-1553. Coffee, tea, croissants, cookies, biscotti, and savory pastries.

RIVERTOWN ICE CREAM AND GRILL: 521 State St., Newburgh, IN. Seasonal walk-up eatery offering soft serve ice cream, floats, sundaes, dipped cones, and more, plus corn dogs, burgers, and chicken tenders.

SCOOTER’S COFFEE: 535 E. Diamond Ave., 812-916-9487. A coffee shop with hot, iced, and blended drinks, smoothies, teas, and baked goods.

 SMALLEY COFFEE: 2955 Newton St., Jasper, IN. Handcrafted drinks including tea, coffee, and frozen drinks.

STARBUCKS: 624 S. Green River Road (inside Barnes & Noble), 812-475-1054; 504 N. Green River Road, 812-476-7385; 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway, Ste. 16, 812-401-1771; 4700 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812-549-4053; 4650 First Ave., 812-421-0461; 601 Walnut St., 812-423-5002; 9919 Pointe View Drive, Newburgh, IN, 930-203-0463; 7755 IN 66, Newburgh, IN, 812-858-0234. Specialty coffees, teas, and baked goods.

 TF ICE CREAM: 1002 E. Walnut St., Boonville, IN, 812-715-3367. Ice cream, sherbet, barbecue, chili dogs, and more.

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE: 2101 N. Green River Road, 812-2979727. Smoothies, flatbreads, wraps, salads, and sandwiches. Catering available.

DINERS, CAFÉS, AND FAMILY RESTAURANTS

10-8 CAFÉ: 4209 U.S. 41 N., 812-413-0129 and 812-413-9355. A cafe with breakfast, appetizers, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and specialty coffee from the makers of White Swan Coffee Lab.

BIG-TOP DRIVE IN: 1213 W. Maryland St., 812-424-7442. Burgers, sandwiches, chicken strips, and ice cream.

BURGER BANK: 1617 S. Weinbach Ave., 812-475-2265. Mini-burgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and more.

THE CAROUSEL: 5115 Monroe Ave., 812-479-6388. Classic American cuisine.

 CARRIAGE INN: 103 Gibson St., Haubstadt, IN, 812-768-6131. Plate lunches, sandwiches, soups, salads, steaks, and assorted dinner entrées.

CATFISH WILLY’S SEAFOOD & COMFORT CUISINE: 5720 E. Virginia St., 812401-2233. Seafood favorites like crab, lobster, shrimp, gator, and Southern comfort food. Patrons can order Hoosier Burger Co. items.

CLEAVERS: 5501 E. Indiana St., 812-473-0001. Sandwiches including pulled pork, Chicago-style Italian beef, pork loin, and steak.

 COMMANDER’S GRILL: 118 W. Locust St., Boonville, IN, 812-715-0055. A sandwich shop with fried chicken, salads, steaks, and pork chops.

CROSS-EYED CRICKET FAMILY RESTAURANT: 2101 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812422-6464. Sandwiches, fish dishes, breakfast items, country-style dinners, and more.

 THE DAIRIETTE: 711 Atkinson St., Henderson, KY, 270-826-2401. Hamburgers, tenderloins, fries, milkshakes, and soft-serve sundaes.

 DADE PARK GRILL AT ELLIS PARK: 3300 U.S. 41 N., Henderson, KY, 812425-1456 or 800-333-8110. Clubhouse dining.

THE DINER BY MELE’S: 550 N. Green River Road, 812-402-1272. Regional specialties, Mexican-inspired dishes, and all-day breakfast.

DISHES BY DANI: 421 Read St., 812-470-2615. Serves salads, fruit bowls, parfaits, warm-up meals like taco bowls and stir fry, and sweets like cakes, pies, and brownies. Catering available.

DOWNTOWN GRILL: 900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage). Serving sandwiches including Philly Cheesesteaks, Cubans, Italians, Subs, and hotdogs.

 FEED MILL RESTAURANT & BAR: 3541 State Highway 60-E., Morganfield, KY, 270-389-0047. Seafood and barbecue.

FRANKIE’S RESTAURANT: 6840 Logan Drive, 812-490-3172. A wide range of American fare across dedicated menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

FRIENDSHIP DINER: 834 Tutor Lane, 812-402-0201. Breakfast, sandwiches, pasta, and home-style favorites.

G.D. RITZY’S: 4810 University Drive, 812-425-8700; 4320 N. First Ave., 812-421-1300; 601 N. Green River Road, 812-474-6259. Hamburgers, grilled chicken, chicken strips, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ultra-thin shoestring-style French fries, old-fashioned ice cream, and milkshakes.

 GASTHOF AMISH VILLAGE: 6747 E. Gasthof Village Road, Montgomery, IN, 812-486-4900. Amish- style buffet with bakery. Catering available.

 HOMETOWN ROOTS: 136 Second St., Henderson, KY, 270-212-3653. Southern comfort food like mac and cheese, pulled pork, and fried chicken. Catering available.

HOOSIER BURGER CO.: Operates as a ghost kitchen at Catfish Willy’s Seafood & Comfort Cuisine, 5720 E. Virginia St. Order online or dine-in at Catfish Willy’s.

THE HORNET’S NEST: 11845 Petersburg Road, 812-867-2386. Soups, sandwiches, salads, daily lunch specials, steaks, seafood, and chicken, plus brunch.

JOURNEY FISH AND CHICKEN: 825 S. Green River Road, 812-303-2420. Sandwiches, gyros, fried fish, and fried chicken.

JUICY SEAFOOD: 865 N. Green River Road, 812-303-6869. Seafood boils, fried seafood, and appetizers.

KITE & KEY CAFÉ: 2301 W. Franklin St., 812-401-0275. Breakfast and lunch options and desserts, with an in-house coffee shop serving coffee, espresso drinks, tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, frappes, and pastries.

 THE KORNER INN: 15 W. Main St., Elberfeld, IN, 812-983-4200. Daily lunch specials, sandwiches, burgers, and dinners.

LIBBY AND MOM’S: 2 Richardt Ave., 812-437-3040. Home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 LOG INN: 12491 County Road 200 E., Haubstadt, IN, 812-867-3216. Fried chicken, ham, roast beef, and fiddlers.

MAIN STREET FOOD & BEVERAGE: 900 Main St. Food hall with patio offering Latina American and Venezuelan fare alongside sandwich shops and acai bowls.

MAJOR MUNCH: 101 N.W. First St., 812-306-7317. Cheeseburgers, chili, grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, and catfish.

MERRY-GO-ROUND RESTAURANT: 2101 Fares Ave., 812-423-6388. Traditional American cuisine.

 MISTER B’S: (Best Restaurant for Wings) 1340 Hirschland Road, 812-4022090; 2611 U.S. 41, Henderson, KY, 270-826-1111. Pizza, wings, sandwiches, soup, salad, and pasta. Catering available.

 MR. D’S: 1435 S. Green St., Henderson, KY, 270-826-2505. Drive-in classic American cuisine mushrooms, chicken strips, fried chicken, chicken liver, chicken sandwiches, and more all hand-breaded with Colonel Jim’s Breading. Breakfast and charcuterie board catering are available.

NELLIE’S NORTH: 6600 N. First Ave., 812-437-5215. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner including dishes like omelets, skillets, crepes, steak burgers, sandwiches, and catfish. Catering available.

NELLIE’S RESTAURANT: 8566 Ruffian Lane, Newburgh, IN, 812-629-2142. Breakfast and lunch items, such as omelets, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, and salads.

THE NEW FRONTIER RESTAURANT AND BAR: 12945 IN 57, 812-867-6786. Bloody Mary bar, appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads, steak, fried chicken, and pork chops.

THE NEW OLD MILL: 5031 New Harmony Road, 812-963-6000. Steaks, chicken, catch of the day, sandwiches, soups, and salads.

NOMOD: 900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage). Serving a smash burger, brunch burger, and chicken wings.

 OLEA BAR & GRILL: 108 2nd St., Henderson, Kentucky, 270-577-6055. Burgers, wings, tacos, sandwiches, and salads are offered plus a menu of cocktails, beers, ciders, house wines, and more.

PATTIE’S SAND TRAP AT FENDRICH GOLF COURSE: 1900 E. Diamond Ave., 812435-6028. Burgers, sandwiches, chicken, salads, and a variety of snacks.

PIE PAN: 905 North Park Drive, 812-425-2261. Traditional American cuisine. Homemade pies sold by the slice and whole.

PIER 17 CAJUN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT AND BAR: 812-303-6338. Cajun classic appetizers like fried calamari and seafood from shrimp and oysters to catfish served in combo specials, fried baskets, and boils.

 THE PIER RESTAURANT: 1777 Prizer Point Road, Cadiz, Kentucky, 270522-3762. A floating restaurant offering burgers, chicken wings and tenders with a variety of sauces, and two-topping pizzas.

 THE RED WAGON: 6950 Frontage Road, Poseyville, IN, 812-874-2221. Catfish, oysters, and grilled salmon.

ROBERT’S BY THE RIVER: 6 Walnut St., 812-777-0074. A sit-down restaurant offering generous appetizer portions, nearly a dozen sandwiches, and entrees such as smoked pork chops and Southern-style meatloaf.

ROCKIN CHICKEN INDI: 2519 N. First Ave. South American-influenced ribs, chicken, seasoned potatoes, plus burgers and more.

ROOSTER’S DEN: 3988 Haley Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-706-3555. Family recipes and homestyle cooking.

 SAY’S RESTAURANT: 500 Church St., New Harmony, IN, 812-270-4183. Comfort food made with seasonal local ingredients.

 SIDEWALK CAFE: 228 Second St., Henderson, KY, 270-831-2233. Gourmet chicken salad, Italian beef, tomato basil turkey wrap, loaded potato soup, and strawberry cake. Catering available.

 SILVER BELL RESTAURANT: 4424 St. Wendel Road, Wadesville, IN, 812963-0944. Sandwiches, fiddlers, pizza, and vegetable side dishes. Family-style fried chicken dinner specials.

THE TIN FISH: 707 State St., Newburgh, IN, 812-490-7000. Fresh fish flown in daily, clam chowder, salads, and sandwiches.

VFW 1114: 110 N. Wabash Ave. of Flags, 812-422-5831. Friday buffet, prime rib on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.

WAYLON’S DINER ON MAIN: 606 N. Main St, 812-777-0088. All-day breakfast, homemade desserts, lunch specials, and cold sandwiches and wraps for grab-n’-go lunch.

 YESTERDAZE BAR & GRILL: 101 S. Second St., Boonville, IN, 812-8970858. Daily lunch and dinner specials; sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides, and entrées.

 ZACK’S DINER: 202 E. Locust St., Fort Branch, IN, 812-753-1230. Family restaurant serving breakfast all day and standard diner fare.

ZESTO: 102 W. Franklin St., 812-424-1416; 920 E. Riverside Drive, 812-4235961. Hamburgers, fish and chicken sandwiches, tenderloins, soups, and ice cream.

INDIANA 47725

Dining Directory

 THE ZONE BY MARYSCOTTS: 433 Plaza Drive (in Southwind Plaza), Mount Vernon, IN, 812-643-5024. Chef-driven fresh scratch cuisine in a family-friendly restaurant with a sports theme.

AMERICAN FARE NATIONAL CHAINS

APPLEBEE’S: 5100 E. Morgan Ave., 812-471-0942; 5727 Pearl Drive, 812426-2006; 1950 U.S. 41 N., Henderson, KY, 270-826-9427. Soups, sandwiches, salads, and various dinner entrées.

BISCUIT BELLY: 945 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-777-8300. Shareable breakfast dishes, biscuit sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and more.

BJ’S RESTAURANT AND BREWHOUSE: 1000 N. Green River Road, 812-5509320. Soups, salads, pizza, pasta, burgers and sandwiches, and other entrées. Catering available.

BOB EVANS: 1125 N. Green River Road, 812-473-9022. “Homestyle” American menu.

BUBBA’S 33: 1 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-901-6409. Fresh burgers, pizza, sandwiches, entrées, classic pub-style appetizers and sides, and a full bar.

CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN: 2100 N. Green River Road, 812-491-9976. Garden-fresh salads, homemade soups, and varied entrée selections including pasta, lemon pepper chicken, and tilapia.

CRACKER BARREL: 8215 Eagle Lake Drive, 812-479-8788; 2130 U.S. 60 E., Henderson, KY, 270-826-5482. Classic American cuisine.

CULVER’S: 1734 Hirschland Road, 812-437-3333; 4850 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812-492-8000. Butter burgers, frozen custard, cheese curds, and more.

DRAKE’S: 1222 Hirschland Road, 812-401-2920. Craft beer, burgers, and sushi.

FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES: 5402 E. Indiana St., 812-401-1773. Burgers, hot dogs, and Cajun fries.

FREDDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD & STEAKBURGERS: 2848 N. Green River Road, 812-909-4395; 5501 Pearl Drive, 812-303-6137. Steakburgers, sandwiches, and frozen custard.

GOLDEN CORRAL BUFFET & GRILL: 130 N. Cross Pointe Blvd., 812-473-1095; 1320 N. Green St., Henderson, KY, 270-869-9310. Large buffet selections, steaks, shrimp, and chicken. Weekend dinner menu begins at noon.

JAKE’S WAYBACK BURGERS: 115 Cross Pointe Blvd., 812-475-9272; 624 E. Diamond Ave., 812-422-4999. Burgers, hot dogs, and hand-dipped thick milkshakes.

JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS: 939 N. Burkhardt Road, Ste. A, 812-618-3939; 8850 High Pointe Drive Ste. A, Newburgh, IN, 812-758-4208. Serving cold and hot subs including BLTs, club sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and more. Catering available.

LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE: 5645 Pearl Drive, 812-421-0908. American fare including hand-cut steaks, baby-back ribs, mesquite-grilled chicken, appetizers, salads, and seafood.

LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE: 320 N. Green River Road, 812-473-2400. Steak, chicken, ribs, seafood, sandwiches, and burgers.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE: 7201 E. Indiana St., 812-474-0005. Specialty steaks, chicken, seafood entrées, salads, and vegetable side dishes.

PANDA EXPRESS: 2445 Menards Drive, 812-479-8889. Chinese fast food like orange chicken, sesame chicken, and fried rice.

RAFFERTY’S: 1400 N. Green River Road, 812-471-0024. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and dinner entrées.

RED LOBSTER: 4605 Bellemeade Ave., 812-477-9227. Soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood entrées, fresh-catch, and daily specials.

RED ROBIN: 6636 E. Lloyd Expressway, 812-473-4100. A variety of hamburgers including the “Banzai Burger,” the “Royal Red Robin Burger,” and the “Whiskey River BBQ Burger.” Full bar menu. Catering available.

TERIYAKI MADNESS: 8833 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-4900048. Japanese inspired, Seattle-style teriyaki customizable bowls of chicken, steak, tofu, veggies, noodles, white rice, and fried rice.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE: 7900 Eagle Crest Blvd., 812-477-7427. Ribs, steaks, side items, and fresh baked bread.

TGI FRIDAY’S: 800 N. Green River Road (in Eastland Mall food court), 812-491-8443. Specialty salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, chicken, pasta, and seafood entrées.

WINGSTOP: 499 N. Green River Road, Ste. B, 812-909-3445. Classic, boneless, and crispy wings in 11 flavors.

PIZZERIAS

ARCHIE & CLYDE’S RESTAURANT & BAR: 8309 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-7778. Pizza, fried cheese ravioli, wraps, salads, soups, gyros, and barbecue.

 AZZIP PIZZA: (Best Business That Gives Back) 5225 Pearl Drive, 812401-3572; 8850 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-518-3810; 2121 N. Green River Road, 812-901-0490; 4660 N. First Ave., 812-250-8947. All personal sized pizzas (8 or 11 inches) made with one meat and all the vegetable toppings included. Thin and crispy pizza as well as thick-crust and 7-inch pizzas. Warm cookies, salad, and beer available.

CASEY’S DUGOUT: 2900 Lincoln Ave. A baseball-themed eatery serving specialty pizzas like Graham Slam, sandwiches, cheese bread, and Just Rennie’s cookies.

DONATOS PIZZA: 710 S. Green River Road, Ste. 3, 812-618-3868. Pizza, oven-baked subs, salad, calzones, wings, and desserts. Catering available.

DONTAE’S HIGHLAND PIZZA PARLOR: 6669 Kratzville Road, 812-777-0016. Pizzas, strombolis, salads, and appetizers.

FARM 57: 3443 Kansas Road, 812-677-5757. Wood-fired, brick-oven pizza from The Pizza Revolution and weekly food truck events.

FAT BOY’S PIZZA: 10722 Highway 662 W., Newburgh, IN, 812-518-3061. Local una-style pizza serving take-out orders only.

 FETTA SPECIALTY PIZZA & SPRITS: 118 St. Ann St., Owensboro, Kentucky, 270-926-0005. Pizza with fresh ingredients on top of a thin crust with variations like buffalo chicken, chicken chorizo valentina, and chicken bacon ranch.

FRANKLIN STREET PIZZA FACTORY: 2033 W. Franklin St., 812-602-3028. Pizza, sandwiches, wings, appetizers, and salads.

GARDO’S ITALIAN OVEN: 13220 Darmstadt Road, 812-868-8071. Pizza, sandwiches, wings, appetizers, and salads.

GATTITOWN: 316 N. Green River Road, 812-473-3800. Buffet-style pizzas, pastas, salads, and desserts all in a kids’ festival-like arcade.

K’S PIZZA: 315 E. Diamond Ave., 812-303-2381. Pizza, strombolis, Italian subs, sandwiches, and more.

KIPPLEE’S STADIUM INN: 2350 E. Division St., 812-476-1936. Pizza, wings, and sandwiches.

THE LOBO LOUNGE: 1200 Edgar St., 812-550-1001. Pizza, adult beverages, and more.

LOMBARDI’S NEW YORK PIZZA AND WINGS: 3311 N. Green River Road, 812-602-5255. Authentic New York-style pizza sold by the slice or whole and buffalo wings.

LYLE’S SPORTSZONE PIZZA & PUB: 1404 E. Morgan Ave., 812-425-7729. Home of Lyle’s original loaded stromboli. Also serves pizza and sandwiches.

MOD PIZZA: 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway, Ste. C-102, 812-602-5525. Custom, artisan-style pizzas.

NATION’S PIZZA: 4120 N. First Ave., 812-437-4343; 2278 S. Green St., Henderson, KY, 270-212-3700. Pizza, subs, wings, and pasta. Late night delivery available.

NOBLE ROMAN’S: 222 S. Red Bank Road, 812-303-4010; 1216 Washington Square Mall, 812-473-4606. Pizzas, salads, breadsticks, garlic bread, hand-sauced chicken wings, pasta, and sandwiches.

PANGEA KITCHEN: 111 S. Green River Road, Ste. E., 812-401-2404. Offering authentic Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizzas, Thai cuisine, and Italian gelato.

PANGEA PIZZERIA: 401 N.W. Second St., 812-401-2500. Neo-Neapolitan pizza, scratch-made gelato from Pangea Kitchen, and Grande cookies.

PAPA JOHN’S: 303 N. Weinbach Ave., 812-477-7700; 4204 N. First Ave., 812425-2345; 4814 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812-423-7272; 5436 E. Indiana St., 812-473-5200; 12414 Hwy. 41 N., 812-867-7272; 418 Center St., Henderson, Kentucky, 270-826-4444. Offering a variety of pizza and topping options plus bowls, papadias, bites, wings, sides, desserts, and more.

 PIZZA CHEF OF BOONVILLE: 423 W. Main St., Boonville, IN, 812-897-1600. Pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers. Catering available.

PIZZA KING: (dine-in facilities) 220 N. St. Joseph Ave., 812-424-7976; 7777 State Highway 66, Newburgh, IN, 812-853-3368; 1021 S. Weinbach Ave., 812-476-4941. Pizza and baked stromboli-type sandwiches.

PIZZA OVEN: 5806 Stringtown Road, 812-425-1455. Pizza, strombolis, and Texas barbecue sandwiches.

ROCA BAR AND PIZZA: 4600 Washington Ave., 812-422-7782. Sandwiches, salads, pasta entrees, pizza, steaks, and chicken plus breakfast options. Live entertainment and patio dining.

ROUNDERS PIZZA: 510 W. Mill Road, 812-424-4960. Specialty pizzas including the Nameless Special, a pie with the tomato sauce on top, and the Bavarian, a pie served with mustard.

ROUNDERS PIZZA TOO: 12731 N. Green River Road, 812-867-7172. Specialty pizzas including the Nameless Special and the Bavarian.

SAM’S PIZZERIA: 2011 W. Delaware St., 812-423-3160. Pizza, sandwiches, calzones, pasta, strombolis, wings, and breadsticks.

 SANDY’S PIZZA: 609 S. Main St., Fort Branch, IN, 812-753-3972. Pizza, strombolis, sandwiches, and spaghetti.

Dining Directory

THE SLICE: 2011 Lincoln Ave., 812-454-0983. Pizza by the slice or pie. Non-traditional varieties.

SPANKEY’S UNA CAFE: 15 Jefferson St. Ste. 101, 812-303-2810. Gourmet pizza, salads, sandwiches, dessert, and a full bar.

SPANKEY’S UNA PIZZA: 4404 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812-402-6776. A pizza joint with a variety of specialty pizzas such as The Westsider with an assortment of meat toppings, and strombolis.

STEVE’S UNA PIZZA: 1005 S. St. James Blvd., 812-477-5411. Dinner-only takeout, thin-crust pizzas, and extras.

 TURONI’S FORGET-ME-NOT-INN: (Best Pizza - Write In) 4 N. Weinbach Ave., 812-477-7500. Pizza, salads, sandwiches, and fresh-brewed beers.

TURONI’S PIZZERY AND BREWERY: (Best Pizza - Write In) 408 N. Main St., 812-424-9871. Pizza, salads, sandwiches, and fresh-brewed beers.

TURONI’S PIZZERY AND BREWERY NEWBURGH: (Best Pizza - Write In) 8011 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-5555. Pizza, salads, sandwiches, and fresh-brewed beers.

BARBECUE

BAD RANDY’S HOT CHICKEN & BBQ LOUNGE: 1418 W. Franklin St., 812-4012332. Chicken is offered in varying degrees of spicy heat alongside French onion soup, tacos, steak frites, pasta a Maggio, and more.

BANDANA’S BAR-B-Q: 6636 Logan Drive, 812-401-9922. Pork, beef, chicken, and ribs specially prepared over a pit of select hardwoods for a signature smoked flavor.

 CHEFWHAT BBQ & MORE: 422 Seventh St., Henderson, KY, 270-2120742. Fresh barbecue lunch specials are made to order daily including barbeque burritos, quesadillas, and breakfast on Saturdays. Catering available.

 HAWG N’ SAUCE: 6580 Leonard Road, Mount Vernon, IN, 812-8385339. Barbecue entrées and home-style side dishes. Catering available.

HICKORY PIT STOP: 1521 N. Main St., 812-422-6919. Barbecue chicken, turkey, pork, mutton, brisket, ribs, and a variety of side dishes.

 HOMER’S BARBECUE: 128 Second St., Henderson, KY, 270-869-2214. Local barbecue with smoked meats, craft sides, cold beer, and cocktails. Catering and food truck available.

 J&B BAR-B-CUE AND CATERING: 48 S. Holloway St., Henderson, KY, 270-830-0033. Chicken, ribs, brisket, and pork with a variety of salads and sides. Catering available.

LONESTAR BAR-B-QUE AND SOUL FOOD: 2403 Washington Ave., 812303-3351. Barbecued brisket, tacos, pulled pork, ribs, and more Southern specialties.

MARX BBQ: 3119 W. Maryland St., 812-425-1616. Barbecue chicken, pork, and ribs.

 MISSION BBQ: (Best Barbecue) 1530 N. Green River Road, 812-2130200. Barbecue, made-from-scratch sides, and sandwiches.

 MOONLITE BAR-B-Q INN: 2840 W. Parrish Ave., Owensboro, KY, 270-684-8143. Daily lunch and dinner buffets, as well as a menu. An abundance of barbecue and other meats, plus country-style vegetables, corn muffins, a salad bar, and desserts.

 TAYLOR’S GRILL ON WHEELS: 130 N. Water St., Henderson, KY, 270854-4302. Classic Memphis-style smoked meats, barbecue favorites, loaded mac & cheese, and desserts. Take-out only. Catering available.

 THOMASON’S BARBECUE: 701 Atkinson St., Henderson, KY, 270-8260654. Barbecue varieties of pork, mutton, ribs, chicken, ham, beef, or turkey, with sides like potato salad, slaw, and barbecue beans. Catering available.

ETHNIC

ASIAN

2ND LANGUAGE: 401 N.W. Second St., 812-401-2500. Authentic Asian cuisine, ramen, and desserts. Open for lunch and dinner service

BIG BANG MONGOLIAN GRILL: 2013 N. Green River Road, 812-602-1400. Open-bar Mongolian grill stir fry, lunch and dinner options, and appetizers.

CANTON INN: 947 North Park Drive, 812-428-6611. Cantonese- and American-style appetizers, soups, poultry, beef, pork, and seafood dishes.

CHINA GARDEN: 501 N. Main St., 812-422-6699. Traditional Chinese fare like egg drop soup, hunan chicken, and moo goo gai pan.

CHINA KING: 590 E. Diamond Ave., 812-423-1896. Traditional Chinese entrées like lo mein, Szechuan pork, and Egg Foo Young.

CHINA VILLAGE: 8423 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-858-8238. Soups, fried rice and noodles, specialties like hunan shrimp, and more.

CHOPSTICK HOUSE RESTAURANT: 5412 E. Indiana St., 812-473-5551. Buffet with traditional Chinese and American menu items.

CRAZY BUFFET: 701 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-437-8833. Chinese buffet with lunch specials and combination dinners.

DOMO JAPANESE HIBACHI GRILL, SUSHI, AND RAMEN: 215 N. Green River Road, 812-491-0003. Authentic Japanese dishes, bento boxes, sushi, ramen, and hibachi.

FUJI YAMA: 915 North Park Drive, 812-962-4440. Soups, salads, noodles, rice, sushi, hand rolls, chicken, beef, and shrimp dishes.

GANGNAM KOREAN: 518 Main St., 812-550-1171. Korean cuisine, rice and noodle dishes, seafood, and sushi rolls.

GOLDEN BUDDHA: 3221 Taylor Ave., 812-473-4855; 5066 IN 261, Newburgh, IN, 812-853-2680. Traditional Chinese cuisine featuring lunch specials and family dinners.

GRACIE’S CHINESE CUISINE: 12500 U.S. 41 N., 812-868-8888. Soups, seafood, and chicken- and pork-centric dishes.

JAYA’S RESTAURANT: 119 S.E. Fourth St., 812-422-6667. Authentic Korean cuisine and sushi.

JIMMY GAO’S SZECHWAN CHINESE RESTAURANT: 669 N. Green River Road (in Eastland Place), 812-479-7600. Extensive Sichuan menu, including Szechuan dumplings, bok choy, and pho.

JUMAK: 5720 E. Virginia St., 812-303-1705. Traditional Korean dishes such as bibimbap, yachae twigim, and bulgogi.

KANPAI: 4593 Washington Ave., 812-471-7076. International fare and Japanese sushi bar serving beer, wine, and sake.

LIN’S ASIAN EXPRESS: 520 N. First Ave., 812-909-4210. Asian cuisine favorites including sushi, fried rice, and hibachi.

LINCOLN GARDEN: 2001 Lincoln Ave., 812-471-8881. Chinese appetizers, soups, lunch platters, and entrées including crab rangoon and General Tso’s chicken.

MA.T.888 CHINA BISTRO: (Best Asian Restaurant) 5636 Vogel Road, 812-475-2888. Specialties include lemongrass fish, Peking duck, and chicken lettuce wraps.

MAMA’S KITCHEN: 1624 N. Green River Road (inside Aihua International Market), 812-479-7168. Stir-fried dishes and soups.

OSAKA JAPANESE HIBACHI AND SUSHI: 5435 Pearl Drive, 812-3030359; 4222 Bell Road, Ste. 7, Newburgh, IN, 812-518-1371. Hibachi-style cuisine, sushi bar, and specialty dishes for dine-in and carry-out.

POKÉ PIRATE: 2013 N. Green River Road, 812-434-1725. Signature bowls and build-your-own poke.

POKÉ RIVER: 6240 E. Virginia St., 812-303-8003. Poke and sushi dishes, like poke bowls, sushi burritos, and poke salads.

ROPPONGI JAPANESE STEAK & SUSHI: 7221 E. Indiana St., 812-437-5824. Sushi, filet mignon, New York strip, and hibachi.

SAKURA: 4833 Highway 261, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-0553, Japanese cuisine like sushi, sashimi, fried rice, tempura, and hibachi dinners.

TANUKI MART: 5614 E. Virginia St. Japanese candies, Momofuku noodles, chili crunches, and more.

TASTE OF CHINA: 4579 University Drive, 812-422-1260. Traditional Chinese dishes such as Mei Fun, Chow Mein, and Egg Foo Young.

THAI BISTRO AND BAR: 5416 E. Indiana St., 812-303-3153. Authentic Thai cuisine, including Pad Thai, curry, papaya salad, crab rangoons, satay, and more.

 THAI CHOW ORIENTAL FOODS: 1007 S. McCreary St., Fort Branch, IN, 812-753-3878. Classic Thai food.

THAI ORCHIDS: 601 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road, Ste. 200, 812-612-0465. Curry dishes, drunken noodles, Thai custard, and more.

TOKYO JAPAN RESTAURANT: 3000 N. Green River Road, 812-401-1020. Hibachi grill: chicken, beef, shrimp, and scallops.

VIETNAMESE CUISINE: 4602 Vogel Road, 812-479-8818. Vietnamese fare, including traditional noodle dishes.

WASABI EVANSVILLE: 1122 Hirschland Road, 812-602-3737. Sushi, hibachi meals, appetizers, soups, and salads.

YANG’S SHABU SHABU: 4700 Vogel Road, 812-471-8889. Chinese, vegetarian, seafood, Japanese, and more.

YEN CHING: 406 S. Green River Road, 812-474-0181. Chinese weekday lunch specials and evening menu items.

ZUKI JAPANESE HIBACHI GRILL & SUSHI LOUNGE: 1448 N. Green River Road, 812-477-9854; 222 Main St., 812-423-9854. Sushi and hibachi-grilled foods.

GERMAN

GERST HAUS: 2100 W. Franklin St., 812-424-1420. Traditional German cuisine, including soups, salads, sandwiches, and dinner entrées. Large imported beer list.

 SCHNITZELBANK RESTAURANT: 393 Third Ave., Jasper, IN, 812-482-2640. Authentic German food, as well as American favorites.

INDIAN

ROYAL INDIAN CUISINE: 7799 Highway 66, Newburgh, IN, 812-518-4018. Authentic Indian cuisine like samosas, tandoori chicken, curry, and more.

TAJ MAHAL: 900 Tutor Lane, 812-476-5000. Tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, panjabi curry, kadai paneer, and more.

YAK & YETI: 815 S. Green River Road, 812-909-2022. Himalayan family recipes passed down from multiple generations, including Tandoori lamp chops, momo dumplings, and several kinds of curry.

IRISH

PATSY HARTIGAN’S IRISH PUB : 203 Main St., 812-746-8848. Serving traditional Irish pub fare like pastrami and corned beef, plus its own light and dark beers.

ITALIAN/MEDITERRANEAN

 ANGELO’S: (Best Italian Restaurant) 305 Main St., 812-428-6666. Pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, and pizzas.

CAFÉ ARAZU: 17 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, IN, 812-842-2200. Pitas, wraps, shish kebabs, and rotating specials and desserts.

KABOB XPRESS: 3305 N. Green River Road, 812-402-0244. Hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, fresh salads, sandwiches, gyro plate, and many kabob plate options.

LITTLE ANGELO’S: 8000 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-853-8364. Italian cuisine featuring appetizers, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta, and chicken.

LITTLE ITALY: 4430 N. First Ave., 812-401-0588. Italian and Mediterranean pizzas, soups, salads, pasta, chicken, and sandwiches.

MANNA MEDITERRANEAN GRILL: 2913 Lincoln Ave., 812-473-7005. Stuffed grape leaves, gyros, shish kebabs, and more.

MILANO’S ITALIAN CUISINE: 500 Main St., 812-484-2222. Pizzas, pasta, baked sandwiches, and dinner entrées.

OLIVE GARDEN: 1100 N. Green River Road, 812-473-2903. Soups, salads, pasta, and luncheon entrées.

SAUCED: 1113 Parrett St., 812-402-2230. Pasta, steak, and seafood. Catering and event space available in The Ballroom.

SMITTY’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE: 2109 W. Franklin St., 812-423-6280. Premium steak, pasta, pizza, and Italian favorites.

LATIN AMERICAN

 AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL: 2003 Stapp Drive, Henderson, KY, 270957-5028. Mexican fare like burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, chimichangas, and margheritas. Catering available.

BURRITO EXPRESS MEXICAN GRILL: 900 Main St. (inside Main St. Food & Beverage). Authentic Mexican cuisine and local specials. Catering available.

 CANCUN MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 341 S. Green St., Henderson, KY, 270-826-0067. Fajitas, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, seafood, Mexican-style steaks, and more, plus a yearlong outdoor patio. Catering available.

CARIBBEAN CUISINE: 1010 S. Kentucky Ave., 812-303-0631. Caribbean and Haitian dishes like red beans and rice, oxtail, and fish.

CASA FIESTA MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 1003 E. Diamond Ave., 81204375516. Traditional Mexican entrees, family specials, and 24-inch “monster” burritos.

CHAVA’S MEXICAN GRILL: 4202 N. First Ave., 812-401-1977. Authentic Mexican cuisine offering burritos, tacos, and more.

CHIPOTLE: 499 N. Green River Road, 812-471-4973; 2800 N. Green River Road, 812-916-4757; 4719 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812-435-10888; 1310 Hirschland Road, 812-916-4789. Tacos, burritos, salads, drinks, chips, and guacamole. Catering available.

DON JUAN AUTHENTIC MEXICAN GRILL: 4011 IN-261, Newburgh, IN, 812-5183171. Taco salad, quesabirrias, sopes, flautas, and more Mexican cuisine. Catering available.

EL CHARRO MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 720 N. Sonntag Ave., 812-421-1986. Occasional mariachi band performances. Specialties include paella and chimichangas. Catering available.

EL MARIACHI MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 1919 N. Green River Road, 812-777-0111. Street tacos, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, and other Mexican cuisine.

EL PAISANO MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 311 S. Green River Road, 812-437-5089. Street tacos, burritos, tortas, and more.

EL PATRON: 943 N. Park Drive. 812-402-6500. The owners of El Charro opened this restaurant on the North Side, offering authentic Mexican cuisine.

FIESTA ACAPULCO: 8480 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812858-7777. Authentic Mexican dishes, grilled steak dinners, and more.

GOLLITA PERUVIAN CUISINE: 4313 E. Morgan Ave., 812-303-5100. Authentic Peruvian cuisine like Peruvian minestrone, tamales, and papa a la huancaína.

HACIENDA: 990 S. Green River Road, 812-474-1635; 711 N. First Ave., 812-423-6355; 5440 Pearl Drive, 812-422-2055; 600 E. Boonville New Harmony Road, 812-401-2180. American-influenced Tex-Mex menu. Catering available.

HOT HEAD BURRITOS: 5625 Pearl Drive, 812-437-5010. Burritos, salad bowls, tacos, nachos, quesadillas to order with meat op tions including chicken, steak, pork, barbacoa, and taco meat. Catering available.

JALISCO MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 4044 Professional Lane, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-2814. Authentic Mexican cuisine.

LA CAMPIRANA: 724 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-550-1585. 900 Main St. (Inside Main Street Food & Beverage). Fresh Mexican cuisine and fresh juice bar. Food truck available.

LA CATRINA MEXICAN RESTAURANT: 7799 SR-66, Newburgh, IN, 812-5183334. Mexican-inspired burritos, enchiladas, tortas, and tacos, plus chicken wings, nachos, and seafood specials.

LA MEXICANA RESTAURANT: 920 Main St., 812-550-1165. A family-owned establishment serving burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and seafood.

LAS AMERICAS STORE AND RESTAURANT, INC.: 1016 S. Weinbach Ave., 812-475-3483. Offers Mexican ingredients for purchase and food made in house.

LOS BRAVOS: (Best Latin Restaurant) 3534 N. First Ave., 812-424-4101; 6226 Waterfront Blvd., 812-474-9078; 4630 W. Lloyd Expressway, 812464-3163; 3311 Liberty Blvd., Boonville, IN, 812-897-3442. Traditional Mexican menu. Catering available.

LOS PORTALES MEXICAN GRILL: 3339 N. Green River Road, 812-475-0566. Authentic Mexican dishes, grilled steak dinners, and more.

 LOS TORIBIO: 1647 S. Green St., Henderson, KY, 270-831-2367. Traditional Mexican cuisine.

LOS TRES CAMINOS: 12100 U.S. 41 N., 812-868-8550. Authentic Mexican cuisine including chimichangas, burritos, Mexican pizza, and quesadillas.

MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL: 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway (inside The Evansville Pavilion), 812-491-6637. Fresh Mexican cuisine. Catering available.

NACHOS GRILL: 821 S. Green River Road, 812-909-0030. Authentic Mexican fare made from scratch with fresh ingredients.

NOCHE CANTINA & COCINA: 2215 W. Franklin St., 812-277-3514. Serving fried truffle yuka fries, grilled elote salad, deep-fried tres leches, and more.

QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL: 922 N. Burkhardt Road, 812-401-0800; 5501 Pearl Drive. Mexican fare. Catering available.

RIVIERA MEXICAN GRILL: 10604 Highway 662, Newburgh, IN, 812-4909936. Fajitas, quesadillas, nacho platters, taco salads, and more.

SALSARITA’S: 3910 E. Morgan Ave., 812-437-2572; 4077 State Route 261, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-5050. Mexican cuisine like burritos, tacos, taco salads, and its signature Quesorito. Food truck and catering available.

SUNRISE CAFÉ FAMILY RESTAURANT: 8401 N. Kentucky Avenue, 812-6260050; 2121 N. Green River Road Ste. 8. A family restaurant with a mix of Mexican and American cuisine.

 TACOHOLICS KITCHEN: 122 First St., Henderson, KY, 270-957-5001. Enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, chimichangas, margheritas, Mexican street tacos, a full bar, and more. Catering available. Food truck called “Mini-Chimi” available.

TAQUERIA Y PUPUSERÍA MIRANDA: 2008 Washington Ave., 812-492-9992. Specializing in authentic Salvadorian Pupusas and street tacos with a variety of fillings.

SPORTS BARS

BUFFALO WILD WINGS GRILL AND BAR: 715 N. Green River Road (in Eastland Place), 812-471-9464; 5405 Pearl Drive, 812-423-9464. Chicken wings cooked with various seasonings, burgers, salads, and chicken.

BURGH HOUSE AT SHOWPLACE FEC: 8099 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812842-2563. Specialty burgers, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and drinks.

CHASER’S BAR AND GRILL: 2131 W. Franklin St., 812-401-1699. Sandwiches, pizza, burgers, salads, and lunch specials. Catering available.

Dining Directory

CORNER POCKET BAR & GRILL: 1819 N. Fulton Ave., 812-428-2255. Soups, salads, sandwiches, plate lunches, pizzas, stuffed baked potatoes, and appetizers.

THE DIVE BARGE: 1801 Waterworks Road. This seasonal riverside 21 and over bar offers burgers, shrimp, wings fries, hotdogs, and more.

DOC’S BAR: (Best Bar to Watch Sports on TV) 1305 Stringtown Road, 812-401-1201. Appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and desserts. Family room and kids’ menu available. Free Wi-Fi and full bar.

FRANKLIN STREET TAVERN: 2126 Franklin St., 812-401-1313. Drink specials and pizza.

 FROGGY’S RESTAURANT & SPORTS BAR: 7247 Main St., Wadesville, IN, 812-673-4996. Burgers, pizza, wraps, strombolis, sandwiches, the famous pork steak, and more. Catering available.

HOOTERS: 4620 Lincoln Ave., 812-475-0229. Appetizers, wings, soups, salads, and sandwiches.

 IRON HORSE BAR & GRILL: 203 N. McCreary St., Fort Branch, IN, 812753-9918. Bar food and drinks. Bikers are welcome.

J’S SPORTSBAR & GRILL: 1602 Vann Ave., 812-401-2266. A menu of chili, wings, burgers, sandwiches, and more.

KC’S MARINA POINTE: 1801 Waterworks Road, 812-550-1050. Seafood options and full bar.

MOJO’S BONEYARD SPORTS BAR & GRILLE: 4920 Bellemeade Ave., 812-4758593. Bar food including chicken wings, burgers, and strombolis.

NEIGHBORS: 4222 Bell Road, Ste. 1, Newburgh, IN, 812-269-7410. Classic bar food and favorites including sandwiches, smashburgers, and salads.

NEWBURGH TAVERN: 707 State St. Ste. E, Newburgh, IN, 812-518-1363. Serving beer and specialty cocktails.

O’BRIAN’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL: 1801 N. Green River Road, 812-401-4630. Irish tavern food, Reubens, burgers, soup, and salad.

PRIME SPORTS: 4944 Old State Route 261, Newburgh, IN, 812-518-3050.

A greaseless kitchen serving pizza, wings, strombolis, and more.

 ROOKIES RESTAURANT: 117 S. Second St., Henderson, KY, 270-826-1106. Angus beef steaks, seafood, pasta, chicken, sandwiches, prime rib, and Arabian salad. Banquet room for events.

TIKI ON MAIN: 524 Main St., 812-424-5020. Burgers, hot dogs, gyros, small pizzas, fish dinners, and cold drinks. Open seasonally.

WINGS ETC.: 628 E. Diamond Ave., 812-909-2945; 8833 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-490-0550; 401 Walker Drive, Henderson, KY, 270-205-4486. Chicken wings, burgers, wraps, salads, and wide beer selection.

TAVERN FOOD

 3RD STREET SALOON: 118 S. Third St., Boonville, IN. Traditional pub food with unique homemade twists made with local meats.

BOKEH LOUNGE: (Best Place to Hear Local Bands) 1007 Parrett St., 812-909-0388. Open daily at 11 a.m. Offering a full menu including steaks, kabobs, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and vegetarian meals. Brunch on Sunday and weekly specials.

 THE BRASS RING: 231 S. Main, Haubstadt, IN, 812-632-8681. Serving smoked sausage dogs, bone-in wings, fish sandwiches, strombolis, and more. Also offers a pizza kitchen.

BUD’S ROCKIN’ COUNTRY BAR AND GRILL: 2124 W. Franklin St., 812-401-1730. Southern comfort food, daily plate lunch and beer specials, and gourmet flatbreads. Catering available.

CRICKETS: 518 W. Main St., Newburgh, IN, 812-858-2782. Offering wings by the pound, appetizers, thin crust pizza, sandwiches and hoagies, and more.

DARMSTADT INN: 13130 Darmstadt Road, 812-867-7300. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and plate lunches. Dinner entrées include steaks, fried chicken, and seafood.

DEERHEAD SIDEWALK CAFÉ AND BAR: 222 E. Columbia St., 812-425-2515. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and double-decker pizzas.

ENIGMA BAR & GRILL: 4044 Professional Lane, Newburgh, IN, 812-4900600. Appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and various entrées as well as a tequila menu.

HIGHLAND INN: 6620 N. First Ave., 812-909-1500. Appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and customer-favorite Bloody Marys.

THE HILLTOP INN: 1100 Harmony Way, 812-303-3732. Sandwiches including fried tenderloins, brain, fried bologna, fried fish, salad bar, steaks, chicken, and seafood entrées.

HORSTKETTER’S TAVERN: 5809 Stringtown Road, 812-423-0692. Traditional tavern serving cold beer and deli meats.

K.C.’S TIME OUT LOUNGE & GRILL: 1121 Washington Square, 812-437-9920. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and pizza. Plate lunch specials available.

KNOB HILL TAVERN: 1016 Highway 662 W., Newburgh, IN, 812-853-9550. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and dinner entrées including shrimp, steak, chicken, fiddlers, and hand-tossed pizzas.

LAMASCO BAR & GRILL: 1331 W. Franklin St., 812-437-0171. Tavern menu including soups, salads, and sandwiches.

 METZGER’S TAVERN: 1000 Powell St., Henderson, KY, 270-826-9461. Traditional tavern appetizers, soups, sandwiches, and breakfast.

 NISBET INN: 6701 Nisbet Station Road, Haubstadt, IN, 812-963-9305. Homemade soups, desserts, and barbecue. Catering available.

PEEPHOLE BAR & GRILL: 201 Main St., 812-423-5171. Cheeseburgers, onion rings, fries, and the splitter (a fried hot dog).

PRIME TIME PUB & GRILL: 8177 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-4900655; 12301 U.S. 41 N., 812-247-0093. Prime rib, burgers, half-pound burgers, salads, more than 30 bourbons, and more. Catering, food truck available, and doggy menu available.

THE ROOFTOP: 112 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 812-550-1599. Breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, and pizza.

 ROUTE 65 TAVERN: 10801 Main St., Cynthiana, IN, 812-622-2025. A family restaurant in the front and a tavern in the back that serves sandwiches, burgers, chicken quesadillas, shrimp cocktails, and more.

 SNAPS BAR & GRILL: 1115 Main St., Jasper, IN, 812-848-7627. Sandwiches, burgers, salads, steaks, chicken, and pasta dishes.

THE SPORTSDEN BAR + GRILL: 701 N. Weinbach Ave., Ste. 110, 812-479-8887. Strombolis, sandwiches, wings, and more.

SPORTSMAN’S BILLIARDS AND GRILLE: 2315 W. Franklin St., 812-422-0801. Cheeseburgers, tenderloins, cheese balls, and more.

Dining Directory

ST. JOE INN: 9515 Saint Wendel Road, 812-963-9310. Soups, salads, sandwiches, plate lunch specials, fiddlers, steaks, and fried chicken dinners.

 ST. PHILIP’S INN: 11200 Upper Mount Vernon Road, 812-985-5558. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and plate lunch specials. Dinner includes fried chicken, open roast beef, catfish, shrimp, and more.

STOCKWELL INN: 4001 E. Eichel Ave., 812-476-2384. Plate lunches, homemade soup, salads, sandwiches, steak, pork chops, and brain sandwiches. Catering available.

 YELLOW TAVERN: 521 Church St., New Harmony, IN, 812-682-3303. Must be 21 to enter, cash or check only. Traditional American food such as pizza, steak, and sandwiches.

ZAPS TAVERN: 3725 St. Philip Road, 812-985-2121. Tavern-style food including wings, burgers, and dinner entrées, plus ice cream from JB’s Barnyard. Catering available.

BREWERIES, WINERIES, AND CRAFT COCKTAILS

ARCADEMIE: 22 N.W. Sixth St. Craft cocktails and regional beer on tap.

BARKER BREWHOUSE: 96 N. Barker Ave., 812-437-5079. Serving an extensive selection of beers, including craft and brewed on-site, plus wines and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as some pre-packaged food items. Food may also be brought in or ordered for delivery.

HIGH SCORE SALOON: 309 Main St., 812-909-3229. Arcade bar with local and regional brews, full bar, tots, nachos, and sandwiches.

HUSH ON MAIN: 323 Main St., Ste. F. 1920s speakeasy offering custom cocktails, appetizers, a dinner menu including pasta dishes, and weekend brunch.

JENNINGS STREET PUBLIC HOUSE: 300 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, IN, 812518-4007. Local craft beer, wine, domestics, scratch cocktails, and spirits, plus a small food menu.

MO’S HOUSE: (Best Place to Have a Drink After Work) 1114 Parrett St., 812-401-3800. Craft cocktails made from scratch, ample lounge seating, patio space, and snacks.

 MONKEY HOLLOW WINERY: 11534 E. County Road 1740 N., Saint Meinrad, IN, 812-357-2272. Local organic meats and cheeses, Saturday evening concerts in summer, and a tasting room.

MYRIAD BREWING COMPANY: 101 S.E. First St; 8245 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh, IN, 812-402-1515. House-brewed and guest beers, as well as wine and spirits. Carry-in food and food delivery are permitted, and food trucks often visit on weekends.

 PEPPER’S RIDGE WINERY: 4304 N. County Road 200 W., Rockport, IN, 812-649-9463. Free wine tastings, picnic areas, pizza delivery, local meats and cheeses, wine slushies, and weekend live music.

 RIVER CITY BREW WORKS: 405 Main St., Rockport, IN, 812-649-2739. Located in a historic building and offering regional craft beer, wines, and a food menu.

DILEGGE’S: 607 N. Main St., 812-428-3004 or 812-459-9864. Fine Italian-American cuisine available for catering or special and private events, with food served in the in-house banquet room outdoor dining.

FIELD 2 FORK CATERING: 17425 Owensville Road, 812-899-1010. Providing produce, meat, and local alcohol selections from fresh, local ingredients.

JAYSON MUNOZ CATERS: 4593 Washington Ave., 812-471-7076. Favorite dishes from Chef Jayson Munoz like bourbon chicken, tacos, and carb rangoon.

JUST RENNIE’S CATERING: (Best Caterer) 100 S.E. Fourth St., 812-401-8098. Specializes in fine foods.

KOKIES FOOD SERVICE & BANQUET CENTERS: 11917 Highway 66, 812-423-8229. Offering a diverse menu, from tacos to lobster.

MILLER’S CATERING, BARBECUE, AND WEDDINGS: 10108 Schaeffer Road, 812454-2744. Specializes in catering, barbecue, wedding packages, and fundraisers.

NORTH MAIN ANNEX GOURMET CATERING & DELI: 701 N. Main St., 812250-4551. Gourmet catering from breakfast to dessert, and a daily, fresh-made menu of breakfast, salads, baked goods, and deli classics.

WINZERWALD WINERY: 26300 N. Indian Lake Road, Bristow, IN, 812-3577000. German-inspired wines, flatbreads, salads, Bavarian pretzels, charcuterie trays, and paired wine and food flights.

CATERING

ACROPOLIS CATERING/VENUE 812: 1401 N. Boeke Road, 812-758-4660. Greek-American cuisine, chicken, beef, lamb, salads, and desserts. Food truck available.

122 N. Weinbach Ave., 812-518-0008. Charcuterie catering and gift delivery services.

BAUERHAUS MOBILE CATERING: (Best Wedding Venue) 13605 Darmstadt Road, 812-759-9000. Customized menus from simple party trays with gourmet hors d’oeuvres to elegant seven-course meals.

 THE NEW HARMONY INN & CONFERENCE CENTER: 504 North St., New Harmony, IN, 812-682-6150 or 812-682-6168. Caters within a 50-mile radius of New Harmony, Indiana, and offers a variety of food from steaks to sandwiches.

PAPPA BEAR’S CATERING: 812-568-8890. Whole hog roasts, handsliced brisket, smoked pork chops, rib-eye steaks, pulled pork barbecue, pulled chicken, smoked chicken, side items such as twice-baked potato casserole, potato salad, and green beans, and desserts.

PIZZA REVOLUTION: Downtown Evansville Farmers Market and various locations, 812-430-5945. Mobile wood-fired pizza and salads.

 SCHNITZELBANK CATERING: 409 Third Ave., Jasper, IN, 812-634-2584. Caters home-cooked favorites to elegant cuisine.

Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 125

Azzip Pizza 125

Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge 126

Bally’s Evansville

Casino & Hotel 112

Bar Louie 126

Be Happy Pie Company 137

Biaggi’s 113

Bowlify Superfoods 114

BRU Burger Bar 115

Canton Inn 116

Casey’s Dugout 117

Copper House 127

Cosmos Bistro 118

Deerhead Sidewalk Cafe 127

Drake’s 128

El Charro 128

Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar 129

Farmer & Frenchman 129

Fetta Pizza 130

G D Ritzy’s 130

House of Como 131

Knob Hill Tavern 131

La Campirana 132

Lamasco Bar & Grill 119

Log Inn, The 132

Mister B’s Pizza & Wings/ Club 18 Golf 120

North Main Annex Gourmet Catering & Deli 133

Osaka Hibachi, Ramen, and Sushi 121

Pangea Kitchen, Pangea Pizzeria, Sazon Y Fuego, Second Language 108

Papa John’s Pizza 109

Patsy Hartigan’s Irish Pub 122

QDOBA Mexican Eats 110

Rafferty’s 109

River Kitty Cat Café 109

Robert’s By The River 137

Schnitzelbank and Schnitzelbank Catering 133

Snaps 134

Spankey’s Una Cafe 134

The Pier Floating Restaurant 136

Tin Fish, The 135

Vietnamese Cuisine 135

Yellow Tavern, The 123

Zesto on Franklin 124

Zesto Riverside 111

Zuki Japanese Hibachi Grill & Sushi Lounge 136

ZESTO

Family owned and operated for more than 50 years, Zesto on Riverside has been serving the Tri-State since 1952. Take a step back in time to the good ol’ days with greattasting food made to order the old-fashioned way –

and

JUMP INTO THE THRILL AT BALLY’S EVANSVILLE!

DINING OPTIONS

POKER ROOM OPEN DAILY!

The non-smoking Poker Room features six tables. Texas Hold 'Em is offered daily. Pot Limit Omaha is offered on Mondays with additional games on demand. Open 11AM – 4AM CT, Monday through Thursday. Open 24 Hours, 11AM on Friday through 4AM on Monday morning.

LIVE MUSIC IS BACK AT 421!

The Brat Pack

Friday, July 19 & Saturday, July 20

DrZhivegas

Friday, July 26 & Saturday, July 27

8PM – Midnight CT

OPENING IN JULY!

The all-new Bally Bet Sportsbook & Bar will feature multiple screens for sports viewing, 4 betting windows, 6 kiosks, a new dining menu, and 36 beers on tap!

2 FIRST-CLASS HOTELS!

Legend’s Tower and Bally’s Evansville Hotel offer two firstclass options just steps away from 24-hour casino excitement and more!

8PM – Midnight CT Reserve your room now at

OR use this

NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE

SEA SCALLOP RISOTTO

LASAGNA BOLOGNESE

CALAMARI FRITTI

SMOOTHIE

ACAI BOWL

PEACH-WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

STILTON BLEU CHEESE BBQ NACHOS

BURGERS, NACHOS, BREAD PUDDING

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

GENERAL’S CHICKEN AND EGG DROP SOUP

BUFFET PORK AND LO MEIN

Nestled in the heart of town, our cozy pizzeria is a haven for pizza enthusiasts craving mouthwatering slices. At Casey’s Dugout, we’re all about quality ingredients, from our hand-tossed dough to our fresh, savory toppings. We believe that eating isn’t just about feeding your body, it’s about nourishing the soul, too. And life is too short for mediocre food. We make sure every dish that we serve satisfies your entire being. Crispy, savory, sweet, juicy, satisfying. Whatever you crave is what we want to serve.

CASEY’S DUGOUT

HARPER’S HOT HONEY HAWAIIAN PIZZA

GRAHAM SLAM PIZZA

CASEY KEOWN AND KYLE FIELDS

COSMOS BISTRO

NICOISE SALAD FOIE GRAS

COSMOS BISTRO

LAMASCO BAR AND GRILL LAMASCO BURGER

CHICKEN KATSU HIBACHI

PATSY HARTIGAN’S IRISH PUB

SCOTCH EGGS

PATSY HARTIGAN’S IRISH PUB

REUBEN

JAMESON WHISKEY BREAD PUDDING

THE YELLOW TAVERN

Indulge in an exquisitely compiled lunch menu, including a yummy variety of customizable sandwiches. Go with our grilled salmon with long-grain wild rice, load up a pizza with all of your favorite toppings, or enjoy our famous homemade bread pudding. The Yellow Tavern boasts a refreshingly quaint dining atmosphere, with friendly service. Open 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

THE YELLOW TAVERN

GRILLED SALMON WITH LONG-GRAIN WILD RICE

FRESH HOMEMADE PIZZA

RIBEYE WITH BROCCOLI AND BREAD PUDDING

ANGELO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, open since 1992, delivers an authentic Italian dining experience with a menu featuring rich sauces and fresh ingredients. Known for its warm hospitality and charming ambiance, Angelo’s is the perfect spot for family gatherings, romantic dinners, and celebrating special occasions with delectable Italian cuisine. The Gondola Room seats up to 80 people for private parties.

BAD RANDY’S HOT CHICKEN & BBQ LOUNGE

Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge is a chef-driven restaurant on West Franklin Street in Evansville. Although our food and drinks are rooted in tradition, we unabashedly follow our own rules. Come to Randy’s to catch the vibe. After all, you deserve to be BAD.

COPPER HOUSE

SPICY PALOMA

STEAK DINNER

10” DOUBLE DECKER PIZZA

DRAKE'S

Drake’s calls itself “a restaurant that loves beer and a bar that loves food.” The menu includes enormous griddle-pressed burgers, steaks, mini burgers, shareable appetizers like buffalo chicken dip and BLT tots, build-your-own tacos, hearty salads, and all sorts of sandwiches. Drake’s also serves a full sushi menu offering sushi lovers rare flavors and perfectly executed classics, all hand-rolled to order in a window open for viewing from the restaurant. Available for dine-in, carry-out, and delivery.

DOUBLE RITZ W/CHEESE BASKET

HOUSE OF COMO

LA CAMPIRANA

SPANKEY’S UNA CAFE

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Corporation for Public Broadcasting $96 million to establish and implement the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program. CPB is administering a competitive grant program for public television and radio stations to replace and upgrade infrastructure to expand alert, warning, and interoperable communications. I’m happy to report that WNIN TV and FM are actively participating in the grant process.

Local public media stations across the country are trusted partners, working with public safety officials, law enforcement, schools, and others to provide real-time support in times of crisis.

WNIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024

A.J. Manion

Immediate

Past Chair

Susan Hardwick

Chair

Richard Kuhn

Vice Chair

Lawrence Taylor

Secretary

Nancy Hodge

Treasurer

Tim Black

President

Noah Alatza

Joshua Claybourn

Beau Dial

Stephanie Koch

Kim McWilliams

Tara Overton

Amber Rascoe

Stephanie Roland

Stacey Shourd

Thomas Silliman

Alfonso Vidal

Daniela Vidal

Gene Warren

Amy Waterman

Jordan Whitledge

Matthew Wright

Elissa Corbitt Student Board Member

Devon Langley Student Board Member

Serving as the backbone of the Emergency Alert Service (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, stations connect residents with national, state and local lifesaving emergency alerts and warnings, and enable communication between public safety, law enforcement and first responder organizations, even when the power is out.

The Public Radio Satellite System’s MetaPub

The Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS)’s MetaPub allows public radio listeners to see image and text updates, like emergency alerts and weather warnings, in real-time on their mobile phones, connected car devices, HD radios, and online audio streams.

Datacasting

Public television stations have partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to offer local first responders datacasting services that use existing station infrastructure and spectrum to help first responders send real-time, encrypted information and video to each other.

Several successful pilots between stations and DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate have demonstrated the effectiveness of these services for flood warning and response, enhanced 911 responsiveness, faster earthquake warnings, interoperability, rural search and rescue, large event crowd control, and school safety.

Regional Emergency Networks

Nationally recognized regional networks, like the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FREN) and the SC Emergency Information Network, are essential resources for delivering up-to-the-minute public safety content on-air, online through public radio stations’ local digital and social media platforms, and via a mobile app to local residents.

The Next Generation Warning System grant program will enhance public media stations’ ability to transmit alert, warning, and interoperable communications and integrate emerging technology to increase security in communities nationwide.

NGWS grant funding will:

• Enhance the capacity of local broadcast stations to receive, broadcast, and redistribute emergency alert messages using the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) specifications

• Allow for technical assistance for stations in determining equipment needs, purchasing, and installation

• Enable stations to upgrade their transmission equipment to next-generation ATSC 3.0 broadcast standards

• Enhance technology infrastructure to enable new broadcast services that improve the distribution of public alerts and warnings and strengthen infrastructure resilience with emergency generators and other equipment

• Expand the delivery and distribution of emergency alert messages from IPAWS to fill gaps in alert and warning delivery in underserved areas

• Enable the communication of alerts and warnings to individuals with disabilities, individuals with access and functional needs, and individuals with limited English proficiency.

The Next Gen Warning System is just another example of why your public media stations are so vital to the community; you’ll be able to count on WNIN to bring you timely and critical emergency information via several avenues. We can only offer that safety to your family if we are here. Just look for the donation banner at www.wnin.org and show your support for the good work we continue to do every day. You may also make a gift by calling us at 812-4232973. Thank you when you do!

Sincerely,

Tim Black, President and CEO

Annual Kids Fest to be held in September

Calling all families and friends!

We invite you to join us Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the WNIN Kids Fest! This free, family-friendly event promises a funfilled day of educational activities, live entertainment, special appearances from your favorite PBS KIDS characters, and much, much more!

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to stop by and hang out with a variety of businesses and organizations from around the Tri-State. Each booth will host a hands-on activity, offer educational information and resources, and even hand out goodies!

The event will also feature inflatables, food trucks, PBS KIDS character meet-and-greets, and games that emphasize the importance of lifelong learning in our daily lives. And, as it is Kids Fest tradition, every child will take home a free book of their choice!

“The WNIN Kids Fest is important because it gives us the unique opportunity to bring hundreds of Tri-State families together and show them just how much fun learning can be! Not only that, but it’s also a chance for us to connect the public with local resources they may not have known about before,” says Director of Events and Theater Karen Robinson.

In anticipation of the event, check out PBS KIDS programming on 9.1 WNIN PBS every morning of the week. Additional games and educational resources can be found on pbskids. org/grownups/.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or subscribe to WNIN emails on wnin.org for more information about Kids Fest as it becomes available. We hope to see you there!

Is your business interested in sponsoring or participating in Kids Fest 2024?

This beloved event gives your business the unique opportunity to reach your targeted audience and promote literacy and lifelong learning — it’s a WIN-WIN.

Cont act Karen Robinson, WNIN Director of Theater and Events, at krobinson@wnin.org, or Sarah Davis, Theater/Events Coordinator at sdavis@wnin.org to see how you can get your business involved and promoted at our next event!

Tri-State Life to Tell Local Stories

“Tri-State Life” returns as a WNIN digital-exclusive series! Evansville residents have a variety of creative endeavors, unique stories, and interesting talents to share, and this series aims to highlight some of those individuals, showcasing their endeavors and contributions to the community.

The first set of videos in this new digital series were produced by WNIN digital intern Sam Harshbarger, with assistance and guidance from the WNIN digital team of Mareea Thomas and Mariah Winne. The series will feature a handful of local businesses, including Your Brother’s Bookstore, Atmosphere Collectibles, and Mission Grounds.

“Evansville is the third-largest city in Indiana, which means we don’t always know about the small or local businesses and organizations that are unique to our area. What I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing the love and care these people have for our community. Whether you’re a returning customer or just stopping by for the first time, stores like Evansville Toys & Games and Your Brother’s Bookstore just welcome you with open arms. It’s not just about selling a product but making a connection. It’s cool to see that Evansville has those spaces for everyone and it’s important that ‘Tri-State Life’ highlights them so they can continue to positively impact our community,” Harshbarger says. “Tri-State Life” videos will be available to watch on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Photos by Chris Berneking Productions

Spotlight

August 2024 Highlights

GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE SEASON 3 FINALE

Airs at 8 p.m. Aug. 12 or 16

Find out which contestant will win Season 3 of the Great American Recipe.

2024 DNC CONVENTION COVERAGE

Airs at 7 p.m. Aug. 19-22

Join the PBS Newshour crew for in-depth coverage of the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois.

GREAT PERFORMANCES: VIENNA PHILHARMONIC SUMMER NIGHT CONCERT 2024

Airs at 8 p.m. Aug. 23

Each summer, the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic is joined by a guest soloist to perform an enchanting open-air concert under the direction of a guest conductor from the magnificent gardens of Austria’s imperial Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The 2024

New Show on WNIN-FM

concert will be conducted by Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andris Nelsons with acclaimed international opera star Lise Davidsen as soloist.

ODYSSEUS RETURNS

Airs at 8 p.m. Aug. 28

This documentary reveals what could be the biggest archeological find of the 21st Century: the tomb, the bones, and the royal seal of King Odysseus.

VOICES ON PBS: ALMOST AMERICAN

Airs at 9 p.m. Aug. 26

The Ayala Flores family is in the midst of crisis after living and working in the nation’s capital for 20 years. Sheltered by Temporary Protected Status for

WNIN 88.3 FM has added a new program to its daily lineup!

Listeners can now check out “Think,” a topic-driven interview and call-in program that covers a variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology, and emerging trends to food and wine, travel, adventure, and entertainment. There’s truly something for everyone!

“‘ Think’ brings more thought provoking and in depth conversation to the Tri-State and WNIN. Host Krys Boyd talks with some of the world’s

nearly two decades, Salvadoran TPS holders have no criminal records, pay taxes even without the right to public benefits, and contribute to their communities as homeowners, entrepreneurs, and workers. All the while, they are raising U.S.-born children. Follow the Ayala Flores family as they fight before the judiciary and in the court of public opinion for a path to permanent residence to keep their family – and entire communities – intact.

ICONIC

AMERICA

Airs 8-10 p.m. Aug. 30

Fenway Park: Baseball is America’s pastime and obsession, and no ballpark is more iconic than Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Learn the story of a city’s loyalty to its team and love for its ballpark through thick and thin.

The Hollywood Sign: Learn how a real estate advertisement erected in 1923 became an international symbol of fame, fortune, and the American dream.

biggest newsmakers, authors, scientists, and deep thinkers, and I know our audience and members will love it. I know Krys is excited to bring her show to the Tri-State. I hope you enjoy it,” says Vice President of Radio Kenton McDonald.

We invite you to tune in to WNIN 88.3 FM Monday through Friday from 10-11 a.m. to catch the show. Streaming is available on wnin.org or the WNIN App.

New Specials Starting in August

The Brothers: Celebrating The Allman Brothers Band’s 50th Anniversary Five and a half years after The Allman Brothers Band played its last concert at New York City’s Beacon Theater, the surviving members of that final lineup regrouped on March 10, 2020, with a trio of guests, as The Brothers. Founding Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe –along with guitarist and later ABB member Warren Haynes, guitarist Derek Trucks (nephew of ABB founder Butch Trucks), bassist Oteil Burbridge, and percussionist Marc Quinones – performed at Madison Square Garden for one night only to celebrate 50 years of music from The Allman Brothers Band.

Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska: A Celebration in Words and Music

On Sept. 19, 2023, at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, famed music biographer Warren Zanes, author of “Deliver Me from

Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska,” hosted a live taping of Springsteen’s songs performed by multiple legends in their own right with spoken word storytelling in between. Musical performances include Eric Church (“Dancing in the Dark”), Emmylou Harris (“The Price You Pay,” “Nebraska”), Noah Kahan (“Atlantic City”), Lyle Lovett (“Used Cars,” “My Father’s House”), The Lumineers (“Mansion on the Hill,” “State Trooper”), and Lucinda Williams (“Born in the USA”). Daniel Tashian was the musical director.

New Kids on the Block (iHeart)

This new concert celebrates the enduring legacy of the iconic 1980s boy band that continues to capture the hearts of millions. Viewers will be treated to an intimate performance, as well as a nostalgic reflection on the band’s incredible career. Relive the magic of its biggest hits with newly recorded performances of “Step By Step,” “Please Don’t Go Girl,” “Hangin’ Tough,” “Cover Girl,” and “Tonight,” as well as fresh hits from the new album, “Still Kids.”

Ken Burns: One Nation, Many Stories “One Nation, Many Stories” explores and celebrates the diverse array of Burns’ work since 2017. Featuring excerpts from films including “Country Music,” “Muhammad Ali,” “Benjamin Franklin,” “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” “The American Buffalo,” “The Vietnam War,” and others, the documentary includes an extensive interview with Burns and many of his colleagues from Florentine Films.

MASTERPIECE: Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

In this acclaimed modern retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), the world’s only consulting detective, teams up with his long-suffering, faithful friend, Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman). With his signature deductive reasoning and stunning lack of social grace, Holmes solves a dizzying array of crimes and battles diabolical villains with the help of his friend.

REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World

This documentary tells the remarkable, behind-the-scenes story of how a little-known but life-altering music festival came together against all odds. Young, scrappy concert promoter John Brower puts his life on the line (literally) to turn his failing Toronto Rock n Roll Revival into a one-day event, later coined in rock mythology as “the second most important event in rock n’ roll history.” And it almost didn’t happen. The festival united rock legends like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, and Gene Vincent with The Doors, the biggest band in the world. But it was the 11th-hour arrival of John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band that ignited a seminal moment for the 20,000 fans at Toronto’s Varsity Stadium, triggering Lennon’s final decision to leave the Beatles forever.

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas Join Dame

Mary Berry as she travels to her mother’s homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter adventure. Inspired by her own family holidays, Mary cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes, joined by three special friends: former world number one tennis player and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray; BAFTA Award-winning comedian, writer, and “Love Island” narrator Iain Stirling; and singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé. Together they share stories, memories, and indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime during the holidays.

DAYTIME TV SCHEDULE

MONDAY - FRIDAY

5 a.m. Arthur

5:30 a.m. Odd Squad

6 a.m. Molly of Denali

6:30 a.m. Alma’s Way

7 a.m. Lyla in the Loop

7:30 a.m. Wild Kratts

8 a.m. Daniel Tiger

8:30 a.m. Rosie’s Rules

9 a.m. Sesame Street

9:30 a.m. Work It Out Wombats

10 a.m. Donkey Hodie

10:30 a.m. Pinkalicious & Peterrific

11 a.m. Elinor Wonders Why

11:30 a.m. Nature Cat

Noon Curious George

12:30 p.m. Xavier Riddle

1 p.m. Baking With Julia

1:30 p.m. This Old House

2 p.m. Primetime Repeats

3 p.m. Primetime Repeats

4 p.m. Primetime Repeats

5 p.m. BBC News The Context

5:30 p.m. BBC News America

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

5 a.m. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

5:30 a.m. Arthur

6 a.m. Molly of Denali

6:30 a.m. Alma’s Way

7 a.m. Lyla in the Loop

PRIMETIME TV SCHEDULE

MONDAY

6 p.m. PBS News Hour

7 p.m. Antiques Roadshow

8 p.m. Great American Recipe

9 p.m. P.O.V./Specials

10 p.m. Amanpour & Company

11 p.m. Specials

TUESDAY

6 p.m. PBS News Hour

7 p.m. Finding Your Roots

8 p.m. The Gods of Tennis/ Specials

9 p.m. Frontline/Specials

10 p.m. Amanpour & Company

11 p.m. Antiques Roadshow

WEDNESDAY

6 p.m. PBS News Hour

7 p.m. Nature

8 p.m. NOVA

9 p.m. Specials

10 p.m. Amanpour & Company

11 p.m. Nature

THURSDAY

6 p.m. PBS News Hour

7 p.m. Newsmakers

7:30 p.m. Shivley and Shoulders/Specials

8 p.m. Specials

9 p.m. Specials/ The First Lady

10 p.m. Amanpour & Company

11 p.m. This Old House

11: 30 p.m. Ask This Old House

FRIDAY

6 p.m. PBS News Hour

7 p.m. Washington Week

7:30 p.m. Firing Line

8 p.m. Great American Recipe/ Arts

10 p.m. Amanpour & Company

11 p.m. NOVA

SATURDAY

6 p.m. TBA

7 p.m. No Passport Required

8 p.m. Specials/The First Lady 9 p.m. America Outdoors

10 p.m. Austin City Limits

11 p.m. Specials

SUNDAY

6 p.m. Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

7 p.m. Hotel Portofino

8 p.m. Grantchester/ Magpie Murders

10 p.m. Specials

11 p.m. Drama

Final Detail THE SUMMER OF ’84

You never forget your first concert

BY ANTHONY HEAD

The memory remains vivid: It’s July 7, 1984. I’m 16 and a half years old, hanging out in Roberts Municipal Stadium’s parking lot with my friend Mary Trapp. After the sun has set, in the twilight, it finally happens. There are roars of hunger and rapture as music shatters the evening’s muggy shroud. It’s everything I’d hoped my first live concert would be with the exception of not being able to see it.

That was 40 years ago, at the zenith of Van Halen’s popularity (with lead singer and fellow Hoosier David Lee Roth), and tickets had been sold out for a month. Mary and I were content just listening outside, but when a police officer working security approached us, I figured he’d tell us to hit the road. Instead, after recognizing Mary (he’d known her father), he walked us through the front door and set us free.

I’d been inside Roberts Stadium for circuses and high school basketball tourna-

ments, but that night it felt electrifying and slightly menacing. It was dark and bright at the same time and impossibly, thrillingly loud, like the inside of a storm cloud. The air was as hot and stagnant as a reptile terrarium, and every hard surface — floors, walls, concession stand counters, the seats — was moistened from perspiration, pheromones, and smuggled-in booze. Van Halen howled “Jamie’s Cryin’” from the stage, intensifying the fevered bacchanalia.

We looked down upon it all from the last row. The crowd never stopped moving, never stopped screaming for more. I watched rowdy fans pass out from the heat. I yelled for the encore and realized I was probably losing some of my hearing in real time. All for free!

How could I ever forget something like that?

Ask about someone’s first concert and a pretty good story is likely to tumble out. Some were so moved from the experience they prioritized music in their lives, whether that meant making their own,

working inside the industry, or simply going to as many shows as opportunity and finances allowed.

Van Halen’s show reordered my future ambitions. I became a writer, to some degree at least, so I could stay close to music, musicians, and live performances — anything to keep the embers from that first spectacular pageant burning. So in April, when that memory again popped into my mind, I tracked down a bootleg of the concert and relived my first time all over again.

When I posted the link on Facebook’s “I Grew Up in Evansville, Indiana” page, the response was swift and stoked: “It was awesome!” “Dude… my first show too.” “I couldn’t hear for about three days afterwards.”

I called Mary and, just as I’d hoped, she never forgot, either.

These kinds of memories matter. They’re nostalgic, sure, but also baked into our very foundations. And we never know what’s going to become a turning point in our lives until after it happens.

VAN HALEN ON THEIR 1984 TOUR

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Evansville 110 Main Street

Evansville, IN 47708

812- 426 -1481 • 888- 426 -1481

Princeton 707 Vail Street

Princeton, IN 47670

812-385-3323 • 800-840-5966