Indianapolis Monthly - March 2023 Edition

CRUNCH TIME! 16 SPOTS FOR THE ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD

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DRINKING BUDDIES Find Your Brewery Crowd

SACRED SPACES Inside 10 Diverse Places of Worship

Bird's the word at Hollyhock Hill.

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WINNER, WINNER!

A fried chicken dinner is a sentimental favorite meal among Hoosiers. Many of us grew up on that comforting staple. So we rounded up the 16 best places around town to get your chomp on.

EDITED BY JULIA SPALDING

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DRINKING BUDDIES

Indy breweries are serving more than just beer these days. They provide a sense of community. No matter who you are or what you’re into, one of these watering holes is saving a seat for you.

BY TONY REHAGEN

50

FINDING FAITH

Over the months that Indianapolis Monthly photographer Tony Valainis spent documenting the many ways—and whys— Indianapolis worships, he discovered a diverse and thriving religious scene.

BY SUSAN SALAZ

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Photograph by Andrew Doench

SPECIALIZING in

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CIRCLE CITY

GOOD LIFE

19 WANTED

Western is back, baby. And these boots are made for walkin’.

20

SHOP TALK

Rebecca Graves is crafting her cool handmade pottery in a new near-eastside shop.

21 TRENDING

Our city’s museum gift shops are filled with goodies awaiting discovery.

22

REALTY CHECK

Choose between a MeridianKessler Italianate manse and a swanky downtown condo.

23

BODY + SOUL

Taking up birdwatching can help your spirits soar.

24

ARTIFACT

A basketball that belonged to a famous Hoosier player —and legendary sneaker marketing whiz.

STREET SAVVY

THE DISH 27

SWOON

Formerly housed in a refurbished Westfield barn, the Rail Cafe and Market gets a new life and new digs for its farm-to-table approach to brunch, dinner, and take-home provisions.

28

FIRST BITE

A destination-themed burger joint takes off in Carmel; an interactive dinner spot in New Albany features a rotating cast of Kentuckiana chefs; the owner of Mandy’s Ice Cream gives us the scoop.

29

TASTE TEST

We have four gussied-up grilled cheese sandwiches that will melt your heart.

30

FOODIE

After casting her sweet spell over SoBro, downtown, and East 16th Street, Gallery

Pastry owner Alison Keefer takes her flair for design and dessert-driven cuisine to a new neighborhood location. 126

RESTAURANT GUIDE

A tour of the city’s best eats, from fine dining to favorite dives.

Here’s why Franklin is still everyone’s favorite small town.

136

BACK HOME AGAIN

Have you noticed that new houses are being built without porches? I certainly have.

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

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JOSEPH RIBKOFF

MARCH

61 // ADVANCED DEGREES

Climbing the corporate ladder or paving an entirely new career path can require education and training above and beyond a bachelor’s degree. Find out details about higher degrees, certifications, and professional development opportunities offered through three Indiana institutions.

66 // FACES OF INDY

Meet local business leaders representing a broad range of industries that includes dining, catering, medicine, dentistry, banking, wealth management, residential design and decor, real estate, fine jewelry, education, and senior care.

99 // SUPER LAWYERS

Orthopedic Surgery

From sports injuries and accidents to repetitive stress, Hoosiers suffer a wide range of debilitating conditions that require professional evaluation and care from orthopedic surgeons. This section will cover the latest treatment options and technological advances to get patients back in action and ease their pain.

LET’S SHINE.

Dive into endless activities in the warm Gulf waters of St. Pete/Clearwater. From kayaking to kitesurfing and paddleboarding to snorkeling, the emerald stage is set for unforgettable memories. Let’s shine—start your adventure at VisitStPeteClearwater.com

INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Megan Fernandez

DESIGN DIRECTOR Brittany Dexter

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Christina Vercelletto

DINING EDITOR Julia Spalding

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Robert Annis, Alicia Garceau, Jeana Harris, Terry Kirts, Suzanne Krowiak, Amy Lynch, Sam Stall, Adam Wren

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Margo Wininger

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Doench, Tony Valainis, Chris von Holle

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS HATSUE, Danielle Johnson, Todd Urban

PUBLISHER Ivy Bayer

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES David Gerdt, Joe Jarrell, Nancy Oliphant

SPECIAL SECTIONS DIRECTOR Andrea Ratcliff

OFFICE MANAGER Christy Moore

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SPECIAL PROJECTS ART DIRECTOR Allison Edwards

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BUSINESS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Missy Beiting

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Though she’s written about Indy’s real estate scene for years, contributing editor Jeana Harris never tires of the subject. She loves searching for gems among the listings and was thrilled to come across a crown jewel like the Hibben House in Irvington (“The Rest Is History,” pg. 22). “This was the first time the house had ever been listed, and I loved learning about its incredible history,” she says. Read what the new owners have planned for the landmark home’s next chapter.

When introduced to the field of birdwatching during the pandemic, New York City–based illustrator Jenny Kroik (“Trending Tweet,” pg. 23) discovered a wondrous new crowd of feathery urbanite subjects. Known for her playful, witty portraits of urban life, she fits her ornithological obsession in between producing cover illustrations for The New Yorkerand assignments for The Washington Post, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In a sense, freelance writer Tony Rehagen has been researching “Drinking Buddies” (pg. 44) since 2005, when he lived mere blocks from Broad Ripple Brewpub and Brugge Brasserie (RIP). Like many Naptown tipplers, he was clued into the craft revolution by Sun King and has watched it blossom from there. “It’s amazing how much good beer is made here,” says Rehagen, who writes about beer for Bloomberg and Garden & Gun. “And how enthusiastically people want to talk about it.”

At the heart of America’s inland waterways, find a sophisticated rivertown that inspires. Paducah, Kentucky, is a confluence of cultural heritage and creativity where art goes beyond something to appreciate – it’s a way of life.

A designated UNESCO Creative City, Paducah is gaining acclaim as a destination for those who crave rich, authentic cultural experiences!

Plan your visit at Paducah.travel 1-800-PADUCAH

JEANA HARRIS

JENNY KROIK

TONY REHAGEN

COMING SEPTEMBER 2023

Dream Home is the premier high-end show home in Indianapolis. Built and designed by teams led by Brad Bowman of Homes by Design and Jennifer O’Connor of Dare 2 Design, the 2023 Dream Home offers visitors the opportunity to tour a custom designed residence with picturesque views and luxurious furnishings, finishes, and amenities. Located in Zionsville’s scenic Holliday Farms community, the house is open to the public during select weekends in September.

HOME BUILT BYINTERIOR DESIGN BY

Firefly Children & Family Alliance connects Indiana children, families, and individuals with the resources and services they need to live successfully.

SPEED

READ Irish Spring

On March 16, the Indianapolis Athletic Club Foundation will continue the tradition of greening downtown’s canal in a public ceremony that nods to the waterway’s beginnings.

Photos by SCOTT CRONE

IRISH ROOTS. The all-volunteer Indianapolis Athletic Club Foundation (IACF) began greening the canal in 1997 under Mayor Stephen Goldsmith as a way to promote the newly revitalized canal walk. “The greening is significant to Irish heritage in Indianapolis because many Irish immigrants worked to build the original canal in the 1800s,” says Bob Welch, president of the IACF board of directors.

MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU. Now the greening kicks off all the IACF St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including the downtown parade, the Shamrock Run & Walk, and this year’s inaugural Wee Irish Mile. For the latter, break out a kilt, leprechaun suits, or anything with shamrocks.

TOP OF THE MORNING. In the beginning, buckets of green dye were dumped into the canal in the pre-dawn hours on March 17—not exactly welcoming to the public. The spectacle has seen a steady spike in audience numbers since it was moved to the evening before parade day and added live entertainment and food trucks. This year, the Greening of the Canal will take place on March 16 at 5 p.m. at the Ohio Street Canal Basin.

RAISE A PINT…OR 80. It takes about 10 gallons, equivalent to 80 pints, of the food-grade green dye to color the entirety of the canal. The amount dumped ceremoniously at the event is mostly for show. The majority is distributed through the canal’s pump house. The verdant hue can last days and even weeks, but much less if it rains.

POUR ME ANOTHER. This year’s official green dye pourers include Mayor Joe Hogsett, Hoosier Lottery executive director Sarah Taylor, and the 2023 Irish Citizen of the Year. That name is being kept under a leprechaun’s top hat for now, but previous recipients include Cardinal (former Archbishop) Joseph W. Tobin in 2016 and Governor Frank O’Bannon in 1993.

SAVE THE WALES. Don’t panic, the environmentally friendly and non-toxic dye

IT TAKES ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF GREEN DYE TO COLOR THE CANAL. THE AMOUNT DUMPED AT THE EVENT IS MOSTLY FOR SHOW. THE MAJORITY IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE CANAL’S PUMP HOUSE.

is perfectly safe, and no canal fish have ever gotten green around the gills after St. Patrick’s Day. The same can’t be said for partygoers reveling with green beer and shots of Irish whiskey.

EVERYONE’S IRISH TONIGHT. Bagpipes are traditionally Scottish, but St. Patrick wasn’t Irish, either, so the Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers are happy to don their green and be Irish for a few days, capping off a marathon of 34 shows with the Greening of the Canal performance. The 33 pipers and drummers range in age from 9 to 74 and aren’t in it for money or fame. “We don’t get paid for this,” says president and pipe major Doug Hardwick. “We do it because we

want to spread the Celtic culture to the city of Indianapolis, as we have done since 1962.”

CHASING RAINBOWS. Over the years, the canal has been dyed many colors to commemorate special events or recognize organizations—orange for Hispanic Heritage, blue for the Indianapolis Colts, pink for breast cancer awareness, and more. It’s become so popular that a lottery system had to be formed to manage the number of inquiries. “The Greening of the Canal for St. Patrick’s Day has been grandfathered in,” Welch says, reassuring the city that the emerald show will continue in years to come. —SUSAN SALAZ

March 6

Don’t miss a dribble on the hardcourt at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Horizon League women’s collegiate semifinals, broadcast on ESPN+, are happening over two afternoon sessions.Four teams will be vying for victory. Go Jaguars! horizonleague.com/indy

9

Couldn’t nab tix to Tay’s concert? A string quartet playing arrangements of her hits enrobed in 4,000 candles at the Scottish Rite Cathedral is pretty amazing, too. feverup.com

March 11–19

Aside from bountiful blooms you can buy, head to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for flower arranging classes, a DIY terrarium session, a peek at Woolywagons tiny homes, and to see four Trex titans duking it out in Deck Wars. indianaflowerand patioshow.com

THIS MONTH’S CAN’T–MISS EVENTS

Live on Stage

March 12

Beam yourself over to Clowes Memorial Hall. Following a screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Captain Kirk himself shares behindthe-scenes tales of his storied career and takes questions from Trekkies. butlerartscenter.org

March 24

The Grammy-winning R&B group is headed to Gainbridge Fieldhouse 40 years after Candy Girl. Special guests Keith Sweat, Tank, and Guy are tagging along with the original members of New Edition on their Legacy Tour. gainbridgefieldhouse.com

(1) Horizon League Basketball Championships

(2) Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift March

(3) Indiana Flower & Patio Show

(4) William Shatner

(5) New Edition

COURTESY HORIZON LEAGUE

COURTESY JESSICA STRICKLAND

STOCK.ADOBE.COM

COURTESY CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL

ALAMY.COM

Illustration by HATSUE

Sizzle Reel

Castleton Saraga

A MANNER-FESTO FOR NAVIGATING INDY’S NEWEST INTERNATIONAL MARKET.

Milk bread, cake slices, and pain au chocolat at Tous les Jours patisserie sell out quickly. Arrive early, use tongs, and pay at the bakery. Ordering an eye-popping Korean street corndog at Korn’s involves choosing a coating and filling. Don’t think about it too much.

All the combinations are great. Not seeing the cut of meat you want at the Latin butcher?

Have

Q : WHO DID THE MARKETING FOR INDY-BASED BURGER CHEF? THEY HAD SO MANY INNOVATIVE PROMOTIONS. A: The Chef has receded so far into the mists of legend that, when it was mentioned on the TV series Mad Men, some wondered if it was even real. It was. But no single person or advertising agency can take all the credit for the long list of greasy breakthroughs. The fi rst Burger Chef opened here in 1957 as the brainchild of a restaurant equipment maker whose innovations included flame broilers and soft-serve ice cream machines. The Chef’s novelties included the Triple Threat, the first combo meal; the Works Bar, a DIY condiment and toppings station; and 1973’s Fun Meal, the first toy-equipped kids’ meal. Hardee’s acquired the chain in 1981, leaving the Chef’s fan base pining for those incrediburgible days.

—SAM STALL

Try the halal counter. For hard-to-find spices, check different sections (Latin, Indian, Middle Eastern, European) before giving up. Everyone else has been looking for Kewpie mayo, too. Be patient and check back. Enter the grand-opening drawing for a Tesla by March 31.

—TERRY KIRTS

Number of Hoosier cities among the nation’s top 50 for rat infestation

Every year, exterminator company Orkin lists the nation’s 50 “rattiest” cities. And in 2022, three Indiana municipalities were included: Indianapolis at No. 15, South Bend at 44, and Fort Wayne at 48. If you don’t already have a cat, get one—or maybe two.

questions? Send them to hoosierist @Indianapolis Monthly.com.

ask THE HOOSIERIST

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN JOHNSON; SARAGA PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD HENSLEY

Hidden Talents

A STAFF ART EXHIBIT AT NEWFIELDS BRINGS FORTH THE IMPRESSIVE CREATIVITY THROUGHOUT ITS RANKS.

BY LOU HARRY

IMAGINE IF your employer decided to showcase the artwork of its staff. The resul might be no more remarkable than the work on your neighbor’s refrigerator. That’s far from the case at Newfields, though, where Artists Among Us, its first all-staff exhibition, is putting the handiwork of creative folks from 21 different departments on display. The works can be seen, on a rotating basis, on the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s first-floor promenade through May 21. The striking pieces seem even more exceptional when you notice that the creators’ day jobs aren’t directly related to art, if at all. Here’s a sampling.

The Deceiver

By Charlie Sander, security

department

Monet’s Bridge

By Friday Gojko, culinary

department

Inspired by “Bridge Over Pond of Water Lilies” by Monet, Gojko says, “I felt that Monet’s style would translate well to the textured and soft format of this rug I’ve made. The piece gave me the chance to use color and texture in ways I had not attempted before.”

I Hate Mondays

By Michael Brown, construction services department

“My ideas either come from experimenting with materials or working off a small concept,” Sander says. “This was a bit of both—the materials being the face plate and brass inlay, the concept being the idea of contrapasso [the philosophy that punishment in hell correlates to earthly sins] from Dante’s Inferno. Life can be disgusting, and I am forever inspired by that.”

Feather in the Wind

By Bailey Ford, facilities department

“I just wanted to show a few details of what the blacksmithing community has taught me,” Ford says.

“Blacksmithing has been around for hundreds of years, but it’s also a dying trade. I hope to allow people to see the beauty in the craft.”

Colorado

By Jean-Luc Howell, historic

resources department

Howell has been working for years on a series of manhole covers.“When I travel, I do wax rubbings of interesting ones I come across,” he says. “It’s a good record of a place. I originally made this print for a friend who was living in Denver at the time.”

Originally part of a larger Butler University show of work related to prescription medicines and the opioid crisis, Brown created the piece “to have a conversation about pharmaceuticals, profits, and health.”

Front Row Seats

By Paul Hilton, horticulture department

Hilton was inspired by the Florida Keys’ island culture “that makes a point to pause and celebrate a good sunrise or sunset. This shot reminds me to slow down, look around, and appreciate the little things.”

On the Line from Wabi-Sabi Darkroom

By Anne M. Young, legal affairs and

intellectual property department

“I wanted to explore the beauty I saw within the darkroom,” Young says. “I find quietness in this image and the anticipation of printing what those negatives hold.”

Joey Mulinaro, comedian

AFTER A RISE TO INTERNET FAME THREE YEARS AGO, THE RONCALLI AND UINDY GRAD HAS SURGED TOWARD 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS WHILE STAYING HOME IN INDIANAPOLIS AND COLLECTING ENDORSEMENTS FROM NATIONAL BRANDS LIKE CRUMBL COOKIES.

BY DEREK SCHULTZ

What has been your “holy shit” moment through all of this?

The most incredible thing I’ve gotten to do is form relationships with my favorite sports teams, like the Steelers and Pacers. The Steelers reached out to me to do content with them at Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium), and it was just me and their social team in the 70,000-seat stadium. I remember looking around and being in complete awe of the place. To make it even better, when the video was released, it was compiled with a bunch of different folks from Steelers Nation. The person I just so happened to follow was Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, a guy I grew up idolizing. It was insane!

Your first viral impersonation of Nick Saban in late 2019 explained his favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Many

comedians in this space hit it big but keep doing the same thing over and over. Was it important to immediately diversify your content so you didn’t end up being just the Nick Saban guy? This is something that I always wanted to do, versus people who sort of stumble into it by going viral then feel pressure to keep doing that one thing and catch lightning in a bottle. When I was playing youth baseball, my dad told me you have to have something else besides the fastball. Scott Uecker, one of my professors at UIndy, also hammered home the importance of being versatile. I took all of that personally and transferred it into comedy. Sure, I can do impressions, but can I write a sketch? Can I interview people? Can I host? When people see my stuff, I want them to say, “Wow, it’s not just that, he does this, too.”

How have you kept your material fresh after three-plus years?

It’s just how my brain has operated ever since I got out of college. I’ve always looked at my content as my own version of Saturday Night Live They have recurring characters that people love, but they keep it topical. People are used to seeing [NFL commentator] Cris Collinsworth talk football, but I thought, why don’t we have Cris Collinsworth talk about being at a pumpkin patch or in a Chick-fil-A drive thru? So I did Collinsworth impressions doing random, everyday things.

Your content has included riffing on topical stuff to mid-2000s The Office type humor and back to the 1990s Seinfeld/Larry David style of observational humor. Is that why you’ve connected with so many people across different age groups?

I’m constantly thinking about what I can turn into a sketch or what I can try to make funny and relatable to people, because so much of what people laugh at are the things they can relate to. You can send [one of my videos] to your buddy and say, “Remember that neighbor that we had? This is him!” or “Man, I had a teacher like that!” I want to tap into the random person that so many of us have had in their lives.

I wonder how many people watch those videos and have thought, “I’m that wedding guy. That’s me right there!”

That’s the best compliment to get. I’ll have people respond with, “I feel personally attacked!” and feel like I’ve done a good job.

You went viral with the Saban Thanksgiving impersonation and a couple of other sketches in early 2020 and had already built a sixfigure following on Twitter and Instagram. How long did it take you to monetize that success?

When those early viral videos got noticed, Barstool Sports offered me a two-year deal. They swept in so quickly that I was never able to see where I could go on my own. That was scary. But now I get to just be Joey. I’m trying to continue to build my following so companies can say, “We’re a fan

Photos by TONY VALAINIS

of this guy. We’d love to do a deal with product placement and a call-to-action for ‘blank’ amount of money.” When those opportunities come along, I’m picky because I don’t just want to be a walking commercial. A lot of the bits I do are straight Joey comedy, with no ads or pulling anything over on anyone. And then, once in a while, you’re going to see a video with “go get some Crumbl cookies” or whatever, which you should, because they’re good! That’s the model right now.

How much trial and error is involved in what you do?

I never wanted to have the fear of putting something out that flops. People are afraid of the guy that says, “This sucks!” and it’s just some schmo with 40 followers. They let their fear overtake the possibility of putting something great out there. The original Saban video taught me an early lesson that if I feel good about something and I’m proud of it, put it out there. If it doesn’t do well, come back tomorrow and try another idea. It’s like baseball. Look at Aaron Judge—yeah, he hit 60-whatever home runs, but how many times is he popping out? People don’t remember those. They remember the home runs. If someone doesn’t like something, I come back next time with something that they will like.

Will your future involve sports, or is it going to be something entirely different?

The goal is to make a full shift into straight comedy and acting. My passion lies with bringing joy to people. I often can’t wait to get up in the morning because I have this idea or I want to write a sketch. That’s what gets me really fired up.

Sort of like your Heinz Field moment, do you ever catch yourself driving around or walking by yourself and thinking, “Man, this is crazy!” about how things have played out for your career?

I try to remind myself as often as I can. The 22-year-old me—hell, even 8-year-old me—would die if he knew what my life is now. It helps keep me grounded, but it also pushes me to think about how far I can go if I keep working at it.

BROWN COUNTY native Charles Hollis Taylor, aka Chuck Taylor, devoted much of his life to roundball, and his fame extended well beyond the game itself to that iconic shoe that virtually every American has donned at some point: the Converse All Star. The Indiana Historical Society is opening its immersive “Chuck Taylor All Star” exhibit on March 4 to explore the story of this player turned shoe designer and marketer through artifacts, among them this basketball presented to Taylor in 1959 in recognition of his attendance at the Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Tournament for 35 years. Virtual reality experiences will whisk you back to the 1950s for a chat with Chuck and a lesson in shooting and passing. indianahistory.org —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

Chuck Taylor’s Basketball

VINTAGE: 1959

Resides in the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in Indianapolis

AURA BY HIMOLLA. Its air of sophistication belies a practical design offering true innovative comfort. It has an integrated footrest and a concealed headrest that folds out when comfort requires. The luxury 360° swivel armchair leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to functionality. It comes in soft sumptuous leathers and an exciting range of colors.

YOUR FAVORITE HUE IS WAITING AT HOUSEWORKS.

GOOD LIFE

WANTED

Bridle Party

Harness that yee-haw energy by slipping into a pair of wish list–worthy cowboy boots. Celebs like Kendall Jenner, Sophie Turner, and Emily Ratajkowski have ditched the knee-high trend for Western kicks faster than you can say toot scootin’. And the best cowboy boots aren’t just rodeo-ready, but also have streetstyle cred. Howdy, Planet Cowboy Original Soft Western Boots. These calf leather, handmade beauties will give you steel shank arch support and a pop of psychedelic yellow to brighten your look. Giddy up. $475.

Boot Barn, 8366 Castleton Corner Dr., 317-559-0042; 4650 E. Southport Rd., 317-781-1180; bootbarn.com

—CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

( SHOP TALK )

Kiln It

AN INSPIRING POTTERY SHOP AND STUDIO SWINGS OPEN ITS DOORS DOWNTOWN. BY

KATIE MARPLE

POTTER REBECCA GRAVES has been in high demand, from a collab on the best-selling cookbook No Crumbs Left to creating all the tableware for Urban Awareness Gardens owner Jason Michael Thomas’s private dinners and spots on WISH-TV. “Now we’re working on dishes for a Boston steak house,” she shares. No wonder. Graves’s pieces have intentional texture, nature-inspired glossy or velvety glazes, and functional details. “Our mugs are equally at home in a modern loft as in a rustic farmhouse,” she says. “The aesthetic changes with the surroundings.” The quality is evident as you browse shelves laden with treasures, like a limited-edition Splash vase and the top-selling Wine + Cocktail cup, which buyers have also used as a vase, candy dish, and plant waterer. All pieces are made by Graves and her crew of eight. “Handmade pottery is an investment. I want it to elevate your food and drink, enhance your table for a family meal, or make you feel special when you curl up with a bowl of ice cream to watch a movie,” she says.

YOU DON’T SEE MANY PEOPLE IN TOP HATS. I identify with the Mad Hatter. And leprechauns in Indy, I’m sure, would wear black-and-white checkered pants. This was a fun look to put together to celebrate Indianapolis, St. Paddy’s Day, and myself.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR STYLE TO SAY?

It’s OK wearing what you want to wear. We live in an ever-changing world with so much variety. Is there any reason we shouldn’t explore what brings us joy?

FAVORITE SHOPS?

Thrift shops are great. I’m a Bargain Betty. I love high-end like anyone else, but there is a certain thrill to getting a deal. I love Midland Arts & Antiques Market downtown and Gizmo’s Galleria in Brownsburg. —K.M.

Black Splash vase, $30

Minimalist Modern bird house, $76 (3) Tipsy tumblers, $28 each

Museum Pieces

THE GIFT SHOPS IN OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ARE WORTH THE TRIP.

BY STEPHEN GARSTANG

(1) Schleich limited edition, super-realistic Shadow T-Rex toy. $25. The Children’s Museum Gift Store, 3000 N. Meridian St., childrens museum.org

(2) Le Dejeuner Puzzle X Mickalene Thomas. $32. Newkirk Gift Shop at Eskenazi Museum of Art, 1133 E. 7th St., Bloomington, artmuseum. indiana.edu

(3) Ceramic Vonnegut bowl or catch-all featuring the author’s mustached face. $30. Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, 543 Indiana Ave., vonnegutlibrary.org

(4) Penton wipeclean, stackable kids Chair. $175. The Museum & Garden Shop at Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Rd., discovernew fields.org

(5) Art book by historian R. B. Perry, Paint and Canvas: A Life of T.C. Steele $18. Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., indianahistory.org

(6) Choctaw Elbow Basket woven of reed and river cane by Susan LockeCharlesworth $500. Eiteljorg Museum Store, 500 W. Washington St., shop.eiteljorg.org

(7) Hand-blown art glass Wisteria Vase in Venetian glass-furnace style by Mark Rosenbaum. $260. The Museum & Garden Shop at Newfields

The Rest Is History

AN IRVINGTON COUPLE SETTLES INTO THE LANDMARK HOUSE THAT WAS ONCE HOME TO ARTIST HELENE HIBBEN.

AN ICONIC Irvington home has changed owners after remaining in the same family for three generations. The Hibben House is a classic, charming Tudor built in 1926 for Helene Hibben, an accomplished artist who was well known for her sculptures (bas-relief portraits in bronze, to be exact). Two of these portraits reside in the archives of the Library of Congress.

The home also served as the Hibben School, which Helene ran with her sister Priscilla until 1963. Their brother Thomas, who was an architect, catered the home’s design to that purpose, adding reinforced ceilings and sources of natural light. Historical records describe the school as a place of “imagination and comfort” for the young students, who were preschool and kindergarten age.

These days, the stately residence is the domain of one very lucky couple.

BY JEANA HARRIS

The longtime Irvington residents, Emily and Jim, came to admire the beloved landmark on their jogs past it along Pleasant Run Parkway. But the couple never imagined living in it. Regardless, they weren’t considering moving—that is, until the day the listing appeared. Coincidentally, they both spotted it and sent it to each other on Facebook. “We both immediately knew we had to check it out,” Emily says.

The interior was even more amazing than they’d anticipated, with characteristics that dovetailed with their life. With more than 4,300 square feet, it had space for their family to grow. The facts that it didn’t need any major work and was brimming with history were bonuses. Unique features abounded, including an original Hibben sculpture

above the fireplace, an “H” etched over the mantel, leaded glass windows, and Romweber cornices. Their offer of $502,000 was accepted on Halloween, the most quintessentially Irvington day of the year.

Emily and Jim adore the house as-is and don’t have plans for any big changes. They’re most looking forward to their new home becoming a gathering place for their friends and family, especially during the holidays. “It’s just meant for that,” Emily says.

REALTY CHECK

PHOTOS COURTESY ANDREA WOLFORD PHOTOGRAPHY; EXTERIOR PHOTO COURTESY GREG HARVEY

BY JENNY KROIK

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THE INCREASINGLY POPULAR PASTIME OF BIRDWATCHING CAN LIFT OUR SPIRITS AND SOOTHE OUR STRESS.

BY MICHELLE MASTRO

THE FIRST TIME I encountered a tufted titmouse was in Bloomington’s Lower Cascades Park. Its perky string of whistles sounding like Peter! Peter! had me gaping up at the trees. I’d never seen so many different kinds of birds assembled in one place as I did that early-spring afternoon. Walking along, soaking up the twittering, a sense of calm washed over me.

Birdwatching has been growing as a hobby since the pandemic pushed us outside. “Unplugging and being in nature is inherently therapeutic to the human spirit,” says Gina Jannazzo, manager at Wild Birds Unlimited in Castleton. Many of her customers say that a day spent birdwatching left them feeling less anxious. Indeed, an October 2022 study in Scientific Reports revealed

Take a Peep

Mid-March to early April is prime time to birdwatch, as migration is in full swing and trees are still bare. These birds are most commonly spotted around Indianapolis this time of year.

that seeing or hearing birds can support mental wellbeing for up to eight hours. Bonus: You’ll get some exercise walking in search of those warblers.

Eagle Creek Park’s Ornithology Center (6515 Delong Rd., 317-327-2473) is a top spot for spying feathered friends from a bluff overlooking a bird sanctuary, where a feeding area and a water feature attract native and migratory birds. Perch yourself in the viewing room or on the

adjacent outdoor platform and use the scopes on hand to spot cormorants and gulls. Hint: Watch big rocks, favored resting spots. Or hit the unmarked trail for a 2-mile loop around the sanctuary. American bald eagles can be seen flying year-round. Meanwhile, migrants, like the yellow-throated warbler, yellowbreasted northern parula, ruby-throated hummingbird, and red-shouldered hawk, use the grounds for breeding.

With an irregular chirp that sounds like a mewing cat, this slender songbird can be seen perched out in the open, bobbing its long tail, and on the ground turning over leaves in search of bugs. Look in the open woodland of Broad Ripple Park (1500 Broad Ripple Ave., 317-327-7161).

AMERICAN WOODCOCK

These rotund little birds breed in tall grasses near bodies of water free of ice.

Check Skiles Test Nature Park (6828 Fall Creek Rd., 317-327-5588) and listen for the males’ buzzy chirp. Females are quieter, often hiding in the grass.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

Noted for its big, triangular beak and melodious song, this stocky avian typically hangs out in the treetops. The diverse landscapes at Holliday Park (6363 Spring Mill Rd., 317-327-7180) include the bird’s favorite habitat, deciduous woods and shrubs.

BODY + SOUL

GRAY CATBIRD

HERE’S WHERE TO START EXPLORING OUR AREA’S BEST SMALL TOWN.

BY MEGAN FERNANDEZ

SHOP Ever since the first Franklin Jam sandwich came out of the kitchen last spring, Field to Fork (1) market and sammie shop has been a new hotspot for local provisions and hydroponically grown greens, as well as community-building events ranging from book discussions to cupcakedecorating parties. 90 W. Jefferson St., 463-710-6170, fieldtofork.shop

EAT The porch and windows of Main and Madison Market Cafe (2) —set in an alpine-style home that was originally Johnson County’s first hospital—offer a view of the postcard-perfect courthouse while you linger over a fresh-from-theoven pastry and a specialty coffee. If you’re going to the Artcraft Theatre across the street on a Friday, see if it’s one of the café’s occasional charcuterie and cocktail nights. 100 N. Main St., 317-7366246, mainandmadison.cafe

VISIT The exhibits at the Johnson County Museum of History (3) , a free attraction in an impressive neoclassical landmark, date back as far as 400 million years ago. So leave yourself plenty of time to see prehistoric fossils of underwater animals, pioneer artifacts, Victorian hair wreaths, and the re-created Nick’s Candy Kitchen from the 1950s. Kids can try on costumes from different eras. 135 N. Main St., 317346-4500, johnsoncountymuseum.org

READ Everything you want from an independent bookseller fits on the first floor of the bungalow (once a hotel) that houses Wild Geese Bookshop (4)—character, selection, expertise, nooks and crannies, and pure love for putting a special book in the right hands. Gift tables are laden with the likes of a stationery set called The World Needs More Love Letters and jigsaw-puzzle preservers. Box sets make it easy to gift a title with related items. 40 E. Madison St., 317-494-6545, wildgeesebookshop.com

Clockwise from above left: Wild Geese Bookshop, Natura Wellness, and ByTavi are just a few in the bundle of boutiques you’ll find in downtown Franklin.

SEE To celebrate Franklin’s bicentennial this year, 200 stars hang overhead in Artcraft Alley (5) , adjacent to the Historic Artcraft Theatre (6) , which is still showing a mix of cult classics and current Oscar winners on 35mm film for the bargain price of $8. Cruise by at night when the stars (both handmade and human) are illuminated. 57 N. Main St., 317-736-6823, historicartcrafttheatre.com

EXPLORE We’ll take the framed word search for the bathroom wall for guests who “forgot their phone”—one of the many decor items at Farm Girl Mercantile (7) that captures its love of all things rustically ravishing. Wood-bead accents are in style. 436 E. Jefferson St., 317-476-3235,facebook.com/farmgirlmerc

HEAL If you’re curious about the idea of tuning your body’s frequencies like a piano, stop by Natura Wellness (8) and learn about the AO Body Scan machine, which analyzes the vibrations of every organ and ounce of body tissue. The report of your biomarkers—even emotional ones—includes a health outlook for the next few years. Run by a certified naturopathic doctor, the shop also stocks supplements and teas. 30 S. Water St., 317-884-5454, naturawellness.org

DRINK Set in a broad, loft-like space, southside java roaster Coffeehouse Five (9) serves a sweeping menu of seasonal drinks, pastries, and breakfast and lunch comfort classics. As big as the selection is, the owers have an even bigger heart. It’s the only place in town where a craving for buffalo chicken dip on a biscuit funds free marriage and addiction counseling. 41 W. Monroe St., 317-300-4330, coffeehouse five.com

SWOON All the cardigans and sweetly patterned scoop-neck tees at ByTavi (10) are made with remnant fabric in the store’s own workshop in Cambodia. The owners are dedicated to ethical practices and female empowerment. Beeline for the vegan-leather fanny pack. 51 W. Monroe St., 317-494-6226, bytavi.com

PLAY It’s about time to break out your paddle and hit the Youngs Creek Park (11) pickleball courts to practice for the tournament running fromApril 28 to 30. Ask the good players for the lowdown on Franklin’s new 24-hour indoor facility, Drop Shot Pickleball. 239 W. Monroe St.

Clockwise from left: Homespun treasures at Farm Girl Mercantile, housemade pastries at Madison and Main Market Cafe, and the charm of the old-timey Artcraft Theatre capture modern-small-town cool.

Let’s Eat France!, $60 at Wild Geese Bookshop

Stout Five cold brew growler, $8.50 and up at Coffeehouse Five

THE DISH

SWOON

Toast Master

Westfield restaurateurs Melanie and Toby Miles may have moved their gourmet market out of its original picturesque spot inside a refurbished barn, but fans of The Rail Cafe and Market are more than happy that the couple is back in a new kitchen, post-pandemic. They’re cooking up plenty of brunch favorites (such as this toasted baguette spread with nduja, goat cheese, and blistered tomatoes) and lateafternoon bar bites. But insiders know to wait for the chef’s menu, which starts at 2 p.m. and includes one of the area’s most impressive pork chops, cold-smoked and served over pillowy gnocchi. 3400 Nancy St., Westfield, 317-763-1376, railwestfield.com —TERRY KIRTS

Photo by TONY VALAINIS

“The perfect scoop of ice cream isn’t round, but footballshaped or eggshaped. It will sit right down in your cone. But always stuff your cone with ice cream rst to give the top scoop something to adhere to.”

ROAD TRIP )

Ensemble Cast

A KENTUCKIANA EATERY REINVENTS DINNER THEATER, AND THE MEAL IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW. BY JULIA

SPALDING

IF ROD JUAREZ has picked up on anything during his six years as part owner and general manager of New Albany’s live dining show, Mesa, it is that chefs crave feedback. “Just like an actor or musician,” he says. But chefs rarely get to see the look on a diner’s face when they take that first bite. “They might get a complaint, or see an empty plate or a full plate come back. That’s it,” Juarez says. The opposite is true at Mesa, which hosts a revolving cast of area chefs for multi-course meals that come together before diners’ eyes as they sit ringside at the counter or at high bar tables. Nobody minds when a chef breaks the fourth wall to interact with the audience. Juarez recalls one chef who was preparing a dish with his mother in attendance. “He told the audience that he was using a recipe that was given to him by his mother. She looked at him and said, ‘Well, if I did that, you’re doing it all wrong.’ Everybody started laughing like crazy, and he said, ‘Would you like to teach me again?’ And so there you had mother and son cooking together in a commercial kitchen. It was a very special night for that lady.” And, likely, for everyone else in the room. 216 Pearl St., New Albany, 812-725-7691, mesachefs.com

( NEW IN TOWN ) Bun Voyage

Custom itineraries of sliders and brews take diners on a tasty trip at a Carmel burger spot.

GRANT AND DALLAS MILLER opened a Burgerim in Carmel in early 2020, but as the chain faced financial pressures, the twins steered their business in a new direction. Now, they’re the pilots of their own concept, Flight Burger, where mix-and-match patties and local pints take customers on journeys to Greece, Hawaii, and plenty of tasty destinations in between. Wagyu beef stars in burgers kicked up with beerbattered onion rings, grilled jalapeños, or mushrooms and Swiss cheese. Non-beef and vegan options include Mediterranean lamb burgers or falafel patties sauced with tzatziki. Slider trios are the way to book the walk-up spot’s full range of flavors, as well as propellor-shaped “twisted” fries. 650 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317669-2256, flight-burger.com

KIRTS

—TERRY

CUB SCOUT Big Bear Biscuits placed its second location in Brownsburg … RING RING

Japanese doughnut chain Mochi Dough opened in Carmel … JAIL BREAK Comfort-food restaurant Open Kitchen is relocating from Little Flower to the former Jailbird spot at 4022 Shelby Street, next to UIndy … BRIT BOX Cheeky Bastards is now serving British standards such as Yorkshire eggs and scones with clotted cream in the Geist area. —J.S.

(

–Mandy Johnson, owner of Mandy’s Ice Cream locations in Brownsburg and Pittsboro

Melt With You

NOTHING SAYS COMFORT FOOD LIKE OOEY, GOOEY CHEESE MELTING BETWEEN TWO SLICES OF TOASTED BREAD. HERE’S WHERE TO FIND SOME OF THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE UPGRADES IN TOWN.

BY AMY LYNCH

J’s Lobster & Fish Market

Hearty chunks of claw and knuckle meat play suprisingly well with the molten layers of Colby Jack, Swiss, and house sauce oozing from buttery country-white bookends. The Garage, 855-562-7655, jslobster.com

Half Liter

For its brisket grilled cheese, this barbecue-and-beer hall piles meat smoked for 13 hours, provolone, and Dr. Pepper sauce on pieces of freshly baked Pullman loaf. 5301 Winthrop Ave., 463-212-8180, halfliterbbq.com

Tavern at the Point

The Southern Grilled Cheese boasts a savory-sweet combo of pimento and white cheddar cheeses with smoked ham, elderberry jam, and candied jalapeño on thick slices of water bread. 401 Massachusetts Ave., 317-756-9609, tavernatthepoint.com

Cafe Patachou

A sprinkle of sugar and a waffle-iron preparation distinguish this straightforward Wisconsin sharp cheddar grilled cheese made with either Patachou’s signature sourdough slabs or local gluten-free Native Bread. Multiple locations, cafepatachou.com

Sweet Moves

GALLERY PASTRY OWNER ALISON KEEFER TAKES HER FLAIR FOR DESIGN AND DESSERT-DRIVEN CUISINE TO A FOURTH LOCATION.

BY TERRY KIRTS

AS A CHILD growing up in Fort Wayne, Alison Keefer sometimes helped in the kitchen. Mostly, she liked to eat. While perfect pie crusts and homemade noodles were part of Keefer’s Hoosier pedigree, the principal owner of the trio of Gallery Pastry destinations never gave a thought about culinary school. Instead, she headed off to the University of Florida to pursue event management. After a few years in radio marketing and sales, and an occasional front-of-house restaurant gig, she landed a job as an enrollment specialist at Harrison College. That eventually brought her to The Chef’s Academy in Indianapolis, where she taught classes in nutrition and met her original partner in Gallery Pastry, Ben Hardy. The two opened their first bakeshop on 54th Street in 2016. “After that first week, we looked around and asked what more we could offer, and we landed on brunch,” Keefer says. That took the form of crepes,

omelets, and sparkling cocktails. In 2020, Keefer opened a second location downtown, across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A year later, the ground floor of 16th Street’s Three19 building became the third iteration.

Now, Keefer is set to open a fourth Gallery Pastry Shop in the former Next Door American Eatery space in SoBro, full of Art Deco

and

amber glass wall lamps inspired by Netflix’s Blown Away. Keefer, who is also raising two young boys, hopes to lend this latest shop a true neighborhood spirit. “We want to have a wood-fired oven, and a smoker that customers will be able to smell when they approach the restaurant,” Keefer says. “Mostly, we just want to make people feel welcome.”

touches

(1) Tulip Tree Trillium. “It’s basically a Brie, but it’s milder without so much funk.” (2) Bodhi. “I love Thai food, and this is one of my go-to spots.” (3) Miami. “For its variety of cultures and cuisine.” (4) Sparkling wines. “Especially the Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs from Napa.” (5) Peanut butter mousse. “I love the rich saltiness that peanut butter brings to desserts.” (6) French butter cookies. Visit IndianapolisMonthly .com for Gallery Pastry’s sablé cookie recipe.

FAVORITE THINGS

FOODIE

KEEFER PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS; BODHI PHOTO COURTESY

ImagesProvidedBy ErinFeldmeyer,ErinKayPhotographyLLC

by JULIA SPALDING, Amy Lynch, and Christina Vercelletto

Styled by Katy Doench

From hot to haute, our finger lickin’ good guide to the best fried chicken dinners in town.

Fried chicken is a sentimental favorite among Hoosiers who grew up on the comforting staple featured on diner menus, prayed over at family sit-downs, and packed into race-day box lunches. Food trends come and go, but fried chicken is both adaptable (as witnessed by Indy’s recent wave of Nashville hot spots) and timeless—its signature crackle was ASMR before ASMR was cool. In honor of Indiana's other state bird, we rounded up the best places around town to get your chomp on. So grab some napkins. It’s crunch time.

HOLLYHOCK HILL

TRADITION RULES at this northside special-occasion landmark with a serious grandma’s-house vibe. The whole stately operation got underway in 1928 when V.D. Vincent and his wife began graciously welcoming guests into their (at the time) country cottage for mannerly and memorable repasts, eventually christening the restaurant in honor of the vibrant flowers that bloomed in abundance on the property. Family-style dining is still the modus operandi, to the tune of more than 1,000 dinners served each week. The hormone-free, humanely raised chicken is dusted in organic flour and fried the old-fashioned way in lard. In a calculated move, breasts are sliced in half crosswise for even cooking.

Plan to loosen your belt a few notches as servers present endless platters of chicken along with salad doused in the signature sweet vinaigrette, pickled beets, cottage cheese, biscuits with apple butter, and bowls brimming with sweet corn, ham hock–studded green beans, and whipped potatoes. (Don’t even think about skipping the homemade gravy.) Just when you think you couldn’t possibly take another bite, out comes a scoop of ice cream for dessert. 8110 N. College Ave., 317-251-2294, hollyhockhill.com

MISSISSIPPI BELLE

OWNER JAY WILSON explains that the fried chicken at his den of comfort food on the edge of Broad Ripple is not brined (a step he declares “overrated”), only pan-fried in vegetable oil. Each wing, thigh, drumstick, and breast is coated in flour with an ensemble of spices that Wilson is reluctant to name. It’s easy to forgive the secrecy after tasting the results: savory, plump pieces of yard bird with an airy, crispy exterior. Don’t fret if you order too much. It’s still delectable reheated in an air fryer the next day.

Serving top-tier fried chicken since 1999, Mississippi Belle exists on the soulful end of the Southern food spectrum. For $24, you get three big pieces of chicken—two dark, one white. They throw in four sides of your choice (the collard greens and mac and cheese are no-brainers), plus a beverage, sliced tomatoes and onions, and some golden-fried hot-water cornbread for good measure. 2170 E. 54th St., 317-466-0522

Shani’s Secret Chicken

IF YOU KNOW, you know. This catch-it-when-you-can chicken venture operates as a culinary speakeasy of sorts out of a Chapati ghost kitchen with limited hours and availability. After moving to America from Saudi Arabia, the owners had a hard time finding the kind of fried chicken they loved back home, finally deciding they’d just have to start making it themselves. It took a year to perfect the halal recipe, through lots of experimental seasoning. But once it finally rolled out in 2019, the distinctively delicious end result was hard to keep on the down-low. Offered in tandoori or spicy variations, the locally sourced, humanely raised and processed poultry swims in a pool of Pakistani and Indian spices for 24 hours before taking a dip in buttermilk and batter. Then, each serving is fried fresh to order. (Pro move: ask for double coating if you’re a fan of extracrispy.) Sweet heat, spicy sweet heat, and spicy garlic mango sauces take the flavor to a whole other level, either drenching the chicken or served on the side with sliced cucumbers to help tame the burn. Make a meal of it with slabs of garlic cheese naan or a side of Malai Bombs, Chapati's gut-busting, deep-fried balls of mozzarella and potato. 4930 Lafayette Rd., 317-405-9874, shanissecretchicken.com

Frying Lesson

KOPPER KETTLE INN

TUCKING IN to one of the familystyle chicken dinners at Morristown’s fanciful stop along Route 52 feels a little like dining in a museum, with every shelf, niche, nook, and cranny of the 164seat Victorian property holding some form of treasure. The antique furniture, Chinese chests, Dresden dishes, and marble statuary turn a visit here into a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. (If the weather’s nice, ask for a table on the lovely shaded patio.)

Though the restaurant is approaching its 100th anniversary, not much has changed in the past century, right down to the blue cheese salad dressing. And that’s just the way its owners and customers want it. Sourced from longtime vendor McFarland Foods, the chicken is prepared as simply as the setting is extravagant, requiring little more than a dusting of salt, pepper, and flour before the pieces are fried in lard to let their true flavor shine through. Meals start with soup or salad before launching into a procession of whipped potatoes, green beans, corn, gravy, dinner rolls, and ice cream. Customers receive kettle corn—a rather on-the-nose finale—as a sweet parting gift. 135 W. Main St., Morristown, 765-763-6767, kopperkettle.com

WILSON FARM MARKET

HEAD NORTH out of Carmel on U.S. 31 and keep driving until you spot this sprawling red-roofed structure run by Bill and Judy Wilson. Described perfectly by one Yelp reviewer as a “country bodega,” this roadside gem for more than 40 years contains tidy shelves of jams, candy, and popcorn, freezers brimming with local meats and handmade pies, and a Wisconsin cheese selection that rivals any store deli. And if you call ahead, there will be a to-go order of sublime fried chicken waiting there for you. It’s packaged in a cute handled box to take home, but no one would blame you if you immediately gave in to the comfort-food gods and had a picnic right there in the parking lot beside the giant ear of corn. 1720 E. 256th St., Arcadia, 317-758-5734, wilsonfarmmarket.com

GRAY BROTHERS CAFETERIA

MOORESVILLE’S OG mega-cafeteria has been inspiring fried chicken pilgrimages from across the state since 1944. Look for the giant American flag waving over State Road 67. Park your car and get in line. You’ll have plenty of time to take in the whole soul-warming scene—the spacious dining rooms full of fireplaces and bric-a-brac of a certain age that are right on brand with the down-home food. The true star of the show, the chicken bathes in a marinade for 24 hours before taking a dunk in the same breading recipe the family has used for 40 years. Each week, more than two tons of bird pass through the brothers Gray’s dedicated fryers before hitting the service line. In addition to white and dark on-the-bone portions, the poultry makes respectable appearances in the form of chicken Parmesan and cozy-as-a-hug chicken and noodles. Narrowing down a reasonable number of accompaniments from choices like mashed potatoes with white or brown gravy, green beans, and buttered corn always proves difficult. The best advice? Go ahead and get one of each to share. 555 S. Indiana St., Mooresville, 317-790-2191, graybroscafeteria.com

“At home, you’ll want to fry your chicken in either peanut, canola, or sunflower oil. Just not olive oil, which has a smoking point that’s too low—the high heat will destroy the flavor. Use a thermometer, and don’t overcrowd the pan.”

TONY HANSLITS

Chef and owner of Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta + Market

Natural State Provisions

RESTAURATEUR ADAM SWEET made his reputation in Indianapolis by cooking up Neapolitan-style pizzas at downtown’s King Dough. But the Arkansas transplant, who could not ignore his culinary roots for long, opened a second venture last year, Natural State Provisions. Though Sweet (along with wife Alicia) serves everything from smashburgers to fried catfish to craft beer in the spacious former brewery decorated with cool vintage knick-knacks, the fried chicken is his darling. He serves it in three-piece arrangements, dusted with a kicky seasoning, in paper-lined baskets that you pick up at the front counter. His multi-day preparation is a little less straightforward. First, the pieces soak for 24 hours in a sweet-tea brine. Then they are breaded and left to sit in the cooler overnight so that the wet and dry ingredients have time to form that perfect bulletproof varnish. Finally, they’re dusted with flour one more time before Sweet throws them in the fryer. “It’s super-delicious,” he says. As you bite into that deep-golden sheath of fortified skin that seals in the meat’s juices, you have to agree. 414 Dorman St., 317-492-9887, naturalstateprovisions.com

ROOT & BONE

THIS POPULAR SoBro eatery whose ownership hails from Florida and Australia shows proper respect for the hallowed place fried chicken holds within the greater diaspora of Southern cuisine. Chef-owners and former Top Chef contestants Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth tweaked their recipe at the original Root & Bone spot in New York City before bringing their wares to Indy in 2020. With quality top of mind, the team sampled birds from six different purveyors before finally settling on Miller’s Amish Chicken for its tenderness and flavor. A 48-hour sweet-tea brine precedes a seasoned flour dredge just before pressure-frying. A quick dusting of house-made dried lemon powder puts an exclamation mark on the final presentation. Sweet hot honey sauce served on the side brings just enough sting to the party.

The half-bird order is the way to go during dinner service, but the chicken and waffles leads the pack at brunch on the weekends. Mac and cheese, corn soufflé, a jar of assorted pickles, and creamy grits with pimento cheese all prove themselves to be worthy Southern sides. Wash everything down with the house old fashioned made with bacon-washed bourbon and a dash of maple syrup. 4601 N. College Ave., 317-602-8672, rootnboneindy.com

HIS PLACE EATERY

SOUL FOOD and barbecue are the house specialties at James Jones’s eastside staple, where the chef, inspired by his mother’s style of cooking, breads his signature chicken in flour seasoned with herbs and spices, deep fries it by the basketful, and serves it piping hot. On the side, order some chunky collard greens, extra-creamy macaroni and cheese, and yams cooked down to a candied sweetness with butter and cinnamon. If you’re feeling fancy, upgrade to the chicken and waffle option. But do the combination justice by eating in properly: tear off a hunk of the caramel-skinned chicken, place it atop a bite of fluffy waffle, and then drizzled on both hot sauce and syrup. The combination of spicy and sweet flavors is a revelation. 6916 E. 30th St., 317-545-4890, hisplaceeatery.com

ENGLISH IVY’S

ON WEDNESDAYS after 5 p.m., this vibrant Saint Joseph mainstay that was recently named one of the 32 Best Gay Bars in America by Esquire magazine features a weekly fried chicken dinner special that is worth the seven-day wait. The meat gets an overnight brine for optimal tenderization, and the crust is bronzed and rippled from a stint in the deep fryer that turns every crinkle of skin into a pocket of flavor that’s just salty enough. The hulking appendages get a good sprinkle of fresh herbs before they come out to the table arranged like abstract art on sturdy metal trays. For $16.99, you get half a chicken cut into four generous pieces, plus a scoop of skins-on mashed potatoes, a vegetable of the day, and a drink. Add a classic gin martini or a Betty White shot garnished with a sprig of Red Vines to make it a square meal. Just don’t drag your feet. By 8 p.m., the kitchen usually runs out of its weekly chicken supply, and you’ll be out of cluck. 944 N. Alabama St., 317-822-5070, englishivys.com

FAT GUY’S PIZZA & CHICKEN

YOU WOULD miss it if you didn’t already know that this low-slung, counter-service restaurant wasn’t tucked deep into a westside business strip off of Highway 36. You might not even fully grasp the idea that, just beyond the colorful display case showing off the goods from sibling business Carl’s Donuts, there is a full kitchen frying up chicken all day long. The oversized pieces are broasted first—aggressively pressure-cooked to keep the meat moist and supple—and then seasoned and fried to achieve a smooth, light shatter of skin with delicate trapped air bubbles sizzled into the surface. You can order your chicken by the piece or as part of a family pack piled with thick, fluffy potato wedges. But one employee says that customers in the know order in bulk, stocking up on enough legs, thighs, wings, and breasts to get them through the week. 7481 E. U.S. Highway 36, Avon, 317-268-6522

Frying Lesson

“If you’re worried about your chicken not being cooked through, you can always slow-roast it first or even use rotisserie chicken for frying. It takes out the guesswork for beginners. My mom used to grind up Fritos in a Ziplock bag, and then bread the chicken in flour, buttermilk, and Fritos.”

STEVEN OAKLEY Chef and owner of Oakleys Bistro

Pa & Ma’s Backyard BBQ

A LONGTIME fixture in the Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood, Monica and George Nelson Sr.’s corner carryout spot is one of Indy’s most reliable sources for fried chicken with that textbook deep russet burnish and peppery crackle. The meat underneath is juicy and lush enough to slip right off the bone when you bite into it. Order a la carte from the hot food counter that George constantly replenishes with fresh batches of bird made with love, and add a scoop of custardy baked macaroni and cheese with the crispy top bits mixed in. A notable endorsement: Indy recording artist Tevin Studdard (of Long’s Bakery fame) wrote a rap song about Pa & Ma’s, a Black-owned oasis of home-cooked meals in a food desert. 3469 N. College Ave., 317-835-1695

Frying Lesson

“Chickens are classified by size, with fryers/roasters weighing between 2.5 and 4.5 pounds. Ideally, you want to stay in this range. And the younger the chicken, the more tender the meat.”

NEAL BROWN Owner of Neal Brown Hospitality

Frying Lesson

CHRIS FRIED CHICKEN

THE FRIED CHICKEN at this tiny westside carryout counter doesn’t showboat. Its crust, devoid of any visible seasoning, might have tugged away from the flesh in spots where the server’s tongs dug into it. If you get a couple of pieces for lunch, the morsels will be plucked from their heated trays and unceremoniously packaged in a white Styrofoam clamshell. And if you go a little crazy at dinnertime and order the 20-piece family pack that comes with 12 potato wedges and two shareable sides for $26, you will need to muscle a foil steam-table pan out to your car before it collapses beneath its own weight.

Of course, none of this matters more than the fact that Chris Fried Chicken is a delightfully unapologetic indulgence, even by fried chicken standards. Uniformly sheathed in a tight, midweight crust that you’ll be tempted to pick off in sheets and eat chicharrón-style, every piece has the irresistibly unctuous essence of State Fair food and the power to grease through a stack of napkins. Wash it down with sweet swigs of pineapple Jarritos. If you’re lucky, there will be a pot of cornhusk tamales behind the counter to add to your order as a chaser. 3350 N. High School Rd., 317-295-8445

THE FOUNTAIN ROOM

DRIPPING WITH Art Deco–inspired chandeliers and filled with plush clamshell booths, the lavish surroundings of Clancy’s Hospitality’s Mass Ave stunner, part of the massive Bottleworks District buildout, doesn’t come off as quaint or homey. Nor does it look like the kind of place where you would order fried chicken instead of Wagyu meatloaf or lobster bisque poured tableside. But executive chef Andrew Popp included his own interpretation of chicken and dumplings on this menu, replacing the time-honored pulled meat with four elaborately frizzled thighs. The crispy bird is the perfect foil for the other ingredients on the plate: cheddar Fresno biscuits under a granny-approved “gravy” of velouté studded with diced carrots and corn. If you’re going to mess with tradition, you had better come up with a winner, and this dazzling ensemble of crunch and starch does so in style. 830 Massachusetts Ave., 463-238-3800, thefountainroom.com

SUNNY’S CHICKEN

CUSTOMERS HUDDLE just inside the door of this no-frills source for takeout fried food. Many of those in line have come for the gizzards and livers, an underground delicacy that put Sunny’s on the fast-poultry map. Fried chicken seems like the less exotic choice, but it’s given equal love. Peek through the pickup window into the kitchen, and you can see the cook’s head bobbing around the stainless steel, frying up a constant supply of brittle-skinned pieces that don’t linger for long in the heated holding bins next to the cash register. The coating tears off easily, making Sunny’s a delicious go-to for people who like to eat their fried chicken in two courses: skin first and then the meat. Add on a container of honey mustard for dipping. 1030 U.S. Highway 31 S., Greenwood, 317-8822442, sunnys-chicken.com

THE IRON SKILLET

THE IRON SKILLET is both darkly atmospheric and quaintly cozy, serving up Southern hospitality alongside its abundant homestyle fare. On a recent visit, one server sweetly called patrons “y’all,” while another regaled the children of a lifelong customer with a story about their daddy eating here when he was their age. Indeed, the Skillet has operated in the same historic house since 1953. Built in 1870, its pre-poultry history includes a stint with the Army during World War II.

These days, dinner is served in rambling family-style courses (read: doggie bags are in your future), beginning with a savory onion soup or a chilled tomato juice, then advancing to housemade pickled beets, cottage cheese, and a lightly dressed iceberg wedge. The star of the show, four pieces of succulent dark and white meat magic, arrives with a fanfare of fluffy mashed potatoes, green beans tumbled with ham bits, buttery corn, warm bakingpowder biscuits, and chicken gravy. The Iron Skillet offers an array of entrees besides its hand-turned fried chicken, but the bird is the thing here. Proprietor Ronald Torr explains the preparation: “Coated in flour and salt, then skillet-fried in lard.” That’s it. No brining. No spices. Yet that simple method of cookery yields marvelous chicken. 2489 W. 30th St., 317-923-6353, ironskillet.net

“People often place their crispy fried chicken on top of a paper towel–lined plate or baking pan, not realizing that they’re sweating out the portion touching the flat surface and causing it to get soggy. Placing it on a wire rack over a baking pan allows the fried chicken to stay crispy.”

TANORRIA ASKEW

Author of Staples +5: 100 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Pantry

Drinking Buddies

HE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED evidence of beer’s existence includes a Mesopotamian pictogram dating back to 4,000 BCE. It depicts two people drinking through long reed straws from a single pottery jar. The straws clue us in to what the figures are slurping, because beer at that time was essentially just wet grain left in a pot to ferment and therefore had all sorts of chaff and debris floating on the surface; thirsty humans just wanted the sweet nourishment beneath. The image illustrates more than just the ancient method of beer-drinking. It also hints at the setting in which brew was enjoyed: with other people.

We don’t know what the two people are talking about between sips. We can’t even be sure what language they spoke. But the relic tells us that 6,000 years ago,

beer was a social substance. Now, the way we make, drink, serve, and even discuss beer has changed. But the way we share it has not.

Today, more than 170 Indiana craft breweries—dozens in the Indy metro area—have supplanted the pubs and bierhauses of old as neighborhood purveyors of locally brewed ales and lagers, and gathering places for friends, families, and pets. Sometimes proximity to home or work is all you need to have in common with your fellow drinker. But other times you want a deeper connection, a mutual interest or hobby, whether it’s horror movies, bicycling, or brewing beer itself.

Each Indy brewery, either by design or organically, has its own distinct community. Here are a few, as seen by the regulars, who have come to drink in not just beer, but the sense of belonging.

BY TONY REHAGEN PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS VON HOLLE

These Indy breweries serve more than just beer— they provide a place to belong. Here’s where you can tap into a community of like-minded pet-lovers, military vets, bicycle enthusiasts, horror freaks, and beer nerds. This round (up) is on us.

Metazoa Brewing

Fletcher Place

Regulars: Caspian and Miraz (and their owners, Kasey and Reed Austin)

Favorite Beer: Reed, DDH Hoppopotamus IPA; Kasey, Pander Bear Seltzer

Break the Ice: “May I pet your dog?”

2016, the microbrewery has redefined the term “pet-friendly.” Not only does the tap list feature a menagerie of wildlife-themed brews from Trash Panda Blonde to Wit-Bellied Hedgehog to Haze is for Horses, with 5 percent of all profits going to statewide and nationwide animal welfare organizations, but the taproom itself maintains an impressive beast-to-beer drinker ratio. On any given day, you might spot a parakeet, a snake, a pet potbelly pig, or even a goat. As long as owners get clearance for exotic pets beforehand, they’re welcome.

that forgoes food prep so that leashed and well-behaved dogs can roam freely inside. A brewery that hosts events like breed-specific meetups and a paintyour-dog workshop where you stencil a portrait of your best friend in between sips. “Being a dog parent has changed,” says Kasey. “They’re your family. You want to do things with them.”

KASEY AUSTIN AND HER HUSBAND, Reed, have been regulars at Metazoa Brewing since they first moved to the near-eastside downtown neighborhood from Boston in 2018. Reed loved the DDH (double-dry-hopped) Hoppopotamus IPA and the proximity to their house. Kasey, who has never been much of a beer drinker, kept returning for a different reason.“Back then, she came to get her puppy fix,” says Reed.

Since homebrewer animal-lover Dave Worthington opened Metazoa in

But the real regulars at Metazoa are dogs. And after less than a year of coming in three to five times a week to be around other people’s canines, Kasey convinced Reed it was time to get one of their own, Caspian, a woolly Bernese Mountain Dog welcomed in November 2018. They added Miraz, another Bernese, in 2020. (“He was our COVID baby,” says Kasey.)

“A lot of places allow dogs, but you don’t get the vibe that they’re made for animals,” Reed says. “Here, everything is animal-centric.”

He means more than a place with bottomless dog bowls. He means a taproom

Today, Caspian and Miraz are usually the first two dogs patrons see. They’re either sitting under the taproom bar at their owners’ feet, running with their pals out in the dog park, or relaxing in the aisle by the tables, waiting to be petted. Kasey and Reed say they’ve met most of their Metazoa crew through the dogs, either by passersby stopping to pet Caspian or Miraz or other people’s canines wandering over to play.

Caspian and Miraz have their own circle of friends. According to Kasey and Reed, the pups have a shifting “crew” of about 10 to 15 other four-legged (water) drinking buddies. Watching them and their fellow canines happily run around, carouse, and steal the attention of every human that passes by, you begin to wonder exactly who is at the end of the leash.

PETLOVER’S PARADISE

Scarlet Lane McCordsville and Kennedy-King

Regular: James Slaven

Favorite Beer: Olga Russian Imperial Stout

Break the Ice: “Have you watched Wednesday on Netflix?”

the dystopian stories of Ray Bradbury, whose dog-eared novels he still totes to the taproom. But this bookworm doesn’t pack a book to shut himself off from others. In fact, Slaven knows his taste in literature will spark a conversation with the crowd at Scarlet Lane.

YOU KNOW A BREWERY HAS DONE a good job creating a culture when regulars can slip seamlessly in and out of multiple locations.

James Slaven frequents the flagship Scarlet Lane, the self-proclaimed “Official Beer of Horror,” in McCordsville two or three times a week because it’s near his home, but he also stops into the Kennedy-King gastropub on Bellefontaine that’s close to his work as a math professor at IUPUI. And he’s been known to drop in from time to time at the SoBro and Scarlet Grove taprooms. “I always sit at the bar with a book,” he says. “Each location has its own neighborhood feel, but I never feel out of place.”

Slaven grew up watching Sammy Terry, the legendary local phantom who would rise from his coffin to introduce horror films on WTTV Channel 4. (“He scared the bejeezus out of me.”) He also developed a taste for reading science fiction and fantasy, particularly

The ghoulish atmosphere at Scarlet Lane grew in the silhouette of its founder and head brewer Elise Lane, who loves all things horror so much that she used to deliver beer in a hearse. It’s Halloween year-round at each location, decked out in skeletons, cobwebs, classic monster-movie posters, and TVs tuned to slasher films and black-and-white reruns of The Addams Family and The Munsters . The beers bear names like Dorian (Gray) Stout, Lenore Northwest-Style Pale Ale, and Sammy Terry Citra Kolsch. There are also special screenings of movies and other pop-up events, like the Scarelastic Book Fair, the Dragula drag show, and special appearances by local artists and authors, including an occasional cameo by the late Sammy Terry’s son, Mark Carter, who has taken on his father’s macabre mantle.

Slaven says even the bartenders are steeped in all things spooky. Equally appealing to him is that horror enthusiasts also tend to overlap into his other nerdish tendencies, like The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and, of course, science fiction. “You might come here for the horror, but people are multifaceted,” says Slaven. “I wouldn’t keep coming if it was just that.”

Deviate Brewing

Pyramids

Regular: Mike Miller

Favorite Beer: Imperial stouts

Break the Ice: “Do you prefer West Coast or East Coast IPAs?”

FOR SOME PEOPLE, THE BEER TAKES a back seat; they patronize a certain brewery because of the culture, the proximity, or a particular trivia night. They might have a favorite brew and even gradually work their way down the tap list—but it’s incidental.

Then there are the tipplers for whom the beer is the only thing. They don’t want to chat about sports or the weather; they want to know the entire grain bill (the list of grain malts and adjuncts used in a beer recipe) and whether the brewer uses standard hops or extracts. For these beer nerds, there is Deviate Brewing. “They have people that work here that know brewing and know craft beer,” says regular Mike Miller, an analytical chemist by trade and homebrewer by passion. “If you have a question about the beer, the people pouring it know the answer, and if they don’t, Greg and Mike are always there and accessible.”

Cincinnati transplants and former homebrewers Greg Ortwein and Mike Orkey opened Deviate in 2015 for that

exact purpose—to brew beer for beer geeks. And even those who don’t know a fermenting bucket from a bottling bucket can tell. Inside the nondescript strip-mall storefront, floors are bare concrete and chain-link fencing separates the vats from the taproom. The tap list on wrinkled laminated paper slides loose across the bar. The only selling point is the beer.

Miller drives more than an hour from Martinsville at least once a week. He’s afraid he might miss something. “They

Triton Brewing

Lawrence

Regular: Mark Wright

Favorite Beer: Rail Splitter IPA

Break the Ice: “Army or Navy?”

WHEN DRINKING AT TRITON BREWing, you can never be quite sure when you’re sitting next to a military veteran— even if you are one. “It’s not something you just come in and say. ‘Hey! I was in the military,’” says Mark Wright, a 47-yearold Navy vet who has frequented Triton since 2017. “It’s unspoken, but it eventually comes up in conversation and gives you a bond, something you can immediately connect with. Especially when you served in the same branch.”

“Except the Marine Corps,” says Rick, a 61-year-old Navy vet sitting beside Wright at the far end of the Triton bar. “We don’t like them.”

A short pause, perhaps to see if any Marines are within earshot.

When no one responds, both men laugh at the joke.

The odds of a jarhead or any other serviceperson, inactive or active, overhearing them are better at Triton than most places. David Waldman and Jon Lang opened this place in 2011 in the heart of what was once Fort Benjamin Harrison. While the base is no longer operational, there is still a strong military presence with the Defense Accounting and Financial Services, the Indiana Army Reserve, Indiana National Guard, and American Legion all stationed

never really brew the same beer twice,” he says. “Even with their staple IPA, Hope Supremacy, they try to modify it. It started as a clear IPA, and now it’s full-bodied. They are constantly evolving it to be the best it can be.”

Of course, Miller’s pilgrimage is about more than just keeping up with the menu. He’s made dozens of friends of the aficionados who consider the place their secret. They gather at tables inside to discuss Deviate’s latest offerings and swap stories

of visiting other craft breweries throughout the country. They’ll even slip outside to the parking lot to trade and share cans and bottles acquired on their journeys. And Deviate’s underground cred has even attracted professional craft brewers from around the city and the region, as well as tourists from out of town who are in the know. “I’ve gotten to know a few people in the beer world that cycle through here,” says Miller. “We’re all people who just love to talk about beer.”

nearby. The building itself is the former military mule barn, built in 1924 and completely retrofitted by Waldman and Lang into a sleek brewery and taproom, replete with the flags of all five service branches hanging from the rafters above.

But Wright doesn’t come to be thanked for his service. This New York native turned Hoosier by the wife he met in the Navy hits up Triton several times a week to connect with people. If they want to talk about their time in the military, Wright enjoys comparing experiences in different branches or in the Navy during a different era or stationed in a different place.

And, he’s quick to point out, veterans go onto all sorts of interesting careers after discharge. From his seat at the bar, this Amtrak employee has met and built friendships with teachers, IT professionals, office workers, and small-business owners with hobbies as varied as motorcycling to Civil War reenactments. At 47, he can give out advice to younger servicemen and servicewomen, and take a little ribbing from the older vets, like Rick.

“They’ve adopted me, like a stepchild,” Wright says. “This place is authentic. It has heart, military or not. And the beer is nice, too.”

Upland Brewing

SoBro and Fountain Square

Regular: Lacey Clifford

Favorite Beer: Upland Wheat

Break the Ice: “Nice panniers!”

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A PUB or brewery and its core constituents is a two-way street—or, in the case of Upland’s College Avenue tasting room in SoBro, a two-way bike lane.

During the pandemic, when taprooms had to limit capacity or close altogether, breweries around the country suffered. No longer able to sell food or beer by the pint, many small brewers had to subsist on patrons masking up and stopping by for growlers, crowlers, and bottles to carry out.

Meanwhile, once or twice a week, Lacey Clifford would get the text: “Upland tonight?” She’d hop on her Salsa Journeyer and pedal the couple miles from her house to the tasting room, where she’d meet her cycling gang, buy a six-pack of Upland Wheat at the to-go window, and join a bike circle of regulars socially distancing and drinking in the adjacent parking lot. “That’s where we would congregate during the pandemic,” the real

Dry Run

Brewery fun for non-beer drinkers.

GAME NIGHT

Wednesday-night trivia at Guggman Haus Brewing Co. (guggman hausbrewing.com) draws between 30 and 40 teams to compete for gift cards and bragging rights. When the weather’s nice, the patio at Blind Owl Brewery (blindowlbrewery.com) fills up with bocce, cornhole, and giant Jenga contests.

PET PROJECTS

estate appraiser says. “That’s how we kept our sanity.”

For Clifford and her circle, the Upland visits also provided an element of normalcy. She had been hanging out at the tasting room, the first Indy branch of the Bloomington craft-beer pioneer and institution, since 2013 with a group of old friends, some dating back to their college years at IU. The cycling culture grew organically through proximity to the Monon. Clifford joined in when she moved to the neighborhood. When she refers to bicycling, she is quick to clarify she and her gang are casual riders as opposed to the hardcore breed in tight spandex and clacking bike shoes (those are more concentrated in Upland’s Fountain Square small-batch brewery, which is attached to Gray Goat Bicycle Co.).

The College Avenue tasting room might not have a full-service bike shop, but rest assured, there are enough of Clifford’s fellow cruisers that if you need a tire pump or someone to reattach a slipped chain or loosen a stuck seat, there is plenty of gear and friendly expertise on hand. It’s also the starting point for many a casual bike ride or group trail clean-up. And that generosity extends beyond the bike lane to anyone looking for a game of euchre, a Magic the Gathering tournament, or a quiet conversation over a quiet pint. “The staff here are so accommodating,” Clifford says. “A lot of friendships have developed here. And some friends have become family.”

Broad Ripple Brewpub (broadripple brewpub.com) helps you adopt a rescue dog or cat during Tales and Ales events several times a year. Sun King Brewing Co. (sunkingbrewing.com) enlists pro helpers on Paint Your Pet nights.

MIC CHECK

Check out the local talent during Books & Brews’ (booksnbrews.com) open-mic nights every Thursday, and BYO guitar for open jam sessions with like-minded musicians on the first Monday of every month.

STRETCH OUT

Kati Black leads Yoga & Beer classes at Garfield Brewery (garfield brewery.com) on the first Sunday of each month, Triton Brewing Company (tritonbrewing.com) on fourth Saturdays, and the occasional Doom Metal session at Black Circle (blackcirclebrewing .com) accompanied by a deejay.

FAN FAVORITE

Although Grand Junction Brewing Co. (gjbrew.com) doesn’t bill itself as a sports bar per se, the place still comes alive with a sense of community and team spirit during all the big IU and Purdue games. — AMY LYNCH

THE PEDALER'S PUB

BY SUSAN SALAZ PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS

Longtime Indianapolis Monthly photographer Tony Valainis spent several months documenting the many ways—and whys—Indianapolis worships in everyday life and through sacred rites.

Missionaries of Charity

Founded in 2000, 2424 E. 10th St.

Dressed head-to-toe

white,

Teresa,

nuns

the Missionaries of Charity often walk the streets of their near-eastside neighborhood praying the rosary, preaching only by their presence, and offering overnight refuge to homeless women and children when needed. The superior of the order, Sister Janita (left), knew Mother Teresa personally, ministering with her around the world, and says she seeks to emulate the saint by seeing Jesus in everyone.

in

with the distinct blue stripes known to Mother

the

from

Religion in America has transformed dramatically in the past 50 years, and even in the last five, almost 30 percent of congregations reported a decline in worship attendance of at least a quarter, according to a Faith Communities Today survey billed as the largest ever conducted on the topic in the United States.

But according to Charlie Wiles, director of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation in Indianapolis, there are nine distinct faith traditions represented on the organization’s board of directors alone, confirming that the strong sense of tradition and belonging found in most of the religious communities is alive and well here.

“Many of our faith traditions share historical roots that have evolved over time,” he says. “So a sacred story that began thousands of years ago in a different part of the world has a geographic ‘home’ for a group of worshipers in central Indiana.”

In addition, Wiles notes the relationship to something bigger than our individual and material interests that religion can offer, providing instruction on how to order our lives as a member of a community and a confluence with the eternal.

Intrigued by the many ways and whys to worship here, Indianapolis photographer Tony Valainis set out to document the city’s spiritual side and found a diverse religious scene not only present but thriving in Indianapolis. The following images reveal visceral depictions and intimacies that cannot be conveyed through surveys and data sets.

Hindu Temple of Central Indiana

Founded in 2006

3350 N. German Church Rd.

Every June, members of the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana celebrate the anniversary of the consecration of their temple, called the  kumbhabhishekam Originally opened in 2006, the temple was expanded according to the Ancient Science of Indian Architecture, Sthapatya Vidya, in 2015, when it was consecrated. The yearly anniversary of this rite serves as an important and festive occasion for the Hindu families living in Indianapolis and beyond.

New Haven

Missionary Baptist Church

Founded in 1956

3418 N. Schofield Ave.

“You might as well clap your hands,” calls Bishop Charles H. McClain, Jr., singing and dancing as he begins a Sunday service, afterwards wiping sweat from his brow and calling to the congregation, “This church is on fire!” Interactive sermons with physical and charismatic worship are expected from the scarlet pews in the Meadows neighborhood northeast of downtown.

Christ Church Cathedral

Founded in 1837

125 Monument Circle

Peter Perri has been on Monument Circle since dawn, hoisting buckets of fresh strawberries soon to cover homemade shortcakes for the crowd already gathering ahead of the annual Strawberry Festival, hosted by the Cathedral Women of Christ Church Cathedral. “Helping at the Strawberry Fest is like coming together with your family when they need an extra set of hands,” says Perri, a member of the Episcopalian congregation that has been serving the city from its home on the Circle for nearly two centuries.

Gurdwara Shri Guru HarGobind Sahib Ji

Founded in 2013 1050 S. Graham Rd., Greenwood

The growing ethno-religious Sikh community has swelled to a population of more than 5,000 in central Indiana, with many residing on the city’s south side. Although they have suffered xenophobic violence here in Indianapolis, the gurdwara is a welcoming place for worship and community events. In Punjabi, gurdwara translates to “doorway to the guru,” and inside, an elaborate canopy covers a cot containing the sacred scripture of Sikhism, Adi Granth

Saint Athanasius the Great Byzantine Catholic Church

Founded in 1980

1117 Blaine Ave.

Golden halos veritably glow around the painted icons as the priest and a small congregation sing a cappella through the Divine Liturgy at Saint Athanasius. “The poetic theology of our Byzantine liturgy leads us to contemplate, sing, and celebrate our faith with an approach of peace and beauty,” writes Bishop Milan Lach in a recent parish newsletter. Though recognized by Rome, Byzantine Catholics descend from the traditions of Greece, maintaining marked differences which include receiving holy communion with a golden spoon and making the sign of the Cross from right to left.

Islamic Society of North America

Founded in 1982

6555 S. County Rd. 750 E. Plainfield

This is not the first, or last, time he will pray today. According to Islamic law, all Muslims who have reached puberty are required to perform prayer five times a day at specific times. “Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam,” explains Haroon Imtiaz, the Society’s director of communication. “Muslims view it as an act of submission to God and a way to humble themselves before Him.”

Verses of the Quran are recited in these daily prayers. “For Muslims, the Quran is the literal word of God, the ultimate source of guidance for humanity, and the principal source of Islamic law,” says Imtiaz. It consists of 114 chapters that were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a span of 23 years.

Unity of Indianapolis

Founded in 1914, 907 N. Delaware St.

On Independence Day, Karen Cheek sang “Firework” by Katy Perry six times from the stage at Unity of Indianapolis. A member of the worship team there for more than 10 years, Cheek now seeks out the worldwide Unity community as a full-time RVer. Her faith is different from traditional Christian worship. Cheek describes the inclusive, new-thought church as a practical application of biblical teachings. “I think the most important difference is how much responsibility you have as an individual for the life that you live,” she says.

As the day turns to dusk, the Holy Trinity Hellenic Dance Troupe promenades through the festivities during the annual Greek Fest. The group, ranging from elementaryschool children to adults, breathes a new energy into old traditions. The dance is not a part of the worship ceremony, but, according to Father Hohnholt of Holy Trinity, a cultural expression of fellowship and celebration for important events in the life of the community.

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Founded in 1986

3500 W. 106th St., Carmel

According to Father Gregory Hohnholt, Icons are more than religious art—they are an encounter with heaven. Here, a parishioner lights a candle as he enters the sacred space, Icons gleaming from every angle. “As Orthodox Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is the ‘Light of the world, that has come into the world,’” Hohnholt says. “When we light a candle, we pray for our loved ones, both those living and those who have passed on. We also pray for ourselves and are reminded to be the light that Christ calls us to be.”

Northview Church

Founded in 1980

12900 Hazel Dell Pkwy., Carmel

What started as a single non-denominational Christian community that met in a school cafeteria in Carmel 43 years ago has grown into one of Indiana’s largest megachurches, hosting more than 10,000 congregants across 13 campuses each week. The Northview Carmel auditorium seats more than 2,000 and features stateof-the-art AV systems for its contemporary, tech-driven services. It might sound like a lot of people, and it is, but the motto at Northview is, “Every number has a name. Every name has a story. Every story matters to God.”

Congregation Beth-El Zedeck

Founded in 1927

600 W. 70th St.

The first rabbinical couple in world Jewish history, Senior Rabbi Dennis Sasso and Rabbi Emerita Sandy Sasso see themselves as teachers, pastors, preachers, and counselors who are called to model a supportive relationship and to build a partnership enriched by the beauty of tradition and responsive to the needs of the present. Together, they minister to 700 households within the northside Hebrew community at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church

Founded in 1875, 1530 Union St.

A bride is escorted down the long aisle of Sacred Heart’s ornate sanctuary for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Catholic weddings are often held during Mass, where the couple publicly commits themselves to one another in a covenant under God. Some southside families with roots at this Franciscan parish have seen five and six generations married here.

Native American Pow Wow

Founded in 1982

Boone County Fairgrounds, Lebanon

Native Tsa-la-gi (Cherokee) dancer Laura Zak swings her Fancy Shawl regalia to the beat of the drums inside the blessed dancing circle at the 40th Annual Traditional Pow Wow. “When we’re dancing, we’re dancing in celebration of the past and in celebration of the future,” says Sally Tuttle, a member of the Choctaw Nation and longtime advocate for the 101 different tribes represented throughout Indiana. “Pow Wows are a way for us to gather to remember our ancestors and pass on our traditions.”

An Lac Temple

Founded in 1986

5249 E. 30th St.

The Venerable Thien Huong “invites” a bowl-shaped bell three times to welcome visitors to the Buddha Hall and remind them to pay respect to the Buddha. “The first sound of the bell is to settle our body. It means that there is no more movement,” says Huong, a Vietnamese Buddhist nun. “The second sound is to settle our speech. It means that there is no more talking. The third sound is to settle our mind. It means that there is no more wandering thought—we are here and now.”

ADVANCED DEGREES

Expand your educational horizons with graduate programs designed to enhance your skills and give you a competitive edge in the workforce.

BY SHARI HELD

LEVELING UP

Thinking about returning to school for an advanced degree? It’s easier than ever today, and the benefits

So, you have your bachelor’s degree and believe you’re all set for the duration of your working career? Think again. In today’s fast-paced world, a bachelor’s is near the bottom of the educational pyramid. Industry innovations and new discoveries often demand the creation of new fields of study or more in-depth dives into established ones. Plus, higher-level education programs are necessary to obtain certain licensures and keep them up to date.

“The skills an advanced degree teaches you go beyond information,” says Kenneth Games, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Indiana State University. “Students learn how to work alongside the rapidly changing information space, as well as practice higher-level critical analysis, research, and problem-solving skills the workforce needs from its leaders.”

If that isn’t enough incentive, here’s another: money. Over their lifetimes, individuals with graduate degrees earn $1.1 to $1.5 million more than those with a bachelor’s.

“Students who come to us for a master’s degree or a doctoral program are trying to amplify their career,” says Andy Miller, Ph.D., vice president of innovation and partnerships at Indiana Wesleyan University. “At the heart of it is economic mobility, the social mobility that comes with that, and perhaps the ability to lead at a higher level.”

Here’s a snapshot of advanced degree offerings from three Indiana universities.

INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

IWU offers a large array of master’s and doctoral programs in six major categories: business, education, nursing, health sciences, organizational leadership, and psychology and social work.

The university continually adds new fields and degrees to its existing curriculum. Recent additions include IT-related specializations under the Master of Science in Management, such as data analytics, project management, and IT management. Along with these selections, other popular study areas are business, health sciences, cybersecurity, organizational leadership, and transition to teaching.

The BS in Aviation Management and AS Professional Pilot degrees provide the professional certification that allows students to earn FAA credentials and become commercial airline pilots. It is among the highestranked pilot training in the Midwest.

“Programs are largely structured in a way that allows students to do one class at a time,” Miller says. “That’s the unique differentiator

for us from other universities. Most of our programs fit into that mold.”

While a student in a traditional program might take four classes per semester, IWU’s flexible, non-traditional structure allows students to focus on one accelerated class, making it easier to balance a full-time job and family responsibilities.

Enrollees can use a convenient pay-asyou-go model. Many corporations provide employee tuition reimbursement, and IWU works directly with business partners to reduce attendance costs.

IWU’s nontraditional structure works. Most graduate students at IWU complete their programs. Over the past few years, IWU has maintained an advanced degree graduation rate of around 75 percent.

are huge.

You’re a writer. It’s time to treat yourself like one.

Creative Writing

• Evening classes

• Tracks in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry

• Full- or part-time study

• Recent visitors: Colson Whitehead, Ada Limón, Meghan Daum, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Lauren Groff

EFROYMSON CENTER FOR CREATIVE WRITING AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY

Butler University launched its Master of Fine Arts program in 2008 to fill a need locally. Entrance requirements for the 36-hour program are simple: an undergraduate degree in any area of study and a promising talent in writing. Students can focus on one of three genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.

The in-person classes meet in the evenings, and students can opt to attend full-time, parttime, or one class at a time. Most students complete the program in three years.

“We welcome people from all kinds of backgrounds,” says Chris Forhan, director of the MFA Program for Creative Writing, noting the program attracts students ages 22 to 80 from all over the United States. “Many people who are thriving professionally come to us to take care of their artistic side. This is not a professional training program. It’s something you do because you care about your art and want to immerse yourself in a community of like-minded people.”

How much will it cost to nurture your passion? At $920 per credit hour currently, tuition is low compared to other schools. Participants may reduce tuition costs or earn extra money by serving as teaching fellows, working with professors on various projects, or contributing to the center’s literary magazine.

Besides being an ultra-fast-paced way to improve students’ writing, an MFA opens many doors. It can help graduates gain admittance into prestigious Ph.D. programs, qualify them to teach, or take them down a marketing, journalism, or editing path.

Forhan, who obtained an MFA in poetry, is an enthusiastic advocate for the program. “It was the best decision I ever made. And we have all kinds of success stories,” he says.

As an example, Sam Ferrante moved to Indianapolis from New York to get her MFA in poetry. She ended up loving Indianapolis and decided to stay after graduation in 2021. Her thesis won Gasher Journal ’s first book scholarship, and her poetry has been published in numerous magazines. She’s the development and communications coordinator at Indy Reads, an organization with a crucial mission to promote literacy.

Chris Speckman, on the other hand, chose a teaching path. He’s currently an adjunct at

Butler and a writing teacher at Shortridge High School. In his eight years as the director of Butler’s Writing in the Schools program, he has helped develop a college-style writing center on the Shortridge campus, staffed by volunteer mentors from Butler who also assist with a creative writing after-school club.

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

ISU offers more than 75 graduate programs—everything from one- to twoclass programs to a four-year degree culminating in a dissertation. You’ll find academic designations such as Ph.D. and Doctor of Education; professional degrees for Doctor of Psychology and Doctor of Physical Therapy; post-professional doctorates such as Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Athletic Training; plus master’s degrees, graduate certificates, and non-degree licensure programs.

Its most popular programs are in education, health and human services, and business administration. Currently, its online Doctor of Athletic Training program is the only one offered in the U.S.

In fact, since a large number of ISU students fall within the age range of 27 to 45, many ISU graduate-level classes are available

online or in a hybrid format. This flexibility allows students to obtain an advanced degree while working full-time and raising a family. Some courses and programs are even offered in eight-week formats.

“Our students expect flexibility, and that is something we’ve embraced at Indiana State,” Games says. “We do our very best to deliver on that flexibility while maintaining the rigor of a graduate education.”

Financial-aid services range from scholarships and grants to waivers and opportunities for students to gain real-world experience while earning money.

When it comes to success stories, Games recalls one doctoral student—a full-time teacher and essentially a single parent since her partner was in the military and deployed during her time at ISU. She reconnected with her sense of purpose, cultivated a community of support, and found her voice in her place of employment. Upon obtaining her Doctor of Athletic Training degree in 2021, she created her dream job at an organization she loved with the income she had envisioned.

“The vast majority of graduate students at ISU do have other responsibilities, and they come to us looking for something they can’t quite put their finger on,” Games says. “She really is a snapshot of the types of students who find success here.”

FACES OF I N D Y INDY

THE FACE OF REAL ESTATE

Bif Ward Real Estate Group, Bif Ward

While the numbers are impressive, it’s the longevity that tells you all you need to know.

A household name and F.C. Tucker’s #1 agent for 34 years, Bif has sold it all. She’s counseled her clients through every market change in virtually every buyer or seller situation. She’s seen and conquered it all. From starter homes to mega luxury, from central Indiana to worldwide relocation. With 4,000 transactions and $1.8 billion in career sales, Bif and her talented team head into 2023 stronger than ever poised to help loyal clients and those new to the fold navigate changing housing market conditions and realize their dreams.

9279 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis 317.590.7871 | bif@talktotucker.com

THE FACE OF DIAMONDS

Reis-Nichols Jewelers

For over 100 years, Reis-Nichols Jewelers has been a part of the Indianapolis area’s DNA; and after celebrating his 40th anniversary in the luxury jewelry business this year, BJ Nichols is more passionate than ever about helping people select the perfect diamond.

“One of my greatest pleasures in my career has been to work with our team to fi nd the world’s most beautiful diamonds,” explains BJ Nichols, president of Reis-Nichols Jewelers. “There is no better feeling than to help our clients select the perfect diamonds to celebrate the most memorable moments of their lives,” describes Nichols. “Diamonds are that treasure representing both strength and beauty, and one of the most precious and magnifi cent creations of nature.”

BJ Nichols should know. He has spent his career seeking out the most exceptional diamonds and gemstones from around the globe and is dedicated to passing along all that he has learned to his team of experts including his daughter, Hannah Nichols-Hale.

“There is so much more involved in the process than just picking the right stone,” Hannah explains. “We want to give our clients the very best experience! From the moment they step through our doors, our team is committed to creating an exceptional experience for every client!”

Reis-Nichols off ers top designer brands, including David Yurman, Pomellato, and Roberto Coin, and has a state-of-the-art facility onsite with a team of skilled artisan jewelers on staff to create exclusive jewelry.

“Jewelry is personal, and it can become part of a family legacy, we don’t take that responsibility lightly,” Nichols sums up. “Our goal is to fi nd our clients the diamond that will live up to that!”

Front, seated (left to right): Cheri Chappell, Nicole Williams, Hannah Nichols-Hale, Therese Lopshire

Back, standing: Brent Maple, Brice Holden, BJ Nichols, Matt SanFilippo, Marleen Kramer

THE FACE OF PERIODONTICS & IMPLANT DENTISTRY

Kurt Van Winkle, D.D.S., M.S.D., P.C.

Dr. Kurt Van Winkle is a Periodontist with over 30 years of experience, specializing in dental implant tooth replacement and periodontal (gum) treatment. He is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to his patients. An established provider in his fi eld, he is one of the fi rst periodontists in Indiana to utilize the Periolase™ laser, a pain-free “no cut, no stitch” surgical procedure to treat periodontal disease. Dr. Van Winkle enjoys improving patients’ smiles with recent techniques for gum grafting. Additionally, his use of digital diagnostic imagery, including dental CT scans, allows for the most accurate dental implant placement and the highest success rate. Certifi ed in all levels of sedation dentistry, Dr. Van Winkle is able to provide patients with a comfortable and relaxing experience in his newly remodeled dental offi ce. His compassion and commitment to his patients has been acknowledged by local dentists and earned him the title of Top Periodontist for the past 14 years. He is widely respected in the dental community for his high standards of patient care. Many patients have asked Dr. Van Winkle why he chose dentistry as a profession. His response: “My father always told me that I was good with my hands and I should utilize this talent.” Dr. Van Winkle is an active member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Periodontology, Indiana Dental Association, and the Indianapolis District Dental Society. 8902 N. Meridian St., Ste. 138, Indianapolis 317.844.2792 | vanwinkleperio.com

Center for Sight

Dr. Michael Behforouz

With more than 20 years of surgical experience, Dr. Michael Behforouz and the team at Center for Sight provide premium surgical services to improve vision at all stages in life from LASIK, to Refractive Lens Exchange and cataract surgery. Their approach, that individuals have unique visual needs, is apparent in Dr. Behforouz’s personalized treatment plans based on patients’ goals and lifestyles. When you hear the overwhelming satisfaction from his patients about visual results and their experience, it’s no surprise to learn Dr. Behforouz is far beyond your average ophthalmologist. Center for Sight is compassionate and communicative every step of the way with Dr. Behforouz seeing his patients at every appointment.

A

B O V

I N D Y INDY

Founded in 1983, SBC Wealth Management was built on the values of hard work, integrity, and personal service. At SBC, we have decades of multigenerational wealth management experience in creating, enhancing, and preserving our clients’ lifestyles. Our mission is to serve as a fi nancial compass and position our clients to meet their lifestyle objectives. When the markets, the economy, or life-altering events deliver an unexpected challenge, we are there to help make it through. As a Registered Investment Adviser, we adhere to the highest fi duciary standards and are committed to providing an extraordinary client experience.

Marissa Smith, Client Support; Lauren Rebber, Team Lead; Heidi Hanson-Maier, Client Support; Lee Anderson, Client Support

THE FACE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

The MSD of Lawrence Township takes pride in being an Indianapolis leader in Early Childhood Education. From National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, to the highest level of recognition from Indiana’s Paths to Quality, to one and two-way dual language programming for children as young as two, we ensure the highest-quality experiences for the youngest learners.

Every aspect of our programming is intentional, from the physical building to the programs and curriculum, providing the youngest learners with the highest quality education.

Research shows a direct correlation between high-quality early learning and positive long-term outcomes in life, including increased educational attainment, healthier lifestyles, and more career success.

With families from diverse cultural, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds, our community values and embraces diversity as one of its greatest strengths. Our Early Childhood programming is the on-ramp to a successful academic career in Lawrence Township, the District of Destination.

6501 Sunnyside Rd., Indianapolis 317.423.8200

LTschools.org

THE FACE OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Dr. Scott Papineau & Dr. Annette Farthing

As pediatric dentists, Dr. Scott Papineau and Dr. Annette Farthing are specially trained to treat infants, children, and teens. Drs. Papineau and Farthing and their compassionate staff work to make each child’s dental visit a positive and rewarding experience. It is their goal to treat each child as if they were their own.

Child-friendly language and techniques are used to walk each patient through their dental procedures. Nitrous oxide, general anesthesia, and sedation for anxious patients are also available when needed. Drs. Papineau and Farthing’s expertise allows them to provide excellent dental care and guidance for establishing a lifetime of good oral health.

Drs. Papineau and Farthing pride themselves in off ering quality dental care in a fun and relaxed atmosphere and invite you to make their offi ce your child’s dental home.

THE FACE OF KNEE CARE

K. Donald Shelbourne, MD & Rodney Benner, MD

Our knees move us in so many ways, but back in 1982, there were no knee care specialists. That’s when Dr. Shelbourne opened his fi rst orthopaedic practice, completely changing the face of knee care. His ACL rehabilitation protocols are utilized around the world with results shared in more than 150 medical journal articles. Today, he runs the Shelbourne Knee Center with Dr. Benner and an experienced team of therapists, athletic trainers and research staff. Their main focus: get patients back to play and back to their lives. In fact, Shelbourne Knee Center has a return-to-sport rate of 85% vs. the industry average of 50%. What also sets Shelbourne Knee Center apart are the research-based rehab programs customized to a patient’s unique needs. These treatment plans are based on more than 30 years of continual research, proven results and a true dedication to total knee care.

1500 N. Ritter Ave., Ste. 500, Indianapolis 317.924.8636 | fixknee.com

THE FACE OF COMPREHENSIVE, COSMETIC, AND GENERAL DENTISTRY

Indy Dental Group

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

Indy Dental Group was founded in 1993 by Drs. Jack M. Miller, Three-Time Veteran Driver of the Indianapolis 500 Race, & Elizabeth B. Lewis, a leader in comprehensive, cosmetic, and family dentistry with a special focus on patient education and family dental health.

Indy Dental Group has a team of Seven Doctors and Five World-Class convenient locations. Our Carmel offi ce (located in The Village of West Clay) showcases Dr. Miller’s race memorabilia, walls of fame and one of his Crest® racecars hanging from the ceiling. Our dedicated team of doctors, hygienists, technicians and administrative staff all share the philosophy and commitment to provide you with excellence in dentistry by combining exceptional education, extensive clinical experience and personal dedication to help ensure a lifetime of dental health.

Winning Smiles For The Entire Family

Front (left to right): Dr. Meredith Ginet, Dr. Jessica Bolander, Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, Dr. Megan Avery, Dr. Mallorie Lawson

Back: Dr. Jack Miller, Dr. Philip Hoyt

THE FACE OF STEAKS

Anthony’s Chophouse

Anthony & Kayla Lazzara

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY.

Anthony’s Chophouse redefi nes the modern fi nedining experience by serving classic steakhouse cuisine with a unique culinary spin and distinctive cocktails. With a sumptuous menu and a focus on boutique wines, we fi nd a way to celebrate every moment.

Opened in 2018, Anthony’s prides itself as a family-owned restaurant. The vigorous staff training, customer engagement, and warm ambiance enable guests to feel at home. Our signature steaks include Provençal Ribeye seared on cast iron and rubbed with our house seasoning and herbs de Provençal and the Flight of Beef, which showcases a trio of 4-oz fi lets. Every steak can be personalized with unique accompaniments such as lobster maxwell or tableside-shaved bone-marrow butter.

Our sister restaurant on the third fl oor, 3UP, is Carmel’s only indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge open all year. It serves superior craft cocktails and shareable plates.

From all of us at Anthony’s Chophouse, our sincerest thanks to our loyal guests for your friendship, your business, and joining our family.

201 W. Main St., Carmel

317.740.0900 | anthonyschophouse.com

THE FACE OF ORTHODONTICS

Associated Orthodontists of Indiana

Serving Indianapolis and the surrounding areas for over 25 years, Drs. John Rapp and Marybeth Brandt are known for providing quality orthodontic care to children and adults in a comfortable, caring environment. Our treatment entails more than just straightening the front teeth. It requires careful evaluation of muscle and joint function, bone structure, periodontal health, tooth size, and tooth shape in order to develop an individual plan for each patient. We are committed to providing our patients with the best esthetic and functional results possible.

Associated Orthodontists of Indiana also off ers Invisalign® clear retainers as an alternative to traditional braces for many patients. We utilize the iTero scanner to create an image for records and aligner fabrication. The scanner eliminates the need for impressions for our Invisalign® patients. We have seven convenient locations to serve you: Carmel, Fishers, Southport, Kokomo, Greencastle, Daleville, and Connersville. Call us today to schedule your complimentary evaluation and get on the path to a happier, healthier smile! 370 Medical Dr., Ste. C, Carmel, 317.844.4104 | 8418 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317.585.7491

|

THE FACES OF JOINT

For over 70 years, Central Indiana Orthopedics has been leading the way in advanced orthopedic care with a personalized approach. As the fi rst orthopedic practice in central Indiana to utilize Mako SmartRobotics™ robotic-arm assisted technology in total and partial knee replacements and total hip replacements, we have once again set the standard for expert orthopedic care.

With this state-of-the-art robotic tool, our surgeons have been able to help over 2,000 patients experience better outcomes, less pain and faster recovery from joint replacement surgeries. From a personalized pre-op plan to postsurgery follow-up, our patients benefi t from individualized, expert treatment that gets them back to doing what they love.

Visit

Pictured (Left to right): Joseph Jerman, MD; Thomas Salsbury, MD; P. Jamieson Kay, MD; David Graybill, MD; Brian Camilleri, DO; Nimu Surtani, MD

Not pictured: Ryan Cieply, MD; Brent Damer, DO; and Ryan Jaggers, MD

Shown at left: The Mako™ robot used for hip and knee replacement

THE FACE OF SHOULDER SURGERY

As a board-certifi ed orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained shoulder surgeon, Dr. Badman specializes in sports-related shoulder injuries and degenerative and traumatic conditions of the shoulder. His surgical expertise includes total shoulder replacement, reverse shoulder replacement, arthroscopic shoulder repair and fracture-related care of the shoulder. Being a Hoosier native, he attended Indiana University for both undergraduate and medical education. After fi nishing residency at the University of Florida, he completed one of the top shoulder fellowships in the United States at the Florida Orthopedic Institute. Over the past 17 years, Dr. Badman has become one of the leading shoulder surgeons in the Midwest, performing approximately 300 shoulder replacements and 300 arthroscopic procedures annually. He is also the highest member level in the American Shoulder and Elbow Society. His free time is spent with his family and doing CrossFit. To schedule an appointment, call 800-622-6575 or visit indyshoulder.com.

THE FACE OF BANKING STAR Bank

For 80 years, STAR Bank has been dedicated to providing options that allow our customers to bank the way that best fi ts their lifestyle, off ering customized solutions for our clients. Through top-notch personal connection, convenient touchscreen and video options, or via our mobile applications, we think outside the bank. At STAR, if you live, work, or play in our Hoosier Heartland, you’re family. Stop by our fi nancial center at 46 Monument Circle or schedule an appointment from our website to speak with a banker about your fi nancial needs.

46 Monument Circle, Indianapolis 317.566.7310 | starfinancial.com

Pictured, from left: Board member Steve Walker, Branch Manager Sharla Livingston-Mabon, Market President Tim Oliver, Board member Melissa Proffi tt-Schmidt, SVP/Regional President Scott Bove, Private Banker Courtney Lloyd, and STAR Bank President Kevin Wright

THE FACE OF CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE

Houseworks

Since 1985, Houseworks has had the privilege of bringing you the city’s best in modern furniture and accessories. As a company, we will soon celebrate our 38th anniversary—a milestone we are proud of. At Houseworks, we are confi dent that we can help bring your dream rooms to life with our personal solutions for the way you live. Stop by for a visit and get inspired. Our experienced design consultants will happily give you a tour of our unique shopping environment, which continues to evolve with every new shipment we receive. As an independently-owned store, our service standards have set us apart for decades. And because it came from Houseworks, you can rest assured that your purchase isn’t just a purchase: it’s an investment that will last. After all, we’ve hit the right balance of understated elegance, si mple sophistication, and timeless appeal since 1985.

4905 82nd St., Indianapolis | 317.578.7000 | houseworks.biz

Front (left to right): Paula Wright, Brian McIntosh, Ed Cheikh, Bren Dark

Back: Dustin Polster, Angel Van Slyke, Chris Chapman, Dillon Polster, Alex Ridding, Forrestine Ward

THE FACE OF CUSTOM HOMES

Woodstock Custom Homes

317.506.3568

woodstockcustomhomes.com

Meet Nick Winings and Bob Slawson. In 2012, the two Indianapolis real estate veterans brought their unique backgrounds into a partnership called Woodstock Custom Homes. The idea? Beautiful and detailed custom homes focused on main-level living for the modern family.

Unlike typical new-home building that doesn’t routinely allow the customer direct interaction with the plan designer, Bob meets directly with the customer to ensure Woodstock designs the perfect, personal home plan. Once the plan is created, Nick is onsite daily during construction making sure the thousands of pieces come together in a masterful manner. As an owner of the company, Nick is your personal project manager and his communication skills greatly enhance the process.

Basically, Woodstock is custom design and fi ne home building—up close and personal. To learn more about the guys and their modern take on lifestyle home design, visit them at woodstockcustomhomes.com.

ORTHOINDY

SPORTS MEDICINE TEAM

Chris Bales, MD

Timothy Dicke, MD

Kosmas Kayes, MD

Corey Kendall, MD

Stephen Kollias, MD

Matthew Lavery, MD

Scott Lintner, MD

Mihir Patel, MD

Troy Roberson, MD

Jonathan Shook, MD

Jeffery Soldatis, MD

Michael Thieken, MD

Timothy Hupfer, MD

NBA Team Physician of the Year (2018–19, 2020–21)

THE FACE OF REMODELING

The Guy Corporation

Jon Guy built his fi rst home during his high school building trades class at Warren Central. Just after graduation, he started his career as a laborer for Paul Shoopman, one of the hardest working and most well-known builders in Indiana. After spending 20+ years in the school of hard knocks and working up to vice president of the fourth-largest building company in Indiana, Jon decided it was time to create a legacy for his family.

Since 2003, Jon’s vision for The Guy Corporation has been to use its vast combined knowledge of construction, design, and real estate to represent clients with professional expertise. The company’s “All Things Real Estate” divisions include GuyCo Homes and Remodeling, Realty, and Commercial. Melissa Guy runs the brokerage and assists all clients with her design expertise.

Whether you build, buy, sell, or remodel, GuyCo can help you live in your dream home. The Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home builder of 2017, GuyCo has been building, buying, selling, and remodeling for over 39 years!

150 Vista Park Way, Avon 317.272.2236 | guycohomes.com

THE FACE OF CUSTOM KITCHEN CABINETRY &

DESIGN

Cabinetry Ideas

Cabinetry Ideas is a custom kitchen and bath design studio on the north side of Indianapolis. While we specialize in exceptional kitchens and baths, we also excel in custom laundry rooms, home offi ces, and bars. We are a team of professional, creative, and certifi ed designers who blend quality craftsmanship and a personalized design experience that bring value to any residential remodel or new construction home. Since 1999, our job has been Turning Ideas Into Reality!

We invite you to schedule your visit to our custom design studio to become inspired and learn more about our well respected team. In our over 4000 square feet of space, our showroom has 29 displays fi lled with custom solutions and ideas to explore. Cabinetry Ideas is the place to start realizing your next kitchen or bath dreams.

Left to right: Sarah Massari, Production Coordinator; J.D. Dick, AKBD, Designer; Raymond Giehll Jr., Field Manager; Dawn Barbee, AKBD, Design Director; Frannie Griswold, Designer; Miranda Wattles, Design and Production Support; Ali Herman, Design and Production Support

THE FACE OF CATERING

Ritz Charles

R

itz Charles was established in 1986 with a vision of a high-quality venue focusing on social gatherings, fundraisers, corporate meetings, and of course, weddings. The beautiful 15,000-square-foot facility on Meridian Street was the catalyst to additional, unique venues and off site catering. Over the years, Ritz Charles has acquired a renowned culinary staff, professional servers, dedicated managers, and a talented design team. With eight exclusive and unique venues, Ritz Charles Catering is one of the largest caterers in Indianapolis. Our experience assures you the best event possible.

The original Ritz Charles site in Carmel features remodeled ballrooms, the glass-walled Garden Pavilion, and the Chapel. Unique venues across the city that trust their events to Ritz Charles include Lindley Farmstead at Chatham Hills, Coxhall Mansion and Gardens, Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis Artsgarden, Artisan Acres Estate, The Bluff s at Conner Prairie, and many more.

At Ritz Charles Catering, no event is too big or too small. Whether you are planning a wedding reception, an offi ce holiday party, or a graduation open house, we want your number one priority to be enjoying the event and time with your friends and family. A personal design team specialist and experienced day of event coordinator will deliver a seamless event to any location.

THE FACE OF INTERIOR DESIGN

Dare 2 Design Jennifer O’Connor

If you haven’t had the privilege of working with Jennifer O’Connor on your interior designs, you are missing out! For over 20 years, Jennifer has been paving the way in current, innovative designs and this year is no diff erent. Jennifer and her team are pulling out all the stops as they lead the designs of this year’s Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home. And it doesn’t stop there! With her vision of marrying beautiful design with functional purpose, her goal is to help each one of her clients create their own dream home. She understands the process can be overwhelming and with her experience and detailed approach to design, she helps put each client’s mind at ease.

Dare 2 Design’s team of talented designers off ers full-service design services including project consultation for new build construction, space planning, furniture, and window coverings. Together, they will help you create a gorgeous, welcoming home that fully refl ects your individual taste and lifestyle.

Indiana Design Center, Carmel 317.552.9506 | dare2designindy.com

THE FACE OF HANDBAGS

HAMMITT

& Purse Strings

Paul Braun is the owner of the HAMMITT store located in the Fashion Mall at Keystone. In July 2022, Paul partnered with the company in California to establish the only store of its kind located in the Midwest. HAMMITT is the fastest growing luxury handbag brand in the United States. In addition to the HAMMITT store, Paul owns and operates two Purse Stings stores located at Clay Terrace and Hamilton Town Center. Purse Strings features the largest selection of HOBO Handbags in Indiana as well as a wide variety of jewelry and accessories including Home Décor. Recently, Paul’s stores were honored to be recognized as the largest distributor of Ambre Blends products nationally.

HAMMITT: The Fashion Mall, Indianapolis | 463.210.8167

Purse Strings: Clay Terrace, Carmel | 317.846.8372

Purse Strings: Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville | 317.678.8956

purse-strings.shop

THE FACE OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION

Vive Exterior Design, Ryan Coyle

With over 20 years of experience in the landscape industry, Vive Exterior Design founder and president Ryan Coyle has emerged as one of the top designers in the Central Indiana area. His ability to think outside of the box and fi t projects to specifi c styles of landscape and architecture is one of his best assets.

Teamwork is at the core of everything we do. Working with the experts at Vive Exterior Design, you will fi nd that each team member values the strengths and assets of everyone else involved in your project. From the moment you call our offi ce through the design and construction processes, we all work together and take pride in piecing together the puzzle that is a Vive Exterior Design project.

Vive Exterior Design off ers design and planning services, as well as landscape installation, pools and patios, and outdoor structures. Our team has received numerous accolades, including Garden of Excellence, Mayor’s Choice, and People’s Choice awards at the Indiana Flower and Patio Show. Call us today for a consultation and estimate for your next project.

THE FACE OF SENIOR LIVING

Westminster Village North, Shelley Rauch

Shelley Rauch has been a driving force in senior living for more than 30 years. Shelley’s career began as a teenage volunteer in a nursing home inspiring her future with seniors. She became a social worker, received her Administrator license and MBA. Shelley has led Westminster Village North as the Executive Director for 25 years, and through her leadership the organization has become a premiere continuing care retirement community. She was appointed to the Indiana Department of Health Executive Board and became a contributor to policy during the Covid pandemic. She also served on the IHSN executive committee. Shelley has held local and national leadership roles within Leading Age—an organization of not-for-profi t senior communities. Recently, Westminster Village North was selected to host national leaders to discuss and share best practices. Clearly, Shelley has helped to pave the way for seniors living their best life in retirement.

THE FACE OF HOME BUILDING

Drees Homes

Scott Drees & Alexa Drees Walker

As the fourth generation to work at their family-owned company, siblings Scott and Alexa Drees grew up with a passion for home building. Founded in 1928, Drees Homes currently builds in 10 metro areas throughout the country including Indianapolis. Scott’s current role includes overseeing sales in the Indianapolis area, and Alexa is Corporate Director of Design. Their unique knowledge of the industry has cultivated a rich understanding that home is more than a dwelling—it’s a personal expression of each and every customer, and their ultimate goal is to bring that vision to life. This customer focus has earned Drees Homes the Triple Crown of national home building awards including “America’s Best Builder,” “National Builder of the Year,” and the “National Housing Quality Award.” Most recently, Drees Homes has been selected as a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company, a program sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal

I N D Y INDY

THE FACE OF SUPPER CLUBS

The Fountain Room

Mass Ave’s Finest Supper Club

830

463.238.3800

thefountainroom.com

Astylish departure from steakhouse tradition, The Fountain Room embraces Supper Club fl air without the formality, blending fi ne dining with unabashed fun. Guests can indulge in timeless fare, including pickled relish trays, richly fl avorful prime rib, classic side dishes, and house-made desserts, paired with strong cocktails and a well-curated wine list. The stunning space features velvet banquettes, glowing chandeliers, and a reel-to-reel machine that evokes a sense of nostalgia. Look for the historic Bottleworks hotel entrance and listen for sounds of mischief.

With an uncompromising eff ort to deliver authentic cuisine from around the Midwest, Clancy’s Hospitality is a lifestyle hospitality group that focuses on the integrity of product, impeccable service, and redefi ning the traditional dining experience. Started in 1965 by Indiana Restaurant Hall of Fame member Carl Fogelsong, Clancy’s Hamburgers was the fi rst double-drive thru fast food restaurant in the Midwest.

The Fountain Room, which opened in summer 2022 at Bottleworks District, was inspired by a trip to Wisconsin during the pandemic by father/son restaurant team Perry and Blake Fogelsong. Part Wisconsin style Supper Club meets roaring 1920’s jazz-aged steakhouse.

Executive Chef Andrew Popp’s menu evolves the American Supper Club for the more modern diner. Designed by locally renowned designers Phanomen/design, inspiration for The Fountain Room stems from visions of a retro supper-club vibe. Repetitive geometric patterns and timeless millwork details are paired with texture and color combinations that are meant to give visitors a sense of nostalgia for times past. Think of a traditional Art Deco dining establishment that also functions as a social club. High class, yet aff ordable. Formal, yet relaxed.

THE ANNUAL LIST OF TOP ATTORNEYS

David W. Craig

Scott A. Faultless

INDIANA

The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. We limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.

The Super Lawyers selection process involves the steps outlined in the graphic (at right).

LEARN MORE QUESTIONS?

visit

DISCLAIMER: The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon the advertising or listings in this magazine. Super Lawyers does not certify or designate an attorney as a specialist, is not a title conferred on individual lawyers, and is not intended to communicate that lawyers selected will achieve better results upon the advertising or listings in the magazine.

2023 INDIANA SUPER LAWYERS

Ardery, Samuel R. Arthur, Stephen E.

Babb, Bryan H. Bell, Tina M.

Blaiklock, A. Richard M. Brewer, Wendy D. Burroughs, Kathryn Hillebrands

Caruso, Deborah J. Cassman, Ryan H. Christensen, Margaret M.

KEHOE,

SOSHNICK,

TRIMBLE,

TURNER,

VOYLES,

Indianapolis

WININGHAM,

Christie, Lee C. Cline, Lance D. Cox, Dina M. Craig, David W. Cross, Nancy L. Daly, Jr., John P. Deets, Nicholas C. Dignam, Robert J. Dollens, Lucy R. Garau, Jerry A. Geyer, Rebecca W. Glazier, Mark A. Goldenberg Schuman, Jill

Greene, Betsy K. Hays, Thomas C. Hewitt, Brian C. Hull, Andrew W.

Jeselskis, Kimberly D.

Kaufman Joseph, Hannah

Kehoe, D. Bruce

Kraege, Richard C.

Ladendorf, Mark C.

Langer, Steven L.

Lee, Kathy A.

Levin, Irwin B.

Maley, John R.

Patterson, Tony

Plews, George M.

Reed, James A.

Reese, Jason R.

Ricafort, Nissa M.

Schiferl, Kevin C.

Schroeder, Pete

Soshnick, Andrew Z.

Trimble, John C.

Turner, Wayne C.

Voyles, Jr., James H.

Wagner, Stephen

Winingham, Jr., William E.

Zoeller, Brian K.

CROSS, NANCY L. Cross Glazier Reed Burroughs, Carmel GEYER, REBECCA W.

GREENE, BETSY K.

D. BRUCE Wilson Kehoe Winingham, Indianapolis

LEE, KATHY A.

ANDREW Z.

JOHN C.

WAYNE C. Hoover Hull Turner, Indianapolis

JR., JAMES H.

JR., WILLIAM E. Wilson Kehoe Winingham, Indianapolis

INDIANA

Avery, Melissa J.

Bell, Tina M.

Brewer, Wendy D.

Burroughs, Kathryn Hillebrands

Caruso, Deborah J.

Christensen, Margaret M.

Cook, Jessie A.

Cox, Dina M.

Cross, Nancy L.

DeLaney, Kathleen A.

Dollens, Lucy R.

Feldhake, Mary M. Ruth

Findling, Mary A.

Geyer, Rebecca W.

Gilchrist, Caroline A.

Goldenberg Schuman, Jill

Greene, Betsy K.

Jeselskis, Kimberly D.

Kaufman Joseph, Hannah

Lee, Kathy A.

Morical, Alice M.

Osborn, Kathy L.

Ricafort, Nissa M.

Schaefer, Paula J.

Smith, Deborah Farmer

Michael E. Brown* Kristen M. Carroll* Erin A. Clancy* Thomas J. Jarzyniecki, Jr.* Libby Valos Moss*

Richard A. Young* Alyssa Cochran**

Ginny L. Peterson* Casey R. Stafford*

KOOI LAW FIRM, LLC

THE ANNUAL LIST

BY PRIMARY AREA OF PRACTICE

The list was finalized as of August 23, 2022. Only attorneys who data verified with Super Lawyers for the current year are included on the list that follows. All current selections and any updates to the list (e.g., status changes or disqualifying events) will be reflected on superlawyers.com.

Names and page numbers in RED indicate a profile on for attorneys with paid Super Lawyers or Rising Stars print advertisements.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

SUPER LAWYERS

Ardery, Samuel R.

Bemenderfer, T. Neil

Bishop, Michael P.

Born, D. Timothy

Chickedantz, C. Erik Collignon, Thomas D.

Dignam, Robert J.

Fitzharris, Kevin K. Gilchrist, Caroline A.

Gill, W. Brent Gioia, Daniel A.

Hays, Thomas C.

Johnson, Edward W. Kalamaros, Philip E. Kraege, Richard C.

Page, Denise Palmer, Peter D. Pinkus, Julie K. Reimondo, Robert N.

Rudolph, Ross Schroeder, Pete Whiteleather, Jr., John W.

ANIMAL LAW

RISING STARS

Harper, Cecelia Neihouser

ANTITRUST LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Gilchrist, Scott D. S-19

Millard, Kendall

Osborn, Kathy L.

APPELLATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Babb, Bryan H.

Brown, Robert D.

Christensen, Margaret M.

Ciobanu, Andrea L. S-24

Cowgur, Anne L.

Crandley, Mark J.

Drake, Carol S.

Paul, Brian J.

Peters, Stephen J.

Quay-Smith, Nana M.

RISING STARS

Karle, Brian A.

Lowe, Anne Medlin

Stemerick, Jeffrey D.

AVIATION AND AEROSPACE

SUPER LAWYERS

Norris, Richard L.

BANKING

SUPER LAWYERS

Baxter, John B.

Scott, Laura A.

RISING STARS

Duncan, Christine R.

Oliver, Scott

Ramey, Stephen T.

BANKRUPTCY: BUSINESS

SUPER LAWYERS

Adelsperger, Douglas R.

Baker, Christopher E.

Brewer, Wendy D.

Caruso, Deborah J.

Freeland, Daniel L.

Hester, Jeffrey M.

Hile, Michael W.

Hodson, Samuel

Hopper, George W. S-19

Humphrey, John R.

Jacobson, Christine K.

Jaffe, Jay

Jonas, Jr., R. William

Kight, Andrew

Krebs, David R.

McCrory, Michael K.

Means, Harley K.

Motsinger, C. Daniel

O’Neil, Michael P.

Ozete, Andrew C.

Rossow, Jr., James E.

Trent, Susan E.

Warsco, Mark A.

Young, James T.

RISING STARS

Theisen, Meredith R.

BANKRUPTCY: CONSUMER

SUPER LAWYERS

Zuckerberg, Mark S.

RISING STARS

Cline, Fred L.

May, Joseph R.

BUSINESS LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Abel, Arend J. S-19

Arthur, Stephen E.

Bailey, David E.

Bennett, Jr., Bryce H.

Blaiklock, A. Richard M.

Bond, Tonya J.

Bradley, Jacob V.

Brinkerhoff, William

Brown, Alan S.

Brown, D. Randall

Burke, Sean P.

CONTINUED ON PAGE S-10

Clark, Briana L.

Cohen, Hamish S.

Craig, Darren A.

Dollens, Lucy R.

Dorelli, Michael A.

Farmer, Terry G.

French, Peter S.

Gibson, Raegan M.

Goodknight, Libby Y.

Grant, Aaron D.

Hart, Kathleen I.

Herzog, David K.

Hinshaw, James M.

Hoover, John David

Hull, Andrew W.

Jensen, David C.

Johnson, H. Curtis

Jost, Anthony R.

Joven, Carol Nemeth

Keen, Jr., Robert T. Keller, B. Too

B. TOO KELLER

www.kellermacaluso.com

Korin, Offer

LaDue, John D.

Limrick, Michael R.

Massaro, Jason M.

JASON M. MASSARO

www.TMLGlaw.com

McNeil, Andrew M.

Morical, Alice M.

Morrisson, Scott S.

Munson, Kenneth J.

Murphy, Patrick D.

Neibarger, Gregory A.

Paganelli, F. Anthony

Quigley, Marc T.

Ramsey, William A. Richmond, III, Richard C.

Riley, Jr., James W.

Roberts, Jeffrey D.

Schrier, James R.

Tittle, David O.

Toner, Kevin M.

Turner, Wayne C.

Waicukauski, Ronald J.

White, Sean T. Woods, Judy L.

RISING STARS

Bohney, Nicholas Burkhart, Matthew

Ciulla, Matthew T. DalSanto, Kimberly S.

Dewey, Sean T.

Flint, Jaclyn M.

Floyd, Riley H.

Frangos, David C. Gordon, Kristine

Gude, Alex

Hadley, Vivek R.

Haller, Meaghan Klem

Herceg, Manny

Leighty, Hilary K. Marr, Sarah MacGill

McBride, Michael W. S-19

McMiller, Emanuel L. (Manny)

Meek, Jessica Laurin

Milkey, Scott A.

Parks, Sarah Shupp, Andrew

Thomas, Brett S-19

Williams, Candace Wright, Joey

Zacher, Adam

Ziepolt, Patrick A.

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Blackwell, Thomas B.

Bobilya, Daniel D.

Egloff, John L.

Hagenow, Christopher

Hoy, Brett Y.

Koers, Stephen M.

Leitch, Ryan L.

Logan, F. L. Dennis

Macaluso, Matt

MATT MACALUSO

www.kellermacaluso.com

O’Connor, Joseph D.

Platte, Alexander J.

Plummer, Dustin L.

Saeed, Syed Ali

Samila, Mark S.

Wormser, Barry

RISING STARS

Aneiros, Angela N.

Bloomer, Christopher W.

Drummy, Samuel C.

Gough, Kyle

Jones, Sarah E.

Kpotufe, Elinam B.

Lepeniotis, George

Malcolm, Matthew D.

Thompson, Amy E.

Trockman, Joshua R.

CIVIL LITIGATION: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Beggs, William J.

Ferguson, David L.

Frandsen, Kent M.

Freyberger, Gregory J.

Goldman, Rori L.

Hardman, Lyle R.

Hinkle, Matthew L.

Jarzyniecki, Jr., Thomas J. S-6

Jefferson, Paul L.

Johnson, Belinda R.

Kus, Martin W.

Lammers, Steven

STEVEN LAMMERS

www.mhmrlaw.com

Langford, Michael B.

Lansberry, Kyle A.

Mandel, Derek L.

DEREK L. MANDEL

www.mhmrlaw.com

McNeely, J. Lee

Melton, Matthew W.

Mullin, Paul O. S-27

Nettles, Nelson A. Palmer, Daniel J.

Pennell, Stephen R. Roberts, Liberty L.

Stevenson, Benjamin G.

Tolbert, Shelice R. Tonner, Gregory J. Walker, Georgianne M.

Young, Richard A. S-6

Zipes, Jeffrey S.

RISING STARS

Bernadac, Miranda Weiss

Black, Matt Blume, Eric Cochran, Alyssa S-6

A Firm Devoted to Family Law

Coultrap, Bailey

Farrington, Drew

Gilbert-Johnson, Ashley M.

Hagerty, Brandais

Heeb, Ryan

Henke, Steve T.

Huffman, Cameron S.

Hughes, Samuel W.

Humble, Matthew

Jones, Tyler

Juerling, Katelyn

Kleber, Rebecca

Lee, Molly E.

Martin, Josh

Osborne, Katie R.

Raman, Barath

Roncevic, Ashley CONTINUED

Super Lawyers Honorees L-R: Mark Glazier (Top 50), Natalie Snyder, Nancy Cross (Top 10, Top 25 Women), Jim Reed (Top 50), Amy Higdon, Lana Pendoski, Kathryn Hillebrands Burroughs (Top 50, Top 25 Women)

Sanders, R. Eric

Schnelker, Jessica Williams

Simpkins, Leeann P.

Sommers, Betsy

Tawfik, Marc

Thomas, Patrick C.

VanDenburgh, John T.

CIVIL LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Clark, Kellie C.

Lind, Jeffry A.

RISING STARS

Abshire, Courtney L.

Flora, Colin E.

Glasco, Eric

Kirages, Drew J.

Moore, Katherine M.

Podlaski, Nicholas A.

Schneider, Jared

Starr, Shannon

Zimmerman, Kayla

CLASS ACTION/MASS TORTS

SUPER LAWYERS

Cox, Dina M.

Cutshaw, David J. S-19

Dassow, Robert T.

Gibson, Jeffrey S.

Levin, Irwin B. S-19

Miller, Vess A. S-19

Riley, William N.

Shevitz, Richard E. S-19

Toops, Lynn A. S-19

Williams, Joseph N.

RISING STARS

Ewigleben, Tyler B.

LaFornara, Lisa M. S-19

Lyons, Natalie S-19

Thomas, Amina S-19

CLOSELY HELD BUSINESS

SUPER LAWYERS

Kaufman Joseph, Hannah S-1

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

SUPER LAWYERS Waples, Richard A.

RISING STARS

Gutwein, Stephanie

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Boyers, James M. Brookie, Terrence L.

Cavosie, Mike Devenney, Sean T.

Drewry, Daniel M.

Drewry, Michael F.

Drewry, Patrick A.

Easter, J. Greg Goldstein, Alan H.

Hancock, William Jay Kelley, Jr., William E.

Laurin, Sam Leone, Joseph M.

Manion, A.J. Portelli, James M.

Schein, Robert S. Schurter, Thad

Tharp, Kevin N.

RISING STARS

Kraft, Jeff Lemen, Tyler Nielsen, Cassie A.

Norris, Evan Trueblood, Alex

CONSUMER LAW

RISING STARS

Keller, Duran

CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS

SUPER LAWYERS

Berry, Reynold T.

Burke, Jason R.

Carlberg, James E.

Gentry, Jr., James E.

Helge, Jared C.

Hickey, Christine H.

Kennedy, Jay

Pfenninger, Fred

Ramsey, Jeffrey E.

RISING STARS

Barr, Matthew T.

Fowler, Sarah

Hennessy-Spencer, Elizabeth B.

Sexton, Amy

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Baldwin, Jeffrey A.

Banks, Bradley L.

Bell, James J.

Brower, Adam

Cate, Russell B.

Chambers, Julie

Cook, Bryan L.

Cook, Jessie A. JESSIE A. COOK

Crum, James D.

Eskew, Christopher

CHRISTOPHER ESKEW

www.eskewlaw.com

Hayes, Charles C.

Hennessy, David R.

Hixson, Timothy

Hoffman, III, George (Jay)

Jackson, Jason E.

Johnson, Russell A.

Jones, David P.

Kammen, Richard

Keating, Jillian C.

Liell, Katharine C.

Lukemeyer, Jennifer M.

Moudy, Joshua

Sallee, Todd L.

Stracci, Paul Gerald

Vaiana, Frederick

Voyles, Jr., James H.

Williams, Brian D.

RISING STARS

Afshar-Stewart, Maryam A.

Ahler, Jacob

Bont, Jonathan Brown, Jr., Russell W.

Cunningham, Mike

Diehl, Michael W. Eklund, Ashley

Fuller, Kristopher A.

Harwell, Jonathan S-15

Helmond, Tyler D.

Karimi, Kevin Kubacki, Matthew

Lipinski, Arie Moore, Sean R.

Stare, Gasper

Swinney, Josiah

Turner, Denise L.

Whalin, Trampas

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: DUI/DWI

SUPER LAWYERS

Arata, Patrick J.

Foster, Mark A.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE COLLAR

SUPER LAWYERS

Bennett, Jr., Jackie M.

Pence, Linda L.

RISING STARS

Brackett, Neal

CONTINUED ON PAGE S-14

E-DISCOVERY

RISING STARS

Biederman, Ray

Wright, Jennifer Tudor

ELDER LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

Carroll, Brian K.

Craig, Randall K.

Dillman, Lisa M.

Donnelson, Jayme E.

Fechtman, Robert W.

Lewis, Claire E. S-26

CLAIRE E. LEWIS

www.clairelewis.net

Severns, Scott R.

Slater, II, George G.

Stinson, Jeffery D.

RISING STARS

Holwager, Mark

Homes, Elizabeth A.

Liggett, Kelli

Smith, Jeslynn C.

Vick, Thomas A.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

SUPER LAWYERS

Mounts, Alexander L.

Proffitt, Melissa

Urda, Jr., Richard B.

EMPLOYMENT

SUPER LAWYERS

Biesecker, Kyle F.

DeLaney, Kathleen A.

Evans, Larry G.

Fulcher, Jacob R.

Johnson, Gary D. Kimbrough, Thomas M.

Kult, Gregory Macey, Barry A. Pockrass, Steven F.

Poor, Ryan M. Sinclair, Paul Smith, Donald S.

Stites, Anthony M.

Storer, Theodore T. S-27

Terrell, Michael C.

RISING STARS

Boyd, Amber K. Endwright, Courtney E.

Farris-Niehaus, Justine

Knear, Erica M.

Roberson, Elizabeth Watson, Mackenzie S-1

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Elliott, Matthew J. Maley, John R.

Martin, Laurie E.

McDermott, Brian L. Patterson, Craig R. Wilson, Heather L.

RISING STARS

English, Katherine

& LABOR

Brandenburg, Carly A.

Burgan, Blake J.

Buttrick, Stuart R.

Carr, David J.

Ernst, Kayla Hunter, Taylor L.

Parish, Theresa R.

Peil, Kimberly P.

Schreiber, Sarah Simonton, Jr., Anthony J.

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Allman, Joseph E.

Blevins, Sandra L.

Cleveland, Jason

Fox, Ryan C.

Hahn, Stephanie Jane

Jeselskis, Kimberly D. S-1

Lehner, Meghan U.

Maddox, Jamie A.

RISING STARS

Hitchcock, Jennifer

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

SUPER LAWYERS

Fulk, Jason

RISING STARS

Fagan, Kelleigh

ENVIRONMENTAL

SUPER LAWYERS

Braun, Christopher

Cory, Daniel P.

DeVoe, S. Curtis

Gahl, Nicholas

Guevara, David L.

Hatchett, David L.

Romig, Amy E.

RISING STARS

Berg, Amy

Neumann, Matthew D.

ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Alexander, Scott R.

Barnard, Thomas A.

Deveau, Frank J.

McCrory, Patricia Polis

Menkveld, Marc A.

Racher, Peter M.

Schroeder, Brianna J.

RISING STARS

Hamer, Melissa A.

ESTATE & TRUST LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Cremer, John A.

Hewitt, Brian C.

BRIAN C. HEWITT

www.hewittlm.com

Lorbieski, Michele

MICHELE LORBIESKI

www.hewittlm.com

Padgett, Greg

Shirley, Curtis E.

CURTIS E. SHIRLEY

www.shirleylaw.net

York, Robert W. S-27

ROBERT W. YORK

www.york-law.com

RISING STARS

Boldt, Matthew C.

Lamb, Jonathan E.

Licari, Michael

Mueller, Christopher J.

CHRISTOPHER J. MUELLER

www.hewittlm.com

Rauch, Jason M.

ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Adler, Lisa M.

Aldridge, Jennifer R.

Arnett, April J. Risk

Bishop, MaryEllen K. S-9 S-23

Bohrer, James F.

Burger, M. Beth

Curry, Anne Hamilton

Dale, Jr., William J.

WILLIAM J. DALE, JR.

www.daleeke.com

de la Torre, Carina

Deeter, David D.

DAVID D. DEETER

www.daleeke.com

Dible, Jeffrey S.

Donahoe, Peter H.

Farthing, DeAnn L.

Garino, Carla V.

Geyer, Rebecca W.

REBECCA W. GEYER

www.rgeyerlaw.com

Hall, Richard M.

Hammond, Jarrell B.

Kennedy, Diane Hubbard

DIANE HUBBARD KENNEDY

Kissel, II, Richard O.

Kolb, Jeffrey B.

Longsworth, Jeanne E.

Retzner, Rodney S.

Robinson, Steven C.

Rollison, Kent A.

Schmitt, Lindsay B.

Scott, Shawn M.

Starkey, Martha T. (Marti)

Ten Eyck, Peter

PETER TEN EYCK

www.hhlaw-in.com

Waggoner, Ted A.

TED A. WAGGONER

www.peterson-waggoner.com

Webster, William J.

Wolfer, Cindy A.

RISING STARS

Ali, Tara

Baldwin, Tarah M.C.

Bishop, John B. S-9 S-23

Bryant, Autumn S-23

AUTUMN BRYANT

www.lifespanusa.com

FAMILY LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

Adcock, Alicia Michelle

Alexander-Pyle, Denise

Andrews, Julie S-19

Angel, J. Douglas

Avery, Melissa J.

Bays, Donna J.

Blystone, Amanda R.

Bouwkamp, Alan A.

Brownson, Cathy M.

Bumb, Laurie Baiden Burroughs, Kathryn Hillebrands

S-11

KATHRYN HILLEBRANDS BURROUGHS

www.cgrblaw.com

Cairns, Jaimie

Cassman, Ryan H.

Champagne, Joan E.

JOAN E. CHAMPAGNE WHITE AND CHAMPAGNE

Eimerman, Rebecca M.

Emswiller, Claire

Engebretson, Eric N.

Evans, Christopher J.

Forrest, Christopher M.

Gahl, Jessica N.

Gehring, Megan L.

Gibson, Brandi A.

Gjerdingen, Kendra Gowdy

Glazier, Mark A. S-11

MARK A. GLAZIER

www.cgrblaw.com

Glowacki, Amanda E.

Goldenberg Schuman, Jill

S-9 S-25

Harden, Lanae M.

Hayes, Cornelius B. (Neil)

Haymaker, Shelley

Heavner, Jenna L.

Hester, Judy

Higdon, Amy E. S-11

AMY E. HIGDON

Butts, Jody

Butz, Ashley

Dorrel, Lisa L. Q.

Funk, John T.

Gray, Jason S.

JASON S. GRAY

www.alineandersonlaw.com

Howard, Victoria

Nichols, Micah

Norton, Jennifer E.

Novak, Anthony G.

Pauker, Robyn

Rozelle, Jennifer

Schuhmacher, Justin

Snellenbarger, Aaron P.

www.whiteandchampagne.com

Connell, Erin L. S-24

ERIN L. CONNELL

www.cmklawfirm.com

Cox, D. Elizabeth

Cross, Nancy L. S-11

NANCY L. CROSS

www.cgrblaw.com

Curlin, Alexandra M.

Douglas, Christine

Dubovich, Debra Lynch

Durnell, Erin Maybee

Edwards, Elisabeth M.

www.cgrblaw.com

Hollingsworth, Kena

Hoover, Kevin A.

Hughes, Jennifer C.

Hurwitz, Lainie A. S-17

Jackson, Michele L.

Kaufman, Wendy

Lacy, Jessica S. S-26

JESSICA S. LACY

www.lacylawoffice.com

Leach, Nathan A.

Leonard, Jr., Paul A.

López Aguilera, Vanessa S-26

Lorch, Linda B.

Lowe, Brian

Mallor, Andrew C.

Mann, Richard A.

McKinnon, Patricia L. S-26

Miller, Christina J.

Mitchell, Gloria

Noe Dudas, Amy

Noland, Gregory L.

Pendoski, Lana Lennington S-11

LANA LENNINGTON PENDOSKI

Rabiola, Tara

www.cgrblaw.com

Reed, James A. S-11

Ricafort, Nissa M.

Rich, Katherine A.

Roellgen, J. David

Rothberg, Stephen P.

STEPHEN P. ROTHBERG

www.stephenrothberglawoffices.com

Ruppert, Michael G. S-17

Sarkovics, Rodney T.

Schaefer, Paula J. S-17

Sedberry, Joni L.

Shive, Robert E.

ROBERT E. SHIVE

www.ewnc-law.com

Simpson, George A.

Smith, Deborah Farmer

Smith, N. Scott

S-9 S-27

N. SCOTT SMITH

www.scottsmithlegal.com

Snyder, Natalie Marie S-11

NATALIE MARIE SNYDER

www.cgrblaw.com

Soshnick, Andrew Z. S-27

Stephens, Julie A.

Stewart, Amy L.

Stipp, Thomas S.

Swope, Jill S.

Tauber, Tara K.

Van Winkle, Travis A.

Vance, Kelsey A.

Walker, Elizabeth Eichholtz

Wanzer, Holly J.

Wilkins, Michael A.

Willis, Kyli L.

Wilson, Derrick H. Winkler-York, Melissa R.

Zoeller, Brian K. S-19

RISING STARS

Arrington, Christopher L.

Barry, Emily J. Bartelt, Andy

Browning, Kyra M. Bruggenschmidt, Lindsey

Brunson, Rachel

Cane, Nakeina S.

Clay, Adam

Cobb-Dennard, Jessie

Cragen, Tara L.

Crell, David G.

Deckard, Mallory C.

Derringer, Lavonna

Dudlo, Trisha

East, Rachel A.

Eberle-Peay, Dana

Elswerky, Romy

Franklin, Heather

Hagedorn, Claire Lorch

Harpold, Lauren E. S-17

Highsaw, Latoya

Jarrett, Tonisha

Kapela, Kristy

Koons, Colin CONTINUED

L to R: Lainie A. Hurwitz*, Lauren E. Harpold**, Paula J. Schaefer*, Michael G. Ruppert*

Lewis, Megan M.

Lindsey, Brooke Jones

Makris McAtee, Nicole

Martinez, Alexandra

Miller, Alexandra C.

Nelson, Casandra J.

Paula, Shana D. Penman, Jennifer

Pitcher, Sara

Rey-Silva, S. Daniel Sadler, Maggie L.

Sadler, Paul R.

Sapp, Amanda D.

Schoen, Ariel E.

Shields, Sarah

Smith, Courtney C.

Springer, Matthew R.

Stoffel, Bryan D. Vandivier, Jessica E.

S-9 S-26

S-19

Clancy, Erin A. S-6

Coots, E. Davis

Gray, Lynnette Jasaitis, Michael J.

Johnson, Lonnie D.

Kautzman, John F.

Krahulik, Angela P. Meyer, Tammy

Schultz, Thomas R. Shockley, Scott E. Shoulders, Patrick A.

Smith, Jeffrey P.

Tolbert, Michael E. Trachtman, Daniel D.

Withered, Jerome L.

RISING STARS

Bauer, Erin E. Bucher, Jon Hum, Houston Kelsey, Matthew L. McCready, Ann O’Connor

JESSICA E. VANDIVIER

www.hostetterlegal.com

FOOD AND DRUGS

RISING STARS

French, Alexandra R.

FRANCHISE/DEALERSHIP

SUPER LAWYERS

Brown, Joshua F.

GENERAL LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Barber, Steve Betz, Tracy N.

Cacioppo, Jayna M.

Sorrell, Justin O.

VeNard, Daniel J.

GOVERNMENT FINANCE

SUPER LAWYERS

Herndon, Jane Neuhauser

HEALTH CARE

SUPER LAWYERS

Dykhuizen, Dennis F.

Holloran, III, Edward L.

Hutchinson, Thomas N. Zweig, Sally Franklin

RISING STARS

Dudlo, Raymond P.

Foster, Alexandria M. Mazyck, Shamika

S-25

IMMIGRATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Adams, Angela D.

ANGELA D. ADAMS

www.adamsimmigration.com

Flora, Jason

RISING STARS

Panyard Holton, Lacy

Pastrana, Megan

INSURANCE COVERAGE

SUPER LAWYERS

Featherstun, Jeffrey D.

Fecht, Jeffrey B.

Gotwald, Gregory M.

Harkness, Scott A.

McKinzie, J. Mark

McNamar, Eric C.

Nelson, Brett E.

Oberlies, Jeffrey R.

Peterson, Ginny L. S-6

Plews, George M.

Reed, Laura S.

Schultz, Michael L.

Stafford, Casey R. S-6

Strenski, James P.

Trimble, John C.

Tyra, Kevin C.

Wooton, Lewis S.

RISING STARS

Dismukes, Nicholas R.

Giordano, Michael R.

Leagre, Ryan T.

Miller, David

Ruesch, Meghan E.

Scheidler, James P.

Sommers, Joanne R.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

SUPER LAWYERS

Gandy, Kenneth A.

Henry, Thomas Q.

Indiano, E. Victor

Schmal, Charles P.

Tragesser, Joel E.

Wright, Amy L.

RISING STARS

Byczko, Caitlin R.

Furminger, Jeffrey

Hiler, Ryan P.

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Lueders, Daniel J.

McKenna, William A.

Polak, Jonathan G.

Tyler, Lynn C.

Swider, R. Alexander

Vachirasomboon, Tonya

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

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Abernathy, Jon Alderfer, Mark S.

MARK S. ALDERFER

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Bunnell, Scott L.

Due, Danford R.

Eleftheri, Anthony M.

Fiester, Max E.

Huelat, Jerry

Johnson, Caleb S.

Metzger, Mark A.

Rosta, Thomas E.

Scheele, Jason A.

Shea, James J.

Shoultz, Richard K.

Skiles, Richard R.

Smith, Charles S.

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Janutolo, Andrew B.

Lawrence, Kyle

Maiers, Charles

Slusher, Jordan

CONTINUED ON PAGE S-20

LEGISLATIVE

& GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

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Sickmann, Andrew J.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

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Brown, J. Jeffrey

Caruso II, Ralph A.

Densborn, Donald K.

Greising, Robert A.

Hicks, Robert J.

Hollingsworth, Joshua P.

Schwer, Bradley W.

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Lee, Corben

Arend J.Abel, JulieAndrews, Daniel S. Chamberlain, David J. Cutshaw,Scott D. Gilchrist, JeffreyA. Hammond, GabrielA. Hawkins, George W. Hopper, Gregory L. Laker, Irwin B. Levin (Top 50), VessA. Miller, Edward B. Mulligan V, Richard E. Shevitz, LynnA.Toops & Brian K. Zoeller (Top 50)

Justin C. Kuhn, Lisa M. LaFornara, Natalie Lyons, Nicole Makris McAtee, Michael W. McBride,AminaA.Thomas & BrettThomas

JulieAndrews Brian K. ZoellerNicole Makris McAtee

Graziano, Sarah

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Baker, Nick

Barsumian, Todd C.

Beck, Edward E.

Berger, Charles L.

Bertig, G. Anthony

Blackburn, Thomas D.

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Bradley, Bryan L.

Buba, Daniel J.

Cassman, Stephanie L.

Chamberlain, Daniel S. S-19

Chester, Edward J.

Christie, Lee C.

Cohen, William J.

Colvin, Sherrill W.

Cook, Richard A.

Cooke, J. Aaron

Craig, David W.

Crell, Steven M.

Cross, P. Gregory

Crossen, Trevor J.

Daly, Jr., John P. S-3 S-4

Danforth, Kimberly H.

Davis, Amy M.

Devereux, Timothy

Doehrman, Thomas C.

Drummy, Brian R.

Farmer, Kerri E.

Farrell, Kevin P.

S-2 S-24

S-9 S-24

Green, R.T. Greene, Betsy K.

Guenin-Hodson, Emily C.

Hammond, Jeffrey A. S-19

Hatfield, David G. Hawkins, Gabriel A. S-19

Hawley, Richard

Holub, David W.

Hughes, John E.

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Jacobs, Samuel L. Jensen, Travis N. S-25

Johnson, Robert W. S-25

Julian Jr., Franklin D. Karres, Katherine Kelley II, William J. S-2 S-25

King, Jr., Robert D. S-13 S-25

Kooi, Jeffrey R. S-7

Krahulik, Sam D. S-25

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Limontes, Alexander Jesus

Patterson, Tony S-27

Pavlack, Eric S.

Pfeifer, Daniel H.

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Rife, Brady J.

Ring, Kyle T.

Robinson, David K.

Rosenblatt, Stanley L.

Sarkisian, Gregory J.

Schad, Matthew J.

Schafer, Timothy S.

Schultz, Fred

Scott, Mark A.

Sedwick, Marc S.

Sersic, Steven J.

Sevenish, Randall R. S-27

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Smith, Bradford J.

Smith, Kevin C.

Stapleton, Michael J.

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Stephenson, M. Michael

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Franke, Katherine A.

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McDonald, James O.

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Noffsinger, Terry S-7

Oliphant, Jeff D.

Oliver, Stephen A.

Stesiak, Jeffrey J.

Stewart, David W.

Tabor, Jeffrey

Tabor, Roy T.

Taylor, Rodney V.

Thomas, Stephen Hensleigh

Tisch, Bryan C.

Townsend, III, John F.

Townsend, Jr., John F.

Vaughan, Charles V.

Wagner, Stephen

Ward, Charles

Ward, Donald W. White, Tess A.

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Worland, Lance

Wrage, Jeffrey S.

Yosha, Louis Buddy

Young, James H.

Young, John P.

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Barth, James

Beyers, William D.

Coker, Whitney

S-2 S-24

Craig, Alexander R. S-2 S-24

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S-24

Cray, Kyle

Garwood, Robert

Gore, Daniel

Green, Collin

Hadler, Ashley N.

Hurt, James

Jones, Andrew B.

Kavanagh, Matthew T.

Longman, Rudy

Marshall, Katherine M.

McKee, Hunter J.

McLaughlin, John M.

S-26

Midla, Patrick

Noyes, Jon

O’Day, Ryan

Roth, Sean R. Sarkisian, Arman G.

Sarkisian, G. Kane

Sarkisian, Katherine

Schafer, Todd S. Schocke, Mark J. Shah, Hasan A. Singleton, David Stevens, Anthony Struble, Danyel N.

Tate, Brandon

Tkacs, II, Andrew T. Walker Swafford, Laura Webster, Rachel O. Wilson, Chase T. Wolferd, Frank Yosha, Brandon A.

Youngs, Graham T.

Zipes, Tyler

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Bleeke, James F.

Bryant, Michele S. Burchett, Michelle

Cline, Susan E. Crisman, Gregory A.

Cunningham, Norris

Feldhake, Mary M. Ruth

Field, David G.

Gill, Trenton W. Hanefeld, Stacy L.

Ice, Benjamin D. Knotts, Elizabeth

Koch, Edna M. McSharar, Janet A.

McTigue, David M.

Mingus, Ronald A.

Moore, J. Richard

Murphy, Jr., Edward L.

O’Neill, Michael E.

Pinkie, Elliott I.

Pogue, Peter H.

Schuerman, Elizabeth A.

Stamatakos, Alyssa D.

Thompson, Stacy F.

Tyler, Stephen A.

Voelker, III, Louis W.

Willett, Jeremy W.

Wong, Albert Barclay

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Kus, Alan

Meyers, Erin E.

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Minke, Lauren

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Bell, Tina M.

Caress, Timothy C.

Cline, Lance D.

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Farnbauch, David L.

Findling, Mary A. S-3 S-4

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Garau, Jerry A.

Golitko, Judith E.

Hovde, Frederick R.

Jocham, Kirk R.

Johnson, Kelley

S-3 S-4

Kehoe, D. Bruce

Langer, Steven L.

Lee, Kathy A.

Miller, Michael S. Park, Terry K. S-27

Rooth, Barry D.

Schmoll, Jon F. Simpkins, Christopher D.

Vinovich, Daniel B.

Wojcik, Holly S.C.

Worthley, Tara M.

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Armiger, Jonathan

Kuhn, Justin S-19

Langer, Robert Popejoy, Lindsay

VanTyle, Emily K.

Winingham, W. Kent

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Lee, Christopher D. Pappas, Nicholas C.

Riegner, Eric A.

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Tanner, J. Joseph

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Alford, Nicholas B.

Emley, Allyson E.

Gordon, Jazzmin L. Hasic, Eldin

Ira, Adam S.

Johnston, Haley A.

Kidd, Jordan R. Heitman

McGowan, Stephanie V.

Russo, Stephanie

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Stevenson, Christopher G.

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Todd, Harry F.

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Bruggenschmidt, J. Alex

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Merritt-Thrasher, Kathryn M.

Skalski, Mackenzie

Spandau, Benjamin

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Michael, Catherine M. S-26

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Rutkowski, Annette L.

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Lavella, Nick Marks, Ashley

Richter, Matthew

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Church, Douglas D.

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DAVID L. HOLLENBECK www.btbhlaw.com

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laude

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Photo by TONY VALAINIS

DOWNTOWN

INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square

Aroma

INDIAN Familiar tandoori and tikka masala staples mingle with heartier, more elevated offerings at this elegant pan-Indian spot that opened in the former Rook location in early 2021. Lunchtime lamb and chicken rolls in crispy flatbread wrappers stand out, as do hearty chaat dishes dressed up with yellow peas, yogurt, and chutneys. An impressive lamb shank is the highlight of the chef’s specialties and easily feeds two or more. A full bar and an artful array of desserts help round out a special-occasion meal. Opt for the orange pudding, a creamy, lightly sweet rice pudding served in an orange shell with a chocolate tuille. 501 Virginia Ave., 317-602-7117, aromaindy.com V $$

Ash & Elm Cider Co.

Restaurant and Cider Bar

GASTROPUB A long-awaited move to the historic former Ford Assembly Plant building on East Washington Street not only brought Indy’s premier cider-maker a few blocks closer to downtown but also ushered in a full menu of snacks and dinner dishes created by chef Tracey Couillard. Start with a cider slushie or a cidermosa (peach, mango, or guava) to enjoy with tangy, rich deviled eggs or crisp, light elote fritters with a bright cilantro crema. Then move to a flagship cider such as the semi-sweet or tart cherry for the main courses, including a standout roasted chicken breast with a crispy hasselback potato, hanger steak with chanterelles, or pan-fried walleye. But don’t pass up the apt apple-cheddar melt or the burger of the moment, lavished with crab dip or garlic scape pesto. 1301 E. Washington St., 317-600-3164, ashandelmcider.com $$

Beholder

CONTEMPORARY A former car-repair shop sets the stage for daring performance art that has featured pig-skin noodles and granita-topped

uni designed to melt on the tongue, as well as buttermilk fried chicken with wildflower honey. The labor-intensive cocktails are spot-on. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com

V $$$

Bluebeard

CONTEMPORARY Bluebeard opened in 2012, and crowds still roll in for chef Abbi Merriss’s take on seasonal comfort food. Start with the bread baked next door at Amelia’s—it’s especially delicious slathered with anchovy butter—and build your meal from the ever-changing menu of small and large dishes. Fried morels may show up on a spring picnic plate, while winter nights call for a comforting butcher-shop Bolognese. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, blue beardindy.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 non-Americanized pad thai. Cocktails get a lot of attention on a drinks list designed by Ball & Biscuit’s Heather Storms. Try the Thai Iced Tea cocktail with bourbon, rye, spiced ginger liqueur, demerara sugar, orange peel, and housemade Thai iced tea. 922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-9416595, bodhi-indy.com V $$

Brew Link

BREWERY What started as a casual brewery on the edge of a Hendricks County golf course has expanded to include a good-time downtown Indianapolis spot that is serious about its bar bites. Get an order of smoked chicken wings for the table or loaded nachos piled high with your choice of chicken, carnitas, or steak. The burgers are elaborately garnished, and the mac and cheese is doused with Brew Link’s house beer cheese. 714 N. Capitol Ave., 317-653-1884, brewlinkbrewing.com $$

Bru Burger Bar

GOURMET BURGERS The generous patties here combine sirloin, chuck, and brisket and are paired with cocktails and craft beers. Highlights include the signature Bru Burger, with bacon, Taleggio, sweet tomato jam, and porter-braised

onions. 410 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-4278, bruburgerbar.com $$

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 this sleek downtown location, a huge hit with the business and weekend hordes alike. 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. 225 W. Washington St., 317-632-0765, cafepatachou.com V $$

The Capital Grille

CLASSIC A theme of decadence permeates this steakhouse adjoining the equally posh Conrad hotel, from the gilded-framed pastoral paintings that hang on its dark-paneled walls to the selection of elaborate steaks (one of them drenched in a Courvoisier cream sauce, another flavored with aged balsamic—and some of them dry-aged). The servers are exquisite, of course. 40 W. Washington St., 317-423-8790, thecapitalgrille.com $$$$

Dave’s Hot Chicken

FAST FOOD The name of this Los Angeles–based chain is no joke. Strips of white meat are brined to lock in the chicken’s juiciness before the Nashville hot–style, Carolina reaper–based spice is applied in seven levels of firepower. Heat-seekers line up to order the incendiary poultry in degrees that top out at a 911–worthy “Reaper,” but even the tamer “Hot” and “Medium” are not for the faint of heart. Order an entry-level “Mild” in slider form, dressed with slaw, sweet pickles, a generous swipe of the tangy, mayo-based house sauce, and tucked inside a squishy white bun that serves as insulation between the tongue and sear. Crinkle-cut french fries and a soothing chocolate milkshake complete the meal. 530 Massachusetts Ave., 317-285-0200, daveshotchicken.com $$

Easy Rider Diner

DINER Chef Ricky Martinez oversees this colorful Fountain Square diner that connects to the HI-FI music venue. The daylight menu applies Latin flourish to breakfast and brunch dishes,

SYMBOLS

Brunch

Outdoor seating

Reservations

V Vegetarian friendly

$$$$ $30 and up

$$$ $20–$30

$$ $10–$20

$ Under $10

NEW

ADDED

UPDATED

Very Good Good

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 dining, visit IndianapolisMonthly.com/Dining. Feedback? Please email TheDish@IndianapolisMonthly.com.

including a chorizo omelet with roasted tomato salsa, queso, and lime crema, shrimp and grits, and a waffle flight. For dinner, Martinez spotlights fried chicken and steak sandwiches, along with an appropriately indulgent late-night lineup of garbage can nachos and Cubanos available from 10 p.m. until the entertainment next door calls it a night. 1043 Virginia Ave., 463-224-0430, easyriderindy.com V $$

Fat Dan’s Deli

MEAT AND POTATOES Brisket cooked for 14 hours is a mainstay of the made-from-scratch menu, as is the house corned beef. Get an order of tender smoked wings and some tots for the table, served no-frills on a spread of craft paper. Whatever you do, don’t miss the plump Vienna dogs that will transport you straight to Wrigleyville. 410 E. Michigan St., 317-600-3008, fatdansdeli.com $

Gallery Pastry Bar

CONTEMPORARY The second location for the popular Broad Ripple bakery and brunch spot specializes in European-inspired pastries, brunch, dinner, and cocktails. 110 S. Pennsylvania St., 317820-5526, bar.gallerypastry.com $$

The Garden Table

CAFE Expanding on the spa-style menu at its original Broad Ripple location, this pretty, sundrenched venue adds a full dinner and drinks menu to the established house-pressed juices, health-conscious salads, and carefully embellished toasts. The place remains a cafe at heart, though, especially with the elaborate espresso station cranking out caffeinated stunners like an iced latte with strawberry puree and the peppery, basil-infused Pablo Honey. 342 Massachusetts Ave., 317-638-0321, thegardentable.com V $$

Harry & Izzy’s

STEAKHOUSE Craig Huse’s casual alternative to big brother St. Elmo holds its own as a clubby hangout worthy of destination-steakhouse status itself. The marbled bone-in ribeye sizzles in its juices, a smart umami-rich pick among the high-quality (and high-priced) Midwest-sourced prime cuts. The menu expands to thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and seafood selections like pan-seared scallops. 153 S. Illinois St., 317635-9594, harryandizzys.com $$$

Hinata Japanese Fine Dining

JAPANESE An elevated experience awaits inside this modern and elegantly appointed downtown establishment. With a thoughtful and measured approach to exploring Japanese cuisine beyond traditional sushi and noodle dishes, chef Akinori Tanigawa educates guests in the traditional kaiseki, or multicourse, dinner with dishes that showcase his expert skills with fresh seafood and local Midwestern produce. California wines suited for Japanese cuisine, crafted cocktails, and an impressive sake list accompany the prix-fixe menu that is remixed monthly with respect to availability of ingredients. 130 E. Washington St., 317-672-4929, hinataindy.com $$$$

The Hulman

CONTEMPORARY With its sleek midcenturymodern 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 $$$

Iozzo’s Garden of Italy

ITALIAN Expand your pasta knowledge with the textbook bucatini all’Amatriciana with a rich and hearty pomodoro sauce, or an order of light but decadently dressed gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce and just enough sliced beef filet. Save room for creamy tiramisu cheesecake and a refreshing lemon olive oil cake topped with sweet and tangy Meyer lemon confiture and toasted meringue. 946 S. Meridian St., 317-9741100, iozzos.com $$$

King Dough

PIZZA Chewy and with just the right flop in the middle, the pizzas are bona fide craft, from the dough to the quality toppings. Standouts include the Stinky Pete with wild mushrooms, gorgonzola, and plenty of garlic and herbs. Burgers, including one made from chorizo and topped with manchego cheese, play surprisingly close second fiddles to the pies. Cocktails concocted from boutique liqueurs and aromatics are reason enough to drop in, and they make for perfect sippers while you wait for your pie on the patio. 452 N. Highland Ave., 317-602-7960, kingdough pizzas.com V $$

Kuma’s Corner

BURGERS Towering burgers are dressed with as many hardcore flourishes as a Megadeth guitar shred at this lively Fountain Square spot. Burgers of the month have included the Mutoid Man, topped with tempura-battered jalapeño, braised beef, and a Sriracha drizzle, and the Wolves in the Throneroom, which includes apricot chipotle jam among its toppings. 1127 Prospect St., 317-9291287, kumascorner.com $$

Lil Dumplings Noodle Bar

NOODLES The menu is scribbled on a chalkboard wall at Carlos Salazar’s fragrant noodle stand inside The Garage food hall. Customers have just a few options, served in disposable bowls and baskets. But every item is a winner, from the banh mi with Filipino pork sisig to the brothy Yuzu chicken ramen with jammy egg to the fiery dan dan noodles. Korean pickles and house kimchi add some funky tartness to every bite. The Garage food hall, 317-556-1252, garageindy.com/ lil-dumplings $$

Livery

LATIN This place feels like a hidden urban treasure, especially when the mezcal cocktails are flowing and the partially open kitchen is sending out plate after plate of contemporary Latininspired fare. Favorites have included a salad tucked inside a folded manchego crisp, meltingly tender steak fanned over a block of polenta, and a silky tres leches cake to die for. Snag a spot on the upper-level deck for a real treat. 720 N. College Ave., 317-383-0330, livery-restaurant .com $$

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 also offers side options in the

form of braised greens and potato salad with roasted tomatoes. 877 Massachusetts Ave., 317384-1102 $$

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, opened by Ambrosia heir Francesca Pizzi and stepbrother Lawrence Green. Meatballs, from a family recipe, are always a good choice with a solid house marinara. Pastas range from a straightforward toss of rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe to a rich, three-meat Bolognese lavished atop plump gnocchi. The Torta della Nonna, a light and lemony ricotta sweet, is the perfect way to end a meal. 1103 Prospect St., 317-982-7676, maialinaindy.com $$$

Milktooth

BRUNCH This diner-style cafe has a playfully gritty vibe. The early-morning counter service featuring pastries and coffee gives way to a full-service brunch menu with daytime craft cocktails. 534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131, milk toothindy.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

$$$

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 $$$

The Oceanaire Seafood Room

SEAFOOD Luxury dining takes the form of stuffed trout in tomato-chive butter, Panamanian cobia served Oscar-style, and whole fried fish rising off of the plate at this high-end chain inside a section of the former L.S. Ayres department store, an Art Deco gem. Even if you just stop in for oysters and martinis at the bar, the Baked Alaska makes for a spectacular finish. 30 S. Meridian St., 317-955-2277, theoceanaire.com

$$$$

Oishi Sushi & Ramen

JAPANESE Prolific Thai restaurateur Kanlaya Browning (Thaitanium, Thai Orchid, and others) expanded her Asian portfolio with this lively Japanese-inflected spot in the former Pizzology location on Massachusetts Avenue in the fall of 2022. 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 straightforward but 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. And a side patio for warm months makes this a great new addition to downtown’s Asian food scene. 600 Massachusetts Ave., 317-493-1884, oishiindy.com $$

Pier 48 Fish House & Oyster Bar

SEAFOOD In a sleek, well-placed fish house across the street from the Pacers arena, diners pregame on fresh seafood delivered from the restaurant’s own South Bristol, Maine, fishery. The selections range from a fried chicken sandwich to market-priced lobster prepared baked, steamed, or chargrilled. But the Lobstah Roll, dressed with either butter or mayonnaise, is the star of the show. 130 S. Pennsylvania St., 317-560-4848, pier48fresh.com $$$

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

STEAKHOUSE While nightly specials at this stately steakhouse include innovative seafood and poultry options, supper-club classics abound, from the succulent, fat-marbled ribeye to a delicate petite filet, all served on sizzling-hot plates. 45 S. Illinois St., 317-633-1313, ruthschris.com $$$$

Salt on Mass

SEAFOOD Fresh fish arrives daily at this gleaming Mass Ave restaurant that boasts of not even owning a freezer. 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 $$$

Shapiro’s Delicatessen

DELI Slide your tray along and take your pick of kosher comfort foods at this 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. Load up on a massive wedge of pie, or 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-and-chicken spring rolls packed inside a filament of rice paper, and the crab Rangoon, fried crisp around the fluffiest sweet cream-cheese filling. 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-bottle bling. The chips and salsa flight—the mound of housemade hot-and-crispy tortilla chips comes with two salsas, queso, and guac—is a straight-up table-pleaser. But for a more foodie-forward starter, the ahi-stuffed avocado is a creamy fusion bomb with bright, tropical salsa and a sweet soy glaze that leans Asian. The tacos are fussier than their humble forerunners served from carts, but tasty. Vegan options and sub-

stitutions abound. The tequila flex—more than 100 bottles, plus two on tap—is impressive, but 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 $$

Spoke & Steele

CONTEMPORARY At the sleek lobby restaurant of Le Méridien, French classics with fusion touches imagined by chef Joel Scott Johnson include a spiffed-up bouillabaisse with wasabi tempura cod, steak tartare with fennel and watermelon radishes, and a Niçoise salad with fried potatoes standing in for the traditional tuna. Entrees feature hearty pastas, steak au poivre lavished with bone marrow butter, and chicken paillard accompanied by broccolini. A perfectly cooked burger made with Fischer Farms beef is crowned with Colby and shaved garlic. 123 S. Illinois St., 317737-1616, spokeandsteele.com $$$

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 infamously hot sauce; the bean soup or tomato juice; the wedge; and one of the legendary steaks. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-635-0636, stelmos.com $$$$

Sweetgreen

SALADS A California import with locations across the country, this bowl-based eatery assembles oversized salads and healthy grain dishes. The decor is bright and spartan, and ordering is Chipotle-style at a long counter. Customer favorites include a roasted chicken Harvest Bowl with wild rice and the vegan Shroomami with tofu, portobello, beets, cucumbers, and kale tossed in miso sesame ginger dressing. 157 E. New York St., 463-220-4400, sweetgreen.com V $$

Taxman CityWay

GASTROPUB Soaring ceilings, rustic candelabra lighting, brick walls, and a 3,000-square-foot beer-garden patio make this one of Indy’s most welcoming drinking spots. The gastropub menu includes some of the city’s best frites, served with more than half a dozen sauces or loaded with bacon, beer cheese, and scallions. Liège waffles are topped with hearty add-ons like fried chicken and rosemary-scented maple syrup or cheesy shrimp and grits. 310 S. Delaware St., 317734-3107, taxmanbrewing.com $$

Tinker Street

NEW AMERICAN Reservations are a must, so snag whatever date you can get and hope there’s a warm-night seat on the twinkling patio. Then settle in for small plates such as surprisingly light and flavorful chickpea ravioli with vegan ricotta and a host of colorful garnishes. Or try one of the always-vegan soups or a seasonal salad such as a refreshing mix of greens with asparagus, pickled rhubarb, and tangy blue cheese. Fall-apart pork belly with kimchi, forbidden rice, and a duck egg is perhaps the star of the main dishes, though shrimp and grits with green-tomato chow-chow and a refresh-

ing halibut with carrot soubise are excellent bets. 402 E. 16th St., 317-925-5000, tinkerstreet restaurant.com V $$$

Tony’s Steaks and Seafood

STEAKHOUSE Elegantly presented oysters, mussels, and calamari tossed with pepperoncini and cherry tomatoes top a list of mostly seafood appetizers, but don’t miss what has to be one of the city’s biggest crab cakes, mounded on a swath of tangy mustard aioli. A special seasoning blend of paprika, sea salt, and pepper means New York strips and bone-in prime ribeyes have an especially flavorful char while being perfectly lush and tender inside. 110 W. Washington St., 317-638-8669, tonysofindianapolis .com $$$

Union 50

CONTEMPORARY Marrying the retro trappings of a onetime union hall with all of the sleek amenities of a 21st-century cocktail lounge, this instantly popular supper club features a stunning backlit glass bar and a wood-fired kitchen with a prep line and pass-through visible to the spacious dining room. 620 N. East St., 317-6100234, union-50.com $$$

Upland Brewing

GASTROPUB Bloomington’s Upland Brewery brings its casual-dining experience to Indy’s near southside, with an open-concept dining room and a popular dog-friendly patio. The Upland repertoire gets proper representation in the wall of taps behind the bar. You can casually sip a flight of sours and snack on smoked chicken wings, or get busy with dishes plucked from the chef’s rotating seasonal menu. 1201 Prospect St., 317-672-3671, uplandbeer.com V $$

Wine Market & Table

CONTEMPORARY One of Fountain Square’s landmark buildings (once home to both Deano’s Vino and Pioneer) now houses this casual tribute to wining and dining. An extensive and affordable list of bottles is bolstered with solid craft cocktails. The food gets plenty of creative flourish, too, from the steak bites appetizer that’s cooked at the table on hot rocks to pork belly served sliced and sizzled with cannellini bean puree, cherryapple barbecue sauce, and a sweet fermented slaw. Brunch is served every day that the restaurant is open, offering dolled-up mimosas and filling early-bird fare like nduja-spiked skillets and breakfast hash. 1110 Shelby St., 317-493-1010, winemarketindy.com V $$$

EAST

INCLUDES Beech Grove, Irvington

10th Street Diner

VEGAN Surprisingly familiar and hearty plantbased 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 and satisfying seitan Reuben, a “chicken” pot pie, and house chili that rivals your favorite con carne version. Showstoppers include the many-layered lasagna with plenty of fresh veggies, a bright tomato sauce, and a tangy “cheese” concocted from tofu and cashews.

Arrive early, before the day’s supplies run out. 3301 E. 10th St., 463-221-1255 V $$

Landlocked Baking Company

CAFE What began life as a production bakery along Irvington’s tucked-away Audubon Road has expanded into a full-service daytime spot serving sandwiches and plated entrees. The menu keeps things brief, with a special focus on the array of fresh-baked carbs. The LGBT is a BLT enhanced with guacamole and tangy fried green tomatoes, and the focaccia grilled cheese includes local ham and cheese, plus pickled peaches. Gorgonzola grits topped with poached egg and hot honey, crispy-skinned confit potatoes, signature lattes, and a brunchy cocktail list make this sunny dining room more than just a neighborhood favorite. 120 S. Audubon Rd., 317-207-2127 V $$

Mayfair Taproom

FAMILY PUB Housed in a 120-year-old structure with a colorful past, this eastside hang has the timeless feel of a well-loved neighborhood pub. Walk-ins can relax over pints of beer at the bar, right next to a family-friendly dining room with window-seat booths and local art on the walls. The menu is brief and sandwich-heavy, with equal love given to the thick and cheesy Mayfair burger and daily vegan breakouts like the spicy seitan sloppy Joe and the massive bean burger. 2032 E. 10th St., 317-419-239 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 deep frying and sweet-tea brining. Order a Sling Blade cocktail, get a side of collard greens with your fried bologna sandwich, and don’t miss the daily soft serve ice cream flavor. 414 Dorman St., 317-492-9887, naturalstate provisions.com $$

Steer-In

DINER Wear your stretchiest pants here. SteerIn’s classic Guy Fieri–approved short-order fare includes breaded tenderloins, beef and noodle dinners, and beer-battered fish sandwiches. The Twin Steer burger is a Big Mac knockoff that pairs deliciously with a side of battered and fried onion rings. Rib-sticking breakfast platters are served all day. Wash it down with a legit vanilla Coke and take home a towering slice of coconut cream pie for later. 5130 E. 10th St., 317-356-0996, steerin.net $

NORTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville

101 Beer Kitchen

CASUAL The energy is high and the flavors are forward at this Ohio import. In a dining room that combines the best parts of a craft brewery and an unfussy family haunt, crowd-pleasing dishes like loaded tater tots, Andouille sausage–spiked shrimp and grits, and brown-buttered pierogies have lots of moving parts, complex but

more fun than fancy. The Yard at Fishers District, 317-537-2041, 101beerkitchen.com $$

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 pasta to a housemade burrata that makes several appearances on the menu. Hyperlocal ingredients fill out thoughtful seasonal dishes, such as butternut squash bisque and duck confit toast. Chef Samir’s rotating Fried Thing of the Day (from tofu to artichoke hearts) should not be missed, and neither should the rustic desserts. 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 finedining institution St. Elmo Steak House. The twist here is that the black-vested servers deliver 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 ugly-cry at that first bite of incendiary shrimp cocktail. The Yard at Fishers District, 317-758-1933, 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, a 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 smashburger. Black-suited servers and wellcomposed cocktails keep the high-dollar meal running smoothly. 201 W. Main St., Carmel, 317740-0900, anthonyschophouse.com $$$$

Auberge

FRENCH Brick Street Inn’s classic French bistro installed talented chef Toby Moreno (The Loft at Traders Point Creamery, 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 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 stars among entrees, especially crispyskinned roasted cod with browned-butter sauce, though diver scallops with asparagus puree, showered with herbs and toasted almonds, also impress. Quiche of the day is a solid choice, as is the house burger, made with Angus steak and slathered with a tarragon aioli that’s especially good on a side of pommes frites. Old-school cocktails are even better when enjoyed on the streetside patio. 175 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317733-8755, auberge-restaurant.com $$$

Ben’s BBQ Shack

BARBECUE Ben Hoffman gained a following for his old-school barbecue technique (smoked with hickory and cherry wood with no assist from electricity or gas) when he parked his trailer-

mounted smoker outside Grand Junction Brewing Co. a few days a week. When a 300-squarefoot shack on Westfield’s main drag became available in 2020, he snatched it up and turned it into a prep kitchen and walk-up window. Standard sides like baked beans and cole slaw are available, but as you would expect, the meat’s the star of the show. There is no way to go wrong, whether you order the juicy, flavorful brisket or shredded pork by the pound, or a smoked pork belly sandwich with jalapeños and onions. The only mistake you might make is waiting too long to place an order. Your best bet is to order on the website in advance. 124 E. Main St., Westfield, bensbbqshack.com $$

Bica Cafe

CAFE A huge chalkboard menu lays out the options at this counter-service cafe in downtown Noblesville. Dishes are infused with Portuguese and Italian flavors, including cacoila (slow-cooked pulled pork), a Portuguese steak sandwich, and a weekend brunch of batter-fried chicken and waffles drizzled with both maple syrup and peppery piri piri sauce. Pick up something sweet from the pastry case stocked with Portuguese desserts like fried-dough malasadas and tiny custard tarts. 933 Conner St., Noblesville, 317-764-2555 $$

The Cake Bake Shop

ELEGANT The fairy tale continues at Gwendolyn Rogers’s second tribute to layered cakes and buttercream icing, a pristine Carmel expansion dripping with chandeliers. There are hints of the twinkly, cottage-like Broad Ripple original in the white-on-white-on-white decor, but Cake Bake 2.0 is polished to a brilliant sheen, and the patisserie menu has expanded to include delicate fare like Chicken Velvet soup and frites. 800 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-257-2253, thecakebake shop.com $$

Chao Vietnamese Street Food

VIETNAMESE Sourcing the beef and pork for its noodle bowls, tacos, and pho from Fischer Farms, this strip-mall eatery delivers fresh, flavorful dishes. Shrimp spring rolls come with a rich and complex dipping sauce, and a bracing green papaya salad is refreshing. Pork-belly tacos are highlights among the lighter choices. A full list of coffees, bubble teas, and unusual bubble waffles make this a great place to bring the family for an intro to one of the world’s great cuisines. 7854 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317622-8820, chaovietstreetfood.com $$

Convivio

ITALIAN With a menu that traces the geographical regions in Italy, this is not your average Midwestern 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. For dessert, order a towering slice of chocolate

cake for all to share. 11529 Spring Mill Rd., Carmel, 317-564-4670; 40 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317733-3600; convivioindy.com $$

Divvy SMALL PLATES With its roster of 80-plus sharable dishes, this lively favorite is no place for the indecisive (or kids—patrons must be at least 21). A good rule is to order two or three items per person over the course of a meal. The crock of rich, slightly spicy corn crème brûlée is now legendary. 71 City Center Dr., Carmel, 317-706-0000, divvycarmel.com V $$$$

Eggshell Bistro

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH This eccentric and lovable Carmel City Center brunch spot, as noted for its antiques-store decor and tableware as for its cuisine, has the feel and palate of globe-trotting owner and chef Larry Hanes. Coffee and tea arrive in conversation pieces while vintage French pop plays in the background, and many dishes are served in miniature cast-iron Staub skillets. Whatever it is, you can bet on an aromatic mélange of flavors from around the world, such as Moroccan shakshuka with baked eggs, goat cheese, and za’taar infused with rose petals. A hearty mushroom strata is enriched with rabbit sausage and smoked gouda, then finished with a bright and earthy hazelnut romesco. 51 City Center Dr., Carmel, 317-660-1616, eggshell bistro.com V $$

Farmhouse Brunchery

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH It’s hard to resist the extravagance of lemon-curd pancakes with fresh blueberries and cream cheese mousse or—on the savory end of the spectrum—cracker-crusted jumbo shrimp called Cowboy Chaps at this northside provider of daytime sustenance. Customers pay at the counter, as in an old-school diner, and can go retro with a serving of corned beef hash and a bottomless cup of coffee. Meanwhile, steak and eggs that come with the choice of sirloin, strip, or rib-eye, and the Seriously Adult Grilled Cheese stuffed with Swiss, brie, cheddar, Muenster, and raspberry-chipotle cream cheese are gateway options for brunchy indulgence. 8664 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317-288-0884, farm housebrunchery.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. Tender lamb ribs with chimichurri are a standout small plate, and deeply caramelized brussels sprouts with hunks of bacon are some of the best in town. 303 E. Main St., Westfield, 317-804-9780, 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 $$$

Korean BBQ N Chicken

ADDED KOREAN Fried chicken may be merely a starter at this cozy, congenial Asian spot, but you should definitely plan your meal around the golden, ultra-crisp wings tossed judiciously in a sweet and spicy sauce that set this place apart from other Korean eateries in the city. Only then can you move on to a full range of traditional Korean favorites that you can either grill at your table or have the kitchen bring out. That includes tender, beefy bulgogi, jop chae with plenty of veggies and glass noodles, stir fries, and several seafood options. Service is swift at lunchtime, but you can feel free to take your time with generous combos barbecued on tabletop grills. All dishes come with an eye-popping array of banchan or side dishes of spicy, sweet, and fermented condiments, which make for a fun communal dining experience. 214 E. Main St., Westfield, 317-399-7077, koreanbbqnchicken.com $$

Moontown Brewing Company

BREWPUB The craft beer and barbecue come with a side of Hoosier hoops nostalgia at this popular Boone County hangout. Its location, a former high school gymnasium, drips with vestiges of its hardwood past, but Moontown’s house-brewed beers are constantly evolving, from the Moon Lite Cream Ale to Moontown’s robust porter, Into the Void. The food is kissed with smoke, served on paper-lined trays, and not limited to conventional barbecue. Though the beef brisket and pulled pork have that thick Southern dialect, the adobo brisket nachos, smoked Portobello burger, and Nashville hot chicken sandwich prove that nothing should be sacred. 345 S. Bowers St., Whitestown, 317-7693880, moontownbeer.com $$

Noah Grant’s Grill House & Oyster Bar

CONTEMPORARY The sushi list is solid at this packed surf-and-turf spot, but even better bets are superfresh oysters and savory short rib wontons to nibble on while you explore the voluminous menu. It’s hard to go wrong here. Entrees range from fish and chips to coconut-crusted mahi mahi to internationally inspired dishes like Korean bibimbap. 91 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-732-2233, noahgrants.com $$$

Osteria by Fabio Viviani

ITALIAN You would never guess that the Top Chef alum’s modern Italian restaurant takes up residence in a dining room connected to Carmel’s mega Market District supermarket. Rustic fresh pastas, including pesto gnocchi with pistachio and a creamy pasta alla boscaiola with nubs of sausage and mushrooms, share the spotlight with Neapolitan-style pizzas. 11505 N. Illinois St., Carmel, 317-689-6330, osteriacarmel.com $$

Sangiovese Ristorante

ITALIAN The ebony walls, gilded frames, and soft glow from pendant orb light fixtures set a dark and sexy scene at this longtime Indianapolis favorite. The food is luxuriously authentic—a tribute to Italian pastas, from the showstopping lasagna with both béchamel and marinara to the delicately sauced linguini frutti di mare, a light, luscious, garlicky tangle of shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams in white wine. 2727 E. 86th St., 317-757-5913; The Yard at Fishers District, 317-219-6413, sangioveseristorante.com

$$$

Stacco House by Mammamia

NEW ITALIAN Former Ristorante Roma owner Lucio Romani and wife Christine Jourdan converted their short-lived gelato shop on Main Street in Carmel to this bakery and dinner takeout featuring Jourdan’s excellent cakes and cookies alongside Romani’s Italian classics. Highlights from the pastry case include a light-as-air pistachio ricotta cake, amaretti cookies, and braided almond pastries, as well as loaves of puffy focaccia. But drop in here before dinner, and you’ll go home with slices of rich lasagna Bolognese, house-made meatballs, and tangy tomato sauce for DIY use. Romani’s rustic, medium-thick pizzas are made from a time-honored recipe from the coast of Italy just west of Rome, so they’re unlike any in the city. And the cafe offers outdoor seating in warm months as well as a selection of Mediterranean staples to fill your larder and well-chosen wines to add to your cellar. 834 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-740-0113, staccohouse.com $$

NORTHEAST

INCLUDES Broad Ripple, Castleton, Geist, Herron-Morton, Kennedy-King, Keystone at the Crossing, Meridian-Kessler, Nora, SoBro

Apocalypse Burger

BURGERS The Patachou crew repurposed its shuttered Crispy Bird location into this modernday diner. The focus is on a handful of burger variations and clever greasy-spoon sides like Old Major bacon–loaded fries and blocks of fried macaroni and cheese washed down with canned wine. For dessert, it’s a toss-up between Ding Dong cake or a root beer float. 115 E. 49th St., 317426-5001, apocalypseburger.com V $$

Aroma

INDIAN See Downtown listing for description. 4907 N. College Ave., 317-737-2290, aromaindy .com V $$

Baby’s

BURGERS This playful, family-friendly joint limits its menu to smashburgers, broasted chicken, milkshakes (spiked or not), and cocktails, which means it hits every pulse point for its faithful Herron-Morton clientele. 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., 317-6003559, babysindy.com V $$

Big Lug Canteen

BREWPUB In this spacious hangout steps from the Monon Trail, seasonal beers and house standards include spins on wheats, ales, and IPAs. The menu is always filled with fun surprises (a Taco Bell–inspired pizza, for example, or a “horseshoe of the week” inspired by the gloppy sandwich of Springfield, Illinois) as well as excellent poutine, salads, and sandwiches, none more macho than the Nashville Hot

Chicken. 1435 E. 86th St., 317-672-3503, biglug canteen.com $$

Bocca

ITALIAN A dark and sleek renovation of the former Shoefly Public House location, this modernItalian eatery shares DNA with siblings Ambrosia, Maialina, and Blupoint Oyster House—all branches of Indy restaurateur Gino Pizzi’s pasta family. Seared scallops share the dish with little cheese-filled sacchetti dumplings, and the lasagna is a light, mushroom-layered variety sauced with bechamel. The hulking lamb shank served with polenta is a showstopper, though. After dinner, descend the stairs behind the host stand to the basement speakeasy, for some sofa lounging and mixology magic. 122 E. 22nd St., 317-4262045, boccaindy.com $$$

Delicia

NEW LATIN Since it opened in 2013, this sexy SoBro spot has served up classic sips and easyon-the-eyes Caribbean dishes to a chic and boisterous crowd. The Fire ’n’ Ice is still the go-to cocktail for its chile-dusted rim and mix of tequila, hibiscus, and basil. Standards include smoky octopus tostones; bright guacamole dusted with pistachios; and enchiladas de pato filled with tender shredded duck and topped with habanero sauce, lime crema, and plenty of bubbling Chihuahua cheese. Churros with chocolate sauce make for the perfect finale. 5215 N. College Ave., 317-925-0677, deliciaindy.com $$

Diavola

PIZZA Pies emerge expertly bubbly and charred from a centerpiece brick oven. Ingredients are simple but top-shelf, including homemade meatballs, which join the likes of spicy sopressata, smooth clumps of fior di latte, torn basil, and EVOO. Deep booths are perfect for leaning in over a luscious mound of burrata. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-820-5100, diavola.net V $$

Fat Dan’s Deli

MEAT AND POTATOES See Downtown listing for description. 5410 N. College Ave., 317-600-3333, fatdansdeli.com $

Big Bear Biscuits

BRUNCH The focus is on brunch at this colorful pot where the classic Southern biscuit serves as a canvas for improvisation. Sandwich-style versions have some of the more ambitious fillings, whether a pork chop with fig jam and Brie for breakfast or fried bologna, jalapeño jelly, and mornay sauce for lunch. And open-faced platters such as a spin on the Kentucky Hot Brown with turkey and bacon or the playful Petting Zoo with roasted tomatoes, avocado, and goat cheese will satisfy midday cravings. Perhaps the best way to appreciate the buttery, fluffy biscuits is straight up with strawberry jam or apple butter, local honey, fruit, and candied pecans. 3905 E. 96th St., 317-343-2103, bigbearbiscuits.com $$

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 housemade chorizo and queso. 1217 E. 16th St., 317-635-4444, festiva indy.com $$

Grump’s Slice Stop

PIZZA Futuro’s emo brother pays tribute to

the extra-wide New York slice in a fun, colorblocked industrial space connected to Black Circle Brewing. The menu is posted over the cash register and mentions just a handful of judiciously adorned options. But every one of them is a hit, from Grump’s balsamic-drizzled take on a margherita pizza to the bold, banana pepper–dotted TurboKid. Nurse a basket of stretchy mozzarella sticks while you wait for your slice to cool off, and order a pizza puff to go. 2201 E. 46th St. V $

Half Liter

BARBECUE In the airy back half of the complex that houses its sister event center, Liter House, owner Eddie Sahm’s Bavarian-themed barbecueand-beer hall has all the rollicking energy of Oktoberfest with the laidback charm of a Texas brisket pit. 5301 Winthrop Ave., 463-221-2800, half literbbq.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. Dessert is all about the sticky toffee pudding. 8605 River Crossing Blvd., 317-663-8063, lateharvestkitchen.com $$$

Petite Chou

FRENCH-INSPIRED The sweet-or-savory crepe dilemma is no contest: dessert. The brown-sugar version delivers gooey caramelized filling, velvety bananas, and sugar that crystallizes as you eat. 823 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-259-0765, petitechou bistro.com V $$

The Roost Nora

BRUNCH Locally inspired bennies, dolled-up pancakes, and a variety of cheesy midday melts top the menu at the converted Sahm’s Alehouse along the Monon Trail in Nora. The second location of The Roost in Fishers, opened in 1996, the new spot next to the popular beer draw Big Lug has its own unique menu and feel, as well as plenty of options for the brunch set. Big Lug’s beers are still on tap, but don’t resist the bottomless mimosas or your choice of four brands of bubbly. For gut-busting day-after nourishment, try the two-egg Hoosier Benedict with a pork tenderloin and loads of sausage gravy on a buttery biscuit. Be sure to add some fluffy flapjacks, whether or not you dress them up with cinnamon apples or pecan granola. A la carte eggs, sausage, and toast are available for the purists. 1435 E. 86th St., 317-735-1293, theroostindiana .com/nora V $$

NORTHWEST

INCLUDES College Park, Lafayette Square, Traders Point

Byrne’s Grilled Pizza

ADDED PIZZA Since 2015, this one-time food truck has been serving its quirky, addictive brand of charred-edge grilled pies with crackly, wafer-thin crusts to the pizza lovers of Butler-Tarkington. A transfer of ownership from parents Ken and Dot Reinstrom to son Adam and his partner Pablo Gonzalez in

Room with a View

is a great place for weddings, rehearsal dinners, and receptions. Our team of experienced wedding planners is ready to help you with every detail to make sure your day is flawless.

2021 has ushered in even funkier decor touches, as well as new cocktails, organic wines, and seasonal specials, such as pies showered in Indiana sweet corn or slathered with beet purée and topped with delicata squash and goat cheese. But favorites like the Byrne’s Specialty with pesto, spinach, artichokes, and ricotta are menu mainstays, as is the chocolate chip bread pudding from Oh Yumm! Bistro, which formerly occupied the spot. Try an earthy, sophisticated Don Draper cocktail or a gin and tonic with a touch of tart hibiscus. And look for the truck, still in service, at local farmers markets and festivals. 5615 N. Illinois St., 317-737-2056, byrnes pizza.com V $$

Chapati

MIDDLE EASTERN It’s not enough that the butter chicken melts in your mouth or the lamb kebab bursts with flavor—or that those family recipes, passed from generation to generation, barely scratch the surface of a menu that goes deep into Pakistani, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. This chill westside counter-service spot has a fried-chicken side hustle called Shani’s Secret Chicken focused on humanely prepared Halal fried chicken cooked three ways: tandoorimarinated and buttermilk-battered; fried and dipped in spicy-sweet sauce; and the batterless, dry-rubbed Faridi style that’s extra spicy. 4930 Lafayette Rd., 317-405-9874, eatchapati.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 purées 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 $$$

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 usually 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, pink-tinged 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 housemade 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 $$

Traders Point Creamery

FARM TO TABLE Dishes change seasonally, but the restaurant at this bucolic dairy farm always delivers a rustic opulence. Chef Jon Warner oversees a kitchen that turns out dishes like a wintry duck breast with wild mushrooms, turnips, and apples. For dessert, order anything that

involves a scoop of ice cream. 9101 Moore Rd., Zionsville,317-733-1700, traderspointcreame.com V $$$

SOUTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Bargersville, Greenwood

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, including the Well-Dressed Italian that 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, 463710-6170, fieldtofork.shop $$

Pizza & Libations

PIZZA The personal-sized pies are presented on thin, fermented crusts at this Bargersville establishment run by the folks who own the neighboring Taxman Brewing Company. But the menu has surprising range. Shared plates include a jumbo ball of fresh burrata oozing over caramelized onions and blistered tomatoes, delicate beef carpaccio, and a version of octopus in squid-ink sauce that is not for the faint of heart. Chase your bites with sips of the When in Rome bourbon cocktail that has hints of lemon and basil, or pick anything off of the extensive

spirits menu that includes a section dedicated to prosecco spritzes and trending aperitifs and digestifs. For dessert, do not pass up the baseballsized scoops of buttery-sweet housemade gelato in creamy, complex flavors such as raspberry, chunky pistachio, and a lovely Italian stracciatella rippled with slivers of shaved chocolate. 75 N. Baldwin St., Bargersville, 317-771-3165, pizza andlibations.com V $$$

SmockTown Brewery

BREWERY Brother-in-law duo Mark Sublette and Ken Johnson’s Old Town Greenwood brewery and Attic Hardware walk-up speakeasy do double duty for day drinking ambers and porters or sipping Old Fashioneds in the evening on the second-story veranda. Hot Pink Pepper Catering adds some beer-worthy eats, including snackable fried pickle spears with a kicky dipping sauce, Everything pretzel bites with Scottish-ale beer cheese, and a meaty flatbread. But don’t pass up the rich and well-dressed short rib nachos, with all of the garnishes and a bright cilantro-lime crema. Slider combos and tacos are also great for staving off the munchies, but save room for some cinnamon-dusted fried biscuits. 223 W. Main St., Greenwood, 317-215-4836 $$

Yummy Bowl

SUSHI/MONGOLIAN STIR-FRY This fresh take on Mongolian barbecue adds solid sushi offerings to mix-and-match stir-fry bowls. First-time customers should opt for building their own bowls from a buffet of ingredients, with suggested sauces and seasonings that are then stir-fried and brought to the table. 8810 S. Emerson Ave., 317-586-8212, yummybowl.business.site $$

WEST

INCLUDES Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Speedway

Big Woods Speedway

BREWPUB Pulled-pork nachos reign among starters at this Main Street Speedway reboot of the Brown County fave. While pizzas and street tacos get the most attention on the menu, ribs and chicken may be the best bets for dinner. 1002 W. Main St., Speedway, 317-757-3250, bigwoods restaurants.com $$

Che Chori

ARGENTINEAN Marcos Perera-Blasco’s colorful westside drive-thru restaurant offers a delectable introduction to full-flavored Argentinean street food. A selection of traditional butterfliedsausage sandwiches and warm empanadas filled with seasoned meats are the focus of the menu. But do not overlook the seasoned burgers and cook-at-home sausages, from Spanish-style chorizo with smoked paprika to rich Argentinean black sausage. 3124 W. 16th St., 317-737-2012, chechori.com $$

Hoosier Roots

ADDED COMFORT Blink and you might miss this tucked-away gem serving family-style mains and side dishes in a roadhouse setting. Chef and owner Greg Stellar runs the tiny kitchen, assembling sharable portions of house-smoked salmon, herb-crusted roast beef, beer-can chicken, and other rib-sticking clas-

sics. Diners take their seats at long community tables or smaller patio tables on the enclosed porch, or belly up to the little bar for something slightly more potent. At lunch, the menu is a streamlined selection of sandwiches and soups (including chicken velvet). Don’t miss the mini cakes—Texas chocolate or honey lavender with bauchant icing—for dessert. 26 E. Main St., Pittsboro, 317-892-0071, hoosierrootscatering.com

$$

Rick’s Cafe Boatyard

SEAFOOD You don’t have to be a Parrothead (though it helps) 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 smokedsalmon nachos and chicken cordon bleu fingers in with the jumbo shrimp martinis and oyster shooters. It serves all of the pastas, burgers, steaks, and entree salads you’d expect from a place that draws big crowds. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-290-9300, ricksboatyard.com $$$

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Swing State

century-old farmhouses, rolling hills, and tree-tunnel roads. The new house replaced just such a farmhouse, whose owner, rather than sprucing up a perfectly serviceable home, bulldozed it all the way down to its hand-hewn foundation stones and built a brick ranch house in its place. He added a covered porch across the front of the house, but one so shallow as to be useless. At only three feet deep, it’s sufficient to walk across, but not deep enough to accommodate a chair or swing. My wife opined that it was not a porch at all, but a decorative flourish.

Worse yet, the house sits on a rise, overlooking a meadow and forest, one of the finest views Indiana has to offer, which no one will now enjoy thanks to a man who didn’t see fit to extend the depth of his porch to eight feet. There go the balmy summer evenings spent watching the fireflies light up the pasture, the unhurried stroll of the doe and fawn at dusk, or the swoop of the killdeer and barn swallow at mid-day. Those luxuriant sights are replaced by the television that dominates their living room, the glow of which spills through the window with enough intensity to signal overhead aircraft.

global threats to manageable inconveniences.

Though my father-in-law’s formal education ended in the sixth grade, he knew enough to add front and back porches to the family farmhouse in 1951. The farmhouse is a little less than 1,000 square feet, but the porches add another 500 square feet and are the best parts of the house. I’d do without indoor plumbing before I gave up our porches. My wife and I begin our day on the back porch, eating breakfast and watching the sun rise over the wooded hills until the heat sends us to the front porch. In summer, I write there, on an old kitchen table snug against the house. I once saw an ad for a $1,000 writer’s chair with lumbar and thigh support, but at the farmhouse I use a wood chair I bought from my neighbor for $10. My lumbar and thighs are perfectly content.

PORCH SEASON is fast approaching, which makes what I’m about to tell you all the more urgent. I’m referring to the gravest threat to the United States today, more perilous than Russia, nuclear conflagration, deadly viruses lurking in Chinese wet markets, or Donald Trump winning a second term.

I am speaking of the looming extinction of the American porch, whose decline began with the creation of the ranch house. It first emerged in the 1920s, then boomed in the postwar decades, saturating American cities and towns. Not one of them had a front porch, causing irreparable harm to its inhabitants, who lacked a porch swing from which to view the passing world and set it right.

I bring this up after a new house was built midway between our farmhouse and town, a 9-mile stretch of

The first nine years of my existence were spent in a ranch house, leaving me vaguely disappointed with life, though I didn’t know why, not missing what I’d never known. In 1970, my family moved to a house with a front porch 30 feet wide and 10 feet deep, vastly improving our dispositions. My father promptly hung a swing, and we were in business, greeting passersby, visiting with the neighbors, and discussing world affairs. A good front porch has a way of reducing the most egregious

We go in for supper after David Riley and his wife ride past on their ATV, out for their evening drive around our 9-mile block. We wave, they honk, then my wife and I warm up the lunch leftovers, which we eat on the back porch, now shaded and cool, the sun having thoughtfully moved to the west. The deer amble out of the woods and into the fields, followed by the turkeys. A red-tailed hawk works the meadow, every now and then swooping down on a distracted mouse. Once a mouse steps from its home, it is susceptible to all manner of terrors. What mice need are porches, to see without being seen. If I had my way, anyone who builds a house without a porch would be recognized as the public menace they are and be made to sit under the Saharan sun until they came to their senses.

THE LACK OF PORCHES IN SO MANY NEW HOMES WILL BE THE RUINATION OF SOCIETY. AND DECORATIVE FLOURISHES THREE FEET WIDE DON’T COUNT. BY PHILIP GULLEY

Illustration by RYAN SNOOK

Philip Gulley is a Quaker pastor, author, and humorist. Back Home Again chronicles his views on life in Indiana.

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