Indianapolis Monthly June 2024

48

SUMMER NIGHTS

Now that warm weather is here, we’ve compiled a list to make your nights magical, from moonlit picnics, to evening swims, to gazing at the stars.

EDITED BY JULIA SPALDING

62

FEVER DREAM

As a college player, Caitlin Clark changed the landscape of women’s basketball. The Fever’s No. 1 WNBA draft pick and Indy’s newest rising star is just getting started.

BY BOB KRAVITZ

66

THE INVADERS

Earth may have yet to endure a War of the Worlds–level invasion, but our ecosystem isn’t so lucky. Here are the species plaguing Indiana and how you can combat them.

BY SAM STALL

72

FOREVER HOME

In 1835, a group of mixed-race pioneers fled the South and founded the Roberts Settlement. Their descendants are keeping their memory and their connections alive.

BY CAMILLE GRAVES

ON THE COVER

Photograph by Tony Valainis

CIRCLE CITY

GOOD LIFE

Will a massive overhaul be enough to revive the struggling City Market?

Our Indiana expert takes a swing at explaining Indy’s best golf courses.

ASK ME ANYTHING

The Basketball League owner Evelyn Magley shares her dream for the community-based sport.

Spark up your detective skills with our Indy-area neon sign quiz.

Five can’t-miss events in Indy this month.

A beloved local TV puppet and his friends make a reappearance.

1979 Co.’s leather crossbody is versatile, stylish, and durable.

Grazie Mille is keeping the spirit of chic baubles and gifts alive in Broad Ripple.

Bird is the word with these avian-themed picks.

Protect your skin from harsh summer rays with advice from dermatologists and facials from Keystone at the Crossing’s Face Foundrie.

If “tall, dark, and handsome” can describe houses, each of these homes fits the bill.

Saddle up for a ride by horse or by ... rail? ... in Kentucky’s equestrian country.

Beholder’s seasonal salads bring the farm to your table with their flavorful, local, raw ingredients.

The Golden Ace’s skillets are older than all of us, chef Miguel Anaya works miracles, and His Place’s James Jones lauds the creativity of using what you already have.

Indy-area poke bowls, the national dish of Hawaii, are packed with peak flavor.

Owners of bakery Cafe Babette and parents of three, Cheyenne and Ryan Norris are taking it a day at a time.

Paul and Neal Warner talk about what forced them to make changes at Small Victories Hospitality.

Wilbur

EDITOR’S NOTE

Over the Moon

WHO DOESN’T LOVE SUMMER? It’s the golden time of year when the days are long, temps are warm, and the air is fragrant with the heady scent of blooming perennials. This issue’s cover story (p. 48) counts a multitude of ways to while away summer evenings in the city. From taking in a movie at a nostalgic drive-in theater, to riding roller coasters and watching figure eight car races, to building campfires and simply enjoying the natural beauty of ombre sunsets, we suggest activities to fit a wide variety of moods and interests. With shooting star Caitlin Clark playing her inaugural season in the WNBA, the hottest ticket in town for basketball fans could very well be Indiana Fever games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Bob Kravitz writes about the excitement surrounding Clark’s entry into Hoosier hoops country, as well as her influence on the larger sports world (p. 62).

Personally, I equate summer with all the outdoor projects I dreamed up over the winter, like landscaping, gardening, and painting. I am probably my own worst enemy in thinking I should be capable of single-handedly executing all the ideas I envision. So my summer nights usually end with me slouched in a chair on my patio, exhausted and filthy from a long day toiling over soil, mulch, edging … and weeds. Having sworn off lawn chemicals, I’ve learned to either make peace with particularly tenacious plant varieties or repeatedly yank them out of the ground. Sam Stall’s primer on invasive species (p. 66) identifies offenders like Asian bush honeysuckle, which smells divine but often threatens to topple fences, as well as nuisance animals (mute swans, feral hogs, and bull sharks will now haunt my dreams, thank you). This season, I plan to incorporate more native plants into my landscape to help offset the effects of the more pernicious varieties we mention. Maybe I’ll wind down after my yardwork sessions with a sunset yoga class or a little stargazing.

( CONTRIBUTORS )

Sarah Bahr

A senior staff editor for The New York Times, Sarah Bahr is a perpetual sunset chaser. Her favorite spots in NYC are Little Island and the Staten Island Ferry, but her heart belongs to Midwestern parking lots (p. 55). She grew up in Brownsburg, and her favorite places to view Indy sunsets are Highland Park, Garfield Park, Fountain Square, and the roof of the Gateway Parking Garage at IU Indianapolis.

Andrea Ratcliff Editor-in-Chief

Indianapolis Monthly’s associate art director Maura Broderson just celebrated her one-year anniversary with the magazine by winning a Best in Indiana Journalism Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for IM’s October 2023 feature, “Unexplained Indiana.” When she’s not busy designing the magazine, you can find her puttering around her garden trying to stave off invasive species and plant more Indiana natives (p. 66).

Valainis Award-winning photographer

Tony Valainis has worked with Indianapolis Monthly for 33 years and has a deep appreciation for the enduring community spirit of the descendants of Indiana’s historic Roberts Settlement (p. 72). He enjoyed witnessing the enormous group gather for a shot celebrating their 100th Homecoming reunion in front of the settlement’s 166year-old chapel, which he says was “made for photography.”

Maura Broderson

Tony

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JUNE

EDITORIAL SUPPLEMENT IN THIS ISSUE

81 // HOME

Take in the waterfront views from a renovated Columbusarea retreat, learn how biophilic design practices can enhance personal health and wellness, score a holein-one with a backyard golf green, and find the best contractors and vendors for your next household project in our annual Home supplement.

MEDICAL GUIDE

What are the latest trends and issues in the medical community? We’ll talk with Central Indiana doctors to get the latest details about patient care, testing, treatments, and facilities. This annual resource includes a list of local medical facilities—from hospitals to specialty practices.

WOMEN WHO MOVE INDY

Meet female executives, entrepreneurs, leaders, and business owners who inspire action and innovation around the Circle City. Our profiles share background stories and secrets of success from these women of influence representing a wide range of industries.

Get IN and discover a world of wildlife and thrilling adventure! Explore scenic trails, hike to flowing waterfalls, or camp under the stars.

DISCOVER MORE AT /stateparks

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

Turkey Run State Park

Market Day

Last March, the venerable City Market said goodbye to its last dozen or so vendors and kicked off a massive redevelopment effort that will see the august structure thoroughly remade, along with much of the surrounding block. Here’s what we can expect during and after the project.

(

SPEED READ CONTINUED )

THE CITY MARKET HADN’T BEEN DOING SO GREAT IN RECENT YEARS. It experienced a decline in both tenants and patrons even before being devastated by a Covid-mandated closure. By the time it shut down for renovation, only a relative handful of eateries and other establishments remained. “The Covid closure definitely had an effect on the market,” says Megan Vukusich, director of the Department of Metropolitan Development. “But it also gave us time to reflect on what its future should look like and what we needed to invest in right now to make sure it’s successful.”

THE LANDMARK PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY GETTING SOME LONG-DEFERRED TLC. The 138-year-old City Market building hasn’t enjoyed a thorough update since the 1970s and was long overdue for extensive overhauls to its plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems, as well as structural improvements to elements such as the loading docks. There’s also a plan to shore up and stabilize the building’s oft-visited catacombs and repair the exterior brickwork.

THE REDEVELOPMENT WORK IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE AND COST QUITE A BIT. The general cleanup and renovation tasks will take up most of the project’s first year and cost around $200 million. The entire project will likely last for two years or more. No one’s sure exactly how long, because …

AFTER THE GENERAL REMODELING, A NEW MARKET MANAGER HAS TO BE FOUND. In the past, the facility’s day-to-day operations were handled by the not-for-profit City Market Corp. But after the remodeling phase of the project is finished, an as-yet-to-be-selected private company will be brought in to remake the interior and run the place. “I think that by the end of 2024, we might be finished taking care of deferred maintenance items,” Vukusich says. “Once that’s in place, we’ll be ready to attract an operator. We hope to have someone on board by the end of the year also.”

THE CITY MARKET PROPER IS THE TIP OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT’S ICEBERG. The distinguished old edifice is the

“THE COVID CLOSURE DEFINITELY HAD AN EFFECT ON THE MARKET, BUT IT ALSO GAVE US TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT ITS FUTURE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT WE NEEDED TO INVEST IN RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE IT’S SUCCESSFUL.”

centerpiece of the block-spanning City Market East project, which will (among other things) turn the 20-story “Gold Building” into 350 apartments; upgrade the office tower at 251 E. Ohio Street; and add a newly built 11-story apartment building to the City Market’s east wing. The project is a joint venture between local developers Citimark and Gershman Partners.

THE IDEA IS TO BRING MORE FULL-TIME RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN—AND HOPEFULLY THROUGH THE CITY MARKET’S DOORS. The new apartments are part of a longrunning municipal effort to draw additional full-time residents to the urban core. The bigger that population becomes, the better (in theory) area businesses will do.

IF YOU REALLY LIKE THE LOOKS OF THE LOVELY, IRIDESCENT “GOLD BUILDING,” THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET ONE LAST EYEFUL BECAUSE IT’S ABOUT TO GO AWAY. Not the building, but the gold-tinted one-way windows that have sheathed its exterior since it opened in 1975. The revamped building is slated to house apartments instead of offices, so its tinted windows will be replaced by regular, transparent glass. And in case you’ve ever wondered, the structure’s real name is Market Square Center.

THE ORIGINAL FARMERS’ MARKET HAS A NEW HOME. For the duration of the 2024 season, the beloved farmers market

will operate on the southwest quadrant of Monument Circle every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until October 2. It’s the section of the Circle where Emmis Corporation’s headquarters resides and which last summer saw Spark on the Circle, a temporary park which is slated to return this year as well. This will be the second time in the city’s history that a farmers market has set up shop in this locale. From 1822 to 1824, shortly after Indianapolis’ founding, the Circle (which at the time looked more like a pasture) also hosted a weekly market.

FORMER VENDORS WHO WERE FIXTURES AT THE CITY MARKET HAVE EITHER RELOCATED OR CALLED IT QUITS. Perennial, oldschool haircutting mecca Jack’s Barber Shop has moved to 126 N. Delaware Street. But the owners of Just Cookies, after 35 years at the market, opted to close up and retire. The Department of Metropolitan Development is helping displaced vendors who want to find new locations, and the market waived tenants’ last two months of rent.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO COOL RENDERINGS SHOWING WHAT THE NEW INTERIOR OF THE CITY MARKET WILL LOOK LIKE. The decor and the number and makeup of the vendors will be largely determined by whomever the city selects to manage the place. And that choice won’t be made until the end of the year.

—SAM STALL

FIT BODY. CALM MIND.

Offering over 150 classes a week including Heated and Room Temp Vinyasa Yoga, Yin, Restorative, Pilates Reformer Sessions and group fitness classes. Off-site corporate and private group classes available. Join us for Outdoor Yoga classes this summer at Holliday Park & Newfields.

Playing Through

Q : PRIVATE GOLF OUTFITS LIKE CROOKED STICK ARE CHALLENGING. ARE ANY PUBLIC GREENS AT THE SAME LEVEL?

A: Your best bet is likely the two 18-hole layouts at Eagle Creek Golf Club, both of which were revamped by legendary course designer Pete Dye a few years back and earned glowing reviews in Golf Digest. The Pines course is comparatively forgiving in places, but stretches of the Sycamore are sadistically difficult. However, the price for a round—from $37 to $57—is right. Just remember that these links are part of sprawling, 5,300-acre Eagle Creek Park, which means you may have to cool your heels if a deer, fox, or coyote decides to play through. If wildlife might break your concentration, consider Brickyard Crossing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or The Fort at Fort Harrison State Park, both of which were recently recognized by Golfweek as among Indiana’s finest public courses. —SAM STALL

( UNSPOKEN RULES )

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

A MANNER-FESTO FOR THE ICONIC THEME PARK IN SANTA CLAUS

Everyone gets free parking, sunscreen, soft drinks, and coffee. Yes, really. Remember: The park is cashless. Enter Splashin’ Safari via the Thanksgiving area rather than the main water park entrance for direct access to the rides. Grab free phone-find wristbands for the kids. Splurge on a cabana or loungers that come with mini-fridges and lockers. Pace yourself to make it to the evening Holidays in the Sky drone show. The best-value souvenir is a $7 mystery box in the gift shop next to the carousel. Consider an overnight. Adjacent Lake Rudolph campground has free shuttles to the park.

188,348

Indiana’s total state and national park acreage

That’s 0.82 percent of 1 percent—paltry compared to Alaska’s 9.10 percent. Yet we somehow do better than Oregon, which, despite its scenic landscape, sets aside only 0.46 of 1 percent of its land.

ask THE HOOSIERIST

THE SUN GOES DOWN AND THE NIGHT LIGHTS UP.

Shake up your next vacation in St. Pete-Clearwater. Start with 35 miles of white sand and emerald Gulf waters on America’s Best Beaches. Add eclectic neighborhoods and breathtaking natural areas like Fort De Soto Park. And then top it off with all the world-class art and dining you could ask for. Let’s shine.

St. Pete Pier

Evelyn Magley, The Basketball League CEO

EVELYN MAGLEY BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO OWN A MEN’S SPORTS LEAGUE WHEN SHE AND HER HUSBAND, DAVID MAGLEY, INDIANA’S MR. BASKETBALL 1981, CREATED THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE, NOW IN ITS SIXTH SEASON AND WITH MORE THAN 50 TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BY MIKE BOTKIN

You moved here from Kansas in 2015. How do you like living and working in Indy?

I love it. It feels familiar in that Midwestern and family-oriented way. At the same time, we have the best airport and restaurants, which is why we attract so many international events to our city.

What made you choose Indianapolis to set up TBL?

Indiana is a basketball mecca. Of the 15 largest high school gyms in the

world, 14 are in Indiana. It is truly the perfect headquarters because of the potential for expansion here in the state alone.

How would you describe TBL to someone who’s never heard of it?

A divine vision that makes the beautiful game of basketball a conduit for spreading love within communities. My objective is to generate opportunities for marginalized individuals and cultivate an environment of

Photo by JAY GOLDZ

empowerment while investing in the development of the communities and young men associated with our teams. We positively impact their lives off the court by offering life skills and financial literacy classes.

On a scale of one to 10, rate TBL’s past season, which ends this month. I’d give this season a solid seven. It’s been an engaging season with competitive matchups. The league has grown its fan base and improved its visibility through marketing. However, there have been some challenges affecting team performance and occasional issues with officiating consistency.

What does it mean to you to own a men’s professional sports league?

It is an immense honor and a significant milestone. It represents breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes, not just for me but for all women and minorities who aspire to leadership roles in sports and beyond.

What’s your ultimate goal with this league?

Every decision we make, whether it’s player recruitment or marketing strategies, is driven by our commitment to community empowerment and enrichment. The aim is for each team to be a valuable community asset, fostering economic growth and bringing with it a multitude of opportunities for everyone involved.

Your Indiana teams play in Lebanon, Kokomo, and Medora. It sounds like TBL is for the benefit of not only the players but also those fans and those communities.

Yes, all three. We strive to create an ecosystem where players thrive on and off the court, fans experience the excitement of the game, and communities get a positive impact.

Every team tries to create a connection between the players and the fans. How are your efforts unique?  Our approach is characterized by its granularity and grassroots focus. We ensure our players are deeply engaged with various stakeholders such as nonprofits, youth organizations, schools, corporations, religious

institutions, and community events. Additionally, we leverage advanced technology through our partnerships to actively engage fans during live games, ensuring the next generation remains connected at games.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Balancing the various interests and needs of our stakeholders. From players and coaches to fans and community partners, each group has its own priorities and expectations. Finding the right balance to ensure the league thrives both competitively and commercially while also making a positive impact in our communities requires careful navigation and strategic decision-making. Additionally, maintaining financial stability and growth in a competitive sports landscape is an ongoing challenge.

Three TBL players—Sam Daniel, Kylor Kelley, and Lindy Waters III—were picked up by the NBA. Where do your players come from? We have a draft. They come from

“MY OBJECTIVE IS TO GENERATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS AND CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF EMPOWERMENT WHILE INVESTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG MEN AND COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH OUR TEAMS.”

diverse backgrounds and experiences. Many have professional basketball experience, either domestically or internationally, while others come from collegiate programs. Some transition from unrelated careers.

What has it been like working alongside your legendary Indiana hoopster husband?

Collaborating … has been an immensely fulfilling journey. It’s a unique opportunity to blend our mutual love for the game. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How would you describe yourself as a boss?

I strive to be fair, supportive, and

transparent. I believe in fostering a collaborative environment where everyone’s ideas are valued, and open communication is encouraged. I try to lead by example.

Do you have a favorite basketball movie?

I’m glad you asked! The 1991 film about basketball great Pete Maravich, The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend,resonates with me. It’s a powerful story of determination and perseverance. As someone passionate about sports and the human spirit, I find inspiration in such narratives. It beautifully captures the essence of basketball as more than a game but also as a vehicle for growth.

Featuring 32,000 ft2 of indoor event space and 239 stylish guestrooms, we’re raising the bar with our gift for simple sophistication. Whether you’re planning to visit for work, pleasure, or something in between, we’ll delight you with inspiring spaces, unmatched service, and sophisticated spaces.

In this bustling Nora nook, Kent embraces the daily grind.

Take one of our summer date-night suggestions to see it for yourself.

The City of Light

PITHY NEON WITTICISMS HAVE BEEN POPPING UP INSIDE OF BUSINESSES ALL OVER TOWN. HOW MANY LOCATIONS CAN YOU IDENTIFY? NO PEEKING AT THE KEY—AT LEAST UNTIL YOU’VE NOODLED THE CLUES WE’VE SHARED.

BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

Call it a gastroclub if you want, just don’t skip the brisket nachos.

Shoppers expand their wardrobes with the two-week color challenge.

A day-to-evening outfit that always fits, no matter how many muffins you eat.

Everything is aboveboard here, inspired by three-hour dinners in Italy.

Three generations of women run this spot in the former Black Market space.

It’s only 94 miles to Cuba from here. Sound a little fishy? It is.

PHOTOS BY JOY MONET PHOTOGRAPHY.

(1) Indy Pride Festival

June 8

Come together to celebrate our diverse community. New this year at Military Park are MellowChella, a sober space and sensory lounge, and DJ-stage cabanas. indypride.org

(2) Juneteenth Foodways Festival

June 14

This culinary event at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site shines a spotlight on the influence of Black traditions on American culture and the story of White House chef Dolly Johnson. bhpsite.org/events

(3) U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials

June 15–23

While Indy has hosted this Olympics qualifying meet in years past, this is the first time the event will be staged on a football field, with Lucas Oil Stadium hosting fans over nine days. usaswimming.org

(4) “Here We Are” Jimmy Buffett Party

June 22

The Indianapolis Parrot Head Club and members of the Coral Reefer Band take over Camp Sertoma for tailgating and tiki bar fun. Don’t forget your aloha shirt and beach ball. phindyphc.com

(5) Symphony on the Prairie

June 28

The popular Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra series kicks off the 2024 season at the Conner Prairie Amphitheatre in Fishers. connerprairie.org/explore

Time for Timothy puppets

VINTAGE: APPROXIMATELY 1970 Resides in a private collection

THESE HOMEMADE , cloth hand puppets—Timothy Churchmouse, raccoon Ezra, and Mrs. O’Possum—made their broadcast debut November 9, 1957, on Channel 13 WTHR, formerly WLWI.

The title character, in his signature stripes, was conceived when WLWI asked the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis to create an educational Christian program to air on Sunday mornings.

Dr. Alfred Edyvean, an eminent figure in local community theater, developed the show with Muriel Lee, sending Timothy, his cousin Kathleen, and their (human) aunt Agatha on adventures alongside a rotating cast of friends to new planets and magical lands. The show’s last episode aired in 1992. This trio of original puppets is in the hands of a former puppeteer for the series. —JAVON MANNING

ARTIFACT

Bold Hearts

At the American Heart Association, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity for a longer, healthier life. For

This relentless pursuit will continue until heart disease and stroke are the stories of our past and not of our future. Because a world with equitable health and well-being fuels a future that is yours to create. Join us in this critical mission today. To learn more or make a donation, visit heart.org/indianapolis

WANTED

Green With Envy

Nate Olp, the leather wizard behind 1979 Co. in Irvington, has done it again with the sleek Wanderer crossbody. The shade—Emerald? Pine? Basil? Just call it gorgeous—sucked us in. Then once we saw the functionality, there was no going back. It has two interior compartments, four pockets for cash, cards, or a lipstick, and luxury hardware. Plus it quadruples as a shoulder bag, belt bag, or wristlet clutch. The leather is treated with the highest quality oils and waxes, so you can count on it to soften and age beautifully. $250. Lux & Ivy, 1051 E. 54th St., 317-602-2388 —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

Photo by TONY VALAINIS

( SHOP TALK )

Grazie Mille

ADDRESS

825 E. Westfield Blvd.

HOURS

Thu, Sat 11 a.m.–

That’s an Unwrap

A FAVORITE BROAD RIPPLE GIFT STORE GETS A SECOND LIFE UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. BY MEGAN FERNANDEZ

CYNTHIA VEATCH had big shoes to fill when she purchased the petite gift shop Clara K. & Cartabella from its retiring owners. Their exquisite taste and bespoke service came through for every special occasion. Happily for the boutique’s loyal following, Veatch has a similar eye as a transplanted New York designer. Regulars can still find some of their favorite items, including Hester & Cook placemats, Alba Bijoux semiprecious jewelry from Italy, greeting cards designed by former owner Ghega Scolari, and French Knot knitted goods. Veatch’s new treasures fi right in. Instant obsessions include Emily Lex watercolor workbooks, Canadian artist Janet Hill’s tongue-in-cheek prints, Bookshelf Games disguised as thick tomes for classy displaying, and soy candles produced by women at Wheeler Mission’s Restored Creations enterprise. Saris are made from recycled fabrics, and Veatch sprinkles in curiosities like a British silver toast-holder. She read our minds with the shop’s new name—“a thousand thank yous” in Italian.

YOU COULD BE A WALKING ALDI AD. Their branded tracksuit—a combo of hiphop style and my favorite store—was a must-buy. I also snagged a bucket hat, socks, and shoes. The reaction I get when I’m Aldi’d up is like no other!

OTHER FAVES?

A charcoal Redwood & Ross wool blazer of my dad’s. I dress it up with a collared shirt and tie or down with a tee and jeans.

ARE YOU THE TRENDY ONE IN YOUR CIRCLE?

More of the trendsetter. I like to set myself apart with eye-catching color and patterns.

—CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

(1) Vintage peanut box, $300 (2) Janet Hill Studio art print, $30 (3) Alba Bijoux semiprecious bracelet, $60 (4) Emily Lex watercolor workbook, $24

TRENDING

Bird Watching

A

FLOCK OF

AVIAN FINDS HAS LANDED IN LOCAL SHOPS.

BY STEPHEN GARSTANG

1134 E. 54th St., Ste. J, 317-396-0885

5629 N. Illinois St., 844-348-6407

815 E. 65th St., 317-253-1234

Heritage

and Home, 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. K, 317-426-5732

(1) Cardinal and tufted titmouse blank greeting cards Set of five with envelopes, $30. lauragordon art.com

(2) Persian miniature painting Inquire for price. Easter Conservation Services,

(3) Caspari Hummingbird Trellis charger plate $60. Charles Mayer,

(4) Farm Rio cross-stiched shorts in a linenfirst blend. $215. 8Fifteen,

(5) Hummingbird Floral pique $99.

Clothier

Land of the Rising Sun

IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN. HERE’S HOW.

BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

ACCORDING to the World Resources Institute, while the overall greenhouse gas emissions in Indiana are on a downward trend, they’re still the eighth highest in the country. “The impact of climate change on the skin is enormous and includes higher rates of skin cancer, brown spots, and wrinkles due to an increase in ultraviolet radiation,” says Carmel dermatologist Keeter Sechrist, who is on the board of Outrun the Sun, a local melanoma education and research nonprofit. In short, Indiana is becoming more like a Southern state. “I am sad that I may never get to use my cross-country skis here again,” Sechrist laments.

The sun’s radiation damages our DNA, opening the gate for abnormal skin cells to form. “While our immune system repairs our DNA, over time the damage accumulates, and the immune system can’t keep up. In this way, our

skin can become more sensitive to the sun with age,” notes Christy Waterman, a Zionsville dermatologist and board member at Outrun the Sun.

Sechrist urges using a broad spectrum, SPF 30, water-resistant sunscreen all year long. If you don’t like the idea of a chemical sunscreen, pick up a mineral one (look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the label). UVB radiation, responsible for sunburns, is blocked by glass. But UVA is sneakier. It causes skin aging that’s invisible—until it’s not. UVA radiation doesn’t fluctuate by season, and it passes through glass. “You may work in an office, but if you sit by a window, you’re getting UVA damage,” says Sechrist. For a pool day or a weekend at Indiana Dunes, try sun-protective clothing, like Lifa’s Active Hoodie ($85, hellyhansen.com). It’s easier to wear a shirt than to reapply sunscreen every two hours. “Such garments, now stylish and comfortable, have come a long way,” adds Waterman.

( SKIN SOOTHER )

Face

Forward

A fresh approach to spas lands in Keystone at the Crossing.

IN THE WAY blow dry bars freed us from squeezing in a salon visit for a fast refresh, a new facial bar unlinks skincare from full-on spas. Face Foundrie franchise owner Bhumi Patel fills a gap with her light, airy space. “I noticed that most places to get facials didn’t have the open design concept and weren’t approachable.”

Each Face Foundrie 45-minute facial and 20-minute mini facial has a specific purpose. “For example, the Sculpt is for toning and depuffing, versus the Foundrie Glow, which is better for unclogging pores and adding glow,” says Patel. Unsure what you need, exactly? An esthetician will ask the right questions so you can figure it out. Be honest when you share your skincare routine—or lack of it—as it’s a key clue. A seasonal tip: “Don’t come in after too much sun,” advises esthetician Lizzie Krohn. Since walk-ins are taken, returning when your skin settles down shouldn’t be hard. The Shops at River Crossing, 317-533-1210 —C.V.

BODY +SOUL

THIS OR THAT? )

Black Beauties

ENAMORED WITH DARK EXTERIORS? NEW FINDS HIT THE MARKET AT JUST UNDER $2 MILLION. BY JEANA

HOUSES IN moody hues are trending. Here are distinctive yet different homes for those who walk on the dark side.

A Homestead for Hobby Farmers

For those dreaming of a quiet, pastoral retreat, consider Cicero, a small town 35 minutes north of Indy. Here, a modern farmhouse sized like a mansion offers all the luxury of a custom home, plus the possibilities of a 16-acre lot. Love the thought of a hobby farm? Pastures and a barn provide the foundation. Aft er a long day outside, soak in the 980-squarefoot pool. Find an outdoor space to fit every mood, with covered and open-air patios, a cozy fi repit area, a fenced-in turf yard, and more. Inside, the kitchen and living room share an open concept design. A mix of light and dark adds interest to the color palett e throughout. Rainy days can be enjoyed in the basement that boasts a home theater, billiards room, wet bar, and fitness room.

A Castle for Colts Fans

Att ention, football lovers: Sweeping views of Lucas Oil Stadium from a rooft op terrace await. The black-on-black facade of this brand-new Fletcher Place home features a streamlined, modern design punctuated by three levels of immense windows. An elegant elevator will whisk you between the four floors. A polished kitchen offers premium appliances, ample storage, and space to entertain. The home features en suites in all the bedrooms, plus convenient touches like automated window coverings, retractable screens on a second-floor balcony, and EV charging stations in the garage.

REALTY CHECK

HARRIS

Joy Rides

SADDLE UP TWO WAYS IN KENTUCKY’S HORSE COUNTRY.

BY MEGAN FERNANDEZ

IN LEXINGTON, Kentucky, horse country, hopping in the saddle usually means one thing. But Rail Explorers (175 Beasley Rd., Versailles, 877-833-8588, railexplorers .net) has introduced a fresh adventure that fits the bill. Its cherry-red rail bikes are custom-designed to cruise along railroad tracks, clankety-clanking through bluegrass pastures in Versailles, halfway between Louisville and Lexington. Choose between a two-person or four-person iron horse and pedal to activate the motor, which does most of the work as the carriage whooshes along the tracks for 10 miles round-trip. It goes fast enough on subtle slopes to put wind in the hair. Booze and snacks are allowed on board, as are dogs and babies. The latter tend to fall asleep from the gentle rhythmic rocking. You might see thoroughbreds in the fields en route to the turnaround point, where you’ll stretch your legs over a section of the Kentucky River

Versailles, KY

gorge spanned by a rare S-shaped bridge and a historic trestle bridge. The low-intensity tour takes two hours, about half of which is spent on the move. In addition to daytime rides, Rail Explorers offers lantern-lit cruising at dusk when fireflies twinkle. To trade the rails for trails, look for a riding stable, not to be confused with the 450 working horse farms in the area that cater to jockeys and prize stallions. Big Red Stables (1605 Jackson Pike, Harrodsburg, 502-330-8798, bigredstablesky.com) offers guided tours on gentle Tennessee Walking Horses across its lush, hilly fields, and you can add on a meditative grooming session to bond with your steed.

Soothe any saddle-soreness at The Kentucky Castle (230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, 859-256-0322, thekentuckycastle.com), a landmark hotel with medieval-esque ramparts and turrets. The luxurious destination has a spa, as well as a working farm where you can shear a sheep.

IF YOU GO

VISIT You might meet Triple Crown winner American Pharoah on a farm tour at Coolmore America (coolmore.com), one of the most famous breeders in the area.

HANG OUT Feel daring? A cliff house (thecanopy crew.com) is built into the rocks at Red River Gorge, accessed by a suspension bridge.

MORE INFO Stroll around the 113 acres of Castle & Key Distillery (castleandkey.com), home to a botanical garden, tasting room, and grand, restored buildings dating back to 1887.

Who needs Provence? The lavender fields at DOLLIE’S FARM in Franklin are in full, fragrant bloom this month. Further enticements include prancing peacocks and u-pick sunflowers (in 10 colors) and mint (in six flavors). Bring a picnic and your dog; both are encouraged. dolliesfarm.com —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

TRAVELER

SWOON

Home Grown

“Farm to table” is a worn-out buzz phrase, but at Beholder, it’s literal: The restaurant’s menus are dictated by what local farmers bring chef Jonathan Brooks, so on some June nights, you might get the heirloom cherry tomato, chive blossom, and raw local asparagus salad (left), and on others, you’ll see the charred broccolini, farro, and radish one (right). Both are “definitely indicative” of what will appear on Beholder’s menus this month, Brooks says, but “getting people to try new things is definitely the most fun part of my job.” So be prepared for surprises. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com —EVE BATEY

Photo

( CHEERS )

Family Business

THE GOLDEN ACE INN IS STILL SHINING AFTER 90 YEARS IN THE GAME. BY EVE BATEY

WHEN IMMIGRANTS John and Ann McGinley opened the Golden Ace in 1934, they installed the same stove that grandson Jim McGinley uses to prepare the bar’s cheeseburgers today. Fried “in cast iron skillets older than any of us,” the burgers are “nothing fancy, just delicious,” McGinley says. They also serve to soak up the effects of the Golden Ace’s signature shot, a take on the Irish Flag that trades Jameson for the Grand Marnier you typically see at the top of the drink. Its other layers of crème de menthe and Baileys Irish cream easily evoke the Irish colors, but “you have to use your imagination a bit to see the orange,” McGinley concedes of the twist. “But what’s more Irish than Irish whiskey?” 2533 E. Washington St., 317-632-0696, goldenaceinn.com

PINCH OF WISDOM

“Whenever you’re in the mood to make something new, start with what you already have in your kitchen and think about how you can use [it] in a different way. That’s how some of our best, most creative dishes are created.”

–James Jones , co-owner of His Place

( NEW IN TOWN )

Bread Winner

Miguel Anaya marries Mexican seafood with Midwestern sandwich fare in a Greenwood strip mall.

AFTER Miguel Anaya closed his eponymous Center Grove spot, Anaya’s Mexican Restaurant, the chef and restaurateur was fishing for a new culinary angle. His new business, Fusion Fish & Loaves, is a cheery counter-service taqueria and deli that marries the recipes of Anaya’s home state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, with his considerable skill with seafood. Lightly battered fish and chips compete with the best, and street tacos come loaded with everything from blackened tilapia and grilled shrimp to well-seasoned carne asada. The roasted chicken sandwich—with gooey mozzarella and chipotle mayo between golden slices of toasted sourdough—might be the biggest star. 5893 State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-535-1881 —TERRY KIRTS

SAD GOODBYE After almost five years at 5858 N. College Ave., serial restaurateur Gino Pizzi has closed his local seafood favorite, Blupoint Coastal Kitchen, for good. MASS-IVE NEWS Cunningham Restaurant Group is opening a 7,800-square-foot restaurant with a 6,000-square-foot outdoor patio this fall in the North Mass corridor. The new spot, called Shin Dig, will serve pizza, salads, and sandwiches for lunch and dinner service. —E.B.

Monthly presented its Spring Savor dining event with a week of fine food and wine supporting local charities.

In April, hundreds of guests gathered at the Ritz Charles to enjoy the very best of the Indianapolis restaurant scene. Eight local chefs worked together to prepare fi ve-course meals with wine pairings. We also partnered with four Indianapolis nonprofi t organizations that benefi ted from the proceeds of the dinners. Thank you to all of our sponsors, partners, and guests who made this dining series a phenomenal success.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS AND VENDORS!

Presenting Sponsor: Ritz Charles

Additional Sponsors: The Agency Indy, Ambassador Wines of Washington, Monk’s Road Bourbons & Gins, Napleton Automotive Group, and Moyer Fine Jewelers

Participating Restaurants: Beholder, Julieta Taco Shop, Ritz Charles, Team Indiana, Harry & Izzy’s, HC Tavern and Kitchen, Harder Brunch, and Gomez BBQ

Fish Bowl

THREE DECADES AFTER THE REGIONAL DISH OF HAWAII HIT THE MAINLAND, THE POKE BOWL HAS BECOME A FAST CASUAL STANDBY. THESE ARE SOME OF INDY’S BEST.

BY EVE BATEY

Poke Guru

A downtown food hall favorite, Poke Guru claims it’s a healthier dining choice, and its sleek minimalism certainly evokes that vibe. Walk-up customers can choose between five signature bowls, all with potential customization—or you can build your own by ordering online. Proteins are tuna, salmon, or tofu; mix-ins are a curated list of Japaneseinfluenced items. Multiple locations, poke.guru

Ali’i Poke

Indy’s longest-standing poke shop originally set out to serve the local Polynesian community, but co-owner Jasmine Cheung says they soon realized their customer base was far wider. This is the place to find tropical choices like tako or pineapple, and sauces are all house-made with an eye to the flavor profiles of Hawaii. Multiple locations, aliipoke.com

Following the pizza industry’s lead, Sushi Boss offers a selection of well-considered signature bowls as well as custom offerings. Base choices are limited to sushi rice or leaf lettuce, but protein picks abound. The fishfearful even have options, including short ribs or chicken, but the raw salmon offerings (smoked, spicy, or plain) are the stars. Multiple locations, sushiboss.com TASTE TEST

Sushi Boss

Moar Tea & Poke

Variety is the name of the game at Moar, where the less decisive can get bogged down in a seemingly endless customization list that includes chicken, bacon, and nine different sauces. There’s a multitude of greens to sub in for rice and 14 potential mix-ins if you’re looking for a salad-skewing experience. 448 Massachusetts Ave., 317-737-1897

Photo by JES NIJJER

Popping Off

CAFE BABETTE’S CO-OWNERS ARE NAVIGATING THE CHOPPY WATERS OF SUCCESS.

BY EVE BATEY

CHEYENNE AND RyanNorris are doing everything they can to keep up with their own popularity. In 2023, the parents of three were working in e-commerce but dreamed of opening a business in their own community. “I bake all the time,” Cheyenne says. “So I decided if I can teach myself how to make a croissant, I can do anything. We can have a bakery.”

After she mastered the croissant, it was on to morning buns and other French-inspired classics. Soon, she was developing her own recipes for over-the-top pastries, such as a cruffin made with rhubarb honeysuckle jam and lemon curd topped with cream and edible flowers. “When she gets an idea, it’s just ‘zoom,’” Ryan says. The innovations just keep coming.

About a year ago, the couple started selling Cheyenne’s creations to their neighbors under the name Cafe Babette. As word spread, people were traveling from all over to pick up boxes of baked goods from their Franklin home.

“People started asking us to do pop-ups in the city,” she says. Those sold out swiftly enough that the couple realized that their dream could be a reality. With help from some particularly ardent supporters, they found a kitchen and retail space in a centuryold Garfield Park building. It opened for business in January, serving customers from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday.

(1) Parisian bookshop Shakespeare and Company. “It’s great discovering new bookshops when we travel.”

(2) Pappardelle pasta. “We make our own, with wide noodles.” (3) “A really, really juicy ruby red grapefruit.”

(4) Swimming in Lake Michigan with their kids. “We like the beach at Medbery Park in Montague, Michigan.” (5) Freshsqueezed lemonade. “We love it so much we started making it for the shop.”

Soon, the bakery will also open on Fridays, with additional menu items including doughnuts and sandwiches. They know their customers are hoping for even more days of operation, but they’re proceeding with caution. “We don’t have backers,” Ryan says of their self-funded operation, “so we’ll grow when we can, but only when we 2627

1

FAVORITE THINGS

FOODIE

Try these Ohio wineries this spring.

Château Tüken Orchard & Winery

Tuken’s Orchard and Château Tüken Winery produce hand crafted wines sourced from fruit grown on site. Fifteen varieties of naturally fermented wines are available for complimentary tasting and purchase, and can be enjoyed on the covered porch or wine loft. Seasonal u-pick fruit in the 20-acre orchard provides a grand experience for all ages. Find us on Facebook at tukensorchard&farmmarket. We are also featured in Hidden Gems of America 2023 published by Parentesi Quadra available on Amazon.

15725 Eaton Pike West Alexandria, OH 45381 937-687-3848 www.tukensfarmmarket.com

Laurentia Vineyard & Winery

Laurentia Vineyard and Winery is located within the Grand River Valley. Laurentia’s award-winning wines may be perfectly paired from our expansive menu which includes a variety of boards, shared and large plates, and entertainment, picturesque vineyards, grounds, and an array of seating that includes two indoor levels and two outdoor patios.

4599 S. Madison Rd Madison, Ohio 44057 (440) 296-9175 info@laurentiawinery.com https://laurentiawinery.com/

Our Kitchen Window Winery & Home Goods

Located in historic, creative downtown Urbana, we are one of Ohio’s newest and smallest wineries offering a variety for every palette. We we have found on our travels as well as locally made goods. Stop in for a tasting, a glass, or a bottle and browse our assortment of kitchen and bath items.

He makes wine. She makes soap. They have a shop.

223 North Main Street Urbana, Ohio 43078 (937) 653-7627 ourkitchenwindow22@gmail.com

Rosabella Winery

Rosabella produces a variety of award-winning Their food menu includes a selection of delicious appetizers, sandwiches, pizzas, and desserts including their popular cheesecake wine slushies, & sangrias they offer. Kick back and relax while enjoying live weekend music indoors or on their dog-friendly outdoor patios. Open year-round. Check website for hours.

3951 State Route 307 Austinburg, Ohio 44010 (440) 275-5218 info@rosabellawinery.com https://www.rosabellawinery.com/

Ohio Wine Producers Summer Charm Trail

Plan a special trip this June on the City to Country wine trek along Ohio's western border, sponsored, in part by Brown County. Begin south in Ripley or north in Arcanum and visit a dozen wineries for this a FREE and fun excursion. At each winery, sip new wines, discover some you'll love and collect a wineglass charm. Visit all on the trek, be entered into a grand prize drawing for a free hotel stay and 6 crystal wineglasses. No tickets needed. Ohiowines.org: info and winery hours.

1 South Broadway Geneva, Ohio 44041 (440) 466-4417 dwinchell@ohiowines.org Ohiowines.org

Redefining Victories

WHY A VIBRANT INDIANAPOLIS RESTAURANT GROUP IS SHUTTING MOST OF ITS DOORS.

BY EVE BATEY

IT SEEMED like Neal and Paul Warner had it all. They’re the founders of Small Victories Hospitality, a homegrown restaurant group behind a number of stylish, cool, and bustling Indianapolis businesses. But in a surprise announcement this spring, the brothers announced that they were shuttering or stepping away from all of their restaurants but one. Suspicious minds immediately assumed the worst.

Was gross mismanagement or financial malfeasance to blame? Or are we at fault—is Indianapolis too stuffy for the big city vibe of Small Victories innovators such as Landlocked Baking Company or natural wine bar Chalet?

The truth is far more mundane. “It’s money,” Paul Warner says. “And debt.”

In 2017, when the brothers opened their first business, restaurants operated with a three-step playbook of open, profit, expand. Coat Check Coffee, which poured drinks inside downtown’s historic Athenaeum, “was one of very few craft coffee shops in Indianapolis,” Neal Warner says. They brewed drinks from locally roasted beans, while dairy was from an area farm. Paul whipped up the shop’s baked goods in its narrow kitchen. It was an immediate success.

The Warners used Coat Check’s revenue to open Provider, a second coffee shop in a historic Kennedy-King space. The cafes’ success begat Strange Bird, a Polynesia-meetsCalifornia restaurant with slews of customers vying for seats by its chic tiki bar.

With three booming businesses under their belts, it seemed like a no-brainer to keep growing in 2019. They agreed to launch another coffee shop called Simple Feelings in The Garage food hall, which was set to open the next year. They signed other contracts for a brewery in a defunct fire station, a stand-alone bakery, and a burger joint. Going into 2020, things were looking big for Small Victories.

“Looking back, our biggest error was not just pulling out as soon as we realized what was happening,” Neal says of the pandemic. But they “had put $50,000 into this thing here, $50,000 into this thing over there,” so they kept charging forward with these nascent operations. “We were like, ‘We don’t

Pouring Over

Chalet and Landlocked Baking Company have closed, but the Warners’ legacy lives on at these local businesses.

want to just walk away from this. We made promises. We have our names on the line.’”

But as customers stayed home and safe, the pressure on the Warners continued to grow. They sold all the expensive brewing equipment they’d purchased for the firehouse project and opened it as coffee shop by day/ wine bar by night Chalet. They also took on high-interest debt.

By the time the pandemic waned, the financial hole was just too deep. Food costs continued to rise, especially for the high-quality ingredients used in their bakery. Ensuring fair treatment of workers meant labor costs also rose. “No matter what we did, no matter how busy we were, some of these places were just an anchor pulling us down,” Paul says.

“Only Strange Bird was bringing in more than it was spending,” so they made the decision to shutter Chalet and Landlocked, while handing Provider and Coat Check off to new operators. Strange Bird is suddenly their sole business, at least for now.

While the pair is sad about the tough decision they had to make, they’re also feeling hopeful about the future. “It will be great to have one place to put a laser focus on,” Neal says, trailing off. Paul picks the sentence up, after a second. “And I think we both need a chance to breathe.”

Coat Check Coffee (opened 2017): The Warners’ first business will remain open as part of the Athenaeum Foundation. CEO Craig Mince has hired the bakers from Landlocked to build a new pastry operation at Coat Check, with daily baked goods and other options. Plans are also afoot for an evening craft cocktail program. 401 E. Michigan St., 317-207-2127 coatcheckcoffee.com

Provider (opened 2018): Tinker House Events has taken over Provider’s operations, where CEO Brian Willsey plans on keeping the Warners’ formula fairly unchanged. Eventually, he will resume its nighttime program of “long drinks.” He also plans on refining its patio to create “a greater indoor/outdoor space.” 1101 E. 16th St., 317-550-5685, providerindy.com

Strange Bird (opened 2019): Neal Warner has grown to love rum-based drinks like Strange Bird’s herbaceous Strong Order and might eventually tweak its food menu. But for now, expect business as usual. 128 S. Audubon Rd., 317-550-4115, strangebirdindy.com

SHIFT

BROTHERS, PARTNERS, FRIENDS Paul and Neal Warner at Strange Bird—the sole restaurant retained by Small Victories—in 2020.

Whispering Woods Riding Stables, Georgetown

SUMMER

EDITED BY JULIA SPALDING

BY

WRITTEN BY ROBERT ANNIS, SARAH BAHR, EVE BATEY, CAMILLE GRAVES, ANDREA RATCLIFF, TONY REHAGEN, SAM STALL, AND CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

PHOTO

TONY VALAINIS

Savor the sunset. String the twinkling lights. Cue the cicadas. Here’s how to get the most out of this season’s precious dark hours.

AS MUCH

as we delight in our limited run of summer days in the heartland, there is nothing quite like a perfect summer night. The air cools off, the sky fills with stars, and the freaks aren’t the only ones who come out to soak up the moonlight. For those who appreciate the solitude and sexiness in equal measure, we mapped out a full season of nightlife essentials, including an overnight bike ride, after-hours public pool parties, a delicious midnight snack (hint: you’ll find it in a parking lot), and the best spots to gaze upon downtown’s glittery skyline. So get out there. We’ll leave the porch light on.

Highland Park

The park on this hilly patch of the Holy Cross neighborhood closes at 8 p.m., which means enjoying nighttime views of the city from one of its grassy rises is technically illegal. Hence we are definitely not telling you that sitting on a blanket enjoying some chilled wine (again, not allowed in a city park) while watching the city lights is, err … or rather would be, a very romantic way to while away an evening. 1100 E. New York St.

Rooftop Garden

Fountain Square is the coolest neighborhood in Indy, so it makes sense that it is also home to the city’s coolest rooftop bar, an open-air perch atop the historic Fountain Square Theatre Building in the shadow of the structure’s vintage Coca-Cola billboard. Take the elevator all the way up for spectacular views of downtown’s distant towers. 1105 Prospect St., 317-686-6010, fountainsquareindy.com

JW Marriott

If your out-of-town visitors want a gorgeous view of the city, tell them to book an oddnumbered room on the upper floors of this hotel. If that’s not doable, guests can check out the executive lounge on the 31st floor, where drinks and hors d’oeuvres are served 5–10 p.m. Just keep in mind that the JW is a business hotel, with overhead lights that require sticking your face up to the glass to avoid the glare. 10 S. West St., 317-860-5800, marriott.com

Victory Field

You’re sitting on the third base side of the diamond, surrounded by 3,000 conversations occasionally punctuated by the pop of a 98-mph fastball hitting the catcher’s glove and the crack of solid ash absolutely demolishing a sphere of leather, lace, and rubber. The crowd cheers when the ball rockets toward left-center field. Just beyond that, the city twinkles with offices still lit up while stressed-out workers finish their TPS reports before the fiscal quarter’s end. You can’t help but wonder if some of the excitement in the stands has to do with that spectacular view from the Vic. Throw in some Friday Fireworks for added ooohs and aaaahs 501 W. Maryland St., 317-269-3545, milb .com/indianapolis

This eastside structure has all the trappings of an event space that came of age during the recent industrial-chic era. Its exposed brick walls and original wood floors provide a sweetly scruffy backdrop for special events. If you attend one, step onto the second-story balcony for some fresh air and one of the most interesting perspectives of downtown Indy peeking over the highway. 1101 E. 16th St., tinkerhouseevents.com

Tinker House

High atop downtown’s new Hotel Indy, Cannon Ball Lounge is named after the legendary racer Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker. The decor has a slight Art Deco feel with a classy but casual ambiance. Sipping a craft cocktail, you can look over the railing and see Washington Street stretching out forever— or at least to Irvington— making it a great spot for an evening nightcap. 141 E. Washington St., 317-735-2592, cannon ballindy.com

Cannon Ball Lounge

Hoosier Cruiser Ferris Wheel

At 150 feet, the Indiana State Fair’s Hoosier Cruiser rises above the midway as the tallest Ferris wheel in Indiana and a wonder like no other. Its glass gondolas provide panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, allowing you to take in the colorful glow of the fairgrounds, miles of sparkling city in every direction, and downtown Indianapolis gleaming in miniature in the distance. indianastatefair.com

Eagle’s Nest

In the 1970s, rotating rooftop restaurants were the best way to see any U.S. city’s lights at night, but these days, the oncetrendy venues are rare. This fine dining spot (and slightly more casual bar) offers an unobstructed view out its 360-degree set of windows. 1 S. Capitol Ave., 317-6166170, hyatt.com

SKY’S THE LIMIT

Know your Indy high-rises.

Indiana State Museum’s

Canal Entrance

You can walk the length of White River State Park and stare at the city lights the whole way, but the lower-level waterside entrance to this landmark has its own special glow. Buildings reflect off the dark canal water as the Medal of Honor Memorial gives off a peaceful radiance. Though the setting is breathtaking, you might want to just sit and blissfully take in the serenity of it all. 650 W. Washington St., 317-232-1637, indianamuseum.org

Irsay YMCA

Members know that what is arguably the city’s glitziest gym also offers a nifty display of the near south side. Hop on a treadmill or stationary bike to enjoy a view that stretches across the Eli Lilly campus to Fletcher Place. 403 S. Alabama St., 317-9559622, indymca.org

Skyline Club

Think of the members-only policy as a mere hiccup in scoring a ground-zero view of Indy’s urban sightlines from the OneAmerica Tower. Stationed 36 floors above the downtown streets, the Skyline Club delivers on its name, towering over the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, sharing airspace with the Salesforce Tower, and offering an unobstructed view of the city’s faroff horizon line. 1 American Square, 317-263-5000

HUSH HOUR

Tips to make your outdoor moviegoing experience as pleasant as possible for everyone involved.

Turn off and tune in. These being modern times, a dedicated radio station will provide the movie’s audio. Don’t worry, your battery can take it. Probably.

Screen

While fashionably late indoor moviegoers can use the “It’s just the previews” defense, not so for outdoor audiences, who should be parked and well into their Raisinets an hour before showtime. Nothing is more distracting than a tardy car crunching over gravel.

If you plan to sit outside your car in lawn chairs (or if you don’t want to use your car radio all night), bring along a portable AM/ FM radio

BY

No van-spreading. Assume every drive-in movie is a sold-out show. Park inside your designated spot and pull forward. Even if you “accidentally” take up more than your share of space, an attendee will likely come by and make you correct your botched parking job—while everyone watches.

PHOTO

TONY VALAINIS

Time

MARCELLA

Snyder’s relationship with the westside’s famed Tibbs Drive-In Theatre goes back to a summer job as a teen. These days, she’s the owner and taking the long view when it comes to keeping the institution thriving.

The goal of her recent upgrades to the summer hot spot was twofold: Keep the faithful coming back, and entice a new generation to flock to the drive-in. “After purchasing it in 2019, we knew it was going to need a lot of love if we were going to celebrate the 60-year anniversary in 2027,” says Snyder. “We want it to be the best it can be.”

Tibbs is one of the few outdoor theaters left in the country. The impetus for the revamp wasn’t customer complaints but a desire to keep a classic family pastime alive and well in Indianapolis.

Grab a Frisbee and leash up the dog. Tibbs Drive-In debuts its big refresh.

the four lots. The latter resulted in a net loss of several parking spaces, but the changes were necessary. (Cars and trucks were considerably smaller when the theater opened in 1967 than they are now.) Midwest artist Jon Stommel painted murals on the interior and exterior of the concession stand with iconic Hoosier images: a cardinal, race cars, and corn.

Even the restrooms got a fresh paint job.

ROAD SHOWS

Indiana was once home to scores of drive-in movie theaters. Though their numbers dwindled over the decades, a few relics still illuminate the Hoosier sky.

13-24 DRIVE-IN (Wabash) Opened: 1951 | Screens: 1 |

Snyder started with what she felt were the most pressing concerns. They included replacing outdated kitchen equipment, installing a new point of sale device that accepts Apple and Samsung Pay, fencing in the main gate, painting the screens, putting a new roof on the concession building, upgrading movie projectors and LED lighting, and reconfiguring the parking in two of

Lights off.

Plant eaters have new offerings to look forward to as they wait in line for refreshments, including Impossible Burgers and vegan chicken tenders cooked in a dedicated fryer. Concession prices remain nominal compared to traditional theaters. Snyder feels strongly about the tradition of keeping Tibbs affordable for parents with peckish kids. Yes, funnel fries still await.

To appeal to a wider audience, smaller studio releases are being introduced for the first time this season, as well as technology that allows for subtitles and Spanish language–listening. And Snyder is far from done making improvements, saying “We have plans to continue remodeling over the next five to 10 years as our financial resources allow.”

Visit the snack bar.

This goes without saying, of course. But some newer-model car headlights automatically turn on at dusk when the radio is running off the battery. Believe us when we say it’s better to dig out that owner’s manual and find out beforehand.

In this break-even business, it’s probably how the drive-in makes most of its money. And please, do not bring a grill.

Those future improvements include new sound equipment, completing the parking configuration in the remaining two lots, surrounding the entire property with fresh fencing, building an entirely new box office, and adding a second playground.

“We think the community is just as excited as we are to make the Tibbs a better place,” says Snyder. And some things will never change. “The friendly staff and cool summer vibes are what the Tibbs prides itself on after all these years.” 480 S. Tibbs Ave., tibbsdriveintheatre.com

DRIVE-IN (Martinsville)

67 DRIVE-IN THEATRE (Spencer)

FM Schedule: Open Friday–Saturday Info: cinema67.com

GEORGETOWN DRIVE-IN THEATRE (Georgetown) Opened: 1951| Screens: 2 | Tune in: 95.1 FM (front screen), 91.1 FM (rear screen)

Schedule: Open Friday–Saturday Info: georgetowndrivein.com

M.E.L.S. AT THE STARLITE (Thorntown)

Opened: 1946 | Screens: 1 | Tune in: TBA Schedule: Open Friday–Saturday Info: melsdrive-intheatre.com

MOONLITE DRIVE-IN (Terre Haute)

Opened: 2018 | Screens: 1 | Tune in: 101.5 FM

Schedule: Open daily Info: moonliteterrehaute.com

THE SKYLINE DRIVE-IN THEATRE (Shelbyville)

Opened: 1950 | Screens: 1 | Tune in: 89.9 FM

Schedule: Open Wednesday–Sunday Info: theskylinedrivein.com

THE STARLITE DRIVE-IN (Bloomington)

Opened: 1955 | Screens: 1 | Tune in: 97.5 FM

Schedule: Open Thursday–Sunday Info: starlitebloomington.com

TRI-WAY DRIVE-IN THEATRE (Plymouth)

Opened: 1953 | Screens: 4 | Tune in: TBA

Schedule: Open daily Info: triwaydrivein.com

Eagle Creek Park

Summer Night Trail Run

This quarter- or half-marathon under the stars allows runners to hit trails that are typically off-limits after the park’s dusk closure. The starting gun cracks at 9:30 p.m. on July 13, with the course remaining open until 1:30 a.m. 7602 Eagle Beach Dr., 131events.com

Cool Creek Campfires

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to Cool Creek Park Wednesdays at 7 p.m. to gather around a campfire and learn about all manner of creatures, including birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians, and Hoosier owls. The free educational series, which runs through July, includes wholesome activities such as sing-alongs and marshmallow roasting. 2000 E. 151st St., Carmel, hamiltoncounty.in.gov

You’re

N.I.T.E. Ride

Sleep is overrated, especially on Central Indiana Bicycling Association’s annual all-night summer bike ride through the streets of downtown. This year, pedal-pushers by the thousands will pull into Eli Lilly’s corporate parking lot around 11 p.m. on June 29 to prep for the 20-mile ride that includes a midway stop at The Amp and pizza at the finish line. Online registration is required, along with a helmet and lights. niteride.org

Eagle Creek Park

Guided Kayak Tour

Every Tuesday night from June through August, the Eagle Creek Outfitters team will lead 20 kayakers on a two-hour park and reservoir tour as day turns to dusk. All equipment is provided, and beginners are welcome. Tickets begin at $32. 7602 Walnut Point Rd., 317-2071724, wheelfunrentals.com

Conner Prairie’s We Can Camp

It’s not Yosemite, but Conner Prairie’s family-friendly overnight stays give aspiring off-gridders a glimpse of the great outdoors. They supply the basics (tent, air mattress, cook kit, and propane stove), along with any needed assistance in setup. August 17–18 and August 24–25. 13400 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-776-6000, connerprairie.org

Summer Sunset Yoga

Take a midweek stretch break with a nature-focused series of yoga classes Wednesday evenings 7–8:30 p.m. at the waterfront Osprey Pointe Pavilion at Morse Park & Beach. Classes are free, but donations are accepted, and registration is required. The June 5 session will be at the Taylor Center of Natural History in Strawtown Koteewi Park. 19777 Morse Park Ln., Noblesville, hamiltoncounty.in.gov

Getting Warmer

THE KEY to a great campfire is preparation. Begin by gathering different sized pieces of firewood, if allowed. Some state parks prohibit using downed branches for firewood, so come prepared with wood you sourced elsewhere. Never, ever break off live branches or cut down a tree to use as firewood the same day.

In addition to this being wasteful, the wood will be much too green and will smoke you out. Also, don’t buy one of those shrink-wrapped bundles at the gas station and toss the pieces on as they

are; they’re typically too big and will quickly smother your budding fire. Use a hatchet or saw to cut at least half of them into smaller bits.

Build a base of two large pieces of firewood (the largest pieces of wood in the bundle). Place them 6 to 9 inches apart and then lay two smaller pieces atop them to form a square. Place kindling inside the square. Kindling can be made of shredded newspaper or narrow slivers of wood sliced with a knife. In the center of the kindling, place your secret weapon: a firestarter. You can either buy a firestarter or

STARRY NIGHTS

Want to see the stars? The further you can get away from civilization, the better, says Aarran Shaw. The Butler University physics and astronomy professor suggests a state park like Turkey Run for its many miles without lights. The first thing you should look for is the constellation Sagittarius, which “is especially impressive in the summer,” Shaw says, and is visible with the naked eye.

With a garden-variety telescope, you’ll also be able to see Venus and Jupiter, as well as the latter planet’s moons.

(To know what you’re looking at, Shaw recommends an app like SkyView, which uses your phone’s camera to identify what’s what in the night sky.) There’s also the so-called Summer Triangle of stars to look for. Its points are Altair, Deneb, and Vega, each the brightest star in its respective constellation.

The big show is on August 12 and 13, when the Perseid meteor shower will be most visible. The range of shooting stars is too vast to be captured by a telescope’s narrow lens, so Shaw suggests finding a dark campsite, laying down out in the open, and gazing skyward while as many as 75 meteors an hour pass by.

How to build a campfire everyone will want to gather around.

make your own. Wads of dryer lint stuffed inside toilet paper rolls and sealed with paraffin work well, as do cotton balls soaked in hand sanitizer or Vaseline. (Gathered leaf litter and dry twigs will work if you didn’t come prepared.) Light the firestarter with a match or lighter. Its sparks will ignite the bundle of kindling. After the fire catches, feed it with progressively larger pieces of kindling and wood, then bask in the warmth of the fire and admiration of your friends and family.

In Praise of Parking Lot Sunsets

Look westward ... before you miss it!

BY SARAH BAHR

ON A RECENT weekday evening, I arrived at Summit One Vanderbilt, the newest observation deck in New York City, near Grand Central, prepared for a spectacle. The website advertised it as “New York’s most thrilling view,” and I’d forked over the extra $10 for a special sunset window ticket.

And yes, the view was pretty: twinkling Manhattan skyscrapers set against the backdrop of the gently curving Hudson River, rose and gold streaks dancing across the sky as the city drifted once more into darkness. But one thought kept creeping into my mind: This has nothing on a Midwestern parking lot.

Before I moved to New York City from Indianapolis two years ago to start a job as a senior staff editor at The New York Times, my phone’s camera roll was filled with spontaneous snaps of sunsets, every one of them beautiful

enough to be on a magazine cover. Atop IU Indianapolis’ Gateway Parking Garage, feeling the cool breeze on my shoulders before getting ready to head home after a graduate school literature class. In the parking lot of the Brownsburg Kohl’s, looking out at a water tower and rows of crows perched on power lines while visiting my parents. On a bike in the lot next to the Sunken Garden at Garfield Park, catching the moment when the fountains turn off for the night as the clouds turn blue, then gold, then are drenched in a pinkand-purple haze that coats the entire sky. Oh, and you can’t beat the price: free.

Of course, there are optional add-ons:

A rainstorm a few hours before. A charcuterie tray to nurse from a picnic basket on a blanket in the trunk of your car. A chorus of cicadas. An episode of NPR’s Fresh Air With Terry Gross on the radio. The strains of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” floating over from the man who plays the saxophone outside Victory Field. But really, you don’t need any of these things.

THE FUN OF THE MIDWEST SUNSET IS NOT ONLY ITS BEAUTY, BUT ITS UNPREDICTABILITY.

The fun of the Midwest sunset is not only its beauty, but its unpredictability: One night you might get colors so vibrant that it looks like a lava lamp exploded above you. And then the next night, the sky will go straight from blue to gray to black. It’s fleeting. Frustrating. Beguiling. Absolutely unmissable.

Movies in the Park

The 17th year of this outdoor movie night will see filmgoers gathering at dusk at Noblesville’s Federal Hill Commons. This year’s dates are August 9, 16, and 23 and September 6 and 13; titles will be announced on the Noblesville Parks Department’s website. 175 Logan St., 317-776-6350, noblesvilleparks.org

Palladiscope

As if downtown Carmel’s Palladium concert hall weren’t monumental enough, the 156,000-square-foot centerpiece of the Center for the Performing Arts projects a nightly 3-D light show onto its limestone facade. The 12-minute show, which repeats every half hour between nightfall and 11 p.m., is pure cinema, transforming every corner of the building into illuminated art. Catch an after-dinner show, or spread a blanket and make a night of it. 1 Carter Green, Carmel, 317-843-3800, thecenterpresents.org

Daniel’s Family Vineyard & Winery

Don’t let the word family in the name vanquish date-night dreams. After 6 p.m.—they’re open until 8 p.m. Wednesday–Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday–Saturday—it transforms into an ideal summer spot for couples. With its Napa feel, sunsets over the vineyards, and chill live music, you can reconnect with your partner just sitting outside with a bottle of Lakeside Sangria and a pear-goat cheese brick oven pizza. If you like more active together time, head out for the country line dancing night on July 19. 9061 N. 700 W, McCordsville, 317-248-5222, danielsvineyard.com

The Suds

Since 1957, Greenwood’s carhop-style drive-in, The Suds, has been the site of countless dates, engagements, and family outings. You can still order and eat from the car or take a seat at one of their picnic tables. The dogs, burgers, fries, and shakes are just as delicious either way. 350 Market Plz., Greenwood, 463-444-6052

Rick’s Cafe Boatyard

The sunsets are especially fiery over this westside hidden gem’s little slice of Eagle Creek. Opened in 1986, it has been a summer night magnet since the days of deck shoes and popped Izod collars. Live music on the patio and a solid seafood menu (grilled octopus, shrimp-stuffed flounder, chipotle butter–basted trout) secure its place in the date-night canon. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-2909300, ricksboatyard.com

This loop from 11th Street to White River State Park is open all night, making it a perfect stroll at the end of a romantic evening. Its water-adjacent stretch can be cooler than the streets above, so a spontaneous embrace might even be a bit more welcome. 801 W. Washington St., 317- 327-5823, downtownindy.org

Indianapolis Propylaeum Porch Concert Series

The historic brick-and-limestone building that houses one of the city’s first cultural headquarters (established in 1923 as “a center for cultivation for the public, and particularly the women of Indianapolis”) does the founders proud with its summer concert series on the lawn. The grand front porch sets the stage for free performances that feature a jazz ensemble on June 7, singer Bashiri Asad on July 12, and Sarah Grain & the Billions of Stars on August 9. Guests claim a spot on the lawn at 6 p.m. and settle in for an evening of entertainment with refreshments from a cash bar. 1410 N. Delaware St., 317-638-7881, thepropylaeum.org

Birdies

If you struggle to pry your person off the couch, the site of your usual Netflix-and-carryout date nights, Birdies could be the ideal low-pressure enticement. No getting dressed up, just 18 holes of putt-putt at your own pace, followed by local brews at the bar. Take your hot honey wings and pulled pork nachos onto the rooftop deck strung with twinkly lights. 632 E. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-706-4906, birdiesindy.com

HONEY, I DROPPED OFF THE KIDS

Supervised summer night activities are a hit for the entire family. They get to stay up past bedtime, and you can plan your evening around a child-free night—if only a very brief one.

Dana Mannix Gymnastics Center offers a few Saturday Night Out camps from 5–9 p.m. this summer. Activities include an open gym, bounce house, and pizza, of course. Visit danamannixgymnastics.com to register.

Indy-area Sky Zone trampoline parks host after-dark Glow Nights on designated weekends until 10 p.m. Visitors don their finest DayGlo attire to bounce along to a DJ playing music amid the black lights and glow sticks. It’s like a rave for ages 6 and up. Visit skyzone.com to purchase tickets and sign a waiver.

Area YMCA locations host a variety of themed Kids Night Out programs for both members and nonmembers. Kids get to do crafts, play games, and swim (ages 5 and older). Pizza dinner and snack are included. Visit indy.recliquecore.com for dates and to register.

Downtown Canal

F A S T

COMPANY

Spend Saturday night at an eastside institution that welcomes serious race fans.

BY TONY REHAGEN

THE FIRST HEAT of the junior FasKart division had just finished and the young victor had completed his victory lap when a second car pulled up beside him. Both drivers wore visored helmets, and the engines were idling, so it was impossible to know if anything was being said. But the second car’s intent was unmistakable: Apparently aggrieved by some on-track transgression, perceived or real, the kid (no older than a tween) flashed a gloved middle finger at the winner and sped off toward the pits.

From the third row of the Indianapolis Speedrome stands, I looked at my wife and laughed as we both realized that we had chosen the right place to spend our summer Saturday night.

True Naptowners don’t only go racing in May. While the hallowed Yard of Bricks sits mostly dormant for 11

months out of the year, the Speedrome’s oval of asphalt simmers beneath the Saturday night lights from April to October. Here, drivers young and old run hand-built Outlaw Late Models, Street Stocks, and FasKarts fender to fender around the 0.2-mile track, chasing purses of hundreds or thousands of dollars and the chance to pose for a photo with the big check in front of the hometown crowd.

You want spectacle? Try the main event, the famous Figure 8 World Championship, held here annually since 1977: a dozen or more Late Models revving their 600to 800-

horsepower engines, shaking the ground. They trace infinity, their spec Hoosier-brand tires squalling, gunning it toward the intersection at up to 80 miles per hour—pausing for a microsecond to gauge whether to keep flooring the accelerator or let up and live to do it again—about 1,000 times during the 3-hour endurance race. Somehow, they manage to emerge unscathed … most of the time.

SOMEHOW, THEY MANAGE TO EMERGE UNSCATHED … MOST OF THE TIME.

The swirl creates a vortex that sucks in spectators, the farthest-seated still close enough to feel the heat of internal combustion, smell melted rubber and spent gasoline, and even catch a stray curse or not-so-friendly gesture between combatants following a hard-fought race.

PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS

ADULT SWIM

Water slides are wasted on the youth. These kid-free nights at area pools make a cannonballsized splash for grownups.

THE WATERPARK IN CARMEL

Monon Mixers return to Hamilton County’s 3.5-acre swimming complex this summer. The after-hours (or 8–10 p.m., at least) pool party lets the 21-plus crowd have the run of the place, including its seven pools, lazy river, FlowRider surf machine, and AquaClimb wall. To “mix” in style, grab one of the first come, first served poolside cabanas that come fully loaded with wicker furniture, a cooler, outlets to charge devices, and a lockable cabinet. The concession stand adds beer and wine to the Monon Mixers menu, and visitors can bring in their own food. Tickets are $25 and sold in advance. June 7 and 21, July 5 and 19, August 2. 1195 Central Park Dr. W., Carmel, 317-8487275, carmelclayparks.com

FREEDOM SPRINGS AQUATICS PARK

Greenwood’s version of Water World hosts three Adult Nights at Freedom Springs. Local Oaken Barrel and Mallow Run beverages flow while attendees are treated to live or DJ-spun music. The water features are open and kid-free, promising uninterrupted lap-swimming, tubesliding, high-diving, and lazy river–riding. Six cabanas are available to rent, but there are plenty of lounge chairs to go around. Advance ticket required. June 21, July 19, August 9. 850 W. Stop 18 Rd., Greenwood, 317-884-2078, greenwood.in.gov

Flying Blind

A spin on a roller coaster after dark puts the “ill” in thrill ride.

THRILL

rides are already pretty exciting, but if you want to ramp the experience up to 11, try boarding an already-intimidating roller coaster at night. The best place for this is Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

The Santa Claus, Indiana, park is something of a legend among roller coaster aficionados because it hosts three of the country’s top-rated wooden rides—The Voyage, The Legend, and The Raven.

“Woodies,” which are built from timber rather than steel, are considered the crazy brothers-in-law of the coaster biz. While a steel-framed coaster supplies a steady, predictable ride, wooden models are exhilaratingly erratic. Their massive wooden trestles expand and contract depending on the humidity, providing a rougher journey that can literally change with the weather. “It’s like riding a different coaster every time,” says YouTuber and American Coaster Enthusiasts member Brichette Reid. “I rode all three of Holiday World’s wooden coasters at night last year, and it changed my life.”

The best part of a night ride, she asserts, is the terror of not being able to see what’s coming. Of the three, she thinks The Raven offers the most excitement. “It’s in the woods, you don’t know in which direction you’re going to go, and you’re at the ride’s mercy,” Reid says.

If you want to feel like a moonshine runner with busted headlights careening through the Southern Indiana hills, sit at the very front of the car. And if you like getting slung out of your seat like gravity’s chew toy, sit at the back. But most importantly, remember to plan your nocturnal mission during one of the park’s after-hours events throughout summer.

PICNIC WARS

SYMPHONY on the Prairie and the Summer Nights Film Series at Newfields have been the twin pillars of warm Indianapolis evenings since 8-track tapes were in style. The first of Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s concerts on the rolling lawns of Conner Prairie debuted in 1981, and the art museum’s movie night flickered to life in 1976. We’ve had plenty of time to perfect the elaborate food-and-drink spreads that accompany each event. The finger sandwiches … the plastic stemware … the citronella. But for those new to the art of picnic peacocking, we offer this handy comparison.

SYMPHONY

ON THE PRAIRIE SUMMER NIGHTS FILM SERIES

June 28–August 31June 7–August 31

LAY OF THE LAND

Acres of gently undulating lawn An amphitheater with grassy tiers and concrete drop-offs BRING

Go big with a wagon or rolling cooler, lawn chair, picnic blanket, and citronella candles

Keep it light with a backpack cooler, picnic blanket, pillows, and bug spray DON’T BRING

Beach umbrellas (or anything that will obstruct the view)

Bulky lawn chairs

ALCOHOL POLICY

BYO and sold on-siteSold on-site, no carry-ins allowed (yes, they check)

INSTEAD OF ANTS

An excruciatingly long hike from the parking lot

Limited space, with guests wedged blanket-to-blanket

COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S

Full charcuterie spread on a Pendleton blanket with a candelabra and tumblers of bourbon slushies

Bento box sushi, rolling cooler, and Rumpl puffer camp blanket

NEARBY LAST- MINUTE SUPPLIES

Broccoli Bill’s (15009 Gray Rd., Noblesville) for bottled wine, deli sandwiches, picnicready salads, lobster dip, and deviled eggs

Hoagies and Hops (4155 Boulevard Pl.) for pre-made sandwiches, shredded salads, and red beet pickled eggs

Symphony on the Prairie

Summer Nights Film Series

The Truck Stops Here

A bi-continental food truck serves late-night tacos and fried rice by disco light.

BY EVE BATEY

YOU WOULDN’T EXPECT

a sign listing the indignities of old age to mark the location of one of Indy’s most exciting dining stops, but that contradiction is Taco Loco M&C in a nutshell. It’s a hip, disco-lit food truck parked next to a nursing home. It’s an exclusively late-night operation in a neighborhood that seems to shut down by 7 p.m. And it’s a legitimately great Mexican taco truck that also serves some of the most toothsome Chinese food in the city. It’s a salsa-studded mystery wrapped in an enigma and doused with soy sauce. Introverts are best served by Yelp if they want to know when Taco Loco rolls into its usual parking spot at 86th Street and Ditch Road; though hours are billed as 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., some days the truck doesn’t get there until after sunset, if at all. Fans know to text the truck for advance orders or to confirm hours, but many just make the drive, turning in at the two-story sign advertising marriage counseling, erectile dysfunction treatment, and hearing aids. Taco Loco doesn’t propose to cure

those ills. But it will cure your hunger with a menu divided into sections labeled “Mexican” and “Chinese.” Tacos come topped by every part of the animal, or there are densely meaty burritos and hangover-curing tortas. There’s also a briefer menu of noodles, dumplings, and fried rice, all served with a container of a fantastic and sinus-clearing chile crisp. The nachos and quesadillas are also fine, if less remarkable. If you opt for Taco Loco’s chicken nuggets with fries after all that, you’re dead to me. Given its hours, you might be surprised to learn that Taco Loco is not visited exclusively by folks heading home from a bar. The residential enclave it’s located in is not even remotely a nightlife hot spot, and its line is made up of service workers headed home, ride-share drivers seeking sustenance, and folks who’ve caught

IT’S A SALSA-STUDDED MYSTERY WRAPPED IN AN ENIGMA AND DOUSED WITH SOY SAUCE.

wind of how great both of its menus are. You have to wonder why Taco Loco’s owner doesn’t move the operation to a lot in Broad Ripple or Mass Ave. You might also wonder, why the two menus? And how do they manage to do both so well? The truck’s owner, so responsive and accommodating to customers, falls silent when it’s a reporter on the line. And that’s fine, really, because the impenetrability of Taco Loco is part of its charm. Clever marketing, sharp social media, and pandering to press is part of many restaurants’ business models, but if it doesn’t have to be, why bother? If you have promptly served and delicious food, maybe all you need is some rave-adjacent lights and word of mouth to keep the customers coming. In a just world, that’s the way it should be. 2160 W. 86th St., 463-210-9667 (text, don’t call)

22 2fever dream2 er am

As the Fever’s No. 1 WNBA draft pick, college superstar Caitlin Clark is just getting started in a professional career expected to revolutionize the game—and Indiana fans will watch it all unfold on their home court.

BY BOB KRAVITZ ILLUSTRATION BY DANA SMITH

CCCAITLIN CLARK isn’t just another terrific basketball player. She’s not just a young woman who won back-to-back national Player of the Year awards while taking her school, the University of Iowa, to consecutive NCAA final games. She’s not just the leading scorer in the history of college basketball, outpacing both men and women. She is, in a word, transcendent.

She is among the greatest college players ever in the women’s game, comparing favorably with Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore. A shooter with unlimited 3-point range and the kind of passing ability that makes everybody around her exponentially better, she has forced those who follow the sport to search for grander superlatives. For example: “We are witnessing a transformational moment in sports that we may not experience for generations,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the night of the women’s basketball draft. “Our sport has never been stronger.”

Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the

WNBA draft, is heading to the giddy Indiana Fever, where she is poised to become the ultimate change agent in a town that has already painted a downtown mural in her honor. She will not only help turn the Fever—a once-proud team that hasn’t made the playoffs since Tamika Catchings’ WNBA reign—into an elite franchise, but she will also boost business for the WNBA and women’s sports in general. Because, to put it bluntly, Clark can bring in the crowds. Her Iowa team consistently sold out at home and often on the road in the Big Ten. She plays a feisty, energetic game, and you can’t take your eyes off her on the court. She’s also terrific with fans, who flock to her for autographs after games. In fact, Clark’s popularity is so great, the women’s NCAA final drew more eyeballs to its TV broadcast than the men’s final between Purdue and UConn. Almost immediately, home and away game tickets for the Fever’s 2024 season flew out of the box office. Clark jerseys sold out in one day. Road teams are accommodating Clark’s arrival in their cities by moving their games to larger venues. Just a day after her introductory press conference in Indianapolis, she signed an eight-figure contract with Nike. Two nights before the WNBA draft in Brooklyn, Clark did a short “Weekend Update” skit with Colin Jost and Michael Che on Saturday Night Live. “I was so nervous,” Clark says with a smile. “I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest.”

Fever fans know that feeling.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL has had star power over the years, but no one compares to the 6-foot guard from West Des Moines, Iowa, who has captured the imagination of the country. This isn’t just a sports moment. It’s a cultural touchstone.

And it’s a dream come true for Clark, who, as a

“I can’t think of a better place to start my career, in a place that loves basketball and supports women’s basketball, with an organization that does things the right way.”

third grader, wrote down a wish list for her future that featured being drafted by the WNBA. (She also wanted to win the lottery, but, hey, you can’t have everything.) “At times, it doesn’t feel real,” Clark says. “There are so many people who would kill to be in my shoes. I’m lucky to get these moments. I know it can all be taken away in a second, so I just enjoy every single second of it.”

It’s also a dream come true for the Indiana Fever, who’ve seen their business take off in a way they couldn’t have imagined. In the latest sign that everything has changed in the Indy market, WTHR and WALV will telecast 17 Fever games on local, broadcast TV. Meanwhile, the Pacers are stuck on the wonky Bally app (at least for now).

Clark could have stayed at Iowa for an additional season—she still had her Covid year—but she chose to make the jump to the WNBA, where she will be the top draw in the league for years to come. She was thrilled when Indiana won the draft lottery and received the first pick. And why not? Her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, works for the Pacers. As a Midwesterner born and raised in Iowa, she loves the fact that Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, is just a five-hour drive away and that traveling to Des Moines takes seven. “I was hoping Indiana would get the first pick; it would make my life a lot better,” Clark says. “I can’t think of a better place to start my career, in a place that loves basketball and supports women’s basketball, with an organization that does things the right way and has a championship pedigree.”

Her new team won the WNBA title in 2012 but has struggled mightily

on the court since 2016. The Fever averaged a second-to-last total of 4,067 fans per game last summer. And yet, in April, more than 6,000 fans, many of them younger girls, descended on Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a Fever draft party—a turnout that boggles Clark’s mind. “Wow, 6,000 people just to stare at a screen,” Clark muses. Would anyone expect anything less of the biggest draft addition in Indianapolis since Peyton Manning arrived in 1998? And while Manning clearly had a massive impact on the city, Clark’s fan club extends far beyond state lines. There are stars in

the WNBA, but none have joined the league with more focus and fanfare than Clark.

Lin Dunn, the Fever’s general manager, grew up before and during the early days of Title IX, back when women were not considered capable of competing in big-time sports. Now, she glances at the TV ratings for the women’s final between Clark’s Iowa team and eventual champ South Carolina—18.7 million viewers, almost four million more than the men—and it touches her heart. “I never thought I’d live to see the day that the women’s game would get better ratings than the

men,” says Dunn, who is 76 years old. “Never imagined it.”

The moment Dunn heard Clark was going pro and that the Fever would be the lucky franchise to acquire her, she says, “I fell off my couch.” On draft night, someone asked her how long it took to put Clark’s name in for the first selection. “Fifteen seconds,” she responded at the time, smiling.

THE EXPECTATIONS for this team and for Clark herself may be out of this world, but Clark has lived with pressure all her athletic life, and she has delivered consistently. “Caitlin’s game translates immediately in terms of her range, her ability to hit shots, and her vision,” says ESPN women’s hoops analyst Andraya Carter. “People talk about her scoring, but her passing is next level. She makes the right decisions. She plays the right way. She makes the right read. She gets the ball where it’s supposed to go.”

HOLDING COURT

Clark, alongside Fever head coach Christie Sides, met the media during a post-draft press conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The challenge, Carter says, will be the physicality of going against grown women. “That’s going to be tough. The hits will be harder, the checks will be harder, and the players are going to be faster. Everybody who goes from college to the next level talks about the speed of the game. Any star who comes into the league, teams are going to want to challenge her defensively. But she’ll handle it.”

Says former UConn and WNBA star Rebecca Lobo, now an ESPN analyst, “There’s no comparison [to Clark] that I can find on the women’s side, and I’ve been in this league since the very beginning. We haven’t seen a player drive ticket sales like this, drive ratings like this. And one of the things that’s special is she’s staying in the Midwest; it’s a perfect fit. The hero of the heartland. In terms of attention, we’ve never seen anything close to this.”

Indianapolis is ready for the Caitlin Clark show to roll into town. The crowds are already going wild, and all they have seen so far is the pregame warmup. Clark is a game-changing, business-altering figure, and she’s become one without scoring a single point yet in the WNBA.

BY SAM STALL

THE INVADERS

Indiana’s natural spaces aren’t all that natural anymore. Our rivers teem with foreign fish that pose a danger to boaters; innocuous-looking decorative plants have escaped suburban gardens and now multiply unchecked in our forests; and insects capable of wiping out entire tree species have hitchhiked to the Hoosier state on everything from firewood to cargo pallets. Stopping or even slowing the incursions is tough. Battling the complacency surrounding the problem is even tougher.

“If caught early, this is something that is imminently preventable,” says Aaron Stump, habitat programs manager for the Indiana Wildlife Federation, “but some species have invaded to the point where we’ll probably never get rid of them. A lot of it is just lack of awareness, lack of information, and, a lot of times, lack of public interest.” The following pages offer just a sample of what’s out there. The complete picture is much bigger. And more intruders are on the way.

(feral hog)

(asian bush honeysuckle)

FLORA INVADERS

Callery Pear (aka Bradford Pear)

This Asiatic invader’s story reads like the plot of Jurassic Park. Imported from China, the smallish tree became the darling of developers seeking low-maintenance flora to tart up office parks and residential subdivisions. It was originally sterile. But to quote Jeff Goldblum, “Life, uh, finds a way.” To make it less vulnerable to wind damage, it was crossed with other pear varieties, inadvertently producing weedy hybrids that are as fertile as they are fast-spreading.

“If you take a drive down I-69 in March, it looks like a blizzard has come through,” Stump says. “In the forested roadsides, you’ll have all these white flowers from the Callery pears.”

Wintercreeper

This Chinese native was imported to the United States for use as an ornamental ground cover in shady areas. And it certainly excels at that. Unfortunately, it also thrives in pretty much all light and soil conditions. It has colonized our entire state, smothering forest floors, climbing trees, and squeezing out native plant species, including ones that local herbivores eat to survive.

Wintercreeper isn’t the only imported ground cover to run amok. Indiana is also plagued by Vinca minor (aka periwinkle), which looks like wintercreeper and causes the same mayhem. To add insult to injury, people who plant it in their yards hoping it will control weeds are usually sorely disappointed.

If you’ve got one on your property, cut it down (if the wind hasn’t already dispatched it) and replace it with a serviceberry tree. They’re about the same size and shape as the Callery pear and produce beautiful spring flowers, but they don’t spread aggressively.

“To me, this sort of ground cover just creates a huge maintenance issue,” says Pat Sullivan of Sullivan Hardware & Garden. “Do you know what will grow up right in the middle of it? Weeds and grass.”

Asian Bush Honeysuckle

This all-conquering abomination was supposed to provide cover for wildlife (it doesn’t), help control soil erosion (also no), and serve as a lovely ornamental plant for yards and gardens. Which it sort of did. Unfortunately, it almost immediately escaped those yards and gardens and trampled across the countryside.

Though the most invasive honeysuckle varieties are illegal to sell in Indiana, the damage is already done. Nowadays, you can find them pretty much

(poison hemlock)

everywhere, from Broad Ripple alleys to the darkest corners of the Hoosier National Forest. They crowd out native plants, with some varieties even releasing growth-inhibiting chemicals that poison the ground around them.

Asian bush honeysuckles grow so densely they shade out everything on the forest floor, often leaving nothing but bare soil, according to the Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group. Unsurprisingly, conservation folks would like you to terminate any specimens of this loathsome interloper you might find on your property.

Poison Hemlock

Kudzu

Nicknamed “the vine that ate the South,” kudzu was imported from Japan in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, no one seemed to notice (until it was too late) that it grows ridiculously fast and can quickly cover an entire forest in impenetrable, 5-footdeep piles of matted vines. Now it’s invaded the southern half of Indiana and come within striking range of Indianapolis.

For some inscrutable reason, this European plant was peddled in the United States as a fancy garden addition. Its white, delicate flower clusters strongly resemble those of Queen Anne’s lace, but with one rather important difference. Poison hemlock (you’d think the name would have been a tip off) is extremely toxic. So toxic, in fact, that the Greek philosopher Socrates committed suicide by drinking a cup of its juice.

The plant reproduces prolifically via windborne seeds and lurks in every Indiana county. The proper methods for safely disposing of poison hemlock can be rather complicated, so reach out to your county’s Purdue Extension office for advice if you have it on your property. Until then, leave the plant alone and keep pets away from it. From the flowers down to the roots, it’s dangerous to humans and animals. Even prolonged skin contact can make you sick.

“We’ve been working on eradicating kudzu when we can here in Indiana because we’ve seen all the damage it’s created in the South,” says Megan Abraham, director of the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Wish them luck, because destroying a heavy infestation can involve anything from controlled burning, to serious herbicide applications, to bulldozing. Weirdly, every part of kudzu, from the roots to the leaves, is safe for human consumption. Their flowers are even used for jams and jellies. But Hoosiers can’t nosh their way out of this problem. Kudzu vines grow roughly a foot a day, making them an all-you-can-eat buffet from hell.

Supplant the Bad Seeds

NOT

ALL NON-NATIVES WREAK HAVOC. THESE POPULAR ORNAMENTALS GET THE GREEN LIGHT FOR HOOSIER YARDS FROM PAT SULLIVAN, OWNER OF SULLIVAN HARDWARE & GARDEN.

Lenten rose grows in tidy clumps and puts out showy early flowers.

Hostas crowd out weeds and thrive in shade.

Virgin’s bower, a native clematis, produces pretty posies.

Boxwood shrubs provide a needed home for bees in the winter and lend a stately air to gardens. Limelight hydrangeas boast brightly colored blooms.

FAUNA INVADERS

Asian Carp

The term “Asian carp” is a catchall moniker for four types of carp that made their way to the United States from Asia. All of them breed quickly and outcompete native fish, doing incalculable damage to the ecosystem. They also leap out of the water by the hundreds when startled, potentially hurting unwary water-skiers and anglers.

“Imagine going 20 miles an hour and getting hit by a 50-pound fish,” Stump says. “I hear stories all the time of people being injured this way.”

Asian carp have thoroughly infiltrated Indiana’s major rivers, including White River. Recently, experts decided to give them a more palatable name, Copi, in hopes of encouraging anglers to catch and eat them (they’re reportedly quite tasty, if somewhat bony).

It’s just one part of a furious, multi-front struggle to keep their teeming hordes from invading and possibly laying waste to the Great Lakes.

Feral Hogs

State law says unequivocally that it’s illegal to import, possess, sell, transport, barter, trade, or release wild pigs in Indiana. But apparently somebody didn’t listen.

“These can be an introduced species, meaning somebody thought, ‘I’d like to go hunting this kind of hog, so I’m going to bring one in and let it go,’” Abraham says. “However, there are also feral pigs that simply wandered away from farms.”

Either way, they take to the Indiana countryside like pigs to slop, rooting around streams and ponds and feasting on corn and soybean crops, baby birds, rabbits, and anything else they can find. So far, they’ve made their homes mostly in Southern Indiana, and the DNR has made progress eradicating them. But since a new horde could be clandestinely imported or trot off a farm tomorrow, constant vigilance is required.

Benign Immigrants

Not every creature that’s new to Indiana poses a threat. Some fit right in.

Once all but extinct in Indiana, coyotes can now be found everywhere from Brown County to the quiet streets of Butler-Tarkington. Attacks on people are vanishingly rare, though they’re not above taking stray cats and the smallest dogs. Keep a tight lid on your trash can. And don’t leave your Chihuahua unattended outdoors.

Goldfish were the first wellknown Indiana invader, having escaped decades ago from fish nurseries into rivers and reservoirs, where they grew to impressive size. The sight of a football-sized goldfish lolling around Eagle Creek Reservoir can be jarring, but they do little harm.

Swear you hear seagulls? You’re not going crazy. The maritime marauders winged their way here from the Great Lakes or the Mississippi. They will clean up all the scraps in a Walmart parking lot—hardly a bad thing.

Cattle egrets have colonized Southern Indiana. The white birds somehow got to South America from Africa and made their way north, thoughtfully picking parasites off cows.

The European hornet has made itself at home here. Despite being up to 2 inches long, it fl ies under the radar because it’s nocturnal.

(asian carp)

Mute Swans

Originally brought to this country as ornamental pets of sorts, these highly aggressive birds now prowl Indiana’s wetlands, making a mess of ponds and other waterways with their heavy-handed foraging. They also injure and kill other aquatic birds, along with pets and people.

“During the nesting season and rearing of young, mute swans have been known to aggressively drive off people and pets that enter their territory and have even knocked people from their boats and drowned them,” the DNR reports.

Control programs are in place, but literally thousands of mutes still call Indiana home. In part, this is because they sometimes congregate in out-of-the way places and the people who live nearby either don’t know they’re an invasive species or don’t care. “Maybe somebody’s been feeding those swans,”

dams to nuclear power plants (gulp). Even worse, they also attach themselves to the shells of native shellfish and vacuum so many nutrients from the water that there’s little left for less-competitive mollusks to eat. Not much can be done for the areas already infested, so a lot of effort is instead devoted to blocking their further spread. For instance, boat owners plying infected bodies of water are advised to inspect their hulls for stowaways before they move to another lake or river.

Sponge Moth

(mute swans)

Abraham says. “Some people love life of all kinds, but their good intentions can make bad things happen.”

Zebra Mussels

This innocuous-looking, roughly dime-sized mollusk with a striped shell (hence the name) has made it big in America. Or rather, made itself a big problem in America.

Formerly known as the gypsy moth, this Eurasian import is one of the most damaging insect invaders in the United States, infesting numerous tree and shrub varieties but saving its most vicious attacks for oak trees. It has overrun Indiana’s northern portion, where experts have fought in a 30-year holding action to keep it from advancing south. “We’ve set ourselves the goal of keeping it confined to the top third of the state,” Abraham says.

A Preview of Coming Attractions

HERE’S A SCARY SAMPLING OF CRITTERS THAT HAVEN’T YET GAINED A FOOTHOLD IN INDIANA—BUT COULD SOON.

Asian longhorn beetles love noshing on maples. And they’re getting disturbingly close. A recent Cincinnati infestation necessitated the removal of tens of thousands of trees.

Originally native to the Black, Azov, and Caspian seas, it likely made its way here in the bilge water of a cargo ship. It’s since pervaded most of the eastern United States’ major waterways, including Indiana’s. These mussels breed rapidly and are infamous for colonizing the water intake pipes of everything from hydroelectric

Unfortunately, the sponge moth isn’t the state’s only insect interloper. The emerald ash borer beetle, which lays waste to ash trees, traveled across the state on firewood, infesting all of Indiana’s 92 counties. Then there’s the spotted lanternfly, another tree and bush killer that’s recently shown up in a handful of Indiana locales.

Bull sharks can live for long periods in fresh water. They’ve been spotted far up the Mississippi River and, in less reliable reports, the portion of the Ohio River girding Southern Indiana.

A rodent with red buck teeth that looks like the love child of a muskrat and a beaver, the semiaquatic South American nutria snuck into Southern Indiana. They retreated in winter, but thanks to climate change, we may soon be to their liking.

Giant African snails are big as a fist, reproduce at lightning speed, and eat everything from agricultural crops to tree bark. They were spotted here in 2005 but haven’t gotten cozy yet because it’s too cold—again, for now.

Forever

HOME

BY CAMILLE GRAVES &

The significance of Hamilton County’s Roberts Settlement, a mixed-race pioneer community established in the 1800s, is still felt by descendants who come together annually to connect to their shared history.

PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS

The Roberts Settlement’s 100th Homecoming celebration was held at the 166-year-old Roberts Chapel on July 4 weekend 2023. The chapel sits at 3102 E. 276th Street in Atlanta, Hamilton County, Indiana.

AAfter braving the perils of the Appalachian Mountain wilderness and the danger of being kidnapped and sold into slavery, Micajah Walden and cousins Elijah and Hansel Roberts, pioneers from Northampton County, North Carolina, landed in Hamilton County, Indiana, in 1835. There, they founded Roberts Settlement, a farming community of mixed-race settlers that thrived in the 1800s and made a lasting impact on Central Indiana.

“The decision they had to make to leave, that was a tough decision,” says LaVella Hyter, president of the Roberts Settlement organization, a nonprofit established by the descendants of the original pioneers. Today, the nonprofit is largely based out of the picturesque Roberts Chapel, the settlement’s last standing structure, located on a wellmanicured plot in the middle of farm fields on a country road. There, the successors host school and group tours and gather once a year for a Homecoming celebration.

But the settlers who staked their claim at the site almost 200 years ago could not have known how long their memory would live on.

Encouraged by kin who had migrated earlier and established the Beech Settlement in Rush County, the pioneers believed the Indiana frontier held greater promise for their families than the slave states they fled. As free people of color—a status given to the

multiracial offspring of Blacks, whites, and Native Americans, as well as to free Blacks—their lives were becoming increasingly fraught as the nation grappled with the moral stumbling block of slavery. “They couldn’t own a gun. Even if they were landowners, they couldn’t vote anymore. They couldn’t testify against a white person. … So they began to think, you know, maybe this isn’t for us anymore,” explains Bryan Glover, vice president of the Roberts Settlement organization.

Life in their new home wasn’t easy. Indiana’s thick hardwood forests and wetlands took years to clear, and as the Civil War approached, rancor against Blacks was high and hostile legislation enacted by the state was routine. But over time, the settlers prospered. By 1854, their holdings encompassed 1,124 acres and counting. New families arrived. A log cabin meetinghouse that was the center of civic activity, including both church and school, was replaced by Roberts Chapel in 1858 and a schoolhouse in 1877.

The residents paid their comparatively good fortune forward, aiding escapees on the Underground Railroad, condemning slavery at interracial Wesleyan Methodist revivals held at Roberts Chapel, serving in the 28th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War, and bringing Frederick Douglass to Noblesville to speak at a political rally in 1880.

Eventually, modernization and the settlement’s ballooning population led younger adults to seek their fortunes

In the 1940s, Dr. Carl Roberts, who was raised on the Roberts Settlement, set about mapping the settlement’s family tree. Dr. Roberts was president of the National Medical Association, as well as one of the first Blacks elected to the American College of Surgeons.

elsewhere. “The Roberts Settlement was, you could say, a victim of its own success. They were educating their children long before most Black families,” explains Glover. “By 1880, 1900, if you had a 40-acre farm, that was nothing. It wasn’t viable economically. They had the advantage of being educated. They left the community, and they moved into the bigger towns and cities and became the teachers, the doctors, part of that class of people that received all these Blacks migrating from the South and other places. … It basically led to the decline of the settlement in the early 1900s.”

Yet, even as they scattered, the families recognized that what they had built at Roberts Settlement was something special, and they endeavored to preserve it. In 1923, they held their first Homecoming, inviting back all the former community members who had dispersed. In 1938, they established their nonprofit.

Over July 4 weekend 2023, the descendants celebrated their 100th Homecoming—a tradition that has endured even longer than the farming community’s heyday. The gathering was attended by around 300 people, some of whom grew up on or near the settlement and some of whom had only just discovered their shared heritage.

The organization’s current project is the Legacy Walk at Roberts Settlement, now nearing completion. The self-guided path at the chapel opens to the public next month and includes interpretative stations exploring the location’s story and memorials honoring its founders. An interactive virtual element using a downloadable app is in development and will constitute the next phase of educational outreach.

Though the Roberts Settlement is unique in its lasting presence and influence, what descendants want people to know is that it was not the only settlement of its kind, and it’s not merely the story of a select group of families. It’s representative of an important piece of American history, a crossroads of racial, social, and political factors spanning identities, locales, and time. “Our history is for everybody,” says Hyter. “We want them to embrace it.”

To learn more, visit robertssettlement.org.

Maizie Glover (nee White), the settlement’s oldest living descendant at age 94, smiles with her son, Bryan Glover, the current vice president of the Roberts Settlement organization. Maizie Glover’s great-uncle was Dr. Carl Roberts, with whom she lived in Chicago for a short time after graduating high school. “But I only stayed there from September to February of the next year because I was in love with Wayne, my [future] husband. I had to get back to Noblesville,” she jokes. She is looking forward to seeing the Legacy Walk completed. “It makes me feel very proud that I’m a relative,” she says.

Dr. Roberts’ testimony about his home and his genealogical efforts have served as a foundation for scholars studying Black and multiracial pioneer history. He was president of the Roberts Settlement organization in the 1940s and ’50s.

A young Maizie Glover, second from the left in the bottom row, poses with family at Homecoming in a photo taken in the 1940s. Her mother, Aleatha White (nee Winburn), stands directly behind her. Her grandmother, Alzadia Winburn (nee Roberts), stands to the right of her mother wearing a dark dress and hat.

Descendant John Elson tells of his mother, Mary Elson, and her family’s move to Iowa, where they passed for white. Her great-uncle Milton Roberts was the first to cross the color line. Though he was educated in a colored school in Indiana, no one in Ottumwa, Iowa, where he became a prestigious lawyer, knew his background. Mary Elson’s grandfather Charles, Milton’s brother, soon followed. She recalled that when Milton visited her grandparents for dinner, he arrived in a car driven by a uniformed chauffeur, who waited outside while they dined. Milton and Charles were grandsons of the settlement’s largest landholder, Willis Roberts, who was part of the original migration from North Carolina.

During World War I, Dr. Roberts served in the U.S. Army Sanitary Corps, a contingent of medical officers with knowledge in bacteriology, sanitation, and preventive medicine responsible for curbing the spread of disease among troops. Many people associated with the settlement served in the U.S. military, dating back to Micajah Walden’s service in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

MARY ELSON PHOTO COURTESY JOHN ELSON FAMILY

A’Lelia Bundles, great-greatgranddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, speaks at the 100th Homecoming. Walker was an influential member of Bethel AME church in Indianapolis in the 1910s, when the Rev. Dolphin P. Roberts, who grew up on the settlement and became a nationally recognized religious leader, was pastor. Walker and Roberts were also both fervent supporters of Indianapolis’ “colored” YMCA, which played a critical role in the Civil Rights struggle for Black Hoosiers in the 1900s.

Descendant Melissa White, a Grammy-winning violinist and founding member of the Harlem Quartet, performs during the 100th Homecoming program. Every year, attendees share their accomplishments and talents during the program.

Children and teachers gather in front of Schoolhouse No. 5 at the Roberts Settlement in 1893. Because their children were not allowed to attend public schools for white children, members of the settlement educated their children themselves, eventually building the schoolhouse in 1877. Children of white farmers in the area were welcome, as well, making it the first integrated school in the region.

The grave of Elijah Roberts, one of the settlement’s founders, is located in the active cemetery beside the chapel. “There’s more to [Black] American history than just slavery,” says Lezli Davis, genealogist and daughter of Maizie Glover.

“This is a broad story that resonates on so many levels. It’s a history about how people who are given the same liberties and rights and are then able to go purchase land or go do something unabashed, [without] constraints, can be successful no matter who they are. Just given an opportunity, just look at what the people at Roberts Settlement were able to do.”

Attendees pose in front of Roberts Chapel during Homecoming in 1951. The first informal, large reunions were held as early as the 1890s. The advent of the car in the 1900s made reunions more accessible, with the first informal Homecoming happening in 1923 and the first official, formal Homecoming in 1924.

Young successors of Elijah Roberts (from left to right) Isaiah Baltimore, Justin Nemeroff, Kai Onwueme, and Solenyi Onwueme show off Dr. Stephen A. Vincent’s book Southern Seed, Northern Soil: African-American Farm Communities in the Midwest, 1765–1900. Vincent’s book chronicles the histories of the Beech and Roberts Settlements in Indiana.

The Legacy Walk at Roberts Settlement is slated to open next month. “We’re looking forward to further developing our educational experience. We’re just growing by leaps and bounds with our support on social media and with more people coming out, school groups and what have you. And with the Legacy Walk opening, people will be able to come out at their own leisure,” says LaVella Hyter.

LEGACY WALK RENDERING COURTESY DISPLAY DYNAMICS

Hamilton County’s proclamation declaring July 1, 2023, as “One Hundredth Homecoming Day at Roberts Settlement, Atlanta, Indiana.” The settlement’s pioneer story is an important aspect of Hamilton County and Indiana history.

“There were several Black settlements in Indiana, not just us. All of them left a footprint in Indiana in some way. When you look at Roberts Settlement itself, we impacted Hamilton County. We impacted Indiana. We impacted Central Indiana,” comments LaVella Hyter.

Genealogist Lezli Davis has recently been researching Marcus Gilliam, who left the settlement in the 1890s and became an accomplished and popular student at Cornell University. Gilliam was the first person of color to compete for prizes in oratory at the university and was president of the debate club and toastmaster at the annual class banquet. He went on to become a teacher and principal at colored and integrated schools around the country.

MARCUS GILLIAM PHOTO COURTESY DIVISION OF RARE AND MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS, CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

A merry-go-round pattern quilt sewn by Maizie Glover’s grandmother, Alzadia Winburn. LaVella Hyter remembers the women of the Roberts Settlement Missionary Society working on the quilts in the home of her greatgrandmother, Lucetta Gilliam: “As a little girl, I had to first sit around the quilt frame. My great-grandmother wouldn’t allow me to do anything but just watch,” Hyter recalls. “I was just so intrigued. All the women would come in with their bags of cloth and their yarn on all their needles … and [each of them] was strategic in what their specialty was on the quilt. … I had to watch what they did for two years until they allowed me to put on tassels.”

Historian and author of Hidden History of Hamilton County, Indiana David Heighway presents Hamilton County’s proclamation acknowledging the 100th Homecoming.

Angela Tyson holds a photo that includes her great-grandparents taken circa 1926. After Tyson’s grandmother, Madonna Davenport (nee Sweat), married and migrated to California, she and her husband Lawrence opened a restaurant called KoKo’s Diner—an homage to Kokomo, Indiana. Davenport continued to attend Homecoming every year until she died, taking a four-day train journey each way because of her fear of flying.

In a large version of the photo held by Angela Tyson below, Tyson’s great-grandmother Flossie Sweat (nee Gilliam) stands second from the left in the top row. The man seated third from the left in the middle row is believed to be Guy Sweat, Flossie’s husband and Tyson’s great-grandfather.

Angela Tyson’s son Jacob takes a piggyback ride courtesy of cousin Greg Aranha III at the 100th Homecoming. The event was the family’s first time attending Homecoming.

Nature Awaits

THE OUTDOORS TAKE CENTER STAGE WITH A GLASS-ENCASED ADDITION, BACKYARD GOLF GREENS, AND BIOPHILIC DESIGN ELEMENTS.

Our showrooms are designed to inspire, with bath, kitchen and lighting choices from top brands curated in beautiful, hands-on displays. From product selection to delivery coordination, an industry expert will be there to support your project every step of the way.

100

VIEW FROM THE TOP

A Columbus-area home gets a major upgrade with a waterfront four-season room offering panoramic views of the idyllic surrounding property.

BY MICHELLE MASTRO

85 THE NATURE OF DESIGN

Integrating natural and outdoors-inspired elements into homes can enhance personal wellness efforts.

BY KARA KAVENSKY

95

PAR FOR THE COURSE

The grass is greener on a backyard golf installation in Carmel where artificial turf is a key player.

BY DEVON DEAN

110

MEET THE PROS

Whether you’re building, remodeling, buying, or selling,the right team can help you achieve your home goals.

116 FIXTURES & FINISHES

From appliances to windows and doors, these suppliers outfit and customize all your indoor and outdoor spaces.

124 ACCENTS & DECOR

In the market for new furniture, art, draperies, or entertaining supplies? Fill your home with inspired pieces from these boutiques and shops.

Dare 2 Design Dare 2

Dare 2 Design

The Nature of Design

INTEGRATING NATURAL AND OUTDOORS-INSPIRED ELEMENTS LIKE HOUSEPLANTS, THERAPEUTIC LIGHTING, AND COLD-PLUNGE TUBS INTO HOMES CAN ENHANCE WELLNESS EFFORTS. BY

KARA KAVENSKY

ELLNESS is not a design trend; it’s a way of life that has become integral to design. Creating comfortable, calm, and relaxing living spaces is becoming more and more desirable to homeowners, and the degree to which wellness elements are applied varies by room.

“Whether it is a reading room, a workout space, or a home office, we demand more of our home today than ever,” says Sallie Lord, chief designer

at GreyHunt Interiors. “The feel of a room depends upon what happens in it. Each room needs to do positive things for our mental health.”

The term “biophilic” might be unfamiliar, but its concept of immersive wellness is not. Simply stated, biophilic design represents connectivity to nature. Though the term was coined recently, biophilic design has been used in architecture for millennia, with evidence of courtyards and pleasure gardens strewn across the ruins of the ancient world.

Sallie Lord of Carmel-based GreyHunt Interiors designed the meditation room above.

Green Rooms

T THE ANNUAL Kitchen & Bath Industry Show held earlier this year in Las Vegas, the color green dominated in a vast range of shades including eucalyptus, army, Kelly, sea, emerald, light, forest, pine, olive, tea, lime, grass, Paris, imperial, and Veronese. And no, we’re not talking about the avocado green of the ’70s. To some, green represents the heart chakra and symbolizes opening up, receiving, and abundance.

At KBIS, green was seen on every appliance imaginable, on walls, and on the outsides of tubs and sinks, countertops, and cabinetry. Plants also contributed to the verdant palette.

Nature Versus Nurture

Plants are the most obvious way to bring nature indoors. Living, breathing flora is responsible for oxygen exchange and can bring an immediate

sense of calm to any room.

Demetrius Robinson, principal interior designer with At Home With Savvy, utilizes houseplants wherever possible in his clients’ homes. “Plants are important to me as a designer and a human. Finding ways to bring the outdoors in— whether branches, small objects from nature, or a natural element— adds to overall wellness,” he says.

Robinson sets his clients up for success with houseplants by thoughtfully considering and selecting species that align with their lifestyles. Fussy, highmaintenance varieties may be ideal for some homeowners, but others may prefer low-maintenance plants that thrive on less attention (enter: succulents). Naturspire in Carmel goes further by creating living walls that look like art installations in homes or offices. A living wall provides energy to a stagnant space.

The primary challenge for many homeowners is capitalizing on natural light. This is not only a factor for plants but also for humans.

Demetrius Robinson of At Home With Savvy created a tranquil reading room accented with potted plants (top photo), while Naturspire specializes in living walls as art (bottom).

Let There be Light Therapy

Our natural biological processes, or circadian rhythms, align with the colors of the sun throughout the day. At dawn, we experience the golden hour. Throughout the day, light becomes more blue, which energizes us. The amber light in the evening facilitates a natural release of melatonin, which signals an approaching bedtime.

To emulate these effects indoors, lighting systems and lightbulbs that match the sun’s natural color temperatures now exist. Through carefully chosen fixtures or apps connected to smart lights, we can replicate changes throughout the day, keeping our bodies in sync with natural light rhythms.

Architectural designer Adam Gibson of Adam Gibson Design leverages natural light as much as possible in his design projects. Gibson recommends installing south-facing windows, and if a room requires additional light, he often brings in tubular skylights, which filter UV radiation and are cheaper, easier to install, more energy efficient, and more weatherproof than conventional skylights.

Trigger the Glimmers

Glimmers are moments in a day when we feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. Surrounding yourself with items that trigger glimmers is a fun way to bring joy into a space. This isn’t far from the “love it or leave it” concept professional organizer Marie Kondo applies to her KonMari method of tidying and decluttering homes. The use of objects that make us feel good is something to pay attention to when decorating.

Healthy Design

Another way to incorporate wellness in design is to use natural products and materials that do not off-gas, or release harmful chemicals into the air. “Many people are unaware that their flooring, cabinets, and furniture contain volatile organic compounds. I strongly recommend installing healthy products that contain no carcinogens, which most homeowners don’t realize they may already be living with,” advocates Gibson, who is a healthy home expert and a master kitchen and bath designer. “Wellness that is unseen includes constant fresh air exchanges throughout the home, including adequate cooking ventilation and make-up air.”

and sustainable materials in mind.

Carmel architectural designer Adam Gibson conceptualizes kitchens and bathrooms with lighting considerations

Inspiration Via Immersion

During a presentation at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, certified kitchen and bath designer Elle H-Millard spoke of the benefits of biophilic design, describing how immersive experiences—being surrounded by natural elements that engage us through sight, touch, and sound—release endorphins.

“There’s mystery and wonder associated with nature,” says H-Millard, who created biophilic performance art while earning her MFA. “This connectivity to beauty in nature can be incorporated into design to give us all the feels. It is not a coincidence that many people have their best ideas while in the shower— as creative thoughts are inspired by elements from nature.”

H-Millard points to bathroom fixtures such as waterfall faucets, rain-simulating showerheads, and steam showers as features that evoke a feeling of calm. She suggests seeking inspiration in the Japandi approach, which is a minimalist mix of Japanese and Scandinavian design utilizing greenery, natural materials, and neutral colors.

“Emulating an environment within the home that induces the sympathetic

nervous system to trip into a state of relaxation [creates] a haven away from work and the stresses of life,” says H-Millard. “Surrounding ourselves with objects that are joy-producing and that minimize distractions from our busy lives is a huge victory for anyone.”

Hot or Cold?

While the phrase “to bathe yourself in luxury” is merely a saying, no one can deny how lavish the simple joy of a long, hot bath or a dip in the pool can feel.

Cold water immersion therapy has been trending for a while, and fortunately, there is a lot of equipment on the market for a range of incomes. Benefits from cold immersion include expediting muscle recovery, reducing muscle soreness, improving circulation, and increasing overall mental well-being.

Immersing oneself in hot water for therapeutic purposes dates back thousands of years, with evidence of hot bath rituals existing in ancient China, Egypt, India, Japan, Greece, and elsewhere. The Romans also partook, coining the phrase “sanus per aquam,” which translates to “health through water.” Hot baths are proven to relieve stress and muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation. Submerging yourself in a hot bath in the evening may also improve sleep.

The Ultimate Decorating Tip

bottom line is that whatever makes you feel healthy and happy in your home is paramount.

The

The above bathroom by designer Elle H-Millard channels nature-inspired serenity with its steam shower and botanical print backdrop. A PolarSpa cold-plunge tub is shown below.

Families may be looking to build a larger home to accommodate a new home offi ce, a study/quiet area for the kids, an additional bedroom, or even a family entertainment room. Carrington ensures a distinctively crafted home tailored to suit you and your family’s special wants and needs.

CAPTURE

THE FLAG

A custom backyard golf green allows the homeowner to choose the layout and difficulty level for practice putts.

by TONY VALAINIS

Par for the Course

THE GRASS IS GREENER ON HOME LANDSCAPE PROJECTS— INCLUDING THIS BACKYARD GOLF GREEN—WHERE ARTIFICIAL TURF IS A KEY PLAYER. BY DEVON DEAN

Photo

DDEPENDING ON who you ask, Central Indiana residents might define a perfect summer morning in a variety of ways. Some homeowners, for example, enjoy a cup of coffee and then a quick walk off their back decks to the links to start the day. They have no need for golf carts or caddies. They’re happy with the simple tranquility of swinging a golf club and the satisfying thwack of the ball leaving the tee and soaring through the air. With a golf green right in the backyard, there’s no worrying about the ball disappearing into a forest or nearby pond.

Russ Greene, owner of Greene Exterior Design, has watched the artificial turf trend for home landscaping projects explode over the last few years, reaching a peak during the pandemic. “It catapulted interest in golf into the stratosphere,” Greene says. “People quickly realized they could play golf and social distance easily.” That popularity created demand in the marketplace—clients not only wanted to play the game, but they wanted a worry-free space to practice.

Greene recently installed an artificial turf golf green for a Carmel attorney with the goal of bringing a little slice of Crooked Stick Golf Club to the family’s yard.

The client wanted a place to practice the game he loves, hitting a huge variety of short game shots, with the green mimicking real course conditions. “My short game stinks,” the client laughs. “As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Greene created a setup for the family to work through pitching longer wedge shots from 75-90 yards, closer wedge shots from 35-50 yards from a variety of different angles, short and long greenside bunker shots, pitches and runs, flop shots, and everything in between from both short and deep rough areas.

An avid golfer himself, Greene spent the last several years honing his craft to help him better collaborate

with customers to create truly unique backyard setups. The client did some research and contacted Greene, who took the client on a field trip to three completed in-home golf green installations and let him tee off. “That firsthand experience from these projects gave us a sense of what we liked most about his prior work,” the client says. “When Russ started asking us questions about the design or where holes should be cut, how deep the rough should be, how severe a break should be, we just kept repeating, ‘Build it like you would for yourself, Russ!’”

Beyond the Fairway

Artificial turf installation requests these days aren’t limited just to the links. Greene describes a recent project that included bocce ball and pickleball courts and a whiffle ball tee, in addition to a golf green. He says the family wanted to get their kids outside and away from screens.

Greene also points to turf as a great option for man’s best friend. “I’ve installed dog and pet runs,” he says. “These projects minimize the amount of mud your dog will track into the house because artificial turf drains naturally and quickly. That’s a win for everyone, really.”

Greene says clients are opting for artificial turf even for basic home landscaping. He points to his own yard as an example. “I realized I was spending hours of my weekends just on basic maintenance,” he says. “Artificial turf always looks good and cuts yard work time significantly. I now have more time with my family.”

Whether the new backyard golf green in Carmel has improved the client’s golf game remains to be seen. But anything that brings family together to enjoy the outdoors is a definite hole-in-one.

BRING YOUR A GAME

Hazards like bunkers and water features can be added to private greens to simulate golf course challenges.

I N D I A NAPOLIS

GLOBAL EATS

by

MICHELLE MASTRO

photography by SARAH SHIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

VIEW FROM THE Top

A second-story screened-in porch gets a major upgrade to become a waterfront four-season room, complete with panoramic views.

IN

BARTHOLOMEW County, just outside Columbus, sits a home on 40 acres of land. The property represents the best of both worlds—it’s close to the city but has a rural feel with a private drive looping through wildflower meadows, zigzagging around apple orchards, and meandering up hills until it reaches the house, perched neatly over a private lake.

The setting is especially idyllic, like a peek into a mysterious world. If it’s the right time of day and you happen to be sitting in the waterfront fourseason room, you might spot coyotes or wild turkeys darting into the forest behind the lake or see herons dipping their beaks into the water, catching fish in easy, languid movements. Ducks paddle at the lake’s edge. Birds sing. And a herd of deer might turn their heads to gaze at you before vanishing back between the trees.

With views like these, it’s easy to see why the homeowners wanted to turn the picturesque property into a forever home. But there was one problem: The house, built in 2007, came with an oddly shaped, secondstory screened-in post-and-beam porch that affected the home’s overall livability. The space was cramped and couldn’t be used year-round, and the sight lines from the house were restricted due to the structure’s shape and its dull screens.

The setting is especially idyllic, like a peek into a mysterious world.

“This is a house that was built many years ago,” says Loren Wood, owner and project manager of Loren Wood Builders. “And parts of it no longer had adequate views or weren’t large enough for the entertaining and functionality the homeowners wanted.”

The project was a massive undertaking. The final design of the new four-season room would push the

structure out an extra 25 feet from where the original screened-in porch ended, and numerous accommodations, like new landscaping and a revamped basement, had to be made.

It was just the sort of complicated project that Wood and his company seek out. Knowing their expertise, architecture firm Brownsmith Studios thought of them and brought them on to help execute it. “We embrace the opportunity to work on architecturally significant projects like this,” Wood says. “We really bring a skilled and expert team to bear on any project with meticulous details.”

As hoped, the collaboration was a match made in heaven. Brownsmith designed the addition, while Loren Wood Builders built out the designs to perfection. “We were impressed with the whole team,” says the homeowner. “They had done big projects before, so we knew they could handle ours.”

The new four-season room, which the building team fondly referred to as “the nest,” included 14-foot-tall glass windows—a sizeable effort, for which even the slightest mistake was intolerable. The glass had to fit on the steel beams perfectly. A quarter inch difference could cause the glass to slide off. “Every single aspect of this project is unique and was handcrafted by our carpenters,” says Wood. “Every element represents a huge amount of intentionality. We bring that high level of expertise and oversight to our work.”

Such effective builder and architect collaborations are rare these days. That’s because the typical residential home building or renovation project today goes to general contractors, who then subcontract out all the work, from the carpentry to the interior design. “That’s a lean model for construction, and that’s what most builders unfortunately work under,”

“Every single aspect of this project is unique and was handcrafted by our carpenters.”

Wood explains. Many homeowners prefer this approach because it saves money and time, as the projects tend to be executed more quickly.

According to Wood, the hidden cost of using a general contractor is a lack of artistry and finesse. “The value of a self-performing contractor like us in conjunction with a skilled architect is that this collaboration allows us to execute really unique projects at a high level—and it is a much more curated process,” Wood says. It can be a challenge for a general contractor to ask a subcontractor to complete work that involves detailed and unique components. Loren Wood Builders, however, takes the time to adjust to homeowners’ requests.

With this house project, for example, Wood carefully devised a way to detach the screened-in porch’s timber beams and install them in the basement’s new ceiling. This has helped preserve the home’s original design flow. It was also convenient because the owner ended up requesting a basement renovation to better accommodate the new four-season room and glass breezeway connecting it to the existing house.

The team transformed the basement into another space for the homeowners to entertain guests, including building a unique quartzite bar top that shimmers so beautifully, it looks like it’s glowing in the dark.

“It’s the best I’ve ever seen,” says one of the owners, whose idea for the bar top came from others they’d seen while traveling across the country.

“Here, the built-in lights are all dimmable. And the builders created that countertop from scratch, so if anything goes wrong, they can come back and fix it.” To coordinate with the natural hues and materials of the renovations, other rooms in the house were updated from whites and taupes to shades of light or dark gray.

Back in the four-season room, the building team crafted several other standout features, including a skylight ceiling framed in white oak. The new tile floors have radiant heating and

allow the owners’ dogs to walk around without slipping. The hefty windows were finished with phantom screens cleverly tucked away in hidden ceiling compartments. “The screens provide enough contrast to warn birds they can’t fly through the windows, and [they] also block out the sun—it can get up to 77 degrees in this room at spring, while in summer it’s even warmer,” a homeowner explains. Air conditioning supplements the work of the screens, making the space comfortable in the hotter months.

Most of the home’s new additions consider how the owners will enjoy the spaces in the coming years. After the indoor refurbishments, the homeowners decided they wanted a sunken

hot tub and saltwater pool. “We ultimately want to retire and grow old here,” says one homeowner. “And we hope the house will be a great spot for grandkids—we thought future grandkids would like a pool.”

“We want our house to be a place where our grown kids and their new families will want to come back to,” the homeowners say. And they’re off to a great start. Not long after the renovations were completed, they hosted their son’s wedding at the house, welcoming 200 guests.

The house stands as an example of what many of their friends are hoping to do with their own homes. Says one owner, “We know several people who have added on to their houses around

the county—there’s just not that much on the housing market right now.”

Wood isn’t surprised. “As Southern Indiana cities like Columbus and Bloomington continue to densify, we’re going to start seeing more home renos that allow homeowners to retire or age in place,” says Wood. This is also the case in desirable areas on the north side of Indianapolis. “Ideal neighborhoods are already built out, so unless you can find an affordable empty lot, buying and renovating an existing house will become the norm.”

Or homeowners may want to buy a distressed home and tear it down to start anew. “We’ve seen an increase in this type of thing in the last 10 years as well, since more homeowners

consider larger scale renos to stay in their city’s existing infrastructure.”

In other words, a lot of people want to reside near their city centers, making the empty lots on the outskirts of cities less desirable.

For this reason and others, the homeowners are ecstatic about their Bartholomew County property and

“We enjoy sitting up in ‘the nest’ and watching the wildlife.”

what they’ve been able to achieve. Their proximity to Columbus allows them to feel like they’re part of the community, but they can still enjoy the seclusion their hidden gem of a house supplies, with its position tucked away near woods and rambling hills. They have even planted food plots for the deer on the other side of the lake. “We enjoy sitting up in ‘the nest’ and watching the wildlife.”

Right next to the property, they have planted an apple orchard with numerous varieties. They’ve also added walking trails and sown seven acres of wildflowers. “We’re out here all the time now—or enjoying the views from our nest. We can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Every Drees home is built from a foundation of you. Select from a variety of floor plans and finishes or add your own custom flair. From

paired villas, we’ll bring your dream home to

no matter your

You can even build a Drees home on your own lot with Design Gallery Homes by Drees. Get started today!

NOW BUILDING IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT INDIANAPOLIS OR ON YOUR OWN LOT WITH DESIGN GALLERY HOMES

Paired

From

From

Paired

From the

MEET THE PROS

WHETHER YOU’RE BUILDING, REMODELING, BUYING, OR SELLING, THE RIGHT TEAM CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR HOME GOALS.

Architects

Blackline Studio

317-803-7900 blacklinestudio.net

Brownsmith Studios 812-961-8687 brownsmithstudios.com

Gary Nance Design 317-605-2196 garynancedesign.com

Goldberg Design Group, Inc.

317-582-1430 goldbergdesigngroup.com

Haus | Architecture for Modern Lifestyles

317-652-2828 haus-arch.com

Luminaut 317-636-3980 luminaut.com

MW Harris Design 317-250-3921 instagram.com/ mwharrisdesign

Neon Architecture 317-332-7174 neonarchitecture.com

One 10 Studio 317-501-6021 one10studio.com

Pad Architecture 317-847-0724 pad-arch.com

Ratio Design 317-633-4040 ratiodesign.com

Rottmann Collier Architects Inc. 317-721-2724 rottmanncollier.com

Still Architecture + Design 317-450-3208 still-arch.com

StudioAxis 317-264-8162 studioaxis.com

Trade Design Studio 317-514-3352 tradedesignstudio.com

Developers

Chatham Park Development 317-295-2622 chathamparkdev.com

Henke Development Group

317-439-8803 henkedevelopment.com

Inglenook Cottage Homes

317-767-9760 inglenookcottagehomes.com

The Marina Limited Partnership 317-845-0270 marinalimitedland.com

Re-Development Group 317-281-0482 redev.net

TMK Development 219-878-3918 tmkdesignllc.com

Homebuilders

aaNovo 317-597-2262 aanovo.co

AR Homes 800-274-6637 arhomes.com

BBG Construction 317-250-8522 bbgconstruction.com

Beazer Homes 888-623-2937 beazer.com

Becley Building Group 317-514-6130 becleybg.com

Bedrock Builders 317-770-3900 bedrockbuilders.com

Bennett Custom Homes 317-414-3780 bennett-customhomes.com

Bridgenorth Homes 317-318-1105 bridgenorthhomes.com

Carrington Homes 317-336-8002 carringtonhomes.com

Cedar Street Builders 317-942-0859 cedarstreetbuilders.com

Christopher Scott Homes

317-590-7961 cshomes.com

Compendium Group 317-506-6367 cg317.com

Custom Homes by Cory 317-859-8309 customhomesbycory.com

Dan Elliott Custom Homes

317-849-9138 danelliotthomes.com

Dave Sego Builders 317-462-8806 davesegobuilders.com

David Weekley Homes 765-335-6136 davidweekleyhomes.com

Davis Homes 317-548-4663 davishomes.com

DB Klain Construction 317-846-9992 dbklain.com

Drees Homes 317-347-7300 dreeshomes.com

Duke Homes 317-422-9000 dukehomes.com

Eaton Custom Homes 317-979-4304 eatoncustomhomes.com

Ennis Custom Homes 812-287-1878 enniscustomhomes.com

Estridge Homes 317-932-8785 estridgehomes.com

Executive Homes 317-843-2740 executivehomesindy.com

LISTINGS ARE COMPILED at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff. No company or organization has paid to be included. A listing may not include every service or product a company offers, and some businesses may fit into multiple categories. Inclusion should not be considered an advertisement, recommendation, or endorsement by Indianapolis Monthly Businesses are located in Indianapolis unless otherwise noted.

Fischer Homes 855-342-2281 fischerhomes.com

G&G Custom Homes 317-418-7665 ggcustomhomes.com

Golden Ratio Homes 317-777-1723 goldenratiohomes.com

Gollner Homes 317-432-7364 gollnerhomes.com

Gradison Design Build 317-594-7575 gradisonbuilding.com

Green Square Design Construct, Inc. 317-431-8056 greensquareinc.com

GuyCo Homes & Remodeling 317-272-2236 guycohomes.com

Hamilton Homes 317-570-1331 builtbyhamilton.com

H•E Homes 317-759-3001 he-homes.com

Heuer Homes 317-420-2462 heuerhomes.com

Homes by C.M. Watson 317-863-5335 buildwithwatson.com

Homes by Design 317-228-0058 hbdbuilder.com

Homes by Rex Brown 317-587-1388 homesbyrexbrown.com

Hoss Homes 317-823-9788 hosshomes.com

Indy Mod Homes 317-913-9127 indymodhomes.com

Integra Builders 317-426-7807 integrabuilders.com

JB Partners 317-777-0435 jbindy.com

Joyner Homes 317-468-2330 joynerhomesonline.com

J.R. Lazaro Builders 317-271-0331 jrlazarobuilders.com

Kent Shaffer Homes 317-903-3087 kentshafferbuilders.com

Kourtney Homes 317-522-3970 kourtneyhomes.com

Loren Wood Builders 812-287-7575 lorenwoodbuilders.com

Madison Custom Homes 317-363-3242 madisoncustomhomesinc.com

Mark S. Adams Building Corporation 317-590-3690 msabuildingcorp.com

Matt Beecher Builders 317-535-7348 mattbeecherbuilders.com

McKenzie Collection 317-574-7616 mckenziecollection.com

M/I Homes 317-207-6777 mihomes.com

Michael & Associates 317-858-9644 michaelandassociatesinc.com

Mitford Homes 317-945-7538 mitfordhomes.com

North Homes 765-482-2444 northhomes.net

Old Town Design Group 317-816-3151 oldtowndesigngroup.com

Phil Myers Custom Homes 317-849-5097 instagram.com/ philmyerscustomhomes

Pulte Homes 317-575-2350 pulte.com

Randy Shaffer

Custom Homes

317-702-3467 randyshaffer.net

Regal Custom Homes by Davis 317-548-4663 davishomes.com

Renowned Builders

317-861-8956 renownedbuilders.com

Richard Carriger Custom Homes 317-846-9221 richardcarriger.com

Rick Campbell Builder 317-752-5469 rickcampbellbuilder.com

Rise Builders

317-680-6444 risebuildersllc.com

RLS Building Corp. 317-718-7574 rlsbuilding.com

Scott Bates Custom Homes 317-408-4853 sbcustom.com

Scott Campbell Custom Homes 765-778-2738 scottcampbellcustom homes.com

Shamrock Builders

317-558-8750 shamrockbuilders.com

Sigma Builders

317-203-3070 sigmabuildersllc.com

Silverthorne Homes

317-806-2190 silverthornehomes.com

Skelton, Inc. Builders 317-439-6308 skeltonbuilders.com

SLM Homes 317-281-5224 slmhomes.net

Sobczak Construction Services 317-844-9576 scscustomhomes.com

Steven Sears Building Co. 317-694-4231 stevensearsbuildingco.com

Steven A. Wilson 317-846-2555 sawbuilder.com

Taylor Morrison 317-790-5000 taylormorrison.com

Tikal Homes

317-667-6512 tikalhomes.com

TKW Homes

317-450-2345 tkwhomes.com

Viewegh Crafted Homes

317-834-6512 viewegh.com

Waterfront of West Clay 833-525-3466 waterfrontofwestclay.com

Wedgewood Building Company 317-669-6300 wedgewoodbc.com

Westwind Construction 317-578-1168 wcindy.com

Whicker Construction 317-839-8353 whickerconstruction.com

Williams Custom Art Builders 317-577-9904 williamscustomart builders.com

Woodstock Custom Homes 317-506-3568 woodstockcustomhomes.com

Interior Designers

Allison Chamness Interiors 317-670-7454 allisonchamness interiors.com

At Home With Savvy 312-375-3395 athomewithsavvy.com

Brown Design 317-590-0063 browndesignllc.com

BWR Home 317-319-1663 bwrhome.com

Catherine Marrano Interiors 317-661-1350 catherinemarrano.com

Cathy Chitwood 317-566-6500 cathythedesigner.com

Compass Design 317-865-1544 compassdesignservices.com

Cornerstone Interiors 317-986-6601 csidesignteam.com

Cozy Lifestyle Interiors

646-464-2993 cozylifestyleinteriors.com

D Ray Decor

317-300-1000 draydecorhome.com

Dani Kohl Interiors 317-457-6668 danikohl.com

Dare 2 Design 317-552-9506 dare2designindy.com

DB Interiors 317-410-0085 dbinteriorsusa.com

Design House of Alexandra 888-638-3462 dhoa.com

Design Studio Vriesman 317-519-1785 designstudiovriesman.com

Elle Designs 317-508-9260 elle-designs.com

Everything Home 317-660-1077 everythinghomedesigns.com

G&G Design and Staging 317-565-9224, 513-720-1707 designbygandg.com

GreyHunt Interiors 703-344-7345 greyhuntinteriors.com

Hilari Goris Designs 260-413-3239 hilarigoris.com

Hollander Home Style hollanderhomestyle.com

Home & Willow Design 317-288-5045 homeandwillowdesign.com

Hoskins Interior Design 317-253-8986 hoskinsinteriordesign.com

J. Gauker Interiors 317-853-6907 jgaukerinteriors.com

JB Designs 317-435-2779 judybatesdesigns.com

Jeff Sheats Designs 317-357-0155 jeffsheatsdesigns.com

Jenni Egger Designs 317-694-8047 jennieggerdesigns.com

Julie Browning Bova Design 317-580-9775 juliebrowningbova.com

Julie O’Brien Design Group 317-706-0772 julieobriendesign.com

Kiefer Design Group 317-441-9247 kieferdesigngroup.com

Kittle’s Design Studio 317-849-1163 kittles.com

Lantz Collective 317-569-5972 lantzcollective.com

Lehner Designs 317-888-7086 lehnerdesigns.com

LKS Interior Design lksinteriordesign.com

Marika Designs 317-439-1136 marikadesigns.com

Marten Design 317-435-5520 marten.design

Michael Carron Design 812-589-4004 michaelcarron.com

Michele Koken 317-442-8222 mbkinteriordesign.com

MJ Coyle Home 317-296-3913 mjcoylehome.com

Polish Interior & Art Design 317-929-1109 polishinteriors.com

Rosalind Brinn Pope 317-475-1906 popeinteriors.com

Sanctuary Homes sanctuaryhomesdesign.com

Sassy Green Interiors 317-344-0258 sassygreeninteriors.com

Savvy Decor 317-848-0020 savvydecor.com

Shine Design Interiors 317-974-9029 shinedesigninteriors.com

So Chic Home Design & Styling 317-397-7947 sochichomedesigns.com

Stephanie Wiott Designs 630-267-0440 stephaniewiottdesigns.com

TB&J Interior Design 317-626-7512 tbandjinteriordesign.com

Thomas & Jayne

Interior Design 317-582-2727 thomasjayne.com

Tiffany Skilling Interiors 317-501-7953 tiffanyskillinginteriors.com

Walker Designs 317-431-6240 walkerdesignsonline.com

Whetstone & Associates 317-852-7041 whetstoneandassociates.com

Landscape Designers

Accent Landscapes 463-213-3878 accentlandscapes.com

Arkenau Landscapes & Lighting 317-294-1588 arkenaulandscaping.com

Aspen Outdoor Designs 317-774-0156 aspenoutdoordesigns.com

BAM Outdoor, Inc. 317-896-1414 bamoutdoorinc.com

BPI Outdoor Living 317-259-4062 bpioutdoorliving.com

Brownsburg Landscape Company 317-852-8440 brownsburglandscape.com

Calvin Landscape 317-247-6316 calvinlandscape.com

Capehart Landscape & Design 317-439-0778 capehartlandscape anddesign.com

Circle City Outdoors 317-257-7518 circlecityoutdoors.com

Country Gardens Lawn & Landscape 317-339-7847 countrygardens landscaping.com

DeVries Design & Landscape 317-620-3040 devries-designs.com

Eagleson Meadows

317-997-4803 eaglesonmeadows.com

Earth Everett

Art House

317-564-4781 earthlandarch.com

Engledow Group 317-575-1100 engledow.com

Fiano Landscapes 317-318-1015 fianolandscapes.com

Franco Landscaping 317-858-3858 francoland.com

Green Vista Landscaping 317-773-7911 greenvistalandscaping.com

Greenleaf Landscaping 317-881-4566 greenleaflandscapeinc.com

Greenscape Geeks 317-801-5833 greenscapegeeks.com

Heath Outdoor 317-420-4636 heathoutdoor.net

Hittle Landscaping 317-896-5697 hittlelandscape.com

Indy Putting Greens 317-406-9432 indyputtinggreens.com

K.D. Landscaping 317-967-9048 kdlandscapinginc.com

Lemcke Landscape 317-893-3783 lemckelandscape.com

Mark M. Holeman 317-849-3120 holemanlandscape.com

Midwest Landscape Industries 317-672-3788 mli-in.com

Mosier Landscape 317-271-8957 mosierlandscape.com

Mr. Green Jeans Landscape & Irrigation 317-289-6801 mrgreenjeanslandscape.com

Nature’s Choice Landscape & Supply 317-852-3418 natureschoice landscaping.com

The Noll Landscape Group 317-841-7559 nolllandscape.com

Oasis Outdoor Living & Landscapes 317-485-6514 myoasisoutdoor.com

Outdoor Environments Group 317-292-9776 oeggroup.com

PJE Lawn Care & Landscaping 317-223-3263 pjelandscaping.com

Precision Outdoors 317-691-8663 precision-outdoors.com

Primary Grounds 317-422-9755 primarygrounds.com

Pro Care Horticultural Services 317-872-4800 facebook.com/ procarelandscapers

Progressive Lawnscaping 317-780-6619 progressivelawnscaping.com

Property Pros Land Management 317-482-3111 propertyproslm.com

Salsbery Brothers Landscaping 317-843-0100 salsberybros.com

Spotts Garden Service 317-356-8808 spottsgardens.com

Start to Finish Landscaping 317-769-2211 starttofinish.com

Surroundings by Natureworks 317-575-0482 choosesurroundings.com

Vive Exterior Design 317-773-9933 viveexterior.com

Watson Construction 317-606-0147 watsonconstruction anddesign.com

Real Estate Companies

@properties Indy 317-489-3441 atproperties.com/ indianapolis

The Agency Indy 317-741-0861 theagencyre.com

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Indiana Realty

317-595-2100 bhhsinrealty.com

Carpenter Realtors 800-630-1727 callcarpenter.com

Century 21 866-732-6139 century21.com

Coldwell Banker Kaiser Real Estate 800-875-8445 coldwellbanker.com

Compass 317-563-5051 compass.com

Encore Sotheby’s International Realty 317-660-4444 encoresothebysrealty.com

Engel & Völkers 317-710-5500 indianapolis.evrealestate.com

Everhart Studio 317-916-1052 everhartlistings.com

F.C. Tucker Company 317-954-4768 talktotucker.com

GB Landrigan Realtors

317-255-0255 gb.house

Good Living Indy 317-747-9131 goodlivingindy.com

Highgarden Real Estate

317-205-4320 highgarden-indianapolis.com

Keller Williams 317-981-8020 kw.com

Maywright Property Co. 317-210-0624 maywright.com

MS Woods Real Estate 317-578-3220 mswoods.com

RE/MAX remax.com

United Real Estate 317-216-8800 unitedrealestateindy.com

Remodelers

Bender Homes

317-372-5702 benderhomes.com

Bespoke Construction 317-688-1060 bespokein.com

BHI Group 317-862-9917 gobhigroup.com

Booher Remodeling Company 317-852-5546 booherbuilding.com

Centennial Construction & Remodeling Services 317-848-7634 centennialconstruction remodeling.com

Central Construction Group 317-213-6246 ccg-indy.com

CMH Builders 317-714-6536 cmhbuilders.com

Corinthian Fine Homes 317-578-0237 corinthianinc.com

Custom Home Medic 317-991-1229 customhomemedic.com

Custom Living 317-626-7393 customlivingusa.com

Dukate Fine Remodeling 317-736-9961 dukate.net

Dwelling Indy 317-893-3617 dwellingindy.com

Emergent Construction 317-572-7227 emergent-group.com

Gannon & Co. 317-432-2051 gannonandcompany.com

Gettum Associates 317-888-5681 gettum.com

Green Trade Contracting 317-413-6600 greentradecontracting.com

The HomeWright 317-223-3070 thehomewright.com

Indiana Home Remodel 317-922-4222 indianahomeremodel.com

Indiana Residential 800-601-4050 indianaresidential.com

Jensen Design 317-716-7462 jensendesignllc.com

Legend Design Build 317-922-6248 legenddesignbuild.com

The Lifestyle Group 317-352-9022 lifestylegroup.com

MJ Brown Renovations 317-623-0444 mjbrownrenovations.com

Nicholas Design and Build 317-779-3929 nicholasdesignbuild.com

Simpson Construction Services 317-660-5494 simpsonconstruction services.com

Spivey Remodeling 317-786-4200 spiveyremodelinginc.com

Steve Gray Renovations 317-596-0928 stevegrayrenovations.com

Stewart Construction 317-831-1303 stewartconstruction group.com

Stilwell Design & Remodeling 317-254-9098 stilwellremodeling.com

T. Morgan Construction 317-955-8984 tmorganconstruction.com

Thomas J. Pearson Inc. 317-861-9778 thomasjpearson.com

Tremain Corporation 317-849-8453 tremaincorp.com

White Oak Remodeling 317-243-7140 whiteoakremodels.com

William Gordon Group 317-361-3191 williamgordongroup.com

Worthington Design & Remodeling 317-846-2600 worthingtonindy.com

WrightWorks 317-925-7106 wrightworks.net

FIXTURES & FINISHES

FROM APPLIANCES TO WINDOWS AND DOORS, THESE SUPPLIERS OUTFIT AND CUSTOMIZE ALL YOUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES.

APPLIANCES

Ferguson Appliance Showroom

4705 E. 96th St., 317-689-6667 fergusonshowrooms.com

Grand Appliance and TV

4025 E. 82nd St., 317-863-4580; 8010 U.S. 31, 317-534-4266; 10101 E. U.S. Hwy. 36, Avon, 317-203-4867 grandappliance.com

CLOSETS & ORGANIZATION

The Baer Minimalist thebaerminimalist.com

California Closets

1 Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-849-1000 californiaclosets.com/indianapolis

Closet Concepts

9402 Uptown Dr., 317-849-8444 closetconceptsinc.com

Closet Factory

3250 N. Post Rd., 317-812-0304 closetfactory.com

Garage Theory

4211 W. 96th St., 317-296-7441 thegaragetheory.com

Hawkeye Storage

Multiple Central Indiana locations, 317-991-1118 hawkeyestorageunits.com

Hoosier Closets 6882 Hawthorn Park Dr., 317-440-6964 hoosierclosets.com

Innovative Cabinets and Closets

17401 Tiller Ct., Westfield, 317-516-6485 inncorp.com

Premier Garage

9856 North By Northeast Blvd., Fishers, 317-978-9721 premiergarage.com

The Tailored Closet

9856 North By Northeast Blvd., Fishers, 317-429-0430 tailoredcloset.com

COUNTERTOPS & SURFACES

Architectural Brick & Tile

8610 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-842-2888 archbricktile.com

Carmel Countertops

904 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel, 317-843-0331 carmelcountertops.com

Cathedral Marble & Granite

208 Trout St., Whitestown, 317-769-5900 cathedralmarble.com

Chance Brothers

Marble & Tile

114 W. McCarty St., 317-635-7531 chancebrosmarbleandtile.com

Circle City Copperworks

4337 W. 96th St., 317-337-9800 circlecitycopperworks.com

Classic Kitchen & Granite

17408 Tiller Ct., Westfield, 317-575-8883 classickitchenandgranite.com

Classic Stone LLC

3525 W. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-804-5170 classicstonellc.com

Concrete Tailors

5000 E. Conner St., Noblesville, 317-773-1504 concretetailors.com

Cornerstone

Marble & Granite

1327 W. Main St., Greenfield, 317-468-1327 indianamarblegranitequartz.com

Cutting Edge Countertops

7375 Company Dr., 317-888-8550; 14425 Bergen Blvd., Noblesville, 317-774-8888 cectops.com

Emser Tile

8700 Roberts Dr., Fishers, 317-576-4740 emser.com

Global Granite & Marble

8138 Woodland Dr., 317-228-9952 globalgranite.com

Granite Transformations

3880 Pendleton Way, 855-454-0454 granitetransformations.com

Indy Custom Stone 564 Industrial Dr., Carmel, 317-877-1000 indycustomstone.com

Italy Marble & Granite

5248 W. 79th St., 317-295-8810 italymarbleandgranite.com

Just For Granite 5277 Emco Dr., 317-842-8255 justforgranite.com

Louisville Tile 9906 North by Northeast Blvd., Fishers, 317-537-6923 louisville-tile.com

Marble Uniques

815 W. Jefferson St., Tipton, 316-661-0192 marbleuniques.com

Mont Surfaces by Mont Granite 5945 W. 84th St., 317-875-5800 montsurfaces.com

Natural Stone & Tile 8875 Bash St., 317-863-5926 naturalstonetilegallery.com

Olympia Stone 870 Lennox Ct., Zionsville, 317-872-7625 olympiastoneindy.com

Peak Stone Company 3220 S. Arlington Ave.; 230 U.S. 31 S, Greenwood; 317-352-1630 peakstonecompany.com

Plutus Marble 5021 W. 81st St., 317-734-3862 plutusmarble.com

Rabb and Howe

Cabinet Top Co. 2571 Winthrop Ave., 317-926-6442 rabbhowecabinetry.com

Santarossa

Marble & Granite

2707 Roosevelt Ave., 317-632-9494 santarossa.com

Sims-Lohman

7113 Mayflower Park Dr., Zionsville, 317-870-8011; 725 E. Main St., Greenfield, 317-467-0710 sims-lohman.com

Stone Artisans

7952 Zionsville Rd., 317-874-8955 stone-artisans.com

Stone Design 2185 N. Sherman Dr., 317-546-2300 stone-design.com

Stone Spectrum

8585 E. 249th St., Arcadia, 317-984-1400 stonespectrum.com

Stonesmiths 12244 State Rd. 32 E, Noblesville, 317-770-1333 stonesmithsindy.com

The Tile Shop 5531 E. 82nd St., 317-845-4241; 8014 S. U.S. 31, Greenwood, 317-616-3925 tileshop.com

Tremain Tile, Marble & Granite 8101 E. 47th St., 317-549-1991 tre-main.com

Triton Stone Group 6025 W. 80th St., 317-644-1200 tritonstone.com

Virginia Tile 4161 E. 96th St., 463-239-2600 virginiatile.com

Victory Surfaces 5720 Kopetsky Dr., 317-405-9538 victorysurfaces.com

FLOORING

Adam’s Flooring 1063 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-575-9967 adamsflooring.biz

Albert Griffith & Sons Inc. 3507 Sheridan Rd., Noblesville, 317-841-9365 griffithfloors.com

America’s Floor Source 7676 Zionsville Rd., 317-356-3181 americasfloorsource.com

Blakley’s Flooring

8765 Hague Rd., 317-576-4282; 2184 E. 116th St., Carmel, 317-588-2999 blakleysflooring.com

bloomingtonhandmademarket.com bloomingtonhandmademarket@gmail.com @bloomingtonhandmademarket

DESIGN& ARCHITECTURE

otelCarmichaelblends neoclassicaldesign withmoderntouches, celebratingtheGreatAmerican Songbook.Thelobbyfeatures checkeredfloorsandDoric columns,whiletheAdagio Loungeexudeselegancewithits naturallightand musicaltheme. VivanteandFeinstein'soffer intimatediningexperiences, whilethemeetingspaces, includingtheColePorter Ballroomandboardrooms,boast timelesselegance.Thedesign teamhonorsthepastwhile creatingaspacethatfeelsboth nostalgicandcontemporary.

Brewer Custom Floors and More 166 Vista Pkwy., Avon, 317-272-4010 brewerfloors.com

Brothers Floor Covering

8550 Michigan Rd., 317-593-9755 brothers-floorcovering.com

Brown’s Flooring

8517 Westfield Blvd., 317-253-1942 brownsflooring.net

Burton’s Flooring Center

565 Banta St., Franklin, 317-738-0001 burtonsflooringcenter.com

Carpet Country

280 S. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-886-1923 carpetcountry.net

Carpet One Floor & Home 894 N. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-800-7141 carpetone.com

Claghorn Custom Flooring

Kitchen & Bath

100 N. 1st St., Zionsville, 317-873-6202 claghorncustomflooring.com

Clay’s Flooring & Interiors

16462 Southpark Dr., Westfield, 317-804-2263 claysflooring.com

Custom Floors

Custom Stone

11777 Exit 5 Pkwy., Fishers, 317-827-0986 customfloors.com

Drexel Interiors

3217 N. Shadeland Ave., 317-545-2174; 14570 River Rd., Carmel, 317-405-9073 drexelin.com

EF Marburger Fine Flooring

9999 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-768-0730 efmarburger.com

Floor & Decor

8310 Castleton Corner Dr., 317-558-5101; 1049 N. Emerson Ave., Greenwood, 317-851-1024 flooranddecor.com

Floortech 3115 Meridian Parke Dr., Greenwood, 317-887-6825 floortechcorp.com

Full Circle Flooring

17767 Sun Park Dr., Westfield; 15305 Stony Creek Way, Noblesville; 317-596-1777 fullcirclefloors.com

ICC Floors Plus

7226 E. 87th St., 317-783-2882; 3245 E. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-399-5149 iccfloors.com

Jack Laurie Home

Floor Designs

3857 E. 82nd St., 317-550-1594 homefloordesigns.com

Kermans Flooring

8700 Roberts Dr., Fishers, 317-842-5700 kermans.com

Kinsey’s Floor Coverings

16222 Allisonville Rd., Noblesville, 317-960-4825 kinseysfloorcovering.com

Mainstyle Flooring

5505 S. Meridian St., 317-782-1213 mainstyleflooring.com

McCool’s Flooring

598 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-810-9377; 8105 Kingston St., Avon, 317-561-1675 mccoolsflooring.com

RiteRug Flooring & Carpet In Home Shopping 888-261-6060 riterug.com

Tish Flooring

4625 W. 86th St., 317-202-1631 tishflooring.com

GLASS & MIRRORS

Carmel Glass & Mirror

500 E. 106th St., 317-846-4864 carmelglass.com

Cook’s Glass & Mirror

5703 W. Morris St., 317-241-9344 cooksglassmirror.com

Dr. Shower Door

7936 E. 46th St., 317-545-6767 drshowerdoor.com

Gilpin Glass Service 2908 E. Washington St., 317-635-7256

GRT Glass Design 6400 Brookville Rd., 317-353-6369 grtglassdesign.com

Kelly Glass & Mirror 1740 Industry Dr., 317-356-0400 kellyglass.net

Mirror & Glass Concepts 950 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel, 317-843-1204 mirrorglassconcepts.com

Northside Glass & Mirror

7206 N. Keystone Ave., 317-251-8244 northsideglass.com

Suburban Glass Service

5999 U.S. 31, Whiteland, 317-535-5747 suburbanglass.net

KITCHENS, BATHS & CABINETRY

ACo

Hub & Spoke, Fishers, 317-575-9540 liveaco.com

Adam Gibson Design Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-345-1311 adamgibson.com

ADS Cabinets

5720 Pebble Village Ln., Noblesville, 317-867-0483 adscabinets.com

Barber Cabinet Co. 2957 S. Collier St., 317-247-4747 barbercabinet.com

Beehler Kitchens & Bath 3970 Eldor Flower Dr., Zionsville, 317-716-1851 beehlerkitchens.com

Cabinetry Ideas

6113 Allisonville Rd., 317-722-1300 cabinetryideas.com

Carmel Kitchen Specialists 606 Station Dr., Carmel, 317-844-3975 carmelkitchenspecialists.com

Carter Cabinet Co. 5839 S. 600 W, New Palestine, 317-985-5782 cartercabinets.com

Chapman Custom Baths 601 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-456-4567 chapmancustombaths.com

Chateau Kitchens & Home Remodeling

301 E. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-818-0497 chateaukitchens.com

Concepts the Cabinet Shop

7599 E. U.S. 36, Avon, 317-272-7430; 508 S. Bloomington St., Greencastle, 765-653-1080 conceptsthecabinetshop.com

Conceptual Kitchens Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-846-2090 conceptualkitchens.com

The Corsi Group 6111 Churchman Bypass, 317-786-1434 thecorsigroup.com

Distinctive Kitchen & Bath 1480 Olive Branch Park Ln., Greenwood, 317-882-7100 distinctivekb.com

Finish Alternatives

328 W. State Rd. 144, Bargersville, 317-440-2899 finishalternatives.com

Indiana Kitchen Company

925 Conner St., Noblesville, 317-773-4000 indianakitchencompany.com

Kitchen Master

1531 E. Northfield Dr., Brownsburg; 789 U.S. 31, Greenwood; 317-843-1500 gokitchenmaster.com

Kitchens by Design 1001 E. 86th St., 317-815-8880 mykbdhome.com

Kline Cabinetmakers

16 S. Main St., Maxwell, 317-326-3049 klinecabinets.com

Kohler Signature Store by Crescent Supply 4335 E. 82nd St., 317-854-5999 kohlerindy.com

Limpus Cabinet Sales 8606 E. Washington St., 317-897-0373 limpuscabinets.com

Lockerbie Square Cabinet Co. 4350 W. 10th St., 317-635-1134 lockerbiesquarecabinets.com

Madison County Cabinets

9592 W. 650 S, Pendleton, 765-778-4646 madisoncountycabinets.com

Miller Cabinets

4805 Hardegan St., 317-786-0418 millercabs.com

Myers Architectural Millwork

4954 Fieldstone Dr., Whitestown, 317-769-5323 myersarchitecturalmillwork.com

Myers Design Inc. 6061 Logansport Rd., Logansport, 317-513-6218 myersdesigninc.com

N-Hance

1601 Country Club Rd., 317-548-8585; 8215 Zionsville Rd., 317-407-1368 nhance.com

Nathan Alan Fine Cabinetry and Design 7501 Westfield Blvd., 317-672-3499 nathan-alan.com

Pioneer Kitchens

2957 S. Collier St., 317-784-8006 pioneer-kitchens.com

Tremain Corporation

9337 Castlegate Dr., 317-849-8453 tremaincorp.com

Trillium Cabinet & Design

4357 W. 96th St., 317-471-8870 trilliumcabinet.com

Zionsville Custom Cabinets

10830 Bennett Pkwy., Zionsville, 317-605-9556 zionsvillecustomcabinets.com

OUTDOOR MATERIALS

Artisan Outdoor Craftsman 11071 E. 126th St., Fishers, 317-813-9669 artisanoc.com

Brickworks Supply Center

430 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-597-8767; 1580 E. Epler Ave., 317-779-1670 brickworkssupply.com

Brickworks Supply Center

Edgewood Landscape

5007 W. 96th St., 317-751-2334; 5518 Shelby St., 317-779-3090 brickworkssupply.com

Cutting Edge Hardscapes 8444 Castlewood Dr., 317-790-3257 cuttingedgehardscapes.com

The Deck Store

4322 W. 96th St., 317-471-0400 deckstore.com

Green Stone Architectural Landscape Supply

4455 Conner St., Noblesville, 317-414-6881 greenstonecompany.com

Stone Center of Indiana

5272 E. 65th St., 317-849-9100; 19653 Six Points Rd., Sheridan, 317-849-9100 stonecenterofindiana.com

PLUMBING & LIGHTING

Economy Plumbing Supply

625 N. Capitol Ave.; 9755 Hague Rd., Fishers; 317-264-2240 economyplumbingsupply.com

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-705-0794 fergusonshowrooms.com

Heinzman Lights at Night 12412 Turkel Dr., 317-435-9444 heinzmanlights.com

Indiana Lighting Center

8060 N. Shadeland Ave., 317-915-7000; 645 U.S. 31 N, Greenwood, 317-888-5025 indianalighting.com

Landscape Illumination

8070 Castleton Rd., 317-851-9172 landscape-illumination.com

Lee Supply Corp.

415 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-844-4434; 3025 Madison Ave., 317-783-4161; 10640 E. 59th St., 317-863-2684 gotolee.com

Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting and Audio 545 Christy Dr., Greenwood, 317-214-8716 lighthouse-lights.com

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

8070 Castleton Rd., 317-649-8800 outdoorlights.com/indianapolis

Plumbers Supply Co.

3849 E. Raymond St., 317-783-2981; 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-842-8787; 2785 N. Morton St., Franklin, 317-738-2777 plumbers-supply-co.com

TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

AV Designers

8742 Robbins Rd., 317-876-3753 avdesigners.com

Bravas Indianapolis 612 Station Dr., Carmel, 317-580-1922 bravas.com/indianapolis

Digital Sight & Sound Hub & Spoke, Fishers, 317-848-0101 dssindy.com

Edwards Security Services 317-271-7940 edwardssecurityservices.com

Exceptional Home Technologies

1630 S. Green St., Brownsburg, 317-520-3268 exceptionalht.com

Indiana Audio Video 11316 Abbitt Trail, Zionsville, 317-292-8802 indianaaudiovideo.com

Intelligent Living Solutions

85 E. Cedar St., Zionsville, 888-390-0502 intelligentlivingindy.com

Millennium Sounds 1516 W. Tournament Trl., Westfield, 317-845-9484 millenniumsounds.com

Nelson Alarm

2602 E. 55th St., 317-255-2125 nelsonalarm.com

One-Touch Automation 139 Penn St., Westfield, 317-896-1393 one-touchautomation.com

Ovation AV 12345 Old Meridian St., Carmel, 317-682-8466 ovationav.com

Phantom Screens of Central Indiana 317-490-3481 myphantomscreens.com

The Premier Group Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-580-1032 premier-group.com

Technology Interiors

8977 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-284-1084 technologyinteriors.com

Triphase Technologies 10960 Bennett Pkwy., Zionsville, 317-845-0236 triphase-tech.com

WINDOWS & DOORS

Apex Energy Solutions 8200 Haverstick Rd., 317-733-2828 apexenergygroup.com

Bee Window 115 Shadowlawn Dr., Fishers, 317-751-9623 beewindow.com

Blair Windows & Doors

440 S. Ritter Ave., 317-356-4666 blairwindow.com

Builders FirstSource 1717 W. Washington St., 317-639-5431; 9028 N. Old State Rd. 67, Mooresville, 317-834-5380 bldr.com

Champion Windows and Home Exteriors 1435 Brookville Way, 317-608-0661 championwindow.com/ indianapolis

Clevernest

240 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-688-8100 clevernest.com

Cox Interior

9333 Castlegate Dr., 317-896-2227 coxinterior.com/indianapolis

D&D Mouldings & Millwork

15509 Stony Creek Way, Noblesville, 317-770-5500 ddmouldings.com

Dealers Wholesale

7845 E. 89th St., 317-849-4336 dealerswholesale.com

Exterior Building Products

7695 E. 21st St., 317-894-5300 extbp.com

Garage Door Doctor 1725 S. Franklin Rd.; 14950 Greyhound Ct., Carmel; 317-647-5299 thedoordoc.com

Garage Doors of Indianapolis 5041 W. 96th St., 317-951-9207 doorstoday.com

The Glass Guru

545 Christy Dr., Greenwood, 317-350-4512; 10089 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-350-4332, theglassguru.com

Glass House Gallery

Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-993-3660 franklinwindowanddoor.com

Mr. Window

902 E. 106th St., 317-848-7282 mrwindowco.com

Pella Windows & Doors 4705 E. 96th St., 317-286-6312 pellabranch.com/indianapolis

Renewal by Andersen 801 Congressional Blvd., Carmel, 317-708-7608 windowdoor.com

Unique Home Solutions 5550 Progress Rd., 317-337-9300 uniquehomesolutions.org

Window Universe

5112 W. 79th St., 317-520-9820 windowuniverseindy.com

Window World of Indianapolis

1229 Country Club Rd., 317-209-0008 windowworldindianapolis.com

Windows & Doors of Indiana

1345 Brookville Way, 317-841-0663 windowsindiana.com

Room designed by Rosalind Pope of Rosalind Brinn Pope Interior Design

ACCENTS & DECOR

IN THE MARKET FOR NEW FURNITURE, ART, DRAPERIES, OR ENTERTAINING SUPPLIES? FILL YOUR HOME WITH INSPIRED PIECES FROM THESE BOUTIQUES AND SHOPS.

ANTIQUES & RESALE

African Plum Home & More

There’s a little of everything at the eclectic African Plum, including blankets, new and restyled furniture, and decor like clocks, signs, and lamps. 120 W. Main St., Plainfield, 317-627-7761, african plumhome.com

Architectural Antiques of Indianapolis

Enjoy browsing the many salvaged pieces, including light fixtures, backbars and cabinets, fireplace mantels, doors and doorknobs, and colorful stained-glass windows. 5000 W. 96th St., 317-873-2727, antiquearchitectural.com

Beauchamp Antiques

This showroom features one of the nation’s largest selections of 18thto 19th-century European antique furniture, accessories, and lighting fixtures. 16405 Westfield Blvd., Westfield, 317-896-3717, beauchampantiques.com

Brown’s Antiques

Founded in 1945, this familyowned Zionsville shop offers a large selection of antiques and accessories, as well as replacement lampshades. 315 N. 5th St., Zionsville, 317-873-2284, browns antiquesandlampshades.com

Consigned by Design

This shop offers gently loved, preowned fine furniture and accessories at affordable prices. Expect to find a constantly rotating selection of brand names and quality, of-themoment items for every room of the home. Main store: 7035 E. 96th St.; Annex: 9323 Castlegate Dr.; 317436-7167, consignedbydesign.com

The Corner Bazaar

Located in the Solomon-Paris Antiques building, The Corner Bazaar brings a treasure trove of glassware, collectibles, home furnishings, and framed art to SoBro. 1105 E. 52nd St., 317-377-4639, thecornerbazaar.com

FiveThirty Home

Erica and Jim Carpenter fix up and repurpose furniture and other goods to give them a new lease on

life. You’ll find refurbished chests, trunks, dressers, and throw pillows in various shapes and sizes. 205 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-567-7781, fivethirtyhome.com

Flux–Mid-Century Modern + More

In its westside location, Flux opens the first and third Saturdays of each month with offerings of midcentury modern furniture and accessories from the likes of Herman Miller, Dunbar, Broyhill, and Monarch. 515 N. Luett Ave., 317-490-9437, fluxindy.com

French Pharmacie Flea

Hairstylist Danny Cheshire curates a lifestyle shop in the space next to his French Pharmacie Salon with offerings of midcentury-modern furniture and vintage accessories. Great finds include framed art, Persian rugs, and golden beetles. 823 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-251-9182, facebook.com/ frenchpharmacieflea

Hoosier Sister

Inside this Clay Terrace space, sisters Heidi Heldt and Gretchen Harter keep customers coming back for furniture, handmade products, European antiques, unique plants, and bags. Clay Terrace, Carmel, 714-220-8440, hoosiersister.com

Logan Village Mall

You’ll find around 40 vendors proffering new, refurbished, and vintage goods, like furniture, kids’ items, pottery, paintings, and party supplies. 977 Logan St., Noblesville, 317-480-0170, loganvillagemall.net

Midland Arts & Antiques

This east-of-downtown mainstay has more than 150 vendors, ensuring a wide variety of furniture, glassware, metal signs, and lamps. The two-story antiques emporium is well-loved by interior designers and homeowners alike. 907 E. Michigan St., 317-267-9005, instagram.com/midlandarts

The Mix Marketplace

More than 35 creative vendors showcase unique, one-of-a-kind finds destined to become your favorite conversation pieces. 940 E. Logan St., Noblesville, 317219-6739, themixmarketplace.com

Noblesville Antiques on the Square

Three floors of antiques and collectibles include dolls, furniture, ceramic items, metal signs, and assorted vintage memorabilia. 20 N. 9th St., Noblesville, 317-6788150, instagram.com/noblesville. antiques.square

Rewired Antiques

This Circle City Industrial Complex shop focuses on meticulously restoring vintage light fixtures and curating a wide variety of unique antiques for discerning homeowners, collectors, and designers. 1125 E. Brookside Ave., 317-512-9362, rewiredantiques.com

Roots to Wings Barn Market

Browse an extensive collection of shabby-chic antiques and salvaged items, like old windows, picture frames, and refurbished chairs. Custom kitchen islands with builtin wine storage, heirloom-quality hutches, farmhouse-style kitchen tables, and sideboards are available. 3744 N. Raceway Rd., 317-6950761, rootstowingsbarnmarket.com

Salvage & Co.

Shopping is online-only for this discount furniture outlet, with deep cuts on everything from couches and tables to wall decor and area rugs. 6565 Coffman Rd., salvagecoindy.com

Sheafer + King Modern

Partners Andrea Sheafer and Andrew King have an eye for exceptional vintage art and furniture from the 1950s through 1990s. Their space showcases works of abstract art, as well as furniture items like Herman Miller and Knoll chairs. 1103 E. 52nd St., 317-983-3575, sheaferking.com

Solomon Paris Antiques and Interiors

Whether you’re buying or seeking an appraisal, you can trust the pros at Solomon Paris. The store’s 5,000 square feet are dominated by 18thand 19th-century furniture, art, and decorative accents. 1103 E. 52nd St., 317-475-0203, solomonparis.com

Southport Antique Mall

Let the friendly staff help you find what you’re looking for or independently browse the 200-plus booths at this 36,000-square-foot southside

destination. Check out furniture, lamps, pottery, and collectibles. 2028 E. Southport Rd., 317-786-8246, southportantiquemall.net

Surroundings

This bright, light-filled boutique can help you outfit your home with stylish, tasteful furniture and accents. Vignettes display artwork, lighting, vases and sculptures, books, mirrors, plants and florals, and dishware arranged in perfect harmony. 1101 E. 54th St., 317-2548883, instagram.com/ surroundingsindianapolis

Thistle

& Thyme Home Store

Just south of Noblesville’s courthouse square, Thistle & Thyme fills its space with antique and vintage wares, handmade goods, wall art, architectural pieces, garden decor, gifts, candles, and more. 29 S. 9th St., Noblesville, 317-219-7119, thistleandthymehomestore.com

Tim & Company’s Another Fine Mess

On the city’s east side, salvage veteran Tim Harmon sells bones and joints, such as doors, windows, decorative trim, doorknobs, and hardware sourced from soon-to-bedemolished homes and businesses around Indiana. 2901 E. 10th St., 317-627-0498, instagram.com/ timandcompanys

Vintage 54 Collective

Browse booths filled with a mix of goods from artists, crafters, and antiques dealers at this Broad Ripple shop. Find everything from home decor and furnishings to art and clothing. 5335 Winthrop Ave., 317-737-2146, vintage54collective.net

AREA RUGS

Capel Rugs

Capel has thousands of rug colors, patterns, sizes, and shapes for indoor and outdoor use. Sift through traditional, contemporary, transitional, Oriental, and Persian styles, among others. 8603 Allisonville Rd., 317-813-7847, capelrugs.com

Fine Estate Art & Rugs

Established in 2002, Fine Estate Rugs carries hundreds of floor coverings, ranging from large,

palace-size rugs to smaller scatter and runner styles. Antique and semi-antique varieties are available. 2158 N. Talbott St., 317-2535910, fineestateart.com

Joseph’s Oriental Rug Imports

Variety and quality are at the forefront of Joseph’s, in business since 1949. This respected rug authority offers thousands of antique, semiantique, and modern options in its spacious showroom. 4230 E. Fall Creek Pkwy. N. Dr., 317-255-4230, josephsimports.com

ARTWORK & ACCESSORIES

317Home

This studio combines home decor with hands-on art instruction. Customers can pick up Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, as well as cute coffee mugs, painted trays, wall signs, seasonal decorations, and selfie frames. Carmel City Center, 317-519-3795, 317homestudio.net

Art in Hand Gallery

This gallery is also a co-op, run by the 20-plus local crafters whose goods are featured. Stop in to check out pottery, art glass, paintings, and prints. 211 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-733-8426, artin handgallery.com

Art on Main Gallery & Gifts

This Carmel collective offers a feast for the eyes with its abstract, oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings; fine-art photographs; contemporary mosaics; fused glass; and pottery made by local artisans. 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-564-4115, artonmaingalleryandgifts.com

Beth Clary Schwier Fine Art

In her Irvington studio, Beth Clary Schwier displays original acrylic and oil paintings depicting sailboats, floral bouquets, landmarks, beach scenes, and cows. 5636 E. Washington St., 317-439-7143, bethclaryschwierfineart.com

CCA Gallery

Established in 1978, the Center for Creative Arts—Indiana’s original artist cooperative—displays works from over 30 professional makers. The selection includes paintings, woodturning, pottery, glass art, textiles, printmaking, pen and ink, and more. 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-844-2388, ccaartgallery.com

Custom Picture Framing of Brownsburg

Family-owned since 2004, this full-service custom frame shop in the heart of Brownsburg produces one-of-a-kind conservation frames that showcase and protect your artwork, photographs,

and certificates. 640 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-852-8044, facebook .com/brownsburgcpf

CV Art and Frame

This is a one-stop shop to transform artwork and photography. The pros here can also convert photos into paintings; digitally replicate or restore original artwork; print one of your images onto canvas, paper, or acrylic; or find the best piece of art for your home. 110 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-8732976, cvartandframe.com

Easter Conservation Services

Certified by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Easter Conservation works with architects and interior designers on both residential and commercial spaces and corporate collections. They offer a complete, holistic approach to art, from selection to installation and preservation. 1134 E. 54th St., 317396-0885, easterconservation.com

The Frame Shop and Franklin Barry Gallery

Serving Indianapolis for more than 50 years, The Frame Shop uses acid-free and ultraviolet-filtering products in its preservation framing process. The shop also offers museum wrap, canvas stretching, floating frames, and shadow boxes. 617 Massachusetts Ave., 317-8228455, theframeshopindy.com

Gallery 6202

Located in a Broad Ripple bungalow, Gallery 6202 features a variety of “fine art and fun stuff” by local, national, and international artists. The mix of mediums includes art glass, metal sculptures, oils, watercolors, prints, and more. 6202 N. College Ave., 317-602-2185, gallery6202.com

Gravesco Pottery

Rebecca Graves showcases her signature grooved mugs, tumblers, tableware, and home accessories in her near-downtown shop. 1501 E. Michigan St., 567-694-4750, gravescopottery.com

Home Details of Savvy Decor

Just about every size and style of decorative knobs and pulls is represented here. The super-luxe Edgar Berebi line, sparkling with Swarovski crystals, adds a touch of glam. 41 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-848-0020, savvydecor.com/ home-details

James R. Ross Fine Art

Filled with curated works from artists across Indiana, James R. Ross Fine Art is an elegant gallery of impressive oil paintings, sculptures, and more. 5627 N. Illinois St., 317-255-4561, jamesrrossfineart.com

Petrov Frame Atelier

Anatoly Petrov is the pro you call

for high-end custom framing and repairs. He offers museum-quality handcrafted frames, along with gilding, restoration, replication, and conservation services. 5172 N. College Ave., 317-293-2122, petrovframe.com

Walter Knabe Studio

Walter Knabe’s fine art goes functional in the form of handmade wallpaper, patterned pillows, screen-printed napkins, coasters, tea towels, canvas cosmetic bags, scarves, phone cases, and cuff bracelets. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-9866900, walterknabe.com

BEDDING

Holder Mattress

Each bedding set is made by hand at the Holder factory in Kokomo, so homeowners can custom-order mattresses in a range of styles to ensure a fit for every need. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-8482939, holdermattress.com

Parkside Linen

Dress your bed luxuriously with dreamy sheets and blankets by Matouk, Annie Selke, Peacock Alley, and Quadrille from this northside spot. Your dining table can receive the same treatment with exquisite linens, napkin rings, and serving accessories. 1762 E. 86th St., 317-844-6320, parksidelinen.com

BILLIARDS & GAMES

Family Leisure

Find a huge selection of pool and game tables here, alongside spas, saunas, swimming pools, high-end patio furniture, and even standup paddleboards and inflatable kayaks. 11811 Pendleton Pike, 317823-4448, familyleisure.com

Orner Billiards

This westside store makes it easy to add more fun to your rec room. Browse the game and pub tables, poker accessories, jukeboxes, theater seating, ping-pong tables, and much more. 6333 Rockville Rd., 317-243-0046, ornerbilliards.com

DECOR & GIFTS

The Accent Shop

Decorative and functional home decor, dinnerware, and kitchen goods fill this perennial favorite, where seasonal decor is big. Make occasions special with The Accent Shop’s vast selection of shiny silver

Nambé and pearly Julia Knight serving pieces. 1480 E. 86th St., 317-844-4150, theaccentshopinc.com

Addendum Gallery

This longtime Carmel boutique focuses on lifestyle and entertaining goods, such as Richard Ginori Italian plates, Estelle Colored Glass barware, Anke Drechsel silk velvet pillows, Julie Vos jewelry, and Lafco candles. Carmel City Center, 317-253-3400, facebook.com/ addendumgallery

Artifacts

Searching for a unique gift? You’ll likely find it at Artifacts, a shop focused on American artists and their works. Picture frames, pottery, wooden serving spoons, glass vases and drinkware, and baby gifts are just a few other items you’ll see. 6327 Guilford Ave., 317-255-1178, artifactsindy.com

Be The Boutique

This boutique is the perfect place to purchase gifts for girlfriends, kids’ teachers, neighbors, and your babysitters. Options include scented candles, wine and beverage accoutrements, home decor, serving pieces and linens, and stationery. 5607 N. Illinois St., 317257-3826, betheboutique.com

Black Sheep Gifts

A staple in Irvington, Black Sheep Gifts carries greeting cards, books, games, decorations, food and drink accessories, and novelty items. 5626 E. Washington St., 317-6025442, blacksheepgiftshop.com

The Bungalow

This gift and home store is stocked with amusing finds for giving or receiving. 924 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-253-5028, thebungalowinc.com

Charles Mayer & Co.

Packed displays showcase highend crystal, silver, and china. This longtime favorite also offers tote bags, bath products, and gorgeous dinnerware for bridal registries. 5629 N. Illinois St., 317257-2900, shop.charlesmayer.com

Decorate

Fun, quirky, and bright, Decorate brings a dash of playful decor to downtown. From floor to ceiling, they have you covered with accessories like pillows, lamps, and doormats, as well as kitchen supplies and dishware. 708 Massachusetts Ave., 317-737-2109, decorateindy.com

Flower Boys

Jake Rupp and Jake Smith brought a whiff of European romance to Fletcher Place when they opened their storefront. The ready-made bouquets have found a cult following among posy lovers. 702 Lexington Ave., 317-734-9356, flowerboysindy.com

George Thomas Florist

The family-run shop is lush with popular flora, including succulents and exotics like orchids. Alongside the greenery are gifts for gardeners. 5609 E. Washington St., 317353-9161, georgethomasflorist.com

Global Gifts

These fair-trade stores specialize in goods that can’t be found anywhere else. Shoppers love browsing ceramic and wooden items, books, and wall art crafted by artisans all over the world. 446 Massachusetts Ave., 317-423-3148; 8519 Westfield Blvd., 317-569-0670; globalgiftsft.com

Hampton & Co.

Fun, funky, colorful accessories fill this Irvington studio, which carries decor items, furniture, lighting, and art. The collection includes whimsical pieces for walls and tabletops, graphic pillows, statuary, and geodes. 5515 E. Washington St., 317-372-2372, hamptonandcoirv.com

Indiana Artisan Gifts & Gallery

Perfectly situated in the Carmel Arts & Design District, Indiana Artisan showcases the creations of more than 200 artists from all over the state. Browse paintings, woodworking, textiles, pottery, photography, and glass pieces. 22 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-9649455, indianaartisan.org

Jennifer’s Flower Boutique

While doling out her big, fat bouquets, Jennifer Moss expanded the offerings to include giftables. Pop in to see her colorful glassware, totes, windchimes, birdhouses, and plushies. 2 S. Main St., Fortville, 317-485-5512, jennifersflower boutique.com

Linden Tree

Linden Tree operates two locations filled with a variety of gift items, home accessories, pottery, body products, cards, and books. 210 N. 10th St., Noblesville, 317-773-3238; Carmel City Center, 317-775-3566; lindentreegifts.com

MacKenzie-Childs

With its signature black-andwhite checkered pattern encasing everything from tea kettles to wind chimes, MacKenzie-Childs is the perfect line of tableware and home accessories for Indy 500 enthusiasts. Carmel City Center, 317-2533400, mackenzie-childs.com

McNamara Florist

Known for its lush, gorgeous floral arrangements for any occasion or time of year, McNamara also sells houseplants, holiday ornaments and decorations, seasonal wreaths, and home accessories. Eight Central Indiana locations, 317-5797900, mcnamaraflorist.com

The Museum & Garden Shop at Newfields

Inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art, this retail gem is stocked with lovely pieces you’d be hardpressed to find elsewhere. 4000 Michigan Rd., 317-955-2320, discovernewfields.org

Out of the Blue Polish Pottery & Gifts

This Illinois-based retailer sells handcrafted pottery made in Poland. Pieces are intricately painted in floral patterns featuring shades of blue and highlighted with yellow, coral, red, and green. Carmel City Center, 317-853-6349, outofthebluepottery.com

Penn & Beech Candle Co.

Shoppers can prepare their own custom candles, which take about 90 minutes to cure, or opt for a prebottled scent. 747 N. College Ave., 317-721-6885; 145 Elm St., Carmel, 317-689-0789; pennandbeech.com

Rusted Window

Nestled in Fortville, Rusted Window offers a mix of vintage, industrial, and traditional decor with a rustic-chic vibe. Think plants in distressed pots, printed signs, textured pillows, and statement light fixtures. 12 S. Main St., Fortville, 317-205-1716, rustedwindow.com

Silver in the City

Two locations, on Mass Ave and in Carmel, are packed with the types of fun, amusing gifts you’d love to give and receive. 434 Massachusetts Ave., 317-955-9925; 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-993-3669; silverinthe city.com

Stomping Ground

Near-eastside resident Martha Latta is known in the maker community by her brand, Sunday Afternoon Housewife. She is also a master gardener and butterfly expert. It’s no surprise that her shop, Stomping Ground, specializes in nature-themed gifts such as seed packets and gardening gloves. 1625 Nowland Ave., 317-220-8344, stompinggroundindy.com

Tuggle’s Gifts & Goods

Ross Tuggle has crafted custom art pieces out of salvaged wood through his first business, Tuggle’s Timbers. With his wife, Brooke, he branched into the retail arena with a storefront in Fountain Square. 1029 Virginia Ave., 317-602-2820, tugglesgiftsandgoods.com

Unplug Soy Candles

Unplug combines retail sales and candle-making workshops. The store is stocked with fragrant, environmentally friendly products in scents like Teakwood & Tobacco, Hazelnut Coffee, Prosecco Fizz, and Sugared Citrus. 12550 Promise Creek Ln., Fishers, 317-505-9000, unplugsoycandles.com

Wildwood Home Company

This decor shop disguised as a breezy abode features an open floor plan with a sun-soaked living room and a kitchen full of vignettes displaying dreamy reactive-glazed stoneware, pinewood charcuterie boards crafted in Europe, and marble accessories. 180 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-7595578, wildwoodhomecompany.com

Willow and Star Flowers

It’s coming up more than just roses at this floral design boutique in Nora. Shoppers are invited to build their own in-season bouquets with carnations, lilies, leafy eucalyptus, and other locally sourced blooms. 1760 E. 86th St., 317-669-0767, willowandstarflowers.com

DESIGN CENTERS

Hub & Spoke

This mixed-use development in Fishers combines a design center, coworking space, and state-ofthe-art makerspace and training facility. Tenants like ACo, Digital Sight & Sound, Home & Willow Design and Decor, Plumbers Supply Co., and Oasis Outdoor Living & Landscapes cover a variety of interior and exterior residential services. 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, hubandspoke.works

Indiana Design Center

Find the best materials and home accoutrements in showrooms featuring top-of-the-line flooring, kitchen displays, lighting and bath fixtures, home-theater ideas, furniture, and mattresses. The center’s handy Designer on Call service connects homeowners to experienced decor professionals. 200 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317569-5975, indianadesigncenter.com

Indy Home Design Center

This 10,000-square-foot showroom is filled with everything you need for your home—cabinetry, plumbing, light fixtures, flooring, windows and doors, tile and stone, and furniture. With 30-plus years of experience, the designers on staff can help you make the right selections for your space. 8450 Westfield Blvd., 317-472-9800, indyhomedesigncenter.com

DRAPERIES & FABRIC

Adkins Draperies & Blinds

Established in 1974, Adkins Draperies & Blinds provides custom window treatments, cornice boards, bedspreads, cushions, decorative

pillows, table linens, and more. 3162 E. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-8963833, adkinsdraperymakers.com

Blinds & Shades

The name says it all at this Nora studio that carries Hunter Douglas shades, shutters, blinds, and draperies. 1758 E. 86th St., 317-846-4601, blindsandshadesplusmore.com

Calico Indy

The Calico chain makes it simple to adorn your furniture and windows in the most fashionable fabrics, including collections from Fabricut, Kravet, Maxwell, Ralph Lauren, Schumacher, Sunbrella, and Scalamandré. 5128 E. 82nd St., 317-420-2049, calicoindy.com

Crimson Tate

Mass Ave’s resource for modern quilters doubles as owner Heather Givans’ sewing studio. Givans also sells fabrics by Bonnie Christine, Heather Ross, Charley Harper, Liberty London, and Rifle Paper, along with her own signature line. 845 Massachusetts Ave., 317-4263300, crimsontate.com

Drapery Street

Owner Caryn O’Sullivan adds a touch of elegance to your windows with a focus on beautiful fabrics, trim, and hardware. The boutique is stocked with ready-made soft goods, but the staff can design custom pillows and bedding, too. Indiana Design Center, Carmel; 11760 Olio Rd., Fishers; 317-9423278, draperystreet.com

The French Seam

This boutique offers patterns, notions, yarn, sewing machines, and the latest fabrics. Explore 1,200-plus bolts, some from designers like Judy Jarvi, Marcia Derse, Heather Bailey, and Loes van Oosten. 9335 Castlegate Dr., 317-841-1810, thefrenchseam.com

Griffon Decorative Fabrics

This fabric store has provided pretty prints and accessories for decades. If you’re in need of a new look for your windows, bedding, or indoor or outdoor furniture, you’ll find a bevy of ideas here. 598 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-848-1864, griffonfabrics.com

FURNISHINGS

Arabella Home

This French-inspired, neoclassical decor shop displays upholstered furniture and arrangements of appealing little chests and quirky antiques on tables and shelves. Go treasure-hunting for gracious home essentials like table linens, cloches, candlesticks, individual soup tureens, and decorative pitchers. 3002 E. Washington St., arabellahome.com

Chatham Home

Step inside this family-owned business and you’ll instantly feel at ease, as if you’ve entered the home of a close friend. Chatham Home specializes in solid-wood furniture, upholstered pieces, and finishing touches, like lamps, rugs, throw pillows, and wall art. 517 E. Walnut St., 317-917-8550, chatham homeindy.com

Copper Creek Canyon Interiors and Design

This store is full of statement pieces like rich leather chairs, metal and wood accent tables, and luxurious textured pillows. Its design studio displays fabric for bedding, drapes, and more. 3953 E. 82nd St., 317-577-2990, copper creekcanyon.com

Decor 4 Kids

Explore nursery and children’s furniture at this fun store just for tots. Take a look around the large showroom at beds, cribs, gliders and recliners, mattresses, dressers, lamps, and colorful artwork and accessories. 305 Sheridan Dr., Noblesville, 317-770-7700, decor4kidsstore.com

Ethan Allen

Just about everything here has a timeless look, making it easy to outfit a room in pieces like sofas, dining room and coffee tables, and accessories like lamps, artwork, vases, bedding, clocks, and mirrors. 4025 E. 82nd St., 317-842-4024, ethanallen.com

Foundry 317 Home

Contemporary, industrial, and rustic styles fill this Broad Ripple showroom, including plush and leather sofas, coffee tables, sleek sideboards, throw pillows, artwork, and area rugs. 819 E. Westfield Blvd., 812-278-7746, facebook.com/ foundry317

Heidi Woodman Interiors

Peruse Haus Love’s shelves of oversized throw pillows, framed artwork, graphic rugs, side tables, ornate chandeliers, floor lamps, and tabletop accents. The overall palette is neutral, creating an air of simple, relaxed chic. 5901 N. College Ave., 317-601-6521, heidi woodmaninteriors.com

Home & Willow Design

The ambience of this showroom is airy and elegant, with curated treasures thoughtfully interspersed throughout. The design team nailed what it takes to make a room feel like home without sacrificing that aspirational vibe. Hub & Spoke, Fishers, 317-288-5045, homeandwillowdesign.com

Houseworks

Sleek, minimalist design rules at Houseworks, with its mix of modern furniture that includes sofas, coffee and end tables, dining-room

and bedroom sets, and home office desks, chairs, and accessories. 4905 E. 82nd St., 317-578-7000, houseworks.biz

Inhabit

Transform your surfaces with Inhabit’s signature 3-D wall flats, cast concrete tiles, wood-look planks, and customizable wallpaper in a wide array of finishes and patterns. 211 S. Ritter Ave., 317-636-1699, inhabitliving.com

John Kirk Furniture Galleries

Whether you want a sleek, trendy living room or a cozy, relaxing study, John Kirk can help you find the perfect pieces. Its expansive showroom features brands such as Stickley, Vanguard, Uttermost, Century, and Bernhardt. 12345 Old Meridian St., Carmel, 317-846-2535, kirkfurniture.com

Julie Browning Bova Design

Julie Browning Bova’s space hews to her equestrian-loving roots. Shoppers can get a feel for her work and take home a piece of her exquisitely tasteful look. Carmel City Center, 317-580-9775, juliebrowningbova.com

KBD Home

Kristen Okeley’s collection of businesses opens up with a glamorous and European-inspired fully functioning kitchen at the front, surrounded by crystals, cookbooks, planters, antiques, vases, and candles. 1001 E. 86th St., 317-8158880, mykbdhome.com

Kittle’s Furniture

Shoppers will find dozens of brands for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms, from entry-level pieces to high-end selections in the Design Studio. 8600 Allisonville Rd., 317-849-5300; 10695 U.S. Hwy. 36, Avon, 317-677-0277; 665 U.S. Hwy. 31 N, Greenwood, 317-8881301; Outlet: 9810 Carney Dr., Fishers, 317-915-0102; kittles.com

RG Decor

Shop a variety of solid-wood tables, American-made upholstery, florals, flooring, and other finds. Ask one of the qualified designers to set up an in-home consultation for decorating help. 4341 W. 96th St., 317-873-6139, rgdecor.com

Shine Design Home

Visit

Shine Design Home and experience the concept of hygge, which relates to comfort and coziness. The compact interiors store conveys the earthy cool of modern Danish style. 7216 N. Keystone Ave., 317-974-9029, shinedesigninteriors.com

Simply Amish

Solid-wood construction and attention to detail are seen in every bedroom and dining set, entertainment center, and rocking

chair—and there are myriad wood varieties, finishes, and fabrics. 4505 E. 82nd St., 317-579-9490, simplyamishindy.com

Two Chicks District Co.

In its new location in Noblesville, Mina Starsiak Hawk’s boutique is filled with an array of tabletop wares, kitchen goods, and decor, along with select pieces of furniture. 957 Logan St., Noblesville, 317379-5383, twochicksdistrictco.com

Urban Styles

The eclectic inventory includes modern and vintage-inspired furnishings for living and dining spaces and bedrooms alongside pieces that evoke international flair. 8375 Castleton Corner Dr., 317-578-7770; 4650 E. Southport Rd., 317-377-4683; shopurbanstyles.com

GARDENING & OUTDOORS

Alice’s Garden

The westside plant shop and nursery previously known as The Forest Flower Home & Garden got a new owner last year. Kathy Barger is a veteran of the garden center industry and brings a joyful energy to this charming source for gifts, seeds, plants, and pots. 3205 W. 71st St., 317-291-1441, alicesgardenindy.com

Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan

This nursery has wonderful plants and flowers to bring your yard to life. You’ll also find bird feeders and seed, houseplants, and items to create a fairy garden or a terrarium. 11405 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-849-4490, allison villegarden.com

Dammann’s Garden Center & Greenhouse

With a focus on sourcing from the local community, Dammann’s cultivates and grows most of the hanging baskets, flowers, vegetables, and decorative containers in its greenhouse. 4914 Rockville Rd., 317-381-9787, dammanns.com

Dammann’s Garden Co.

Stop here for garden needs, like seeds, starts, and fertilizer to cultivate your planting beds. Add finishing touches like bird feeders or baths, arbors and trellises, wind chimes, fountains, and statues. 5129 S. Emerson Ave., 317-786-0799, dammannsgardenco.com

Gatewood Vegetable Farm & Greenhouses

In business more than 100 years, Gatewood stocks planting and gardening supplies in the spring and fresh-cut Christmas trees and wreaths in the winter. In addition

to annuals and perennials in the greenhouse, Gatewood offers fresh produce and even furniture. 9555 E. 206th St., Noblesville, 317-7731214, gatewoodvegetablefarm.com

Godby Hearth & Home

The main showroom and Carmel interactive studio display various fireplace styles as well as hearth accessories, patio furniture, firepits, grills, and fountains. 7904 Rockville Rd.; Indiana Design Center, Carmel; 317-449-7804, godbyhearth.com

Habig Garden Shops

Find the necessary supplies to design or upgrade your indoor or outdoor spaces, including flowers, houseplants, bird feeders and seed, and architectural pieces. 1225 E. 86th St., 317-251-3708; 15311 N. Meridian St., Carmel, 317-896-2828; habiggardenshop.weebly.com

O’Malia’s Living

Create your ideal space at O’Malia’s from its vast selection of outdoor furniture and umbrellas, grills, patio heaters, torches, and firepits. 115 Medical Dr., Carmel, 317-846-6812, omaliasliving.com

Rosie’s Gardens & Hughes Landscape

Explore more than 12 acres loaded with annuals and perennials, garden accessories, fountains, rugs, and outdoor lighting. 10402 N. College Ave., 317-844-6157, rosiesgardens.com

Snakeroot Botanicals

Cultivate your green thumb at the original Fountain Square garden and herb shop, as well as its second location in Broad Ripple. Both spaces are filled with houseplants, hanging baskets, and outdoor food and landscape plants, plus all the tools, supplies, and materials to help you sow and tend your patch. 1052 Virginia Ave., 317-604-7562; 922 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-441-5793; snakerootbotanicals.com

Sullivan Hardware & Garden

Family-owned since 1954, this Indyarea chain of hardware and garden centers operates three namesake locations, along with Allisonville Home & Garden. Browse a large selection of patio furniture, garden plants, pottery, grills, and firepits. 6955 N. Keystone Ave., 317-2559230; 4838 N. Pennsylvania St., 317924-5040; 60 W. Jackson St., Cicero, 317-984-4652; sullivanhardware.com

Wasson Nursery

The Fishers location of this familyowned trio of garden centers can help you plan and develop the backyard of your dreams with services like landscape design, lawn maintenance, tree and shrub care, and personal groundskeeping. 13279 E. 126th St., Fishers, 317-7703321, wassonnursery.com

PREMIUM ARTIFICIAL GRASS LAWNS, SPORTS FIELDS & PET TURF

With an artificial grass lawn, you’ll relish a lush, stunning yard throughout the year, free from the burdens of maintenance, upkeep, and the mess often associated with natural grass. Embrace the beauty and convenience of an artificial grass lawn, ready to be enjoyed 365 days a year.

Artificial grass excels in various applications, including:

• Green grass lawns and landscaping

• Pet turf and dog runs

• Sports fields and community parks

• Golf putting greens

• Indoor or outdoor installations

• Challenging terrains like heavily sloped yards

Photo

Pizza from Sam’s Square Pie (p. 138)

DOWNTOWN

INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square

Ali’i Poke

POKE Follow the IUPUI students to this delightfully fresh fast-food spot just off campus. The scooped-to-order poke bowls have a rice base (sticky or brown) over which customers layer the raw fish poke and a rainbow of add-ons. Fresh mango, edamame, avocado, pickled ginger, seaweed salad, and unagi sauce are just a few of the available toppings. Go wild ladling them on, or get the Hawaiian Style with just rice and fish. 910 W. 10th St., 317-602-3632, aliipoke.com V $$

Ash & Elm Cider Co.

CIDERY Ash & Elm’s array of complex and quaffable ciders gets broader all the time, with funky cocktails demonstrating a flavor profile well beyond sweet apples in the vibrant tasting room at the former Ford Assembly Plant on Washington Street. The food pairs beautifully with the drinks, from the now legendary elote fritters made with Indiana corn and cilantro crema to the crispy fried Brussels sprouts flavored with, of course, cider vinaigrette. A thickcut Cuban and an Italian hoagie with all the meats are great choices among sandwiches, though the pimento cheeseburger with pickled green tomato is hard to beat. But more uptown offerings, such as ricotta gnocchi with seasonal garnishes or a lunchtime bulgogi noodle bowl, showcase how cider brings out the flavors in world cuisines as deliciously as fine wines. Save room for cider doughnut holes lavished with caramel sauce. 1301 E. Washington St., 317-600-3164, ashandelmcider.com V $$$

Bakersfield Mass Ave

TACOS Done up with bourbon barrels and dangling Edison bulbs, this popular Mass Ave spot does a nice job with all

the late-night standards: booze, raucous music, and tacos topped with the likes of achiote-braised pork, pickled red onions, and habanero salsa. 334 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-6962, bakersfieldtacos.com V $$

Bluebeard

CONTEMPORARY When it opened in 2012, Tom and Ed Battista’s charming little restaurant led the charge in getting Indy’s dining scene on the national radar. A perennial nominee for the James Beard Awards with mentions in the likes of The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and Bon Appétit, Bluebeard—which takes its name from one of native son Kurt Vonnegut’s novels—still delivers on the hype. The menu has settled into a comfortable groove, starting with shareable small plates such as house-frizzled chips and French onion dip, gourmet bar nuts, and grilled bread from sibling bakery Amelia’s served with a flight of slatherings. Midsized dishes diners have grown to love: chopped salad; fat scallops over celery root puree, topped with pickled apples and jalapeño; and spaghetti tossed with creme fraiche, parmesan, and gremolata. A plate-spanning Faroe Island salmon, beefand-pork Bolognese, and other larger entrees make for a nice, lingering dinner accompanied by cocktails in a delightfully shabby dining room decorated with shelves of books and Vonnegut-era typewriters 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, bluebeardindy.com V $$$

Bodhi Craft Bar + Thai Bistro

THAI This Mass Ave restaurant serves a small, focused menu of Thai dishes like massaman curry with braised beef and Bodhi’s own version of pad thai. Cocktails get a lot of attention on a drinks list designed by beverage director Dalton Lineback. 922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-941-6595, bodhi-indy .com V $$$

The Bosphorus Istanbul Cafe

TURKISH This cozy, colorful cafe in the Holy Rosary neighborhood has been one of our most consistent restaurants, introducing local diners to the aromatic cuisine of the

Middle East, Greece, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Silky, tahini-rich hummus is a must, alongside exemplary falafel, creamy eggplant salsa, and borek—buttery phyllo stuffed with feta and parsley. 935 S. East St., 317-974-1770, thebosphoruscafe.com V $$$$

Cafe Patachou

CAFE The original Meridian-Kessler “student union for adults” continues to draw in the morning crowds and has inspired citywide offshoots, such as the sleek, post–art deco location in the heart of downtown and the most recent Cafe Patachou at The Stutz, both huge hits with the business and weekend hordes alike. The wait for a weekend table can be brutal (but is worth it), as the cinnamon toast remains as thick as a brick; the produce is still locally sourced; the massive omelets continue to have cheeky names; and the broken-yolk sandwiches are a perennial lunch favorite. 1060 N Capitol Ave., 317-222-3538, cafepatachou.com V $$

Commission Row

NEW AMERICAN This new steak and seafood showplace in Bicentennial Unity Plaza reinforces Cunningham Restaurant Group’s reputation for fine dining excellence. Kick off a pre-Pacers dinner with fragrant, everythingspiced popovers and bruleed bone marrow or go big and spoil yourself with a curated caviar service before proceeding to a textbook dryaged ribeye or A5 wagyu. Raw bar offerings include a decadent, grand seafood tower loaded with an assembly of fresh oysters, shrimp, lobster, and crab. Well-vetted wine and spirit selections provide plenty of drink for thought, but the house Tanqueray martini served any way you want it is always an easy decision. 110 S. Delaware St., 317-550-2500, commissionrow .com V $$$$

A Cup of Chai

TEAHOUSE Punjab native Pravy Nijjar’s cozy, funky teahouse, which opened in July of 2023 on a secluded section of Shelby Street in Fountain Square, offers a true taste of

$$$$ $30 and up

$$$ $20–$30

$$ $10–$20

$ Under $10 UPDATED Recently opened establishment. Open for more than five months but making its first appearance in the guide. Recently revisited and reevaluated.

Restaurants included in this guide are selected at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff based on food quality, innovation, atmosphere, service, value, and consistency. IM does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for dining coverage. Price symbols indicate the average cost of a meal per person (without tax, tip, or alcohol). Due to limited space, this list does not cover every evaluated restaurant. For a more comprehensive guide to Indianapolis

.

Indian-style chai with several different spice profiles. For the genuine article, go for the masala chai, a dairy-forward drink that features ginger, cardamom, fennel, and cloves, equally good hot or iced. Pair that with one of Nijjar’s street food–inspired snacks, such as golden, aromatic samosas or tasty kati rolls (tender paratha stuffed with spiced chicken, paneer, or potatoes). Coffee drinkers can get an espresso or cappuccino, and those avoiding caffeine can go for a spice-infused golden latte, mango lassi, or minty pineapple lemonade. The storefront spot is as comfy in the morning as in the evening, when Indians tend to prefer their chai. 1028 Shelby St., 317-998-4463, acupofchai.us $

The Hulman

CONTEMPORARY With its sleek midcentury modern decor, the street-level restaurant inside downtown’s Hotel Indy pays tribute to the VIP Indianapolis Motor Speedway experience. The pared-down seasonal menu supplies some fittingly elegant dishes, like short rib spaccatelli with horseradish sugo and a fancy Alaskan king crab bisque presentation. High-concept desserts (such as a candied-almond churro curled around banana gelato) are a must, as are signature craft cocktails. 141 E. Washington St., 317-735-2586, thehulmanindy.com V $$$

Julieta Taco Shop

MEXICAN Gabriel Sañudo and Esteban Rosas’ humble yet funky taco shop in the Stutz Building shows the pair’s skill and fine dining experience in little details such as the marinades for meats, tortillas handcrafted from heirloom corn varieties, and surprisingly flavorful vegetarian options. Start with a signature taco al pastor, the meat shaved directly from a rotating spit, and pair that with one of the other tender grilled or braised meats, such as the earthy brisket-like suadero. Then, grab whatever special creation is on the pegboard menu, such as fluffy, creamy tamales; crispy snapper or mushroom tacos; or aromatic pozole. Enjoy your tacos at a counter seat or alfresco in the renovated atrium. Or head next door for a cocktail at retro-chic Turner’s Bar, where you can wait for the neon sign to alert you that your tacos are ready. 1060 N. Capitol Ave. $$

Love Handle

SANDWICHES Daily lunch and brunch features such as schnitzel and waffles and a pulledchicken Hot Brown are the main draw at Chris and Ally Benedyk’s cheeky sandwich shop. The chalkboard menu (which is also updated online) also offers side options in the form of braised greens and potato salad with roasted tomatoes. Fridays often see a fish special, and weekends are a chefs playground of eggy experiments, satisfying hashes, and sweet sides. 877 Massachusetts Ave., 317-384-1102 $$

Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar

ITALIAN Straw-wrapped chianti bottles, wooden cross-back chairs, and family photos give a throwback trattoria feel to this addition to the city’s Italian scene. Meatballs from a family recipe with a solid house marinara are always a good choice. Pastas range from a straightforward toss of rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe

to a rich, three-meat Bolognese lavished atop plump gnocchi. 1103 Prospect St., 317-982-7676, maialinaindy.com V $$$$

Mesh

CONTEMPORARY This Mass Ave restaurant has settled into veteran status as one of the most consistently solid dinner spots downtown. The seasonal menu changes constantly, but past hits have included fork-tender lamb chops, house-made garganelli with sherry cream and wild mushrooms, and duck confit with black rice. The steak frites and any plate that includes Ora King salmon are always great choices. 725 Massachusetts Ave., 317-955-9600, meshrestaurants.com V $$$

Milktooth

BRUNCH This airy diner-style cafe has a playfully gritty vibe and a menu that changes with both the seasons and the whims of its chef. The early morning counter service featuring pastries and coffee gives way to a full-service brunch menu—if they’re serving a Dutch baby pancake, get it. Daytime craft cocktails are also on offer. 534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131, milktoothindy.com V $$

Modita

ASIAN-INSPIRED The lavish restaurant in Bottleworks District’s showpiece slot gets extra style points for its gorgeous industrial-sleek decor that is equal parts silk wallpaper and factory-grade doors. Sip a Singha or a citrusy Tokyo Exchange Rate under the glow of dangling pendants and soak up the thoughtfully preserved vintage vibe. 850 Massachusetts Ave., 317-316-0470, modita.com V $$$

Nesso

ITALIAN Highly stylized seafood and meats paired with small pasta courses and shared a la carte sides add up to a sumptuous dining experience inside The Alexander hotel. Pass around a plate of prosciutto-wrapped prunes or crab arancini, but keep the tortelloni and sea bass all to yourself. 339 S. Delaware St., 317-643-7400, nesso-italia.com V $$$

Nowhere Special

COCKTAIL BITES Dan Cage’s funky cocktail lounge and small bites spot is far from its alltoo-modest name. Sleek banquettes in earthy greens and brushed brass tabletops provide an elegant backdrop to classic pours and a host of new elixirs created by the talented bar staff. Try the light and fruity Love Island with passion fruit liqueur, tangy citrus cordial, and bubbles. Surprisingly generous small plates include an Asian-inspired smashed cucumber salad and an earthy wood ear mushroom salad that’s meaty and satisfying. Hearty beef dumplings with chili crisps and a soy dipping sauce are a highlight, as is the luxe mushroom butter on the bread plate. A nicely restrained bread pudding with a good hit of salt in a warm caramel sauce is a knockout of a finale that won’t weigh you down on a night of barhopping— or bar-staying. 608 Massachusetts Ave. $$

Oishi Sushi & Ramen

JAPANESE Thai restaurateur Kanlaya Browning (Thaitanium, Thai Orchid) expanded her Asian portfolio with this

lively Japanese-inflected spot in the former Pizzology location. Chicken and veggie gyoza, spring rolls, and an especially crunchy, flavorful version of chicken karaage are highlights among starters. And while classic maki rolls feature all of the usual suspects such as California, spider, and shrimp tempura rolls, be sure to order at least one contemporary roll like the generously dressed Cherry Blossom with spicy tuna, avocado, fish roe, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. Just over a half dozen varieties of ramen include the comforting tonkotsu ramen with chashu pork belly, wood ear mushrooms, and bamboo shoots, as well as spicier versions and tan tan ramen, the Japanese riff on Szechwan dan dan noodles. 600 Massachusetts Ave., 317-493-1884, oishiindy.com V $$

Revolucion

CANTINA This funky Fountain Square cantina run by Radio Radio mastermind Tufty Clough is decorated in three acts: a Lucha Libre–themed dining room, a surf-inspired backroom, and a grass-skirted tiki bar out back. The menu is brief but appropriately filled with a selection of California-style Mexican food including Mission-style burritos packed with flavorful rice, cheese, and meat as well as tacos stuffed into double tortillas and served basket-style. 1132 Prospect St., 317-423-9490 V $$$

St. Elmo Steak House

STEAKHOUSE Since 1902, this stately house of red meat has served as the unofficial ambassador of downtown Indianapolis— the walls carry decades’ worth of celebrity photos, the burnished bar hearkens to an earlier era, and the servers remain starched and bow-tied. The drill remains the same, as well: a generous martini, a shrimp cocktail with that notoriously hot cocktail sauce, the bean soup or tomato juice, the wedge, and one of the legendary steaks. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-635-0636, stelmos.com $$$

Salt on Mass

SEAFOOD Fresh fish arrives daily at this gleaming Mass Ave restaurant. That means the menu is written around the latest catch, but perennial favorites include sea-salt grilled salmon and meaty seared cobia topped with a cheesy mix of crab and artichokes. 505 Massachusetts Ave., 317-440-1649, saltonmass.com V $$$

Shapiro’s Delicatessen

DELI Slide your tray along and take your pick of kosher comfort foods at this familyowned downtown institution. Hot pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on rye have drawn long lines for more than a century. The Reuben contends for the city’s best, and heartier fare such as potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, and matzo ball soup are perennially satisfying standbys. If you don’t load up on a massive wedge of cheesecake or pie, you haven’t really had the proper Shapiro’s experience. 808 S. Meridian St., 317-631-4041, shapiros.com $$

Siam Square

THAI Soothing red and green curries— redolent of coconut milk, Thai chili paste, and fresh veggies—play strictly by the book.

The same goes for the fresh shrimp-andchicken spring rolls packed inside a filament of rice paper, as well as the refreshing Som Tum salad, which is big enough for two. Made with crisp papaya and peanuts, then funkified with a generous pour of fish sauce, it’s the ideal start to any meal. 936 Virginia Ave., 317-636-8424, siamsquareindy.com V $$

Social Cantina

MODERN MEXICAN This Bloomington import’s festive vibe runs on perky street tacos, ricebased bowls, and tequila bling. The chips and salsa flight is a straight-up table-pleaser. But for a more ambitious starter, the ahi-stuffed avocado is a creamy fusion bomb with tropical salsa and a sweet soy glaze that leans Asian. The tacos are fussier than their humble forerunners, but tasty. Vegan options and substitutions abound. The tequila flex—more than 100 bottles, plus two on tap—is impressive, as is the lengthy list of margaritas, which can also be ordered by the pitcher. But it’s not surprising, given that Social Cantina comes from the same restaurant group that conceived The Tap, whose beers are also featured on the deep list of adult beverages. 148 S. Illinois St., 317-218-3342, thesocialcantina.com V $$$

Tinker Street

NEW AMERICAN Diners are in for a delightful treat at this cozy, detail-oriented restaurant where the open kitchen almost feels like part of the dining room. The menu changes with the seasons, but the soup is always something lush and vegan; the Duck & Dumplings (featuring duck confit and truffled dumplings) sells out fast; and the person who orders the pork chop will be the most-envied diner at the table. The cocktails are delicate, the wine list well-curated. Don’t skip dessert, especially if it involves a scoop of ice cream. While Tinker Street sets aside some tables for walk-in diners, reservations are available online and are an especially good idea Thursday-Sunday. 402 E. 16th St., 317-9255000, tinkerstreetrestaurant.com V $$$

Vicino

ITALIAN More than filling Mass Ave’s pasta needs, this modern, colorful trattoria from the owners of The Oakmont measures up to some of the best Italian spots anywhere in the city. New seating and light fixtures add a brighter palette to the sleek former Hedge Row location, and a nicely edited menu offers familiar classics with a few twists for the more daring. Starters are a must, with generous sweet and meaty garlic shrimp and mushroom-studded arancini starring on the short list. Of the salads, a savory and acid panzanella is already a Mass Ave classic. Pizzas are a solid bet, with a nice char from the in-house brick oven, and pastas are solid, with little additions such as a raw egg yolk and truffle oil in the not-too-unorthodox carbonara. But crispy, al dente fried gnocchi with pulled chicken and pesto are a standout, as is the branzino with a golden sear and thick slices of eggplant and zucchini topped with a tangy tomato chutney. Well-mixed cocktails are no surprise given the restaurant’s pedigree. And tiramisu lovers will enjoy the creamy, restrained version here, spiked with spiced rum and topped with playful coffee caviar. 350 Massachusetts Ave., 317-798-2492, vicinoindy.com V $$

EAST

INCLUDES Irvington, Windsor Park

10th Street Diner

VEGAN Surprisingly familiar and hearty plant-based takes on diner classics occupy the entire menu at this rehab of a former pawn shop, a comfy backdrop for enjoying such tasty fakeouts as a gooey seitan Reuben, a “chicken” pot pie, and chili that rivals your favorite con carne version. 3301 E. 10th St., 463-221-1255 V $$

Beholder

CONTEMPORARY You never know what to expect from restaurateur Jonathan Brooks’ Windsor Park kitchen, aside from one of the most innovative and well-executed meals in town. The menu is difficult to track, mainly because Brooks builds his dishes around seasonal ingredients that are fresh and of-themoment. Impeccable servers will guide you through the evening’s offerings, which start small at the top of the menu (fresh oysters, perhaps, or pork rinds with kimchi and chicken liver mousse) and bulk up toward the bottom (think wild boar Bolognese or a massive pork Wellington portioned for two). Finish with the most exotic flavor of house-made ice cream. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com V $$$$

Chopped Cheese Boys

DELI New York’s beloved bodega snack is the eponymous specialty at this no-frills Irvington convenience store and takeout deli. True to form, well-seasoned ground beef gets chopped on a sizzling flattop, then pressed into a sub sandwich roll, and topped with plenty of gooey cheese and mayo, which makes for a rich and flavorful mashup of the smashburger and a Philly cheesesteak. But be sure to dip into the eyepopping menu of wings, chicken tenders, fried fish, and—another Big Apple food cart favorite—chicken over rice (tender grilled chicken breast meat with a signature white sauce slathered over rice). Try it with lamb, as well, or go meatless with falafel. 1520 N. Arlington Ave., 317-377-4951, chopped-cheese-boys.business.site V $$$

King Dough

PIZZA This industrial-feeling pizza spot from Adam and Alicia Sweet began as a student-friendly Bloomington destination in 2014; now it’s a local mini-chain with three locations. The huge wood-burning pizza oven (it’s named Thunder Dome) is the first thing diners see when they enter the space, and the open kitchen feels like a grown-up version of the exhibition pizzerias so popular in the 1980s. But this is presentday pizza, bubbly and charred, with seasonal toppings such as truffles and imported Taleggio cheese. 452 N. Highland Ave., 317-602-7960, kingdoughpizzas.com. V $$

Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie

UPSCALE CASUAL Dinner and a movie has never been as local or as luxe as it is at this cinematic and culinary collaboration in Windsor Park. First-run indie and classic

films play on the screen in the cinema while snacks and expert cocktails from the bar nod to movie culture, including the Hollywood Boulevard(ier) and the 35MM with dry gin, orgeat, and lime. 1258 Windsor St., 317-800-7099, kankanindy.com V $$$

Natural State Provisions

CASUAL Customers order at the counter and find a table inside this former microbrewery reinvented as an endearingly kitschy eatdrinkery. The food is rooted in homestyle Arkansas cooking from co-owner Adam Sweet’s native state, heavy on the deepfrying and sweet tea–brining, but you shouldn’t miss the daily soft serve ice cream flavor. If the weather is warm, take a seat at one of the picnic tables outside and watch the neighborhood pups frolic in the adjacent dog park. 414 Dorman St., 317-4929887, naturalstateprovisions.com $$

Open Kitchen

NEW AMERICAN Breakfast specialties, such as light-as-air French toast, biscuits and gravy, and eggs Benedict lavished with crab and avocado, are stars on the menu at Dexter and Toni Smith’s cheery eatery. But lunch and dinner are equally respectable, especially a generous shrimp po’ boy or a crispy chicken sandwich with peppered bacon, onion rings, and barbecue sauce with your choice of spice level. More substantial entrees include a grilled pork chop with apple chutney, with elevated touches owing to Dexter Smith’s Chef’s Academy pedigree. After operating mainly as a carryout spot on North Sherman and later in Little Flower, this location comes with a full bar, which means cocktails—such as the creamy, floral Respect Your Elders with bourbon, elderflower, and lemon—are a must. 4022 Shelby St., 317-974-9032, opennkitchen.org $$

Sam’s Square Pie

NEW PIZZA Detroit-style pizza obsessive Jeff Miner’s pop-up pie shop now has a permanent home on Indy’s near eastside, giving followers and newcomers easy access to his award-winning square-cut pizzas. Just don’t expect a laundry list of available toppings or side options like salads and wings. This spot is a single-minded homage to pan-baked pizzas with a signature crown of well-browned cheese around the edges of the chewy, sturdy crust. Topping combos include the signature El Jefe with two styles of pepperoni, kicky Italian sausage, dollops of ricotta, and a drizzle of spicy honey. Slightly thinner and larger Sicilian pies occasionally appear on the menu, so snag one if you can, especially his sausage-topped High Plains Drifter that garnered second place at Las Vegas’ Pizza Expo. Cheesy garlic bread made with Miner’s pizza dough and garlic knots slathered in butter are also available, but it’s best to save room for the main attraction. Order ahead for faster service, but be sure to dine in to enjoy the whole funky experience. 2829 E. 10th St., samssquarepie.com, V $$$

Sidedoor Bagel

UPDATED BRUNCH Appropriately dense and chewy with that required crackly sheen, the hand-rolled sourdough rings at Josh and Emily Greeson’s walk-up bagel

shop are the stars of the show. The flavor selection varies, but flaky salt, Everything, sesame, and poppy are all solid standbys. Order yours sliced and schmeared at the counter, then score an outdoor table or head back home (it’s carryout only). Don’t miss the daily sandwiches, which range from the open-faced Lox & Loaded to the Turkey Bacon Club with Fischer Farms turkey and Old Major Market bacon. 1103 E. 10th St., sidedoorbagel.com V $$

NORTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville

9th Street Bistro

BISTRO In a snug cafe off Noblesville’s town square, owners Samir Mohammad and Rachel Firestone Mohammad create meals worth lingering over, from a lamb shank slow-smoked to buttery tenderness and served on top of fresh pappardelle to a house-made burrata that makes several appearances on the menu. The rotating Fried Thing of the Day (from tofu to artichoke hearts) should not be missed. 56 S. 9th St., Noblesville, 317-774-5065, 9thstbistro.com $$$

1933 Lounge

STEAK AND COCKTAILS This clubby cocktail lounge offers a younger, sexier take on its

fine dining parent, St. Elmo Steak House. The twist here is that the black-vested servers deliver the oysters Rockefeller and 45-day dry-aged ribeyes to diners tucked into noir-lit corners, where no one can see their faces melt into a brief uglycry at that first bite of incendiary shrimp cocktail. The Yard at Fishers District, 317758-1933, 1933lounge.com/fishers $$$$

Anthony’s Chophouse

STEAKHOUSE The interior of this swanky heavy hitter along Carmel’s Main Street has the polished gleam of a new Vegas hotel, with an upper-level lounge containing the salvaged mahogany bar from The Glass Chimney, another fine dining legend. The food has equal flourish. Lobster bisque with a hunk of tempura-fried meat begins a meal that might include a cowgirl ribeye, a flight of filets, or a domestic wagyu burger. Take note—the steak menu also lists a spinalis. You may never eat another steak this perfect. Black-suited servers and well-composed cocktails keep the high-dollar meal running smoothly. 201 W. Main St., Carmel, 317740-0900, anthonyschophouse.com $$$$

Aroma Experience

INDIAN Vinita Singh’s portfolio of restaurants expanded in March 2024, when she brought a new location of her Aroma mini-chain of restaurants to Carmel City Center. Those who enjoy her Aroma Indian Cuisine and Bar spots in Fountain Square and SoBro will find plenty to like in this glitzy, date-night venue. The other locations’ daily dinner

menus of Northern Indian dishes such as tikka masala and Kerala-style curry are on offer, as are ambitious entrees including a lehsuni prawn dish that plays notably with Aroma’s coconut and cashew naan. (There’s also a chili garlic naan so engaging that one could enjoy it unaccompanied.) Lunch, which is served daily, is a more concise affair of bowls, rolls, and wraps; there’s also a full bar and some standout, homemade ice cream–based desserts. 885 Monon Green Blvd., Carmel, 317-993-3021, aromaindy.com V$$$

Auberge

FRENCH Brick Street Inn’s classic French bistro installed talented chef Toby Moreno (of The Loft at Traders Point Creamery and Plow & Anchor) in early 2022 and immediately sent him to Paris, where he trained in the kitchens of famed chef Alain Ducasse. Moreno has added that continental know-how to the vintage dishes he makes fresh with as much local produce, meats, and cheeses as he can. That translates to an impressive plate of buttery escargot topped with croutons, seasonal salads, and a deeply flavorful French onion soup with a rich broth. Seafood shines among the entrees, especially crispy-skinned roasted cod, though diver scallops with asparagus puree showered with herbs and toasted almonds also impress. 175 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-733-8755, auberge-restaurant.com

$$$$

Bearded Bagel

DELI Food truck veteran Tom Race opened this brick-and-mortar bagel deli on Indy’s

northeast side in late 2021, featuring his signature steamed bagel sandwiches with dozens of topping combinations. Breakfast versions, such as the Slammin Sammy with bacon, egg, and American cheese or the Hangover Helper with spicy cream cheese, bacon, egg, and three slices of cheese are a no-brainer. But whimsical tributes to fast-food favorites, such as the R-Bee’s with roast beef and extra cheddar, are great lunch choices. Vegetarians can opt for the Urban Farmer with “all the veggies,” avocado, and cheese, and traditionalists can sink into a cream cheese–schmeared bagel with lox, tomato, capers, onions, and cucumbers. Puffy, sweet cinnamon rolls, hearty biscuits and gravy, and loaded tater tots with sausage gravy, bacon, cheese, and eggs complete the menu, along with Nutella and peanut butter bagels and a short list of cookies and brownies. 7305 E. 96th St., 317-516-5938, beardedbagel.com V $$

Bonge’s Tavern

AMERICAN Opened in the 1930s near the rush of the White River and purchased by Charles Bonge a little over 10 years later, Bonge’s Tavern has been a part of Indiana dining history for more than 90 years. In the fall of 2023, Burgess Restaurant Group purchased it and installed Dean Sample as executive chef. The star of the menu is still the signature tenderloin, appropriately named the Perkinsville Pork. Other favorites include a stuffed duck breast and a fresh fish entree. Chef Sample inflects his own ideas into the menu, with a Southern influence. It’s worth the risk to order whatever delightful special he adds to the menu. Make sure to grab a reservation long before you plan to go—they go quick—and arrive early enough to tailgate in the parking lot with other diners, a Bonge’s tradition worth keeping. 9830 W. 280 N, Perkinsville, 765-734-1625, bongestavern.com $$$

Convivio

ITALIAN With a menu that traces the geographical regions in Italy, this is not your average red-sauce joint. The pasta, including curled nests of black squid ink spaghetti and purple beet-infused fettuccine, are all made in house. The torchietti pasta, tossed with dried figs, black olives, basil, goat cheese, and Parmesan has been known to induce deep cravings in the weeks after eating, and the frutti di mare packs a generous serving of mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and calamari among tonnarelli pasta in a spicy and bright tomato sauce. Beyond pasta, the menu offers Neapolitan-style pizzas served blistered and hot from the imported Italian pizza oven, rotating regional specials, and an easy-to-navigate, Italian-heavy wine list that makes picking a bottle for the table a pleasure. 11529 Spring Mill Rd., Carmel, 317-564-4670, convivioindy.com $$$

Cooper & Cow

STEAKHOUSE Louisville-based Endeavor Restaurant Group’s swashbuckling steakhouse in downtown Fishers is perhaps distinguished most by its intimacy and calm, where diners can actually hear their dinner companions across the table. The 4,200-square-foot space, which was last an outpost of LouVino, has been

transformed with well-appointed decor that recalls the swankier saloons of pre-Prohibition days. It makes a great backdrop for surprisingly fresh, well-prepared seafood offerings alongside prime aged filets, ribeyes, and wagyu flank steak. A house wagyu burger is more than dinner-worthy, and sides such as fried Brussels sprouts with roasted garlic and bresaola are excellent for sharing. Save room for a towering wedge of bourbon-enriched chocolate cake with both dark chocolate ganache and milk chocolate buttercream. 8626 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-288-2801, cooperandcow.com $$$

Field Brewing

BREWPUB This Westfield addition to the local craft brewery scene would be dazzling enough for its mod fixtures and bocce ball court that spans the family-friendly outdoor space, but the menu is as daring as it is easy to pair with the house brews. The kitchen skillfully prepares standout dishes, such as tender lamb ribs with chimichurri and deeply caramelized Brussels sprouts with hunks of bacon that are some of the best in town. Their events space is simple-chic and full of natural light, available (with reservations) for those special receptions and birthdays—or just for big family and friend gatherings. 303 E. Main St., Westfield, 317804-9780, fieldbrewing.com V $$$

The HC Tavern + Kitchen

CONTEMPORARY The term “tavern” hardly captures this swank addition to the Huse Culinary Group/St. Elmo family. A hit among starters is the Lobster “Cargot” with lumps of lobster meat in garlic butter and melted havarti. Chops include the supper club darling steak Diane with mushroom cream sauce and horseradish mashed potatoes, though equally regal is the wagyu meatloaf enriched with pork and veal, sauced with a truffle mushroom demi-glace. The Yard at Fishers District, 317-530-4242, atthehc.com $$$

Nyla’s

NEW AMERICAN The latest and most elevated of Scott and Nyla Wolf’s culinary efforts on Indy’s north side brings to life antique dealer Bob Beauchamp’s iconic and gorgeously restored red barn on Westfield’s unofficial restaurant row. Chefs Esli Alfaro and Sarah Sinclair, formerly of The Italian House next door, oversee a menu of steakhouse staples with Southern influences. Be sure to get a starter of light and crunchy cornmeal-crusted fried oysters with red pepper remoulade, as well as delectable deviled eggs crowned with candied bacon. Steaks lavished with rosemary-garlic butter are good bets, though a thick-cut pork chop with tangy bacon jam and juicy double-boned lamb chops are definitely worth forgoing beef. Asian-inspired miso-soy sea bass is a lighter option that still packs plenty of flavor, and cauliflower “risotto” is a satisfying and savory side among more expected options. A towering slice of chocolate cake with strawberry sauce is the perfect finale, but the real draw is the cozy bucolic setting that still feels elegant enough for celebration dinners. 211 Park St., Westfield, 317-763-5412, nylasrestaurant.com $$$

Trax BBQ

BARBECUE Owner Andrew Klein, who has a background in high-end steakhouses,

oversees the tender headliners at this no-frills barbecue joint that sits beside the train tracks in McCordsville. You can taste his expertise in the essential meats: brisket hacked into fatty hunks, pulled pork that melts in the mouth, and ribs by the rack, all prepared in a smoker that customers walk past before they hit the front door. Fans of smoked meats order off a menu that covers traditional carnivore territory as well as some creative upgrades, including pulled pork nachos and The Willie brisket sandwich topped with hot liquid cheese and slaw on a brioche bun. 7724 Depot St., McCordsville, 317-335-7675, traxbbq.com $$

NORTHEAST

INCLUDES Broad Ripple, Castleton, Geist, Herron-Morton, Kennedy-King, Keystone at the Crossing, Meridian-Kessler, Nora, SoBro

Baby’s

BURGERS This playful, family-friendly joint limits its menu to smashburgers, chicken, milkshakes (spiked or not), and cocktails. Housed in a former drag show bar, it also has fun with the building’s artsy legacy—the house burger is called a Strut Burger, and all of the cocktail names come straight from the RuPaul meme factory. Sip a Tongue Pop or a Sashay Away as you polish off the last of the Talbott Street Style fries dressed with bacon, cheese sauce, white barbecue sauce, and pickled jalapeño. 2147 N. Talbott St., 317-600- 3559, babysindy.com V $$

The Burger Joint

AMERICAN Tucked away in a strip mall off Emerson Way and 56th Street, The Burger Joint is a true hidden gem waiting to be discovered. They don’t take hamburgers lightly; the menu is full of specialty patties topped with savory and tender brisket, grilled pineapple, or spicy chorizo. They all pair well with hand-battered onion rings, fries, or loaded tater tots. If the burgers are what bring you in, it’s the milkshakes that make you stay—hand-dipped and served in an old-fashioned glass, piled high with whipped cream, and, of course, garnished with a cherry on top. 5450 E. Fall Creek Pkwy. N. Dr., 317-991-4995, indysburgerjoint.com $$

Cheeky Bastards

ENGLISH Co-owners Michael Rypel and chef Robert Carmack fell in love with British culture and cuisine during travels abroad. Their Geist restaurant is a true tribute to the food, serving not only a classic full English breakfast and sausage rolls made with imported meat but also a very convincing fish and chips featuring crispy planks and hand-cut potatoes. Don’t forget to ask for the malt vinegar or the HP Sauce for authenticity. 11210 Fall Creek Rd., 317-2889739, cheekybastardsrestaurant.com $$

Chicken Scratch

SOUL FOOD Chef Tia Harrison’s second, mostly carryout spot on Keystone Avenue streamlines the menu to the bestsellers from her original Chef Tia and Co. location on

West Washington Street. Meaty, tender wings with a variety of sauces and spice levels, as well as earthy, dressed-up fries, cover most of the menu here. That’s more than enough for a Cajun-inflected feast. Signature honey hot wings, either naked or breaded for extra crunch, come customized with the amount of sauce you want. And fries are available with a simple toss of truffle seasoning and parmesan or dressed up to entree status with chipotle steak or shrimp and Alfredo sauce. 5308 N. Keystone Ave., 317-426-3457, chickenscratchindy.com $$

Diavola

PIZZA Pies emerge expertly bubbled and charred from a centerpiece brick oven. Ingredients are simple but top-shelf, including homemade meatballs, spicy sopressata, smooth clumps of fior di latte, and torn basil. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-820-5100, diavola.net V $$

Fernando’s

MEXICAN / BRAZILIAN With their combined Mexican and Brazilian backgrounds, the couple that runs this cozy restaurant in the heart of Broad Ripple set out to provide a taste of each cuisine. Their effort pays off in traditional comfort dishes such as feijoada (a meaty bean stew served with steamed rice, orange slices, and a sprinkle of farofa), a layered escondidinho de frango reminiscent of shepherd’s pie, and fragrant carne asada served with Mexican onions and guacamole. Dishes are served with both Mexican and Brazilian hot sauces, each with their own brand of afterburn. Gorgeously jiggly flan is the star of the dessert course. 834 E. 64th St., 317-377-4779 $$

Festiva

MEXICAN This lively Latin spot on the east side puts a gourmet flourish on south-of-the-border fare. The menu includes tacos, plus an old favorite: poblanos stuffed with chorizo and queso. A pitcher of their house margaritas, made with fresh lime and agave, is perfect for the whole table, especially with one of their delicate, seasonal desserts. Weekend brunch is a lot of fun, with Latin-flavored benedicts and chilaquiles with red or green sauce. 1217 E. 16th St., 317-635-4444, festivaindy.com V $$

Gather 22

CONTEMPORARY This colorfully cozy all-day hangout and cocktail spot in Fall Creek Place from Byrne’s Grilled Pizza owners Adam Reinstrom and Pablo Gonzalez draws on Reinstrom’s love of interior design and Gonzalez’s background in innovative mixology. Vibrant wall fixtures by creators such as Bootleg Signs & Murals and revolving works by locals from the LGBTQ art community provide a funky backdrop for sipping seasonal elixirs, such as the bracing but balanced Bourbon Renewal. Salads include a wedge with smoked blue cheese and roasted-poblano ranch. Byrne’s original pizzas, cracker-thin and charred, are on offer, as are thicker-crusted Roman-style oval pies with well-chosen toppings. Fresh takes on shareable plates include crispy-skinned salmon with kale and quinoa and intriguing scallop sliders with Asian-style slaw. On Sundays, the brunch menu features classics such as egg dishes and French toast. There are also breakfast pizzas such as the Chilaquiles, a thin crust topped with chorizo, salsa, eggs, and fried tortillas. Coffee

drinks and a solid sandwich list anchor the daytime menu, and desserts feature a luxe take on the Hoosier classic sugar cream pie. 22 E. 22nd St., 317-258-2222, gather22.com $$

Late Harvest Kitchen

CONTEMPORARY A luscious comfort food menu delivers top-shelf versions of family-table dishes, such as chunked kielbasa (on a base of mustard spaetzle browned in dill butter) and braised short ribs. Taste the farmers market throughout the year with chef Ryan Nelson’s farm-to-table approach, one of the first in Indy to incorporate local produce. 8605 River Crossing Blvd., 317-663-8063, lateharvestkitchen.com $$

Pisco Mar

PERUVIAN Vibrant music and a spacious dining room provide a bustling backdrop for a hearty cuisine that pulls from both land and sea. Tangy, citrusy ceviche is a good starting point and comes in different versions, including Leche de Tigre or Vuelve a la Vida. Both pair beautifully with Causita de Pollo, a mound of creamy mashed potatoes layered with avocado and topped with a creamy chicken-based sauce. Shredded chicken with a lush yellow pepper sauce and a wineenriched, vegetable-laden beef stew are the most classic main dishes for those getting a first taste of the cuisine. The big appetites at the table will appreciate meaty dishes such as Lomo Saltado, sauteed strips of beef with onions and tomatoes, or a so-called “poor man’s plate” that pairs two generous strips of Angus steak with french fries, rice, plantains, and eggs. 9546 Allisonville Rd., 317-537-2025 $$

Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta + Market + Backroom Eatery

MEDITERRANEAN Since taking over Tony and Rosa Hanslits’ beloved SoBro pasta market, lunch cafe, and private dining spot in July of 2023, chef Erin Kem and partner Logan McMahan have brought their deep affection for Mediterranean flavors to a lunchtime menu that features an assortment of house pastas with seasonal additions; the current summer menu includes a stunning spring pea bucatini with asparagus, smoked salmon, and dill. Creative sandwiches and salads draw on McMahan’s talent with plant-based cuisine, which, along with the market’s egg-free pasta, have made the shop a bona fide vegan destination. An ever-changing selection of ready-to-eat, deli, and gourmet options make this a great spot to stop for quick supper ideas. And Kem brings her years of experience in the kitchens of local restaurants and in the thick of private events to the market’s highly in-demand small group dinners. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-257-7374, nicoletaylorpasta.com V $$

Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet

BUFFET The sheer volume of all-you-can-eat food offered at this Castleton buffet is most impressive. Diners are greeted just inside the door with a full sushi bar cranking out vibrant raw fish in every configuration, including flanks of smoky unagi on sticky rice and tiny saucers of fish roe offered up like condiments. Piles of steamed crustaceans await cracking, and you can create your own ramen combo. Dim sum gets its own section of dumplings

and sticky chicken feet. And milky boba teas in already-sealed cups sweeten the deal. 6304 E. 82nd St., 317-350-8888, umibuffet.com $$$

Wisanggeni Pawon

INDONESIAN The talents of chefs Bambang Wisanggeni and Putri Pratiwi make dining at Wisanggeni Pawon a suberb experience. That, plus all their wonderful family recipes. The husband-and-wife duo presents the complex, spice-forward dishes of their homeland, as well as some hibachi favorites drawn from their experience at nearby Japanese restaurants. Start off by splitting a platter of martabak telor, a hearty beef omelet encased in crispy wonton skin, or share some steamed Indonesian dumplings with a rich peanut sauce. Then try the signature beef rendang, a dish from Western Sumatra featuring tender meat simmered in coconut milk with an aromatic array of spice. Or order bebek Madura, braised and fried duck with toasted coconut. Both dishes come with a fiery house sambal. Lighter fare includes nicely blackened grilled chicken with rice or stir-fried noodles topped with crunchy crackers and a shower of chopped peanuts. Save room for ube spring rolls or sweet pancakes stuffed with peanuts, gooey cheese, and condensed milk, all sprinkled with chocolate. 2450 E. 71st St., 317-756-9477, wpawon.com V $$

NORTHWEST

INCLUDES College Park, Lafayette Square, Traders Point

Amara

INDIAN Innovative restaurateur and Aroma owner Vinita Singh converted the popular northside tavern Smee’s Place to her third Indian eatery in late 2022, offering an ambitious and artfully executed menu of dishes from around South Asia. Starters are where the menu truly shines, with crispy eggplant and kale fritters, deeply aromatic Chicken 65, and true-to-their name Juicy Drums of Heaven. Lesser-known dishes, such as chettinad—equally good with chicken, seafood, or lamb—are great bets. Breads are a must here, especially chewy, crisp garlic naan. Vegetarians get special attention at this place, with a menu of plant-based dishes and mock meats. All fall somewhere between flavors of India and from farther east. A full menu of wines and cocktails pair nicely with the spicy, aromatic dishes on offer. 1454 W. 86th St., 317-884-6982, amaraindy.com V $$

Athens on 86th

GREEK Whether you select a large chicken gyro or the kota psiti—a roasted chicken with green beans and Greek potatoes—add an order of the fries, served here with feta, Mediterranean spices, and Greek dressing. Their gyro pizza is a fun marriage of the cravable classics, and it’s hard to argue with their multiple takes on the classic Greek salad. For the hungry, indecisive, or just plain adventurous, the sampler

platter gathers nearly everything in the expansive menu onto one plate. 2284 W. 86th St., 317-879-8644, athenson86th.com V $$

The Loft Restaurant

FINE DINING With its pastoral setting on the grounds of an artisanal dairy farm, Traders Point Creamery’s farmstead restaurant (housed in one of several restored historic barns) feels like a working model for farm-to-table dining. Some of the ingredients on executive chef Jon Warner’s menu are grown on-site, and it would be a shame to pass on the charcuterie board, an appetizer featuring the creamery’s award-winning cheeses, sweet and savory spreads, crunchy cornichons, and locally cured meats. Grass-fed Niman Ranch steaks, seasonal fish and seafood, and house-made yeast rolls are always solid choices, as is the burger made with 100-percent grass-fed beef. For dessert, grab a scoop or three of their ice cream, perfect if you just want to go a la mode. 9101 Moore Rd., Zionsville, 317-7331700, traderspointcreamery.com V $$$

Oakleys Bistro

CONTEMPORARY The meticulously plated fare at Steven Oakley’s eatery hails from a culinary era when sprigs of herbs and puddles of purees provided the flavor, and every single element on the plate served a purpose. The presentations are wild, with menu descriptions giving little more than clues as to what might arrive at the table. Heads-up on anything that appears in quotes, such as a creative “Coq au Vin.” 1464 W. 86th St., 317-824-1231, oakleysbistro.com V $$$

Tortas El Guero

MEXICAN This tiny Mexican joint in a parking lot near the Home Depot on High School Road draws lines of devoted regulars until the wee hours for takeout orders of burritos and hearty platters of nachos. But Latin food fans will love the textbook tacos and tortas here, especially tacos alambre with creamy cheese, sauteed peppers, and crispy bits of ham. 3818 N. High School Rd., 317-709-2328 $

SOUTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Bargersville, Greenwood

Antilogy

BRUNCH AND COCKTAILS This snug corner spot divides its energy between the morning meal and evening libations. Early birds can choose from thoughtful combinations of fat biscuits, sunny eggs, bourbon-candied bacon, and Belgian waffles, with plenty of Bovaconti Coffee–based lattes and mochas to kick-start the day. In the evening, the menu shifts to shareable plates, such as a panko-crusted crispy burrata, parmesan truffle fries, and a molten spinach-Gruyère dip. 5867 N. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-530-5312, antilogycg.com V $$

Baan Thai Bistro

THAI Roxanna Williams’ cozy Thai eatery, which she opened in a former house and hair salon in late spring of 2023, is a welcome

addition to Wanamaker’s dining offerings, bringing aromatic flavors and artful presentations to dishes like the lightly breaded and fried Son-in-Law Eggs (Kai Look Keuy), which is drizzled with earthy-sweet tamarind sauce, and generous summer rolls that come with a trio of tangy dipping sauces. Less expected shareable starters include rich and flavorful Isan Thai Sausage with just the right amount of spice, served with a not-too-hot dipping sauce and a darling bamboo basket of sticky rice; a Crispy Rice Salad that crackles and pops; and airy steamed dumplings. Hearty Boat Noodle Soupand Crispy Pork Belly Ramen with a light mushroom-scented broth are good bets for main dishes, as are the kicky Crying Tiger Steak and more typical curries and noodle dishes. Adventurous diners will want to try one of three fish dishes redolent of ginger and basil, and a funky mix of whole chicken drumsticks and sweet curry noodles make for a comforting supper. 8705 Southeastern Ave., 317-759-8424, baanthaibistro.com V $$

Cafe Euclid

COFFEEHOUSE Vino Villa owners Paul and Laura Jacquin opened this cozy cafe in a smaller restored home behind their popular wine bar in Old Town Greenwood in July 2022, and southside coffee lovers immediately lined up out the door. Lattes and espresso drink specials top the caffeinated offerings, and bagels sourced from Bloomington’s Scholars Inn Bakehouse get dressed up with Italian meats, smoked salmon, or avocado and veggies to complete your morning pick-me-up. But house-baked cinnamon rolls and generous chocolate chip cookies with flakes of sea salt are worth the visit alone. Colorful murals paying homage to the Greek mathematician Euclid, repurposed wood accents, and plenty of patio seating make this a soothing daytime sitting spot before heading for adult beverages next door. 357 Euclid Ave., Greenwood, 317-360-9887, cafe-euclid.com $

Chin Brothers

BURMESE One of the oldest Burmese restaurants in town, this brightly lit and friendly spot attached to a large, well-stocked market serves as somewhat of a cultural center for immigrants from the Chin state of Myanmar. Invigorating refreshers such as sweet tea with condensed milk and a cane syrup beverage with puffed rice offer a colorful taste of Burmese culture. Fried rice and soups are solid standards here, as well as luscious and tender curried goat. Their Lahpet Thohk salad, made with fermented tea leaves, greens, and spices might be one of the best in the region. 2320 E. Stop 11 Rd., 317-888-1850, chinbrothers.com V $$

Field to Fork

SANDWICHES This gourmet market and local meat counter that set up shop along Franklin’s small-town main drag puts its inventory center stage in a bantam menu of sandwiches. Top picks there are the Well-Dressed Italian, which is built around thin-sliced salami, provolone, and banana peppers; and the fig-forward Franklin Jam that puts thick-sliced Fischer Farms ham and Gruyere to delicious use. 90 W. Jefferson St., Franklin, 463-710-6170, fieldtofork.shop $$

Main & Madison Market Cafe

BAKERY Franklin’s first hospital was reborn as a breakfast and lunch hot spot in 2018, when co-owners and cousins Amy Richardson and Stephanie Northern opened their bakery and cafe just steps from the city’s historic courthouse. With its combination of Brooklyncool baristas (many are students at nearby Franklin College) and Midwestern friendliness and prices, the restaurant easily attracts long lines for its rotating menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods. Its roasted pepper and gouda soup is espcially satisfying; that it’s served with one of their caramelized onion and goat cheese scones turns it into a special treat. Pastries like a shareable-sized pecan sticky bun or a stuffed peanut butter cookie are a sugar crash waiting to happen but are more than worth the ride. 100 N. Main St., Franklin, 317-7366246, mainandmadison.cafe V $$

Mr. Patakon

COLOMBIAN The name of Diana Moreno and Brenda Sánchez’s festive, authentic southside Colombian eatery comes from the popular Latin and South American dish patacones— flattened, fried plantains filled with everything from shredded barbecue chicken criollo to cheese, corn, and shredded beef. But more familiar fare includes colorfully conceived hot dogs like the Super Perro, which is topped with every meat in the kitchen, quail eggs, and a special house sauce. Mazorcada (heaps of sweet corn topped with meats, cheeses, and potato sticks) is a delectable side dish. Fruit drinks and desserts, especially obleas (wafer cookies filled with dulce de leche and cheese), are worth the extra calories for a flavor experience like no other in the city.

7415 U.S. 31, 317-692-9829, mrpatakon.com $$

Our Table

CONTEMPORARY The location is suitably cozy and out of the way for Bargersville’s newest fine dining destination. Chef and owner Joe Miller focuses on gorgeous, rustic plates of steak, seafood, and Old World lasagna made with fresh pasta and generous layers of beef Bolognese, mozzarella, and creamy ricotta. The brioche sliders (containing buttermilk fried chicken or beef tenderloin with crispy onions and horseradish creme fraiche) are little bites of heaven. 5080 State Rd. 135, Bargersville, 317-847-4920, ourtablerestaurant.com V $$$

Revery

CONTEMPORARY This Old Greenwood bistro inside an 1800s-era drug store offers approachable fine dining, with a more casual bar on the historic building’s back end. Small plates have included beets with whipped goat cheese and wasabi, while entrees are seasonal and skew toward seafood, with lobster, halibut, and mussels on recent menus. Whiskey drinks get priority on the cocktail menu, and their old fashioned feels fresh and new. 299 W. Main St., Greenwood, 317-215-4164, reverygreenwood.com V $$$

Richard’s Brick Oven Pizza

ADDED PIZZA When husband-and-wife team Richard Goss and Meg Jones first fired up their restaurant’s massive brick oven in 2009, chain pizza ruled the Central Indiana

landscape, either delivered within 30 minutes or served in a cavernous room with a singing, mechanical rodent. Franklin was a risky place to launch their vision of high-quality Neapolitan pizza made with fresh, often local ingredients— but the gamble paid off, and 15 years later, it’s become a destination for diners from far beyond Johnson County. With a tightly edited menu of pastas, you’re not restricted to their thin-andbubbly-crusted pies; they also offer custom calzoni and lasagna. 229 S. Main St., Franklin, 317-738-3300, richardskitchen.com V $$$

The Suds

ADDED DRIVE-IN A visit to The Suds is less about your meal than it is about the Hollywood-style nostalgia it evokes, with a vintage look and feel that recalls American Graffiti or Christine. It comes by that vibe legitimately, as the restaurant opened in 1957 as a location of the now-defunct Dog ’n Suds chain of drive-ins. These days, it’s independently owned and is only open from April to October, so roll on in while the weather is good for a reliably solid hot dog, burger, or shake. 350 Market Plz., Greenwood, 463-444-6052 $ Yokohama

SUSHI In this restored Arts & Crafts–style home, sushi rolls run the gamut from the traditional to the eclectic (the Las Vegas roll mingles unagi with sweet potato and lotus chip). Don’t miss the Fire Dragon roll made with tuna and avocado topped with more tuna, mango, eel, and tempura crunch, a sprawling concoction that balances the spicy, sweet, tangy, and unexpected. Purists will be pleased by their sashimi and nigiri menus; those who eschew seafood are also well-served with a dinner menu that weaves in hibachigrilled steak and chicken. There’s also a separate vegetarian menu of udon and tempura dishes. 67 N. Madison Ave., Greenwood, 317-8591888, yokohamagreenwood.com V $$$

WEST

INCLUDES Brownsburg, Pittsboro, Plainfield

Abyssinia

ETHIOPIAN This spot—where diners use a spongy sour flatbread known as injera in lieu of utensils—provides a thorough introduction to Ethiopian cuisine. Aficionados of East African food will be impressed by the seasoning of the stewed lamb, beef, and spicy chicken; vegans and vegetarians will appreciate their greens, lentils, and chickpeas. 352 W. 38th St., 299-0608, abyssinianindy.weebly.com V $$

Bob’s Indian Kitchen

INDIAN A surprisingly spacious and airy counter-service restaurant located in a new mini-strip in Hendricks County houses Bhavesh “Bob” Patel’s ode to home-cooked Indian cuisine. Irresistible entry-level cream cheese bhajia and dreamy butter chicken get just as much respect as the crispy pani puri filled with tamarind water, the goat biryani, and the mini section of Indian pizzas. Cool your tastebuds with sweet sips of mango lassi. 618 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-983-0225, bobsindian.square.site V $$

Brozinni Pizzeria

PIZZA Owner James Cross grew up in New York, and everything on the menu is named after an iconic NYC location, from the Madison Square Garden meatball sandwich to the Hell’s Kitchen calzone. Don’t skip the garlic knuckles, curled into knots and drenched in garlic butter. Use the sauce pooling at the bottom of the basket for dipping. 1067 N. Main St., Speedway, 317-744-2826, brozinni.com $$

Che Chori

ARGENTINEAN Marcos Perera-Blasco’s colorful drive-thru restaurant offers a delectable intro to Argentinean street food. A selection of traditional butterflied-sausage sandwiches and warm empanadas filled with seasoned meats are the focus of the menu. Make sure to pick up the house-made dulce de leche, which is sold by the jar, as well as their churros and specialty Argentinian shortbread cookies. And don’t overlook the cook-at-home sausages, from Spanish-style chorizo to Argentinean black sausage. 3124 W. 16th St., 317-737-2012, chechori.com $$

Hoosier Roots

COMFORT Don’t miss this gem serving familystyle mains and side dishes in a roadhouse setting. Owner Greg Steller runs the tiny kitchen, preparing house-smoked salmon, herb-crusted roast beef, beer can chicken, and other classics. Buttermilk fried chicken is their signature dish, and a generous eight pieces is served family style, with hot sauce and local honey. Desserts are meant to be shared, but you won’t want to—there’s a honey lavender cake with bauchant icing that’s worth keeping for yourself. 26 E. Main St., Pittsboro, 317-8920071, hoosierrootscatering.com $$

The Iron Skillet

NOSTALGIC This classic restaurant on the grounds of the Coffin Golf Club specalizes in three-course, family-style dining (so the picky should probably pass). With its crisp white tablecloths, silver serving vessels, flowered wallpaper, and antique furnishings, you’ll get a taste of dining days gone by— but the bowls of fried chicken, buttery corn, mashed potatoes, and generously portioned desserts are eternal. 2489 W. 30th St., 317-923-6353, ironskillet.net $$$

Negrill Jamaican Restaurant and Bar

JAMAICAN You’ll need to come early to this spirited island spot if you want to score some of the day’s tender, rich oxtail stew or aromatic curried goat, served up in “lickle” (little) or larger portions dressed with rice and peas, steamed cabbage, and sweet fried plantains. Jerk chicken has just the right heat. Beef patties, fried or “escovitch” fish garnished with tangy veggies, and soups, depending on the day, round out the menu. 3701 W. 10th St., 317-602-8553, negrillfood.com $$

Rick’s Cafe Boatyard

SEAFOOD You don’t have to be a Parrothead to appreciate the pontoon-life allure of Eagle Creek’s waterside restaurant, with its breezy dining room on stilts over the Dandy Trail boat slips. The menu gets creative with all of the

casual dining tropes, mixing smoked salmon nachos and chicken cordon bleu fingers in with the jumbo shrimp martinis. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-290-9300, ricksboatyard.com $$$

Rusted Silo

BARBECUE Nestled between I-74 and the railroad tracks in Lizton, you’ll find this barbecue joint with only six indoor tables and a line out the door. Pitmaster Robert Ecker smokes, cooks, and even bakes some of the best Southern-style pit barbecue, sides, and desserts in Indiana. Grab a beer from one of the floor-to-ceiling coolers just inside the door and get ready to make your way down the menu. If you can’t decide between the perfectly seasoned, pinktinged shredded pork butt or a slice of the fork-tender brisket, go ahead and get both and try them with one (or all) of the four house-made sauces on deck. On the side? The ranch beans are creamy and well-seasoned. During peak sweet corn season, you’ll find cotija-dusted elotes on the menu. Where other barbecue joints might phone in their desserts with frozen pies and canned fruit, Rusted Silo dishes up homemade bourbon pecan pie and peach cobbler. 411 N. State St., Lizton, 317-994-6145, rustedsilobrewhouse.com $$

Shiba Pho

VIETNAMESE Deep bowls of the namesake aromatic noodle soup get top billing at this no-frills Brownsburg spot, which also makes a special vegetarian broth for the plant-based. Don’t miss the Chef’s Specials (including Vietnamese steak and egg with pate) or the sensibly stuffed banh mi sandwiches, which are served on springy, fresh baguettes. 578 W. Northfield Dr., Brownsburg, 317-286-7018 $$

Theo’s Italian

ITALIAN Hearty pastas and puffy, pizzalike Roman-style pinsa flatbreads top the menu at Cunningham Restaurant Group’s Italian spot. Named for restaurateur Mike Cunningham’s grandson, the restaurant incorporates some colorful whimsy into the decor, though the cocktail and wine list are quite adult, as are the sophisticated takes on otherwise homey Italian American fare. Lunch leans towards salads and sandwiches; dinner includes pastas such as a luscious bowl of lobster tortelloni with squid, shrimp, roasted tomatoes, and a silky white wine cream sauce. Some pinsas, which easily serve two, come topped with a butcher’s case worth of meat, others are piled high with fresh, seasonal produce and cheese. 2498 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield, 317-203-9107, theositalian.com $$$

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Wilbur Shaw Memorial Hill

INDY’S SOAP BOX

DERBY TRACK ON THE NEAR NORTHWEST SIDE IS WHERE OUR YOUNGEST EMBRACE OUR RACING LEGACY. BY

CAMILLE GRAVES

LOCATED AN eight-minute drive from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wilbur Shaw Memorial Hill is where kids experience soap box derby, a sport in which they build their own cars and let gravity propel them to the finish line, aerodynamics and their steering skill their only advantages. Indy’s 1,000-foot soap box track is the longest in the world. Built in 1953, it’s the namesake of Wilbur Shaw, the three-time Indy 500 winner who famously convinced businessman Tony Hulman to buy the IMS after it had fallen into disrepair during World War II. Shaw became IMS’s first president. But few know that Shaw was an advocate for children and an avid fan of soap box derby. Sadly, he perished in a plane crash only a year after the soap box track built in his honor was completed. But his influence is still seen at every rally and race, where families participate together and winning isn’t dependent on a child’s athleticism but on their creativity, STEM knowledge, and driving ability. “You don’t have to be the fastest, or the strongest, or the tallest to have success,” says Bob Getts, director of Indianapolis Soap Box Derby, which has produced five national champions. Cost is also no barrier. “We’ve got close to 100 car kits, believe it or not,” says Getts—more than they have kids to race them. Who knows what future racing legend will climb into one of their cars next?

PHOTO BY MARGO WININGER